Jazzy Inspirations

I made this card for Jazzy Inspirations challenge blog. This week it is Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage album cover. As I'm digging through my stash...there is no gray, there is no kiwi kiss green. So, I come up with this close shade of green, silver ink (pretend it's gray!), and some silver chain cord. The album has a minimalist look to it, and so does my card. Once I found the "goodies" to make the card, it came together very quick! Gotta love that! Stamps are from the Happy Harmony set from Stampin' Up!.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Whimsy Wednesday

Last night (Wednesday) I had a lot of fun playing along with the Whimsy Wednesday stamp night at the Whimsy Stamp Group on Paper Craft Planet. I made two challenge cards, and even won a free stamp for the birthday challenge! This card also used the sketch challenge that Jeanette created for us. For my prize, I picked the cute little frog from Whimsy! Looking forward to creating with him! Had I not been busy doing some shoveling in our lane, I might of had time to participate in one more challenge!

The second card was made for the color challenge: Use blue, green, yellow and one neutral. This one just snapped together very quickly. It helps that all the papers were in the same Basic Grey Urban Prairie pack!

There is the most adorable blog candy up for grabs over at Melissa's site. Take a look at her past posts and marvel at the things she comes up with! Wow!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Courtney's Mojo!

I just flew while making this card!! It was awesome to have something come together so fast. Tried embossing again, and it worked much better for me today!! Now, when reading this quote, the first thing that pops to mind is a "get well" card, so that's my plan for it.

I combined the Mojo Monday and From Courtney's Closet challenges for my card. I went with the hot pink flower in Courtney's outfit as the inspiration. The flowers have lots of shine and glitter in real life...don't think it shows up too well in the picture. Pattern paper is from DCWV "Sweet", and the cardstock is from a "purple pack" I purchased this summer from Jo-Ann's. Sentiment from Verve.

My little daughter noticed that yesterdays card for the Papertrey Blog Hop coordinated with the logo just above...wasn't planned at all, just a happy surprise!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Blog Hop

The challenge for this month's blog hop was to create any type of birthday card using at least one Papertrey product. When I went back to my work spot, I thought I was going to use Floral Frenzy on the card, but as you see, no flowers!! I did keep the chocolate card base that was originally planned, but that was it! On Monday, I picked up the DCWV 8x8 "Sweet" stack while I was in Muncie. I punched out some cupcakes with my fancy square punch. From another page, I cut strips of cupcakes. These have glitter with a great sparkle & shine! For the greeting, I used the "For Someone Special" from Mailbox Greetings.

I figured this card could be for a guy if needed...hey, guys love cupcakes too! I used some of the same elements on the inside, along with a "Happy Birthday" message. There is room on the kraft to sign my name and a short message.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Guest Designer Call

I've decided to just stick a little toe out and enter the call for the February Guest Designer spot at Whimsy Stamps. I needed to use a sketch provided (and I love sketch challenges) and an animal stamp in my card. I tried to pick the "cutest" animal stamp I own, since I do not have any stamps from Whimsy at the moment. Denise's stamps are cute, whimsical animals with adorable expressions! I used all Basic Grey papers in the card, along with the brad. The sentiment is from Verve. I tried several times to have an embossed sentiment, but kept having stray embossing powder even after wiping paper with 1) dryer sheet and 2) corn starch. I keep practicing...

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Paula's Birthday

My friend Paula's birthday is tomorrow, and this card will be out in the mail same day. My excuse?? I ran out of the adhesive that I like!! Now, I know I bought a refill when I got the dispenser, but could I find it? No!! And, with the -17 temps I'm not making a special trip to Hobby Lobby on Saturday (30 min. away...plus snowy roads) to pick one up. Made a trip in today and, uh...stopped at Target while in town. Bad, bad, bad, because I spent lots of money at the Dollar Spot!! Those dollars sure can add up quick!! But, I purchased several cute storage and paper goodies that I'll share another day (when I don't have a card made to show ya'll!).

I've had Lily the Fairy colored in for a week or more, but never got a card made in time for the contest at Pink Cat Studio. Since I thought I was mailing this Saturday, I went with a fast design. It took longest to emboss and cut out the flowers using a Cuttlebug die. Red Stickles were used on the headband, and they shrunk quite a bit during the drying process.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Dana's Birthday

A friend at work is having a birthday on Tuesday, and I made this up to give her. It also fits the bill for a couple of challenges. The Stamp Something Challenge is to make a birthday card, and the challenge for Cupcake Craft Challenges is a sketch! A two-fer on something I needed to do!

ETA: Using black in a card is also a challenge for Whimsy Stamps group over at Papercraft Planet!

Design paper is Basic Grey Urban Prairie, stamp is from Hampton Art Stamps, image colored with colored pencils.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Mojo Monday #69

I made my first order of Verve Stamps late last Friday night (Saturday morning!), and I knew they should arrive this week in time for me to use for the Mojo Monday Sketch. When I placed my order, I already had in mind what I was going to use for this card. I practiced my embossing skills (lack there of) and managed to put my thumb into the last little heart. Wiping before embossing with a dryer sheet still has not worked for me to not have the little stray bits of embossing powder stick around.

Images from the Hearts on Fire set were used for this card. PTI Kraft & Chocolate cardstock, and Basic Grey Bittersweet design paper for the rest. I love how all the papers in the Basic Grey 6x6 pads coordinate, for easy pairing. It's just difficult to decide which ones, as they are all scrumptious together!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Jazzy Inspirations

Kinda of Blue was the challenge over at Jazzy Inspirations this week based on the Miles Davis album of that name. We were to make a blue monochromatic/blue and white card. Originally I had another, darker blue that was going to be include. But, when I stamped the snowflakes, I grabbed the wrong shade of blue ink, and it all clashed! I didn't think blues could clash?! I ended up just sticking with a very simple card. No problems mailing this one! The ribbon has snowflakes on it, and I had never noticed until putting it on, that the snowflakes are closer to the top of the material. Oh well! Snowflake stamp from Great Impressions, sentiment is from Wal-mart.

Sharon

Mojo Monday #68

Sigh...I was about ten minutes too late finishing this card to have it considered for the prize from Verve Stamps. But, I'm still going to post it over at Mojo Monday blog. I know, had a whole week to think about it, but nothing hit until today...about an hour before they were all due. Went with some nice bright & cheerful colors for a gray day. Stamps are from Hero Arts.

Happy crafting!
Sharon

From Courtney's Closet #26

Here is my card for Libby's From Courtney's Closet Challenge. Courtney is such a little cutie patootie!! DP is all Basic Grey Bittersweet, as is the brad. Base and layers are Dark Chocolate from Papertrey Ink.

The colors in this card make me think of a rich, decadent gourmet chocolate.....mmmm! I've been lucky enough to experience some from Ghyslain.

Wasn't sure if I was going to make this into another Valentine card, but the sentiment from Papertrey fit, so it became a thank you card! Bear stamp is from Wal-mart. I used the sketch from a few weeks ago over at the Stamp Something blog.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

More Verve!

This card is for the Day 2 sketch of the Verve Love release. We were having internet connection problems last night, and I wasn't able to post these before the release party. I used stamps from Walmart, Bic Mark-it pens, and my gray Copic marker. After using silver Stickles on the snowflake punchout (and the one above the hedgies) I remembered that I had glittered up a few snowflakes on a previous day. Oh well, there's always another project!

When using this layout again, I won't leave as much white space.

More ice out there again today. It was funny watching our cat Critter out on the front side walk...his little paws kept slipping sideways, just like in a cartoon!

Happy crafting!
Sharon

Verve Love Day 4

I really liked today's sketch for the Verve Looking for Love Day 4 release challenge. I actually had started a card with the bottom DP and ribbon several days ago, but wasn't sure what direction I wanted to go, so put it aside. When I saw the sketch, I knew it would work great for what I had started. All DP is from Target $ Spot, as is the ribbon & gemstones (they are heart shaped). I got to use my new nestabilities again. Just love the look they give! Heart is from Studio G, and the word Love is from PTI Mixed Messages. I know I'll make more using this layout. It was easy-peasy once I picked my papers!

I am tired!! Today was my first official day back to work. Icy roads closed us down Tuesday. I also stayed up too late last night reading Twilight. Finished up this evening. I'm one of those people who can't put a book down once I start...helps that I am a fast reader! Had to do that before playing on the computer!! Now...if only the library will have the second one on the shelf tomorrow for checkout!

Happy Crafting!
Sharon

Verve Love

Obviously I love to do sketch challenges. No different this week! I have several that I will be sharing. Julee at Verve is having a "Looking for Love Release Party Challenge" this week for the new sets that will become available Friday evening. One color and three sketch challenges, with prizes to be given away! I've not made my cards in order of the challenges, and won't be posting them in any particular order. This card is for the Day 3 Challenge. I used PTI Sweet Blush for the cardbase, Chocolate, and Kraft on the panels. DP is Basic Grey Bittersweet. Stamp is SU! Greetings Galore that I masked so I could separate the image and sentiment. Unknown ribbon & flower.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Card for Garrett

While clicking away last week, I found a blog by Ellie who is a Chemo Angel for a little boy named Garrett. She has requested cards so she can send a huge box to him in a couple of weeks. Until re-reading her site to get the address, I had forgotten that she is also offering up some awesome blog candy! Go check out her site and help make a little guy smile at the same time. All the details about Garrett & Chemo Angels are over there. Martin Truex Jr. is Garrett's favorite driver in the Nascar series. I've not been out and about to see if I could find any stickers or anything for driver #1, so I found an image online, resized it, and printed it off. Also just printed the sentiment on the computer: Racing by...to speed you to feeling better (inside of card).

More freezing rain/ice today, so school was canceled for daughter and I. Glad I didn't have to drive on the roads, but this means more make-up days when it is nice outside!

Happy Crafting!
Sharon

Valentine Cards

This was made for the Holiday Extravaganza Challenge 12 at SCS. I knew I liked the layout and this was a quick (for me) card. I did not add any layering, as any of my pink card stock shades just didn't look right. Hmmm, chocolate might have worked, but I wanted a card the was for sure light enough to mail without extra postage. The DP is from my new Bittersweet Basic Grey 6x6 pack. Stamp is SU! Quick & Cute. I also inked the edge of the image panel with the same shade that I used for the heart.

Last night I spent a bit of time straightening my work area. There is a counter there!! And, this morning I took a few moments and cut several card bases. This is something I've always said I should do, to help things go quicker when I want to make a card. I won't need to fool around with getting the base ready. I only did white, as I see that being used a bunch in upcoming days for Valentine cards.

This is a card my daughter made this morning. She "helped" cut the card stock and fold (I did the measuring & lining up for her...she used the cutter). She then grabbed an embossed card cover, used a lace heart from a pack I bought at Target $1 Spot to take to school, and also used a stamp from the dollar spot. She "posed" the layout for the photo shoot.

On the inside she used a couple more stamps from the same pack. She said she will add a note to "look on the back" because she used one of the "hand stamped by" stamps I use and added her name.

Happy crafting!
Sharon

Jazzy Inspirations 2

I created this for the second Jazzy Inspirations challenge. This card took me a bit to figure out how I was going to do the red & black. The first piece of design paper looked too much like a summer picnic, the second looked too much like a flannel shirt (not what I think of with jazz music!), and the third time was a charm. It helped that by then, I picked out a sketch for the design, and that enabled me tie everything together. The design paper is wrapping paper from a gift my husband received (love to reuse & recycle!) from his Grandma. Stamp is SU!. Sketch challenge 205 from Splitcoast Stampers was used for the layout.

Happy crafting!
Sharon