Sending happy thoughts

Yay, I finally have something to share! This weekend is the OWH blog tour and I didn't think I could participate or even make a card, but with a bit of cleaning I've got something created. Thanks to the colors Stacey chose this week for her Curtain Call Color Challenge too! (I did end up having to add orange for the flame though!)

For my card I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch and added bling (in the form of Stickles on the candles) in honor of Glitterbabe Stef's new challenge blog. I knew as soon as I came across my envelope die in my cleaning, I had to create a card for a hero that looked like a hero sending a card. Does that make sense? I love mail, that's all I know.

If you haven't already, head over to Unscripted Sketches for Christmas in July. Yesterday there was a bonus sketch (trying to find time to play!), today you can meet our new designer Linda (then head to her blog HERE), and tomorrow is another Sketch is Saturday with a guest designer. BINGO starts Sunday too (wish I could play, so sign up since I can't!).

Smiles,


Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Kraft, Night of Navy dsp
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Stamps: Tag Time (retired SU), On Your Birthday (SU!)
Other: Sizzix stamp die, Sizzix envelope die, Silver stickles, dimensionals

Frayed edges

This title not only refers to my card today, but to how I feel on frantic days like today! I was finally back to school after vacation today and with an extra day off on Monday it had me (and the kids) all out of sorts. But that huge storm that swept through NH late last week left many without power--not me--and many trees down closing a few roads. I was lucky and didn't lose power for a moment, plus cut down the big tree out front a couple years ago. Not much snow, and what fell has melted or washed away in the rain. Enough about the weather, how about my card?

This card came from a variety of ideas I had in my head over vacation but just never could get to creating. I had a TON of fun with the Mojo Monday sketch and just couldn't get the though of fabric out of my head thanks to the challenge over at Everything But the Kitchen Sink. And once I was pulling the fabric out it was easy to set up the sewing machine quick too. This is a scrap I had left over from some bags I made here and I love combining teal with pink and brown. I stamped the hearts in Chocolate Chip ink and tied a bit of ribbon with some twine. The brown strip is actually from one of those funky things you put on your coffee to keep your hand from burning through the paper cup. They have a name, I just don't know it! Recycling can be so much fun! The most amazing part is that this just fell together and quickly too. Fraying the edges was probably the most time consuming part. Funny how things fray when you don't want them too, but when you want them to it's a process.

That's all from me today, I'm off to relax a bit and get ready for another day of school tomorrow. Thank so much for all your sweet comments lately, they sure do make my day!

Smiles,

Paper(SU): Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Melon Mambo

Ink(SU): Tempting Turquoise, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip

Stamps: hearts (studio G), Take Note (PTI), Tag Lines (Flourishes)

Other: Melon Mambo ribbon (SU), twine, fabric, scallop circle punch(SU), brads (Making Memories), blush pearls, recycled material, Mini pop dots (SU)

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,

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,

Mojo Wednesday!

I can't even think of the last time I completed a Mojo Monday card, but this week was a first. And you'll have to trust me that I finished it on a Monday too, I just wanted to save it to have something to share later in the week....that and it's for a birthday girl who is celebrating today. Happy Birthday to my fellow Unscripted sketcher, April!

This card came together amazingly quickly for me...under 20 minutes! I had the patterned paper and embossed piece sitting out, a scrap of Rose Red from making some valentines and then I put together the oval piece. Wow, I have amazed myself.....I'm not thrilled with the sentiment (kinda lost there) but I just sat and stared for a few minutes and it didn't fix itself. So this is what it is.... My favorite bit is the green ribbon picking up the bit of Green Galore in the stems, which I colored with my Stampin' write marker. Wish I had THAT in every color!

Five straight days of posting, wow! Have you had enough of me yet? It's my stress relief from school, so I anticipate more in the future....

Smiles,

Cards and Challenges!

I'm so excited, I can't remember the last time I made a card for fun or a card for a challenge. Today I have some of each!!! First is my interpretation of this week's Mojo Monday sketch:

Then I made another love card using Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch 50:


Lots of scraps from my table being used, and bits of ribbon too! Since I was on a roll I attempted to work on Stacey's Curtain Call color challenge as well. I didn't have all the shades of pink necessary but did manage something like pretty in pink with a faded pink heart on my sentiment.

I had plenty more scrap where the cards came from so I did a 10 minute scrap card just for fun.

And now I'm exhausted and need to get ready for a wedding.....yes on a Tuesday! Let me know what you think, I'm afraid I've forgotten what a good card looks like since I have created in so long!

Smiles,

Baptized with blessings

Today is my nephew's baptism. DH and I are his older brother's godparents and even though we aren't godparents again (I have to give my SIL's family a turn!) I'm so excited to share in this day with them. Besides, his godparents live across the country so I have a feeling we'll play a big role in his life anyway.

For my card I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch. The picture does not do the card justice--that's what I get for taking pictures in the 12th inning of baseball when I should be sleeping! I didn't upload pics until I already sealed the envelope and no amount of photoshop could fix it, so it is what it is. My favorite piece of this is the cross charm. It was on the invitations to the baptism, so I untied that ribbon and put it on here. I created the sentiment on the computer--a saying on a frame I was checking in at work this week.

Hoping this baseball game will be ending soon.......hope you have a great Sunday!

Smiles,

Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Delicate Dots dsp

Other: ribbon, charm, birds and swirls Cuttlebug folder, computer generated sentiment

Fit for a Princess

Yesterday I scheduled time in my afternoon to play with some ink and make a card. As soon as I saw this week's Mojo Monday sketch I knew just what I wanted to do...that never happens!

I picked up a cute castle stamp just for Izzy but it wasn't perfect for a princess. I stamped it three times on Bashful Blue, snipped each piece out and layered it to make it a bit like Cinderella's castle. The pink circle is embossed with my Birds and Swirls cuttlebug embossing folder---it reminds me of Disney's Cinderella when the birds help her. And what's a princess without pearls?

So Happy Birthday Izzy, you deserve a magical one!!!

Smiles,

Christmas in the Heart

Three day weekends are the best! I finally felt my sore throat disappear Monday morning and fit in some time to create amid school prep, R&R, and yard work. Good thing Monday also mean Mojo Monday!

I'm still trying to get my 25 Christmas cards made for Cards for Heroes, nevermind the fact that I need to figure out what I'll send for a card this year. I enjoyed this sketch and had fun with a new stamp from the $1 bin at Michael's. Love those mini Studio G packs! I'm exhausted from my day at school and wish I could get a picture that would do the card justice. The sentiment panel is popped up on dimensionals and really 'speaks.' Off to prep for tomorrow...glad I could share today...

Smiles,

Paper: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Rose Red, SU dsps, unknown Olive

Ink: Olive Stazon, Black Stazon

Stamps: Studio G (holly), retired SU (sentiment)

Other: unknown ribbon, dimensionals

playing catch-up

I was on quite the roll with the week of Mojo Monday sketches but hit a wall on Thursday where my day ended at the dentist...I didn't get home until after 8! With my school schedule resuming this week I took today to play catch-up and did the final four sketches...here they are in reverse starting with today's wonderful sketch by Mary Fish.

I started with this one because it's my favorite. The color inspiration came from this week's Jazzy Inspiration to use white, gray, black and a 'pop' of green. The picture doesn't do the brads justice--they're green gems! I popped the black squares up with pop-up glue dots and did the rock 'n roll technique for the sentiment, first in Green Galore then in black.

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My second card is Saturday's sketch and I piled on the challenges:


Pile It On: Three's: three punches--fence, circle, bat(was word window and trimmed)
Inspiration: Cinema Saturday Challenge, Field of Dreams
Sketch: Mojo Monday turns 100, day 6

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For Friday's sketch I went simple, using some paper I picked up last Christmas and a bow that was lying around. The pink paper has a bit of glimmer to it, perfect with the sentiment.

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And last up is my Halloween card using the last of my scraps from this card. This was Thursday's sketch when all hope of completing each sketch on each day was lost!


I know I'll be scarce from blogland for the rest of August and most of September while I settle into the back to school routine. I never know who'll be more tired, me or the first graders!



Smiles,

Mojo throwdown!

Another extremely productive day here in NH, and still pretty hot. It was cool enough to mow the lawn which was in desperate need of it! So after sweating all morning at the gym and outside, and then sweating at school all afternoon I cooled off with a card. Just one...I combined the Mojo Monday 100, Day 3 sketch with today's colors at Color Throwdown.

I love the new In Colors (thanks again Terri!) but have no ink to go with them. I found a piece of dsp (don't know which one!) that tied all the colors together though not the same. Is that cheating?

Time to make dinner and get some things ready for "school" tomorrow...even though there aren't kids yet and I'm not getting paid for this time, it's another busy day ahead of me!

Smiles,

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Whisper White, unknown dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust
Stamp: Sweet 'n Sassy A True Friend
Other: Fiskars colonial edge scissors, paisley cuttlebug folder, brads, paper piercing tool, dimensionals

4 cards, 9 challenges!

Wow, I was in the card making groove today! After spending a sweating morning in my classroom, I got my hair cut and retreated to the AC and a cool basement. I've got four cards to share, and it culminates with a great card piled with challenges! Details are at the bottom.

First up is Mojo Monday, with a Tuesday sketch. This came together so quickly, except the flower because I didn't have the right color so I crocheted one while I relaxed on the couch.

Second is a special card that will be going to wounded marine, Ben. You can read more about it HERE and maybe help out too! I used the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge and took inspiration from Pals Paper Art. I loved the striped rug and thought a rainbow of color would go well!

I had fun playing along with the first sketch over at Get Sketchy. It took a lot of snipping with the leaves but I love fall cards and the leaves needed to be realistic.

Last is my Pile it On card which I did my best to pile on the challenges.

Pile It On: masculine (it has to go to a guy because a girl would notice my crooked green panel!)

Our Creative Corner: Christmas in August

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday: red, olive and black

Card Positioning Systems: sketch

Whimsy: use ribbon (which is hard to do on a masculine card!)

I'm exhausted now, and have got to get to some work for the classroom. Back into the sweltering classroom tomorrow morning!

Smiles,

Mojo Card

Paper: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Pale Plum, Washington Apple dsp, unknown dsp

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Stamp: Feathered Hope (retired SU)

Other: ribbon, scallop edge punch, corner rounder, crocheted flower, brad

Feeling Blue card

Paper: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue dsp, Basic Gray dsp, Real Red, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, YoYo Yellow, green, Razzleberry

Ink: Black

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo Friendly Advice

Other: markers

Falling Leaves card

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, unknown dsp

Ink: Olive stazon

Stamps: Give Thanks (SU), sentiment unknown

Other: colored pencils

Pile It On card

Paper Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive, unknown red

Ink: Olive Stazon, Black Stazon, Real Red

Stamps (SU): Button Bear, Made From Scratch

Other: square punch, ribbon, white embossing powder

Mojo Monday

I don't even know the last time I did Mojo Monday ON a Monday but knowing there are a week of sketches to play with I cut out some time. Kinda like a last hurrah on my summer vaca!


I used my new Daisy Sizzlet that I got on sale last week rather than the scallop circle and found just the right button to go with the colors. I love it, but what do you think? Hopefully back tomorrow with more Mojo!


Smiles,

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Creamy Caramel, dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Stamp: Kind Thanks (SU!)
Other: Daisy Sizzlet, gingham ribbon, button, scallop punch

boo!

My mojo has been MIA, as have I, probably with the nearing of school. I'm working in my classroom a bit more, have meetings, and trying to do all those things I planned to do but haven't got to yet! Needless to say the cards haven't been making themselves. I was finally inspired when I got some paper in the mail from Kris of Kween Bee Kreations and went to the basement knowing exactly what I could make.

I ran the black panel through the Big Kick with a Christmas sizzix embossing plate but it came out crooked. So I turned it crooked a different direction and ran it through again. It gave it a cool look though you can't see it too well in the picture. I'm sure my nephews will love to get this in the mail come Halloween!

Smiles,


Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, dsp
Ink: Black Stazon, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Button Bear Accessories (retired SU), Inkadinkado alphabet
Other: Sizzix embossing folder, ribbon, circle punch

Mojo coming out of the closet...

...Courtney's closet that is! I paired this week's Mojo Monday sketch with color inspiration from Libby's From Courtney's Closet challenge this week. I started with the flower pot and went with the colors of her cute kid's bathing suits and ran with it from there. My favorite part is that blue flower, which I colored twice and popped the second image up after I snipped it out, minus a few petals. While making this card I saw the need for me to get some Copics but those Crayola's and Stamp'n Write markers seem to have done the trick. What do you think?

Off to watch some baseball (Go Yanks!), but be sure to stop back tomorrow for my Unscripted Sketch sample AND my chance to be Guest Designer for Jazzy Inspirations!

Smiles,

Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, YoYo Yellow, Orchid Opulence

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore

Stamps: Petite Patterns (SU)

Other: digi image (unknown freebie), Melon Mambo ribbon, Making Memories Brads, circle cutter

Monochromatic mood

I loved getting into the basement and stamping today....just as I intended to. Plus it's about 20 degrees cooler down there! This week's Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge was to make a monochromatic card. So I made TWO!

First is Stacey's all new Curtain Call challenge which I tackled first using this week's sketch from Our Creative Corner. Since I was hot and sweaty on this muggy Tuesday I was thinking cooler thoughts.

And then I couldn't get that song out of my head!!!

With my second card I went with shades of my favorite color, yellow, paired with this week's Mojo Monday sketch.

This card was a snap to put together with a RAK image from LeAnne. It will be a perfect card for a hero to send home to his little girl. If you haven't already, check out Cards For Heroes.

Smiles,

Blue Card

Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy

Ink: Midnight Blue stazon

Stamp: Snow Angels (SU)

Other: glitter, white ribbon, Creative Memories oval cutter, circle punches

Yellow Card

Paper: Barely Banana, So Saffron, Whisper White, Delicate Dots DSP, Washington Apple DSP

Ink: Black Stazon

Stamp: Happy Harmony (SU)

Other: RAK image, ribbon, Creative Memories oval cutter, Making Memories flowers, Michael's pearls

Where has the time gone?

I've been busy so far this summer and card making has fallen by the wayside. Besides playing with my nephew (and still waiting on the arrival of nephew #2) I've picked raspberries from the yard....

Baked raspberry buckle.....

And finally yesterday I made a card!

It's been awhile since I made a card so I decided to pile it on again.
Mojo Monday - sketch
Pile It On - mostly orange
Use Your Stash - color combo, orange/brown

And now it's off to play with my nephew for a bit!!!!

Smiles,

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, Washington Apple dsp

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Stamp: Refuge and Strength (SU)

Other: Pumpkin Pie ribbon