Deconstructed Sketch #21

Combined a couple challenges today.  First, the fairly CAS sketch over at Deconstructing Jen.  Then, I also used an animal to fulfill the "animal cracker" challenge at Cute Card Thursday.

 

I wanted to use a while gel pen to accent the "hello," but unfortunately it has dried out and I haven't replaced it yet. I tried to use my white PrismaColor and it worked okay, but just doesn't have the same nice bright clean look.  Adding the white gel pen to my wish list - still on a spending freeze. :(

Time to get on cleaning dinner dishes (spaghetti with clam sauce).  My boys are watching Tooth Fairy on TV.  Just waiting for good ol' 8 p.m. to come around so the boys can go to bed and I can get back to my "real" job - transcription.   And totally off subject, this week, one of my second grader's spelling words is "appreciate."  WOW--I don't know that I had a word that hard until maybe 5th grade? I gotta give it to him, though, he's learned it.  

Have a great night - or day if you are reading this from across the pond! ;)

Mojo Monday 208

When I saw this week's Mojo Monday sketch, I'll be honest and say I was quite perplexed.  I don't know, the design seemed a little disjointed - some sketches seem that way to me - and I was going to pass on it this week.  That is, until I saw the color challenge this week over at SCS.  At that point, I thought maybe I could make this work.  Below is my submission for:
1.  Mojo Monday 208
2.  SCS CC342

I'm kind of on a birthday card kick lately, but I have a lot of birthdays in October and November.  That's it for today.  I have a lot of "real" work to do and then I have a golf date later this afternoon.  Need to get that in while I still can before the weather turns. ;) 

CAS Holiday Cards

Ok...definitely needed a little rebound from yesterday's disaster, which, by the way, thank you to my commenters who tried to make me feel better. ;)  Yep, that card is going to the circular file.  Anyway, today's card is much more my style - more modern, fun.  The tree is made of  scraps of Basic Gray and other holiday papers I've had around a few years.  They are actually concentric circles that are then cut into 6 wedges and viola! you have 6 trees!  I saw this somewhere on SCS, but unfortunately didn't save the card into my favs, so I have no idea who to credit, but I just thought it was so clever and a great way to use up my scraps. I used a kraft base because I thought it made it feel a little more warm and rustic.

 The inside says:

May your hearts be content,

may your spirits be light,

And all of your holiday

memories bright!

 Happy Monday all!

One of THOSE cards...

Have you ever had a card that you had such high hopes for, yet when it materialized it was a complete DUD.  Yep, had one of those today.  I really just want to scrap it, and I still might just do that, but when you spend an hour on a card, it's going on the blog; good, bad, and ugly (in this case the 2 latter).  I started with MME's sketch challenge and then I decided to do SSDS's challenge of using my favorite color, which is GREEN. And then finally I was going to fit in a 3rd challenge, which is using 2+ die cuts for the Design 2 Delight challenge.  Perhaps it was fitting too many challenges, or maybe  restricting myself to 1 brand of DP..I don't know.

All I know is that I prefer something less girly (thanks flowers w/ pearls and lace punch), less old-looking (lace punch again)...or perhaps I'm just not in the holiday spirit yet (one of my 2 pads of MME paper).   What ever the problem is, it is just NOT my style at all and I'm embarrassed to claim it as something I created. In fact, I'm NOT even going to submit it on any of the challenges.  Ugh...can I blame it on my sinus infection?  I must be in a funk, right?

Halloween Bagalope

Every year I try and make something special for the neighbor kids and my kids' close friends for each holiday.  Last year I made Witch's Broom Favors (Martha Stewart) and those were a big hit! This year, I am going a little smaller with a Bagelope (instructions HERE).  I used a standard letter envelope and cut the top with pinking shears.  The flap was stamped with a star background stamp.  The bat was embossed in black on orange paper and then cut out.  Simple, but sweet.

 

One down, about 15 more to go.  Good thing I have about 5 weeks, because right now I am battling a sinus infection and this is it for today.   Have a great weekend!

Deconstructed Sketch #20

Found a new sketch challenge site this morning and fell in love and had to play (when I really should have been working! Shhh...don't tell!)  Anyway, I combined a couple SCS challenges with this one, the color challenge  (turquoise, olive, and pumpkin) as well as the Free 4 All (acknowledging).

 

All righty...better get to work now or I'll be finishing up late tonight, which doesn't make for a fun Friday. :(   Have a great weekend!

Spider Acetate Card

I have this white paint pen that I've been experimenting with.  I initially got it with the hope and intention that it would replace my old, dried up white gel pen, which I LOVED.  I was quite disappointed to find out the paper completely soaked up all the color.  Bummer.  However, in testing it on acetate, it left a bright, vivid white that dried completely and does not smear! All is not lost on that purchase!

This is a 5.25 inch square acetate card.  I used the paint pen to extend the web paper to the edges (don't look too closely - I didn't do a very good job!).  The spider is a rub-on.  I had to put him on white since I didn't think he'd show up on the web paper.  Super easy and quick card to put together!

Mojo Monday 207 meets Timeless Tuesday

So, I really love the layout for this weeks Mojo challenge!  I decided this time to give it a different vibe by making it "all dolled up," which happens to be the Timeless Tuesday  #136 challenge.  I used some pretty MME papers and embellished with some rhinestones and sparkly ribbon.

I think I'll send it to my mom for her birthday. :o)

Mojo Monday 207

Thought I would give Mojo Monday a go this week.  I haven't played that challenge in a couple years!  Anyhow, I have been wanting to use this great cat image from Dustin Pike and the sentiment seemed to go with it, so there you have it.

The card is 5 x 7 and the papers are way old DCWV Retro I am trying to use up. 

More cards to post later!

Scrapbusters and Birthdays

One of my other hobbies is making quilts, though that is something I haven't done in at least 4+ years.  It's just not a feasible hobby with 2 children (1 a toddler) and a full-time job.  I have numerous totes filled with fat quarters and yardage, all waiting to be thoughtfully made into quilts.  My absolute favorite quilts are all scrap quilts.  This style lends itself really well to cardmaking, too.  Really, at what point is a paper scrap too small to use and be tossed?   For me, anything that is at least 1-1/2 inches wide is game to keep.  Using it is another story... until I saw this card on SCS.  Talk about an ingenious way of using up scraps! Here is my version:

So easy to make; just punched hearts outlined in black with faux stitching.   I'll probably save it and send it to one of my young nieces or nephews for Valentines day.  I think I am a CASEaholic.  Is there a 12-step program for that?  

Actually, this next card I did not CASE.  This is a birthday card I made for my sister, whose birthday is next month, 4 days before mine.

Shoot...I've been searching for where I got the sentiment, but so far coming up empty handed.  Will keep looking and edit when I find it.  The image is a Dustin Pike freebie, colored with my good ol' PrismaColors.  I took an white gel pen and dotted around the edge of the Kraft base.

Finally, I have one last card I wanted to share.  As a follower at Create with TLC, I was privy to a goodie image and had time to make something with it.  Thank you, Paulette, for the great image! I hope I did it justice!

--Amy

Halloween in September?

Yesterday, while driving my youngest to daycare for the morning, I noticed a few houses in our neighborhood have their houses and yards decorated for Halloween ALREADY.   Now I'm the first to admit that Halloween is my favorite holiday.  In fact, it is my BIRTHDAY, but, seriously folks, 6 weeks early?!  Different strokes for different folks I guess..LOL  Anyway, who am I to talk? I'm making Halloween cards already!  Here is my first one for the season:

Card Details:   Image:   Freebie from Pixie Dust Studio. Colored with PrismaColor pencils.

                         Flowers:  Punched, curled with stylus, sprayed with GlimmerMist, and black brads.

                         Papers: Black cardstock base, white and black cardstock for matting, web paper unkown, and green/black striped paper is a freebie from Shery K Designs

Some of my favorite cards have a very CAS design.  I was inspired by these cards over at SCS and made a couple of my own.

  

I love black and white with a pop of color.  And I love bright colors if you haven't noticed already.  

That's all I have for today!

Old Hobby, New Blog

I am relatively new the blogging world, so you'll have to bear with me.  I have another blog, which I started a few months ago, but it is completely unrelated.  I thought that my cardmaking deserved a blog of its own.   I have been scrapbooking and making cards since around 2005.  I joined SplitCoastStampers in 2009, but shortly after things on the homefront got a little crazy (new business, new baby) and crafting went on the backburner.  Things have settled down a little and I have a renewed interest in creating.  My goal is to try to use up the hoard I have had sitting in my craft room and buy only what is needed, not wanted.  I have recently discovered digital stamps and papers and have been experimenting with those as well.


So here is my first uploaded card!  The weather has cooled and my favorite season is upon us!

Card Details:  Sentiment (unkown) 

                        Leaves:  Printed from a free coloring page here.  Colored with Prismacolor colored pencils, re-outlined with black Sharpie, and cut out.

                        Paper:  White and black cardstock and Kraft base.

That's all for today!