Gobble, Gobble

     This card is about as close as I get to CAS. I find myself putting as much as I can possibly fit onto every project. This funny little turkey is from one of Karen Burniston's die sets. It is certainly fun to dress up the animals from her collection. 

     The sentiment is from a stamp set, but I do not know which one. It was stamped on a card in a class that I took. I printed a whole row of these and put them in my "Feathered Animals" die set for future use. I just grabbed the oval punch and punched one out for this card.

     As soon as I saw this sketch from Sketch N Scrap, I knew that I was going to be using this card stock that I had from the "Happy Haunting" collection by Simple Stories. When it came time to choose colors for the striped background, I just let the paper do the work for me.

Card Sketch #158 by Lisa Hidy

from "Happy Haunting" collection by Simple Stories

     I guess the "word bird" in this case is "gobble"! The inside of this card is extremely simple as well.

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Simple Stories - Happy Haunting

     Card Stock: My Colors - Black Magic

                                       Dovetail

                                       Peach

                                       Dare Devil

     Stamp: SOL - Pilgrims 2 Stamp

     Dies: Burniston - Feathered Animals

                              Tiny Accessories 2

     Punch: Stampin' Up - Ovals (2 x 1 3/8) (1 3/4 x 7/8) 

     

Peace . . . On Earth

     I have been itching to do some Ai Watercolor painting and I had a card due for the Sketch N Scrap design team. Even though I knew the proportions would be off, I decided to combine the two. 
     The Ai Watercolor Swing Set is my newest stamp set and I completed the project using the YouTube video. Of course my painting hardly even looks like the example. In fact, I did 3 of these and none of them looks the same - that would be impossible.

     I used this sketch by Heather Hall. You can see that the rectangle is now a square and I slanted the banner. 

Sketch #157 by Heather Hall

      When I went looking for patterned paper for this card, I immediately went for something in the old leftovers drawer. I have 4 or 5 old Christmas collections to pick from. This paper is three years old. I remember buying it to make gift card holders for a swap. My daughter and I both entered this swap. She made Silhouette Christmas purses and I did a tri-fold. Anyway ---- plenty of houndstooth and this red (that looks like a solid) to make 3 cards. Sad to say: there is still a healthy bit left including a plaid that is to die for. 

Inside of Card

     For the inside of the card, I had three Christmas Pine squares sitting on the table from cutting out the frame for the painting on the front. I love to use the scraps from the front of the card to design the inside of the card.

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Carta Bella - Christmas Delivery

     Cardstock: Gina K - Christmas Pine

                                  Ivory

     Watercolor Paper

     Stamp: Ai Watercolor - Swing Set

                                       Cats Set

                                       Branches Set

                                       Foliage Set

                Gina K - Winter Cheer

     Markers: Marvy - 72 Pine Green

                               86 African Violet

                               28 English Red

                               40 Brownish Grey

                               45 Sepia

     Dies: Sizzix - Holiday Words (Script)

     Punch: Fiskars - Apron

     Embellies: Molotow - Masking Liquid

                     Paper Studio - Gemstones 4mm Pearls

Seas the Day

     Here is an uplifting card. The only patterned paper is the blue stormy paper in the center (and the anchor on the inside of the card). I used a wave embossing folder and ran white pigment ink over the top. The port hole is cut from a Silhouette file. I ordered this gold paper form The Paper Mill. I was introduced to it in a card class taught by the owner of La La Land. I also added nail head stickers from my stash.

     The 1/8 inch natural linen ribbon is another of my favorites. I keep a bunch of it on hand from Hobby Lobby. I wait for the 1/2 price per roll sale. The sailboat, bird, embossing folder, anchors, sentiments, and rope trim all come from Stampin' Up. I ordered the entire suite called "Sailing Home". I am looking forward to making more projects with the paper that is included in this package.

Card Sketch #15

     I used this sketch by Heather Hall to construct this card. 

     The background is not patterned paper. I used ivory card stock. I scored every inch. Using a cheapo brown ink pad (I keep just for this purpose) hold the ink pad upside down and drag in the same direction as the scoring. Voilá! Woodgrain background. Another example of a card using this method can be seen here.

     The circles on the inside of the card are the leftovers from the circles on the front of the card. I love making the inside of the card using the scraps on the table.

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Kaiser Craft - High Tide

     Cardstock: Gina K - In the Navy

                                  Sandy Beach

                     The Paper Mill - Gold

     Stamp: Stampin' Up - Sailing Home

                 Gina K - Ocean-Minded

     Dies: Stampin' Up - Smooth Sailing

             Sizzix - Circles

     Silhouette File: Porthole, Whale Tail bu Lizzie Mayne

     Copics: Boat - R22, 24

                Sails - W0

     Ink: Gina K - Chocolate Truffle

                         In the Navy

            Brilliance - Moonlight White

            Ranger - Cocoa

     Embellies: Gelly Roll - Stardust 

     Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up - High Seas

     Embellies: - Gold Nail Heads

                       Sakura Gold Gel Pen

                       Ribbon - 1/8 inch Natural Linen

                       Stampin' Up - Sail Away Trinkets (Anchor)

Obey the Rules

     I have been working to get all of my dies, stamps, stencils, and embossing folders into a data base. The original reason that I started this was so that I wouldn't purchase the same thing twice. Another reason was so that I could search for a particular sentiment. For instance, not too long ago I was looking for the words: it's your birthday. I was able to locate every stamp that I own that says that.

     The reason I am mentioning this now is because I am also coming across stamp and die sets that I have all but forgotten. The Crazy Birds is one of them. I was typing it in to my data base and it made me want to make another card using them. I happened to have Simple Stories Bloom paper out, so I color-matched some inks to the paper and sponged them onto my Crazy Birds. I made four different birds. I ended up making two cards using two birds per card.

     I used this sketch by Lisa Hidy. As you can see, I did not put the banners on the card. I tried to, but with the big polka dots, it was just too busy. 

     Recently I have been taking a scrapbooking class with lots of sewing on the layouts. For this card I decided to do some sewing. I pulled out my stack of sewing templates and chose the candle and the gift.

     These birds certainly allow opportunities for using some of these odd sentiments that I have accumulated over the years.

Inside the card

Inside the other card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Simple Stories - Bloom

     Cardstock: My Colors - Black Magic

                                       Spanish Moss

                                       Snowbound

     Stamp: Tim Holtz - Bird Crazy

                 River City - Obey all the Rules

                 Gina K - Wild at Heart

     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black

            Gina K - Prickly Pear

                         Sandy Beach

            Distress - Pistachio

                           Tattered Rose

                           Worn Lipstick

                           Fresh Asparagus

     Embellies: Gelly Roll - Stardust 

                     Stitching Template - We R Holiday

                     DMC Floss #503, Yellow, Pink

Seasons Springtime Calendar

     Here is the first of 4 seasonal calendars made with Graphic 45's "Seasons" Collection.

Spring Calendar

      I decided on an easel card to better display the calendar. One thing that you can't really see, is that the calendar is for the Spring months only. Under the month of March 2018 is April 2018, May 2018, March 2019, April 2019, and May 2019. The brads allow the calendar to be extended to later years as those calendars become available. I downloaded these calendars from Print-a-Calendar.

     To brace the card there is a row of Burniston's flowers with gem centers.


     I will be making 16 cards and 4 calendars with this Graphic 45 Seasons Paper. All of these SEASON cards can be made using:

• one sheet of each of the patterned paper 
• one sheet of each of  Prints and Solids

In order to make All Seasons cards and calendars, you only need purchase the following items once:

• Tags and Pockets
• Chip Board
• Ephemera
• Stickers

Stay tuned for more cards this year.

Spring

Spring Double Gate Card

Spring Shutter Card

Spring Seed Pack Holder 

Spring Center Step Card

Spring Calendar  - You are here!

Summer

Summer Poppy Block Card

Sweet Summer Pocket Card

Summer Pen Nib Butterfly

Summer Embroidery Hoop Easel

Summer Impossible Calendar

Autumn
Autumn Joy Fold Plus
Autumn Patchwork and Feathers
Autumn Shaker
Autumn Scarecrow
Autumn Calendar

Winter
Winter Birdhouse
Winter Cozy Snow Day
Winter Pop Up Gift Card Holder
Winter Box on Card 
Winter Calendar 

Materials: 

     Die: Burniston - Flowers & Bee

     Ink:Distress - Frayed Burlap

     Embellies: Ivory Twine 

                   Gems - Clear (3 mm and 5 mm)

                   Brads - Brass

Challenges

Seasons Spring Seed Packet Holder

     Here is the perfect spring card. It has a pocket up front that is the size of a seed packet. Anyone would be happy for receive a packet of flower seeds at this time of year. 

     The sentiment is a sticker matted on brown eyes paper - "Life Began in a Garden". The sentiment is flanked by copper mini brads.
     Decorating the pocket are three stamps on stakes which are embossed with a wood grain folder. The stamps looks very much like seed packets themselves - the kind used to mark seed rows in the garden.

     Here you can see that the pocket is only 1/4 inch deep. Actually there is plenty of room to for two packets of seeds.

     The card is complete with a piece of ephemera or journaling card. This is a great place to add a handwritten sentiment and sign the card. Inspired by: Gloria Stengel.

Inside of Card

This pocket fits nicely on an A2 card.

     I will be making 16 cards and 4 calendars with this Graphic 45 Seasons Paper. All of these SEASON cards can be made using:

• one sheet of each of the patterned paper 
• one sheet of each of  Prints and Solids

In order to make All Seasons cards and calendars, you only need purchase the following items once:

• Tags and Pockets
• Chip Board
• Ephemera
• Stickers

Stay tuned for more cards this year.

Spring

Spring Double Gate Card

Spring Shutter Card

Spring Seed Pack Holder - You are here!

Spring Center Step Card

Spring Calendar

Summer

Summer Poppy Block Card

Sweet Summer Pocket Card

Summer Pen Nib Butterfly

Summer Embroidery Hoop Easel

Summer Impossible Calendar

Autumn
Autumn Joy Fold Plus
Autumn Patchwork and Feathers
Autumn Shaker
Autumn Scarecrow
Autumn Calendar

Winter

Winter Birdhouse

Winter Cozy Snow Day

Winter Pop Up Gift Card Holder

Winter Box on Card 

Winter Calendar 

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Graphic 45 - Seasons

     Card Stock: My Colors - Brown Eyes

                                        Kraft

                      Bazzill - Sawdust

     Ink:Distress - Frayed Burlap

     Embossing Folder: Darice - Woodgrain

     Embellies: Ribbon - Seam Binding Ecru

                    Brads - Copper

Challenges

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Spring - #44 - *

Dream Valley Challenges - Spring Colours - #44 - *

Everybody Art Challenge - Spring - #6 - April 10

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Spring Flowers - #24 - Top 5

Pixie's Crafty Workshop - Anything Goes - #46 - *

Simply Create Too Challenge - Green - #74 - *

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 - *

You Are My Sunshine

     It is my Granddaughter, Brooklyn's, first birthday next week. The theme of her party is "You Are My Sunshine". The party is going to be a brunch next Saturday. I'm going to be pretty busy making a few things for the party. I said that I would make mini muffins and star-shaped Rice Krispie bars. I have a couple of paper craft items to finish this week as well. 

     This sweet birthday girl stamp was a freeby from Elizabeth Bell Designs a few weeks ago - excellent timing. I chose Echo Park's "Birthday Wishes" paper collection because it had the pink and yellow being used as party colors.

The Birthday Girl

     I offset the sun on the inside of the card, so there would be room to sign in the lower right corner.

Inside of Card

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Birthday Wishes - Girl Birthday Hats

                                                                          Girl Stripes

                                                                          Girl Birthday Party

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Stormy Medium

                                   White 

     Ink: Gina K - Moonlit Fog

     Stamps: Elizabeth Bell Designs - Party Pose

                  Gina K - All About You

                  Impression Obsession - On Your Birthday

     Silhouette File: Miss Kate's Cuttables - Sunshine

     Embellies: Really Reasonable Ribbon - Delicate Stitched Satin 5/8" (Pearl Pink)

                     Gems - 4mm pink

     Copics: Skin - E000, 04, 11, R20

                 Hair - E31, 33, 35

                 Dress/Hat - RV11, 13, 14, 17

                                   Y11, 13, 15

                 Shoes - C1, 3, 5

                 Ground - W1, 3, 5

                 Shadow - B000

    

Challenges

Brown Sugar Challenge - Birthday - #136 - *
Creative Knockouts - In Stitches - #12 - *
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Anything Goes - #3 - *

Southern Girls Challenge - Stitch Me Up - #34 - *
Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Pink*Ribbon*Square - #11 - Winner!!!

Vintage Cars

     I put this card together yesterday for a friend from our dinner group that is celebrating a birthday. 
     I started with one of Lili of the Valley's trio stamp sets. The car on the front flap is part of an older Lili of the Valley stamp called "Toot Toot". I colored the front of the card from that one and placed it on a vintage map mat.

Card and Envelope

     Previously, I have always made cube-shaped box cards and I have cut them on the trimmer and scored them myself. I purchased this box card die from Stamps of Life. I believe it is fairly new. I particularly liked working with it, because it makes larger mats on the front flap and back of card. There is also more room to spread out the goodies that are going in the box. Usually the side flaps (which are now smaller) are secondary anyway.

     Clocks and gears are always good filler for masculine cards so I added a few of those. I also used these on the side flaps.

Back of Card

     I always decorate the back of my box cards with scraps that are left on the table.

Envelope

     I die cut Tim Holtz's "Jalopy" for the envelope. The stamp giving it motion is a flourish from a floral stamp set. 

Materials List:

     Patterned Paper: Echo Park - For the Record (Borders & Fancy)

     Card Stock: Bazzill - Sugar Wafer

                                   White

                                   Black

                       Neenah - Metallic Gold

     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black

            Distress - Hickory Smoke

            Gina K - Moonlit Fog

     Copics: BG 72, 75, 78

                Y21, 23, 26, 28

                W1, 2, 3, 5, 7

                C1, 2, 3, 5, 6

     Punches: EK - 1/2" corner

                   Stampin Up - Word Window

     Stamps: Gina K - Dahlia

                  Lili of the Vally - Toot Toot

                                          Vintage Motor Trio

     Dies: Burniston - Clock and Gears

                               Snowman Twist Circle

             Tim Holtz - Jalopy

             Stamps of Life - Box Card

     Embellies: 2 Gold Brads

                     Acetate

    

Challenges

Alphabet Challenge - U is for Use 3 of something - #57 - *
Cute Card Thursday - Something New (Box Card Die) - #58 - *
Frilly and Funkie - 3 is Not a Crowd - #30 - *
Little Red Wagon - Boy Oh Boy - #26 - *
Paper Minutes - Vehicles - #9 - ?
Stamps & Fun - Use Stamps - #24 - ?
Vintage Journey - Think Inside of the Box - #4 - *