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!!!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #93: Last Day to Wear White!

Since we live in the 'warm' SW desert, I don't really follow the 'last day to wear white' is Labor Day 'rule',  BUT our current challenge - to create a 'white-on-white project' - seemed like the perfect excuse to whip up a wintery snowflake card! This was totally challenging project, as I kept wanting to add a bit of color somewhere, but in the end LOVED how it turned out!
My snowflake was built using a combination of Spellbinders' 2010 Snowflake pendants, Create-a-Flake Three dies and even one cut from Snowflake Wonder, an early Spellbinders' die that cuts 5 snowflakes from one plate.
After cutting/embossing my die cuts, I hit the embossed areas with Glossy Accents, sprinkled on Martha Stewart's Crystal Coarse Glitter and secured the layers with a crystal brad.
I mounted my snowflake onto white 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" CS that I'd embossed with SB's Elegance M-Bossabilities Folder, Side A. I then cut 1/2" from the bottom front and as shown in the photo below, embossed the back inside edge with a Provo Craft "Frills" border, added a strip of Scor-Tape, sprinkled with more coarse glitter. To complete my card, I then repeated this process with a 3/4" strip of CS and used Scor-Tape to atttach it inside my card front. A simple ribbon tied in a bow completes my white-on-white project!
What will you create for your white-on-white project -- a wedding card, a Christmas project or a snowflake ornament?! Please make one and upload it for us all to enjoy @ My Sheri Crafts -- you may just be our next Guest Designer!

Masculine Get Well: Tim Holtz and JustRite Style

We've had a bunch of family/friends with various health concerns lately and I'm very hopeful it's over already! I needed a couple masculine cards and thought this would bring a smile to both intended recipients' faces. I chose PTI's Kraft CS, a staple for me when doing masculine themes, as well as darker colors.
I started with a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card base and using Spellbinders' Labels Seven, die cut a piece of Core'dinations' Ebony & Ivory with Kraft core and embossed with Diamonds in the Rough EF just along the edge, sanding lightly for more dimension. I stamped Tim Holtz fabulous old pickup truck in VersaFine Onyx Black, die cut again with Labels Seven and attached off center to my previous label. Next I used JustRite's Times New Roman 15-pt. Alpha stamps to create my sentiment (both inside and out), die cutting the front one with SBs' retired Labels 5, distressed with Black Soot ink, added screw brads and attached with foam tape.

Here's my stamped inside sentiment:

Celebrate Card: My Mind'e Eye Style

My Mind's Eye Lush (Blue) DP

This is the first card I've made using the Lush line of designer paper in blue  by My Mind's Eye  -- it's totally "luscious"!  :~)  My 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card uses three of the gorgeous patterned papers from this line, as well as a brad and velvet scalloped ribbon.
Cream CS from my stash is first covered with Blue Diamonds double-sided DP and then topped in the center with velvet Polka Dot DP. Two large Prima Flowers at the top left are embellished with a large My Mind's Eye "Lush" brad and sit atop my Celebrate sentiment.
Across the bottom I cut the reverse side of the Blue Damask DP with the scalloped QuicKutz/Lifestyle Crafts Journaling Die (#REV-0226-D), tucked it underneath cream lace from my stash, then topped with MME's velvet scalloped ribbon and finished at the right side with another Prima Flower. All DPs and flowers were antiqued with Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink.
I colored my clear flower-shaped stick pin (Making Memories) with Copic BG11, added beads and stuck it through my ribbon and flower. Finally, a pearl from my stash was threaded with embroidery floss for stamens and attached with a glue dot to complete my card.
Check out Creating Everlasting Memories for great bargains on the following products:  My Mind's Eye; QuicKutz/Lifestyle Crafts; Tim Holtz, Prima Marketing, as well as many others!!! Hope you're having a wonderful, crafty day today wherever you are!!!

Aspiring to Creativity Glimmer Challenge 2: Photo Inspiration

For our 2nd Aspiring to Creativity challenge we were given a sweet photo for inspiration, plus were required to use a tool or supply we'd never used before. I used the "dots" repeatedly in my card, including both Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots and their new Polka Dots embossing folders, as well as the holes I punched along the edge of my Cuttlebug die-cut butterfly. More holes appear along the Scallop 3-dot border and in my lace tag, both from Martha Stewart. Papers used are Core'dinations' Color Core and PTI's SS White, along with PTI's Raspberry Fizz felt for my butterfly and Making Memories ribbon. My never-before used supply are the 3 Green Glitter brads by Creative Imaginations that have been in my stash for over 2 years now! This was a fun challenge; thanks for stopping by my little blog for a visit today!

JustRite Friday Challenge 030: Inspiration Photo

A photo inspired our 30th challenge for JustRite this week and for me it was the gorgeous reds/pinks/greens that caught my attention. Needing a few thank-you cards, I decided to make a "sentiment slider" note card using my JustRite 15-pt. Times New Roman alphabet to create my slider (shown in action in photos below). I then popped my center flower up on thick foam tape so that my sentiment tab will easily slide left & right to easily read all three sentiments stamped on it.
Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream CS; K&Company's Margo & McKenna Paper Pads
Stamps: JRS 15-pt. Times New Roman Alphabet
Ink: PTI's Ripe Avocado
Embellishments: Michael's Ribbon; Creative Imaginations' brad
Tools: Making Memories Slot Punch; Spellbinders Wizard & Inverted Circle Die; PTI's Beautiful Blooms II die

Doily Card for Joan's Garden #9 Challenge

My entry for Joan's challenge, which is to make a pink and white card and be sure you have 4 corners punched (preferably with a Martha Stewart punch) also contains a doily. The pink & white flower center includes felt and a sheer flower die cut from a piece of plastic I saved long ago. I also added Martha Stewart's pink ribbon edged in white. It was really hard for me not to add black, but I still like the outcome. Thanks, Colleen, for urging me to get out of my creative slump & Gwen for forwarding the creative fairy dust from over 3o miles away! Always great to have your friends' help!
Paper: Making Memories' Sabrina Multipack; PTI's Shimmer CS
Embellishments: Making Memories' Sabrina flower brads; Hero Arts' gemstones; PTI's Felt; Martha Stewart's '07 Easter Ribbon; Michaels' Doilies
Tools: Martha Stewart's Eyelet Lace Punch; PTI's Beautiful Blooms II Dies; Spellbinders' Wizard

Friendship Card

I wanted to create a friend card for My Sheri Crafts' challenge this week, so decided to use my GCD Studios' Margarita collection papers & tags. I stamped Papertrey Ink's "Friends 'Til the End" sentiment on the die-cut orange tag. I then took Spellbinders' Long Scalloped Rectangles and chose the die just wider than my tag. Because I wanted it to use it to back my tag, I first cut it just short of the tag length, then ran it back through my Wizard & cut the bottom edge of my white CS so that I had just the length needed. I added two flowers cut from a sheet of matching GCD paper, added the Making Memories' blue gemstone brads and pop-dotted them onto my tag for to give my card depth. A layer of purple paper and a soft white silk narrow Papertrey ribbon finishes my Friend card off!

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge: Office Supplies

Our challenge for Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop tonight is to incorporate those fun desk drawer fillers into your project. For my retirement card, I've included paper clips (embossed into the card base), a small binder clip, colored staples, an index card punched with a binding edge, a Rollabind disc and hanging file tab holder.
PTI products include: Vintage Cream CS; Raspberry Suite's 2010 Color Couture Downloads (file folder card template & Vol. 5 patterned paper), Mixed Messages (sentiments), Polka Dot Basics (circles) and Beautiful Bloom II (flower) stamps and Raspberry Fizz & Ripe Avocado inks.
I didn't have a "Things To Do" stamp, so I created that in Word and printed it on my index card strip and then stamped circles for the recipient to check off her accomplished retirement goals!
I'm so excited to see what everyone else created tonight!

Moxie Fab World Challenge: I Want to Ride My Bicycle

My friend Gwen reminded me of this bicycle challenge over at Moxie Fab, so I just had to get busy this weekend and work on my entry. Gosh, sooo many fun challenges recently -- I'm having trouble keeping up with them all! Take a look at all the fabulous creations posted so far with a whole week left to post entries on this one. My card includes Papertrey Ink stamps/buttons, papers/bubble top brads from Making Memories and Bazzill's boshers wrapped in wire for spokes.

I enjoyed working on my layers with Making Memories papers, creating my scene with Papertrey stamps and decorating with boshers, buttons and brads. I stamped my largest balloon button and love how it turned out. Thanks for stopping by today!

Paper: Making Memories Travel DPs; Papertrey Ink's Kraft CS

Stamps: PTI's Everyday Button Bits
Ink: Memento's Rich Cocoa

Embellishments: PTI buttons; Making Memories Bubble Top Brads; Bazzill Boshers; Artistic Wire; Copics: YG95, Y17, C-3

Tools: Creative Memories Custom Cutting System

Just Add Ink #21 Sketch Challenge

After cutting this Eyelet Pendant and flower from old book pages, I colored them with my Begonia Pink Copic marker and spritzed with Colorless Blender. Next I spritzed with sheer shimmer, which I hope you can see if you click & enlarge the photo. I cut the center from one of the Martha Stewart tags and used a Copic marker to color it black. Together with some checked ribbon and a sentiment tag, it was a perfect fit for this week's Just Add Ink's sketch challenge #21. My ingredients are:

Paper: Black & White CS from stash; old book pages for pendant & flower

Stamp: PTI's Round and Round (Limited Edition 2009 Anniverary set)

Ink: PTI's Palette Noir

Embellishments: Martha Stewart Die-Cut Lace Tags; Making Memories "Sabrina" Ribbon & gem brads; Tsukineko's Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz; CopicsRV 14, C9, O Colorless Blender

Tools: Spellbinders Eyelet Pendant & Double End Tag Dies; WeRMemory Keepers Corner Rounder

Happily Ever Challenged #6: Eat Your Heart Out

What a challenging challenge, but that makes them fun, huh?! Ted (HappilyEver Crafter) challenged us to follow his "menu" based upon the last digit in your birth year. Mine is 9 and no other clues regarding my advanced age will be given -- LOL! I had to use 1) grey BG paper (Smokey Shadow by Papertrey Ink; first time to purchase/use this color, which looks more like black with my lack of photography skills), 2) damask or flourish main image done in 3) Poppin' Pastels and 4) flocked primary embellishment. Grey is usually reserved for my guy cards and I've had these brads for over a year, so whattaya think?! At least I used some items from the bowels of my craft room -- flocked brads + chalk! ;-)

Paper: PTI's Smokey Shadow & White CS; silver CS from stash

Stamps: Technique Tuesday's Damask - Small; PTI's Round & Round (2009 Anniversary Set) for Sentiment

Ink: PTI's Charcoal & Versamark (Damask)

Embellishments: Koss Pastels; Creative Imaginations Flocked Brads; Michael's Silver Pearls

Tools: Spellbinders' Labels Six & Fancy Tags Dies

K&Company Slider Sentiment Card

I cased this card after receiving it a few months ago from my sweet friend, Judy, who graciously said it was okay to post my "case" of her card here. I just love it!!! This unique slider sentiment card is made with K&Company's gorgeous Margo & McKenna DPs on a 1/4-fold ivory linen base. I made it quite awhile ago and used a combination of Nesties and punches for the center layers, plus I even hand cut one or 2 that I don't have punches/dies for. Just be sure when you pop your center piece that you leave the center area open so your sentiment can slide left to right! Sentiment stamps are from PTI's Mixed Messages.

TEBBSW Challenge #12

TEBB Challenge #12 was to use more than one button as your focal point on a project. I covered this International Coffee tin my friend Marilyn so kindly brought all the way from MN (a box of them, actually) with these awesome Cosmo Cricket Wanted western-themed papers for my hubby, who is a die-hard Western fan. I made my own "button" with a Rollabind circle. I punched a cowboy from paper, fit it inside & then covered it in Ranger Glossy Accents, a really fun technique. I then added the brown & metal buttons for my focal accents. For my handle, I hole-punched the ends with my trusty Crop-a-dile to attach a folded strip of the paper that has my hubby's "motto": "there's nothin like a good western", secured with large metal brads. If you knew him, you'd know I couldn't get him to a movie theater UNLESS it was to see a Western movie! I originally intended this for his jelly beans, but none available to use in my photo, so I had to go with peanuts instead!

Owl Be Yours, Valentine!

My little owl Valentine card was inspired from this post by Julie. I used a little owl from PTI's Wise Old Owl, as well as the saying, "owl be yours". I used a pink marker to color my Spellbinder's heart die before I ran it back through to emboss. I really like that little pop of color it added! I also like it's imperfect/distressed look, which blends nicely with the background paper I used. I'd seen this technique done, but never tried it before -- it's an easy/fun detail I'll definitely be using more often!!!

Paper: Making Memories "Sabrina" 6" x 6" Argyle DP; black & white CS scraps

Stamps: PTI's Wise Old Owl; Inkadinkado's "Be My Valentine."

Ink: PTI's Palette Noir

Embellishment: Making Memories Heart Brad from Sabrina Collection

Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Heart/Scalloped Heart Nesties

Card Size: 4 1/4" Square

Masculine Tent Topper with Nesties "Crew Cut" Scallops

I was blog hopping recently & somehow ended up here. Since I was also trying to come up with a masculine card to share with my crafting group, Designing Divas, I knew Tosh's ingenious idea could be the answer to my prayers! I'd never even heard of a tent topper card before, let alone giving a scalloped circle a "crew cut", but I loved both ideas! I then decided to take the crew cut a step further & use my long rectangle Nesties to edge my happy birthday strip at the bottom also! It takes a bit of extra effort, as you must cut each edge separately, but I like the way it brings the whole card together. In order to fit into an A2 envelope, I made my card 4" square and then made sure my card was no more than 5 1/2" high once the topper was attached. You could use a 4 1/4" square card, of course, but I had only one 12" x 12" piece of this plaid paper, so I couldn't take any chance that I'd run short. Hope the Divas like it!!!

Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream & Craft cardstocks; Bazzill cardstock; plaid & brown handmade DP - from stash

Stamps: Inkadinkado's Round Frames & Studio G's phrase

Ink: PTI's Burnt Sienna Palette Ink

Embellishments: Making Memories Lg. Brad; sm. brads from stash

SEI's Holly Lane Christmas

I used some SEI Holly Lane Christmas paper for the scalloped border on this card and then laced gold cord through the holes in the scallops. The PTI Merry Christmas sentiment was stamped on Bazzill & added over a chipboard tag from the paper pack and secured with velvet brads. I felt it needed more, but couldn't decide what from my stash that should be. Do you ever start out with an idea and end up not quite sure how to proceed? I often wish I had someone here who could make a suggestion or two when I'm stuck on what to do with a card; four eyes would certainly be better than my two!!! Fortunately, my sons's GF received this card, and she's always gracious!
Paper: SEI's Holly Lane "Sugarplum" & Bazzill Cardstocks
Stamp: PTI's Silent Night
Embellishments: Gold cord & velvet brads from stash

Girlfriends Tent Card

This is the front & back views of the 2nd card we made in the Heartstring

Designs class. It is suggested that you could add a photo and/or message inside, but I also think a photo on the back swirl paper would be fun, especially if you're going to display it where you'd see it from front & back! If you're mailing it, your girlfriend can glue the back narrow bottom flap, but I also like it just left with that little flap holding the tent up. That way you can always open it to read the inside message or see any photo you've placed inside!

Gwen "needs" details, so I'm adding them here too! The black frame is mat board (just like in picture frames!) & phrase is printed on a transparency & I colored in the little flower over the "e" from the back with a marker. On the back I decided to add the pink to the "braid" in the design to make it pop!

Paper: DCWV's All Dressed Up line

Embellishments: Making Memories' Mini Blossom Paper Flowers &

brads; Doodlebug Designs Flower Sequins; transparency phrase

Happy Day Bullseye Card

This fabulously-folded pop-up card came from a tutorial by Sandy Hulsart @ the always awesome SplitcoastStampers' website: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/Spring_card.
It is so quick, easy to follow and to fold! It immediately reminded me of my "Simple Diamond Fold Card" posted on June 12th! I actually think it is even simpler. Its finished size is 5 1/4 inches. It folds flat to mail & then pops up when the recipient removes it from the envelope -- how cool is that?!!! ;-) How DO these amazing people think up these cards/folds? It truly blows my mind, but I'm SO happy they're willing to share with all of us, aren't you?!!! Enjoy making your very own as much as I did!!! If you do, leave Sandy a comment; I know she'd be thrilled!!!
Paper: American Craft's Bookshelf Line: Dahl & Seuss from Michael's Arts & Crafts
Ink: Ranger's Distress: Tea Dye
Embellishments: Bubble Word: JoAnn Craft Essentials; Ribbon & Brad: Prizes from Cute Card Thursday Challenge courtesy of http://sweetnsassystamps.com/

Nestie & A Nest

This little nest card is based on several cards I've seen by Papertrey Ink's Design Team and particularly one posted by Deanna for the June Blog Hop sponsored by Papertrey @ http://deespapertree.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-hop.html in which their challenge was to use acetate on your project. Her card was absolutely darling as you'll see when you visit her site! My card is a bit different because the recipient's situation is different, but I did stamp my eggs/nest in the same fashion as Deanna! What a fun set this is to play with!!!
Papers: Watercolor paper & brown flecked carstock from my stash
Stamps: Papertrey Ink's Birds of a Feather
Tools: Spellbinder Wizard's Rectangle Die & Classic Scallop Square Sm. Nestabalities Ink: Tsukineko's Vintage Sepia VersaFine & StazOn Opaque Cotton White
Embellishments: Copper Brads