card patterns sketch #36

hey! i got to participate in another blog challenge. this time it's from Card Patterns, and i got to try a funky sketch that i wouldn'tve thought of if i hadn't happened to check it out this week.

for this card i used some Bazzill, owl ribbon, and most of the patterned paper is from DCWV {Indian Summer}. hmm, i even busted out my Cricut for the bookplate cut-out. seems i've been neglecting that lil' baby lately :D

i've been super busy this week--getting swim meets together, going to teacher training, and just being all around tired out. i don't think i got to bed earlier than 11:30pm ANY night this week except for last night. and THEN, i didn't even remember to set my alarm... so thank goodness for family members who "have my back." sheesh--i would've died if i was late to school.

anyway, i'm going to be back for some more posting... i think it'll be Christmas themed. i seriously can't wait. i've been listening to snippets of Josh Groban's "Noel" CD lately--ahh, definitely getting me ready for Christmas :D

thanks for looking, and enjoy your weekend!

oh, P.S.! check out my BLOG CANDY... one more day only to comment!

Kazan's Sketch #37

so here i am with Kazan's Sketch #37 from 2sketches4you.

i decided to go with a Christmas card because the sketch wasn't quite reminding me of anything other than a wreath! my friend Paulina also made a wreath card for this sketch.

well, i hate to leave this so short, but i really have to go to bed--school tomorrow means an early wake up call. don't forget to check out the blog candy i'm giving away HERE. there's only a few more days to enter, so put yourself in the drawing, and tell your friends too :D

thanks for looking, and leaving some comments--i love reading them!

365 Cards day 219

here i've made a very "Paulina" card... pink, sweet, and pearly. i did distress some edges, but it makes it look softer :D

it's for the weaving challenge over at 365 cards day 219. i had some fun with SEI "lovebird" paper, as well as my Cricut, MM stickers, and some paper piercing and pearls. all come together to make this super sweet rendition of the challenge. i realized i hadn't done any weaving since about 1st grade... imagine that?!

i added that bird cage for a sweet touch... don't you think it looks like a pair of lovebirds? :D hope you enjoy. don't forget to enter my BLOG CANDY for an easy chance at some goodies (even SEI paper like the stuff i used here!)

thanks for looking!

365 Cards day 218

here i am posting day 218 Super Sketchy Sunday for 365 cards... i pulled out some new papers from My Minds Eye for this, as well as some lovely vintage white and red buttons.

i'm super busy today, working with cards, getting ready for another week at school, and trying to clean some too. not feeling that great, though, so i may just end up sitting around my craft desk instead of being super productive. oh well. some days just are like that.

thanks for looking, and check back for more challenge cards. also, if you haven't entered my BLOG CANDY, you should do that now--it ends next Saturday. spread the word :D

2sketches4you Laura's #36

oh my gosh! as i was making this card last night to participate in Laura's sketch #36, i said to my sister, "this is the cutest card ever!" hehe. and i really really do like it. i moved the scallops from the bottom of the sketch to right below the midline (with my lace). don't you love how you can switch one element of a sketch and still have it "work"?




see that amazing cupcake felt sticker? it's from sassafras and i'm giving two feltie sticker packages away in my BLOG CANDY--so if you think this card is cute, you should definitely enter.

the rest of the supplies all come from DCWV except the ribbon and lace--Michael's and Jo-Ann's.

that silhouette paper is actually velvety, and i love it. this card has so much texture and interest--maybe that's why it's become a quick favorite.

well, gotta get going--today i'm spending some much needed "rest/ catch up" time with a girlfriend, Paulina... we're getting massages :D then going to dinner :D and THEN going to a party. YAY! and you may be wondering why i'm blogging on a friday morning... well, i have the day off school! w00t w00t! i am so happy :D sleeping in is my favorite.

well, thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to enter in the blog giveaway HERE.

monster cards and a little about me

hey there! so last Saturday was World Card Making Day, and as i was surfing the web for all the fun stuff going on that day, i happened upon the Caardvarks survey regarding paper crafting. i thought at first--"there's too many questions," (ha! this coming from the English teacher), but as a dutiful sister would (*cough, cough* CHOKE) i followed my sister's encouragement to fill out the Caardvarks survey anyway. now i'm glad i did, even though it took some thought and typing :D you know, good things *DO* often take some time... BUT, the cool part is that some of my responses were actually highlighted on the blog on Sunday. :D

i've included my full responses below the pictures... i hope you enjoy learning a little bit more about me and my paper crafting style!

this group of cards uses the Doodle Stack from DCWV, a lot of red, green, and kraft. also, all the stamps are PTI sentiments that i borrowed from my friend Paulina.

don't you love those little faces of horror and delight? :D they make me laugh.

i showed these to my brother Peter, and he said, "When am I going to get my birthday card? Can this be my birthday card?" i just about fell over laughing--i said, "YES! ...just let me write something on the inside." anyway, i know if it passes muster when my brothers like it :D

all the layouts are similar, with just a few parts arranged differently. i had a fun time distressing the edges with an actual distresser as opposed to my scissors... SOOO much easier :D

anyway, here are the Q/A's as promised, and if you haven't already seen my BLOG CANDY from a previous post, you need to get going! go over and enter by leaving a comment--it's that easy :D

What is your favorite part of the card making process?
I love making the card… finding the right paper, cutting out the pieces I need, and putting it all together. I also really like adding the finishing touches—the glitter at the end, or the flower embellishment.

What's on your craft table right now?
A card in process: DoodleFactory “Santa” stamped in chocolate ink on cream paper. I’m working on a combo challenge card for Christmas—it’ll count towards Dawn Mcvey’s Color Challenge as well as 2sketches4you, Kazan’s sketch.

What color combos do you most enjoy?
Ooooh, I absolutely LOVE pink and black. I wear it a lot, so that may be a reason why.

Where do you gather inspiration?
Everything. I like looking at blogs and sketches, but really, when I’m not basing a card or layout on someone else’s art, I just kinda look around and ideas start flowing. I am not currently keeping an idea book, and luckily, haven’t *had* to keep one—my ideas haven’t stopped yet :D Pretty paper doesn't hurt one bit either--having things on hand helps me get going!

How many cards do you make in an average week?
Well, because I teach full time (9th grade English), and coach girls swimming, I generally only get to create on the weekends. Maybe 3-4?

How did your passion for card making begin?
My friend Paulina kinda got me started. She invited me to a scrapbooking convention last November, and I ended up going and spending a *ton* of money. Then I had all these things I was looking to use, so I started a blog, looking at work that I admired, and then it just kind of took off from there. I have always loved Paulina’s cards, and still point to her encouragement as the reason I started blogging/ card making.

What's your favorite card theme?
I love making cards for birthdays. I tend to go “whole hog” as my sister Cecelia would say, and the last couple of “cards” I’ve made have turned into booklets :D hehe. I especially like making cards for people I know intimately—family, friends, co-workers, because it gives me pleasure knowing I’ve created something they’ll love.

What 3 pieces of advice would you give to a new card maker?
Keep trying new things. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Update your blog/ photo gallery frequently. (Advice #4: participate in challenges and comment on other work—they’ll come back to your blog and leave you encouragement and good feedback if you ask.)

Other than card making, what other hobbies do you enjoy?
I love scrapbooking (even though it’s in the same category as card making), and watching movies. I’m something of a movie addict—I love watching movies just about all the time. I also love baking, when I get a free moment… anything with chocolate (banana nut chocolate bread, chocolate chip cookies, etc).

Do you send or hoard your cards?

Both. When I create something specific (birthday, anniversary, thank you, etc) then I send it right away. BUT, I usually don’t have a specific purpose in mind when I make all the cards I do—so I have ended up with a stash of cards that keeps piling up. I am working on de-hoarding that stash by slowly listing these cards on Etsy. We’ll see how it goes :D

thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to check out the candy HERE!

Kazan's #36 & Dawn McVey's #17

yay, a combo card challenge!

i finally got to participate in two challenges this week, which is major for me since i've been so busy lately with school (open house on thursday) and coaching the swim team (2 meets this week--phew!)

anyway, i was able to participate in the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #17 over at Dawn McVey's blog (use the colors aqua, red, brown, kraft, and cream) as well as Kazan's sketch #36 over at 2sketches4you. hope you check both of them out as the participants have LOVELY entries :D

here i was able to make a super sweet "ho ho ho" Christmas card with one of my favorite stamp lines--DoodleFactory stamps... isn't that Santa the cutest? :D

well, i've gotta run--i'm going to see "Whip It" with my sister tonight--should be good.

also, please enter my BLOG CANDY above for a chance at some lovely goodies.

enjoy, and thanks for looking!