Happy Mail!

This is a quick little number I made for Papertrey Ink's June Blog Hop.  I haven't hopped for a big bit and despite my best (albeit rather unsuccessful) efforts to move away from my color crush on all things yellow, I thought this card might be a semi-suitable candidate to post.  In making this card, I used two Papertrey Ink dies (among others) rather deliberately that I think are rather sweet, but not often used by me.  In fact, more than anything, the inspiration picture conjured up thoughts of the wee envelope die and the fancy schmancy doily die.  Don't ask why, because I don't really know how I managed to arrive at those two dies specifically from the inspiration photo supplied.  But I did.  The mind boggles, ay? And to satisfy the ruffle requirement, I stuck on that fun little pearl centered ruffled flower.  Not sure what this card, with its Tiny Tag, would be in aid of, but I wonder if it wouldn't be a different sort of birth announcement, with a picture of the precious new arrival in the envelope perhaps?  

Well, that's me done for this Blog Hop.  Here's hoping it won't be so long between drinks before I participate in another.  Thanks for stopping by.  Have a glorious day!

Just A Note.

I seem to find myself in color ruts sometimes.  When I am in the throws of a color rut, I seem to craft the same color combos for like 10 or 15 cards in a row.  That's a bit much isn't it?  Well, my latest color rut or color crush if you like, is all about yellows.  I guess I am really channeling the often said phrase, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!"  Might as well make it a mantra then.  What's the other apt saying..."Go hard or go home!?" So I went a bit harder and made this note card for the current CR84FN Color Challenge showcasing Yellow, Gray, and Neutral.  Seeing that I have only had eyes for yellow for the last little while, the introduction of gray to complement was rather refreshing.

The card was shaped with Spellbinders Label 23 Grand Nesties die.  Love the curviness of this die and find that it adds such an interesting shaped variety to the often used rectangular card.  The lemony plaid DP is from October Afternoon and I embossed it with a Tim Holtz for Sizzix Texture Fade with miscellaneous sewing odds and sods on it.  The tag is just a standard Manila swing tag that had been stamped with some fun doodads from across Waltzingmouse Stamps, Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz), and Papertrey Ink.  The Bright yellow ink smudges on the card and the tag are from the Spring Collection of Distress Inks which is such a sunshiny and uplifting collection. I did attempt to trace the Bliss element in the dress form with fine glitter, but it was being a bit coy while being photographed.  The gray ribbon is just a bit of organza I had kicking around in my stash.

With a bit of luck, this card will end my spate of yellow dominated cards.  I have a bit of time to craft today and I am kind of excited to see what my next color crush will be.  Thanks so much for visiting.  Here's to a beautiful day for us all!  

Sending Oodles Of Love and Hugs On Your 100th!

No, no, not birthday.  I don't actually know of any centenarians come to think of it?   It's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge's "100th sketch challenge" challenge.  Just as well I don't have to say that three times fast.

This card is another of my rather unorthodox takes on their sketches.  I had originally intended to play the sketch straight, but it looked rather snoozey my hands.  So, I decided to cut out a tag from the columnar layer and stamp it with Waltzingmouse Stamps' Faux Fun set.  I adore the natty knitted pattern this background stamp makes.  I then embossed the tag with Provocraft/Cuttlebug embossing folder Gauchi Script. Love that folder.  The cool sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps' newly released Compact Sentiments.  It also is a good'un.  The other elements placed on the card are more literal takes on the sketch, except for that I just had to adhere it akimbo.  What can I say?  I just felt it in my waters.

So here's my celebratory card, sentiment and all, marking this auspicious occasion at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  Many, many happy returns, WMSC.  Cheers! 

I Miss Your Smile.

Here's a pocket card I made for this week's Make It Monday Challenge by Papertrey Ink.  I cannot even begin to say how long it's been since I last threw a card into the MIM ring.  I'm sure it's been donkey's.

I used my favorite (darn near instant) pocket card maker which is PTI's Front & Centre Die #1 die.  Mind you, I haven't ever used it for anything else, not even as it was originally intended, which was to tjuz up bags (too much muss and fuss for this here crafter...It's just a bag ain't it? Kidding.  Kidding).  My only possibly useful tip to you in regards to using these dies for pocket cards, is to go for some fairly robust sookwang tape.  Trust me, the cheap and cheerful brands don't cut the mustard in regards to staying stuck.  I used 1/8" Scor-tape here.  And yes, I learned this the hard (read: embarrassing) way.

I also delighted in getting out my favorite wee gigham patterned full sized red rubber stamp from the fab Aussie company Darkroom Door.  Even though I do have a fair swag of gigham stamps, I always seem to need different ones for different tasks.  This beauty is perfect for that quality impression you need without any of that "lining up" business, which always seems to end badly where I am concerned. That dear sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Healing Touch stamp set, which is so handy for that perfect, non-run of the mill, well-wish that is ever so handy.  Those juicy vitamin C packed oranges are from Hero Arts.  They are part of set of clear stamps packed with mega cool engraved fruits. Love.  I stamped them with Memento Inks in both Tangelo and Cantaloupe.

After rounding the corners and lassoing the pocket with three different strands of citrus colored string, that is pretty much this Pocket card done.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Here's to an inspired day for us all!

Sew Stylish!

I am not one for an intentional pun in papercraft for the most part, but this one is kind of sweet.  I have a soft spot for sewing themed stamping goodness though, that's for sure.  (Which is kind of funny considering that I have never sewn on a single card in all of my crafty life.)  So the sentiment used was the obvious choice for when one is letting their punny guard down on this heralded haberdashery inspired occasion.  This card was crafted with tons of sewing themed goodies from across Tim Holtz, Hero Arts, Waltzingmouse Stamps and Papertrey Ink product lines.  The color choices were born from the most current The Play Date Cafe challenge.  Lucky for you, I am going to keep this post brief as I have only a few precious hours to craft today, so I better get a wriggle on.  I am making my own chalkboards...well that's the plan anyways.

Keep well.  I shall look forward to seeing you anon. Hugs.

Grunge Lite?

While I am still sorting out my photo-editing software conundrum, I thought I'd share with you another oldie but goodie.  Thanks by the way for your ever so helpful suggestions left in your sweet comments in my last post.  I am hopeful I'll be back, cooking with gas, soon.

This was a fun little felt rolled rose number that I made when I first got my wee Rolled Rose die from My Favorite Things early last year.  These cuties are so easy to make and a real textural treat if you ask me.  You've got to get stuck in, if you haven't already.  The stamps used were largely Tim Holtz's for Stampers Anonymous save the tiny tag (from a stamp set of the same name) by Papertrey Ink.  The tags are so lovely looking, but a tad tricky for my old eyes to get lined up perfectly and threaded, that's for sure, hence the "interesting" alignment choices.

I must say I love Tim Holtz's stamps but even though I do like a bit of the grunge aesthetic, I find that most of his more orthodox inspirations are a bit dark and wait for it...grungy for my taste.  I do though feel the vintage golden lace ribbon threaded with the chirpy red and white gingham used and the bright red blooms lighten the mood, which is good and more my cup of tea.  I also love the challenge of bucking the trend (somewhat) with his stamps.  It gives me a bit of a crafting workout which is very cool.

Well, that's me done for today. I'm off to make a few more goodies that I shall look forward to posting very soon.  Thanks for taking a peek.   I hope your day is a beautiful one.  

One Step Forward And Two Steps Back...

Sigh.  I treated myself to an iPad this week after being finally convinced by my kids that "I" (read: they) needed one.  I have to admit that it is "way cool" and a delight to read on, as I generally do much of my surfing on my iPhone because the family computer is pretty much occupied by everyone else in the house (sometimes it seems like the whole neighborhood and their dogs as well) during waking hours.  That suits me, save times when I want to update by blog or my website (and as we all know that isn't often done with any neck breaking urgency now is it?  Oh the shame!).  Well, everything was going along swimmingly in Adcock computer land until I decided to pimp my iPad out a bit and upgrade my iMac in order to get it fully functional...and there lies the rub.  I upgraded my iMac to Lion and poof went my ability to use Dreamweaver and Photoshop.  Ugh!  Admittedly my purchased software was as old as dirt, but it did the job nicely.  With my upgrade to Lion, I got an error message stating that my versions of Dreamweaver and Photoshop were no longer supporting my PowerPC!  What nerve.  *sob* And of course my iPad purchase had already thrown out the budget...so to make a long story even longer, I am without use of those requisite items to post my latest creations to my blog. *snort*

So, until I can figure out an Adcock budget-friendly way to edit my photos, the bench warmers from my draft folder will finally get a spin (fingers crossed they haven't be posted before. *prays*).  What can you do?  Please let me know if you have any bright ideas or suggestions for a half decent photo-editing software for me: one that won't break the bank (any further than I have already broken it that is).  I sure would appreciate that so.

Thanks so much for swinging by.  {{{SqUisHy HuGs}}}