Trying Something New

This morning I saw this amazing card that Jayme posted. Seriously, go check it out. Talk about GORGEOUS!! I've never really seen a shadow box card before and since she raved about how easy it was I figured I'd give it a go. Those that know me well(Holly,lol) know that I like to stay safe with my cards and dont really venture out of my comfort zone very often, and when I do the results can often be, well, interesting, LOL.

I messed up on the scoring a bit, and since I dont have a Circle Cutter I used my Coluzzle and my circle ended up a *tad* closer to the left, but overall I think I managed my first shadow box card all right. I'll have to try it a few more times to get the feel for it!

I used the latest color challenge over at Splitcoaststampers but I had to get a bit creative when I realized I didnt have the ink for Baja Breeze or Marina Mist. How the heck did that happen? I could have sworn I had those ink colors but I guess now I need to order them! Anyway, the colors for the challenge are Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery and Marina Mist. I added the flowers stamped in Daffodil Delight and Cherry Cobbler for a little extra something and put some Dazzling Diamonds on them also.

Supplies Used(all supplies SU unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Cheep Talk
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Sky, Buckaroo Blue, Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Oval Punch, Coluzzle, white gel pen, dimensionals

Zoo Baby

I combined 2 great challenges on todays card. The first is this weeks challenge from the Friday Mashup blog and we are supposed to create a card using "zoo animals". I went through my stash, trying to find something that would work, and I came across the set 'Zoofari'. My daughter has a friend that is expecting a little boy and her baby shower is coming up, so I thought the little rhino would make a cute image for a baby card.
I added some silver Stickles to the horn to give it a little pop, and the square the rhino is stamped on is popped up with dimensionals. When my daughter got home I showed her the card and she told me her friends theme for the baby is jungle animals so it worked out perfectly!


The sketch is this weeks challenge over at the Stamping 411:Saturday Sketch Challenge. Love this clean and simple sketch!

Supplies used(all supplies SU unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Zoofari, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, sentiment from Greetings Galore
Paper: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Bashul Blue, Cutie Pie DSP
Ink: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Going Gray, Black StazOn
Accessories: Silver Stickles, Bashful Blue/Certainly Celery/Whisper White ribbon, sponge, dimensionals

Christmas Foilage

It's time for another challenge over at the Jingle Belle blog, wooohooo! I love Christmas and making Christmas cards so I have fallen so in love with this blog. Check them out and get ahead on your Christmas cards!

 This weeks challenge was inspired by holly and ivy and we're told to incorporate Christmas foliage into our card. For some reason this challenge had me stuck for a bit but I finally got going and I'm happy with the way my card turned out. The bells are popped up with dimensionals to give the card some dimension and although you cant really see it in the picture I put gold accents on the bells also. I used stickles on the holly berries above the bell for a little sparkle.

Supplies used(all supplies SU unless otherwise noted):

Stamps: Bells and Boughs

Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Deck the Halls DSP

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Old Olive, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Summer Sun, Early Espresso

Accessories: Sponge, Xmas Rd stickles, Sizzix Top Note Die, dimensionals

Holly Jolly

I'm working with another sketch challenge today, and its this week challenge over at the Jingle Belles blog.

Santa is a very popular guy in my house and I love Santa stamps. This Santa image from SU is one of my all-time favorites. I just love his whimsical, but still old-fashioned, look.

Supplies used(all supplies SU unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: A Holly, Jolly Christmas
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
Accessories: Sizzix Circle Dies, Round Corner Punch, Scallop Border Trim Punch, sponge

Masculine I Care

This week the challenge over at the Friday Mashup blog is a sketch challenge, and it comes to us courtesy of Terry!

I instantly reached for this stamp set and wanted to make a masculine card, although I'm not quite sure why. Maybe its because I'm missing my dad and my grandpa. I notice that when I mention the passing of my father or such on my blogs people get awfully quiet, but I'm not going to apologize for doing it, or stop. My father (and grandparents) inspired me every day of my life and he/they continue to inspire me in everything I do, including stamping. I bought this stamp set specifically with my Grandpa in mind, as he was a retired railroad man. Unfortunately he passed a few weeks after I got the set so I never got to make a card for him using this image.


Anyway, thats the inspiration behind this card, and I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Supplies used(all supplies SU unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Happiness Is A Journey, Best Yet
Paper: Chocolatel Chip, Sage Shadow, Whisper White, To The Nines DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow
Accessories: Sage Shadow ribbon, Chocolate Chip ribbon, brads

Owl For You

It's time to play along again over at the Friday Mashup blog! I forgot to play along last week and felt pretty bad, so I knew I better get my booty in gear this week. My kids are on spring break this week so between work and kids I havent had much creative time, but I made time this afternoon.

This weeks challenge comes from Holly and is a sketch. I grabbed some DSP and just went from there. The only stamp I used was the sentiment inside, otherwise it was all the Two-Step Owl Punch. Per request of my toughest critic, my 15 y/o daughter, I added some Dazzling Diamond glitter along the green stems above the owl. I didnt have that great of light today so my Rich Razzleberry looks more Cherry Cobbler, eek!

Supplies used(all supplies SU unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: All Year Cheer I (inside sentiment)
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cottage Wall DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
Accessories: Filgree Brads, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Two Step Owl Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Old Olive Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, glue pen, dimensionals

Snowglobe and Snowflakes

Its time for a new challenge over at the Jingle Belles blog and this week its a color challenge! We are told to use the colors kraft, white and light blue. Definitely colors for a winter scene so I pulled out a stamp I hadn't used yet, Sweet Snowglobe. I love love love snowglobes and this was one of those stamps I just had to have!

For my colors I used SU Whisper White, Bashful Blue and Crumb Cake. Crumb Cake is the base of the card and I ran some Bashful Blue through my Cuttlebug Snow Dots folder. I layered this onto some Whisper White before attaching it to the base. The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White with Crumb Cake and layered on Crumb Cake cardstock. The edges of all the cardstock was sponged with coordinating colors and the snowglobe is popped up with dimensionals.

I wish I could see a scene like this one more time! Its spring break here in southcentral Alaska and the last few yrs we've had snowstorms during spring break. Doesn't look like we'll be seeing anything but sun and temps in the mid to upper 30's, BOO! I'm not ready to give up my winter yet :P

Supplies used(all supplies SU unless otherwise stated):
Stamps- Sweet Snowglobe, Seasons Greetings
Paper- Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink- Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Garden Green, Creamy Caramel
Accessories- CB Snow Dots folder, snowflake brads, dimensionals, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, glue pen

Christmas Memories

This week the challenge over at the Jingle Belles blog is one that really got me excited, but also made me sad. Anyone who has ever lost someone they loved knows how difficult the holidays can be. Those who follow this blog know that after a year-long battle with cancer I lost my dad Oct.2,2010. It was quite a shock, not only because a girl always thinks of her dad as living forever, but also because I lost my beloved paternal grandparents in June 2008 and May 2009. Growing up these 3 people made Christmas an incredibly special time of yr and honestly, they created a monster with me :) When my husband and I got together I started going all out at Christmas and then when we started having kids, look out! Ever see National Lampoons Christmas Vacation? That would totally be me :) Our oldest son is deaf and I thought, well if he cant hear the sounds of Christmas his eyes are going to see everything :-)

So whats the challenge? It was "Home For the Holidays" and the challenge is to make a card that reminds you of Christmases past.

I grew up in Massachusetts until I was 12 and New England will always hold a special place in my heart. I loved seeing all the old Colonial homes decorated for Christmas and sparkling in the cold winters night. Therefore with this challenge I brought out an old stamp of mine that is one of my favorites. It just really reminds me of Christmas in New England.

Also, without even realizing it I also was able to incorporate this weeks challenge from the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog, which is "Bring the Bling"! I think I did that with the glitter, stickles and liquid applique :)

As always, thanks for taking the time to stop by, I appreciate it!! You can also click on the pictures for a larger version!

And just for fun....me with my Grandma and Grandpa at their house.My frst Christmas! 1973

And this was my house this past Christmas. Because of my fathers passing I didnt decorate as much as I normally do!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Unknown stamp from PSX

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Deck the Halls DSP

Ink: Black StazOn, various SU markers, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Xmas Red Stickles, Candy Cane Stickles, White Liquid Applique, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, sponge, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon

Thoughts of Spring

This time of year most folks in Alaska(and other cold climates) are dreaming of spring...sunny skies, warm days, flowers blossoming. I'm not one of those people, LOL, I adore winter, but these colors from this weeks Color Throwdown Challenge definitely made me want to create a springy/girly type of card! I think this is a great color combo! I also incorporated the Way To Use It challenge at Splitcoast, which was polka dots.

Supplies used(all supplies SU unless otherwise noted):

Stamps: Easter Blossoms

Paper: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Accessories: CB Swiss Dots folder, Pink Pirouette ribbon,dimensionals

Christmas In Words

The challenge over at the Jingle Belles blog right now  is "Text Me" , and the focal point of your card should be some type of Christmas text. For some reason this challenge stumped me a bit, and I finally came up with this very simple card.

I used PP by K&Company, inked up the edges with Certainly Celery and put it on Very Vanilla cardstock. I then took a chipboard Christmas tree and adhered that to the left side of the card in order to keep the phrases on the paper the main focal point. I also added some SU brads under one of the quotes for a little more pop.

Supplies:
Paper: PP by K&Company, Very Vanilla
Ink: Certainly Celery
Accessories: Chipboard tree by Fancy Pants Designs, SU Brads, dimensionals, sponge