Mother's Day Card, take 2

Happy Wednesday.  Today's card came together from a few different sources of inspirations...  I loved Lynn's card and since I'd sent her that letterpress piece I went digging through my pile of scraps and found the base for this card.  Then I saw the Moxie Fab Card Creations "Damask & Brocade Challenge" and thought this would be perfect.  And lastly since ~amy~ was talking about not mailing cards (birthday cards) on time, I thought perfect, I'll make a Mother's Day for my grandmother (who funded our int'l airplane tickets to Africa, so of course she needs to be celebrated) and I'll actually mail it so it gets there on time, thanks ~amy~ for the motivation.

And then, since I was thinking of ~amy~ I decided to play along with the latest Flashback Friday, which is to repost your first butterfly card.  I posted this card in May 2010, which reminds me that I sorta forgot my blog's birthday, perhaps I should have a belated blog birthday party?

And last, but not least... while we're celebrating my grandmother, Mr. Ben decided to get crafty with some goodies that Yvonne sent him (let's just say there's a bit of this glitter all over my desk, I can only imagine if Mr. Josh gets his hands on it, eek).  Because Ben likes Yvonne's challenges he opted for the "monogram and flowers" inspiration from Virginia's guest challenge (there's so many possibilities, come check out all her fun ideas).  And since Virginia is an SRM gal I thought she'd like the "P Love" part of the card (my grandmother's name is Peggy and Ben sent this as a thank you card for some recent goodies- ~amy~ be proud, it's in the envelope with first card, so we got a two in one!).

Materials: PTI Rosie Posie flower and die, PTI Fillable Frames sentiment, Lifestyle Crafts Letterpress background, Tim Holtz ornamental die, vellum, Lifestyle Crafts silver letterpress ink, Versafine black ink, Hero Arts pink ink, Stampendous clear embossing powder, vellum, watercolor paper, Stampin Up pink card stock, Recollections Rhinestones

Flashback Friday card

The Flashback Friday crew is celebrating a big 20th challenge, with a big huge giveaway.  It's been on my to do to search back for a black and white card, but you know how life gets?  Anyway, here's a card I posted in June 2010 for a Card Patterns sketch.  If you read the original post you'll see that I was upcycling the patterned paper my mom bought for my younger's son's change table when he was born. 

And since the card has a trailer on it, why not share a couple of photos from our recent camping trip in Calistoga.  Our vintage trailer got a few looks amongst the parking lot of large RVs.

 

Thanks for looking... I'm having a day where I want to say thanks and love you to everyone I know... my sister was with a group in a back country skiing avalanche today, click here to read the article, and while she and her fiance are okay, it's so heartbreaking to think of her friends that she lost today.

Wine labels and CAS flashback

More wine labels, I know, I know, but I'm half way through my order...  the first wine label uses a fun chipboard flower from a Basic Grey kit for the CAS-ual Fridays and Lily Pad Cards challenges.

 

And this fun label is for the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge and Lawnscaping birthday challenge. I made this wine label for the Paper Smooches challenges and when I embossed the sentiments the first time I melted the red one on the bottom, so I did it again and got it right.  Since I have a very messy desk the "damaged" one was still floating around, so I chopped off the bottom and made another label.  

This card is for the Flashback Friday, post your first CAS card.  This was one of the first cards I blogged.  I should pull out that punch again...  Happy Monday everyone!

Materials: Gracias Hostess label: PTI Gracias Vases sentiment, Unity stitching stamp, Basic Grey Olivia chipboard, Little Yellow Bicycle tape, PTI kraft card stock, black card stock, Coredinations card stock, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, Tattered Angels black mist, PTI limitless layers 1 3/4th inch die, EK Success corner rounder


Celebrate label: Paper Smooches sentiment sampler, Unity birthday cake, PTI white card stock, vellum, Twinery twine, Tatttered Angels black mist, Tim Holtz distress inks: faded jeans, tumbled glass, shabby shutters, evergreen bough, mustard seed, ripe persimmons, Making Memories Eyelets, Stampendous clear embossing powder, Spellbinders circle die, Spellbinders Label Eight, PTI edgers die, Versafine black ink


Today is your day: Hero Arts sentiment, Paper Source punch, Stampin Up designer paper and red card stock, Fiskars rotary cutter with scallop cutter, Versacolor red ink

Super Sunday

Welcome to another 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday, this week's sketch inspired me to make a Christmas card (something I do not feel inspired to do often).  Part of the inspiration was all those amazing cards over at the Cards that Care blog hop.  Does anyone else have a blog hop hangover?  I tried, I really tried, but between the Young Crafters Unite, the Cards that Care and the Handmade Holidays Hop I ran out of steam.  But back to today's projects...   The first take on the sketch uses more traditional Christmas cards, so I'll send it to Jennifer for her Cards that Care drive and ABC Toys and Craft Christmas card challenge.  The second take on the sketch was my attempt at this week's Play Date Cafe colors, it's the Tim Holtz Distress ink worn lipstick, which should've looked a bit more pink, but looks pretty red in this photo.  I tried ladies.  

I went to a 40th birthday party last night for a friend and about half an hour before we were set to go I realized that I didn't have the right card, so based on the success on this wine label for Karen's birthday, I quickly made up another one.    Being a birthday boy, it works well for the Young Crafters Unite "create a masculine project" and the Wee Memories "Handmade Gifts, tags and Wrap", I think wine tags are going to be my go to birthday project from here on out.  And to think these have been inspired by the PTI wine label die, which is still on back order!  Perhaps I don't need the die after all?

 

 

Next up is an oldie but a goodie...  The talented Amy is celebrated her 4th blog birthday and wants everyone to link up to her Flashback Friday challenge of post your first banner.  I don't think I've ever made an actual banner, but this background banner was on this birthday card from May 2010.  And the card was so lonely without a single comment, that Ms. Amy left some love this morning, ah...  what a fabulous friend.

Materials: Peace/Love/Joy One Layer: PTI Mehndi Medallion, PTI Thing Big Favorites #9, Tim Holtz distress ink shabby shutters, Brillance Rocket Red ink, Versafine black ink  Fiskars corner rounder punch

Peace/Love/Joy: PTI Mehndi Medallion, PTI Thing Big Favorites #9, Tim Holtz distress ink shabby shutters and worn lipstick, Versafine black ink  Fiskars corner rounder punch, grey embroidery floss

Wine tag: Skipping Stones Grunge background, PTI Big Birthday Wishes, PTI By the Numbers die, PTI Mat Stack 1 dies, spellbinders circle scallop die, Fiskars corner rounder punch,  PTI kraft card stock, Core'dinations card stock, Smooch Navy Twinkle, Stampendous clear embossing power, Versafine black ink, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Gathered twigs

Owl card: Hero Arts digital owl, ribbon, colored pencils, ribbon and paper from my stash

fall friend

Fall is definitely in the air here, so excited!  I've got an order to make some fall cards for a friend, so I really should get cracking on some of those.  Hero Arts is celebrating fall this month and this card uses the Designer Friend leaf stamp.  I've also used a loose take on this week's Card Patterns sketch, I tried and tried to incorporate the two little tabs and it didn't work, so I'm going with the CAS style.  It's hard to see in this photo but I used the eyelet punch to create mini holes in the two corners, I swore off using the actual mini eyelets after one too many frustrating attempts months ago, so I've just got holes.

And since the current Flashback Friday is to repost your first fall card I pulled out this one (using the same stamp!).  I made this card in May 2010 for one of the Play Date Cafe color challenges.

And least but not last... I wanted to share some storage ideas... I posted a photo of my very messy desk last week and somehow inspired Amy to do a bit of a clean up... thanks Amy for the added motivation, because a clean up was indeed in order over here.  I recruited a little helper, because he's actually quite good at cleaning up if he's motivated.  He came in, took charge and somehow I managed to find the floor, desk and make some order in the drawers.  Here are Ben's top craft room organization tips: 1) turn off the computer, 2) don't get sucked into to making cards and 3) just put it away.  Here are some photos...

Before

After

 This is a peek in the drawer with my dies, normally I just chuck them in the drawer (as seen on the top), but I've got these fabulous magnet holders that Ayana has mentioned once before, so my tip is to actually use them!

Scrap folder

Scrap Organizer

So I've got lots of fabulous scraps and heaven forbid you should get rid of them, but I'm not very good about filing them away in my scrap binder,  but tip #2, recruit helpers!  The clear sleeves are great for finding the perfect color.

And the final result!  A clean desk (and floor) just in time for my grandma's visit!  Woo hoo!  I'll add this to "What's On Tap Tuesday" since I was brave and posted the before photo here.

Materials: Hero Arts Designer Friend, Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder, Tim Holtz Distress ink mustard seed and fired brick, Versacolor Orange ink, May Arts burlap twine, Making Memories eyelet punch

Flashback Friday Gift Card Holder

The current Flashback Friday is to repost your first gift card holder and I made this little one last August when WMS was having a template challenge.  Thanks Lynn for the motivator to post this... I was going to take a blogging day off as I've been making lots of cards lately and really should get a few more things done... but, oh well, there's always tomorrow right?

Materials: Anna Griffin patterned paper, recycle bag, PTI Daily Designs sentiment, Stampin Up black ink, Cosmo Cricket Early Riser sticker, Bic marker

Happy Spring

This week's Off the Wall Craftiness colors were hard for me.  I like red, yellow and green and somehow when I tried to put them all together I had a bit of trouble.  I took inspiration from the red polka dot high heel and added a tiny bit of color for a mini happy spring card.  It would be a nice gift card or something...  Now off to go play in the sunshine....

And since Kim & Jenny are "in real life" friends, I thought I'd enter this card in the Wee Memories anything goes challenge.  

And since I've been following Amy's blog for some time I thought it would be fun to finally throw my hat in on one of her super fun Flashback Friday Challenges.  The current challenge is to repost your first window card.  The card below uses a Paper Source cupcake punch and it's peaking through to a fun piece of Stampin Up designer paper (which (hint hint) is similar to the prize if anyone wants to get in on the fun).  This was my first card that I entered for the CAS-tastic Wednesday challenge, and therefore led me to some fabulous blogging pals!  

Materials: PTI Mat Stack 4 Collection, PTI Tag-Its 2 frame and sentiment and Easter Eggs, Brillance Rocket Red ink, Versafine black ink, green and yellow scraps from my stash, EK Success 1 3/4th ink circle punch, PTI Mat Stack 4 die

Flash back card: Paper Source cupcake punch, Hero Arts clear design sentiment, Fiskars rotary scallop cutter, Stampin Up red riding hood red card stock, Stampin Up Designer paper