LID's Monthly Meet Up Challenge - April

Has it been a month already?  Wow, that went by quick.  It's time for another monthly meet up challenge over at Lil' Inker Designs.  I always love a good excuse to pull out those LID supplies and go to town.

I hate to say it but I always need to have a couple of these cards in my stash for those increasing moments when I forget to send out a birthday card.  That seems to be happening more and more the older I get.  Ooopsie!  LOL!  For this card I just went to town on those banner dies and all the pretty colors.  I wanted the card to have a not so, in your face, birthday theme.  The inside says "so sorry"  but what I really wish I had for this card is a phrase that says "so sorry, my head was in the clouds again!"  LOL!

For this card I used the following supplies from:

Lil' Inker Designs:

Stitched Sentiment Flag Die

Border Builders Dies

Stitched Mats: Rectangles Die

Seriously Die

Seriously Awesome Stamp set

I also used:

Versamark Ink

white embossing powder

This challenge was so much fun I think I may have to give it another try.  Stop by again and check it out!

MFT Color Challenge #19

It's time for another Color Challenge from My Favorite Things!

Oh this was a hard one.  While I really love the colors in this challenge I tend to lean towards brighter, more cheerful colors.  I stuck with these colors through most of the card but when it came time to add the little hearts I just couldn't resist a little touch of pink.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Polka Dot Cover-Up Die-Namics

Grassy Edges Die-Namics

Simon Says Stamp:

Sending Die

Sending & Wishing stamp set

WPlus9:

Unforgettable Stamps and Die set

I also used:

Martha Stewart Hearts punch

Distress Inks: Victorian Velvet and Wet Cement

Stampin'Up Dye Ink:  Not Quite Navy

Versamark Ink

Stayz On Black ink

white embossing powder

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great week!

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #223

Today I'm working off of My Favorite Things' Sketch #223.

Nothing says celebrate like a whole bunch of polkadots!! I used the Large Polkadot stencil for the inside of the circle and then I dry embossed the blue card base with the Polkadot Coverup die.

Added a lot of dimension to this card by raising the blue card base and also the star in the center of the circle.

I carried over that fun polkadot pattern to the inside of the card but I spotlighted the center so that I had a place to write a note.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Polka Dot Cover-up Die-Namics

Large Polka Dot Stencil

Accent It - Celebrate Die-Namics

Celebrate Big stamp set

banner Die-Namics

Lil' Inker Designs:

Stitched Stars Die Set

Stitched Mats: Rectangles dies

Stitched Mats: Circles Dies

I also used:

Ranger Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers and Mowed Lawn

Versafine Ink:  Onyx Black

Clear embossing powder

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

DIY Ink Storage

I've been on the search for the perfect sized storage rack for my ink pads for quite some time.  I really wanted to find a unit that would fit into my IKEA shelving unit.  Something that I could push to the back so that I could have a little workspace in the front.   I came close by finding a wooden one that was just a couple little mm too big.  Then, while playing on pinterest I found a Youtube tutorial on how to make a stamp pad storage unit out of a cardboard box.  Hey.......I have cardboard boxes, I can do this!  I just happened to have one that was the perfect size.  Yay!

It was a little beat up but it would work nicely.

I pulled out the hot glue gun and my paper trimmer and started measuring, cutting and gluing.  First I glued the back flaps down securely and cut off the top flaps to use for some of the little shelves.  Then I added a center divider.  My Hero Arts Shadow ink pads fit two on each side comfortably.  

Then I cut out a bunch of strips from another box and left them long enough so that I could bend each end down and glue the flaps to the inside.  I just bent and stacked the "shelves" all the way to the top.  This made it very sturdy.

I made sure that the slots were large enough to easily slide the pads in and out.  I used duct tape around the front edge of the box to protect those rough edges and clean it up a bit. (oops, do this first before gluing any pieces to the inside.)

The box itself is not perfectly straight but it's sturdy and it does what it's suppose to do.

I pushed it to the back of my shelving unit and it hardly takes up any space at all.  It's a great home for my ink pads.

Not bad for a Sunday afternoon project using scraps.  It's exactly what I needed and even better.....it was FREE!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week everyone!

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #222

Today I'm working on sketch #222 over at My Favorite Things.

I stayed as much on track with the sketch as I could by adding the banners and the stitched circle element in the center.  I just had to busy up the background a bit with this awesome cloud background die from MFT. 

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Cloud Coverup Die-Namics

1st Place Award Ribbon Die-Namics

In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics

Blue Skies Ahead Stamp set

Lil' Inker Designs:

Stitched Mats: Circles Dies

Quilted Stitched Pattern Die

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Inks: Butterbar and Orange Soda

Versafine: Onyx Black ink

Wendy Vecchi Studio 490: Sunburst stencil

Avery Elle: Balloons dies

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend!

OWH Sketch Challenge #251

I whipped up a card this morning using Operation Write Home's sketch #251.

For my card I decided to do some stamping for the vertical stripes.   I added three stripes in my favorite Tide Pool Shadow ink.  I love this color and anything close to it.  It really pops off the black polkadots that I stamped in between.  For the rectangle element at the top I went with a framed window.

I stamped the sentiment on the inside of the card and added just a touch of Butterbar to draw attention.  When the card is opened the sentiment is surrounded  by little hearts stamped in onyx black.  This is basically a one layered card.  It's very flat and should go through the mail like a breeze.  It's nice to give my stamps center stage once in a while.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Striped Background Stamp Set

Friends Like Us Stamp Set

Simon Says Stamp:

Sending & Wishes Stamp Set

Lil' Inker Designs:

Stitched Mats Rectangles Dies

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Inks:  Butterbar and Tide Pool

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Thanks so much for stopping by.  If you're interested in donating cards to our deployed miltary to help them keep in touch with their families, click here ------>   Operation Write Home to learn more about it.  It's an awesome organization! 

MFT Sketch Challenge #221

This weekend I whipped up an Easter card using My Favorite Things Sketch #221.

Lots of great elements in this weeks challenge and I tried to stay true to most of them.  The two rounded corners, the strip across the top, the stitched element in the center and the banner across the bottom.  But of course I had to add a few of my own elements to tweak it a little.  This is what I came up with.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics

Little Letters Uppercase Die-Namics

Celebrate Big Stamp set

Fresh Cut Flowers Die-Namics

Pinstripe Background Stamp

First Place Award Ribbon Die-Namics

Pinking Edge Border Die-Namics

Coral Crush cardstock

Lil' Inker Designs:

Bunnies & Bows Die Set

Anytime Tags Die Set

Border Builders Die Set

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Inks:  Cup O' Joe, Tide Pool

bakers twine

Thanks so much for stopping by!

MFT Color Challenge #18

Working on color challenge #18 over at My Favorite Things.

I have to say it was definitely a challenge for me this time. Orange and daffodil are not colors I use often. For this card I decided to pull out some stencils and put my ink to work to make some sunshine and polka dots.  I inked the sun and then ran it through my diecut machine with the stencil to give the bursts a dimensional embossed look.  I think embossing with stencils is such a great technique.  I stenciled on the polkadots in one color then moved the stencil over and added another color and kept doing it until all four colors were represented in the pattern.  It really filled that paper up with dots.   I love that stencil!

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Stax Die-Namics

Scalloped edge die-namics

Swiss Dots Stencil

Watts up Stamp Set

Berrylicious Hybrid Ink

Lil' Inker Designs:

Stitched Mats Rectangles

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Inks:  Butterbar, Wet Cement, Orange Soda

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Sunburst Stencil

Silver foil cardstock

silver sequins

Thanks for stopping by!

Stretch Your Dies

I'm kinda late to the game but I made these up for Online Card Classes.  Great classes that teach a lot of awesome techniques.  I would recommend them for anyone new to cardmaking for sure.   Here are my final ones, just skating in under the cutoff time.  Lots of fun details so they took me a while.  ;)

For Day 1 Word Dies

I used the background words technique on this one using  the Happy Trio die from WPlus9.

For  Day 4 Mini Dies 

I used a cute little arrow die from a tag set by Mama Elephant for this background.

For Day 5 Coordinating Dies

For this one I used that adorable little Unforgettables Elephant stamp and die set and for the background I used the My Favorite Things Cloud background die as a stencil.  I just embossed the clouds with white embossing powder and it gave an awesome shine and texture.  Then I did a resist technique by blending the blue ink over the white embossed clouds.  Worked great!

For Day 7 Alphabet Dies

I've been wanting to try this technique with the popped up word in the title.  I watercolored the background and thought it looked very dreamy so I pullled out a sentiment stamp set by Reverse Confetti and used little letters dies by My Favorite Things.  I used fun foam to pop up the word "color".  I absolutely love this technique!

Thank to Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner  and all the other awesome designers for coordinating such a great mix of ways to use our dies!

Pablo's Piano Card

Who doesn't like a personalized card?   I made this one especially for my good friend Pablo.  He's in a band so of course I had to work a music theme in there.  It was fun piecing together the piano but I just felt it was too predictable (and boring) to just leave it straight.  I ended up using a wavy stitched border die from Lil' Inker Designs to add some fun and interest.  I've always loved this color combination.  The colors really pop off that aqua blue background.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

Lil' Inker Designs:

Border Builders Die Set

My Favorite Things:

Musical Notes Die-Namics

Little Letters Uppercase Die-Namics

Little Letters Lowercase Die-Namics

I also used:

Hero Arts: It's Your Day stamp set

Versafine black ink

Thanks for stopping by!

Packing up and shipping out!

Today's the day, I'm so excited!  I'm packing up my 60 cards that I've been working on for the last month and sending them off to Operation Write Home.   Gotta meet that Mother's Day deadline! This is such a wonderful organization and I'm so happy that I found it.  I get to do two of my most favorite things, play and share.   And hopefully make a few people smile.

Tomorrow I start on the next box............

LID's Monthly Meetup Challenge and a few more cards just for fun!

Working on some thank you cards today for Operation Write Home and Lil' Inker Design's Monthly Meetup Challenge. 

Here's my card for the challenge using just 3 fabulous dies from Lil' Inker Designs:

CoverUp Die - Pieced Chevrons

Stitched Stars dies

Thanks Word Die

Aren't those colors just gorgeous together?  So crisp and clean.   I used the Chevron Coverup die for embossing the background and then I also used it for the red and white strip along the bottom.   Someone is going to just love recieving this bright, patriotic thank you, I just know it!    I loved it so much I decided to mix it up just a bit for a couple other cards.  This time I changed it out for a super large thanks die from the Many Thanks Die set from My Favorite Things:

Thanks from end to end!   So I threw the word "big" in there using some small letter dies from My Favorite Things.

I also whipped up this one.  I lifted this cute card from one that caught my eye on Pinterest by Lisa A.

I worked the thanks a little differently but what I loved most about the card was the black and white polkadots and bright yellow accents.

I also made this beautiful "missing you" card, a total inspiration by one that Laura Bassen did on her blog.  I love her style and I really loved her version of the orange skyline.

One thing I have been doing with my Operation Write Home cards this time is I've been adding an extra page of cardstock to the inside so that heroes will have a little extra writing room.  I think think it's especially important for the missing you cards and I love you cards.   I also added them to Mother's Day cards to encourage them to write a nice keepsake note to their moms while they're away.

And my last posting is a pretty little card that I made for my niece Lily.  This reminds me so much of her.  She lives on a farm and has a bunch of kitties that love her.  I am practicing with my watercolors and this is my first time painting with this adorable stamp from WPlus9.  It was a lot easier and more fun than I thought it would be.  I can't wait until she sees it!

Well, that's it for today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Operation Write Home - Sketch Challenge #250

I'm almost finished with my box of cards for Operation Write Home so for the last few cards I thought I'd work off  sketch #250 that they have posted over on their blog.

I whipped up a couple more cards that would be good for Mother's Day or for a nice note to mom any old time.  First I made this one:

Then I thought hey.......let's do that again.....same layout, same concept only with a stamped sentiment and maybe a little pattern.

For these cards I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Heart STAX Die-Namics

Friends Like Us Stamp set

Little Letters Uppercase Die-Namics

Wood Plank Background stamp

Scallop Border Die-Namics

Lil' Inker Designs:

Quilted Stitched Pattern Die

Mama Elephant: 

Embellished Tags Confetti Dies

Simon Says Stamp:

Mom Large Craft Die

I also used:

Hero Arts Shadow Ink:  Cup o' Joe

Silver foil cardstock

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I love sharing my cards with you and Operation Write Home!

MFT Color Challenge #17

Another awesome color combination for My Favorite Things Color Challenge #17!

And here's my card.   Love these colors together!  Especially that Coral Crush!

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:

Chevron Stripes Die-Namics

Many Thanks Die-Namics

Mama Elephant:

Embellished Tags Confetti dies

I also used:

Silver foil cardstock

Thanks for stopping by!  On to the next challenge!!

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #219

My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #219.

I'm still whipping up those Mother's Day cards for Operation Write Home. So glad to have all these challenges to keep the ideas fresh.

For this card I used the following supplies from:

My Favorite Things:
Friends Like Us Stamp Set
In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-Namics
Leaf-Filled Flourish Die-Namics

Lil' Inker Designs:
On The Diagonal Die
Sentiment Flag Original Die

Simon Says Stamp:
Mom Large Craft Die

Mama Elephant:
Embellished Tags Confetti Dies

I also used:
Hero Arts Shadow Ink:  Wet Cement
Silver foil Cardstock

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!