Tweet Day

I had another request for a card, this time a co-worker wanted something to send to an associate who always goes above and beyond for her. It was to be special, yet not schmoozey or syrupy sweet. I don't have many Thank You stamps, or at least any I could find in my initial search of my supplies. I had this Doodle Pantry image hanging out on my hard drive and though it would be perfect for a generic hello card and she could write whatever she wanted inside. Plus, if she didn't like it, I could easily use it for a number of occasions.

ETA -I presented 2 cards and this was the 'reject' card. It's not that she didn't like it; it was that the other card was PURRFECT (scroll down for that post).

Sketch Inspiration ~ Sketch for You to Try ~ May Week 3

 Color Inspiration
Clearly Delightful Challenge #5 ~ Blue and Green

Pile it On Challenge #19

I picked up on the greens, blues, and browns in the photo and what I took to be birds flitting around on the walls.

Inspiration

365 Cards Day #74 ~ Recipe (4.25 x 5.5 card; 2 patterned papers; stripes; 1 piece of ribbon, stamped/digi image; sentiment)
KLSNS #30 ~ Let’s Show Our Animal Friends Some Love
Paper Popsicles May Challenges ~ 5/17: Favorite Cardstock
I'm in love with Die Cuts With a View cardstock and supplies. Their themed stacks, all coordinating, with the options of prints, solids, glitter and more, make creating SO simple. I don't have to worry about things matching!

My Creation

My photos came out a bit dark and if I tried adjusting them on the computer they got really severe looking. I went for the dark look instead. The 'flight pattern' is just a doodle line I added.

Image Detail

I used Spica pens to color the birds. I love the sparkle, but the ink sometimes isn't smooth and consistent.

Inside

A pretty ho-hum inside, but just a bit of pattern carry over to create a space for a note.

Ins and Outs ~ Tweet Day
Stamps: Tweet House & Verse (Doodle Pantry)
Paper: DCWV Linen Closet, SU Whisper White
Ink: Laser Printer, Copics (E55. 57; C3; G00, 12; B41; BG0000), Spicas (Orange, Baby Blue, Mint, Turquoise), SU Black Marker
Accessories: Scrap Ribbon

Graduation Money Holder

ETA - If you'd like a copy of the template, click here. It should print to a standard 8.5x11. Otherwise, the measurements are also included.

This card is the second one my mother-in-law chose. It was pretty simple to do, and I may try a few more as they work great for tucking in every grad's favorite gift - cash!

Sketch Inspiration ~ Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #43

Inspiration

Little Red Wagon Challenge #28 ~ Brads
Cute Card Thursday #112 ~ Someone Special
Stamp Something Challenge ~ Celebrate Somethings
Creative Belli Challenge #91 ~Hole Punches
I used up some of my paper stash and a leftover heart from Valentine's Day, plus THREE brads (one is holding the tassel on the front of the card.
Crazy 4 Challenges #37 ~ Create a Pocket
365 Cards Day 78 ~ Imagine This: Money
I was inspired to make a card where I can stick in a bit o' the green stuff for a graduate.

My Creation

Image Detail

Inside

Ins & Outs ~ Graduation Money Holder
Stamps: Go Graduate (Stamping Up)
Paper: Stamping Up (Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Gray)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Stamping Up (Creamy Caramel, Going Gray, Close to Cocoa, Ballet Blue, Pumpkin Pie)
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder
Techniques: Wet Embossing 

Vintage For You

This card was super quick and easy thanks to the help of a card kit. Why is it I don't think about colors at all until SU decides to yank them? I've fallen back in love with the softness of Barely Banana. Pairing it with black is so elegant. Oh well, maybe if I actually USED all my colors, I wouldn't feel they were neglected when they retire.

Sketch Inspiration ~ CPS Sketch #166

Inspiration

365 Cards Day 71 ~ Do that Decade 1920
I'm not sure that I got this right. This card made me think of toile and soft happy colors. I thought it was another aspect of the 1920's, but maybe I'm thinking 1820's! LOL
Jacksonbelle Tuesday Challenge ~ CAS

My Creation

I had a heck of a time getting a good photo, so I scanned in a copy as well. The colors are truest in this pic than the next.

Here's the photo'd version showing the envelope I stamped to match.

Image Detail

I used spica pens on the flowers and leaves for some sparkle.

Ins & Outs ~ Vintage For You
Stamps: Elements of Style (Stamping Up)
Paper: Stamping Up (Barely Banana, Black, Vanilla)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Stampin Up (Old Olive, Barely Banana), Copics (Y000, G21), Spicas (Mint, Buttermilk)
Accessories: Brads
Techniques: Ink Distressing

Pretty in Pink Wedding

The bones of this card are from a recent stamp camp I attended. I switched things up a bit by adding a DIY ribbon flower, and some fancy beaded ribbon.

Sketch Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 56 ~ Super Sketchy Sunday

Color Inspiration

Paper Play Challenge ~ Brown and ?? (I chose Melon Mambo)
365 Cards 365 Cards Day #73 ~ Tri-Colored (Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Pink)

Inspiration

365 Cards Day 22 ~ Movie Monday: Alice in Wonderland
I know, you're thinking, HUH? How was this card inspired by Alice? Well, for me colors are always a big inspiration. I loved the bright, bold hues in the movie which led me toward Melon Mambo. I'm also intrigued with the shrinking part of the story. I didn't have a mushroom stamp, but the silhouette of the daisies gave me the same feeling Alice must have had when she was in mini form.

365 Cards Day 64 ~ The 3 F’s: Fringe, Fairy tale and Favorite color
Based on my previous explanation, the fairy tale part is Alice in Wonderland. The beaded ribbon is fringe and my FAV SU color right now is Melon Mambo.
Quixotic Challenge #25 ~ Let Your Garden Grow (DIY Flowers)
One Stop Craft Challenge #79 ~ Wedding Wishes

My Creation

Detail

Ins &  Outs ~ Pretty in Pink Wedding

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Well Scripted (Stamping Up)
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo (Stamping Up)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Soft Suede (Stamping Up)
Accessories: Stampin Up Polka Dot Ribbon, Unknown Fringed Bead Ribbon, SU Scalloped edge punch

Petal Fold Graduation

My mother-in-law asked for a few graduation cards. For some reason whenever I make cards on request I get REALLY nervous. I’m usually given free reign to do whatever, but I worry it won’t be what they wanted. I ‘whipped up’ (by which I mean stayed up half the night futzing) a few options for her. This is one of the cards she chose. They left early yesterday morning for the drive from MN to TX. It will be a short weekend to attend my niece’s college graduation. My hubby and I were unable to attend, but I feel better knowing my card made the trip!

Sketch Inspiration ~ Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #48

Color Inspiration

Color Chef Challenge #50 ~ Greenish Blue cream, black

Inspiration

365 Cards Day 5 ~ Fancy Folds: Petal Card
365 Cards Day 59 ~ Moving Parts
The die cut cap spins around so you can open the 'petal'
KL SNS Challenge #29 ~ Easy as 123
1 Ribbon (hopefully 2 pieces of the same ribbon count), 2 Designer Papers (dots and grad), 3 Embellishments (brad, rub on, die cut)

My Creation

Image Detail

You can easily slip in a few bills and not worry about them falling out!

 Inside

The verse is a simple rub on.

Ins & Outs ~ Petal Fold Graduation
Stamps: None
Paper: DCWV, The Paper Studio
Ink: None
Accessories: Rub on sentiment, brad, die cut, SU Ribbon
Techniques: Petal Fold  

Graduation Card for Margie

Graduation season snuck up on me. Typically I'm working on High School Graduation cards (which I do need several of) but this year I have a few COLLEGE grads in my world as well. My sweet sister-in-law Margie walked across the stage this past weekend. It was a fun event and maybe I'll be inspired enough to get my high school cards done early! This card was made about 2 am the night before the graduation. Ugh.

Sketch Inspiration ~ Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #112
I always love the weekly sketches and FINALLY dug out my TE stamps when I played along.

Inspiration

Creative Inspirations Challenge #33 ~ Congratulations
365 Cards Day 40 ~ Friday Five There must be 5 of 5 things on your card:
BEar with me here, I was a 'bit' flexible, but here they are: 5 gems, 5 colors (green, yellow, red, blue, tan), 5 yellow stripes on the balloon, 5 stamps (the grad balloon was stamped 3 times with the layers), 5 'shiney things' (gems, spicas, red glimmer paper, basket & large balloon have diamond glaze)
Our Daily Bread Challenge ~ Graduation
ABC Challenge ~ U is for Unused Stash

I just HAD to get this stamp set when it was released several months ago. Stems from a life long love of Dr. Suess my mom passed on (she was a Kindergarten teacher). However, it’s sat NEGLECTED since it arrived at my door.

The real inspiration for the card is graduate Margie flanked by her a'dork'able kids JR and Mara. JR will be getting one of those high school cards in a few weeks.

My Creation

Yep, the card was made in the wee hours and the photos of it were taken while we were driving to the event. Hubby was driving, I was co-piloting trying to get a snatch of sunshine for the photos. As you can see, it was a pretty cloudy day.

Image Detail

I couldn't get a good shot that showed the sparkle and shine; one of the challenges in taking photos in a moving car on a cloudy day. There's diamond glaze on the balloon and basket. The red mat is shimmer cardstock and I used spicas to highlight the edges of the image.

At 2 am, I thought I was being pretty clever with my paper piecing. I stamped the image on the background and then 2 times on the DP. I planned the 'face' of the ballon to land so it looked like a few curls of hair were hanging out from under the cap. The hat is then cut and layered on top.

Inside

How are your graduation cards coming? I'd love to see them and get some inspiration!

Ins & Outs ~ Graduation Card for Margie
Stamps: The Places You’ll Go (Taylored Expressions), Well Scripted (Stampin Up)
Paper: DCWV (Shimmer and Spring), SU Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics (R29, BG0000, Y11, YG03, E41, E50), Spicas (Lemon, Melon, Pitch Black)
Accessories: Nesties, Gems
Techniques: Paper piecing

First Communion Easel Card

This card was made for a special little girl, Bianca. I mentioned her in my previous post about her mom Erica's birthday card. My hubby and I were honored to help her celebrate her First Communion. The invitation she'd sent was so cute, I decided to go green and recycle the paper and ribbon in the card. The orangey/peachy dotted paper and striped ribbon are from the original invitation. This is my first 'true' easel card. The treat box I did a few weeks ago was under the supervision of my SU friend. This card? A solo flight with only slight turbulence. LOL. I think I'd even do it again.

Sketch Inspiration ~ Friday Sketchers #101

The sketch is pretty simple and the triangles in the background made me think of a tent, so I made it into an easel card.

Inspiration

Karen’s Doodles Challenge #10 ~ Birthday or Celebration

Stamp Saturday Challenge #82 ~ Recipe: 3 Embellishments (Ribbon, Smooch, Cross), 2 Papers (Pink CS, Orange DP), 1 image

Cuttlebug Challenge #83 ~ For the Kids

Bianca was my true inspiration!

My Creation

Isn't this image from Karen's Doodles just precious? There's a matching little boy and another girl as well. Plus, she has a great confirmation set.

Image Detail

I colored her with Copics, added a bit of Spica sparkle to the veil and edges, and gave the whole thing a few spritzes of Vanilla Smooch.

Inside

I forgot to take a photo before I wrote in the card, so you get to see my personal message as well. I'd picked up the cross pendant on clearance awhile ago and knew I wanted to incorporate it into a card. It's the perfect accent to hold up my easel!

Ins & Outs ~ First Communion Easel Card

Stamps: First Communion Girl (Karen’s Doodles)
Paper: SU Whisper White, Misc CS from Invitation
Ink: Copics (E000, 30, 31; R22; 100; C1, 3, 5, 7; BG000; RV000), Spicas (Clear, Black, Blossom), White Gel pen, Clear Star gel pen
Accessories: Vanilla Shimmer Smooch, Misc Ribbon, Cross pendant
Techniques: Easel Card