Crack is Bad for You ~ 2018 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop

And here is another snarky coffee card for the blog hop.  

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Square Card Base {5 1/4" x 5 1/4"}
Kraft Paper
DCWV Burlap Paper Card Stack, 6" x 6" {available at numerous stores}
Darice Nesting Circles Dies, #2014-74
CAS-ual Fridays Fri-Dies, Coffee Cup
CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, Coffee Talk
Distress Ink in Ground Espresso
Various Colored Paper {rainbow colors - I used mostly Core'dinations paper in the pastel, brights, and dark pads}

I am obsessed with rainbows lately {so much so I added a Rainbow Cards board to my Pinterest page!}, and what better way to make a rainbow than using different colored cardstock?  I used a bunch of scraps; filled in when I needed using whatever color I found that I thought helped complete the rainbow.  The first step for this card was cutting out the little coffee cups using all the rainbow colors.  I set them aside.

Another Look

Then I stamped the sentiment on kraft paper, cut it out using a circle die, and cut the burlap paper using the circle die that was two dies larger {I hope that makes sense - the long & short is I wanted the burlap to peek out a bit}.  Then I also cut a circle out of scrap white using the largest die that would fit on my card.  Then I used some old washi tape to temporarily arrange the cups around the white circle.  It took a bit of fiddling and moving the cups around, but when I finally got the look I wanted.  After that, I glued the cups onto the white circle, gluing just the bottom of the cup and the bottom half of the handle to the edge of the white circle, so each cup is actually more off the circle than on it.  I debated how I was going to achieve a circular design without using the template, but I decided I needed no more stress in my life and just used the circle.  You can't really even see it unless the light captures it perfectly and it honestly doesn't do anything bad to the design {in my opinion.}

Once I had the circle with the cups on the card base, I glued the sentiment onto the burlap paper and then attached that to the center of the cup circle.  I really like the dichotomy of the pretty, happy, rainbows and the "darkness" of the sentiment; I think it's hysterical.  I hope you are hopping along with me at the Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop.  There are TONS of cool prizes to win, and if you are in the mood to win something, why not check out my own awesome giveaway?   All the details are here.  Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you got a chuckle out of my card! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Card in the following Challenges:
Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop
Bastel-Traum - M, #65, Rainbow Colors/Fantasy
Dragonfly Journeys - #119, Somewhere Over the Rainbow
The Cat's Pajamas - #346, Use Your Dies {entry 2}
Simon Says Stamp - Use More than One Stamp {2 sentiment stamps}
My Time to Craft - #371, Use More than One Circle
Ellen Hutson - May/June, Inspirational Photo/Color Challenge 
Crazy for CAS - M, #6, Turn Around in a Circle
Creative Moments - M, #143, Anything Goes, Option: Make it Humorous {#2}

Pictures and/or Badges {in order of entry}

Clean and Simple Holiday Card

This is another CAS card. I was inspired when I found the stamps; yes, I had forgotten I had them!  I was looking through the binders where I keep my unmounted stamps and there they were! Seemed like a great time to break them out and ink them up!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Blue Card Base - Core'dinations Premium Cardstock in Sea Glass
White Card
Oxide Inks in Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers & Faded Jeans
So Suzy Stamps, Ornament Star Dangle, #A00509
So Suzy Stamps, Ornament Dangle, #A00508
Sentiment from Scribbly Christmas, CMS249
Distress Ink in Blueprint Sketch
MISTI

This was a very simple card to make. I used a white card panel to begin the card, trimmed to A2 size.  I used my MISTI to ensure each ornament was positioned properly; they are about an inch apart.   I inked up the first stamp, the Ornament Star Dangle, in Salty Ocean Oxide Ink, followed that with the Ornament Dangle, inked in Peacock Feathers Oxide and continued to alternate

Another Look

the two stamps, the middle stamp is inked in the Oxide inks Faded Jeans, then Peacock Feathers and finally Salty Ocean.

Finally, I stamped the sentiment with Blueprint Sketch ink, trimmed the white panel down and attached it to the blue card base.  Here is a bit of enabling - right now at Consumer Crafts the Core'dinations cardstock pack, sea glass, I used is 50% off!! Seems to be a heck of a sale going on there! Also, stay tuned for a sparkly version of this card - showing as soon as I get a second to write up the post :)

I hope you are having a fabulous holiday season! Thank you SO much for stopping by ~ Christi

I am entering my CAS Holiday Card in the following challenges:
Double D Challenges - Baby, it's COLD outside (Inspiration Image) 

CropStop Challenge - #35, Anything Goes (I used Oxide Inks)
Dragonfly Dreams - Non-Traditional Christmas
Through the Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes
Use Your Stuff - #293, Holiday Stamp

Birds with Twofers Challenge #11

Jane has chosen our theme for TWOFERS this fortnight and it's birds (I can't get the Hitchcock movie out of my head now) and I have chosen to once again use the Bird Crazy set from Tim Holtz.  I had a bunch of birds laying about from my recent coloring excursion so I decided to put them to good use.  Funny, no matter how many I use, they just keep multiplying. . .

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Bird Crazy Stamps, #CMS212
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Bird Crazy Die Set, #660954
Dylusions How About Never Set, #DYR48466
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Embossing Folder Snowflake, #660041
Core'dinations Brights - Atoll Aqua
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Distress Ink in Mermaid Lagoon
Various Distress Markers, Zig Clean Color Brush Markers & Various Water Color Pencils
Water Brush
Dove Blender Pen
Sander

Truthfully, I had the embossed background paper on my desk already (I was anxious to see the embossing folder at work since I purchased it after the holidays last year and it supposed to be snowflakes), I love that you can sand the Core'dinations papers to get a two toned look, so I sanded this to see the different color blues I could get. Having that piece of paper on my desk, along with all the birds floating around gave me the idea for this card.  

After I sanded the background, lightly so I wouldn't take off all the texture, I began to arrange my birds.  Once I thought that they were in place I stamped and cut out Dyan Reaveley's sentiment - I thought it was PERFECT because it's so true and the birds are so colorful, and this time of year can bring some sadness for so many people - I hope this brightens someones day! I edged the sentiment with some Mermaid Lagoon ink and then I had to rearrange the birds because the sentiment was a bit larger than I had planned.  

So I rearranged them, fit everything where it belonged and glued it all together.  Now it's YOUR turn to enter your bird creations on Twofers ~ you have two whole weeks and you just might win a $20 Gift Certificate from our amazing sponsor

So get the muse humming! Do pop by my design team buds, Jane & Zoe, to get some more inspiration. Thanks so much for stopping by ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Birds card into the following challenges:
Creative Corner Challenges - (M) Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - #172, Feathers & Fur
That's Crafty Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - #406 - Anything Goes
Creative Ladybirds Challenge - (M) #11, Anything Goes
Eclectic Ellapu - (M) Purple Team - Cards to Die For (using Bird Crazy dies)
Crafty Girlz Challenge - (M) #10, Anything Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - #11, Anything Goes

Peace Card

Close up of the embossed Peace

I hope that you and yours had a very happy holiday and please be safe celebrating the New Year - I'll be hanging home with the Fabulous Feline Five and hopefully getting my butt in gear after a lazy holiday with my mom and my cousin. 

I bought this Peace stamp from the store I used to frequent when I lived in Connecticut, it's a PSX stamps from 1998, it is one of my oldest stamps.  I loved how ornate it was and that it really could just stand on it's own.  Unfortunately, the little store closed a few years before I moved, but I have many fond memories of the classes I took and the artists I met.  

Being the stressful time of year that it always is, I felt that a peace card was needed, plus, I needed a card to send to my sister (tee hee). Without further ado, here is my Peace card:

Might look a bit wonky in the photo, but it is straight :)

Did you know that Through the Craft Room Door has an online magazine?!? Each issue features over 150 pages of inspiration - tutorials, cards, mixed media, tips - it's fabulous!! Please stop by and check it out - you won't be sorry!!

If you'd like to know what I used to make this luscious card, please pop over to Through the Craft Room Door, who is sponsoring this fortnightly "Anything Goes" challenge on their site.  I hope to see you there!! Christi 

I would like to enter my Peace Card in the following challenges:
Come & Get It Challenges - (M) Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Anything Goes as Long as It's Christmas
Penny Black & More - (M) Anything Goes with a Stamp
Brown Sugar Challenge - #178, Christmas
A Bit More Time to Craft - #10, Anything Goes
The Artistic Stamper - (M) Christmas
One Crazy Stamper - (M) Christmas/Winter
Cute Card Thursday - #405, Anything Goes

I wouldn't have missed being your friend. . .

I am SO excited to have been chosen as a Guest Designer for Quietfire Designs! I have been buying Suzanne's beautiful calligraphy stamps for years and now they offer dies and cutting files - could they get ANY better?

Fall is so colorful and I thought the colors would work well with the Silhouette cut file I used.  What do you think?  While this card is larger than I normally make, the 5" x 7" format is needed so all the crafty qualities can be properly embodied.

Please click here to see how I made my creation and visit the inspiring blog of Quietfire Designs. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you get some fall inspiration ~ Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my "I wouldn't have missed being your friend" card in the following challenges:
Path of Positivity - #32, Gratefulness
Not Just Cards (M) - Anything Goes
The Cat's Pajama's - #303, Anything Goes
The House That Stamps Built - #1111, Focus on Sentiment
Create & Inspire - #33, Anything Goes
Paper Sweeties (M) - #37 Picture Inspiration
Stamping Sensations (M) - Festive Flowers & Foliage
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Challenge #6 ~ TWOFERS ~ Blue, Green & Yellow

Hi all you fabulous people! For Challenge #6, Zoe has chosen a color challenge and you can see the specifics at the Twofers Blog. A fun chance to get away from all the holiday projects and stretch yourself a bit. I needed to make a birthday card anyway, so it was the perfect opportunity to use the colors in the challenge.  Here is my blue, green & yellow birthday card:

How I Made my Card:
White Card Base
White Cardstock
Darice "Clouds Background" Embossing Folder
Paper Smooches Streamers Die Set, #KFBD-13-029
Quietfire Designs, Ten Tiny Tag Sentiments, #6382
Silhouette Cameo
Airplane & Sun Cut files
Core'dinations Cardstock in Pastels; Blue, Green and Yellow
Pebbles Chalks in Basic Brights
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Pop Dots

Let me tell you, buying the Ten Tiny Tag Sentiments from Quietfire Design has been one of the BEST purchases I have made - I use these little sayings so much!  I started the card with the concept of a sky scene, with a plane dragging a banner (I had just gotten the Paper Smooches Die set and was dying to use it - get it? LOL) with Happy Birthday on it, luckily the Ten Tiny Tag Sentiments fit on my banner perfectly! But I am getting ahead of myself. . .

I first dry embossed white cardstock with the Darice Clouds embossing folder. Funny as this was one of those purchases that caught my eye and I bought on impulse and this is the folder I seem to use most. Once my clouds were embossed, I chalked around the clouds and filled in the sky. like I did while making this Summer Fun card.  Once I was done with the chalking, I trimmed the panel down to fit on the card base, glued it and set it aside to dry.

While waiting, I went to my trusty Silhouette Cameo, found some free vectors which I turned into cut files and cut out my sun and my airplane.  It's so easy to use the Cameo machine and I honestly don't think there is anything it can't do, as long as you can find a picture, vector, saying or shape, you can convert it and cut it out!  So I cut out my airplane and my sun to use on the card and set them aside.

I chose a banner that I wanted to use, used my Big Shot to die cut it out of the green paper.  I stamped Happy Birthday, kind of on an angle, using the Jet

Black ink and started to assemble the card.  You can't really see it in the pictures, but I chalked the edges of the plane and the banner before I pop dotted them onto the cloud background. I also pop dotted the inside circle of the sun.  Lastly, I used a black sharpie and drew the rope that attaches the banner to the plane.  I hope my friend likes her birthday card :)

I am thrilled that you stopped by to check out my card - now you have two whole weeks to put together your own Blue, Green & Yellow card (or project) and enter it in our Twofers challenge. You might win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamps and be able to get yourself some real goodies! So come and join Zoe, Jane and myself, you just might win! Have a fabulous day ~ Christi

Another look 

I'd like to enter my Flying High Birthday Card in the following challenges:

Chalk N Stock (October) Anything Goes

Silhouette Challenges (October) Anything Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Creative Ladybird's Creations Challenge (October) - Anything Goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters Die-lirious & Punchy

Scrapy Land - #27, Must Use a Brand of Die Sold in Store (Paper Smooches)

Sweet Stamps (October) - Anything Goes

Southern Girls Challenge - Let's Celebrate

Polkadoodles - #42, Use a Die Cut
Paper Smooches - (week 3) Anything Goes

Thanks. . .

I hadn't been to a salon since I moved here to Colorado and my hair was getting so long and heavy it was making me insane.  I needed to get it styled very badly so I went to Google and looked up some hair salons.  Luckily, I found a GREAT one and I had such a great time, I decided to make my stylist a thank you card.

What I Used to Make My Card:
Glossy Cardstock
Kaleidacolor Ink Pad in Spectrum
IndigoBlu Stamp - Juliet, #J1
Core'dinations Dark Cardstock in Purple Grandeur
Mrs. Grossman Alphabet Stickers
Brayer

I've rediscovered my Kaleidacolor Ink Pads and I've been having a blast using them.  For this card, I inked up my brayer and brayered the ink directly on the rubber stamp and stamped it on glossy paper.  In my opinion, using these inks on glossy paper really makes the colors pop. But, you MUST be sure you use actual glossy cardstock, photo paper just doesn't work the same way or look as vibrant.  You can use them on regular cardstock, but, again, the vibrancy just isn't going to be there.  Once I stamped the image and trimmed it down I found a cardstock color that I felt complimented the colors in the image and made that my card base.

I didn't want to put my sentiment anywhere that would obscure the image and I fretted about that issue for a while.  I could make the whole card out of glossy cardstock, but I really wanted to use a colored card base, to frame the image, so that wouldn't work.  I didn't want to use another piece of cardstock for a stamped sentiment, so that was out.  I even debated using vellum but it is such a pain to adhere. . .then I remembered that I have a HUGE 12" x 12" plastic tote filled with alphabets, stickers and words. I must have every type of alphabet sticker ever made! So I dived into my stash and found this cute little alphabet. I liked that the letters were black but the sticker itself was clear. Again, I didn't want to detract from the image.  So I lined up the letters - which took me the absolute LONGEST time (and I wasted a few letters in the process) and stuck them down.  I adhered the white glossy panel to my purple card base and I was done!  And, since the alphabet stickers are a stash item (honestly, I have no idea how long I have had them) I gave myself extra points.

I tried like MAD to get this picture straight but I just could not get it to cooperate. I apologize for it being wonky!

I hope she likes the card. I'll be going back in about 6 or 8 weeks for lowlights (apparently, these lowlights help blend the grey but don't commit you to having to dye your hair when the roots begin to show - they are more subtle - we will see) and hopefully she will let me know if she likes the card. I only need 20 or so more followers to meet my goal of 100 new followers in 2015 so please consider giving me a hand and becoming a follower.  I would appreciate it SO much! Thanks for popping by! Christi

I am entering my Thanks card in the following challenges:
The Craft Barn - People
Alphabet Challenge Blog - Q for Quick & Simple
Craft Stamper - October Challenge - Take a Technique (I used Ink)
Creative Knockouts - #110, Thankful Thoughts
Through the Craft Room Door - October 6 - 12, 2015 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - #248, Anything Goes
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #157, Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Thankful for You

Time to get Sassy!

Before I get to the cards, I want to shout out to all my followers & friends that we need a bit of help over at Challenges for Days.  We are looking for someone to handle the management of the Monday list and all you need is about an hour a week, a computer and a Blogger account.  If you are interested, please email Zoe at zoechaos@icloud.com if you can help ~ Thanks! Now, on with the show!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome to the fourth challenge by Twofers - this time we want you to get SASSY!  We have decided on a few rule updates, which are: now, you only need to create ONE project and we have an awesome sponsor, Alleystamp.  The wonderful owner, Janine, has given us a $20 Gift Certificate for use at her store to give to the winner of our challenge - how AMAZING is that!! All the more reason to come and play with us!

I have fallen in LOVE with Tim Holtz's Bird Crazy (and I am not alone judging from the cards I am seeing all over the internet) and I also love sassy, snarky, fun sayings.  Put them together and you get this:

How I made my Card:
White Card Base
Tim Holtz "Crazy Birds", #CMS212
Sizzix Framelits Crazy Birds, #660954
Dylusions "Don't Hold Back", #DYR44505
140lb Water Color Paper
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Distress Markers Squeezed Lemon, Cracked Pistachio & Twisted Citron
Core'dinations Brights Paper - green
Water Color Brush

This card was really simple; so simple I actually made 3 different ones that I am sure will debut at another time.  This was actually the first one I made and I chose it since I can truly relate to the little bird and his or her desire!  I stamped the Crazy Bird on the water color paper, colored it using the Distress Markers (my first time using the Twisted Citron marker - I didn't think I'd like the color, but it isn't as neon as I thought!) listed above and I used my heat gun in between layers of color. It does make a difference and it's much easier to blend the colors.

Once that was done, I wanted to die cut my bird. If you have this die set it can be quite a pain in the butt to figure out which dies go to which bird, so I used a tip that I read on Tim's Blog (from a follower, not Tim) who had made it much easier to use this die set by numbering the birds and storing the dies for each bird in a numbered bag.  That has MY name written all over it! So, one day I sat and did just that, making it very easy to see that the bird I used was #3 and find the coordinating die.  All I did was cut the entire bird (although no matter how much I try to line the die with the stamp, it always comes out a tad off center :::sigh:::) and glue him on the green cover.

I used one of the three Dylusions sets I have for the sentiment (another first time use!), stamped it using Jet Black ink, trimmed it and attached it.  So there you go ~ I am getting ready to start packing for a trip that I will be home from by the time this posts - LOL - the internet is a wonderful thing :) Fondly, Christi

Another look :)

I would like to enter my Sassy Bird in the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments - #140, Anything Goes with a Sentiment

A Bit More Time to Craft - #4, Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Die Crazy

Left of Centre - No Designer Papers

Cities ~ TWOFERS Challenge #3

Before I get to the cards, I want to shout out to all my followers & friends that we need a bit of help over at Challenges for Days.  We are looking for someone to handle the management of the Monday list and all you need is about an hour a week, a computer and a Blogger account.  If you are interested, please email Zoe at zoechaos@icloud.com if you can help ~ Thanks! Now, on with the show!

Welcome to TWOFERS Challenge #3! The theme this time is Cities and I admit I struggled with this for a bit.  I had an idea what I wanted to do, but was unsure how to go about it.  Luckily, my muse woke up and I created these two cards:

As per usual, I am going to refer to each card separately, this time I am using the sentiments. So, one card is A Happy Hello, the other Hello Friend.  I actually cut out a bunch of the buildings using the Silhouette in pastel colors. For some reason I have had Florida on my mind, and these colors remind me of Florida.  Anyway, as you can see the only difference, besides the different buildings and colors, is the sentiment.

What I Used to Make A Happy Hello:
Core'dinations Pastel Cardstock
White Card Base
Silhouette Cameo & Cut File #66115
SU! set, All Year Cheer I, #102189, a happy hello stamp (disc)
Oblong Scallop Punches from Family Treasure
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Pop Dots
Scrap of green card for the sentiment

I used the same method to make each card. I chose the buildings I wanted to use, pop dotted them on the card base, stamped the sentiment and them used the scalloped oval punches to punch the sentiment out.  I glued the greeting directly on the Hello Friend card, while I pop dotted it onto the A Happy Hello card.

What I Used to Make Hello Friend:
Core'dinations Pastel Cardstock
White Card Base
Silhouette Cameo & Cut File #66115
Impression Obsession Alesa Baker Stamp, Hello Friend
Oblong Scallop Punches from Family Treasure
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Pop Dots
Scrap of Vanilla for sentiment

Thanks SO much for stopping by and checking out my Cities. I do hope you will get your craft on and join us - after all, you have 2 weeks! I am entering my cards in the challenges below (since the 2 cards I made are so similar, I am entering them both in the same challenges) ~ Thanks! Christi

Crafty Catz - #291, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make it Colorful
Creative Moments - #76, Anything Goes/Use a Sentiment
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A Trio of Colors
Crafty Cardmakers - #146, No Patterned Paper

Weddings at TWOFERS!!

For challenge #2 at Twofers, Jane has chosen the theme of WEDDINGS.  Now, at my age, most people are done getting married so I honestly don't have much occasion for wedding cards.  I made these sort of generic, so I could use them for other possibilities.

As I did with the first challenge I am going to name the two cards to make it easier to tell which card I am talking about.  Introducing my Roses and Best Wishes cards:

ROSES
What I Used to Make my Card:
Pastel Pink Card Base from Core'dinations 
Memory Box Pennington Rose Die #99143
KaiserCraft 6x6 All that Glitters Paper Pad
ColorBox Petal Point Ink Pad Enchantment
Clear Embossing Ink
Globecraft & Piccolo Embossing Enamel in Cranberry Wine
Wink of Stella Clear
Stampin' Up A Greeting for All Seasons set #100999 (discontinued)
Pre-Made White Bow 
Scrap White Card for Congratulations

If you enlarge this picture you can see the sparkle on the roses

The Roses

I actually conceived this card when I was looking at the KasierCraft paper pad. Now, those of you who know me know I am not fond of the color pink AT ALL and the fact that I made a card with lots of pink is absolutely amazing.  But these papers spoke to me, so I used them.  I first located a pink ombre paper and die cut all the roses - the die cut is just the outline of the flower.  I then used paper that had nothing on it but roses and die cut the bottom piece of the die.  Then I attached all the bottom roses to the outline roses.  I noticed I got some glue outside the lines, so I colored all the insides of all the roses with a Wink of Stella in clear.  After gluing all the flowers to the card, I embossed the greeting with Cranberry Ice Embossing Enamel, trimmed it, and attached it to the card.  

I would like to enter my ROSES card in the following challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door (Aug 11-17) - Anything Goes
In the Pink - Anything Goes. . .with Pink
Wednesday's Creative Inspirations - (ends August 25) Flowers! 
Creative Card Crew - Sparkle!
Paper Creator's Crafts - (August) Dies and/or Punches

BEST WISHES
What I Used to Make my Card:
Vanilla Card Base
Printed Designer Paper Gold Leaves (have NO idea where this came from)
Gold Paper
Best Wishes from SU! Sincere Salutations Set (discontinued but plenty to be had)
Embossing Powder in Gold
Clear Embossing Fluid
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 14, #S4-290 (not sure if this is discontinued, but there are lots available)
Memory Box Dianna Border, #1029
Scrap Vanilla Card for die cut & sentiment

First I stamped the Best Wishes on vanilla card and embossed it with gold embossing. Once that was cool, I die cut the sentiment, the designer paper with the gold leaves and the Dianna border.  Then all I did was attached the gold paper (after I trimmed it) to the card base and layered everything else on the card.  Super easy, but I think it looks a bit elegant.  

I would like to enter my BEST WISHES card in the following challenges:
Use Your Stuff - (runs until Sept 7) Anything Goes
Everybody Art Challenge - Emboss
Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes
The Artistic Stamper - (August Challenge) Anything Goes
Creative Ladybug Creations - (August Challenge) Anything Goes

Another look

I do hope you will pop by the Twofers blog and consider making and entering   your own wedding projects ~ just remember, you need to show us TWO pieces of art. While you are there please take a peek at what my wonderful teamies Jane & Zoe made for this challenge.  Also, I would appreciate it if you'd following me, I am trying to get 100 new subscribers in 2015 and I am really close!  Thanks SO much ~ Christi

Bloomin' Hello Card for The Card Chain Challenge Reveal July 2015

This month I won't be home to take a picture of the card I've received from Deborah (the CCC Queen), but I am sure it is positively fabulous, and you can pop over to her blog to see what she made for me.  I went with the friendship theme this month as I wanted to make a card that was exciting but mellow.  This is what I concocted and sent to Christy in California:

How I Made my Card:
Core'dinations Pastels Cardstock
Silhouette Cameo
"Hello Circle" cut file, #28237, from Silhouette Store (cut 2x)
Memory Box Vignette Floral Branch, #98973
Corner Rounder Punch

The very first thing I did was cut the Hello Circle design twice using my Silhouette Cameo - I chose the Wisteria & Scotch colors and just used the bottom panel of the Scotch to oomph up the Wisteria.  Then I decided I needed to make the Hello Circle stand out a wee bit more, so I used a square of Tranquil Blue, corners rounded, and mounted the element onto the square.

Then I had to choose what I was going to do with the background.  I think the card would of been fine without the additions, but, I had just gotten the Vignette Floral Branch die and I was dieing to use it (sorry about the pun - well, ok, not really).  So I chose the colors of Aruba and Salmon and die cut one floral branch out of each color, making sure they faced opposite ways.  I tucked the Hello Circle into the Salmon floral branch and placed the Aruba one under the sentiment.  Lastly, the card itself is made from the color called Rose Embroidery.  Glued it all together, leaving some of the die cuts unglued for a bit of dimenton and I was done!  Honestly, it took me longer to choose the colors for everything than it did to assemble the card.  I hope Christy likes it!  Thank you for stopping by for my CCC Reveal ~ Christi

I would also like to enter my Bloomin' Hello card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Rubber Stamps #155, Inspirational Photo 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations, #332, Flowers
Southern Girls Challenge, Anything Goes 
Through the Craft Room Door, Wk of 7/28 to 8/3, Anything GoesThe Cat's Pajama's - 295, Anything Goes

The June Card Chain Challenge Reveal ~ Colorful Bloom

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by for this month's Card Chain Challenge Reveal! This month I decided to go with the color palette that Deborah chose:

I am so pleased that I got the colors correct this time AND I get to send my card to fellow Coloradian, Oreet.  I know my card won't take too long to reach her.  I received my card from Barbara in Florida yesterday - I love the texture of this card - she put a ton of work into this! 

What I Used to make my card:
Vanilla Card Base
Core'dinations Bright Colors Cardstock in Lime, Atoll Aqua & Love Potion
Die-Namics Die "Rose with Leaves", #DN-1099
White Card
Sequins from Stash
Quitefire Designs, Ten Tiny Tag Sentiments, #6382
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Kassie's Brocade
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Pop Dot (cut in half)

I cut the Rose with Leaves die four separate times, one each in white and the

three Core'dinations colors.  I had actually cut the white rose out before I had decided what I was going to do.  I had even asked Oreet preferred colors to get an idea.  Ultimately, I decided to match the Challenge Colors the best I could and that is what prompted me to cut the rose out 3 more times.  I pieced the design together, cut out the leaves and flowers, glued the whole shebang onto a piece of vanilla card.

I moved the rose around the Vanilla base card a few times and I just wasn't happy with the design. Then I remembered, I have embossing folders!! I got another piece of vanilla card and ran it through the Big Shot using the Cuttlebug embossing folder and once it was embossed, cut it down a bit.  Once I had that little bit of design on the card the next thing to pop into my mind was the sequins.  I fished through my stash of sequins, picked out the ones I felt complimented the cards colors the best and glued them on.  The sentiment needed to be small but I still wanted impact.  Quietfire Designs is a fantastic company, the Design Team and Designer, Suzanne Cannon, are fabulous!  I stamped my chosen sentiment on vanilla card using black ink, trimmed it, cut a pop dot in half  and pop dotted it onto the card.

Looks white here but the card and panel are vanilla!

The colors even inspired my Party Girls card - I used some of the scraps to make their party hats.  So there you go! The colors aren't as vibrant in the pictures as they are in real life - they really pop!  I would be grateful if you'd consider becoming one of my followers and help me meet my goal of 100 new followers for the year. Thanks! Christi

I would like to enter my Colorful Bloom card in the following challenges:
Die Cuttin' Diva's - #222, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp, Monday Challenge - Summer
613 Avenue - #130, Anything Goes w/ a twist of using a Rose
That Craft Place - Layers

Party Girls!!

If you have been reading my blog then you know that this is my family's birthday time of year so here we have another birthday card!  For this one, I used cheerful colors, some glitz and a fantastic chipboard piece by JittoBear.  I hope this puts you in a party mood, if you needed a reason!

What I Used to Make my Card:

Happy Birthday Chipboard Cut Out by JittoBear
Glossy Cardstock

Ranger Archival ink in Jet Black

"Girlfriends" stamp by The Stampsmith

Distress Markers in Gathered Twigs, Festive Berries, Squeezed Lemon & Mustard Seed

Distress Ink in Gathered Twigs

Glimmer Spray by Ditto (got this in the $1 bin YEARS ago)

Silver Cardstock

Core'dinations Bright Colors Card in Lime, Atoll Aqua & Love Potion

A Wink of Stella in Clear

Sharpie Water Based Paint Pen in White

When I made this card I knew what I wanted it to look like and after I picked out which Happy Birthday chipboard I wanted to use, I sprayed it with the

It really is pretty!

glimmer spray. I had bought this spray a long, long time ago and I thought it was like a black glimmer.  Surprise! It was silver but with a dark base to it.  No problem, I could work with that! I spritzed the chipboard a few more times and set it aside to dry.

Next, I stamped the image on glossy cardstock.  Set it aside to dry (it takes a bit longer than standard card to dry since it is on glossy card).  While it was drying, I cut the party hats out of the 3 colors of Core'dination card.  I swiped my clear Wink of Stella pen on the pink one, drew circles on the green one using the Sharpie pen and left the blue one plain.  I trimmed the image, then edged it with the Distress Ink using the Mini Ink Blending Tool.  I cut out a layer of the Love Potion card and then another of the Atoll Aqua to layer the image on. 

Before I layered the image I decided to give the girls a little makeover.  I colored their hair and lips using the Distress Markers and a cotton swab, a technique I learned from Tim Holtz's Blog. 

I layered the image on the 2 colors of cardstock but felt it still needed more, so I went into my stash and pulled out a piece of silver cardstock.  I matted the image the last time on that and glued my party hats onto the girls.  Lastly, I attached my properly glimmered Happy Birthday chipboard and I now have another card to mail out.  Two down and a hundred to go (no, it just feels that way!), why is it birthdays and holidays always creep up on me?!?

I hope you got some inspiration from my Happy Birthday Girls card! The weather here has finally been nice; today was the first day in ages we had no storm activity at all. I hope you are enjoying your weather. Thanks for stopping by ~ Christi

Another look at my Party Girls

I would like to enter my Party Girls in the following challenges:
Allsorts - #316, Use a Stamp
Fab 'n Funky - #264, Gorgeous Girls
Papertake Weekly - Oh So Pretty
Through the Craft Room Door - week of 6/16 - 6/22 - Anything Goes
The Paper Girls - #82, Happy Birthday

I am now going to get some much needed rest - I just got back from Michigan (literally 2 hours ago!) and my body is screaming for a rest!! See you all tomorrow, bright and early, for my Anything But a Card post - the theme is "Out and About" ~ Hugs!!! Christi