Greatest Couples throughout History

Hi,

Hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with family, friends, and loved ones.

Greatest Couples....

Just one card to share today, which I will be posting for both OWH Sketch #148 and the Midweek Throwdown challenge to make a card using turquoise and silver.

Paper: My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose from several seasons ago
Sentiment: computer generated
Tool: EK Success triple  heart punch

Because of my crazy schedule at work and preparing for the upcoming Craft Show, I feel like I'm behind in OWH Valentine's Day cards. So, I decided to make a Valentine's Day card using a rather non-traditional Valentine's Day color palette. I originally created the sentiment card for a card for hubby last February. :)

As far as the sketch is concerned, I rotated the design and used 2 patterns instead of 3 for the background layer. As far as the color challenge, I'm not quite sure this is truly turquoise and silver -- but it was the closest match I could find in my stash. 

Craft Show Preview

The show is December 5. So, I'll share more details next week -- including a preview of an item that I am really excited to take to the show.

I spent the first part of the afternoon preparing signage, organizing items for transport, etc. My thinking is that I can always make a couple more cards next weekend if I have some time.  But, all the other details have to be done. 

The photo shows the designs I have for sale, most of which have made an appearance in earlier posts. Hope it's a good variety -- and that I have a lot of traffic at my table. :)

Parting Thoughts

I'm hoping to find a little time after dinner to make an Any Hero card made for this week's sketch.

Have a great week. As always, thanks for visiting and happy scrappin'!

Hey L'il Monster

Hi everyone,

Hope the weekend's going well.

I have three cards to share with you today. :)

Card #1: Hey L'il Monster!

This first card was inspired by 3 things:

• This week's OWH Tuesday Tutorial on Fussy Cutting,
• Adorable monster paper on clearance at Michael's, and
• the sentiment "Hey L'il Monster" from Lesiure Arts' card- making sketch book.

Paper: Recollections Monster and All Over Monster, AC Cardstock
Sentiment: computer-generated in Andy style
Techniques: heat embossing with clear powder, punching

Tools: Creative Memories cutting system, circle punches, border punch

Seriously, what was I thinking?

This card initially had a gem in place of the eyeball. It was late last night -- okay late's a relative thing since it was 10:30 on a Friday night (lol) --  and I felt like it needed something over on that side. Why not a cute little lime gem? And, then sanity returned this morning when I asked myself what I was thinking putting a swallow-able object on a child's card! Then the idea of an eyeball popped into my brain -- and I'm so glad it did. I really like the way this l'il guy turned out. :)

One thing I really like about this card is its strong focal point. What I know about graphic design could probably fit in a thimble. But, I think the fact that the eyeball connects to the sentiment and the sentiment connects to the monster is making for a great focal point.

I LOVE how the heat embossing turned out on the monster. On thinner paper, the result is usually bumpy, which is perfect for this little guy. He is shiny and bumpy -- and popping off the page. :)

The eyeball has about 4 layers of circles underneath to give it a little pop off the page. And, there are strips of cardstock under the arms and leg to reinforce them just a bit. Finally, there's a tiny little monster looking out from inside the card. :)

The best news is I have 2 more monsters I can fussy cut for 2 more cards!

Card #2: A World of Thanks

This card was inspired by this week's Midweek Throwdown Challenge to make a thank you card.

Paper: DCWV Travel Stack, miscellaneous cardstock;
Sentiments: ? stamped in Distress Ink Black Soot, computer-generated in Abadi MT Condensed Extra Bold
Techniques: heat embossing, border punching, inking

 This card was a bit of a challenge.

• I wanted to make something that could go masculine. [Check]
• I wanted to use the DCWV Travel Stack to use the international stamp
  and computer sentiment [Check] but....
• I'd already used all of my favorite papers from the stack. Hmmm....

All in all, this is a good little card. It definitely has a nice physical weight to it. It's just not as shiny and attention-grabbing as the L'il Monster -- but then what could be? :)

Card 3: Snowflakes of Sympathy

This last card is for a girl at work whose mom died quite suddenly about a week ago.  It'll be 25 years next month that I lost my mom. I still remember a card received from friends the following Christmas. Actually, I have no idea what the front of the card looked like -- nor do I remember the manufacturer's stamped sentiment. But the handwritten note... well, that's another matter.

May your most treasured gift this holiday season be
your memories of Christmases past.

This is a sentiment that I have written on more cards than I care to remember throughout the years -- and the sentiment that will be shared with my colleague. I hope the design of the card below conveys the peace and comfort that Kevin and Denise's message brought to me all those years ago. Think I'll post this for CAS-ual Fridays' Winter Blues challenge.

Paper: Recollections embossed with Hero Arts snowflake stamp, AC cardstock, stash cardstock
Embellishments: white sheer ribbon, gem
Tools: Creative Memories square punches, snowflake punch

Parting Thoughts

Not quite sure I'll get to the Sunday sketch tomorrow since Craft Fair prep time is waning.

Picked up some wonderful pads of paper for next year's OWH Christmas cards. I especially love We R Memory Keepers' Winter's Frost Collection. Those papers are sure to make some beautiful cards. 

If I don't post anything else this week, have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving celebration with family, friends, and loved ones.

Stars, Elmo, and Christmas Trees

Hi everyone,

First of all, thanks to everyone who commented on the birthday candle card and Any Hero card. If it weren't for wanting to honor copyright laws, I'd publish the inspiration card for last post's birthday card. The Leisure Arts book Card Sketches for Paper Crafters is carried by Archivers -- or can be purchased at Amazon  -- if you're interested in checking it out. 

It's been a busy weekend. But, I still managed to carve out a little crafting time this weekend. :)

So, what do stars, Elmo, and Christmas trees have in common? They've all been the focus of this weekend's crafting activity!

Card 1: Your Courage Inspires Me

The first card is an Any Hero card inspired by this week's OWH sketch and this week's Midweek Throwdown challenge to make a card in red, white, and blue.

                                              

Paper: We R Memory Keepers Red, White & Blue; AC blue cardstock; Bazzill watermelon cardstock
Sentiment: Stamper's Best in Distress Ink Vintage Photo
Tools and Techniques: star punch, heat embossing with clear powder

As with most of my Any Hero cards, I rotated the sketch to make a  horizontal card.

Card 2: Elmo

The inspirations for this shaped card were: 1) a similar card posted by Sandy a few months ago and 2) this week's Casual Friday challenge to create a card with something torn.

Paper: AC Cardstock
Techniques: tearing paper
Tools: Creative Memory circle, circle punches, corner rounder

This was actually pretty quick to do. Elmo's face is a solid piece of cardstock covered by strips of torn paper.

Next time, I'm going to try and use smaller strips -- maybe quilling papers. And, I think I will fan the strips out in a circular pattern around the nose area and vary the strip lengths a little bit more.

It's also worth mentioning that the white circles are 4-plyed so that  they won't bend easily while in transit -- or while in the hands of a little one. :)

All in all, I was pretty pleased with the way this little guy turned out. :)

Card 3: Season's Greetings

The last card is part of a set I'm making for next month's craft fair.

Paper: Authentique, AC black cardstock
Sentiment: Hero Arts in Distress Ink Black Soot; Gems: Core-dinations Nightfall
Tree: Hero Arts in clear powder using VersaMark
Tools and Techniques: border punch, heat embossing 

 Parting Thoughts

I'm hoping to get a few more Season's Greetings card done tonight. We'll see...

Have a great week. Thanks for visiting and happy scrappin'!

2 for 1

Hi everyone,

A quick post to share two cards inspired by this week's OWH sketch.

                   

Card #1: A Birthday Card

This first card is pretty true to the sketch, following a 90 degree rotation.

Paper: My Mind's Eye, stash cardstock
Sentiment from Whipper Snapper, heat embossed in Distress Ink Vintage Photo
Techniques: Leisure Arts candle idea described in last post
Tool: hole punch

I initially used a AAA battery to roll the candles -- and found the technique worked well with designer paper, but not heavier cardstock. However, the candles seemed too thick for OWH. So, I went with the "smashed" versions instead.

Card 2: An Any Hero card

I was a little more liberal in my interpretation of the sketch for this one.

Paper: We R Memory Keepers, BasicGrey kraft, miscellaneous cardstock
Tools: ek success and the Paper Studio star punches; crimper, distresser, hole punch
Embellishment: strands of jute

The background paper is one that I really struggle with in this Red, White & Blue collection because it is such a strong image. After layering the red and white-starred paper, it felt okay pairing these two patterns together. And, I think it helps that the stars were punched from the same cardstock as the cream layer behind the red and white-starred paper.

Parting Thoughts

Hubby wasn't a huge fan of either card. They were both too busy for his taste. They are actually a little on the busy side for me, too -- just a little out of my normal comfort zone. But, I think they work. 

Have a great week. Thanks for visiting and happy scrappin'!

Hearts and Sparks for Heroes

Hi everyone,

Let me start by sending thoughts and prayers to those on the East Coast dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The images on television are unbelievable. I can't even begin to imagine what life is like for those of you dealing with such devastation and loss. My brother's family had lots and lots of rain, but only rain.

Hearts for an OWH Hero's Loved One

The card below was made for this week's OWH Midweek Throwdown and inspired by another one of Ashley's fabulous scrapbook sketches. Making cards for OWH is kind of like living in a time machine. While the rest of the world is starting to make plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas, OWHers are making Valentine's Day cards.  :)

Cardstock: Core-dinations Vintage Collection
Designer Paper and Chipboard: We R Memory Keepers
Techniques: Inking (Distress Ink Tattered Rose), embossing, punching, distressing, crimping
Tools: Sizzix folders, ek punch, heart template, crimper

The left side of the sketch was used to make the card.
An embossed heart was used for the large circle;
a chipboard piece for the 4 x 4 photo;
a We R Memory Keepers paper embellishment, layered on various papers, for the 6 x 4 photo;
and a smaller heart for the "round" sketch element, nudged slightly right.

 This was the first time I've paired different embossing folders and was pretty pleased with the results. The We R Memory Keepers paper and chipboard are from the Be My Valentine collection from a few years ago.

In addition to the Midweek Throwdown, I'm going to post this card for this month's ODBD challenge to make a card dusting off a tool or technique. It had actually been awhile since I'd used my Ranger sander. Not only was it perfect to use on the embossed cardstock, but it also worked really well for distressing the chipboard.

Sparks (aka Candles) for a Family Hero

The card below is for a family hero, my father-in-law. He will be celebrating his 89th birthday on Wednesday. The inspiration for this card came from Leisure Arts great card-making book -- page 109, to be exact.  :)

Paper: Kaiser Up, Up, and Away, DCWV Christmas & Winter Combo;
wicks: dental floss; sentiment: heat embossed with Stampendous clear powder

I ADORE the simplicity of this card -- and how it can be adapted so easily to masculine/feminine, child/teen/adult, whimsical/elegant. And, who would've thought of using dental floss? Designer Beth Matson, that's who!

The candles on the Leisure Arts sample card were round, compared to my flatter candles. So, I played around with rolling paper around a AAA battery -- and was really pleased with the result. And, I will probably use contrasting ink for the sentiment on future cards, as well as vary the sentiment depending on the recipient. :)

This seems like a good fit for this week's CAS-ual Fridays' challenge to make a masculine CAS card. Also thinking of making a variety of these to give to family and friends in 2012.

Parting Thoughts

Hoping to make some more progress on craft fair projects tomorrow. And, looking forward to tomorrow morning's sketch challenge.

Thanks for visiting. Special thanks to those leaving such kind words. Happy scrappin'!