A Tree for Mother!

I have had several people at work ask me to make Mother's Day cards so I am in the process of making up some samples. This is the first sample. I was inspired by several different challenges (listed below) in putting this card together. I used SU! stamp set Thoughts and Prayers (uhhh, a sympathy set for Mother's Day?)
and SU! card stock bordering blue, almost amythest (actually just the ink, I used it to sponge the sky) and sage shadow as challenged in Color Throwdown.

This is the front...

and this is the inside...

1. Color Throwdown to use the above colors.

2. Allsorts Challenge to be inspired by a butterfly braclet ( my teeny tiny butterfly)

3. Paperplay Challenge not to use Designer paper and I didn't!
4. Card Positioning Sytems to use their sketch, perfect for this card.
5. Lots To Do Challenges to use trees and/ or leaves.
6. Paper Cutz Challenges has a theme for Mother's Day.
7. Paper Pals Challenge to K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Sweetie...)

That's all for tonight. I'm hoping to make more during the evenings this week but who knows...I have Kindergarten screening this week and that, my friend, can be exhausting! But they are so cute at this age!

A Day and a Night of Cards and Challenges!

I made 4 cards yesterday and today, that is pretty much a record for me, at least this year! Each card had their beginnings at 365 Cards to use white space. From there, I designed each by leaning on other challenges to help me create my projects. Thanks so very much for blog challenges and the ones that understand the need of their assistance in aiding card makers in Mojo and Inspiration! Don't forget, when we use more than one challenge and post your name on our blog it is just one more way to advertise!

First card is Day 43 at 365 Cards. I want to thank Gloria and Rose for leading me in the way of breaking all the rules. And to my DD Kim for leading me back! OK, I did the white space by cutting out the oval (just like Gloria did) but by using a shadow box technique the focal point is in the oval. I also followed the challenge at 'Lil Red Wagon to embellish and emboss.  Frosted Designs asked for a tree in honor of Earth Day (peek through the window, big trees in there). And, The Secret Crafter is seeking cards with the theme, A Day Out. A walk in the woods to a secluded cabin is a priceless day out!

The 2nd card is based on the sketch at 365 Cards Day  #44. I thought it looked like a 'flag' at first, but I didn't go in that direction. I have a very good friend's daughter getting married this summer and so this will go with the shower gift. I used SU! Melon Mambo which is one of the colors of her wedding. I am entering this in Other Lovelies to use embellishments, I love the simpilicity of the pearls (hey Kim, I found a few more hidden under my 'stuff!)

And this is the finished inside.

This is for 365 Cards Day #45. Wasn't planning on doing this and then I thought, "Kimmy will be upset with me if I don't play along with her challenge at 365 this week". So I made a card for a new home. Don't really know anyone moving (in this economy) but I'll have it now, Just-In Case...love that commercial! It also goes with the challenge at Stamp Something to use layers. I haven't done many cards with triangles and they just looked so plain that I decided to layer them up. Cute Card Thursday requires 'touchy/feely' which is the tissue flower. This tissue paper is a little stiffer (thicker) than the packing tissue paper and works so much better for the fluffy flower look.

And this is the inside. The verse is pretty wide open so it could be a welcome to the neighborhood card, oh wait! that's the name of the SU! Designer paper!

And the last card is for 365 Cards Day #46. The sketch looked like an arrow pointing somewhere, so I decided to make it a grad card - pointing to the future! (Actually I just now thought of that...)

Paper Play Challenge asked for a sticker and that would be the graduate cap.

And this is the inside.

That's all for now, need to get busy and make Administrative Assistant gifts for office staff. Couldn't do my job without 'em.

Enjoy the rest of your week-end.

Stamping SAM aka Kim's MOM.

Spelling Out Spring!

First on my list of challenges - Just had to participate in the two that my daughter serves on as a designer. The first is 365 Cards (Day 38) to include an acrostic poem on your card. Go to the 365 Card link to see the awesome card Kim made about my sweet little gran-puppy Malie. She is also a designer for There's Magic In the Air and this week we were to use 3D flowers and leaves. I also used several other challenges to inspire my card that you can check out below the picture.

Inspirational challenges are:

1. Our Creative Corner to use bows
2. Allsorts to use petals and pearls
3. The Corrisive Challenge to use texture
4. Crazy 4 Challenges to use 1 ribbon, 2 buttons, 3 punches
5. Cupcake Craft Challenge to make your own flowers
6. Handful of Stamps to Digi it (I used deco flower from TMITA)
7. The ResQ Challenge to use at least 2 of the clues, I used 5: buttons, flowers, punch, spring, yellow
8. There's Magic in the Air to use 3D flowers and leaves
9. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge to use buttons
10. Pals Paper Arts to use flowers
11. Totally Gorjuss to use texture
12. The Pink Elephant to use a nature theme (Spring is all about nature!)
13. Challenge Up Your Life to think weather
14. Card Positioning System a gorgeous sketech
15. Shabby Tea Room to Embrace the White
16. Cute Card Thursday asks Mono Mania (OK I added green leaves, just didn't look right in yellow!)
17. 365 Cards Day 38 to use an acrostic poem

To all the Challenge Blogs that I have linked to - I would like to say thank you for your inspiration and guidance. I have a very difficult time pulling ideas out of my head, but with your lead in the challenges, it helps me to sort it out and find a place to start and a place to end. I have also learned so many wonderful techniques, styles, color combinations and other ideas to incorporate in my style of cardmaking. Also I would like to thank all the members of your designer teams. They are truly inspiration to all of us to help us figure out our personal goals in cardmaking. Looking forward to what you bring the world of card making this week.


The students at my elementary building write acrostic poems using their names, an activity that they really get into! Two students went beyond the assignment and wrote one for me! Here it is:

M-Marvols
R-Respetful
S-Satisfactery
M-My hero
C-Calm
D-Doe's prefet
O-Over alsome
N-natreal buety
I-Is my colselor
L-Love you
D-Does spataceler

Then they wrote notes around the edge, "Lots of Love, No Bulling, Coseling is Alsome, Out of this world, get going", and decorated with hearts. Hmmm, they've been listening to my guidance lessons, Thanks girls!
ps. I didn't correct their spelling (they did misspell my name) and yes it is easy for me to read, I started reading 'best guess' spelling when I married my husband!

An Eggs-traordinary Find!

Another adorable image from Nina at There's Magic In the Air called "Eggs-traordinary Find" and Sue gives us the fun challenge of using the image on a paper or altered Easter Basket! I started to use SU! scallop envelop die for this treat box (see below for my Easter baskets made for office staff), but saw a round top design this morning on Splitcoast Stampers and decided to use it for this and other challenges listed below.
(This is the template and this is the gallery showing off other takes on the template)

The other challenges I am entering this in are:

1. Color Create #41 - Pastels

2. Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - pink, green & flowers

3. Cute Card Thursday - So Egg-Citing!

4. Res-Q Challenge - Eggs-Eggs-Eggs! ooops, too late!

5. Everybody Art Challenge - Easter

6. Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Easter

7. Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Spring / Easter
8. Challenge Up Your Life - Easter, anything but a card
9. Charisma Cardz - Animal Magic
10. Crafty Angels #28 - Easter
11. Crafty Cardmakers - Spring into Spring
12. Crafty Creations - anything Goes!
13. If the Shoe Fits - Eggs
14. Papertake Weekly Challenge - open theme
15. Pile It On! - Animal Riffic!
16. Stampin for the Weekend - Ribbons and Bows
17. The Pink Elephant - Pastels

When I have time I try to make treat 'gifts' for the office staff at my school. I made these using the scallop envelop die from SU! I wanted them to be a little 'fancier' but they didn't seem to mind as they dug into the chocolate first thing! I also put little bottle of bubbles in it. They liked the chocolate best, so I blew the bubbles to entertain them while they ate!

Have a great Easter, do the bunny hop and save some chocolate for next week-end - yeah, right!