Blue or Pink? Mashup

I made this card to bring to work to pass around for signatures for a work baby shower.  My friend who is having the baby has decided to not find out the sex, so I went for a blue or pink theme, using the Mashup at this week's Friday Mashup challenge.  

First, I want to show you the inside because I was so pleased with myself when I thought of the plan.  As you likely know, the traditional size for handmade cards doesn't leave a ton of room for passing a card around an office to get lots of signatures.  So I added a flap to the inside.  THEN, and this is the adorable part.  I made it themed... so you are supposed to sign by the pink footprints if you think she's going to have a girl, and by the blue ones if you think she's having a boy:

And this is how I put together the front:

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

It's a Girl for Freshly Made

My best friend from college is having a girl this December, and her shower was this past weekend.  Since I rarely make cards ahead of time, and I fell in love with the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches at first sight, it seemed like a perfect combo.

My friend is due on Dec. 23, and I'm a Christmas baby myself, so I am so hoping she'll have the most perfect Christmas present ever this year.  But I digress... here's how I brought my card together:

The T is for their last name.  The actual name is being kept secret until the birth.  

This was the second card I made... well, I didn't finish the first, but it wasn't headed in the right direction.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

P.S.  Does anyone else think Blushing Bride is the best shade of pink Stampin' Up has given us in recent years?  Please bring it back!

Supplies Used
Card Stock:  Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Blushing Bride, Cheerful Treat DSP, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Versamark
Stamp Sets:  Nursery Necessities
Other:  Rich Razzleberry 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Brights Glimmer Brads, Brights Buttons, Twitterpated Buttons, Champagne EP, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Little Labels Punch Pack, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder

Friday Procrastination

I literally made this card the day that the Fab Friday challenge was posted, and then not only failed to post it in time for the one week Friday Mashup challenge that I also used, but am now posting just hours before the two week Fab Friday challenge closes.  And I'm posting instead of getting ready for work.  EEK!

And the card:

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

More Complicated than it looks CCMC

I pretty much just have time to post the pictures of my card.  It was a doozy!  I made it so much more complicated than it looks!  But, I think it looks pretty fabulous.  Hahahaha...

Another great sketch from Connie and Mary:

 And the outside of my card:

And opened up:

I wish I had time to tell you everything I did.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

So Fresh and so Clean

This may be the cleanest card I've made for Freshly Made Sketches.  

Here's the sketch:

And my card:

I used the underside of the awesome ribbon slide to keep it cleaner.  And a few pierces in the paper created the accent shape, and I'm done!  Took longer than you'd think because I started with something much more involved and then scrapped it.  Haha...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used:
Card Stock:  Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, International Bazaar DSP
Ink:  Versamark
Stamp Sets:  Petite Pairs
Other:  white EP, Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon, designer ribbon slides, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, paper piercing tool

Deceptively Tricky CCMC221

Super quick post today.  I saw this sketch at Create with Connie and Mary, and I knew I wanted to make a card with it.  SO cute!  Then it was much harder to work with than I expected!  Sometimes it goes the other way, right?  A sketch looks very difficult, and then the card comes together with ease?

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Should be asleep...

But I figured I'd hurry up and post this since I happened to think of it after staying up late to finish a project for work.  


I LOVED this week's sketch at Create with Connie and Mary:

My father-in-law needed a birthday card, so I put this together.   I apologize... picture is terrible.  There is actually fabulous dimension on this card!

That's all I have the energy for, but thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Fresh SUO Anniversary

Oh how I struggle to actually post my cards, but I'm doing it this week!  I played at SUO Challenges for the first time ever, and used the fab, fab sketch at Freshly Made Sketches as well.  When I saw the challenge at SUO was to use a photo, I thought... what a great idea for a card!  And it just so happens my anniversary is this week, so what a perfect reason to put a photo on a card.  And then I saw this great sketch, and I had a plan.

This is one of my favorite photos from my wedding, and the circles are a sunset photo that we took on our honeymoon to Hawaii (this one was taken on Kauai).  I added a little texture at the top of the wedding photo, and on the black band behind the sunset.  I still need to work on the inside, but I had to get this posted before FMS closed for the week.  :-)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies used:

Card stock:  Elegant Eggplant, Midnight Muse, Basic Black, photos printed on Whisper White

Ink:  Basic Black

Stamp Sets:  Petite Pairs

Other:  Big Shot, Fancy Fan EF, Delicate Designs EF, 1 3/8" circle punch

Christmas in July

Zero time to post, but I can't tell you how many times I've made a card for a challenge only to not post it in time (and then it never gets posted, and then... really, why have the blog at all??).  So here goes.  Awesome sketch at Freshly Made this week, and another great creative challenge at Friday Mashup.

This card was originally in my head in Cherry Cobbler, but then I thought I'd neglected Gumball Green for too long, and I'd see if that worked.  And I liked it!  I'll have to use Gumball Green more!

And the inside for Mashup:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Fresh Christmas in July

I've been meaning to start Christmas cards early this year, and I finally got my first one done thanks to the Christmas in July theme challenge at The Paper Players this week.  I combined it with the always fun sketch from Freshly Made Sketches to get me started.  

I used a fun mix of new, new to me, and old to finish this card. 

Unfortunately, the detail on the white scallop layer can't really be seen in this picture.  I really need to think about purchasing a light tent, or making one myself!  As you may be able to kind of sort of tell, I used the new Large Scallop Edgelits with the coordinating Delicate Designs folder.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Card Stock:  Garden Green, Whisper White, Read Red, Merry Moments DSP

Ink:  Real Red, Versamark

Stamp Sets:  Tiny Tags, Contempo Christmas

Other:  Large Scallop Edgelits, Delicate Designs Folder, Snowburst Folder, Ornament Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Crop-a-Dile, Real Red Satin Ribbon, Silver Twine, Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot

Non-traditional Father's Day Colors

Two posts in one day!  I had to get this next one up so I didn't miss another challenge deadline.  I used two challenges for inspiration for this card, and I already missed one of the deadlines (even though I made the card on Tue... darn procrastination).


I used the awesome colors at The Paper Players this week, as well as the fun sketch at Stamping 411.  

My father loves the color green, and so do I, so some variation of it is on nearly every card I make for him.  And he actually had a green bike with pink handle bars when I was a kid, so I'm thinking he can handle a few splashes of Melon Mambo on his Father's Day card.  So here's what I put in the mail for him this week (apologies for the poor picture quality):

Not a traditional masculine card, but I think it is perfect for him (even though he is a traditional, masculine man, does that make sense? hahaha...)  


Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used
Card Stock:  Basic Gray, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink:  Versamark
Stamp Sets:  Bring on the Cake, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Fabulous Phrases
Other:  Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Lucky Limeade SAB ribbon, Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder, dimensionals, 1 inch circle punch, Pewter embossing powder

Retro Anniversaire

Wow... have I really not posted in over 2 months?!  I have been stamping, and even doing challenges.  Usually even on time.  I've just had enough of the computer by the time I get home from work that even posting, which I enjoy, seems like work!  I am going to try to make more of an effort with this blog thing.  Anyway, on to the card!!

I used the lovely sketched provided by retro sketches this week.  So much you can do with this!  

I needed a birthday card for a girl that minored in French, and I just happened to get my first stamp set with French sentiments this year for Sale-A-Bration.  Time to break that out!  I also purchased some gold paper for a project I did for my sister, so I thought I'd actually use it on a card.  

I don't think this picture gives this card justice.  It's so shimmery and pretty in person.  But maybe that's just me... I think I'm shimmery and prettier in person, too!  Ha!

Question... how on earth am I supposed to make a bow that looks like that?  That one is held together with staples.  I do wish I were not so bow deficient.

And finally... I believe making this card has put me over the edge.  I'm going to splurge on the new stamp pads.  It hurts a little to think about all the stamp pads I have that really aren't that old, but I was pressing and rubbing and twisting, and I still barely got this Rich Razzleberry flower to stamp completely, and it certainly isn't richly colored.  What do you think, fellow bloggers... are the new stamp pads worth it?  My thought is that they will make me happier when I'm working on every single project, whereas spending that money on stamp sets or accessories will only make me happy on those specific projects???  Valid, no?

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!

Supplies Used

Card stock:  Brushed Gold, Soft Suede

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, VersaMark

Stamp Sets:  Medallion, Mixed Bunch, Elegance Elementaire

Other:  Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon, Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Dimensionals, Gold embossing powder

Lunch Hour Freshly Made Sketch

It just dawned on me that I never posted this card, and Freshly Made Sketches linky will close before I get home, so here I am typing away on my lunch hour.  I hope you forgive the lack of details!

I had followed the sketch below from memory, which wasn't 100% accurate, but I think I got the gist of it, and the recipient of this card tells me it's beautiful, so that's what really matters, right?  :-)

And here it is:

I don't have time to edit the picture!  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Ides of March Birthday Card #2

I have two friends with Ides of March birthdays, and this is the second card I made.  Sadly, they didn't get in the mail until March 16th, but I think they will forgive me.  :-)

For inspiration, I turned once again to Freshly Made Sketches and Create with Connie and Mary. 

 

I messed up twice (twice!) on the sentiment, and I'm completely out of Lucky Limeade and Pool Party, so I didn't have the option of trashing and trying again.  So I covered.  Once with the flower on the right, and once with a Decorative Label punch on the left.  And then I ordered more In Color paper... :-)

Here's what the twice-mucked card turned into:

Not terrible after all that!  In my humble opinion... hahaha.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Peach Parfait, Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB)

Ink:  Peach Parfait Stampin' Write Marker

Stamp Sets:  Petite Pairs

Big Shot:   Top Note, Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Folder

Other:  Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad pack (SAB), Decorative Label Punch, Modern Label Punch, Blossom Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch

Retro Players

I have to be quick today, but I wanted to post before either of these challenges closed.  I stumbled across the new Retro Sketches sketch challenge, what fun!  Great sketch.  And the always inspiring Paper Players had a beautiful color challenge this week.

For additional inspiration, I used this awesome video tutorial to try out a new technique.  SO pretty!

So here is my card, that I almost feel like wasn't my idea at all since I borrowed so much from the wonder that is card making blogland!

A couple of retired favorites show up on this card.  And yes, that is Wisteria Wonder in the flowers, I did use all the colors! 


Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used
Stamp sets:  Embrace Life, Well Scripted
Card stock:  Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Twitterpated DSP
Ink:  Versamarker, Wisteria Wonder Stampin' Write Marker, Versamark
Other:  white embossing powder, heat tool

Back in the Stamp Room

It's been much, much too long, but I finally made another card... and posted it!  I miss posting.  And I don't even have a good excuse!  At any rate, another looooovely sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  

I've been wanting to do a herringbone card for a little while now, and the Sale-A-Bration DSP is just freaking beautiful, so I got to work...

 

Not to toot my own horn, but I adore this card.  I don't want to give it away!  But I am.  Tomorrow.  To a good friend and co-worker.  I hope I get the requisite oohs and aahs!

And here is a close-up of the depth, to help you completely adore this card as well:

Hopefully I'll be back posting again much sooner this time around.  I finally got a smart phone, and my oh my was the picture loading process simplified!  So perhaps I won't be so lazy.

Thanks for checking out my blog today!  Have a good one!

Supplies Used:

Card Stock:  Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Everyday Enchantment DSP

Ink:  Soft Suede

Stamp Sets:  Petite Pairs

Other:  Big Shot, Labels Framelit, snowburst embossing folder, 2-step Bird Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Blossom Builders, Lucky Limeade ribbon from the Everyday Enchantment ribbon and brad pack

Freshly Made Masculine? Birthday

Happy to be back in the swing of participating at Freshly Made Sketches.  I just love what they have going on over there.  Their 18th sketch by Linda Callahan was especially fun to work with.  

I started this card with the intent of making a masculine birthday card for my big brother.  But I have NO masculine stuff!!  None.  Seriously.  It's not like I only make cards for men once in a while.  What is my problem?!  At any rate, this is what I ended up with.  My husband assures me that it is masculine enough.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Also... GO PATS!!!!

Supplies Used

Card stock:  Soft Suede, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP

Ink:  Soft Suede, Basic Black

Stamp Sets:  Faith in Nature, Apothecary Art

Other:  Antique brads, dimensionals, sponges

Create with the Friday Mashup

I was in need of some thank you cards, and I very rarely make a card without the use of DSP, so this week's Friday Mashup HAD to be done.  I always like to kickstart my juices with a sketch challenge as well.  So in comes Create with Connie and Mary.  

It was an interesting sketch.  I wasn't sure where to take it.  I knew it could easily end up looking awkward.  I actually made 6 little ribbon roses, and that was much too much.  So I toned it down and only used one of them.  I wanted to use some of my new goodies which sat by themselves for too long because I let my craft area get Cuh-RAZY messy, and I couldn't handle it.  I spent some time this weekend cleaning so I could get back in there.  And here's what shook out:

Super feminine and frilly!  

Thanks for checking out my blog today!  Til next time...

Freshly Made Players Woops! Spritz

This is going to be  super short post becuase I'm up against the clock in getting this posted in time for the Freshly Made Sketches cutoff.  I've done the last two sketches and completed the card in plenty of time to upload, only to fail to get on the computer.  I can't believe I haven't posted in a month!

At any rate, I combined the sketch this week from Freshly Made Sketches with the beautiful color combo at the Paper Players.  

Then when I was done, I decided to give my new smooch spritz a try.  WAY over-spritzed!  I should have spritzed the flower panel prior to assembling.  The person who receives this card is going to need to enjoy a little shimmer.

I want to get back in the habit of listing all the supplies I used, but Freshly Made is calling.  Til next time!  Thanks for checking out my blog today!