Paper-Pieced Baby Cards for Less Is More

Hello, friends!  I stole a few minutes today to make two cards for the current Less Is More Week 73 Recipe Challenge to use "Paper Piecing."  I love using up scraps of patterned paper for paper-piecing images, and the two baby cards I made were quick and easy.  (I actually have a stash of pre-cut paper-pieced images that I work on when I have some down time and pull out when I need a quick card.  I store them in the slots of a small 4x6 photo album!)

My first card is a clean and simple one-layer card using a paper-pieced, popped-up duck image from Sandylion.  The sentiment is Paper Smooches, while the wavy line is from Limited Edition Rubber Stamps.  I added a tiny black gem to the eye, and voila!

Side Note:  A finishing touch I always like to do when paper-piecing is to go over the edge of the image with the side of a black marker...see here?  It just makes it look more "finished."

My second one-layer CAS card on kraft uses a free digital sentiment from Kim Hughes along with a paper-pieced bunny from the same Sandylion set; the little flower gem is Hero Arts.

This image on this card is not popped up, but I added some shading with a grey Copic marker around the bottom and side edges for some dimension. 

I have missed playing at the Less Is More blog for the past few months...they always have such wonderful challenges and entries.  Chrissy and Mandi are such wonderful sources of inspiration, too.  Mandi's birthday cards and Chrissie's birds and balloons this week are perfect examples of paper-piecing at its finest...be sure to check them out!

Have a great day, everyone! 
Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Duck Tape or Duct Tape?

Hello friends!  While technically school and work have ended, I seem to be working harder and running more than ever!  WHEN, oh WHEN, will I get to play again?!?!  Sigh.

All I know is that, while I feverishly try to put away uniforms and school folders and supplies and chauffeur the kids to their respective practices and camps, I am surrounded by duct tape.  Or duck tape?  I guess it depends who you talk to! 

What am I talking about?  Here's a clue...and if you have children you may already know what I'm getting at here...

This shoe box holds my 12-year-old daughter's growing collection of "Duck Tape" brand duct tape!  She and my other children love to make various items out of this stuff...I have more wallets than I know what to do with!  My son has even covered his wiffel ball bat with the stuff.  (They search YouTube for instructional videos and off they go!  Even the local craft stores have whole aisles dedicated to this stuff now...who knew?)

So, of course, being the crafty mom that I am, I decided I needed a few rolls, especially when I saw pretty chevrons and paisley patterns!  (I may not have washi tape, but I now have designer duct tape!)

So, the next logical step was to make CARDS using this tape.  (But of course!) Here's what I came up with...more cards for my kids to give their friends at the ongoing summer birthday parties they keep getting invited to attend!  I used several Hero Arts favorites to pull them all together.

This card uses the pretty paisley tape, which I trimmed like a banner and then dry embossed the whole card front.

Next up, two cards using bright colors that compliment the chevron stripes...I love this tape the most!

I guess I'll need a shoe box for my duct tape collection.  (Never thought I'd blog those words...but then again, I never thought I'd blog, either!)

Well, that's it for today...maybe things will slow down in July and I can get back into regular blogging.  Let's hope!

Take good care,
Judy

How Many Birthday Cards?

Wow...I can't believe I'm back again with another card share!  We are in the home stretch of activities and school now, with most events finishing on Friday.  I can see the light!  (Can you hear the Hallelujah Chorus ringing in the background?  I can!)

I was able to crank out a few much needed birthday cards the other day -- would you believe my kids had 4 birthday parties to go to this past weekend?  I need a second job to afford all these gifts!  Here are the quick cards I came up with...let me know if you need details, I'm happy to share!

It felt so good to get a little inky once again...I can't wait until summer vacation, my friends!
Until then, take good care!
Judy

A Quick Share

Hello, friends!  I'm stealing a few minutes from my hectic day to share two cards I was able to make quickly this past weekend.  I'm not entering them anywhere, not even sure what contests are even going on right now...just wanted to share.  I was playing with some goodies on my desk (embossing folders, pearls, butterflies) and came up with these two cards:

 All stamps are Hero Arts...my favorite!

I hope you are all doing well...I miss everyone (and your blogs) and hope to be back in a few weeks when school/work/sports/extracurriculars come to an end.  Wish me luck...we're in the home stretch now!

Until then, take good care!
Judy