Use it Tuesday - Challenge #14 - Back to School

The challenge over at Use it Tuesday - Challenge #14 - is Back to School! Use it Tuesday is all about using your "Scrappy Stash." In other words, all those goodies you have been hoarding! I previously made a card for my grandson, which you can find a few posts back on my blog, but I still needed a card for my granddaughter, so this was a perfect challenge for me! I began with a very old piece of background paper with hopscotches all over it! The image called Lizbeth is by Art Declassified, sadly no longer in business. I love to use this image as my granddaughter's name is Elizabeth and her smile is very much the same as that on the image. I added some very old alphabet twill tape and some equally old paper flowers. The apple and sentiment are by Studio G. Sure hope my granddaughter likes her card. Thanks for dropping by. Best, Yvonne

Make My Monday - Challenge 13 - Wings and Things

The final Wings and Things challenge, Challenge 13, over at Make My Monday is to create a project based on a photo as inspiration. The Design Team had some really great inspiration samples to get us started. My first thought was a piece of background paper I had for several years with bird cages on it by Basic Grey. I framed one of the bird cages with a die cut frame by Sissix. I added pearls to the frame and birds on pop dots by TPC Studio that were lightly colored in with Copic Markers. Regrettably, I do not know where the sentiment is from. The flowers are by Martha Stewart. I am also entering this card in the current Bloggers Challenge - Tic-Tac-Toe challenge. I chose to use flowers, bling and ribbon. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day. Yvonne

Tuesday Trigger - Nice and Neutral

Really loved last weeks Tuesday Trigger and though I did not get to play along, I was blown away by those who did submit projects. Outstanding! This week, we have another inspiration photo to get us started for the Nice and Neutral challenge called Sunday in Bed, shown above.

I was inspired to create my card by several items. First the wooden head board. I chose to use an Wood Grain embossing folder by Tim Holtz. I really liked the flag banner on the inspiration photo and decided to make one of my own out of card stock and Divine Twine. I anchored the banner to the card with leaves carved out of coconut shell buttons. Keeping with the woodsy theme, I stamped a bear, owl and turtle by Cavellin Papers and Company in black ink onto various neutral squares and matted them multiple times. I chose these particular images from the Animal Set as they seemed to be the ones you might come across most commonly while on a walk in the woods. I am thinking one of my grandsons will be the recipient of this card! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comments. They are greatly appreciated. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 182 - buttons and bows

Wow! It seems like forever since I have sat down to make a card! Been traveling a lot, preparing for Hurricanes and hosting family. Finally had a quiet day before I head out again and tried to catch up on long lost challenges. At 365 Cards, for Day 182, the challenge is Buttons and Bows. Your card must have five buttons and five bows. I made this card today for the challenge and it will go to my niece for her birthday. The image and sentiment are by Anita's and the embellishments include Divine Twine , flowers by Martha Stewart. and gems by Bazzil Basics. Great to be back in blogland. Take care. Yvonne

Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Lace or Ribbon

I am excited, beyond belief, to share with each of you that I was recently invited to join the Design Team at Fashionable Stamping! This is my very first opportunity to be on a Design Team, and I am absolutely honored to be working with some of the most talented artists/designers I have ever met.

The latest challenge at Fashionable Stamping is Lace or Ribbon. The weather in my part of the world has turned very fall-like and I really think it influenced my earth-toned card. I began with a white card base. I softened the edges with some Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. My images are from the Fashion Flappers plate by Artistic Outpost and were colored with Copic Markers and distressed with Antique Linen and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks. My lace is hem binding and the ribbon is by Martha Stewart. The beautiful vintage button was a gift from a friend. To complete my card, I added some copper liquid pearls.

I hope you will join us at Fashionable Stamping for the Lace or Ribbon Challenge. Please remember that Fashionable Stamping is purely a stamping challenge, therefore, no Digis allowed. Please check their blog for complete details! Also, you will want to stop over to see all the beautiful inspiration pieces from the Design Team and meet the other newest members as well. My best to everyone. Yvonne

Bloggers' Challenge - Sketch Challenge - 8-19-11

Back from vacation and anxious to get back into my art studio. The challenge at Bloggers' Challenge for 8-19-11 is the sketch shown above. I began with a yellow card base. For my oval, I created an oval and scalloped frame with a die cut. The main image is a sticker matted on cream card stock. The rest of the card is embellishments of black and white checked ribbon, yellow felt rick rack, felt flowers and a sentiment by Anna Griffen.

365 Cards - Day 173 - Vintage plus Yellow

This has been a very interesting week. I had the privilege of being on vacation for the week, but it made for a difficult week for contributing to challenges due to a small stash of items with which to work. It was also complicated by having my 86 year-old aunt along. She really did not take well to the time I took, which was very limited, to working on cards. I learned a lot this week about growing older. A most unique vacation, one I would not change, and one I am happy to hold as a memory in my heart.

Back home now and happy to have a full stash of items to draw from, and not feeling guilty about making a card! The final challenge for this week at 365 Cards for Day 173 is Vintage plus Yellow. I started with a white card base, added a yellow background paper of sewing images and then added Tim Holtz stickers, a stamped image and sentiment by Artistic Outpost and some tape measurement ribbon and liquid pearls. Wishing everyone the start of a beautiful week. Thank for stopping by. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 172 - Vintage plus Green

The challenge for Day 172 at 365 Cards is Vintage plus Green. I started with a white card base, added a green background paper panel, some Tim Holtz stickers, green lace, green and white Baker's Twine, some shell buttons, and a sentiment from Artistic Outpost. I am really beginning to enjoy this vintage style! Have a great weekend, everyone. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 167 - Super Sketchy Sunday

Kind of working backwards on the challenges at 365 Cards this week! My card today is for Day 167 and is a Super Sketchy Sunday challenge. If you read any of my other posts this week, you know that I am away from home with a small stash of card supplies. I honestly think all of my cards this week are not what I might have produced if I had been at home in my art studio, but I also think it is good once in awhile to limit what you have to work with and I often find that I really like the cards I make at those times. This sketch lent itself to the pack of designer paper I had along, which I used for the strip as well as the main image. The sentiment is by Inkadinkado and the embellishments include green and white Baker's Twine and black liquid pearls. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else came up with for this challenge!

365 Cards - Day 171 - Vintage Plus Pink

The challenge at 365 Cards for Day 171 is Vintage Plus Pink. This has been a really difficult week to work on challenges as I am away from home and have just a fraction of my supplies with me. I forgot ALL of my Copic Markers, as an example. My card starts with a white card base, added a large panel of pink designer paper and pink lace. I stamped a vintage birdcard from TPC Studio, and vintage egg panel, hand and sentiment are by Stampington and Company. I softened all the images with Spun Pink Distress Ink and added a bit of Worn Lipstick Distress Ink for contrast. Thanks for stopping by. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 169 - Vintage plus Black

The challenge at 365 Cards for Day 169 is Vintage plus Black. We are to make a vintage card with predominately black. For my focal image, I chose a card from a stack I received from Talbots when I purchased a scarf. Each card taught you how to tie a different knot in a scarf. I think the drawings on these cards are very vintage and the one I selected has nice black tones in it. The bird and sentiment is by TPC Studio, matted in red for a bit of relief and final embellishment is a black and white check ribbon. All comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks for stopping by. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 168 - Vintage Plus Red

The challenge over at 365 Cards for Day 168 is Vintage plus Red. Specifically, we are to make a vintage-style card that is predominately red. My card base is taupe and the background panel is a red print, though it appears washed out here. Still working from a small stash as I am away from home! I matted a vintage steam liner with red card stock, stamped the image from the Loverly London plate by Artistic Outpost with Red Barn Distress Ink and embellished the card with taupe seam binding and a cut out of a stop watch. I will also enter my card in the August Referral Program over at Artistic Outpost. Thanks for stopping by. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 170 - Vintage plus Blue

I have missed joining the challenges at 365 Cards this past week. For Day 170, the challenge is to make a vintage card with a dominate blue color. I am away from home, with just a small stash of cardmaking supplies with me, but want desperately to be a part of this challene. I started with a white card base, added a blue mat, and then trimmed a piece of designer paper with a vintage cabana, beach chair and 1946 postage stamp and added it to the card. I stamped a beautiful sentiment and sea shells from the Beyond the Sea plate by Artistic Outpost and added them to the card front along with some chrome liquid pearls. Hope everyone is having a great week. Yvonne

MMM Challenge 11 - Fairies or Angels

I FINALLY got an opportunity to see what this weeks challenge is at Make it Monday for Challenge 11. We continue with the Wings and Things theme and this week we specifically are to make a card with Fairies and Angels. I am away from home this week, packed a duffle bag full of card supplies, including a plate of bird stamps, thinking this week's challenge might be birds! As you might guess, I have not an angel or fairy in my bag. After giving it some thought, I decided to make an earth angel of sorts. I selected one of my sweetest images of a girl from the Think and Wonder plate by Artistic Outpost and stamped her twice. I cut apart a butterfly and placed the wings on the first image and then place a second copy of the image over top with pop dots. I also included a touching sentiment by Emily Dickenson about hope, which seems to lend itself to an angelic image. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with for this week challenge. Hope everyone has a great week. Take care. Yvonne

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Handmade Flowers

Wow! These past few days have been a doozy! I won't bore you with the details as I know there is always, always someone out there with more going on than me. I was so anxious to learn of the challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenges for their second challenge. It is "Handmade Flowers." Yikes! I have no dies that make flowers! I recalled seeing some time ago on someone's blog that they punched a hole in a round circle cut out and secured ribbon to it and then started twirling the ribbon to make a rose bud, and so, with no other option coming to mind, I began. A woman I worked with had given me an entire reel of very old satin ribbon. I twirled a piece into a rosette of sorts. My main image and sentiment are by Artistic Outpost from the Gatsby plate. I added some rust colored rose leaves I just picked up from a clearance rack and a butterfly from Mr. Holtz, along with more satin ribbon, a doily and some liquid pearls in copper. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else came up with this week. My sincere congratulations to the winners from the first challenge! Well deserved. Yvonne

Bloggers Challenge - Back to School

Well it's Friday and that means a new challenge over at Lisa's Bloggers' Challenge! You can feel it in the air, autumn is around the corner, and school is poised to begin. This week the theme is Back to School. Now my children are 37, 35 and 29, so it has been a while since I had to get them ready for school. Much like Lisa, we took a photo every year on the first day of school at the same spot of them in their back-to-school clothing. I now have begun a new tradition with my grandchildren where we pick a day to do back to school clothing shopping and have dinner. Just did it earlier this week, as a matter of fact. What fun, though I must say the fashions have changed a bit. For my card, I really struggled with whether I even had a suitable image, and then suddenly I remembered this precious school boy image, complete with a ruler by Art Declassified and I was off and running. I found this chalkboard paper in an old Fall Stack by DCWV and the apple and sentiment are by Studio G. My embellishments include red photo corners, red and white Baker's Twine, and twill alphabet tape. Oh if I could turn the clock back, and have my little ones, again, but alas, time marches on. Lots of precious memories though. Have a great weekend everyone. Yvonne

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Anything Goes

I received a very nice comment on my blog yesterday from someone. In the course of paying a visit to their blog and thanking them for stopping by, I read about a new challenge that was just beginning, along with an opportunity to join the Design Team. The blog is called Fashionable Stamping Challenges and explains how the blog came to be. Since I love fashion, I thought I would give it a go! For the very first challenge, it is "Anything Goes." I chose to go with a fashion-oriented design. I just love the images and sentiments in the Fashion Flappers plate by Artistic Outpost. I used some Distress Inks to add a vintage feel to my card and Copic Markers to color the main image. As embellishments, I added some sewing notion stickers by Mr. Tim Holtz. Really excited to meet some more artists with this new and exciting challenge. Hope you'll consider leaving a comment. Thanks and have a great weekend. Yvonne

Tuesday Trigger - Luminous Layers

Was counting the days until the next Tuesday Trigger. I am blown away by the winners entries from the last Tuesday Trigger called Cherished Squares. I decided this time for Luminous Layers to NOT be so literal in my translation, sort of! I began by pulling out papers that I thought replicated the layers in the dress. I meticulously cut the strips in varying lengths, which is pretty hilarious because once I decided to added fashion images, by Art Declassifed, you cannot even tell the lengths are different. The sentiment is also by Art Declassified. The image is colored with Copic Markers and the card stock is softened with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Hoping everyone is having a good week. Yvonne

Bloggers' Challenge - Color Challenge

The challenge at Bloggers Challenge this week is a color challenge. Specifically, we are to use, green, purple and brown. We have latitude to select whatever shade of each color we desire. For some reason, this is not a color combination I use very often. I decided to go with inch and a half squares for my card in the various colors. The stamps I used are by Studio 112. I added lace, liquid pearls, buttons, craft thread and rick rack to complete my card. Enjoying every one else's entries. Have a great week. Yvonne

Bloggers' Challenge -

Make My Monday - Challenge 10 - Birds or Bugs

I really look forward to each new challenge at Make My Monday. For August, the overall theme is "Wings and Things." For this week, it is specifically for either Birds or Bugs. I must tell you that I absolutely LOVE birds and really thought hands down I would have a card with birds on it. I surprised myself by grabbing this gorgeous plate of images by Character Construction instead. A little Distress Ink, Copic Markers and some glitter via Spica Markers. Not sure you can see the glistening wings on the bees, but trust me, it's there. Looking forward to seeing every one's entries. Have a great week. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 162 - At Odds

The challenge at 365 Cards for Day 162 is called "At Odds." The goal is to place an odd number of decorations (including the sentiment) on your card. In particular, we needed to remember that each embellishment counts toward the total, no matter how small. I think that I may have taken this too literally, but here goes! The focal stamp by Studio 112 includes the image and sentiment. However, I stamped just the image a second time and raised it on pop dots for dimension over the original. I also matted the sentiment and focal image. (Up to three in my book.) I added the black and white checked bow (four) and three buttons that pick up the colors in my focal image/sentiment (up to seven). Looking forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with on this one. Thanks, Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 161 - My Beautiful Balloon

The challenge at 365 Cards for Day 161 is "My Beautiful Balloon." Our specific challenge was to create at least one balloon on your card using an item or object that wasn't originally intended to be a balloon. I chose this little monkey and Birthday sentiment from Rubber Soul. I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment repeatedly, colored the cut out sentiments with Distress Inks and created balloons by added black and white Baker's Twine. The flourish and Party Time sentiment are by Scrappy Cat. To jazz up my card, I added chrome liquid pearls. Thanks for stopping by. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 160 - Super Sketchy Sunday

Wow! Had a great five-day weekend away, including time with dear friends, but I sure did miss card making and updating my blog. Happy to get back on track again! At 365 Cards, for Day 160, we have Super Sketchy Sunday. I initially stamped my focal image from Artistic Outpost in Spun Sugar Distress Ink, but no matter what I tried with my scanner, she did not show up. I redid the focal image with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink so she would show. Thanks to my DH for the suggestion. The sentiment is by Stampin Up and I used a sewing kit including buttons and a safety pin from one of our travels.

So good to be back in Blogland! Hope everyone had a great weekend. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 156 - When Life Gives you Lemons...

The challenge for Day 156 at 365 Cards is to make a card of encouragement that would cheer someone up with either the sentiment or the image. I started with a lemon yellow card base. I then sponged various warm distress inks onto a white panel. I over stamped a sentiment by Studio G to complete the background . For my focal point, I stamped this image and sentiment by Studio 112. To complete my card, I added a definition of a friend by Rubber Stampede. A bit of ribbon, black matting and my card is complete. I would feel loved, and cared about if a friend sent me this card and told me they were there for me! Hope everyone is having a great day. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 155 - Peace Signs

The challenge over at 365 Cards for Day 155 is Peace Signs. I have to be honest, this one threw me for a loop! I don't have any stamps with peace signs on them...I decided I should try a bit harder and made a peace sign by hand. After all, back in the late 60s we hand drew them! I found some "flower power" background paper, an image of a girl by Art Declassified that could be from the 60s, and the sentiment by Recollections is a Christmas stamp. I added some bling in honor of beaded curtains so popular back then and my card is complete! Thanks for stopping by. Yvonne

What if? Wednesday - Sketch Challenge J2711

I was looking for a new challenge as I was in between all of my other challenges. (I only have a handful that I participate in, truly!) I did a search on Wednesday challenges and came across What If? Wednesday at The House That Stamps Built. The current sketch is posted above, as well as my entry based on the sketch. The bird image is by Fiskars and the sentiment is by Touche. Not sure if it is okay that I included a sentiment on my card, or not! It just felt like it needed something. Looking forward to making some new friends at this blog site.

Stampsmith Challenge # 19 - Teal and Yellow

This is my second time entering a card into a Stampsmith Challenge! For Challenge # 19, we are permitted to use other than Stampsmith images, but we must include yellow and teal somewhere on our card. I chose various background papers in teal and yellow hues and cut them into 1.5 inch squares to cover the front of my card. For my main image, I shaded glossy paper with Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Antique Linen. I then stamped "Love Under the Stars" by Stampsmith on the glossy paper with Black Memento ink. I added tulle netting over the image to soften the image and secured the image to the card front with Kraft photo corners. I stamped several phrased in French from the Paris plate by Stampsmith and adhered them to several of the card squares. To complete my card I added vintage buttons, heart stickers by Martha Stewart, seam binding and a gauze flower by Tim Holtz. (Thanks to Debbie Reid for sharing the source of these really cool gauze flowers.)

365 Cards - Day 154 - Card Recipe

The challenge for Day 154 at 365 Cards is a recipe! We are to make a card that is 4.25" x 5.5 ."

We are to show scallops somewhere on the card, three buttons, an image and a sentiment. My cake (oops card) is finished! The image is by Artistic Outpost and the sentiment is by Stampin Up.

365 Cards - Day 153 - Super Sketchy Sunday

Sundays, since I have followed the 365 Cards blog are typically a sketch. For Day 153, our sketch is above. I made my card in the wee hours of the morning, following another card for a CAS challenge, and perhaps either the hour or the previous challenge explains the sparseness of my card. After much contemplation, I decided my card did not need clouds as some days there's not a cloud in the sky! The images and sentiment are by Studio 112. Liquid pearls and baker's twine complete the card. Looking forward to a new week of challenges. Thanks for stopping by. Yvonne

365 Cards - Day 152 - Saturday Background Challenge

Great week of Challenges at 365 Cards. We've been working on backgrounds all week. For Day 152, we finish with painting the background of our cards. Not something I normally do! I dug out some old Folk Art paint bottles, selected a pale yellow and green, and dry brushed first the yellow and than the green onto the entire card front. I thought the green/yellow background would look nice set off with black so I tore a piece of tissue rescued from a shoe box and adhered it to the left side of my card. For my focal image, I stamped this gentleman called "Dreamer" by Art Declassified, colored it with Copic Markers and matted it in black and green. The sentiment is by Artistic Outpost and I thought went well with a dreamer. To finalize my card, I added black buttons, black liquid pearls and black and white check ribbon. Looking forward to a new week of challenges. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Yvonne

MMM Challenge 9 - Things with Wings

If it's Monday, it's time for a new challenge over at Make My Monday. If it is the beginning of a new month, it is also the start of a new theme! For August, our theme will be "Wings and Things." Each week, there will be a specific challenge. For this first week, the challenge is Butterflies and/or Dragonflies. For my card, I selected a soft yellow card base. I added a floral background paper, which set the backdrop for my butterflies. The lace butterflies are by Martha Stewart, the stamped (and foam dotted) butterflies and sentiment are by Cavellini Paper Company. To finish the card, I added some Ranger Stickles, a piece of lace with pearls, a pearl to dot my "i" and some seam binding. The wheels are already starting to turn as to what other wings and things we may be challenged with in the weeks ahead! Thanks so much for stopping by and for all the comments. It has really been so nice to make so many new friends through this challenge blog. Have a great week. Yvonne

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC13

I discovered a new challenge called CAS-ual Fridays. No my non-card making friends, I recently learned that CAS stands for Clean and Simple, which I guess is pretty self-explanatory. For Challenge #13, we are to make the card to measure 4" by 9". I am comfortable with this size and make a number of cards in this format, so it was all good for me! I highlighted the front of the white card with Distress Ink in Broken China to give a soft illusion of clouds. I stamped the balloon three times in black Memento Ink directly onto the card front and colored the balloons with Copic Markers. The balloon and the sentiment are both by Studio 112. To finish my card, I added some gemstones by Bazzil and some black liquid pearls by Viva Decor. I resisted the urge to do more with my card and called it a night. Looking forward to making new friends who also follow this blog challenge. Thanks for dropping by. Yvonne