variations on a theme

... an FTL170 sketch theme, that is! Needing a wedding anniversary card for this weekend, I checked into the recent sketches at Clean & Simple's Web site and remembered that I'd MEANT to make one for this sketch challenge, now past the entry deadline. No matter! I took a few liberties with their FTL170 sketch, flipping it and running the ribbon under rather than over the top card stock piece. I wanted to dry emboss to pop up the hearts for an entry into Lifestyle Crafts' I Made This contest. These are a few from my 2x2" embossing folders of Lifestyle Crafts' QuicKutz GooseBumpz embossing dies. I used to belong to a QuicKutz club at my local paper crafts store and have amassed quite the collection. Now we just have to get it delivered to my brother-in-law and his bride by Friday! Can do! The inside sentiment's PC-generated: "Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart." and the inside heart stamp is stamped off so it's more like a watermark.

stamps: studio g's series 26 outside sentiment, basic grey's inside heart, and PC-generated inside sentiment; paper: A1 Neenah Natural White, SU's Cherry Cobbler card stocks; ink: SU's Cherry Cobbler and PC-generated; accessories: SU's Cherry Cobbler quilted satin ribbon

what's love got to do w it?!

I snatched up this stinkin' CUTE dollar stamp at Mike's this past summer and would you believe this is the first time it's seen ink?! To keep it a one-layer card for Susan's OLW19 challenge (b&w with a spot of color - one of my fav color combos), I used the heart punch as a mask and sponged on the bright red heart in the center of the letter "O."

The deets for this CAS lovely?!
stamps: studio g's series 48 soloz LOVE; paper: Staples 100# white card stock; ink: Ranger's black soot distress ink, SU's Real Red; tools: unknown heart mini punch

happy b'day Kim/updates

I made this card for my buddy Kim's birthday, and was pretty pleased to see how well the ribbon matched the card stock. Sometimes things just work out that way, eh?! My fav couple SU colors are Kiwi Kiss and Old Olive so I'm glad they didn't retire BOTH with the new catty. My card was inspired by this one posted recently on Kristina Werner's blog. Here's a strange coincidence: I like the postage stamp edge punch that Kristina used on her card, and Kim got me a couple postage stamp punches for either a birthday or Christmas present a year or so ago.

My DH and I golfed this afternoon on my work place league even though there are heat advisories posted until 6 a.m. tomorrow. I hydrated all day, and we stocked up on ice water, and took a towel that we'd soaked in cool water and stored in a cooler. Even with all our preparation, my stomach's upset right now and I'm attributing it to the heat. I don't do well in HOT weather but I DID golf okay (for me, that is!) and scored 5 strokes under my average.

stamps: PAPERTREYink's paper tray, SU's Heard from the Heart, and Pretty Petals BK, and studio g's series 46; paper: A1's Neenah Classic Natural White, Paper Reflections' black, and SU's Kiwi Kiss and Purely Pomegranate card stocks; ink: Ranger's black soot distress, SU's Kiwi Kiss and Purely Pomegranate; accessories: unknown dotted ribbon; tools: ek success' scallop diamond border punch

updates on my niece and her son, 7/6: What a difference in Nick from Saturday! He's now giggling, talking, enjoying DVDs, and started on solid foods! It was such a blessing to see him interacting with his Dad and G'pa Mike on our visit Tuesday afternoon! Nick's sutures had been removed and Jen's neck brace was removed - it's so nice to see improvements every visit! Kevin and grandparents met with hospital personnel to discuss the next steps in his treatment today. I shared with Jen about how geeked we were in seeing Nick's progress, before we headed for home. Can hardly wait to see Jen flash a smile again! Thanx again for your prayers.

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year for 2010

I have regular "gals' day out" outings with 3 friends (4 buddies, 4 hearts - get it?!) and we generally take in a movie and eats. This weekend's Barb's birthday, so she gets to select the movie and restaurant (I'll post a review afterward). Here's the b'day card I made using Jessica Sprague's One Buck Wednesday offerings - the DP's Orchard & Broome's West 4th collection in cool tones (7 coordinating DPs in 12x12" jpg format). Pretty stuff, eh?! The inside matted rectangle and hearts are all popped up using dollar store dimensionals I picked up recently when shopping w Kimmie.

... AND it just so happens that I'd been intending (I recall my Mom used to tell me, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions ...") to make a turquoise card in honor of Pantone naming turquoise the color of the year for 2010.

... which reminds me, how are YOU pronouncing 2010? Is it twenty-ten, or two-thousand-ten, or, like the Golf Channel, are you using two-K-ten?!

stamps: studio g's series 30 and VS4911 (inside sentiment), Karen's single birthday candle; paper: Orchard & Broome's West 4th - Cool DP, unknown white card stock; ink: ColorBox silver pigment

secret Santa 2009

We celebrate the start of the holiday season with a fun week of Secret Santa where I work (insert shameless plug for Kettering University here). Generally, it consists of exchanging small value gifts the first 3 days, and a larger gift on the 4th day during a lunch get-together. Here's the card I made to house a PC-generated gift certificate for my final day's gift. It's fun sneaking about to hide your gifts the first 3 days, and on our 4th we try to guess who our Secret Santa was before we open our last day's gift. We even all bring our final day's gift to the restaurant in a plain brown grocery sack with the name hidden on the bottom of the bag! As usual, a fun time was had by all! So, what do you do to celebrate where you work?

I punched the dove and sprig out on both cardstock and cardboard, glued 'em together, and popped 'em up using dimensionals. Then, crafty me, I stapled the tag to hang down inside from the top of my grocery sack, and adhered my card (with gift certificate inside) from that. It was, needless to say, probably the lightest gift there!

stamps: studio g (inside sentiment); ink: studio g; paper: deconstructed Bath & Body Works gift bag, accessories: tag - from the Bath & Body Works gifts (a 2-part lotion and soap set in matching plaid containers), ribbon - (you guessed it!) from the Bath & Body Works gift set, peace - a JoAnn's dollar find from last year, dove - Cuttlebug and QuicKutz 2x2" set

Veterans Day

Today's card is a simple red, white, and blue one as it's a federal holiday in the U.S. and we're honoring men and women of our armed forces. In keeping with Veterans Day tradition, President Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, saying, "While it is important and proper that we mark this day, it is far more important we spend all our days determined to keep the promises that we've made to all who answer this country's call."

On Veterans Day, I thought it was appropriate to site some statistics about veterans and mental health:

• Almost one in three veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq confront mental health problems.
• On an average day in this country, suicide claims another 18 veterans.
• Approximately 30 percent of veterans treated in the veterans health system suffer from depressive symptoms, two to three times the rate of the general population.
• More Vietnam veterans have now died from suicide than were killed directly during the war.

I watched a special on HGTV about some vets receiving home make-overs and these NAMI statistics really drive home that we must support our veterans!

I thought I had a stars embossing folder ... but alas, I guess I don't. My hand held star punch and my Silhouette were in the master bedroom where my DH was taking an afternoon nap, so I winged it with the dots - inspired by a card I'd spotted on Kim Dellow's blog the other day (here - thanx for the inspiration, Kim!) and all square shapes based on Sharon's ssnotime110 square challenge. Well, hope you have a t'riffic day, folkes! I'm off to gather more leaves in our back yard before we lose our daylight!

stamps: studio g's series 30; paper: SU's Real Red, Whisper White card stocks; ink: Color Box Blue Iris chalk ink; accessories: Cuttlebug with Swiss Dots embossing folder

happy WCMD

So, how'd you celebrate World Card Making Day? Earlier today I went bowling with my DH and eldest son as a team in the Area XIII Special Olympics' Bowling For Champions program. I used to bowl on leagues with friends and my DH but that was many moons ago. Today I perfected the left gutter throw ... it was a sad sight! BUT the event's tee shirts were awesome, so that's all that matters! That, and my son had a t'riffic time!

Just before hitting the hay tonight I made this "welcome fall" card to celebrate autumn, which has arrived here in the Midwest. Tho' the trees in my yard are mainly maples, I couldn't find a maple leaf punch this evening so dug out this recent oak leaf find from the dollar stamp section at my local Mike's. This card's based on a couple challenges - the layout's based on the clean and simple FTL60 sketch challenge and the leaves are from Sharon Johnson's ssnotime106 leaves subject challenge. I stamped the leaves on the pretty indian summer DP, then cut them out and use glue dots to adhere them to the white background.

stamps: Recollections' 115465, studio g's series 20; paper: Basic Grey's indian summer DP, SU's soft suede, whisper white card stocks; ink: SU's soft suede; accessories: a muse artstamps' mini dot twinkle stickers

a double whammy of sorts

This is a double whammy 'cuz I made this card in greens for Waltzing Mouse's color challenge (and 'cuz the bright green's one of my fav colors ... you can tell by my blog layout, right?! grins ... ) and using Card Patterns' Sketch 34 sketch layout. The cutie skeleton's in one of my fav of this year's Halloween stamp sets and includes the sentiment. I'm LOVIN' the skeleton - it's so friendly-looking and none too scary, so this card can go to anyone, including those w small kids. The crow's from a studio g release and so are the bats and "trick or treat" sentiment I used on the inside.

I'd picked up this DP at this past year's Mega Meet and love the color combo of black, white, and a splash of color; don't you?!

stamps: Cosmo Cricket's Haunted, studio g's series 20 and 34; paper: sei's eerie alley's batty DP, Paper Reflections' black and unknown white card stocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: sei's eerie alley ribbon; tools: SU's slit punch

have a spooky night

I finally got the household PC wrestled away from my youngest so I could post today's card, a sketch challenge - SSS21 - from the kind folkes at The Sweet Stop. I'm kicking out some Halloween cards of late, probably my 2nd favorite holiday to make cards for, and got to play with this cute red spider web looking ribbon I'd picked up from a LSS recently.

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' Spooky night, Cosmo Cricket's Haunted, studio g's series 34; paper: The Paper Studio's Boho Chic DP, Paper Reflections' black, Prism textured black and SU's Real Red card stock; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: , K&Co 3D stickers, unknown red webby ribbon

a haunting we will go ...

My niece Jessy's nickname is kitty ... and I'm having fun finding all things scrappin'-related to kitties lately. Here's a young girl all decked out in a cat costume out trick -or- treating and about to stop, unbeknown to her, at a haunted house. Based on Little Paper Shop's LPSC32 sketch challenge, can you guess who this card's for?

stamps: studio g's series 20; paper: My Mind's Eye night light DP line, Paper Paradise's black and SU's Really Rust card stocks; ink: Color Box's charcoal and peach pastel chalk inks; accessories: K & Company's 3D card stock stickers; tools: Cuttlebug with spiderweb embossing plate

chills & thrills

Do you send out Halloween cards? It's probably my next most favorite holiday after Christmas, and I enjoy making Halloween cards for friends and family ... who gets 'em depends on how many I can get to make before I run out of time. I'm not an every day stamper like lots of those whose blogs I follow. I just don't see how you folkes fit it into every day, but I DO try to check blogs regularly in the morning before heading to work. Just ask my DH - I'm addicted to the Internet, LOL!

This card's based on a new sketch challenge blog - Crazy4Challenges - and their first Saturday sketch challenge, C4C1. I've subscribed thru Google Reader so you'll see more sketches soon. If you haven't already, check 'em out!


stamps: Cosmo Cricket's Haunted, studio g's series 34; paper: SEI's Eerie Alley web page DP, Paper Paradise's black and SU's Rich Razzleberry card stocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: SEI's eerie alley ribbon pack; tools: Cuttlebug with Nestabilities' circle and scalloped cirle dies

a repurposed life

Here's a card from our stamp camp held this past Friday, from materials intended for the cute apron card pictured below. I thought I'd rather make a more masculine card using the apples theme for my eldest son's teacher so I altered it a bit based on a sketch layout that I've since misplaced.


unless noted, supplies provided at stamp class - stamps: Stampendous' Everything Happy, studio g's series 25, paper: SU's Old Olive card stock; ink: studio g's shimmery black, Tri-C watercolor markers

happy Independence Day!

We just returned from watching our neighborhood's fireworks and I wanted to wish everyone a happy Independence Day before hitting the hay! This'll be a short post as my youngest wants to use the PC ... catch ya tomorrow! Today's card is based on last Monday's Little Paper Shop LPSC22 sketch challenge (I'm SO behind, LOL!).

stamps: studio g's series 30; paper: Rusty Pickle's American Dots file folder 4DP, A1's Natural White, Prism unknown tomato-red and SU's Night of Navy card stocks; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim, Sakura's gold and sparkle gel pens; tools: I got to play with my latest border punch, an ek success scallop diamond edger punch

celebrate freedom

My last Independence Day card, this one's based on Splitcoast Stampers' SC235 sketch challenge!

I take 1/2 day vacations on Wednesdays, and golf on a work place league about 4 p.m., so I had time to whip out this quick card - and now they're heading into the mail on my way to the course! In Rox's post she said we could use circles, squares, whatever ...

stamps: studio g's series 30; paper: Rusty Pickle's Cupid's Undies DP, A1's Natural White, CTMH's Outdoor Denim, and SU's Real Red card stocks; ink: CTMH's Outdoor Denim

a par-fect father's day

The par-fect card for my DH - I made this one for the boys to give their Dad this weekend. It's inspired by this beauty of a card by Julia Stainton - she does t'riffic stuff - and I just used some golf stamps I'd picked up last year. Hmmnn ... is there a sketch out there? Sure 'nuff - Card Sketch A Day #288!

Back to work - I've gotta do MY card still!

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' golf cart, golfer; studio g series 25 sentiment; paper: unknown white, SU's tempting turquoise cardstocks; ink: StazOn's jet black, SU's old olive, Tri-C watercolor markers; tools: Creative Memories' circle cutter, Cuttlebug w Swiss Dots embossing folder

let the sun shine!

It was SUCH a beautiful sunny weekend in my neck of the woods! Hope you had a t'riffic one too!

I ended up making just one card this weekend, inspired by Toni's treat box and Lynn's window card. It's based on two challenges - it's a yellow sunny card for Sharon's yellow ssnotime85 challenge and it's based on Keri Lee's CPS114 sketch challenge (below). I guess you could call this one a "golden" oldie as the stamp set's a retired SU set I bought used last year and I worked it mainly in yellows and oranges.

Buying my stamp sets used works out well for all involved 'cuz demos are looking to purge retired sets to enable them to then buy the latest and greatest, and it's enabled me to purchase at least a third of my stamp sets after the new cattys are released.

stamps: A Muse Artstamps' sentiment, SU's Sun, Moon & Stars; studio g inside sentiment; paper: SU's Haiku DP, Really Rust cardstock; ink: SU's So Saffron and Really Rust; tools: Spellbinders' Standard Petite Circles Nesties and dimensionals, SU's slit punch

Iris Folding, anyone?

Another St. Pat's day card, this one's my first attempt at the Iris Folding technique. To make a long story short, I'd signed up for a class held this past Wednesday with a couple friends. We'd planned on making it a Gal's Day Out, were to meet another (supposedly) non-crafty friend in Frankenmuth for lunch, then lollygag about 'til the mid-afternoon class. I ended up having to work (boo! hiss!) and sent the (supposedly) non-crafty friend in my place - as the class fee was non-refundable. Well, my buds were sweeties and played on the sympathies of the instructor, and brought back a set of the class supplies for me! Awww ... (yeah, I could hear ya!) ...

Now, these AREN'T the class supplies. They made a flower and a cute l'il Easter chick as projects, using strips of wrapping paper. And I may have blown the actual technique as I didn't actually FOLD the strips of paper I used ... it was SU's DP and much heavier a weight than the wrapping paper and I didn't want to test my abilities by trying to fold the paper! BUT it's my first time, so be kind, okay?! I used a Marvy full heart punch to make a shamrock pattern, just tracing around the heart 3x and using a craft knife to cut out the shape on some white cardstock I had on hand. Then I laid the open section down on a triangle iris template I'd downloaded (here - hint: it prints well in landscape mode) and cut some strips of complementing DP into strips ... and the rest, as they say, is history! Thanx, LaurenM, for the kewl mytimess27 sketch!

stamps: studio g's series 26; paper: SU's Kiwi Kiss designer series paper patterns DP and cardstock, white cardstock on hand; ink: Brilliance Moonlight White, StazOn's Jet Black; accessories: SU's Kiwi Kiss ribbon, Marvy full heart punch, EK Success tab punch, dimensionals

think green march 17

Two studio g stamps and a bunch of strips of my latest fav color DP - kiwi green - and there's another St Patrick's Day card! Good thing, 'cuz these have gotta hit the mail real soon! Think green March 17 - it rhymes! Shades of green's the ATSDTC40 challenge this weekend which is great timing, I think, and it's the color of the river in Chicago which gets dyed green annually the Saturday before St Pat's Day - wonder whether Beth saw it?

Today's been a golf and movie kinda day - I watched The Changeling this a.m. (creeped me out but it was good - a ***), golf followed by Diminished Capacity (****) this afternoon, and was just flicking thru channels this evening and spotted PS I Love You (****) which I'm only partially watching as I upload this. It's only got another 15-20 minutes to play and then it's time to hit the hay. Here's wishing you a t'riffic weekend!

stamps: studio g's series 26; paper: SU's Kiwi Kiss patterns designer series paper, Kiwi Kiss, Vellum, Whisper White cardstocks; ink: StazOn's Jet Black

lucky enuff 2b Irish

I don't make all that many St Pat's Day cards, but loved this sketch and thought I'd make use of this kewl plaid DP that I got in a recent DP share. I stamped a repeating shamrock image on the green cardstock using the complementing blue ink, so it doesn't actually meet the requirements of the SCS Viva la Verve forum challenge. I'd not read the requirement that it also needed to be a monochromatic card, and didn't add the top circle piece, so let's just agree that this one's loosely based on Viva la Verve's VLVFeb03 sketch challenge. The two top panels are popped up using dimensionals.



stamps: studio g's series 26; paper: SU's Prestwick DP, Garden Green and Night of Navy cardstocks; ink: SU's Garden Green; accessories: CTMH's Outdoor Denim organdy ribbon, dimensionals

happy b'day Jack

Today's my brother Jack's b'day. I timed a Hallmark e-card to arrive in time; this one'll just have to wing it and arrive late to my favorite older brother who lives in California! I won some Just Johanna Odd Bird Planet stamps from Christine of Scrap Time blog fame a while ago - including this sweet owl - and purchased the owl DP in a SU DP share from Linda of Linda Stamps / Where The Rubber Meets The Road blog fame. The layout's based on - you guessed it - a sketch challenge, LOL! This one's FTL31, pictured below:



These are new folkes to me, and I'm adding their link in my "challenging blogs - visit for sketches" list so I can become a frequent visitor. I think I'll try adding a mini picture rather than just link to sketches from now on ... time'll tell ...

stamps: Just Johanna's owl, studio g's sentiment; paper: SU's Good Morning Sunshine DP, Bashful Blue and Brilliant Blue cardstocks; ink: SU's Brilliant Blue; accessories: unknown ribbon