Saving My...

 Twelve days ago, I completed the first step of a journey I never knew I wanted to take: I have completed the Standard Copic Certification!  I bought my first markers about a 18 months ago, thinking I wouldn't use them much.  I've never really enjoyed coloring stamped images much, but I have become a convert!  I plan to take the Intermediate Certification  later this year, but I want to practice more with the Standard techniques first.

I've been a little short on mojo lately, but needed to make a card for my friend's mom, and was directed to the 7 Kids Challenge Blog by another friend, so I thought I might as well use some of my new coloring skills!
I have to say that this was probably not a wise image to start with!  It's full of tiny little areas that are hard to color, so of course now it's a challenge for me.  I think I did pretty well for this being the first time I've colored this image, and I am definitely looking forward to improving my coloring abilities so I can really do this pretty Sarah Kay stamp justice!

Supplies used for this card:

• Stamp - Finn Whistling While He Works, Sarah Kay from Stampavie
• Papers - from my stash (discontinued Close To My Heart)
• Cricut cartridge - Elegant Edges (frame)
• Border Punch - Effervescence border punch, Fiskars
• Sentiment stamp - from my stash
• tulle, ricrac, twine, button, crochet flower, and tag - from my stash

I'm entering this in the Anything Goes challenge at 7 Kids Challenge Blog.  If you'd like to enter too, you have until 3/26!

Earlier this week on the Cutters Creek Design Team blog, Laura shared a beautiful card made with Ecstasy craft products, and I have some more.  My cards use a foil kit, which are not currently in the store.  Be sure to let Kim know if you'd like her to carry the foil styles; she's sure to be placing more order with EC based on customer interest!  The other Ecstasy Crafts items in the store are just as easy to put together, and come in a variety of styles.

Here are the three cards made from my kit.  I love the Victorian images, and the dimension really pops with these products.  Simply layer with the Joy! Foam Pads for a beautiful card.  The fact that they are so easy to put together is just a bonus!

The layered images are all numbered on the sheet so you know in what order to assemble them.  It's best to punch out only the layer you are ready to use.  When I was done assembling the images I simply matted them on coordinating cardstock.  I chose card bases to match, and sponged the edges of each with matching stamping ink.  I stamped on my sentiments and embossed with clear embossing powder.  An even faster alternative to stamping is the Starform Stickers & Peel Offs; there are a lot of different choices available.

I know the cards look great from the front, but I thought you'd like to see the dimension from an angle as well.  Just click on any picture to see it larger.  Each card has several layers; the boy & girl under the umbrella has six layers!

To see the designs currently available, visit Cutters Creek and click on the Ecstasy Crafts link.

I've been making the layouts from my Miracle kit (I'll post those later), and I had some leftovers I thought I would use for cards. Then today's Mojo Monday popped up, and the sketch was perfect! I changed only one thing: I put my sentiment inside a shaped frame, rather than having a separate shape and sentiment.

Here's my card:
I made a card base with some green CS from my stash. The rest of the papers, MyStickease, button, brads, and "irresistible" chipboard frame are all leftover pieces from the Miracle kit. (That's the National Scrapbook Month special from Close To My Heart, available until May 31st or while supplies last.) I also used natural color twill tape, and colored it using a sponge and Topiary ink pad. I distressed the edges of the papers using Bamboo ink and a sponge dauber. The border punch is from Stampin' Up! The sentiment stamp is from a discontinued
CTMH set.

This week's Mojo Monday sketch is:
If you want to play along, make sure you visit the Mojo Monday blog and link your card using Mr. Linky!

The first challenge for the Heart 2 Heart challenge blog has been posted, and I have managed to complete my entry! This challenge blog is manufacturer specific; they require you to use MOSTLY Close To My Heart products. Since I have a ton of it in my stash (I'm both a consultant AND a hoarder, lol) it will never be a problem for me!

Any-hoo, this week was a color challenge: Sunflower, Sweet Leaf, and Chocolate (or similar). I decided on a birthday card, and here's my entry:

I used regular cardstock in all three colors, and distressed the edges with direct-to-paper swiping with the ink pad in the same color. The base paper is random stamped CS, and the circle is pattern B&T Duos paper from the Emporium Creative Basics paper pack (back side). Stamp sets used are Playful Petals and For Every Occasion. I also used Sparkles and a brown corduroy brad (not CTMH). The sketch pattern I used is Bullseye from the Wishes book.

If you'd like to participate in this week's challenge, click here for their blog post.

Kayla is a 6yo girl with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. To make matters worse, her Daddy is also sick, with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. A fellow blogger is asking, on behalf of Kayla's family, that people take a few moments to send Kayla a card to cheer her up while she's stuck in the hospital.

I took less than 30 minutes this morning (would have been less, but my DD is home sick from school & wanted to make a card too!) and made this cute card to send to Kayla.

All of the papers are from Basic Grey's Oh Baby - Girl line, and the cat stamp is from Inkadinkadoo's clear Gemstone Cats set. I added adhesive rhinestones where the stamp indicates. The "smile" embellishment is from Making Memories.

I can't post Sarah's card for Kayla yet, as she has lots of stickles still drying! Will try to get that up later.

To read the full story on Kayla's family, and get the address to send Kayla a card, visit the My Organized Chaos blog. If you choose to participate, Thank You! I know it will make her day.

Just a quick FYI, I am still working on finishing the craft room reorganization. I've been making good progress, but it's hard to keep going when I have 3 kids who want to join me every time I go in there! Hope to be able to post results by the end of the week.

With the kids all in school, I finally have time to be able to commit to a regular blog hop! Since I love my Close To My Heart stamps, I've joined the CTMH Stamp of the Month blog hop. This month is a great Christmas set, with a really playful feel. It reminds me a little of Dr. Seuss, like the Who's tree in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas! So, without further ado, here's my entry into the world of blog hops:

Welcome to our Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

I based my card on the Midpoint pattern in our new Wishes book. The only stamp set used is Holiday Warmth, the October Stamp of the Month. Other supplies used are as follows:

• Creative Basics Jingle Collection (pattern papers & ribbon)
• Juniper, Tulip, White Daisy, and Blush cardstock
• Stamp Pads in Ponderosa Pine, Juniper, Creme Brulee, Tulip, and Hollyhock
• Glue Pen
• Prisma Glitter
• Spring Blossom brad assortment
• Clear Sparkles
• 3-D Foam Tape
  

I popped my matted image up on 3-D foam tape for extra dimension, and I added Prisma Glitter with a glue pen for extra sparkle.
I repeated the sparkly glitter on the inside of the card. (A visual repeat of the sentiment!) Don't forget to "sign" your cards on the back! There's a great star stamp in this set that's a perfect place to scribble your initials.

Now "Hop" on over to Debra's Blog to see her work!

If you get lost on the hop or find links that aren't working, click {here} for a complete list of participating blogs. There are actually three groups for this month's hop, so if you want to see TONS of great ideas, go to the previous link to hop through all three groups!

I've been working on a gift for a (nameless) friend, and now that it's pretty much done I have a bunch of scraps leftover. (I'll share pics of the gift later, after I give it!) So, I'm using some of them to add to my card stash; here are the first three I finished.

I used sketches from Jeanette Lynton's book Originals, modifying some, for all three card designs. (The book is available only through Close To My Heart consultants; contact me for more info.)

Papers and chipboard shapes are all from Basic Grey's "Sugared" line. I was using the 6x6 paper pad mostly, so the prints on these are smaller, and great for cards!

To make my plain white card bases coordinate better, I used a chocolate distressing ink pad from CTMH. Stamped sentiments are also from various CTMH stamp sets. Brads are Basic Grey, pink rhinestone is Darice, and ribbon (flower stem) is CTMH.

Cards like this are a great way to use your scraps, because you can piece together smaller bits to make a design. The background on the lower left card is actually two pieces of paper, since the center strip covers the join. Also, the red on the top card was too small to cover the entire front, so I just cut it with room for a border and inked the card base. There are tons of ways to use up your little pieces like this!