More craftiness from yesterday

After making one challenge entry yesterday, I kind of kept going. And going. And going...

This card is intended for a friend's birthday. As she and I both love books (she's a librarian, so she kinda trumps me on the book love). It's also my entry to Lawnscaping's 'Favorite Things' challenge. What are my favorite things? Paper, books, stamps (Lawn Fawn!), and sweet embellishments. (The little orange rose for example, from Webster's Pages). Most everything on this card is Lawn Fawn Dewey Decimal. I 'stole' it from Scrapbooking Steals (seen a shopping trend?) and was thinking I'd end up making cards for this particular librarian friend...

Picture frame for the coworker of the significant other. She said 'animals', and so she receives.

I also did some serious craft area organization. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it!

Best Wishes and a triple-scoop of challenges

Since I have all this time on my hands (having been laid off, did I mention that?) I'm continuing with my personal challenge to use and do things that I don't normally do. Add two more challenges: I'm playing with Mojo Monday 309 (sketch) and Stamping Royalty 192 (patterned paper). I decided I'm going to use a coordinating patterns (does washi tape count?) and go as whole-hog as I can into freestyle collage. My friend Michelle is really good at this, particularly with combining patterns and adding dots in random places, which sets off my OCD sensor most of the time.

Bonus: these papers were a freebie from an Archivers deal I got forever ago. Shop the stash, y'all! The 'washi tape' on the bottom left is actually part of the paper. Even more fun: using coordinating colors I had no idea where or how they'd be used! (Looking at you Lawn Fawn Retro twine!)

ETA: Not-iPhone photo!

Supplies: Studio Calico 'Take Note' and Mr. Huey's 'Cameo; Bazzill Basics 'Vanilla Cream'; Anna Griffen 'Modern Graphic' stamps; Tsukineko VersaMagic 'Pink Grapefruit'; Ranger Distress Ink 'Antique Linen'; patterned Washi tape; 3D adhesive; My Mind's Eye 'Sky's the Limit' enamel dots; Hemptique and Lawn Fawn twine.

Love Is the Gift of Oneself

Rarely do I make a card from only one kit. I usually combine pieces from across lines. So I tried to do this from all in one. Bonus, it gets me to use the stickers with the kit, which again I rarely use—I'm after the papers and the stickers are just a bonus! This was all Teresa Collins Fabrications Linen. The sketch is from My Favorite Things, #139.

Birthdays everywhere!

Late August is full of birthdays, so it seems. I've got two friends in the need of cards. These came out way more colorful than I thought they would. I had planned on an all-white background, but the white sentiment and mostly white pastry-image squares were getting lost. So I busted out the spray inks (most of which I 'stole' from ScrapbookSteals.com) and got a little overzealous. I was a little overwhelmed at first, but I think it worked out. I decided to run with the color bomb, and I think the washi tape and pearls help!

Happy Birthday, RR and AS! Sorry if your cards are late. I've had one heck of a week!

Speedy Recovery, Dad

It's been forever since I've posted. It's not for lack of crafting, but for being crazy busy and under motivated! That's part of what happens when you blog for your day job, I guess—your own blog goes without.

Anyway, my father is having a valve replacement tomorrow, and the least I can do is make him a card. I noticed the sketch I liked for the idea I had—My Favorite Things 138—was still open for entrants. So the last thing I will do today is post this. I will rest as best I can then head to the hospital to sit with my mother for the interminable wait.

Recovery will take months. Hence, the turtle: slow and steady. 

Cherry Double-Z-Fold Birthday Card

I made this for a friend's birthday who loves all things red and retro/pinup (like Marilyn and her signature lipstick). I didn't think I could really achieve a pin-up look on a card, but I could go for red and (somewhat) retro! I used the double-z-fold tutorial from Splitcoaststampers. Here's the results.

Only thing I couldn't find links for was the Cherry paper by Recollections at Michaels and the inch wide pink satin ribbon was from my stash, possibly my mom's stash. Everything else is shown below!

Two Musical Cards

Two cards, two entirely different shapes, and (mostly) the same materials.

I was feeling the need to craft late one night, and the boyfriend and I were kinda grumpy, so I made him this card.

Layout is an older Mojo Monday, Mojo222. Papers: Dark and Medium Cadet Blue card stock; Ivory and Tan card stock; music paper from Hot Off The Press. Stamps: "Music" cling stamps by TPC Studio. Inks: Tsukineko StazOn in Timber Brown (images), Tsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop in Jumbo Java (distressing), and Clearsnap Smooch Pearlized Top Coat in Illuminate (highlights in horn). Dots: Sakura Gelly Roll Glaze Gloss in Orange.

The dots are the only thing I regret. I wish I had a Brown Glaze pen, but I don't. Also, either my StazOn wasn't very dry (and it should have been...) or Smooch inks will make StazOn bleed! You can kind of see where in the curve of the horn it started to pick up the brown. Disappointed if it's the Smooch... stupid if it was my fault!

On to the other card...

One of my better half's friends is just as musical as he is and it's her birthday today, so she's getting this card... as soon as we figure out where to mail it! I had leftovers lying about from the card I had made my boyfriend, so her card is rather similar, with some 'note-able' (ha ha!) exceptions:

No Smooch highlights. No Sakura pen dots. Brown border from K&Company Jubilee Adhesive Borders (they are not very sticky! you will need glue!). Watermarked sheet music is 'Music Score' by Stampendous with Tsukineko VersaMark. Sentiment from 'Greetings' clear stamps by TPC Studio. The layout is from Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #111.