Spooky Jar o' Eyeballs!

 I made a card similar to this a few weeks ago, but you can go back and check, this one is different.  It follows the same basic sketch, but there are a few differences.  This one doesn't have the white strip, and it also uses a different embossing folder.

I just love these eyes, and I am hoping my nephews will, too!

This card also goes with this week's challenge on Stampin' Royalty.  They are posting a Halloween challenge there!

Is this Halloween-y enough?!?

Thanks for looking!

Happy Halloween!

Here's one more for the Fab Friday sketch challenge.

I took my old, old, old DSP.

Stamp Set: Wacky Wishes

Colors: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Whisper White

Other: Apothecary Accents, Bold Brads, Sponge Daubers, Spritzer tool, DSP

Thanks for looking!

Witchy-Poo!

Here's my little witch!  Isn't she cute?

I made this card by using three challenges!  I used the Fab Friday sketch challenge, Stampin' Royalty's Halloween challenge, and The Friday Mashup challenge:  we could make a card with a witch on it, make a card using a bleach technique... or mash-it-up and do both.

I embossed almost every layer here.  The black layer is embossed with a non-SU folder, and then I used my Dazzling Details on top of the raised images.  Then next layer is Rich Razzleberry, which I embossed with polka dots.  The next layer is Pumpkin Pie, which is embossed with chevron embossing folder.  Next I used a Gumball Green layer, embossed with lines (and I did add stazon white inside the embossing folder before I embossed to create a white and green stripped paper!  How cute?!?)  I topped it off of with a simple white layer.  All layers were cut using the labels framelits collection.  Then I used my punches to make a witch, as I do not have a single witch stamp if you can believe that! I used the pennant punch (I embossed the top layer of the hat with the swirly folder), the oval punch, the smallest scallop circle and 3/4" circle punch.  So cute!  And just perfect for my niece!

Thanks for looking!

A Different Kind of Two-fer

 This pretty little box is a new kind of two-fer.  For one thing, I picked the colors I used to go with the Sunday Stamps weekly challenge.  This week, we had a color challenge, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, and Pink Pirouette.

For the second thing, I saw the cutest little box that Dawn O. made on her blog.  She put up a video and explains everything. I made the box and loved them.  But then I started thinking that if I changed the box a bit, I could make it longer and put more stuff in it (Dawn says the little box holds two fun size candy bars, and I fit in 4 of the Ghirardelli squares when I made them.  However, I want to make some sugared Pecans to put in my Thanksgiving treats so I wanted more room for more Pecans!)

I had to play around with the dimensions, but I did it easily enough!  Here's the result.  I love it!  I stamped the side of the box with the stamp in indigo.  The I stamped the flourish from Vintage Vogue, also in indigo.  Finally, I stamped the flower in pirouette, added a bright blue brad, popped it up, and Viola!  This great box!

I finished it off by adding a pirouette ribbon to tie the box closed and I can't wait to make my Thanksgiving favors!!  

Thanks for looking!

Dynamic Sketch

Wow!  This is my creation for another two challenges: Dynamic Duo and CAS(E) this Sketch!

The Dynamic Duo gave us the monochromatic color challenge of More Mustard and So Saffron.  In addition I used Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla.

CAS(E) this Sketch! gave us this great sketch. I really do love it!

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Colors used: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, More Mustard, So Saffron

Other: Linen thread, natural button, 2" circle punch, word window, modern label, wood grain embossing folder.

Thanks for looking!

Summer Silhouettes, a Case, and Some Ink

This is the card that I designed for two challenges this week: CAS(E) this Sketch! and Just Add Ink.

The sketch is from CAS(E) this Sketch.  I love the sketches they provide for CAS cards!

I picked the colors from Just Add Ink.  Their color challenge this week is Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Wisteria Wonder.

This card is the product!  I love it.  I did use the masking technique for the circle in the center.

Stamp Sets: Summer Silhouettes, Itty Bitty Banners
Colors: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Wisteria Wonder
Other: Crumb Cake ribbon, banner framelits, the newest embossing folder (forgot the name, too lazy to run and get the catalogue) 2" circle punch

My Pride Could Not be Greater!

 Oh.  My.  Gosh!!!

I am seriously swelling with pride right now!  I checked out the Dynamic Duo color challenge this morning.  Then I went about my day.  I was thinking of how else I could use the ornament framelit.  And then it hit me... make a flower!  Oh, my....

This is what this gorgeous flower looks like!

There were many things that I could put in the center... my original plan was to create an Early Espresso rosette, topped with a button.  However, I had a lucky accident.  I made one too many saffron pieces, and the space I had left in the center allowed me to put that extra piece in the center, like a Lily.  There was a bit more space there so I popped in some big pearls.  I seriously love how this turned out.

Here's a close up of the flower.  Each layer of petals has been embossed with a different pattern.

I punched a hole in my petal and threaded some ribbon through to hand this baby.

I could also make a poinsettia for the holidays, black eyed susans, daisies, roses, etc, etc., etc.

Can I say again how much I love this?!?!

Thanks for looking!

Sparkly Christmas

 Oh, new box of Stampin' Up goodies, you have made me so happy!

But, now I can't figure out which one of these cards to enter for The Friday Mashup weekly challenge.  The lovely ladies on The Friday Mashup have given us the challenge to create a project with a Christmas ornament, or create a project that has sparkle, or mash-it-up and create a project with both.  I chose to do a project with both... actually, two projects.  They follow the same basic pattern with the center image a bit different on each.  I saw these ideas in the Stampin' Up mini catalogue on the same page as the Joyous Celebrations.  It's not completely unique, but I just loved the sketch so much, why mess with a good thing?

Colors Used:  Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, Whisper White
Stamp Set:  Joyous Celebrations
Other: ribbon punch, large oval punch, silver sparkle paper, rhinestones (see the tiny one on the bow?), Spellbinders lacey ovals and classic ovals, stampin' dimensionals, Core'dinations card stock, Holiday frame embossing folder

Thanks for looking!

CAS(E) This Halloween Duo

Hello!

This card is my answer to two different challenge this week: the CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge and the Dynamic Duo color challenge... it's a natural born combination!

This card is CAS- Clean and Simple... and I just love it!

The base is Whisper White.  I stamped the black flourish from Flowering Flourishes.  Next, I used my small oval punch and punched out three ovals in Pumpkin Pie.  I also sponged the edges of the ovals in pumpkin.  I added a small piece of black ribbon for a stem.  Finally, I added the sentiment from The More the Merrier under the pumpkin.

Can I just say again how much I love this card?

Thanks for looking!

No Tool Here...

This card is a mix of a bunch of things.  First of all, I wanted to make a thank you card for a co-worker who helped me with my car (a guy... could you tell?)  In addition, I wanted to use some new stuff that just came in: my new Core'dinations Card Stock and my new Naturals Ivory paper (a color I've never gotten before).  Finally, I wanted to play along with Freshly Made Sketches.

Thus... a card is born!  I also used my woodgrain embossing folder, Totally Tool stamp set, the apothecary accents framelets, screw brads, linen tread, one of a million buttons I have and stamping dimensionals (can you tell the wrench is popped up?  Trust me... it is as is the black frame.

I'm so happy with the results.  Thanks for looking!

Non-Traditional Christmas Card

I need to post this one quickly to make the deadline for the Sunday Stamps weekly blog challenge.  This week, they gave us a color challenge: Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, and Not Quite Navy.  I chose to combine this challenge with The Friday Mashup weekly challenge.  The ladies on the Mashup gave us the challenge to make a project with a Christmas ornament or make a project that sparkles or mash-it-up and do both.

Colors: Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Not Quite Navy
Stamp Sets:  Berry Christmas, Ornament Keepsakes
Other: paper piercer, ornament framelits, rhinestones, Dazzling Details

Thanks for looking!

CAS...I'm Missing You

Once I got started on the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch!, I just couldn't stop!  It's such a CAS card!  It's quick and easy (in this case, a good thing) and it's also so stunning!

In this card, I used Papillon Potpourri.  I stamped one butterfly on a scrap piece of white with Stazon.  Then I colored the body in using my Pacific Point marker.  Then I used my sponge dauber and sponged in the butterfly using Marina Mist.  Then I cut it out and popped it up on a Whisper White card base.  Then, using my stamp-a-majig, I stamped a line of butterflies.  Since I cut off the antenna when I cut out the butterfly, I added an antenna.  I really like how it changes the look of the butterfly even more.  That way, it's totally different from the others.

Lastly, I added the sentiment "missing you," which I colored with my Pacific Point marker.

Thanks for looking!

Friday Mashup, Meet Fab Friday

 There are so many really cool blog challenges out there!  Each week I feel like I discover another one I want to try.  I especially love it when I can  combine two together, and this card does that.  I've combined this week's sketch challenge on The Friday Mashup with the color challenge on Fab Friday!  Friday, meet Friday.  Fab Friday's color challenge is to use Midnight Muse, Island Indigo, and Summer Starfruit.

I used Betsy's Blossoms stamp set on this card.

Colors used: Island Indigo, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, and Whisper White

Other:  mini pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals, Summer Smooches DSP, edge punch

Here's a close up of the bird.  I stamped him in Midnight Muse, cut him out, and punched him up.  Then I stamped him again in Island Indigo, cut out just the wings, and then I popped up the front wing.  I used my snail to glue on the bottom wing.

See the pearls?  One is his eye, the other line the starfruit edges.

Thanks for looking!

Bright Birthday

 When I saw the sketch on CAS(E) this Sketch! this week, I knew I wanted to do a line of party hats across the bottom of the card.  I so love how this card turned out!

I took my color cues from the challenge on Stampin' Royalty where they have a great picture challenge of a multi-colored giraffe.

Colors used: Whisper White, Real Red, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango

Set used: Pennant Parade

Other: Stampin' Dimensionals, pennant punch, 1/2" circle punch

I took a side-view picture to try and show off the hat with the red layer underneath.  The center of that hat is popped up, as are each of the top pieces of the hats.

Thanks for looking!

CAS Cards... I Love You

I seriously love Clean And Simple (CAS) cards.  For one thing, they are pretty fast to create.  For another thing, the simplicity of them adds to their beauty.

I am adding this CAS card to two blogs.  One is CAS-ual Fridays.  For this week's challenge, the folks on CAS-aul Fridays have given us a challenge to make a card that has a heart.  The second challenge is CAS(E) this Sketch!, a brand new challenge blog. (I can tell I will love this one!  I am so glad I stumbled onto this blog!)  This week, the folks there have given us a sketch challenge.

Colors used: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red

Stamps used: Doodle That (retired), Rough Type (also retired)

Thanks for looking!

Snow Flurries for the Dynamic Duo

 This week on the Dynamic Duo, the color combination is Pool Party and Soft Suede, and that is exactly what I used on this holiday card, plus a little Whisper White.

I recently saw this sketch in my browsing, and I loved the shape of this piece that lines up with the curve of the adorning accent framelit and adoring accent embossing folder.

I heat embossed the snowflakes from Serene Snowflakes.  I stamped them on Whisper White paper; then I used clear embossing powder and fired up my heat gun.  Then I sponged over the shiny snowflakes with Pool Party ink.

Next I cut and embossed my Soft Suede.  I put on the snowflake piece and tied a piece of Whisper White grosgrain ribbon around it.  I added rhinestones to the center of each snowflake.

On the bottom of the card, I stamped the greeting from Four the Holidays and added a few more rhinestones.

Inside, I used the stamp with 3 snowflakes in Soft Suede.

I really love how it looks.

Thank you for looking!

Stampin' Royalty, Meet Freshly Made Sketches

I've combined two challenges with this card.

I know it's unusual, and that's what makes me love it so much!  Stampin' Royalty gave us a picture inspiration.  It's such a fun picture!

On Freshly Make Sketches, we have a sketch (duh!)

I put the two together and voila!  This fun birthday card!

Colors: Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White

Stamp Sets: Petite Pairs, Zoo Review

Other: Summer Smooches DSP, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch

Thanks for looking!

Candy Hearts

I've been in a cleaning mood lately in the studio.  I have lots of stuff, still in drawers (in a very organized state, I'll agree, but still... it's just sitting there, not being used).  I am trying to put all this stuff to good use instead of hoarding it!

This is an idea I've had sitting on my counter for a good month now!  When I saw CAS-ual Fridays challenge this week, I knew that I already had the card designed; I just had to put it together.  The challenge is to create a CAS card that has a heart.

I had these cute little 3D heart embellishments.  I thought they'd be super cute in the candy machine from the Treat Yourself set.  I started with a Real Red base, added a layer of Daffodil Delight.  Then I stamped the candy machine on Whisper White.  I colored it in using red and a bit of gray, added the candy hearts, and I was done.  Can't get much more simple than that.

Thanks for looking!

Beautiful Bustier

Once I started thinking about what I could do for CAS-ual Fridays challenge of honoring women for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I just couldn't stop!

If you follow my blog, you've see this basic sketch before, but it is just so cute and SO GOOD for CAS cards.  I love it!  Inside, I stamped the sentiment, "Thanks... for your support."  Get it?  Support?  Bustier?  HA!    

Colors:  Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Set: Rue Des Fleurs
Other: Oval Embossing Frame, Blender Pen, sponge dauber

Thanks for looking!

But Wait... There's one more!

Often, I made two cards at the same time (I mean, if one sheet of card stock makes two cards, doesn't it just make sense?)  Since I was inspired by two challenges, I let my imagination run wild, and instead of making two very similar cards, I changed it up a bit.

The first challenge I was inspired by was the CAS-ual Fridays challenge of creating a card in honor of National Breast Cancer awareness month.  This card is "for the girls."

The second challenge is over on Fab Friday.  They've given us a really cool sketch challenge this week.

Colors: Pretty-in-Pink, Crumb Cake, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery
Stamp set: Thanks for Caring
Other: Pattern Pack DSP, 2 1/2" circle punch, blender pen

Thanks for looking!

CAS-ual Fridays meets Fab Friday (on Sunday)

This Sunday afternoon, I had finished all the projects that I assigned myself for the weekend, but I had more time, so I poked around at some of the blogs I like and found a way to hit a few more challenges.

This challenge meets the requirements of CAS-ual Fridays challenge of creating a card in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month for the girls!

Over on Fab Friday, we've been given a sketch challenge.

So here is what I came up with...

Colors:  Pretty-in-Pink, Sahara Sand, Rose Red, Basic Black
Stamp Sets: Papillion Potpourri, Thanks for Sharing, Bliss
Other: Pattern Pack DSP, 2 1/2" circle punch, Butterfly Punch, sponge dauber

Thanks for looking!

Application Card #2

Here's the second card I created for my application card for the call for a new design team on Dynamic Duo.

For this card, I chose the Duo challenge of Crumb Cake and a free choice.

Again, even if I don't get picked for the team, I really do love the cards I came up with.  This one will make   a great Christmas card!

The illuminations ink on the black paper for the ornament is just gorgeous!  I love it!

Thanks for looking!

Application Card #1

This is my first card in the call for new design team members for Dynamic Duo.  If you are applying for the team, you need to create two cards using past Duo challenges.  I decided to use the only two challenges I've missed since the blog started.  The challenge colors here were Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive.

I used the Floral Fusion sizzlet and the leaves sizzlet to create this card.  I sponged the edges of the razzleberry, then I stacked them, adding stampin' dimensionals between each layer.

I love it!

Thanks for looking!

CAS Gray and Starfruit Bird

As I said in my last post, this color combination from Just Add Ink really called to me this week.  The combo they offered to us is Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit, and Whisper White.

I have to admit this basic layout has been one I've used quite a bit lately.  This card is CAS, but I love a CAS card, and this one is no different.  Unfortunately, I've had the need for sympathy cards recently.  So on the front is this gray and starfruit bird, and inside is the sentiment from Blessings from Heaven that reads, "May your memories bring you peace."

The bird is popped up using dimensionals, as is the entire front piece: white layer, starfruit layer, gray layer.  I used my pen to color in the the raised dots after embossing my white layer with the oval.  I think that adds such a nice touch, don't you?  For the bird's eye, I used a pearl.

Thanks for looking!

Beautiful Butterfly in Summer Starfruit

 Just Add Ink has a color challenge this week of Summer Starfruit, Basic Gray, and Whisper White.  While making my first card, I had a card evolution.  By using the same basic ingredients as my first card, the card evolved.

I still use the Window framelits to create the outline of the window shape.

This time, each layer is popped up one more level.  The gray level is attached right on the card base (I used my snail for this).  Then I popped up the starfruit layer.  Next, I stacked one dimensional on top of another dimensional to step up the next layer.  I love how this looks in real life!

On this one, I added the littlest window of gray underneath a beautiful butterfly.  I stamped in on starfruit paper with gray ink and then punched him out and popped him up!

In the center of the butterfly, I added 3 diamonds to add a little bling.  I didn't add a sentiment to the outside.  I decided that could be added to the inside when I decided what I wanted to use this card for.  I think I could use it for TONS of occasions: birthday, anniversary, thinking of you, sympathy, etc.

Thanks for looking!

Summer Starfruit Anyone?

 I was totally drawn in by the color challenge on Just Add Ink this week:  Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit, and Whisper White.

I don't know why some people say they don't like Summer Starfruit.  Maybe you just have to get used to it, but I LOVE it!

I saw someone use the two Window framelits to create a thin frame of paper in the Window shape and decided to nest the gray and starfruit together to make a very simple manly card.

I used the Happy Birthday from the Wacky Wishes set.  I stamped it in Basic Gray and put in a big circle brad.  Then, I popped that whole center piece up in the center of the two window shapes. (Which, by the way, gave birth to another idea... more on that soon...)

Here you can see how that center piece is popped up.

I always have difficulty with man cards.  I think this one fits the bill, don't you?

Thanks for looking!