White on White

I joined a swap recently where the theme was white on white. I have to tell you that I find that to be really hard. My biggest hurdle is that not all whites are created equal. Different brands and different textures of white will vary.

My first order of business was to decide to use one big piece of cardstock to make my card instead of using all those snippets I have lying around. That way I would be sure to have all the same shade of white.

My second order of business was to use Carol's Our Little Inspirations blog to inspire me. Once you check out her card you can see how she inspired my card.  I originally planned for more foliage including paper flowers on my card but the person I ended up sending too prefers uncomplicated cards without too much bulk.

The Fine Print: We were allowed to use any non-black color for the greeting. Carol was right to promote silver.  Greeting and foliage by Stampin' Up, enbossing folders by Cuttlebug and CTMH. 

Suck It Up Saturday

In this Facebook group I'm in, a bunch of stampers are trying to come up with crafting related names for every day of the week so if you have a class or a blog feature on Wednesday you can call it something fun and quirky. Example: Washi Wednesday featuring washi tape.

I'm totally useless because I can't get past things like Margarita Monday (drink themed projects anyone?) and Suck it Up Saturday (put on your big girl panties and craft!).

I finally managed to contribute with Fancy Fold Friday, so maybe I'm not totally useless. More like 98.8% useless.

This Z-fold card might not really be "fancy" but it is a different fold from the norm. I mean it's pretty good considering it ain't Friday no more (and Thank God for that!).

The Fine Print: Stamps, cardstock and DSP by Stampin' Up. No idea about that die, sorry! 

Just Playing

I sent this card out to a friend the other day. There's no stamping on it as the greeting is some rub ons. I thought it was kind of fun. It reminded me of being a kid again where you made cards with this and that and not rubber stamps, because who knew what rubber stamps were when you were a kid.

At the same time I made the first one I made this second one, again without stamping. I don't really care for this one. The proportions are off and that fat fabric brad in the center makes the card way too bulky to mail. This one will probably just lurk in my craft room until I get tired of it and toss it away.

The Fine Print: They can't all be winners. 

You're Awesome

I pulled out an oldie (but goodie) stamp set the other day and decided to play with it. I didn't even give myself palpitations by not using designer paper. I must be getting old or something. I mean, like, mature, not aged.

The Fine Print: Okay, maybe I'm aged too. Stamps and embossing folder by Stampin' Up. 

Sherbert Card

I have this card to share with you and it makes me think of sherbert. I like sherbert a lot and insisted on it as a kid, which is tough because people always try to placate kids with ice cream, which is not sherbert. You can't fool me, buddy.

The Fine Print: Something in ice cream bothers my asthma which is why you can't pass it off on me and no, I'm not lactose intolerant. That's a whole other ball of mucus. Stamps Stampin' Up "Feather Together," inks from Memento, and embossing folder retired SU. 

Black and White--It's Alright

There I was moving random things around on my craft desk today when I ran across a triple flip card base that I die cut several months ago and then rejected for being too white. Since the card base was totally usable I left it on my desk and moved it from one pile to another. I'd uncover it from time to time but it never inspired me.

Until today! When I found it today I immediately felt that it needed to be made into a black and white card. For a little while there I toyed with the idea of making the flowers hot pink for a pop of color, but my desire to have it be just black and white persevered.

After dinner I sat down at my computer and started visiting some blogs and ran into one black and white card after another. I thought it interesting that we all got called by the same muse. Only, it turns out that everyone else' muse was the latest Double D challenge. I was adamant that I wasn't influenced by it until I decided to join it and went over it. Yeah, I remember glancing at those cards before and I'm sure my subconscious latched onto Kathy's card. So thanks, everyone for helping me finally use this card base that has been languishing for so long!

The Fine Print: Card base and layering die by Sizzix, designer paper by DCWV, greeting by Stampin' Up, paper flowers by Prima, black and white brads from my stash.

The Other Three

The other day I mentioned something about something about how I made my own version of the serving suggestion from a kit since I lacked the stamps. I lacked the stamps because I didn't much care for them so I sold them. The funny thing is that most of the serving suggestions given didn't use them either. Could be that I was not alone in finding them non-appealing.

So these are the other three I made following their samples. Then I made a several more cards along these same lines. Of course I'll show them to you. Just not today.

The Fine Print: Cardstock by Bazzill, designer paper by My Mind's Eye "Indie Chic,", sticker letters by Basic Grey, felted flowers by Maya Road, and greeting banners by unknown. Look ma, still no stamping!

Kit Stuff

Right after I gave up making tag cards (see yesterday's post) I pulled out another mystery box from my closet. It was an old Simon Says Stamp kit of the month club minus the stamps and with some coordinating bits from my stash added in.

It still had the "serving suggestion" directions for 6 cards using the kit. Lacking the stamps and using what I had, I used that as a guideline and came up with my own version of those 6 cards. There here are three of them (gotta have some suspense for the next day!).

The last card has the word "Amazing" on the inside of it since I know you are dying to know what I think you are.

The Fine Print: Cardstock by Bazzill, washi tape and designer paper by My Mind's Eye "Indie Chic,", stickers letters by Basic Grey, felted flowers by Maya Road, and cloud die by MFT. Look ma, no stamping! 

Just for Me

I'm taking the day off from blogging. I'd take the day off from life but who'd scoop the poop, feed the cats, do the laundry, vacuum the floor, take out the trash and eat the rest of this bag of potato chips?

This card is from a friend. She's a good enough friend that she's probably volunteer to finish off the bag of potato chips for me. It's good to have friends to rely on.

The Fine Print: Yeah, I'm sure that's Stampin' Up stuff. My friends try to out Stampin' Up each other.

Taco-less Tuesday

I think I broke myself making those couple dozen similar cards last weekend. This past weekend I couldn't remember how to craft. Well, first I did manage to make 10 of these fall themed ATCs. They were fun since I wasn't quite sure what the final product should look like and just fuddled along with this and that until they were done.

After that, I couldn't cut straight or accurately, my ability to match colors was out the window, I put adhesive on every surface except the one that needed it... Basically everything I touched turned to crap.

That's when I decided to pull out one of those kits where all you have to do is assemble the pieces. Surely I could do that?! I got the spacing a little off but it all works out anyway. I even did a bit of sponging and doodling too.

That was it though. The one card took it right out of me. Ever have one of those nothing-goes-right weekends?

The Fine Print: Scarecrow die by Cheery Lynn, Fence die by Taylored Expressions, pumpkin die by Impression Obsession, Sunflower punches by Marvy, dotted stencil and distress Stickles by Tim, stamped greenery by Hero Arts and Stampin' Up. Hello card parts from Basic Gray "Lime Rickey."

Playground Wednesday

Oh my gosh, if you think I am done showing you the cards I made this past weekend you are mistaken. If you want to see more of them check out Monday's and Tuesday's posts (and probably Thursday's and Friday's as well once they get here).

In case you just showed up here, the story goes I went to go do one thing and instead did another. The other thing was a box of card bases and greeting toppers that called out to be made into finished cards. I had to add stamps and/or other embellishments to them to make them more interesting. All the extra stuff I used were just snippets and scraps, which is why we're heading out to the Snippet Playground today.

I wasn't a big fan of these dotted card bases at first but I came around to their way of thinking. I enjoyed that kitty card so much that instead of coming up with a fresh idea, I made a second one. I colored the second kitty with some different grays. I like tiger kitties so they both got stripes.

The Fine Print: Card bases and topper by My Mind's Eye, flower punch and stamps by Stampin' Up "Bella and Friends" and "Pretty Kitty," butterfly punch by Martha, scallop edging by an old pair of those decorative scissors that we all had to have when they first came out. 

Just For You

Since I'm always working on old stash and kits from 13 years ago I never feel like I get to play with anything current unless there is a workshop involved (either I'm giving one or going to one). However, I pulled this out to have a play with it and thought to myself, "Wow! This is only from last season."

How's that for being current?!

The Fine Print: Stamps and designer paper by Stampin' Up "Botanical Blooms" and "Botanicals for You." By the way, I might be making up that 13 year number. Or not. 

TMI Tuesday

I recently told a male friend of mine that I (TMI) finally got around to cutting my toenails. I've been hobbling around for about a week now with my feet hurting from my overly long, dangerous, wicked, dagger toenails.

He commiserated,  saying he understood because we aren't as young as we used to be and not able to get into those twisted yoga poses required to get the job done. Then he suggested I start getting a "toe manicure" (that's a pedicure, bud) on a regular basis.

I thought that idea had promise because I'm not nimble and who doesn't want pampered feet? Mine currently look like they belong to an 80-year old man (more TMI).  So who's up to getting some toe manicures with me?!

The Fine Print: A cut and tuck card I made with a Spellbinders die. I used to do these back in the day with Lace templates and an Exacto knife (you know back when I was nimble, flexible and had pretty feet). I still have those templates but never use them. Anyone want them?

World Domination!

I was going to post my master plan for Global Domination but it seems like too happy of a day for all that malarkey, so you'll just have to settle for this perky recycled card instead.

The Fine Print: It's recycled because it is made with recycled items--tags cut from paper bags, twine from a sales tag, and letters cut from envelope liner. 

Use Your Stuff--Brads

I just ran across another one of those challenges geared towards inspiring you to utilize what you have on hand. It's called Use Your Stuff and their current challenge #206 is to use brads. I have lots of brads. I have brads in lots of different colors, matte colors, shiny colors, with different colored jewels on top, padded brads, rounded brads, flat brads, big brads and teeny tiny ones. I even have a few in random fun shapes.

For this challenge I used one of my favorite large brads. They were a gift from Leslie, The Crooked Stamper, who had no idea why such big brads existed.  Why to make people like me happy, of course!  Since I just discovered this challenge it is due to close in a few hours, but why don't you slap a few brads on something and play along?

The Fine Print: Friend die by Walter & Winnie, flower punch by EK Success, twine by A Muse Studio, and designer paper from Echo Park. This card is for a local card exchange where the theme is "words, words, words." I think I got a few words in there.

Not Quite Sure

Sometimes I think that there has to be more to life than buying catfood and putting gas in my truck. In fact, I'm quite sure of it.  I just can't quite put my finger on what that could be though.

The Fine Print: This is a modern remake of a card I made many moons ago. Stamped greeting by Stampin' Up.

The Weirdness of Reality

Let's say for a minute that there is something that you always wanted to try like white river rafting. You listen to tales of white river rafting with intense concentration, you tell all your friends that you'd love to try white river rafting, and you fantasize how much fun that would be.

Then suddenly your dreams meet reality and you get a chance to go white river rafting. You get to the end of the trip spitting water, drenched to the core, nauseated as hell, and completely disoriented.  You decide that white river rafting is not for you.

You tell everyone white river rafting isn't your bag and people will nod and understand. Pretty much no one will question your decision or try to make you change your mind.  People respect your decision.

However, take something less frivolous and talk about wanting to do that like going to college to study anthropology.  You watch programs and articles on anthropology, you tell all your friends that you'd love to go to college and study anthropology, and you fantasize how much fun that would be.

Then suddenly your dreams meet reality and you get a chance to go to the college to study anthropology.  You get to the end of the semester spitting water, drenched to the core, nauseated as hell, and completely disoriented.  You decide that going to college is not for you.

People rarely will accept or respect that.  They'll tell you try again, it will be different next time, this is what you dreamed about, this defines you as a person, and they'll call you a quitter.  I just don't get it.  It seems like Person X knows what is best for Person X more so than say person Y.

The Fine Print: Just so you know I'm not going white river rafting or back to college to study anthropology. I made these mini cards for a mini card exchange. I don't remember how mini they were but pretty mini.  Stuff from Club Scrap.

Things are Just Dotty

I just wanted to let you know that I'm still around. I've been busy chasing this guy around to make him take 4 different prescriptions several times a day. He had major surgery on his ears in hopes to clear up his chronic ear infections.

I also worked a full time job, did all my biology homework for the week, rescued the hubby from the side of the road, did lots of adulting, made some cards, ran my big stamp club meeting, did more adulting and purchased a new car. I'm pooped now.

The Fine Print: Cat stamp by Hero Arts, punches by EK Success. 

You Can't Make Me!

I don't wanna write a blog post today!  Don't wanna! You can't make me!  Waaah!  I don't wanna do nothing. I just want to throw myself on the floor and pout.

Okay?

The Fine Print: Actually throwing myself on the floor and pouting sounds like a good way to get crippled. And stepped on.  Card made with leftover bits from my iris folding class with a DeNami greeting. I may be suffering from the effects of a wicked poisonous Arizona bug. Or not. But something definitely bit me on my hand three times leaving me with big red and purple welts. Good times!

Iris Fiddling

Last weekend I attempted to teach 40 women how to do Iris Folding. You know, it actually went pretty well. I shared samples and passed around a magazine that had detailed instructions with photographs, so before we started everyone had an idea what it was about.

 

Right away a few women decided it wasn't something they would like to do so they took their supplies to make something else with and that's totally acceptable.  My samples were card fronts with open backs so everyone could get a behind the scenes look at what Iris Folding looks like. The one above doesn't even have the middle piece in it so they can really get a good look at its inner workings.

The other three I put in middles and jazzed up a bit so folks could get an idea of the end result. Everyone received either a black, white or red card front with a square cut out of it, their choice of two patterned papers in black and white, and either a black, white, or red middle piece (which was really just the bit cut out of the card front.

While I think everyone who participated had fun I don't think I made too many Iris Folding converts. It is one of my favorite techniques.

The Fine Print: Black and white papers from Recollections and DCWV (I had two B&W paper pads), square hole via Spellbinders die, and greeting stamps by DeNami Designs. Did you notice the sample card that the cat bit a hole into?