Too Beautiful for Earth

I originally intended to make this card as a sympathy card for a friend who lost his father but I have to admit I love this stamp too much to use on something that will likely get tossed (normally doesn't bother me but this one did).  So instead I decided to switch it up and use it for the Unity Color Challenge instead.  I love how the image turned out but I wasn't a fan of the ink, I borrowed it from a friend at a crop because I forgot my black (gasp) and while she is a stamper herself I have no idea how she doesn't get blurred lines.  I decided to work with it though and purposely blurred the grass at the bottom.

 

 

Supplies used: Unity Stamps Too Beautiful for Earth, EP Spring Time 6x6, Shinhan Twin Touch Markers, Stickles

Thank you Sensei

I made this card for my daughters awesome Karate Sensei, he leads the Karate for Christ program in our area and despite some setbacks to the program from outsiders he has never given up on his passion. They have almost 100 people in the program right now and its a great ministry which has seen a huge growth.  The amount of time he spends teaching the kids and then training the leaders is astounding (3 nights a week for several hours).  My husband started as a leader this year and since I don't know karate this was my contribution (plus we wanted to let him know how much we appreciate his passion and dedication)  

On the inside I stamped a Unity Sentiment and cut it out but I loved this little karate girl stamp and this was the perfect use for it.

Supplies used: Unity Stamps, MFT Stamps, EP PAper, Distress Ink

Volunteer Thank You

I made these cards to go with a small gift that I will be giving to the volunteers in the Preschool Class I teach at church.  I will post the gift after this week (no sneak peaks) but I wanted to make a nice thank you card to go with the gift to let them know how appreciated they are.  I love teaching the 2 and 3 year olds but lets be honest it can be a challenging age group and these are people who actually want to be there and I can't thank them enough for making a difference in the life of a small child.

Supplies used: EP Be Mine Paper, Spellbinders Blossom 2, Spellbinders SW Blossom Tags and Accents, Unity Stamps Blossom Stackers. Distress Ink, Bling

Gate Fold Card

This is a quick gate fold card I made for my daughter's lunch.  She loves getting little cards in her lunch and it gives me a way to use up some scraps.  I bought this set from Unity to specifically make cards for lunches as it just seemed like the perfect set.

Supplies used: Unity Stamps Hearty Bartly, EP Good Life Paper, Spellbinders Ovals, Spellbinders Large Scallop Ovals

DYI Shadow Box

Our May theme for the Crop Chocolate DT was switcheroo.  I was on the Cards/Layout team and I decided to make a chipboard shadow box.  I had a lot of fun making this and my daughter has it proudly displayed in her room.  This is definetely something different for me but I love how it turned out.

Supplies used: EP Be Mine, Spellbinders Lacey Squares, Washi Tape, Acetate

My Sweet Sammy -Pleated Heart

This project is a layout I created for the Fur Baby Love theme at Crop Chocolate.  I was "inspired" when I saw my daughter looking at a card she had created for her cat (he passed away a few months ago), I was working a few feet away from her and she said in a small quiet voice "oh Sammy, if only you knew how much I missed you".  It took everything I had not to cry myself and I waited for her to finish with her private moment and we had a good talk.  I wanted to hug her right away but I could tell she thought she was alone and I wanted to give her some privacy.

This was such a tough layout to do and the journalling was the hardest, I really need to redo it to make it neater but I get so teary that I keep putting it off.  She was so heart broken and as a parent it was one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with (there is no making it better).

Doing the layout and journalling really helped her and I am glad I did it.  Looking at the pictures its hard not to feel a bit sorry for the cat but they were very close.  He always slept with her in her bed and tolerated her "love" when she was younger.  It was months before she stopped missing him at bed time, he was always there when she woke up.  He was such a patient cat and he is missed very much by everyone but especially by my daughter.

Here is a tutorial for the pleated heart

Step 1.  Cut a piece of paper 1 3/4" x 6" and draw a shape similar to the picture (just free hand it), this will be your template

 Step 2.  Cut out the shape

 Step 3. Take a 1 3/4" x 12" piece of paper and fold in half, trace the template on to this paper, make sure the fold is lined up on the dip part (see picture) 

Step 4. Cut out the shape and unfold

 Step 5: Take the paper and score it every 1/4"  

Step 6. Attach the ends together then push the shape together and glue it to a heart shape as the base

 Step 7.  Embellish as desired 

Supplies used:

• EP Love Story
• Black Soot Distress Ink
• Fired Brick Distress Ink
• Cameo
• Spellbinders Scallop hearts
• Charcol Twine
• Red Cardstock
• Scotch Quick Dry Glue
• Washi Tape

Christmas Cards

Now that Christmas is over I can post the cards I made.  These gatefold cards are my go to card when I need to make a lot of cards and have no time to do so.  I hope you all had a great holiday and that next year is a great one for you.  Here is my Christmas card for this year

Inside of the card

 



Supplies used:

• EP Holly Jolly
• CTMH Ink
• Hero Arts Stamps
• Spellbinders Large Scallop Ovals
• Spellbinders Regular Scallop Ovals

OWH-Blog Challenges

I have been busy getting some cards done for the OWH blog hop that CC is hosting.  With the exception of one card that used the EP Be Mine paper they were all made using EP Life is Good paper collection.  I got a few sheets in a CC grab bag on my last order and after seeing Nina's challenge to use one collection I decided to make the majority of cards with that collection (except for Chris's card at the bottom).  It made it easy to mix and match patterns and scraps, as a result I have none left which is a good thing.  Another decision I made was to use one main card style and stamp.  I wanted to make sure the cards had lots of room to write in and because I couldn't use some of my usual embellishments I thought a gate fold card would be nice.

Belle

Brenna

*you can see it in the card but I put an embossed transparency over top the paper for a clear embossed feel

Brittany

 Jenni

 Julie

 Kathy

 Miwa

 Nina

Chris

Products used

• EP Life is good paper
• EP Be mine paper
• Spellbinders ovals
• Spellbinders Jumbo Scallop Ovals large
• Spellbinders Scallop Squares
• Cherrylynn dies butterflies
• Prima daisy flowers

Operation Write Home-Amber's Challenge

Go check out the latest blog hop at Crop Chocolate, they are hosting a Operation Write Home blog hop (OWH).  I will be posting cards for the blog hop throughout the week as time permits but its a great cause and I encourage everyone to try and do just a little something.  I remember when I was pregnant with my son, so many of the pregnant mom's had their husbands overseas for a deployment and it broke my heart to imagine what they were going through on their own.  The families make such a sacrifice and a nice handmade card from their loved one is a small thing for me to do.  Here is the first challenge I am entering at Amber's blog.  We had to use this sketch and here is what I came up with.

Supplies used:

EP Goodlife Paper

Spellbinders lacey circles

Doodle Bug Birthday Stamps

Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink

Frist Day of School Card

We just got back from a trip so its been a bit crazy, I have a few things in the works but until then I just realized I forgot to post this card.  I made it for a crop chocolate challenge but it was also for my daughter's first day of grade one.  The challenge was to create something with only one color (black did not count).  I made this quick card for her and put it with her lunch, she was really excited when she got home.  She loves getting cards, and I wanted to remind her to have fun at school since she was so nervous. 

Products used:

• MME Lush
• EP Springtime
• MM Glitter Alpha
• Spellbinders Lacey Circles

Happy Anniversary

I made this anniversary card for my very sweet and wonderful husband.  We recently celebrated out 13th anniversary.  Time really does fly, I can't believe that it has been 13 years since the day we got married.
I still remember that day like it was yesterday, we had so much fun.  My sweet husband also made me a card but I have to take some pictures first.  I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband, I look forward to the rest of our lives together.

Supplies:
EP Be Mine
Spellbinders Classic Heart
Spellbinders Scallop Hearts
MM Bling letters
Coredinations Pearl Paper
Sew Easy Floss

Core'dinations Hard Core Crop Die Cut Challenge

I made this easel card for the Core'dinations hard core crop.  This was for Andrea's challenge, the challenge was to create a layered and dimensional die cut with Core'dinations paper.  I made the flower from some purple Core'dinations I had and then embossed and sanded to get the other color to come through.  If you haven't used their card stock before you should.  It is very heavy but has the added benefit of a different color once you sand the surface.

Easel Card

Close up of the flower

Closeup of the bottom

Supplies:
Core'dinations card stock
Spellbinders Blossom 2
Spellbinders Floral Doiley Accents
EP Springtime Paper
Twine
Pearls

Tri Shutter Card

I made this card for the latest challenge at Crop Chocolate, its called a tri shutter card and her is the tutorial I made for it. The current challenge is to use two different paper lines, have three folds, and be spring themed (you have till May 2nd to enter).  This card lends it self to these requirements since you need a couple of different papers and it has lots of folds.  I love making these cards and I might end up making a few more since I don't want to give this one away.

Card Front

Card Back (the white spot is to write a message)

Card Open

Supplies Used

• Spellbinders Flying Beauties
• Spellbinders Butterflies 2
• Spellbinders Labels 14
• EP Sprintime 6x6
• EP Be Mine 6x6

Dhalia Flower Tutorial

I made some of these Dahlia flowers for a few recent cards and the ladies at Crop Chocolate requested a tutorial so by popular request here it is.

Dahlia Fold Flower

Closeup of flower

Supplies

  

· 8 circles of the same size, they can be regular or scalloped (I used EP Springtime)

· 1 slightly larger circle

· Button or brad for the center

  

Instructions

  

1.  Take one of the circles and fold in half and crease2. Fold in half again but pinch on the outside edge, don’t crease, you are just marking where the quarter mark is.
2. Unfold the circle
3. Take the bottom right side and fold in towards the centre in between the quarter marks, repeat for the left side
4. Flip over and fold bottom right edge to the centre line, repeat for the left side
5. Repeat all steps for the other remaining 7 circles
6. Take the larger circle and fold in half and in half again (crease each fold)
7. Unfold the circle
8. Glue the first petal on the crease of one of the quarter marks, repeat for all the petals. Use the crease lines as your guide for the centre and to line up the petals
9. Add a button or brad to the centre.

Here is the video:

Valentines Heart Shaped Box

Its Valentines and we were challenge to come up with a project based on this picture

I decided to make a heart shaped box, I have always wanted to try one and I was really happy with how it turned out.   Head on over to crop chocolate for the video and a challenge based on this project.

Supplies

2- Large scallop shaped hearts 

1- Regular heart smaller than the scallop (this will be the base of the lid)

1-Regular heart smaller than all the rest (this will be the base of the bottom)

1-Strip of cardstock 2.5 x 8.5 (this may need to be longer depending on the size of your heart)

1-Strip of cardstock 1 x 10 (this may need to be longer depending on the size of the heart)

Instructions:

1.   Take the strip of each piece of cardstock and score it in half horizontally and a 1/2" on the vertical edge. 

2.   Crease the score marks with a bone folder.

3.   Take the long edge and cut small triangle pieces from the 1/2" edge.  This will leave small wedge shapes that will be used to wrap around the heart shapes.

4.   Do this for both pieces.

5.   Take the smallest heart and apply adhesive around the edge

6.   Wrap the 2.5" wide cardstock around the heart, attaching the little wedges to the adhesive.  

Hint: Start in the middle at the tip of the heart for a nice crisp fold

7    When you get the first side to the inside of the heart leave a small flap and fold it over, trim off any excess

8.   Repeat the same process for the second half of the heart and trim any excess

9.   Apply a small amount of adhesive to the small flap and adhere it to the other side.

10. Take the other regular heart and repeat steps 5-9 with the 1" strip of card stock

11. Apply adhesive to the bottom and top hearts and adhere to the scallop hearts

12.  Decorate and embelish as desired

Here is the video tutorial:


Supplies:

Flowers

Spellbinders Foliage

Cardstock

EP Be Mine Paper

MME Lush Brads

Old is new challenge

On the CC focus group we were challenged to create something with older out of date supplies.  I have to admit that some of the things that were mentioned I had never heard of.  I got started in 2007 and my old stuff consisted of CM shape maker tools which I hardly use but they are still going strong. I created a tag and I used an eyelet and twistel (I think it was old when I started lol).  The rest of the tag is more modern with MME Lush, EP Spring time, and MME Fine and Dandy stamps.  I had never used the twistel but I liked it and I think I am going to try it again.

Products used:

MME Lush

MME Fine and Dandy Stamps

MM Twistel

EP Spring Time

Happy Birthday Card

For the latest Crop Chocolate focus group project we had to do something with stitching.  I have never stitched on a project before and was really looking forward to trying it but my sewing machine was MIA.  I loaned it to someone and I wasn't able to get it back in time but I had a pack of stitched letters from a hot chocolate so I used those.  I used the MME flocked paper and EP Robins Egg card stock to make the base of the card.  Hopefully I can get my machine back soon because I had a really cool idea I wanted to try.

Products used:
MME Lush
EP Springtime Robins Egg Cardstock