Paper Piecing - C.R.A.F.T. Challenge 35

Before I start, I want to tell you where the decorative paper came from. My youngest son, Dan, spent time in Japan teaching English. While there he bought me papers that were made in the area where he taught. I've treasured these papers for years, and never had the heart to cut into any of them. Last night, as I was falling asleep, these papers came to mind and it dawned on me that to honor a gift I should share the gift, and by doing so, I was honoring the giver of that gift. So today, I share Dan's gift to me with you. And now as Paul Harvey would say, "The rest of the story".

Today's card is for Week 35 - Paper Piecing Challenge at C.R.A.F.T Challenge. I know, when I think of paper piecing, I think of animal or human objects that are cut in layers and placed on top of one another. I am planning on that type of card later today. This too is paper piecing. and usually it's one type I stay far away from. But with the help of my Scor-Pal. This card was pretty darn easy. I scored a piece to accomodate 1 1/4 squares. Then I just had to place the squares inside the scored area. I then mounted that piece to another piece of patterned paper and attached the entire piece to a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 piece of card stock. I used a gold pen to outline the card and cut a flower using one of my BossKut dies. I like!

We had two days of sunshine and today it is again raining. A really good reason to go back to my craft room to play. Enjoy your weekend.

Mary

Snowflakes - PPA27 Challenge

Good morning All....Today's challenge at Pals Paper Arts is Snowflakes. My inspiration came from an email chat with Jan, an internet friend. We both like white on white.


Today is sunny in California, but snow is still in our winter future. For this challenge I used, ribbon from my stash, white 110 pound card stock, and Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder. I then added cuts from my Spellbinder Build A Snowflake die and topped the snowflake with a clear Dew Drop. This is a quick and easy card. I LOVE white on white.


Off to Weight Watchers I go, followed by fun with Carolyn and tonight....a class at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. It will be fun seeing what Karen came up with for this class and to find out all about CHA.

Mojo Monday 123 - Round Card

Whew.....this was a fun challenge and I'm glad I played. So, here's the Mojo Monday Challenge 123 link: Here. We had two choices. I chose round. For this card I used Steel Toe Mary Jane Collection - Chintsy from Prima Marketing. I love, love, love that card stock. I purchased it from Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. Another one of my favorite places. I guess I should call this, my favorite places and things. Are you ready for another? GinaK Designs is where the sentiment came from. It is a stamp from Nina Brackett. The card was cut using my Spellbinder large scallop circle and large circle. I don't know what I did before Spellbinder dies! The buttons were from Stampin Up. I love being able to make buttons from scraps of card stock and the finished card stays flat so my local post office doesn't charge an arm and a leg to mail. So, there you have it....my favorites creating a fun card. I think I might adhere this card to a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 base. It'll be fun to have a place for two messages and one will be sort of a secret....

Off I go for now. Happy Monday and I wish you a wonderful week!

Create 4 Fun and Christmas Graphics

This card might appear to be a bit unusual. One of my many goals for 2010 is to color all of my many rubber stamps. Today I picked one that I've had in my collection for years, however it's never been used...until today. Before I forget, the stamp is: R079 Sam and Sammy by Stampendous. It's an oldie from 1998. After I color them, I scan them and catalog them, storing the digital image to a computer file. I also keep the original colored image in a scrapbook of sorts. Sooooo now on to the rest of the story.

After I finished the above tasks, I was reading blogs and found The Create 4 Fun Challenge. Here I used the stamp to create my card. Normally I think of scarecrows as an image for Fall or Halloween. I thought this couple would be perfect for Valentines Day or just an I love you kind of day. They are kind of cute.....Don't you agree?

Another one of my goals for 2010 was to recycle my Christmas Cards into usable graphics. Today I did it....Using my Spellbinder dies I cut and embossed the graphics from the cards. I'm hoping to use many of them on my Christmas Cards for 2010, or on gift tags. I was surprised as I cut each of them. The graphics look perfect and I can't wait to start using them. there just might be a Christmas card in my near future!

It feels great to have another one of my goals accomplished....I think my next task will be to organize my enormous stash of paper and card stock. But for now.....I'm wishing you a wonderful week and happy crafting.

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Week 34 Colour Challenge - Red

I really like this card. Who could not like red! This is a card I made for Karen, the owner of Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. I posted it in Octobert of 2009. When I saw this week's challenge....thought it would be perfect. Check out the other cards here

Have a great weekend. It appears all day Sunday will be football games....I think I'll be having an enjoyable Sunday in my craft room....

Mary

It's Still Raining and PPA26 Anything But A Card

It's been raining here since Saturday. I'm not complaining....we need the rain. We have gotten somewhere between 14 and 16 inches of rain since the beginning of this set of storms. At least we have rain. Not too far up the hill is snow and lots of it.

Yesterday I spent the day in my craft room organizing my toys. While there, I was looking at projects I've made throughout the past months. I sat down to spend several minutes enjoying an album I made a few months back. Today on Pals Paper Arts the challenge is "Anything But A Card". So, here is the project I made in October. I posted it back then, and I'm so happy with how the album turned out, I'm revisiting it today. If you want to know more about this album, you can check my blog page for October 25th. I checked my card stock stash and I think I have all but one of the patterns. I think later today, I'll be back in my "toy room" making another album. I should finish the project I started yesterday....but hey, I can always organize tomorrow...Right? For a better look at the album pages, left click inside the photo.

I'm off. It's Weight Watcher day today. I don't think I've lost, and in truth, I think I gained this week....but "It is what it is"...right Carolyn, Patti and Mary Jane! (My buddies from WW) Update: I'm home and guess what..... I lost .8 pounds. Not a record, but a definite move in the right direction.

I'm hoping that today brings more organization to my craft room, but hey....I am easily distracted by shiny objects! Another Update: Today didn't bring playing in my toy room. Today brought me back to the auto mechanic. My car decided to spit and sputter. It did it yesterday and we went to see the car doctor. Of course, while there the ole girl behaved. Today she was good for me, but decided to spit and sputter for my husband. I do hope there is something Mark can do to make her all better.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day. I think tomorrow I'll play all day!
Mary

Mojo Monday Week 122 - Layered Iris

I have to thank Sherry for the inspiration for this card. She is a part of the Spellbinder Design Team. You can see her card here. Sherry is a blogger I've been following for over a year and her work is amazing. Sherry used Labels 11, which will be released at CHA. I used Labels 8, which I purchased from Karen and also Labels 4 for the Sentiment. My graphic is from Print Shop 22. All card stock and ribbon were purchased from Paradise Scrapbook Boutique.

I used Labels 8 to cut 5 layers of the graphic. If you go to Sherry's blog page she has a video on how she did it. I then followed the Mojo Monday sketch challenge to create my card. I turned the sketch 90 degrees for my layout and assembled it on a 6x6 format. I love it!

I wish you a wonderful day and I look forward to seeing all the other entries into the Mojo Monday 122 Challenge.

Chat later.

Mary

Now that was Easy - February Card Class

February's cards are classmate and Boutique Owner requested. Karen requested my Get Well card. We'll be using Flower Soft and Spellbinder's Labels 8. I will bring my dies and my Flower Soft, however, you can bring your supply if you choose to use your own. A reminder to everyone, if I use a Spellbinder die that is sold out, Karen will order one for you. Keep in mind they are subject to availability.

The second card is a classmate request. Many of the girls in the SOS group have the Martha Stewart Deep Heart Border Punch and want to give it a try on the Valentine card. I'll be bringing my punch, if you don't have one you can borrow mine during the class.

The date of the class is February 9th from 1:00 to 4:00. Please call Karen to reserve your spot. Karen's number is: 530- 876-8037. Hope to see you in class.

My Friend Brenda

I met Brenda several years ago. I was teaching an Easter Card class at Michaels and Brenda was my student. We've been making cards together ever since. We try to spend at least one day a month making cards. Brenda will arrive on Saturday morning and we will work on projects all day and sometimes into the early evening.

We stop only for lunch and to unwrap the chocolates that my husband always has ready for her. Our lunches are always working lunches, Brenda brings out the list of questions and ideas she's assembled since our last visit. We look at magazines for inspiration, and we eat....


I wanted to make her something special and I decided to bring out the Bind-It-All and put together a book for her to write notes, with a pocket for keeping coupons, and a section with post-it-notes for her to mark pages in magazines.



When all the pages have been filled with questions and comments....we can cut the wire binding and add more pages and rebind the book. The post-it-notes are refillable too. This was a fun project. I think I'm going to have to make another one....

Have a wonderful weekend!

Operation Write Home

I'm so excited. A few days ago, I told you I'd have news about an important project at

Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. Check out Karen's Blog page here.

The card above is the first card I've made for Operation Write Home. Karen's blog page gives information about the program. I know as a card maker, I always have cards to share. I'll bet you do too. I hope you become as excited as I am and you want to share some of your beautiful art with someone far away. If you have any questions. Call Karen at: 530-876-8037.

Mother's Day is right around the corner. In order to have turn around time, cards will need to be packaged and ready to be mailed by February 20th.

As a mom, I know how much I love getting cards and emails from my kids and grand kids. Imagine how a mother, father, spouse or child will feel when a card is received from a loved one so very far away. Our simple act of kindness will make a big difference in some one's life. I hope you can find time to join in, either by sending cards or spending a day at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique making cards. I'll be there, I hope you will be too.

Chat later......

Birthdays and Friends

I have a sister-in-law, that I must admit I have not made many cards. There is no excuse or reason. Knowing her birthday is coming up quickly, I wanted to make her a card that would honor her and challenge me. For this card, I went out of my box and I'm glad I did. I'm going to apologize now....during the week I was reading blogs I follow and I was also checking blogs for those who entered challenges. I saw a card that I really liked and I made a mental note. I told myself to bookmark it and then promptly moved on to something else (that's a trait I seem to have developed all to often lately). Last night I decided it was time to make a card similar to the one that inspired me. Well guess what....I can't remember where I'd seen it. So, calling on my memory....that's scary, I sketched out what I thought the card looked like. I remembered a lined piece of card stock and some rubber stamped flowers. I also remembered a dotted strip and a ribbon. The photo above is what I made. If anyone has seen a similar card...please let me know. I'd love to give credit to the one who inspired me. I'd also like to see how closely my card resembles the inspiration card.

Now to give more credit. Karen, the owner of Paradise Scrapbook Boutique , has forced me out of my box and into the world of layering. Had it not been for classes I'd taken from her over, especially the past year, this card would not have been possible. Karen is the queen of layering. She has a wonderful eye for patterns and colors. Things I never would have put together I am attempting. Papers I would never have purchased, I am purchasing and using. Thanks Karen!

This is what I used to make the card: The card stock is from Prima - Mango Cherries and Chintzy. I also used a piece of scrap for the dotted piece. The gems are also Prima. All of the Prima products were purchased from Paradise Scrapbook Boutique The sentiment is from Stampin Up, the flowers are from Posh Impressions. The ribbon is from my stash.

I have to say, this card did challenge me and I am excited to give it to my sister-in-law.

Now....On to sharing a beautiful project made by my friend Carolyn. She is amazing and she inspires me every day. Not just when crafting, but always. She is a person I can confide in, she shares my love of paper, she keeps me on the straight and narrow when it comes to Weight Watchers (well...she tries!) and she laughs....she's the kind of person who attracts people to her because she is so positive. She is a very talented card creator....below is the card she sent me to celebrate the season. I love sparkle....this card has it's share. If you left click on the photo it will enlarge and the sparkles are better seen. Her card stock matches so well, the ribbon ties it together and the sentiment says it all. What's amazing about all of this....Carolyn hates winter, she's our little summer girl! For someone who dislikes the cold, she certainly captured the feeling of winter. Carolyn....thank you for sharing your card with me and allowing me to share it with others.

I'm off....I'm going to clean house today....oh sure, we've heard that before! This time I'm not going to start in my craft room!

Have a wonderful week!

The Poor Little Me's

I'm not going to give out too much information about this card, other than to say....More will be revealed later. I will let you know that I revealed to a dear friend that I was having a poor little me day, actually more like a poor little me month! It's not like me to be in the dumps and I've just not been feeling creative lately....well after meeting with Karen, Carolyn, and Mary Jane, I think I am on the way to recovery! I came home and created this card. Next week I'll tell you why. Now I'll tell you the how....

I used card stock from my stash. The Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Stylized Flowers; Spellbinders Nested Squares and Scalloped Squares used to mount the sentiment, which is an oldie but goodie stamp - 1996 Stampington and Company - K5063. The feather....Years ago I bought a package of feathers....I'm always happy to find a use for them.

Off I go for now....It's raining here today, perfect weather to play. Have a great day....

Let Your Dreams Take Flight

Last week I received my order from Gina K Designs. I was excited to play with them, but one thing led to another and time flew by. Today I sat down to play. I wanted to use the same paper I used for the Kleenex Box and I had ribbon that I also wanted to use. The butterfly and the

sentiment are from the Take Flight setI used Tombow markers to color the butterfly and the sentiment. I cut the butterfly using my Spellbinder rectangle. The sentiment was cut using the Spellbinder Ribbon Tag Trio 2. I sponged around both the butterfly and the sentiment. The butterfly was stamped using Staz On and embossed with clear embossing powder. The butterfly and the sentiment were both stamped on water color heavy weight stock. For those who are not familiar with Gina K Designs. Her stamps are high quality, deeply cut. They are priced very reasonably. They are mounted on cling cushion ready to trim and use with acrylic blocks.

That's all for now....I hope to have time to play tomorrow....Have a great week!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I must say I spent New Years Eve sitting in the recliner all bundled up, sniffing, coughing and going through an entire box of Kleenex. Today, I am feeling much better. A while ago, I was looking at tutorials on http://www.stamptv.com/ Gina covered a Kleenex box. This is one of those projects that you tuck away for a rainy day. Well, today it's raining and after yesterday, I have an empty Kleenex box....Gina's tutorial is super easy to follow. I used metallic paper, rather than card stock. The card stock would have made the project more sturdy, but the paper worked well too. The paper is from a PaperPizzaz Metallic Book. The Spellbinder I used is Labels 1 and the leaf is a Cuttlebug die and embossing folder. The ribbon I purchased at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique http://paradisescrapbookboutique.typepad.com/ along with the Labels 1 die.

I'm very happy that I am on the road to a quick recovery...as is my husband. 2010 is definitely looking up! Happy New Year to one and all.