ICS #9

Here's my card for the sketch this week at ICS. The week's sketch was a bit of a challenge. I didn't know what to use for the irregular element in the sketch until I saw the wavy pattern in the Marrakech papers. So I hand cut the pattern and used other Marrakech patterns to finish it off.

Card Patterns #8

Here's my take on the Card Patterns sketch this week. I used the new BG Marrakech line which I love. The chipboard colors wound up a little bit more vibrant than I would have liked. The etsy shop Paper Blooms is the sponsor this week. Leah Cornelius is the owner and she makes beautiful embellished hand crocheted flowers.

Stamp Something and Caardvarks

First is my card for the sketch challenge at Stamp Something this week. I decided to use my Sassafras Lass owl set. This is one of my favorite sets because all of the owls are so cute and the branch and cloud make it perfect for building scenes with.


This is my card for the Caardvarks sketch. It seems like everyone is doing sketches but that works for me because I love them. Hero Arts is the sponsor this week so I used my bird set from them in the design. I also used the Basic Grey Mellow line. They have to many cute sets and on their blog they've been showing sneak peeks of their new releases.

Pink Elephant Challenge #7

Here's my card based on the sketch this week at The Pink Elephant. I love how they have so many different kinds of challenges at one blog. As soon as I saw the call for a textured background to be part of the sketch I knew I would be using the awesome flocked paper from the GCD Studios Spring All Over collection. All the paper and the tag are from GCD. The sticker is Making Memories and the buttons are from a Paperchase pack I got on clearance at Borders. Borders recently had all the clearance Paperchase down to $1 a package so I was able to pick up some funky shaped buttons and brads as well as a few others things. Yesterday was the first time this week I was able to dedicate to scrapping this week but I was very productive and wil be posting quite a few new cards today.

Lots of Projects to Share

I've been doing quite a bit of crafting but have been neglecting my blog. So I have quite a few projects to share. First here's a card I made using stamp kissing. I haven't done the technique much and honestly don't have too many stamps well suited for it but it was fun to try something new. I made it for the Stamp It! Week challenge at Papercrafts.


Next is my card for the GCD Studios sketch challenge. My card didn't win but Grace's LO was amazing. I still haven't applied to their DT call because I must admit I'm a bit intimidated. They have 250 entries so far, but since I love their product and have made so many projects with it already it can't hurt to try.


Next I have two projects from the SNR weekend crop. The first one was for a color challenge using green, orange, yellow and pink. The GCD Studios Spring All Over line was definitely well suited for this challenge


Next was a bug challenge. You had to include two bugs on your project. I choose two ladybugs from Studio G. The K and Company paper I used I got at a real bargain because it was a 6x6 pad with two sheets missing but it was down to 75 cents instead of $3 so I was happy to buy it. I wish I would have had more time to participate over the weekend because they had so many great challenges so I look forward to future crops there.


Lastly two small toots for me. First the lovely Renee from Let's Scrap choose me as artist of the week which is very flattering. Also I was in the Top 3 over at the Pink Elephant Blog. I love their challenge and I was so happy to know they liked my card enough to include it in their top 3. Their blog hop this weekend was great and they shared some fantasic projects.
On the first day of spring it snowed here in Jersey, but I'm still happy to say that its officially spring. I hope everyone will be getting some spring weather soon!

Recipe Challenge 40 and CPS 107

This week at Sketches by Tamara the recipe was to use staples, a star, and 3 different patterned papers. I wanted to make a more boyish card and I thought this challenge would be perfect for that. I also followed sketch 107 from CPS. I love the simplicity and versatility of this week's sketch. I challenged myself to make this card quickly since I think masculine cards usually involve less embellishing. This card probably took about 30 minutes which might be average for some, but was quick for me.

Caardvarks Critters

Here's my card for the Caardvarks critter challenge. I've used critters very often in my work lately but I wanted to make a card exclusively for the Caardvarks challenge since I've been combining challenges so often lately. I love this stamp set from Hero Arts. It came with several adorable little birds and cute card sayings so its a great one to reach for when I pull out my stamps. I once again used GCD Studios papers. It's very easy to make a card with the collection packs because the tags and die-cuts at the end of the pack made quick card accents. I love the sprakle in the backgroud paper I used and added some of my own on the tag.

Pink Elephant Challenge #6

This week the Pink Elephant challenge was to use buttons. I went once again to my new GCD Studios paper pack. The tag in the center was part of the pack which made this card come together very quickly. The stamps I used are from Hero Arts and I added the buttons which remind me of abstract flowers. I love the bright orange from GCD Studios. I love bright colors and orange is usually muted in scrapbooking supplies so I'm really loving this polka-dotted design. I'm looking foward to participating in lots of challenges this week since I have this time so I'm off to see what other challenges the blogging world has in store for me this week.

Use It #2

Rae Barthel just started a new challenge blog called Use It! I first became aware of Rae's work when she was on the 2S4Y DT and have visited her blog occasionally ever since. I missed the first use it challenge but was determined to check out the blog again to participate. So here is my card for the week. The challenge was to use spring colors, a tag and 4 flowers. Also Danni of dannisdoodles was the host of the challenge. The flowers are table confetti from Pier One that I just had to have when I heard about them over at scrapjazz but in the at least two years since I bought them I have no used one. Well for this challenge I decided to change that and used al four flowers from there. I guess if I'm going to finally take the plunge and use one I should go all out. The emboridery floss like most I use is from my mother when she used to cross stitch and she has passed it on to me. It was great to get some older stuff moved in my stash but next time I'm going to chllenge myself to make sure I use older paper as well since this is still my more recent GCD Studios paper.

Bo Bunny Sketch

It seems like manufacturer's blog are always hosting fun giveaways and contests and so while I've many times left comments for giveaways, this week I found a card sketch on a manufacturer's blog which I thought would be fun. Bo Bunny posted a card sketch last Friday and you have until Thursday evening to play along. I had these papers left over from design team work for Scrappy Jo's. They are from the Beau Jardin collection which she has on sale right now as part of an amazing St. Patty's sale. The sketch was simple but fun and it was great to pull out papers that I haven't worked with in a few months. I trace chipboard to create the flower and added some baby pink Stickles to highlight them. I have lots more to share but don't want to create super long posts so I'll be posting a few times today. Feel free to check out my other projects.

Card Patterns #6

Here is my card for Card Patterns #6. It was a fun sketch and I was happy to use a square card again. I noticed I haven't made those as much lately, but I love how because of their unusual shape they immediately catch your attention. I have to agree with Michelle, this week's sketch makes a great quick card. Mine took a bit longer because I choose to stitch but it came together very easily. The paper I used is again from my brand new GCD Studios Spring All Over pack. The diecuts and letters came from the pack as well. If you buy the new paper packs you don't need to add much to make a card or a layout because they come with glitter letters and diecuts. This weekend I was able to get quite a bit of scrappy projects (including 3 LOs) done this weekend since I didn't have school work to worry about and it was nice to just have time to create at my leisure. Especially since for me layouts take awhile so I need that extra time to create.

ICS #7 and Use Your Stash

First I have my card for Inspirational Card Sketch #7 to share with you. Several days ago I found out about GCD Studios and I don't know how I didn't discover them sooner. They recently started a blog to show of their fabulous new lines and have been hosting some awesome giveaways. They have ten news lines and they are all so cute! So since I heard that Micheal's sells some of their papers the next chance I got I went to Micheal's to check out their which ones I could find. I picked out the Spring All Over collection perfect for Easter layouts but also just for fun cards. I loved the bright green and oranges which I used for the card above. I've already started another card from the pack. The shimmer and flocked paper papers that come with the set are so beautiful. Besides the super cute GCD studios supplies I added some Stickles, Making Memories brads, and Offray lace/glitter ribbon from my stash.


Speaking of my stash, here's my LO for the challenge over at Use Your Stash. The challenge was to use eyelets and so I punched holes along the border of my scalloped edge and filled it up with a bunch of old Making Memories eyelets. I have a bunch of eyelets and don't use them too often but my Crop-o-Dile sure makes it easy when I do decide to. It felt good to use something I've had for so long.
I've been slowly scrapping the pictures from our summer vacation to Florida and its great to relive the memories after so many months. Since I already made a mini album with the pictures for my grams I have all the journaling done and so I feel comfortable taking my time. I'm off to do some more scrapping.

Pink Elephant Challenge #5

This week the challenge at the Pink Elephant was the use pink, green, and brown. I know these colors work great together but I just couldn't find a line that had all three that was calling to me that day. So I mixed BG Euphoria with some old DCWV brown. The Pink Elephant has been introducing lots of fun new features this week you should be sure to check out. They have a new tip sight that has lots of fun ideas about a variety of scrapbooking challenges. Today is the first day of my spring break week. I looking foward to the time off but will also be writing a research paper this week. Never truly free from schoolwork I suppose. I should have lots of crafty things to share this week since I have the time off and also some extra time to blog surf and catch up with the beauty the rest of the craft world has been creating. I can't wait!

A LO and a Card with Sketches by Tamara

This card was made with Tamara's card sketch #85. These are Heidi Grace papers that I recently picked up at a very cheap price from Joanns. The whole line was on clearance and so I got chipboard, plastic embellishments (like those flowers), paper, and satin ribbons. The stamps are also a new purchase, those bunnies are too cute and perfect for Easter cards.



This LO was made with Tamara's Layout Sketch #86. This was the first time I stamped my own PP and while it was time consuming I enjoyed it. These flowers seemed to work well with the tropical feel of Discovery Cove where the pictures are from.
My exams are over for the week but I'm so worn out and still have the rest of the week in schoolwork that I think I'm going to put off crafting until the weekend when spring break starts.

Stamp Something and 2 Sketches 4 You

I made this quick card for my sister. She wanted me to make her a card since this past weekend I insisted on buying another set of St. Patty's day stamps even though I don't make many cards for the holiday. I bought the set just to get that cute little owl. I think I could adapt him to work in non-St.Patty's Day card. Which leads me to the Stamp Something challenge which was a favorite something challenge. Owls are my favorite trend in scrapbooking supplies. I also used Laura's Sketch #21 from 2 Sketches 4 You. Now after this quick card I need to get to sleep so I'm ready for my exams tomorrow.

Card Patterns Sketch #5

We've been having some unusually warm weather once again here in New Jersey. It seems that mother nature can't decide between winter and spring. Yesterday I was able to enjoy a walk quite a bit warmer than the one I took through the snow earlier in the week.


The warm weather made me want to use bright colors so I did just that for Card Patterns Sketch #5. I used papers from Colorbok Friendly Forest once again along with some Making Memories letter stickers and Prima flowers. Card Patterns if being sponsored by Paper Popsicles this week and has an adorable prize up for grabs. I have 3 exams this week since spring break is next week so it looks like it will be a busy week of me with my nose in a book, at least until Wednesday.


Last week I found out that one of my cards was accepted to be published in the March issue of Scrapbook News and Review which comes out on March 21. Their online community is full of great ladies, videos, and inspiration and I can't wait to see the new issue.

ICS and CardALicious

Here's the card I made for the Card*A*Licious challenge and ICS sketch #6. The Card*A*Licious challenge was to use red, black, letter stickers and bling. I used my brand new We R Memory Keepers papers that I bought with the Micheal's gift card I won. I also used the Adorn-It letter stickers I won several years ago and for the bling I used some Stickles and gemstones. The ICS sketch was simple and fun this week. Sometimes their sketches throw me for a loop but this one I knew right away what I wanted to do.


This adroable bag is the Jillie Willie bag I won awhile ago from Melissa. It's so cute and I've already started filling it. Thanks Melissa! She's running another challenge but this time its for a Jillie Willie apron which is just as cute as this bag. I plan to use the bag to store some supplies that I can bring home on weekends so I can do some cardmaking then. Lastly, here is a layout I finished recetly about our trip to Seaworld this summer.

Pink Elephant and Card Patterns

The Pink Elephant had a recipe challenge this week. I love recipe challenges because it makes me think more about the supplies I'm using rather than just grabbing the first thing that grabs my eye. This usually leads me to using some older stash. So the recipe called for diecuts, mine is from Making Memories, and ribbon. I also used the Card Patterns sketch for this card. Despite the snow day yesterday I have a lot to do this week but love to play along with many challenges so I thought these two would be perfect to combine. The winners at Pink Elephant and Card Patterns have been so inspiring and I look forward to seeing everyone's take on these challenges this week.

Snow Day and a Card

Today we got lots of snow so classes were canceled which is very rare at Rutgers. In the morning I spent some time fooling around in the snow with Tim and friends. It's so much fun to play like children sometimes.


Here's a card I made last week with Card Sketch #84 from Sketches by Tamara. This card is a bit spring-y considering the snow but I've been waiting for spring. Though the snow did remind me of what fun winter can be. This card was made with Colorbok Friendly Forest, I think I'm addicted to this line. I love the bright colors and simple patterns. I'm also addicted to stitching on cards but this time I tried to mix it up a bit and added the sequins.

Hope you're having a fun Monday as well!

Blog Award and a Layout

BR-T from Inky Fingers Rule awarded me this ladybug blog award. I really enjoyed visiting the blogs she nominated and I was honored to be in her top ten. Now I get a chance to highlight the blogs of some of the lovely girls who leave love on my blog and make cute crafts…

Tricia

Dawn

Sankari

Fink

Lori

Velma

Pearl

Amy

Renee

Sharon

These ladies can if they choose pass it on to their top ten favorite blogs and include the links for everyone to check them out.

I have something else to share with you today. I don't make many layouts anymore because cards are less time consuming but the other day I made a simple LO. I used LO Sketch #70 from Sketches by Tamara. On her blog the sketches are organized by number of pictures which is an awesome resource.





I don't yet have a good system for taking photos of my LOs but here it is. Our two cats and dog had a lot of fun receiving presents on Christmas and the cats even opened some of their own presents because they were so eager to see what was inside, including catnip. The paper strip is from K&Co, I used some of my new vinyl Thickers, and the prima flowers are from a wonderful swap partner.



I'm excited to start some of the new challenges that went up yesterday and will be sure to post some later this week. Happy Sunday everyone!