Friday, May 28, 2010

You're The Man



He changes the oil and fixes any kind of motor. He trains the dog and makes his own fishing baits. He welds and he operates. He plays ball with the boys and makes killer pancakes. Hubby-you're the man.

Keeping this card very clean, simple and graphic, I was inspired by the sketch at Card Positioning Systems. (ETA: Natalie was absolutely right, after seeing her amazing scrapbook layout here, I was very much inspired to pull out my clean woodgrain stamp and create! Love how blog hopping does that to me!) I masked and stamped the woodgrain panel, stamped and kissed the dots with the woodgrain and added the sentiment. I also tried a new-to-me technique for adhering ribbon/twine/floss. The colors are bold, the design is bold, but I'm not a bold kind of person. My husband, however, is bold so you could say the choices were made with him in mind. I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!

 

 Supplies Used: Cardstock: Natural White (Stampin' Up) Stamps: Woodgrain Background (Stampin' Up) For the Love of Dots (Practicing Creativity Designs) You're the Man (Practicing Creativity Designs) Ink: Lime Pastel Chalk (Colorbox) Onyx Black (VersaFine) Other: Black Floss (DMC), Thread Tools: Corner Round Punch (Fiskars)

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Check One



My mind was numb. I had just spent hours taking the test that would determine if or when I could get into the college of my choice. It was that kind of exam where you could enter with only two #2 pencils, sharpened beyond belief and by the time you were done, both of them would be worn down to the nib... It was that kind of exam were you could only fill in the little circle row after row and boy did I wish I could just make one big red check mark!

This card is...different but the same, then what I usually do. (I think I really like it!) I started with the mindset of using papers and a new ink pad that I've had for a very long time, scraps that were on my desk and a mixture of my favorite stamp sets and ones that haven't seen ink yet. I also had the layout at Get Sketchy in mind and the theme of "The Sky's the Limit" from the Wee Memories Challenge because rotated, the scallops reminded me of clouds. I honestly had fun just creating and not knowing where the final card would end up. My favorite part is the red check mark that was made with a hand cut mask and red chalk ink.




Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) Patterned Paper: Plaid and Pink Polka Dots  from Just Chillin' (Making Memories) Green from The Boyfriend (Cosmo Cricket) Blue from The Cottage Collection (Creative Memories) Notebook Paper from Hopscotch Boy (K&C Company) Stamps: Clouds from Practicing Creativity Designs, Sentiment Panel (Inkadinkadoo) Ink: Onyx Black (VersaFine) Lipstick Red Chalk (Colorbox) Other: White Gel Pen (Signo) Black Marker (Pilot) Black Snaps (unknown)

Jelly Bracelets

The search for the birthday gift did not start off well. I have two little boys and am too old to remember what it was like to be turning 10 myself. I searched the store and finally found a fun beach towel-blue with green and white polka dots. I then noticed a girl about her age looking at some jelly bracelets...so I quickly grabbed some of those in green and blue (sheesh, I had those when I was little!). After thinking some more, I found some coordinating nail polish in green and blue too and then some headbands. Whoosh, I think I did ok--she seem pleased with the results!

After seeing Winter's post regarding a coordinating baby gift set, I was inspired to create a matching card for my gift too. I started with the blue card base cut a tad smaller than an A2 size, added the hand drawn circle element and strip of patterned paper. The sentiment is a sticker backed on white cardstock with a piece of black twill attached underneath. Easy!

Please come and join me at CAS-tastic Wednesday Challenge - Touch of Green! I'd love to see your creations with just the pop of green-make me envy you! This week's sponsor is Squigglefly! Check out the below links for some more fantastic creations:
Angie
Deb
Maylee
Agata
Barbara
Bonnie Rose
Regina

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Clothes Line




She was the master of fort making. She'd take the old quilts and drape them over the clothes line. Then she'd take a few clothes pins and pin more blankets inside the fort in just the right areas to create rooms. We'd had the perfect fortress against the neighborhood boys. She was our leader. We were invincible.
This patterned paper lent itself quite nicely for the linear design of the sketch at Everything But the Kitchen Sink. I thought that the card needed a little extra umph in the bottom corner, so I added a stitched sun, the inspiration coming from the sketch at 365 Cards. I'll be the first to admit that I struggle with the use of patterned paper in card-making and admire all of the wonderful crafters that make it look effortless.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Marigold Morning (Stampin Up) Patterned Paper: The Boyfriend Line (Cosmo Cricket) Blue from Cottage Power Pallette (Creative Memories) Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch (Stampin Up) Circle Punch (Creative Memories) Other: Twine, Thread, Brown Journaling Pen (Creative Memories)

Monday, May 24, 2010

Spring Ferns


Every spring ferns start to grow right next to the back side of our house. I enjoy watching them start as little sprigs sneaking up through the frost and fawning out their rays of green. Every summer my husband makes his attempts to cut them down, thinking it'll be the last time he has to see them. I secretly smile inward that the ferns are resilient-they grow back bigger, better and greener every year.

The Etsy Inspired Challenge features Made By Michelle Brusgaard. Every single piece in her shop is amazing, but I was drawn to the tone on tone, silhouette flowers of this card. I cut some watercolor paper down to size, spritzed it lightly with water before stamping the flower images. After the base was dry, I stamped the sentiment in a darker green ink, rubbed the edges of the paper with the lighter ink for definition and added some rhinestones in the center of the larger flower for interest.


Supplies Used: Watercolor Paper (Archers) Stamps: Treasure Life (Close to My Heart) Small Script (Stampin' Up) Pigment Ink: River Rock and True Thyme (Stampin' Up) Embellishments: Rhinestones (Prisma) Tools: Aqua Painter, Corner Rounder Punch (Fiskars)

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Lemon Sunshine

{Wouldn't Lemon Sunshine be the perfect name for a new ink color? Or if its out there, I want some!}

Shhh... I'll let you in on a little secret... I was going for a lemon, but it ended up looking like the sun. The wedges/rays need to be wider, I reckon. Sometimes you just have to roll with it, right? Especially when you are a late night crafteress and time is limited. Gives me a new goal to work towards. Mission: Make lemons.

This colors and general summery vibe of the card were inspired by the uber awesome photo inspiration at Off the Wall Craftiness Challenge. The sketch from 2 Sketch for You- a clean and simple approach to it. To make the lemon, err, sun, I stamped a ray with yellow chalk ink and then kissed off some of that ink with the lace stamp. I also used a circle punch on the sticker sentiment to separate it from the dots around the lemon, err, sun.


Supplies Used: Cardstock: Naturals White, Barely Banana (Stampin Up) Blue (Reminisce) Stamps: You're Dandy and For the Love of Dots (Practicing Creativity Designs) Ink: French Blue, Yellow Citris and Creamy Brown Chalk (Colorbox) Embellishments: Sticker Sentiment (SRM Stickers) Gold Hemp Cord (Elements from The Beadery)

Friday, May 21, 2010

The Cottage Quilt


My sisters and I crawled under the handmade quilt, propped on chairs and covering the whole of the living room. Mom and Grandma poked the yarn threaded needle down through and we poked it back up just a centimeter away. Over and over we did this. When we finished, there was a beautiful blanket to take Up North to the Cottage.

I combined the Moxie Fab World Challenge Fun with Fabric with the Wee Memories Challenge to use pink and embellishments to create this quilt paneled card. I first stamped the fabric with ink, batted it, stitched it to cardstock and then added the sewn buttons to pucker the fabric. I also distressed the edges of the fabric (along with the cardstock) with some ink for a well worn look. I only had to call my mom once for assistance on quilting, and I finished the card with a brand new admiration for the real quilters out there.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink (Stampin Up) Stamps: You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs) Woodgrain Silhouettes (Wplus9) Ink: Chocolate Chip Pigment (Stampin Up) Creamy Brown Chalk (Colorbox) Embellishments: Buttons (Cloud 9) Linen Thread (Stampin Up) Ribbon (May Arts) Other: White Muslin Fabric, Cotton, Thread

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Gingerbread Trim

I adore the use of architectural scraps for interior decorating. I have a four paneled peeling green paint window...hanging on my wall in my living room. I love it for the simplicity, for the texture, for the balance it provides to the ugly cabinet that flanks the other wall, compliments of my husband.
There were some amazing repurposed for interior/exterior decorating household items at the creationdesign's shop. I chose this Gingerbread Trim Hanger for my inspiration for the Etsy Inspired Challenge and used the fabulous colors at Wplus9's Color Cue Challenge. I had in my mind to replicate the rays, woodgrain and vintage feel of the hanger.
Tip: For accurate placement of the scored rays, stamp the Practicing Creativity Design's Ray Guide from the You're Dandy Stamp Set on the back of your cardstock as an even guide for scoring.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) Cool Caribbean (Stampin Up), Patterned Paper: Sweet Pea (Stampin Up) Stamp Sets: Woodgrain Silhouettes (Wplus9) You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs) Sincere Salutations (Stampin Up) Ink: Versamark Pad and Marker (Tuskino) Creamy Brown Chalk (Colorbox) Night of Navy and So Saffron Pigment (Stampin Up) Embellishments: Button (Stampin Up) Linen Thread (Stampin Up) Tools: Labels 8 Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Telephone

My twin sister lives 1700 miles away. We hardly communicate via the "new" age of technology--i.e. email or text messaging or the like. We pick up the good ol' telephone and talk. I should clarify: most times I talk and she listens. It is wonderful to hear her laugh about stories of my boys and it warms my heart when she says that I've made her day better. I love how the telephone keeps us close.

The challenge this week at CAS-tastic Wednesday Challenges is the famous One Layer Card. Our sponsor is a fabulous digi shop Busy Beauties Boutique.

Creating a one layer card is a lot of fun, but I'd be fibbing if I said it was easy. It does take some planning. Here's what I did: I opened up the telephone image in Photoshop, sized it, erased the telephone cord, added the text and printed it out on cardstock. I finished the design by adding a loop of floss to resemble the telephone cord that I eliminated, colored it lightly, ink distressed the edges and added some glossy touches to the telephone itself.

Please come and join us at CAS-tastic Wednesday Challenges as I know that you will end up with a brand spankin' new creation that you will truly admire for yourself. And, it's easy on the pocketbooks when mailing too! Check out the below links for some more OLC fantastic creations:
Angie
Deb
Maylee
Agata
Barbara
Bonnie Rose
Regina

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Very Vanilla (SU), Digital Image: **CallMe** (Busy Beauties Boutique), Font: American Typewriter Ink: Close to Cocoa (SU) Accents: Glossy Accents (Ranger), Floss (DMC) Tools: Corner Round Punch (Fiskars), Awl

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Shine


I sat in the auditorium with a hundred plus other senior designers. My accomplishments, my rejections, my friendships and my journey vividly flashed through my mind before the dean called my name and I walked up to get my bachelor's degree. I wasn't sure what the future held for all of us, for me. But I did know that it was my day to shine.

Long time, no see. I've been enjoying some time with my mom who came to visit. This card's design was inspired by Sketchy Thursdays latest scrapbook layout challenge. I also wanted to create an unconventional graduation themed card instead of the cap and gown in celebration of the graduate (SRM Celebrate Life Challenge). The sentiment pulls the design, complimentary colors and theme together.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) DSP (Wonder Years by Daisy D's) Stamp: You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs) Ink: More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black (Stampin Up) Accents: Sticker Sentiment (SRM) Stickes (Ranger) Gems (unknown) Floss (DMC) Tools: Corner Round Punch (Stampin Up) White Gel Pen (Signo) Yellow Journaling Pen (Creative Memories)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Random Me (...and Tidbits)


I always enjoy these types of posts on other crafty blogs. (So I thought I'd share some more about me).

1. My claim to marital fame is that the hubby thinks my home baked chocolate chip cookies are tons better than his mother's. There are never any leftovers when bringing them to a potluck or bake sale. (Thank you Mom!) 
2. I despise clowns. They are scary. (I'm not sure where or when the fear originated.)
3. I've read every one of James Patterson's mysteries and usually finish them in one day. (...Patiently waiting for his new release.)
4. I often wonder why boys' hair is always thicker and their eyelashes always longer than their female counterparts. (My boys included.)
5. Engineers made turn signals on vehicles for a reason. (What makes certain drivers not use them?) 
6. My boys sleep in the same bunk beds that my twin and I had when we were little. (I think that's neat.) 
7. I live in a city with 565 other individuals and have to travel 30 miles one way to work every day. (Small towns have the best school systems!) 
8. I love working on my Mac computer but don't  own an iphone or ipad. (An ipod shuffle treats me well.)
9. I'm not quite sure of the purpose of mustard (yuck) other than permantly staining white shirts. (Ketchup is a close second.)
10. The smell of baby lotion from the pink bottle will always make me feel like I'm a good mama. (And I recall the creases and smiles of my babies and that warms my heart.)

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Naturals White and Summer Sun (SU) Patterned Paper: unknown Stamp: Little Monsters (Reminisce) Ink: Chestnut Roan (Colorbox) Other: Google Eye, 

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Mushroom Houses


When I was little The Smurfs where the thing to watch on Saturday mornings. All those little blue creatures living in mushroom houses. Led by the fearless Papa Smurf, they tried daily to escape being caught by the big Gargamel. Why didn't they just move to another mushroom patch? Oh, the good ol' days.

Lindsay Brackeen's Etsy Shop had a lot of cute mushroom scenes for the Etsy Inspired Challenge. I thought to create a simple thank you note to give to our neighbors while they house sit for us when we are out of town. The focal image reminded of the style of cartoons back when cartoons used bold black outlines and solid colors. The digital image was printed directly onto kraft cardstock, colored with chalk and then covered with glossy accents. So I've got to say that I know this isn't the best picture. It was my intention to take another but the little one (my son) came along and spilled his juice all over it and another card...

(I haven't found out the secret to photographing cards featuring glossy accents. Any tips you are willing to share would be quite welcome!)


Supplies Used: Cardstock: (Archer's Paper) Digital Image: Mushroom Home & Lady Bug (TiffanyDoodles) Stamp: Thank You (Heidi Grace) Ink: Versamark Other: Chalks and Black Embossing Powder (SU) Glossy Accents (Ranger) Corner Round Punch (Fiskars)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Round and Round

Round and round and round we go, where we stop nobody knows! Do you remember saying that when you were little? I do...as I spread out my arms and circled and circled until I fell down...

This week's CAS-Tastic Wednesday Challenge is to use circles! Any kind of circles! The featured sponsor is The Cutting Cafe, where you could win your choice of any three sets!

Why not do something different? I decided to pull out the acetate to make a fresh and funky Good Luck card. When someone graduates or starts a new job, there is no telling where you will stop or how far they will go! It was quite fun deciding the mechanics of the card-leaving a enough space for a handwritten note, covering your adhesive, etc.

So I invite you to stop on over to the CAS-Tastic Wednesday Challenge site, check out the other wonderful design samples from the design team and create a *new* CAS design of your own! We'd love to see it, and you could win one fantastic prize!
Angie
Deb
Maylee
Agata
Barbara
Bonnie Rose
Regina

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Basic Black, Taken with Teal (SU) White (Georgia Pacific) Acetate, Digital Images: (The Cutting Cafe) Other: Scallop Border Punch (Fiskars), White Gel Pen (Signo) Alphabet Rub-ons Beach Collection (Making Memories)

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The Leaf Pile

It was a daunting task with those two big maple trees standing tall, and bare in a fair sized yard. They worked hard raking the leaves into a big pile. It was worth the sweat and blisters to see their little son, with a hug smile on his face, run and jump with no fear into the leaves. It was worth it to hear the giggles and laughter.
I interpreted lovely fall-like and manly colors in the latest Embellish Magazine Challenge (color with dimension). I pulled out my newest stamp set and created a background pattern with an upward movement. The sentiment panel is adhered with regular foam adhesive and the directional brown arrow with taller foam adhesive. The overall sketch is based off the one at CPS.

Tip: Did you know that the end of a new pencil eraser fits perfectly inside the "bolts" of the sentiment panel from this stamp set? Just ink and stamp. Instant and perfect colored circles!


Supplies Used: Cardstock: Natural White (SU) Brown (The Paper Company) Stamps: You're The Man and Look Up (Practicing Creativity Designs) Pigment Ink: Really Rust (SU) Chalk Ink: Lime Pastel, Chestnut Roan, Aquamarine (Colorbox) Other: Foam Adhesive

Monday, May 10, 2010

On Mother's Day


Yesterday was a fine day. Along with the general relaxing, I was able to create a few things. My one son with the broken arm was unable to go fishing so instead asked if he could stamp with me. Together we made a set of four thank you cards. He amazes me. He chose the base paper, the stamp image, the sentiment image, the colors and the embellishments. I only had to steer him once or twice in the right direction. I should learn to trust his instincts a bit more, perhaps ask him for color choices, as these colors look fantastic in big amounts.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Naturals White (SU) Stamp: Medallion (SU) Thank You (Heidi Grace) Chalk Ink: Charcoal Gray, Chestnut Roan (Colorbox) Pigment Ink: Pixie Pink, Always Artichoke, Ballet Blue, So Saffron (SU) Embellishments: Linen Thread (SU) Metal Brads (unknown), Rhinestone (Studio G)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Peacock Banners


One of the duties of my day job working with hospital insurance billing is to open mail. Lots and lots of mail. After reading a post from Sideoats & Scribbles a while back, I never realized the beauty in the patterns of security lined envelopes until Lisa pointed it out. Red ones. Blue ones. A ton of black ones.

Everything but the Kitchen Sink's latest household challenge is to use envelopes. Off the Wall Craftiness has a lovely peacock image for her color challange of turquoise, lime and black. I pulled out a vast number of the black patterned lined envelopes and created a fresh and funky background for the fun banners. All the pennants in the banners are covered with Glossy Accents for a real flashy shine, just the nature of a peacock! The colors just felt like there should be a celebration somewhere, so I made it into a birthday card for the SRM Sticker Challenge.



Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) Taken with Teal (SU) Stamps: Look Up (Practicing Creativity Designs) Ink: Jet Black (Stazon) Aquamarine, Lime Pastel Chalk (Colorbox) Embellishments: Sticker (SRM Stickers) Teal Twin (May Arts, Practicing Creativity Designs) Black Brad (SU) Other: Glossy Accents (Ranger) Envelopes

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Let the Relaxation Begin


I looked. They searched. He pretended to glance. We all could not find a chair stamp. He asked "How can you not have one chair image with all these stamps? Why do you need a chair stamp?" I responded "You are right, I must get one some day. And, its for the Three Cheers for Chairs Challenge at Moxie Fab World." He shook his head and grumbled "I'm not even going to ask what Moxie Fab means..."
No chair images. No chair stamps. The solution? Make one myself. I created this beach chair using four strips of double sided sided ribbon and some cardstock that was stamped with a woodgrain image. I added light shadows under the chair and a ribbon tab to represent the sky. When I retire I think it would be nice to spend some time at the beach, doing nothing all day, therefore letting the relaxation begin.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Natural White (SU) Tan (Archers Paper) Stamps: Woodgrain Silhouettes (Wplus9) Congrats (SU) Ink: Versamark, Close to Cocoa (SU) Jet Black (Stazon) Embellishments: Orange Striped Ribbon (May Arts from Practicing Creativity Designs) Blue Ribbon (Offray) Tools: Aqua Painter (SU) Other: Thread

Friday, May 7, 2010

Twitterpated


I think the first movie I ever saw in a movie theater was Disney's Bambi. I remember little of the actual movie, I'm pretty sure I spent most of the time buried in my mother's arms because during the dark, loud and scary parts. I do remember the spring time scene where all the newer animals found their soul mates and became "twitterpated", the little Thumper's leg going and going...
I had the above love images in my head when I saw this fawn digi image. I reflected him to create a her and slid them close together so that their noses touched, printed them out on patterned paper and cut them out. The colors for the card are derived from The Curtain Call Color Challenge. I'm hoping to hand this out for a wedding or an anniversary-both fine celebrations of life and a perfect fit for May's SRM Sticker Challenge. Inspiration also came from Lucy's lovely baby card here.


Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) Kraft (SU) Patterned Paper: Hostess and Sweet Pea (SU) Digital Image: Skinny Fawn (TiffanyDoodles) Accents: Sentiment Sticker (SRM Stickers) Chipoard Heart (Heidi Grace) Linen Thread (SU) Labels 8 Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Black Jouranaling Pen (CM) Other: Foam Adhesive

I'm pretty sure that today is May 7th. About a month away from summer. I had to think twice after I saw this outside this afternoon. Snow. Snow? Seriously?

Thursday, May 6, 2010

The Warbler


Her head bobbed back and forth, looking, searching. Slowly she flew down, her wings gracefully tilting in the air and upon landing she hopped a few itty bitty hops to reach her destination. She lingered for a while and decided to flew to a new destination, her wings flapping in a rhythmically.
I think I should pick up bird watching for a new hobby. Surely its got to be a bit lighter on the ol' pocketbook! I chose to work with The Play Date Cafe Challenge colors of black, pink, white and gray. I rotated the sketch from Caardvarks so that the bird had something to look at. She was colored with inks and a blender pen and highlighted with colored pencils. A few touches of glitter and ink distressing soften the overall look a bit.




Supplies Used: Cardstock: White (Georgia Pacific) Pretty in Pink, Basic Black (SU) Patterned Paper: Going Gray (SU) Digital Image: Warbler (TiffanyDoodles) Ink: Pretty in Pink, Going Gray (SU) Embellishments: Sentiment Sticker (SRM Stickers) Pink Twine (May Arts from Practicing Creativity Designs) Button (Cloud 9 Fiskars) Ice Stickles (Ranger) Tools: Scallop Slit Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Watercolor Pencils (SU), Thread

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Cupcake Liners


To my soon to be three year old son and me some months ago...
Me: Chase, what do you want on your birthday cake? Chase: Cupcakes. Me: Oh, you want cupcakes instead of a Spider-Man cake? (Spiderman being his most favorite superhero at the time-everything was Spiderman related..Oh, how to make a hand-made Spiderman Cake?) Chase: Yep, Blue Cupcakes. Me: Ok, good. Blue cupcakes it is then! (With a secret exhale from me.)

It's birthday time over at CAS-Tastic Wednesday Challenges! Our first sponsor is the digital shop The Wildflower Patch, home of this cute cupcake image. The blue cupcakes did turn out, but I wouldn't care to repeat the process again, let's just say we were all looking a bit blue. Today's card features some yummy rainbow speckled frosting instead. The cupcake is paper pieced with patterned paper for the frosting and vellum for the lining. I topped it with a covered red cherry button and some green colored floss for the cherry stem. To bring interest down to the bottom of the card, I added a scalloped border with faux stitching.

I invite you to celebrate with CAS-Tastic by creating your own birthday themed CAS card and upload to the gallery for a chance to win 5 free digi images at The Wildflower Patch! The following ladies created some great CAS birthday eye candy for you as well:
Angie
Deb
Maylee
Agata
Barbara
Bonnie Rose
Regina

Supplies Used: Cardstock: Kraft, Vellum, Real Red (SU) Patterned Paper: Polka Dot (CM) Clear Acrylic Stamps: You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs) Ink: Jet Black (Stazon) Embellishments: Button (Cloud 9 by Fiskars), Floss (DMC) Tools: Handsome Hunter Marker (SU) Black Journaling Pen (CM), Mat Pack (SU) Scalloped Border Punch (Fiskars)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Thunderstorms



Typing this up quickly as out of the corner of my eye I see the lightning flash too close for comfort and hear the thunder boom so loud making things shake around me. I despise thunderstorms as they can sometimes lead to tornadoes which cause me to think I need to hide in my closet with the boys (no basement, you see. Word of advice: if you live in Wisconsin, buy a house with a basement.) I'm pretty sure that birds are not perching on telephone wires right now!

The idea of using banners for this card and the colors scheme came from the awesome challenge image at Off the Wall Craftiness. I thought I'd finally pull them out and use them! The paper pieced banners where chosen with great care to include a number of different word patterns for the Wee Memories Challenge. The pennants are glued only at the top and curved for a bit of dimension. I really like how the real (the bird) lives harmoniously with the surreal (banners and rays). I really like that I used four different patterned paper styles, albeit in small amounts. Plus, I'm embracing what I truly love to do, clean and simple!




Supplies Used: Cardstock: Kraft (Archer's Paper) Patterned Paper: The Boyfriend (Cosmo Cricket), Music and Poetry Paper (Vintage Books) Stamps: You're Dandy, Look Up (Practicing Creativity Designs) Upsy Daisy (SU), Bird (SU-unknown) Ink: Chesnut Roan Chalk (Colorbox), Versamark Other: Colored Pencils (Prismacolor), Thread