Hello Friend

I feel like I should put a disclaimer or a warning before today's post...Bright colors ahead!  

No, these are not my usual neutrals and earthy tones.  I had to physically restrain myself from adding some black matting.  I'm glad I did though, I love this card, bright colors and all.

The challenge at The Play Date Cafe (PDCC 128) is to blame for the brightness.  :)  

I started by painting watercolor paper with LuminArte's Twinkling H2O's (pink azalia, yellow rose and orange peach) for the background.   I absolutely love these paints and the wonderful shimmer they have.  Then I stamped the dress (Impression Obsession) with VersaMark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  The background dry embossing plates are from Sizzix ( ornate swirls) and Cuttlebug flowers.  Brads are from Karen Foster and ribbon is from Offray.  The sentiment is from my other absolute favorite thing SRM stickers.  They are my first go to thing when I'm looking for a sentiment.

I distressed the heck out of everything with my Tonic distresser.

Thanks for braving the bright colors with me...happy Friday!
Ivanka

Happy Birthday

Hello...

Last week we got to take a trip out west to spend Easter with our family.  From Edmonton, 20 of us drove to Radium Hot Springs, BC to spend Easter here...

This was the amazing view from our room...

It's not a proper Croatian feast without my aunts' homemade braided bread!

The best part of all is that we got to spend time with the family.

It was a wonderful Easter.

Today, I'm playing along with Retro Sketches #7 and Case Study Challenge #86.  I think it's the first time playing along with both of these challenges.

The patterned paper (polka dots) is from Echo Park, lined paper is from Webster's Pages, label punch is from Stamipin' Up, boarder punch is from Fiskars, sentiment is from Papertrey Ink, ribbon is fromOffray and the button is from Making Memories.

Thanks so much for dropping by today.

Ivanka

Baby Girl...

So it's time for Oldie Moldie Monday...where we show some love to long forgotten paper and supplies.  I'm also joining in with Moxie Fab's Practical Solutions for Paper Crafters: don't throw it away challenge.

Here are my cards using old 7 Gypsies paper, small squares of transparency from Pebbles Inc, and small bits of pink twine.  The sweet baby feet charm is from Hirschberg, Schultz & Co., I got them at Michaels.

I've had the transparency squares in my stash for many years and I came close to throwing them away lots of times.  So glad I didn't.  They are still cute.

Thanks for dropping by,
Ivanka

Call Me...

CAS-ual Friday challenge blog has a fun challenge this week-Name that Tune.  It had me searching my iTunes library till I found Blondie's Call me...perfect song...just happens to be my ringtone!

Here's Blondie (1980)

And here's my card...

Image is from The Graphics Fairy, (I'm linking this to Brag Monday) printed on notepaper from Michaels.  The sticker letters are from Jenny Bowlin Studio, washi tape is from Maya Road.

This is also based on The Play Date Cafe color challenge, black and white with a splash of brown.

Thanks for stopping by today.
Ivanka

Flowers...

Sympathy cards are hard to make when the need arises so I try to keep a few on hand.  This is based on the current challenge at Lily Pad Card blog to use flowers.

The vellum background is old K&Co. and the 3D flowers are new K&Co.  I love the colors, it's like they were made for each other.  Washi tape is from Maya Road and the sticker is from SRM.

Thanks so much for dropping by.
Ivanka

Once in a While...

Don't you just love this iconic pink Anna Griffin paper?  I hate to admit it but it's probably about 10 years old!  It has survived every purge and I still love it.   The beautiful Chatterbox paper is a perfect background for this wedding card.  

The sentiment is printed on Vellum, the ribbon and hearts are from my stash.

The design is based on this week's sketch at Card Positioning Systems (258).  

Thanks so much for dropping by today.

Ivanka

Baby Boy Cards...

I've had a few coworkers ask for baby cards lately, so here I am with Baby Boy Day on the blog...

This first card is based on this week's challenge on Less is More...It's a recipe challenge to chose 3 challenges from past year. 

Here I've chosen 4: 

week 12-off center

week 15-embossing

week25-ribbon

week 55-punches

Embossing folder is from Cuttlebug, sticker is from SRM, scallop punch and ribbon are from SU, charm was a gift, not sure who makes it.

So then I just kept on with the theme...

Blue felt sticker is from Martha Stewart, embossing folder is from Cuttlebug, sticker is from SRM, vellum is from SU!

Here the die label die cut is from Nestabilities, chipboard is from Me and My Big Ideas.

Here, the chipboard and rub on are from Pebbles Inc., Die cuts are Labels 4 from Nestabilities, stamp is from Stampabilities.

Felt sticker is from Martha Stewart, chipboard is from Me and My Big Ideas, rub on is from Pebbles Inc.

3D stickers are from Jolee's, sentiment sticker is from SRM.
And finally a yellow one, the sex of the baby is unknown...

Stamp is from Anna Griffin, charm is from Hirschberg , Schultz & Co.
Thanks for stopping by today...baby girl cards coming soon.....
Ivanka

Italy...and a Card!

This is one of the rare times that I wish I was still in grade school.  I have an amazing topic to talk about when the teacher asks...what did you do on March Break...I went to Italy!! :)

My daughter's high school soccer team had the amazing opportunity to travel to Italy, see a prfessional soccer match and actually play soccer in Italy with 2 teams!  It was the trip of a lifetime...and I got to tag along!  

Here are a few highlights...

The Vatican...we attended mass in one of the smaller chapels.  Amazing.

A fountain, somewhere in Rome...

I fell in love with the doors of Italy.  

Trevi Fountain...we made a wish...or two!

The Panteon

Such prettiness everywhere!

Vatican Museum...Breathtaking!

Arch of Constantine

Colosseum

Forum and ruins

Gelato...it's a good thing we did so much walking!

Juliet's balcony, Verona

The purpose of the whole trip...soccer with 2 Italian teams, Milan. We won 1 and lost 1.

Lazise, Lake Garda...I could have stayed here for days but we only had an hour.

And a gondola ride in Venice...priceless!
I'm still in awe...

Ok, back to the real world....(it's hard, though!)

Here's today's card made for the challenge at CAS-ual Friday blog.  The challenge is Bold and Beautiful, to use pastels with black.

Embossing folder is from Sizzix, patterned paper and stickers are from Stampin' UP!.  I bought these at the LSS garage sale so I am guessing they are not current.  Brad is from Making Memories, sticker is from SRM.

Thanks for dropping by, hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Oldie Moldie Monday

It's been a while since I've made a card for Oldie Moldie Monday.  OMM is where Barb and I dig into our stash and give love to some long forgotten supplies.  Today's card is based on the sketch 23 at Freshly Made Sketches.  I think this is the first time I've joined in on one of their challenges.  And I'm getting in just under the wire.

 

The transparency is from Teresa Collins (Mr. & Mrs) and sentiment sticker is from SRM.  Those are the only new things on the card.  Everything else is from my stash.  The rose sticker is from PSX 2002!!  I don't usually keep things for 10 years, but these were my very favorite stickers and I've hoarded them as PSX is not around any longer.

My other card today was inspired by this card made by Mandi from Less is More.  I fell in love with this elegant card and wanted to recreate it for a wedding card I needed.  It didn't quite turn out the same, but I like the result. 

The transparency is from Teresa Collins again, heart die cuts are from Sizzix, sticker is from SRM, rhinestones are from Prima, Stickels.  I'm entering this in the 'use your stash' challenge at Less is More.  The only newish things here are the transparency and stickers, everything else is from my stash.

Thanks so much for dropping by.  Happy Monday.

Ivanka

Well Behaved Women...

Hi there,

It's been a busy week, but today I managed to sneak away to play along with some challenges.  I started out with CAS-ual Friday CFC41 Jest for the Pun of it challenge. 

The color combo came from Runway Inspired Challenge RIC # 6 

and the sketch came from Clean and Simple Stamping FTL #179

Here's my card:

The hat and sentiment are from Skipping Stones Design, stamped with VersaMagic and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Dry embossing plate is from Cuttlebug.

The basement is full of teenagers...I'm off to find some ear plugs!

Thanks for dropping by,

Ivanka

Best Day of the Year

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I'm still catching up with challenges at the Winter Warm Up Crop at CardMaker Swap Board.  The challenge on Wednesday was to create a card using a quote or a poem.  I'm also joining in with the CPS 5th Anniversary Celebration, day 5 sketch.  It's been fun playing along with all sketches over at CPS.  I'm also playing with Lily Pad Cards patterned paper challenge.

Here's my card:

The sentiment is from a pad of quotes and sentiments on vellum from Jo-Ann's.  The paper was a gift from my friend Barb, I'll have to ask if she remembers who it's from.  Flowers are from Prima.

Thanks for dropping by.  I hope you have a wonderful day.

Ivanka

Altered Notebook

Hi again...today was just a blur, as most Mondays are these days.  My day is spent in taxi service, driving from one side of the city to the other with my daughters and all of their commitments and activities.  And although it's a lot of driving, I really don't mind...it gives me time with my girls...as I've come to realize, the older they get, our time together gets less and less.

The Winter Warm Up Crop at CardMaker Swap Board is over but there is still time to join in the fun. till tomorrow night.  The challenge on Thur. was to create a journal or a notebook.  I've been wanting to do this for a while, so glad this challenge came along to give me a bit of a push.

The notebook came in a pack of 2 from the $ store.  Sentiment is on vellum from JoAnn's, not sure who made the paper and the beads are from Bazzill (Grandma's Feather Bed).

Thanks so much for dropping by,

Ivanka

Manly yes.....

Hello there,

I dug deep into my stash for today's 'manly' card.  All of these products have been with me for years.  If was fun to discover them again. 

I'm joining in the 5th Anniversary Celebration at CPS.  The sketch is from day 1.  I'm also joining in with the CardMaker Winter Warm Up over at the Swap Board.   The challenge on Friday was to make a card with texture.

Here's my card:

 

I used the argyle embossing folder for the base and Happy Birthday for the side panel.  The patterned paper is from 7 gypsies and the text box is from Graphic 45.  Twill is from Martha Stewart and the metal brad thingy is from Stampin' UP!  Sentiment stamp is from Papertrey Ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Ivanka

True Love Stories

Good Morning...hope your Saturday is going great. 

I'm going to try and join in the CardMaker Swap Board Winter Warm Up Crop this weekend.  There are fun games and challenges going on, so take a peek if you have time.

My card is for Wednesdays challenge to make a wedding card.  This is based on the sketch day 14 at CPS 5th Anniversary celebration. 

Here's my card:

Patterned paper and sentiment frame are from Teresa Collins (Mr. & Mrs.).  Ribbon is from Offray, gem is from $ store.

Thanks so much for dropping by today.

Ivanka

CardMaker Winter Warm Up Blog Hop

There is an awesome crop going on over at CardSwaps this week. Challenges and games will be posted February 8-11, 2012 and you have until February 14, 2012 to get your projects posted to the appropriate thread. We are VERY excited to announce we have two sponsors for this crop, SpellBinders and Elmer's Glue!!! 

The blog hop theme goes with the crop title of "Winter Warm Up". All of the blog hostesses will be sharing projects that make them smile and help bring warm, fuzzy feelings to the cold winter months.

We're also playing a game as we're hopping.  Collect a letter from each blog on the hop and unscramble the word once you collect all 13 letters.  The last hostess in the blog hop will direct you to the thread in the forum where you will find all the details to enter the drawing. Your only hint is... it's a phrase and it's a way paper crafters warm up.

For my project, I chose the movies.  There is nothing better than a movie on a cold winter night.  On any given Friday, we'll get all comfy, turn the fireplace on and plug in a movie.  One of my favorites is Pretty in Pink.  Ah, all of those 1986 memories!

Makes you smile, doesn't it?  I still love it!

So my projects reflect a little 80's Glam...

1.  Dry emboss white cardstock with Vintage Wall Paper embossing folder (SU).
2. Cut out frame (Teresa Collins, Mr. & Mrs.)
3. Stamp sentiment (Hampton Art) onto vellum with black ink, heat emboss with clear powder.
4. Adhere to frame with Tombow vellum adhesive.
5. Attach brads to frame (Recollections).
6. Tie ribbon in a bow, adhere feather trim.
7. Adhere frame with foam adhesive.

To go along with the Glam/Pretty in Pink theme, I made a small gift to go along with the card.

I used rhinestones from $ store and adhered them to the bobby pins using a hot glue gun. The flower is from Offray, sentiment stamp is from SU (Just Believe)

I'm entering these in CAS-ual Friday's On the Red Carpet Challenge.

So for the game we are playing while we're hopping...my letter is:  A

You arrived here from Judy's blog so your next stop is Teresa's blog.

Here is the order of all the blogs.  Don't forget to collect a letter at each stop.


CardMaker

Lora

SusieQ

Laura

Marlene

Jane

Golda

Angelina

Tina

Judy

Ivanka  <--You are here

Teresa

Ana

Thanks for stopping by and joining in on all the fun. 

If you are new to the CardMaker forum, I hope you take the time to sign up. It's a wonderful and friendly forum filled with lots of fun and tons of inspiration.

Ivanka

Aqua

Hello...

The color challenge at Less is More this week is Aqua and they're celebrating their first birthday.  I'm so glad to have come across this challenge blog, so much inspiration and such a wonderful place. 

A few years ago, I never would have used bright colors, but they have grown on me and now I quite like how bright and cheery they are.

 

The stamp is from Hampton Art (Kelly Panacci), flower is from Prima, embossing folder is from Cuttlebug and the ribbon is from Offray.  I hope it's alright that I've added a smidgen of color, it seems to liven up the card.

Thanks for visiting,

Ivanka

A Valentine Hi

Hi again...happy Saturday.

I've never made as many Valentine's Day cards as I have this year.  Don't know why that is.  Maybe it's the weather, we've hardly had a winter...there is no snow, the grass is green (not complaining though, I love this!!).  Anyway, I've sold or sent away most of them but I needed one that was a Valentine theme, but not romantic.  This is what I came up with.

The background stamp is from Rubberstamp Ave.  Heart is die cut from a Sizzix and dry embossed with a script embossing folder. The owl is from Maya Road (I think, I've had it for years), stickers are from Making Memories.

I'm entering this in Create: blog Valentine's Day challenge.

Thanks for stopping in. 

Ivanka