Wave the Flag

Hi.  I am popping in really quickly to share a card for this month's One-Layer Simplicity Challenge to Wave the Flag.  I was inspired to make this card by a tee shirt I saw someone wearing that used canoe paddles for the stripes on a flag.  I was too embarrassed (or sensible) to ask the person if I could take a picture of her shirt for my card-making files.

To make this card, I cut a rectangle out of a post it, adhered it to the card, and then stamped the canoe paddles in a line.  Then, I put the negative part of the post it on the card, removed the rectangle and stamped stars, embossed them with clear, and then sponged Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink over the stars.

This card will be going to Operation Write home, and I will probably cut out the focal point and mat it, as there is an unfortunate smudge of ink that I am not happy about, but for now, it is still one layer. 

I apologize for my lack of blog visiting and commenting, and hope to get back in the swing of things soon.

Thanks for Visiting

A Mini Notebook and Two Cards

Hello friends.  I've got a couple of things to post today.  First up is a little mini notebook I made for this week's Make it Monday #167:  DIY Notebooks.  I am also entering my little notebook at Simon Says Monday Magic challenge, as I think a bit of magic is required to get these notebooks to stay together. 

Here is my mini notebook.  It is 2 3/4 by 4 1/2--that means that it is 1/8 of a sheet of paper.  I used a partial sentiment from Desktop Design and wrote the word 'NOTE' using Headline Alpha stamps.   I used Circle Scribbles to decorate the front.

The pages inside are all stamped in Versamark with assorted little images from the Tag-it's series, and I alternated the colored pages.  The magic here---the notepad is held together with Scor Tape.  And, it is magic because it didn't work on every page, and I have no idea why some pages are staying in and some are falling out.  I am going to keep this one for myself, and try again.  Perhaps if I say Abra Cadabra or something, my next one will stay together better.  Anyhow, I think I am going to coat the front and back with Modge Podge to make it sturdier.

Next up is a thank you card for my daughter's art teacher.  I think I found the perfect stamp set for an art teacher--Paper Smooches I Heart Art.  I'm entering this card at Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes, ColourQ #244, and Addicted to CAS #39: Texture.

I stamped my focal point on a piece of white that was cut with the Tipped Tops Die.  My second layer was also cut with Tipped Tops and then impressed with the Picnic Plaid IP.  I stamped a random pattern of paint splotches on my card base, then fussy cut a paintbrush.  I used Fantastix to color in the tip of the paintbrush with the same Tangerine Tango ink that I used on the card and then coated it with Glossy Accents.  My card is hanging off the front of a gift bag, using Laurie's Card Hanger Die.  Next post, I will show you what I made to go inside the bag.

Last up is my card for this month's One Layer Simplicity Challenge:  I've Been Framed.  I used a variety of Tiny Tags frames stamped along the bottom edge of my card.  Before stamping, I scored a diagonal line that was to divide my card between stamped area and white space.  I filled in a random number of my frames with tiny birthday-related sentiments from Tiny Tags and Mixed Messages, and then stamped 'Happy Birthday' above the score line.

That's it for me today.  Have a great Wednesday.

Thanks for Visiting

Two Cards for Saturday

Well, things have calmed down here on the old blog....trying to get back to normal after all of those incredible PTI Anniversary Challenges.  Today, I inked up a brand new Paper Smooches set that came in a couple of days ago--Hooties--and it is so cute and perfect for paper piecing.  I used some new patterned SU paper that I ordered off clearance, and the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch CTS#64.  I am entering this card in the challenge at Paper Smooches to create something new that is FUN and CUTE. 

I also had a chance to play along with this month's One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #2:  Can You Repeat That?  I used the dress form image from PTI, stamped in a rainbow of colors.  I tried coloring my own bling using Copic markers for the very first time, and I cannot believe how easy it is to get the perfect color of bling.  I really love these one layer challenges, and hope to play again before the month is out.

The challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday is We Love Stamps (and I really and truly do), so I will be entering both of these cards over there as well.

Thanks for Visiting

Four Cards and Lunch with Crafty Friends

I'm playing in a brand new challenge today called The Card Concept #1.  I loved the color scheme of this challenge, and was also inspired by that fun city scape photo. 

I used my Memory Box dies--Cityscape Nightline and Cityscape Silhouette, layering the kraft over the pink.  I grounded those dies with a thin strip of Dark Chocolate and one of the border stamps from PTI Simple Valentine.  The tiny pink hearts are from the centers of one of the Tiny Tags dies.

I am guessing this card is either Clean and Simple or Clean and Layered.  What do you think?

My next three cards are for the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #1:  Restocking the Shelves.  I like to keep a supply of Sympathy cards on hand, and I also give them to my mom for her to use.  Unfortunately, that is something that I need to restock.  I am entering the first one of these into this week's Simon Says Monday Challenge:  Blues.

I had the most fun lunch yesterday with my crafty friends, Cathy Weber of Empty Nest Crafter and Marybeth Lopez of Marybeth's Time For Paper.  We have gotten into the habit of meeting up a couple of times a year in Orange County, which is about equidistant from each of us.  I think we could have talked for hours.  We had lunch at a new restaurant called Urban Plates, and I was very happy that Cathy and Marybeth liked their food.  My DH started working for this restaurant company a couple of months ago, and if it is successful, that is where my stamp money will be coming from.  There are only 2 restaurants so far--Del Mar and Irvine, but if one opens up near you, please eat there (a lot!)

Left to Right:  me, Cathy, Marybeth

Thanks for Visiting

My Crafty Sunday

I had all sorts of crafty time today, and lots of mojo, too.  So, please be prepared for lots of photos.  My first project is a set of cards I made for the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #1.  This is the challenge formerly known as One Layer Wednesday.  The challenge this month is 'Restocking the Shelves'.  Today, I focused on creating some quick, one-layer thank you cards.

I pulled out a stamp--Stampendous Ranunculus--that I have never used before, and combined that with a thank you sentiment from PTI.  Because the flower stamp is new, I am entering these into this week's Simon Says Wednesday challenge to use something new.  I stamped the sentiment, masked it, and then stamped the flowers over.  I used my Inktense Pencils to watercolor the flowers and leaves--in a very messy way, then brushed Wink of Stella over the flowers.  It was quick and easy, and I was able to use the same post-it as a mask for all the cards.

As I was coloring the flowers, I wondered how the card would look just black and white, so I tried one with a colored sentiment and left the flowers and leaves blank.  What do you think?  I kind of like the black and white, but would maybe do a colored flag for the sentiment.  Of course, that would make it ineligible for the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge, but I think it might work better.

My next card is for A Blog Named Hero challenge #35:  One & Four.  I used one new-to-me-Hero Arts Stamp (Winter Village) that has four different images.  I stamped it several times in different colors, cut them out, and made my scene.  I am also entering this card into this week's Simon Says Wednesday challenge to use something new.  The inks are Hero Arts Shadow and the sentiment is from PTI Polka Dot Parade.  Hard to see in this picture, but a covered all the snowy rooftop ledges and chimney tops with Prisma glitter.

Last up are a few cards that are not for any challenges at all.  I was inspired by a post by Susan at Simplicity where she shared some of her ideas for using Washi Tape.  I pulled down a few of the many Washi tapes I had, and CASED her cards from this post.  I always learn so much from her blog posts, and always leave feeling smarter and inspired.

All the sentiments on these last 4 cards are from Reverse Confetti Lots to Say--my very first Reverse Confetti purchase.  I guess I'll be entering one of these cards over at  Simon Says Wednesday challenge to use something new.  I did not realize until writing up this post just how much new stuff I ended up pulling out today.  

Well, that's it for me today.  I have been skipping the supply list lately--it takes a lot of time to write it all up, and I never know if anyone even reads it.  Please let me know if you have any questions about supplies I used.

Thanks for Visiting