Moxie Fab Challenge

The latest challenge at the Moxie Fab blog was to create a paper crafted project that featured embroidery floss. My first thought was, "Do I own any embroidery floss?" My next thought was, "Wait, do I even own a needle?" The good news was I had both. I guess you can say that I don't do much sewing.

For my card, I placed a sticker by Ecstasy Crafts onto white cardstock and stitched part of it with red floss and part with purple floss. I only poked my fingers four times during the stitching. I then cut out the sticker, added some layers of paper, and added some purple rhinestones by Hero Arts.

Perhaps the best thing about challenges is trying something outside your comfort zone. Have a great week everyone!

Couple of Challenges

Tonight I was working on a swap for my Art Tarts group and saw the new layout on the Clean and Simple blog. I decided to alter my card a bit to fit the layout:

The challenge for the Tarts was to use up some scraps. For me, using scraps often translates to paper piecing. I am including a photo of all the cards so that you can see the various dresses that I made using scraps from the Memory Box Gossamer paper pack:

For the card, I used an image and saying from My Favorite Things. I colored the little girl with an assortment of Copic Markers and placed the paper-pieced dress on top of everything. I wasn't planning on buying any new stamps this week, but I entered the MFT stamps into inventory at Angela's Happy Stamper, and this stamp set seemed to find its way into my bag. Oh well.

Live. Love. Laugh

When I was working on this card tonight, I started with a much larger section of yellow cardstock. I kept looking at the card, and it just didn't look right. I couldn't figure out why. Then it dawned on me that all that red and yellow looked like my own personal homage to McDonalds. I trimmed away most of the yellow, and I was much happier (albeit slightly in the mood for some fries).

The card itself is one that I would file under "quick and easy." I stamped the Penny Black flowers onto white cardstock using black Memento ink and colored them with Copic markers. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but there are red rhinestones in the centers of the flowers. To finish the card, I added a saying by Impression Obsession.

Clean and Simple Sketch

I really like the Clean and Simple blog. Sometimes I get so caught up on adding extra "stuff" to my cards that I forget how beautiful clean and simple cards are. Here is the latest sketch on their blog:
For my take on the sketch, I stamped the Hero Arts Silhouette Design Block onto a white card using Gray Whale Colorbox Chalk ink. I stamped it again in black, cut out a section, and layered it onto my card. The saying is by River City Rubber Works. Easy!

Impression Obsession Challenge- Backgrounds

For my last post, I said that I thought the Little Daisy Stems (B8326) could be used to make a St. Patrick's Day card. After I said that, I decided I should try to make one. The theme for today's Impression Obsession challenge is "backgrounds," so I had to pair the stamp with one of the decorative Cover a Card Stamps. I chose to use the Botanical Wave (CC021).

To make this card, I repeatedly stamped the botanical wave onto three pieces of paper for the card. I cut out parts using my Nestabilities Labels 8 dies and stamped the daisy stems on top. To finish the stems, I colored them with a green Prismacolor pencil and added some green rhinestones.

The Impression Obsession backgrounds look so much like paper. If you need more inspiration, check out the samples by Daniela, Dina, Jeanne, and Jenny.

Here is a close up of the background so that you can see it a bit better:

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope that everyone was able to spend some time with people they love today.

I made a really quick and easy card to celebrate the day. It works as a valentine, but it could really be used for a lot of occasions. I made the background with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and added some stamps by Impression Obsession. I haven't tried it yet, but I think I want to use the same flowers for a St. Patrick's Day card. They aren't shamrocks, but I think they could look pretty good.

Hugs to everyone on this special day!

Flakey Friends

Tonight I am supposed to be teaching my snowman card class. Umm...that's not going to happen. The good news is I was able to reschedule it for Wednesday, February 24th from 6:30-8:30pm. I'm hoping I didn't jinx DC weather by calling the class "baby it's snow outside." Could the blizzards be my fault?!

The card above is one of the four cards in the class. The snowman stamp from Rubbermoon cracks me up. I don't know if it is because the image itself is so funny or because the name of the stamp is "hi mom." Hee hee hee. I added a saying by Custer's Last Stamp, which is a company that makes all kinds of humorous sayings.

And now for a snow update. The plows came. Yeah! The bad news is they plowed more snow in front of my car. I worked on shoveling today, but still have some work to do:

I call the next photo "Please somebody move that car because the tree is going to crush it. Seriously people, you are stressing me out. Don't you see the angle of that tree?" It is a rather long title, but it works for me.

**author note- the large mound in front of the tree is in fact someone's buried car.

Tuesday Trigger

I decided I wanted to try the Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World blog. The trigger picture featured a table from a little girl's birthday party that was loaded with pink candy containers. For my card, I used the back wall in the picture as inspiration for my background. I used the yellow wall for my card, added a white strip for the chair rail, and scored some white cardstock to look like the white backboard. I really liked the center topiary, so I added a topiary stamp from Impression Obsession (Mini Topiaries E2325) and colored them with lots of pink Prismacolor pencils. I covered the topiaries with Stickles to make them sparkly like candy and added a saying by A Muse (Be Mine 9-8296B). The pink petal background paper is by Memory Box.

To all my DC area friends...stay warm and stay strong. We really will get shoveled out some day! Well, maybe....

Valentine and Snow

First the crafting, then the tales of snow woes. For today's card, I wanted to make a Valentine that didn't use traditional Valentine colors. After all, it doesn't have to be red or pink! The card itself consists of three Impression Obsession stamps that I colored using my Deep Lagoon Versafine ink pad. First, I first stamped the new Cover a Card Large Paisley (CC039) onto a white card. I then stamped the Triple Stripe (D8341) onto scrap white paper to layer onto my card and popped the Solid Tied Bow Heart (C8335) on top of everything. Pretty darn easy!

Now for the snow...

When I thought about having a few days stuck at home, I thought about reading, crafting, and watching some tv. I really didn't think about what it would mean to lose power. That changes everything! Also, I forgot how much time would be spent shoveling snow. Here is a picture of my car after I shoveled around it:

We ended up with close to 30" of snow. Yikes! Plus, I live on a cul-de-sac, and 12 trees came down at the entrance. Therefore, the snow plows didn't come. The next picture shows a bit just how much snow is in front of my car:

I don't think I am going anywhere. :) The good news is the power came back on yesterday, and we didn't have to deal with no heat during the night. I said it before, and I'll say it again.... I am ready for spring!!!

The Storm's a Comin'

Well, I ran my errands, grabbed some Starbucks, and came home to hunker down for the big storm. They are now figuring we will get between 20" and 28" of snow. Yikes! I am just not cut out for this. The good news is I will have some time to post. The bad news is that as cabin fever sets in, there is a chance my posts might get weirder and weirder. :)

For today's card, I wanted to share something bright, cheerful, and summery. Ahh yes...summer. I miss you. The stamps are by Impression Obsession and feature one of the new sunflowers by Gary Robertson (Sunflower Frame G1761), my favorite background (Cover a Card Gingham C0006), and a saying from the Word Frames clear set (WP118). The gingham makes a great background because it looks good when you make it tone on tone as I did on this card or by pairing two different colors together. The sunflower was colored with Copic markers.

Stay warm and safe this weekend everyone!

Live, Laugh, Love

I tried to take a good picture of this card, but I don't think I succeeded in showing the glitter stripes at the bottom. Oh well. I used one of the Impression Obsession Cover A Card backgrounds and stamped it on the bottom of my pink card. I then embossed the stripes with some glittered pink embossing powder and added the Live Every Moment saying.

On a separate note, is anyone as tired of winter as I am? I do have to admit though that the icicles hanging from my bedroom window looked pretty cool. Of course, they scared the bejeezus out of me when they crashed to the ground.


"Those icicles have been known to kill people."

Quick...name that movie!