Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

 

I finally found some time to make a card to enter in the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #70.   This glossy cream cardstock is wonderful when embossed.  I came across the purple glittery washi tape a while ago and set it aside for one of my Red Hat classes, but it is too wonderful not to use.  While I was in my red hat supplies I decided to use a few feathers, too.  The flowers are circles from a purple paper bag that was glued shut at the bottom and was unuseable as a bag.  But several circles stacked and held together at the center with a brad, then crunched and uncrunched make fine flowers. The die cut is from Cherry Lynn Designs and the sentiment stamp is from CTMH.

This card was entered in the following challenges:
Divas by Design Challenge - Happy Birthday
The House That Stamps Built DCC827 - Celebrate Birthdays

Sympathy with a man in mind

This card was not made for anyone in particular.  It is going in my stash.

However, today my sympathy and prayers are for my mother who is having a tooth pulled in about an hour. 

No one ever wants to have a tooth pulled.   And I am praying there are no complications because Mom is looking forward to Tuesday, Sept. 2 and the 30th Anniversary Celebration of an ELCA Bible Study that she helped to start in 1984. 

I tried to keep this simple and geared to a male recipient, with the tan distressing, and using a knot on the ribbon instead of a bow.  The photo doesn't really show that the top 2 layers are popped 1/8" off the card base. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Love to Create Challenge #130 - Mad About Plaid (I love this ribbon.  At first it appears gingham, but if you look closely there is a red line going through it for a very versatile plaid.)
Come and Get It Challenge - Anything Goes with a Sentiment

A Turtle For Robyn + CTMH Card hall

I'm not sure why Robyn is so fond of turtles.  But her birthday is approaching, so this card's for her

(Stamps are from Inky Antics.)

and for the following challenges:

Clear It Out Challenge - Favorite Color; Stash Item-Anything Goes (Juniper is my favorite green of all the CTMH colors.  It's a nice soft green with just a hint of blue.  And it goes perfectly with my stash item, this soft green vellum.)
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Animals
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #166 - ABC (I've used an Animal, Bling, Butterflies and Bubbles, Cardstock and Clear Stamps
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
Exploring Cricut and More Challenge - Happy Birthday + something sparkly (I used the CTMH Art Philosophy cricut cartrudge.)
Come and Get It Challenge - Anything Goes with a Sentiment
Glitter and Sparkle Challenge #99 - Butterflies


I must confess, I cased this card from Jackie, the current Guest Designer at Love to Scrap Challenge Blog.  She makes some awesome cards which you can find on her blog, Kreate With Me 2. 

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Here are the cards we made this afternoon at Joyce's CTMH Workshop:

Moo-jo Monday Pocket Card

I have had an absolutely awful day.  Enough said!

Thank you for understanding.

Deep breath.

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Today's Mojo Monday card is a birthday card for my cousin to give to her dad.  Her family once had a working farm.  I used to get so annoyed at family reunions because Nancy, my cousin, always had to leave early so they could get home and milk the cows.  They still live on a section of the original farm, but the cows and corn fields are long gone.  Nancy has a small truck patch and grows rows and rows of beautiful sunflowers.  Just a bit of background for this card.

This is the card I made for today's  

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 360 .  

 

I have turned the sketch on the side. Rather than making a tall and skinny card, I have made a short, chubby card.  (3.5x5.5)

And I have also made a pocket for the card:

 

The back of the card reads:

Dad, 

Hope you have an udderly wonderful birthday! 

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #360 

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #33 - Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #54 - Anything Goes

Come and Get It Challenge - Anything Goes with a Sentiment 

Corrosive Challenge #206 - B Unique (I've used Bovines, Brads, and a Bow.)

Chocolate, Coffee, Cards Challenge #71 - Bingo (I've used the middle row: Green, Bow, String.) 

I feel much better now. 

Pop-up Slider Card

I saw a tutorial and that's all it took....

( Dream Pop designer papers, stamps and buttons are CTMH.)

 

Scrapbook Blessings Challenge Blog is featuring a Pop-up Slider Card for their current Challenge #27.  This was so easy to make.   There is a link to the tutorial on the Scrapbook Blessings Blog, if you'd like to give it a go.   I was going to send this to Mickey for her birthday, but I think I've found a card fold that's even better. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Challenge #27 - Anything Goes (featuring Pop-up Slider Cards)
Allsorts Challenge Week 273 - Warm Sunshiny Colors
Treasured Times Stamps Challenge #23 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge #113 - Make a project for your favorite season (Mine is summer.)
Docerela Creations Challenge #68 - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy Challenge #121 - Pets or Favorite Animal (I love bird watching.  I have a dozen bird houses scattered around my back yard and it's so fun watching them fill up each summer.)
Crafting Musketeers Challenge #16 - 1,2,3 (I've used 1 ribbon, 2 birds, 3 flowers.)
Crafty Hazelnut's August Patterned Paper Challenge
Red Rubber Inspirational #134 - Just Wing It
Divas by Design Challenge - Pretty Pearls

Something Different

This image with layered pieces is from Crafts u Print, rescued from a friend's "Why am I keeping this?" stash pile.  It actually measured 6x6 for a square card, but I cut it down to make an A2 card.  I wanted to pick up the slight bit of copper color in the clock, so I mounted it on gold foil, and added black glitter tape and glitter brads.  Finally I added the little metal party hat, just for fun.  This guy card is to celebrate my BIL's birthday today.  

Happy Birthday, Al!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Simply Create Too Challenge # 68- Monochromatic Madness
Cards Galore Encore August Challenge - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - Let's Get Masculine
Moving along with the Times Challenge - Feeling a Little Vintage
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs Challenge - Rock Around the Clock
Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #84 - Monochromatic
Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge - Glitter Galore
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Things with Wheels
Perfectly Rustics Design Challenge #29 - Masculine Card
Corrosive Challenge #206 - B Unique (I've used Brads, a Birthday Banner,  a Big hand on the clock, and foil Background paper.)
Scribble and Scrap Challenge #25 - Anything Goes

Hope you are having a great weekend!

If I can just remember to mail this....

That's the problem when I make cards way ahead of time.... remembering to mail it.  Perhaps I'll stash it with my unpaid bills.  Yes, that would work.  And just what did I make? you might be wondering.  

Well, while my DH switched between the Little League World Series and a preseason Football game last evening, I suddenly knew what I wanted to do with the Atlantic Hearts Sketch this week.  I finished a baby afghan earlier this week (so sorry but I forgot to snap a picture and it was very pretty in a varigated yellow, peachy pink yarn with a double ruffle edged in a deep coral) and am at a loss in front of the TV with nothing to occupy my hands, otherwise I would just sit through the sports.  Last evening I headed to the craft table to work on a card for my DIL's birthday, October 31st.  I got the outside done before bed and finished the inside this morning.  I think it will do nicely, if I remember to send it!

This is a lopsided gate fold card using mostly CTMH stamps and papers.

I've included a spot for a gift card on the left and a place to sign the card on the right.

I made a double bow with ribbon and black netting.

Cuts were made using the CTMH Artiste and Art Philosophy Cricut cartridges.

I am entering this in the challenges below before I head out to Olive Garden for lunch followed by a little unnecesssary shopping (the best kind).
4 Crafty Girls Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Celebrate with Ribbons
Sieze the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
Hobbybook Designer Challenge - 2 or more Designer Papers
Inky Impressions Challenge #173 - Anything Goes
Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Card Mania Challenge #53 - Birthday Party
Craft Your Passion Challenge #226 - Use at least 3 Patterned Papers
Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge #163 - Fancy Folds
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - No Square Cards
Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #69

Spring Fold Card

When I print digital images, I generally print several at a time in case I decide to fussy cut and pop a section for dimension.  The ones I don't use go into a box and, right now, several envelopes.  I definitely need a bigger box or I need to use the extras.  Sometimes I have a problem because I don't know who designed the digi to give them credit on my post.  I've been trying to remember to make a note on the backs, trying is the operative word.  (This particular cup is from Eureka stamps. and is available in rubber and digi.  The sentiment is from a SU set.  'Steam' bling and handmade flowers are thanks to CTMH.)  After coloring I clear embossed the cup several times to give it the look of china and then fussy cut it to pop on the front of this card. I placed a small velcro dot on the card base and the triangle section adjoining it so the card would stay in this position for display. 

I made a small pocket on the back of the card to enclose a tea bag.

Challenges I am entering today are:

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite 2 Embellishments and Why  (My favorite embellishments are crystal gems, because of their shine and versatility, and bows, because you can make them from so many things and they add dimension.)
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #99 - Celebration with Ribbon (I'm celebrating friendship.)
Moving Along with the Times Challenge - Feeling a Little Vintage

Southern Girls Challenge - It's all about Texture
Hobbybook Designer Challenge - 2 or more designer paper  (These are fabric papers which I just love on this card.  Thanks, Sybilla, for giving them to me.)
The Paper Shelter Challenge #170 - Lace
Craft-Dee Bowz August Challenge - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow
Eureka Stamps Challenge #103 - Inspirational
Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge #163 - Fancy Folds
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #48 - Anything Goes option/Vintage

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Would you like to see the cards we made at Joyce's CTMH card workshop on Tuesday using the August Stamp of the Month set?  

Hoot! Hoot! here they are:

 

We used the new CTMH papers that just became available 8/1.  

 Don't you just love the purple stripe?  It's called confetti wishes.

Bloomin' Flowers and Red Hat Cards

Here's a very simple card using a CTMH stamp, some markers, and an embossing folder.

Today I am entering these Challenges: 

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes with Stash Item Anything Goes (everything was from my stash)

Creative Card Crew Challenge #68 - Embossing Wet or Dry

Ladybug Crafts Inc TLT Challenge - CAS

Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Use Your Stash (I purchased this CTMH stamp a while ago and decided it was time to ink it up.)

Crafting from the Heart Challenge 32 - Anything Goes

Fitztown Challenge #49 - Wet or Dry Embossing

My Craft Creations Challenge - 18/8-30/8/2014 - Anything Goes

Path of Positivity Challenge #17 - Possibilities

AAA Cards Challenge #16 - CASing Jane Taylor

Aloha Friday Challenge #30 - In the Garden  (Kitty Bee Designs Blog )

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Thought you might like to see the Red Hat cards I designed  for the classs I taught on Monday.  

It was a fun morning, as always.

Furry Friends

Summer is rapidly coming to an end.  The stores are all featuring their annual back to school sales.  It's time to catch the last waves and ride them all the way to the beach just like this adorable pooch from Oak Pond Creations the sponsor of this week's Tuesday Throwdown Furry Friends Challenge #209.  

Oak Pond has some of the most adorable animal digital images and monthly freebies.
I printed this digi 3 times so I could fussy cut and layer the waves and the sun. 

Hope you'll be joining us at Tuesday Throwdown and entering a Furry Friends project of your own.

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Challenges:

Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes with stash item-anything goes (ribbon) 

Fantastic Tuesday Challenge #49 - Anything Goes 

The Sailing Pineapple Blog Challenge #15 - It's Summer 

Digi Makeover Challenge #154 - Summer Vacation 

 

Friends Forever

I am blessed with some very wonderful forever friends.  

This card is for all of you.......

and also for:
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 359
 
Cards in Envy Challenge - Best of Friends (The button is real flat and skinny and will pass the USPS test for regular postage.  I do add a small piece of packing tape on the envelope over the button to protect it in case the machines at the PO are hungry.)
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes for Kids
Doodle Pantry August Challenge #49 - Any Digi Goes



The digital image is Goose Me from Doodle Pantry and everything else is from my CTMH stash.

Back to School

My grandsons go back to school next Monday.  My son(He's a principal.) went back to school last Monday.   And this cute Hedgie has his backpack on, an apple for the teacher and is headed in the same direction.  Thanks, Lyn, for this adorable digi image, Hedgie Back to School (available at Dragonsmoore with the rest of Lyn's fabulous Digi Doodles).

I am entering these challenges today:
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Back to School
Creative Moments Challenge #49 - Anything Goes/Animals
Whimsy Stamps Challenge #74 - Back to School

That's all for today.  I just saw something at Splitcoast Stampers that I must try.

Have a great day!

Life's good until...

the sand flies start to bite.  Enough said about that. 

This digi image called Beach Bum Pussy is one of Lyn's Digi Doodles available at Dragonsmoore.  The ticket stamp is CTMH.  And everything else came from my stash.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
The Zach Brown Band song "Toes"  is playing over and over in my head thanks to the challenge theme at  Cards in Envy Challenge - Toes in the Sand
Animal Friends Challenge #17 - Summer
Creative Cottage Challenge #7 - Digi/ Charms or Pins
Seemacrafts Challenge - Summer Fun in August
Left of Center Challenge #41 - Inspired by a Song ('Toes' by Zach Brown Band)
Polkadoodles Challenge # 33- Fun in the Sun
Crafting with the Dragon Challenge - Sun, Sea, Sand
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes 4 Kids
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Summer
Inky Impressions Challenge #172 - Animal Friends

Lots of 1/2" strips leftover

I was doing a little craft table clean up and made a couple 

Any Hero cards to send to Operation Write Home.  

Now I have room to assemble some card kits for a Red Hat class I am teaching on Monday.

I'll be entering this bottom card in these challenges:

Crafts for Eternity R#189 - something old (My something old would be the stamps I used)

Sister Act Card Challenge #70 - Anything Goes

Milk Coffee Challenge - Add Stripes 

Stamping Sensations August Challenge - Anything Goes

 

Sunflowers

My cousin grows the most beautiful sunflowers.  Rows and rows of sunflowers.  Our family reunion was this past Sunday and she had vases and vases of her beautiful flowers on the tables in her parents barn where the reunion was held.  But missing from the day was her mother's sunny face.  She was resting inside due to the cancer treatments she's been receiving.  So if you're speaking to the man upstairs, please remember Shirley in your prayers.

I've made this card to send to her.  Hope it cheers her a bit.

   I wish you could see the sparkle from the shimmer mist I sprayed on the popped image and sentiment, digis from Pattie's Creations Designs.

Inside of card with stamped sentiment from Great Impressions.

When I entered a card in Pattie's Creations Monochromatic Challenge #97 earlier this week, I realized I hadn't used nay of her images in a while.  This image was a perfect fit for the card I wanted to make and by just using yellow I can also enter it in Pattie's Challenge. 

By turning the current sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch #68 Challenge on its side I had a great layout for the card.

And I'm also entering these challenges:
Crafty Creations Challenge #269 - Flower Power
Divas by Design Challenge - So Charming (The little envelope charm says "made with love" on the back.)
The Paper Shelter Challenge # 169- Punches and Dies (I've used both.)
Penny's Challenge #190 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #145 - Anything Goes
Oldie But a Goodie Challenge - Black and White +1 (yellow) (My dies are a few years old.)
Craft Your Passion Challenge #226 - Bring Me Sunshine!
Crafty Boots Challenge - Flowers
Eureka Stamps Challenge #102 - Things with Wings
Squigglefly Challenge #32 - Isn't that charming?
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #219 - Decorate your card inside and out

No Monkey Business

Deedee's August Digi of the Month Challenge has a few twists this month.  First, if you've never played in Deedee's monthly progrssive challenge, you can get this month's digi for free right here so you can play along.  Second, besides the weekly prize, she is offering a Grand Prize at the end of the month, too.  And, as usual, if you participate this month you get next month's set for free.  How great is that?  I've been playing in Deedee's challenge for a while and love her digi sets.  I've made this card using the sketch at Try Stamping on Tuesday and some paper scraps
 
for my Deedee's August Digi of the Month Challenge entry.
I am also entering this card in these challenges:
Going Grey with Scrap Creations Challenge: Animals
Creative Card Crew Challenge #68: Embossing
A Random Fam Challenge #12: Paper Patterns
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Spots and Dots
2 Cute Ink Challenge #112 - Animals
Fitztown Challenge #48 - For the Kids
A Gem of a Challenge #125 - Embossing

A favorite Christmas stamp.

Today we have a nice steady rain here in Pennsylvania.  Everything really needs it, even me.  It gives me an excuse to just stay inside and nurse the head cold my DH was kind enough to share with me.  I spent the morning coloring, a fairly brainless task.  Now I have some chicken soup simmering behind me and thought I'd quickly do today's post until it is ready.

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Scraps, scraps and more scraps.  I just can't bear to throw them away.  Here I've made some CTMH paper scraps and some red glitter paper scraps into banners for the top of this card, used a punch on the corners, and stamped this beautiful CTMH Merry Christmas.   

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #31 - Anything Goes

Amusing Challenge - Christmas 

My Perfect Life Festive 48 Challenge Week # 31- Any Christmas Card

Crafty Hazelnut's Challenge Extra for August - Anything Goes Christmas

Completely Christmas Challenge #24 - Anything Christmas
Winter Wonderland Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes for Christmas


That's it for today.  My soup is ready.

Back to routines....

after a week at the beach, means making a Mojo Monday card first thing this morning.  This morning I've chosen to use Gerde Steiner's Kid in Pumpkin Costume digi on my card.  Not that I'm ready for Fall or Halloween, I'm just feeling like a pumpkin after eating lots of ice cream last week....  cappuccino crunch, mint chocolate chip, midnight chocolate caramel, chocolate salted caramel, and 

the best chocolate raspberry truffle. 

 

This is the digi provided free for the August Challenge at Gerde Steiner Designs if you participated in last month's challenge.  I've fussy cut his hat and pumpkin bucket and popped them a bit.  I also added some liquid glass to the bucket to give it a more plastic look. Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 358 provided the layout I used.

 

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

Inkspirational Challenge #62 - Use markers or pencils (I used a combination of both to color the image) 

Crafty Hazelnut's August Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes

Digi Galore Challenge - Anything Goes

Hobbybook Designer Challenge - All about Kids

Have a lovely day 

and 

thanks so much for visiting my blog!

 

Making a Splash!

It's always fun to be sitting on the beach when a group of dolphins swims close to shore.  We were lucky enough to spot some dolphins last week, swimming along with a few canoes.  It was one of the few times I missed my craft room because I knew I had a wonderful set of dolphin digi stamps  from Imagine That! digis by Kris waiting for me here at home.   Today I've combined 2 of the images from the set and several challenges to make this card:

Here are the challenges I am entering with this card:
Imagine That! August Progressive Challenge - Dolphins
Pattie's Creations Challenge #97 - Monochromatic
Moving Along with the Times - Sketch
 
Sparkle n Sprinkle August Challenge - Anything Goes (I've used loose glitter.)
Wags n Whiskers Challenge #135 - Birthdays
Sweet 7 Digital Designs Challenge #1 - Birthdays

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Did I tell you my great-granddaughter has 2 teeth now?  Here's a photo I took this afternoon at our family reunion of Laila showing off her new pearly whites:

Ahhhh.... Vacations are such a wonderful thing!

My DH and I, along with my son and his family, spent the last week at the beach.  I hope all my blog posts appeared as scheduled.  We didn't have internet access where we were and came home to about 600 emails between our 3 email accounts.  My first order of business upon returning home this afternoon was emptying litter boxes.  My second was making my Mojo Monday card for this month's sketch contest. 

(The stamps are from an inexpensive Studio G set available in the dollar bins at various stores.)

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday Sketch Contest #357

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge 14 - Z is for Zoo
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #224 - Feathers
2 Cute Ink Challenge #112 - Animals
Make My Monday Challenge - Birds
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Fab n Funky Challenge #225 - Inspired by a Movie ("Hoot")
Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #83 - Feature a Creature

CAS Thinking of You

How's this for a Clean and Simple card?

The butterfly stamp was a magazine freebie, as was the idea for this one layer card.  I'm so sorry that CTMH discontinued their little wood trinkets.  I really like them.  The sentiment is CTMH. 

New Embossing Folder

This embossing folder was a freebie from one of my magazines (BG paper, too).  I just took a dauber and gently rubbed green and gold inks over the embossed image to make it more visible.  I distressed all the edges in the green, added a CTMH sentiment, and a CTMH wood trinket bird.  Easy, peasy.  

My cuttlebug embosser was my first "big" purchase when I started making cards.  It's a must have in my book.

New Embossing Folder #2

Yesterday, I used one of the 2 embossing folders I picked up on a clearance pile.  Well, here's a card I made using the second one.

 

Once again I used the pictures from the packaging (in pink) as layers on the card.  I added wide, sheer ribbon with a strip of CTMH paper on top, a CTMH center bling, and a banner using more CTMH paper and sentiment stamp.