Sketch Challenge

Here is a fun sketch challenge from over at SRM Stickers. . . I couldn't resist trying this one out for the chance to win some of those awesome stickers from SRM!!!

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card. Still making Halloween cards. . .hehe . . this one is a total combination of various scraps including paper by MME, letters cut using the Storybook Cricut cartridge, an old black button, stamps and punches by Stampin' Up, Candy Corn stamp by Studio G, Sharpie paint pens and one felt bat. :)

That's all for today - there is a lot of "work" work going on this week and I am pretty pooped. :)  Two more nights to go and then we are off for one last camping trip of the year. I can't wait!

End of September!

It's the end of September and that means that IT'S EVEN CLOSER TO HALLOWEEN!!! Hooray! I couldn't be more excited. . .  I'm running a bit behind and I owe a lot of that to computer fail. My desk top went down and my hubby was kind enough to reinstall Windows for me, however it's Windows 7 which I am totally not used to. . . and now I must also reinstall all of my softwares and things that I use to do things with like uploading and editing pics! Blargh!

At any rate, I wanted to send out a gentle reminder that we are in the last days of being able to purchase the "THRILLER" stamp of the month set from Close To My Heart.  Once September is over, the set will be gone but of course, a new Stamp of the Month will be available, and I can't wait to show off how cute THAT one is! Here are a few final projects that I did using the THRILLER set which I just love to pieces.

First a card. . . I am using up my last scraps of "Hooligans" paper too. . . hahahahahahaha. . .

Next, a project that I altered. . . it's a little coffin box that I got for about $1.50 at Michael's. I painted the outside black and covered it with paper that I stamped with some of the Thriller stamps. A little sign lets us know that our favorite vampire has been about.

Here is the inside of the box. That is lots of glitter, and a felt liner. :)

Here is another altered bottle for the Apothecary Jar Project. . . Now before you all get to thinking that I am a total alcoholic for finishing off ANOTHER bottle of tequila, let me tell you that I have had all sorts of bottles donated to me for decorating. I didn't drink this one, but we are going camping this weekend and so THAT is another story. :)

Inside this bottle are a ton of "Water Marbles" which are these fantastic little tiny bead looking things. . . you add them to water and they puff up really HUGE into these marble looking things. . . as long as you keep them moist they retain their big marble shape but if they dry out, they go back to being teeny tiny beads. They come in all different colors and they can be found in floral departments. . . Oh, I just found this link on the back of the package of my Water Marbles. :) They are super neat, and they are great for the jars, if you are playing along!

That's all for today. . . I owe my card day ladies pics from the latest card day so those will also be coming soon! Be sure to snag the Stamp of the Month if you want it before the end of September. . . and look for the October stamp coming soon! I can't wait!!!

Happy Birthday Operation Write Home!

OWH is celebrating with a huge birthday bash this month! Have you made any cards for the troops lately? You won't want to miss the festivities over at Stars & Stamps . . . challenges galore, prizes, and tons of fun with your fellow card makers.

Here are my birthday challenge card entries - I decided to save them all in one post - I can't even say how much fun I have had (trying to) participate in all of the blog challenges - I know that I still have a few to catch up with - but those will come soon. I am waiting on a big package from Close to My Heart with a stash of goodies that I want to use for some of those final challenges!

Here are the cards! Boy, my poor little OWH stamp has really had a workout today!

All cards finished today!

This one is my favorite! I participated in the sketch challenge here.

I used my new Dustin Pike digi and my new "Hooligans" paper by Close To My Heart. That Hooligans paper just cracks me up. . . look at the black patterned paper. . . hahahahaha! What a real brew ha ha ha. Ha ha!

Here's one from a sketch challenge at The Sweetest Thing.

I do think that I love sketch challenges the very best! This is the new autumn paper by Close To My Heart called "Olivia"

The object of this challenge was to follow the sketch and make a pink birthday card! More CTMH scraps were used hereincluding that pink patterned paper and the birthday stamp. I tried to use as many scraps as possible today and now dip into my "new" stash.

The Hero Blog is hosting a hero card challenge - The digi stamp shown here is by OWH's finest - Sandy Allnock. I do love this digi for making hero cards! THIS is the reason to participate in the OWH blog hops - you get awesome digi stamps like these!

Next I was off to CASE  (copy and share everything) One of Martie's cards . I love the stripey one. I used up a scrap of some patterned paper by My Mind's Eye and another one of my new Dustin Pike Digi's. I hate spiders. Truly. But this little guy is just too cute. :)  

Let's make an autumn thank you card. . .  Here is more of the Olivia paper and a stamp set called Fair Blossoms from Close To My Heart.

A child's birthday card for Stamps R Us. . . do you know how many deployed troops have kids at home? I hope that this will make some little army brat's day. :) Who doesn't love Buzz?

Yolanda made us a new digi . . . did you snag it? I just love this kid!

WHO would pass up the opportunity to make cards with googlie eyes??? Googlies are one of my very favorite things. I use them on this digi by Dustin. . . and there is some more of that fantastic Hooligans' paper from Close To My Heart. Don't these things go great together??!?

Sherry  also made us a new digi for celebrating birthdays! I love this little chef! I think that the best thing about him is his little chucks. And the cake of course. :)

Finally, I took the Case one of Kate's Cards challenge, whoo, what a tough one! I do love that chevron cut though. I forgot I made a template for those. :) Here is the last of my scraps of  CTMH Olivia paper. I love those fall colors!

Wow! That is a lot of cards. . . but I still have a few more to post later on. . . did I mention that this birthday bash is HUGE??? Thanks guys for all of the fun. . . I am trying very hard to surf around and hit all of the blogs and leave my links and my comment posts. . . I don't want to miss any of them . . . I love you all!

Here's another for the Christmas card challenges. . . My package came in the mail today. . . I got the Mistletoe paper pack and two new stamp sets - St. Nick and Peace on Earth. . . look for more from these sets soon. . . I think I am in love!

September Expressions!

Card kits are released this week from Express the Moment ! This month's collection features these great back to school papers and embellies by Bo Bunny called Back to Basics! Kim threw in a ton of cute clips, buttons, flowers, brads and metal embellishments too, and even some music patterned paper so that even the music teacher won't be left out! Here are a few cards and altered projects that I completed with this months' kit.

An 8x8 page for that back to school photo!

A project featured in the autumn issues of Paper Crafts Magazine.

To complete this project you will need an empty can (think veggies) and about 32 pencils.

Hot glue the pencils around the can and finish up with the cute embellishments and papers in the kit!

I made mine to go on AJ's desk. What a fun pencil holder! Do you think that it will remind him to do his homework?

Some back to school advice! This months' kit also includes a cute acrylic stamp that says, "Just Be Yourself!" I used it on the inside of this card.

Something for the music teacher. . .

I love this flash card paper. :)

I made the base of this card to resemble a file folder by cutting notches into the front and inside of the card. I used the "Just be yourself" stamp on the inside again. I love this card!

I think that it would be fun to include a gift certificate to the local book store inside this card. What a fun back to school gift!

You can use these adorable patterned papers and embellishments to cover a notebook for school! If my math notebook was as cute as this, it might inspire me to do my homework. What do you think?

You can cut strips of cardstock to measure 2" by 7" and use some scraps from your kit to make little bookmarks too. Let no scrap go unused! Bookmarks make nice little unexpected gifts. . you could tuck one inside a borrowed book from a friend or include them with a card.

That's it for today. . . and now, back to your regularly scheduled Halloweenness!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch 34!

I have been working quite a few hours lately. My schedule just kind of worked out that way. I worked all of the holiday weekend and I am doing another two nights this week. I'm kind of feeling ready to have some days off. I need my happy place, and my paper and glue and stickers. Let's leave it at that!

I'm pretty far behind with my challenges and such, but I wanted something quick to whip out last evening while I had a little while to play. These cards are perfectly easy to do with this awesome sketch from Stars & Stamps.

I give you, Sketch #34. I will catch up on my blog surfing soon!

Materials: Studio G Dollar Stamps from Michael's and Paper from JoAnn's by Cloud 9 Design. If you have a couple of coordinating patterned papers and some black cardstock and maybe a few scraps of colored cardstock that match, you can make these following the sketch.