Monday Monday...

Monday again! Well our weekend was quiet. Though I did make a couple of cards yesterday :) I actually used my Studio G stamps from Michaels! I have about 10 sets of these little suckers and always seem to forget about them. Thought this star tag just fits the stamp perfectly! Oh and the design is loosely based on one of my old sketches.

Supplies: SEI Kaboom; Heidi Swapp photo corner; Studio G Stamp; May arts ribbon;

Saw this little quiz on 2 peas and thought it would be a good blog challenge for this Monday morning! So if you want to join in feel free, oh and link me up in the comments!

1 What is your ideal atmosphere to scrapbook in?
My scraproom. I am going to admit here and now that I have NEVER been to a crop, yet! Susan is going to let me know when she and her buddies have a crop down in the valley. I'll probably need a uhaul truck to get me and my supplies there, but I figure I'll probably just do cards and chat :) I love my scraproom and could quite happily spend all my time in here from waking up to sleeping. I'd love it even more when its got some decoration done, right now its sparse white walls. Not very inspiring...

2 What inspires you to scrapbook? (a color, a photo, certain paper, particular people or subjects, books, galleries, blogs...)
Um, all of the above! Usually I HAVE to scrapbook for DT assignments so I'm usually busy creating SOMETHING daily (tough life isn't it?). Most times though it's just a compulsion to play with paper. My self imposed challenge of using my stash has me inspired to scrapbook too!

3 Where do you go to seek creative inspiration? (websites, magazines, etc)
Everywhere, mostly new product. Though I do get VERY inspired by reading Ali Edwards books, Cathy Zeilske, and Stacy Julian's books. Just reading those has me itching to get into my scraproom. I think I've read CZ's books about a million times (ok maybe not THAT much but you get the idea). I have Ali's new book coming this week and so I may go into a "creative coma" in the next week or so.

4 How do you keep track of the pages or projects you want to copy?
I don't. I rarely lift someone else's work, in fact I can't remember the last time I did that, usually it's for a challenge online or something. I guess I get inspired by other peoples work, but not a copier.

5 What do you do to jumpstart your creativity when you've got scrapper's block?
Lots of things! First I'll walk away, go check magazines, or my favorite blogs. Maybe go for a walk, take a shower. If its still not working, I'll go shopping. Use sketches, or scraplift myself. Sometimes though I just have to work through it. I may or may not like the end result but some blocks just have to be worked through. During these times I usually art journal or just allow myself to play.

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Ready for the Holidays?

I have a huge pile of cards made, and all my cards to family and friends back in England went home with Mom and Dad. We have Thanksgiving here in a little over a week (long weekend yay!) and up to now we have a houseful of guests that day, so should be good. Not sure what is happening over the holidays yet, maybe hosting again, who knows. I say let's get Thanksgiving done and over first!

So I thought I'd share some more holiday projects I made for one heart... one mind. Love the "merry merry too" line, especially the pink dotted paper. You know me and dots! Sucker for em! First up is a card with matching envelope. As I remember this was the beginning of my matching envelope phase... so easy with the nested templates.

Can I just say: I love one heart... one mind rub-ons! So fun, but next is my very favorite new thing from them - button stacks! Seriously good product!!! I love these suckers. 2 layered buttons with a clear bead on top, and the buttons are shaped and so detailed. Mmmmmmm. This is of all things an altered pringles canister. Just washed it out carefully, decorated the outside and VOILA! Cute gift box, ok gift tube?

Close up of some of the detail. Did I mention I love the buttons? Need to get more ribbon too. I seem to use lots of ribbon on altered stuff

I have more one heart... one mind projects to share soon along with some other projects.

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Superstar!

I've never been as disappointed at a manufacturer ending a line as I have been about SEI discontinuing Kaboom! I love this line. Strangely had I seen it at the LSS it's one I'd have walked right by. But I got some in a DT kit last year and LOVED it. Here is another card with Kaboom...

Papers: SEI; Sticker: SEI; Brads: Doodlebug

There is a rub-on greeting inside that says "Congratulations", just finishes the card off.

TIP: Consider the location of brads BEFORE fixing to the card so you can hide the ends. I Adhered the sticker to the orange paper, then the striped and added the brads BEFORE adhering to the card base.

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Thoughts and prayers...

I've been thinking about challenges a little today. Thinking about trying some other kinds of challenges on the blog (once things settle down, maybe starting in a week or two). Like manufacturer challenges to help us USE our stash. Technique challenges. Theme Challenges. Anyone interested? And if you can think of any other challenges I'm all ears!

Been busy battling deadlines, and I think I am kind of winning... which is good. Altered a letter today (big one by EK success). Can't share that yet as it's for Decembers ScrapStreet. Also made a Christmas card today, which I also can't share yet (see, notice the theme?). But I did make this card yesterday which I got around to photographing today. Based on one of my old sketches...

Paper: SEI; Flower: Prima; Brad: Doodlebug; Rub-on: Karen Foster; Ink: Around the Block

I think this is just the second time I've used this SEI Paisely and Petals line despite having a TON of it in my stash. I do that with some manufacturers. I hoard it. I've noticed my preference for hoarding seems to be double sided papers (especially with the solid on the reverse - my personal favorite).

Another card photographed and coming tomorrow!

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Creative block

Had a monster creative block today. Not really a problem except the layout I was working on is due for a deadline tomorrow! I like the end result which is rare on these occasions. After I worked through the layout I whipped out three cards... must be just in a card phase right now.

I'm almost hyperventilating right now at the thought of all the deadlines I have coming up this month. I so need to get on top of things this coming couple of weeks.

Sadly nothing to share today cos I've been a total slacker and only made things I for things I can't post. Sometimes I hate that, but unfortunately that is the way most the mag calls are going these days and I don't want to shoot myself in the foot. I will have some projects to post soon cos I have a ton of things to make for this month (and get ahead for next) but I exhausted my 'blog leftovers' when my parents were here.

In other news: I am totally loving my old sketches. Had a little memory lane trip and looked through the last year of my sketches. I've even reused a couple today, which is always cool.

Anyway hopefully get around to sharing some photo's of the parents trip tomorrow or something...

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Card Sketch Nov #1

Happy Wednesday! And Happy card-sketch-versary! Exactly one year ago today I started posting my sketches here so I figured it would be fitting to go back in time and reuse the sketch (albeit a little spruced up sketch!). I really cannot believe it's been a year, totally flown by! And to think that back then there was just me doing a sketch and a sample... how things have progressed!!! Anyway here is this weeks sketch, and usual the digital template is available for download for a limited time.

My original card for this sketch got picked up for publication so I whipped up this one using SEI Kaboom. I love this line, no matter that its pretty old now. Got some more of it last month from one of my teams and I still love it. Especially the puffy stickers. Have a couple of projects planned out for these papers already. The "We're so sorry!" is reverse printed using this technique for printing in white text. Love this card! Inside greeting which reads "we forgot your BIRTHDAY!", also printed from computer.

Supplies: Paper, cardstock and sticker: SEI (Kaboom); Brads: Doodlebug; pen: sharpie; other: tag, photoshop

TIP: If you don't want to drag out the sewing machine then either use rub-ons, stamps or draw the stitching by hand with a pen.

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Card by Wendy McGlinchey
Supplies:- A selection of Dye ink pads, Black Versafine ink pad, white card stock, black marker pen, Rubbadubbadoo Girl Power stamp set, yellow card stock and ribbon bow.

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Card by Cindy Gilchrist
Supplies: Digital Pattern Papers and Elements: Saturday Market by Dani Mogstad, Digital Stitches: The Ultimate Stitch Collection by Dani Mogstad.

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Card by Kelli Smith
supply list- Heidi swapp family stamp, heidi swapp flowers, Eksuccess flower punch, pp: luxe, mustard moon

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Card by Jo Willis
Supplies: Amy Butler Sola papers, Crate paper (Twirl collection), Technique Tuesday stamps (Hanging by a thread), Heidi Grace sentiment stamp ( from Wild Daisy Road set), Colorbox chalk ink, flower from dismantled silk flower and button from my collection.

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Card by Kelly Nelson
Supplies: Scraps of bazzil and unknown cardstock, American Crafts patterned paper, Stampin Up stamp, Versamagic ink, black zig pen, sewing thread and button, DMC embroidery thread, and handcut felt flower.

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Card by Pearl Liu
supply list : Bo Bunny Double Dot Cardstock, Bo Bunny Glee pps, Q&Co Primary Felt Frenzy flowers

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Card by Krista Pearl
Credits: Backgrounds and Elements - Jessica Gorny, Fallen, One of a Kind Scraps
Font- Pea Cami-Pea, Fonts for Peas

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Card by Cheryl Meehan Supplies : Papers by Doodlebug, Stickeroo by Penny Black, Faux Stitching with Sakura Pen.

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Card by Angela Shetzer
Credits: Winter kit by Amy Kropp; Font: Vivaldi & LCR Itz Snowflakes

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BACK SOON!
HAPPY TO REPORT THAT JOLENES CARD
WAS PICKED UP FOR PUBLICATION!
Congrats Jolene!


Card by Jolene Johnston
Supplies: Bazzill cardstock, Die Cuts With a View Old World papers, Making Memories glitter brad, Oriental Trading flower, JoAnn rub on, machine stitching,Colorbox ink

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As always hook me up in the comments if you do the sketch and I'll come check out your creations!

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Do you hear that?

It's the sound of a busy little bee creating away! Yep I have one project box out the door this morning for CardMaker and another on it's way to Simple Scrapbooks, phew. So far today I've created a card for tomorrows sketch, as the one I had got picked up for publication *smile*. Sorted through my deadlines and took on another little project that I can't share yet (sorry!).

Met up with fellow scrapper and EDS team member Susan on Sunday. Fun to finally meet her, we shared some goodies and had a quick chat. Can't believe the girl runs marathons! Think she needs to kick me in the butt and get me motivated too!

Todays to-do list is going down slowly. Thankfully still a good portion of the day left so I can keep creating. I'm hoping to get organized this week and work work work like crazy. Gradually catching up on comments and emails, so continue to bear with me, I hope to be caught up on all those by the end of the week.

Lots of little projects in the future that I need to start on, some blog changes and work needed on the new website. Back into the swing of things FULL FORCE! See you tomorrow with the latest card sketch!

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