Miracle of all Creation

This week Unscripted Sketches has another great sketch designed by Liz :

I took it quite literally and ran with the colors from this week's ColourQ....boy are they bright! Bright, but perfect for my friend who is having a baby in May. I may use this for the shower (they don't know what they're having) or save it incase it's a girl.

I've got tons of boy baby cards in my stash (from many designs created for my nephews) but no girl ones. I'm trying to keep more cards on hand rather than making them at the last second. We'll see how that goes!

I've shoveled and am eating breakfast, then it's off to work for me. Hope you find time to play along with Unscripted Sketches this week....we were AMAZED with all the creativity that came out last week, here's to another great week!

Smiles,

Curtain Call

Ugh, this weather is blah and making my mood the same! We had a bit of snow when I woke up, but it turned to rain and a driveway full of slush. So I made a card and stayed in my pj's until 3....you can do that on vacation. Then I pushed the slush off the driveway. Except the whole day just put me in a funk of a mood so I'll have to change the routine tomorrow.

For this card I used the Pink Elephant Sketch and the colors from Stacey's latest Curtain Call. I've been stumped about which stamps to use lately, so I went to my trusty old Happy Harmony from SU. It took a bit to get there but I like the end result. Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Tea Party

Ever have stampers block? I did! I attempted about 40 cards before finally finishing this one. Which stinks because my husband was playing Wii golf with his brother and I knew I had a couple hours of uninterupted stamping time. This is all that came of it besides a lot of scraps into the recycling bin.

I used this week's Card Positioning Systems sketch to make this. Once I pulled out my Garden Tea Party paper it came together easy peasy. Hopefully with the snow coming in the next few days I'll be doing not much more than shoveling and creating. I'm mailing a box off to OWH tomorrow too and I know that always helps to have one less thing to worry about meeting a deadline for!

Smiles,

Stars and Stamps Sketch

Good morning! Today I'm excited to share with you that I've created a sketch for the Stars and Stamp blog (Operation Write Home's Blogger's Circle). Here is the card I created for S&S Sketch challenge 5:

Having never created a sketch before, I went somewhat simple. Actually I went backwards and created a card first, then drew the sketch. My goal was to use a set amount of paper (Two pieces Garden Green, one piece Soft Suede, one piece white, one piece 6x6 dsp in Garden Green and eight A2 card bases) and use it up to make eight cards. Here's what I started with:

And here's the paper cut up and ready to go:

I punched word windows with Happy Birthday and Thanks sentiments in Chocolate Chip or Garden Green Ink. The green was cut to 4 x 5 1/4" and suede is 4 x 2 1/2" and the dsp is 1 1/2 x 2 1/2". With SU's Simply Said stamp set I added a bit of background to a few cards, and added ribbon to a few.

These were also created before I could find the floor or table in my craft area, so it was necessary to keep it simple. Now that I'm back to a sense of order I'd probably emboss a few of the suede or green panels. Either way these cards are off to OWH for some heroes to keep in touch with home.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you find time to give my sketch a try. Flip it, rotate it, do whatever it takes to make it work. Then link it up HERE at Stars and Stamps--I can't wait to see what you create!

Smiles,

Unscripted with a Twist

Good morning!! Even though I'm off to work, it's a GREAT morning for me...I'm on vacation this week. Apparently it's a New England thing to do a February vacation, but I grew up with it and can't live without it. Plus for anyone who skis it's necessary, and good for the state's economy. I'm not a skier so hopefully it will mean extra crafting time. Onto today's sketch with a twist.

This week we've got a fabulous sketch (by Liz) with a piggyback challenge, if you dare: Check out the colors! I loved it and ran with it.

The colors I went with are: Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue and Garden Green (all SU). In coloring my image (along with the sentiment came from candy from Susan a LONG time ago) I also threw in So Saffron because it's a bee hive! This sketch was a great one for using up those random 3/4 inch and inch pieces I keep because "what if" and "I may use them". I guess I need to do A LOT of these sketches now!

Head over to Unscripted Sketches to play along. Check out all the DT to see what they created and don't worry if the colors are throwing you...some didn't use the colors and you don't need to, but it's a great jumping off point if you do. Can't wait to see what you create!

And be sure to stop by tomorrow for a fun thing I'm involved in having to do with our heroes....

Smiles,

Clueless

I finally found time to play along with this week's Unscripted Sketch, which turned out to be much easier when I stretched it rather than trying to flip it. I combined it with the Cinema Saturday challenge which is one of my favorite movies: Clueless

In the movie there are so many fun prints and bright colors (none of which I would ever wear or combine as they do, being a bit afraid of sticking out) so I was immediately drawn towards the green houndstooth and wanted to funkify it by combining it with the bright and fun plaid ribbon. It's a nice simple card but I love the look...I'll probably make a few more of them with other colors.

As for me, I've got one more day of school before my February vacation starts and then I'll be trying to have something fun to share each day. Hopefully I'll catch up on some scrapbooking too! Be sure to stop by Saturday for a new Unscripted Sketch (with a fun addition to the challenge if you dare) and I've got a fun surprise on Sunday too.

Smiles,

Bold Brights

I'm on a roll! I saw this week's color for ColourQ and just had to play along. Perhaps it's the first grade teacher in me, but I love those classic Crayola colors. Except I had no Brilliant Blue so I substituted Pacific Point. I used the CPS sketch and added stars for the Frosted Design Challenge.

For anyone counting, the snowflake count is just creeping up to triple digits...I think the storm has finally arrived.

Smiles,

Snow Day

Well I indeed have a snow day today, which is funny because I haven't seen a flake fall from the sky yet and it's past 10! But I've been to they gym already and am ready to get out there an attack the driveway when the snow decides to pile up...we'll see.

Here's the first of two cards I made so far. I used the Mojo Monday sketch for it and a new favorite color combo--chocolate chip, kiwi kiss, baja blue and pacific point. So that's my All About Me for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge. I also finally inked up a Verve Plain Jane that I won last summer....shame on me! I had to do a mirror image with the sentiment and flower panel. And since I used flowers this is also for Pile It On this week. Three challenges, not much of a pile.

For my second card I used the sketch from Everything But the Kitchen Sink along with left over bits and pieces. I love the look of it and hopefully a hero will too because this one is going to Operation Write Home.

For now I'm off to take care of my sick husband (hopefully I stay healthy) and if he naps I can make some more cards. Oooh, look three snowflakes!

Smiles,

PPA sketch

Well I not only was very productive on my day off today (gym, grocery shopping, laundry, dishes) but I also made some cards! I'll share just one now, incase that snow doesn't come as planned and give me time to make more tomorrow...

For this card I used the Pals Paper Arts sketch and combined it with the Color Chef colors for this week: Kraft, Cream and Black. I love this scrap of black and cream that I had from last week's cleanup. It came off a wedding invitation last year and I made one card with it already but there are bits and pieces to be used still. I embossed the Very Vanilla with a Sizzix embossing plate and punched the corners with my ticket corner punch. It came together fairly easily but I'm still not sure if I'm loving it.

I'm off to get to some school work that has been put off for the long weekend....I should get it done just incase my superintendent has us go to school and deal with whatever driving conditions the snow brings. I'll be back tomorrow with another card either way, and hopefully I'll find time to do this week's Unscripted Sketch. Have you played along yet?

Smiles,

Pile on the Love

I'm headed to my MIL's for dinner tonight (I'm quite excited that I don't have to cook!) and I wanted to make her a fun Valentine's card to go with the box of chocolates I've got for her.

Since it seems that most challenges out there are for Valentines I was really able to pile on quite a few challenges:

Pile It On: To the One You Love
Just Us Girls: Split Negative Technique
Stars and Stamps Technique Challenge: Heat Embossing (heart stamp was embossed with red and white)
Curtain Call Color Challenge: Real Red, Kraft and Vanilla (or white in my case)
Card Positioning Systems: sketch
Cute Card Thursday: In the name of Love
Creative Belli Blog: Ribbons (XO behind the heart)
Our Creative Corner: Something Old (the ribbon has been in my stash for at least 2 years!)
Stampin' for the weekend: Valentine Theme
Creative Card Crew: Valentine
Penny's Challenges: Valentine/Love
AllSorts Challenge: 3,2,1 (I used 3 colors for paper, 2 colors of embossing powder and 1 ribbon)
The Pink Elephant: Valentine

Wow, I think that's all!

Anyway, I'm off to play with my nephews, but after work tomorrow it's a bit more crafting for me. If I'm good and get my schoolwork done I plan on making the most of my day off on Monday too. Thanks for stopping by, and if you have time check out this week's Unscripted Sketch!

Smiles,

Day Off

After a whirlwind week I don't have something to share for this week's Unscripted Sketch. But it's a great one (I've got ideas, they just never came together) so head on over to see what all the rest of the DT created. I'm hoping to play along with you later this week!

Smiles,

A card and some cleaning

Well today I took a personal day to have lunch with some friends, at Pickity Place, which only does seatings at certain times. However mother nature decided otherwise...sorta. About 30 minutes before we were supposed to meet it started snowing. The forecast only said 1-3 inches but it also said it would start about 4 hours later. So in being worried about driving to the middle of nowhere, headed south to where there would be more snow, our lunch is rescheduled for the week I'm on vacation. And I decided to make good use of my suddenly free time.

First I'll share my card for today which is partly a product of the clean up process. The embossed piece and all the flowers were scraps just waiting to be turned into a card. This is for a challenge that Kris came up with, a sketch with a color challenge to use purple and yellow. Yellow is my favorite color but I don't normally pair it with purple! I paired a Barely Banana card base with Pale Plum and Lovely Lilac. Too bad I stamped the sentiment crooked!

Here is the reason I was actually excited to have lunch canceled...four free hours that I had nothing planned to do, and this:

What a mess! Where's the floor? Or the couch?

I organzied all of my Sizzix dies and all my embossing plates in drawers. I think I'll go through and emboss something with each of the folders and plates for a quick reference. The dies are labeled so I know what I have at a quick glance. I don't have anything in the drawers below them yet, I'll have to see what I have that I don't use much.

After a lot of cleaning and reorganizing and throwing away of who knows what, I found my table (and the floor!) and think I like the setup. The couch will be a project for another day, though many items have already been rescued.

And this picture was taken AFTER I made the card. The only things left out on the workspace are things for my afternoon projects. But I was hungry for lunch. How long do you think I can keep it clean????

Smiles,

Guess what...

....showed up at school for me yesterday?

My first NEW car!!! Except I didn't have my camera at school so I took pictures at home. I've never had a car with less than 70,000 miles on it--I just hit 100 miles with this one yesterday. With DH working at a dealership this year we took advantage of a few deals. Isn't he so cute putting balloons on it and everything? Check out my Camry!

Too bad that grass will get a bit of snow on it and my beautiful car as well. But it's nothing like what the rest of the country is going through so I'm not complaining!

And yes, the gas pedal is fine!

Smiles,

Unscripted scrap card

This week's sketch for Unscripted Sketches is the perfect sketch for a scrap card. Besides the base (which was already cut and ready to go!) I cleaned up my craft area a bit to make this card.

I used the colors from this week's Color Dare (have scraps left from a project in December), embossed the blue strip with my swiss dots Cuttlebug and popped the greeting up on dimensionals. The flower was a random bit of fun I had bought on sale this summer and never used. I also have them in white, pink and black so they may be surfacing soon in another project.
I'm working today, seeing my best friend tonight and hopefully crafting before game time tomorrow. Hope to stop by and see what you've created with this week's sketch. Head on over to Unscripted Sketches to see what all the rest of the DT has come up with!

Smiles,

What a week!

Is it Friday already? This week flew by and I'm happy that the weekend is here, but I know it will fly by just as fast. Anyone else feel that way? Probably not those of you buried in the snow, or counting the minutes until your team gets to the big game Sunday. Hopefully I can craft a bit...

I haven't found time to play in many challenges lately so I set out to make a funky Valentine and go a bit outside my comfort zone. I combined this week's Mojo Monday sketch (wow, lots of elements, which I altered the shape of a bit) and the PPA color challenge: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink and Black. I fought the urge to put any white in there, making it a true challenge! The heart is a bit of chipboard covered in a nice pink paper that has small white XOs on it...just didn't photograph well despite my best efforts.

I'm off to relax on the couch a bit, but be sure to come back tomorrow for a new sketch from Unscripted Sketches. I used it to make a 10 minute scrap card!

Smiles,