Monday, April 29, 2013

His and Her Class Day 1





Well this is a bit unusual, me posting on a weeknight, but I was so excited after watching the first couple of videos for the His and Her online card class. I had to get busy and try this cool technique Jennifer Maguire did. She stamped in white and then off set stamped in a tone on tone color, to get a cool masculine card. She used leaves, I went with my chevron stamp. Sorry about the lousy photos, but it is later, and its so grey and rainy out. Believe it or not this card is a more blue then grey.

The first card is clearly the "her" card, but using the same technique except I chose multiple colors fro the flowers and leaves. I embossed the saying. I wasn't sure how well the white ink alone would show up on the yellow card. 

This is a such a great technique and i am gonna be experimenting quite a bit with it!

Thanks Jennifer and Kristine for such a great kick off to this online card class!!







Saturday, April 27, 2013

Flutterbys and Flowers


Sorry for the gap in my postings. As you know from my last post- over a week ago (!!!) I had a bear of a paper to write. I finally finished it last Thursday and can now spend some quality time in my studio.

My friend Judy, started a blog about 6 months ago JN Designs to promote her invitation business. Well she hasn't updated in quite awhile. When I was chiding her about it, she said maybe I am just not a blogger. I looked at her and thought what? Then I realized some people just aren't bloggers. In my opinion bloggers a bit narcissistic. We want people to look at our blogs, we want them to comment on our postings. It validates us. Judy is the most humble person I know. Unlike me it isn't all about her, so yeah she isn't a blogger. It is a shame though, because she has so much creativity to share. 

So back to todays card, yeah it is all about me and the two challenges I am entering my flutterby card in. I am entering this in this week's Fusion challenge and I fused the two challenges.


I am also entering this at the Addicted to CAS challenge featuring flowers. They also have a call out for  new design team members, I am gonna give that a whirl also. Here's hoping!

Thanks for indulging me everyone, because ultimately it is about me :) !

Enjoy your weekend!


Thursday, April 18, 2013

Brewing up a challenge card


I spent my day researching and writing a paper on the leadership qualities of Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates and while it was fascinating, it wasn't how I wanted to spend my day off from work. I finally gave myself a break to put in some time stamping.

I came across this challenge over at CAS(E) this Sketch. It was just simple enough for me to work something out in the half hour I had to play. I ran through several ideas but this one just stuck. I have a friend who I often meet for lattes. What a fun birthday card this will make for her!


This was the sketch. Just think of the possibilities when I have more time. Head over to CAS(E) this sketch and see what the designers and others did.




Monday, April 15, 2013

You are my Sunshine


This is my last day of vacation, boooo hooooo...... I could so be a stay at home girl. I wouldn't get bored ever!!!

Saturday several of us took a road trip to Allentown for the Heirloom Rubber Stamp Convention. I have been attending this convention for at least 10 years or more. Sadly each year he becomes a little bit smaller. While it there was at least 2 less vendors then last year, a big discovery for me was Sweet and Sassy Stamps. What fun images and great samples. 

Plus a FREE make and take. Nothing ticks me off more then a make and take that you have to pay for. The whole point of a make and take is to sell product not to sell the sample. If you have to charge for a make and take it probably is to complicated. I did the SAS make and take and yes I did buy the stamp set!

The card today features the stamp set from Sweet and Sassy, Happy Place. I am entering this in the sketch challenge at the Sweet Stop blog.

This card makes me happy! It makes me smile! It makes me feel springy!

Have a great day!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Flower Power



Would it be wrong for me to say, thank God for credit cards. We have 2- yes 2 conventions in my area this weekend!! Today I travelled about 30 minutes to attend Scrapbook Expo. I wasn't really expecting a whole lot, was planning on saving my pennies for tomorrow. But- isn't there always a but!!??!! 

Rubbernecker had the best flower stamps and they had a great demo artist. Oooohhhh those demos artist can be so evil.... they can get you to open your wallet faster then a robber with a gun!! 

I had to have everyone of the flowers and I had to get out of the convention so I could go home and play!!

These stamps are perfect for my obsession with perfecting my one layer cards. This week's OLW challenge is to make a tall and thin card. I really dislike tall and thin cards, so I decided to keep it within my comfort zone and envi size and my card is 3 x 5 1/2 inches. I thought I was so brilliant until I saw Ardyth's post for the same challenge! I'd like to think great minds think alike!

Anyway I digress, I created this one layer card set with the sketch poppies set. What fun! 

So here it is after 6 and no dinner for the hubby. Yikes! Gotta go!!

I will let you know how the Heirloom Rubberstamp convention is on Sunday.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Friends Forever



One of my best friends ever has a birthday coming up and I generally use a cute stamp that features two friends together. This year Penny Black filled the needs perfectly. I the short, plump brown haired girl and Jude is the taller thinner blond!

I am making a second entry over at Addicted to CAS for their theme challenge for Friend.


I guess I better get back to the books- a paper on leadership is knocking on my studio door.


Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Color my World

Wow, I am on a roll! Another challenge card. This one is for the "Friend" challenge at Addicted to CAS.

I used a very neglected stamp set from Michaels. The splashes of color totally worked with the sentiment. Plus it is one layer! A bonus in my book.

I made a similar card but a bit more complicated for a friend's birthday.



Here was the inside of the card- totally ripped off from the original! :)



Not sure if I can keep up this pace, so i may take a few days off!



Monday, April 8, 2013

One Layer of Simplicity


Another day, another challenge. I saved this Challenge until the creative juices got flowing. One Layer Wednesday is hosted by a variety of very creative women, who can make the most wonderful cards with only one layer.

As many know, one layer cards are just not my strong point, but I do so love a challenge. This week the OLW challenge is at Ardyth's blog MASKerade. The challenge was to use as many threesomes as you can on your card- three being the magic number in design.

The challenge seemed daunting on a number (three) of levels. But when i was going through my stamps to see what inspired me, I came across this saying from Hero Arts about simplicity. Exactly what the challenge required! Next I searched for the perfect accompanying stamp. The rest is history.

So I have three sets of three- three stamps, three pairs of bamboo, three dragonflies and oh- my bad only two sets of three pearls. Another set might have been too much.

I love the serenity of this card. It reminds me of my Holistic nursing teacher and mentor, Gail. It reminds me to deep breath and relax and all will be good.

I might just have to send it off to Gail, just because.....


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Chevrons and Flowers


I am officially on vacation and while I have a paper to write for school, I had to take time out for some creativity.

Over at CAS-ual Fridays, they are having a challenge  using of all things chevrons and flowers together.


I had some fun with this one. This is actually my second card I made. I am trying to decide if I want to enter the first.

I am also entering at a new challenge site that I discovered Fusion Card Challenge, where the challenge was to fuse a sketch and a photo. Very cool idea!!


I created a green (my favorite color) ombre effect with my copic markers and then die cut my chevrons.  I popped the chevrons up and added some flowers from Hero Arts  and Papertrey Ink. finished with the proverbial gems and there ya have it.

Thanks CAS-ual Friday and Fusion! I would never thought of this card without your prodding.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Spring textures


I love the challenges at Just Add Ink. They always inspire me when I get in creative slump. This week is a photo inspiration challenge.


I kept looking at it, and thinking, wow this is just so fall and wintery feeling. I know it has been a cold spring, but come on, where is the sunshine, budding trees and flowers? As read further I realized my friends at Just Add Ink are Aussies and yeah, it is coming on fall for them.

Well, taking the inspiration and putting on a northern hemisphere spin, I created a card using tulips from Papertrey Ink but I used the colors and textures from the photo.

And ya know what- I created a great card with a masculine spin. I don't think a guy would be offended by the flowers, do you?

I hope my card reminds my down under friends that there is always a little bit of spring even in fall.