Crazy 4 Challenges!

Hi everyone!

Have you seen the new Crazy 4 Challenges blog? New challenges are posted every Saturday - this past Saturday the 5th was the first challenge - a sketch!



Here's my card:



I used the Quilted Pumpkin stamp from Serendipity Stamps. The image was stamped onto PTI Vintage Cream and then colored with Copics. The patterned paper is from the retired Apple Cider paper collection from SU. The sentiment is from PTI's 2009 Autumn Tags set.

I encourage you to check out the Crazy 4 Challenges blog - sometimes a little challenge is just what you need to get the mojo going!

Have a great day! See you tomorrow!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Quilted Pumpkin - Serendipity Stamps; 2009 Autumn Tags - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Textured Really Rust, River Rock - SU
Patterned Paper: Apple Cider (retired) - SU
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko; Really Rust - SU
Other: Copic markers; Paper piercer; Twill; Classic and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities

Trick or Treat?

Good evening friends!

I am going to sneak this post in just in the nick of time for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge. I discovered these sketch challenges from a link on Shannan Teubner's blog (she is one of my sweet Serendipity friends) and thought it would be fun to play along. The more challenges the better!

Here is this week's sketch:


And here is my card. I used Halloween Party from Waltzingmouse Stamps.


I turned the sketch on its side and used three creepy cauldrons - aren't they fun? The patterned paper is Spellbound from Making Memories. I pulled the colors from there for the rest of my card. The reverse side of this paper is very much like the other patterned paper I used, except I stamped that myself! I thought it would be fun to do a little background building, so I used Background Basics: Text Style, the spider web from Spooky Sweets II and the spider from Halloween Party to create the design. I crumpled my paper and added some distress ink to give it a nice worn look. The Trick or Treat sentiment is also from Halloween Party. I love it!

Thanks for stopping by this evening - I hope you enjoyed your long weekend. Take care!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Halloween Party - Waltzingmouse Stamps; Background Basics: Text Style, Spooky Sweets II - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: True Black, Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Tangerine Tango - SU
Patterned Paper: Spellbound - Making Memories
Ink: True Black, Ripe Avocado - Papertrey Ink; Elegant Eggplant, Tangerine Tango - SU; Old Paper, Black Soot Distress Ink - Ranger
Other: Classic Circle, Pinking Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; clear adhesive rhinestones - Michaels; Spica and Copic markers - Copic

Joyeux Noel

Hi everyone! I have another card to share with you today that I made for one of the holiday challenges on the Moxie Fab World blog.


The holiday tag stamp is from the Very Vintage Christmas set by Waltzingmouse Stamps. Claire's sets are fantastic, and I just couldn't resist this with the beautiful tag image and build-it-yourself snowflakes (I also picked up the Halloween Party stamp set as well).

The tag was stamped in Bravo Burgundy. The snowflake and sentiment were stamped with Distress Inks. The background is three strips of Cosmo Cricket paper from the Oh Joy Collection. These were matted on a piece of Sage Shadow cardstock and stitched (I used the same sketch as I did for this card). The card base is Vintage Cream. Loved using these stamps!

Hope you have a great evening!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Very Vintage Christmas - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Sage Shadow - SU
Patterned Paper: Merry and Bright, Frosty, and Yuletide from the Oh Joy Collection - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Sage Shadow - SU; Vintage Photo, Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
Other: Scarlet Jewel Satin Ribbon and Vintage Button - Papertrey Ink; Sewing machine

Thankful Hearts

Happy Friday! Oh the joy of a long weekend.. it is amazing what a difference a day makes! I plan on doing nothing.

Today's card is for Dawn's RSCC Challenge 16. These are such fantastic autumn colors.


Aren't they beautiful? Here's my card.


The background stamp, which is from First Fruits, was stamped onto a piece of Rustic Cream cardstock with Sahara Sand ink. This is one of the closest matches to Kraft that I have! I added some dots here and there with the smallest dot from Polka Dot Basics just to bring in another color and add some interest. I stitched around the edges, then distressed them and inked them a bit.

The bundle of wheat (goodness, isn't this a fantastic stamp? I almost died when I saw this card that Melissa Phillips made using it. One of my all-time favorites) was inked up in Summer Sunrise and then rock 'n rolled with Dark Chocolate. I cut it out, inked and curled the edges and then sprayed it with my mini mister of Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls to give it some shimmer (you'll have to trust me). I added a little rhinestone and that was it!

The card measures 3.75 by 4.25 - just a little cutie that would be perfect at a place setting.

Thank you for your visit today. If you're here in the US, I hope you enjoy your long weekend. I usually don't post over the weekend but I have another card I made for the Moxie Fab World holiday challenge, so I will pop in to post that. I hope you have a wonderful night!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: First Fruits - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise - Papertrey Ink; Sahara Sand - SU
Other: Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls - Ranger; sewing machine; adhesive rhinestone

Happy, Happy!

..Joy, Joy! Do you remember Ren & Stimpy? The show wasn't very stimulating, but as a kid I thought it was a riot. Even my Dad would share a laugh with us once in a while. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy always makes me think of the show. Anyway, I digress (don't ask me where that all came from)...

Today's card was made for a friend of my husband's who celebrated his birthday last week. Sometimes I enjoy making guy cards - its a bit of a challenge, you know?


I totally fell in love with stamping black ink onto Enchanted Evening cardstock after I saw this card from Niki Estes. I just love the colors together.

The notebook paper stamp is from an old Inque Boutique mini set called Mini Note. It was stamped onto SS White in Going Gray ink. Inque Boutique is no longer in business (sad face) but my local Pat Catan's has had their sets in stock and on sale. The rest of the card info is below in the recipe - the small cluster of stars in the top left is from Out on a Limb Additions. Love those black and blue stars!

So glad to see you! Have a fantastic evening!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Star Prints, Out on a Limb Additions, Birthday Basics - Papertrey Ink; Mini Note - Inque Boutique
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, SS White - Papertrey Ink; Basic Grey - SU
Ink: True Black - Papertrey Ink; Going Gray - SU
Other: Star punch - SU; Heidi Swapp edge distresser

You're a Classic!

Hello, my lovely blog readers! How are you today?

Today I have a fun Dad card to share with you. My Dad's birthday was last week (we share the same birthday :) and this card was perfect for him. He loves hot rods, and as soon as I saw this set from Bombshell Stamps, I knew it would be great for guy cards. It is called Speed Shop and is in their Hot Rod Classic Collection. Fun!

I also made a little notebook to go along with it.

The background paper was created by randomly stamping all the stamps from the set. I just stamped 'em all over to give that collage effect. I stamped half a sheet of cardstock and had enough for both projects. The cars were colored with Copics and highlighted with the Spica markers. I also added some stitching, distressing and ink. The inside of the card says 'Happy Birthday to a real Classic!' Oh, I am so clever ;)

All the supplies I used are listed below in the recipe.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today - I would love to hear from you!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Speed Shop - Bombshell Stamps; Psychadelic Grunge, Mini Muse - Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous; Sanded - Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Soft Stone - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up! (retired)
Ink: Going Gray - Stampin' Up!; Old Paper Distress Ink - Ranger; Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko
Other: Markers and Spica pens - Copic; Bind-It-All - Zutter; Glossy Accents - Ranger; Machine stitching

Happy Fall

Welcome to September! No, I don't know where the time went either. Blink and it is gone.

Today's card is the second in my series of Autumn Abundance cards! As soon as I saw this set of stamps, I pictured a little group of notecards. I posted the first the week before last.


I followed the same recipe as on my previous card, exchanging the orange cardstock for Scarlet Jewel. Such a pretty color. (I also love the stitching). I do have a third card planned and can't wait to photograph the group! The sentiment on this one is from the 2009 Autumn Tags set.

It certainly is feeling like fall and the first day of school around here. I don't have children of my own, but there's just a feeling in the air when it is back to school time. I do notice a difference in traffic, though...

Tonight I am heading to my sister-in-law's house. She is expecting a little boy in a few weeks and we are going to work together to put the finishing touches on the birth announcements. I am really looking forward to spending time with her and my niece. I hope you have a great evening too!

Take care!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Autumn Abundance, 2009 Autumn Tags - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Scarlet Jewel - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress - Ranger
Other: Copic markers; Heidi Swapp distresser; white gel pen - Uniball; sewing machine

Happy Harvest

I am very excited to share today's card with you! It doesn't happen often when the idea in my head and the execution match up! I can't wait any longer!



The inspiration for this card came from Amy's Blog Hop card. I loved the idea of the swirling fall leaves and my mind immediately went to stitching them (yes, we've created a monster). I started by stamping the leaves from Beautiful Blooms in fall colors and cutting them out. Then I stamped Background Basics: Text Style in Chamomile Vintage Touch Tea Dye Ink onto my main image. I inked the stamp up unevenly on purpose to give it a faded, weathered look.

I used a pencil to lightly draw the swirl lines that I planned to stitch. Let's just say I didn't quite follow them exactly, but I got the general idea. I added the leaves, adhering them with foam tape. Then I matted the main image with a piece of Autumn Abundance patterned paper. This is hands-down my favorite patterned paper collection from Papertrey yet. I inked the edges with more of the Vintage Touch Tea Dye Ink, using both Chamomile and Chai this time.

The Happy Harvest sentiment is from Vintage Picnic. I hope you love this card as much as I do! Please scroll down and check out Friday's card too - those little pumpkins are so stinkin' cute!

I hope you have a great day! Thank you for stopping by!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Beautiful Blooms, Background Basics: Text Style, Vintage Picnic - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Autumn Abundance - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Scarlet Jewel, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise, Chamomile and Chai Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo - Papertrey Ink; Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa - Stampin' Up!
Other: Machine stitching

You Make Me Smile!

So does this card! I love, love, love vintage Halloween, and these little pumpkins with their silly grins scream vintage to me. They are so adorable!

The pumpkins are from Twick or Tweet, a new Stampin' Up! set in the Winter Mini catalog (these items are available for purchase starting September 1). I stamped the pumpkins onto Really Rust and Enchanted Evening Cardstock. I cut them out and layered them onto a piece of Vintage Cream that had also been stamped with the image. I was a little irritated with the sentiment not stamping clearly but decided I sort of liked it paired with the distressed-looking patterned paper. Does anyone else have trouble using wood-mounted stamps after using clear stamps?

I was practicing my sewing again, stitching three different strips of patterned paper together. I added a few other touches - trimmed the bottom of the image with my pinking blade, added some buttons, and inked the edges. Love it! I think I'll leave this out on my desk so I can look at it and smile! :)

I hope you have a great night and a wonderful weekend. I need to spend some time doing nothing.. we'll see.

Thanks for stopping by!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Twick or Tweet - Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Enchanted Evening - Papertrey Ink; Really Rust - Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper: Polka dot stripe (Spellbound) - Making Memories; Gingham (Autumn Abundance) - Papertrey Ink; Spotted Damask (Vintage Moon) - Pink Paislee
Ink: True Black, Chai Vintage Touch - Papertrey Ink
Other: Rotary cutter pinking blade - Fiskars; Buttons; sewing machine

Holiday Cheer

When December rolls around, I will be glad that I was on a holiday card kick in August!

The Moxie Fab World Blog has me thinking Christmas recently, and here is a cute little card that I popped out last night. I had clean and simple in mind.. go here to check out other participants in the Moxie Fab World Blog clean and graphic holiday style challenge!

The finished card size is a little unique: 3-1/4 by 5-1/2. (Ok, I confess. The real reason I decided to size the card this way is so that I only needed to stamp the branches from Rustic Branches once across the card. Not that the clear stamps aren't really simple to line up, but only having to stamp them once is really simple!) Unusual sized cards are fun sometimes!

The sentiment is from Holiday Wishes. The rhinestones were originally clear, and I colored them with a Copic marker to match the Scarlet Jewel ink. That's about it! Very easy to mass produce for Christmas!


I am feeling so proud of myself at this point - I usually wait until some time in December to finally get started on my Christmas cards! I am having fun getting started early, so hopefully I'll have a nice big stash by the time the holidays roll around. Thank you for stopping by - I hope you have a perfect evening!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Rustic Branches, Holiday Wishes - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Scarlet Jewel, SS White - Papertrey Ink
Ink: New Leaf, Scarlet Jewel - Papertrey Ink; Handsome Hunter - Stampin' Up!
Other: Clear adhesive rhinestones; Copic marker