Papercraft Star 11

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Back to school is our Papercraft Star 11 challenge! Use a Cricut cartridge or die cuts for this card.

Well, by now, you all know I don't use cartridges, just my Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) program. Picked up a very cute file from my favorite SCAL site for nearly nothing $$$ wise. I think the cartoon-y feel is charming.

Pretty simple card, and I did go for the grade school feel with it.

Back to school time always feels like New Years to me -like it is a time to renew myself, plan a great year, hunker down for the fall, start thinking about Christmas. September is often still a summer month here in Oregon, but it marks the beginning for me. Love the thought of the trees turning, the nip in the air, the hot drinks, and great smells, all coming up so soon. I know that spring is when most everyone thinks of renewal, but not for me.

Can't wait now to get to all the fall projects !!! Papercraft Star has lots of fun challenges for the fall, and we sure hope you all will join us ! Today our 11th challenge opens, submissions close on Saturday 9/4/10, and voting closes Monday 9/6/10. Please join us - even if you aren't submitting I personally would love to see you on the forums, and voting for your favorite submissions.

and the little teeny print follows:

Cardstock - Recollections
Stickers - stash, unknown
wow, is that all there is ?

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City Crafter 20

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City Crafter Challenge this coming week is to let your light shine. And a big thank you to those lovely ladies there who awarded me their Artist Spotlight Award last week - most most appreciated!

Well, I was just kinda feeling this !!!

Drat those allergies, now it is weeds and I am not feeling very chipper. Hence, the witch ....

Wish I had a fun story to go with this, but sadly not.

Oh, here is a story from a couple months ago. (If I told you this one before, forgive me, and I will blame my clogged brain.)

I had just finished breakfast at my favorite hangout, and was at the cashier's. Right next to me was a police officer questioning a young man who couldn't pay for his breakfast.

Officer looking at his license -
"So, is this the address where you live, in Albany?"

YM :" Well I don't live there anymore. I kinda ran away from home."

Officer : "Dude, you're 29 years old !"

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365 Cards - Digging Deep

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A rainy day here in Oregon, very very unusual for August, and very refreshing !

365 Cards has my good friend Kristina as a guest designer today, and wow, she really came up with the most amazingly beautiful card I have seen in a very long time. Check it out !!!

The theme today is using things that are old. The requirements are :

An item (not paper) that is at least 6 months old
2 sheets of patterned paper that you've never used
An embellishment that you've had for more than a year
A stamp that you've never used but you've had for at least a year

Now, this is kinda hard for those of us who are so new to this - I never owned a stamp a year ago ! (Unless we count postage stamps, and I do have a small supply of 39 cent ones left...) However, the ribbon is ancient, the papers I have never used before, and the flowers have been around for quite a while. And, I never have used these two stamps before ... So, I am forced to my rebellious side only out of necessity !

Don't think I have ever sent a fall card (or even a Halloween one) in my life, but gosh, the colors are just amazing. There is a lot of glittery crapola on there, since I think of bright sunshine on fall leaves, (we do have one or two days a year like that here), and, well, it was a chance to do something I have never done before. Who doesn't like that !!

In the "spirit" of the fall and Halloween days to come, I have added a pic of my Spencer, he is watching a scary Scooby-Doo with his hands over his ears. Notice his little Dennis the Menace cowlick - not for nothin' that little cowlick, nope.


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365 Cards - Keep it Simple

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I know I have a theme here somewhere, but I am getting older, and it is hard to remember what it was I kept putting on this card ....

365 Cards has a keep it simple theme today, with one stamp, one ribbon, one patterned paper. Technically I did two stamps, but they ARE on top of one another, and I know that - if there ever was a rebel blog - 365 Cards is it. (rebels galore over there ...)

Halloween should be a real kick this year as Spencer has a fairly good idea of what is coming. He says he wants to be a monkey. (I think he already IS ... without costume.) He is major into Scooby-Doo right now, and how very "scary" that is, you know the tox-ick tay-woe.

Have a great weekend, submissions close tomorrow at noon eastern time at Papercraft Star, then voting begins !

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Papercraft Star 10

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A clean and simple sketch is our theme this week at Papercraft Star. And today challenge 10 opens !

I turned it on its side, and confess, I just had to add stuff, I tried my best, but that little tag leaped right out of its place and onto the card. Ok, ok, so maybe I already had a little pocket there.

And for a CAS, I really did a lot to this card. (Mostly shop on the internet, and be smart enough to use my 40% off coupon at Ben Franklin to buy that Tim Holtz embossing folder.) The corner punch isn't (a corner punch), I just turned a regular border punch and cut on the corner.

Enter your submission between now and Saturday, 8/28 - then the voting begins. Final voting day is Monday 8/30. Be sure you check out the fabulous forums at Papercraft Star while you are there. And VOTE !!

Here comes the small print...

Cardstock - Recollections
Back green paper - K & Co
Front green paper - digital from Etsy shop, Land of Enchantment
Image of child - digital from Land of Enchantment
Ink - Distress Ink, Ranger
Stickles
Embossing folder - Tim Holtz
Sentiment - Mrs. Grossman (rub-on)
Ribbon - Craft Essentials
Jewel brads - American Crafts Elements
Punch - EK
What? No SCAL this week ? What is going on ?

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City Crafter 19

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City Crafter has a star challenge this week. Oddly, I have no star punches, how on earth did that happen ? I used SCAL to cut my stars, and they are covered in glimmer mist, rock candy stickles and distress ink.

I taught computer courses, and the odd business course at a small college here. I really know how much a card means to a teacher. I am missing the classroom A LOT, but I will be teaching some classes at my lss this fall, and I hope that will help me miss school less.

I have been so busy thinking about and working on my card classes, and I am also making wedding invitations for the daughter of my bff. I apologize for not being here enough in the past couple weeks, and not getting around to see all my pals.

I promise I will do better !!

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365 Cards - I hope you dance

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This is a simple card for the 365 Cards challenge today, I hope you dance is the theme.

This is one of those themes that could take you almost anywhere, isn't it.

I chose the bagpipe player because I have an affinity for pipe music, it is the most moving music I can think of. I chose the ocean as part of the card due to its inclusion in the words to the song, "I Hope You Dance."

Depending on where you live, this is either a sunrise or a sunset ! Either way, Hope for today, or Hope for tomorrow.

Spencer made his first cards today - boy was he proud. They consisted of a piece of vanilla stock run through the Cuttlebug. He put the paper in the folder, and cranked, with just the littlest bit of help. One he made for his Pup, a birthday card, you know the folder. Brie got the Fleur-di-Lis card, I got the Star card, and he kept the Hearts card for himself.

You know, I have the same feeling when I use the Cuttlebug. WOW, look how gorgeous this is, and how talented an artist I am, and it was so easy !!! Spencer was no prouder than I ever am...

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Papercraft Star 9

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Welcome to Papercraft Star Challenge 9 !


Stranger than strange ...

When I first saw these incredible photos weeks ago that Beth and Kristina had chosen as our inspiration for this challenge I was really excited !

Love the colors, love the theme, and love the candied apples. But something happened. And I dunno what it was. Some people say their mojo disappeared, of course I prefer a conspiracy theory ... but either way, I worked and worked on this and threw away a half dozen attempts. This has never EVER happened to me.

So I thought, well I will take a little jaunt over to the etsy shop that features these photos, at urban design, and see what else is there that will give me that shot in the arm. That was when I found this photo of the stepping stones in a pool.

Immediately I thought of Dom - and his birthday is soon (day after tomorrow), and he would LOVE this, not to mention it looks exactly like the stones in the pool at the park just south of our house. Spencer loves those stones, what kid wouldn't. Impulse buy I know, but it was just so perfect for Dom's birthday.

So, while I am checking out I have a look at the seller (wanna make sure I can get this in time, don't wanna pay too much shipping) and by golly she is from Eugene, Oregon, my very own little town ! I look back at the stone photo, and YUP - it is exactly THOSE stones at THAT park ! And the ferris wheels, balloons, and apples, yup, MY fairgrounds, 3 miles away from my house.
(Did I actually EAT one of those apples too ???)

So I emailed the photographer, to see if she would meet me somewhere so I could save the postage. Sure she says, she has a business at Sheldon Plaza if I want to meet there. You mean the Sheldon Plaza that is right by my house ?? Which business ? And by golly, she owns the hair salon where I get my hair cut.

How weirdly weird is this...

And we met, and she was completely delightful, and will be visiting all your (and our) creations. I gave her this card as a thank you for the lovely photo.

Papercraft Star Challenge 9 opens today, and continues until Saturday 8/21. Voting closes on Monday 8/23. Submit, vote and spend some time in our forums - lotsa good stuff there !!

and the little teeny fine fine print :
Cardstock - Coredinations
Paper - Basic Gray
Bingo card & Tickets - Tim Holtz
Ink - Distress Ink, Ranger
Punch - Martha Stewart
Alpha letters - Jolee's
Gloss - Tim Holtz
Metal - uh oh, dunno
Ferris Wheel image - art-e-zine.co.uk

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CCCB 18

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Isn't she lovely ?

That is the theme at City Crafter this week, and I need to thank them for an Artist Spotlight from last week - thank you ladies !!!

Yup, that is the big ol' trophy Brie 'won' this summer, well it will have her name on it anyway. She won lots of stuff this year, but this is just the funniest - if you could see the whole picture she is having a giggle trying to hold it up !

She isn't glamorous, and she buys her clothes at Old Navy, she watches ESPN and cooks like a gourmet, she is a fabulous mom and a happy woman. She IS lovely, isn't she !!!

I am so proud of her every single day.

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365 Cards - A Little Bird

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I bought some paper (Cosmo Cricket) I really liked, but it sure isn't me.

365 Cards challenge was to fit a card to the sentiment, A Little Bird told Me. Not hard at all. Then why did it take me two days to make such a simple card ?

On Sunday we were driving back from a nursery about noon, and Dom asked Spencer

"how about we stop at Michael's for Grandma?"

Spencer: "they aren't open."

Dom: "how about you call them on your cell phone and ask ?"

Spencer: "how about we call them when we get home. Then we can talk about it."

So, he still isn't three yet. You can imagine how his parents 'negotiate' with him, can't you.

Life is so interesting with a little guy around.

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365 Cards - Blog inspired

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I just love the challenge today at 365 Cards - it is blog inspired !!

So, take your blog, what it looks like, what it feels like, and translate that into your card.

Generally, and I hate to say this, but the sentiment on a card is the very hardest thing for me to come up with. So I often stick to just one word. With this card it wasn't hard at all - lol lol lol - something that gets said on here every single day. lol

I did get my sockeye salmon last night (grilled in lemon and lime), and green beans sauted in garlic and olive oil, just the teeniest little char on them. I felt like I had been starving for a long time - it sure tasted like real gourmet stuff. Yummmmmmmmmm.

Don't forget to vote over at Papercraft Star - you get two votes, one for a participant and one for a dt member. There is a $10 Michael's gift card for the non-dt winner. AND, if you post ten times on the message board you are in the hunt for a $10 gift card at My Favorite Things. See you there !

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365 Cards - Ad, OCCSC 28

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A double challenge today ....

365 Cards has this incredible photo of tulips, a silver vase, books, and a lovely black background.

Isn't that just a gorgeous picture. And completely not like anything in my home, though I wish I were that type...

The sketch is from OCCSC - always doable, never far far out, but very classic sketches each week.

So, here is my card ! I bought this shiny shiny silver paper on my Sunday trip to the beach (ha, I really mean beach LSS) last week, and I already have used half of it. And a joke on me, can you see my camera reflected in that paper ?? I took so many photos of the little ATC yesterday I don't have the strength to correct it, *sigh*.

Someone came home early today, I sort of remember him from my youth. He said he would cook me dinner, either sockeye salmon or lobster. Doesn't that just sound amazing, and I don't know which to pick !! Being a die hard Oregonian, it will probably be the sockeye, a local treat, and the best salmon ever, even better than Alaskan.

When Brie was about 3 she had her first salmon. I had always avoided real fish in her diet just because of the bones and she was so teeny. That child had four helpings. She has been fishing and eating fish ever since.

Ok, enuff about fish too ! Have a great weekend, I hope to have a Spencer story on Monday...

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365 Cards - ATC

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Well, this is the first appearance of ATCs at 365 Cards. I have never made one before, and are they ever teeny tiny ! Just 2.5 x 3.5. So you gotta pack a punch quickly !

This is the same image, one large, one smaller, one brown, one green.

I figured the fact there were buildings with tall steeples made the "in-spire" an appropriate sentiment. Argh, that is so something my dad would say.

This was about the clearest photo I could get. If I feel up to it, I will try again, but I think 18 chances may be all this little guy is ever going to get ...

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CCCB 17

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City Crafter's challenge this week is hearts, and our city is San Francisco! As in, I left my heart there !

Now, this is one of the world's great cities, but sunny skies and warm weather, well not so much.
I used gray for the sky, and sparkles for the gray water, and a swirly SCAL cut for waves. (I probably should have included some gray and white stripes for those Alcatraz prisoners, I just realized that now.) The red is a nod to Chinatown. My grandfather lived in SF, and was an Asian importer, and spent a lot of time eating good food in Chinatown.

Had a lot of fun making this. I just love the way Kirsty always manages to get cities involved in her challenges over at CCCB.

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Papercraft Star 8

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Papercraft Star opens today with a 3 B challenge - buttons, bows and bling !! Well who doesn't love that!

For fun, the vintage card is my favorite to make. I have only done one other for Papercraft Star I think, and I don't know why, I shall have to remedy that !

The challenge is open until 8/14, voting will continue til Monday 8/16. This is a really easy challenge, so head on over and submit yours ! AND return to vote for your favorite.

Well, there is so much to say about this I had better get to the small print.

Details:
Cardstock - Recollections
Paper - DCWV, Basic Gray
Flower - Prima
Button - American Crafts
Cord (on button) - Bead party
Fiber - EK Success
Stickles - Rock Candy, Tim Holtz
Stamp - Tim Holtz
Jute - stash
Brads - Recollections
Paper for top tag - Land of Enchantment
Bottom Tag - freebie from Tattered Images
Seam binding - old
Punch - Martha Stewart
Ink - Distress Ink, Ranger

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Papercraft Star 8 Opens tomorrow !!

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Papercraft Star Challenge 8 opens tomorrow !

The theme this week is buttons, bows and bling - well you gotta know you want to do that challenge, who wouldn't !!

So here is a teeny sneak peak. Come back tomorrow, and join us at Papercraft Star for another fun challenge !!!

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The Shabby Tea Room 22

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This is the inspiration photo from this week's Shabby Tea Room challenge, entitled Reflections.

The top of the easel card has an acetate frame, and the bottom some silver embossed paper, both of which reflect beautifully. There is a gold leaf, and some bling that fit the bill too !

I only looked at the inspiration photo once, decided on the color of candlelight, some silver, some gold and some sparkle. So, it is what it is...

Hope you enjoy my take on this challenge.





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365 Cards - color Scheme

This card just showed up here, waiting for its photo to be taken. It doesn't look like me at all, at least I don't think so.

365 Cards had this color challenge today, very unusual colors and combination.

I don't know, I don't know... I like it, but ... I really do... I can imagine looking at it and saying I like it, but not identifying with it one iota.

Well, that is the thing I love about playing at 365 Cards - Pam comes up with some pretty off-the-wall stuff for us. The challenges may look a little strange at first, but she sure has a way of making us all think and stretch ourselves. I don't know how to learn and grow any better than that.

Have a great day, and I will be back again !!









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365 Cards - SSketch, day 161

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It has been quite a while since I posted a card. Just hiding under a rock, I am... I told Dom I was way behind, but I dunno what I am behind from...

Today is the Sunday sketch at 365 Cards. I was just posting on the mb over at Papercraft Star that I get really OC when I do sketches, and always have to do them as close as I can, so wooooo, I stretched it. lol Very simple little card.

Took Spencer to the beach yesterday, and the amazing Oregon Aquarium, once home to Keiko the whale.

Brie had asked us to figure out where he had wanted to eat dinner the night before, he told her it had "pizza, ice-cream, and red letters." So we all discussed it while traveling, and I thought I had figured it out, and said "oh you mean Putters?" "yeh yeh" he said, "but I call it My Party Starts In 15 Minutes." ok now, he did have his 2nd b-day party there last November, hmmmmmm

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Papercraft Star 7

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Papercraft Star Challenge 7 opens today, with this inspirational photo. It looks like a baby's car seat to me, what do you think...






I like to do a lot of black and white, with a different "sparkle" color thrown in. AND, since it was in the photo, that color today is two shades of yellow.

Submissions for challenge 7 close on Saturday 8/7/10, and voting closes 8/9/10. If you are not going to submit a layout or card, be sure to head on over to Papercraft Star and vote for your favorite. It is a wonderful show of respect and support for your fellow artist. AND, while you are there, be sure to check out the forum - lots of discussions, and very interesting too.

And now, for the fine print...

Details:
Paper : checked (K & Co), yellow flowers ( Debbie Mumm) and black swirls (Recollections.)
Brads : Making Memories
String : Older than most of my readers
Star : Die cut from an old pkg, history unknown
Punch : EK
Sentiment : Heidi Grace

If I forgot something, please ask !

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365 Cards - Recipe 2

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A recipe card today at 365 Cards. At first it looked like a lot of things on a card, which made me think vintage, but as it went along it got away from that look completely.

So, here is the recipe !

4.25x5.5 Card
3x3 patterned paper
Stitching
3 rhinestones
Sentiment
1 stamped image
2 Buttons

And I guess tomorrow one more ingredient gets added...

I stamped on the background, and tried to make it look like a continuation of the pattern on the paper. ENJOY !

And be sure to come back tomorrow for Week 7 Challenge on Papercraft Star ! You do not want to miss it.

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City Crafter 15

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City Crafter has a postal challenge this week, well I guess I mean for the next 5 hours or so, as I am getting this in pretty darn close to the end of it.

Anyway, use a postcard or stamps, or some sort of mail related item. I added the little resin fairy, 25 cents at my Ben Franklin. They have a lot of junk from a local craft company, who shall remain nameless as I did a ton, and I mean a ton of design work for them some years ago and they just were not very good at paying their bills. Grr, as Kristina would say. Tho, I finally did get my $$$$$... I just won't give them any credit here.

Anyway, didn't want to pass up the opportunity to do a green and purple card - my most favorite color combo EVER (I know I know, I say that a lot, but I really really mean it this time)... honestly ...

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