CPS challenge

Another fabulous sketch at http://www.cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/

this week. I took the sketch pretty literally, pulling out CTMH Notebook paper pack, Heartthrob and Romantic Backgrounds stamp sets. I used a SheetLoad Frosted Blank for my card base. I distressed the edges of the paper and sponged Desert Sand ink to distress even further. I crumpled the top sheet to make it look older. The heart is double stamped, first in CTMH White Daisy ink on black cardstock. Then I used Sparkle-n-Sprinkle Golden Follies Embossing Powder on white cardstock and cut it out, pop-dotting it on the black cardstock. A small piece of CTMH Hollyhock twill ribbon on the bottom of the card. I also stapled the paper layers to make it look more aged and old, like someone had found it in an attic somewhere and it was falling apart and they put it back together. A romantic card from a long-lost love that was kept in a box for years!

OCC challenge

Laurie is our hostess for Feb at Our Creative Corner and she starts off the month by challenging us to make a card about what inspires us. It's funny, because with all of the stamps and papers and embellishments I have, it's the Japanese style of stamps and paper that inspires me the most. I guess that says a lot abut how much my mother in law means to me. She married my fil against her parents wishes, came to the US not knowing the language but still managed to raise 2 fine kids. She continues to amaze me at 86 years old. She has more get up and go than people half her age! Sometimes I think she just may live forever! And with her in mind, this is the card I came up with this morning. In a former life, I was a quilter, so quilt patterns also inspire me and usually give me goose-bumps! The card itself is based on the Log Cabin quilt pattern. I used Prima Tea and Silk collection. The ribbon and flowers are from that same collection. The brad is a new CTMH Pewter Brad.

March Stamp of the Month

Yes Liane, I know! Overachiever!!

This is my contribution for our teams SOM swap. This uses the as yet unavailable March SOM, Butterfly Wings. I used Emporium Paper pack and my Friendship Blessing stamp set for the random stamping. The butterflies are embossed in black and cut out, then pop-dotted for dimension.

Gifts for Robbie

I can post these now since I just got a text from Chris that the box arrived today. I made just a couple of things for Robbie! I had never attempted an ABC album, so that was the first thing I did after Chris found out she was pregnant. I used gender-neutral papers since they didn't find out the sex. Then I decided that they would need someplace to keep all of the cards for him so that he will have then later on. So I used one of CTMH's Memory Keeper boxes and used Serendipity paper pack to cover it with. And I have always loved Aesop's Fables. The stories mean as much to me now as they did when I was a girl. I give a copy to almost everyone who has a baby. Then of course, I had to make him one of Sue's Famous Name Wall Hangings! And Chris sent a picture of him, enjoying all of his new stuff!

SheetLoad Feb challenge

Yet another great sketch from SheetLoad of Cards - Free Monthly eZine this month. This one is gonna be so versatile. It can be used horizontally or vertically.

Ambiance is another new CTMH stamp set I got last week, so it was just calling for ink! And who am I to say no to a new stamp set?! And since my new favorite paper pack is Key To My Heart, why not use it?! I used Desert Sand to stamp the cat tails, using first and second generation stamping. I then stamped the butterfly and stamped another butterfly image on a scrap and cut it out. Then pop-dotted it on top of the original stamped image and added some Tutti Frutti Stickles. I added a semi-circle of diamond bling in the upper left corner and a piece of Creme Brulee ribbon.

CPS Challenge

Really cool challenge this week at http://www.cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/! As usual!

I woke up this morning to find an email from Jan telling me that Favorite Youngest Nephew Jake was chosen as Artist of the Month at his school and Favorite Only Niece Joy was chosen as Citizen of the Month. Wowie Zowie! If anything deserves an Aunt Sue card...that certainly does!

Since I finally started using the CTMH Key To My Heart paper pack last week, it's become my "go to" paper pack. I just love all of the designs. And now it's not available any more! It was the promo of the month for January, and now it's gone. But I got some new papers and stamps to play with on Friday, so this also gave me a chance to use them. I used the KTMH paper pack for Joy's card. The brand new Bird Basics stamp set. This set is so cute! Three different birds, different wings, different tails, different feet. You can mix and match in hundreds of ways! I added some Tutti Frutti Stickles to the wing and a black Bitty Brad for the eye and it's pop-dotted for dimension. I also inked up my new Boutique Borders for the cardstock between the two paper designs. The circles are Pinking Circles cut with my Nesties. And because the card is for Princess Joy, the obligitory diamond on the sentiment!

For Jake's card, I used the new CTMH Stardust paper pack along with Star Struck stamp set. I folded the points of the star and pop-dotted the center to make it stand proud of the card and added some Diamond Stickles because boys like bling too! The sentiment has one of CTMH's new Pewter Brads. I used Labels Two of my Nestabilities to cut the background for the star.

Super Bowl Sunday

Unless you live under a rock, you know that today is Super Bowl Sunday. And this year, it's in Tampa. Which means we've been inundated with Super Bowl hyperbole ad nauseum for over two weeks now. Since we found out it would be the Steelers vs the Cardinals. Every local TV station has reported on the sightings of every minor celeb and celeb wannabe. They even have them doing sound bytes for their stations! Oy vey! Usually the game is not all that it is hyped up to be. One team or the other has generally got it in the bag by half time. But we still watch. As much I think for the commercials and half time show as anything else. John and I will stay home to watch the game. We enjoy the commentary as much as anything else and if we go to a bar or party, we can't hear! I've got shrimp that I will cook later today and he will go to Beef O'Brady's and get wings for us later. Whatever your plans are, just remember not to drink and drive. Designate a driver.