Holiday Party Invitations - (365 Cards Day 275)

I'm running a little late this year, but I did manage to get the invitations to my hubby's Staff Holiday Party completed and in the mail this week.

I think I might have spent as much time waiting in line at the post office, as I did making these invites. Note to Self: procrastinating is not a good idea!

Supplies: Solid & Swiss Dot Cardstock (Bazzill), Patterned Papers (Bo Bunny, Websters Pages & & Gypsies), Red Grossgrain Ribbon, Green Tulle, 2" Scallop Punch (EK Success). border Punch (Martha Stewart)

I broke out the sewing matching and added a little stitching. It was a bit tricky switching from straight stitch, to zig zag mid sew...but by the end of 12 cards, they were looking pretty good.

So sorry to the folks that will be receiving the first few that are not quite so pretty.

I printed up the "Party" sentiment on the computer, adding a polka dot circle border and punched them out with a 2" scallop punch. I used foam pop dots for some height. Added a ribbon (stapled to the edge for a little more detail) as well as some tulle for a little softness.

Inside the card reads: The cookies are all baked, the decorating is all done. Now it's time to sit, relax, and have a little Fun!

Right now my house is a complete disaster as I am in the middle of putting up the decorations. When my daughter read the inside of the invitation - she totally called me on it. "Mom, that's not true, you're not done decorating and we haven't baked even one cookie yet". My rational to her was that they would be done by the time the guest arrive - at least I hope so!

Family Card Challenge - HBCC #2

I spent some time organizing my Craft Room over the weekend (which is also the Guest Bed Room). I haven't been doing any paper crafting lately, frankly...because I couldn't find anything. I'm happy to say, I'm feeling much more creative now that things are a bit tidy and I'm ready to Get My Craft On!

After seeing all the new goodies I was putting away, Little K decided she wanted to to another Family Card Making Challenge (probably because she won the last one). This time, she wanted Daddy to play along. Being the good sport that he is, he agreed. Although he did make us promise that next weekend we have a "who can change the oil in the car fastest" Challenge. Little does he know, I'm actually pretty good at that.

So here are our submissions for your review and consideration.

We followed the Hannah Bug Color Challenge #2 - Use Dark Grey, Dark Orange and Light Orange.

It's a new Challenge Blog designed for Kids Submissions. Hannah (Lori's daughter from The Pink Elephant) just started the site, so spread the word to all your Crafty Kids - how fun that they can play along with their peers in their own challenges.

Submission #1 - Best Friends

Submission #2 - Smile

Submission #3 - Hello Friend

We also added our own twist. Since we couldn't all fit into the craft room - we pulled a limited few supplies (cardstock, buttons, brads, ribbon, stamps and punches). We brought them to the kitchen table and that's ALL we were allowed to use. No one could go into the craft room and dig for the perfect button, or get just one more bling. We had to share the supplies and use only what was on the table.

Considering those limitations, I think they turned out pretty good - and very different.

Feel free to leave a comment on which one you like the best. The winner gets Braggin' Rights (but beware, there may be a re-match in the works already).

CPS #125 - Apple Thanks Card

This is card number THREE for your consideration in our Friendly Family Card Making Competition. Sketch #125 was used from Card Positioning Systems.

Can you tell if it was made by me (Karina), my Mom (M), or my 8 year old Daughter (Little K)?

There are two more posts here, and here. Feel free to leave a comment and let us know which one you like best.

We'll be determining the winner based on most number of posts. Thanks for Commenting.

CPS #125 - Lisa Birthday Card

This is card number TWO for your consideration in our Friendly Family Card Making Competition. It's a Birthday card for my Sister in Law (Lisa). Sketch #125 was used from Card Positioning Systems.

There is a cut out detail that reveals an image on the inside of the card.

Can you tell if it was made by me (Karina), my Mom (M), or my 8 year old Daughter (Little K)?

There are two more posts here, and here. Feel free to leave a comment and let us know which one you like best.

We'll be determining the winner based on most number of posts.

CPS #125 - Love You Lemonade Card

Here is the first card for your consideration in our Friendly Family Card Making Competition. Sketch #125 was used from Card Positioning Systems.

Can you tell if it was made by me (Karina), my Mom (M), or my 8 year old Daughter (Little K)?

There are two more posts here, and here. Feel free to leave a comment and let us know which one you like best.

We'll be determining the winner based on most number of posts. I think there may be an ice cream cone at stake - so don't be afraid to comment often.

Family Friendly Card Challenge

My Mom, Daughter and I decided to have a friendly little Card Making Challenge. We each made a card following this weeks sketch at Card Positioning Systems.

We have very different design styles, but it was interesting to see if that came across when we used the same sketch for inspiration.

Here is the sketch we followed - #125.

Check out the next 3 posts here, here and here to see if you can figure out which card was done by Me (Karina), my Mom (M) or my daughter (Little K).

Most of the papers and embellishments used are from a scrapbook class we took together earlier this week, so we can't really take credit for the color combinations.

Feel free to leave a comment. We decided the card with the most comments would be the "Winner", although the prize has not yet been agreed on, so let us know if you have any suggestions for the winning prize!

CPS123 - Pink and Brown Thank You Card

It's my turn to make a card using this weeks Sketch #123 at Card Positioning Systems. I was using papers that were already on my desk from another project, and only had one large sheet of brown Cardstock - it wasn't quite large enough to make the card square like the sketch, but the layout is the same.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill); Patterned Paper (Amy Butler); Ribbon from my stash; Flowers (Prima); Flower Centers (Candy Dots from Pebbles Inc); Thank You Stamp (Stampin'Up); Square Punch (Marvy)

TPE #21 & CPS123 - Little K's Pink Thank You Card

Little K made this card as a Thank You for her Summer Dance instructor (Miss Sharon).

The Challenge for the week at The Pink Elephant was to use your Favorite Colors. For Little K that's Pink, Blue and Green. She also followed Sketch #123 at Card Positioning Systems.

I've got some card making competition in that little girl of mine. She's Pretty Good, don't you think?

Raspberry Suite #10 & TPE #20 - Two Birthday Cards

Both of these cards are made with the colors from Dawns Raspberry Suite Challenge #10. I'm a little bummed, because the colors are perfect in real life...but they are photographing more pink (sure...that's what they all say). The suggested colors are Melon, Cream, Berry and Dark Brown (from Papertrey Ink). I used Bazzill solids that are close (I guess it's all in the lighting). The second card is also made using this weeks Sketch from The Pink Elephant.

These cards are for two of my fellow Gemini Birthday friends. I know one of them reads my blog...so we'll see if she's surprised when the card arrives in the mail. At least she won't know which one is coming to her.

Folded Flower Birthday Card

I wanted to try this folded paper flower technique. I really like how it turned out.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill); Acrylic Stamps (Romantic Backgrounds from CTMH); Ribbon (Michaels); Ink (Chocolate Chip and White pigment from SU); Border and Circle Punches (EK Success); The Happy Birthday stamp was from the dollar bin at Michaels, plus some hemp twine and shell buttons from my stash.

Four Square (sort of) Birthday Card

I love the classic 4 square sketch, but I wanted to do it a little different (I'm in an "asymmetrical" mood). Apparently I'm in a "hidden message" and "throw as much as you can on the card" mood as well, because I did it all for this one.

I followed the sketch with a center circle, but couldn't just stop there. So I made the circle into a tag that opens up and the entire card is held closed with the little swivel tab attached with a brad.

Inside the tag reads an assortment of "Belated" messages. I should make a ton of these cards, because I'm always late...sorry!

The card opens up along the middle seam.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill Basics); Acrylic Stamps (Romantic Backgrounds by CTMH); Ink (chocolate chip from SU and VersaMark); Ribbon (Michaels) plus button, brads, tab and hemp twine from my stash. The "belated" sentiment was created on my computer using assorted different fonts. The Happy Birthday stamps are again from the Michaels dollar bin.

Now that they are made - what do you think the chances are that I'll actually get them in the mail any time soon? Happy Birthday Girlies.

CPS121 & 365 Cards Day 115 - Keep In Touch Card

This card was works for two challenges. I followed sketch #121 at Card Positioning Systems and the challenge for today over at 365 Cards was to use paper piecing.

The telephone is stamped onto patterned paper and then cut out freehand. I added a brad to the center of the phone for dimension, and then attached to the belly band with foam tape.

When you slide off the belly band to open the card - it reveales the hidden sentiment.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill), Patterned Paper (October Afternoon), Clear Stamp (Sizzix), Font (CK Typist).

TPE Challenge #17 - Little K's Funky Thank You Card

Little K is at it again. She was so excited to see every ones kind comments about the card she completed for the last Pink Elephant Challenge, she wanted to do another. Plus, Lori's daughter Hannah is the Guest Designer at The Pink Elephant this week, so she wanted to support her fellow kid scrapper.

The Challenge for this week is to follow the Recipe: 3 Buttons, 2 Layers and 1 Sentiment.

We recently went to Michaels and picked up some Patterned Paper Stacks (they are on sale this week), so she was excited to use some of her new paper.

We broke out the stamps this week. I'm not a big stamper, but I did go through my phase, and I have some in my stash. It was much easier for Little K to stamp her sentiment (I usually create them in Word), so I think she'll be using the stamps again.

I sooo wanted her to add a scalloped edge, some brads and a ribbon...but Little K reminded me it was HER card (and I should back off...my words, not hers). She really does have a very different style from me, and I love to see it emerging.

UPDATE: Check out the Cute Button on the right side of my blog from The Pink Elephant...this card was recognized as one of the top 5 cards of the week. Little K is thrilled!

365 Cards - Day 94 - Green & Black Birthday Card

Making cards really was not on the agenda today, but when I saw the inspiration for today's Challenge at 356 Cards...I had to make at least one.

Green is my favorite color...and right now, the bright, slightly limey green has my heart (although I do love all shades from olive to pine, and my house is a testament to that).

Here is the inspiration (it's an ad, but not sure for what):

And here is my card:

Supplies are mostly scraps. The Cardstock and paper flower are from Bazzill. Not sure where the patterned paper is from (I've used it before). The ribbon is from Michaels. I'm going to have to get more of that - I've used it on several cards and it just always seems to work. Martha is on sale at Michaels this week, so I picked up a few new punches. Love this border one (although if you look quickly - it kind of looks like Mickey Mouse Ears don't you think?). I tried to add a pearl pin through the knot in the ribbon, but I had already used a glue dot to hold it in place, and the pin would not go though (I'll remember that next time).

365 Cards Day #90 - Pink and Black - Bold and Graphic

This card was made for the 365 Cards Challenge for Day 90. The challenge was to make a card using only 2 colors. Sounds easy enough until you actually try it. Harder than it looks (at least for me).

The challenge rules did allow you to stamp in black on white cardstock - so I took advantage and did some of that too.

My colors were Bright Pink and Black. I stamped some background swirls on white cardstock - but other than that...everything was either pink or black.

I had some great pink and white ribbon that would have looked darling (but technically my colors are pink and black, so the ribbon could not be used). I also had a pink and white jumbo brad...but again...technically not allowed. It was killing me not to add a few dit dots or stitches or swirls with my white gel pen...but...white was not one of my 2 colors, so I had to let it go. Now that I'm looking at the card, I could have drawn some black stitching around the scallop, but for some reason I thought that was not playing by the rules either?

Are you sensing that I may have some control issues here? Oh well - I am what I am...take it or leave it.

I think the card turned out fun and bright and happy, and I love the bold graphic feel of it.

TPE #16 - Thinking of You Card by Little K

My (8 year old) daughter has been scrapping with me lately while I have been busy making cards. Today she wanted to know what's up? with all these "challenges". So I showed her a few of my favorite sites, and her first question was "what do you get if you win"?

I could see the twinkle in her eye. The thought of possibly winning a cute little "blinkie" to post on a blog was enticing her. She was excited...she was hooked...she wanted to play!

She chose sketch #16 at The Pink Elephant to complete (truth be told, I think she liked their blog name the best). Here is her card...I think I might cry. I do believe this is better than many of the cards I have made. Mamma is so proud!

All the supplies were found in the dollar bins at Michaels. We picked them up earlier this week as we were stocking up for summer activities. The brown card stock, rub on and button are from my stash (that I have recently organized).

I really could take a lesson or two from my little girl - Great Job!

CCC #40 & TPE #15 - Wedding Card

This card was made using the Cupcake Craft Challenge #40 sketch as well as this weeks Pink Elephant Challenge #15 to use Letters or Monograms.

I took the Love Notes class at Scrapbooks, Etc. this week, and one of the projects used this adorable Cosmo Cricket paper. I just love the colors, mostly because they are so unusual for me (soft muted grey based colors), and not my typical style.

I was excited to have re-stocked my scrapping supplies and picked up a few new fun do dads as well (bling and pins).

Supplies: Card Stock (Bazzill); Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket); Heart Pin (Making Memories); Ribbon (Michaels); Jewels (Bazzill); Alphabet Die Cut (Cuttle Kids); Scallop Square Punch (Marvy); White Gel Pen (Gelly Roll); Font (CK Pretty)

Finished size is 6" X 6"

CPS116 & Raspberry Suite Week 6 - Fleur De Lis Thank You Card

I really need to re-stock my scrapping supplies. Again this week, I didn’t have any paper on hand that fit the challenge requirements, so I had to improvise. Dawn’s Raspberry Suite Color Challenge for Week #6 was to use Brown, Light Aqua, White and Coral. The layout is from Card Positioning Systems Sketch #116



I have lots of embellishments in coral – but no paper, so I used a Coral Sharpie Marker to draw a cross stitch pattern on white card stock (it washed out in the photo, but matches pretty well in real life). A White gel pen was used to add detail to the pigment stamped fleur de lis.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill); Fleur de lis Stamp (Inkadinkado); White Pigment Ink (Stampin’ Up); Ribbons (Michaels & Hobby Lobby); Coral Pen (Sharpie); White Gel Pen (Gelly Roll); Button, Waxed Twine, and Sugared Brad from my stash; Font (CK 8 Ball)

Finished size is 4 ½” X 6”

CPS115 - Happy Bird Day

I followed this weeks sketch #115 at Card Positioning Systems to create another card using Scenic Route papers and my favorite Bird Die Cut from Quick Kutz.

My friend Jo Ellen is going to be the happy recipient of this card. It's her Birthday next week, so the only thing holding me back from getting a card to her in time, is the fact that I probably don't have enough postage now that stamps have gone up again. Luckily she doesn't read blogs...so I won't spoil the surprise.

Supplies: Card Stock (Bazzill); Patterned Papers (Scenic Route); Die Cut (Birds by Quick Kutz); Bosher (Bazzill); Font (CK Typist); Brads and Ribbons (unknown)

Finished Size is 5" X 7"

CTD#42 - Clean Lined Thank You Card

Love the color combination for this week at Color Throwdown:

I'm not usually drawn to blue - I'm much more of a pink, red, green kind of gal...but lately I've been enjoying all the wonderful variations of blueish greens and greenish blues I just had to try this challenge.

It's a very simple card - again, not my usual style. I tend to add tons of embellishments - but I enjoyed making this one, and I'm pleased with the results. Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf?

Supplies: Card Stock and Flower are from Bazzill; Ribbon is from Michaels; "Thank You" Sentiment is made using an old dial Embossing Label Maker from Rotex (I guess Dymo still makes them, but mine is probably 20 years old); Brad is from my stash

365 Cards - Day 76 - Floral Thank You

The Challenge today over at 365 Cards is to keep the embellishments in the corners - all the corners - and the just the corners.

This was really hard for me - I kept wanting to pop a flower in the middle somewhere, but I resisted the urge.

The paper is leftover from our Teachers Appreciation projects last week. They are from Hobby Lobby (both patterns and solids). Brads are from my stash. The orange brads photographed really orange, but they are more melon colored like the paper in real life (sure they are!). I used DMC embroidery floss for the corner stitching.

Finished size in 5" X 7"

365 Cards Day 72 - Little Birdie

The Monday Challenge over at 365 Cards was to make a card that incorporated Music (a sheet of music, musical paper or music notes). This is what I created for the challenge:

I love playing around with Word Art to create my sentiments, and I was wondering if I could get something to flow in a wavy line. It' s not perfect, but I'm happy. I love that I can match nearly any color and mood just by playing with my fonts.

I wanted to use this musical font. I've had it for some time - I think it's adorable, but don't have many opportunities to use it...so I knew it was perfect for this Musical Monday Challenge. Thanks to my friend Marni for the connected button technique - I stole it from one of her cards!

The inside sentiments reads "...to hear you are doing so well".

Supplies: Card Stock (Bazzill Basics); Patterned Paper (Scenic Route); Die Cut (Quick Kutz - Birds); Font (LD Music); Buttons, Ribbon, Waxed Twine