More purple leaves

Back in August I made a card for a challenge that required masking.  (You can see it here.)  I cut out 3 maple leaves in 3 different sizes on my cricut and used them as masks.  Since that time, those 3 maple leaves have been floating here and there on my work table.  After a bit of embossing, they have been permanently relocated to this fall card.

 That piece of purple tuille, another table top loiterer, also found a home in the cricut cut tags.  And the piece of leftover baker's twine was just long enough to wrap across the front of the card.

The papers, stamp, and gold puffies are from CTMH.

Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's October Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes 

Cards Galore Encore October Challenge - Anything Goes 

Little Red Wagon Challenge #414 - Leftovers

Creative Moments Challenge #128 - Anything Goes 

Crafty Creations Challenge #352 - Anything Goes 

Have a Happy Day! 

 

 

Red Hat Card Class 8/21/17

Seven gals from our Red Hat group gathered to make cards yesterday.  I always prepare 4 cards for the girls to make.

At our last class, a few girls had requested an engagement or wedding card.  We made this one first while everyone's hands were clean.  A few girls left off the silhouette and just made a basically white on white card, stamping the center of the flower with "Have a happy day!".

Die cuts are from DieVersion

I had also promised the girls a masculine card.

Colored digi is from Fred She Said

And we made a more feminine card. 

Stamps from CTMH; paper from SU; die cut from Spellbinders

The last card we made was a waterfall card, which everyone loved.

Stamps from SU

What an enjoyable morning we all had!

I am entering the first card in the following challenges:
Die Cut Divas August Challenge - Anything Goes
Dies R Us Challenge #79 - Anything Goes 
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #170 - Anything Goes
Scrapyland Challenge #72 - Anything Goes 

Inspiration

While having a wonderful meal Wednesday at Nancy Zook's with my Red Hat cronies, I noticed Betty wearing a cute shirt with 3 cute chickens wearing Red Hats.  It gave me a fabulous idea for a card.  I spent yesterday designing and cutting kits for a dozen waterfall cards for out Red Hat card class in 2 weeks. 

Although I was super thrilled to have one of the cards ready, I still had 6 small strips of patterned paper left over and I was neither saving it nor throwing it away.

Instead, I made these 2 fun cards.

The stamps are from SU; chickens are colored with watercolor pencils and blended with clear Wink of Stella; the dialog bubble is a cut from the CTMH Artistry cricut cartridge; the frame is a die cut; ribbon is from CTMH; the embossing folder is from Darice; and I added a few Skittles from Double Click.

 I hope you weren't expecting to see the waterfall cards.

They'll be shared after the class. 

Why not Follow my blog?  Then you won't miss it!

Challenges:

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #250 - Things with Wings

Paperminutes Challenge #498- Birds

Crafty Animals Challenge #5 - Anything Goes 

A Perfect Time to Craft August Challenge - Open Challenge

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #49 - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #5 - Anything with a Critter Goes

Mod Squad Challenge - The Wing's the Thing

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #169 - Anything Goes with Ribbon

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 31 - Anything Goes

Colour Crazy Challenge Week 31 - Anything Goes

Pattie's Creations Challenge #137 - Anything Goes

 

I can't believe there are only 7 entries, so far, in this week's Tuesday Throwdown Out of The World Challenge!  As a design team member, I'll have fewer comments to leave.  But, I really do enjoy visiting different blogs.  You must have something space related in your stash!  What about a cow jumping over the moon? 

 

Fall Mojo Monday

It's the first Monday in October (already?, how'd that happen?) which means that this week is a 

Mojo Monday Contest.

 Last month I think I entered 5 times, hoping to win a set of Verve stamps, which didn't happen.  I'm not sure that I'll have time to be that aggressive this month, but the sketch is a good one, as always.

Here's what I've made today:

The image is a Bugaboo digi colored with Promarkers and with touches of gold Wink of Stella in her hair.  The tag sentiment is a CTMH stamp embossed in gold.

Challenges: 

Mojo Monday Sketch Contest #468 

 

Catch the Bug October Challenge - Anything Goes 

Come and Get It Challenge - Welcome Autumn 

The Ribbon Girls October Challenge - Anything Goes 

 Have a Happy Day!

Scraps from an old Paper Pack

For today's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge card, I went to an old pack of CTMH paper, knowing it would coordinate without having to search for anything else.  One of the papers even had this colorful owl image, just waiting to be fussy cut and used on a card.

(sentiment stamp is CTMH)

Challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 457

One Stitch at a Time Challenge #266 - Anything Goes with elements of nature

Craft Your Passion Challenge #321 - Always Anything Goes

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #121 - Always Anything Goes

 

 

Birthday with punched flower

Today I needed to get 4 birthday cards made so they could go out in the mail tomorrow.  Mission accomplished. 

This card, inspired by one I saw on Pinterest, is the only one I can show you .  The others will appear as design team cards later.  I love when I can 'kill 2 birds with one stone'.

Papers and stamp are CTMH retired Dotty Paper and current Fundamental paper.  The green embossed piece is washi tape over plain cs and then embossed.  The light green lace edge is punched and the dark green frame is a MFT die cut. Ovals are punched and distressed.  Butterfly is from the Eyelet Outlet.  The inside has a birthday sentiment.

I am entering these challenges:

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge # 46 -

Stampotique Designers Challenge #250 - Flowers, Butterflies, Garden Things

Allsorts Challenge #368 - How does your garden grow? 

Crafty Girls Creations Challenge #21 - Anything Goes

have a 

HAPPY

 day!

 

 

Fast Card

The 4th of July picnic at my son's tomorrow is going to be huge.  Not only do they have a beautiful pool, but also an excellent vantage point for seeing the local fireworks display.  It is so much fun watching all the kids growing up.  Last year was the first that there were no little ones in diapers.  With 4-5 dozen kids between 3 and 11 running around, it gets to be pretty wild and crazy.  My mission today is to make a HUGE bowl of potato salad for the adults and tomorrow I will be making an equally HUGE bowl of mac & cheese for the kids. And Matthew has requested M&M cookies, if I have time.

With that in mind...

This is one of the fastest cards I ever made, primarily because I just picked up odds and ends on the table and glued them together.  As my friend, Gail, would say, "Suits me just fine!"

I'll be adding this card to the submissions at these challenges:

Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #42 - Spots or Stripes 

Naughty or Nice Challenge #17 - Seeing Stars 

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday + Red, White and Blue Topping 

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #318 - Embossing

Fab n Funky Challenge #266 - Birthdays

Fast card, fast post.  

I wonder how many pounds of potatoes I need to buy? 

Yesterday was Sunday so..........

that means today is Monday!  If I wasn't retired, it wouldn't excite me in the least.  But since I am retired, I now look forward to Mondays and my 2 favorite sketch challenges.

When I saw today's sketch for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #104, I was delighted.  I haven't made one of these layered cards in quite a while and like them very much.  I decided to combine it with the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #138 and the Birthday Fun 4 Kids Challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids.

(I've used the Pinwheel and Just to Say stamp sets from CTMH)

 

Yesterday, I colored the Coffee Girl digi image for the April Gerde Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge, hoping I'd be able to use it with today's Mojo Monday sketch #394.  

(Sentiment is from the CTMH pinwheel set.)

 

The paper I used is leftover from a project I made on Friday.  I was "trying" to reorganize my stuff.  Seems like I am continually trying to organize my stuff.  I have a box that I use to keep partially made card fronts and extra images that was quite literally bursting at the seams.  I found another spot for the images to alleviate some of the stress on the box.  Then I decided to decorate the box to help reinforce the bursting seams.

Work and play at the same time. 

 

Cascade Card

Once again, the tutorial posted yesterday at Beccy's Place sent me straight for some paper, this time to make a cascade card.  You really have to check out her card because the papers she used are gorgeous and the card stunning.  I rifled through the pile of digis I had printed to use this month and pulled out a digi and sentiment from Doodle Pantry called Bird Bath Joy to make my own cascade card for Doodle Pantry's July Challenge.  Too bad I missed the challenge deadline.   But I'll show it to you anyway.

 

I will be entering this card in the following challenges which are not already closed:

613 Avenue Create Challenge #82 - Anything Goes + optional sentiment

That Craft Place Challenge - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge #124 - Spots and Stripes

Crazy 4 Challenges #246 - More than one fold

Di's Digi Design Challenge - Dies and/or Punches (I've used both)

Inkspirational Challenge #61 - Splash

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #70 - Polka Dots

Cut It Up Challenge #50 - Shaped Cards with an animal 

Digitally Sweet Challenge #98 - Embellish it up!

Pattie's Creations Challenge #96 - For the Birds

Wags n Whiskers Challenge #134 - Polka Dots

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #99 - Anything Goes with Ribbons

"There's no law....

that says you have to make a Mojo Card."  said my DH when I complained about the Tall and Skinny Mojo Sketch this week.  And he is absolutely right, as usual.  It's just how I like to start off my crafting week.  So here it is....

.... my entry for Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #352.

Believe it or not, by making this card tall and skinny it decreases the amount of available writing space on the card by 12.375 square inches.  That quite a bit.  And even though it still fits in an A2 envelope, a requirement for OWH, that 12.375 square inches could mean a lot to person writing home and/or the person anxiously awaiting news from a loved one deployed far away from home.  Which is why I made a few alterations before adding it to the OWH box.

Sentiment and layered ornament stamps are CTMH.

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create Challenge #78 - Anything Goes (Congrats on reaching 600 followers!)
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #85 - Polka Dots 
Opus Gluei Challenge #126 - All Tied Up (ribbon, twine, or string)
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #218 - Stripes or Dots
The Paper Players Challenge #202 - Tic Tac Toe (I'm using the top row: ribbon, blue, birthday) 
Open Minded Challenge #13 - Patriotic Colors
Pumpkin Spice Challenge #77 - Red, White and Blue
Polkadoodles Challenge Week 26 - Red, White or Blue
The Stamping Boutique Challenge - Red, White and Blue  (Thanks for the freebie!)
Crafter's Cafe Challenge #69 - Polka Dots and Ribbon


Wishing everyone a blessed week!

What 'cha gonna do?

No gardening today!

It's a pretty miserable day weather-wise.  Temps are in the 50's, and no sun.

A perfect day to hibernate and make some cards.  

Actually, my mother is having some friends from church over tomorrow to make some cards for individuals on the prayer chain.  She asked me if I'd get some easy ideas together. 

I cut papers for 5 people to make 3 different cards.  When I opened the package of cards and envelopes I had in my stash, I discovered the cards were 4 x 5.5" and I had cut everything for 4.25 x 5.5".  That meant I had to cut 1/4" off of many of the pieces.  This left me with a small pile of skinny strips next to my paper trimmer.  Those strips are now on the card above.  I just love playing with scraps.

Papers are from SEI.  Stamps and glitter tape are from CTMH.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Girlz Challenge #19 - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge - It's all about "S" (Skinny paper Strips; Seven tiny Stamped flowers; Scalloped circle, SEI papers, CTMH Stamps)

Inky Impressions Challenge #161 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #134 - Anything Goes

City Crafter Challenge Week 213 - Birthday with Banners

Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #37 - Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesday Challenge #134 - Anything Goes

Love to Scrap Challenge #30 - Anything Goes

CAS for today

I just brought home 5 dozen ear of corn to freeze. Once my cup of tea is finished, I have work to do!  It used to be cheaper to freeze corn for the winter.  Now I freeze it more for the taste than for the savings.   Bet those itty bitty ants will just love it when I start shooting corn juice everywhere!  BTW, I appreciate all the suggestions you wonderful crafters have made to assist me with the itty bitty ants.  If they weren't so itty bitty, I might put a drop of glue on them and use them for card embellishments!

Here's a super quick CAS card for today's post.  

Challenges I am entering:

CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #43 :

 

Crafters Card Circle Challenge #90 - For the Boys

Crafty Creations Challenge #237 - Use a Number  (9)

The Male Room Challenge #3 - The Great Outdoors (which for a lot of guys means sports, sports, sports) 

Whimsy Stamps Challenge #62 - Clean and Simple

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #116 - For the Boys

Have a great week-end!

Summer Picnics

Summertime foods and drinks are the best.  Seasonal fruits and vegetables.  Nice cold beverages.  ICE CREAM!!!!  As a child, I can remember my mother packing a picnic lunch for all of us before we traveled any distance.  Then there were roadside picnic tables available along the highway where we would enjoy our meal.  Now the rest areas come complete with various restaurant chains, vending machines and even gift shops.  No need for a picnic basket.  But my mother still packs that same tin picnic basket (painted with a basket weave design) with paper goods, plastic cutlery, etc. to use at our annual family reunion which isn't too far off.  Any Elliott's reading this?


When I saw the digi image I used on the card below, it went right in my cart. Not only do I love the packed basket, but the mustard and ketchup bottles make me smile. It was designed by Patti Gomez, and is available in her Etsy store, Pattie's Creations Digital Images. She also has a freebie available the first Friday of every month on her blog. 

 

I used 2 different paper packs for the layers, Dotty Paper a special pack last year from Close to My Heart and the Dear Lizzy Neopolitan Paper Pad from American Crafts and Kraft Paper for the die cut.  The little wood elements and sentiment stamp are also from Close to My Heart.  I put CTMH liquid glass on the ants and watermelon seeds to give them a glossy appearance.

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge #97 - Anything Goes 

Bearly Mine Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Inky Chicks Challenge #9 - Summer Colors

LEJ Designs Challenge #63 - Cute, Cute, Cute

Through the Craftroom Door July 23-29 - Anything Goes

Emergency Crafters Challenge - Summer

Ladybug Crafts July Challenge - Favorite Embellishment  (I love the tiny wood embellishments from CTMH and I almost always add some type of bow to my cards.)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #51 - Dry Embossing

Digi Makeover Challenge #98 - Color It 

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #181 - Anything Goes

Make It Monday #150 - Anything Goes

Make It Monday Challenge with Kraft Outlet - Tie It On

Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #11 - Use a butterfly on your card
One Stitch at a Time Challenge #173 - Use Your Favorite....  (that would be polka dot paper)
Pumpkin Spice Challenge #29 - Summer
Digitally 'Sweet' Challenge #45 - Sunshine/Summertime
Sister Act Card Challenge #16 - Anything Goes
Wags n Whiskers Challenge # 108- Summer Fun