Happy Halloween!

I made this fun card using some adorable Halloween paper from Stampin' Up! I believe it's last year's line, but it's new to me and I absolutely love it! It's got lots of really intriquate designs on it and it isn't corny. I am more drawn to elegant than I am to corny. It's just my style, which is why I like this paper so much. It's still a little bit spooky, but is very elegant at the same time and I love that! I also really like the colors. A lot!

This is another card that I did in two sittings. In the first sitting, I thought I had finished the card, but it was missing something. On the green scalloped circle, it just looked too simple with the frame and the scull and crossbones. I thought about the design overnight and then stared at it again in the morning and decided it needed some splattered paint on it to make it a little darker. My original plan was to take a toothpick and flick paint onto the image, but the paint was too thick so I ended up just smearing it around with the toothpick. I like the look. I think it's just what this card needed.

Happy Halloween!

Supplies

Patterned Paper - Stampin' Up!

Cardstock - The Paper Company, Stampin' Up!

Stamps - Inkadinkadoo (Scull and Crossbones), Endless Creations (Frame)

Ink - Stampin' Up!

Paint - Claudine Hellmuth Studio

Epoxy Stickers - Making Memories

Ribbon - Stampin' Up!

Flower - Kaiser Crafts

Button - Basic Grey

Scalloped Circle Punch - Marvy

Jen's Sketch Challenge 10-09-10

Time for another one of Jen's fantastic sketches! For this week's card, I wanted to make a birthday card for my stepdaughter Nicole and her favorite color combination is pink and black, so I chose this bright pink paper from Basic Grey (left over papers from a mini album I did) and combined it with black cardstock. I also had a chance to use this adorable digi stamp from CC Designs. These kids are just too cute for words! And, they are a blast to color with Copic markers. I also used some Fun Flock on the bottom of her dress, but I obviously need more practice because hardly any stuck to the paper. I used a glue pen (Tombow) and I think 1) I didn't put enough glue down and 2) I didn't press the flock into the glue before I flicked the excess off of the card. Next time, I think I will use the Tombow Mono Multi Glue instead. I am excited to use some more of that Fun Flock for Christmas and winter cards though, that stuff has the best texture and some really great sparkle to it. Such fun.....

I am finding lately on the projects that I make I end up being happier with the results if I make them in at least two settings. When I try to complete an entire project in just one setting, I find that they don't have as many details and my creativity isn't stretched as much as if I start the project, walk away, think it over some more and then come back to it either late thate day/evening, or the next day.

Unfortunately for me, for some reason, the creative part of my brain really peaks late at night. If I could do all of my papercrafting after midnight, I think I would come up with some amazing work, but a girl needs her sleep :).

Anyway, enjoy!

Supplies

Patterned Paper - Basic Grey

Cardstock - The Paper Company, Papertrey Ink, Stampin' Up!

Stamps - Digi Stamp (CC Designs), Background Stamp (Unity), Sentiment (Stampin' up!)

Ink - Stampin' Up!, Papertrey Ink

Ribbon - Papertrey Ink

Button - Papertrey Ink

Flower - Kaiser Crafts

Copic Markers - RV29, RV69, RV93, E00, E02, E25, E27, E33. 100, Colorless Blender Pen

Stampers Floss - Karen Foster

Spellbinders Dies

Edge Punch - Stampin' Up!

Scalloped Square Punch - Stampin' Up!

Stickles - Ranger

Fun Flock - Stampendous

Jen's Sketch Challenge 10-02-10

For this week's sketch challenge on Jen Del Muro's blog, I used some absolutely adorable travel-themed paper that I got from Stampin' Up! a while back. It was from the summer mini catalog and I absolutely love the colors. I purchased the paper for scrapbooking, but I decided to try using it for a card. I used my Cricut to cut out that adorable tag and when you swing it open, there is an adorable image behind it. I just attached the tag with a brad and then cut out a square piece of cardstock, stamped the truck image onto it, and then rounded the corners so that it would fit behind the tag. The stamps are all Tim Holtz and are of incredible quality and I absolutely love the artistry! Anyway, if you haven't done so already, stop by Jen's blog and play along.

Supplies

Patterned Paper - Stampin' Up!

Cardstock - Stampin' Up!, Michael's

Ribbon - American Crafts

Stamps - Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous

Ink - Stampin' Up!, Ranger

Emobssing Powder - Ranger Distress Embossing Powder

Punches - Martha Stewart Crafts (Border), We R Memor Keepers (Corner Rounder)

Cricut Cartridges - Sentimentals (Stamp Border, Tag), Heritage (Luggage)

In Memory

**Edited** - I felt the left side of the card needed a little something so I added some bling from ZVA. I think it's just what this card needed.

My dear, sweet, wonderful great-aunt Helen passed away a couple of weeks ago. Aunt Helen lost her husband Al several years ago and her mind was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Because of this, she did not have any real quality of life in her later years and it's a blessing that she is now home with her heavenly father and once again reunited with her wonderful husband.

Aunt Helen and Uncle Al were always so good to me and my family. They were loving and funny and kind. They were incredibly generous with hugs and kisses and laughter. Aunt Helen was also an amazing cook! I remember going to visit at the house and she made these beautiful homemade breadsticks and ginger cookies. Everything looked as good as it tasted.

I made this card for Aunt Helen and Uncle Al's son Keith and his wife Katie and their daughter Natalie. They are such a dear, sweet family and I know that they are happy for Aunt Helen that her suffering on earth has come to an end, but still miss her dearly. Keith was the son that Aunt Helen and Uncle Al always dreamed of and he was the apple of their eyes. The love in that family was evident every moment that you spent with them.

Aunt Helen, I know you weren't really here over the last few years, but still you are missed terribly. I look forward to seeing you again one day in heaven. Until then, you will remain in my thoughts. I love you!

Supplies

Patterned Paper - Webster's Pages

Cardstock - The Paper Company

Ribbon - Unknown

Cricut Cartridge - Heritage

Hardware - Making Memories

Spellbinders Dies

Edge Punch - Stampin' Up!

Corner Punch - We R Memory Keepers

Jen's Sketch Challenge 09-18-10

For Jen's SFYTT this week, I broke out some Halloween patterned paper from Stampin' Up! that I got on clearance a few months ago. I thought this paper was absolutely adorable when it first came out, but I am glad I waited to order it because I got it for a great price, and even though it's not new to the scene, it's new to me! I also got to use a stamp set that my dear friend Leslie gave me about a year and a half ago. It's from a retired stamp set from SU, but again...new to me :).

We don't make a big deal of Halloween around here, but I do like to make cards for the girls and love breaking out supplies that I don't get to use very often.

I hope you enjoy!

Supplies

Patterned Paper - Stampin' Up!

Cardstock - Stampin' Up!, The Paper Company

Stamps - Stampin' Up!, Martha Steward Crafts

Epoxy Sticker (Skull) - Making Memories

Acrylic Tag Sticker - Making Memories

Ink - Stampin' Up!

Ribbon - American Crafts

Gemstones - Little Yellow Bicycle

Edge Punch - Martha Stewart Crafts

Corner Punch - We R Memory Keepers

Tag Punch - EK Success

Fun with the Cricut!

I am having so much fun with my Cricut! I actually made this card for a friend's birthday and showed it to my friend Carrie at work (we share projects with each other all the time) and she loved it so much that she took a picture of it and kept coming back into my office and commenting on it that I had to give it to her instead. I made a different card for her birthday, but decided that since she loved this card so much, she should have it. So, essentially, Carrie picked out her own birthday card ;).

This card was a lot of fun to make. Once again, I used a collection from Basic Grey. I used the Oliver collection on this card, which was designed for little boys, but I have made a couple of feminine cards with it now and I think it's extremely versatile.

I used the Sentimentals cartridge to build the owl using coordinating cardstock and made him the focal point since he is so extraordinary that he demands attention!

Supplies

Patterned Paper - Basic Grey

Cardstock - Bazzil, Stampin' Up!

Uniball Signo White Gel Pen

Spellbinders Die - Scalloped Oval

Sizzix Die - Top Notz Made for Stampin' Up!

Stamps - Stampin' Up - Frame and Sentiment

Flower - Bazzil

Brad - Basic Grey

Ink - Stampin' Up!

Corner Rounder - We R Memory Keepers

Jen's Sketch Challenge 09-11-10

Let me just say this. I am not ready for Christmas. I am not ready for cold and snow. I am still enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and the scents of summer. But, I know that it's coming. It's around the corner and I am going to have to get used to fuzzy socks and thick sweaters and scarfs and having a dirty car.

The only good thing about winter coming is Christmas. I love December. December 17th is our wedding anniversary and Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. I love having the house decorated and baking cookies and singing Christmas carols and buying gifts for the people I love and celebrating the birth of our Savior.

I also love making Christmas craft projects. The papers are all so very delightful and sweet. Last year I didn't get around to making indvidual Christmas cards for the family and am determined that this year I am going to make individual, handmade cards for immediate family members. In order to accomplish this goal, I must get started early!!!!

So, I took Jen's sketch this week and used Basic Grey's new Jovial collection to make my first Christmas card for 2010. I think this collection is SO beautiful! I love the blue-greens mixed in with the traditional rich reds and forest greens. There are lots of poinsettas and snowflakes and beautiful plaids. Basic Grey continues collection after collection to push the bar higher and higher. This is one of my favorite Christmas collections to date!

Supplies

Patterned Paper - Basic Grey (Jovial collection)

Cardstock - Stampin' Up!

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug

Stamps - Verve (Snowflake Border), Inkadinkadoo (Sentiment)

Ink - Stampin' Up!, Clearsnap

Hardware - Snowflake Brads (Unknown), Frame, Brads (Unknown)

Dimensional Sticker - Basic Grey

Cricut Cartridge - Christmas Village

Stickles

Spellbinders Dies - Oval, Scalloped Oval