Sunday, October 23, 2011

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger




Here are the other two cards I made while mulling over the Tuesday Trigger inspiration photo at Moxie Fab World. They just didn't thrill me in the end. The one is too literal an interpretation and the other is just "meh." I've been busy in the craft room lately, so that's huge progress! Since taking the Inspiration Showcase class with Jennifer McGuire, I'm in love with Distress Inks and have pieces all over my desk resulting from playing around. I have not embossed so much since I started stamping so many years ago!

Today, I have gotten a ton of kitchen work done. Made tomato sauce, non-dairy lasagne, bread, apple coffee cake muffins, roasted and pureed pumpkin and roasted pumpkin seeds. I am tired and ready for the yummy dinner! I hope you have had a great day, too! Thanks for looking!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

SPARKS Challenge



The photo inspiration for the current SPARKS challenge was too cute to pass up. The VW van made me think of flower children and the 70's. I used some Crate Paper dp (love those lollipop trees) and More Mustard with a hint of brown from the scrap pile. The flowers are from my never-ending Prima stash and the brads are also from the stash. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches, Pretty Phrases, and is stamped with Soft Suede and clear embossed. The sentiment panel is also stamped in More Mustard with the SU! woodgrain background stamp.

My VW story is that when my best friend and I were 24, we decided to head west and bought a VW van for the trip. Well, the van broke down only 3 states away from home and we were forced to return with our tails between our legs. So much for our grand adventure! We moved a few months later anyway (via airplane this time) and ended up living in AZ for a few years. That's where I met my husband and my best friend actually ended up marrying my husband's best friend a few years later. Isn't that a happy story?

Hope you are having a good day. Oh, and should you decide to take the SPARKS challenge, it's up until November 2! Thanks for looking!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

More Tuesday Trigger on Thursday!



Have you seen the latest Tuesday Trigger from Moxie Fab World? I wish I could figure out how to get the image of the dress to show up here, but click on the link to check it out. You have two weeks to create and post something!

I've made three cards already, and this is my favorite so far. I'll post the others tomorrow. The butterflies are punched from Ralph Lauren paint chips with a Martha Stewart punch. They have a great pearly, crackly finish to them. The pearls are a mix of stuff from my stash. The grey is from Bazzill and is textured and the white panel is Whisper White heat embossed with the French Script background and clear EP, then dry embossed with the SU! Elegant Bouquet folder. The small grey panel is punched with an EK success border punch. Here's a close-up of the butterflies.



Thanks for looking!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Lovely Trees

Wow, I found this card in my draft folder! I guess I never got around to writing the post. This is the holiday card I made for DH to give to his colleagues last year. I used Lovely as a Tree and a greeting from my stash. The base is Sahara Sand and the ink is probably Handsome Hunter? I recently designed a super-simple card for him to send this year, and I love it. I just have to order some more card stock and I can get them done in no time.

I have completed a bunch of holiday cards so far with the stuff in my stash this year, and will be sending a batch to OWH for the troops. Then I can work on my own cards to send! I hope you are having a great day. We are getting some much needed rain, the boys are both at school/kids' day out today and I am heading up to my craft room to watch trash tv and get crafty! Thanks for looking!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Thankful Hearts and a Non-Paper Craft

Finally, after 10 months, I got a chance to create a card with Jen's Sketch for You to Try. I had these papers in my "use it up" pile. See, Cindy sent me boatloads of stuff when I first started stamping and I am still working my way through it all! Thanks, Cindy!! I'm using it so I can order more stuff :)

The papers are from SU! and the sentiment is a MAMBI rub-on. It is part of a pack of Thanksgiving rub-ons that I'm slowly using up (do you see a theme here? I am earnestly trying to use what I have!). The hearts are cut from the Verve hearts die.

I've been busy in the craft room, just not always making cards the last few weeks. Carter started a Kids' Day Out program 2 days a week, and needed a nap mat. I first got one of the cheap vinyl ones at Target, but it's already starting to crack. Plus, so many kids have cute soft roll-up mats, I got a pattern from a friend and went at this one.

It took forever to finish because I kept making mistakes, then broke the spool pin on my sewing machine and had to order a replacement. Finally, two whole weeks and hours of work (but only 2 extra trips to the sewing store!) later, it is done! I was so happy when I stitched that last stitch on the buttons. He loves it and it's so cute! If I ever have to make another one, it will be so easy after all the mistakes I learned from with this one :) Not pictured is a pillow that attaches to the top that matches the fleece blanket. Yes, the pillow should be integrated, but that's one of the mistakes, LOL. Here is the tutorial should you want to make one of your own. Just remember - measure twice, cut once!


Lots more cards in the hopper to be posting. Can you believe we're getting into the holiday season here so soon! Hope you are enjoying some great fall weather wherever you are! Thanks for looking!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

OWH Blog Hop



Welcome to the Operation Write Home World Cardmaking Day Bloghop! The theme is Christmas cards. Have you started making yours yet? Hopefully you will get a jumpstart on your mojo while cruising through the blogs on this hop!

I love that OWH sends card to troops to help them keep in touch with their loved ones. It makes me feel great that my craft has a purpose. There's no way I could send all the cards I make, and I love that they are going to good homes and spreading joy!
I should have titled my post "Ode to Cindy", since the papers were all passed on to me from my friend Cindy at Creating With the Heart. The sentiments are all from Verve, as well as the mittens, which are paper pieced. The bramble wreath (from Memory Box) is such a pretty stamp, I couldn't resist using it a couple of ways. The ornaments are Stampin Up! Colors are Sage Shadow and Cherry Cobbler. The embellishments are a mix of simple punched circles and red and white pearls.

Happy Hopping and Thanks for Looking!