stamping with Maggie

The shape of things - a challenge

I haven't participated in blogger challenge group in a while. But I love the challenges and the other stampers in the group. This week's challenge was a shaped card.

I found my inspiration at the dollar spot in my Target store. They were a simple deck of cards, and only a dollar!
I began with magical sticky tape around the bottom edge of the card. I adhered another card to the card to make a pocket.

I covered the card with designer paper - polka dots and paisleys just using hermafix dotto glue - my favorite.  I cut two strips of coordinating paper to form a band around the "egg" pocket

I used one of the nifty flower rub - ons from sale- a - bration  on a punched 1 1/4 in round white circle, which I attached to a pink scallop punch of designer paper.

After I slipped the band over the top of the egg card, I stuffed it with shreds in a dark pink, and candy.

Three and we were out- numbered - a challenge

This is a page I made of my first three children. the picture was taken in 1987.  The oldest has three children of his own, and I have yet to be able to get a picture of them together. He has a big challenge ahead of him too.

I remember feeling very overwhelmed with the three, even more so than adding the fourth and fifth.

I want to note that I crosstitched the yoke on Katie's dress and made the outfit and shirts for the boys to match in color for their picture. After that I was doing great to get them clean and fed in a reasonable fashion.   Oh Boy!

I'm ready for snow - a challenge

I've had this project to complete since last winter. I just finished it and loved and wanted to share it. I love all the little doo dads and the colors. I have been back into my scrapbooking lately, as my last few bloggers challenges have been pages. This album is for sale on ebay . Be sure and check out the other challenge players.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

fun for a challenge

Last week our challenge was to use inspiration in everyday life to create a new project. This is one of my favorite challenges. I am always amazed.  This was one of my favorites. Link: Bohler's Babblings: Blogger's Challenge #17. I love how much like her inspiration Lisa Bohler was able to create her card.  Very Fun!

Challenge 18 - An Altered Lunch box

Our challenge this week is to use designer paper in our project. This is a cute little lunch box that I found at deals. There was candy in it, which I sacrificed myself to eat. Now it can be a cute little card holder or gift. I used the polka dots and paisley paper. Maybe not very seasonal but it was a pink lunchbox. Check out the other blogger challenge players for great ideas.

Rubber Ducky - a challenge

I recently visited my children in Utah, and discovered a mecca for scrapbookers. I was bewitched. My challenge, there, was to curb my urge to buy everything! I found this example in a small store and hurried home to copy it for my own scrapbook. I have so many  photos of my children in the bathtub, I knew I would be able to use it. While my children were in school( BYU) or working, I visited  scrapbook stores and made scrapbook pages. What fun!   Be sure and visit the other bloggers challenge players for their great ideas!

Noel - a challenge

I am out of town this week visiting my children in at school. But rather than leave you with nothing, I thought I would add a special card from a really great stamper Glenda Travelstead form Chicago Il. area.                                                                       My picture doesn't do the glitter on the ornament justice.

Stamp set: Big on CHristmas
cardstock: real red, vanilla and Dashing Designer paper from Stampin' UP
The ornament is pop dotted  and has the elastic cording.

Check out the other Blogger challenge ladies for their ornament creations.

Now with less than 90 days to Christmas, the challenge is really how to create a wonderful CALM CHristmas holiday for our families. It is so easy to get caught up in the fuss and the furor and forget the reall reason we are celebrating.

I have noticed that the number of Christmas cards I have been receiving the last few years is dwindling. I hope we don't forget the power of a Card at Christmas or anytime to connect us with those that really matter to us.

My free Spirit - a challenge

Michael is my oldest son, and has been full of life and interest since he was born. He has taught me to  recognize that every problem has more than one way of solving it. And Michael's solutions are, generally, a little more creative than the rest. Blogger's challenge this week is to use black and orange. I created this scrapbook page for my Grandson, so that when he wants to be creative, He can use this page as leverage with his Dad. Why bring the groceries up the stairs, when you can use rope, and a window? And my husband is right there with him. I have four sons, and I have often just smiled and shook my head. But this I caught on film.
Be sure to check the other blogger's challenge ideas.

Challenge 14 - bouncing the brayer

I have been planning this all week. I was excited to try a new technique that I found on splitcoast stampers called bouncing brayer.tutorial here  Our blogger challenge this week  was to use a spectrum pad located on page 186 of the fall and winter Stampin" Up catalog. Sounded like a perfect combination to give this all a try. But I have struggled a bit getting the look I want for this beautiful stamp set " holy Triptych" from page 11 of the Holiday mini catalog.

Still yet to come a tutorial for mounting your stamp sets using Jen Bailey's great idea and the Stamp a ma jig.

I used the spectrum stamp pad Blue frost, whisper white cardstock, and my brayer to play, and this is the paper I was finally happy with to use. I tried the

I tried the bouncing brayer on vellum several times before I was pleased with the "rays"

I stamped and embossed the nativity on the front of the vellum, but didn't like the dark spot directly behind the image.

I re did the bouncing brayer on a new piece of vellum to place the "rays " more as coming from the nativity, and then started making the card.

stamping with sue

Many of you remember my fondness for paper piecing for my scrapbooks, this is a great witchy poo! included on her is some texture from embossing. I think you will love her!

link by Sue Davis

Inking Aloud

Link: Inking Aloud. These are the cutest 3x3 cards. It demonstrates how different color can make  a card look. But at the same time, how pleasing all cards made with the same basic design. 

Boo! Blogger challenge #13

Lucky 13 challenge for the blogger challenge group is a bit late. I have been uninspired this week. SO this is a CASE from pat huntoon .
I found the cutest halloween cards on her site and have been excited to try her ideas. She is very creative. I used my cuttlebug embossing folder with my sizzix machine to emboss the background card. I have had this folder for a year or more and this was my first time to use it. It works like a dream.  If you read her post, you will notice that she has added some fun details to her cards, that I don't think to do, example: stamping the black piece behind the boo letters. I love Mister bat and cutting him out and placing him as an accent adds to the card and gives it personality. I used a sponge  with black ink and lightly brushed the embossing to give it that dirty ( oh just the right word for a handmade creation) haloweeny( look that one up in your grammar books) look.  I used the big deal alphabet set for the letters by stamping on the back of the paper in white, and using that as a pattern, to cut it out.  I used the batty for you wheel to get the Happy halloween image as Pat suggested.

Sunflower Studio: BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #12 - INSPIRED BY...

Link: Sunflower Studio: BLOGGER'S CHALLENGE #12 - INSPIRED BY....Leigh O'Brien - this is a great color combo.  but very different than what I would try on my own. That is why I really like these challenges and looking at how others interpret their design.

FAITH ARTISTRY: BCG - Inspired by a book cover

Link: FAITH ARTISTRY: BCG - Inspired by a book cover. This is really a great interpretation in stamping art of "other" art.

Blogger challenge #12 -to learn

This is inspirational week. We were to find something that inspired us and create a card. I found my inspiration from another card. Let me explain. I bought the latest copy of the magazine "Card Creations" to learn a little more about composition and the art of card making. I would love to be published someday, but I don't feel confident enough or understand what makes a good card tick, so to speak. So I wanted to hunt for clues, that maybe I could use to improve my cards.  I dropped the book on the floor to see where it opened for my first investigation.
I found the card inside, that was also on the cover.
I asked several people' "Why do you think this card was chosen to be published in this magazine?"

teenage son - shoulder shrug.
husband - maybe the sewing on the card
friend - cute flowers
friend - colorful.

I was not happy with my card when I copied it more accurately, so maybe I will never "get it", but I like my card. I had fun sewing on it. I think It's colorful, I have cute flowers, and ( as I shrug my shoulders) it will work for the blogger challenge.  Why do you think it was published, and on the cover, even?  Tell me please.

Be sure and check out other inspiring bloggers, and stay tuned for my blogger choice award.

A Diversionary Tactic

Link: A Diversionary Tactic. Drum roll Please!  This is my bloggers challenge choice award this week. I love the whole idea of using  a photo as the designer paper panels in this week's sketch. I think it is so striking and rich. And who wouldn't want to receive this card as a gift? and a sentiment? I find this inspirational as I look at my piles of photos and realize how great some of them are. So add more meaning to your cards occasionally by using a great photo for your paper.

Stamperosity: {Blogger's Challenge Week 11}

Link: Stamperosity: {Blogger's Challenge Week 11}.  This card was one of the blogger's challenge cards that just appealed to me because of it's attention to detail. I loved them all this week.