Your Own Best Company

It's Friday!  Oh, I've been waiting for this day!
It's also time for another blog hop & sketch challenge over  @ Sketch Frenzy Friday!  We provide you with a sketch, and some inspiration.  You provide us with some gorgeous creations with your Stampin' Up! supplies!  Sounds like an even trade.  So, join us for this fun and creative challenge.
Here is the sketch:

Patricia H. provided us with this fabulous sketch this week.  So, let us see what you create!
Here is what I did:

So, I used Crumb Cake cardstock as my card base.  I used Cheerful Treat DSP.  I used one of my all time favorite stamp sets:  Creative Elements.  I also added some new ribbon:  Lucky Limeade ruffle ribbon and Pretty in Pink scallop ribbon.  I added some butterflies and faux half-pearls.    I just love this DSP!  Don't ask me why, but once I broke it open, I keep gravitating to it.
Now, hop on over to Tammy B.'s blog and she what she created.  And, don't forget to play along!

Eat Cake

Aww, it's Thursday.  It feels good to be near the end of this week.  

The wonderful ladies over @ Creative Sketches, have an unique challenge for everyone this week.  Make a 5" x 7" scrapbook page, or a tri-fold card.  A bit different from what I usually make: A2 cards.  But, why not?  Why not make something 'new', 'different' and show folks that it doesn't have to be 12" x 12" or A2 size.  And, to help with the creativity, they have a sketch!

Here is the sketch:

And to help with your creativity, you are welcome to use any manufacturer of paper crafting supplies.  How wonderful is that?  So, use that stamp set that hasn't seen ink this year.  Break out your scrap box, and use those large left over pieces that you didn't have the heart to throw away!  Coordinate some pretty embellishments that you have laying on your craft table, and join us in this challenge!

Here is what I made:

See, it can be done!  Okay, I turned the sketch vertical.  And I added my 'title' piece to the right, instead of the left.  I didn't use alot of product per say.  I wanted to make something elegant and pretty.  I had that flatback designer button laying on my craft table and had set a strip of the pattern paper next to it, (because I needed to move something) and the idea of using the two together popped in my head.  I only used two scraps of different pattern papers (they are two-sided, yahoo!), a scrap piece of Certainly Celery cardstock, a scrap of Shimmer White cardstock, a scrap of First Edition text paper, a 9 inch piece of Basic Black satin ribbon, and a butterfly already die-cut, from yesterday's card.  I used Crumb Cake classic ink for the cake image, and Basic Black classic ink for 'Eat Cake' sentiment.  I used supplies I already had on hand, and I didn't need to cut a whole sheet of any size paper/cardstock!

Before you say anything, a 5" x 7" scrapbook page is kinda different measurement.  But, don't let that stop you.  Wouldn't this be a great front page on a wedding journal? Or a 40th Birthday celebration? Or even a cardstock photo album to record and celebrate either event?  Use the measurements to your advantage!  And create something wonderful! 

If you want to purchase your Stampin' Up! supplies, you can do so at my on-line store, here.  Don't forget, World Card Making Day is Oct. 1, 2011!  And yes, I am having a card class at my home on Saturday!  Come out, make 4 great cards, and visit with others who love to paper craft!  These cards are easy to create, without a million $ worth of supplies.  Oh, and did I mention they are beautiful!

Thank you for stopping by, and don't forget to check back tomorrow! for another challenge entry, and hopefully some inspiration!

hump day, uhg

Not sure what happened, but I am experiencing some internet problems.

The wonderfully talented ladies over @ Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge, have a beautiful sketch.  I encourage everyone to play along.  Just remember to use your Stampin' Up! supplies.

Cant you see all different kinds of cards or scrapbook page layouts, that could really make this sketch rock!  I wanted to use a different stamp set than I have been using lately.  You know stretch my creative muscle.  (That sounds so crazy)
Here is what I came up with:

Isn't this card just too cute?  I wanted to play with some Stampin' Up! suppies that wasn't brown, tan, or aged.  I wanted something bright, pretty, and easy.  So, what do you think?  I think it came out just wonderful!  I used the hostess pattern paper and a hostess stamp set.  I used Basic Black, and Melon Mambo classic ink.
Have a wonderful week!

Spooky Black Bird

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to stop by and have a look around.  Today, I have a few photos of this cute little Halloween box I made.  I got the idea out of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog 2011-2012, pg.10.  I used all Stampin' Up! products (minus the bird and paper mache box) to create this adorable decoration.

Isn't he just adorable?  Before your mind starts going crazy...the paper mache box is upside down.  I attached the bird with a hot glue gun.  The Raven Lace is a retired product from last year.  But everything else I used is current and you can purchase them today!  

At first, I wanted to create this project as a Virtual Kit for October.  However, I have had a bear of a time finding the non-Stampin' Up! products (aka: paper mache box and bird).  So, I made just one.  I may make one for my daughter, as she just LOVES Halloween!  I think she likes it more than Christmas!  But, that wouldn't be surprising.  {For those folks who know me, know that I LOVE  St. Valentine's Day more than Christmas.}

I did use the Vanilla Smooch spray to give the finished project some random shimmer and gleam.  I left some of those hot glue strings on this project, as they kinda look like old spider web strings.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd change the hat.  In the mini catalog, the hat doesn't have a rim.  I thought it should have a rim, you know like a witches hat.  But, it was a bear to create.

Anyways, enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks again for stopping by!

Products used: Pick Your Poison DSP (#124001) and Accents (#124263).  Piece of Poison stamp set (#123754).  First Edition DSP (#121878).  Mini Jingle Bells (#124116).  Mini Vintage Tags (#118763).   Antique Brads (#117273)  Linen Thread (#104199)

Fancy Five #207 & #80

Happy Saturday!  Well, I'm the hostess this week over @ Our Creative Corner.  I really do like being the hostess.  I love creating a challenge for everyone to participate in.  I think that if the challenge makes you think, take inventory as to what you have on hand, and/or use products/colors that have been neglected, then it is a good challenge.  So, this weeks challenge is to use a 'number' in your paper craft item.  Sounds easy, huh?  I think it sounds fun!

To help me get my creative juices flowing, I selected the current layout from Mojo Monday #207.   I also needed a little more guidance, so I selected the color challenge from Shabby Tea Room #80: white/cream, kraft, and brown/black. 

Here is the sketch from Mojo Monday:

Here is the inspiration photo from Shabby Tea Room:

 Here is my card:

I really liked that both the sketch and the inspiration photo had oval frames in them.  I also loved the various flowers and all the white-wash-ness in the inspiration photo.   For the OCC challenge, I used 'No. 5'.  Now, 5 doesn't mean anything to me, except that's my oldest granddaughter's age.  But, I just LOVE the font!   It's so pretty and elegant.

Lately, I have been on a scrap kick.  I have been using scraps to create my cards.  I know, that sounds aweful.  But, you should see the size of my scrap box!  

The card uses 75%/+ stampin' up!.  The card base is Crumb Cake card stock.  The black matts are Basic Black card stock.  I used Very Vanilla card stock and the new frame embossing folder.   I stamped the 'No. 5' in Basic Black classic ink.  I used First Edition DSP to create the rolled flower.  I used a small piece of Beau Chateau to make the leaves.  So the kraft polka dot and black/cream pattern paper I have used before.  But, at this point I don't remember who makes either paper.   The brown crochet trim is a scrap piece,  and I attached that to the card with a staple.  I added a wooden button.  I tied some linen thread to the wooden button and added a faux half pearl.  The multi-loop bow is made with Vanilla seam binding.  I held it together with a vintage brad.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope that you have a chance to play along with us this week!

Always

It's Friday! That means its time for another sketch challenge from Sketch Frenzy Friday!  This weeks sketch is brought to us by Maria V.  

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

At Sketch Frenzy Friday, the design team does a blog hop.  That means you must visit each design team member's personal blogs to see what they created.  However, you post on the team challenge blog.  Each member submits a sketch for the team to work with, and to present as the sketch challenge.  So, this week, Maria V. has given us this sketch.  I love the graphics she used in the sketch.  It really helped me visualize a card.

The card base is baja breeze cardstock.  I matt the very vanilla cardstock on soft suede cardstock.  I used some scraps from Beau Chateau DSP, for this card.  I used the pennant die to created the scallop circle.  I added some of the new velvet ribbon as one of my 'stripes'.  I stamped 'always' in soft suede classic ink.  This stamp is from the Always Elegant stamp set.  The flower I made from first edition DSP.  I used the 2 1/2" circle and cut a spiral and rolled it.  The leaves were made from another scrap of the same DSP.  I sponged every edge with crumb cake classic ink.  I like how this card turned out.

Thank you for stopping by.  Now, head on over to Tammy B.  blog.  And please join us for this sketch challenge.  Happy Friday!