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

My First Challenge!!

Today I finally had the nerve to complete my very first color challenge - Raspberry Suite #13! Note to self - learn how to use blogger so I can upload the challenge color photo! :)

I wanted to participate last week but didn't have any of the colors. Thankfully, my Stampin' Up order came yesterday and everything I used came in my new box (except the white ribbon and the red buttons.) I used the new "Thoughts and Prayers" set, certainly celery cardstock and ink, and rose red cardstock (that was the closest I could get to the idea of berry without going too far into orange territory.)

Anyway, this was a great first for me and I hope to participate in many more!! Thanks Dawn!

Aloha

I know, I know...one day after I talk about my European inspiration, I make a card that speaks to the tropics.

I bought the ribbon and the hibiscus stamp set before we left on vacation and just purchased the bamboo cardstock (from the "Travel" stack) on Friday. Voila! I hope you enjoy this little card as much as I do!! If only it matched one of the challenge color palates...

Inspiration

I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted and have sold several more cards in the meantime!

Crafting was on the back-burner pretty much for the month of June as we had a lot of personal commitments, work was crazy, and we were readying ourselves for our amazing trip to Europe!

We toured all over the north - from Amsterdam to Copenhagen, to Sweden, through Germany, and finally Berlin where we stayed at a hotel in the former East Berlin! I still can't believe it has been 20 years since the wall came down! I was an international relations major in college so we were all glued to our tvs!

We've been back a couple of days now and I'm itching to craft. Right now the table in the office has been re-purposed as the souvenir sorting table - all of the goodies from our trip are waiting to be lovingly gone through and having the moment of purchase fondly remembered.

At some point in the near future, I will start creating cards inspired by our trip. For now, I am practicing my scissor work in the living room. Thankfully all of that stuff is relatively small and easily transported. But, I am wondering what to do with all of the little cutouts - I am definitely running out of space for all of my card-making goodies! What a blessing!

Fully Customized

This graduation card was the first commission I've had to date as a card maker - a friend wanted me to make a graduation card for her cousin. Since I don't have a graduation stamp set, I panicked a bit but knew my sister was coming for a visit and had one I could borrow! Check!

The only instructions I had was that it was for a guy so don't make it girly. I think that was a commentary on most of what I do - I'm kinda all about the bows and glittery paper lately. Well, I tried a few things on guy-blue paper and metallic brads. Nice but not good enough. The next day I thought of what I should have thought of when I agreed to make the card - what are his school colors? Well, when I heard green, yellow, and black, the card you see popped immediately to mind. Long story short, she loved it and I hope the recipient loves it too. I'm sure I'll hear something on Monday.