ABC Challenges (ABC47) - Use 3 or More DSP and Freshly Made Sketches

Hello friends and followers - happy last day of September, 2013.  Wow - time flies right on by - sometimes so fast I can't hardly remember which day it is :o)  That, I'm told is a sign of old age - but I refuse to accept that.  Our challenge this week at ABC Challenges is to make a card using 3 or More DSP (designer or patterned papers).  I've used 4 DSP patterns.  Here's what I came up with to share with and inspire you: 

Still having fun with my new Envelope Punch (Stampin Up!) to make coordinating envelopes for my cards.  I got my order of new papers in the mail on Saturday so I couldn't wait to use them for this challenge.  This paper is called "Sweater Weather" (SU) - how perfect is that for Fall?  I'm so cold all the time that sweater weather for me starts rather early (sometimes late August - definitely early September) and sometimes lasts into June.  I found this die cut in my Stash pile - I remember buying it years ago for a scrapbook page layout on Thanksgiving that still hasn't come to pass, so I thought I'd use it for this card.  Honestly, I can't remember what the idea what that I had in mind at the time - and I'm not sure when I'm going to get back to scrapbooking much.   I'm rather tickled with how it turned out!  The overall size is 5 1/2" square.  

I'm also entering my card this week in the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #105 since I used their great sketch for my inspiration and design.  As you can see I substituted a circle for the middle square.

The other lovely ladies over at ABC Challenges have also made some terrific cards to share with you this week.  I sure hope that you will go visit them and say "Hi" and that you will decide to join our challenge this week.  I feel very grateful to be part of such a wonderful team and to get the opportunity to visit each of your blogs each week to leave notes and get more inspiration.  

Thanks for continuing to support us at ABC Challenges!   Til next time dear friends and followers...hugs and happy crafting! D

A Fall Thank You for - MOJO Monday 312, ATCAS #23, & CAS-ual Fridays #115

Hello dear friends and followers. Fall is definitely in the air and there are lots of challenges out there featuring a Fall or Autumn theme.  It's been a long time since I've done a card outside of my DT responsibilities so I thought I'd give it a go again.  The laundry, cleaning and cooking just had to wait today 'cause mama wanted to play in her craft room :o).

Here's what I made today (using some of my new DSP that I got in the mail yesterday!):

I'm entering my card in MOJO Monday #312  since my card is based on this sketch below:

I felt like this sketch was a good one to use as CAS (lots of open space - mine is colored instead of white,  and few embellishments) so I'm also entering my card in the following challenges as well:  

Addicted to CAS (ATCAS #23) - Code Word: Autumn/Fall

CAS-ual Fridays CFC115 - Fall Colors with a Leaf

And finally, since my sentiment on the front is text language (aka "teen speak") for Thanks or Thank you (I get this one a lot in text messages from my kids), I'm also entering my card in   

My Time to Craft Challenge #236 - Thank You.

I just realized that I didn't do any stamping on this card - I used all die cuts and/or punches.  Seems odd when I do that.  I did stamp a sentiment on the inside though so I feel better :o).  I'm lovin that new DSP - it's call Sweater Weather (from Stampin Up!) - how perfect is that?  The papers have almost a texture look to them and the colors are just too perfect for the fall season.  Hope you enjoyed my card and that I've inspired you in some way. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did!  Til next time... hugs and  happy crafting! D

52CCT Technique Challenge #21 - Emboss Resist

Hello dear friends and followers so happy that you've stopped in to visit me today!  This is the last week of Ruth's challenges over at 52{Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT).  I've had a lot of fun with her challenges this month and this last one is no exception.  This is something I haven't done in quite awhile but really wondered why because it is quite fun to do.  Take a look at what I've done using the 52CCT Technique Challenge #21 - Emboss Resist.

For those of you who don't know this technique, I'll explain how I did this.  First you stamp your image using Versamark ink and then heat emboss using either a clear or white embossing powder.  I used very vanilla cardstock and a clear embossing powder for my stamped image.  Second, you can sponge, or use a brayer to go over your entire panel with one or several ink colors.  The embossed image will resist picking up the ink.  I find the sponging goes on a bit smoother if you are using a smoother texture cardstock (like Whisper White from Stampin Up!).  I also like using the sponge daubers more than the sponge pieces because I seem to have a more smooth blending effect (here I used both types).  When you're done adding ink around the panel and your image, you can just wipe off the excess ink from the embossed image (using a cloth,paper towel or tissue) and the embossed image will be shiny again.  Isn't it lovely how it stands out against the background?  Easy and fun to do - you gotta try this!! 

I used 3 different ink colors (daffodil delight, not quite navy and soft suede) to get my effect.  I wanted it to look like the star was shining brightly in the night sky.  I got a tad heavy handed at first around my image but decided I kind of like the effect after all (learning to embrace our mistakes and call them art - right?).  Found an older piece of non-Christmas designer paper that seemed to fit well with this image and color scheme (LOVE when I can use up some of my stash) and decided to forgo extra embellishments.  I stamped my sentiment after I had done all the sponging.  

Well... not much else to say really - except I sure hope that you will decide to join us this week.  The rest of the DT at 52CCT  have made some stunning cards using this technique to share with and inspire you.  I hope you'll go check them out and decide to play along.

Til next time...hugs and happy crafting.  D 

ATSM#64 - CAS

Hello everyone!  Here we are at the end of September already - my how time flies when you're having fun.  We've been busy at my house doing a bit of re-decorating so that our daughter can take over our son's room since he has moved quite far away for college and will now only be home a couple of times a year.  She is very excited (he is not - lol) and has planned a pink and zebra print scheme.  It's going to look very different from when he was in there.  She wanted to move in the week after we moved him to Wisconsin (nearly 1400 miles away from his mama) but I told her that I needed a bit of time before I would be ready to do that. I asked her how she felt about January - you should have seen the look I got from her LOL (I'm guessing NOT on that idea).  I still get a bit teary when I think about how far away he is.  Wasn't sure I could handle the change in his room so quickly (it still smells a bit like him).  But...life goes on, and he is happy, so it only makes sense that she should have a reason to be happy too :o).

Have still managed to find some good quality crafting time in the midst of all this, especially as it pertains to my DT cards.  This week at Addicted to Stamps and More! we have the ever so popular Clean and Simple (CAS) theme for you.    CAS seems to be where it's at lately - so many of you do such a fabulous job.  Our sponsor for this last week of September is The Paper Nest Dolls.  I've used one of their darling images for my ATSM#64 CAS creation - take a look:

Even though I've used patterned paper - it doesn't distract from the openness of the design and the image being the main focus.  No embellishments but a bit of layering to frame the image.  Happy with how it turned out.  Hope you like it too!  I forgot to include a photo of the inside (its already on its way to a dear friend) but it says "Everything will be OK even if we don't know what OK looks like yet".  Good thing to keep in mind sometimes right?  Especially if you have a good friend by your side - "okay" seems so much more real. 

Please go visit our other lovely DT members and see what they've made to share with and inspire you.  There's a great prize to be won from our challenge sponsor The Paper Nest Dolls if your CAS card is chosen as the Winner of the ASTM#64 CAS challenge (more details can be found on the challenge blog).  I can't wait to see what you create - so go get busy won't you?  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting. D

ABC Challenges #46 - 3 in a Row

Hello dear friends and followers, can you believe it's Monday already? How is it that the weekends fly by so quickly?  Seems as if I'm just starting to make headway on checking off the items on my weekend "to do" list and suddenly its Sunday and I still have lots of unchecked items.  Maybe I ought to stop making the list - feels almost as if I'm setting myself up for failure sometimes - LOL.  

Anyway...time for another great challenge over at ABC Challenges.  Last week you amazed our DT with your beautiful fall themed cards.  This week for ABC#46 - we have a 3 in a Row challenge for you. I LOVE 3 in a Row!! So many options to choose from.  You can choose any 3 that make up either a column (vertical), row (horizontal) or diagonal.  My card uses Row 1 - Halloween, Pattern paper and 2 or more embellishments - but it could also fit the 2 or more embellishments, Any Stampin Up image and Use a punch (diagonal to the bottom right). Take a look:

I recently saw this sunburst technique and had to try it (thanks Dawn O for the video).  I also recently purchased the new envelope punch from Stampin Up! and made a coordinating envelope for my 5 x 5 card.  The sunburst technique is a great way to use up some of your scraps of patterned paper. Was really pleased with how this turned out and taught it to a class this weekend.  

Hope you enjoyed my card this week and I sure hope that you will pop on over to ABC Challenges to see what the rest of our lovely DT ladies have made to inspire you.  We love getting your entries each week - looking forward to visiting your blogs soon! 

Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D

Card details (all products from Stampin Up! unless noted otherwise): Cardstock - More Mustard, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Stamps: Bootiful Occassions (sentiment) and Halloween Bash (new SU holiday catalog).  Papers are from the designer series paper (regals, brights & neutrals).  Punches: bat (retired) and decorative label.  Rhinestones from Close to My Heart.  

52CCT Challenge #21 - Theme Challenge (Christmas Trees)

Ho Ho Ho - and Hello dear friends and followers.  I went into to Costco this past weekend as was absolutely floored to see the Christmas decorations staring to come out already.  I found myself wondering...Did I miss Halloween somehow? I mean I LOVE to make Christmas cards - in fact they are my favorite type to make. But...REALLY....Christmas decorations already???  Hmmpff!  Not sure that I like that for some reason.  Anyway... let's get back to what I do like and that is to make cards and share them with you for the fabulous 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT) challenges.  

Ruth has chosen a great theme challenge for us all this week.  She wants to see our Christmas cards with a Christmas tree theme.  Oh what fun!! Second to snowmen and snowflakes I like trees :o)  I had another kraft colored base sitting on my desk from last week's color challenge so I decided to use it.  The CAS style was appealing to me this week so I followed that nudge and this is what I came up with - hope you like it!

Well friends... got lots to do this weekend so I'm gonna get going for now and try to enjoy a little of what's left of our gorgeous fall.  Maybe I'll go buy one or those great big snowmen for my yard and put it up while its warm outside. Ok, now I'm just being silly, so off I go.  Hope to be visiting you soon and leaving comments on your cards for 52CCT #21 - "Christmas Trees" .  Don't forget to go see what my lovely DT teamies have made as well.  They all do such lovely work.    

Thanks for stopping by - Hugs!! D

ATSM#63 - Colors (Riding Hood Red, Kraft and Marina Mist)

Hello again dear friends and followers - hope you are all doing well!  This week at ATSM the challenge is to use the colors above.  I've been on a Kraft kick lately so was delighted that this is part of the colors we have for you this week to try.  Here's my card to share with you:

I've had this great sentiment stamp for ages and have never used it.  In fact, I can't even remember what idea I had in mind when I purchased it. But...I think its a wonderful sentiment and I thought it would work perfectly for this color challenge.  I quickly inked it up with my Stampin Up! markers (isn't it great how you can use these right on the stamp to achieve two or more colors?).  Those things that kind of look like fat dots are actually hearts from a textured embossing strip (SU) - don't seem to show up too well in this photo.  I think if I make another one like this I'll skip the texture as the sentiment stands nicely all on its own.  A very quick card really - kind of nice when that happens :o). Hope you like it! 

 

The other lovely ladies over at ATSM have also made some terrific cards to share with you this week. I hope you will get a chance to go visit them and check it out.  What will you make this week with this great color combo?  Can't wait to come visit you and see!

 

We still have The Paper Nest Dolls as our sponsor for this month.  They have some really darling digital images.  If you are chosen as our Top Winner this week for ATSM#63 you will win a wonderful prize from the sponsor (more details can be found on the challenge blog). 

 

Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D