happy birthday

I believe my friend Theresa made this card.  It's another card that I unearthed when I cleaned up my craft area.

papertrey december blog hop challenge

When I saw the Papertrey Ink challenge, I knew I wanted to participate.  To say I love white is an understatement, just look at our basement: 

 

 

I went for a clean card with a bit of texture.  I "whitewashed" some burlap and used a few punches.  I decided not to stamp a sentiment to keep it simple.

ink: ColorBox frost white
other: flower punches, leaf punch, burlap

delight in the joy of the season

This was made at our ladies card nights.  I'm partial to A2 cards, but I really like this long skinny card.

{forgive the photography,
I found these photos on my computer and they were taken with a really old camera}

happy holidays

My feeble brain has completely forgotten where this card came from.  If I had to guess it was one of our ladies card nights, no matter what, I love the simplicity of it.

{forgive the photography,
I found these photos on my computer and they were taken with a really old camera}

holiday cheer

I borrowed my friend Linda's stocking punch and a made a bunch of these cards one year, again, a long time ago.  The best was using fuzzy paper for the top of the stocking (white).

{forgive the photography,
I found these photos on my computer and they were taken with a really old camera}

warm wishes

I made these cards one year for our Christmas cards.  I copied them from a display at Impress a long time ago.

{forgive the photography,
I found these photos on my computer and they were taken with a really old camera}

merry christmas

Here's a Christmas card that my friend, Aimee made for one of our ladies card nights.  I found this with my stash of cards.  I'm pretty traditional with my Christmas colors, but I really like the pink in this card.

{forgive the photography, 

I found these photos on my computer and they were taken with a really old camera}

{beer deer}

Another craft we put together with our mother daughter group last December was the "beer deer" bottles.  We each brought a case of root beer (or any beverage) and hot glued pipe cleaners for antlers, sparkly pom-poms for noses, and googly eyes for eyes.  While this turned out cute, it was a bit time consuming.  We decided that unless you know a specific beer a friend loves, the best way to do this is to use a champagne or sparkling cider bottle and just make one big reindeer.

whole case

one deer

{soup can treats}

Last year our mother daughter group made some Christmas crafts.  I realized I never posted them.  This one is "souper" fun.  You take a pop-top can (soup can size*), cut open the bottom with a can opener (but leave one part attached), empty the contents, wash, rinse, and dry the can (really well).  Then fill it with treats, a gift card, or little gifts. Finally hot glue the bottom shut and decorate the can.  When you give the can to someone, they get to pop the top for their present.  It's quite fun!

bottom of the can hot glued shut

decorated

ready to be popped

*If you are going to make a bunch of these make sure the style of can you pick can actually be opened by a can opener from the bottom.  We found that certain brands or types of foods couldn't be opened with a can opener from the bottom.

{christmas polar bear}

I thought I would share a Christmas card that I located in my craft space overhaul.  It was made by my friend Kathy.  She puts such amazing detail into every single card that she constructs.  Each card is worthy of being framed!

new address

This card was also discovered in my craft space overhaul.  It was made by my former Impress coworker, Jen.  She is über talented in anything crafty.  She makes stunning cards, hires out for scrapbook layouts and production, and now works for Stampin' Up!  This girl has talent!!

thinking of you

Here's another card that my friend, Myra, made for me eons ago.  I unearthed this gem when I cleaned up my craft space.  She used vellum around the entire card and then used colored pencils to color the back side.  The pictures don't do it justice.

with deepest sympathy

I made this card for our mothers and daughters stamp group.  I completely stole the card from the amazing Debby Hughes.  I love all the white space and the paper strips are great for those extra pieces lying around.

stamp: A Muse seashells & "with deepest sympathy"

ink: A Muse french roast; ColorBox old rose

other: square punch (for banner edges), rhinestones

celebrate in style

My daughter had her 5th birthday party and requested an American Girl doll theme.  I wanted something easy to reproduce that was similar to the logo and color scheme.  I was able to find a comparable font online ("innerStar") for the inside information.

outside

inside

For those who don't know the logo:

stamp: A Muse "Celebrate in Style"; Papertrey Ink star line

ink: VersaColor opera pink, ColorBox frost white

other: Papertrey Ink die cuts, embossing powder

{ninjago}

My son was invited to a LEGO Ninjago 6th birthday party.  For those not immersed in that world, it's basically a LEGO ninja series (that's wildly popular for that age range).  I whipped this card up for my son to give to his friend.

For those who don't know the Ninjago series.

no stamps

no ink

just cardstock, yellow construction paper, and a permanent pen

wish big

I made this card many moons ago at a Stampin' Up! party.  I guess it could be a winter birthday card, but the pine needles scream Christmas to me.

long gone

oh my!  I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted a card.  This is the other reason I've been so busy.  Baby #4 is on the way!!  I'm due any day now. I don't plan on making too many cards in the next few months either.  Sorry, I'll be back though.

 

congratulations

My college friend, Debbie, had a bridal shower.  I had her gift all ready to go and true to form, I made her card about five minutes before I had to leave (sorry Debbie).  But of course it had to match and go with the theme.  I gave her a black and red Asian tea set. 

If I had time I would have loved to put some red sparkles in the center of the flowers.

stamp: Stampin" Up! flowers, leaves, & "Congratulations"

ink: VersaColor rose red & Memento Tuxedo Black

nashville 1/2 marathon

Just had to pop in to say hello, that all is well around here, I've just been busy with life and this...

I ran the Nashville 1/2 Marathon!!

It was fun, warm, very humid, and hilly.  This was my third half but it was a doozy with the heat.  I'm definitely accustomed to the cool Seattle weather.  I ran with my mom, my sister, and two of our family friends from Virginia.  What a fun experience!

thinking of you

Here's another card that I found in my craft room clean up.  This adorable card was sent to me from Myra, my former manager at the Westlake Impress.

thanks for everything

When I was cleaning up my craft space, I unearthed some great cards my friends made.  Here is another card made by Theresa.  I love the fun effect with just paper, eyelets, and one stamp.  So cute!

cards for church

Our church needed more cards for the deacons to write to members.  Our women's bible study has mission days so I was asked to design cards that other women could make for the deacons on that day.  It was a fun challenge.  I had to design cards that were:

1. easy to mass reproduce

2. didn't require any "dry time"

3. other non-stampers could easily make

4. were generic enough to use for a variety of occasions

5. didn't reuse any inks or stamps (since people would be at different tables)

6. were flat for easy mailing

7. had a variety of masculine and feminine

all the cards

card 1

card 2

card 2 {inside}

card 3

card 3 {inside}

card 4

card 5

papertrey march blog hop

Papertrey's blog hop inspiration this month is yellow and aqua.  It's not a natural combo for me, but I remembered I had some great A Muse paper that I paired with a bunch of Papertrey Ink die cuts to create this fun and elegant (for me) mother's day card.  After making my first rosette, I made this one using the small dahlia die and popped in a rhinestone that I colored with a copic marker.

 

proof that the rhinestone is yellow

stamp: Papertrey fillable frame, text background, & "Happy Mother's Day"
ink: Impress lemon yellow & pale aqua
other: Papertrey die cuts, rhinestone, Copic {Y06}

miss you

I have never used copics to create a graduated background so it was fun to play along with Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #58.  This card was a stretch for me because I'm not really an "orangey" color person.  But with the black flowers, I really like how it turned out.

stamp: Papertrey flowers & "miss you"

ink: VersaFine onyx black

other: Copics {Y11, Y21, Y17, YR04, YR68}

{stars}

I love the bright cheery colors of the CR84FN Color Challenge 50.  The weather here has been dreary so I really wanted to start playing with spring colors.  Fortunately today the sun has popped out and the kids have been able to play outside.  I sure hope this sunshine continues!!

stamp: A Muse chevron; Papertrey Ink dots & swirls

ink: VersaColor opera pink; A Muse orange & buttercup

other: rhinestones, Papertrey die cut, corner punch

you are one of a kind!

My first card was so quick that I wanted to make another one for One Layer Wednesday 84.  I picked three different Copics for the pink gumballs, but with such small surface areas they look all look the same.

stamp: A Muse gumball machine & "you're one of a kind!"

ink: Memento tuxedo black

other: Copics {RV10, RV13, RV14, RV21}

dreams come a size too big...

I enjoy developing my skills in one layered cards.  When you don't add a bunch of "stuff" to your card, your stamps, colors, text, and placement really carry all the weight.  I had a minute to whip out this card for the One Layer Wednesday 84.

stamp:  A Muse birds & "dreams come a size too big..."

ink: A Muse orange, bubblegum, & watermelon; VersaFine onyx black

happy birthday

I have a small container where I keep extra scraps of paper and die cuts that I don't use.  I found the "5" and the "orange lace scallop" and whipped out this card.

stamp: A Muse "happy birthday"

ink: VersaFine onyx black

other: Papertrey Ink die cut, scalloped oval punch, circle punch, square punch

howdy!

I had time for another challenge.  This time it was the CAS-ual Friday 1, 2, 3, Challenge.  It requires a pattern, an image, and a sentiment.  I may have stretched the rules a bit.  I'm not sure "wood grain" is a pattern.  Plus I used "an image" twice.  Either way, it's definitely clean and simple.

 

stamp: Rubber Soul boot; A Muse "howdy"; Papertrey Ink wood grain
ink: A Muse french roast & latte
other: A Muse die cut, twine

happy birthday

I wanted to play along with the Embellish Magazine's Rosettes Color Challenge.  I've never made a rosette, but have seen many floating around on card blogs and projects on pinterest.  I followed this pictorial tutorial and made my first rosette.  It was easy and fun!

 

stamp: Papertrey text & "happy birthday"
ink: VersaFine onyx black
other: Papertrey die cut, A Muse washi tape, buttons, twine, circle punch, vintage label punch

hello

I have been falling in love with Laurie Wilison's chevron cards here and here and here and decided to try one of the adorable circle cards.

 

I think it's such a fun and fresh look!

stamp: A Muse chevron stripes, flower, & "hello"

ink: Memento tuxedo black; A Muse orange

other: circle punch, Copics (Y17, YG23, YR68, YR04)

{apothecary jars}

Since I cleaned out my space I had easier access to these sweet apothecary jars from my friend, Kathy.  I got to practice my coloring.  Not the best but it's fun to practice.

stamps & inks: done by Kathy for me
other: twine, colored pencils, Taylored Expressions die cut