Mad for Paper

Hello, Hanging out again over at the House of Cards .   This week we are to use the same photo and/or colors to create a  Shabby & Vintage card.  I went with the colors. Here is my card:  I really like sketch challenges because design/layout has always been the hardest part of making a card for me. Or so I thought. Then I  discovered the HOC Challenges with a different theme each week. Are just the image, pearls and lace enough to make this shabby & vintage.  I have no idea, my brain just doesn't work that way.   I hope so!   More Wink of Stella on the corset and flowers. I added the hat pin at the last minute. The lacey stuff on the pin is really cool.   It is elastic, kind of like a net. Not sure where it came from, but sometimes it is just the perfect touch. Yes, you are right. Those pearls are covering up a mistake. I got a smidge of ink at the end of the sentiment. Luckily, I am loving the pearl cluster

Hi, I am participating in Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge . Here is the sketch:  Sometimes, I make a card and feel like I have knocked it out of the park.   And sometimes, I am just eh.  Know what I mean?  I am sure someone will appreciate it but it doesn't really do it for me. This is one of those cards:  Eh... maybe I am just not a pink girl?  Can't quite put my finger on it.  Tried many different things in the place of the flower.  A little die cutting. Maybe I will mess around with it some?  Will let you know. Ang

Hi there, I am doubling up again, I know, I am such a daredevil. I really like the sketch at the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge , something about the flags. So I decided to use it again.   And then for the current Shabby Tea Room #194 , we are to use red, brown and white with this image provided as inspiration: I really like using this color combo especially with coffee themed sets. Here is my card:  The red flag is made with Tim Holtz Kraft Core Coordinations paper and embossed with an EF.   I love that paper. The stamp set is a new Hero Arts set. I am a sucker for any coffee themed stamp sets, I probably have about 8 of them.    You can't really see it in the photo but there is a little bit of Wink of Stella pen on the foam.   I love that thing, too. Do you love coffee themed stamps sets too?  Tell me about your favorite, I always have room for more. Thanks, Ang

mmm...makes me think of In and Out burgers.  Haven't had one of those in years. Anyway, this is not about burgers.   I am, once again, attempting to cover two challenges with one card. first up, Runway Inspired Challenge #48 :  I had a hard time trying to figure out the design on the fabric, so I pretty much just went with the colors. next up, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Here is my card:  A little more detail: I kinda love this card. I really liked working with this sketch, I may do another card. The patterned papers are Authentique. Thanks for stopping by, I'll see you soon! Ang

Hi there, Playing along with the Waltzingmouse Fanatics again.  They are on challenge #6 ; make a Christmas card using non-Christmas WMS stamps (except for the sentiment). I am in luck again;  I still only have 2 WMS sets and neither one is Christmas themed. Here is the inspiration photo; it cracks me up:  So, I used my Funky Flowers again, but made a wreath.   The other stamps are not WMS but I think that is OK.   Here is my card:  I don't have any red sequins, so pink and gold it is.  I kind of like the color combo for Christmas.  A little blingy love:  It is a little hard to see in the photo, but I stamped the tree once on the back of the vellum  and then on the paper behind.   I like the way it came out. Happy Holidays, Ang

I am again participating in the House of Cards Challenge .  This week we are challenged to use the inspiration photo/colors and make a Classic & Elegant card:    I am dedicating this card to one of my favorite people in the world.   Today is my sister, Marianne's, birthday.  I call her Melly (long story).   She is a classy and elegant person so I thought this card would be perfect for her:  I love the way  this poppy came out:  A little bling: My sister is my best friend in the world.  I love her more than I can say.  Luckily we only live about 1 hour away from each other so we get to see each other often. I love you Melly. Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day.  Ang

I was 3 years old.  I am almost glad that I don't have any specific memories of this day.  I am not good with this kind of stuff.  In my memory, probably 9-11 is the worst thing I can remember.  When that day rolls around every year, I tend to stick my head in the sand and just try to get through the day.  I can't deal with it and the sadness.  I imagine that feeling is familiar to many people in the US, and the world for that matter, that were old enough to really remember this horrific day. God Bless JFK and the entire Kennedy family.

Howdy, I am excited to be participating in the Shabby Tea Room Challenge again, as they treated me so nicely last time.    Christmas challenges are tough for me.  I think I only have 1 or 2 Christmas stamp sets.  I learned one year that I really don't like making Christmas cards, at least not the same card over and over.  One year I made 50 of the same card and I hated it.  I am not an assembly line stamper.   So, I generally don't buy Christmas crafting/stamping supplies.   When my kids were young I would scrapbook Christmas so I have a little bit of Christmas paper but that is it.  Honestly, I love when the season is over and all the stamp companies get back to non-holiday releases.   I do love Christmas and make almost all of the gifts for friends.  Just not all the craft products. Anyway, here is the inspiration photo for this week: We are to use gingham, red, blue and ivory.  I realized with this inspiration, I don't really do country too well,

Hi there, Playing along with Seize the Sketch again. Here is the sketch:  I really enjoyed working with the sketch and am very happy with the way my card came out.   Here it is:  I just love this little cluster of pearls:  When I was finishing up the card, it just said "sympathy" to me.   I think it is perfect for a sympathy card. I love the color combo of blue and brown, and I'm always happy to throw a little green in. Thanks for visiting, Ang

My card won the weekly challenge over at the House of Cards Challenge blog.  I can't beleive it.  Again, I am honored and very humbled. Thanks HOC. Ang

My submission to last weeks Shabby Tea Room challenge won 3rd place.  I am, again, stunned and honored.  Apparently, I also get to be a guest designer in the last week of December.  Can't wait! Back tomorrow with a gorgeous submission (if I do say so myself) for this weeks Seize the Sketch Challenge. thanks Ang

We see so much orange and red this time of year.   I really love the vibrant combination and this image caught my eye: This is for The Shabby Tea Room Challenge #192 - Holiday Baking.  When I first saw the photo, I immediately thought of a cafe or kitchen wares store with a little sign outside.  This started out as a card but it was bugging me because I couldn't see myself actually sending it to anyone.  Just seemed more like a tag, so thru the magic of Undo, it is now a tag.  Much more appropriate, I think:  This is my first time using the chalkboard technique, I really like it.  It is not quite as messy as it is showing in this photo.  OK, showing my age here; when I was a kid, I think that we had these exact Pyrex dishes.  Who remembers them?  Wish I would have hung on to those. The adorable stamps are from Wplus9's Fresh Baked set; they have dies too!  Love them.   A little ribbon and a tag it is: Thanks for visiting. Ang

<---   See that new image over there? I am so proud, my latest entry to the Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge was chosen as number 1. Thank you Tara and Deborah. Ang

Today I am sharing a card I made for 2 different challenges.  I don't think I have done two at once before; I have enough trouble keeping track of them one at a time.  This card just came together in such a way that it worked for both. The first challenge is Sketchbook Saturday #109 : The second challenge is a new (to me) one that I came across recently, it is the House of Cards challenge. They do an interesting take on challenges.  Apparently they use the same color/photo inspiration for an entire month but have you make different types of cards each week.   Here is the current inspiration:    So this week the challenge is to make a clean and simple (CAS) card.  Next week using the same photo will be Shabby & Chic and then a different type each week.  I think this may be a bit challenging for me as I have never really been able to classify my style in scrap-booking and/or card-making.  The closest I can come to classifying it is calling it eclectic; I a

Hi, Today I am participating in the RIC #47 .   They always have great photos of beautiful clothing.  This is my first time participating.  Here is the inspiration photo: I have always love blue and orange as a color combination. My card actually turned out pretty simple.  Let me tell you, it did not have simple beginnings.  I started with this elaborate border, ribbons attached to paper and then die cut.  Looked great in my head but not so good in reality.  The ribbons all frayed and it just looked sloppy, not the neat, crisp look I had imagined. Here is my card: Everything on this card took two or three attempts.  I stamped crooked, several attempts at butterflies to get the right color.  I eventually swiped a few Copics across white paper and it was perfect.  I also sprayed the butterflies with Perfect Pearls mist. This was my first time using sequins and I really like them.  They are so simple to use but add a  nice subtle touch, which is what I prefer

Hi, Today I am participating in a fairly new sketch challenge, Seize the Sketch .    This is #7 for them, here is the sketch: I really like the sketch and decide to give it a go, here is my card:  I almost feel like I cheated with this card because it came together so easily.   Most of the items were already sitting on my desk.  That luscious button is from SU.  The sentiment from a new Avery Elle set I got.   I just love the tall skinny letters.  When I was grabbing the card photos from my computer, this photo caught my eye.  These are my two beautiful boys that are, now, 19 and 17.  My oldest is off to college (2nd year) and my "little guy" as I call him (he is 6 feet tall) is a junior in high school.  I know it is such a cliche, but the years really do just fly by.   Thanks for visiting! Ang