Monday, April 29, 2013

Mojo Monday


Hi everyone! Are you ready to get your mojo going? Julee has a super fun Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge for us this week and since it's the last Monday of the month, it's contest time!  You have a chance to win some new Verve by creating a round or square card based on the sketch. 


I need to get some masculine birthday cards built up in my stash and this was the perfect layout for one!  I used patterned papers from Authentique's 6x6 Bundle pad.  The Plain Jane "Birthday to You" sentiment was stamped in Night of Navy then die cut using Verve's Classy Label die.  I then punched two ribbon slots on each end (punch by SU) and inserted navy satin ribbon.  I added some Early Espresso baker's twine by SU and embellished with vintage buttons from PTI.  Quick and easy!

If you need some more inspiration...be sure and visit the other mojomakers to see what they've created!

I hope you'll find time to play along!  Thanks for stopping by!


Friday, April 26, 2013

Bright Blooms & Butterflies



Good Friday morning everyone! I'm FINALLY getting to play with this month's Verve Diva Dare challenge to CASE the styles of Charmaine and Marisa which is basically to use bright, happy colors and butterflies and flowers.  After I adhered the lacy butterfly, I had a "DOH" moment and tried to change it out for a crimped butterfly, which is more Marisa's style, but there was no unsticking it, so it will have to stay. :-)  I colored the flower with Copics and popped it with foam dots.  Some machine stitching around the gingham panel and a little bling finished it off.  I'm using Jen Shultz' Deconstructed Sketch #99 for the layout and really love this one!

STAMPS: Surely Goodness (flower) and Doodled Occasions (sentiment) - both sets by Verve.
PAPER: Family Ties DP by Pebbles, Pacific Point, White, X-Press It Blending Card.
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black.
ACCESSORIES: Copics (B12, B14, B16, YG61, YG63, YG67), Open scallop Die-Namics by MFT, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT, Goodness Flowers die set by Verve, Adhesive rhinestones.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Math Awareness Month

I learned something new today...April is Math Awareness Month and the Ways to Use It Challenge on SCS is to use math symbols or words in our project. I immediately thought of the numbers and ruler papers in MME's Kraft Funday pad and decided to go with a tag rather than a card since these papers have a much heavier weight to the them.

I sponged the already crimped butterfly with Frost White Color Box pigment ink then added some bling.  I layered a wooden flower over a die cut flower.  Lots of twine added more texture and then the tiny tag sentiment was the finishing touch...loved that it had a number as part of the wording!  Tags are always so fun to create!

It's a gorgeous day today here in VA with a twinge of coolness in the air but the sun is out and it was perfect to get a lot of errands and some shopping done!   Happy Thursday to you!

STAMPS: Tiny Tags (SU)
PAPER: Kraft Funday (MME), Black
INK: Versafine Onyx Black & Frost White Color Box pigment ink to sponge the butterfly.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Color Throwdown

Hi everyone! There's another Color Throwdown Challenge on board and you are going to LOVE Bar's great springtime colors! 


Gorgeous colors...right?!  No big surprise that I couldn't resist going with flowers. 


I used Blush Blossom CS (yep, still have it in my archive stash!) then layered a white panel stamped with a French script BG stamp in Blush Blossom ink.  The sentiment was sponged with Pretty in Pink ink while it was still in the Nestie, then it was layered over a Martha Stewart doily tag.  Several MFT Die-Namics were used for added embellishments: fishtail flags, rolled roses, and small leafy flourish.

I hope you'll play along with us...if you do, remember you don't have to use exact colors.  Just use something close.  If you upload to a public gallery, be sure and use the key words CTD239.  Also, link up your card on the Color Throwdown blog using the linky tool at the bottom of the post.

 For more inspiration, check out the rest of the design team's creations below...

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits
Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor
Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud
Lynn Put - The Queen's Scene
Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy
      Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here) 
 Denise Marzec - The Paper Landscaper
Our April Guest Designer - Frances Byrne -Stamp Owl's Studio
Thanks to Frances for sharing her talents with us as the April guest designer.  Stay tuned next week and see who our May guest designer will be...you will be wowed by her creations!
STAMPS: Hope Blooms (Verve), French Script BG (SU)
PAPER: The Sweetest Thing "Lavender" and Six by Six "Vanity Fair" pads by MME.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Bundle of Joy


Good Monday morning! I was in "baby mode" following a baby shower for a young girl from church on Saturday.  So...when I sat down at the end of the day to work on my mojo card, I decided to use these animal images from Verve's "To the Moon" set to add another baby card to my stash.  Carole is the sketch creator for this week's Mojo Monday Challenge and it's open to so many different interpretations.  I thought of the four squares as windows and figured these critters would look kinda cute peeking out!  There were tiny orange flowers in the DP, so I pulled that color for the ribbon and banner outline.  I colored with Copics and fussy cut the images.  If you need some more inspiration...be sure and visit the other mojomakers to see what they've created!
I hope you'll find time to play along!  Thanks for stopping by!
STAMPS: To the Moon (Verve), Remember This (Verve)
PAPER: Nana's Nursery Baby Girl by DCWV, White, X-Press It Blending Card
INK: Pumpkin Pie, Memento Black
ACCESSORIES: Orange Zest satin ribbon by PTI, Copics, Bow Easy.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Deconstructed Sketch


I needed a birthday card for our middle son who turns 27 on Sunday! Wow...where in the world did the years all go? One day he's being potty trained and the next day I'm helping to plan for a wedding! I always struggle with masculine birthday cards, but wanted to play along with Jen's Deconstructed Sketch Challenge, so think this will work.  If he doesn't like the card, I know he'll like the money inside - lol!  I sponged the oval with Soft Sky ink while it was still in the Nestie to give a subtle shading effect.  The butterfly is a new wooden embellishment given by a coworker for my birthday...fun! 

STAMPS: Hope Blooms (Verve)
PAPER: The Sweetest Thing - Bluebell by MME, White

Pinning It



There's a fun Free 4 All challenge over on SCS called Pinning It. We can use a pin on our card or we can be inspired by a card on Pinterest. I chose to CASE Anni from Berlin, Germany who created this beauty HERE.  I loved the way she only partially sponged the embossed BG!  I already had some leftover Rosie Posie die cut flowers and leaves, so I did some two step stamping and popped them on foam dots and added a tiny sentiment tag...quick and easy!

Here's what else I used:
STAMPS: Rosie Posie, Rosie Posie Step 2 and Tiny Tags - all by PTI.
INK: Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz.
ACCESSORIES: Kassie's Brocade EF, Corner chomper, Tiny tags die and Rosie Posie dies by PTI, Satin ribbon, Brad.

I wanted to put a plug in for the new May issue of Paper Crafts magazine.  Just picked it up today and there were numerous cards that were unique and caught my eye...especially some different graduation cards.  Loved the one that looks like a scrub top with a stethoscope around the neck.  Just trying to enable everyone - lol!  It's late, late, late so off to bed I go.  I'm really enjoying this 4 day break from work which allows me to play in more challenges!


Thursday, April 18, 2013

Rainbow Chevrons


I created this for two different challenges.  One is the SCS Ways to Use It challenge to use a rainbow theme or colors and secondly...for the Try Stampin' on Tuesday challenge which is a new (to me) sketch challenge.  This Paper Smooches images is a fun one to color with Copics (YG11, YG13, YG17, R24, R29).  I added tiny black pearls for his eyes.  The chevron strips were die cut using MFT's chevron Die-Namics.  A really quick and easy CAS card!

STAMPS: A Little Lovin' (Paper Smooches), Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Color Throwdown

Hi everyone! It's yours truly's turn to host the Color Throwdown Challenge this week and I've got a bold and beautiful photo of one whopping high heel shoe that was my inspiration for the color combo! I can't imagine anyone wearing a shoe like this, but I do think it's beautiful!



I am also playing in Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  I knew I wanted the yellow to be the dominant color and I can't seem to stop using this 2 step stamp set from PTI.  Just LOVE these flowers!  I stamped off once for the flower (Daffodil Delight) and leaf base color (Old Olive) then stamped over it using the full ink color.  I popped them with foam dots over a Martha Stewart doily tag.  DP is from PinkPaislee's 365 Degrees 6x6 pad.  The black loopy border is a punch by Martha.  I scattered some adhesive pearls to finish it off.

I hope you'll play along with us...if you do, remember you don't have to use exact colors.  Just use something close.  If you upload to a public gallery, be sure and use the key words CTD238.  Also, link up your card on the Color Throwdown blog using the linky tool at the bottom of the post.

 For more inspiration, check out the rest of the design team's creations below...
Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits
Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor
Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud
Lynn Put - The Queen's Scene
Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy
                                     Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here) 
                                            Denise Marzec - The Paper Landscaper
Our April Guest Designer - Frances Byrne -Stamp Owl's Studio
Thanks for stopping by...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Hope Happens



I thought I'd make this a quick card, but it was one of those days when numerous steps just didn't work out and I had to go to plan B!  Had it all completed then said "ick"...I should have used a melon mambo or eggplant ribbon instead...but there was no undoing the foam tape at that point.

I created this for three different challenges:
Color Challenge on SCS - Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, River Rock
Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge - Frame it
Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge - sketch

This is my first time playing along with this sketch challenge, but saw it on a friend's blog and loved it!  I brayered Elegant Eggplant and Melon Mambo ink on the embossing folder, then ran it through my Big Shot.  I die cut a square Nestie inside a Wonky Rectangle Nestie for the frame.  I cut the tulip outline using a cut file on my Silhouette then stamped Flourishes' tulip image from their Tulips for Friends set and colored with Copics.  The sentiment is from the Magnolias set - also by Flourishes.  The card base is Elegant Eggplant thought it tends to look black in the photo. 

Have to run and get ready for work.  It's infection control committee meeting day and as the employee health nurse, I have to attend.  Thanks for stopping by...

Monday, April 15, 2013

Mojo Monday



Hi everyone! Mondays are something to look forward to because it's time for another Mojo Monday Challenge! Our sketch was designed by Julee and it's a fun one!  I had not used dew drops (remember their popularity years ago?) in forever, so when I could't find any brads in my stash in the right colors...I went to the clear dew drops and was happier with the more subtle look.  Papers are all from an Echo Park pad called "This and That" - LOVE!  I really had intentions of creating a Mother's Day card (to sell at work), but this sentiment just fit so perfectly. :-)  So, it morphed into a card of thanks instead.  I stamped the flower twice, did some fussy cutting, layered with foam dots and added Glossy Effects to the center.  Leaves were colored with Copic markers: YG21, YG23, YG25.  The small doily is actually a Martha Stewart tag.

Be sure and check out the wonderful creations by the other mojomakers...

It's my daugher's birthday today (yep, my baby turns 25!) and she's also moving 2 houses down from her present apartment.  So, it will be a day of helping her get settled into a new space and hopefully we can squeeze in a bit of celebrating at day's end!

STAMPS: Feel the Sun (Verve) - flower
                 Lean on Me (Verve) - sentiment

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Sketchbook Saturday



It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood! Crazy weather with snow and sleet last Thursday...sun and
80 degrees today! I'll take it! It put me in the mood to create some flowers, so I initiated my new hydrangea stamps and coordinating dies from Impression Obsession.  Let me just say I'm in love with this set!  Love the added texture that the tiny punched petals add!  After I die cut the petals, I took two different Copic markers (BG57 and BG23) and scribbled over the the shapes prior to popping them out.  I added some liquid pearls to the centers after I adhered them to the card.  I used the layout for Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge.

Here's what I used...
STAMPS: Hydrangea set (Impression Obsession)
PAPER: Soft Sky (SU), White (PTI)
INK: Versafine Onyx Black, Lucky Limeade
ACCESSORIES: Hydrangea dies by Impression Obsession, Lace by Flourishes, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT, Button by SU, Liquid Pearls, Square Lattice EF (SU), Scallop circle and circle Nesties.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Color Throwdown



Another Wednesday has rolled around and that means there is a new Color Throwdown Challenge on board! Check out this fun combo by Tammy!


I embossed the kraft BG then layered up some fishtail flags and topped it off with a leafy flourish, some tiny metal flowers and a satin rose.  I thought the card top needed something to cover the flag edges, so I made a quick punched scallop border.  I like having cards in my stash without sentiments, so I can tuck a tiny tag on it at the last minute or I can add it to the inside.  The finished card is 5 1/4 x 5 1/4" square.

Remember, you don't have to use exact colors to play along...just something close.  Be sure and label your project with CTD237 if you upload to a public gallery.  You'll need to link up on the Color Throwdown blog as well. Can't wait to see what you create!  While you're there, be sure and check out the rest of the design team's creations...OR...you can visit their blogs below.  Don't miss visiting our talented guest designer - the talented Frances Bryne from Stamp Owl's Studio!


Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits
Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor
Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud
Lynn Put - The Queen's Scene
Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy
                                        Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations (you are here)
                                                 Denise Marzec - The Paper Landscaper
Our April Guest Designer - Frances Byrne -Stamp Owl's Studio

PAPER: Martha Stewart Holidays pad, Night of Navy, Sage Shadow, Kraft, White.
ACCESSORIES: Leaf filled Flourish Die-Namics by MFT, Satin flower, Metal flowers by Making Memories.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Mojo Monday



Ahhh...spring has FINALLY sprung and the warmth is heavenly after a really prolonged winter here in VA!  It's time for another Mojo Monday Challenge and we've got Sarah to thank for our lovely sketch this week! I used a trio of coordinating washi tape prints for starters.  I layered one of my fave Verve flowers with foam tape after fussy cutting two different sized flowers.  I looped some black twine underneath and tucked in some punched ferns and die cut foliage.  Be sure and check out what the other mojomakers have created...
   
                                                                   

After you've created your card, head on over to the Mojo Monday Challenge blog for all the posting details.  

STAMPS: Hope Blooms (Verve), So Fluttery (Verve)
PAPER: Vintage Cream, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Flutterby die by Verve, Rhinestones, Brad, Jute twine, Foliage die by SB, Fern punch by MS, Corner chomper, Washi tape by Recollections.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Deconstructed Sketch


Yay...it's Saturday and FINALLY...winter is letting go of its claws and it truly looks like a spring day!
I'm off this weekend but have lots on my to do list and posting this card between laundry loads is on it! I love the Deconstructed Sketch Challenge this week...but then I always love Jen's layouts!  This was a fun one to team up several patterned papers and I chose Graphic 45's 6x6 Patterns and Solids pad.  I also love using SU's scalloped border EF which adds the perfect detail to a card.  Since I had my Tim Holtz medallion die out for another banner project (details will follow later this month), I decided to use it as the focal point here.  I had to plop some pearls in the corner for balance. :-)  I'm sad to see Baja Breeze leave SU's color family and hated to use up the Baja seam binding...but...time marches on and there will be other colors to take its place I'm sure.  Enjoy your w/e...I know I will!

STAMPS: Small Celebrations (Verve)

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Color Throwdown


Hi everyone! It's time for another Color Throwdown Challenge and this week, Lynn has a super springtime group of colors for us! Love the beautiful bouquet of pansies which inspired me to ink up this new tulip image by Flourishes!


After coloring with Copics on X-Press It Blending Card, I fussy cut the image and popped it up on foam dots over the gingham banner.  I layered this over a white base that has a tulip frame embossed around the edges.  The sentiment was stamped on a die cut shape from Flourishes' Classic Keyhole template die.  Tiny lavender rhinestones were added to the sentiment.

 Remember, you don't have to use exact colors to play along...just something close.  Be sure and label your project with CTD236 if you upload to a public gallery.  You'll need to link up on the Color Throwdown blog as well. Can't wait to see what you create with these gorgeous colors!  While you're there, be sure and check out the rest of the design team's creations...OR...you can visit their blogs below.  Since it's a new month, we have a new guest designer - the talented Frances Bryne from Stamp Owl's Studio!  Welcome Frances!
Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits
Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor
Joan Ervin - Stamping With Passion
Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud
Lynn Put - The Queen's Scene
Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy
Our April Guest Designer - Frances Byrne -Stamp Owl's Studio

STAMPS: Tulips for Friends (Flourishes)
PAPER: Stella and Rose "Gertie" Friends Forever tapestry paper by MME, Rich Razzleberry by SU, White by PTI, X-Press It Blending Card.
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Tulip Frame EF by SU, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT, Classic Keyhole template die by Flourishes, Rhinestones, Copics.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Mojo Monday




Good Monday morning everyone! I hope you had a super Easter weekend! We had a quick trip to Ohio for my nephew's wedding...always good to see family and friends from my home stomping grounds!

It's time for another Mojo Monday Challenge and as always...Julee has another fabulous design for us to play with!  Because it's the first Monday of the month, it's contest time and you have a chance to win some new Verve!  This card fell together really quickly since I had the felt loopy flower made already.  I added some Verve die cut leaves, a lace doily and a little metal photo turn embellishment to finish it off.

If you want more inspiration, be sure and check out the other mojomakers' blogs listed here:
                                                                   Carole Burrage
                                                                   Debbie Carriere 
                                                               Julee Tilman (Owner) 
                                                                    Marisa Ritzen
                                                                      Mary Fish 
                                                                    Sarah Biglow 
                                                                     Teresa Kline
                                                                  Stephanie Kraft
OR...you can swing by the Mojo Monday blog and check out the thumbnails!  Thanks for stopping by...hope you find some time to play along with us! 
STAMPS: Bloom and Grow by Verve - leaves
                 Lean on My by Verve - sentiment
PAPER: French County pad by Graphic 45; Real Red (SU), Vintage Cream (PTI) 
INK: Versafine Onyx Black; Old Olive
ACCESSORIES: Elegant Leaves die by Verve. Felt by PTI. Loopy flower die by Lil Inker Designs. Lace doily by SU. Metal photo turn element by American Crafts.