My Sheri Crafts Challenge #156: Birthday Bash

I chose this theme for our challenge @ My Sheri Crafts, asking that you create a birthday card and coordinating envelope. You may either decorate an envelope you already have or create your own -- then stamp, emboss, add a frame for the address, or whatever you think of to 'dress it up' to coordinate with your card and create a 'hint' for the recipient as to what awaits them inside!  ;)

For my first project, I made my DD a card for her birthday, using Spellbinders' Die D-Lites: Asters and Poppies and Frame One, as well as in'spire dies: Birds on a Wire and Celebration (sentiment). Again, no stamping on this card! ;)  I then used the Birds' dies as a decorative cut on my envelope's flap. DD is a florist, so she loves flowers and nature and that's what inspired me to create her card.

My second card was for a 9-year-old's birthday.  She wanted to have a tea party with just a couple friends her age, adult family members/friends. Her gift set had to be special, so I used Spellbinders' Tea Service as well as Nested Tea Cup dies for her card front, the front/flap of her envelope (created with WRMK's Envelope Punch Board) and her gift bag.  A sentiment from JustRite's Birthday Floral Vintage Labels Eight and Nine seemed fitting.  These metallic papers were difficult to capture in a photo, but very pretty IRL! ;)  Think she liked her card/envelope, but it was totally trumped by the handmade tea party-themed Footie Jammies I made for her 18" doll & her friends' dolls!  I had sooo much fun creating her card/envelope/gift bag and sewing jams and other items for the 3 girls -- felt almost like being a 'Grandma'!  ;'}

Hope these inspire you to create a birthday card and coordinating envelope for someone you love and post it @ My Sheri Crafts for us to enjoy too!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #155: Mother's Day

With Mother's Day just around the corner, we're asking you to create "something girly" for this go-round @ My Sheri Crafts!  I'm glad we're able to do something feminine, but not specifically for a Mother.

My inspiration began with a couple Spellbinders' dies today, quickly followed by three MORE Spellbinders' dies and NO stamping -- LOL!  I began by cutting poppies from Asters and Poppies Die D-Lites in Papertrey Ink's Spring Moss, then in Pure Poppy and using a bit of creative cutting to add them for my buds/flowers.  Next up I used Labels Fourteen for my sentiment, cut from Spellbinders' in'spire word die IN-012, and adding Want2Scrap's Labels Fourteen Lime Green gem border.

Then my PTI Vintage Cream card base seemed too plain, so I took my A-2 Fancy Ribbon Threader and did partial cutting twice, first cutting out the top, then reversing to cut the top again for my bottom edge by matching some of my previous cut-outs. To get a perfect border, I then lined up my A2 Matting Basics A die #5 (#1 being the smallest) and cut out the middle.  I'd not done partial die cutting in awhile, but it was just what my card needed today!

I'll be anxious to see your 'girly' creations posted over @ My Sheri Crafts!  ;~)

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #154: April is National Humor Month

In honor of National Humor Month, we'd like to see something funny for your project this go-round @ My Sheri Crafts!
Pondering what to do for this challenge, I recalled a Fiskars' stamp set (Make A Wish Quotes) I'd purchased.  Since I always need birthday cards, it fit my needs perfectly.

I had a punched strip of off-white striped/embossed Bazzill paper sitting on my craft table so I layered two shades of purple CS on solid Bazzill CS that matches my embossed piece.  My JustRite (Birthday Wishes for You) greeting was stamped onto a Spellbinders' Labels Ten die cut and accented with purple sequins.  A simple bow tied with embroidery floss finishes off the front of my card.

Inside I used a larger Labels Ten die for my humorous quote from Lucille Ball -- what woman would ever lie about her age???  Ha-Ha!

Hope to see some humorous inspiration from all of you @ My Sheri Crafts these next two weeks!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #143: Buntings & Banners

Our latest challenge is up @ My Sheri Crafts today asking you to create any card/project featuring any style of buntings or banners -- really fun, I think!


I made a bright and colorful 'celebration' card that I'll likely use for an upcoming birthday.  For my base, I used a striped paper for my BG and small polka dot paper from Echo Park, which I die cut using Spellbinders' A2 Polka Dots.  My sentiment is from Just Rite's Celebrations 'Labels One and Bracket Borders One' and my banner was made using Just Rite's 'Buntings and Banners'.  A sprinkling of sequins sent to me from a dear friend finishes off this CAS card.

Anxiously looking forward to seeing your take on our latest challenge!  ')

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #142: Birthday Celebrations!

Over @ My Sheri Crafts we're celebrating birthdays this time around, so why not get a card or two made ahead for that upcoming birthday and join us!  That's what I did:

First is a CAS feminine card, using My Mind's Eye 'Lost & Found' for my BG strip and at the center of my embellishment.  Spellbinders' Delicate Doilies and Petite Scalloped Circles Large were used to die cut my focal pieces.  My birthday sentiment is from JustRite's Birthday Vintage Labels Four.

I also needed a masculine birthday greeting, so chose to go CAS again, using My Mind's Eye 'On the Bright Side' patterned papers. For my background I chose an orange weathered wood design as I like the roughness and texture it gives a man's card and added it to my white A2 card base.  Next I added rectangles cut with Spellbinders' A2 Matting Basics (as was my BG piece) in textured linen and chevron papers.  For novelty, I offset my die cuts on the left and right and added my birthday greeting to them using foam squares.  Finishing off my card are 3 small metal squares I colored orange with a Copic Marker and a piece of orange twine tied with a simple knot.

I chose a gray envelope for my recipient and used the dark gray linen paper again to line the flap.  Always enjoy doing that when I remember and have time to add this simple finishing touch, so will need to do one for my girly card, but had already taken my photo before thinking of it this time!

Okay, get those birthday cards made and join us over @ My Sheri Crafts this week!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #134: Anything Masculine!

Your challenge this go-round @ My Sheri Crafts is to create anything masculine -- pretty simple, huh?!

I took this opportunity to create what I will likely use for a birthday card -- always NICE to have in advance. I discovered my Distress Inks are dried out after little crafting these last several months -- especially my go-to Antique Linen! Guess now's the time to grab those new 'Minis' I've been wanting!

Used Echo Park's 6"x6" Note to Self line today, along with DCWV textured CS and a center panel of PTI's Fine Linen CS. Three pennants were cut using Spellbinders' Lacey Pennants, as well as a 'sentiment' cut from Note to Self. I then covered a chipboard arrow from my stash in solid red EP paper and finished this very simple card by adding an 'iron' textured corner @ bottom right from WRMK, using their Main Squeeze tool. Don't worry, before I mail it, I'll add distress ink to up the masculine factor -- LOL!!!

Selfishly hoping you'll all join us @ My Sheri Crafts, as I NEED lots more masculine ideas for the men in my life!  ;~)

JustRite Friday Challenge #112: Color Inspiration

New Year, new JR Friday Challenge, new challenge rules and new 'less-is-more' me, as I cut back on crafting to spend more time with family/friends.

Stamps: JustRite Birthday Vintage Labels Four (Clear)

Dies: JustRite Custom JB04300 Vintage Labels Four; Spellbinders' Les Papillions

JustRite Friday Challenge #106: Color Inspiration

Wasn't sure I'd find time this busy week for the JustRite challenge, but I managed in the nick of time to get a card done. Didn't think I even liked it, but my hubby LOVEs it!!!  ;-)  I do think I captured the required colors pretty well?!
I used JustRites' Birthday Vintage Labels Four stamp set, Grand Large Labels die for my purple BG piece, followed by Majestic Labels Twenty-five (green & orange layers) and topped it all off with JustRite's own Vintage Labels Four die cut for my stamped birthday wishes. The elegant BG swirly stamp was stamped in VersaMark & embossed with black embossing powder that contains orange glitter. It doesn't show very well in my photo, but is really striking in person! A2 Bracket Border die cuts in the same orange striped vellum, a big bow and a few purple gems finish it all off.
I know the perfect person to give this card to, who LOVEs purple, always a win-win when you're following a color inspiration challenge!!!  ;-)
EDITED to add:  Still 10 minutes before challenge closes, so I've added a 2nd close-up now of my glittery orange stamp! Okay, 3:54 PM & I'm DONE -- LOL!

Masculine Happy Birthday: Fusion & Moxie Fab Style

Needing a masculine birthday greeting, combining Fusion's #18 sketch (ends 10/02) and Moxie Fab's
Metal, Wood and Cork challenge (ends 10/21) seemed the perfect pairing. My husband really liked the outcome, which is a real bonus!  ;~)
I honestly can't think of much more masculine than metal, wood and cork, so I cut my balsa wood (Michaels) with Spellbinders' Labels Twenty-one and cork from Grand Large Labels. I like their coordinating clipped corners and flipped the sketch sideways, adding my wood piece on the left.
Metal corners (source unknown) were added to my red CS layer. Then using Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets, I cut both Tim Holtz Grungeboard for strength and craft foil, securing them together with metal screws though the holes. I then centered a
Tim Holtz clock face with foam dots over the sprocket. 'Time for a party' was stamped using JustRite's Market Place Alphabet onto Nested Lacey Pennants to complete this card.

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #113: Happy Birthday, America!

Since it's America's Birthday soon, Sarah is asking us @ My Sheri Crafts Challenge to simply create a birthday card -- something we ALWAYS need!!!

I wanted to use lavender for a change, so grabbed my Chalice Silver Royal Metallics paper for my card base, and Spellbinders' Lattice Motifs and the lattice border from A2 Bracket Borders One. I cut/embossed the motif from lavender metallic paper. For the center oval, I chose flat black CS and stamped my sentiment from JustRite's Botanical Medallions & Banners in VersaMark ink, then heat embossed in silver EP from DeNami Design and popped it up with foam tape. I added black CS underneath my lower edge's lattice border. A simple bow from ribbon I've had in my stash forever completes my CAS birthday card!

Can't wait to see your birthday cards for this challenge!!!

Spring All-Occasion Card

My 'old' card group had a get-together this past Saturday wherein we all share a card (or two) and make each others' cards. Mine was based on inspiration from one of Beate's posts on Spellbinders' blog.

Using Spellbinders' A2 Curved Borders One on SEI DP purchased over five years ago (yes, I have LOTS of 'old' paper and I still LOVE it), I cut my border and attached it to an A2 Bazzill card base in pale pink. On the reverse side of my SEI paper, I used a Papertrey Ink Half and Half die cut tab to add my JustRite Celebrations Labels One sentiment. A Wonderful Wings butterfly and some Bazzill bling finishes off this simple card!

I'm entering my little card in this week's challenge @ Make My Monday where the theme is 'Anything That Flies'. Thanks for popping by today!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #94: Sketch

I was sooo excited to finally use JustRite's Scrolled Vine BG stamp, as I've had it for many months. I think it made an elegant background for this black/cream/bright pink birthday card. Following JustRite's Friday Challenge #94 sketch was the perfect starting point!

My scroll background is stamped in Memento Black Tuxedo ink and backed with metallic pink paper on black card. It's topped off with hot pink tulle in the center, followed by two elegant cuts -- the black metallic and center sentiment pieces -- made with my new beloved Spellbinders' Radiant Rectangles. My sentiment is from another favorite -- JustRite's Grand Sentiments. Finishing off my card are several pink gems and a tulle bow. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

JustRite Friday Challenge #092: Make It Pop! and Cards Blog Challenge: March, 2013

I'm doing something unusual for me and entering this card in two challenges: Cards Blog (Color Challenge) and JustRite's Friday Challenge #092: Make It Pop!, requiring we use foam dimensional adhesives and make a birthday card -- how simple and perfect, since I'm sure most of us rarely do a project without dimensionals and we ALWAYS need another birthday card in our stash.
I wanted to use Spellbinders' A2 Bracket Borders One that I'd just purchased and I liked the spring colors on the Cards Blog Challenge (shown below). The only DP I had on hand that had all three colors was this mini print, but I knew it would be perfect with the iris stamp from JustRite's Botanical Medallions & Banners. I Copic colored it in shades of lavender and die cut with Labels Seventeen. My sentiment (JR's Forever Friends) was die cut with Labels Four and my small yellow butterfly from Samantha Walker's Butterfly Corner and both adorned with Copic-colored small gems. I just love the edges these new border dies create, don't you? Dimensionals were used for my main focal image, my sentiment and a tiny strip under my butterfly. Thanks for popping by today!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #090: Sketch

Seems I'm struggling to get my creative mojo going since the holidays and lots of time spent pursuing other crafty interests, but in the end I really like this card I created for the current JustRite Friday Challenge because of the bright colors in this yummy BG paper. This challenge using Sheri's fun sketch ends tomorrow, so if you have some time and any JustRite stamps, why not join in?!

Stamps: JustRite's Ever After Antique Labels One and Grand Sentiments clear sets
Ink: Memento's Tuxedo Black
Paper: Echo Park's This & That and Basic Grey's Serendipity 6x6 paper pads
Dies: Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two and Big Scalloped Oval Large
Embellishments: Want2Scrap Pink Pearl bling; Stick Pin, pearls and lace from stash

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #104: It's Fishin' Time

Yep, it's fishin' time here at My Sheri Crafts, so we want to see your project with a fish on it!
I went back and forth several times with this challenge, trying to decide what I wanted to do and in the end I die cut my fisherman using my Boss Kut Gazelle and a free die cut from Bird's Cards. If you have an electronic die cutting machine and you've never visited Bird's blog, you are missing a special treat.  Her files all cut beautifully and they're free! Go check out all her wonderful creations and leave her some love!
I used paper purchased years ago from Close to my Heart, as the BG makes me think of a big bridge over a body of water.  My little fish stamp is one I've had for many years also. It has no manufacturer or name on it, but I decided I'd use my Twinkling H2O's for his shiny scales, though the photograph doesn't do it justice. My 'Fishing you' sentiment (Our Craft Lounge) is a little play on words -- I'll likely add 'a Happy Birthday' inside for one of our sports-minded male friends.
Can't wait to see your clever ideas for a fishing project -- share it today with us @ My Sheri Crafts!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #089: Anything Goes!

For JustRite's current challenge - anything goes, which means you may use your Favorite JustRite stamp and then tell everyone why it's a fav -- simple/fun/easy, huh?!!!  Yes -- except for picking a fav, that is -- Hee!

This card was created with a fairly new-to-me stamp set (Ooh La La French Frills) for a friend who's 'nickname' is "Sassy" and her favorite color is (obviously) blue!  I'd not had a chance to use this set until now.  It's a fav because it perfectly fit the bill for what I needed and wanted to do for her birthday card this year!

I used the matching Spellbinders' dies here, as well as Samantha Walker's Twisted Metal Tags and Accents' die to back my sentiment. After die cutting the dress form and insert, I stamped the sentiment and insert with Memento's Tuxedo Black ink and colored the flowers/leaves of the dress with Copic markers. Spellbinders' Card Creator A2 Polka Dots die creates the backdrop and finishing my card off is a tiny bow and Want2Scrap's gem flourish colored with B29 Copic marker.

Masculine Birthday Card: Motorcycle

This detailed motorcycle cut file perfectly fit my needs for a young man's birthday card and cut sooo beautifully on my Boss Kut Gazelle! The amazing file is free and available in several formats for every available digital cutter on Bird's blog here. There are tons of free cutter files -- you won't believe all you'll find there, so go check it out!!!

Be forewarned that this file has many tiny pieces, but I think it was well worth the effort to put it all together and I hope the young man we're sending it to enjoys it!

I kept it very simple by merely attaching my motorcycle to a fabulous piece of wood grain paper from My Mind's Eye's Howdy Doody 6x6 paper pad and layering with orange and black.  My Papertrey Ink sentiment (from Inside and Out: Birthday) is stamped onto a Spellbinders Labels Seven die cut and metal brads were added to accent the card corners. No frills, ribbons or lace needed today!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #080: More Than One Fold

I think learning new/varied ways to create our cards is always exciting, don't you? From fun shapes to fabulous edges to new ways to fold, I LOVE to put a new twist on the basic one-fold rectangular cards we most often make -- which is basically our mission this next 11 days @ JustRite's Friday Challenge!!! Okay, JustRite, your wish is my command -- LOL!

Loving to search for and experiment with fun new folds, I couldn't wait to start this adventure -- I'm usually one of the last posters to JR's challenges, as you may already know?! I'd previously made 'joy fold cards', but happened upon a fabulously brilliant twist on it here! So I had my plan and chose 6"x6" papers from My Mind's Eye: Miss Caroline/Dilly Dally (just LOVE that name). I knew immediately that I'd use JustRite's Botanical Butterflies clear stamps for my main focal image. Following Julie's precise instructions, I cut my base piece and another from Spellbinders' Grand Labels One smallest die, sanded it's embossed edges, folded per Julie's instructions and adhered at the left edge. Next I chose to use JustRite's exclusive Antique Labels One (largest) die for my focal mat that attaches at the right edge and wraps around, again embossing & sanding for effect. I stamped my JustRite butterfly image, colored/highlighted with Copics, cut/embossed with Spellbinders' Standard Circles Large, distressed with Antique Linen ink, and popped up slightly on my red mat.
Then I needed to figure out what I'd use to hold my card closed. Looking at my JustRite stamps and my card, it occurred to me that my BG paper is similar to a window screen, so I decided I had to go with the bee image (also from Botanical Butterflies). I thought it was sooo cute when I first saw this set AND since discovering a live scorpion in my walk-in closet last evening, I definitely had stinging creatures on my mind! Thankfully, hubby was able to hunt down and kill it after he heard my scream, then thoroughly cleaned and scanned our closet top to bottom with a black light and found no more -- whew! So, my closure is this fun bee stamped in black Staz-on ink onto a clear plastic button, plus his flight trail in clear gems. I rounded my base piece's right-side corners, distressed with Black Soot, added a small bow below my butterfly and finished off the inside with another Antique Labels Die and sentiment from the same JustRite stamp set.
I had sooo much fun creating this card and really look forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with -- YAY -- more new folds to try soon -- can't wait!!!

My Sheri Crafts #090: National Ice Cream Month

Since July is National Ice Cream Month, our Hostess, Glenda, @ My Sheri Crafts has challenged us to create a project using an ice cream cone/dish!

Having not one ice cream stamp in my stash, I found this card/tutorial here and just knew this was what I wanted to re-create! I first used Cricut's Sweet Treats cartridge to cut my ice cream cones from scraps. Then basically following the tutorial, I created my shoppe's awning, cutting my white CS piece with Spellbinders' Classic Postage Stamp Edgeabilities' die. To complete the awning, I merely cut/glued strips from an embossed scallop-edged piece of pink Bazzill CS. I used that same CS for the card base/shelf also. Finishing touches include glitter, a 'drip' gem, Bazzill pink gingham ribbon and Happy Day Sticker from my stash.

Hope you're inspired today to create your very own cool, summery ice cream project and share it with us @ My Sheri Crafts -- we'd LOVE to see your sweet inspiration!!! It might make you 'feel a bit cooler' too?!  :`~)

JustRite Friday Challenge #075: Color Challenge

For JustRite's color challenge which ends tomorrow, I decided to do keep my birthday card fairly clean and simple. My focal floral image is from JustRite's Botanical Medallions & Banners stamp set and my sentiment from All Occasion Nested Sentiments (retired).

After coloring my image with Copics, I die cut with Spellbinders' Classic Oval die and added it with foam tape to a larger DCWV aqua oval. These pieces are then attached to diagonal-striped paper from DCWV's Mango Frost mat stack with JustRite's Nested Oval Medallion Labels and edged with Dried Marigold Distress Ink.
After threading my Fancy Pants ribbon between my image layers, I added Recollections border gems for accent.

You still have until 6:00 PM CDT Wednesday to enter this color challenge!