Wanted: Happy Birthday for Bradley

This card is CASED from the one I gave my sweet hubby for his birthday in April because he LOVES it & wanted me to duplicate it for his granson's birthday. Since Brad lives in OK, I think this might be a good fit. I only wish I'd designed the card myself, but it was shared @ our creative Designing Diva's group by our ever-talented friend, Judy. The awesome background papers for the top mat & the little bucking bronco inside the bottle cap (Wanted by Cosmo Cricket) are sadly no longer available (I don't believe). The bottom DP layer & torn strip are double-sided WeRMemoryKeepers' Urban Window Collection (Boho Chic Hobo Hip). I'm not sure if it's still available. The new/unused bottle cap was smashed in my Spellbinders' Wizard machine -- like "buttah"! Punched the little cowpoke out with Martha Stewart's 1" circle punch & topped it with Ranger Glossy Accents. Wanted a bit bigger star, so ended up tracing the smalled star Nestie & cutting it by hand. All other embellishments from my stash. I don't recall the stamp company, but if anyone NEEDS to know, I can find out from Judy for you!

Green Tea Time

Claire's (click on her name in my "Favorites" sidebar) new company, Waltzing Mouse Stamps' challenge for the fabulous prize of one each of her six awesome new stamp sets to be released Tuesday, September 29th, was to create a card using your favorite stamp and green -- "lots of green, any shade"! Hmmm, could that have anything to do with Ireland, since that's where she lives? Maybe!!! Well this is right up my alley as green IS my favorite color. I just got this gorgeous Green Tea Leaves paper today and Tea for Two by PTI is my fav set right now, so I knew exactly what I wanted to make. I seem to have very little "green" (a/k/a spendable cash) lately, so have my fingers crossed! Her challenge ends Sunday night, Ireland time, so hope I'm still in time!
Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream CS & Green Tea Leaves Collection DP

Stamps: PTI's Tea for Two

Ink: PTI's Ripe Avocado

Embellishments: Michaels Stores BasicBasic Ribbon

Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Dies; Fiskars Upper Crest Punch

PTI September Blog Hop: Reuse/Recycle/Repurpose Packaging

Our challenge for PTI's September Blog Hop was: "to reuse, repurpose or recycle packaging from your Papertrey Package." If you're unfamiliar with PTI's Blog Hop, you can go here to find a list participants after 8 PM Eastern time! I kept all my PTI packaging with this very intent in mind! I took two of the larger clear boxes PTI stamps came in, cut them both down at an angle from left to right and then used my PTI 1/8" Scor Tape (LOVE it) to tape them together. Because my plan was to have my Cuttlebug Embossing folders not only handy but easily seen so I'd remember to use them, I kept my project simple. For a little fun I cut letters from PTI Raspberry Fizz Mix papers with my Sizzix to spell "create!", used glue dots to attach them, and now have the perfect grab & go container for all my large & small border embossing folders right at my fingertips on my craft table next to my Spellbinder Wizard machine. Quick, easy, useful "green" recycling!!! Can't wait to see what all you ingeniously clever ladies came up with for this challenge -- so hopping I shall go!!!

DZ Doodles Santa Christmas Card

I copic colored this DZ Doodles image for Paper Craft Planet. Just a beginner with my Copic markers, I have a looooong way to go & lots to learn! I then decided he'd be adorable inside this SEI puffy frame that I won last winter at CKC. The frame and sentiment are from SEI. I wanted Santa to be off center inside so I'd have room to write a little note next to him, so I added the lime pompom trim for balance. I was having a difficult time deciding between small or large red rickrack or the pompom fringe, so I let my hubby choose. Whaddaya think -- did he make the right choice? After he chose I told him that pompom trim is very "in" right now in the crafty world and I really did like the fact that it was the perfect green to match my sticker! He said he didn't think either rickrack was a bright enough red, so the decision was made. ;-)

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.

TEBBLS Challenge #11

Woo-Hoo -- my LAST challenge for TEBB #11! Really, it's been a blast & now it will be fun to see who wins each & every one! So exciting! Never done ANYTHING like this before; hope it's a hit because I just might do it again -- if there's a next time. I feel bad because I own NONE of Taylor's stamps yet, but hope that changes in the near future! I thought it appropriate to do this one last, as I KNEW I'd be DISTRESSED myself -- I only had about 4 hours sleep last night. Even though I often distress edge elements on my cards to make them "stand out", it's not something I'm very comfortable with or skilled at, that's for sure! For this final card I've used an Anna Griffin stamp, Strathmore watercolor paper and SEI's Windsor DP and EK Success punch, as well as Ranger's Antique Linen ink for distressing. Because is turned out rather subtle in color, I thought it an appropriate Sympathy card & it's always good to have one of those on hand. Whew -- I'm tired!!! LOL!

NOTE: It's after 9 PM here so I cannot get a decent photo at all; will reload a new photo in the morning light - hope that's okay?!!!

TEBBJP Challenge #13

For the final TEBB Challenge #13 (although I still have to make & upload #11 - LOL) we were to use stitching on our project! So I had to drag out my really old Singer and see if I could remember how to thread it. I totally lucked out with my zig-zagged oval pieces going together perfectly the very first try! I've used PTI's Button Bits stamps, flower buttons I've had forever (think they're Making Memories?) and MM's Travel embellishment papers and an EK Success punch-- a truly fun card to make!!!

TEBBLF Challenge # 6

For TEBB Challenge #6, a fabulous sketch, I've chosen 3 of my favorite colors to work with, black, white & raspberry. This was a fun, fairly simple card to put together, but then it's always easier when you have coordinating papers, both plain & patterned. Of course simple, classic stamps & colors don't hurt either! I used PTI's Everyday Classics again for my flower in this challenge, as well as their papers and ink. The flourish stamp from Technique Tuesday works well as a stem and the pearls are from Kaiser Craft. Okay, 11 down & 2 to go!!! Whew!!!

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!

TEBBSH Challenge #9

Shabby Chic is a tough one for me to pull off, but here's my attempt for TEBB Challenge #9. My sweet friend, Gwen, had used tiny roses like these on a teapot card that I loved, so when I found these recently on clearance at Michaels, I had to have them to duplicate the look from her card. I have been borrowing her PTI Tea for Two stamp set for so long she's probably wondering if she'll EVER get it back! LOL! I just adore this set & must buy my own soon! So, with a little help from flowery Anna Griffin paper from my stash, a Provo Craft Textile Embossing Folder, some lace, pearls & sequin trim, my card was solidified. I know a couple ladies that I think will appreciate my efforts.

TEBBJC Challenge #8

This color TEBB #8 color challenge proved challenging for me! It seemed so simple at first glance, but after much forethought & trashing my room with failed ideas, I finally came up with this little card. I've already used this "Wishing you Sunshine" greeting on another challenge card here, but I just love it! I think it especially appropriate for this bright, cherry color combo! I've used all paper of unknown sources from my huge stash, except the little scalloped strip, which is Raspberry Fizz from PTI. Other fun items include the yellow vellum buttterfly die cut & embossed from a Provo Craft die, turquoise Stickles, flocked turquoise vine paper and the little Hero Arts gem for the final touch on the exclamation point (something I probably use way too many of)!!! ;-)

TEBBDE Challenge #7

Challenge #7 is to use paper tole on our project, which is always fun! I chose to make a cuppie card using PTI's Anniversary Set, Everyday Classics, but with a bit of a twist. I wanted a "yellow" cherry on top, so my card featurs a "Rainer Cherry", an offspring of the Bing cherry developed in Washington state. They are yellow with a red "blush", which I've tried to duplicate on my card by first stamping in yellow and then edging in red. I've used Basic Grey's awesome fall papers from the Mellow 6" pad again, along with some Bazzill CS. For accents I used a Martha Stewart embossing Zigzag punch, my beloved Nesties and brown baby ric-rac. A fun twist on a cherry-topped cuppie!!!

TEBBDB Challenge #3

For this TEBB challenge we were to use paper piecing. I had made this Inkadinkado Mega Happy card hurriedly last fall from these fabulous Basic Grey Mellow designer papers. Though I loved the design, I knew it "needed more". This time I added hemp twine along the top scored line, a torn inked edge at the bottom and stamped the fall leaves and an acorn. The card uses PTI's Kraft CS and a piece of orange CS from my stash (source unknown) and PTI's Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise & Cognac inks. I like my result much better this time!

TEBBDM Challenge #5

Okay, this stamp set (PTI's Scattered Showers) was lying on my craft table from my last post & when I retrieved this pink/brown flowered paper from my large cache, I just HAD to use this flowered umbrella image for this challenge! ;-) Had fun with this one & happy with the results. I combined DCWV DPs, a Fiskars' flower-edge punch, a Provo Craft Embossing Border, ribbon from Li'l Davis Designs and Hero Arts gems on a brown card. Approaching the half-way challenge point here, I must "soldier on". ;~)

TEBBCI Challenge #4

Okay, for challenge #4 @ Stamp a Sweet Impression, we were given a 3-color challenge. My colors are as close as I could get with what I had on hand, which is all they asked!!! ;-) A fav PTI set, Scattered Showers, a bit of plaid paper which just happened to have those 3 colors required (and you'd never believe how old this one & only sheet of DP is!), a shiny ribbon and a bit of yellow pom-pom trim & #4 is complete! Not sure I liked this color combo, but rather happy with the resulting card! Okay, on to #5 (not necessarily in order though). WOW, that means I still have 9 left to create, photograph & post -- YIKES!!!

TEBBTV Challenge #1

Since I decided to combine my Christmas card with a Sketch Challenge for Taylored Expressions Birthday Bash, I decided I'd see how many I could get done -- there are THIRTEEN (yep, 13) challenges in all, so we'll see how many I manage to achieve between now & Wednesday midnight! Should be fun to try anyway!!! Taylor did the first challenge found here. My inspiration was this cupcake card, combining Hero Arts cuppie with a sentiment from Impression Obsession. Paper is DCWV DP and PTI's Vintage Cream CS (lime CS unknown), Pastel Raspberry Liquid Pearl frosting and "sequin" sprinkles from Hero Arts.

TEBBKM Challenge #2

For Challenge #2 we had a simple sketch to follow. I chose to use papers and dotted ribbon from Papertry Ink in Raspberry Fizz with black cardstock, a Spellbinders die to create my layered flower and sentiment from Papertrey's Anniversary set, Everyday Classics. The only other element I added was a double-layered edge punched with Fiskars' Upper Crest, one of my newest favorites, to complete my simple card.

Moxie Fab & TEBBKB #10 Challenges

For the challenge on Moxie Fab we were to create a stamped holiday card, gift wrap, ornament, home decor item, or paper crafted gift and for Taylor's Challenge #10 your were to "let your creativity flow" using a sketch. I did just that by flipping my square card on it's tip (which I then cut off!) and changed up the one square shape with a Labels Two Nestie. The Moxie Fab project could have one stamped element or many, just be sure something on your project is stamped. Because it's still very "warm" here in the desert, I chose this Santa stamp from 1996 for my card! After Copic coloring him, I added a little white flock to the ball at the end of his hat. Believe me -- if Santa were here today, this is EXACTLY what he'd want to be doing!!!

Paper: Bazzill CS; DCWV DP; white CS from stash

Stamp: The Stamp Mill

Ink: Memento's Tuxedo Black & Lady Bug

Embellishment: Doodlebug Designs Flock; ric-rac (source unknown)

Tools: Spellbinders Nesties Labels Two & Square