Screwed up the sketch--love the card.

I made this card following a sketch, but accidentally turned it upside down when I put all the pieces together. Even though I can't enter it in the sketch challenge, I'm looking at it as a happy accident, because it's one of my absolute favorites. 

I purposely made it 4.25" x 5.5" to send to the troops via Operation Write Home. It really is one of the few cards I've totally satisfied with, and the thought of a soldier using it to send his/her loved one a note makes me very happy.

Ingredients:

Basic Grey "Cappella" papers (LOVE these)
Stampin' Up "Thinking of You"
Inkadinkado butterfly
Maya Road pins
Flat-back pearls from stash
Stampendous white opaque embossing powder
Stampendous black embossing powder

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

CES Challenge Blog -- anything but a Christmas card
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays -- monochromatic
Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog -- three dp, two embellishments, one image
Delicious Doodles -- one image, two designer papers, three embellishments
Mami Doodles -- anything goes

I won the blog candy at One Stop Card Craft Challenge!

Wow! Yay! Wow! Yay! I won!

I about fell out of my chair when I saw my name--I'm so excited! Thank you so much!

Scrapcollecter's Fabulous Blog Candy

This is just a note to mention the fabulous blog candy Scrapcollector is giving away. A pic of the candy is on my sidebar.

Sweet Sketch Wednesday



My family has a tradition of meeting for breakfast on Thanksgiving so that everyone can go on to other Thanksgiving feasts for the day. My birthday was the 14th of November and at breakfast my brother and sister gave me some beautiful presents. When I saw the "Sweet Sketch Wednesday" sketch, I immediately thought of giving them both a thank you card. So far I've only made this one, but I'm really happy with it.

Recipe:

Basic Grey "Oliver" and "Olivia" papers

My Mimd's Eye "So Sophie" paper

Inkadinkado "thank you swirls" stamp

Label No. 2 Nestabilities

Stampendous black embossing powder

ribbon from stash

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday -- sketch

Craft your Days Away -- texture

Stamp Something Challenge -- thanks

Inktegrity -- anything goes

Artful Inkables -- die cuts
The Corrosive Challenge -- Something that Moves

Papertake Weekly Challenge -- Cut it out

Midnight Madness!

As soon as I saw the Midnight Madness sketch I knew what I was going to do with it. I love it because it easily translates into a 4.25" x 5.5" card, which I can now send on to Operation Write Home. 

I got to use one of my favorite stamps, which is actually quite large because it's really a background stamp. I masked off most of it to stamp the two flowers in the background, and felt really lucky that I didn't ruin any paper as it worked the first time. I love it when I get to try different techniques.

You can't see it in the photo, but I used a Sakura Stardust clear pen to color in the background flowers. Well, "color" is the wrong word, as there's no color, but they're sparkly now, which makes them pop out a bit more.

Recipe:

Creative Imaginations papers

Rubber Stampede background stamp

Label #2 Nestabilities

Colorbox black pigment ink

Stampendous clear embossing powder

Sakura Stardust pens

ribbon from stash

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

priscillastyles -- sketch
A Spoon Full of Sugar -- anything goes

Thanks for stopping by!

I love Basic Grey Challenges!

Basic Grey is one of my absolute  favorite papers on the market, and I pick some up as often as I can. In fact, just this last week I bought the 12X12 sets of both "Olivia," and "Oliver," something I've wanted for a very long time now--on e-bay!! I couldn't believe I won them, and since they've arrived I can't stop looking at them!!

Anyway, since I love Basic Grey paper it's only natural that I love Basic Grey Challenges--and I do. Tbis challenge calls for wings on the project, which I did with my inkadinkado rubber stamp. That dang bird is hard to color! I'm not wanting to be  Monet or anything, but there are just too many places to put in different colors, and when I do, it just looks SOOOOO wrong. I finally decided to stick with one color, in this case blue for the bird, but using different shades of blue. That seems to have worked much better.

I also followed a sketch by "Friday Sketchers," and was really pleased with it because it was fairly easy to adapt it to a 4.25" x 5.5" card so I can send it on to the troops via "Operation Write Home."

The recipe is as follows:

Basic Grey "Kioshi" DP
Basic Grey "Olivia" DP
Inkadinkado bird stamp
tag stamp
Cuttlebug and Nesties
Crayola glitter glue
Sakura Stardust pens

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Crazy for Challenges -- circles
Basic Grey Challenge -- wings
Friday Sketches -- sketch
I Did it Creations Challenge Blog -- wings
Digi Doodle Challenge -- anything goes

Playtime

Are you like me in that you feel like a kid in a toy store at Joann, Michael's, Robert's, or even at the scrapbooking section of e-bay?

(I just bought Basic Grey's "Olivia," and "Oliver" collections for an excellent price on e-bay, and I can't stop looking at them!)

I had recently purchased a few new "toys," and was excited to "play." The card above is the result, and I'm really pleased with it as the tiny snowflakes are really quite sweet, and I love the wintry colors of blue, white and silver. Best of all . . . I got to use lots of glitter!!!

Recipe:

Inkadinado Christmas stamp

Cuttlebug swirls folder

Label no. 2 Nestabilities

Snowflakes from Sure Cuts a Lot library

white Crayola glitter glue (along the embossed swirls). (I've spent a gazillion dollars on glitter glues, and have finally decided Crayola's, which are very inexpensive, are absolutely the best!)

Sakura Stardust pens in four different blues

silver ribbon from stash

silver buckle--I think this is a Tim Holtz product, but don't remember for sure

Ranger white tinsel embossing powder

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Paper Play Challenges -- Let it Snow

Crafty Calendar Challenge -- winter snowflakes

One Stich at a Time Challenge -- choose a season or event (I chose winter.)

2 Sisters Challenge Blog -- snowflakes

Stampin' for the Weekend -- winter

Totally Papercrafts Challenge -- snow and snowflakes

Simon Says Stamp -- sparkle

Anything Goes Challenge Blog -- Let it Snow

Little Paper Shop -- die cuts

My Best Friend's Fiftieth

One of the best friend's I've ever had in this world turns fifty today. Unfortunately, I'm ill and couldn't take this card to her, but I did send her pics so she would know I was thinking of her. I went out of my comfort zone on this one, as it's pretty busy. I'm not opposed to busy as long as it's structured, and that's been difficult for me, but I think this card works and I'm really pleased with it.

The recipe:

My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found" papers
C'ordinations pink cardstock
C'ordinations dry embossed red cardstock
Maya Road chipboard flourishes
Prima flowers
Inkadinkado acrylic butterfly stamp
Stampendous flower stamp
Stampendous black embossing powder
Stampendous white opaque embossing powder
Stampendous pink embossing powder with pink glitter added to it
Ranger red tinsel embossing powder
Stampendous purple embossing powder with purple glitter added to it
pink, orange and white metallic acrylic paints
waterpaints
frame svg files cut on Cricut
Provocraft die cut: "50" cut on Cuttlebug
Imaginations red and pink rhinestones
remaining rhinestones from stash
silver ribbon made purple by coloring it with purple marker
Maya Road pins (butterfly "antennae")

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

Critter Sketch Challenge -- texture
Paper Sundaes -- ribbon, embossing, blue
One Stitch at a Time -- favorite colors (I love the combination of red/pink/purple/orange.
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge -- sparkle and shine
Cute Card Thursday -- anything goes
Delightful Challenges -- glitter
Crafter Creations Challenges -- buttons
Fresh Brewed Designs -- two or more patterned papers
The Sisterhood of Crafters -- birthday
Part Time Tuesdays Challenge -- easel birthday card

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge

I really enjoyed this sketch, and am very pleased with the way my card came out. I have to give credit for my inspiration to Peet Roeven at scrapalbum. I absolutely love what I call her "controlled chunkiness." It is a look I've been trying to find, and imitate, since I started making cards, but have never seen it demonstrated as well as Peet does it. The thing is, once I saw it, I knew how to get the look I wanted, and that was huge for me! Peet will never see this, but for those who do, check out her blog. You won't be disappointed.

I deviated from the MMSC sketch slightly in that I didn't use as many embellishments as it called for, but not for want of trying. Everything I added was too much and detracted from what I like most about the card--the thick and raised frame. It's actually four frames cut out of cheap cardstock glued together, and finally I just added rhinestones so it didn't deviate too far from th sketch. I think they are a great addition--not too much, but just enough.

Recipe:

My Mind's Eye "29th Street Market" paper (I wanted to mention, in the photo it looks like there are two handwritten sentences when in fact the paper is covered in them--most of them are very faint, so they didn't show up in the photo. It looks balanced in real life.)
My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found" paper
Inkadinkado Christmas Tree stamp
Stampendous pearlized green embossing powder
Ranger silver embossing powder
ribbon from stash
clear rhinestones from stash

I'm entering it in the following challenges:
Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #78
365 Cards -- Use large letters to make word and fill up half the page with them.
Ellephantastic Cards and Challenge Blog -- blue
Mark's Finest Papers -- holiday card
Our Daily Bread Designs -- sparkle, dies or punches, texturize it
Artful Inkables -- blue, silver and white
Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge -- anything goes

Before I go, I would like to thank the many people who left me so many kind posts in response to my panic attack. I was stunned at so many comments, and they were so thoughtful. I was especially taken aback at all the comments from the folks at the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. I couldn't believe so many people visited my blog, and even more, left a comment. So, a huge thanks to ALL of you--I was truly touched.

Basic Grey Challenges Sketch

I made the card above using the Basic Grey Challenges sketch. I spent a long time placing the musical notes, and still am not totally happy with them, but I'm not sure there's anything else I could do at this point. What do you think? (Believe me, I'm not opposed to criticism. Suggestions would very much be appreciated.)

Recipe:

Basic Grey "Olivia" paper
Creative Imaginations Christmas paper
vellum
red satin ribbon
Martha Stewart border punch
Ranger red tinsel embossing powder
Stampendous gold embossing powder
Inkadinkado acrylic stamp
Musical note svg files I found on the web for free

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Basic Grey Challenges -- sketch
Craft Your Passion Challenge -- anything goes
Incy Wincy Designs -- anything goes
Lexi's Creations -- anything goes

Lots of "anything goes." :)

Truly Scrumptuous Challenges Sketch

Recipe:

Penny DuncanCreations poinsettia svg cut files (Her site is lovely and she is so generous!)
Creative Imaginations Radiant Rain shimmer mist
white watercolor pencil to make veins in petals
My Mind's Eye 29th Street Market paper
Martha Stewart border punch
chipboard flourishes from stash
glitter
gold and yellow rhinestones

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

Truly Scrumptuous Challenges -- sketch
ABC Challenge Blog -- glitter
Simon Says Stamp -- "Punch 'Em"
Stampavie and More -- Christmas
A Spoon Full of Sugar -- "Let's Get Punchy."

Let it Snow!

I actually made this using a sketch that has since expired, but I liked it enough to go ahead and use it anyway. I feel like I cheated in that I didn't actually make anything on the card; rather, I bought all of the embellishments. But it fits a few challenges, so I'm posting it anyway.

Recipe:

Basic Grey "Olivia" paper
red foil paper
Martha Stewart border punch
silver and black ribbons from Michael's.
"Let it Snow" chipboard embellishment from "K&Company"
Snowflake embellishments from "K&Company" (I could be wrong on that. I can't find the package they came in. If I am wrong, they are probably Jolee's.)

I'm entering it in these two challenges:

The Crafty Pad -- Christmas theme
Delightful Challenges -- Christmas
Gingerloft Challenge -- winter

Inspirational Panic Attacks--priscillastyles challenge #MMSC76

Night before last my heart suddenly starting beating 170 BPM, and it was POUNDING so hard I thought it was, for sure, going to burst and that I was living my last moments. The same thing had happened two nights prior, but had only lasted about 10 minutes, so I just told myself it would be over soon--but it wasn't. After 45 minutes I was terrified and decided to call 911. A gazillion EMTs showed up at my house, put all their electronic doo-dads on me, and . . . my heart was fine! They couldn't get it to stop beating so fast while they were there, but they explained that my heart was not the problem, and that I was probably having a panic attack. Not that that is a good thing. . . but . . . WHEW! I wasn't dying.

Anyway, these guys were so gentle and kind, especially given I hadn't really needed them after all. My mother suggested I make a card to let them know how sorry I was I'd wasted their time, and how they had really comforted me and helped me through this.

Since all of the EMT's were men, I decided to make it as masculine as possible--including the use of black glitter, which I've been wanting to use for a long time now. I loved the sketch from Priscilla Styles, especially because my "thank you swirl" stamp was perfect for the bottom element. I was even more pleased when I realized my Maya chip swirl was not only perfect for the top element, but that it complemented the "thank you" swirl beautifully. I hadn't planned it like that, and, in fact, had been wracking my brain trying to think of what to use for the top swirl. When the light bulb finally went on, I couldn't believe how perfect it was. I love when things come together like that.

I haven't made a matching envelope yet, but I'm going to. One of the things I love about using digital paper is I can design a matching envelope. Unfortunately, it's very expensive as it uses a lot of ink--even when I set it at "fast draft."

The recipe is as follows:

Little Dreamer Designs "Urban Grunge" digital designer paper
SEI "Alpine" digital designer paper
Stampendous "Thank You Swirl" rubber stamp
Martha Stewart border punch
Versamark
Stampendous white opaque embossing powder
Zing red embossing powder
Maya chipboard swirl
SVG Cuts Breezy Butterfly cut file
Cuttlebug "Swirls" Folder (I think that's the name--not sure but you'll probably recognize it on the butterfly.)
C'ordinations black paper with white top
red rhinestone
white floral wire
Cropadile
white eyelets
Color Box black ink
black glitter

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

Priscilla Styles -- sketch
The Paper Players -- designer paper, something punched and a sentiment
2 Sisters Challenge Blog -- anything goes
Mark's Finest Papers -- a diecut or a punch
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge -- black, white and one other color
The Stamp Man Challenge -- cards for men
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge -- So long as it flies.
Anything Goes Challenge Blog -- black and white
Tuesday Throwdown -- anything goes
Totally Gorjuss -- sparkle (It's hard to see in the photo, but the butterfly is outlined with glitter. Also, the rhinestone sparkles.)

Hydrangea Birthday Card



I just received this hydrangea stamp in the mail and couldn't wait to start playing. I was inspired by Cowgirl's Sunday Challenge to make my own background, which I did using a script stamp. Additionally, it's impossible to see in the photo, but I folded the back-most background paper a couple of times to give the card some nice dimensio. It's very pretty in real life.

Another thing I did, which I didn't take a picture of, is I stamped the hydrangea on the inside of the card but did not color it. I saw that on someone's blog (I look at so many I can't keep them straight), and thought that was a great idea. (I'm sure most of you have already done this a million times--I'm still learning!)

This card came together very quickly, and I made myself stop to keep it from beoming too much. Best of all, it qualifies for the following challenges:

Everybody Art Challenge -- blue, green and brown

Tuesday Morning Sketches -- anything goes

Party Time Tuesdays -- birthday

Lexi's Creations -- birthday

Cowgirl's Sunday Challenge -- make your own background

Recipe:

Basic Grey "Phunky Phlorals" digital paper printed out

Inkadinkado hydrangea stamp

Inkadinkado script stamp

Martha Stewart border punch

SVG Cuts Swirlies file

Versamark

Stampendous pearlized blue embossing powder

Inkadinkado black dye ink

Distress Tea Dye ink

watercolors

Priscilla Styles Sketch

I really enjoyed making this card following the sketch at Priscilla Styles. I try to make all my cards 4.25" x 5.5" so I can send them to Operation Write Home, who then distributes them to the soldier's so they will have hand-made cares to send to their loved ones. The problem is, that realy cuts down on design space, but I'm trying to discover ways to make up for it.  In the second picture you can see the envelope I made to match the card. I think it's a very sweet set for a young birthday girl out there.

(For some reason the photo looks like the butterfly is covering the "day" in birthday. It's not--but I couldn't get a good angle to show that.)



I really debated about putting the rhinestone flowers at the top and bottom of each panel, because it might be a bit too much; however, I think it is just perfect for a younger girl who loves shiny things no matter where they are. So I decided to go ahead and use them--just for her!

I'm also entering this card in the following:

Craftalicious Challenges -- anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown -- something in threes (in this case, the three panels)

Lexi's Creations -- birthday

Paper Sundaes -- for someone little

Cinema Saturday -- something die cut or  cut by hand. (I feel a bit guilty entering it in this one as the movie Edward Scissorhands is the inspiration. But I DID cut the tags myself--so while it's not very creative, especially compared to ES, it should be okay.)

Our Creative Corner -- at least three embellishments

Totally Gorjuss -- predominately pink

The Crafty Calendar Challenge -- birthday (It also called for using autumn colors, but that part was optional.)

Fairy Fun Fridays -- tickets or tags

Dutch Dare Card Challenges -- tags

Recipe:

Basic grey "Phoebe" papers

tags cut from my cricuit george cartridge

Versamark to stamp "Happy Birthday"

Stampendous white opaque embossing powder

A fun little butterfly from my stash.

floral wire to make the bow

rhinestone flowers from my stash

Sketch from The House that Stamps Built

I used the sketch from The House that Stamps Built to design this card, and I really enjoyed it. I purposely made it a masculine card for Operation Write Home. Someone told me they get plenty of feminine cards, but not so many masculine cards. I don't know if that's true or not, but it gave me a chance to do something different, and I was pleased with the result. (That doesn't always happen!)

Recipe:
Papers from Die Cuts with a View, "The Home Stack," and "Linen Closet."
Maya chip board swirls
birthday candles rubber stamp
digital "happy birthday"
Stampedous embossing powder with brown Pearlex mixed in

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:

Some Odd Girl -- monochrome
Pixie Dust Studio -- swirls (yeah, I know they barely qualify, but they ARE swirls. :) )
Cards for Men -- autumn colors
Craftalicious Challenges -- autumnal colors
MelJens Design Team and Challenge Blog -- monochrome for Operation Write Home

I really enjoyed Bunny Zoe Craft's sketch.

Bunny Zoe Craft's challenge is to use the sketch above, and this is what I did with it:

I don't often like everything about a card I've made, but this one I adore. Believe me, it's prettier in person. :)

I folded the paper to create the three "panels" in the sketch. The flower is my image, and I cut it so the petals lay on each respective layer created by a fold. (I assume it's okay for them not to be exactly as outlined in the sketch. I've seen people interpret sketches differently than the sketch itself as long as the main components remained, and that's what I did. If I strayed too far from the sketch to qualify for the challenge,then I owe Bunny Zoe Craft's an apology for wasting their time. But I think it's okay.)

I intentionally made it a 4.25" x 5.5" card so I can send it to Operation Write Home. I'm also entering it in Paper Sundaes -- Things with Wings challenge.

Recipe:

"Bohemian Summer" digital papers from Little Dreamer Designs (My absolute FAVORITE digital paper!)
flower cut on my Cricut, George cartridge
butterfly from SVG Cuts
white opaque embossing powder
blue embossing powder I made by mixing white opaque powder and blue PearlEx. (The color is beautiful.)
"Missing You," tag and sentiment stamp
bling and ribbon from my stash
butterfly flourish rubber stamp from Hampton Art

Christmas Card

This is the first Christmas card I've ever made. I'm not sure who to send it to, but I love the sentiment (which I found free on the web months ago, so I don't know who to give credit to.) I went way out of my comfort zone on this one, and one minute I love it--the next I think OMG!!! Tacky!!! :)

I used "Alpine" digital papers from SEI and "Urban Grunge" from Little Dreamer Designs, chipboard flourishes from Maya, and the high heel digital image from Sketching Stamper Digi Stamps. I made the flowers using SVG.cuts 3D Begonia flowers and Ranger Red Tinsel embossing powder. I also made the corners using Provo Crafts formal corners. I used Sakura's Glaze pens and glitter pens to color the digistamp.

I also dry embossed the tag with a Provo Craft folder, and used a green Pearlex to color the tag. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a photo to show the beautiful color of the tag. It really is much prettier than the photo shows--it's one of the few parts of the card I'm absolutely satisfied with.

I am trying to get the knack of designing a card to meet more challenges. I've just got to remember which challenges I chose, because I can't find one of them now (it used holly and berries--if anyone knows of it will you please let me know!)

The challenges I'm entering this card in are:

Aimee's Challenge Blog--Christmas wishes
Totally Gorjuss -- Christmas
Weekly Christmas Card Challenges -- tags
Sew Many Cards -- Christmas
Create 4Fun Challenge -- Sketch
Sentimental Sunday -- Dimension
Incy Wincy Designs -- anything goes
Christmas Inspirations -- Digital or Rubber Stamp
Moving along with the Times (glitter, embossing powder, two different patterned papers
Crazy4Challenges -- bling

Whew!

Some new challenges.

I made this card to enter a few challenges. I intentionally made this card 4.5" x 5.5" so I could send it in my pack to Operation Write Home. The challenges I entere dare:

Create4Fun Challenge
Crafty Calendar Challenge's "Blue & Flowers" challenge. 
Dutch Dare Card Challenge.

I sure wish I could color like all the amazing artists out there.

Operation Write Home Challenges

I'm entering this card in a number of challenges that are participating in a campaign to send cards to Operation Write Home. I've been wanting to make cards for this cause for a while now, so I've comitted myself to participating in these specific challenges.

My card is not nearly as fancy or creative or unique as those I see on the net, but I'm not an artist like so many of these people are. It took me forever to come up with just this simple card--especially since it's only 4.25" x 5.5".

The challenges I'm entering are:

Dutch Dare Card Challenges
The Sisterhood of Crafters
Mark's Finest Papers
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays
Paper Romance
Sparkle Creations

I'm also entering it in the Basic Grey Challenges as my second entry, as all of the papers are from Basic Grey's Phunky Phlorals, and I used Tara G's sketch as my template.

Change of subject: I've been very pleasantly surprised to see people visiting my blog. I had no idea that would happen! I just created it so I could enter challenges and such, with no intention of telling anyone I had done so.

To those who have stopped by and left a comment, I want you to know that means the world to me! It's very thoughtful of you, and I am really touched by your kind words.

Reva

Ying is celebrating her birthday with amazing blog candy!

Ying at Ying and Magnolia is giving away some amazing blog candy (you can see a picture of it on my sidebar). Her contest ends September 28, 2010, so there's not much time left. Of course, it's probably a good thing I have such a new blog, as no one reads it and that means a better chance for ME to win it. hehe

Craftalicious Challenge -- Thanks

I'm entering this card in Craftalicious Challenge's contest where the them is "Thanks."

Recipe:
Suzanne Nicoll flower stamp
Basic Grey Kioshi paper
Inkadinkado Thank you stamp and frame
glitter glue

generic butterfly rubber stamp

navy blue foil paper

Scrappy Frog Challenge

I'm entering this card into Scrappy Frog's challenge. The instructions are to use a hand-made paper flower.

The colors in this picture are not true; for example, the butterfly is not really that horrid blue. It really does match the entire color scheme.

Recipe:

SVGcuts 3D flowers--begonia cut file
SVGcuts Breezy Meadow Butterflies cut file
VersaMark Watermark stamp pad
Stampendous pearlized blue embossing powder
Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder
flat-back pearl
flat-back rhinestone
"Thinking of You" from George cartridge, Cricut
"Formal Squares" Cuttlebug embossig folder

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge -- Grid

I'm entering this card in Stamptacular's Sunday Challenge. I created all of the elements except for the flower stamp. That is a design of Suzanne Nicoll, but I don't know the name of it.

 

D.

I'm entering this card into Basic Grey Challenge's Challenge 29 -- A Sketch by Tara G. All of the paper is from BG's digital collection Phunky Phlorals. I think the stamps are from Inkadinkado.

Challenges at Stamp Something and The Wild Flower Patch

I'm entering this card in the challenge at Stamp Something where the instructions are to use digital images of some sort. In this card the background papers are digital. I wish I knew where I found them because I LOVE them, but I'm afraid I don't remember. I do know they were free, as I have only a few papers that I have actually paid for.

I'm also entering it into The Wild Flower Patch's challenge, where the instructions are to use stripes.

Anything Goes Challenge--Oriental

These are pictures of the card I made for Anything Goes' Challenge--Oriental.  The front is a flower stamp on vellum, and it resembles an oriental screen. If you open the "screen", there is a minimalist dry embossed "picture" of leaves. The "screen" is mounted on a silver card that is blank in the middle so it will suit any occasion.

Materials used:
"Orient Express" charms by Blue Moon Beads.
Rubber Stamp by Suzanne Nicole, I don't know the name.
Coredinations Whitewash Collection, pink
Silver foil paper
Sakura Glaze pens for flowers
Cuttlebug "Leaves" folder
Cuttlebug "Formal Squares" folder
ColorBox black ink
Marvy Brush Marker black
emery board
vellum

D

Blog candy!

Feline Playful has two of the most amazing blog candy contests I've ever seen. She is celebrating her blog reaching 200 followers, and then 300 followers. This is the blog candy for the 200 followers:

And this is the candy for the 300 followers:

I'd give one of my big toes to win either of these AMAZING prizes.

Therapeutic Self-Indulgence

Life has not been kind to me, and in my journey to find ways to cope I discovered paper crafting--specifically making cards. Although I'm physically limited in the amount of time I can devote to it, when I'm in the zone and making something pretty, it just plain makes me feel good.  So I very selfishly spend as much time as I can making pretty things, as it is extremely therapeutic for me.

Eventually, I decided to go ahead and enter some of the numerous card challenges out there on the web, but I soon realized that while I could enter them without a blog, it woul be much easier if I had a blog to link them to, and thus . . .  my blog.

I'm not a blogger kind of person. Having to be quick and clever overwhelms me. Additionally, I have come to the conclusion that life's questions are unanswerable for some. So, you won't find any great wisdom here.

What you will find are links to the challenges I have entered, and my gratitude towards those who think them up and sponsor them, as it's very therapeutic to me to be able to create something when certain guidelines have been established. In other words, I don't have to think so hard, and I LOVE not having to think hard.

I warn you in advance, I'm a total amateur when it comes to making cards. They are nothing like the amazing creations I find online, nor will they ever be. In fact, everything I post will probably either be a stolen idea or a happy accident.

So, with that, welcome to my blog.