Inkspirational Challenge #337

 

I had some extra time today so I searched my favorite (non-DT) challenge sites for inspiration.  And guess what?  The Inkspirational challenge, led by my friend Carol, lived up to it's name.  :-)  Their current prompt is Sports.  I really don't have much in the way of sports themed supplies but I did remember this guy from years ago.

My dad was an avid golfer and I think that's what originally spurred me to buy this die but I honestly don't think I ever used it.  Since Pops is gone I thought this might make for a masculine nice retirement card.  What do you think? 

It was pretty simple to make.  I die cut the green panel with a cover die and adhered it over a panel of metallic gold cardstock.  The golfer is stacked two high as is the die cut sentiment.  It's a CAS card with a bit of pizazz.

Supplies:

Spellbinders - Stitched Starry Argyle cutting plate (NBUS)

Gina Marie - golfer die

Impression Obsession - Congratulations die

I'm also adding this to Darnell's site since another NBUS bites the dust!

Thanks so much for visiting!  I appreciate your time and comments.

Jules

Color Hues #106

 

Greetings my crafty friends!  I am here today to share my DT card created for the current Color Hues challenge.  Our host this fortnight is JulieB and she has chosen the fun combination of Lemon and Lime.  I took another deep dive into my NBUS bin to see what I could dust off and use for this challenge.  I think I found the perfect stamp and die combo.

Let me introduce you to Frank....

We won't get into a discussion about how Frankenstein was 

the name of the creator, not the monster.  It does kinda ruin the pun. 

                                             

I began my card by doing a gradient blend onto a panel of white cardstock with the darkest lime on the bottom and transitioning to lemon on top.  I stamped, colored and die cut Frank and adhered him to the center of the panel leaving room for the stamped sentiment below.  I added a black frame and then adhered the panel to an embossed card base.  And Voila!  Another NBUS bites the dust.

Supplies:

Colorado Craft Company - Frankly mini stamp set (NBUS)

Simon Says Stamp - Kaleidoscope embossing folder

Waffle Flower - Pinking Rectangle die set (NBUS)

I invite you to visit our blog for more lemon and lime inspiration.  Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules

Seize the Birthday #301

 

Hello Crafty Friends!  We have a new challenge up at Seize the Birthday.  Linda is our host and she has chosen Anything That Flies as our Topping.  I'd also like to extend a warm welcome to Leslie, our new Surprise Party Guest for the next two months.  

I have to admit my choice of flight is fairly boring but I'm still aggressively digging into my NBUS pile.  Today my victim of choice was this nest and egg die set.  

I went with a slightly vintage feel to this one.  The nest and greenery were die cut from colored cardstock scraps.  The bird, feathers and oval background were cut from cream and colored with Distress Oxides.  The card base was embossed with a woodgrain folder.  The sentiment was stamped.  I added a few gemstones to finish it off.

I'm doing my best to keep Darnell busy.

Supplies:

Honeybee Stamps - Nest die set (NBUS)

Ellen Hutson - HB2U stamp set

Spellbinders - Modern Ovals die set

Tim Holtz - Woodgrain embossing folder

Honeybee Stamps - Bluebird die set

I hope you'll visit our blog for more air born inspiration. Many of my fellow team mates were much more clever than I.  Whether you choose to join us in the Topping or not, make sure your entry has a birthday theme.  I've come across several wonderful cards recently that didn't fit the challenge.  

Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #105

Hello Crafty Friends!  Today is March 1st and Color Hues is celebrating the month in St. Patty's Day style.  Carol is our host and she has most suitably chosen Green and White as our colors this fortnight.  

Before we get to my card let me give you a bit of a backstory...

I got my very first pair of Chuck Taylor Converse shoes way back in the 1970s.  Seventh grade to be exact as they were all the rage in junior high gym class. Green has always been my favorite color so naturally that's what I chose for my first pair.  I was so proud of those babies and sincerely wish I still had them.  Fast forward to 1988.  Being a huge baseball fan I ran to the theaters when Bull Durham was released.  When I saw Susan Sarandon in her high top white Chuck Taylor's I knew I had to own another pair.  Unlike my original pair, I bought these in navy high tops.  And yes, I still own and occasionally wear that same pair today.  (My daughter's first pair were .... you guessed it....purple. EW!)

And now that I've totally bored you all with my trip down memory lane, let's get to my card.

I passed on the MFT Converse die set years ago but when this one from Erin Lee Creative went on clearance late last year I snapped it up ASAP.  It's taken me a few months to use it but here she is in all of her glory.  I LOVE this card.  LOL!  I searched deep for a sentiment and using Annie Savoy as my guide, I chose this statement of encouragement.

As you can see, the Chucks were created using only green and white cardstocks.  The green background has been embossed with a 3D folder.  The sentiment was heat embossed in white.  Because this die set is quite large I opted for a 5"x7" card size.  It's very difficult to see but I sprinkled tiny gold stars throughout the background as a finishing touch.

Supplies:

Erin Lee Creative - High Top Sneakers die set (NBUS)

Simon Says Stamp - You Can Do Anything stamp set

Spellbinders - Stylized Lattice embossing folder

Honeybee Stamps - gem stickers and tiny gold stars

I invite you to visit our blog and play along!  And if you made it this far, thanks for humoring me in all of my dorkiness.  I would love to hear your thoughts on Chucks and what colors you may have owned.  Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #260

Hello my fellow crafters!  As St. Patrick's Day approaches, Edna and the Sisterhood are requesting that you use the color GREEN on this month's cards. 

Since I seem to only send out belated birthday wishes I opted not to create a St. Patty's Day design but rather looked to my NBUS bin for inspiration.  Today I'm sharing two WTF (for a lack of better words) cards using green balloons.  

 I definitely feel like the world has gone to shit.  

Strike that.  The United States has gone to shit.  

My sincerest apologies to all of my friends outside of the our nuthouse.

Even Edna can't bear to face the world.

My backgrounds were created using a cloud stencil, white pigment ink and soft blue cardstock.  The penguin and balloons were die cut from colored cardstocks.  I thought this sentiment fit the bill nicely.  The inside panel (not shown) reads "Control/Alt/Delete".  

Supplies:

Sizzix - Festive Sky Party die set

CAS - Shit Happens stamp set 

Kelly Purkey - Hot Mess stamp set (inside sentiment)

FT - Cloud stencil

Whether you go "full on St. Patty's Day" or choose to be a bit of a rebel like me, we would love to see your cards created with the color green.  Snark is not a requirement but it is much appreciated.  I invite you to visit our blog and upload your qualifying cards into our gallery.  Remember, our challenges are now month long.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules

Seize the Birthday #300

Hello my crafty friends!  As host of this week's Seize the Birthday challenge I have the honor of choosing our newest Topping.  

As is probably the case with many of us, my card designs rather of ebb and flow with my moods.  Right now I am finding that the majority of my cards are predominantly created with die cuts.  Most of the time I incorporate a stamped sentiment but otherwise the elements are die cuts rather than traditional the stamping/coloring techniques.  My challenge to you all is to create a card devoid of any stamping....INCLUDING the SENTIMENTS.  

My example:

Look Mom!  No Stamping!

I once again dove into my NBUS bin and dusted off two "new to me" products for today's card.  My elements were die cut from colored cardstock scraps.  The sentiment is stacked three high and the arch is popped up from the front panel.  I added a trio of confetti dots to finish off the design.

Supplies:

Erin Lee Creative - Hand Torn Arches die set

Pinkfresh Studio - A Bow for Any Reason die set (NBUS)

MFT - Happy Birthday die

Sizziz - Festive Sky Party die set (balloons) (NBUS)

I invite you to visit our blog for my fabulous die cut inspiration from my fellow teammates.  I would love it if you tried your hand at my Topping however if die cutting isn't your thing, any birthday card is eligible for a spot in our gallery.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules

Color Hues #104

Hello, my crafty friends.  I am here today to share not one, not two, but three cards created with our new Color Hues Challenge combination.  Bonnie is our host and she has chosen the wonderful duo of Coral and Yellow.  

As you know, I am trying to use at least one NBUS (a little plug for Darnell) product on every card.  It's always been my personal goal to create at least two cards with each new product before filing it away in my stash.  Today I created three cards using this fabulous "new to me" hummingbird die.  Take a peek....

Card One

This one uses a preprinted foiled sentiment.

Card Two

This one uses Spellbinders Brushed Black cardstock.  I used a Better Press plate

 to imprint the gold mirror cardstock heart.  Cool technique, right?

Card Three

And on this one I adhered white flourish die cuts to the white 

cardstock panel for a tone on tone effect to the background.

Do you have a favorite?

I really played up the hues portion of our challenge, using different shades of each color when piecing together the hummingbird.  I believe the construction of each card is fairly self explanatory but feel free to message me if you have any questions.

Supplies:

Honeybee Stamps - Lovely Layers Hummingbird die set

Memory Box - Little Fuschia Flower Trio & Branch die set

Hero Arts - Infinity Hearts die set

Simon Says Stamp - Just Words die set

Hero Arts - Woodgrain embossing folder

Pinkfresh Studio - Foiled Sentiments

MFT - Stitched Oval die set

Spellbinders - Better Press Always You (NBUS)

MFT - Large Leaf Flourish die

Spellbinders - 3D Patchwork embossing folder

Spellbinders - Intertwined Lattice embossing folder

I invite you to visit our blog for additional inspiration from my teammies as well as our special guest, Teresa.  Come join us as we would love to see your card in our gallery!

Thanks so much for visiting!

Jules