MOSD and 365 Cards

I really wanted to show you the mini album I made for MOSD. I post a project for them once a month on their blog, and today is my day to reveal! I made a really cool mini album - it's a little Coffee Recipe Album. I you want to see the whole album and read the details, check the MOSD blog.

The rest of the MOSD DT posts during the month, about 3 posts per week, so make sure you check out the awesome projects they have made. I am just one of 17 gals on the DT, so there is much goodness to spark your mojo!

Ok, now for the 365 Cards Movie Monday Challenge. Pam's given me the movie challenge before, but this time the movie is one I've seen, many times! It's Pretty in Pink! Here is the card I made.

I took my inspiration from the vintage clothes that the main character wears in the movie, plus Molly Ringwald's amazing hair! I found this vintage stamp in my stash and it just made me think of her - such a classic beauty! I remember wanting to be her in the '80s! Or at least have her hair and clothes!

I used a lot of pink (of course) and some brown, plus some bling. I tried to combine the vintage with the "modern" in a fun way that made me think of the feel of the movie. I used "friendship" as my greeting, because the movie (to me) is about friendship. Hope the movie inspires you too!

365 Cards - Sketchy Sunday, August 30th

I really liked the sketch today at 365 Cards. It just screamed "pretty" to me. I had on my desk my August Apron Strings Designs kit, with Cosmo Cricket papers...and what is prettier than Cosmo Cricket?!

This card is super simple, just some cardstock and one piece of printed paper. The ribbon came to me in my MOSD DT package. Alison had a lovely pail of ribbons tucked into my DT box! Love that!

The flower is a K&Company flower brad, but I took it several of them apart and added a pearl brad of my own to make this flower. Then I cut a mini tag with my Big Shot and a Sizzix die for the greeting. The little stamp is SU.

I encourage you to see your "ready made" products through new eyes this week. See if you can change or modify something that you have in your stash. Sometimes you find something that is not quite right...but with a little imagination you can modify it to fit - like I did with my flower. We all get so hung up on buying new stuff that we can ignore treasures that we already have in our stash! Get yours out and play!

Triple the Sketch #71

We had a sponsor this week at Triple the Sketch...Shimmerz Paints! The lovely Danielle W. is on both DTs and hooked us up! I've used similar paints before, but as you all know, I have a glitter "issue"! But with this paint, it was not bad at all. I had fun using it. I stink at painting images with it, so instead, I painted a HUGE silk flower! Worked great, so I made a bunch of them. The big Heidi Swapp flower I used on this layout was painted with Spiced Cider Shimmerz.

It's hard to see the sparkle in the photo, but it's there, trust me! I found these great Close to My Heart fibers in my stash. I have a bunch of them and totally forgot I had them. I love "shopping" in my stash!

I used edge distressing and some ink to give my papers an old world look. I wanted to really showcase this photo my dh took of Les Invalides. I used Bazzill cardstock and the papers are K&Company and Creative Imaginations.

Here is a close-up of that sparkly flower. The brad is K&Company too, I think. I lost the packaging a long time ago so can't be sure. It came that sort of copper color, which worked out great for this LO! I hope you enjoy looking at what the rest of the DT makes!

365 Cards - Going Vintage

As you can imagine, I was very excited to see that today's 365 Cards challenge was to "go vintage"! I love vintage things, even reproduction vintage, so while today is not my challenge day, I decided to play along anyway! I used a vintage postcard for my card. I found stacks of these vintage cards at a shop in Vermont. I paid $3 for 10 cards. I think I got 5 bundles of them! Some are even written on and stamped with a postmark! Very cool! This one was blank but the postage fee was 1 cent! Love it.

I made a card from black SU cardstock and roughed up the edges, then added some Graphic 45 paper, which I also roughed up a bit.

I added some lace, rick rack, pom-pom trim, and sheer ribbon to keep with the vintage feel.

I just love the red and yellow on the postcard! I should scan these cards and print more. I think if stuff is 100 years old there is no copyright any more...hmmmm... Have to check on that. Hope you enjoyed my vintage card. I'll have a scrapbook page tomorrow for Triple the Sketch, so check back!

My Scrappy Space plus a 365 Cards Challenge

Before I show you the card challenge for 365 Cards, I wanted to show you my scrappy space. I've posted my space before, but I did some reorg since then and thought I'd post again. I share this large loft space with our homeschool, but this area is all for my scrap stuff. I have nice storage and a huge work desk. It's not my "dream space" but it's the best use of the space for what I can afford right now.

I have tons of storage in the draws and cabinets. I also have extra work surface for my trimmer and things.

I finally got all my clear stamps into CD cases or CTMH cases. I need to buy one more storage basket but will wait until the collection grows again. This is a never ending storage battle. I have all my wood mounts in bins on top of the storage cabinet or in Iris carts below my desktops. It's crazy how many stamps I have!

I put all my buttons and flowers into small containers and sorted by color. It takes up more space than my other bins, but is so much easier to find what I want by color.

Here are my paper racks. Each is about 6+ feet tall and holds all my paper and cardstock. Except for Christmas and Fall/Halloween. The big drawers behind the desk are filled with those papers. It's crazy. Really.

Here is a blurry photo of some of the shelves I have. This used to be just a few shelves, but I've slowly taken over more and more space! Now that older ds is graduated from our homeschool, I took over all his shelves! We have 6 of these tall book shelves for homeschool and I've taken over 2 of them! It's a sickness...

Ok, now that you got a peek at my workspace, here is the card for 365 Cards. Today we were to make a school-themed card. I think I'll send this to my BFF's dd for her high school graduation.

I used Bo Bunny and Basic Grey papers. The 3-D stickers are Daisy Hill and the "tape measure" sticker is Making Memories.

The compass is a K&Company charm. I used twine to tie it to the card.

Here is a view of the dimension of the card. It was fun to make. I don't get a chance to make school-ish cards since I am the kids' teacher! My oldest started college yesterday and so far he's enjoying himself. He'll be at home for at least 2 more years before transferring to one of the UC campuses. So, it will be two years before I can take over his room for Gloria's Scrap Emporium! hee hee

365 Cards - Monogram Monday

The 365 Cards Challenge for today is to use a monogram on your card. Since today is my son Jonah's 9th birthday, I decided to make him a card. I used a Basic Grey chipboard "J" which I covered with some Cosmo Cricket paper for my monogram.

I got this card idea from the new Stampin' Up catalog. I saw a card in there with a similar design to this, and really liked it, so I made one that was similar.

I used some ribbon that Alison sent me in my Midnight Oil Scrapbook Designs DT box. Then I added some twine to a button and attached the button to the ribbon.

The little birthday stamp is from a Stampin' Up set. All the paper is Cosmo Cricket and the cardstock is Bazzill (blue) and Close to My Heart (orange).

I sanded all around the monogram with my Basic Grey files, just to distress it a bit. I edged the paper with ink, and sanded the edges of the orange paper to reveal the white core. Lots of lovely layers on this card!

Please join me in wishing Jonah a very happy 9th birthday! He's very excited about turning 9. Hopefully I'll have some photos scrapped before he turns 10!

365 Cards - Sketchy Sunday, August 23rd

Time for another 365 Cards sketch! I used some new Basic Grey paper and some great flowers that I got in my August ASD kit.

The big brad is a Bazzill brad from my stash. I wanted this card to sort of look like an envelope, but I decided I did not have the mojo to make it into a real envie. I'm slow getting started after my vacation!

I love all the detail on the flowers. I must find more of these! Speaking of flowers...I totally reorganized and sorted all my flowers and buttons, plus my clear stamps! I will show some photos of my new space on Wednesday!

Triple the Sketch #70

Yes, I am BACK from my travels! Safe and sound. We all got a mild stomach bug, or maybe food poisoning, at my in-laws...but we are none the worse for wear. And it was over before we had to get on the plane from Hartford, CT to San Diego!!! It was a long trip and had it's moments, but it was good to see all the extended family on both sides, many of whom we'd not seen in nearly 8 years. I am so happy to be home. I love So. Cal. and am so at peace to be home again! Now, for a card...

I'm revealing Triple the Sketch #70 today. I've used these Heidi Grace papers before, but they are so cute, I wanted to use them again. The good thing about card making is that you use so little paper really, that you can get lots of cards from a few sheets.

This card is a tad smaller than 6x6. I had a "cutting error" so had to go smaller. Happens. I used a Unity stamp for the message. I really wish I had the funds to buy more of those stamps. I keep hoping I'll have a windfall and get to order more. Like I need more stamps. (insert huge eye roll here)

The Prima flowers are from a can I got on sale at the craft store. I added the Bazzill pearls and a button to "jazz" them up. I also used a bit of twine. Not a very fancy card, but it turned out cute.

Tune in for some other cards in the next few days!

365 Cards - Double Duty

I am pretty sure this is one of those days when I cheated. Pam told us to make a card that did "double duty." She said make a card that was also "something else" and to "think outside the box." Well, that's just asking for me to get into trouble! So I thought WAY out of the box, and...well...used a bag!

I decorated a brown lunch bag, so that the bag is also the card. I don't care if I did cheat, because I LOVE how this turned out. I had a blast making it and really could have sat and made bag cards all day! The paper is all Sassafras from a pad I got at Michael's ON SALE. I went to a new Michael's in Albany with my friends when I was visiting them, and...it was da bomb, baby! I so wish we'd get a new store here!

That super cute pom-pom trim was given to my by my pal Jacquie. She does not have a blog, so I can't send you there. I wish she did as she's very talented, esp. with mini-albums!

I used one of the cardstock stickers from the Sassafras pad, but attached it to a large Bazzill circle. Then I stamped the message with timber brown Staz-On and an Inkadinkado stamp. The birthday greeting is an old Close to My Heart stamp.

I also distressed the edges of the paper and added a big button and some twine to give the "card" a more casual feel. This is a perfect size bag for a small gift. I look forward to making some of these at Christmas to hold goodies for my neighbors!

Thanks for looking! I get home from my trip tomorrow, so will be back with you "in person" starting the 19th. That also means that I will be visiting blogs again and leaving profound and pithy comments...stay tuned...

365 Cards - Sketchy Sunday - August 16

Time again for the 365 Cards sketch. I had a great idea for this sketch, but it did not come together as planned, so I had to scrap it and try again. I have a stack of "orphan paper" on my table. Paper that I only have one sheet of the paper line, or paper that I am not sure why I purchased it, or paper that will NEVER be used in my scrapbooks, etc. It's perfect for card making, so that's why I grabbed this Doodlebug leaf paper. But once I started it was not as easy to work with as I thought!

I ended up using some ribbon scraps and a Making Memories buckle, but it just looked...wrong somehow. I changed ribbon colors a few times. This purple gingham seemed to work best with the felt scallop. I liked the softness of the textures and colors.

But, it was still...off. So I added two mulberry paper flowers to it and that seemed to be just what it needed!

Then I wanted to stamp onto the paper, but due to the bulk I only stamped part of the word "thinking" so had to write the rest by hand with a Sharpie! Such work, this card making hobby. I took a nap after all that!

PS - for another one of my vintage cards, see my post from yesterday. It's a TTS reveal and uses Graphic 45 papers!

Triple the Sketch #69

It's time again to reveal a Triple the Sketch card! This is sketch #69. I went vintage again this week! More Graphic 45 papers. Those guys really should make me a member of their DT or give me free goodies for all the promoting I do! (giggle)

This is a 6x6 card and is a yummy red/black/cream combo. I did some fussy cutting and used some foam tape to make a collage.

The ribbon was out of my stash of craft store ribbons. I think I got the stick pin in an Apron Strings Designs kit. I stamped the sentiment inside, but forgot to take a photo.

Thanks for looking!

365 Cards - Art Glitter Week - Try a Technique

OK, day 2 of 365 Cards Art Glitter Week. I am still alive. I have not fallen into a glitter coma! I had the "try a technique" challenge again this week. And the technique to try was masking. I had planned to use the Tim Holtz masks, but Pam threw me a curve ball and also gave us glitter! I did not want any glitter touching my masks, so, I tried the technique (sort of) that the Art Glitter folks explain in their literature. It worked pretty well, but I don't think I did it like they wanted me to. I sort of just looked at the supplies and did my own thing. I'm sort of like a man in that I don't read directions! Which is scary since in my former career I WROTE directions in the form of technical manuals!

The glitter came with some sheets of sticker paper and a piece of lace. I placed the lace onto the sticker paper and spooned on the gold glitter. Then I removed the lace (it does not stick down very well, so is easy to lift off). Once the lace was removed, I spooned red glitter onto the open spaces, which gave me this tapestry look.

I did not have a glitter fixative, so in making the rest of the card, glitter went everywhere. I did faint a few times, but avoided a coma! The white lace trim and flower are both from Michael's Craft Store.

I stamped a greeting on the inside with white ink. This sure sparkles. My husband really loved this card, but he was super surprised to see me working with loose glitter. He had to revive me a few times. That part was pretty fun. (wink) I do love the look of glitter, but playing with loose glitter is still...just not my thing.

I hope you have a chance to visit the Art Glitter site to see all the amazing stuff they have. I want to thank them for so generously giving the DT supplies to work with. I won't be playing the whole week like I normally do when we have a sponsor, due to my travel schedule. But...you may see more glitter stuff later...OR I may have a glitter RAK...stay tuned!

PS - make sure you check out my post for August 8th to see the Triple the Sketch reveal. I am very proud of that project!

365 Cards - Art Glitter Week - Sketchy Sunday

This is Art Glitter Week at 365 Cards! Art Glitter is our sponsor this week, and they sent the DT tons of glitter and goodies to play with. Now, I know there are some of you rolling on the floor with laughter right now because you know that I have, shall we say, a glitter phobia! And it was very scary for me to play with the glitter! But...I put on my big girl pants and rolled up my sleeves and just dived right in! I looked like had swam around in a glitter puddle when I was finished! I also had an bit of a "happening." As I was trying some techniques, I had several open pots of glitter on my desk and loose glitter all over the table...when the A/C kicked on! The vent blows right onto my desk! Glitter whooshed everywhere! It was so messy. I almost fainted!

But I did manage to make a card for Sketchy Sunday!

I used two techniques for this card. First, I rubbed glue onto a large brad, then dipped it into glitter to coat it. That worked pretty well and the brad was super sparkly. I ended up making a bunch of them.

The other technique I tried was covering a chipboard frame with glitter. I had a few false starts to this before I got it perfected. I found that I had to color the tag FIRST before I added the glue and glitter, otherwise the gray chipboard showed through. For this frame, I inked it with orange ink, then spread a thin layer of glue and covered the glue with glitter.

The paper used here is Bo Bunny and I think the cardstock is Close to My Heart.

Tune in tomorrow for another glitter card.

Triple the Sketch #68

I am very excited to show you today's Triple the Sketch (#68) Reveal. I had a ton of fun making this project! I flipped the sketch upside down, and used it to alter a box. I am in love with the Graphic 45 paper, and of course LOVE all vintage stuff, so I went crazy with vintage style for this project!

I had saved this Godiva Chocolate box because it was a cool size and depth. It was the perfect item to use with this paper.

I may line the inside at some point too, but until I know what I'm putting IN the box, I will just leave it "bare."

I used some grosgrain ribbon to cover the box edge.

All of the other ribbons came out of my scrap bag, and are all different textures, there is shine and velvet, and sort of embossed - very vintage. The flowers are mulberry roses that I purchased at CropStop. My new addiction! The flowers, not buying stuff at CropStop! Honest! The leaves are petals from some green flowers. (Again, green flowers?)

I used Tim Holtz distress inks to color the tags - spiced marmalade and dried marigold. The stamps I used are Inkadinkado and Judikins (scrip text). I love the pop of orange on the paper, so wanted to bring that out in the tags.

Thanks for looking!

CropStop Friday

Here is my Friday Embossing Project for CropStop. I used some printed K&Company cardstock, which I embossed with the Sizzix Scroll embossing folder from the Wedding Set #2. After I embossed, I sanded the color off the raised image to get this look.

The sentiment is Hero Arts. I love this handwriting font! The brad is probably K&Co. too, but I no longer have the packaging for it.

I won't be posting a CropStop card for next week, but I will be in Rhode Island visiting the actual CropStop Store! How cool is that?! I am very excited to meet Haylie Jo and see the store. And perhaps to shop...hee hee.

A Big Thank You!

While I was away on my short vacation, several ladies bestowed awards upon me! Thank you all so very much. Since I am only home a few days, with a ton to do before I leave for an 11 day trip back east, I won't have time to post the awards or pass them on. I am traveling to where they don't have Internet (can you believe it?!) so can't even post to my blog from there. I will be setting up some things to post on a schedule so at least you can see my design team reveals while I'm away!

I am so sorry to drop the ball. But I did want to say how grateful I am that anyone even reads this blog, let alone likes it enough to give me an award! Thank you everyone!

365 Cards - Ad Challenge

Today at 365 Cards it's an Ad Inspired challenge. This was my first time picking the ad to use. I had fun with it. I found this ad on the Pottery Barn website. I loved the colors and the comfy feel of it. I wish I had this room in my house! Look at all those books! Yum!

I decided to make a card that pulled together the green, orange, yellow, and kraft colors. But, since tulips are my favorite flower, I wanted to use that image too.

I love how the stamp looks on this textured Bazzill paper. The colors are perfect together, even if I do admit that I don't care for yellow or orange! I liked using the kraft paper and twine to give the card that "homey" feel. And the Joy stamp is what I feel when I look at the ad.

Can't wait to see what challenges YOU about this ad.