Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Another Thank You

It is truly a miserable day here is southeast Pennsylvania.
Intermittent showers, chilly, dreary, yuck!
My grandson has a ball game this evening, 
but I'll be surprised if that happens. 

Things are looking up!  
My DH just brought in the mail and there's a package for me. 
I really want to tear into it.
However, restraint is in order if I want to finish this post.

Yesterday, while making a few DT cards, I die cut a piece of cs, added adhesive, stuck it on the card, decided I didn't like it, carefully peeled it back off the card, and needed a place to put a sticky die cut.  Rooting through my closest box of dp, I came across a piece that matched the die cut.  This particular piece of paper was a freebie from inside one of my craft magazines and a bit on the thin side.  I usually like to emboss these papers.  Finding a NBUS embossing folder I forgot I had, the card became a Thank You.  
And that, my friends, is how this creation came to be.
I took the photo on a wonky angle so you could see the embossing.
 The die cuts are from ODBD; the stamp is by CTMH; and the flowers were fussy cut from the remaining piece of dp and popped.

Challenges:

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Normally, on Tuesday afternoons I am happily in the company of some crafty friends making CTMH cards in Joyce's basement.  However, no class today.  But here are the cards we made last week:




 
 And the 4th card we attempted to make just didn't work out. 
 I brought mine home, used some of the pieces and made this one.
 


Now, I am going to open my  package.
Please Do Not Disturb!

Monday, May 29, 2017

Mojo Monday Thanks

The last Monday in May,  Memorial Day in the United States, is traditionally a day to remember and thank those who serve and have served in our military. 

Even though the card I made is not in patriotic colors, I did think a Thank You card was appropriate.  It's also time to be thanking those teachers, especially the ones that will never be forgotten.


Challenges:
 
Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #124 - 2 or more designer papers
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Use Your Stuff (I've used a paper pack from CTMH that is several years old and I only have bits and pieces left.)

Thanks for stopping by.
Debi
 

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Father's Day Fan Fold

Here's a card fold that is new to me.  
Very easy to make, but difficult to photograph.


 

This is my June DT project for heARTful stamping
I've used papers and stamps from the CTMH Jack Workshop on the Go, paired with Ruby, Black and Juniper cardstock.   I also used some retired black fundamental paper.  The flip side is actually a black and white zig zag pattern, but I sponged the white part with juniper ink.  The letters and frame are cuts from the CTMH Artbooking cricut cartridge.

I hope you'll have time to enter this week's Anything Goes + a Sentiment on my friend, Chris's, heARTful stamping challenge.

Challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #180 - Anything Goes + a sentiment
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #417 - Father's Day/Male



 

Friday, May 26, 2017

Friday Flowers

Lots of things on the old "To Do" list today, but I wanted to get this card for the CD Sunday "Say It With Flowers" Challenge posted.
These sweet images are from the NitWit Collection on the Complete Cardmaking Issue 36 CD.  I did my usual fussy cutting and layering with foam tape, and added a border with 2 strips of washi tape across the bottom, some bling and a tiny bow.

I am also adding this card to the following challenges
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday; optional topping sweet (no topping on this one, just a sweet card.)
Aud Sentiments Challenge #180 - Anything Goes + a sentiment
Mod Squad Challenge - Birthday Bash 

Have a lovely day, my blog friends!

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Imagine That! Stamps Thursday Hi!

Hi!  Debi here with another design team card made with 

When I first saw the Ricky's Stonemobile digi set from Imagine That! Stamps, it reminded me of my grandson, Nick.  When he was little he spent every minute he could riding his hot wheels car.  The fronts of his sneakers were constantly wearing out from dragging his feet to stop.  
This image makes an adorable birthday card for a little boy.  
 I think I will make another card for my grandson, Daeton, who turns 16 in August and will be able to drive a real car.  
For his I will use the uncolored version,
 so I can make the hair dark blonde and add a 1 and a 6 to the balloons.


To make this card I printed and then fussy cut the colored version of the digi stamp.  I also printed an extra birthday banner so I could pop it with dimensional tape.  The balloons are cricut cuts, orange paper covered in a clear glue so they are shiny.  
You may notice that I gave Ricky an haircut.
The boys like that long on top, short on the sides look.  

Have you had time to enter the
  Creative Playground Link Up for May?  The theme is Anything Goes and it runs from May 5th to June 2nd.  The featured set, which you receive for free if you enter the Link Up using an Imagine That! Stamp as the main focus of your project, 
is Pretty Petunias.

Hope you have a crafty day! 

Here are the challenges I am entering today:
Bitten by the Bug Challenge - Birthday (balloons are from CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge)
Always Fun Challenge #7 - Anything Goes
Ike's World Challenge #89 - Anything Goes
Mod Squad Challenge - Birthday Bash
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Bright Colors 4 Kids



Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Great Impressions Stamps Wednesday Inspiration


The other day my DH said he needed a card for a friend who had just been moved to a facility for rehab after an unfortunate accident caused him to have a stroke.  I told him about the new Great Impression Stamps I had, Beary Wet (F608) and  Spin Cycle (E867) , but questioned if they would be suitable for a man.  My DH said he had no doubt that I could make a "guy card" with the stamps.  Of course, I had to give it a try.  

How'd I do? 

Then, just for fun, I made a locking joy fold feminine version, too.
Instead of red and brown, I switched to bright pink and brown.
See how the bottom corner of the image locks the card shut when tucked under the flower?





You still have a week to enter the
with your Feminine cards.



I am going to enter the following challenges: 
Crafting with Dragonfies Challenge #81 - Animals
Through the Craft Room Door Week of 5/23 - Always Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread Challenge #42 - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Anything Goes
The House That Stamps Built Challenge M2417 - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenge #342 - Anything Goes


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #344 with STAMPlorations

STAMPlorations is the sponsor for this week's 

As is often the case, when I receive new stamps in the mail I head right for paper and ink pad.  Someday I will learn to check the challenge theme before making anything.  Fortunately, the card I made fits perfectly with this week's Anything Goes theme! 

 These stamps are from the Sweet Spring Wishes stamp set available from STAMPlorations.

 There are also dies available for both the flowers and words.

I was checking out the STAMPlorations Blog and they just happen to have a CAS Challenge going for the month of May.  Generally, I shy away from CAS challenges.  I tend to get messy which requires adding layers and/or bling to disguise the little flaws.  If my friend, Carol, to whom I sent the card above, dissects it, the truth will out!  Because I had stamped a few extra flowers, perfect for masking, and was feeling brave,  I tried a CAS card.
One layer, lots of white space, no bling, and no smudges!
The hardest part was the "hello".  The stamp actually says "hello sunshine".
I covered the sunshine part with tape before inking, then had to quickly remove the tape and stamp the card before the ink on the stamp dried.  That's not easy when the ceiling fan is on high!


Monday, May 22, 2017

Scrappy Mojo Monday

This morning I was getting together with a few Red Hats friends to make cards.  Because of forecasted heavy rain today, I took the card kits I had prepared and the necessary crafting supplies out to my car last night.  Consequently, although I had time to layout my Mojo Monday card before I left, I had to wait until I returned home and had my tools at hand to assemble it and share it with you.  
Using scraps from one of the cards I had prepared for the Hatters, this is my contribution for Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #498.



I am also entering these challenges:
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #240 - White + 1 other color

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Here are two of the sample cards I made
for our Red Hat class this morning:

I usually make up 2 variations as samples for the girls.  Their heads were really spinning on this one, because these papers are all double sided and there were so many combinations.  The butterfly, rose and sentiment piece were all cut using CTMH cartridges, and the stamps were also CTMH.  I had told the girls that today was my 35th wedding anniversary so we would be making an anniversary card.  One gal turned her nose up, obviously not thrilled with making an anniversary card.  As I try to send everyone home with cards they like and can use, I designed this as my promised anniversary card also suitable for many occasions.

Thanks for stopping by!
 



Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Great Impressions Stamps May Challenge Card

If you'd like to find out how I made my card for the

I posted the directions on the Great Impressions Stamps blog today.

If you follow my blog, you've already seen the card above.  So I decided to use Great Impressions stamp Springy Molly (F121) to make another card.  It is one of a group of cards I am making for my neighbor to give to children who are being adopted.
Inside the card reads:  
You've been adopted!  
I'm smiling so big my face hurts!

The "Congratulations" sentiment is from Great Impressions stamp C379S Graduate.  (I cut off the diploma and graduate part after I stamped it on white cs.) 

Challenges:

Crafting by Designs Guest Design Card


You're So Special 
 is the new challenge theme at Crafting by Designs
 Because I was a Spotlight Winner on their challenge a few weeks ago, I was asked to join their Design Team in creating an inspiration project for this new challenge.  

My godmother celebrated her 90th birthday 2 days ago.
She has always been a very, very special person to me.
This card was made for her.
 




This photo shows the details of the card: a 5 layer banner, 2 layers are punched on each side, the top layer is a cream striped satin ribbon;  a light blue circle die cut with a dark blue circle behind it to show off the details;
On the back panel: a floral leaf die cut in green; a butterfly die cut divided into 2 pieces with a few pearls; glossy cream numbers cut on the cricut and then embossed with tiny hearts; dark blue enamel dots; light blue glitter dots.
On the pop out frame:  the sentiment (a freebie stamp from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine) stamped in versa mark and heat embossed in pearl white and a pearl to dot the "i";  a 2 layer cricut cut flower with a dark blue punched flower and pearl in the center.
On the front panel: 2 more flowers and a bow.
The papers I used are from a retired CTMH paper pack called Miracle.

Please don't forget to create something for Someone Special in your life and submit it to the Crafting by Designs challenge.

This card is being submitted to the following challenges:
Paradise of Stamps Challenge #56 - For Someone Special
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge #173 - Birthday
Dream Valley Challenge #156 - Things with Wings (butterflies)
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #159 - Anything Goes
Always Fun Challenges #6 - Dry Embossing (numbers)
Unicorn Challenge #21 - Special Occasions
Through the Craft Room Door Week of May 16th - Anything Goes



Have a very special day!

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Thanks for the Tea + CTMH class 5/9/2017

Last week my mother and I attended a very lovely tea.  
This is the thank you note I sent to the hostess.
The cup is Stampin' Up; die cut is Our Daily Bread Designs, Sentiment is Close to My Heart.

Challenges:
DL. Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #204 - Graduation or Thank You 
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge May 16-June 4 - Black & White + 1 (blue)
Always Fun Challenges #6 - Dry Embossing (background patterned paper)
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #159 - Anything Goes

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This afternoon I am headed to Joyce's CTMH card class, and I just realized I never posted the cards we made last week. 
Here they are: 



And we all got to make this fun card, too.
A few weeks ago we had a shoe box swap.  
Eileen had prepared this card for us to make, but was too sick to come that day.  



Monday, May 15, 2017

Moving on for Mojo Monday

With Mother's Day over 
(Hope all the mothers had a good one!
it's time to move on to making some Father's Day cards.
Using today's Mojo Monday Sketch, some papers that I hadn't yet put away, and a Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Hipster stamp, I came up with this.
The color on the image was added with watercolor pencils.  
The sentiment is a CTMH stamp.
Challenges:
 
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - For Dads or Special Males (from the kids)
  
Well, my work here is finished.  
The flower beds are calling on this sunny spring day!

Thursday, May 11, 2017

For a Guy

Multi-purpose cards are always good to have around.  This one is for a guy and would work well for Father's Day, Birthday, a Promotion, last day of work before Retirement,  college acceptance, National Honor Society induction, Graduation, passing a driver's license test,  and maybe even a little guy who is leaving foster care for his forever home.
Stamps are from Sparkle n Sprinkle.
I am entering this into the following: 
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - For Dads or Special Males(from the kids) 
Come and Get It Challenge - Birthday Wishes

 

Imagine That! Stamps Thursday Inspiration


Why is it that a cup of tea always tastes better when you are using a cup and saucer rather than a mug?  And yet, I always reach for a mug instead of one of the pretty china tea cups in the cupboard.
I did reach for a lovely tea cup digi stamp from the 
Floral Tea Set by Imagine That! Stamps 
to make this very feminine card.
 
 

The set comes with both colored and uncolored images, 
as well as, several sentiments.  
For this card, I used markers to color the image 
and gold Wink of Stella for the edge.

I'll be entering the challenges listed at the bottom of this post.*

But, speaking of challenges, don't forget to create something to enter in the  Creative Playground Link Up for May.  The theme is Anything Goes and it runs from May 5th to June 2nd.  The featured set, which you receive for free if you enter the Link Up using an Imagine That! Stamp as the main focus of your project, is Pretty Petunias.
Shop Our Digis!
Shop for Imagine That Stamps here







*Challenges:
OohLaLa Challenge # 228- Something with a B (Blue, Butterfly)
Crafty Creations Challenge #341 - Anything Goes
Scrapyland Challenge #65 - Anything Goes ( I used Vintage Lace Motifs and Splendid Circles dies by Spellbinders.)
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #316 - Mother's Day or Feminine
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge for week of May 9-15 - Anything Goes
Always Fun Challenges #5 - Anything Goes
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #158 - Anything Goes
Dare 2 B Artsy Challenge - Girly



Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Great Impressions Stamps Card Set

Once the flowers start blooming, it isn't long before you start to see butterflies.  I thought I'd share a set of cards I've made using the Great Impressions Stamps Butterfly Frame H226S.
 I find a simple set of cards tied with a pretty ribbon makes a useful and lovely hostess gift.





I wrote the sentiments on the computer, aligning them with the right margin and spacing them far enough apart to accommodate the frame.  After printing them, it was easy to stamp the frame around the sentiment, color it with markers and pencils and then fussy cut.


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The Great Impression Stamps  May Challenge has just begun.
Check it out here.  


Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Joyful Stars Close To My Heart May Blog Hop

Welcome to the May

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.  

Have some fun hopping between the blogs of this group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, where we share creative projects using CTMH products.
 

Today I am using two of the more of the patterned papers from the CTMH’s National Scrapbooking Live Beautifully campaign paper pack.  (Check here for the wedding card I made using the gorgeous flower paper from this pack.)
You'll find the Celebrate Cricut cut on the CTMH Artistry cartridge and the monkeys are in an old Stamp of the Month Balloon Animals set.  Unfortunately, the black waxy flax and fundamental glitter stars are retired CTMH products.

My neighbor works with children who have been placed in foster care.  She asked if I could make her cards for 26 of the children who have been blessed with finding a forever home and whose adoptions will soon be finalized.  
What a fabulous reason to make cards!

 
Now, since this is a blog hop, you might have arrived here from Jen Benner's blog.

Your next stop is Krista Hershberger's blog.   
 The hop is circular.   So if you are just starting here, simply continue hopping until you find your way back, making the full circle.  If you get lost, the complete list of participants is on Joyce's blog.

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #342 with CraftyGirl Creations

Today I did a little doodling around my inspiration card for this week's


where the theme is Doodle.  


I just couldn't resist adding googly eyes to the Bee Tea Pot, a digi image created and supplied by
our wonderful sponsor for this challenge...

Crafty Girl Creations.
 http://stitchybearstamps.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13_114
You can find her art on her CraftyGirl Cards and Creations blog and also at  
AND 
CraftyGirl is also a member of 
Tuesday Throwdown Design Team A.
 Please take a moment to stop over at the Tuesday Throwdown Blog and see the wonderful cards my fellow teamies have created to inspire you and leave some love for all their hard work. 
We'd love to have you join the fun
at Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #342.