Sketch Mania 7.28

It's Wednesday so that means it is time for SketchMania and DeeDee has announced that the prize for July/August will be a $15 crop credit from the amazing folks at Crop Chocolate.  

If you've never been to Crop Chocolate, go... as soon as you're done reading this post! (WARNING Crop Chocolate is HIGHLY addictive, especially if you have a weakness for buying scrapbooking supplies and getting great deals). It is a "one deal at a time" website but they have a wonderful feature called the "la carte" which allows you to place the items in your cart and wait until you have reached the free shipping threshold to place your order; unlike some other DOD website where you have to pay shipping on every purchase.  They truly are wonderful over there - not only do they have amazing prices on gorgeous supplies and free shipping (to Canada too!) but they also have the absolute best customer service that I have ever encountered.  And for the record, I am not being  paid to say this, I am saying it because I really believe that Crop Chocolate offers a great value and is a company worth supporting.  However, if you do decide to sign up with Crop Chocolate, I would really appreciate it if you would do it through THIS LINK as it will give me the credit for referring you.

 SUPPLIES

Bo Bunny patterned paper, cardstock stickers

Bazzil cardstock

K&Company rhinestones

Pebbles ribbon  

Ki Memories chipboard sentiment

So if you'd like to be eligible to win the crop credit please join us for SketchMania. 

 

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Get Sketchy #47... Again

So yesterday when I posted that pinwheel card I alluded to the fact that it didn't turn out exactly as I had originally planned.  I was happy with it, but it just wasn't quite what I had been originally going for.  So last night (actually it was more like the wee hours of this morning) I decided to have another go at it.  And this time I think I got it.

It took a few minutes to figure out the mechanics of this one, but once I established where and how to make my cuts it actually come together quite quickly.  I am probably biased in my opinion but I think it is kind of a neat card.

SUPPLIES

K&Company patterned paper

Recollections paper flower

Studio G stamped sentiment

Colorbox ink

Have a great night,

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PRC8, TPE76

Yep, I found another challenge site. I would encourage you all to check out the Paper Romance blog, lots of beautiful inspiration and challenges, I just had to play along! For this weeks challenge, Andrea challenged us to use Chocolate, Teal and White on a card. What a fantastic colour trio!

This card also qualifies for The Pink Elephant challenge, which highlights the color Brown this week. The entire DT used pink and brown combination, so classy! But glad the teal and brown qualifies as well. I had so much fun playing along this week and checking out the other fantastic entries. You really should take a peek at this fun site.

I know its really hard to see, but I did use the Everything but the Kitchen Sink sketch for this card. I rotated the sketch and then instead of going behind the blue BG, the ribbon wanted to go in front . . . . Some cards just have a mind of their own!  

I was able to use Chocolate cardstock, an antique dictionary page, and K & Co. paper for the card. I love mixing the different lines, and as you might have noticed recently, I have a thing for antique paper. The card was machine stitched for some added detail and I tried my hand at drawing some butterflies, they turned out interesting. I stamped the teal with a stamp I have (forget from where!) and added some adhesive pearls from e. The ribbon is also from my vintage stash. I really don't know what I would do without the thriftshop, I get so many great finds there!

SUPPLIES

Bazzil Cardstock

K&Co. Paper

Vintage Ribbon

Pearls by e.

Chatterbox Rub-ons

Vintage Dictionary Page

Stamp

Thanks for checking in, leave a comment, it means a lot!

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Pinwheels - Whee!

Another birthday card, this time its my turn to use Sarah as my inspiration. I was so taken with her pinwheel card that I had to try one myself. Only, I ended up with three pinwheels instead of one, I couldn't settle on just one paper to use! So happy for fun double sided paper, it makes the pinwheels look fantastic.

I was also able to use something that I have had for quite some time. A very good friend of mine gave me a box of thin wood veneer a few years ago. I tore it in this strips, it works great, you just tear along the grain and it peels nicely. I've used bits and pieces on various crafting projects, but I still have lots left! I had completely forgotten about it until I needed some 'stems' for the pinwheels. It worked perfectly!  I love rediscovering old supplies that are the perfect finishing touches.

I made this card for Kazan's latest sketch over at 2S4Y. At first I wasn't going to, because I didn't think my mojo was flowing well enough to attempt it. Its a very unique sketch. But I am quite pleased with the results. It turned out very different  from most of my cards. I tend  towards the more natural colour tones, but it was fun to experiment a little bit too. Once again the ladies from 2S4Y are offering a design position for the winning card, go check it out!

SUPPLIES:Chatterbox Rec Room PaperMaking Memories BradMaple VeneerBazzil CardstockMisc Buttons 

The sentiment for the card was just printed off and adhered to blue cardstock. Other than that there isn't much to say except, have a great day! I may get around to posting some more this afternoon. I have another card I want to show you. 

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Sketch Mania 07.21

My turn for Sketch Mania! I needed a card for a very special person in my life, and how perfectly the sketch from SM work for this! I also used inspiration from a few other sites as well (mentioned in the tags). On my way out for coffee with my little brother, isn't that sweet?! He wanted to do something special before I leave on August 3rd. So I have to keep this brief, here's the card I made.

The sentiments are printed off onto the card stock and distressed with ink and crumpling. How fun is it that the best results require almost ruining it first? I also handmade the flower using different sized circles, again crumpling and inking to get the distressed look. I've added a close-up photo so you can see the depth.

SUPPLIES
My Minds Eye - So Sophia Paper
Making Memories Brad
Unknown Ribbon
Bazzil Cardstock
Craft Smart Ink
Thickers "4"

Have a lovely evening, I know I will!

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Get Sketchy #47

I didn't end up making another layout for the My Croppy Summer assignment because I got distracted when I saw the latest Get Sketchy card challenge. As soon as I saw the sketch I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. Granted, it didn't turn out quite as well as I originally envisioned it, but I think it is still a fun card. I made it a birthday card so that I could also enter it in the July Caardvarks challenge.

I used the Petal Pushers line from Bo Bunny that I just received in my Little Red Scrapbook Kit (it literally came yesterday) and it is definitely very bright. Brighter than I would normally gravitate to. I guess that is the benefit of a kit subscription though, you are inevitably going to end up with some stuff you wouldn't normally buy and it forces you to stretch yourself.

SUPPLIES
Bo Bunny patterned paper
Bazzil cardstock
KI Memories chipboard accents
Colorbox ink
Making Memories ribbon

Well, I must say that today has been pretty productive in the crafting department. In the housework department... not so much.

Have a great night,

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My Croppy Summer Challenge #12 & #13 (with a Twist)

I have a confession to make: even though I live in a place where other people come to spend their summer holidays, I don't actually particularly enjoy summer myself. I mean, in the dead cold of winter I think that I love summer, but when it is actually here I realize that it is not my favorite season after all.

The heat, the humidity, the bright glaring sunlight that renders you blind when you come in from hanging out the laundry... not my favorite things. And this summer is panning out to be even less enjoyable than others since the pool still isn't ready to be used and we still haven't had the boat out on the lake since the new licensing requirements went into effect and no on in the family has their license yet. Oh yeah, and we also have a bear that has made himself at home on our property so at the moment we are having to keep the kids indoors. Fun, fun, fun...

Ok, enough whining. I apologize but my husband is out of town and I have no one to vent to at the moment.

There is a point to all this complaining though and the point is that a couple of days ago I found someone else who shares my opinion of summer. And that someone just happens to be hosting a series of scrapping challenges, appropriately titled "My Croppy Summer".

So, since the one good thing about summer is that when it is hot outside no one really expects you to do housework or bake, I spent most of yesterday and this morning in my craft room with the AC and the iPod blasting, making layouts for Lori's challenge.These first two layouts are for Assignment #12 which was to use die cut paper. Both these pages are for Ellie's baby album, and you will notice that I am in a bit of a chocolate and pink mood. I am also in a bit of a lazy scrapping mood so both of these LO's are fairly simple as a result.

SUPPLIES
Making Memories die cut paper, brad, metal alphas
Maya Road shear journaling card
Heidi Swapp flowers
Unknown ribbon

SUPPLIES
American Crafts patterned paper, rub on
Bazzil cardstock
KI Memories die cut paper
K & Company bling, glitter alphas
Making Memories brad
Unknown ribbon

This third page is for Assignment #13: crumple, tear, antique or otherwise distress something on your layout. I wasn't feeling very inspired so I turned to one of my favorite sketch sites for help and used Twisted Sketch #58. It actually worked out really well since the twist for this sketch happened to be "texture". Hopefully it is apparent in the picture that I did a lot of distressing and roughing on the paper edges, and my flowers are made of crumpled songbook pages. The chip alphas are textured and the brads are corduroy, so that should satisfy everyone.

SUPPLIES

My Mind's Eye patterned paper
Sassafras patterned paper, playing cards
DCWV chip alphas
Pink Paislee brads
American Crafts thickers
Vintage songbook pages

And I just noticed that Lori has posted Assignment #14 so I am going to take a look at it and see if I can't squeeze one more page in before I have to start thinking about dinner for the kids.

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Sketch Mania 7.21

Once again DeeDee has put together a great sketch for this week's SketchMania challenge and I had such fun making this cute little card based on it.

I used another one of my digi stamps from Tiffany Doodles to make this one - I just adore this little pocket mouse and I have a suspicion that he will be showing up on a lot of my baby cards.

Also, in case you missed it, DeeDee has made some changes to how she is running SketchMania. For all the details, and to see what the rest of the design team has been up to, please head over to DeeDee's blog.

SUPPLIES

Prima patterned paper
Tiffany Doodles digital stamp "Pocket Mouse"
Basic Grey buttons
Unknown ribbon & pins

Hope you have a wonderful day,

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Sketchy Thursdays August Guest Design Team Challenge

My favorite sketch challenge website is having a guest design team challenge, so of course I am entering :) There are a ton of gorgeous entries, probably because the prize is so amazing, but it doesn't hurt to try, right?

Along with the sketch there were a couple of other guidelines for this challenge -

1.) use the color yellow on your layout. [check]

and

2.) include at least one handmade embellishment [check]

SUPPLIES
Bazzil cardstock
October Afternoon patterned paper
Basic Grey brads
American Crafts thickers
Unknown buttons, vintage songbook pages, ruffled trim

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Sketchy Thursdays 7.15

What can I say... I am totally addicted to Sketchy Thursdays. I keep telling myself that I don't have to participate in the challenge every since week, but then I see the sketch and I can't resist.

For this layout I used some of the photos that were taken at the joint birthday party we had in June for my parents three youngest grandchildren. The party was actually bug-themed but that didn't come across very strong in these photos so I decided not to make it a bug themed page.

SUPPLIES

Echo Park patterned paper, stickers, journaling tag
Basic Grey brads
Sassafras feltie
Colorbok chipboard numbersColorbox ink
Making Memories paint

I have had this paper pack from The Echo Park Paper Co. for a while now and I was excited to finally take it out of the package and play with it. It is so yummy! It totally makes me think about raspberry and lemon sorbet on a hot summer day. Hmmmm, I wonder if I have any ice cream in the freezer???

Have a great night,

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Oh Happy Day!

We just got back from a day at the water park, what a perfect way to spend the morning and beat the heat. The kids had so much fun and could have stayed there the rest of the day, but I think that was enough sun for one morning. The cleaning was neglected for the morning, so I really should get at it, but I just had to share these cards with you all.

I loved the colour challenge over at the TSG blog this week, so many fun and bright colours! Plus, I knew I had exactly the paper for it! Sassafras has some wonderful paper bundles, and none more fun than the Applejack line. This card came together so well, literally 15 minutes! discovered in the process that not all ribbons are created equal. I had the bright idea a few weeks ago to use my hair straightening iron to also iron out the creases on my ribbons (it works wonderful by the way!), but I will have to watch the temperature a little from now on as I melted the first ribbon I tried of this green stuff on the card. I'm not even sure where I got it or what it is, but it doesn't like heat!

The card is perfect for a little boys birthday. The clowns and circus theme are so bright and cheery. I am also entering it in the Caardvarks July challenge which is really easy, a NEW birthday card! So nice when the same card is eligible for a few challenges . . .

SUPPLIES
Sassafras Applejack Paper
Sassafras blossoms
Vintage buttons and ribbon
Chatterbox Rub ons

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Sketch Mania 07.14

I have a few cards to post today, but will be posting them in separate posts for ease of linking. I wanted to make sure that I participated a few times in Sketch Mania while its just getting started, and I have an opportunity to be crafting. I have quite enjoyed DeeDee's sketches, more than I thought I would, they really are different!

This card was a lot of fun to put together. I was able to use some favourite papers, as well as some that I've wondered if I would ever use! The Sassafrass line is so unique, so much fun, but my imagination sometimes blanks when I want to use it. So glad I was able to on this card.

SUPPLIES
Sassafrass Cherry Delicious Paper
My Mind's Eye Paper
Bazzil Cardstock
MM eyelets

Have a wonderful day!

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Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery...

... at least I really hope that Rebecca thinks so. After I saw the adorable card that she created for the ColorQ and Sweet Sunday Sketch challenges I was inspired to make one of my own. It could be because I had just finished making a couple of masculine cards but the pink and black color scheme really appealed to me and I just love anything with scallops on it!

Now, I know it isn't nearly as cute as that little donkey, but I love the cake stamp from Tiffany Doodles that I used on these cards. I used candles on the top to make it a birthday cake but I think that if you left the candles off it would also work really well as a wedding cake.

SUPPLIES

K & Company patterned paper
DCWV patterned paper
American Crafts pearl cardstock
Tiffany Doodles digi stamp
Making Memories velvet ribbon
Unknown raveled roses trim

This one also qualifies for the Caardvarks July challenge as it is a birthday card.

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2 Sketches 4 You #56 & Mojo Monday #147

I am noticing a trend when it comes to my scrapbook layouts and cards: I do really well with girly, not so well with masculine. I kind of feel lost if I can't put ruffles or flowers on my projects so I am never very happy with how my "boy" things turn out. So I decided that if I was going to participate in some card challenges I should really make it a challenge for myself and make some cards for the boys... that and a couple of my brothers have birthdays coming up.

The first card is based on Laura's sketch#56 over at 2Sketches4You.

SUPPLIES (for both cards)
American Crafts cardstock, thickers
K & Company patterned paper, chipboard accents
Making Memories jigsaw alpha, trims
Basic Grey brads
Sassafras Lass tricycle stamp
Studio G sentiment stamp

This second card is based on the Mojo Monday sketch #147.

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