Thursday Challenge at Charisma Cardz- Girly Card

Today was my turn to set the challenge at Charisma Cardz. Being that Mother's day is next weekend, my first idea was to make a card to honor the women in our lives. However, since the majority of the team is in the UK, we switched it up to "girly cards" with an added challenge to add flowers to your card- no cheating and just using flowered patterned paper!!! We also have a super sponsor this week- Digi Stamp Boutique. I chose this image of the flowered cupcake and did some paper piecing on it. Really like how this turned out. I am so not into using the copics- find them hard and intimidating. Some people do a wowser of a job on their coloring images. But me, no thank you- like the quick and simple! LOL!



recipe: CTMH emporium papers, Digi stamp Flowered Cupcake, satin ribbon, button, glitter all miscellaneous. Paper flowers and leaves from my flower bag.

Quote challenge

The challenge for this week at charisma cardz was to make a project with a quote on it. I have a few stamp sets with sayings, but realized very quickly that they weren't really a quote...... This cards uses all CTMH papers- love the olive and purple together. The stamped sentiment (ha! won't commit to it being a quote or saying...!LOL!) is from Stampin' UP.

totally out of my comfort zone....

I am learning that blogging can be addictive. Time consuming. Blathering on about nothing and everything. I am finding that I am not much of a conversationalist on this computer. Don't get me wrong, I love love love to talk. That is to someone that can talk back and laugh at me! So, those of you that do this daily, my question is .... how do you keep people interested in reading? I guess not liking to write papers in college, it carries over to not liking to write here. I don't keep a journal, I never aspired to want to write a book. I tend to write things direct and to the point. After all, when you visit, you could care less about my daily grind, you are here to see my project. What products did I use and did I do a fun new technique. So, since you are here for this card, I won't keep you in suspense any longer and give you the deets:

I used the sketch at a new site to me: Pals Paper Arts #38
Crafty Card Makers: to challenge yourself I challenged myself to 1) using rubons which I hate to do. I bought these whimsy rubons last summer on clearance at AC Moore and swore I could do something cutesy. Today I found them cleaning for a flea market. I think I like how this turned out- very bright. It also challenged me to use really really bright bold colors- I tend to use softer colors. So, another blog challenge was The Wildflowers Patch: to use 3 punches (see the fiskars lace punch I did 4 times..? and to use bold colors. And Cute Card Thursday was to make a project "touchy feely" texture: satin ribbon, glitter rubons that are cool and smooth to the touch, and the punches .

All in all, I am surprised at this card. Even hubby made a comment about it being cute and very very different (he is my gauge when I am not sure of something....he is direct and truthful, sometimes to the point of driving the proverbial knife in my heart...LOL!!!)

have a great evening!

simple and elegant

These cards were the favorites from my last workshop. Surprise me! Simple yet elegant. The girls made up every kit I had prepared!
I am also entering these into the CAS-tastic Challenge blog for the design team call. Anything goes that is clean and simple!

The stamps I used are from Close To My Heart, misc ribbons from Tuesday Morning (wrapping paper section), pearls and paper flower from Michael's. Martha Stewart butterfly punch and fiskars apron punch, scallop scissors, dew drops and glitter finish off these cards.

I hope that you are inspired to make some simple and elegant cards for your stash.

Pretty in Pink

I found myself in a pink mood today. Last night I made some cards and left out these Anna Griffin papers on the table. Instead of putting them away, I created 5 more cards today with them! Productive, yes, and now I can say that I am glad that they are gone! LOL! Too much of a good thing I think....!

I am also going to enter these into the new site CAS-tasticchallenges.blog. This is a new site I found today and they are doing a design team call. Why not- I love challenges! Hope they like my style!

I used the sketch on Card Patterns # 59 for the starting point on both of these cards. Funny how a sketch can be interpreted in so many unique ways! Also for the ABC- Challenge: sparkle- lots of glitter and dew drops on these cards!! Hubby even gave the seal of approval on these!!

recipe: Anna Griffin papers, cricut George to cut the ovals and circles, Inkadinkado and CTMH floral stamps, prima flowers, prisma glitter, dew drops, lace and ribbon from Joann fabrics, fiskars scallop punch. Sentiments from SU- whimsical words (I just love this new set I got!!!)

challenges

I finally had the courage to play along with a new site The Shabby Tea Room. The guests on there really intimidate me with their creativity, but when I saw this weeks challenge, I knew the perfect papers to play with . These grays are from an older Anna Griffin line and the sketch was to use lots of squares and a quilt photo for inspiration. The card has lots of layers, all using 3d foam dots. The beautiful satin ribbon came from Aerie (a clothing store by american eagle and when you make a purchase, they tie your bag up- great way to recycle!) It also meets a few other challenges: Cute card thursday: monochromatic, Stampin for the weekend: ribbons and bows, OUr creative corner: bows, totally gorjuss: create texture (satin ribbon, 3d, pearls, embossing), corrosive challenge: texture and the cuttlebug spot: add bling!

This card was so much fun to make! I love vintage and shabby! I purchased this new ribbon from an etsy seller and adore it! it is tea dyed and crinkled- very vintage looking! The card was inspired by the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You on monday. Again, older Anna Griffin papers, new SU! sentiment, prima vintage flower, and ink distressed. All meets the challenges for the above sites.

Finally, this card used the remaining scraps from above card. My nieces b'day is this week and I needed an appropriate preteen card. I used the bonus sketch at 2S4Y which helped me out alot! I love this satin ribbon with cupcakes all over it- a bargain from Joann Fabrics by Debbie Mumm.
challenge also for tuesday morning sketches: soft hues, flowers and ribbons , and creative crew card: happy birthday!
Thanks for visiting today!

Mellow Yellow kind of mood....

I found myself playing with yellow yesterday. I am home recovering from some minor surgery and can't do much bending or lifting. I am rewarding myself by playing in my craft area. Anesthesia gives me insomnia, so I love the quiet of the house in the middle of the night when I can work with no guilt, no noise, and stupid television...LOL!

I bought these card bases on clearance, but they are in pastel colors. Didn't think I would have that hard of a time using them, but.... came across a blog challenge to use the colors pink, yellow and green. Viola! Perfect use of the bases!

All stamps and inks used are from Close to My Heart, K*Co card bases, misc scraps of papers, ribbons, buttons, glitter.

The top card, Kristen inspired me to make my own paper flowers. I found a tutorial on Bobunny's website- use a 3" circle and cut into a spiral. Starting from the middle, tighten back into a circle and glue down onto a 1" circle (this is the hard part to hold the circle down for the glue to dry...) Added glitter and pearls to the middles. I kinda like the look- not sure how many of these I will do.

Challenges:
Stampin for the Weekend: ribbons and bows
Our Creative Corner: bows
Raise the Bar: flowers
Sugar Creek Hollow: sketch for the top card
totally Gorjuss: create texture
Daring CArdmakers: if the shoe fits
Jffstamps: pink yellow and green
ssds challenges: create a birthday card
delightful sketches: buttons and bling

corrosive challenges: add textures

April showers bring May flowers...

I have been playing with some old supplies (though is there anyone amongst us that doesn't hoard stash??) and came across this very old CTMH stamp set, which I think I have had for 5 years now! I still love it! So, catching my sisters blog the other day (Kristen Swain), she challenged herself to going outside of her comfort color box and made some great purple and green cards.....see the sibling rivalry thing happening???

I had to make some of my own purple and green cards..... Green is one of my fave colors, but purple is not a color I gravitate to. I like it, but find it hard to work with. Even the camera changes the hue of it.

This card was made for a workshop that I am hired to run at the end of the month. The hostess stumped me by asking for teacher thank you's, however, not all of the ladies attending have children so I had to make a card that would work for anything. So, searching online, I came acrossed a set of cards made by Dani Reid (http://www.dannisdoodles.typepad.com/) and made a card inspired by her black and red cards. I typed up the sayings on the computer: you are a wise old owl and you are the wisest teacher of them all. I think all of the guests will be happy with this one. I also used a real twig for the owl (we had a terrible storm a few weeks ago and the yards are still a mess making this an easy job to find a stick!!LOL!)

Challenges entered:

Raise the Bar Challenge: #13, Lets Hear It for Spring (make a spring card)
Delightful Sketches: Buttons and Bling

KLSNS blog: use organic material (twig with owl!)

our creative corner: bows!

stamp in for the weekend: use ribbons and bows on your project (I also used 3 stamps, 3 rhinestones, buttons, ribbon as embellies however, no charm....
Design Dollies: use flowers (hence the title April showers bring May flowers)

stamp scrap and doodle saturdays: create a birthday card

totally gorjuss: #25 challenge, to add texture to card (see owl card)

moxie fab challenge

This weeks Moxie Fab challenge is to use the sketch with a quote bubble. Everytime I look at this card, it really does crack me up! Usually it is listening to some of my friends chatting about our hubbies (which we really do love) but they happen to be driving us crazy at the moment....

paper: MM Sabrina line, prima flower, misc button. Black and white plain cardstock CTMH, Bella Stamp and sentiment Clear Studio G stamp. markers and black ink finish off the card.

Thank You Challenge!

I love this weeks challenge at Charisma Cardz- thank you! I found this fabulous stamp at Michael's last week for....(drum roll) 50cents! Good for me being frugal that I am! The journal jot is a stamp from Martha Stewart, paper is K&C0 line, misc green satin from Joann fabrics, MS butterfly punch, pearls are wedding clearance, Foof-a-la button, waxy flax.

I am so happy with the final outcome. I have so much to be thankful for, namely a group of friends that will stand by me through thick and thin. When I send this card to one of them, I hope it conveys my gratitude for their friendship. Thanks for stopping by! I am grateful for your patronage and hope that YOU find some inspiration amongst my creations!

changing up a sketch a bit

Before I begin, US is hosting a fun blog hop this weekend! You can go on a Treasure Hunt! You must start at US and then go to the participating designers, find their project based on their clue, write them down and when you are finished email the moderator with your names/projects and you could be the grand prize winner! Fun? Get going! In my label" Unscripted" is where you will find my treasure. Here is my clue:

To find me, read all of the clues

in my project you won't find any blues

red, brown, and green are chosen

and the prop is ice frozen......

This weeks sketch was a lot of fun (but then again, aren't they all?). I am in the mood to purge old paper packs and gave myself a goal that each day I am to use up whichever set I pull out. Since Easter is upon us, I wanted to create some religious cards for my church. God has given all of us certain gifts which we are to use to further His Kingdom. Using creativity to my best ability, I like to give back and the church sends them to "shut-ins", those sick or in crisis, or really to anyone that is hurting. I was able to make 10 notecards in a hour this morning to take with me on Sunday. I think Judy will be pleasantly surprised!

If you notice the front 2 cards, they use the same sketch- just varied it up a bit. The same- 2 panels 2x5". Varied is how I did the "triangle" piece.

How can you vary up the sketch at Unscripted Sketches this week? Don't forget that we will now be picking our top 3 and sometimes a design team member will be offering up a prize!

recipe: Basic Grey Wisteria line, black ink from Close to My Heart, Purple cardstock CTMH, and the stamps I won from a contest....

Life is Ruff!

Charisma Cardz designer Allison threw us a challenge this week to make a project : Animal Magic! I only have a few "animals"....besides the kiddos!LOL!....so not having used this dog stamp set in a while, I pulled it out along with these great pet paper scraps and created a cutesy card for a friend.

The papers are scraps Kris passed on, the sketch I followed from Friday Sketches (from 2 weeks ago), and the stamp set is from Close to My Heart. Not much explanation needed here, simple card that explains itself.

Now, if only I knew what friend I could send this to without them thinking that I am "calling" them a dog...........