Stamp Scrap Diva: Get Inspired Sketch #1

So two weeks ago, my friend Ronda of Stamp Scrap Diva began her own sketch challenge "Get Inspired Sketch" and I wanted to participate but was in the midst of doing a mini Christmas album for my mother (scrapbooking takes me a very, very long time.) When I finally finished (a chorus of alleluia's were heard) and then I started on the card. A week later I am finally posting my intepretation of Ronda's wonderful sketch. I'm afraid that I'm not much of a clean and simple cardmaker so you'll have to overlook my patterned paper and extra embellishments. Incidentally, I'm finding these days, that Always Artichoke is becoming my go-to color - I am so drawn to the richness of the color and it's ability to pair with so many others.

Get Inspired Sketch #1

Details
Paper: Memory Box Gossamer
Cardstock: SU Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and  Whisper White
Ink: SU Ruby Red and Always Artichoke
Embellishments:  Making Memories Vintage Findings Crystal Clear Button, Karen Foster Black Scrappers Floss, Recollections Clear Rhinestones
Ribbon: SU Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon 3/8"
Stamps:  SU Fifth Avenue Floral
Design: Stamp Scrap Diva Get Inspired Sketch #1

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Precious Memories Sympathy

At one time sympathy cards were the worse -- I would struggle with these cards. Picking colors, images words the whole thing would take me several days to complete. Not so much these days. I suppose making all those bereavement thank yous for my mother-in-law took care of that. So the card today was made for the passing of the father of a co-worker of David's.

Precious Memories



Details:
Paper: Stampin' UP Porcelain Prints (Retired)
Cardstock: SU Blue Bayou (Retired), Very Vanilla, Whisper White, and Barely Banana
Ink: SU Classic Basic Black, and Craft Certainly Celery
Ribbon: Michaels Unknown Manufacturer 1/4" Organza, Hand dyed Barely Banana
Stamps: Scrappy Cat Clear Botanical Flourishes Stamps
Punches: SU Scallop Edge
Diecuts: Cricut, George and Basic Shapes
Design: Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #55

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Thank you cards

I created a few thank you cards over the past couple of days for gifts family members sent the children. You will notice a complete lack of winter themed images and colors - this was done on purpose. Although it may only be December 28 I am ready for spring. Our yard and gravel covered pathway from the driveway to the house is mud based as my sneakers will attest -- the older I get the less snow friendly I become. Onto the cards.

Treescape Lil' Note of Thanks



Dets: Paper, Stampin' UP! DSP, Cardstock, Whisper White and Wild Wasabi, Ribbon SU, Punches, various SU, Stamps, Plant-a-Tree by FontWerks. Design CASEd from Verve Stamp website.


Butterfly Thanks #1



Dets: Paper, Stampin' UP! DSP, Cardstock, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Piourette and Riding Hood Red, Punches, Martha Stewart, various SU. Design CASEd from somewhere on the web (bad memory, bad boy!)

Butterfly Thanks #2
aka The Moth Card (as my loving partner has dubbed this one.)



Dets: Paper, Stampin' UP! DSP, Cardstock, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip, Ribbon, SU, Stamp, SU, Punches, various SU, Rhinestones, Making Memories Halloween collection. Design CASEd from somewhere on the web (bad memory, bad boy!)

Butterfly Thanks#3



Dets: Paper, Stampin' UP! DSP, Cardstock, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate and Pretty in Pink, Ribbon, SU, Stamp, SU, Rhinestones, K & Company, Diecut, Making Memories Slice BASICS 2 Design Card. Design CASEd from somewhere on the web (bad memory, bad boy!)

On expressing sympathy

This is probably going to sound selfish but I hate making sympathy cards. So hard ... what images are too cheery, what colors are disrespectful, when would being a tad bit upbeat be the wrong emotion to convey. Way too much STUFF going on to be creative in the midst of.

This card was created for a fellow co-worker of David who lost her father. I had a time with the patterned paper - it was suppose to be So Saffron from an older Prints Pack of SU but when photographed it came out looking like Apricot Appeal. I have to assume it's the lighting. The design of the card was taken from the latest issue of Stampin' Success.

Details of the card:
Cardstock: So Saffron, Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Pattern Paper: So Saffron selection from Patterns Pack (I or II escapes me which right now.)
Ink: Whisper White Craft, Basic Black Classic
Ribbon: So Saffron 5/8" Grosgrain
Stamps: Fresh Cuts, Sincere Salutations
Embellishments: Colorbok White Metal Dots

As always, thank for looking and yes HE stamps.

Back from vacation and a card

Well, we've been home from our little Florida vacation for a couple of days and I am having a horrible time getting back into the swing of things. It's crazy but I feel the seasons changing far too fast. It's 5:44PM EST and the sun has set ... in another hour it'll be dark. Winter is coming ya'll. I can't stand it!

Here's a card I did as thank you notes for gifts Kammie received for her birthday in Florida. It's a sketch from Mojo Monday and it's titled MOJO101. This card is CASEd heavily from the incredibly talented Mary Fish and her terrific blog Stampin' Pretty.

Details of the card:
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
DSP: Retired Sweet Slumber Specialty
Stamps: Circle Circus, Retired Note of Thanks
Ink: Ruby Red
Punch: Scallop Circle
Embellies: Unknown Mfg. Clear Gemstones
Techniques: Paper Piercing

I'm Back ... Part Four

A while back I talked about the pregnancy of my daughter Julie. I offered to make the invitations to the shower and she and the hostess graciously accepted. This was my four or fifth take at the card. As this was my first "BIG" project I learned many things! Most important when supplies are shipping from Utah make sure you order enough ... a week of waiting for cardstock is a long, long time.

This card needed to have space for a LOT Of verbage. Not only was space needed for the party details but also a request to bring a book rather than a card (a small dagger in the heart to a cardmaker.) So I opted for Beate Johns Joy Fold Card I really liked constructing a card within a card (if you will.) I will be the first to admit I could have admitted some more embellishment but with 40 cards I was worried about even finishing. While I'm having a confessional moment I'll freely say what you're all thinking -- my markering skills are sad, not one teddy bear looked like the next and many looked liked they were striped!

Stamps were the retired Something to Celebrate, Bundle of Joy and the retired background Stippled Plaid. Ink was Stampin' Classic Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Write marker too!) and Stampin' Craft Whisper White. Cardstock used Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and So Saffron. Embossing was the retired Sizzzix Textured Impressions Embossed Folder Baby Set. Finally the Stampin' Up Scalloped Oval punch provided the shape for the sentiment and the always useful Scallop Punch.

I'm Back ... Part Two

This card was made back in July at the request of David for a new grandmother on his team. At that time I didn't have much in the way of baby-related supplies (which has since changed!) So this is probably a non-SU card.

Stamps used are Studio G Series 8 and an unmarked Studio G set. Ink is Brilliance Graphite Black and Stampin' Craft Whisper White. Cardstock is Whisper White and Bashful Blue patterned paper is DCWV Nan's Kids. Ribbon is from the Target dollar bin area. This one has a brand new SU punch used for the squares. Another very simple card.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

I'm Back ... Part One

Well, it probably appeared that I abandoned this blog but I'm BACK! I'm going to do a marathon of posting today (if some little ones around here leave me be!)

A Get Well Card

This card was made so long ago I don't remember the circumstances. I'm sure David asked me to make it. Freely admitting that I do not have an original design bone in my body this card is CASED from one I found somewhere. To the original creator I offer my gratitude and ask that on the completely off chance you visit my blog and see your creation let me know and I'll more than happily give credit where it's due.

Stamps are Pocket Silhouettes, background stamp is the retired Dots & Dashes and sentiment is Series 16 from Studio G. Ink used is Stampin' Classic Garden Green and Craft Basic Black. Cardstock is So Saffron, Garden Green and Whisper White. Ribbon is 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain. Unfortunately, my square punch died a horrible death by crumbling the top left corner of just about every punch so she's gone to the great punch heap. This was an incredibly easy card to make.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!