2 Peas Stamp Camp :: Week 2

2Peas is hosting a Spring Stamp Camp this month. Last week it was stamping w/bleach. Cool technique, but not one that I could try.

This week Kristina Werner was the host and she worked w/alphabet stamps. She has a video where she made three different cards using alphabet stamps. Super simple and fun.

I thought easy enough, but then I realized that all of my letter stamps are in storage. Ugh. I almost bought a letter stamp set @ Pat Catan's when I was in Akron for Easter. So I really did set out to make a purchase for some inexpensive letter stamps. Jackpot @ Joann. I got this KI Memories acrylic alphabet stamp set for $2.99. It has all 26 letters plus some punctuation. I don't necessarily like the way the stamping looks w/the Tim Holtz distressed ink, but I do like my entry for the Stamp Camp.

Yes, there is and are prizes for participating in Stamp Camp. A 2Peas gift certificate.

Oh and the other cool thing about this card is the journaling block. Got that at Pizazz It!, a local scrapbooking store (lss) in Columbus. Bought it on the day I also went to the crazy expo. Here's the interesting thing: I was talking to the lss owner and she saw me looking at the nice selection of journaling blocks and she told me that the women who designed them had just done a class in the store. The company is Jillibean-Soup and the women lives in the Columbus area. Very cool. But too bad that I missed the class because they had some cute cards and projects.

Anyway, I like the journaling spots ... they were $3.49 and there was a variety of blocks in the package. I can't remember how many there were, but it was good for the price and I know a good deal when I see one.

I've gone on and on ... thanks for looking, here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
stamps: KI Memories
ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink/Ranger
journaling block: Jellibean Soup
ribbon: Hobby Lobby

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 14

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to make a card or whatever you wish using your favorite Cuttlebug embossing folder. Super simple for me. I love the Swiss Dots. Who doesn't. It just has that classic look. Running a close second though is the Textile Texture.

So here you will find me using them both. This is a design that I've used before and one that I scraplifted from Jodene over at Splitcoast Stampers.

I had wanted to stitch on both layers, but the sewing machine would not cooperate. You do not hear me when I say that I kept trying to eat up the layers. But crafty me was able to forge forward and create this nice little card.

I am so loving this stamp set from Hero Arts. Lots of different sentiments and they are acrylic. I am not so crazy about acrylic stamps these days because I like the Tim Holtz inks and some of the acrylic stamps don't stamp as nicely, in my opinion. But I digress.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
ovals and scalloped oval: Nestabilities
ribbon: Michaels
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz
other: sewing

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 12

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to use sanding on the embossing. Quite easy and a technique that looks very nice. I like the weathered look. I used Die Cuts With A View cardstock because it has a white core that would show once the sanding was complete.

I've combined this w/a sketch from the Hero Arts blog. I also like this card because it was rather easy and fun to put together. I managed to use some heat embossing, dry embossing, and sewing - and it was all pretty simple.

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday and even if you don't celebrate Christmas, have a Happy Thursday.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Co.
heart die cuts and dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Versamark
embossing powder: Ranger
other: sewing

What's Up :: cps 91

Another day and another really fun card. I created this one for this week's Card Positioning Systems (cps) sketch. I really like the simplicity of this sketch.

For me the focal point is the stamping. I like that stamp too; very cool sentiment. Picked it up this past weekend. Actually, my mom got it for me. There was only one in the $1 bin. It's one of the Studio G ones. I like when the stamps are more solid and the heat embossing melts together. And the olive embossing powder is nice too. It's from Close to my Heart.

Everything else is kind of basic ... except for the fabric. Just a piece of some fabric that I picked up for $1.49 from Joann.

Oh, and I'm trying to get things back to normal computer wise. Though it's not normal yet. I did install Picasa on the laptop that my friend gave to me. So I am getting more and more comfortable w/this one. As opposed to going back to my laptop. Anyway, Picasa allows me to easily add my name and blog address to the pics.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
fabric: Joann
stamp: Studio G
embossing powder: Close to my Heart
ink: VersaMark
ribbon: Morex
oval and scalloped oval die cuts: Nestabilities
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
other: sewing

Thank You :: Color Inspiration 31 and Hero Arts

I've gone and created a 'wowser'. Well, actually I was uncertain as to how this one would turn out and - to me - it has a wow factor. I've been seeing some cards that have more of a white card base. I usually use olive or other colored cardstock as a base. I also like the white card base w/a panel of white on top and in this case using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing adds such a nice touch.

I used Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge. As you can see, the image that she uses is rustic and seasonal, but I did not tap into that feeling. I do like the mix of pumpkin and cocoa, but even the eggplant and the saffron bring a nice warm touch. And those are colors, but could easily be a meal. :-)

Now, for the Hero Arts Challenge:

"This week I challenge you to create a thank you card that uses at least one stamped scrap and one Hero Arts stamp."

I think I followed the instructions. I just purchased the Thank You stamp in the upper left corner. It's in a set of acrylic stamps - Heartfelt Messages. I am learning that I like rubber stamps better in many cases. I like the Tim Holtz inks and they do not work well w/the acrylic stamps. IMO. I've tried to use an eraser to take off the residue and create better absorbency, but no luck.

Lots of fun to be had w/these weekly challenges.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock and patterned paper: Die Cuts With a View (DCWV)
stamps: Hero Arts (Thank you's); Inkadinkdo: (script)
ink: VersaMagic and VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
fabric brad: The Paper Studio
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Textile Texture
ribbon: Joann
circle and flower punch: EK Success

Girlfriends :: 2 Sketches 4 You

It seems as if I was missing my mojo for a minute here. I've been putting off working on this week's 2 Sketches 4 You sketch because I could not figure out which direction to take this card. You would think that having a sketch would make things more simple. That's a good assessment however, this week the prize and sponsor is the Scor-it.

And I've discovered that I am not the only one who'd like to have this as one of their craft tools. Well since the ante is so high, so is the creativity. I scouted out some of my competition and decided that I would rather take this week off - especially after making the Fab 5 last week; then I thought better of it and here I am in the thick of the quest for a Scor-it. May this week's craftiest crafter win.

I like this card w/it's weathered look but w/a touch of 'pretty'.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:

cardstock: Bazzill and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)

patterned paper: K&Co. and Basic Grey

stamps: Studio G/Michaels $1 (girlfriends) and Autumn Leaves/Rhonna Farrer (flourish)

charm: Making Memories

twine: Crafts Etc.

pearls: Mark Richards

embossing powder: Ranger and Joann

ink: VersaMark and Tim Holtz/Ranger

other: distresser and sewing machine

Workin Another Sketch CPS :: 76

I'm trying to get in the habit of submitting to several sketch blogs each week. I'll be working on a card for 2 Sketches 4 You before the week is out.

For now, I tried my hand at the Card Positioning Systems (CPS) sketch for this week. It was posted on Sunday evening. It's a rather simple sketch providing much room to improvise. As always, I wanted to do more, but sometimes simple is best.

I plan to send this to a friend who has her first chemo session last week after being diagnosed w/breast cancer. I'm going to include a set of Thank You cards that she can send out to her family and friends.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Creative Imaginations and Basic Grey
stamps: Inkadinkadoo
ink: Versa Color
bling: unknown
other: sewing machine

NOTE: I have other images, but Blogger is importing them upside down and sideways; oh well.

Happy 4th of July and cps :: 71

Happy 4th of July Americans! Nice to have a day to celebrate our independence.

So I'm back in the saddle and producing a trough of cards. I joined a group on Splitcoast Stampers called RAK (random acts of kindness). It's pretty much means just that - we send out cards to other group members as a random act of kindness, oh, and for birthdays too. Which is why I made this card using this week's Card Positioning Systems (cps) sketch.

Here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
ribbon: Michaels
stamp: Heidi Swapp
ink: VersaMagic
scalloped ovals: Nestabilities
flower die cut: Sizzix
chipboard: DCWV
button: Dress It Up
flower bling: Hero Arts
floss: DMC

sketch this :: 50

Ooooh, I took a lot of time on this one. So many details. But no matter how simple or detailed, I just love making cards.

I am still a beginner in the sewing arena - and it shows, maybe not w/this card, but I need more practice. Luckily, I'm crafty enough that I can cover up my mistakes. ;-)

cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co. and Anna Griffin
stamps: Rhonna Farrer
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Creative Beginnings
heart die cut: CuttleKids
flower punch: EK Success
buttons: Bazzill and unknown
bling: unknown
sentiment: created using Photoshop CS3
ribbon: ??
other sewing

Going Embossing Crazy!

Yes, I have dry embossing and heat embossing and then doing it some more! Crazy, but crazy fun.

cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: Basic Grey
dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Studio G ($1 Michael's)
ribbon: Michaels
heart die cut: CuttleKids
floss: DMC
bow: Offray
ink: Versamagic
Embossing powder: ??

cps :: 58

I'm feeling good about this card. It's not in my typical muted color scheme. I used the K&Co. Amy Butler Designer Paper Pack. I like it so much, that I might actually get the larger 12x12 sheets.

Oh, and CPS stands for Card Positioning Systems. They provide sketches for cards and crafters then create their version of the sketch.

Additionally, I saw a post on Card Studio Designs called Card-A-Day. Now I probably won't do a card-a-day, but the topic for today was use "just for you". I have this $1 acrylic stamp that I love, but I have not used and so, I put it to use.

Oh, and I putted out the heat gun and heat embossed the sentiment.

Thanks for looking.

cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: K&Co. Amy Butler
circle and flower punches and corner rounder: EK Success
ribbon: Michaels
acrylic stamp: Michaels $1/Hampton Arts
ink: VersaMark
embossing powder: Ranger
brads: Joanns

sketch this cards :: 35

I often check out card related blogs, however, I rarely submit. I love the ideas, contests and sketches, but my sked is so predictably unpredictable.

At any rate, I did get a chance to make a card based on a recent sketch on sketch this cards.

Top Three Crafting Items that I'd Love to Have

Here is a short list (I was going to go for ten, then I thought, well, five is pretty round number ... and then I narrowed it down to three because where am I going to put these things ...? since I already own too much):

1. Quickutz Spicy Chicken Grand Alphabet
2. A circle cutter (I've been using some punches, but they are not getting the job done)
3. Maya Road goodies