Summer Card Camp 2: Pre-Class Challenge 1

I'm sooo excited to have won a spot yesterday in Summer Card Camp 2 from Nichole Heady, Papertrey Ink co-owner and a Guest Designer @ camp, as are several of her Design Team members -- Woo-Hoo!!! This is my first-ever online class, which I think will be perfect, as I seem to create best when alone in my craft room @ home!

The 'official' online class begins on Monday, but we were given two Pre-Class Challenges to play with while we wait -- the first being a color challenge:

(printed piece & vellum copy)

While going through my many paper pads for inspiration, once I saw this paper I felt it would be perfect for Summer Card Camp, but I needed to use at least 4 of those five colors (shown above). I decided to paper piece just some of the surfboards in coordinating colors. First, I placed the paper onto my printer's glass and copied onto a piece of vellum to make exact patterns.Next, I cut out three of the boards from designer paper and pop dotted them on, which gave more texture.

Next, I cut out three of the boards from polka-dot designer paper and glued them on, which gave more texture/depth. Using a sentiment from the same paper pad, I backed it with more aqua CS, rounded the corners and then added aqua and grey layers before attaching them all to my white card. I know the perfect person to send this simple little card to now that it's done -- a total bonus!  ;~)

Paper:  PTI White, Smokey Shadow & Aqua Mist CS; Echo Park Dots & Stripes 6x6 pad; WRMK Down the Boardwalk 4x6 pad
Tools:  WRMK Corner Chomper (LOVE it!)

As I went to list my supplies, I realized I'd made an entire card with no stamping or dies -- a rarity, but I'm sure that will not be the case for long -- LOL! I think it's good to try lots of different ideas/color combos/sketches and to do no stamping sometimes, just a little paper piecing and letting the fun papers speak for themselves?!

If you're looking for a little 'summer fun' (even though you may not be at a lovely beach -- I'm certainly NOT!), there's still time to join in the fun @ Summer Card Camp 2 -- hope to see you there! Sooo thrilled to learn that my sweet friend, Mary Jo, will be playing along and can't wait to see what she creates along the way!!!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #114: What's the BUZZ!

A fun challenge this next 2 weeks @ My Sheri Crafts where we're asking you to create a summer-themed project using black, white and yellow!

My project is simple, but I really like the end product, which is so easy when combining JustRite stamps and Spellbinders' dies. I chose Spellbinders' Radiant Rectangles to cut my black frame to surround the gorgeous rose stamp from JustRite's With Sympathy clear set. I stamped in Memento's Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic markers. The sentiment is from JustRite's Ever After Antique Labels One, also stamped in Tuxedo Black -- I just love the elegant font.

A soft cotton ribbon from France in yellow from my favorite local ribbon store finishes off this simple card. We're looking forward to seeing your black/white/yellow project posted for this challenge @ My Sheri Crafts.

JustRite Friday Challenge #099: Sketch

Barely squeezing in a card for the JustRite's Friday Challenge this time, due to my wonderful company -- a real shock I know, that I'm 'late' -- LOL!

I chose Amazing Paper Grace's exclusive JustRite stamps, Filigree Journal Covers and Just the Right Words for my focal image today, stamped in Moonlight Brilliance Pigment Ink on black CS.  I just LOVE this gorgeous stamp and of course the sentiments are perfect with it!  I embossed the outside with Spellbinders' Marvelous Squares.

My papers are Making Memories "Sabrina" line from several years ago, but still a FAV of mine. I embossed silver pearl vellum with Spellbinders Regal EF (Side B) and cut out with a Spellbinders scalloped oval and then used the same vellum for my A2 Bracket Borders One along the bottom. My Snug Hug seam binding was hand colored using Copic Markers and my metal scalloped and pearl brad 'flower' is from Hobby Lobby (brand unknown).

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!!!

JustRite Friday #098 Challenge: Make it Manly!

A fun one for JustRite's Friday Challenge -- a masculine card. My hubby had shoulder replacement surgery a week ago & I'm FINALLY finding time in my crazy caretaker schedule with the one-armed patient to craft.  He previously had both knees replaced, so this should be a piece of cake for him. I've been telling him a LOT recently, "You're my Hero!" for the grace, humor and generally positive way he handles the adversities in life. Trust me, I'd be grumpy, miserable to deal with, and simply not in a good way IF I had to deal with what he's been through. I think he's more than earned that title and think he'll enjoy waking to find this card to greet him tomorrow!

Premium Labels clear stamp set is perfect for my needs! First I chose a dark blue CS with red flecks to layer onto my white 5" x 7" card. Using Snow Cap Distress paint, I stamped the stars image from JustRite's new clear set Pattern Basics across the top. QuicKutz Stripes EF adds detail along the bottom and a striped ribbon at center.

Next I stamped the "You are the Best" image several times in Memento's Lady Bug and Danube Blue. I used Antique Labels One and Standard Circles Large #'s 2 & 3 to die cut my images before layering with foam dimensionals. Then I stamped "You Are My Hero" onto a Ribbon Banners LG die cut in red and edged it in blue, centering it over my Antique Labels One stack.

Finally, I stamped the "Guaranteed 100% Authentic" image in Stazon Blazing Red (since my preferred blue Stazon pad is dry) onto white shrink plastic, punched a 1/8" hole in the top with my Crop-a-dile and shrunk it with my heat gun. I punched a corresponding tiny hole in the bottom of my Antique Labels One tag and attached the shrinky through it with a jump ring.

I really like the end result! My day got quite crazy and I'm just now able to finally post this in the 'nick' of time! ;~)  Good news is we saw the Dr. and hubby's doing well, so that's all that matters right now!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #112: Summer Solstice - Longest Day

For our new challenge @ My Sheri Crafts we're requesting you make a card or project with a summer evening in mind. It could be a sunset or a view from your porch -- just whatever says 'summer evening' to you!

My summer evening card involves a quiet bike ride -- time to enjoy nature and often here in the desert SW we'll see fascinating hot air balloons floating by! One of my favorite times is late evening just before the sun goes down! 

My card was stamped exclusively with Papertrey Ink stamps (Everyday Button Bits and Out on a Limb Revised) and inks (Dark Chocolate and Lavender Moon). A bit of colored pencil for my bike and PTI buttons for wheels and balloons, plus a touch of Antique Linen Distress inking along the edges of my PTI Vintage Cream CS and it was ready to attach to a Kraft card base.

Can't wait to see all the ideas everyone comes up with on this fun challenge, so please post yours @ My Sheri Crafts!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #097: Color Inspiration

Another beautiful color inspiration @ JustRite's Friday Challenge which closes @ 6 PM tomorrow.

For my entry this go-round, I worked with Bo Bunny's 6x6 Gabrielle Collection, which contains the lovely shades of cream, teal and light orange. I was inspired to use my JustRite Ooh La La French Frills stamps and coordinating JustRite Custom dies. I stamped the dress on cream CS in melon berry ink and colored with Cra-Z-Art pencils for a change of pace. My dress form was cut from the Bo Bunny paper too and popped up on a melon beaded circle die cut.

Using two more Bo Bunny layers, I die cut one with Grand Scalloped Circles and partially hand-traced the teal piece with a Grand Circle die in order to better coordinate with the scroll pattern on it. These were attached to my cream 6x6 card base and the corners on the open edge were rounded. I stamped Just for You from JustRite's With Gratitude Labels One onto JustRite Custom Vintage Labels and Banner Dies that coordinate with several of their stamp sets -- LOVE that!

Some 'ombre' large pearls (accidentally sun bleached in my craft room's south window, but one I'm happy occurred!) adorn the scalloped circle and Want2Scrap LeCreme Swirl pearls and hand-dyed seam binding finish off this fun girly card. Appreciate your stopping in today; come back again soon!

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #111: Father's Day

Our new challenge @ My Sheri Crafts today in honor of Father's Day focuses on creating any masculine card/project that includes embossing -- EITHER heat or dry embossing qualifies!

For our challenge I made a birthday card using JustRite's very ruggedly masculine Genuine Friend Background stamp, inked in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with Arrowhead EP from Copper Leaf Creations, a local company here. I stamped/embossed the tiny "100%" label a second time, hand cut it out and popped it up with foam tape.

Using JustRite's Buntings and Banners clear stamp set, I stamped/embossed the birthday sentiment onto white CS die cut from Spellbinders' Ribbon Banners LG. I edged my banner with VersaMark ink and again heat embossed with EP. I situated this banner die with foam tape over the smaller banner that is part of the BG stamp and tied brown hemp through a large brown button to dress up my banner and again along my card's folded edge.

Sooo, emboss away and we'd LOVE to see your masculine project shared with us @ My Sheri Crafts challenge!!!

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#3) . . .

paper!!!  What have I been up to -- having fun with my DD's AG dolls and my now 1-year-old Singer Quantum 9960 sewing machine and a fun sewing challenge that's helping me learn/re-learn sewing techniques 'in miniature'. I found on Pinterest (of course) a Summer Sew-Along, wherein Jen shares a free 18-inch doll pattern(s) each week. So far I've completed seven separate pieces and have the eighth about half done due to some issues I'm having with a presser foot I purchased to complete it. Hopefully I'll get that issue resolved and can finish and post that piece soon -- it's sooo cute, I think it'll be my favorite one in this series!

For now here's photos of my DD's three dolls in their mix/match summer wardrobe:

(mock-smocked top/A-line skirt)

(halter top/capri pants; t-shirt/capri pants; ruffled dress)

The orange top features a great trim that was sent to me by a sweet online friend -- thanks, Charlotte! The white t-shirt's flower was appliqued from one cut from the pink fabric on the two pieces seen on either side of it! So if you (or your own DD) would like to 'sew along' just click on Jen's sew-along link above, download the free patterns and enjoy!!!

JustRite Friday Challenge #096: Sew Good

Our challenge for the JustRite Friday Challenge was to create a card or project featuring sewing elements (stitching, buttons, fabric, etc.), This was a really fun challenge for me with lots of little elements to create!

I chose My Mind's Eye's Howdy Doody 6x6" paper pad to work with. I die cut the bottom decorative CS edge with Spellbinders' A2 Bracket Borders One, adding hand stitching to the edge with a DMC Pearlescent #E818 embroidery thread and then machine stitching with an aqua sewing thread all around my card's edge.

I then die cut and stamped the banner from JustRite's coordinating Buntings and Banners clear stamp & matching die set. Next I die cut several buttons from the same set in white and cream shrink plastic, as well as hand tracing and cutting an embroidery floss holder from my stash. I punched holes in all the items and colored the buttons with my air compressor using Copic markers before shrinking them and the floss holder. The buttons were threaded with cream embroidery thread and I added gold rayon thread to my floss holder and DMC aqua Jewel Effects E3949 thread to a spool charm from my stash.

I tied a bow from measuring tape ribbon and attached my thread holders to it with an aqua baby safety pin. My sentiment is from Becca Feeken's Just the Right Words stamp set -- one of my favs! It is die cut with Spellbinders' Ornate Squares.

My second photo shows a detailed view of the stitching and spool/floss holders.
It was sure fun to make and I'm glad you stopped by for a visit!