Archive for 4/1/11 - 5/1/11

JUGS #82: Emboss Resist


Wild Card time over at  Just Us Girls
This time round, I'm the hostess and I've decided on the emboss resist technique :) There's a great tutorial HERE on Splitcoast Stampers. 


I went pretty CAS with mine. I used this super cute Sunflower Stamp from DeNami Design. I paired it with a Signature Greeting from PTI. The flowers are clear embossed and Scattered Straw and Shabby Shutters distress inks to color the sunflowers. Then I drew a border with a brown Spica pen, so now I can enter this card in the Make It Monday Challenge. It's all about multi-tasking this weekend :)

Before I sign off, please keep people affected by the awful storms and tornadoes in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and Arkansas in your thoughts and prayers.

Make sure to visit the other JUGS DT as well as our fabulous guest designer for April,  Teresa Kline. I'm so sad to say that this is Teresa's last week with us as our featured designer :( We are so happy that you could join us for the past month Teresa! It's been fun!!!

Enjoy your weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!

 TTFN,

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DeNami Product Spotlight: Mother

For my CR84FN post, click HERE.
For my JUGS post, click HERE.

Back again with another DeNami Product Spotlight!!! 
This stamp has such a pretty font, dontcha think?! I just love it - makes such a beautiful focal point!

Here's my Motherly tribute :)


For this card, I used our featured DeNami stamp, Mother. On the card base, I stamped the Rosette Background in Versamark and clear embossed for some shine. The larger Rosette is fussy cut, colored with Copic markers and covered with glossy accents. The red satin ribbon is pleated and stitched on the front of the sentiment panel - I just pleated and stitched as I went. No tape or glue. It was pretty easy and I'll definitely do it again :)

Just to remind you, DeNami is offering 10% off the product spotlight stamp for 1 week!!!! 

Thanks so much for taking the time to swing by and visit! I sure do appreciate it!!! Head over to the DeNami blog to see more projects from the uber talented DeNami DT as well as our April guest designer, Sue Lelli. Be sure to leave these lovely ladies lots of love!

 TTFN,

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Papertrey April Blog Hop





I managed to make a few projects for this month's Papertrey Blog Hop! Whew! The hubby and I have been preparing to put our house on the market. There's been big changes in the Matthews' household but I'll tell you a bit more about that in a second... first, the blog hop!

More about this month's challenge from PTI:

Boys To Men

This month's blog hop is dedicated to all the boys and men in our lives!  Now's your chance to create 
Father's Day projects, boy birthday cards and more to build up your stash!  Focus on masculine color 
schemes, fresh pattern combinations, understated embellishments and unique uses of images you may 
already have in your stash!


What a great time to make cards for the Dads in our lives :)


For this first card, I took some inspiration from my super talented blog friend, Cristina at My Paper Secrets :) She made THIS fabulous creation and I just had to make a twine frame for myself. I also CASE'd her single layer card format. Trust me, you can't go wrong CASEing anything this creative gal makes... seriously. Don't believe me, check out her blog....it's ok, you can put me on hold {cue the muzak}.......... told ya! 

I started out by masking off the center of the card. Then I stamped the argyle background. Then I stamped the tree. I was trying to create the effect of shading on the tree by using the rock and roll technique... with mixed results. The grassy hills with distressed edges were added, then the sentiment and the card was finished off with the crochet thread frame. The frame is so easy and is just the perfect masculine accent. There is something so satisfying in the completion of a one-layer card. The fact that if you make a mistake, you'll have to alter the one layer plan or start from scratch. Everything has to go perfectly (or pretty near...). It's a little victory. And who can't use those now and then :)

On to the next card, which also uses the Argyle set. Yep, it's love... but I say that about a lot of things... I've got lots of love to give I guess LOL!


Pretty self explanatory. The woodgrain impression plate creates texture in the background. The sentiment (from Pond Life, same as above) is framed with the Mat stack 1 die and stamp from For the Graduate. Add buttons and twine - done. Simple and minimal - no muss, no fuss :)

So that's it for the crafty portion of our program ;) More personal info to follow so feel free to hop on - I totally understand (and will be completely oblivious - it's how I live most of my life LOL!!!!). 

So we're selling our house. The house we only bought 3 years ago. The house we love. As you may or may not know, I am originally from Canada. My DH is American - we met in post-secondary school. We moved to the US about 7 years ago for work - first to Worcester, MA then to eastern TN. We've lived very happily here for the past 3.5 years and had planned on being here for quite some time - then life happened :) My DH has followed me around for the past 9 years, mostly because my work required more specific locales - now it is my turn to follow him. He has an amazing job opportunity in eastern Canada - where I hail from!!! So now we both have jobs waiting for us there. We're so excited - for the amazing opportunity and the fact we get to move back to eastern Canada. We'll be working at the very university where we met 13 years ago :) It is bittersweet, however; while we get to move back to a place we love and that holds a special meaning for both of us, we are moving away from family and dear friends here in eastern TN and NC. Not easy.... at all. So it is with excitement, tempered by very heavy hearts, that we take this next step... We'll officially be moving at the end of Aug (which is RAPIDLY approaching!!!) so lots to do between now and then. 

Anywho, thanks so much for stopping by. I certainly understand how busy life can get so I really appreciate you spending precious time here with me!  Happy hopping!


TTFN,

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CR84FN #25

For my JUGS post, please click HERE :)


Happy Easter!!! If you do not observe Easter, I hope you are having a spectacular weekend!


How about these AWESOME CR84FN colors for this week? There's just so much inspiration in the photos above (from Martha Stewart).

This color combo just made me want to make a fun card :)


It's CAS and colorful! These are the Copic markers I used - R29, 24 and 20 for the letters and BG000 to outline the text (it's faint but you can barely see it). I love using gradient coloring in these letters! They're pretty large too so they can really make a great focal point. The polka dots are embossed in white and text is stamped in tumbled glass distress ink for a subtle look. Each and every week, I really am inspired all the beautiful interpretations of the challenge colors - ranging from soft and beautiful to bright and spectacular! I always look forward to all the gorgeous inspiration - thank you all for participating!!!

Make sure you show some love to the always inspiring CR84FN DT and the talented Silke Ledlow, our April guest designer!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
TTFN,

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JUGS #81: Spring Theme Template Challenge



Ready to go 3D with  Just Us Girls?  Our dear Kristin has got a fun, seasonal challenge for us all - create a template or 3D project with a spring theme! 

I don't know about you but I just love spring and fall - I LOVE making cards in the respective, traditional color schemes. The soft, fresh colors of spring and the earthy, rich tones of fall. 

But now it's time to get your SPRING ON!!!

I went with mostly pastel colors and an Easter theme since this is Easter weekend.

So here's my template and matching card...


The template is from Qbee on Splitcoast Stampers - she designed a template to be like the egg boxes from PTI. She's got printable templates and everything!


I made the top of my box from DCWV Garden Party papers. He, he - look at the bow on the front :) I just noticed that as I was posting. Oops - it's straight on the first picture LOL! I used my Beautiful Blooms die to make a flower for the top and Tiny Tags to create the small "enjoy" tag.


The insert has punched holes to hold 6 small eggs but I'm sure you could alter it to hold larger eggs as well. So darn cute!!!


A final close up of my card. I LOVE crocheting those flowers now! I think I could use them on just about every card :) Restraint...show restraint.... I also used matching papers and ribbon.  Aren't those polka dot leaves just too cute?!

So that's about it for me. I'm hoping to squeeze in a bit more crafty time this weekend but we've got a laundry list of projects to tackle too so we'll have to see what happens.

Make sure to visit the other JUGS DT as well as our fabulous guest designer for April,  Teresa Kline.

Enjoy your weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!

 TTFN,

Ingredients
Stamps: Egg Hunt, Tiny Tags (PTI)
Ink: Hibiscus burst, new leaf (PTI)
Paper: White (PTI), yellow textured cardstock, Garden party DP (DCWV), new leaf bitty dot DP (PTI)
Other: Doily Details dies (PTI), Hibiscus burst ribbon (PTI), crochet floer, Turning a New Leaf die (PTI), pearl brad (paper studio)

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Making an impression





Hello all!

Gotta a quick pre-Easter weekend post. This card utilizes the newest Make It Monday Challenge which is to emboss with dies. I've really only ever done this with Spellbinders dies so was intrigued with the possibility of using PTI dies to emboss.




For color inspiration, I used Heather's latest Totally Hues color palette - so FABULOUS!

I am loving the turning a new leaf dies!!!


I embossed the lemon tart background with the largest Turning a New Leaf die to create the embossing. Then I used the leaf die to cut leaves from simply chartreuse cardstock. The cute little roses were created by cutting a spiral from raspberry fizz cardstock - there's a tutorial HERE at Kay's Kreative Korner. The butterfly from Love Lives Here was cut from aqua mist polka dot paper and vellum. The vellum butterfly was then embossed with the alphabet impression plate. The butterfly is popped up on a dimensional and pink glitter was added to the center heart. I just realized how little I actually stamped on this card :) Just the sentiment really.

Anywho, hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend. Any big plans? We've got Easter brunch plans with friends and some spring home improvement projects :) 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

TTFN,

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DenNami Color Challenge

For my CR84FN post, click HERE.
For my JUGS post, click HERE.


We've got more fabulous DeNami Fun in store!!! 


How about these GORGEOUS colors by Ayana!! If these don't inspire creativity, I'm not sure what will!

Here's my take...


I made a CAS card using the following stamps; 
Medium Polka Dots clear embossed on navy cardtock
Cuddly Cats Petit Four colored with Copics
Kitty Toys Petit Four colored with Copics

Other ingredients include Bakers twine and a button. Easy peasy :)

Thanks so much for taking the time to swing by and visit! Head over to the DeNami blog to see more projects from the uber talented DeNami DT as well as our April guest designer, Sue Lelli. Be sure to leave these wonderful ladies lots of love!

 TTFN,

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CR84FN #24

Please scroll down for my JUGS post :)


Howdy folks! Hope you all enjoyed last weeks CR84FN colors! I know we sure loved seeing all of your fabulous creations - keep 'em coming!!!

Feast your eyes on the GORGEOUS CR84FN colors for this week....


The wedding cake in the fabulous inspiration photo really inspired me. I wanted to keep my card fairly CAS like the cake.


I punched out all the circles from aqua mist cardstock then stitched them in rows. The bottom of the cream base is embossed with a damask impression plate. I fought the urge to add more to the card, but now that I look at it, I think it needs a little more something something... what do you think?

Make sure you show some love to the delightful, oh-so-talented CR84FN DT and the sweet and creative Silke Ledlow, our April guest designer!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
TTFN,

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JUGS #80: Color challenge!


Boy, do we have a fun Color Challenge lined up at  Just Us Girls this week! Not only that, it's a challenge WITH A TWIST! What's the twist, you ask? Make a BIRTHDAY CARD! The birthday cards are to celebrate a special birthday JUGS gal! Lisa is celebrating her birthdays this coming week so we want you to help celebrate with us!!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY A WONDERFUL GAL!!! I tell ya, this JUGS team is something special because of the members and this cat is the COOLEST!!! Hope your special day is as fun as you are, Lisa!!!

In honor of Lisa's birthday, the ladies at MTME and hosting a blog hop for the lovely Lisa. Check it out HERE.

Without further adieu, here are the colors...



Aren't they just scrumdiddly-umptious!!! YUM!!!

And my card...


I used PTI's Bitty Background Blocks to create a quilt-like card. I also used Button Boutique to stamp the black pseudo-stitching. OMG, I can't get enough of the banner die! I had to use it here too! The Doily Details Dies are also something I'm quickly growing VERY attached to! The satin melon berry ribbon tops it all off. Speaking of loves, melon berry.... LOVE!!!!

I have been disappointed with my camera's performance lately (of course, it CANNOT be the fault of the operator, right? :)). But seriously, I think I need another light for my light tent to make things right again. I find I need to edit my pics to make them purdy and I'd like to minimize that as much as possible. I could try supplementing with natural light... hmmmm... something to try next time I guess.

Make sure to visit the other JUGS DT as well as our fabulous guest designer for April,  Teresa Kline. Leave em, some love, especially Lisa and Elise, the birthday gals!!! 

Enjoy your weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!

 TTFN,

Ingredients
Stamps:Bitty Background Blocks, Birthday basics -sentiment, Button boutique (PTI)
Ink: Melon berry, aqua mist (PTI), tuxedo black (Memento)
Paper: Kraft, true black, aqua mist, vintage cream (PTI)
Other: Doily Details dies (PTI), Banner die (PTI), melon berry ribbon

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