Mojo Monday 260

I am so glad to be posting today.  You have no idea.  So let's get right to it!

I played along with the Mojo Monday crowd today.  If you look through my blog, you will note that I do not make many square cards.  No reason for that.  I suppose the idea just doesn't hit my creative brain spot when crafting.  Nice to try something different.

This is my Friend's son, Kyle.  He is really into dinosaurs right now.  The picture is a little old, but just too cute! 

 

And a peek at the inside of the card. 

 

 

Thanks to Julee for the great sketch.  I had fun!  Here is the sketch that I followed.

 



Thanks for stopping in.  I missed you!
(note: the card recipe is below)

Kristine

Recipe:
Paper: SU Brocade Blue (retired), SU Chocolate chip
Design paper: Little Yellow Bicycle's babysauraus
Punches: 1 3/4" circle, Scallop Trim border
Ribbon: SU 1 1/4" striped Chocolate chip Grosgrain

For Mom

I love Stampin' Up!  I really do.  But sometimes I see something that is non-SU that I must have.  So it happened last weekend when Livi and I went to a big craft store.  I saw this beautiful paper in the bargain bins.  It was love at first sight.  The roses on the paper spoke to me of times gone by.  So I bought it.  And I used it.  Everything except the designer paper is SU, but the colors are retired.  I have been rearranging stuff to make room for the new goodies to come, and I miss so much some of the colors of the past--such as Mellow Moss.  It was/still is a favorite.  It doesn't surprise me that Mellow Moss matches the design paper.  We are all drawn to certain colors.  Okay, now the card. This is my mom's Mother's Day card.  My mom does not own a computer, so no worries about her seeing it before I give it to her. :-) 

I decided to use the sentiment "family" instead of "Mom" because she is the glue of our family.  She has also never really thought much about needing a special day for moms.  She's all for another family day, however!  So it fits her better.

I fussy cut some of the roses out of the paper for the small pair above the circle and then popped them up on a dimensional.  Here's a side view of the card so you can see some of the dimension as well as the inside of the card (before I write in all the mushy stuff I write inside cards.)

Supplies: 

Cardstock: Brilliant Blue (retired), Mellow Moss (retired)

Designer Paper: Treasures by Shabby Chic

Polka Dot Embossing Folder, 2 1/2" circle plus and Circle Scissor Plus

This card fits the bill for two challenges as well. Cool. It is the Mojo Monday Sketch 240, and it fits the theme for the Paper Players Theme Challenge 94.   I thank the ladies at both challenges for helping me create my mom's card. :-)

I just realized there is no stamping on this card!  Huh? 

Thanks for stopping by.  Special thanks to my followers and subscribers.

Kristine

I've lost it

Somewhere out there is my mojo.  It certainly is not with me.  Mary Fish has designed a wonderful Mojo Monday sketch (#238), and yet I have worked and fiddled and started over and ... well, judge for yourself.

Supplies:  Wow Flowers

Card stock: Green Galore, Whisper White

Designer paper: Rainbw Sherbert

Big Shot Die: Flower, Daisies #2

Apricot brad and ribbon



{sigh}  You know what I would like?  Someone to tell me where this card went wrong.  I have not even peeked at the other Mojo enteries.  Maybe I'll know what is wrong when I see the other entries? Olivia likes it.  Maybe it is a tween card?  

Here's the sketch:

I cannot get the Mojo sketch picture to stay in the place I want it on my blog.  Ay yi yi...I should head back to bed.

Thanks for stopping in. 

Kristine

Mojo Monday 236 times 2!

My daughter, Olivia, is almost done with Spring break.  We have done some scrapbooking already this week, but we had not yet done a challenge.  Livi loves the challenges.  She decided a sketch challenge was what she wanted to do.  So we did the Mojo Monday sketch 236.  Funny thing...we did not look at each other's work until we were done.  We picked a very similar color palette! Like mother, like daughter.  Shhh, don't tell her I said that.  And without further ado, here are are cards.  Well, first, the sketch...

My interpretation.  I could not get a middle strip of paper to look the way I wanted, so I skipped it! And the ribbon looks pretty in real life.  In the picture...not so pretty.  Ah well.

Olivia's interpretation.  I would like to point out that she did all of her own cutting! Very cool.

Thanks for sharing some of your time with Olivia and me today.  Special thank you to my followers and subscribers.  I like the idea that I'm not talking to myself. :-)

Kristine

A Muttley Crew

One of the sets that makes me laugh is the stamp set Not So Seriously.  I have had the set for a bit, but it had not seen any ink.  I found myself with some time, so I took a peek at the Mojo Monday sketch for the week.  Here's the card I came up with. 

I love the happiness of the mutts on the card.  What cracks me up the most is the wide, toothy grin on the Dachshund!  The Fire hydrant comes from a retired set called Man's Best Friend.  I do not have the stamp set, but I do have the brush set in My Digital Studio.  I added a leash instead of a bow.  See, the dogs are wishing the card recipient a happy birthday filled with all of their favorite things! Ha!  The inside of the card says, "From the whole muttley crew."  Cute. :-)

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch I followed.  It is sketch #234

Supplies:

Stamps: Not So Seriously, Man's Best Friend

Card stock: Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla

DSP: Well Worn

Ribbon: Taupe grossgrain (retired)

Other: Pewter Hodgepodge (retired)

Thanks for stopping in.  Leave me a comment.  I like to visit new blogs, so if you have a blog, leave that address too!

Kristine

Mojo #208

This is a quick post.  I've had this card to post all week, but finding the time to sit and post was not possible until now.  Busy week.  For this card I used two things I had not opened yet from my stash, the stamp set Tagtastic, which is a hostess set, and the DSP Just Add Cake.  You know what, most of life would be better if we followed the advice of that DSP...Just add cake...and waalaa wouldn't life be sweet...literally.  Okay, here's my interpretation of the Mojo Monday #208 sketch. 

Happy card, no?  Yes!  I like the colors in the DSP.  I actually bought the paper for a baby scrapbook I'm making.  But, it's good for a card too. ;-)

Thanks for stopping in today.  If you still have a little time, and a fresh cup of coffee or tea, stick around a bit and putter through my blog.  I hope you find something that inspires you to pick up your own supplies and get a little inky.

Kristine

A little Mojo

Happy Father's Day!  As happens every once in a few years, today also happens to be my birthday.  I turn 22 (cough, cough) today! Actually, I am 44 today and glad to be 44 rather than 22.

I have been working on my convention swaps today.  I have one to share!  It is based on the Mojo Monday sketch #195. It uses two new hostess sets from the upcoming 2011-12 Stampin Up catalog called Posy Punch and Perfect Words.  The Posy Punch works with the Fancy Flower Punch.  So easy peasy to punch out those posies!  I made a boat load of these.  But, you know what, there are a stinkin' lot of pieces to this card!!  Took me forever and a day to get them all assembled!  Two pieces ran through the Big Shot to be embossed, lots of sponging...I kill myself with work sometimes! But, I get that bee in my bonnet and stubbornly keep with the original plan to make a boat load to swap. 

I can't see the sponging in the picture? The middle circles are sponged as are the rims of the posies. The sentiment flag is also sponged. (They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Some of the words in this picture are missing since the picture is not clearly representing real life!) The leaves are actually the wings on the bird from the 2-step bird punch.  Love making the easy leaves.  Lots of gold brads too.  Six per swap!!  But I just likey the way they looky, so no changey, changey! 

Recipe:

Stamps: Perfect Words and Posy Punch (hostess sets from new catalog)

Embossing: Pattern 2 from the Perfect Details Texture Plate, Polka Dot EMF

Ink: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz

Card stock: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz

Punches: Fancy Flower, 3/4" circle, 2-step bird, Eyelet border

Accessories: Gold brads, Victoria Crochet Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it!

Kristine



Mojo 194 inspiration

June is birthday month in my family, and also with friends.  So this month I need to create lots of birthday cards!  This card is from the Mojo Monday card sketch 194.  Sometimes the best thing in making a card is to go into Blogland and find a layout to get started.  The layout was a breeze, but I fiddled with it until I was happy.  It is a very simple design, and I guess that today I am more in the mood for less than simple! (Someone should warn my husband.) Take a look!

It almost qualifies for a vintage look, no?  How'd that happen?  Me and vintage...we cross paths rarely.  But this...this may be vintage.  Sponging, "stitching," ribbon, pearls...what do you think?
My "stitching" is kidiwampus, but that ain't any different than my real stitching, so I'm going to call it  "authentic" rather than kidiwampus. :-)

A couple of the items on the card are going to become unavailable on July 1.  They are part of the Stampin' Up! retirement items.  If you like the ribbon or the DSP I used, click here and order yourself some right now!  Then come back on July 1st and order the stamp set!  It was in the Occasions Mini, but I have a strong feeling (wink, wink) that it might be available again on July 1.  Know what I'm saying?  Here's everything I used...
Recipe:
Stamp set: Bring on the Cake
Paper: Concord Crush, Pretty in Pink, Lap of Luxury DSP
Ink: Concord Crush, White Gel pen, Vanilla Craft
Accessories: Blushing Bride Poly twill ribbon, Basic Pearls, Beautiful Wings Embosslit
Tools: 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch and Circle Scissor, Big Shot, Sponge, Mini Glue dots, Dimensionals


Don't forget about my Virtual Card Class. 
You make these three cards:

 

The Class is still available.  Click here for details!


Thanks for stopping in to see what I'm creating.  Beautiful day in Reno.  I need to go hike in them thar hills! 
Kristine

Two challenges, one card

Imagine my pleasure when I discovered a little time to sit and play with my stamps.  I decided to check out Mojo Monday to see the sketch
and to see the color inspiration challenge at Stamping 411. 





I took those two challenges and created this card.

I liked the way it turned out!  I rarely use the color Rose Red.  I had a whole unopened pack.  It's funny how a person tends to a certain hue of a color.  It's a good reason to try some of the color challenges out there in blog land.  Trying a challenge or two is always good for a creative boost. 

Thanks for stopping in today.

Some more Christmas cards

I have continued making Christmas cards.  You'd think I have enough by now!  Here are a couple more to share.

The first card is one of my favorites.  It came together easily for my, which is unusual, and I still like it after looking at it days in a row! lol  The paper is from the Nursery Specialty Suite DSP.  I would not have thought to look in this DSP for Christmas paper, but as I was browsing my papers, this pattern popped out.  It's always fun to use a paper for a purpose it was not intended.   Makes me feel like a rebel!  Wohoo, I'm such a wild and crazy girl. :-)  Now the bow...oh my.  I went to Lee Conreys blog, and she has these magic bow makers for sale.  Yup, bought one.  Love it!  Hey, doesn't my bow look fan-tas-tic!? And the bows just whip right up.  Ain't nothin' but a thing!  Thanks Lee!  The punch is from the Martha Stewart collection.



The next card is for my Open Swappers group.  This is a card making group that swaps once a month for four months.  Materials have to be Stampin' Up!, but they do not need to be current.  If you would like to be a part of the next swap group beginning in January and continuing through April, please contact me.  I can give you all the specifics.  It's fun, and you get to use anything SU!  Anyway, onto the card.  This card has an old fashion feel to me.  I really like it, but it got mixed reviews from my family.  I did one of my new favorite tricks on this card, which is to adhere DSP before running it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder.  I like the look!  All of the edges of the paper are "frosted" with craft white.  I liked using the eyelets again too!  I wonder why they went out of vogue?  I would love to know your honest opinion about the card.  Leave me a comment!

Next is my very sweet daughter, Olivia.  She wanted to do the Mojo Monday challenge for one of her Christmas cards.  Here she is with her finished card. 

And here is the sketch she followed...

And here is the close-up of her card.  Beautiful!!  I think this is one of her best cards.  It's hard to see in the picture, but the snowflakes have dazzling diamonds on them!  A little pretty bling!  As you note, she used the Magic Bow Maker too.  Soooo easy!

I have more cards to share, but will save them for another post.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your Thanksgiving was a wonderful time with family and friends, and you had some time to stop and reflect on all that you have to be grateful for. 

Kristine

MOJO 158

Two weeks in a row for the Mojo Monday challenge!  This week the sketch came in handy for my DH's birthday.  With a busy week, his card was still in the makings when he came home from work.  Yikes!  I love the simply sketches, and this one worked well for his card.  Whenever I show him my work, he always likes the simpler design cards best.

Here's the sketch:


I chose the square version.  Here's my DH's card:

There is a little sparkle to my card--just like my hubby. :-)

I used the Sizzix Squares texturz impression folder to add a little somethin' somethin' to the back panel of the card.  I'd show you the inside, but the note is a mushy gushy one. :-)

Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a good one!

Kristine

MOJO 157

It's amazing, but I found some time to play along with the Mojo Monday sketch this week.  I used mostly retired items in the making of this card.  I tend to always want to play with my newer stuff, but I have so many retired things to use.  Here is the sketch:

Here is my interpretation of the sketch.

The large flower is a die cut on board that has been inked with More Mustard craft ink and then embossed with clear embossing powder.  It looks almost leatherish to me.  The sentiment is from a set called Absolutely fabulous.  I like the continuation of the sentiment on the inside of the card which says, "No seriously, ...you are." 

It's a GORJUS day in Reno today.  Time to go play in the sunshine.

Thanks for looking.

Kristine



Lilacs in bloom with Mojo 137

The lilacs outside my window are blooming.  It inspired this card I made for a friend's birthday.
I used the sketch for Mojo 137 as my layout.

 I'm sorry the picture is a little blurry...I took lots of pictures and they are all blurry.  Time for a new camera or a new operator? :-)

Happy Spring!

Kristine

Mojo133

It's time to get myself back into the creating phase.  When I began this blog, I had all kinds of goals.  Lofty goals I am now realizing! lol.  I do a lot of creating, but I give my cards away before I take pictures of them, {Yes, I do give my cards away.  I know lots of people keep all of their creations, but I create to give away.}or I CASE someone elses card, and I really can't show you that since it isn't really MY card, by design.  So, yesterday I decided to see if I could create a card using the mojo monday sketch as well as one of the retiring SU colors, Almost Amethyst.  Almost Amethyst has been one of my favorite "purples" in the SU colors, and I will miss it.  But, Red Riding Hood is coming back...and I love that baby!  I also needed to do a swap for a group of SU demos I belong to using something from the new Summer Mini Catalog.  So you're getting a sneek peek at a new set that is available to buy beginning May 1st.  It's a pretty, I think vintage looking set, called Watercolor Trio. I bought my set in the clear block form.  I REALLY like the clear blocks.  I also like the phrases included in the set and the font of them.  Very pretty.  So this is the card that my fellow swappers will receive.  I hope you like it!

Because the set gives me a vintage feel, I wanted to emphasize that in the card.  Recently I saw some kitchen materials at the Home Depot that stick to your wall.  They come in sheets and look like embossed metal.  Very 1940ish.  I want that in my kitchen, but making a card that looks like embossed metal will have to do for now! :-)  I used the frost white shimmer paint and mixed it with alcohol and spritzed it liberally over Basic Gray CS.  While the CS was still wet, I ran it through the Big Shot using the Perfect details texture plate to get the deeper impression.  It does look like metal IRL.  The DSP is from the set Autumn Traditions in the Main IBC.  I like the combo of Almost Amethyst and Always Artichoke.  Throwing some gray in there just makes it more...vintagy. {is that a word?}  I did use a Nestie to make the oval.  SU just doesn't have the options for ovals that Spellbinder's Nestabilities do.  Maybe in the new IBC?!!!  From word on the street, {yo homey}there are going to be some great new things in the next IBC.  Makes me all excited and jiggly feeling inside.  :-)  True stamper, huh?  To round out the card, I added half-back pearls from the Pretties kit.  You know, I bought that kit a long time agao and I STILL have pieces!  There's a lot of stuff in the kit...well worth the price.  I also used the gray satin ribbon and clipped the corners of the gray CS with a tag punch.  Add a little Almost Amethyst sponging around the oval and...waaa laaahhh! 

Thanks for popping in today.
Kristine

Mojo122 round 2

Just to show how versatile this sketch is, here is a sympathy card with the same sketch as I used yesterday.  Yesterday was bright colors and the sentiment of LIFE.  Today the same sketch brings a somber tone with blues and black.

Unfortunately, this card is for a friend with whom I have sadly lost touch.  I saw her husband's obituary in the paper.  They were one of those couples that were still in love after 40+ years of marriage. If you are of the praying mind, please include Janice in your prayers tonight for peace and acceptance in her heart.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Kristine

MOJO122

When I first started stamping, I came across the Mojo Monday sketches and Julee Tilman.  She's not just a card maker, but has her own line of stamps too.  Crazy talented, she is!  I just don't know how people can keep coming up with different sketches.  Amazing!  When I am short on time, I like to pop over to the mojo site and see what the sketch is.  It is so much easier to put a card together when I don't have to come up with a card layout!  I adore Mary Fish, and this is her sketch.  So, I had to try it.

Here is my take on the sketch.   I got into my new pack of Sweet Pea DSP and picked out some paper. (That pack of paper is huge! Some of my pages now have drool on them.  Purdy stuff.)  Go figure, it's the first time that Crushed Curry has appealed to me.  I had to use my new daisy die cut as well.  The saying is retired, but I really like the sentiment, and it fit the card.  Here's the inside of the card.

Really, Life IS meant to be lived with intention. This I truly believe, and I try to live each day with an awareness and a gratitude toward each moment.  I'm not always successful, but I I'm in there working at it!

As an aside, I watched two movies yesterday.  It's complicated I watched at the theater with my hubby (we were on a date {giggle}) and then in the evening I watched Julie and Julia. Guess I was in a Meryl Streep kinda mood.!  Two very good movies and very different from one another except for the fact that Meryl's character was a foodie in both.  I recommend them both if you have not yet seen them. But the reason I mention this is that in Julie and Julia, the character of Julie writes a blog.  She of course became famous and now has a movie based on her experience with her blog.  How interesting would a movie about a card maker, blogger be? Hmmmm? HEY, WAKE UP!  Yeah, you're right...not so interesting.  Guess I'll have to find my fame elsewhere! :-)

Thanks for popping in to check on me.

Kristine

Supplies: 

Stamps: Live like you mean it (retired)

Ink: Soft Suade

CS: Sweet Pea DSP, Soft Suade, Crushed Curry

Accessories: Pewter Hodgpodge (retired) Fire circle brads, Crushed Curry ribbon

Tools: Big Shot, Nestabilities scallop oval and classic ovals, 3/4" circle punch, Daisy die cut

Two, Two, Two challenges in one!

I'm really enjoying participating in swapping and some of the challenges out in stamping land.  Today's card is for a swap for my swap group (Love the SSUS ladies!) and for the Mojo Monday #120.  I love this sketch.  It's a keeper!  The swap had to be a birthday card, and with all the hype about the Disney movie, "The Princess and the Frog" (well I should qualify that with the statement that the hype is in my home), I figured I'd do something along the line of kissing a prince as a birthday wish.  Okay, it makes me giggle to see the frog in this stamp.  He looks so darn happy to be sittin' with the flowers, and I'd bet he's a prince of a frog.

It was also nice to get some happy spring colors out.  Love red.  It's my favorite color, and usually shows up somewhere on most of my cards.  But there is not even a dot of it on this card! With all the cold and the slushy snow and the gray skies, this card is just the ticket for a happy birthday wish.

Thanks for popping in today. Stay Warm!
Kristine

Supplies:
Stamps: Heard from the heart, Circles Scallops #2 Die, A flower for all seasons
Inks: Craft white, Pretty in pink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst
Card Stock: Tea Party DSP, So Saffron, Certainly Celery
Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Polks Dots Texture Impression folder (Occassions mini) 3/4" square punch, Circle Scissor plus