It's a Banner Birthday!

Hello friends!  I have a card to share that I made for the current CAS-ual Fridays Challenge.  Would you believe this is my first ever "banner" card?  (Yes, hexagons are not the only party I am late attending!)

 

 

So, I don't have any banner stamps, nor do I have any banner dies.  Yes, I thought about cutting some out by hand, but the mojo was lacking.  SO...I took out my 6x6 patterned paper pads and, lo and behold, I found THIS one!  A whole page of flags/banners from My Mind's Eye...yippee!  Here are the two papers I used.



My card is pretty self-explanatory...a little fussy cutting, some white embossing (with a great new Papertrey Ink Think Big sentiment), some Liquid Pears, twine, and a button.  Voila!

So, there you have it, my first ever banner/flag card!  (Thank heavens for patterned papers!)

(For those of you following the "purple paint" project, we have had some drama...shocking, I'm sure...but the girls can't agree on the right shade of purple, so we are now changing our tune.  We did, however, purchase a rug whose color name still has me in shock..."Grape Soda."  Wish us luck...it is going to be a dramatic process all the way!)

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

PDCC#146 - Happy Birthday with a Splash of Lime

Hello friends!  Yes, that's right, its a birthday card with a splash of LIME ...not a lick of kraft on it!  Today I'm playing along with the color splash challenge at the Play Date Cafe to make a card with Black...White...and a 'Splash' of Lime.

Now I admit, I don't own ANY lime ink, nor do I think I will in the near future.  As great as it looks with black and white, I don't find myself reaching for it when I make cards.  However, I do have lots of lime green patterned papers from the My Mind's Eye "Lime Twist" collection, and I'm always happy to use my papers!

I decided to make two clean and simple variations of my card using the sentiment from Papertrey Ink Think Big Favorites #14 along with their Happy Hexagons Mini Stamp Set and coordinating die.

Version one -- clean and simple, no dry embossing, just added some gems.

 

The second version has a bit more green (the sentiment was stamped with Hero Arts Grass chalk ink) and I added some dry embossing, too.  (I am SO happy I got this embossing folder...Lin knows how long I have admired her work with it!)

I am hoping this card also fits the bill for the Repetition Challenge in the Moxie Fab World as I repeated the black hexagon shape (whether or not is is filled with color). 

I HAVE to get my hands on this issue...do you have it yet?

 

 

I hope your day is going well.  My DH is now off for a week and we have big plans for house projects in the days to come...my daughters want to paint their bedroom purple and we have agreed...gulp!  (I really would hate to hear them sitting around the Thanksgiving dinner table in about 20 years saying how they "always wanted a purple room but were never allowed to have it."  Hey, its only paint, right?)  Wish us luck!

 

Take care,

Judy

Another Krafty Birthday Card?

Hello friends!  Yes, I am becoming quite predictable these days...I am back with yet another kraft birthday card using all Hero Arts stamps!  (My stash is growing quite nicely, thank you!)  You guessed it, I am entering this in the current krafty challenge at A Blog Named Hero. 

 

I followed one of the Hero Arts sketches for the August Challenge when I planned this card layout.  I stamped the Dots and Flowers background using Walnut Stain distress ink and added black enamel dots all over.  I used a border punch across the bottom so the black grosgrain ribbon would show through.  I stamped the sentiment on the label, then I cut off the left side of the die cut label and stapled it to the edge of the card.  (Did you notice that I went a bit wild and stapled one on an angle?  I'm livin' on the wild side, I tell ya!)

Here is a close-up of the grosgrain ribbon on the inside of the card...

I think this will be it for Hero Arts/kraft/birthday cards for a while.  Thanks for you patience and support!

Have a great day,
Judy

More Birthday Wishes on Kraft

Hello, friends!  I have another card today that I made with several challenges in mind...be sure to go check them out!

** A Blog Named Hero - "The Krafty Krafter"
** Hero Arts August Challenge
** The Focal Point Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

Hero Arts Stamps Used:

Wild Flowers, Envelope Pattern, Clear Design: Birthday Messages

I think the card is pretty self-explanatory...leave me a comment if you have any questions.  I am really enjoying kraft as I try to add to my stash of birthday cards appropriate for males...I always seem to need them! 

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Mint Green Happy Birthday

Hello friends!  I'm stopping by today with a mint green one-layer card I made for several challenges:

First challenge:  The clean and simple August challenge at Hero Arts using the sketch seen at bottom right.  My card is clean and simple and follows the sketch, too.  There are always great cards in the Flickr group at Hero Arts...play along if you can, everyone is so welcoming and friendly over there!

Second challenge:  The CASology Challenge for Week #7 using the cue word "Green."  I am so happy that I have been able to play along with every challenge so far...I am LOVING this challenge site!  There is so much inspiration each week if you like clean and simple designs.

Third Challenge:  The Minty Fresh Challenge in the Moxie Fab World; there are some really cool, minty cards over there, you should definitely check it out!

I also think it fits the Focal Point Challenge in the Moxie Fab World so I will enter it there, too.  (I think it will be clear what the focal point of my card is when you see it!)  That's the fourth challenge.


So, my card involved mint green card stock, black ink, green distress ink, three stamps, one gem, and some masking.  I used all Hero Arts stamps...my favorite!

Stamps Used:

Hero Arts: Congrats, Friend Definition, Clear Design: Birthday Messages

I am so excited that yesterday was a particularly crafty day...I was able to make several cards for several different challenges and hope to post them in the next day or two.  (My kids were in on the act, too!)  We are still trying to squeak out as much fun in this summer vacation as we can before school resumes! 

 Thanks for stopping by!
 Judy

ABNH #10: A Krafty Birthday

Hello, friends! 

Today I'd like to share a card I made for the current challenge at A Blog Named Hero to make a card incorporating kraft.

I have several ideas floating around in my head but not a whole lot of time to play.  So, I went for a quick and easy card using all Hero Arts stamps. 

I embossed the Stripes and Frame with green embossing powder, stamped the Envelope Pattern with Walnut Stain distress ink, then cut out with a Spellbinders Nestabilities die.  I added the sentiment (from Clear Design Birthday Messages) using a pine green Marvy marker, then mounted it on a larger die cut green cardstock and added green pearls on each edge of the label. 

I took another picture at an angle to show the shine of the green embossed stripes...see it here?

Since my card is a clean and simple design, I'm also going to enter it over at Hero Arts monthly challenge.

I hope I can find some more time to play with kraft...I have been so inspired by the entries so far!  Be sure to check out the current challenge if you get a chance.

Have a great Sunday!
Judy 

Thanks, Teacher

Hello friends!  My card today is for the current CASology challenge to make a card using the cue word s....   s......  S......   SCHOOL.  (There, I said it.)

While I know the "s" word is coming soon (luckily not until after Labor Day where we live), I am in no rush for its arrival.  I am enjoying these long summer days and always hate to see them come to an end.  (I also hate to see the darkness after dinner arrive earlier and earlier, but that's another story.) 

Despite my desire to hang on to summer as long as possible, I honestly didn't mind making this teacher card.  We always try to let our teachers know how much we appreciate them, so this card has given me a jump start for this coming year.  (With two kids in elementary school and two in middle school, we need a lot of cards!)

I printed the free digi sentiment (designed by Kim Hughes) directly onto kraft cardstock, then stamped the Impression Obsession Gingham background using Hero Arts Soft Wheat shadow ink.  The apple is actually part of the sentiment, so I colored it in with a red marker and added Glossy Accents to give it a nice "apple shine."  Such a quick and easy card to make!

(Side bar: I don't know about you, but I love the free sentiments available at the Paper Crafts Magazine website.  There are some gems there, be sure to check them out and scroll through the older issues, too.) 

OK, enough of school talk...back to summer!  Thanks for stopping by, I really do appreciate it. 
Have a good one!
Judy

God Bless!

Hello friends!  I was playing with some new Nesties I bought the other day on sale at the local craft store (the "Big Scalloped Squares") and I am hoping I can use this card as a square card for the current challenge at CAS-ual Fridays. 

I was inspired by the current challenge at Less Is More to make a one layer card featuring fur or feathers.  Fun!  I thought of this sweet little furry fella (a Suzy's Zoo stamp from Rubber Stampede), embossed him, and colored him in with Copic markers.  Super simple!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Sending Warm Wishes - PCCC144, CFC65

Hello friends!  Today's card was made with three challenges in mind.

First challenge -- the current CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 65 to make a clean and simple square shaped card.

Second challenge -- the current Play Date Cafe Challenge #144 to use the colors Pink Carnation, Orange Sherbet and Lemonade. 

Finally, I used all Hero Arts stamps and made a clean and simple card, which fits the Hero Arts Monthly Challenge for August.

To start, I cut down a standard white card to a 4" square.  I inked up the older Hero Arts Shadow Stamp "Large Background" using Wild Honey (for yellow) and Spiced Marmalade (for orange) distress inks.  Before stamping, I spritzed generously with water.  After stamping the background I set it with my heat gun, then masked it with post-its.  I then inked up a section of my Hero Arts Silhouette Grass with Punch chalk ink and stamped. 

After removing the masks I was left with this...I wish the pink was a little "pinker," but it is what it is...

Finally, I stamped the sentiment from the Hero Arts All Occasion Messages set using Punch chalk ink and die cut it using a Spellbinders label die.  (The yellow and orange together made me think warm, which is how I chose the sentiment!)  While still in the die, I sponge inked the edges using Wild Honey distress ink again, then mounted it on the card with pop dots. 

I can't believe that the closing ceremonies of the Summer Olympics are today...what am I going to watch on TV at night now?

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!

Judy

Have I Toad You Lately?

Hello friends!  I'm back today with another one layer card for the challenges at Less Is More and CASology.  This long and lean card is made from a left-over section of a larger card I cut down...I thought it would be perfect to sneak into my DH's lunch bag!

I inked the sentiment using markers so I could make "love" red.  I colored in the frog with Copic markers and highlighted underneath with blue for a watery effect.  All stamps are from a Stampin' Up! set called "Unfrogettable."

Thanks for stopping by...I really appreciate it! 

Now I'm off to watch the final Olympic women's soccer match (USA vs. Japan)...so far the USA is up by two...such amazing soccer!

Smile, Crocodile!

Hello friends!  I am here today with a card I made for several challenges. (This rarely happens for me, that one card idea fits several challenges.  However, the stars aligned...and it happened!)

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

** Less Is More -- Week 79 Color Challenge using Blue and Green
** CASology -- Week #5 Cue word: POND
** Hero Arts -- Monthly Challenge - August - "Clean and Simple Style" stamping
** A Blog Named Hero -- Challenge #9 - Freestyle

And one more link for you -- this card will be going to this great cause HERE.

So, now to my card.  I wanted to make a clean and simple one-layer card using some of my favorite Hero Arts (Playful Animals) stamps for Maddie to bring her some smiles.  I thought of this crocodile, used blue and green, and thought it fit the "pond" theme rather nicely, too!

I had these two-toned cards (white on top, blue on the bottom) and stamped the crocodile in black ink, then colored him in with a green Copic marker.  I added blue highlights around the bottom edge for a "wet" effect.  I am really happy with how he turned out...quick and easy and cute, too!

I'll have another card to share tomorrow...similar colors but different theme.  No time to blog any more tonight...have to finish some digital yearbook pages for my kids' school yearbook AND catch some more Olympics on TV! 

Have a good one,
Judy

You Make Me Smile

Hello friends!  I'm here today to share a card that I made for the current Hero Arts August challenge to use clean and simple style stamping...my favorite type!

Since it is "freestyle" week at A Blog Named Hero, I'll be entering this card there, too. 

My card uses three Hero Arts stamps on a Hero Arts notecard.  I first stamped the Flower Wallpaper background in Soft Sage shadow ink.  On a separate paper, I embossed the doll from the Four Dolls set in black, colored with Copic markers, and cut out.  I added the sentiment to a Spellbinders die cut label that I inked with Soft Lilac shadow ink.  I also added a border-punched patterned paper and rounded the corners.  The flower gem in her hair was the final touch!

These doll images do make me smile.  They are fun to color and fussy cut!

Thanks again for stopping by...I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to visit.

Have a great day!
Judy

Mary's Card (age 12) - Happy Birthday...why, Thank You!

Hello friends, I'm back again with another card to share on my daughter's behalf.  This time I have a card made by my 12-year-old daughter Mary.  She is entering this in the current Simon Says Stamp Children's Summer Holiday Challenge and is so excited to be able to play along!

Mary used all Hero Arts stamps for her card.  She used the Clouds background (turned sideways and stamped twice to fit her card!)  She stamped the girls from the Sweet Wonderful You set and colored them with colored pencils.  The word bubbles are from the Write Your Message set, while the cake and the "Happy Birthday" are part of the Birthday Messages set and the "thank you" is from the older Small Greetings Stencil Prints set.  The grass is colored with colored pencils.

Thanks for stopping by...Mary appreciates it!
Have a great day,
Judy

Claire's Card (age 10) - Be Kind Be You

Hello friends!  I'm here to share a card my 10-year-old daughter Claire made for the current Simon Says Stamp Children's Summer Holiday Challenge where the theme is ANYTHING GOES!

My two daughters both love to make cards.  That makes me so happy...I love to be able to share a hobby with my kids!  I always love to see their creative thought processes in action...I especially love how they think outside the box!  They do things I would never think to even try. 

My daughters were playing with my Hero Arts Sweet Wonderful You clear set, and they each made a card for their friends.  (I will post Mary's card separately.)

Claire colored her card with colored pencils and added the grass accents with markers. The word bubble is from the Hero Arts Write Your Message set while the sentiment is from the Hero Arts Anytime Messages set. 

I adore these little girl stamps by Hero Arts...they are perfect images for girl cards, and I reach for them all the time.  Funny that my daughters reach for them now, too!

Thanks for stopping by...Claire really appreciates it!
Take care,
Judy

For the Birds

Hello friends!  I'm here today with not one, not two, but THREE cards for the current CASology Challenge following this cue:

I've noticed that all of the winning cards of the past four challenges have been on white card bases...maybe coincidence, I'm not sure.  At any rate, I made two cards on white card bases but another on a blue Hero Arts note card.  (I think I like the blue one best to be honest!)

My first card uses a felt bird I found in a package at Michael's...couldn't wait to use this fella!  Using the Papertrey Ink Wreath for All Seasons stamp set, I stamped the wreath in Walnut Stain distress ink twice, then added the dots in Pool mid-tone ink.  I added light blue Stickles to the wreath for a little sparkle.  Finally, I embossed the sentiment in white and added the bird on a small pop dot. 

Here's a close-up of the felt bird...it came with the gem on the eye and everything!

My next two cards use a white base and a Cuttlebug embossing folder border.  The sentiments on both cards are from the Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler. 

I colored this image with colored pencils and added a small black enamel dot to the eye.

I love these little "Calendar Chicks" from Stampendous!  I colored this "Flower Chick" with colored pencils and added black enamel to the flower centers (see close-up below).

  

I am really loving these clean and simple challenges every week!  Honestly, I'm happy I've been able to make any cards at all this week...I've been staying up WAY too late at night watching the Olympics and I am dog tired in the morning!  (They are worth watching, though...very exciting stuff!)

Have a great day,
Judy