Unscripted Sketches #55...For You, Happy Birthday!

I made up a card for my grandmother's 89th birthday and was sucked back into using the Emporium Creative Basics paper with the Butterfly Wings stamp set...I just love the combo!!!  I thought I was stepping out of the box however by matting it with black cardstock. ;O)  I used glue dots on the butterfly body and pop-dotted the wings, it looked pretty good in person! ;O)  Hope you all have a great short week....Owen's daycare takes the first week and last week of summer off...must be nice!!  I'll get to spend an extra couple of days with him though which is a bonus for me!

Paper: Emporium Creative Basics
Cardstock: Colonial White and Black cardstock
Ink: Vineyard Berry and Black
Stamps:  Butterfly Wings and From Me to You
Other: Fiskars Circle Punch, EKSuccess Corner Rounder, Prima Flowers, and Recollections and Finishing Accents adhesive gems

Heart 2 Heart #8...Father's Day

I really needed to get started on Father's Day cards and the Heart 2 Heart Challenge this week, "stamp your own background" was just the boost I needed!  I flipped through the Close To My Heart catalog for ideas and kept coming back to the new Splendor paper....problem being, I haven't bought any yet!  But, it was fun to make my own using the same colors: Autumn Terracotta, Heavenly Blue, Moonstruck, and Topiary.



Cards for men always stump me and if I don't use some goofy animal stamp, I always fall back on stars!  I googled Father's Day Cards for some ideas and came across this card created by Darcy Ucily (I think that's her name).  Anyway, I liked the simplicity of it and tried to do something similar.  I really love this color combo and managed to dig up some Topiary cardstock I didn't realize I had, so that was exciting! ;O)

Hope you all have a safe Memorial Day.  Please make sure to take some time to remember the men and women who have paid the ultimate price and those still sacrificing for us today.  I'll be taking flowers out to the cemetery on base to remember my grandfathers, one of which gave his life for our freedom....

Cardstock:  Heavenly Blue, Autumn Terracotta, Topiary, and White Daisy
Ink: Autumn Terracotta, Heavenly Blue, Moonstruck, and Topiary
Stamp Sets:  Say It In Style, True Friends, Wish Upon a Star, Star Power, Shining Star, and Placement Guide (to place the brads)
Other:  Martha Stewart border punch and CTMH Autumn Terracotta Bigger Brads

Ever Seen a Brown Flower???

I mean one that isn't dead and dried out! ;O)  I don't have anything crafty yet, I've been busy working and had the great pleasure of going on a field trip today to the planetarium at UAA with my little man's class!  25 three to five year olds were very quiet and respectful while they watched a movie on how telescopes were invented/made and a presentation on all the different planets in our solar system along with their corresponding moons.  It was like a miracle!! ;O)  Then we made up for it by running around outside in the amazing weather we had today....77 degrees in the shade!!!!  For us that is SOOOO HOT!!!  Anyway, needless to say, between the heat and exhaustion from the field trip, no scrapbooking got done.  But, I did go out and take some photos of the Chocolate Lilies blooming in my flower bed to share!!

Chocolate Lilies grow wild up here and can be found growing in the marshy areas with the iris' on the Palmer Flats.  My camera is not stellar at close-up pics, so the one below is a little bit blurry.  But,  you get the idea!  Hope you are all having the same amazing weather we're having!! 

Heart 2 Heart #7 and Mojo #137

The challenge at Heart 2 Heart this week was a color combo which I tend to avoid normally! ;O)  But, I thought I better suck it up and try it since I've had such a good time with the other challenges. 

It took me right up to the last minute to finish and I wouldn't say it's my favorite card ever, but I'm pretty happy with it considering!  I had SOOO much trouble with this one!!!  I think it was a combination of the sketch being tough for me and the fact that I don't own any Ocean or Topiary cardstock and my Ocean ink pad was still shrink wrapped after at least 3 years!!!! ;O)  I'm so glad I did it though, it turns out, I really love the Ocean color and plan to use it more in the future!

Paper:  Discovery and Paper Garden (Both Retired)

Cardstock: White Daisy and Black

Ink: Ocean, Topiary, Desert Sand, and Black

Stamp Sets: Intrinsic Backgrounds, Spot On Backgrounds, Frogs, Say It In Style, A Birthday Wish (Inside Sentiment), Lazy Days

Other: CTMH Bitty Brads, Stickles, K&Company adhesive rhinestones, Fiskars Circle Punch, EKSuccess Corner Rounder, and Copic Marker

Do It Your Way!

I follow this blog that I believe is written all in Russian, so I have no idea what they're saying, but, I guess that's what is great about scrapbooking...it speaks for itself! ;O)  The layouts, that I believe belong to their DT, are absolutely amazing.  I come across this post and had to try the layout, it was definitely a challenge!

These are not my colors and I had a really time wrapping-up this layout.  But, I LOVE this Lime Rickey paper from Basic Grey for some reason!!  In fact, I've been hoarding it for almost a year, or maybe, just avoiding actually using it! ;O)  I also truly appreciate that it doesn't matter what crazy colors other scrapbook companies put out there, CTMH has a color that corresponds!  The title is a bit muted in this photo, but matches the paper in real life.  I had a really hard time embellishing this one and decided just to let it go and leave it as is.

Paper: Basic Grey Lime Rickey
Cardstock: Sunny Yellow and Citrus Lime
Ink:  Citrus Lime and Crystal Blue
Stamps:  The Works and Typewriter Alphas
Other:  Basic Grey Brads and Chipboard Stickers and Zig Pen

I Was Chosen for the Friday Five at H2H!!!

I'm so excited!!  Do you see my shiny new badge on the right from Heart 2 Heart?  I was picked as one of the Friday Five this week for my Mother's Day Card submittal!!!!  I'm so excited.  The quality of work and creativity of those that enter is just amazing and I never expected my card to be chosen!!!  In fact, if it weren't for a couple really nice comments congratulating me, I probably wouldn't have looked to see who won!!! ;O)  Thanks Heart 2 Heart!!!  If you haven't checked out the H2H Challenge Blog, you really should.  It's so great to see what others are doing with the CTMH supplies and it provides lots of inspiration!!

H2H Challenge #6 and Got Sketch! 105...Perfect Day

The challenge over at Heart 2 Heart this week is to incorporate a technique into your project.  Well, that's an easy one, I think everything papercrafty has a technique behind it!  I can't wait to see what everyone used, I haven't had time to peek at the other submittals yet!  

So, here's mine...I cheated a little as I created and posted this paper on here almost a year ago (see this post for a couple other examples), but am just now using it!  I have hoarding issues! ;O)  I used my absolute favorite technique (it's totally addicting), the Emboss Resist technique, in conjunction with the Random Stamping technique to create the B&T paper below!

Techniques used:

1. Emboss Resist (White Snowflakes)-Stamp 2-3 different images using Versamark on a light colored piece of cardstock (just a couple images at a time, its easy to lose them!).  Use clear embossing powder over the top of the images and set with a heat gun.  Using a sponge, dab your choice of ink over each embossed image starting in the center and working your way out.  Wipe any excess off using a paper towel.  Note:  White embossing powder works too, but tends to absorb some of the color.

2. Random Stamping-Start with your largest image in one corner of the page making sure the image hangs off a little.  Continue stamping in a triangular pattern, making sure to turn the image each time you stamp, until you have covered the whole sheet of paper.  Move on to the next largest image and continue as before making sure to stamp some images off the side of the page so that you don't end up with a bunch of lined up images down each side of the paper.

I used Sketch #4 from the Got Sketch! 105 course I took way back in March to create this layout (I'm not allowed to show the actual sketch for copyright purposes).  Can you believe I still have 4 of the 8 sketches left to complete!!!  I have so not been productive lately!

I used the Versamark and White Daisy embossing powder on Vellum to create the title and snowflakes.  I just love doing that, it makes everything light and whispy and doesn't require extremely precise cutting. I also covered EVERYTHING in silver and startdust Stickles, although, this picture makes it hard to see.  I wanted to get this posted tonight, but will try for a better photo in the morning.  

Paper: Aspen
Cardstock: Outdoor Denim, Twighlight, Creme Brulee, and Colonial White
Ink:  Outdoor Denim, Twighlight, Creme Brulee, and Tuskineko Memento Tuxedo Black (snowman)
Stamps:  Field Trip Alpha, Snow Friends, Warm Wishes, Snowflake Kisses, New Fallen Snow, Winter Reflection, and Feathery Flakes
Other:  Martha Stewart Border Punch, Craft Essentials Clear Embossing Powerd (JoAnns), Stickles, Copics, and Zig Pen

Neighborhood Watch and Pencil Lines Sketch #183

So, on top of all the other issues in life, now I have strep throat!!  I was shocked, but glad to know there was a reason a little cold knocked me on my butt so hard! ;O)  Anyway, I'm trying to recover and I managed to finish this layout in the process.  I love this picture!  Owen won't know until he's older how much this dog loves him, Max never leaves his side.  It's quite a thing to see...

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Lil' Man
Cardstock: Colonial White
Ink: Olive, Autumn Terracotta, Juniper
Stamps: Cobblestone Alpha, Small Chocolate Alpha, Wish Upon a Star, Wishing Star, Shining Star, Comments, Spot on Backgrounds (emboss resist on large star)
Other: K&Company Wild Saffron Rub-Ons and Hambly Studios Kraft Stickers

Happy Mother's Day and H2H Challenge #5!

For Mother's Day, I really try to come up with fun and different style cards to send to all of our mother's and grandmother's.  Last year I did Criss Cross cards using the Emporium Creative Basics (LOVE that paper too!!!) and this year I decided to try out the Tri-Fold Shutter Cards I've seen all of the CTMH consultants posting on our bulletin board.  I've noticed over the past couple weeks, lots of the ladies have had the same idea and tri-fold shutter Mother's Day cards have popped up everywhere! ;O)  Although, I must say, this was really tough for me, I really struggled with the front, all the other girls made it look so easy!  

Over at the Heart 2 Heart challenge this week, they made it super convenient, just a Mother's Day theme was the only requirement.  The only non-CTMH products used in this card were the Recollections adhesive sparkles and Copic markers to color the birds!

I got in a hurry early this week to get these in the mail.  So, all I have are pictures after we'd signed them.    Sorry!  But, how cute is my little munchkins signature on the right...his name is Owen...he started with an "O" at the bottom and then he continued up the page...I like to think he's just creative! ;O)

I mentioned before in my previous post with my first attempt at this card, that Tonya Sheridan was my inspiration with her beautiful baby invites.  I believe she used a template posted on the Operation Write Home website, but I wanted a little bit easier measurements and to use all 12 inches of a piece of cardstock.  So, here's what I used for my base (click on it for a bigger picture), just paper it up as you please after you've embossed and cut appropriately!  I'm not sure my instructions will be much help to anyone else, but thought it would be nice to have them here for myself in case I decide to do one of these again in the future!

Hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Paper: Veranda
Cardstock: Cocoa, Juniper, Creme Brulee
Ink: Cocoa, Sweet Leaf, Juniper and Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa
Stamps:  Love You Forever, Simple Beauty (sentiment), Follow Your Heart (hummingbirds-exclusive stamp set with Veranda WOTG Kit), Whooo Loves You (branch), and leaves from the unnamed stamp set exclusive to the Twitterpated WOTG Kit 
Other: CTMH Paper flowers from Summer Posies and Just Blooms, Pewter Designer Brad, Recollections adhesive sparkles (Michaels), Water Color Pencils (nest), Copic Markers (birds), and Buttercup, Sunflower, and Hollyhock chalk (background and bird cheeks)