Friday, September 30

Give Thanks

I was outside when I happened to put my hands in my fall jacket pockets.  There were fabric fall leaves which I picked up and saved during a wedding reception last year.  Of course I had an intention of using them as embellishments for my cards, I just happened to forget about them for many months (as usual).  So when I found them in my pocket, I made sure to make one card using these leaves.  I made my background by mixing Ranger distress ink in Barn Door, Crushed Olive, Tea Dye and Old Paper, using my custom ink applicators.  I also did some masking with dies from Spellbinders Assorted Leaves.  Because the leaves are translucent, I figured the best way to attach them to my card would be through sewing.  And it worked!



Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Paper Reflections, Wassau, leftovers
image/sentiment:  Will n' Way
ink:  Ranger, Tsukineko
tools:  Janome Sew Mini, Spellbinders
embellishments:  fabric leaves, rhinestones (The Paper Studio)
misc.:  embossing powder (Recollections), thread (Sulky)
adhesive:  Scotch

I'm sooo excited for World Card Making Day tomorrow!  The other day, I was prepping the blog candies I'll be giving away next month.  I'm so excited that I want to show you right now what the goodies will be.... but not yet.  One more day!

And yes, today's the last day to leave your comment to be eligible for these blog candies:


And tomorrow we officially start having fun!
'Til next blog!

Thursday, September 29

Just You

Hello crafty friends!  I haven't joined any challenges for a few weeks now, and I didn't want September to pass by without doing at least one.  Then I chanced upon Unity's current Kit of the Month Sketch Challenge


This is a perfect reason for me to use one of mine.  So for this project, I decided to use the "Only You" KOM for March '11.  It's a tri-fold card, which has a lot of stitching, distressing and wet embossing on it:



I colored the woman image with copic markers:



First flap opened - You can attach a photo, or money on the embossed image on the left.


Fully opened:


Layering on the second flap:


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  The Paper Company, K&Co., leftovers
image/sentiment:  Unity "Only You"
ink:  Tsukineko, Ranger, Stampin' Up, Copic
tools:  Janome Sew Mini, Martha Stewart edge and corner punches, Spellbinders
embellishments:  brads
misc.:  embossing powder (Recollections)
adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape

This challenge will run until tomorrow.  Click here if you want to give it a try.

And don't forget, I'll be raffling out these goodies as kick-off for World Card Making Day. 


All you need to do is leave a comment in my blog today and tomorrow to have two entries.  Then on Saturday, the real fun starts as I'll be raffling out more blog candies.

'Til next blog!

Wednesday, September 28

Sweet Sweet Sweet

This is going to be short and sweet, sweet sweet!  Here are three quick cards I made using stickers from the same Basic Grey sheet I bought for a dollar last week.  It's my first time to directly emboss on my card base, and I like how it came out to be:




For more dimension, I stamped and embossed directly on the sticker.  I also wet embossed the fruits using an embossing pen.

 
Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Wassau, leftovers
image/sentiment:  Studio G
ink:  Stukineko
tools:  Quickutz embossing folder, EK Success edge punch, Spellbinders, piercing tool
embellishments:  heart sequins
misc.:  embossing powder (Ranger)
adhesive:  Scotch, Glossy Inkssentials, mounting tape

Don't forget, I'll be drawing these goodies on Saturday, World Card Making Day:


You have until this Friday to leave a comment.  One comment per day is equal to one entry.

'Til next blog!

Tuesday, September 27

Happy Thoughts

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Before I show today's project, I would like to give a shout out to the following:
  • Ardilla - I met her back in Multiply, and she has been a constant crafty online companion
  • MaryAnn - a very sweet crafty friend from Denmark 
  • Joi Francez Valerie - wonderful crafter from the Philippines (and I haven't forgotten about your stuff... so sorry it's taking so long.)
  • Carol - a constant Tinker Planet visitor...  my week is not complete without seeing your wonderful comments!
Anyway, here's another card I made with the Basic Grey Sticker Sheet bought from Big Lots.  For a change, I used a different opening for the card.


The card is secured by the main sentiment.


This is my favorite part of the card:


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Wassau, Paper Reflections, ColorBok, leftovers
image/sentiment:  unknown/RAKed
ink:  Ranger, Spica glitter pen
tools:  EK Success deep edge punch, Spellbinders
embellishments:  stickers (Basic Grey), flowers (Prima), rhinestones, ribbon
adhesive:  Scotch, Zots, mounting tape

And don't forget, I'm giving away these blog candies this Saturday as kick off for World Card Making Day:


All you need to do is leave a comment here on my blog - one comment per day is equal to one entry.

I'm getting really excited for World Card Making Day as I'll be raffling out a good bunch of craft goodies next month - the best I'll be giving away so far.

'Til next blog!

Monday, September 26

Warm Smiles

Hello crafty reader!  This week started with rain... that will definitely change how the leaves turn colors.  Bummer.

Anyway for today's card, I played with this Basic Grey sticker sheet I bought in Big Lots of $1:


I rarely use stickers in my cards anymore.  So I thought this would be something different.  I intend to use every piece in this sheet for a good batch of cards.  Here's the first one:



Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Wassau, leftovers
image/sentiment:  unknown/RAKed
tools:  Janome Sew Mini
embellishments:  sticker (Basic Grey), flowers (Prima), brads (American Crafts)
adhesive:  Scotch

Five more days until I raffle out these goodies as kick-off for World Card Making Day on October 1st:


If you leave a comment on my blog everyday from today, that will give you 5 entries.

And for some more update, my blog candies for next month are all ready.  What do you think about an EK Success Dimensional Flower Punch, card-making embellishments and stamp sets from Unity, Hampton Art, Inkadinkado and Autumn Leaves to name a few?  Also, I'll be teaming up with a good crafty friend Claire of Kleir's Kreation, who will also be giving away yummy blog candy.

'Til next blog!

Saturday, September 24

Pumpkin Patch

There are many things that I look forward to this season - leaves turning color, Halloween, Trick-or-Treaters, and Thanksgiving to name a few.  I just added a new one to my list, and that is carving pumpkins.  I carved my first batch of pumpkins last year (click here to see them), and I enjoyed it very much!

Here's another Halloween card I made, inspired by pumpkins.  I received the sentiment from a swap from SplitCoastStampers.


To make the sentiment more interesting, I embossed the enclosed letters and colored with Copic markers.


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  CostCo, Wassau, DCWV, leftovers
image/sentiment:  unknown/RAKed
ink:  Ranger, Copic, Tsukineko
tools:  Cuttlebug, Martha Stewart edge punch
embellishments:  yarn, buttons, ribbon
misc.:  embossing powder (Stampendous)
adhesive:  Scotch, Zots, mounting tape

Just 7 more days and I'll be raffling out these blog candies as kick-off for World Card Making Day on October 1st:


All you need to do is leave a comment here in my blog.  One entry per day is equivalent to one entry.  And I hope you can join me for more fun and fabulous blog candy next month.

'Til next blog!

Friday, September 23

Boo To You!

Hello crafty reader!  For the past few days, I have been preparing for a couple of craft shows I'll be in next month.  At the moment, I'm making a batch of Halloween cards.  Last night, while DH was using my computer, I was able to make this card:



The stamp is by Inkadinkado, which I bought last year.  I just love how my eyeball turned out after coloring with Copic markers.  DH thought it was pretty cool. 


Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Wassau, DCWV, @theoffice, leftovers
image/sentiment:  Inkadinkado, A La Maison (alpha stamps)
ink:  Tsukineko, Copic
tools:  Martha Stewart corner punch, Spellbinders
embellishments:  rhinestones
misc.:  embossing powder (Ranger)
adhesive:  Scotch, Zots, mounting tape

Don't forget, I'll be raffling out these goodies on September 30 as kick-off for World Card Making Day on October 1st:


All you need to do is leave a comment on my blog.  One comment per day is equal to one entry.

'Til next time!

Thursday, September 22

Thanks for Your Support

Hello crafty friends!  To be honest, I didn't care for the Martha Stewart Punch All Over the Page punches.  I was like, what do I need them for?  I have my Spellbinders dies which can basically do the exact same thing.  But during a quick visit at Hobby Lobby, I saw the Caning Pattern.  And since I have a 40% coupon in hand, I decided to give it a try.  Ok I admit, I was curious on how this punch works.  There are two pieces to this tool.  Basically you separate the top from base, position your cardstock on the base, and align the top to the center of the base and the 4 magnets will connect both pieces.  Then you start punching.

After giving this a shot, I thought that the design of this tool is pretty brilliant.  EK Success amazed me yet again.

Here's my first card using this cool tool:




Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Recollections, Daisy D's, leftovers
image/sentiment:  Unity, unknown/RAKed
ink:  Ranger, Tsukineko
tools:  Martha Stewart Punch All Over the Page (Caning), Creative Memories circle punch, Stampin' Up scalloped circle punch, EK Success corner punch, Janome Sew Mini, Spellbinders
embellishments:  rhinestones
adhesive:  Scotch, Zots, mounting tape
misc.:  embossing powder (Ranger)

Before I go, let me remind you of this blog candy I'll be raffling out at the end of this month:


All you need to do is leave a comment everyday until September 30th.  One comment per day is equal to one entry.  Then the real fun begins when we celebrate World Card Making Day in October.

'Til next blog!

Wednesday, September 21

Bookmark

During my last visit at Joann's, I saw the EK Success Dimensional Flower Punch Gerber Daisy.  I have three of these punches, but for that one.  So I finally gave in.  And you know what?  I'm so glad I did, because I really liked it - much  more than the Doily Petals.

I love these dimensional flower punches.  However, I find that the flowers made with them are too bulky to use with cards, making it hard to seal the envelope once the card is inside. So I thought of making something else with the flowers, and this is what I came up with:




Let me tell you a secret.  Together with a bunch of fun goodies, I'll be raffling out an EK Success Dimensional Flower Punch next month in celebration of World Card Making Day.  I do need help in deciding which punch I'll give away as I can only afford one.  Leave a comment on my blog and tell me which one you'd like to have - Doily Petals, Gerber Daisy, Dahlia, or Carnation.  That will also count as an entry for these goodies that I'll be raffling out at the end of this month:


'Til next blog!

Tuesday, September 20

Goodies for Me!

Yesterday, a box was waiting for me in the dining room when I woke up.  Well, I kinda had an idea where it came from.  And I was right - the box had goodies from ArtBin, a popular brand of storage for artists and crafters.  I won these goodies from their ongoing National Sewing Month contest on their Facebook page.  They post questions everyday, and participants leave comments of their answers.  On Day 6, I was picked as "Winner of the Day" of these goodies:

From left to right:  Sew-lutions Supply Box, Bobbin Box and NEW Super Semi Satchel
The Super Semi Satchel is perfect to hold my A2 cards.  I can definitely use this for my craft shows next month.

What made it a lot more special is the letter that came with the goodies.  It was so personalized, addressed to me, and stating the details of when and how I won.  Most of all, it was signed by Nancy Doubler, the National Sales and Marketing Manager of ArtBin.  She calls herself the "Facebook person".

Want to join in the fun with ArtBin this National Sewing Month?  Go to the Artbin Facebook Page, click LIKE, and answer the question of the day everyday until the end of September.  And don't forget to check out all the awesome ArtBin products in their official website.

Thank you ArtBin for my fabulous goodies!

This is one of the reasons why I like to pay it forward somehow and give out blog candies during special craft events.  What I raffle out is not as grandioso as others.  But for me, I just like to give back to my fellow crafters in my own little way.

Speaking of which, to kick-off World Card Making Day on October 1st, I'm raffling out these goodies at the end of this month:


All you need to do is leave a comment here in my blog everyday until September 30th.  One comment per day is equal to one entry.

And I hope you can join me in celebrating World Card Making Day in October, where I'll be raffling out more blog candies.

'Til next blog!

Monday, September 19

Bloody Black + Blog Candy Reminder

A few weeks ago, I made a few invitation samples with the black and red color scheme.  The good news is that the final design of the invitation has been finalized, and I'm currently in the process of making 70 invites. 

Well, I still had some cardstock leftover from that project, so I decided to make a couple more cards using different sentiments.  I just picked randomly from my stash of stamped sentiments received from swaps, and concentrated on using a couple of my deep edge punches.  The layout is basically the same, only one is vertical and the other is horizontal orientation.





Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  The Paper Company, @theoffice
image/sentiment:  unknown/RAKed\
ink:  Stampin' Up
tools:  Martha Stewart deep edge punches, Spellbinders, stapler, embossing folder (Cuttlebug, Tim Holtz)
embellishments:  rhinestone stickers, ribbon
misc.:  Shimmer Spritz
adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape

And before I forget, I'm raffling out these blog candies at the end of this month:


All you need to do is to leave a comment in my blog.  One comment per day is equivalent to one entry, so if you start leaving some love today and everyday 'til the 30th, that's a total of 12 entries.  This is just a teaser, as next month, I'll be raffling out some really sweet blog candies in celebration of World Card Making Day on October 1st.  Hope you can join me :)

'Til next blog!

Saturday, September 17

Having Fun Yet?

Happy Saturday everyone!  Today I would like to share with you a masculine card I made for DBIL on his birthday.  It's a good time for me to use the Unity Itty Bitty stamp "Having Fun".  While making this card, I kept thinking to myself - "clean and simple".  And this is what I came up with:



Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  The Paper Company, Wassau
image/sentiment:  Unity
ink:  Tsukineko, Ranger, Spica
tools:  Fiskars micro hole punch, Stampin' Up corner punch, heat gun
embellishments:  brad
misc.:  embossing powder (American Crafts)
adhesive:  Scotch

By the way, I'm giving away some blog candy at the end of this month as kick-off for World Card Making Day on October 1st:


All you need to do is to leave a comment on my blog.  One comment per day is equivalent to one entry.  If you start leaving comments today and everyday until September 30th, you'll have 15 entries.  Everybody is welcome to join!

How about a topic?  If money is not an issue and you are going to put up a craft business, what product will you sell?  I'd love to know what you think. 

'Til tomorrow!

Friday, September 16

WCMD Kick-Off Blog Candy

TGIF crafty readers!  As a crafter, I celebrate World Card Making Day every year in October (1st).  And just like the past years, I have been raffling out blog candies to celebrate this fun day.  Despite tough economic times, I've been preparing for the blog candy giveaways for next month.  In fact, I was planning on raffling out goodies every weekend for the whole month of October - a total of 4 blog candies!

During the course of my blog candy collecting, it turned out that I have some extra to kick-off World Card Making Day.

What do you think of this goody bunch?


It includes:
  • Stampin Up Lifelong Notes stamp set (Card Sample 1, Card Sample 2)
  • Stampin Up Stampin Spots in Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Basic Gray
  • Unity Stamp Grab Bag
  • Birthday Card Making Kit
  • ColorBok Chipboard Accents
Since this is our World Card Making Day Kick-Off, all you need to do is kick off your socks, sit in front of your computer and leave a comment in my blog starting today, Septebmer 16th, until September 30th.  One comment per blog entry per day, a total of 16 entries.  The more comments you leave, the more entries you get.  At the end of this month, I'll be printing off your names, put them in a bowl and I will pick the winner, which I will show via video.  The winner of this blog candy will be announced on World Card Making Day, October 1st. 

Then, more blog candies to give away every weekend, as we all make cards, for the whole month of October. Fun?

And did I say everybody is welcome to participate, no matter what country you're from?  I guess I just did!

Type away... and thanks for the visit!

Thursday, September 15

Time Well Spent

Hi readers!  Yesterday, I wrote about the ink applicators I made with RAKed mounting wood blocks.  Today I want to share with you a card I made testing them.  And it worked just great!  You can see here how I inked the three layers of my card:



Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Arnee's Super Value Pack, leftovers
image/sentiment:  RAKed
ink:  Ranger, Copic
tools:  Janome Sew Mini
embellishments:  flower sequins, brads, ribbon
adhesive:  Scotch, mounting tape

You can check out how I made my ink applicators by clicking here.

By the way, October is National Card Making Month, and just like the past years, I'll be raffling out some blog candy.  I have bought quite a good bunch of goodies that I'm thinking of giving out some at the end of this month to warm things up.  Do come back tomorrow to find out what these goodies are going to be. 

'Til next blog!