Black and White Christmas

This is probably the only card I made this week that translates as I had it imagined it my head.  Direct translation rarely happens, but after the previous two cards, I was glad to have something go the way I wanted.

Using the Card Patterns sketch for this week with the color and theme combo from the Cupcake Crafts challenge, I like the modern twist that this Christmas card took.  The black and white combo is so unexpected and I tried not to "cheat" by adding greys.  I kept it true black and white.  It was challenging at first but I had some good paper to play with visually.  I was afraid it would be too busy, but I kept the bolder bigger patterns for the ornament embellishments and left the simpler patterned paper for background.

Silhouette stamps

Hands down......this was the TOUGHEST sketch to work with E-V-E-R!  For some reason, this week's Unscripted Sketch challenge #126 really pushed my creative energy.

No matter how hard I tried to arrange/fix items on this card, I can't seem to say I love it.  I wanted to incorporate a silhouette so that I could use this sketch for the Sisterhood of Crafters challenge.  Good gosh!  I don't know if it's the silhouette that threw me or the design.  I honestly think it was both things.

I can't even begin to describe how much Un-du was used when creating this card.  Ha!

Smiling Big and Smiling Pink

I recently joined the Link Up for Pink (LUFP) blog - it was actually all by accident.  The blog host saw my breast cancer awareness card that I had made for Card Cupids and asked me to join in on their pink link up quest.  I was so honored to be asked and knew that I would want to make more stuff to add.  So I chose to marry a couple of challenges today to add one more item to LUFP.

I am submitting this card for the All Sorts Challenge Blog Week 123 (they asked us to use 5 flowers) and the CAS-ual Fridays Operation Julie's Smile blog hop.

For Operation Julie's Smile....you're supposed to add clean and simple (CAS) designed cards.  I don't know if this technically qualifies for what most people consider clean and simple, but if you know me, this is pretty clean and simple.  I can submit up to four cards for the smile blog hop, so I promise the others will be more true CAS design :D [notice my big smile of "innocence"]

My European vacation memory - London

I've spent this week playing with sketches to make myself pages.  This week's sketch at The Paper Variety is no exception...and I think I may love this sketch the best (I know I keep saying this for every new sketch that I try).

The original sketch had the photo block "floating" in the middle of the 12x12 layout.  I have a hard time with layouts like that, so I always have to find ways to anchor these floating sketches.

I had this paper (links coming soon) that had pretty dandelion-like flowers.  Because I had a couple of sheets of this paper, I took a second sheet and cut out some of the flowers.  Using dimensional foam, I laid the flowers directly on top of where they are on the main piece of paper.  I strategically placed them in locations where the sketch called for an embellishment.  I instantly felt better about the overall look of the page. 

A musical note

This week's My Time to Craft Challenge asked us to connect music in our work.  Like the previous posting about teddy bears, I realized that I didn't have many musical-ish items.  I was at a crop all day so I didn't have access to my cricut goodies.  I had to get creative.

All the stamps seen on this card are Stampin Up stamps.  I just got the large doily and was waiting for an opportunity to use it.  I think it's so pretty.

Cupcake Crafts - Beary Cute

This week's Cupcake Crafts Challenge was to include a teddy bear in your creation.

I was stunned that in the many stamps I currently own, I could only find ONE teddy bear.  Crazy!  I was so sure it was going to be easy to find something to use, but I was blown away at how much searching I had to.

I had a cute baby stamp set by Inkadinkado (I think).  I promise to post the set tomorrow.  I have a cousin who will be having a baby girl any day now, so why not make their welcome baby card now, right?  It doesn't hurt to be prepared.

I got super lucky that my friend brought her markers (from interior design school) for me to play with.  My copic marker collection is pretty limited and my current stash didn't have the right hue of pinks.  Thanks Katwanya for the fun set used to create this teddy.  I know I'll be borrowing them again soon!

I'm also entering this card in the All Sorts Bear Challenge.  I didn't see anything on the page about not being able to submit past work...and this one is pretty is pretty recent. 

Mojo Monday 208

First, happy World Card Making!  It was actually on the 1st, but I didn't have time to post some of the goodies I made until but they count (I swear!).

Anyway, I'm really happy I discovered the Mojo Monday challenge blog.  I've really enjoyed the sketches they have, and this was no exception.

I decided to use this sketch to make a Halloween card for Izzy.  She's got a long battle ahead of her and I hope this card makes her smile a bit.