Joanne's birthday

 

This is for a friend from church.  Her birthday is right after Christmas.  She has been undergoing cancer treatment, and can use a bit of a lift.  The Stampin Up image and Basic Grey paper and doily have been in my stash (From Splitcoaststampers WishRAK) for several years.  The irridescent gems are by Recollection, as is the sentiment.
Sketch, with stash items: http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any, with Basic Grey papers: http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
 Any:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Colors:  http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-12-18T08:00:00-05:00&max-results=4
Any:  http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/

Sparkly snowflakes

     

I have almost finished the cards I need to make for this year.  Since I will be taking a couple of weeks off (more on this later - it is a good thing for me!) I am glad I completed what I wanted to do.  I am not sure you can see the glittery, sparkly snowflakes - as well as a bit of glitter to edge the sentiment and to highlight the Basic Grey paper strip (I trimmed the edge as it was too wide for this layout). 
Sketch  #79:   http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/
Glitter/sparkle:  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
                          http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
                          http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/a-month-of-holiday-cards-challenge.html
                          http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/
                          http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
The shepherds are counting down, waiting to visit the Christ child:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

Paul's Birthday

I know I am getting old when our youngest is going to be 54!  I hope he will be ok with a somewhat vintage card.  I  usually do a hunting/fishing style, but wanted a different type this time.
Images - Tim Holtz Enjoy the Journey; DP - Basic Grey; letters - Cuttlebug Olivia; circles - Nesties
Edges are distressed.
Sketch:  http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com/
Fall colors:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Circles:  http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/
Birthday:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Masculine:  http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-63-whimsy-stamps-theme.html

Ready for fall

This is Kitty's Flutter Friends from High Hopes, with a Paper Pretties sentiment.  The BG paper is Basic Grey, and I used a couple of BG scraps for the butterfly and tiny circle punches.  The sentiment is edged with scissors, and I used Nesties for the circles.
Sketch:  http://adieforasketch.blogspot.de/
Dies/punches:  http://highhopesstamps.blogspot.com/
Fall:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Wings:  http://www.craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.com/
Birthday:  http://stampandcreateblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenge
Any:  http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/stamp-challenge.html

Recess - back to school at the end of summer

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I am pretty limited in my "school" images but this gal really looks like she is dressed for her classes. School starts so early in many places - summer and school kind of blend.   The Basic Grey "Hopscotch" DP reminds me of recess - I played a lot of hopscotch - over 65 years ago.  Does anyone still play it?  One of my "all star" items is the Cuttlebug - used here for the You folder.  Coloring image (A Day for Daisies digi) with gel pens and Prismas; ribbon, button, twin, flowers, gems added. 
Sketch:  http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/
Bingo (button, flower, ribbon):  http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/august-challenge-bingo.html
Use yellow:  http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/
School:  http://loriboyd2.blogspot.com/
              http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/
 End of Summer fun:  http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/
For the kids:  http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/

Welcome to college

We just got the address so it is time to send a "Welcome to College" card to our granddaughter.  Since she is very fond of cats, this is perfect - I think she will over look the elementary school look of the yield sign!  This freebie, from Dearie Doll, is precolored - great for a quick card like this.  To complete the theme, the DP is HopScotch, by Basic Grey - with some chipboard stickers also from Basic Grey.
Sketch:  http://www.sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.com/
Back to school, w/ chipboard dots & heart - in my stash for over a year:  http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/08/time-to-get-ready-for-school.html
School:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
              http://www.clearlyistamp.blogspot.com/
              http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
              http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/
               http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

Happy Birthday, yellow

This is a fun image to work with - a digi from The Alley Way - colored with Prismas.  I added a strip of punched grass and a sun - for a sunny summer day.  The DP is .  Basic Grey.  Petaloo flowers, shiny cord and Nesties complete the scene.
Sketch:  http://www.palspaperarts.com/
Lots of  Yellow:  http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/
Weather, with BG cs:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Outdoors:  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/

A green polka dotted umbrella

 

This is one of the first SU sets I purchased and now rarely use - I need to dust off the rest and get re-acquainted.  The bg DP is Basic Grey, and the pieced umbrella is A Muse dp.  The"corners" are a Spellbinders die cut - embossed, too.  I added some Cheery Lynn raindrops.
 Sketch:  http://fetch-a-sketch.blogspot.com/
Paper Piecing: http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge/
Weather:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/

Love BIrds anniversary

This is a fun image (by Pollyraft) for a whimsical anniversary card.  I selected the Basic Grey bg paper ("Jade") as it reminds me of an outdoor scene.  The hearts are Spellbinder dies, and the ribbon is woven through pieces of a Martha Stewart border punch.  Flowers are Petaloo.  I have had this scrap of BG DP for about 3 years.  I printed and colored the image a long time ago.  The rust colored mat is a pretty new purchase - first time use for this color.
Sketch - see above for "stash":  http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Weaving:  http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.co.uk/
Flowers, with BG dp:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/

No stamping - in teal

You can see I had these papers out - teal is a favorite of mine! 
Products:  Cuttlebug Greetings die set;  Nesties ovals, Spellbinders slider, Cuttlebug Asterisk cut from Basic Grey Jade cs; Cheery Lynn wreath border die - from Joan's Gardens; Basic Grey square bling.
Sketch:  http://adieforasketch.blogspot.de/
No stamped image, with Basic Grey products:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Plain bg, double oval, sentiment, Joan's Garden product:  http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2013/07/this-weeks-challenge.html

Pink and frilly

I see so many lovely collage type cards and just cannot seem to achieve the look I would like.  Here, the doily piece is Basic Grey, and I think the pink scraps I used are also BG.  The sentiment is Just Rite.  I added flowers by Petaloo and Ribbon Boutique sheer ribbon.
Sketch:  http://justritestampers.typepad.com/justrite-inspiration/justrite-friday-challenge/
Doily:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Flowers and a bow:  http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/
 Any:  http://pausedreamenjoychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Dad having summer fun?

This is a card for dad - one of the challenges is fun in the sun -not sure he is having fun!

I got the image from a friend at WishRAK (SS) and have forgotten the origin.  He probably represents a lot of golfers!!!  I colored with Prismas, and used a variety of Basic Grey dp (Hopscotch).  The letters are CB Olivia, and I used some leafy die cuts from Cheery Lynn.  I outlined the Nestie Label directly from the ink pad - I sometimes find that the next size of Nestie makes too large a piece.

For the boys:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/

Sketch:  http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com/ 

Embossing:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Summer Fun:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/

Another Graduation - Leah

This is my second graduation card - two granddaughters, one HS, one college - same family, same day, hundreds miles apart.  what a problem.  I used a photo of her high school.  Sorry - the L got tipped and I did not notice - too many things going on right now.  I will fix it!  The DP are both Basic Grey.  THe mortar board is a chip board sticker. 
Sketch:  http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/
Mix & Match:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Any  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
   http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/
   http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/

Fun Masculine birthday

I always need more masculine cards:  Both the image and sentiment were sent to me - I think the image might be GinaK.  I used a bit of the CB trellis border die, and some twine from Paper Pizzazz.
The DP is from Basic Grey Hopscotch - kind of goes with the Goofy sentiment and image!
Sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/
Masculine:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/2013/04/challenge-92-masculine.html#comment-form
Any:  http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/

Thank You #2 - and casing myself

I seldom make duplicate cards, but this is sort of a case of one I did a while back - but changed the color and embellishments.  The stamp is SU (Designer Greetings).  I used two chip board pieces from a Basic Grey collection - not sure the swirl is a flower stem but that is my interpretation!
CAS with Basic Grey:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
CAS Thank you:  http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/
Monochromatic:  http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.co.uk/

Encouragement this spring

This is one of many stamped items given to me by a friend who decided not to continue stamping.  Is it Unity?  I used two pieces of Basic Grey (Hopscotch) dp with a matching acrylicvbutterfly. as well as a bit of ric rac.
Sketch #1:  http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
Encouragement, with the promise of eternal life:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Spring, with Basic Grey:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Sentiment:  http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/sentimental-friday.html

My Funky Valentine

I am sure some of you can relate - it becomes more of a challenge to make "different" cards for family members - especially after doing so for several years!  Most challenging are the now 20 something guys!  It helps that I have them hoodwinked - they think Grandma's cards are just ok!  still, I try to do something age and gender appropriate LOL!  So I decided on a "funky" look this time - yes, all the crooked lines, etc are intentional!  I used more of the hand made paper (red hearts) - I had piece of each pink and red about 2 ft x 3 ft, so it goes a long way!  (I got it along with a couple of boxes of other odds and ends at a store closing.) Just about everything else also came from my stash - the Basic Grey triangles and chip board sticker are more recent.  The Penny Black image is colored with chalk pencils.
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Penny Black - love:  http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/
Cute:  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Red and white - stash:  http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
Love (BG items used):  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/

Senior Citizen

Dear Stella!  Could be me at our local supermarket on Senior Day LOL!!!  There is more to the verse, which I continued inside (...now give me my discount!)  Both are Bugaboo digis.  I am probably known for my humorous cards and use of pattern paper - this is from a recently purchased Basic Grey pad (Hopscptch - I thought the numbers and arrows reminded my of my sometimes seemingly aimless wandering with that cart!!!
Sketch:   http://feeling-sketchy.blogspot.com.au/
New:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Ribbon:  http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/
Known for...:  http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
Bingo (down - sentiment, Bugaboo, ribbon):  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/search/label/challenge

Another Gray Hare

I just received this prize from Skipping Stones Designs - sadly, their challenges have come to an end.
My grey haired friends will really enjoy these cards LOL!!!  I am also enjoying this Hopscotch set from Basic Grey.  I used DP, chipboard stickers,and sticky paper tape.  The punch is Martha Stewart, and the bg cs is AMuse.
Sketch:  http://seemsalittlesketchy.blogspot.com/
Anything:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
New:  http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

Many Thanks

I hope all of you have had a good start to 2013.  We have been so blessed, and pray that this will continue in 2013.  May you experience the same.  Now it is time to send a few thank yous for recent gifts. 
I was able to use several new items:  DP and a chip board sticker from Basic Grey, and the Woven EF by QuicKutz.  I have had the twine (Your Next Stamp) for a while, and the stamp (The Rubber Cafe) for a couple of years.  This sketch is great for an emphasis on the sentiment.
Sketch:  http://www.clearlyistamp.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Clearly%20Inspired%20Challenge
Any (using Basic grey):  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://pausedreamenjoychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/