Puttin on the Glitz

I was able to make a card today.  Yeah!  And it's for the Less is More Challenge this week....

This week we have a really easy recipe which is simply

POLKA DOTS

As long as your design is Clean and Simple, has some white space (or its equivalent) and polka dots in evidence somewhere, it will be perfect for this challenge.

I see that the greenery is a little funky in the picture.  I used the tip of the fir tree in the Lovely as a Tree set stamping first in Lucky Limeade and overstamping in Old Olive.  IRL it doesn't have that yellow cast.

I was feeling sparkly, after all I got time in the studio, so I used some Multipurpose Liquid Glue on the boughs and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds. And I used some Glimmer Paper for the toe, heel & cuff on the stocking.  I even added a few rhinestones to the sentiment. This is really sparkly for me and I love it.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Stitched Stockings, Bells and Boughs

Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Old Olive, Real Red, SU Markers (Real Red, Lucky Limeade)

Paper:  Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper

Other:  Stocking Builder Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds, Silver Elastic Cord

I dropped 2 inkpads today.  The big ones.  On this card.  What a mess.  The first time was on the front, hence the greenery all the way across.  Then, after I was all finished, I dropped another on the back.  I think this card will get a little bigger with some Lucky Limeade behind it.  It's definitely not my Lucky color!

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope I get to stamp something else for you soon.

Enjoy!

Linda's Halloween

My friend Linda was one of the stampers whose hands you saw in the picture of the Papercrafting group.  Today she sent me a picture of the cards she made for her grandchildren for Halloween (after the Papercrafting meeting).  She graciously agreed to let me share them with you.

Aren't they great?  She embossed the spider web on Vellum.  I think it's VERY effective.  Wish I'd thought of that.

I can't say exactly what else she used.  She mentioned several trips to local craft stores. 

I think her twins will be delighted.  I know I was.  Thank you Linda.

Thanks for stopping by.  I love hearing from you.

Enjoy!

Cheers

The Less is More Ladies really stumped me this week.  The challenge is

COCKTAIL
You may interpret this however you wish... your favourite tipple, the colours of a cocktail or a simply cocktail of colours. Let your imagination run with this one, it will be interesting to see how imaginative you can be.

As I said before, I was stumped! I don't own a stamp with anything resembling a cocktail.  My favorite cocktail is a glass of red wine.  I thought about doing a card in Cherry Cobbler since that seems to be the closest to my cocktail of choice.

Then I saw my blogging friend Vicky's card for this challenge and an idea was born.

I used the dreaded acetate.  Remember the week we were challenged to do a card with acetate?  I don't know why I saved a little piece, but I did.  I used the Extra Large Oval Punch for the cup and the Small Oval Punch (retired) for the base.  A strip cut for the stem finished the glass.

Then I punched some red Glimmer Paper with the Extra Large Punch for the wine.  I love the way it sparkles!

I used the Simply Scored to score some lines to imitate a table to set the glass on.  My lattice work needs some practice.  I'll have to work on that.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Wonderful Words (retired)

Ink:  Basic Black

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Acetate, Red Glimmer Paper

Other:  Large and Extra Large Oval Punches, Simply Scored

Now for that cocktail.

Cheers!

 

Pumpkin Thanksgiving

Thanks for all the comments and pep talks from yesterday's post.  Today was a better day.  Jack didn't sleep much but he talked to me a lot.  Always with a big smile on his face.  Those are the rewards of babies.  I am so blessed!

Last week I had the Papercrafters group in the studio for some card making fun.  This is one of the cards I  made for a sample.

The round pumpkin is made from 3 circles punched in Pumpkin Pie with the 1 3/8" circle punch and the small oval punch (which has been discontinued, sorry).  The tall pumpkin is made from 3 ovals punched from Tangerine Tango with the large oval punch.  I have sponged the edges with the same color inks.  The stems are cut from scraps of Handsome Hunter (also discontinued) and the vines with the Big Shot and the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit die.

The background piece is Very Vanilla embossed with my favorite Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  The beautiful sentiment (I wish I could write like that) is stamped with Handsome Hunter on a scrap of Vanilla. I used Handsome Huter as a mat and card base.

This next card was made from some ovals and circles that were left on the table.

This time I used Chocolate Chip for the stems and sentiment.  The "ground" was sponged with Crumb Cake and overstamped in Old Olive with the filigree from the Vintage Vogue set.

I used my new Simply Scored to make a border around the sentiment.  All this is on a Naturals White card base.

Here are some pictures of some of the activity that day.

This is a great group of ladies and I love getting together with them.  They always manage to inspire me.

Card Recipe (Hunter Thanksgiving)

Stamps:  Hand Penned Holidays

Ink:  Handsome Hunter

Paper:  Handsome Hunter, Very Vanilla

Other:  1 3/8" Circle, Large Oval, Small Oval & Corner Rounder Punches, Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit die

Card Recipe (Pumpkins in the Field)

Stamps:  Hand Penned Holidays, Vintage Vogue

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Paper:  Naturals White

Other:  Punches as above, Stampin' Sponge, Color Spritzer Tool and markers, Simply Scored

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy!

Getting Triangular

Last Wednesday, Susan offered up the One Layer Wednesday challenge that freaked me out!

Use at least one triangle on a card. You may use a real triangle (stamped, sponged) or images that are have an overall triangular profile or embellishments arranged in triangles. You may even choose to make a triangular card base!

After a lot of thought and searching for triangles, I chose the Season of Friendship set.  Mainly because I needed some more Thanksgiving cards.  I see lots of triangle in this card when I look for them.

I used the colors from the Color Challenge at SCS last week.  They were Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, and Elegant Eggplant.

I inked the leaves in Pumpkin Pie and thumped with an Elegant Eggplant marker.  The sentiment is also in Eggplant.  The little bird was stamped on a scrap, cut out and adhered with a glue dot.

This next card has the triangular shaped trees and they are arranged in a triangle.

The sentiment was a bit too small and seemed lost so I added some scoring and ribbon.  Then I added some Dazzling Details below the trees for "snow" and some rhinestones on one tree.  It's hard to see, but I also used some glitter pens that I've had for ages.  They don't even have a  name on them.  Maybe you can see those details better here.

I've gotta tell you, I was terrible in geometry.  I'd rather forget that it even exists!  I can't break down a card and tell you why I like it or even why I lay something out the way I do.  I just go with what pleases me.  The theory behind it all is way beyond my understanding.  That's one reason I like to read Susan's blog.  She KNOWS how it all works.  I am always amazed at her explanations.  Then true to form, I promptly forget what I read.

 These days, the facts I know are that when you feed a baby, they promptly spit up on you and when you start to do anything that doesn't directly involve them, they cry.  If you ignore the cry, they scream.  Then the 3 yr. old starts yelling "take him out of here".  (We always remind him to say please.)  Can you tell it's been a particularly trying day?  Tomorrow will be better. 

Tomorrow will be better.

Tomorrow will be better.

Thanks for the visit and letting me whine.

Card Recipe (Thanksgiving card)
Stamps:  Season of Friendship, Holidays and Wishes
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant Marker
Paper:  Naturals Ivory

Card Recipe (Very merry)
Stamps:  Polar Party, Short and Sweet
Ink:  Jet Black StazOn, Real Red
Paper:  Naturals White
Other:  Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, Dazzling Details, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Simply Scored, glitter pen, rhinestones

Enjoy!

Hearts in October

Sorry I haven't been a faithful blogger lately.  Those babies take a lot of time and I"m no spring chicken! I wouldn't have it any other way though.  Taking care of them is the best job in the world!

I did find a few minutes to do a card for the Less is More challenge this week.

Being the second week of the month it is One Layer

An easy one for you it's

The ♥ can be singular, multiple, any colour, but, MUST be a one layer card, with no additional layers stuck on, apart from the odd embellishment or ribbon

I had to add a little bling to jazz it up.  Maybe you can see it better here.

It's not very original I know.  I've probably already done a very similar card.  I hope you enjoy it anyway.

One silver lining is that I can find time to visit your blogs and comment while I'm stuck holding the baby.  Unfortunately, Jack is so big now that it takes both hands to hold him and I have trouble typing comments.  I try, but he usually lets me know that he doesn't appreciate it.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  I {Heart} Hearts

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Whisper White

Other:  Cherry Cobbler Sean Binding, Basic Rhinestone, Large Corner Rounder Punch

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Your comments are so enjoyable.

Enjoy!

Color of My Eyes

This week's Less is More challenge is

THE COLOUR OF YOUR EYES

I'd say to guess what color, but I've been having some trouble guessing.  Sometimes the colors don't show true on my computer. So I'll tell you.  My eyes are brown. 

   

       Dark brown. 

       

                 Chocolate and Espresso brown.

 

I remember seeing this little flower from the Inspired by Nature set stamped in brown.  I'm not sure who to credit the idea to.  It was a long time ago. But the idea seems to have stuck in my mind.

I used a scrap of Watercolor paper and inked the flower with my Chocolate Chip SU Marker and stamped it.  I filled in the center of the bloom with Early Espresso. Stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso and used scraps from my brown bag to mat the design with a ribbon loop peeking out.

I was having a bit of an off balance day and kind of liked the layers akimbo.  What do you think?

Card Recipe
Stamps:  Inspired by Nature
Ink:  SU Markers (Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso)
Paper:  Watercolor, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso
Other:  Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon

I'm so glad you stopped by to visit.  I've been enjoying your comments and creations.

Enjoy!

 

 

Thinking Fall

I love this Thoughts and Prayers set and I don't believe I'd ever used it as a Fall card.  I'm sure someone's lovely card gave me the idea.

Last Friday's SCS Queen for the Day was Dawn and she had just challenged us to use paper blocks for the Free 4 All challenge at SCS.  When I toured Dawns delightful gallery, I noticed that she uses a lot of decorative paper on her cards.  Looking at her creations, I can't understand why using decorative paper scares me so.

But I am DP challenged and I have a stockpile of unused DP to prove it!

And the Friday Mashup challenge this week is to do an Autumnal card or a card with brads. Or to mash it up and do both.  I didn't use lots of brads like Lisa requested (and used on her beautiful card).  But I did get a couple on there.

And, the Color Challenge at SCS this week was to use More Mustard, Soft Suede and Tangerine Tango.  The brown panel (the one that looks navy) is Chocolate Chip.  It's not an exact match to Soft Suede, but it's pretty close.  These are such beautiful colors for Fall.  Unfortunately these colors didn't photograph very well.  The close up turned out so much better.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Thoughts and Prayers

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, SU Markers (Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango)

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Scraps of DSP

Other:  Brads



Thanks so much for joining me today.  I haven't had much computer time the past couple of days, but I have really enjoyed your comments and visiting your blogs when I had a minute.

Enjoy!

Thinking about Christmas

Just a quick post tonight.  It was a busy weekend preparing sets for my first Christmas Card class this coming Saturday.  This is what we'll be doing.

Then I'll do it again in 2 weeks at my house.

Now I need to plan for the classes in November.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Enjoy!



Inspired by Janelle

This week's One Layer Wednesday challenge is to do a card inspired by Janelle.  We can use one of Janelle's cards as inspiration or some of her words.  If you want to be inspired, check out her blog.

This is for Janelle...

The design is inspired by this card.  The sentiment is inspired by Janelle herself.  I hate that she is having to go through this hard time, but I'm so grateful that she shares her faith and optimism.  Every time I read her blog, I come away feeling better.  Wouldn't it be nice if all of us could touch others that way.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Thoughts and Prayers, Herb Expressions

Ink:  Basic Black, SU Markers (Old Olive, Real Red)

Paper:  Whisper White

Other:  Stamp-a-ma-jig

Thank you for visiting here today and for the wonderful comments you have left.

Enjoy!

Eek More Spiders

Did I say that I don't usually do Halloween cards?  Well, I think I'm going to have to eat my words.  And all these spiders are going to go down hard! Yuck! Reminds me of the song that Luke loves, The Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly and the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her. 

And I have one more class before Halloween.  So I'll probably have another one or two before October is done.

This layout is inspired by this weeks Featured Stamper on SCS.  Sue's (bensarmom) card with the darling bird is really much cuter than spiders.  I hope she doesn't have arachnaphobia.

A friend gave me some of this beautiful sparkly black ribbon on Saturday.  Thanks Barb, it really dressed up these cards.  I think Luke's teachers will love them.  I hope they don't jump when they see the spiders inside.

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Hand Penned Holidays, Scaredy Cat

Ink:  Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie

Paper:  Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Basic Black

Other:  Big Shot, Spider Web EF, Sparkly Black ribbon from a friend

I'm glad you stopped by and I hope you aren't creeped out by spiders.

Enjoy!