Some Cards for Challenges

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 Hey Friends!!!

I am just popping in today with a BUNCH of cards I created this week. The first three cards I post are for some challenges that I am joining in on. 

All three cards are created by using background stamps and some shading. I did a theme of butterflies for all cards.

My first card I created for this weeks Freshly Made Sketches #627.

I started off  creating the striped paper with an MFT background stamp. I layered it over a piece of paper that was embossed with the Spellbinders Leafy 3D Embossing Folder. I then adhered a piece of foliage that was cut using the Pinkfresh Curvy Foliage Die. 

I then colored in a Glimmer Butterfly from Birch Press Designs with Copic Markers to adhere over the top of the foliage.

The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Sympathy. 

Below is the challenge badge for Freshly Made Sketches #627.

My next card I created I using Tuesday Morning Sketches #748 as the jump off point. 

The background of this card was stamped using the Striped Background by MFT Stamps. I stamped it both ways to make the grid. I layered a die cut Fancy Frame by Sunny Studios.

The foliage behind the Simon Says Stamp Layered Cosmic Butterfly was die cut from the Flowing Foliage Die Set. 

The butterfly is colored in using Copic Markers and the sentiment is from Taylored Expressions.

The last card I created I used the Paper Craft Crew Challenge #561 as my inspiration. This was a sketch challenge and the challenge badge is below.

Again, I used a stamped paper I created using the Hero Arts Acanthus background stamp and Twilight Pawsitively Saturated Ink from Simon Says Stamp for my background paper.

I used an arch instead of the rectangle where I placed the butterfly. The arch was die cut with Spellbinders Arch Dies and embossed with the Spellbinders Mandala Blooms. 

Instead of a banner, I used the Curvy Leaves Die Cut from Pinkfresh Studio. 

The script strip is a paper I created using Simon Says Pawsitively Saturated Ink. The colors I used were Morning, Twilight and Galaxy. The script was created using the Hero Arts Script Bold Prints.

Want to see more butterfly sympathy cards? I am involved in a blog hop over on Instagram. It is called Create it 3 Ways Challenge. You make three cards using a theme with any products you want. This is my second month and have chosen to use the same colors, paper I created and butterflies. If you want to see my cards, here is the LINK.

Well, that is all from me today. I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!

Nora

Sending Strength

Happy Monday!! 

I have had the day off and since I a finally feeling better after a week of being sick I have given myself some creative time. I had my eyes dilated today and found out that I need a stronger prescription for reading glasses. For someone who has always had stronger than 20/20 vision, this has been a bit disappointing for me. However, new glasses will help with the headaches I have been getting.

Today is also a sad day for me every year. I am actually glad that Columbus Day fell on this date. It is the 27th anniversary of my mother's death. I miss her each and every day but this day is always bittersweet.

Onto something happy!! Today I am posting a card that I created using the sketch from the Paper Craft Crew. I adore their challenges but alway am finishing up my projects after they close. 

The sketch below is what inspired my card. 

Instead of the circle, I decided to do a leaf that was die cut using Lawn Fawn Stitched Leaves dies out of paper that I had done some ink smooshing on World Card Making Day. 

I paired the leaf with Feathered Friends Mini 1 from Ink to Paper. The sentiment is Simple Strips Sympathy by Taylored Expressions. 

I paired these with some pattern paper that I die cut using The Greetery's  Crimped Frame dies. I have been trying to use more patterns in my cards as of late because I have SO MUCH PAPER and I just keep buying more. A nice pattern paper is my weakness!!!

The paper I used is Crunchy Leaves by Prima and Full of Joy by American Crafts. I popped these up on a kraft card base that was embossed using the Sunny Studios Woodgrain Embossing Folder. I just LOVE how this card came out and will be sending it to a friend that I know is having a rough time of it right now.

Fall is my FAVORITE time of year and I did a bit of decorating a couple weeks ago but am just downloading my photos now. I created a wreath for my door.

I put my old scarecrow out with some mums. I don't decorate for Halloween anymore as we don't tend to get trick or treaters.

Above is my kitchen door and below is my front door.

I try to cover up my front stoop as we don't really use that door that much. I would rather people use the kitchen door because I can talk through the screen door!!

Well, that is all from me today. I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day everyone!! 

It is officially summer here in CT and the hot weather is upon us. The humidity is low, something that I am thankful for. It will be a low key day here as Charlotte is at work and Chris doesn't really like to make a big deal out of things like birthdays or Father's Day. (Unlike me who wants to be treated like a QUEEN!)

Just popping in with a "live" post today as I had some time yesterday to whip up some quick cards for some challenges.

My first card is a birthday card for the Paper Craft Crew Challenges. It is late, which is a bummer. I thought I had time but decided to watch a movie with Chris last night instead of posting. Oh well.

This was inspired the Paper Craft Crew Sketch #381, the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge WWC276 Anything Goes with a Masculine Twist and Seize the Birthday Challenge-Anything Goes.

 

I decided to use my new Home Brew Combo stamp and die set by Waffle Flower Crafts to create my card. I was originally making this for my nephew but remembered as I was finished that I he does not drink beer!!! However, I have a ton of people I can send my card to.

I colored in the beer glasses with Copic Markers and did some ink blending with Distress Inks on the beer bottle (Mowed Lawn) and the icon (Mustard Seed and Wild Honey).

I also flicked some Walnut Stain in the background but the icon covered up most of it.

I die cut the stars from silver mirrored cardstock using the Fun-Fetti Fri-dies from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.

I am not great at making masculine cards so I am so happy how this turned out!!!

For my second card, I used the Waffle Flower Home Brew Combo stamp and die set, as well as the Be a Panda die set to make my husband a father's day card. My husband LOVES pandas so I had to use it. My daughter gave this to him for Father's Day and wrote the SWEETEST note inside!!

Yes, my panda is holding a beer!! My husband LOVES craft beer and likes to try all different kinds so this was perfect for him!!

The speech bubble is a retired die from Simon Says Stamp.

The background was a scrap from My Mind's Eye that is probably about ten years old!!!

I even decorated the inside a bit. Can you tell that I just LOVE this set? I rarely buy from Waffle Flower but when I do, I LOVE what I create!!

That is all from me today. I thank you for taking the time to stop by. I hope everyone has a FABULOUS day!!!

Try to stay cool!!

A Card for AAA Card Challenge and a Few Photos

Hey Peeps!! This is my second post for today. I have had a great weekend and am awful chatty today so I apologize ahead of time. I should probably have picked up a phone to one of my friends to talk but instead I just rambled on to all of you!!

I had a bit of mojo today so I decided to run with it. I used the sketch from this weeks AAA Card Challenge #148 as my jumping off point and the photo from the Paper Craft Crew Challenge #349 for my card.

Here is the sketch from the AAA Card Challenge that I used and the Butterflies and Blooms Challenge #349 from the Paper Craft Crew.

Since I had my design inspiration set, I picked what type of occasion to make by thinking about what I needed at the moment. I had two thank you cards that needed to be made so this was the theme of the card.

I am going to admit something here. I usually send out store bought thank you's I buy at TJ Maxx. Yup, I am lazy like that!! I always need one and they are not my favorite cards to make so buying them is just easier.

Anyways....I used the My Favorite Things "Beautiful Butterflies" stamp set with "Golden Sunset" and "Pocketful of Sunshine" ink cubes from Altenew for my butterflies.

I then masked off a border with Post It tape and blended the lightest color orange ink above and below the butterflies.

I added a skinny piece of orange pattern paper above and below the blending, as well as a popped up sentiment strip to complete the card. Oh, and the sentiment strip? A mistake as well. I had originally stamped it right on the card but even with a MISTI, it was crooked!! I had to cover up this mistake with that darn strip.

In other news, I was busy cleaning this weekend. My dog was mad at me for leaving him yesterday when I went to the gym and peed on the floor. I took the opportunity to wash my kitchen and downstairs bathroom floor on my hands and knees. It was a feat!!

My kitchen is long and has a lot of tile. I scrubbed it with a scrub brush, mopped it, THEN rinsed it and dried it with an old towel. It took me about two and one half hours when all was said and done.

Before you think I am crazy, I don't do this often. When I was younger and at home, I would wash the floor like this once a month. Now it gets done when I am in the mood. I do wash it (or more like Chris does!) but with a Swiffer Wet Jet after we have vacuumed the dirt up sometimes twice a week. It does not get as clean as when you do this, though.

In other news, Charlotte FINALLY decorated her walls on her side of the dorm room. It was looking like a prison when she FaceTimed me, so I am glad that she put in a bit of effort!!

Notice the Micky Mouse Ears to the left on the command hooks. Thought she was going to use those in her bathroom but she put them to an alternate use!!

Last night I couldn't sleep so stayed up binging on Netflix and die cutting until 3:00 a.m.

Am I the only crazy person that does this? I sometimes die cut different dies in white all at once so when I am making a card, I just pull them out, color them up (or leave them white) and voila, instant gratification. Some I put on Press'n Seal wrap to keep pieces together.

I wish I could say I slept late today but woke up coughing from allergies at 6:00 in the morning. I did go back to sleep for a bit but was up by 8:30 because went for a walk with a friend at 9. Glad this happened on a weekend and not a workday!!

Anyway, that is enough from me today. I thank you for taking the time to stop by and read this long post or just skim, as the case may be. Have a FABULOUS night!!

Vacation and a Couple of Challenges

Happy Sunday everyone!! I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. The weather has been warm but overcast here. My vacation is this week and it is not looking like it will be very good weather wise. I guess that means more time in the craft room!!

I was able to get into the craft room the last couple of days and create some cards for some challenges.

For my first card, I used the Bo Bunny "Pages of Harmony Collection" paper and some die cuts to create a sympathy card. Sadly, I have had to create a lot of these lately.

This card was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #383 and Less is More Challenge #393: Subtle Colors.

These papers were perfect for the subtle color challenge and the die cuts I used were leftovers from another card.

The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp "Tiny Words" stamp set. I am kind of obsessed with sets like this because the sentiments can fit anywhere!!

This card came together quick and I actually like how it looks.

For my second card, my inspiration came from the Paper Craft Crew Sketch #333 and the Just Us Girls Challenge #483-Off the Edge.

Again, I used "leftovers" for my card elements.

The stamps are Altenew's "Vintage Roses" and I die cut them using the matching dies. I had embossed an A2 white card panel ages ago and it came out wonky. I die cut a smaller panel out of it, which was perfect for the rectangle in the sketch.

The background paper is from Lawn Fawn's Spiffy Speckles 6" by 6" paper pad. I am working on using my paper rather than hoarding it.

Behind the white embossed panel is a scrap of alcohol inked paper and the die cut circle frame is a scrap too.

The roses are popped over the edge of both the white panel and die cut circle.

On another note, does anyone have an older dog? My dog turns 12 this year and he has changed so much. He is very vocal over everything-whining when he is out of water, when he wants a treat (which is every time I sit down!) and doesn't want to go out when I leave all of a sudden. This is all new behavior!!

Added to this, he is extra naughty. Yesterday when my husband was using our elliptical, he got into a sticky mouse trap that was in our furnace room that was in there for YEARS. I had to give his head a hair cut because there was sticky stuff all over him.

I have had a difficult time getting him into a groomers lately and he still has stuff on his fur that I cannot get off. I wound up buying a set of clippers and a Dremel yesterday to do it myself. Anyone groom their dogs themselves? How hard is it?

That is all for today. I thank you for stopping by. Have a fabulous day!