A (very) quiet day...

My (big) boy is having a play date today, and despite my very best efforts to force my (little) boy to stay awake and play with me, he'd much rather sleep! So... I've been forced to try and entertain myself. ;)

After a tea and a lovely snack of toast with apple butter, I got to 'work' on playing along with some challenges.

Lucky me, today is new colours day at one of my favourite challenges, the ColourQ (btw, if you haven't played along with them, you really should. They have a great team who comes up with wicked colour combinations - and the DT cards are always so pretty). Today's colours were Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie and White.

I used the colours to make this cute little Hot Chocolate holder for my son's friends for halloween. I found the tutorial on YouTube and couldn't wait to try it. I ended up making two of them exactly the same. They are going to two sisters, so I didn't want one to turn out better than the other ;)

Boo! 

 (CQC107)

I also played, for the first time (!!), along with Friday Mashup. How cool is that concept?! Their challenge this week was to choose one of the following:
1. Create a card with snowflakes
2. Create and easel card
3. Or "Mash it up" and create an easel card with snowflakes


I love the quote here: "A snowflake is winter's butterfly". I have a thing for snowflakes. I find them absolutely fascinating, and in fact, I have one tattooed on my foot.

I chose to do the mashup #3. I just recently learned how to create a twisted easel card when I was a guest at an SU demonstrator meeting, and couldn't want to try one for myself from scratch. Also, for the first time, I tried my hand at paper-piecing. Although time-consuming, I love the results and had tons of fun.

Merry Christmas

(FM28)

I'll be attending a Christmas Card class on Friday, and after that, I think I'll be done with Christmas cards for this year! Yipee!

Materials used for "Boo":

(All SU unless otherwise stated)

Cardstock:Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: "Pocketful of Posies" DSP, "Well Worn" DSP

Stamps: "Boo!" from Tiny Tags

Ink: Early Espresso

Embellishments: Lucky Limade ruffled ribbon, Pumpkins (??)

Tools: Decorative Label punch, Corner rounder (EK)

 

Materials used for "Merry Christmas":

(All SU unless otherwise stated)

Cardstock:Early Espresso, Pool Party, Whisper White

Paper: "Mom's Diner" and some random plaid (both Recollections)

Stamps: "Merry Christmas" and snowflakes (Recollections)

Ink: Pool Party, Chocolate Chip

Embellishments: Pool Party ruffled ribbon, White ribbon (??)

Tools: Large Oval punch, Decorative Label punch, Scallop edge punch (EK)

 

Thanks for stopping by :)

-tb:oxo

Key to my heart

"I got this from the school library. Did you know you could just borrow books from there?!" - Finn Hudson

I started watching "Glee". My sister-in-law lent it to me, and it's become my secret obsession :) This line cracked me up...

Anyway... moving on ;)

Made this card for two challenges: Mojo Monday sketch, and ColourQ colour challenge.

 Key to my heart

 (MOJO210)

(CQC106)

Off to borrow some books from the library :)

-tb:oxo

Should have been a birthday card

Tomorrow is my grandmother's 89th birthday. Almost immediately after stamping "Kindness Matters" onto this card, I thought to myself, this should have been a birthday card!. Alas, it is not! Perhaps I will restamp and make it one... Or, better yet, make another one of these.

I really loved the colour challenge from over at Colour Q this week. It inspired me immediately. The sketch came from Paper Crafts magazine, which I unfortunately don't have in front of me at this moment to reference!


I've seen a lot of halloween cards being made with Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder and Basic Black (from my endless midnight internet wandering!), and I was concerned that it might take on the halloween feel. That concern was totally unfounded. It turned out decidedly un-halloween like! :)

Kindness Matters

(CQC105)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card, either! 
Cardstock :: Basic Black (SU), Whisper White (SU), 

Chocolate Chip (SU), Wisteria Wonder (SU)

 Paper :: Green polkadot (K&C)

Stamp :: Kindness Matters set (SU)
Ink :: Black, Chocolate Chip (SU), Wisteria Wonder (SU), Wild Wasabi (SU)
Embellishments :: black picot ribbon, sqaure buttons
Tools :: 1 3/4 circle punch (EK), Dimensionals (SU), cuttlebug, embossing folder (TH)

I feel like I say this about all stamp sets and papers... and well, all SU product - but I LOVE the "Kindness Matters" set! 

 

... really thinking about taking the SU demonstrator plunge. It's starting to feel more and more like the "right time".

-tb:oxo

Twine and combined challenges

My order from The Twinery arrived. It made me so happy. I can see myself using twine a lot in the future.

This card was made for two challenges. a colour challenge put forth by ColourQ, and a sketch challenge over at Pals Paper Arts.

I loved the colours over at ColourQ this week. I don't feel like I did them justice though. Then again, who else but Martha Stewart can make a bunch of stacked dishes look awesome?

Unfortunately, I don't have any Certainly Celery in my collection... I used Old Olive instead.

It's Your Birthday

 (CQC102 & PPA111)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Whisper White (SU), Old Olive (SU), Tempting Turquoise (SU),

Basic Gray (SU), Poppy Parade (SU)

Paper :: Plaid from "All About Boys" series (DCWV)

Stamps :: "Its your birthday" (Hero Arts)

Ink :: Poppy Parade (SU)
Embellishments :: Honeydew twine (The Twinery)

Tools :: Balloon punch (MS), 1 1/2 Circle punch (Marvy), Dimensionals (SU)

I'm disappointed I didn't do something a little "extra" with that strip of Old Olive (like add a scallop edge or something). I blame post-pregnancy brain on that oversight! :)

-tb:oxo

Ahhh, that's better!

I posted earlier today with my entry into this week's ColourQ challenge. Throughout the day, every time I glanced at the card, I got this overwhelming sense of "ugh"! I knew, in my heart of hearts, that it just wasn't very good.

When my husband got home, I showed him the card. There was silence. Granted, I prefaced the show and tell with "I made this card today that I absolutely detest", so he may have been predisposed to detest it as well ;) Even still, he normally tries to convince me otherwise. No convincing today!

I made a new card for the challenge. I feel much better now. As a reminder, here is the gorgeous colour palette (that I botched the first time around)

ColourQ challenge: Take 2 

Hi

 

(CQC101)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Lucky Limeade (SU), Pool Party (SU), Whisper White (SU)

Paper :: "Pocketful of Posies" DSP - Rich Razzleberry (SU)
Embellishments :: Pearl Dots (MS), Foil letters, buttons, sticker, feathers, paper flowers
Tools :: Scallop edge punch (EK), 2-way gluepen

Finished Size :: 4 1/4" x 4"

 

Then, because I was feeling so darn good about myself, and because I couldn't stop thinking about the Color Throwdown challenge, I made another one for that. It seems that everything is coming up 'gray' these days, and in a good way!! 

As I mentioned in a previous post, we just redecorated our main level in our house, and we chose two shades of gray. I will have to post about those at some point very soon.

Over at Color Throwdown, they are challenging us to use Island Indigo, Peach Parfait, Basic Gray and Light Gray. Here's my take on all that jazz...

Best Wishes

(CTD158)

 

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Peach Parfait (SU), Island Indigo (SU), Basic Gray (SU), Whisper White (SU), Glass Slipper (Bazzil)

Stamps :: "Best Wishes" from Short & Sweet (SU), Butterfly trio from Kindness Matters set (SU)
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU), Groovy Guava (SU)
Embellishments :: Pearl dots (MS)
Tools :: Dimensionals (SU), Scallop Edge punch (EK), Decorative Label punch (SU), Scallop Oval punch (SU), Large Oval punch (SU)

Finished Size :: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" 

 

Ahhh, peace at last...

-tb:oxo

A ColourQ challenge and a lesson in patience

I'm trying to do anything and everything to keep my mind off the fact that baby hasn't arrived.

So, after folding laundry, a game of Chinese crib, and an elaborately prepared lunch, and 7 written thank-you cards, I decided to participate in a challenge :)

I followed the ColourQ challenge this week: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry and White.

Their inspirational image, as always, was gorgeous. I sometimes find that using all the colours is difficult - especially when you're staring at an object that has done it so effortlessly!

Anywho, here is my take on the palette!

Wish Big

 (CQC101)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Lucky Limeade (SU), Pool Party (SU), Wisteria Wonder (SU), Whisper White (SU)

Paper :: "Pocketful of Posies" DSP - Rich Razzleberry (SU)
Stamps :: Sweet Summer (SU)
Ink :: Lucky Limeade (SU), Wisteria Wonder (SU)
Embellishments :: $1 Ribbon, Pearl Dots (MS)
Tools :: Dimensionals (SU)

Finished Size :: 6 1/4" x 3"

Hoping everyone out there is enjoying the last few days of summer! It's certainly feeling like fall around here. It feels like just yesterday I went to the library with my little kiddo and got a book about making apple cider...

-tb:oxo

ColourQ Fantastic-ness

There are a lot of things I love about the ColourQ challenge this week.

• It's their 100th! I've only been participating for the last month or so, but I'm a huge fan of even numbers. 
• It's a combination of a sketch challenge and a colour challenge. Wicked.
• I got to browse through 99 excitingly awesome colour palettes to decide on which one to use this week.

Ya, you tell me that's not awesome.

Not to mention - I got new product today. So I'm thrilled to bits. Even at 11:00pm :)

I followed this sketch and challenge #27 (with the following colours: Tangerine Tango, Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede, White)

 Kindness Matters

(CQC100)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Soft Suede (SU), Tempting Turquoise (SU), Tangerine Tango (SU), Whisper White (SU)

Paper :: Beyond the Garden DSP (SU), Night of Navy DSP
Stamps :: "Kindness Matters" set (SU)
Ink :: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Embellishments :: Paper butterflies
Tools :: Decorative Label punch (SU), Scallop Edge punch, dimensionals (SU), sponge

I've been surrounded by kindness the last little while, and this seemed very fitting.

Feeling blessed...

-tb:oxo

Congratulations... for something :)

At the risk of sound narcissistic, I almost want to send this card to myself! ; ) I've gotten so much accomplished in the last few days, I just can't even believe it!

This is a generic "Congratulations" card. I'm sure I'll be needing one of those some day. I used the exceptionally rich colour palette from ColourQ! I feel that I could have done more with this card, but was in a very simple mood; no designer paper, few embellishments, etc.

Congratulations
(CQC99)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: Crushed Curry (SU), Island Indigo (SU), Irish Eyes (Bazzil), Pumpkin, White
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU)
Embellishments :: Cotton flower, embroidery floss
Tools :: Scallop punch

Thinking about trying this colour combination again some other time...

-tb:oxo

Happy Birthday

A simple birthday card, using the colour palette from ColourQ challenge!

Not only do I always (always!) love their colour combinations, the images they choose to accent them are always so inspiring. They never fail to bring a smile to my face!

Today, I felt like keeping the "flower" theme going.

Happy Birthday
(CQC98)
Materials -
Cardstock :: Soft Suede (SU), Lucky Limeade (SU), white
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU)
Stamps :: "Happy Birthday" from Hero Arts
Etc :: Lrg oval punch (SU), Scalloped oval punch (SU), dimensionals (SU), blender pen (SU),
paper flowers, $1 ribbon from Michael's, Cuttlebug embossing folder, button from my stash, embroidery floss

Relaxin'...

-tb:oxo

Woohoo - ColourQ!

I love ColourQ challenge day. The combinations they choose are always so fun. Sometimes I find it a tad difficult to get all the colours in there, but that's part of the 'excitement'. It forces me to try something I wouldn't normally do.

This week's excitement was Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party, Basic Black, and White. YES!

Friends of ours just had a baby. Well... a month ago. But we've been sick and busy and haven't had a chance yet to go visit them since they've been home from the hospital. We will be seeing them this weekend and I made this card to give them. They are a little non-traditional (likely part of the reason we love them so much), so I didn't want to make a pastel-laden 'sweet' baby card.

congratulations

(CQC97)

Materials -
Paper :: "Maddi Paisley" by MakingMemories
Cardstock :: Pool Party (Su), Pink, White, B&W polka dots
Ink :: Pool Party (SU), Calypso Coral (SU)
Stamps :: "Congratulations" from the Congrats set (SU)
Etc :: Random buttons (that match Pool Party so wonderfully!),
Scallop edge border punch

Luckily the patterned paper had some 'tangerine' in it, because apparently I don't own anything that colour! Must. Rectify. That.

More party planning tonight...

-tb:oxo

ColourQ Challenge

After seeing this week's colour palette at ColourQ, I simply could not resist! In fact, I loved the colour combination so much, I briefly considered changing the style of our bedroom... again ;)

I think my desire to constantly change the decor/layout/theme of the rooms in my house is either a Capricorn thing, or I just love colour so much I can't commit to just one combination!

Although I had tons of fun working with the colours in the challenege, I'm forced to wonder, am I in a cardmaking slump? I'm not 100% proud of this card. I think it's the weird dimensions (4" x 9"!)... I might try again tonight using a more "normal" sized card and see what I come up with. Then again, maybe not!

We may have some friends coming by tonight for a couple games of Euchre! And it's been quite some time since we've hung out with these fine folks, or played Euchre. I'll still be playing around with 'cards', just a different variety :)

Best Wishes
*I love the "Short & Sweet" stamp set*

(cQc #96)

How about another view?

Materials -

*Burgundy text is Stampin' Up! product line
Paper :: ?? Can't remember...
Cardstock :: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, White, Gray
Ink :: Island Indigo, Kiwi Kiss
Stamps :: "Best Wishes" + Blossom from the Short & Sweet set
Etc :: Dimensionals, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Circle punch, corner rounder, Pearls, $1 ribbon, brads, multi-sized flowers from dollar store...

Wowza, I feel like I used a lot more than I needed to for this card! However, while at Michael's the other day, I scoured their $1 ribbon bin and found some pretty cute ribbons. This particular one matched perfectly with the challenge colours, so I was pretty amazed with myself and my foresight in that purchase. Indeed, my psychic abilities are astounding.

Off to clean my house...

-tb:oxo