Dueling Lovebirds

     I see Darnell has a new challenge site called Twofer Card Challenge. The task is to make two different cards using the same stamp. I seem to remember doing a very similar challenge a couple of years ago. You can see those cards here. 
     The theme is feathers and I wanted to get in on the maiden challenge. I have chosen this cute lovebird stamp from Gina K's "Better With You" stamp set. I am entering a Valentine and a Birthday card.

     For the first card, I started with a Sketch N Scrap sketch from this month's Facebook New Beginnings Crop.

Sketch #41

     I initially planned to make the card completely black and white. I was intrigued at the possibility of coloring the entire image with Copics C markers. Something came over me when I got to the hearts. For some reason I reached for R24. I then made a dash for a scrap of Gina K's Red Hot card stock and just like that; it became a black, white and one more color card. 

     I joined the RRR (Really Reasonable Ribbon) club in October - as well as purchasing a Bow-It-All. I am in the process of perfecting my double looped bow. If you check my previous posting you will see an EXTREMELY similar pink one. 

     As you can see in the sketch, there are a flurry of embellishments required. I had my heels dug in on this one. I thought the card looked done and didn't want it to get too busy. I tried scribbles (too big). I tried gems (too small). I tried Stamps of Life diecut hearts (just right). Oh, and don't you love it when something falls on just the right spot on the page and well, it turns into a happy surprise. That would be the moment the heart fell on the word "you".

Inside of Card

     Moving on to card #2. For this card I color matched my paper with Copics for the image. I wanted a short rectangle across the top and that pesky birdhouse was getting in the way. I decided to cut it off and dangle it from the branch. Upon centering the rest of the stamp on the card there appeared to be too much card for too little stamp. I decided to cut the top portion of the stamp into inchies. I then matted the inchies, then matted that, then matted that, then matted that, then placed it on the card base. There are a couple of tricks in there, but you can see those.

Card and Envelope

     The stamp on the inside of the card is the result of a scouring of my stamp drawer. This one is from Penny Black. As usual the inside of both of these cards is based on elements from the front and whatever scraps are left on the craft table.

Inside of Card

Materials List: Black White Lovebirds

     Patterned Paper: Gina K - Petite Papers

     Card Stock: Gina K - Red Hot

                                    Black and White

     Stamps: Gina K - Better With You

                  Beth Salaika - Lovely Ladybug

     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black

     Die: Stamps of Life - Hearts 2 Die For

     Copics: R24.   C1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

     Embellies: Really Reasonable Ribbon - Delicate Stitched Satin (Black)

                    Brad - Sparkly Heart - (Black)

Materials List: Dangling Birdhouse

     Patterned Paper: Gina K - Made With Love

     Card Stock: Gina K - Peach Bellini

                                   White

     Stamps: Gina K - Better With You

                  Penny Black - Nature's Wishes

     Die: Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

                                Petite Scalloped Circles Large

            Elizabeth Craft Designs - Tags & More 5 (Sunburst)

            Impression Obsession - Circle Baby Cutout Set

     Punch: ek - Dotted Wave Small

     Copics: YG41. RV42. BG45.

     Embellies: Ivory Twine stained with Gina K's Blue Lagoon

    

Challenges

Twofer Card Challenge - Feathers - #101 - *

 Challenges for Black White Lovebirds

C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Love/Valentines - #33 - *

Daring Cardmakers - Black, White, Pop - #6 - ?

Inspire. Create. Challenges - Love - #24 - *
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - #317-318 - Snippets - #13 -*

Challenges for Dangling Birdhouse

Seize the Birthday - Birthday - #28 - *

Sleeping Baby

     A friend of mine is going to be a grandma again. This inspired me to make a baby boy card. With this card I am playing along at the Back to School Crop. You can join in as well. Cards are not due until the end of the month. Just download a pic of your card under this sketch on the Back to School Crop page on Facebook.

Sketch 86

     The stamp for this card is 1/3 of the Lili of the Valley "Baby Trio" stamp set. 

Card & Envelope

      I made the mistake of coloring the image before choosing my paper, so I had to stamp and color again. Rookie mistake - lol. 

      I framed the baby with a scalloped mat, then pop dotted it to a homemade tag. I ended up turning the tag upside down, because I liked the way the diagonal at the tag top looked next to diagonally placed wooden letters.
     You will notice in the materials list that I used some Christmas paper. You might wonder where this Christmas paper is. The answer is the turquoise matting is the back of a countdown to Christmas paper. I got a package of 25 sheets of it at Tuesday morning and placed on the pile of turquoise solid card stock. I am officially down to 6 pieces left - yes, I walked across the room to take inventory.

Inside of Card

     The inside of the card is made with scraps left on the table. How about that Joe Houldsworth quote? Couldn't have asked for a better sentiment: "the ONLY thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child". I decided to look this bloke up and see who is making these wonderful quotes about babies. It seems that he is from Australia (if I have the right gentleman) and this is the ONLY quote of his that I could find with a google search. Interesting!!!

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Dear Lizzy - Christmas Winter Wish

                              Studio Calico - Storytime

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Honeycomb

                                   Ivory   

     Stamps: Lili of the Valley - Baby Trio

                  Fiskars - Precious Baby Quotes I

     Die: Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large

                                Petite Scalloped Circles Large

            Elizabeth Craft Designs - Tags & More 5 (Sunburst)

            Impression Obsession - Circle Baby Cutout Set

     Copics: E50, 51, 53. R20. BG10, 23, 32. C00, 0, 1. Y23, 26, 28. R32.

     Embellies: Doodlebug Boutique Brads (Bumblebee)

                    Wood Veneer Letters

    

Challenges

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Kids/Babies - #41 - *
Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute Image - #23 - *

Eeyore's Kiss

     I am finally getting a chance to scrapbook some pics from my visit to Disney in Anaheim. My fave character is Eeyore who I met at breakfast. As you can see, he was pretty happy to meet me as well.

     I used this sketch from Sketch N Scrap. As usual there is a challenge on the blog and you are invited to participate. It is easy to link up your project and see if you are the lucky winner. Just try out the sketch below.

Layout Sketch #134

     The Eeyore Mickey is a purchase from Etsy. I altered the bottom of it a bit. In order to have the tail swing back and forth on a black brad, I made my own svg file of a donkey tail. 
     I think I'm going to call this font "My Eeyore Font" from now on. It fits perfectly on this banner. 
     I have to mention the mini Eeyore punch. My husband gave it to me years ago. He brought my lunch to my classroom one day and I found it in the bottom of the bag. Surprise!!! I punched a few and added them to A+ papers This is the first time I've used it in my paper crafting.
      I ended up making a complimentary page to extend it into a 2-page layout. 

      I added a fun tag to page 2. It goes behind the mat and is forced to stop when it meets the back strip. When you pull it, it is fun to see the yellow disappear. 

      I added a "Hidden Mickey" on the tag as well. You can't see it until you pull the tag. That makes 4 "Hidden Mickey's" on this 2-page layout. Can you find them all?

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Magical Adventure

     Solid Paper: Bazzil - Marshmallow Chick

                                       Nautical Blue - Medium

                                       Royalty

                          Paper Studio - Black and White

                          My Colors Cardstock: Wildflower

     Dies: Elizabeth Craft Designs - Tags & More 7 (with a Vine)

                                                        Banners

                                                        Cupcake (Bow & Small Flower)

              Darice - Nesting Wavy Squares

              Stamps of Life - Flower Power           

     Punches: Disney - Eeyore & Mickey                               

     Silhouette: 3 Blue Hearts Design -Eeyore Mickey Head

     Embellies: Blue Twine 

                       Lilac and Blue Gems

Challenges

Pixie's Crafty Workshop Challenge #291-2 - Snippets - #63 - *

So Sweet

     I spent two weeks in May sitting with my 4 month old granddaughter, Brooklyn, while my daughter finished the last few weeks of school. As a treat my son-in-law, Steven, took me out for ice cream at the most popular spot in Fort Worth. 

     After polishing off my ice cream, I took a final photo of the CURLY'S sign. That is when I knew these pics were headed for a scrapbook page. This sketch from Sketch N Scrap worked perfectly. Now it is your turn to pop over to the Sketch N Scrap Facebook page for the Crop Challenge and upload your layout. I'll be watching to see your ideas for this sketch.

     To form the title I welded an ice cream sundae with the words "So Sweet" on the Cameo Silhouette.

     The tag below the pic is removable and contains the journaling for this event.

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper:Pebbles - May Bouquet

     Solid Paper: Bazzil - Sugar Wafer

     Dies: Elizabeth Craft Designs - Tags & More 5

               Ice Cream Cones (no idea where they come from)

     Stamps: Gina K Designs - Sweet Things

     Silhouette: PPbN Designs - You're So Sweet

     Markers: Copics - YG17, BV25, BG72, R27, V20, Y15 (sprinkles)

                     Versa Marker

     Chatter Box: Journaling Genie - #6 Freeflow

     Embellies: Yellow Twine