Simply Create Too Challenge no. 144, Use a Different Kind of Fold

Hi friends,

Today, I had a fantastic time attending the Artistic Rubber Stamp Show, Mesa, Arizona version. It was the first time I have attended with a friend. Would you believe she is my next neighbor and we have so much in common that it's quite scary for both of us. We had a fun time and of course, spent more than we probably should have.

While there, we had the pleasure of meeting Kittie Caracciolo, who came all the way from Florida to demonstrate her lovely flower making prowess. She is a lovely person and super talented. Of course, my friend and I had to have the tool kit by Sizzix she uses to make shape her beautiful flowers.

So now that the good times are done, I wanted to tell you about the Simply Create Too challenge this month and it's our last one of 2018, since we all know how the holidays can interfere with our craft lives.

Our challenge is to create a card with folds that aren't standard, such as an A2 card and here's mine.

I enjoyed making this pretty card for my step-daughter who is a lovely young lady I am just getting to know, since she is living with her sister's family and I as she is doing a do-over with her life.

The tutorial I followed is from Scrapbooking With M.E.  Here's the direct link to her blog telling you how to, Fancy Fold Box Stepper Card. You can also find her on You Tube. Come now, You didn't think I created this all by myself did you?? I decided to make it black & white as it's my step-daughter's apparel go-to color. I think I worked it out well enough. . As my viewers rarely ask detailed questions about the how-to for my cards, I'll give details only if requested in a comment. 

I hope you will be able to squeeze in some time to make a card before the holidays really get 

underway and post it on our challenge blog.

Blessings,

Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 142, Use Stitching

Hello Fellow Stampers,

Fun challenge over at Simply Create Too. We're using real or faux stitching. Since I don't own a sewing machine, mine is faux.

I'm a subscriber to the La La Land Crafts kit and they sent this one recently. I pulled it out and had some fun.

I'm still working on hair and skin color. They are sooo difficult to master. I should probably try to find a class and splurge on it, since watching tutorials isn't helping much. I had a perfect piece of paper with the cute little sewing machine and that's washi tape used for the measuring tape. A few buttons to finish it off and the mat has faux stitching too. I have sent this card off to my god-daughter who spoils me with a bit of cash now and then, that I promptly put towards crafting supplies.

Check out our challenge. You have the entire month to play. And also La La Land Crafts if you enjoy coloring and cutesy stamp lines.

Have a blessed weekend.
Erica

Just A Card I Made

           I thought I'd try posting two days in a row. Here's a card from the 4th. I made a few, but I find that few people bother exchanging Independence Day cards. I sure hope they're not taking our independence for granted. We may still have lots of issues, but relatively speaking, there's few other places I'd rather be.

I  have to tell you this may appear to be a Stampin' Up stamp. It's not. It's a knock-off from China. There are many and varied views about buying these stamps. I have made up my mind not to continue purchasing in this way, But then, I'm actually going to substantially curtail my craft purchases. I just don't have any more room and I am slowly and carefully destashing where I won't feel the pinch too much. It's a real struggle.  However, the embossed area is a Tim Holtz folder that I rubbed oxide ink onto and then some glitter glaze by Recollections. I have someone to send this card to so it will be in the mail soon.




       

Less Is More Challenge No. 375

Although there have been changes at my favorite challenge, this is still my go-to challenge on Saturdays. Recently, they made a decision to challenge us monthly. I'm hoping it will help me participate more frequently. So to begin, I've created three cards for the monthly challenge announced today. My mojo was in full swing. I hope you will enjoy at least one of them.

You still have some weeks to play along with Less Is More.

Simply Create Too DT Challenge no. 140

Hey friends,

Here is it July already and time for another challenge at Simply Create Too...the most relaxed and easy-going challenge on the world wide web...at least I sure think so.

So the deal is NOT to use any designer/patterned or digitized fancy paper, backing paper...you get the idea. I actually don't use a lot of these papers. Now don't get me wrong. I most certainly do buy it and I'm a bona fide hoarder of same, but I struggle with matching patterns resulting in a lot of second-guessing which ultimately means not being as productive as I'd like.

So here's my card. I used a Simon Says Stamp from the June kit and colored in watercolors. I wish they had shown up a bit brighter on-line. I have even used a Nuvo aqua shimmer pen to no avail. It is not as subdued IRL. I used Jane Davenport water colors in this cute little box. I have three of her sets now and I love them all. I'm not much of a watercolorist, but when I can "color in," I don't do too bad...I hope. The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz die cut set and was cut 3x, on silver glitter paper then glued down, and a few sequins thrown on for that extra pizazz. This card will go in my stash and I do hope I will be able to use it soon. Congratulating people is a fun thing to do.

Mother's Day is around the corner

And so begins our latest  challenge at Simply Create Too.  Actually we weren't challenged to do a Mother's Day anything. Instead challenge no. 138 is to make, "Anything but a Card" So, I made a 3D project that works perfectly for a Mother's Day card and the challenge. Love it!

I have used a Spellbinders' "new to me" die set and classic flowers, leaves, as well as butterflies from my stash...some Spellbinders and others Stampin' Up. The sentiment is from a clear set from Essentials by Ellen. Lots of pretty colors and I think it came out lovely. It will be for my daughters' mother-in-law who always seems to enjoy my crafty side. We don't get to see other since we live on opposite sides of the coast. We live very different lives, but I live with her son and I know she can feel the love we share within our household.

I hope you enjoy this card and find a little time to make your Mother's Day cards and projects very soon. If they fit within our challenge category, please share them with us. We'd love to comment and maybe you'll win our badge for your blog.

Blessings to each and ever mother and expect to be mothers too.
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no.136

Wow! Has it been forever or what?! Ok, don't answer that. I'm here and nothing else matters.
Simply Create Too challenge for this month is Use Green. Take it anywhere you want, spring or St. Patrick's Day. Got another idea, go for it.

I confess to taking the easy way out and covering the St. Patrick's Day base. Since I have a wee bit of Irish in me blood and I come from New York where annual St. Patrick's Day parades are quite common, that's how I channeled my green.

I used papers from my stash, bling from my stash, die cut from AliExpress, and a sentiment from my stash. I've got quite a stash as many of us do.

Find time to head on over to Simply Create Too and join our design team in some fun. We'll pick a winner at the end of the month.

Irish Blessings,
Erica

Happy New Year and the first Simply Create Too Challenge of 2018

And so the year 2018 begins. Did you make resolutions? Did you set goals? Do you have a vision board? I've done all three, but I don't intend to share here. You'd think, "really."

The Simply Create Too DT are off to a good start with our challenge No. 134, to use embossing, wet or dry. I've done both, though the wet may not be showing up. This is a 5x5 card using a very old Hero Arts sentiment in an AliExpress stitched heart and also an Ali Express teacup. The dry embossing is a Darice folder. The white mat frame is a die I got with a British magazine called Die-Cutting Essentials. British periodicals are costly. I wanted the die that came along with it, so I splurged at $16.99. The papers are from my stash as is the gold twine for the bow.

One resolution I've made is to use my stash to its fullest, so you will be seeing lots of retired sentiments. I also plan to utilize AliExpress  to purchase dies. If you don't already know about this Singapore/China .com, you may want to check them out.

And here's my card.

I hope you will have a chance to play along with our challenge and that you will be blessed in this new year of 2018.

Erica