365 Cards - Wednesday White Space

You guessed it! I am not letting the fact that I have not done any of the 365 Cards challenges for this week 100% correctly stop me from trying another one! I will be lucky if Pam does not boot me from the DT before the end of December! I am just getting her back for all those "M" challenges - plus my challenge for next Monday - the woman is mean I tell you, mean! (No more hints, so no asking me, you zealots!)

For today we were given this sketch (and my understanding) is that you can't put anything in the white space.

So here is what I made.

I used some kraft paper, which I embossed with the Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder to make the card. Then I used some strips of Cosmo Cricket Gretel paper for the edges. I added a silk flower (sprayed with glitter mist) to cover a wonky seam - plus some buttons and a Kaiser Kraft pearl. The greeting is a SU stamp, cut with Nestie dies and a SU punch. I trimmed the edges to match the sketch.

Hope I hit a home run this time...or I may have to retire! I probably won't have time to play the rest of the week, but I'll have a Friday CropStop project to show you, so make sure to check back on the weekend!

365 Cards - Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater

OK, just so I am not a total cheater...I used the pattern Pam gave us to make a little pumpkin for my witch to hold (lookie, see). I cut it out of printed paper and the stem out of brown cardstock! There! Whew!

OK, yeah, I am a smart-alec. No doubt!

365 Cards - In Pieces

The 365 Cards challenge for today is called In Pieces. Which means...paper piecing! ETA: I did not realize was supposed to use ONLY the image Pam provided until this morning. I don't have time to make a new card...so...this is a BIG TIME cheat for this challenge! So go to the 365 Cards site and get the image...ignore my card sample...LOL First off, today is NOT my challenge day, but I wanted to try to play along this week anyway. Second, I have had a migraine since last night and did not sleep very well, so I'm not totally responsible for this card. Third, I laughed the whole time I was making it because I found this Paperkins witch in my stash and just HAD to use her. She's probably older than my 9yo son!

I had a love affair with these little dudes back in the day and probably had all of them at one time. In fact I am sure I still have lots! They may come back in style...maybe I can be a TREND SETTER! I used to love paper piecing too, but now my eyesight makes it hard to see the little bits. My reading glasses are total crap. But this was not so bad as the pieces are pre-cut for the most part.

I made a card from green cardstock and grunged it up with some black ink and a Stampin' Up background stamp. The printed paper is K&Company. I even used a bit to make the witches' pants. I inked everything up and pop dotted some things. I even put some twine on the broom.

I printed the greeting on the computer and punched it out with a tag punch. I then used some green ink to give it some color. The ribbon is a scrap from my bin.

I don't normally send Halloween cards, but I have quite a stash of them now, so maybe this year I will. It's a strange "holiday" to send cards for. What exactly would I be wishing people? Tricks or treats? I don't know! My dad used to send me Halloween cards when I was in college...as an excuse to slip me $20 I think.

Ok, that's it. If I have time, I'll make a card for tomorrow...so check back! I have a meeting at church in the evening so it all depends on how my day goes.

On the Fringe - 365 Cards Monday Challenge

The 365 Cards challenge for today is "on the fringe." Which means you have to have fringe on at least 2 sides of your card. This was really hard. And I ended up using some very funky velvet trim that I found at Walmart. It's not really "fringe" but close enough. Right? Plus, that trim is so yummy!

The cute paper is new from My Mind's Eye. I just picked it up a few weeks ago at the LSS. I purchased the whole line!

The stamp is a Christmas set from Close to My Heart. I traced the stamp with silver glitter pen. I also added some glitter accent to the stars on the paper. The card is very simple, but I just love the cute trees! And the colors. Just right for a San Diego Christmas!

365 Cards Sketchy Sunday - Sept. 27th

It's the last Sunday in September! Can you believe it?! I am longing for fall weather, but I know that we are in for at least another month of "summer" here. It's been hot and even a bit humid lately. I know we are in the teeth of fire season and Santa Anna winds. I am longing for sweater weather. Ok, hoodie weather!

Speaking of hot, here is Pam's hot sketch for today! When I first saw this sketch I said, "EASY!"

Alas, it did not turn out to be an easy card to make! It was a hard one for me. I could not get it right and am still not 100% happy with the results. But I did get to use my September ASD kit! The papers are Pink Paislee. I love the Asian feel.

The lace ribbon was part of the kit too, as was the stick pin. The cardstock is a piece of Bazzill Bling I found in my stash.

I stamped the sentiment (Close to My Heart) and then cut it apart. I like the casual look. The small mulberry flowers were in my MOSD kit. (To see my September MOSD project, click here.)

I love stick pins. I tend to hoard them and wish I could find some nice ones in bulk...for cheap!

OK! That's my last September sketch for 365 Cards! Check back tomorrow for my Monday challenge! It was a HARD one too! But at least it does not start with "M"! And that's all the hint you get!

September MOSD Reveal

I reveal my MOSD DT projects the 25th of each month, so today is my day!

I decided to use the clear cover from a Big Boy album to make a Halloween wall hanging for my project. The Big Boy album is 6x12 and comes with 2 acrylic covers and 6 chipboard pages. I have a few orphan covers and pages here, and thought this would be a fun size for a wall hanging. (click on the photo to see a larger view)

Here is a close up view of the calendar.

And of the vintage postcard and pom-pom trim.

If you want to see the project details, visit the MOSD blog. Make sure you take a peek at what the rest of the DT has made for the month of September!

365 Cards Monday Color Scheme

The 365 Cards Challenge for today is to use this Color Scheme.

I don't think Pam has ever given me a color scheme before, or if she has it's been a while. I don't normally care for color schemes because I'm never sure if I have to use ALL the colors or just some of them, or if I can use different shades of the colors, or what. That's why I'm more of a sketch kind of gal. But it just so happens that I went to my LSS last week and picked up a sheet of double sided Bo Bunny paper that was PERFECT for this color scheme!

I added the gold Close to My Heart textured cardstock and the dark aqua ribbon, and TA DA! I also put one of my Martha Stewart punches to work, plus my new Nestability Labels One die.

Check out the pearl that I glued to the small button. That's a left over from one of the Mac Mae Card Kits. Way to use my left overs! I think this turned out to be a yummy combination. I also love the fact that the paper was sort of trendy on one side and more vintage on the other. It really looks cool together!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember - I love reading your comments so don't be shy!

365 Cards Sketchy Sunday for Sept. 20th PLUS A RAK WINNER!

I loved the 365 Cards sketch for today! I've also decided to start showing you the sketch on my blog so you can see how I followed it...or didn't!

I've been wanting to make a circle card for some time now, and this was the perfect sketch to use! (Ok, so this is an oval...still!) I used the Creative Memories oval cutting system to cut two ovals from Stampin' Up black cardstock. I joined them at the top with a "hinge" so the card would open properly, but still be a nice oval shape.

I used some of my NEW Basic Grey Eerie paper for the card front. This is so cute...spiders and all. I put some Stickles on the spiders, just to fancy them up! In the photo above, the card is open, but the weight of the flowers and the wood word are making it cant to one side...so here's another shot.

I used flowers in place of the circles on the sketch. The wood word is from Lil Davis - I found it in a bargain bin at the 2008 Scrapbook Expo.

The greeting stamp is a wood mount Studio g stamp that I found in my stash. It sure stamps a nice, crisp image!

So that's my card for today! Tune in tomorrow for my Monday challenge - it's an easy one for a change!

Now for the RAK WINNER! I promised to draw for a RAK from everyone who had posted to the Triple the Sketch Blog Hop...and by random draw...the winner is.....

ROSE

Rose said:
beautiful card as always lady!! love the bird stamp with that paper :) and good for you using it instead of hording as now you'll have room for some new paper!! lol :)
the second card is my kind of halloween card :) as we dont celebrate that holliday. have a great weekend :)

I promise this was NOT a fix! My daughter did the random draw and Rose came up the winner! So Rose, send me your addy and I'll get your RAK out to you!

Cards For Heroes

I was able to send 56 cards to my Cards for Heroes contact. Thanks Vicki for passing them on! I also want to thank the gals at Redeemer by the Sea scrapbooking club for donating about 18 cards and my AMAZING pals in the Triple S Sisterhood for donating another 15! The rest came from my stash and I feel so happy that God placed me on so many card design teams so I could make cards to give away! Here is a peek at what they look like spread all over the floor of my craft room! Click on the photo for a closer look!

I do have tons more cards, but the CFH folks only wanted standard A2 size and NO glitter. So all my odd sized cards and glittery cards will either be used for my own purposes or given to my church Elder Care program to bless our elderly, ill, and shut-in folks.

I hope the Lord continues to bless my efforts to use my craft abilities for His will. It brings me great joy and I love knowing that something I have made will make others happy!

CropStop Friday!

I wanted to show you the card I made for the Friday Embossing project at CropStop. I used my new Cuttlebug Owl Flourish folder. I kept saying I was NOT getting into owls since I have no idea why they are so popular...well, seems I am on the bandwagon after all. I have Cricut owls, Cuttlebug owls, owl stamps, and even owl paper! Oh how the mighty have fallen!

He is pretty cute! I embossed and sanded, naturally!I cut a label shape with my Nesties to jazz up the front of the card. That fun paper is Bo Bunny.

My friend Melody inspired me to decorate the INSIDE of the card. Go visit her blog here. She's a FANTASTIC card maker and scrapper!

You also may want to take part in my CropStop Weekly Challenge! It's an Ad Challenge and involves cupcakes! Go see here.

365 Cards Mosaic Monday

Was everyone confused by my card yesterday!? I like to keep you on your toes. I don't want you to think I am in a style rut, so wanted to mix it up with that fun paper yesterday! I am a woman of mystery! And surprises. Then, again...today...the card is all me...vintage and messy.

Pam loves giving me "M" challenges for Monday - musical, manic, monogram, Mother's Day, etc. Today she gave me Mosaic Monday. The challenge is to create a mosaic of some variety on your card. I admit, when I read that I groaned aloud! I do NOT like mosaic art...at all. But, I am nothing if not a good sport, so I put my nose to the grindstone and made a mosaic card! (I'm still waiting for Mish Mash Monday...but maybe I should not give Pam any ideas!)

First I needed to nail down my mosaic. I looked through my stash and just was NOT inspired. Then I had a light bulb moment. I flashed back to creating deco squares (I think they call them inchies now...). So taking that idea, I decided to stamp a background image and then cut it into 1" squares. So I stamped the Stampin' Up Paisley background stamp onto white cardstock with Tim Holtz shabby shutters distress ink. After I cut the design into squares I attached them to black cardstock and then distressed them with vintage photo ink. I did not want the mosaic to overpower my card, so I decided to make a sort of collage out of the card front.

The tag was included in my LSS kit for September. I stamped on it, inked it, scrunched it, sprayed it, etc. Now it looks properly vintage!

I used some Spellbinders dies to cut flowers from some of the stamped background, and inked it up with vintage photo ink. The greeting stamp is SU, stamped with shabby shutters ink. Oh, and check out the fibers. I have a bin of fibers, most of which I've had for YEARS and YEARS. But once in a while, I like them better than ribbon. This is one of those projects that just screamed FIBERS!

Now, are you all happy that my card looked more "me"? Don't worry...I have lots more of that fun My Little Shoebox paper so you're sure to see it again!

365 Cards Sketchy Sunday - Sept. 13th

Time again for another 365 Cards Sketch. I cannot believe it's already Sept. 13th! Where on earth does the time go?! OK, on to the sketch challenge! This was a hard sketch! I looked at it and looked at it, and then ended up turning it sideways.

Do you love this paper?! I just got it at the LSS on Tuesday. It's from My Little Shoebox. I picked up a whole stack of this line. It's very cute. Not my normal thing, but it was too cute to pass up. Plus I was in rebellion that none of the new fall and Halloween papers appealed to me this year. I only ended up with 2 sheets of the Basic Grey Eerie line! How sad is that!?

Anyway, I used a punch to make the photo corners and then attached a button to each corner. I love buttons, and now that mine are all sorted into bins by color, I love them even more!

For my oval shape, I cut a sheet of the frosted plastic from Short Cuts. They were a 365 Cards sponsor a while ago and I still have some product left over. I used my Creative Memories oval cutting system, and it worked very well cutting the plastic. I used some chalk ink to edge the oval, just to make it show up on the paper. I then stamped my greeting onto the plastic with Staz-On ink. The fun blue flower was something I picked up at Joann's at some point. These satin flowers come in packs of various colors.

Tune in tomorrow for my 365 Cards Monday card challenge. It's a doozy!

Day Two of the Triple the Skecth Blog Hop!

Welcome to the second day of a Special Two-day Triple the Sketch Blog Hop! Many of you have read all the details about why the Design Team is doing this special blog hop at the Triple the Sketch Blog. If not, the reason for the hop is that Patter is closing down the Triple the Sketch site due to the Lord calling her to serve Him in a different way. I hope you will join me in wishing Patter and the rest of the DT all the best!

I've only been part of the TTS DT since January or February, but have forged a wonderful bond with the other DT members, and with Patter. You will not meet a nicer, more talented bunch of Christian ladies! I am honored and humbled to have been part of the DT.

Now...go visit TTS and see sketches #75 and #76, then start hopping!

You should be coming to me from Elizabeth's blog. If not, go there first. If you've come from Elizabeth's blog, you are in the right place! Make sure to leave a comment on this post and on yesterday's post for a chance to win a RAK from me! If you leave one comment each day you double your chance of winning!

Here are my cards!

This is my card for Sketch #75. This was a very nice sketch, but a bit hard for me to adapt to card making. I ended up using some of my new Basic Grey paper (instead of hoarding it!). I also used some very old stamps, plus some very new sparkly stickers. This is not my normal type of card, but it was fun to use the Asian stamp set. It was well loved back in the 1990's but it's not seen much use lately.

I added one of the sparkly 3-D stickers to a crochet flower. I hope it stays stuck! Here are the card details:

Card size: 6x6
Cardstock: Bazzill, Stampin' Up, DCWV
Printed paper: Basic Grey
Stickers: EK Success
Stamps: Stampin' Up
Ink: Staz-On, Colorbox Chalk
Pen: Gelly Roll (glitter pen)
Colored pencils: EK Success, Crayola
Flower:hand made
Ribbon: unknown
Candy dots: Pebbles
Tools: Spellbinders dies, Big Shot

Here is my card for Sketch #76. I was digging around in my fall and Halloween stash, but decided I did not want to start making Halloween cards in September. But, I found some great We R Memory Keepers papers that I had purchased last summer at the Expo, and decided I liked the colors. So I ended up with this card.

I decided the grungy feel of the paper would go well with some distressing and embossing. I embossed the orange paper with a Cuttlebug folder (distress stripes) but the paper tore. I then had the idea to just go with that, and crumpled and sanded everything!

The letters are We R Memory Keepers metal letters. They are pretty light-weight for metal letters, so should not jack up the cost of mailing the card! Here are the card details:

size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
Cardstock: We R Memory Keepers

Printed paper: We R Memory Keepers
Metal letters: We R Memory Keepers

Flowers: unknown
Button: vintage
Tools: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Big Shot, Close to My Heart edge tool, Stampin' Up sanding block

Make sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a RAK. Now, hop on over to Jen's blog to continue the TTS blog hop! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will visit again soon!

Patter will be keeping the TTS blog "live" but it will no longer be updated. You can go and see past sketches and get inspiration from the site, just be aware that there will be no new posts after today. You can come HERE and visit me anytime! If you want to Follow or Subscribe to my blog, just click the link over to the left. I'm happy you came to visit me today! I'll announce my RAK next week!

Special Two-day Triple the Sketch Blog Hop!

Welcome to a Special Two-day Triple the Sketch Blog Hop! To read all the details about why the Design Team is doing this special blog hop, hop on over to the Triple the Sketch Blog. Read Patter's special announcement, see sketches #73 and #74, then start hopping!

You should be coming to me from Elizabeth's blog. If not, go there first. If you've come from Elizabeth's blog, you are in the right place! Make sure to leave a comment on this post and on tomorrow's post for a chance to win a RAK from me! If you leave one comment each day you double your chance of winning!

Now here are my cards!

This is my card for Sketch #73. I decided to give summer one last gasp, since it's still summer weather here in San Diego County. We get our hottest weather August through mid November, which stinks for me. I love fall weather (well, the kind of fall weather you get in Pennsylvania, or Upstate New York, or New England, the kind I grew up with!) Most of the supplies for this card came from my July TNT kit (from my LSS club).

I added some faux stitching to this card...since I cannot use my daughter's sewing machine to save my life! It looks pretty cool. My SB Club pals were amazed that I did some free hand "stitching" since I crab about how I stink at doodling. Here are the card details:

Card size: 5x5
Cardstock: Bazzill
Printed paper: Bo Bunny
Sticker: Bo Bunny (relax)
Stamps: Close to My Heart (fun in the sun, summer)
Ink: Staz-On
Pen: Sharpie (for drawing the faux stitching)
Staples: Making Memories
Flowers: Prima, Stampin' Up (felt)
Button: Making Memories
Floss: DMC
Ribbon: TNT kit
Tools: Spellbinders dies, Big Shot, stapler

Here is my card for Sketch #74. (I rotated the sketch.) I needed a card for my best friend's younger daughter, who graduated homeschool high school this spring. I am very late getting the card off to my "fake dd" (sorry Shannon!). I had a hard time deciding what to make. I found this scripture stamp in my stash and felt it was perfect for this particular student.

I used my Close to My Heart tool to grunge up the paper and some old MAMBI cardstock photo stickers to convey that school feel.

I die cut the flowers from an old dictionary. Even old, falling apart books have lots of life in them! Here are the card details:

size: 51/2 x 4 1/4
Cardstock: Close to My Heart, Stampin' Up
Printed paper: Scenic Route
Stickers: Me and My Big Ideas
Stamp: unknown
Ink: Staz-On
Flowers: cut from an old book using Spellbinders dies
Button: vintage
Floss: DMC
Tools: Spellbinders dies, Big Shot, Close to My Heart edge tool

Make sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a RAK. Now, hop on over to Jen's blog to continue the TTS blog hop! Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to come back tomorrow to see Sketches #75 and 76!

Before I leave, I want to send up a prayer for the fallen 9/11 Victims. May you rest in the arms of Jesus and may the ones you left behind receive His comfort today.

365 Cards - Musical Monday

The Sassy Studio Designs image I had to work with today is Sock Hop Sweetheart. She's adorable! Really! Thanks to the gals at SSD for the great images to play with. Pam gave me a musical 365 Cards challenge today...to use the song "Chantilly Lace" by the Big Bopper. This is a fun song and so easy to make a card using the image I chose!

I made a 6x6 card from black Bazzill, then sponged some blue ink onto a white panel. I then embossed a blue panel with the Cuttlebug paisley EF. I used DCWV cardstock for the embossing so that I could sand off some of the color to reveal the white core. I did a lot of matting for the card base.

I printed my image at about 5 inches tall, and colored it with colored pencil and marker. I sponged the edges with blue chalk ink. I decided not to matt the image, but to pop-dot it off the card instead.

I found the ice cream button in my stash and felt it added just the right touch...along with the polka dot ribbon. The little stamp is SU, as is the tag punch I used.

Announcement: Please join me on Friday and Saturday (September 11 and 12) for a special Triple the Sketch Blog Hop!

I Am Still Here!

I have not posted since last Monday! GASP! The week got away from me. We were so busy with school and life that I did not get a chance to post! I have a few things to show you, including the 365 Cards Sketch Challenge for today! But first...yesterday was my 22nd wedding anniversary! I thought I'd share this wedding photo of dh and me. Plus our family photo from '07, which is the most recent professional photo of all of us. We've come a long way! I told dh I hope we can live to celebrate our 60th! That's my goal! Anyway, here we are in 1987.

Ok, here is the whole crew in 2007. The kids have changed a bit, but dh and I look just the same as 2 years ago!

Now, on to the 365 Cards challenge. We have a sponsor this week! Sassy Studio Designs! Each DT member got the Princess Penelope digital image to play with for today's sketch. It was HARD to use the image and follow the sketch, but I did my best!

I ended up coloring Penelope with pencils and markers. I love to combine rich purple and green, so tried it here. I am not the best at coloring, but it came out ok. I also used a stamp from Pink Persimmon for my greeting.

I added Stickles to some ares to make the jewels shine. I also made a handle for her mask and placed it in her hand.

I also wanted to show you my CropStop project for Friday. I used two Cuttlebug embossing folders for this: Swiss Dots and Argyle.

The paper for this card is Cosmo Cricket.

And last is my Triple the Sketch #72 reveal. I used some very old paper for this card, but painted my flower with my new Shimmerz paint. The TTS DT got some Shimmerz to play with for last week, and I used the bubblegum on this flower.

I pulled some Stampin' Up rub-ons out of my stash, plus a strip of gingham fabric. I think the card turned out soft and pretty.

Thanks for visiting today. Leave a comment - I love reading all the notes! I'll be back tomorrow with my Monday 365 Cards challenge...and another Sassy Studio Designs image!