Unscripted Sketches #205 Challenge

I created this card for Sketch it Saturdays over at Unscripted Sketches. This was a fun sketch (see below) to work with. This might be my favorite card that I've made recently! I know it's because I used one of my favorite color combinations....black and cream. I also really enjoy making flowers.

For the cardstock base I used  vintage cream from PTI.  The black is a combination of Bazzill and true black from PTI. The patterned paper is my all time favorite from G.C.D. Studios. It's called Louve from the Paris Nights Collection. I used the Chevron Die-namics die from My Favorite Things and the sentiment is from Hero Arts called With Sympathy - CL476. For the flower I used Carnation Creations by Donna Salazar for Spellbinders. Best purchase I ever made!! I absolutely love this set!

Here's a closer view of the flower. 

Unscripted Sketches #205

This post is linked to these parties:

Unscripted Sketches

Made by you Monday

A Round Tuit

Craft-O-Maniac Monday

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Sympathy Card

Today I thought I'd share with you a sympathy card I made in December. I had to come up with two cards and this is the design I created. 

I used a stamp from Rubber City Rubber Works. Their stamps are fantastic! I just tear up when I read this sentiment, it gets me every time.

The patterned paper is from G.C.D. Studios and is called "Thru The Woods" from the "Joyful Peace Collection". I also used Jetsetter Black from Reminisce.

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Mod Podged Memo Pad

If you're having a bad day, don't you think you should make something fun? I certainly do! My daughter gave me some sassy stickers about two years ago. She knows how much I like them and that I have a weird sense of humor. One is called "Spiteful and Delightful" and the other is "Alpha Bitch". They are perfect these little notebooks!

After adhering all the pieces I used Mod Podge to seal it. This stuff is so much fun, I use it for everything! This is another great project for using up your scraps.

Be prepared to see more of these embellished notebooks and other items I find to use these stickers on. There are a couple that I may not even be able to post because they may be a little over the top!

Products Used For This Notebook:
Memo Pad
Patterned Paper From G.C.D. Studios - Applique From Homespun Chic Collection
Sassy Stickers
Scrap Paper
Tim Holtz Alterations On The Edge Dies - Brackets - Scallops
EK Success Open Scallop Punch
Mod Podge

Peace * Hope * Love

When I saw this stamp, I knew I had to have it. As my husband would say, it was a "want" not a "need", but what does he know?!

The stamp is called "A Christmas Blessing" from Verses Rubber Stamps.

I'm really happy with the way this card turned out. I love red and kraft together. I hope the recipients of these cards like them as much as I do!

Products Used For This Card:
Bazzill
Patterned Paper from G.C.D. Studios called Thru The Woods from the Joyful Peace Collection
Stamp from Verses Rubber Stamps called A Christmas Blessing
Misc Beads
May Arts Jute

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New Card Designs

It's been a busy few days. I've been designing some Christmas cards for display at The Baker's Wife and working on some other projects that I'll share later.

I showed my husband the card that I made with black patterned paper and his reaction was "A black Christmas card? No, no, no, no, no." I said, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes." Now I ask you, what's wrong with that? Personally, I think it's fine and will continue to make them. We will never agree on this.

I'll share this particular card with you first. I have alot of scraps from past projects. I kept seeing this one particular piece of patterned paper out of the corner of my eye and it was "right" for a simple Christmas card. I like to coordinate all my patterned scraps together and use them for quick cards. It seems to be such a waste not to use them. What's your thought on this one? Is the black so awful for a Christmas card?

Here's the rest of them. I'll list the products used below the last card.

Products used for these include: Doublemates cardstock, patterned paper from: GCD Studios - Chapelle - Paris Nights, Moxie - Joys of the Season - Winter Wonderland - Through The Woods, Best Creation - FaLaLa Christmas, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot, Hero Arts Gemstones in Light Blue & Olive Green, Bazzill Cardinal Jewels, May Arts Ribbon, Gold Twine, Burlap Twine, Buttons, Hero Arts Clear Design Stamps - Winter's Butterfly - CL 234 & Holiday Sayings - CL 343

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Cards To Share

I have four cards to share with you. These cards will be on display at The Baker's Wife, so if you're local and you want to take a closer look at them, stop in.

The first one is a pocket card. Love this idea! I saw this style in the Spring 2009 issue of Just Cards! I can think of many other themes to use for this one.

I love the way this next card turned out! I really like the Staples line from Graphic 45 and the corrugated shapes from Jillibean Soup. This one is probably one of my favorites.

On this next card I used the metal page edger from 7 Gypsies. I was going to use them on a mini book, but decided they would work just fine on a card. Fun product to work with!

My final card uses one of my favorite patterned papers from GCD Studios. This is a very simple card, but sometimes less is best.

Products used for the above cards:
Graphic 45 Staples - Flowers, Chipboard Buttons
DoubleMates Cardstock
GCD Studios Patterned Paper
Memento Ink
7 Gypsies Patterned Paper & Metal Page Edger
Ribbon
Buttons
Jillibean Soup Corrugated Shapes
Red Jewels
Hero Arts Black Crystals
Hero Arts Clear Stamps "Everyday Sayings" CL342 & "Tree Birds & Messages" CL182

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Graphic 45 Black Policy Envelope Album

Here's a mini-book I created using the Black Policy Envelope Album from Graphic 45. Fun little book and of course it's in my favorite color!

I didn't stick with just once collection of paper for this book. I used patterned papers from SEI, GCD Studios, Fiskars, 7 Gypsies and solid cardstock from DoubleMates. The pages hold fold out journaling and photo mats and there are several pages with tags that I cut from Nestabilities Labels One.

This mini-book will be on display at The Baker's Wife later today. If you're from the area, pop in and take a peak, maybe it'll inspire you to create one!

Supplies used for this book:
Graphic 45 Black Policy Envelope Album, Staples Trim, Flowers & Chipboard Buttons
Jillibean Soup Corrigated Shapes
Patterned Paper from SEI, GCD Studios, Fiskars, 7 Gypsies & DoubleMates
Brads
File Folders
Nestabilities Labels One
Staples
Buttons

Cards From Scraps

This morning as I was having coffee and contemplating making my workspace a little neater an idea for cards came to me. Since I'm easily diverted cleaning up my mess was put aside and I created the cards below. I have so many scraps since I can't stand to toss anything. I think they worked beautifully! The scraps are from the Paris Nights Collection from G.C.D. Studios.

I really like this stamp set by Hero Arts.

Products used for these cards: Bazzill, Paris Nights Collection by G.C.D. Studios, Nestabilities Labels One and Ribbon Tag Trio, Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot, Various Sizzix and Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, Hero Arts Clear Stamps "Life Is Not Perfect" CL 387

3-Ring Mini Scrap Book

You can't believe how happy I am to be back scrapbooking, cardmaking and just plain attempting to be creative!

I just finished this little 3-ring mini book that I have been chomping at the bit to make. I came across the video (below) by Laura Denison and just fell in love with it! The pictures of my book just don't capture how adorable it is. When you look at the video you can see how all the pages fold out and all the pockets it contains. Laura is an incredibly talented designer and artist and her projects are just beautiful. She freely shares her ideas which is just wonderful!

I used my favorite paper line by GCD Studios which is Paris Nights. I think I used every paper in the collection.

I didn't have a tab punch, so I improvised and used the Nestabilities Labels One diecut.

There are so many photo mats, journaling blocks and tags in this book that you can add quite a few pictures.

I'm not sure if I will add any more embellishments because I like it just the way it is.

My husband asked me what pictures I was going to put in here. I didn't have an answer for him. When I make something I don't always know right away what I'm going to do with it.

I've already started cutting my paper to make another book with the same collection. This book is so versatile, I can think of a few other themes that would be perfect.

It's such a nice feeling to be able to create something that you want to make and not something that you are forced into doing. I like being able to work with products of my choosing and not being told what I need to use. I'm just so happy that I have been able to spread my creative wings in the last few months and do what I want to do. Life is good!

Other products used for this project include: hero Arts Clear Stamps - Life Is Not Perfect - CL387 and Pearl Gemstones, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot, Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black.

If you get a chance, be sure to check out this video:

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Mojo Monday Sketch 144

With all the rain today it's been a perfect day to stay inside, drink hazelnut coffee (I'm addicted) and craft. It really put me in the mood to work on another card challenge. This one is for Mojo Monday Sketch 144. I really enjoy their sketches.

Words cannot describe how much I adore this paper from the "Paris Nights Collection" from G.C.D. Studios!

Other supplies include:
Bazzill Cardstock
Stamp from Tim Holtz Collection - Good Thoughts CMS085
Hero Arts Stamps - Dot Flourishes CL285
Hero Arts Gemstones
Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black
Ribbon
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge 144

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Sisters Layout

In between going through extra belongings in storage and donating three car loads this week, I was able to finish a layout. I've had an idea for this photo for quite awhile. Once I sat down to work on it, I actually changed almost everything that I originally planned to do.

I did hit a bit of a snag while using my Slice machine to cut out the letters. I was getting pretty disgusted because it wasn't working like it should. After wasting tons of time and paper, I finally got them all cut. After going through that, I asked myself why I just didn't die cut the letters with my Sizzix. I would've had them done in probably half the time. I'm not sure how many of you have a Slice, but in hindsight I now wish I would have gone with a Cricut. My husband gave me the choice and I chose the Slice because of it portability. I just haven't decided if it was a good decision or not. If I have many more episodes like this, I think I'll know the answer! I'll get off my soapbox now.

I've wanted to make flowers like these, but hadn't taken the time to try them out. Finally I sat down and made a test one. I fell in love! I made the two for this layout and also have an extra one to use on a card in the future.

These are my two daughters. Hannah, the youngest, is on the left and Sarah, the oldest, is on the right.

Here's a closer view of the flowers and the stitching. I was just going to use black thread, but decided to go with three colors so that it would show up better on the black cardstock. I really like the In Stitch'z templates by Bazzill. I've had them for quite awhile and thought they'd work well for this layout.

Fabulous Paper!

Wow! I just came across a paper collection called "Paris Nights" from GCD Studios that is a MUST HAVE in my book. It's not available here, so now I just need to figure out how I can buy it!