Summer Camp Happy Mail

I've managed to find a little time (between moving furniture around for the drywall guys and laundry) to stamp again!  It was a good way to end the day yesterday.

My daughter wanted a card to send to a friend that is away at camp and she needs to get it in the mailbox today, so I had to work quickly.  I decided one layer (goes with this Lawnscaping challenge) and to make it look like a postcard (goes kinda with this Simon Says Stamp challenge).

I used two Lawn Fawn sets for this one.  I was inspired by the book Toot & Puddle by Holly Hobbie.  There are great illustrations of scenes from each city Toot visits along with a postcard he writes to Puddle.  It is a favorite story in our house.  The only thing I wish I had done was to change the bell in the stamp to the paw print.  I just don't think fast enough late at night anymore!

January AEI♥U Challenge #3 and Clean and Simple Homework

I love when I can kill two birds with one stamped card.  I know that sounds bad, but you crafty folks get it, right?

So, I am taking an Online Card Class all about Clean and Simple Card Making.  I really enjoy these classes because they offer lots of techniques and tips, videos and .pdf files for the card samples.  It started Monday and there was homework.  I was always the kid who did homework as soon as I got home from school and that night I sat down and did my homework!

There were four sketches for card making and I chose one by Julie Ebersole.  I chose a simple patterned paper and punched out some wee hearts and used just one stamp.  Fairly clean and fairly simple.  

I am using this for the Avery Elle January AEI♥U Challenge, too.  The inspiration was this photo:

Instead of using the black and gray, I used two tones of aqua with the white and pop of red (and those stripes).  I took this one out of the box, didn't I?  Well, that is the nice thing about inspiration - make it work for you!  Hope you have a wonderful day!

January AEI♥U Challenge #2

Hi all.  Wowzers - two in one day and hopefully another tomorrow!  I've got another card for the Avery Elle January AEI♥U Challenge to share.

This was based just on the colors of the inspiration photo.  This is another one that could go to just about anybody, and I will probably save this one for my son.  Since the chalkboard art look is trending right now, I figured I'd give it a go.  I have seen lots of tutorials out there (this is a good one).  It is pretty easy and fun, plus it gives me a chance to doodle a bit.  I don't know about you, but I had gobs of doodles in just about every notebook from high school through college.  So long as you can find stamps that work as chalkboard art, it is a pretty easy style to do.

Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday!

January AEI♥U Challenge

Good morning!  I have pulled out some *new* stamps that I purchased with some birthday money to gear up for the Online Card Class.  I have discovered stamps from Avery Elle that are very hip and trendy and I adore them!  In reading their blog I found a monthly challenge and figured I'd give it a go.

This is the inspiration for the challenge.  

Here is the first card I made:

I decided to use the colors and the striped boots for my inspiration.  The Lots of Love stamp set had a striped heart stamp which was perfect for this!  I like the black/gray/red for a Valentine's Day card because it can be given to anyone.  (The layout was one I had in my sketchbook from a card I had seen somewhere but I don't know where.)  It felt good to stamp for fun and I stamped a couple of other cards that I'll be sharing soon, so please peek back here if you have time.  Thanks!  

It Felt Like a Good Idea...

I am really trying to jump start back into stamping and everything and the other night when I made a get well soon card for my cousin, I got around to making a few things. I had been looking around for some inspiration and found a couple of challenges on the Moxie Fab World blog. There was the felt challenge and there were a few sketch challenges. I decided to try the felt challenge. I have some felt and have used it sparingly but I do love how it can easily be cut and added to a card for texture without necessarily adding lots of bulk.



I like to be able to make thank you notes whenever I can for challenges because I always need a thank you note. I found some chipboard buttons in one of my drawers and thought I could make a felt button. I used a scalloped circle first, then cut a circle out of the center before mounting onto the chipboard button. It still looked bare, so I added another button to the center. Easy and simple!



This is one that adds texture and some serious bulk! I've not tried rolled felt flowers before and I can honestly say that I need some practice. It is always fun to try something new to see how it works and if there is a trick or shortcut that might help in the future. I couldn't find one here, though. What I did find, however, was a way to use a sketch challenge. I found this vertical sketch could be flipped on its side and used flowers and leaves in place of pennant shapes. I'm not sure if I'm 100% behind the end product but at least I'm stamping!

Happy 100 Challenges!

A stamping friend and fellow A Muse fan, Glenda, is celebrating her 100th stamping challenge today. She asked some stamping friends of hers to help her celebrate by participating in a blog hop. She also has some blog candy, so if you haven't given her challenge a try, now is the time to do it! Here are the guidelines:

Glenda's Random Amusing Challenge #100 is to use red on your card or project. Use as much or as little as you like. Incorporate it by using paper, ink, ribbon, embellishments, whatever you like! You must play along with the challenge to be eligible to win the blog candy. If you play along, please leave a comment on Glenda's blog and link back to her post from your post. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword GRAC100. You have until midnight Pacific Time on January 23rd to play along and you can play along as many times as you like. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on January 24th.

Here's the blog list:

Allison Fillo
Allison Miles
Beate Johns
Belinda Chang Langner
Carly Robertson
Cheiron Brandon
Chris Sather
Dawn Stein
Donna Hitz
Geeta Suggs
Jenn Shurkus
Jennie Moczan
Jill Grace
Joan Jeffery
June Gibbons
Kamila Younkman
Krystie Lee Hersch
Lori Barnett
Lyndsay Breid
Meghan Fahey
Michelle Clark
Michelle Mathey
Michelle Woerner
Nance Lempinen-Leedy
Sherry Czarnecki
Silke Ledlow
Teresa Kline

And, now for my card for her challenge. I was trying to come up with a fun way to use red and some of the supply of embellishments gathering dust in my craft room. I had seen a card in a Paper Crafts Magazine for the holidays that inspired me. It was a Christmas tree shape that had been made from various card making materials. I changed the shape, pulled a bunch of red fun stuff out and got to work.



I hand cut the heart and used the negative space as a stencil to fill up with A Muse stamps, twinkle stickers and pearls, as well as Martha Stewart paper confetti, Doodlebug confetti flowers and buttons. It was a lot of fun putting this together and I've managed to get my husband's Valentine's Day card made. I do plan on giving it to him, despite the ribbon and sparkly things!

Don't forget to play along with Glenda's 100th Amusing Challenge and check out the other inspired ideas from her blogging friends!

Moxie Fab Bright Spot

I told you I made three cards last night right? Well, here is the second card, which is also another challenge card. It has been a while since I did a Tuesday Trigger from the Moxie Fab World blog. This week's Trigger is a bright spot during winter. I always forget to add the Trigger photo, but not this week!



Interesting inspiration, right? This photo is from Purl Soho (another interesting little place to take a look-see when I find time). I liked the idea of incorporating circles into my card and I wanted to use white space, too. Another something I had been contemplating was a stamper's take on subway sign art. I've seen lots of examples lately (if you're curious to see what I mean, click here) and I just like the idea of using words on a card. So, I looked through my sentiments and found as many as I could that fit together and conveyed a particular thought.



This is not completely true to the subwart sign art style, just inspired by it. I do like the look, though, and I think I could do more given the number of sentiments I own. I pulled out more buttons to give my card some circles and added just a touch of woodgrain behind the stamped panel to tie in the wood window frame.

This was a fun challenge - hope you have time to try, too!

I'll be back on Monday with something else for you. Hope you stop by and take a peek!

Have Mercy!

Since my youngest started preschool, I've found myself able to volunteer at school more often and it has taken up free time that I wish I had. But, it is important for me to be in the school and staying involved as much as I can.

It is cutting into my crafty time because I'm not getting all of my house work done during daylight hours.

On top of that, I've been consumed by baking cookies for our annual party and quick bread for holiday gift giving.

But, last night, I sat down to make something, just because. Well, actually, because I wanted something pretty to hold some handmade candy canes I had bought.



A Muse has a simple but cute candy cane holder template that I used. Then, using the "glitter on double-sided adhesive" trick, I made the lines with some Martha Stewart sparkly red glitter. Add a little baker's twine and a stamped tag, and I had a cute box.

A little belatedly I realized that I could post this on the Moxie Fab World Challenge: Glitter is Glam. This technique is one mentioned in the post, too, so you should give it a try!

Just Can't Get Enough

I still haven't put away my Everything's Rosy stamps. Still having fun with all those beautiful floral images! I took a gander at this week's Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger and, lo and behold, more floral goodness. So, I took a stab this week.

Instead of stamping a flower, I went with another 3-D flower (I've seen so many examples in blogland lately). This time, I sanded and pinched the edges together to make them appear pointed. For the polka dots, I used a flat pencil eraser and chalk ink. It came together so easily.

Don't forget to check my A Muse Birthday Blog Hop post for a chance to win two new stamps. The winners will be announced Monday, so there is still time to enter!

stamps: clear leaves set, beautiful day FL by A Muse Artstamps
paper: chiffon yellow, shimmer couture grass, kitchen green, popsicle pink and natural white notecard by A Muse Artstamps
other: pink twinkle stickers by A Muse Artstamps, yellow brad by Making Memories, flower punches

A Wee Bit O' Inspiration Goes A Long Way (and some sewing)

Happy Weekend, everyone! We have had a rainy couple of days here, so the kids are inside playing and keeping the house noisy, but I have had some time to do some sewing and stamping. I am a much happier person when I've had time to do something just for fun, and today I am happy.

Yesterday I managed to sew four, count 'em FOUR, aprons! I made three aprons for my girls using a vintage-style print tablecloth. They love wearing aprons whenever they help in the kitchen and they always want the same apron, so now they don't have to share. Here is a photo of my youngest two modeling their new aprons.



Then, I made myself an apron. I have other aprons that I like to wear, but this one is a pretty apron, and it is kinda fun. I wore it this morning when I made coffee cake and cleaned the kitchen. Here is a photo (and the tutorial) for the apron I made.




I mentioned that I got to some stamping, right? Well, my little stamping hole has been neglected lately. I've had lots going on and I just haven't made time to stamp. But, today I managed a couple of cards. The one I'm sharing today is actually for a few different challenges. In the A Muse Lounge, there is a challenge to create a card using Julie Ebersole's genius as inspiration. Last year, she created this beauty. It is so simple and elegant! I knew what I wanted to do, then I realized that it also fit the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger challenge, using green and white (and even some gingham print). And, finally, I found that it fit the CAS challenge on SCS from last week - It's Hip to be Square.

So, do you want to see my triple-whammy challenge card?



I used the tiny heart to make the mini shamrocks since I don't have a shamrock stamp. The shamrock stencil came from a newspaper advertisement that I found this morning. Talk about serendipity!

It came out rather lovely, I think. To quote JulieHRR, "I'm bouncin' with my arms wrapped 'round myself!"

card info: white and petite gingham green cardstock, tiny heart, luck and fortune, lime twinkle stickers by A Muse.

Need Some Sunshine?

It has been wicked cold and windy here today. I am thankful that there wasn't any snow here and I am feeling badly for those in the Northeast who've had to deal with feet of snow these past few days. I don't think my kids could take any more snow this season.

All this wind has curtailed my errand-running today. My youngest daughter just did not want to be outside more than necessary, so I blew off the library, Target and the gym today. While she played and I waited for laundry to wash and dry, I found a few minutes to stamp. A few minutes was all I needed, too for this card. I think Julie calls it a "5 Minute Quckie." I love cards that take little time to make yet satisfy the need to be creative, don't you?



Last week I noticed some people that I know had participated in a Tuesday Trigger on the Moxie Fab World blog. Que es esto? I wondered. I looked and thought it would be another good way to challenge myself to create a card for fun. I just ran out of time. So, I am caving to peer pressure and participating this week. The trigger plus the weather equals this card. Who doesn't love an easy, one-layer, 5 minute quickie? (As I reread that sentence, it is a bit risque, isn't it? Oh, well.)

card info: sun, sentiment and pearls by A Muse Artstamps, kraft cardstock, yellow gingham ribbon by May Arts, colored pencils.