Hello...

Holy cow, the days are flying by. We're well into summer, wish it could last forever. Not much creativity happening during these hot days. I'd rather be out in the pool, enjoying the girls while they still want to spend time with me! :)

I did get to play with CAS-ual Fridays this week. The challenge is to make a 'manly' card using kraft paper.

I started off with this one:

But I wasn't sure it was masculine enough...

So I made another one...

Both really simple...seems to be my speed these days.

The tree stamp is from Hampton Arts, Happy Birthday sticker is from SRM, newsprint paper is from SU, polka dot is from Echo Park. The tag punch out in the second card is old from 3 Bugs in a Rug, brad is really old from Foof-a-La, stamp sentiment is from Studio G.

Thanks so much for dropping by. hope you're having a wonderful summer.

Sunday Evening...

There is a fun challenge going on this week on the CAS-ual Friday blog...we get to play tic, tac, toe. The challenge is to pick a row, then use that as the recipe for your card.

So I chose buttons, flowers and twine. My design is also based on this weeks sketch on the Clean and Simple Stamping blog (is it ok that I didn't do any stamping on this?? Hope so :)

I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder (Victoria), scalloped border is from Colorbok, sticker is from SRM, flower is from Michael's, twine and button are from my stassh.

My next project is for the City Crafter Challenge blog. The challenge this week is to decorate a jar. Decorate a jar is what I started out to do, but what I ended up doing is organizing some of my flower collection...a nice bonus, don't you think?

The script paper is from Stampin' UP, ribbon is from Offray, vellum tags are from Making Memories.

Thanks so much for dropping by. I hope you've had a wonderful weekend. After a few days of heat and humidity last week, the cooler weather here has been so nice. I love having the windows open and feeling a cool breeze.

Ivanka

Graduation Card

Last year was a big grad year for us. We had a grade 8 and grade 12 grad both a few weeks apart. It was wonderful and nostalgic time. It's hard not to tear up when your baby is leaving high school and moving on to university. But it was almost worse for the grade 8 grad for me. These kids had been together since they were 4, and here they were teenagers, moving on to high school.

This year brings a few friends graduating. Here's the first of my grad cards. This is based on this weeks' challenge at the CAS-ual Friday Blog to make a CAS grad card.



The embossing folder is from Cuttlebug, decorative label punch is from SU, ribbon is from Offray, grad cap is from Recollections, letters are from Making Memories.

Here's to a wonderful Graduation season!

Ivanka

Hello Card

Good Morning.

What are you up to today? I'm putzing, and cleaning, and hiding in my studio if time permits.

Today's card is based on this week's The Play Date Cafe challenge which is a color splash. The challenge is to use black and white with a splash of green.

Here's the inspiration:

Here's my card.

The paper is from Echo Park (For the Record) stamp is from Hampton Art, blossoms are from Prima and the brad is old from One Heart, One Mind. I glittered up the flowers with some shimmery Craf T chalks.

Happy Friday everyone.

Ivanka

Father's Day x 2

The Create: Blog challenge for this week is make a card for Father's Day. Making cards for guys is not always the easiest thing but somehow when I started, these two came together quickly.

The journal note is from Echo Park, the embossing plate is from Sizzix, I inked it with platinum ink. The gaffer tape is from 7 gypsies and the letters are Thickers from American Crafts. This card and the next one are based on this weeks sketch 219 at Card Positioning Systems.

The great image is from Crafty Secrets, from the Summertime Images and Journal Notes. It's just perfect for a Father's Day Card. The black cardstock is embossed with the Argyle embossing folder from Cuttlebug and then inked with platinum ink. I used 7 gypsies gaffer tape again and Offray ribbon. The photo corners are from Canson and the sentiment is from SRM.

Thanks so much for dropping by.

Ivanka

Best Wishes Card

Today I'm playing along with a couple of clean and simple challenges. I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of this style.

First my card is based on the sketch FTL 141 at Clean and Simple Stamping. It's also for CAS-ual Friday challenge blog to bring on the bling.

Love this color combo. The patterned paper is from Echo Park, stamp is from Me and My Big Ideas. I used Maya Road metallic ink and then heat embossed it with clear powder. Bling is from Kaisercraft, ribbon is from Offray and the brad is old from One Heart, One Mind. Sentiment is a rub on from Joanne's.

Hope you're enjoying your Saturday. Thanks for dropping by.
Ivanka

Think Pink

It's been a long time since I've made a baby card. I bought these Pebbles chipboard baby embellishments a last month in Edmonton and promptly lost them somewhere in my studio. I came across them yesterday (buried under a stash of paper!) and was so happy to use them today.

This card is for this week's 'Think Pink' challenge on the Create: Cards blog to make a 100% pink card. It is also for the stripes and polka dots challenge on The City Crafter challenge blog. My first time playing along with City Crafter, such a fun blog.

The paper is from Stampin' UP, ribbon is from Offray, charm is a baby shower favour from Michaels. Those little foot prints are so precious.

Off I go to find more things buried in my studio....

Ivanka :)

Tuesday Trigger

Every week Cath at Moxie Fab World comes up with an image challenge, Tuesday Trigger.
This is the trigger for this week.


Cute, isn't it? Whimsical too.
I really don't do whimsy very well at all, but I must have been up for this challenge, so off I went digging for my 'whimsiest' papers.

This is what I came up with.

I picked up on the blue and bold black on the plate with this paper from Stemma. It seemed perfect. The mirror is from Paper Bliss, and like the paper has been in my stash for years. The Karen Foster rub on sentiment finished it off.

Feels good to use up some supplies and it feels really good to challenge myself to a little whimsy...

Thanks for taking a peek.
Ivanka

Oldie Moldie Monday

My friend Barb and I came up with a challenge for ourselves to try and use long forgotten papers and supplies. And Oldie Moldie Monday was born. Barb has been very good about posting an OMM card each week but sad to say, I've been neglecting my stash in favour of 'new' papers.

So this morning I dug deep, right into the bottom of my scraps box and came up with these 7 gypsies papers from many, many years ago. I still love them, they are so perfect for masculine cards. Finding them was like running into an old friend. lol

My card today is based on this week's sketch at Card Positioning Systems and the Get Sticky challenge at Wee Memories.

The twill tape is from Martha Stewart, decorative label punch and brads are from Stampin' UP, stickers (happy) is from Jenny Bowlin, (birthday) is from SRM. Embossing folder is from Cuttlebug.

Thanks for stopping by today and taking a little trip down Memory Lane with me. I hope your Monday has been a good one.
Ivanka

It's Sunday

Yes, it's been a while. :)

I was so glad last night when inspiration hit in the form of this weeks' Play Date Cafe Color challenge and CAS-ual Friday's button and twine challenge. I love these colors! I don't remember using this combo before but it just came together so quickly and before I knew it, two cards were made. Don't you just love it when that happens?

Here's the color inspiration:
Here's the first card...

Patterned paper is from Echo Park, embossing folder is from Cuttlebug, sticker is from SRM, button is from Stampin' UP, twine is unknown, and the ribbon is from MemrieMare on etsy.

Here's the second card with flower, button and twine from my stash.

So where has the last month gone? And how come time is going by so fast?

I hope you're doing well...and as always, thanks for dropping by.

Ivanka

It's a Moxie Fab Day

Moxie Fab World has been celebrating Paper Crafts latest release issue 350 Cards & Gifts and Cath has set out a bunch of challenges to get into the spirit of the issue. And since it's Oldie Moldie Monday where we give love to those long forgotten supplies, all of the products that I've used today have been in my stash for years. It feels great to use up old supplies. I made 2 cute little sets of Thank You for the Card Sets challenge. The 2x2" mini envelope die is from Sizzix.

The paper for the envelopes for this set is from a paper pad that is from Sizzix....from many moons ago. But it's so cute and perfect for these little envelopes. The 'thanks' stamp is from Stampin' UP!

Next is a little pillow box for the Gift Wrap Challenge. The pillow box die is from Sizzix, ribbon is from Offray, buckle is from Rusty Pickle (I've been hoarding it for years!) and the pearls are from Kaisercraft.

Finally, Amy Tsuruta has started a new blog Flashback Friday where we get to go back and revisit some of our past creations (the good, the bad and the ugly!)...perfect to fit in with today's Oldie Moldie Monday theme. The challenge this week is to find the first project with stitching on it.

I had to go digging deep...I don't even know what year this was, probably 2005. Sewing and I don't really get along too well and this is the only card I could come up with with stitching on it.

Thanks for coming by today. See you soon,

Ivanka

Catching up...

So, it's been a while. Life gets busy and somehow the cardmaking gets pushed to the back burner. We've recently been out to Edmonton for my uncle's funeral. It was a very sad occasion to go home for, but the great family connection that we felt during our visit was so wonderful. Most importantly, we got to spend time with my 2 1/2 year old nephew...even got to shop at West Edmonton Mall with him...so much fun. Now to catch up with everything that's been going on here. I was able to play along with a couple of challenges. The first one is for this week's sketch at Card Patterns.

The paper and ribbon are from Stampin' UP, sticker flower is from SRM, rub on sentiment is from Deja Views, blue label is from K&Co, and the doily is from Martha Stewart.

Next is this weeks color challenge at The Play Date Cafe.

Here's a quick Easter card.

The image is from Somewhere in Time Collage.

And another quick Easter card using an image from Somewhere in Time Collage again.

Thanks so much for dropping in. I love hearing from you.

Happy Birthday Card

Hello, how is your weekend going? We've had some lovely sun for the last 3 days but it's still cool out there. I'm glad to finally see the first day of SPRING tomorrow...

I'm playing along with the color challenge at the The Play Date Cafe again today and combining it with the 'Party Time' Birthday theme happening at The Shabby Tea Room celebrating their 1st birthday. There are all kinds of prizes, so make sure you check it out.

Here is the color inspiration:

Here's my card.

The flowers are from Prima, brads are from sei, sticker sentiment is from SRM and embossing folder is from Stampin' UP/Sizzix.

Thanks so much for dropping by. Hope you enjoy your weekend.

Ivanka

Thanks card

Time for another Play Date Cafe challenge. These have been so fun and so good for me as they get me out of my comfort zone and I'm forced to used colors I usually wouldn't put together.

Here's the inspiration for this week:

Here's my card:

Patterned paper is from Webster's Pages, sticker is from SRM, flower is from Prima, button is from Doodlebug, border punch is from Stampin' UP, embossing folder is from Cuttlebug.

It's Spring Break here, but it really does not feel much like spring. It's dark, and dreary. I simply can't wait for the warm, sunny days and the spring bulbs to start peeking through the ground.

Thanks for dropping by.

Ivanka

Orange and Yellow...

I came across this beautiful color challenge at CR84FN blog. I seem to be drawn to yellow lately. Craving some sun, I think. Here's the inspiration:

And here's my card.

The background paper is from Sampin' UP, yellow paper is from Webster's Pages (tea cup and birds are part of the paper), sentiment stamp is from Papertrey Ink, ribbon is from Michaels and the brad is from SEI.

Keeping it short and sweet tonight. Have a great evening.

A Splash of Yellow

Today, I'm playing along with The Play Date Cafe where it's color splash week. You get to choose one of the colors in the inspiration photo to feature on your card.
And Moxie Fab World where this photo is the Tuesday Trigger this week.

When my youngest daughter was a toddler, she loved the colors yellow, but I really never have...till recently. Lately yellow has been fun to work with. I love the bright cheery feeling it gives.

The Prima flower is the last in the pack! It's been in my stash for years. The embossing folder is from Stampin' UP, ribbon is from Michaels and was wired and a bit too wide for the panel. Once the wired edges were off, I really liked this frayed look. Brad is from Making Memories and sentiment is from Papertrey Ink.

Thanks so much for dropping in today. I hope you've had a wonderful weekend.

Saturday Morning

And it's a rainy one. I suppose that's better than snow, right? Not much planned for my day besides being 'taxi mom'! So it's so nice to be able to start the day with a bit of creativity.

Today's card is based on the color combo (cream, red, black) at The Shabby Tea Room and the sketch (130) at Clean and Simple Stamping blog.

Here's the inspiration image at TSTR:

Here's my card:

The patterned paper is from K&Co., scalloped border strip is from Colorbok, label punch is from SU, sentiment stamp is from Papertrey Ink, and the ribbon is from Offray.

I have a bit of time left before my 'mom taxi' duty starts...enough time for one more cup of coffee.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Ivanka

Birthday Cheer

The colors for this week's Play Date Cafe are so bright and cheery, perfect for a snowy day like today. Yes, it's snowing again. All the snow that melted a couple of weeks ago is back, and then some. This was a fun color palate to work with, I just kept thinking 'summer'!

Here's the color inspiration:

And here's my card:

The aqua paper is a blast from the past...a little company called The Paper Lady. I met The Paper Lady herself at CHA in 2007...the nicest lady ever and she had some fun papers. Didn't really hear more from her after that...sad...but that seems to be the way with some of the bigger companies these days, so I know it must be even harder for the smaller ones. The ribbon if from Fancy Pants, stickers are from SRM and the scallop punch is from SU.

Thanks so much for dropping in. I hope you get a chance to play along with The Play Date Cafe this week. It will make it seem like summer is just around the corner!

Friends...

Happy long weekend! Here in Ontario, we're celebrating Family Day...and with last night's snowfall, we're bonding over shovelling today! Actually it's not that bad, it could have been a lot worse.

Today's card is based on the sketch at Skipping Stones Design. So glad I came across it, it gave me a chance to dig out some of their stamps that I've been neglecting for years. Which is perfect for Oldie Moldie Monday where I try and dig out old supplies and give them some love. This is also for the color challenge on Color Cue (12) challenge on W Plus 9 design blog

Actually, all of my supplies on the card are old, from my stash. The paper is from K&Co., flower is from Prima, gems are from Kaisercraft, and the border die cut is from QuicKutz.

Thanks so much for coming by. Hope you're enjoying the extra day off.
Ivanka

It's melting...

Well, it was another sunny day today...and look most of the snow has melted!!! Although it was one wet walk for our short little Schnauzer!

My card today is for this week's Card Patterns sketch. They're starting their 2nd Anniversary celebration tomorrow. I'm looking forward to all the fun.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned paper: (newsprint) Stampin' UP

Stamp: (Flourish, Bliss) Stampin' UP, Sale-a Bration, (sentiment) Papertrey Ink

Ink: VersaMark

Blossoms: Prima

Button: Making Memories.

Thanks for dropping in...hope you're having a great start to your weekend.