More time crafting

Part of my goal to post more will involve me designating time to craft (love those ulterior motives).

To that end I will also try to participate in more challenges, because there are deadlines and that will help push me to actually spend/schedule time to craft.

I really liked when I made at least one card a week for There's Magic in the Air. The challenge goes up on Monday through Sunday. This week's challenge is to make a thank you card and actually send it. I am a big believer in thank you cards, you don't use a present until the card is written and stamped. So unfortunately, I already sent out cards, and didn't hand make a one. I did make a quick card for the mailman so I could participate in the challenge. Technically I did not mail it, but I am thanking the mailman for all his recent efforts in delivering packages.

Nina has tons of cute digi images, that are great for cards in her store. I did not use one for this card - but I will use some for some upcoming Valentine's cards.

TMITA Challenge

Well after many months, I made a card for the TMITA challenge. The challenge was to make a Thank you or Thanksgiving card. I used the Paper Cupcakes image "Autumn Splendor".

Colored with Copics, cut out with with a nestie and mounted on green paper. The dp is Debbie Mumm with a strip of Bazzil scrap paper on the left. The ribbon is from my stash.

Glad to be back band crafting. I've actually been crafting a lot, but not taking the time to post. I will try to remedy that in the coming days. Thanks for looking!

Another Rileigh Card

Another card by Rileigh... She used Nina's "Lucky Bear" digi from TMITA. She made a birthday card for her friend Bella. We also altered a glass block for her friend (but silly me, I did not take pictures of that) Maddox watched Rileigh & I color, and he asked how I colored so neatly, I explained that by no means is it perfect, but that I try to go very slowly and that helps. Well then Rileigh lamented that her bear looked awful because she had colored outside the lines. I showed her how a white gel pen can clean up some of that. We left some though so he would look fuzzy, like a real bear. She loved sewing on the buttons, the flowers were a little tricky, but she did it. Next time the kids come we will make them glass blocks, because now Rileigh wants one - and I am sure Maddox will too, as soon as he sees hers.

There's Magic in the Air 3/8/2010 Challenge

Here are two cards for last week's There's Magic in the Air challenge. Using Nina's image you are to also incorporate green & gold and metal. My submissions are late, but I had a helper this week. Rileigh helped color both images and put the cards together for her friends. She had lots of fun with the new markers, and she did a great job!

There's Magic in the Air

The challenge over at http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ this week is to use any of Nina's fabulous digis with a sketch provided by Patti. Nina did offer up previously issued "Orson with cake" an an option. My Grandpa turns 88 today and he has always collected statues/figurines of the 3 monkeys - see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil - so Orson was the perfect fit. Colored with Copics. I added a lil Shimmerz to the frosting to complete the yummy cake. Scrap papers. I also tried something new - I used chalks. My amzing, wonderful husband took me craft shopping as an early anniversary gift (we had a 50% coupon buring a hole in my pocket) and we picked out chalks. I had never tried them before, but where have I been?! So I went to work last night, and with a little practice I think I will really get the hang of it. I also bought the Making Memories Distressing Tool Nilla showcased last week on her blog (http://nillascraftroom.blogspot.com/) - thank you for enabling :) Unfortunately I will not be giving the card to my Grandpa for a few weeks. He (and my Mom) went on a two week cruise from Argentina to Chile, they were supposed to come hom today - but now he is stuck in South America, unable to fly out due to earthquake damage. He is fine, though apparently he is a little cranky in that he can't come home. Reports keep changing when he and Mom will return. I think the decision this morning was to repeat the cruise in reverse so that they can get back to Argentina and fly out from there, so their two week vacation may turn into an almost 4 week excursion. All I know is there had better be tons of pictures, and I have some time to create a mini album for his trip!

I made another card for this challenge using the "Lucky Bear" image from last week. I need more St Patrick's Day cards to the sketch helped with this one too. Again I used scrap paper, a MS punch, some festive ribbon I picked up at Michaels. Stickles on the balloon. I also tried to do a little more shading with the balloon for this version. Also more chalking. Thanks for looking!

TMITA Challenge

This week the challenge over at http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ includes using "Lucky Bear" and any techniques for distressing. I am not a fan of distressing - well maybe that's not accurate, I don't mind admiring others' distressed works, but I have issues "destroying" my projects. I am the type of person who will restaple a stack of papers if they are not perfectly lined up. I normally would have shied away from this sketch, but in that it one of my personal goals to keep crafting (and this weekly challenge is my main motivator) I tried it. I did visit Nilla's Distressing tutorial over at http://nillascraftroom.blogspot.com/ for help/guidance, and I found do like the look of the distressing tool from Making Memories (maybe distressing wouldn't be so bad with it, thanks for enabling me)- however I made do with scissors (not fun) on both the green cs and scrap dp. I also used my emery board to sand the scallops on the green nesties. I was tempted to crumple the whole thing up and hide, but then I saw some ribbon and thought frayed ends distress me (ha ha)- so they must count, and added green and white ribbon. I colored the bear with copics, and added some green stickles to the balloon. In the end it wasn't as painful as I thought, so maybe ripping some white paper for snowhills is better then rounded perfect hills - I will try that soon. I rambled more than usual in this post, so I do apologize for that. Thanks for looking.

There's Magic in the Air Challenge

I love this image "Flight of the Fuschia" designed by Nina, and when Nina offered it last week I knew I would use it over and over. My cousin eloped over the weekend and when I found out I knew this image would work perfectly for a congratulatory card. This week's challenge called for using a circle for the image or the saying and lace. I forgot to use a circle, but I did use a punch to creat a scalloped lace-effect at the bottom. I pop dotted the image on lavendar cardstock. I embossed the edges of the card with a cuttlebug embossing border. I layered sheer white ribbon and purple rick rack to the bottom of the card over the lacy scallop. So congrats Andrew & Sarah!

Valentine's Day Card #3

I decided to go with non-traditional colors for Maddox's Valentine's card. This image is from There's Magic in the Air, Nina offered it the week of January 25th. The challenge was to use the image in conjunction with a treat holder. Does affixing it to a card count as a treat? Just kidding. I used my Martha Stuart loop punch for the bottom. Some scrap paper in the background and a little riboon as an accent. The image is colored with colored pencils. Thanks for looking.

Valentine's Day Card #2

Another image from There's Magic in the Air, Nina offered this image the week of January 11th. The challenge was to use stripes somewhere other than the image. I didn't use stripes, but in that I am showing this off a month later, I don't expect a flogging :) I did make a girlie card, lots of pink. This is for a special girl, #1 in my eyes :) Hope she likes it...

Valentine's Day Card

This image is from There's Magic in the Air, from the week of January 18th. The challenge was to use red ribbon, buttons, glitter, or something that sparkles.
I colored the image with colored pencils, and used Prismacolor markers for some slight accents. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background, and added some red ribbon as an accent. On one side I stamped silver sparkly hearts, and a simple love sentiment on the other side. I matted the image with foam squares on an oval nestie that I ran through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.

A Birthday Card

Another image from There's Magic in the Air - I missed participating in this challenge the week of February 1st. What a cute teddy bear! Thanks Nina. I made a birthday card for my friend's young daughter.
I colored the image with colored pencils. I used my newest nestie (a birthday present from my husband), and I love it! I used up lots of scraps (background paper and the purple ribbon). I picked up the Prima flowers in the clearance section of Michaels, and used them for the first time. I am thinking of adding a happy birthday label, but have not decided yet.

There's Magic in the Air

Well, I am back and last night I worked really hard to make a few cards - it felt so great to be creative again! I am going to post some more cards in the coming days. I haven't been home much in the past few months, so it has been a long time since I crafted.
This image came from Nina at There's Magic in the Air. The challenge was to make a comforting card and include flourishes and/or pearls. I forgot the flourishes, but did try using pearls for the first time. I missed my Cuttlebug so much these past few months - so we spents lots of quality time together :)
I colored the image with colored pencils. I used circle scalloped nesties. I inked the edges of the white circle with yellow. I stamped some flowery patterns in the background with a Versamark watermark stamp. I was going to add some glitter, but shied away from it for the tone of the card.

There's Magic in the Air

Here's my sketch for the challenge over at http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ Nothing like getting in under the wire >< Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! This week's image by Nina is in anticipation of Christmas. For the challenge we were to incorporate something fuzzy. I lurked over at Curt's blog and decided to try following his very thorough instructions for using colored pencils and odorless mineral spirits. Not nearly as fabulous at Curt - but I tried. For something fuzzy I used some faux flower soft on the Santa hat. I used my new bulb stamp as corner accents. Thanks for looking!

There's Magic in the Air

Nina came up with the cutest digi this week over at: http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ You can just imagine him flying by on the ice. Kim's challenge this week was to use something reflective. So after looking at everyone's card - I loved Nina's with the foil, and planned to scrap lift it. Plus I happen to have foil, so my husband was happy I did not go buy something. I colored the penguin with Prismacolors. I used flower soft on the brim and ball of the hat. The foil was cut out with a scalloped oval Nestie, and embossed with a Cuttlebug Divine Swirls Embossing Folder. This card is extra special because Maddox helped make it. He woke up at 5 AM this morning (does not bode well for our full day, but...) he wanted to craft and he sponged ink all over the background and he did a wonderful job of setting the scene for a cold, blustery, wintery ice skating experience.

There's Magic in the Air

Nina over at http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ once again generously donated a digi "Elegant Pumpkins" for this challenge. The image can be multi-colored, but the card should be monochromatic, and white, black or grey can be added. I went with shades of brown. I colored the image with prismacolors and then used my leaf nestie to cut out the shape. Mounted it on an embossed circle in a dark brown. The background paper is from Debbie Mumm. I added some brown & white polka dot ribbon adorned with 2 tan leaves punched from an EK Success punch. Thanks for looking.

There's Magic in the Air Challenge

Check out http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ Nina has another great free digi. The cornucopia is great for Thanksgiving cards. Nilla came up with this week's challenge to use buttons with the image. As I was uploading I realized I only used one button. But I did decorate the button. I curled copper colored wire through the button holes. I love the curly ques - I just wish they didn't get smooshed in the mail.
This time of year reminds me to be thankful for all the great things in my life, and to let go of the little things. BTW Jeff thank you for cleaning up the yard this weekend - it looks great!