Getting back on track

I'm trying to get my life back on track. After a weeklong virus, things have gotten out of hand, especially my crafting. There is housework and laundry to catch up on, and I've got to get the pertinent Sunday school pages photocopied and ready for tomorrow. And because, like you, I have an ardent addiction passion for cardmaking, I want to get back to that as well. Before I actually felt well enough to make anything, I noticed that there was an Emphasize the Negative challenge over at Moxie Fab World.  So I mulled over my idea for a while, and came up with this.

Here I emphasized the negative spaces on multiple levels. The blue is actually the topmost layer, and the red under layer is emphasized with cut letters and crimping. The red layer is further emphasized by the repeated phrase you did it underneath that, at the lowest layer of all. I think it will make a fun graduation card.

Everything but the star stickers (Sticko), and the white card base (SU) are scraps and bits. Dang I love that!! So, happy dancing everyone.

Better

That's how I feel today...better. Got hit with a virus that knocked me for a loop, and today I'm finally feeling nearly normal. Not quite 100%, but it's so good not to feel bad. Starting slow. Made a quick little card for CASology's 35th challenge. Extra-Terrestrials. You know, ET....

Wanted to send a card off to a granddaughter who's a smidge lonely while away at college. She'll be fine for sure in the fall when a sister joins her, but wanted to let her know that we're thinking of her.

I started with SU base and black ink. The moon is an enlarged sticker from OA; I copied it in black and white which gave it these nice gray tones. The navy cardstock is just a scrap (yay!). The little alien is from Bobunny, and I used a flag stamp from an OA set. A few dots of stickles and that's it. Happy dances everyone. 

Quick Play

Got way lots to do today, and I've got some sort of sinus/allergy thing going on and all I do is cough, cough, cough. It's annoying more than anything.
Have you seen the inspiration photo over at Runway Inspired Challenge? Have a little peek...

Now, in my younger days before children, I might have worn this, but I'm fairly certain my mom would have never let me out of the house in this outfit as a teenager. Today...not so much. Still the colors and patterns are such fun I knew I wanted to play along. No pings however. Then this morning, over at CASual Fridays, the challenge is to use color blocks.

When I put the two challenges together, the ping made an appearance.

This was fast, easy and fun to make. SU white cardstock base and ink. Scraps (yay!!) for the rest, Hampton Arts Ki Flashback Collection sentiment stamp. And two little black blings from Want 2 Scrap. Easy Peasy. Happy Dances!

Hunny Bunny

If you don't like bunnies, just skip the rest. This is my all-time favorite little bunny stamp. And wouldn't you just know it, but CASology's cue card for the week is "bunny". Who knew??!! Naturally, I just had to try and come up with something. I have to tell you to head over there (just click on the link) and check out not only the DT's super-de-dooper creations, but there are an amazing bunch of cards by other players. Drop a little love on your favorites while you're over there and then come on back here.

I adore clean and simple challenges. Focused elements and lots of beautiful white space. Perhaps one "froo" is alright, but definitely not "froo-froo". I can't do froo-froo very well anyway, so CAS is perfect for me. This is my sweet little bunny:

Now, isn't he just the cutest little thang! Once I thought I lost him. Couldn't find him for two days, and tried to order another set...discontinued, and none to be found. Panic mounting, I searched until I found him. Whew!! He was worth it. Now for the deets, which are relatively few. SU cardstock and black ink. Color Box pink ink, sentiment stamp is from PS Eco Friendly set, my hunny bunny is from We R Memory Keepers Cottontail set (there are three little fellas in the set, but haven't even inked up the other two...), a scrap piece of green fluffy stuff, no idea where or when I got it, but can tell you it's ooolllldddd. And last one little pink bling from Want to Scrap. Everything's popped up. And I'm pooped out. Happy dances everyone!

Muse2

Am playing again at Muse. After I went and got a new phone this morning, I drove up to see my friend Sharon, who owns My Paper Playground. (Hi Sharon!!!) I picked up some kraft paper, and a just a few things (a new PS stamp set, which I'm dying to ink up!!!), then I popped back home. Naturally, I had to play because the drive home gave me an idea.

I know, if you've read my last post, that I've talked about Laurie Willison, but my friends, check out her inspiration card below, then at some point go and visit her blog. Seriously.



And my second card looks like this:

Kraft paper from Sharon's store (everyone in the area, go and visit!!!!), washi, HA floral stamps, SU inchie stamp and black ink, CTMH bamboo, and Stampabilities white ink. A random flower tied into some Karen Foster's twine. Fishtail flags from MFT. Happy dances.

Snow much fun....again

March is coming in like a lion, a really big lion. Here in the Midwest there's more snow, though right where I live, they've downgraded it from 10" to only 6". It's blowing like crazy however, so I'm really glad I don't have to go out today. That makes it a good day to play in the craft room. There's a new challenge over at Muse, with Laurie Willison's wonderful inspiration card:

Uh-huh. That Laurie. Another incredible card--she is amazing. Great inspiration What a sweet color palette to work with. Mine's a bit different...

I have to warn you, my only camera is dying. I had the opportunity for only one shot before the darn thing went all crazy. My camera is my iPhone, and if the roads are good tomorrow, I'm off to the store to get a new one. So today, you'll just have to bear with me.  I flipped the card sketch, putting my floral/circley element in the lower half of the base. I used a circle mask and stamped with the small flower from TAWS Awesome Blossom set using different pressures/amounts of ink right on my SU card base. That ink is CTMH bamboo. The sentiment is from PTI's Birthday Basics. A smidge of washi, a dash of apricot ribbon from American Crafts and more scraps of black and white. I like the crisp edges of all the elements. Nice and clean. Happy dances everyone.

froo froo

First of all, froo froo sounds funny. It reminds me of Adele something-or-the-other from second grade when I lived in Wichita, Kansas. Adele was one of those girls in my class. You remember the type. Perfect...perfect nose, patent leather shoes that never scuffed, never one hair out of place, Polly Flinders dresses EVERYDAY, ruffles and bows, lace on her ankle socks, jewelry (on a second grader????!!!!, okay this was the '60s), and could do everything sweetly, nicely, and perfectly. Then there was me...tomboy. Tanned, rough, wore Keds tennies, climbed trees all the way to the top, one hand-me-down Polly Flinders dress in my whole wardrobe...and too good for school--Sunday best...Anyway, I digress. Adele was froo froo. And I think I must have channeled her today. To my dear CAS friends out there, I'm sorry. Couldn't help myself. Blame Adele. Why have I discussed froo froo in so much detail, you ask? You'll find out later in this post. But you know froo froo is not really me...

I have several little girl babies in mind for my creation coming right up. I love playing along at Unscripted Sketches. The sketches they share are way fun. This week is a celebration of sorts for them--their 200th sketch! Woohoo, and congratulations US. Anyway, it's a piggyback challenge to make something other than a card.

This is my take:

Can you tell it's a photo frame? Hope so. This nearly made it to the recycling bin at least twice...just the frame, not my creation. I went on a 3 stop scrapbook store bus trip with my sister, my niece, and a friend in November. At one of store's make n takes, we got this frame, sagey green and black paper, doo-dads...only my little group didn't really feel like making, just taking. It has been in my craft room waiting, and like I said, nearly hit the bin twice. Well, after church today, I got out my pinks and blacks and such and made this. I couldn't do the roses or lacey thingys or a bazillion diamonds; that would have been waaayyy to creepy to my CAS brain. So this is about as froo froo as I can get these days. Just pray for me, pray that I don't channel Adele too often. 

Now for the deets:

The pink dp is from Teresa Collins, the herringbone is from Michaels, and the teeny polka dots are scraps. The black ribbon and the silverish flower are from that make n take, the heart is some chipboard from about 8 years ago, the "sweet girl" letters are doodlebug rub-ons, and the pink pearls are ZVaCreative. Now that I've rambled on enough, I need to go scrub something, or haul something, anything to de-channel Adele. Happy dances everyone.

Friday Frolic

The frolic part is now over. I got to play all morning (after the newspaper and exercise), and now it's time to get to work around here. John's got a new desk coming, and I have to do some cleaning out in order to make room. I get his old one in my craft room. Extra work space is always welcome.

Lucky me. I have two nieces who are both expecting in June/July. One is having a girl, the other a boy. I wanted to try out some baby cards for when the little ones arrive, and this is my first one. I'm playing along over at CAS(E) this Sketch, with this very fun sketch.

I went with pinks. Might try again tomorrow (or later today if I finish my stuff) using white. And blue. Gotta try a boys card.

All paper are scraps (yipee!!!), even the card base. The sentiment is SU, the xo's are from Avocado Arts Sweet Treat Sweetie, I free cut the tulips from dark brown scraps. Great sketch to work from. Happy dances everyone.