A True Friend

Hello! I was so excited to have this card be chosen as one of the featured cards last week on the Sweet Stop challenge blog- it was like an early Christmas present! I loved this week's sketch 88 and played along again. Thanks for looking!

DP: CTMH Caprice

Sentiment: Verve Stamps

Prima flowers, CTMH button, ribbon, brad, and misc embroidery thread

Cocoa Penguin

Hello! I hope you're all having a great Christmas Eve! I just got off work and wanted to post this quick before getting ready to head to my aunt and uncle's house to get the festivities started : ) I had this image colored already, and with Card Patterns sketch #95 this card came together really quickly. I'm sure my aunt and uncle will like it, although all I see when I look at it is the crooked brads that are driving me crazy! Is anyone else like that? Anyways, thanks for taking a look, crooked brads and all : )

Image: Bugaboo digi stamp (btw, she posts freebies here every Friday, I love her images, just wanted to pass that along!)

DP: CTMH Aspen

Copics, misc brads & ribbon

Snowman Joy

I got another card photographed and edited tonight. I'm almost done with my Christmas cards... OK not really now that I think about it... nothing like procrastinating. Next year I'm starting in July! I used the Sweet Stop sketch 87 for this card.

Image is a digital stamp from Meljen's Designs. "Joy" sentiment is from Taylored Expressions.

DP: CTMH Aspen

Copics, CTMH ribbon, brads

Thanks for looking, have a great Christmas Eve tomorrow! I'll be at work and then going to celebrate with my mom's side of the family, I think I'm going to give this card to my grandma.

Christmas Joy

Hello! I haven't posted in so long, but that isn't because I haven't been busy! I have made SO many Christmas cards lately, and still have a few more to finish after I post this really quick! We got a new camera on black Friday and I finally used it to take a couple pics of some cards yesterday. DH had been the only one to play with it before! I used the Sweet Sunday Sketch 97, although I did change it up a bit... The Taylored Expressions stamp "joy" is embossed with SU powder, I've had that stuff forever and have used it on practically every Christmas card I've made, and it still doesn't look like I made a dent in it. The paper is CTMH Aspen- I am so happy to be almost out of that paper. I love it but I swear I've used it the past 3 years and am finally ready to be done with it. I'm trying REALLY hard to use up what I have before buying more pretty papers! Thank you for taking a look : )

Birthday Wishes

This is my grandma's birthday card. Even though it is so simple, I LOVE this card! I used Stamp TV Thursday Sketch. You can't see it in the picture, but the paper has glitter and is SO pretty! Thanks for looking!

Sentiment: GKD

Paper: MME

misc ribbon and pearls

Blast from the Past

Hello! Today I am a part of the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past blog hop! I have loved the Taylored Expressions stamps for awhile now, especially the Christmas stamps. Plus, now that Taylor's an Iowa girl too, gotta show her some love : ) I started with the sketch given, but it ended up very different! I used the Wings of Joy stamp set- it's so cute. I had an awful day at work yesterday and as I was putting the finishing touches on my card, it cheered me up. May you all find joy all around you this Christmas! Thanks for looking!

Paper: CTMH Mistletoe

Images: Taylored Expressions

Copics (sorry I don't have which ones today!)

Misc ribbon, flower soft on the birds' hats, and red pearls for the holly berries.

Here's the rest of the blog hop, Michelle Single is up next! I'm sure everyone will have great projects to show- I can't wait to look through them all today on my lunch break!

Give Thanks

This is another one of the cards I am making for a set of Autumn cards. I had some stamping time for myself this weekend (yay) and was able to get some cards made. This one came together quickly, and I really like the result! I used the Stamp TV sketch #39. Caleb helped me with the details. He hasn't really wanted to craft with me lately, but I've been sick since last Thursday and he's made me a card each morning! I'm a lucky momma! This is also my submission for Totally Stampalicious: So Totally Thankful. I'm thankful for my family and friends, our house, my ability to craft and share, and of course, my Savior and all his blessings. Thanks for taking a look!

Verse: Verve Stamps Image: Plum Purdy Designs

Paper: CTMH Abudance

Prismacolor colored pencils

CTMH brad, photo anchor, button, misc ribbon

Spooky Birthday

Hello! I found a digital stamp company from the Copic Creations blog, Tiddly Inks. I fell in love with one of their images in particular, Spooky Birthday, and thought, if only I knew someone who's birthday was in October, I would totally use that image. Luckily my mom reminded me that my sister's boyfriend, Rob, who is like a brother, has a birthday Oct 29th.... yay! So I placed my second order of the day : ) I had to color her right away, using my sister as inspiration! I really love how the card turned out. I used Taylored Expressions Sketch #130.

Image: Tiddly Inks

Paper: CTMH Game On

Copics: E000, 00, 11, 31, 35; R20, 27; Y15, 19, 23, 35, 38; YR20

CTMH Swirl, misc ribbon

Be Still

Hello and happy Wednesday! I made this card for a friend from church who's going through a lot right now. Patrick made them a lasagna and I made the card to go with (trust me, it's better that way!) I used Taylored Expressions sketch 129 and the card came together quickly. I hope our little care package brings her some comfort. Thanks for taking a look.

Paper: CTMH Caprice

Verve Stamp

misc ribbon, brads

Mojo Butterfly

Hello! I hope everyone reading had a great weekend. I worked last night so mine was short, but good. Last night a woman I work with gave me a cute little hat she made for Bailey. She had made one when Bailey was first born, but it was too small for her head. This one fits though, and is SO CUTE! I had some momma time tonight and used Mojo Monday Sketch 158 to make her a thank you card. I am really loving making round cards with their sketches. This is also my submission for Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge 31 "Wing It." I used VersaMark Dazzle to emboss the butterfly and then inked over it to create a denim look on the textured cardstock. Thank you for looking!

Paper: CTMH Magic Moments

Outside Image: Verve Stamps, sentiment is Gina K Designs

Inside Image: CTMH butterfly, sentiment is Verve Stamps

misc ribbons, rhinestones

Autumn House

Hello! The weather has been so beautiful here lately, I haven't had the air on for a week. I love the breeze blowing through the house and the sound of the birds, it makes me happy : ) It's really put me in the mood to make my cards for Thanksgiving. It is my absolute favorite time of year as well as one of my fav holidays, my birthday is Nov 27th so it's fallen on Thanksgiving many times to add to the festivities : ) I've done a Christmas card workshop in the past where I provide all the supplies to make 10 Christmas cards. This year a few people have asked me to make sets of cards to sell, and I've decided to take the challenge a little further and make a couple Thanksgiving sets as well. This is the first card I've made for the set. I used Card Patterns Sketch # 81 as my starting point. The "brads" in the corners are actually "bullets" from a T-shirt my brother bought at a Brooks & Dunn concert. He was over for supper one night and was picking them off his shirt, he said they looked girly. After teasing him about buying a girly shirt (he is my little brother after all) I made him put them all in a baggy for me to use someday! Thanks for looking!

Paper: CTMH Abudance

Image: Plum Purdy Designs

Copics: E25, 27, 31, 33, 35, 37; YR12, 15; Y19, 35; YR09; G24; YG63; C1

CTMH buttons, misc ribbon, twine

This is also the first card I've made using my new Gina K Designs cardstock as a base... I LUV IT! It holds up so well!

Halloween Cow

Hello! I have a Halloween card to show today. It's hard to believe that it will be October before we know it! I am so happy with how my card turned out : ) I used Taylored Expressions Sketch #127. There were so many pretty samples from the Design Team, I loved playing along! Thanks for looking!

Paper: CTMH Days to Cherish

Image: Stamping up, Boo: CTMH

Copics: E000, 00, 11, 33; C1, 3; G94, 99; G 93, 95; Y17, 23, 38; YR 15; B91; V12; BV00

CTMH brads, Stickles, Spica pen, misc ribbon

Live, Laugh, Love

Hello! I hope everyone had a safe Labor Day weekend! I had to work Monday (yay for time and a half!) so I had yesterday off and was able to make a card. It seems to take me forever to make a card anymore! I had these grand plans to make a bunch of cards and I got *one* done : ) One's better than none, and I do like it. I used The Sweet Stop Sketch #72 for my card, except I added the photo corner to cover up a mess up in my sewing. I was at war with my sewing machine yesterday, and of course, since I know NOTHING about sewing the machine won! Oh well, I have at least figured out how to thread the thing so dear husband doesn't have to do it for me anymore, lol! Thanks for looking!

Paper: CTMH (sorry for the life of me I can't remember it's name...its so long retired!)

Image: Bugaboo, Sentiment is an Ippity stamp

Copics: 0, C1, 5, 7, BG000, G82, 94, E33, 37, RV19, 23, Y08, 15

Prima Flower, CTMH button, misc ribbon, twine

Rejoice and Be Glad

Happy Hump Day! For my Grandma's birthday last Sunday I gave her a set of 3 cards I had made. This is my absolute favorite of the 3, its simple but I LOVE it : ) I used Card Patterns Sketch #79 again. I also used Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #54 to use metal embellies on your card. Thanks for taking a look!

Paper: CTMH Key To My Heart

Stamp is from Hobby Lobby

CTMH embellies, ribbon, buttons

Prima flowers, misc twine

Distressed Birthday

Hello! Today I have another card I was able to make last weekend. My Grandma's birthday was Sunday and I made this card for my parents to give her. My cousin and her fiance came back from Florida and my sister and her boyfriend came from Chicago to celebrate. It was fabulous to have everyone together, it's been since Christmas since thats happened! I used Taylored Expressions Sketch #126. I loved how Taylor used her Scor-Buddy to emboss the border around her card and thought I'd give it a try. I used black embossing powder on the sentiment to add a little more interest to the card. With the embossing and distressing, this card is also my submission for Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge #27: Texture it!

Paper: CTMH Emporium

Stamps: Bugaboo, Mom: Verve, Happy Birthday unknown

Copics: R39, 85, RV19, G94,99, B93, 97, N0, 0

CTMH buttons, misc embroidery thread

Dinomite Birthday

Hello! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I actually got quite a bit of stamping done so I'll actually have posts this week, yay me! I made this card for Caleb's birthday, it is so hard to believe my little boy is 6! He started kindergarten last week- it's going great so far, but we figured it would, he's such a social boy- my total opposite! He is obsessed with dinosaurs now and knows so much about them, it's amazing. When I'm reading his books to him at night if I mispronounce one of the dino's names I get called out on it right away, that's a lot of pressure on mommy! : ) As soon as I saw the dinosaur digital stamps from Bugaboo I knew that he would love coloring them and I also used 2 for his birthday card. I used Card Patterns Sketch #79. I loved this sketch and used it again on another card I'll show later this week. Thanks for taking a look!

Paper: CTMH Stardust

Stamps: Bugaboo, Happy Birthday and alphabet for Dinomite and Caleb: Stampin Up

Copics: YG25, G20, 21, 24, 82, BG000, B 21, 23, 24, 26, 29, R20, 35, Y08, 15

Prismacolor pencils for the background

CTMH buttons, Stampin Up embossing powder

Hugs & Smiles

Hello! I made this card for a friend from church who seems to be having a lot of changes in her life recently. I just wanted to let her know I was thinking about her! I used Jen Del Muro's latest SFYTT. The sketch was great and I love how this card turned out! Thanks to Gina K's tutorial on editing photos I am actually pleased with my picture, there's hope for me yet! Hopefully my card will bring a smile to my friend's face. Thanks for looking!

DP: CTMH Magic Moments

Image: Bugaboo digital stamp, sentiment is Gina K Designs

Copics: sorry I didn't write them down this time

Prismacolor pencils for the background

Misc ribbon and buttons

Me and My house

This is the last Father's Day card that I have to show. That's all I've made lately, I haven't had much mojo to make anything else! This is the card I made for my dad. I used The Sweet Stop sketch 61. I loved this sketch! There was a twist to decorate the inside of the card as well. That was an easy one for me cuz I usually do, I just never photograph them. I forgot to take the picture until after I had already given it to him, so that's why the color is so off. I took the picture with my cell phone in my grandma's kitchen : )

Paper: CTMH Notebook

Stamps: front- Ippity

inside- Verve

CTMH brads, misc ribbon

Silhoutte Father's Day

This was my grandpa's father's day card. I loved this sketch, it's simple yet very cute. I used Unscripted Sketches #60. It had a twist to make your card black and white for National Eat an Oreo Day. My card is actually black and off white, but I like Golden Oreos the best so it works for me!

Paper: CTMH Silhoutte

"Dad" Verve stamps, embossed with black Stampin Up embossing powder

CTMH button and brad, misc ribbon and twine

A Godly Father

This is the card my mom gave my dad for Father's Day. This verse is now one of my favorites and means a lot to my family. After my grandpa died in November I found out that it was his favorite verse. A couple days after his funeral I stumbled onto this stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs and had to have it. I made picture frames for my mom and myself with my grandpa's photo and this verse. It has been such a comfort to me. To me it describes my grandpa's life and personality perfectly. My mom lucked out, my dad also is a top notch guy and this verse is very fitting for him as well : ) I used Mojo Monday 143 for the sketch. I also used Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge 18, which was a great one. From the FLOWER recipe I have an ODBD stamp, oval, circle embellishments, ribbon, and stitching (I stitched on the ribbon although you can't really see it in the picture).

Paper: CTMH Free Spirit
Stamp: ODBD
misc star and circle buttons, ribbon

Sympathy Lillies

This is a sympathy card I made for my best friend and her family. Her Grandpa died last week and his funeral was Tuesday. We have both moved away so we don't see each other much anymore. I wanted to make a card to let her know I am thinking about her. Her grandpa was a wonderful man, and I pray this card brings her comfort! I used Taylored Expressions Sketch #112.

Scripture: Our Daily Bread Designs

Image: Stampin Up

Paper: CTMH Caprice

Copics: Y000, Y21, G12, G21, B21, B23, N0

Misc ribbon, brown perle stickers from Michaels

Caiti's Graduation

Here's my 2nd graduation card that I made today. It isn't nearly as bright as it looks in the picture thankfully! I used Amy R's Friday Sketch 9. I love her sketches, now if only my cards and pics were as good as hers : ) I added Glimmer Mist to the embossed circle in the background which doesn't show in the pic. The Congratulations is wavy on the card. I got the idea from this card by Jen del Muro, another great blog to follow! This is my second submission for the Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge 12.

Scripture: ODBD

Sentiment is a digital stamp from Sweet n Sassy stamps I think!

Prima flowers, CTMH button, misc ribbon, twine

Marshall's Graduation

Last year I started taking orders for graduation cards, it went over really well and many people have asked me to do the same this year.

The local scrapbook store has custom paper with the different schools and I have this paper left over from my cards from last year. I have 2 graduation cards to show you. This one is for a kid I used to babysit! I'm not old enough for him to be graduating, right? : ) His mom was my mentor for confirmation and is one of the sweetest women I know. She keeps the Christmas cards I send her to put in the family scrapbook each year so I'm sure she'll love this card more than him! This is one of my submissions for Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge 12 to make graduation cards.

Image: Scripture is ODBD, diploma is a digital stamp- I could have sworn it was Sweet n Sassy stamps, but now I can't find it on their site....

Paper: custom

Copics: N0, Y08, Y15

Misc ribbon, CTMH brads

My Inspiration

I had a wonderful Mother's day, I hope all the other mothers out there did too! Caleb gave me a

ship made out of Legos, lucky me! I also got a beautiful plant and a piece of cheesecake, my kids know the way to my heart : ) Most of the cards I've had time to make lately have been Mother's day cards. This is the card I made for my grandma. The sentiment says "You have been my inspiration, my confidante, my friend. Because of you I've learned to love, to forgive, and to live a life filled with purpose." This definately describes my relationship with my grandma. I used Card Patterns Sketch 63 for this one. I loved this sketch, and really liked how my card turned out. This is also my submission for The Pink Elephant 66 to use yellow, design paper, and buttons on your card.

Sentiment: Verve

"mother" in background is CTMH

Paper: CTMH Paper Garden

Prima flowers, CTMH button, misc ribbon and twine

God's Love

I made this card to give to a wonderful friend from church. She gave Bailey a cute hat and a book for her baptism and was even kind enough to think of Caleb. He loves dinosaurs and she gave him a book on dinosaurs. I made her this card as a thank you. I used the Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light challenge 9 sketch. I love it, it will definately be one I use again! I had to ink up two of my new Ippity stamps. You can't tell in the picture, but I embossed the cross behind the sentiment. I love the precut stamps, so easy! I also used the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge #33 to make a card with Love on it, although I didn't get it posted in time to enter... oops! : )

Image: Ippity stamps

Paper: CTMH Lets Get Together

Copics: R27, Y15, G82

CTMH button, misc ribbon

Staying Young

My aunt's 50th birthday is coming up and she is very traumatized by the thought! My mom asked me to make a "classy, black" card for her to give. My husband said that was an oxymoron but I tried my best! I love my Gorjuss girls stamps and think this one's attitude matched Becky's well! I think she will love it. The sentiment says, "The secret to staying young is... to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age- Lucille Ball." I used Card Patterns Sketch 59 for the layout. This is also my submission for Crazy 4 Challenges 32 to use 1 ribbon, 2 brads, and 3 punches on your card. My card is also mostly black, although I did through in a little red on the sweet girl, for Cute Card Thursday Challenge 107 Mono Mania!

Image: Sugar Nellie, sentiment is CTMH

Paper: CTMH

Copics: 0, E000, E00, E11, R20, E21, E31, E33, R39, R85, C1, C3, C5, C7, N0, 110

CTMH brads and eyelets, misc ribbon

Be Strong

This is going to be a short post quick, I'm late for Caleb's bath time! Usually it's me fighting him to go get ready! I made this sympathy card for my grandma to give to a dear cousin's wife after he died last week. I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #68. I loved this sketch, it was so easy to design with!

Image: Verve

Paper: CTMH

Prima flowers, CTMH brads and ribbon

Hawkeye Ian

Hello! I made this card for my husband's birthday. Even though he graduated from UNI and is a Panther at heart, he is also a big Iowa fan and has season tickets to the Hawkeye football games. I used Taylored Expressions Sketch #104.

Image: The Greeting Farm

Paper and Hawkeye emblem were from a package from the local stamp store

twine, CTMH brads

Lovin' from the Oven

I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted, March flew by! I returned to work after being on maternity leave, and I've found it hard to find time to make cards. Luckily for me, my family has a TON of April birthdays and since I make most of my cards for my family to give to others, this is going to be a very busy month! I made this card for my dad, his birthday was yesterday. My mom switched jobs awhile ago and now my dad has to fend for himself for supper sometimes! We've found that he actually makes really good cookies and brownies, so I thought this card would be perfect for his new found talent! I used Taylored Expressions Sketch 106 for this card.

Image: House Mouse, sentiment is CTMH

Paper: CTMH

Copics: E00, E11, R20, 0, E21, E25, E29, E50, E53, Y06, Y08, Y11, B00, B21, B23, C1

CTMH buttons, Scrappers floss, Stickles

You Answer Me

I made this sympathy card for my mom to give to my dad's aunt. Her mother passed away peacefully at 92. I really liked the way this card turned out, and I know Donna will love that it's handmade (She was a preschool teacher for years and loves crafts). Of course my photo skills stink. I thought about taking a beginner's photography class, but with the new baby and returning to work next week, I'm not sure when that will happen! It is definately needed though! Anyways, back to my card : ) I started out using Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #61, although I did make my squares larger than in the sketch. It's hard to see, but I embossed flowers in the background then used the embossed resist technique I learned here at StampTV. The inside of the card is simple, I remembered to take a picture of it this time.

Image: Our Daily Bread Designs scripture, Verve flowers, Gina K designs sentiment inside

Paper: CTMH Simple Pleasures

Prima Pearls & Flower

Valentine

I'm a little late showing this card, but still wanted to share! This is the valentine I made for my dad to give to my mom. I put it together really fast since I didn't have much notice : ) She really liked it though and that's all that mattered. It was very easy to put together, I pretty much just used scraps that were already cut. This is also my submission for The Pink Elephant challenge #54 to use ribbon, easy enough right!

Stamps: Verve (love in background is CTMH)

Paper: CTMH More to Adore

Prima flowers, CTMH button and floss, misc ribbon, heart is from a gift bag we received with a gift for Bailey. It was ripped so I took the embellies off it : )

Twinkle, Twinkle

Even though Bailey is only 2 months old, I couldn't stop thinking about her while I was coloring this image. This card is inspired by the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge #26 from 1 John 4:10, to make a card letting someone know how much God loves them. It is my prayer that my children never doubt how much they are loved, not only by Patrick and myself, but by God as well. The inside of the card is stamped with "You're such a blessing." My camera battery died before I had taken the inside shot! I used the Friday Sketchers sketch #89, I really love how it turned out. Now that I've learned how to do the feather blending technique with my Copics, I apparently can't stop! The Copic Creations challenge #22 is to use Copics to color embellishments. I colored the rhinestones with YR12, although it doesn't show up well in the picture. I had also colored a button for the middle of the flowers, but it didn't turn out too well, way too pink for my taste, so a brad did the trick : ) The card is red for Crazy 4 Challenges and has bling also for the Our Daily Bread Designs challenge.

Image: Sugar Nellie, Sentiment: Verve, Inside Sentiment: Stampendous

Paper: CTMH Key to my Heart

Copics: 0, C1, E000, E00, E11, R20, E25, E29, E31, E33, R24, BG11, BG72, BG75, YR12, YR20

Prima Flowers, CTMH brad, rhinestones, and ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Christmas Morn

Another Christmas card! It snowed again today here, so Bailey and I spent some time in the craft room. I actually got a lot done, now if only I could figure out my camera. Sparkle's Christmas card challenge this week is a sketch. This picture isn't the greatest, but I'm tired so it's going to do : )

Image & Sentiment: Plum Purdy

Paper: CTMH Aspen

Copics: E000, E00, E11, R20, E21, E25, E29, BG11, BG72, Y08, Y11, YR15

Ribbon and Buttons: CTMH, Twine: Scrappers Floss

Christmas Blessings

Since winter seems to be never ending this year, why not make Christmas cards, right? This is for Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge #10 to use red and blue on your card. I also used the Mojo Monday 125 sketch as a starting point, although I did alter it a bit. Once again, my photo skills stink : ) This card will be for my Grandma Thompson. She has a old-fashioned Santa collection that she decorates her house with at Christmas time, and this Santa stamp reminds me of her. This was the first year that she didn't get them all out, my Grandpa died right before Thanksgiving so there was a lot of other things going on. I had meant to make a card for her this last Christmas using this stamp and didn't get much stamping done at all- now thanks to Sparkle's challenges I'll be ahead of the game for 2010!!

Image: Stampin' Up, Sentiment: Verve

Paper: CTMH Everlasting

Ribbon and brads are from my stash

Copics: sorry I don't have the colors this time

Feather Blended Sugar Nellie

My goal for 2010 is to actually post cards on this blog and enter them into different challenges. I've never felt my cards were good enough to enter into the challenges, but this first one I'm actually really proud of! It's for the Copic Creations challenge 21- to use the feather blending technique. I really studied Marianne's post, it was so helpful. I blended pink and orange on her dress and purple and green for her apron. I love how it turned out, my photo skills definately don't do it justice, I'll keep working on that! I used Mojo Monday sketch 124 for the card. I also am using the card for Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 24 to make a card with a child. This one was originally for my son to give to a friend for her birthday, but he decided to make one of his own to give her. I'll find someone else to give it to!

Image: Sugar Nellie

DP: CTMH Daydream

Ribbon is from my stash, RicRac is CTMH

Copics: C1, C3, C5, C7, R83, R85, BVOO, BV02, G21, YR12, E000, E00, E11, R20