Chocolate Cake Card!

This last week was very busy..I worked on getting a few odds and ends projects out of the way that I have been meaning to do for awhile.

When the F4A101 challenge was posted last Friday on SCS I imediately thought of chocolate roses and chocolate frosting on a Chocolate cake.  one day I will get to have some again but right now I am dieting and trying my best to get all the unhealthy excess fat off my body, so I guess a paper cake would have to do.  I also wanted to do the sketch challenge, SC367,  so I combined the two...imagine if you will  the center chocolate chip card sotck strip as the chocolate cake!

Still loving my Big Shot, I used my Musical Flourish, and Swiss Dots Cuttlebug EF's for the base pieces.  The roses were made using my SU Scalloped Circle Punch, and spiral cutting it, then rolling it up and tweaking it until it looked like a rose.
Since I was having glue dot issues I used 5mm sticker pearls by The Paper Studio in the centers.
the very vanilla Seam binding ribbon was the perfect touch to finish off the card.  The SU Designer Label punch was used twice once with Crumb Cake and once in Chocolate Chip to add the little shadow at the bottom, and since I made 2  the other side was used for a duplicate card.  The sentiment is from Sincere Salutations  a long time SU favorite.
the embossed background  card stock is SU Crumb Cake, with  my base a Staple's Cream cover stock.

I hope you enjoyed it!...until later Happy Stamping!

Hi I have been trying my best to keep up with post despite working on 400 invites I cant show you until Mid April.

Today I finished embossing the invites so I grabbed the same embossing folder and made a card to use for SU TLC361.

Wendy had red the challenge to me over Skype last night why I was embossing so with out looking I did what she said and this is the card I came up with.

I used scrap pieces of Cream Staples cover stock that I am using for the invites. I used it as the stamped and embossed and base of the card. The black is Embassy card stock I picked up at Wal-mart a while back. I embossed with River Rock on the negative space of the Victoria Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The ribbon is left over from the 400 invites I did 2 years ago.  So you see I have been using my stash proudly.  The black label is a Sizzix Label,Orante#4, I have been waiting to use that. The sentiment was stamped with Jet Black StazOn ink and punched out using SU: Decorative label punch.

Hope you like it!  Until Later... Happy Stamping!

Inspired By Love Card

I started this card yesterday and finished it this morning...Its been one busy day. I have an event tonight that I am making decorations and food for and it has taken  up some of my time this week.  When I saw the IC318 Challenge I found this Frame that inspired me! (Shocking I know!)  However I didn't have anytime Sat to make the card.  Yesterday I looked at the Color Challenge CC357 and decided to combine the two Challenges and this is the card I came up with...I think it turned out cute.  I used several Embossing folders and Punches...I like the dimension and layers.  the fist thing I did was emboss the GP White card stock , and then trimmed it to the width of 5X5 heart blocks. then I got 2 Scraps of riding hood red and embossed the top and fifth row of the folder again. Then I trimmed the 1st and 5th hearts on each piece. Next I measured the inside square and trimmed another piece of card stock  to roughly 2 1/4" x 2 1/8". Embossed with QuicKuts Circles EF. I then matted it with Blushing Bride card stock and trimmed to roughly 1/16". Next I punched and embossed with SU Scallop trim border punch a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" piece of Baja Breeze.  After punching I line the inside flat edge on my paper cutter where the Black plastic is covers so It gets about a 1/16" edge. then I applied Adhesive to the edge of the BB matting and trimmed  trying to follow the Dots.  then I used 1/16" dimensionals to adhere the framed art to the White embossed backing and then adhered the Red hearts on dimensionals also.  the last mat piece of Baja Breeze was  Cut  1/2" wider on each edge than the white Heart Block embossed piece.  I then punched with SU Scalloped Trim Corner punch then lined up the border piece for the top and sides.. The top almost matched up perfectly. The suides however would not so I centered the Border on the piece of card stock then, used my 1/4" hand punch to double punch close to the rings on each side creating the little dip then used sciccors to trim out the little excess in between. I was going to use some brads in the dips but decided it looked nice with out. The last thing I assembled was the red Riding Hood Heart embossed with SU Embosslit Scalloped Heart to Heart. I used SU silver elastic cord to tie on the SU Tiny Tags love tag..First stamped in background of Baja Breeze ink and then using StazOn Jet Balk ink to stamp the *Love*. After I punched it out using SU Tiny Tag punch. The finished card is 4 1/4" BY 5" What  do you think??
Until Later...Happy Stamping!

SCS Challenge Cards

 I decided I need to make  cards more often so I decided to "Make" time for them everyday. Lately I am afraid the cards have been on the bottom of the list. they didn't make it all the way to the top but they are higher up on my list for sure.  I have decided following the challenges at SCS is a sure fire way to get me creating. Today I managed to work in 3 challenge cards.  This first one was the Sketch challenge posted last week...SC365. When I saw the pieces I knew I needed to use up some of my scrap stash  of Spice cake paper. It worked perfectly when I look a the completed card now I think I should have used my sewing machine and stiched it. Maybe next time.  I used SU: Triple Treat Flower.
Early Espresso, and More Mustard Ink
Pool Party, More Mustard, Old Olive and early Espresso card stock...I added a little Hero Art gem stone to the Embossed flower for a fancy corner small embossing folder that I punched out with a 1/2" circle punch.  The Espresso piece was embossed with Musical Flourish.

 My second card was for the CAS152 Challenge of Die Cuts. I pulled out an old Cuttlebug Die Cut of a flat tips 5 petal flower.  I used the scrap stash again  in dark and a light purple, and Certainly Celery, and cut out several times until I had a nice pile of flowers to work with and enough leaves. I think 5 times each color.  I drew a circle on the card added small glue dots along the line and started sticking down flowers to form the wreath. then I punched out a scrap of Barely Banana with my 1/4" hand punch. and added them to the centers. Melon Mambo scrap was used with the small Martha Stewart Monarch butterfly  Punch and then a bow was tied with the old wedding ribbon. the sentiment is stamped with Timber Brown StazOn ink using Celebrate Everything. I really like how this turned out.

The last card was for TLC359, which was titled "Best of 2011", so I had to choose a previous TLC challenge  for last year...I choose Follow the EdgeTLC318. basically  you cut away the front of the card to follow your stamped image.
I used SU: Fabulous Florettes to stamp the card. I used Daffodil Delight ink on the stamp and then used my Pumpkin Pie Marker to trace the outlines and then stamped them on the card front. then I masked them, and stamped the  leaf stems with Old Olive. making sure to wipe away the stems and part of the flower on it.
 Then after removing the mask I drew the straight stem part with an Old Olive marker. I used a scrap of old olive that was quite big but had something punched out of it. trimmed it to the size of the Card front and then followed the edge with my old shape cutting scissors.  I haven't used them in years.  They worked perfectly for this job. Lastly I tied the bow of dotted Orange organza and stuck it on with a large glue dot.

Hope you enjoy seeing more cards from me. I had fun making them.
Until later...Happy Stamping!

Triple Treat Birthday Card

Newly Engaged Daughter

I have been a very busy person of late, made a few more Family frames for Christmas Presents and then, Drove 2 trips back and forth to Pick up and Drop off my girls and one spouse from College.  Held a Baby Shower for my daughter who is expecting a little grand daughter for me in Feb.  I also had another Daughter get engaged, adding another guest to my house during the holidays. It was a fun few weeks but I am ready for the routine to kick back in!

The Expectant Parents and Cardmaker!

My DD used my craft space to make a stash of 52 cards to use in the next year and suggested I make a card a week and give her a set next year for Christmas...I am thinking it might be the motivation I need. to get a few more cards made and to have some projects to post.  I decided either I am going to do this blog thing a lot better this year or my Blog will disappear in 2013.

Wendy posted  a cute Free For All Challenge on SCS so I decided to make a card and play along. This is what I came up with.  I used the spice cake paper because I love it and I am hoping to see it again in the future! I stamped the sentiment and image with Jet Brown StazOn and stamped the Triple Treat Flower image on More Mustard, Baja Breeze and, Old Olive. The used the respective punches, (5 Petal Flower, Fancy Flower and 1/2" Circle)to make my flower 3D.  Iused my Lacey and Eyelet border Punches to deocrate the trims on the card.  The very Vanilla Panel was sent through the Sizzix with my Musical Flourish Embossing Folder an New Favorite of mine! I used the Decorative label and Designer lable to dress up the sentiment, and My Martha Stewart leaves to add some texture.  lastly I added a few 2 mm and 1 mm Hwero Arts Rhinestones to the flower to add some sparkle, I like how it turned out.   I think it turned out cute for a rusty card maker.  
Until Later... Happy Stamping!

Spots and Dots Birthday Card

well finally after 3 attempts.

I made my CC318 Color Challenge Card for SCS.

 I have failed miserably 2 times because I used either Peach Parfait or Melon Mambo on the last two...

I used my Cuttlebug Spots and Dots EF. I Havent used it in ages..I forget I have it. Tonight my husband asked me as I was putting this card together. "How do you remeber what you own?"...I said," I dont!"...so today this was like using a brand new folder.. Well thats my story and  I am sticking to it...;) I used scrap roses and leaves from my last card.  for other details please ask!
Until Later...Happy Stamping!

Embossed Sketch Birthday

SOmetimes you try to make a card and you have a definate look in your head of what it is going to look like and then you make it and it transforms into something else. Such is this card...

When I saw the sketch challegne I used onthis card I invisioned a mostly white card using jsut color for the borders. but that Changed as I began to assemble the card. neccesity called for more color.
I lov eth e Cup Cake Punch for Brithday cards. I also like the EF I used on the front panel Darice Circles.  I also used the Once Upon a Time EF set for the cupcakes in the back panel for the first time.  I love the texture...
For all the Ingredients of this card please Check out my Card in my SCS gallery.  I have been typing blog post for a week and I think I am finally caught up to the cards I have made so everything should start being more current.

Until Later... Happy Stamping!

Roses of Gratitude

I bougth a few new toys on vacation with making some paper flowers in mind.  I was actually givign it a go when the try a new technique challenge wasa posted last Monday.  I had bought the Sizzix Floral Layer Die when on vacation to try using to make the flowers. Ihad been talkiing to my Firend Deb Felts about  how to do it prior to vacation.  I though the shallow petals punched would add some detail to the flowers when I made them and I wasnt disappointed.  I was just practicing I used old GP pastel cardstock in pink to make the roses.  I thought they turned out well so I had to use them on my next challenge card. 

The technique was to use a border punch edge around a circle shape. I used my new EK  dotted Scallop and stash of Celery paper pieces to make the border and punch the leaves.  I decided the border shape needed to be wider so I added a second layer using MS Arched lattice.  The technique said to use a triangle wedge but I was lazy so I just fringed the edge of the strip.  I also used it around the back of the card shape so I cut a secondary circle of GP white cardstock using my Creative Memories circle cutters and stuck it on the back of the card to cover the fringed edges that allow the straight border to bend.  The Peach Parfait paper was the perfect color for the "bricked" background Sizzix Tim Holtz EF. I had to hand cut the Embassy black cardstock border. seems theri is a big Gap in the CM cutting sizes, and I caqnt quite afford to get a nice circle cutter yet.  I liek the way the last 3 little pearls look on the edge of the sentiment. Loving the Fabulous Phrases stamp set and my Modern Label punch. this really was a fun card to make and look at.
Until Later ...Happy Stamping!

Boys Birthday Cupcake Trio

I made this set of Cupcake Cards to finish catching up all my Birthday cards for April.  I dual used it for a Color Challenge Card on VSN.  Using baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler and Certainly Celery.  The stamp set is Something to Celebrate.

 I love the Cupcake Punch and and adding texture with Embossing folders. Since I was making  three cards it really cut back on Waste from the cupcake punch, using th edifferent pieces ont he different cards.  I like how the Herringbone worked on the Cupcake wrappers and Divine Swirl on the Frosting...  I used my corner punch to make the sentiment stand out a bit more.  Using "Brithday Words" As a abckground makes the CupCakes stound out even more... This was a quick and easy Card to make! I love being caught up on Birthdays once again!  Now to grow my stash before the Birthdays start coming again.
  Until Later...Happy Stamping!

VSN & CCrak Challenge #8 "Fifth Ave Birthday"

 SO I really liked the using vellum challenge for VSN in Feb. I also really liked my card so I did a varitation of it for the CCrak Challenge again wehn I needed another Birth day card for my DD#4.

I am still busy  altering a prom dress and gettting my house in shape to leave town again, but I managed to stop by the carft store when I went shopping naer my favorite LSS.  I embossed the vellum with the SU 5th Ave Floral Embossing folder and then colored the back side with SU markers in Pretty in Pink and Cetainly Celery.  The stamped sentiment is from the Eat Cake set in the mini...love the scriptiness of it, I stamped it in Timber brown stayzOn because Black just seemed to harsh.  I used  my various punches to mat it and pop it up. The ribbon ias left from the wedding last June.

Hope you like it...Until Later ...Happy Stamping!

VSN & CCrak Challenge #7 "Chocolate Dreams"

Well just like during VSN my life is crazy busy. Infact on the deadline for VSN I was frantically trying to upload about 12 cards in just a breif hour I had it was crazy, but I really liked my cards...and yes my lif eis still crazy busy but I still think my cards truned out good so here it is practically 2 months later and I am frantically catching up on blog post...
welll anyways when they said to use My Dream as a jump off point for a card...just getting to put my feet up and relax was what I was really wanting  and this week the same dream still is a live....I like how this card came together..I lov eth sentiment form th eSU cnoclate set and the image from MFT...the colors are lovely lilac and kiwi kiss I think they reall ymake the card Fun...so heres to Dreams even if they only last as long as the  amount of chocolate we have on hand!!!! And Yep you guessed it I am still cleaning but at least the laundry is caught up! Here is the  LINK to my SCS gallery and ingredients for this card!
Until Later .....Happy Stamping!

VSN & CCrak Challenge #6 "Tiles Three" and a few more

 finally a post that actually includes some of the CC raqk challenge cards...
The first card is the one I made for the VSN challenge. I made several tiles with this technique when I did the challenge. so I used th etiels and scraps from VSN to make the cards below. I loved this color combo...and I love the cards I made when I had a bit more time to think about making the card

I used Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard and Cajun Craze  for the color scheme. Thick Ranger Embossing powder and my heat embosser. The EF folder once again is Victoria I really felt it went well withthe images on the the tiles. I lov ethe set it came from a clear set I picked up a while ago..and finally am getting around to usuing.  Once again to save time during cleaning the Supplies are listed with the cards in my gallery at SCS all the cards are shown there with their ingredients.

Card 1,    Card 2,    Card 3

Until Later.... Happy Stamping!

VSN & CCrak Challenge #5 "Bird Bliss"

Okay still plugging along...and I also managaed to make a new card to post in the future...I can't wait to be all caught up here on my blog and at home. just another dya and another quick post.. between loads  of laundry. It really seems my life is out of my control right now, it is a feeling I dislike intensely...but I have grown to understand that I cant control everything so I make sure to do something I like each day also just to keep life fun. Creating cards gifts and scrapbook pages does that for me...I relly like how this card turned out.  I know I used  Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand and Vanilla CS. I also used the large designer punch. I used the Cuttlebug "Victoria" (Love it!) EF in my Big Shot.  I think the stamp set is SU "Bliss" and was from the mini.
I cant remember its been too long!:(  I will go find it if you ask and really want to know, but because I dont get many comments and I am not sure who is really reading I am going to Opt out of listing all the supplies. They are all listed  in my SCS Gallery HERE.  I hope that works for you! I have a ton to do before I go to my DD & SIL college graduation  in a little over a week...anyway...
 Until later...Happy Stamping!!!

Sweet Stem Thinking of You

A dear friend of mine, from church, Father In Law passed away this week. I used the Sketch challenge from SCS SC321 as a kick off point to get inspiration for my card. this is the card I made.  I hope my friend and here family like it.

I used several Cuttlebug folders  Victoria a reg one and Polka Dots a larger one. I used my MS Lacey Doily Punch and SU Scalloped border punch. I really like how all these effects came together on the card.  I decided to heat emboss the images and sentiment with  Versamark and Black embossing powder. I used my Soft Subtles SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons to apply a soft color to the images.  I like how it turned out but the dry air did give me a bit of static issues on the Cardstock. I am loving the crispness of my BIG SHOT withthe embossing folders. Iused GP white card stock and SU Sahara Sand.  I have been liking the gingham ribbon again I thought the squares on it went great with the squares in the sketch.  You should try the inspiration of challenges if you have been a little rusty lately and are trying to get back into the swing of paper crafting. I find them very inspirational. Until Later ...Happy Stamping!

Baby Card

last week I spent time watching my neices and nephew while my SIL had her baby girl. I made this card for her last Friday.  I used my Cuttlebug Baby Die in My new Sizzix I made it for the Sketch on SCS last week.  I used Pink Pirouette and ChocolateChip and Melon Mambo for thuis card..I love the colors together. The mambo is Embossed with CB "Baby Words" embossing folder...and The Pink in the background with PolkaDots by QuiKutz. and Chocolate Chip in Swiss Dots by Cuttlebug.  The image is old SU retired set..been loving using my SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons again..my brushes had not been used for a while..
Until Later...Happy Stamping!

A Thank You Card

I made this add for my Daughter's SIL, she made a cute mosaic picture collage of my grandson for me at Christmas. It is so cute and I enjoy it so much. I also made it for SCS CC311 & TLC313.

The quilt pattern is called "Bargello" , yes I learned something new!  There is a tutorial here if you want to learn how to make it. 

The color challenge used SU colors, Perfect Plum, Regal Rose, Always Artichoke. Loved using these colors. I pulled out my retired stamp set SU...Sweet N Sassy... I also used My Pink Stamper's Fruit &Veggie Puns

 I did not have enough Designer Paper in the correct colors so I stamped the images form Sweet and Sassy  in th e 3 colors on White cardstock and embossed the "Script" CB embossing folder on to Always Artichoke in order to coordinate the DP with the color challenge.

Hope you like it ...Until Later Happy Stamping!

Masculine Brithday Cards, OH MY!

One of the hardest cards I find to make is the one for the men in my family. this week I made a series of 6 Masculine cards. I am just going to show a few but they all had the same theme in the same color I used the tortise and the Bird from SU Wildlife Reserve(retired)  my favorite go to set wehn making a man card!

I made them to go with Wendybells F4A50 "Almost Monochrome". 

 I used GP White, Sahara Sand and Always Artichoke! I so need the Green right now anyway I can get it.

I used White Craft ink to sponge wipe on the Sizzix:Tim Holtz: Bricked embossed background. Love the look. Sizzix Leaf Branch(name?) die was used, as well as either the SU: Circle Punches, large oval punch and Designer label Punch.  and  a MS Embossed Zig zag punch.

Until Later...Happy Stamping!

Have a Grape Day!

 A few weekends ago I drove to my Favorite Craft store to meet my friend Robyn (My Pink Stamper) in person. we have chatted over the years on SCS  when she first got her Cricut.  and if you don't know of who I speak you should follow the link to her website on my side bar.   Robyn now carries a line of stamps to go with Cricut Cartridges and so during my trip I picked up the Fruit and Veggie Puns Set to go with the Preserves cart because I know I will get more use of the cart having some great sentiments to go with it. The Have a Grape Day sentiment came from this set and is stamped in Chocolate Chip Ink.


I wanted to participate in SCS's Color Combination last week because I had finally purchased some of the new In Colors from SU this year. The color Combo use three of the new colors.  as I stared at the three colors I couldn't get the name Concord Crush out of my head so I thought I can make grapes.  so thus the inspiration for this card began. the other colors used are Peach Parfait and Pear Pizazz. I began by using my Assorted Leaved Spell binders another goal on my mind since I have had them for weeks I can finally say I have used a Spell binders Die. Loved using them and I will again.  next I punched out several 3/4" circles using my SU Punch.  I then embossed the base piece of Peach using Cuttlebugs D'vine Swirls EF.  I laid the leaves out on the card where I wanted and then eyeballed where the grapes needed to go on the card. I then attached the grapes one at a time starting on the bottom making a set up like bowling pins using glue dots. leaving them abt 1/4 " apart.  I went 4 across and then started bringing them back closer together for a row.  then I placed some covering 1/4 "gaps about 4 or 5 overlapping the others.  I then scattered some apart on 1/16" EK square dimensionals. Then about 3 more on 1/8" Square dimensionals by Zots.   I filled in any open areas with more circles just on glue dots.

I attached  the partial leaf in the center, flat on the Grapes and then one leaf one 1/16th Dimensionals and the last opposite on 1/8" DImensionals.   I cut 3, 1/8th inch strips, at 4 1/4" long of the Pear CS and wrapped them around the piercing tip of my paper piercer.  I added a glue dot to the end of the strip and using the piercer to positioned the curls under the leaves. lastly I cut the ovals for the sentiment and a mat for it using my CM oval cutter. 

Until Later...Happy Stamping!

Still Catching Up

I still need to get caught up on Kids Birthday Cards for the summer. I came across this image I had stamped and pasteled a few years ago, last week. I decided I should use it on one of my kids cards. I also decided to try one of SCS Sketch Challenges SC292 and used the LO by Dawn to make this Card. Stop By and Wish her a Happy Bloggaversary! today ; I know she would appreciate it.

I like how the card turned out and I think my nephew will also. Hope you enjoy it too.

Until Later.... Happy Stamping!

paper:SU: Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point

GP: white and Pastel:Light Blue

Stsmps: Fishy Friends, Upsy Daisy

Accesories: MM Button Brads

Cuttlebug: winter combo pack , Tartan

Snowflakes and Pearls challenge

I made this card several weeks ago for a snowflakes and pearls challenge on SCS, but it has taken a month to get it off my camera.

It really was an miracle that it even got a challenge card made. So I think I ill share the story with you. I was trying to get a card made for a friend and thought a lovely flower frame would be nice to have. I was working with my Gypsy and its tiny screan and didnt have my glasses downstairs but was a ffraid if I went looking for them I would never make my way back to my craft space so I diligently laid out my mat withthe colors I wanted and cut my card. when it came out on this mat I had this lovely snowflake theme going on. I was talking on the phone to my friend at the time and said ..sheesh I thought I cut a springy garden frame and now I have stars and snowflakes... SHe said perfect. the challenge today is Snowflakes and Pearls. I set the pieces aside and made the floral frame card I was needing and then came back a few days later made the card and took the picture. Where it miraculously lasted through weeks of the kids taking th ecamera for pictures and fun. Until today where I uploaded to my blog to share.

I love how th ecard turned out and how the pearls look on the snowflakes. I hope you enjoy it also, and I have learned my lesson I now keep a spare pair of reading glasses in my purse, by my computer, bed, reading chair, and CRAFT TABLE!

Until Later... Happy Stamping!

SU Stamp: All Year Cheer

Cricut Cartridge: Lacey Labels(walmart)

Cuttlebug: Devine Swirls

Heros Arts: pearls

Paper: SU: Basic Grey, Not Quiet Navy, Baja Breeze

GP: white