{ Citrus Tree Studio August sketch challenge }

We have monthly challenges at Citrus Tree Studio that start on the 10th of each month. My assignment was to do a sketch. Here is a card that I created using Picnic in the Park August kit.

My sketch.

Do you see my little set up for this card? On the floor, with only a few supplies. Alex was hanging out with me and "helping me".  He was more interested in his cars, though.  

This was a left over piece of paper and I liked that it had punched butterflies at the top. I used Sticky Dot Runner by Therm O Web to adhere the patterned paper. 

I leaves are cut with my Cricut Expression and I added some Clearsnap ColorBox Toffee Fluid Chalk ink to the edges. I added small Zots Adhesive Dots by Therm O Web to the die cut. This gives me some flexibility to manipulate and mold the leaves. I use my fingers to bend and curl the edges. 

The large Zots Adhesive Dots by Therm O Web are perfect for these large flowers and a button. I used the same Zots Adhesive Dots for the rick rack. My first time using it on ribbon and I love it.

Here is my little mini album that I created with the Citrus Tree Studio August kit Picnic in the Park. It uses the long envelopes and cards that came in the kit. I added little jewels and flowers, tags that I stamped with butterflies. The large butterfly is a tag that I traced on patterned paper and cut out.

The photos are from last summer of Alex and his cousins.

The front and back pages are made from cardstock. I used two long envelopes for the inside pages that I folded and cut open on each end. There is lots of space for more photos and journaling.  

I used Superstik Glue Stick by Therm O Web to adhere all the patterned paper to the envelopes. For a very strong bond, apply a thin coating to both sides. In this case, the patterned paper and envelope. I used my bone folder to make sure everything is nice and smooth.  I used Small, Medium, Large and Tiny Zots Adhesive Dots by Therm O Web for all the embellishments. 

To adhere the pages together I used a strip of Super Tape by Therm O Web, close to the spine, and added Sticky Strip Runner by Therm O Web to the rest of the envelope pages.

Have a great Wednesday!

{ Mojo Monday 111, Project 365 - week 42 }

Here is my card for Mojo Monday 111 sketch. I made this late last night and I will try to get a better photo now. I used Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon paper scraps. I made the flower from old book paper and sprayed it with Bed Of Roses Shimmerz Spritz.

I painted the chipboard circle with paint and then sprayed with Sea Foam Shimmerz Spritz.

Project 365 - week 42.

10.12 - he loves to play, mostly drums, but here he is posing. 10.13 - eating lunch and giving me one of his cute smiles. 10.14 - trying to stall before bedtime by reading more books. 10.15 - being silly. 10.16 - at the pumpkin patch with his friends. 10.17 - getting ready to color. 10.18 - after his nap, trying to wake up.

{ Mojo Monday 110, Pencil Lines 157 and some cookies }

Happy Wednesday. My headache finally went away (after five days) and I feel better. I wanted to make a card and I discovered Mojo Monday (again). This is my first time playing and it looks like a fun place. Loved the sketch, week 110, and wanted to use some of my (new) stash. I used Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon patterned paper. Sassafras Lass cloud sticker and Prima flower and leaf. Jenni Bowlin ticket is a scrap from a layout I made this weekend.

This card took less than 30 minutes to make, photograph and edit. It all happened tonight. I used my white balance feature on my camera to take the photo. No flash. This is the layout I created with Studio Calico kit. I used Pencil Lines sketch 157. I just love the fun photo that I took of us on my husband's birthday. I added Making Memories embossed metal "Family" plate, Autumn Leaves tree stamp and Elle's Studio tag. I made the flower that I sprayed with Tuscan Sun Shimmerz Spritz and painted with Ultra Marine Shimmerz paint. I finally baked my favorite, seasonal cookies...Cranberry-Pumpkin Cookies. They are delicious! I omitted the Walnuts because I didn't have any, but this is the way I like them. I am getting ready to grab a few of those cookies, curl up on the couch and watch some TV.

{ Impression Obsession DT challenge #27 - out of the box }

Our challenge was to use a stamp for something other than it was intended. For this card I used a scalloped circle stamp from Circle Elements #1 (HS191) for the sun. I have used the large circle for the sun before and I love this idea. You can see that card here. For the sun rays I used a stamp from Summer Seals (CL107). I stamped the Embroidered Butterfly (E6079) on Crate Paper patterned paper and cut it out. I outlined the edges with Prismacolor pencils. My sentiment is from Circle Greetings stamp set (CL99). I used CPS #131 for this card.

I hope you'll take the time to visit the other designers' blogs for inspiration! Laura, Dina, Jeanne, Jenny, Julie, Deborah and Shirley.

***Would you like to see your card featured on the Impression Obsession blog? Email your challenge cards using Impression Obsession images to Shirley. Every week, cards will be selected to showcase on the Impression Obsession blog!!!

Circle Elements #1

{ First Car, 2 Sketches 4 You, Happy Anniversary }

Well, we were shopping for a car for Alex, but we didn't get it. He was too small then, and was falling through the hole on the bottom where the feet go.

This is my very first layout created for My Scrapbook Nook. The August kit is filled with October Afternoon Road Map paper, American Crafts, Making Memories, 7 gypsies and Maya Road... What do you think?

I finally made a card for a fun sketch, 2 sketches 4 you #32. I decided that I needed to get back into my stash and all the new stuff I got recently. I used scraps of October Afternoon paper. The journaling spots were on sale for $1 at Michael's last month. They are by Me and My Big Ideas.

Remember the OWL stamps I bought last week? I love them!!!! No problems inking and stamping. Amy asked in the last post if I had any problems. I do with Stampin' Up inks. The ink beaded up...I was having the same problem with the heart, but I needed the red to match the card, Ruby Red. I used my pencil eraser to "erase" over the stamp and it worked like a charm. No beading up. It is our Anniversary today, 4 years. We celebrated with a nice dinner out, just the three of us.

This is us now.

This is us then...

***Something new and fun is brewing at Caardvarks ~ 8/5.

***New Impression Obsession challenge this week. New stamps are up and for sale.

***Project 365 week 31.

{ 2 Sketches 4 You - Laura's sketch # 16 and CPS # 97 }

Hi, I am back. We had a really lazy week around the house. Christmas day lasted for about three days. It took Alex that long to open all the presents...between naps, feeding, playing, sleeping. He had no idea what was going on, but there were all these new toys to play with. I am finishing up my December Daily. Well, it will take some time, all my photos and journaling are complete I am just putting it all in the album. I have been playing with some new stamps from Impression Obsession that are coming out at CHA...I will be able to show you those starting January 15. Tonight I finished my cards for CupCards {to go} January kit that goes live on January 5th. Oh, it is so yummy. Here is my card for 2 Sketches 4 You. I wanted to use my little scalloped punch that I had for a while. I stamped Love Seals by Tammi Potter from Impression Obsession and then I punched them out. Prima and Making Memories felt flower. I stamped the background with VersaMark and then heat embossed. For this card I wanted to use a different assortment of embellishments: Prima flowers and embossed heart, epoxy stickers from Target, Darice jewels, Imaginisce felt brad, buttons....My Mind's Eye patterned paper and a large scalloped punch by Marvy Uchida. CPS sketch #97.Photo of Alex playing with his little house...loves this door, as much as any other door in the house, except this one plays music when you open it. He loves to dance! A photo of our little family on my birthday before we went out for dinner. One more thing, have you seen this? Project 365. Becky Higgins has a ton of information on her blog and is giving away 3 of these kits!!! I figured since I am taking photos every day and journling this would be perfect for me. I started on Monday. The kit goes on sale January 1. Email me or leave me a note and let me know if you are doing this.

{ CPS # 68, Hero Arts challenge and Paper Crafts Gallery Idol }

It's taking me forever to finish this post. Alex is still awake and my laptop was acting up.
Here is my card for CPS #68. I used my new papers from October Afternoon. I was able to get one of the kits from Studio Calico and one add on kit. This is my first time ordering from them and I just love everything. They have their own stamps. Don't you just love this bird? This second card I made today for a challenge on Hero Arts blog. "Now for your weekly challenge: this week we want to see what inspires YOU! Using at least one Hero Arts stamp, create a card, scrapbook page or other project and tell us what inspired it." I was inspired by the Similac envelope (in the photo - it came with a $ 5.00 coupon). I love the orange and the circles. I used all my new Hero Arts goodies that came in the mail this week. See this post for photos of my prizes. One box came with extra goodies. What a nice surprise! All the papers are Prima. One last card I will share tonight and then I am going to relax and watch TV. Jenni Bowlin patterned paper, Creative Cafe brad, Scenic Route label stickers, Sassafras Lass patterned paper, Jenni Bowling tag, Heidi Swapp orange flower, Queen & Co. black flower and Doodlebug yellow flower, K&Company sticker.
Paper Crafts Gallery Idol is back!!! It's so much fun. You can read about all the details here. For the first round all you have to do is make a friendship card and load it into the gallery here, make sure you post it under the PC Gallery Idol. Entries cannot currently be or have ever been posted in any online forum, submitted to Paper Crafts or any other magazine, created for a specific manufacturer, or entered in any other Contest. I hope you play along. You can see my card in the gallery here.

{ World Card Making Day and a sketch challenge }

We are celebrating World Card Making Day at Create My Keepsake. Here is my first sketch challenge. To participate in this challenge, make a card with this sketch and upload it to our gallery. If you don't want to play to win a prize then just upload it to your blog and post a link to it in this post. I will come by and leave you some love. Here is my sample, as seen in Cards~August 2007. Have fun.