Whitewashed challenge card

I've been quite at a loss for crafting the last couple of weeks. I haven't done hardly any cardmaking, scrapbooking, sewing, nothing. I've really felt like my Muse left for Toledo. But I've finally started to get back into things and I have a card to share tonight.

I made this card for the monthly challenge at RangerInkLink at Yahoo groups. I love that group and have learned so much from the folks that participate in that email list.

The challenge for July involved using white Ranger products. Unfortunately I only had one of the several products which were listed. But one is enough, so I used the Perfect Pearl color of the Perfect Pearls product. (Confusing enough names?!?)

I stamped Perfect medium onto black cardstock using the Hero Arts Italian Poetry background stamp, then brushed the Perfect Pearls over the Perfect medium. That black cardstock was then torn and layered over a piece of ArtEmboss medium wt. Pewter metal, which was embossed with the Cuttlebug Script folder and inked with Ranger Alcohol ink. The corners of the metal sheet were embellished with corners die cut with Cuttlebug dies from ArtEmboss light weight black aluminum. Single musical notes were cut from the pewter metal sheet and distressed using Tim Holtz' texture hammer set. I printed out the quote from Shakespeare on the computer using Blackadder ITC font on white Georgia Pacific cardstock. Finally the card was assembled: grey cardstock base, black cardstock mat, script background, Perfect Pearl stamped torn black cardstock, printed white cardstock, embellished with corner die cuts & musical notes.

I made this card for my son's 3rd wedding anniversary; that's why there's 3 notes. Whether he and his wife will figure that out, I'm not sure.

Thanks for looking.

Birthday card with thanks to K.Werner

I've known since Friday afternoon that I needed to make a birthday card for a co-worker for tomorrow. So, of course, I wait until Sunday afternoon to get started on it. Lucky for me there's such a great number of designers with great blogs which one can case.

For this card I must credit Kristina Werner for a great (fairly simple) design which she posted on Friday, July 11 (link here). My version is a little more monochromatic, because I don't have as many fun papers as she does!

Since I wanted to get this done quickly, I used some Die Cuts With a View scalloped edge cardstock for the edge on the card. I used more of my favorite BoBunny designer cardstock for the squares. Since the paper is double-sided, I didn't have to worry about finding another paper that matched; I just used both sides of the 2 different BoBunny papers.

I'm not sure that I'm in love with that ribbon with these papers, but that's sometimes whatcha get when you wait until the last minute!

Materials: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific); pink scallops (Die Cuts with a View); designer cardstocks (BoBunny); ribbon (Michaels); adhesives: Uhu glue; inside card: Happy Birthday! rub-on (Making Memories).

Thanks again to Kristina and thanks to all for looking.

Graduation celebration, again

When we first moved to Florida back in 2003, I served in the Young Women's program at church. I worked with 12- & 13-year old girls. The first of those young women is now graduating from high school. And I wanted to make a special card for her.

Back in April Beate had a weekend sketch challenge using this layout; my version of that card from back in April is here.

But I've also used the two papers from that wedding card, for school graduation cards; so.... with a few tweaks I made a card for my dear friend, Amanda.

Materials: cardstock: Bazzill; designer paper: Die Cuts with a View (congratulations), Hot Off The Press (black stripe); silver cardstock (behind brad): unknown source; Grad brad: Heartland Paper Co; ribbon: Joann's; adhesive: Pioneer mounting tape.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Welcome, baby boy

Once again I'm trying to pay attention to my poor, neglected blog.

I've done a little bit of crafting/cardmaking in the last 2 weeks, but not much. My muse took a hike. But getting pictures from a dear friend of her new little boy helped to jump start the old mojo once again.

The design for this card is lifted from a design by Abby Schultz, as seen in the CARDS magazine for May, 2008.

I took her basic design and modified for the materials, which I had on hand. Since I wanted to get this card made and in the mail quickly, I made it without stamping.

Materials: white cardstock (Bazzill); dark green behind button & heart (Deja Views); baby boy designer paper (Me & My Big Ideas); blue/green/orange grid paper for heart shape (Deja Views); button (Foof-a-la); adhesives: Crafters Choice, Pioneer mounting tape, Diamond Glaze; grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); embroidery thread (DMC).

There's a few challenges this week that I may try my hand at; hopefully I'll be posting more frequently. Thanks for taking a look at this card today.

Thanks a bunch - AFSS22 & Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 22

At work on Monday one of the community volunteer groups brought in newborn kits for the office. These are so appreciated, as some of the young women, to whom we provide services, have nothing for their babies. After the volunteer left, my boss called out: Margaret, I need to commission 2 cards. One for the church ladies and one for a Girl Scout who is also collecting materials for our office to distribute to families with newborns.


This is card #1 for the church ladies (as I keep calling 'em in my brain.) I knew that I wanted to participate in MaryJo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge, as well as Allison's Suggestive Sunday challenge. Allison's challenge was especially appropriate for this card: stamped flowers. What could be more nicer on a thank you card for the church ladies than flowers?

I substituted a square sentiment box at the bottom of the card front, instead of MaryJo's oval because I don't have an oval punch. (Someday Santa will bring me some Nesties?)

I stamped the flower images on 2 scraps of Basic Grey Blush paper and the stems on Basic Grey Two Scoops paper. All of the card base materials is BG Two Scoops.

This was a very easy card to put together. Thanks to Allison & MaryJo for their help in creating this thank you card.

Material: cardbase: Die Cuts with a View; designer papers: Basic Grey; stamps: Autumn Leaves; ink: Colorbox; adhesive: Pioneer mounting tape & Pop-dots; pen: American Crafts.

Thanks for looking.

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #21

Here it is Sunday and I've finally got a card finished for MaryJo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge; one can't accuse me of being too prompt on getting these challenge cards done.

This is the second card for one of MaryJo's challenges where I've ended up with a very patriotic card. (I think the first challenge that I did for her used virtually the same papers as this card.) I'm NOT sure why I keep ending up with flags, but ..... there ya go!

I used the same Die Cuts with a View cardstock pieces on this card, that I did my last flag card. I also used a Hero Arts stamp (see the photo below for a close up view of the stamped image.)

I stamped the Lady Liberty stamp on white cardstock with black ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. I had tried initially with clear embossing ink and black powder, but the statue of Liberty image just blurred out. I was happier with this final image. I didn't think that I wanted to leave all the cardstock white, so I got out my Cut n' Dry nibs and colored. I used Antique Linen on the back of the stamped image and Old Paper for the outside edge of the stamp.

I have to take two seconds and rave about the Cut n' Dry nibs. When I first saw them at Michaels, I thought: WOW! Those are expensive little things. Since I've purchased them and started using them on a regular basis, I don't know HOW I got by without them. If you've looked at them and had the same sticker shock that I initially had, wait for a 50% off coupon and get them then. They're seriously worth every penny; even at full price.

I used the Cuttlebug Script embossing folder to emboss the red stripes on the card. I thought it gave the card a little more interest without getting too busy. (Remember: this is my simple brained weekend.)

Materials: cardstock: Die Cuts with a View; cuttlebug embossing folder; stamp: Hero Arts; ink: Colorbox (black), Ranger (Antique Linen, Old Paper); clear embossing powder: Stampendous; flowers: Primas; brad: Making Memories; adhesives: Tombow's Mono-Multi, Pioneer mounting tape, 3M mounting foam squares.

As always, thanks again for looking.

WSC #52 - Boo!

Once again it's Sunday and time to post my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge, before the thunderstorms arrive and keep me offline.

I thought this was a fun sketch and I liked the examples that were presented using this design. I especially liked those cards which kept it simple. I think I'm in a simple mood this weekend.

But I didn't want the card to be too plain, so as well as using the 2 designer papers and the main stamped image, I decided that I wanted to try some tone-on-tone on this card.

I stamped the BOO! on the black cardstock with clear embossing ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. The flash on the camera REALLY made the embossing SHINE! It's really more subtle in real life.

Materials: cardbase: Georgia Pacific cardstock; black & purple cardstocks, orange designer paper: Die Cuts with a View; purple designer paper: Karen Foster; purple ink: Colorbox; clear embossing ink: Ranger; clear embossing powder: Stampendous; Happy Halloween stamp: All Night Media; BOO! stamp: Rubber Stampede; brad: Around the Block; adhesives: Pioneer mounting tape.

Thanks for looking.