Yellow butterflies

I had a little time for crafting during quiet time this morning- a quick check of the SCS Free For All challenge netted a new card dimension I'd never tried (the finished size is 3.5 inches wide by 6 inches tall). I think my Christmas cards this year will be that size- it's perfect!
Last weekend, I also checked on the Less is More challenge- which was to use yellow. I had an idea perking in my brain all week, and finally had a chance to execute it.
The card stock was cut at 6 inches by 7 inches, and folded to create a final size of 3.5 inches by 6 inches.
I punched a three inch circle out of the middle of the yellow, put an embossed piece of white stock behind it and added the punched butterflies (EK Success three step punch) onto the card with foam tape. The ribbon was knotted and adhered to the card. The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday.
It was really a fast card to make- probably less than 10 minutes once all was said and done.

Thanks for looking.

Distressed sketch

Yesterday, I had a bit of play time and used up some papers that came in a magazine. I have also decided to try to ink up all the stamps I own and create something with each and every one. Then, I will decide if they are destined for the keep pile, or if I will be getting rid of them. I stamped a stack of images on Monday while the kids were having quiet time and have been using them through the week.

I stamped the Young Vermillion in Momento Black on bristol cardstock and coloured it with Copics. The branch wasn't quiet long enough, so I extended it a bit. I sponged on the background with distress inks (Stormy Sky) and did the same thing with the sentiment.

I am finding stamping a bunch of images when the kids are down then dealing with them (the images) later is a much better process right now.

On to the card!

I am entering this card in the SCS Wednesday Sketch challenge (SC383) and the Thursday Ways to Use It challenge (WT373).

Thanks for looking.

Less is more...

I haven't had the time to play with the Less is More challenge for a couple of weeks, but check it every week- this Saturday's offering sparked my creativity and I knocked several cards out in less than an hour. This week's challenge is a sketch- So simple and the possibilities are endless.

This first card is done with a stamp I got in the dollar bin at Joann during a recent trip south of the border. I coloured it with silver and pink JellyRoll pens, layered it on some black cardstock and added a rhinestone to the centre.

This card will be used for my brother's birthday at the end of the month. I have very few masculine cards in my stash and it's not something I am really comfortable with, but I need to get working on some guy cards. The inspiration for this card came from the ART- just do it! blog. I stamped the image in black and sponged some green distress inks (Iced Spruce, Shabby Shutters and Pine Needles) on the leaves. I coloured the trunk of the SU Lovely as a Tree stamp with the Tea Dye distress ink marker. I haven't added any sentiments on the cards, because I prefer to do it when I have a recipient in mind. I'll be back with a couple more cards later in the week. Thanks for looking!

... And then she was three

Our daughter has been with us for three weeks, as of tomorrow. On Wednesday, she turns three. It's been an amazing adventure getting to know her and watching her blossom and grow in the short time she's been with us. I can't wait to see what the future brings. It's hard to believe that we have fallen in love with her so fast and so totally. She's filled our lives with laughter, love, hugs and joy. We are so lucky to be able to parent her and her brother.

This is the card I've created for our little miss. I stamped the House Mouse image on bristol cardstock and coloured it with Copics. I layered it with the circles I cut out with punches and used an extra number three from her party invitations, coloured it with Concord Grape distress inks and embossed it with UTEE to make it more dimensional and to add a little sparkle. This card is being used for the House Mouse Challenge HMFMC118House Mouse and Friends challenge Anything Goes and also the Splitcoast Stampers' Sketch Challenge # 380Splitcoast Stampers' Sketch Challenge # 380 Thanks for looking!

Party time!

This month is party month at our house- Mr. Munch will be turning one this week, and Angel Girl will be turning three next week. Before our girlie was placed with us, I made both of their birthday party invitations- I am so glad I am a planner and (somewhat) organized. There's no way I would have been able to make these in the last two weeks- it's been super busy with two little ones in the house.

This is the card for M- It was really simple to make. The train paper came from a paper stack I picked up in the US, and layered on the blue card. The one was cut out on my Cricut and the sentiment is from SU and stamped in black. The party details were printed on regular paper and glued to the back, postcard style.

L's card was also made with the cricut, from the wild card cartridge. The paper is recollections from Michaels. The three was also cut out on the cricut. I cut off the candle that was on top of the cupcake and replaced it with the three. The party info is inside the card. We're having a decorate your own cupcake party for her. I can't wait. I think she'll have fun.

Can't wait for the parties!

Mousey birthday

Recently, I was looking for a stamp that I swore I had. Going through all of my stamps resulted in finding out that I actually thought I bought the stamp, but didn't. Darn it. Thankfully, when husband, son and I went to the US for a weekend away, I was in Hobby Lobby and found it in the clearance bin. SCORE! I snapped it up without a second thought.

Our son is turning one this week. I thought this stamp would be the perfect one to mark his first birthday.

I am entering this card in the House Mouse & Friends challenge HMFMC117, Something Sweet.

 The image was stamped in momento black on bristol paper and coloured with copics. I added a little distress stickles on the top of the cupcake to make it sparkle a little. The image and mat were cut out with a nestabilities die and layered on a piece of patterned paper and placed on top of a blue card.

Happy first birthday, Mr. Munch. Mommy and Daddy love you!

One Mothers' Day card down...

Thanks to the Less is More challenge this week for helping me get the card done for my Mother in Law for Mothers' Day. This week, we were challenged to incorporate a hand-drawn component to the card.

It's been a while since I've been able to play- we're in the process of learning to parent a toddler (and her infant brother)- it's been a little busy around here, not much time for creating, but it's been lots of fun.
When I saw the challenge this weekend, I had an idea pop immediately to mind.

I must admit- I nearly didn't enter the challenge because I am not able to draw more than a straight line (and even then, I need a ruler, as demonstrated by the drawn frame around the text.

For this card, I stamped the La Blanche rose in the corner with Momento black ink and stamped another to create a mask. Then I cut out a frame with a Nestabilities die and laid it over the 4.25 by 5.5 inch card stock and stamped En Francais from SU in the frame using Momento's London Fog ink.
Keeping the frame in place, I sponged on Scattered Straw Distress ink, hated it, and added Weathered wood on top. I drew the frame with a spica pen. The rose was coloured with Copics.

I always find so much inspiration from the Less is More blog and love to follow it each week, even if I don't have time to play. I hope my feeble attempt meet the challenge guidelines.