Thanks Teacher

I’m still working on building up my stash of teacher thank you cards, so here’s another one that fits the bill. I used this week’s CPS sketch as inspiration for my design.

I stamped the chubby pencil image from the Paper Smooches Smarty Pants set on a scrap of white cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers, then cut it out. It’s set on a piece of yellow striped paper using dimensional dots. I stamped the set’s “thanks teacher” sentiment just above the pencil in coordinating red ink. To bring in a little more red, I wrapped some red baker’s twine around the top of the striped panel, securing it with a bow. The panel’s set on a kraft card base. I may make a few more of this same design using a different color scheme since it’s quick and easy to put together--and pretty cute, too!

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches Smarty Pants stamp set, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Lady Bug inks, Copic markers (R12, R14, R17, R81, R83, RV00, E41, E42, C-1, C-3, C-5), Jillibean Soup Homemade 6 Bean Soup 6x paper pad, Divine Twine red baker’s twine, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin' Up!)

Puppy Love

Two years ago this week (can’t believe it’s been that long!), I brought a teeny, tiny Chloe the cutie puppy home with me. When I look at her now, it’s almost impossible to believe that she was once a 13 pound ball of fluff (even though she did have a hair cut after this photo--LOL!). She’s still just as much fun and brings just as much joy as she did when she first arrived. There’s never—and I mean never—a dull moment when she’s around! She’s such a social creature and the friendliest dog you’ll ever meet, maybe even too friendly sometimes, but I guess that's a good problem, right?

I couldn’t let the occasion pass without marking it with a puppy themed card, so I made this one for this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge using the new Pure Innocence Puppy Love set.

I colored the image and paper pieced the dress with a dotted green on green pattern. The puppy is a sort of chocolate-y brown and has a purple collar, but if I were to be true to Chloe’s coloring, I would have gone more golden and used a pink collar (she wears one like this since she’s chewed off all of the identifying information on her dog tags multiple times . . .).

I used the same green patterned paper along with another coordinating pattern with larger dots for the panels on the cardfront. The image is set on an aqua panel using foam tape and accented with a lavender doily die cut placed behind it. I stamped the set’s “it’s puppy love” sentiment in purple ink on a white panel and set that across the cardfront.

Materials Used:
Pure Innocence Puppy Love stamp set (My Favorite Things); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black and Lilac Posies ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist, Lavender Moon, and Simply Chartreuse cardstock, Doily Details die (Papertrey Ink); Lime Twist-Happy Go Lucky 6x6 paper pad; foam tape

Blogger Challenge: Week 249

This week’s blogger challenge theme is “for the birds.” In the end, I didn’t include a bird on my project, but I did use a birdhouse as my focal image. I used stamps and dies from The Cat’s Pajamas, plus the colors from the current TCP Tuesday challenge, along with this week’s Mojo Monday sketch for this spring-feeling card.

The image panel features a simple scene with a birdhouse hanging from a leafy branch. The birdhouse is cut with the CutUps Home Tweet Home die and stamped with the coordinating text image from the The Tweetest Things set. I backed the die cut with a scrap of green cardstock to fill in the open heart image with a pop of color before suspending it from the branch with some orange baker’s twine and a little foam tape. I stamped the set’s “home tweet home” sentiment next to the birdhouse and added a pair of felt clouds, cut with the CutUps Cloud Border die, to round out the scene.

I used three patterned paper strips to cover the kraft card base. They’re machine stitched around the edges for a finished look. The scene is layered on a kraft panel, then set at the center of the cardfront.

For more projects that are “for the birds,” check out the link list below (list will be added later on this morning). And, if you’d like to join the challenge, add a direct link to your new project below.

Materials Used:
The Tweetest Things stamp set, CutUps Home Tweet Home and Cloud Border dies, Divine Twine orange baker’s twine (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); Vivid Butterscotch ink (Clearsnap); Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Soup Staples designer papers (Jillibean Soup); white felt; sewing machine; foam tape

Merci

For this week’s Waltzingmouse sketch challenge, I traded in my usual clean and simple—and cute—style for a more elegant, shabby chic-ish style. The end result was this feminine thank you card.

I used the Eiffel Tower from the new Paris Nouveau set as my focal image. The tower’s stamped in gray ink and cut out. I used foam tape to layer it over some text printed papers that are set on a soft striped background.

I stamped the set’s “merci” sentiment on a pale gray notch-ended strip in a darker gray ink, then slipped the straight edge of the strip underneath the tower to anchor it. A pretty double looped organdy bow dresses up the strip. For a final girly touch, I attached a clear crystal flourish to the card, extending from behind the tower.

Materials Used:
Paris Nouveau stamp set (Waltzingmouse Stamps); Smokey Shadow ink, Soft Stone cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Lost & Found-Portobello Road 6x6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); organdy ribbon (Stampin’ Up!); clear crystal flourish (Recollections); corner rounder; Bow Easy; sewing machine; foam tape

Just Poppin' Up

Kate’s recently started to carry some sets from Gourmet Rubber Stamps at i {heart} papers. If you were a fan of Lizzie Anne Designs, I think you’ll love what GRS has to offer, since lots of it is drawn by the very same artists. You can see Kate’s selection of GRS sets here.

I just got the In the Kitchen set and put it to use along with the current GRS “recipe,” or sketch, for this fun card. The set’s toaster image is the focal image. I colored it with Copic markers, cut it out, and attached it to a red circle with dimensional dots.

I love the look of red and aqua together, so I went with that on my card. I used two different Lily Bee Design paper pads for the panels on my card—a floral one underneath the image panel and a red gingham one at the bottom of the cardfront. Something about that gingham pattern makes me think of a country kitchen . . .

I knotted a piece of coordinating red twill around the top of the gingham panel. The “just poppin’ up to say hi” sentiment is stamped on a die cut tab piece. I slipped the bottom edge of the stamped panel underneath the patterned paper panel so it appears that it’s “popping” up like the toast from the toaster. Too fun!

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Gourmet Rubber Stamps In the Kitchen set, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic markers (R12, R14, R17, E25, E31, E33, C-1, C-3, C-5), Lily Bee Design Double Dutch and Handmade Tiny Tablets, May Arts red twill, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: Poppy Parade cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); mini tab die (My Favorite Things); sewing machine

Marching to the End of the Month

It's the end of the month of March (how did that happen already??!!), so I've finished up my last two cards for this month's Viva la Verve sketches. Here’s my card for week 3. I made a sweet baby card in a color scheme that’s perfect for a little boy using one of Verve’s Plain Jane sentiments as the focal image.

I stamped the Smallest Things stamp at the center of a blue Classy Label die cut in brown ink. I backed the label with a scalloped circle die cut—love how this looks! It’s attached to a dot embossed notch-edged strip. The embossing adds a little interest and texture without competing with the heart patterned paper I used to cover most of the cardfront. The patterned paper panel is machine stitched around the edges for a finished look and layered on a coordinating cardstock mat. The panel is set on a soft blue card base.

As an accent, I die cut some felt hearts using Verve’s From the Heart die. I played around with the sizes and layering before settling on the arrangement of pair of blue and kraft hearts you see on the card.

Materials Used:
Smallest Things Plain Jane stamp, Classy Label and From the Heart dies (Verve Stamps); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko); Poppy Parade and Sahara Sand cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Ocean Mist cardstock (Gina K Designs); Blink of an Eye 6x6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); scalloped circle die (Spellbinders); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); felt (Papertrey Ink); sewing machine

And, here’s my card for week 4. I made a clean and simple sympathy card using the sketch. The flower pair from Verve’s Kind Words is one of my favorite images for this type of cards. Here, I inked the top of the flowers in a pale blue ink and the stems in a pale green, then stamped on a piece of cream cardstock. I stamped the “with sympathy” sentiment underneath the flowers in brown ink and added a tiny self-adhesive pearl at the center of each flower.

I picked the colors for the image panel to coordinate with the October Afternoon designer paper I used to cover most of the cream card base. I attached a strip of solid blue cardstock across the center of the panel and accented it with a matching blue ribbon before setting it on the card base. I may go back and replace the ribbon with a different one--maybe in cream . . . The image panel is layered on a dark brown mat, then set at the center of the card.

Materials Used:
Kind Words stamp set (Verve); Memento Summer Sky, Pear Tart, and Rich Cocoa inks (Tsukineko); Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, and Very Vanilla cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Farmhouse designer paper (October Afternoon); self-adhesive pearls (Recollections)

Color Throwdown 185-Bundle of Joy

It’s time for another Color Throwdown! This week, Broni’s brought us a pretty spring color combination to try—Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Basic Black, and Basic Gray. I used the colors to put together a sweet baby card using the Special Bundle stamp set from Clear and Simple Stamps.

I used the set’s stork as the focal image, setting it on a girly pink grid panel with some green dotted die cut grass at the bottom. Instead of coloring the stork or using colored cardstock for the body, I stamped the set’s matching dotted stork image in gray ink to fill in the image outline. The stork’s bundle is colored with pink Copic markers. I stamped the “bundle of joy” sentiment on a round panel and added it to the bottom of the scene. It’s accented with a small piece of knotted rose satin ribbon.

To play along, just create a paper crafted project using these colors as a starting point and add a direct link to your finished project using the linky tool found at the end of this week's CTD post. As always, if you don’t have exact color matches, something close works just fine. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD185. Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team:

** Barbara ** Broni ** Danielle ** Joan ** Kerri **
** Lynn ** Tammy ** Wanda **
March Guestie Bev Gerard

Materials Used:
Special Bundle stamp set, You're Such a Gray-cious Host and Perfect Little Black Dress inks, A Blanc Check, You're Such a Gray-cious Host and Perfect Little Black Dress cardstock, Copic markers (R81,R83,R85) Grass die (Clear and Simple Stamps); designer paper (Memory Box); foam tape

Get Well with OCL

It’s my turn to host the design team spotlight on the Our Craft Lounge blog this week, so I thought I’d share my new cards here as well. I went with a get well theme for my post since OCL has a bunch of sets that work perfectly for get well cards and it seems that there’s always a need for this type of card.

First up is a card I made with the Sunshine Cheer set. This is one of my favorite OCL sets—something about that cheery, smiling sun image, I guess . . . Anyway, on this one I did a little masking so that the sun was peeking out from behind a cloud. The sun’s colored with Copic markers and the cloud’s outlined with a little glitter for a fun sparkle.

I used a fresh aqua and lemon color scheme for the card. I attached a strip of dotted patterned paper over a lemon panel with a scalloped edge, machine stitching over one edge of the dotted panel for interest before layering the panels on to the cardfront. The image panel is accented with a piece of coordinating knotted grosgrain ribbon. I stamped the set’s “sending you sunshine” sentiment at the bottom of the cardfront in a bold teal ink for contrast.

Materials Used:
Sunshine Cheer stamp set (Our Craft Lounge); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); Party Teal Dawn ink (Clear and Simple Stamps); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Daffodil Delight cardstock, Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon, scallop edge punch, Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin’ Up!); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); circle die (Spellbinders); Blink of an Eye 6x6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); sewing machine

This one uses the bandage image from the Boo Boo set. I used my stamp positioner to line up the images on the white panel and left the stamped images uncolored. I stamped a single image on a scrap of cardstock, colored it with Copic markers, and cut it out, then used foam tape to attach it over one of the images on the stamped panel.

The panel’s set on a kraft mat, then on a red panel. I ran some kraft twill underneath the image panel and accented it with a red button tied with baker’s twine. The set’s “ouch” sentiment is stamped just underneath the twill.

Materials Used:
Boo Boo stamp set (Our Craft Lounge); Memento Tuxedo Black and Rhubarb Stalk inks (Tsukineko); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Real Red and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin' Up!); markers (Copic); kraft twill (Papertrey Ink); red button (Michaels); red baker's twine (Divine Twine); foam tape

TCPTuesday 203-Hoppy Easter

It’s my turn to host the TCP Tuesday challenge and this for week’s color challenge, I’ve brought you a challenge that includes this year’s color of the year as crowned by Pantone—Tangerine Tango. We’re combining the orangey tangerine shade with sky blue and lime green for a fun spring color palette.

I used the Sugar, Sugar set from the last release for my seasonal card. The bunny image is colored with Copic markers and cut out, then layered on a light blue panel using foam tape. I left enough room at the top of the panel to stamp the set’s “Hoppy Easter” sentiment.

I used the CutUps Lacy Floral Doily die to cut a panel from green cardstock. It’s backed with white cardstock and set on a blue and white plaid panel. I added a strip of ribbon and an orange Big Scallop Border die cut along the bottom of the doily, then set the image panel on top at an angle. A lime green button, threaded with green baker’s twine, finishes it off.

I hope you’ll play along with this week’s challenge to celebrate this year's color of the year--and for your chance to win some Cat Cash. Just upload your project to the photo album on Alma’s blog to enter—and be sure to keep an eye out for the links to the rest of the Cat Pack’s projects that she’ll be posting throughout the week.

Materials Used:
Sugar, Sugar stamp set, Neenah white cardstock, CutUps Lacy Floral Doily and Big Scallop Border dies, Divine Twine green baker’s twine (The Cat's Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); Gable Green, Only Orange, and Soft Sky cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); markers (Copic); Double Dutch-Croquet designer paper (Lily Bee Design); green grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); green button; foam tape

In My Thoughts

This week’s CAS-ual Fridays challenge was to use pastels with black. I made this clean and simple design using the Sentimental Birds set from Sweet Stamp Shop in soothing shades of blues and greens for the challenge.

I stamped the large image of birds on branches in Versamark ink on a glossy white panel, then covered the ink with black embossing powder and heat embossed it. To get a crisp look, I made sure to use a detail embossing powder.

After embossing, I sponged on several different shades of blue and green inks, then set the panel on a black mat. I attached the panel to a coordinating green green card base, then stamped the set’s “you’re in my thoughts” sentiment beneath the image panel in black ink.

Materials Used:
Sentimental Birds stamp set (Sweet Stamp Shop); Glossy White and Basic Black cardstock, Marina Mist Classic ink, black detail embossing powder (Stampin' Up!); Versamark watermark ink, Memento Summer Sky, Bamboo Leaves, and Pear Tart inks (Tsukineko); Spring Moss cardstock (Papertrey Ink)

All About Celebrating You

Today's SCS clean and simple challenge is an inspiration challenge based on a photo featuring a two tiered tray with an array of pastel frosted cupcakes. I took my inspiration from the pastel colors and the round shape of the cupcakes to create this simple birthday card using the Heart-2-Heart #2 stamp set from Papertrey Ink.

I stamped one of the set's balloon images three times in three shades of pastel inks--yellow, green, and pink. The pink one was stamped on a cardstock scrap and attached to the white panel with foam tape. I used my sewing machine to stitch a string extending down from each balloon. A pink baker's twine bow "gathers" the strings together.

The set's celebratory sentiment is stamped on a pink panel that I set on the image panel, folding the edge around the panel's edge. I layered the stamped panel on a pink cardfront for one final pastel touch.

Materials Used:
Heart-2-Heart #2 stamp set (Papertrey Ink); Pink Pirouette cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Memento Tuxedo Black, Angel Pink, Dandelion, and Pear Tart inks (Tsukineko); pink baker's twine (Divine Twine); sewing machine; foam tape

Hoppy Birthday

Here's my card for the current Paper Smooches Sparks inspiration challenge. The inspiration photo featured a bunch of white felt cottontailed bunnies with vibrantly colored ears on a green background.

I went with the bunny theme, using the bunny from the A Little Lovin' set as my focal image. I set the bunny atop a piece of die cut felt grass at the bottom of a multi colored striped patterned paper panel.

The bunny's attached to the panel with a wobble spring for a bouncy motion that matches the "hoppy birthday" sentiment I came up with by mixing and matching images from the A Little Lovin' and Word Salad sets. The spring's a fun way to add an interactive element to your cards. You can see how the wobble spring looks in action in a little video I did for this post.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches A Little Lovin' and Word Salad stamp sets, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic markers (R20, B0000, C00, C-1), Lawn Fawn Bright Side 6x6 paper pad, Snow White and Moss felt, Divine Twine pink baker's twine, action wobble spring

other:
Certainly Celery, Old Olive, and Pretty in Pink cardstock (Stampin' Up!); CutUps Grass and Cloud Border dies (The Cat's Pajamas); circle punch (EK Success)

Take Two

This week's SCS featured stamper challenge is a little different than usual--instead of checking out another stamper's gallery, everyone got to check out their own and pick a card to use from there. I picked this simple baby card and converted it to a teacher thank you in no time at all by keeping the basic layout the same and switching out the papers and images.

I used some apple patterned paper from a Jillibean Soup pad for the large panel on the left side of the card. It's layered on a dark brown panel, then set on the cardfront. A strip of red crepe ribbon runs along the right edge of the panel. On the original card, I left the right side of the card "empty," but here, I filled it in with a coordinating solid instead of leaving the kraft card base showing.

Instead of using a tag for the image and sentiment, I used a circle to accommodate the larger text. I stamped the "thanks teacher" sentiment from the Paper Smooches Smarty Pants set in brown ink to match the colors in the patterned paper. The set's apple image is stamped above the sentiment. I stamped the image on a cardstock scrap, colored it with Copic markers, cut it out, and attached it to the panel with a tiny dimensional dot. The finished panel is anchored to the card with a bow made from the same red ribbon with the help of my Bow Easy.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches Smarty Pants stamp set, Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa ink, Copic markers (R22, R24, R27, YG25), Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup 6x6 paper pad, Creative Impressions red crepe ribbon, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots, Bow Easy

other: Crumb Cake, Dark Chocolate, and Very Vanilla cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Harvest Gold cardstock (Papertrey Ink); circle punch (EK Success)

Papertrey Ink March Blog Hop

For this month's Papertrey Ink blog hop, the challenge was to create projects inspired by a photo of a variety of sweet treats all with an aqua and lemon color scheme. My project focuses on the two colors, but also includes other design elements from the photo, like striped papers, shiny satin ribbon, and lemons--I'm imagining that at least some of the yellow candies in the photo are lemon!

With all of that in mind, I made this card using the lemon pair from the Tremendous Treats: Valentine stamp set. I colored the image with Copic markers and stamped one of the lemons (the one on the right) a second time, colored it, cut it out, and attached it over the first with foam tape. It's hard to see in the photo, but I coated the insides of the lemons with glitter for a sparkly look.

The rest of the card's pretty simple. I layered the lemon image on an aqua circle and set it on a piece of striped Aqua Mist paper. The image's accented with a piece of darker aqua blue satin ribbon. The set's "pucker up" sentiment is stamped in Hawaiian Shores ink just underneath the patterned paper panel. I was worried that the ink would look too green after stamping it on the Lemon Tart card base, but I think it stayed fairly true to color.

Materials Used:
Tremendous Treats: Valentine stamp set, Hawaiian Shores ink, Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, and White cardstock, Aqua Mist Stripe patterned paper (Papertrey Ink); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); circle die (Spellbinders); aqua satin ribbon (Michaels); Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin' Up!); Bow Easy; foam tape

Tree-ific Day

The theme for this week’s Our Craft Lounge challenge is spring things. It’s definitely been spring-like here with lots of sun and above average temperatures and the area’s cherry blossom trees are in full bloom. I had the idea of blooming trees in mind when I created this card for the challenge using this week’s CPS sketch as a starting point.

I used one of the tree images from the Tree-ific Trees set as my focal image. The tree’s colored with Copic markers—I added some different color dots for shading and interest. The cutout tree is attached to a kraft circle with dotted green “grass” and a fluffy white felt cloud.

I used the same green dotted paper to cover most of the cardfront. I was going for a masculine look, so I stretched a piece of brown twill across the panel before setting the pair of green corner rounded panels over it. There was just enough room left to stamp the set’s “wishing you a tree-ific day” sentiment in the space next to the panels.

Be sure to check out the OCL blog for details on this week's challenge and how you can win an OCL set by playing along . . .

Materials Used:
Tree-ific Trees stamp set (Our Craft Lounge); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Rich Cocoa ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Green Apple cardstock (Gina K Designs); Lush-Green Houndstooth designer paper (My Mind’s Eye); circle die (Spellbinders); cloud die (Papertrey Ink); brown twill (Martha Stewart); corner rounder; white felt; foam tape

Big Impact

I’ve had a few requests to make teacher cards, so that was on my mind when I created this card for this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge. I thought the quote from the new Big Greetings set about making an impact on someone’s life would be a nice message to give to a teacher—I know it’s one I would have appreciated when I was working in a classroom.

To make it clear that this card was intended for a teacher, I used some school themed papers from October Afternoon’s Schoolhouse collection. I picked one with letters and one with manuscript lines along with a more neutral pattern and arranged them on a kraft panel. I stamped the sentiment on the lined paper, trying as best I could to line up the text with the lines. The sentiment is accented with a red bow. I layered the kraft panel on a red card base to tie all the pieces together.

Materials Used:
Big Greetings stamp set (My Favorite Things); Poppy Parade and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Schoolhouse designer papers (October Afternoon); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); Bow Easy

Somebunny's Inspired

The current Lawnscaping challenge is to create a project inspired by something you’ve seen somewhere—another blog, Pinterest, a catalog, or wherever. It just so happened that I got a Pier 1 flyer in my newspaper the other day and I always find these a great source for inspiration. I based this simple card on this fun little bunny-clad kitchen towel towel. I just love that cottontailed bunny!

I used a green card base in a nod to the towel’s color. The focal image panel features the bunny from the Critters in the Burbs set, shaded a little with Copic markers and set on some stamped grass. I added a little white flock to the bunny’s tail and attached it to the background with dimensional dots.

Inspired by the ric rac strips along the bottom edge of the towel, I arranged a bunch of different ribbon scraps along the right side of the card, making sure that one was a piece of ric rac. I’ve used layouts like this before with patterned paper—it’s a great way to use up assorted coordinating scraps. After I put the bunny panel in place, I added a little felt cloud at the top of the panel and a button threaded with green baker’s twine at the bottom. The “some bunny loves you” sentiment from the My Silly Valentine set fits nicely along the bottom of the card.

Kate’s got lots of new (and classic!) Lawn Fawn in stock at i {heart} papers—along with lots of other new goodies—so be sure to stop in and take a look. And, don’t forget about our current inspiration challenge at IHP. You can find all the details here.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Lawn Fawn Critters in the Burbs and My Silly Valentine stamp sets, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Pear Tart inks, Copic markers (R20, B0000), Stampendous Cotton Ball white flock, May Arts celery green striped twill, light blue faux suede ribbon, and yellow velvet ric rac, Divine Twine Green Apple baker’s twine, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Certainly Celery cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); CutUps Cloud Border die (The Cat’s Pajamas); button

Blogger Challenge: Week 248

This week’s blogger challenge theme is Easter. I made a sweet invitation to an Easter egg hunt using images from the Cart Pals: Baby and Cart Pals: Occasions sets from Clear and Simple Stamps.

I stamped the cart base in black ink, then added the egg image at the top of the cart and colored the images with Copic markers, choosing spring-like pastel colors for the eggs. The colored image is set on a card base covered with coordinating papers—a green dotted one that covers most of the card and coordinating pastel panels to set the colored image off from the rest of the card.

I used bits and pieces of a few different sentiments to create the “come to an egg hunt” sentiment that’s stamped on a pink notch-edged strip. A yellow bow sits at one edge of the strip—the ribbon actually hides the holes from some failed machine stitching that went awry and I had to remove . . .

For more Easter themed ideas, check out the link list below. And, if you’d like to join the challenge, add a direct link to your new Easter themed project below.



Materials Used:
Cart Pals: Baby, Cart Pals: Occasions, and Punny Baby stamp sets, Perfect Little Black Dress ink, Green with Envy, I’m a Princess Pink, Say Yellow to All Your Fans, and A Blanc Check cardstock, Shapes: Circles die, Copic markers (E41, E42, E43, R81, R83, R85, BG01, BG02, BG05, YG13, YG21, Y11, Y13, Y18, C-3, C-5), Say Yellow to All Your Fans satin ribbon (Clear and Simple Stamps); Mint Dot designer paper (BoBunny); Bow Easy; sewing machine

TCPTuesday 202-Color Me Hoppy

This week’s TCP Tuesday challenge from Julie is “grass with class.” We’re using grass on our projects in creative ways, whether it is dies, materials, or stamps. Here’s a clean and simple—and super sparkly—card that would be fun to give for Easter or for a little pick me up. The simple layout really lets the big eared bunny take center stage!

I colored the bunny and egg from the Bunny Side Up set with Copic markers, picking spring-like soft blues, greens, and yellows for the decorative shell, then cut out the colored image. The egg was coated with glue, then sprinkled with a nice coating of fine glitter. All that sparkle’s so pretty IRL!

I machine stitched a light aqua gingham panel around the edges, then set the panel on a light green card base. I used some of TCP’s fabulous felt and the CutUps Grass Border die to cut two strips of green felt grass. After layering and arranging the strips across the patterned paper panel, I used foam tape to set the bunny in place.

To play along with the challenge, upload your "grass with class" creation to the guestbook on Alma's blog. One participant will be awarded this week's Cat Cash prize. If you're looking for some inspiration to get you started, Alma will be posting links to the Cat Pack's creations on her blog throughout the week.

Materials Used:
Bunny Side Up stamp set, Neenah white cardstock, CutUps Grass Border die, Green with Envy felt collection (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Quite Contrary 6x paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); Dazzling Diamonds glitter (Stampin’ Up!); sewing machine; foam tape

Get it in Gear

Here’s my card for this week’s Kraftin’ Kimmie challenge. I made the sketch a little taller to fit the tall Moonlight Whispers Carole image I chose for my card.

Carole’s colored with Copic markers to match the patterned papers I used on the cardfront. I did a little fancy, out of the box cutting with my Spellbinders die and a craft knife so that her ponytail extends beyond the edge of the image panel. I also used a fine-tip black pen and a ruler to draw in a sidewalk beneath the image so it didn’t look like she was floating in space.

I used a combination of spring-like patterns and coordinating solids for the cardfront. Once everything was in place, I stamped the “get it in gear” sentiment from the Steampunk Sentiments collection in coordinating green ink and set that in place on the cardfront. It wasn't meant to go with this image, but I think it works pretty well with it! A trio of golden yellow buttons, threaded with hemp twine, completed the design.

Materials Used:
Moonlight Whispers Carole image and Steampunk Sentiments stamp sets (Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Simply Chartreuse and Harvest Gold cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Sweet Summertime designer papers (Echo Park); petite oval dies (Spellbinders); scallop edge punch (Stampin’ Up!); hemp twine (Hemptique); buttons

Color Throwdown 184-Sending You Thanks

It’s time for another Color Throwdown! This week, Barbara’s chosen a pretty color combination for us to try—Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, and So Saffron. The first thing that came to mind when I saw these colors was flowers, so that’s the direction I took for my card.

I used WPlus9’s A Pocketful set for my card—I said on Sunday that I should use this set more often and I’m making good on that! I stamped the pocket image in Brocade Blue ink on a scrap of Brocade Blue cardstock, then cut it out and attached it to a white panel. The set’s stem and flower images are stamped above the pocket. Each flower’s center is dotted with some Bisque Liquid Pearls.

I used the sketch from the current Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for the layout. I used two different patterned papers—one dotted and one striped—for the panels behind the image. The patterns are divided by a strip of So Saffron grosgrain ribbon. The set’s “sending you thanks” sentiment is stamped on the Certainly Celery notch-edged strip that runs along the length of the card.

To play along, just create a paper crafted project using these colors as a starting point and add a direct link to your finished project using the linky tool found at the end of this week's CTD post. As always, if you don’t have exact color matches, something close works just fine. And, if you upload your project to an online gallery, use the keyword CTD184. Before you get started, here’s some inspiration from the talented Color Throwdown team:

** Barbara ** Broni ** Danielle ** Joan ** Kerri **
** Lynn ** Tammy ** Wanda **
March Guestie Bev Gerard

Materials Used:
A Pocketful stamp set (WPlus9); white cardstock (Xerox); Memento Grape Jelly ink (Tsukineko); Certainly Celery and Brocade Blue Classic inks, Certainly Celery, Brocade Blue, and So Saffron cardstock, So Saffron grosgrain ribbon (Stampin’ Up!); Playground-Merry Go Round designer paper (Echo Park); Peacock Lane Stripe designer paper (BoBunny); Bisque Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

IHP DT Challenge-Mint Motif

For this month’s i {heart} papers design team challenge, we’re highlighting Mint Motif stamps designed by Kimberly Crawford. If you haven’t checked out the two newest additions to IHP’s exclusive Mint Motif line, you can see them right here—Beyond Borders, Too and Simply Sentiments.

I’ve had a few requests to make teacher cards, so I pulled out the School Basics set for the challenge. I love the look of the set’s sentiments and manuscript lines stamped in white on chalkstock, so I started my card off with that.

In keeping with my school/teacher theme, I die cut a circle from a piece of apple patterned designer paper and set that on a coordinating green panel. After wrapping the panel with a piece of narrow green silk ribbon, I stamped layered the piece over it. I used a little more of the green ribbon to tie a bow right next to the stamped panel. I stamped the set’s apple image and colored it with Copic markers, then cut it out and added it to the end of the sentiment panel with dimensional dots.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the IHP DT has created for the challenge. Here’s where to find them:

• Carolyn


• Deb


• Gretchen


• Loretta


• Lori--you're here!


• Lynn


• Tracy


• Kate

After you've hopped along, we'd love if you'd join us by creating a project inspired by something you've seen on the hop. Using Mint Motif stamps is not required, but be sure to use some products available at IHP. Link up your creation using the linky tool at the end of Kate's blog post by 6 PM on Sunday for a chance to be featured on the i {heart} papers blog.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Mint Motif School Basics stamp set, X-Press white Copic blending cardstock, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic markers (YG01, YG03, YG13, YG25, E25), Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Soup 6x6 paper pad, Spellbinders circle dies, Canvas Corp. chalkstock, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: Crème de Menthe cardstock (Gina K Designs); So Saffron and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Fresh Snow ink (Papertrey Ink); green silk ribbon

Butterfly Thanks

I made this super simple thank you card based on this week’s Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge. I was so excited (and surprised!) that my new WMS stamps arrived so quickly—unlike most US customers, for some reason most of my WMS orders have taken close to a month to arrive after they ship—that I couldn’t wait to ink them up!

I used the pretty butterfly from the new Nordic Spring set as my focal image. I colored the stamped image with Copic markers in shades of oranges and yellow-oranges (Copic Ys and Yrs), then cut it out. I set it on a coordinating patterned paper panel using foam tape. For a little sparkle, I attached a piece of clear crystal flourish behind the butterfly, forming a sort of flight trail.

There was just enough room to stamp the “thanks a bunch” sentiment at the bottom of the patterned paper panel. I used an orange ink instead of a black to coordinate with the butterfly and for a somewhat softer look. The patterned paper panel is set on an orange mat, then on a kraft card base.

Materials Used:
Nordic Spring and Compact Sentiments stamp sets (Waltzingmouse Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); Vivid Butterscotch ink (Clearsnap); markers (Copic); Crumb Cake and Pumpkin Pie cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Fine & Dandy-True Blue 6x6 paper pad (My Mind’s Eye); crystal flourish (Recollections); foam tape

It's Your Day

Here’s my card for today’s SCS clean and simple challenge. The sketch’s long, tall panel was a perfect fit for the kite flying penguin from The Cat’s Pajamas.

The penguin from the Up, Up, & Away set is stamped in black ink--I generally use Versafine Onyx Black for my penguins for a nice, deep, solid black image--and colored with Copic markers. After carefully cutting the image out, I set it on a light blue dot embossed panel with the debossed side facing up. I cut out a strip of felt clouds using the CutUps Cloud Border die and cut them apart, then placed a few of the individual clouds on the panel to give it a sky-like look.

I layered the panel on a red mat, then set it on a light blue card base. The “it's your day” sentiment from the Bearing Flowers set is stamped next to the panel in darker blue ink--perfect for a birthday!

Materials Used:
Up, Up, & Away and Bearing Flowers stamp sets, Neenah white cardstock, Versafine Onyx Black ink, CutUps Cloud Border die (The Cat’s Pajamas); markers (Copic); Bashful Blue and Real Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Memento Danube Blue ink (Tsukineko); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); foam tape

You're a Star

This simple card is made using the current sketch from the Clean and Simple Stamping blog. As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew the new Mini Circles set from Clear and Simple Stamps would be perfect for the layout.

I decided to go for a masculine look and used the set's houndstooth print circle, stamped tone on tone on a piece of A Clean Slate cardstock. I think I did a pretty good job of lining up all of the circles fairly evenly and straight, too!

Three of the circles are accented with some silver star brads. I stamped the "you're a star" sentiment, made by combining two sentiments from the Icon Extras stamp set, on a strip of Kraft Like a Rockstar Tan cardstock and attached it directly to the cardfront.

Materials Used:
Mini Circles and Icon Extras stamp sets, A Clean Slate ink, A Clean Slate and Kraft Like a Rockstar Tan cardstock (Clear and Simple Stamps); silver star brads (Target)

A Pocketful of Thanks

Here's my card for this week's SCS featured stamper challenge. As soon as I saw this card with a pocket as a focal image, I knew I could recreate my own version using the A Pocketful set from WPlus9.

I kept the layout pretty much the same. I stamped one of the set's pocket images on blue cardstock in blue ink and cut it out, then set it over a patterned paper strip that I had attached to a coordinating scallop edged layer. The set's leaf and flower images are stamped so that they peek out from the top of the pocket piece. For some dimension and shine, I dotted the center of each flower with some Liquid Pearls.

Instead of stamping the sentiment on a small scallop edged panel, I stamped it on a small strip of pink cardstock to match the card base. I set the edge of the strip flush with the edge of the white panel, then set the panel on the pink card base. Totally cute and easy to put together. I really should use this stamp set more often . . .

Materials Used:
A Pocketful stamp set (WPlus9); Memento Tuxedo Black and Rose Bud inks (Tsukineko); Blue Bayou Classic ink, Blue Bayou and Melon Mambo cardstock, scallop edge punch (Stampin' Up!); Simply Chartreuse ink, Simply Chartreuse cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Lime Twist-Happy Go Lucky designer paper (My Mind's Eye); Petal Pink Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

Hello

Here’s my card for the current Paper Smooches inspiration challenge. The inspiration piece featured a decorative wall hanging with a floral wreath. Since I don’t have any Paper Smooches sets with floral images in them, I had to go in a different direction for my project.

Instead of going with florals, I went with the idea of a wall hanging and tried to mimic that on my card. I used a piece of kraft cardstock, threaded with a simple wooden toothpick, to make the hanging element and built a simple scene on the panel.

I stamped the bird and branch from the Hang Ups set at the bottom of the panel. The branch is colored with Copic markers. I stamped the bird a second time on a scrap of white cardstock and cut it out, then covered it with white flock for a fluffy look. It’s attached to the branch with a dimensional dot. Once it was set in place, I coated its eye with Glossy Accents so it would stand out a bit from the rest of the bird. The “hello” sentiment from the Word Salad set is stamped just below the branch. I added a pair of white felt clouds to the edge of the kraft panel to fill in some of the empty space. The decorated panel’s layered on a cream mat, then on a kraft card base.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Paper Smooches Hang Ups and Word Salad stamp sets, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Copic markers (E25, YR12, YR15), Stampendous white flock, Ranger Glossy Accents, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); CutUps Cloud Border die (The Cat’s Pajamas); white felt; wood toothpicks

March Waltzingmouse Blog Party

The theme for this month’s Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party is St. Patrick’s Day/green/Irish. I don’t have any WMS images that are a natural fit for this theme in my collection, so I used a few stamps in non-traditional ways to create something that would fit the theme in a somewhat traditional sense.

I made my own shamrock from a trio of heart shapes punched from green cardstock. Each heart is stamped with one of the gingham images from the Gingham & Co. background stamp set, then scored at the center. Because I stamped the pattern in pretty much the same color ink as the paper, it's hard to see in the photo, but I promise, it's there! After arranging the trio on a white panel on top of a hand cut stem, I used my sewing machine to stitch along the scored line on each heart, then folded the hearts up and away from the white panel for dimension.

Just like with my image, I improvised a bit with the sentiment. I did a little creative stamping with the “so clucky to have you sentiment” from the Lil’ Buddies set, inking it in green and omitting the “c” in “clucky” to change the wording to “so lucky to have you.” I tied a matching piece of green twill ribbon around the panel, just under the sentiment, then attached it to a green mat. The piece is layered on a lighter green card base in keeping with the green theme. Not too bad for not having any St. Patrick's Day or Irish stamps, at least in my non-Irish eyes!

Materials Used:
Gingham & Co. and Lil’ Buddies stamp sets (Waltzingmouse Stamps); Memento Pear Tart ink (Tsukineko); Simply Chartreuse and Spring Moss cardstock (Papertrey Ink); heart punch (EK Success); olive twill (Stampin’ Up!); sewing machine

I'm Lucky

Here’s my card for for this week’s My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club sketch challenge. I couldn’t let St. Patrick’s Day pass without using my Pure Innocence 4-Leaf Clover set—and polishing my toenails a festive lime green in honor of the celebration, too!

The clover-toting girlie serves as the focal image on a simple scene made with a dot-embossed aqua panel and some border punched green grass. Usually when I used a dot-embossed panel for a background, I keep the raised side facing up, but today, I switched things up a bit and used the debossed side instead.

I used both sides of a piece of patterned paper for the two large panels on the cardfront. Each panel is layered on a green mat, then machine stitched around the edges. After arranging them on the cardfront, I added the image panel on the top. The set’s “I’m lucky you’re my friend” sentiment on a light green notch-edged strip. Adhering the colored image with a little foam tape let me place the sentiment a little farther over on the panel so that it doesn’t hang too far over the right edge of the card. And, speaking of panels, as I'm looking at the photo, it seems the panels are somewhat askew, but IRL, panels on the card are straighter than they appear in my photo . . .

Materials Used:
Pure Innocence 4-Leaf Clover stamp set (My Favorite Things); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Aqua Mist, Simply Chartreuse, and Spring Moss cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Lime Twist-Life of the Party "Be You" Bloom designer paper (My Mind’s Eye); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); grass border punch (Martha Stewart); sewing machine; foam tape

Blogger Challenge: Week 247

This week’s blogger challenge theme is birthdays. I combined the challenge with this week’s Our Craft Lounge challenge’s “pretty petals” theme and this week’s Mojo Monday sketch to come up with a soft and feminine birthday card. And, since the OCL design team is showing off May Arts ribbon this week, I included some of that, too--be sure to read on to the end of the post for details on how to win some May Arts ribbon for yourself . . .

I used a floral image from the Pretty Petals set as my focal image. I stamped the set’s stem image twice and used foam tape to add the colored flowers at the top of each stem. The “happy birthday” sentiment from the Say it with Flowers set is stamped next to the flowers in a soft green ink and accented with a trio of tiny pearls.

I used a piece of pastel striped paper for the panel at the bottom of the cardfront. It’s attached directly to the pink card base. A piece of celery cardstock runs across the top of the patterned paper panel and the image panel is attached over that. As a finishing touch, I tied a piece of pale pink wrinkled ribbon from May Arts around the card.

For more birthday themed ideas, check out the link list below (list will be added in the morning). And, if you’d like to join the challenge, add a direct link to your new birthday themed project below.

And, as promised, here's the info on how you can win some May Arts ribbon for yourself. May Arts sent us lots of YUMMY ribbon to share with all of you so OCL has 5 prize packages to give away this week. You have lots of ways to enter EVERY SINGLE DAY this week + one BONUS entry!

Daily leave 1 comment on each…

1. the OCL Blog (please leave contact info),
2. each designer’s blog playing along that day, and
3. the OCL Facebook page.

BONUS ENTRY: If you “LIKE” OCL on Facebook, you’ll get a bonus entry (as long as you tell us you did it) ~ if you've already "liked" OCL, let us know that too!

We will pick 5 random comments this weekend and our winners will be announced on the OCL blog on Tuesday, March 20th.



Materials Used:
Pretty Petals and Say it with Flowers stamp set (Our Craft Lounge); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Memento Tuxedo Black and Pear Tart inks (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Blushing Bride, Certainly Celery, and Bashful Blue cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Fair Day 6x6 paper pad (SEI); pink wrinkled ribbon (May Arts); self-adhesive pearls (Recollections); foam tape

Clean, Simple, and Cute as a Button

Clear and Simple Stamps is sponsoring this week’s CAS-ual Fridays challenge and it’s a good one! This week’s challenge is a recipe challenge—1 pattern or background, 1 image, and 1 sentiment. Here’s my simple and sweet baby card for the challenge.

I used the button background builder from one of CSS’s new background sets, Playroom, to make a patterned panel for my card. I stamped the button image repeatedly in pink ink on a white background, then rubbed a little pink distress ink around the edges for a soft look. After attaching a solid pink strip to the bottom of the panel and layering it on a gray mat, I attached a piece of A Blanc Check satin ribbon to the panel, wrapping one end of the ribbon around the panel and leaving one end of the ribbon so it extends off of the panel.

The focal image is a girly pink baby onesie, die cut with the Tiny Fashions die set and stamped with the matching image from the coordinating Tiny Fashions stamp set. I used foam tape to set the onesie on the background panel, then stamped the “cute as a button” sentiment from the Baby Sentiments stamp set directly on the ribbon in gray ink.

Be sure to check out the CAS-ual Fridays blog for all the challenge details and for some fabulous inspiration to get you started on the challenge.

Materials Used:
Tiny Fashions, Playroom, and Baby Sentiments stamp sets, You're Such a Gray-cious Host and I'm a Princess Pink inks, You're Such a Gray-cious Host, I'm a Princess Pink, and A Blanc Check cardstock, Tiny Fashions die, A Blanc Check satin ribbon (Clear and Simple Stamps); Spun Sugar distress ink (Ranger); foam tape

TCPTuesday 201-Birthday Balloon

This week’s TCP Tuesday challenge is an inspiration challenge. Check out the inspiration board that Jen’s created—love the cool blues and greens, and the yummy looking cupcake, too!

I took my inspiration from the chevron pattern and from the bow tie to make this fun birthday card using Jen’s March Sketch for You to Try and one of the clown penguins from the Clownin’ Around set. I stamped the tie-wearing, balloon-toting penguin on a white panel, then colored the image with Copic markers. The balloon’s covered with Glossy Accents for a shiny look.

I found some green chevron patterned paper in my collection to use for the panel at the bottom of the card. The chevron paper and image panel are matted on pale green panels, then set on the light blue card base. I attached a dark blue cardstock strip along the left side of the card and layered a piece of lighter blue grosgrain ribbon over that for some texture. A green button, tied with matching baker’s twine, anchors the end of the ribbon strip. For the sentiment, I stamped “happy birthday” from the versatile A Beary Good Year set on a circular panel and layered that over the blue strip and the top edge of the image panel.

I hope you’ll play along with us for this week’s inspiration challenge. And, don’t forget to link up your version of the sketch to the guestbook album on Alma’s blog for a chance to win this week’s Cat Cash prize. Did you see her announcement the other day about a release coming up in April? That Cat Cash would come in handy just about now, wouldn't it??

Materials Used:
Clownin’ Around and A Beary Good Year stamp sets, Neenah white cardstock, Versafine black ink, Divine Twine green baker’s twine (The Cat’s Pajamas); Memento Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko); markers (Copic); Bashful Blue and Pacific Point cardstock, Marina Mist grosgrain ribbon (Stampin’ Up!); Crème de Menthe cardstock (Gina K Designs); Lime Twist-Life of the Party “Happy Day” Argyle designer paper (My Mind’s Eye); circle punches (EK Success); Glossy Accents (Ranger); button

Ain't No Sunshine

The colors in the current Market Street Stamps Paint the Town challenge had me stumped at first. After some thought, I finally came up with this simple design using the Ain’t No Sunshine set for my focal panel along with a few of Market Street’s fabulous background stamps.

I made a simple scene using the set’s cloud, sun, and raindrop images. The cloud was stamped on a soft gray cardstock, then stamped with the Bit of Burlap background stamp, inked in London Fog ink and stamped off once for a faded look. The teal background panel was stamped with the Pretty Perfect Grid background stamp, inked in Bahama Blue and also stamped off once. I stamped the sun image at the top of the panel and paper pieced its center with a scrap of buttercream gingham patterned paper before setting the cloud over it with dimensional dots. Some raindrops are stamped beneath the cloud in navy blue ink—they show up pretty well against the teal backdrop.

I set the teal panel on a pale yellow card base, placing the bottom flush with the card’s bottom edge. The set’s “ain’t no sunshine” sentiment is stamped on a navy strip in white ink. I added a piece of creamy ruffle-edged trim along the bottom of the strip and a pair of silver brads before setting it in place on the cardfront.

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Market Street Stamps Bit of Burlap and Pretty Perfect Grid background stamps, Tsukineko Memento London Fog, Paris Dusk, Tuxedo Black and Bahama Blue inks, My Mind’s Eye Six by Six Blink of an Eye 6x6 paper pad, Maya Road cream ruffle edge trim, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

other: Ain’t No Sunshine stamp set (Market Street Stamps); Barely Banana, Taken with Teal, and Night of Navy cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Fresh Snow ink, Soft Stone cardstock (Papertrey Ink); silver brads (Recollections)