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!