Happy Sunday and a Few Challenges

Hello everyone!! I hope everyone is doing well. I have been doing a lot of creating, as well as organizing lately in an attempt to calm my mind. Sometimes it works but sometimes it doesn't. I appreciate everything I have, though and am grateful for all the healthcare workers and critical people that are working at their jobs throughout all this. Such strange times.

For my first card today, I created a birthday card for a co-workers daughter. Her little girl is turning 10 and she asked for people to send her cards. Of course I jumped on the bandwagon and created the card below using Simon Says Stamps "Party Like a Panda" stamp and die set.

I chose to use the stamps that make up my sentiment from the SSS set. The cupcake is a new die cut I bought from Honey Bee Stamps. It is called "The Cupcake Builder" and I had a lot of fun coloring the pieces in with Copic Markers.

I also colored in the balloons with Copic Markers, then used a Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen to give them some sparkle and topped it all off with some Glossy Accents.

The hearts on the front were left over from a previous project and I had to add them on for some accent. I used Ranger Shaded Lilac Distress ink and a stencil to create some soft polka dots on the background.

I even decorated the inside of the card as well. It is for a little girl so I had to make it festive!! I added a sentiment from PaperTrey Ink and some balloons from the SSS Panda stamp set.

I am entering this into the following Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Happy Birthday

Seize the Birthday Challenge: With Topping-Cards for Kids

Another thing I am trying to do is to challenge myself to not only use stamps I have not touched but also to create more than one card from a stamp set. So for my second card, I again used the Simon Says Stamp "Party Like a Panda" set to create a belated birthday card.

The paper is from PaperTrey Ink, the dies are from My Favorite Things.

I am notoriously the WORST at sending birthday cards so all the cards I should make for birthdays are belated!!! I colored in the Panda with Copic Markers and used a stamp from Lawn Fawn for the speech bubble.

This card I am entering into a couple of challenges as well. 

The Paper Players Theme Challenge-A Day at the Zoo 

(because I used a Panda! I hope this counts!!)

The Watercooler Wednesday Challenge-Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist

Well that is all from me today. I thank you for taking the time to stop by. I hope these cards make you smile!!

Have a GREAT night!!

EDIT: I never edit posts but Darnell told me I should enter this into the NBUS Challenge Blog and by darn, I am going to. If you have NEVER heard of this, hop on over because it is AWESOME!!!

Sunday Funday With a Couple Cards

Happy Sunday everyone!! I hope you all have had a nice weekend.

I had a nice walk with my neighbor this morning. I walk with her most weekends and it is so nice to walk and talk with a friend, while getting my exercise. We have a great route that has a bunch of hills so it is not an easy one but gets the heart going!! We got home just in time as it started to pour.

Since the weather has not been pleasant, I had more time in my craft room. Am I the only one that uses it as therapy? It brings me such peace!!

My first card was inspired by a AAA weekend challenge from the Facebook page. It was to make a card using only white. I combined this with this weeks CASE this Sketch #319 and Watercooler Wednesday Challenge "All About Occasions" challenge.

I only used dies on this card, which was kind of fun. I started off by embossing a piece of Neenah white card stock and then die cutting it with SSS Dot Scallop Border die.

I layered this over a white, top folding A2 card front and then added a white sentiment that I die cut using SSS "Sympathy" die.

I then adhered some white botanical die cuts over the right side of the card and covered some of the "flowers" with Diamond Stickles.

I am entering this into the following Challenges:

CASE this Sketch # 319
Watercooler Wednesday-"All About Occasions"

My second card I created about a month ago but didn't post it because it was for this past weeks Administrative Assistant day. I created this for THE BEST admin assistant you could ever want that works in our office. The full time para's decided she needed more than a day and brought her in a little something each day last week to celebrate. I could NEVER do this woman's job. She juggles about 10 things at once throughout the whole day. She is FABULOUS!!

For a fabulous person, I needed a great card.

This card is larger then the usual A2 size that I usually make. It was my intention to have us all sign it BUT I had a difficult time because the admin assistant was always around!!

I made it so long ago that I cannot tell you what supplies I even used. How bad is that? I am too lazy to go and figure it out too.

I can tell you from this photo that I was a bit heavy handed with the Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Gloss pen!! The camera really picked the shine up!!

On another note, are you following The Tiny Chef Show on Instagram? I am not one to follow things like this but stop animation has always been a favorite of mine. The person has the most amazing miniatures that I think they also create. (if you go down their IG feed, there is some amazing tiny stuff!!) You should check it out!! I would post a photo but am always afraid to take one off the internet due to copyright.

Anyway, that is all from me today. Have a wonderful day!!

Sympathy Cards and Some Challenges

Happy Sunday everyone!! It has been so beautiful out today and I am LOVING the fall colors. This past week has just really brought out the oranges and yellows in the leaves.

Today I am sharing a few cards I created for some different challenges. First up are two sympathy cards I created.

The first one I kind of CASEd a card from Mary Beth that she created for PaperTrey Ink's "Make it Monday."  Mine is not as pretty as her card and I did not have the wreath she used but figured I would do the best I could

I used PaperTrey Ink's "Botanical Silhouettes" stamp set for this card and a wreath from Winnie and Walter.

For my second card, I created a sympathy card that was inspired by my card above but I used the colors from Color Throwdown #465 as the inspiration colors.

Again, I used the retired "Botanical Silhouettes" stamp set and added some butterflies from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Be" stamp set.

I used Distress ink in "Wild Violet" and "Dusty Concord" to do the ink blending on the card.

The sentiment is from "What Not Sentiments" by Your Next Stamp. I have to admit that this is my favorite card of the day.

My third and last card was inspired by two challenges-Freshly Made Sketches #309 and Inspired by the Little Things #69.

I used paper scraps and left overs from my desk for this card.

The thanks die cut is from Lawn Fawn and the leaf is from Simon Says Stamp! "The Color of Fun".

I used Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Pens over the thanks and then covered it with Glossy Accents.

Well that is all for me today. I thank you for stopping by!! Have a great night!!

Supplies:

(affiliate links used when possible on some products at no cost to you)

Card #1

Stamps-PaperTrey Ink "Botanical Silhouettes" (retired)

Dies-Gina Marie Designs "Double Stitched In and Out Cut Rectangle" and "Winnie and Walter's "In Bloom: Paulina's Greenery Cutaways"

Paper-Stampin Up! Basic Gray and Gable Green

Ink-Stampin Up! Basic Gray and Gable Green

Other-Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Scotch Dot Adhesive

Card #2

Stamps-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Be," PaperTrey Ink "Botanical Silhouettes" (retired) and Your Next Stamp "What Not Sentiments"

Dies-Umbrella Crafts "Nested Circles" and Spellbinders "Hemstitch Rectangles"

Paper-PaperTrey Ink "Plum Pudding" and "White"

Inks-Ranger “Wilted Violet” Distress Ink and "Seedless Preserves," Hero Arts "Soft Purple"

Other-Ranger Ink Tim Holtz “Mini Round” Ink Blending Tool, Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Tonic Studios Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Pens, Scotch Dot Adhesive

Card #3

Stamps-Simon Says Stamp! "The Color of Fun"

Dies-Lawn Fawn "Scripty Thanks"

Paper-Simon Says Stamp! "Burnt Orange," "Black Bazzill" Core-dinations "White" Paper Scraps

Other-Tonic Studios Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Glitter Pens, “Glossy Accents,” Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Scotch Dot Adhesive

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CAS(E) This Sketch #210

It is Wednesday-halfway through the work week and the first day of MARCH!! Yeah!! Spring is around the corner!

Chris is away and Char and I have had a lot of quality time together. She found all her baby home videos this weekend and we have been having mini film fest the last few nights. I love my teenager but so miss my toddler!! Her little giggle, her smile and so full of self confidence. School ruined that giggle, as well as her self esteem. In third grade she stopped laughing because the kids made fun of it. This also chinked her self confidence. Makes me sad and I have shed a tear or two over the last couple of days over it.

Anyway, today I am posting a card I created for CAS(E) This Sketch #210. At first, I was flummoxed by this sketch. Then I looked at tons of CRAP on my desk (it is VERY messy right now) and had a light bulb moment.

Here is the card that I came up with. The frame, the flowers and the leaves were all sitting in a big pile on my desk so this came together so easily!!

Here is the sketch that inspired me:

I started off this card by stamping the leaves from PaperTrey Ink's "The Sweet Life" in "Jellybean" ink from Simon Says Stamp and then layered PaperTrey Ink's "New Leaf" dye ink over it.

Then I stamped the white panel with a sentiment from PaperTey Ink's "Choose Joy" sentiment set. The panel was a scrap from another card where I had used only part of the die cut from PaperTrey Ink's "Pretty Frame Die." I masked the sentiment, using two  ink colors-WPlus9's "Silver Lining" and My Favorite Things "Persimmon." I also used My Favorite Things "Coral Crush" ink to blend on the outside frame.

I adhered the sentiment panel and coral frame to the stamped card front. I then adhered the stamped roses and leaves over the panel. I covered the images and coral frame with Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen to give each a bit of shine.

My last step was to adhere a few sequins around the roses. I am SO HAPPY with how this whole card came out. Isn't it pretty?

That is all from me today. I hope you all have a FABULOUS first of March.

Nora

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PaperTrey Ink 10th Anniversary Cards 2007 and 2008

Hey everyone!! Just popping in to post the two cards I created for PaperTrey Ink's 10th Anniversary.

My first card was inspired by Nichole Heady's 2007 card.

I did not have the set she had so I had to improvise. I used "Background Basics: Text Style II" for my text background and the leaf from the "Harvest Berries" stamp set.

The card below is the card that Nichole created.

I took her inspiration of inking, the text background and the layering of elements on her card to make my card.

It is hard to tell but I added some Spectrum Clear Marker over the leaf to give it some sparkle. Purple is so difficult for me to photograph at night!!

For my second card, I used Michele Leon's card  as my inspiration. She used a 2008 set "Floral Frenzy" as her inspiration for a fabulous graphic card.

I did not own this set either so I improvised with using "Heart 2 Heart #12" stamp to make some circles.

This stamp was a bit smaller then Michelle's but I thought it would be perfect. Instead of a scalloped frame, I paired it with PTI's "Pretty Frame Die."

The sentiment was from "Tag It #11." Excuse the fuzz on this photo. I will never stamp another card wearing a black cashmere sweater!! It gets everywhere!!

I have to be honest, neither card came out how I wanted it too. However, that is what happens sometimes. I decided to post them anyway.

Well that is all from me today. I think you for stopping by!!

Supplies for Card #1:

Stamps-PTI "Harvest Berries," "Background Basics: Text Style II," and "Words of Comfort"

Paper-PTI "Amethyst Allure" and Stampin Up! "Vanilla"

Ink-PTI "Amethyst Allure"

Other-Sponge, Ranger Multi-matte, MISTI and Doodlebug Design Sequins

Supplies for Card #2:

Stamps-PTI “Heart to Heart #12,” “Tag It 11”

Ink-PTI “Spring Rain,” Raspberry Fizz,” “Orange Zest,” “LImeade Ice,” “Aqua Mist,” “Smokey Shadow,” “Berry Sorbet,” “Pure Poppy,” “Summer Sunrise,” “Blueberry Sky,” “Hawaiian Shores,” “Hibiscus Burst”

Dies-PTI “Pretty Frame Die”

Other-Sizzix Big Shot, Neenah Solar White cardstock, Scrapbook Adhesive Foam

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Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Toe-Challenge #19

It is October 1st and it is time for a new Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge. We are already up to challenge #19-can you believe it?

For my card, I chose the top row across-Color Inspiration, Polka Dots and Birthday. We were able to choose our own color inspiration so I chose the image below that I found on Pinterest.

(original link)

I started off with a white card base and die cut a panel of orange polka dot paper. I adhered the panel to my card base at an angle.

Next I die cut a piece of white Bristol board and blended Distress Inks in "Spiced Marmalade" and "Carved Pumpkin" along the front to get the orange color from my inspiration image. I misted it with water, then blotted it. I also splattered Distress Spray in "Ripe Persimmon" to get the deep orange color at the bottom of the dress and "Picket Fence" randomly across the inked panel. After the Distress Spray dried, I adhered the panel at an angle over the patterned polka dot paper so it would peek out.

I then used the "Candles and Confetti" Stamp and die set to stamp the cake, cake stand and the flowers. The candles were from the My Favorite Things "Celebrate With Cake" set. I adhered the die cut, stamped images to the card front. The cake was adhered with foam adhesive.

The stamped the birthday sentiment in Memento "Tuxedo Black" ink onto a white card stock scrap using the Paper Trey Ink "Wishes Come True" stamp set. I adhered the sentiment at the top left to balance out the card. 

The last step was to adhere sequins randomly across the card front and use some Stickles and Nuvo Crystal drops to the candles and the flowers. I think this is one of my favorite cards that I have created in a long time!!

I hope you will join us over at Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge and give Challenge #18 a try. I cannot wait to see what you create!!

Supplies:

Stamps-Reverse Confetti "Candles and Confetti," My Favorite Things "Celebrate With Cake," PaperTrey Ink "Wishes Come True"

Dies-My Favorite Things "Celebrate With Cake" and "Blueprints #13," Reverse Confetti "Candles and Confetti"

Paper-Recollections white card stock, Bo Bunny polka dots, Strathmore Bristol Board

Inks-Ranger Distress Ink "Carved Pumpkin" and "Spiced Marmalade," Memento "Tuxedo Black," Hero Arts "Soft Granite" and "Bubblegum," WPlus9 "Fairy Dust," PaperTrey Ink "Orange Zest," Simon Says Stamp "Mint"

Other-Big Shot, Pretty Pink Posh "Clear" sequins, Stickles "Orange Zest," Nuvo Crystal Drops in "Ripened Pumpkin," Distress Spray in "Picket Fence" and "Ripe Persimmon," foam adhesive, Ranger Multi Matte

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