Here we go

I worked on a few cards tonight! Yippeee! The first card is for the color challenge and the sketch challenge for this week. Love Cruisabella! The next one is that flap fold card from Technique Junkies that I loveeeeeee to make. I used that designer paper I can never remember the name of, from SU. Just wanted to make another card like that! The next card is last weeks color challenge, I had to laugh because she said she had to come up with a color challenge without celery. Of course I always (practically) use blue. So I understood where she was coming from. The last one is a sympathy card I made for a challenge real quick. Love how the square card worked out.

I also had to add one picture of my little one at Sea World, I think it is self-explanatory! What a fun trip! Loved the Nickelodeon Hotel, I think I will post some pictures of that next time.

I'm Back!

I was away on vacation and I didn't announce it beforehand because, well, it is remotely possible (ok very remotely) someone could figure out my address and ... ok I am paranoid! So anyway, we were gone for a week to Orlando. I haven't done any cards yet but I am itching! I hope to get to work tonight, missed a whole weeks worth of challenges and I am having major withdrawals!

I will post again tonight or tomorrow when I have something to show you :)

Flip and Fold Mini Album (aka Jacobs Ladder)

This is what I made for my hubby for Father's Day. It is called a Jacobs Ladder flip and fold mini photo album. It is so much fun! I love to flip it back and forth over and over, almost didn't want to give it to him! I might make another one, it really is easy to make, just time consuming. The directions are here Splitcoast Stampers. I also made the box out of card stock, you can buy the kit at clubscrap.com but boxes are super easy to make. The tutorial calls for those blank chipboard coasters. I used card stock and did not use the chipboard, it is sturdy enough without it. I made it plain and simple on the outside since it is for his desk at work, that way it isn't too crafty for a professional environment. The inside I decorated a little more but kept it masculine and clean, just the way he likes things. No frills for him! OK so I did use a little ribbon. Think he will notice?!

The last picture I tried to show how it climbs down the ribbon as you flip it back and forth but I don't think it really shows you how it moves. For that you have to go to the web-site I listed above. It is a great tutorial and I also printed a copy for reference. I hope someone makes this and lets me know what they think!

More cards!!!

I am a card makin' fool this week LOL! Here are three more cards. The first two are for the sketch challenge this week, I used the leftovers from the first card to make the second. The colors are olive, not quite navy and ruby red. The first one has chocolate for the background and the second one has kraft card stock. I bought 2 of Autumn Leaves clear stamps sets and I find it interesting now that I am seeing Stampin Up's new sets, Baroque Motif and Pick a Petal are very similar! That is what I used on these cards. The third card is for the color challenge, coral, celery and chocolate with turquoise optional (of course I used it, it's blue isn't it? LOL!) I used the Serene Sunflower set and stamped it in coral - weird or what? A coral sunflower! I put microbeads over the chocolate center. Looks cool in person. I also used my Cuttlebug to emboss the celery background.

With the Splitcoast website down I am finding I have a lot of spare time! Goes to show me how much time I spend on that website, hmmmm. I got a lot of house work done today anyways! I hope it is back up soon :)

Oh and for those that asked, my son's first swim meet couldn't have gone worse but he was awesome, hung in there and was so good! What happened was a big thunderstorm and rain. They won't let the kids in the pool for 30 minutes after hearing the last sound of thunder. We got there at 4:45 and it got delayed 6 times! They didn't even get in the pool until almost 8pm! His bed time is 8pm! He was worn out and hungry. We didn't bring food with us but I bought him a hot dog. I had no idea they would do this, I guess I thought they would cancel it but no and the kids all were so excited with it being the first meet of the summer. So all in all he seemed to take it all in stride and we will hope for the best for next week!

Cards for the Day

Here are a couple more cards, the sunflower one is for the technique challenge. It was to make a card that looks like tile. So I got out my grid template, sponged on marigold ink, stamped on sunflowers, embossed with UTEE and there you have it! It looks just like tile in person. I was having trouble sponging the ink on evenly so I gave up trying to get it even and I think it looks even better like this.

The next card is another stamp I got from Artist Oasis. I CASEd a card from stampinkub- unbelievable cards this young man makes! I used eggplant and celery again, just a nice combo.

The last one is for the featured stamper challenge, the card I cased from her was horizontal and she used a butterfly. I just loved how soft the color combo was and the white edging is something I had never done before! Gives it a reverse distressed look (don't know how to explain that one!).

Hopefully later tonight I will have time to do the card for the color challenge. I will be busy this afternoon and evening with my little one's first swim meet! It is an 'away' meet. The store got his team suit in today, just in time. We drove up there to get it so he will have it for the meet. So exciting, I think I am as excited as he is! I will be sure to bring my camera.

Fun Card from TJ

The cards are called 'flap fold' from the June Technique Junkies newsletter, love this newsletter! For Technique Junkies click here And it is relatively inexpensive too! Great ideas on how to use lots of different products from alcohol inks to chalk etc. Anyway I used Basic Grey paper and Prima flowers which are held onto the ribbon with brads. Then I used red liner tape to adhere the ribbon to the card, and a red jewel to finish it. The colors are lilac, olive and pumpkin! Crazy huh? But they seem to look good together. The second picture is another one I did, such a fun card to make! I used the same paper pack and card stock but this time I used the Cuttlebug to emboss the diamond part and then used the Cbug again to die cut the layered flower. That is a flower brad in the center. I also am showing what it looks like when you open it. I stamped the birds inside because I felt like I had to stamp something!

Thank you to Artist Oasis

This is a card I made today with a stamp I just got at Artist Oasis. I am making it for them as a thank you card. They are wonderful people (Marsha and Renee) and are talented,gracious and generous. They sent a customer appreciation discount and a birthday gift card to me, I went in and they let me use both at the same time! So I got a couple of stamps and the paper trimmer I have been wanting for a long time. I have been a customer for several years at several stores in the area and none of them have ever sent gift cards or anything! I am so thrilled with my things! I can't say enough good things about them and the store, it has not only stamping supplies but real artist supplies, scrapbooking supplies and wonderful classes and get-togethers. I wish all of you could go to this store! I hope it does well for years and years to come. It is a shame when our local scrapbook stores go out of business, we have had three of them go in the last year and a half. I know it is so hard to compete with AC Moore and Michaels and such with the prices and coupons they have but the local ones give so much more back to us in the way of help, classes, time and genuine customer service. OK I have gone on enough!

The card is made with:
marigold morning card stock stamped with the canvas stamp in marigold ink
buckaroo blue card stock
pumpkin pie card stock embossed with Cuttlebug folder and paper pierced
flower stamp colored with water color wonder crayons in various blues and violet and used stickles here and there on it
dragonfly eyelet
Cuttlebug die cut tag on marigold with waxed linen to hold it to a grosgrain blue ribbon
All edges sponged with marigold

No Blue!

The color challenge didn't have blue! So here are two cards I made with no blue on them. One is for the color challenge, ruby, eggplant and celery. The other one is for the sketch challenge and I used two of the color challenge colors that I liked together. I miss my blue. But seriously need to branch out some so these colors are great! Who would think purple and green would look good together.

School is out for my oldest now too! Summer is here, 90 degrees, pool, swim team, summer camp - woo hoo! Fun, fun, wish I was a kid again :)

Happy Monday

A new week! They just keep flying by! I made this cute card today for the technique lovers challenge. It is an origami fold shirt and of course I couldn't resist making it into a Father's Day card! I was looking at my cards I have been posting and I realized I have used blue in almost every single card! That should be my new challenge, no blue. Let's see what the color challenge tomorrow will be, any bets blue will be in it?

I am so proud of my lil one, he let the butterflies free! I think he could tell they were not doing so hot, we had sugar water in there for them but I think I convinced him they wanted to fly outside and enjoy life. So he bravely took them out and set each one of them on a day lily flower and I know he felt proud of himself too :) Hard things for a 5 year old. He is a sweet boy :)