F is for ... Thank You Very Much Spring Bouquet

F is really for the frame image on this card. I'm still working on my abc challenge to use stuff in my room that I haven't used in a long time.

This is the stamp I mentioned a few days ago. It was a gift from Isabelle. I don't know what I did to deserve such generosity... but that's what a gift is isn't it. If I deserved it, it would have been earned. Isabelle, I loved coloring this and thanks sooooo much for sending it to me.

This card is 5 x 7. The original plan wasn't to cut out the main image. I goofed up the background as I colored it so I salvaged it by removing the background and creating a new one. I also decided to use a frame stamp that I haven't used in a long time if ever. The main image is by North Woods. Isabelle sells it at her website, The Stampbuzz. The frame is a very large Posh Impressions stamp. I think I bought this with scrapbooking in mind.

...just some more detailed pictures.

Still waiting to see real live tulips....

D is for Die Cut and E is for Eyelets.

I've been playing with the Cricut again (finally) AND eyelets. I meant to do the D challenge last week but that Leap Year challenge consumed all of my free time. This week, I decided to do a double.

This is a A2 Gatefold card made by K and Company. The game controller,basketball, and car key (Quickutz) done with the Big Shot.


This is also A2. The card is made from Prismatics Textured Cardstock.

I don't know why I made this one. I guess I did because I could. The boy* wants me to make one for his bedroom door. I think I need one for mine too!
Did I tell you that I often refer to my oldest son as "the boy". I know it's horrible, but after three girls and having grown up with 4 sisters and no brothers, I didn't know what to do with a boy ;). Anyway when the second boy came along we started calling him "the other boy". Nobody's feeling are hurt. My boys know that I love them, but that I'm odd and they love me for my 'oddness'
This is a Die Cuts with a View 5 inch square embossed card.


Strange isn't it? 4 cards with no stamps and no coloring? Must be the migraine I had this morning... Oh, my bad. The HB card has 'happy birthday'(stampola) stamped.

I have a coloring class tonight I need to go and make up the booklet.

C is for

chocolate, chalk ink, and a challenge to do the this technique with crayons...

Thanks for all the suggestions. I didn't want to leave any of them out.

I had a hard time doing this because I wasn't particularly inspired to use stuff that I don't normally use. I'm not a technique-y type person, but that was the reason for the challenge right???

I have a whole drawer of chocolate themed stamps that I started collecting with a fabulous idea in mind--which I never completed.

I do use chalk ink sometime, but not often. Now that I think about it, I should have used chalk to color the truffle because I never use chalk anymore. Anyway, I stamped the background with chalk ink on glossy card stock. After it dried I colored three of the candies with a white crayon to resist the ink I was going to sponge on. Then I applied a tan colored and then a brown chalk ink on it. I then wiped off the entire area with a tissue. This uncovered the areas that were colored in white and removed the chalkiness from the surface. I then cut a hole in the glossy card stock using the method I described in the post called Losing Weight. I stamped the saying on white card stock and put it behind the glossy cardstock. Thin strips were cut and used to frame the opening. The truffle was colored with Prismacolor pencils and cut out.
Whew! I'm glad that's done. Now all I have to do is figure out who to send this card to.

ETA: If you chose to do this challenge, leave a comment with your link on this post.

Grace ~ Salt Challenge

I had to think on this one. I didn't just want it to say Grace, I wanted to convey Grace.

When I got the first idea I went to my stamp drawer for a certain stamp, and then I remembered that it was one of my designs that hasn't been produced yet. Idea number two sent me looking for another stamp I that I thought I had, but I believe now that I never actually bought it because I can't find it.

By now you must think I'm loony, ( and I probably am ) but I have all these stamp and card ideas in my head, jumbled up with all my every day stuff and sometimes things get lost in there. (LOL)


Anyway, all that brings up to this card. When I was at the stamp convention last weekend, I saw that Melissa from the Stamping Studio had this stamp set (from one of my doodles) on display and the lightbulb went off. I could use that set! The words stamps repeately in the background say, " His tender mercies are new every morning"

Finished Card size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Stamps: Background words and Sunrise from Peaceful Landscape (The Stamping Studio), On my mind... (SU)

Ink: Close to Cocoa and Basic Brown (SU)

Other: Ticket Corner Punch (SU), Circle Punches, brads

Colored with Prismacolor Pencils

When I think of Grace, I remember the phrase we often hear and sing about -- unmerited favor. Grace is undeserved goodness, forgiveness, and blessings. This verse in Lamentations reminds me that it's not just a one shot deal. God continuously gives us grace. His mercies are new each morning.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21

Now that's grace!

ETA: Click here go to the Salt Blog and read the post about Grace and to see the beautiful projects completed by the participants there.

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I'm working on my C challenge next. And thanks to all your comments and suggestions C is for a lot of things. C is for chocolate, chalk ink, and maybe even a challenge to do the technique with crayons. You don't have to pick them all if you are playing with me.

Another heads up: D is for Dye Cuts and E is for eyelets. I thought I would mention that I'm going to try to do one of these a week, just in case you might be looking for some consistency.

B is for Brads.

My cards tend to be on the simple side when it comes to embellishments and layers. You wouldn't know that by my collection in this room. Buttons or ribbon are my most often used embellishment, I think, but I have plenty of brads, eyelets, and nailheads etc, etc, etc...
Since we are on B for the ABC challenge this year, I've added brads to today's cards . If you are joining me in this challenge, leave a comment with a link to your card or send me an email with a picture of your card. I'm not sure what I'm going to do for C. Any suggestions?


Finished Card size: 5.5"x 4.25"
Stamps: Never Show It ( American Art Stamp)
Ink: Basic Brown(SU)
Card stock: Mellow Moss
Printed paper:
Other: the brad and photo anchor hold the mini card shut. Inside reads "Happy Birthday".


Finished Card size: 5.5"x 4.25"
Stamps: Never Show It ( American Art Stamp)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukenecko)
Printed paper: Don't remember the manufacturer, but it's double sided and I bought it at Walmart
Other: Brads (Bazzill)

And here is a bonus, brad-less card.




This is one of those color schemes that was totally inspired by the ribbon.
It may not be easy to see in this picture, but the ribbon is blue and purple.

Finished Card size: 5.5"x 4.25"
Stamps: Never Show It ( American Art Stamp) Swirl (Autumn Leaves)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Card stock: One of the SU purples,
Printed paper: Blue Striped (Provo Craft)
Other: Ribbon (Sheer Creations)

A is for Alphabet Challenge

I started my ABC Challenge with this post but I didn't challenge you until the last post. I asked you to post a link in the comments section if you participate. If you don't have an online gallery or a blog to link to, but would still like to participate, just send me an email attachment. Mary did just that! This beautiful card was done by the Mary (Seamom). Thanks for joining me Mary.

Just so you know, I'm working on B is for Brads this week. I have a lot of them (and bought more at Archivers today) but I don't reach for them nearly enough.

It was a beautiful and sunny day today. I was out all day with the ever inspiring Dawn. It's dark now so I'll have to take pictures and post it tomorrow.

Starting with... A

Stamps:

Small thank you is a partial stamp from Morning Star Stamps. The large T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U is one of the Paper Studio sets below.

The stamp used in the background on the green is Stampin Up.

The Alphabet stamped in green on the circle is Hampton Arts.

The Little Boy is Me and My Big Ideas.

Ink and Card Stock: Cool Caribbean and Gable Green (SU)

Coloring Medium: Prismacolor Pencils

Other: Coluzzle, Ribbon:

A is for Alphabet Stamps

I like alphabets and fonts. ( Just humor me for a moment. Let's just pretend that the only thing I like/collect is alphabet stamps) I don't really have that many, but probably more than I need (smile). So recently I found this incredible blow out-can't-pass that-up-sale and I bought a couple several more sets. Here's a link to the sale at Crafts ETC. ( Hobby Lobby's online store). It looks like the price went up a little, but, wow, you still can't beat that price.... if you are in the market for Alphabet stamps.

ETA: I bought all these sets for around $10.

I mentioned before that I'm organizing(and purging). The goal is to see and therefore use what I have. I decided that I need some kind of order to my self-challenges to use the stuff I have. So I'm going thru the stamps and accessories according to the alphabet.

My son was in a school wide spelling bee last week and my neighbor brought him a balloon and candy to congratulate him (for 5th place). Here is the card I made for him to thank her.

Do you like the timing of this challenge with the alphabet stamps and the spelling bee?? I love how that worked out!

This is his "Mom don't make such a big deal in front of all these people" face.

I made this card first. After it was all said and done I decided that I didn't like it enough, so I put my thinking cap on and remembered that I recently bought the Me and My Big Ideas Kids stamps.