Jessica Lynn Swap

So yes, it's been two months since I've made a card! Remembered yesterday that I signed up for a Jessica Lynn Original swap. Since I'm snowed in, I was able to get down to it and make these up real quick!

I used paper from Papertrey Ink, the "Strider the Dog", an older style from JLO, and some Hobby Lobby ribbon. Colored the dog with Copics and cut him out with a rectangle nestie (on sale now at i {heart} papers!).

We've had snow, then more snow, and yet again...more snow! Been able to have several 2 hour delays, and an early dismissal...but still have missed six days of school! But, I have been able to stay up later than normal to watch Olympic events on TV.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Christmas Cards

I think it should be a rule that no one is required to blog in December!!

Here is a shot of what my Christmas cards look like. Finally finished and they are in today's mail. The card is a total case of one Nicole Heady made back in September. Blue is my favorite color, so I fell in love with it right away!

I used my labels one nestability cut in half for the front sentiment, and a paper crimper to make the textured strip along the bottom. I have the ribbon, but decided not to put it on my cards (and it made it a touch faster to complete them!). Cute little crystals are in the center of the snowflakes.

As I was working on putting these together today, I was totally having fun singing along with my new "Glee" CD! Good thing no one could see...or hear me!

In case I'm not back before...Have a Merry Christmas!!

Sharon

Mojo #115

Hi there! Hopefully I'm back in action with the crafting. I've been sick (and tired) the last few weeks, and also lost my voice. I then noticed how much I talk out loud to myself while doing things around the house!

I used the Mojo Monday sketch for my card. A nice one to get things going again. I used Papertrey cardstock, and Basic Grey Lime Rickey for the design paper. My image is Ruby from Jessica Lynn Original. I colored her with copic markers, and cut her out with my Creative Memories circle cutter. The matting was cut with a circle scallop nestabilities and some silver stickles were added for some sparkle. Sentiment is stamped on a ribbon tag nestability.

My November guest spot for i {heart} papers is officially over, but since I was out sick and did not make as many things as planned, I'm going to be like the guest that hangs around a bit longer! There are still a couple of items that I haven't used in a post and I want to be sure to highlight those products also!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Sketch to try

Another November day that's to reach the upper 60's! I think we've normally had some snow flurries by now, but none yet this year! Since it's a warm and sunny day, I went with some bright cheerful colors! A large standard nestability tag was used to cut paper from Basic Grey Lime Rickey for my stamping spot. The bird design paper is also Lime Rickey.

My "Thank you" is from Hero Arts. Bird by Imaginisce (sounds like the ladies on the CMA red carpet Wednesday night: Dress by....) There is a little stickle touch on the bird's flower, and I used my Bow-Easy again. Cardstock from Papertrey Ink.

I used Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try and my brand new Tonic 12x12 paper cutter! It sliced like butter!! Notice I have more layers than normal?? I measured stuff out! (but still did some eye-balling!).

Have a crafty day!

Sharon

Oh deer!

I will admit, I cased a card by Dawn McVey for today's creation. Love her style and use of color! She is one of the first blogs I found when I discovered the blogging world.

What a cute little deer from Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses! I matched him up on some Papertrey Ink card stock cut out & embossed with Labels One nestabilities. I layered some Eskimo Kisses design paper onto New Leaf cardstock. "Noel" is from Dawn's Signature Christmas (finally got it out of it's packaging!) Sparkle added under the sentiment.

While putting this all together, the card base under the deer needed a little something more, and I did lots of playing around to come up with this look. I stamped Versamark ink onto the Impressabilities Snowflake, put that on top of the base and ran it through the cuttlebug. Then, sprinkled with "Bridal" embossing powder. It gives a shimmery, iridescent look to the snowflakes.

Many of the goodies on the card today came in my November guest designer prize package from Kate at i {heart} papers! She has hundreds of items for sale, so be sure to take a look-see!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Snow business

There's no business like snow business, unless it's a warm November day that's predicted to reach 70°! No, that is not normal for the mid-west at this time of year, but I went ahead with my snowman card!

I used Splitcoast sketch 252 along with stamps from Inkadinkado to decorate the outside and inside. Both the rectangle and scallop nesties were used to make the image panel. I used brown ink to sponge along the image panel. Snowman was colored with Copics & pencils. Icicle stickles were added to the snowflakes and the curve of the snow for some sparkle.

Design paper from the Memory Box Dewfrost collection was used along with PTI cardstock. I was very happy to read that the Memory Box paper is from a certified sustainable forest program. Do you recycle your paper scraps?? I have a bag for little pieces in my work area. Makes me feel a bit less wasteful.

My card was finished, but felt like it still needed a little something. I used my Bow-Easy to make the little bow in the corner. How happy it is to be able to make one with the "flat" side on the front! I could never get my bows to turn out pretty until now!!

Well, I had the card and post done this morning, but when I went to preview it...I found out it hadn't autosaved, and lost most of my work! It had to wait until I was back home this afternoon to re-write everything! And it did reach 70 degrees today.

Happy crafting!
Sharon

Fast Birthday card

My daughter has a birthday party to attend this afternoon for a classmate who is turning nine. Originally, she was going to make a card, then decided last minute that she wanted me to do it: no pink, no ribbon, no bows, and nothing fancy were her requests since it is for a boy.

I just cut several squares using nesties, did some doodling around the edge, and my daughter helped hammer for the eyelets.

While she is at the party, I'll visit a craft fair in the same town, and wish I could be at home making something! We've had something every evening this week, and my at home time has been minimal!

Sharon

Brentwood finds a tree

Those little Charlie Brown trees...standing by themselves at the tree farm. You think how cute they could be in some small corner of the house, or a little room. Brentwood thinks the same thing, and brought home this little beauty, plus a wreath.

He is colored with Copics and has some fun flock added to his hat to help keep his ears warm. It does not show in the picture (of course not, because it's very sparkly in person) but I used my clear spica glitter pen on the ornament, the ribbon tag, and words in the sentiment. It reads: Trimming the tree with happy hearts, that's the way the holiday starts. I had used some silver/glitter embossing powder, and it had lots of sparkle & shine, but was harder to read, as it "bled" some. For another small touch of "sparkle" Christmas red (how appropriate!) stickles were added to the berries in the wreath.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Thank You

This is a cute little thank you note to have on hand for when an occasion pops up unexpectedly. The little frog was colored with Copics and cut out with my Creative Memories circle cutter and scalloped nestie. His eyes have some bling for some sparkle. I used Lime Rickey Basic Grey DP, against some PTI New Leaf.

The "Thank You" on the ribbon tag nestie is from a Hero Arts set full of "thank yous" in many different fonts and styles.

This card is also a 'thank you' to Kate for all of the wonderful goodies she sent me for the November Guest Design spot for i {heart} papers.

Happy Crafting!

Sharon

Brentwood goes Trick or Treating!

Brentwood loves to wear silly costumes, so Halloween is a fun time of year for him. I happen to have this Brentwood in digital form, so I was able to play around with size and positioning. I was able to combine two different digital images into one picture.

How did I do it? By watching this video on Card Universe. I took me a bit of time to find where my version of Word is hiding everything, but I figured it out! I inserted my Spookville Lane image first, then added, resized, and moved Brentwood into position.

It does not show up real well, but I used stickles along the bottom border of the roof. Paper is Basic Grey Mellow, spider ribbon from Target Dollar Spot.

The card also uses the sketch challenge from Jessica Lynn Original. There is still time for you to enter!!

Oh my, couldn't forget this bit of information...remember all the Birthday Bash creations I made? I won one of the November Guest Designer spots at i {heart} papers!! I have a box of goodies heading my way! Looking forward to finding out what's in there!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Final Birthday Bash card

Presents have been opened, cake eaten, guests have taken goodie bags home. Now what should you do? Write a thank you note for any gifts received and to the guests who attended the birthday party.

My card uses the same Doodlebug paper line and color scheme that was used for the invitation and table place card. I stamped a Verve "Thanks" in Jardin Moss on a Lablels one nestie. The challenge for day three was to use embellishments. This stumped for a bit, as I messed with some flowers, but they just weren't doing it for me. I decided the Hero Arts pearls were a nice touch.

Below is a picture of the invitation, thank you, and table place card all together. I could have made my goodie bag with the same paper & colors, but I really wanted to put up something that looked different! Most of the party elements have parts that my little helper could assist with, should we do something like this for a real party for her sometime in the future (her birthday was just a couple of weeks ago). I know she would like to help with stickles! She's gotten into them before!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Place card name tag

There will be two posts for today, as I have two final projects for the i {heart} papers birthday bash.

This is a little table place setting name card for the challenge to use papers or stamps that feature food and/or drinks. I used my scalloped nesties to create the place card. I needed a bit more, so I dotted with Magenta Stickles and white Inkssentials pen along the cardstock. I also used the stickles to spell out the name.

You can see how I have the place card standing. I was a bit stuck, and thinking about just leaning it against a stuffed animal, when hubby suggested "making one of those things like on the back of a picture frame". Super idea honey! Thanks! Sometimes when I'm stuck, I use him or the little daughter as sounding boards.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Birthday card

Today's challenge is to make a special birthday card for the i {heart} papers birthday bash.

I used these beautiful Basic Grey Indian Summer design papers paired with some PTI Scarlet Jewel cardstock. They go so perfect together! A pretty little brad with some Martha Stewart pine branch punches. Can you believe I bought the punch last December, and this is the first time I ever used it??? The sentiment was cut out using the regular and scallop nesties.

This is a picture of leaves on my forsythia bush. Don't the colors coordinate with the card above so well? I snapped a bunch of "for fun" pictures late Thursday afternoon around the yard before the winds and rain came to visit.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Designer Paper + Ribbon

Can you guess what today's challenge is for the i {heart} papers birthday bash?? My title says it all! Use some design paper and ribbon on a project for a birthday party.

I made little goodies bags for the guests to take home. No need to send more sugar with the kiddos, try some trail mix! Those little cubes of dried fruit are just as sweet and a tad more healthy. I used my Labels 1 nestabilities along with some Basic Grey Sugared paper to create a little bag topper. The sentiment says, "Smile" as I would want everyone to smile thinking of the fun times they had at the party.

Yards and yards of ribbon will be given away for today's prize! Visit the i {heart} papers blog for further information on how you can win!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

i {heart} papers

Kate at i {heart} papers is celebrating one year of being in business. I must have discovered her within a month of her opening, as I know I made a November purchase! One of the challenges (I'm not doing them in order) is to create a card using a non-traditional fold.

I created a square gate fold card by trimming my card stock 8x4, then scoring at 2" and 6". The design paper is from Doodlebug. I use my Labels One Nestability behind the cupcake. I also used my Spica Clear Glitter pen to add some sparkle to the sprinkles on the cupcake. The butterflies I picked up last spring at Hobby Lobby in the Easter section. They were just opened today for the first time! But for 75 cents, I knew I should grab them even if it took a bit before they were used.

First time for using the fake stitching on a card...it seems to really add a little some extra!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Think Pink

Here is the next of my World Card Making Day challenge cards. This one was sponsored by My Favorite Things on Splitcoast Stampers. They really wanted you to use one of their images if possible, so they were giving away this free digi image.

The challenge was to use pink, black, white, and bling. I have rhinestones on each corner of the image panel, and each side of the sentiment. The ribbons on the ladies tops have stickles.

My class is scheduled to go on an outdoor field trip today, and there is a 70% chance of rain! We are to do a fall hike and make apple cider. I'm hoping the rain holds off...as it's been a few years since I've done this trip!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Paper Garden WCMD Challenge

The challenge from Paper Garden Projects was to make a project inspired by some of your favorite things about fall. Well, I love my new Brentwood stamps from Jessica Lynn Original that just arrived Thursday (happy mail!).

I colored Brentwood: Thanksgiving Turkey with Copics & Bic Mark-it pens. The sentiment is also from the same set. The DP, burlap swatch, and pumpkin spice cardstock are all from GinaK Designs Signs of Autumn StampTV kit. Base is PTI.

So....did anyone else make several cards Saturday for World Card Making Day? I worked on challenges on Splitcoast Stampers (along with this one), and will be posting those throughout the upcoming week. I was really on a roll...which made me happy since I'd been on such a dry spell!

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Color challenge

The challenge this week for Victoria Case is to use hot/dark pink, orange, and white. Love the "hot" summer colors! But, I had to search hard to find some orange DP. The only other that I could find was a sheet of #20 Tony Stewart paper for a scrapbook page. Saving that for some pictures from a race, and of his cars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

The pink paper is all from Papertrey Ink, as is the pink DP. I used a white Inkssentials pen to make the dots around the cat, and to try some highlights on the bow. Sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy.

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Brentwood Bee

Ah...the joys of summer: bug bites all over! I have several that are having a bad reaction this time, and have blistered up-ouch (sensitive skin kiddo here). At least there haven't been any bee or wasp stings yet!

Well, cute little Brentwood Bee won't sting, he'll just buzz around to say, "Hi!". This little guy is set one for a Jessica Lynn Original swap that I'm participating in. I'll share the other set another night. I've just not been too productive craft wise this summer, so I'm trying to spread out some of what I have made.

Going to a friend's house for lunch tomorrow, and pool time if it's not storming! Last time I was there, I tried getting on the floaty lounge raft...what a site! I kept flipping off. I provided giggles for everyone :-)

Happy crafting!

Sharon

Release Day

First, to answer a couple of questions.... Yes, I took the picture in my blog header. It's from a nearby state park, taken last summer following an afternoon thunderstorm. No editing of colors or cropping of shot was done...what you see is what I took! On that same outing, I saw three fox pups, one deer, and a rainbow!

Okay, on to the cards for today! Modern Sugar Blvd. is releasing quite a few images and "accessories" today in their store. Here are two more using new stuff. The first one is another gal for the "Doodler" line. I went with a clean & simple look for this card. The image panel is up on foam dots (I'm using those a lot, lately!). Sentiment is "Live your bliss" from PTI Mixed Messages.

The second card uses the gal, tanning lotion, and beach umbrella. I colored the image with Copics and Bic Mark-its'. The "relax" was printed from the computer.

Happy crafting!

Sharon