Tuesday, July 7, 2015

No Buying Freeze, Suit Shopping and Some Cards

I cannot believe that it has been almost a week since I last posted. As of July 1st I am on a self imposed no buying freeze for craft items. I have so many supplies that I have never used-two boxes full of just stamps and dies alone-that I cannot justify buying anything else. Instead, I am going to concentrate on using what I have. If you are not one of the lucky people to be on a design team, how much do you spend a month on supplies? I am just curious.

In other shopping news, I had the ah, pleasure (okay, it really was NOT a pleasure) to go suit shopping with my husband this weekend. I usually like shopping with Chris. However, watching him try on black jacket after black jacket to decide what suit he was finally going to try on in full was rather boring. They all looked the same to me. I was going to look for a dress that I needed for a formal wedding but I had nothing left after shopping for the suit. Where do you shop for your favorite dress?

Today I am going to share two cards I created using Avery Elle's "Furry Friends" set. Last week I shared a card I created with one of the cats. Today my cards feature dogs. I had created these cards a while ago but had never shared them on my blog.


This was one of those cards that I did with "the mess on my desk." I had stamped, colored and die cut the dog a while ago. I then chose to use red patterned paper by Echo Park as the background. I cut it into a 4" by 5 1/2" piece and mounted onto a top folding A2 card base.


Next I went through my stash of extra die cuts/punches that I have in a plastic container on my desk and chose elements that I thought would go with this adorable puppy. I layered them and adhered them onto the card. So simple!!

Supplies:



For my second card, I started by stamping the dog bone, bowl and ball onto a white card stock base. I used masking to get the bone in front of the bowl. Next I colored the elements in with Copic Markers.


I masked the stamped elements off and created the sky using Distress Inks in Stormy Sky and Tumbled Glass. The grass was created with Copic Markers.


I then layered the "scene" onto a white A2 top folding card. I took the negative of the black paper die cut that was in my stash and used it to frame the scene. I adhered the puppy using foam adhesive.


Next I stamped the sentiment on red card stock and cut the edge at an angle. I then cut the sentiment apart. My last step was to adhere some sequins.

I had so much fun creating these cards. Diving into my "extra" die cuts is like buying something new to me. I love discovering something from items I already have.

I appreciate you stopping by tonight. Have a wonderful night!!

Supplies:

11 comments:

~amy~ said...

buying freeze...those always get me into more trouble and I should really join you because I have so much stuff that hasn't been inked up!

Your card is SUPER adorable!

Stamping Smiles Designs said...

Such a cute card! Love the fun design! I am with you about freezing the spending on crafty supplies. I haven't bought anything in a long time, maybe 4 or 5 months now. I am only using supplies I have on hand, except for adhesives. That I constantly have to go buy it because I never have enough of. I only get new stuff is when I win a giveaway.

Before my spending freeze, I was actually really sad that I was not able to use my crafty supplies to its fullest. Also, some of the stamps or supplies haven't even been touched. Since I went on my crafty budget freeze, I've been doing really good using only what I have. I encourage you to do the same. It's very freeing and feels so good! Good luck!

Happy Dance said...

I should be on a buying freeze after spending tons on my new computer, but then I ripped one of my WPlus9 stamps. Had to reorder the set. I try to limit my ordering to once or twice a month at most, and try not to spend more than $30 per order. White cardstock and adhesives don't count! Neither does the lunch and craft shopping trip tomorrow to celebrate a friend's birthday, lol! Your card is absolutely adorable. That puppy is so darn cute, and I'm loving all the shapes here. Your coloring is awesome; I really should practice... This is so sweet; love it! Bev

alexandra s.m. said...

What an adorable card!
Love it!
Thank You~

Kim Heggins said...

Nora....good for you about the no buying freeze! I do my best to not get sucked in when all the stamp companies post their releases. I do try and sell off the impulse buys and sets that have been sitting around unused and unloved and when I do, I use that to buy new goodies. Good luck and I am looking forward to seeing all your creations from your stash!
Love your card...that little puppy is just so adorable and love those hearts too, so sweet.
Good luck finding a dress, if I can't find a pattern to make one I would like I head straight to Nordstrom (I would love to say that they paid me for saying this but not the case, LOL)

Kim Heggins said...

oops...forgot to add that the stamp I used on my Muse card is a wooden background stamp from Hero Arts - Envelope Pattern

Becca Cruger said...

This puppy is downright awwwwwwwwwwwwwww-dorable! So cute, Nora! As for the suit shopping - I feel your pain. Men's clothing shopping is THE WORST! My favorite place to buy dresses is at Modcloth because I like vintage designs. Other than that, I really like shopping at JC Penney - they usually have something for everyone and reasonable prices.

As for the budgeting - girrrrrlllll you have way more self-control than I do! Good for you. Budget? what's that? I do get a lot of my fav stamps from STAMPlorations, but other than that I just try to wait until things are on sale and then stock up. Probably not a good budget format to follow! :D

Inkyfingers said...

What a fabulous card Nora and I love that adorable puppy which you coloured so beautifully. Congratulations on your buying freeze! I have attempted to do this on a few occasions but I always end up being seduced by the beautiful cards I see made by the clever DT members of my favourite companies. I went through a phase of selling things I no longer use on ebay and giving some things to our local hospice but I think I need another cull soon!
Good luck with the dress buying. It would have been great to meet up with you when I am on holiday in the US next month so it is a pity you will be back at work. We have just been planning our trip and will be travelling up the Hudson Valley and going across to New Hampshire at some point.
How is you clearing out going?
Hugs
Carol x
Hugs
C

Marika said...

He looks so cute! Love the layering!

Miriam Prantner said...

That puppy is so cute! I love the papers and those little bits of border/die cuts.

Taunya Butler said...

Adorable card - that little puppy melts my heart!! Love the colors and layers you have added which make this a super STAND OUT card!! Well done!! I love the way you use things you have on your desk or in your stash to jazz up your cards - YOU really amaze me!! I wish I lived close, for 2 reasons, I would go dress shopping with you, AND I would come and craft with you and help you use up what is on your desk!! Anyways - I hope someday we meet!! Have a great and wonderful week!!