Good to be back...

I am not sure it's a good sign that it's 11:55 pm, and I have had to restart this post for the third time, because I keep accidentally hitting various buttons & losing the post.

Technological glitches not withstanding, I am actually quite excited to be blogging again. I've been cardmaking consistently for the last two years... which is how long ago, approximately, I last posted. Not quite sure where my blogging mojo went. I think part of it was not knowing how to garner the traffic I see other bloggers get. I know I was frustrated by my stash, and how disorganized it is.  Or maybe just not having the time, or the patience, to devote the needed energy to it. Since COVID hit in March, I have been a bit rejuvenated around creating.

I admit it wasn't like that at first. Like many, I had no idea what to do when this situation first started. I never really expected it to last as long as it has. It's been interesting to be a school trustee (I'm still on the school board - in my second term) during a pandemic. I'm pretty proud of how we've been managing the situation.

I have rediscovered sketches, and I have found some great inspiration on Youtube & Instagram. I'm especially inspired by Kristie Marcotte and Call Me Crafty Al. Today I'm sharing a set of cards I made using Kristie's 6x6 paper tutorial. It's actually an updated version of the tutorial. She used multiple sketches for her examples; my cards are based on OWH Sketch 154.

This sketch is very versatile; I will likely use it again and where I have the blank strip, I'll add a small die cut sentiment. These cards are blank because I made them as a going away gift for a friend.

Although I'm feeling creative, I'm not as organized as I'd like to be. I still have to get my cardstock sorted. It's all Stampin' Up, but I stupidly went rainbow order and mixed current colours with retired colours As such, I have some that I can't identify. For now, if I put a * next to something, that means I'm not sure I have correctly identified the item in question. My goal is to sort the cardstock this weekend. I have an unopened package of all the colour families, so I should least be able to pull out the loose current colours. The reality is I will likely let go of some of the older, retired colours I can't identify.

Card details:

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Mint Macaron (SU)
Glitter paper: Tonic Studios

DSP: Pretty Petals (SU)

Die: SU

VC Rocks June Blog Hop

I'm back with this month's VC Rocks Blog Hop. If you're just starting here at my blog, click on the link to head to the beginning of the hop on the VC Rock home page.

This time, our theme is 'Fun With The New Catalogue.' For those who are unaware of us, VC Rocks is a Yahoo! group that consists of Stampin' Up fans... it started as being basically for demonstrators only, and it's now open to customers, too. We're active in the summer, celebrating the start of the new catalogue year. Usually, we have anywhere from 3 to 5 blog hops over the summer season.

June was the final month for the Stamper's 10 group I in which I participate. As soon as I saw the sneaks of the cards we were making I knew I was going to tweak the one Laura, my demo, designed using the Sea of Textures bundle. I must give her special thanks; when our group met Monday, she forgot to bring the dies for this set. She was totally willing to run home and get them. We all told her there was no need. Many of us, including me, ordered the set that night. It didn't hit me until Wednesday that I would need the dies in order to finish my card for the hop, and she loaned them so I could get this card finished.

Because the card we made is a fun fold, I have a few extra pictures this time. I'm thinking of doing a 'Make & Take' for the group to explain the card a bit more. Tonight, I"m late getting this post up because I was at a work event, and I'm exhausted. One more week and another school year will be complete.

 Ok... enough chatter.. here are the pictures of my card!

Card Details - all products Stampin' Up

Stamps: Sea of Textures

Cardstock: Traquil Tide, Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Fresh Fig, Whisper White

DSP: Traquil Textures

Inks: Fresh Fig, Crumb Cake, Tranquil Tide, Soft Seafoam, Calypso Coral

Other: Under The Sea Framelits, Stampin Dimensionals, Tombow glue

Day 11

Life is good.

I had a wonderful day today. Tomorrow my brother, sister in law and niece leave. They're actually going on a cruise with our (as in brother & my) parents, to Alaska. I'm really curious as to how the munchkin will do. I just wonder if she'll be bored. She does love 'bowts' (a close proximity to her pronunciation of boats.. it may be a bit more like 'boots', actually) though so I can imagine she and Dida (her grandpa, my dad) will have fun looking out the window at them.

Anyway, today was fun because on her last day here, I finally figured out the way to get past her nervousness around my chair. We played with technology. Basically, I found some fun Youtube videos that she was so enraptured by that she forgot to be nervous. They weren't even wheelchair related; they were some Sandra Boynton books. When it was time for me to go, she gave me a big kiss with no need of mommy or daddy to hold her. So my day was made. :)

Had a relaxing afternoon. Then tonight I went to the movies with a friend. We went to see movie Minions. It was utterly hilarious. It stood alone quite well, and as a prequel for the two Despicable Me films, it was fantastic. I have not laughed that hard in AGES.

Today's card.... I thought I'd posted this card in the past, but I can't seem to find it in any previous posts. It was one I made on a Monday Coffee & a Card at Crafty Capers. I also don't see a picture of it on my computer, either filed in my previously blogged folders (I sort by year) or my general 'cards & layouts' folder. So I'm hoping I've not posted this in the past.

This card features a lot of Tim Holtz stuff, if I recall correctly. The tree & the deer should be Stamper's Anonymous. The tag is stamped and covered with distress inks. The stencil is definitely a Tim one. I think this card was the first time I used stencils, and I fell in love. I don't remember what company made the die for the Merry Christmas.

This card was a lot of work, but totally worth it. I'd try something like it again, though it's definitely not something I'd ever try to mass produce.

Until tomorrow...

VC's June Blog Hop - Stampin' Up! Punches and Sizzix Dies!

I am so excited to be able to participate in our June Blog Hop! This month we're rockin' our creativity with projects that feature either Stampin' Up punches or dies. I focussed on the framelit dies this time, although I did also use some punches, too.

I had so much fun making these two cards. They were made with my wonderful demo a little while ago and I saved them to share during this hop. We actually made three cards that night; I will share the third one next week. 

The first one is a really cute Stair Step card using the new baby set. I wasn't sure I liked this set at first, but I have fallen in love with it. There are so many versatile baby themed images and I don't have to hand cut any of them! the framelits are wonderful. Now, I know you can tell that a few of mine are not cut perfectly.. that is purely operator error on my part. The table we were using was a tad high for me and I didn't quite realize that I hadn't lined up the ducky correctly. If I had more time I'd have trimmed around them with a pair of scissors to tidy them up. Although I did most of the work with the framelits, you'll notice I also used a few punches too - the oval sentiment, the scallop border punch, and the circle framing one of my ducks (strategically placed to hide a tear in my border)  give this card extra pop. 

My second card, while not nearly as time consuming, is equally effective. It uses Here, I used the Banner Framelits, which debuted in the Spring Occasions catalogue and was then carried over into the current 2014-2015 Idea Book & Catalogue. Love all the new In Colours in this card... I think this designer series paper may be my favourite for the year.  On this night, I was trying to make my own cards, plus do the stamping for a friend of mine who couldn't make the club that night. As a result, I did a few things differently that the 'right' way - in this case, for example, I cut out my white banner before I stamped. I will not do that again! 

Please head over to VC Rocks! to see what the other participants have done! 

Card Details: All Products Stampin Up

Welcome Baby

Cardstock: Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana

Stamps: Something for Baby, Teeny Tiny Wishes

DSP: Lullaby

Ink: Hello Honey, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding

Other: Something For Baby Framelits, Scalloped Border Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Oval Punch

Make A Wish

Cardstock: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Basic Grey, Whisper White

Stamps: Perfect Pennants

DSP: Moonlight Paper Stack

Ink: Blackberry Bliss

Other: Banner Framelits, Star punches, ribbon 

Still here...

Am popping in today to share a few pictures and a card I made ages ago.

It has been a busy few weeks. I helped plan a surprise party for a friend of mine. We pulled it together in a week, I think. J graduated from the horticulture program here and the ceremony was on the 20th. I had said her hubby a while ago that it would be nice to surprise her with a party, and we could do it here in my common room... it just took us a while to get it all organized. It was a little stressful, but so much fun!

Because of the program she did, we figured J's party had to have a garden theme. I took on shopping for decorations & two of the other women who were attending the party also contributed some items from their homes. 

The decorations evolved from this:

 To this... the lanterns were brought from S's home, as were the faux plants. She & C. brought the candles, too.

You can see more of the decorations - the faux Red Solo Cups were cute... and the cake on my Instagram here - I'll be doing less personal picture posting on my blog and more on Instagram so that this blog can remain mostly focussed on papercrafting.

And with that, a card from a while ago. I think I've mentioned before that I usually go once a month and meet up with friends in a Close To My Heart group. The majority of the time, we do 5 cards, although sometimes the group will switch it up. I am not always great about remembering to photograph these cards, as I'm not necessarily always happy with my work. I find that with CTMH we use a lot pre-made dies using the Cricut. Despite the fact that the stamps are clear and thus it should be easy to stamp where you want to, I have trouble lining up the stamp/die. I didn't mind this card too much, though. It was perfect for our Tueday Morning Women's Bible Study to give to one of the members who just had her third child.

I can't give the card details this time, as I don't remember the name of the paper pack or the stamps. But all the products are CTMH.

Simon Says challenge.

Ah, Tuesday... the day I get to relax and do nothing. I normally have bible study in the morning, actually, but today I didn't end up going, as I needed a 'sick day'. It's also the day I get my home support, so by the time that's all done, I really don't like to go anywhere in the late afternoon or evening if I can help it.

I got a lot of cards photographed yesterday... ones I'll keep in my 'back pocket,' as it were, in case I'm not feeling creative and want to make sure I do a blog post. I'm hoping I'll be creating regularly though, as I've been working on organizing my Pinterest boards and I have a LOT on inspiration at my fingertips.

Today, a quick card for a few challenges:

I tweaked this card from one at the stamp store. I didn't want a sympathy card - we have a need for masculine birthday cards at church. I also changed the spacing of the image/sentiment, and did my shadowing differently. In keeping with the 'favourite style' challenge at Sweet Stampin, I choose to keep my card very clean and simple. It has all my favourite elements... a clean design, a bit of distressing, and a bit of texture to add visual interest.

I'm entering it in the following:

Simon Says Stamps: Simon Says... Emboss It! 
Sweet Stamping -  Your Favourite Style

I don't have the card details on me right now... the cardstock is all Bazzil; I don't remember what stamp companies the images are from, as I borrowed them.

Day 23... Almost Christmas Eve!

I can't wait until tomorrow. I swear in some ways I think I love Christmas Eve more than the actual day. I like to be active. The lack of down time tends to work for me. The gap on Christmas Day between the morning festivities  and dinner at 5pm always leaves me at loose ends.

Today wasn't super busy. I went out in the morning, and I've been home since. No shopping... went to the esthetician. I hate having my eyebrows done, but the girl who does it is awesome. We get along really well; she's a Grey's Anatomy fan and we tend to chat while she tortures me. ;)

So in the afternoon, I let myself recover. Treated myself to a candy cane doughnut from Tim Horton's. Eh, it wasn't my fave. It wasn't their fault. I am actually not a huge mint fan, but I felt compelled to try it once. \ They got my mocha perfect, which made up for it.

I have cookie dough in the fridge, so I should probably not blather on more. Here's a quick card in honour of said perfectly balanced mocha (I like mine to be more chocolate than coffee flavoured, in case you're wondering). I'm not sure why the photo is so blurry, but the card is gone, so I can't reshoot it.

 Card details: All products Stampin Up
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Very Vanilla
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Stamps: Scentsational Season
Other: Framelits

Day 22 Happy birthday Mom!

Today (the 22nd - as I edit this, I'm realizing I got distracted - stupid Facebook games! and didn't finish this post before midnight) is my mom's birthday. My folks, me, my cousin & her family, & my aunt/uncle all had coffee and cake here. It was very nice. For some reason, however, I'm utterly exhausted. I had plans to bake tonight, but I was not in the mood. It will keep until tomorrow. I think I will have to skip the chatter tonight and get straight to a card.

Tonight's card is for the latest challenge (#151) at Less is More. This week the challenge was to go back through the list of previous challenges and choose one to try now. I often dislike these challenge, as it can be a pain to go back & check out the past challenges. LIM has a link right at the top, so it was easy. The hardest part was narrowing down my favourites. I can see myself coming back to the list on days when I need a creative spark. I choose #43, A Bit of Bling. I can't help it; as time has gone on, I've grown to really love bling. Rhinestones, pearls, Stickles, glitter... you name it, I like it! Today I stuck to rhinestones.

I've been perusing the Stampin' Up Carry Over list from the Holiday catalogue. You can find it here. My link is to the main site, though I don't live in the US. If you also live in another country, use the drop down menu to find the right one. For things like this, where I'm not concerned about the price, I just want to see what's new, I tend to just stick to the default site. As is far too often the case with me, the things that have been carried over are all items I love and have already purchased. With the exception of Joyful Christmas (the poinsettia set), none of the items I was still pondering are being carried over. The bad news is, the longer I see samples of the poinsettia stamp, the more I'm thinking I like it. The really bad news is that the Expressions dies (the word above) are growing on me now that I've played with them, and they are NOT being carried over. I really, really want those dies! Isn't that always the way?! That said, they are a little finicky, and they'd likely drive me nuts after too long. I think I'll just stick to asking to  borrow them from someone who has them periodically.

Card Details - All products Stampin' Up.
Cardstock:  Island Indigo, Whisper White
Ink: Island Indigo
Stamps: Wonderful Wreath
Other: Pretty Print Embossing folder, rhinestones, Expressions Thinlits die

Day 20 Another all white card...

Well, it finally happened. We got snow overnight. Woke up to a world of white. It kept coming down periodically until, I'd say, around 1 p.m. I was nervous because a friend and I had plans to go to dinner and do our gift exchange. I talked to my friend at 10 a.m. and all was fine. Our parking lot was plowed, the snow was stopping and all was well. By noon, things had changed again. You can't tell in the picture, which I took from inside the door (through the window - the building you see isn't mine, it's another one of the 5 on the property) , but there were BIG, fluffy flakes coming down. Luckily, it stopped about 45 minutes after that and by the time I was to go out, it was fine again. Slushy, wet, and cold, but not unsafe to drive, at least to where we were going, as it's on a main road.

I spent the day at home waiting on pins and needles for a big Stampin Up order to arrive. It wasn't all my stuff - our demo was going away so I said it could all be sent here. Usually when I get deliveries from the courier, it comes early in the morning. It wasn't here when I left at 3:30. It arrived at around 4:15, and luckily, my sweet neighbour agreed to take the package. As long as you leave them a note on the door, they'll do that, at least here. I'd tried to call earlier to check when they  thought they'd arrive, and... HA. It is impossible to get through on the phone. I'm glad it worked out, because I was not looking forward to having to wait until Monday, or worse, having to track down a mis-delivered package; they have sometimes brought stuff to the wrong building and it can be a pain to track it down.

In honour of today's lovely weather, I give you a card I made a few Mondays ago, at the final Coffee & a Card day of 2013 at the local stamp store. They punched the leaves, cut the ribbon, and ran the paper through the dies for us, so it was just a matter of putting it together. 

Here is what you see when you open the door. I'm not sure why it was suggested we stamp the inside before we put the card together. At least for me, in retrospect it would've made more sense to wait, so I could be really sure where the score line for the door would hit. The stamping is done on a separate piece. The snow was made with liquid applique, glitter, and, I think, some kind of glue. I don't remember who makes these dies, but if anyone has questions, I can easily find out.