Shopping my Stash

The new challenge at Simply Create Too is to "shop your stash". I wasn't quite sure what that meant. I even had to ask. Basically, it means using what you have and not buying something new. At least I think that is what they said.

For me, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to use only what I have in in scrap bins. As you can see I have a lot of scraps saved! My cards today were made totally from the scraps in these bins. the only thing I stamped for these cards were the sentiments.

This challenge is the your opportunity to show us at Simply Create Too what you can make with your left overs! So get out your carts and shop your stash!!

Love is in the air

The Christmas stamps have been put away and the Valentine stamps have been taken out. It is a sign that time is moving on. 

Try Stampin' on Tuesday is featuring yet another great sketch to challenge us. The twist is plaid- which I didn't even notice that till this card was done and posted on the TSOT blog. Oh well- the twist is optional. 

I made the main panel first and originally was going to place it on white card stock, but it just didn't look right. it looked ever so much better on the kraft paper. the sweet little mouse was from an old StampinUp set. 

This will be my last challenge at TSOT for a few months. Life and school is really putting a cramp in my creative time. I hope to be back by the summer, when I will have graduated with my BSN.

Please continue to check out the great challenges at TSOT and I will see you all before you know it!

Try a cupcake....

This is a little different then my usual CAS cards, but I felt like using some of my paper scraps today- i have tons! The theme at An Inky Situation is cupcakes. 

The theme at An Inky Situation is cupcakes. I have the best cupcake stamp from Penny Black and knew it would be perfect. I just love the sentiment. It says it all huh? The saying is so old, I have no idea where it came from. Don't you all have stamps like that. They are usually the well loved and inked ones. 

Well I gotta go, I have lots of cooking for my Labor Day Barbecue. 

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.

Halloween Spooks

I have been so caught up in red snowflake Christmas cards, I almost forgot it is Halloween this week.

I always send cards out and since my grand nephew is quite the young man at 11,  I can't send out a cute card. It has to be scary. Enter Tim Holtz's freaky skeleton. I used Julia Stanton's card as an inspiration and I am entering it in the CASE study Challenge #114.  I took some liberties with the horizontal position, but hey isn't that the point. Her card is the jumping off point.

Now I have to showcase my grand niece's card as well. Of course hers is girly, cute and of course PINK! A pink Halloween card, who knew?!!?

The biggest trick we are getting this year, is Hurricane Sandy. It is expected to pummel us tomorrow and Tuesday. I have been to the grocery store, I have my matches, candles, flashlights and water. I guess I am ready as I will be.

It will be good to just hunker down and doing some creating!

If you too are in Sandy's path, be safe!

Meow- you're it!

It's getting closer, 11 days to Spookymis otherwise known as Halloween. So beware the bad elves, ghosts and black cats. 

This is  my last card in the tag you're it series with my friend Julie. So as many of you know, I had to make this card using Julie's last card sent to me as inspiration. Here is her card and  mine together. Can you see the inspiration? It is a great way to use up scraps and is based on this card by Sally Traidman of Hero Arts. 

Here is another version of the same card, more like the original while loved.

It's time to get your black and orange on and start scaring up some Spookymis cards!!