Happy Summer Everyone!

I am pretty sure that it would take Divine intervention to fit 1 more thing into my summer, but I am praying for that intervention to get just a little "me time" my craftroom is so lonely without me. But since we are having a challenge at Cards in Envy I did get a chance to go in for a couple of hours the other day.

Here is the sketch we started with

And here is what I came up with

I decided to make a card for a friend who is getting married and taking a trip to Europe for their honeymoon (Oh so jealous).  I used transparency paper for the window and had the view looking out over the Eiffel Tower.  The paper comes from the DCWV stack Tre' Chic, the borders are pre-made scrapbooking frames from My Mind's Eye that I cut down to fit the A2 size card and I used ribbon and buttons  from my stash to put the finishing touches.  The only thing I decided I should do differently if I try this same idea again, is that I completely forgot to leave room to write anything on the inside, to I am going to write a note to put in there, but I laughed for a few minutes when I realized what I had forgotten ;)
Take a minute to go over to Cards in Envy and see what the other fabulous Design Team members have come up with!

Other Challenges
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Totally Paper Crafts Challenge - June Bride

Stitched Up!

Good morning! I hope everyone in Blog-land had a wonderful Father's Day, I know we did! Today is the Stitched Up (Real or Faux) challenge at Cards in Envy and I decided to make a quilt card (something I have not done before) I did 3 cards before I got one that I liked, I love challenges that encourage me to try new things! So, without further ado...

I used the My Sunshine stack from DCWV and brown gel pen for the stitching. To link up for the challenge got to Cards in Envy, and be sure to check out the rest of the DT's creations there is some fabulous inspiration going on over there!

Other Challenges:

Little Red Wagon - 3 or More Patterned Papers

Oldie But a Goodie - Anything Goes w/something at least 6mo. old 

(pre-cut card base from my stash and long lost gel pens)

Ruby's Rainbow - Inchies

Sketch #5 at Cards in Envy

I just love the challenges that we have at Cards in Envy, they are perfect for Operation Write Home, or anyone that wants to make cards that you can mail easily.  I have a HUGE family (8 brothers, 7 sisters and about 40 nieces and nephews plus my husbands family) so being able to send cards by regular mail makes a big difference.  I used DCWV's Garden Party stack for the checkered paper, the flower was a cut out from my stash and the Bakers Twine is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The rest of the design team has some great inspiration to share so be sure to check them out when you go to Cards in Envy to enter. Just follow the sketch, and make a standard A2 size card, no thicker than 1/4", and you are mail ready!

-other challenges I am entering today-

The Cupboard Trilogy - Birthday

Order of The Opus Gluei - Birthdays

Pile It On - Stripes or Plaid

It's challenge time!

Today for the challenge at Cards in Envy we were asked to make our own background.  This was a whole new concept to me, so it was extra challenging and extra fun.  I started with a plain white card base, I used a red cardstock mat cut at 4" X 5 1/4" Then I took another piece of white cardstock cut to 3 3/4" X 5" and used red ink on a Stampin' up! background stamp. I also added some gingham ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and lightly stamped again on the cardstock I was using for my sentiment.  Cards in Envy challenges you to make cards that fit into regular postage paid envelopes, following the themes that our fabulous hosts have come up with. For more inspiration head over to Cards in Envy and take a look at all of the wonderful cards that our designers have come up with.

I will also be sharing my card at the following challenges

Addicted to CAS - Birthday

4Crafty Chicks - Birthday

Gingerloft - Happy Birthday

Cards in Envy Sketch #4

Happy Monday!!!

Today it's sketch challenge time at Cards in Envy where we make cards that fit into regular postage paid envelopes. I the glitter stack from DCWV, bakers twine from Really Reasonable Ribbon and the tag is Basic Grey.  The other designers at Cards in Envy have some fabulous designs to share with you today, stop over there if you get a minute. I am also entering this into the Anything Goes challenge at Paper-Crafting Journey, and Mothers Day or For a Female at The Crafters Cafe.

Cards in Envy "Things With Wings"

It's challenge time over at Cards in Envy again!  I made this using the Juniper Berry stack from DCWV, the sentiment is a transparent scripture sticker (from my stash) and the butterflies were cut from the Car Decals Cricut cartridge.  To link up head over to Cards in Envy and remember cards need to fit into a regular envelope, no extra postage!  

I am also entering this card into the following challenges

Inspired By - Dreamy Blue (Color Inspiration)

Paper Crafting Journey - Monochromatic

Cute Card Thursday - Butterfly Kisses

Spring... (Why is it snowing outside my window)

Spring is in the air... Why on earth isn't it in my backyard? Fortunately I will spend my time making springy creations and just pretend the white blanket outside is made of fragrant cherry blossoms!  I used the same sketch that we have going on at Cards in Envy, I know I already posted my DT assignment, but a fabulous sketch like that is just going to get used more than once, right!?  So I won some yummy gingham ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon a couple of weeks ago, and I had to pick up some bakers twine whilst I was online, so my flowers are from Making Memories, I embossed the orange paper with an embossing folder from Provo Craft and threw on some bling from my stash... Cuz every card could use a little extra bling!

I am sharing today at

Ooh La La - Orange and Green

The Ribbon Girl - Flowers

Brown Sugar - Spring

Don't forget there's still a whole week left to enter at Cards in Envy, so run over and give it a look-see!

Cards in Envy Sketch #3

Good morning! I hope that you are having a wonderful Monday, today is the sketch challenge over at Cards in Envy and I have 2 cards that I would like to share.  The first I wanted to try a little different take on the sketch, so I decided not to go with the flowery look. I used The Guy Stack from DCWV, I added some ribbon from Basic Grey  and a brad from my stash.  I stamped the sentiment in black Stayz-On ink and used brown ink from Momento to ink all of my edges. Run on over to Cards in Envy to join in the challenge!                                  

I am sharing this card on a few other blogs today 

Catered Crop Recipe Swap - Use Twine

Kenny Ks Krafty Krew - Being Square

Totally Gorjuss - Something Blue

                                                                                                      

Easter is almost here!

It's been such a busy couple of weeks, I haven't had much time to play in my craft room but yesterday I snuck some much needed "me" time and made an Easter card to give to a friend at church.  The image is a digi that has been on my computer forever (if you recognize it let me know, I would like to give credit). I printed the Easter Lily on vellum and colored with pencil.  The sentiment was also on vellum, printed with the outline feature and colored in with gel pen. The paper is from K&Company and I got the sketch from Papertake Weekly. Don't forget to stop by on Monday for the new challenge at Cards In Envy!

Challenges for this card

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes (Spiritual/Inspirational)

Use it Tuesday - All About Spring (Stashed item is the ribbon)

Crafty Creations - Easter

Papertake Weekly - Sketch #77

Cards In Envy Paper Strips Instead of Ribbon

Holy Cow, this has the busiest two weeks that I can remember! So glad to be back in my crafty space :)  It's challenge time over at Cards in Envy!  As always the card needed to fit in a standard mailing envelope, and the challenge is Paper Strips Instead of Ribbon. This was a super fun challenge and I have loved seeing what the other DT members came up with as well, so be sure to stop by their blogs to have a look.

For my card I used the DCWV Lace & Linen stack, I cut the printed ribbon and the flower from one of the pages, both of the bases came from that stack as well.  Then I inked everything in a light brown and added a sentiment. I hope you come join us at Cards In Envy!  I am also entering this card into a couple of challenges today.

Aud Sentiments - For a Girl & Use a Sentiment

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Diva's by Design - Put on Some Pink

Cards in Envy Sketch #2

I was out of town unexpectedly so my card is going up a day late, but I guess it's like my mother always said "better late than never"  :) It is time for another sketch challenge over at Cards in Envy! I used the Madamoiselle stack from DCWV, brads from Making Memories and I stamped my sentiment on ribbon with Stayz-On ink.  I inked all of my edges in a light rust color and used my Fiskars edge tearer for the little peek-a-boo corner. The ribbon is sheer pink from my stash, it is 3 layers thick, to give it some weight so it wouldn't tear.  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this sketch, my fellow DT members have some fabulous inspiration as well so hop over to Cards in Envy to link up and to see all the DT projects!

Birthday Boy

Today I am sharing a birthday card for a little boy. Cards for boys and men are a little harder for me, so this was a bit outside of my comfort zone, but I liked how it turned out.  I used Basic Grey paper and ribbon, and a stamp from TPC. 

Challenges:

Unscripted Sketches - Sketch #199

Creative Card Crew - Birthday

Dutch Dare Card Challenges - For the Boys 

Just Because

Today I am sharing a card that I made for a friend of mine, I used papers from 7 Gypsies, a Fiskars borders punch, brads from Making Memories, ribbon from my stash and a stamp from the dollar bin at JoAnns. I used a sketch that I found at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and inked everything in brown from Color Box. 

Challenges I am entering today

Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch

Paper Playtime - Use a Sentiment Stamp

Twisted Tuesday - Buttons or Brads with Paper Piercing

Cards In Envy Challenge #2

Woo Hoo! We made it through the first challenge, with lots of amazing entries following the sketch Denise posted.  This is my first design team, so every new experience has tons of excitement for me.  Our challenge this fortnight is Dots and Stripes, and here is what I came up with.

And now here comes the difficult honest part... I scraplifted a little bit, my daughter came up with the concept, handed me the paper etc. I made another card that I will show you in a minute, but I really loved this one too much to replace it.  The polka dot and Zebra striped paper were both from my stash, so far back that I don't have a foggy clue where from.  I absolutely LOVE my Dr. Seuss quote stamp, I got it from Punkin' Patch Stamps, I was sad to hear that they aren't creating their stamps anymore, but I think I might just go over there and take whatever they have left online. I had the lime green ribbon left over from a clearance sale when summer ended last year.  When you are done here the Cards In Envy blog has the links to see all of the other DT projects!

Challenges I have entered

Craft Us Crazy - Favorites - Dr. Seuss quotes, polka dots, animal prints

By Lori Designs - Use a Sentiment

The Crafting Cafe - Anything Goes (They are also a new challenge blog, so hop over there and give them some love.)

Raise the Bar - Anything Goes

Love Love Love... it's everywhere

We are having a Valentine making frenzy at my house this week, I wish that I could share all of the cards that have been made over here because so many of my friends have so much talent!  My house is kind of the go to spot for crafting because I have a fabulous understanding hubby who gave up any chance of office space for himself so that I could have a huge craftroom with space to have 3 or 4 friends over making projects without too much trouble.  That being said I am posting yet another Valentine, I am so blessed to have so many people in my life deserving of cards with that very special word "Love" as the theme.  So without further ado

The stamp is from Punkin' Patch Stamps, which has turned into SVGTools, I love their stamps, and am sad to see that they have switched gears, but I am sure that they will provide the same great customer service they did before.  The paper is from DCWV Immortal Stack, and Basic Grey Periphery, and the ribbon is a wonderul clearance find left over from the Christmas season.  I am entering this into a few challenges.

Challenges

Pause Dream Enjoy - Mainly Red

DRS - Use the Word "Love"

Ribbon Carousel Challenge - Love is in the Air

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Monochromatic

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to come back on Monday Feb 18th to see the winners for the challenge over at Cards In Envy, or stop over there now, there's still time to link up!

You are loved

Today I decided to make a card that is a little different then my traditional cards for this time of year. Rather than a romantic card, or a valentine for a friend, the feeling that I hoped to convey was that we are loved, by someone who can love so much better than any friend, or spouse ever could.  This card is a reminder that we are loved most of all by The Lord, and it is his hand that is continually reaching out to help us up.  

Challenges

Hand Stamped Sentiments - Love is in the Air

Less is More! - Kraft and Kreme

Anything Goes - Monochromatic

Cards In Envy Challenge #1

Today I am excited to be a part of a brand new design team... for a brand new challenge blog!  

at Cards In Envy we are creating cards that fit in standard envelopes, and can be mailed using a standard postage stamp. The first Monday of every month will be a sketch challenge, and the third Monday will be a "theme" challenge.  So without further ado, here is our first sketch!

And here is what I did with it.

My Paper is from My Minds Eye, I heat embossed my sentiment from a TPC Studio stamp, and the bling, flowers and ribbon are all from my stash.

Head on over to Cards In Envy to enter and to see what the other designers have come up with!

I am also entering this card into the following challenges

Order of the Opus-Gluei - Bling

Twisted Tuesday - Anything Goes

Paper Crafting Journey - For a Girl

House of Gilli - Pink and Bling

Red, White & Black Valentine

Don't forget to visit

Cards In Envy tomorrow for our first challenge!

Valentine's Day is another one of those favorite holidays that I just can't get enough of!  I am sending this to my oldest daughter... My first to move away, and oh how we miss her!  I embossed the red cardstock using a folder from Provo Craft, the ribbon is from Holiday Inspirations, and the flowers and bling are from my stash.

Challenges I am entering

 Come And Get It! - Sketch

Delightful Challenges - Red and White

Brown Sugar Challenges - Red or Hearts

One Stop Craft Challenge - Anything Goes

Cherish card and a reminder

I started out trying to make a valentine for a man, but somewhere in the bling and the bow, I think this might just have to go to a sister, or a daughter :).  I used The Luxury Stack from DCWV for the paper, the rub-on sentiment and hearts are from Basic Grey, and the ribbon came from a craft shopping spree that my husband went on, so there's just no telling where it came from.  I dry embossed using a Tim Holtz folder, and added a little bling, mostly cause I couldn't help myself.

I am entering this card into these challenges

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Valentines Day with Ribbon

Craft Us Crazy - Valentines

Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Valentines card and an announcement!

First my announcement.  I have joined my first design team, and Cards in Envy will begin posting challenges on February 4th, just a couple more weeks! I am super excited, I've been getting to know the other members of the team and I am going to love working with these ladies, and so will you!

Now, on to my Valentine... I used paper from DCWV and some Basic Grey, the card is 5X5 and the hearts were cut from the Lovestruck Cartridge.  Ink ink ink, add bling and a beautiful sentiment and a ribbon & bow and I have a lovely card to give to an even lovelier friend.

The challenges that I will be entering today are 

Pile it on - Have A Heart

The Pink Elephant - Photo Inspiration

Cute Card Thursday - Diamonds are Forever

Paper Playtime - Use Some Brown

Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes

Psalm 51:10

 I am so grateful today that God can do for me what I cannot do for myself.  I usually make cards with someone in mind, but today I think that I was the one who needed my spirit renewed. So this will stay home with me for now, to remind me how lucky I am to have a Father in Heaven, who watches over me. The paper is DCWV Madamoiselle stack, the brads are Making Memories, and the scripture art is from Word Art Wednesday, I try to visit them every week, since the free word art never fails to inspire me.

Valentine

I decided to go a little outside of my comfort zone today, I usually avoid mixing patterns and colors but I really wanted to do something a little different, so here it is.  I made this for my daughter using the Madamoiselle stack from DCWV, the sentiment is a rub-on from Basic Grey.  I cut the image out of one of the papers, my 11 year old loves butterflies and lots of layers.

I am entering this card into 

 DT call - Cards in Envy

 Butterflies - Brown Sugar Challenge

Use Ribbon - Pause, Dream, Enjoy

Using my new toy!

Well, first off I have to say WOO HOO! Because I love winning things, and I won at Word Art Wednesday last week :) A big thanks to the ladies over there, and to Lisa's Altered Art who sponsored the challenge. I am so excited to use my prizes from Lisa, you should hop over and see her Fabulous altered art!  And my second WOO HOO of the day is that I finally got to use my new Fiskars edger thingy. To be honest I didn't even know that they existed until a few weeks ago, my niece was over for a craft day and asked if I had one, up till then I assumed that there were just some talents that weren't meant for me... Like tearing paper, it never looked right... Go figure, but now I have my nifty new tool!  So here is my first try at torn edges :)

 I used paper from My Minds Eye, and the Scripture was a sticker from my stash. The flower is home-made and I used buttons that I have had so long I don't remember if they were for crafting or if there are lonely shirts just waiting to be mended somewhere.  I am entering this card into the following challenges

Order of the Opus Gluei - Pink Colour Challenge

Twist of Faith - Sketch Challenge

DRS Designs - Buttons

Shopping Our Stash - Old Buttons

Pause, Dream, Enjoy - Use Ribbon

Here is a close-up of the words, it is 1 Corinthians 2:9

Psalm 46:10

My printer is out of toner, so as I was making this frame, I had to reach into my stash, and lo' and behold it was a beautiful word art from Word Art Wednesday that I had printed twice several months ago.  It was fate... or I am a bit of a hoarder, but I think probably fate, since worked in to the challenge there so well. So we are entering 3 challenges today

Word Art Wednesday - Trust

Crafty Creations - Anything goes

The Shabby Tea Room - Picture inspiration (Incidentally the flowers are homemade with ribbon, so I hope that counts toward the guide lines)

Live well, Laugh often, Love much

Today I had a friend over to play in my craft room with me... kind of like a playdate... but for grown-ups :) She had never done a challenge before, and hadn't really played in the crafty part of the blogging world, so we decided to look around and see what she came up with.  This altered picture frame is being entered into 4 challenges today...

Scrappy Moms Stamps - Tic Tac Toe (Glitter, Sentiment, Die-cut)

Desert Island Crafts -  7.Glitter  8.Gems  9.Black, White, & one other color  10.anything but a card

Order of the Opus Gluei - Free For All

Pile it on - Black, White, & one other color

Thank you card

 Now that the holiday season is over, it's time for me to start saying thank you to all of the wonderful people who remembered my family at Christmas! So here is the first of the many thank you cards that I will be sending out over the next couple of weeks.

I used an embossing folder from ProvoCraft, and then drew on the raised parts with an embossing pen, and heat embossed white glitter on top.  The corners are all done with my Fiskars 4 way punch, and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up, heat embossed with white over brown ink.  I inked all of the edges in light brown, and added some ribbon and a button to finish it off. 

I am entering this card into the following challenges

Shopping Our Stash - All White or Cream

ABC Challenges - E for Embossing

Charisma Cardz - Monochromatic