Punches, Dies, and Cocoa

Today I located my mojo for card-making and am making the most of it! Because our first grandchild is due this month, I am getting ahead with my crafting since I will be spending time away with our new little one soon :)

DSP: 'Traditional Christmas' 6x6 Paper Pad by Paper Cellar

Digital Image: Doodle Dragon Studios

Sentiment: Lawn Fawn

(One of My) Oldest Punches: Small Snowflake by Family Treasures

Circle Dies: Spellbinders

CS: Bazzill

Challenges:

OWH Midweek Challenge: Dies and Punches

SOS 112: Oldest Punch

Simple Sketch and No Patterned Paper

This was a fun card to make and is entered in two challenges.

Embossing Folder and Image: 'Flowers and Vines Set' by Sizzix and Hero Arts

Green Ink: 'Old Olive' by Stampin' Up!

Sentiment: The Stamps of Life

Embossing at Sentiment Tag: 'Birch Background' by Our Daily Bread Designs and Versamark

CS: my stash

Challenges:

Shopping Our Stash #104: No Patterned Paper

Unscripted Sketches #213

SOS Challenge #101: Scrap Attack

This week our challenge is to "shop our stash" for scraps to use on a card. No problem! It took a while to find scraps that actually went together, though.

Butterfly Paper: Graphic 45
Background DP: unknown
Sentiment: The Stamps of Life
Butterfly Die: Memory Box
Ribbon and Brad: my stash

Entered in these Challenges:

Shopping our Stash: Scraps
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge # 97: Super Scraps Saturday!
Through the Craftroom Door: Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody #20: Anything Goes

SOS Challenge #99: All About Numbers

When I saw this challenge I knew exactly what patterned paper to use. I am slowly retiring my stash of 12x12 paper and moving to 6x6 pads. I purchased this 'numbers' paper a couple of years ago and am delighted to use some. The center area is lifted with dimensional adhesive.
Full disclaimer: this card design was CASE'd from my last SOS challenge entry. oops!

'Numbers' DP: Recollections at Michaels
Brown Layering CS: my stash
Gold DP: Graphic 45
Stamps: Stampendous
Square Punch: Family Treasures
Brown Ink: 'Early Espresso' by Stampin' Up

Challenges entered:

Shopping Our Stash #99: Numbers
Party Time Tuesdays 118: Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody: Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #4: Anything Goes

SOS Challenge #98: Bargain Bin Find

Let's admit it---we can't pass up those dollar bargain bins. This stamp set was purchased at last year's Scrapbook Expo for $1. I purchased a couple of other econo stamp sets, ink pads for $1 (some of which were dry, others are just fine), and 10 punches for $1. You read it right. Couldn't pass up that bargain even though I've never used most of the punches ;)

Bargain Bin Inchie Stamps: Stampendous by Inkadinkado

Striped Paper, Plain CS: Left-overs in my stash

Embossing Folder: Darice

Brown Ink: "Chocolate" by TPC Studio

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash #98: Dollar or Bargain Bin Find

Celebrate the Occasion #109: Clean and Simple (CAS)

Cards for Men #8: Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #97: Text or Letters

I decided on a "shabby chic" design for this challenge. I gathered stamps from multiple sets and this is my creation.

Flowers: my stash (bought months ago)

Text: Hampton Art

Clock: "Time Capsule" by Fun Stampers Journey

Sentiment: "All the Time" by Hero Arts

Ink for Images: "Chocolate" by TPC Studio

Distress Ink: "brushed corduroy" by Ranger for Tim Holtz

DPDC31: Use a Doodle Pantry Image

January was so l-o-n-g, and I could hardly wait for February 1st and a new Doodle Pantry Challenge!
I will also enter this card into the Shopping Our Stash Challenge 87: Red, Love, Hearts, or Valentines, and the Animal Antics Challenge at Crafting by Designs.

Digital Image, Sentiment, & Designer Paper: "Strawberry Ants" by Doodle Pantry
Border Punch: Martha Stewart
Flower, Brad: my stash
CS: Bazzill
Red Ink Outline: "Red Pepper" by Adirondack
Red Nailheads: Mark Richards
Circle/Scallop Dies: Spellbinders

OWH Design Bootcamp: Basic Color Theory

The Stars and Stamps blog by Operation Write Home has a great tutorial about color theory along with  amazing card samples. These samples exemplify monochromatic, analogous, and complementary color combinations. My card is monochromatic and CAS. I thought about adding pink flowers or a butterfly, then decided to dry emboss the DP and leave as is. The subtle design of the paper and pretty ribbon work for me. This card will also be entered into the Shopping Our Stash Challenge 86: Use Your Oldest Ribbon and The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge # 52: Tickled Pink.

And I would be 'tickled pink' if you would be so kind as to take a minute and Join my site! Thank you.

Ribbon: "Holiday Time" Fabric Ribbon from Wal-Mart (never used, very old, it was most likely on sale)
Embossing Folder: Sizzix/Hero Arts and Cuttlebug
Brad: my stash
DP: my stash
Pink CS: Bazzill

ODBD January Challenge: Dry Embossing

This card was created for the Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge for Operation Write Home. For every 25 cards posted on the Stars and Stamps blog (up to 50), ODBD sponsors one box of cards sent to our deployed military. Thanks so much!
This card also works for the Shopping Our Stash Challenge 84: Use Your Old Buttons.
I keep a small jar of buttons in my craft room and add to it whenever I find another button, but hardly ever use them on my cards. Yes, they are old ones!

I really like this sentiment stamp as it can be used for many occasions such as birthday, graduation, anniversary, new home, new job, even retirement!

Brown CS: my stash
Other CS: Bazzill
Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug
Sentiment: Hampton Art
Ranger Distress Ink: 'Wild Honey' by Tim Holtz
Sketch: OWH # B-1
Buttons: my stash

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 82: Winter Theme

Yes, I did shop my stash for this one! This adorable colored digi from Doodle Pantry has been in my stash for months and this was the perfect opportunity to use it on a winter card. Doesn't that cocoa look warm and delicious? I'm not sure if the rascally ants are "borrowing" the marshmallows or adding them! BTW, there are plenty more "ant" digi's to choose from. They are so darn cute and always ready to join the fun.

CS: Bazzill
Yellow Circles: Candi by Craftwork Cards

Digital Stamp and Sentiment: Cocoa Cup Ants by Doodle Pantry

My printer must be low on ink as the image turned out too light.and a little fuzzy :(

To all my crafty friends and visitors,







Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!!

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 80

This timely challenge ("Winter Holiday)" was great fun. I purchased two matching 12x12 designer paper/stickers when the Christmas goodies first arrived at my local scrapbook store. These beauties caught my attention and I looked at them daily wondering how to create cards as beautiful as the paper and sticker sheet. Well, I checked online and figured it out. Here's my creation using only the paper and sticker sheet (My Mind's Eye "All is Bright" collection), CANDi (the 3 red dots), and dimensional adhesive under the angel sticker.

OWH Sketch #146

Sunday's sketch was so much fun to use! So I made one card for two challenges. This one is also going to Shopping Our Stash Challenge 77: Thank You or Thanksgiving. And yes, I shopped my personal stash for everything I used :)

K&Company 'Jubilee Pink and Teal Collage'

Bazzill Cardstock

Sentiments by The Stamps of Life

Chocolate Ink by TPC Studio

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 75: Flowers in 3-D

It has been a long time since I posted here and I am glad to be back home in San Diego! Hubby and I took a marathon vacation back east to visit family in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. And boy are we glad we missed Super Storm Sandy!

In Pennsylvania, I visited a total of 10 Scrapbooking stores as part of a "Shop Hop". I came home with take-and-makes and small, purchased items. One of the gifts was a selection of brown cardstock, flowers, and brads. Here is my 3-D flower creation using CS, DP, flowers, and stamped sentiment from this take-and-make. Oh, and dark brown CS from my stash :)

S & S Midweek Challenge

Here's a color challenge---use red and green on a card! No problem. These are traditional Christmas colors, but I made a Birthday card. The card will also be entered into the Shopping Our Stash Challenge 69: Emboss it!

DP: Double-sided "Mairzy Doats - Snappy Stripe" by Dream Street Papers
Red CS: Bazzill

Sentiment Stamp: Stampourri!
Dots Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

S & S Midweek Challenge

This week, we OWH'ers are challenged to create Patriotic cards. Probably an easy challenge for most of us! This card will also be entered into the Shopping Our Stash 3, 2, 1 Challenge 68.

I used 3 patterned papers (Party in the USA collection by Reminisce), 2 red blings by Mark Richards, and 1 pre-colored flag digital stamp (and sentiment) by Doodle Pantry. The five-star corner punch is by Family Treasures. At the Del Mar Scrapbook Expo last spring I scored ten punches for $1. Yes, that's right. Each punch cost just 10 cents!!
Thanks for stopping by!

S & S Midweek Challenge

It is another Wednesday and that means a Stars & Stamps Challenge from Operation Write Home. This week the challenge is to create a card using patterned paper and a punch and/or die. Patterned paper is one of my favorite things in the world of crafting so this was fun. The sketch used is OWH # 80 and this card will also be entered into the Shopping Our Stash challenge: create a card from a sketch!

I turned the sketch on the side and changed up the measurements a little.

All DP is from a K&Co. paper pad by Tim Coffey, green background from my garage sale grab bag, cardstock is Bazzill. The rectangle 'picture' was cut using a Spellbinders die on my Cuttlebug. The small, round paperclip-type embellishment is one of dozens I purchased years ago. I should really use these more often!

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 64

Technique Time: Try something new or revisit an oldie! This challenge came at the right time as I tried a new technique this weekend but haven't made a card with it until today. I tea stained a piece of white card stock. It is easy to do and I love the results. Use about 1/4 cup boiling water, pour over a tea bag (I used plain Lipton tea), wait a little until it cools. Then squeeze out most of the water and dab on the card stock until you get the the effect you want. Let dry overnight.

I stamped the winter collage (by Memory Box) using brown ink, and tore and inked the edges. The dark brown and blue DP's are from my stash. I used chalk for the blue bird then added blue pencil. Also used pencils to add hints of green and red on the branches. I still think the card is missing something. Any ideas?

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 63

This week's challenge is to create a project using one color. Monochromatic! Operation Write Home fans will recognize this design from this week's Stump Sandy segment in Thursday's "OWH TV" show. I love this idea and couldn't wait to try it. These papers were on my work-space and ready to go as I have been working on fall cards for a couple of weeks. Thanks for the inspiration Shopping Our Stash!

Shopping Our Stash Challenge 62

As I have been using things from my (already purchased) creative card-making stash during the month of July, I decided to check out a new (for me) blog "Shopping Our Stash". The idea is to use what we already have on hand in our paper crafting stockpile. The challenge today is to use something we bought because we really, really wanted it...and later said "what was I thinking?" My card is made up of several items I have had on hand for months and have never used.
The DP (by Colorbok) is from a packet of black-and-white designs. I was thinking I wanted to make lots of B&W cards, so I bought and stored the packet for later use.
The large Brad from making memories is from a set of 12 B&W brads of differing designs that I opened for the first time today. Again, thinking about B&W.
The digital collage stamp is from one of my favorite sites Free Vintage Digital Stamps. I fell in love with this busy image, downloaded, and used it for the first time on this card.

Lastly, the stamped sentiment was inked up for the first time last night when I stamped several sentiments for use on the cards I make for Operation Write Home. I found it in the dollar bin at Michael's.

Thanks for the great inspiration, "Shopping Our Stash". I have so much of everything I should be able to stay away from the crafty aisle for months ;)