EBTKS + Embellish = Fabulous

Hey Everyone!  Today's day at work went very well and I'm happy to say it won't keep me up at night with worry.  Lots to learn but the ladies I work with are really fabulous and patient. 

This card was made for three challenges: EBTKS, CAS-tastic, and Embellish.  The current CAS-tastic challenge was to use three of several techniques on one card.  I chose image stamping, paper piercing, and inked edges.  This card really was simple but it packs a punch with those colours and paper piecing and piercing.

For the piercing bit I stamped and cut the leaf image, placed it on my cardstock and pierced the outline.  It give's a much more subtle affect than paper piecing or stamping but still defines the image.  Neat hey?  Those terrific patterned papers are from the October Afternoon Fly a Kite collection.  Love it!  I bought it for my birthday a month ago and finally got it in the mail last friday.  Haven't had much time to play around with it but I'll try to make some time this weekend.

Tomorrow I'll be working a full day and won't be home for dinner but fortunately for me (or probably more so for my hubby) my mother-in-law plans to have dinner ready for him when he gets home.  Today I'm grateful for a supportive family...what are you grateful for? You might be grateful to hear about Ann's Blog Anniversary giveaway.  Just head on over to check out her wonderful CAS creations and a chance to win!  You won't be disappointed.

Elements:

Paper: Kraft, Fly a Kite dp (October Afternoon)

Ink:  Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Small Ric Rac die (PTI), Hawaiian Shores button (PTI), paper piercer, dimensionals, large corner rounder

Stamps:  Feel the Sun (Verve), Signature sentiments (PTI)

Courage is the Key

Hello everyone!  I managed to get a couple of cards done this weekend and both of them are for the current Kitchen Sink Sketch Challenge.  I have even a couple more ideas for this sketch that's how inspiring I found it.

Anyhow, the card I'll share with you today kind of ties in with the courage I'm having to find in myself as I enter the work force again after 7 years!  Today I had my second day at my bookkeeping job and man I feel so overwhelmed with all the things I'm worried I'll forget.  Tomorrow I start my regular 9 to 3 job as an Accounts Receivable clerk and and I'm on pins and needles waiting to meet my new co-workers. I'm anxious to know how well I'll jive and how long it will take me to get in the swing of things again.  If there's one thing I can say I'm not afraid of learning and I'm determined enough to do it right.  

The sentiment of this card I had to make myself and the line actually came from a Barbie song on my daughter's ipod.  It's funny where we tend to find our inspiration isn't it?  It holds so true though, without courage we fail to see the possibilities in life.  I know I should have used the printer to make the sentiment instead of using a combo of stamps and freehand but I didn't want to fiddle around with the layout (plus I did the ribbon ruffles first and couldn't exactly run it through the printer.)

Well I hope you have a fabulous day and thanks so much for stopping by.  Today I'm grateful for my family's health and strength during stressful times.  What are you grateful for?

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay

Ink: Black, Bermuda Bay

Accessories:  Nesties Labels 1, Black Gingham ribbon, Black grossgrain ribbon

Stamps: Key to My Heart (PCD), Fanciful swirls font (Hero Arts)

Sketch Challenges and a News Update

Good morning everyone!  I've got a couple more sketches done for the Practicing Creativity Challenges that end today.  And I've got some news since so much has been happening in my life these last couple of months.

Anyhow let's start with the first card.  For this sketch there was no doubt that I was going to use the PCD Look Up Set!  It's my all time favourite set and pair it with the clouds "You're Dandy" and you have one fun card.  My favourite parts of this card are button basket and the sentiment panel made up of Cosmo Cricket ledger paper, PTI ric rac and PCD banner stamp.  The sentiment was made from the Fanciful Swirls font from Hero Arts.

Now for my second fun card but this time for boys, I used up some of my Cogsmo (Cosmo Cricket) pattern paper and some hand stitching to bring a little something original to the card.  Things were simplified by using the border paper for the horizontal lines and a tag for that focus panel. I used three different types of stitches and different fonts for the printing.  Happy Birthday sentiment is from the PCD set "You're Dandy" and the Friend sentiment was made using the fanciful swirl font from Hero Arts.

Now for my news!  I've managed to find a job willing to give me the hours that will work nicely for my family at least during the school year.  So I'll be going back to work for 30 hours a week starting next week as well as a bookkeeping side job on the weekend.  I will be very busy for the next little while and in September we move into our new house so I will also be preparing for that.  We haven't sold this house yet but it will happen and in the meantime we don't have the money worries now that I'll be back at work. I don't know how much time I'm going to have to do what I love but I hope you will all keep in touch by email if you haven't seen much of me.  I still want to try and get at least one post done per week but at this point in time I have no idea how I'll adjust to the new routine.  One foot in front of the other.

My daughter broke my heart the other night while I was tucking her into bed.  She's very upset that I'll be going back to work.  I tried to explain that with the extra money we may be able to get to Disneyland sooner.  She's been asking to go for the last 6 months since 2 of her friends have already been.  And her response "Mommy I love you more than Disneyland and I want you to stay home."  What could I really say?  It brought a tear to my eye that's for sure.  It just goes to show that our kids would rather have our time and attention than anything material.

Practicing Creativity with Iris Folding

I finally found some time last night to play around with those sketch challenges Courtney has going on her blog.  There are four sketches and up for grabs is a $50 gift certificate for Practicing Creativity Designs (PCD).  Wouldn't that be handy?  I'd be able to add the last three stamp releases to my collection....and buy some May Arts ribbon as well.

Anyhow with this box sketch I was inspired to give Iris folding a try.  It's not very hard once you figure out a couple of tricks like the fact that you might need wider strips to start the pattern (at least if it's a larger pattern).  Also if it's thicker pattern paper you're using then you can't do as many layers as you might want to.  I'm proud of this card not only because I tried something different but because I managed to incorporate three different papers from three different manufacturers and I think it turned out wonderfully.

I have no idea why I came up with something for Saint Patrick's day but I came across my PTI Luck of the Irish set which I hadn't used yet and I was feeling pretty LUCKY.  Of course because this was a PCD challenge I had to incorporate one of Courtney's sets.  I used the For the Love of Dots to frame my art work.  There's always room for a little PCD =)

Elements

Paper: Very Vanilla, River Rock, Early Bird dp (Cosmo), Nook & Pantry dp (BG), Kaisercraft dp

Ink:  Always Artichoke

Accessories: cutting blade, iris folding pattern, foam tape, 1 1/4" circle punch

Stamps: Luck of the Irish (PTI), For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Celebrate Canada

While this wasn't meant to be a Canada card I figure the Celebrate sentiment fits perfectly for the day..  I don't like buying stamp sets that I will only use once a year (except for Christmas) so I don't have any patriotic stamps.  I like those sets that cover a bunch of a holidays in one set. Maybe next year I might break down and buy a small set as I am very envious of the card Maureen made with her new set. 

The inspiration came from this weeks Cinema Saturday Challenge.  It has been a long time since playing along with those lovely ladies and I miss them.  Life is just so crazy right now so if inspiration doesn't just pop out at me I tend to pass on the Challenge.  Well this week I was inspired more by the colours and using pennants than the actual movie, which I must admit that I haven't seen.  Sankari and Lynne provided some wonderful inspiration in their project as well so I just went along with the homemade feel and bright colours.  

The pennants come from my favourite Practicing Creativity set: Look Up!  Courtney's revealing a new set this week and she usually has a give away so you might want to pop over there.  Anyhow, the pennants were stamped on a neutral cotton fabric and then cut.  Hand stitching is done with linen thread around the top red panel and buttons and Kraft paper were used to create even more of a home made feel.  

Today I'm Grateful for.....having such a peaceful and safe country to live in.  What are you thankful for?

Elements

Paper: Kraft, Real Red, Garden Variety dp (Cosmo Cricket)

Ink: Staz On black ink, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Bayou Blue, Basic Black

Accessories: Fabric, linen thread, PTI buttons (Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, New Leaf)

Stamps: Look Up and For the Love of Dots (PCD)

Heartfelt Thanks

Hello Everyone!  Happy Wednesday!  I thought I would find time to post something yesterday but it just didn't happen.  Meetings and more pounding the pavement for a job.  It's amazing how much the process of finding a job has changed since the last time I had to apply for the job (more than seven years ago).  I wouldn't call it 'pounding the pavement' so much as 'surfing the net' because most of the time the application process tends to be done on-line.  I must say I'm glad to be getting back into the job search now rather than another couple of years.  Who knows how much technology will have changed the process by then!

Anyhow,  here's my card for this weeks CardPatterns sketch and Curtain Call colour challenge.  I took an original approach to those scallops and stamped them with the circles from PTI Polkadot Background Basics I.  Then I created an inviting scene with the On My Couch set and chose a Verve Thanks sentiment stamp to complete a bright and to cheerful Thank You.  I have to say I really like the little punches of red and the Lattice Textured Expressions (SU!) circles underneath the buttons.  What do you think?

Must go get ready for a night of camping coming up.  I'm not much of an outdoorsy person but I'm making a compromise for my kids.  Anyhow I hope your weeks ends even better than it started.  And Happy Canada Day tomorrow to my fellow Canadians =)

Elements

Paper: Whisper White, Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Summer Picnic dp (SU!)

Ink: Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Pure Poppy buttons (PTI), linen thread, lattice textured expressions ef (SU!), 3/4" circle punch

Stamps:  On my couch (PTI), Polka dot background basics I (PTI), Heartfelt Thanks (Verve)

Make You Smile =)

Hello everyone!  I thought I'd try and make you smile after my dreary last post.  This is for the current CAS-tastic challenge to use yellow, blue and a neutral of your choice.  I chose white for a bright and dreamy like look.  What do you think?  The butterflies are made from the left over paper from the SU! Princess party pack. I love So Saffron but I don't have very much of that colour so I'm making do with scraps right now.  It works really well the Tempting Turquoise (also from my scrap bin).

I got a chance to play with the sun rays from one of my favourite Practicing Creativity stamp sets "You're dandy"  I also took a chance and used acrylic paint and a pattern tracer to outline the rays.  I really like the affect....it's not too much but adds to the texture and colour.  The layout inspiration came from the current fall-to-layout sketch on the Clean and Simple blog.  Thanks for the inspiration ladies!

Hope you are all having a fabulous week.  I managed to make four cards this weekends so, unless things get really crazy around here I should be back everyday with something new.  Happy Crafting.

Elements:

Paper:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron dp

Ink: Whisper White Craft, Tempting Turquoise Craft

Accessories: Yellow acrylic paint, MS butterfly punch, Beautiful Butterflies die, pattern tracing wheel

Stamps: You're Dandy (PCD), Everyday Button Bits (PTI)