Technical Difficulties

I have photos to download, but neither computer is reading our photo card....hummm  Mojo Monday card and Trigger Tuesday cards just waiting to be admired.   I will have to wait for my resident computer fixer to get home from work and perhaps he'll be able to solve this problem. Wish us luck!

And so it begins... SvS01

I have always said, I am two sides of one coin.  First, I love detailed, elaborate cards with lots of texture, embellishments and layers.  I also appreciate simple designs, pretty much the opposite of my general design aesthetic.  I have noticed that card design is now leaning toward the cleaner, simpler cards, something I don't excell at.
SO....  After being inspired by my win at Moxie Fab, I decided to start the Simple vs. Sophisticated Challenge!  This is how it goes...  At the end of each week, choose a card you made and create the opposite style card.  Here are my examples for the first SvS01 challenge:

I made this card for the Play Date Cafe color challenge PDCC17.  The colors to be used were Red, Brown and Linen.  I created this based on my 'It feels like Spring' card I made nearly 2 years ago.  The original one was damaged and I wanted to make another one just like it with different colors. 

Sophisticated Thanks

I don't have an ivory colored embossing powder, so I used white on this card.

Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, White Craft

Stamp Set: Spring Solitude

Accessories: Winter White EP, chocolate grosgrain ribbon, non-su! red velvet ribbon, red EP & red snaps

Simple Thanks

I used my Cricut to make the scalloped square set at 4".

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla

Inks: Chocolate Chip; SU! markers: Real Red

Stamp Set: Spring Solitude

Accessories: chocolate grosgrain ribbon, non-SU! red grosgrain ribbon & red rhinestones

That's it!  Join me for some fun each Saturday as I become Simply Sophisticated!!!  I will leave up Mr. Linky until Friday @ midnight.
I don't have any blog candy to entice you to play along with me, but perhaps you too need to get outside of your comfort zone!

Recycled to me!

So my cousin had a computer meltdown a couple of months ago.  She took her laptop in was told it was a lost cause.  So she bought a new and improved one.  Now to the north-end of the country...I re-organized my craft area, and didn't really have any room for the ancient computer I had.  I have been contimplating whether to get a lap top or just a flat screen monitor.
So my brilliant mom, heard Kathy's tale and asked what she was going to do with the old laptop.  Mom dumpster-dived it for me (not really) and sent it to my super computer fixer brother Mark.  Fixed in 1 day, he sent it to me just in time for my birthday on Monday!  WOW!!  So now I have a fun new toy to play with!!! I can't wait to do the Cricut design software on this!!!   

WOW!!!

So, I've been posting all month my cards inspired by Anne Tainter for the Moxie Fab Tainter-tude challenge.  These have been so fun to make, I've loved gathering the images and sassy phrases for my creations!  Wellllll...... I'm excited to share that I was one of the winners of the challenge!!!!  WOW!!!  Moxie Fab World is sponsored by Paper Crafts magazine, so to be picked by them is an incredible honor!!!  Out of all my entries, they picked this one for it's sassy phrase and sequin/rhinestone bling.  I have noticed, the designs they picked were simple in design, perhaps a new trend in card making????  Hummm....I sense a theme for the month of March coming on....Simple vs. Sophisticated.  Here are the links to the rest of my designs:
Taintor-tude 1
Taintor-tude 2
Taintor-tude 3
Taintor-tude 4

Bumps and Bruises...

I had a house full of guests this weekend.  My in-laws drove down from Petoskey, Michigan and stayed the whole weekend, and my brother & sister in-laws stopped by a couple of times too.  Gramma and Papa left this morning, but not until Papa wiped out in our driveway on the freshly fallen snow.  He's ok, but claimed there was a little ice on the driveway and to watch our step if we go out.  "A little ice" he said. 

The snow has been coming down all morning and early afternoon, so I decided to do a mid-snowfall shovel so it won't be such a chore later.  This photo is my driveway (yes its there) 5 minutes after I finished shoveling.  That's how fast it's coming down.  Anyhow, remember when Papa said we had "a little ice"?  My entire driveway is a sheet of ice, which was covered with 4 inches of snow.  This I discovered when I wiped out 4 times as I labored with the shovel.  I love snow, I love snow, I love snow, but I hate ice, I Hate ice, I HATE ICE!!! (unless its nursing my broken tail bone, as it is now...)

Tainter-tude x3

This is my third post inspired by the Moxie Fab challenge Tainter-Tude.  I have to admit...I LOVE this challenge!  I have had so much fun making these cards!  Here are 3 more to add to my mix...

Punishment

Cardstock: Taken with Teal. Pumpkin Pie, Paisley & Polka-dots DSP, Perinnial Favorites DSP

Accessories: non-su! orange, white and teal buttons, non-su! orange polka-dot ribbon

Trippin'
CardStock: Taken with Teal, Barely Banana, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Ruby Red DP
Accessories: Turquoise grosgrain ribbon

Reject
Cardstock: Passion Pink, Pixie Pink, Basic Black
Ink: Passion Pink
Stamp Set: a retired su!background, I don't remember the name
Accessories: Black Sequins, rhinestones

Cardvarks Challenge

While doing some posting, I came across a challenge by Cardvarks.  If you win this challenge,  your card will be published!  Pretty cool, so I thought I'd enter.  I made this card before I read the entire challenge.  Your card is to be new and innovative, which this really isn't.  I used pretty tradional stamping supplies and layout.

After I came up with the layout, I went back and forth on how to create it, lots of layers, or lots of texture.  I did the latter.  I embossed French Script with Ranger Silver Pearl Embossing Powder on some pearlized metallic paper from Papers and More, I LOVE this look.  Tone on tone with lots of great texture!  Next I Cuttlebugged with the PolkaDot folder a piece of Whisper White paper, and then stamped the verbage on another piece with Sahara Sand and Versamarker then embossed the 'happiness' with Ranger Silver EP.  Then layered that with a piece of Silver pearlized metallic paper (from the same place).  The cherry blossom image is from 'Embrace Life' and is stamped in Sahara Sand, then I used Liquid Applique to puff those flowers up!  I cut the shape with my Cricut Accents and layered it also with the Silver pearlized metallic paper.  I added sheer ribbon for subtle texture and 3 rhinestone brads from the Pretties Kit in the corner.  Too bad I don't know anyone getting married...I really like how it came out!

Happiness
Card Stock: SU! Whisper White, Paper and More: White Pearlized Metallic cardstock and Silver Pearlized Metallic paper
Inks:  VersaMark, SU! Classic Ink Sahara Sand
Markers:  Versamarker, SU! Sahara Sand
Stamp Sets: SU! French Script Background, SU! Embrace Life, SU!, Heard from the Heard
Accessories:  Stamp-a-magig, SU! rhinstone brads from Pretties Kit, SU! Stampin Dimensionals, Organza ribbon, Liquid Applique, Ranger brand Silver Pearl Embossing Powder and Silver Embossing Powder, Cuttlebug Swiss Polkadot folder.

Makin' Mojo

I have to admit, this week's Mojo Monday sketch was a head scratcher for me, but I really love how it turned out!  I must remember: it's always good to try new things, you just might surprize yourself.  Thanks Maria!
On my bargin shopping bonanza, I purchased a Spellbinders Nestabilities tag die set, but while creating that part of this card, realized I need the nesting die to go with it.  That is the only part I would change on this card, a Chocolate Chip border around the Soft Sky on the tag. 
I orginally made a different circle but opted with a larger one with my favorite stamp from the Garden Silhouettes stamp set.  This cherry blossom stamp is so versatile, usually I use markers and hand color the rubber for a colorful image like this one, but this time opted for an actual silhouette image instead.  Then spiced it up a bit with Liquid Applique and rhinetones.  Hopefully I won't have to use this one and can list it on my Esty account instead.

Silhouette Sympathy

All items Stampin' Up! unless noted

Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Soft Sky
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Soft Sky
Stamp Sets: Garden Silhouettes, Canvas, Filigree, Warm Words (I think)
Accessories: Nestablities tag die, Cricut Accents, non-su! satin ribbon, Liquid Applique, non-su! rhinestones, sponge daubers

Oh...I dared!

This is another bargin shopping result!  I choose the colors for this card from last weeks Play Date Cafe Color Challenge PDCC15.  So the bargins are:

1. The stamp set: 15+ images for $1 - that's right one dollar (I am the bargin hunting queen)!  I've seen cards made with this bird image awhile back and always loved it, so I snatched it up when I saw it. 
2. The ribbon: $1 for 4 yards.  Pretty good deal and I've been noticing tons of cards with BIG bows on them.  I thought for a buck, I'd give it a try.
3. The designer paper: a 24 page pack of Making Memories paper.  Not my favorite prints (again refer to Rob's motto) but workable for me.

So like I said, I dared...and it's FABULOUS!!!

Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Ballet Blue, MM DP

Inks: Versamark, More Mustard, Wild Wasabi, Ballet Blue

Stamp Set: (I'll find the package and edit this post - check back)

Accessories: satin ribbon, gold brads, gold EP, H2O pen, blender pen

Bargin Shopping

I am a firm believer, that if you can't get something at a discount, don't get it.  I love great deals!  When I shop on a clearance rack, I get the rush from finding a great deal.  With that being said, there are a few exceptions. 

My husbands motto with clearance shopping is "If it's on the clearance rack, it's there for a reason."  I largely dissagree with this motto, but sometimes it rings true.  For example this card here.  This was inspired by the MoxieFab Tuesday Trigger picture and the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge at The Sweetest Thing.

I found the FABULOUS fabric velvet ribbon on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  I bought a spool with 8 yards of this stuff for $2.97.  It was regularly $4.99 a yard!  Great deal eh?  No let's look at the image.  I found a clear rubber stamp set of 6 with cute sayings for little girls (I won't mention the name of the company) for only $1.  Now I am tradtionalist when it comes to my stamps.  I lean more toward the wood blocks as opposed to the clear block stamps.  I have continued success with the wood blocks, and hit or miss with the clear rubber for clear block stamping but I thought I'd give it a try at such a great deal. 

This stamp set was a MISS.  Not only did it not stamp the image well, I had to be Hulk Hogan to get it off the plastic sheet!  I thought I did everything right, I evenly inked, lined it up over the paper ( a bonus with the clear block), I even used a stamp pad to stamp on.  Nothing I did got it right.  Perhaps that's why it was on the clearance rack...hence Rob's motto.   Oh well.  Lily's Valentine is done and she'll love it!

HOLY'N TOLEDO!!!!

In the words of my Grandpa Ben...HOLY'N TOLEDO!!! (how convient it was for him when we moved there) I WON ON MOJO MONDAY'S!!!! I am so shocked!! I wasn't even sure if I was going to submit my card, I didn't like it that much. Since free time hasn't been my friend, and I was unable to create another, I went ahead and submitted it and I WON!!! It just goes to show you that you are your own worst critic. Make sure you always get a second opinion before you scrap something. With this win, I have been given my choice of a Verve Stamp set!  I have been coveting many of the sets there, and decided on the 'Because of You' set since Mother's day is around the corner.  Make sure you check out their stamp collection, I love 'Up, Up and Away' too (it was a tough decision). This is the card that won, and here is the orginal post.

Trapped

All snow and no school makes Kristin a trapped mom...I haven't been able to get a moment to get into my creative spot. BOTH girls will be taking a nap today so I can get some things done! Wish me luck!

New look?

Hi everyone...please be patient with me. I'm trying a new look for my blog. I've opened an ETSY site and wanted them to coordinate. It's unfortunate that I'm not very computer literate...

Spring Flower Fun

I love the snow. Nearly 8" we got here. It's so pretty and clean and white. I'm over the snow. Nearly killing the girls and I on the highway with truckers hitting patches of ice. Spring needs to come, no more death defying trips for us thank you. This is for hoping for no ice, just fun, snowman snow. Or get rid of winter completely and give us spring.

Spring Flower Fun
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst and DSP, CLose to Cocoa, Whisper White, Garden Green
Inks: Close to Cocoa, SU! markers: Almost Amethyst, Pumpkin Pie
Stamp set: Spring Solitude
Accessories: non-su! silk flower, white gorsgrain ribbon, scallop edge punch

Good Neighbors

This is a new stamp set from Sale-a-bration at SU!. It's a cute house collection. Kind of country kitchy, it's cute. It's for the SCS SC266 card sketch and I've been trying to download it on my gallery there for hours. Oh well... I did eliminate the bottom circle, it seemed too much going on for me.

Good Neighbors
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Pretty in pink, Ruby Red DSP, Certainly Celery, Close to cocoa, Garden Green
Inks: Soft Sky, Pretty in pink, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery, SU! markers: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red
Stamp Set: Good Neighbors, Simply Said
Accessories: Cuttlebug polka-dot strip folder, white gel pen, non-su! stiched ribbon

Camera down...

I would have posted these things sooner, but the camera was down for 2 days. So here it goes! I created this one based on the SSSC54 sketch challenge over at 'The Sweetest Thing'. I love her blog! She does amazing work! I wasn't able to post this there in time, but wanted to show off my work ;). This also goes with the SCS Thursday Limited Supply challenge LSC258, I've Been Framed. It's not exactly a frame, but it's a decor item. This is made to hang on the wall or it could sit in an easel, and I think it will go in my kitchen. I love the colors and the quote. Sweet and simple!


Love Many Things
Cardstock: So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Soft Sky, Whisper White
Inks: Chocolate Chip, SU! markers: So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery
Stamp Sets: Garden Silhouettes, Sage Advice
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU! scallop edge punch, Cricut Accents cartridge, white gel pen, non-su! oragne grosgrain ribbon, 6" square wood board.

Why? They ask...

When I was in my hometown this weekend, I had several people comment on my blog (they loved it of course;)), but had many questions for me. I thought I'd take the time to answer some of the questions while my creative juices are drained.

Why do you 'craft' things? - It's called CREATE. It keeps my brain from turning to mush. I don't get much adult interaction during the day, so instead of being a couch potato, I create! It's also an outlet for me - the more I create, the better mom & wife I am. Besides, there is only so much butt wiping, laundry and toilet scrubbing a girl can take.

Do you sell your cards - Years ago, I had a fairly successful business making cards for various boutiques and invitations for people. I started doing this when my oldest child was 3 months old. I got so busy creating for other people, that it took time away from my family, so now I only do requests from old clients and friends. But...I just opened an ETSY account, it doesn't hurt to put my creations out there, right?

Do you sell your cakes? - A couple of people asked if I sold my cakes - I'm not that good of a baker (click here for evidence of that)but I make a killer cupcake and awesome cookies. I can never say no to family or friends, or if someone makes me an offer I can't refuse!

Are you getting paid? - No...my husband wishes.

Why do you blog if you're not getting paid? - This is something I can do to keep me accountable to my creative side. Life gets in the way of good intentions, this keeps my intentions a priority. Although...is cleaning a priority?

Mojo Mishap

I'm not thrilled with this Mojo attempt. I'll try again later, but I thought I'd share. It has entirely too much happening, perhaps mimicking my life!

Mojo Mishap
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Ruby Red
Inks: Basic Black, su markers: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Ruby Red
Stamp Set: Love Matters
Accessories: CriCut circle,hearts & scallop; scallop border punch, Cuttlebug folders, white gel pen

Back to therapy

We went out of town this weekend to my hometown of Perrysburg Ohio. It was a fun trip! We stayed at the French Quarter (fun Holidome) that my children loved. Reminised high school theatre and caught up with my freshman english student teacher Deb Drew and European BFF Anne Sluhan over Pomegranete Martinis (yum!). Had a pool party with dear friend Carrie Faber and her family, and visited Anne's amazing aunt and son Maryanne Sluhan & Jon Sluhan. All in all a fun filled weekend!
Now that I'm back home, I can continue my creative therapy! I had originally created this card for the Play Cafe color challenge, but realized that I forgot a color. My mind isn't back from it's trip, better luck next week!

Cherry on Top
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Orchid Oppulence, Basic Black, Rose Red, Whisper White, Rose Red DSP
Stamp Set: Goody-Goody Gumdrops
Inks: Basic Black, SU! markers, Pumpkin Pie, Orchid Oppulence, Rose Red
Accessories: non-su black polka-dot ribbon, scallop punch, 1 3/8 & 1 1/4 circle punches, black eyelets, Crystal effects, white gel pen, Cuttlebug Swirl

I just can't stop!

I'm addicted to these Taintor-tude cards! They are full of sass and fire, just like me! Here are 2 more I made last night after the girls went to bed. Now I just need to start sending these out to people so they don't collect dust in my card box!


Handle on Life
Cardstock:So Saffron, Taken with Teal, Petals & Paisley DSP,
Accessories: Cuttlebug Houndstooth, SU! orange grosgrain


Dancing Nuggets
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Bordering Blue, Ruby Red, non-su DP
Accessories: Cuttlebug polka-dot, non-SU! yellow polka-dot ribbon