Leaf Shaped Card with My Little Owl Buddy

I've been really getting into the card blog challenges that folks are having.  The challenges are very inspirational and they get my creative juices going --- just like a good cup of coffee.  Creative Inspirations' challenge this past week was to create a no square card.  Wow.  Interesting.  I thought to myself that I could do that...and I had the perfect idea for the challenge.  A leaf card.

I found this great tutorial last year for leaf card that I have been meaning to try out.  Now I had the perfect opportunity.  It took me a two attempts and fussing around with the color scheme (several layers and shades of green cardstock) to have a finished product that I was happy with.  I sanded the edges of the card for a more worn look and added a machine stitched border to the front and inside of the card. 

Because I sell cards on etsy, I wanted the card to stand.  Martha Stewart has a good tutorial on creating a menu stand.  Pretty basic origami stand that you can decorate.  I choose to add a die-cut owl and some leaves from the Give a Hoot Cricut Cartridge. The little guy is pretty thick.  He has several layers and gold bead eyes.

My little guy on an origami menu stand.

Inside of Card

I've been working on a lot of Spring themed cards the past couple of months.  I'm not sure this particular card qualifies as a "Spring themed card," but I think it turned out rather cute.

Challenges Entered
Creative Inspirations - Challenge 104: No Square Cards Allowed
Lollipop Crafts - Challenge #32 - Shape Up 
CES Challenge Blog - Challenge #29 Die Cut Crazy
A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge 17 - No Square Cards
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes Challenge 27

Harvesting Roses

Wanted to get this card up before I head off to work.  Will write up a little something about the card later.

Challenges Entered
Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - Challenge 55: Easel Card 
Southern Girls Challenge - Flowers
2 Sisters Challenge Blog - Furry Friends 
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Easter Time 
The Creative Cottage Challenge Blog - Spring Has Sprung 
Stampin with the Dragon Challenge Blog - Bring on Spring
Miami Doodles: Digital Stamps Challenge: Celebrate Spring
Stamps R Us Challenge Blog - Celebrate Spring

Can't Get Enough Butterflies

Happy Monday peeps of the blog world.  I do have to say it is a good Monday.  I had a great night's sleep.  I didn't wake up once.  My cats let me sleep-in a little without one of them smacking my face to wake me up to feed them.  Birds are actually chirping outside my window --- too bad I have to go to work today. 

I'm posting and listing a new card that I created yesterday.  I'm also going to enter it in a few challenges that I found in my reading list.  How lucky am I that folks are having challenges that fit my card.  We must be in sinc. 

Can't Get Enough Butterflies

The card is pretty basic but I think it turned out rather pretty.  I have a thing for orange and especially a rusty colored orange.  A diverse color perfect for Spring and Autumn...what the heck..perfect for anytime of the year.  I had purchased these Spring themed die-cuts by K&Company back in December thinking that they would be perfect for my cards.  They are so pretty and very vintage looking.  The main image I used for the center of the card is from Susan Winget Spring Blossom Seed Packet Die-Cut Cardstock.  It has touches of glitter on it.  So pretty. The leafs and butterflies borders used at the bottom of the card are also from K&Company.  I ripped open the package so fast to put in my storage I forgot to keep a tag with the name of the adhesive borders.  Sorry.

Can't Get Enough Butterflies 

 

Materials: two layers of cream cardstock for base sponged with cocoa stamping ink; cantaloupe cardstock by bazzill basics; green woodland by dcwv; k&company die cuts; recollections' boutique fleus floral embellishment; vintage lace; machine stitching

I also used this beige vintage lace that I purchased from EKSupplies (one of my fellow Etsy sellers).  She's got some great stuff.  You should check her out when you get a chance.  I had to hand stitch the lace on the card which took a little time.  I think it adds a nice vintage touch to the card. I have also added machine stitching to the inside and back of the card.

Card Challenges
Lollipop Crafts - Lollipop Challenge 31: Butterflies...Butterflies
The Sweetest Thing - Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 109

Shamrocks & Irish Tartans

I know St. Paddy's Day has past but I thought I would showcase one of my creations this year.  I love the tartan ribbon and finally found something to do with it.  During the holidays I purchase those little bags of confetti because I love having some motion with my cards.  I added three shamrock confetti pieces to the card.  The bottom panel of the card is a stamped & embossed Irish Blessing.

Whatcha Think?

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Fab & Funky Challenges - Challenge 64 - All Things Green or Happy St. Paddy's Day
Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - Going Green 
Delightful Challenges - Show Us Some Green

Flowers & Butterflies

I've been in the process of working on collection of cards for Spring (including Mother's Day).  It seems that I have chosen to do a lot of cards with flowers and butterflies for my collection.  I guess when I hear the word Springtime...that's what I think of.

Spring is Time for Flowers & Butterflies

Anyway...I got the inspiration for this card from the Card Positioning System's #210 Card Sketch Challenge.

The flower and two butterflies were created using vellum paper and hand punches.  There are several layers to the flower and butterflies to give them some dimension.  


I have this great pad of designer paper from Penny Lane.  All the paper is glittered and embossed.  I love it a lot and have found myself using it quite a bit this past month.


My favorite part of the card are the butterflies.  They actually look like they are flying.  

Challenges entered:
Card Positioning System's -  #210 Card Sketch Challenge.
Aly's Sunday Challenge - ASC38 Happy Spring
Wags n Whiskers Stamps -  Challenge 50 - Spring

Frisky Cat

I woke up this morning...poured myself a cup of coffee..and started reading some of the blogs I subscribe to.  I came across a challenge using recycled items.  What a great idea.

I looked around my room and then ventured into the garage to see what I had laying around.  As soon as I walked back in my room, my cat came in after his morning restroom stop wanting his breakfast.  I opened up his can..washed it out for recycling...and was about to toss it in the recycling bin when it hit me.  I had the perfect item for a few challenges - the cat food label.

Needless to say, the label was wet after I washed the can out.  No worries..I just went to the grocery store the other day and had bought a ton of food for the my little darlings.  I ripped off a few labels, broke out the Cricut and the Nifty Fifties cartridge, got the sewing machine out, and started my project for the day.  The card is pretty heavy.  There are a lot of layers.

It is going to definitely be interesting the next couple of feedings...I have know idea what the cats are going to eat.  At least I ripped off labels from a variety of cans.

I have entered my Frisky Cat card in the following challenges:
Our Creative Corner - Don't Throw That Away
Card Makin Mamas - Challenge 17 - Animals
Paper Cutz Challenge - Challenge #83 - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Tuesday - Challenge #2 - Buttons
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Trio Tastic
Totally Gorjuss - Button It
Sugar Creek Hollow - Anything Goes 
My Grafico - Anything Goes Monthly Challenge 
Charisma Cardz Challenges - Challenge 11: To Die For 
Wild Orchid Challenge - Challenge 19: Dieing to Punch it Out  
Shelly's Images - Show Us What You Got: Anything Goes 

WISH ME LUCK!