CAS-ual Fridays' Love Letters Challenge CFC88

     Thanks so much for stopping by! I so enjoy having you pop in and look around.
     Today, I have a card that I made for CAS-ual Fridays' Love Letters Challenge. We had to make cards using letters - stickers, stamps, die-cuts, etc.

     I used some rub-on letters and words for my card. I punched a circle through the front of the card letting the punch just go off the edge. I punched two small hearts and glued them to the back of the opening. I added a strip of patterned paper on the the inside of the card to show through the opening.

 

     Here's a close up of the opening.

     There's still plenty of time if you want to play along. You have until Thursday at noon to submit a project. You can find all the details here: http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2013/02/cfc88.html

    Update  02-04-13

     I am planning to enter this card in the Make a Window Challenge in the Moxie Fab World as well. Here's the link if you want to join the fun. But, hurry - the deadline is tonight. http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2013/01/75-creative-card-challenges-week_8.html





Square Punch Challenge

Modern-Art Necklace Card

     I made this card for the Square Punch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

 

     I started by making a 5.5" x 4.25" card base out of pink cardstock. I embossed two white panels with Spellbinders Impressabilites Flourish die. I adhered one to the front of the card. On the other panel, I randomly painted back and forth with three colors of Copic Markers. I used Peony-RV69, Tender Pink-RV13 and Marigold-V05. Then, I cut five 1.25" squares from the colored panel with my square punch. I rounded two corners on each square and laid them out like a necklace chain. For the pendant, I stamped the sentiment using Hero Arts Joy Ride CL481 on a square of white cardstock with pink ink. I rounded three of the corners on that square and matted it on the fifth square (also rounded on three corners) of the painted, embossed panel. Lastly, I added graduated sizes of aroura borealis gems.

     Have a good idea for your square punch? There is plenty of time for you to answer the challenge too. Check out this link for all the details. http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2012/10/paper-crafting-tips-tricks-week-square.html

Minty-Fresh Funky-Folds Card

     Mint green is such a nice color to work with. It is so fresh and lively and always cheers me up. That makes it the perfect color to send a hello to a friend.

     This card stands nicely on a desk or table and easily folds up to fit in a regular size envelope for easy mailing.

     To make this card, cut a piece of cardstock 12" x 5.5". Score at 2", 4", 8" and 10". Then 1.5" from top and bottom of card, cut along the the length between the 2" and 10" score lines.  Using valley and moutain folds, fold along the score lines using the picture above for a guide. Then, cut panels to fit some or all of the flat areas. I added a chipboard flower and some self-adhesive border. Then, I heat-embossed the sentiment. 

     I created this card for the Minty Fresh Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. If you want to play along with us, you can create your own project using mint-green in some way and enter it in the challenge. Here's the address with all the details: http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2012/08/the-minty-fresh-challenge.html .

    I also entered this card in the Cardmaking Challenges going on among the Fiskateers this week. Not sure what a Fiskateer is? We are ambassadors for Fiskars and we have so much fun creating with each other. You can join in all the fun there too. Just click on the Fiskateer link in my sidebar over there on the left.

Two New Challenges

   I have two new cards to share today. I really love this first one.  I made it for the 2012 Gallery Idol Challenge at Paper Crafts magazine.

* Here for You *

     This card had to have an encouraging theme in order to compete in the challenge.

     First, I made the card base and embossed it with my Spellbinders Grand Calibur (Impressabilities-Flourish).

     I heat-embossed the Floral Flourish (Paper Inspirations) and the encouraging sentiment (Hero Arts) with black pigment and clear embossing powder. I ran the edges of both panels across the black pigment pad and used clear embossing powder to emboss the edges. I almost always do something with the edges of my panels. I think it really makes them pop. I adhered the sentiment and added foam tape to the flourish panel.

     I punched two black butterflies with a Martha Stewart punch. Then, I added two clear gems.



     Want to play along? You can find the rules at www.papercraftsmag.com .

* You're Sew Special *

     I created this next card for Hero Arts May color challenge. We had to use yellow, pool, orange, green and brown. That's a lot of colors - more than are normally required. How do you get all thos colors on a card and still have it look good? I think I came up with a good idea.

     The quilting design is a kind of homage to my mother who loves to quilt. She would have wanted me to use brighter, even neon hues. And, she would insist on red somewhere in the design.

     I made the card base in pool. Then, I cut a yellow panel to fit. 

     I cut 1.25" quilting squares from cardstock in the required colors. I cut them in half corner-to-corner and started laying them out until I liked how they looked.

     I heat embossed the three-spools panel (Hero Arts) and all the stitching in brown.

     I also entered this card in Paper Crafts Gallery Idol Challenge and Fiskateers Spring Stamp Out. You can find all the info for these challenges here:

    www.heroarts.com

    www.fiskateers.com

    www.papercraftsmag.com

 

   

5 Cards for $5 Challenge

I made these five different cards for the

5 for $5 Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.



     Card making can be expensive, but it does not have  be. I created this five-card ensemble, including rubber stamps and envelopes for less than $5. It really helps that I rarely buy cardstock, patterned paper or pre-cut card bases if I do not have a coupon or if they are not on sale. 

    I started with six pre-cut, white card bases (5" x 6.5") from the Paper Studio. I used the sixth card to stamp my sentiments so that my cards and tags would match perfectly. (I'm a big time perfectionist. I hate that part about myself sometimes. But, I do end up with very neat and matching projects. lol) I cut one sheet of patterned paper into various shapes and mounted them on a sheet of solid-pink paper. I ran out of that pink so had to use a third sheet of patterned paper to mount my sentiments.

     My fingers were itching to do more to the cards, but the challenge was not to spend over $5. I think I will make more of these sets to give as gifts. Can't you just see them tied up in a pretty pink ribbon!?!

     Here's my shopping list:

                $0.60 --- 6 precut card bases - the Paper Studio

                  0.30 --- 3 sheets patterned paper - the Paper Studio

                  3.00 --- 3 rubber stamp sets - Studio G

                  0.44 --- ribbon - Spool O' Ribbon

    Total    $4.34

 

    Think you can make 5 for $5. You can join in on the fun here:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2012/03/practical-solutions-for-paper-crafters_23.html



DIY Embellishment Challenge

I created this Get-Well card for the

DIY Embellishments Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

     I almost always make my own embellishments for my cards. I find that to be the funnest part of creating a card. I made the flower on this card using five different flower punches varying in size and type.  I normally use 3-5 different colors to make flowers like this, but I found this wonderful watercolor cardstock in DCWV's Painted Petal Stack. Because there was such color variation on each sheet, I used only aqua and boysenberry colors. I punched each layer of my flower from a different part of each sheet which gave me a wide variety of color. I put all the layers together with a aqua brad. I used the same aqua cardstock for the tag, heat-embossing the sentiment (Studio G) in boysenberry pigment by Color Box. The boysenberry is a limited edition color. I suggest getting a pad before they are retired. It is a beautiful color.

Do you make your own embellishments? You can respond to the challenge here:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2012/03/practical-solutions-week-diy.html

Fancy Schmancy

Time for another Tuesday Trigger challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

FANCY SCHMANCY

The bright pink of our 'trigger' photo really inspired me this week so I went with the bright pink with black accent. This gorgeous flower stamp is from Anna Griffin. I heat embossed it, and then I painted the highlights on with bleach. I made a solution of one part bleach and three parts water. Then, I painted it on with a Q-tip. It really looks 3-D, especially in person. The sentiment is from Fiskars' Latte Love collection.

Here's the Tuesday Trigger photo from the Moxie Fab World. Isn't it yummy!?!

Here's the URL if you want to play along.

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2012/01/tuesday-trigger-fancy-schmancy.html

 

Cutting & Trimming Challenge

Oooo la la! Who doesn't love feathers!?!

I used my paper trimmer to create the shape at the top of this card and used a round-edge punch on the corners to soften the edges. I used lime green, hot pink and red paper. I added gems in matching colors along the top to accent the dramatic angles. I am entering these gorgeous pink feathers and their card in the Cutting & Trimming Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

You can enter your own card here:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2012/01/cool-tools-week-cutting-trimming.html



Punches Challenge

Punches! Punches! Punches!

I love punches! They make cardmaking so much easier. I like using them in different ways than they were intended. In this card that I'm entering in the Punches Challenge in the Moxie Fab World, I used Fiskars' tree punch. As you can see in the squares (an EK Success punch) that run along the left side of the card, I used the same tree punch. It's not noticable right away but if you keep looking you will see them as a part of the same punch. I reversed the order of the layering of the teal and purple colors on the tree and the squares and offset them a smidge to create depth. This card was a lot of fun and super quick to create.

You can submit your own card here:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2012/01/cool-tools-week-punches-challenge.html

Inspired by Fashion Challenge

Another fun challenge in the Moxie Fab World. Cath gave us a Fashion Challenge and here is our inspiration photo.

And, my take on it.

This is such a classy jacket that I wanted to have the same feeling in my card.

I used a herringbone scrapbook paper from the Paper Studio and folded it into a 3D flower.

I added the dotted Swiss from the same collection. That beautiful pearl button comes from Prima. Then, I stamped the sentiment with stamps from Fiskars' Latte Love collection.

And as always, I encourage you to make a card too. Here's the link.

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/11/card-creations-get-inspired-week-get.html

The Pot Pourri Challenge

    I made this card for the Get Inspired Pot Pourri Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. First things first. This is the inspiration photo Cath gave us to work with.

And, my take.

    The coffee cup in the inspiration photo drew my attention right away plus I love the colors of black and white together. They make even a simple card look elegant. I used Fiskars Latte Love stamps to create this card. I printed out a small "H" in French Script on my computer onto white paper then cut it to fit within the heart on the stamped image. I backed the images with a deep maroon because I thought the card needed just a touch of color and maroon always looks elegant. I have a friend who will love getting this card.
   And of course, the link in case you want to join us in the challenge.

               http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/11/card-creations-get-inspired-week-pot.html    

Get Inspired by Home Decor Challenge

I made this card for the Get Inspired by Home Decor Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. First, here is the inspiration photo Cath gave us.

And, here's my take on it.

I love old maps so I was very inspired by this photo. I used this gorgeous African map cardstock from DCWV. Then, I punched different sized 'globes' of African prints. I used Hero Arts "Small Greeting" to say happy birthday. I can't wait to send this card to someone special. Thanks, Cath, for the great inspiration photo. Here's the link if you want to make your own card.
http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/12/card-creations-get-inspired-week-get.html




 

Textured to Perfection Challenge

   I created this card for the Textured to Perfection Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. Cath challenged us to make a project that incorporated texture in an inventive way.

   For my texture, I used real birch bark that I peeled myself off one of my birch trees on my homestead in the Alaskan wilderness. I brought some of it to Texas with me and am using some of it on this card. Then, I stamped birch leaves in the colors of autumn with Martha Stewart's leaf stamp.
   Here's a link if you want to create something for the challenge.
http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/10/next-challenge-in-moxie-fab-world.html

Tuesday Trigger - Finesse the Dress

Time for another Tuesday Trigger in the Moxie Fab World. This dress is our inspiriation. Isn't it gorgeous!?! I've added a link to it in case you want to join in on the fun and make your own project.

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/10/tuesday-trigger-dress-finesse.html

And, here is my take on it.

I first noticed the elegance of the dress. So, I knew I wanted to carry that same elegance into the making of my card. Turquoise and gray are one of my favorite color combinations to work with in my paper creations so, I was excited to use it on my card. I used a floral vine stamp I bought just the other day from Paper Source. To me it carries a similar vibe to the embroidery on the dress. I stamped it in a light gray chalk that matches the lighter gray paper here. In a nod to bottom and top edges of the dress, I added a ruffled edge to one side of the card. The dark gray card stock is almost a perfect match to the gray of the dress. I've been waiting for the perfect project to use this silver lace. I think it adds a great finishing touch to the card.

Vertical Sketch Challenge in The Moxie Fab World

This is my card in the Vertical Sketch Challenge in The Moxie Fab World. This was a fun card to make. Would have been easier if I had had a die cut machine to cut out the little purses. I cut them out by hand. Still an easy and quick project though. You can give it a try too at the link below the picture.



http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/08/vertical-sketch-challenge-in-card-ideas.html

Hope you all have a fun weekend and I pray that those friends and family of mine as well as all living in the path of hurricane Irene are safe and dry.  

Shaped Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

I've created this card for the Shaped Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

Want to play along? Click the link below and you can join in.

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/08/shaped-sketch-challenge-in-get-sketchy.html