JUST US GIRLS! #324 - Word Week

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season! We had a nice quiet time spent at home this year. First time in two years we didn't drive the 12 hour trip back to Illinois. As much as I missed my family, NOT driving cross country, with our dog, on Christmas Day, was a gift in itself! LOL!

So, along with a new year, the JUST US GIRLS blog has a new look! I love the soft aqua color, and the font, and the design! Nancy did a fantabulous job with creating our 'new do'! She also happens to be your hostess this week. Since it's Word Week, she's picked "THANK YOU" to help give you a head start on making those thank you cards you know you'll be needing. ☺ Here's the card I made:

 Here is the inside:

I tried doing a little more water coloring. (I still need a lot of practice!) I colored directly onto the stamps, spritzed with water, and stamped onto my die cut water color paper. I popped it on to a die cut frame before adding it to my card. Added a couple sentiments and I was done. ☺

I hope to see you play along with week at Just Us Girls! We have not one, but two guest designers joining us this month: Vicki Parsons and Deepti Malik. Welcome ladies! Remember, if you win Chic of the Week for any of our January challenges, you'll be in the running to be our Guest Designer for the month of March! Good luck and happy crafting!

I'd like to enter this at Sweet Sunday Sketch #300
It's the last one. Sniff.

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant - Water Blooms; MFT - Essential & More Essential Sentiments
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
DP: American Crafts - Color Crush
CS: Darice; Strathmore water color paper; DCWV
Accessories: Marvy Uchida markers; GC; SB - Sm Standard Circle & Teardrop Circle Nesties; Nicole - rhinestones
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, Thin 3D foam Squares

JUST US GIRLS #320 - Color Week

Hello and good morning! Sharyn is your hostess for Color Week at JUST US GIRLS and I think she's in the 'All Christmas all the time' mode, along with most of us! LOL! She's picked Red, Green and Gold as your colors. Please only use these 3 colors plus any neutrals on your project. Here's my card:

 Here is the inside:

It's hard to tell in the above picture, but I've embossed the image in gold. I also edged both the beige and red panels in gold. Here's a better pic to show that:

That red paper has the lyrics to "Do you hear what I hear" on it. Love that! I added some sparkle with the die cut circle behind the image.

Now it's your turn! We'd love to see what you create using these colors. Just link your project up at Just Us Girls so we can see it! While there, please check out what the other ladies and our Guest Designer, Louise Hodge, have come up with and leave them some bloggy love!

FOR OCTOBER & NOVEMBER ONLY: If you win Chic of the Week in any of our October or November challenges, you are in the running to be chosen as one of two Guest Designers for the month of January 2016! The Team will be taking a 2 week break at the end of December, and therefore, will not have a Guest Designer for December.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope to see you in the gallery! Have a great day!

I'd like to enter this card at:
Sweet Sunday Sketch #295
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Christmas

 




Supplies:
Stamps: Memory Box - Mistletoe Bundle; Michael's - Seasons Greetings
Ink: VersaMark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
DP: Webster's Pages; WRMK
CS: Crafter's Companion; Darice; American Crafts glitter cs
Accessories: Spectrum Noir markers; Stampendous - Champagne EP; heat gun; GC; SB - Tear Drop Circle & Std, Lg Circle Nesties; Avery Elle - Pierced Rectangle Dies; Sakura - Gold Gelly Roll pen
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D & Thin 3D foam squares; Scotch - Scrapbooker's glue

Beware! Monstahs ahead!

Hey all! I have a cute Halloween card to share:

 Here's the inside:

I've been playing with my Slice die cutter for this card. As long as I've had it, I only just bought the Toils & Trouble cartridge a couple months ago. OMG! Just LOOK at that awesome monstah!! I cut him first to fit within the yellow circle, but changed my mind and cut him a bit bigger. I stacked and glued two of the monstahs together, then covered him with Glossy Accents. After he dried, I stuck him on with foam squares, then added a googly eye.

Ooooh! Shiny monstah!!!

The sentiment was another die cut from the same cartridge. I just loved the font! This little guy is so cute, but don't let that cuteness fool you: he's sitting on top of a pile of skulls! LOL!

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope that you have a great day!

I'm entering this card at:

Sweet Sunday Sketch #288

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampendous - Tricky Words

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black

DP: American Crafts - Haunted

CS: Darice; scraps

Accessories: Slice die cutter and Toil & Trouble cartridge; GC; Cuttlebug EF; Quickutz - Inverted square die; SB- Std. Sm Circle Nesties; Nicole - googly eye; Ranger - Glossy Accents

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, thin 3D foam squares; Ranger - Glossy Accents

SHOPPING OUR STASH #214 - Make a Spectacle of Yourself

Hello crafty peeps! It's Tuesday and that means a spankin' new challenge starts at SHOPPING OUR STASH! This week we'd like to see how you incorporate glasses (a.k.a. specs/shades/Foster Grants) into your card or project. But, since we love options, you can use the spotlight technique instead of glasses. Cuz that's how we roll! LOL! Here's the card I made:

 Here's the inside:

I stamped and masked the glasses-with-big-nose-and-stash stamp, then stamped over it with that cute little chubby bear. Then of course, I thought "Wocka Wocka!" and couldn't get that out of my head, so I decided that was going to be my sentiment. He's colored up with SN markers and I added Glossy Accents to the specs. 

Now it's your turn to break out those SPEC-tacular stamps/paper/dies, or try your hand at the spotlight technique, and make something fun! Be sure to link up at Shopping Our Stash! While there, please check out the fabulous designs my teammies created and leave them some love on their blogs. Thanks for stopping by!

I'd like to enter this card at:

Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge #281

Cas-ual Chic #2 - Pretty Patterns

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Smooches - Chubby Chums Pals, Incognito
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
DP: American Crafts - #Summer
CS: Crafter's Companion; Darice
Accessories: GC; Lg & Sm Std Circle Nesties; Spectrum Noir markers; Ranger Glossy Accents; Sakura white Gelly Roll pen; Recollections alpha stickers
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, thin 3D foam squares

SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS #37 - W is for Wine!!!!!!

I believe Jessi had me in mind for this particular challenge when she came up with the list of them for this year - and I thank her! That's right, this fortnight the SISTERHOOD OF SNARKY STAMPERS challenge you to make a card or project that has a wine theme! Ah, wine - my favorite alcoholic beverage! Ok, I'm getting thirsty, on with my card:

 Here is the inside:

It seems lately that every few cards I make have an alcoholic theme to them. (That's not a bad thing, surely) Anyway - look! A wine glass shaker card!!! I'm really embracing the shaker cards. (Good thing too, since I just ordered a bunch of seed beads on Amazon. LOL!) The papers I've had for a couple years but the dies and stamps are a new purchase. (When life keeps getting you down, retail therapy helps....a lot) 

And wine.

Wine helps a lot too.

So, time to look through your stash of wine themed papers, stickers, stamps and dies and make something! Just link it up at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers so we can see it and for the chance to be crowned our Queen of Snark or Princess! When you're there, please check out what my Sisters and our newest GD, Vicki Dutcher, have created for your viewing pleasure. Oh man, they BROUGHT IT for this challenge! Thanks for stopping by, now go forth and get your craft on!

I'd like to enter this at :

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #273

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Supplies:

Stamps: Avery Elle - Happy Hour

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Ranger DI - Peacock Feathers

DP: Echo Park - Metropolis Dots & Stripes

CS: Darice; scraps

Accessories: GC; Avery Elle - Wine Shaker die and Double Pierced Rectangle dies; MFT - Dainty Doilies Die-Namics; Mode - seed beads: Crafter's Companion - acetate

Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, crafty power tape, 3D foam squares; Recollections - foam strips

SHOPPING OUR STASH #196 - The Earth Has Music

Hello crafty peeps! We have a new challenge at SHOPPING OUR STASH, and it's a special one. This week we are collaborating with the talented ladies at Words 2 Scrap By, where they give you word prompts to inspire you by! Very cool! This month, their challenge is The Earth Has Music. Here's how I interpreted this:

 and the inside:

Isn't that the sweetest little Hydrangea Sprite?!! I colored her with Spectrum Noir markers, fussy cut, and popped her up on foam squares. Her wings and the centers of the flowers have diamond Stickles on them for added sparkle. 

Oooh! Sparkly goodness!!

I hope that you get the chance to play along this week at Shopping Our Stash and also Words 2 Scrap By! Please do check out the amazing talents of my teammies and the gals at W2SB! Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have a great day!

I'd like to enter this at 

Sweet Sunday Sketch #263

Seize the Birthday - anything goes

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Aurora Wings Stamps - Hydrangea Sprite digi; Stampendous - music score; Recollections - Wishing you...; Paper Smooches - Happy Birthday
Ink: Memento - Elderberry
DP: Pebbles - Garden Party
CS: Crafter's Companion; Paper Smooches; Darice
Accessories: Spectrum Noir markers: Ranger - diamond Stickles; Recollections - rhinestone swirls; computer & printer
Adhesives: SA by 3L - tape runner, 3D foam squares

SHOPPING OUR STASH #173 - Hello Sweetie!

Good Morning! It's Tuesday and that means a new challenge starts at SHOPPING OUR STASH!

In honor of Sweetest Day, which is October 18th, we'd like you to make a card or project that features a 'sweet theme' on it. (Ex: candy, ice cream, cookies, something for your sweetie, etc.) Here's what I came up with: Oh, and spoiler alert - put whatever beverage you are drinking down now. (wink!)

Here's the inside of my card:

You're welcome for that spoiler alert. Nothing like a bit of snark on the inside of my card! LOL! I've had this paper collection for at least a couple of years and had a bunch of bits and pieces that I refused to throw out. So, I challenged myself to use them up! (Thus the very strange colors/patterns picked! LOL!) My design is based on Sweet Sunday Sketch #240.

Ready to play along? You know you have candy/ice cream/cookie stamps in your crafty arsenal waiting to be inked up! Go for it, and link up at Shopping Our Stash! Please check out what my teammies, and Ira, our guest designer, have created to ooh and aah you! Thanks for stopping by, now go forth and get your craft on!

Chris

Supplies
Stamps: Crackerbox Palace - Chocolate Candies, Chocolate Farts; MFT - ALM Dip me in chocolate
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
DP: Echo Park - Happy Days
CS: Darice; Copic X-Press It
Accessories: Grand Calibur, Lg & Sm Standard Circle Nesties; Spectrum Noir markers; MME - Enamel Dots
Adhesives: SA by 3L - MyStik permanent, 3D foam squares

Dang, you're old!

Hi there! I have a card to share using Sweet Sunday Sketch #228. Ready? Here it is:

Here is the inside:

Here is the sketch:

I purposely made the card monochromatic so that the image would pop. I think it worked. ☺I wasn't sure what to use for that flower element, but then remembered that I just bought these skull and cross bone adornments and thought, why not?! I used one of my all time favorite sentiment stamps on the inside to finish the card. Who's the lucky recipient of this card? That would be my younger brother, Jim, who's birthday is at the end of this month. He's gonna LOVE this! MUAHAHAHAHA!!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Chris
Supplies: Crackerbox Palace - J00708; Unity Stamps - Feb. & July 2012 KOM
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
DP: Nikki Sivils; LYB scraps
CS: Recollections; Copic Xpress It
Accessories: Spectrum Noir markers; Grand Calibur, Sm & Lg Std. Circle Nesties; Ranger - Diamond Stickles; Tim Holtz - skull
Adhesives: SA by 3L - MyStik permanent, 3D foam squares; Ranger - Glossy Accents

Snow Flakes....

Hello and happy Friday to you all! The rain has gone away, it's a pretty day out (but for the waterlogged ground) and I decided to make a Christmas card! This is inspired by Sweet Sunday Sketch #217 and by Jingle Bells - All Bundled Up (use layers):

and the inside of my card:

Based on this sketch:

Yep, I did another chalkboard type card. I can't get enough of this look! All edges were inked with walnut stain before being adhered. The stamp set I've had for a few years, but this was the first time inking up this particular stamp. I also shopped my stash for those snowflakes. The blue ones are foam, and the appliques are actually iron ons that I just popped on with foam squares.

Well, that's all I've got. I hope you have a great evening and weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Chris

Supplies:

Stamps: Inkadinkado - Holiday Words; Hero Arts - Celebrate Everyday

Ink: Versa Mark: Colorbox - Frost White; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Ranger DI - Walnut Stain

DP: MME - All Is Bright

CS: Recollections

Accessories: Grand Calibur; Std. Lg & Sm circles, Lacey Circles Nesties; Stampendous - Detail White EP; Prisma Color white pencil; Hirschberg Schultz & Co. - embroidered iron on; Michael's - blue glitter foam snowflakes; heat gun; cotton ball

Adhesives: SA by 3L - MyStik permanent, 3D foam squares; Ranger - Glossy Accents

True friends...

Hello and Happy New Year! This is my first post of the new year. I hope your holidays were fabulous! We drove home to be with family and friends in Illinois and Wisconsin. It was truly a very merry Christmas! (coming back with colds didn't even put a damper on it!) After spending a few days not doing anything, ahem, I finally got back into my craft room and made this card using Sweet Sunday Sketch #201:

 

Here is the inside:

using this sketch:

I inked up a stamp I've had for a few months, but never used until now. My best friend and I both adore Anne of Green Gables and I bought this set specifically with her in mind. If you've ever watched the movies, Anne says "kindred spirits" at least a gazillion times, so of course the inside was custom made using it! LOL! 

Thanks for hanging out with me for a bit. I hope you get the chance to play along with this challenge - Karen's sketches are so wonderful to work with! Stay crafty my peeps!

Chris

Supplies:

Stamps: Kraftin Kimmie - Anne of Green Gables

Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Ranger DI - Antique Linen

DP: MME - Collectable

CS: Darice (white); Bazzill (blue)

Accessories: Grand Calibur, Std. Lg & Sm Circle Nesties; Spectrum Noir markers; inside sentiment printed from Microsoft Word

Season's Greetings Cardinal...

Hello my friends! I hope you all have survived the bad weather we have been receiving the last couple of days. We got at least 3" of snow yesterday, but the thermometer made it up to 37F today, so a lot of it melted. Good thing too. The so called weather experts are calling for another 3" to 5" of snow. Oh joy and rapture!

I have a card to share that I made using the Sweet Sunday Sketch #199: I tried the chalkboard technique again, and I love it! Check it out:

Here's the inside:

and the sketch:

What a fantastic sketch! I'd be lost without sketches. On rare occasions I'll make a card without any help (sketch, colors, photo inspiration), but I usually don't like how they turn out. Thus I use all the help I can get! LOL! I've had this stamp set for at least a year or more, but this particular image never saw ink until today. It just screamed at me to make it a chalkboard image. So I did! I followed the sketch very closely this time. (Well, as usual) For the main panel, after stamping and blasting it with a heat gun to set the ink, I lightly colored over random holly leaves and the berries with Prisma Color pencils. Added some tiny red rhinestones to one of the corners, added the border and black rhinestones, finished the inside and boom! Done! It sounds like I made this in minutes, but truthfully, it probably took two hours to do, mostly from trying to decide what papers to use. (too much stash - gotta start using it! LOL!)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you all have a good evening! Stay crafty my friends!

Chris
Supplies:
Stamps: Inkadinkado - Holiday Words; MFT - Seasonal Sentiments
Ink: Clear Snap - Frost White; Memento - Tuxedo Black
DP: Creative Imaginations - Winter Woodland
CS: Recollections
Accessories: Prisma Color pencils; Recollections - red rhinestones; Colorbok - black rhinestones; heat gun
Adhesives: SA by 3L - MyStik Permanent, 3D foam squares