Merry Christmas

Let's talk about procrastination.  I meant to finish this card last night but felt like doing some other things instead.  Thinking that I will have enough to to complete it this morning, I didn't even jot down how I wanted the card to be made.

This morning I woke up with fragmented pieces of memory of the card.  I lost the vision of it.

Lesson learned.

Like many times before, the card evolved as I was making it.  The sketch was adopted from Merry Monday and the color scheme from Dynamic Duos:

I've chosen green to complete my Christmas card:

It is made of cardstocks only.  It has a card base of Cashmere cardstock, which was stamped repeatedly with the sentiment "Merry Christmas", then it is a Cocoa cardstock square as a mat for the bauble, made with Colonial White base and Cranberry decorative layer.  Finally I made the bow out of New England Ivy cardstock, with the help of Cricut Artiste cartridge.  An pearl accent in the middle of the bow, done!

Blue, blue, blue..........

It's time for another one layer card OLW and this time the challenge is masking.  I've combined this challenge with the sketch challenge presented by Try Stampin on Tuesday:

My card looks very similar to the sketch - using blues, except the color gradient goes from a different direction:

There are 5 shades of blue: Sky, Crystal Blue, Twilight, Indian Corn Blue and Pacifica.  The ribbon has covered up one of the seams, and I think the border between the top two grids was blurry.  Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun to play with sponging and masking!

Happy Crafting!

Base and Shade Stamping

Today I'd like to share a video that shows base and shade stamping - one of my favorite techniques!

A quick announcement and A Halloween card

A quick announcement:

I was a featured guest designer at Paper Crafter's Library!  Click here to see the projects that I shared with the readers there.

I have been a fan of Paper Crafter's Library for a long time and I participate its Makeover Monday Challenge from time to time.  I am very honored to be featured and want to share my joy with you!

So on to the Halloween card I have prepared for today's post.  I based the sketch on the one provided by Skipping Stones Sketch Challenge:

I didn't have a ribbon and a bow, but I've substituted it with a banner that says "Happy Halloween":

Guess why I did that?  After I've cut the pieces I came to realize that the dark green mat was not wide enough for the greeting "Happy Halloween"..........Had I not told you that, wouldn't you think the banner was intentional? 

Thanks for stopping by!

Ho Ho Ho

Even though I should be making cards for Halloween and Thanksgiving, I am more inclined to make something Christmas!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges invites us to join the fun of Christmas challenge and I combined it with the sketch challenge provided by Pal Paper Arts:

I've rotated the sketch clockwise for my Christmas card:

The "Ho Ho Ho" was cut my Cricut Artiste cartridge, easy peasy.  The medallion did take me a while to get it stuck down but nevertheless it does not pop back up anymore. 

The card is an amalgam of traditional colors and whimsical greetings.  How cute!

Alright.  Time to get back to Fall cards.....

Gear Up

Just Us Girls gave us a photo inspiration challenge.  The photo looks like a nursery for a boy:

What really caught my eyes were the colors - how can everything coordinate so well?  Did the parents custom made everything?  The other thing is the pennants on the wall.  So combining these two elements, I've adopted a sketch from The Sweet Stop

to make a musculine card using Dakota paper as background:

This turned out pretty nice.  Thanks for stopping by!

One Layer Fall card

I've tried something new in my one layer card and would like to share with you.  You may recall this card where I've used the Cricut Artiste cartridge to cut "Give Thanks".  At that time, I've cut another one that was too big and so that die cut has been collecting dust on my desk.  You know, it is one of those instances that you think it will come into use one day.

As I am cleaning up my craft desk I came up with an idea: use it as the negative stencil for sponging!  I've used three colors: Honey, Autumn Terracotta and Barn Red in the main panel, and Twilight as the border of the panel.  Another new thing that I've tried is a new tool.  Well, for crafting purposes it is new for me as I have never used it before this way.  It was a makeup sponge that did all the sponging, isn't it cool?  The best part is that I don't use makeup sponge anymore and it is finally "one of those instances" that I could use it!

It is one layer, clean and simple and fall/thankgiving-inspired.

I'm entering this card for the following challenges:
1.  CAS-ual Friday - Fall Fun

2.  Crazy 4 Challenges - C4C155 - Thank you card or Thanksgiving-inspired project
3.  OWL 106 - One layer card with sponging.

In addition, I'll participate in the Gratitude Campaign 2012 hosted by Simplicity. 

Thanks for stopping by!

White on White on White

What is about the White here?

I've made this card using absolutely just white cardstock.  It is just pure white.  Nothing else.  To make the elements pop I've put them on 3-D foam tapes, and the layered elements on the foam tapes as well. 

The idea came from Bitten by the Bug's challenge, which asks us to make a project with things that fly in nature.  I naturally thought of birds, then thought, why not two birds?  So two birds, a wedding card because they are love birds?

I'm also entering this card for the challenge at 2 Sisters Challenge Blog that asks us to incorporate things with wings.  The love birds are just perfect for that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Pink Christmas

I saw the Pink Christmas challenge on Black Tie Friday and thought that it would be a great challenge for me because my Christmas projects are mostly traditional and even the whimsical ones are not pink.  So I thought, give it a try and see how it goes.

I couldn't find my Blush cardstock until I have finished this card, so I used the leftover Baby Pink cardstock as the card base, then cut out the center piece with Art Philosophy, colored the birdie's beanie hat, stamped the greeting and inked the edges:

Christmas-y enough?  I think so.  Here's the challenge badge:

Hop over to see what the design team has created for us and participate this fun challenge!  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamping Across Multiple Surfaces

Today I'd like to share with you a video entitled Spanning the Space.  Let's watch the video and find out what the clear stamps can do for us!

Your generosity astounds

Oops, I think I am coming down with something.  The headaches, sore throat, tiredness tell me that I should be rested.  My brain, however, tells me that crafting is the best antidote to a cold.  So my legs brought me to the crafting area and I started making a quick card for today's post.

My card is based on the color combo provided by Sunday Stamps:

and a sketch presented by Try Stampin' on Tuesday:

My card made use of some OLD paper, called Notebook, which I think was a paper pack launched back in 2008.  Interestingly I didn't buy the paper, and back then I didn't even know about Close to My Heart!  I got the paper in late 2009 when a consultant wanted to share her surplus with others and I still have a couple sheets today!  The twill ribbon is another oldie.  I got it back in 2010 but its neutral color is so versatile and I just can't part with it.  Oh yes, I'm sharing the history to participate in Use it Tuesday challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Every day is an adventure

The challenge at "Just Us Girls" this week is rainbow color challenge. 

I just naturally thought of the this month's constant campaign stamp set It's Your Day and made a calendar with it:

It is a simple card but I think whoever receives it will have his/her day brightened!

A sympathy card

There is a new challenge blog called "Black Tie Friday."  Its first challenge asks us to incoporate three elements:
1.  Black base
2.  Black ribbon and
3.  Butterfly

For some reason a sympathy card came to my mind and thus I've made one for this challenge:

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Fall

According to the Lunar calendar, Mid-Autumn Festival will fall on September 30 this year.  Thus, fall has officially started.

When I think about fall, the turning leaves immediately come to my mind.  That's how I constructed my idea for my one layer card to enter the OLW challenge that asks us to have the theme "Autumn."

This card came together easily - I stamped the leaf in Barn Red, then cut out a square frame for me to sponge the "mat" for the leaf.  After adding a sentiment, the card is done! 

It's Owl time again

I can't resist using the owl from the Spellbound Workshop on the Go kit.  The owl is so cute!

Try Stampin' On Tuesday provides us with a sketch this week:

My card uses the patterned paper from the Spellbound Workshop on the Go Kit:

How can you take your eyes off the cute little owl?

Happy crafting!

For You

Heart 2 Heart Challenge asks us to make a card that is larger than the regular 4.25" x 5.5".  Woo Hoo!  I love large cards!  They just give us more real estate to play with our paper and embellishments,  how fun!

I have chosen the Avonlea paper as the background and used the Slate Satin Polka-Dot Ribbon to make a flower - actually two but I layered them and made them into one.  A Rhinestone Designer Brad in the middle and some Sparkles Flourishes extending from the flower, the card was done.

I had the most fun making the flower.  It looks very elegant and if I were the recipient of the card, I'd love to take it off to convert it to a brooch or attach it to a head band.  So darling cute!

Wait a second.  I could make another one for myself.  What am I waiting for? 

I've also entered the card to the challenges below:
1.  Tuesday Throwdown #115 - You're a Gem
2.  Use it Tuesday - Anything Goes

Swipe and Stamp

Happy Friday!
I just learned a new technique about stamping and would love to share with you.  Watch the video below and you'll learn how to swipe and stamp!  Enjoy!

Let's Hang Out

Continuing my mix and match from yesterday, I'm using the Lucy paper with the new stamp set Pun Fun. 

I'm entering this card for the challenge hosted by Red Carpet Studio, where this week's challenge is a Pun Card challenge.

 and the challenge hosted by Retro Sketches.  It's sketch looks like this:

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out what other bloggers have come up with for the challenges!

Mummy mummy mummy

Mummy x 3

I have 3 mummies on my card:

Just want to create a scene that one mummy is following the other.  Spooky, right?

The card is based on the sketch provided by Fab Friday:

and the color scheme presented by Pals Paper Arts:

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Hauntings!

Mix and Match

One thing that I like to do is to mix and match with whatever supplies that I have on hand.  Sometimes it is mix and match of papers from different sets, sometimes it is the use of a paper that carries a theme but I expand or adopt it for other purpose.

I have a quick mix and match to share today.  It is the time that I clean up the craft area and find that I have a lot of my paper crying "use me."  The sketch I use is one provided by Sunday Stamps:

My Christmas card made use of some old paper and ribbon but a new stamp:

Gotta continue cleaning up my craft area!

Happy crafting!

Mini Card Challenge

Heart 2 Heart challenge is challenging us to make a card smaller than the usual 4.25" x 5.5" - it is all about mini cards!

I can't even remember when I last made them.  February?

But it reminds me that mini cards can be used as tags.  Thus I've chosen to make one in the size of 3"x3" with a Christmas theme.  The sentiment, of course, tells the recipient to expect a gift:

Great alternative for a tag, don't you think?

Materials used:
1.  Colonial White cardstock
2.  Pear & Partridge paper packet
3.  Christmas Joy stamp set
4.  Merry & Bright stamp set
5.  Cranberry Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
6.  New England Ivy Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Oh la la

The sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches is really cute:

I've flipped it 90 degrees clockwise to make my card:

If you are intimated by the "special" colors in the La Belle Vie paper packet, never fear.  The La Belle Vie pink actually coordinates pretty well with the paper from Dakota paper packet.  Bamboo, Black and Barn Red go well with it too.  Seems boring?  I've used some tulle ribbon in the middle panel to give it some interest, raised the bicycle with some 3-D foam tape. 

Materials used:
1.  La Belle Vie Workshop on the Go
2.  Dakota paper packet
3.  Barn Red cardstock
4.  Black cardstock
5.  Bamboo cardstock
6.  Tulle ribbon
7.  Barn Red Excluisve Inks Stamp Pad

One Layer Thank You card

I'm excited to make another one layer card presented by OLW! This time the theme is gratitude - showing it to a person you care. Susan, the blogger at OLW says "It's always fun to send these cards to people you've not had contact with in a long time!"

Yup. It will be nice to send cards to people that I have not been in contact. It will be a great opportunity to re-connect with others! I've made a simple card with three stamps from different stamp sets. I plan on a mass production but with different inks - a little different touch for each person:

 

Materials used:

1.  Colonial White cardstock

2.  Pirouette stamp set

3.  For Every Occasion stamp set

4.  Eclectic Edges stamp set

5.  Slate Exclusive Inks stamp pad

6.  Olive Excluisve Inks stamp pad

7.  Smokey Plum Exclusive Inks stamp pad

Bend it, Curve it, Stamp it

Why do I love My Acrylix stamps from Close to My Heart?  Check out the video below!

Halloween card for a cute kid

I need to make some Halloween cards for some darling kids.  They are all very little so I wanted to use bright colors for them.  Crazy 4 Challenges is challenging us to use a color combo that screams halloween to me:

Then I rotated the sketch from Retro Sketches:

to make my Halloween card:

One of the kids likes purple.  I think this card will go to her.  She is, in fact, the cutest.

Thanks for stopping by!

Give Thanks

A quick post to show you what I did quickly with my beloved Artiste cartridge.

I used Accent 4 of the <Thnkgvng> to make the card base, then trace the oval on a piece of New England Ivy cardstock for the lining.  However, I changed my mind and think that it will give an accent to the card, so I've used the oval on the card front.

Using the same key, I cut out the sentiment "Give THANKS" at 1.5".  Two Goldrush brads were added to give it some interest.  It is done.

Quick and simple, yet an elegant Thanksgiving card. 

I'm using this card to enter the challenge presented by Bitten by the Bug 2, which is asking us to make a Shape Card by cricut.  Go check out what others have come up with!  You'll be inspired!

Thanks for stopping by!

Leaves

Because of the long weekend, I took advantage of the extra time to visit my old friends - my stash.  I saw the stamp set Many Thanks and wanted to try something new with it.

I had this idea because of the challenge over at The Paper Players - it is asking us to create a project with leaves or trees.  This stamp set has many different styles of leaves and I thought I should take the challenge and try it out. 

Then I saw the sketch at Fetch a Sketch:

So I've picked two leaves that are pretty much the same in pattern but different in size to create this card:

I'm happy that the old stamp does blend in quite well with the new Flirty paper.  Glad that I've spent some time with my old friend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Hauntings!

I missed the opportunity to participate in Mojo Monday's challenge last week.  Glad that we have a long weekend and I could make my card for this week's challenge today!

The sketch looks a little intimidating at the beginning:

But once I've decided to make a Halloween card it is not as bad as I thought.  I pulled out the Moonlight Workshop on the Go stamp set and the Spellbound Workshop on the Go stamp set, together with some cardstocks and the retired Dotty for You paper, this card was born:

Who can resist the owl?  It is so cute!

Happy crafting!

Fall Favorites

We are getting into the last four months of 2012!  Fall is approaching!

Close to My Heart's September Stamp of the Month is called Fall Favorites.  It is a set of 11 stamps and all of them are pertinent to the theme of fall.

My card based on the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches :

Two stamps from the set were used:

I just used the Flirty paper as the background, then added the New England Ivy and Chocolate panels.  Finally Cricut Art Philosophy was employed to cut two ovals - one in Colonial White and one in Smokey Plum.  The word "fall" was stamped in Autumn Terracotta and raised by using 3-D foam tape.