You're Amazing

One more card using this week's sketch at MFT.  I am so dependent on sketches so I usually make several cards using the same one.  This sketch came in handy as I made a thank you card for one of my SIL's.

Inks used:  Stampin'Up! Spectrum, several Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks, several SU inks.
Woodgrain paper is from a woodgrain pack from the dollar store - seriously!
Purple pearl is a melted Perler Bead
Stamps - various companies
MFT Circle Stax die 
Sketch:

Challenges:
MFT - sketch
Simon Wednesday - make your own background
House that Stamps Built - words as focus

The Winning Card

Because I wasn't really happy with the first anniversary card prototype that I posted yesterday, I made a few more and this one is the one I like the best.  So this is the anniversary card for the year, thanks  Susan Powell whom I CASEd.

The heart is Brown Kraft by the Kraft Outlet, embossed with a Cuttlebug folder then cut out with a stitched heart die.  The Dark Chocolate card stock by Gina K Design is cut with the Fanciful Flourish die byCheery Lynn Design.  Background is Script Background stamp by Stampin'Up!
Tim Holtz Distress ink on the edges.
Sketch:

Challenges:
Simon Wednesday - make your background
MFT sketch
ScrapyLand - anything
Stamploration  theme - love

All Sorts - I spy something with B (browns, bird, banner)

Wishing Togetherness Always

Even though I love to create a new card for each occasion and each recipient, I end up stressing about it, especially when I get close to the due date and have not made a card I really like.  So I am allowing myself to make duplicates (like I did for Valentines).  I want to make an anniversary card suitable for all my children's anniversaries.  My first attempt (and I need one by March 5) is probably not going to be this year's card but here it is anyway:

I love this embossing folder by Cuttlebug.  And I love the "always" die cut.  But still not sure if I like the card 😕
The hearts are cut out with dies - unknown company.  The word die is Stamploration.
Sketch is MFT:

What do you think?

Challenges:
MFT sketch
House that Stamps Built - focus on word 
                                        - Tic, tac, toe 
                                        - purple palette 
Stamploration Theme - love

Stamploration Never ending challenge

Pretty Cleaning Supplies

Here is another idea I came up with for "prettying" up my home.  I love Mrs. Meyers product so I have dish soap, hand soap, and multi-surface spray by my kitchen sink on a ceramic tray.

Easy dress up:
Plaid designer paper put on with ScorTape.  The flowers are Verve stamps and then cut with their corresponding dies put on with Zots. Black brads through the center of the flower layers.  I have a lot of Raffia so I used that instead of ribbon.  I like the semi-rustic look of it.
Challenges:
Die Cuttin Divas - anything but a card
Word Art Wednesday - anything
House that Stamps Built - tic tac toe
All Sorts - something beginning with B (black brads and bows)

Home Decor

Some homes look like they should be featured in a magazine.  Mine is not one of them.  An interior decorator I am not.  I'm not into lots of knick-knacks and doodads, covers on toasters and mixers, and all the extras like that.  I do try to keep to a color scheme and we think our home is comfy and livable.  I guess that is what counts.
There are a few fun crafty things I have done lately to add to the decor that I am enjoying.  Here is one of them:

I usually peel the label off my jar candles.  The other day I started wondering if I could make a band to jazz up the jar.  The band itself is a strip of designer paper that has a lacey design on it.  The flowers are Elizabeth Craft Design Roses.  I started with Stamp Up So Saffron cardstock then sponged some inks on the edges of each petal before assembling them.
Here is the rose I put on the top, wishing I had made all of the roses this color because it matches the candle wax perfectly.

This one was made with Coral cardstock with sponging on each petal.

ScorTape was used to adhere the band and Zots hold the flowers firmly to the band and the jar lid.

Challenges:
Die Cuttin Divas - anything but a card
ScrapyLand - anything
Crop Stop - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Cut It Up - anything goes

Crazy Weekend

Crazy busy weekend.  Crazy weather.  Crazy tired. 
One set of grandchildren Friday and part of Saturday.  Another group of grands Saturday through Monday.  Sixteen people here on Sunday for lunch.  Rain and wind resulting in soaking wet kids Friday and Saturday. (Why do kids love puddles?)  Then it changed to snow and freezing temps.  Puddles turned to ice so there was some "ice skating" in rubber boots 😃 but the wind was so severe, it was too cold to be out long.  At least for this grandma.  Now the laundry!  But first I wanted to post another card.  Same sketch, same stencil, same flowers and yet a different look from the last card.

 Challenges:
MFT sketch

Simon Wednesday - add a die cut
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crop Stop - anything

Calm Before The Storm

Sure glad I took some time Thursday to work on a few cards because I definitely won't have any time until the middle of next week to do any crafting.   Lots grandchildren and overnight guests during the four day weekend.
I decided to try my hand at stencils (Stamploration)  and Distress Oxide ink again.

The flowers and their coordinating dies are Reverse Confetti.  Sentiment is Verve.
Sketch:

Challenges:
Simon Monday - note or notepaper
Simon Wednesday - use a die
http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/2018/02/anything-goes-challenge-322-323.htmlWord Art Wednesday - anything
MFT - sketch

Lots Of Cuts and Lots of Layers

Here is another card that took quite a bit of time but the results were worth it - a special card for a  DIL.

Hearts - cut out with stitched heart dies
Ornate gold heart - Silhouette
Circles - cut with MFT Circle Stax
Tim Holtz Distress ink and Distress Oxide inks
Besides the splatters of Oxide ink, I colored some confetti with Copic makers and then glued those little pieces onto the card front.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - love in the air
Simon Wednesday - love
Time Out - love and photo inspiration
Deep Oceans - love is all around
Die Cut Divas - love in the air
Power Poppy - love to sparkle
Joy Clair - love and photo inspiration
7 Kids - anything
Stamploration Theme - love/red

So Personal

Don't you love it when you make a card and just know it is perfect for the recipient?  This card was inspired by Carolyn King.  After I cased it, I just knew which daughter it was made for; the colors, the uniqueness. I love it!

Here is the card I CASEd:

 So back to my card - I used three dies from a set of stitched heart dies.  "Love" and "you" are Simon Says dies.
Washi tape, triple heart stamp and sequins = perfect for daughter.
Challenges:
Die Cut Divas - love
Joy Clair - love
Simon Monday - love
Simon Wednesday - love
Stamploration - paint it red/love

Cut It Up - layers  of love
Time Out - love
Double D - sequins
Deep Oceans - love
Crop Stop - anything
House that Stamps Built - focus on words

Yay! Last Valentine

Yes, I finally finished all the Valentines and will mail them off tomorrow.  I'm so happy to be done, I'm not even waiting til tomorrow to post this last card.  I will look back at my photos because I know I have not shared all of them so even though this is the last to be made, I will probably share a few more ideas.  This one is really quite simple but so cute for my baby grandson (who obviously won't care but his brothers would really wonder why Gramma didn't make one for the baby!)

I colored the image by DearieDolls with Copics then cut it out with a Elizabeth Crafts Stitched Oval.  The sentiment is Repeat Impression that I stamped and then fussy cut.

Challenges:
Simon Monday -Love is in the air
Simon Wednesday - it must be love
Scrapy Land - anything
Deep Oceans - love
Dies R Us - for the one I love
Die Cut Divas - love is in the iar
Joy Clair - love
Daily Marker - 30 days color
Work It Wednesday - love
CardzTV - anything
Stamploration Theme - love/red

Successful Shaker Card

My track record for shaker cards is terrible but  Whoohoo!  I finally made a shaker card that I like!

This time I used a sheet of foam, cutting out the heart shape and then adhering the whole piece to the card.  So much better for me than putting small foam pieces under and around the heart trying to seal it for the confetti inside. 
I really love this heart die (unknown company) and the "always" die by Stamploration was perfect for this card.  What I put in the shaker - sequins and some metal confetti.  Love the mix.
Here is the sketch: MFT

This card will go to one of my precious granddaughters.

Challenges:
Die Cut Divas - love
Work It Wednesday - love
Joy Clair -love
Die Cuttin Divas - anything
Simon Wednesday - anything
Dies R Us - for the one I love
Simon Monday - love
Power Poppy - love to sparkle
Stamploration - paint it red

Stamploration Never ending challenge

Heavy Duty Card Making Month

February - usually dreary, gray, rainy, and a bit depressing around these parts.  But despite all that, I love February because I love Valentine's Day.  As I've said in previous posts, I make a card for each person in my family (26).  So for the next few days I will post some more of the Valentines that I finished.
Last year I bought a few more heart dies. They are not from well know companies - but I sure love them.

I cut the heart out of the pink cardstock then in-laid the heart that I cut out of a polished stone paper I had made ages ago, but first put a piece of printed paper (Doodle Pantry) between the white card base and the pink cardstock.  This will go to one of my precious granddaughters who will enjoy the pinks, ribbons, and pearls.
Sketch:

Challenges:
Die Cut Divas - love
Crop Stop - anything
Work It Wednesday - love
MFT - card sketch
Joy Clair - love
Dies R Us - for the one I love
Die Cuttin Divas - anything
Simon Wednesday - anything
CardzTV - anything