Bunny Hop

I got a brand new stamp set this past weekend and couldn't wait to use it.  The set is from CTMH called "A Hop".  It has the cutest bunny that I had to have.  So I'm glad that I will have plenty of time during this Easter season to be able to use it.

Stamp set - CTMH "A Hop"
Sentiment - sticker
Design - Sketch Saturday sketch

Challenges Entered:

Sketch Saturday - sketch

Phindy's Place challenge - Animal

My Time Made Easy - Color challenge (daffodil, aqua, pink, eggplant)

Hand Stamped Sentiments - Easter

The Paper Shelter - Easter

Whimsy Stamps - No patterned paper

4 Crafty Chicks - Easter

Cute Card Thursday - Easter

Use it Tuesday - "Unused" stamp

Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter

More than Favors - Easter

Let It Snow

This card was a bit of a pain.  There was a challenge calling for a "Ribbon Frame".  I wanted to try it out and it was a bit more of a pain that I thought.  I'm sure there must be an easier way, because I don't think mine was!  This was another "upcycled" Christmas card.  I like being able to reuse them.

Sentiment was a sticker and I had the ribbon on hand from since forever ago!

Challenges Entered:

52 Christmas Card Countdown - Christmas patterned paper

Come and Get It Challenge - Ribbon frame

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Christmas card featuring a house

Thank You Berry Much

I was finally able to use my "challenge" stamp set enough to qualify it to be useful and will put back into the collection.  I told myself I needed to make at least 3 cards with the set, using 3 different stamps from the set.  I have succeeded and look forward to challenging myself with the next set.  I have so many stamps and want to make sure I actually USE them.  So this has been a fun challenge for myself.  Which set will I pick next?!

This card was fun to make as I was trying to use this old paper with fruit on it.  I figured since I was using this fruit stamp set that I would be able to use this paper some how.  Well no such luck really.  It was complicated to use, and to be honest, is really ugly.  So when one of the challenges this week was to use "hideous" paper, I thought I will have to use it no matter what!  Turned out pretty good actually, although I don't think I will be keeping the leftovers, they are going to the recycle bin!

Design was based on the sketch from The Sweet Stop, sketch 151.  The stamp set is Stampin' Up!  Sentiment is from "Fruity Phrases" and the strawberry is from "Fruit Medley" (2-step stampin'). Oval was cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge (oval 3, 2" & 2 1/4").

Challenges Entered:

Sweet Stop Sketch challenge - Sketch 151

Hiding in my Craft Room - Hideous paper

Celebrate the Occasion - Thank You

Tuesday Throwdown - Image outside of frame

Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes

"Quilted" Card

I like this quilted technique for cards.  My grandmother is a quilter and this will end up being her Birthday card this year.  I know she will love it!  Plus it features her favorite color . . . Blue!  I think this will keep me at the top of the "Favorite" grandchild list!

I made my quilt block 4" x 4" and cut all my squares at 1" and then halved them for the triangles.  I followed the pattern called "Sarah's Choice" that I found online.  It may have another name, but that's what this particular site called it.  I look forward to making more "blocks" for future cards with different designs.  Now I have a purpose for all of my tiny scraps!!

The sentiment is from CTMH "Celebration" stamp set.

Challenges Entered:

Friday Mashup - Quilted card

Peachy Keen Stamps - Faux stitching
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything goes
Creative Belli Blog - 3 shapes (square, triangle, rectangle)

I Love Chocolate Bunnies

I really enjoyed working with this sketch and this super cute digi image.  But I almost had to scrap the whole thing!!  I had a major stamping snafu!  Luckily I was able to "correct" the error and modify.  WHEW!

The design was based on the sketch from I Spy Sketches and the digi image is from Whimsy Doodles called Love Chocolate Bunnies.  The sentiment is a sticker that I forgot I had until I was "scrambling" for a fix for my card.  I have several more (good to know).

Challenges Entered:

I Spy Sketches - Sketch 8

Do You Stack Up - Plaid

Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge - Spring (digi image)

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Bunnies

Sentimental Sundays - Spring/Easter (w/sentiment)

Ribbon Carousel - Anything goes (w/ribbon)

Pollycraft - Chocolate

Getting Cricky - Easter

Creative Card Crew - Spring

Paper and Such - Spring/Easter

Top Tip Tuesday - Spring or Animal

Scrapbooking Queen - Easter & Bunnies

You Rock

This was a fun card to make, but a little difficult as well.  I haven't worked with these "layered" Cricut images much and this one had a lot of detail pieces.  But I did my best and also checked out some YouTube videos to and learned some tricks for next time.

I cut the girl out with the Rock Princess cartridge at 3".  The text was cut using the Alphalicious cartridge at 3/4".  And the star was cut with the Art Philosophy at 2".  I also applied some crystal lacquer to the star to give it some shine and dimension.  (It wasn't dry yet when taking this picture though!)

Design was based on the sketch from My Favorite Things sketch 64.

Challenges Entered:

My Favorite Things - Sketch 64

Die Cuttin Divas - Music theme

4 Crafty Chicks - Music inspired

Robins Fetish Challenge - Kids card
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Music

Flowers Galore

Well I am proud to announce that I have actually won a couple challenges this week and was featured in another!!  Yahoo!  I was wondering when all of my work would "pay off"!  Here are the links to my "wins"

52 Christmas card Throwdown  for Kitty Christmas
Catch the Bug Challenge Blog and Birthday Sundaes for Doggy Birthday

I will bask in the glow of my win for a day or so.  I never win anything, so this is a real treat for me.  Hoping that this is just the beginning and will see some more in the future!

On to my latest card.  This was a struggle for me as I was challenged to do a "circle" card.  I have been shying away from these for some reason.  But once I got going, I found out it wasn't so bad.  I was so pleased at how it turned out and so grateful for my Cricut!!

I based the design from a sketch I found on Mojo Monday's blog Sketch 221.  I was following along with the color challenge at Catch the Bug Challenge blog, which worked out great because Blue is my favorite color.  Stamp is SU! and from the "Goody Goody Gumdrops" set.  I colored the flowers with colored pencil and glittered the leaves (hard to tell from pic though).

All cuts were made using my Cricut and the Art Philosophy cartridge, (the best cartridge to date).  Card was cut using "Circle 2" at 4 1/2".  Circle layers were cut with "Circle 1" at 4 1/4" and 3 1/2".  Flowers were cut using "Flower 6" and cut at 1 1/2", 1 1/4", and 1".  Leaves are "Leaf 1" and were cut at 1 1/4" & 1 1/2".

Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp - BINGO (flowers, glitter, brads)

Pixie Dust Studio - Favorite things (Blue, brads)

Raise the Bar - In the garden

2 Sisters Challenge blog - Spring

Catch the Bug Challenge blog - Color challenge

CropStop Challenge blog - Shaped card

Whimsical Designs - Spring

Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything goes

Lily Pad cards - Flowers

Sweet Stampin' - Anything goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Handmade flowers

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge blog - 3 Flowers

Popsicle wishes

I fell in love with another digi image!  It's even better when it's a freebie too.  Double Bonus!!  As soon as I saw this image I immediately printed it out and went to work.  I need to tweak the colors of the popsicle for next time, but is okay for now.

The digi image came from Pattie's Creations, called "Popsicle Trio".  It's her free image for the month of March.  Be sure to head over and grab it!!  I paper pieced the colors of the popsicles and then added my own "custom" sentiment.  I put the words together that are on the set from CTMH called "Random Thoughts".

I had a lot of fun with this card and see many versions of it in the future.  Many different colors and may even use some patterned paper.  Who knows?!

Challenges Entered:

Pattie's Creations - Anything goes

The Paper Shelter - Paper piecing

One Stop Craft Challenge - CAS

Less is More - Pick 3 challenges

(Week 40 - Red & Orange; Week 33 - Anything goes; Week 51 - Cut it Out)

You're One in a Melon

Good Friday morning!  I just have one little card to post today.  Not sure if I will get to any more today as I have a lot of laundry to catch up on!

This card was made with the stamp set that I have been challenging myself to use this week.  I love the cherries in the set, but wanted to use the other fruit as well.  So I stamped up the watermelon and went on my merry way.

The design is a sketch from Tuesday Morning sketches and I got the color combo idea from My Time Made Easy.  Stamp sets are from SU!  The watermelon is in the "Fruit Medley" set (2-step stampin') and the sentiment is in the "Fruity Phrases" set.  I ended up stamping a Thank You on the inside as well.

Challenges entered:

Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch

My Time Made Easy - color challenge (rose, cherry, gray, black)

Lia Stampz - Anything goes w/sentiment

The Crafter's Cafe - Ribbon and/or Lace

Hotshot Craft blog - Red

Shopping our Stash - Buttons and/or Bows

Digi Designs Challenge blog - Emboss

CAS Circles

Well I channeled my friend Sara again when doing this card.  This is her signature style, clean and simple, stamped background.  I need to work on this and get better at the "randomness" of the stamp placement, but I'm working on it!

All stamps are Stampin' Up!  The lined circle stamp is "Polka Dots & Petals" set, the flower is "Big Flowers" set, and the sentiment is "Create a Cupcake" set.  The ink pads were also from SU!  I used Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist, and More Mustard.

Challenges Entered:

The Play Date Cafe - color challenge (Raspberry, Harbor, Honey Mustard) 

Hiding in my Craft Room - Keep it simple

The Stamping Boutique - CAS

Little Red Wagon - CAS

Crafty Purple Frog - Anything goes

Big World

I was looking around the Internets for a digi image that I could use for a challenge.  I'm new to the "digi image" world and do not have very many.  So I was trying to find (a free) one that jumped out at me.  So I found this cute Earth Day image and fell in love.  Although, I didn't know what to do with it.  Do I make an Earth Day card?  Who would I send that to?  Then I had an idea!!  It's not very often that these cute puns come to me and was glad that it found it's way to me!

"I Love You as Big as the World!"  Brilliant!  Pretty cute idea huh?  I am pretty proud of myself for coming up with that.

Although, I wish I had that sentiment as an actual stamp, but had to use a font and print out.  I'm sure if I fussed with it more it would have come out better, but I don't have that kind of time.

The design was from a sketch from Taylored Expressions.  The cute digi image is from Melonheadz.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, Earth Day is April 22.

Challenges Entered:

Taylored Expressions - Sketch

Sweet 'n Sassy Digi challenge - Digi image w/green

2 Sisters challenge - Spots & Dots

Scrapbooking Queen - Digi image w/green

Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes

Sweet! Cherries

This card was made using one of the stamp sets that I have "challenged" myself to use this week.  The set is from Stampin' Up! and is called "Fruit Medley" (Two Step Stampin).  The main reason I purchased was because of the cherries in the set.  I live in "Cherry Country" so it is only appropriate that I have some cute cherry stamps!

After much fussing with what colors and cardstock I was going to use, I finally got a result that I am very happy with.

The design was based on the sketch from The Sweet Stop sketch challenge.  The sentiment came from a Fiskars stamp set called Fresh Fruit.  I stamped the inside with a cute birthday greeting from CTMH (Card chatter - Birthday).

Sketch:

Challenges entered:

Sweet Stop sketch challenge - sketch w/green

Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle - green & white

Simply Sunday Challenge - Green, white & another color

By the Cute & Girly - "In the Kitchen"

Spring Bunny

I love using my Cricut to make cards and not just cutting letters for my scrapbook pages.  These challenges are great for getting me to "go outside the box" with my Cricut and actually use the many different cartridges along with all of the different stuff on them!

The design was inspired by the sketch from My Favorite Things.  The bunny cut is from the Doodlecharms cartridge and was cut at 3 1/2".  The stamped sentiment is from CTMH "March Word Puzzle".  Of course I had to add some fun googly eyes and a cute pink nose.  I just used black marker for the whiskers and mouth.  It was great to be able to use that leftover piece of "grass" paper.  I have been holding on to that scrap since making an Easter scrapbook page for my daughter about 2 yrs ago!! (ps, I still have a little bit left!)

Challenges entered:

Celebrate the Occasion - Spring

Bitten by the Bug 2 - Bunny or chick cricut cut

Sweet Stamps - Easter / Spring

Cutie Pie challenge blog - Pink w/rabbits

Clear it out challenge - Easter/Spring (use up pastel papers)

Oldie but a Goodie - Easter/Spring

Kitty Christmas

I know you may be confused by a Christmas card right now, but it's true, I made a Christmas card.  Now let me explain, there are a few sites that do card challenges for just Christmas cards.  So I thought this would be a great way to get some cards done early and not rush at the last minute.  Plus this may help me "flush out" my actual design for my cards this year.

I am a recycler of cards.  All cards.  When I receive cards for Birthdays and holidays I will display them for a while and then I will "cannibalize" them for "parts".  It may be the ribbon, the cardstock, or image, but I put them in a special box and will resort to them in times of need.  Well my Christmas parts are overflowing and will be using these Christmas challenges as a way to actually use these parts.  They are still very useful and I hate to throw things away that can be "reused".

So here it is, my part recycled card:

The stamped sentiment came from CTMH "December Word Puzzle".

Challenges entered:

52 Christmas card throwdown - Christmas feat. animal

Christmas Cards All Year Round - 2 green patterned paper
ABC Christmas challenge - Furry/Feathered friends

Doggy Birthday

OK, this is the last card for the day (maybe).  This was a fun card to make.  I don't have a lot of "kid" birthday cards, so this was a good one to start a stash.

The design was based off of the sketch from Catch the Bug challenge blog.  Another element of the challenge was to use one of their digi images, so I used the "Scruffy Puppy".  I got this image when it was available as one of their freebies (yay me!)  I popped the puppy image out with a 3D foam square and colored the image with colored pencils.  The bones on either side of the image are cutouts from some paper.  The sentiment is from CTMH "Happy Birthday" set.

Here is the sketch inspiration:

Challenges entered:

Catch the Bug challenge blog - sketch & digi image

The Paper Shelter - For the boys

Cute Card Thursday - Birthday

Totally Papercrafts - Male card

Birthday Sundaes - Animal birthday card

Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthday

The Kraft Journal - Anything goes w/Kraft

The Pink Elephant - Get "Krafty"

The Poodles Parlour - Anything goes

Paper Playtime - For the guys w/sentiment

Forever Friends - 3D, animal

Blue Butterfly

This card was inspired by my friend who had made one many years ago.  She is such an awesome artist, which makes it difficult to stamp with her sometimes because she is so darn good, and my stuff pales in comparison next to her "works of art".  But I learn a lot from her and take her artsy ideas with me.  So Sara, this card is for you (not literally, just figuratively!).

The stamp background (Sketched Daisy) and butterfly image (Sketched Butterfly) are both by Stampendous.  I used colored pencil and colored in the small hearts on the background and the butterfly.  I then put crystal lacquer on the hearts to make them stand out a little bit and add some sort of extra "dimension".  I then stamped a simple Happy Birthday on the inside.

Challenges entered:

Do You Stack Up? - favorite color (blue)

Incy Wincy Designs - Things with wings

Love to Create - Anything goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Handmade background

Stamping with the Dragon - Things with wings

Robot Birthday

Good Tuesday (or whenever you are reading this) to you!  I have a few cards to post today, so I will get down to it!

This card was based off of the design sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.  The robot stamp is by Recollections, and I am loving this set so far.  The stars were cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge (1/2", 3/4", star 4).  The "gear" came from an old die cut sheet that matches some paper (that I am still waiting to do a scrap page with) that I bought a couple years ago (Yikes!).  The ribbon fibers are old item as well!  I got them for Christmas from my "crafty" friend, and I would have to say that was at "least" 5 years ago!  I think it was about time I used it!!        I also stamped the inside with a birthday sentiment.

  Challenges entered:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - sketch 145

Play Date Cafe - color challenge (teal, green, orange, blue)

Tuesday Throwdown - "Hoarded" item
Crafty Calendar challenge - Old "forgotten" item

Happy Easter card

Was able to come up with a cute card this morning.  In addition to the website challenges, I have imposed my "own" challenge in the mix.  I tend to use the same stamps over and over, so I am pulling out 2-3 sets per week and will only use those sets for week.  Exceptions are sentiments and any challenge that is asking for a specific type of item.  It will be interesting when I am only working with certain sets and will have to get creative.

Here's the first card of the week:

The design came from Ribbon Carousel Challenge, image and sentiment came from CTMH Seasonal Thoughts.  Large scallop circle was cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge (3 1/4", Circle 2)  The flower image is a sticker that I put on cardstock and trimmed.  I have so many stickers, so when I see an opportunity for one I try and use them.

Challenges entered:

Ribbon Carousel Challenge - sketch & ribbon

My Sheri Crafts - Easter

Perfect Sentiments - Easter w/sentiment
There She Goes - Easter w/animal
MyGrafico - Easter or Spring
My Craft Spot - Spring w/scallop

Vintage Typewriter

Here is one more card for the day.  Wanted to enter a couple more before time ran out today!  So I threw this one together.  This was the first time using my new Stampin Up! stamp set "You're My Type".  I definitely need to play with it some more because the typewriter didn't stamp as well as I would have liked, but didn't have the time to really fuss with it.

I based the design on the sketch from MoJo Monday 232 and the color scheme was from Color Throwdown (certainly celery, baja breeze, really rust, kraft).

Challenges entered:

Mojo Monday - Sketch 232

Color Throwdown - Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Really Rust, Kraft

Peachy Keen Stamps - orange, brown, green

Creative Card Crew - vintage

Rainbows & Buttons

This card turned out to be not what I had first envisioned, but I'm okay with the end result.  It's more along the clean & simple design and I got the Rainbow & Buttons on there to qualify for some challenges.  It was truly a challenge for me to incorporate a rainbow theme onto a card.  It's a color combo that I do not work with at all.  But here it is:

The design was based off (loosely) of the sketch from Pixie Dust Studios.  I cut the petals from the Art Philosophy cartridge (1 1/2", petal 2), then stamped with versa ink a flower/petal image from the Serendipity set from CTMH.  The Birthday greeting is from the Happy Birthday set from CTMH.

Here is the sketch:

Challenges entered:

Hand Stamped Sentiments - Rainbows & sentiment

Pixie Dust Studios - Sketch

Raise the Bar - Grouping of 4 (buttons)

All Sorts Challenge - 3 in a row

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Buttons

Card Makin' Mamas - Buttons

Lily Pad - Inspirational Photo (rainbow & buttons)

Spring Thank You

I got a new stamp set yesterday and I actually used it right away!  Isn't that crazy!  The set came with the new Pemberley Workshop on the Go by CTMH.  The workshop isn't until next Saturday, but I looked at all the fun stuff and tried out one of the techniques.

As always, I start with a sketch and then work from there.  The sketch came from Card Positioning Systems.  I cut out three sizes of flowers from the Art Philosophy cartridge (1 1/2", 1 1/4", 1", Flower #5), then I stamped the flower image from the Pemberley stamp set, and then added a brad to the center.  The vine on the right is from some old clearance card stock I have had forever and finally was able to use.  The sentiment is from the Pemberley stamp set as well.

Here is the original sketch:

Challenges entered:

Card Positioning Systems - Sketch

Sweet Stamps - Spring theme

The Stamping Boutique - Gold

Crazy 4 Challenges - Green

Drunken Stampers - Thank You

Wags 'n Whiskers - Green

Crafter's Companion - Spring

Simply Create Too - Spring

Simon Says Stamp - Green

One Stop Craft Challenge - Handmade flowers

In Like a Lion

This is one of my favorite pictures of my son Andrew.  I had a friend do a "photo shoot" for his 6 month pictures and they turned out so great.  We took some props, one of which was this over-sized stuffed lion.  So when I was putting this layout together, I was pleased to be able to add some super cute lions!

I glittered each lion's mane, but you can't really tell from this picture.

I am entering this layout into the Fantabulous Cricut challenge.  The challenge is to use a cat, tiger, or lion Cricut cut.  I used the Animal Kingdom cartridge.

Here is the lion side by itself.

Isn't my little man just the cutest!!

Happy Easter Egg

Here is a quick post for my latest card.  Again, I don't do "holiday" cards and usually just stick with the basic birthday cards.  But since there were some challenges asking for it, and I do have the supplies, so let's use them!

This design was based off of the sketch at OWH.  I did rotate the sketch and added a couple additional layers.  The Happy Easter stamp was from a local stamp store (that has gone out of business, A-1 Stamps), and the egg is from the Art Philosophy cartridge (2 1/2").

Here is the inspiration sketch.

Challenges Entered:

Operation Write Home - Sketch 112

Exploring Cricut - "Food" cricut cut

By LoriDesigns - Inspirational photo

I Brake for Challenges - Easter theme
Craft us Crazy - Easter

Turtle Birthday

Another day, another challenge card completed!  We'll see how long I can keep up.  But my main goal is to actually "use" all (most) of the products I have.

Anyhow, on to the latest card.

Design was based on the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches and the stamp set is from Inkadinkado.

Challenges entered:

Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch & monochromatic theme

Birthday Sundaes - Green w/greeting on front

ColourQ - Going Gray, Glorius Green, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Ivory

My Craft Spot - Manly card

St. Patrick's Day card

It's been a while since my last post!  Holy Cow!  Things have been quite busy and then we had a major snow storm and we were without power for a week!  Yes, a whole week!

So I am finally back to normal and decided to get back into some card challenges.  I created a spreadsheet (I know, like a nerd) of all the different challenges, and organized so I can keep up.

Here is the latest work of art.

I'm not really into doing St. Patrick's cards, but was able to pull something off.  The shamrocks are from CTMH March Word Puzzle and the sentiment is from a random dollar special set that I had picked up from Michael's or Joann's.  I forgot I even had it.  Luckily, I did store it in the correct bin and it was a nice surprise to see that I had a small St. Pat's sentiment.  The other one I had was way larger than I remembered!!

The design was based off of a sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp.

Here are all of the challenges I entered with this card:

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch 97

MyGrafico - St. Patrick's Day

Scrappy Moms Stamps - St. Patrick's Day

Pile it On - St. Patrick's/Shades of green

Sentimental Sundays - Go Green

The Kraft Journal - Luck O' the Irish

Use it Tuesday - Green

Ladybug Crafts Ink - anything goes

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Going Dotty

Little Red Wagon - Lucky

More Than Favors - St. Patrick's theme