I'm Sew Excited!

I hope you all had a wonderful Father's Day yesterday with your dads or sons.  I had a wonderful afternoon with my FIL.  He came over and my hubby and I bbq'ed for him.  My MIL and the rest of the fam is in Mexico right now, so he was alone.  It was all the better for us because we got to have him all to ourselves.  :)  That never happens, especially on a holiday. 

The card I have for you today is for the I'm So Excited! challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  This card took me out of my comfort zone a bit. 

I used burlap for the first time, which is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but it didn't really feel like me at first.  I also used fabric for the first time and I even frayed the edges.  I also frayed the edges of the burlap.  Burlap and fabric are not things you would normally see on my cards, but I've wanted to try some new things.  I used PTI's parisian lace die, which I'm totally in love with by the way, to make the doily.  I wanted to make it seem more like a fabric doily so I crumbled it and used a sponge to add some versamagic wheat ink.  I think it makes it look more realistic and more antique.

I don't have a dress form die, so I used a stamp from my Hero Arts Sew Artsy set.  I stamped it on white cardstock, cut it out, and paper pieced it with kraft cardstock.  Before I adhered it to the card I added the fabric and tied a small piece of A Muse Studio sheer polka dot sugar ribbon.  I love the swirliness of the sentiment by Lawn Fawn.  It's perfect for this card.  I thought the card needed just a little something else, so I added the PTI buttons in the lower right corner.  I am really happy with the way this card turned out, especially since it was so out of the box for me. 

Because of challenges like this, I have tried new things and stepped out of my comfort zone more times than I can count.  I'd like to thank all of the owners of the blogs/challenges that I play along with because you have expanded my creativity and made me realize I can do more than I ever thought I could.  Thank you so much for all that you have done for me!  Happy Crafting!

Sorry For Your Loss (Colour Q #88, CAS FTL #143)

I hope you all had a great week!  I made this card for a dear friend of the family and her husband who lost their dog while on vacation.  They were on a European trip of a lifetime and got word that their Pomeranian had passed away.  They don't have children of their own, so Rainy was like their baby and they were/are devastated.  Those of you who have dogs or pets know exactly what I'm talking about.  I only hope this card will ease a tiny bit of their pain by knowing that I'm there for them. 

Now let's get down to the details of the card.  The layout was inspired by this week's sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping.  I turned the sketch upside down because it worked better for me and for the card. 

CAS FTL #143

The bone patterned paper is from Doodlebug Design and the brown polka dot patterned paper is from the Lime Twist collection from My Mind's Eye.  The Lime Twist collection is one of my very favorite collections!  I am just in love with it!  Lately My Mind's Eye has put out the best collections of paper.  They are just soo cute!  The dog house stamp is an old stamp from A Muse Artstamps.  The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts.  I used the Fiskars apron lace border punch on the brown cardstock that edges the bone patterned paper.  I broke out my Nestabilities classic rectangles large to die cut and emboss the cream cardstock rectangle panel.  I tried to keep the card rather embellishment free and toned down because it's a sympathy card.  I chose the colors because of this week's challenge at ColourQ and because I didn't want any loud colors or bright colors on this sympathy card. 

I really hope this card helps ease my friends' grief in some small way.  I also hope maybe it helps you with some ideas for your sympathy cards.  If you're hurting at all today, I send you hugs.  I hope you all have a great evening!  Happy Crafting!

Elegantly Thinking of You (CAS FTL #130, Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger: An Idea in Yellow)

I hope you all are enjoying the last part of what I hope was a wonderful weekend for you.  Mine was productive, but not much fun.  You know how that goes.  Today's card is inspired by the Tuesday Trigger Challenge, An Idea in Yellow, in the Moxie Fab World found in the picture below and is also based on the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping below.  I used mostly yellow and white because those were the main colors in the picture and they inspired me.  I used a pink flower, by Prima, because it reminded me of the pink flower on the table in front of the door and it was a great accent for my card.  The background stamp is by Hero Arts and I've fallen in love with it!  The sentiment stamp is from the Autumn Abundance set from PTI.  I used the Nestabilities labels four to hold the sentiment, but trimmed it and attached it under the cardstock panel.  After I was done with the card I thought it needed a little something so I added some irridescent gold shimmer mist and then it was perfect!  I love the way this card turned out and I hope you do too.  I hope you all have a great week!  Happy Crafting!

Tuesday Trigger: An Idea in Yellow

CAS FTL#130

Stylish Cameo (CAS FTL #127, Moxie Fab World: The Appearance of Cameos Challenge)

Hey there! Sorry it's been a little while, I've been making cards for a big submission but I'm back now.  I have another one coming up in a few weeks, but I've vowed to manage my time better and do both my blog and the submission.  Thanks for hanging in there with me these past couple months when my postings have been a little bare.  I really appreciate all of your comments and your support.

On to tonight's card...it's based on the sketch below from Clean and Simple Stamping and The Appearance of Cameos Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  The beautiful silhouette cameo stamp is from Hero Arts and the sentiment is from A Muse.  The patterned paper is the Nook paper pad from Basic Grey, which I really love but don't use often.  I think I have a hoarding problem, but the first step is admitting it, right?  I used my Nestabilities beaded circles die and Marvy circle punch to surround the cameo image.  I used pop dots to attach it to the card to add just a little more interest.  The border punch is Martha Stewart, and one of my faves.  The ribbon is from A Muse and happens to be the exact same color as the patterned paper.  I added the Prima flower at the end to match the sketch and for just the right touch.  This isn't my typical style, but I really love how it turned out!  I hope you do too!  I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's weekend with someone special planned, just remember to sneak in a little crafting time too. :)  Happy Crafting!

CAS FTL #127

stamps: cameo silhouette (Hero Arts), good friends (A Muse Artstamps)
cardstock: white (A Muse Artstamps)
patterned paper: Nook paper pad (Basic Grey)
ink: Adirondack espresso dye ink (Ranger), toffee chalk ink (Clearsnap)
die: Nestabilities beaded circles (Spellbinders)
punch: doily lace border punch (Martha Stewart), circle punch (Marvy Uchida)
flowers: fairytale roses french white (Prima)
fibers: eucalyptus sheer ribbon (A Muse Artstamps)

Elegant Cameo (PDCC #64, Tuesday Trigger I'm So Pretty, Moxie Fab Gray is the New Black Challenge)

Well, I'm back!  So sorry it's been so long.  I got a migraine that lasted a whole month (which has only happened to me about 3 times in my life, thank goodness), then I got a cold, then I got another migraine.  It's been quite a rough month and a half.  I'm back in fighting shape now and ready to get back to work.  I have missed making cards and missed all of you.  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are having a great start to your new year. :)

My card tonight is based on the color combo below from The Play Date Cafe, the Tuesday Trigger I'm so Pretty picture challenge below from the Moxie Fab World, and the Gray is the New Black Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  I kept it soft like the leather chair and stuck to the colors in the Play Date challenge.  I didn't use a sentiment because I didn't think it was necessary.  I was really inspired by the roses on the pillow so I had to include some flowers on my card.  I really like how it turned out.  Hope you do too!

Tuesday Trigger: I'm So Pretty

white cardstock: A Muse Artstamps
kraft cardstock: PTI
patterned paper: October Afternoon
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Clearsnap
pearls: A Muse Artstamps
flowers: Prima
punches: Marvy Uchida

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

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

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