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CAS-ual Friday Challenge

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This week's challenge at CAS-ual Fridays was to create a CAS card with the following element:

1. A Pattern
2.  An Image
3.  A Sentiment

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I needed a couple more cards for guys and made two of the same card. I chose the chevron pattern from a new Echo Park paper from the Style Essentials line. The image is a cute camera from Studio Calico and I created the sentiment on the computer with the American Typewriter font. I added the heart to add a touch of color to the card. Since they are both going to relatives, the heart was perfectly appropriate.

PicturePerfect

I love this chevron pattern and wish I'd purchased several sheets of it!

Babies!

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This week a good friend and his wife had a tiny baby—just 3 pounds, 7 ounces. She's doing great, though, and I couldn't wait to go buy some little baby clothes. While I was there, of course, I had some other babies in mind as well. I still want to buy little Chloe a few more things, but I was only allowed to use one coupon at a time, so I'll go back in a day or two to use my $10 off coupon. Look at the difference between the premies on the right, and the three month size in the middle! The dress for Skylar is 9 months because I know she has plenty of clothes for the next few months.

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Here's the card for Chloe.

WelcomeChloe

I think the tag came from Paper Source many years ago. The papers are old Jillibean from my scrap drawer as is the ribbon. The flower is a new one from Pebbles, the stamp from Fillable Frames Additions 2 (PTI), and the die cut alpha is also Papertrey Ink. The wide pink ribbon is May Arts (I think) that I ordered from Emma's Paperie. The border punch is American Crafts.

At the end of the month, I'm going to Buffalo to a baby shower for one of my best friend's daughter-in-law. They're expecting a boy and doing a baseball theme in the nursery. I based this on a card Debbie Olsen did a long time ago, and was really pleased with how it came out. 

BabyBaseball

I used Papertrey's Banner Builders to create the pennants with scraps in my "baby drawer" and Pure Poppy cardstock. "BABY" was stamped with the PTI "Fresh" alphabet, and the baseballs were cut from a piece of patterned paper from Michael's. Also from Papertrey is the twine, the patterned paper (Bitty Stars), cardstock (Pure Poppy, Blueberry Sky and Select White), and the sentiment (Bitty Baby Blessings).

 

Cards for Guys

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Three of my family members (all guys) have March birthdays. The first is one that I'm linking with the CAS-ual Friday where the challenge is to make the sentiment front and center.

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And here's my card for Tracy's St.Patrick's Day birthday. He's been warned to stay off the blog. I love the sentiments in the new Papertrey Ink "Movers and Shakers" set. The inside sentiment is just as great. All papers are Papertrey Ink as well as the Woodgrain Impression Plate.

TOWBD

The next card is for my niece's finance. One of our big events this summer is their wedding in Hyde Park. I'm already looking forward to it. The papers here are old Cosmo Cricket "Boyfriend." The frame, sentiment, and circle border die are all Papertrey Ink.

TomHB

Last is the card for my BIL. We'll be celebrating his and Tracy's birthday at Tavern 58 the night before Tom's birthday, so I can hand deliver this one. The Houndstooth stamp, circle border and sentiment are, again, from Papertrey Ink. I used three different circle punches to create the tag.

StarCard

 

Birthday Cards

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I'm in need of some birthday cards. The other night while I was watching NCAA basketball (both men and women) I got a start. I still need a group of cards for guys. Fortunately, there's a lot of college basketball on now as March Madness gets underway. I've been a fan of college basketball ever since my childhood when my dad was on the faculty of Ohio State. He had faculty seats for every home game, and we were often there. OSU was in their heyday in the 60's. Lots of the players I watched then became NBA stars and college coaches. No one else in my family has any interest, so I can watch in my studio and create at the same time.

I got a chance to play with some new stamps and papers, too.

WishingYou

A very simple card. I cut out a section of the hexagon paper from a new paper pad, "Be Happy," by MME, tied a silk ribbon (Papertrey) behind it and stamped the sentiment (Impress).

RosyPosy

This card uses some new papers by Echo Park, some new Papertrey Ink stamps (Rosie Posie, Pretty Peonies, and a sentiment from Fillable Frames #4). The pearls are from Michaels.

PrettyPeony

I lifted the design for this card from Ashley Cannon Newell. The patterned paper is an older Cosmo Cricket (DeLovely), and the stamps are from the PTI anniversary set, Pretty Peonies.

Our beautiful spring day yesterday (record high of 67°) is long gone today. It's been like a roller coaster here, and the long range forecast calls for more of the same. I can live with that since every now and then we're getting a taste of spring. Yesterday I sorted through all of my spring and summer clothes and donated about 1/3 of them. Since I've been retired I don't wear many skirts, and didn't need anywhere near the number of slacks I owned. It felt good to clean out, and I now have a very short list of things I need. 

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge: Part 6

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There was no way I could pass up the most recent challenge at Papertrey Ink:  use hearts. I think this is my last valentine, and just in time!

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I punched hearts from Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz, and Hibiscus papers, and added a sentiment from "Sending You."

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge: Part 4

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One of the big announcements at Papertrey Ink today as part of their 5th anniversary celebration was the creation of Pinterest boards with cards by the design team, organized by theme. I was delighted to see this so I don't have to hunt through the gallery looking for card ideas for specific stamp sets or occasions. The challenge today was to take a piece of inspiration from Pinterest or use the inspiration piece chosen by one of the designers. My schedule was packed today, so I knew not to head over to Pinterest where you can literally spend hours without thinking about it. And once again, I was looking for some inspiration that would lead to another valentine. I found it on Lisa Johnson's blog. Here's her inspiration piece:

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It took three tries before I ended up with a card I liked, but this might be my favorite valentine yet. I do love a black, red, and white combination.

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Everything is by Papertrey Ink except the heart cut from a Nestability.

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge: Part 3

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Today was a color challenge at Papertrey Ink. I was determined to get another valentine made, but the color combinations were truly a challenge. I ended up using Lisa's colors.

ColorCombo

I punched three borders with the heart border punch (PTI) from  Pure Poppy and Aqua Mist. Then I die cut a spiral notebook page (PTI) with Classic Kraft and stamped a sentiment from Tiny Treats: Valentines. The patterned paper (Making Memories) had three of the colors in it so I decided it was a go, and cut it with a Nestability Hearts. I added a Kaiser Kraft rhinestone that matches the aqua mist to the center of one of the flowers. The best thing about this challenge is that I kept going and got two more valentines made which I'll post once the recipients get them.

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My friend, Nancy, and I are off to see The Artist in a few minutes. Another friend recommended it highly.

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge: Part 2

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Today the designers at Papertrey created a set of printables to be used on cards. I loved the little toaster and the sentiment suggestions by Lexi Daly. Since I haven't started making valentines yet, this was a perfect opportunity.

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Cardstock:  Select White PTI, Memory Box (red) & silver metallic Paper Source; patterned paper: Simple Valentine PTI; heart punch: EK Success; heart gem: A Muse; Prisma colored pencils; font:  CK Rugged.

I'm off to a Camera Rochester meeting, and still need to finish my layout for today's L.O.A.D. It's all arranged; just needs to be glued down.

Papertrey Ink’s 5th Anniversary: Challenge 1

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It's not often I post twice in a day but I'll actually be posting three times before it's over since my yellow post for Project 64 needs to be up in just a few hours. This second post is for the first of the anniversary challenges at Papertrey Ink. The challenge was to choose one of the design team's favorite cards and use it as inspiration. As soon as I saw Ashley Cannon Newell's card I knew it would be a perfect design for a baby card I needed to get in the mail. You can see her card here.

WelcomeBaby

I stayed with her banner and basic card design, but used patterned paper instead of stamping the background myself. I love Papertrey's Tiny Tags and Banner Builder dies and they were perfect for this card. I also used patterned papers from PTI: Tiny Stars and Bitty Box Basics, and the stamps from Round and Round and Tiny Tags. The ribbon is from Paper Source, and the pins and button are from my stash.

 

Home

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I must admit that leaving Oregon was MUCH harder than I expected it to be, and I never thought it would be easy. Fortunately, we already have our next trip planned, so that makes it a bit easier. For the first time in several trips we actually got home on time, despite a long delay leaving Medford. So here we are, a bit jet-lagged trying to get ourselves back into some semblance of routines. I've cleaned our basement pantry since we returned and done a huge grocery/pantry shopping. Today was filled with appointments and commitments, and tomorrow doesn't look a lot better.

But what I really want to do is get busy in my studio. I have over 100 photos of the baby to edit. (Don't worry, you won't be subjected to all of them!) I started working on Finding Photo Flow, an online course by Kayla Lamoreaux, while we were away and which I can already recommend. I really need to get through the next lesson soon. Then in just a week or so, two new courses begin:  a BPC class on type with Cathy Z. and a class by Amy Tan at Studio Calico on stretching your scrapbook kits.

January is a month filled with birthdays. I got most of them made ahead of time so I could mail them from Oregon. Most of them are for guys, so I made a set of cards with a new Hero Art set I picked up in Buffalo earlier in the month. 

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All four cards were made with small ready-made cards from Paper Source, the new Hero Arts "Past Times," "Simple Sentiments" by Papertrey Ink, and patterned papers from the "Funday" paper pad by My Mind's Eye. The tags are from my stash, and I wish I knew where to get some more of them.

And because I'd hate to leave you without a baby photo or two, here are two favorites. The first one Adam took with Caleb in one hand and his Rebel in the other. Nothing I'd ever be able to do, and I just love how it came out.

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And one of Sarah and Caleb:

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He's so tiny now, but he gained over a pound in the second week we were there, so I know he's not going to be tiny for long.

CAS-ual Friday Challenge

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One of my intentions this year is to limit the number of card-making challenges I read each week. I chose five to check each week, and here's my interpretation of the CAS-ual Friday challenge to use brown paper and string. I need several birthday cards for men this month so this was a perfect combination.

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The first card uses a sticker from Imaginisce that I knew I'd use either for cards or for a travel page in a scrapbook. I adhered it to a Hero Arts card, and stamped the banner and the sentiment from Papertrey Ink's "Fly Away" sent, attaching them with some twine. The twine and Scarlet Jewel button are also from Papertrey Ink.

The next card is for my nephew's 40th birthday this week. 

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This is a really CAS card that reads inside "looks good on you!" I die cut the numbers from MME's "Fun Day" paper pack with Papertrey's By the Number dies and layered them on the Mat Stack #3 die cut from a dark brown scrap in my scrap file. I inked the edges with the Tea Dye ink from Papertrey.

 

 

Before the Old Year Slips Away

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I'm trying to organize my folders and prepare for the photographs and challenges of the new year. In the process I found some projects I created recently that were never posted so before the year slips away, here they are. A tag I created with a Maya Road chipboard house and Tim Holtz distress inks for a house-warming gift I gave Sarah last month.

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Although I created some gift-specific tags (you'll see those in an upcoming JYC post), here are the bulk tags I created this year with my Silhouette. The white dots are a glitter pen, and the recipient's name was written in white. I wrap all my gifts in red and white paper so they worked for any gift.

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And a group of thank you cards. The first with one of my favorite dies by Memory Box.

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A thank you note created with LifeStyle Crafts wreath die.

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Three thank you cards with the delightful dies "In the Meadow" by Papertrey Ink, inspired by a home decor project created by Melissa Philips.

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A birthday card for a friend, using the "Friends Til the End" and "Birthday Bash Sentiments" stamps by Papertrey Ink.

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And finally, I want to share a beautiful work of art by Cheri. I received this in the midst of our kitchen remodeling, and set it on a shelf in my studio. One day while they were working on the new window, everything on that wall fell off and hit the floor. Fortunately, nothing was damaged, but I piled it all up and this wonderful canvas was "lost" in the pile until recently when I got it all back where it belongs. Thanks, Cheri. It's one of my favorite quotes, and a lovely reminder of the wonderful relationships I've made through blogging.

Cheri'sArt

December Papertrey Blog Hop

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I missed last month's blog hop because we were traveling, so I really wanted to participate in today's. Fortunately, we have NOTHING planned for the day after Christmas so I had time to make a card. The challenge this month for the Papertrey Blog Hop was to use  any of the wrapping paper, bows, ribbon, tags, canceled postage from holiday cards you have received, photos from holiday cards and anything else you might have laying around after the holiday preparations have ended. I decided to use some of the wrapping paper and twine I used on the package and try the technique Maile posted here on her blog a week or so ago. Here's what I came up with.

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I ran a piece of cardstock through my Xyron and laid strips of wrapping paper down, then used the diecut from Love Lives Here:  Holiday to cut out the mittens. I added some white Liquid Applique to the top of both mittens and then a bit of glittery Stickles. The evergreen boughs were stamped with Love Lives Here:  Holiday and the sentiment was a surprise gift from PTI in my December order. Perfect for the thank you notes I need to write. The heart was punched from a piece of the prepared cardstock and I used the same twine I used to attach tags to my packages to attach the mittens.

Here's a close-up:

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Hope you had a wonderful holiday! We had tremendous fun at last night's family celebration, and we're resting up today.

Needing Some Christmas Cheer

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It's been a couple of tough weeks around here. One friend is home recuperating from a masectomy, another friend had surgery (more to come, perhaps) following a life-threatening fall, and yesterday one of my dearest friends received a diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor. She went to the ER on Sunday with flu-like symtoms and the tumor was discovered on a CAT scan. Who knows how long she might have walked around with this without knowing had she not gotten some kind of infection. Prayers for all of them would be appreciated!

I do have some Christmas crafts to share when there's time again to ready them for the blog, but for today, here are the last two projects I've posted at the Scrap-Mart blog. My time on the DT has come to an end. I've really enjoyed my association with all the wonderful folks there, especially Katie, who is a fantastic DT Coordinator.

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A wintery card made with Canvas Corps and Heartfelt Creations products.

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This was made with October Afternoon's Holdiay Style papers and snowflake stickers, and a new LifeStyle Crafts Snowflake border die, which was just perfect for this layout. I hid the jounaling on a stamped journaling card, since there wasn't a good place for it on the layout.

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In all the rush and busyness of the last few days before Christmas, don't forget to take time to hug all those closest to you, and tell them you love them! 

Christmas Blog Hop at Scrap-Mart

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Tomorrow is the beginning of the second annual Christmas Blog Hop at Scrap-Mart. You won't want to miss it. 

Scrap-Mart has teamed up with these fabulous manufacturers to bring you a week long blog hop dedicated to Christmas-themed projects!

Boss Kut

October Afternoon

The Rubber Cafe

Canvas Corp

Heartfelt Creations (Dec. 7th)

Want2Scrap

LaLa Land Crafts

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Each of the generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way so be sure visit and complete the hop each day from Dec. 5th through Dec. 10th to be eligible to win.

And generous is right! When I returned home this week there were two packages waiting for me filled with goodies from Canvas Corp, October Afternoon, and Heartfelt Creations as well as some great dies from LifeStyle Crafts. I had such fun yesterday creating with these fabulous products. I thought I'd share a non-traditional Christmas card with you.

ReindeerCard

I love this reindeer die from Lifestyle Crafts (there’s also a sleigh that comes with it). Once I cut it from felt, I loved the way it looked on one of Canvas Corp’s Burlap Minis. Canvas Corp also has these wonderful card sets, and although it’s not a traditionally Christmas pattern, I really liked how the card came together. The green twill is from my stash, but the sentiment strip is another from the October Afternoon Holiday Style collection. It's a perfect card for one of my many single men neighbors.