Are Your Friends Naughty or Nice?

May! It's May! And time for a new monthly challenge at Naughty or Nice Challenges:

                                                      

It seemed to be a challenge for most people to come up with a naughty card for last month's In Bloom challenge, and now friendship? I think I managed to throw just a little bit of naughtiness into my contribution: 

For some reason, I just had to have this Uncorked set from Papertrey Ink. I think it will get lots of use, and I was happy to christen it for this card. For once, I picked my patterned paper first and then chose which green ink matched! And luckily, it was an ink with matching cardstock for the mat. I know the cork is sized to fit in the bottle, but isn't it fun popping out this way? And let's not talk about the trouble I went to making sure the two halves of the bottle and the sentiment lined up the way I wanted them to. And I have to admit, I have more than a few friends I could send this to. ;) 
There is lots more inspiration from my fellow design team members over on the Naughty or Nice blog! And then I hope you'll join us -- you have until the 25th of May. 

Supplies: white & Stampin' Up garden green cardstock, Crate Paper Random patterned paper, Papertrey Ink Uncorked stamps, Versafine onyx black, Stampin' Up garden green & Martha Stewart putty inks, pop-dot squares

Pin It Now!

CAS(E) this Sketch Sympathy

I seem to be on a mission this week... I have decided to take sketch challenges and use them to increase my collection of sympathy cards. It is always better, it seems, to have a few on hand when one is needed than to have to scramble to make one when it is suddenly necessary. This week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge seemed like another perfect opportunity:

Like a number of the design team, when I saw this sketch, I thought it would be perfect for a watercolored background. Unfortunately, my attempts at watercolored backgrounds didn't seem to agree. ;) So instead I went for a subtle patterned background: 

I think if you squint, you can see it in the photo. ;) I purposely didn't completely ink my Bit of Burlap stamp before I spritzed it lightly with water. The image and sentiment came next. I thought it needed the jute twine at the top for a little balance. I also like the way the chevrons of the patterned paper subtly echo the burlap stamp. 
With this clean and simple design, I'm also entering this in Simon Says Stamp's current Wednesday challenge. 

Supplies: Stampin' Up naturals white cardstock, Studio Calico Classic Collection Vol. 3 patterned paper, Unity Love itty bitty & {ippity} Bit of Burlap & Hero Arts Art of the Card stamps, Stampin' Up bravo burgundy & antique linen distress inks, May Arts jute twine, glue dots

Pin It Now!

A Sympathetic Sketch

I have come to realize I rarely do sketch challenges. Come to think of it, I have trouble getting challenges done on time at all, but sketch challenges seem the toughest for me. But when I saw the new sketch challenge at STAMPlorations, it seemed to work perfectly with my recent realization that it would be not a bad idea to have a few sympathy cards tucked away for when they are needed. Here's the sketch and my take:

I tend to keep things clean and simple for sympathy cards, and this sketch seemed made for that. I started with masking a circle and sponging with distress inks. I stamped and embossed the pussy willow, then realized the open spaces let the colours show through. Luckily with distress inks, they react with water even after they've dried, so I was able to add water and mop up the ink with a tissue. 
So I suppose one card does not a stash make, but it's a start...

Supplies: Stampin' Up bashful blue cardstock, Strathmore mixed media paper, Sunshine Designs Pussy Willow & Unity Bevy of Butterflies stamps, Memento Luxe espresso truffle, milled lavender, broken china & faded jeans distress inks, Zing clear embossing powder, dimensionals

Pin It Now!

Since It's Snowing...

I might as well make a Christmas card, right? To be honest, Mother Nature, I didn't need your prompting, I was planning to play along at Merry Monday Christmas Challenge as soon as I saw this week's prompt: 

Now that there's a cat back in my life, I find myself wanting to make lots of cat cards! And perhaps buying more cat stamps, too, like I need more. But for this card, I got out one of my older stamps.

This cute kitty is stamped and embossed, then watercolored. The pompom and hat trim are Stickled, and although you can't tell from the photo, the black mat is glitter paper. To me, this stamp calls for a clean and simple card design, so I'm also entering the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge. 
This snow better melt by tomorrow! :D 

Supplies: Stampin' Up real red cardstock, American Crafts black glitter paper, Strathmore mixed media paper, Penny Black Jolly Xmas Kitty stamp, Versafine onyx black ink, Zing clear embossing powder, watercolour pencils, frosted lace Stickles 

Pin It Now!

Time is Short at the Sisterhood...

That's right! The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers wants to see what you can make in ten minutes or less. One of my least favourite challenges! I make cards for fun, not to feel stressed. But the Sisterhood called upon me, so here's what I came up with: 

And here's my process:

1. Plan. Plan for a long time, because planning does not count in the ten minute limit, so the longer one plans, the longer one can put off the pressure. 
2. Gather supplies. Any time-limited challenge I've seen (and I did even participate in one... ONCE) allows for having everything one needs at hand. Which is good for me, since I craft on our main floor and keep all my supplies in the basement.
3. Put all not-needed supplies well out of reach to avoid confusion and distraction and places to hide for the things you do plan to use.
4. Stop putting off the inevitable and make the card. :D

The card was made easier by using Graphic 45 papers and a coordinating journalling card. I could have just used the patterned papers, but it wouldn't have been any fun without a little stamping. I masked off most of a sentiment so I could stamp and emboss just the "you are". Then it was simply a matter of trimming and punching the corners of the sentiment, adhering it to the journalling card, trimming the two smaller cat images, die cutting the back panel -- realizing that in my haste I cut it longways instead of horizontally, so rearranging the layout immediately in my mind -- and adhering everything together. Just over eight minutes. Phew! 
For me, snark and speed did not go together, but of course it did for some of my Sisters! Be sure to check out their quick but quality cards, as well as a great one from our latest Queen of Snark, Manuela! And then I hope you can spare ten minutes and join us! 

Supplies: Stampin' Up basic black & naturals ivory cardstock, Graphic 45 Raining Cats and Dogs & The Magic of Oz patterned papers & journalling/ephemera cards, Hero Arts Cheer Up stamp, Versafine onyx black ink, Zing clear embossing powder, Simon Says Stamp postage stamp edge die, Stampin' Up ticket corner punch, pop dots


Pin It Now!

Merry Jingle Joy

I know, I know... for many of us, spring has finally shown up, and here I am with another Christmas card. All I can say in my defence is that there are two Christmas challenges that go together perfectly, so I had to play along! Merry Monday Is looking for vintage-style cards, while Jingle Belles, in honour of Earth Day next week, wants us to recycle/upcycle an element on our card. Here is mine:

I knew I wanted to reuse at least part of an old (commercial) Christmas card for this, so I started looking through my bin of saved cards. Look at the fabulous image I found! I have no recollection of saving it, so it's practically vintage on its own. ;) I edged each panel with a black ink pad, just to get rid of any harsh white edges. This was a very quick card to make, but I really like it! (My husb, not quite as much. Oh well...) :D 

     

Supplies: white cardstock, Teresa Collins Noel & Santa's List patterned papers, recycled Christmas card, Memento tuxedo black ink, Stampin' Up ticket corner punch, dimensionals 

Pin It Now!