Happy Birthday - and 2 challenges

Since it's a sleety, rainy and gray day here in northern Illinois...I thought it was a good afternoon to spend a little time at my craft table.

Today's card is going into 2 challenges.

Avery Elle's AEI{heart}U Challenge - This is my first time playing along.  I just couldn't resist this inspiration photo!

The Paper Players PP130 - love this sketch by LeAnne

As I said, that inspiration photo from Avery Elle was so inspiring.  Maybe it had something to do with the rainy, gray weather here.  I know I was drawn to the gray pavement, the striped socks, black coat and (of course) the rich red of her umbrella.  I knew what patterned paper I wanted to use, and LeAnne's sketch seemed to fit perfectly.

Here's what I created.

When I looked for an embellishment to represent the circle on the sketch, I sorted through my button stash and found this gray shiny treasure.  The surface made me think of shiny, wet pavement.  What do you think?  No?  

So.  I popped up the chevron die-cut, but adhered the black piece flat to the card base.  I was so glad that that Avery Elle sentiment fit perfectly inside.

I'm glad you stopped by to take a look today, I hope you'll leave a comment.

Later!

Recipe ~
Card stock: going gray, basic black (SU)
Ink: versamark (Tsukineko)
Stamps: framed fonts (Avery Elle)
Patterned paper: breeze 6x6 pad (My Mind's Eye)
Die: fabulous frames (PTI)
Other: cherry cobbler embossing powder, cherry cobbler seam binding ribbon (SU), glue dots, foam tape, scor-tape, tombo mono adhesive, heat tool

Special to me - a Valentine card

Hi, back to share another Valentine card I created today. This one is for one of my Aunts.  I know that one of her favorite colors is pink and I always think of frills and lace when I think of Aunt S 's style...so I went a little bit vintage with this card.

I'm playing along in The Shabby Tea Room Challenge week #150 - Just Pretty

I love the graphic provided for this challenge...take a look.

We are to use the colors in the photo & use stripes and a flower.

Here is what I created.

This was so much fun...once I finally decided on a layout.  I did some machine stitching, added a strip of tinsel glitter (adhered to scor-tape), some vintage trim and 3 resin roses.  The rest is patterned paper and a stamped sentiment.  Oh, and a couple of die cut banners.  Well, I've gotta go, and figure out what to make for dinner :(

Thanks for taking the time to stop in!

What I used:
Card stock: confetti cream (SU)
Patterned paper: lost & found madison avenue 6 x 6 pad (My Mind's Eye)
Stamps: happy trails (PTI)
Ink: early espresso (SU)
Dies: double ended banner die (PTI)
Other: tinsel glitter (MS), adornments resin flowers (SU), pink thread, vintage crochet trim

Hello buttercup! - Paper Players Challenge

Good morning!  This will be a quick post this morning, before I head out for a day of shopping with 2 of my cousins.  Oh yeah, we picked the coldest day of the year.  It's 5 degrees F right now.  Brrrr is putting it mildly.  lol!

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I created this card using stamping, clear embossing and sponging...emboss resist.  It's such a fun technique.

This card is going into the Paper Players CAS Challenge #129.  I love this versatile sketch provided by the team.

I've got several ideas swirling around in my brain.  But, this is what I created last night...

I saw a video of a very similar technique done, using this same stamp.  She used watercolors and a paint brush.  If I can find the video again, I'll come back and add a link.

I stamped the background sentiment first.  Then I clear embossed the stamped image - which, in this case, is the negative of the floral image.  I sponged on several colors of ink for the blooms and a green for the stems.

I love watching the blooms appear as I add more ink.  I matted it with colored card stock and mounted it with foam tape onto the card base.

Those flowers make me think of spring, maybe that's why I gravitated to this particular stamp last night.  You know...with the brrrrrrr going on here, right now!

Thanks so much for taking a look.

Supplies:

Card stock: very vanilla, tangerine tango (SU)

Stamps: defining words (WPlus9), signature greetings II (PTI)

Ink: crumb cake, old olive, basic black, so saffron, peach parfait, tangerine tango (SU), versamark

Other: clear ep (SU), craft sponges (SU), scor-tape, foam tape

Cute as a button, CR84FN challenge

Hi!  I'm sharing a Valentine card that I made for my sister.  Sorry Sis, that you're seeing this before you receive it in the mail!!!  I usually don't post a card that I haven't yet sent to her.

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This card is going into the current challenge at CR84FN70.  AND I just found out that the CR84FN challenge blog is ending soon.  This is their last challenge :(   That piece of news is sad, because I  always loved the color combinations they created.  Always so pretty!

Here's the color palette for CR84FN70.

And, my card ~

Those 2 little girls in the photo are my sister and me.  I'm the oldest.  I've always loved this photo, despite those extremely short bangs I had!  Isn't my sister just as "cute as a button" as the sentiment says?

I used several dies for this card, along with a vintage button (just the right color!) and some seam binding ribbon.  Oh.  And, of course, stamps.  I'll list my supplies below.  It was such a fun card to create, although it took a lot longer than I thought it would.  I know, I know...as usual.  Anyway, I like the results :)

Thanks for taking the time to look today!

Supplies:

Card stock: sahara sand, barely banana (SU), photo paper (Kodak)

Ink: taken with teal, basic black, sahara sand (SU), jet black staz-on (Tsukineko)

Stamps: button boutique, with all my heart (PTI), positive thoughts (Precious Remembrance Shop)

Dies: fabulous frames, button card (PTI)

Other: crumb cake seam binding ribbon, linen thread (SU), vintage button, foam tape, scor-tape

Mason jars + family photos

Well, no cards today.  But I do have a crafty project of a different sort!  My husband and I are hosting a family dinner tomorrow.  This is an annual gathering of some of my cousins and their spouses...and it's our turn to host.  I can hardly wait!  We always have fun together :)

So.  One day when I was spending too much time on...um, doing research on Pinterest, I saw several versions of Mason jars used as table centerpieces.  I knew right away that I wanted to give this a try.  I love antiques and vintage items.  And I already had the jars.  AND, being a paper crafter I already had most of the other supplies I needed.  My only purchase was a bundle of dried flowers - half price, I might add!

If you want, you can take a look at my Mason Jar Ideas Pinterest board HERE.

Putting my own twist on the ideas I found, these is what I created.

These are placed down the center of the larger of our 2 tables.

The photo inside this jar is a pic of some of the cousins, aunts & uncles on my Dad's side of the family. I was about 1 at the time.

This is a photo of my DH, many years ago!  His father still lives in this home :)  The phrase that I stamped on the tag is "cute as a button".  Then I added a few vintage buttons inside the jar!

Photo of my Grandpa Jones and one of my uncles.

My Grandpa & Grandma Challand; I'm the baby on Grandma's lap.

I had sooooo much fun creating this grouping of centerpieces.  I scanned the original photos then printed them all on photo paper.  I tore a page from an old book for each of the jars, placing it behind each photo. The chapter heading in this last pic says "A Grandmamma".  Appropriate, don't you think?

I added ribbons, cording and a stamped tag to each jar, also.  I stayed with a color palette of red, kraft & ivory.  The final touch was a sprig or 2 of dried flowers in each jar.

I hope you're having a good weekend.  Thanks for spending a little time at my blog today!

Thank You...etc!

I'm sharing a Thank You card that I made for the Color Throwdown Challenge CTD223.

I really like this color combo, so I had to find a little time to play along.  Here's what I came up with.

Well.  This card just didn't turn out the way I imagined it.  I'm just not feelin' it. :(

I think it needs something...but I can't figure out what.

I stamped the sentiment vertically in crumb cake and kiwi kiss inks.  Then used the same sentiment for the focal piece.  The border on that piece is embossed with early espresso embossing powder.  That's what I *thought* would make it pop.  I added 3 little gems and a bow to finish my card.

Anyway, thanks so much for taking a look today.  I appreciate all of my visitors!

Supplies:

Card stock: naturals ivory (SU)

Ink: crumb cake, kiwi kiss, soft suede (SU), versamark (Tsukineko)

Stamps: framed fonts (PTI)

Other: early espresso EP (SU), kraft twill ribbon (PTI), gems (Recollections), foam tape (3M)

A Valentine...

Hi!  I'm sharing a card that I made yesterday.  This is a Valentine card for my husband.  I know. Some of these colors aren't exactly masculine.  But, at least I kept this card clean & simple.  No lace or buttons!

I'm playing along in 2 challenges.

Freshly Made Sketches - sketch #67  (yup...hearts!)

CASology - Cue card NEW - week #25

My take on the challenges:

The *new* is this stamp set from Papertrey Ink.

I masked off all but a narrow strip across my card, then stamped in a variety of valentine images (all from the same stamp set).  I used 4 different colors.  Then after removing the masks, I drew a border at the top and bottom with a Stardust clear glitter pen.  After stamping the Love you sentiment on the heart die cut, I outlined (actually inside lined) the word Love.  I popped this up on another heart die cut, then adhered it to the card base with dimensional adhesive.

Thanks so much for stopping to take a look!

Supplies:

Card stock: white (PTI), raspberry ripple (SU)

Ink: primrose petals, raspberry ripple, soft suede, crumb cake (SU)

Stamps: with all my heart (PTI)

Other: limitless layers heart dies (PTI), stardust clear glitter pen (Sakura), foam tape (3M)