Unscripted Sketches #165

Wow - did you see last week's entries?  The submissions were amazing!   It is so exciting to see more and more entries into our weekly sketches. I marvel at the clever interpretations that I see each week.  We would love to have you pass on our challenge information to your crafting friends and invite them to play along as well.

Now, what is this card intended to be you ask?  It is a clipboard with one of those big bulldog type clips at the top!  In hindsight, I should probably have made the top piece a bit narrower and only used two "rivets" (eyelets) instead of three.  Let's just say that this is one of those heavy duty clips!

As soon as I saw this sketch, this was the first idea that popped into my head and try as I may, I just couldn't get past it.  I chose a nice bright background paper but almost to no avail as my "note/list" covers it up!

The "list" was done on my computer (because who has stamps with words like that?).  I feel like I am cheating though when I use computer generated font.  Actual stamping just seems more crafty.

I am sure that these next several weeks are going to be "summer time busy" for everyone (me included) but if you have a rainy day and nothing else to do, create a project and link it up at Unscripted Sketches.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Happy crafting!

Play Date Cafe Challenge #137

How is this for a snappy color combo?

This is actually my first time playing along with a Play Date Cafe Challenge.   I see so many beautiful entries to their challenges while I am touring my favorite blogs but have never found the time to play along. 

... until today when I visited Lisa's blog (I'm in Haven) and was so inspired by her amazing card.  I decided that the yard work can wait until tomorrow as I had more important things to do.

Alas, my hands were working faster than my brain!  It was one of those 'Aha moments' when I realized  that the color blue is intended as a splash of color.  Well my splash is pretty much the whole gallon!

Head on over to their blog and join in on all the fun!

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketch #164

Happy Saturday everyone! I'm so glad you stopped by.

.... ya think I just got some of my new SU supplies?  Yup!  This adorable stamp (from the new catty) was #1 on my list of "Need to Have" stamps.  I used Copics to color this sweet image.  I do want to try using some fun colors for the animals (like pink elephants, blue lions etc) next time round.  I love the 'congratulations' sentiment - wavy like the ocean with a really cool font!

The blue cloud sky paper has been in my stash for ages.  It works perfectly with the Tempting Turquoise card stock and the 'ocean' theme. The popped up clouds are MFT dies, sponged with a couple of different shades of blue. 

The sun is finally shining here so it is going to be HARD to play indoors in my craft room instead of outside in the yard.  I do hope you can find some time to play along with us this week. Just click here link.

Happy crafting!

OLW92: On the Edge

.... just a quick post to upload my card for the One Layer Wednesday challenge.  This week's challenge is hosted by Susan.

People, you just have to check out Susan's blog  here and read some of her posts!   I can honestly say that there has not been one single post that I have not laughed out loud .... I quite often scare the scrap out of my cats who are usually busy snoozing on my computer desk!

Susan has a gift.  Her ability/talent to put to paper what her brain conjures up, in an unbelievable entertaining way, is always my daily dose of laughter! Thanks Susan!

I have been on a grad card kick using the famous Dr. Seuss poem "Oh, the places you'll go..." and figured that this wee ladybug and her tracks work for this challenge.....close to the edge, not over!  Kind of reflects the graduate's path in life where it sometimes takes a bit of time to head down the straight & narrow.  Seriously though, how boring is that ?  Did I say that out loud?

Thanks for visiting today and happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #163

...well, this is it!  I have to say that I am not at all happy with the way my card turned out.  The sketch is awesome, but I just couldn't find something that appealed to me (I'm sure I wasted at least 1/2 dozen sheets of vellum trying different ideas). 

This is one of those cards that I know I could have done better.  I really do love the image though. If time (or lack thereof) wouldn't have been an issue, this card definitely would have been a redo!

I embossed the tree on vellum with bronze embossing powder (that is probably as old as I am).  The image looked a bit drab so I mounted the vellum on a piece of ivory card stock which really made the image stand out.  Used some no name card stock and my square nesties.

I am looking forward to seeing what everyone creates this week.  I really do enjoy visiting your blogs.  Just click to link up here.

Happy crafting!

CFC56: Create a Clean And Simple project using polka dots.

Polka dots rock!  Truly they do.

I am sure that I was born with some sort of  polka dot homing device! Whether it is fabric, clothing, paper, decorations....I'm drawn to them like a moth to a light bulb (actually I hate moths so let's change that to a fly to honey).  And, my dad actually played in a band called "The Polka Kings" when I was younger!

I was blog stalking some of my favorite designers when I came upon Lisa's sweet card  here.  Not a doubt in my mind at all.  I had to play along with this challenge.

I bought this SU stamp set quite a while ago (notice the polka dots on the mushrooms) but didn't really have an opportunity to use it prior to this.  I think that it is one of those stamps that borders the 'juvenile' age category...or maybe the 'hippie' era (we all know what they did with mushrooms !!!)

The mushrooms were stamped with black Stazon and then embossed with clear embossing powder (for a nice deep black color).  The sentiment is a rub-on (origin unknown).  Polka dot paper is also from origin unknown scrap pile.

Hop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog here and check out the plethora of dotty creations posted by the amazing DT.  This is one of the busiest challenge sites around.  Tons of talent, tons of inspiration!

Happy crafting!

Colour! Challenge #140 - Finished Product

ColourQ DT - Thanks for choosing my card as one of the Courtiers  :)

... just an quick update to my ColourQ post from yesterday

I left the bottom panel on the card face empty so that I could add a sentiment as the need arose.  So just this morning, I remembered that I needed a thank you card for our paper carrier!

So this is the finished product!

ColourQ Challenge #140

....... Phew!  (insert brow wipe here)  Made it just in time!

Of course, it was 11:30pm last night when I decided that I loved this color combo and wanted to play along. At 2:30am I figured it was best to finish this card in the morning as things began to get really fuzzy!  Two cups of coffee wasn't quite cutting it!

I purposely left the bottom a bit bigger so that I can stamp a sentiment in the bottom right hand corner.  The center of the flowers are punched from some cute patterned paper that I had that actually matched all the colors.  Struggled a bit with where to put Island Indigo so opted for the wee peak of it above and below the white panel.  Used embroidery cotton for the stems of the flowers.  

Pretty much everything is popped up using those "oh-so-cute and tiny" micro POP DOTS (All Night Media).  Seriously folks, if you don't have these, you really have to hunt them down.

Hope you all have a happy crafting weekend.  The sun is finally shining so I am off to play outside. Thanks for stopping by :)

Unscripted Sketch #162

Love this sketch ... again!  I am sure you are all tired of hearing me say that but I am so thankful for people that can kick start my card making process.  Otherwise, I sit for hours at my desk, trapped in a creative slump stupor, trying to come up with ideas!


Hmmmm....... just realized that there is absolutely no stamping whatsoever on this card (the 'Just Because' is an old Stampin' Up rub-on).


You may have guessed that my Tasteful Trims die was just delivered (SU as well).  I put the ric-rac portion to use on this card.  I die cut two rectangles out of Craft-a-board, covered them with black paper, pieced the ric-rac strips on top and then popped them up with dimensionals.  


The cool little buckle is actually a button that I spray painted black, threaded the SU ribbon through, and added a bit of bling.  The colored paper is retired CTMH.   I really do love the vibrancy of their colors.


You know the drill.  Head on over to the  Unscripted Sketches blog, check out what the other design divas have created and then link 'em up!


Thanks for visiting me today!  Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #161

Welcome back! Hope you're all ready to tackle this awesome sketch!

I masked each portion of the stamped images (the stem and two flowers).  The 'predictable' placement of the image would be the left side of the card....obviously I chose the opposite side.  The image panel is popped up with some SU dimensionals.   Very clean, simple and quick!

The flower stamp is another wooden Studio G stamp from Michael's. Honestly, these $1.50 budget friendly treasures really do stamp remarkably well!  The stems are masked from another set of stamps (can't remember which one!!!).

We would love to have you play along this week.  Stop by the blog, (Unscripted Sketches) and check out the DT creations as well as the amazing cards submitted by all our loyal challengers!

Happy crafting :)

Tuesday Trigger: Man-Tastic at the Moxie Fab World

The inspiration:

.... just a few quick details for now (it is waaaaay past my bedtime)

Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World has an awesome Man-Tastic color combo happening! Check it out people:  Tuesday Trigger: Man-tastic!

Will finish my post tomorrow!

Sympathy Card

A bit of masking, a $1.50 Studio G stamp from Michael's (stamped 3 times), retired Mellow Moss SU ink and a SU sentiment.  Done!

Mellow Moss is such a soothing color - perfect for a sympathy card. 

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #160

.... tons of ideas running through my head with this sketch. 

My color selection was inspired by the colors that Michelle (Amusing Michelle)used on  her card...you have to check this one out!  Thanks Michelle!

I didn't have the exact colors that she used but I think I came close enough (again better in real life).  I tried several different items for the top left corner but everything just seemed to take away from the 'Friend' sentiment, so I settled for three wee blingy rhinestones.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up (old, really old and some new).

Hope you can find time to link up your creations....in between the lawn mowing, flower planting, watering, etc.  Here in Canada, we wait and wait for summer to arrive and although it usually means tons of extra work (yard work) it is all well worth it.  If I find myself feeling overwhelmed from the 'to do' list, all I do is think about the -40 degree weather and I am motivated to keep rolling :)

Click to link:  Unscripted Sketches #160

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #159

This card actually happened by accident!  My intention was to use the MFT flower die on some Sookwang paper that I had adhered to some plain white card stock. I was planning to use the flowers alone on my card.  Well, a funny happened.... 

The die did not cut right through so I was left with the cut outs on the top sticky side only. I removed the backing paper from one flower at a time and burnished in different shades of Martha Stewart sparkled dust.  Then I removed the remainder of the backing paper and did the Dazzling Diamonds glitter background.  The result in a flower inlay, although it is hard to tell in the photo.

The circles (on the sentiment banner) were punched with a hole punch. Try getting backing paper off a piece this small!!! 

The remaining layers have Sookwang on card stock with only the visible areas dusted.

The result - a blingy 'happy' something card and a craft room full of sparkle dust.  I discovered another thing too - the Swiffer duster works beautifully to get sparkles off the hardwood!

So now pop on over to see what the gals at Unscripted Sketches have prepared for you to feast on.  We would love to see your creations.  Just click to link:

Unscripted Sketches

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #158

Another awesome sketch!

To me, however, this card was a challenge within a challenge. 

You may (or may not) have noticed that I love bright colors!  So venturing out into uncomfortable territory (guy card = no pink) is just that - uncomfortable!

I decided that I would be way ahead of the game by making my father-in-law's Father's Day card. Once I chose the colors, the sketch actually came together rather easily. 

I scored the paper, pieced it to create the four quadrants, matted some funky rectangles (CTMH), added the sentiment windows, and popped on a few brads.  Hmmm....might just have to make another while I am in neutral color mode :)

Lots of inspiration posted by the DT so please stop by the US blog, have a peek and share your love of this great craft with us!

Visit us as Unscripted Sketches #158 !

Happy crafting!



CFC51 - CAS-UAL Fridays'

Who doesn't love a birthday party?  Cas-ual Fridays is celebrating their first birthday and they would like everyone to celebrate with them!

There are prizes and there are tons of amazing happy birthday greeting cards that have been posted. 

Click to link your birthday wishes or just stop by & say hello!

CAS-UAL Fridays' CFC51

Unscripted Sketches #157

I have been remiss in not thanking those of you who visit my blog, so thank you for taking the time to do so.  I hope that you are inspired to either play along with the sketch challenges or just craft for your own pleasure.

I must confess that the idea for this card was a result of visiting Cristina's amazing blog  My Paper Secret.  Check it out!

Of course, I did not have the exact stamps, so I improvised.  Had a bit of a tough time trying to find a quote that suited this image but luckily Google came through. I was surprised what appeared when I searched for 'quotes about bird houses'....

We would love to have you play along with our sketches at Unscripted Sketches but if time is tight (especially now that the weather is so nice) and you don't have time to craft, then at least check out what the DT has cooked up this week. 

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #156

Great sketch, eh? (.... oh so Canadian !!!)

I could probably flip this sketch top to bottom and it would probably still 'work' as the tree top or the ground could be the larger rectangle area.  The three birds are intended to represent the other three rectangles of the sketch.

Not much stamping on this card!  Just the wee 'HAPPY' along the oh so cute polka dot tree trunk (don't you just love the polka dots?).  I sparkled up the  birds  a bit with a clear Atyou Spica pen (you can kind of see the shimmer on the top bird). 

The leaves are Sizzlit Little Leaves, the birds are SU Easy Events (stamped and cut out), the tree trunk is hand drawn, and the 'grass' is SU Adorning Accents Edgelit Dies.  At one point, I did have die cut clouds in the 'sky' but decided that it was just too busy.

We would love to have you play along with us at Unscripted Sketches.  The blog is abuzz with activity, excitement, and enthusiasm as the new DT members jump feet first into their new roles.  Stop by, say hello, welcome the new ladies and then show us your stuff!

Click to link:  Unscripted Sketches

Happy crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #155 + Piggyback Challenge

What an awesome challenge! The piggyback portion is to use something recycled so I went green as green can get with this card!

The card base is cut from a cereal box and covered with a used paper bag. You might want to test different boxes as some are a schmick too thick to give a nice crisp fold.

DH makes the best homemade deer jerky around!  He always saves paper bags to store the jerky in.  I snagged one of those bags and used it to cover the card base and now the cats won't stop sniffing the card!  I love the zig zagged edge at the bottom of the card.  Got me thinking about why it is zig-zagged, and the only thing I could come up with is to avoid paper cuts ???  I also used the bag to mat the home-made paper.

The flowers are die cut from a hot coffee cup sleeve from our local (and delicious) Coffee Creations. There was a bit of a waffle weave on the sleeve but unfortunately it flattened out going through my Big Shot.  I inked the edges up with some SU Crumb Cake and Bravo Burgundy.  I think that the flowers almost look like they are made of leather.  Hmmmm ... leather, another possible recylced medium for next time!

I purchased this incredible home-made paper at a craft sale ages ago.  The paper has actual chunks of leaves and thread in it! The texture of this paper is amazingly soft - almost like a fine piece of cheese cloth.  It was so easy to distress the edges as the fibers just pull apart, leaving a softly frayed edge.

I cut a narrow strip of the paper bag, twisted it up tightly, dipped it in some strong tea and then let it dry.  The somewhat sepia tint is beautiful in real life! (Hint - use black tea only. No milk or cream.....tried it, doesn't work!)

This has definitely been my favorite sketch challenge to date! I spent hours trying to come up with something different and discovered some new uses for old pantie hose and used dryer sheets!

So, what are you waiting for?  Head on over to Unscripted Sketches, enjoy a visual feast of yumminess lovingly prepared for you by our awesome DT members and then get busy thinking green!  Just click to link: Unscripted Sketches

Happy green crafting!

Unscripted Sketches #154

... the sketch

Did you hear the news? 

Unscripted Sketches has enlisted the talent of a whole whack of amazing designers who are anxious to get busy wowing you with their amazing creations in their new role as Design Team members!  Seriously, the talent that these ladies bring to Unscripted Sketches is going to rock the crafting world.  Check it out here:  http://unscriptedsketches.com/  and be prepared to be inspired!

Now, about my card....a somewhat belated Easter card that I actually didn't mail until two days ago.  It accompanied a whole bunch of treats and MONEY though, so all is well ! 

I made the eggs by first punching a small oval, cutting the oval in less than half and then pasting it onto a small punched circle.  I covered the joint with decorations.

I hand wove the paper to make the basket, curved it a bit, popped it up with dimensionals, placed the eggs [carefully] inside and outside of the basket, tied a ribbon on the handle, and added a sentiment (should have used a softer color than black for the sentiment).

I love my weekly blog visits to Russia, Canada, Poland, USA, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Portugal, United Kingdom, Denmark .... our cyberworld knows no boundaries and enables us to share our love of this craft.  How exhilarating !!!

Happy crafting!