GS # 57

Well, the humidity has finally seemed to die down here but it's still in the 80's.  The leaves have started turning color, but I want the fall weather to come too.  I can't seem to get into making fall/Halloween cards with the weather still so warm, so today's card has flowers all over it.  It's inspired by the sketch below from Get Sketchy, which you still have a few more hours to play.  The flower paper is from my Thrift Shop paper pad by October Afternoon.  I love that line!  I actually love anything October Afternoon!  They are my new fave paper company.  Everything they do is such just so adorable and they make 8x8 paper pads!  Just perfect for cardmakers.  The thank you stamp is A Muse.  It's one of my go to thank you stamps.  I just love the font.  If you know me or you've been reading my blog for any length of time you then know that I am pretty much obsessed with A Muse Artstamps.  They have the cutest stamps in the whole world.  The flower is a gerbera daisy sticker from Martha Stewart.  I've been hoarding them for a long time because the new ones don't look as cute and this one was my last one.  The border punch, pinking scallop, is also Martha Stewart and it was the first time I used it.  I think it is so cute and I'm so glad I bought it!  I hope you get some time to play this afternoon and don't forget this Saturday is World Cardmaking Day.  I'd love to hear your plans for the day, I hope it includes some cardmaking.  Happy crafting!

cardstock, gingham patterned paper, stamp, ink: A Muse Artstamps
Thrift Shop paper pad: October Afternoon
pinking scallop border punch: Martha Stewart
gerbera flower sticker: Martha Stewart

ESS #101

I hope you all had a great weekend!  It's so incredibly muggy here, which is not like the Northwest, plus it's also 80 degrees.  Not a great combination for us out here.  I normally love this time of year, the temperature begins to fall, there is a crispness in the air, it's still sunny out, and my favorite part is that the leaves begin to change color.  Fall is my favorite season if you hadn't guessed.  I love taking walks in the fall air and observing all the changes in nature in my neighborhood.  What's your favorite season?

On with the card for today...this card was inspired by the sketch below from Eat Sleep Stamp, which you still have time to play.  I used patterned papers from Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety mini deck.  I thought they went perfectly with the super cute Carrot Car stamp by A Muse.  This is one of my very favorite spring stamps!  I think it is sooo cute!  The sentiment stamp is also A Muse.  I know that this card is a little out of season, but I just bought the Garden Variety mini deck and wanted to play with the papers and this stamp just went so well.  Has that ever happened to you, you feel like making a card that's completely out of season either just because or because you have great new product you want to play with?  Anyway, I promise my next post will be back to "normal".  And if you're still with me, here's the card and happy crafting!

white cardstock, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
markers: Copic
ribbon: American Crafts

CAS FTL #107 and A Muse Challenge #20

Today I have another fall card for you.  It's based off the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping and also for challenge #20 on the A Muse Lounge.  You still have a couple hours to play at CSS and you have until the end of the month to play over on the A Muse Lounge, and I encourage you to do so because it's really fun!  This card is fairly straight forward in it's design.  I made the card from cardstock, trimmed the white cardstock panel to fit, trimmed two brown cardstock pieces to fit, border edged punched them, adhered them to the panel, and adhered it to the card.  I stamped the leaves on patterned paper, cut them out, and adhered them to the panel with pop dots.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment directly underneath the right-hand corner of the panel.  Easy peasy!  A FMQ (five minute quickie) as they say. I love it when that happens.  I have a confession, I'm a SLOW cardmaker.  It can sometimes take me a couple hours to make one card.  Shhh, don't tell anyone.  Now that it's Friday I hope you have a chance to get some creative and crafty time in this weekend.  If you do, I recommend trying one of these challenges, if you haven't already, they're a ton of fun!  Have a great weekend and happy crafting!

all paper, stamps, black dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
espresso dye ink: Ranger
apron lace border punch: Fiskars

CAS FTL #108

Hi there again!  I've had a lot of cards to share with you so I've been posting a lot, sometimes twice a day, like today.  I hope you're not getting sick of me. :)  This card was based on the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping, which you still have time to play.  I used the large scalloped circle die from Nestablilities to make the card.  I used the large circle die from Nestabilities and the leaves embossing folder from Quickutz to make the green cardstock panel.  I lightly sanded the green panel before adhering it to the card.  I trimmed a white cardstock piece to fit the green circle, stamped the sentiment, and adhered it.  I punched a couple of leaves from different colored cardstock and adhered them with pop dots.  I've never made a circle card before and I really like how it turned out.  I think I'll probably make more of them in the future.  They are really cute and a nice change of pace.  Why don't you try making a circle card, especially if you've never made one before.  I think you'll like the results.  Happy crafting!

CAS FTL #108

all paper, stamps: A Muse Artstamps
espresso dye ink: Ranger
maple leaf punch: EK Success
oak leaf punch: Marvy Uchida
dies: Spellbinders
embossing folder: Quickutz

2S4Y, A Muse Lounge Challenge #20, CAS FTL # 107

The card I have for you today is based on the sketch below from 2 Sketches 4 You, from this sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping, and is also for challenge #20 on the A Muse Lounge.  I used my birch trees stamp by A Muse, which I got to ink up for the first time, and stamped it on a white cardstock panel.  I stamped the sentiment on orange gingham patterned paper, adhered it to the panel, and attched it to the blackberry cardstock panel with pop dots that I had previously cut slightly smaller than the card.  I wrapped and tied twine around the left side of the blackberry panel and then attached it to the card with pop dots.  I love how this card turned out.  It took me a while to figure this sketch out, but I really am in love with the end result.  There is still time to play both challenges, so I encourage you to do so.  Good luck and hapoy crafting!

 Also the A Muse blog is offering a variety of calendars where the proceeds go to a great charity.  If you have a chance go check it out.

2S4Y

all paper, stamps: A Muse Artstamps
chalk ink, pigment ink: Clearsnap
espresso dye ink: Ranger
twine: May Arts

Card Patterns #82

I have another card for you today.  I think this is probably a record for consecutive posts for me. :)  This card is based on the sketch below from Card Patterns. You still have time to play along until Friday. I decided to make a Halloween card since I haven't made one yet and the holiday is fast approaching.  I really like Halloween stamps and I tend to buy a few, so last year I made the decision that I needed to send out Halloween cards to in order to validate my purchase.  I think it's working out, well at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

Back to the card...I chose the pumkin basket stamp by A Muse and filled it with "candy", which is actually twinkle stickers, and then colored it with my trusty Copic markers.  I used the Lacey Circle die from Nestabilities to make the circle and then cut it in half.  I adhered the green polka dot patterned paper on the left side of the card and at the seam adhered some American Crafts black and white polka dot satin ribbon, which I am in love with. I have a ton of American Crafts ribbon and this one is one of my faves!  This sketch was a little difficult for me, I'm not going to lie, but I like how the card turned out in the end.  I never would have put these things together on my own, but that's what I like about doing challenges and sketches.  It makes me think and do things I wouldn't normally do.  I challenge you to do a sketch or a challenge, you just may be surprised with the outcome.  Happy crafting!

all paper, stamps, twinkle stickers, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
die: Spellbinders
ribbon: American Crafts

CPS #185 and Embellish Magazine Challenge

This is my second post today, but I had to share this card with you.  My card is based on the sketch below from Card Positiong Systems and the challenge below from Embellish Magazine.  You still have time to play both.  This card was a creative challenge for me, but I had fun making it.  It was fairly easy to put together.  I trimmed several scraps of patterned paper to fit the card, I stamped the image and sentiment on a white cardstock panel, stamped the image again on scraps of patterned paper, cut them out, adhered them over the original, colored the image with my copic markers, and adhered the panel with pop dots.  I think it turned out pretty good, what do you think?  I recommend trying something that is a creative challenge, it stretches your creative thinking and you just my have fun in the process.  Happy crafting!

CPS Sketch #185

white cardstock, patterned paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
kraft cardstock: Papertrey Ink
markers: Copic

ESS #100, Offset Scallop Gallop

This card was based on this sketch at Eat Sleep Stamp and this challenge, the Offset Scallop Gallop, at Moxie Fab World (which you can play until Oct. 4th). I looked through my paper stash to find offset scallops and found some by October Afternoon.  I found a couple different choices, but I liked this one the best.  I didn't realize offset scallops were that trendy, but after visiting the Moxie Fab blog and going through my stash I have to say I found they really are. 

I used my Rainy Day Lisa stamp by A Muse because I thought she would go with the papers and the color scheme.  I have to admit this is the first time I have inked her up and I don't know why, she is so cute!  She is fun to color too!  When I was all done putting the card together I thought it needed just a little something else, so I added the chocolate pretty pearls by A Muse.  I think they added just the right touch I was looking for.  I love how the card turned out!  I put it on my card shelf and realized I have done a lot of cards with yellow, which isn't a color I thought I used often.  Is there a color that you use more often than others?  Or is there a color that when you take a second look at your cards you realize you use more often than you thought you did?

notecard, stamps, ink, pearls: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: October Afternoon
markers: Copic

Moxie Fab Jolly Holiday Greetings

I have two cards to share with you and they are both for the Jolly Holiday Greetings Challenge over at Moxie Fab World.  This challenge runs through October 11th, so there's still time for you to play along.  The first card I made by randomly stamping the snowflake stamp with white ink all over a premade navy card.  Then I stamped the cutie pie little boy and colored him with my Copic markers.  I then stamped the sentiment, the cloud, the cloud again on a scrap paper, outlined it with my BG10 Copic marker, cut it out and adhered it over the original cloud with pop dots.  I matted the cardstock panel with green gingham paper and then with orange cardstock (even though it looks like red in the picture) and adhered it to the card.  The inside of the card says "thanks snow much" so I will be able to use it as a thank you for Christmas gifts.

The second card is made from palm cardstock, which I ran through my Cuttlebug using the 5x7 polka dot Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I also used my Spellbinders Nestabilities dies to make the circle and scalloped circle.  I stamped the tree first before I die-cut the circle, then I matted it with the gingham scalloped circle and adhered it to the card with pop dots.  I stamped the sentiment underneath.  It didn't come out perfectly, so I fixed it using a Copic muliliner black pen and I think it looks good as new.  Lastly, I added glitter to the tree limbs.  I think it gives it such an elegant touch, which is what I was going for.  What do you think?

image #1

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

image #2

all paper, stamps, dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
chalk ink: Clearsnap
dies: Spellbinders
embossing foler: Provo Craft
glitter: Doodlebug Designs

Moxie Fab Lipsylicious

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, I've had a terrible migraine and this post will be short and sweet because I'm still getting over one.  Today's card is for the Lipsylicious Challenge over at the Moxie Fab World, it also fits last week's CPS Challenge #185.  I was really inspired by the browns, reds, and pinks in the Moxie Fab picture.  Also, I was inspired by the sparkle in the lipsticks which led me to choose A Muse's glitter shimmer couture paper.  I chose to use my rocker girl stamp and party like a rock star sentiment because they reminded me of glamour and hollywood, which is what I first thought of when I looked at the picture. You can judge for yourself if I accomlished my goal...

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

Nuts About You for 11 Years

Today is my 11th wedding anniversary and I thought I'd share the card I made for my hubby because it's unlike any other card I've ever made.  I usually make him a really sappy card and this one is more humorous, but that's not what makes this card so different.  I have never made such an abstract and shaped card before.  The "official" card is rectangular, but I shaped a tree trunk out of the woodgrain patterned paper with branches and all and I free hand cut the tree topper (leaves).  I also stamped the sentiment on white cardstock, cut the ends with decorative edge scissors, attached it to a "wooden" post, and then attached it to the card with pop dots over the border punched grass.  I also made the squirrel hole in the tree trunk using my Nestabilities circle die.  I'm not going to lie, this card took some time to put together, but it was so worth it.  I did it all for you honey because I love you more today than yesterday and less than tomorrow.  You are the greatest husband a girl could ask for and I feel lucky every day I get to wake up next to you.  Thanks for marrying me!

If you're still with me and not vomitting in your soup, I have some exciting news to share.  My card was chosen as one to highlight over on the A Muse blog for the Stick to the Pattern challenge round-up.  There is a new challenge for the month of September, so feel free to play along!  I'd love to see what you come up with.  I'd also love to hear what you think of my card below, considering it's the first one I've made like it.  I advise you  to try something new in your crafting.  You just may surprise yourself!  Good luck and happy crafting!

notecard, patterned paper, white and fern cardstock, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
grass border punch: Martha Stewart
circle die: Nestabilities
die cut machine: Cuttlebug
decorative edge scissors: Provo Craft

ESS #98

This post is going to be short and sweet because I'm sick and don't feel very well. :(  This card is based on last week's sketch on Eat Sleep Stamp.  I didn't get it posted in time to be entered in the challenge, but I made it for my darling friend as a thank you note for my wonderful birthday gifts.  It was the first time I got to ink up my Lawn Fawn stamps and was able to use my Cosmo Cricket Material Girl paper pad.  It's not my favorite card, but I'm glad I got to play with a bunch of new stuff.  Without further ado...

notecard, ink: A Muse Artstamps
clear stamps: Lawn Fawn
patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
markers: Copic
punches: Marvy Uchida