Two Challenges -- Two Cards

My first card is made with Sketch #254 from Card Positioning Systems. All products used are Stampin' Up with the exception of the stick-on rhinestones and the butterfly brad. All in shades of Bashful Blue except for that little dot of extra color in the center butterfly.

My second card is also in shades of blue and was made for the Merry Monday Sketch #9; card stock from Gina K. Designs, Papertrey, Ink Stampin' Up,  and an unknown patterned paper. The snowflake is a rub-on from me & my BIG ideas which is surrounded with clear rhinestones. Stamp is from Layers of Color; die cut from Spellbinders, punch from Martha Stewart and Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Hope you enjoyed my cards in blues and white and hoping you all have a "rosy" day!
Betty

Swirly Thanks

I had lots of fun making this card! Dawn McVey showed us how to take a small frame stamp and make a larger stamped image from it on Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday Video Series. I had to hunt through my stamps to find a frame that I could use for this technique -- finally found a clear stamp that most likely came from Michael's $1 bin.

Here's the little clear stamp and this picture shows how I stamped it twice on the white card stock. My next step was to cut out a tag from Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio 2, emboss it and sponge to accentuate the embossed dots and surround the image. The little butterfly that you can see on my completed card is from a Martha Stewart clear stamp set. By the way, do you think I should have added a smaller version of this butterfly in the upper right corner of the frame or should I just leave it alone -- I'd be grateful for your input!

My background paper was made using the shaving cream and reinker technique. Colors are Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and a dab of Pretty in Pink. This is the technique that I will be demonstrating at our stamping group this coming Saturday. I think all the ladies are going to have great fun playing with shaving cream and ink!! I have three other sheets of paper that I made with the same batch of shaving cream and I think they'll enjoy seeing the different patterns you can get just by "smushing" the paper into the shaving cream more than one time!!

Hope you all enjoy your Tuesday!
Betty

Feel Better Flowers

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #153 has the layout that I have followed in creating this card. I changed it some as you can see from the sketch ...

I merged some of the squares and elongated the others. My stamps are from Gina K. Designs (the ladybugs) and Layers of Color (sentiment). The flower is unknown although I think it may have come from the $1 bin at Michael's.

At Crafty Contagion, the stamping together divas are making green cards; that is, they are using the color green. I'm hoping this card has enough green to qualify -- after all, there are the mats, the flower stems, the banner and the pearls -- they're all green! Of course, the ladybugs had to be red -- they would have looked a little strange if they were green!!!

Betty

A Roses Birthday Card

Today is the last Sunday of the month and my card is for The Roses' Challenge. Our challenge this month was to make a birthday card. My card base is Papertrey Ink white, with Apricot Appeal designer paper from Stampin' Up, matted with SU Bashful Blue. I also used a piece of Bashful Blue dp for my sentiment. The image is from a Flourishes set, Paperwhites. I colored it with colored pencils. The layout is from a sketch at Simply Sketches; this is another site I've discovered recently and look forward to more sketch inspiration from Dawny P.

Both of our Australian Roses, Sue and Kerrie, are in the process of trying to sell their homes which of course will involve packing up a lifetime of "stuff" and moving to new digs. So, we'll excuse them if they're not able to get a card posted. Please check in with all the other gals though -- they're listed on my sidebar.

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

Betty

Hibiscus in Bloom

I picked a hibiscus from the yard yesterday so I could use it as a model to color this hibiscus stamp which was a gift from a friend. It was almost like I had hacked into the Sugar Creek Hollow challenge site because they asked us today to create a card inspired by a photo. Well, my cart actually came along before the horse because I just took the photo of my hibiscus this morning! Here it is:

I sponged Antique  Linen Distressed Ink to tone down the whiteness of the card stock and distressed the edges of the green mat. Used two pieces of ribbon (dots on one and dashes on the other) and added rhinestones. The Fancy Tags die cut was already laying on my desk; just sponged with Antique Linen again to tone down the white and added a sentiment from Gina K. Designs and more rhinestones! Added little seed beads to the butterfly stick pin. The background is a 12x12 piece of paper that I've had forever -- twelve by 12 collectible fine art paper -- Color Textures -- Garden Mist by Jennifer O'Meara. Love the graduated shading that had the colors of my image.

Thanks for the challenge, SCH! I promise I didn't hack into your website -- it was just great minds thinking alike!!
Betty

A Little Note

My card today was made following  Sketch #23 from Freshly Made Sketches. My stamps are from a set by Clear Art Stamps -- there are some of the cutest little birds in this set. Papers are from My Mind's Eye and cardstock from Papertrey Ink and Gina K. Designs. I pleated some sheer ribbon and added a bow with a little tag attached.

I have another picture of our little houseguest. We really should be whipped for making him work so hard to earn his keep!

See you later,

Betty

A Pink and White Layered Challenge

The layout for my card is from the sketch challenge at Pals Paper Arts. I'm cutting it close as this challenge closes at noon today but here is their Sketch 129.....

I think all the layers of this sketch are a really neat look and they fit in perfectly with the challenge at Joan's Gardens to (1) use pink and white with lots of layers, (2) use one rectangle layer, (3) use one oval layer, and (4) use one dimensional flower.

My flower stamp is from Stampin' Up and the sentiment is from Gina K. Designs. The edge punch is Martha Stewart and the pretty pink dp is from Stampin' Up. All the little rhinestones went on quickly with the help of Embellie Gellie. Have you used this stuff???? It's amazing how easy it is to attach a bunch of little gems in a short amount of time!

The sun is rising and the birds are singing -- I think it's going to be another pretty day!

Betty

2 Cards and a Houseguest

My first card follows the sketch at Merry Monday. Stamps are by Layers of Color, Christmas Blessings and Christmas Verses.  Not quite sure where I found the Christmas Ribbon. Here's the sketch:

My next card was made just because .... just because this fan fold rosette has been laying around for a while and needed to be made into a card.

 Back in December my stamping group at the church made a card with a fanfold "wreath" and I made several examples showing how different they could look by varying the width of the strip, the width between the scores for the folds, and the different patterns of paper.

This little guy is our houseguest. His name is Peppe and his "mom" had to have knee surgery on Monday. He'll be staying with us until she has recuperated. He loves running around in the yard, chasing after a tennis ball or one of his stuffed toys. I was laughing yesterday because he was running in figure eights! Here he is sunning himself on the front step.

Come back and see me any time!
Betty

Glory to God in the Highest

A couple of things to share before I get to my card for today ....

Linda McClain at The Catered Crop has a fun quiz today based on the color RED. I missed three of the questions so I didn't score too well, but it was lots of fun. Click on the link and take the quiz yourself and then let me know how you did!!

I'm excited to be the winner for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge #156 for my card Glad Tidings of Peace -- not only do I have another Christmas card ready for Dec. 2012, but I have a credit at their store and I've been drooling over that new Calla Lily set -- guess who's going to be placing an order??

I've got another Christmas card today -- it's for the challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown to use angels, and my layout is from the sketch at Card Positioning Systems, #253.

The stamps are Layers of Color, Angelic and Glad Tidings. Colored pencils and baby oil were used to color the image and a Spellbinders Nestability to cut out the yellow paper with the setiment. Added some light yellow pearls (small and medium) along with a reddish-burgundy background that was punched with my newest Martha Stewart corner punch that is part of a go around the page set.

Hope you all have a red-letter day!!
Betty

Mexican Folk Dancers

As promised, I'm back to share some photos with you from a performance we were at yesterday. It was held at a nearby restaurant, The Thirsty Turtle, which has the best hamburger and fries in town!!

These are the Mexican folk dancers. Isn't that dress she is wearing just gorgeous? And she has the most beautiful smile!  They dance on a platform and their boots make a lot of noise -- their feet move so fast! I don't know how they manage to keep from falling off the platform.......

This is something you should definitely NOT try at home........she is dancing with a candle on her head. She made her entrance holding the candle and then placed it on her head so it was definitely not attached in any way. Her headdress obviously had a "nest" of some sort to help keep the candle steady but it was still very impressive! I wouldn't be able to dance around a room with a book on my head, much less a lit candle!!

Here's another shot showing the dress -- can you see all the beautiful white lace and satin?

 

This little guy completely stole the show!! His papa was the soloist and at one point this little fellow grabbed the restaurant menu, came up to the front where his dad was singing and started to strum his pretend guitar! His older brother came to pull him away but we all said, no, no, no and everyone was taking pictures of him! Then his dad plopped his cowboy hat on the little one's head and that was even cuter!

Here's dad ... how about them pointed toe boots!

They'll be performing at The Thirsty Turtle on Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings. Come on down for a visit and we'll take you to see them!!

Betty

Stir Up A Happy Birthday

Sugar Creek Hollow is having a sketch challenge this week with an added challenge. Because SCH is a vintage, shabby chic and primitive challenge blog they discourage "cute" cards with "cute" images but this week they are going to let us pull out a cute image and want to see how we can turn it into one of the three styles they do want to see.

Well, I found my cute colored image at The Graphics Fairy. Is she not just the most adorable little cook you've ever seen???? It must be hot in the kitchen because her cheeks are extremely rosy!  I almost forgot about the sketch we were supposed to follow because I was all wrapped up in CUTE! With a bit of a stretch (thin image exchanged for a wider one) I think you can still see the sketch in my card. I'm also hoping that it qualifies for shabby chic. Here's the sketch:

I'll be back again later today with  pictures of  Mexican folk dancers that we saw perform yesterday. Also have a picture of the cutest little fellow you've ever seen playing "menu" guitar -- that's just like "air" guitar, only he was strumming on the menu from the restaurant!! too cute!

Betty

Glad Tidings of Peace

I have a Christmas card today; it's made with a Layers of Color set, Glad Tidings. For once, I didn't start with a sketch challenge -- I actually came up with my own layout! I had stamped the image several days ago and it was just sitting on my desk so I combined it with a couple of pieces of scrap green and red card stock.  I had actually thought of doing another mat layer with the red but this was the shape of the first scrap I found and I liked how it looked, especially with the addition of the pearls. The background piece is dry embossed.

I would like to enter this card in the Timeless Tuesday Challenge #156 at Flourishes. We are to make a card for someone we love (I love the folks that are on my Christmas card list!) and we are to use the color red.

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday!
Betty

Butterfly Wishes

My card is made with the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches #22. Here's the wonderful sketch ---

If you'd like to play along, you have until noon PST on Monday, Feb. 20. I think you'll really enjoy working with this sketch!

I'd also like to enter this card in the Repeat Impressions: Leftovers Challenge. We were to use something leftover on our desk -- the butterfly  and sentiment were stamped and colored a while back but never make it onto a card. I think they were just waiting for this particular sketch and leftovers challenge!! The papers are from Basic Grey, Origins Paper Pad.

It's been a beautiful day of sunshine -- we were able to enjoy lunch at our favorite outdoor restaurant. When we returned home I enjoyed an hour and a half of reading on the mirador (roof) of our house, enjoying the lovely weather and nice breeze!

Bye for now,

Betty

A Butterfly Notebook

I have one more card that I need to post on my blog for Card Positioning Systems 5th Anniversary Day 13. I had originally posted this in my gallery at stampTV by Gina K. Designs, but needed to have them all in one place. Here it is...

Betty

Two Challenges

This is my second post today and I have two cards for two challenges so will share them alphabetically, by challenge name!! Is that organized, or what???

First, is the AnnaBelle Stamps challenge to Say It With .....  Background Stamps. I was inspired ty the two Sue's on the design team. Sue K. had a fantastic, funky design and I loved Sue W's choice of colors.

Next up is Merry Monday -- this is a sketch challenge and here's my offering .........

Come play with Lesley at Merry Monday! You have until midnight on Saturday to enter your creation! (and you will have one Christmas card done early!!)

Betty

Two More For CPS

Personal News First:  We Have Sunshine!!! I'm doing the happy dance with a great big grin on my face!

I have two more projects to share with you today. I posted these in my Splitcoast Gallery but we have had to leave a link for the Card Positioning Systems teams to verify all 15 of our entries so I thought I'd better move them over to my blog! Don't want to miss out on the chance for the Grand Prize!! Here we go:

For Day 1 -- this was the first of the altered notebooks that I made. After this one, I had to go out and buy more notebooks!!

This one is for Day 6.

THANKS to CPS for the 15 days of fun!! Looking forward to five more years of playing with your sketches!!

Betty

A Basket of Flowers

Joan's Gardens is having a challenge to make a get well card with a basket of flowers, using patterned paper, with green and white as the main colors.

This was a fun card to make. I went looking through my digi images and found buckets of flowers, pots of flowers, and vases of flowers. It was a while before I found a basket from Digi-Sparkle. I filled my basket with flowers that I had punched out a long time ago and never used. The sparkly flower centers are stickers from Martha Stewart and I also used a MS branch punch for the greenery. The sentiment is from a Gina K. Designs set, Say It With Flowers. Used a Spellbinders Fancy Tags die to cut it out.

No rain today, but it's still overcast -- my sunshine has not made its reappearance yet!

Betty

The Four Seasons

I don't have a card to share today. I've been working on refurbishing some older cards (adding extra details on some; and doing a little something on the inside to make each a little more interesting.) I'm hoping to be able to sell them, with at least 50% of the proceeds going to an orphange that houses older boys. Our church provides milk for the boys each week and a number of our members volunteer there. Haven't finalized any details on this yet but keep me in your thoughts, that all will go well with this attempt to raise some money for the boys.

I've been listening to more of our record albums. The Four Seasons and  American Grafitti being a couple of my favorites. I found an old poster inside The Fours Seasons album cover -- I took a photo showing the front and back. The front is a picture of the group, very 60's looking and the back is a zodiac calendar -- be sure to check out the date!!

Still raining and windy here -- I despair that my fabulous weather will never return!!

Betty

4 Square

Just a quick post to share a card with you today. No challenges, just made this because I had the image left over from a similar card I posted a while back. It started out with six squares but one of them didn't stamp well so I cut off two of the squares, added vanilla and navy mat layers, embossed the bottom of the card and added a birthday sentiment with a ribbon tag trio die and a piece of sheer navy ribbon. The last step was adding the matted image to the card front. Oops, I forgot to say that I rounded off two opposite corners and the stamp is one I found in MIchael's $1 bin.

Happy Valentine's Day to all,

Betty

Altered Notebook #6

This is the last of the notebooks that I bought to alter for myself and friends. I have done all six of them with sketches from Card Positioning Systems' 5th Anniversary. This sketch is the final one, Day 15.

My notebook cover was made with papers from K & Company and the Paper Studio. Spellbinders dies were used and Stampin' Up inks and stamp. I followed the sketch closely, but I did change the length of the two bottom panels to work better with my design. Embossed a piece of colored vellum (love that look) and added some stickers and pearls.

What am I going to do now that they won't be posting a sketch challenge every day????? Guess I'll go to the archives on the sidebar on their blog!!

Betty

A Red, Black and White Birthday

I laid in bed for almost an hour tonight without being able to get to sleep so I decided to get up and make a card. If I can't sleep, I might as well be doing something enjoyable!!

This card was made with the inspiration from three wonderful challenge sites:

Repeat Impressions What If? Wednesday Sketch F812

I didn't deviate much from the sketch; kept it fairly simple and I really like how it turned out. I did add the banner with the birthday sentiment.

 

AnnaBelle Stamps Say It In....Red, Black and White

I followed this one to the letter; Nothing but red, white and black on this card!

Just Us Girls 123 Technique Challenge

We're to use or create an image with a button center. I hope that my flower qualifies. I have a red layer with white dots, then a sold red smaller layer; finally there is a solid red button in the center of the flower with homemade bakers twine threaded through the button holes and tied in a cute little bow!

The circle and banners were cut out with Spellbinders dies and white brads were added at the bottom corners of the three panels.


Hope you're all having (or will soon have) a restful night's sleep,
Betty

Red, Gold and Green

I have a Christmas card to share today, made from the color combo at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and the sketch challenge at Card Positioning Systems 5th Anniversary Day 14. To the sides are the color challenge and sketch challenge photos:

My ornament image from Stubby Stampers was stamped with Versamark Ink and embossed with gold powder, then painted with reinkers. I managed to get outside the lines so I had to fussy cut the ornament and pop it up on the white panel which was sponged with Stampin' Up So Saffron. The metallic gold and red papers were  both embossed with Cuttlebug embossing folders -- both the white and gold panels were cut out with Nestability Long Scalloped Rectangle dies. A strip of ribbon and a bow tied with the same ribbon completes this card.

The anniversary festivities are nearing an end for Card Positioning Systems. I have discovered just how much I enjoy their sketches so will be using them to jump start my card making in the future! Deadline to enter your cards for the sketch challenges will be February 18 -- so you still have plenty of time to get your cards made and entered. Prizes for individual sketch winners and the grand prize winner (for someone who has entered all 15 challenges) will be announced on Feb. 24.

Still cold, rainy and windy -- please come back, 70 degree temperatures!!
Betty

Thank You Card

Today my card is made with a sketch from Papertrey Ink. This is Day 6 of their 5th Anniversary and Nichole has given us a choice of five sketches to choose from. I chose Sketch #5 and my sentiment from from PTI's set Think Big Favorites #6 -- (too bad it wasn't Think Big Favorites #5!!) The beautiful turquoise paper with white dots is from a Stampin' Up Designer Paper pack, Island Oasis. Satin ribbon came from The Dollar Tree; I found the buttons in my collection and tied them with my homemade baker's twine. The shiny turquoise stickers are from a Martha Stewart pack and I also used MS Branch punch.

On a more personal note, it's a coldish, rainy, windy day in Chapala. This kind of weather is so infrequent it surprised all of us this morning. So, we'll think about how nice it was yesterday. I've been wanting to show you both a sunrise and sunset from the same day and we managed to capture it yesterday. So, now, for your viewing pleasure........

Sunrise on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 from our front porch

Sunset from the back, viewed from the mirador (roof) of our house



If you can stand a little more trivia, I've been listening to record albumns today -- yes, vinyl -- 33 1/3 rpm -- LPs -- nostalgia, right????  The Best of Sam Cooke (1962, RCA), Neil Diamond's "Greatest Hits" (1968), Gary Puckett & The Union Gap's Greatest Hits (1970), Simon & Garfunkel Bookends (1968) -- includes Mrs. Robinson from The Graduate. We only brought about half of our record albums with us to Mexico -- but I'm glad we brought the ones we did!

Staying inside, taking a trip down Memory Lane,

Betty

Springtime Card

My card today was made with the sketch from Day 12 of Card Positioning Systems 5th Anniversary and the recipe from Joan's Gardens to make a springtime card in blue and white with some sort of lattice and perhaps, add a bird. Nothing says springtime to me like birds singing, hence the stamp from a set by Clear Art Stamps which was cut out with a Nestabilities die and sponged with blue. I used a Stampin' Up Bashful Blue card base, DP from a Stampin' Up kit, with the lattice work created by a die from Papertrey Ink, Cover Plate - Quatrefoil.

My heart sings as I look at this card and out the window at all the hummingbirds and orioles and even a mischevious squirrel! Hope yours is singing too!

Betty