Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Addicted to Stamps and More! Bingo Challenge #4

Hello friends - hope all is well in your world today (and every day for that matter :o))!  The challenge this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! is our wonderful BINGO challenge.  This means you pick 3 items from either a row, a column or diagonally (such as orange, free, whitel) and make a card using those elements.  If using the FREE space please try not to use one of the other options.  My card using the first column of ORANGE, BLACK and DIES.
I used the labels framelit die for my black background piece.  I then stamped the gorgeous medallion in Versamark and embossed in Tangerine Tango.  I then used my Festive Paper Piercing template to add some interest around the edge of the label before adhering to the card and adding my banner sentiment and button (oh and there are some little black rhinestones scattered through out the medallion too - do you see them?).  I wanted to use this column because I already had the label cut out on my desk from another idea that I didn't go with.  Wasn't sure if I would like the orange and black scheme if I wasn't doing a Halloween card - but I am rather pleased with how it turned out.  Hope you like it too and I really hope I've inspired you to pop on over the Addicted to Stamps and More! and see what the others on our design team have prepared for your inspiration as well.  We hope you will join us this week!!

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit today - hope you will come back soon! Til next time Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!):  Cardstock - Tangerine Tango, Basic Black.  Stamps - Day of Gratitude (medallion) and Kindness Matters (sentiment).  DSP - International Bazzar. Dies - Labels collection framelits.  Other - button from neutrals collection, bakers twine (left over from the Googly Ghouls treat bags set), Tangerine Tango embossing powder. 

Monday, October 29, 2012

'ABC' Challenges - Halloween in a Hurry or Fast Fall Cards

Boooo.... Happy Halloween to you!  The challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges is to make a Fast Fall or Halloween card in a Hurry. That means make a card in 30 minutes or less.  My cards usually take me quite a while to make - even when they may look simple.  I fuss around with the layout (unless I'm following a sketch challenge) the mix of papers and where to put the sentiment, get distracted a hundred times by an other idea and head off into a tangent only to return to where I initally started, etc.  But... being the over achiever that I am, I set myself to the challenge task at hand and completed this card in only 10 minutes.  Yep - you heard me right - 10 minutes!!! And that includes embossing the spooky house. Ok...I already had the bats punched out and sitting on my desk from another project but that might have only added a minute :o)  Who knew that I could be such a speedy card maker.  Now don't go bursting my bubble and telling me that it looks like a 10 minute card - I'm quite proud of it - LOL!!  
 
We had an amazing turn out for our debute challenge - thanks to all of you who participated.  I sure hope you will join us again this week at 'ABC' Challenges.  If you are over halloween at this point (I just had to get one last card in) then make a fast fall card to share with us.  Either works and I can't wait to see what you create.  Be sure to tell us in your blog how long your card took to make.  
ABC Blog Badge
The rest of my DT buddies have made some really great cards to share with you too - so be sure to pop in and visit them and leave a little love.  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!! 

Friday, October 26, 2012

52{Christmas}Card Throwdown October Embellishment Challenge

Hello friends and happy Saturday. This week's challenge over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is an embellishment challenge - using punches or die cuts. Oh be still my punch lovin' heart! I love to play with punches and die cuts!!
My card today is a re-make of a version I made a couple years ago using the ever versatile owl building punch to create the reindeer. The other punches I used were a retired snowflake punch (antlers), a scallop trim border and the word window punch.  The noses on the reindeer are the eyes from the owl builder punch.  Here's a close up of the reindeer:
Of course I just had to add some of those fun googly eyes, but I had to laugh because those little beady eyes almost look as if the reindeer have sipped too much spiked eggnog behind Santa's back.  They have kind of goofy grins on their faces too don't you think? Wonder what they are up to?
And Ruth (dear fellow DT member) this ones for you...
I finished the inside for a change! Ruth always does something fabulous with the inside at the same time (and often the envelope too). 

So... what will you create this week with your punches or die cuts as the main feature of your card/creation?  I can't wait to see what you do and visit your blogs to check out  the details.  Head on over to the challenge site now (52CCT) and see the other amazing creations that our fine DT members have made for your inspiration - and then play along with us.   

Gotta run for now, going to a cross-town football game today - hoping it won't snow or be too cold.  I was complaining about how cold it might be and my son said to me that I had sat through some very cold games so I could just tough it out. I reminded him however that the only reason I sat there and frozen my lower end off for the past 4 years was because he was on the field.  I have no such incentive now so if it gets to cold I'll just pack my chilly little self up and go sit in the car with the heater and some hot cocoa :o)  Thanks so much for stopping by today - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Addicted to Stamps and More! Make Your Mark #4

Hello my wonderful friends and followers!  Almost time for Halloween here so thought I should get one more card in before that holiday passes me by.  I've not had much of a chance to play with my Copic markers lately so I'm thrilled that our challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! is to Make your Mark.  We want you to pull out those markers to show us what you can do with them. 

I've been reading through a guide on how to use Copic markers for nature and natural elements.  I tried this technique on the fence and really like how it turned out (not bad for my first try).  However, I find black to be a really hard color to get right just yet.  I totally messed up the darling cat but liked the rest of what I had done so I decided to stamp it again on some textured grey cardstock and fussy cut it out to put on top of the image I messed up.  I like how it turned out and was glad to have saved the rest of what I did from the garbage can. But I definitely plan to practice some more with black.  I also cut around the image and mounted it on a piece of dark blue cardstock to give it a night-time effect.  Makes me think of Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin :o). 

The other DT members at Addicted to Stamps and More! have made some really wonderful creations for you inspiration too so don't forget to go visit them and leave them some love.  We love to inspire you and love to see what you do each week with our challenges.  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Supplies:  Cardstock - Pumpkin Pie, Midnight Muse, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White (all from Stampin Up!).  Stamp - from Stampendous.  Sentiment - Border Banter from Stampin Up! (stamped with Midnight Muse ink). Embossing texture folder - Lacy Brocade (Stampin Up!). Copic markers.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Something new for ABC Challenges

ABC Blog Badge
Hello friends - Happy Monday (if there is such a thing - hahaha)! So happy to announce today that this is my first card to share with you as a member of the brand spankin' new challenge called ABC Challenges. The ABC stands for All Beautiful Cards. I'm so delighted to be part of this challenge launch and am looking forward to seeing your beautiful creations and visiting your blogs. In honor of our first challenge our delightful blog leader and challenger owner Patty Gorka has decided to use the theme "New to You". That means we want to see you make a card using something that is either new to you (this can be something you've had for a while but never used - or it can be something that is brand new to you) and/or try a new technique that you've not done before. How fun is that??? I think it's very fun and here is what I came up with to inspire you:
 
My card today uses the following "new" things:
1) a NEW technique called bargello (see more info below)
2) a NEW stamp called Frightening Feline
3) an retired ribbon that I ordered and never used til now (and a NEW way of tying the bow -new for me that is).
 
Here's a close up of the words on the cat:
Not sure if the photos show this very well but I embossed the cat in black.  I was worried that the works might not stay clear with the embossing process but it seems to have worked out just wonderfully (other than where my fat thumb bumped the top of the left ear).
 

I had a lot of fun creating this card to share with you today.  The background is made from strips of patterned paper (1/4" each) put together in a technique called Bargello.  I learned this technique by following Mynette's fabulous instructions on the Technique Tuesday blog.  It's really quite easy - and I'm quite pleased with how my first attempt turned out.  What a super fun way to make you own paper!  To get the instructions pop on into the Technique Tuesday blog site and then make your own creation to share there.   

I'm a big fan of combining challenges when I can.  I find that it give me an extra level of challenge fun and inspiration as I'm deciding what to make.  At ABC Challenges we allow you to combine up to 10 challenges in total.  I used a couple more challenges for today's card in addition to the ABC Challenge.  I took my color inspiration from the Dynamic Duos Challenge #25 - Orange and Black.
 
I took further inspiration in terms of my theme for Divas By Design Challenge #57 -"Something Spooky" and Halloween at Sweet Stampin' Challenges.

Please pop on over to the  ABC Challenges blog and visit us.  We have a fabulous design team who have created some terrific cards for your inspiration to jump start this new challenge.  We would really love your support and can't wait to see what you create!  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today. Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black.  DSP - Howlstooth and Scaringbone.  Stamp - Frightening Feline. Ribbon (retired - black lace). Other - Versamark in and black embossing powder. 


Sunday, October 21, 2012

MOJO Monday #263, 4CCC-112 and Lollipop Crafts #92 - {Happy Birthday Mom}

Hello friends - a sunny but chilly Sunday here is Montana.  I look out the window and think that I really should go outside and get some vitamin D but have decided that I need card making therapy more than I do sunshine at the moment - lol!  Hope you are all having a fine day.

Thursday was my Mom's 70th birthday and I made this card for her using the MOJO Monday #263 sketch. 

Usually when I need to create a card in a bit of a hurry, I just go out on the internet to my favorite challenge sites such as MOJO Monday and grab a great sketch to jump start my inspiration and can quickly put my card together.  In this case though the sketch generated so many ideas that I changed my mind about 4 times before I got it finished (not so quick this time).   My first thought was to put a punched cupcade in the circle with a birthday hat at the top (where the flower is in the sketch).  Then I was going to put a big heart where the small circle is and a smaller heart in place of the flower.  Then I was playing around with a cute image of a bird and a cupcake.  Finally... I decided that I wanted to use butterflies and viola the card was completed - whew! And my mom loved it. So now I have the start of 3 other cards that I can finish all as a result of this sketch :o) Funny how that happens sometimes isn't it?

I am also entering this card in the Lollipop Crafts Challenge #92 - "Happy Birthday" and the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #112 - Dry Embossing.   My dry embossing is on the middle strip, the flower  and the blue butterflies.  Too bad there wasn't a "pearl it up" challenge to participate in too - lol!

Thanks again for stopping by to visit.  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Primrose Petal, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse and Baja Breeze.  DSP - Patio Party. Sentiments - Petite Pairs (one of my "go to" sets) and fabulous phrases.  Punches - Blossom, Elegant Butterfly, Curly Label, 2 1/2" Circle, 1 1/4" circle. Embossing texture folders - Perfect Polka Dots, Argyle.  Beautiful Wings Embosslets (butterflies).  Other - Basic Pearls and Midnight Muse classic ink. 

Sneaky Peek - New Challenge "ABC" Challenges

Hello and Happy Sunday everyone!  It is with great delight that I share a sneaky peek with you today of my card as a Design Team member of the brand spankin' new challenge called "ABC" Challenges!  The challenge officially starts tomorrow but you can pop into the challenge site and meet the design team today.  We have many talented ladies on the team and we are soooo excited to share this new challenge with you each week.  I hope that you will check us out and decide to play along - we'd love your support!  Til tomorrow - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!
Good morning everyone!  Danielle Vincent will also be joining us so there will be a total of 6 DT members and myself.  You can post your cards for the first challegne whenever you have time (there's no hurry just so that it's posted before 9pm Sunday evening EST).  I live in PA so I'll go by EST.  

I've made a DT badge you can post on your blog.  Don't forget, I need a photo and a brief bio from each of you so that I can introduce you with our first challange on Monday.

If you have any questions about anything please ask and I'll be happy to help you.  Thanks!

Friday, October 19, 2012

52{Christmas} Card Throwdown - Theme Challenge #10 {Fairy Lights}

Hello and Happy Saturday to all of you!! Today's challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is a Theme Challenge (see below)
Oh goodness what a fun theme - as usual so many possibilities to be explored and created! Here's what I came up with for your inspiration this week:
I decided it might be fun to go completely non-traditional in my color choice this week.  I've been seeing a lot about neon lately as a popular trend so I thought I'd give that a go.  I first colored my images with Copic markers and then added a drop of Crystal Effects to each little light to give it some shine and depth (it doesn't show up nearly as well in the photo as it does in real life ). I love their happy little faces :o)  way too cute. 
 
I encourage you to pop on over to our challenge site at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and see the other fabulous creations our DT members have come up with for this theme.  Pop on into their blogs and leave them a note when you see what you like.  Hope you'll decide to play along with us.  I can't wait to see what you come up with this week and look forward to visiting your blogs. 

I'm also entering this card in the Christmas Cards All Year Round October Challenge which is to
Create a card using a non traditional image with traditional Christmas colours
OR
Create a card with a traditional Christmas image using non traditional colours.
I think you have figured out which one I'm entering under (hint... its neon :o) ).

Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!! Please come back to visit again.
 
Supplies: Stamp and sentiment - Cozy Christmas from Lawn Fawn.  Cardstock - Pixie Pink (retired Stampin Up!), Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White (both SU).  Ink - Memento black, Green Galore (retired), Pixie Pink (retired) and Tempting Turquoise (all SU).  Embossing folder (SU). Other - Crystal Effects (SU).

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Addicted to Stamps and More! Sketch Challenge #3

Oh my how time flies sometimes! Here it is another week and time for another fun challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! I must say that the past two challenges have been so fun for me to see what you are creating.  It's a thrill for me to to visit your blogs and leave you notes - so many wonderful ideas and creations based on our challenges.  I can't wait to see what you do with this week's sketch (see below) that has infinite possibilities!  You can keep it clean and simple - you can dress it up - you can add lots of layers - do a monochromatic color scheme or add lots of patterned papers - all kinds of possibilities.
Here's what I have chosen to do with it this week (some of you may already know that I am a patterned paper fanatic - so of course I had to use a couple different ones today):

Fall has arrived in Montana in all its splendor! I love this time of year - crisp cool night and mornings with warmer (but not hot) days.  Sometimes we get a blustery wind that picks up the leaves and moves them around.  I love the sound of them swishing in the wind and crackling under your feet as you walk through them - just lovely!  I attempted to make my leaf look like a real leaf that you might see on the ground with its wrinkled edges - so instead of using my usual embossing texture folder I decided to just rumple it up in my hand and leave it all wrinkled and imperfect.  I gave the edges just a slight hint of extra color with a sponge too. What do you think - does it sort of remind you of a real leaf that you might see blowing across the ground?

I'm sure glad that you've stopped by to visit me today.  I hope you have enjoyed this card and that I've inspired you to go grab your supplies and make something wonderful to share with us at Addicted To Stamps and More!  If you want some more inspiration all you have to do is pop on into the challenge site and then go visit each of our fabulous DT members.  I promise you will be inspired and awed at what they have done with this sketch - I was!! I said a couple times "Gosh...why didn't I think of that?"  or " Cool - gotta try that".  I'll bet you catch yourself talking out loud too :o)  Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!   

I'm also entering this card in the Sweet Stampin Challenge - Autumn/Leaves - seems as if someone else loves this time of year too! 

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!):  Cardstock - Cajun Craze and More Mustard.  DSP - Orchard Harvest. Leaf is created using the Autumn Accents Bigz Sizzix Die and my Big Shot machine (favorite tool ever!).  Sentiment is from the hostess set called Wacky Wishes (stamped in Cajun Craze ink).  Other: a wood naturals button and some hemp twine finish off the card. 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - #32 Anything Goes and Simply Stampin Challenge #81 DIY DSP

Hello friends - Happy Monday!  Life has been a bit crazy at my house over the course of the past 6 weeks and I have barely been able to keep up with my design team obligations (priviledges) much less create just for the fun of it.  I was able to play for a bit last night though and made this card using a technique I've seen and admired lately - I can't remember exactly what it is called right now but I'll refer to it as Triple Stamping (please excuse my fuzzy memory - lack of sleep will do that to a person).  I took three different sizes of white cardstock and adhered them together using dotto removable glue.  Then I stamped across all three layers and let it dry. Then I pulled the pieces apart and added a piece of colored cardstock between each layer ( I see that I got it a bit crooked upon the final gluing - drat!).  This was a fun and relatively easy technique to try - the trick is to give yourself enough of a lip for each layer to stamp across and make sure your layers don't wiggle when you are stamping across them.  My friend Cindi tried this and did it just in the opposing corners with fabulous results - it created a most elegant effect. Gonna try that soon and will share with you when I do. 

So... lucky for me there is an Anything Goes challenge right now at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Challenge #32 and a Do It Yourself (DIY) Designer Series Paper (DSP) Theme Challenge at Simply Stampin Challenge #81 that I am entering this card in. 

Thanks so much for indulging me with this card - I miss sharing with you more often and am hoping life settles back down into a routine that feels more comfortable again. And a the very least gives me back some energy and time to do one of the things I love the most - make cards!  At least I can say that I'm not bored - LOL!  Til next time - Hugs and happy crafting!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!):  Cardstock -Gumball Green and Whisper White.  Stamps - Delicate Doilies and Snow Swirled.  Sentiment - More Merry Messages.  Ink colors - Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple and Baja Breeze. 

Friday, October 12, 2012

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Color Challenge #10

Hello friends - Happy weekend!  Are you up for another challenge this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge?  I sure hope so 'cause I can't wait to see what you come up with using this earthy and elegant color combo.  Here's what I came up with to inspire you this week:
I used a new stamp set called Evergeen for the tree and sentiment.  The precious little baby Jesus is part of a stamp from the 25 and Counting stamp set.  I first stamped the tree shadow in metalic gold ink and then heat set before stamping again with the sentiment over the top in Early Espresso ink.  Here's a close up of the words on the tree (my apologies that the pictures aren't clearer -  it's kind of difficult to photograph that metalic gold - especially in lower light at night).

You know how you evaluate a card after you make it and think of what you might have done differently?  Well... if I were to CASE myself I would make my banner in the metalic gold and stamp my tree in green and the words still in espresso.  I think that would be especially stunning. 
Please go check out the great creations the rest of the DT at 52CCT has made to challenge and inspire you - they are stunning as usual!  Soooo lucky I am to be working with so many talented and wonderful ladies! 
 
Gotta run for now.. thanks so much for stopping by to visit me once again - I'm sure glad that you did.  Oh... did I mention that my card is based on the sketch over at Try Stampin' on Tuesday (see below)?
 
Til next time.... Hugs and Happy Crafting!  D


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Crazy 4 Challenges #157 and Retrosketches #32 {Some Mummy Loves You}

Boooo!! Did I scare you? Probably not I'd guess since this mummy is a bit too cute to be spooky :o)
The theme at Crazy 4 Challenges #57 is Halloween - and more specifically to make a card /project that depicts your favorite halloween character.  I decided to create a mummy using the sketch over at Retrosketches #32 to make this fun card.    
I just can't wait to send this card to my son in college.  Hope he gets my sense of humor and isn't embarrassed by his mummy - lol!  Here's the inside:
So glad that you stopped by to visit me tonight  -  hope you enjoy this card. Til next time Hugs and Happy and Crafting!!
 
 
 


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Addicted to Stamps and More! CAS #3


Hello friends! Our challenge this week over at Addicted to Stamps and More! is to make a Clean and Simple card (CAS #3). I've been wanting to use this stamps set for quite some time so today is the day :o) I first used the Apothecary Accents framelit die to cut my shape and then stamped and embossed the background leaves in black. My next step was to emboss the flower with Melon Mambo embossing powder and fussy cut it. I chose the pink color scheme due to Breast Cancer Awareness month and for all the courageous women who have bravely fought (or are currently fighting) this awful disease. My own Auntie is a breast cancer survivor, so this is an important cause to me. Here's my message to you ladies - please do your self checks and mammograms!

Ok... moving on to the challenge at hand. Gather up your supplies and make a CAS card to share with us at ATS&M this week. I can't wait to see what you come up with! Pop in and visit the other members of our DT as well and leave them a note - it's so much fun to hear from each of you and we love to know that we've inspired you with our own creations.

I am also entering this card in the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #73 (CFC73) - For the Girls.

Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did! Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Supplies (all from Stampin Up!): Cardstock - Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. Stamp - Fabulous Florets and Bitty Banners (sentiment). Sizzix Framelits - Apothecary Accents and Bitty Banners. Embossing folder - Framed Tulips.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Try Stampin' on Tuesday -Challenge #86

Hello Dear Blog Friends!  This card represents something I know absolutely nothing about, but is on my bucket list - sewing!  To give you an example of my sewing ability, I got a D on a wrap around skirt in high school home economics (just that term along really dates me).  I can manage to sew a button on if needed, but it ain't pretty - lol!  When I saw the sketch this week though at Try Stampin' on Tuesday (Challenge #86) the first thing I thought of for the 3 strips on the sketch was a ruler or tape measure.  So I hunted around in my stamp stash to see what I could come up with to match that idea.  Here's the sketch that inspired by card:
I was trying to keep it as clean and simple as the sketch portrays but ending up adding more embellishments and layers - a slight interpretation, but still the main sketch is visible.  How do you like my faux stitching around the edge?  I have to laugh because it is very crooked - but that is exactly how my stitching looks when I try to do it in real life.  I already had the Thank You banner cut out from another project idea that went awry, so I thought I just add a fun pop of color by using it here.  I think I do like this card - it's definitely not perfect and breaks some of the rules of card making (it seems) but I think it has a fun, artsy-fartsy, eclectic feel to it - and that is very unlike me usually so I'm embracing it fully :o).  I love how this sketch inspired me and kind of took me in a new direction.  Hope you have enjoyed it too. Thanks so much for stopping by - til next time... Hugs and happy crafting!! 

Friday, October 5, 2012

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - October Sketch Challenge

Hello friends!  Look at this fabulous sketch by Jacqueline for the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - October Sketch Challenge ("Sketch 10").  There are so many possibilities for this sketch and I love that it has a square shape - these are one of my favorite types of cards to make.  Right after I finished my card for this week it I had about 5 other ideas for what I could have done pop into my head.  If I get time in the next few days I just might have to try those too - but for now I've made this card to inspire you and a copy of this has gone into my idea/sketch journal for future projects.  So... here's what I came up with:
I decided to stay pretty true to the sketch this week and my only embellishments are the sparkly rhinestones to add to the "icy" effect of this card.  I used my Score Pal to create the striped background and spritzed it with some Vanilla to also add to the wintery feel .  Here's a close up that might show that shimmer a bit better:
Now I can't wait to see what you come up with for this sketch! Please stop by and visit the other gals from the 52CCT design team as they have prepared some pretty wonderful creations for you inspiration as well.  Thanks so much for visiting me today - come back soon! Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!
 
Supplies (all from Stampin Up!) Cardstock - Pool Party,Midnight Muse, Whisper White. Stamps - Four Seasons (hostess set - bird in snowflakes), Delicate doilies (large snowflake in bottom corner), Mixed Medley (mid-sized snowflakes) and Snow Swirled - sentiment. Ink - Island Indigo, Pool Party, Midnight Muse, Early Espresso and Raspberry Ripple. Punches - 2 3/8" Scallop Circle, 2 1/2" Circle, 1" circle and Mini Scallop Circle (NEW).  Other - rhinestones, Dazzling Details glitter glue - white. 
 


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Simply Stampin' Challenge #79 - Sketch


Hello friends - so glad that you've popped in to visit me today!  This is a card I made for my previous boss (my old boss - get it - hehehe) who just had her 50th birthday.  I used the sketch challenge at Simply Stampin' Challenge #79 (see below) as the design for my card.  I varied from the sketch just tad by stretching the sentiment across all the circles instead of in just one of the circles. I have been making less elaborate cards lately due a series of life changes that has throw me for a temporary loop and hasn't allowed me as much time for card making. It's quite unusual for me to create a card without any dry embossing and/or patterned paper so I chose to use bold colors.  I do think that by keeping the background simple the fact that this a a 50th birthday card really stands out. 
Hope you enjoyed today's card! Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting! 

Supplies (from Stampin Up! unless noted): Cardstock - Raspberry Ripple, Basic Black and Whisper White. Sentiment from a stamp that says "Happy Birthday" in Bring on the Cake (I colored just the word "Happy" with a marker).  The crown is from Tiny Tags. Ink colors - Sahara Sand and Raspberry Ripple. Glimmer Brads in Basic Black adorn the four corners.  1 1/4" Circle punch was used for each circle.  The 50 is from a stash of chipboard letters.   

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Additcted to Stamps and More! Theme Challenge #3 {Halloween}

Hello friends!  Here is it October and my first official card as a DT member for Addicted to Stamps and More! Theme Challenge #3 {Halloween}.  I have admit that Halloween has never been one of my favorite holidays - especially from the aspect of the spoooky, dark and sssscary.  And...I'm not a huge fan of candy.  Believe it or not, I can make a candy bar last a week.  When I was little I would still have candy in my pumpkin on Valentine's day and would use it as bargaining (aka bribes) with my "candy crazy" sisters - such a little devil I was - lol.  Now...give me a cookie and I inhale it - that's my weakness :o).  But... I do love to see little kids dressed up in their cute costumes  and I do love to make cute, whimsical halloween cards such as the one I have to share with you today. I kept it kind of simple this time as I was short on time this week.  (P.S.  I apologize for the fuzzy photo.  My little camera battery ran out and I had to use my camera phone - it doesn't focus that well from up close). 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit today - I'm sure glad that you did!  Many of our DT members at Addicted to Stamps and More! don't celebrate Halloween where they live and  yet the cards this week that each of them has made are just really wonderful!  You would never guess that they aren't halloween experts :o) Pop into their blogs for a visit and leave a little love note while you are at it - we love to get mail! I just can't wait to see what you come up with and visit your blog too - so go get busy! Til next time - Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

Supplies (Stampin Up! except as noted): Cardstock - Tangerine Tango (base), Basic Black and Very Vanilla.  DSP - Howlstooth and Scaringbone (from the Holiday mini catalog) - cut in one in strips varying in length at 3 1/2", 4 1/4" and 4 1/2". Stamps - Googly Ghouls (Spider with the Googly eyes added) and Spooky Bingo Bits (Boo!).  Circle punches used are the 1 3/4", 1 3/8" and 1 1/4".  Black sparklers from my stash of stuff.