Celebration Candy

Ida has been chosen to join the CCC Design Team and she wants want to share amazing candy.
All you have to do to get a ticket in the draw is to:

• Make a post on your blog about her celebration candy (just putting the candy alert on the sidebar does not qualify)
  
• Let her know you have done so by leaving her a comment on this post.

If you become a follower of her blog you double your chances and get two tickets in the draw.

1st prize - Stamps, stash, ribbon +++
2nd prize - Secret package
3rd prize - Stamped images

The candy is open until Friday April 3rd.

Papertake and Sketch and Stash Combo

I decided to try out a combination of two challenges and found the sketch at Sketch and Stash and the recipe challenge at Papertake Weekly. I needed a card for an upcoming wedding and felt my mojo going so I stayed up late (again) and went with the flow. Until I tried to make a bow. That certainly wasn't easy as 1-2-3. I think I spent a half hour perfecting a bow and decided to live with less-than-perfect. I also think it looks more like a bow-tie, evoking the image of a groom's tie and thereby adding some masculinity to the card. I finally got to use my new corner punch that I found on clearance at Staples and I also had fun getting creative with my three-step daisy stamp set. I added a little dimension to the flower.

Taylored Expressions Challenge 61

I went to spend the weekend with my family and had such a nice time. My parents were so kind to watch the kids while I indulged in my favourite past time so I created this card for them to use for a wedding. I just realized that I'm too late to enter into the challenge but I'll link it up to the TECC blog regardless. The photo came out blurry as I used my laptop camera. I forgot to bring my digital camera after packing everything but the kitchen sink.

Stamps and Smiles Challenge #8

I just came across this challenge over at Stamps and Smiles and had to quickly throw something together. I really liked Mercy's take on the sketch and was inspired to put this card together. I just love how it turned out!



Here are some of the deets:

Stamp: Inkadinkado Humorous Birthday Set
Ink: StampCraft Black Dye
Colour: Prismacolor Scholar

Inspirational Card Sketches #9

I stayed up later than I should have last night to create the card for this ICS sketch but I think I slept better knowing I had another card under my belt. I think I might use this one for my nephew who will be turning 5 in a couple of weeks. And I'm also glad that I got to make use of the Mickey cart because I just love Mickey!



Here's what I used:

Patterened Paper: Cricut Celebrations pack
Die Cut: Cricut Mickey and Friends
Stamp: Inkadinkado Humorous Birthday
Ink: StampCraft Black Dye
Punch: Fiskares Threading Water
Ribbon:

CPS Sketch Challenge #108

Last week was our March Break and I had several things planned to do with the kids and hoped to be able to get in on some challenges, but alas, my youngest has been fighting off a nasty lingering chest cold so I had to stay indoors most of the time, as well as fill an order of shower invitations for my hubby's cousin. Though I thoroughly enjoyed putting them together, I yearned to get creative with some sketches I have been ogling for some time. I finally managed to throw one together for my father-in-law's birthday, which is tomorrow. (Sadly, his MDS has progressed to acute leukemia and he will need to undergo chemotherapy very soon.)

I kept it very simple though in hindsight I think I should have used some patterned paper or maybe different colours to avoid a Christmassy look. Or if I had the Swiss Dots embossing folder, I would have liked to have used it on the cream coloured matte. But I am quite pleased with how the stamp turned out, which by the way, is a recent purchase and comes from my first ever Inkadinkado stamp set. And I just love it! I already know which stamps I'm going to use next for some upcoming birthdays. I also got to use my brand new Fiskars punch that I've been dying to get.

Anyway, here's what I came up with for this week's CPS challenge sponsored by Chris Franco. I hope you like it!

And here's the sketch:


Here's the recipe:

Paper: The Paper Company Heritage Fashion Colours
Cut: Cricut New Arrival for the card, Cricut Accent Essentials for the mattes
Stamp: Inkadinkado Humorous Birthday Set
Ink: StampCraft Black Dye
Colour: Prismacolor Scholar
Punch: Fiskars Threading Water

Steal of a Deal!

So I went to Staples yesterday to buy some colour ink for my printer. I needed it to print up invitations for my husband's cousin, and the colour scheme is pink and silver. As usual, I went to their clearance section with the hopes of finding some scrapbooking supplies or tools at a decent price. And lo and behold! I found two Fiskars border punches and a 3-in-1 corner punch which were further reduced to under $4 at the register. I also nabbed some clear stamp sets for about $2.50 a piece, and a huge supply of Scotch tape runners for really cheap! Yay! I can't wait to put it all to use! I need to finish these invites first so that I can get back into some challenges. I'll be back soon!

Yummy Blog Candy

I just came across Maria's Blog and aside from her beautiful assortment of cards that she's designed, she has also added a post noting her one year blogoversary. To celebrate this, she is giving away blog candy that looks absolutely delish! All you need to do is leave a comment on her blog and create a link on your blog to hers. It's so easy! But you better hurray because she plans on picking a winner on her birthday tomorrow around noon.

Sketch and Stash Challenge #5

Over at Sketch and Stash, they have a new sketch I thought I'd try my hand at. I didn't quite follow it to the tee but the sketch is recognizable, I think. Again, I'm not too happy with the way I coloured in the stamped sentiment but at least I am getting some practise. The second requirement for this challenge is to list all of the things that are new to my stash. And considering I am relatively new to card making, pretty much everything is new with the exception of the pencil crayons.
Here was the sketch:
Here's what I used:

Stamp: Studio G
Ink: StampCraft Black Dye
Colour: Prismacolor Scholar
Duck/Bows: Cricut New Arrival
Border Punch: Fiskars

I bought most of these items at Michael's and got a great deal on the border punch at Staples since it was on clearance.

ICS Challenge #7

As I mentioned earlier today, I picked up a stack of card stock that was on clearance at Michael's and decided to use it for the challenge over at Inspirational Card Sketches. I also used a flower and a stamp from today's purchase as well. I really like the colours but I'm not terribly thrilled with the way I coloured the stamp. Overall, I like the final product and will probably use it for my cousin's wedding later this year. Thanks for the sketch, Dawn!


Here's the recipe:

Paper: s.e.i. Charlemagne
Flower: Prima
Stamp: Studio G
Ink: StampCraft Black Dye
Colour: Prismacolor Scholar

Sticky Fingers

I couldn't resist the urge to get my sticky fingers on some Prima flowers, so I headed out to Michael's this morning and used my 40% off coupon. I guess my fingers were pretty sticky because I came home with more than just flowers. Thanks to their sales, I also brought home some brads, epoxy stickers, miscellaneous clear stamps, ink pads and a 3-step daisy stamp, along with a designer paper pad that was on clearance. I had to force myself to put other items back on the shelf and ignore the Cricut Solutions cartridge sale. That was tough! I can't wait to design another card tonight after the kiddies are in bed. Here's a copy of the coupon if anyone is interested.

CPS Sketch Challenge

I came across another sketch blog over at Card Positioning Systems and just loved their latest challenge. It also allowed my to take advantage of my new Cricut cart - Mickey and Friends. I used the daisy flowers cut in three colours and layered them for the large flower. The sentiment is a text box I used in Word. I think it could use a little bling but I still have to buy some to enhance my cards. But I think this card is nice enough. I'm going to use it as a birthday card for my neigherbour's daughter in April. Let me know what you think of it.


Here's the recipe:

Embossing: Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl
Flower Die Cuts: Cricut Mickey and Friends "Daisy"
Paint Pen: Painters Fine Opaque in white
Punch: mini daisy punch from Michael's

My First Sketch Challenge

While browsing Sonia's work over at Scraps 4 Fun, I came across a challenge that I thought I would undertake. It's hosted over at Inspirational Card Sketches and the sketch is designed by Dawn. It seemed simple enough and I didn't feel so intimidated by it so I went to work on it last night. We were allowed flexibility with the layout so I decided to change it up a bit. Below is picture of the sketch and my take on it. How do you think I did?

I even added a little some'n some'n on the inside, too!


Here's the recipe:

Paper: Die Cuts With a View "All Dressed Up", SK Polka Dots by K&Company
Stamp: Studio G
Ink: Chocolate brown pigment by Craft Smart
Swirl: Cricut Accent Essentials

A New Blog for a New Hobby

Greetings and salutations! And welcome to my new design blog. I have recently taken on a new hobby of crafting greeting cards using my new toy, the Cricut, and decided to create this new blog in order to showcase some of my work. Now, please keep in mind that I'm an amateur and that I'm learning as I go, so most of my work may be lacking in professional and/or artistic design. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Truly. Sometimes I feel like I have no clue what I'm doing! But the main point is that I'm having fun doing it. I used to blog frequently over at Toronto Teacher Mom Blog, but got a little lazy. This time around, I have been inspired on a creative level and I'm hoping I'll be able to blog on a more regular basis. I love reading up on other people's blogs about scrapbooking and card making, so much so that it has motivated me to make my own, Diana's Designs. I hope you enjoy!