Goodness, Goodness and MORE Goodness

And, most of the goodness comes from sketches but also from some great online challenges. 

To start off my post, I am showing you my Card Positioning Systems blog card for this week. Our sponsor is Paper Pretties and I just fell in love with this adorable little skating girl.  Notice that great embossed cardstock for the card base.  It is Core Impressions by Core'dinations. That means it comes with that embossed design in it already and I slightly sanded it.  They aren't snowflakes but they look like it here.

This set comes with several little snowflakes so I used some of them to create a snow scene.  The girl is colored with Copic makers.  Her handwarmer and ear muffs are accented with Glitter 3-D Fashion paint by Tulip. I love how that is just enough added glitter and bling.

For this card, I started out with the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch for this week.  Their sponsor is Layers of Color so I used a free digi download from LOC for my card, that is that great sentiment.  The flower is cut out of a piece of SEI patterned paper.  This great, golden orange flower plus the white space for the sentiment made this card fit in with the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger for this week and the colors fit with the Colour Q challenge. 

Once I downloaded the sentiment, I opened a WORD document and inserted it.  From here, I could size this to the exact size I wanted to work with. This download could be printed out just about any size and another great reason to use something like this is that I could make multiple cards by repeatedly printing out the verse. 

And, I also found time to play with the Card Patterns sketch.  This gave me a chance to use my new Wplus9 Designs Studios medallion stamps.  I thought they looked like they could be snowflakes. 

My very newest purchase is this great set of Spellbinder Nestabilities and I thought they were perfect to go along with the sketch.  I kept the Nestabilitie in place once the shape was cut out and embossed and sprayed it with some Glimmer Mist.  I did a little bit of accenting with a matching Copic marker. 

Gotta share some photos from this last week...

This last Saturday was my grandsons last soccer game of this season and in the last quarter he played the position of goalie. You can see by these photos that he really showed them how to do it. Just like this, he stopped the ball several times.

And had great form as he kicked the ball back into the game. 

Here is our little puppy today.  She has grown so much since we got her, she is now 6 months old and just as cute as ever.

I thought you might like to see where you can most often find our kitty cat! She is so intent as she watches anything that moves.

Plus, here is a photo of one of my  new Calla Lillies in our backyard. They are such a dark purple, some of them are almost black!

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 192 – WINTER GREETINGS card

Materials:
Stamps courtesy of Paper Pretties
Cardstock – Core Impressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper - BasicGrey
Versafine black stamp pad
Clear Embossing Powder – Stampendous
Copic Markers
Glitter 3-D Fashion paint – Tulip
Self adhesive rhinestones – Queen & Co.
Scallop circle punches and circle punches – PaperShapers
Sandpaper
Foam tape

BLESSED IS THE NATION… card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – Moonrise collection/SEI (the flower is cut from one pattern)
Digital stamp for sentiment – Layers of Color
Self adhesive gems – Queen & Co.
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper

HAPPY HOLIDAYS card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Couture and Core Essentials/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – BoBunny (both sides)
Rub-on sentiment – Making Memories
Border punch – Apron Lace/Fiskars
Snowflake stamp - Mehndi Medallions/Wplus9 Design Studios
Scallop Circle die cut – Spellbinders Nestabilities
Black Versafine stamp pad
Clear embossing powder – Stampendous
Blue Glimmer Mist spray – Tattered Angels
Buttons – PaperTrey, Inc.
Self adhesive rhinestones – Queen & Co.
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper

Sketches work for Christmas cards

It is Saturday again and time for the Unscripted sketch.  This week I decided to make my card fit a Christmas theme. 

Here is the sketch, play along if you can find time and maybe you can even make a Christmas or Winter themed card.

I pulled out some of my brand NEW Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker papers from the Happy Holly-Days Collection.  The side piece with the curved prints on it are part of a circle patterned piece. 

I added a sticker to this piece of patterned paper and I also covered most of the berries on the card with Aleene's Paper Glaze giving them an epoxy look.

I just had to play along with the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch too with another Christmas or Winter card. 

The patterned paper and the glitter snowflake are Melissa Frances.  The chipboard snowflake comes with the glitter on it and I am not a big fan of glitter that falls off so I have discovered that I can give these glittered pieces with some Mod Podge. That dries clear and helps hold the glitter on. While that was still wet, I placed a felt snowflake on top of it.

The cardstock for the card and for the embossed square is from the Core'dinations Gemstones collection. It has a pearly shine and is wonderful to emboss. I also embossed the bottom portion of the card with a snowflake embossing plate. 

And for some fun photos....

This little guy got his very first salon haircut.  His hair is curly and had just gotten too long to brush easily.  We started out pretty good because he was excited. 

It quickly went to this!!!! The main problem came when the hairdresser sprayed his hair with water, that was unexpected!

You can see that things got settled down and the remaining tear is just too cute! 
Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 80 – HAPPY HOLIDAYS card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Expressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper, die cuts and sticker – Happy Holly-Days collection/Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker
Self Adhesive Pearls – Me & My Big Ideas
Clear Paper Glaze – Aleene’s®
Ribbon
Sandpaper
Foam tape – 3M

Winter Wonderland card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Vintage and Core Gemstones/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – Melissa Frances
Chipboard glitter snowflake – Melissa Frances
Rub-on sentiment – Melissa Frances
Embossing plates - Sizzix
Felt snowflake – Creative Impressions
Self adhesive rhinestone – Queen & Co.
Machine sewing
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper

Colors and Sketches

The first order of business is that the NEW Crafts 'n things® magazine has hit the magazine racks and you want to be on the lookout or maybe you have a subscription. 

You can tell from this amazing cover that this issue is full of great ideas, especially for the holidays.

Let Crafts 'n things® show you how to make the 2010 holiday season your creative best! Hand-crafted holiday cards and gifts, quick-and-clever ornaments and dazzling décor ideas abound in the December issue. Check out the Budget-Savvy Gifts section for a dozen handmade gift ideas that fit your budget and don't scrimp on style. You don't need to spend a fortune to make your loved ones feel treasured! Be sure to say "hello" to some of our cutest Christmas friends ever, including a houndstooth holiday bear, recycled sock penguins, festive snowmen to sculpt, stitch or sew, and, of course, a jolly St. Nick or two.

Go directly to the top of Santa's "Nice List" when you give homemade decadent treats -- from heavenly cappuccino truffles to beautifully packaged chocolate chip banana bread, every morsel packs a dollop of holiday happiness. Love decorating for the holidays? Discover the secrets to creating sophisticated holiday décor on a shoestring, then invite the girls over for a special night of Christmas cookie painting in our Girls' Night In spectacular. Creativity and food -- who can beat that?!

New this year, don't miss our special 30-Minute Ornaments showcase. Whatever your style, you're sure to find at least one special addition for your tree. Happy Holidays!

Now for the first card I want to share.  My Unscripted sketch card for this week. 

I love how these Jillibean Soup patterned papers go with this great Core Impressions cardstock.  The cardstock comes with that embossed design in it already.

The labels are stickers by BasicGrey and the velvety flower is from Michaels. It was a stem of artificial flowers. I used a big brad for the middle with some rhinestones for an accent.

This card combines a couple different challenges.  A bonus sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You and the color combo from Colour Q and the color challenge at Color Cue by Wplus9 Designs. 

I wanted the center element on my card to be this new stamp I just got from Wplus9 Designs.  It is from a set of doily looking images.  I stamped it with white, embossed it with white and then colored the background with Chalkboard Glimmer mist and some stamp pads.  Some of the little circles in the design are accents with Glitter 3-D Fashion paint by Tulip.  I used a link to Joann craft store to show you how easy it is to find this product. It gives just the right amount of bling. 

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 78 - THANKS card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Impressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – Pasta Fagioli collection/Jillibean Soup
Sticker labels – BasicGrey
Sentiment sticker - SRM
Flower – Michaels
Brad
Self Adhesive rhinestones – Queen & Co.
Corner Rounder punch - Fiskars
Sandpaper
Foam tape – 3M

THANK YOU 3 times card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Expressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – BasicGrey
Stamp – Mehndi Medallions/Wplus9 Design Studios
Self Adhesive pearls – Queen & Co.
Scallop circle punches – Marvy
Glitter 3-D Fashion paint - Tulip
Rub-on sentiment - Pebbles
Sandpaper
Foam tape – 3M

Welcome Fall!

We are actually hot here this weekend, but it is fall, nonetheless. You can still feel that in the air.  The two cards I wanted to share today are both FALL related.  I so love the colors used for FALL!

This is my card for the Unscripted sketch that was just posted today.  A favorite stamp of mine is this super cute tree from My Favorite Things stamps.  A rather different color scheme for FALL was created with these cute papers from BasicGrey.  Notice the strip on the side of the card? I pleated it in a rough, haphazard style.  This fits in with a Perfectly Placed Pleats challenge at the Moxie Fab Blog.

I colored in the tree with some subtle colors using Copic markers.  You can barely make out the design, but I stamped a damask stamp on the Jenni Bowlin circle journaling die cut.  The sentiment words are by SRM stickers. 

I created this card to go along with last weeks 2 Sketches 4 You sketch.  I am late getting it posted because my camera decided to break and I had to pull out my older camera and actually try to remember how to use it!!!  I used a leaf border punch to create the designs on the sides of the green piece.   

The leaf is by Me & My Big Ideas.  It is a solid stamp with a distressed look.  I colored it with a couple different colors of stamp pads. The edges of the image were then rubbed with a Fluid Chalk stamp pad to add extra color. 

And for a couple photos...

I mentioned we are hot this weekend but we were cold during the week! And we got some rain. Rain is a rare occurence for us.  I walked outside and saw this plant in our yard and throught the rain drops were so artistic looking.   

OK, is this CUTE!!! I am not into decorating for Halloween but I had to have this little guy.  I found him at Bath and Body Works.  Not only is this too cute but it is foam soap which I just love and the smell is amazing. I always want to just take a bath in it!

 

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

 

SKETCH 76 – CELEBRATE AUTUMN card

Materials:
Cardstock – Core Expressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – Oliver/BasicGrey
Tree and Acorn stamps – My Favorite Things
Chalkboard and Glimmer Mist – Tattered Angels
Circle die cut – Jenni Bowlin
Copic markers
FALL sticker letters – K&Co.
Sentiment stickers – SRM
Mini brads
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper

THANKS - Leaf card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Expressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper - BasicGrey
Foam tape – 3M
Leaf stamp – Me & My Big Ideas
Colored stamp pads – Versafine and Clearsnap
Clear embossing powder – Stampendous
Dot embossing folder – Cuttlebug
Jenni Bowlin journaling sticker
Rub-on sentiment – Making Memories
Leaf border punch – Martha Stewart
Sandpaper

Sketches and Color Combos make my day!

The Play Date Cafe Challenge, the Card Patterns sketch, NEW Stacy Julian Core Impressions Core'dinations cardstock and the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch! How does it get better???? All of these are in my post today.

PLUS....Jillibean Soup papers and their blog.

I was soooo happy to be able to be one of their guest designers and my projects are up today for all to see.  I'll post all of them here on my blog on another day so I can share close-ups of some of the details.  Be sure to check this out though over at the Jillibean Soup Blog.

I'm going to start with The Play Date Cafe Challenge.  I would NEVER have thought to put these colors together, yet when I did as I played along, I LOVE this color combo and I would even want to make another card with it.

This little strip of Jillibean Soup paper really helped me pull this together plus the blue and the gray Core'dinations cardstock.  I used the Card Patterns sketch to give me direction on my design.

I used this wonderful scripture verse stamp by Verve.  I want to make more cards with Bible verses on them because they are the best for sending to a friend just to say HI or as an encouragement.  The frame is a $1 spot stamp.

In case you missed this announcement, Core'dinations and Stacy Julian came out with a collection of Core Impressions cardstock for Summer CHA.  All of the embossed designs are already in these papers.  Here I just used two of them.  The Core'dinations blog is showing off examples using these cardstocks all week so be sure to check that out.  I used the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch for my card. 

All I did to help show off the embossed designs is to slightly sand them.  This is just one piece from the collection that has words all over it.  They fit for so many themes.  The little clouds are cut from a piece of Cosmo Cricket patterned paper.

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

A sketch here and a sketch there...

The first order of business for my post today is to let you know about a really cool opportunity for you all of this next week.  Pink Persimmon and PLAID have teamed up to share some goodness.  The Pink Persimmon blog will be posting a new project everyday and you can WIN some good stuff from PLAID.  Be sure to check out the details here and I'll mention it again.

Yes, I have more cards that I have created from sketches.  I love the direction that a sketch gives me when I sit down with paper and glue.

The first card I want to share is my card for the Unscripted Sketch #71.  Saturday is the day that Unscripted posts their new sketches for the week so be sure to take a peek and play along too.  I so loved this sketch so I was very happy to create a card. 

The label is a stamp by Gina K.  I knew that the labels in this stamp set would be the perfect accent to match the sketch.  I pleated a strip of yellow patterned paper to go across the card and the white, embossed, scallop piece is a sticker by Martha Stewart.

And the other card I want to share was created to go along with the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch for this last week.  I thought it would be fun to use a school theme since that is pretty much what is on everyone's mind lately and there are so many adorable products to go along with a school theme.

Check out that adorable little vintage calendar piece.  I purchased in a package of little calendar pieces from Pretty Little Studio, an etsy store.  Be sure to check out the tons of cuteness she has and she sent my order out very quickly with a little free goodie in the package. 

Gotta share a few photos too...

We had a sidewalk chalk drawing day.  Can you see the HELP the kids are getting?

Is she just something else? Our new little Sadie!

Those eyes just melt our hearts!!!

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

SKETCH 71 – MISS YOU card

Materials:
Cardstock – Curious Iridescent Cryogen White/CutCardStock.com
Patterned paper – My Mind’s Eye and October Afternoon
Frame stamp – Gina K
Black Versafine stamp pad
Clear embossing powder
Sticker letters - BasicGrey
Self adhesive rhinestones – Heidi Swapp
White embossed scallop sticker – Martha Stewart
Sandpaper

GROW card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Vintage and Core Expressions/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – Little Yellow Bicycle
September calendar piece – Pretty Little Studio http://www.etsy.com/shop/prettylittlestudio
Star punch – PaperShapers
Border punch – EK Success
Corner rounder punch - Fiskars
Thickers stickers – American Crafts
Sandpaper

Sweet Peas Galore

How about some goodness with my new Sweet Pea stamp from PaperTrey, Inc, a fabulous colour combo from Embellish Magazine and the Card Patterns sketch for this week? 

All I needed to do was to take one look at this amazing color combo and I knew I wanted to play. In fact, that green, pink and brown are so yummy together, I would like to just keep making cards to go with it! (I forgot the challenge was to include a bird with the colors so I guess this one doesn't count but I like it anyway)

I loved the simple patterned paper look on the sketch and knew that I could create a similar look by just stamping an outline flower and not coloring it in. So, my sweet pea stamp was used to create the background by stamping it in a strong pink on white cardstock. 

I stamped one spray of the sweet peas and cut that in a square, coloring in that portion with Copic markers.  When I was done, I sprayed the entire piece with Marshmallow Glimmer Mist and I just wish you could see the great, subtle sparkle that gave my card.

Notice the embossed design in the card base.  That is Core Impressions cardstock by Core'dinations. 

This next card uses my sweet pea stamp in a very different way. Every single piece of paper on this card was a scrap! I used the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch to create this card plus the black striped circle fits with the Little Red Wagon challenge.   

I stamped just one of the flowers on the spray on patterned paper and then stamped two of the leaves on another piece of patterned paper.

Notice the embossed design in this card base, another piece of Core Impressions by Core'dinations.  I used my brand new Tim Holtz embossing plate on the white cardstock. 

***

And to share yet another photo

A little boys attempt to "walk the doggie"!

Thanks for visiting, Linda (lbpost)

ROMANCE card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Impressions/Jillibean Soup/Core’dinations
Patterned paper
Versafine colored stamp pad
Stamps and buttons – Sweet Pea/PaperTrey, Inc.
Copic markers
Glimmer Mist spray – Tattered Angels
Rub-on word – Making Memories
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY card

Materials list:
Cardstock – Core Impressions/Cosmo Cricket/Core’dinations
Patterned paper – My Mind’s Eye and BasicGrey
Black Versafine stamp pad
Clear embossing powder – Stampendous
Stamps – Sweet Pea/PaperTrey, Inc.
Embossing folder – Tim Holtz/Sizzex
Self adhesive Silver pearls – Mark Richards, Inc.
Apron Lace border punch – Fiskars
Sentiment sticker - SRM
Foam tape – 3M
Sandpaper