Happy Birthday - CAS-ual Fridays & Lawnscaping Challenges

Hey, it' fun to be blogging again!  I've been stamping lately, but...I'll have to wait a few weeks before I can share those cards with you.   I'll have a surprise ;o)

Anyway, I DO have a card to share with you this morning.  I just HAD to get back to a few of my favorite challenges.  I love participating!  My card is going into the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays CFC #21

 The challenge is to use 3 shades of a monochromatic color (our choice) + brown.

Lawnscaping Challenge #18: TEXT

I had a lot of fun combining these two challenges.  I've been wanting to make a card using swipes of color across the card stock.  So, once I found these two challenges...this card came together easily.  Yay!  That usually doesn't happen.  Believe me.

I started by clear embossing the text on white cardstock.  Then I swiped 3 different shades of color across the panel with a craft sponge. After wiping the excess ink off of the embossed text, I used dimensional adhesive dots to attach it to a panel of really rust CS.  Then onto the card base of chocolate chip CS.

I heat embossed the sentiment with white EP, then added 3 gems.  Done!

Thanks for taking a look...I hope you'll leave a comment!

Supplies:

Stamps: A to Z, Birthday Whimsy (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Really Rust (SU), Versamark (Tsukineko)

Card stock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust (SU)

Other: gems (The Paper Studio), Winter White embossing powder & Clear embossing powder (SU). foam adhesive dots, craft sponge, heat tool

Happy Birthday - PDCC99 & The Paper Players 64

Hello!  It's bee quite a while since my last post, and I've missed my blog sooooo much :)  I miss that contact with the stamping community.  Last weekend was just too busy.  This weekend, busy too...but I did find time to make one card for 2 challenges.

The Play Date Cafe - PDCC 99 is a color challenge.  I loooove these colors together!

The Paper Players Challenge #64 is a theme challenge.

I have to tell you.  I'm not really liking my card.  I've had this idea in my head for several days.  I could just picture how pretty it would be.  On paper though (actually card stock), not so much :(
But, I'll post it anyway.  I think.

And to top it all off...the lighting is poor.  I finished this card after the sun had set, so, no natural light.

So.  I used PTI's stamper's select white cardstock for my one layer card.  I embossed it with SU's textured impressions flower garden embossing folder.  I love this image!  Then I took my wisteria wonder marker and used the side of the larger end, to run along all of the raised areas of the image.  [Yes, I know it appears gray in the photo, but it really isn't.]   After the ink was dry, I used a jelly roll stardust clear pen on the centers of the flowers.  I don't think you can see that detail in my photo, but it sparkles IRL.
Now, it's at this point that I lost my love for this card.  The sentiment that I selected looks too....well...wimpy or fragile, compared to the bolder lines of the floral image. Ah well.  I couldn't find a way to cover it.  So.  It stays.
I finished the card with a piece of knotted pale yellow ribbon (from Michael's) and a few flat-back pearls (also from Michael's).
If you've read my entire post....I applaud you!  Thank you for putting up with my whining :)

I hoping for better results with my next card!

Happy Birthday, it's your day

Yes, this is my second post today.  Click HERE to see the first one.
I squeezed in just enough time today, to make a second card.  Yay!  Actually, I should have been working outdoors instead of stamping.  We finally have some gorgeous COOL weather, and I love it!

Back to stamping, though...

I'm playing along with The Paper Players Challenge #62 - Birthdays

And, The Lawnscaping Challenge #17 - use heat or dry embossing

This card is sooooo different from the card in my earlier post.  I have to admit that this is a style that I'm much more comfortable with.  I'm really liking this card :)  It has a combination of several techniques I've been seeing on other blogs.

I knew that i wanted to do these angled layers, and I thought that a combination of neutrals would give me the soft look that I wanted.  I dry embossed the top layer, then gave the image a  light sanding to soften it.  This pleated ribbon effect is something I haven't tried before.  It turned out to be easier than I thought.  So glad that I gave it a try!  I think the rest is self explanatory.  So, that's it :)

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Supplies:

Card stock: soft suede, whisper white, basic gray, sahara sand (SU)

Ink: basic gray (SU)

Stamps: simple sentiments (PTI)

Other: textured impressions embossing folder (SU), basic gray satin ribbon (SU), sanding block, scor-tape, gray gems (Recollections)

Happy Birthday - 2 challenges

I had to force myself to stamp today.  Ha..just kidding :)
My stash of birthday cards was gone.  So, it was time to play along in a challenge or two.

This card is going into The Paper Players Challenge #62 - Birthdays

And - The Lawnscaping Challenge #17 - Embossing Extravaganza
This is my first time playing along with them!

And, my card ~

This style is a little out of my comfort zone.  I really like those "cute" cards that I see so many people create.  But, they're difficult for me.  So...I decided to push myself to use some of those cute stamps that haven't seen much ink.  Once I finally came up with an idea, I enjoyed making this card.  I sponged some Bashful Blue ink onto the white cardstock, using a scalloped oval piece of cs as a mask.  For the grassy hills, I used a woodgrain embossing folder to add some texture.  I wasn't sure how that would look...but I'm liking it!
The larger bird was colored with markers and popped up on dimensional adhesive.  I also stamped and cut out a few extra tail feathers for him, and layered them underneath.
I think I still some practice with this style of card.  But, that just gives me more excuses to stamp...doesn't it?
Thanks for popping in to take a look!

Supplies:

Ink: basic black, close to cocoa, basic gray, summer sun, marina mist, certainly celery, bashful blue (SU)

Card stock: garden green, close to cocoa, whisper white

Stamps: hang ups, sentiment sampler (Paper Smooches)

Other: woodgrain embossing folder (Tim Holtz by Sizzix), blue gem (the Paper Studio), glossy accents (Ranger), scor-tape, white signo gel pen

Happy Birthday - Number 40 !

This card is going to a family friend who is celebrating her 40th birthday.  Hopefully, she'll be too busy to see this blog post :)

 * You can click on any photo to get a larger version.

You know that I've mentioned before, how long I sometimes spend making one card?  Yea, this was one of them.  At least 3 hours.  Seriously.  All of those decisions to make...what to put on it, where to put it.  And then there were those two numbers.  I ruined the first 2 sets, trying to get the color I wanted.  Did I not know that glossy chip board letters will not accept color?  And, that glass glitter would be overpowering?  Well, I guess that old saying "the third time is a charm", has some truth to it.  I'm very pleased with this third set of numbers.  I used plain chipboard numbers and just laid them onto my stamp pad, pressed and swirled.  Ahhh!  They soaked up just the right amount of ink and have a nice soft look.  In the closeup pic, the surface almost looks like felt.  I think it's perfect for the vintage feel of this card.
Even though this card took soooo long to make, I'm glad that I stayed the course.  I love the results.  I hope the recipient does, too.
Thanks for taking a look.  I love visitors!

Supplies ~

card stock: confetti cream (Stampin' Up!)

patterned paper: 5 & Dime, 8 x 8 pad (October Afternoon)

stamps: simple sentiments (PTI)

ink: pool party, early espresso, creamy caramel (SU)

other: chipboard numbers from on board, lots of letters (SU), pearls (Recollections from Michael's), buttons from my stash, linen thread (SU), thread, sewing machine

September - the color is Gold

You're probably wondering what that title means.  Well, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  And the ribbon color is Gold.

From the website: www.godthenewpink.net

We all know that October is breast cancer awareness month, right?  We know that the ribbon is pink.
Most of you probably didn't know that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  Am I right again?  I'm doing whatever I can to spread the word.  On previous visits to my blog, have you noticed the gold and orange ribbon in the right sidebar?  There is also a photo of our nephew, Matthew.
Matthew is the reason that I feel so strongly about making people aware of childhood cancer.  Matt fought ALL (a type of leukemia) for 18 months.  And he fought hard.  His motto was "Play Hard, Never Give Up".  He never gave up, but his body couldn't fight it any longer.  Matt was just 18 years old when he died in May of 2010.  We miss him so very much.

Matthew was a wonderful young man!  He loved any activities that involved the outdoors.  Hunting, snowmobiles, 4 wheelers, water skiing.  And getting dirty (or muddy) was just part of the fun.  He had a dry sense of humor.  And his eyes could convey so much!  Here are a few pics of Matthew.

I saw what childhood cancer did to him.  And, I continue to see how it has affected his family.  Matthew's Mom wrote updates on a Caring Bridge site (similar to a blog) for the entire time that Matt was ill.  This was a way for everyone to see what was going on.  I'm including a link to the last post.  Marcia describes what life is like now, without Matthew.   Matt's Caring Bridge page

I'm not writing this post to depress anyone.  I'm writing this because I want EVERYONE to be aware of Childhood Cancer.  The more people that are aware, the more funding there will be for research. The more research, the closer we get to a cure.   I know of so many children that have lost their battle with cancers.  We have to do everything we can to prevent and cure these cancers.  I don't want other families to go through what Matthew's family is going through.  I don't want other kids to go through what Matthew did.

If you still reading this post...I appreciate it.  Truly.  Stay with me a little longer.  I'd like to share some statistics that, I think, will shock you.  Please read them.
did you know?
• Childhood cancers are the #1 disease killer of children.
• The National Cancer Institute’s federal budget=$4.6 billion. Pediatric cancers received less than 3% of it.
• Overall, one out of every five children diagnosed with cancer dies. In some forms of cancer, as few as one out of every five children will live.• Childhood Cancers are cancers that primarily affect children, teens, and young adults.
• Approximately 20% of adults with cancer show evidence the disease has spread, yet nearly 80% of children show that the cancer has spread to distant sites at the time of diagnosis.
• The cause of most childhood cancers are unknown and at present, cannot be prevented. (Most adult cancers result from lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, occupation, and other exposure to cancer-causing agents).
• Nationally, childhood cancer is 20 times more prevalent than pediatric AIDS yet pediatric AIDS receives four times the funding that childhood cancer receives.
• On the average, 12,500 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year.
• In the U.S., about 46 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every single school day.

*statistics courtesy of Team Unite

This information is from the site:  GoldTheNewPink  You can follow the link to visit their site.
And I want to include a link to another organization that is working toward a cure.  CureSearch

So, to close...please remember that pink isn't the only ribbon color.  Think GOLD.  Remember GOLD.  And please spread the word.