Desert Islands Craft Challenge »

sad puppy

Apr 302012

Squeaking in under the wire, here is the card I made for the April Sketch For You to Try challenge. I actually made this one a couple weeks ago but kept thinking I’d have time to make “something better” to submit for the challenge. Well, that didn’t happen, so what I have is this very clean and simple version of the sketch. I inadvertently swapped the long panels when I assembled the card so this is actually a mirror image of the sketch.

This card also uses several of the Desert Islands Crafts Challenge itinerary #29 items: no flowers, red and black, pressure embossing, gray, and rounded corners.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Digital Image: Kolar’s Simple Sayings (K ‘n K Designs)
Cardstock: Going Gray, Real Red, Basic Black, Naturals White (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: printer ink
Other: markers (Copic); Spots and Dots embossing folder (ProvoCraft); standard circle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders); corner rounder punch (EK Success)

birthday seal

1 Response »

Apr 232012

This week’s CAS challenge at Splitcoaststampers is “At the Zoo”. I do have a few elephant stamps and a set that includes a giraffe, a monkey, and a hippo, but for some reason I always seem to have a hard time creating with them. So I went a different route with my zoo thinking and decided to use a seal. After all, I think the seals are fun to watch at the zoo. I combined the CAS challenge with the current Desert Islands Crafts Challenge, using 6 of the 10 itinerary elements: no flowers, red and black (the red shows up rather orange-y in my photo, though), embossing, kraft, gray, and rounded corners. It might be hard to see, but the black strip is embossed with a dotted design to coordinate with the seal’s party hat. I used a black brush pen to color in the polka dots on the hat.

And now I have another birthday card to send to Operation Write Home!

Supplies:
Stamps: Critters in the Snow, Hats Off to You (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Kraft, Basic Black (Stampin’ Up); scraps from Ambrosia 6″ x 6″ paper pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: Just My Type embossing folder (ProvoCraft); multiliner brush pen (Copic); corner rounder punch (EK Success)

DICC Guest Designer - no foolin'!

3 Responses »

Apr 012012

I was honored and delighted recently to be asked to create a crafty itinerary for the Desert Islands Crafts Challenge blog! If you’re not familiar with DICC, they present a new challenge on the 1st and the 15th of every month. They provide a list of 10 items, and you must use a minimum of three of those items on your creation, which can be a card, layout, or other crafty project. My itinerary is up now through April 14, 2012. I’d love to see what you can create from it! Here’s the list:

1. humorous or punny sentiment

2. no glitter

3. suitable for a child under the age of 10

4. 2 or more patterned papers

5. sponging

6. masculine

7. clean and simple

8. pearls

9. punched or die cut embellishments

10. brown

I used items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 for my card. I was trying for #7, too, but I think it’s stretching the limits of “clean and simple” a bit. I used the mirror image of the March 2012 Sketch For You To Try for the layout. Item #2 is in honor of Operation Write Home. If you have handmade cards that need a home, I encourage you to consider donating them to OWH. Cute Rhubarb the bear makes this card work for the current OWH Stars & Stamps blog Midweek Throwdown Challenge, too.

Thanks again to Taylor and the rest of the Desert Islands Design Team for letting me be a part of them for this challenge!

Supplies for this card:
Stamps: Thoughtful Rhubarb (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa (Stampin’ Up); Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink); papers from Oxford 6″ x 6″ paper pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Close to Cocoa (SU)
Other: standard circle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders); markers (Copic); sponge

thinking and smiling

1 Response »

Feb 242012

I just love this sentiment from one of the stamp sets Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps released earlier this month. It’s so perfect for cards for Operation Write Home! I’ve been slowly but surely working on filling a box of cards for the OWH Mother’s Day Challenge, and today’s card is one of the general themes cards I’m making for it.

I used Sweet Stop sketch #146 for the layout, with a few tweaks – I switched the rectangular panel to a vertical format, which meant I needed to place it over the ribbon because I didn’t want to cover up Rhubarb the bear’s feet. I liked the current Desert Islands Craft Challenge itinerary enough to create another card for it. This time the elements I used were the color green, two or more patterned papers, two or more die cuts, and stitching. I do have to say that as much as I love the look of stitching on cards, handstitching around the perimeter of this one took longer than I thought it would. But I’m completely amazed and pleasantly surprised that many of the DMC embroidery floss colors I bought during my cross stitching days back in the late 1980s and early 1990s coordinate with the Stampin’ Up cardstocks and designer papers I own now!

Supplies:
Stamps: Thoughtful Rhubarb (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Afternoon Tea designer papers (Stampin’ Up); Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: scallop border die (Papertrey Ink); classic scalloped rectangle and petite scalloped circle Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders); corner rounder punch (SU); embroidery floss (DMC); markers (Copic)

oops

5 Responses »

Feb 172012

I goofed. I got my dates mixed up. I meant to get this card made for the SNS Digi Challenge presented last week, to create a card with a hat image. Unfortunately, I’m a day late on that challenge.

On the bright side, though, I’m getting this post done just in the nick of time before the Sweet Stop Sketch challenge #145 ends. This card ties in with four of the current Desert Islands Craft Challenge itinerary items – two or more patterned papers, kraft, the color green, and polka dots. It also fits this week’s OWH Stars and Stamps Midweek Throwdown challenge to create a card using the colors blue, green and either kraft or tan, and the February OWH ODBD challenge to use ribbon.

Plus, now I have another card to donate to Operation Write Home – and that’s always a good thing! 🙂

Supplies:
Digital Image: Party Hat Cocoa (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Sentiment Stamp: Everyday Sayings (Lizzie Anne Designs)
Cardstock: Kraft, Buckaroo Blue, Certainly Celery Prints designer series paper (Stampin’ Up); Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: printer ink; Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: Crumb Cake seam binding (SU); markers (Copic)

more VCMP cards

6 Responses »

Feb 122012

Here are the rest of the cards I created for the past week’s Virtual Card Making Party at the OWH Stars and Stamps blog.

Challenge 5: “It’s a Party!” – make a birthday card. This card also fits in with the current Desert Islands Craft Challenge; I used a birthday theme, a birthday sentiment, party hats, and bright colors.

Challenge 6: “Sand & Sea” – use blues and tans on the card. This one uses this week’s OWH Stars and Stamps sketch for the layout.

Challenge 7: “CAS: Clean and Simple” – make a clean and simple card

I combined two challenges for my last card.
Challenge 9: “Cut It Out!” – use punches or die cuts; and Challenge 13: “Embossing” – use either heat or dry embossing on your card

Whew! 🙂 It’s been a busy week, but it’s been a lot of fun. And it feels good to know that these cards will bring some happiness to a few of our country’s military families.

dragonfly smiles

6 Responses »

Jan 282012

Thanks to my husband’s parents, I used some Christmas money to treat myself to some new stamps. You saw images from one new set on Wednesday’s post. Today’s card uses another one.

For this card, I combined the January Sketch for You to Try layout with the current Desert Islands Craft Challenge to create another kid-friendly card for Operation Write Home. The DICC itinerary items I chose were a monochromatic card, embossing, no designer paper (a shocker for me, LOL!), and a sentiment on the front of the card. I stamped the “smile!” sentiment repeatedly on the white panel in the background, and then elaborated on that thought for the sentiment near the bottom of the card. There is a little bit of Shimmerz paint on the dragonfly’s wings; I wanted to add some glitz to the card but still keep it gender-neutral. I think that fits in with this week’s Stars and Stamps blog Midweek Throwdown challenge to use glitter-free bling.

Supplies:
Stamps: Somebuggy Loves You (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Gable Green, Green Galore, Glorious Green (Stampin’ Up); Solar White (Neenah)
Ink: Glorious Green (SU); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: Victoria embossing folder (ProvoCraft); standard circle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders); markers (Copic); Angel Wings paint (Shimmerz)

simple thanks

11 Responses »

Dec 282011

I’m trying to find my creativity again now that Christmas is over. I think it decided to take a break for the holidays!

I did want to play along in a few challenges, so I threw together this simple card. The Lawnscaping challenge that ends today invites the participants to use texture on their creations, so I used an embossing folder to add some texture to the background panel of the card. This week’s Midweek Throwdown at the OWH Stars and Stamps blog is to make thank you cards for the troops overseas to send home to their family and friends. I used several of the elements for the current Desert Islands Crafts Challenge, too: brads (well, one brad, anyway), brown and pink color scheme, stripes, rounded corners, and a flower.

I blended some of my older and newer craft products on this card. The designer papers date back to 2007, and one of my sons just gave me the alphabet stamps as a Christmas gift.

I realize this isn’t one of my better cards, but I do suppose it’s better than no card at all. LOL Here’s hoping my mojo wasn’t thrown out with all the Christmas wrapping paper and I get back into the spirit again soon!

Supplies:
Stamps: Quinn’s ABCs (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Spring Flowers designer papers (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Other: corner rounder punch, Spring Bouquet Flower punch (SU); brad (Making Memories); Paisley embossing folder (ProvoCraft)

one more

1 Response »

Nov 092011

Have I mentioned how much I liked the Stars & Stamps blog sketch #93 layout? Here’s one more card using it. This time I stamped the sentiment directly onto the main image panel and left off the small rectangle. I dressed it up some with a scalloped mat for the designer paper and with handstitching around the image.

I made this for the Hope You Can Cling To challenge to use two sizes of any geometric shape; the image panel and the designer paper are two different sizes of rectangles. I also used several of the Desert Islands Crafts Challenge itinerary items: a fall theme, leaves, stitching, and ink distressing. I’m not sure if using a die to cut the scallops counts as a punch for a fifth itinerary item.

Supplies:
Stamps: Branch Out, Always in My Thoughts (Stampin’ Up)
Cardstock: More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Autumn Vine designer paper (SU)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Really Rust, Sage Shadow (SU)
Other: embroidery floss (DMC); small scallop die (Papertrey Ink); dimensionals (SU); sponge

birthday sketch

2 Responses »

Oct 312011

For this card I combined this week’s Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog sketch with the Hope You Can Cling To challenge to create a birthday card. I used several of the Desert Islands Crafters Challenge elements, too. The Rose Red has always been a favorite color of mine. I also used two shades of grey, a designer paper with stripes, and the card itself isn’t square.

All supplies are from Stampin’ Up.
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Warmest Regards
Cardstock: Going Gray, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Rose Red Prints designer paper
Ink: Basic Gray
Other: 5-Petal Flower punch, Spring Bouquet Flower punch, silver brads, dimensionals

Paper Therapy challenge - song inspiration

Comments Off

Oct 112011

Hi there! The Paper Therapy Design Team challenges have been changed up again. We’re going to be running them for an entire month now, with a new challenge presented on the 10th of each month. That gives everyone a lot of time to think about the challenge and create a project for it – or maybe even two or three projects? 🙂

This month the challenge is to use song lyrics on your project. We’re hoping everyone will think more out of the box than “happy birthday”, but we won’t stop you from using that! These stamps from Lizzie Anne Designs were perfect for this challenge. I decided to highlight the last line of the sentiment by placing it on the green grassy area of the card. I chose to make a circular card so it would fit one of Splitcoaststampers.com’s Hope You Can Cling To challenges. This card also fits four of the required elements for the current Desert Islands Craft Challenge itinerary: no white, dry embossing, circles, and a sentiment with the word “happy” in it.

So there it is – a cute and cheery little card to brighten someone’s day. I hope you’ll join us at Paper Therapy and show us what song lyrics inspire you!

Supplies:
Stamps: Singing in the Rain (Lizzie Anne Designs)
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Onyx Black (VersaFine)
Other: Swiss Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug by ProvoCraft); standard and petite scalloped circle Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders), Cutterbee scissors (EK Success)

buttondown birthday

3 Responses »

Sep 142011

I liked the current itinerary at Desert Islands Crafts Challenge so much that I created a second card for it. It’s a pretty blatant CASE of a card shared at Splitcoaststampers by bfinlay, but I don’t care that it isn’t original because I really like the way it turned out. The itinerary items I chose were kraft cardstock, a text print, twine (used in the buttonholes), buttons, a sentiment on the card, and a little green.

Supplies:
Stamps: birthday sentiment (Studio G)
Cardstock: Kraft (Stampin’ Up); Vintage Birthday digital designer paper (Lizzie Anne Designs)
Ink: Mellow Moss (SU)
Other: Soft Subtles buttons, Spring Moss grograin ribbon (SU); twine (source unknown)

Paper Therapy challenge - heavy metal

2 Responses »

Sep 092011

It’s time for another Paper Therapy Design Team challenge! Today we’re asking you to use metal embellishments on your project. Use a little or a lot – it’s up to you and it’s all good. Just be sure to share your project in the September 9 thread on the Paper Therapy challenge forum by October 8, 2011.

Here’s what I created for the challenge. The flower centers are brads, and a small frame highlights the sentiment. I also worked several of the current Desert Island Crafts Challenge itinerary items into this card – flowers, nature inspired, a sentiment, a little bit of green, and dimension. And I don’t think it’s too lumpy for Operation Write Home.

Supplies:
Stamps: Artfully Asian (Stampin’ Up); Tag Lines (Gina K. Designs)
Cardstock: Confetti White, More Mustard (SU)
Ink: Always Artichoke (SU)
Other: Always Artichoke marker, blender pen, Hodgepodge Hardware, dimensionals (SU); flowers (Prima)

Chloe is thinking of you

1 Response »

Aug 312011

Sheesh. I’ve been so busy making cards to send to Operation Write Home that I’ve been neglecting to blog them!

Here’s one I made yesterday. I incorporated four of the itinerary elements for Desert Islands Crafts Challenge #14 into it. I’ve paper pieced Chloe’s shirt and jeans, the card base is kraft cardstock, I’ve ruffled the ribbon, and the sentiment is made with alphabet stickers. I also used the color scheme from one of last weekend’s Virtual Stamp Night challenges at Splitcoaststampers – denim blue, ivory and brown.

I couldn’t figure out what to add to the image to make it look like Chloe wasn’t just floating in midair. I considered adding some green behind her to make it look like she was sitting in grass, but that would have required either trying to draw or sponge in realistic-looking grass, or cutting out the entire image of her and putting it over green designer paper to simulate grass. Then I decided to scrap that idea because it would mess up the color scheme. I also thought about drawing a bench or something, but my drawing skills are not very good (drawing grass is the extent of my abilities!) and I was afraid I’d mess up the whole thing.

So, readers: Please leave me a comment with a reasonable suggestion for something I can add to the image next time I use it to make it look like Chloe is actually sitting on something. There just might be a little somethin’ somethin’ in it for the person who gives the suggestion I like best! 😉

Supplies:
Digital Image: Sitting Chloe (InStyle Stamps)
Cardstock: Kraft (Stampin’ Up); Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink); designer papers from “Memoirs” 6″ x 6″ paper pad (Inque Boutique)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake (SU)
Other: markers (Copic); alphabet stickers (ProvoCraft); ivory grosgrain ribbon (source unknown); dimensional adhesive (SU); sponge

marigold birthday

6 Responses »

Aug 142011

Here’s a quick card and quick post to get one more card in for the current Desert Islands Crafts Challenge. The itinerary elements I chose were something alive (the flowers and the butterfly), something with wings (the butterfly), make it pop (the butterfly’s wings are popped up from the focal panel), and using a quote for the sentiment. I used this week’s Stars and Stamps Blog sketch for the layout. And now I have another birthday card for my Operation Write Home stash!

Supplies:
Stamps: Spring Garden (Stampin’ Up); …the Life… (Penny Black)
Cardstock: Marigold Morning, Cranberry Crisp, Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Soft Sky, Mellow Moss, Marigold Morning, Cranberry Crisp, Early Espresso (SU)
Other: Baroque Burgundy marker (SU); sponge

Older Entries

sad puppy

birthday seal

DICC Guest Designer - no foolin'!

thinking and smiling

oops

more VCMP cards

dragonfly smiles

simple thanks

one more

birthday sketch

Paper Therapy challenge - song inspiration

buttondown birthday

Paper Therapy challenge - heavy metal

Chloe is thinking of you

marigold birthday

Design Team Experience

Really great links

Really great shopping

Some fun stuff

Thank you for visiting!

Follow me via email

Contact me

The Important Stuff

Translate this Page

I heart

Archives

Meta

Design Team Experience

Really great links

Really great shopping

Some fun stuff

Thank you for visiting!

Follow me via email

Contact me

The Important Stuff

Translate this Page

I *heart*

Archives

Meta

I heart