PRETTY IN PINK

This layout is for Paper Secrets March 1st Sketch Challenge - SPRING.  The instructions were to create a layout using elements from every letter of the word SPRING.  Each letter must be represented by a different item.

It starts out with this sketch:

Here is my layout:

My items are:

S - Sketch
P - Pink everything!
R - Ribbon roses
I - Inked edges
N - Name
G - Gems

As you can see I was in a very pink mood last night!  I am also submitting this to Word Art Wednesday for challenge #123 Anything Goes, and Scrapbook.com - Girls Only and Scrap Our Stash Stash A Thon Birthday challenge #1 - Cake/Layering.

I still  have a few more collage shots from my time at Women of Faith Philadelphia 2013 which I may get to later today.  

Hope to see you again soon!  All comments greatly appreciated.

THE LAYOUT THAT TOOK FOREVER...

I knew what photos I was going to use for this.  I knew what papers I was going to use, what trims (well most of them) but for some reason everyday I sat at my art table and tried and tried to get this done.  Finally yesterday it all pulled together and here it is...

I started with the sketch over at Paper Secrets:

AND ...

you must include items, colors, brands, etc. beginning with each of the letter of the word - KISS.  You must use a different item for each letter ( for example you CAN NOT use white cardstock to represent "w" and "c" as "w"hite & "c"ardstock). 

- See more at: http://paper-secrets.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-1st-sketch-challenge-kiss.html#sthash.4MAlIgMJ.dpuf


I also wanted to use this layout for the challenge over at Scrap Our Stash. 

Here's how this challenge works:
Create a layout with Red AND/OR Pink (50% of layout) with the following stash items: 

S. - Stitching (machine, hand or faux), W. - Washi Tape
A. - Arrow, K. - Kraft paper/embellishment
(Arrow, wash tape and kraft embellishments must be PREMADE/PACKAGED scrap products and each letter MUST be a separate item.)

And finally here is my layout:

For Paper Secrets you can see the sketch.  And here are my KISS items.  K - K & Company red overlay. 
I  - Edges of everything are Inked.  S - SEI Patterned papers.  S - lots of Stitching.

For Scrap Our Stash the word is SWAK (Sealed With a Kiss) Layout must be at least 50% red and/or pink.  S - Stitching red & white bakers twine at top. W - Washi Tape - On the photos top of left, bottom of right. A - Arrow - 2 of them on either side of the journaling block. K - Kraft paper embellishment - paper chain underneath photos.

Hope that you have enjoyed my efforts!  I hope to be spending time at the art table again today - it's cold and snowing out so I don't plan on leaving anytime soon.  Have a great day and a wonderful weekend.  

AIN'T IT GREAT

when everything you need just falls right into place?  

Last night I sat down to choose a challenge to work on.  

I selected this one from The Memory Nest:

I had this photo of my son, his girlfriend and her brother and his girlfriend that was taken in Times Square out on my desk.  

There is a great story to the photo - this was the night John (Kathryn's brother) asked Sally to marry him.  He had all her friends and family in bleachers there and he did a 'mic' check and had everyone repeat what he was saying.  What a big exciting surprise.

Right next to the photo I saw a package of papers that I was trying to finish up that were exactly that color combo.

I rotated the sketch 1/4 turn clockwise.

I used a selection of embossing folders and I embossed (and de-bossed) my triangles.  (yes, the de-bossing was an accident - I didn't watch what side up I put the paper in but I thought it would be a good look for a change!)

I added a thankful quote.

And here it is:

I am also entering this layout in a site I just discovered - 3 Scrappy Boys in their 4th Anniversary Celebration sketch challenge which calls for flipping your sketch!

And now - another message - Paper Secrets is having a 45% off sale through November 30, 2013 and a great giveaway of a $20 gift certificate to the shop!  Head there and get some great bargains - I did!

Come back later as I plan to be busy creating later today!

A QUICK CARD

Tomorrow my son is going to a birthday party for a young girl.  I wanted to make a card to go along with the present.  I used the July 21st sketch from Paper Secrets.  I am also going to enter this card at Kaboodle Doodles for the Anything Goes challenge #181 and Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes challenge #89.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

 And now I am off to bed.  Sweet dreams and thanks for stopping by!

CELEBRATE ON SUNDAY!

Today was another long but good day.  I am still very tired and not feeling my best from the stresses of the last 2 weeks but I was happy to be able to create this card tonite.  I am entering it in the Paper Secrets July Card Sketch Challenge and the Colorful Creations Creative Monthly Project Make It Loud! using bright bold colors and patterns.

Here is the card sketch:

And here is my card:

Thanks for stopping by.  More creations coming as I get back on track!  Sweet dreams!

SPECTACULAR SATURDAY!

Today was a wonderfully productive day.  I went to a crop in Maryland with my friend Maraline and was able to complete 5 cards and 1 layout.  And here they are for your viewing pleasure:

Card #1 - Always Playing with Paper Merry Monday Challenge #66

Card #2 - Mojo Monday Sketch #297, Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #214 color palette

Card #3 - Sweet Sunday Sketch #186, The Color Room Palette #152,

Card #4 - Shabby Tea Room #170, Paper Secrets June Card Sketch, Word Art Wednesday #84

USING BLUE, PINK, WHITE (OR CREAM) AND FLOWERS

Card #5 - Kaboodle Doodle #175, Get Inky Challenge #6, Use It Tuesday #57 - usingpaper scraps, an old stamp and rhinestones, Tuesday Morning Sketches #202, Tuesday Throwdown #151

Layout #1 - Come and Get It Challenges Sweet Summer Hues, Page Drafts Be Bold, Colorful Creations Plus Challenge

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope that you are enjoying your weekend.  All comments happily welcomed.

CYAO OF THE WEEK!

Yes, it's that time already.  Time for another Paper Secrets CYAO challenge.  For this week's challenge there was a sketch by Decontructing Jen plus we had to include three of the following:

 *transparency *chevrons  *corrugated paper/cardboard  
*washi tape  *hand/machine stitch your edges  *Thickers

I started by putting a layer of silver patterned paper, then I cut some red glitter paper in the shape of a tag.  I topped that off with a doily, a piece of transparency stained with alcohol inks, a circle of corrugated, a strip of washi tape and a sentiment.

And here it is:

Thanks for stopping by!

IT'S TIME FOR CYAO AGAIN!

Here we are again - time for another week of Paper Secrets CYAO challenge.  

This week's challenge was to use this sketch:

plus three of the following:

*heat embossing *transparency  *pearls

*grungeboard/grungepaper  *washi tape  *machine stitching

For my card this week I used hunter green paper.  I stamped and heat embossed my sentiment onto this.  On top I used some gold cardstock with more of the green for the smaller boxes. I stamped and heat embossed my dove on white paper and fussy cut it. The swirl is grungeboard which I painted with a gold dauber.  I added three metallic pearls and a bunch of stickles.  And that was all three!

Here's the outcome:

Thanks for stopping by.  I should have more Christmas cards coming during the week!

ANOTHER ROUND OF CYAO!

Well, the challenges are certainly getting harder on Paper Secrets CYAO!  For this week we had this great sketch:

on which we needed to do 3 from the following list:

*music sheet pattern/pages *epoxy stickers  *velvet 

*dry embossing  *paint  *hand/machine stitching

I struggled with deciding which 3 to do and finally ended up with music sheet patterned paper, velvet patterned paper and dry embossing.

and now it's nearly time for bed so I will wish you all sweet dreams.  See you again soon!

CYAO TIME AGAIN!

We had a week off last week but we are back again with Paper Secrets CYAO!  And this week it really was a challenge for me.  There was a great sketch but to pick 3 of the following items was rough...  

 *brackets  *woodgrain/whitewash  *1" thick+ ribbon 

*dry embossing

*glossy accents  *2+ handmade flowers

Here is the sketch:

I ended up going with a background page which I dry embossed, a 1" thick ribbon and I added glossy accents covering the circle that my sentiment is stamped on.  In addition to the requirements there is some patterned paper and 2 poinsettias.

Here is my creation:

Hope that you have enjoyed this peek at another of my seasonal cards.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!

As soon as I saw the sketch for this week's CYAO I knew exactly what I had to find in my stash.  

Here is the sketch for this week:

and the rest of the challenge is to use 3 of the following:

*grunge board/grunge paper  *ribbon  *punch

*hand stitching  *stickles/liquid pearls   *vellum

I knew that I had Webster's Pages paper with a Santa coming in a parachute. As it turns out I not only had paper with it but fabric ribbon.  The ribbon was the perfect size (and of course it also met one of the 3 requirements!)  Next I used some contrasting paper and punched a border (requirement #2 - punch!)    I was stuck on what to use for my last requirement.  I went in search for my box of grungeboard and went thru the sheets looking at all the elements.  I decided that I could use some of the stars (requirement #3!)  After I put the on I decided they did not have enough pizzazz so I got some rock candy stickles and coated the grungeboard.  (extra credit requirement!  LOL!)

And finally, here is my card:

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and I am so happy you stopped by to say hello!

CYAO SATURDAY!

I just finished this week's installment in the Paper Secrets CYAO challenge.  It called for using this week's Mojo Monday sketch as well as three of the following:

*doily

  *handmade ribbon/fabric flower 

*border punch

*hand stitched border  

*stickles/liquid pearls 

*vellum

I opted to use vellum, border punch and stickles.  My card is several layers.  Because of this I decided I would also enter it in Love to Create's challenge for this week 'Lots of Layers'.  The word 'CHERISH' is my vellum.  It is mounted on banana skin, then on black cardstock cut with my Martha Stewart Border and Corner punches, that is mounted again on banana skin and again on black cardstock.  This was mounted onto some of my favorite velvet flocked paper and again onto cardstock.  I cut a rose with my Sizzix embossing folder and added some stickle accents to it.  

Here's the final project:

Hope you have enjoyed your stop and that you are having a fabulous weekend!

DARE TO BE...

TRULY REMARKABLE!

I wanted to get my Paper Secrets CYAO post up before the impending storm possibly takes my power down.  This weeks card was done using Mojo Monday's sketch and 3 of the following items:

*lace  *handmade ribbon flower *border punch

*dry embossing *stickles/liquid pearls  *metal

For my card I chose to use lace, dry embossing and metal.  I had these great little metal charms so I chose one that read 'live life with no regrets' and then I chose a stamp that I felt went well with it reading 'Dare to be truly remarkable'.

here is the sketch:

and here is my card:

For those of you in the path of the storm stay safe, stay warm and dry and hopefully we will not lose power.

TIME FOR CYAO!

Here is this week's Paper Secrets CYAO challenge.  We begin with a sketch by Mojo Monday and then need to include 3 of the following:
washi tape
handmade ribbon flower
border punch
dry embossing
hand/machine stitching
kraft paper

Here is the sketch:

I ended up throwing an extra ingredient in for good measure as I forgot to count the kraft paper.  My items were washi tape, border punch, dry embossing and kraft paper.

Here is my card:

Hope you have enjoyed stopping by. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

MONDAY MONDAY

Today I have a tag and two cards to share with you.  We will start with the tag.  The tag was done for a challenge over at Dragon's Dream which calls for the color orange, leaves, metal and a real stamp.  I also entered it into the tag challenge over at Colorful Creations calling for a Halloween themed tag.  I started by embossing my tag and coloring it with Persimmon and Walnut stain Distress Inks.  I then used a leaf stamp and stamped all over the background.  I added some Halloween diecuts and a few sticker leaves, a metal brad that says Halloween and finished it off with some fun fibers.

Here it is:

My first card used inspiration from Inspired By which I chose to use the colors of the inspiration as I knew I had some fun retro papers that would be perfect.  I chose a sketch from My Time Made Easy and a scripture from Word Art Wednesday.

The inspiration:

The Sketch:

The Scripture:

Card #1:

My second card is for this week's CYAO challenge over at Paper Secrets.  It uses a sketch and you must select 3 of the following elements to include on your card:  *heat embossing  *metal  *glitter  *border punch  *handmade flower  *pearls.  I chose a metal frame, a border punch and pearls.  

The sketch:

Card #2

I hope that you have enjoyed your visit!  Have a great nite!

NOW EVEN TOUGHER!

I didn't think the challenges could get much harder on Paper Secrets CYAO challenge but this weeks took a lot of searching for needed materials.  Fortunately I have a large stash and just needed to make a few modifications.  The challenge was to use the Mojo Monday sketch but to include 3 of the following:
2" wide ribbon
handmade pinwheel
heat embossed background stamp
doily
raw unpainted chipboard alphas
clothespin

I have a great background stamp and some gold embossing powder, and the shape had to be square or round and the only square cards with envelopes I have are red so that narrowed things down a bit.  I knew I had some wide ribbon but discovered that most of it was not wide enough and a few were too wide.  I opted to cut down the too wide to the 2" requirement so I am now down to my last choice.  I went in search of my chipboard and tried to think of how I would use it.  I thought about a monogram - but for what or whom?  Then I searched out letters and found that NOEL would fit so now I am ready to create.  I also had a chipboard square that I thought went well with the design.  I wanted to put something inside of it and had some real searching to do.  After trying several things I discovered this little red cardinal on a circle.  This worked perfectly and would also meet another challenge over at Shopping Our Stash who has a challenge to use an animal or bird on our card for this week.

Here is the sketch:

and here is my creation:

Not sure if I will get to more creating this weekend as it is Michael's birthday but if I do I'll be sure to post!  Hope that you have enjoyed stopping by.  Have a great weekend!