Scrap My Scraps Challenge: Card Set #6

Sadly, we are at our last set of Scrap My Scraps Cards… I have enjoyed this challenge IMMENSELY. It’s been so fun to see what each player comes up with using the same pieces. It’s fun to see each person put a little of themselves into each project.

I will be doing another Scrap My Scraps Challenge in the next couple of months with different papers. If you would like to participate please leave a comment on one of the SMS posts and I will contact you when we’re getting ready to play again. I will mail you the card “guts” packet and you get to keep the cards. All you need to do is send (email) me the photos of your finished cards.

Here’s Card Set #6


The “Rules”:

1. Create one card from each layer stack thingy.
2. Use ALL of the pieces that go to each card.
3. Use any stamps to complete cards.
4. You may add one piece of extra cardstock to the card and any extra embellishments.

(More like guidelines, really….)

The Players:

Alisha Trussell
Jeanne Tomshack
Kathi Carlson

We started with:
Leftovers from the CTMH Cocoa Cafe promotional paper pack. I have gobs of this stuff! It’s sure to make an appearance again sometime.

My Original Card:
My card was super simple. You can’t really tell from the pic but the stamped sentiment has glitter on the edges of the “ice cubes”… It also has an old watermark on it from when I was a consultant. That link is dead and gone. I couldn’t find the original card, but did find the original picture of it! My card has a similar layout to Jeanne’s.

Kathi’s Card:
One of Kathi’s signatures in her design style is birds. I love how Kathi is able really make birds work. Ilove this bird in the “rushes”. It makes me think of laying on a creekbed listening to water rush by while the birds sing in the bushes.



Jeanne’s Card:
I love Jeanne’s embossed background and flowers. If you look closely (click on image for a larger view) you can see that Jeanne has taken a spacer “bead” for jewelry making and flattened it out and added a brad to the center to bling out the flower. The embossing on the flowers and the background give it kind of a lacey “filigree” look. I love it!

Alisha’s Card:
Alisha and Kathi must have had the same brainwave again… They have similar layouts for their cards with similar themes… Alisha’s is missing the bird, but has the organic stamp! I love the bow and the simple sentiment…. Enjoy Life {and Alisha, it looks like you found your missing bamboo piece... lol!}

Hope you enjoyed this round of Scrap My Scraps! See you soon!

Inky Smiles!

Scrap My Scraps Challenge: Card Set #5

Happy Monday!  Welcome back to Scrap My Scraps!

Here is Card Set #5

This set of cards is pretty awesome!   You’re not going to believe it, but nobody saw anybody else’s cards until THIS POST!   Check out the similarities in design and themes… LOL!  I about fell out of my seat when I saw them all together.   Kathi did not know that I had cut out leaves for my card or put a “buckle looking” band across it, either.   Also… neither Jeanne nor Alisha knew that the other was going to layer up polkadots…. LOL!  This set is super fun! 

A Rules Refresher:

1. Create one card from each layer stack thingy.
2. Use ALL of the pieces that go to each card.
3. Use any stamps to complete cards.
4. You may add one piece of extra cardstock to the card and any extra embellishments.

(More like guidelines, anyway….)

The Players:

Alisha Trussell
Jeanne Tomshack
Kathi Carlson

 

We started with a sheetload of paper pieces:

My original card:
I layered up the papers and stamped and cut out leaves from the remaining two pieces of scraps.  There’s a tutorial for the scrunched leaves here.  I also did some faux stitching with stamps.

  

 
Kathi’s Card:
Kathi even used the SAME STAMP to make her leaves… LOL!  She stamped her image on lighter cardstock so you’re able to see the veins.  I love the paper piercing and the random stamped shapes on the background papers that give it interest, texture, and dimension.

 

Alisha’s Card:
Alisha and her side bows strike again!I love the added glittery bats!   Check out the detail in the polka dot stamping.  She must have laid the top layer of polka dots on the base layer of polka dots to get them to line up so perfectly!  She added a hint of purple CS to pop the layer off the base.

Jeanne’s Card:
Jeanne’s signature flowers are back.   Jeanne stamped two different sizes of polka dots on her layers of CS and completed the dot them with the addition of buttons on the flower and one of the layer mats, oh and also with the perfect little brads in the centers of the buttons. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Jeanne’s little crocheted flowers.  I have a little stack of them sitting here by my InkStak waiting for me to use them… They are so precious I don’t want to glue them to anything! :)

 

 

I hope you enjoyed today’s SMS reveal.. there’s one more coming up!  If you’d like to play in an upcoming round of SMS please leave me a note on one of the SMS posts and I will let you know when we’re playing again. 

Inky Smiles!

Scrap My Scraps Challenge: Card Set #4

I’m here sitting at the computer having finished Card Set #3 and thought I’d better get a couple of posts scheduled since I have some energy and the next few days are going to be busy ones.   My friend, Lisa, and I are throwing a baby shower for our friend, Kim, who is having surprise baby #3… the youngest is 8.  Anyway… Kim is super generous and gave away all of her old baby stuff… so we figured we’d better help her get all stocked up again.  I’ve got lots of cleaning to do and some yard work to take care of.   Thankfully my hottie hubby is helping with the big stuff. :) Yay for hottie hubbies!

Here’s card set #4. 

The “RULES” were simple:

1. Create one card from each layer stack thingy.
2. Use ALL of the pieces that go to each card.
3. Use any stamps to complete cards.
4. You may add one piece of extra cardstock to the card and any extra embellishments.

(More like guidelines, anyway….)

The Players:

Alisha Trussell
Jeanne Tomshack
Kathi Carlson

 

The Original Layer Stack Thingy:
I really love the colors in this pack.  They are bright and bold and fun.

My Original Card:
…aka el boringo card….  I could have spruced up that sentiment a bit or given it some weight to anchor it mo bettah on the card…. 

Jeanne’s Card:
One of Jeanne’s signature items is butterflies.   You can find them in her digi art, card making, and even her clothes!  I love how she popped up their wings in layers and glittered the edges and bodies.  The dots on their wings match the embossed dots on the kraft colored cs on the card base.

Kathi’s Card:
I love the little bird on a branch image that Kathi has stamped and colored on this card.  She matched the colors of the striped paper perfectly! She also faux stitched the edges of the white focal piece cs and the edge of the kraft cs.

 

Alisha’s Card:
A little gift anyone?  Alisha’s card reminds me of a gift, all wrapped up and neatly tied with a bow.  The sentiment is random stamped in the patterned paper and cute little flowers adorn the “tag”.  That’s CTMH white ink on the kraft cs… I thought it was Stazon… it pops so nicely!

There are two more sets coming your way!  Stay tuned :)

Inky Smiles &  enjoy your Father’s Day weekend!

Scrap My Scraps Challenge: Card Set #3

Sorry for the delay.  I have not been feeling well and have finally been able to haul myself to the computer to actually get some posting done.   I worked all day Tuesday and wore myself out and then had Curves and an echocardiogram on Wednesday. (The echo is a whole ‘nother story… so far no bad news.… will post more as I get the details from my dr.)

Anyway.. back to our regularly scheduled program….

The poor girls really had their work cut out for them with “yesterday’s” hideous scraps.   Yes, there’s a “fall-ish” theme to the cards and pieces… the workshop I originally did was in October or November and the girls wanted “season appropriate”… lol! 

None of the players saw the original cards before playing.  In fact, I had to hunt them down in my stash to snap pics of them to post here!

The “RULES” were simple:

1. Create one card from each layer stack thingy.
2. Use ALL of the pieces that go to each card.
3. Use any stamps to complete cards.
4. You may add one piece of extra cardstock to the card and any extra embellishments.

(More like guidelines, anyway….)

The Players:

Alisha Trussell
Jeanne Tomshack
Kathi Carlson

 

 

The Layer Stack Thingy:
Today’s card pieces are soooooomuchmobettah!  I am really digging the variety of themes and designs that the players came up with for this set.  Their creativity and imaginations are amazing! 

 

My original card:

 

Alisha’s Card:
Click on the card to view it larger… you can see the teeeny ice pieces/beads that Alisha glued on the stamped image. WOW! She inked up the raised embosses purple layer to pop out the design.  I love the whimsical bow tied off to the side, too.

 

Jeanne’s Card:
Jeanne had her crochet needle out again!  That flower is AWESOME… and check out the detail (click on the pic) on the card base itself… she embossed an argyle pattern inside an embossed frame.  I love the embellishments nestled inside each other, too!

 

Kathi’s Card:

Kathi used stamps to add texture and dimension to the plain cardstock and stamped and colored a lovely image for the focal point.  I love the 2nd generation stamping of the leaves and the focal point nestled into the little side bow.

I think it’s awesome that everyone layered up their mats the same AND that they all just knew that that irridescent (sp?) ribbon went on this card!   These are probably my favorite group of cards out of the 6 sets!

More coming up! Inky Smiles!

Scrap My Scraps Challenge: Card 2

First of all… I have to tell you something that might shock you. Please sit down. I can not be responsible for injuries.

I went to the mall today….. specifically to look for a brown skirt. My friend had one on at Sunday and it was quite loverly. Of course, I had to copy her… went to the store…. they had it one size too small and no more in my size. UGH. Then I headed back to my car…. and walked past Archiver’s.

And I kept on walking. I looked at the loverly rows of shelving and neatly arranged displays as I huffed and puffed my iron deficient body down the mall pathway….. but I did not even go IN….

You may breathe now.

And get up off the floor.

So now that you’re sitting there in pure amazement and my insanity we shall move on to card set #2….

Remember the rules?

The “RULES” were simple:

1. Create one card from each layer stack thingy.
2. Use ALL of the pieces that go to each card.
3. Use any stamps to complete cards.
4. You may add one piece of extra cardstock to the card and any extra embellishments.

(More like guidelines, anyway….)

And the players:

Alisha Trussell
Jeanne Tomshack
Kathi Carlson

Here are the pieces for Card Set #2.
The two pieces on the right are actually a garnet color. I don’t know what happened to them… strange…

Here is my original card:
I sandpapered the bajeebers out of the white core cs and layered up the pieces!

Jeanne’s Card:
Hrmmm… am I noticing a trend with Jean and her offset pieces? She added a touch of whimsy with her crocheted flower with a button center and Cuttlebug embossed the small strip of paper.

Kathi’s Card:
I love the silk leaf “swag” under the sentiment, tied neatly with a bow. Kathi also embossed a “wainscoting” panel for the base. Love it!

Alisha had to leave town and was not able to finish this card… I do have all the rest of hers to share in the next few posts!

Enjoy these fabulous takes on some simple scraps!

Back tomorrow with Card Set #3!

Inky Smiles!

A New Challenge: Scrap My Scraps

A while back when I was cleaning out my closet I came across a bunch of packets of card “guts” from a workshop that I did many moons ago (I think it was at least 3 years ago) when I was a consultant for CTMH.   It was a 6 card workshop for a bunch of “beginner” (aka virgin crafters) card makers and I had figured that the easiest way to do the card night was to pre cut all the pieces and layer them in a packet to use the night of the card class.   A few people did not show up and I had a bunch of leftover packets.   What to do with odds and ends pieces?  Rather than empty them out and put them into my scraps piles I decided it would be super fun to ask a few friends to help me do something with them.

Welcome to my first Scrap My Scraps Challenge! 

Each player in this challenge was given 1 complete packet of card guts, complete with a little baggie of the bits of embellishments we used for the cards.

The “RULES” were simple:

1.   Create one card from each layer stack thingy.
2.  Use ALL of the pieces that go to each card.
3.  Use any stamps to complete cards.
4.  You may add one piece of extra cardstock to the card and any extra embellishments.

(More like guidelines, anyway….)

The players in this round (yes, I think I will do this again…) are:

Alisha Trussell
Jeanne Tomshack
Kathi Carlson

These poor girls started with some really crappy pieces of scraps…. the cards that I made for my class were very, very basic and simple.   The girls did AWESOME!  You can see their styles and personalities in each of their cards.

The goal of this challenge was to see what each person did with their scraps.  Everyone started with the same basic pieces – no sketch.  I just wanted people to have fun and create just for the sake of creating.  I think the goal was accomplished!  Thank you to each of you for playing!  

So, without further adieu/adoo/whatever/blah blah blah…

Here’s set #1:

We started with:

  

My original card: 

 

The Players:

Jeanne
Check out her paper piecing and cool ruffley ribbon flower! I love the layering of the individual pieces of cs, too!

Alisha
LOOOVE the random stamping and cool side tie knots and button nosed flowers!

 

Kathi
LOVE the white polka dots, so cool, stamped over the random stamped card pieces and a cheerful hello to greet the recipient! 

Isn’t it fun to see all the different takes?? 

Photoshop is giving me heck today with editing photos… I’ve got half of card #2 edited, but I’ve got to hit the sack and head up to work early tomorrow morning and then go find a brown skirt somewhere… hopefully Dress Barn will save my hiney… lol!  

Stay tuned!  More cards posted tomorrow (Monday) night!

Inky Smiles!

Studio Tour: Part 6 – Fun Details

I’ve had some questions about some details in the Studio Tour (and the sneak peek collage from a while back)…

Here are some more fun pics to show the details…

Mom made the kitchen witch for me when I was in high school. Mom put incredible detail into this little lady… all the lace trim, the slippers and even the wart on her nose. She has lived in my hope chest/moving box since then… I finally pulled her out and found a new home for her in my studio as my “Scrap Hag”. Hopefully she will chase away the “Mojo Thieves” and general “Anti-Crafty Monsters” that live in the utility closet…

This is my canister that holds silk flowers that I snip off and use on cards and projects. The beaded lady hanging from it is my Crazy Lady. I made her at a cute little shop in Historic Valley Junction, Iowa. When I am having a bad day or feeling blah, I look at her and grin… besides, she’s ALWAYS having a bad hair day! :) The little magnet is a round mirror that says “Look to the Glory of God”. It helps ground me in times of “puffed up-ness”.

I love this photo of Brent and I. It is the first photo that we ever had taken together… It was taken at UVU’s “girls choice” Spring Dance (aka Valentine’s Dance). We’d been dating a couple of weeks… Maybe 2? Anyway, it was also the night of our first kiss. *grin* Look how skinny we were, too!!! I’d love to get back to that size!

This is a fun little E that I made from a wooden letter from Robert’s (Provo) Craft. I covered it with pearlescent pink cardstock and then blinged it out by outlining it with rhinestones and then adhering silver glitter balls to the edges with Liquid Glass. Note to self… don’t use those silver glass ball things next time… they have real silver in them and are now tarnishing. :( The cupcake was made by Linda Cummings.

Just a fun photo of the paintbrush bucket… and detail of the tag label of misc blingy things. :)

I filled the “sharp things” bucket with white beans. This helps keep my scissors and sharp things from clanging around and nicking each other. It’s also quieter when putting things away in the bucket. :)

The candles are apple/cinnamon scented. I love burning them while I’m in my space… They add a comforting sense of ambiance and smell delightful :)

I store my colorful ribbon scraps in a big crystal candy jar from Poland. I love how you can see the colorful ribbon scraps through the jars... like little bits of candy. The little candy jar holds my Tiger Wire and stretch wire and misc jewelry making findings in little baggies. Mom gave me the crystal …. we bought it at a Polish Market on the border of Germany and Poland when we were living in Berlin (1989-1994).

These are one of my many sets of Matryoschka dolls that I collected from various markets while living in Germany. I have a large variety of sets including a set of Jesus and his Desciples, the Russian presidents, and tons of traditional dolls. (One of my favorites is the Turnip family... It "tells" teh story of a family pulling together to pull a giant turnip from the ground for their dinner. ) They were so cheap in Germany!!

I believe this set was purchased at a black market in Berlin (formerly East Berlin) 1990. Hehe! These pretty ladies add a fun bit of color and design to my space and remind me of some very happy and fun times in my old stomping grounds.

Inky Smiles!

What’s For Dinner?

In my effort to get better at eating healthier I've decided to hunker down and be more diligent in creating healthy meals from scratch.   I have a huge recipe book where I've been collecting our favorite recipes in and have menu plans that I print out and use to plan meals and make grocery shopping lists but have been really lackadaisical in using lately...

Hopefully by sharing my goals I will be more diligent in working on accomplishing them.   So with that said... here's our meal plan for this week.   Note:  These are dinners only because we don't have children, so lunches and breakfasts are either leftovers or FFY (fend for yourself).  Sadie’s easy… a bowl of food every day and fresh water with a treat here and there… and she’s a happy girl. :)

Monday:
Tacos

Tuesday: 
Garlic Chicken Pitas

Wednesday:
Mongolian Beef w/Steamed Rice

Thursday:
Fried Rice w/Japanese Onion Soup

Friday:
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken w/Grilled Veggies

Saturday:
Date Night (dinner out)

Sunday:
Hawaiian Haysnaks (aka Haystacks)

I had the wild thought of snapping photos from time to time and creating some digi page recipe pages for my cookbook binder… perhaps I will try to do that!  Snapped some photos of our delish tacos and Brent’s kick butt Pico de Gallo tonight! :)

Inky Appetit! (hehe)

Happy News

Reporting in….

So I started Curves in April.

I went on vacation in May for a little over a week and missed several (5)workouts.

I haven’t eaten as good as I should have, but not nearly as bad as I used to.

I’ve been trying to be at Curves at least 3 days a week.

And it’s paying off!

Here are the results so far:

Doing the HAPPY DANCE!

5.5 lbs is not “a lot”… but 4” IS! Especially the 2 full inches off my abdomen! I was so giddy this morning that I worked out even harder, came home and had OATMEAL for breakfast. LOL! Slow and steady on the lbs as I build muscle… slower weight loss is better, less likely to come back.

I’m so happy to see some results cuz I really don’t like to sweat. LOL!

Digi credits:

Kay Miller - “Right On Track” Kit