Clean & Simple Sketch FTL112 Challenge

Here's my submission for the Clean & Simple Sketch FTL 112 Challenge this week.

Here's the sketch:

I really enjoy creating cards for the Clean & Simple Challenges. When I saw this sketch I knew exactly what I wanted to do. After getting started, I had a very frustrating time! I thought I had some star punches, turns out I didn't. So, I thought, not a big deal, I'll just make the stars with my Making Memories Slice Design Cutter. What a fiasco! That turned into a hour long unproductive mess of nothing. Finally, I gave up and just drew my stars freehand.

I then emailed the company because I have had nothing but bad luck with this machine. Their response was not a favorable one, I'm afraid. In hindsight, I wish when my had husband asked me which machine I wanted, either a Cricket or Slice, I had chose the Cricket. Thankfully I haven't spent alot buying cartridges for the Slice, because I really don't see myself using it much it at all. Having worked with these machines, I know all too well the problems they have and how many times the company had to be contacted. I hadn't used mine too much at that time and now I wish I would have, because I would have returned it. If you have one and you haven't had any issues, good for you! I'm not sure how many people can say that.

Of course, just a little too late, I discovered I have a Sizzix die for stars. You can always count on the old reliable Sizzix dies!

I'll be dropping this card off at The Baker's Wife for display.

Products used for this card:

DoubleMates Cardstock

Patterned Paper from Jillibean Soup Christmas Chestnut Soup Line - Whole Cloves & White Sugar

Reminisce Glitter Factory Shimmering Rubies

May Arts Ribbon

Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa

We R Memory Keepers Glitter Brads

Hero Arts Clear Stamps "Joy to All" CL460
Clean & Simple Sketch FTL112

Thanks for looking!

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.

Clean & Simple Sketch FTL76

There were quite a few sketch challenges I wanted to participate in this past week, but I ran out of time. I guess there's always next week. Happily, I was able to get this one done. When I saw this sketch over at Clean & Simple, I really liked it. I created two cards "just because". I do this for no other reason except enjoyment.

I love the combination of red, white & blue.

Supplies used for this card: Bazzill in White, Making Memories Slice Noteworthy Design Card, HeidiGrace Glittered Flowers, May Arts Burlap in Red, Buttons, Hero Arts Stamps "Feather Grass" CL282, Hero Arts Small Accent Pearls, Memento Ink in Danube Blue, Blue Sheer Ribbon, Clean & Simple FTL76.

I seem to be using alot of pink lately, which is unusual. I am finding that I do like pink when paired with green and brown.

Supplies Used For This Card: Bazzill in Parakeet, Cloud 9 Design - Be Mine Plaid, Making Memories Slice Noteworthy & Basics 3 Design Card, Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa, Pink/Brown Checked Ribbon, Hero Arts Stamps "Trees Birds & Messages" CL182, Clean & Simple FTL76.

Clean & Simple Sketch FTL76

Creative Belli Sketch Challenge CBC83

I've really entered my share of challenges this week! It's been fun and doing so has really made me think creatively. The challenge going on at Creative Belli is to create a card with hearts. That's it! I probably could have entered any one of the cards I had already made, but the fun for me is to challenge myself by creating a new one.

I inked the edges of the patterned paper with Memento's Rich Brown. I stamped on my ribbon and inked the edges with both Rich Brown and Stampin' Up! Pixie Pink ink. I used my Making Memories Slice Machine to die cut the scallop heart. I hand cut the center heart out of a contrasting paper.

Products Used For This Card: Brown Cardstock from Paper By The Piece, Making Memories Patterned Paper "Newsprint Heart, Heart Floral & Glitter Heart" from Love Struck, Making Memories Slice Die Cut Machine Using the Basic 1 Cartridge, Fiskars Ticket Punch, May Art's Ribbon, Memento's Rich Cocoa Ink & Stampin' Up! Pixie Pink Ink, Hero Arts "All Occasion" Clear Stamps - CL272, Hero Arts 3 & 5 mm pearl gemstones.

CPS Sketch 150

I really didn't think I'd ever want to look at another heart or paper with pink on it after I made all the Valentine cards a few weeks back. But, I picked up some new Valentine paper from the "Love Struck" collection by Making Memories and I like how it pairs well with brown.

After having a very lazy day today, I wanted to create a card for the CPS (Card Positioning Systems) Sketch Challenge. I've participated in a few of their challenges and I love their sketches.

Thanks for looking!

Products Used For This Card: CPS Sketch 150, Heidi Grace Clear Stamps "Quotes", Bazzill Cardstock, Cardstock from Paper by The Piece, Making Memories Glitter Heart Patterned Paper from the "Love Struck" Collection, Making Memories Slice Die Cut Using the Noteworthy Cartridge, Misc Heart Punches, Ribbon (Unknown).

Card Disagreement

My husband and I are not in agreement about the card below. He thinks it's blah. I designed it for a challenge at CPS-Card Sketches (Sketch CP5142). It may not be the best card I've ever made, but it certainly isn't blah! Not every card is a masterpeice. What does he know anyway!?!??!

Products used: Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Graphic 45 "Glad Tidings" from Christmas Past Collection, Sewing Machine Stitching, Making Memories Slice Die Cut Machine - Noteworthy, Gold Ribbon, Sizzix Sizzlits Flower #3 Die, Newspaper, Gold Glitter, Making Memories Gold Specialty Glaze Acrylic Paint, Hero Arts Stamps, Black Sparkle Embossing Powder.

It's Starting.....

....to look like a Christmas mess in my scrapbook room. I have a six-foot table right in the middle where I have about 12 inches to work. I'm not quite sure what's happened to me lately. If anyone who knew me for a long time were to look at my mess, they wouldn't believe it's mine. I've always had the reputation of being very neat and particular. Of course, the hubby wouldn't agree with that anymore. I guess he's long forgotten about that Patty. I've become quite the unorganized person. Oh well.....life is too short to worry about being neat all the time.

This is just a sampling of what I've been working on lately. I'm trying to get several different cards together so I can decide how many of each to make. Once I get some other designs made, I'll change them up by using different paper patterns and embellishments. I've also been working on some cards for my sister-in-law, and I'm almost done with them.

I'm pretty happy with the way this wreath card turned out. When you see the card in person, the sparkle on the leaves really stands out.

I just love this Bazzill paper called Holly Flourish Ivy. I also used some Hero Arts stamps and gemstones, ribbon, quickie glue pen and sparkling ice glitter.

On the card below, I used cardboard for the tree trunk. I also used a tree stamp (not sure who the company is as the packaging is long gone) and paper pieced the tree together. Flower Soft was used to add snow. I never really thought of using cardboard on my cards until I visited with a customer who shops at Paper Studio. I came away with a lot of inspiration for cardmaking after my visit with Kate.

I'm kind of partial to the card below because 1) it's black and 2) I love plaid.

Other supplies used for this card include paper from Graphic 45's Communique Collection and diecuts from Making Memories Slice. I love the black sparkle embossing powder!

Graphic 45 Withdrawal

I don't know why I haven't been using my favorite line of paper lately. My new friend Marilyn from Madison sent me a couple of her cards that gave me some ideas. I created my own versions this afternoon and I'm pleased with the results. Now, I'm anxious to start using Graphic 45 paper again.

For the base of the first card I chose to use Dusk by Bazzill and I just love the color! Cardstock used is Haute Couture and Buttons A La Mode from the Fashionista Collection by Graphic 45. Making Memories Slice Machine using Basic 3 and Noteworthy cartridges were used for the diecuts. Hero Arts Clear Design "Friends" stamps, black gemstones, brads and machine stitching were also used.

I used red cardstock for the base of the next card. I also used Graphic 45's Haute Couture and Vintage Cherries from the Fashionista Collection. Hero Arts "Friends stamps, Making Memories Slice Diecutting machine using Noteworthy, machine stitching, red and black felt was used with the Flowers & Branch die from Sizzix to cut the flower, button and lace.

Fun Patterned Cards

I was watching a repeat scrapbook show on HGTV the other day and the host was showing how to make a bargello pattern. I experimented with this today and below are the results. How cool is this?

For the card above I used the Making Memories Noteworthy cartridge for the Slice Die Cutting Machine, Cosmo Cricket Earth Love Cardstock Remember, Repeat & Reuse, Hero Arts Clear Design Stamps " Friends" and brads.

The card below was designed also using the Making Memories Noteworthy cartridge, Hero Arts Clear Design Stamps " Thinking of You", We R Memory Keepers Urban Window Collection Cardstock in Boho Chic Whimsy Wild, Funky Fix & Fancy Free & Choice & Accountability and Hero Arts black gemstones.

Mini Baby Book

Below is a baby mini book I made at Paper Studio. New baby paper came in and I wanted to make something other than a card to display. I was on the Jo-Ann Craft Store site and that's where my inspiration for this little book came from. There were directions for a holiday mini booklet designed by Connie Glennon-Hall on their site and I printed out the directions and made a few changes. I actually made my book with a few more pages and I used chipboard for stability instead of just cardstock. Now I'm going to play around and make a few more books, only use different papers and possibly make the book even a little larger.

Products used for this book: Bazzill Cardstock in Apple Green, Berry Blush and Starmist, Assorted Buttons from Li'l Davis Designs, Scallop Circle and Rectangle from Nestabilities, Pink Ribbon and Pink Animal Patterned Paper from Anna Griffin, Booties and Quilt Border Patterned Paper from Carol Wilson, Dew Drop Brilliance Inks in Pearlescent Orchid and Sky Blue, May Arts Pink Sheer Ribbon, Hero Arts Baby Stamps and Making Memories Slice using the Basic 1 Design Card.