Masculine Birthday Card

I actually finished my card today for this week's MFTWSC on splitcoaststampers.com. After having been so sick last week and missing the opportunity to cr8 a card for last week's sketch, I wanted to be certain to get back on track.  Here's my card for MFTWSC #63:

 This is a card I made for a friend of my mother's who is celebrating a birthday later this month.  It needed to be masculine, and its a theme I struggle with the most.  I hope to get better at cr8'ing more masculine cards in the future.

 Thanks for taking a look at my latest cr8'ion! C-ya soon!

Happy Cr8'ing!

Blow Your Troubles Away

Just a brief post today, because I am severely ill with a fever, & other flu-like symptoms.  It hit me like a train in the wee-small hours of the morning, but this is the best I have felt all day... so I am *running with it* and cr8'ing my post before I lose momentum.

Here's my card for this week's MFTWSC... it's #61 (we're marching right along with the year and these challenges):

MFTWSC #61- Blow Your Troubles Away

MFTWSC #61- Blow Your Troubles Away (image detail)

 Her outfit is paper-pieced, the bubbles are accented with glossy medium, and the papers are from MME's Everyday Flair.

Now, here's to hoping this flu/*bug* blows away like my troubles!  Thanks for taking a look today!
Happy Cr8'ing!
 

...Looking Up

I have been a bit under the weather within recent days, but I know cr8'ing cards always makes me feel better.  At the very least, it takes me away - an *escape* during the cr8'ion process.  I decided to throw all my cr8've energy into a card for this week's WSC with MFT over at Splitcoaststampers.

First the sketch, and then my card:

MFTWSC #60 - ...Looking Up

MFTWSC #60 - ...Looking Up (image detail)

MFTWSC #60 - ...Looking Up (additional image detail)

 I was drawn to bright, cheerful colors and patterns - because I feel anything but that way right now!  The papers are from the MME's Lime Twist line, Fly A Kite.  So it naturally seemed to lend itself to my using PI's Aim High.  (Sometimes my process varies: I pick the stamp first & then work to incorporate the other elements; in this case, I selected the paper & went on from there to cr8 this card.)  I paper-pieced her dress & the kite, added scalloped edge to the bottom layer of paper... which was mimicked in the aqua color velour ribbon.  The kite was accented with green twine... which is the only thing keeping it from flying off the card!

Well, I sure hope this card infused some cheerfulness into your day... I know it did mine.  Now... if only I could start to feeling better & be done with this cold!

Thanks for stopping by to see my latest cr8'ion!

Happy Cr8'ing!
 

I Love You Snow Much

Inked up a newer stamp set from MFT:  PI - Frosty and Fabulous Snowman.  I love the PI series, but my love for snowmen really is what *pushed* me to get this set.   So in keeping with the name of the set, I kept him absolutely fabulous with a sparkly scarf in using the sketch for this week's challenge.  (Challenge #59 over at Splitcoaststampers)

Here's this week's sketch:

And now, here's my card:

MFTWSC #59 - I Love You Snow Much

 I decided to simply stamp the image onto pattern paper, opting only to color his carrot-nose and bling out his scarf with glitter-galore!  I just loved the softness of these papers, and wanted the image to compliment - rather than compete - the color scheme.

MFTWSC #59 - I Love You Snow Much (image detail)

Using papers from Fancy Pantss Winterland Paper Pad (with some open stock of kraft paper), snowflake 3d glitter/bling embellishments from K & Company, lots of lovely Glamour Dust for his scarf... my card turned out to be one sparkle-plenty and might fabulous cr8'ion!

I just love snowmen!  This card will definitely be on the top of my stack of cards to give for Christmas/Winter Holidays 2012.  Am I starting too early???  Nah.

I appreciate your taking a look at my snowtastic cr8'ion!
Happy Cr8'ing!
 

Love is a condition...

Still working on a few of those last minute Valentine cards, so I decided to continue with making them so I could also enter them into some sketch challenges.  This card is for the MFTWSC #58 over on splitcoaststampers.com; here's the sketch to follow for this week:

 

Here's my card, using the Sentimental About Love stamp set from MFT:

MFTWSC #58 - Love is the condition...

 Thanks for taking a look at another of my Valentine Card Cr8'ions.  I have just a few more to make and then I'll be all done... until next holiday!

Happy Cr8'ing!

I Dig You

Well, the Super Bowl is on and the halftime performance reminded me I had yet to post my card cr8'ion for this week's MFTWSC (#57) on SCS.  You'll see what I mean...

Here's this week's sketch to use:

And here's my card:

MFTWSC #57 - I Dig You

MFTWSC #57 - I Dig You (image detail)

This card reminded me of the very dance-type music that was heard at this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show.  This was the 1st time in using this a la mode Disco Queen, and I totally made her groovy baby!  I added some iridescent Glamour Dust  to the disco ball, put glossy accent over her orange-tastic boots, and paired her with paper (KI Memories scraps) that was far out! (The flower embellishments are from K & Company & were just the perfect accompaniment to this color scheme.)

I truly dig this sketch - it was so much fun!  I know I will use it again... and again... and again.  It's so very trippy!

Thanks for stopping by to take a look at my latest cr8'ion!

Happy Cr8'ing!

I'm Sweet On You!

This week's sketch for MFTWSC on Splitcoaststampers is another great one!  It's sketch #56, in case you are wondering.  This week I used an image from Taylored Expressions' Love Is Sweet set and the MFT sentiment is from the Be Mine (MINI) Set (as well as the Die-namic tab).

First, the sketch...

 ...and now my card cr8'ion:

MFTWSC #56 - I'm Sweet On You!

MFTWSC #56 - I'm Sweet On You! (image detail)

It might be difficult to see in these images, but the edges of the papers are distressed (to match with the tattered edging of the canvas circle; I stamped the image using StazOn ink in brown, added chalk to highlight *blushing* for their cheeks and the heart above the embrace.), and it is mounted onto a heart-shaped doily.  The Swiss Dots and Large Dots (Cuttlebug) embossing folders where also used on a few of the layers to add further texture to the card.  The papers are scraps from K & Company and Rusty Pickle (which I've been hoarding for too many years!), which I paired with aqua, kraft, and red cardstock.

I truly hope you enjoy my *sweet cr8'ion* today.  Thanks for looking!

  Happy Cr8'ing!

Love Makes The Ride Worthwhile

Onto week #3 (already) for MFTWSC on SCS. And since all the Christmas decorations are finally placed away for another 11 months, it means Valentine's Day is soon upon us!  Keeping St. Valentine's Day in mind, I used this week's sketch to make a "love" card.

Week #55's Sketch

Using Sentimental About Love stamp set, and the following Die-Namics:  Flower & Leaf Trio Set, Clearly Sentimental Label, and Fancy Flourish. 

MFTWSC #55 - Love Makes the Ride Worthwhile

MFTWSC #55 - Love Makes the Ride Worthwhile (accent detail)

The flourish/flower accent was created by placing the flourish down onto the card first.  Then, randomly placing the die-cut flowers on certain areas of the flourish in order to cr8 the look of vines.  I added the glitter hearts (Sticko by EK Success) to cr8 some interest/character to the all pink flourish/flower accent.  I really like how it turned out and provided me a "twist" on how to utilize the die-cuts, while cr8'ing new looks.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my latest card cr8'ion.  (And yes, for those of you who may be "counting" along with me:  I am 3-for-3 on MFTWSC's.)

Happy Cr8'ing!

You're A Stitch!

Okay, so did this week just zoom past or what?!?!  I feel like I just finished last week's sketch challenge for My Favorite Things and here's another one already rolling up on me!  Wow.  Now I know how each year can pass so quickly.

So here's the sketch for this week's challenge:

Isn't this just a cute sketch?  I loved it and had some fun with it... my mind was running *wild* will all the cr8've possibilities, but I finally decided on using my Sew Nifty Die-Namics set (this is the first time I am using the dies from here, even tho I had this set for a few months now).

MFTWSC #54 - You're A Stitch

MFTWSC #54 - You're A Stitch (image detail)

MFTWSC #54 - You're A Stitch (image detail)

I used some scraps I'd left over from an earlier project (I think the paper is K & Company), open stock kraft cardstock, my swirls embossing plate from Cuttlebug, Aqua twine from The Twinery, and pearls from Queen & Co. 

I am trying to make a "pack" with myself to recycle more of my scraps this year when cr8'ing new projects.  It's a good idea for many reasons, but mainly it struck me upside-the-head this week when I ran across scraps at every turn as I tried to "clean-up" my cr8've area.  Not to mention, it's just simply too expensive to buy "new" all the time and I, like many today, am a girl on a budget!

Thanks for looking... and if I am feeling *brave* I will post pics of my cr8've station once I get it all organized.  (It's a long way off from that!)  =o)

Happy Cr8'ing!

Getting Back on Track

Long time, no blog... eh?  Well, life and the hectic days of the winter holidays got the best of me and my cr8've time.  So in this new year, I am vowing to make time for me... even if I do not get a chance to submit to challenges; I simply want to take time for me to escape and the best way for me to do that is crafting my cards.  It truly is THE BEST way for me to "escape" from the woes of daily life that can sometimes try to squash your cr8've, free-spirited side.

So kicking it off with a sketch challenge from one of my favourite companies: My Favorite Things.  Challenge #53 & starting me off on a personal challenge to surpass the 40 challenges I completed in 2011 with MFT.  (I'm trying to "best" myself by completing at least 42 weeks in 2012... all 52 would be smashing!)

And now here's my cr8'ion... using Meet Emma & Wyatt stamp set with Crate Paper's Neighbourhood Collection 6 x 6 paper pad.

MFTWSC #53 - You Make Me...

MFTWSC #53 - You Make Me... (image detail)

MFTWSC #53 - You Make Me... (inside detail)

2012 is off with a bang... and I'm letting my card cr8'ions follow suit.  To me, this could be used as a Valentine card or an everyday kinda luv-duvy card.  Either way, I just adore how it turned out and it truly matched with what I cr8'd in my mind's eye.  I just love it when a plan comes together!

Happy New Year one and all!  (I'm truly hoping to be back to posting on a more regular basis to share my cr8've works with you all.)

Happy Cr8'ing!

Christmas Ornaments

Finally getting around to making a card for a sketch challenge this week, & what better way to get back into the cr8've process than with My Favorite Things!

Here's the sketch for this week's sketch challenge (up to #45 already):

The sketch for this week, #45

 Now, for my card... using the latest of their stamp/die sets: Christmas Ornaments (along with paper from Cosmo Cricket:  Dear Mr. Claus {mini deck}).

MFTWSC #45 - Christmas Ornaments

MFTWSC #45 - Christmas Ornaments

I had great fun using these dies & creating 3-dimensional ornaments for the card. Then, I outlined each ornament in green agate glitter from Martha Stewart, enclosed the green twine & topped each one with a sheer ivory bow.  These papers really take me back, to an old-fashioned Christmas from the 1940s or 1950s.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Cr8'ing!

Another card for MFTWSC #41

Took much of this weekend to make a dent into making cards for the upcoming holiday season.  Made my Halloween cards, & started on the Christmas cards Mum has been asking me to cr8 for her to send out this year to all on her mailing list.

So, I took a break from the holiday themes, & made this cutie patootie of a card for the MFTWSC #41 (it's my 2nd entry using this week's sketch).  I used my latest acquisition from There She Goes Clear Stamps, Float Your Boat.

MFTWSC #41 - I miss you a boatload!

MFTWSC #41 - I miss you a boatload! (closer detail)

MFTWSC #41 - I miss you a boatload! (image detail)

I used a partial from the negative of a scallop punch in order to "frame out" the bottom of the image & still keep the water-theme & color scheme without having to color it all in with my Copics.  It always make me feel a real sense of pride & being very resourceful in using "scraps" to recr8 onto another card.

This image was just too cute - yes, of course it has a dog!  It reminds me of my brother too when we were kids; that kid had some head-of-hair.  I dedicate this card to him... as well as our beloved dog, Colby.

Thanks for stopping by to see my latest cr8'ion!

Happy Cr8'ing!

Don't Count the Miles...

Hello & Happy Friday!

I'm getting a jump-start on the weekend, as well as some of my card challenges today.  Today's card cr8'ion is for this week's MFT Sketch Challenge #41.  Here's the sketch to follow:

Using my newly-acquire MFT goodies: First Class Friends Die-namics I made this week's entry with my "hunny" in mind.  He's away right now & I am missing him so much, so I felt this put it all into perspective for both of us...

MFTWSC #41 - Don't Count The Miles...

MFTWSC #41 - Don't Count The Miles... (image detail)

I used some Platinum Liquid Pearls to accent between the red papers, to compliment the pearls used on the upper right side of the card.  This set is awesome!  I imagine I will be using it a lot.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoyed my latest cr8'ion!

Happy Cr8'ing!