December Birthday #3 - Mechanical Iris

 My grandson's favorite subject in school this year is engineering. 

For his 15th birthday tomorrow I thought I'd try some engineering of my own by making him a card with a mechanical iris.

When you move the yellow tab up, 

the eye opens and this is what you see.

It works a little harder than I'd like, but I'm no engineer!

Here is the inside of the card.

This week, at Double Trouble Challenge #99,  Troublemaker asks that you choose an event as your theme, but the event is Up To You.  (My event is Matthew's birthday.)  Twisted Sister wants to see a number (15).  And Double Dare has teamed up with the Anything Goes Paper Fun Day Challenge #36, which I am entering, too.  

 

Here are a few additional challenges: 

Paperminutes Challenge #721 - Numbers

Use Your Stuff Challenge #437 - Plaid

Allsorts Challenge week 653 - Use a Die (The Happy Birthday is a die from Shady Lane Expressions.) 

Inkspirational Challenge #2 - Plaid

  

My December birthday cards are now finished and I can return to Christmas card mode.

 

 

Tuesday Morning Sketches Challenge #635

Welcome to my blog, where I have
a new card to share with you each week for

Tuesday Morning Sketches 

 Here is this week's sketch:

Since it is mid December, I suppose you are expecting to see a Christmas card.

Well, you are absolutely correct.

The ornament is an old die cut from Our Daily Bread, which I have made into a shaker.  Can you see the tiny snowflakes inside?  And the foliage in the center was made using Sizzix Tim Holtz Thin Cuts.  The snowflakes attached to the embossed flakes are SU die cuts.

Here's a close up of the shaker ornament.
 

I hope you'll have time to play along at

Tuesday Morning Sketches 

this week. 

The Design Team would love it if you'd visit our blogs.

Andrea

Debbie 

Melissa

 Patti

Tammy

You can be sure that one of us will be visiting yours!

 

Looking for the right paper

While looking for the perfect paper to make a special card, I came across a Decoupage Pack by Papermania called OWL FOLK.  How these owls managed to hide among my patterned papers is beyond me.  The package has never been opened and must be a couple of years old.

It's been opened now.

 Here's a thank you card I made using one of the punch out circles with a 3 layer owl.  There were actually 6 layers in the pack, but I stretch the designs by only using 3.  It also doesn't make the card too thick for mailing. 

Using a Sizzix die, I cut the brown circle.  Then I went in search of some patterned paper which would compliment the image.  Not only did I find paper, but I also found a punch out sentiment to match.  What an easy make. The only ink involved was a bit to distress edges.

Now to get back to looking for the perfect paper 

to make that special card.  

 

After I enter a few challenges:

Mix It Up Challenge #48 - No stamping; Crafty Catz Challenge #548 - AG; The Alphabet Challenge - B is for Bird; Moving Along with the Times April Challenge #129 - Animals/Birds; Cute Card Thursday Challenge #683 - Green; Creative Knockouts Challenge #358 - Wings and Things

Happy Birthday With No Stamping

 Hello my crafty friends.

Today I'm sharing a card with no stamping.  With all the beautiful papers and wonderful dies in my stash, stamping isn't always necessary.   However, when I don't stamp, I feel just a little guilty.  And, honestly, I don't often post them on my blog.

 I specifically didn't put any stamping on this card  so that I could enter it in the Mix It Up Challenge # 4.

 

 The gorgeous paper is Graphic 45, leftover scraps from another project that I managed to piece together to use as the background.

The purple frame is from SU ornate layers dies.  Luckily, I found a sentiment sticker which was the perfect size for the cream cs with punched borders.   The butterfly stickers are from the same sticker sheet.

The die cut butterfly is 3 layers; a gold backing, a yellow layer, and a velum layer to tone the yellow down just a bit.  The die is from Crafter's Companion.

 

Challenges:

Mix It Up Challenge #48 - AG but No Stamping 

Allsorts Challenge #619 - Butterflies, Birds, and Bees

Crafty Catz Challenge #546 - AG 

Bastel-Traum Challenge #99 - Butterflies 

Simon Says Wednesdsay Challenge - Happy Birthday 

Make The Card Challenge #12 - Butterflies 

 

Color & Sketch Challenges at MFT

Working with a baggie of scraps from a CTMH paper pack, I made cards for this week's challenges at My Favorite Things.

The first card is for Color Challenge  #158.

(using MFT heart die with arrow and CTMH stamp)

 

 And below is my take on the sketch for Sketch Challenge # 526.

 

(using MFT sentiment die and SU oval die)

Thanks for stopping by. 

 

  

Double Trouble Challenge #2

Last year for my friend Jan's birthday I created a card with a fun flapper dress design.  I really liked that card and it was so totally perfect for her that coming up with something for this year's card was difficult.  I decided to turn to the second Double Trouble Challenge for some direction.  Here is the finished product:

Jan is one of the gals in my Red Hat Society chapter.  This gatefold card is in purple and red, because they are our Red Hat colors.  

I used a feather embossing folder to create a background pattern on the plain, solid color paper (Thing 1 requirement).    

The hat, doily, red circle and words are all die cuts (Thing 3, Twisted Sister's optional requirement).  

And I'll be entering the current Three Amigos Blog Hop Challenge (Thing 2, double dare requirement).

I am also entering the following: 

Cards 4 Galz Challenge #73 - Pretty and Pearly

Aud Sentiments Challenge #205 - Anything Goes + a sentiment 

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #06 - AG

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #69 - AG

Through the Crafty Room Door Challenge Week of June 5th - AG

Foiled Decoupage Card

Yesterday was my mother's birthday.  We took our traditional trip to Shady Maple for lunch and baked goods and then made a stop at Bear Creek Nursery for a few plants.  Since it is another beautiful day for outside work, my purchases are already in the ground.  

I imagine Mom is working on planting hers, too.

Thought I'd show you the card I made for Mom's birthday.  I used 3 layers from an Anita's Foiled Decoupage Sheet by Docrafts. 

The background was made from leftover digi paper from Imagine That! Stamps.  I cut the leftovers into uniform widths, glue them on lightweight paper, run it through the cuttlebug with an embossing folder, cut it to size and always like the outcome.  The sentiment is from a sheet of thin foam circles with various messages in either gold or silver, which I happened to uncover in my stash.

A strip of ribbon, handmade bow, sunbonnet charm, and a few pearls finished off the card front.  I mounted that on silver stock and then the card base.

No stamping on the front of this one.

Challenges:

Crafty Gals Challenge #129 - Anything Goes 

The House That Stamps Built Challenge J2817 - Anything Goes

The Paper Shelter Challenge #300 - Summer Birthday

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Everybody Art Challenge #406 -  Lace or Pearls

Through the Craft Room Door Week of June 27th - Anything Goes 

The Ribbon Girls June Challenge - Any Image 

Moving Along with the Times Challenge #48 - English Country Garden 

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes

 

Running behind

June really snuck up on me.  And so did my friend Laurie's birthday.  She got this card a few days  late, but I sent her a few die cut goodies to make up for my tardiness.

I love this new die I just received from Die-versions, part of an awesome prize I won in a recent Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge.

Challenges I am entering today: 

Moving Along with the Times Challenge #47 - Embossing (I used dry embossing with 2 different embossing folders.)

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday (I didn't go with the one layer optional topping.)

Southern Girls Challenge #162 - Stuck On You (I used silver shimmer tape for the little banner and 3 tiny flowers) 

Aud Sentiments Challenge #182 - Bingo (I used patterned paper, embossing and a die cut)

 

 Tic Tac Toe Challenge #002 - (I  used embossing, gray and a die cut)

The Crafty Addicts Challenge #37 - Anything Goes with optional die cuts
Everybody Art Challenge #405 - Happy Birthday
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #163- Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Add Sparkle

***********

Yesterday at Joyce's CTMH card class, Joyce mentioned she hadn't seen the cards we made last week on my blog.  I promised I'd get them posted today.  

(Mickey, I'll post the cards we made yesterday tomorrow.) 

 

Friday Flowers

Lots of things on the old "To Do" list today, but I wanted to get this card for the CD Sunday "Say It With Flowers" Challenge posted.

These sweet images are from the NitWit Collection on the Complete Cardmaking Issue 36 CD.  I did my usual fussy cutting and layering with foam tape, and added a border with 2 strips of washi tape across the bottom, some bling and a tiny bow.

I am also adding this card to the following challenges: 

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #125 - Anything Goes 

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday; optional topping sweet (no topping on this one, just a sweet card.)

Aud Sentiments Challenge #180 - Anything Goes + a sentiment

Try It On Tuesday May 23rd Challenge - Feathered Friends 

Mod Squad Challenge - Birthday Bash 

Have a lovely day, my blog friends!

Saying goodbye to Sugar Rush

Close to My Heart has a new catalog coming out May 1st 

and is retiring the papers from the last catalog.  

So, it's time to say good bye to the Sugar Rush Paper Packet.

This double flap card has no stamping.  The ice cream cone is from one of the journaling cards included in the paper pack.  I cut the word 'sweet' from another journaling card.

 Under the double flaps is the greeting, a cut from the CTMH Artbooking Cricut cartridge.

This is attached to a white A2 card base.  I want to add this to a box for Send a Smile 4 Kids.  They need lots of space for signing names inside.  And it will also stand up nicely for display purposes.

This won't be my last card using the really cute Sugar Rush paper,

 but I'm getting down to bits and pieces.

You have until the end of April to order this cool paper.
It would make wonderful summertime cards with all those yummy frozen treats! 

This card is a DT creation for Chris Franco's CTMH  heArtful stamping blog.  I hope you'll take a moment to pop over, check out the blog, and Chris's current anything goes challenge.

I am entering these fun challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday with option of 2 patterned papers

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #162 - Add a bow 

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Punches and/or die cuts 4 kids

Creatilicious Challenge #113 - Anything Goes with option of Birthday

Crafty Hazelnut's April Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes with patterned paper

A Bit More Time to Craft Challenge #42 - Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge # 412- I spy something beginning with "b" (bling, birthday, bow)

 And now we are off to a soccer match followed by a baseball game.  Originally, the weather forecast was for a day of rain, but it's beautiful.

Hope you enjoy your day, too!

My Mojo Monday Make

It's the 5th Monday of May! 

How did that happen already?  

There are 6 birthdays in June among my Red Hat friends. I thought I'd get started on those cards and use today's Mojo Monday Tall & Skinny sketch.  

Generally, I'm not too fond of the T&S sketches.  But, you can let objects hang off the edge and not worry about the card fitting in the envelope.  This card base measures 3.5" x 5.5".
Every time I go to a stamping/scrapbooking show or store, I search for hat dies.  This is the first one I've found, by Ellentina Cutting Dies.  Included in the die set is also a pair of gloves and a pair of shoes.

Challenges:

Mojo Monday Challenge #450 - sketch

 

613 Avenue Create Challenge #178 - Anything Goes

Cut It Up Challenge #97 - Use any sketch 

Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge Week #20 - Birthday 

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #110 - Bingo  (using right column: emboss, diecut, ribbon)

 

As You Like It Challenge - Big or Little Bows   (I love making little bows.  They are cute, dainty, use up my ribbon scraps, and often quite a challenge.)

TTFN!

It's almost time!

Making cards for men is often difficult. * If you need some inspiration, all you need to do is visit Cindy Groh's blog, Cre8tive Cindy, and check out her Manly Monday posts.  This week she was kind enough to feature one of my cards.  Thank you, Cindy.

And she's made a wonderful clock card as her own contribution.

Speaking of clocks, by this time tomorrow my house will be in bedlam as my grandchildren tear open gifts in less time than it took to wrap them.  Hopefully the weather will be nicer so we can send them outside with their new pogo sticks.  It is so terribly dreary here today, rain, fog and general yuck!  I delivered Christmas cookies to my neighbors and came home drenched.  I only have a few simple things to wrap, those that the mailman delivered just today.  So I finally have a handle on the holiday.    

*My DH just looked over my shoulder, started reading the post and said "doing anything for men is difficult".

His exact words, I swear!

I came across a card I received last year and decided I could quickly upcycle the image for the current Blue & White challenge at Pumpkin Spice.  All my crafting stuff has been temporarily relocated so I could use the dining room table tomorrow.  I did manage to find enough items, DP, dazzles and ribbons, to make this card.  

I am submitting this card to:

Pumpkin Spice Challenge #96 - Blue & White

Get Creative Challenges #4 - Blue, White, Silver

Challenge Up Your Life Challenge #4 - Christmas without Christmas Stamps

Fussy & Fancy Challenge - Snowflakes and Ribbon

Crafty Little Fairies Challenge - Holly or Ivy

Break's over, my tea is cold, I must return to last minute preparations.  TTFN

 It would be wonderful if you could stop by the Pumpkin Spice blog and vote for this card, which I entered in their Blue & White challenge.  Thank you!!

Something Different

This image with layered pieces is from Crafts u Print, rescued from a friend's "Why am I keeping this?" stash pile.  It actually measured 6x6 for a square card, but I cut it down to make an A2 card.  I wanted to pick up the slight bit of copper color in the clock, so I mounted it on gold foil, and added black glitter tape and glitter brads.  Finally I added the little metal party hat, just for fun.  This guy card is to celebrate my BIL's birthday today.  

Happy Birthday, Al!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Simply Create Too Challenge # 68- Monochromatic Madness
Cards Galore Encore August Challenge - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - Let's Get Masculine
Moving along with the Times Challenge - Feeling a Little Vintage
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs Challenge - Rock Around the Clock
Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #84 - Monochromatic
Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge - Glitter Galore
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Things with Wheels
Perfectly Rustics Design Challenge #29 - Masculine Card
Corrosive Challenge #206 - B Unique (I've used Brads, a Birthday Banner,  a Big hand on the clock, and foil Background paper.)
Scribble and Scrap Challenge #25 - Anything Goes

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Hero Card with no stamping

For this card, I brushed my denim blue ink pad across one corner of the raised side of a star embossing folder.  Then I brushed a cranberry ink pad across the opposite corner, leaving the middle section clean.

After running it through the cuttlebug, this is the effect achieved on the debossed side.  I used a CTMH cricut cartridge to cut the "Hero" from navy CS and also added a layer on navy between the inked paper and the white card base.  This card will be going to Operation Write Home.  

I'm entering this card in these current challenges:
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door July 29-Aug 4 - Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge #30 - Embossing
Crafting From The Heart Challenge #29 - Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can Challenge #74 - Make Your Own Background

3D Butterfly

It will soon be time to clear off my craft/dining room table for Mother's Day lunch.  I decided to get a head start by finishing up a pile of partially made cards.  Here's an all occasion cardmade with scraps and a pretty 3D butterfly a friend gave me.   I love this swirly embossing folder.  No outside stamping on this one.

Here's a few challenges that I'm entering:
Woopsie Daisy Challenge - Things with Wings
Crafty Calender Challenge - Things with Wings
Creative Knockouts Challenge # 32- Spring is in the Air

Now I'm going to go bake something.

Picking up pieces

Recognize anything? 

A week or so ago I made several cards using these papers.  I took the scraps and made this background paper.   If you look closely, you can just barely see the embossing I did using my Cuttlebug and a cuttlebug embossing folder.

And here's the finished card......

Front

Inside

There's no stamping on this card.  I wrote the sentiment and computer printed it.  The grunge flower was made with circles punched from the scraps, too.

I thought I'd enter this card in the following challenges:
Clear It Out Colour Challenge - Theme: Greens  Stash Item: Anything Green
Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - Going Dotty  (I've used dotty paper.)
UnstampaBelles Challenge #33 - Geometric shapes (squares, rectangles, triangles, circles)
DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #128 - Use an uplifting sentiment