It's Always a Challenge

Ok, to me anyway....it's always a challenge, to make GUY cards!! The
bold simple design of the sketch this week from Skipping Stones Designs
(SSD) just led me in that direction. The result is here:


My entry for SSD sketch #108 I used their "Grunge" stamp set....
it has all the words (and the great little "splotch") and that wood
grain stamp too. Love that one....GREAT for guy cards!! Gotta
play more with that one!

So here's MY challenge.....go use this simple sketch, and make some
great guy cards!! If you make several.....you'll be on your way to
having a nice stash for the coming year!! So......time to go get inky!

My "recipe":
Basic red cardstock (8&1/2x11 Recollections from Mike's)
Basic navy cardstock (ditto)
MME (American Made collection....stripe & the 2 stars....
I folded the large one to pop it out)
Distress Ink (Barn Door, Faded Denim & Walnut Stain)
Tonic Distress Tool
Ranger Super Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder ("tough guy" is emb.)
Twinery Twine (Denim)
White button and foam tape (under star)

A Year of Favorites....2011

Starting off with January.....a toast, ok, a margarita....but that's MY kinda
toast....lol. This journey is also a journey into my changing abilities with
taking pics, and using photo shop....lol.....

Next up....February....and this one based on a sketch at Skipping Stones
Designs....love the inking and little crochet flower....and this is the beginning
of my "twine phase"....lol.

March was this altered basket from a blog hop at Cutter's Creek,
the eggs were my fave really.....done with paint, then crackle paint,
then rock candy stickles....they look like sugared eggs.....and I used
Echo Park Springtime....

Next up for April....one of my first projects for the DT at the LSS here.
AND my first try using Cosmo Cricket Glubers.....

May was another Skipping Stones Challenge.....using their "Healing Wings"
set....this turned out so pretty.....and I wished at the time I did have better
photography skills...lol.


June is a little sad for me....I made this super cute mini....and it was
actually chosen as one of the "I Spy" items over on the Echo Park blog!
The sad part.....I also did this up for the LSS DT....and they LOST IT!!!
ARRRRRGH!!

July....this was my only choice....lol....we were GONE for most of it, but
hey....I think it's a winner.....and over on Memorable Seasons site, they
apparently did too....sent me into the next round of the Last Scrapper
Standing Contest....

August....another busy month, and our yearly beach vacay. So I made
this altered sign I did as a gift for my MIL, turned out great. Was
Graphic 45, and I used Flower Soft to make the beach grass.


September....what's better than an old fashioned cherry ice cream soda?
As soon as I saw this collection, it made me think old fashioned ice cream
parlor, and the pattern and idea for this project was born. It was put
together for the Cutter's Creek Blog Hop using the "Happy Days"
collection from Echo Park we picked up at CHA in July.


October brought the yummy Echo Park Apothecary collection, and
this project....my stacking apothecary boxes, all tied up with yummy
Twinery Twine. This one did indeed earn me another spot on the
Echo Park "I Spy" blog post (PS can ya tell I discovered a few of the
photo shop secrets here....lol).

November....I just smile every time I see this card....I don't know why...


And for December....my "Reason for the Season" card.....the layers
of ink, Glimmer Mist, paint combined for something wonderful...
(and hey, I won a stamp set from Skipping Stones too!!)....

Hope you've enjoyed this little...."Year in Review". I know I am looking
forward to what 2012 has to offer.....hope you all have a Happy, Healthy,
and WONDERFUL New Year!!

Yummy-licious

This yummy card (ok, who wouldn't want a donut as their bday yummy?...
or is that just me?....lol) is for Skipping Stones Designs sketch #107 AND
for Really Reasonable Ribbon's challenge #38 (RRR38). I don't usually
do one card for 2 challenges, but this one just really lent itself to that, so
here ya go...lol. Plus it's Christmas.....no time for 2!!

The sketch I used is here:

I did flip the sketch, in that the bow is on the right instead of the left....just
liked it better! I used the twine weaving again....but this time with the ribbon
beneath.....just know I gotta play more with this technique, different punches,
and who knows.....got lots of twine to play with....it is my fave new "toy"...lol.

Oh, and by the way.....the answer on the inside of the card as to why birthdays
are like donuts? Sometimes it is best to not recall how many you've had.....lol.

The card supply list:

Skipping Stones Designs stamps (Birthday Donuts--Donut & sentiment)
Distress Ink (Walnut Stain for stamping & Vintage Photo to color in the donut)
Stickles (Yellow....bday candles)
Glossy Accents (donut glaze)
BoBunny (Sweet Tooth collection)
Bazzill cardstock (brown and pink)
Stampin' Up border punch
Seam binding, twine and bling from stash

Hop 2 It

Yep, time for another Moxie Fab World (find them HERE and you can
play too!), Trigger Tuesday! As soon as I saw this pattern....MME's
So Sophie collection popped right into my head! And so I put this quick
little card together.....


The sweet froggie stamp and the sentiment are from a stamp set by
"The Stamps of Life" (find them HERE). I purposely inked him "lightly"
with Peeled Paint distress ink, to get that "froggie skin" look. Basic kraft
and brown cardstocks, and twine woven thru the Stampin' Up border
punch.....told you I had more twinetastic fun coming!

Another fun "Tuesday Trigger"....hope you get the chance to get inky and
play along!

I'm Dreaming of a Black and White Christmas....

And yes, it's all because of the "Potpourri Challenge" over at the
Moxie Fab World Site (HERE). I drew inspiration from the black
and white coloring, and from those sweet lil' chairs....


Yep, sweet, simple, and I think I just found next year's Christmas card!
Chairy Christmas was printed on my computer, added a few bling, and
the chairs are a Unity Stamp from a KOTM club kit. A little AC ribbon,
Twinery Charcoal twine, and Want2Scrap bling....done....love it....

Ok, time to get crackin'.....gotta finish wrapping yet!

Take some time for inky fun!

Remembering the Reason....

Ever since I saw the sketch over at Skipping Stones Designs (SSD)
this past week....I had a card in my head I couldn't shake, and even
in the busyness of this season....I had to "play". In a way, it was my
own testament to slowing down, and enjoying this time, remembering
what it really is all about! The card above is the result.


This sketch #106 is by Jen Del Muro....(she's one of my fave cardmakers,
by the way, check out her blog HERE)....


To make my card I used:
Skipping Stones Designs Stamps (Wise Men & Timeless Textures)
Distress Ink (Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Weathered Wood & Faded Jeans)
Glimmer Mist (Marshmallow)
Adirondack Paint Dauber (Snow Cap)
Spellbinders Dies (scallop and regular circles)
Bazzill Cardstock (silver bling, and black)
silver eyelets and twine from my stash

Remember the Reason for this Season.....the blessing of a Savior, the
blessings of family and friends together. Slow down, and enjoy!

On the first day....

of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....some Moxiefabulosity! Yes, this
Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger is gorgeous inspiration (my take on
that inspiration was the clean white background, the metallics (the silver
paper and colors of bling and the beading around the bird), the beading
and bling (the pearls and bling on my card), and the sewing/stitching...I
used woven twine. And what does it look like, you might ask? Here is
the result.....


Please excuse my photo....drab Midwestern winters make for tough
photos, and with the wrapping, etc. still needing to be done....it was a
quick photo last nite, and post this am....and here ya go....lol--no time
for fooling with my light box!!

I decided to try something that's been on my mind with this card,
some "weaving" with twine.

I like the result....going to play with this more, for different looks, etc.
Lots of ideas floating around! But here is how I got the look above....

Step 1....secure twine with adhesive to back of size cardstock you need
for your "backing piece", and then wrap at even intervals, cut and adhere
the end piece....


Step 2....simply wrap in the other direction, same process, for this result....


My Step 3....was to add a bit of twine wrapped at the top.....you don't have
to do this, I just knew I wanted this look, and the pearls dangling from the
bow (those pearls were from Tuesday Morning, by the by....only .99 for
a huge pack!). At the end of this step I was here.....


Step 4....I put foam tape on front AND back, in the corners, just as shown,
I adhered to the card base, and then my "cover panel" went on top of
what you see here below....


And you see the result at the top of course.....I have other thoughts here...
add some pretty feathers into the weave, etc. But I don't have those things
here!!! Might scope out Mike's today and see what they have!

Remember to check out Moxie Fab World, for your chance to play along.
Take some "me" time today!

Items used:
Bazzill Bling Cardstock
Twinery Twine (Stone)
Spellbinders Dies (bird)
Beads (MS collection)
My Craft Spot Stamp Set ("Tis the Season)
Recollections Bling on a roll
Pearls (TM has them)

Ahhh, to have it all done....

Yes, to have all those holiday prep items done!! Do you know that
feeling? If you do....can ya tell me what's it's like.....cause I've never
experienced it!! Yep, still need to bake, clean, decorate, wrap, finish
with a few gifts (close on that....lol). And here I am making someone
a special gift....why? Cause that's what it's really all about!!

I made this quick little kit for a scrappin' friend as a gift. You know
I love to reuse....so I used a tin I got a little something in. It's a smidge
bigger than 7x7 square. And just decorated it up for a great little gifty!

And inside.....
Yep, all the makings for quick bday cards.....a few stamps, ribbon,
embellies, card bases and envelopes. All tied up neat as you
please with Twinery Pink Sorbet twine. And bonus....that twine
is a yummy embellishment too!!

Need a last minute Christmas or Holiday gift? Recycle a cute
container (or visit your local dollar store) and get craftin'!!

Today's Recipe Includes:
DCWV cardstock
DCWV pattered paper (bday stack)
EK Sucess Bday candle punch
Stickles (Yellow)
Creative Memories (Cake Sticker)
Spellbinders (labels
Want2Scrap Nestaboard and Bling
Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
Twinery Twine (Pink Sorbet)

Merry & Bright

Yes, I'm back again, today, with more Moxiefabulosity! This pic
above was the "Trigger Tuesday" pic for this week! This is just
so festive....I love the fact it's not the "same old" red and green!

And the inspiration led to this....


I was inspired by the ornament colors, the shiny pop of color, and even
the white barn board floor!! It's reflected in the dotted paper....the
random scattered "dots" (the circles with the buttons), the shiny
buttons, the pink and green colors, and of course, the white stamped
sentiment.....it's stamped with paint.

Well, back to reality here.....time for some chores.....gotta get some
household done! Be back tomorrow with more "Moxie goodness".
See ya then.

Don't forget.....you can play too! Moxie Fab World can be found HERE.

Goodies used today:

AC primaries 8x8 cardstock
basic white cardstsock
WRMK Merry & Bright collection (dot pattern, and "candy swirl")
twine & buttons from my stash
My Craft Spot "Jingle All The Way" sentiment stamp
Adirondack Snow Cap Paint Dauber
Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
Tonic Distresser Tool

Morning Coffee....and a Challenge....

Hmmm....what is a pic of kitchen ware doing on my crafty blog?

Well, it's for the challenge over at Moxie Fab World....you can find it
HERE. It's the "Get Inspired In The Kitchen" challenge (go figure...lol).

And here is where that inspiration led me.....

I used the BG Offbeat collection 6x6 to create this one.....and the
inspiration....the wavy pattern of course....a bit of that yellow green
color in there, the "glassware"....ok, mine's a coffee cup, but I am
sitting with that very type of cup in front of me now....lol. And the
other inspiration.....that graduated "dotted" type of pattern on the
glasses.....my orange dot paper is a graduated dot.

Thanks for stopping by.....would love for you to say "hi" if ya get
a chance, and remember to take some time to play today....hey,
maybe over at Moxie Fab World....they certainly have plenty of
challenges to choose from.....off to do their Trigger Tuesday
challenge.....will probably post later today....I'm on a roll!!!

What did I used today?

Basic Grey 6x6 Offbeat paper
DCWV black cardstock
Twinery Charcoal Twine
Marmalade Crinkle Ribbon (My Craft Spot)
Skipping Stones Designs Stamps (Funny Coffee vol. #1)
Distress Ink (Black Soot & Vintage Photo)

Playin' Catch Up....Tag #3

Ok, I gotta admit....this one I changed up quite a bit, but wow,
do I love it!! It really is my very favorite so far! So as for
what I did.....

No re-inkers here, so I used a tip from Tim a few weeks ago, to
color the stamp directly with the ink pads. I did this as follows:

Christmas: Evergreen Bough
Holiday: Vintage Photo
Season's Greetings: Pine Needles
Joy & 25: Festive Berries
Believe: Peeled Paint (and a little Vintage Photo....I liked the look!)
and bottom R corner partial words....Vintage Photo

I did the bottom stamping first, cleaned the stamp, then did the
top. The nice thing.....these inks stay wet, so you have the time
to do this technique. I also removed ink with a paper towel if
I "goofed" a word.

After stamping, I used Vintage Photo Ink to make this look
"antique". The kraft was nice, but I just wanted to use the
manilla (I was afraid without the "juicy" ink, it might not
show well). Sometimes these things are such happy accidents,
because I just LOVE this look! So then, just as Tim did....
distressed edges, and then I went in with some Walnut Stain
around the edges. I also sprayed it with iridescent gold Glimmer
Mist.

For the "greens", I used the pine cone die greenery in two different
shades of kraft core from core d'nations, the same trick from day one
for the holly leaves (stamped from Tim's set, in Pine Needles....stamped
"off" so the ink is lighter, cut out, then Iced Spruce and Vintage Photo
ink to give them depth) then layered together with this piece....

Grunge board swirl that I painted with the gold dauber....I kinda pounced
it to give it a textured, older look. Then sanded and inked with Vintage
Photo and Walnut Stain....I think it looks like old vintage metal....cool!

The berries are same as Tim's, the top of the tag.....I liked the look of the
winter metal tag and pin so much, and I had some green burlap I was
itching to use, so I kinda mixed the idea from tag #2, with the twine from
tag #3. And yep.....that's tag #3 in the bag!! WoooHooo!!

Hope you enjoy some inky time today, too!! Off to the next tag (ok, maybe,
just maybe, I'd better get some household chores done first....lol!)

Timmy Tag #2

Yep, FINALLY....darn life getting in the way all the time.....lol.
Hoping to get another one done today too....we'll see! This one
is pretty close....I only have the textured grunge board....I like
the effect it gave tho! I used Glimmer Mist (Marshmallow),
the wreath...I used some of the holly rope I got in Tim's etsy
kit, and I love a "pop" of color....so the red bow and gem give
it a little of that. The reindeer....no die here, I only had one of
the reindeer stamps....soooooo, I inked, stamped off on paper,
then stamped on the canvas. I stuck the canvas to a thin
piece of chipboard, then cut it out (ok, that was tricky, and my
family thought I was insane....lol....but hey....good result!).
It's inked with Frayed Burlap and distressed on the edges...
I used the actual distress tool....don't have the little rake Tim
uses (YET....lol....think that might be on my Christmas Wish
List this year....lol).

Hope you enjoy tag #2......and remember, Tim has all the
details HERE.

See you soon! Take time to get some inky play today!!

Moxie Meets Fashion....

I have "lurked" around Moxie Fab World enough....thought it was time
to join in and play! The card above is for their "Get Inspired By Fashion
Challenge" based on this fashion inspiration challenge photo:




I unfortunately need a couple of sympathy cards right now, never a
fun task, but this pic truly inspired me, when I was having a tough
time where to go with this one! The inspiration I picked up.....the
hounds-tooth pattern, of course, and also the satin lining of the
jacket (my ribbon), and the button and the pearls near the collar
gave me the idea for the embellies for this card.

Supplies Used Today:

Glimmer Mist (Patina)
DCWV black & white cardstock
MM pattern paper (5th Avenue)
Recollections Pearls
Hug Snug Seam Binding
Twinery Twine (Charcoal)
Distress Ink (Black Soot)
Skipping Stones Designs Stamps (Healing Wings)

If you'd like to play too.....the link to Moxie Fab World is HERE.
They have a lot of challenges going on....and a lot of inspiration,
which is "da bomb". Sorry, a little "Chicago Speak" slippin' in
there....lol.

Ok, that's all for today....have more Timmy Tags to work on, and
a few more Moxie challenges too!!

Time to go get inky!

Time For The 12 Tags!!

Ok, remember when you were a kid and just couldn't wait to
open presents?? Christmas, Hanukkah, Birthday, whatever....
it was the anticipation of what was coming, oh so soon!

Well, I don't know about you.....but that feeling is not as common
these days....lol....but I really feel like a little kid again, when
Tim Holtz starts his 12 Tags of Christmas!! The anticipation of
each new tag unveiled each day.....the fun of getting out my inks,
bling, dies, embossing folders, powders, stickles.....yes, you just
have the excuse to PLAY!!

So above is my take on Tag #1.....I definitely had to improvise!
I know you can see the "how to" info on Tim's blog HERE, so
I won't go into complete detail, but I did change up several
things (use what you have, right?). I used a different color
palette on the kraft core paper, the embossing powder I had
already (Zing Vanilla), the "Noel" and the swirl below it....I
had old chipboard letters, and some grunge paper plain swirls.
I cut pieces and parts, and glued together to get a look I liked.
The silver is Stickles....just can't bring myself to glitter....lol.
The holly leaves....don't have the die, I stamped them (Tim's
set) in Pine Needles, and inked edges in the Iced Spruce after
I cut them out. To make the banner....no music note paper,
I made my own.....used the Tim stamp set with the small
sheet music, stamped it twice next to each other in Black Soot,
on white cardstock. I centered the banner die over the
"music note" section (avoided the words), and then cut.
Inked with Vintage Photo. A few baubles and beads from
my stash.....and it's done!

I'm linking up over on Tim's site.....are you? C'mon, join
in the fun, take a little time for you, to go and "get inky with it"!!

Simple Can Be Good....

Do you have a lot of cards to make? I love to make some special
cards for some close family and friends, but for large amounts of
cards.....this card is so simple, but is still pretty!

Basic kraft cardstock A2 base, a Glimmer Screen, and one of the
new holiday edition Glimmer Mists (Snowy Pine) and a bit of
red raffia. Wow, talk about simple. Helps out with the Christmas
craziness, huh?

Hope you have some time to get inky with it, today!