One Layer Wednesday and Paper Smooches Sparks

I have another card for this week's One Layer Wednesday #138, where the theme is Spring has Sprung.  Since the sponsor this week is Waltzingmouse, I decided to make another card--this time using only Waltzingmouse stamps.  I made a chevron rainbow, using the most bright, happy, spring-like colors I had.

I also made a card for this week's Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes.  I cased myself from this card that I made a while back for a CASE Study challenge.  I just bought the Bo Bunny Hello Sunshine pad, and couldn't resist making a card to highlight one of the brightest sheets from that pad.

Supplies Used:
One Layer Wednesday
Stamps:  Off Beat Backgrounds, Say it Loud
Paper:  PTI White
Ink:  SU Real Red, PTI Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Limeade Ice, Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst, Winter Wisteria, Versifine Onyx Black
Other:  Ellen Hutson Sequins

Paper Smooches
Stamps:  Sentiment Sampler
Paper:  PTI Simply Chartreuse, Orange Zest, Vellum, Bo Bunny Hello Sunshine
Ink:  Colorbox Dragonfly Black
Other: Black Embossing Powder

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One Layer Wednesday #138 and Simon Says

I have a card for this week's One Layer Wednesday #138, where the theme is Spring has Sprung.  I am also linking up to this week's Simon Says...Happy Mail challenge.  I pulled out Sweet Spring by PTI and did a little masking and coloring to create a happy little spring scene.  I added stickles to the butterflies and white Ranger Enamel Dots to the flower centers.

Supplies Used (PTI):
Stamps:  Sweet Spring
Paper:  White
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Spring Moss
Other:  Prisma color Pencils, White Ranger Enamel Dots, Stickles, Timeless Twine

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CAS-ual Fridays #98 and OLW #135

I have a card today for this week's One Layer Wednesday #135:  Tall and Thin and CAS-ual Fridays CFC98:  All that Glitters.  I had this idea to play with color--I got a bunch of new SU inks over the weekend--and make a giant ice cream cone.  

Perhaps my card will make more sense if I tell you that I have been 17 days without sugar.  And, ice cream is my favorite food.  I am trying to lose the 20 pounds that have found me in the past 2 years.  It's no wonder that this is what I thought of in spin class this morning.  

The dimensions of my card are 8 1/2 inches tall by 3 3/4 wide--it will fit in a #10 envelope.  The little cherry on top is made with red glitter paper, and all of the ice cream scoops are outlined with a Gelly Roll glitter pen.

Supplies Used (PTI):
Stamps:  Sweet as Can Be, Think Big Favorites
Paper:  White
Ink:  Kraft, Summer Sunrise, Limeade Ice, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst, Winter Wisteria, SU:  Tempting Turquoise, Pretty in Pink

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CAS-ual Fridays 93, OLW 130 and some Crafty Organization

It seems like forever since I have posted just a card or two, but that is what I have to show for myself this weekend.  I spent a lot of my crafty time getting organized, and I will show some pictures of what I did.

First up is a card for this week's CAS-ual Fridays CFC93:  Color Blocks challenge.  When I saw this card by Erin Lincoln this morning, I knew I wanted to do something with color blocked flags.  I am also entering this into Simon Says Stamp:  Bit O Green.

Next is my entry into this week's One Layer Wednesday OLW130, where the challenge is to use a centered sentiment on a one layer card, and make the sentiment the star of the show.  We are allowed to add some minimal other stamping, and I chose to highlight my sentiment with just one pale stamp of aqua mist from Watercolor Wonder.  I also used the Canvas/Linen Impression plate, and embossed the sentiment with a Spellbinders Label die.

And, now some pictures from my craft room.  I have been working to organize my dies--I previously had them in hanging CD folders in a CD box, but I had filled 3 boxes, and found that solution wasn't working for me any more--it took up too much space, and did not accommodate my taller dies.

I have Kim to thank for this solution.  She led me to these drawer organizers at The Container Store, and I got two of the medium size for $8.99 each.   And, then she showed me these CD envelopes on Amazon, where I got 1,000 envelopes for $16.80.  I printed labels on my computer, and got all my dies stored and organized, sorted by company and alphabetized.  I used the top part of a Half & Half die cut to create my tabs.  I am really happy with this system so far--my dies are easy to find, take up less space to store, and I didn't spend too much on organizing supplies (more money for stamps!)

Here is what the dies look like in their labeled envelopes.  Those purple things on the right are placeholders I made out of cardboard and old scrapbook paper.  When I pull a die envelope out, I mark it's place with a placeholder, and then it is a bit quicker to put the die away when I am done.

I've already shown this photo before--this is how I store my tall, thin border dies.

I saw a post on Damask Love the other day about organizing patterned paper, and that gave me the idea to organize my patterned paper pads by manufacturer.  I still don't have a great solution for all the little scraps, but at least the pads are under control. 

Another organizational tip from Damask Love was her ideas on paper scraps.  I am a huge saver of paper scraps, and I find that I use them all the time, especially for die cutting.  I have been keeping all my scraps in hanging folders by color--you can see the cart I bought at The Container Store in this post.  But, the scraps for my neutral colors were really out of control.  I read this post on Damask Love and made my own little scrap storage containers out of old PTI clear stamp boxes.

I am lucky that my office has lots of built in shelves and drawers.  I am slowly converting them all to craft storage.  Here is a view of the part I have been working on.

Supplies Used (PTI):
Happy
Stamps:  Pretty Peonies, Wonderfully Whimsical
Paper:  White, Ripe Avocado, Limeade Ice, Raspberry Fizz, Hibiscus Burst, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist
Ink:  Ripe Avocado, Hawaiian Shores, Versacolor Opera Pink
Other:  Pretty Peonies die, MFT Flag die, Kaiser Rhinestone

Rest
Stamps:  Sentiment Signs, Watercolor Wonder
Paper:  White
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Spellbinders Label die, Canvas/Linen Impression Plate

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ColourQ, MIM, Color Throwdown and One Layer Wednesday

Hi there.  I have a couple of cards for a bunch of challenges today.  I think I am finally getting the hang of combining challenges.  My first card is for this week's ColourQ cQc #178, where I have used glitter for 3 of the 5 colors, and this week's Make it Monday #105:  Glitter Trim.  Dawn used her Xyron in the video, but I adhered 1 inch wide scortape to my card stock, and ran that through my Big Shot with the Double Ended Banner Die.

My next card is for this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge OLW #129:  All in a Row-Create a Card with a Row of Anything.  I am also playing along with this week's Simon Says Stamp and Show to use a stamp you love but don't use.  This challenge has me digging out old favorites that haven't seen much ink.  I pulled out Garden Variety--a set I had to have at the time, but haven't used much.  And, because I am trying to use some of my older, forgotten inkpads, I inked the watering can in Brilliance Platinum Planet--a shimmery silver color that qualifies for this week's CAS-ual Fridays CFC91:  Hi Ho Silver.  It is a bit hard to see in this picture, but the center watering can is embossed with clear over the silver.

My last card for today uses the colors for this week's Color Throwdown CTD231.

All these cards will be entered into this week's Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge.

Supplies Used (PTI):
Happy Birthday
Stamps:  Think Big Favorites
Paper:  White
Ink:  Enchanted Evening
Other:  Martha Stewart Glitter:  Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Yellow Barite

Thinking of You
Stamps:  Garden Variety, Think Big Favorites
Paper:  White
Ink:  Brilliance Platinum Planet, Brilliance Lightning Black, Spring Moss, SU Real Red
Other:  Clear Embossing Powder

Thank You
Stamps:  Fancy Folk Art, A Big Thank You
Paper:  White
Ink:  Kraft, Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, Limeade Ice
Other:  Spellbinders die, Fancy Folk Art Die, Woodgrain Impression Plate

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One Layer Wednesday and Winners Announced

The theme for this week's One Layer Wednesday #102 is to make a one layer card inspired by your favorite school subject.  Now, I must admit to being one of those girls who always sat in the front row, did her homework, and loved math.  But, I was so taken by this card by Susan, and I had a new Technique Tuesday stamp I wanted to try out, that I am revising history a bit.  This is what I would tell my younger self--go outside and enjoy recess!

I used a technique I saw here showing how to use Distress Inks to make a sunset background.  I didn't have the right colors, or exactly the right tools, but I did play around and make an interesting background for this silhouette stamp.

I'm also linking this card up for the Asymmetry Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  The sentiment on the left is much larger than the sentiment on the right, although the right side of the card is heavier overall, because of the image. 

Winners Announced

Thank you to everyone who entered my contest and helped me celebrate my blogaversary.  A special thanks to those of you who have been loyal readers and commentors over the past year.  I wish I could give a prize to every single one of you.

Here are the results of the random draw.  I'm sorry I couldn't figure out how to post the picture of the random number generator.

The winner of the $20 PTI Gift Certificate is #12:  Alanna

The winner of the Paper Smooches Chit Chat set is #40:  Monica

Congratulations to the winners.  Please contact me at joyce.mehrberg@gmail.com so I can get your prize to you. 

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Technique Tuesday Life is Good

Paper:  PTI White

Ink:  Distress weathered wood, faded jeans, dusty concord, spun sugar

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More 10 Minute Craft Dash Cards

I loved this 10 Minute craft dash challenge #1, and decided to play again.  This time, I used a sketch from a new crafting magazine I just got called "Card Design Handbook"  Funny to use the magazine for inspiration, rather than just read it.  Here is a picture of the sketch.  Pretty simple, right?

Here is my card.  I just used three strips of Washi tape and a sentiment from PTI Sweet Spring. 

I was able to make another card just like it, using some Washi tape I got from Target.  This card is also for this week's One Layer Wednesday #101:  Feeling Blue.  I haven't played in this challenge for a while.  It is hosted by different people every week, and sometimes I can't find it.  This week I found it on Heather Telford's blog.

My total time to make both of these cards was 5 minutes 49 seconds.  This is a super design for speed, and the washi tape is much quicker than die cutting.  Hmmm....perhaps I need some more Washi tape?

What can you do in 10 minutes?  I think everyone should give this challenge a try.  You might surprise yourself.

You still have time to enter the giveaway contest celebrating my blogaversary here.   And, if you are feeling lucky, my friend Kim is having a giveaway here, and Monica's giveaway is here.

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Two cards for Three Challenges

My first card today is for this week's ColourQ challenge, cQc #127.  I've been drooling lately over all the beautiful color combinations posted over at ColourQ, but for various reasons, have not been able to play.  This week, I knew I just had to fit it in.  I used PTI Melon Berry, Sweet Blush, and Simply Chartreuse, and Memento Rich Cocoa ink.

My next card is something that came to me this morning in spin class.  Some cards are just like that.  I am entering it into this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge OLW82:  Swirly Fun to add a swirl to your card, as well as the current Passion for Papertrey Challenge:  Colour Pop Challenge to use black, white and a splash of colour. 

Supplies Used (PTI):
Just Because
Stamps:  Rosie Posie, Script Sentiments
Paper:  White, Sweet Blush
Other:  Rosie Posie Dies, Edger Die

Thank You
Stamps:  Fancy Flourishes, Verve for sentiment
Paper:  White
Other:  Jelly Dots

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Big News and One Layer Wednesday

I have some exciting news to announce:  I am a Paper Doll!!!  I have been asked to join a really fabulous group of women paper crafters, and I am just so thrilled and honored to be a part of their group.  We will be hosting challenges starting in March, and I don't know what else, but I am ready and willing.  You can see the other members of this group on my new sidebar to the left.  Click here to go to our Paper Dolls website.

I have a card for this week's One Layer Wednesday OLW80 which is to use two colors, two images, and masking. Sentiments are optional but must be in one of the two colors, just to make the whole thing more diabolical, um, challenging. (Susan's words, not mine).  I found the challenge fun and interesting.  I may try to do some more if I have time.

Supplies Used (PTI):

Stamps:  Background Basics Circles, Hero Arts Thank You Messages

Paper:  White

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Two Cards for Five Challenges

I had so much fun playing with Enjoy the Ride and my coaster car that I decided to play again.  This card also uses a coaster for the car and is for this week's MIM#53 Creative Coasters, CAS-Friday's CFC#40 Tie One On and A Passion for Papertrey Stripes challenge.  I was inspired to make my card out of patterned paper by this card I saw recently on Ginger Pie Designs.

Party Car

My next card is for this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge, OLW79:  Stamp, Stamp, Stamp, where the challenge is to use as many stamps as possible on a one layer card, with the minimum being at least three.  I used the colors from this week's CR84FN48, which were Chartreuse, Gray and Lavender.  My card uses 8 different stamps.

Thoughtful Flowers

Supplies Used (PTI):
Party Car
Stamps:  Enjoy the Ride, Just the Ticket
Paper:  Summer Sunrise, White, Echo Park Splah
Other:  Dies:  Enjoy the Ride, Just the Ticket, Mat Stack #3 & Layerz 3, Saddle Stitch Ribbon, Button

Thoughtful Flowers
Stamps:  Flower Fusion, Daydreamer, Fillable Frames
Paper:  White

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