Sunday, February 22, 2015

Paper Smooches Sparks | Designer Drafts Challenge


Good morning! This week's Paper Smooches Sparks challenge is Designer Drafts... a super cute sketch challenge! Here's the sketch:


This sketch is very versatile and can be used horizontally or vertically. I created a horizontal card using the new Ahoy Me Hearty stamp set... and oh my goodness is it a cute set. I used a combination of Spectrum Noir and Copic markers to color in the parrot. 

My only issue with my card is I didn't get a great impression with my Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I use this ink with Copic markers, but maybe it's time to try a different ink. If you guys have suggestions I would love to hear them!


Make sure to check out the rest of the design team for more inspiration! 

Retro Sketches | Challenge #154

Hello there! This week's Retro Sketches challenge is fun because it features a square card. I don't usually create square cards so these cards are always a challenge for me. 




 

I pulled out one of my new Studio Calico stamp sets, Sending you Sunshine, and used several of the flowers and the sentiment for my card. The cute little orange paper clip was die cut from a We Are Memory Keepers die set that I purchased a couple of months ago, and I tied some orange and white twine from Papertrey Ink. 

The font used in this stamp set is unique and super cute. I usually prefer clean and graphic fonts, but this one I don't mind. It isn't too "scripty" or hand drawn looking... and I like how bold the font is compared to the delicate flowers.


I hope you can play along with us this week! Check back in a bit for next week's Paper Smooches Sparks challenge inspiration.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

CAS(E) this Sketch | Challenge #110

Hello there! I'm a little late posting this (I think the deadline is tomorrow), but I wanted to share a card I created for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.

Here's the sketch:




I went super CAS for this card. Not a lot of product, but the pops of color work nicely against the white background. I used an angled strip of Papertrey Ink's Hibiscus Burst patterned paper at the bottom, then added a Simple Stories I Am chipboard frame on top. The "happy birthday" sentiment is from the February Studio Calico card kit (Cirque), and the "Oh Happy Day" badge is from Freckled Fawn (I think). I also trimmed the card down to 4x5.5 inches, instead of the standard 4.25x5.5 inches. 

The hot pink, black, and white with just a little bit of aqua and yellow is such a fun color combo. 


That's it from me tonight. Thanks for looking!

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Retro Sketches | Challenge #153

Happy Valentine's Day! I have a pretty pink card to share today for this week's Retro Sketches challenge



I love this wood veneer flower from Studio Calico, and it has the perfect sized opening for this circle sentiment sticker. I used one of my Memento Luxe black ink pads to recolor the wood piece. I added a few pink and gray enamel dots from the Simple Stories DIY collection.



I hope you can play along with us this week! Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome Valentine's Day.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Pre-School | Traditional Layout


Hello crafty friends! I hope everyone is having a good week. 

I spent a few hours at my friend Anna's house last week, working on a layout and chatting with her adorable two year old son, Douglas. Anna worked on a few project life spreads, and I pulled out this picture of Evan to create a page about the pre-school he attended in Ohio. I can't believe how little he is! Sweet blue eyes and a genuine smile. I'm not getting this smile nearly enough these days... smiling for the camera is no longer "cool". Sigh. Darn kids keep growing up. 

Here's the full layout. I used a variety of products from older Studio Calico kits, mixing and matching products from main kits, project life kits, and add-ons. The die cut stars are fun because they were cut from watercolor paper and originally white. I used the ink from a light blue dye ink pad and a water brush to color them in. 


The "hello love" is printed on some Studio Calico paper. The full sheet has clouds printed on it, plus cute little phrases in a few places. I adhere my photo to the paper, directly under the "hello love" sentiment, then trimmed it with my paper trimmer.


The "believe in yourself" sticker is from the the January AE Story kit. I still need to sketch out a few layouts to coordinate with this kit, and get to work!, before the February kit ships on the 15th. The December kit, Firsts, was so much fun to work with and I have three complete projects done with that kit. Hopefully I will get those projects photographed and uploaded later this week.


During 2010-2012 I mostly created cards, not layouts, and it's been fun to go back and scrapbook photos from those few years. The boys are in completely different stages now and while I miss my little ones, their current ages have been wonderful. 

Also, I have a card up on the Chickaniddy Crafts blog today! Hop over there to see the full card.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Retro Sketches | Challenge #152

Hey there! I have a card for this week's Retro Sketches challenge. I used the new Studio Calico card kit, Cirque, with a few pieces from the Main Kit. Here's the sketch I'm working with:


This card came together very quickly because of the stamp set & super cute embellishments. I love all the pink! I used Papertrey Ink's Blueberry Sky and Spring Rain for the clouds, and Raspberry Fizz for the top of the balloon. The hearts are from the Cirque kits, and the enamel dots are from My Mind's Eye.



 I hope you can play along with us this week! Thanks for stopping by.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Gossamer Blue | February Projects

The February Gossamer Blue kits are now live, and I have a couple of projects to share today. The kits this month are a combination of October Afternoon's Saturday Morning, Simple Stories Life Documented, and Pebbles Happy Day collections. 


The "hello" banner, from the Pebbles sticker sheet in the Life Pages Add On, is just the right size for cards. I added a "hi" badge, also from the Life Pages Add On, and a few enamel dots from the Main Scrapbook Kit. 
 

The bold, graphic patterns from the Life Documented collection were so much fun to work with. I added die cut hearts and enamel dots to the top of a few of the triangles, and a sweet speech bubble as the sentiment. 


This last CAS card features the adorable stamp set from the Life Pages kit. LOVE this stamp set! I used four colors of ink and the various hearts to create my card base, then stamped the sentiment over it with Black Archival ink. The only embellishments I added were three enamel dots from Gossamer Blue's Gramercy Road collection. 


Check back next week for the rest of my projects! Thanks for stopping by and have a great week. 

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Papertrey Ink | Make It Monday #200

This week's Papertrey Ink Make it Monday challenge is layering cover plate die cuts. I have quite a few Papertrey Ink Cover Plates, and I used the Triangles cover plate for my card.

I die cut the triangles cover plate from Aqua Mist and Tropical Teal cardstock, then offset them before adhering them to my card base. I stamped the rose from The Sweet Life in Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, and Tropical teal ink (from Papertrey Ink). The leaves I stamped in Studio Calico's Clean Slate and Gray Area. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Year of Flowers: Lily, which I stamped on a double ended banner die cut.

 

Check back tomorrow for a few projects using this month's Gossamer Blue collections. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Monday, February 2, 2015

Retro Sketches | Challenge #151

Hi there! I have a card for this week's Retro Sketches challenge, which is based on one of my previous cards. You can see the original here.



I recently pulled out Papertrey Ink's The Sweet Life stamp set for another project, but I wanted to try the larger flower in blue for this card. Oh my... how gorgeous did the flower and leaves turn out? I used three Papertrey Ink colors for the rose: Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, and Enchanted Evening. The leaves are stamped in Studio Calico's Clean Slate and Gray Area. 


The sentiment, from CAS-ual Fridays stamps, has two of my favorite fonts and it's a great sentiment. I stamped it in Memento black ink.

I hope you can play along with us this week! Thanks for stopping by. 

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Paper Smooches Sparks | Anything Goes


Hey guys! This week's Paper Smooches Sparks challenge is Anything Goes. 

I pulled out my new Lovely Thoughts stamp set and Roses Dies. I die cut the roses die from watercolor paper, then used two pink die inks and a water brush to color the paper. I am so happy with how this turned out. Soft and muted, but the ink covered beautifully. 

I die cut the leaves from patterned paper and tucked them under my flower and the sentiment is from Lovely Thoughts.


Make sure to check out the rest of the design team for more inspiration! Thanks for stopping by and have a great week. :)