Birthday Sundaes Challenge #41

Good Sunday morning. We continue to enjoy a very unusual winter here in the northeast. It is so unlike January, almost February around here. I took a picture about 3 weeks ago of some daffodils coming up by the front door. They are still coming up, and haven't died off. Unbelievable.

It's time for the new challenge at Birthday Sundaes. And this challenge is a fun and challenging one. The challenge is to create an easel card. I was very nervous about doing this. I have made one once before, but I wanted to try a different kind.

But, before I get to my card, we have a sponsor - Twendy Twine. Check out the blog here, and the store here.


And here is the cool prize one lucky participant will win.


Trendy Twine ValenTwine Mini Pack {Valentine's Day Bakers Twine}

This little pack includes 40 yards:
20 yd of Valentine Cherry Cupcake
10 Berry Red
10 Posy Pink

Kristie has a few tutorial on the at Birthday Sundaes for some assistance with getting started with your easel card. I had made a regular, straight easel card last year. This time I wanted to create a sideways one. This is the tutorial I used.

I was really nervous about getting this done. I had a horrible week at work and was just having a hard time getting anything done in the evenings. I finally decided what I wanted to do and studied the tutorial. I thought I would have a problem with getting the folds right, but I understood how it was supposed to work, so I was able to improvise when it didn't look like the one in the tutorial. Here it is:

I used the DCWV Celebrations stack. Just perfect for birthday cards. The image and sentiment are from the Paws I Care set from Whimsie Doodles. The card in the tutorial was 8 x 8. I thought that was a little large, so I reduced mine to 5 3/4 x 5 3/4. I made a 6 x 6 envelope to go with it.


I hope you will give an easel card a try. I look forward to seeing all of the wonderful creations submitted this week.

My Word For 2012

I was so impressed with everyone picking their words for the year and showing their favorite projects for the year. I had started a blog post, added to it a couple of times, but then deleted it without committing

One of Scrappin'-n-Chattin's challenges this month to is create a layout using your word for 2012 as the one word title. I wasn't sure that I was going to complete this challenge. But the more I thought about it, the more comfortable I got with my chosen word. I really don't like to share resolutions - it seems to welcome failure to me. I was feeling this was going to be the same situation. But my word is versatile, and how I am using it, will bring me nothing but success.

So what is my word?? TRY. I have found that just by thinking about this word, I become more productive. And I do have some goals in mind. And this is what my layout shows.

To create the layout, of course I needed a sketch. Now I had this layout planned out and was going to get it done on Saturday, in time to enter it into the Sketch #303 challenge at Sketch Inspiration. But I had a horrible time over the weekend not being able to access my photos to edit and print them. I was never in danger of loosing the photos, but I had to clear them off of my laptop. I was running out of space. I had them in 2 places on our external hard drive and on a flash drive for good measure. I had a hard time accessing the hard drive with Picasa. But now I have it under control. Here is the sketch:
I felt the sketch was perfect for what I had in mind. So I had to use it. I used it for both pages of this layout....


(Sorry about the photos. I am also trying a new system for taking photos, and it's not quite there yet.)

Here is the Page 1 by itself:


And the Page 2.


This may look like a confusing mess, but I am starting to really like it. I took some photos of different things I am using and have developed to help keep me on track. The last set of photos on Page 2 are a set of photos of my scrap space after the hurricane. I took them just before I started to clean up after things dried out. All of my stuff was up on every single horizontal surface. So in a nutshell I want to TRY to stay organized so that I can keep track of scrapping challenges, blog hops, etc., keep track of each of the dogs' progress toward titles and awards in agility and to make sure that I sign up for any trials I want to enter, keep track of (and meet) my deadlines at work, plan meals and shopping trips so that I can save money, and to get my room in a totally organized state (as well as a few other spots in the house). The scrap room obviously is not as bad as it appears in the photos. As a matter of fact it's very close to done. I just have to finish.

In addition to the SnC Word challenge, I am entering this layout into the 52 Week Challenge there. Here are a few of the other challenges that I followed:

Frosted Designs Fabulous Fridays - Use Vellum. I made several flowers and butterflies with vellum.
ScrapFit Weekend Warm-Up #23 - Use Kraft cardstock. I made some flowers with plain kraft paper and the background paper is DCWV The Playtime Stack with is all kraft cardstock based.
Flutter By Wednesday - Open challenge, use a butterfly, fairy or angel. I made vellum butterflies.
Hotshot Craft - Flower

Well, if you made it through my post, thank you. I hope everyone has a great week.

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #40

Good morning fellow crafters. I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. I have been having computer problems this weekend. I have been unable to access my photos through Picasa, so no scrapping. I had glorious plans of getting a 2 page layout done and several cards, but I am still working on getting the computer cooperating. At least they are not lost. As a matter of fact, I have them in 3 different places right now. Have to reduce that to only 2.

It's time for the new challenge at Birthday Sundaes. And we have another wonderful sponsor this week - MelJen Designs!! I love their images. I have a wishlist for some there as well.



This week's lucky, random winner will recieve 4 images of her choice. Our challenge this week - Create a birthday card with a birthday sentiment on the front, a favorite.

MelJen was so generous and offered images for the design team to use. I chose Robbie the Robot. I thought he was so cute, and I thought I had some great paper to go along with him. I did find, however, I NEED more Copics.

To create my card, I found a sketch to use. These sketches have been so inspirational for me. For this card, I used last week's sketch from Come and Get It Challenges. I'm not entering the challenge, but just loved the sketch.


And here's my card....


I used blues to color him. I found I don't have any gray markers. And I also don't have black. A shopping trip is in order.

I am entering this card into the current challenge at Cards For Men which is Boys and Their Toys.

I decorated the envelope to go along with this card. I fussy cut some gears from the collection I used and included a similar element from the card. This will allow me to enter this card into the card challenges at Scrappin'-n-Chattin'. Challenge #2 is to create a matching envelope for your card.


I can't wait to see what everyone creates. Have a great week.

Ahh

I finally got it!! A picture of Tessa laying in her bed. I left the bed out all weekend, and by Sunday evening she was ready to lay down in it. I got a few photos of her in it, showing how she fills it now. She even let me get right up in her face and take a photo.

I had been trying to figure out what photos to use for this week's sketch at Sketchy Thursdays, their final challenge. I am very sad about that, but totally understand how much time and dedication keeping this blog going has taken. I wish the owners and the design team members all the best.


I thought this sketch could work well for the photos of Tessa I was just able to get. But I had to make it coordinate with the Grown Up layout I completed over the weekend (you can see it here). I used black cardstock as the background for both pages. I wanted to vary it a little, adding a little more color. But I also wanted to tie them together. I did this using the maroon cardstock, the same flower on each page and the use of the pearls.


Thanks for looking. I hope everyone has a nice, quick week.

A Christmas Card in January

I really enjoy working on the challenges at Christmas Card Challenges. I usually don't have the time to get one done each week though. But today, we didn't do any of the dogs' classes and stayed home, so I had a little extra time.

This week's challenge is Challenge #7 - Flourishes. It's also reveal day at The Paper Variety. Their challenge this time around is to use a fan fold embellishment on your paper project.



I have never made a fan fold embellishment before, so I had to look for a how-to video. I had watched a couple in the past, but I was always a little intimated to give it a try. Well, today I was successful. The video I watched today was from Splitcoast Stampers.

I also wanted to use a sketch, so I checked a couple of site. I found one that I loved at Card Patterns Weekly Sketch Blog.


And here is what I came up with....


I inked the edges of all of my papers. I also used 2 different scallop punches, so this card will qualify as a Card Challenge entry at Scrappin'-n-Chattin'.

Since I used a new to me technique (fan folded embellishment), I am also entering this card Crafty Creations Challenges for their Something New challenge. And I will also enter the card into the current challenge at Little Scrap Pieces with is Anything Goes.

Last Meal of 2011

I am quite happy with the 4 pages I was able to complete yesterday. It really helps that I had a plan beforehand. I hope to get a couple done today too. We'll see. I may work on cards instead. Decisions, decisions.

So the last 2 pages I created last night were based on the Monthly Layout Challenge at Scrappin'-n-Chattin'. The challenge is a recipe challenge.


Creating a page that included food was a little challenging. I don't often take a photo of food, and I was in a slump thinking about what food type embellishments I could use. Then I remembered a photo I had taken of Willie on New Year's Eve. He was under the table waiting for my lobster. I took a photo of the lobster too....

I used gray cardstock for the large square under the photo. I used a stamp to create the checkerboard along the side. This will allow me enter this layout (and the 2nd page) in the checkboard challenge portion of the monthly challenges at SnC which is to include either checkerboard paper or a created checkerboard.


I used the My Mind's Eye Complete Boy collection for almost everything on these pages. The gray and black cardstock are from my stash as are the Thickers that are green glittery part of the titles and the tiny alphas. I cut the star from the George and Basic Shapes cartridge.

The first page I am also entering at the My Craft Spot challenge - It's Delicious. Lobster is definitely delicious.

And here is Page 2. I flipped the sketch, but used all of the same papers and elements. Willie never got any of the lobster, just the juice off my fingers.


I am going to enter this page in the current Weekend Warm Up at Scrap Fit. The challenge is to include stars. Easy....

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #39

Good Sunday morning. Winter has finally arrived to the northeast. We haven't had much snow here in our area, but up north just a little bit, they had about a foot this week. But we do have the cold. Brrrrrr.

It was great to see all of the wonderful entries last week at Birthday Sundaes. So many awesome birthday cards. It's time for a new challenge. But first, we have a great, new sponsor to talk about. Apron Strings is sponsoring our challenge this week.


Apron Strings is a monthly kit club. They offer 3 varieties/prices of kits. Make sure to check out the wonderful kits they put together. One lucky winner will receive a monthly card kit.

Our challenge this week is a photo inspiration. And it's such a wonderfully seasonal photo....



The photo is from The Complete Cupcake. What awesome cupcake toppers. Part of the challenge is that a snowman must be included on your card.

For my card, I followed the sketch from Seems a Little Sketchy again. I am really liking this site.




And here's my card....


I used a set from Cosmo Cricket that I won a while ago. I remembered it had a snowman, so I knew it would be perfect.

I can't wait to see your interpretation of the photo inspiration and all of the wonderful snowmen. Have a great week.

Grown Up

In trying to figure out what photos to use for this month's sketch challenge at Artful Delight, I searched and searched through my photos. I really wanted to scrap Tessa again. We have been marveling at how much larger she is than when we brought her home. I had several photos of her in the bed we got her when we brought her home.

She has been really good with her bed. It's still totally in tact, even after being washed every couple of weeks. She still sleeps in it when she goes into her crate. I brought it out to try to get her in it for a photo. Well, she's still not a ham like Willie is. It took me a couple of days, and it's not the best photo. But you can tell how much she has changed.

The Artful Delight sketch is awesome again this month. I had to rotate the photos on the sketch to accommodate my photos.


In choosing the papers, I wanted to follow the first challenge of the year at The Paper Variety. The challenge was to create a black and white project with a splash of color. I missed the deadline for the challenge, but I still wanted to create the page as planned.

I also followed the current challenge at Paper Lovin' Gals. I was really struck with the chest in the inspiration photo.


I used an old Imaginisce collection that I have had, and been using for about 6 or 7 year called Color-Pop. I knew the papers would be perfect for the black and white challenge.


The journaling spot, I thought, mimicked the chest in the PLG photo inspiration. In the journaling I listed a few thoughts about Tessa. This will allow the page to qualify for the List challenge at Scrappin'-n-Chattin'.

This is the 2nd page that I have completed today. I have 2 more planned. So hopefully, I will be back later with more posts.

1st Jacket

I'm so glad that I was able to scrap today. I am participating again this year in Scrappin'-n-Chattin's 52 Week Challenge. I was able to get my layout of the week done!!

For my page, I am following this months's sketch at challenge at DCWV Diary. It's a great sketch and I've seen some great pages made with this sketch already.

I used my new DCWV Playtime Stack and cardstock from a couple of other stacks.


The photos are of Tessa modeling her jacket for the winter. She's getting pretty good at trying on clothes.

I turned the title to run vertically so that the layout also qualified for SnC's Vertical Challenge this month. I am also entering this page into the current Getting Scrappy Challenge. The challenge is anything goes. One of the rules for this site though is to use a Cricut or SVG cut on your layout. I cut the plaid paper and the shadow for it from the Elegant Edges cartridge and the hearts from the George and Basic Shapes cartridge.

It's been a pretty productive weekend here for me. Not necessarily scrappy, but productive. I am hoping to get a 2 or 3 project started during the week. I should have a very scrappy weekend next weekend. Stew's working 2nd shift.

I hope everyone has a great week.

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #38

Good Sunday morning. It was nice to have a little break from the routine during December, but it's also nice to get back to normal.

It's time for a new challenge at Birthday Sundaes. I was so excited to see that Whimsie Doodles is our sponsor this week. I love their images. I have a whole list of images I want to get.


One lucky winner who participates in this week's challenge will win a $10 gift certificate to Whimisie Doodles' online store. They also have a special offer for Birthday Sundae fans. To receive 10% of your Whimsie Doodles order, use the code Birthday10. How cool is that? This code will expire 30 days from today, January 8th.

So I bet you would like to know about our challenge. Well, it's an easy one. Create a Birthday card with sentiment on the front, with the option of using something new. Make sure to include in your post what new item(s) you used.

To create my card, I wanted to use a sketch. I don't use a sketch all that often any more for cards. I found a sketch that I fell in love with at Seems A Little Sketchy.


Whimsie Doodles gave the design team several images to choose from to use on our cards this week. I chose Gift Leah.


I also used a new item on this card. I used my new collection of Nikki Sivils Something for Everyone papers. I really love the blues in this paper for this week's challenge.

I hope you will give our challenge a go this week. And be sure to check out Whimsie Doodles.