Clearly Inspired Challenge #22

     Okay, where did February go?  I know it's a short month, but I think this year it only last a couple of weeks!   Either that, or I'm getting old and that makes time go faster!  It's true, I know.  Ugh!     When I suddenly realized it was March 1, and granddaughter Sequoia is officially 14 months old, I also realized I need to get my entries posted for the Clearly Inspired Challenge.  This month it's a sketch challenge.  I never know how far I can stray from the sketch so I don't!  Here's take one:

I saw a dingbat font that had a smiley little crab similar to this.  That gave me the idea.  I used punches for all but 6 little legs.  The shells in front I made from a small scalloped circle which I cut and scored.

He makes me smile.  Hope you are smiling, too!

JustRite Friday Challenge #048, Take Two

     After seeing a "plethora" (love that word!) of pinwheels in blog-world this week, I decided that might work on my challenge card.  The dimensions I found on an SU site were much too big, but the first two punches I pulled off my shelf fit perfectly for a tiny pinwheel (Blue Marvy square and a Fiskars small squeeze punch).  So I made a second card with a pinwheel rather than a flower embellishment and added some ribbon woven through the Spellbinders die. 
     These cards are an example of how I have actually grown as a crafter.  There was no way I could mix prints or not be symmetrical long after I began pasting up cards.  Buying paper in pads with coordinating prints put together somehow gave me permission.  There's hope for me yet!  I still need to learn to color in the lines!

JustRite Friday Challenge #048

     Well, this one drove me crazy.  I can't tell you how many different rectangles I stamped and cut and embossed before I was finally happy with that part.  It also took several flowers, cut and inked, before I decided to use this one.  I say it drove me crazy, but in a good way.  :o)  How can it be anything but fun when one is playing with one's toys:  Big Shot, Spellbinders, JustRite Stamps, paper, cardstock, ink and glue?  It's a lot like baking.  I make a big mess, but do so enjoy getting acceptable results!

Clearly Inspired Challenge #21--Take 2

I have so enjoyed using the digital stamps Clear Dollar Stamps made to Help Katie.  Using them reminds me to pray for Katie and her family.  So. . .here is take 2, using a sentiment from CDS.  I ususally make several similar cards once I decide on a plan.  In case my lay-out looks a little weird, this is the outside of one card, next to the inside of another. 

 

Clearly Inspired Challenge #21 (CIC21)

    I have had an idea for a bubble gum machine in my head for a while, mainly, because I wanted to recycle some little plastic doohickies that my very expensive medicine came in.  If it cost that much the containers must be too valuable to just throw away!!  So this digital stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps couldn't have come at a better time!  I used the plastic from my containers for the machine's globe and the stamp for the rest.  I filled it with punched out hearts.  Personally, I love it, but I still have a hundred or so containers, so I'll have to come up with another project!
     I am also loving these dies from Clear Dollar Stamps.  I find they are the perfect size for so many sentiments I want to add.  The sentiment on this card is also from CDS, part of the Help for Katie set.

JustRite Friday Challenge 046: Technique - Scoring!

How could I pass this one by?  I can't craft without my Scor-Pal!  My project here was for a reception for my daughter and new son-in-law.  Because of health issues, I was unable to attend their wedding in Las Vegas.  We had a small family reception this past weekend.  Of course, my JustRite fonts were a great tool, too!  I stamped, then embossed the bride's and groom's names before cutting the tags with a Spellbinders die.

I love that I can make boxes of any size so simply with a Scor-Pal.  My kids got me a mini cupcake maker for Christmas so I had to make a prototype for that size, too!

Clearly Inspired Challenge #20 (CIC20)

I've had a difficult time keeping up over the holidays, let alone finding play-time.  However, when I needed both a thank you note and a birthday card, I knew I could put the cute little snowman digital stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps to good use and take on the "3-shades-of-blue" challenge from Clearly iStamp.  I used an embossing folder to make a window in my card from the plastic container that held a new set of Spellbinders dies.  Through the window you can see the snowman that I highlighted with Stickles. 

 

This is actually the outside of one card and the inside of another, but the only difference was the words I wrote in the balloon.  Didn't think that was enough to do two separate entries in the challenge, but it did make it easier to photograph! The snowman's vest matches the "curtain swag" over the window.  The "wall" is Core'dination paper, a blue on blue.  The mat behind the snowman is a darker blue.  The snowflakes are actually a metalic blue, but that's hard to see.  Hope you like him!