Have an Ice Day (PDCC #58, CAS FTL #118, Moxie: Card Creations: All Occasions Challenge)

Sorry it's been a little while since my last post.  December is a very busy time for me, as I'm sure it is for all of us.  I have a lot of projects to do for Christmas, cards to finish to get in the mail, cards to complete for submissions and deadlines, shopping, shopping, and more shopping to finish, and friend and family functions to attend.  I will try to post as often as I can during this busy month.  I promise business will be back to normal in the New Year.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

This evening's card is based on the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping, the picture challenge below from The Play Date Cafe, and the Moxie challenge Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week All Occasion Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  Sorry about the not so great photo, it was a rainy grey day out.  The stamps and ribbon are from A Muse.  I colored the ice skates with my trusty Copic markers and then highlighted the laces with a Signo uni-ball white gel pen.  I used a Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch and October Afternoon Good Cheer paper pad to finish off the card.  It was a little difficult to only use two colors, but I really like how the card turned out.  It seems that whenever I say that the card was a little difficult or stretched my creativity a bit I end up loving how it turns out.  It's funny how that happens. :)  I hope you all have some time this holiday season to be creative and to be with your friends and family.  Happy Crafting!

CAS FTL #118

notecard, cardstock, stamps, ribbon, ink: A Muse Artstamps
Good Cheer paper pad: October Afternoon
markers: Copic
scallop circle punch: Marvy Uchida

Let it Snow Snowflakes (CAS FTL #117, Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger: It's Snowing Gingerbread)

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend, had some time with your families, and had a chance to get some creative time in as well.  I had a weekend full of family time, shopping, and relaxation.  Then Monday and Tuesday I had a migraine, so I apologize for not posting for almost a week.  I hope you can forgive me and that you'll enjoy today's card.

Today's card is based on the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping and the It's Snowing Gingerbread challenge based on the picture below from Moxie Fab World.  The sentiment stamp is from A Muse and I embossed it with American Crafts embossing powder.  I know it's hard to read and if I had had more time I would have redone it, but unfortunately it had to stay that way.  The red patterned paper is from the Jovial paper pad from Basic Grey.  The beautiful glittered snowflakes are from Martha Stewart.  Isn't she making some wonderful products?  I don't know about you, but I always can't wait until her next line of punches and products comes out.  The border punch on this card is from Fiskars.  I never would have thought to put brown with snowflakes and I have to say that I really like how it turned out.  I added the red for a little splash of color and I think it was the right choice.  I really  like these challenges because some of them have given me ideas that I never would have tried on my own, and some have pushed my creativity beyond my comfort zone and I have wound up creating something that I love in the end.  If you've never tried a challenge I really recommend trying at least one to stretch your creativity.  Have a great week and Happy Crafting!

CAS FTL #117

Tuesday Trigger: It's Snowing Gingerbread

cardstock, gingham patterned paper, stamp: A Muse Artstamps
Jovial paper pad: Basic Grey
white pigment ink: Clearsnap
apron lace border punch: Fiskars
white embossing powder: American Crafts
layered snowflake stickers: Martha Stewart

Surprise and Delight Mistletoe (CPS #194, Embellish Holiday Colors Challenge)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope you are enjoying a day full of family and good food!  As you know we had one Thanksgiving with my husband's family already, and in just a couple of hours we are heading to my family's house for some more holiday merriment.  We are fortunate enough to have our immediate families in town, and we even have most of my hubby's extended family around town as well so any holiday time is usually a lot of fun!  I hope some of you are just as fortunate.  It's not all roses and sunshine all the time, but I am very thankful for each one of them and that they are close enough that we are able to get together.  After all you only have one family and you have to stick together through thick and thin.  Am I right?  So, today I want to say I am grateful for my WHOLE family; immediate, extended, in-laws, and the friends that I consider family.  I love you all and am grateful everyday that you are in my life.

If you are still with me here are the details for the card.  Today's card is based on the sketch below from Card Positioning Systems and the picture challenge below from Embellish Magazine.  I picked this stamp image, from A Muse, because I love it and I haven't had the chance to ink it up yet and I've been dying to for the past year.  Sorry if that was a run-on sentence for all of you grammar critics out there. :)  I colored it with my trusty Copic markers.  The sentiment stamp, also from A Muse, matches it so well that I had to use it too (also the first time being inked).  You would die if you knew how many stamps I have that are dying to be inked for the first time.  I swear I'm not just collecting them.  When I buy them I really intend to use them, but then I gravitate toward my faves and forget about them.  I am really making a effort to ink up the virgin stamps so they can see some love too, plus then I can validate my purchases to my hubby. :)  Back to the card, the only tools I used were my corner rounders.  This card was very simple.  It only took me maybe 20 min., because of the coloring, and that's quick for the slowest cardmaker in the world (that's me if you hadn't already guessed). 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and have time to squeeze in a little creative time for yourselves.  Happy Crafting!

CPS #194

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
small corner rounder punch: EK Success
corner rounder punch: Creative Memories

Thanks for Dinner (GS #65)

I made this card for the Get Sketchy challenge this week, which was to find inspiration around your house and base a card off of it, and I also made it for my mom-in-law.  The thank you was for cooking a gluten-free early Thanksgiving dinner so I could eat it.  I found out I was gluten-intolerant earlier this year and she has made such an effort to help me out, so I wanted to send a special thank you for the extra effort she made for me on our early Thanksgiving dinner yesterday.

The inspiration around the house for the Get Sketchy challenge was our place settings, which are a red gingham placemat with a white dinner plate on it.  The patterned paper is from the new Modern Homemaker paper pad from October Afternoon.  The notecard and shimmer couture paper are from A Muse.  I used the Nestablities circle dies to make the plate and charger.  The silverware stamp is from A Muse and I embossed it with gold glitter embossing powder from American Crafts to resemble the "good silverware".  The sentiment stamp is my new What's Cooking cling set from Taylored Expressions.  This set is so adorable and I'm so excited to use the rest of it to make many more cards!  I thought it needed just a little something else so I added the pearls above the sentiment, which are from A Muse.  I hope my MIL likes it and so do you!  I hope all of you get to enjoy some time with your families tomorrow and this weekend.  I also hope you get to steal some time for yourself to create.  Happy Crafting!

notecard, cardstock, shimmer couture paper, rubber image stamp, pearls, dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
Modern Homemaker paper pad: October Afternoon
cling sentiment stamp: Taylored Expressions
Nestablilities large circles: Spellbinders
glittered embossing powder: American Crafts

Cool Yule Penguin (PDCC #56, ESS #109, A Muse Challenge: Dashes, Dots, and Doodles)

I have some exciting news to share! Today on the PaperCrafts blog my Stamping Royalty card was featured along with a little blurb about me and a photo of me wearing my crown.  It was so exciting!  Thanks for indulging me.  Now on to the card for today...

 This card is based on the sketch below from Eat, Sleep, Stamp, the color challenge in the picture below from The Play Date Cafe, and the November challenge from the A Muse Lounge called Dashes, Dots, and Doodles.  Here are the details for the card.  The paper, stamps, and ink are all from A Muse.  The patterned paper is actually Reversed Asterisk Pretty Little Papers from A Muse.  Sadly they aren't making Pretty Little Papers anymore.  They had the cutest patterns and were such a great size.  I just cut it in half to make two squares for the card.  The present stamp is a separate stamp from the penguin stamp and is from the Baby Wishes Clear Set.  I paper pieced the present with blue gingham patterned paper then drew a line connecting it to the fishing line.  I colored the penguin image with my trusty Copics.  I used the large oval Nestabilities die and adhered it with pop dots to add some more interest to the card.  I really like how it turned out.  It looks really festive for the holidays!  If I didn't already have my Christmas cards already worked out I would consider using this card.  I hope you all get some good crafting in this holiday week.  Happy Crafting!

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
die: Spellbinders

Good Friends Never Go Out of Style (Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Moxie Chic, 2S4Y Kazan's #66)

Good evening!  Today's card is based on the sketch below from 2 Sketches 4 You and the picture challenge below from Moxie Fab World.  I was inspired by the colors: grey, black, red, and pink.  I was also inspired by the woman, so I used a dress form, and the big pink bow.  I used grey ink and a background stamp by Hero Arts for the background on my card.  I used the ribbon lace border punch by Martha Stewart on the black cardstock piece going down the left side of the card.  The pink polka dot satin ribbon is by American Crafts.  I thought that a dress best represented the woman in the picture below and the stamps are by A Muse of course.  I colored the image with my trusty Copic markers.  I hope you get some creative time in this week. Happy Crafting!

2 Sketches 4 You Kazan's #66

Tuesday Trigger: Moxie Chic

notecard, red cardstock, image and sentiment stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
background stamp: Hero Arts
chalk ink: Clearsnap
markers: Copic
ribbon lace border punch: Martha Stewart
ribbon: American Crafts

Blossom with Bird Sympathy

Tonight's post is going to be short and sweet.  I made this card for a friend of mine who is going through a rough time.  The stamps are A Muse and I used Copic markers to color the image.  I made this card very simple on purpose, I didn't even use any patterned paper.  I popped up the cardstock panel with pop dots to add some subtle interest to the card and I also added some orange gems to the centers of the flowers.  I hope you like the card, but more importantly I hope it helps my friend when she gets it.  I hope you all have a great week!  Happy Crafting!

all paper, stamps, gems, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic

Thank You Fall Flowers (GS #64, Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Fall Festival)

I based this card on the sketch below from Get Sketchy and the challenge pictured below from Moxie Fab World.  I was inspired by the flowers, the colors of the flowers, and the white and orange pumpkins.  I used daisy duet and thank you mix ma A Muse stamps and the Martha Stewart garden clear set.  I randomly stamped the flowers on a cardstock piece, rounded the corners, matted it with orange cardstock and rounded the corners, and I adhered it with pop dots to give it a little "pop" since this card was so simple.  I do like how it turned out, but I'm just not used to a card with so much actual white space.  I don't make white cards very often. What do you think?  I hope you're getting some creative time in this weekend.  Happy Crafting!

   

all paper, rubber stamps, ribbon, black dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
clear stamps: Martha Stewart
chalk and pigment ink: Clearsnap
corner rounder punch: EK Success

Happy Holidays Girl (PDCC #55, ESS #108)

This evening's card is based on the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp and the color challenge below from The Play Date Cafe.  I used A Muse stamps, of course.  I colored the image with my Copic markers, mainly the colors from the PDCC challenge.  I punched a snowflake from my Martha Stewart arctic snowflake punch, adhered it to the card with a pop dot, and adhered a clear gem to the top.  Let me know what you think of my card.  I hope you all get a chance to have some creative time this weekend.  Happy Crafting!

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
punch: Martha Stewart

Here's the Scoop!

Well, I'm back!  Thanks so much for understanding and supporting me while I took a little time off to get things organized.  I really appreciate all of your wonderful comments on each of my creations.  I can't tell you how much they mean to me and yes, I read them all. :)  I have the greatest fans, followers, and friends!  Thanks again everyone!

Tonight's card is a submission reject.  The stamps are from A Muse of course.  I paper pieced the dress on the image with orange gingham patterned paper.  I don't sew at all, so instead I hand drew my stitches around the patterned paper panel (Fly a Kite paper pad).  Another trick is to use a paper piercer and poke holes where the stitching would be.  I used my Nestabilities label four, trusty Copics, and a pink Prima flower to finish off the card.   Let me know what you think?  Have a great week and Happy Crafting!

notecard, cardstock, gingham patterned paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: October Afternoon
markers: Copic
die: Spellbinders
flower: Prima

Congrats Oven (CPS #190)

Tonight's card is based on this week's sketch over at Card Positioning Systems.  I made this card for one of my dear friends who just found out she was pregnant for the first time.  It's kind of an inside joke, the inside of the card has a muffin stamp and says "..on the bun in your oven!"  I didn't have a bun stamp, so the muffin was the closest thing.  I won't be posting very much for the next two weeks or so because I have a ton of deadlines, I'm not feeling very well, and I am getting ready to put a ton of my craft stuff into a big "garage" sale at my LSS.  I will post as often as I can, but I don't think it'll be very often.  Thanks for understanding.  I hope you all have a great week and get some good crafting time in!

cardstock, gingham patterned paper, sentiment stamp, ink: A Muse Artstamps
daisy oven: Stamping Bella
patterned paper: October Afternoon
markers: Copic

Thank You Paper Flower (CAS FTL #111, Moxie Fab Perfectly Placed Pleats, PDCC #52)

Tonight's card is based on the Perfectly Placed Pleats challenge in the Moxie Fab World, this color challenge from The Play Date Cafe, and this sketch challenge from Clean and Simple Stamping.  My card is very simple, but for the first time I made a pleated paper flower.  I cut a strip of patterned paper 3/4"x11", scored it every 1/2" , and then accordian folded it along the score marks.  I adhered the ends together with very strong adhesive forming a circle, gathered the folds together at the center, and then pushed the center down forming the "flower".  I punched a circle, cut the edges with scalloped scissors, and adhered it to the flower.  I tied yellow baker's twine in the button and adhered it on top of the flower as well.  I think for my first pleated paper flower it turned out pretty well.  I think I'll try it again soon.  It's fun to try something new once in a while.  I'd recommend it, you might be surprised at the outcome! :)  Happy Crafting!

all paper, stamp, ink: A Muse Artstamps
punch: EK Success
decorative edge scissors: Provo Craft
scoring board: Martha Stewart

You're Sweet Ice Cream Girl (Embellish Magazine, Card Patterns #86, CPS #189, ESS #105)

Today's card is based on the challenge at Embellish Magazine, the sketches at Eat Sleep Stamp, Card Positioning Systems, and Card Patterns.  I made the card from patterned paper and then cut rectangles of gingham paper and adhered them to the card.  I stamped the image on cardstock, colored it with my Copics, stamped the sentiment, trimmed it, and adhered it to the card with pop dots.  I adhered the brad and felt flower with an adhesive dot.  I adhered the ribbon with adhesive and then tied the ends with string.  It's a technique I've seen many times, but I've never actually tried it until today.  I think it's very cute.  I love how this card turned out and I absolutely love the color combination! :)  I hope you can find some creative time this weekend.  Happy crafting!

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
ribbon and felt flower: American Crafts
brad: Queen and Co

Another Quilt Card, Handmade With Love (PDCC #51, GS # 60)

Today's, or should I say tonight's, post is going to be short and sweet because I don't feel very well.  My card is based on the sketch below from Get Sketchy and based on the colors in the picture below from The Play Date Cafe.  I made another quilt card for these challenges.  It's my second one and I am really loving how they are turning out.  I hope you enjoy this card too!  Happy Crafting!

all paper, ribbon, ink: A Muse Artstamps
stamps: Hero Arts
markers: Copic
square punch: Marvy Uchida

Eat Dessert First (2S4Y Kazan's Sketch #63)

I hope you're enjoying your Saturday as much as I am.  It's a beautiful Fall day here in Oregon and I'm going to get some great crafting time in this afternoon.  A near perfect day! 

Today's card is based on the sketch below from 2 Sketches 4 You.  The stamps are from A Muse, of course. :)  I used my Nestabilities curved rectangles die to get the beautiful shape on the ice cream cardstock panel.  I decided to use my corner rounder punch on this card, which is something I don't do very often.  To be honest I rarely think of it, but I really love how it just adds something different to the card.  I colored the image with my Copics.  I shaded the ice cream to give it a little subtlety, outlined the ice cream with my Copic Spica clear glitter pen to give it a little sparkle, and lastly outlined the entire image with my Copic BG10 to make it "pop".  I absolutely LOVE how this card turned out!  It may be because I love the color combo, it may be because this is one of my fave layouts for a card, or it may be because I LOVE ice cream images since I can't actually eat it anymore.  I'm gluten intolerant, dairy intolerant, sugar intolerant, and lactose intolerant.  What a combo right?  I have to get my treats where I can, in the stamping world.   I hope you enjoy the treat I've brought you today and that you have a chance to take some time for yourself this weekend.  Happy Crafting!

Kazan's Sketch #63

all paper, stamps, ink, ribbon: A Muse Artstamps
markers, glitter pen: Copic
apron lace border punch: Fiskars
corner rounder punch: Creative Memories
curved rectangles die: Spellbinders

My Craft Room

I recently got a request to post pictures of my craft room.  Well, here they are.  I'll try to explain what you're seeing the best I can and if you have any questions please feel free to email me. 

I took this picture standing in my door way facing right.  Off to the right of the picture there are bookcases filled with scrapbooks, books, magazines, and pictures.  The plastic drawers are filled withed with my paper scraps, next to it in the black dessert stand are my inks, and above that in the white basket are my clear stamps.  Below these are a set of white drawers that house half of my stamp collection.  The other half of my collection is on the other side of the room.  I keep most of my embellishments, paper, adhesive, tools, etc... in the white drawers that run across the wall.  On top of the drawers I keep my notecards, Spellbinders, paper pads, gems, and a rounder of stickers.  The shelves on the wall house my punches, embossing folders, rub-ons, glitter, embossing powder, stickles, and ribbon. 

My desk is from Ikea and I love it!  I haven't found a chair yet, so I hijacked one of out kitchen chairs.  I have a large, clear Alvin self-healing mat where I do all of my projects to keep my desk protected.  I have a lamp with a daylight bulb.  I have several different bins/cups to hold my pens because I have so many and several different kinds.  I have a large Making Memories paper trimmer for cutting larger paper and a smaller Creative Memories paper trimmer for the smaller paper.  I use the smaller one much more often because it's easier to use.  The bottom shelves on the legs of the desk come in handy for storage too. 

The little jars on the dry erase board are actually magnetic spice jars that are filled with all of my small embellishments like brads and buttons.  Below that on a microwave cart is my ipod player/radio and picture storage.  The shelves on the next wall hold the most recent cards I've made.  Below that on top of the white shelves is my laptop, a rounder with more of my cards, and a basket with more cards (behind my laptop).  The white shelves hold the other half of my stamp collection. 

I hope you've enjoyed the tour.  I've gotten a lot of great storage ideas by looking at other people's rooms so I hope I can give you some ideas too.  Like I said before, if you have any questions please feel free to email me.  Happy Crafting!

If Friends Were Flowers (GS #59, 2S4Y Kazan #63)

Good Afternoon on this beautifully sunny day, at least where I live here in Oregon.  The card I have to share with you today is based on this sketch from Get Sketchy and also this sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You.  I grass border punched a strip of the green gingham paper and adhered it to the bottom of the card.  I stamped the stems (Everyday Button Bits by Papertrey Ink) on cardstock, die cut it with my circle Nestabilities, and adhered it to the card.  I grass border punched another strip of green gingham paper and adhered it over the first with pop dots.  I glued flower buttons to the tops of the stems.  I stamped the clouds on a scrap of blue gingham patterned paper, cut them out and adhered them to the card with pop dots.  I stamped the sentiment and tied a ribbon around the top of the card.  I'm really happy with the way this card turned out.  I hope you are able to get some crafting time in this week or at least some time to enjoy yourself.  Happy crafting! 

all paper, sentiment, clouds stamp, black dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
Everyday Button Bits: Papertrey Ink
pear tart dye ink: Momento
grass border punch: Martha Stewart
circle die: Spellbinders
ribbon: American Crafts

Beautiful Autumn (Funky Fall Tuesday Trigger)

Today's card is inspired by the picture below from Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger.  I was inspired by the picture as a whole and tried to replicate it on my card in a much smaller version.  I used A Muse's cloud patterned paper to make my card and then used their grass and papaya cardstock to make the hills at the bottom of my card.  I stamped the house on cardstock and die cut it with my Spellbinders Nestabilities circle die.  I stamped the house again on a scrap piece of cardstock, colored the trees with my Copics, cut them out and adhered them over the originals with pop dots.  The coloring on the trees was done with my Copics as I said before, but I also used my Copic blending pen to put "dots" on the leaves so it matches the picture below.  It may be a little hard to see it the picture, but it turned out pretty well IRL.  I hope you all had a chance to craft this weekend, and if not, I hope you'll get the chance during the week. 

                                                Funky Fall Tuesday Trigger

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
die: Spellbinders

Friendly Winter Snowman (2S4Y Bonus Sketch #62)

Anyone who knows me knows I love snowmen!  When the Christmas holidays come around my house is decorated almost completely in snowmen.  They are so adorable and because they technically represent winter you can leave the decorations up through January and February, which I do of course. :)  When I started collecting, I mean using, stamps it was only natural that my love of snowmen would transfer.  There are so many cute snowmen stamps out there.  Some of my very favorite come from A Muse, no surprise.  Their new 2010 Holiday release has the cutest snowman family!  I used the Snow baby and birdie image on my card below.  Could that stamp get any more adorable?!

My card is based on the sketch below, which is a bonus sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You.  You still have time to play the bonus sketch and this week's actual sketch until Saturday.  I chose to use the Thrift Shop paper pad, Fly a Kite paper pad, and Good Cheer: Gingerbread patterned paper by October Afternoon.  I wanted something wintery and monochramatic, but something that didn't necessarily scream winter.  If that makes any sense at all.  I, of course, used my Copics to color the image.  The wonderful sheer ribbon is A Muse.  They make great ribbon that doesn't fray at the ends when you cut it and it comes in tons of great colors that match their notecards and cardstock.  I think the ribbon finishes the card off perfectly!  Thanks for all of your wonderful comments each day, I really appreciate them!  Happy crafting!

                                                 Stacey's Bonus Sketch #62

cardstock, stamps, ink, ribbon: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: October Afternoon
markers: Copic
scallop border punch: Fiskars

2S4Y #62, Jolly Holiday Greetings

I have two cards for your veiwing pleasure today.  They are both based on the same sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You and one also qualifies for the Jolly Holiday Greetings challenge over in the Moxie Fab World.  The first card is based on the holiday coming up this month, Halloween.  I used the Matilda mini deck by Cosmo Cricket for all my patterned papers.  I just love the witch leg paper!  It's so adorable!  I used the Crooked hat and Boil and bubble stamps by A Muse to complete this card.

For my next card I decided to look forward to winter.  I used the Be Merry line by My Mind's Eye.  This line is a of couple years old, but I absolutely love it!  I bought a couple sheets of each paper when it came out and I also made my Christmas cards out of it that year.  I still have quite a bit of it left, which is fine by me because I don't think I've ever loved a Christmas line more.  I do wish I could get their paper in smaller pads like October Afternoon, Basic Grey, and Cosmo Cricket.  I rarely buy big sheets of paper  anymore.   Anyway, back to the details of the card...I used A Muse stamps, Snowlady and Winter wishes hand, and colored the image with my Copics of course.  Lastly, for the first time I did a ribbon ruffle.  It was a little difficult to get the hang of, but once I did it went pretty smooth.  I'm sure I'll try it again sometime soon because it looks really neat. :)  I will tell you that if you want to try it you need very strong adhesive to adhere the ribbon to.  I used Rubber Stamp Concepts Super Adhesive Tape and it worked pretty well.  You could also try Super Tape by Therm O Web  or Terrifically Tacky Tape by Art Accentz and see how they work.  Both of them have the red liner, in case that makes it easier to identify them.  Thanks for sticking with this long post today.  Happy crafting!

Image #1
stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
marker: Copic
decorative edge scissors: Provo Craft

Image #2
stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: My Mind's Eye
markers: Copic
ribbon: American Crafts

2S4Y #62, Happy Holidays

So I did it.  I made a holiday card today, actually a couple.  I've been seeing them all over the blog world for quite some time, but it's a little early for me, considering I'm still wearing capris.  I love holiday cards, but I usually just can't get in the spirit until the weather is a little colder.  When I looked at this week's sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You the only things that I could think of were Christmas, winter, and snow!  I picked selections from the Mitten Weather paper pad (by Cosmo Cricket) to make this card.  I love the purple snowflake paper!  I colored the Winter houses (by A Muse) with several violet Copic markers and then added glitter to the rooftops and the ground.  It's a little hard to see in the picture.  Now that this card is done I'm getting a little excited for winter, Christmas, and hopefully some snow this year! :)  Happy crafting!

                                                                    2S4Y #62

cardstock, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
kraft cardstock: Papertrey Ink
patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
markers: Copic
threading water border punch: Fiskars
glitter: Doodlebug Design

CAS FTL #109, Embellish Magazine Challenge

I hope you all had a great weekend and were able to get some crafting time in for WCMD!  I sure had some fun!  I was able to make a couple of cards and spend some good quality time in my craft room.  I love spending time in my craft room, even if I'm just looking around at all my creations.  It just inspires me and makes me happy.  I've had my room painted several different colors and the color it is now is the perfect color for my creative energy.  It was yellow first, with painted butterflies and such all over the walls.  I know, I know, you don't even have to tell me...what in the world was I thinking?  Not so great for creating..too distracting.  Then it was medium purple with a dark purple stripe around the top.  I was able to live with this for a while, but it just didn't feel quite right.  Finally, I painted my room a light green (Christopher Robin's Swing or something) and added white shelving.  It's perfect!  I feel so creative and everyone who sees my room loves it as well.  Has this ever happened to you, where the color of the room you're working in hinders your creativity? 

Today's card, if you're still with me,  is based on the sketch below by Clean and Simple Stamping and on the challenge below from Embellish Magazine.  You still have time to play both challenges until Thursday, October 7th.  I stamped the rain stamp (by A Muse) with grey ink on a pre-made white card.  I stamped the umbrella (by Technique Tuesday) on a piece of white cardstock, matted it with black cardstock, and border punched the right edge.  I outlined the umbrella with my trusty W1 Copic marker to make it "pop".  I stamped the sentiment on yellow gingham patterned paper, trimmed it, and adhered it to the cardstock panel.  I adhered the panel to the card with pop dots and then added white glitter to the umbrella.  I think I've said this before, but when using glitter you almost always want to add it to your projects last.  This way you won't get glitter all over your entire project.  If you didn't get any crafting time in this past weekend, I hope you can find the time this week!  Happy crafting!

                                                               CAS FTL #109

all paper, Rain stamp, black dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
The Weather Report clear stamp set: Technique Tuesday
grey whale chalk ink: Clearsnap
marker: Copic
scallop border punch: Fiskars
white glitter: Doodlebug Design

Not Your Square Granny Squares Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Challenge

Surprisingly enough I have never made a "quilt" card before.  It was based on this week's Tueday Trigger Challenge over at Moxie Fab World (the picture below).  I believe you still have until the end of today to play along as well if you want. What inspired me about this picture was the quilt itself, obviously, and the colors in it.  I wanted to make my own "quilt" on the card with similar colors. 

To make this card I trimmed a piece of cardstock slightly smaller than my card, then punched a bunch of scrap patterned paper pieces with my square paper punch.  I adhered the squares to the cardstock panel, turned the panel over, and then trimmed off the overhanging squares with scissors.  Because I don't sew I drew stitching lines with my black pen, but you could also use rub-ons or stamps if you don't sew either.  Real stitching would look super cute, but alas that is one skill I don't possess.  Next, I stamped the dress form (from the Sew Lovely clear set by Lawn Fawn) on a white cardstock panel, trimmed it, paper pieced it with pink gingham and popsicle pink paper (by A Muse), colored it with my trusty Copics, outlined the panel with faux stitching, and adhered it with pop dots.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment (from the Sew Artsy clear set by Hero Arts).  I have to tell you I really love how this card turned out, especially since I've never made a quilted card before.  I love that it used up a ton of my scraps, that it used so many colors and patterns together, and that it just looks so cute!  It seems that almost every time I try something new I like how it turns out.  What does that tell me?  Branch out and go out of my comfort zone more often...try new techniques and styles way more often.  I encourage you to do the same.  You too may be surprised and love the results!  Happy crafting!

Not Your Sqaure Granny Squares

all paper, ink: A Muse Artstamps
image: Lawn Fawn
sentiment: Hero Arts
markers, black multi liner pen: Copic
punch: Marvy Uchida

2S4Y #62

HAPPY WORLD CARDMAKING DAY!  I hope you all are getting some crafting time in today in honor of World Cardmaking Day today.  Just in case you didn't know, it's always the first Saturday in October.  So, mark you calendars for next year.  There are always a number of blogs that participate and give away prizes and have challenges.  Also, many LSS and chain Craft Stores participate with sales, make-and-takes, raffles, and give-aways.  It's grown to be quite a big deal.  If this is the first year you've heard about it, mark your calendar and start looking around a couple weeks before it starts next year and you'll be able to participate in a lot of fun stuff! 

Today's card is inspired by the sketch below from 2 Sketches 4 You.  The sketch challenge ends today, but you still have a few hours to play along.  I used the new Wander paper pad from Basic Grey and the chip stickers that go along with it.  That paper pad it so cute!  It's perfect for travel cards or for masculine cards, which is kind of what I was aiming for here.  You can tell me whether I achieved that or not.  I don't think I need to explain how I made this card because I think it's fairly self-explanatory, but if you have any questions please feel free to email me.  Once again, I hope you all get a chance to make some cards today in honor of World Cardmaking Day.  Happy crafting!

                                                                    2S4Y #62

cardstock, stamp, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: Basic Grey
cornice border punch: Martha Stewart
chip stickers: Basic Grey