One stamp two ways

I love to explore more ways to use the same stamp.  A couple days ago I used the big sentiment stamp on a one layer card.  Today I'm sharing another card that uses the same two stamps:

This time the sentiment was stamped in Ruby and the panel was matted in Ruby cardstock.  The similar thing is that I used the same small background snowflake stamp as the background.  Because I inked it in Whisper and stamped the second generation image, it is really really light.  I like this subtle background as it echoes the polka dots background. 

For the snowflakes I could not have thanked the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge enough.  It helped me cut 10 snowflakes (P.27 of the handbook) at 3 sizes: 1", 3/4" and 1/2".   If you are thinking where I got the coordinating snowflake stamps, look at the same stamp set from Frosted cardmaking Workshop on the Go.  There are three snowflake stamps in the set.  I didn't use the largest one, as it is really large, but I made use of the other two.  These snowflakes do not fit perfectly with the snowflake die cut, but it will work just fine because it is a symmetrical hexagonal shape.  I can't really explain the geometry here, but try it out and you'll see why.

I added some Glitz glitter gel (silver) to the tips and center of each snowflakes and the snowflakes are all sparkling!  Love it!

My card is based on the sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge:

It is also entering the following challenges:
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Craftitude - Anything Goes
Crazy 4 Challenges - Let's Frame It
Crafty Calendar - All Things Christmas
My Besties - Snowflakes or Glitter

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!



MIA

I'm not MIA but I'm afraid posts will become rather sporadic in the next coming weeks.  There are some big changes in my craft area and I am already suffering from the inaccessibility of my supplies.  During this period I'll do my best to enjoy crafting and blogging.

I am in a Christmas in July mood, as suggested by various challenges so I've made this simple Christmas card:

The stamping took me almost forever!  No kidding.  The masking did take me a lot of time.  I took it a step further and tried the alternative colors for each row of words.  It was a bit frustrating at the beginning as I have messed up a lot but eventually I finally got one that can be used on a card.

My card is entering the challenges at Crazy 4 Challenges - Let's get Wordy, CAS on Sunday - Christmas in July and The Paper Players - Christmas in July.

Thanks for stopping by!

I love birthday cards

Yay!  It's weekend and it is time to craft!

Browsing on the internet I found a couple of challenges that I want to participate.  I am just too anxious to get started but too lazy to dig through my supplies so I am going to use whatever is left on my desk.  I've made a birthday card:

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

And don't you love the bright vibrant colors?  They are the exclusive colors from Dream Pop paper!  Love them!

This card is also participating the challenge at Color Dare Color My Heart (use Dream Pop colors), Bearly Mine - Spring/Summer Colors, Crazy 4 Challenges - Summer Inspiration and Friday Mashup - CAS project.  I couldn't do any mashup as I am not a sports fan at all.

Thanks for stopping by!

Re-use

I like starting making a card with a sketch.  I also like to use the same sketch for different purposes.  A great sketch is a great sketch in that it can be used repeatedly for different purposes.

I really like the sketch the Deconstructed Sketch provided a couple weeks back and want to use it for a Mother's Day card. 

This card is entering the following challenges:
1.  The Pink Elephant - Use spring colors
2.  Crazy 4 Challenges - Wooden accent
3.  Black Tie Fridays - April showers bring May flowers

Let's Meet Mr. Snowman

This week, two blog challenges ask that we use snowman on our projects.  I paused and thought, why have I not been using snowman more often?  Perhaps it is rare that where I live snows!

Having said that, snowman-building is fun and everybody loves it.   Before I can meet a live snowman this year, let's meet Mr. Snowman today on my card:

My card is based on Crazy 4 Challenges and The Paper Players that ask us to use the theme Snowman:

and the sketch is based on Fab Friday 07:

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!

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!

A card for a teacher

Even though summer is not over, the feeling of Back to School is already pressing - back to school sales is everywhere.

Why not make a card for a teacher?

I'm using a sketch from The Pink Elephant:

The Paper Players is also challenging us with "Back to School":

So I've come up with a card using the new Scholastic paper:

I'm also using this card for the following challenges:
Paper Pretties - Thank you cards
Crazy 4 Challenges - a card for a teacher

Happy Birthday with Sonoma

I have learned that when I am out of ideas and nothing seems to give me inspiration, go through the stash.
I do not enjoy the frustration that I am sitting alone waiting to be inspired, but I do like going through my stash.  On one hand it always reminds me of the great products that have been waiting to be put to use (it serves a budget control purpose!), on the other hand it does really give me inspirations.  In particular, when I am organizing my craft supplies, the process of sorting things through and putting them in order gives me a different perspective of how to put them to use.  Sometimes I will think of a new stamp set to go with a retired paper packet, sometimes I will want to mix and match different papers, and sometimes I will like to try a bold color combination.  This process could be an adventure!
I had undergone this process and made a simple card after that:

I like this card.  I like that I am using up the scrap pieces and came up with the sketch myself.  Now I can put the measurements in my binder and look forward to using the sketch again!

Materials sued:
1.  Sonoma paper packet
2.  4 My Friend stamp set
3.  The Best Things stamp set
4.  Smokey Plum Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Olive Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Celebrate July 4th in February

Yes we are still in February and yes I am too early to celebrate July 4th.  I found that my American Celebration stamp set perfect for this sketch and so I gave it a try:

This card is so easy to make and I have an idea what the invitation should look like this year.

Materials used (All Close to My Heart products):
1.  White Daisy cardstock
2.  Outdoor Denim cardstock
3.  Tulip cardstock
4.  Outdoor Denim Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
5.  Tulip Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad
6.  Spakles - Clear