SC245- Anniversaries Are for the Birds

Love birds. HA!!! *giggles*

I discovered the other day that I have very few anniversary options. I only know for sure that I have “Teeny Tiny” wishes by SU. Well, that’s dandified but it’s not sufficient to the task! MUST CELEBRATE MARRIAGES!! So… I went shopping.

I looked everywhere. At everything. I drooled over this, that and the other. I told myself ONE SET. ONLY ONE. Found tons of stuff I wanted… but only one Anniversary set stood out. Three days later, I STILL wanted it. So I bought it.

Why did I wait three days you ask? Well, like guests, fish, and other things, three days lets you know if it stinks. OR maybe it had to do with payday… Something like that.

What does this have to do with this card? Nuttin. I am trying to distract you from the fact that it’s just kind of so-so. I love the idea that is this card. Too much white or too little background paper, or something just doesn’t grab you about it, but it is sufficient to the task of saying, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. Congratulations on another year of wedded bliss… or married mayhem… or something like that.

ONTO THE NEXT. I still have one more before I start this week’s Friday Five. And Tuesday is almost over. EEK

Ingredients:

Stamps: Verve “Anniversary Birds”

Paper: Echo Park “Springtime” or something like that, PTI White, and PTI Lemon or something

Ink: Memento Black

Accessories: Black pearls (but not of the pirate variety. These are perfectly legal pearls for which I paid like the law-abiding citizen that I am.)

Techniques: snort. stamping?

 

Friday 5- Week Three

This week’s Friday 5 set was the wonderful “Authentic Man” from Ippity.   I had a lot of fun trying to make these all so very different, but I think the Pink and Turquoise car and the red and black ties are the only truly unique ones.  The rest are so similar in color etc. that I am a little disappointed.  Oh, well.  It is a learning process, no?

SC248- Only Youuuuuuuuu–oooohhh

Can make this card look good…
Only you….
Can make it look like it should…
Only you, and you alone…
Can fix the mess I made…

Yeah. Ok, I loved every element of this thing as I was working on it. LOVED every stinkin’ element. And then… all together now… BOMB. Epic fail. It’s so boring. I was going for a masculine romantic card– something for a guy that says, “Not only do I want you to know I am thinking of you… I’m also not sending something that’ll embarrass the heck out of you if you have it lying on your desk!”

Hmph. All it says is, “Now, does she think I’m as boring as this card?”

Note to any recipients: The card is an indication of the thought, not the execution of that thought. Oy.

However, it’s the last of this week’s Friday Five and While these look a bit more like each other than I wanted, well, it IS a masculine set… and for some reason I really got stuck in a color rut with them. Oh well.

Since the next three sketches had large image panels (and I had no use for that), I skipped them to do this. I now must do 3 sketches before I start next week’s five.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Ippity “Authentic Man”

Paper: PTI Spring moss, SU Sage Shadow, Memory Box “Valise” and scraps

Ink: Unity umber and SU sahara sand

Accessories: nuttin

Techniques: sewing and I did score the sides… does that count?

SC244- All Tied Up

I wanted to name this “Like Father” but I decided not to do my idea of making one big tie to cover the other ties. So, since I wasn’t doing that, I changed the title. It works.

I love this card. I didn’t put a sentiment on it so I could use it for whatever I needed at the time. Birthday, Father’s Day, Retirement… etc.

I played with the image panel. I wanted it to be shaped instead of squareish. It works.

This won’t be for my husband for any reason. I can count on one hand the number of times that I’ve seen him in a tie in 23 years… and one of those times was at our wedding.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Ippity “Authentic Man”

Paper: PTI Cream, Webster’s Pages, and Memory Box or something like that.

Ink: Memento black

Accessories: Amuse Brads, Scrap-mart nestabilities

Techniques: colored pencils

SC243- Secure in His Masculinity

The “Authentic Man” would have to be to endure this crazy card! Hey, if I’m showing versatility, dad burn it I wanted VERSATILE. And here ya go!

This card is a “CASE” of one of my other cards. This one.
Virtual Stamp Nite (Scroll down to see the card– it’s near the bottom)

I wanted to do that turquoise again, but it really seemed to wash out that poor car, so black it was.

I’m thinking this would be a perfect “Sweet Sixteen” card with a note inside saying, “Well you said you wanted a car for your birthday! Happy Birthday!” mmmwwwaahahaha.

That’s the only way my kids are getting a car for anything. I’m of the “make ‘em earn it” school of parenting. My kids all say they disagree with me… until they talk about paying for it for their kids.

So, day three and we have three “Authentic” cards but not all are “Man”ly. Sorry ’bout that.

Nah, I really am not. Tomorrow I think I’ll get all tied up.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Ippity “Authentic Man”

Paper: PTI White and black. Amuse gingham and damask dp

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Pearls, pink maya ribbon, SU Pewter embossing powder, SU pearls, ticket punch, MS lace border punch

Techniques: Heat embossing

SC242- If You Can’t Beat It…

Take the path.

I don’t know! I’m making this stuff up as a I go. Come on, this is the gal who used that beaten path thing WITHOUT A CAR OR SHOES OR EVEN A PATH!!! I’m delusional. I have no idea what this card is or why I made it. I like it though.

Yes, I know that stupid “book” is supposed to be a vertical rectangle. Well, I cocked it– a lot. Once I had the idea for it to be a book, I kind of couldn’t get it out of my head.

What on earth would I use this card for you ask? Who knows. Maybe I’ll slap, “Happy Graduation” or something on it and give it out at Graduation time. Some guy might need it, right?

It’ll be original and thought provoking. His teachers will all applaud me for giving him an abstract concept for him to ponder on summer break. He, on the other hand, will probably grab the 20 dollar check and toss the card in the garbage. It’s what guys do.

That’s ok. I may not believe in Karma, but I absolutely believe that Murphy (the one with the Law) takes it upon himself to rain down upon those who… oh who am I kidding. Toss the card, kid. Take the check. Have a great summer. You’re only young once!

What was I typing about again? Oh, the card. Yeah, I kind of tweaked the sketch but hey. At least this doesn’t look just like the last one with this set– despite using very similar colors (accidentally of course).

Oh, and this is another UIU!  Woot!  Or did I say that already.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Ippity “Authentic Man”

Paper: Scraps and SU Artichoke

Ink: Unity Umber, SU Sand, Cocoa, and Crumb… oh and maybe Suede

Accessories: Nestabilities labels 7 I think. notepaper punch.

Techniques: sponging

SC241- Get Your Kicks

I left the top part of this one open so that I could add a birthday, Father’s Day, Get Well, Cheer up, Sympathy for the Death of Your Favorite Car… you name it.

This week’s Friday 5 will feature this set by Ippity “Authentic Man.” This was card one. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the sketch. I about choked. I mean, come on. What do I do with that? I could turn it on its side and go for the whole “row of ties” thing but how cliche, right? This way I get variety.

Yeah. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Oh, and if that’s not enough, this is a UIU! Three things in one!!!

Ingredients:

Stamps: Ippity “Authentic Man”

Paper: PTI Kraft, SU leaf scraps, October Afternoon map scraps, other various scraps

Ink: Unity Umber, SU Sand, Crumb, Cocoa, and Suede

Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder

Techniques: sponging… lightly

Friday 5- Week 2

This week I learned that you can have a stamp set that you really don’t like to USE but you discover is an “essential.”  I don’t really like using this set.  I might like it better if I had it in wood mount.  Stampin’ Up really needs to redesign their clear mount stamps.  I’d like to blame my frustrations only on the sentiment (the usual issue with the clear mount) but honestly, none stuck well to the blocks.  However, the images are perfect.  I like them.  I just need to get the stupid stickers off the back so they’ll cling.  Word to the wise, if you buy Stampin’ Up! clear mount stamps (and you should– they save space and money and have great images!), don’t put the stickers on.  They work so much better without them.

Now, to decide what to do for week three…

SC240- Friday Blessing

I feel blessed to be done with this set!

I wanted to do cool stuff with white on white and make it very christening–or weddingish, but um, well, I wanted COLOR. Sooooooooooo Oh, well. It works.

I do love it, but I really would have wanted to do other things with this sketch. I see that circle as a lollipop, a fan, snowflake… so many things. Sigh.

I should have done sketches out of order. Oh, well. I like the card even if I would have preferred to do something else.

Ingredients:

Stamps: SU “Crosses of Hope”

Paper: SU Cherry Cobbler, Memory Box “rhubarb”, SU Shimmer White, PTI Black

Ink: Memento Black and SU Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: SU stripe ribbon and nestabilities circles and scalloped circles or something like that

Techniques: not really

SC239- God Bless the Birdies

And God bless me! Isn’t that a poem or a song or a prayer or something? Well, if it isn’t, good. (Got issues with words like “birdies” don’tcha know)

Yippiedoodles. One more to go so that I can end the Five of these. I wondered how long it would take to mix stamps… on number nine, I did it. This set kind of demanded that I do it, soooooooooo…

Here we go. I like it. It’s a semi-copy of

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga…?&si=sc239

But let’s face it, the original was soooooooooooo much prettier. Tuff doodles.

Ingredients:

Stamps: SU “Crosses of Hope” and Angie’s birds on a branch

Paper: PTI Cream, Memory Box “Gossamer” DCWV “Latte”, and I think Echo Park springtime or something like that.

Ink: Unity Umber,

Accessories: Ribbon, SU Brad, Tim Holtz brads, and Spellbinders labels… 18? I think?

Techniques: um, is there one? I call it cardmaking, but hey… whatever you wanna call it works

SC238- Ebony Blessings

I’m sick, ok? The title reflects that and I’m ok with it. After all, in fifty years when I’m too blind to read it, I’ll love the memory of the day I sat with my bowl next to me and uploaded this card. I’ll have warm fuzzies (or churning bellies) at the memory of the pathetic title that I used while my children annoyed me… er.. played at my feet.

Yeah. That.

Ok, card 3 in the Friday Five. Funny thing about this set… I’m finding that I both don’t really enjoy using it AND think it is a definite keeper. What’s up with that? It has also solidified my opinion that SU needs to revamp their cling mount things. I’ve taken to keeping the image sticker off which helps but for these stamps that I didn’t… UGH with a capital U… well, and a capital G and H too I guess.

Thankfully, the next sketch is a simple one… I already have ideas. Hallelujah (an appropriate exclamation considering the stamps I’m using, no?)

Ingredients:

Stamps: SU “Crosses of Hope”

Paper: PTI Black and white and some crazy paper from Michael’s that I’m too sick to get up and find the title of– I’d never heard of it before if that helps. Yeah, probably doesn’t eh?

Ink: SU Kraft

Accessories: SU Elegant embossing folder, Embossing powder, SU scalloped trim edge, postage stamp punch, ribbon of obscure origin

Techniques: Heat and dry embossing

SC237- Bearing This Cross

Ok, this thing is ugly as sin. It wasn’t. It was so pretty all the way while as I was making it. But, the cream punched border was too narrow. Everything I put behind it looked bad. Until I did that. And it looked great. Guess what? It doesn’t when it’s all put together.

I would have tried again, but by then I was sick to death of the whole thing. Uglified.

Hey, it was a good idea.

Ingredients:

Stamps: SU “Crosses of Hope”

Paper: SU Pear, PTI Kraft, October Afternoon dots, PTI Cream, scrap stuff

Ink: Sahara sand

Accessories: Recollections cross brad, SU border punch, and labels 14 from nestabilities

365- Days 9 & 10

I don’t know… maybe I should do a post every single day, but sometimes there’s just not much to show for it… like day 9 for example.  I didn’t do much exciting stuff… so you see little.  Oh well… here’s the days in order… for the fun of it.

SC236- Victorian Cross

Well, it’s week two of the Friday 5. I chose SU’s “Crosses of Hope” set for this week. I am already discovering that this is going to be one very difficult week. Can you say “incorporate other stamps into this week?” Yes… But we’ll see. Maybe not.

That cross and the sentiment BEGGED for a little embossing, so I went with the pewter embossing powder from SU. That stuff is my favorite! LOVE IT.

I wanted to turn the sketch on its side, but it would have messed with where I wanted to place the sentiment so I stuck with it.

Ingredients:

Stamps: SU “Crosses of Hope”

Paper: PTI Cream, SU Sage, Webster’s Pages dp and DCWV paper. Scraps

Ink: Versamark, SU Sage, SU Bermuda

Accessories: SU Pewter Embossing Powder

Techniques: Heat Embossing, sponging

Friday Five- Week One

This year I want to do something different.  I want to USE my stamps.  So, my goal is to take one stamp set and try to use it in five very different ways.  This week was my first one. So, I chose this set from Our Daily Bread Designs, “The Good Seed.”  This was a gift from a friend on the SCS forums in our gift exhange.  And, here they all are.

To see each card individually, the links are below:

SC231- Simple Sowing
SC232- Garden of Friendship
SC233- Reaping What He Sowed
SC234- Soiled Again
SC235- Circle of True Life

SC235- Circle of True Life

If you read it, it actually says something. “[The) Son sewed seeds [of] love. Reap a harvest of joy.”

I thought that was pretty darn cool. I also wanted a masculine card, so I went that route. It’s especially cool since most things in this card were in a Christmas gift.

When I first saw this sketch, I had NO idea how on earth I planned to make it work for the set I’m using this week. I’ve spent all week using ONE stamp set and I didn’t want to have to change. I had decided to skip this and do it tomorrow when this idea came to me.

So, this ends my first week doing my “Friday Five.” I’m actually quite pleased with how it worked and I chose a hard set to do it with! With just one image and a bunch of sentiments. However, it was good for me.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Our Daily Bread “The Good Seed”

Paper: SU Hunter, Cosmo Cricket plaid, Bazzill green, SU vanilla

Ink: SU Sahara, Crumb, and Artichoke, Unity Umber

Accessories: Spellbinders circles, SU 1.25″ punch, and SU brad

Techniques: sponging

365- Day Five

I played more with the quilt today.  I cut yesterday’s blocks down from 4.5 to 2.5″.  MUCH BETTER.  So, I made a block of sorts… I don’t want many “blocks” like this… and the edges look all ripply etc, but they’re not.  It’s a photographic illusion.  Thank the Lord.

SC234- Soiled Again

See! That title should be cute– fun! Nooooooooo it’s not. It sounds like someone needs to up the potty training efforts.

I am really learning a lot from doing this five cards from one set thing. This card is supposed to have rectangle panels, but I decided to mix it up and cut window rectangles instead. I mean, why not go for it. Initially I used the same stamp as that layer on the card base, but it looked icky. So, one of the cards has a printed back too. Snort.

For the window panel, I used Versamark, then stamped with Sahara Sand, stamped it on the panel, sprinkled in embossing powder, and voila! Background.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Our Daily Bread “The Good Seed”, SU Background sanded and floral

Paper: PTI Kraft, SU Vanilla

Ink: Versamark, SU Crumb and Sahara

Accessories: Twine and Amuse brown pearls and SU white pearls, Spellbinders rectangles

Techniques: heat embossing, sponging

Going off Half Blocked

Day 4:

Ok, bad pun, but look what you– well I–gave me to work with!  I don’t like the size of these.  I’ll be cutting them down to 2.5″ blocks to make them fit my aesthetic.  However, I got ‘em started and they’ll be perfect little blocks when I get ‘em done!  YAY!

Note to self:  never make 4.5″ half square blocks again.  They’re too big.

SC233- Reaping What He Sowed

Ok, whatever. It works. I’m very uncreative on titles today.

This is card three for my “Friday Five.” I think it looks VERY different from cards one and two. This is exciting… and scary. I mean, I have to do two more cards from a set that is mostly sentiments. EEK. That’s ok, it’s good for me. I’m still trying to figure out if I should allow myself to use other stamps with it. What do you think? If I am still using the same set, what about adding a stamp from another set or a single stamp?

Ingredients:

Stamps: Our Daily Bread “The Good Seed”

Paper: PTI Aqua Mist, White, True Black

Ink: MEmento tuxedo black

Accessories: SU crocheted flower, Amuse button

Techniques: nuttin

SC232- Garden of Friendship

Step two of my “use it 5 ways” I LOVE this Amuse fence die. Got it a couple of months ago and finally used it. It cuts like a dream, pops out without hassle… I was nervous about buying it, but no more! I’ll be buying more, I assure you.

Another of today’s 365 move!  WOOT.

Onto the next!

Keywords: SC232 sketch challenge ODBD CBChicks

Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs “The Good Seed”, “no name” grass stamp

Paper: PTI Kraft, Bazzill, scraps, PTI cream

Ink: SU Sahara Sand, Crumb, Bordering Blue, Unity Umber,

Accessories: Amuse Fence die

Techniques: Colored pencils

SC231- Simple Sowing

So, my goal for 2012 is to get done with the card sketches (well, up to date anyway). One way I am doing it with my “Friday Five” idea. I’ll take one stamp set and use it 5 different ways to get GOOD use out of them. I am also doing a 365 challenge where every day I do something creative. Today’s was a couple of those cards. This was card one.

I got this stamp set for a Christmas exchange from Suzanne. LOVE the set and can’t wait to see to see what kinds of cool stuff I can do with it.

Ingredients

Keywords: sketch challenge SC231 CBChicks ODBD

Stamps: Our Daily Bread “The Good Seed”

Paper: PTI Cream, Bazill yellow, Echo Park “Springtime”

Ink: SU Eggplant

Accessories: Spellbinders labels 2?

Techniques: none

Tea for You

It’s done!  Lorna will wake up tomorrow to a brand new dress for her new doll.  I love this dress even though I didn’t expect to.  I mean, let’s face it.  Look at the size of the scale.  I’m not one of those people who thinks that doll dresses can’t have prints larger than 1/2″, but those tea pots are bigger than her head!  However, now that it’s done, it’s gorgeous!  I love it.  I can’t wait to make her a matching skirt.  And I will.  Yes, yes I will. 

For tomorrow, I am pre-washing fabrics.  You see, I want to make a quilt this year– a nice monochromatic quilt that while scrappy, is not “country” in the least.  I want it to have a hint of contemporary.  So, tomorrow I intend to make a few blocks for it.  Here are the first fabrics. I need a smidge more contrast, but I really don’t want it to be too distinct either.  Cool.

366 Days in 2012

Shocker, right?  Well, near the end of the year I heard about the “365 Project” or something like that.  It’s all about 365 days of creativity where you do something every day.  Now, most of the blogs I saw have them doing one thing– a sketch, a photo, a paper flower, etc.  Me, I’m going for variety.  As long as it is creative, and is tangible (nothing digital/virtual), then it works.  Sew, paper craft, embroider, even make things like pie pops and petit fours.

So, today I did a couple of things.  First, I made matching bloomers for a doll dress that I made a couple of weeks ago.

Day 1

And later I cut out a new dress for Lorna’s doll and got it going.

Yes, the teapots are way too big, but Lorna loves it and that is good enough for me.  I think I’ll be making a matching skirt for her. 

More Christmas Gift Tags…