Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 127

It is Sunday and time for another great Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge from Karen Giron.  I was thrilled when I woke up this morning and saw this sketch!  I've had a card in my mind for a special relative of mine but needed a design that showcased a large rectangular panel for my stamped image.  Karen's sketch is perfect for what I had in mind!  I hope you enjoy!

Cardstock:  SU Naturals White, SU Rich Razzleberry, Bazzill Basics Stella (pink) and Lagoon (blue)

DSP:  various designs from Lime Twist Happy Go Lucky collection

Stamps:  SU Upsy Daisy (flower image), SU Live Your Dream (butterfly), "Simply Adored" sentiment ($1 bin at Michael's)

Ink:  VersaMagic Turquoise Gem (butterfly) & Perfect Plumeria (flower image), SU Rich Razzleberry (inside sentiment)

Border Punch:  Die-namics Dainty Dots (My Favorite Things)

TE Key Ingredients July 2011 "I'm so Grateful for You"

I was thrilled to receive my second shipment from my Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients subscription.  The package that Taylor and her team put together in the July kit is awesome!  I absolutely LOVE the colors -- aqua, pale pink, cherry pink, deep red and bright greens.  Fabulous!  I was inspired by a card I saw in a recent edition of PaperCrafts magazine and tried to put my own spin on it.  Thanks for visiting!

Cardstock:  SU Naturals White, Blossom (KI July 2011 Kit)

DSP:  various designs from My Mind's Eye Life of the Party

Misc Supplies:  Nesties Labels die, Take Note 3 die (Taylored Expressions), pink baker's twine, green button from my stash, Die-namics Framed Greeting die & coordinating stamp (My Favorite Things)

Life is Good

Another dear friend of mine, Deanna, recently moved into a new home.  Had this cute "Life is Good" scrapbook kit from Echo Park in my stash and thought I'd use it to make a super cheerful new house card.  I am excited for Deanna as she embarks on this new chapter of her life and hope this card finds her happy and enjoying her new home.  Love you, Dee!

Cardstock:  SU Very Vanilla

DSP & Stickers:  various designs from "Life is Good" collection from Echo Park.

Misc. Supplies:  pink polka dot button, baker's twine

Get Well Wishes

One of my dearest friends, Tricia, underwent surgery earlier this week.  I got to spend some time with her this afternoon, hanging out and catching up.  I couldn't resist using my newest Cricut cartridge "Birthday Bash" to make her a cheery get well card.  Enjoy!

Cardstock:  SU Very Vanilla, Classic Magenta & Patina card (Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit June 2011)

DSP:  Sweet Threads (Basic Grey)

Die:  Grass Cut-ups (The Cat's Pajamas)

Misc Supplies:  googlie eyes, Cricut "Birthday Bash" cartridge (bird & balloons), teal baker's twine

Christmas in July!

Since I just started my blog in May, I wanted to go back and post one of my favorite cards from last Christmas.  I figured if they are showing Christmas movies in July on tv, I could certainly show one Christmas card in July on my blog.  : )

Delight in the Little Things

Had an idea for a bright, summery kind of card.  I was dying to use the new Island Indigo color from Stampin' Up.  I tried a new technique (for me) and used some score lines to add some interest on the card front.  It is hard to see in the picture, but there are two vertical score lines running down the card, to the right of the fuschia border.  Here's what I came up with:

Stamps:  Big Flowers Pattern (Hero Arts); "Delight in the Little Things" ($1 bin at Michael's)

Cardstock:  SU Shimmer White, SU Island Indigo

Copics:  YG06, Y35, BG45, R14

Inks:  SU White Craft,  Momento Tuxedo Black

Misc Supplies:  white embossing powder, score-buddy, fuschia button (from my stash), baker's twine, corner rounder

Border Punch:  Die-namic Dainty Dots (My Favorite Things)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 126

I've been telling myself that I need to spend more time relaxing at my stamp table, before the craziness of the school year starts up again!  So, today I spend some time working on my entry for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge by Karen Giron.  Here is the sketch:

I also got to have some fun with my Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit for June 2011.  Here is my take on this week's sketch:

Stamps:  Make Mine a Double (My Favorite Things)

Cardstock:  SU Bermuda Bay, SU Very Vanilla, Bazzill Basics "Chablis" and "Intense Kiwi"

DSP:  Basic Grey "Sweet Threads" 

Copics:  RV55, EOO, E57, Y32, Y35, BG13, R14, C7

Inks:  SU Bermuda Bay, SU Poppy Parade, Momento Rich Cocoa

Misc Supplies:  Aqua Rhinestones

Border Punch:  Threading Water (Fiskars)

What a Tweet-Heart!

Remember how I made the T-Rex card for my friends' who just adopted a little 2 year old boy?  Well, luck struck twice when they were blessed to receive the call about a one-day old baby girl who needed a home. Imagine that!!!   Anyway, they went from a young married couple to a full-fledged family of four all within a couple of months.  What blessings these two children are for this terrific couple!!

Here is the baby girl card that I made for Miss Brooklyn.  It is tough to see in the picture, but I stamped the sentiment "simply adored" on a piece of vellum and adhered under the bird.  Looks much better in real life.  Enjoy!

I used the layout from i (heart) sketches July 2011 for this card.

Cricut Expressions "Create-a-Critter" cartridge -- Bird 1

Cardstock:  SU Whisper White, SU So Saffron, SU Pretty in Pink, SU Lavender Lace, coral scraps from my stash

DSP:  Three Bugs in a Rug "April Showers"

Ink:  Dew Drop Brilliance Pearlescent Lavender

Stamp:  "Simply Adored" ($1 stamp from Michael's)

Misc Supplies:  google eye, mini glue dot, irridescent stickers, self-adhesive felt flower, vellum, corner rounder

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

This is a graduation card that I made for the daughter of a good friend of mine.  She graduated from junior high in June and was one of the students selected to speak at the graduation ceremony.  I had the priviledge of working with her on her speech.  What an AMAZING young lady!   Even though this card is late getting to her, I wanted her to know that we are proud of her and all of her hard work!  Congrats, Hannah!

Stamps:  The Places You'll Go (Taylored Expressions)

Paper:  SU Melon Mambo, SU Very Vanilla, Basic Grey "Sweet Threads" DSP

Copics:  RV55, RV66, YG0000, BG53, Colorless Blender

Inks:  SU Bermuda Bay, Momento Tuxedo Black

Ribbon:  Sheer Aqua (Michael's)

Border Punch:  Die-Namics Dainty Dots (My Favorite Things)

Oh Baby!

One of the teachers at my children's daycare just found out that she is pregnant with a little boy.  This is her first baby and I am overjoyed for her and her family!  She is such a great teacher -- patient, kind, artistic, caring.   She is going to be a terrific mother!!   Here is the card (inside and out) that I made to help her celebrate her happy news.

Stamps:  Moka Jenn (Taylored Expressions); Congratulations ($1 bin at Michael's)

DSP:  My Mind's Eye Lime Twist "Happy Go Lucky", Basic Grey "Sweet Threads" (green strip on front)

Cardstock:  SU Whisper White, SU Bermuda Bay

Ink:  SU Bermuda Bay, SU Rich Razzleberry

Accessories:  Prima Flowers & Brad (Taylored Expressions), Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch

Have a Ginormous Birthday

One of my dear friends and her husband just adopted a beautiful little boy.  He is two years old and came into their lives just at the right time.  He is an absolute doll!  My son (Auston) and I worked together on this birthday card for him.  Hope he likes dinosaurs!!

We used my Cricut Expression and the Create-a-Critter cartridge to make this cute polka-dot T-Rex.  The DSP was from my stash and the sentiment was from Our Craft Lounge's "Dino Mite" set.

Bright Florals Card Set

I recently found this Colorbok "Bright Florals" DSP at Walmart.  It actually came with DSP, stickers and punch-outs.  Pretty cool!  The colors are very bright -- red, orange, yellow and lime green.  Not usually the color combination that I gravitate towards, but I couldn't shake the "summery" feeling it gave me.  So, I bought it!!

My first project with this new DSP was to make a thank you card for a terrific young lady that used to be my student.  I couldn't resist using my new "Beach Babe" penguin stamp from Taylored Expressions for this one.  Enjoy!

Once I made the card, I was still feeling the bright color combo so I went ahead and whipped up a set of cards for Jennifer to give her as part of her "thank you".  She always loves my cards so I figured I would make her some to take back to college with her.  I hope she likes them!

Happy Mother's Day!

I know that it is ridiculous to post the card I made for my mom for Mother's Day on my blog now (in the middle of July) but it is one of my favorites and I just couldn't resist!  Honestly, my mom is the best and I cannot imagine my life without her in it.  Thanks, Mom for all that you do for me and my family!  I love you!!

Shades of Poppy, Coral, Sage & Teal

One of my favorite color combinations ever is poppy/coral and sage/teal.  I had a 6x6 paper pack of My Mind's Eye "So Sophie" that I had bought last spring from Taylored Expressions that was temporarily lost.  Luckily, I found it and was able to get my poppy/teal fix as I challenged myself to use all of the sheets -- even the scraps -- to make as many cards as I could.  Here are examples of some of the versions that I was able to make.

Many Many Cards!!

Unfortunately, I have been doing a terrible job updating my stamp blog lately!  I have been making cards, I just haven't been good about posting the pics and details.  Anyway, I've had some people asking about my cards lately so I figured I'd better do some updating. . .

Since I made these cards over the past 2 months, I'm not posting specifics about the materials I used.  If anyone has questions, just post a comment and I'll get the info to you.

Warning:  Some pictures are not high quality due to poor lighting.

Easy Rider

Work has been so incredibly crazy lately that I haven't had a chance to sit at my stamp table.  All of my new spring DSP, Copics and other goodies were just begging to be used!  I was in desperate need of making a card for a dear friend who had a birthday come and go over a week ago!!!!   I promised her a handmade card, but since it is so far past her special day -- I decided to can the whole "Happy Birthday" thing all together and just make her a special everyday card.  Ellie, if you are reading this, act surprised when you see this tomorrow at work!  : )  

Stamps:  Penny Black "Easy Rider",  Smile sentiment from Stampendous "Flower Chat"

Ink:  Momento Rich Cocoa

Paper:  SU Very Vanilla, SU Melon Mambo, DSP is 3 Bugs in a Rug "Chloe Borders" and "Chloe Bicycle"

Copics:  RV14, BG45, E57, Y35, G24

Misc Supplies:  Teal button from Doodlebug Design Inc. Boutique Buttons "Swimming Pool" Assortment, Scrapper's Spool "Bone" by Karen Foster, Clear Stardust Gelly Roll Pen (to add some glittery effect to the green paint on the bike), sentiment was stamped on a label cut from a Nestabilities set, Heart was cut using my Cricut Expression (heart2 from the George Basic Shapes cartridge)

"Big on Spring" Bridal Shower

This is a card that I made to accompany a bridal shower gift.  Two former students of mine who are getting married (finally) after many, many years of dating.  They are wonderful people and I am so proud of them for taking this next step in their life together.  Congrats Kody & Jordan!!

Stamps:  SU "Big on Spring", SU Sale-A-Bration "So Happy for You"
Paper:  SU Very Vanilla, My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose "Hazel"
Ink:  Stazon Timber Brown
Copics:  Y32, R32, R35, BG02, YG63
Misc Supplies:  Sheer Coral/Pink Ribbon, SU Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Zig 2-way glue

Flower Chat

I got to spend some time at my stamp table today.  What a nice way to spend a Sunday!  Anyway, here is one of my creations.  I used the i{heart}sketches March 2011 layout. 

And, here are the details:

*  Stamps:  Stampendous "Flower Chat"

*  Inks:  SU Marina Mist, Staz On Timber Brown

*  Paper:  Fancy Papers "Decorate", SU Very Vanilla

*  Copics:  Y32, Y35, YG 67, G24, BG02, RV34, R32, R35

Small Wonder Baby Shower Invitations

This is a baby shower invitation that I made recently for my sister-in-law's good friend.  The baby is a girl and the soon-to-be mom wanted the colors to match the nursery -- purple, hot pink and orange.  When I first heard the color combo, I was scared out of my mind.  That is not a combo that I felt very comfortable with.  However, after finding this cute DSP at a local craft store, I had an idea!


I used the old SU color Lavender Lace for my card base.   Then accented it with some Pear Pizazz (loopy border), So Saffron (hippo's lower face), and some Melon Mambo as the hippo base (all that shows through is the flower design) and some pink polka dot DSP from my stash.  (I could not bring myself to add any more orange.  The design in the DSP will have to suffice!)


The only stamping I did on the card was the wording, which came from the SU Sale-A-Bration Set "Whimsical Words".  The hippo was cut out using the Create-a-Critter cartridge for the Cricut Personal Cutting Machine that I received from my mom (love her!!!) for Christmas.  Some googlie eyes and a clear rhinestone finish it off.  Anyway, I hope that Abby liked them!  They were fun to make!!

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 107

This is my first ever entry in a blog contest.  I made this card this afternoon using the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 107.  I am in love with the Friendship Blooms set from Taylored Expressions. I used the set and the coordinating flower dies.  I also used some self-adhesive rhinestones and an orange glittery 3-D sticker from my stash to make the flowers pop.  This card was pretty easy to make, after remembering that I had a SU square punch that would make perfectly sized squares.  Enjoy!

Have a Monster-ous Birthday!

This is a quick Monster birthday card for a family friend that is turning 2 next week!  I used my Copic markers for the first time today.  Obviously, there is a big learning curve.  Oh well, practice makes perfect (I hope)!