Winner!

Congrats to Wendy! She is the winner of my One Year Blog-iversary candy prize!

Lots of goodies coming your way Wendy! Send me your address kbecker (dot) ctmh (at) gmail (dot) com. You have until Thursday or a new winner will be chosen.....

Thanks for entering- Kelly

Vintage Card

I am Sew happy! I received some wonderful goodies in the mail yesterday from Crafty Secrets and had to play! I got this new sewing stamp set and some vintage cardstock die cuts. My morning yesterday found me at a local second hand store where I had a ball!!! I found some old crochet doilies for 25cents (I cut these circles down to fit my card), some satin ribbon (50 yeards for 75cents), old buttons, OLD childrens book that I can cut to my hearts content (35cents each) and even a cute pair of shorts for me!

I used some Wild Asparagus paper, inked in black to add distressing (age), used some seam binding for my ribbon. I love the final look even though I am not crazy about the brown and blues.

I am showcasing this card in the CARDS blog challenge of punny sayings "I am SEW happy we're friends" and also Moxie Fab challenge: Fabric. I think I used fabric in a new way....doilies on my card, seam binding instead of satin ribbon, and the use of busts on the card where you would hang a garment to hem and tuck before final fittings. That could be a bit of a stretch.....hehehe! This card also works for the stamp something challenge of using 2's of things for their 2 year anniversary (2 doilies, 2 patterned papers) and for the Stampin'Sisters in Christ challenge to add Distressing to your card to give a vintage look.

I just love happy days and recycling old stuff. Do you shop a thrift stores? Any good or favorite finds?

Free Friday!

I love Fridays! I give myself the day off- no housework, no laundry, no dinner plans. Just do what I want. Today, hubby off on a business appointment, leaving me with no guilt to play the morning away!

This card is a bit different for me. I typically don't do chipboard, but after seeing the fun things that can be done with it, I opted to try something new. I covered this heart in pink DP, then added lots of "sugary" glitter to it. The bird is from Inkadinkado that I cut out. All pieces are added with foam tape for dimension! I made the flower using seam binding tape that I did a loose stitch and pulled tight, then sewed the ends together making a circle. Quick and easy! Love to make these new flowers (between this type and the tissue paper flowers, my table is covered in blooms!!!)

I am entering this card in a few challenges:
Stamping Sisters in Christ #39: make a joyful noise or something showing music. What better way to celebrate the new spring than to listen to the birds chirping. My youngest wanted to do bird feeders this year and it has been a pleasure to see all of different birds that eat from the feeder. But boy to they make a mess!! seeds are everywhere- find myself yelling at them just like I do the kiddos about eating what is here before giving them more! yikes!

Papertake weekly: say it with flowers. Made my own and the bird has flowers on her belly!
Tuesday Morning Sketches: #46: use your fave color combo and glitter. I love PINK and GREEN together!
Charisma Cardz: #20 3D- the bird and saying on 3d foam tape, then twine and flower add texture and dimension
Stamp Something Challenge: use 2 of something. they are celebrating their 2nd birthday. I have 2 kinds of hemp, 2 types of flowers (stamp and made) and 2 types of curves- apron punch and the heart which add softness to the card with the other hard lines
Stamping 411: loose interpretation of the #151 sketch this week9 use a shape on the front and I used a heart.

Thanks for stopping over today, have a great weekend and enjoy the spring!

Manic Monday- 3 cards, same paper set

I bought some paper a bit ago because, well, I loved the colors of it. No other reason, very different for me, but once I got it.....a new story developed. I had NO idea what to do with them. No mojo, nada. What kind of project could I make? The gray is dark, I don't do much with blue, the prints on the paper were very large......so they sat. And sat. And sat. So, I told myself to make something, anything, that would use up the papers. "Waste not want not" my mom's voice rang in my head. So, pulling out my sketch book and researching some challenges for the week. Here are my creations.This card is based on the sketch over at Friday Sketchers #102. Ironically, I found this covered button in my stash looking for some rhinestones and guess what? It is the perfect match for this set....K&Co Amy Butler "lotus" and the button is by K&Co...how's that for karma? Tissue pattern for the flower, SU! sentiment and lace that I "coffee" dyed to antique it a bit. The black distressed edges really make the layers stand out. Also on Just Scraps, the challenge was to use scraps of GRAY- I was able to make 3 cards and only cut 3 papers, using the left overs to make the additional cards! Still have lots on my table, but I will save them for a rainy day.

This card was made using the Get Sketchy #38 sketch, 365 CArds #73- Tri colored challenge: gray, blue and black- cream being a neutral. And for Stamp Something: celebrate something (always need those birthday cards!) The flower was made using the cricut with decreasing sizes (2",1.5",1" etc...) black grograin, rhinestones, button, hemp...

And this card, is for an older sketch over at Totally Stampalicious. I bought this ribbon on clearance today- it is Anna Griffin wedding satin, precut into 18" lengths, 20 of them for $1.50 - bargain since I can't buy satin ribbon for close to that price! K&Co button on a ribbon flower I made using seam binding. Love IT! Thanks for stopping over today!

Blog Candy Alert: go HERE to see the post and to leave a comment (and see the goodies!)

Happy Saturday and Blog Candy Extension

Here is the photo of some goodies that I have up for grabs for my One Year Blog-iversary! And to celebrate 20K hits! It has been an awesome year! For US residents only please due to increased shipping costs. I have extended the drawing another week to 1) be able to finally show a pic of the goodies and 2) change the link to enter. Leave me a comment here by 5/22 for a chance to win- tell me what new trends are you seeing in the crafting world and how you are going to use them. Entrants must have a valid email address so I can notify you AND you will only have 3 days to get in touch with me or I will choose another winner! Onto my card..........

I am having a workshop in a few weeks showcasing how easy it is to make flowers for your cards! This is a fancy version of the one that we will be making, but I like to have an extra sample so my guests can see the variety of choices they can make when they craft on their own. I used some tissue paper (you know, the good sheets you keep when you receive a present...???) and the paper is Wild Asparagus that I have had since last summer and haven't figured out how to go through this HUGE stack! I am not a big purple fan, but this card works for me! The green has a gray tone which works with the DP paper I chose, rhinestones and dew drops add the extra dimension to this card. I am entering this card in a few challenges this week:

365 cards #73- Tri Colored: use only 3 colors (green, purple and cream)

ABC challenge: U for unused stash (1 year old DP by wild asparagus and the flourish stamp I have had for a few years when they were first popular)

For Fun Challenges: use a stamp no digi (flourish stamp and birthday sentiment)

character cafe #18: recycle and reuse (tissue paper for the flowers)

STamp challenges: to celebrate something (birthday)

scrap and stamp something: ribbon and stamped image

totally gorjuss: round and round (used round punch to make tissue flower, round dew drops, round rhinestones, rounded apron punch for softness....)

supplies: Wild Asparagus paper, tissue paper, fiskars 2" scallop punch, hemp and button, green ribbon from michaels, flourish stamp, green ink and cardstock CTMH, birthday stamp from sweet and sassy, dew drops and rhinestones, MS double apron punch, smokey plum cardstock CTMH

Happy Friday! Dont' forget to enter for some blog candy

I am trying to get a little bit of a start on end of year teacher's gifts. I usually like to write a nice card to show our appreciation for the hard work that they put out teaching and a small gift card to a local ice cream parlour. This year I am opting to put a small pack of greeting cards together. This is one of them.....

For Challenges:
Totally Stampalicious: flower power
CAS-tastic challenges: b'day cards
Belli Challenges: b'day cards
Paper Play Challenges: stamp something and bling (glitter and rhinestones)
Stamp challenge: b'day challenge
Clearly Inspired: may flowers

Supplies: pink cardstock from CTMH, Happy Birthday greeting from CTMH, tulips from the Springtime set CTMH, the white cardstock is scored with a fiskars tool (took out the blade and used a scoring blade- makes it very easy to figure out my lines!), colored in with more CTMH markers, prisma glitter, ribbon from Tuesday Morning and the pink rhinestones from Taylored Expressions.

Blog Candy alert: see here

Wedding Card Challenge

This is my last week designing for Charisma Cardz and I thought I would go out with a bang! Schedules at our home are CRAZY with the kids in sports, traveling hubby, and my own business blooming. This week's challenge was issued by Jan and it was to create a Wedding Card. I made a very similar card for the Shabby Tea Room challenge a few weeks ago, but found this ribbon and these great black rhinestones while cleaning, and well you know, along came another card using these scraps of Anna Griffin paper....!!! I actually was able to sell the original one at a craft show that my sister, Kris, and I participate in. The purchaser was quite impressed with the rather large gray satin bow on it!

Mothers Day Card- challenge crazy/Blog Candy Alert

I love the softness of yellow and when paired with white, to me it is a stunning combination! I scoped out my sisters blog the other day and was reminded of some of the same tools sitting in my cupboard that she pulled out and used: the scallop punch and score tool. Kris makes some amazing cards and I am always inspired by her work. We have different tastes- I love vintage and stamps, she is into graphic designs and she loves to use chipboard and stickers on her cards.

Her yellow card inspired me to make a SIMILAR design for mothers day. Sad thing....I just bought some cards because I wasn't sure I would have the time to make them :( Life of a cardmaker!LOL!

This card uses all scraps from my bin: white 7x6 cut down to fit the 5x7 card. The yellow for the border and rose flower used an old bobunny patterned paper, they were 12x1.5" strips (which I cannot believe I kept!) Rhinestones, satin ribbon, prisma glitter finish off the card. The mothers day sentiment was typed on the computer and cut with my nesties.

Click here for the blog candy information: HERE

Cards Blog challenge: mothers day card

For fun challenges: mom

Crafty cardmakers: distressed (I inked all of my edges with a dark yellow ink to add depth) and I crumpled the edges of the flower to bend the edges back to make it more realistic.

The Pink Elephant: Mommy I love you

Totally Stampalicious: flower power

Ooh-la-la creations challenges: minimalist, white space essential

just scraps: scraps only and shades of yellow

The Shabby Tea Room: Blinged out ( lots and lots of glitter on the flower for shine!!)

Delightful Sketches: use your punches (I used the ek success scallop to make the border and the make the rose flower...!)

Cheers and challenges eclectic ensemble: new challenge, celebrate mothers day

Raise the Bar: mothers day challenge

no time to stamp: mothers day

Teachers Appreciation Day May 11th/ Blog Candy Alert

I am so excited! My sister uploaded a new photo image software program on my 'puter to help with my cards! She walked me through the steps today and this is the final product! I love it! This card is for a teacher that is just incredible this year, just what our second grader needed. Firm, nuturing, and has high expectations for her. DD is thriving- will be sad to see the school year end for her.

The pages are from Websters and Kris made some of these fabulous tissue paper flowers made out of an old pattern. She glittered them and added the mulberry flowers with a button. I printed the sentiment from a site on the computer and printed out. Used a nestibility punch to give an added flair to the card. I took the lace and "coffee" dyed it using instant starbucks sample that I was given recently. It added the perfect vintage look I was looking for. In case you ever want to "tea or coffee" dye some off white/cream or even white lace or seam binding. Heat the water, add the tea (steep for 5 minutes or so for depth of color) then add your product. Check on it every so often for the color that you are looking for. I then folded in a towel to pull off the excess moisture, let sit in the sun for a day to dry. Viola! I have some more stuff to make using the hem binding and lace that I just dyed. My mojo is tearing loose!

Stop by later for more cards! Thank you for visiting! If you leave a comment to tell me that you were here, you can be entered into my give away for some blog candy! US residents only, please due to shipping costs. I have been blogging for just over a year now, have over 20K hits, and made some great new "friends"! So I have lots to celebrate. Winner will be chosen by Random.org on May 15th!
** There will be clear alpha set stamps, flowers, ribbons, other misc goodies. I will try to get a pic uploaded of the goodies......**