Viva La Verve! without the Twist

This is my first Viva La Verve Sketch challenge on SCS. I'm really enjoying all of these sketches! But silly me, I was so set on NOT using pink that I completely forgot that the TWIST to this challenge was to use the colors Red, PINK and green!!! So I guess I will have to redo it.

I fussed a bit with this card. I wasn't sure if all the dots were too much. But I think it turned out okay because of all the white space. I pierced the white oval and made it look like the butterfly was going all around the oval then she flew in a whimsy pattern. At least, that was what I was going for. I'm not sure if I like the white but I thought another color would be too much. What do you think?

Stamps: Verve Fluttering By
Ink: PTI Summer Sunrise & Aqua Mist, SU Pumpkin Pie
Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist & White
Misc: CB Swiss Dots Folder, PTI Aqua Mist Satin Dots Ribbon, dimensionals, clear EP, SU Top Note Die

Got my Mojo Goin' On!

 

This is my very first Mojo Monday challenge. Although not the last! I love the sketches from Mojo Monday. ALL of them! I just never get a chance to do them in time. Plus I only discovered them just a few weeks ago. And you know what's really neat to me? I had a dog named Mojo. He was THE coolest dog ever. My "Mojo" came from the song by The Doors, "Mr. Mojo Risin". I was a huge fan waaay back in high school.

Anyway, onto the card. Which I can't believe I was able to make TWO whole cards today. It's really amazing. I can go weeks without making any cards. So today was a happy card making day! I love using my sewing machine on my cards. I use it on my scrapbook pages too and the effect is just so pretty.

I'm counting down the hours until the Verve Release. I just bought a couple sets last week and I am IN LOVE with these stamps. They stamp so nicely and I love the fonts and images. I just know it's going to be my next obsession.

Stamps: Sugar Nellies Sweet & Sassy, Verve sentiment
Ink: Versafine Black, Palette Brown
Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise, SU Lavender Lace, Chatterbox Patterned Paper
Misc: Clear EP, Machine Sewing, Piercing, SU Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Copics

Verve and Flourishes Challenges

 

Today I was able to stamp. Woohoo! I took the girls to the park in the morning so they could get rid of some of their energy. We played freeze tag and monkey bars. Boy am I old. I had to keep stopping and taking breaks. But it sure was fun! And so at M's naptime I was able to whip out this card. I used the Verve March Release sketch and used the Flourishes Challenge Getting Sentimental to make a sentiment the focal point. Sorry, I just can't stay away from pink!!! I promise my next card will NOT be pink.

Recently, I've started to get away from SU. There are so many other stamping companies out there that are just calling my name. I have a teeny tiny monthly budget for my addiction, er hobby, and so most of my money has gone to SU in the past. Now I am super excited to expand my collection of stamps from various companies. I am really looking foward to the March releases of Verve and Flourishes!

Stamps: PTI Damask, misc sentiment off ebay
Ink: SU Pretty in Pink, Pomegranate
Paper: SU Regal Rose, Rose Red, Basic Grey Patterned Paper (From my RAK pack!!)
Misc: SU Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, MS Mini hearts Punch, Cuttlebug Heart Dies, Flat back pearls

CAS #3 and my Inspiration for it

I am just loving the CAS (Clean and Simple) Challenges over at SCS. This card came together pretty quickly because there was a layout given and I had an inpsiration piece that I used. I have a bottle of my favorite Bath & Body Works shower wash. (I have hoarded a few of these because it's a discontinued scent.) I've been looking at it everyday thinking how calm and serene the packaging is. So I thought, what better than to use it for a color inspiration. (You can click on the pictures to enlarge)

I used PTI's Vintage Cream cardstock for the base and image, but I think it's difficult to tell with my horrible picture taking abilities. (I really need to read the manual to my camera.) The ribbon on it is SU's So Saffron Twill and it is just YUMMY!!! I got it as a RAK and, surprise, hoarded it also. I might have to place a quick SU Order just to get some of it from the SAB. ;)

Stamps: SU Thoughts & Prayers, Short & Sweet
Ink: SU Certain Celery & Summer Sun
Paper: SU Barely Banana, Certain Celery, PTI Vintage Cream
Misc: SU So Saffron Twill Ribbon, MS Butterfly Punch, Dimensionals

Card Positioning and Kristina Werner Challenge

I thought I would try a couple of challenges and decided to combine them. I'm sure y'all are sick of seeing the PTI Damask stamp set. But just wait, I'm not done yet. Love, love, love this set!! Not sure if I like the damask on the side of the sentiment, but it looked so lonely without something. What do you think?

Stamps: PTI Damask Designs, SU Friendly Words
Ink: SU Old Olive, Versamark
Paper: SU More Mustard, Really Rust, Old Olive
Misc: SU Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, SU Rhinestone Brad, Dimensionals

Belated Bloggerversary

I didn't realize that I passed my 1 year blogging anniversary on Feb. 9th. Can't believe it's been a year! I intend on being a more loyal blogger for now on. I have been working on my time management skills and organizing my life and craft room like crazy. So here's to more blogging!

I love, love, love my new PTI Damask Design set. I dream about how I'm going to use it on projects. I just wish I had more TIME in the day to play with my new toys!! I made this card while dh took the girls to the grocery store. It only took 10 minutes. Woohoo!

Stamps: PTI Damask Design
Ink: Versafine Black, PTI Raspberry Fizz
Paper: PTI Vintage Cream, Raspberry Fizz, SU Black
Misc: Clear EP, misc Black Ribbon

Clean & Simple #2

This is my entry for the CAS Challenge on SCS. It called for a button on your card. Now, if miss Antsy Pants here was more awake at midnight during PTI's latest release, she would have had a nice new PTI Button on her card. But noooo. I was so anxious to get the Damask set and I was so tired since it was 2 hours past my bedtime, I completely forgot to get the buttons! Argh. Oh well, it will be on my next order.

So now this card was supposed to take me about 10 minutes to put together. I had the sketch, colors and stamps all picked out. All I had to do was ink up the stamp, use some Embossing Powder and voila. But noooo. It took me about 45 minutes and 5 different tries. I couldn't get a complete impression with the stamp. I kept forgetting to use the Embossing Buddy. Or I stamped it crooked. Finally I said this one has got to do. I must move on to other projects! So after much muttering under my breath I put this together and crossed another challenge off my list.

Stamps: PTI Damask Design
Ink: SU Whisper White Craft Ink, PTI Sweet Blush
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush & White
Misc: SU Scallop Edge punch, misc button, PTI Sweet Blush Satin Ribbon, Pink thread, SU White EP

SCA3C12 Color Combo Challenge

I wanted to try out my friend Sara's PTI Color challenge. It calls for Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet and Dark Chocolate. I don't have Berry Sorbet so I substituted with a darker pink in the patterned paper. I used a beautiful stamp set from The Greeting Farm. If you haven't checked them out yet, you should. There are some really cute images and some very beautiful sets also.

I have been trying to be good and not spend so much money on my stamping supplies. For my New Year's Resolution I cut my monthly budget to $50 per month, down from $100+++. Then my friend Jen started a no spend challenge. I did really well (even though I didn't blog about it. I tend to run out of computer time quickly. Sorry Jen!) I gave myself a $50 budget for January and didn't go over. That was really difficult with all of the new releases, including SU's new catty. But I sold and traded some things. I probably got about $100 worth of product in the end. I now have my $50 for February and I still haven't spent any!! Crazy, right?! I have been very picky lately about how I spend my money. These no spend challenges are really great! (Never thought I'd say that.) I have learned to curb my impulse buys, which is especially difficult with online shopping. And it has even helped with my other spending habits. I find myself not buying something immediately and being more particular with how I spend my money, whether it be on household items or food. If you haven't tried it yet, I encourage you to challenge yourself also!

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Dream Quotes

Ink: Versafine Sepia

Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Dark Chocolate, Chatterbox Patterned Paper

Misc: Clear EP, Bling, PTI Sweet Blush Satin Ribbon, Machine Sewing

Ian/Anya Card Swap

I finally finished my card for the Ian/Anya swap on SCS. Funny how things pile up SO fast when you get one week behind. Having the girls get the flu one after the other really got me behind. I'm trying to catch up with my card making, scrapbooking and housework. In that order. ;-)

Stamps: The Greeting Farm's Rock the Farm set, SU Sweet Celebrations
Ink: Versafine Onyx, SU Brocade Blue
Paper: SU Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Chatterbox Patterned paper
Misc: SU Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, MS Butterfly Punch, Stickles, Copics, Machine Sewing

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you are all having a sweet day today! I have big plans to finish up some cards that are sitting on my craft table. In the meantime here is the card that I gave a sneak peek of the other day. My Father asked me to make a card so he could give it to my Mom. Talk about pressure!! And add to the fact that my Mom is a true artist. Yikes! I hope she likes it.

I used some of her favorite things; Pink, Glitter, Flowers and Bling. The 50's Sweethearts by The Greeting Farm was perfect for this card since my parents grew up in this era. I have never used a Digital Stamp before so it took me more time to actually print the image than to make the card. Yes really. I am not very computer savvy.

I made the couple 3D and gave the heart 3 layers. I colored the image in with Copic Markers and added Red Stickles to the heart. Since he is a Greaser, I added Crystal Effects to his hair to make it look like he has hair gel in it. She got a tiny little pearl put on her bow. I used Liquid Pearls on the scallop circle.

Inside the card I left it blank for my Dad to write his own sentiment. I added the couple on the bottom and colored them in with my Copics. This picture is super blurry because my camera is on the fritz. Maybe my Valentine will get a new camera. ;-)

That's it for now. Thanks for looking and I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's day!

Stamps: Sentiment from misc source

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, SU White Craft Ink

Paper: SU Regal Rose, Purely Pomegranate, Rose Red DSP, misc pink bling cardstock

Misc: Martha Stewart Little Hearts Scallop Edge Punch, Nestabilities, Stickles, mini half back Pearls, Prima Flowers, bling, Crystal Effects, Liquid Pearls, Clear EP, SU Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon & Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon