colourQ challenge #109...

One day later...added the wee fish, tweaked the oyster a bit and added a star fish!

                                                             

A fun card for today's challenge.  Indigo Blue made me think of ocean, so this is what I came up with!

The clam is made from my scallop circle punch.  I would have liked it to be just a wee bit smaller but this was the only size I had.  The pearl is four - 1/2" circles glued together and then covered with Frost White All Purpose Liquid Ink (Stampin Up)....looks like a real pearl!  The fish are all made out of circle and heart punches.  The scales on the fish are from a wee banner punch that I had - how perfect are they?

I covered the sand at the bottom with a clear sparkle dust just to give it some zing.  The waves are from my new MFT Large Scallop Die (love it!).  Card base is Soft Suede.  The sentiment (although a bit cheesy!!!) is computer generated.

Here is the link if you would like to play along:

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2011/11/colourq-challenge-109.html

Have happy day everyone!



Playing in Paradise #39

A second entry into Playing in Paradise Challenge #39 - Masculine cards or projects! This is a card that I pulled from my stash and is one of my all-time favorite guy cards. I love the different 'masculine' features on this card - the cork mat, the embossing folder, the metal brads, the twine, the stamped image.....

Note: I am having major troubles with Blogger right now so I have switched to the old photo editor (a suggestion I found in the Help section). I really do hope this uploads properly as I already have THREE "where has my photo gone to" issues on the Scrapper's blog. If I have messed up yet again, I apologize and thank you for your patience.


Here is the link if you would like to play along:
http://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com/2011/10/playing-in-paradise-39.html


All supplies are from Stampin' UP!

Playing in Paradise #39 and Textured to Perfection

SANDPAPER = A masculine card with texture!

I just visited the Scrapbooker's Paradise blog and realized that this card is also perfect for their current 'masculine card' challenge.  I originally made the card for the Textured to Perfection challenge at the Moxie Fab World.

The first mat is black sandpaper.  The second 'mottled' layer was achieved by spreading glue on a piece of cardstock, crumpling up some tissue paper and gluing it onto the cardstock.  I then sponged ink on to the tissue, using a metallic pigment ink last to give it a bit of a sheen.  The various circles were cut from sandpaper (different colors and textures) with my nesties and circle punches.

If you would like to play along with the Scrapbooker's Paradise masculine challenge, here is the link:
http://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com/2011/10/playing-in-paradise-39.html

colourQ challenge #108...

What a pretty color combo! "Daffodil Delight" jumped right out at me the minute I saw this so I decided to go with a flower themed card.  However, the urge to make just one more Halloween card was definitely there!

I used my SU textured paper (hard to see in the photo) as the colors just seem that wee bit more intense!  My new dies just arrived from MFT so this was an opportune time to put them to use.  The sentiment (the only white color in my project) is from an old SU rub-on set "Love and Happiness". 

Again, I went for clean & simple.  I'm beginning to think that I might just be defining my style more and more with each passing challenge.

This is a great color combo, so please play along at CQ at the following link:

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2011/10/colourq-challenge-108.html

Hope everyone has a happy day!

CFC25: CAS-ual Fridays, The Clean And Simple Challenge! and 2011 October Papertrey Blog Hop Challenge



I am entering this card in two challenges, both listed above.

Normally when doing a spotlight technique, the larger image is left uncolored, however, I wanted to highlight the colored pumpkins so I reversed the process and left the inset inchie uncolored! 

I stamped the pumpkin cluster on watercolour paper (it is hard to see in the photo).  I love the texture that this paper gives an image. The pumpkin cluster is a combination of two different stamps. I used the masking technique to create the image that I wanted. 

The pumpkins were colored with Copics.  I kept the rest of the card relatively simple to keep the focus on the colored image!  A small stamped sentiment and the card was complete. 

If you would like to play along at CAS-ual Fridays with this week's sponsor being Clear and Simple Stamps, just click on the link below:
http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2011/10/cfc25.html

colourQ challenge #107...

         

.

What a great Halloween combo! I wanted to keep this card very clean and simple so I focused on two main colors - Lucky Limeade & Rich Razzleberry.  I used my Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write marker to color in the socks. 

The boots were originally stamped in Early Espresso but they weren't dark enough so I went over them with my Early Espresso Stampin' Writer as well (they actually look black in the photo).  The 'BOO!' sentiment (that I totally LOVE)  is stamped in Early Espresso.  I found this little gem at a garage sale ages ago - origin unknown

I found it difficult to capture the true Limeade color.  My camera kept wanting to give it a yellowish hue.  I finally took the card outside and was happy with the

results.

Visit the ColourQ link below and join in the challenge fun!  

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2011/10/colourq-challenge-107.html

HALLOWEEN rocks!



CFC24: Create a Clean And Simple Halloween project with NO orange. Not even a tiny spot!

 

This card is quite clean and simple but I use the word 'simple' very loosely!Somewhere in my travels I saw a picture of this tree.  Of course, I didn't have a stamp that even closely resembled the tree.....so I photocopied the picture (probably illegal), cut out the tree (believe me it took 4000 hours to cut those branches), traced it onto black cardstock and cut it out AGAIN! 

I also hand cut the grass because once again, I didn't have a grass die cut or  punch.  The moon was punched from Crushed Curry and edged with Riding Hood Red (not orange). I stamped the bat and the sentiment with Stazon ink, ran some Basic Grey paper through an embossing folder and added  a couple of brads.

If you would like to play along with this challenge or if you would like to see the awesome Halloween cards that the design team created, then just click on the link below:

http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2011/10/cfc24.html

colourQ challenge #106...

                                         

This is my second entry into this week's challenge.  For this card I used black for the card base, basic grey for the mat, masked a white frame with post-it-notes and sponged my sunset sky with Tangerine Tango & Crushed Curry.  I wanted the tree and the sentiment to be a nice deep black so I stamped both with Stazon ink. 

I hope this card will "INSPIRE" you to join in the fun challenges at colourQ.  Here is the link to challenge #106:

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2011/10/colourq-challenge-106.html



Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge

A double challenge in The Classroom along with the support of Unity Stamps.

The first is to make certain that you do your self-examinations and schedule a physical/mammogram if you haven't done so yet this year. This first challenge is one that may save your life --- please do it!

The second part of the challenge is to make a blank Thank You note. Please visit The Classroom to find out how you can make a difference to families affected by Cancer.  Here is the link:

http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/2011/10/breast-cancer-awareness-and-challenge-unity-style.html

I kept my card subtle and simple so that the words written inside would be the focal point of this creation.

colourQ challenge #106...

 

Okay, so I cracked myself up when I came up with this caption.....We 'herd" you are moooo-ving !!! 

The inside says "to greener pastures".

I just love this cow stamp and figured that just one cow wasn't enough so I did a bit of masking (love this technique) and created a herd!  I was having trouble finding a spot for Basic Grey so I used my C1 - Cool Grey Copic marker to create a shadow under each cow (I think I might just be pushin' it a bit here!).

I really wanted to try to look beyond Halloween or fall so this is what I came up with.  Hope you like my take on this challenge!

If you would like to play along here is the link to challenge #106:

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2011/10/colourq-challenge-106.html

CFC23 Operation Julie's Smile

                  
                     ....same card, photographed with a different background....

                             

Operation Julie's Smile is a great place to start for my very first CAS-ual Fridays challenge!

Please visit the link below to read about 'the mission to get Julie her smile back' and also to play along with the challenge. 

http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2011/10/cfc23-operation-julies-smile.html

Hopefully, Julie's days will soon be filled with 'Smiles and Laughter"  :)

colourQ challenge #105...

 

 

... oh dear!  Company is arriving shortly, my dear sweet hubby is doing the dusting etc. and I am frantically trying to get my card posted!

Rushing does not pay off!  I really messed up stamping the salutation and didn't have time to redo the card, my poor little birdie looks like he has been sipping some brandy (note the 'lean') and my camera has made my Pear Pizazz look like Old Olive.   I am happy, however, with how the basket worked out. I cut thin strips of choc. chip & black; glued the brown strips onto the black strips and then actually wove the basket, securing the ends behind.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

colourQ's 2nd Birthday CASE a Queen Challenge #104...

My version was cased from a cute card prepared by Cassie Trask show below:

Thanks for the inspiration Cassie!


                               

I hand cut the tree trunk and branches and glued the green boughs (Martha

Stewart Punch) on to the limbs and then added a few rhinestones.  I embossed the snowflakes with Iridescent Ice, added a rub-on sentiment and some baker's twine.

Cardstock is Early Espresso, Old Olive, Pool Party and White (all Stampin' Up).  The embellishments are as close as I could get to Rose Red (I actually colored the brads with my Copic markers to get closer to the required shade).

Supplies:  Stampin' Up, Making Memories, Copic markers, Martha Stewart

Playing in Paradise Challenge #35

Did someone say 'Distressing' ..... I LOVE DISTRESSING!  It is one of my favorite techniques! Something about it, just gives a card a unique look.

I am attaching two photos as one shows the distressing better and the other better reflects the actual colors.

 I wanted this card to look really distressed and old. I was aiming for a stone top "coffin" and achieved this by cutting out my coffin shape, covering it with glue and then literally sprinkling sandbox sand on it.  After it was dry, I sponged on some black ink, gave it a shot of Vellum glue and then finished with a good dose of hairspray! That sand isn't going anywhere! The webs were stamped with Stazon and embossed.

The "mummy" (who is desperately trying to escape the coffin) is made with Stampin' Up taffeta ribbon that was inked and roughed up a bit with a pair of tweezers.  All other embellishments as well as the stamps are from my craft box, origin unknown.

If you would like to play along, plese click on the following link:
http://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com/2011/09/playing-in-paradise-challenge-35.html

Hope you like my spooky card!



colourQ's 2nd Birthday CASE a Queen Challenge #104...

The card I chose to CASE is cQc#74 - Thanks Lindy G for your inspiration!

What a great challenge! My oh my, I had a real tough time trying to choose which card to CASE - they are all so amazing!  However, I am quite the Inchie fan and this card caught my eye so I figured I would give it a whirl.  Christina did a fantastic job on her card, which inspired me even more!

I wanted to try give the card some depth so I started by embossing white cardstock with the Swiss dot folder. I then punched out 1" squares, then punched various shapes within the inchie, then popped the inchie up on to the required colors of cardstock. I used DMC embroidery cotton to make my grid lines. I tried several different embellies in the upper left hand corner but settled for a simple salutation as anything more was just too much! 

All supplies are Stampin Up with the exception of the punches (Walmart, I think) and the DMC cotton.

My post would not be complete without a GRRRRRRRR!!!! Seriously, I took over 100 pictures in every imaginable space in our house AND yard (the neighbors must think I am nutso!) and I had to settle for a 'practise shot' because it was one of the few pictures that showed the details! I am actually showing two photos in an attempt to get a good picture!

Vertical Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World and colourQ challenge #102...

One card....two challenges....again!



Once again, I decided to create one card to qualify for two different challenges. 

 

This is the last of four sketch challenges over in the Moxie Fab World.  Here is the link if you would like to play along - but hurry deadline is Sept 19th:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/08/vertical-sketch-challenge-in-card-ideas.html

(Note that I have turned the sketch upside down)

  

The second challenge is over at colourQ and it is Challenge #102.  An awesome color combination of Poppy Parade, Basic Grey, Certainly Celery & Temptin Turquoise.

Here is the link to play along at ColourQ:
http://colourq.blogspot.com/2011/09/colourq-challenge-102.html

As soon as I flipped the sketch upside down, I immediately saw trees and a highway....

The wee red car is made up of different sizes of punched circles and popped up with dimensionals.  The dotted line on the highway is the punched out sections from a button punch that I have.  The trees are cut from Certainly Celery and stitched with a similar color twine from The Twinery. The salutation is computer generated.

Hope you like my card and happy crafting!

Horizontal Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World and Playing in Paradise: Challenge #32

           
Two challenges.....one card!  

                 






Two challenges ..... one card!

I wanted to play along with both and really didn't have time to make two separate cards so this is what I created to satisfy both challenge rules. 

I love this clean and simple sketch from the Moxie Fab World!  The photo from Scrapbooker's Paradise instantly made me think of an elegant table setting at a wedding, so I wanted to keep my card both elegant and simple! 

Once again, it is hard to tell in the photo but the card base is made from a glossy cream colored cardstock. I used a piece of light cream colored vellum that has thin lines embossed on it.  The pink hearts are also made from glossy textured cardstock.  I pulled out my quelling gadget, cut thin strips of the pink paper and "quelled" my heart.  The sentiment is embossed in silver, although it is hard to see in the photo.

If you would like to play along with the Moxie Fab Challenge please visit the following site:
http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/08/horizontal-sketch-challenge-in-card.html

To join in the Scrapbooker's Paradise Challenge, please click here:
http://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com/2011/09/playing-in-paradise-challenge-32.html

Happy crafting!



Congrats Baby Card

My version of a cute wee baby card that we made at monthly stamp club night. Tweaked it a bit, changed the style and made it my own!

All products are Stampin' Up.

*Playing in Paradise #31*

I didn't really have time to make a new card for this challenge so I dug around in my "stash" of cards and found this one.  It is actually one of my cards that I actually like (I am very critical of my creations)!

Here is the link if you would like to play along:

http://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com/2011/09/playing-in-paradise-31.html

All products are Stampin' Up!

Playing in Paradise Challenge #30 - It's Sketch Time!

Another fun challenge! For some reason, Valentine's Day popped into my head when I saw the sketch.  I also opted for non-traditional colors....just to mix it up a bit.  This is definitely the earliest EVER that I have had my honey's V-day card ready!

Here is the link if you would like to play along:
http://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com/2011/08/playing-in-paradise-challenge-30-its.html

Supplies:  Paper - Stampin' Up; Nestabilities; Stamps - Stampin' Up and unknown (sentiment); Punches - Stampin' Up and Walmart; Ribbon - Stampin' Up

Square Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

This is my card for the second Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  These challenges are a great way to get the mojo flowing!  I lie awake in bed at night trying to come up with new ideas....Sheesh, eh? (Yes, I'm Canadian) LOL

I am in the middle of making a light box/tent to try to get some good quality photos! The photos just don't show the true colors! So, hopefully, within the next day or two things will be brighter....literally :)

Anyway, please play along by visiting the following link:
http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/08/square-sketch-challenge-in-card-ideas.html

Off to make my card for the next round! Ta ta!

Shaped Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

This is the card I created for the Shaped Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  Here is the link if you would like to play along:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/08/shaped-sketch-challenge-in-get-sketchy.html

I used individual punched circles to create the scalloped border.  The "lace" overlay was made by cutting a punched flower in half. The dotted centre circle was punched with my nesties and embossed with the Stampin' Up dots folder. I then punched individual dots from pink and black and glued these over the embossed dots and added thin strips of black to divide the circle into quarters. The centre is a Bow Bunny button embellishment popped up with a dimensionals and has a rhinestone added for some bling. The salutation is embossed and popped up with dimensionals.

Now, I am off to make my cards for the next three challenges.  Please visit Moxie Fab World to join in the fun!

Something Other Than A Card

This is our yard in summer

                                         This is our yard in winter!

Needless to say, I get quite a few more cards made in the winter!

Playing in Paradise Challenge #29 - Paper Punches or Punch Art

Another fun challenge! 

I used four sizes of circle punches (1/8", 1/4", 3/8" & 1/2") to punch out circles from Sookwang Adhesive Sheets.  VERY CAREFULLY, I removed the backing and randomly placed the circles on the scored lines. I used three shades of Martha Stewart glitter to cover the adhesive circles.  I assure you that the "challenge" part was trying to remove the backing paper on the wee circles without ruining the shape! 

This was a very difficult card to photograph!  I had to settle for low lighting so that the score lines would show up, therefore the vibrant colors are quite compromised.  The card is actually in shades of blue/green with the base being Isalnd Indigo (Stampin Up).

Would you like to play along?  Then head on over to Scrapbooker's Paradise to join in the fun!  Just click on the link below and get ready to punch!

ttp://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com/search/label/PPSC

Supplies: Sookwange Adhesive sheets, Fiskars & Stampin Up circle punches, Close to My Heart (white) cardstock; Stampin' Up Island Indigo cardstock; Martha Stewart glitter; Sentiment - Ditto stamps

Playing In Paradise Challenge 27 - Stencils or Templates

Wow! This was a real challenge! After 100 million attempts at getting my nesties lined up, this is what I created.  I started with plain white Close to My Heart paper.  I used a dauber to cover the entire surface with Frost White Shimmer paint.  It is really difficult to see the effect in the photo but it is quite pretty. I laid down my "frame" made with the negative images from my Large Scalloped Square and Large Square (nesties).  Once again, using my dauber, I sponged on Soft Suede ink.  It is quite difficult to keep the color from bleeding under the "stencil" but after several tries, I finally got a nice clean image!  I then stencilled the negative image from my Sizzlits Little Leaves in the frame that I had created. I added a few brown dots, a velum butterfly (also daubed with the Frost White Shimmer paint), and the sentiment (stamped with Stazon Ink).  I wanted my mat to match the frame so I prepared it using the same technique as the frame.  Honestly, this card took 2 evenings to prepare but it was fun and definitely a challenge :)Hope you like my creation!

Supplies:  Spellbinders Nestabilities; Sizzlits Little Leaves and Beautiful Wings; Stampin Up Stamp - Love & Sympathy - Stampin Up; Frost White Shimmer Paint, Paper - Close to My Heart,

Playing in Paradise Challenge 26: Tags, Twine and Buttons

I love using buttons and twine on my projects.  I am hoping that this card will qualify for the "tag" portion of the challenge as I used my Stampin' Up Word Window Tag punch for the sentiment.  I inked and distressed the edges of the crumb cake square (middle of the card) as well as stamped a background image on it. I was aiming for masculine and I think that this card fits the bill!

Supplies:  Stampin' Up Stamps - The Art of Life and Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper - Stampin' Up - Crumb Cake and Early Espresso; Brads - Stampin' Up; Punch - Stampin' Up Word Window Tag Punch; Twine from The Twinery; Patterned Paper - Basil; Button - from my Baba's button box!

Playing In Paradise Challenge #24 - Color Your World

First of all, a big thank-you to Laura and the staff from Scrapbooker's Paradise.  Personally, these challenges not only motivate me but also give me a starting point for a card or project - something that I often struggle with :)

I am slowly learning how to operate my camera so that I can properly photograph my cards (this picture really does not do justice to the shading on the popsicles). I probably need to ask a 5 year old how to do this !!!

To play along and have some summer crafting fun please visit the following link:

http://scrapbookersparadise.blogspot.com/search/label/PPSC

Supplies:  Paper - Stampin' Up and Papertrey Ink; Stamps:  Popsicles - Stampin' Up, Miss Anya Collection, The Greeting Farm; Copic Markers;  Salutation  - Microsoft Works

Playing in Paradise Challenge #22 - Scrapbooker's Paradise

This was the Father's Day card I made for my father-in-law that depicts his favorite shirt - a thread bare, chambray denim shirt with a well worn polka dot hanky.  I used some rough sandpaper on the shirt 'fabric' paying particular attention to the edges.  I worked and worked at distressing the paper "hanky" to get a fabric look with frayed edges.  It is hard to see in the photo but the edges of the hanky as well as the cajun cardstock have both been distressed.  I also used some snaps from my sewing collection that were originally black but I sanded off most of the color to give them a worn look as well.  I hauled out my machine and did the stitching in a denim blue color thread.  What a blast this was!!!

Supplies: Black & Cajun Craze - Stampin Up; Blue "Denim" is Basil, Polka Dot paper - unknown