Five Minute Card Challenge!

     Getting things done can be a bit of a challenge for me, I'll admit. I'm a procrastinator, a daydreamer, and a downright forgetter! If you've ever received a birthday card from me on time (or in some cases at all) you are among very select group. I don't mean to be this way, but I am no matter how hard I try.

     
     Do you ever have an "Oh my goodness, that wedding is today!" or a "It's your birthday, isn't it?" moment? I have them a lot, so here's a quick and easy example of what can be done in five minutes when it just has to be!  

     I've been wanting this medallion stamp forever, and I think it's my new favorite. It goes with absolutely everything, and when combined with a little sponge dauber action, something truly artistic happens. Sure, these cards are plain and could be fancied up with a little more time, but when you only have five minutes ...

Post your blog in the comment section with your own five-minute creation. What can you come up with? I can't wait to see!


Materials used: 
Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Black Classic Ink Pads*
Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla Cardstock*
Medallion Background Stamp*
Sponge Daubers*
Occasional Quotes Hostess Stamp Set*
Pearls from Gia's Stash :)


*Stampin' Up Product

Simply the Best

     I spent this week working on a simple page about the girls' first grade teacher, Deb Persons. What an AWESOME person! By the end of the year we became good friends, and Mrs. Persons is still encouraging and supporting them even though they've moved on to second grade. What a precious gift she has been to our family!

Goodies used:
Play Date Designer Series Paper *
Play Date Quick Accents*
Top Note Die*
Banner Stamp from Party This Way Set*
Hemp Twine*
Heart Mask, Tim Holtz
Real Red Classic Ink*
Thickers Black Glitter Alphas
Misc. Scraps, Buttons and Rubs from my stash
*Stampin' Up Product


Have you thanked a teacher in your life lately who's Simply the Best?

CPS 207 Get Well Penguin

     Hi everyone! I finished this cute little penguin card for a dear piano student of mine who had surgery recently. She loves penguins, so this little guy from the Cricut "Winter Frolic" cartridge seemed perfect! I based the layout on Card Positioning System's Sketch #207.

Supplies:

DCWV Card Base

Card Stock in Black*, White*, Melon Mambo*

Daffodil Delight Marker*, Designer Series Paper*

Paper Scraps from my Stash

Cricut Cartridge "Winter Frolic"

Stamp, Joann Crafts

Black Classic Ink*

Melon Mambo Classic Ink*

*Available from Stampin' Up!

     A new week is looming already! I hope it's a good one!

CPS 206 Love

    I'm so glad vintage is in right now since I'm a lover of all things fancy, lacy, and girly! I recently got my "Baby Blossoms" stamp set from Stampin' Up's spring mini catalog, and I've been dying to use it on a project. The matching paper is gorgeous too. So fun!!

Here's the sketch this card is based on:

Supplies Used:

Baby Blossoms Stamp Set*

Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper*

Baja Breeze Card Stock*

Antique White Card Stock

Baja Breeze Classic Ink*

Not Quite Navy Classic Ink*

Pear Pizazz Classic Ink*

Versamark Pad*

Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Clear Embossing Powder

Hero Arts White Embossing Powder

Martha Stewart French Doily Edge Punch

Dresden Trim

Antique White Velvet Ribbon, Maya Road

White Seam Binding, Joann Fabrics

Rhinestone Bling, K & Company

Tim Holtz Grungeboard Key

Tim Holtz Fragments

Ranger Glossy Accents

Diamond Stickles

*Available from Stampin' Up

It's Friday! Hooray! I hope your weekend is full of family, relaxation, and tons of crafting!

CPS 205 Queen Bee

Snow! What a morning!

I do get tired of it after a while, but when I slow down and actually appreciate how beautiful falling snow is I feel a great sense of peace. Imagine never seeing a landscape covered in glittering diamonds! How lucky I am!

I barely made the deadline for CPS this week, but I was in the mood for inking last night. I'm fighting off a cold and needed to engage in a little scrap therapy! I'm usually a procrastinator, but I think I've got my mom's Mother's Day card done well ahead of time for a change. Here's the sketch:

And here's my take on the sketch:

Supplies:

Crumb Cake Card Stock*

Black Card Stock*

Script Stamp, Cornish Heritage Farms

Queen Bee Clear Stamps, Pink Paislee

Versamark Pad*

Barn Door, Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Tattered Angels Gold Glimmer Mist

Hero Arts Gold Embossing Powder

Patterned paper scraps

Manilla Tag

Lots of Tags Sizzlits Die*

Maya Road Hat Pin

Prima Florals

Embroidered Rose, Devonshire Embellishments Pack

K & Company Dresden Trim

Twill Tape*

Cream Pearl

Linen Thread*

*Available from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by! Have an extra mug of hot chocolate for me!

Notably Ornate: CPS #200

I just received a new stamp set from Stampin' Up and was anxious to try it out with this week's CPS sketch. The set is called "Notably Ornate," and it's been on my wish list for a long time!

Here's the sketch:

And here's my take on the sketch:

I used the following supplies:

October Afternoon scraps from my scrap box

Crumb Cake Cardstock*

Very Vanilla Cardstock*

Basic Gray ink*

Not Quite Navy ink*

Antique Brads*

Notably Ornate Stamp Set*

Trendy Trees Stamp Set (sentiment)*

Crochet Trim

Martha Stewart French Lace Punch

Random Blingies from my box :)

(*Stampin' Up supplies)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card Positioning Systems and Stamp a Stack!

Hello, friends!!

The snow is falling in beautiful Montana, which means it's the season for Christmas crafts!

This week I've been playing with my new Stampin' Up toys, and I just love the vintage themes from the Holiday Mini. I also saw a preview of the spring Occasions Mini this week, and the vintage trend carries on with some absolutely gorgeous shabby chic products! I can't wait to share them!

I decided to get in on the fun at Card Positioning Systems this week. Here's my interpretation of sketch #193:

I've also been busy designing a couple of cards for the "Stamp a Stack" I'll be hosting on December 4th from 1-4 pm! The projects are simple and beautiful so you can come and get all your Christmas cards done in one afternoon! (Sorry for the picture quality; the house is very dark this morning!)

Design #1

Design #2

The cost will be $6 for each set of 5 cards completed if you bring your own adhesive or $8 if you opt to use mine. I will have all of the card elements cut and ready to assemble so you can focus on socializing and getting covered in glitter!!!

Please RSVP by Wednesday, December 1 with the number of sets of each design you would like to create so I can have all the materials ready. I can't wait to craft with all of you!

Artistic Etchings Mini Box and Card Set

Hello, crafting friends!

Sorry for the long blogging break, but life gets crazy when school starts! I'm so grateful for these years raising my daughters, and I hope I can squeeze every little bit of joy out of every day we have while they're young, even when the days seem long and repetitive. I never could have imagined how much a heart could love other people without those girls!

I hosted my first Stampin' Up event this weekend, and I had an absolute blast! Thank you so much to all of you who attended. I got to introduce quite a few ladies to the joys of paper crafting, and nothing could make me happier!

I would love to start sharing project directions and photos on my blog, so here is the first installment for your idea file! Thank you to fellow demonstrator Angie Kennedy Juda for the great inspiration!

Mini Pizza Box with Matching Mini Cards:

Mini Pizza Box:

You'll need: 5 1/4 by 9 1/2" piece of Basic Black card stock with an extra piece for punching circles, 2" length of white satin ribbon, 3" square of Designer Series Paper in Real Red, Whisper White card stock for stamping, 2 1/2" and 2" circle punch, Real Red and Basic Black Classic Ink, Stampin' Dimensionals, strong adhesive, and the Artistic Etchings stamp set from Stampin' Up.

1) Score the black card stock at 1", 4 1/4", 5 1/4", and 8 1/2" across the long horizontal side and at 1" along both vertical edges. Cut from the edge of the card stock up to the first score line on both horizontal sides.

2) Fold ribbon over and glue to bottom of 3" square paper to create a pull tab.

3) Stamp the medallion image on white card stock with Real Red ink. Stamp another image of your choice over the medallion in black. Punch with 2" circle punch and layer over a 2 1/2" black circle. Adhere layered circles to 3" square with Stampin' Dimensionals.

4) Attach 3" square to top of box. Assemble box by placing a strong adhesive (like sticky strip) on the outside of each small square tab, folding them to the inside.

Mini Cards:

You will need: 3" by 6" piece of Basic Black card stock with extra for punching circles, 2" circle punch, 2 3/4" square of Tempting Turquoise Designer Series Paper, 2 3/4" square of white card stock, 4" piece of white satin ribbon, 2" circle punch, Whisper White card stock for stamping, Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black Classic Ink, Snail adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, and the Artistic Etchings stamp set from Stampin' Up.

1) Score and fold black card stock at 3" to form card base.

2) Stamp "Amour" from Artistic Etchings set on square of white card stock in Tempting Turquoise and adhere to inside of card.

3) Stamp medallion in Tempting Turquoise and overlay with the image of your choice in Basic Black. Hand cut around medallion or punch with 1 1/2" circle punch. Layer over a 2" black circle. Layer circle images over 2 3/4" square of Designer Paper with Stampin' Dimensionals.

4) Tie a loose knot with satin ribbon and adhere under main image.

5) Adhere 2 3/4" turquoise square to front of card base.

To alter the look of your project, any combination of Designer Series Paper and matching ink can be used. Have fun!!

Jessica

My Latest Card Creations

Hello, friends! I haven't been in much of a card-making mood this summer, but I did manage to use up a bit of my paper stash this week. I had a blast with the Devonshire paper set and found myself using it over and over again. I think the huge flower patterns just speak to me. :) I also used the "Friends 24-7" stamp set from Stampin' Up.

I made this one out of an ATC that I created using the Botanical Bliss stamp set from Cornish Heritage Farms. I used the same set to stamp the twill tape. The background was stamped with "Friends 24-7" of course, my favorite set!

Happy Stamping, dear friends!

My First Quilt

After seriously SIX YEARS ((!!!)) I finally finished my first quilt. It's a McKenna Ryan applique wall-hanging I started to practice my free motion skills before moving on to her "On the Farm" pattern. I think it turned out cute for my first try, but after my first experience with monofilament thread, I'm wondering how in the world I'll ever get through the bigger project with my sanity intact. If any of you have any monofilament secrets, please share!