I'm Krafty!

I really try not to do this but knew I'd never be able to make two separate cards for two challenges this week. It has been one heck of a week and I've been in offsite meetings for work for the past two days! I feel really lucky that I was able to make this card in the middle of making our pork chops and roasting green beans for dinner tonight!! :)

So, the two challenges I made this card for were the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge ("Austrailia") and the Mojo Monday Challenge. It was a hodge podge from the beginning and it became quickly apparent that this was destined to be one card! I knew straight away that the CSCC card inspiration was the amazing love story between Sarah and both the Drover and Nullah ("I sing you to me" touches my heart every time I hear it and love the creations the DT came up with using it!!) The challenge was to incorporate kraft which doesn't feel like a challenge because I love it so much!

I then looked at the Mojo Monday sketch challenge and decided I just had to attempt a circular card (my very first!!) I always wonder how all of you talented crafters make the round cards and I'm not quite sure I got it right. I made a hinge out of the back panel but lost a lot of interior room. I've tried in the past to use my Spellbinders on a folded piece of cardstock and think I may need some extra practice with that technique. I really think that is the way to go.

Supplies:
Stamps - Verve
Cardstock, Ink - SU!
Ribbon - Crafta
Buttons - PTI
Cuttlebug and Spellbinders dies

Inspired!

I love Burberry plaid! You know, the ubiquitous khaki, black, and red that pretty much dominates scarf season (at least in San Francisco where "scarf season" is relative and more of a fashion statement than a true necessity...)

Now before anyone goes thinking I'm Ms. Snobby McSnoberston, I own exactly one piece of Burberry plaid and it is my beloved scarf that was purchased for me by my hubby on an exquisite December trip to NYC many years ago. And, yes, we did actually need the scarves while we were there.

Anywhoo, I found the cute little plaid fabric hearts on Etsy a while back and thought they would be simply perfect on a Valentine's Day card. Well, I ended up creating the "line" of Burberry plaid-inspired Valentine's Day cards you see in the pic above. I've already sold a couple and think the rest will go quickly so I'm off to make more. Not only are they simple and elegant, they are also cozy, homey, and a bit folksy.

The creative process is a fickle one, sometimes, and I've been feeling like I haven't been able to craft my way out of a paper bag lately. But, these cards came together so fast the other night that I couldn't keep up! I had twine everywhere, two ink pads open at the same time, and stamps were flying around. I swear I had to spend a good amount of time just putting all of the stamp sets back together after I was finished. It was pretty cool, very inspiring, and definitely lots of fun.

Happy crafting everyone!

No Peeking, Bear!

The Cinema Saturday Challenge this week was to make something inspired by "A Knight's Tale" and to use a star. There are so many great themes in this movie - action, adventure, romance and chivalry. So, I chose the latter to make this card to give to my hubby for our anniversary next week. Three years married! :)

I could write a novel saying how much of an inspiration my husband is to me but I'll spare you. Suffice it to say that he is my hero, he lights up my life, I found him by wishing on a star, and he always helps me find the silver lining.

Supplies:
Stamps - Verve "Thankful Hearts"
Ink - SU! "Soft Sky"
CS - PTI, SU!
DP - K&Co
Glitter - Crayola
Ribbon - Crafta
Cuttlebug small star die

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #21

I love the color combo Dawn came up with for the latest Raspberry Suite Color Challenge! I've never really used soft yellows and think I may have to start! I've had the Jolee's Boutique stickers for eons and they've been on the table waiting for inspiration to strike. As soon as I saw the soft yellow this week, I knew I'd have to incorporate them somehow!

Supplies:
Cardstock - SU!
Ink - SU!
Stamps - American Crafts
Stickers - Jolee's Boutique
Ribbon - Crafta
Embossing Powder - PTI

Mojo Monday 120

I just love how the mojo ladies at Verve can pull together colors, patterns, and all kinds of embellishments and make their cards just sing! You really should check out all of the fabulous examples on the Mojo Monday blog!
I, on the other hand, have a really hard time figuring out how to add activity like what you see above to my cards without being afraid of them, lol. Heck, as I kept muttering to myself today in the craft room..."if they were easy, they wouldn't be a challenge."

I've been thinking of making Valentine's Day cards for some time now but haven't had time to spend crafting. I sat down today and really think I'm going to need some practice getting back into the groove. And, it is a bit strange working in pastels after all of the deep holiday hues like deep reds, greens, burgundies, etc.

Supplies:
Cardstock - SU!
DP - DCWV
Ink - Versamark
Stamps - Verve, American Crafts
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
Nestabilities Scallop Circle
EK Success Punch
Ribbon - Crafta

We're Back!

Oh how I've missed the Cinema Saturday challenges over the holidays but we're back this week with a challenge based on "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Now, while I'm familiar with the story and the cartoon version of the film from the 70's or 80's, I haven't yet seen this version (though it has been added to my Netflix queue.) By the way, Sankari and Brooke, are you getting residuals from Netflix or at least a free membership? A good percentage of my rentals lately have been directly influenced by this challenge! :)

Anyway, the colors on this card were inspired by winter in Narnia but I didn't want to make the card Christmas-y because it is never Christmas there. I settled on this great glitter background paper with wintry trees touched with a bit of required sparkle. I added a sheer white ribbon and some stickles in the corners just for a tad more iridescence.

I chose the sentiment as I thought about the journey the children were on in Narnia. While much of what they went throug was scary, they also were befriended by a lot of creatures (Mr. Tumnus and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver) on the way to their final destination - the battle where Aslan defeats the White Witch. Since my husband's motorcycle accident last month, I'm constantly reminded to live for each and every day since we just don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Supplies:
Stamp - Verve
Cardstock - PTI Ocean Tides
DP - My Mind's Eye
Ink - SU! Sage Shadow
Ribbon - Crafta
Stickles - Ranger

Custom Birthday Party Invitations

Over the past few weeks since I've been on blog hiatus, I've been pretty busy with my card business - particularly custom orders. I did a big holiday card order, finished up my friend's baby shower invites (see two posts down...), and the photo you see above is my latest - jungle-themed birthday party invitations!

I had a lovely woman contact me through my Etsy shop, said she liked my work, and could I do 10 invitations for her son's 1st birthday party. She gave me a couple of ideas and one was that his room was a jungle theme.

I had just made the monkey thank you card (see three posts down...) and thought I could make something really special with that design along with a new set of jungle animal stamps. Voila! The rest is history. I think they are just adorable and I hope she does, too!

Back in the Saddle

Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season has passed (boy they sure do pass quickly, don't they?), I wanted to at least mention why I was pretty much awol for the month of December. I'm sure it would be easy enough for me to say I was busy with the holidays which is certainly enough! But, we had some "excitement" of our own to contend with as well - my hubby was in a motorcycle accident on 12/9.

I have been so blessed and thankful for the outpouring of support from our wonderful family and friends that I have to thank them from every venue I have access to! Glen was able to come home from the hospital the night of the accident and, though it has been a slow road, is well on the way to a full recovery!

It was important to me, this Christmas (we ended up spending it "just the two of us"), to celebrate the season and all that it means to me. We were able to attend Christmas services at a neighborhood church, hear the Christmas Story, and sing proper carols. Not that jingle bells, white Christmases, and rockin' around a Christmas tree aren't fun too, they just aren't the "reason for the season" in my book.

Anyway, as 2010 is upon us, I wanted to wish everyone a blessed new year. May it be healthy and full of miracles!