This week, the ever so talented Karen is our One-Layer Wednesday host.  Her challenge, 'Orange' You Glad You Played Along.  How fun and easy is this? 

As luck would have it, the code word for Addicted to CAS is "One-Layer".  And, the Less is More challenge this week is "String or Twine".

I love mums.  In my opinion, the are the epitome of fall.  They are the quintessential flower of Fall.

  
Now I have to tell you, I don't think I've have ever wasted so much cardstock trying to put together a card in my life!  I tried several times to place the leaves along side the mum's with no luck.  They just didn't look right/good.  As a last resort, I masked the mums, and then I had some success.  Think about it, trying to cut a mask for these images.  Not an easy task. 

Supplies: Stamps: Papertrey  Ink: Papertrey  Paper: Papertrey  Accessories: Button, & Twine, and Post It Notes For masking.

October Papertrey Blog Hop

It's the 25th of the month and that means it's time for the Papertrey Blog Hop.  This month it's all about tags.



I used a combination of burlap and felt to add interest.  The doilies were misted with Old Lace Glimmer Mist.  It adds a beautiful shimmer to the tags.  Unfortunately you can't see it in the picture. 

I am also linking to CAS-UAL Fridays ~ Tags & Bags challenge.

Supplies: Stamps: Papertrey Ink  Paper: Lilybee, Making Memories and Papertrey Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black Accessories: Papertrey Die Cuts, Felt, Burlap, Papertrey Buttons, Jingle Bells, Twine and Glimmer Mist

Mojo Monday #316

Hi!  Since it's Wednesday you may be here looking the One-Layer Wednesday (OLW) challenge.  Karen is our host this week.  You find her challenge here.

On to today's post. 

I'm trying to squeak out a few more Halloween cards, and this week's Mojo Monday challenge caught my eye.

I started out by misting a white doily with Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist, Lavender Fields.  Then on to my die cutting machine for the Spider web.  With a 6 x 6 pad of patterned paper, a few embellishments, and a great sketch a girl can make some cards! 

A girl can make some pretty awesome envelopes too, with the We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board!  In case you're wondering, I'm not a paid representative for We R Memory Keepers,
although I wish I were.....!  I love my envelope maker.

I'm also joining the 4 Crafty Chicks challenge (Layers).

Thanks for stopping by!

One-Layer Wednesday 162 ~ Leaves

This week, Heather is hosting our One-Layer Wednesday challenge (OLW 162).  Her challenge, leaves.  I have a feeling Heather was probably thinking fall leaves, right? 

In an ongoing effort to use stamps (that have never seen ink before), each week I pull a set or two and display them prominently on my worktable to use. This morning, as I was thinking about the OLW challenge, I saw leaves on my worktable!  Okay, so they were holly leave, but leaves all the same.

These leaves are from a Close to My Heart set (A Holiday A1115), my MIL gave me. 

I made three different OLW cards.  All very similar, but a bit different.  With the first card, I though the little pom-poms would make cute berries.

With my second card, I wanted to use sequins to bling it up a bit. A girl has to be trendy whenever possible, right?

And with my third card I just used stamps.  No bling, just some twine.

All three cards are 4 1/4 square with matching envelopes made with We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board. 

It's not often that I get really excited about a tool, but the Envelope Punch Board is awesome if you like to make matching envelopes, or just use up your scraps.

Supplies: Stamps: Close To My Heart - A Holiday  Ink: Papertrey - Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Simply Chartreuse and Memento - Tuxedo Black  Paper: Papertrey - White (Card Base), Envelopes - Paper Studios   Accessories: We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board & Twine.  

Freshly Made Sketches 108

I love the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Lately, I find working with a sketch is helpful.  My cards seem to come together faster, and with less stress. Yes, I said stress!  Tell me you've all experienced that feeling?  You're trying to put together a card/project to post.  The dog is barking, the timer just went off on the dryer, your daughter is wanting you to look over her school project, the dishes are still sitting in the sink from dinner, then your other daughter (who's away at college) is blowing up your phone with text messages!  Secretly, you think "thank goodness my husband is working late tonight!  Yes, sometimes there's stress.

Now I know why I've been using more sketches lately!

Pin It

If you are looking for some sketches to try, Pinterest is a great source.  Also, in a previous post, I listed some of my favorite sketch sites.  You can find that post here.

Supplies:  Stamps: Hero Arts and My Favorite Things (Sentiment)  Paper: Carta Bella 6x6 paper Pad - So This Is Christmas  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories: Snowflake and Label, and scallop border Die Cuts - My Favorite Things, Spellbinders, Copic Markers, Bling, Baker's Twine and Ribbon.

Packaging...

I love pretty packaging. I'm always on the lookout for pretty packaging ideas (Hello Pinterest)!  When I discovered a die cut for a pillow box, I did a little happy dance. Using up my supplies and pretty packaging all in one easy step.

Recently, I sent my daughter, her roommate and two other freshman (in my daughter's dorm) a Halloween care package.  Included were these pillow boxes filled with candy. 

 

Pin It

These were all made from the same die cut along with various embellishments and designer paper.  The die cut I used is from Papertrey Ink.  I know My Favorite Things also has a pillow die cut that's square, and a bit smaller.  I'm thinking I probably need both, right?  Now, I'm sure there are other pillow dies out there, however these are the two that I'm familiar with.

Okay, in an effort to provide full disclosure, I do not work for, or receive gifts from either company, however a girl can wish!

As I mentioned, these pillow boxes were filled with Halloween candy, but just think of the possibilities.  You can use these for any holiday, birthday or gift giving occasion, and aside from packaging for a small gift, they can be used as gift card holders too. 

I hope you don't mind if I share one other item in the Halloween care package.

The girls needed something "Halloween" in their dorm so I made these pillowcases.

I hope you'll visit again because I have a "gift card packaging" series planned for early November.
 

So Many Sketch Challenges, Oh My!

If you're here for the OLW challenge this week, please click here.
 
Okay, my card was inspired by this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  What a great sketch.  It's so versatile. I'm thinking Christmas, Birthday, Thank You.... I could go on.
 

Here's my card, A Spooky Halloween.

Have you noticed how many great sketch challenges there are?  Wow!  Recently, I decided to compile a list.  This is not a complete list by any means.  These are just a some challenge sites that I've found, and like.  If you have some favorites, please let me know and I will add them to the list and post them.

Sketch Challenge Blogs:

Case This Sketch:  http://casethissketch.blogspot.ca/

Freshly Made Sketches:  http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/

Retro Sketches:  http://retrosketches.blogspot.in/

Seize The Sketch:  http://seizethesketch.blogspot.com/

Unscripted Sketches:  http://unscriptedsketches.com/

Mojo Monday:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/

The Sweet Stop:  http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com/

A sketch is always a great way to jump start your card project!  Or, if you've lost your mojo (from time to time, we all do), start with a sketch and see where it takes you. 

I hope you find these sketch blogs helpful.


Supplies: Stamps: Image-Inkadinkado, Sentiment- Hero Arts  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black  Paper: Authentique, Card Base-Stampin' Up  Accessories:   Bling, Sequins, Buttons and Seam Binding

One-Layer Wednesday 161 ~ Show Me Your Colors

Welcome to another One-Layer Wednesday (OLW).  This week, Show Me Your Colors. Your fall colors.  You can choose any theme you wish.

OLW161 Rules:

 

l.  Create a one layer card.  This is defined as a single layer of cardstock folded in half.  No other layers allowed.

 

2.  Create a card using fall colors.  Add a link to your card.  Remember to keep embellishment to a 

 minimum and NO ADDITIONAL layers of cardstock.

 

3.  Post your card online and link it to the InLinkz button below.  If you link to your blog, please link 

 to the specific post and not your blogs main page.

 

4.  HAVE FUN!  I can't wait to see what you create.

 

 

Supplies: Stamps: Papertrey & Memory Box  Ink: Papertrey & Memento  Paper: Kraft  Accessories:  Stamp Positioner, Score Board, & Bling

 

 

An Update And Another Use For Washi Tape

Earlier this week I told you about a wonderful charity, Cards For Hospitalized Kids.  You can see my post here.

I'm happy to report I reached my goal.  I made twenty five Halloween cards with envelopes for Cards For Hospitalized Kids. I thought I would share a few of them with you.  They are all simple in design due to the number I wanted to make and time restraints.

I decorated the inside of each card with stamps and Washi Tape.  I don't know why I haven't thought of using my "collection" of  Washi Tape to embellish the inside of cards before.  I love using Washi Tape, instead of just collecting it!  I'm sure some of you can relate.

Here's a peek at the inside of two cards.

I hope you'll consider sending some of your cards to Cards For Hospitalized Kids too!

Have a wonderful week.

Seize The Sketch & Cards For Hospitalized Kids

Lack of creativity?  Pretty much.  For a good cause, absolutely! 

I was wandering around blogland this weekend and discovered Card For Hospitalized Kids.  This charity distributes cards to kids that are hospitalized and/or seriously ill. What could be better than to make a card for a sick child?

When my oldest daughter was born she was very ill, and was hospitalized for several weeks.  It was a devastating time for our family.  As you can imagine, this charity hit a nerve within me.  Fast forward to today; my daughter defied all odds!  She just started college and is happy and healthy.  To look at her you would never know she had such a difficult start in life.  

When I saw this Seize The Sketch this morning, I knew it was the perfect sketch to use for making multiple Halloween cards in a short amount of time.

Here's my card.  As you can see, I used the sketch exactly.  I will be able to duplicate this easily.  My goal is to make 25-30 cards and get them in the mail by Friday (for Cards For Hospitalized Kids).  I can do this! 

I made the coordinating envelope and added some designer paper to the inside for a little added excitement.

I hope you'll consider sending some of your cards to Cards For Hospitalized Kids.

Supplies:  Stamps: Tim Holtz Exclusive Halloween Kit for Archivers  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black  Paper:  Card Base Stampin' Up Whisper White, Teresa Collins 6x6 Pad Masquerade Party  Accessories: Twine and a Button