52 Christmas Card Throwdown - July Pick a Previous challenge

7 Responses »
Jul 302016

Hello!  It’s the fifth Saturday of the month of July, and that means at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, it’s “Pick a Previous” week!  This time we’re asking our participants to choose a 52CCT sketch from 2016 and create a card based on it.

I picked the sketch from February.  I gave the vertical strip an extra mat compared to the way the sketch is drawn, just to help highlight more of the colors in the designer paper. I layered glittery felt snowflake stickers for the large embellishment element of the sketch and added a rhinestone in the center for a little extra sparkle.  It was a quick and easy card, and it’ll go into the stockpile I’m creating for Send a Smile 4 Kids.

52CCT 07-30-2016

I’m also planning to submit this into the “something tactile” challenge at Less is More.

The rest of the design team and I are looking forward to seeing which of our sketches from 2016 you’ll select for your own card.  Be sure to link it to the challenge post by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, August 5.  We’d love to have you join in the fun and creativity!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Supplies:
Stamps: Critters in the Snow (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Mint Macaron, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo (Stampin’ Up); designer paper from Holly Jolly Christmas 6″ x 6″ paper pad (Echo Park)
Ink: Early Espresso (SU)
Other: felt glitter stickers (Creatology); rhinestone (SU)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Lawn Fawn, Stampin' Up!

CAS Colours & Sketches #184

10 Responses »
Jul 282016

Hello there!  It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for a new challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  Karen has come up with a very simple little sketch to use this week.

I have to admit, it’s such a versatile sketch that I was a little overwhelmed with all the possibilities for it.  I finally decided to combine the sketch challenge with the current challenge at Less is More, which is to use something tactile on a clean and simple styled card.  I have a bunch of paper flowers that I bought years ago – and by “years ago”, I mean that I used a similar one of these on a card for my son’s preschool teacher, and now he’s getting ready to start his senior year of high school.  Yep!  So I decided to use one on today’s card.  I’ve added a little extra purple sponging to the edges of the petals to help it coordinate a bit better with the purple cardstock that matched it best.  It’s probably very hard to see in the photo, but the white cardstock is linen textured.  A simple flowing sentiment completes the card.

CASCAS184

sketch 184

If you need more inspiration, check out what the rest of the CC&S design team and our July guest designer have made.  Then create your own card using the sketch, and share it with us at the challenge site by 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, August 3.  We’d love to see what you make!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Supplies:
Stamp: Everyday Greetings Collection (Wordsworth)
Cardstock: Perfect Plum (Stampin’ Up); Solar White Classic Linen (Neenah)
Ink: Perfect Plum (SU)
Other: Blossoms hydrangea (Making Memories)

Posted by PH in VA at 8:00 am Cards, CAS Colours & Sketches, Stampin' Up!

CAS Colours & Sketches #183

9 Responses »
Jul 212016

Hello!  Please accept my apologies for being a little late with my card for this week’s challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  I was having a hard time getting in a crafting frame of mind after being out of town last weekend.  But my brain finally kicked back into gear this morning.  So without any further ado…

We have a color challenge this week.  I bought this stamp set a while ago but hadn’t worked up the nerve to use it yet – I’ve seen so many adorable cards using it, that I worried I wouldn’t make one up to par!  But I felt the taupe in the color challenge was a good color for this cutie pie elephant and I decided it was time for me to give it a go.  I don’t have ink in the actual Tip Top Taupe color, so I colored the elephant with my markers the best I could to match the cardstock.  Trying to blend grey with a brownish color to make taupe wasn’t the easiest thing, but I think it worked out okay in the end.  (This card shows my second attempt; my first elephant didn’t match as well.)  I attached the striped piece of designer paper to the card base and stamped the balloon to get a sense of where to place the elephant.  I also stamped the balloon onto some curry-colored designer paper to fussy cut and adhere into place along with the elephant.  The card seemed a little flat once I had it all together.  So I stamped the balloon again onto the same designer paper and onto a scrap of cardstock.  I fussy cut them and glued them on top of the first designer paper balloon, sandwiching the cardstock between the two designer paper layers.  This gives the balloon a little more dimension, which makes me happier with the finished card.

CASCAS183

CC&S color183-001

I’m going to enter this card into a couple of challenges.  The code word for the current challenge at Addicted to CAS is “stripes”, and the repeating stripes are my repetitive element for the current challenge at Less is More.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the CAS Colours & Sketches design team did with these colors.   Then show us what you can make with them!  You can link your creation to the challenge blog until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, July 27.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Ellie (Avery Elle)
Cardstock: Tip Top Taupe, Watercolor Wonder designer series papers (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: markers (Copic)

Posted by PH in VA at 11:00 am Addicted to CAS, Avery Elle, Cards, CAS Colours & Sketches, Less is More challenges, Stampin' Up!

Cards in Envy - It's a Heat Wave

3 Responses »
Jul 182016

It’s time for another challenge at Cards in Envy, and this time we’re taking on the theme of “It’s a Heat Wave”.  This can be illustrated by using summery images or bright colors – anything that reminds you of summertime heat!

For my design team sample, I’ve done a remix of a card I shared late last week, using bright summery colors.  I masked off a square area and stamped around it to create a frame for the cake image.  Then I removed the mask, stamped the cake, and colored it to coordinate with the colors of the ink I’d used.  I added a coordinating mat and ribbon and rounded the bottom corner of the card before attaching the main card panel to the card base.

CIE 07-18-2016

Now it’s your turn! Check out the Cards in Envy site for all the challenge details and to see what the rest of the design team has made. Then share your creation(s) with us by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, July 31. We’d love to have you play along with us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Year Three (Lawn Fawn); Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Party Pants (Stampin’ Up)
Cardstock: Pure Luxury Ivory (Gina K. Designs); Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Only Orange (SU)
Other: markers (Copic); orange grosgrain ribbon (Offray); corner rounder punch (EK Success)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Cards in Envy, Lawn Fawn, Send a Smile 4 Kids, Stampin' Up!

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - July theme challenge

4 Responses »
Jul 162016

Hello!  It’s theme challenge week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, and this time we’re inviting our participants to create cards using the theme of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.

I puzzled over this for a while, and finally decided to go with the idea of “four calling birds”.  I thought it would be cute to have the birds perched on a set of Christmas lights rather than simply on a tree branch or on an overhead wire.  I stamped the birds and the light bulbs onto scrap white cardstock so that the colors would be more true than if I’d stamped and colored on the sky blue background.  Fussy cutting them took a little while but I think it was worth the effort.  The birds are colored with markers to coordinate with the colors of the lights.  I splattered some shimmery white paint on the focal panel to look like falling snow.  The layout for this card is an old sketch from Operation Write Home, although I changed the focal panel from a rectangle to an oval.

52CCT 07-16-2016

I’m going to link this card to this week’s “Make Your Mark” challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More and to the “Christmas in July 4 Kids” challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure to see what the rest of the 52CCT design team has done for this challenge, and then link your own card at the challenge site.  You have until 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, July 22 to enter.

Supplies:
Stamps: Winter Sparrows (Lawn Fawn); Holiday Baubles (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Real Red (Stampin’ Up); designer papers from Holly Jolly Christmas 6″ x 6″ paper pad (Echo Park)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green (SU)
Other: markers (Copic); Frost White shimmer paint (SU); petite oval Nestabilities die (Spellbinders)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Addicted to Stamps and More, Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Lawn Fawn, OWH Stars & Stamps sketches, Send a Smile 4 Kids, Stampin' Up!, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

cake time

3 Responses »
Jul 152016

Here’s another card I created using this week’s sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches.  I wanted to incorporate the “time” theme of this week’s challenge at Less is More.  My first attempt with a clock stencil didn’t turn out well, so I decided to try a different tactic on the “time” theme.  My second go, I used a sentiment that includes the word “time”, which allowed me to pair it with an image of something that pretty much everyone loves… cake!  I masked off a square area and stamped around it to create a frame for the cake image.  I used the mirror image of the sketch because it worked better with the orientation of the smiley face on the cake.

LIM284

sketch 182

Thanks for stopping by today!  Comments are always welcome.

Supplies:
Stamps: Year Three (Lawn Fawn); Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Party Pants (Stampin’ Up)
Cardstock: Pure Luxury Ivory (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Only Orange (SU)
Other: markers (Copic)

Posted by PH in VA at 11:00 am Cards, CAS Colours & Sketches, Lawn Fawn, Less is More challenges, Stampin' Up!

CAS Colours & Sketches #182

6 Responses »
Jul 142016

Hello there!  It’s time for another sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  This week’s offering is a very clean and simple design that I think is really versatile for lots of different occasions.

I’ve kept the sketch stripped down pretty simply, using just one layer for my card front.  I stretched it out into a portrait-oriented rectangle.  For the “any shape” element, first I made a watercolor wash on watercolor paper.  When it was dry, I used a die to cut it to card size, and I stamped the hummingbird onto it.  I added a sentiment, adhered the card front to a coordinating card base, and called it done.  To be honest, I spent more time waiting for the watercolor wash to dry and practicing stamping the hummingbird on scrap paper than I spent on actual work on the card!

CASCAS182 bird

sketch 182

Which reminds me, I need to refill my hummingbird feeders today.  While I do that, why don’t you check out what the rest of the design team has done with this sketch?  I’m sure they’d enjoy it if you stop by their blogs.  Then create a card of your own and share it with us at the CC&S site.  You have until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, July 20 to link your card.  We’d love to have you join in the fun and creativity!

Supplies:
Stamps: Picture Perfect, Hugs & Wishes (Stampin’ Up)
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi (SU); The Langton Prestige Extra Smooth Hot Press watercolor paper (Daler-Rowney)
Ink: Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler (SU)
Other: Marina Mist reinker (SU); Large Stitched Rectangle Stackables die (Lawn Fawn)

Posted by PH in VA at 8:00 am Cards, CAS Colours & Sketches, Lawn Fawn, Stampin' Up!

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - July color challenge

3 Responses »
Jul 092016

It’s color challenge week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, and this week we have some cool wintry colors for you.  We’d like to see what kind of wintry or Christmasy card you can make with shades of blue, plus white and silver.

As I was deciding what to do for this challenge, my mind first went to snow and snowflakes.  I figured that was a pretty obvious choice.  And then, since I don’t always like doing the obvious, I decided to go a different route and use ornaments instead.  I’ve stamped them on a white background using three shades of blue that are kind of on the teal end of the blue spectrum, and matted the images with the same three shades.  The ornament garland and the sentiment are stamped in silver; in the photo you can see some of the shimmer of the silver ink in the word “cheer”.  I’ve used this week’s sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for the layout of my card.

52CCT 07-09-2016

Cutting the mats was the trickiest part of making this card.  Rather than cutting the ovals, layering them, and adhering them to the card front, I decided to layer the rectangular pieces of cardstock from which I cut the ovals.  So the white layer is adhered directly to the card base, and the other layers are stacked on top of it.

Now it’s your turn to show us what you can make with these colors!  If you need more inspiration first, go visit the 52CCT site and see what the rest of the design team has created.  Be sure to link your card at the 52CCT site by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, July 15.  We look forward to having you join us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Baubles (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Whisper White (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky (SU); silver (ColorBox)
Other: Petite Oval and Petite Scalloped Oval Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Stampin' Up!, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

CAS Colours & Sketches #181

8 Responses »
Jul 072016

Greetings!  We’re starting a new month of challenges at CAS Colours & Sketches today, and with it, the design team is doing something a little bit different.  Instead of having one team member being the hostess for the entire month, we have four team members each hosting one challenge this month, and the other four members will each host a challenge in August.  We’re still keeping our usual rotation of color and sketch challenges, and we have an awesome guest designer this month, so be sure to check out the challenge site!

I think I had the sketch from last week’s double challenge lurking in the back of my mind when I created today’s card; although it’s not exactly like the sketch, the curve reminds me of it.  I spent some time trying to figure out how to use this week’s colors and finally settled on using them for a cute little puppy.  He comes from a fun set of stamps where you can interchange different animals’ heads and torsos with different shorts and legs.  The skateboard is another option with the set and I decided to use it here, to make it look like the puppy was riding down a hill.  I stamped the skateboard first, then the legs, and then the top half of the puppy, onto a scrap piece of cardstock.  I wasn’t able to line it up to get the shirt to sit right on top of the shorts (what you see here is attempt #3, LOL) so finally I decided this was close enough, figured the puppy was showing off his abs, and drew in lines for his sides.  Then I colored the puppy with Prismacolor pencils blended with odorless mineral spirits. I carefully fussy cut him out and attached him to the card front, after first adhering the die-cut hill.  The sentiment and word bubble are from the same stamp set.  I chose a saying that goes for any person of any age, any time of the year.  I colored in the word “awesome” to tie in a little more of the purple in the challenge colors.  Hmmm… as I’m typing this I see that in the photo, the shorts don’t look as vibrant green as they do on the actual card.  Oh well.

CASCAS181

CC&S color181-001

I think it’ll be a cute card to donate to Send a Smile 4 Kids.  I’m entering it into their current “CAS 4 Kids” challenge.  Shopping Our Stash is asking for speech bubbles on cards so I’m going to join in that challenge, too.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you’ll make a card with these challenge colors and share it with us at CC&S.  You have until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, July 13 to link your card at the challenge site.

Supplies:
Stamps: Skater Kids (Mama Elephant for Simon Says Stamp)
Cardstock: Cucumber Crush, Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: Premier colored pencils (Prismacolor); odorless mineral spirits (Hampton Arts); Landscape Trio die (Mama Elephant)

Posted by PH in VA at 8:00 am Cards, CAS Colours & Sketches, Mama Elephant, Stampin' Up!

Cards in Envy - Stripes

3 Responses »
Jul 042016

Hello!  Here in the United States, it’s Independence Day, and at Cards in Envy we’re tieing into the patriotic mood with a theme of Stripes.  For this challenge, create a card featuring stripes of some sort.  It doesn’t have to be a patriotic card; it can be for any occasion.  The stripes can be stamped, die-cut, stenciled, or designer paper – whatever you can imagine, so long as it’s striped, it’ll work for the challenge.  Remember too that your card needs to be flat enough to fit into an envelope and be mailed at the regular first class postage rate.

I’ve gone with a birthday card for my card for the challenge.  After all, Independence Day is regarded as America’s birthday.  I gave my card a more neutral color scheme, though.  I’ll be donating this card to Send a Smile 4 Kids, so I thought it was best to make it suitable to give to any person of any age.  I used the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge for layout inspiration, but rotated the sketch 180 degrees.

CIE 07-04-2016 grey

We hope you’ll have fun with this challenge and join in the fun and creativity!  Link your card at the Cards in Envy site by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, July 17.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hats Off to You (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Watercolor Wonder designer series papers (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Basic Gray (SU)
Other: Party Balloons dies (LF)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Cards in Envy, Freshly Made Sketches, Lawn Fawn, Send a Smile 4 Kids, Stampin' Up!

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - July sketch challenge

2 Responses »
Jul 022016

Hello there!  Even though here in the United States people are getting ready this weekend for Independence Day, it’s always the Christmas season at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  The first Saturday of the month means it’s sketch challenge time.

I’ve kept my card very clean and simple in style.  The sketch is drawn up as a square card, but I’ve stretched it out into a landscape-oriented rectangle.  I’ve substituted a snowman for the triangle in the sketch. He’s kind of triangular!  I had the yellow cardstocks out on my desk after working on another card, and decided to go against the usual Christmas and wintry colors and use them for today’s card.  The “warm wishes” sentiment made me think of using orange for the circular element, making the circle appear somewhat like the sun.  Anyway, I think the card turned out pretty cute – and it was a good way for me to think outside of the box and use some colors that I tend to shy away from.

52CCT 07-02-2016

Check out what the rest of the 52CCT team has created this week.  Then have fun with the sketch and share your own card with us at the challenge site!  You have until 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, July 8 to link your card.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Be Jolly (Avery Elle)
Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: markers (Copic); Stitched Circle die (Lawn Fawn)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Avery Elle, Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Lawn Fawn, Stampin' Up!
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