Butterfly Blessings

In the Sisterhood this round, the theme is Blessings, with the request to include a butterfly.

"So long as we are loved by others,
I would almost say that we are indispensable;
and no man is useless while he has a friend."
- Robert Louis Stevenson
















Card Details:

Image: SU, Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Color Box Chalk Archival, Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring: N/A

Tools: SU punch

Embellies: Unknown ribbon

Singing in the Rain

It poured yesterday, it rained more today, and tomorrow it is going to snow. So much for that "in like a lion, out like a lamb" thing.

Linda's May/June theme in the 'Hood is posted, so I figured I may as well make it. I don't know why I did not work on the swaps that are due sooner, especially as I know exactly what I am going to do with them, but that is the way it works sometimes. 

Ok, so back to Linda...
She wanted us to "make a card that represents some activity you love to do outdoors", I assume in the summer. 

As you may or may not know, I am allergic to the sun. I spend all summer in long sleeves and capri pants; No shorts and tee shirts for me... except when it rains. I love those overcast days!

I am sure Riley is singing as he stomps in those puddles; I know I would be.


 






I do not think I have ever done this before, but I am entering this card in multiple challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches (#179) - Thank you for the sketch
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog (#144) - Create Your Own Background (not only the trees; if you look closely, you can see the yellow panel is streaked to simulate rain falling - did you notice it is falling in the same direction as the drops in the image?)
Crafting When I Can (#90) - Favorite Hobby or Activity




Card Details:

Image: Riley and Company, Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: Hammermill, GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities, Cover-a-Card

Embellies: unknown ribbon

New Life

Let me start by saying I love, love, love, Love, LOVE this theme!

Every once in a while a swap is posted that really gets my imagination flowing, and I cannot wait to jump in. Even then, though, the card I create seldom translates from brain to paper the way I envision. But this time, this theme, this sketch, this card, embodies that rare moment when it all comes together perfectly.

Maryann is our hostess this time around in the 'Hood. And by this time around, I mean for March/April (I have gotten rather ahead of myself in the card-making department). Here is what she wrote: "March and April remind me that spring is coming. Along with spring comes new life: of grass, the gardens, flowers, the baby deer, all the new baby chicks, and all the creatures of this earth. Let's make a card for a new life. It could be a baby card, flowers in bloom, etc. Let your imagination run wild. Have fun!"
Immediately I knew what stamp set to use, and as soon as I saw Tuesday Morning Sketches (#286), it all came together in my mind. All that was left was to get it out onto (into?) paper.

Card Details:

Image: SU

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: N/A

Tools: SU punch(es), MFT die (grass)

Embellies: Unknown ribbon

Let's Get Naught-y!

I have to admit, it was not until I was checking the exact title of the Sisterhood's March/April theme, that I realized the Jan./Feb. theme had one, too! I only saw the nautical part of the theme, not the naught-y part in the title. Mine clearly does not have that last twist, as I made a Sympathy card. Oops Fortunately, this month's hostess, Kelly, was happy with what I made.

I did not realize the challenge blog where I got this sketch was defunct until after I had made my card. I have since deleted it from my bookmarks, so I cannot even give them credit. My apologies; I never really expected I would get around to blogging it. (2/20/14 Edited to add: Hold the presses! I found it. The sketch came from Sketch N Stash Challenge Blog. I found it while looking for the hostess of the sketch challenge for the card in my next post. Yes, usually I do save these things, but again, never really believed I would blog it)







Card Details:

Image: Love You to Bits

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: N/A

Tools: Reinkers, alcohol

Embellies: Generic baker's twine, unknown brads

Happy (Humorous) Birthday, Barb!

I think of myself as a rather entertaining person; I can usually get a good guffaw out of ya at least once in a conversation. But I will admit, coming up with an idea for a humorous birthday card stumped me. Over the course of a few days, whenever it would cross my mind, I put in varying search terms in Google Images to find something funny that I could replicate. Nothing too difficult, as I was going to need to make multiples. 

Finally, FINALLY, I hit pay dirt. A sentiment made one of my stamps jump to the forefront of my mind. It would be complicated, as it would involve much detailed cutting and numerous maskings, but I have plenty of time (cards are not due until October, after all); I decided to go for it. 

This time around, The Deconstructed Sketch (#111) provided inspiration for the layout. 

About five minutes in, it became very clear, that the idea was beyond my abilities to produce once, never mind eight times. A quick search through my birthday drawer and I found another image that would work just fine; and a card was born.

I alternated between punches for the border. At first I had the candles dripping red wax (different punch than shown here), but Princess A stated that it looked more like blood, which had also crossed my mind. Not exactly festive.

I punched icicles, turned them upside down and put them along the top, and she agreed it could pass for flame. All those candles would produce a mighty blaze. 





With the way Barb and Jeanette are always ragging each other, I think this card's message is perfect. 








Card Details:

Image: Hero Arts

Sentiment: American Art Stamps, computer generated

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copic Markers

Tools: Martha Stewart punch, SU punch, Nestabilities, Embossing folder

Embellies: Unknown brad

Aprils 15th Anniversary

The hostess for July/August in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is April. She has requested, in honor of her 15th... 

Anniversary cards. 

UGH, April, not my forte. An anniversary is not something I have ever celebrated, and is not really on my radar of occasions for which to make cards. But, I searched and searched and searched and searched and searched (you get the picture) and finally came up with an idea. Fortunately, Tuesday Morning Sketches (#208) had a sketch that fit my image and sentiment perfectly.

 

















Happy Anniversary, April and Michael!!!




Card Details:

Image: Elzybells

Sentiment: Elzybells

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copic Markers

Tools: Martha Stewart punch, Nestabilities

Embellies: Stickles, generic dimensionals

Thank You to Yoda

When Princess A was just barely three, she liked to sing into the microphone on my computer and have me play it back for her. I decided to use this opportunity to my advantage and had her sing Happy Birthday to various people and then I would email them the track. One of them was to Laura, but Princess A, being just three did not pronounce Ls or Rs very well. The resulting line was, "Happy Birthday Dear Yoda". Laura has been Yoda ever since.

Fast forward to 2013. Yoda is now on the Management Team of my Chorus; her position being Corresponding Secretary or Communications Manager or something like that. Anyway, she was talking after Contest about needing to send cards, and I jumped in and said, "What kind of cards do you need? I will make them for you".
She said she needed three congratulations and one thank you and that she would need more in a few weeks to send a "love gift" to the chorus and quartet competing in Hawaii. When I got home, I remembered this as she needed multiple thank yous and one of something else, whose theme I could not recall. Oops! What can I say it was a long, busy weekend and I was tired. (But I won some pretty medals )

As soon as I realized that the thank you image was flowers, I decided to make lots (16 to be exact) so I could send them for a swap as well. (Soon after I had signed up for two spots in Barb's Fabulous Flowers swap, the hostess for May/June in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards picked flowers as her theme as well. That is a lot of flowers!) It is hard to tell in the scan, but the center of eight of the falling flowers is a pearl. Without further ado, here are the cards that Yoda will be sending and will also go to the SOTC swap: 

Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up!

Sentiment: (SU)

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: SU

Tools: Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page (Corner)

Coloring: N/A

Embellies: Viva Pearl Pen











On a related note, I posted this to Yoda's Facebook Wall this morning:

 

Planting for Thanksgiving

When I read that this month's theme (and by this month I mean March/April) for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is "What's Cooking?", my first though was my little Inky Antics chefs. They have been staying with Linda for a while, but she said she could send them back home again. I was not, however, positive that that was the direction I wanted to go, so I went sketch challenge blurfing for inspiration. 

I browsed at least five different challenge blogs, but it was not until I saw Freshly Made Sketches(#76) that I was inspired. To the stamp room I went and started opening drawers. Suddenly I remembered I had a fruits and vegetables drawer! On top was this lovely set from The Angel Company (now out of business) and I knew right away what I was going to do. 

Embossed lines on the brown card stock evoke planting rows (or that was the plan anyway). My first thought for the designer paper panel was to find something kitchen wallpaperish but the ones I found were too busy; I opted for the muted print instead. The sketch calls for a sentiment, but I did not know what to say. First I tried "Happy Thanksgiving" cuz these are all (intentionally) Thanksgiving veggies, but, no wait, they are seed packets and should have planted long before the holiday. Next I looked at "Thinking of You" cuz I am thinking of you as I plant the veggies for our Thanksgiving dinner, but that seemed too much of a stretch. Truth is I am not a fan of sentiments - what if the sender wanted to say something different with this card? It took a while, but I finally decided upon a plain knotted ribbon instead.

Originally I was planning to make a tomato seed packet, but then I suspected that Jeanette does not like tomatoes, so I went with corn. At least it gave me a little color contrast against the carrot and pumpkin. When the card was all put together, I felt it needed a little something, so the "O" in corn got a little jewel. Livens things up a bit don't you think?

Card Details:

Image: The Angel Company

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing folder

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Basic Grey ribbon, unknown bling

Clear and Cold

I admit it, I did not look out the window on New Year's Day. Well, I am sure I did, but not specifically to check out our weather. Fact is, I did not know that was the Sisterhood theme til about the 7th. So from what I can remember it was clear, cold with some snow left on the ground from the day after Christmas - also known in my house as the day before the year's Most Important Holiday!

The pond in my yard never freezes completely; I expect this little girl and her pooch have found the one at the back of our property, or perhaps the one across the road. Yup, there are a lot of ponds around here, and all, but mine, are frozen.
 
I read somewhere that what you do on New Years is what you will do in the coming year. "Cool!", I thought, "we are going to do more socializing!" Then I realized it was not referring to New Year's Eve, but rather New Year's Day. Oh well, looks like 2011 will be much the same as 2010 as I spent the first of the year playing with my Christmas and Birthday goodies (techno gadgets), reading and watching movies. Bummer. I was really looking forward to hosting more friendly get-togethers...





Card Details:
Image: Mary Engelbreit for All Night Media
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento, Memories
Tools: Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: unknown ribbon, Stickles

Happy Birthday Sarah, Kirsten and Makayla

The summer is a busy time for birthdays in my friend Linda's house. Keeping that in mind, she chose a festive theme for the Sisterhood for the month of April;. A birthday card to fit any of her daughters upcoming age groups, 16, 11 and 7.

I know Kirsten (almost-11) is not a fan of pink, so with her in mind I chose turquoise and purple. Of course it helped that I had this patterened paper on hand.

The sheep (Pink Cat Studio) is covered with Liquid Applique except for her arms legs and face which are touched a bit with Prismacolor markers. The cupcake and 'hands' are raised on a dimensional, making it look as though her arms are really attached to her body.

To Sarah, Kirsten and Makayla - I hope each of you ladies has a very happy birthday!






Card Details:
Image: Pink Cat Studio
Sentiment: SU
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento, SU
Tools: SU punches, heat gun
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Liquid Applique, generic dimensionals

Everyone is Irish on St Patrick's Day

Everyone is Irish on St Patrick's Day... or March 25th as the case may be...

This month's hostess at the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards, Susan, chose to honor St Patricks Day, in a fashion. Cards are to showcase other little green creatures, ie frogs, crocodiles, dragons, etc.

While perusing Michael's one day, I came upon this set. Of course I was not there to buy stamps, but I had to look in that aisle anyway. You understand. Anyway... I picked it up, put it down, picked it up, put it down, picked it up...  Finally I decided, "oh why not?" and brought it up to the register. (Main Squeeze was a big help in this department. He always tells me if I want/need it I should buy it. Very dangerous proposition) What luck - it was 40% off! Whoo hoo!! When Susan's theme was posted, I just knew I had to use one of my new monster friends.

A cute little guy like this needs the right background. Have I ever mentioned how much I adore SU's designer series paper packs? They are so much fun and the way a pack coordinates - it reminds me of Garanimals. Although I was too big when they first came on the market, I could certainly appreciate the concept. A 'must have' for me when it comes to choosing paper.

Lastly I needed something to dress him up. Those spots you see; they are metal dots by Colorbök. I cannot find a direct link to them, but I can tell you they are self adhesive and dimensional (as in they are not flush with the paper) Pretty cool, eh?






Card Details:
Image: Recollections
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU, GP
Ink: Memento
Tools: nesties
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Colorbök metal dots

Looking to Spring

February's Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards theme was a stumper. Seems pretty easy at first read, a flower theme and use buttons. But, I am not usually a 'pretty' stamper - I tend to lean more towards cute or funny. Sadly the only way I can think to use buttons with flowers is right at the center. Not terribly original and not terribly creative, so I put it off. And put it off. Then suddenly I remembered that February only has 28 days; I could not put it off any longer.

Finally, inspiration. I had received some flower buttons as part of a Secret Sister gift (thanks Lorie, you saved me!). Next to find something to hold the flower. My new Build-a-Roo started hopping and round chanting, "Pick me! Pick me!"

I tell you, it is hard to resist a begging kangaroo.



Card Details:
Image: SU Build-a-Roo and Kindness (wheel)
Cardstock: SU, GP
Tools: Nestabilities, Stampin Around (large), generic dimensional
Coloring: Prismacolor Markers
Embellies: (unknown) flower button, Stickles

Fruitcakes and Snowflakes

The theme for this month's Sisterhood swap reads as follows:
"January brings a new year, a new beginning and the idea that anything is possible. It is also a cause to celebrate self and the wonderful person YOU are. So… this month’s swap is to create a card celebrating the month that the world was graced with your sweet selves. Each month has a flower, a jewel, a color, a zodiac symbol that is unique to it. Use any icon from your birth month to create a card that is pure you. Two layers of cardstock and one embellishment is all that is required but feel free to add more if you wish. This card/month is all about YOU ~ the sky is the limit!"

I Googled December and found out my birthstone is turquoise, my zodiac sign is a goat and my flower is narcissus (Daffodil for December? Seems to me it would make more sense for March.). OK, here is what we got to make a card, a turquoise goat eating a daffodil. Uh... no.

Moving right along; how about obscure holidays? Lets see what falls on December 27. Hmm, "National Fruitcake Day" and "Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day"... And a card was born. Do you recognize the sketch? It is sketch challenge #264 on SCS. (Incidentally, when I told Main Squeeze that my birthday was National Fruitcake Day he laughed and said, "how appropriate!")

I love this stamp (Love You to Bits, no longer in business). I admired it at my sister's and she went out and bought me one of my own! All these years I thought it was a boy cook with really big ears, but when I was coloring this time I thought the ears looked rather lumpy and realized it was more likely hair sticking out from the chefs hat.
Today she is a girl chef with brown hair just like me! She also has a white cat similar to my Iisis and a canary, though I have an African Grey. As for the baking, who eats fruitcake anyway? Certainly not I, so instead she has made loaves of bread (perhaps with chocolate chips hidden inside - that is more my style. The loaves are popped out from the card with generic pop-dots

In the background are embossed snowflakes (Cuttlebug embossing folder) for 'Make Cut-Out Snowflakes Day'. The bird cage is painted with Twinkling H2Os (Thank you Linda!). And of course, I mustn't forget the birthstone, especially as it is one of my favorite colors of cardstock lately, so all of this is mounted on a Turquoise card.

A "Moving" Winter Scene

I was inspired to make this card by someone whom I have never met, JustPaintingAround. I am enthralled by the way that no matter how many layers in her card, the scenery remains the same. I wanted to see what I could do with this idea. My intention for this card was for Paola's Move It swap, but once it was done I realized it fit so well with the SOTC theme of December (create a winter scene), that off it went to Fay instead. Of course, then it was back to the drawing board for Paola's swap, but that will be the next(ish) post...

First I made the shaker box. Riley was stamped and masked. Using some templates bought eons ago (made by All Night Media) I sponged the trees, then the clouds. Riley was colored and Liquid Applique added to the ball of his hat and underneath his skis. Next I took a pinch or two of white Fun Flock and a teaspoon of glitter and stacked them on Riley's nose. Clear acetate, double sided foam tape and a frame cut with Nesties finished the box. Many, many shakes later, the flock and glitter were well mixed; some of the glitter had migrated to the liquid applique, adding a wee sparkle.

Back to sponging, this time to the strips in the background and the card itself. I lost count of how many times I had to wash my hands throughout this entire process. The green border was made by switching out the blade in my rotary cutter (yes, Mom, I have a rotary cutter and have managed not to lose any blood... yet) to a scallop edge and voila! Assembly took mere minutes with my ATG gun.

It is nowhere near the artwork of JustPaintingAround, for she is truly the "Queen of the Scene", but I am quite pleased with the result. Not bad for a first try...

Time to Play Catch up

Between moving, then internet connection problems,  and a dead laptop, I have gotten very far behind on my posting. I have some cards from early summer that never even got photographed. For Christmas, however, I received a beautiful new color printer/scanner. Today I hooked it up and scanned some of my cards from December swaps.

This one is from the Sisterhood of the Traveling cards and is from November really (oops, did I say these were December cards? Well I did make this one so late, it nearly was made in December...) The theme was "a Christmas memory" and we were unable to use red or green. My mind immediatly went to this stamp. I have had it forever and every once in a while think about passing it along, and can never bring myself to do so. Took me a while to find it, I had a moment of panic that I really did get rid of it and forgot!

I have no idea what company and I am all tucked up with my blanket and heating pad and am not about to get up to go find out (if it even has it printed on the wood) Eventually I will update this post, assuming the stamp even tells me. After coloring with Prismas, I punched the snowflake border in vellum and laid it over the top for a nostalgic look. Then I had to take a trip to my new LSS (did I mention I have moved and now have a LSS? No? Oh, I am sooo far behind) I picked three different varieties of ribbon, brought them home and tried them all against the card. This was the best fit. The snowflake came from my overflowing drawer of random embellishments. (Someday that drawer will be in a well organized stamp room. I have the stamp room now, thanks to the move, the well-organized part, not so much...)

Recycled Tea

This month's theme for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is Green/Recycling. In other words, the card should be green and have something recycled on it. I had lots of fun digging these tea tags out of the garbage, I'll tell ya! Just kidding, I ripped them off tea bags I had yet to use, but I drink enough tea that I will go through them in a trice.

Image is from House Mouse Designs. Funny thing about this stamp. I always think it looks so relaxing (what I wouldn't give for a hot tub!), but then I think of mice in my tea and Eeew!

I stamped with Memento onto Georgia Pacific 110lb White and paper pieced (seems to be my "thing" lately) with SU dp. The edges are torn and inked with SU (Garden Green to be exact) then layered onto SU cardstock embossed with the D'Vine Swirls embossing folder run through the Cuttlebug. Tea tag is popped up with pop-dots and the sugar cubes are enhanced with glitter. As usual, non-paper-pieced sections are colored with Prismacolor Markers. Oh! I almost forgot - the steam is drawn over with a glitter pen. Gives a very subtle sparkle. You will have to trust me on that last detail.

This card has been given the Princess A seal of approval; she has already requested one for herself...

On Vaca With My "Sisters"

March's Sisterhood swap was hosted by Jeanette, who chose vacation as her theme. I guess she was tired of snow...

My first plan was too do a camping cards, cuz that is how I tend to take my vacations. But I started seeing all sorts of ads for Carnival Cruise Lines and I thought that looked like a fun vacation. I have never been on a cruise.

First I found my very old masks for sponging. One of clouds, another of water. By the end of all this sponging my wrist was VERY tired, but well worth the result I thought. In fact I spent a fair amount of time just gazing at the landscape (waterscape?) I had created.

I cut out the boat from SU's Boatloads of Love, colored it with Prismacolor Markers (not as well as I had hoped, but I am still perfecting my technique *wink*), and mounted it on Pop-dots. The heart was done with a paper punch I had received in one of the many "secret _____" swaps in which I participate. (Thanks!)

I admit to having a scattered brain while putting this all together. I had meant to make the LifeSavers out of eyelets, but forgot until they were already on Pop-Dots. I also considered stamping "You Float My Boat" but did not love the way it looked up there in the clouds and thought perhaps people would prefer their cards sans sentiment - I know I often do.

Fat Sunday

I admit it. This morning I let Princess A have birthday cake for breakfast. (We had leftover cakes from two different parties - what was I to do?) For a mid-morning snack she had Cheetos Puffs, while I had chips and dip. (Yeah, I know. No excuse for this.) Though Main Squeeze acted disgusted, I notice he also partook of the junk food diet day. There is no more junk to be had on the 24th (Mardi Gras) so I have dubbed today "Fat Sunday".

Ironically, I spent a good portion of the day working on my Mardi Gras cards for the Sisterhood. (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards is a group on SCS that swaps a different set of cards each month. A different hostess from the Sisterhood chooses her theme, collects the cards and trades them out to the other sisters.) Mary's theme was such a challenge for me. I had come up with an idea right away, but just could not make it work. Nor could I get that idea out of my head to make room for a new. (The space in there is clearly quite limited)

I have to give a big shoutout to Jan R, for had I not run into her the other day at NESC, I expect I would still be stumped. Fortunately for me, Jan was carrying some dp that was purple, green and gold. (On the back side, was the same print, but smaller and shaped as the #3. It occurs to me I may have inadvertently grabbed Dale Earnhardt paper. But am stumped as to how I know that he was #3...) But hey, it was the right colors AND it was from the sale bin! Not having any idea what I would do with it, but knowing it would very likely come in handy, I bought three sheets. Thanks Jan for showing me the way!

All stamps are the Voila set from SU. The dp is from Scrappin Sports & More (looks like I was right about that Dale Earnhardt hunch). Both the chef's tie and the covered dish are paper pieced onto a cut out of the chef from the same dp. (The silver card stock is from SU, however) His face and hand is colored with Prismacolor markers (light peach to be exact). All of these are popped up from the card with SU's stampin dimensionals. Finally, on his coat, I added self adhesive gemstones from Crafts Etc.
The final card may look simple at first glance, but it sure was a lot of work. And with a little help from Priority Mail service from the USPS, will arrive in MD on time!
Bon Appetit!!