CPS Year in Review

CPS is having a year in review challenge. Simply take any sketch from 148 to 198 and make a card. Super easy except that when faced with all those sketches it was a little hard to choose. I settled on sketch 184 because I knew I would be able to use one of my pretty, but quite old Basic Grey flourish rub-ons. I've had some trouble with older rub-ons not working anymore so I've put them in a basket by my table determined to use them up soon. I hoarded them because I thought they were so lovely, but no one will appreciate their loveliness unless I use them. Carly Robertson is generously sponsoring with a $20 gift certificate to Waltzingmouse Stamps! For any one who's going out to new years eve parties have fun but drive safe! And to all I wish you the happiest new year yet!

Happy New Year!

I needed to create just a few New Year's cards. I only have one new years stamp and no papers or embellies esp for the holiday. Which works for me because I only create a few cards a year. But I thought that these little monsters from Sassafras's Monstrosity line were super fun and perfect for a holiday is that about excitement. Also the Paper Playtime challenge to make anything for New Year's was super motivating because of the awesome prize offered by Cravin Scrappin!

Caardvarks Last Challenge :(

Caardvarks sadly has posted their final challenge. I have been participating on and off in their challenges for a long time and am certainly sad to see them go. They have a fabulous sponsor in Clear and Simple Stamps. The challenge is to create a monochromatic card. I used my Cricut to cut out the ornament which can be removed from the card. Papers and letter stickers are Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses.

Sketch and Stash Challenge 51

The challenge at Sketch and Stash this week it to use any of the sketches from the past two years to create a new card. Sketch and Stash has several amazing sponsors this week. I created this card based on sketch 7. I used my brand new Cricut to cut the star and oval. Even though I've only cut some basic shapes from George so far I'm loving be able to choose the size and get my cut quickly. This was also created for Caardvarks monochromatic challenge sponsored by Clear and Simple Stamps.

Paper Sundaes Cut It Out

The Paper Sundaes challenge is to hand cut an element for the card. I cut three stars to layer behind the large brad and stamped chipboard. This was made especially for a friend who I think will appreciate its rock n roll edge.

A Card for Several Challenges

I'm still making some Christmas cards because I'll be meeting up with some friends on the 9th. I'm thankful for the extra time and happy that it means I'll get to use my brand new Cricut to create with. I got the baby bug as a Christmas present and so far am loving it. I'm mostly a card maker as you know so the baby bug is a good size for me. I cut the triangles with rounded corners from George (my only cart so far but another is on its way). The Cricut Cardz challenge was to make a Christmas card with a banner and I knew that would pair perfectly with ECP Challenge sketch which includes a banner. Finally the the City Crafter blog called for a vintage Christmas card which led me to use Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding collection which has a great vintage feel. I have a few more cards to share this week and am happy to catch up with some old challenge blogs. Below is a card I made with Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses for no particular challenge. I just wanted to use that cute little deer and I added some ornaments cut with the circle and charm feature of George and my new Cricut.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I finished my student teaching on the 23rd and it been a flurry of Christmas activity since then but I hope to be able to share what I have been creating and to have more time to create. The above cards made with Basic Grey papers, Prima flowers, and Maya Road rub-ons is for the Pink Elephant Winter Wonderland Challenge. Have a wonderful day and enjoy your family and other blessings!

Sassafras Box featured on the Blog!

I altered this plastic chocolate box recently for a friend. Cleaned it out and covered it in some fab Sassafras from my stash. A collection that I resisted buying because I wasn't sure what I could use it for but knew I loved it. I finally gave in and thought the fun whimsical nature would be perfect for the friend in mind. It was a cheap way to give a little welcome back to NJ present but the cherry on top is that it is being featured on the Sassafras blog today!

Thanks to Sassafras for featuring my project with "vintage" Sassafras papers and stickers!

Wintry Wishes Bo Bunny Card Sketch

The latest card kit from my LSS contained some super cute Winter Joy Bo Bunny papers and brads along with from felt die cut snowflakes. I knew the kit would be perfect for the current card sketch at the Bo Bunny blog so I go to it. My card winds up following the sketch pretty closely but all the cutting and layering still made it quite a project. I need to be quicker with my next few Christmas cards if I ever hope to get done on time.

Cosmo Cricket Home Challenge

Cosmo Cricket has issued a challenge yet again. Create a Christmas ornament or a LO with a house/home theme. Well I figured since all my holiday stuff is stored somewhere in my mom's attic and I certainly won't be getting it all out a few handmade ornaments for this year wouldn't be a bad idea.

I used the house pattern from the Cosmo website and mixed my Mitten Weather mini deck with my Jolly by Golly element printables. I love being able to print as many as I want of some of my favorite Cosmo images. I don't have to worry about finding the perfect project or accommodating size. I'm definitely a traditional paper crafter but I also definitely recommend checking out the Cosmo Cricket digital elements!

This is also for the Easy Craft Projects Challenge 27, sponsored by Some Odd Girl, to make a Christmas project! And for the City Crafter Challenge Blog Let it Snow challenge sponsored by DT member Cheryl Nelson! I used some stickles to emphasize the snow on the Home Sweet Holidays image.

Etsy Inspired 117

My LSS has $5 card kits each month. You always get more than $5 in product, make a card then bring it back to the store to be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate. Love it! I made a card with the contents for the contest (see below) but then combined leftovers with some other Echo Park paper and the Etsy Inspired Challenge 117. I was inspired by this collage heart from Paper Seeds the inspiration shop this week. EIC is sponsored by Digis With Attitude. I also made these cards for the Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week Birthday Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. I encourage you all to visit the Moxie Fab World and take part in any of the challenges.

Card Patterns Sketch 93

I was using Sassafras Anthem on a project and so it was still spread all over my desk when I saw the new Card Patterns sketch. I thought the collection would be perfect for the new sketch especially the zig zag bottom strips that I used on the side of the card. I also made this card for the Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week Thank You Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. I encourage you all to visit the Moxie Fab World and take part in any of the challenges. I took some time for me this weekend and made a few projects for different challenges which I plan to share throughout the week.

Vintage Week at 365 Cards

At 365 Cards they are having a vintage week. Vintage is definitely not my strong suit, but I decided to give the recipe challenge at the end of the week a try because I knew it would be a real challenge. I started with a doily for the lace, distressed it, stitched around the center, and added a sentiment stamp. Next I layered a dimensional sticker, die cut, and stick pin over the doily for a funky vintage embellie. I put it over some pierced 7 gypsies papers cut to fit the 5x5 card and topped if off with buttons to hit every part of the challenge. I was happy to stretch my creativity and take a closer look at my supplies but the chance at a great prize was good motivation as well. Hope you all had a relaxing long weekend! I look forward to getting back to my kiddos at school tomorrow but not the 6 am wakeup call.

Give Thanks

A rather simple card using Basic Grey's Indian Summer. Student teaching in a low income neighborhood has given me a renewed perspective on what I am thankful for. Even though the kids I work with are between the ages of 4 and 7 they appreciate the simple things like a home, family, food, and clothes more than most because many of them know what it's like to live without. Today I'm thankful for to always have enough to eat, to have a place to live, people who love and support me, and that I have a good jacket to keep me warm, but beyond that to have the extra things that make life more enjoyable like a cup of coffee for my long commute, a dependable car, and more scrap supplies than it reasonable.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Caardvarks Die Cut Holiday Card

Caardvarks has issued a challenge to make a holiday card using a die cut. Which is pretty easy is you ask me. So I got right to it using a K and Company die cut with Mitten Weather papers. Tried to keep it pretty simple because I need to be making a lot of Christmas cards. Many of them will be with Mitten Weather I'm sure because Cosmo Cricket has a guest designer contest where the new guest designer will be randomly chosen from submitted Mitten Weather projects and since I love Cosmo Cricket what could be cooler?!

Scrap It With a Song #30

I really enjoyed my time on the DT of Scrap It With a Song but I have yet to participate since leaving the team. Mostly because I've been so busy and also because using songs can be a bit of a stretch for me. But this week's song lends itself so easily to a card I had to play along. The song is You've Got a Friend in Me from the Toy Story soundtrack. I basically used the song title as my sentiment and kept the colors bright and bold in keeping with the childlike inspiration of the song. I think it makes a great encouragement card. I searched my stickers for a friend sticker and then built everything on from there. Little letter stickers from Adorn It for the rest of the sentiment and papers from Cosmo Cricket Get Happy inspired by the bold red. I've finally taken pictures of some others cards I've been working on so hopefully I'll be posting some more soon. Enjoy your Sunday!

Flashback Friday 4.0

I'm here sharing some cards I made two years ago as part of Amy Tsuruta's Flashback Friday 4.0. I love Amy's work and read her blog regularly but this is my first flashback challenge. These two cards were made from papers one of the DCWV paper packs. I have since then becomes more of a paper addict and in a way a paper snob. I don't really like working with those big old stacks. This year I am much more likely to be making my Christmas cards with CC's Mitten Weather or BG's Eskimo Kisses. With the new time change I go to work just as the sun is peeking out and don't get home until after its set so its hard to get a good card picture in but I will hopefully have some cards to show you this weekend. Happy Friday!

Cosmo Cricket Photo Challenge

The Cosmo Cricket design team has issued a photo challenge with a chance to win the brand new Circa 1934 collection. Well since I love Cosmo Cricket and the new line is a must have I figured I'd throw my hat in for a chance. At first I thought I didn't have any papers to match this photo but then I remembered I recently bought the digital Mr Campy elements. So I sorted through a picked a few fall-ish elements to print off. I added the bluish color to the red, yellow, and orange from the photo because I really loved the sentiment. I am in love with the ability to resize and use Cosmo elements as much as a I want and see a few more digital purchases in my future even though I do only the real live get messy kind of crafting.

Halloween Projects

I needed some last minute Halloween projects to brighten Halloween for the family. Love giving gifts and cards on these little holidays when its not so expected. This little bottle is for the Creative Craft Challenge Trick or Treat challenge since a little Halloween treat will be going inside (think little bit of licorice strings as legs).

I wanted to create sometimes a little different and that would go with this fab label rub-on so I made a bottle shaped card for the RRR Halloween challenge. Ribbon was the perfect way to finish off this card so it worked great with the challenge to me even though its only a small bit of ribbon.

Friday was the school Halloween party and I must say its a little stressful from a teacher perspective but its also really fun and all the little ones were so cute in their costumes!

Happy Halloween!

Card Patterns Sketch 85

I made this fun but simple card for an engagement party my aunt will be attending. I love the bling bling element from the CC Girl Friday collection and thought this was the perfect time to use it. I was inspired by the Card Patterns sketch.

Card Patterns Sketch 83

Student teaching has kept me super busy and tired. When I get home after a day in the classroom and 2 1/2 hours on the road I have very little energy left, even for cardmaking. But this weekend I decided I had to take some time for myself. I was inspired by the Card Patterns sketch although I used a rectangle shape instead of an oval because I was using the Pixielicous elements. Pixielicious is a very cutesy line, but I tried to tone that down a bit to go with the more elegant font of the rub-on sentiment.