CAS - Colours and Sketches #110

3 Responses »
Feb 052015

Hello!  I’m excited to be the challenge hostess at CAS Colours and Sketches during the month of February!  I hope you’ll join in the fun and creativity of our color and sketch challenges.

The first Thursday of the month means it’s color challenge time, and I’ve picked out a trio of soft colors.  I thought they would look pretty for either Valentines or springtime cards.  I usually don’t think of Easter as a card-giving holiday, but I do like to make a few Easter cards for Operation Write Home, so that’s what I’ve done for today’s card.  This week’s sketch from Freshly Made Sketches provided the layout for my card, using the bunny in place of the large heart-shaped element of the sketch.  I’ve flipped the sketch mirror-image so my little bunny wouldn’t be looking off the edge of the card.  The bunny and butterfly are both fussy cut and adhered to the card front.  I raised the bunny a bit with a few scrap cardstock shims, and one side of the butterfly is attached with dimensional adhesive, to give the card a little more visual interest.

CASCAS110

Be sure to check out what the rest of the CC&S Design Team has made!  Then create your own clean and simple styled card with these colors and link it to the CC&S site by 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 11.  We’d love to see what you make!

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Easter, Happy Everything, Critters in the ‘Burbs (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Sahara Sand (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury Ivory (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: markers (Copic); dimensionals (SU)

Posted by PH in VA at 4:00 am Cards, CAS Colours & Sketches, Freshly Made Sketches, Lawn Fawn, Operation Write Home, Stampin' Up!

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - January technique challenge

6 Responses »
Jan 242015

Hello!  It’s time for technique challenge week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown!  Our January hostess, Deborah, has lined up a fun technique to try: inlaid dies.

I decided to use the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge for my layout.  After going through my patterned papers and choosing some scraps that would fit the card and the layout, I decided it looked better if I turned the sketch upside-down. The “Joy” die cut takes the place of the “any shape” element of the sketch.  Positioning the die cut took a little planning to make sure it would be legible.  The only part of die cutting and getting the sentiment fit into place that proved to be difficult was the tiny fill-in for the loop at the end of the “y”.  The card looked rather plain once it was all assembled, so I decided to add a few enamel dots in one corner for a little something extra.

52CCT 01-24-2015

What will you do with your dies?  Be sure to share your wintry or Christmasy card with us at the 52{C}CT site by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, January 30.  We’d love to see what you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: none
Cardstock: Smoky Slate (Stampin’ Up); designer papers from Nordic Holiday 6″ x 6″ paper pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: none
Other: Wonderful Wreath die, enamel dots (SU)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Basic Grey, Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches, Stampin' Up!

CAS - Colours and Sketches #107

9 Responses »
Jan 152015

Hello!  It’s time for a new color challenge at CAS – Colours and Sketches.  This week we have a nice classic color combo – cherry red, kraft brown, and black.  White or ivory can also be used for the card base or background.

I’ve combined the color challenge with this week’s card layout from Freshly Made Sketches.  I used a heart for the “any shape” element of the sketch, and repeated that shape for the “button” element.  The sentiment banner is edged slightly with a dark red marker.  The banner and the heart are attached to the card with dimensional adhesive to give both physical and visual separation from the card front.  I haven’t yet decided whether I’ll give this card to my husband or donate it to Operation Write Home.

CASCAS107

Be sure to check out what the rest of the CC&S Design Team has done with these colors!  Then share your own card with us by linking it to the challenge post.  We’d love to have you join us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Feathered Friends for Simon Says Stamp, Milk and Cookies (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Basic Black, Kraft, Cherry Cobbler, Naturals White (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: markers (Copic); large heart die (Sizzix); small heart die (Lawn Fawn); dimensionals (SU)

Posted by PH in VA at 4:00 am Cards, CAS Colours & Sketches, Freshly Made Sketches, Lawn Fawn, Stampin' Up!

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - January color challenge

10 Responses »
Jan 102015

Hello!  It’s time for our first color challenge of the year at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  It’s a lovely monochromatic scheme:  shades of blue.

I’ve chosen some blues that include a couple of retired Stampin’ Up colors.  It’s nice to use some of my older supplies!  The layout for this card is from the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  The card looked a little plain once I got it all put together. I wanted to dress it up a bit, but still keep the card within Operation Write Home guidelines, so I decided to add some tiny rhinestones to work as the ornament hangers.  They don’t show too well in the photo, but they do add a bit of sparkle in real life.

52CCT 01-10-2015

How will you depict a “blue Christmas”?  Be sure to link your card at the 52{C}CT site by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, January 16.  We’d love to see what you create!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Baubles (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky (SU); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: rhinestones (Recollections)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches, Gina K Designs, Operation Write Home, Stampin' Up!, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - December Pick a Previous challenge

7 Responses »
Dec 062014

Hello!  It’s December, which means that Christmas is just a few short weeks away!  If you’ve been playing along with us at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown throughout the year, you should have a nice stash of holiday cards ready to send to your loved ones.  To close out the year, we’re having just one challenge in December, but it starts today and lasts until December 19.  We’re inviting our challenge participants to create a card using any one of our challenges from 2014.

I’ve chosen the August color challenge for my card and paired it with the current Freshly Made Sketches layout.  The snowflake is die cut from brushed silver cardstock.  For the background behind it, I first made a mask by cutting a circle into an index card.  I attached the mask to the ivory panel and sprayed gold shimmer mist over the opening.  The sentiment banner was cut from white cardstock and then I centered the sentiment on it, using gold ink.  The ivory panel was attached to a white card base.  All the lovely shimmer doesn’t show in the photo.  Oh well.

52CCT 12-06-2014

There have been nearly 50 challenges at 52{C}CT this year – which one will you choose?  Be sure to link your card at the 52{C}CT site by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, December 19.  We enjoy seeing what our challenge participants create!  Many thanks to everyone who plays along with us.

Supplies for today’s card:
Stamp: More Merry Messages (Stampin’ Up)
Cardstock: Pure Luxury White, Pure Luxury Ivory (Gina K. Designs); Brushed Silver (SU)
Ink: Gold (ColorBox)
Other: Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist (Ranger); Bianca Snowflake die (Memory Box); Dimensional Banners die (My Favorite Things)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches, Gina K Designs, Stampin' Up!

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - November theme challenge

10 Responses »
Nov 152014

Hello there, and happy Saturday to you!  It’s time for another theme challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown:  Christmas windows.  The perspective can be either looking into the window or looking out from the window.  So long as the window is the main focus of the card, it’s good.

I’ve owned this cute rubber stamp of a boy and his dog looking out a window for… um… let’s just say a pretty long time.  Even though I think it’s adorable, I’ve always been rather intimidated by it because I worry that my coloring skills won’t do it justice.  Well, this challenge provided me with the opportunity to push myself past that fear.  I guess I did OK.  One of the reasons the stamp has bothered me is that there is no background to the window – so that way, the user can choose to put it on whatever type of building he or she pleases.  I decided the easiest thing to do would be to add it to cardstock embossed with the brick embossing folder.  I highlighted the bricks with a few swipes of my white ink pad.  I was trying to follow the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge for the layout, so I tried making the one rectangular element into a snowdrift up against the side of the building, under the window.  I put a few scrap cardstock shims behind the window to give it some dimension, but in hindsight I’m not entirely sure that was the best idea.  Then there was the horizontal twine-like element of the sketch.  The realist in me couldn’t figure out a logical reason for that in my scene.  So I opted to just add a simple little bow to the snowflake, which takes the place of the button-like sketch element. The sentiment is made up from two different stamps. Since it seems to me like the boy is looking out of the window, perhaps missing somebody who is far away, it made me think of kids whose parents are stationed overseas with the military. Even though it’s too late to send this card to Operation Write Home to be used this holiday season, it’ll keep for next year.

52CCT 11-15-2014

Go check out the other design team members’ windows – this is one time where it’s okay to be a “peeping Tom”, LOL!  🙂  Then create your own card featuring a Christmas window and share it with us at the 52{C}CT site.  We’d love to have you join in the fun and creativity!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Edited on November 19, 2014:  I’m so honored to have been named one of the “Perfect Princesses” at Freshly Made Sketches!  Thank you to Linda for choosing my card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Billy and Sparky at Window (eat cake graphics); Trendy Trees (Stampin’ Up); Christmas Tags (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Soft Suede (SU); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Craft White (SU); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: Brick embossing folder (Tim Holtz); Premier colored pencils (Prismacolor); odorless mineral spirits (Hampton Arts); snowflake punch (EK Success); Cherry twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Eat Cake Graphics, Freshly Made Sketches, Operation Write Home, Stampin' Up!, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, Tim Holtz

sketchy brayered bridge

3 Responses »
Nov 092014

Hello!  Last week I was so busy finishing up cards for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges at Splitcoaststampers.com that I didn’t take time to blog many of them.  Today’s card is the one I made for a challenge asking participants to create their own background without using designer papers.  It ended up being an example of what one can put together using supplies that have been ignored for a long time.

When I’d had my glossy cardstock folder out from working on this card, I noticed that I had this piece with a brayered background and a peaceful covered bridge image.  I figured this particular HYCCT challenge would be the perfect time to finally create a card with it.  The current Freshly Made Sketches challenge sketch showed a panel that looked to be about the size of my bridge scene, but in a vertical rather than horizontal format.  So I turned the sketch on its side and used it that way.  For the snowflake element shown in the sketch, I decided to go old school with a metal edged vellum tag, and I stamped the sentiment on that.  Some copper cording finished the card.

FMS161

Thanks for stopping by today!  All comments are read and greatly appreciated.  🙂  Hope your week is off to a great start!

Except for the inks, all supplies for this card are from Stampin’ Up.
Stamps: Changing Seasons, Always in My Thoughts
Cardstock: Naturals Ivory, Basic Black, Glossy White
Ink: Stained Glass rainbow pad (Adirondack); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: copper cording, copper metal edge tag

Posted by PH in VA at 10:00 pm Cards, Freshly Made Sketches, Splitcoast challenges, Stampin' Up!

sketchy chickie

2 Responses »
Nov 032014

Here’s a quick card I made for the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge just before the challenge deadline.  I chose the chicken image and sentiment so that the card fits into the Chicks Stick Together challenge for Splitcoaststampers.com’s Hope You Can Cling To.  The chicken is a digital image that I purchased online, but I created the sentiment myself using Microsoft Word. I doodled some dots around the edges of both circles (although it’s hard to see the pale yellow dots around the chicken).  The patterned papers are some old, old scrapbooking papers from my stash.  The red paper has a faint splatter print, and the yellow paper has a subtle plaid print.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Thanks for stopping by today!  🙂

Supplies:
Digital Image: Hey Chicky (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: So Saffron (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs); patterned papers from Cottage Papers Collection (Keeping Memories Alive)
Ink: printer ink
Other: markers (Copic); standard circle Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:30 pm Cards, Freshly Made Sketches, Nestabilities, Splitcoast challenges, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - October stash challenge

9 Responses »
Oct 252014

Hello!  Once again, it’s stash challenge week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, where we invite our challenge participants to use particular items from their crafting stash to create a Christmas or wintry card.  This time the chosen item is enamel dots.

I’ve combined a couple of other challenges in with this one.  The layout for this card is the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I also tied in tomorrow’s Hope You Can Cling To challenge requirements – but since that challenge hasn’t gone live yet, I can’t give any details on that!  Heh heh heh.  I’ve used one of my favorite little penguin images – oh what am I saying, I love all my little penguin images.  🙂  I did add a bit to the sketch by working in my enamel dots and by using a die-cut snowflake to mat the penguin.  The sentiment is from an older sentiment set by Purple Onion Designs.  I looked on their website to try to get the name of the set, but I couldn’t find it, so I’m guessing it’s been retired.

52CCT 10-25-2014

How will you use your enamel dots?  We’d love to see!  Link your card at the 52{C}CT site by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time Friday, October 31.  Be sure to check out the rest of the design team members’ cards for more inspiration.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Critters in the Snow (Lawn Fawn); Kissmas & Mistletoe (Unity Stamp Company); sentiment stamp from Purple Onion Designs
Cardstock: Marina Mist, Basic Black (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Craft White (SU)
Other: Festive Flurries die, enamel dots (SU); markers (Copic); standard circle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches, Lawn Fawn, Nestabilities, Purple Onion Designs, Splitcoast challenges, Stampin' Up!, Unity Stamp Company

bunny greetings

3 Responses »
Sep 242014

Here’s a quick card I made tonight, combining the Lawnscaping challenge that ends in a little bit with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge that started today.  I wanted to use this bunny for the Lawnscaping critters challenge, but because of the way he’s facing, I felt it would look better if I used the mirror image of the sketch.  And now I have another any occasion, any recipient card for the box I’ll be sending to Operation Write Home soon.  Yay!

FMS155

Thanks for stopping by today!  Comments are always read and appreciated very much!

Supplies:
Stamps: My Silly Valentine, Chit Chat (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Kraft, Season of Style designer series paper (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: Tag Set die (Sizzix); markers (Copic); Cherry Cobbler seam binding (SU); cherry twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon)

Posted by PH in VA at 11:00 pm Cards, Freshly Made Sketches, Lawn Fawn, Lawnscaping challenges, Operation Write Home, Stampin' Up!

birthday piggy

2 Responses »
Sep 222014

This is just a quick card I made to squeeze into the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge right before it closes.  I noticed my Operation Write Home stash is lacking birthday cards suitable to send to kids, and our curious kitten found this little piggy image on my desk, so I put the pig into the sketch and made a birthday card.  Yay!  This card also works for the current Lawnscaping challenge.

FMS154

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Critters on the Farm, Hats Off to You (Lawn Fawn)
Cardstock: Naturals White (Stampin’ Up); designer papers from Ambrosia 6″ x 6″ paper pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Other: corner rounder punch (SU); marker (Copic)

Posted by PH in VA at 2:30 pm Basic Grey, Cards, Freshly Made Sketches, Lawn Fawn, Lawnscaping challenges

Cards in Envy - EnTWINEd

3 Responses »
Sep 152014

Hi there!  Today marks the start of another fun challenge at Cards in Envy:  EnTWINEd.  For the next few weeks, we want to see your cards using twine as an embellishment.  Just remember to keep your card A2 size (4.25″ x 5.5″) and flat enough to mail in an envelope at the standard first class postage rate.

I’ve created a rather clean and simple birthday card for this challenge.  I wrapped some twine around a scrap of designer paper and added a twine bow to create a present.  It’s mounted on a textured cardstock background.  The layout for this card comes from the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

CIE 09-15-2014

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Cards in Envy design team has made!  How will you use twine on your card?  We’d love to see your creativity!  Share your card using the linky tool at the Cards in Envy site by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, October 5.

Supplies:
Stamps: Cake & Candles (Avery Elle)
Cardstock: Pool Party, Very Vanilla textured, Everyday Enchantment designer series paper (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz (SU)
Other: Pool Party twine, Subtles candy dots, dimensionals (SU)

 

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Avery Elle, Cards, Cards in Envy, Freshly Made Sketches, Stampin' Up!

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - August stash challenge

12 Responses »
Aug 232014

Hello!  It’s time for stash challenge week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown!  Our August hostess, Gill, has thrown a double doozy at us this week – our challenge cards must use both glitter and bling.  Now, those of you who know my crafting habits know that I tend to avoid glitter whenever possible – so this was indeed a challenge for me!  But I was able to work it in with the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge, and I have to admit I’m pretty pleased with the result.  I did take the liberty of turning the sketch on its side.  I couldn’t decide on a sentiment to add to the card front, so I decided to just go without, so that way it can be either a Christmas card or a wintertime “thinking of you” or any other occasion card.

52CCT 08-23-2014

What will you make with your glitter and bling?  Be sure to share your card with us at the 52{C}CT blog by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time/6:00 p.m. GMT Friday, August 29.  While you’re at it, be sure to check out the cards the rest of the design team has created.  We look forward to having you join us!

All supplies for this card are from Stampin’ Up.
Stamps: Festive Flurry, Season of Joy
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Whisper White, silver glimmer
Ink: Soft Sky
Other: Festive Flurry dies, rhinestones

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Cards, Christmas Card Throwdown, Freshly Made Sketches, Stampin' Up!

Cards in Envy - Best of Friends

3 Responses »
Aug 182014

Hello, and welcome to another Monday!  Since it’s the third Monday of the month, it’s time for a new challenge at Cards in Envy.  For the next couple of weeks we’re focusing on a theme of “Best Friends”.

I went through my stamps trying to figure out just what I would make for my design team sample card for this challenge, and I wasn’t coming up with anything I liked.  Finally I browsed through my digital images and landed upon this cute digi set that had several different images of foods that always seem to go together – salt & pepper, milk & cookies, you get the idea.  I decided to go with coffee & doughnuts.  (OK, so the actual image says “donuts”, but I prefer the longer spelling.)  I remembered I had this designer paper with lots of circles against the brown background, and thought that might work well with the image.  I borrowed the layout idea from the current Freshly Made Sketches challenge, added a few mats and embossed the horizontal strips, and colored the image to coordinate with the designer paper.  Once I had all my pieces completed, it didn’t take long to assemble.

CIE 08-18-2014

FMS Final 149I just realized as I’m typing this that the designer paper I used is from the very first 6″ x 6″ paper pad I bought… back in 2007!  Eeep!  I guess it’s about time I used it, LOL!

So, how will you interpret our Best of Friends theme?  Create an A2 sized card, being sure not to use any lumpy, bumpy embellishments that would prevent your card from fitting into an envelope and being mailed at the standard postage rate.  Share it with us at the Cards in Envy site by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, August 31.  We’d love to see what you create!

Supplies:
Digital Images: You & Me (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)
Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Cool Caribbean (Stampin’ Up); Pure Luxury Ivory (Gina K. Designs); designer paper from Blush 6″ x 6″ paper pad (Basic Grey)
Ink: printer ink
Other: markers (Copic); Swiss Dots embossing folder (ProvoCraft)

Posted by PH in VA at 1:00 am Basic Grey, Cards, Cards in Envy, Freshly Made Sketches

CAS - Colours and Sketches #81

3 Responses »
Jul 032014

Hello!  We’re starting off a new month of challenges at CAS – Colours and Sketches, and this week we have a color challenge of two neutrals and a pretty pink for you to try.

I puzzled about how I was going to use the gray and tan colors together and finally decided I could make it work if I kept them minimal.  LOL  This week’s Freshly Made Sketches challenge provided the layout for my card.  I wanted to add another thank you card to my stash for Operation Write Home, so that was the inspiration behind this sentiment, which is stamped on a scrap of vellum that I’ve had for years.  Hopefully the little star brads will be enough for this card to qualify for the current AEIHeartU challenge to use gold.

 

Challenge 10

 

Be sure to check out what the rest of the CC&S Design Team has done with these colors!  Then share your own card with us by linking it to the challenge post by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, July 9.  We’d love to have you join us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Oh Happy Day (Avery Elle)
Cardstock: Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs); Basic Gray, Kraft, Strawberry Slush (Stampin’ Up); vellum (source unknown)
Ink: Strawberry Slush (SU)
Other: gold star brads (The Paper Studio); For the Record 2, Documented die (Sizzix)

Posted by PH in VA at 4:00 am AEIHeartU challenges, Avery Elle, Cards, CAS Colours & Sketches, Freshly Made Sketches, Operation Write Home, Stampin' Up!
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