Ahhhh... Monday Afternoon Already!

The Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and the Color My Heart Color Dare finally merged in my brain.   I even managed to sneak in a bug for the Double Click Skittles Challenge!   I should save this card to post on Wednesday, since tomorrow is the start of a new Tuesday Throwdown Challenge and I already have a DT blog post scheduled.  But, I'm not. 

**********

Look what I did to the Mojo Monday card I posted this morning.  

I cut the front off the Tall & Skinny card, trimmed the sides just a smidge, took a normal A2 Kraft card base, stamped Happy Anniversary at the top (DRS stamp cut in half so I could put the words side by side) and adhered the MM card front below it.

 And now I have the 2 anniversary cards I need this month.  Yippee!

Ahhhh... Monday again!

My brain is having a difficult time this morning.  I looked at the Mojo Monday Tall & Skinny Sketch.  It just didn't strike me.  I checked out the Atlantic Hearts Sketch.  No strikes, once again.   I flipped back to the Mojo Monday Sketch, looked at it sideways, and got to work.   Using some old CTMH fall stamps and old papers, this is what I finally created:

(The squirrel is from a Folk Art Cricut Cartridge; scalloped ovals and nuts are from CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge)

I might even make another card similar to this one, only with just 2 acorns, a Happy Anniversary sentiment on the front and "to a nutty pair" on the inside.  Sounds like a plan!  I need 2 anniversary cards for September.  I do believe my brain is starting to wake up.

I am entering this card in the following: 

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 413- 

 

Amusing Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge #290- Golden Oldie Stamp 

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge # 34 - Lots of Layers 

Have a splendid day, everyone! 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Back to School

Using a digital image from Fred She Said Designs, I am entering this quick and simple card in a bunch of Back to School Challenges

and just a few more....  

Allsorts Challenge Week 326 - Recycle, Upcycle (The red texture paper was from an advertisement that I received in the mail.)

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - School Days 

The Pencil Case Challenge #1 - Anything Goes (I used promarkers to color the image and added a touch of Wink of Stella Clear to add some glitter to the edges of the pages.)

Crafting with Friends Challenge #5 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge # 290 - Golden Oldie (I won this digi in a challenge in April, 2014)

Dragons Lair Design August Challenge - 3 of a Kind (I added 3 green staples to each side of the card.) 

The Stamping Boutique Challenge - Back to School

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #326 - Back to School

If You Gave a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #26 - Back to School

The Crafters' Cafe Challenge #131 - Back to School

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - School Time

{PIN}spirational Challenge #147 - School

 

Freshly Made Sketches

When I am making a challenge card, I usually start by finding a sketch challenge and work from there.  Today I wanted try out a new teapot stamp a friend gave me.  And my 'go to' sketch challenge is Freshly Made Sketches #201. 

(Sentiment stamp is by Sweet n Sassy.)

Here are a few additional challenges I am entering:
Southern Girls Challenge #118 - Flower Power 
Creative Knockouts Challenge #104 - Anything Goes 
Crafty Girls Creations Challenge #3 - Anything Goes 
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #198 - Anything Goes 

Well, that takes care of my lunch break.  I have 3 more cards I'd love to get finished today.   And if I could get the box of cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids wrapped up and ready to take to the PO I'd be thrilled!

Hope you like the card.

Thanks, Gail, for the stamp.  

Snowy Shaker Card

card front

inside of card

The digital stamp used on this card is called Mail Girl and is from The Stamping Boutique.  This image was perfect for a shaker card because the digi image has a frame and one of my Spellbinders scalloped ovals fit perfectly inside.  So I printed the image twice, coloring the first one and fussy cutting the frame of the second one.  I die cut an oval from the card front, saving it for inside,  attached some clear acryllic to the back of the dp, and glued the glittered frame around the cut on the front.  Then I just added the glitter and foam tape and assembled it like any shaker card.  The decorative snowflakes on the front are cricut cuts, a punch cut, and a chipboard decoration.  Whatever works.  As you can see, I also added some snowflake punched borders inside the card and 2 scalloped ovals.  It's already to add a sentiment.  Perhaps for a winter birthday, Christmas,  or maybe just Miss You.

For now it is my entry in the following challenges:

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #241 - Weather  (How about a little snow?)

Crafting with Friends Challenge # 5 - Anything Goes 

Moving Along with the Times Challenge - Snow in Summertime 

A Snowflake's Promise Challenge # 4 - Winter or Christmas Theme 

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge #24 - Snowflakes and Sparkle 

 

Gerda Steiner Designs August Challenge

Well, this is my last card for the August Progressive Challenges in which I participate.  

This darling image of a snoozing puppy and mouse is this month's freebie for the Gerda Steiner Designs August Challenge.

card front

card back

I knew I wanted to make this a masculine card and use Kraft paper for the base. I colored the image and went in search of a paper pad I bought last winter in Florida.  Not only did I find the paper pad, but I also found several card fronts made from scraps tucked inside.  Choosing one of those, I embossed it and punched a hole in the bottom before adding it to the base.  I colored in the mouse "hole" with a brown marker.  A piece of scrap burlap cut in a semi-circle became a rug for the pup.  Next I went in search of a sentiment and found this one by My Favorite Things.  It was all on one stamp, but I divided it with a little masking, stamping the top section on a piece of white cs for the card front and the bottom directly on the card back.  (This card is going in the box for Send a Smile 4 Kids.  They like the cards to be blank on the inside, which is why I stamped the back rather than the inside.)  Finally, I used some waxy flax and a pearl to hang the matted sentiment on the wall.  It wasn't until after I photographed the card, did some editing and uploaded it to this post, that I realized that it looked like the pup was sleeping on the wall.
Luckily, I was able to make a few adjustments.  Now the snoozing dog and mouse are a bit more comfortable on the floor and I'm pleased with the result.
(Well, almost.  I wish I had scored the floor boards on an angle.)

Other challenges I am entering..... 

Quirky Crafts Challenge #17 - Embossing
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #198 - Anything Family Friendly Goes 
Deep Ocean Challenge #111 - For the boys
Through the Craft Room Door August 25-31 Challenge - Anything Goes
Cards in Envy Challenge - Cute and Cuddly
Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge #187 - One for the Boys
One Stitch at a Time Challenge #244 - 4 legged friends

Imagine That! August Challenge

It's coming down to the wire for entering the Imagine That! August Challenge.  This month's free digital set is Beach Blanket Girl.  I've used the precolored background and beach umbrella, but I colored the girl with markers.  Kris has also posted a freebie on the challenge blog to get you started in this progressive challenge, in case you've never played before.  But hurry!  To get next month's set for free you must submit an entry before August 28th.
Here's mine:

I thought I'd make the card look like part of a old scrapbook page by adhering the image to glossy white photo paper before securing it under the punched corners and then hand writing the caption.  Hard to believe, but in 1970 I was a bikini babe.  Only there wasn't quite as much to my bikinis or as much of me!  I even had one bikini I hand crocheted with special yarn that wouldn't stretch when it got wet!  And in that beach bag there was always one bottle with peroxide and lemon juice and another with baby oil and iodine.
I hope you can see, in the second picture, that the inside sentiment pops up when you open the card.
Very easy to do, with just 2 cuts of the paper and an extra fold.

This bathing beauty will also be making appearances in the following challenges:
Eclectic Ellapu August Challenge (pink team) - By the Sea

Robyn's Fetish Challenge #278 - Use a Digi 
Crafts for Eternity Challenge Recipe #240 - Summer
Creative Corner Challenge - At the Beach 
Fun Day Friday Challenge #102 - Lazy Days of Summer 
The Stamping Boutique Challenge - At the Beach!


 

Teachers Have Heart + CTMH Class 8/25/15

Once again, I am using Close to My Heart products and combining the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge  #122 and the  Heart 2 Heart Working 9 to 5 Challenge. 

 

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Inky Chicks Challenge #55 - Hearts
Through the Craft Room Door August 25-31 Challenge - Always Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #74 - Always Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge # 276 - Always Anything Goes
Amusing Challenge - Back to School
Polkadoodles Challenge Week 33 - Use something new (The stamp set was brand spankin' new.)

 ***********

I spent the day at Joyce's for her Above & Beyond Club where Judie and I made this:

and then this afternoon the rest of the gals came and we made these cards using some of the new papers, the SOTM sets for August and September and a few cricut cuts from the newest CTMH cartridge, 

Artistry.

Now I'm going to take some Advil for my aching back (Vacuuming was on that darn To Do list yesterday.) , prop up my feet and look at the CardMaker magazine I bought on the way home and the Quick Cards magazine that appeared in the mailbox this afternoon.

All in all, it was a pretty good day. 

Moving on to Mojo Monday

Mojo Monday is the second thing on my To Do list for today.  I just love crossing off things on the To Do list, don't you?  Unfortunately, I have multiple To Do lists - daily, long term, DT, bucket, and those unrealistic pipe dreams.  Getting everything crossed off would be on the last list. 

So, here is a Back to School card for  Mojo Monday Sketch # 412.

(Stamps are CTMH)

Before going on to #3 on today's list, I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #74 - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #276 - Always Anything Goes

Amusing Challenge - Back to School 

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #98 - Use a Sentiment 

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #260 - Distressing

Crafty Creations Challenge #296 - Back to School 

The Paper Shelter Challenge #215 - Back to School

Clear It Out Challenge - Back to School; stash item- office supplies

Thanks for stopping by.  

It's a celebration!!!

Freshly Made Sketches is celebrating it's 200th Sketch.  Congrats to you and your Design Team Members, past and present!

Thought I'd join the party with a thank you for all your hard work.

There are about 300 fabulous cards posted at FMS by various design teams and other crafters.  With so many creative ideas all in one place, and all using the same sketch,  you really should take a moment and check them out!  But if you want to join the fun, you'll have to hurry!!

 

By using the CTMH Remarkable Wreath stamp set and Kraft, Hollyhock, Colonial White, and Goldrush (Actually I don't have goldrush. That's as close as I could get.) colors,  this card is also eligible for the 

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #156.

And I'm also entering the Kraft Journal CAS Thank You Challenge #238.

On the Beach

  This poor bird,  Flamingo Fun Digital Stamp from the 2 Cute Ink Etsy Shop,  has been out in the sun way too long!  

The striped paper is actually from my pile of Christmas paper scraps.  I used a punch to make the framed corners for the image and to scallop the bottom.  The sun is a cut from a CTMH cricut cartridge.  A little clear glitter gel gives the sand it's shine.  And the sentiment is a CTMH stamp.

Challenges I am entering include: 

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes 4 Kids

Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge Recipe 240 - Summer 

Creative Corner Challenge - At the Beach 

Jo's Scrap Shack Fun Friday Challenge #102 - Lazy Days of Summer 

QKR Stampede Challenge #153 - Use a die cut (sun) 

The Stamping Boutique Challenge - At the Beach 

Eureka Stamps Challenge #154 - Use a sun 

 

Scraps again!

Before cutting into full sheets of Christmas paper, I thought I'd use up some of the scraps.  In reality, I could probably make all my cards for this year using scraps.  But that probably won't happen.  I tip my hat to Beccy at Beccy's Place.  She made a New Year's resolution to use up her scraps and has been making and posting fabulous cards for all occasions.  You can check out all 28 of her scrap cards here.

For this card I used leftover 1" strips of coordinating paper and embossed them with an ornament EF.  The stamped sentiment is a CTMH stamp.  I used some red wood hearts for embellishment; added 3 drops of red glitter gel for the holly berries; did a little faux stitching around the white CS pieces; and finished the card with some baker's twine.

Too much to do today.  

See you tomorrow for Mojo Monday!

From the Heart August Challenge

Just as I was finishing up my card for the August From the Heart Challenge, I heard a knock at the door.  My granddaughter, Gaby, and 17 month old great-granddaughter, Laila, stopped by for a visit.  What fun to bring out the puzzles with the little knobs on the pieces, the bus with the little people inside, and the Elmo sectional plate and baby utensils.  And after I post this card, I'll be getting out the mop and bucket to unsticky my kitchen floor.  Who invented those juice boxes that no child can resist squeezing?  Bad idea!

The free digital set for this month's challenge is Candy Cane for Snowman.  I also used glitter, some flocking, black liquid pearls, baker's twine, satin ribbon and my recently discovered Promarkers to make this cute Christmas card.

Additional challenges I am entering...

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - use ribbon, twine and/or lace 

Hiding in my Craft Room Challenge #213 - Any Holiday

Little Claire's Designs Challenge #60 - Christmas in August

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes 4 Kids 

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Spots or Stripes 

Inkspirational Challenge #89 - Word Prompt:Melt 

Crimbo Crackers Challenge #87 - Snowmen 

Moving Along with the Times Challenge - Snow in Summertime

Crafting by Designs Challenge - Get Ready for Christmas

I Love ProMarkers Challenge #283 - Anything Goes 

Fantastic Tuesday Challenge # 99 - Anything Goes with Glitter 

Sparkle n Sprinkle August Challenge - Anything goes with Glitter, Flocking, and/or Embossing Powder

While Laila was enjoying her juice box, we did get her to stand still and say "cheese".  She is getting so big! 

 

Owl share this one today

  While on vacation we visited a zoo near Cape May, NJ.   Although I don't usually enjoy seeing animals in zoo cages, they did have a beautiful white owl there.  Owls are one of my favorite birds.  I just wish they were not so hard to spot in nature. 

 Beccy's Place had a free owl digi available quite some time ago, and I decided to use it for a card to enter in Beccy's Place August Anything Goes Challenge.

I came across this fellow while organizing my stash, printed a long time ago and never used.   I also found a pile of negatives I had salvaged and a package of ProMarkers I won and never used.   It didn't take much more to create this card...  a sentiment stamped and cut apart, some metal stick on buttons, a bow, faux stitching, and a kraft card base.

Additional challenges owl enter today:

The Alphabet Challenge - N is for no design papers

Brown Sugar Challenge # 160 - Buttons and Bows

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #98 - Use a sentiment

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge # 124- Autumn Colors with ribbon or trim 

Sister Act Card Challenge #120 - Anything Goes

Fab n Funky Challenge #270 - Things with Wings 

The Kraft Journal Challenge #237 - Anything Goes with Birds

 

 

Free For All at Dee Dee's Digis August Challenge

It's hard to believe that there are only 11 more days in August.  Time to get busy making cards for my favorite monthly Progressive Challenges before it's too late.  My first card is for the August Progressive Challenge at Dee Dee's Digis.   

If you haven't participated in Dee Dee's Digis Challenge before, this is the perfect time to start!  Stop by the Dee Dee's Digis blog and pick up the free digis she is providing this month to get you started.  Then if you play, next month you'll receive a new set to use in September's Challenge, and so on. 

The set for this month is called seasonal baskets and I love it.

With a basket for each season, you could make a nice set of cards.  I also want to try sizing them down to inchies and making a waterfall card.  Today I just made a simple card, using the precolored image for fall.  After assembling the card, I decided to give it a spritz of shimmer mist.  Now I'm not sure I like it.   Maybe I'll reprint the basket and pop a new, unspritzed one on top.

 (The image sort of looks like the pollen stain I got on my favorite khaki capris and can't get out.  BTW, I'm open to any stain removal advice!  Shout, Zout, Oxyclean, and bar soap have not worked.) 

Self Closing Box

New folds lure me in every time. 

  

You can find the tutorial for this self closing box right here.  One look at these cute boxes and I knew I had to try one.  Just for fun I added the matching border strip from the paper across the top of the bag.   The box really does snap closed by itself.  The ribbon, which is easily slid off, and binder clip are just to embellish it.

Filled with little school supplies, erasers, glue stick... it would be fun to give to a child returning to school. Or, if I were a teacher, I would love to find this on my desk filled with chocolates.

front

back

Papers, stamps and ribbon are CTMH products.

This is my entry for the following challenges:
Clear It Out Challenge - Back to School; Stash Item- office supplies
Through the Craft Room Door Aug 18-24 - Always Anything Goes
Craft-Dee BowZ August Challenge - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #73 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #275 - Always Anything Goes
Love to Scrap Challenge #60 - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards Challenge #23 - Always Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's August Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting with Friends Challenge #4 - Anything Goes

Things sure look different when you're no longer a kid!

When I was young, I always thought it was quite unfair that my older brother got to celebrate his birthday in September, my younger brother in October, and I had to wait until November.  I'm not in such a hurry to get to my birthday anymore!  

Combining the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 121 with  the Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #84 (It's about Time) and Sweet Stamps Challenge #235 (Masculine Card),  this card is for my older brother.

With the exception of the Skittles and the Jim Holtz embossing folder I used, all stamps, papers, and the Artbooking Cricut Cartridge used are CTMH .

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #258

Lawn Fawn, a small Southern California company specializing in fun clear stamps, is the generous sponsor of this week's Tuesday Throwdown Texture Challenge.   Lawn Fawn also has dies available to match their stamps, as well as, acrylic blocks, inks, and other supplies.  Each member of the design team was allowed to select a stamp set to use.   I chose a set called On The Mend.  When my set arrived, it was so darn cute, I decided to make a set of CAS cards using various embossing folders and popping the images for texture.  By stamping all the images directly on colored or patterned paper, I didn't even need to do any coloring. 

 

Please stop by the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog for more inspiration on how to add texture to your cards.  And feel free to visit the blogs of the DT members.  We love it when you drop by and say HI!  

I am entering the last card with the cute kleenix box in the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #73 - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #275 - Always Anything Goes 

Lawnscaping Challenge #112  - Embossing

Quirky Crafts Challenge #17 - Embossing 

 

Mojo Monday 2 days in a row!

Well, the suitcases have finally been unpacked from vacation and I am back on schedule making my Mojo Monday card on Monday.

Today I've used the Mojo Monday Sketch # 411 with this week's theme for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, Sunshine. 

(All products and stamps are CTMH)

These are the challenges I am entering today:
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #411
 
Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Good Day, Sunshine! 
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #73 - Anything Goes 
613 Avenue Create Challenge #137 - Anything Goes, no twist 
Pile It On Challenge #82 - Bright Colors 
PDE Friday Linky Party - Sunshine theme
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #196 - Anything Family Friendly Goes

That's it for today.  

Stop back tomorrow and check out my Design Team project for Tuesday Throwdown Challenge.  

Later this week I'll be posting a self closing box with a link to the tutorial, my card for the weekly Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, and the cards I made with my Red Hat friends this morning. 

Better yet, follow my blog and you won't miss anything!

Ta! Ta!