Clear Dollar Stamps Guest Designer Challenge

It's that time of the month again! These are my submissions for the Clear Dollar Stamps Guest Designer Challenge. You can find the challenge here: http://clearlyistamp.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/august-cds-guest-designer-challenge.html

NOTE: to enlarge the card pictures, simply click on the picture.

This month's challenge was a sketch challenge using these sketches:


When I saw this sketch, it looked to me like a flap book. I'm sure there is some big fancy scrapbooking term for this, but being a teacher at heart, it looked like those kids' books where you lift the flaps to find new things. So, my first entry is actually a mini scrapbook. I have not added pictures yet, but will when we get some fall weather. I LOVE fall, when we have it. We have now had 22 days out of 29 in July with 100 plus temps, and it isn't even AUGUST yet, when we have our hottest weather. I have decided to just skip the rest of summer and start fall. LOL! Okay, I can't do that but I can stamp fall cards and feel like I'm getting ready. In truth, we do have some interesting colors in our trees and yards. Yep, all different shades of dead brown.

For this card I used the following:
CDS Autumn Blessings stamps
Cardstock in various shades of fall
DP is from a Fall Stack
Brads were at the Target Dollar Spot last year
Nesties and CM cutting system
Finger at top of 2nd picture courtesy of Chef Mama (hee-hee)
Stazon Ink
Chalk Ink in Olive
SU and Tombow markers

For the next card (yes another fall card), I again used Autumn Blessings, but also added a stamp from the CDS July Stamp of the Month Tag It. I love cards with layers. I don't always add them, but I just love the rich look. I have a friend who says those cards are "all layered up," which is the correct Texan way to say it. So, for my friend Kathy, this one is all layered up! No sewing this month as my machine is threaded for making aprons and soon to be threaded for tote bags. There's a concept: I can actually sew on FABRIC for a change! LOL!

Here is my 2nd card:
Stamps: CDS Autumn Blessings, CDS Tag It (hurry, these are only available til 7/31/09)
Papers: various fall colored cardstock, Daisy D's dp, JoAnn's individual dp leaf sheet
Ribbons from Target $ spot
Cuttlebug tag slider die
Hodgepodge hardware
Stazon Ink
Chalk Ink in Olive
SU and Tombow markers

Thanks for looking!

A little red card

This is a birthday card for a little girl who loves red. I used the old SU set "Girlfriends." I glittered the dress, shoes, and bracelet. I cut out the swirlies with a sizzlet die & glittered those. What girl doesn't love glitter! Used nestabilities for the main image & the scalloped circle, and a punch for the words. My friend had given me some fun papers and this one was PERFECT for this card. Thanks for looking!




My older dd, the artist, cannot resist doodling. I find it interesting that she still prints (though her cursive is nice) and has a very young childish print, but can draw really well. The artistic/autistic mind is always a puzzle! This is her print with a doodle. It's not a very clear picture. oops!

PS, my Clear Dollar Stamp guest designer submission should be posted by tomorrow.

CDS Weekend Color Challenge

I haven't been able to play the Clear Dollar Stamps weekend color challenge for months, so I determined I would do it this time! The colors were Only Orange, Bermuda Bay and Basic Gray. I used Taken With Teal and Going Gray since that's what I had on hand. This is April Showers (I think!) with Charliene Horse, Charlie Horse's friend. I happened to have this teal/orange dp in my stash, so thought this was a great way to use this. I'm not sure I put these colors together very well, but I had fun! Decided to just do the free form cutting because the image turned out huge when I added raindrops all around. Different, but I got a card made! Woo-hoo!

Bethany's Birthday Crafts

When we saw this project on a magazine from Hobby Lobby, Bethany thought it would be fun to make. I thought it would be a good birthday craft. I put my 2 girls plus a friend to work cutting up cereal boxes then running them through the Big Kick to cut out faux chipboard flowers. Then I had them pick out some designer papers they thought the girls would like. By the time it was all said & done, I just showed the girls where my dp was, told them the Basic Grey was off limits (you paper crafters will totally understand that!), and let them go. I'm so used to having younger kids doing crafts (from teaching in school and at co-op & just having younger kids come over) that I was afraid I'd have to sit there & show them each how to use the Big Kick. Amazingly, as they get older, they can actually do these things alone and show each other what to do. We didn't get to the little journals Friday night & I thought they could just do those another time. By the time I got up Saturday morning some were cutting and gluing paper, cutting out more flowers with the Big Kick, and making beautiful journals. I love how each pot and each set of flowers shows the girls' individual style. Makes me want to teach a middle school/high school papercrafts class!

All set up!

Hmmmm, which colors do I want?

Choosing their paints.

Painting.

And more painting!

Looks like they've been busy.

Our friend Sara had to leave early, so we snapped a picture of her with her flowers. Very pretty just like she is!
Good morning sunshine! The final results. Now, can you guess which girls are related? LOL! The birthday girl was still in her "Chinese" pajamas (no clue why she calls them Chinese!).

Ink, ink everywhere and not a drop to stamp.

Sorry this is a pictureless post. Just wanted to say I've been busy moving things out of boxes and moving boxes to their allocated places in our house. I thought I was making headway in the craft room when I last posted, but alas I found more boxes. Yikes! Maybe I'll find more things to sell!

I did get almost finished with some doll outfits I should have made months ago for some little girls. I want to get some made up to sell on Etsy, too, or here.

I'm hoping to get a card or two made next week. I'll check back in when I have something creative to share with you!