Shake a Wedding Cake?

I actually didn't combine a challenge, but I did make two for the SCS Limited Supplies Challenge (LSC221). We had to think circular and the limitation was to only use one stamp set per card/project. Once again, I was up until the wee hours. When I have an idea in my head I have to start work on it straight away for fear of losing that mojo! This is also for the Caardvarks Shape Up Challenge.

I thought circles in layers would be awesome and a cake was born. No circle containers were used, just paper and two foam square adhesives on each layer to hold them together! There is a strip of cardstock inside the top layer to help anchor the hearts. The hearts were attached with a Flower Soft paper-wrapped wire. I pierced a small hole through the center of the strip of cardstock, stuck the wire through and adhered with adhesive beneath it. Project Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD Love One Another set

Ink: Versafine Onyx, Versamark

Paper: K & Company Classic K Margo pad, Prism Simply Smooth cs, Gina K Luxury white cs

Supplies: Hero Arts pearls, Petaloo Floral Doodles, MS leaf punch, Ranger Super Fine Gold ep, wire ribbon ("With Love"), SU Snail adhesive runner

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I love making shaker cards and the Craft Gods know I have PLENTY of acetate sheets to make them! LOL! I thought it was perfect for the challenge and made sure to use papers with circles to keep the theme going. Don't let the photo fool you - those flowers are pink and not lavender. Card Recipe:

Stamp: SU God's Beauty

Ink: Versafine Onyx

Paper: Making Memories Sabrina pad, Prism Simply Smooth cs, black cs, SU Regal Rose cs

Supplies: acetate sheet, Spellbinders Large Circles die, small pink beads, Kaiser Scrapbook pink gems

Midnight Mojo!

LOL! I thought it sounded great combining the two challenges I worked on through the night. I really should stop drinking so much caffeine at night because it's throwing me out of sync! I went to bed at almost 5 am and got up by 7:30 am to get my kiddos ready for school.

Here's my caffeine-induced card for the Mojo Week 87 sketch: Card Recipe:

Stamp: MFT Here's The Scoop

Ink: Memento Black

Paper: Basic Grey Urban Prairie pad, SU (Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun), Prism Simply Smooth white, black cs

Supplies: Copics, pink buttons, black paper floss, Fiskars Threading Water border punch, Spellbinders dies (Small Scallop, Small Circles)
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It was well past midnight and I still couldn't sleep so it was the perfect time to swing on over to the Midnight Madness blog to see if they had the next sketch up and sure enough, they did: It could have been the jitters, but it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. After running a few laps around my house (just kidding!) I finally came up with this:

Card Recipe:

Stamp: SU Stipple Rose, ODBD Scripture Collection 1

Ink: Versamark, black Staz-On, Tim Holts Antique Linen distress pad

Paper: K & Company Classic K Margo pad, SU cs (Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla), Canson watercolor paper

Supplies: Gold Super Fine ep, white linen ribbon, Opalines (ODBD will soon have these wonderful pearls in the store!!!), watercolor markers, Fiskars Eyelet Lace border punch), mini bronze brads

Okay, my bed is calling me now...yawn, yawn, yawn...so I will add the card recipes sometime LATER. I'm just going to take a 5 hour nap!

Here a challenge, there a challenge, everywhere a challenge!

I have been in Challenge Mode OVERDRIVE! I'm sure you know how that is...when your creative juices are flowing you CAN'T STOP THE FLOW! LOL! You'll notice my use of Primas on all the cards. I'm an ADDICT and Our Daily Bread designs is carrying gorgeous Prima fabric and paper flowers!!

On to the challenges...

This first card is based on the current OCCC sketch:

Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD Scripture Collection 2

Ink: Versamark, Antique Linen distress pad

Paper: K & Company Madeline (Brenda Walton) pad, SU cs (Marvelous Magenta, Certainly Celery)

Supplies: Prima Windsor Roses (Hampton), Wizard, Spellbinders (Oval, Oval Scallop and Doodle Parts dies), Cuttlebug ef, Hero Arts Pearls (Medium Accent), Marth Stewart fence border punch, Ranger black ep

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I made this for the Midnight Madness sketch challenge (MMSC1):Card Recipe:

Stamp: SU Touch of Nature

Ink: Memento Black

Paper: Basic Grey Wisteria, SU cs (Very Vanilla, Bordering Blue)

Supplies: Prima Daisy Dreams (Taffy), Ranger Crackle Accents, Copics, SU photo corners punch, Fiskars Apron Lace border punch, Spellbinders (Small Circle and Scallop Circle dies), Cuttlebug Swiss Dots ef

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Here's one from Splitcoast, SC228: Card Recipe:

Stamp: ODBD On Eagles' Wings

Ink: Versamark

Paper: SEI Jolie Chocolat pad, SU Basic Brown cs

Supplies: Prima Daisy Dreams (Quartz), Martha Stewart monarch butterfly punch, Hero Arts Pearls, Fiskars Apron Lace border punch, Tim Holtz Paper Distresser, pink ep

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Here's another one from Splitcoast, this time it was a color challenge (CC218) requiring the SU colors of Only Orange, Summer Sun and Kiwi Kiss (or Old Olive): Card Recipe:

Stamp: SU Happy Harmony

Ink: Archival Black

Paper: SEI (Mimosa and Chartreuse), SU cs (Only Orange, Old Olive)

Supplies: Prima Windsor Roses (Chelsea), Spellbinders Label 4 die, Martha Stewart zig-zag border punch, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots ef

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Don't forget to enter for a chance to win my Blogiversary Candy!! It's posted at the very top!

Soft and Bold

I made two cards that are totally on opposite sides of the color spectrum. I had bought some black and white scrapbook paper at Michael's and I knew I wanted to add a splash of red to it and so this is the card I came up with using Our Daily Bread designs' Keep My Lamp Burning set. I had originally created this for the CPS101 sketch but decided to go with another card altogether. I removed the shank of the button and used it as the center for my bow.

For my Stampin' Up Stipple Rose card, I followed today's SCS sketch challenge, SC216, and yesterday's color challenge, CC206. Kelley had pointed me to a very talented stamper's blog, Jerri Kay, and I fell in love with her style. I always heat emboss my images in fine black detail powder, but Jerri always uses a mixture of gold powders to achieve a much more elegant and refined look. I only had one type of gold embossing powder but this will change soon enough!

Two cards for a fab i{heart}2stamp sketch and WINNER of my Name Our Puppy blog candy!!

Card sketches are.....addicting!!! I can't stop participating in them. I hope you are pleased, Kelley! LOL! I made two cards for this sketch over at i{heart}2stamp:

I substituted the stars with lilies for my ODBD card, using the set I Am The Way. Jane and Judy fell in love with the Tattered Angels' Glimmer Mists while at CHA so I decided to use my stash on this card. This is for you, gals!

Card Recipe:

Stamp: Our Daily Bread Designs I Am The Way

Ink: Versamark

Paper: K & Company Addison pad, SU Certainly Celery & Soft Sky, Prism Nautical Blue, white glossy cs

Supplies: black and white ep, micro flatback pearls, Tattered Angels Moonlight and Meadow Green Glimmer Mists, foam adhesive, sewing machine

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For my second card I used one of my favorite SU stamp sets, even though it's an old one. I thought it would be a cool set to work into the stars of the sketch. I stamped the dress forms twice, once on watercolor paper and once on a sheet of K & Company paper. I cut out the images and added just a bit of red sparkle.

Card Recipe:

Stamp: Stampin Up I Like Your Style

Ink: Versamark

Paper: K & Company Blue Awning, SU Close To Cocoa & Very Vanilla, Prism Nautical Blue, watercolor paper

Supplies: red Stickles, Dew Drops, Midnight Blue ep, Bosskut die, foam adhesive, sewing machine

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WINNER OF NAME OUR PUPPY BLOG CANDY:

We finally agreed to a name for our little puppy. Several people submitted the name Bella, but the first person to comment with it was.........

Michelle S!!

Michelle, please e-mail me your mailing address so I can get your goodies in the mail ASAP.

Thank you to everyone who played along! We now have several more names to choose from for next time!

Mojo Monday 72 Contest

I made this card for the Mojo Monday 72 contest using their sketch:

I broke out with a Stampin' Up set (it's been a while since I used any other stamp besides my indispensable ODBD sets!) for the sentiment and a tree branch stamp from Purple Onion Designs. I used Flower Soft on the branch because I've been wanting to do that for sometime now and finally got the chance!

Elegant vs Cute

I tend to bounce around from cute cards to elegant cards, depending on my mood or stamps I decide to play with. For a while really cutesy cards (like those that feature Penny Black stamps or anything cartoon-like) were all the rage on eBay...I watched cards go for $20, $50 and even $150 each! Unbelievable, huh? The card artists who have been successful are very talented and have an extraordinary eye for detail, detail, DETAIL.

I don't know if it's the approaching holidays, but I've noticed a trend towards a more elegant design and the "not so ordinary" card like pop-ups, sliders, swings, etc. So what's a stamper to do? I've decided to offer both and see what's a hit and what's a miss. I just love stamping and can't think of a better way to spend my childless hours (sons at school from 8:30 am to 3:15pm) than in my craft room PLAYING.

So, these are just two cards that are on opposite ends...cute vs. elegant. Keep stamping your hearts out!

Call these cards "somewhat interactive"

I've been fiddling around with a new card line for my little shop...something different from my regular cards. I came up with these little cards and call them my Beyond Cards Collection. Each card will feature messages tucked inside enclosures like vellum envelopes or bands or whatever else I can think up!

The second card shows a "crinkled ribbon" that I learned from Laurie Wilson. She is the design team coordinator for Clear Dollar Stamps and also designs a line for them! Thank you for the inspiration Laurie!

This "card" KICKED MY BUTT TODAY!!

First off, I'm happy how this card turned out, but SHEESH!! It totally kicked my crafting butt today! I have the BIG Fiskar paper cutter so making the cuts in the middle of the card was not going to happen. I just marked "points" on the cardstock and used my exacto knife to CAREFULLY cut STRAIGHT LINES. I will go out and buy a smaller paper cutter with all the measurements marked on it to make my life a little bit easier. I made this 8x8 scrapbook page for my mother-in-law's birthday and put it in a scrapbook frame. We're giving it to her this weekend so I hope she'll like it!
These are just two cards I finished last night...it was just too HOT to sleep!

Ok...so I failed!! PLUS I'm adding to the blog candy!

So much for doing equal amounts of card and layouts! I succeeded...for only a day! Maybe I was biting off more than I could chew, so I'm thinking at least one layout a week (going to shoot for two!). Sounds a little more realistic for me at the moment. I was able to crank out several cards and TWO layouts. I rely heavily on TallyScrapper challenges to kick my butt into gear!

This was a special order from an Etsy customer. She asked for LOTS of LAVENDER and that's what she's getting! I was playing with different shapes, rather than using straight lines all the time.
This is a GINORMOUS Penny Black Stamp!
I love this stamp from the new Angel Company catalog!
Holiday cards...don't you just love making them?!?!
There's a challenge over at TallyScrapper created by Top Tally herself, Christine! This was my take on it. We had to use purple and green, stitching, a tree and black and white photos. I freehand cut the tree and the leaves are cut up Prima flowers. And YES, I made my sons' costumes! I'm making costumes for them again this year! I can't tell you what or who they're going to be just yet...I'll save that for a future layout :).
The challenge also required us to use our left over scraps to make a card.
This layout took on a life of its own. I couldn't stop adding to it. Everytime I looked at it I thought it needed more "lines" and so there they are...LOTS OF LINES!

How's everyone coming along with the stitch witchery (also known as fusible webbing)? Hopefully you can find them at your local fabric store. So far there has been only one entry! Looks like I'm going to have to up the ante...I'm adding a BIG wood mounted stamp to go along with the crackle paints!! The stamp image goes perfectly with the paints - very vintage. So get cracking! No pun intended...hahahaha!

Scrumdiddlyumptious Challenge Entry

I found this challenge from Daring Cardmakers and thought it would be fun to enter it :). The guideline was:

Scrumdiddlyumptious
All things foodie - feature a food you associate with summer and sunny days (just to remind us of those summer feelings)

So what better way to enjoy summer than refreshing lemonade or fruit!!