Happy St. Patrick's Day

It is right around the corner -- I bought some corned beef today for a family dinner next Sunday!  I personally don't care for it too much, but everyone else does!!  Oh, and the mustard  . . . according to my hubby it's all about the mustard.  This is one time he likes to go food shopping -- down the mustard aisle!!  And he picks up about 3 jars of different ones -- Heaven forbid we don't have the meat to mustard ratio correct  :)

Anyway -- about the card.

I used one of those foam shapes they sell for children to decorate.  And I traced it onto some plastic, cut it  out and voila  . . . a home made stencil.  I pulled out all my $1 sets from years ago and puzzle pieced them into the shape.  Before taking off the stencil, I sponged some ink around the edges -- and done!

I'm putting this into the following challenges:

1. One Layer Simplicity - words-words-words.html - you can't use any image stamps --

2. Curtain Call Challenge - LUCKY 

I am thrilled that you selected my card as one of your show stoppers.  Thanks so much!

3. Happy Little Stampers - CAS - sponging

4. Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge - "just a hint of clover"

and last but not least

5. Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - I love their name!  The challenge is:

After looking at the card again, I may go back and add some sequins  . . . gold perhaps, and wink of Stella too.  Every card needs something shiny!

Happy Saint Patrick's day to you.  May you always have good luck!

Happy Birthday swirls

I signed up for Clean and Simple online card class.  

Karolyn Loncon  taught this pretty rest technique called Velveteen stamping with with pigment ink - then you stamp over it with hybrid ink -- I used dye ink, which still came out ok.You can see the swirl stamped image a bit better in this photo:

All stamps are from Paper Trey Ink, except the background stamp.  

I am putting this into the following challenges:

1. Just Us Girls where the focal point is the sentiment:

2. Monday Mood Board - I love the colors in the top right photo -- and I have a snow day today -- so I got to play -- perfect for a Monday!

3. Seize the Birthday anything goes:

I am putting this into the following galleries:

1. Paper Trey Ink February Inspirations - My design is after the sketch in the center of this image:

2. Clean and Simple Card Class - day 3

as always, thanks for looking.  I hope your winter day is enjoyable!

Happy Birthday -- balloons

1. One Layer Simplicity - "Attractive Opposites"  - my opposites are the rectangular shape filled with the oval balloons -- Also the small print "happy"  and the large cursive "birthday

2. CAS(E) this Sketch 104

3. NBUS Challenge #3 - hosted by Darnell at D J Kardkreations.  I've enjoyed following Darnell's blog for several years now. I am sure you will enjoy it too!

4. Seize the Birthday - the "topping" is "PARTY" -- balloons are certainly needed for a party!

The original concept for this card design came from Susan R at Simplicity.  She made this beautiful card.  Susan always gives great design tips.  

I also used this layout on two other cards that can be seen HERE .  I just looked at Susan's blog again... she has also used this design again-- take a look HERE.  

The balloon stamps are from PaperTrey Ink -- except the bows and "birthday" - I think are Avery Elle.

Christmas vacation is over.  Back to work today.  Luckily I really like my job.  Teaching life science to a bunch of 11 year olds is a hoot!  

As always, thanks for looking and your comments!  I hope you are having fun at your job too. 

Thank You Holly and Snowflakes

I need several thank you cards for the holidays.  Then I saw this post by Susan Rahlia with this so "simple" yet beautiful card.

I put "simple" in quotes, because Susan makes her cards look so easy to create, that I just had to try this design.  I, on the other hand spent much time trying to create my cards, and found that it is not really so simple to get a design looking the way I envision it.  

I am happy with the way it turned out.  More importantly, I had a fun time in my craft room playing around with this.  

I am putting both cards in CAS(E) this Sketch

And both are going into Clean and Simple on Sunday - theme of Christmas

Both are also going to Holly Jolly Christmas - Merry Christmas Once Again challenge.




The Holly card is using the colors from Creative Colors

And the snowflake card is using the colors from Sketchy Colors

The holly stamp is from Hero Arts.  The snowflakes are from assorted stamp sets (most Inkadinkadoo).  I am not sure of the Thank You sentiment.  

Thanks so much for looking.  I am wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.  

You Light up My Life

This is for my darling hubby.  The stamp set is from Sweet and Sassy,  I used the sentiment from the set on the inside of the card.  It is our wedding song, "You Light up My Life".  Boy, that dates us!

The pattern papers are from Stampin Up.  I use the hill border die cut from Simon Says Stamp.  I colored the snowman with a combo of regular markers, colics, and stickles (for the lights).  I used the falling snow stencil from Simon Says Stamp, colored the embossing paste with a small bit of reindeer.  

I am putting this into the following challenges:

1. CAS on Sunday - Christmas - 
2. Addicted to Stamps - Anything goes with a twist of LOVE - since this is for hubby with our wedding song, I think it fits the twist too!  :)
3. CASology -  where the cue is LIGHT -- 
4. Techno Stamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch 
5. Simon Says Stamp   - Winter Inspiration 
6. Love To Create - Icy Winter Days

Thanks so much for looking.  I hope you enjoy this.  And have a great holiday!

Merry Christmas

I made this for my Xmas cards this year -- 54 of them!

The tree is from Stampin Up.  I stamped the first one, them just covered the bottom and stamped again to get the smaller lighter tree.  I cut some scrap paper into hill shape, and sponged the snowy hills -- I used the technique demonstrated by Gina K on Stamp TV.

I then used the Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow stencil with Aleene's Glitter Snow paste -- which gives a nice bit of glitz to the snow.  I few drops of red from Viva Decor, and a bit of red pattern paper; and it's done!

I'm putting this into the following challenges:

1. Merry Monday - Winter Wonderland
2. CASology - cue card: Snow
   
   
   3. Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
   4. Creative Colors
     
   5. Love to Create - create a scene
   6. Crafty Sentiments - Winter Challenge
   
   
   Thanks so much for looking.  I hope you are having a good holiday.  

1st Christmas

Back story:  This is for my great-nephew, Caleb.  He has a hard beginning in his little life.  He was born very premature, at 24 weeks gestation - only a pound a half.  He spent the first 5 months of his life in the NICU, under great care of nurses and doctors.  

He is home now, and doing well.  He weighs in at 9 1/2 pounds.  Still on oxygen, but starting to do real new baby things.  His "corrected" age is about 3 months old.  

2 months old - and now

The card details:  

I used the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch - I like the tilted designs -- it adds a lot of interest 

I am also putting this in Crafty Hazlenuts Pattern Paper Challenge and her Anything Goes Christmas Challenge

The stamp is from W Plus 9 and the pattern paper is from SEI. 

I am also putting this in the following challenges: 

• The Male Room - Christmas card for a male -- Caleb is all boy!!
• Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge -- Anything Goes

Here is a pix of Caleb going out shopping for his first Xmas tree:

Don't you just love the hat, the blue eyes, and those pinch-able cheeks?

Thanks so much for looking.  Have a very Happy Holiday!