A Little Plaid...

My niece texted me to say that the Merry Monday Challenge this week was Plaid! and that we just had to play... and then I saw The Challenge this week has some Christmas inspiration for us - so I got down to business!  Here is one of my all-time favourite Art Impressions images for the holidays, Reindeer Games:

I'm a big fan of the Gumdrops from Your Next Stamp... and these are their new 'matte' ones with a dull finish - they're very cool!  I cut the sentiment into a speech bubble shape, and added some Wink of Stella to all of the jingle bells.  So excited to have a Christmas card for my stash!

Patterned paper is Perfectly Plaid Christmas by Lawn Fawn; Cardstock is Chocolate, White Daisy & Kraft from Close To My Heart; Ink is Tuxedo Black by Memento and Onyx Black by Versafine; Gumdrops are Your Next Stamp; Wink of Stella; Copic Markers; Stamp set is Reindeer Games by Art Impressions.

The Challenge is back!

It's been a busy summer... and a little slower here on my blog.  I've done a lot of crafting, but mostly behind the scenes, and not a lot that I could post (yet!)... so I am very happy to be able to participate in a few challenges this week.  I've put together a set of tea-themed cards for a coworker, so I'll share them over the next few days.  First up is for The Challenge on Lesley Croghan's blog with a sketch:

Patterned papers are Urban Prairie, by Basic Grey; Stamp set is One Cup by Verve; Tilda Swirl and Cups of Cheer dies from Memory Box; Stitched Banner and Circle STAX dies from My Favorite Things;

The Challenge #74

When I saw this week's inspiration photo at The Challenge... it was too good to be true.  I just happened to have this fun guy image stamped and sitting on my craft desk.  So I quickly coloured him up, and put together a card.  I was tempted to do the tractor red like the photo, but all ride'em mowers are green, aren't they??  I added a few red accents, though:

Patterned papers are Souvenir Collection by Bo Bunny; Cardstock is Cranberry, Outdoor Denim & White Daisy all CTMH; Stamps are Lawn Ranger & FDMD set by Art Impressions; Inks are Tuxedo Black, Memento & Onyx Black by Versafine; Maya Road twine; Cloud Dies, Taylored Expressions; Copic Markers.

Super Tuesday!

Here is my final Super Tuesday post... Four posts in one day is definitely a record for me (to be fair, the first two were made and prepped several days ago!) I've combined the wonderful masculine photo inspiration from The Challenge with this week's sketch from The Paper Players.  I love it when I can add a guy card to my stash!

Patterned papers are Sasparilla by October Afternoon; Cardstock is Pacifica & Colonial White, CTMH; Stamp set is You Mean the World to Me, CTMH; Ink is Black, CTMH and Vintage Photo, Tim Holtz Distress Ink.

The Challenge

I was able to put together a couple of Christmas cards tonight, to play along with The Challenge.  I love this new sentiment stamp from Close To My Heart, and it fits perfectly on the Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament die:

Patterned papers are White Pines, Cardstock is Olive, Glacier & Cranberry; Ink is Chocolate; Stamp is This is Christmas - all Close To My Heart; Poinsettia die, La La Land Crafts; Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament die.

The Challenge #42

I'm just sneakin' this one in under the wire!  I really wanted to play along with The Challenge this week, because my wonderful niece Allie is the guest designer!  I am in need of a new stash of birthday cards, so I put together one using this week's colour inspiration:

Stamp sets are Doodled Designs & Make a Wish, Close To My Heart; Cardstock is Ocean, Breeze, Cotton Candy & Ruby, CTMH; Inks are Black, Breeze, Ruby, Ocean & Cotton Candy, CTMH; Chevron Border dies, My Favorite Things; Stitched STAX die, MFT; Gumdrops, Your Next Embellie.

A couple of Christmas cards

I'm a little behind on adding to my 2015 Christmas card stash, but luckily I had time to play along with both Merry Monday (use angels/cherubs) and I've used the sketch at The Challenge to put two cards together.  I've actually had these angel images coloured for about a year and a half!! (I'd like to think that my colouring has improved in the meantime)  And I'd even had these papers in mind when I did... so at long last, here they are:

Patterned papers are Elemental, CTMH; Cardstock is Pacifica, Colonial White & Cranberry, CTMH; Ink is Tuxedo Black, Memento; Copic Markers; Joy die, Memory Box.

The Challenge

I am in need of some birthday cards, so I'm using Lesley's great sketch & colour combo from The Challenge to add to my stash.  The 'rust' in the colour combo has become more of a dusty orange for me, but I think it still works.  I added some Wink of Stella to the butterfly to give it a little glimmer:

What a great sketch!  I may have to use it a few more times :o)

Patterned papers are Real Time2, Echo Park; Stamp sets are Better Together and Happy Thoughts, Verve; Dies are Sprightly Sprigs and Vintage Oval Frame Die by Verve and Pippi Butterfly, Memory Box;  Inks are Black and Honey, CTMH.

The Challenge #23

I have a cupcake card for you today, using Verve's sweet Cupcakes set... and I used the current sketch at The Challenge as my design:

Patterned papers are Cakewalk, October Afternoon; Kraft paper is CTMH; Stamp set is Cupcakes, Verve; Sequins, Verve; Inks are Chocolate & Blush, CTMH.

Christmas cards for The Challenge

I've made two really simple Christmas cards tonight... with NO stamping!  This isn't the norm for me, but I have so many lovely paper packs that come with sheets of stickers, or preprinted sentiments, that I want to make an attempt to use them on either tags or cards.  I was very thankful this year, to have a huge stash of cards already made by the time the busy fall season started, so I'm keeping up my efforts in regards to Christmas cards.  Lesley's current colour combo for The Challenge worked perfectly with these holiday papers, and I've loosely followed the sketch as well:

Patterned papers and stickers are Very Merry Christmas, Echo Park; Twine is American Crafts; Enamel dots are Your Next Embellie.

Guest Designer for The Challenge #19

I was invited to be a Guest Designer on The Challenge this week!  Even though this week's palette isn't exactly classic holiday colours, I managed to make a Christmas card :o)  I knew my Bo Bunny Candy Cane Lane papers were perfect, so here is my non-traditional Christmas card using Lesley's lovely sketch:

One of the papers in the pack had these cute little holiday bingo cards, so I cut them apart and stacked 3 of them along with a few snowflakes to make my little cluster.  A little stitching, a few clear grey bubbles and that's it!  Hope to see you all playing along with The Challenge - you can use just the sketch, just the colours, or both - and you have two weeks to link up your creation here.

The Challenge #17

Just a quick card to share today... when I first saw the sketch & colours on The Challenge post this week, I immediately thought of a coffee card (probably the colour Espresso that led me there...) but I ended up making a simple Christmas card, using some Waltzingmouse stamps and Echo Park papers that I had sitting around:

Patterned papers are A Very Merry Christmas, Echo Park; Cardstock is Kraft, Cocoa & White Daisy, CTMH; Inks are Ruby & Cocoa, CTMH; Stamp set is Vintage Ornaments, Waltzingmouse Stamps.

A couple of Christmas cards

I have two Christmas cards to share today, both using the same elements, but for two different sketch challenges.  First up is The Challenge #17 where I am just using the sketch:

 And here is this week's Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge:

Patterned papers are Mistletoe; Cardstock is Cranberry, Colonial White & New England Ivy; Ink is Garden Green; Stamp set is Frosted WOTG; Red Sparkles - all Close To My Heart. 

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop & Creative Bloggers Hop

Happy Monday everyone!  This is a big post today, so bear with me - I am participating in the Coffee Lover's Blog Hop, and at the end of the post, I am answering a few crafty questions to participate in the Creative Bloggers Hop.  When I first heard about the Coffee Lover's Blog Hop initiated by Chaitali, I knew that I wanted to take part by making a card, but when I got set up in my craft room, I decided to make a set of four...

I pulled out October Afternoon's Farmhouse papers, three Verve sets (Coffee, Notepaper & Better With You) and three Verve dies!  I also managed to use four different sketches, so here they are:

This is the Viva La Verve Sept. Week 4 sketch

 

This is the Viva La Verve Sept Week 2 sketch

 

This is Freshly Made Sketches #155

 

This is the sketch from The Challenge #15

I had a great time making this little set... I just may have to make some kind of a holder for them when I get a chance.  And isn't that little coffee word die wonderful?  It just may be the best die ever created (thanks, Julee!)  Be sure to head over to Chaitali's blog to see the entire hop list, and if you can create a coffee themed creation today, you can link it up, too.

 

And now for the Creative Blogger Nomination!
Creative Blogger is a chain of blog hop tours.  You will get to meet new bloggers, gather loads of inspiration, and connect with blogs that will expand your creativity.  I have four questions to answer, and then I will pass along my nomination.  But first - I need to thank the incredibly talented Brenda Rose for asking me to join the hop!  I'm a little humbled by her nomination, as she is one of the most inspirational people that I know - there is a link to her Rose Blossom Legacies blog on my sidebar - you'll want to head over and start pinning all her fabulous creations :o)  Here goes:

What am I currently working on?
My two design teams keep me pretty busy all the time both colouring & cardmaking.  I have four projects due this week (and I took time out this weekend to make my four coffee cards!), so even though almost everything is completed, I'm in the middle of getting it all photographed and preparing blog posts.  I also colour ahead whenever possible, so I have about 10-15 images coloured and ready to go.  Another creative hobby of mine is photography... and the fall colours are in full swing in Ontario, so I've been taking a lot of photos this week, and have a photo shoot field trip with a girlfriend this week!

How does my work differ from others in it's genre?
I wouldn't say that I have a really unique look, as there are just so many talented people out there!  My style leans towards bold & bright colours, lots of patterned paper but fairly clean lines.  I don't use a lot of embellishments, often just a button or a few pearls.  I try hard to create cards that are well balanced using colours & papers that work well together.

Why do I create what I do?
A little creating time makes my world go 'round.  It really does.  In fact I probably 'need' more creative time than the average person!  Since I was a little girl making clothes for my trolls & Barbies... I have done embroidery, needlepoint, smocking, sewing, painting, knitting, scrapbooking, cardmaking and variations on all of the above.  I considered becoming an accountant, but no - I became a clothing designer!  Ha!  Creativity is an important part of everyone's life - whether you're baking, gardening or cardmaking - you should find what makes your own world go 'round, and do it!

How does my creative process work?
I love sketch challenges.  A well designed sketch will inspire me to head into my craft room and start picking out papers.  Then, based on the elements of the sketch - I'll determine what stamp set I plan to use.  If there is a large square or rectangle shape - I'll reach for a large image to fill it.  If there is a long and skinny piece, I'll look instead for a quote or sentiment that fits on it.  When I'm working on a design team project - my process is completely different!  Because now I am working with a specific stamped image, so that is where I start.  Then I select my papers that I'll be using, and I bring those over to where I colour with my Copics.  I'm almost obsessive about colouring my images to coordinate with the papers that I've chosen.  After the image is coloured, I'll head to my drafting table to design the card.  My absolute favourite thing to do is to create a grouping of coordinating cards (like my coffee cards above!) - mixing and matching papers and images to make a set of different cards that work well together.  I know this is a direct result of my background, making seasonal clothing lines that coordinate - it's simply the way that my brain works.  Another thing that I do - is to draw out absolutely everything!  At any given time, my drafting table is covered with dozens of tiny little sketches - I draw out all my cards (and occassionally scrapbook pages) in miniature before starting to cut papers so that I know if the card is well balanced or not.

Enough about me!  Now I'd like to extend the Creative Blogger Nomination to Amy Moore!  You can see her blog here.  I've followed Amy's work for years - she is one talented lady with a real design flair!  And she can really rock a sketch challenge :o)

If you made it all the way through this post - thank you.  And Happy National Coffee Day.

Mojo & The Challenge

I've combined a couple of challenges today, using the sketch from Mojo Monday, and just the colour combo from The Challenge (although I do love Lesley's sketch, so I may be back to play again!)  The colour combo made me think Christmas, and I have the perfect Verve set that fits nicely into that vertical panel:

I was able to make two of these to add to my growing holiday card pile :o)

Patterned papers are Snowhaven; Ink is Slate; Silver Glitter paper; Kraft, White Daisy & Glacier cardstock - all Close To My Heart; Stamp set is Peace on Earth, Verve; Snowflake dies, My Favorite Things.

 

Merry Monday & The Challenge

I've combined a couple of challenges today, and put together two more Christmas cards (both the same!) for my stash.  Merry Monday's challenge was to use a wreath on your card, and I have used both the sketch (loosely!) and the colour combo from The Challenge on Lesley Croghan's blog:

Patterned papers are Frosted; Cardstock is Outdoor Denim; Inks are Whisper and Outdoor Denim; Bitty Sparkles; Stamp set is Merry, Merry - all Close To My Heart. 

The Challenge #5 - Guest Designer!

Well, I was pretty excited to have been chosen as the winner for Lesley Croghan's sketch challenge called "The Challenge" this past week, and as the winner, she's asked me to join her as a guest designer for the current challenge, #5!  I chose one of the new Art Impressions Girlfriends sets and some pretty October Afternoon papers:

It's a fairly large card, 5" x 6 1/2", as I thought the larger card would balance the size of the image.  Here's a closeup:

And here is the wonderful sketch:

We would love to have you play along!  You can find the details here on Lesley's blog.  Here's my proud winner's badge:

 

Patterned papers are Cakewalk, October Afternoon; Cardstock is Slate & Colonial White, CTMH; Ink is Tuxedo Black, Memento; Stamp set is Laughing Set, Art Impressions; Copic Markers; Twine is American Crafts.