House of Cards July Challenge

Hello everyone!

How have y'all been?  It seems like it has been FOREVER since I've made anything crafty.  It also seems like I haven't been online much either.  I guess working two jobs, volunteering with my church group, helping with Sunday school and getting my daughter ready to go to college will do that. lol  I feel awful that this post is so late.  It was supposed to go live on July 1st, and here I am on the 17th, finally posting it.  I'm thankful and blessed to be part of such a wonderful group over at HOC.  They're kind, and patient, and very understanding.  I'm hoping to back off of so many hours at the second job, so that I can have more crafty time.  I feel the need to do that.

Anyway, onto this months challenge over at House of Cards.  This month you're challenged to create a card using food and/or drink, or the colors in this photo.

I couldn't find anything with food or drink, so I went with the colors.  I also decided to go with darker versions of these colors, so that I could use some patterned papers I've had in my stash that I really love, but haven't used yet.  Here is my card.

I love how this turned out, considering it's been ages since I've made anything.  For some added interest, I did some multi media stuff on the background panel with some embossing paste, silver ink splatters and white text stamping.  I also have more layers and "stuff" on this card than is normal for me.  I'm not sure where I was going when I first started this card, but this is where it ended up.  I'm going to send this to a great friend, who is always so amazing.  Hope she likes it.

Well, that's all for me.  I do hope you'll head over to the HOC blog to see all of the lovely creations everyone has made this month.  As always, they're absolutely beautiful!  If I don't make it back before August 1st, I hope you'll stop by then, to see what fun challenge will be posted next month. :)

Take care my friends!

House of Cards July Challenge: Food and/or Inspiration Photo

Greetings my friends!

I have some exciting news to share!  I applied to be on the House of Cards design team again, and was lucky enough to be chosen to return.  I'm super excited!  I am hoping this will help me use up some of the crafty stuff I've been hoarding.  Lord knows I've got a TON of stuff. lol

This month there is an inspiration photo for you.  You can choose to use any kind of food items and/or the colors from the photo.  Here is your inspiration for July.

I love these bright, cheerful colors, and that fruit looks amazing too!  Makes me want to go make fruit salad right now. lol  Here is the card I created.

I was inspired by the colors this week, and I chose to keep it clean and simple.  I watercolored my main focal panel with my distress inks, and added some darker splatters with my Gelatos.  I then cut the butterfly out of vellum, and embossed the tips of the wings with some holographic embossing powder.  Here is a close up of the butterfly, so you can see it better.  I love how it turned out.  It's lovely!

I added the butterfly, some enamel dots, and the sentiment, and called it done.  In real life, the colors are a bit more vibrant.  I really think these butterfly dies are some of my new favorite items.  I will definitely put them to good use.  I'm going to submit this card for the following challenges too.

Freshly Made Sketches #192: Sketch (challenge is closed, but I liked the sketch)
Friday Mashup #215: It's All About 3 (I have three enamel dots)
Can You Case It #76:  Color Challenge (I got as close as I could to Mint Macaron, Watermelon Wonder & Delightful Dijon)
The Pink Elephant #305: Anything Goes
CASology Week 153:  Pop (I kept everything soft, with a pop of bold color)

The other designers have created some amazing cards for you today.  I hope you are able to check them out, and are inspired to join us this month.  You have until July 31st to play along, and I cannot wait to see what you create.  That's all for me today.  I'm off to work, and then another afternoon of softball.

Stay crafty my friends!

What's In It?
Paper:  SU! Very Vanilla Cardstock, SU! Watercolor Paper, Neenah Red Textured Cardstock, Vellum
Stamps:  Paper Smooches Graceful Beauties, MFT Garden Flourish Background
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black Dye Ink, Simon Says Stamp Fog Dye Ink, VersaMark, Mango Mango & Metallic Melon Gelatos, Distress Ink: Spun Sugar, Scattered Straw & Cracked Pistachio
Accessories:  MFT Flutter of Butterflies Lace Dies, Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Rectangles Dies, Freckled Fawn Enamel Dots

Thanks For Being Awesome!

Hi y'all!

It's a gloomy, foggy, rainy Thursday here and I've got one of the worst sinus infections I think I've ever had.  I'm working from home today, but did get time to snap a quick pick of a card I made last night.  Here is what I created.

My friend Rochelle and I had been talking about all of the crafty stuff we own, but weren't using.  So, we decided we were going to challenge ourselves to make something last night, no matter what (operation #getchacrafton).  I have to say that even though this is simple, I love how it turned out.  I can't remember the last time I wet embossed anything, or if I've ever embossed on black cardstock. lol  I really think it looks pretty cool, as the white pops against the black.  I hope to try this again.  I will be entering this into the following challenges.

Cardabilities #109: Sketch (my loose interpretation)
Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Burlap Banner
Simon's Wednesday Challenge: Use Kraft

I'm off to do some more work, and hopefully rest a bit.  I hope everyone is having a great week, so far, and will get lots of crafty time to make stuff this weekend.

Hugs!

What's In It?
Paper: Papertrey Inc Kraft Cardstock, SU Basic Black Cardstock, MME Cut & Paste Flair Patterned Paper, MME Lost & Found Heirloom Patterned Paper
Stamps: Verve "Being Awesome"
Ink: Avery Elle Pure White Pigment Ink
Accessories:  SU White Embossing Powder, Simon Says Stamp String of Hearts Die, Freckled Fawn Blue Glitter Enamel Dew Drops