Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Floral Sketches: "Getting to Know You"


The Floral Sketches stamps and Mix and Mat Pretty Brackets die are part of my recently received Papertrey Ink order.  I stamped some images, "just getting to know them" while using new inks.  It was fun to get acquainted with the alignment of the layering stamps and scatter a few over that gorgeous bracket die.  I stamped a sentiment inside and will send this card of thanks tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge AG
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge


Sunday, August 26, 2018

Sweet Watermelon Bear



Lisa Bzibziak shared the cutest card on the CLC blog and piqued my curiosity about Gerda Steiner Designs.  The cute little Watermelon Bear is a digital freebie offered on the GSD blog.  I colored him with pencils, cut the image with one of the MFT cross stitched circle dies, and loosely followed the MFT Sketch.  He makes me feel a little nostalgic about the passing of summer, but fits right in with the food and drink theme at SSS.  

Thanks to GSD for the cute digital stamp and to all who stopped for a look.
Christine

Linking to:






Inspired By--Brighter Each Day



When I saw this gorgeous card by Julee Tillman, I quickly ordered the Lumber 3D embossing folder.  It works like a dream!  I misted the paper and ran it through the Big Shot three times, as recommended.  Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress inks highlight the texture.

I couldn't resist the inspiration photo at Inspired By......the dotted paper is a remnant from a well-loved Heidi Swapp stack, and  Verve's Bloom Brighter was embossed in gold and watercolored with Arteza real brush pens.

So grateful for some crafting time today.  Have a fabulous week!
Christine

Linking to:
Inspired By
Word Art Wednesday
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge

Friday, August 24, 2018

Fun Friday Challenge with LBBS




Happy Friday!  It's time for another Fun Friday Challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack where the theme is always Anything Goes.   This week the design team is showcasing  images from Little Blue Button Stamps.  I was provided with the hyacinth digital stamp which was colored with pencils, cut with a LID Stitched Oval Die, and mounted over a frame.  The frame was cut, reinserted in the chalk-dusted die, and embossed.  I like the soft, irregular color.

Please take time to see the design team's samples and to link up your own creations.  It's always fun to see what you have to share!
Challenge Rules

1. Please post a direct link to your blog post that includes your challenge entry project, using the linky tool below. 

2. Be sure to include a link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering your project into

3. THREE entries per person are allowed for each challenge and you must post a separate blog post for each entry.

4. For all entries -NO BACK LINKS ACCEPTED- 
The date on your blog post should be dated between the start date & the end date for the challenge you are entering, in order to be eligible for the challenge & prizes

5. You may link up to other challenges but be sure to link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering 

 * All entries that do not meet the challenge requirements
WILL NOT be eligible for the top 3, any sponsor wins or any random wins by Jo.
All random wins will only be mailed within the US and Canada only.


Thanks so much for taking time to visit,
Christine

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

AHSC 278--Happy Birthday


Oh, I enjoyed making this card....the sketch is lovely, and the summer schedule says to slow down and experiment.

The pretty flowers are from a brand-new MFT order and are called "Pressed Flowers".

 I enjoyed building the background panel by encasing an open Spellbinders design in a frame created by cutting two stitched rectangles.

A fun tip:  I cut a fishtail banner die cut right up the middle and taped the two resulting pieces back in the die to complete the stitched border. Perfect for this sketch and a way to get another mile out of a die.

Hope you have time to play along with this week's sketch.  It's a keeper!

Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
The House That Stamps Built
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch


Sunday, August 19, 2018

MFT Birthday Challenge---CAS Birthday Blessings



 School has begun!  I am thrilled with my new students, with my teaching assignment, and with my wonderful co-workers.  There is much to be thankful for, but crafting time is short.  I am especially grateful for just a bit of ink and paper time today.

The card recipe is simple:
Stamps include MFT's Pressed Flowers and Verve's Cake and Candles.
Dies used are Reverse Confetti Wreath, Verve Stitched Banner, and Papertrey Noted.

I combined a sketch and a color challenge to meet MFT's birthday challenge  to create a CAS card.  CAS cards are hard for me, so the support of a color palette and a sketch really help!

Thanks so much for your visit,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Birthday Project--CAS
Color Throwdown
Freshly Made Sketches
Word Art Wednesday
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch 



Sunday, August 12, 2018

Die Cuttin' Divas: Enjoy Today



Loved using the Die Cuttin' Divas Sketch with some MME scraps.  The beautiful yellow peony is a Birch Press Design stamp, and the sentiment comes from Verve's Rise Above set.  The focal panels are MVT Stitched Scalloped Squares, and the border dies are Verve's Lacey Scalloped dies.....love them!

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to Die Cuttin' Divas
Word Art Wednesday
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge


Heartfelt Gratitude



Look, Mom, no flowers, doilies, gems, or bows!  This set of thank you notes is for my son to express gratitude to those who are mentoring him during his summer internship.  The maroon background is a nod to his college colors, and the layers were intentionally kept clean and masculine. I like the outcome!

"A Big Thank Thank You" is the name of the Stampin' Up collection....not only does it contain versatile sentiments, but there are some fun design elements in the collection, too.  I owe a big thank you to Kathy Schweinfurth who provided this as a prize in the most recent Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  Many thanks, Kathy, for a fun and useful set and thanks to all who took a peek.

Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch


Friday, August 10, 2018

Fun Friday With Little Blue Button Stamps--Miss Lily and the Teacup






Happy Friday!  It's time for another Fun Friday Challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack where the theme is always Anything Goes.   This week the design team is showcasing  images from Little Blue Button Stamps.  I used Miss Lilly Tea layered over a vintage image.

Please take time to see the design team's samples and to link up your own creations.  It's always fun to see what you have to share!
Challenge Rules

1. Please post a direct link to your blog post that includes your challenge entry project, using the linky tool below. 

2. Be sure to include a link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering your project into

3. THREE entries per person are allowed for each challenge and you must post a separate blog post for each entry.

4. For all entries -NO BACK LINKS ACCEPTED- 
The date on your blog post should be dated between the start date & the end date for the challenge you are entering, in order to be eligible for the challenge & prizes

5. You may link up to other challenges but be sure to link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering 

 * All entries that do not meet the challenge requirements
WILL NOT be eligible for the top 3, any sponsor wins or any random wins by Jo
All random wins will only be mailed within the US and Canada only.


Thanks so much for taking time to visit,
Christine

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Cards for Little Hearts: Hello



I am so excited to complete a few cards to share in the Cards for Little Hearts Drive coordinated by  Christina Hor, a very kind and talented artist.  She organizes three different card collections to cheer and encourage children and teens who are hospitalized with complications from congenital heart problems.  I am working on cards for the general collection which is explained here.

Please thoughtfully consider sharing some cards.  As a teacher of healthy elementary students, I can attest to the fact that a simple card to say, "I am proud of you", "I believe in you", or "You did a great job" are treasured by the students.  The cards that Christina collects are shared by the doctors and nurses that care for the young patients.  I can't imagine how these acts of kindness would uplift the children and help with the healing process.

Before sharing cards, please read Christina's guidelines to keep the cards safe and encouraging for the kids.

Thank you for visiting.  Have a lovely weekend,
Christine

Linking to:
Crop Stop
Tuesday Throwdown
Word Art Wednesday
Stamplorations Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge




Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Birthday Wishes


Today's professional development was on an emotionally heavy topic, so I decided to treat myself to a little card-making inspiration time. I checked my favorite crafters' blogs, completed a blog hop and came across a couple of challenges that looked like fun.  

The colors for my project came from Color Throwdown.  I started by hand painting (key word for they are crooked) some stripes in aqua watercolor.  The pretty pink roses are W Plus 9's Handpainted Florals, and the lacy tone on tone die was cut using retired Verve dies.  The sentiment is from Verve's Cake and Candles.  The bottom panel incorporates the warm gray tone and also covers the more crooked portions of the stripes!


I am also entering this isn Paper Sweeties' Sixth Anniversary Celebration.  The theme is:  Birthdays!  I would LOVE to win some of their amazing products.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine





AHSC 276--Plentiful Polkadots and Poppies


 Hello!  It's a wonderful Wednesday and time to share my interpretation of the Atlantic Hearts Sketch.

Since spending some time organizing my craft room, I set a goal to use more papers from those "almost finished" stacks of card stock.  This one is called Hip Hip Hooray by American Crafts and has been well enjoyed.  I decided to see what would happen if  the flowers from Verve's Poppy Birthday were stamped over the patterns.....and the coolest thing happened to the centers of the dotted flowers!  The black ink "took" to the white dots and left a wonderful effect in the centers.  Wish I could say I planned it!!!


Thanks so much for your visit,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
Crop Stop


Sunday, August 5, 2018

Praying for You




 The inspirational pieces of this card have several sources:  The coloring book background is a Stamplorations sample that can be downloaded here and colored using any desired media.  I used Prismacolor pencils and blending oil.  There are some uh-oh spots, but I will chalk that up to learning.  To keep the colored panel intact, I used the Sunday Stamps Sketch with its fun tilted panels and took the color scheme and purpose from the Calling All Sistahs challenge.  CAS has provided a vivid color palette and the challenge to create encouraging cards.



Thanks for taking a look at my project,
Christine

Stamplorationns Blossom Bliss Link-up
Sunday Stamps (Sketch)
Calling All Sistahs Color Palette
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Create Your Own Background)





Saturday, August 4, 2018

Brought to you by a Steaming Cup of Coffee

I was blessed with a generous win during the Stamplorations Birthday Bash, and this uber cute sentiment was part of my gift.  The background was created using two retired Verve sets: Rise Above and Happiness Is.  This is much more CAS than my usual style, so it was a little hard to stop and to keep the card simpler.

Thanks for stopping by and happy Saturday!
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge: Create Your Own Background
CASual Fridays Challenge:  Stamp a Pattern
PIP Challenge Sunny Day 
Stamplorations Never Ending Anything Goes Challenge


Build your Own Background: W Plus 9 Freehand Florals


I have seen so many gorgeous cards with W Plus 9's Freehand Florals.  I love working with this set, and I don't have an extensive collection of inks.  Each each of the flowers stamped on this panel was stamped with only one shade of ink, so don't be discouraged from giving this set a spin with what you have on hand.

After cutting the panel with stitched dies, the center was layered over black and the sentiment was added.  It's from a W Plus 9 sentiment set, Hand Lettered Hello.  The card was finished with a few large clear sequins.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Make your own background)
Word Art Wednesday

Friday, August 3, 2018

Inspired by Back to School: To Teach is To Love




 I am so excited to be returning to school next week for professional development and to meet my new students the following week.  There will surely be an opportunity to share a card like this with a colleague in the coming days.

The inspiration photo is adorable:  I was drawn to the tiny chalkboard and to the gingham and knew it was time to pull out Verve's Teachers Count (retired set, but a favorite to be sure).

Love the MFT Sketch and framed the big rectangle to create a chalkboard look.  The sweet Verve heart die created a nice element, but the open hearts conflicted with the gingham.  I swiped the red ink pad used for the apples across a scrap of white card stock and inset the contrasting hearts.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please remember to pray for our students and teachers as school begins.
Christine

Linking to:
Inspired By Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge
Word Art Wednesday

Thursday, August 2, 2018

MFT Sketch Challenge: Ham It Up on Your Birthday



Happy dance!  I have groceries and something simmering on the stove, and my husband called needing a birthday card.  Yay!  I can stop and craft one more time before summer's over.

Love the MFT Sketch made into a cute scene.  After sponging a cloudy background with Salty Ocean,   I added some Mowed Lawn distress ink using a make up brush.  It's a good way to get a subtle and even application of ink.  Hog Heaven takes center stage, and the bright sun is a retired Verve die.


Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the August sun,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Sketch Challenge
PIP Challenge Sunny Day Cards
Die Cutting Divas (Hog Heaven dies, stitched rectangle, and sun dies)
Word Art Wednesday
SSS  Wednesday Challenge Make Your Own Background

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Lawn Fawn Interactive: It's a Boy


The current Lawn Fawn challenge is to create an interactive card.  I am not an engineer....I am not great at building cards more complex than top- or side-folding.

However, I was so enchanted with Lisa Bzibziak's card (Click the link and say, "Awwww how darling!") that I had to find the Lawn Fawn challenge blog and give it a try.

I used Plus One to create a simple pop-up gift card holder for to celebrate the arrival of a baby boy this fall.  The only gift card I had on hand was Starbucks, but it worked for photo purposes.  (Insert laugh....new parents need coffee!  I didn't start drinking it until I had a new baby and a full time job.)


Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Lawn Fanatics Challenge 33

MFT Color Challenge: Happy Birthday



To meet the MFT Color Challenge, I decided to have a little watercolor fun.  After preparing panels in shades of lavender and peach, I die cut lots and lots of MFT Stitched Flowers.....there are more for another project later!  These were layered over and MFT Mandala Die, and I tucked in a few watercolored leaves from anther project. The deep purple sequins didn't photograph well, but they are pretty IRL.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog,
Christine

Linking to:
MFT Color Challenge
Word Art Wednesday
Die Cuttin' Divas