Puppies are Growing Up

I can’t believe these pups are over 8 months old!!

Latest craft creation - AI Easter Journal

​I made two of the inspirational journals, one with white paper and the other with ivory stock. I gave them both away. Pictures of one below.  

Color My Heart Color Dare #94

Today's card is for the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge.  I saw a card using a similar technique and I thought I would put a French spin on this clean and simple design.  And who can resist not using a little bling here and there.

Supplies Used:

CTMH Paper:  Buttercup, Hollyhock

CTMH Ink:  Archival Black, Buttercup

CTMH D1528 Jardin Stamp Set

SU Artistic Etchings Stamp Set

Sparkles

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Freshly Made Sketches - 135

When I saw the sketch, I immediately thought of using the Balloon Ride Stamp Set.  My finished card is exactly what I had envisioned.  Please take a look.

Please forgive the photo quality.  I have yet to master decent photos of my cards.  Any advise on that is welcome.

Supplies used:
CTMH D1581 Give A Lift Stamp Set
CTMH Balloon Ride Paper Pack
CTMH Juniper & Colonial White Paper
CTMH Inks:  Juniper, Saddle, Sky, Sorbet, Crystal Blue, Cashmere
CTMH Smoothie Striped Washi Tape
Blending Pen
Pop Dots
Glue Dots
Black Embroidery Thread
Pearls

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

25 years ago...

Next week, my girlfriend celebrates her 25th wedding anniversary.  I stood up in her wedding and I can't believe it has been 25 years.  Back then I created a shadow box using her wedding invite.  A miniature wedding photo is in the frame on the table.

So for their 25th anniversary, I created a frame using the CTMH bracket frame.  I CAS'd the design from the CTMH catalog (Spring/Summer 2013) but used green and peach as accent colors, the colors of my friend's wedding.  I'm quite please on how it turned out.  A great big thank you to my CTMH consultant, Morgan Vogt, for her help and design advise!

Supplies used:

CTMH Bracket Frame
CTMH Cricut Cartridges (Artiste, Art Philosophy, Artbooking)
CTMH For Always Paper Pack (retired)
CTMH Black & Grey Glitter Paper
CTMH Silver Shimmer Trim
CTMH D1506 Family Love Stamp Set
CTMH Bondings Memory Glue
CTMH pearl stick pins (retired)
CTMH Archival Black ink
CTMH Liquid Glass
Green, peach, black and white cardstock

Scallop border punch

Black tulle

Pop dots

Scotch quick dry glue

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Color My Heart Color Dare #82

Today's card is for the Color My Heart Color Dare #82 with Topiary and Goldrush.
I thought these colors would be a good combo for a St. Patrick's Day card.

Supplies used are:

CTMH Flirty Paper Pack

CTMH Topiary ink and cardstock

CTMH Colonial white cardstock and card base

CTMH March Word Puzzle (D1270)

CTMH SOTM Year Round Cheer (S1212)

CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

SU Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Antique White Ribbon

Pop Dots

Rhinestone

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

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Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #81

Today's card is for the Color Dare Challenge #81

I really like the rose stamp with this set and decided to use it centered on a partially embossed background.  I stamped the image with versarmark and then embossed with back embossing power.  I used the CTMH Blending pen to color in the image.

Supplies used are as follows:

CTMH Colonial White Card base

Watercolor Paper

CTMH Juniper paper and ink

CTMH Sorbet Ink

CTMH Blush Ink

Versamark Ink

Black Embossing powder

CTMH Blending Pen

CTMH S1301 Happy Valentine's Stamp Set

SU square lattice embossing folder

Pop Up Dots

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Color My Heart Color Dare #78

Today I am making a card for the Color Dare challenge.  Using Hollyhock and Indian Corn Blue inks, I came up with the following card:

Supplies used are as follows:

Generic White Paper
CTMH Hollyhock paper and ink
CTMH Indian Corn Blue Ink
CTMH Black Ink
CTMH D1548 Whooo's Your Valentine Stamp Set
Cuttlebug Heart Blocks Embossing Folder
Glitter Paper
SU Tags 4 You Stamp Set
SU Label Bracket Punch
SU French Foliage Stamp Set
Pop Up Dots

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Freshly Made Sketches #120 & Dynamic Duos #87

Today I am combining two challenges, Freshly Made Sketches #120 & Dynamic Duos #87.    I turned the sketch on its side so I could use the SU embossing folder.  Here is my take:

Products used are as follows:

CTMH B1421 Scrapbook Statements - Women
CTMH Hollyhock paper
Generic White Paper
Generic Black Paper
CTMH Black ink
CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
A Child's Year Cricut Cartridge
SU Cloudy Day Embossing Folder
Pop Dots

        

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Dynamic Duos #86 {Subtly Yours in soft Aqua & Pink}

I wanted to try using one of the inset dies that I have so I used the small one.  Here is my photo:

The paper I used is from Hobby Lobby, both the pink and blue are a shimmer paper.  The stamp and sentiment are from Stampin' up.  The ribbon is generic pink ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Color my Heart Color Dare #77

This week's challenge was a bit of a challenge with all these beautiful colors.  I was thinking of what I could color with all these colors.  As I was reviewing my stamps in Bento, I came across the Under the Sea Stamp Set.  Perfect.  I used dots of liquid glass to make the bubbles.  This is my take...

Supplies used:

Smokey Plum card stock and ink

Juniper Card stock and ink

Honey Card stock

Cranberry Card Stock

Vellum Stock

White Card Stock

C1500 Under the Sea Stamp Set (CTMH)

SU Punches:  Modern Label and Word window

Liquid Glass

Momento Tuxedo Black ink

Prismacolor pencils to match Honey, Sunset & Cranberry and Gamsol to blend multiple colors together.

• Honey:  Sunburst Yellow & Spanish Orange
• Sunset:  Poppy Red & Pale Vermillion
• Cranberry:  Carmine Red, Scarlet Lake & Crimson Red

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Color Dare #76 and Freshly Made Sketches #119

Here is my take on combining the two challenges:

Forgive my photography.  My photos seem to be quite "yellow".  I'll need to learn how to make them better.

Here are the supplies I used:

CTMH Smoothie Card Stock & Ink
CTMH Seal-Love Stamp (A1131)
CTMH Happy Valentine's (S1301)
CTMH Cricut Artiste Cartridge
Gold embossing powder
Vellum and White Card Stock
Pearls

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Merry Monday #91

Still in the Christmas spirit and I wanted to make an effort to make Christmas cards throughout the year, so I thought I would give this a try.  My first entry with Merry Monday.

Products used:
CTMH Sky cardstock
CTMH silver embossing powder
SU glitter paper
SU Punches
White ribbon
Computer generated sentiment

The stamp is an older one my friend had from at least 10 years ago.  I believe it is an Art Impressions stamp.

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Dynamic Duos #85 & Freshly Made Sketches #118

Not sure how creative I actually am, but I have always enjoyed viewing the dynamic duos challenges and so I thought I'd try my hand at actually creating something.  I combined this with the Freshly Made Sketches 118

          

This card was created using a stamp I have never used before, CTMH You Only Live Once (B1434).

Supplies are CTMH except where noted:

Honey Cardstock & Ink

Topiary Cardstock & Ink

White Daisy Cardstock

You only live once Stamp set

Musical Flourish Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug

Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Color My Heart Color Dare #75

Happy New Year!

This will be my first entry ever to a craft challenge.  This is for Color Dare #75 Pacifica, Sky and Lagoon.

I used Prismacolor pencils to color the bear and the CTMH stamp set Teddy Bear Birthday.  I made a similar card for my mom's birthday as she collects teddy bears.

Supplies are CTMH except where noted:
Pacifica Cardstock
Lagoon Cardstock
Lagoon Ink
White Daisy Cardstock
Teddy Bear Birthday Stamp set
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
Silver Shimmer Trim
Colored Pencils - Prismacolor
Gamsol
Modern Label Punch - SU
Background Paper - unknown origin


Thanks for stopping by.

Deb

Father's Day

My dad is a train lover so my card uses the 100 proof press train stamp. I made a card using the same stamp for his birthday last year. I love the look of the silver emboss on the black card stock. 

Just call me a scrap lifter...

I don't consider myself very creative when it comes to thinking up my own ideas, so I copy others but I'll never say it was my own idea.  AND I will always provide credit whenever possible.

Earlier this week I found this card and I had almost of the items to make it myself.  Thank you Pamela for the idea.  I love it!

http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com/ctmh-for-always-meets-up-with-freshly-made-sketches-79/

This is my first attempt at a CTMH Studio J layout.  I did a test image and only purchased the jpg for $2.95, then I printed it out on my printer at home.  I have a Canon Pixma i7000 printer which can print on 13 x 19 paper.  Overall, I am happy with it, but I think it could look better with a coated stock.  I am using a matte photo paper which has a bit too much dot gain for me.  I am also playing with color profiles to see if that helps, too.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Deb

The ScrapRack

A friend of mine turned me onto the ScrapRack.  I went back and forth with the idea of purchasing one and finally decided to take the plunge.  While I love the idea of the 4 section system, I am not sure I like the ScrapRack itself.  I am still undecided.  I want to give it some time and work with it, but I have some reservations.  Here are my initial opinions and impressions.

1.  The spinders are not as durable as I thought them to be.  I have 3 ring binders that when the locking tabs are locked, nothing gets them open.  Yet, I have my pages falling out of the spinders all the time.

• The pages are not over filled as they are all less than 20 pages per spinder.  
• I have the base unit set up as directed.  It is not set up upside down.

2.  The pages are flimsy.  I have the old Creative Memories pages and it is night/day to how the SR pages are.  I do not have any other style pages, so I cannot comment on how they compare to other manufactures.

3.  In January 2013, I purchased a 50 super size single package of pages before I purchased the ScrapRack.  Now I have gone through them and I'm trying to order more, but it is no longer listed on their website and they have yet to answer any emails/calls I have left regarding this.

4.  Their website could be A LOT better.  It lacks a professional look and feel.

5.  I am also ready to expand, but due to their lack of attention/response, I am hesitant to invest any more money.

Like I said earlier, I really want to give this a try, but I need to get organized to see if I really like this product or not.  I saw someone else had said they like the system but use a series of binders/albums and not the rack itself.  I may try that route if I can't get a response from them.

Let me know what your likes/dislikes if you own a ScrapRack.

Thanks,
Deb