Another Challenge

I was happy to take a break from my painting this morning so I could make a card for this week's Less is More 4 challenge.  I was thrilled when I read the challenge  -  a recipe to use 3 squares - because I had the perfect sets for it...the newly released Bitty Background Blocks by PTI and Quilter's Sampler that were still in my New Stamp basket.

I absolutely love how this ended up.  It evokes such a warm feeling.  The 3 squares were stamped on scrap paper and cut out with pinking deco scissors.  I used a real needle and thread to embellish.

Supplies:
Stamps - PTI Bitty Background Blocks, Quilter's Sampler
Paper - So Saffron, GKD PL ivory
Ink - Baja Breeze, Cajun Craze, Old Olive
Accessories - deco scissors, needle, thread

I've had a few requests from my readers to subscribe to my blog by email, and that suprises and flatters me!  Since I am severely computer and blog design challenged, I didn't know how to set it up.  So after about an hour or more of searching, reading 'help' topics that were no help, reading chat threads and such, I figured it out and now have it all set up.  I would love to have you subscribe.  And thanks to those who prompted me to figure it out!  I appreciate you!

K

Happy Valentine's Day!

Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute to make my Valentine's cards.  I had them made a little before 3:00 today, but haven't had a chance to post until now.

I made three cards in about 45 minutes today.  I think that is a record for me.  It usually takes me that long to make one!

First up, a card for my daughter...

I thought it would look cute for the dog to be looking at the sentiment.  The heart was an afterthought, but I think it looks cute.

She loves dogs (even though we have cats), so when I saw this set on clearance at Joann's for $2.97, I couldn't resist.  All the dogs in this set are really cute, and she'll love them all.  I love how my brand X ribbon matched my Memento ink perfectly.  When does that ever happen?

A card for my son...

Talk about killing two birds with one stone.  Same idea - dog looking at sentiment - but different layout and colors.  Twine instead of ribbon since he would think ribbon was 'girly'.

Supplies:
Stamps - Inkadinkado Dogs, PTI Love Birds, Amuse oval
Paper - GKD PL white
Ink - Real Red, Memento Rose Bud, Angel Pink, Danube Blue, Summer Sky
Accessories - Ribbon, Baker's twine, Post-it notes for masking

And of course, one for my hubby...

This set from PTI is so easy to use for CAS cards, and I made this card in the blink of an eye.  The heart was added by the sentiment for the third leg of my red triangle.

I was patting myself on the back after I made these three cards today.  I love them all!  *pat, pat*

Hope you had a wonderful day filled with lots of love!

K

OLW A Day Late

I was so busy yesterday, I didn't realize it was Wednesday, and time for one of my favorite challenges. Jennifer Styles is hosting OLW this week, and it was a real challenge. Use 2 (and only 2) image stamps, no sentiments, and no embellishments of any kind.

Time to step it up a notch.

Here is my first card.

I used an acrylic block for my background image. I inked the block, then spritzed it with water before stamping on the card.

Supplies:
Stamps - PTI Heart Prints
Paper - GKD PL white
Ink - Memento Lady Bug and Angel Pink
Accessories - Acrylic block used as a stamp, H20 spritzer, corner rounder

And just because that card was so quick to make, I had to make another one.

This card measures 3"x4" to fit in a leftover envelope I had in my stash. The image would have been lost on an A2 card.

Supplies:
Stamps - PTI Turning a New Leaf, Stampendous Loopy Blooms
Paper - GKD PL white
Ink - Memento New Sprout and Tuxedo Black
Accessories - Copic markers R29, C7

Now I'm off to box up the basement. Hubby is chomping at the bit to get it done, and I'm dragging my heels. My craft cave will be virtually inaccessible during the finishing of the basement, and I'll never be ready to give it up. Even if it's only for a week (or three). What will I ever do?

OLW38 A Sketch

I made two cards today for the One Layer Wednesday challenge hosted by Jennifer Styles this week.  Although they are both one layer cards, one of them was much more involved than the other.  This will show you the extreme looks you can create on a one layer card.

I have been making a lot of warm, sun and beach themed cards lately, and this one is no exception.

I sponged the sand and water, and used a brayer for the sky.  I took Michelle Zindorf's brayer classes a little over a year ago, and love to play around with her technique.  As you can see, you can create very elaborate cards with just one layer.

Supplies:
Stamps - All Night Media, Short & Sweet
Paper - GKD PL white
Ink - Crumb Cake, Cool Caribbean, Turquoise, Pacific Point, Summer Sun, Pixie Pink, Orchid, Espresso
Accessories - Post-it notes for masking, circle punch, Copic markers, brayer, sponges, white gel pen

This card is much more simple, but still packs a punch.

The bird cage and stand are embossed to make it look like wrought iron.  The triangulation of red in the three image areas pulls the whole card together.

The large bird cage image in this set doesn't have a perch for the birds to sit on, so I drew one with a black marker before I stamped the bird cage.

Supplies:
Stamps - PTI Love Birds
Paper - GKD PL white
Ink - Riding Hood Red, Versamark, Memento tuxedo black
Accessories - clear EP, heat tool, quilting ruler, SAMJ

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you're having a great week!

K

CAS86 - Sketch Inspiration

This week's CAS challenge over at SCS is a sketch inspired by Charlene's (cookiebaker) Thank You So Much card.  It is a sketch I have used frequently, so I was very comfortable using it for my card.  I added a few elements, and although I still consider it CAS, it has a lot more fluff than I usually use.

This card was also tied in to Susan's (LateBlossom) inspiration week on her Simplicity blog.  I tore out a few pages from ads and catalogs recently that were inspiring to me.  This card uses a color combo from one of those ads, and I really love it.  It is so warm and rich!

Here is my DT sample card.

Every time I see a card with a bow made from wide ribbon, I am in awe.  This is the widest ribbon I have (5/8"), so I tried a big bow on this card.  It's not really that big, but it has the effect I wanted.  I think the sponged edge on the image panel is a great balance for the bow.

Supplies used:
Stamps - PTI Turning a New Leaf, Mega Mixed Messages
Paper - Sahara Sand, Cajun Craze
Ink - Versamark, vanilla craft, espresso
Accessories - vanilla EP, heat tool, sponge, brads, satin ribbon, dimensionals, square lattice EF, Big Shot

Oh, in case you're wondering, here is our euchre scoreboard.
Boys - 3
Girls - 1
We haven't given up hope yet, and still have a week to whoop them for good!

Toodles!

K