Make a card, with paper!

Using Sketch #2, and a bag of goodies I purchased at Archivers, I made a card using paper (not digital!) products! 

It really gave me a relaxing feeling to craft, and I honestly think I slept more peacefully last night as a result!  So here's to crafting before bedtime!

And here's to 2011!  Wishing you a blessed and happy New Year!

I will put up a third sketch next week, but in the meantime, feel free to use either Sketch 1 or 2.  I'd love to see what you create!  And I'd love to hear about how the creating process made you feel!

I used Stazon Jet Black ink for distressing and edging.  Plain white cardstock.  Patterned paper from My Mind's Eye (Fine and Dandy Collection), BoBunny (Back to Basics Collection), My Mind's Eye (MeadowLark Collection), Basic Grey (Rob Roy) (Lime Rickey Collection).  Punchouts from My Mind's Eye (MeadowLark Collection), Half the Edge Cardstock Strips in black from Bazzill, BoBunny (Sophie) punchout/sticker, adhesives from Therm O Web.  Thanks for looking, and participating!

Extending this sketch out a bit

Totally don't think my card is going to get done today.  My office/studio is in a shambles, and it's not looking good!  So, let's extend this one out to next weekend, shall we?    Please join me, take some time for creative fun, over the next week, take some time for you!

Today I am loading some of my fav. published work on FB.

Oh my gosh, it is totally making me feel like crafting!  The cards, the sb pages, the home decor, makes me want to dig into my paper stash and make something! 

I really don't do any scrapbooking anymore, I make my girls annual journal books to preserve memories for them.  But I have to admit, I am sooooooooooooo glad I scrapbooked so many pages and events for them.

Today I saw a layout of Rylie on the high bar/pit bar at the gym, at age 4.  And a layout of  Karlie singing at solo night for the 5th grade choir.  Although 6 years have passed since I did the layout of Rylie and 5 years have passed since the layout I completed for Karlie, it is so interesting how their lives have remained constant over the years, in terms of their likes and dislikes.

It's such an important part of their history.  So glad those memories are preserved for them.

It's a busy week, and it's hard to work in time to do a card sketch.  I am hoping maybe on Sunday to get to make a card using this week's sketch.

Please don't feel any pressure to work in a card this week.  When I set up this blog, I did it to hold myself accountable and motivate myself to get back into some crafting.  We all have different goals and plans, right?

If I don't have a chance to get back in here before Christmas,I would like to say I hope you all have a blessed holiday week.

Second sketch, come have some fun!

Ok, so it's a crazy, hectic time of year.  Which doesn't leave much time for card making....but, give yourself a break and sit down with some cocoa, and crafty supplies, pull up the sketch, and have some fun, for you!  (by the way, Santa said he was bringing you coal if you didn't take more "me time" in 2011!!)

Here's my second sketch.  Because I am such an expert scanner (NOT!) I see sketch number one trying to peek out behind sketch #2.  Don't be fooled!  haha

This one is a mix of horizontal and vertical lines, a wavy line, and a circle.  But please feel free to change it up to suit your needs.  Don't hesitate to turn it, change it, etc...

I am thinking my Creative Memories trimmer for the wavy line.  Because I am going to TRY to go paper this time.  But, sometimes the best laid plans.....

So I may be doing digital again.  We'll see, this week coming will actually be "less" busy for me, believe it or not!

Ok. so one week for this one, I know you won't want to load a project on Christmas Day, so how about we say sometime the weekend after Christmas being the goal for a completion time.  Maybe that weekend will be a bit slower, and perhaps you will feel like unwinding a bit and crafting after Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?

Let's go with a technique added to the sketch this time.  Something easy to get things rolling.  Like layering patterned paper with cardstock.  Just for this sketch.

Some optional ideas popping through my head include:

Thin ribbons for the lines.
A circular sentiment sticker for the circle.
Using a photo in the circle spot.
Stitching for the lines.
Making the wavy line into a pocket, could be awesome to hold a gift card or money, or perhaps a message.
Coloring in the lines with markers, such as Copic.
Stamping a circle atop the lines, leaving the circle "empty".
Cutting thin strips of cardstock for the lines.
Using border stickers for the lines.
Adding glitter or small beads, flocking, or embossing to "fancy" things up a bit.

That's it!  Have fun, let me know how it goes, remember I'd love to see your final project!
P.S..  If you are still working on sketch 1, no problem, this is a no pressure blog, and although time guidelines are given, they are not set in stone.  :-)

Got my card done!

Ok, well I made it in Photoshop.  Need to print it.  Saved it as a Photoshop file in my computer, so I can tweak it up a bit before printing.  That's one thing I love about making cards in Photoshop, I can save a file, go back in another day, and see things I didn't see prior, that I want to change up.  Such as adding dimension, changing text sizes or colors, or fonts, etc...

So, here it is, let me see yours! 

Anyone with cards to share?

I WILL have mine posted by the set timeframe.  I WILL.  I WILL.  I WILL.  :-)

Don't miss the Hero Arts Blog Hop today! And touching base on the sketch!

What a fun idea!  http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2010/12/10/lets-hop-hero-arts-2011-catalog-blog-hop/
Check out all the lovely stamped creations, and be inspired!

Thanks again to Janette for making her adorable card using Sketch #1 yesterday!

I am pondering ideas, and thinking, I may have to make more than one card for this sketch!  Because I have two different plans in my head for this card.  We'll see!

Have you made a card/project yet?  If so, I'd love to see!  Please share your project with us when completed...

Hope you have a GREAT weekend!

Wow, she's fast. Real. Fast.

Janette made this lovely card from the sketch!  So many cool things she did here, I feel so inspired!  Thanks, Janette for accepting the sketch challenge, and creating this adorable card!

Sketch numero uno!

So here it is, in all it's hand drawn glory, straight from the pages of my notebook, wrinkled up and all (LOL), from me to you, SKETCH NUMBER 1!

Again, I want this to be about FUN crafting, not pressure crafting, so let's touch base this time next week, to share projects!

Please feel free to turn the sketch, alter the sketch to suit your desire, and please don't feel limited to card making!  That's what I plan to do this go around, but you could make a holiday tag, incorporate this into a scrapbook page, use it to design some holiday decor, or home decor, or whatever YOU want.  FUN is the object!

Some ideas rattling around in my brain, include:

Placing sentiments in the "bubbles".
Making the "bubbles" out of patterned paper.
Making the "bubbles" into something "tab like".
Making the "bubbles" into liftable flaps, with hidden messages beneath.
Placing photos on one or more of the "bubbles".
Stitching the "bubbles".
Placing a ribbon on the horizontal line.
Using different cardstock colors for the "bubbles".
Mixing cardstock and patterned paper for the "bubbles".
Making the "bubbles" out of felt.
Adding a jingle bell to the card.  :-)

Can't wait to see what you create.  Be sure to link up your projects here when you are done.  Thanks for playing, hope you have a blast and walk away feeling "creatively free".

I just realized...

it's probably a really rough time of year to start this!  Everyone is so busy with holiday prep.....and trying to get holiday cards out!

Here's a secret, I don't have my holiday cards out.  I am usually one of those annoying types that has the cards out on Dec. 1.  But not this year.  But I am still working on the "idea" of getting the holiday cards out.

I honestly feel like working on some "fun" crafting might get me motivated to take care of holiday matters!

So, just a heads up, I am going to be putting up the sketch here, OFFICIAL SKETCH #1, a bit later today.

I want this to be fun.  And feel freeing.  So stay tuned!

Making a new resolution for 2011.

Yes, it's true.  Making time for crafting.  Especially card making.

After taking a few years off crafting, I have somewhat of an "itch" again.  I am excited to begin on a new journey.

Back in the day, I was very into making and compiling my own card sketches.  Why reinvent the wheel every time I make a card?  Using a sketch allows the crafter to make a card for any season/reason, and changing up the sketch, the colors, the theme, makes for a different unique card every time!

So, that's how it's going to start.  With a sketch, and a card, or more!