Oh Crab...

So many great challenges are happening this week and I want to play along with them all!!  :D  I know I won't get to spend all weekend in my craft space so I won't get to play along with them all so I knew I had to at least make one card tonight.  I narrowed down my choices and decided to use the sketch from CPS:

The inspiration photo from the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge:

I see distress, ocean theme, blues/greens, and that vertical stripe pattern

And finally, since they just arrived a couple of weeks back and I hadn't used them yet, I decided to make it with an acetate card which fits Young Crafters Unite's challenge:

Once that was all settled, I had a plan and attacked!!  Here's what I came up with - 

I found it a little difficult photographing it because I kept getting glares in the acetate.  I used some washi tape (which was my self challenge this week) for the vertical stripes on the circle.  The tape was actually a bright aqua color so I distressed it with some Vintage Photo ink and it toned it down giving it the look I wanted.  The crab is also colored with Distress Ink (Fired Brick and Worn Lipstick).

The waves are on glossy photo paper with some alcohol inks and a felt applicator.  I used Ranger's Stream, Meadow, and Snow Cap.  Then ran it through my Cuttlebug with the wave die... super simple!  I lined the front circle up with a circle I cut to fit right behind it - for a little more color and to cover my tape for both the inside and the outside.

The inside says "Belated Birthday Wishes."  I had no luck getting a picture of that, but it's a sentiment from Paper Smooches Word Salad set.

Have a crafty weekend!

--Angie

SUPPLIES - 

PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Office Max cardstock; glossy photo paper

STAMPS: Paper Smooches Word Salad and Chubby Chum Pals

INKS: Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Walnut Stain; Memento Tuxedo Black; Alcohol Inks by Ranger - Stream, Meadow, Snow Cap, and Alcohol Blending Solution

OTHER: Aqua wash tape (can't remember who makes it, but I bought it at AC Moore), alcohol ink felt blending tool, MFT wave die, finger daubers, Tonic edge distresser, Uniball Signo white gell pen, Spellbinder's Standard Circles Large, Tiny brads from stash, Snail adhesive, Foam tape/dots

Dazzling Aqua

I decided to play along with this weeks iCopic challenge kind of at the last minute.  The challenge this week is to use the BG family.  It's not one that I usually gravitate towards so I wasn't super inspired at the beginning of the week.  But today that changed!  I grabbed my image, colored away, and ended up with this little cutie:

I used some Dazzle stickers (as I challenged myself to this week!) and kept it pretty simple.  Still need to practice with those BGs and Rs.

Challenges:

          

Next week, my challenge is to use some washi tape.  i have a nice little stash but I never seem to use it.  

Have a great weekend!

--Angie

SUPPLIES - 

PAPER: Neenah Solar White, Stampin' Up! Whisper White

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black

STAMP: The Greeting Farm's Beanie Anya

COPICS: Hair - E35, E37, E29; Skin - E50, E51, E00, R20; Clothes: BG10, BG23, BG49, BG72, BG75, R35, R37, R39

OTHER: Corner Chomper Aqua, Dazzle Stickers

Week 6: Paper Piecing

This week I challenged myself to use some of my paper stash by paper piecing.  Todays card has no paper piecing but I did do some paper piecing through the week and you can see them here and here.  For today's card, I turned CPS's day 12 sketch (#118) into something inspired by the current Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge -

And here it is...

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I loved the felt heart with the pinking around the edge.  I immediately was drawn to the Smoocheroos set and that adorable little monkey.  I stamped him and colored him with Copics.  I used Distress Inks and masked clouds to create the sky that he is floating through.  I stamped the I heart U from the same set on red glitter paper, popped them up and attached some twine.  I cut the heart with pinking shears. The background is stamped from hearts and XOs from Chubby Chums, spiffy Scooters, A Little Lovin', and Word Salad in addition to the Smoocheroos.

That monkey is just too cute :)

My self challenge this week is to use Dazzles in some of my creations.  I've amassed quite a collection because I love how they look, but I don't seem to use them very often.... but this week I will!!

--Angie

SUPPLIES - 
PAPER: Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake and Real Red, Neenah solar White
STMAPS: Paper Smooches - Smoocheroos, Chubby Chums, Spiffy Scooters, A Little Lovin' Word Salad
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Real Red, Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans Distress Inks, Jet Black Stazon
COPICS: E31, E35, E37, E30
OTHER: Pink Felt, Pinking Shearts, Sweet & Sassy Cloud Die, Ink Blender, Red Glitter Paper, Foum Tape, Souffle White Gel Pen, Maraschino twine from the Twinery, Paper Piercer, Snail Adhesive

Gorjuss Paper Piecing and Crochet

Today I'm playing along with CPS's anniversary, Day 11 sketch #170:

And

 
Here's my final card:

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 I am super happy with how this turned out!!  I started with the Gorjuss image on some white cards stock.  I colored her skin, hair and yellow clothes with my copics.  I pieced her coat, shoes, hat, and the foxes.  For her coat, shoes and hat, I stamped her on some Crumb Cake paper then stamped a background stamp over that to give it some texture.  I masked her and the foxes with some masking paper then used a blending tool to cover the white with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Ink (I didn't have any "vanilla" paper and the white was just to bright with the brown and tan so this was my workaround!).  Once I had removed the masks I realized she needed to be ground so I added some shading with my Copics.  Here's a close up of the final image:

As I was deciding exactly what to do with the background, I couldn't decide how to incorporate the scallops from the sketch.  I tried a few of my scalloped punches, some lacier than the others and still wasn't satisfied.  I sat there staring out the window trying to figure something out.  As I turned my head back to my punches, I saw a flash of yellow yarn and it hit me - I could crochet the scallop!!  Here's a close up of my final scallop:

 To make the scallop, I punched every other hole of the eyelet size on the Stampin' Up! Mat Pack.  I used a US 0 hook and some Patton's yarn.  I single crocheted in the first hole, chained one, double crocheted four times in the next hole, chained one, and repeated alternating single crochets with the four double crochets.  It was a little awkward crocheting on card stock, but I am loving it!

--Angie

SUPPLIES - 
PAPER: Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Neenah Solar White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, Distress Inks - Antique Linen and Vintage Photo
STAMPS: Gorjuss  Little Foxes, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler, Stampin' Up! Sanded
COPICS: ground - C1, C3, C5; skin - E50, E51, E00, R20; hair - E35, E37, E29; stockings - E55, Buttermilk and Lipstick Spicas
OTEHR: Lifestyle Crafts Dainty Embossing folder, Inkadinkadoo Masking Paper, Cutter Bee Scissors, Crystal Lacquer, Stampin' Dimensionals, powder tool, heat gun, clear embossing powder, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Up! Mat Pack, Crop-a-dile
CROCHET SUPPLIES - Patton's yellow yarn, US0 crochet hook

Sending Love in a Hot Air Balloon

Happy weekend!!  Today started off with I smile when I saw I was picked as the Primo Stamper for the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge.  I loved that card when I was done with it so I'm glad Kim and her DT did too!

This weekend I'm catching up with all of the CPS anniversary sketches and I'll have at least one card to share every day and hopefully an extra special project that I'll be working on this weekend.  For today, I'm using sketch #26, for day 10:

I also decided to use the colors from this week's Play Date Cafe's challenge:

For whatever reason, when I saw the colors I immediately thought of a hot air ballon and the diamond pattern that some of them have so I set out to make my own background paper.  When I was searching through my stamps deciding which to use, I found a set that I forgot I had and haven't even used yet.  In the end, I was pretty happy with what I ended up with:

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I created the background by cutting 1/2" strips of the four colored papers and glueing them on a piece of copy paper on the diagonal.  Then I cut that into 3/4" strips and placed them onto another piece of cardstock that I ran through my xyron to make sure it was super adhesive.  I flipped every other strip 180 degrees and lined them up to form the pattern.  I used the same colors to paper piece the ballon that I finished by covering it with crytal lacquer.

It took sometime to make the background, but I think it was well worth it!  And since I paper pieced the background and ballon, it'll be playing along with CAS-ual Friday this week too:

Stop by tomorrow to see how I use CPS's sketch for day 11.

Have a great weekend!

--Angie

SUPPLIES - 
PAPER: Stampin' Up! Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Neenah Solar White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Night of Navy
STAMPS: Ain't Love Grand Stampin' Up! Hostess Set
OTHER: Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Snail Adhesive, Spica Lipstick marker, Crystal Lacquer, Glue Dots, 5" Xyron, Stampin' Up! Brights Buttons, Tonic Distresser, Finger Daubers

Keeping the Mojo Flowing

Back with two more cards today!  CPS's fifth anniversary celebration is really getting me in the crafting mood.  Tonight I created two cards based on their latest sketches for the anniversary celebration.

The first one is for day 5 of the celebration using sketch #38 -

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Pretty quick and simple... once I saw the sketch the idea hit me.  The thing that took the longest was getting that flower made.  I've only made one of these before and was not happy with the outcome, but this one I like and it's a great way to use up some of my ribbon I have!

This card will be playing along with:

CPS 5th Anniversary Day 5 (#38)

The second card I made was inspired by Day 6, sketch #37 and by all of the pregnant girls I know (I know at least 6 at the moment!!).  Not all of them are finding out the sex of the baby, but the ones who have are all having girls.  So here's hoping one of the others has a boy ;)

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I found the Giraffe tag from We R Memory keepers in one of my drawers and had to use it.  This card was even quicker to make than the first one!

This little cutie will be playing along with:

Simon Says Stamp - Animal Antics

CPS Day 6, #37

(using Baby Mama with Tina Fey as my movie)

Well, I hope you liked my two quick cards for today.  Have a great weekend!

--Angie

SUPPLIES - 
Congratulations card:
PAPER - Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White
INK - Stampin' Up! Real Red, Versamark
STAMPS - Stampin' Up! A Word for You and Mixed Bunch
OTHER - Red Ribbon, white embossing powder, Glubers, Bling, Corner Chomper


Giraffe card:
PAPER - Stampin' Up! Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight (solid and DSP)
INK - Stampin' Up! Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, and Early Espresso
STAMPS - Stampin' Up! Sprinkles
OTHER - We R Memory Keepers Giraffe Tag, Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip Scalloped Ribbon, rhinestones, Diamond Stickles, Corner Chomper

Hello Gnome

I got the Forest Whimsy set from Paper Smooches back before Christmas and never inked it up... until today.  Here's the card I came up with:

I used the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge image for color inspiration and the stripes, but also for the outdoorsy theme (gnome, grass, background is wood grain). I colored in his beard and face and paper pieced his clothes with some striped paper.

Here's a  close up of the paper piece, coloring, and sparkly clouds:

I playing along with:

Paper Smooches Sparks

CPS 5th Anniversary #54

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--Angie

SUPPLIES - 
Paper - Stampin' Up! Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Neenah Solar white
Stamps - Paper Smooches Forest Whimsy and Chit Chat, Stampin' Up! Woodgrain Background
Ink - Lucky Limeade, Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire
Other - Caribbean twine from the Twinery, sponge daubbers, snail adhesive, foam dots, Corner Chomper (blue), blending tool, paper piercer, Stampin' Up! mat pack, sanding block, Icicles Stickles

Aptee'tude Love

I play along with the CPS Card Sketches almost weekly and this week marks their 5th anniversary!!  Each day, from January 29th through February 18th, they're posting a sketch from the past.  Today they posted #166 -

I pulled out one of my new favoite stamps - Stamping Bella's Aptee'tude - and used her as my focal point. 

I stamped the image and colored her in with my Copics and Spicas.  I cut her out with a circle Spellbinders die.  I used another die, two sizes up, for the scalloped circle mat.  For the card base, I used the I {Love} Love roller wheel from Stampin' Up!  Instead of adding a paper band through the center, I opted to tie some ribbon around the card (living up to my self challenge of using my ribbon stash this week :-)).

Once I had her all assembled, I felt like it was missing something so I added a few hearts from Stampin' Up!'s I {Heart} Hearts stamp set.  I layered the hearts and covered them with some crystal accent to make them shine.

Here's a close up of the coloring.  I love how those Spicas sparkle!!

For the inside, I used the same size circle as I did for the front.  I used the same pattern paper, but one size smaller with the scalloped circle.  I stamped the I {Love}Love just once in the center and added the same hearts from the front.  Then I finished it off with the Happy Love Day.

Since it's a love card I had to use a few red copics, which happens to be the challenge this week at iCopic, so I'll be playing along with them too -

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--Angie

SUPPLIES - 
Copics: Skin - E50, E51, E00. R20
           Clothes - R01, R20, R32, R37, B45, B26, B37, W1, W3, W5, 
           Hearts - R59
           Hair - YR31, Y32, Y28
Paper - Stampin' Up! Lucky Limeade, My Mind's Eye Lime Twist
Stamps - Stamping Bella Aptee'tude, Stampin' Up! I {Love} Love and I {Heart} Hearts, Studio G Happy Love Day
Ink - Real Red, Luckey Limeade, Memento Tuxedo Black
Dies - Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and Classic Scalloped Circles
Other - Red Ribbon, Heart-to-Heart Punch, Corner Chomper (blue)

Week 4: No Copic Coloring

Have you seen the Lawn Fawn blog recently?  Kelly Marie featured my card that I made for my alphabet sticker self challenge on this post here.  I was grinning ear to ear when I saw that pop up over there!  There's also a Valentine's card drive for children's hospitals going on.  You can get the info from that post if you're interested in sending cards out to the kids.

Yesterday, I posted this card that I made using my Prismacolors instead of my Copics.  Today, I stepped away from the pencils and picked up some of the Smooch colors I have to create this non-traditional Valentine's card:

I used the sketch from the Young Crafter's Unite Challenge and the CAS-ual Friday Challenge (they sketches are very close to each other!).  I used the color palette that is out there this week at the Play Date Cafe (plum, pear, and moldy cheese).  

I stamped Hero Arts' Blooming Heart and colored it in with three colors of Smooch - Plum Berry, Ocean Soul, and Olive Twist.  The olive twist was a little darker than the papers I had picked out so I added some pops of green with Zing's Leaf Embossing Powder and a Zig emboss Writer.  

Next week, I may bring back the Copics (my, how I miss them!), but I will also be using ribbon.  Ribbon is my challenge for week 5.

Have a great week!

--Angie

SUPPLIES - 

Paper: Stampin' Up! Island Indigo, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder DSP, and Lucky Limeade DSP

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Lucky Limeade

Stamps: Hero Arts Blooming Heart, My Favorite Things Notched Tag Die and Stamp Set

Other: Zing Leaf Embossing Powder, Zig Emboss Writer, Heat Gun, Stampin' Up Mat Pack, bone folder, Snail Adhesive, Indigo Island Brads, Stampin' Up! Word Window Punch

Smooch Ink: Plum Berry, Olive Twist, Ocean Soul

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Copics in Storage

This week, I challenged myself to color images without using my copics.  I love coloring my stamps from Some Odd Girl with those magical markers, so I thought I'd color Gwen in using my Prismacolors...

The card is based on this weeks CPS sketch:

I flipped it 180 degrees and made it a trifold card.  The front image on the scalloped oval flips up to reveal the inside fold and small sentiment...

Then that panel folds down to reveal where a written message would be...

In addition to the CPS challenge, I'm playing along with:

Lily Pad's Patterned Paper Challenge

Anything Goes Challenge

Some Odd Girl's Color Challenge

I'll be back tomorrow to finish up my challenge week with one more non-Copic colored creation!

--Angie

SUPPLIES - 

Paper: My Minds Eye Quite Contrary Jack and Jill 6x6, Neenah Solar White

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Pool Party and Read Red

Stamps - I can't remember her exact name, but it's one of the Holiday Gwen sets from Some Odd Girl

Punches/Dies - Spellbinders Large Oval and Large Scalloped Oval, Stampin' Up! Large Scalloped Oval and Large Oval

Miscellaneous Tools - Sponge daubers, Prismacolor Pencils, Moonlight Smooch, White liquid enamel, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Snail Adhesive, Red Ribbon, KaiserCraft Red Rhinestones