August 30, 2012

RS #26 & First Day for Ben

This week's RetroSketch was based on a card by Danielle Daws.  Although I just aid two days ago I wasn't ready to let summer go, and tonight at 10:30 it is still 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) I was inspired to make my first card for Autumn.




Well I got the shot that I was told on Tuesday I wouldn't get.  In fact he was quite agreeable with the first one, but not so much on the second one.  First day of grade 12 for Ben, he was at rugby tryouts/training camp the first two days which is why he is sporting the scrape across the bridge of his nose.  Only fitting since today was also picture day at school!




All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate
Stamps: Lovely Layers (PTI), Autumn (Hero Arts)
Ink:  Canyon Clay, Dark Chocolate, Simply Chartreuse
Dies: Lovely Layers (PTI), Scalloped Rectangle (Spellbinders)
other: Ripe Avocado ribbon, foam dots, Orage Zest button


Paper Smooches is hosting a Blog Hop today.  Some fabulous inspiration, go have a look.

August 29, 2012

First Day of School

Even at 15 I got a picture for the first day of school.  She was freaking out 30 seconds before this because she had to get going and hurry up with the camera Mom!  I hope this energy to get going to school keeps up all year.  It is not hard to capture a smile these days as she just got her braces off last week!  She loved her card I made her from CASology week #6.



Ben goes back to school on Thursday and has already informed me that we stopped doing pictures of him in grade 9 and it would be back luck to start up again in grade 12.

CFC67 & MIM #80

I am not quite ready to say goodbye to summer.  I love the fall with the changing leaves, cooler temperatures and warm sweaters but when it comes to footwear? I love my flip flops.  They are the last thing that I give up when the cooler temperatures come.  This weeks CASual Fridays Challenge is to create a clean and simple project that features banners or flags.  This week at Papertrey the Make it Monday technique was to use die cuts to create your own custom banners.  So why not combine these two challenges.


All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: White, Lemon Tart
Stamps: Flippin Out
Ink:  Hibiscus Pink, New Leaf, Orange Zest, True Black
Dies: Flippin Out, Banner Borders
Impression Plate: Hello Sunshine
other: foam dots, twine (The Twinery)


August 28, 2012

CCC #8 - Relax

Can you believe we are at week #8 at CASology?  Wow time is sure flying by fast.  We are adding a new twist this week with our Cue Word, something a little different, something that will get you thinking.  This week's Cue Word is:




If I haven't told you before I work with the most amazing group of girls at CASology!  All of them so incredibly talented and fun to play with.  This week we had a bit of a chuckle.  We had a 'great minds think alike' moment when we realized that a few of us grabbed the same stamp set for this week's inspiration! The fun part of it is that we each took a different approach with it.  We hope you find something to inspire you to come and join us this week at CASology.  Here is my card:


When I create a CAS card, I will usually have a mat of some kind.  It could be white on white or it could include multiple colours.  You can be sure my mat with work with the rest of my card.  This week I prepared my mat and then decided that the card looked a bit plain.  So I broke out my Fabulous Frames dies and chose the Polaroid frame to house my focal image.  I die cut the space for my sentiment at the bottom of the frame so it didn't get too bulky.

Most of my cards tend to be very CAS so I like to pick versatile stamp sets.   If I am spending my money on stamp sets I want to be able to use it again and again without my cards always looking the same.  The fun thing with On My Couch by Papertrey Ink is that it features both a chair and a couch that can be stamped as an outline, a pattern or a solid.  Outline stamps are excellent to stamp on and cut from patterned paper, or coloured in with Copics and even left alone for 3 very different looks.  Pattern stamps can be stamped in any colour you choose and the same with solid stamps.  I try to think of my options before making a purchase.

Head on over to CASology today to learn what the `cue card`means to you, how you can play along and see the all the cards created by the Design Team to inspire you.

Don`t forget to visit the blogs of the other members of the Design Team:
Tracey McNeely (that`s me)

and this week's Guest Designer Karen (winner of CCC #6 - SCHOOL)

I can't wait to see what RELAX means to you!

All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: Ocean Tides, Vintage Cream
Patterned Papers: October Afternoon
Stamps: On My Couch
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo black (Tsukineko)
Dies: On My Couch, Fabulous Frames
other: foam dots, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)


colourQ #152

Time for another colourQ challenge.  As usual Arielle has selected a beautiful palette of green, blue and gray for all of us to play with.  Isn't that bedspead gorgeous?  My daughter informed me that it would be perfect in her newly painted, more grown up, bedroom. Along with a queen sized bed.


I have a need for a couple of masculine birthday cards in September so I went with a birthday theme.  You CAN use ribbon on a card for a guy, it's all how you present it.




I translated this weeks colours into Papertrey Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf, Smoky Shadow and Kraft.

Be sure to visit the colourQ and see what the rest of the Design Team has come up with to inspire you. We hope you come and play with us this week!

All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf, Kraft, White
Stamps: Birthday Tags 2012, Think Big Favorites #13
Ink:  New Leaf, Smoky Shadow
Dies: Tag Sale #6, Limitless Layers 1 3/4"
Impression Plate: Linen & Canvas
other: foam dots, Kraft Saddle Stich ribbon, button twine


August 27, 2012

Dynamic Duos #17 - Monochromatic Color Combo

Purple is my favourite colour and Dynamic Duos Monocromatic Color Challenge features using Wisteria Wonder and Concord Crush.  I translated it into Paptertrey's Winter Wisteria and Plum Pudding.  After being on my wish list for a long time I finally purchased Love Lives Here from Papertrey, what a perfect chance to ink it up.  I am also entering this card in the Moxie Fab World Card Design Week: Repetition Challenge.  Here is my card for this week:




My kids are back to school tomorrow.  They are back a week earlier than most of Ontario as they are on a modified school year.   Back a week now and then they get a week off in November.  Apparently having a break in both the first term and second term revitalizes them.  I don't really buy into this.  We have a short enough summer here before we spend most of the year in the cold.

Brooklyn is packed and ready to go in the morning, but my son is going to miss the first two days.  He was invited to try out for the Ontario 7's rugby team, they are holding a two day tryout/camp before school starts!!  LOL


All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: White, Plum Pudding
Patterned paper: Winter Wisteria Paper Pack
Stamps: Love Lives Here
Ink:  Winter Wisteria, Plum Pudding, True Black
Dies: Heart Borders


Friendship

I was going through some of my unloved stamps today.  I came across sets that I had to have but haven't even seen ink.  This sentiment was one that I loved from Papertrey's All Booked Up.  Seeing it inspired me to create a quick CAS card.




All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: Kraft, Fine Linen
Stamps: All Booked Up, Mat Stack 1
Ink:  Pure Poppy, True Black


August 25, 2012

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop - August

It's time for another Papertrey Ink Blog Hop.  I hear it from everyone, where has this summer gone?  It has been an incredible summer, is has been super hot here is Southern Ontario.  Records high temperatures all of July, in fact this has been the hottest recorded summer ever.  I know that most of the U.S. had a similar summer.  It hasn't ended yet, the temperature is still in the high 80s most days, we broke 90 on Friday.  My kiddos are back to school next Tuesday and are very fortunately that their school, which is only 3 years old, is air conditioned.

However, being the end of August fall is just around the corner.  Time for cooler temperatures, beautiful changing leaves and Thanskgiving on October 8th.  This month's Blog Hop which is Autumn Textiles.  My herringbone stamps and Impression Plate haven't arrive yet so I decided to work with burlap and tried stamping on burlap for the first time.  I really love the way it turned out.  Here are the inspiration photos.






All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: Ripe Avocado
Stamps: Turning a New Leaf, Friend Jar Fillers Autumn
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Ocean Tides  
Dies:  Beautiful Blooms II
other: burlap, Ocean Tides felt, Ocean Tides button, button twine, foam dots

August 23, 2012

RS #25

Pretty close to the line to get my card in for this weeks RetroSketch.  This weeks sketch  is based on a card by RetroSketch Headliner Lynn Putt.  If you haven't checked out her blog you should Lynn has amazing style.  I decided to pull out some paper from Papertrey's Winter Wisteria Paper Pack and use the Natural Beauties stamp set.  I am in love with these stamps.





All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: White, Winter Wisateria
Patterned Papers: Winter Wisteria Paper Pack
Stamps: Natural Beauties
Ink:  Winter Wisteria, True Black
other: Winter Wisteria grosgrain ribbon, scalloped punch (Fiskars)


CFC66 - Splish Splash

This weeks CASual Friday's challenge was to create a project featuring something you might see in or at the ocean.  I think I restarted my sketch for this week about 100 times, there are so many things that fit this time of the year.  I finally decided to go with a whale, although when we head to the beach tomorrow I certainly hope if we do see one he or she is as friendly as this one.



I usually do not have a lot of luck with tomatoes in my garden, but I think that they have been loving the heat this summer.  I have picked a plate just as full as this one every week for the past three weeks just from two plants, each in their own pot on my deck!  One red and one orange.


Sam always seems to show up when the camera is out to pose for a shot for mommy.  Maybe he was just hoping for a tomato.


All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: White, Summer Sunrise, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Kraft
Dies: Whale (Echo Park for Silhouette Studio), Banner Border
other: foam dots, googly eye, font Baby Boston


August 21, 2012

CCC#7 - Green

Time for another CASology challenge.  This week our challenge is a bit more obscure, it will really get you to put on your thinking cap and promote your creativity.  We think you will love it.  This week's cue card is:


What does green make you think of?


I googled the meaning of the colour and what it symbolizes:  

Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. Grass green is the most restful color. Green symbolizes self-respect and well being. Green is the color of balance. It also means learning, growth and harmony.  (http://crystal-cure.com/green.html)


For my CAS card I choose three colours of green from light to dark and adhered then to a white card base.  I chose a leaf stamp and I used Veramark ink to quickly stamp on the focal panel with having to switch ink colours (big time saver).  I stamped my sentiment right in the middle of the card in black to stand out.  A really quick card.


Head on over to CASology today to learn what the `cue card`means to you, how you can play along and see the all the cards created by the Design Team to inspire you.

Don`t forget to visit the blogs of the other members of the Design Team:
Tracey McNeely (that`s me)

and this week's Guest Designer  Aileen (winner of CCC #5 - POND)

I can't wait to see what GREEN means to you!


All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: White, Spring Moss, Simply Chartruse, Ripe Avocado
Stamps: FTurning a New Leaf, Think Big Favorites #3
Ink:  Versamark (Tsukineko)


colourQ #151


Isn't this weeks colourQ fantastic palette?  These colours work together perfectly.  For my card I used Papertrey's Background Basics: Medallion.  I tried out the stamp, which works in two layers, with each combination of colours.  This stamp is so versatile.


Be sure to visit the colourQ and see what the rest of the Design Team has come up with to inspire you. We hope you come and play with us this week!

All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: White, Canyon Clay
Patterned Papers: Smoky Shadow Paper Pack
Stamps: Background Basics: Medallions, Think Big Favorites #2
Ink:  Canyon Clay, Hawaiian Shores, True Black
Dies: Hearts Borders
other: foam dots, grey pearls (Basic Grey)


August 20, 2012

Dynamic Duos #16 - Black Tie Week

Another fun colour combination this week at Dynamic Duos.  What a great reason to finally ink up my Natural Beauties stamp set from Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-Faire.  Now that I've done that I ask myself why didn't I do it sooner.  Love this set.




All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: Kraft, True Black
Stamps: Natural Beauties
Ink:  True Black


August 18, 2012

No Card Today

No card today, 22 years ago I had just received my Bachelor of Education and secured a job as a high school teacher, bought my first car and on this day married my high school sweetheart!  The years have brought triumphs and challenges and two wonderful children. I had such big plans to create a video montage for my husband but this summer has flown by, especially the past two weeks.  So I have a picture of a very happy day to share instead.  Wow dresses were big in 1990!


This weekend was the Ontario Summer Games in which my son played rugby 7's for the Region of Toronto.  The boys ended up winning the plate final and the cup final.  Ben scored four try's today but with 1 1/2 minutes left in their final game he took a tackle from behind and got a concussion.  That is what scares me about contact sports.  Fortunately it is a mild concussion, but he has a nasty headache and an aching jaw tonight from the impact on the ground.  After he finished up with the medic on site he asked "Did we win?".  Boys...and yes they did.



August 15, 2012

RS #24 & CFC65

A busy week so far, I put this down as the busiest summer ever.  My daughter left this morning, at 2:00 am actually for cheer camp in Pennsylvania!  They rode on the bus through the night from Toronto.  She comes back on Saturday night.  Tomorrow I drive my son and drop him off for the Ontario Summer Games.  The Opening Ceremony is on Thursday night then the games take place Friday and Saturday.  Thursday night my husband and I with another couple are going to see American Idol Live in Toronto.  I bought the tickets in the spring for our family, but both kids are unable to go so we asked our friends to join us.  I hope we are not the oldest ones there.  LOL

To de-stress I spent some crafty time today making a card for both RetroSketches and CASual Fridays. A really challenging sketch this week for me but I decided that I was going to use the cute freebie digital image from The Alley Way Stamps and change the shape of the sketch to a square to fit the CASuals Fridays challenge.


 


All Supplies are from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted:

Cardstock: White, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Summer sunrise
Digital Image: Fish (The Alley Ways Stamps)
Dies: Circles, Scallop Circles (Spellbinders)
Other:  printer, foam tape, Copic markers (Y12, Y15, Y18, BG11, BG13), circles embossing folder (Provo Craft)