Two-fer

Until this weekend, I've tried to make one card per challenge but this time I just couldn't! I found the Viva la Verve challenge via Julee's blog this week and couldn't pass it up! I also found out that this week's Cinema Saturday challenge was "Forrest Gump." I really wanted to play in both sandboxes but knew that, with other projects I have lined up, couldn't spend very much time in the studio mulling over two separate ideas. So, one card it is!

As soon as I saw what the movie was, I knew I wanted to use something to represent the innocence of the early 60s as well as that of Forrest himself. I just got a great set of sayings from a DCWV stack which is where the "Gee, you sure are swell" came from. I was also inspired by "the movies" themselves and made a movie curtain look to the scalloped borders of the decorative papers. I debated using the buttons but since the ones I found reminded me of movie reels, and worked with the Verve challenge to use round things, how could I pass it up? Finally, I heat embossed the chocolate cardstock with the PTI Polka Dot Basics set. I really like how it turned out, like the movie theme, and like that I was able to pull in some fall colors. Fun!

Supplies:

Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana, SU!

DP - Indian Summer, DCWV

Ink - Versamark

Stamp - Polka Dot Basics I, PTI

Ribbon/buttons - my stash

Drat!

So, I've been wondering what happens since I submitted card ideas to Cards this month for the January issue - do they email everyone? Just those who are "in"? No idea since this was my first time.

Lo and behold, I found the following on the Cards Magazine blog the other day:

Guess what, guys — I have one itsy bitsy big huge favor and I hope you don’t mind. Our January submissions were due tonight, but my computer had a weird glitch and lost all the email submissions that were sent from today back to August 4th. We have submissions that were sent on the 3rd and before. (And now my email is working just fine, whew!)

So if you submitted during that time (since last Tuesday), pretty please resend them to us at cards at northridgemedia dot net! We are extending the deadline until tomorrow night, August 11, at midnight, so that gives you some time to forward on all the beautiful submissions you have already sent.

I wish I could spell that sound Bear Grylls makes when he falls - cooohghgh. Meh, close enough. If you couldn't tell from the sound, it is that my submissions were members of the cast of Lost and I didn't realize it until it was very much too late. Cooohghgh.

Next.

I'm in...

This past week while blog-hopping, I found out about a new challenge site - the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge (we'll just call it CSCC for short.) Given how much I love movies, this one seemed to be a natural but isn't necessarily turning out to be so. I've looked at past challenges and they seem pretty hard. I mean, it feels easy enough to churn out a Christmas card for a Christmas-themed movie, or a... See, that is the problem! Sounds easy, most certainly is not!! Big props to all of you who have the courage to play along and for those of you Audrey-winners out there.

This week's movie is (drumroll please...)

Gak, red stitching? I don't have a sewing machine!! Off to see what I can muster. Wish me luck, all!!

Okay back again Thursday evening (nothing like waiting until the last minute, right?) with my entry for my very first CSCC! Five ideas scrapped and one last minute base color change (my husband - "honey, it isn't baseball-themed if it isn't red and white") later and this is what I came up with:

I just love the little hearts popped up and the tag is cute even if it is a bit "homemade" looking (I need practice with puffy paint! It has been a long time since the 80's!) You can see the hearts better in this view:

Thanks for letting me play and I'll see you again soon!

Supplies:
Cardstock - PTI, SU!
Stamp Set - Out on a Limb Sentiments, PTI
Ink - Real Red, SU!
Colored paper - DCWV
Paint - Tulip
Die Cuts - Cuttlebug
Twine - Martha Stewart

Grommets - my stash and so old I can't remember

Raspberry Suite #15

I know it has been a week since I've posted anything and it was certainly not my intention to abandon my blog for this long. It has been an odd week - lots of crafting but just not a lot to say about it.

I had a feeling another color challenge would happen this weekend so I checked Dawn's site today and found the colors above. Drat! I still don't have anything that is really melon-colored so have to go in search of it with patterned papers and other embellishments. One day I will have a full suite of colors, but for now I make due. Hope you like it! Off to order Chinese for dinner - yummy!!

Supplies:

Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Regal Rose (SU!)

Ink - Regal Rose, Old Olive, Certainly Celery (SU!)

Misc - corner rounder (CM), vanilla ribbon and buttons (my stash), flower punches and twine (PTI)

Maddie's Birthday Card

I was having trouble coming up with an idea for a birthday card for my friend's daughter - I'd been procrastinating all week. But, since the party was yesterday and I still didn't have a card as of Friday night, I knew I had to get cracking! :)

I sat down at the craft table after watching the Giants lose in NY (boo!) and found the leftover supplies from the last Raspberry Suite challenge were still out - perfect for a 2yr old! So, what you see above is what I came up with. It really isn't RS#14 part deux because I used Chocolate Chip ink for the cupcake paper though I suppose I could have used the burgundy. Fun! Since gifts weren't opened for hours yesterday, I missed the reveal. I sure hope you liked your card, Maddie! And, you are just as cute as can be! There is a great pic of me and her mom (my great friend, Aileen) from the party that I'll share as soon as I get it off of my iPhone. Yes, I am technologically challenged sometimes which is ironic because I am an IT auditor...but, my hubby is great (and patient) and helps me out! Love him!!

Supplies:

Stamps - Polka Dot Basics I (PTI), Big Bold Birthday (SU)

Cardstock - Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White (all SU)

Ink - Pixie Pink, Chocolate Chip, Orchid Opulence, Summer Sun, Versamark (all SU)

Embellishments - Nestabilities, glitter, Filigree Embossing Powder, vanilla ribbon

Raspberry Suite #14

This one was fun and I can't wait to get the new purple buttons! I swear, my list for the August PTI release just keeps getting longer and longer - I am especially looking forward to the Scattered Showers additions from Dawn. That is probably one of my favorite sets (though my Every Day Button Bits is getting some love lately...)

I had a tough start to this color challenge - got out four pieces of cardstock on Monday night and they just sat and sat and sat until last night when I came up with this card -

This is probably the best bow I've ever tied - satin side up all around! :) It is hard to see in the photo (I'm still trying to figure out how to get the photos on my blog to look like the photos in iPhoto but I'm new to blogging and new to Mac so it may take a bit), but I embossed the burgundy cardstock with polka dots - tres cute!

Supplies:

Stamps (Papertrey Ink) - Every Day Button Bits, Polka Dot Basics I

Cardstock (Stampin' Up!) - Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla

Patterned Paper - DCWV

Die Cuts - Nestabilities Circle and Scallop Circle

Ink (Stampin' Up!) - Basic Black, Orchid Opulence, Versamark

Misc - buttons and ribbon from Michaels (labels long gone), Filigree Embossing Powder and Rustic Cream Button Twine (PTI)

What is Blog Candy?

I'm trying to catch up on all of the crafty lingo! :)

I found my way to Stephanie Castro's blog today and Stephanie is giving away a $150 gift card of appreciation - to any store you want! I can't pass up this opportunity for more goodies (can we ever really have enough?) All you have to do is tell everyone about it on your blog and then go over an put your address in Mr. Linky!

Here is the direct link.

Submissions

Yikes, I'm submitting four cards to Cards Magazine for the January issue! I wish I would have had the confidence to look for submission guidelines sooner because the deadline for January is tomorrow! I have all of the supplies for their Style Challenge, too, drat! Anyway, the February issue's deadline isn't until September so I'll have a bit more time to make some cards for that.

I've been crafting up a storm lately and am so happy with the way some projects are turning out. There is quite a difference in the cards I made when I started and the cards I'm making now. Each and every one of them has a bit of a personality and I just love seeing how they turn out. Kinda reminds me of what I heard about Michelangelo - how the figures existed already in the marble he worked with and he felt his job was to bring them out.

Anyway, I'm trying to get my Etsy shop up to date, get my Facebook fan page (I'm Crafty) up an running, participating in challenges, and just making cards for friends and family. Wow, feels like a lot! I am still behind on making a card for a birthday party this coming weekend - for my good friend's 2-year old daughter. One thing I definitely don't have in the masses of supplies I've found myself with...kids stuff! I'll make sure to post a pic of whatever I put together. Wish me luck! :) Oh, and I'll be back later this week with my answer to Dawn's latest...

Mojo Monday - Week 98

What fun!

I participated in my first challenge last week and had a ball - there are so many talented crafters out there!! If anyone happens back on my blog, I loved looking through all of your cards and am inspired by each and every one of you!!

This week I wanted to keep challenging myself and decided to participate in the Mojo Monday layout challenge (see the sketch at right.) I started pulling colors together last night and got my stamping done, then finished it up tonight and, well, here it is! My husband helped me understand something which I don't think I've realized in the past as I've tried to finish cards the same day I make them. Sometimes they need to sit for a minute to get that extra zhuzhing they need. :)

Supplies:

Verve Stamps - Beautiful You

Stampin' Up! - Old Olive, Apricot Appeal, and Confetti Kraft cardstock, Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip ink, vintage brads

Nestabilities - Circle, Scallop Circle, and Label 1

DCWV - Summer Mattstack

Various - vanilla ribbon, paper flowers, and pearls