Sweet Missouri Dogwood!

This is my entry for the last day of September for the challenge at 365 Cards, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Day 214 - White Space. Below is the sketch Pam gave us to follow, to only place stamping and embellishments in the black space.

I used the SU! Just Vine set, a set I bought on E-Bay but haven't used, for Sunday's sketch and fell in love with it! So here it is again...

It reminds me of Dogwood trees that bloom in the spring here in the Midwest. You always see the blooms first and when they fall off the tree produces leaves. It is always the first sign of spring and gets everyone excited for warmer weather. The small dogwood flowers are from a small flower punch. Use a soft mat, an embossing tool and push down in the center to give the flower dimension. The large white flower I bought at a local Farmington store called the Red Rooster. A local lady is making them and selling at the store. It would be pretty easy to copy except I have never seen the center punch with the tulip shape flowers. If you have let me know where you found it. I think a snowflake punch would work for the center also and make a nice winter card. Of course it had to have bling so I used stickles for the flower centers.

Well, that's all for tonight and this month, can't believe tomorrow is October 1st. Friday is Farmington's Homecoming so we only have a half school day, then I'm planning to go to Desloge (yes, it really is on the map!) to help with the traveling Vietnam Wall. Take care and Good Night! SAM

Pumpkin In Pieces...

and put back together again! Must be a relative of Humpty Dumpty!
This card completes a challenge for today, which is, Day 213 - In Pieces. Probably could have done more (or better) with this one but still feeling a little under the weather. Not bad enough to stay home from work as my daughter suggested (Gee - where did I get these work ethics?!?!) but bad enough I think I will go on to bed!

I didn't follow the pumpkin pattern exactly, just could not cut out the little vine and the leaf just didn't look right. Other that, used SU! DP So Saffron, lovely lilac CS and the bat paper is a DP I bought at Micheals.

Well take card where a mask so germs aren't spread, wash your hands, don't breath and lay low! SAM

Bling! Bling! Who's There?

Get it? Bling! Bling! Who's there? OK, it's late and I tend to get a little silly when I can't keep my eyes open...So let's change it to the Blooper show! I don't know why we always show our 'bestest' cards - why not show our bloopers and prove to the world that we are human beings with kind and compassionate hearts? So that's what I am doing tonight. I started on the 365 Cards, Day 211 - Super Sketchy Sunday on Sunday night and loved what I was making until I tried to put the sentiment on and '''blooper'''! Smudged the ink, had it all over my hands and stamped the sentiment 3 times! I quit and went to bed...scroll down to see the card I started this morning and finished after work tonight before my low impact aquatic exercise class.

And this is the finished product, oh no! wait! could it be? yes it is! another smudge! And I really do like this card...oh well, let's keep scrolling down to see the finished card...

This is the real card (please stand up!) for my entry at 365 Cards, Day 211 - Super Sketchy Sunday! (Applause, applause!) It is also for Splitcoast Challenge CAS34 to use pink, green, blue, white and chocolate if you wish.

YES! I DID IT! I covered the smudge with a butterfly, I love butterflies coz they cover smudges! Now every time you see a butterfly on my card you will guess there is a smudge under it. Maybe - maybe not!

The next card is for today, Day 212 - On the Fringes. This week's challenge at Card Patterns Bringing you Sketch 34. And for Splitcoast Challenge To Try a New Technique, Foil Embossing. Wow! A trio of challenges on one card, wait, didn't I just do that last week at 365 Cards?
.
Now can you see where I got my title? Both cards have lots and lots of bling, bling!
That's all for tonight, gotta wind down so I'll go to sleep. :) Everyone have a great Tuesday!

signing off - Stamping by SAM

5 Cards posted for 365 Cards, please keep scrolling, or is it strolling down?

This card is for Tuesday, September 22, 2009 Day 206 - Tuesday Triplets. The challenge is to make 3 of everything you put on the card except for the sentiment. OK I'm a reader that skims the text so I thought it had to be only one thing in triplet form. That is, until I sent a preview to my DD and she informed I would need 3 sets of leaves! Good thing she is a better reader than me! So 24 hours later I finished the card (it was just too-too late that night).The stamped images are from Flourishes Strawberries set.


This card is for Wednesday, September 23, 2009 Day 207 - DIY: Patterned Paper , challenging us to make our own background paper. I used a wax paper resist technique that I have done before. (You can see it here.) And this is a link to Gina K stamp TV that shows you how to do to make it. or you can find it at Splitcoast Resources. Basically, wad up wax paper, smooth it out, place between 2 glossy CS, dust off your iron (place paper on bottom and top to protect iron) and iron away. Then brayer on color. I've seen this done with embossing folders too.I'm disappointed how this picture turned out, the resist piece is really a nice shade of green and goes so well with the dusty durango and animal theme. It is the most creative background I like to make. ps I made this the night before Pam challenged us with a jungle theme. We must have been on the same wave length! LOL


This card is for Thursday, September 24, 2009 Day 208 - Challenge Combo and Saturday, September 26, 2009 OCC Challenge - Monochromatic Mania. For 365 we were to look through June, July and August and pick one challenge from each to combine on one card. Well, I have noticed some over achievers on this challenge (LOL) but it's not me today! I picked only picked 4: Day 180 - to go Vintage,
Day 149 - Try a Technique: Sponging, Day 127 - the Sunday Sketch, and Day 114 - Lovin' Lavender! Which I just had to do with the August card kit from Mackenzie Mae Designs (Thanks Pam!) for being the August winner at 365 Cards! So exciting and what a wonderful additional supply to my card making supplies. You can see how beautiful it is...


This card is for Friday, September 25, 2009 Day 209 - It's a Jungle Out There. A jungle theme! I considered using the other card I made 'Wild Thing' wax paper resist for this challenge since it was already made but decided I needed it for the DIY DP since I really couldn't think of anything better to do. So using the same stamp set, IngueBoutique - Safari, I made another jungle theme card for the week.



This is for today's challenge, Saturday, September 26, 2009 Day 210 - Try a Technique - Sanding. I pulled out a sheet of Core'dinations black CS, a fiskars embossing plate, MS jack-o-lantern punch, tag punch, MS fence punch, ribbon, buttons, cuttlebug letters, kraft CS and a generic dark brown CS to make a Halloween theme card.

That's all for today Folks! Need to rest, have a sore throat and my DH says I look like the stuff in the pasture and I should go back to bed! To late for that, he'll expect dinner in 1 hour! Have a great and safe week-end...

Many Thanks!

Before I post my card, I would like to congratulate my daughter Kim for her second win as a member in the Top Trio at 365 Cards for the past week! Way to go Kim! She made the top trio with this sketch for Day 197. She is quite the creative artist, check out her blog for some really good card making techniques.

Now on to my card for Monday, September 21, 2009 Day 205 - Color Scheme. Which is shown below. It's hard to tell the true colors so I used most of the current in-colors in SU!

Then I followed the sketch below MoJo Monday to design my card. I knew I wanted to use the set of stamps I received with my demo kit, Circle Circus. I decided to use only one of the circles after stamping the whole variety in the set but it was too much, so I went back to stamping some more. Thanks Kim for you guidance!

And this is the finished card. Hope you like it. I'm having fun trying out the new in-colors, they really compliment each other.

Have a great day tomorrow, smile, it takes less muscles and you won't be so tired at the end of the day! SAM

In the Pink Birthday!

This card is for Sunday, Day 204 - Super Sketchy Sunday at 365 Cards using the following sketch. I combined it with the OCC Challenge - A Yummy Color Combo of pinks, white and brown.

Cute sketch, but I made a small card and had to 'squeeze' my layout to get it to fit so I couldn't put all the flowers on it that it needed.

All card stock and stamps are SU! The rest is embellishments I have bought elsewhere. I ended up with lots of bling and even used some stickles that I haven't used for quite awhile. First time too that I didn't touch the stickles before they dried. Put the stickles on and went to bed! Must be the only cure for me, just sleep through the drying process!

Well, best get ready for work. It's my paperwork day so a lot is piled on top of my desk...
Have a great Tuesday! SAM

5 challenges on one post for 365 Cards!

This card is for today's sketch at 365 Cards, Day 203 - Feeling Lucky.
This is an Inkadinkado Asian stamp that wishes for a Good Life. I bought for my DD but since I haven't packed her box yet...here it is Kim!


This card is for Friday, September 18, 2009 Day 202 - Once Upon a Time...
I picked the fairy tale of the Little Red Hen. This is a story I enjoyed as a child and as a teacher. Teaching Kindergarten, we would read the story, sequence it, act it out and do various other 'learning' activities. Then at the end of the week we would use a bread machine to make bread! I printed out a copy of bread loafs for the background, computer generated "Thanks for your help!" (Isn't that we wanted the Little Red Hen to say?) Then using SU! Best of Cluck and I stamped the images on a transparency and colored with red and yellow SU! markers. After 2 years I mastered the Crop-a-Dile and used eyelets for the corners. Thanks Kim!




The shoe challenge was hard for Thursday, September 17, 2009
Day 201 - One, Two, Buckle my Shoe . I found clipart and quote on the Internet, cuttlebugged the Grovy Guava card base and mat. Used a nestie to cut out the shoe.

OK, this day hit me right up the side of the head! Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Day 200 - It's What's Inside that Counts. We were to use a sentiment expressing 'I Miss You'. Not so hard until I tried to use a new technique. Looked so simple, couldn't get it to work and 5 cards later and I came up with this! Not my best work, but I did it in 5 minutes! The photos on the card front is from an old Paper Crafting with Photos magazine that I had downloaded the photo from. I hand wrote 'Miss You' because I did not want to do it on the computer!
I'll keep working on 'the technique' when I have more time and not so worn out...



Bee Happy is for Tuesday, September 15, 2009 Day 199 - Shape Up!
Luckily I had bought the background paper last week on a Dr./shopping trip to St. Louis. I stamped the bees and the Bee Happy is a sticker I have had forever! Guess we all have stuff laying around forever - hey that would be a challenge, use something you have had in your stock for over 5 years!


That's all for tonight. Going have to decide if I'm keeping up with this everyday challenge or not. This week I feel like I did quantity and not quality. Oh well, at least my craft area looks like I'm doing quality! Good night and have a great Sunday! SAM

One layer Mosaic

This card is for Monday, Day 198 - Make a Mosaic. I've seen stamped images like this before and wanted to try it myself. I know there is a mosaic stamp, but, alas I didn't have it in all my gear! (Maybe the only stamp I don't have! LOL)
So I went to Microsoft Word and made my own. I drew various square shapes in a 5" x 5" square and made the line bold for each square. I printed that on Whisper White CS. Using the latest SU! In Colors, I masked and sponged each area.

Before removing the post-it note paper I stamped the image. Removed the paper and moved on to the next square. Really easy to do!

I used SU! stamp sets Essence of Love, Gentler Times, and Etruscan.

If you need anymore on this technique just let me know. Was going to start the hexagon card but I think I'll call it a night! Sweet dreams all and don't let the bed bugs bite! SAM

Fall Tree

This card is made for Sunday, September 13, 2009 Day 197 - Super Sketchy Sunday. On Saturday nights before I go to sleep (you know, the time period your brain is still awake and your body isn't?) I decide what theme card I will make for the Super Sketchy Sunday challenge. Last night decided on a fall card. I had just bought some fall DP at Mikes, so I wanted to use it. This is the sketch...

And this is my take on the sketch...

And this is the inside of the card...

I always try to finish the inside when I use a dark color card base. Operative word here is TRY! Want to thank Pam for an easy sketch this week that tied in with my goal! The card base is from Textured CS Neutral from the Paper Studio. The DP is Tim Coffey Fall Gold Leaf Scroll. The tree stamp is Fall Season by Inkadinkado stamped on Very Vanilla and popped up. Ribbon and corner punch. Viola! Done!

So why did it take me 5 hours to make? Hmmm, surfing through all your blogs, looking at new techniques to do, adding more blogs to my list, eating breakfast, starting the laundry. 2 cups of coffee (didn't spill it this time!), watching TV, relaxing - well, isn't that what a day off is all about? Did I mention I'm still in my PJs? Now I'm going to get busy and cram 10 hours of work into the next 5 hours!

Have a great day and just forget that tomorrow is Monday! SAM

Oh, No! A Nature CD?

Please scroll down, 3 days of 365 Cards challenges posted below!

My title tells it all! The first card is for Day 194 - Imagine This: Technology. Well, to be honest, I didn't feel any inspiration from technology. It is a convenient evil that now makes our world spin! The evil part is how it is ever changing everything we do and without it, everything stops. For instance, I have made this card for Judy, a wonderful, tech savvy secretary at my school. That is, until this year...our district updated the program that manages ALL students. Without it, we know nothing! Judy has been working from July to learn how this program works. Matter of fact, her first week back she could not do her job because she was told "it just isn't ready to use yet." Well, she has done everything short of pulling her hair out, the program has so many glitches that she just can't control and nobody knows what to do to help. Therefore, Judy is my inspiration! I just hope this card gives her a reason to smile again.

The card base is Bravo Burgundy, River Rock sentiment panel and the DP is Sparkle Climbing Flowers by Cloud 9 Design. The CD is a freebie that I scored with a razor blade, heated with my embossing gun and as it cooled I bent it to crack and break it (be careful if you try this and protect your eyes!) The hammer I stole off the birthday card our daughter Kim made for her dad. (You can see it here) Sorry Kim, I can't put it back, would you send another one? Thank you!

The second card is for Friday, Day 195 - Pretty Pattern. We were challenged to create a piece of clothing using gingham. I love gingham, grew up wearing a lot of it and even used it to make curtains. I wanted to make a Santa in gingham but couldn't find an image to work. I finally found this clip art image that worked with the gingham. I actually did some more piecing which I am becoming more comfortable with. Don't know why she's saying "Oh, No!" My first thought was a zit, then I thought maybe chicken pox, and then I decided she was surprised to be wearing gingham! I guess I'll decide when I finally give it to someone. Oh, by the way, she does look like my DD.

The last card is for today's challenge, Saturday, September 12, 2009 Day 196 - Just a Touch of Color. I kept this card very simple. Kraft CS card base, whisper white for the panel, colored the flower with a gold color pencil, sentiment and ribbon. Took all of 10 minutes and that included deciding what to do! Wish they could all be that way.


Hope your enjoying your week-end. We are having beautiful weather here and I'm wishing I could 'can' it to take out for the winter. Keep a smile on your face, people will wonder what you're up to! SAM

Sweet Skunk Wearing Chantilly Lace Eating Cupcakes!

Please scroll down, for 365 challenges posted below!

The title of the this post describes the 4 challenges I am finally getting around to posting! The first is one of the most recent challenges this week, Day 193 - Card Recipe . Here is the recipe: 5x5 Card, 4 different patterned papers, 3 blossoms, 1 stamped (ink or digital) image, 5 rhinestones and the sentiment is up to you. I find any card with more than 2 DP intimidating, but I kept telling myself to keep it simple and I think I accomplished my goal! Of course what made it is is The Green Stack Paper that I bought last week at Archivers. The cute little skunk is part of the mat stack and he is just so cute I decided to build the card around it. The heart is a sticker, it had one printed on it but I decided to 'enlarge' it. My rhinestones are black to match the card base and the flowers are actually rhinestones too! Wonder if I get extra credit for that?

The next card is for Day 192 - So "Sweet". To have the word sweet on the card. This is a card I made at the Stampin' Up open house that I signed up to be a demo. Hmmm, maybe I better get started on that!
Finally I figured out what to do with Day 191 - Musical Monday challenge based on the song Chantilly Lace, by The Big Bopper. Found this sketch at Midnight Madness and thought it fit perfectly! The lace background is a picture of a swatch of Chantilly lace found at an on-line fabric store. The card base is blush blossom, then I used black brads/rhinestones, white organza ribbon, a cuttlebugged butterfly and a black flower.

The last card is for the first day of the challenge week at 365 Cards, the famous Super Sketchy Sunday for day 190. Whoa - what a sketch...

Then after my daughter said it looked like a donut on a triangle, well I just couldn't get that image out of my head! (Things get stuck there a lot!) I finally got it out of my head and turned the triangle into an origami Christmas tree. I stamped and embossed a Magenta ornament stamp behind for the donut, uh, I mean circle part of the sketch.

Turned out to be pretty simple, it seemed with the tree as a focal point anything else just cluttered the card. But then, I am a CAS kind-of gal!

Gotta go, busy day tomorrow. Take care and give your kids or pets a hug!

Hugs to Kim! SAM

Just For You, Cherish Coffee in the Fall!

Be sure to scroll down, 4 of 365 Card Challenges posted here!
The first card is for Day 186 - Ad Inspired. Never used a black card base and thought I would give it a try. Embossed in white Cherish and Flourish from SU! Baroque Motifs stamp set. Added red flower and red bling.


Next card is for Thursday, September 3, 2009 Day 187 - Label It. I think this is my favorite card this week, it had all my attention, hmmm, could it have been the smell of that fresh pineapple coffee from Dole Plantation in Hawaii? Yes, it could! I've saved the bag for quite some time just because I thought I could use it to decorate the kitchen and this card would be cute to frame. Uh-oh, more work for DH! Used stamps my daughter gave me, not sure of the name, and the cup is from Like it a Latta. The sentiment is computer generated.

The 3rd entry is for Day 188 - Touchy, Feely Friday. My trip to Archivers this week netted me a pink felt flower. Being the only felt embellishment I have I decided to use it. But the Pepto Bismol pink was hard to match. Again DD came to the rescue and suggested brown. So I used the new in-color Soft Suede. The sentiment is SU! Oval All. I placed a darker shade of pink behind the felt flower to help highlight it and keep it from looking to busy.

The last card is for Day 189 - Charming. To add a charm to the card. I really don't have many charms so I used this one, it is off a jacket zipper! Thought it would work with a fall theme so this is what I came up with. Must admit, it's not one of my favorite cards. I believe I should go back to the coffee label card and get my MOJO back!!!


That's all for today, really need to quit using card making as work avoidance! Have a great and safe long holiday week-end...

Shades of Blue ...

2 challenges completed in this card...
Day 185 - Feeling Blue at 365 Cards and Sketch Challenge SC244 at Spiltcoast Stampers.


Took a day off yesterday to go to the dermatologist and just had to make a side trip to Archivers and Cheesecake Factory! A fun day and bought nothing except for a huge bag of embellishments! Don't worry, they're not all for me, I will share with my daughter Kim! Come to find out this morning I will be getting goodies from Pam at 365 Cards - I woke up this morning to see this message, "You've won an August card kit from Mackenzie Mae Designs!!!" WOW, my first win! Can't wait to get it Pam, thanks so much!

Back to the card, the flower background paper is from The Green Stack that I bought at Archivers. The other blues I used are SU! CS, soft sky, not quite navy, and blue bayou. The center medallion is SU! In the Spotlight punched out with scallop punch. Added the red bling to brighten up the card. I wanted to keep it simple but I feel like it needs something else. I tried to add ribbon but it just didn't seem to work. What do you think? More bling? I do like bling.

Have a great day! SAM

Miss Piggy is Pretty In Pink!

Monday, August 31, 2009 Day 184 - Movie Monday


I'm sure I've seen Pretty In Pink, but I couldn't even begin to say how long ago it was. I do know my daughter Kim watched Breakfast Club a lot! She made this card for this challenge to honor the late John Hughes and it is awesome. Check it out!

I was inspired to make this card by combining 4 challenges for this week.

1. MOJO102 sketch challenge. A great sketch but I made the circle so big I had a hard time fitting the sketch together.

2. There's Magic In the Air. Magical Monday challenge to use the free Gigi on a Tube digi stamp and to use paper piecing. OK, I have trouble with names so I renamed it Miss Piggy! Nina included a tutorial link for paper piecing. Not one of my best techniques, but this is one card I will share that I used it on.

3. TLC236 challenge at Splitcoast to try a new technique which is to make a Masked Frame. If you look closely (click pic to enlarge) you will see that Miss Piggy and frame is completed on one layer. Lynn's explanation of how to do this is easy to follow. I popped up the umbrella for dimension

4. Day 184 - Movie Monday at 365 Cards to make a card Pretty In Pink!

Well, when I saw the Gigi on the Tube digi stamp and the title, Pretty In Pink, stuck in my head, they crashed together and turned into a card with Miss Piggy on it! I used the new SU! In Color Melon Mambo ink and CS. Black Accents and cuttlebug folder bubbles to finish it off. I think this is a good card to give to DH for a belated anniversary card. Or, I could save it till next August and just hope I remember it!

OK, off to get ready for work. Have a great day!