Celebrate Friendship

Happy Friday friends!  It's finally here, although I had a really wonderful week.  A couple of days ago I surprisingly received For the Love of Dots in the mail and had to contact Courtney from Practicing Creativity Designs to make sure there wasn't a mistake because I know I didn't order that set.  Not that I didn't want it but I can't be buying anymore supplies right now while things are so up in the air with the house move etc. (you never know what kind of expenses you're going to have).

Well it turns out that one of my most supportive blog friends (who wishes to remain anonymous) wanted to show a small gesture of thanks and congrats.  Little did she know it was a HUGE gesture, so huge in fact that I had to restrain myself from shedding happy tears....my husband would have been worried that stamps could really make me that happy.  Practicing Creativity happens to be my big IT thing right now and I love their versatility.  Apparently my fabulous friend likes what I create with them too, so last night I had a bit of time to play and hope to bring some inspiration her way.  It amazes me so much that this virtual world of blog land could put me in contact with such a wonderful group of ladies...not because of the tangible gifts that we receive but because of the encouragement and support system that we find in one another!  What a blessing and I am so grateful!

So these cards are to Celebrate Friendship.  The first card covers a couple of challenges.  The Embellish dimension challenge and the CAS-Tastic challenge: to use circles. I used the current fall-to-layout sketch and foam tape to adhere the stripe of circles.  The buttons add even more dimension. I don't know how CAS-tastic it is considering it has a few layers but it does use a lot of white space and straight lines.  

The second card (at the very bottom of this post) was the first card I created using the same layout but in a circle. It was meant more as a warm up to get use to the colours and stamps.  I thought I would included it as well since it's not a bad card, it's just nothing special.  A good masculine birthday card maybe?

Celebration Buttons

Steps:

1) make card from card stock

2) trim white panel and mat to CS

3) stamp circles; trim and mat to CS; adhere to card with foam tape

4) stamp top line circle and sentiment on white panel

5) Adhere buttons

Elements:

Paper: Spring Moss (PTI), Ocean Tides (PTI), Chocolate chip, Whisper White

Ink: Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Buttons in Spring Moss and Tara cotta tile (PTI), brown buttons (BG), foam tape

Stamps: For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Celebrate in Circles

Paper: Spring moss (PTI), Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Circle Coluzzle tool

Stamps: For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Sketch Girl Flower Power

Hey everyone!  Here's what I came up with for the latest Sketch Girl challenge.  I hope you don't mind but the card took a life of it's own and I had modify the sketch a little bit.

First I picked out the fabulously colourful pattern paper then decided to accent with the canvas sticker letters that Jessica sent me a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't want to do plain squares and my sewing machine was packed away so I came up with the rounded corners. I then remembered those mod flowers I've seen on other blogs in recent months. Not really very original is it? but those cheerful papers really make it pop. I decided to put the sentiment circle right in the middle to make that flower.  A sketch really is just a starting point isn't it? A place to gather inspiration? And the end result is your take on that inspiration.

For greater details I also added the pattern tracer texture around the card base another fantastic gift from Jessica.  It's an inexpensive tool but adds such nice texture without overdoing it.  Those canvas stickers also do a fantastic job of adding texture.  

With this post I also wanted to let you know about Ann's Blog candy giveaway: A $25 gift certificate to PAPERTREY INC.!! Yes PTI!  All you have to do is leave her a comment letting her know what your plans are for this summer....oh and you might want to look over her fabulous work.  I call her the Queen of CAS (Clean and Simple).  Her designs are so simple you often think "why didn't I think of that?" but she knows exactly how to put wonderful in her cards with only 3 letters W-O-W!

Steps:

1) Make 5.25" card of cardstock (CS)

2) Cut four 2.25" squares of CS; round two opposing corners

3) Cut four 2" squares of pattern paper; round two opposing corners; adhere to CS squares

4) Adhere squares to card to form petals

5) Punch 1 3/4"circle; cut 2" circle with coluzzle; adhere circles

6) Punch 1/4 circles and adhere around circle

7) Adhere letters to circle; adhere to card

8) Use pattern tracer to frame flower.

Elements:

Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade dp (SU!), Kraft, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Fizz (PTI)

Accessories: Canvas letter stickers (Making Memories), Pattern tracer, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch, large corner rounder punch, coluzzle circle tool.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink ~ Envelopes

The challenge this time over EBTKS was to use envelopes.  My idea isn't at all original as I picked up the idea over at Splitcoast.  The instructions to make this very handy gift bag are really super easy and fast. I used the Snowburst stamp set as confetti and I got a chance to ink up my new Verve Blessings set which I bought with the Verve Gift Certificate I won during their last release contests.  Unfortunately the only envelope I had had writing on the back (small blessings that it was the back) but this was only a test to see how simple it could be.  

Sorry the picture isn't the greatest.  I was in a hurry this morning before I cleaned off the front deck and got the remainder of our garbage and clutter out of our house before we list for sale. I thought this challenge was the perfect opportunity to share with you my favourite room in my lovely home.  It just happens to be the Kitchen.  

I love my kitchen...it has served me well and I actually don't even enjoy cooking.  It's big with lots of counter space and storage, a view of the back yard and the view of the city in the front.  I can visit with our friends while I'm busy cooking or cleaning.  As the kids have been growing up I have been able to watch them in the living room while I am busy in the kitchen.  Even as I write this I am sitting at the island while they watch Sleeping Beauty.  You're probably wondering why we would think about selling if we love our house so much but it comes right down to space.  Despite a huge kitchen our house isn't big enough to house THREE future teenagers and I want us to feel comfortable enough that they can bring their friends over as well.  If we had just stuck to the plan of only 2 kids we wouldn't have a need to move but God blessed us with bigger and better plans.

Anyhow, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY and have a wonderful sunday!

Steps:

1) Follow instructions from Splitcoast for the Bag-A-Lope

Elements:

Paper: White envelope, Whisper white

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Rose Red, Versamark, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Black embossing powder (SU!), Scallop dot border punch (MS), dollar bin ribbon

Stamps: Snowburst (SU!), Blessings (Verve)