Jump for Joy

You may recall I mentioned joining an SCS swap for Stampin Up stamps, a while back. I missed posting about a few of the interim cards, but I am back with the most recent. The theme due in March was "Jump for Joy". I knew immediately what stamp set to use, but as usual, the rest of it was up in the air. (Ha! No pun intended)

Came across this sketch while googling. My kangaroo circles were already cut and colored; I could not have found a better fit!

Since I was cutting it close with the due date, there may have been some jumping for joy when I discovered it







Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities, Embossing folder

Embellies: Unknown ribbons

Spin Spin Spin

Princess A has her first ever dance competition this evening; I cannot express how proud I am of her! When I first saw this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (#225), I thought it would be perfect with a ballerina mouse, but my stamp was too small.

Enter the bear. Just the right size, and the pinwheel adds a fun, festive touch.

It took a long time to decide on a sentiment (I do not have that many), but thought the double-double meaning (pinwheels spin, dancers spin) was cute. 

I get a little corny sometimes. 

Card Details:

Image: The Cat's Pajamas

Sentiment: The Cat's Pajamas

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU

Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring: Tim Holtz Distress Ink

Tools: N/A

Embellies: Unknown brad

Adding Spice to Quartet Contest Package

My quartet recently coached with Lynda Keever, Lead of International Championship Quartet, The Four Bettys. She is awesome! It was our second time coaching with her and she was just as wonderful as the first time. Plus I got to have breakfast with my good friend in Providence, whom I see much too rarely. Win win!

Lynda worked with us to "spice up" our Contest package. 
With that in mind, and a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches (#340), this card came together fairly easily.
















Card Details:

Image: Inky Antics, Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: Inky Antics

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU, unknown dp

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Color Box Chalk
Coloring: Copic markers

Tools: LuminArte Icicles, Gelly Roll glitter pen

Embellies: Unknown pop dots, unknown Bakers Twine, unknown brads

Christmas Critters, Sorta

I cannot resist buying cute critter stamps, and I have to hold myself back from overloading on Holiday images, so I was sure I had piles of Christmas Critters. Turns out, I don't. Lots and lots of wintery ones, but only one or two that are clearly Christmassy. One was too small, and the other too large. In true Goldilocks fashion, I chose a winter one that is just right. The size anyway; hopefully the hostess will like it for the holiday, too. 

Perhaps they are watching Santa load his sleigh...















Card Details:

Image: Stampendous

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU, SU dp

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities, Mini Snowflakes Lawn Cuts die

Embellies: Gelly Roll glitter pen, Liquid Applique, unknown ribbon
Special Thanks to Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 (#2-74)

Favorite Things Birthday

Though I have completed at least one challenge per week, I have not had the time to blog them before the challenge expires. But I have a couple more hours today to get this one entered. (I think)

The bass in my quartet recently posted a pic on Facebook similar to this:

Who knows? It may have even been this one; I cannot remember exactly.










For her birthday last week, I remembered her post and made this card:

Tuesday Morning Sketches (#297) provided the inspiration. The scraps on my desk from a recent project provided everything else. (Except the image, of course)














Card Details:

Image: Stampendous

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: Hammermill, SU, unknown dp

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Fiskars Paper Crimper

Embellies: N/A

Happy 50th Birthday, Joe!

Another big event at our chorus retreat, was a celebration of the 50th birthday of our coach, Joe Connelly. I needed to make a card that was roomy enough for everyone to sign, and was special enough to double as a "gift"

Here is what I created:

I used images of items from his childhood (well, except for the big-wheeled bicycle) and followed a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (#177)

 The inside is an exploding box with a cupcake in the center. It is supposed to be a cupcake anyway, but I had attached the base to the base of the card before I realized I had forgotten to run it through my crimper; it does not have that cupcake wrapper feel, but I was not about to take it apart to fix. 

The images from the outside of the card were stamped inside with Versamark, so it would not be so plain, but would not impede signatures. 

The frosting is embossed and the candle is a drinking straw. The flame was made by tying different lengths of orange ribbon and securing them with a brad (so they would not shift) then stuffing all of that into the straw. 

Other than the crimping mistake, I am quite pleased with how this came out. 








Card Details:

Image: SU

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: Bazzill, SU, unknown dp

Ink: Memento, Versamark
Coloring: N/A

Tools: Nestabilities, embossing folder, unknown brad

Embellies: unknown ribbon, drinking straw

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

Late (Again)

Yesterday marked a holiday that I, not so much celebrate, but observe every year; I call it "Dagnabbit! I forgot my BILs birthday AGAIN!" His birthday is March 2, but I never think of it til March 3. (Well, except last year. Last year I was actually on time!)

Recently I have been thinking about this large box of card kits in my closet, and that I should go through them and create. I saw this snail who is perfect for a belated birthday card. 

Tuesday Morning Sketches #290), created this adorable layout and the card kit provided the rest. (I would have preferred the snail to be green, but could not find a marker combo to coordinate with the designer paper.)

These little guys are happy to be on their way to Florida, where they will be much warmer (and drier)










Card Details:

Image: unknown

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, unknown dp

Ink: unknown
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities

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

Sweet Sixteen

Princess A had a birthday yesterday. 

Birthday cake for breakfast! Carrot cake is healthy, isn't it?

 My baby is SIXTEEN!
 






















Her bedroom is a shrine to Ross Lynch (she says it is for the band 'R5' as a whole, but 99.999999999% of the pics are of Ross), she loves designing and programming the lighting for Drama Club, and she takes just about every possible dance class available at the studio (she even teaches a few classes to the younger set). She is funny, smart, goofy, loving, sarcastic, an absolute slob, original, creative... and I just adore her!

Her birthday card is purple again this year. I say again, even though you have no way of knowing as I did not blog it last year; but I realized because I only just now got around to photographing last years card to post on Facebook.

Tuesday Morning Sketches (#288), as is so often the case, was my inspiration. I still have not figured out whether the dragon is lighting the candles on purpose, or just struggling to blow them out.






Card Details:

Image: Newton's Nook, SU

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, unknown

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabillities, SU punches

Embellies: Unknown brads, generic pop-dots

Quartet Coaching Part II - The Coach

A mentioned in a previous post, my quartet was privileged to be coached by one of the best known names in Sweet Adelines, Kim Vaughn! She was informative; She was funny; She was helpful; She was interesting; She was fabulous!

I wanted to make her a thank you card. Took me nearly a week to come up with anything more than the image I wanted to use. Sketch Saturday (#271) helped in this regard. 

Internet has been off and on for a couple weeks, so here I am at the last minute finishing this post. Sadly, I missed the deadline for The Pink Elephant (#211), using texture. I think, perhaps, I need a new router. Darn thing keeps forgetting how to communicate with the modem. I am getting very tired of fixing it every day, some days more than once.

Anywho, back to my card. I stamped the background first with "Weathered" from SU. Next, I stamped the cover-a-card music notes. I crumpled it and crushed it, unfolded it, then crumpled and crushed it again. I used my distressing tool on the edges (all the while wishing I had done this step before the crumpling, etc) then inked the edges and the ridges. My goal was a look of old parchment. I think it came out pretty well. 

Card Details:

Image: Copper Leaf Creations, Cover-a-Card, SU

Sentiment: Computer generated

Cardstock: SU

Ink: SU, Memento
Coloring: Copics, Prismacolor markers

Tools: Nestabilities, Tim Holtz Distressing Tool

Embellies: unknown sequins, unknown rhinestone, Stickles

And here we are with Kim

Quartet Coaching Part I - The Outfit

This past Saturday, my quartet had the honor of coaching with Kim Vaughn (formerly Hulbert), Sweet Adelines International Faculty, International quartet champion (several times over), International Chorus Champion director and all around amazing singer and teacher. Though shaky in the week leading up to it, I had a blast on stage. Oh right, did I mention our coaching took place in front of many of the regions quartets?

During our weekly rehearsal we discussed what to wear. Our chorus director (who happened to be there) said she was going shopping that afternoon and would keep her eye out for some tops. The following night at chorus rehearsal, she had a bag full! (Not to mention a perfect pair of earrings) We chose two sets (everything must be bought times four, remember) and sent one back. We wore the more casual (and slightly cooler; it is summer, all) top for our big day.

The lead and tenor went shopping later in the week and found necklaces, bracelets and bangles to match




Kim complimented us on our appearance and talked to the other attendees about how your impression on stage sets the judges to expect good (or not so good) things from you. 

On Sunday while blurfing (I have been trying to do a better job with keeping up with everyone's blogs), I came upon The Deconstructed Sketch (#112). Immediately my "All Dressed Up" dies came to mind, and a card was born. This one will go to Marion (SONE director), our personal shopper.

Card Details:

Image: N/A

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: SU
Coloring: N/A

Tools: SU Framelits die

Embellies: SU button, SU Bakers twine, SU Dimensionals

What Happened to Flopsey?

Some weeks ago, LJ opened a swap for a stamp company I do not own and have no desire to acquire. I checked out Linda's stash, but nothing jumped out at me. She and I discussed it and decided to request LJ host a My Favorite Things swap so I could join it. (Sure, I could have hosted it myself, but I really wanted to join an LJ swap.)

Here we are more than 30 days later, and I have just finished my cards. But, since they are not due for 20 more days, I am actually ON TIME!!!

Back to MFT... What happened to Flopsey?? I went on the site to see if there were any new Flopseys I needed for this swap and there was not a single one! I read a little further only to find out Flopsey was discontinued?! WHAT?!? How could they do that to this bunny that reminds me so very much of Princess A's own special Mel??

[This was Mel on Princess A's first First Day of Fifth Grade (I say first First because she had a second First Day when we moved). He is sitting on the front steps waiting for her to come home from school so he can present her with the gift we made for her while she was away.]






I cannot believe that my six sets of Flopsey are all I am ever going to have of him. I guess Mel will have to live vicariously through the critters of some of my other stamp sets instead...

I found the sketch for this card on Sketch Saturday (#266) after reading Kelly's post about it. I had never heard of this blog before, but it is now bookmarked and I hope to continue to find inspiration there.

  


















Card Details:

Image: MFT, Artful Inkables, Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento, SU

Tools: Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, IO Mega Mount, SU punch

Coloring: Copic markers, Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Unknown dimensionals

Green With Envy Over Your Recent Make-Over

I spent some time the other day perusing SCS, but I could not find another swap that interested me; Hence another "What Women Want" card was born. 

I knew immediately what stamp set I wanted to use, so off to Tuesday Morning Sketches I went. The sketch(#189) was perfect! 
Oh, but wait, there's a catch. A color scheme is attached. I know I have been out of it for a while, but I do not remember ever seeing that before. Oh well, who says a make-over card has to be pink anyway?! After all, my favorite color is green...

You may notice in the original sketch there is a little swirl around the image, or in the case of this card the sentiment - I know, I know, I said I was not a fan of sentiments, but in this case I made an exception. Anywho, back to the swirl. I do not have anything like that and am too cheap (not to mention lazy) to go out and purchase, especially as I would need not just one, but eight. (I almost always make swap cards in sets of eight. Six to send, two to keep.) To compensate for my lack of funds/desire/energy I used a swirly embossing folder. I think it worked just fine.

After my card was made, I remembered I needed to check Loves Rubberstamps Challenge blog to see if I won anything last week (I didn't). While I was there, I discovered this weeks challenge(#43) is "Shades of Green" so this card will be entered there as well. BONUS!

Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: SU

Tools: Cuttlebug, embossing folder

Coloring: N/A

Embellies: Prima - Iced Got Flowers, unknown rhinestone brad

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

What This Woman Wants

I have missed stamping and swapping and all the friendships I have made online along the way. As soon as I finished my 'Seasons of the Forest' cards, I went looking for another swap. Barb (another favorite SCS'er) had a new swap, "What Women Want". I read the description and headed into The Refuge. There on my desk was my one and only Pure Innocence stamp from MFT. I had not yet gotten around to putting her away after she had arrived several weeks before, mostly due to the fact that my desk, floor, shelves, etc had been completely buried for many months. Fortunately, last weekend I thoroughly, though admittedly not completely, cleaned the Refuge. Serendipity; It was as though she was waiting for this moment.Too hokey? OK, well, there she was on the desk anyway.

Next I went to Tuesday Morning Sketches(#188) for my plan, as I have long been a fan. (I'm a poet and I did not know it) (I guess I am more tired than I realized, sorry)

This woman loves to watch and listen to Princess A make music. She has played the violin since she was seven and it is a joy to see her on stage, rare though those occasions may be. On Friday and Saturday, March 8th and 9th she was due to participate in the Eastern Regional Middle School Music Festival, invitation by audition only I have to brag, but it has been postponed for a week due to our excessive snow fall on the 8th. Therefore on March 16th, I will be there in the audience excitedly waiting to see her and the rest of the orchestra.

What a woman wants is to see and hear her talented, hard-working and beautiful Princess perform on the violin






Card Details:
Image: MFT
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU, GP
Ink: Memento
Tools: Marvy Corner Rounder punch
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Martha Stewart ribbon, SU button



This post is also being linked to Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog (Week 42) - Anything Goes!

Winter Fun with Riley

I was perusing my friend Kelly's blog the other day and discovered she is the host over at Riley & Co for this week's challenge, Winter Fun! I LOVE Riley stamps; In fact, I asked for a whole slew of them for Christmas/Birthday. (Out of the eight requested, Princess A gifted me six. S'alright, Valentine's Day is coming... and I am sure my list will be longer by then anyway )

It has been a long time since I participated in a challenge for a blog post. Much too long since I have gotten to sit at my stamping desk, truth be told. I needed some Sketch Challenge inspiration (SCS Sketch Challenge #367 to be exact)

Without further ado, here is my Winter Fun with Riley card:

 

Card Details:

Image: Riley & Co.

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU, 3 Bugs in a Rug

Ink: Memento

Tools: EK Sucess Paper Shapers snowflake punch

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: SU buttons, Liquid Applique, glitter, embroidery floss