Three Clover's Thursday Challenge-Pink!

I love "purty" cards but I don't make them too often. This card is a pink version of a card I have had in my head for months and just can't seem to get around to making. Maybe someday I will get to that card too !

The challenge this week on 3 Clover's Thursday Challenge is PINK. We all know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness with pink being the signifying color. Both my mother and my sweetie's mother are breast cancer survivors of nearly 20 years! Hallelujah!

Although, October is associated with Breast Cancer Awareness, this October my family will be fighting a different type of cancer. My brother was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer last week. He had a 7 hour surgery yesterday to remove his kidney and is now recuperating in a hospital miles away from most of his family. I ask all my blog friends out there to not only celebrate and pray for a cure for breast cancer, but for all cancers. I know too many friends and family facing this long struggle and I know a friend and a prayer can help so much during this difficult time.

My challenge to you is to make a pink card (or any card for that matter) and send it out to someone facing a struggle such as this...I know...actually put your card in an envelope, stamp it and mail it! I am so bad about mailing cards, but tonight I will be addressing several cards to friends that could use a simple lift of spirits that a card brings. As Nike says..."Just do it!"

I don't usually share personal details on this blog...(except for showing off my adorable grandson)
so my apologies for straying so far from the world of crafts, but I thought this important enough you would forgive me. If any of you would like to send a card to my brother, just email me and I will send you his address.

Okay Okay...on to card details:

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Stamps: Sentiment from Stampin' Up

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip and retired Pink Pirouette DP from SU! GP white

Ink: Choc Chip

Misc: Cuttlebug folders for the embossed image, pink pearls, square nesties, and Martha heart border punch.

3 Clover's Thursday Challenge #20-Red, White and Blue

I am using my very first House Mouse stamp (back when they were still made by Stampa Rosa) I ever bought on this RED, WHITE and BLUE challenge card at 3 Clovers Thursday Challenge. My goodness, that sure seems ages ago, but really was probably back in 2002! Someday I will post the very first HM card I ever made...with this stamp...I thought it was pretty nifty...and it was for me back in "the ole days" HA!

This card whipped up darn fast...told you things have to stay simple this time of year!
The trick to this card is that the star is what opens-I cut it on the fold(the very top point) with my star nestability...the base does not. Inside the star is matted another white star stamped with Happy 4th of July! (I have visions of baby Cole taking a peek and ripppppppping it right off LOL)

I put all the red cardstock through the swiss dot cuttlebug folder for texture and used my newly replaced juicy red SU marker to put lines around the background white piece-using the nestability as a guide for the straight lines.

Basically, I just matted the layers and glued on the hinged star and it was done! Monica House Mouse image is on dimensionals.

Last week's challenge at 3CTC was Where Are You From? It was a fun one and this one should generate some pretty dandy cards too--- red, white and blue always look so dramatic together! Come join in the fun! If you get a chance...go check out last week's cards...Kerry has Mr Linky so all you have to do is click on each name to see the challenge cards...fast and easy! Be sure to leave a comment if you visit...nothin' better than knowing people are visiting!

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Stamps: Party Mouse (Monica) by Stampa Rosa, retired sentiment from Stampin' Up!

Cardstock: Real Red & Night of Navy from SU!, GP white I think or Neenah

Ink: Memento black for image and colored with copics

Misc: Star Nestability, swiss dot cb folder, dimensionals for image

Three Clover's Thursday Challenge -No Layer Cuttlebug card

The challenge this week at 3 Clovers Thursday Challenge is to make a no layer card! And boy, this is not as easy as it sounds. For us stampers that love layers, this was a challenge that generated lots of discussion!

I chose to use my cuttlebug embossing borders on kraft cardstock. I stamped the cherries with craft ink and gently ran some white craft ink over the embossing and the edges of the card to highlight those areas better. Viola! That's the total card!

One thing I did learn making this card...me and craft ink do not mix...I am not kidding, I had red "finner" prints all over LOL!

Now, I have cherries on the brain...cherry harvest is starting here in Oregon...which means my stamping time becomes fairly limited the busier we get. If you don't see me around for a couple days...I am just working...! But really, fresh cherries are just the best! Not to worry though, I have saved some really wonderful RAK's to show to you while I am working away!

Okay stampers....I would love to see what you can create with this challenge!

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Stamps: Tart and Tangy by SU!

Ink: Craft white, red and green

Cardstock: SU! Kraft

Misc: Cuttlebug embossing borders

From Courtney's Closet Challenge #43

Here we go with From Courtney's Closet Challenge #43! Courtney is growing so fast and look at her beautiful blond hair!

I made this little pink fishy card with a cuttlebug die. I cut the waves with strips of Bo Bunny DP and then used a 3/4 inch circle punch to punch the wave effect. The sentiment is a piece from a SU celebration set named Lots of Thoughts. I cut the words apart because I knew I would use them more that way!

Don't you just love those sneakers?

You still have time to join in on Libby's Little Addiction Anniversary Celebration of From Courtney's Inspiration Challenge #42. I still have my thinking cap on for this one...but wanted to share this post with you first and remind you all to join in! This is the first challenge I ever joined online (wow...over a year ago!), and I have tried to hit most of them since...missed a few here and there when life got in the way...but it just a darling challenge that makes me THINK! (hmmmm...) Why not join the fun?

3 Clover's Thursday Challenge #13-May Flower Flip Card

Welcome to challenge #13 at 3 Clovers Thursday Challenge. The challenge this week is" May Flowers". And guess what...no cheating for me this week...I actually included flowers on my card LOL! (ummm...I sort of forgot to include ribbon or lace on my challenge card for last week...I guess it was my week to be an airhead LOL) Don't you hate it when you make a challenge card...and then realize you didn't follow the challenge? As Ida said to me...the DP paper I used looked lacey, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I found THIS tutorial on how to make a flip card and just had to try it! What a fun card and fun to open and find the surprise message inside! Wendybell at Wickedly Wonderful Creations made a wonderful video tutorial that was very easy to follow. You just have to give it a try!

The top half of this card is hinged with a brad and flips up to reveal a message. I changed the orientation of the card to fit my image. This is a standard A2 card. The video demonstrates a vertical card, but it was very easy to adjust to a horizontal card.

I used pieces and parts of stamps on this card. The image is the last hedgie on the PB stamp (series of 3 hedgies) , the sentiment inside is part of a sentiment also. The hedgie is cut out and mounted on dimensionals as well as the little FOR YOU gift tag on the flowers.

I used lots of little tools to make this card, including my Spooky Fence punch by Martha Stewart. This fence is just NOT spooky when punched in white...looks springy I thought! Martha has a different fence punch that has all the boards nicely lined up for those who prefer a new, whitewashed picket fence! Mine is falling down a wee bit.

This is what my card looks like opened up. The circle image stays on the outside of the fence and the light green top piece tucks under the fence.

Close up of the brad hinge. The brad holds all the pieces of cardstock together.

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Stamps: Labour of Love 2363K Penny Black, Retired sentiments from SU! Simple Sayings 1 and 2

Cardstock: SU! DP, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Regal Rose

Ink: Memento Black, Image colored with copics, Rose Romance for sentiment

Misc: Swirly cuttlebug folder, misc brad, circle nesties, 2 Martha border punches, SU! Rose ribbon, SU! silver cording, misc button

3 Clover's Thursday Challenge #9-Double 'bossing with Flora

Okay...I think you all know I am not much on techniques..but Kerry's throw down this week to her challenge team was to showcase a technique! YIKEROONIES............I thought and I thought and I thought some more...what should I do????? Finally I found this wonderful tutorial called Double 'bossing HERE on the Cuttlebug Challenge blog that looked like a lot of fun...so I gave it a whirl.

It wasn't hard...it didn't strain my brain too much and I sort of liked it LOL! Although the technique doesn't photograph all that well, it is very neat in real life. I am sure it would make some totally elegant cards too, but I wanted to introduce this funny little Alien image from the Amy Bradley collection by Stampabilities. Please meet Flora Flutter! Flora is not my only new Alien, so watch for her cohorts in future posts!

Basically, this technique calls for you to emboss your cardstock (I used white core cardstock, but you can also use white or colored cardstock and do a little fancy inking to get similar results. The link to the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog above explains a couple of ways to complete this technique) then sand the white core cardstock (goodness I got carried away and did some serious sanding. I am not sure that was the intention but I like it!) Then you DEboss your cardstock with your embossing folder. Basically that means you just flip your embossing folder over LOL!

Their tutorial is easy to follow and illustrates several different variations of this technique. I would love to see your creations. If you give it a try, I would love it if you link back here so we can all see what you made!!!

Double 'bossing

Flora was colored with prisma's and highlighted with copics. She also is dressed for a big night out with her glittery wings!

Make sure you visit this week over at 3 Clovers Thursday Challenge.

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Stamps: Flora Flutter by Amy Bradley-Stampabilities,(purchased from Ally over at RK Stamps), Retired SU! sentiment

Cardstock: DCWV green, GP white and Elegant Eggplant by SU!

Ink: Memento Black, prisma's, copics

Misc: Nesties, Basics crystals, misc ribbon, cuttlebug folder, sanding block,

From Courtney's Closet Challenge #34-Cupcake Fluffles

Lot's of pink going on here! Little Courtney over at From Courtney's Closet Challenge #34 is all decked out in her little fancy PINK outfit. My inspiration came from her pink outfit as well as that little hat she is wearing. As I was explaining it to one of my friends, the only description I could come up with was a dunce hat (so sorry Libby...I know sweet pea is not a dunce). My friend Charla so kindly put the correct description to her hat...a Medieval princess hat! That's it! Now I got it right!

Now, the closest I could come to a Medieval princess hat was this cute Fluffles image that I received from a dear stamping friend! Thanks girl! A birthday hat works for me! This is the first Fluffles image I have ever used and it was fun and quick to color! I think I may have started another addiction.

The image was cut out with a square nestie and I also used my nestie scallop circles and a cuttlebug folder background. I dug out a retired SU! corner punch too. Everything is up on dimensionals so this is a fun card to view in real life! Hmmm...now that I have the picture to post, I think I will add some glitter to this card too!

The little Medieval Princess!

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Stamps: Cupcake Fluffles

Cardstock: SU! Pink Passion and Pixie Pink

Ink: prisma's/oms

Misc: SU! retired corner punch, swiss dot cuttlebug folder, misc brads, dimensionals

Card size: 4 1/2 x 4 1/2

Three Clovers Thursday Challenge-Happy Easter!

Kerry over at Three Clovers Designs is starting a new challenge called Three Clover Thursday Challenge (TCTC) . Her challenges will be different each week and will feature an Inspiration Team .

And guess what...I get to play along!

All these wonderful stampers will take turns participating in Kerry's weekly challenge, which could be a sketch, a color, theme or something fun Kerry has chosen to tempt you all to join in!

Make sure to blog hop around and check out the other TCTC "Sisters"!

Elena Joldersma
Lisa Somerville
Kristen Catalano
Sharon Caudle
Ida Krause
Mary Jo Price-Williams

TCTC #1-Sketch Challenge

My Card's Details

I love this bunny stamp...probably because of it's shape. The plaque is on dimensionals as well as the sentiment is also on dimensionals...so this really is a 3D design!


Stamps: Easter Plaque M210-Stampendous

Cardstock: SU! Lavender Lace, GP White, Bo Bunny DP

Ink: Memento Black, SU! markers, prisma pencils/OMS

Misc: Martha Stewart border punch, misc ribbon, dimensionals, Kaiser crystals, SU corner punch

From Courtney's Closet Challenge #30

Okay, I don't know where this card came from...I guess I saw little Courtney's dress here and I could not get Mary Engelbreit out of my head. I don't even think I followed the right color scheme...I might need to adjust my contacts a wee bit!

Well......... I did use one of my new toys on this card and I had never used this stamp before...so it must have been destined to be. I got my cuttlebug embossing borders out and embossed the top and bottom of this card, added the swiss dot white center edged with black and gold pin dot ribbon--- and 'plunked' down the image on dimensionals.
The image is embossed with black detail powder and colored with SU! markers.

Don't forget to join in on Libby's Little Addiction's challenge this week...Courtney's inspiration outfit is darling.

Stamps: Mary Engelbreit-Miracles

Cardstock: Real Red, White

Ink: Black embossing ink, SU! markers and a touch here and there of H2O's for shine

Misc: American Craft ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing border and swiss dot folder

Penny black Circle Card.

I made this cute little card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge #34. I've been planning on making this card for over a month, and when the challenge came along...it got me movin'!

This was a very quick card to make. Pretty simple and sweet...

Stamps: Penny Black Baby Hammock

Cardstock: SU! Pink and Certainly Celery, GP white

Ink: Memento Black, Colored with prisma's/oms and a few copics

Misc: Nestabilities, May Arts white ribbon, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder

Valentine Star Mini Album

This is the Valentine I made for my Sweetie. He probably won't totally appreciate all the effort(he is not much into my stamping...but he will display it and maybe even show it off at work ?...

Do you know how hard it is to get pearls to stick to velvet(or velvet to stick to anything)? Almost impossible...after trying tape gun, glue, glue dots and crystal effects I was ready to give up...but I finally made Crystal Effects(SU!) work, it just took lots of patience! This black velvet ribbon is just so pretty, it was well worth the effort.

I used my nesties to cut the classic and scallop heart shapes and my cuttlebug folders to make designer texture. I googled "star album" to learn how to make a star album and went from there.

This is what it looks like opened.

A close up of one of the pages so maybe you can see how it is put together. If anyone is interested in seeing how this is made/put together, just let me know and I can put together some instructions for you.

Page 1... my valentine


Page 2.... I love you the most

Page 3... all you need is love

Page 4... there's only one you


Page 5... the best is yet to be

ETA:
I will be posting a picture tutorial of this album in April 2009. Hopefully around April 4th.


Edited: You can find a tutorial that I posted to this album HERE!

Stamps: All sentiments by Stampin Up! Painted Posies(maybe a past celebration set?) and Love Matters...both are retired I think. Everyday Flexible Phrases (my Valentine-first page)

Cardstock: Real Red, GP white, Basic Black and Brushed Silver (all SU! except the white)

Ink: Memento black (heat set so it won't smear on the silver)

Misc: 3 cuttlebug folders ---swiss dots (white), swirls (red)and the one that looks like woodgrain or house siding LOL(black)

Classic and Scalloped Nestabilities, Misc embellishments, crystals from $1 spot at Michaels, closure clasp is SU!, silver heart clip is from the Paper Studio, black velvet ribbon is made by Dashes, Dots and Checks that I bought it at Michaels, white pearls by Kaiserscrapbook, misc heart brads.

From Courtney's Closet Challenge-Love Bug

My...where has this week gone? I almost ran out of time to make a card for this week's From Courtney's Closet Challenge. This is about as close as I could find to Magenta Libby! This is the retired Purely Pomegranate paper from Stampin Up.

I used a sketch designed by Stephanie for Taylored Expression's sketch challenge (TECC52SH). You can see Stephanie's sketch here.

Be sure to visit Taylor's blog here and see all of her fun sketch challenges going on for the one year anniversary of her Cupcake sketch challenges!

Stamps: Studio G dollar stamp from Michaels- Love Bug

Cardstock: Pomegranate, Certainly Celery, SU! DP

Ink: Mememto Black, image colored with Prisma's/OMS

Misc: Misc ribbon, paper piercer, Martha Stewart border punch, nestabilities

Card Size: A2

Courtney's Challenge is back! It's a zoo...miss you.

From Courtney's Closet Challenge is back!...Actually it was back last week, but I missed it! I don't know how that happened, but by golly I was not going to miss this week. After about 500 million tries at this card, this is what I finally came up with. As Libby probably doesn't know...I like animal prints about as much as I like ORANGE! So what did I do???...yeperoonie...I put the two together in this card.

No stamping, just a couple cuttlebug animals and a computer generated sentiment. I did stamp "miss you..." on the inside.

I made this card for my former coworker and good friend Janet (aka Jane Brain). She used to work in our office and was our humor and sunlight girl. Due to the economic recession...our department was recently downsized and now Jane is looking for a new job. We miss her terribly as she always made us laugh with her crazy views on life situations (besides keeping us all organized!)

Note to Libby: I would have rather started with the cute little bunnies LOL! And looky how baby girl is growing!

Charlie Brown's GOoFy StUfF

We are still stuck in the cold and snow here in Oregon so I had to use this stamp! I must be stuck on Peanuts and the Gang this week! I got a couple of new Stampin Up sentiment sets I wanted to use also.

This is a pretty straight forward card, nothing fancy to describe so I will just list the products I used.

Stamps: Snow Fun GR1108 by Stampabilities purchased from RK Stamps (listed under my favorite places to shop) sentiment by what it's ALL about by Stampin Up!

Cardstock: SU! Bashful Blue, Real Red

Ink: SU! pastels for the sky, copics (all three of them!) and prisma pencils for red jacket.

Misc: Nestability label set, Bo Bunny ribbon, Emagination snowflake punch,Snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder, fine glitter for the snow, inkssentials white pen, misc brad.

A quick Cuttlebug thank you note!

Well, no stamping here, but I have to jump in somewhere...I made this card last night, trying to get back into the swing of things...trying to remember how to use my tools and play with some new toys. I bought these felt snowflakes and pearls a while back and decided they would look nice with the Thank You and Snowflake CB folders. Quick and easy...and now on to writing my thank you notes!

From Courtney's/Carter's Closet #25-Elephant!

Courtney's Big Brother Carter as a baby!

This week's From Courtney's Closet Challenge had a new twist. Libby rummaged through Carter's closet instead LOL! Isn't this the cutest picture?

Another quick card week for me...holiday time just doesn't allow much stamping time. I made this card out of scraps, but I so love all the colors! And, I got to use another Cuttlekid die. These are just the cutest! I just had to have a few of them, then I stuck them in a drawer and they have sat there for ages. That is why I love this challenge...it is helping me fulfill my blog goal of using all my "must have" tools and toys!

Stamps: retired SU! sentiment

Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Barely Banana, Choc Chip and misc DP

Ink: Brilliant Blue

Misc: Nestabilities, Cuttlekid die, Lil' Davis ribbon, misc brads

Card Size: 5 1/2 x5 1/2

From Courtney's Closet Challenge -Miss You Bunches

Isn't this a cute little monkey? For the longest time, I thought it was a hippo LOL! Guess I had to actually use this cuttlekid die before I could see the "real" animal.

This is my From Courtney's Closet Challenge for this week! This was a hard challenge, sort of weird colors, but it came together in the end.

I used the cuttlekid animal die that I had to have (unused until now), background cuttlebug folder, nesties and my NEW Martha Steward border punch. I love those punches...I bought a "few" of them when I went to visit Cole a couple weeks ago! I had to borrow the "nanner" stamp from Charla and her sock monkey set. Thanks Charla!

Sentiment inside...Miss You Bunches!

silly little monkey girl...won't be long before she really is swinging from the rafters!

Stamps: Banana from SU! Sock Monkey set

Cardstock: All SU! Choc Chip, Creamy Caramel, Pink, Barely Banana, SU DP Bella Rose brown polka dot

Ink: Choc Chip

Misc: Nesties, Martha punch, dimensionals, cuttlebug folder, cuttlekid die, misc ribbon, flower brad

FCCC and TSSC41-Medallion

Oh, I love this card but I think it is one you have to see in real life to appreciate! I used the sketch challenge from Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #41 but it all started with little Courtney's outfit in From Courtney's Closet Inspiration Challenge #21. Check it out below!

Silly girl

She had some pretty flowery pants on and that's what inspired this whole card. I had some wonderful "flowery" DP that worked it's way into this card. The DP has wonderful silver flowers! I then used this wonderful silver metallic cardstock from SU! and ran a piece through my cuttlebug folder so that a couple of the little birdies showed...gotta get the birdie in there somewhere! If you have never tried SU!'s metallic cardstock, you are missing out!

The medallion was made with various layers of nestability circles and a SU! scallop punch thrown in for good measure. I used a marvy flower punch on the last circle so that some of the silver scallop would show. The brad is a misc one I had in my stash. Lots of layers here! And it also fits in the the Cuttlebug Challenge #5! I think I hit a triple with this card!

Stamps: NONE!

Cardstock: SU cranberry crisp (I think), Taken with Teal, Brushed Silver, DP is Heidi Grace shimmer foiled paper named Midnight Kisses/Mini Foil Floral (goodness what a long name for a piece of paper)

Ink: NONE

Misc: Nesties, SU! scallop punch, Marvy flower punch, misc brad (maybe Memories?), cuttlebug folder, dimensionals

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Look at the right side of my blog and see my new From Courtney's Closet Inspiration Challenge icon...you can just click on it and it will take you into Courtney's Closet! Doesn't this make you grin? Thanks Libby.

From Courtney's Closet Challenge #20-Cupcake

Does this look like your neighbor lady?

This cutie is really holding a cup of coffee, I just hid it with a cupcake(I made myself) on pop dots.

oooh scary...trick or treat!


Wow, week #20 already...and Courtney is growing up before our eyes. You can see this week's challenge on Libby's Little Addiction here.

You should go and check out week one sometime and see how she has grown. I started joining this challenge I think in week 3, so I have been 'around' for a while too!

Now, this card is not very 'babyish' for sure, but it is just what came to me this week! Weird, I know.........(FYI-Courtney was nicknamed "cupcake" before she was born).

Stamps: Super Maude by Art Impressions (this is my fave stamp ever!), sentiment is computer generated and flowers are SU! Window is unknown(my daughter stamped this for me)

Cardstock: Plum, Pink, Close to Cocoa, Wal-Mart white

Ink: Black, colored with prisma's, flowers colored with SU! markers

Misc: cutting tool, cuttlebug folder for front panel, SU! circle punches, glitter

Techno Challenge #39 Spooky Snoopy

Here is my entry to the Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #39.

I enjoyed this sketch...simple and quick! I am frantically trying to get through all my Halloween stamps before next Friday HA!

Here is another Peanuts stamp...gotta love Snoopy.

Stamps: Spooky Snoopy D1086. Studio G sentiment

Cardstock: DCWV purple, SU red, grey and black

Ink: Black and SU markers to color image

Misc: Cuttlebug web folder, hole punch, misc ribbon, Martha Stewart bat punch, SU! window word punch, circle nestabilities