A CAS Re-Do Challenge

Sorry I've been AOL for a couple of days. I started a new Beth Moore Bible study (Daniel), we're gearing up for hosting our marriage group, I'm taking a beading class, the weeds are verrry happy with all the rain they've been getting and life in general has suddenly gotten very busy!

Apologies for this awful photo! I'm definitely asking Santa for a new camera this year. My old Sony digital takes about one good shot and then the color goes wonky. This is more vibrant although muted IRL.

The challenge on SCS CAS (Clean and Simple) this week was to take an "old" card and re-do it.

I made these cards last fall but I never really liked the one on the left...just too busy. It didn't get sent for that reason, I guess. I decided to super simplify it using the same main image but changing the size of the card and leaving off the "clutter in the background.

I stamped the image in Tea Leaves Versamark Chalk ink then again, lightly in

PTI's Dark Chocolate. I ran my distressing tool around the chocolate layer.

BTW, if you purchased PTI inkpads and have been having trouble stamping your images especially with the Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush and Spring Moss colors, you can exchange the pads and reinkers for credit. PTI has identified a problem. There is a link here that explains the procedure you need to follow. They have the best customer service. So happy they've addressed this issue.

I forgot to post this card!! It uses the same layout just a different image and color palette.

Stamps: Papertrey First Fruits, Floral Fusion

Paper: PTI Kraft, Avocado, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream

Ink: Versamark Chalk Tea Leaves, PTI Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate

Accessories: PTI twine, buttons

Elegant Wedding Roses Gift Set

Remember these paper flowers? I couldn't wait for another chance to make more! Today's Inspiration Challenge on SCS gave me just the push I needed.

Here's my choice.

I was so happy a friend asked me to make another wedding day gift can for her...She said she gets the nicest thank you notes from the bride and groom! She tucks a gift card amid some excelsior inside the can along with a scroll that I print on vellum listing ways for the couple to use the can after the wedding.

Some examples are: saving for a special 1st anniversary trip, writing notes to be read on their anniversary, date night savings, etc.


The couple's photo always goes on top so it's very personalized. The happy couple's colors are black and white with red roses, of course. I have more roses trailing down the back. I spritzed the can and roses with silver Glimmer Mist because their invitation had a silvery sheen on black...gorgeous!



Here is the card I created to go with the can. For some reason, I just couldn't get a decent picture of it!

For those of you wondering about a tutorial, I used the book, The Paper Garden. Due to copyright infringement laws, I can't tell you how to do it here without permission from the author, but you can find the book and all the supplies at http://www.scrappilyeverafter.com/.

The rose requires a medium pear punch, a 1/2" circle punch, I used my MS leaf punch, and I used the tool kit on the site to shape and alter the punched shapes. I used the Crafter's Pick glue she recommends in the book which I found at Michael's. The book gives detailed pictures and clear, concise instructions.

Thanks for stopping by....your comments are always appreciated!


Supplies:
Stamps: PTI Wedding Day
Paper: Making Memories Sabrina, PTI white, SU black, Bazzill textured (roses)
Ink: Versafine black
Accessories: Scor-Tape, 1.5" & 3/8 " black satin ribbon, Spellbinders rectangle die , Silver Glimmer Mist,
"The Paper Garden", punch tools, punches



Charlene

A is for Ann, Adorable, Amazing, Awesome....

The girls at 365 Cards are hosting a Monogram Monday challenge this week so can you imagine how excited I was when I saw this A-shaped card template and envelope set from The Cutting Cafe!!

I just picked up this ADORABLE paper pack on clearance at Michael's (!) from Sassafrass Las called Hog Heaven and I knew right away this was the perfect card for this paper.

Regina has not one but 2 shaped cards, letter templates and envelopes templates in this incredible set. I used my Justrite stampers for the name, added some bling on the dots and then just cut images from the paper scraps for embellishments.

Here's another view so you can see how I used more scraps for the inside too...lots of room for "I love you's".....

Supplies:

Stamps: Justrite Stampers

Template: The Cutting Cafe

Paper: PTI Hibicus, SU Caribbean Breeze, Sassafrass Lass Hog Heaven

Ink: PTI Hibiscus, Dark Chocolate

Accessories: Sewing Machine, self adhesive bling, Spellbinders Circle & Scalloped Circle dies

Gratefully Clean and Simple

Drats...I really wanted to try to do the Papertrey Blog Hop but forgot it had to be posted by 7:55 p.m. There's always next month!

I took some homemade cookies to my 92 yr. old neighbor and spent about an hour just visiting with her. She had a severe stroke about a year ago and communication is slow but she still has her wry sense of humor and loves chocolate chip cookies. So actually, this card sums up how I'm feeling...grateful that I recovered from my "brain attack", grateful that I can walk, and talk and do the things I love.

This card is totally Papertrey. The leaf is from last year's fall set, First Fruits. I used three colors of ink to achieve the look of the leaf. I first inked it in Aqua Mist, then Ocean Tides, then lightly with Chocolate Chip. The base is Ocean Tides. I sponged the edges of the base and the sentiment panel with Chai. The image panel is popped up on dimensionals.

Gratefully,

Clean and Simple Pretty Shoes

The challenge for today's Clean & Simple challenge (CAS29) was an inspiration challenge. We were to go virtual shopping and choose shoes or bags...how fun is that?! I ADORE shoes. When we lived up north, I bought lots of them but here in FL...it's flip flops nearly all year which I'm sure are horrible for my feet.

This was truly a 10 minute card...quick and easy. I got these Alesa Baker stamps unmounted several years ago on clearance and am ashamed to say this is the first time they've seen ink. I know, I know....

Base card is 4.25 x 5.25 long ways. I made scores with my awesome Scor-Pal at 1/2" intervals at the top where the ribbon is tied. Color is SU's Tangerine Tango...great name for a shoe, huh? Easy, peasy.

Be inspired!

Hey, Matisse - Smell the Coffee! SCS Challenge

The Inspiration Challenge this week on SCS is a super cool one. If you've never tried these, you should! These ladies find some of the most unique stores and catalogs. Even if you don't do the challenge, you can do some fabulous visual shopping...or even some real shopping...go ahead, I won't breathe a word!

This bright and bold Matisse inspired cup was my choice...I just loved the bright colors...not the way I live or dress but oh so pretty.

The stamp is from a set by Impression Obsession called, "Smell the Coffee". The paper is all Stampin Up: Tangerine Tango, Taken with Teal, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, black and white.

I colored the cup with the matching SU markers directly on the rubber. (DTR) The brads came from the Target $1 spot. I didn't have a black or purple and the blue was too light so I just colored them with my Prismacolor alcohol markers. The same look and versatility as Copics at half the price! Works for my budget!

Thanks for stopping... and be inspired!

Simon Says Stamp Christmas in August...Whew!

Hee,hee...do you remember playing "Simon Says"? You know, whoever was Simon said you had to do something and you HAD to do it or "go back". Well, the challenge this week on Simon Says Stamp is Christmas in August. Well, I sure don't want to start this year over so I played along. :-)

Now I have to tell you the truth, my Christmas Mojo just hasn't kicked in yet....it's waaay tooo hot in S. Florida for Santa, but I thought I'd give it a try.

The DT on Simon were making alot of tags last week, so I thought I'd try one when my card Mojo wouldn't budge. I just adore this little angel from Elzy Bells. Now I have a special tag for a special gift!

Thanks, Simon!! Supplies:
Stamps: Elzy Bells
Paper: SU Holiday Treasures DP, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Gray, Prismacolor Markers
Accessories: Spellbinders dies,
snowflake punches, button, velvet ribbon, paper piercer, glitter

Dress Card Template Winner!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:Random 16Timestamp: 2009-08-22 12:03:25 UTC Gretchen said... This is really CUTE!! I can think of several uses for it TOO!!! August 21, 2009 3:54 PM

Congratulations, Gretchen!! Your template will be on the way!

Another Masculine Card -

Don't forget to sign up for the giveaway on this post.

I was exhausted last night...too many late owl nights, I guess and at my advanced age, I can't party all night anymore. :-(

At any rate, I finished this card the other day while I had the stamps out for this
card. This card is for the Color Challenge at SCS.
We were to use Taken with Teal, Vanilla and either Close to Cocoa or Going with Gray.

Stamps are Inkadinkadoo Coastal and Papertrey Everyday Classics.

I love to paper pierce.. good thing because I redid this one 3X until I found a design I thought fit the card. Sponged in gray on the vanilla to soften the edges.

What do you think? Isn't it cool that just changing the colors gives this a whole new look?

Here comes the Bride! and Another Giveaway, too!

Thanks for playing...this giveaway is closed.

The fall wedding season is approaching and with it comes the need for invites for showers and wedding cards. Regina, from The Cutting Cafe has outdone herself with the creation of this ADORABLE dress card and envelope template! I can see this finished in the bridesmaid's colors for a thank you luncheon, as an invitation for a princess party, the possibilities are endless! She's even got an envelope designed to go with it as well as an option to print it with the invite information inside AND accessories. We know how important accessories are!

I decided to go totally bridal and innocent but be sure to check out the hot little black number Regina cooked up. VaVoom!

I cut out my card shape and the separate dress template then I ran the template through the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. I found these rolls of very fine netting (tulle) at JoAnn's a few months ago in the $ spot and though I didn't have a plan for them then...I knew I would some day, right?

I gathered and sewed a piece of the tulle across the bodice, covered it with a piece of white picot edged satin ribbon, added a stunning off white paper rose I picked up from 7kidscollegefund.com by punching a 1/16" hole and sticking the stem through. I cut the stem down a bit then taped it off. I added my tiny stick-on pearls from Michael's to the neckline and on the tulle. All that was left was to tape it all down on the card itself.

So simple, yet I think, so elegant.

What do you think?

Woo,hoo, ladies! Regina just said I can give this set away so you can make your very own pretty dress ! Just leave me a comment that includes your contact info (you will not be contacted unless you win) by Saturday morning. I will draw a winner then. Good luck!

Roses and Magnolias

What do girls do when they're husbands go out of town? Well, they stamp in their jammies, of course!!

My DH had a meeting so I invited my BFF, Patty, over to play in my paper sandbox. My new passion is making paper flowers. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these! So easy and so beautiful...I'd love to do a tutorial but the book is copyrighted but here's all the information you need to get started.

The awesome directions are in a book called "The Paper Garden" by Susan Tierney Cockburn. All the flowers are made with punches and paper...nothing else except markers to add color to the flower centers.

Shopping alert: the punch tools and all the punches are on sale 30% off, today only at Scrappily Ever After.

Patty picked up the flowers on the card at the Scrappily Ever After booth at CHA. She broght them with her and I helped her put the elements together for the super CAS (clean and Simple) card. The sentiment is from the elegant Flourished Words from Flourishes. Didn't she do a fabulous job?!!

We each made a rose and that's Patty's first magnolia. Instant card WOW!! I have some projects in mind using these and other flowers to stay tuned.

Don't forget to pop over to Scrappily Ever After today! Cheryl is super sweet and put up with all our questions when we placed our order. Shhhhh!

Totally Coastal Masculine Card

I did two posts today so don't forget to scroll down to see another Clean and Simple card (forgot to post it!!). A mind is a terrible thing to waste!

This is another CAS triple challenge.

CAS10 - Monochromatic, CAS28-Masculine and CASDT09FALL02 - Shades of brown with a touch of red .

Stamps - Inkadinkadoo Coastal/Maritime, Paper - Papertrey Kraft & Dark Chocolate

Techniques - Sponging, piercing, heat embossing

The images are heat embossed with clear EP but I couldn't capture it tonight.

Thanks for visiting...love to know what your thoughts!

Thankful

Totally forgot to blog this! This is a triple CAS DT challenge card for Splitcoaststampers. You can find the challenge details here if you want to play along.

My base is a Fabriano notecard. Beautiful texture and elegance. Stamps - Papertrey First Fruits, Ink- Papertrey Dark Chocolate and Sakura red glitter pen, Ribbon - Target.

Clean and simple. What do you think ?

Stamps, Stamps and More Stamps!!

Ok, Blogging Friends, you've got to head on over to Priscilla Styles (home of Midnight Madness) !!!

Once again, Priscilla is giving us a chance to win some awesome Blog Candy!! Woo,Hoo!! Be sure to follow the directions, she's checkin' on us.

While you're there, check out the awesome talent in residence on her design team and the cool templates she has for sale.

If you love elegant style, and cool sketch challenges with tons of prizes, priscillastyles is your destination. She's also got an awesome tutorial for a chiffon flower you might be interested in.

Good luck, everybody!

Happy 100th, Sharon!

No, she's not 100 but it's Sharon Johnson's 100th Challenge Birthday Bash and we're all invited!

Sharon and her talented group of designers, past and present, have whipped up some gorgeous creations and blog candy too. Hop on over and join in the celebration!

Supplies:
Paper: Fabriano notecard, Papertrey Ink Melon Berry, Ripe Avocado
Stamps: Papertrey Faux Ribbon, Simple Little Things, Button Bits
Ink: Versafine Chalk ink Tea Leaves
Accessories: The Paper Garden, punches, flower tools, ribbon (Target)

We have a Blogaversary winner!! Congratulations to Sue from Oregon!!! Be sure to give her a shout out and check out her adorable cards...this girl can color!

School Days Winner Re-Draw

The winner of the drawing here on my school days post did not respond soooo.....

I drew another number

Here are your random numbers : 6

Timestamp-08-16-2009 036:16 0UTC

VICKIE AUST said...
This is such a cute card and perfect for grandchildren going back to school or for their teacher.
August 7, 2009 2:20 PM

Congratulations, Vicki!! Please send me your email address.

Hey, Cupcake!!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment on the blogaversary post. I read every one and from what I can determine, you want to see more gift type things. I ADORE making gift sets..not sure what it is but one thing seems to lead to another and gets my creative juices running.

Today's creation started life looking like the picture to the left. I picked up several of these sets right after Christmas last year when Target had them for 75% off...that made each one about $5. Inside is a mug, a container of tea bags, a package of flavored coffee (enough for a full pot) and a package of hot cocoa mix. A very nice gift....unless you're a paper crafter!!

Simon Says Stamp has an "Anything but a Card Challenge" here along with some awesome inspiration from their designers. My anything buts...a basket, altered box, tag, and recipe card!

My first thought was to recover the container but it had too many odd angles so.....
I decided to make my own container! I printed out Lauren Meader's Pack a Picnic in the large size on SU blush cardstock. I had just two pieces of my favorite DP from Basic Grey's Two Scoops Collection left and knew they would be perfect for a basket.

The border is SU white cut with the Martha Stewart lace edge border punch. See my tag? I got some Bass shorts at the outlet mall this summer and they had a really nice, heavy chipboard tag on them...so I covered it in the same DP. The coffee cup is stamped with Papertrey's Everyday Classics, covered with Crystal Effects and a tiny strip of the DP was added at the rim, then attached with a dimensional.

(You can download a template for a recipe card for Word here.)

Now for what's on the inside...my mug's not empty! It has the dry ingredients for a microwave mug cupcake! I printed the recipe using the template above then set my printer to print on 4x6 cardstock. The cupcake on my recipe card is also from PTI's Everyday Classics. The base is stamped in Leaf, the icing in Berry Sorbet then covered in Crystal Effects. The green half pearl was in a pack that was a 50% off K & Co. find at Michael's.

Do you recognize the box the coffee came in? No? That's Good!!

I took it apart, traced it, then scored it on my Scor-Pal following the same lines. I changed the closure to fit my paper (you can see what I did in the second photo...basically just cut it straight across. I added Scor-Tape to the ends and the bottom flap. Before assembling, I added my DP and then sewed my box on the front and back.
I used a Magnetic Snap for the closure because I thought the recipient might want to re-use or ahem...re-gift the box. :-)












Just so you know the recipe actually works....I had to try it out, right??
A nice big cupcake! Not gourmet, but very good and when it's warm, who needs frosting?! Best of all....I got to eat it all by myself. Do not breathe a word to my DH. Promise?


Love to know what you think!



Charlene

Somebody pick me up off the floor!!!

I just opened my blog to post and saw a post that someone won the BIG LUCKY DUCK CHA SOMETHING ABOUT SIMON Giveaway

.

Guess what, it's me!

Me, who never wins anything. I always joke that I wouldn't win even if I was the only one entered.

What an absolute blessing! I'm doing the Happy Dance (my dog thinks I'm nuts..it's usually the other way around) Gosh.

Somebody pinch me and then be sure to check out all the new CHA goodies arriving at Simon says Stamp. While you're there, check out their blog. They have some neat challenges for you to play along and stretch imaginations along with their super talented design team.

Hey, you can be a winner too...one more day until I pick the winner for my Blogaversary giveaway. So head back and sign up!!

Blogaversary Presents...for YOU!

Comments are now closed. 5 pm Saturday. Good luck everybody!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers: 19

Timestamp: 2009-08-15 21:16:47 UTC

Sue from Oregon that would be you!!

First of all, thank you to each and every one of you for taking your valuable time to visit my blog and leave a comment. A blogger lives on comments. :-) It's the only way we know if anyone is out there. If my humble creations have inspired you in any way, I am grateful. Thanks to all the wonderful crafters and friends who've encouraged me along the way as well.

Here are my gifts to you....so far:

Justrite Stampers Christmas Stamp Ensemble

Justrite Stampers 3-1/4" Classic Stamper III

Stampin Up Yummy Unmounted Set

American Crafts Thickers Chipboard Stickers

A set of matching tags, brads and ribbon

Marcella K Sparkly Chipboard Alphabet

Basic Grey Scarlet's Letter 6 X 6 paper pad

Hero Arts Wish Prints stamp set

Making Memories Sheer Frames

Martha Stewart Ivory pearl stickers

Clear stamps birthday set

Papertrey Spring Moss ink pad (my fav color)

What you need to do: leave me a comment telling me what you'd most like to see in the next year on my blog AND sign up as a follower. ONLY 1 POST PER PERSON PLEASE.

I will draw a winner on Saturday...and will add something new each day as a surprise.

Thanks again!!

Cutting Cafe Pencil Box Winner

Sorry for the late post, ladies. I had a meeting and so did my DH so just got a chance to get on the computer. If you posted twice, I skipped your second post to count.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:14

Timestamp: 2009-08-13 02:18:27 UTC

Jessica G. said...

I'm a huge fan of gift boxes -- this one HAS to be filled with brand new pencils in coordinating colors. I'd adhere some fun DPs for a perfect back to school set! Although I have to say I love your idea of chocolate, too!!

Jessica, please send me your email address at cookiebaker57@gmail.com so we can get your template to you.

Thanks to everyone who played and visited. I read every post and appreciate each one of you.

Be sure to check out the Blogaversary candy!!

The winner of this giveaway is Scholaro24. Please contact me by Friday. I will draw another winner (from those already posted) if I don't hear from you.

Thanks everybody!!