December SFYTT and SFYTT year in review

Hi folks,

well - here it is - the final sketch for you to try for this year. And, sadly, it is the last SFYTT.

Here's the sketch:

and here's the Christmas card I made for my brother and his fiancee (so far, I think this is my favourite Christmas card I made this year)

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Fancy Pants "Saint Nick"
• stamped image: Stamping Bella "Frostier", coloured with Copic Markers (YR16, YR18, W1, W5, W6, W7, W8, W00, R37, R39, YG00, G46, E57)
• sentiment: Verve "Winter Mittens"

And here's the links to all of my other SFYTT cards for 2012:

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November

It's been a blast playing along all year - this has been the only challenge site that I have faithfully kept up with all year. So sad to see it come to an end.

November SFYTT

Hi folks,

just a quick post as I have to pop out to the vet with kitty #2 - seems he has developed the same cold that kitty #1 has had for the last five days. Ewww....cat sneezes!

I finally sat down to make a card for the November SFYTT challenge last night - I needed a birthday card for today so it worked out quite nicely!

Here's the sketch

and here's my card:

I hope the birthday boy likes it!

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft cardstock base
• patterned papers: My Mind's Eye Lime Twist "Out of the Blue"
• stamps: Verve "Birthday Bash"
• buttons: Basic Grey "Curio"

challenges for this card:

• Pile It On #48: Anything but Christmas
• Corrosive Challenge #163: Anything Goes 

thanks for stopping by! Gotta run!

Anni-Verve-sary Color Challenge and August SFYTT

Hi folks,

if you are a fan of Verve Stamps then you know that right now they are celebrating their 5th anniversary with a bunch of challenges to celebrate their huge 5th anniversary release.

The first challenge is a colour challenge to use green + pinks + brown (plus neutrals).

I combined that colour challenge with the August SFYTT (shown below)

and came up with this birthday card:

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, textured brown cardstock (I believe Bazzill). I also used white cardstock as my neutral for matting the patterned papers
• patterned papers: My Mind's Eye Lime Twist "Life of the Party"
• stamps: Verve Carpe Cupcake (20% off until the end of the august anniversary sale)

I am, of course, entering this card in the Verve Card Carnival for a chance to win the entire release! If you have seen the previews you KNOW why!

July SFYTT x 2

Hi folks,

I had some time to sit down and craft this weekend. I decided it was time to make my card (as it turns out cards - plural) for the July SFYTT challenge.

Here's this month's SFYTT:

And the two cards I made

The first one is a 6x6 sympathy card:

The second one, is a 4.25 x 5.5 card for my sweetie (it was in his lunch today)

I find it's just as easy to make two cards as it is to make one (most of the time) - you have the papers and everything out all already.

card #1details:

• finished size: 6x6, CTMH Chocolate cardstock base
• patterned papers: CTMH That's Amore, edges ink distressed with CTMH Chocolate Ink
• digi image: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Tulips. It is coloured with Copic Markers but I will have to come back to list which ones since I had it in my pre-coloured image folder already coloured and ready to use.
• sentiment: Verve "New Mercies"
• Spellbinders: Petite Ovals

card #2 details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, CTMH Chocolate cardstock base
• patterned papers: CTMH That's Amore, edges ink distressed with CTMH Chocolate Ink
• sentiment: Verve "Love Notes"
• Verve Jotted Heart Die

challenges for these cards:

• for card #1: Sugar Creek Hollow #20 - a vintage/shabby chic/primitive style Sympathy card. I've always found this particular paper pack from CTMH to have a vintage feel - maybe it's the brocade

Anyways, thanks for stopping by!

June SFYTT

Hi folks,

definitely cutting it close on this month's Sketch For You To Try card. I just realized tonight that I had not made a card yet so I quickly ran up to the craft room and, with the supplies still on my desk from the Father's Day cards, whipped this one up in less than half an hour!

Here is the June SFYTT

and here is my card

Wow....I can't believe it's the end of June and this card is only the fourth one I have made this month. My mojo has definitely gone into vacation mode.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft cardstock base
• patterned papers: Basic Grey Marjolaine
• stamps: Verve Big Wish
• buttons: CTMH Heavenly Sky
• ribbons from my stash

thanks for stopping by!

April 2012 SFYTT

Hi folks,

well today is the last day of my Easter long weekend so it is only fitting that the card I have for you today is the last of my Easter cards for 2012, made for a dear friend of mine.

I used the April 2012 SFYTT for the layout. Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft cardstock base
• patterned paper: Basic Grey Hopscotch
• stamped image: Verve "Bunny Shake", coloured with Copic Markers. The brown bunny is coloured with E21, E23, E25. The white bunny is coloured with W00, W0. 
• stamped sentiment: Verve "Egg-stra Special"
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles, Scalloped Circles
• CTMH Fun Flock for the bunny tails.

additional challenges for this card:

• DYSU #66: Friendly Critters (what's more friendly than a couple of Easter bunnies?)
• Card Crafter's Circle #17: Chocolate Bunnies (if you check out the link, you will see that one of my earlier Easter cards was selected as one of the Top 3 for last week's challenge!)
• Paper Sundaes #115: Sundae Bar (I used kraft and spellbinders die cuts)
• Lollipop Crafts #75: Anything Easter goes

Thanks for stopping by! Back to work for me tomorrow....sigh

I aim to misbehave

So if you are a "Brown Coat" you know from whence comes the inspiration for this card. In fact, I specifically bought this stamp some months ago with the sole purpose of doing a "Firefly" inspired card. How timely that this week's March Madness challenge over at The Greeting Farm was to make a mono-chromatic card?

I'm pretty sure my sweetie will like it (and get the source of inspiration) when I give the card to him.

oooh...I just came up with another idea (that adds to the other idea I will actually put into play once my Sheriff Ian stamp arrives).

Anyways, I used the March 2012 SFYTT layout (seen below) for the card, modified slightly to fit a 6x6 card.

rest of the card details:

• finished size: 6x6 CTMH Cocoa cardstock
• patterned papers: Cosmo Cricket Wanted (again, bought several months ago to go with this stamp)
• stamped  image: Cheeky Shooter from The Greeting Farm, coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E30, E31, E33, E34, E35, E37, E39), stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa
• sentiment: "I aim to misbehave" computer generated. "Wanted" was spelled out with one of my smaller CTMH alphabets
• Spellbinders: petite circles, deckled rectangles
• lariat made out of twine - yes, I looked up how to tie a lariat knot (aka a honda knot) to make this card

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a fabulous day!

February 2012 SFYTT

Hi folks,

back again with ANOTHER Valentine's Day card - I promise there aren't THAT many more left to show you.

For this one I used the February 2012 Sketch For You To Try

and here's my take on it:

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, CTMH Chocolate Cardstock base
• stamped image: Fairy Chloe from The Greeting Farm (mine is the original rubber version but you can get this image as part of a clear set now). Coloured with Copic Markers E000, E00, E01, E93, R0000, R81, R83, R85, E30, E31, E33, E35, E37, E39) and some sparkly wing highlights with my Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll Pen
• patterned papers: Bo Bunny Crazy Love, edges are distressed with my scissors
• the small and large hearts are Cuttlebug die cuts
• embroidery floss was used to stitch the hearts to the side panel.

additional challenges for this card:

• TGF Farm Fresh Challenge: Monday Funday #19 - Stitching

Hope you are all having a lovely day so far! We will be off to our niece Ava's birthday party today - I can't believe she is TWO years old today. Where has the time gone? I'll be posting her birthday card sometime in the next couple of days....

January SFYTT - Let Christmas 2012 begin!

I know, I know. I'm starting my 2012 Christmas Cards and I haven't even taken down the Christmas tree yet. Yes, you ARE reading that correctly. It is January 15th and my Christmas tree is still up.

My rule is that it can't be taken down until after January 6th (old Christmas day)...but it has to be down before Valentine's day. Otherwise it becomes a Valentine's day tree.

I decided to use the January 2012 SFYTT layout for my first ten Christmas cards for 2012. Here's a pic of the sketch....

and here are my cards. All ten of them. All different - but using a mix of the same papers and four different polar bear images.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft cardstock
• patterned papers: Basic Grey Jovial
• stamped images: by Sunshine Designs from The Stamp Barn (CRS057CU lg). I picked this set up some time ago from Heather's Stamping Haven here in Ottawa. The images are coloured with PrismaColor pencils (because the cream coloured card stock isn't Copic friendly). PC925, PC916, PC938, PC918, PC911, PC904.
• sentiment: CTMH Seasonal Celebrations
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles

 additional challenges for these cards:

• Sparkles Weekly Christmas Card Challenges #7: Flourishes (or any christmas card will do). One of the polar bear images has little flourishes around the polar bear's head so I think that counts!
• Let's Ink it up #19: Anything Goes

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

December SFYTT

Hi folks,

well, I did it! I played along with all of this year's SFYTT challenges!

So here is the December SFYTT

and my take on it

cute huh? This card is going to our youngest niece.

card details:

• finished size: 6x6 inches, CTMH chocolate card base
• patterned paper: CTMH Wonderland
• stamped image: Mavis Wearing Holly from StampingBella coloured with Copic Markers (YG61, YG63, YG67, R85, R81, R000, N0, N1, N2, N3, BV0000, BV000, BG0000, BG000, BG01, BG02)
• sentiment: CTMH Holiday Wishes
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles, Classic Rectangles

So now the BIG part of the SFYTT year-end wrap-up -- a link to ALL of the other cards I made this year for each of the SFYTT challenges

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November

Wish me luck for the big draw on Christmas Day!

additional challenges for this card:

• Crafty Creations Challenges #147: Card with a Sentiment
• Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

Hope you are all having a lovely day, thanks for stopping by!

An Eclipse Birthday

Hi folks,

for those of you who are fans of the Greeting Farm, be sure to check out their first ever SCS Customer Challenge. You have all weekend to load up your "movie" inspired creations for a chance to win any two of their clear stamp sets.

As it happens, this was a VERY well timed challenge for my card-making needs. A friend of mine who is a big Twilight fan has a birthday this weekend and I had picked up passes for the local movie cinema for her so she could go see the next movie in the series when it releases this coming week. So, I had it already planned to make her a Twilight inspired card...and here is what I came up with:

This original Wild Sprout Camille Digi (aka Bella) from The Greeting Farm was perfect. And a great partner to the Sparkly Edward card I gave her for a previous birthday!

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, black cardstock base
• image: The Greeting Farm (this particular digi is no longer available but I think you can get it in rubber form). I'll have to come back to update the list of Copics I used to colour it.
• sentiment: computer generated (I really wanted to play on one of the movie titles for the birthday greeting)
• papers: Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage
• layout: November Sketch For You To Try

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

October SFYTT

Hi folks,

well, I finally ventured into my craft room. Had to do some MAJOR putting away of papers that were strewn about because of my under-pressure card-making before I went to Newfoundland. The craft room is still not tidied away by any stretch of the imagination as I basically cleared away JUST enough "stuff" so that I could make this card for my one of my uncles for his upcoming birthday (it's going to arrive late but...oh well).

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card base
• patterned paper: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"
• sentiment: Verve Small Phrases
• layout: October Sketch For You To Try

Hope you are all having a lovely day! Thanks for stopping by!

September SFYTT

Hi folks,

I know it's a rarity these days but I actually have a new card to post! This one is for the 2nd generation D&D player in my other half's D&D group. Yes, my other half plays D&D and the SON of one the other guys he plays with has a birthday tomorrow. And yes, the son has been playing with them now for about 4 or 5 years. He's only going to be 17 but, to be honest, he is sometimes more mature that the 1st generation players!

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft cardstock base
• patterned paper: Recollections Garage Sale (from Michael's) & textured red card stock
• stamped image: "Yapple" from StarvingArtistamps DoodleFactory Creatures , coloured with Copic Markers YR000, YR15, YR16, YR18
• sentiment: Verve Big Wish
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles
• layout: September Sketch For You To Try

additional challenges for this card:

• Cute Card Thursday #182: Anything Goes
• Creatalicious Challenges #26: Anything Goes

Not sure when I will be back again with another card - but on Saturday I do have some crafty time booked with Tanya and Danielle so....there might be something new on the blog in the next couple of days.

Cutting it close with the August SFYTT

Ummm.....ummm....exactly how did August get away from me? As you know, I've been very light on the card-making this month - I'm sure at some point I'll explain why but....just not now.

I almost missed doing the August SFYTT and only remembered because one of the blogs I follow reminded me of it earlier today.

Anyways, here's my go at it

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess
• sentiment: Verve "Big Wish"
• layout:  August SFYTT

Thanks for stopping by!

Verve July Diva Dare

Hi folks,


I'm back today with a card I made for my great Uncle using the July Sketch for You To Try from Jen Del Muro at i{heart}2stamp

The card:

I also did this card for the July Diva Dare over at Verve Stamps. This month's theme is Sentimental About Paper. No stamped images allowed - just sentiments and patterned paper.

Now, if you are a frequent visitor, you know I love my Verve stamps. They make the best sentiment stamps, hands down. You also know I love my patterned papers. In particular, you have seen this paper from Gartner Studios on a LOT of my recent masculine cards. I may have to see if I can find a few more sheets of this to use/hoard. I've also been on a bit of a kraft paper kick lately - probably because it goes so well with these patterned papers.

Oh, and not sure how many of you have noticed but .... the sentiment? It's stamped on wood! Yep, wood. I have some wood veneer business cards that my other half picked up at one of our fave places to shop, Lee Valley Tools, many, many moons ago. I thought that one of them would be make a perfect sentiment panel on this card.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• stamps: Verve Big Wish
• patterned papers: Gartner Studios
• card stock: Recollections Kraft, CTMH Barn Red
• buttons, butcher twine and wood veneer business card from my stash
• layout: July 2011 SFYTT

additional challenges for this card:

• Sentimental Sundays #64: for the men in your life
• Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Hope you are all having a lovely day! Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

What's on Tap Tuesday - June SFYTT!

Hi folks,

well it looks like not doing booty camp during these hot summer months is getting me into the craft room on weeknights!

Here's what my desk looked like after last night's crafty time

I was playing along with the June Sketch For You To Try over at iheart2stamp. You can see my printout of it with my notes about the cards I made with it down front.

Here's the actual sketch...

and here is one of the cards I made (I'm saving the other to go with another post that has to wait until the recipient receives the card and the gift it accompanies).

Even my other half commented that he liked this card!

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• patterned papers: My Mind's Eye "Home" Glitter Stack
• stamps: Verve "Big Wish"
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles

additional challenges for this card:

• Daring Cardmakers: June Flowers (I used paper roses as an embellishment)
• Paper Sundaes #72: Let's Get Sentimental

So if you would like to see who else is playing along with What's on Tap Tuesday, be sure to stop by Cindy's blog "The Crafty Frugalista". And join in why don't you? Your post doesn't have to have a pic of your crafty space - just share your blog post from today so we can all see what you have been working on lately.

ta ta for now! Be sure to drop by tomorrow to see my project for this week's challenge from the Pixie Cottage!

May SFYTT and SCCC25

Hi folks,

well can you believe it? I actually got my cards done on time for this week's Christmas Card Challenge over at Sparkle's blog. The challenge this week (#25) is an inspiration photo.

I was inspired to use snowmen on my card and the colours in the image. I wanted to use a wreath but, believe it or not, the only Christmas wreath stamp I have is wreathabella. Not really what I wanted for these cards.

I also FINALLY got around to using the May SFYTT sketch with these cards.

And....here they are!

Isn't this a happy looking snowman? Anyways, that's two more cards for my Christmas stash. I am now up 58 cards done for this year. If I keep this up (and I may not, I have felt my card making mojo waning the last couple of weeks), I may have to offer up the chance to "shop my stash" to my friends and family.

Card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• patterned papers: CTMH Jingle
• stamps: CTMH Share the Magic (snowman) and CTMH Tannebaum (sentiments). Snowman coloured with Copic Markers (C10, C8, B0000, R35, R37, YR18, E04, E15)
• Spellbinders Petite Circles
• layout: May SFYTT

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

Easter Wishes - April SFYTT

Hi folks,

I decided to make another Easter card, this time using the April Sketch For You To Try

Here's my card:

I'm not 100% sure I like this card. All that white space seems a bit stark to me against the dark burgundy-ish paper when I look at this photo. In real life, it doesn't seem so extreme. Maybe it will grow on me.

I do like the little duckling under the umbrella though...maybe I'll redo this card with different papers.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches
• patterned papers: Echo Park Paper Co "A Walk in the Park"
• stamps: CTMH Springtime (duckling coloured with Copics Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17)
• buttons: CTMH

Other challenges for this card:

• Heart 2 Heart Challenges: April Showers bring May Flowers (with my umbrella and duckling I thought this fit - especially since one of the DT used the same stamp set on her card!)

hope you all have a lovely crafty day!