Love Moo!

a The pace of our summer has finally begun to slow down a bit, so I'm finding some time to be creative. The challenge on 365 cards today was to create a sign on your card. I just received this new stamp set (Funny Farm) from Sweet and Sassy stamps, so decided to play with it and I had lot of FUN. My barn door frame is a "leftover" from a spellbinders deckle rectangle cut, and I mounted a neutral piece of scrap paper behind it, then the cow image on top of that. The ink I used for the images is Chestnut Roan by Color Box. The cow is colored with Prisma pencils. I used a Martha Stewart border punch (purchased last fall) for the broken down fence. The background paper is OLD Francis Meyer paper that looks like wood. It is hard to see in the photo, but I also ran it through my Big Shot using a wood grain texture plate as well. Then, I drew on the lumber and nails with a marker. I inked the edges of the sign with my Color Box ink, attached the twine and used a brad as a nail to hang it from. I appreciate each one of you who stop by and comment. Have a great day!!

Sunflowers!!

The challenge today at 365 Cards was to be inspired by sunflowers. This card is based on a quilting pattern, "Sunflower Star". The pattern paper, Francis Meyer Autumn Wheat, has been in my stash quite a long time, but works nicely for the flower center. The wheat stems reminded me of the sunflower seeds that grow in the flower center. The border was punched with a MS checkerboard edge punch. Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!!

Two posts in one day!!!

I needed a special anniversary card for this weekend. I have been wanting to try the trifold card challenge on SCS and this was the perfect occasion. I really liked the result, but had difficulty deciding on the elements to use. I will definitely use this style again for future cards. I think this also fits the 365 Cards challenge to "Keep it to yourself", even though it isn't wedding themed. Anniversary is the same general theme, and this could also be used for a wedding with a different sentiment.

Recipe: Pattern paper - Paper Pizazz, Joy's Vintage; Heart center flowers - Spellbinders Flower Bouquet Miniabilities and Deckle Rectangle; Scallop Circle - Quickutz; Stamps - SU Happy Anniversary, Inkadinkado Bible Verse; Ink - SU Sage Shadow and Versa Color White

365 Cards - Simply Stamped

Here's my card for 365 Cards Simply Stamped. It also fits the Fun on Friday challenge at Christian Papercrafts to use a butterfly. The stamp is from Rubbernecker Stamps and is a new one I recently purchased. I love the look of stained glass and this image attracted me. I stamped the image with Versa Color ink, hence the lightness of the black. I then colored it using my twinkling H20 water colors. I will add a sentiment later. It really is only one layer, however, I used the wrong type paper to stamp the image on and when I colored it, the paper didn't dry flat. So... in order to remedy that, I had to cut the image from the first card and then adhere it to the new, flatter card base. Hope that it still counts for the challenge. Thanks for looking and have a great day!

365 Cards - Day 100 Manic Monday

I'm a couple days late for completing this 365 Card challenge, but I LOVE primary colors and couldn't resist playing. The challenge was to use only bright colors - RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE. I combined this challenge with a sketch challenge that Danielle posted yesterday at Christian Paper Crafts Magazine. I love the way the colors pop when mounted on a black background.

Here's my recipe: No stamps used. Paper: The Paper Studio - Random Stripes Punches: Marvy Uchida Pinwheel; Quickutz Scallop Circle (in Big Shot) Border was trimmed with a deckle scissor. Brads: Making Memories Ink: Versa Color Orange (around edges of circles)

365 Cards - Another triangle card

I actually had two ideas for the triangle sketch this week at 365 Cards so I'm posting a second time. I combined this card with two other challenges - Winter Wonderland and Pile It On. The challenge at Winter Wonderland was to make a Christmas Carol themed project. The challenge at Pile It On was to use a non-stamped sentiment. I hand printed "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas". The triangle shape challenge at 365 Cards lent itself well to this card design. Here are the details. Green background is paper from a Greetings of the Season pack I found at Hobby Lobby. Santa's hat was run through my Big Shot with a Fiskars Filigree template. Santa's beard was made by using the Fiskars Makin' Waves punch. I chalked the white beard with gray. The white band on the cap was cut with a decorative scissor. The pom-pom on the hat was cut using my Big Shot and Quick Cutz scallop circle.

365 Cards - Triangle Bouquet

I can't believe this is my second post today!! It has been so nice to finally have some time to create. Here's what I came up with for today's very challenging sketch at 365 Cards. I really had some fun with this card and chuckled the entire time I was making it, because this card is so not my natural style. Surprisingly, I'm pleased with the result.


The paper I used was from We R Memory Keepers (Tiffany's) and it was double sided. I originally purchased the paper for the side that my "flowers" came from. However, the other side of the paper was split into quarters with 4 coordinating prints. The background is one of the four prints. To make the large triangle, I cut smaller triangles from the other 3 coordinating prints and pieced them together. This is actually a quilt pattern - Triangles in a Triangle. I cut the flowers from the reverse side of the paper and then mounted them on black to make them stand out. For a finishing touch, I added a bow from my stash of ribbon and a dragon-fly sticker (Stampendous - Class A Peel).

365 Cards - Day 98 It's An Anniversary

Today's challenge at 365 Cards was a timely one for me. I needed an anniversary card for my husband's brother and his wife. Here's the card I designed that fits today's challenge. I really like the clean and simple look!

Here's what the inside looks like:

Here's my recipe: Stamp: Image - Stampendous Love Window; Sentiment - SU Matte Paper: Silver velum, unknown Ink: Image colored with Twinkling H20; Sentiment colored with LePlume Marker Border: Doodlebug Paper Frills, Tuxedo Collection Other techniques: Cuttlebug Dots embossing folder

365 Cards - Day 72 Musical Monday

I certainly enjoyed making this musical card. I used word processing to create the verse for the card. The striped paper is Heidi Grace Winter/ Let it Snow (double sided, the reverse has snowflakes on it). I punched the border using a Martha Stewart punch. The stickers and pink paper were in my stash. Thanks for stopping by today!

365 Cards - Day 71 Super Sketchy Sunday

Only a day late for this challenge. I enjoyed a day off yesterday, but couldn't stay away from playing too long. This card went together quickly. I found the embellishment at the local dollar store. There were several different choices on the sheet and several different packages to choose from. I made sure to get one of each! LOL The flowers in my photo are from my rhododendron bush. Spring is in full swing here. Snow crab is also blooming and smells wonderful!! Lilacs will soon be blooming as well. Embellishment - Special Moments DP - Paper Pizzaz Stash - Lace ribbon, dark and light purple paper

365 Cards - Graduation

This year we know several graduates that we'll need cards for. I wanted to make a simple card that is easily replicated. I used my Sizzix and Quick Kutz die cuts to create this card...a really easy one to put together.

365 Cards - Think Pink

I read the new challenge today before leaving for work - Lots of pink. On the way home from work at noon, I stopped by my LSS and they had LOTS of new product out. I saw this new Doodlebug paper and new it would be perfect for today's card. Pink is my absolute favorite color, so this was a really fun challenge for me!! The strawberry is a Sizzix die cut with a Quick Kutz scallop circle behind it. The shiny paper I used is Star Dreamz. The rick rack is Offray. The sentiment is from a set I don't know the name of.

365 Cards - Day 64 sketch challenge

It sure was a beautiful day here today. I think that spring has finally arrived and I am glad. It is one of my favorite times of year. Here's my card for today's 365 cards challenge. The dark color is purple, even though it looks more bluish in the photo. I used a template I have to cut the triangles in the flowered paper (the paper was double sided). Details: Flower - Boss Cuts Tri-Flower Flowered paper - Karen Neuburger, Dainty Floral Verse - PTI Everyday things

365 Cards Day 63 - Floral Fest

I was working outside today in my flower gardens, so for a break I made this card for today's challenge. Went together very quickly. Stamps: Vine, flower and speckles- Stamps by Judith; Sentiment - Katie and Co. Paper : SU Wild Wasabi (run through a Cuttlebug folder) Inks: SU Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Brocade Blue and Orchid Opulence - Versa Color Cyan Misc: White edges cut with Fiskars Deckle Scissors, Stickles in the flower centers Thanks for looking!

365 Cards - Day 61 Leaf it up to me

Here's my card for the 365 day card challenge using a leaf on the card. I needed to make some fall cards (I know - it's spring) and this was the perfect opportunity. Really a simple card to make. Details: Stamp - Denami Design Pattern Paper - Reminisce Golden Leaves Orange Cardstock - LSS I stamped the leaf using Versa Color Bark, then colored with prisma pencils and blended with OMS. On the orange cardstock, I randomly stamped the same leaf, this time using just Versa Mark ink (clear). Then I ran the paper through my Big Shot and used a Fiskars template to texturize the paper. Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 58 Something's Fishy

Today was the perfect chance for me to ink a stamp set that I have had for a long time but have yet to use. The set is from Inkadinkado. I stamped it in Versa Mark cyan blue and then I again practiced coloring with Prisma Colors and OMS. (This image didn't turn out as well as I would have liked, but still is okay.) The blue borders are stamped using Versa Mark and a clear border stamp whose maker I'm not sure of. This was a quick and easy card. Thanks for looking

365 Cards - Day 49 Accordion card

I worked outside in the yard all afternoon and wasn't sure that I would have time to complete this challenge today. But I did and feel a real sense of accomplishment. I like the way this card turned out and think it is a versatile style. My card is based on a pattern for accordion board booklets I saw in a book, but modified it to fit my needs (didn't use book boards for the covers nor include nearly as many pages). Their board book had pockets for including fortunes. I added the fold-up pocket on the inside with the intent of adding scripture verses of encouragement. The pockets could also be used to hold several gift cards or cash. It would also be a cute bridal or baby shower card with each of the pockets containing words of advice for the bride or new mother. I used 12 inch long cardstock for the card and cut it at 5.5 inches. I then scored the card at 1.5 inches along the 12 inch side. This creates the fold for the pockets. Fold the cardstock up. I attached a strip of green paper on top of the strip for contrast. Using a decorative scissor I cut the top of the pocket. I punched hole in the pocket top and wove a ribbon through, attaching each ribbon end underneath the pocket (and adhereing the card ends at the same time). Next I attached the ribbon used to tie the card to the back of the card and adhered a piece of green paper over it, trimming to fit the card back. I attached green paper on the front as well. The square was made using Spellbinders, the stamp is SU Artfully Asian and I colored it with twinkling H20s. For the enclosure cards, I cut the light blue cardstock and trimmed the tops with the decorative scissors. The verses were stamped using a Papertrey Ink set - Everyday Blessings. Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 48 Score A Pattern

Here's my card for today's score-it challenge...a simple frame around my image. I constructed a template using two pieces of tagboard. I used a stylus to trace around each of the rectangles, which created my frame. The image is one that I received in a stamped image swap so I don't know the name or manufacturer. I used prisma colors and OMS to color it. I'm finding that each time I try this technique, it gets easier. I think this coloring technique will be one I use often! I mounted the image on a scrap of red stardreams paper and attached a red bow. A simple, easy card to brighten someone's day. Here's the template I made (I drew pen lines around the smaller rectangle to make it easier to see.) The larger one is 3.5 by 5 inches. The smaller one is 2.5 by 4 inches. This makes a .5 inch frame around the image. I mounted the smaller on top of the larger, then placed the FRONT side of the card touhing the tagboard template for embossing the lines.

365 Cards - Day 47 Pop-up Card

Whew! I finally caught up on the 365 cards challenges for the week. Here's my pop-up card. I've never made a pop-up card before. I found a couple tutorials online and adapted them to suit my needs. About a month ago, I found some great matching butterfly cards and 3-D stickers (Studio 18) in the dollar bin at Michaels. I picked them up because I really liked them, but didn't know what I'd use them for. Well, they fit this challenge wonderfully!! The butterfly on the front of my card is actually the card front from the note card. I trimmed the corners with my ticket punch. The stamp I used is one in my collection. I bought it many years ago from an independent vendor - Judith. The green is SU Wild Wasabi paper and ink. The inside was fairly simple (but not easy) to do. Only one cut was required, the vase is folded on two score lines. The green paper is scraps I had on hand. Because the stickers were 3-D, they had a sticky foam pad on the back. I used this to attach my wires to, and then cut a small scrap of paper to put over the rest of the sticky pad and wire. Thanks to this challenge, my Mother's Day cards are now complete and ready to send. However, please don't tell my mom they're here on my blog. I want her to be surprised. (LOL - she really doesn't like computers! And, Dad, if you check my blog don't tell her about the card.)

365 Cards - Day 46 Matchbook Card

I chose to make a matchbox card that would allow me to "wrap" a gift of post-it notes. I used a similar design to the money card I made, just adjusted the width a bit. I folded up the bottom of the cardstock to make a pocket and then used brads to close the ends so the post-it notes would stay in place. I also used a razor blade to cut a half circle for a catch tab in the center of the pocket. The check paper is Bo Bunny's Princess Pink Gingham (reversible with small checks on one side and larger checks on the other). For the border, I punched pink paper using a Martha Stewart punch and then trimmed it narrow, adhering it to black paper and attaching it to the bottom of the pocket on the front of the card. The "For You" on the card front was an experiment made with the Martha Stewart punch. I used a narrow piece of black cardstock for the "ribbon" and attached the "For You" onto the paper using a flower brad. The stamp I used on the inside was a Mary Engelbreit stamp, which perfectly matched the flowers on top of the Mary Engelbreit post-it notes I put in the pocket.