Cards in Envy... Going Gray

Hello! It has been a wicked week with our New England weather..snow, snow, snow, wind and cold!
The weather is gray and so is the challenge at
 http://www.cardsinenvy.blogspot.com/.  We are inspired to use mostly gray on our cards.  I really like this hippo by Avery Elle....he has some fun accessories- like his glasses. I coated the glasses with Sakura black Glaze pen. I used a stencil and Hero Arts shadow ink to create the background with the squares. I paper pieced his blue face then toned down the blue with more of the ink.

Thanks for stopping by!  I am very excited about the SuperBowl tomorrow night--go Patriots!!!
Diane

Art Impressions and Julie Nutting Prima Stamp

 

Happy Labor Day!
I have enjoyed the long weekend- spending time with family and friends!  I managed to squeeze in a little time at my LSS Absolutely Everything and purchased some new stamps and more paper! I was going to live without the paper but Paige was with me and I told her to pick out some paper and she did a fabulous job!

I used a recent OWH sketch for the first card made with the Prima stamp. I love that these stamps are also sized for A-2 cards...even without a face- I love the images!  I rotated the sketch... this is one I will use again! I used Copic X-press it for my image, tuxedo black Memento ink and papers from American Crafts 'spooky'.  Clear glaze from Sakura on the bat and her shoes added some shine.

I could not resist the sweet images from Art Impressions Mini Front and Backs...Elf and Reindeer set along with the matching dies. And this was perfect for the challenge posted at AI http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/2014/08/challenge-143-front-back-challenge.html

My photo is crooked since the reflection from my light kept showing on the acetate window. I used papers from Jillibean Soup; winter tortellini and spinach soup 6x6 pad. The window, drapes and tree dies are all by Memory Box. I perched the cute deer on top of a snow bank....love his face!





 

 

I continue to make cards for OWH-even though they need less cards- that is a great thing! I feel like I now have more time to make cards for special people in my life.... I have a care package ready for the post office and I will be adding some cards to that box...with the hopes that the recipient sends the cards to someone very special! I do not to post too much and ruin the surprise but I will post more information soon! LOL
Have a wonderful week,
Diane

Playing Catch Up-Again!

Welcome! I feel like I have been running behind for much of 2014...and I  am hoping to change that! But for today- I am just going to get up to speed!

The fun ladies at Words to Scrap By have come up with another challenge this month. Make a card inspired by one of these movies:

• There's no place like home. (The Wizard of Oz, 1939)
• The stuff that dreams are made of. (The Maltese Falcon, 1941)
• Here's looking at you, kid. (Casablanca, 1942)
• May the force be with you. (Star Wars, 1977)

I adore the Wizard of Oz but decided to use a Unity Stamp (thanks Jen!) and go with Casablanca. I keep trying to think what it would sound like if Humphrey Bogart said the sentiment! I used colored Sakura Glaze pens on all of the eyeglass frames and I used clear Glaze across the lenses. A super simple card but I am liking it!

Join in on the fun by clicking here:
http://words2scrapby.blogspot.com/2014/03/w2sb-challenge-3-and-oscar-goes-to.html


The Midweek ThrowDown at OWH is a good one to encourage us to clean up our scraps! I do not save a lot of my scraps so I started with papers that were free with a UK magazine.I like the colors in the papers but this card is not going to highlighted in my 'favorite cards from 2014'!!  LOL 
 http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-scrappy-background/

And I wanted to make some western cards for my next box to OWH so I used one of the sooo stinkin cute images by My Favorite Things. I paper pieced a lot of his outfit. The layout was not what was in my mind- but I wanted the cowboy to take center stage.,,hmmm- I feel like it needs something! I think the last time I used this stamp- I made a lassoo from jute. I think I may need to do that again!

And here are a few cards that are not for challenges and are going in my OWH box. I did use scraps for the birthday card...if the scraps are on my table and catch my eye- I use them right away. Otherwise- just more stuff to add to my overwhelming amount of supplies! And speaking of supplies....I store my stamps in clear DVD cases- and I will store 2-3 sets in one case- most of the time by the same maker. I label the spine and slide the image sheet into the DVD outer pocket....it kind of drives my friend Kelly crazy! I figure- I have limited space and if I combine a few sets...I will have room to buy more! And really- my brain can handle it...I usually can find what I want pretty quickly! Sorry Kelly!

I love the colors with the black! gorgeous! All from a pad by KaiserCraft- Violet Crush.

The Mama Elephant rabbits are quickly becoming favorites- they make me smile! And the dies are ME too and I LOVE that the edge 'stitching' is part of the die! 

Well, my girls are all coming home so I am looking forward to spending "quality time" {as Paige says} with some of my favorite people on this planet! I have so much in life to be thankful for and I know how blessed I truly am- but every time Cori, Paige and Maggie make plans to come home...my heart expands when they call or text to make sure I can spend time with them! My sister and her husband have done a damn fine job raising 4 awesome kids (Tessa is in middle school- so she does not have to 'come home' from college and the big apple!) and I am so thankful they share the girls with me! 
Thanks for stopping by and craft on!
Diane

And the Party Continues!

Hello! The OWH VCMP  has been so much fun...the final challenges were posted yesterday. Marlene got the day started with our Sunday sketch- based on a card by Seongsook.
                               

I used papers from a few Christmas 6x6 pads and my image is from Peachy Keen! Love this Santa!

Next challenge: This one almost stumped me.....then I stopped thinking so hard and just had fun! Sybrina K wanted us to make cards for kids....playing tic tac toe to decide what goes on the card!
http://scrappingwithpurpose.blogspot.com/2013/09/owh-vcmp-cards-4-kids.html
                          
I went right down the center row- I stamped and colored the Paper Smooches cow and used a sentiment that came with the set....super easy and fun once I stopped stressing-lol! All the papers are DCWV. I love their glitter paper because it does not rub off so it is perfect for OWH! I mounted the cow on an Action Wobble-let's face it- what kid does not like movement! I remember the simple thrill of spinning on a stool at the donut shop as a kid...it drove my father crazy! 
(LOL I forgot to insert my image of this card...only realized when I went to post it at Sybrina's link! I guess I am tired or old..or both!) 

Next up- Marilyn challenged us to make a fall card. I made my card based on sketch #179. My papers are scraps from other projects-yeah me!- and the sweet little gnome boy is a digital image-and I have no idea who made him-boo me! I regret that I did not save some of my digital images indicating the artist or the store!
http://marilynscards.blogspot.com/2013/09/labor-day-weekend-vcmp.html
                         

Thia challenged us to create a bee card with a bee sentiment. 

http://bluemooncreation.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-un-bee-lievable-challenge-owh-labor.html?m=1

The Stamps of Life stamps  to the rescue-used for the image and the sentiment. I put the bee on an Action Wobble too! Bees very rarely are still...always buzzing around! I used an embossing folder by ProvoCraft to mimic honeycomb!

And our final challenge for the weekend:

Donna inspired us to make a card using the negative of a die or a punch! Loving this! 

http://indianainking.blogspot.com/2013/09/owh-vcmp-play-along.html

This angel is a digital stamp and I know this is from CC Designs- the Meoples line and I am pretty sure the artist is one of my favorites- Amy Young.

I embossed pink cardstock and then cut a circle with a Spellbinders die, then I made a ring from DCWV glitter paper from that circle die and the next size up. I colored the sweetie with Copics and the wings with a Sakura clear star pen. Whenever I use glittery pens-I always use a Sakura clear glaze pen over the glitter- the shimmer shows thru but the glitter is sealed in! I adhered her underneath the circle opening and stamped my sentiment on an EK Success punch. Signo white stitching....and my challenges are complete! 

I have really enjoyed looking at a lot of the cards that have been made for our troops! I am impressed with the talent and creativity and love how everyone is so generous and shares their talent! OWH supporters ROCK!! (like always being on an Action Wobble! lol)

OWH is celebrating their birthday all month long! I am looking forward to more fun and inspiration....it would be great to have some cake and ice cream...some balloons, banners, music...I love parties!

Craft on and thanks for stopping to visit!

Diane

You are Invited!

Wow- have you checked out all of the great creations that have been entered into the past 2 challenges at Drunken Stampers? Lots of fun and creative people have been getting in on the fun and you are invited to join in too!  Which brings me to this week's challenge:

                              

It's a party! Wahhhooooooo! I used a CTMH stamp and covered her with a purple glaze pen by Sakura- you know I love these pens! They give lots of shine, dry super fast and give some nice texture without bulk! The clipboard stamp is by Unity,the sentiments on the clipboard are from a variety of companies and I used a silver pen by Signo to color in the clip of the clipboard- doesn't it look real? LOL LOL   The ribbon is from my stash and matches the gal perfectly in real life- darn my lighting and camera skills! The zig zag/rick rack/chevron punch is by EK Success, the gems are Queen and Co and the fun ombre paper is by Studio Calico; Atlantic 6x6 pad. {Please take note of the order of importance of my party planning activities.... eat cake....yup. Always at the top of my list!}

Soooooo, I have not received your RSVP yet! Head on over to Drunken Stampers and join the party- no gifts required, no fancy party dress either-just some sharing of creativity and some lighthearted fun! I am sure you would love to be the Life of the Party for this challenge-come on- you can do it! 
Thanks for coming to my tiny little party and yup- craft on!
Diane

Thoughts of Christmas to Cool us Down?

Hope if you are getting steamy weather that you are doing well....it is hot here but my office is so cold I have to wear sweaters at work!

This week Jan challenged us to make Christmas cards in July for our troops to send home later this year.
http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-christmas-in-july/
The time will pass quickly until we get into full holiday mode so I am attempting to make some of my wintery cards earlier this year. I am also very close to convincing myself that it is brisk and chilly outside! Then reality hits!

The stamp is an older Stampin Up cutie- I love the little images! The sentiment is by Mama Elephant. I used paper from WRMK Winter Frost 6x6 pad-- great papers in this- lots of the papers are wintery but there are several that can be used for any occassion. And I used the following copic colors:
B00, B01; E43, E74, G21 and G82. I used the Sakura Stardust pen and sealed it in with the Sakura clear glaze to give some shimmer to the snow and on the trees. the little carrot noses are colored in using a glaze pen in orange.

Stay cool and hydrated!
While you are enjoying the summer try to find some time to craft on!
Thanks for stopping by,
Diane

Feeling Famous!

Happy Sunday! I have been extra busy so I am a little behind on posting!
I am feeling just a little tiny bit famous.... I am the sketch gal over at OWH today! Nice surprise- and extra nice because I really like the sketch! I like that i can use some pretty papers and have lots left over for other cards! Great way to use up scraps!



Just a helpful tip- the measurements for the top and bottom strips are .75x5 inches.

I altered my card a bit- I wanted to use this stamp and sentiment but they were too large so I combined the boxes on the right into 1 box.  The stamps are from the HSN iconic set, the papers are MME The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine and the viewmaster is colored over with black glaze by Sakura. I adore the glaze pens- they give a nice shine but dry quickly, come in lots of colots and they are in an easy to use pen! The white areas on the viewmaster are light reflections- it is so shiny!

http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-masculine/   This week Jan challlenged us to make cards for the guys! I decided to make a swing card with my Cricut and CTMH Artiste cartridge...super easy to do!

MFT stamps, Bazzill card stock for the base of card, the strips are from my stash.

And my other famous moment, Sandy posted some cards from her students from the Stage It classes and I have several of my cards on her blog today! http://sandyallnock.com/one-more-sleep/

Very exciting for me!

Have a wonderful week and please continue to craft on!

(anyone else having troubles with blogger today? I cannot make any edits- so I apologize for typos! I could not edit a previous post -the one where my cards were originally posted on 5/9- I have several typos in that as well!

Thanks for stopping by,

Diane

SPARKLE!

I had a pretty productive weekend and I was able to find time to make several cards-yahoo-my OWH box is almost full.

Over at Drunken Stampers this week's challenge is:





I have this very sweet Tiddly Inks little fairy digital image- so fun to color!  I used BoBunny Isabella papers, and copics (C3,5,7,9; YG45; E00,50; R20; RV00,02 and 04, EK Success punch, Hero Arts sentiments and Sakura clear star and clear glaze pens. Since most of my cards are sent to OWH, glitter that comes off is not OK! So- when I want lots of sparkle but want our troops to be safe, I cover the clear star glitter pen with a clear glaze pen, The glaze gives lots of shine and seals in the glitter so it passes the Sandy Allnock sweater test! I put a honkin' lot of glitter on her wings and scribbled more on her hair, dress and shoes. The shine on her hair and wings in the first picture is from the glaze. The second picture shows less glaze, more sparkle! I cut 3 butterflies from another piece of the BoBunny papers and glued them around the fluttering fairy!

And did you hear??? The awesome ladies over that Drunken Stampers are on the look out for some fun and crafty folks to join their design team. I had a lot of fun with the group when I was the Designated Designer in May....so I am thinking this would be a blast! Not a lot of hoops to hop thru- just some great challenges, laughs and lots of support--- go take a look and give it a chance!
http://drunkenstampers.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/looking-for-fun-crafty-peeps-for-the-drunken-stampers-fall-term/

Another great sketch is posted at OWH by Marlene today. I am so loving the sketches and the sample cards that Marlene is choosing-- I am having a hard time picking my favorite! I guess each week the posted sketch is my favorite--I like when I use the sketch for several cards but they all look different! I do not take pictures of all of my cards- mostly just the ones I make for challenges....I may take pictures of my whole box before I mail it off to Kris.... and maybe I won't-depends on the timing!
                     

Kathryn  made a fantastic card for today's inspiration! I love her patterned papers and matting- and I love that the sentiment really stands out and is the same paper as her mats!http://kathrynscards.blogspot.com/2013/05/its-time-for-another-bloghop.html
                          


My card:

I tucked my panel on the right behind the panel on the left and changed where I put my embellishments and left off the twine but otherwise I stayed pretty true to the sketch.
I used Authentique Festive papers, Mama Elephant stamps, Memento Tuxedo Black, Lady Bug and Bamboo Leaves inks, Copics R29, C1,3,5, G99 and YR04. I am trying to make some Christmas cards every week to add to my next shipment for Kris- so she has a little bit of a headstart on the winter holidays. I am really going to try to get my boxes in well before the OWH deadlines....sometimes I cut it very close!

Another busy softball week coming up for Tessa- the town league championship games are starting this week-after the break for the All Star games. Her team won 1 out of 3 of the All Star games- so they are out of the tournament....but the 2 losses both ended up requiring extra innings! The win was by a score of 16-1--the bats were on fire that night! Fabulous effort by all the teams- we just came up a tiny bit short.....but wow- her team really put forth true teamwork!!!

Craft on and have a great week- and fellow Americans, enjoy our Independence Day!
Diane

Two cards today!

I had some catching up to do...I totally missed Wednesday's Throwdown! I feel like lately I have been running behind, but I do catch up eventually! It is softball season and I try to go to as many of Tessa's games as possible...she is one dedicated and talented kid! And boy does she love the game! I played softball for 9 years in my youth- and loved it too but she has an incredible passion for the game! (Are you getting the impression that I am stinkin proud of my family???)

Last week's challenge was to made 'cards 4 kids'. I pulled out some of my beloved MFT Pure Innocence kids and decided on this skater boy image. The papers are from DCWV Boyhood stack. I used the Sakura clear glaze pen on his helmet and the skateboard. Love this pen... I do need to put a few coats on to make a nice shine- but it dries very quickly and smooth....so no added bulk or stickiness to the card!

Today's sketch at Operation Write Home is right up my alley-  layers and matting- great way to showcase pretty papers!

                      

Since I was looking thru my stash of MFT stamps, I decided to use this peek-a-boo gal. Bazzill papers, a cute image and a great sketch and I am all caught up with OWH challenges...I think!  I may have missed a recent tutorial or two....

Have a wonderful week and craft on!

Diane

It is Another Sunday Sketch

Happy Mothers Day! I have had a few busy but wonderful days! I travelled to Poughkeepsie to see Paige's fashion show- Marist Silver Needle Fashion Show- what talent and hard work goes into this! I am so incredibly proud of her-- and cannot believe she graduates in 2 weeks! It was great going away with family- we even made a quick stop at the Hobby Lobby there and scored big by finding the 2 new OWH Hero Arts stamp sets! OK- Tessa found them on the lowest shelf....young eyes and knees win out everytime! The paper pads were 50% off, stamps 40% off, we used 40% off coupons- so Tessa and I enjoyed a bargain filled shopping spree! 

I think I have made a card for every OWH sketch challenge since November 2012-- I look forward to the Sunday sketch- I sometimes struggle with them- but I like seeing what I can come up with each week!



Mama Elephant stamp of USA

DCWV Juniper Berry paperstack





Authentique 6x6 Essentials Collection
yellow paper- stash-of-Diane
PTI stamps
Queen and Co gems
Sakura white glaze pen
Butterfly- a free die with an British magazine
Spellbinders dies (squares)

Have a wonderful week- and please go check out drunkenstampers.wordpress.com! I am the guest designer this month! The challenges are so much fun and there is always room for more to join in on the creative fun!

Thanks for stopping by...yup- craft on!

Diane