A Beautiful Birthday Card

This card was so much fun to make. Taylored Expressions is one of my favorite companies outside of my Stampin' Up! products. When they came out with these dies earlier this year, I decided to splurge and get them.

This was my daughter Christi's birthday card in April of this year. She has 2 kitty cats (my grandcats, LOL!), so the kitty on the window box was perfect.

I raided my scrap pile to make this card. Producing the number of cards I do for Cards for the Troops, I am literally swimming in scrap cardstock and scrapbook papers. Die cuts and punched shapes are the number one way I use up my scraps.

These flowers are so small and I wanted a selection of them, so I literally ran the die through several colors of scraps and filled a small empty SU! embellishment container with the flowers and leaves. It took just minutes to have a variety of color choices for future cards. The curtains were a scrap of printed vellum. The only current SU! colors on this card are Pacific Point, Certainly Celery and Pink Pirouette. 

TheTaylored Expressions dies used for this card are Picture Window, Flower Box Sprigs & Flowers, Window Accessories and Window Cat. These dies make it a breeze to create an elegant, beautiful card.

How about a challenge this week to make a card or scrapbook page using only scraps? You may of course use a full sheet to create the card or page base but try and see if you can do the rest of your design only with the scraps in your stash. 

Have Fun Creating!

Creative Sketches Week 32 Color

Nothing like blogger going down and a busy weekend to make this sketch challenge late. Sigh. But hey at least I can post now. One picture at a time apparently.

With this week's color challenge I also did a One Sheet Wonder base. It was the easiest way to incorporate 4 colors. I used the Fabulous Florets stamp set in the new Summer Mini and the colors
Peach Parfait, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist And Rich Razzleberry. I randomly stamped the images all over a sheet of Whisper White cardstock and then cut a piece for my card, leaving more stamped background to make additional cards. You don't have to use a pattern to create your own one sheet wonders but it's nice when someone else does the measurements for you. But true to form I will create my own cards from this sheet in whatever style strikes my fancy.

The card base is Rich Razzleberry with Wild Wasabi and Peach Parfait matting. I stamped the flower and leaf again on a separate sheet of paper and cut out to pop over the Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiment on the small oval and Marina Mist scallop oval piece. I resisted the urge to use glitter this week.

Don't forget to check out the other designs on the Creative Sketches site.

Creative Sketches Week 31 - A Sketch in Pink

Hey it's my birthday month and I'm turning to my favorite color pink for most of my designs. I designed 2 cards this week for club in pink and since the supplies were already out, I made this 3rd card a combination of parts of the first 2 designs. It more less follows the design for this week's Creative Sketches sketch.

The card base is Pretty in Pink and I ran it through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. Nice, easy and a beautiful background. I did just the corners of my Melon Mambo mat and Pink Pirouette focal layer with the Scallop Trim Corner Punch to give my card a bit more elegance. I used Melon Mambo ink for my stamping to keep my design all pink. The sentiment is from the new Happy Greetings set in the new Summer Mini catalog. The flowers are from Fabulous Florets, also in the new mini, and were stamped on Pink Pirouette, detail cut and covered in Dazzling Diamonds glitter and popped with a Dimensional. Beautiful, classy and elegant and fairly easy to create. What can you do this week with your favorite color?

Be sure to hop on over to the Creative Sketches  site and see what the other designers have been creating. You're sure to be inspired.

Creative Sketches Week 30 Holiday/Celebration

 

Whew! Made it to post this week. Life has been nothing if not crazy lately.

This week we have a sketch and holiday/celebration theme. Since I am still so tired I went with easy. I used the Paisley Petals DSP only available this month as a special preview order for the new catalog coming in July. I used the Sizzix Circles #2 die to cut my circles. Which means I have more circles to play with to make another card or two since that die cuts 4 circles in various sizes. The Sincere Salutations sentiment "Best Wishes" gave me some options for this card. I can use it for several different occasions. Cardstock is Old Olive and Very Vanilla and the ink is Old Olive. The Butterfly Punch provided my accent, ran through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and embellished with Basic Pearls.

Don't forget to pop by Creative Sketches and see what other wonderful creations have been designed this week.

 

Creative Sketches Week 28 Color and a Sneak Peek

 Running in for a quick post for this week's challenge. What a calming restful color combination. I wasn't kidding when I said quick. I made this card in about 15 minutes. This week has been hectic to say the least.

I used the new Sail Away stamp and The Open Sea stamp set along with Teeny Tiny Wishes. The new stamp sets will be available May 1st in the new Summer Mini catalog. The ink is Elegant Eggplant. I "ooo booed" the sentiment when I first stamped it so I used the Word Window punch to create a new custom sentiment label to cover the oopsie :0)  I used the Photo Corners punch to create the notches for the bakers twine. Quick and simple with a little twist. This is going to be the perfect card for grandpa after his surgery and will be off in the mail soon.


 Jog on over to the Creative Sketches site and see what the other designers have been up to this week. Lots of great cards to enjoy.

Creative Sketches Week 27 Sketch - A Tribute

 This week's card is a tribute for a special friend whose husband has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Sending much love, prayers and encouragement their way as they walk the road ahead.

I used the new Strength and Hope stamp set available in the Summer Mini May 1st for the background, the swirl from Elements of Style to stamp on the Baja Breeze Seam Binding, the Paisley Petals Designer paper available this month as a special preview order before the new big catalog comes out in July, Marina Mist cardstock and ink, Whisper White cardstock and Basic Pearls. The sentiment is from Verve's Breast Cancer Awareness set.

Encouragement cards are my favorite to make and often are tailored specifically for the family member or friend who needs a pick me up. However it would be relatively easy to create a set to keep on hand when you receive word someone is ill or going through a rough spot. In today's electronic wizardry, it's a nice touch to be able to gift someone with a hand made card and not just an email or text.

So here is a dual challenge for you this week: Create a card specifically for someone who could use a pick me up and then make a few extra cards to keep on hand to pop in the mail when the need arises. This week's sketch will give you a design to start with.

Be sure to visit the Creative Sketches site and see the other wonderful creations this week. You're in for a treat.

Creative Sketches Week 26 Anything Goes

 Well my card sort of matches the sketch flipped, LOL! It is Anything Goes week. There is a special story behind this week's creation. I have been a member of the Oriental Stamp Art list for about 10 years. You get to know some of the ladies online really well and become friends. And once in a great while you get to meet one of your online friends in person. Such was the case about a week ago on March 22nd. My friend Nancy put a call out to our list earlier this month that she was coming to Dallas and would anyone like to meet up? Nancy is one of my favorite OSA ladies so of course I made arrangements to drive down and spend the day.

She lives in Nova Scotia so this was indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity.  The bonus - it was her birthday! I took her a present of a couple of oriental style stamps from a local stamp artist and made this card for her. Sorry, hardly any SU! supplies this week. The card base is Concord Crush cardstock. The humming bird is embossed, I used a border ribbon punch to create the lattice effect and added beautiful Washi paper. Not too shabby, Eh? LOL!

We had a wonderful day shopping the local art stores and had lunch together. We totally forgot about pictures all day so we nabbed a cabbie back at her hotel to snap a couple of pics of us together. I'm on the left, Nancy's on the right.

We sure had fun and who knows? Maybe one day I'll make it to Nova Scotia for a visit.


Don't forget to see what the other ladies have been designing on the Creative Sketches site.

Creative Sketches Week 25 Holidays and Celebrations

 Welcome to another installment of our Creative Sketches challenges. The 4th week is traditionally holiday or any day you celebrate and we have a sketch to up the ante on the challenge.

This weeks card is perfect for a birthday, promotion, retirement or any other celebration you wish to acknowledge. I chose bright happy colors. Daffodil Yellow, Tempting Turquoise and Melon Mambo cardstocks and inks, Brights Stack designer paper in Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo pom-pom trim, Basic Rhinestones, Scallop Circles #2 Big Shot Die, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, small scallop is a non-SU punch, En Francais background stamp, swirl is from Elements of Style, sentiments from On Your Birthday and Fabulous Phrases.


Don't forget to check out the other designers great cards
on the Creative Sketches site.

Creative Sketches Week 24 Fancy Folds, Cuts, Punches and Another Sneak Preview

 Back for another week of creative goodness. I was under the weather for a few days after the wild fires triggered my asthma so I grabbed one of my cards from club on Monday. I knew the minute my upline Connie shared this video that we had to learn how to do this. You can find the video tutorial from Cristena Bagne by clicking here  rosette tutorial      What I really like about this tutorial is you don't have to own a fancy die, just use the scallop punches you already own, fabulous! Or order them and you have even more creative versatility then a specialized die.
For this card I showcased a stamp from the new Strength and Hope set coming soon in the new Summer Mini. Now before you get all excited, you still have to wait until May 1st before you can order it. I am a huge, huge supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness. When you purchase this stamp set, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 of each purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I don't know of many of us who haven't had a loved one or friend affected by breast cancer. So I am hoping to design a lot of cards with this set.

 The supplies for this card were: Pretty in Pink and Whisper White cardstock, Sweet Stitches Designer Paper and Pretty in Pink patterned paper from the Brights DSP Stack, retired Bashful Blue 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Strength and Hope and Word Play stamp sets, Decorative Label and 1 3/8" Circle and 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punches, Melon Mambo ink and Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

The ladies really enjoyed making this card and I know for sure one is winging it's way to a special friend to brighten her survivor journey.

Don't forget to pop over to the Creative Sketches site and see more inspiration for this week's challenge.

Stay tuned for the other cards from club.

Creative Sketches Week 23 Color and a Sneak Peek

Back for another week of Creative Sketches. Wish blogger wasn't being crabby as this is my 4th attempt at this post and as you can see the pictures did their own thing, but at least they are present. This week's challenge was the colors of Baja Breeze, Bashful Blue, Old Olive and Basic Gray. I would have been happy with just 3 of those colors but hey, it's a challenge :0)  I decided to use the soon to be released Paisley Petals DSP and Four Frames Stamp set along with the hostess set Fast and Fabulous and Teeny Tiny Wishes and the Decorative Label punch. Simple layering makes up the base of the card in Baja Breeze, Basic Gray and Bashful Blue. I stamped the flower with Basic Gray ink onto the Bashful Blue background and used the same ink to stamp the label and sentiment. A bit of Old Olive frames the punched image. I chose a flower image from the designer paper and detail cut it, then popped it over the card with dimensionals.

Don't forget to check out the Creative Sketches site for more creative ideas.

Creative Sketches Week 22 Sketch Design

 Back for another week of creative design. Our challenge this week was this sketch. Fairly basic and easy to work with but the possibilities are endless. And of course I had to flip it. I just grabbed the papers that caught my eye and were easy to reach and played with the design for my card. If you are looking for a challenge, just reach for what you might already have out or the first thing that you come across in your supplies. This sketch is perfect for using up a variety of scraps from previous projects. Start playing and you might just surprise yourself.

This card worked up fast. I grabbed the Melon Mambo card base from a stack I had cut for a class that never got used. Some Basic Black and Pretty in Pink scraps and a leftover piece of pink designer paper from the Ice Cream Parlor set in the Sale-a-bration catalog. A retired piece of Melon Mambo ribbon, Basic Pearls, Butterfly and Scallop Trim punches and the Cottage Garden stamp set. Easy peasy.

Hope to be back soon with some new inspiration. Still finishing up the samples for the Stamp a Stack this weekend. Busy, busy week.

Creative Sketches Week 21 Holiday Card

 It's time for another Creative Sketch challenge. The 4th week of the month is always a holiday card so I did an Easter card. This week we had a sketch design to follow. I of course had to switch it up, it's what I do best, take a concept and somehow change it to reflect my current creative whim. Like the last couple of weeks I'm still using my Springtime Vintage designer paper. Also used to create this card, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla and River Rock cardstock, sentiment from All Holidays stamp set, Not Quite Navy ink, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta ribbon (only because there is no Baja available), Basic Pearls, the 2 3/8" and 1 3/4" scallop circle punches. Very quick and very elegant.

Stay tuned for more creative ideas and don't forget to check out the Creative Sketches site for more inspiration from this weeks design.

Stamp A Stack Sneak Peek

 I'm busy being creative and planning a class here and there. This is a sneak peek for my Stamp a Stack Class Mar. 6th. It's my twist on the 16 card OSW - one sheet wonder. I have a few favorite blogs I follow and when I saw this post on Flowerbug's Inkspot, I thought what a perfect starter class for the year with my new hostess club. A great way to create a nice variety of cards for all occassions and it's been a while since I've made a OSW set myself. When I checked out the link to Pretty Paper Parfait, I realized I had already saved that link too. So Thank-you LeeAnn Greff and Isis Pinero for the tutorials and templates for making 16 wonderful cards :0)

Of course I'm using one of their templates and tutorials but that's about where it ends. I love taking the designs and tweaking them a bit so some of my cards will be similar and some won't. I end up altering the placement of pieces, flip them another direction, adjusting the sizes or whatever works and strikes my fancy. Everyone who uses these templates can do the same and then your set of cards has your unique flavor. My ladies have the choice between 2 designer paper sets for their cards, Sunny Garden and Elegant Soiree. So this sneak peek is just of the first couple of cards in the Sunny Garden set. I will be creating 2 sample sets in both designs.

It's going to be a fun, fun class and some beautiful cards. Check back later for more pictures. I hope you are inspired to visit the above sites and  make a set of fabulous cards.

Another Peek at Feb. Club

 Hi Again! I'm back with our remaining 2 cards from club this month. These were so much fun to design and create.
 Our hostess this month liked blues as her favorite color and she likes fairly simple card designs so that was my challenge in designing for club. We gave our punches and  Big Shot a good workout on this months designs.

Another favorite set of mine from the Occasions Mini Catalog is Thanks for Caring. I have already used this set for several Cards for Troops designs. For this card we used Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla cardstocks, Springtime Vintage designer paper, Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Two Step Bird and Designer Label punches, Dimensionals and the Sale-a-bration free set Sweet Summer.

We learned the Inlaid Embossing technique. Everyone loved it! It's definitely magical how the card transforms. We used Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla cardstocks, Springtime Vintage designer paper, Bring on the Cake stamp set, Top Note die, Finial Press Embossing Folder, 5 Petal Flower, Boho Blossoms and Decorative Label punches, Dimensionals and Not Quite Navy Ink.

Beautiful and Elegant card designs suitable for any occasion.

 Hope you enjoyed a peek into this months club designs.

Creative Sketches Week 20 Watercolor Bluebird

Anybody ready for a bit of spring? Sure feels like it with temps in the 70's this week. Certainly beats last weeks sub zero freezing temps. Only in OK can you be freezing to death one day and sunbathing the next. This little birdie looks like he's ready for spring too. I just love the Nature Walk set and this card was actually part of my hostess club this week. We were playing with Water color pencils and crayons. Watercolors are so versatile to use. A bit of water or even a blender pen, pencil or marker and you've got endless possibilities.  He's a fairly simple birdie. I colored him all over with the lighter blue, more of the turquoise in the pencil set and then added the darker blue mainly on his top half. Blended a bit and he was done. I did add just a bit of white to his tummy. He's layered on a Marina Mist background stamped in Marina Mist ink with the birdcage and no. 147 stamps. The background and images are framed with Night of Navy, layered on a whisper white card. I used the large and small tag punches and stamped the sentiment from You're a Gem. A wee bit of baker's twine and dimensionals added the final touch.

I hope you enjoy this week's offering. Be sure to check out the Creative Sketches site for more inspiration.

Check back in a couple of days for the other cards we did in club. The ladies are having lots of fun!

Creative Sketches Week 19 Navy, White, Cherry Cobbler

 Back with another Creative Sketch. This week we are featuring the colors Navy, White and Cherry Cobbler. It's also my "baby's" birthday this week, he is turning 17, so I needed a birthday card for him. And in typical guy fashion, he told me he didn't need a card, just his present. Tough dude, mom still made a card. I have the added advantage of being able to up-cycle it into a new card for From Our Hearts and rescue it from the trash bin where most of my guys send their cards.


Since Sno-klahoma has had yet another mini blizzard of snow  timed perfectly for his birthday, I chose the Extreme Snowboard and Extreme Elements stamp sets for my card. The sentiment is from the new Bring On The Cake set in the Occasions Mini catalog. Quick and simple for the guys. They really do appreciate the thought but don't care how fancy it is. I used Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy and Whisper White cardstocks, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Riding Hood Red and Cherry Cobbler inks. True Red, White and Blue.

Hoping this next week provides for some creative time since I'm on mini break from designing Cards for the Troops. I can use the time to get more organized and catch up on my card stash.

Be sure to visit the Creative Sketches site for more inspiration.

Creative Sketches Week 18 February Sketch

 It's time for another Creative Sketch Challenge. A small distraction after this weeks fun with the snow. I used my new Nature Walk stamp set from the Occasions Mini catalog, Botanical Gazette DSP, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler and Marina Mist cardstock and Cherry Cobbler 1/2' seam binding and ink, Stampin' Dimensionals and Basic Pearls. A tip if you are not doing it already, save the border of your Stampin' Dimensionals once you've used them all. For the eggs I was able to cut small pieces from this leftover border to pop them for added interest.

Hopefully I'll have more posts shortly including some pictures of cards I recently did with The Ripple Group from my younger son's church, including pictures of the Juniors, Seniors and their Shepherds making the cards for From Our Hearts. But first I'm busy prepping more kits for this Saturday's event. Then I get about a 6 week break before the next Cards for Troops event. Just enough time to work on some of the wedding samples for my oldest son's wedding in June. It is going to be one busy year for me.

Be sure to stop by the Creative Sketches blog and check out the cards the other designers and participants have done.


Happy Chinese New Year!

Creative Sketches Week 17 A Valentine Card

Of course I am chasing myself this week and got my challenge card done in the nick of time, just barely. The 4th week of the month is always a holiday card and that may become a stretch for me or it may not since I am designing holiday cards for the troops all the time. I quickly looked through my newest stamp sets (some of them haven't seen ink yet, gasp!) and decided on my Valentine Defined set. Then I remembered that I had the matching Love Impressions rub-ons and went "hmmmm, what can I create with those?" I don't use rub-ons very often, so I challenged myself and this is what I came up with. Not too shabby. I used Real Red, Pretty in Pink and a hint of Wild Wasabi on this card. The patterned paper is from our Patterns Designer Series Paper Stacks and I added some Real Red 5/8 ribbon for a finishing touch. Back to the grindstone. I have an event with 20-25 Junior and Senior High School students this weekend making more cards for From Our Hearts. Got to keep cranking out kits.

Four Things to Share and Happy Anniversary

 One of my favorite blogs to subscribe to Understand Blue posted a list of Four Things on Sunday so I thought I'd pass it along. Might give you a wee glimpse into me, might not :0) No one believes half the stuff I like anyway. They all think I should be a died in the wool country girl. Not me. Especially if it involves lots of country music.

1. Four shows that you watch:

• Biggest Loser
• Extreme Home Makeover
• Any house show on HGTV like Property Virgins, My First Place, Income Property
• So You Think You Can Dance

2. Four things you are passionate about:

• Pink Ribbon Awareness
• Rescued furbabies
• Music and Dance
• Helping others whenever I can

3. Four words/phrases you say a lot:

• Dude
• Really????
• Are you kidding me????
• Have a wonderful/fabulous/terrific day!

4. Four things you've learned from the past:

• Never hook the jumper cables where you think your husband told you to hook them.
• Murphy's law really does interrupt your plans.
• Trust your gut feeling.
• Do not cook in your best clothes.

5. Four places you would like to go:

• Canada
• Scotland
• Australia
• Caribbean

6. Four things you did yesterday:

• Slept for 13 hours
• Counted the Cards for the Troops made on Saturday = 253 :0)
• Took Reilly on a longer than usual walk since we missed Saturdays
• Had my first quiet day home in a week of running

7. Four things you are looking forward to:

• Matthew and Stephanie's Wedding
• My 50th birthday party
• Our Anniversary trip
• Warmer weather

8. Four things you love about winter?

• Brisk and crisp air not frigid
• A wee bit of snow from time to time here in Oklahoma
• Snuggling
• Pets that keep my feet warm

What are your favorite four? 


 Here's a quick card post too. It's the anniversary card I made for my daughter and son-in-law. I used the sentiment from the Hostess Level 3 set Occasional Quotes, real red and black cardstock and this paper I fell in love with at our local scrapstore. Quick and easy but elegant too.

Creative Sketches Week 16 Punches

 My Creative Sketches card gets to serve 2 roles as the sketch challenge and is a card for my new hostess club. This card showcases the new Ice Cream Parlor designer paper, ribbon and buttons from the soon to be released Sale-a-Bration catalog available next Tuesday Jan. 25th. The Build a Cupcake Punch and Create a Cupcake stamp set are from the new Occassions Mini Catalog. And there is just a hint of the new red Glimmer Paper in the cherry on top of the cupcake. This was a really fun card to design and create.

My second card also qualifies for the sketch challenge and is a design for my new club. It features the current Filled With Love promotion bundle. Love the paper in this bundle and I'm thinking I might just need to order myself a second package before it's gone. This card features the Full Heart Extra Large Punch and the Scallop Trim Border :Punch. A simple and quick card with lots of WOW factor. Pink and black is one of my favorite color combos. The Melon Mambo, Basic Black and Pretty in Pink go so well together.

Hopefully I'll be back next week with another sketch challenge. I'm starting a new round of Cards for the Troops events for From Our Hearts and with a wedding to prep for in just 5 short months, life is definitely going to be busy.