One of a kind!

Yes...this is an unusual card  :)
One of my nephews has a birthday in about a week.  He has curtains that, upon close examination, are a small skull and cross bones print.  I bought a MS skull and cross bones punch months ago, that  I've been waiting to use on a card for him.  Now is the time!
Challenges ~
The Play Date Cafe challenge #66 color splash uses a blue violet color as an accent with black and white.
Clean & Simple Stamping: 125 challenge is a layout, or sketch challenge.
So, my card is going into these challenges.  I know that this isn't the usual pretty or cute card that most paper crafters submit to a challenge, but I'm giving it a try anyway.  It was a fun card for me to create and I think my nephew will like it!!!

Here is the inspiration photo from the Play Date Cafe:

And the sketch (or "fall to layout") at Clean & Simple:

And, here is my card:

Thank you for taking a look.  I hope you leave a comment...I would love to know what you think!

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Ingredients:

Card stock: whisper white, basic black, almost amethyst (SU)

Patterned paper: best occasions (WalMart)

Other: rub-on sentiment (SU), skull and cross bones punch (MS)

A valentine for my sis

This card is going to my one and only sister, for Valentine's Day.  Mom and Dad are both gone...so my relationship with my sister is especially important to me.  So...I wanted to make a really special card for her.  This was such a fun card to make!  I cased THIS card, made by Sharon Johnson (over at No Time To Stamp).  Sharon's card is gorgeous!

Here is my version.  I changed out the dsp, the ribbon (my bow doesn't even compare to Sharon's), and the sentiment.  I also used a string of mini "pearls" instead of leaves, behind the flower.  I have a stamp from Verve that says "A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart".  So I created a version of that sentiment on my computer and printed it on SU vanilla CS.

My card is going into the Paper Pals Arts challenge (PPA68 - CAS - Element of Style - Bows)

And, into The Paper Players challenge - Anything goes & blog hop

Uh oh...I just took another look at the PPA challenge and realized they said  CAS (clean and simple).  ehhh...well...I sure didn't do CAS, did I?  Well, it's too late to change my card now.  I'm sorry ladies :(

This is a gate fold pocket card.  Sharon (see the link above) includes instructions on her blog, for creating this type of card.  It's an easy card to make, and so much fun.

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Ingredients:

Card stock: concord crush, very vanilla (SU)

DSP: lap of luxury (SU)

Stamps: hundred hearts (Verve) on the inside of the card and on the envelope

Ink: concord crush (inside the card and on the envelope), printer ink for the sentiment

Other: heart dies (Spellbinders), pretty in pink ribbon (SU), vanilla rosettes (SU), fused pearls (Wrights)

Valentine treats!

I had the idea to make some treat containers for a few friends of mine.  And, guess what???  When I checked out the Just Us Girls challenge this morning ~ well...the challenge is to create a 3-D Valentine treat container.  SO, I made 4!
I found a link to this treat cone template on Andrea's blog (thank you!)
If you're interested in this free template HERE is the link.

Check out all of the details for the JUGS #68 3-D Template Challenge.

Here is the set of Valentine treat cones that I created.  Remember, just click on any photo to see a larger version.

And, pics of each cone.

Actually, I was way out of my comfort zone working a template.  I absolutely LOVE creating cards.  I also enjoy creating photo/stamped collages.  But put a template in my hands....eeeehhhh....it's a challenge.  I know.  This is a simple template.  Still.........

Anyway, thank you to the team over at JUGS for CHALLENGING me!

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Ingredients:

Ink: concord crush, cameo coral, pretty in pink, old olive, lavender lace, rose red (SU)

Card Stock: pretty in pink, cameo coral, concord crush (SU)
DSP: SU and SEI

Stamps: vintage labels (SU)

Other: punches (SU), pearls and gems (Recollections), ribbons from my stash, bakers twine (RRR)

A card for Katie - for a Special Color Throwdown Dedication

Please visit the Color Throwdown Challenge blog to read a very special stamper/blogger, who is in need of our prayers, support and cards.  Through the Color Throwdown blog, I found out about Katie Renz's fight against cancer.  Then I read her blog...she is so strong and she is so open about her life.  Just in the short time that I've been following her blog, I feel a connection to her.  I don't know if it's because of her "from the heart" style of writing...or because I've watched a family member battle cancer, and can relate to so much of what she's writing about.  Maybe it's both.
If you wish, you can click HERE to visit Katie's blog.

This card is going into the special Color Throwdown Dedication (CTD124) for Katie.  As part of the challenge, you make a card using the challenge colors, link you card to the challenge blog, then send your card along to Katie.  What a wonderful challenge!  A BIG "thank you" to the DT at Color Throwdown for bringing us the opportunity to be involved!

These are the challenge colors ~

This is my card for Katie ~

I so enjoyed making this card.  Even though I don't personally know Katie, it felt good to be making this card for her.
I didn't have any soft sky card stock, so I substituted bashful blue...which, I think, worked well.
In the second photo, you can see a little of the stardust clear that I added to the blooms.  I was so glad to get the chance to use one of the vintage flower adornments, from SU,  that I got just a couple of days ago.  They're SO pretty.
Thank you so much for taking a look at my blog.  I hope you leave a comment...I love reading them!

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The recipe:

CS: melon mambo, early espresso, bashful blue, confetti white (SU)

Ink: rose red, early espresso, wild wasabi (SU)

Stamps: because I care, thoughts & prayers (SU)

Other: vintage flower adornment (SU), stardust clear gelly roll pen (Sakura), early espresso grosgrain ribbon (SU), border punch (SU), distressing tool (SU), scor-tape

Unforgettable...a valentine

 *** edit (1/15/11) This card was chosen as a Top 3 Fave at Unscripted Sketches ***
I've made a Valentine card today, for a very sweet Aunt.  Since I'm not sure if she reads my blog...I won't mention her name : o )

This card is going into 4 challenges.
Unscripted Sketches #88

The Paper Players Challenge PP29 - Happy Valentine's Day

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C 69

Just Us Girls (JUGS 66) - Technique Challenge

These are all such fun challenges!  Colors, theme, technique and sketch...they all fit together so well.

My card ~

You can click on any of the photos to see a larger version.

Well...this is certainly not a clean and simple card.  I was in the mood for layering and embellishing today.  You could have guessed, huh???  I do love lace and trims and...well, you get the idea...lol.  Also, it was fun lining my envelope (for the  JUGS challenge).  It's been a long time since I've done that and I'd forgotten how much it "dresses up" the envelope.  You can't see in the photos, but I also stamped a heart on the flap.  That's something I always do, so that it coordinates with the card.

Anyway, I'm very pleased with this card.  I hope my Aunt enjoys receiving it, as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Instead of going into detail on how I made the card (that would take to long), I'll just include my recipe at the end of my post.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! 

Recipe ~

Stamps: sweetest memories (GinaK), fine flourish (SU), heart flutter - I used this inside the card and on the flap of the envelope (Verve), punch potpourri (SU)

CS: soft suede, pretty in pink, regal rose, whisper white (SU)

Ink: soft suede, pretty in pink (SU)

Designer paper: chocolat mousse, chocolat cherie (SEI)

Other: frill velvet ruffle brown ribbon (from Michael's), white lace (The Paper Studio), linen thread (SU), butterfly punch (SU), clear embossing powder (SU), pearls (Recollections), rectangle die (Spellbinders) and a piece of tulle (from my friend Kris!)

A thank you rose...

Brrrr.....it was about 7 degrees above zero when I left the house this morning to do my shopping.  It didn't seem to keep many people at home though.  Unfortunately.  I remember now, why I don't usually do my shopping on a Saturday.  Ugh.  I was SO glad to get home, have lunch, then do a little stamping  :)

This card is going to a very sweet friend, who hosted a lunch yesterday for me and 2 other friends.  It was wonderful!  Lively conversation, friends and delicious food...I'm so blessed!

Anyway, this card is going into the Paper Pals Arts Challenge - PPA76.  Take a look at the colors for this challenge.  Very pretty...

I knew that I wanted to use the Manhattan Flower Sizzix embossing folder.  I've also been curious to see what results I would get, using vellum in the folder.  Well, that's what I tried for today's card.  It made a very deep impression on the vellum, BUT...it also cut through in a couple of places.  I guess I need a heavier vellum, huh?  I decided - a good place for the twill tape and sentiment - would be where there were cuts in the vellum.  I'm too stubborn to throw away the vellum and just start over.  So...it is, what it is.
And, here it is ~

I placed a piece of perfect plum card stock behind the vellum, so I could "sandwich" the vellum between that and the baja breeze that I used for the card base.  It can be so tricky to attach vellum, since the adhesive will show though.
Thanks for visiting...please leave a comment!

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The recipe:

CS: baja breeze, perfect plum, pear pizzaz, whisper white (SU)

Vellum: white (The Paper Studio)

Ink: perfect plum, baja breeze (SU)

Stamp: just believe (SU)

Other: fancy tags die (Spellbinders), sponge dauber (?), green twill (SU jersey originals), baker's twine (RRR)

Sweet Sunday sketch challenge 98

Yes...I'm using the hydrangea stamp AGAIN  : )   Once I started using this stamp, I just don't want to put it down!

It's been quite a while since I've played along in Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  This one is SSSC98.  I really like this week's sketch, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Here is Karen's sketch.

And here is my take on the sketch.

I used a technique on the vellum (on which my hydrangea is stamped) that I used, just a few days ago for another challenge card.  See THIS POST.  In the 2 angles photos, I tried to capture the raised areas of the flowers.  But, I'm not sure you can see it.  I can certainly feel the embossing IRL.  If you follow the link, you'll see an explanation of how I dry embossed...using a stylus...on the reverse side of the vellum.  But, this time I took it a step further.  I wondered what the image would look like if I colored the bloom, on the reverse side, with Stampin' Up markers.  SO...I gave it a try this morning.  I found that I had the best results if I stayed with lighter colors.  For this card I used bashful blue and almost amethyst for the bloom, and mellow moss and old olive for the leaves and stem.  I'm very pleased with the results!
What do you think???

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My recipe:

CS: bashful blue, always artichoke, whisper white (SU)

DSP: all are from the sweet pea collection (SU)

Stamps: because I care (SU)

Ink: bashful blue, always artichoke, old olive (SU), Staz On

Other: white vellum (The Paper Studio), ribbon from my stash, border punch (MS), round and scallop dies (Spellbinders)

Sympathy card/Just Us Girls Challenge

I spotted the sketch challenge over at Just Us Girls - JUGS65, and knew it would work for the sympathy card I wanted to make today.  Their sketches are such a great starting point for a card!  I made two sympathy cards today and on both, I decided to let my flowers be the focal point...I put my sentiment on the inside of the cards.

Here's the sketch that the team provided this week:

And, here is my interpretation of the sketch:

I'm using this hydrangea stamp a lot, lately.  It's from Stampin' Up's "Because I Care" set.  I used the same image a few days ago, for another challenge card.  This time I inked the stamp with my Bashful Blue stamp pad, then added some color variation to the flower by swiping my Concord Crush marker across the bloom, randomly, before I stamped the image onto my cardstock.  Then, I ran the cs through the lattice embossing folder to add more texture to my card.  I LOVE this ribbon...it's the Concord crush, edged in white.  So pretty, don't you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope the new year will bring everyone good health and good times spent with family and friends. 

2010 was a difficult year for my husband's family, with the loss of our nephew Matthew, so I'm praying for healing and strength for all of us.  And, I'm so thankful that we have each other to lean on.  The only thing more important than family...is our faith in God.

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Card recipe:

CS: concord crush, confetti white, bashful blue (SU)

Ink: concord crush, bashful blue (SU)

DSP: patterns stack, in color (SU)

Stamps: because i care, God's blessings (used for the verse inside the card) SU

Other: concord crush ribbon (SU), border punch (MS), lattice embossing folder (Sizzix, from SU), blue gems (Recollections)