Girlie Birthday Cards

What a weekend I've had! It started out this past Saturday morning when I decided to mow the front lawn before my husband came home. I hate for him to come home to lots of tasks to do...I know how tiring travel can be. Anyways...as I was mowing I "got in a fight" with a red ant hill and lost. The red ants just seem to love biting my ankles...i have bites every summer from them.

Well, I brushed off all the ants, finished mowing the lawn then came in and showered off all the grass stuck to my legs. There was one bite in particular that really stung and itched....and yes...I scratched it, which is a big NO NO when it comes to bites. Well...by that afternoon half my ankle and some of the top of my foot was swollen. It was really bizarre.

I promptly called my friends to ask their advice and they fed me what knowledge they had and also brought me some Benadryl. Well the next morning when I woke up I literally had an elephant sized foot/ankle. I promptly went to the ER and was diagnosed with Cellulitis. I'm now on antibiotics and have to keep my foot elevated for no less than a week. Needless to say...I'm going a little crazy stuck here on my backside all day long. I keep on thinking of all that needs to be done and it's driving me nuts! Thankfully I have a laptop to entertain me!

Anyways....on to my cards I made yesterday using Jenn's sketch at I {heart} 2 Stamp. Here is a photo of the sketch I used....


For the first card, I used my Stampin' Up! set called She's All That. I decided to pull out some Basic Grey CS from the Blush collection. I love the pinks and blues in this paper pack.


First I inked up my image using close to cocoa craft ink, stamped it onto very vanilla CS then clear embossed it. I matted that onto some rose red CS and added paper piercings along the left side.

The card base is done with soft suede CS. I used a piece of rose red that is embossed with my floral fantasy embossing folder and matted that with some barely banana CS. The bottom panel uses a piece of the Basic Grey DP matted with barely banana. I added some ribbon along the seam.



Next I added a strip of soft suede to the top panel matted with barely banana CS. I added a circle of barely banana then adhered the main image with dimensionals.

Lastly I added a Heidi Swapp ghost flower with a button for the middle. The inside is finished off with some matching DP.


My next card uses the set called Owl Together. For this card I turned the sketch on it's side to better accommodate my image.


I stamped my tree branching and middle owl onto some naturals white CS using basic black craft ink. That was clear embossed and colored in using my watercolor wonder crayons. I then stamped, on a separate piece of CS the other 2 owls, a balloon and the party hat. Those were each colored in with my crayons then adhered to the image using dimensionals. The image was matted with chocolate chip CS. A corner rounder was used on one corner.



The card base is done with chocolate chip CS. I used my Basic Grey DP from the Blush collection in 2 patterns for the BG matted with blush blossom CS. A piece of burgundy twill was added to the cover the seam. I then added a strip of cranberry crisp matted with pretty in pink.



The owl image was then adhered with dimensonals with a circle of pretty and pink peeking out from the bottom. I added my greeting over top of that.

Lastly I adhered the balloon with dimensional adhesive and added some matching DP to the inside.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

{SMILES}



Supplies: SU stamp sets, She's All That and Owl Together. Su CS in rose red, barely banana, soft suede, very vanilla, chocolate chip, naturals white, blush blossom, pretty in pink. SU ink in close to cocoa craft and classic, basic black craft. Watercolor wonder crayons, aqua painter, circle punches, ribbon, brads, ticket corner punch, corner rounder, clear EB powder, paper piercer, mat pack, dimensional adhesive, ghost flower.

Weekend Sketch Challenge

I've been cleaning like a mad women all day today getting ready for my hubby to return from his 3 week TDY trip in Ft Lewis Washington. In realty, it's been about 4 weeks since we've really seen each other. I went to the Stampin' Up! convention in Utah for a week and didn't return home until 10:30 p.m. on August 8th. Well...my husband turned around and left at about 3 a.m to catch a shuttle bus to leave for Ft Lewis.....mere hours after I returned! Needless to say...I'm anxiously awaiting his return! He should be walking through the door by midnight tonight! This time he'll be home for a whole 6 weeks before taking off again...this time for Ranger School!

Anyways...in my busy day I managed to find time to go to my craft room and make a couple cards. I just knew I had to use Beate's sketch challenge! I love the layers it has and her card she did with it is breathtaking! Here is a photo of the sketch....



I thought this sketch would look fabulous with a retired hostess set that I just happen to love....Infinite Goodness. I don't know what it is about the pears in this set but they sooo appeal to me!



I started out by using my nestabilities to create a circle out of very vanilla CS. I then stamped my pear image on it using chocoalte chip craft ink and clear embossing it. That was colored in using mellow moss and groovy guava. I also added some pearl-ex all over the image to give it some shimmer.

I then used my color spritzer tool with my chocolate chip marker to break up the vanilla a bit. That was matted onto chocoalte chip and mellow moss circles created with my nestabilities.
The card base is done with chocoalte chip CS. I used a piece of my DCWV Old World paper pack for the BG matted with mellow moss. Each layer was sponged and distressed.


A strip of mellow moss matted with chocoalte chip was used along the bottom. I sponged the mellow moss with clsoe to cocoa then crumbled it up to give it a weathered look. That was adhered to the card with dimensional adhesive.

Next I ran a piece of groovy guava CS though my cuttlebug with the Floral Fantasy embossing folder, sponged the edges and matted that with some chocoalte chip CS. I used my color spritzer tool on this piece also. That was then adhered to the card.

The greeting is from my SU set called Birthdays Count. I stamped that with cocoalte chip craft ink onto very vanilla CS...then sponged the edges and used my color spritzer tool on it as well. I then cut a "V" on the end and adhered that to the card.



I adhered the pear image to the card using dimensionals...then I stamped another pear and a flower from the set. Those were colored in , cut out and adhered to the card using dimensionals.

Lastly I finished off the inside with very vanilla CS and a piece of "weathered" mellow moss CS.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

{SMILES}




Supplies: SU stamp set Infinite Goodness and Birthday Count. SU CS in very vanilla, chocoalte chip, mellow moss, groovy guava. SU ink in chocolate chip craft, close to cocoa, mellow moss, groovy guava, apricot appeal. Nestabilities, clear EB powder, pearl-ex, cuttlebug and embossing folder, dimensional adhesive, color spritzer tool, chocolate chip marker.

Quick Snowflake Ornament

Can you believe this...two posts in one day??? This is gong to be a short post though....I have kids to get bathed and ready for bed. I have a few projects I made for my Super Sign Up that I had a table at yesterday, so I thought I'd share this ornament I made before I got too behind.



I used my Big Shot and Bigz Snowflake die...as well as one of my snowflakes sizzlets for the middle. The CS used was kraft and white CS for each layer.



After each snowflake was cut out I ink them up with my versamark dazzle, front and back and clear embossed it. That gave it a little shimmer and the EB powder made the CS just a bit stronger. (of course you can't really see the shimmer on the computer screen...but trust me...it's there) I then layered them together and attached it all with a corduroy brad int he center.



Lastly I tied some white taffeta and chocolate chip ribbon around the top .



Thanks so much for stopping by today!



{SMILES}



Supplies: Big Shot, Large snowflake die, snowflake sizzlet, kraft and white CS. Corduroy button brad, versamark ink, clear EB powder, ribbon

Blogger's Challenge...It's a Sketch!

This weeks bloggers challenge was to use the sketch provided. If you follow my blog at all you know I love sketches so this was a welcome challenge! I was so enthralled with making my cards though that I left out one part of the sketch...the bottom embellishment. I didn't realize this until both cards were made so it was too late by then to fix it! {sheepish grin}

Here is the sketch that I followed....

....and here is the first card I made. I decided to ink up my new set from the Holiday Mini called Just Beclause. I think this Santa is adorable and love the sentiment that comes with it! It reads....Believe in Santa just because! CUTE!



I started out by stamping by image with black craft ink and clear embossing on some naturals white CS. The white CS was cut out using my nestabilities. I then used my watercolor crayons to color him all in and matted him with dimensionals to a scalloped square of real red. I added some glitter to his santa suit using my 2-way glue pen and dazzling diamonds.



The card base was down with kraft CS. I used basic black matted with real red for the BG. I punched a scalloped edge along the bottom of the real red CS. I added my ribbon, which is scrunched by pulling the thread on top and bottom.



The inside was also finished off with the sentiment that comes with the set, a scalloped strip of real red CS and coordinating ribbon.

My next card uses the Halloween set from the Holiday mini called Twick or Tweet. I love this skeleton image...it makes me laugh!

I inked up the skeleton image using basic black craft ink then clear embossing it. That was then color in using my watercolor crayon's.


The ticket corner punch was used on all 4 corners and that was mounted on rich razzleberry then basic black CS. I added black brads to each corner.

The card base is down the basic black CS. I used Cast a Spell DSP matted with rich razzleberry for the BG. There is paper piercings added at the top and bottom of the BG. I then added some black grosgrain ribbon along the bottom.



I inside is also finished off by using naturals white CS and stamping a potion of the skeleton. A strip of rich razzleberry was added at the bottom.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a fabulous weekend! I know I will...my hubby is finally returning after 3 weeks in Washington! :o)

{SMILES}




Supplies: SU stamp sets, Just Beclause, Twick or Tweet. SU CS real red, basic black, naturals white, kraft, rich razzleberry, Cast a Spell. SU ink in basic black craft, going gray. Paper piercer, mat pack, watercolor crayons, aqua painter, ticket corner punch, scalloped edge punch, nestabilities, dimensional adhesive, ribbon, brads.

Decorative Wall Hanging

I've admired wall hanging similar to this for quite a while and have been itching to make one. Well I finally broke down and bought the scalloped square die for my Big Shot along with some chipboard from Stampin' Up! I was a little nervous to cut the chipboard...being a new thing for me...but I was pleasantly surprised when the Big Shot cut through it like butter! I can't belive how quick and easy it was! I can foresee plenty of chipboard shapes in my future! LOL...

Anyways....as I was saying, I've been wanting to make one of these for a while so I searched through my DSP so see what would match my home decor best. I tend to gravitate to earthy colors as you can probably tell from most of my cards. My living is done up with earthy greens and pops of burnt orange, deep yellows and oak colored wood. I thought the brown paisley DSP from To the Nines would be perfect.

I started out by cutting 4 chipboard squares usingmy scalloped square sizzix die and my big shot. I then cut 4 scallop squared of the DSP. That was adhered to the chipboard using a spray adhesive I picked up at my local craft store.

Next I used my nestabilities and cut 4 naturals ivory squares and 4 so saffron scalloped squares for the insides of each of the chipboard squares. The natural ivory pieces were embossed using my paisley cuttlebug embossing folder.

I then used some SU double stitched chocoalte chip grosgrain ribbon to each square. That was attached by using some large brown brads.


My next step was to cover my chipboard letters (which spell Home) with ink. I first covered them all with very vanilla ink and clear embossed them. I then covered them again...but his time with chocoalte chip ink and clear embossed that. I did both steps so that it would crackle a bit when I embossed the chocoalte chip layer and give it an aged, distressed look. Each letter was adhered to the squares using Crystal Effects.

My next step was to decorate each square individually. For each square the natural ivory and so saffron square are adhered with dimensional adhesive.

For the H square I attached a little ribbon to the side of the scallop saffron square then used my sizzlets to create a flower. So saffron and close to cocoa CS were used for the flower and mellow moss and always artichoke were used for the leaves. Each of those layers were sponged then adhered together with glue dots and dimensionals. I used a chocolate chip brad for the center of the flower.



For the O square I used my Birds and Branches die to created a close to cocoa bird for the corner. (I have to incorporate a bird into my design seem how I do have a few bird items in my home) I then used my vanilla hodgepodge hardware to had a sentiment to the left bottom corner. The sentiment is from my retired warm words set. I carted the flower using my 3 flower punch and chocolate chip CS. The center of the flower is a vanilla brad.



Now onto the M square. For this one I added some very vanilla grosgrain ribbon along the center before I adhered the main image. I attached that with some chocolate chip brads. I wanted to keep this one fairly simplistic.



Lastly is the E square. I made another flower using my sizzlets for this square and added that to the bottom left. I also added some so saffron ribbon to the E with a chocoalte chip brad holding it in place.

Here is a photo showing the dimension....



I have to mention I have a big day today...I'll be at the Community Spouses club here on post today displaying what I do and there will be a door prize. So if you live near me be sure to stop by and check out my stuff....finger through the catalog...and possibly book a party!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

{SMILES}







Supplies: SU sizzix dies in Birds Scalloped square, Birds & Blooms and Birds & Branches. SU ink in very vanilla, chocoalte chip, clsoe to cocoa. SU CS in To the Nines DSP, So Saffron, Very Vanilla. SU stamp set, Warm Words. Ribbon, brads, dimensional adhesive, glue dots, vanilla hodgepodge, clear EB powder, chipboard, crystal effects, spray adhesive, cuttlebug embossing folder, nestabilites.

Masculine Birthday cards

I recently had a request for 8 masculine Birthday cards and 8 feminine Birthday cards. Well, masculine cards stress me out a bit more so I decided to tackle those first. I have 4 to show today...two of them are in posts up above.

The first card I'm showing today is a pop out design. I used my Stampin' Up! Crazy for Cupcakes set to create this card. I love the big bold cupcake image in this set.


I started out by stamping my cupcake image, once onto kraft CS and once more onto Manchester DSP. They were both clear embossed and I paper pieced the bottom of the cupcake. I then added some Uchida Marvy liquid Applique for the frosting. I added some blue micro beads for sprinkles.

The card base was done with kraft CS and I used Manchester DSP, and baja breeze matted with white CS. The seam was covered with matching ribbon. (white and baja breeze grosgrain)



The greeting is from my
SU set called Teeny Tiny wishes. that was punched out using my word window punch and layered with a circle and designer label.



The inside cupcake was created the same way as the one on the outside. I also used the same DSP and CS for the inside as well. The greeting is from my SU set called Birthdays Count.


For my next card I used the set called Noble Deer (retired) I inked up my image using soft suede ink and layered that with some buckaroo blue and soft suede CS. Each layer was distressed and sponged.



The card base was down with kraft CS. I used Autumn Meadows DSP and buckaroo blue for the BG..each layered with soft suede CS. Both of the pieces were paper pierced all the way around.



The greeting is from my set called Sincere Salutations.
I added some matching brads in the bottom left corner and the inside was finished off with some matching CS.

My next card uses the set called Trendy Trees. This is one of those sets that I absolutely love but don't use all that often. Such a shame!



I started out by inking up the tree trunks using chocolate chip craft ink. Those were all clear embossed. I then stamped the tree tops using garden green, old olive and always artichoke craft ink. Each one was clear embossed. I layered those with chocolate chip CS.



The card base is done with chocolate chip CS as well. I used Holiday Treasures DSP for the BG matted with always artichoke. Some twill was added down the center then I adhere the trees with dimensional adhesive.

lastly I added some brads on the bottom and stamped the greeting using very vanilla ink. The greeting is from the set called Birthday's Count.



I finished off the inside by using my Funky Forest wheel and stamping the greeting from the Birthdays Count set.

My last card today uses the set called Thoughts and Prayers. This layout is very similar to the one I made here



I inked up my tree using chocolate chip craft ink , stamped that onto some sahara sand and clear embossed it. That was matted onto some sage shadow and chocolate chip CS. Each layer was sponged.

The card base was don with chocoalte chip CS. I used To the Nines speciality DSP for the BG matted with sahara sand CS. Some decorative ribbon was added and the tree image was adhered with dimensional adhesive.

The greeting is from my set called Sincere Salutations and stamped with chocolate chip craft ink. That was punched out with mu oval punch and matted with a chocoalte chip designer label.



Lastly i finished off the inside with some matching DSP and sahara sand CS.

I hope you enjoyed my parade of masculine Birthday cards today and thanks so much for stopping by!!!!

{SMILES}





I would also like to introduce you all to my new downline...Marsha Fisher. She signed up under me about 3 months ago and has been having a blast with it! Marsha started up a new blog and I'm sure she would love it if you checked it out! Her creations are beautiful! So hop on over there and show her some love...and tell her Nikki sent you! :o)

Two sketch cards

I made these two cards last week using a sketch from I Heart 2 Stamp. I'm a little last in posting them....I seem to be forgetting a lot lately! I missed a dentist appt this past week for my kids that I was reminded about the day before...ughhh! She was nice enough to not charge me a "no show" fee! Thank goodness...that would of been $75 bucks out of pocket. Anywhoo...here is a photo of the sketch...



For my first card I made a masculine Birthday card. I pulled out one of my favorite sets from Stampin' Up! called Lovely as a Tree.



I inked up the tree with chocolate chip craft ink and stamped in onto a circle of very vanilla I created with my nestabilities. I then clear embossed that and colored it in using my crayons and aqua painter. That was matted wtih a circle of buckaroo blue and scalloped circle of soft suede and the layers are adhered with dimensional adhesive.



The card base is done with soft sued CS. I used buckaroo blue matted with very vanilla for the BG. Each layer is distressed and lightly sponged. I than added some chocolate chip ribbon and a strip of Autumn Meadows DSP matted with soft suede. I wrapped some twine around that and adhered it to the card with dimensional adhesive. Next I adhered my tree image and added some buttons.

Lastly I stamped my greeting, from my SU set called Birthdays count and punched it out using my modern label punch.

My next card uses the set from the new mini called Gifts of the Earth. I love the turkey image in this set....such a classic already in my mind!



I inked up my turkey with chocolate chip classic ink and stamped it onto a circle I created using my nestabilities. That was then matted with dusty durango and chocolate chip circles.

The card base is chocolate chip CS. I used dusty durango matted with natural white CS for the BG. Each piece was distressed and sponged.

I added some cocoalte chip ribbon and a strip of Autumn Meadows DSP matted with natural white. I wrapped twine around that then adhered that to the card.



I then adhered the turkey image with dimensional adhesive and added a chipboard leaf that is inked up with dusty durango and chocolate chip ink.

Lastly I stamped my greeting, which is from the set Teeny Tiny wishes. That was punched out with my word window punch and matted with the modern label punch.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

{SMILES}





Supplies: SU stamp sets, Lovely as a tree, Birthdays count, Gifts of the Earth, Teeny Tiny Wishes. SU CS in soft sued, buckaroo blue, very vanilla, Autumn Meadows, dusty durango, chocolate chip, naturals white. SU ink in chocolate chip craft and classic. Watercolor wonder crayons, aqua painter, twine, ribbon, buttons, chipboard, nestabilities, modern label punch, word window punch, dimensional adhesive, clear EB powder, distressor.

Bloggers challenge...punches or dies

This weeks bloggers challenge was to focus on punches or dies. I decided to finally cross one of my to do things off my list and try my hand at the double pocket card. I love the way these look when finished and I personally think the best part is that not only is there a sentiment inside to pull out and read, but you also are left with 2 fabulous bookmarks for the recipient!...... You can find a tutorial on how to assemble this card here at SCS.



I decided to use some DP from a DWCV glitter paper pack I picked up from JoAnn's Fabrics. I love the blue and and red together and this CS is nice and thick for a substantial base for the card.

After my card was all folded and adhered I wrapped some white grosgrain ribbon around it that is layered with some red grosgrain ribbon. Next I used my Daisies #2 sizzix die to create the flower on the front. I ran it through once with riding hood red CS and once with bliss blue CS. I then layered those together and added a corduroy button for the center. I also created some leaves with my little leaves sizzix die using mellow moss DS. The flower and leaves where adhered with some glue dots.



I didn't follow the directions closely for the inside inserts...( I know...I'm such a rebel!) I just eyeballed how large I wanted each one and went with it once I know it fit. (I'm such a technical person...NOT!)



I used whisper white matted with red for the sentiment card. The sentiment is from a retired SU set called Versatile Versus. That was stamped with riding hood red ink. I used my circle punch to create the detail at the top, and added a silver eyelet too. The ribbon is white and red grosgrain.

The second insert uses my SU set called It's a Stretch. I stamped my image using black craft ink and then clear embosses it. I colored that in with my markers and matted it with bliss blue then riding hood red. Each layer uses the corner rounder. I did the same detail on the top as the other insert.



Lastly I stamped my flower once more, colored it and and then cut that out. That was added to the bookmark with a glue dot to give it some dimension. (Can't leave out the dimension!)

I don't know why it took me so long to complete this type of card...it was so stinkin' easy and definitely lots of fun! I can't wait to make more!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a fabulous weekend!

{SMILES}





Supplies: SU stamp sets, It's a Stretch, Versatile Versus. SU CS in riding hood red, bliss blue, whisper white. SU ink in riding hood red. SU markers in bliss blue, mellow moss, close to cocoa, ruby red. DCWV glitter pack DP. Sizzix die, Daisies #2 and little leaves. Ribbon, eyelets, circle punch, corduroy button, glue dots.