Thursday Technique #13

Today's technique challenge is to create a pop up card.

I created a pop of using the folded paper technique featured in this video by Jennifer McGuire.

Here's my card:

The chick is on the pop up.  So when the recipient takes the card out of the envelope the
chick will pop up and shake a bit.

Let's see what Denise made for us:

I hope you can tell the balloon is popped out in the picture.  It looks pretty cool in person.
I stamped the balloon on white paper and colored it in with Copic markers and used the same ink pad
(Memento - Summer Sky) behind the strings as was used to rub on the card for the back ground.
I then cut around it and used the accordion fold paper to make it pop out.

This cards make such an impact when the recipient opens them.  Go on, you know you want to make one or two.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Denise

Card Sketch Wednesday #13

Today's sketch comes from The Sweet Stop.

Let's see what Kathy made with it.

Here's my take on it.  

I used ink and a stamp to create the variation in the pieces.
I had to add the flower and gems due to smudges and splatters.

Can't wait to see what you make with the sketch.

Happy Crafting 

Theresa & Kathy

Color Challenge Tuesday #13

Here is today's color challenge:

Let's see what Gracie came up with.

Colors light blue, turquoise,  royal blue, green and yellow. 

I used a digital image of a picture from a seed catalog from the late 1800's.  

Card stock is Stampin' Up.  Die is from a David Tutera Step 2 Layer.  

Colored with Spectrum Noir.

What a great card Gracie! So sweet and feminine.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Gracie

Mistletoe Monday #13

Today's Mistletoe Monday challenge is to create a card with presents on it.

Let's see what Denise came up with.

Here is mine.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Denise

Clean & Simple Sunday #13

Today's challenge is to create a clean and simple masculine card.

Let's see what Kathy has created for you.

What a great card! Perfect for the fisherman in your life.

Here is my card for today's challenge.  Made especially for my sweet hubby.

I used a great stamp set and dies by Paper Smooches called Incognito.  This stamp set is so versatile.
It has a bunch of different glasses and several mustaches too and several great sentiments.

Go create a card for the man in your life.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Kathy

Specialty Cards Saturday #12

Today's challenge is to create a SQUARE Mother's Day card.

Kathy is back with our sample today.

So start creating those Mother's Day cards today.  Remember to thank the "other" moms in your life, not just the one that gave you birth.  Some of my friend's moms were just as important in my life as my own and don't forget Grandma, Step-mommy and your daughters or d-i-l if you are a grandma yourself.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Kathy

Anything Goes Friday #12

Drum roll please...

Introducing our newest contributor...

Hi!  I’m Gracie McDaniel from Coldwater, Mississippi. 

  I am first and foremost a servant of my Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.  

I am also a mother of one daughter, a teacher, with three children (one grandson and two granddaughters) and one son, a chef, with two children (two granddaughters). 

  I am Gray Gray to my grandchildren.  I am also a mother to two very spoiled rescued house cats.

I have been a scrapbooker since the mid 90’s working on books for my children and now for all five grandchildren.  I also have a second love – cardmaking!  I am a disabled registered nurse and now spend most of my time in my craft studio.  I love, love, love SVG files and use a Silhouette Cameo for my cards, scrapbooking, tee-shirts and all sorts of vinyl projects.  I also dabble in acrylics.  I really enjoy making projects and happies for friends and family members.

 I used Colorbok Bright Pink cards tick and stamped Stampin'Up Indescribable Gift flower stamp using Memento Lux black ink and clear embossing powder. I painted the image with Clorax bleach then colored with Spectrum Noir  CR1, TN3, TN4, TN6, LG3, LG4 and JG1.  I added just a touch of clear Wink of Stella.   The card base is the same bright pink.  I swiped white cards tick with the Memento Lux and added Stampin'Up  Pink Scallop Dots Ribbon and 3 clear heat set rhinestones.

What a great card Gracie!

Happy Crafting 

Theresa & Gracie

Thursday Technique #12

Today's challenge is to create a card using the Pop up Stamping or Diecutting technique. This video by Jennifer McGuire explains the technique very well.

Denise is back today with our sample card.  I think it turned out awesome.

She used a purple ink and a simple flower stamp repeated to create this card.  

I've included both angles of the card so that you can see the depth and the effect that this technique brings to the card.

Give this one a try! There is tons that you can do with it.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Denise

Card Sketch Wednesday #12

Today's sketch comes to us from MojoMonday.

I used several sheets from a 6x6 paper pad to create my version.  I moved the banner over and made it larger and skipped the small box element, opting instead to add my sentiment to the banner.

I used an embossed strip of cardstock instead of the ribbon. You know I suck a tying bows. LOL

Happy Crafting

Theresa

Color Challenge Tuesday #12

Drum roll please...

Introducing our next new contributor...

Kathleen “Kathy” Moran

I’m a single mom of an adult daughter and a grandma to the best boy in the world.  

I work in Commercial Real Estate and spend my off hours doing genealogy and making cards.

I have only been making cards for about a year or so, but I enjoy it so

much and learn from everyone else.  I participate in swaps every month and host a monthly swap as well.

I love learning new techniques and seeing all the fun new products out there. 

I can’t wait to work on new things with new products, of course!

Now on to today's challenge.  

Not sure what Kathy thought but I had a hard time with this color combo. 

For today's challenge, Kathy has created a cute wheelbarrow filled with flowers.  

Doesn't it make you want to get out and plant a yard full?

Ok, me neither, playing in the dirt is not nearly as much fun as playing in the craft room.

Here is my card for this color challenge.  As I said I found this one harder than I expected.

Since I call hubby a nerd all the time, I think this one will go to him or maybe to Rachel during finals weeks at college.

Have fun with this one.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Kathy

Mistletoe Monday #12

Good morning!

I had planned to introduce you to another new contributor today, but you know what happens to the best laid plans...

So you are stuck with me for today.

Today's challenge is to create a holiday card that is monochromatic and a color not traditionally associated with the holiday.  I chose pink.

It is a one layer card and I used Ranger Distress Ink for the gradient and the stamping. 

Go on stretch your holiday muscles.  You might just find that non-traditional suits you.

Happy Crafting

Theresa

Clean & Simple Sunday #12

Today's challenge is to create a one layer inky card with lots of texture. So pull out those embossing folders or you could use just your score board to create a lined or graphic card.

Today's card sample is a one layer inky birthday card created by our new blog contributor, Denise.

Denise has created lots of texture and interest by using an embossing folder and several ink colors on this simple one layer card.


I think it turned out great.

Give this a try.  Challenge yourself to make more one layer cards.  Use sketches and instead of cutting extra layers, use ink or embossing to create the elements. It is a challenge that I've been trying and it can have some pretty cool results. Check out our last Wednesday Sketch Challenge for a couple of examples of one layer cards based on a sketch.


Happy Crafting
Theresa & Denise

Specialty Cards Saturday #11

Today's challenge is to create a swing fold card and the sample card was created by Denise, the first of our new contributors.

Hi, I'm Denise. 

I am a treasurer and office manager for a construction company.  I have been married 25 years and we have a son and daughter who are both now graduated from college.  I officiate volleyball and love to travel along with belonging to a book club and a golf league. I became interested in scrapbooking about 6 years ago when the cheerleaders at my son’s high school did a scrapbook for each of the senior football players and had the moms help. I saw a Cricut being used and decided I needed one.  Six years, three machines and many cartridges later, I am hooked.  I still do some scrapbooking, but card making is what I really like doing.  Making cards that are unique to each person in my family and my friends is a real joy to me.  I also make birthday cards for my church family and I know they all appreciate it.  I dabble in some home décor along with party decorations for family members.  I enjoy learning new techniques and hope to have more time in the future to devote to my crafts.  

Here is Denise's swing fold card...

Isn't this a wonderful card that Denise has created.  This fold technique makes a big statement when someone receives a card like this.

If you need help learning to create a card like this, I recommend this YouTube video.

Denise will be back with another card tomorrow and you'll get to meet our other new contributors within the next couple of weeks.

Happy Crafting

Theresa & Denise

Anything Goes Friday #11

Today's challenge is to create a penny spinner card.

Here is a YouTube video to give the details of how to create one.

Here are the ones that I created:

I used my Cricut and the Create A Critter cartridge to create these sweet cards.

Happy Crafting

Theresa

Thursday Technique #11

Today's challenge is to create a masked and inked card.

I've created a sympathy card for mine.

I used Ranger Distress Inks and Inkadinkadoo Masking Paper.

Give this technique a try, there is so much you can do with it. 

Happy Crafting

Theresa

Card Sketch Wednesday #11

Can you believe we are more than half way through April already? I can't believe how fast this year is flying by.  Well it has been a great adventure starting this blog and creating cards but I didn't think through how time consuming it would be to come up with all the ideas and execute all of them by myself.  Sometimes my enthusiasm for a new idea/project gets to be just to much and I'm not as disciplined in the planning as I should be.  Well I've remedied that by asking a few people to join me in this adventure.

So starting Saturday, we will have new contributors to the blog.  These aren't professionals, just cardmakers like you and me, but they are so talented.  I'll introduce them on their first posts and hopefully they'll bring lots more inspiration your way.

And if that isn't enough excitement for a Wednesday, there will be changes galore coming to the blog over the next several weeks.  We'll be adding pages for each of the new contributors and a searchable database so that you can search by product used or technique or card theme. Exciting things are coming!

Now on with today's challenge...

Today's sketch comes to us from My Favorite Things.

So I played a with this sketch a bit and created three cards for you.

This one is closest to the sktech, but it is a one layer card.
I used Inkadinkadoo masking paper to mask off the scalloped circle.
I used Ranger Distress Inks to color the rest of the front of the card.
I used a black pen and my ruler to create the banner for the sentiment.

I turned the sketch and moved the banner for this one.  Used the same ink colors and masking technique
but I used the other portion of the masking paper to mask off so I could stamp the texture first.
I then stamped the birds and the sentiment and the notes.

Switched it up again by making it a square card. 

Give this sketch a try. It has so many possibilities.

Happy Crafting

Theresa

Color Challenge Tuesday #11

We are taking today off in preparation for a big announcement tomorrow.  Can't wait to share the exciting news with you. 

Here is the color prompt:

We'd love to see what you create with it. 

Happy Crafting 

Theresa

Mistletoe Monday #11

Today's challenge is to create a non-traditional color scheme holiday card. 

 I've included a video by Catherine Pooler to get you inspired. 

All the sample cards today were found on Pinterest. 

Happy Crafting.

Theresa

Clean & Simple Sunday #11

Today's challenge is to make a clean and simple card with just stamps, colored cardstock and vellum.


For today's card I used red cardstock and a 5x7 white card base. The new butterfly stamp set that I'm slightly obsessed with and an old Stampin' Up friendship sentiment stamp.  I used glossy clear embossing powder and Versa Mark frost ink for the butterflies and Versa Fine Black Onyx ink and the same embossing powder for the sentiment.

For a clean and simple card it packs a punch, don't you think?

Happy Crafting
Theresa

Specialty Cards Saturday #10

Today's challenge is to create a flower pot card.

Here is a YouTube video showing you how.

I created two cards for you today.  For the yellow one, I used Ranger Distress Inks to color the pot and to add dimension to the flowers. I used a die set by Sizzix for the flowers on both.

For the second one, I used some decorative wrinkled paper to add to pot to make it more "pot" like.
You can't see it to much in the picture but in real life it is pretty cool. (Showing my age a little with that reference aren't I?)

I'll be making more of these cards.  They are quick and simple and have a great WOW factor to them.

Next time maybe I'll stamp my flowers and fussy cut them out. I've got lots of floral stamp sets.

Happy Crafting
Theresa

Anything Goes Friday #10

Today's challenge is to create a monochromatic card with a splash of one other color.  

I created this purple (and most of you know it isn't my favorite color) card.  I used Memento Elderberry and Grape Jelly inks, Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge stamp set, one of the butterflies from my new set and Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder from Stampin' Up.  I also used that really old sentiment stamp from Stampin' Up along with some ribbon, which provides my pop of color with the green. 

Happy Crafting
Theresa

Thursday Technique #10

Today's technique isn't so much a technique but a product challenge.  So for today, I want you to get out all the Washi Tape you've been hoarding.  Don't think I don't know about your stash of rolls and rolls of Washi Tape.  Trust me on this, I have a ton of it myself.  I try not to buy more, but it calls to me with every trip to the craft store and every time I go online.

So for today your challenge is to make clean and simple washi tape cards. Let's say a set of 5 or 6.  I whipped mine together in about 20 minutes. What a great way to add cards to your ready to send stash.

 I used the gingham tape set from Stampin' Up and added in a green dotted one from my stash for 3 of them.  I used the same sentiment for all of mine since I'm using these for a swap but you could easily change up the sentiments and make this into a gift set for someone. Mother's day is coming, how about making Mom a set of Washi Tape cards as a gift.

Get that tape out and get busy.

Happy Crafting
Theresa