Hunkering Down with Hurricane Ian

Today is the day that Hurricane Ian came knocking at our door.  He stayed away enough so that we didn't have any damage, but it sure is windy and rainy outside!

I spent a good part of the morning cleaning out my craft space and decided to make a card; after all, that neat tidy space needs some activity in it!  When I don't have a specific need for a specific card, I usually check with one or more challenge sites.  Today was no exception.

I really enjoy making my own dsp, so I used Night of Navy, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather and Blackberry Bliss from Colour INKspiration Challenge #130 on Facebook.  I also used Sketch #489 from CAS Colours & Sketches.  Here is the sketch: 

Quick and Easy Card (three times!)

If you look closely, you will see that these three cards are all the same layout.  It's interesting how different they all can look just by changing the color scheme, the paper, or even by creating your own paper!

Colour INKspiration #118

I decided that I needed to participate in a challenge, so off I went to my bookmarked challenge sites.  I found this one, and it really was a great one! 
But first, here's the backstory for this card.  Last week, someone on a FB group posted a card that she had created using just stamps, ink and paper.  I loved the concept, so I had to jump in and try it for myself.  (Be sure to check back tomorrow to see the other cards I made in addition to this one.)
Colour INKspiration is a Facebook group that posts a photo as well as color combinations that need to be used for the challenge. Here's what this challenge looks like: 

Of course, I didn't have any DSP that contained all of these colors, so I improvised.  I've been on a kick of creating my own DSP, so I used stamps from the Hello Beautiful stamp set for the abstract paper as well as the inside greeting. I stamped off for some of the colors so that they weren't so intense.  I also splattered the ink onto the cardstock to give it more character and finished by running it through the Tasteful Textile embossing folder. The Happy Birthday is from the Special Moments set. I couldn't let the little strip of paper that was trimmed away, so I added it to the inside of the card!
You might want to give it a try to make your own DSP ... you know you are always confused about what to do with some of the additional stamps in your sets!

You make the world a better place

Craig was feeling a bit under the weather earlier this week.  When I pulled into the driveway, I spotted a bag on one of the chairs.  I thought to myself ... gee, I am pretty sure I just threw away everything that didn't belong out there. Upon investigation, I discovered that a friend of ours delivered a bag full of four different types of hot soup on our front porch. 

Since I had a few free minutes this afternoon, I figured it would be a good time to play with the Rainbow of Happiness stamp set and the coordinating Brilliant Rainbow dies.  Of course, I had to include the Sunshine & Rainbows dsp that I got for free during Sale-a-Bration.

I decided to CASE a card from the SAB catalog and copied it almost exact. I did run the greeting banner through the Subtle embossing folder, added some swirled gold thread under the banner and topped it off with some Genial Gems.

Aligning Templates

A few weeks ago, a Stampin' Up! demonstrator that I follow on YouTube posted a video about making more handmade cards.  You can see her video here.

I loved her suggestions, but being the perfectionist that I am, I had to go one step further.  (I also have a tremor that makes crafting difficult at times.)  So, I used my Cricut to create a template for the layout that Dena shared.  Then, I decided to make a few alterations to her design and cut even more templates.

Here are the templates; actually, there's a fourth one but I haven't cut it yet. If you have a Cricut, you can access the templates on Design Space here.  The numbers on each one are the dimensions of the pieces to be cut. I placed the template on top of my card front and adhered the dsp in the openings.

This card was made using her design. I made my own dsp by randomly stamping with my new Lucky You stamp set; the sentiment is from Hello Beautiful. (I see that the top strip is a little bit off from the others.  I always say that in card making there are no mistakes, only opportunities.)

This is one variation that I also created. I used an old pack of dsp and stamped the sentiment from Lucky You.

One can never have too many birthday cards, right?

 

There's a "secret" flap on the front for the sender to include a message.

There's also a panel inside the main portion of the card for more message.

I'm entering this in the Sunday Stamps Weekly Challenge #SSC258 using this sketch:

Anticipation - Week 1

It's been a loooonnnnng time since I've posted.  I decided that I really need to get my craft on, so this is the first post of 2019.  (Gee, that's the first time I've written/typed 2019!).

I was participating in a group on Facebook called Make One Christmas Card Every Week Throughout 2019. (Guess I am no longer a member.)  I'm also in a group called Card Making - USA, so that's where I will be posting my cards with the label CMA. This week's theme is Anticipation. My little girl (photo courtesy of Peppermint Perks) is peering through the window.  Is she watching for visitors ... maybe Grandma and Grandpa ... maybe Santa ... maybe watching for the first snowflake of the season?

Check back soon for the next theme!

A lunch bag turns into a card!

I created this card from a paper lunch bag!  I had no idea what I would do with it.  When I put the finishing touches on it, however, I realized that it would be a perfect gift for sister.  I even slipped a Michael's gift card in one of the pockets for her to treat herself.

I am entering this into Simon Says Stamp's Anything Goes Wednesday Challenge.  EDIT:  I clicked on the wrong picture for the thumbnail for the link, and I cannot change it.  My apologies for the incorrect photo.

Enjoy the video tour below:

Happy Birthday to ?

I have been wanting Anna Griffin's Fantastic Flip Cards Cricut cartridge for a long time.  This morning, I decided to plop down my money (okay, my credit card); now it's mine!

This card is my second attempt.  It only took about six hours.  Hopefully practice will shorten the production time!

Happy Birthday, Becca

I made this card for our daughter-in-law's birthday earlier this week.  I am still loving the Simon Says Stamp card kit that I bought way back in October.

Thinking of You

Yikes! This photo did not turn out very well.  I can assure you that the card is so much prettier in person.  Unfortunately, I had to get it out in the mail asap, so I didn't have the card available to take a better shot.

I love the color combination (weathered wood, rusty hinge and gathered twigs along with mowed lawn for the stamping).  I am so glad that I purchased a MISTI ... that stamping of the thinking of you would never have happened prior to having it.  Isn't that butterfly beautiful?  It's a Cheery Lynn Design, and I smooshed some copper ink over top.  I love those wildflowers; sister sent the dies to me a while ago, and I've used them several times.

Happy Birthday

I am really loving the Mojo Monday Sketch #458.  I even posted a card yesterday!  

I didn't follow the sketch exactly as it is shown, but that's okay!  Now this is in my stash, ready to send to my friend for her May 2 birthday.

Gone to the Beach

It's Monday, and that means it's time for a new Mojo Monday sketch!  I played around with the sketch and some of my designer papers that are in my stash.  We live about 5 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and every summer my teacher friends and I meet for a gab session.  I think I will send this card to one of them for her upcoming birthday.  I'm entering this into Mojo Monday 485.

Thinking of You

I was sick for about four weeks ... nothing earth shattering, but I just felt blah. I wasn't even sick enough to miss work; okay, one day, but that was it.

While I was sick, though, I did spend a lot of time looking at blogs and looking at challenges. This weekend, I finally got into my craft space and did some tidying.  That gave me the push to make a card. This card is inspired by CASE(E) this Sketch #209.

Aren't those little flowers just adorable?  They were in a package of many goodies that Sister sent to me for a Christmas present.  I used some Distress Inks to watercolor the design, and then I added a sentiment.  My MISTI tool is fantastic!  I never had much luck with embossing (the stamping part of it, that is), but the MISTI made it possible to restamp to get a good image. The flowers and some splatters with Gold Perfect Pearls added the finishing touch.

Happy Birthday

Here's a quick little card that is going into my birthday card stash.  Can't have too many of them, right?  It's a square card, so I will probably hand deliver it.  The colors are bright and cheerful, and the card is suitable for either a man or a woman.

I used my Cricut to cut out the birthday greeting ...I will definitely use this again and again!

I am entering this into Verve Stamp's December Diva Inspiration Challenge.


 I used the sketch on Viva La Verve Sketches' Holiday Break.

I've got to say that it's really really really difficult to line everything up ... notice how I cheated by lining up with the edges of background paper?

O, Holy night!

In the spirit of trying to put together a stash of Christmas cards for next year, here is another card that I made just today.  It's not like my usual cards in that it is a 5x7 instead of A2 size.  I wanted to have a good-sized picture on the front, and the smaller card wouldn't work.

I am entering this into the following challenge:

Freshly Made Sketches - sketch #268

Thanks

I am really trying to keep up with my cards.  This one is (obviously) intended to be sent to someone showing my appreciation.  I was fortunate to receive numerous Christmas gifts from students, and this will be going to one of them.  

I'm entering this into the Case This Sketch blog's Challenge #202.

JOY

 

So ... it's the day after Christmas, and I didn't send any cards this year.  I've lurked a lot at the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown blog that has a Christmas card challenge for each week of the year.  If I can follow through with it, I will have 52 cards ready for sending next Christmas.  This entry is for the final challenge of 2016:  Pick a Previous 2016 Challenge. I picked the April 2016 Sketch Challenge for my entry.

In addition, I am entering it into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog's Make It Sparkle. 

The semicircle on the side as well as the center circle are cut out of glitter paper, and I used some silver sequins to add to the bling factor.