MFT Sketch Challenge #296

I finally had some time to get in my craft room this weekend! I actually made 4 cards and it felt wonderful :) I made two for this sketch challenge, so you'll be seeing the next one tomorrow morning since there isn't much time left! I also finally inked up some of my new sets I got from several releases ago, which is a good thing since I know I'm going to be getting some new goodies from the release tomorrow!

I used my distress inks, I definitely need some practice with them, but I sort of got the look I was going for.

All stamps: MFT

Cardstock & Patterned paper: PTI

My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #264

Well, I missed last week's challenge, but for good reason...I was in Alabama visiting my sister and her family! I had a great time, and I wanted to make them a note to let them know what a wonderful trip it was, so I broke out some of my new MFT stamps and got busy with this week's sketch. I actually ended up creating two cards with the sketch (I'll post the second one tomorrow).

Stamps: MFT Sweet Safari

Mama Elephant Sunday Sentiments

Die: MFT

Patterned Paper: SU

Cardstock: PTI

Lawnscaping Challenge #65

 

Something pretty exciting happened recently...we got new neighbors! And not only are they close in age to us, the wife is from Florida, like me, AND she's having her first baby!! She just found out a week or so ago that she's having a boy (just like us!) and they're naming him after his dad (and other dads before him). He will be Ed the 5th. She is decorating his nursery with an animal theme and painting it green, so that is where I got the idea for my card. It was really fun to make. We also got baby Ed a cute little outfit to go along with the card as well. I'm entering this card into this week's Lawnscaping challenge which is to use your favorite supplies to create a project. So I used Lawn Fawn stamps, letter dies, burlap, and those cute wooden stars.

 

 

So as of today I'm officially 9 months pregnant...wow! Until recently time has been dragging on...I never thought we'd get here. But of course now I'm thinking, "Sonny, don't come early!" We're having construction done in the house and have been living in the camper in our backyard for a month now, and although I know he'd never remember that he came home to a disaster at his house, I don't want to bring my new baby into the mess, so keep your fingers crossed that he doesn't come early and that the contractors get their act together and get our house complete!

 

 



Paper Smooches Sparks Cool Shades January 2013

 

Its my favorite day of the week...my DT Sparks post! The colors were fun to use this time :) I used "Nine Lives" for this card. I also used the large scallop die from PTI, denim ribbon from SU, cardstock from PTI and Bazzill, and pearls from Q&Co.

 

Here's a look at the fun colors this week:

 

 

Okay, now I'm looking forward to checking out what the other DT members have to share! Check them out here:

 

Ashley Marcu - www.cherryhilldesign.blogspot.com

Lori Tecler - http://inkingaloud.blogspot.com/

Nina Yang - http://waffleflower.com/

Savannah O’Gwynn - http://www.savannahland2.blogspot.com/

 

So what are waiting for?? Come and play along with us this week here!

Lawnscaping Challenge #43: Texture

I decided to play along with the Lawnscaping challenge again this week, and I made a birthday card for my niece, Autumn, who is turning 1 this week!

This week's challenge was to use texture on your card. So I used my new SU houndstooth embossing folder on one of the strips, and then used some burlap from 7Gypsys. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches, the cute fall paper is from October Afternoon. The leaves are from Paper Smooches "Autumn Grooves." The double ended banner die and the cardstock is from PTI, and the ribbon is from SU. I think this card turned out really sweet :) Speaking of my niece, she's coming up here with my sister for a visit next week and I can't wait!

Paper Smooches Sparks Trend Watch: Oct. 2012

Last post tonight, I promise! This card is for this week's Sparks challenge. The theme was woodland creatures and this neat inspiration photo:

So obviously I kinda liked the tree and wanted to recreate it ;) I used "Autumn Grooves" for the base of the tree and "Reflections for all the neat flourishes and leaves. The sentiment is also from "Autumn Grooves" and the little fox (my woodland creature) is from "Smoocheroos." I really think that the tree turned out pretty neat! The ribbon is from SU and Michaels. 

Okay, its been a long weekend, now I'm really going to bed ;)

Lawnscaping Challenge #42: Getting Texty

I pulled out one of my two Lawn Fawn sets to play along with this week's challenge, using text on your card. So I used text in the patterned paper (the newsprint, and even in the dots there is text!) and then with the PTI letter dies to make "meow." Because of the colors in the My Mind's Eye paper, I decided to make my tree a fall one...we are starting to see real fall foliage up here and I love it!

So as I said above the stamps are from Lawn Fawn, papers from My Mind's Eye, cardstock from PTI, and dies, and the twine is from the Twinery. The pearls are from Q & Co. Hopefully your week has been off to a great start so far!

Young Crafters Unite #13

I've had Young Crafters Unite in my menu bar for quite some time now, but I've never gotten around to playing. When I saw that I still had some time left for this challenge, I decided to make a quick card to link up before the close. This month's challenge was hot trends, so I used washi tape.

This card was inspired by a card that Nichole Heady made during this month's PTI release. She used patterned paper in different colors for the strips. When I saw it, I knew right away I wanted to try it with all the target washi tape I have. So the above is what I came up with. The die is the PTI Christmas Label die, the bird and sentiment are both from Paper Smooches. The mini library clip is from Stampin' Up. Sorry for two posts in one day, but I want to get this card up before the inlinkz closes :)

CASual Fridays #69

Edited to add my new and improved photo! I figured out how to edit the background from my Canon to make it look white! I am very happy with how the photo turned out :)

One of my friends suddenly lost her cat last week. One day she was fine, the next she was acting strange, so my friend took her to the vet, and she had a heart attack :( I know how much my pets mean to me, so I know how terribly she must be feeling. I made this card for her using this week's CASual Fridays challenge which is to use embossing.

I know I've been talking about it a lot, so here it finally is...my new light box! I made it out of white foam board taped together with painter's tape. The 3 lights on the top are 120 watt daylight flood lights that are clipped to the foam board. I can't believe how bright it makes the card! That was my first step. Next I need to learn how to use the Canon Rebel 300 that my mom gave me when she upgraded. Anyone have one and have any tips? The above photo is still on my phone because I couldn't get the one from the camera to look white enough. Anyway, you will be seeing more changes in my photos in the coming weeks. Any advice is always appreciated! Here's a pic of my new box in action:

Here is a funny story...I just went to get those lights from Home Depot, and that is it. Well, when I got home and Phillip saw what they were he was like that cashier must have thought you were going to grow marijuana, because those are the lights they use! I was like oh my gosh, how embarrassing! But then I thought I was "saved" because I went through the self checkout...and he's like "I bet everyone who buys those goes through self checkout." LOL!

So anyway, I used an older SU set on my card. The doily is from PTI, the patterned paper from My Mind's Eye. The embossing folder is from SU, and the twine from the Twinery. The little label punch is also from SU.

Retro Sketches #25

Last night, Jen came over for our weekly stamping night, and I got busy with some of my new stuff! Here is a thank you card I created with two of my new Paper Smooches stamp sets that I got with some birthday money, and paper from a My Mind's Eye paper pack my mom got me :)

Here is the sketch I used for this card. I changed it up a little bit, but the sketch is still there.

The horse silhouette is from the "Buckaroo" set and the sentiment is from the "Chit Chat" set. The frame behind the horse is from the PTI polaroid set that I ordered with this month's release items. I already cut out the polaroid for another card (you'll be seeing that soon as it's my PTI blog hop card!) and it was just sitting there, I thought, humm maybe I'll use this ;)

I used a Copic to outline parts of the letters so that they really pop. The buttons, ribbon, and cardstock are all from PTI.

This card came out with a real south western, Arizona type feel, what do you think?

Paper Dolls Challenge #51

Hi everyone! It was my turn to host this month's challenge over at The Paper Dolls. It's my birth month, so I decided to make a birthday card challenge, with a twist...use birthday wrapping paper on your card! So here is my creation:

As you can see, I used my SU circle punch to cut out a couple of the cakes from the wrapping paper.

Paper Smooches front and center, of course :) 

I colored the sweet dog with Copics. That is a PTI Mat Stack behind him, and PTI cardstock, and the PTI double ended banner die for the sentiment.

The little pearls on the cake are from Recollections. The Twine is from the Twinery.

PTI actually had a challenge for the blog hop last December to use left over wrapping from your Christmas gifts and I had fun doing it, so I thought it would be fun to repurpose this challenge into a birthday one. If it sounds fun to you, please join in and play along with the Paper Dolls, here!

Retro Sketches #23

"Oh so happy to have you in my life." That is the way I feel about my good friend, Ann, who just took me out to dinner to celebrate my upcoming birthday. I love those words on the cute strip from the My Mind's Eye paper pack.

I used this week's Retro Sketches sketch:

And of course Paper Smooches stamps :)

Whimsical for sure. Hope you are having a good week, off to bed for me :)

Freshly Made Sketches #46

This incredibly adorable owl is from the brand new Paper Smooches set, "Spookalicious." I was taking a PS class at my local stamp store and browsing, they had this set before it was even released online! I had to have it :)

Here is the sketch I used for my card:

So all those buttons? To cover up some clouds I stamped, but didn't like. I think the buttons turned out cute :) They're from PTI. The sentiment I created using the Paper Smooches "Alphadot" set.

The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye, and the Mat Stack is from PTI (Mega #5). The double ended banner die is also from PTI.

The scallop punch is from SU and the cardstock all PTI.

I'm very pleased with the cuteness factor in this card. I'll also enter it into the Guest Designer search for Paper Smooches that just opened up today. One day I am going to get a Guest Designer spot!

Make It Monday #73

I can't tell you the last time I played in a Make It Monday...but this one was quite easy...and the Farm set still sitting on my desk needed some love. I created this card:

The challenge was to stamp on patterned paper. The yellow paper is from PTI. The other two patterned papers are from a My Mind's Eye paper pack. I stamped the animals and "100% homegrown" on the yellow and stamped the chicken wire on the gingham patterned paper (where it says "Herd It's Your Birthday!")

The twine is from Lawn Fawn.

I have a couple of birthdays this month, and this is a more masculine card, it may go to my Father in Law, or my Uncle. We'll see :)

Paper Smooches Sparks: Designer Drafts June 2012

So here is the idea that I was telling you about that I had for this PS eagle from the "Circle of Honor" set...I recently received the Amuse set "Wish you were here" and thought that the eagle would look perfect in front of the US...I think it turned out pretty cute :)

This card is using the sketch from this week's Paper Smooches Sparks challenge:

The twine is from the Twinery and the patterned paper I used is from an October Afternoon pack called 5 & Dime (I got this for seriously cheap at the yard sale I went to last weekend!) The sentiment is also from the Circle of Honor set. The tea dye duo ink is PTI and so is the cardstock. The ink for the US is from SU.

I haven't been around as much lately as I'd like. I've been really busy with work and my volunteer group (that I'm now the president of!) but also, I got to meet Michael J. Fox on Friday night! We had a photo opportunity with him, also, so as soon as I get the photo I'll share it with you all and tell you more about the awesome experience :) But because of all of this, I also have a pile of unfinished Father's Day cards on my dining room table :( One of my stamping friends is coming over tomorrow and I will not stop until I finish them and they WILL be sent out tomorrow!