Ombre City

Good morning! Popping in with a quick post before I head off to work.  I had to make a birthday card for a co-worker's sister and the current Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger was a great inspiration piece to work from (although it gave me some serious cake cravings!).  The recipient is studying architecture so I thought the buildings would be appropriate. I think a pink city is kind of cool but I don't imagine it would stay this clean for too long!  LOL! Have a lovely Friday!

ETA:  I meant to also add this card to the fun over at Seize the Birthday.  Clearly it's too early in the morning to be blogging!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Rose Red, Rich Razzleberry) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (It's Your Birthday from Say What) Mama Elephant, (Celebrate from Celebrate) Avery Elle

Inks:  (Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry) Stampin' Up

Die:  (Die-Namics Skyline Border) My Favourite Things

...and Moxie Fab White

Back again with my second Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger entry.  After dithering so much about the card base colour for my first card I definitely wanted to go white for this card.  When I first saw the Trigger I immediately thought of this particular patterned paper of which I only had a scrap remaining.  Thankfully it was just enough for this Sweet Stamp Shop teapot!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Stamps:  (Teapot from Afternoon Delight) Sweet Stamp Shop, (Sentiment from Lunar Lights) Lawn Fawn

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Peacock Feathers Distress Ink) Ranger

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Gems:  Recollections

  

Moxie Fab Bright...

How sweet is the little teacup that Cath chose for this week's Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger?  I love the colourful flowers and I wanted to create an equally cheery teacup.  I pulled out some patterned paper of unknown origin and stamped and embossed this big ol' Market Street Stamps cup.  I struggled a bit with placement and sentiment but finally settled on this arrangement.  I dithered for ages about the colour of the card base.  Initially I was going to go white as I figured it would make the bright colours really pop but I finally decided that this Island Indigo really made the cup colours feel that much richer.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Pool Party) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Teacup from Enjoy Today) Market Street Stamps, (Steam from Coffee Cozy) Lil Inker Designs, (Sentiment from Hot Concoctions) Paper Smooches

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Gems:  Recollections

Moxie Collage

The inspiration picture for the latest Tuesday Trigger challenge at the Moxie Fab World is a bright and cheery collage.  It immediately made me think of think of this Hero Arts bird collage stamp.  I won it ages ago and it's been sitting patiently waiting to be used.  (NBUS alert!!)  I have always been pretty intimidated by it as it's much busier than my usual style but I decided to see if I could make it work for me.  Some cheery colours and paper piecing later and I like it!  It's still busy and collagey but I feel like it's also me.  Mission accomplished.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Pretty In Pink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake) Stampin' Up

Stamp:  (Bird Collage) Hero Arts, (Very Vintage Greetings) WPlus9

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Gems:  Recollections

A Little Romance

Hi there!  Today I'm playing along with the current Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger.  I was inspired by the mint colour and the lace and I'm continuing with my quest to dig into my stash.  The paper was bought back in 2007, the lace tape was a gift from Amy Tsuruta last year and the stamps are being used for the first time (by me - they're actually second hand and had lots of love from the previous owner).  I feel good about using hoarded stuff but I sure would love to do some shopping!  LOL! Every once in a while I'll go fill up a cart at an online store, stare at it wistfully for a while and then close it.  I'm determined I'm going to hold out!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Mint) Paper Garden

Stamps:  (Flower from Folk Art Florals, Sentiment from Very Vintage Greetings) WPlus9

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Calypso Coral) Stampin' Up

Die:  (Heart Prints) Papertrey Ink

Gems:  Recollections

Lace tape

Hope Your Day Is Sweet

My wish for rain almost came true today as we woke up to thunder and lightning at 5:45am. Atticus did his guard dog duty and went tearing outside to tell off whoever was making all that noise. :)  Despite the noise and light show we only got a sprinkle of rain.  The rest of the day was just cloudy and muggy.  Good enough for staying in the Craft Cave though!  

I'm working on my special orders but I also took some time to play.  I combined a few challenges for this card.  The colours were taken from the latest Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger challenge.  As soon as I saw the inspiration photo I thought of these Doodlebug papers that have been languishing in my stash.  I paired them up with the sketch from the Fusion challenge and used stamps from the Sweet Stamp Shop - I'll be joining their Use What You Have Challenge since my papers are from 2005!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Obviously Orange Stripes, Obviously Orange Grid, Tangerine It's About Time, Limeade Sweet Stripes) Doodlebug

Stamps:  (Candies and "sweet" from Sweet Tooth) Sweet Stamp Shop, ("Hope your day is" from So 80s) WPlus9

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi) Stampin' Up

Embossing powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Dies:  (Nesties Labels One) Spellbinders, (Double-Ended Banners) Papertrey Ink

A Little Notion

**This is my second post for the day.  For my A Passion For Papertrey post please scroll down or click here.**

Hello again!  I'm back from a lovely afternoon in the Craft Cave. I got some special orders completed and also played along with the current Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World.  Initially I was a bit intimidated by all that ribbon and lace but after reminding myself that I didn't actually have to use ribbon and lace I was able to get down to work.  I took my inspiration from the colors, the lace, the rickrack and the buttons.  It took a bit of fiddling around with the elements until they "felt" right but I like the final result.  Have a lovely night and here's to a good week ahead!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Calypso Coral) Stampin' Up

Stamp:  (Sentiment from Asian Fusion) Papertrey Ink

Ink:  (Night of Navy) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Die-namics Butterflies) My Favourite Things;  (Rickrack Border Papertrey Ink

Gems:  (Light blue) Craft Supplies for Less

Washi Tape:  (Lost & Found 3:  Oliver) My Mind's Eye

Chair-ished Friendship

Happy Friday!  I'm not celebrating quite yet as I have a long day ahead of me at work.  However, the adorable Miss Kenzie will be there so at least there will be puppy snuggles to help pass the time!  In the meantime here's a card for the Tuesday Trigger challenge at the Moxie Fab World and also for Unity's Friends With Flair hop.  I was inspired by the blue chair in the picture and also by the grid heart.  I decided to go a bit more masculine for my card as I needed one for a male friend. The chair is from Unity's December 2011 KOM and I used A Bit of Burlap on the frame to tie in the grid pattern.  I played around a lot with how to apply the sentiment but in the end a simple strip of card stock underlining it seemed to fit just right.  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Chair from Dec '11 KOM - Filled With Love, A Bit of Burlap) Unity Stamp Co, (Sentiment from On My Couch) Papertrey Ink

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Marina Mist) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Nestabilities Small Labels) Spellbinders

Happy Trigger

I've been admiring all the collage type cards that I've seen around lately especially the ones that still manage to feel a bit CAS (if that makes sense...).  I've been studying them and pondering them and dipping my toe into the collage pool here and there but I think today's card is my favourite one I've done so far.  I started with the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger as inspiration.  (Similar colours to this month's Moxie Fab header no?)  I took inspiration from the colour of the bed frame (leaf die cuts), the striped pillow (background stripes), the bedspread (large flower), the floral pillow (little flower) and the rug (banner).  I spent ages flipping through  6x6 pads and then cutting and rearranging shapes and die cuts.  It was an interesting process and in the end I went with what felt like it looked right.  For example, I originally used a straight banner for the sentiment but it seemed too angular and awkward.  The curves on the Lawn Fawn banner just seemed to fit better.  All in all it was an interesting process and one I think I'll be trying again!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Primrose Petals, Tempting Turquoise) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Lost & Found 3 Oliver collection, The Sweetest Thing Bluebell collection) My Mind's Eye

Stamps:  (Banner from Bannerific, Sentiment from Lunar Lights) Lawn Fawn

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Turning A New Leaf, Beautiful Blooms II #2) Papertrey Ink, (Nestabilities Blossom) Spellbinders

Gems:  (Beetle Black assortment) Doodlebug

Framed Hello

It's been a while so I wanted to play along with the latest Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World.  I was inspired by the frames and their colours and wanted to do some masking especially now that I have the handy Stamping Mask Paper from Inkadinkado.  I've tried using post-its but never with much success.  I also have the Eclipse Art Masking Tape but the rolls I have were too small for the frame stamp.  The Mask Paper worked beautifully!  I may have to try masking more often now. This challenge also got me to use ink colours I usually forget I have.  I tend to reach for Stampin' Up colours first but today I dug out some Colour Box inks and they were fabulous matches! They also give really smooth coverage. I must put them out where I can see them so they get used more often.  

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Stamps:  (Frame from Lovestruck collection) Amy Tangerine

Inks:  (Shabby Pink, Apricot, Lettuce)  Colour Box

Alpha Stickers:  Scenic Route

Today Is Your Day

When I first saw the latest Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World I immediately thought, "I don't have those colours!  I don't have any shoe stamps!  I can't do this!" and I prepared to run for the hills.  But then I stopped because I had promised myself that I would play along (more on that later).  So I looked at the picture again and started digging around in the Craft Cave.  I found some similar colours but didn't have much luck in the shoe department.  However, the shoes made me think of fashion which led me to the funky outfit on the dress form and the card grew from there.

I promise myself every week that I'm going to play along with the Tuesday Trigger challenge but most of the time I don't.  I tend to choke on it.  I'm not sure why.  I play in plenty of other challenges and none seems to freeze me up the way this one does.  I remember when I first started blogging and getting more into card making I was completely intimidated by the projects that appeared on the Moxie Fab blog.  They were all so amazing!  I couldn't imagine my work ever being that good or worthy enough for showcase on the blog.  My cards have come a long way since then and I have actually been named a Trigger Target a couple of times but I guess that initial impression of high caliber projects has stuck with me so I still struggle with the Triggers.  I'm trying to just chill out though and to play along and let myself see where the inspiration takes me.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't want my cards to be recognised and to get pats on the back for them (and maybe a prize here or there) but I'm trying to relax and remember that, initially, I started making cards because it was fun.  I was blissfully ignorant of blogs and publications and design teams - it was just about pulling that idea out of my brain and translating it onto paper.  I'm trying to focus on that enjoyment and hoping that it will help to thaw those freezes and get me back to card making for the fun of it.    

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Basic Grey) Stampin' Up, (Chartreuse) Bazzill, (Turquoise) Pacon
Stamps:  (Dress form from May '12 KOM - Love in an Instant, Sentiment from Mar '12 KOM - From Head to Soul) Unity, (Flourish background) Hero Arts
Inks: (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Nestabilities Labels 10) Spellbinders

Gems:  (Swimming Pool assortment) Doodlebug

Type Hype

Cath found a really fun vintage typewriter for the latest Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World.  I was inspired by the colourful keys and the way they seem to float above the typewriter so I popped my letters up on thick foam tape.  I added PTI's Book Print impression plate in the background for some extra texture. 

The thank you is for all of you who left such sweet and thoughtful comments regarding the loss of Jem.  Luis and I were really touched by all your well wishes.  I still keep expecting Jem to come bounding around the corner with his goofy smile.  I think it's going to be a while before that feeling fades.

Supplies Used
Cardstock: (Off-white) Pacon, (Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Dies:  (Block Alphabet) PTI

Impression Plate:  (Book Print) PTI

Punches:  (1" circle) EK Success, (Corner rounder) Marvy Uchida

Stack o' Birdies

I love this week's Tuesday Trigger Challenge at the Moxie Fab World.  It's clean and graphic with a lovely, cool colour palette.  There are so many fabulous bird dies out on the market that would work perfectly here but I don't own any of them.  However, the three stacked birdies made me think of this Hero Arts stamp which hasn't seen any ink in a while so I stamped, embossed and paper pieced my way to this little card.  I've seen some awesome takes on the Trigger so far and I'm going to go check out the list and find some more.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!


Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Certainly Celery, Marina Mist,Lucky Limeade, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Three Birds, Sentiment from Birthday Sayings) Hero Arts

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear, Seafoam White) Ranger

White Trigger Flowers

I can't believe it's already Sunday night.  I feel like it was just a few minutes ago that I woke up on Saturday morning, ready and raring to go for the weekend.  *Sigh* Times flies and all that jazz...  I didn't spend much time in the Craft Cave this weekend but I managed to complete a card for this week's Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World.  I love these fun patterned tins and, although I had lots of ideas running through my head, I was especially inspired by the top right one.  Love the white popping off that orange!  I'm also going to enter this card in the Lily Pad Flowers challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge. 


It may be a bit quiet around here for the next week.  I've got a few extra work shifts and Luis and I are also planning on doing some more painting.  Hopefully this will include the Craft Cave although the thought of moving everything out of the room is a terrifying one!!


Cardbase:  The Stampin' Place
Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Calypso Coral, Chocolate Chip) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Everyday Sayings) Hero Arts
Ink:  (Chocolate Chip) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Nesties Blossom) Spellbinders, (Double-ended Banner) PTI

Punch:  (1/4" hole punch) McGill   

Simple Elegance

Just popping in with an entry for this week's Tuesday Trigger, Simple Elegance, over at the Moxie Fab World.  The flowers caught my eye right away but I also liked the dark floor and the patterned rug which is what inspired the strip of patterned paper.  I'm also going to enter this at the Lily Pad Simon Says Stamp Presents A Flower Challenge.  


Well, he's still sniffly but guess who's out painting again this morning?  Luis is a man on a mission!  I did manage to get him to chill out a bit last night though.  We took the hounds for a stroll and then I stuffed him full of fajitas and Advil Cold & Sinus.  After that, he had no choice but to retire to the sofa.  :)  And with Atticus sitting on his lap (yes, all 95lbs of Atticus) he really had no choice but to stay there!

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  (Flour Sack from Nook & Pantry Collection) Basic Grey
Stamps:  (Flower from Flower Fusion 11,  Stem from Flower Fusion 8, Sentiment from Mat Stack 2 Collection) PTI
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Sahara Sand) Stampin' Up

Fancy Schmancy Forever

Cath has picked out some Fancy Schmancy cakes to get our creativity whirring for the latest Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World.  I was inspired by the colours of the cakes, the ruffled cake liners and the doily they're sitting on.  


Since there's a lot of PTI happening here I'm going to enter this over at A Passion for Papertrey where the challenge is to use stripes.  I'm also going to join in with Simon Says Stamp's Love Is In The Air challenge.


If you have 45 seconds to spare then watch this short video on You Tube.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBTQw7I5zBE
The guy in the yellow jacket is Dr. Neil Burnie, one of the partners at the veterinary practice I work at.  He was on holiday in Jackson Hole, WY last week and just happened to be snowboarding in the right place at the right time to help someone out.  I talked here about what an amazing guy he is and now he can add Hero to his lengthy list of accomplishments!


Cardstock:  (Kraft) PTI, (Cream) Pacon, (Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Mega Mehndi Medallion, Think Big Favourites #11) PTI
Ink:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger
Dies:  (XL Rickrack Border) PTI

Quilted Numbers

It's a cold and blustery Sunday here - a perfect day for crafty time!  :)  I finally sat down to work on my entry for this week's Tuesday Trigger at the Moxie Fab World.  This is another one of those cards that's been percolating in my brain for a while.  Sometimes I'm hesitant to sit down and try and make them because I'm afraid they won't turn out like what's in my head.  Thankfully I'm thrilled with how this one came out!  I die cut numbers from the white panel and then from coloured paper and then put them all together.  Then I took my embossing stylus and made little indents around each number to mimic the quilted look.  Now, I'm not sure if you're supposed to enter a card in more than one Moxie Fab challenge but I'm going to give it a try as this card qualifies for two other challenges that are running at the moment for Cool Tools Week:  the Embossing and Debossing Challenge and the Die Cutting Challenge.


Now I'm off to cook some good hearty comfort food for this chilly night and then snuggle up on the sofa with the boys.  Have a wonderful evening!


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Pretty in Pink) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Smitty's ABCs) Lawn FawnInk:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (By The Numbers, Double-Ended Banners) PTI

Punches:  (1/4" hole punch) McGill

Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Joy Joy Joy

Take note:  A Tuesday Trigger post that isn't going up at the last minute on Sunday night!  Whoop whoop!  I recently won a gift certificate to Lil' Inker Designs and my Jingle Joy sentiments and dies arrived just in time for this challenge!  The baubles made me think of the Lil' Inker bell so I cut them from origami foil to get that shiny look.  I was also inspired by the floor boards in the picture and used some woodgrain embossed card for the background.  Since the stamps are Chrismasy, but all that grey is not something I'd usually equate with Christmas, I'm going to enter this in the non-holiday colours portion of the challenge at The Paper Players.  And with all those dies how could I not enter it in the latest Young Crafters Unite challenge?  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill Basics, (Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Jingle Joy Sentiments) Lil' Inker Designs
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Bell & letters) Lil' Inker Designs

Impression Plate:  (Woodgrain) PTI