Day # 4

Welcome to day # 4 of the tour into my stamping weekend.
This first one has to be my favorite challenge. This was Jenn's challenge. She posted a picture of a cake that was to die for! It was black with a white filigree pattern on it. Several layers and the bottom layer had a large bright green fondant bow on it. I immediately thought of the swirly stamps I have from TAC (since those are the closest to filigree I have). I stamped the images randomly onto black CS using White Craft ink and then I sprinkled some white embossing powder onto the peice so it really made it pop and then I heat set it. I love the way it turned out. I added a bright green flower to the card to make it pop. This is for my stepmom's birthday which is in October.
Stamps: Flourishes (TAC), Hugs and Wishes
Paper: Green Galore, Gable green, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: White Craft, Black
Accessories: White EP, heat gun, brads, flowers This next one is for my Sister in law's birthday. It was done using Joan's Silhouette challenge. I went to one of my stand by favorites Garden Silhouettes (SU) and colored it using markers before I stamped. Lovely, just like my SIL.
Stamps: Garden Silhouette's, So Many Sayings
Paper: Groovy Guava, Blue Bayou, White
Ink: Cameo Coral and Not Quite Navy markers, Black ink
Accessories: ribbon

This one was a sketch challenge by Jen. I made it for my neices birthday.
Stamps: Hugs and Wishes, Paisley BG
Paper: Pink Passion, Whisper White, Black, Uptown Girl Paper from TAC
Ink: Pink Passion, Black,
Accessories: White ribbon, pink flower brad

This one was a challenge where we had to rip, tear, distress and make the card dirty! Thanks Laura for this fun challenge. This card is for one of my brother's. I did some tearing, distressing, sponging, and even some DTP. Stamped the sentiment directly onto the twill tape and added brads.
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Kraft, Natural
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel,
Accessories: Twill Tape, Brads, Spounge, colored pencils

This challenge was called clearly size matters. The challenge was to create a long card and to use something clear. So I used a transperency to create a shaker card. It's not quite as long as the specifications that we were given because I couldn't find the envelopes I would have needed to mail it to my brother for his birthday (yes, I have a lot of brothers, o.k. so only 4 but their birthdays are all within 3 months of eachother, in fact this brother is twins with the brother whose card I just showed you.) Anyhow I cut little strips of cardstock for the shaker card and DD said they looked like rocks at the bottom of a fish tank. Good thing cause that is what I was aiming for.
Stamps: Very Punny, It's Your Birthday
Paper: So Saffron, Brocade Blue, White
Ink: Black marker and ink
Accessories: Cuttlebug, swirls embossing folder, ribbon, transparency, mounting tape

This last card was probably one of the more difficult ones for me. The challenge given by Carole was to use Red, Yellow, and Blue (the primary colors) on your card. I am not a bright color person and Bold Brights is my least favorite color group to work with that SU has. But I do like the way this card for my brother in law's birthday worked out. I used a gold gel pen to trim the treasure chest and lock. Thought it would look more treasure like.
Stamps: Ahoy Matey, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Yo Yo Yellow, Brilliant Blue, Real red, White
Ink: Black
Accessories: Colored pencils, eyelets, gel pen

And that ends your 4th look at my weekend of stamping. Tomorrow I will have for you the final cards that I did.

Day # 3

Ready for some more cards for my weekend o' stamping? These cards are all the Sept. cards for my birthday box.
This first one is my brother's. For this one I used Julia's challenge to do stitching. Once again, since my sewing machine pedal is MIA and you kind of can't use the machine without it, the stitching is all hand done with my paper piercer (crafters tool kit) and then needle and thread.
Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Kraft, White, Really rust, Black
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: colored pencils, paper piercer, thread, needle, ribbon slider brad, ribbon This one is for my brother-in-law and his wife. They are about to celebrate their 1st anniversary. These were their wedding colors. This was for Sharon's challenge to keep the card clean and simple by just using CS and paper, stamp, and ribbon. I tried so hard to keep it at that but I couldn't help it, I had to add some piercing. The card was just calling for it.
Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Hugs and Wishes
Paper: Certainly Celery DP, Mellow Moss, Pale Plum
Ink: Pale Plum, Mellow Moss, Perfect Plum markers, Black ink
Accessories: paper piercer, ribbon

This one is for Jody's ribbon challenge. Seriously perfect challenge for Jody to post. She is the ribbon queen! Anyhow, we had to use ribbon as our inspiration for our creation. So I wanted to make my sister Kristina (she is turning 14) a card with this cute ribbon. I used the ribbon as my color inspiration. The chair is paper peiced so that it looks like the girl is just sinking into the comfy chair.
Stamps: PMSabella, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink, More Mustard, Old Olive
Ink: Black, White
Accessories: ribbon, colored pencils
Techniques: paper piecing

Would you beleive I don't have a single cupcake stamp! Not even paper with cupcakes on them! I know, horrible! So for Taylor's DTGD week challenge I improvised. I drew my own. I'm not an artist so don't laugh k? This card is for my nephew who is turning two so I don't think he will notice my lack of artistic ability here.
Stamps: So Many Sayings
Paper: Brocade Blue, So Saffron, Rose Red, White
Ink: black ink and marker
Accessories: colored pencils, ribbon

So thus ends another glimpse into my weekend o' stamping. *grin* More tomorrow!

Day # 2 & CC177

So here is your second glimpse at my weekend o' stamping!

This first card is for my DH's sister and her husband for their anniversary. This was for Holly's sketch challenge. The products I used are:
Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Hugs and Wishes, Aida
Paper: Pale Plum, Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, White
Ink: Pale Plum, Certainly Celery & Perfect Plum markers, black ink, Pale plum ink
Accessories: ribbon, colluzle


This next card was supposed to be for Jody's ribbon challenge but I liked the one I showed you yesterday better so I submitted that one for the challenge. I do like this one though. Products used: Stamps: Loads of Love, Hugs & Wishes Paper: Whisper White, Real Red Ink: black ink, Accessories: ribbon, colored pencils, slot punch Next I want to show you my results from today's Color Challenge on SCS. When I saw this weeks Color Challenge I had to laugh. Groovy White Sands. Since DH and I are moving to White Sands New Mexico soon, I figured this combo would be the perfect one for our Just Moved cards. I'm trying to decide if I am going to do this one or not because it was so involved, but I love it. So we'll see.
Stamps: Loads of Love & Accessories
Paper: Groovy Guava, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Black Staz-On
Accessories: Ribbon, Crafter's Tool Kit, Thread, Needle, Brads
That one was so involved that I decided to see if I could come up with one that would take less time. I like this next one, but I like the more involved one better so I think I will do the one with all the stitching (keep in mind, I can't find the pedal for my sewing machine, so it was all hand stitched.) Anyhow, supplies for 2nd attempt:
Stamps: Loads of Love & Accessories
Paper: Groovy Guava, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Black Staz-On
Accessories: Markers, ribbon, brads, circle punch, scallop punch
I had so much fun with this combo that I decided to do another one. So I made a just for fun one.
Stamps: And Everything Nice
Paper: Groovy Guava, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Black Staz-On
Accessories: Ribbon, Dimensionals, markers, aqupainter, stickles

Day # 1

In my last post I told you about my two day stamp session where I completed all 20 cards for the DTGD week over on SCS. Here are the first few that I did.

For this first card I chose to make my dad's birthday card. (Continuing on with my birthday box creations, see, I'm sticking to my goal of actually making AND sending out cards.) This challenge was given by Laurie. The challenge was to use vellum on a card. How we used it was up to us. So I decided to use it as a kind of pocket. Was that original intention? No, it just kind of happened that way. LOL For this card I started with my Night Of Navy base and I decided to stitch the vellum on using Navy thread. I got halfway around the card and decided I had enough stitching. Hence, the pocket. I tore the other half off and then did faux stitching with a white gel pen around the rest of the card. I stamped the tree using Night of Navy ink onto Whisper White and mounted that to Sahara Sand CS and placed it at an angle under the vellum (again, hence pocket). I finished off the card by stamping Happy Birthday onto the vellum with my Navy ink. I hope he likes it! This next card was for Lauren's Monochromatic Challenge. For those of you who know me and my husband, or have been reading my blog for a while now, you know that my DH and I have a special thing for elephants that all started when he joined the Army. I normally make him cards with elephants, but I decided that this years Anniversary card (our 7th is on Sunday) I would use Lauren's challenge and use DH's favorite color. His favorite color is red so I went with it. The color I chose is Rose Red. Why? Because I have Rose Red Prints Paper. So I cut and layered my peices and then added a peice of satin ribbon. I then pulled out my cuttlebug and my Olivia Alpha diecut set and cut out the word Love and the flowers. I sent the letters through my xyron (can I tell you how I love that machine! It makes attaching oddly shaped objects so much easier!) and attached them to the bottom of the card and then attached the flower using a brad in a light rose color (it matches the light rose in the printed paper). I hope he likes it. It's a little more girly then I would normal do for him but I do like how it turned out.

I have a lot of birthdays this coming week. Not only is there my dad this weekend, but my step dad on Monday, my Brother in law on Tuesday and my mom next weekend. crazy! So here are their cards as well:

For my stepdad's card I chose Michelle's Masculine card challenge. I used Earth tones (Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla and River Rock to be exact) and then used the Monkey for the Pink Cat Studios set Wild Animals. I colored the monkey using colored pencils after I stamped it in Chocolate Chip. I added some hemp to add to the rustic feel and I stamped my sentiment using Chocolate Chip ink as well.

For my Brother-In-Law Joey's card I chose to take Christine's watercolor challenge. I wanted to do something fun since it is his 30th birthday so I chose the Ahoy Matey set from SU. I watercolored the pirate using markers and an aquapainter (this can be done by "coloring" your marker on the back of a plastic case -I used my stamp set box- and then picking up the color with your aquapainter. The excess just rubs right off when your done.) I colored the sword using a silver gel pen so that it gave the sword a shiny look. I stamped Ahoy Matey in the upper corner of my image (Happy Birthday is stamped on the inside). I mounted it on River Rock and then Basic Black and Old Olive were used for the rest of the card. I completed the card with some brads.
The final card that I have for you today is my mom's birthday card. I wanted to make her a simple but elegant card and thought that JulieHRR's white card challenge was perfect. I love doing all white cards. They are so simple and quick yet really make a statement. For this card I started out using my cuttlebug on the bottom border embossing it with the textile embossing folder. Then I chose the Delight In Life set from SU and stamped the flower using Mellow Moss and Always Artichoke. I stamped the "To my Wonderful Mother" using my new Wonderful Favorites stamp set. (I have no clue why I waited so long to buy this set, I love it! I love that I could make a card that says to my favorite step grand nephew in-law. I don't have a grand step nephew in-law, but if I did I could make him a card using this set. It rocks!) Sorry bout' that, back to the card. I finished it off using the rest of my sheer mossy ribbon (I need to get some more!). I just love how this turned out. I hope my mom does too. Speaking of which, I hope she doesn't read my blog before her birthday. Oops! So anyhow, thus ends your first glimpse into my attempt at the Dirty Girl challenges. I will have some more for you tomorrow. I'm so excited because I now have all of August, September, October and most of November cards done! Wohoo!! More tomorrow!

Two day Stamp session!

So over on SCS they are celebrating 4 years of the Dirty Dozen Design team with their 2nd Annual Dare To Get Dirty week! It's a whole week of challenges from past and present Dirty Girls. It's where the rest of us get to pretend that we are dirty girls and try to make cards half as great as the actual Dirty Girls can. For me, I think I did maybe an 1/8th as good as them, but I had fun trying! So all total from the 21st to the 27th, there were 20 different challenges! I have been otherwise occupied this week even though I have wanted to stamp, I haven't been able to. So yesterday and today I had a 2 day stamping marathon. I got all 20 challenges done, that's right, 20 cards in 2 days! Some of the cards are not so good, some, better, some well... you get the idea. Anyhow, over the next week I will be sharing my venture into dirty territory with you. But in the meantime, for more on SCS, the Dirty Dozen or the Fan Club, check out these links:
Splitcoast: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/
Dirty Dozen: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/about/design
Fan Club: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/about/fan

Birthday Box project

I have been meaning to do this project for ages now. Many moons ago I emailed all my family and asked them for birthday's and anniversary's for everyone. I decided that since I own all these crafting things and such I should probably do something with them. Something like make cards and actually send them! *shock* I know! So the other day I decided to sit down and actually get to work on the birthday box. I bought the supplies to do this ages ago too. About the time I got all the birthday's emailed to me. And when I say ages, I do mean ages. If it tells you anything, my brother-in-law got married 10 months ago, around about a year ago was when he was proposing to his wife. I got the emails with the birthday's well before he was even dating her. Am I the definition of a procrastinator or what? *snicker*

Anyhow, back to the actual project, I got a plastic file card box and decorated it. I am really really not happy with how it turned out so someday I may change it, but not today. LOL (I saw this idea in Papercrafts magazine btw, for those who are interested. Although the sample in there was much cuter and much much more detailed.)

For the inside I got made dividers using SU cardstock and the tab punch. I handwrote each month on the top of the tabs and then added some stickers and such to dress them up.

Behind each month I added index cards with the persons name and birthday or anniversary. For instance, my husband's has his name and birthday and is filed under March, since that's what month his birthday is in. For our anniversary the card has both our names and the date we were married and is filed under August since that is when we were married. So near the end of this month I will go to my birthday box and I will flip to August and make all the cards for August and get them ready to mail out. How's that for organization?! I am going to do that for each month. Near the end of August I will do September's, etc. On the backs of the cards I have the address for that person so it will make it easy to mail out the cards when the time comes.

Last night I decided to do July's cards even though the month is over halfway done. But for those who have already had their birthday this month, their card will just be late. oops! But it's the thought that counts right? The Layouts for all the cards were inspired by cards in the SU catty. Anyhow, here are the July Cards:

This card is for my Aunt. Her birthday was at the beginning of the month, but I hope she will appreciate it just the same.

Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet Dreams, Fresh Cuts
Paper: Groovy Guava, Blue Bayou, Whisper White
Ink: Cameo Coral Marker, Not Quite Navy Marker, Garden Green Marker, Black Ink
Accessories: Twill Tape, Paper Piercer, Brad, Cuttlebug, swirls embossing folder
Techniques: Paper Peircing

This one is for another Aunt. Her birthday was a few days ago.

Supplies:
Stamps: Garden Silhouettes
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Rose Red DP, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black Marker, Bravo Burgundy Marker
Accessories: Hodge Podge, Gingham Ribbon, Paper Piercer
Techniques: Paper Peircing

This one is for my nephew Ben. His birthday is at the end of the month. (Yay! it won't be late!) Stamps: Print Pattern BG, All Wrapped Up + Accessories, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Real Red, Soft Sky, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Gray, Real Red, Green Galore, Yo Yo Yellow, Only Orange, Orchid Pulence, Tempting Turqoiuse, white
Accessories: Brads, Silver gel pen
Techniques: Masking

For my nephew Solomon (we call him Solo). His birthday is tomorrow. Hopefully he likes it. I always have a hard time with cards for little boys. (As you can tell from this one and Ben's card)
Stamps: All Wrapped Up, It's Your Birthday, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Black, Versamark,
Accessories: ribbon, colored pencils

This one, is for my brother-in-law Paul. It is actually my favorite from my stamping session last night. I don't remember the name of the paper, it was a Simply Scrappin kit a few catties ago. Sorry.
Stamps: All Wrapped Up, It's Your Birthday
Paper: DP Paper, Pumkin Pie, Tempting Turqiouse, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Black
Accessories: ribbon, paper peircer, thread, needle, scallop punch, corner rounder punch, circle punch, colored pencils
Techniques: Stitching