In a rush

Happy Labor Day Weekend to those who live in the States!  Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

I was having a busy week at work as it was the last week of the month.  This weekend will hopefully be restful and playful.  I have been thinking about what to do with this sketch from Sketchbook Saturday Challenge:

Iwona has presented her card with a gorgeous gradation of colors using distress inks.  Some other entries have various ways to represent the stripes of colors in the sketch.  I was hoping to use a border stamp and colors in the same family to create that effect, but alas, when I got home tonight I realized that I have about 3 hours to finish making the card and blogging it.  I dug out my border stamps and tried.  That didn't work.  Clock is ticking.  O.M.G.  (Boy, it feels so young when I say OMG!)

I do not want to miss the opportunity so I took the short cut.  Let's forget the stripes for now, and perhaps this weekend I'll get some time to experiment it.  Since I've settled on the colors, I decided I'll make pretty flowers.  I've used the new Memory Box dies (I have got a lot of loot from its new release) to create my flowers.  I ran the die a couple of dies and carefully did a "surgery" on the cuts then I "stitched" them together (we use super glue in real surgery now, so stitch is quite the right word), creating these yellow flowers with pink borders and green leaves.  The most difficult part, in my opinion as an inexperienced "surgeon", is to glue the pieces well - exactly in the right place with the exact amount of glue.  I have yet tried my Xyron but next time when I'm not in such a hurry I will try it out with thin cuts.

Have I mentioned that I love making birthday cards?  I thought about putting the sentiment on a banner but eventually I chose to emboss it with black powder to pop it up.  I think the dark colored sentiment adds a nice touch to the card.

My card is also entering the following challenges:
1.  Dutch Care card challenges - birthday wishes
2.  Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
3.  Happy Campers Challenge - Use a Stamp
4.  A Creative Romance - CAS card
5.  Stampin for the weekend - Colors of Summer
6.  Challenges and Candies - Colors, scents and tastes of summer
7.  Aud Sentiments Challenge - Any sentiments

Thanks for stopping by

A Scarecrow

To take a break from Christmas cards, I've switched to Fall/Thank you cards.   Even though I love Christmas and making Christmas cards, I feel bad that I do not have enough Fall cards.  Sometimes it feels that Thanksgiving is buried between the shopping for Halloween and Christmas, and sometimes it is just a rush for the feast plus Black Friday shopping.  It actually means much much much more than that!

When I first got my new goodies from the current Close to My Heart idea book, I played with the Huntington paper by creating a two-page layout.  This paper pack is gorgeous!  Thanks to the Make it From Your Heart guidebook my layout took us much shorter time than expected but it turned out beautifully. I'm sure it will be enjoyed for the years to come.

My fall card is making use of this lovely fall paper.  It has a big scarecrow on it:

It is based on the sketch from Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge:

I wanted to play along the Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Make a scene so I dug out all the stamps I have to pick an appropriate one.  I think it is time for me to make an index for my stamps.  I think this scarecrow makes a good one for the challenge.

My card also made use of the ideas from Creative Creations Bingo Challenge:

My card is entering the following challenges:
1.  Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade bow
2.  Kaboodle Doodles - Season of Fall
3.  Paper Playtime - use pearls
4.  Lady Anne's Challenges - Anything Goes
5.  Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
6.  The Male Room Challenges - The Great Outdoors

Thanks for stopping by!

A Cupcake

Last week I mentioned that I have not had much success with using Tim Holtz's products on a girly project.  I guess I can now announce that I've overcome that challenge.  Check out this cupcake card:

I based the card on the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday:

I have been wanting to use this cupcake image for a while but just didn't have the occasion for it.  A little girl's birthday is coming up and I think she will like it!  I heard that she likes pink!  That's actually how I tried to use this image on a girly card - using feminine colors.  Purple background and pink mat with a pink cupcake, and pom pom ribbon, so even though the pink mat cardstock was heavily distressed and the image can be used either way, this card turns out very feminine.

My card is also entering the following challenges:
1.  Card Mania - Ribbon
2.  Craftin Desert Divas - Anything Goes
3.  Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
4.  Crafty Sentiment - Get it Girly
5.  Timeless Tuesday - In Distress

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello birdie

I love having birds on my cards, all kinds of cards.  When Close to My Heart released the stamp called Perfect Fit - Holidays last year, I was over the moon.  It appears to be perfect for card-making, but it also provides a lot of possibilities for home décor and gifts.  A good example can be found on p. 78 of the current idea book.

I thought of this stamp because my friend is teasing me that I only use a particular birdie, and to prove my friend wrong I'm using this set today.  I've made a Christmas card:

It is based on the sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge:

J'm replacing the flowers in the sketch with circles.  For the layer beneath the flowers I've used the Tim Holtz Snow Flurries on the edge die.  The birds were colored with color pencils.  I wish I could color like those certified experts with shading and lighting but I'm happy with color pencils now, just to satisfy my coloring crave.

My card is also entering the following challenges:
1.  ABC Challenges - No Flowers
2.  Cards in Envy - Birds
3.  Created with Love Challenges - Anything Goes
4.  Eureka Stamps challenge - Sentimental
5.  Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Anything Goes
6.  Make it Monday challenge - Anything Goes
7.  Vintage Stamping - Things with wings
8.  Fashionista - Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!

Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow

I can't get this song out of my head!
But I like these upbeat songs, they keep my spirits up too!

I was thinking about this song because of the challenge at Heart 2 Heart - Sing a little song for me.  And as I've promised myself to make at least two Christmas cards a week from now on, I started my plan on Christmas cards.  I found out this old stamp set that has the words "let it snow" so I thought it would be perfect for the challenge.

Then I went on to get other stamps that match with the sentiment.  A penguin from the new hostess rewards set, I thought.  I went on to look for a sketch and I found this from Sketch Saturday:

 

To match with the Christmas theme I've decided to replace the bars with snowflakes.  I think the snowflakes are cute with the little penguin!  On to the lines across the bars in the sketch, I've used some stitching to secure the snowflakes.  Just a note about the snowflakes, this set was launched long before Close to My Heart's Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, but believe it or not, the snowflake shape works almost perfectly with this stamp while cut at 1".  The only imperfection is that there is a dot on the image that's missing.  Well, had I not told you about this, I bet you'd never known that there was such a dot as part of the image.

 

 

I paper-pieced the penguin's hat and his tie so he has some color rather than pure black.  To add a little more interest, I've used liquid applique on his hat and the pom-pom.  Liquid Applique remains one of my faves for winter cards - a little effort, a big impact.

My card is also entering the following challenges:

1.  Crafty Hazel Nut's Christmas challenge - Cute

2.  Christmas card challenges - punches

3.  That Craft Place Ltd Challenges - Stitch real or faux

4.  Crazy for Challenges - animals

5.  Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Sew-N-Sew

6.  613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

7.  C is for challenge - Animals

8.  Cutie Pie Challenge - Anything Goes

9.  Color Dare - Sky and Pacifica

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!



A wedding card

I meant to play the sketch at Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge since I first saw it but the distractions are endless!  First the recovery from a cold has been really slow then my right eye got an infection and it was so red and swollen and heavy that I could barely open my eye.  That's when I started to play with the Cricut Craft Room, which got me addicted to it.

As I was contemplating what to do with the tag in the sketch, I also used the Cricut Craft Room to customize the size to fit the new couple.   Before I go further, let's look at the sketch:

I have been thinking what to do with the square in the middle but I've eventually replaced it with the silhouette of a couple:

The couple was cut at 4".  So when I cut the tag I used the Craft Room to get to the size just right.  At first I thought I should cut the bride a little shorter, but I think now they look just perfect. 

My card is entering the following challenges:
1.  Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - Rectangle Cards
2.  Crafty Calender Challenge - Anything Goes
3.  Just Inspiration Challenges - the picture inspires me to make a wedding card!
4.  Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes
5.  Card Makin' Mamas - Black, White plus one color.

Thanks for stopping by!

Glowing Candles

I have been trying to make Christmas cards to avoid the crazily busy holiday season.  Having said that, my progress is much worse than last year.  In order to push myself to work harder on Christmas cards, I bought some Christmas wafer thin dies from my local craft store.  Now that I have new toys, there is a good reason to focus on Christmas cards.  (Whatever you say, if you think that I am giving myself an excuse to buy new toys, that's not incorrect..........)

I've picked up the Memory Box Growing Candles die, and made this card:

I like traditional Christmas cards, perhaps I need more traditional ones than Christmas ones so this image is perfect for such a card.  The oval was cut by Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  Using the Cricut Craft Room, I have customized its size to fit the glowing candles.  Even though I have only used the Cricut Craft Room a couple of times, I have benefited quite a bit from it and will continue to learn how to use it.

My card is based on the sketch from The Sweet Stop Challenge Blog: 

My card is also entering the following challenges:
1.  Oldie but A Goodie Challenge - Embossing [sentiment heat embossed with gold embossing powder]
2.  Flutter by Wednesday - Embossing
3.  A Gem of a Challenge - anything with a "b" [bow]
4.  The Hobby House Challenge - Christmas
5.  Totally Gorjuss challenge - Bows
6.  Sister Act Card challenge - Anything Goes
7.  Addicted to CAS - Holiday

8.  Jingle Belles - Saint Nick-Tac-Toe [I've chosen die cut, red or green, and heat embossing]

Thanks for stopping by!

A CAS birthday card

Today's card is all about FLOWERS:

To tell you the truth these paper flowers have been forgotten, but I came to rescue them in time before the summer ends (To tell you the complete truth, I'll have to make more cards like this before the summer ends and I think you know why........Shhhh.........)

How did I come to remember these flowers?  Thanks to the sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge:

When I saw this sketch I was so excited because of the hexagons.  Hexagons are so on trend and I do rave about them.  Having said that, what really came to my mind was flowers and butterflies.  The next thing I knew was the packet of paper flowers at the bottom of my drawer.  Bingo!  Just a couple of them and some bling, my card was almost done  I added a little lagoon strip of paper at the bottom to balance it out.  Interestingly I didn't make it flush with the bottom.  It's definitely something new to me as I cannot explain why but I like it. 

My card is also entering the following challenges:
1.  Fashionable Stamping Challenges - CAS
2.  CASology - paper (I was thinking about paper flowers!)
3.  Crafty Sentiments - Colorful
4.  Addicted to Stamps and More - CAS
5.  CAS on Sunday - Floral Fantasy

Thanks for stopping by!

When new meets old

Today's card is a blend of various items.  I've used my newly acquired Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Clockwork stencil and my super duper old metal sentiment happy birthday.  I believe that it was bought six or even seven years ago.  It came in a pack of five but I have only used one before today.  Am I saying it shamelessly?  No no no........how I wish it had been all used within the first year of purchase.

I've also used a lot of scraps, as all paper strips came from my scrap paper box.  I really like it when I can put those pieces into use as I feel bad enough with my huge pile of paper.  My card is a masculine card:

I quickly decided that it will be a manly one because I wanted to use the color combo from ColourQ challenge:

Oh of course the clockwork stencil prompts me to make a manly card.  So far I have not had much luck in using Tim Holtz's materials on girly projects.  I'll keep trying!

My card is entering the following challenges:
1.  Tuesday Throwdown - Use your scraps
2.  Shopping Our Stash - Oldest Hardware
3.  Through the craft room door - Anything Goes
4.  Craft-room challenge - Something new

Thanks for stopping by!

Another color combo

I am challenging myself with another color combo today!

The color combo is one that I would have never thought of myself - Aqua, Green and Orange from CAS-ual Fridays:

My card only uses the colors above, plus white in the Close to My Heart palette - Sky, Lagoon and Goldrush.  They are the closest colors I can find in the palette.

These bright colors are really bold and vibrant so I would put them on a birthday card.  Then I thought the arrows are so on trend right now, why not give them a try?  Oh the mini-starbursts?  Don't they deserve the spot to show the explosion of happiness in bright orange?

My card also enters the challenge at The Paper Players' One Layer card challenge:

and OLW at Maskerade - Lunatic Fringe. 

Thanks for stopping by!

A color combo

There is a color combo that I have been trying to play but keep forgetting about it.  When I was staying in this past weekend, I took out my ink pads and paper and started playing with it.  The colors are light blue, light and dark purple, light and dark brown.  Tricky, huh?

I was very close to giving up until I finished this acceptable version:

Color challenges are difficult but I will keep trying!

My card is entering the following challenges:
1.  Craftin' Boutique - Anything Goes
2.  Stampin for Weekend - Butterflies
3.  Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
4.  Come and Get It Challenges - Things with wings
5.  Seize the Birthday - Birthday

Thanks for stopping by!

Is it feminine or masculine?

Who can believe that I have got a cold while we are in the summer?  Honestly I cannot, even though my throat is sore and my temperature is a tad bit too high.

So I am staying in, trying to relax and get some rest.  I started my relaxing day with a movie but it was rather boring so I didn't enjoy it.  I just couldn't stay in bed all the time!  So I turned to my craft desk.  Alas, I got so excited that I totally forgot to take my medication.  Shhhh~~

I like the card a lot.  The bright colors are perfect for birthday and the images are fun and cute.  At the end I added bakers twine and a bow.  Then I thought, now that the bow may have changed the "gender" of the card.  Is it a feminine or masculine card?  What do you think?

I have decided that it will be great for a kid. 

I've adopted the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping:

The color combo came from Color My Heart Color Dare - Buttercup, Lagoon and Pear.  So glad that I tried it out as I would have never thought of something like this.

My card is also entering the following challenges:
1.  Kitty Bee Designs - Birthday
2.  Amusing Challenge - Birthdays
3.  Seize the Birthday - Birthday

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Holidays

A quick post today as I have to leave in about 10 minutes!

Even though the post will be done fast I must say that when I saw the sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge I have been having about five million thoughts about the kind of card I wanted to make.  My first thought was a Thanksgiving card, then a Birthday card, but after I realized that my Thanksgiving paper has gone to my scrapbook project I had to switch it to a different one.  Note to myself - try not to have too many ongoing projects at the same time, it muddles up thoughts and preparation of materials!

I eventually finished the card this morning.  It is a Christmas card:

I like that it is simple and can be mass produced for the Christmas season!  The sketch looks like this:

My card also enters the following challenges:
1.  Just Add Ink - Snowflakes
2. Creative Corner - Anything Goes
3.  Creative Finger - Anything Goes
4.  Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
5.  Fun Day Friday - Anything Goes and
6.  Sister Act card challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrate Today... SMILE

I'm continuing to use the sketches in Make It From Your Heart Volume II for my projects.  Love the convenience of having the sketches AND the dimensions of each piece.

My card uses one of the sketches in the book:

The Laughing Lola paper has really vibrant and unique colors.  I think it can be used for a girly layout but also a Halloween project!  Who doesn't like versatility?

My card is entering the following challenges:
1.  Heart 2 Heart challenge - Sentimentally Yours
2.  Color My Heart Color Dare - Laughing Lola Gold, Purple, Blue and Gypsy
3.  Belli Challenge - Glitter
4.  Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
5.  Crafts and Me Challenges - Anything Goes
6.  Lady Anne's Challenges - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to scrapbooking

Once I received my Close to My Heart Artbooking cartridge I became so excited that I dug out my old pictures and scrapbooked.  It was really easy peasy to get my two-page layout done.  I would really love to share my pages but alas, I haven't figured out a way to take a picture of them. 

Scrapbooking was one of the reasons I started my paper crafting journey.  It remains a difficult thing because I first have to have decent pictures to scrapbook, then have the time to develop the pictures , after that it's the right paper to match with the pictures, and finally it's such a big project that it could be a turn-off when I get to my craft desk. 

When I'm frustrated at my scrapbooking project I turn to a quick fix - card making.  It is equally fun but less stressful.  I also love to use those scraps from scrapbooking projects on my cards.  But now that I have the Artbooking cartridge I am seriously thinking about carving out time for scrapbooking purpose, otherwise my pictures get piling up and I will bury myself in them, instead of burying myself in my craft supplies.  LOL.

Before I become too serious about my scrapbooking mission, I must share a card I made with some new and old supplies:

I got the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge:

I love this sketch and I see myself using it a lot in the near future!

My card is also entering the challenge at
Bearly Mine Challenges - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments - Dies and Punches and
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes.

Now I have to think whether I should go scrapbooking or cardmaking.  Help me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inspiration

I like to seek ideas and inspiration from everywhere, but I must admit, new products give me a lot of inspiration and that means my wallet should find its own inspiration to fill up itself.  LOL.

I got the new ZIG glitter pen and wanted to try it out badly.  Its appearance reminds me of a mascara (no kidding!) and it works like a waterbrush, except that its contents were filled with fine glitter glue instead of water.  

I got the clear glitter and I'm going to tell you my first impression about it.  How about taking a look at the card that made use of it?

My poor camera and photography skill cannot capture the glitter well, but if you see streaks on the trees and the house, they  are places that the glitter was applied.  Interestingly when I tip the card towards the light no streaks are shown and in fact I see an evenly spread layer of glitter, but somehow if you look at it from bird's view the streaks can be quite obvious. 

I love to rub against glitter.  No, it's not my hobby but I hate the recipient of my card complaining about the glitter falling off or their kids accidentally have glitter all over their faces and hands.  After letting it dry overnight, I rubbed the surface. Some glitter did land on my fingers, but mind you, I was rubbing very hard on it. 

The glitter pen is easy to use, the tip is so fine that you don't even need a steady hand.  Look, I didn't have any problem to put it on the tips of the trees.  Like its packaging suggests, it's good for letters and even writings.  I am pretty satisfied with it but I'll use it a couple more times before I give my verdict. 

My card is based on the sketch from Lunchtime Monday Sketch Challenge:

and it is entering the challenge at
Craftin' Boutique Challenges - Christmas challenge
Weekly Christmas Card Challenge - Evergreen Trees and
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Glitter.

Thanks for stopping by!