Cricut Tree - Mojo145

On Monday night I went to a friend's house to play with her Cricut Expression machine. I only have the original (small!) one so it was fun to see what the bigger one can do and also to play around with some different cartridges. On this card the tree, the green circle and the flourish were cut with the Cricut.

The patterned paper is a new set from Basic Grey called 'Oliver'. I just had to get this set because my 6 year old is named Oliver. He was quite proud when he found out some papers were named after him!

This card is also my interpretation of the Mojo Monday sketch this week :



Hope you are having a great week,



Stamps : SU! Thoughts and Prayers (sentiment)
Paper : PTI (Smokey Shadow and White), Bazzill Basics, Basic Grey Oliver DP
Ink : Memento London Fog
Accessories : Cricut Machine (Serenade Cartridge), Fiskars border punch, white ribbon from ACMoore

Pink Birthday Cake

On Saturday we went to a birthday party for a one year old girl. When I checked my stock of cards all I had were little boy cards, so I used the Taylored Expressions sketch to create this cute little pink one. (Please excuse the dark quality of the photo - I was taking it at the end of the day and could not get the light quite right.)

Here's the sketch I was working from :



Thanks for stopping by!



Stamps : Whipper Snapper (Cake), Inkadinkado (sentiment)
Paper : SU! Melon Mambo, PTI White, DCWV Nanas Kids Stack DP
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories : PrismaColor pencils, Copic Markers, American Crafts number sticker, SU! Scallop border punch, SU! scallop circle punch, White gel pen

Flourishes Sympathy

The supply of sympathy cards is quite low in my box right now so I knew I needed to create some more. I had just purchased a pad of DCWV new Linen Closet patterned paper and wanted to enter the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge from last week, so I put all those things together (sympathy, new paper and a challenge) and this is the result!

I used my SU! markers to add color to the flowering branch but it looked a little plain to start with so I added highlights with darker shades and then finished it off with some tiny pearls for the flower centers.

Have a great Monday!



Stamps : SU! Flowering Branch from Thoughts and Prayers
Paper : PTI White and Ocean Tides, DCWV Linen Closet DP
Ink : SU! Night of Navy
Accessories : SU! Markers, Kaisercraft Pearls, Prima Flower, Spellbinders Label Die

Razzleberry Thankyou Box

This week's tutorial over at Splitcoast Stampers was a cute little favor box using just one sheet of cardstock! If you want to try it out for yourself click for the tutorial and the gallery set aside just for All-in-One box creations.

My sweet little box is made using a regular size sheet of SU! Rich Razzleberry Cardstock and embellished using a Quickutz Swirl embossing folder and white ribbon from Michaels. The stamp on the front tag is from Stampin'Up! and I used SU! markers to add the color.

Hope you have a great weekend,



Stamps : Stampin'Up!
Paper : SU! Rich Razzleberry, PTI White
Accessories : Fiskars Sunburst Border punch, Small scallop border punch, white ribbon from Michaels, SU! Markers

A Happy Heart

Last week at our church VBS the music leaders were always making sure that the children had happy hearts that showed cheerful faces. I knew that I had to use this stamp to create a card for them at the end of the week!

The cheerful paper is Basic Grey's Sugar Rush and the cute little sun stamp is from Whipper Snapper Designs. I wanted to dress the card up a little as the design is fairly basic and so I added my favorite border punch (again! - I'll try and stop using it soon...) and some cute tiny Making Memories buttons.

Hope you have a happy day!



Stamps : Whipper Snapper (Sunshine), Inkyantics (Verse)
Paper : SU! Real Red, PTI White, Basic Grey Sugar Rush DP
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories : PrismaColor pencils, Copic Markers, Making Memories buttons, Fiskars Sunburst Border punch, SU! Basic Black marker

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown Challenge

I am honored today to provide the inspiration sample for the Operation Write Home blog Midweek Throwdown Challenge. Everyone can play along and you get a free digi stamp too! If you have not heard of OWH, please check out their blog to see the wonderful cards that are created and sent to our soldiers serving overseas for them to send back to their family and friends.

The challenge this week on OWH is to create a card using one of the Digital Stamps kindly provided by The Stamping Boutique.

Thanks for dropping in!



Stamps : The Stamping Boutique (Soldier), Stampin'Up! (Sentiment)
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI White, Fancy Pants 'My Family' DP
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories : SU! Small circle punch, PrismaColor pencils, Spellbinders Label Die, Basic Grey Ribbon

Friends and Coffee

Andrea Ewen inspired my card today - check out her beautiful creation on her blog, Ewen Style. I rotated her design 90 degrees and changed all the colors. I had to play with the main image because I didn't have a die similar that I could use.

The papers are from the Basic Grey 'Max and Whiskers' collection. I love the colors in this set but I was having trouble finding a ribbon to match until I came across some EKSuccess 'Adornments' fibers that were at least 6 years old from when I started papercrafting - and right there in the middle was the perfect ribbon that matched the color scheme in every way.... it's amazing what I find in my stash if I just look hard enough!

Thanks for stopping by!



Stamps : Hero Arts (What's Perking?)
Paper : PTI White, SU! Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Max and Whiskers DP
Ink : VersaMagic Chalk ink Jumbo Java, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories : PrismaColor Pencils, Making Memories Antique Brads, EKSuccess Adornments Fibers (ribbon), Fiskars Border punch

Pearlized Flower

Good morning everyone. I hope you all had a great weekend?

My husband and I were out on our anniversary date on Saturday when I came across a wonderful new book by Magenta Stamps that details all kinds of techniques for dressing up papercrafts - of course, I bought the book! The photos are fantastic and I couldn't wait to try some of the ideas. The first one I tried was embossing and using pearlized 'paint' to color in an image. I stamped the flower first in SU! white craft ink and then embossed using clear embossing powder. Then I mixed Ranger Perfect Pearls (in red and purple) with water to create pearlized 'paint' and carefully, using a very thin brush, colored in the flower.


Here's a close up of the pearlized effect :



To create the card base I used SU! cardstock and Deja Views Global Trek patterned paper along with my favorite border punch and some dreamy SU! organdy ribbon.

Enjoy!



Stamps : The Artful Stamper (flower), SU! (sentiment)
Paper : SU! (Basic Black, Red Riding Hood), Deja Views Global Trek DP
Ink : SU! White Craft ink, Basic Black
Accessories : Clear Embossing powder, Ranger Perfect Pearls, Fiskars Border punch, SU! Cream Organdy Ribbon

Mojo Thanks

I tried to post this yesterday, but for some reason Google Blogger was not letting me upload any photos. So here's trying again.......

My patterned paper choice is again from My Mind's Eye 'Sophie' collection - just lovin' this set of papers! The layout is for Mojo Monday (4 days late!!) and I used a cute little SU! stamp for a 'Thank you' sentiment along with my markers instead of ink pads.

Thanks for stopping by!



Stamps : Stampin'Up!
Paper : SU! Rich Razzleberry, PTI White, MME Sophie DP
Accessories : Marvy Large Circle punch, SU! Markers, Pink ribbon from Michaels

Ribbon Flower

This patterned paper called 'Sophie' from My Mind's Eye has become my new favorite. I love the rich purples and mustards with the elegant scroll designs. You'll probably be seeing a lot of this paper in my cards in the near future!

Today in NC there was a thunderstorm brewing and it was very dark and threatening. I had to wait until the clouds had passed to take my photo! I did try to take some photos in the bathroom (!) but the lighting still was not right.

My card design is based on last Saturday's Sketch for You to Try. Here's a look at the sketch :



Hope you are enjoying Wednesday!


Stamps : Verve (Plain Jane Verse from Psalms), Flourish from Technique Tuesday
Paper : SU! Rich Razzleberry, Cream, My Mind's Eye Sophie DP
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black, VersaMagic Chalk Perfect Plumeria
Accessories : KaiserKraft pearls, Cream ribbon, EKSuccess small butterfly and circle punches, small scallop border punch

'Taylored' Hydrangea

A couple of weeks ago we planted a new flower border in our backyard which included a hydrangea. Unfortunately it does not seem to be settling in too well - partly, I think, due to the fact that it is in full sun for most of the day and you are supposed to put them in part-shade! Ah well, this beauty on my card is not going to die on me.....!!

For my layout I used last Friday's Taylored Expressions sketch challenge. Here's a look at the sketch :



Thanks for dropping in!



Stamps : SU! (Sentiment and flower)
Paper : SU! True Thyme, PTI White, K&Co DP
Ink : VersaColor Bamboo, VersaMagic Chalk Pixie Dust and Malted Mauve
Accessories : Basic Grey Ribbon, SU! Scallop Border Punch

Heart to Heart

Here's hoping that my husband does not check my blog before the weekend because this is the card I made him for our wedding anniversary!!

I recently got this new Spellbinders Renaissance (sp?!) die and I'm just loving it! It is so delicate and elegant and goes perfectly with some new papers from Deja Views called Global Trek. Lots of rich chocolates, purples and reds.

Hope you're having a great start to your week!



Stamps : SU! (Sentiment)
Paper : SU! (Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Cream), Deja Views (Global Trek DP)
Ink : SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories : Spellbinders Die, KaiserKraft pearls, Sunburst Border Punch

Cappella Sympathy

Well, I promised that I would post a card today that did not use the Sunburst Border Punch, and....err.... I broke my promise!!! :) The punch goes perfectly with the papers and feel of this card.

My card is for the Stamps R Us blog challenge that has a sketch this month. Check it out and play along - it's open to everyone.

Hope you have a great weekend,



Stamps : SU! (Sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers), Swirl
Paper: SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI White, Basic Grey Cappella DP
Ink : SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories : Fiskars Sunburst Border Punch, Spellbinders Label Die, KaiserKraft Pearls, Marvy Embossing Butterfly punch

Shells and Lace

As you can tell I am loving my new sunburst border punch! I only got it last weekend and I think I've used it on almost every card this week. Check back through my other posts this week and you'll see what I mean!

This card is for the Vive La Verve June contest week 2. I wanted to use the shell from a Hero Arts set that my husband gave me and it blended perfectly with the Bo Bunny paper with a seaside theme that I bought a couple of weeks ago.

I embossed the shell and it looks 'wet' in real life. Here is close up :




I'll try to make a card without the border punch tomorrow - but I can't promise......

Thanks for stopping by!



Stamps : Hero Arts (shell), SU! (Sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers)
Paper : PTI White, Bo Bunny DP
Ink : VersaColor Paprika Pigment Ink, SU! Night of Navy
Accessories : Fiskars Sunburst Border punch, Spellbinders Label Die, SU! Really Rust Marker, Marvy Medium Circle Punch, White ribbon from Michaels

Floral Lemonade

Good Morning everyone!

I had so much fun making this card last night. Of course, I was up late - my mojo seems to hit at 10pm and then I don't go to bed until my card is finished..... :)

This stamp is from an old Stampin'Up! set (can't quite remember the name at the moment) but it is perfect for practicing my coloring skills. I used both Copic Markers and PrismaColors on this image and I love the way it turned out. The patterned paper is from one of my favorite Basic Grey collections - 'Lemonade'. My design is based on the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club June sketch :



Here is a close up of my coloring :



Thanks for stopping by and have a great Wednesday!


Stamps : Stampin'Up!
Paper : SU! Basic Black, PTI White, Basic Grey Lemonade
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Craft White
Accessories : Medium Circle Punch, Cricut Machine (sentiment tag), KaiserKraft bling, Copic Markers and PrismaColor pencils

Masculine Tree

Masculine cards are always a challenge for me. I love to create cards that include butterflies, ribbons, pearls, swirls etc - all the girly stuff, but I need more masculine cards in my stash to send out. After a couple of false starts, this is the result of my creative endeavours over the last day or so. It's also my submission for Mojo Monday (#142). Here is the sketch that I was working from :



I apologize for the dark photo but I took the picture at the end of the day when the sunlight was not in the right position through my kitchen window.

Thanks for dropping in!


Stamps : Verve (Scripture Verse), SU! Tree from Thoughts and Prayers
Paper : TPC Studios Ancestral Collection, SU! Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and Cream
Ink : SU! Close to Cocoa, VersaMagic Chalk ink Jumbo Java
Accessories : Basic Grey ribbon, Marvy circle punch, Fiskars Sunburst Border Punch

Origins Butterfly

I had to laugh when I was choosing the paper for this card. Andrea Ewen is the Guest Designer this month over at Jen's Sketch for You to Try (SFYTT) and she said that when she was choosing papers for this card she closed her eyes and took out the first paper pack that her hands touched. I decided to do the same thing. I closed my eyes, picked up the first paper that I touched..... and it was Origins by Basic Grey - the exact same one that Andrea picked!!!!! We obviously have great taste in paper!

Here's the sketch I was working from :



Hope you're having a good start to the week!



Stamps : Verve Plain Jane
Papers: SU! Basic Black and Cream, Basic Grey Origins DP
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black, VersaMagic Chalk ink (Tea Leaves and Pesto)
Accessories : Fiskars Sunburst Border Punch, Kaiserkraft bling, Marvy Embossing Butterfly punch, SU! Basic Black marker

Be Strong Butterflies

For the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge this week (TESC116) I decided to turn the sketch 90 degrees. I also used a new Verve stamp that came in the mail this week. Julee at Verve is awesome - she only processed the order on Tuesday and I had my stamps by Thursday afternoon!!!

Here is the sketch :



Have a great weekend!


Stamps : Verve
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip and Cream, Basic Grey Nook and Pantry DP
Ink : VersaMagic Chalk Ink Jumbo Java
Accessories : Marvy Medium and Small circle punches, EKSuccess Small butterfly punch, KaiserKraft Pearls, Ribbon from Archivers Hot Spot

What's Perking?

Good Evening everyone! I guess you were all wondering where I'd gone after posting three times yesterday and then nothing all day today....!!!! There is a very good reason though... My husband and I were building floor to ceiling shelveing to hold all my rubber stamps! It took us a few hours this afternoon but now they are complete and look fantastic. As I was organizing all my stamps I kept saying to myself 'oh, I had forgotten about this one'.... and 'hey, I thought I'd lost that one'!! I had a lot of fun 'finding' my stamps again.

My card this evening is for two challenges. Firstly for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge (MTSC76), which I turned 90 degrees to better suit my image and sentiment. Here is the sketch :



And secondly for The Cat's Pajamas Color Challenge #112 :



I colored the coffee pot using a combination of Copic Markers and PrismaColor pencils because I only have a few markers and a larger range of pencils. I wasn't sure if I could combine both coloring techniques on one image, but I think it turned out respectably!

Well I must sign off now and go organize the rest of my craft space, as you know how that goes - you reorganize one area and the rest of the room needs tidying/reorganizing.....



Stamps : Hero Arts (What's perking)
Paper : Chocolate Chip, Cream, Deja View Plum
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories : Small scallop border punch, Copic Markers, PrismaColor pencils, Cream Organdy ribbon from ACMoore