CASE Study Challenge #128

I can’t get enough of paper packs. Specifically those wonderful, varied, and yummy 6×6 paper pads. I have a ridiculous amount (my Goggle Docs list agrees). I just got the new Studio Calico Darling Dear paper pad. Of course there are always a couple pages in each that don’t really do it for me. I decided that I would try and use one of those on this new card. This is for the CASE Study challenge #128.

Here is the inspiration from Teri Anderson:

And here is my take:

I spy Wood Veneers!

I used one of the number patterned papers and cut out various sized circles. I was able to add another one of my new Studio Calico wood veneers. yay! I also added some of my new Teresa Collins Memories washi tape. Even though I bought all 3 of these at the same time, I never would have thought to put them together without the challenge! Thanks CASE Study 🙂

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon (or sign-up to follow my blog!) for my week-long self-imposed series of Play Every Day!

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Shopping Our Stash:Challenge 89

Since I’m trying to be better about using what I have instead of buying more (I SWEAR I am!), the Shopping Our Stash blog challenges are perfect for me! The current challenge is They Say It’s Your Birthday!

Here’s my card:

HapBEE Birthday!

I made this card at the crop I went to last weekend and EVERYTHING on it is either scrap paper or borrowed stamps! I tried something new and ONLY brought my scrap plain and patterned paper with me for the 12+ hour crop. People at the crops know I love paper scraps since I also make jewelry and can often use just little pieces. So my friend Shana gave me some pieces of her Buzz & Bumble Close to My Heart paper and I had a little EK bug punch with me. I really need to get more of that paper–it’s wonderful! My friend Ellie gave me some twine. I used a CTMH alpha set to create the sentiment on my fabulous Tim Holtz Grid Blocks. Love those things!

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon (or sign-up to follow my blog!) for my week-long self-imposed series of Play Every Day!

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CARDS Blog Challege

Just this weekend I made my first square card! Today I found another sketch challenge with a square card and I thought I’d give it another try. This is from the Create Blog and the sketch from the CARDS Blog challenge for February is below.

And here is my take!

A Skyful of Hello!

I used paper from the February Simon Says Stamp card kit and some cloud dies. I popped one of the clouds and the sentiment off the front panel which is itself popped off of the card base. I even grabbed the good ol’ scalloped scissors to cut the edges! Haven’t used those in awhile. The sentiment is from Amy Tangerine.

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon (or sign-up to follow my blog!) for my week-long self-imposed series of Play Every Day!

 

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Little Tangles Challenge: Beary Special

I love paper piecing. There are people that find it futsy and those that really enjoy it (I haven’t met many that fall in the middle) and I’m definitely in the latter group. Neat & Tangled stamps are great for this. This card is for their current Love, Love, Love challenge.

I’m also a sucker for all the new wood veneers (as you can see in past posts) As we all know though, in a packet of words, there are always ones that we know we will never use. That happened to me with my new package of Studio Calico circles. I knew I’d never use “Quoted” so I stamped the heart from Just Hello on the back to show what the bears were REALLY thinking!

Awwwww!

Aren’t they ADORABLE!?! I love these little guys. I’ve also been on a kick trying to find different ways to use the Tim Holtz Tattered Banner die and I think it’s going well as I’m up to 4 so far–a love flag, a kitten-torn pennant, the log above, and even a banner! The bears and mushroom are from the Little Bear set and I can’t wait to make bears of all colors.

Come back soon as I will be doing a series of self-imposed challenges called Play Every Day!

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Something Messy?

I’ve been wanting to play with texture paste and stencils for awhile now. I just haven’t gotten around to it. I’m sure I’m not alone in that there are FAR more techniques out there that I want to try than I feel like I have time for. This past Saturday was the monthly 12+ hour crop that I go to and I was determined to at least try it once. If nothing else, at least I’m sparing my craft room from getting messy(er), right? Luckily, I saw that the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge was “Something Messy” and my friend sent me to Black Tie Fridays challenge and they are highlighting texture so it was fate. I just HAD to play with paste and stencils!

my first experiment with texture paste

Here’s a detail of the texture.

So shiny!

I REALLY wish you could see this! I used some Glimmer Mists and some mists I mixed with Perfect Pearls and the whole front just shimmers. It’s so pretty! The texture paste didn’t take very long to dry and was really easy to use. As you might know, I am doing the Sketchbook Project this year, so I added a couple of textured pages into my book while I was getting messy. I’ll just have to go back and splash some colors and add more layers later. I love when things just come together, don’t you?

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Tuesday Morning Sketches #185 Challenge

Hi Everyone! I’ve recently started to do more sketch challenges when possible. I find that they’re just the right amount of direction and rules. I can still use whatever products I feel like working with, and I can almost always pick the theme, but I’m not staring at a blank piece of cardstock thinking…”ok, now I just need to make something!” I’m new to Tuesday Morning Sketches so here goes nothing! Here is the sketch for this week:

Here’s my take:

I choose You!

Here’s a little detail. I used a star pick I had and wrapped a Tim Holtz Tattered Banner around it to make a love flag.

Love Flag

The sentiment is from Flourishes. Since I’m not on any design teams or anything I use A LOT of different companies’ products so if there is anything you are curious about, just ask me in the comments and I can probably tell you! (Might be a bit outdated though 😉 ) More soon!

 

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Paper Smooches Designer Drafts Challenge

I’ve said time and again that I have a lot of fun using the Paper Smooches stamps for paper piecing and I was excited to use them again on their newest Designer Drafts Challenge over at their Paper Smooches SPARKS blog. Here is the sketch for the current challenge.

 

Here’s my take!

I imagine cats do this when pesky people aren’t around.

Here’s a closer look at the little kitties 🙂

Cat Tower

These cuties and sentiment are from the Paper Smooches Nine Lives set. I used the Tim Holtz Tattered Banners die to make it look like maybe they have been playing with it a little too long. I know *I* think it looks fun to play with! I hope you enjoy!

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How Organizing Saves Me Money

There is definitely a love/hate relationship between me and organizing supplies. I love to organize and look at everything, but I never feel like I really accomplish anything (except for my exciting new basket system). I have a little notebook that I have been trying to keep track of my supplies in. When I was first deciding on a notebook, I knew I wanted something small so I could take it with me, but my supplies have outgrown my little notebook.

So little! Measures about 1.5″ x 1″

 

Peek Inside!

Quickly I realized I needed to use something else. I always have my phone with me so I want something that will sync easily with my phone, computer and tablet. I tried Evernote, but that wasn’t really working well for me. So now I’m trying Google Drive. So far it’s working well. The best thing it’s doing? SAVING ME MONEY!

I had decided that I really wanted some new ink pads. They were even in my online shopping cart, ready to go, but I was waiting on a friend to get back to me. That night, I went home and typed in all the inks I have into my new INKS Google Drive Doc. The result? About 19 different brands and about 174 colors…that I have listed…so far. Holy crap, right? I know what you’re thinking. And you’re right. I definitely don’t need to buy more ink.

And I don’t. So I didn’t buy it yet and I probably won’t. Seeing all the inks, embossing folders, and dies that I have laid out in an organized grid really shows me that I have plenty and is helping me use what I have and not buy more.

Although, it did cost me money because Blitsy.com had Distress Stains on sale and I wanted to get the ones I didn’t have. Fortunately, I just checked my Google Drive and was able to know what I had and what I “needed” to finish off my collection. So far, I think this is going to work really well.

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