Spring Forward

As harsh as this winter has been in southwest Ohio, it is hard to believe that the spring time change is only a week away!!!!  The Mod Squad Challenge Blog theme of Spring Forward is just what I need to look forward to warmer weather.


I rarely make cards sizes other than A2.  Guess I have been trained by Operation Write Home for that size.  I have some beautiful #10 size envelopes, and wanted to try a different size.  This card is 4" x 8.5".  Jolee's embellishment, Offray grosgrain ribbon, Above Rubies Studio sentiment.  The kraft paper has a beautiful sheen and texture.  Hmm...  Think this might make a great Easter card if I switched out the kraft for a royal purple. I know what I am doing in the morning!!!!  I love the purple one!!!

Out of the Jar

I have a wonderful stash of Jolee's handmade embellishments (thanks to Marti!), but I'm never sure how I should use them.  The SOS Challenge #190 - Out of the Jar gave me the perfect opportunity!

I wish I had placed the jar a little lower, but the glue was already dry when I recognized my poor placement.  SU! sentiment, Jolee's flowers, Thin Lines embossing folder.  The yellow paper has a parchment pattern.  I stamped the SU! Cute as a Bug jar onto an old transparency (remember overhead projectors?!?), layered it on white card stock, then fussy cut them both.  I made a slit in the transparency and placed the flowers in the jar.  The ribbon, dark stems, and the ink are all the same color in person.

Sunday is the first day of March, the clocks "Spring forward", and a new Words 2 Scrap By challenge begins.  Annie from Pawsitive Thoughts by Annie is our guest hostess.  Come play along with us!!

Less is More 212 - Wings

The challenge description included a discussion of inlaid die cuts.  I had to give that a try. 

I made two versions.  I like them both for different reasons.  The wider satin ribbon gives a nice balance to the heavier butterfly, and the royal blue is a good contrast with the white.  The detailed inlaid die cut is interesting, especially popped up.  The spacing on the orange version works well with the narrower grosgrain ribbon, and I like the softer cream paper rather than stark white.  Cheery Lynn butterfly die, Unity sentiment. 

SOSS 28 - A is for Accident

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers challenge is "A is for Accident", make a get well card. 

I don't really color, but I can fussy cut!  Band aids stamped in Ranger sepia ink, Recollections heart brads, checked paper from my stash layered on heavyweight Recollections paper.  Not fancy, but I am happy with it!

Cards in Envy: Puppy Love

The challenge over at Cards in Envy is to make a card featuring puppies.  Who can resist puppies?!?  I only have one dog stamp (what is WRONG with me?!?!?), but I love it. 

Tiny buttons from My Favorite Findings tied with satin cord.  Simple, but I am happy.

Fusion Challenge: Orange, Teal, and Brown

I love love LOVE the combination of orange, teal, and brown.  The current challenge at Fusion Card Challenge is to use those colors, and use their sketch.  Challenge accepted!!!  I made some cards with this color combo a while back, and was happy to revisit the great SU! washi tape and paper set.

Brown paper base has a herringbone texture.  Tangerine paper and ink.  Stash sentiment.  Retro Fresh washi tape.  Super CAS, but I like it!!

The Big Screen

I make cards for Operation Write Home, and they always need love cards for kids.  I think these work for OWH and SOS!!

Mickey and Minnie are the ultimate Big Screen Stars!!!  Grosgrain and satin ribbons layered with Disney papers and Cuttlebug die sentiment.  Not fancy, but kid friendly!!!

The Male Room: Challenge 04 - Create Your Own Background

I received a wonderful, unexpected gift from my friend Annette a few weeks ago.  She saw some washi tape, ribbon, and twine that looked like "me" - and bought it as a gift!  How sweet is that?!?!

I saw The Male Room Challenge, and realized that Annette had anticipated my needs for this project!

I used a textured piece of gold foil paper, and layered gold and turquoise washi tape as stripes.  I mounted it on a piece of SU! paper, and added a a hand cut tag from the DCWV Winter in the Woods Stack mounted a another piece of the turquoise paper.  I also added Krylon gold leafing to the edges and gold and silver leafing to the berries on the tag.  The turquoise and gold polka dot ribbon is also a gift from Annette.  I love this!!  Non-traditional colors and a CAS design make a great masculine card!  I am blessed to have such a wonderful friend!!  I think my mother would have loved this card in her favorite colors.  I miss her so.....

Animals!!!

I made a card for the Our Daily Bread Designs February challenge - Animals.  Recollections paw print paper, Cuttlebug Paw Prints embossing folder, red satin ribbon, Derwent watercolor pencil for the red heart.  

OK, not great.  So I tried again:

Better.  I added another red layer to the focal point and a few red crystals.  MUCH better!  Now if I could just take better pictures...

Hearts, Hearts, and MORE Hearts

February is all about hearts and love.  Here is my latest:

Spellbinders Cascading Hearts background die, Spellbinder Shapabilities lock and key dies, Unity sentiment.  The key and the center of the lock are silver mirrored paper, so they don't photograph as well as I would like. The paper is mottled in shades of red and pink. 

Come join us at Words 2 Scrap By for our February challenge - Do Something Different!

I would like to add this one to the Cards in Envy Hearts All Aflutter challenge, and Simply Create Too: Valentine's Day or Use Hearts challenge. 

Ellie's Wish

Leslie at The Crooked Stamper is starting a monthly sketch challenge, and I am excited to join in!!

Her sketch:

My version for the Mod Squad All About the Animals:

I took the opportunity to use something really old, and really new.  I used my oldest ink (a child's washable pad - eek!) and my newest stamp - Ellie's Wish from Unity Stamp Co.  I fell prey to the allure of a half price sale on fabulous stamps!!!  I am also linking up to the Shopping Our Stash #187 - Use Your Oldest Ink.  The DCWV Plaids and Dots blue, green, and grey paper is mounted on a royal blue card base.  I used a dot of Glossy Accents on Ellie's eye.  I like this as a CAS card. 

Don't forget the February Words to Scrap By Challenge:  Do Something Different!!

Fusion - Heartful

I found a new-to-me challenge blog with an intriguing concept. They provide a sketch and a photo, and you can respond to just the sketch challenge, just the inspiration photo challenge, or create FUSION by combining both challenges into one card. OK, I am up for it! Here are the photo and sketch:

My response was pretty literal:

I stamped the heart in Versamark, heat embossed, and die cut with a Spellbinder die. As usual, my stamping and embossing were imperfect, so I took my embossing marker and filled in the edges, then layered it on a scalloped heart. I added the horizontal and banner elements with ribbon. Congrats and best of luck on your new blog Fusion! Don't forget to play along with the February Words 2 Scrap By challenge - Do Something Different!

Repeat!!!

As I am hoping for a Seahawks repeat, I repeated my card from last year's OWH team colors challenge. 

DCWV Teenage Dream paper, Fiskars sentiment. Check out the February Challenge over at Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com - Do Something Different.  Guess I need to take my own advice LOL!

Fun with Border Punches

I am trying to step out of my comfort zone by participating in more challenges and using unfamiliar tools and techniques.  

One of the least used tools in my scrap room?  Border punches.  The MFT Stamp Shop challenge is to use more than one border punch.  What a great combination for me - new to me challenge blog, and an unfamiliar tool!!!

I can't resist linking up to the House Of Cards Love challenge also!

Martha Stewart punches, TPC Studios sentiment.   Groundhog Day is tomorrow, and the February Words 2 Scrap By challenge starts today!  What does one have to do with the other?  Come play with us and see!!

Words 2 Scrap By February Challenge - Do Something Different

I get to be the hostess for the Words 2 Scrap By February Challenge - Do Something Different!  One of my favorite movies is Groundhog Day, where Phil (Bill Murray) experiences the same day over and over, until he learns a few life lessons and does the right things for the right reasons.  

Rita: Do you ever have Déjà vu?

Phil: Didn’t you just ask me that?

Do you ever feel like you're in a crafting rut? I tend to get into a rut in the winter time, doing the same things over and over.  I think it is time to mix things up a bit! 

I gravitate toward clean and simple cards.  Only one or two patterns, simple embellishments, ribbon not lace, you get the picture.  I think this is about as different as I can handle!

Four, count them four different patterned papers (the middle one is even flocked), 4 different types of lace plus a satin ribbon, bling, grommet, and pre-made circle-butterfly focal point.  Sigh, not my style at ALL.  It's so far outside my comfort zone, Sybrina had to convince me that it was acceptable.  

The patterned papers and butterfly were from an ancient scrapbook page kit.  The different lace scraps were from my sewing basket.  

SO what are YOU going to do differently this month?  Join us at Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com!