Happy Birthday to You....

I've been thinking about this card for quite a while and I'm not sure I got it exactly how I imagined.  But, it was fun to do!  For some reason, this Veranda paper pack just reminds me of my mother.  She hates yellow, but, the Creme Brulee has such an earthy tone, I don't think it counts! ;O)  Her birthday snuck up on me and I cannot believe Thanksgiving is in TWO days...where has this year gone!!

This was the first time in forever that I haven't used a sketch to put the card together.  I'm not sure that's a surprise!! ;O)  But, I was trying to keep it simple and I think I accomplished that at least!

Paper: Veranda
Cardstock: Olive, Juniper, Cocoa, and Colonial White
Stamp Sets: Happy Birthday and Follow Your Heart
Ink: Juniper, Creme Brulee, and Cocoa
Other: Creme Brulee Ribbon, Mocha Pearls, Martha Stewart punches, and Fiskars Circle Punch

Sketchy Thursdays...A Perfect Fall Day

I heard about the Sketchy Thursdays blog a while back while on another scrappers blog, but, haven't had much time to stop and check out their sketches.  I finally got around to taking a  peek last week and absolutely couldn't resist this sketch!!!  This was so out of the box for me, but, SO much fun!!  It all just kind of fell in place...that never happens for me! 

I had big plans to put the pictures in a circle using Photoshop, but, it turns out I'm not that good!  I can't figure out how to do the wedges.  So, I did what I could and opted for five pictures instead of six.  I'm pretty happy with the results regardless and look forward to trying more Sketchy Thursday sketches!!

I've actually had this layout completed for almost a week now.  But, with very little daylight these days, I'm having trouble getting a good picture.  I will make another attempt tomorrow and see if I can improve it.  In the meantime, I should mention that the leaves are edged with gold glitter (they came that way) and I added gold Stickles between the scallops on the circle for the "sparkle" part of the challenge.

Paper:  Memory Box Blackbird and Basic Grey Ambrosia
Cardstock: CTMH Colonial White
Stamps:  Field Trip Alpha and Many Thanks
Ink: Autumn Terracotta, Brown Bag, Honey, and Cocoa
Other:  Recollections Mulberry Paper Holly Leaves (Michaels), Martha Stewart Punches, EKSuccess Corner Rounder (scallops), Champagne Stickles, Funky Ribbon from LSS (it was by the yard don't have manufacturer info), and Zig Pen

Happy Veteran's Day/Happy Marine Birthday...

Thanks to all the men and women who serve in our military and keep us safe!!!

I had hoped to have this posted on Wednesday, but, it was a really long week.  So, I'm just now getting around to it.  My uncle is a retired Marine and we're all very proud of him.  But, he prefers to celebrate the Marine Corps' Birthday rather than Veteran's Day.  So, here's the card I did for him this year.

To be honest, I was not prepared and had to throw this together at the last minute.  But, simple seems to make more sense in this case anyway.  I got to use my Sizzix Texture Boutique again to add a little texture, so, it was worth it!  The Marine Corps emblem is one that they had at the Wikipedia site of all things.  I printed it on photo paper and cut it out.

Cardstock:  Cranberry, Black, and Colonial White

Ink: Black (Sponged around the inside)

Other:  JoAnn's Essentials Gold Brads and Gold Glitter (Glitter is just pressed onto 2-sided tape), EKSuccess Corner Rounder, Sizzix Embossing Folder and Sizzix Texture Boutique

Owen was home sick with me the day I made the card, so, he made one too.  I thought it was pretty cute.  The circle on the lower left is a cake with a candle and just above that is his signature...it's quite elaborate! ;O)  He also included a few birthday stickers.  I think my uncle was far more excited to receive Owen's card then mine from the sounds of it!!  I can't hardly blame him though! ;O)

Colonial White Cardstock, Roseart Markers, and EKSuccess Sticko Stickers-Party Favors

Pagemaps...I'm an Artist

I really got good use out of July's Pagemaps Sketches!!  It may be time to branch out some! ;O)  This layout was super painful to do.  Again, the embellishment part got the best of me!!  I ended up giving up and going to Michael's and browsing through their stickers.  To me, stickers are the easy way out...but, I NEEDED an easy way out and am actually pretty happy with the end results!

It just so happened that they had a couple of MS edge punches on clearance while I was there too...so, how cute is my little bubble punch down the side?  I love it! ;O)

Paper: Twitterpated

Cardstock:  Outdoor Denim, Cranberry Red, and Sweet Leaf

Ink:  Cranberry Red

Stamps:  Journaling Jots

Other: Stickles, MS and EK Success Punches, Stickers from Sticko/EK Succes (Hoot), Jolee's Boutique/EK Succes (Little Artist), and Soft Spoken/Me&My Big Ideas (I'm an Artist and Renee-Stars)

Card Maps...Whoo Loves You!

I have organized a scrapbook day at one of the local churches for later this month and have offered to cut the cost in half for the girls that make and donate at least 2 cards to the Operation Write Home efforts.  I've wanted to contribute to this amazing cause for some time and just haven't had the opportunity to take the time and do it. 

Anyway, time is flying and I figured I better get on it!  I happened to have this owl from the Greeting Farm already colored and decided to try one of Page Maps Card Maps for the first time.  I chose the sketch above from the March 2010 Card Maps.  I took the sketch pretty literally, but, that was just coincidence, I swear! ;O)

I'm surprised how nerve-wracking this was for me to do!  I want to make sure it's just right for our men and women overseas who have sacrificed so much!!  The least I can do is send them a decent looking card to write home with, right? ;O)

Paper:  Life Delights and Magic Moments

Cardstock: Blush, Hollyhock, Cocoa, and Colonial White

Ink:  Cocoa, Sweet Leaf, Olive, Blush, and Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa

Stamps:  Greeting Farm Forest Friends, Whoo Loves You (branch), Exclusive Set from the Twitterpated Kit (leaves), Friendship Alpha Small, and Hugs & Kisses

Other:  Hollyhock Brads, Copic Markers, EK Success Corner Rounder (scallops), and White Gelly Roll pen

July Pagemaps...Mischief Maker

I've had this layout done for ages, but, just don't love it.  I had hoped an epiphany would come over me and I'd think of something to add.  But, I've decided to just let it go!  I love the Pagemaps sketch (from July) I used and putting the layout together went really fast...it's just those dreaded embellishments that I can never pin down just right!

Paper: Twitterpated
Cardstock:  Cocoa, Outdoor Denim, and Colonial White
Ink: Cocoa and Outdoor Denim
Stamps:  Giggle Caps and Lowercase, Star Power, Code It, Childhood Boy, Girly Girl, Wedding, and Journaling Jots (most retired)
Other: EKSuccess Corner Rounder and Border Punch, JoAnn's Essentials Star Brads, Twill Ribbon, and Zig pen