Untraditional Valentine

This card was a stretch for me.  I used the Viva la Verve's January week 4 sketch, which I saw a ton of possibilities in, but the challenge was to do a clean and simple (CAS) card.  I've never done a card that I would consider CAS, so this was a first for me.  I also combined it with The Ribbon Carousel's RCC37 Non-Traditional Colors with Suzanne.  This too was a challenge for me, I originally was going to to a card with yellow and gray, but I couldn't find the grayish silver pleated ribbon in my stash.  It was driving me insane, but while I was looking, I stumbled upon the plum colored pleated ribbon (which I love).  Here's the sketch:

I hope I didn't make to to simple.  At the last minute, I added the tone on tone flourish in the upper left corner.  That helped.  As my brother would say, it's kind of like mold, it grows on you after a while (meaning the card). 

Supplies used:
Stamps:  Hearthrob - Close to My Heart
Cardstock:  Sunkiss Yellow, white daisy - CTMH
Ink:  Sunkiss Yellow, Pansy Purple - CTMH
Ribbon: May Arts

Makayla's Birthday

My niece is going to be celebrating her 7th Birthday in a few days.  She is very much a girly girl, so I knew I wanted to make her something with alot of sparkle and purple - her current favorite color.  I used the Mojo Monday sketch #225, my linear brain loves the straight lines of it. 

I did change it a bit as I needed to fit Anya on the card. 

Supplies used:
Stamps:  Lolli Anya - the Greeting Farm; Happy Birthday - Close to My Heart
Cardstock:  Purple Glitter - DCWV; Garden Green - CTMH; White - Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper - Piggy Tales
Ink:  Tuxedo Memento Black
Diamond Stickles - Ranger
Copic Markers: E04, R37, Y21, E00, V06, V17, BV00
Bling Assortment, Waxy Floss - CTMH
Plum Pleated Ribbon - May Arts

Make it Pink

My 4 year old niece came over to play this past weekend.  I was working on some cards in my craft room when she came in and asked if I would make her a special card.  I started to ask her if she wanted a crown or a princess - a crown was her choice.  I asked her what color she wanted it - pink.  I was also to make it sparkle.  I used the fabulous Viva la Verve January week 3 sketch.

I changed it a bit, mostly because I sketched it out on a piece of paper instead of printing it.  Opps...I did purposely change the heart.  I was originally thinking about making a Valentine's day card, until my niece came to see me with her big blue eyes.  Cute girl.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Adoration - Close to My Heart (CTMH), fairy tales do come true - Stamping Bella
Paper:  Day Dream - CTMH
Ink:  Blush, Black - CTMH
Ribbon - Maya Rd.  Lace tape - decollections
Diamond Stickles - Ranger
Scallop circle punch, Elegant Lines embossing folder - Stampin' Up!
Fleur de Lis Squares - Spellbinders
Sparkles, Prisma Glitter - CTMH

Dance

I was excited to play along with the Ribbon Carousel Challenge this week.  We were to create a card from a sketch. 

Usually I struggle with how to layer ribbon (if I decide to layer it), but today was fun because the ribbon just about layered itself. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Beautiful You - Verve
Ink:  Smokey Plum - Close to My Heart
Paper:  Bella - CTMH, Kraft - Stampin' Up!
Ribbon: Gathered Tulle - Maya Rd., Velvet - American Crafts, Plastic Rhinestone - Unknown spool from local scrapbooking store (the owner and I inspected it, and came to this conclusion)
Tools: Labels 1, Fleur de Lis Squared - Spellbinders

Owl Be Yours

I've been challenging myself lately to use up things that I've been either hoarding (because they are to pretty to use) or have never used (because...I don't really know why).  So when I went into my craft room to create a card for the Mojo Monday 224 sketch challenge, I purposely picked out a stamp set that I haven't used, along with using some ribbon and bling that I've been hoarding.  I had alot of fun doing it this way, for some reason it was refreshing.  Here's the Mojo Monday sketch:

I stretched it a touch by using the heart doily in place of the dark gray panel, but it was sitting right next to me in my 5 year old's supply box and it seemed appropriate for a Valentine's card.  So I shamelessly swiped it.  I combined this card with the ribbon reel challenge challenge # 19, pink polka dot's.  We were to use the inspiration photo, along with polka dots, pink, and ribbon/twine.

I used some paper that I had yet to crack open, and I love the pink pom pom ribbon.  It wasn't until after I made my card and reviewed the inspiration photo that I noticed the owl.  I paper pieced mine - mostly because I don't like to color, I was always envious of those kids in grade school who could color so beautifully.  I also thought it would add a touch of whimsy to the card. 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Gift Givers - Stampin' Up!
Paper:  Sweetheart - Close to My Heart
Ink:  Tuxedo Memento Black
Watercolor Pencils - Close to My Heart
Stickles:  Cotton Candy, Pink - Ranger
Cherry Blossom - Wild Orchid Crafts
Pom Pom Ribbon - Close to My Heart
Fleur de Lis Squares - Spellbinders
Crystal Flourish - Multicraft Imports
Heart Doily - Target (dollar section)

A Mistake

I created this card for the Viva La Verve January Week 1 challenge at Split Coast Stampers.  As I was posting it, I realized how appropriate the sentiment was on the card.  This card was one of those that what I had pictured in my head wasn't what was created in paper.  However, I did have fun playing with a technique (embedded embossing) and using some things in my craft room that are under used.  And the ribbon, oh that ribbon, I love it.  It's one of those items that I can't bring myself to use because I'm hoarding it, I'm afraid to use it up and not have any more.  Which is silly of me because there are so many other pretty ribbons out there that I'm sure I could find something else to take it's place in my stash.  Enough of my meandering words, here's the sketch (which I love):

I envisioned embedded embossing on the green panel and using a ribbon for the blue panel, which I did for both.  That's where what I envisioned and what was produced parted ways.  I challenged myself to use some neglected items (like this embossing folder) on the card.  I think the colors are what I'm surprised with, that and I used mostly cardstock.  I love, love, love patterned paper and I only used one little piece.

Supplies:
Stampset:  Blue Skies - Verve
Patterned paper - K&Co.
Cardstock:  Twilight, Sweet Leaf, Colonial White, Bamboo - CTMH; Kraft - SU!
Ink - Twilight - CTMH
Ribbon - Maya Rd.
Pearl Opaques - CTMH
Tools:  D'vine Swirl - Provo Craft, Scalloped Circle Punch - SU!; Circle Die - Spellbinders

Best Wishes Wedding Card

I completed another Mojo Monday challenge.  We have a wedding coming up, so this card will be given with their gift.  Here's the sketch:

When I saw the circles, I knew this sketch would be perfect for a wedding card.  The invitation was a chocolate color, so I based the card off of it.  I do wish I would have matted the two panels of patterned paper with a lighter colored cardstock.  After I stamped the hearts and cut them out, I covered them in Prisma Glitter and popped them up with foam tape.  It's hard to see in the picture, but the glitter is the cause of the glare. 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Savvy Sayings - The Angel Company; Soul Mates - Close to My Heart (CTMH)
Ink:  Chocolate and Pacifica - CTMH
Paper:  Magnifique - CTMH
Tools:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - Stampin' Up!; Labels 8 - Spellbinders
Embellishments:  Velvet ribbon - American Crafts; Mocha Opaques and Prisma Glitter - CTMH
 

Mojo Monday 222

I'm excited to start a new year of challenges.  To kick off 2012, I'm starting with Mojo Monday 222 sketch challenge. 

I love this sketch, I used it to create a 2nd birthday card for my sweet daughter Nicole.  I used some fluffy ribbon from Close to My Heart that I decided needed to be tamed a bit, so I used some ribbon slides to tame the fluff. 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Princess - Imaginisce; Happy Birthday - Close to My Heart (CTMH)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:  Sophia Level 2 - CTMH
Markers: Copic - E00, E02, W0, RV11, R20, R29, Y21
Die Cuts - Standard Small Circles, Petite Scalloped Circles - Spellbinders, Scribbles Swirls - Sizzix
Embellishments: cherry blossom and ribbon slides - Wild Orchid Crafts; red, pink, purple assortment sparkles, ribbon - CTMH; cotton candy and diamond stickles - Ranger