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

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

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

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

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

Barb's Fabulous Flowers

I was doing so well earlier in the year with getting my swaps in on time, that I signed up for not one, but two spots in Barb's Fabulous Flowers before my cards were finished. Here we are at the last minute and I just finished the second set. Technically set #2 was finished over the weekend, but since I was making extras for another occasion, I did not consider the entire set finished until just now. 

The first card I made, featured Tuesday Morning Sketches (#203) and was actually finished on that same Tuesday. Sadly I did not have time to scan it until this morning so I missed the entry deadline  

Can I just mention how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Cover-a-Card stamps by Impression Obsession? I may never buy designer paper again!

Card Details:

Image: PSX, Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card, Denami Design

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento, SU

Tools: Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, IO Mega Mount

Coloring: SU Watercolor Crayons, Aqua Painter

Embellies: Unknown ribbon












Card #2 features Sweet Sketch Wednesday (#211). Unfortunately, there is not title on that particular blog post so I cannot link directly to it. If they should fix this, I will adjust the link accordingly. 

Card Details:

Image: Riley

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento

Tools: N/A

Coloring: Copic Sketch Markers

Embellies: Unknown rhinestones

Hooray For The Winners

As I mentioned in my last post, I volunteered to make cards for my friend Yoda to send to the winning choruses and quartets from our recent regional competition. As usual, my first stop was Tuesday Morning Sketches. I stared at this weeks design (196) for a few minutes, then went looking for an image. 

Originally, I was thinking of a congratulations stamp along the bottom, but since the image I decided upon already has a sentiment, I had to use something else. Sweet Adelines are all about the bling (after the singing, of course), so rhinestones were the obvious choice. Pink in this case (believe it or not).

A scan of the cards have been sent to Yoda for approval. If, for whatever reason, she does not like them, I will be back with my next design.




Card Details:

Image: Stampin Up!

Sentiment: (SU)

Cardstock: SU, GP

Ink: Memento

Tools: Nestabilities

Coloring: Prismacolor Markers

Embellies: Unknown ribbon, unknown rhinestones

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

I have always liked the saying, "In like a Lion, out like a Lamb" when it comes to March. It reminds me that Spring will soon be here. When it is a snowy winter, I love the season, but when just dark and gray and the ground is brown, not so much. 

Way back in elementary school (first grade maybe?) Princess A made a lion face and a lamb face. Around the first of March these are hung; one on the door going in (the lion) and the other going out (lamb). These little guys always make me smile and are one of my absolute favorites of her art projects over the years.

Yesterday was been a mixed bag. Woke up to several inches of snow on the ground, but by school bus time it was sleeting. Changed to rain and freezing rain for a while, then suddenly snowing fast and furiously again. Two hours later what was covering the driveway from that second snowfall was gone. The lion is losing her roar. The lamb is edging her way in. 

I was not sure what to do with this weeks sketch(#190) over at Tuesday Morning Sketches until I saw the challenge this week at Twisted Tuesday Challenges(#46). The sketch could not have been any more perfect!

Therefore, I made two.

Where are the pearls on this first card, you are wondering? Look closely at the flowers behind Riley's and the lamb's ears, and also the one still growing on the left.

The lamb is made wooly with Liquid Applique. I don't think it is physically possible for me to make a sheep and not puff it out with that stuff.

While perusing Facebook last night, I discovered a lucky coincidence; this card also qualifies for the Riley and Company challenge(#0613) this week. Oh happy day!

On the second card, the little rim of 'metal' between the handle and bristles of the paintbrushes is colored with a Gelly Roll Stardust clear glitter pen. The pearls here follow the sketch more closely.



Happy First Day of Spring!    

Card Details:

Image: Riley & Co

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: SU, GP, unknown dp

Ink: Memento

Tools: SU square punch

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Viva Pearl Pen, Liquid Applique, SU buttons, SU bakers twine, Gelly Roll Stardust glitter pen

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

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!

Missing Vickie

Every day at 2:30 I have a cup of tea and think about Vickie. Almost since I joined SONE, she and I have been roommates on overnight trips. We both wake up pretty early and enjoy a good cup of tea first thing. She also had the most glorious gardens at her home which she let my mother and I raid before she sold it. We moved at about the same time. Me, to the other side of the state, but she went clear across the country. Now we play Scrabble on Facebook and sometimes use the chat feature, but it is just not the same.

I was thinking of Vickie as I made today's card. Ironically, I was putting the final touches on it at about 2:30. I did not have tea though, cuz it was a crazy 86°F this afternoon and the screens are not in the windows yet (since this is not typical, nor expected to last) so I could not open most of those downstairs.

The layout comes from Tuesday Morning Sketches (#40) tweaked a bit, obviously. I am also entering it into Meljen's Design Challenge (#1) where 'anything goes'!

The bunny is colored with Prismacolor markers to resemble Princess A's own special bunny Mel. The two of them started a blog today called "Bunny Thoughts".

Many people are making Springtime cards that are in full bloom and full of light or bright colors. Around here that is not quite how things look. The trees are still bare, though there are some buds, but mostly they look like sticks. I tried to represent that with the embossing folder and the green tips to the trees. With the crazy temperature out there today, this bunny is probably wishing there was a whole lot more shade. I know I was!

I hope Seattle was more comfortable for its newest resident...






Card Details:
Image: MFT
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: GP, SU
Ink: Memento, SU
Tools: SU punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: unknown ribbon

Recycling the Crafty Ho Way

Perhaps you did not know this, but the Hos are an environmentally conscious group. Every once in a while one of them will put a bunch of supplies she no longer needs into a box and mail it to another. That person takes what she wants and adds in her own stuff. And so it goes til eventually the last person on the list sends the box back to the first person. I have participated in this swap a couple of times and have gotten some really great things, as well as cleaned out some extra supplies.

This year Earth Day falls on April 22nd. The Crafty Hos are honoring this day a little early with this weeks challenge, Recycling.

The first recycled element of this card is the background. Princess A, for some unknown reason, does not throw her garbage from lunch away in the school cafeteria. She brings it back home again in her lunchbox. Not too long ago she brought home the piece of waxed paper that had been used to wrap her sandwich. It did not look soiled at all, so into my stamping supplies it went. It was just the thing I needed for wax paper resist.

The next recycled element is the paper bag. Most of the time I bring my own bag to the store, but sometimes I forget and end up with a new paper bag. As soon as the groceries are unpacked it goes on the floor for the kittens to play. It will usually stay there for about a week, then moves out to the breezeway to become the receptacle for paper recycling. This week it got a chunk cut out of it.

The final recycled item is a newspaper. Joy offered a fabulous paper flower tutorial on her blog and made it look SO easy! Thankfully it was.

Oh! I almost forgot! The layout (rather loosely) follows Tuesday Morning Sketches (#39).






Card Details:
Image: SU
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU
Ink: SU
Tools: Iron, Brayer, Nesties
Coloring: N/A
Embellies: generic rhinestone brad