Happy Birthday in blue and brown

EDIT:

I made the card and had it sitting on my desk for a couple days.  I just didn't like how the stamped image and sentiment were lost on the brown paper.  So I changed it.  :o)  Here is the new card even if the challenge is over.  :o)

It has been over a month since I posted on here but that doesn't mean I haven't been making cards.  Christmas cards was the priority!  Now that things have calmed down and I don't have to mass produce cards, I can play along with some challenges again!  My Mommy's birthday is on January 8th so I decided to make one for her tonight.  I went to some of my favorite blogs for inspiration:

Allsorts Challenge wants us to use brown and blue.

A la Card Monkey had a cute sketch challenge:

And here is my card:

I simply layered solid and patterned paper.  Used my lace edge punch on the blue layer.
The flower stamp in from Stampin Up!  Happy Birthday is a hand me down random stamp.  Both stamped in SU! Chocolate Chip ink.
Added cream colored lace and brown ribbon to finish it off.

Thanks for swinging by!

Christmas cards

I haven't played along with any challenges lately simply because it does take a bit more time to do that and I was trying to make all my Christmas cards this year.  I made about half with stamps and embellishments.  The rest will still be assembled in a simple way with our photo on the front.  I am signing away now and stuffing envelopes and I just love putting these together.  I had to cut my Christmas card list because I keep in touch with many thru Facebook and I just gotta be realistic about the cards.  I include a photo and annual Newman Newsletter too so by the time I do that and pay for postage, it's a big endeavor!
Here is my created stash:

Today is Thanksgiving and I have much to be thankful for!  Enjoy the holidays everyone!!

My eyes are brown

Less is More is having a challenge to use the color your eyes are on a card.  My eyes are brown and since I am making my Christmas cards, I immediately thought of a little gingerbread man stamp I had.  And wouldn't you know... one of my favorite challenge sites Do You Stack Up has the color brown as their theme this week too. 

Then I used this simple sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

So here is my card to play along with all three challenges.

I used pattern paper with holly leaves and swirls as the strip.
The gingerbread man is a foam dollar stamp I acquired somewhere along the way.  I stamped him in SU! Chocolate Chip ink.  I added Stickles glitter to his outfit.  I cut him out using a Nestabilities die on my Big Shot.  Layered red behind that using the next size up.  I love die cuts!
Merry Christmas is stamped in the same Chocolate Chip ink.
I finished it off with little candy canes thanks to Jolie's.  I like how the holly matches that background paper.

Thanks for swinging by!

Sketch challenge

Freshly Made Sketches has a fun sketch challenge this week.

I'm still plugging away on my Christmas cards.  So here is my card:

I started with red cardstock as the base.

Next layer is branch patterned paper.  Then an olive colored green strip.

The tag:  I stamped snowflakes in SU! Whisper White craft ink.  Love this stuff.  Added red ribbon.

The penguin is recycled from an old Christmas card that I cut out with a punch.  

I printed "Merry Christmas from the Newmans" on my computer and used a punch to cut it out.

ta da!

Thanks for swinging by!

Christmas sketch challenge

A la card Monkey has a Christmas sketch challenge that I played along with today.  I like the sketch challenges cause that proves I was inspired by them!  

Started with red card stock.  Added a layer of branchy patterned paper.
I made the red tag with the same paper as the base of the card.  I stamped swirls in SU! Old Olive to coordinate with the swirls in the star.
The star is a sticker from my stash.
Added the ribbon and stamped Merry Christmas in Old Olive ink.

Thanks for swinging by!

Male birthday card

The Paper Players have a sketch challenge.

Annabelle Stamps wants to see male cards this week.
Do You Stack Up has a fun "Duo" theme challenge.

So I made this card for my husband's uncle whose birthday is coming up.

Started with blue cardstock.
Layered three strips of patterned paper.  My paper cutter blade is a little dull so the edges look distressed which I like for this card.
I made the gift with patterned paper and a stencil.  I thought it looked like wrapping paper.  I edged it in white ink to help it pop a little.  I made a bow out of silver glittery ribbon.  Clearly I need to look up how to make a bow next time!
Balloons were in a little package of die cuts.  I added the embroidery floss for the strings.
Finished with a little happy birthday stamped sentiment from Leisure Arts.

Thanks for swinging by!

New home

We are going to a housewarming party next weekend so I made this Fall card for the first time homeowners!

I am playing along with Allsorts this week.  They want us to keep it clean and simple.  

I stamped the door from a set given to me.  Not sure of the company.  The pumpkin is in the same set. I colored it with watercolor pencils.
Congratulations if from a clear wedding set from AC Moore.
Corner punched the orange layer.  And simply layered that on happy Fall paper.

Thanks for swinging by!

Monochromatic birthday

I must confess I had to look up the definition of monochromatic!  Sentimental Sundays is having a challenge for monochromatic cards and I had no idea what that meant.  Sounded like a metal!  Well anyway I now understand that it's all about using one color and from the samples they showed, it can be different shades of that color.  I decide to go PINK for an upcoming birthday for a cousin who is turning 10.  I make kids cards one layer or pretty simple because I have seen a few of my cards get ripped when kids open them.  So here it is:

I stamped the gift background in Purely Pomegranate Stampin Up! ink with a Hampton Art clear stamp.
Added a little square of pink glitter tissue paper.
Stamped the gift again and Happy Birthday on light purple paper.
Added the birthday girl's initial and age with glittery stickers.
Finished with a little pink ribbon.

Thanks for swinging by!

Zebra butterflies

The Paper Players had a challenge to use an animal or plant on a clean and simple card.  That was easy since my sister put in a request for her birthday card this year.  She said she liked fluorescent colors and zebra print so I came up with this:

Butterflies: Used my SU! butterfly punch.  Added jewels for the body.  (I googled zebra print and just printed out my search result on textured paper.)
Lace border punch on the green layer.  Topped with black and white border sticker.
I stamped the text with my new clear stamps from AC Moore, Hampton Art brand.
Layered on orange than pink paper.

Thanks for swinging by.

Wedding card

I made a wedding card this past week and it fits into two challenges!  I didn't use them, as I normally do, to draw inspiration this time around.  Just came up with this myself.  Happy to play along and enter my card to these two sites:

Allsorts:  use flowers and swirls
(EDIT:  I missed the deadline by 8hrs so nevermind!)

Do You Stack Up:  use silver

The wedding colors are deep purple, grey and silver.
The main piece of the card is grey.  I added a purple layer, which has some shimmer to it.
The white layer has embossed swirls on it.  (Done with my Big Shot.)
I printed the names from my computer.
Flowers made with a Martha Stewart flower punch, topped with Stampin Up! jewels.
Silver ribbon is the final touch.

Nice and personal.  The way I like it!
Thanks for swinging by!

DYSU win!

Thanks to a random drawing, my card won at Do You Stack Up.  I got a month membership at digidarla.com.  I haven't used her images before but I'm curious to see them!  Now that we are back online after a week post Irene, it's time to find a moment to craft!

Welcome baby girl card with soft edges

I loved the idea that Pals Paper Arts had this week to take the edge off with soft corners, etc.  So here is a soft colored, soft lace, soft corners card for a sweet soft baby about to be born.  I had two cards to make and you'll see the other variation in my previous post.  :o)  

The baby is a Close to My Heart stamp.  I used colored pencils to color her, and then punched it out with a large scallop SU! punch.  It's raised up off the card with pop dots.

The 'welcome little one' stamp is from Job Lot with Old Olive SU! ink.

The patterned paper and tag were in a kit.  I used a brad to hold the tag on.  

Layered a little strip of lace behind that.

Added two little flowers as decorations.

Lastly I rounded all the corners to make it soft and oh so eligible for this great challenge!

Thanks for swinging by!

Welcome baby girl card

Annabelle Stamps has a sketch challenge that I used to make a new baby card.

Here's my card:

The baby is a Close to My Heart stamp.  I used colored pencils to color her.  And then punched it out with a large scallop SU! punch.

The 'welcome little one' stamp is from Job Lot with Old Olive SU! ink.

Aside from layering paper, I used a pink brad, 3 jewels and some pretty feminine lace.  I had to put a piece of green under the lace so you could see it.  Otherwise it blended into the background paper.

Thanks for swinging by!

Guest Designer!!!

I am beyond excited that the girls over at A La Card Monkey asked me to be a guest designer! During a recent challenge they picked my card as one of their favorites.  It was such a compliment because although I play along with many challenges, my cards have never been picked as a winner (I did win once in a random pick though).  There is some serious talent out there so it's not like I ever expected to win.  So imagine my surprise!  And it was on a site with monkeys!  It was meant to be! 

The challenge was to create an Autumn themed card using this sketch as a guide:

 And here is my creation.

Started with textured orange cardstock I scored from a yard sale.

Layered striped paper & leaf paper which are both from a Me & My Big Ideas specialty cardstock stack.
The monkey is a Dustin Pike digital stamp that I colored.  It's mounted on green then purple paper.
Buttons were added from the stash I had saved from all those new shirts over the years!


I had lots of fun making this card and would like to thank Terry and Shirley for the opportunity!  
Thanks for swinging by!

Frame challenge

Allsorts challenged us to use a frame on a card.  My grandfather likes to hunt so I made this for him.  (I never would have thought to do this if it wasn't for this challenge!  I love getting inspired this way!!)

It's night here so the colors are off in the photo - sorry.  The paper and ink are Old Olive from Stampin' Up.
I used SU! Lovely as a Tree stamps.
I drew the deer.  haha!  I'm not a pro but it works!
I cut out the target with red scraps (although it looks orange in the pic).
Finished with a simple Happy Birthday stamp in black.

Perfect for my Gramp!

I am also entering this card on another one of my fav challenge blogs:  Do You Stack Up.  They want to see cards for the guys in our lives!  How perfect.

Thanks for swinging by!

Male birthday card

Pals Paper Arts has a sketch challenge... 

...and Aud Sentiments has anything goes.  So here is my card:
Made for my FIL who loves to hike.  He's even gone to Nepal twice!

I used paper and stickers that definitely suit a mountaineer type!  I got a kick out of the "difficult trail ahead" sticker since it is a birthday card - subtle punch at age.  The block with the happy birthday on it is raised with pop dots.
I used two pieces of raffia.  The first I opened a bit and glued down.  I glued the 2nd down after I tied two little knots in them.  (This was actually plan b.  I put 3 staples in the brown paper but they were crooked.  I love staples as accents for male cards but it just didn't work this time.)  And now I love the knots in the raffia look.  I will def do this again!

Thanks for swinging by!

A Sympathy Sketch challenge

A La Card Monkey had a challenge per the little pic below.  Sadly it ended last night but I just made a card today using the layout.  I had a sympathy card to make.  :o(

The flower paper, beige & light green papers are from Creative Memories.
The butterfly is from a vellum pack that I cut out.
"Sharing in your Sorrow is from Stampin Up!
I used a Fiskars lace paper edger too.
Tied a little bakers twine and it was done.

Thanks for swinging by, even if I did miss the deadline!  I just love the inspiration!

Mojo Monday thank you

I wanted to make a quick thank you card for my MIL for buying new clothes for the kids.  I am so thankful she likes to shop because I.do.not... unless it's at a local craft store!  I just made a quick card using this template at Mojo Monday.

I used:
Stampin Up! thank you stamp from the Wow Flowers set.
Large circle scallop punch.  A little flower embellishment glued on that.
Patterned Paper is from a stack.  I layered it on orange.
Little piece of ribbon with snipped ends.

It's kind of busy but it's bright and sunny which is what I was going for.  At least it's homemade!
Thanks for swinging by!

One layer music themed birthday card

Stampin Sisters in Christ had a challenge to incorporate music or song on our cards.  

And Less Is More wanted us to use ink in a new way.  

They were my inspiration for creating this birthday card for my friend.

I started with the gift.  I rubbed an inked sponge over a stencil.  I colored in the bow with watercolor pencils just to add a little dimension.
The birds and sentiment is from an older Stampin' Up set.  I only inked "happy bird-day" on the 3rd line and hand wrote "dear Andrea".  Then I added the music notes.
That would have been my clean and simple card for the Less Is More challenge but it was so plain that I couldn't just leave it!  hahaha  (So now I don't have white space or qualify for the LIM challenge but they inspired me so hence the credit.)
So I rubbed ink on the edges.  I added the stickers on the corners and the word "Celebrate!" to finish it off.  Now it looks complete!
It was fun to make a one layer card though!

Thanks for swinging by.

Christmas in pink!

I follow a blog called Always Playing with Paper.  She makes beautiful cards.  She's on a design team for another blog called The Paper Players.  They had a challenge to use 3 shades of pink and I was inspired to do something with those colors!

Then I saw that Aud Sentiments wants to see "Merry Christmas" on a card.  Since I want to make my cards this year, I thought I better start!  I love when inspiration strikes!

I started by going thru old Christmas cards I received and had stashed away to repurpose.  Finding pink among all the green and red was tricky!  But I found this little gift box on a card and cut it out.
I chose the dark pink card base from there.
The green layer of paper is from a stack and feels like velvet.  Love the texture.
Merry Christmas is stamped but I'm not sure why I stamped it crooked.  Just ignore that.  hehe
I marked fake stitching on the sentiment.  Added two pink jewels.  And a lighter pink ribbon for my 3rd shade of pink.  Voila!

Thanks for swinging by!

Embossed butterfly

Do You Stack Up has a challenge this week to use embossing on your card.  Here is my butterfly birthday card.

• The base of the card is light beige.
• Dark brown paper layered over that.
• I stamped the butterfly (purchased years ago from a street vendor in Ottawa) on light lavender paper using Stampin Up! chocolate chip ink then embossed it with clear powder.  Then I cut it out using my Big Shot and a shape from the Spellbinders Shapeabilities Pendants Fleur de Lis set. 
• "birthday wishes" was done with a SU! stamp and choc chip ink.  I punched it out with an oval punch.
• The sides of the sentiment are embellished with two little fleur de lis tucked under on each side (also from that Shapeabilities set)
• I layered the sentiment on some light beige lace I scored at a yard sale.
• Finished it off with 3 pearls from SU!

Thanks for swinging by.

Very Yellow Happy Birthday

I saw this card in Paper Crafts magazine and used it for inspiration!

Here is my happy yellow card:

I'm entering it in two challenges:
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges wants us to use punches and a critter.
Do You Stack Up has a challenge to use wings in our project.

Started with yellow cardstock and layered a patterned sheet on that.
I punched scallop squares and folded them to make the petals of the flower.  The center is a store bought embellishment... a raised, layered, & sparkly sticker!
Happy birthday was printed from my computer.  Punched out with oval punch (SU!).  I sponged Daffodil Delight ink (SU!) on it.  Punched turquoise paper with scallop oval to layer behind it.  Added the folded ribbon behind that.  Added diamond jewels.  And lastly the little bee sticker (Creative Memories).

It's a bright and cheery card, perfect for the person I am giving it to!

Thanks for swinging by!

Girls Birthday

Mojo Monday has a simple sketch this week that I used as inspiration for a birthday card.

My friend's little girl is turning 1.  She has two older brothers so I had to make this card pink and feminine!

The butterflies are patterned paper.

H, 1 & Happy Birthday are all stickers.  H is the little girl's initial.

The hat is a die cut I had in my stash.  I added glitter to the pom pom.  I also used pop dots behind the hat to make it stand out.  

After I was done, I realized I didn't add that other rectangular piece that was in the sketch but I like my card anyway and I used Mojo Monday as inspiration.  

Thanks for swinging by!

Orange birthday

Thanks Do You Stack Up for the idea to make an orange card!  I needed direction for a boy's birthday card and wasn't sure where to start!  That is EXACTLY why I play along with these challenges. Sometimes a girl needs a little inspiration!  Here's my orange construction themed card.  I keep kids' cards simple because I've discovered they get torn when they are opened!  Doesn't take much to make a card and make it personal!

This card was pretty simple... just started with the orange card stock and stickers.  Found the striped paper in my scraps.  Added a few stickers.  Rubbed the edge of the Nicholas layer in ink.  And voila!
Thanks for swinging by!

Welcome baby boy

My friend had a little boy so I made this card for them.  I love apes and monkeys so voila!

I'm playing along with two challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge:  "A sentiment/card for a male"

Do you Stack Up Challenge Blog:  DYSU Challenge 21: ANIMALS *roar*

Bottom safari paper is from a stack.  I glued a ribbon to the top.
I stamped Curious George on blue paper.  The sentiment is a stamp I just got from Ocean State Job Lot for $1!  (It has a onesie on it but I just didn't ink that part.)
I smudged blue ink on the paper for texture.  The buttons are stickers.  And then I punched out the branches with my Martha Stewart punch.

Thanks for swinging by!

Invitation Envelopes on sale

I just stocked up on invitation envelopes (3x5ish) today after a trip to Staples.  They were only $5 for a box of 100.  Good deal!!!

Happy Birthday to a sketch challenge

Mojo Monday has a nice sketch that I wanted to play along with for a birthday card.

I started with one of my scrapbooking kits  The three layers of paper were in that.  I glued them on brown card stock.

Circle sentiment is:  "Wow Flowers" from Stampin' Up!  Added a SU! jewel in the center.

I cut the leaves with a Martha Stewart punch.

Three jewels on the top right were in my stash.  

Simple but I love brown and blue together!

Thanks for swinging by!

Teddy Bear picnic

Allsorts Challenge Blog has a teddy bear picnic theme going on and as soon as I saw it I decided to make a card using a stamp I have never used before.  I received it as a hand-me-down and tucked it away til now!  I laid in bed last night thinking about possible layouts and woke up knowing what I wanted to do.  I love when inspiration hits!  I wanted to make a one layer card that was like a painting.

After making this card, I checked in with some of my favorite blog challenges to see what was going on.  (I only follow 16 per my google reader and I can't believe that my card qualifies for a 3 other challenges!)

Stampin Sisters in Christ wants us to do a card with tea, coffee or a pot on it.  They have a GREAT devotion to go along with that theme that discusses the journey of a lump of clay to a beautiful tea cup and how our lives are like that.  Go take a read if you have a moment!

Gingerloft Challenge wants us to use a tree!  How lucky is that!  I used one tree stamp over and over on this card.

Sew Many Challenges said anything goes.  So voila!  Here is my card:

I started with white card stock and stamped the bears in Chocolate Chip ink from SU!.  I created a mask (stamped them again on scrap paper, cut them out, lay it over the original image) before stamping my trees.
Tree stamp is from SU!  (It's the same tree that I used in my previous post.)  I used Garden Green SU! ink.  I colored the trunk brown with Crayola colored pencils.
Next using a sponge rubbed in green chalk, I colored in the grass and the trees.
I rubbed a sponge in blue for the sky.
I colored the bears with colored pencils too.  Just regular ones, not water color.
I added the sentiment last after stamping it on blue paper that matched the sky.  Cut it out and glued it on.

I really love the way this card turned out.  It makes me happy to look at!
Thanks for swinging by.

Male birthday card

Here is a birthday card for my brother-in-law.  He's older than my husband so I added the wise owl for fun.  :o)  (And he really is a wise and intelligent guy!)

I had a couple ideas when I sat down to make this card but ended up going in a totally different direction.
I stamped the blue background with oak leaves from the Stampin Up! (SU!) set called "Lovely as a Tree".
Added a layer of brown with the staples.  Staples are an easy way to embellish a male's card.  This is my first time using them.
The tree in the center is also from the SU! set "Lovely as a Tree".
The owl is from SU! hostess set "Cute by the Inch".
Happy birthday is just an old hand me down I received.  But I punched it out with the word window punch from SU!
Lastly the ink is all done with SU! Chocolate Chip brown.

My only beef about this card is that I put the brown square on a touch crooked.  But I noticed too late. Oh well... at least you know it's hand made.

I'm participating in two challenges with this card:
Allsorts Challenge blog wants us to use at least three stamps.
Annabelle Stamps wants us to use squares.

Thanks for swinging by!

Happy Birthday in beautiful purple

Stampin Sisters in Christ had a great devotion about beauty so I recommend you click over and read that especially if you have daughters.  I like how their theme came from that (as they always do - so clever!) and this week it's anything beautiful!  So I used my butterflies, flowers, jewels and glitter.  Another beautiful thing on this card is the yellow top note die cut made with my beautiful Big Shot!  I love that tool and I love that shape!

Do You Stack Up wants us to use the color purple this week!  Easy for me since it's my favorite color.  

I'm entering this card over at Sentimental Sundays too because they have an "anything goes" theme.  As usually, they have free sentiments you can use.  

I started this card by looking at my embellishments and knew I wanted to use the daisy.  The yellow and purple came from that.  I just found cardstock that matched the best.  

From there I went thru my birthday folder with die cuts and stickers and found this awesome Happy Birthday die cut.  I added the glitter to beautify it!  

The butterflies are from Annabelle Stamps which I won on a challenge a little while ago (before this blog).  They are clear stamps and stamp really clean and crisp!  I am really happy with them.  I chose SU! Rich Razzleberry ink because if you look carefully in the confetti behind the sentiment, there is dark tones there.  (Click on image to enlarge.)  

I added glitter glue to the butterflies and it smudged the ink a little so I colored it in with colored pencils and now you can't tell. 

Lastly, I added 3 jewels on the corner and that's about it!

A birthday card for a beautiful friend - perfect theme for her!!

Thanks for swinging by!

Mother's Day card

Mother's Day is quickly approaching and my cards are going to be late this year since my son's first birthday was on April 30th and I was focused on that party forever!  M-day seems a little early this year or maybe I'm losing track of time in the worse way!

Well I worked away today inspired by the layout over at Mojo Monday.

Here's what I came up with:

I started with the floral/paisley patterned paper and went thru matching die cuts.  I love scrapbooking kits!! (which I received from my MIL).
I layered the polka dot paper then the floral, trimming the edge with funky scissors.
Used the SU! oval punch on the background for those die cut hearts.  I used a hole punch then added the baker's twine.  It was my first time using it and I do like the look although not the texture - so stiff!
QUESTION:  What do you use to hold that stuff down?  Also how do you keep it from bending the paper?  I need bakers twine tips!
The Mother's Day sentiment was a freebie from Netty's Cards.  She has beautiful circular sentiments which I really love.   I shaded it with pink chalk after printing it on white cardstock. Then I used pop dots behind it to make it stand out.
The striped layer and "hugs" were ready made die cuts.
For the tag, I trimmed the end and attached it with a brad.
The final step was rounding the corners with a punch to soften the look.
That was it.  Just lots of layers on this card.
Thanks for swinging by!

Thank you card

My son's 1st birthday was yesterday.  (Click here for the post showing the invitations.)  Not only was it a party for him but a surprise 60th for my mother-in-law.  She loves the east shore of Maine so we did a lighthouse/beach theme for the party.

Here is her cake along with my son's.  My SIL got them from a local bakery.  Amazing! 

The whale was my inspiration for my thank you cards.  I made a whale tail out of paper and cut it out.  I held it in place with reposition tape then brushed dark blue chalk all around the edges.  When I was done I lifted the paper off giving this effect:

I stamped the waves and sentiment in blue ink and that was it.  Clean and simple!

I'm playing along in two challenges: GingerloftChallenge "Under the Sea" and Less is More has a themed challenge: thank you or congrats.  So this fits well!  Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch challenge with a coffee theme

I learned of a new challenge blog a few weeks ago called 'A la Card Monkey' and of course was rather fond of them just cause of the name!  I subscribed back then but this is my first time playing along with one of their challenges.  It's a sketch challenge with a coffee theme.

I downloaded this freebie girl/coffee from The Sherlocks Home awhile back so thought she'd be perfect for this thank you card.

I printed the image from my computer.  Colored her in with watercolor pencils (that I have not mastered I might add), but love how they blend!  I used patterned paper paired with brown.  Brads hold the tags in place.  I hand wrote thank you.  And finished off with a bow.