Kelly Jo's Stamp Pad

celebrate clean & simple

2012-01-30T21:47:00.001-06:00

I used another great clean and simple layout . Natasha has created 175 of those layouts- they are all so great and I use them frequently.

I took a prisma marker and drew the dots around the paper layers. The flowers were cut using the CTMH Cricut Cartridge and stamped in honey. I stamped the sentiment in ocean and inked the edges in the pear ink to coordinate with the bottom paper layer. I popped up the flowers and added some bling!

Hope you're having a great week.

CASE Study 75

2012-01-26T13:32:00.000-06:00

I am playing along with this weeks CASE challenge. First up, the beautiful inspiration card.

Here is what I created...I stamped the same border stamp in three different colors (black, pear and lagoon) and then I added some giant crisp rhinestones to the card. The top layer is slightly smaller and mounted. I just love the font used in the sentiment.

and a close up of the sparkly bling!!

Thanks for stopping by!

inspired by

2012-01-24T22:34:00.000-06:00

I happened upon Laurel's new challenge blog. Each challenge, she has a picture for the inspiration. Here's the challenge:

And here is the card I made. Impossible to tell from the photo, but I colored each of the flowers in three layers of glaze pen by Sakura. The bigger, popped up flower is supposed to be the brides bouquet and the others are the bridesmaid bouquets. And the sentiment seemed perfect to me as well. Do you see what I see?

The flower is from Hero Arts (blossom art) and the sentiment is from CTMH

I would love to show you the close up of the flowers but the photo upload component is all kinds of frustrating this evening.

live for the day

2012-01-24T20:30:00.001-06:00

I found a stamp to use for this sketch that I love and don't use often enough.
The sentiment reads....

Live for the day...

Remember all those women who passed

up dessert on the Titanic

--Erma Bombeck

What a wise (and funny) woman, that Erma Bombeck! I also used a punch that I haven't touched in ages- the little cupcake punch that I thought worked perfectly with the sentiment. I used the same paper for the cupcake 'wrapper' as I did the for the strip at the bottom of the card. It's a little hard to tell, but the frosting is popped up for a little dimension.

a card by accident

2012-01-24T08:43:00.001-06:00

This card was made purely by accident. I hit the wrong key on my cricut keypad and got this shape instead of the one I'd intended. I happened to like it so I kept it and added a brad from my brad stash. I also popped up the flower and thought it came together nicely.

Black and White Freshly Made Sketch

2012-01-20T16:21:00.001-06:00

I create a card using Freshly Made Sketches (first time playing along) and also the CAS-ual Fridays theme which is Black & White (to celebrate Penguin Day).

See that vertical,bold, black and white image on the left side of the card? That is a piece of scrap paper left over from a project in my front entry way. It's so fun. I cut a circle from the same paper and popped that on top of the sentiment layer.

TGIF!!

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

2012-01-14T00:00:00.005-06:00

Valentine's Day is not too far off and if you need some crafty inspiration, Paper Issues is having a LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED theme!

For my card, I used both sides of Echo Park Be Mine for this card. The birds were cut with one side and the branch is the reverse side. I used the CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge for the card and stamped my sentiment. The little love birds are mounted onto the branch. I personally love the font on the sentiment- I wish I had a whole set of sentiments that were the duo fonts like this one.

Thanks for looking! Be sure and head over to Paper Issues to play along!

I DIDN'T FORGET YOUR BIRTHDAY

2012-01-13T12:44:00.001-06:00

i should probably have a larger stash of belated birthday stamps than I do because even though i have approximately 1,234 birthday cards laying around my stamp room, I am lucky to get a card out on time....so i used a great sketch as the base for this card.

Loving the patterned paper by Echo Park (Be Mine)

A BANNER OF A BIRTHDAY

2012-01-11T07:30:00.001-06:00

Here is a quick and easy card I created using a banner shape from the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.

I used some funky Bo bunny (Delilah Promise) paper in alternating sizes to make the banner shapes. I won't even tell you how long it took me to get the twine behind each shape. Add that to the fact that I trimmed one end way to short before tying it off. Other than that little little incident, it came together very easily!

PinFest January 2012

2012-01-10T19:37:00.004-06:00

Maybe you've heard of a little website called Pinterest? Here are some things I've pinned, tried and would recommend you stop what you're doing (after you read through this post) and add to your list of things to do/try...If you'd like to see all of my boards, click HERE

fettuccini with roasted red pepper and feta sauce. say no more.

source

baked fajitas- super easy

source

cleaned my shower head with vinegar- worked like a charm!

source

I made these with my nieces at a sleepover.

source

and I've made and drank plenty of these bloody mary's

(but not during the sleepover with my nieces)

source

Now, if anybody would like to loan me some money, I'd like to get started on some other projects that I've pinned....

source

a little something for the side of my house (pergola and sidewalk)

source

and if I learn to thread and fix the tension on my sewing machine,

I'd like to make this table runner

source

If you'd like to play along or see other Pinteresting boards....

CLEAN & SIMPLE 172

2012-01-05T22:25:00.001-06:00

Great sketch over at CAS (well really, aren't they all???). This crackle paper is a piece of paper that I have horded for at least 5 years. I don't know why but I love it and I haven't wanted to use it and when I saw this sketch, I knew exactly what I'd do with my card. And that's actually a bold-face lie because it took me about 45 minutes to come up with the design. I even tied a little teeny tiny piece of bakers twine to the left of the double hearts.

I'm really feeling it in the stamp room so I'm going to make a few more cards before I turn in for the night. I just started reading Starting From Happy by Patricia Marx. HILARIOUS!!! It's a fast read and she is an absolute riot.

P.S. I used the CTMH AP Cartridge for the Cricut and set the double heart image at 2 1/2". The scallop background is also from the AP Cart and was 3 1/3".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2012-01-02T21:25:00.014-06:00

Here's a card I created for the following challenges:

I used the cuttlebug to cut down the patterned paper and then added a kraft button with some twine tied onto it. The Happy Birthday sentiment already had a curve to it, so I manipulated it a bit more to fit the circle shape better.

TOP 10 FOR 2011

2011-12-28T21:59:00.000-06:00

Kellie is hosting a fun look back at your favorite crafty creations. In random order, here are my favorite cards for the past year:

1. I have an obvious love for kraft paper. I also think the woodgrain stamp and the flower stamp are among my all-time favorite stamps.

2. See, more kraft paper. This color combo of red and aqua is my favorite. Faux stitching on this one.

3. More kraft paper. I also like red and brown with kraft paper. I love that the two stamps used on this card are from the $1 bin at Michaels. Cause I'm cheap like that.I also love the thank you sentiment from Anna Griffin. I wish i had an entire set of sentiments in that cute little frame.

4. Ummm, more kraft paper and again with my favorite color combo. I'm consistent if I'm anything. Also finally hopped on the doily bandwagon. I really like the little banner sentiment as well- Taylored Expressions.

5. The woodgrain texture plate also ranks pretty high....along with a stamp by Hero Arts (tulip) that I've had for probably 10 years- it's my fave and I pull it out ever now and again.

6. Woodgrain texture plate again. A pretty clean and simple card.

7. A different texture plate and a color combo that I like a lot: aqua and light green. I also love the font of the birthday sentiment. Again, clean and simple, my fave. It looks simple but I spent a lot of time inside and out on this one.

8. I wasn't lying when I said I like kraft paper. I also like the scallop punch I used here, too.

9. I LOVE to create my own background images, which you can see in this card below. Busy pattern yet still clean and simple. The ribbon is awesome- really flat and nice for cards- got it at Hobby Lobby and I wish it came in my favorite colors.

10. See, another card with a stamped background. Taylored Expressions again. All of it.

I had a hard time narrowing down my choices. That was fun! I think you should play along too!

same song second verse

2011-12-27T20:15:00.001-06:00

Did you enjoy the holiday weekend? Mine was great. Hard to believe another Christmas has come and gone already.

I was so pleased with the way THIS card came out, that I made a varation of it for a friend with a birthday this week. The difference was I put it on red paper and added a button. After I took my picture, I realized that I attached the top flower upside down. Oopsy.

Christmas packaging

2011-12-22T19:02:00.001-06:00

Dog treats jazzed up with monograms. both shapes (initial and circle) were cut out using the AP Cricut Cartridge.

This idea is inspired by Pinterest, I've done something similar in years past but I just love the red and aqua combo that I used this year.

Hobby Lobby has the best quality of wrapping paper and it's a great value. I wrapped all the presents in the same paper and used a monogram to identify each girls' presents.

And some treats that I put in $1 spot clear tins from Target. I covered up the bottoms by putting a circle and a snowflake (cut with the cricut AP cartridge, the same snowflake went on the top. The little washer came on a standard plastic retail tag, I cut that up and used bakers twine to attach the washer.

For the inside, I took an 8.5 x 11 sheet of aqua paper and stamped on it, then used glitter on the swirls, let dry overnight and filled with hershey kisses. The kids are lucky there are any kisses left over. My hubby and I attacked those the second the package was opened.

And there we have it. I doubt the kids will care about the details, but it makes the presentation more fun. That about wraps it up. My sister and in-laws are hosting both our Christmas events this weekend so that makes it easier for us. We don't have to clean for company on top of everything else!

Speaking of pinterest- I pinned THIS recipe and decided to use it for my work pot luck today- cranberry feta pinwheels...they were so delish and I am adding that to my recipe box for the future. I might be sick of them by the time the weekend is over though, I'm bringing them to both Christmas's this weekend. They are soooo good.

Are you ready for Christmas??

Pinterest Inspired Birthday Card

2011-12-20T23:00:00.001-06:00

I pinned a stunning card to my Pinterest board and found the perfect opportunity to CASE the card.

Here is my version:

I made this for a friend who celebrated a birthday this week. She's an avid reader, so took this page from a duplicate book I had of The DaVinci Code, stamped my images in red, trimmed them and then crinkled them. I added some bling to the center of the flower.

It's especially fun to make a card for a friend that will "ooooh and ahhhhhh" over all the fun details.

I've been admiring cards where people stamp on book pages and finally tried it myself. I have a feeling I'll be making a series of these cards soon for my Etsy shop!

Moxie Fab: get inspired kitchen contest

2011-12-16T10:52:00.000-06:00

Here is the inspiration challenge for Moxie Fab. 

I knew immediately the stamps I'd grab for it because it had a similar pattern- Mint Motif and I colored them in similar colors using my Prisma Colored Pencils. Then I added a doily, which sort of looked like a plate charger to me, layered it with coordinating colors and stamped it with an image similar to that in the glasses pictured in the trigger. 

I also used Me & My Big Ideas for the focal image and Taylored Expressions for the banner.   

swag bucks

2011-12-16T10:15:00.001-06:00

I'm sure you've heard of swagbucks by now. I wish I had signed up when I initially heard about it. I'd have my Kindle by now :) I am sitting on $50 in Amazon gift cards right now and will be buying the Kindle Touch with my points. I've already purchased a pair of Dankso Mary Jane's, all with my swag points, so they were free!! And I also purchased some bare essentuals makeup with my swag bucks. This is LEGIT!!

Swagbucks is going crazy on Monday, with more ways for you to earn reward points towards free stuff. First, they're having a Swag Code Extravaganza, which means a fun day where you can earn up to 70 Swag Bucks from 8 different codes throughout the day!

You can do all kind of things to get points, but the easiest ways to earn points, which can be traded in for gift cards or other prizes are by using the swagbucks search bar and referrals. They have a great promotion going on right now.

So if you'd like to sign up, I'd appreciate if you used my referral code so that we can both start earning more points! clicking on my referral link will get you 100 bonus points if you activate your account by Dec 31.The code is: HOLIDAYSWAG

test

2011-12-15T17:34:00.000-06:00

test post.

In the meantime, here is something from my pinterest board.

life is good wreath

2011-12-12T12:11:00.010-06:00

I finally got the remarkable wreath stamp set (CTMH) that I've been eyeing up and I made a few cards with it over the weekend. Here's one of them. Pretty simple, I stamped the twig in chocolate, the 'blobs' in honey and then went in with my red stickles and decorated in a few spots.

It was a little plain to me so I decided to pop up the white layer and add twine behind it.

Tuesday Trigger: deck the halls

2011-12-06T12:28:00.001-06:00

There is a fun Tuesday Trigger this week! I took the sketch quite literally and create a 'floor' with my woodgrain stamp in grey ink. Then I picked some scraps out of my garbage can in similar colors and used my CTMH AP Cricut Philosophy Cartridge to cut 3 circles in the following sizes: 1 3/4", 1 1/2" and 1 1/4". Then I covered them in Versamark and clear embossed them. I 'hung' them from a pink teeny ric rac ribbon to make them appear more 'ornament like'.

The outside says: May peace and happiness be yours....
the inside says: throughout this sacred season.

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas cards- easy to reproduce

2011-11-27T14:54:00.001-06:00

The past few years, I'm ashamed to say, I haven't made time to make Christmas cards, so this year I was determined! I actually created this design on one try and decided to go with it.

The focal image is not even a Christmas stamp, but it reminded me of a snowflake. I used my AP CTMH Cricut Cartridge to create the flag and after i stamped the image, I used a round sharpie marker to wave it up a bit. I had the brads already in my stash. I am sure this is the first Christmas card I made that I created all from things I had on hand. Usually, my MO is to go out and buy $30 of supplies for a one time use, justified with "I'll be sure and use them in a new way next year, too." YEAH RIGHT!!! Anyhow, I was quite proud of myself.

And might I add that this aqua, red and white is a combo I never tire of. This card comes together really fast- important when you need to mass produce!

And if you need more holiday inspiration, be sure and check out the Holiday Madne ss going on over at Paper Issues!

happy 3rd birthday

2011-11-21T11:28:00.000-06:00

Here is a quick card I whipped up for my nieces' 3rd birthday.

I used the CTMH AP Cartridge for the 3, set to 3 3/4".

Since she had a pink princess theme (not just princess but piiiink princess) theme, I used a few shades of pink for the card and added some pearl adhesives. The 3 is popped up, which is probably hard to tell from this bad photo.

a new blog domain

2011-11-14T08:57:00.003-06:00

No artwork today, just letting you know that I purchased a new domain for my blog, www.kellyratcliff.com I believe if you have kjsstamppad.blogspot com in your reader that it will automatically redirect.

2011-11-07T16:43:00.000-06:00

Super cute sketch over at CAS. I used my cricut and CTMH AP cartridge to create the snowflakes. I am still getting used to blade depths, speed, etc. I don't care for how the paper is ripped in the intricate parts of the snowflakes. Advice??

If I ever got my act together, I would love to send out Christmas cards with the sentiment I used here (Enjoy the delights of December) right at the end of November. Instead I'll struggle to get my cards out at all.

The paper is from hobby lobby- so cute.

flowers

2011-10-31T22:13:00.000-05:00

Is anybody else wondering where the heck October went?

This weather can stick around as long as it wants.

Anything to prolong the snow that is around the corner.

Here is a very simple card I made using up some scrap flowers that were staring me in the face every time I opened a particular drawer for embellishments. I stuck some leftover brads in the centers, added a sentiment and we have ourselves a card.

acorn card

2011-10-26T10:46:00.002-05:00

Here is a card I created using the CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge- First I cut the acorn at 2 3/4", then the acorn top at the same measurement. Then I took a two-step background stamp and inked it with my clear versamark and then clear embossed both layers. I popped up the acorn top. I ran the top layer of card stock through the cuttlegug and PTI impression plate then added a sentiment in chocolate ink.

boo!

2011-10-17T21:04:00.002-05:00

I created this card for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge which is to create a halloween card that doesn't include orange. I used my CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge to make the banners, then I stamped them with the letters, added giant brads and curled up the edges. I stamped the woodgrain background and sponged up the edges of the banner, all using Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain.

color combo and background challenges

2011-09-17T10:56:00.000-05:00

I am playing with a couple of challenges for inspiration on this card.

1. Favorite color combo at Heart 2 Heart. I am also sponsoring a contest this month, giving away CTMH Triple Play, so be sure and head over to H2H to check out their fun challenges.

2. Background Challenge- Wee Memories is hosting a challenge this week to create a background with stamps, not paper. Perfect- it's only one of my favorite things to do!!

So here goes: My favorite color combo is: aqua, red and yellow + kraft paper- loving anything on kraft paper!!

I stamped the honeycomb background repeatedly in honey ink. Layered it onto kraft paper and then adorned with three cut flowers in cranberry and ocean. then I carefully stamped part of a happy birthday sentiment in colors that alternated from the flower it was placed next to. My colors are slightly distorted here.

Also- we're in the middle of a paper issues blog hop- so click here if you'd like to win some stamps and see some awesome inspiration with a tree hugger theme!!

Paper Issues Blog Hop

2011-09-16T10:22:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the Paper Issues Blog Hop!! There is some great inspiration along the way, so be sure and stop by all the blogs and say hi - there are some great RAK's along the way as well! I have some RAK's to give away as well, so all you need to do is leave a comment on this post- and I will randomly draw/announce a winner on Monday!

The theme going on over at Paper Issues is Tree Hugger- this theme could be taken many different ways. Here is my take:

I used a stamp that doesn't get much ink but I love when I use it- grown with love by CTMH on kraft paper. I used desert sand and orange inks.

Check out the other fabulous cards on this blog hop by clicking on a name below. HERE is a link to Paper Issues blog- there is also a hop for altered items and scrapbook pages!!

+++ to make this really fun, Paper Issues has issued a 25% discount in the Etsy Shop if you use code HOP25. So be sure and click HERE to satisfy your shopping urge this week.

green chevron

2011-09-13T12:01:00.000-05:00

Here is a card that came together easily. I repeated a chevron image, added a sentiment and layered it onto black card stock then onto the card front. this could work as a masculine card if needed.

Ink color: pear- CTMH

CAS Bingo

2011-09-08T11:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a card I did using a CAS 156 sketch- I love the little Maya Road Bingo card so I stamped, trimmed and mounted it to a piece of kraft cardstock that I ran through the Cuttlebug. Found some ribbon, reminded myself to quit buying random ribbon, then attached that to the card as well.

For something different, I used TH Distress Ink for the sentiment and bingo card.

September Weather!!

2011-09-07T12:13:00.002-05:00

I could not be more in love with the cool, fall-like weather we're having. I'd totally be OK with this kind of weather about 10 months out of the year.

I created a simple card that fits into a couple of challenges-black, white and a splash of red. Here we go:

Love the impression plate. Added a sentiment, a couple of flat adhesives and called it good. Well, not before ripping about 7 more of those red things from the card. Less is more, Kelly, less is more. I would actually like to whip out a few more of these cards to keep them on hand- this would be a good wedding card layout as well.

Here are links to the challenges I played with- there are tons of great cards!!

2011-08-23T20:16:00.002-05:00

Here is a card I created for the Square Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

I interpreted the sketch fairly literally and used one of my favorite stamp sets (that has gathered a little dust)- Rustic Flowers by CTMH. I stamped it twice in orange and honey and used a pencil to round out the edges. For the sentiment, I stamped the sentiment and then used my MS score board and decided to make a pennant out of it. Then I rounded the corners....

2011-08-22T18:41:00.000-05:00

Just as in the post from yesterday, I've used a few of my favorites in one card...kaft paper along with the aqua/red combo.

I used the same faux stitching technique and added a few stamps from CTMH and SU. (is that even legal??) LOL.

kraft and aqua

2011-08-19T11:32:00.001-05:00

Here's what I call a phase card- I go through phases where I use my favorites- kraft and aqua and woodgrain...all used on this card .

I stamped woodgrain in CTMH desert sand, then sort of inked the edges of the layered cardstock. I stamped my favorite flower (year of flowers: violet) in the same desert sand but this time on aqua.

I used a tracing tool for sewing and then drug my white glaze pen in the tracks for a faux sewing look and used that same pen to color in the center of the flower.

wanna go for a ride?

2011-08-16T18:40:00.000-05:00

wanna go for a ride...isn't that a line in a smashing pumpkins song?? I digress. I created this card for the supah fun Let's Ride challenge going on over at Paper Issues blog. I'm really digging on the Hero Arts set of bicycle stamps and used it for this card. Stamped it 6 times, distressed the edges and added the sentiment layer (distressed that up a bit too).

I cannot believe we're mid-August already. I'm not gonna lie...I am thrilled that fall is around the corner- it's my FAVORITE season. I don't even care that winter follows it because I love fall that much. Here's to hoping we have a long one!

CAS-ual Fridays for Saturday

2011-07-30T15:08:00.000-05:00

Are you keeping cool this summer? Can't believe we're to the end of July. I've not been stamping a whole lot this summer- this sketch pulled me to my dirty stamp table. I think it would be easier to stamp if I didn't have a big old mess waiting for me whenever the mood strikes me to stamp....Anyhow, here is a card I created for CAS-ual Fridays

I created the background using a stamp, added some ribbon to it, mounted it onto red card stock and then finished it off with a flower that I used my glaze pens on to accent a bit. I realize we were supposed to embrace the white space, so I might try another card but for now, it is what it is.

red sewing machine

2011-07-16T15:02:00.000-05:00

I would first like to mention that when I went outside to photograph my card, it's so blasted hot & muggy here that my camera lens fogged up so it was impossible to take a picture outside. G R O S S !!

I pulled out some new stamps- maya road singletons- super cute and nice quality stamps. I've never used this brand before, but I have admired them.

Using kraft paper for the base, I added a layer of red/white stitched grosgrain ribbon, a doily on top of that, a piece of textured yellow stock and then mounted a red sewing machine image. I colored the heart in to match the yellow background. for the inside, I added a white layer and stamped a yellow bobbin in the corner. I used glaze pens for the 'thread' on the bobbin as well as the heart. Left it blank (no sentiment) so that I can use it for any occasion.

I am linking this to Wee Memories Challenge #62- which is to create a CAS (clean and simple) card and I believe I've done that here.

kraft men

2011-07-02T21:52:00.000-05:00

Kraft & Men...that's the challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays this week

Here's my take:

Very simply done. I like the way this clean and simple card came together, but natural light sure does highlight flaws. I don't care for the un-crisp fold in the kraft paper (sentiment layer). Added some twine to the bottom front of the card and there you have it.

Hope you are having a fantastic holiday weekend!

bike- hero arts, sentiment- CTMH

field of dreams

2011-06-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

I experimented on this card by taking a stack of inks and inking 'rows' of color. I was going for the effect of a flowers in a sunny field. The card size is 4 x4.

stamps- Hero Arts butterfly field

how ya' been?

2011-06-26T19:25:00.001-05:00

Where is summer running off to? I can't believe it will be July this week!

It's been a fun and busy summer so far. Here is one highlight- an impromtu visit to hear one of my favorite authors speak in my own town, Jennifer Weiner. She was absolutely hilarious. My sister and I had the shoulder-shaking laughs nearly the entire time. We were able to get a photo with her at the end of her talk- I'm the 'where's waldo behind Jennifer'- and that's my sister with her new BFF, Jennifer.

Good times. And for any 'Good in Bed' fans, my sister said she'd have given me anything if I would have yelled NIFKIN when we all clapped for her at the end. Anybody think that's funny or is it just me?

Onto the card....Here is a card I made for the CAS sketch from last week....

card recipe:

stamps- aviary- Stampin UP, Birthday- Card Chatter- CTMH

tools- woodgrain impression plate- PaperTrey Ink, MS Score Board

baby card for twins

2011-06-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

Here is a card I made for some friends who had twins (a boy and a girl). I tried to taylor the colors to items that were similar to the registry (I think it was kind of a monkey/animal theme).

The paper is kind of a cement colored stock- love it. Anyhow, I ran a layer through the cuttlebug using my taylored expressions impression plate. I layered that onto the card front, but not before wrapping some twine and topping the layer off with a wooden button from CTMH (love those and would like to find them in bulk somewhere- any ideas where???). The letters are a in a font that I love, it's an old CTMH set of stamps that i have and at the moment I can't recall the name of them. I stamped each of them and mounted the D and E (baby initials)...rounded the bottom corners of both layers, and there we have it.

textured happy birthday

2011-06-04T10:19:00.000-05:00

JUGS has a great sketch this week so I used it as the inspiration for this card.

I used a texture plate on both of the inside and outside layer. Then I stamped the doily images and die cut and embossed them using my nestabilities and cuttlebug. Stamped the birthday sentiment and decided to add a doily to the inside of the card as well.

masculine card

2011-05-29T14:46:00.002-05:00

Paper Issues is having a great masculine challenge right now. Don't know about you but i always struggle to make a card that could pass for a 'man card'. Then, when I sat down, I whipped this one up with barely any thought.

I cut out and mounted the bike and tried to line it up so that it sort of looked like it was lined up on the lines like a road or path. I like the happy birthday stamp. so if you're looking for a little inspiration for 'man cards and other projects' head on over to Paper Issues

chevron thinking of you

2011-05-23T08:17:00.000-05:00

I've been loving all the Chevron Chic Challenge in the Moxie Fab World cards and decided to make one for myself. This card is one of my favorite color combos- black, grey, yellow (and white) The grey you see on my card is actually the second generation of the black chevron (Beyond Borders by Mint Motif). Love that effect and I should use it more often.

The thinking of you sentiment was cut using a nestabilitie and my cuttlebug. This is embossed in black on vellum. It seemed a little plain, so I decided to incorporate the yellow from the chevron by sponging the color on the back of the circle.

The flower (antique engraving- Hero Arts) was stamped in black and trimmed and mounted. Then I added some yellow glaze pen and I even colored over the black part of the image and it gave the black kind of black glaze as well. The 3 layers of glaze pen made the leaves kind of curl, so it really pops off the page. Oh, and I love the font of the thinking of you (CTMH- Card Chatter-Sympathy)

happy thoughts...

2011-05-22T12:36:00.000-05:00

Here is a card using a couple of new stamps- the daisy stamp is a hero arts cling stamp and the sentiment is CTMH (card chatter- sympathy)

this card came together easily enough. I rounded the bottom edges of the card, stamped the daisy image in a chalk ink that created a neat 'weathered' affect and then distressed the edges using the Heidi Swapp Edge Distressor. I also added twine.

For the inside I used my PTI impression plate for the inside and then I inked the edges a bit as well did a little inking to further the distress look.

tulip birthday

2011-05-21T09:51:00.002-05:00

I used the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge of adding B L I N G to a card as my inspo for this card...This is one of my all time favorite stamps...the tulip from hero arts. My card is pretty simple in theory but did take a little time to make the woodgrain layer and then I added a layer of white stock that I stamped just the leaves and then on a separate piece I stamped and trimmed the tulips which are mounted to the card front.

The Happy Birthday layer is glued so that it is a little wavy- I love when i see that on peoples cards and low-and-behold I tried it and it worked using glue dots. I finished it by adding a little bling on either side of the sentiment.

Enjoy your Saturday!!

let's go for a ride

2011-05-20T12:53:00.000-05:00

the CAS sketch was so inspiring that I came home on lunch and made a card. It came together super quick, hence, I LOVE CAS!!

I recently acquired some new hero arts stamps and I used the joy ride stamp on this card.

2011-05-16T10:08:00.000-05:00

Here is a card that i made for a wedding. The purple got a little funky in photoshop- it is actually a little bit deeper eggplant. I embossed the background onto the purple textured stock and then mounted a flower on top of that and added some rhinestones. The card base is white, as well as the flower.

A few rhinestones to bling it up a bit!!

stamping injury

2011-04-27T12:24:00.001-05:00

I know you ladies will appreciate this one...

I got my new impression plates from PTI in the mail. I FINALLY broke down and purchased the woodgrain plate. I was trying them out for size last night and went to pick up my Cuttlebug to turn it around so the handle would be on the right hand side....well, I didn't realize the clear, A plate was still on the machine so once it was lifted to about chest height, it FELL off onto the top of my foot.

It hurt so bad I thought I was going to ralph. It even broke the skin..... if I didn't hate feet so much I'd show you a picture, but after a long, cold MN winter, nobody wants to see that....

2011-04-25T20:35:00.001-05:00

I like layers of white on white as of late, so I've done that here...the 'lace' image in green is one stamp stamped twice, inside to inside if that makes sense. Then I added a layer of white scalloped paper using the fiskars border punch. I also added the banner image....

best year yet

2011-04-19T12:33:00.000-05:00

Here is a card that could be used for a birthday or possibly a mother's day card. I liked the clean and crisp feel of the card and although I was tempted to add some bling or other effects to it, I decided to leave well-enough alone.

First, I created the focal image with this stamp:

Note to self: clean acrylic blocks :O

And I created this:

I stamped the images back to back in a horizontal fashion, then I rotated it and stamped one up and one down, sort of llike a cross.

The sentiment is stamped on the same cardstock and mounted to the front of the card.

P.S. For awesome mother's day ideas, click here: Word To Your Mutha at Paper Issues

kraft and doilies

2011-04-17T16:36:00.000-05:00

I bought the adorable Aviary set a few weeks ago- love all the different bird cages and I have to admit, it's kind of fun to stamp with rubber every now and again. Definitely not the same as acrlyic,

Hard to see, but on the left side of the card, I embossed two lines all the way though the length of the cardstock so that both the outside and inside have the embossed lines. I used a doily as the base of the paper layers, then used the cuttlebug to do the lagoon layer and the circle nestabilities do to the kraft layer. The bird cage is cut out and mounted onto the top of the card.
The inside has a layer of lagoon and white with a little bird stamped in the lower right side of the card. I thought the happy everything sentiment went along nicely with this card and I added a silver adhesive ball to the top of the bird cage

keep in touch

2011-04-12T15:15:00.000-05:00

Hi, Y'all! (said in my best Paula Deen voice).

Here is a card I made a few weeks ago and forgot to post. Using one of my 'new faves'- CTMH Retro Tech. And of course, still loving the polka dots as well.

This card was pretty simple- a few paper layers and one row of polka dots in each color (sunset, ocean and black).

Also, I haven't said thank you to all of you who hopped on to my blog during the Paper Issues blog hop of favorite things. It was super fun to read all the responses and I couldn't agree more with you regarding what your favorite things are! The winner of the prize I gave away was Scrappy Do.

Thanks again to everybody who took the time to leave a nice comment. I haven't been stamping lately but I have made some awesome (if I must say so myself) scrapbooks with my Cinch. I made a scrapbook calendar as well as a house projects calendar. I'll take photos and post one of these days. Loving them both.

Favorite Things: Favorite Things Paper Issues Blog Hop with PRIZE

2011-04-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the PAPER ISSUES Blog Hop!! This hop is all about our favorite things. My favorite thing to do is create my own background with stamps. Talk about instant customization with what you have on hand! I also love border punches so I've incorporated that into my card as well.

I also love love love kraft paper and border punches, red & turquoise... so I incorporated all of my favorite things into my card.

stamps: darcey collection- anna griffin, party pennants- CTMH
ink- ocean, cranberry- CTMH
paper- kraft- Joanne Fabrics, cream- CTMH, twine-Archivers, kraft button- CTMH, apron lace border punch- EK Success

To thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog, I'm also giving away the stamps shown in the photo below. Please leave a comment telling me your favorite paper crafting things on this post and the winner will be drawn on April 2nd.

Thank you for stopping by!! Now hop on over to KIM's blog for some awesome inspiration that include her favorite things!

Here is a link to PAPER ISSUES as well so you can see all the awesomeness! You can also link up a project that uses your favorite things! we can't wait to see what you create.

hooray

2011-04-01T18:58:00.001-05:00

Hope you all had a great weekend! here is a card I created with lots of layers and it incorporates one of my FAVORITE THINGS which is creating a background. Rather than filling in the spot with the other stamp to this set, I just left it plain. Kinda liked how it looked.

I'm totally digging the Retro Tech stamp set and I used the record stamp here, which I embossed so it would have a vinyl look and feel. Thought it paired nicely with the Hooray font (I actually covered up the hip hip part by mounting the record on top of that portion of the stamp.

I colored in the bottom portion of the letter with my prizma marker.

I also put a single row of the open circle on the inside of the card, as well as a repeat of the same paper layers.

clean and simple 133

2011-03-31T21:05:00.000-05:00

Here is as card that I made for last weeks sketch

I'll update the post with stamps later-

Help provide some Hope for Japan

2011-03-24T12:00:00.010-05:00

Jeannette Lynton, the founder of Close To My Heart has generously announced that she will be donating 100% of the profits of this stamp set to the American Red Cross to aid the in relief efforts in Japan.

The set is available for only $5 and is available today through April 30th.

Let me know if you would like a set by leaving a comment on this post- I would be happy it to you!!

Clean and Simple + a Blog Hop

2011-03-17T21:47:00.000-05:00

so glad Natasha threw up a sketch tonight....Gave me the incentive to clean up my stamping area- it's totally spotless. I should take a picture before I mess it up again!

Here's my card. It was fun to pull out an old favorite stamp set- the flowers...they are fun and funky. For the border on the bottom, I repeatedly stamped the polka dots then moved on to the flowers. First, I did the bigger one in the center then the flowers on either side. Rounded the corners and BAM. I was done!!

stamps: blooms n' stalks- sassafraslass, spot on & for every occasion-ctmh

I am part of a blog hop on Saturday- it's going to be a fun one with TONS of inspiration and RAK's along the way. You will NOT want to miss this!!

Here's what you need to know:

All the participants will be from the Paper Issues Creative Team (some of them are on Design Teams for some really great manufacturers)
You can win the prize on my blog (shown below) simply by leaving a comment on my blogpost.
Blog starts at March 19th 8:00am CST
Plus, you can win a fantastic Crate Paper Paper Issues Kit by leaving a comment on the Paper Issues blog after the hop starts

My RAK:

I hope you'll come back on Saturday for the Paper issues Blog Hop!

2011-03-16T08:29:00.000-05:00

I was at Hobby Lobby the other day for something I needed and happened to see some doilies sticking out and calling my name, so I am finally jumping on the doily train. I whipped this card up this morning before work and sort of last minute decided to ink up the doily to make it pop a bit.

card recipe:

stamps- beyond borders- mint motif, a posy and happy birthday- CTMH

ink- cotton candy, sorbet- CTMH

other- doily- hobby lobby

sunshine kind of day

2011-03-08T12:55:00.001-06:00

http://pinterest.com/kellyjo/pins/Can it really only be Tuesday? It's one of those days where I'd like to take a vacation day so I can go home and create some of the cards that are in floating in my head, cook some egg rolls that will be supper tonight and surf my blogs in reader and pin. Do you pinterest? If so, FOLLOW ME if you'd like....it's so addicting!!

I had HEATHER's color combo running through my head, so here is a card I created on my lunch:

To get the lighter orange color, I utilized second generation stamping of the sunset ink color. I oroginally had fewer of the random medallion designs but once I started to fill in, I couldn't stop.

So there we have it.

stamps- mehndi medallions-W plus 9 Designs, It's a Banner Day 2- Taylored Expressions, It's a Banner Day 2 die

inks- sky, sunset lagoon- CTMH

other- corner rounder- creative memories, foam mounting tape

totally hues card

2011-03-07T20:58:00.001-06:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Heather's cards. She started some color challenges and I used her color inspiration combined with my new stamps that I ordered last week and received today- that sure made for a happy Monday.

Here is what I created:

I decided to keep my card simple. There is a crisp, white layer on the inside.

stamps- pennant border, banner day 1- Taylored Expressions

ink- sunset, lagoon- CTMH

paper- textured aqua and textured light orange- Hobby Lobby, white- CTMH

other- cuttlebug, cuttlebug tiny bubbles folder, foam dots

a couple of things

2011-03-07T09:37:00.000-06:00

A couple of things....I decided to remove the labels from the right side of the blog. The list was getting so big and I didn't like how big it looked.

If you're like me, you might be after a certain stamp set or whatever and you want to see multiple examples...well, I am still utilizing the tags at the bottom of each post so if you like something you want to see and you want to see more, simply click on a tag and it will bring up all posts containing that tag.
now for some exciting news...my card was picked as one of the FAB 4 over at Wee Memories. That was super exciting for me! I create because I love it but if somebody else loves it too, it's icing on the cake. Here's a LINK to the card again in case you'd like to see it.

sweet sunday sketch

2011-03-06T16:35:00.000-06:00

Here's a card I made with scraps. There is something that makes pulling a card together from scraps very rewarding! And, i found a drawer with really nice paper in it that I forgot I even had. Oops.

must. quit. buying. paper. but really...what fun would that be?

here's my card:

stamps- spiro garden- technique tuesday, sentiment is from a year of flowers: violets- PTI

paper- textured brown & teal- HobLobs, cream- CTMH, polka dot- Imaginsence

other- scalloped border punch- EK Success

CAS 130

2011-03-06T11:43:00.001-06:00

Here is a card I created for CAS 130.

This sketch was really calling to a two-step background set I have- it's 2 different designs and I haven't yet played with the damask pattern. Let me tell you, it's FUN and the color combos are endless with this one.

here's the card:

I stamped the black background stamp twice and then filled with the green background stamp (hence the set is called two-step background. I added a piece of coordinating garden green stock on the bottom third of the card and then the ribbon (which I LOVE) over that. I added a matching button finished off with a little bakers twine and then used the bottom of a punched piece of cardstock for the sentiment.

Hope you're having a great weekend! I'm feeling it in the stamp room, so I've got to go with it! I'll likely be back later with some more craftiness, that is if I don't get sucked into my google reader this morning.

stamps- for every occasion, two-step background- CTMH

ink- garden green, black- CTMH

other- ribbon- hobby lobby, ek success punch, garden green button- CTMH, bakers twine- Etsy

retro

2011-02-26T17:15:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to find ways to use a new set of stamps that I have (retro tech by CTMH) and I used a CAS sketch combined with a favorite (beyond borders). This is what I came up with:

I repeated the same paper layers on the inside along with one row of the border stamp. I am totally loving the retro tech stamps, I wish there were some fun sayings to go along with these.

stamps: retro tech-CTMH, beyond borders- Mint Motif

paper- sunny yellow, white, grey flannel, black-CTMH

ink- grey flannel, black- CTMH

other- upper crust border punch, label punch-EK Success , foam mounting tape

simply bold

2011-02-26T13:10:00.001-06:00

I am entering this card at Wee Memories who is encouraging card-makers to send cards to Opearation Write Home. I totally encourage you to visit OWH- it's a great cause.

I am totally loving the 2-step background stamp set from CTMH. I decided to make a plain card with a bold focal point and I think I accomplished that. When I started step 1 (the red part image) I didn't realize that it was on glossy paper. It was bold and beautiful but I know from experience that on glossy paper, the ink can fade. anyhow, I had the idea to clear emboss it- so glad I did! Then I wasn't sure how it would work to bring in step 2 (the brown image)- it sort of worked and am really pleased with the outcome.

Then I dug out a stamp I haven't used in a while and also clear embossed that, trimmed it and mounted to the card front. There we have it!!

card recipe:

stamps- 2-step background- CTMH, thank you- savvy stamps

ink- tulip, chocolate- CTMH

other- clear embossing powder- CTMH, cuttlebug, nestabilities

glitter thinking of you

2011-02-26T12:34:00.001-06:00

glitter, paper piecing and thinking of you aren't normally two words that I would put together but I needed a thinking of you card, saw some awesome inspiration over at PTI and thought maybe the glitter would cheer up the recipient of this card. I am also playing along with the Paper Piecing Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. It's so fun to paper piece and something I don't do nearly enough.

I was able to use the polka dot stamped image that I stamped awhile ago and saved it because it didn't work for that particular project but I thought it turned out so cute that I knew I'd find use for it at some point.

I used my MS Score Board for the sentiment. I stamped it first and then created two borders on either side of the sentiment. Then I added a strip of score tape and added glitter that coordinated with the polka dots.

Card Recipe:

stamps- a year of folowers: violets- PTI, say it in style- CTMH

ink- tulip- CTMH

other, score tape- SU, rhinestone adhesives- CTMH, sugar-coating glitter- whimsey doodle, MS Score Board

pink, black & white

2011-02-14T10:10:00.000-06:00

I like the look of white cards with pops of black and another card, so here's an example of that.

Don't you love the fabric brad? So fun. I wish they carried these in a rainbow of colors.

I ran a white layer of stock through the cuttlebug (the swiss dots are my favorite) and the flower and sentiment are popped up. Oh, and I used my upper crust border punch as well.

stamps- party pennants, aspiration, happy birthday- CTMH

ink- cotton candy, black- CTMH

other- fiskars upper crust border punch, cuttlebug, cuttlebug swiss dots

skech 126

2011-02-12T08:47:00.000-06:00

I finally had the mojo to play with the last CAS sketch because I got some new stamps yesterday so I have ideas running through my head with how to use these.

Here's my take:

For the outside I embossed the main focal point in black and mounted it to the card front. I couldn't stop playing with it so I also added a few adhesive rhinestones.

I created a band on the top of the inside with a coordinating image and finished it off with an adhesive rhinestone.

Card Recipe:

stamps- Friendship, Happy Birthday- CTMH

ink- black, black embossing powder- CTMH

paper- pear, black and white- CTMH

other- adhesive rhinestones- kaiserscrap

new loot

2011-02-11T21:51:00.000-06:00

My package of new stamps arrived today and I couldn't wait to play! I am TOTALLY loving the two sets that are used in this card. I can see doing an entire series of cards using the retro tech stamp sets. I really like this polaroid image that is used below.

I chose what I thought was kind of a retro color combo and I also thought it paired nicely with the two-step background stamp.

I can tell I'm going to have lots of fun with these two stamps!

The ribbon is from kaisercraft, the black ink is CTMH, the purple ink is a chalk.

purple birthday card

2011-02-10T08:51:00.000-06:00

I needed a birthday card for my aunt and she loves purple. It always helps to have a starting point. I pulled out a stamp set that I rarely use (paper girl by girls paperie).

Really the card was simple to make, then I decided to add some adhesive rhinestones to the front as well.

I almost always neglect the back of the card and I have several cute stamps....I love this one (sorry for the poor photo) but it says Born To Stamp Forced to Work

Isn't that the truth! We'll see if she notices- she's also a card maker.

I'm going to make a point to remember not to forget about the backside of the card.

cheery birthday card

2011-02-09T20:36:00.000-06:00

Here is a card I created using one of my favorite stamps, of which I used to create the background on this card (boutique borders). Really, the card came together pretty simple....I cut a few layers and then used a border punch for the pink layer, stamped the patterned layer and attached a flower to the top of all that!

My favorite part of the card is how the label with the birthday sentiment matches the border punch (pink layer). I trimmed off the dotted border that is on this image.

the sweetest thing

2011-01-31T14:12:00.001-06:00

Here is a card I created using Karen's sketch as my inspiration.

Not much to explain- just a few paper layers and a background created from one stamp then the happy birthday sentiment was stamped over that.

the neutrals challenge

2011-01-28T08:38:00.001-06:00

Here is a layered card that I made for the neutrals challenge over at Moxie Fab.

I clear embossed the dots on the kraft cardstock then mounted it to the white layer which is embossed using a Taylored Expressions circles and dots impression plate. The round image was stamped and then run through the cuttlebug using the nestabilities.

color chef challenge #70 winner

2011-01-28T07:46:00.001-06:00

Romaine you are the winner of the punch from last weeks color challenge. Loved seeing your cards! Send me an email at theratcliffs@charter.net and i will get it mailed off to you!!

Also, here is a badge for you to display if you'd like!

{ father time }

2011-01-23T12:13:00.000-06:00

Here is a card that I made to add to my birthday card stash.

I stamped the sentiment right on the card, as well as an image of the grandfather clock. Then I stamped and mounted a second image of the clock. P.S. I ran the cardstock through the cuttlebug with using the impression plate and then I stamped. Worked just fine to do it this way.

The inside of the card is just a plain, cream layer of stock.

card recipe

stamps- dryer lg- american crafts, happy birthday- ctmh

ink- lagoon & cranberry- ctmh

paper- lagoon & cream- ctmh

other- scallops & circles impression plate- Taylored Expressions

twins

2011-01-19T09:00:00.001-06:00

Here is a baby card I created for some friends who are new grandparents of twins! The card came together really easily, I pulled the nestabilities layers from my stash of made-aheads. Then I pulled out my new Taylored Expressions impression plate

and inked the edges just a tiny bit with a sponge so that the cream wasn't so stark against the kraft. Did the same thing to the circle layer and then popped up the little onsies. Easy and fun to make.

Card recipe:

stamps- the stork has arrived- Fiskars

ink- pear and cotton candy- CTMH

other- nestabilities, scallops & circles impression plate- Taylored Expressions, cuttlebug

{ color chef challenge #70 - prize }

2011-01-17T00:00:00.000-06:00

Color Chef Challenge #70

black

white

bright green

ocean

I figured that since this is the 70th color challenge I've hosted that I would pay it forward with a prize. I will be giving away an EK Success Apron Lace Border punch- it's one of my favorites and I hope the winner will enjoy winning! The winner will be randomly drawn 1/23 at 9pm CST.

Here's the card I made- totally loving the color combo and the coffee cup stamp!

So let's see what you can create using the color combo mentioned above!

Card Recipe:

stamps- a sip, happy birthday- CTMH

ink- pear, lagoon, black- CTMH

paper- black and white- CTMH

{ clean and simple 122 }

2011-01-12T20:31:00.001-06:00

I am really liking this card sketch over at CAS (big shocker there!!) and decided to continue with my tone on tone and added white to the card. I love the textured cardstock that I used for the square layers. This card also fits in with the challenge over at Just Add Ink.

I didn't necessarily intend for this to be a feel better soon card but truthfully, the sentiment fit the area perfectly.

Card Recipe:

stamps- large sentiments- American Crafts, A Year of Flowers: Violets- PTI

paper- grey flannel- CTMH, white texture stock- Archivers

ink- grey flannel- CTMH

other- Apron Lace punch- EK Success, adhesive pearl- CTMH

{ beyond borders #2 }

2011-01-11T16:59:00.000-06:00

Here is another card that I used for my stamp club this week. I used Beyond Borders for my cards. This card has a layer of white squares with the corners of those squares rounded, along with the bottom of the card. They are attached to the cardfront and then I mounted a tag in coordinating stock. Clean & Simple!!

Card Recipe:

stamps- beyond borders- Mint Motif, Party Pennants- CTMH

ink- black

other- tag punch- EK Success, prisma colored pencils

{ color chef challenge #69 }

2011-01-10T07:51:00.000-06:00

Thank you to my loyal followers whom have requested that I bring back the color chef challenge! I'm back with a pretty simple one today- tone on tone.

Color Chef Challenge #69

Monochromatic (tone on tone)

My card is a little smaller (3 1/2 x 5 ) and fits into a cute little white envelope (which I used the smaller flower stamp from this same set on the lower left corner of the envelope. I also have these great pearl adhesives from CTMH and the one used happens to be a grey tone as well.

So let's see what you can create with a monochromatic look (tone on tone). I'd love to see what you come up with!

{ colored pencils }

2011-01-08T13:39:00.000-06:00

I am totally in love with the beyond borders stamp set from the uber-talented Kimberly Crawford. I created a series of cards that will be used for my stamp club on Monday night.

For this card, I created a background on a 5 x 7 piece of white stock by repeatedly stamping the image in black. Then I came back through with my colored pencils and alternated rows with the two colors. I stamped the sentiment on the label and mounted that to the card front.

It was kind of fun to utilize the white space for my cards. I actually pulled out my prisma colored pencils- those things glide like butter and I couldn't love them more. One of those supplies that I personally rarely use, but when I do I'm glad to have them. I finished the card by rounding the bottom corners on both layers.

card recipe:

stamps- beyond borders- mint motif, party pennants- ctmh

ink- black- ctmh

other- prisma colored pencils:poppy red and light aqua, foam mounting tape

{ love lucy's sketches }

2011-01-04T20:26:00.001-06:00

Here is another card I made for Lucy's sketch challenge. I won some blog candy months ago from Tina @ Traveling Mama and I've been in love with this large wooden stamp that was included in my box of goodies. The 4 hearts below were picked from the 16 hearts on the stamp- it's so fun and artsy. Anyhow, I trimmed 4 of them out and mounted them on the card below and then I added my sentiment which is from a pretty little American Crafts set of stamps that I just had to have because it was on sale. You understand.

Card Recipe:

stamps- inkadinkado, seeds- American Crafts

ink- wisteria and lime pastel fluid chalk ink- colorbox, black- CTMH

other- foam mounting tape

{ lucy's card sketch }

2011-01-04T18:18:00.000-06:00

I could not adore Lucy's cards any more and she's had the most beautiful sketches this week. Here is my take on her sketch.

For my card, I pulled out my new impression plate from Taylored Expressions. Love the look but am still working through how to get a nice deep impression. I also used one of my fave little birdie stamps from the dollar spot at Michaels.

Card Recipe:

stamps- series 52- Studio G, gracious greetings- CTMH

ink- sunset, chocolate- CTMH

other- scallops & circles impression plate- Taylored Expressions, foam mounting tape

{ combined challenges }

2011-01-02T14:40:00.003-06:00

For my card I used this sketch over at CPS and Stacy's color challenge. I ordered the spiro garden stamp set from Technique Tuesday- I've always admired it and figured now that it's being discontinued that I'd better scoop it up.

The card is 4 x 4 and I will be using my MS score board to make a cute little envelope.

Card Recipe:

stamps- spiro garden- Technique Tuesday, For Every Occasion- CTMH

ink- sunset, chocolate, garden green, crystal blue- CTMH

{ keeping it real }

2011-01-02T12:22:00.000-06:00

Hello January!!! I think I'm back to stamping! I took a teensy weensy hiatus due to some illness, then it was the holidays and then I just wasn't feeling much like stamping- I hate when that happens. I look at all my stuff and turn around and walk out the room. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

Might have something to do with this mess:

And that's only part of the mess. I'll be back when my camera battery charges to post some cards I got around to making today.

{ variation of card }

2010-12-15T10:48:00.000-06:00

Don't you love when you sit down to stamp a card and the ideas just start rolling? Well, I stamped THIS card the other week and while I was at it, decided to add kraft paper. Now looking at my posted card I think I should repeat the white layer on the inside of the card. STILL don't have my Christmas cards done yet this year.

2010-12-07T12:56:00.000-06:00

Here is another Christmas Card that I am considering this year. I love the polka dot paper that I used to make the bulbs (do they look like bulbs to you??) but I'm not sure about it on the kraft paper. I bet it would look really cool on white paper! Again, loving the combo of aqua and red together. The swirly doohickey at the top of the ornament is from a set from SEI and I never figured out what the stamp was supposed to be used for, but it seemed to work well to hang my ornament from my card.

I'm also linking to Paper Issues- click on that link for AWESOME holiday ideas.

Card Recipe:

stamps- festive thoughts- CTMH, Alpine Frost- SEI

paper- kraft- Hobby Lobby, DP from SEI (I think)

other- circle punch- EK Success

{ simple christmas card }

2010-12-06T13:24:00.000-06:00

Totally loving the Beyond Borders stamp set by Mint Motif. Here is a VERY simple card that is a contender for my cards this year. I could easily whip a bunch of these pups up and get them mailed out.

Also love the label punch that I got- hard to tell but it's popped off the card. Also loving the red/turquoise and white combo.

Card Recipe:

stamps- beyond borders- Mint Motif, Alpine Frost- SEI

ink- lagoon, cranberry, chocolate- CTMH

other- punch from EK Success

{ hello......is there anybody out there? }

2010-12-05T13:18:00.002-06:00

well hello there readers, that is if there are any left....I've been away from this space for quite awhile. Let me bore you with the details....

I was smacked over the head with a terrible virus that turned into bronchitis { truth be told I think it was bronchitis from the start, but what would I know, I only get it every year } that made me miss a week of work plus Thanksgiving. Yuck. I'm on the mend but would love for my ear to unplug any moment now. Not only is it plugged but you can even probably hear it ringing from where you live.

Then there were the issues of having to replace the water heater, fix the fuel injector on the car and buy a new laptop, all in about a 2 week period. Awesome.

Before I was down and out for the count, I did make a couple of purchases:

This little gem.....

And then of course I needed this thanks to the enablers on twopeas

And then there's the fun announcement that I've been named to the card design team over at Paper Issues!! It's a really fun blog and you absolutely have to head over right this minute to check them out for tons and tons of scrappy inspiration. I have a blinkie on the right side of my blog if you want to check it out!

I'll be back with a card when I can figure out where my pictures are downloading to on my new computer :)

{ happy birthday }

2010-11-14T22:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a very simple card that I am going to love reproducing! As a matter of fact, I made a few other similar cards but am saving them for future posts- this girl is going to bed!

Card Recipe:
stamps: party pennants- CTMH, beyond borders- Mint Motif
ink- honey and chocolate- CTMH
other- label punch- EK Sucess

{ happy birthday }

2010-11-03T21:28:00.001-05:00

I recently won a huge box of goodies from the Traveling Mama. She was super generous and it was fun to sort through everything. One of the stamps was a really cool background stamp with some artsy hearts all in a row. I inked one of them and trimmed it out, mounting it to the card front where I stamped the woodgrain images. It sort of looks like some carved out initials on a tree. Then, I decided to fill the white space with repeated stamped images.

Card Recipe

stamps- Woodgrain- PTI, happy birthday- CTMH, heart- Inkadinkado

ink- pacifica, cranberry- CTMH

other- foam mounting tape, Heidi Swapp Edge Distresser

{ anniversary card }

2010-11-02T12:54:00.002-05:00

http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/2010/10/penny-black.htmlI made this card for my sister and BIL who are celebrating their 8th wedding anniversary today! I pulled out a funny sentiment for the inside and decided it would go lovely with a set of stamps I had to have but haven't used yet. You understand, I'm sure.

First, for the funny sentiment. This is a stamp I have had for YEARS.... probably 10 or more. It says Happy Anniversary from our little love nest to yours.

The outside of the card has a little nest and the two love birds- this is what I had to have. The set was on sale, which means "it was meant" to be for me.

There we have it! This card is being entered in the inside out challenge this week at Caardvarks

Stamps- Seeds Small- American Crafts, Beyond Borders- Mint Motif

ink- black and orange- CTMH

paper- black and cream- CTMH

other- nestabilities label 1, twine, foam dots

{ case study challenge #29 }

2010-10-30T10:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday!!

I've lurked on this blog for a long time and decided that it's time to play along!

I'm still thinking of Diggin' on Damask challenge in the Moxie Fab World so I'm linking my card to that challenge as well.

Click HERE for a link to the card we were to case this week. And here is my take:

Card Recipe:

stamps- happy birthday- CTMH, sassy icons- me & my big ideas

paper- cranberry- CTMH, kraft- HL

ink- walnut stain- Tim Holtz

other- ribbon (from my stash), twine- Archivers, felt doohicky- won from the Traveling Mama, button- Walmart

{ clean and simple }

2010-10-29T12:48:00.002-05:00

Here's a card for CAS.

Card Recipe

stamps- triple play- CTMH, happy birthday- CTMH

ink- pansy purple, orange- CTMH

other- adhesive rhinestones- michaels

{ damask }

2010-10-28T13:20:00.000-05:00

Cath has a great damask challenge going right now...Diggin' on Damask challenge in the Moxie Fab World and a stamp immediately came to mind.... the scrolly damask image is actually stamped twice- I 'butted' the images up to each other and then decided to mount a sentiment in the center of the focal image.

Then I trimmed it out and mounted it onto a piece of kraft paper that I embossed the beoynd borders image on.

I inked the edges of the kraft base as well as the sentiment layer. I love the way it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card Recipe

stamps- delight 10 x 10 delight- fancy pants, beyond borders- Mint Motif, For Every Occasion- CTMH

ink- sunset, black-ctmh, versamark

other- adhesive pearls- CTMH, black embossing powder- CTMH

{ couple of cards for a couple of challenges }

2010-10-22T15:09:00.001-05:00

Here's a couple of cards I created combining both a card layout challenge from CAS as well as a color combo (for the first card at least) from OTWC

Here's the color pallette:

Here is the card using the color combo from above:

For this card, I combined a couple of new (and already some of my favorites) from both Mint Motif Stamps as well as W+9 Design.

The border background was created from the Mint Motif stamp and the image on the squares is from the W+9 Design stamp. Finished it off with a sentiment and some buttons.

Card Recipe for card above:

stamps- mehndi medallions W+9 Designs, beyond borders- mint motif, party pennants- CTMH

ink- garden green, cocoa- CTMH

paper- cream, cocoa- CTMH

And here's another card that I threw in for good measure using a favorite color combo of mine- white, aqua and red: Super easy. just stamped the polka dot layer then used my square punch and mounted them onto a the card layers.

Card Recipe for card below:

stamps- hit the spot, party pennants- CTMH

paper- lagoon, cranberry- ctmh

{ color chef challenge #68 }

2010-10-18T23:24:00.000-05:00

Color Chef Challenge #68

Kraft Cream Pink

I was super excited to get a new set of stamps in the mail- Beyond Borders...had to create a card right away. Loving this cute little border stamp. My card is simple. I inked the edges, of both paper layers and then put foam dots all over the back of the cream layer. Then I attached bakers twine to the back of the sentiment. I created the same cream layer for the inside of the card.

Card Recipe

stamps- beyond borders- Mint Motif, Party Pennants- CTMH

ink- cotton candy, dessert sand- CTMH

paper- kraft- hobby lobby, cream- CTMH

other- twine, foam dots