Pink Cat Studios Graduate Billy

Some people work on building their stash of Christmas cards throughout the year, but I seem to do that for Graduation cards. I always need a handful and they are big sellers at the office come May. If I don’t spread out the graduate love, I get a bit burnt out with caps and gowns in the spring.

Sketch Inspiration ~ Midnight Madness Sketch #106

Inspiration

Creative Stamp Friends Challenge #33 ~ Card for a Man
Cupcake Craft Challenge #159 ~ Back to School
Party Time Tuesday Challenge #33 ~ Ribbon Trim Fibers
The bottom background panel is a wide ribbon, not DP.
Creative Inspirations Challenge #129 ~ Anything Goes

My Creation

Image Detail

Ins and Outs ~ Pink Cat Studios Graduate Billy
Stamps: Pink Cat Studios Graduation Billy
Paper: DCWV, SU Whisper White
Ink: Laser Printer; Copics (C5, 7, 100; E00, 21, 29, 37, 49; YR00; B32, 34; R29)
Accessories: Walmart Ribbon, My Minds Eye Cap die cut

Flourished Birthday Greetings

I found some time this week to work on my stack of UFOs (unfinished objects). The new challenge is to find time to take photos, edit them and get a blog post up. The other challenge is to keep the cat herd from turning them into cat toys. I’ve come home to find spools of ribbon untwined, cards set out to dry now picked apart or dragged around the house. Anyone with pets, especially cats, can relate that whatever belonging you have in your house is really just a toy for the fur babies. This card started as a card kit, but I had to tweak it a bit.

Sketch Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 124 ~ Sketch from a Card

Color Inspiration ~ The Crafty Pad Challenge #138 ~ Goodbye Summer (Autumn Colors)

This flower and the colors remind me of the marigolds at all the greenhouses this time of year.
Inspiration
365 Cards Day 66 ~ DIY Patterned Paper

I tried something new and created 2 embossed patterns on regular cardstock instead of using ink.
I Did it Creations Challenge #72 ~Anything Goes
Pile it On Challenge #37 ~ Layer It
Lollipop Crafts Challenge ~ Use Eyelets or Brads
Fab n’ Funky Challenge #90 ~ Bingo
I actually have a double link, but will claim STAMPED IMAGE, 3 LAYERS, DIE CUTS
Paper Play Challenge #37 ~ Punches and Dies

My Creation

 

Image Detail

Ins and Outs ~ Flourished Birthday Greetings
Stamps: SU
Paper: SU, TPS
Ink: SU
Accessories: SU Embossing Folders, brad and ribbon, SU Punch, Flower Die

Vintagey Snapdragons

I needed to make a quick sympathy card for a friend of my husbands. They are my least favorite cards to make, but having been on the receiving end of far too many; I know how meaningful they can be. Since the topic is challenging for me, I thought I'd 'try' to get a bit of a vintage feel to the card (one of my biggest craft theme challenges). I kept things clean and simple and used what I consider vintage-y colors. The pale yellows, pinks and dusty blue.

Sketch Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 184 ~ White Space

Color Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 192

Inspiration

Copic Creations Challenge #57 ~ Pretty in Pink
The Pink Elephant Challenge #116 ~ Vintage
365 Cards Day 171 ~ Vintage Plus Pink
365 Cards Day 175 ~ Mixed Drinks: Strawberry Lemonade
Stamp Something Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Everybody Art Challenge #159 ~ Flowers

My Creation

Image Detail

Inside

I used a sticker from my stash for a quick and easy verse.

Ins and Outs ~ Vintagey Snapdragons
Stamps: Doodle Pantry Snapdragons
Paper: SU Whisper White, DCWV Base, Linen Closet Stack
Ink: Laser Printer; Copics(Y00, 02; YR30; BG96; G82; R00, 11, 20, 22)
Accessories: SU Grosgrain Pink Ribbon, Button, Pop Up Dots, Sticker Verse

Book Ants Go to School

This card was made for my regional library organization as a thank you. I'm on my county library board and the regional system went above and beyond to gain additional materials for our local libraries. Thank you is one of the simplest things to say, yet so often we fail to do so. I was happy to make a card to sent them from our Board to let them know our appreciation. I pulled inspiration from several great blogs to direct my creativity.

Sketch Inspiration ~ Midnight Madness Sketch #120

Color Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 15 ~ Color Scheme

Inspiration

Cupcake Craft Challenge ~ Back to School
Papertake Weekly Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge ~ Back to School
Doodle Pantry Challenge #16 ~ Use a DP Image
365 Cards Day 142 ~ Imagine This: Earth I don't have any 'earth' specific stamps so I went with an earthy feel in my colors and image.
365 Cards Day 172 ~ Vintage Plus Green Vintage is my downfall, I admit it; so a whole week of vintage challenges at 365 made me break out in hives. I'll try to slowly get through them. :o) I used what I consider vintage colors, albeit a tish drab.
Allsorts Challenge #120 ~ Flowers and Swirls
Truly Scrumptious Challenge #65 ~ Decorate the Inside of Card
My Creation

Image Detail

Colored with Copics and used a gold glitter pen for accents on the book and Glossy Accents over the ant bodies (doesn't show in the photo very well, but lovely in real life).

Inside

Ins and Outs ~ Book Ants Go to School
Stamps: Doodle Pantry Book Ants
Paper: SU Whisper White, DCWV Mariposa
Ink: Laser Printer, Copics (Ants: N3, 5, 9; Books/Grass:E01, 50, 53,55; G40, 82, 85); Martha Stewart Glitter Pen (Gold, Red)
Accessories: EK Success Flourish Stickers, Paper Flowers, Glossy Accents

Baby Elephant Card

This card was supposed to be posted last night for the awesome Midnight Madness challenge, but day 8 of work in a row took it's toll and I crashed instead of blogging. I've got 4 more days until a day off but couldn't stay away from blogland tonight. This was a super quick and easy card, perfect for a baby shower. The pink heart gem was an afterthought. I tried to use a Spica to add a bit of glitz to the image, and forgot they don't work well with water based inks. The heart from the image bled a bit, so I got creative with a cover-up.

Sketch Inspiration ~ Midnight Madness Sketch #119

Inspiration

Fab N Funky Challenge #88 ~ Go Mad with Embossing
Rainbow Lady’s Challenge #168 ~ Let’s Emboss It
Shopping our Stash Challenge #16 ~ Birds Bugs Beasts – No People
Ellephantastic September Challenge ~ Here Come the Girls
The Crazy Challenge #83 ~Stripes and Spots
365 Cards Day 56 ~ Big Announcement (convey big news prominently on front of card)
365 Cards Day 166 ~ 30 Minutes or Less

My Creation

Image Detail

Ins and Outs ~ Baby Elephant Card
Stamps: SU Baby Steps
Paper: SU CS (Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush, Basic Grey), SU Lap of Luxury DP
Ink: SU Concord Crush
Accessories: SU Scallop Edge Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Ribbon

Hoppy-ness on the Scale

This card has been bouncing around for a LONG time. I'm still working through some of the old Midnight Madness Sketches and this was a doozy for me. I actually kept all the elements, but it wasn't easy! Pink is such a cheery color and the Happy Hoppers image just makes me smile.

Sketch Inspiration ~ Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #55

Color Inspiration ~ Pink Gem Challenge #29

Inspiration

Mad for Markers September Challenge ~ Spring Inspired
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge ~ CELEBRATE
OWH Birthday Bash Day 3 ~ We R Keeping an Eye on You (eyelets)
By the Cute and Girly September Challenge ~ All Things Bright and Beautiful
Bright beautiful colors.
365 Cards Day 40 ~ Clever Coloring
Use 4 ways to color an image (Copics, Spicas, Gel Pen, Glossy Accents)
365 Cards Day 187 ~ Past Present Future
Tool from past – Cropodile; Present Favorite Color – Pink, Future Theme in Your Life – Dieting
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #127 ~ The Sky’s the Limit (anything goes)
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #33 ~ Ric Rac, Fabric or Lace
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge ~ Pink
My Creation

Image Detail

Inside

Ins and Outs ~ Hoppy-ness on the Scale
Stamps: House Mouse Light as a Feather (Stampabilities)
Paper: DCWV Sweet, SU Whisper White, Bazzill
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (C00, 1, 3, 5; E30, 31, 41, 50; R00, 81; RV09, 14); Spicas (Silver, Pitch Black), White Gel Pen
Accessories: Making Memories Eyelets, Embroidery Floss, Fringe Ribbon, Tulle, Glossy Accents

Back to School with Primary Colors at the OSCC

While I normally love holiday weekends, this one has been a whirlwind. Mr. Gears had minor surgery on Friday and will be laid up for a few weeks. As the luck of the draw would have it, it's also my work weekend. So, I've been trying to make sure the Mr is set up for the day and then head out to work. Definitley no crafting going on for my Labor Day and barely any computer time either. :o( I won't pout for too long, it doesn't take much for me to quickly count the many blessings I've been granted.

This week at One Stop Crafts, Shelley has us all in the mood for school. Digi Doodles, our sponsor, has some great images for kids and school. I created a card for my neighbor boy who just completed a summer program complete with a mini graduation ceremony. I hope you'll be inspired to join us or any of the other great challenges that inspired me!

Sketch Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 104 ~ Super Sketchy Sunday

Color Inspiration ~ Paper Pretties Monday Challenge ~ Primary Colors

Inspiration

One Stop Craft Challenge #147 ~ Back to School with Primary Colors
Anything Goes: Party Time Tuesdays #31, Charisma Cardz Challenge #35; Creative Card Crew Challenge
Do You Stack Up Challenge #35 ~Friendly Critters Normally I don't cozy up to worms, but this guy is so cute I might just stop to say hello.
Stamp Something Challenge ~September Digi Day
The Stamping Boutique Challenge #14 ~ Back to School
365 Cards Day 82 ~ Caught in a Corner use 12x12 scrapbook paper

My Creation

Image Detail

I had fun playing with my Copics and trying to achieve shadows in the image.

Inside

A few more scraps of paper and stickers finish off the inside.

Ins and Outs ~ Worm Graduate
Stamps: Digi Doodles Bookworm
Paper: SU, DCWV, OTC
Ink: Laser Printer; Copics (Worm: Y11, 15, 19; Book: B21, 24, 28, E41, 43; Apple: G12, 14, 17, R20, 24, 29); Gold Marker
Accessories: Creative Memories Corner Rounder, Ribbon