Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC101 - Wine, Smudge, Leather, Parchment - September 29, 2011 - Live Laugh Love

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.  I just got back from my son's cross country meet - still had some good daylight to take photos of the card I finished last night - so I'm doing a post quickly. 

I am trying out a lot of different challenges lately and posting daily (sometimes more) until I decide on which ones I want to stick with.  I'm new at blogging so I'm not sure if posting every day is a good thing or not.  At least you get to see something different every time you stop by for a peek.  Please feel free to leave me comments/suggestions since I'm learning as I go.  I'd also like to hear if there are any particular challenges that you really like that I should give a try.

This is the first time I'm playing along with the Play Date Cafe.  This is Challenge 10.  The colors are  Wine, Smudge, Leather and Parchment.  With that combination of colors and the inspiration sketch I immediately got to thinking vintage.  I inked up this new stamp I got at Jo Ann Fabric's and went to work.  I stamped it in Momento Tuxedo Black and then stamped the Faded Text Background in Antique Linen on top of it and distressed the edges.  I die cut my sentiment  with the Spellbinders Labels 21.  This shape didn't look right on this card to me so I trimmed off the bottom.  I hand cut a border in wine to make it stand out more.  I loved the flower grand adhesion sticker I picked out but it was pink - not the wine color I needed so I inked it up with some Copics.  I didn't have any pearls that would match either so I inked those as well.  I always have to have a little bling so I squeezed in some pearl and glitter papers as well as the gems at the bottom of he card.

Thanks for stopping by for a peek!  Oh, and if you want to play along with this challenge here's a link to the details http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2011/09/play-date-cafe-challenge-pdcc101.html.  The challenge starts every Thursday.  Have a great day!

Jeanne

Supplies:

Stamp:  Cloud 9 Word Border, Stampabilities Faded Text Background.

Die Cuts:  Spellbinders Labels 21, Fleur De Lis Accents

Pattern Paper K & Co. Scrap Pack

Markers:  Copics

Border Punch:  Scallop Fiskars

Ranger Tim Holtz Stickles Rock Candy

Flower Sticker K & Co. Grand Adhesion

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Ranger/Tim Holtz Antique Linen

Case Challenge #59 - September 29, 2011 - Tweet!

Happy Friday!  I don't know about you but I am ready for the weekend!   My son has a cross country meet and my daughter is going to Turkey Run with a group from Purdue University.  Maybe me and my hubby can sneak out to lunch alone.

I'm playing along today with the Case Study Challenge #59.  This is is the inspiration card by our muse Julie Lacey.  I like the clean lines , the circle focal point and that big fat bow.

I made my tweet! card with an adorable sparrow stamp from Catslife Press.  My kids are always using the expression sweet! so as a little play on words I made this tweet! a congratulations card. 

I stamped the bird image twice with Momento Black Tuxedo.  I fussy cut one of the birds to use as a mask.  I positioned it over the other bird with removable adhesive and then inked up the background flourish stamp in Marmalade distress ink and stamped it over the bird image.  I added the little touch of twine because I'm used to seeing sparrows with twigs and other items they collect to build their nests. 

I used alot of the same elements as in Julie's card but put my own spin on them.  I kept the bow, the embossing, color/neutral color pattern, and gems - just in a different style.    I'm looking forward to checking out what you've made!  Have a great weekend!

Products Used:

Stamps:  Sparrow:  Catslifepress.com, Ornate Textured Background:  Stampabilities

Dies:  Spellbinders Standard Circles, Eyelet Circles, Tiny Tag: Spellbinders for Just Rite

Eyelet Border Punch:  Fiskars

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug Moroccan Screen

Pattern Paper:  Basic Grey Ambrosia/Marmalade

Seam Binding:  Hug Snug Bright Red

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Antique Linen, Marmalade

Mojo Monday #207 - 9-19-11 - Halloween Witch

This is the Mojo Monday Sketch 207 for the week of September 19, 2011.   Are you playing along this week?  What a great site for inspiration if you're hung up on an idea, but you're just not sure how you should lay it out.

I'm thinking Halloween lately because I should be sending them out soon!  At least now I have ONE made!!    Do you like the neat background I got on this one?  Well, here's how....   I stamped the witch with Momento Tuxedo Black ink, colored in the moon with 4 shades of Copic, and then die cut using Spellbinders Labels 20.  I kept the paper inside the die and distressed with Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Dusty Concord, and then Chipped Sapphire to make the night sky look luminescent from the moon.  The distress ink is perfect for this because you can add as much or as little as you want and the colors blend together nicely.

I didn't like all the straight lines on the sketch challenge so I used shaped squares and the fancy cut as my focal point.   OK so maybe I wanted to start using some of my new Spellbinders - I just got my hands on that postage stamp!   I made my bow with two colors of seam binding and tied on a flat bat button with a little bit of twine.  I attached a few ebeads to the twine strings for a little halloween sparkle, and gave that bat button some yellow gem eyes.  SPOOKY!  I think that purple textured background really pulls it together and adds alot of depth.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you like this one and that you're creating something spooky yourself!

Products used:

Patterned Paper:  K&Co.

Stamps:  Flying Witch: Stampabilites,  Sentiment: Stampin' Up!

Die Cuts:  Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Squares, Labels 20, Postage Stamps, Nested Pennants

Embossing Folder:  Sizzix Diamonds (from Diamonds and Snowcap Set)

Copic Markers:  YR12, YR04, Y19, Y15

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Ranger/Tim Holtz Distress Dusty Concord, Antique Linen, Chipped Sapphire

Seam Binding:  Hug Snug Lavender and Orange

Twine:  Martha Stewart

OWH Skech Challenge 84 - August 27, 2011 Travel Collage

I have some extra time today - my husband and son left early for a 50 mile bike ride.  They are meeting up with a group of scouts and will be gone for a few hours, that gives me time to be creative.  I've had this stamp from Stampabilities called Travel Collage for a while. I think it's a really great masculine stamp and I thought it would be a good fit for one of my OWH cards.

I just recently started using the seam binding from Hug Snug for my bows.  You can get it at Fabric.com (Amazon has it a little cheaper but no free shipping).  It runs about $10 for 100 yards - that's really affordable at 10 cents a yard.  It is made out of Rayon so it has a really nice shine and is easy to work with.  It looks great smooth or crinkled.  I haven't tried this but I heard that the white is easy to die to your perfect shade by mixing your favorite ink with a little water and spritzing the ribbon.  It comes in so many beautiful colors - you are bound to see a shade you will love!

Products Used:

Stamp:  Stampabilities Travel Collage  Just Because Stamp - Just Rite

Patterned Paper:  K& Company

Ribbon:  Hug Snug Seam Binding Aquarelle

Ink:  Momento Rich Cocoa, Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Ink:  Antique Linen

Die Cuts  Spellbinders for Just Rite

OWH Sketch #82 Week of August 14, 2011 - Bustin' Mustangs!

I hope everyone is having a great week. Summer is winding down and school starts at the end of this week. I am sorry to see the kids go back to school, but I will be glad to be back to a routine. Somebody has been sleeping in a little bit too much lately - and no it's not me!  

I met with a bunch of scouts today to work on some Boy Scout Eagle badge requirements.  It was great to hear about all the fun things they did all summer - from Sea Cadet Training to a trip to Europe, and lots of great places in between!  Their excitement is contageous!

I've been staying close to home playing taxi driver and trying to take advantage of the time I am not in motion.  The days are getting shorter and it's getting cooler at night so I know fall isn't far behind.  My Tomatoes and peppers are just starting to come in.   I'm looking forward to a big bowl of homemade salsa!  Maybe that's how I got thinking cowboys!

This is the Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge for the Week of August 14.  I went with a nice big cowboy image from Stampin' Up!  It was a little strange for me to frame him at an angle - I'm so used to having to line things up nice and straight.   I like the end result on this one - I sort of think this orientation makes my cowboy look like he is trying to tame a wild mustang! 

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Cowboy: Stampin' Up!, Background Stamp:  Ornate Textured Background Stampabilities

Silver Star Cut out - Cricut Old West Cartridge

Red Flourish:  Spellbinders Floral Doily Motifs

Ink:  Momento Rich Cocoa, Desert Sand    

Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Ink: Antique Linen

OWH - Thinking of You Compass Card - 8-10-11

I am honored to be the sample cardmaker this week for Operation Write Home mid week throwdown.  The challenge this week is to make a "Thinking of You" card.  Operation Write Home is committed to supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them.  If you are interested in participating please go to their blog at http://www.owhstarsandstamps.org to find out more.

I was drawn to the colorful world map patterned paper that is my background.  This struck a chord for me because I  know our service men and women are stationed all over the world.   I put the compass as my centerpiece (and yes it does really spin!) knowing that no matter where you are that your heart always points home.

I tied a pink raffia ribbon in a simple bow first and then adhered my seam binding looped bow to it.  In the center of the bow is a button I had on hand.  I like to use buttons because it is an easy way to add any sort of tie on - like the tag.  I dressed up the craft thread with some e-beads to add a little sparkle.  I hope you like it!  I hope you will feel inspired to make a card of your own - I am looking forward to visiting all the links on the OWH blog!

Products Used:                                    Finished Card SIze is 5.5 x 5.5"

Stamps:  Sentiment from Fancy Phrases Collection and Frame from Vintage Labels 3:  Waltzingmouse Stamps       Compass:  Stampabilities

Patterned Paper:  K & Co. Sweet Nectar Collection

Spinner Arrow - Tim Holtz

Border Punch:  EK Success Morocco Lace

Dies:  Spellbinders:  Labels Three, Tags Trio

Ink:  Momento Rosebud and Tuxedo Black

Seam Binding Hug Snug Summer Rose