Empty Wreath // Throwback Thursday

I'm gonna try to keep this months Throwback Thursday posts relevant to the season, mostly because when this Christmas season is over, these cards are going to be really inapplicable until next season haha.
Today's card was published in the November 2012 CREATE magazine, so this one was quite awhile ago.

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I have a thing against making wreath cards without putting some kind of something in the center of the wreath. I don't know why, it just seems so naked without it. Call me crazy.

Thanks so much for stopping in today!

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Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: Crate Paper 'Emma's Shoppe', October Afternoon 'Sidewalks'
Other: die cut (K&Company), pearls (Recollection), ribbon (stash), glitter (Martha Stewart)

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, scissors, sewing machine, Cuttlebug, PTI Tiny Tags die

Avery Elle // Weather It

Taking a little study break to present a wild but soft number for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (Texture).

So, we got some ripped paper (I love this ripped look on the edge of a card), two fabrics, some glitter, wood, heat embossing and a puffy sticker - I'd say the texture thing is covered pretty well. The best part is almost everything here was from my scrap bin!
For the die cut fabric doily (which I made literally years ago), I adhered the fabric to some scrap vellum, and die cut it.

Thanks so much for stopping in and God bless!

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Cardstock: Canson
Patterned paper: October Afternoon
Stamp: Avery Elle "Weather It"
Stickers: Crate Paper, unknown
Other: glitter paper (American Crafts), fabric (stash), wood embellishments and puffy sticker (Pinkfresh Studio), embossing powder (Hampton Arts)

Tools: Cuttlebug, Papertrey Ink doily, circle die, heat gun, Martha Stewart bird punch

Moooove me

While I can't make any cards in Austria, I can start cleaning out my old draft closet, and start posting some old cards.

I had the cow all stamped and layered, and built the rest of the card around it.

I have a lot of detail pictures...I used to do it all the time, but I've stopped since I felt like they were unnecessary, but what do you think?

I still love these coconut buttons.

That's the oldie for today! Thanks for stopping in!

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Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: October Afternoon "Sidewalks" and "Fly a Kite"
Stamps: Lawn Fawn 'Critters on the Farm'
Ink: Staz-on
Other: button (stash), burlap (Joann's), paperclip (Tim Holtz), ribbon (PTI)

Tools: sewing machine, Cuttlebug, MFT Framed Greetings die, scissors, adhesive, trimmer

Just a Note(set)

First off, can I just give a big THANKS for all the super sweet comments everyone has left me on the past couple posts?! Seriously, you peeps rock, and totally brightened up my super stressful school week. :)

This is for the Simon Says Stamp (Use a rubber or clear stamp), and The Kraft Journal (Bow) - it's a little Pooh card set! 

Decided to use some adorable old Pooh stamps I have, and combine it with some October Afternoon scraps and yummy wooden tags.  :)

Oh, before I forget, the winner of THIS little giveaway is Dawn Turley - Dawn, shoot me and e-mail and I'll mail out the stamps as soon as I can squeeze the time in!

I have one pretty big midterm this Friday, and a bunch of tough projects the next week, so if yinz could keep me in your prayers, I'd really appreciate it! 

Thanks for stopping in and God bless! 

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Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: October Afternoon
Stamps: vintage stamps, Waltzingmouse, Hero Arts, Papertrey Ink
Ink: Memento, Tim Holtz
Other: string and wooden tags (Darice), gems (Michaels)

For You

...a new card, and a giveaway!

This card is for the Simon Says Stamp Embossing challenge and the CAS-ual Fridays Back to School challenge (how appropriate is this theme for me!?)

I used a lot of paper scraps here, and did a wee bit of heat embossing on the sentiment for a rather dramatic effect.

And then some pearls covered with nail polish. Just cuz I'm cool like that. ;)

Now, that giveaway - I don't know if I mentioned, but Dyane (from Precious Remembrance) and I decided it would be best for me to take a break from designing for Precious Remembrance as school projects and volleyball will pretty much be consuming my life for the next nine months. However, depending on how much extra time I have once volleyball ends, I may do a couple guest designing stints!
The upside of this for you peeps is that Dyane has graciously given me a "Thanks" stamp set to giveaway! Woot woot!
But to make this more fun (and the fact that I feel kinda bad for being a lame blogger that doesn't return sweet comments), I'll be sticking a new Hero Arts c;ear stamp set in this little giveaway, as well as some other delectable crafting goodies! ;)
Just leave a comment, and you'll be entered!
Thanks for stopping in, and say a prayer that I can survive this semester (looks like it's gonna be a doozy!)

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Cardstock: Strathamore, Bazzill
Stamps: Avery Elle
Ink: Versamark
Patterned paper: October Afternoon
Other: gems, nail polish
Tools: heat gun, MFT Framed Greetings die, Cuttlebug

Throwback Tuesday #10

Welcome to the tenth Throwback Tuesday! It's like, a decade of posts! ;)

The deets: every Tuesday, I will post a card that has been sitting in the draft closet too long. At the end of each month, I will randomly select a winner from all the valid challenge entries!
The challenge: link up an old papercraft related blog post, card photo, or post one of your old drafts/pictures! An additional entry will be given to those who comment on the Throwback Tuesday posts for that month.
The prize: a big ol' box stuffed with scrapbooking goodies!
Sorry, but due to crazy shipping costs, this challenge is open to the US only!

\
Thoughts from April '11...

Made for one of this months SSC Card Challenge - we're sponsored this month by the Cutting Cafe!
Using one of their adorable bike images..

 

And a PTI stamp!

Cute bike...

Obviously, I didn't edit these photos from way back. ;)


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Card recipe
Cardstock: Unknown
Patterned paper: October Afternoon "Thrift Shoppe"
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, the Cutting Cafe
Ribbon: Offray
Other: pearls (Recollection - Michaels), button (unknown)

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, scissors, printer, nail polish, sewing machine

Glad day

...because I have no school. ;)
I used my two favorite real-life colors (as opposed to my favorite cardmaking color combo, which is...not...real life...? oh bother!), blue and green, on today's card.
Used them along with some bling, subtle woodgrain embossing, and kraft (middle row, straight down/up) in conjunction with CAS-ual Fridays #100...

Now I pose a question for you, my fellow crafters - when you use the Papertrey Ink embossing plates, how deep is the embossing? The reason I ask is because I had been layering like so (A, card, plate, rubber mat, C), and got a nice, subtle embossed look. Then I accidentally rolled the card like this (A, plate, card, rubber mat, C) and got a much deeper impression. Here's the side by side comparison...

I'm not sure if you can tell, but with the deeper impression, the impression went all the way through back of the card, and the card is slightly curled.
Which one do you/are you supposed to get? I like the subtle better, but I was just curious as to what the majority did. ;)

Thanks for stopping in today and God bless!

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Cardstock: LSS, Hobby Lobby
Chipboard and sticker: October Afternoon "Woodland Park"
Other: gems (Michaels)

Tools: Cuttlebug, Papertrey Ink Woodgrain embossing plate and Doily Detail die

Just Because

{DISCLAIMER - if you don't like feet, you may wanna skip this post!}

     I was going over the old blogaroo tonight after a failed search on Netflix (need to put off studying for finals as long. as. possible...ugh), and realized that it's kinda dusty. While I think the Technique Thursday posts have livened things up a wee bit, things are still looking pretty drab around here. Pretty much all of my posts within the last, oh, at least four months, have been for either design team work, or an occasional challenge.
     So I thought to myself, "Darn it, Clare! You should post something just because!"
     And so here I stand.
     Er, sit.

     While looking for the perfect random card to post, I found this...

     I dare you to find a more random, customized handmade card online that looks as sweet as this (in my personal opinion). Dare you.

Backstory:
     Here at my college, Franciscan University of Stuebenville, we have THE best athletic trainer and S.M.A.'s (Sport Medicine Assistants). Seriously. The best. This trainer lady is always in a good mood, treats even opposing players like they're V.I.P's (which is how it ought to be), and keeps me and the rest of the student-athletes laughing. Not to mention, she (and the S.M.A.'s) are pretty darn good at their work.
     Anyways, this awesome trainer lady and the S.M.A.'s taped up my pathetically pathetic ankles up for every practice and every game this past volleyball season, and they did a bangin' job.
     So this was my thank you card (which was accompanied by some sweet treats) for the S.M.A.'s. It's only appropriate. ;)
    The trainer lady thank you card (which is also pretty darn awesome) will be posted soon.

     And yes, I did print out an outline of a foot, and wrap it with thin computer paper. ;)

     Thus concludes my just because card post. ;)
     Thanks for putting up with my today, and God bless!

Throwback Tuesday #4

Today's post is deuce! That is, two mini cards for one Throwback Tuesday post.

The deets: every Tuesday, I will post a card that has been sitting in the draft closet too long. At the end of each month, I will randomly select a winner from all the valid challenge entries!

The challenge: link up an old papercraft related blog post, card photo, or post one of your old drafts/pictures! An additional entry will be given to those who comment on the Throwback Tuesday posts for that month.
The prize: a big ol' box stuffed with scrapbooking goodies!
Sorry, but due to crazy shipping costs, this challenge is open to the US only!

And now for my old thoughts:

I love THIS set. Love. It.
The sweet mini images, the cute sentiment, the funky frame...pure sweetness.
So I made some mini cards - one cute, one funky.

Cutie.

 ...funky.

Some yummy embossed 'frosting'

The fix: honestly, since these are just wee little note cards, I don't think there is much I would do. I think they fulfill their simple purpose pretty well.

That's it for this Throwback Tuesday post! Thanks for stopping in and God bless!



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Card recipe 1
Cardstock: Unknown, Bazzil
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, MFS
Ink: Tim Holtz "Walnut Stain", "Shabby Shutters", and "Worn Lipstick", Tsueinko glue pad
Other: Martha Stewart clear embossing power

Tools: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, heat embossing tool

Card recipe #2
Cardstock: Hero Arts, Bazzil
Patterned paper: October Afternoon "Fly a Kite"
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tim Holtz "Walnut Stain" and "Worn Lipstick"
Other: pearl (Recollection), string

Throwback Tuesday #3

We're starting off April's Throwback Tuesday's off with a bang, people!

The deets: every Tuesday, I will post a card that has been sitting in the draft closet too long. At the end of each month, I will randomly select a winner from all the valid challenge entries!

The challenge: link up an old papercraft related blog post, card photo, or post one of your old drafts/pictures! An additional entry will be given to those who comment on the Throwback Tuesday posts for that month.
The prize: a big ol' box stuffed with scrapbooking goodies! 
Sorry, but due to crazy shipping costs, this challenge is open to the US only!

The card today is just...ugh. And now for my thoughts on it from approximately two years ago. ;)

That ugly bow thing was made with scraps...I didn't mind it before, but looking at the pic, I am so....ewwwww. I accidentally got some brown dye in my blue ribbon, which explains the yucky color.
So, to make up for the yucky ribbon, I added some lovely Websters Pages bloomers. {Sigh} Love. That. Stuff.

The fix: first off, that bow/blob has GOT to go. I cringe just looking at it! The stitching here is also pretty pathetic - I can tell now that I obviously didn't have the tension tight enough. Also, that big button is clashing with those fluffy bloomers. I think I also might want to round the corners of the base, to soften the look up a bit. I'm not crazy now about using huge sentiments on shabby cards - I usually like the focus to be on some pretty mass of things, and then sneak the sentiment in some corner. ;)



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Card recipe
Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: K&Co "Wild Saffron", October Afternoon "Thrift Shop"
Stamps: Waltzingmouse "Fancy Phrases" and "Very Vintage Labels 1"
Ink: Ink It Up!, Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Walnut Stain"
Ribbon: Websters Pages
Pearls: Prima
Button: Websters Pages

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, scissors, sewing machine, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities,

On the tenth day...

A mini collage of sorts to share with you today - I was determined to use this sheet of paper from October Afternoon, as I hadn't used it once on a card since I got it last summer, while the rest of my 8x8 pad was cut to pieces. ;)

I was dying some ribbon for a customer order, when I realized how pretty it looked, and decided to make a batch for myself as well. :)

Stamped the little postage die cut - I always feel so clever after adding such tiny details (that probably no one aside from myself will really notice unless I point it out...like I'm doing here ;))

If you'd like to win a large flat rate box stocked full of papercrafting goodies, you can participate in the my twelve days of Christmas challenge by checking out THIS post, or linking up your card on the sidebar!

Thanks for stopping in today! 

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: October Afternoon "Fly a Kite", Cosmo Cricket "Girl Friday"
Stamps: Hero Arts " ", Ippity
Ink: Staz-on, Distress Ink
Ribbon: Seam binding aqua blue
Button: Making Memories

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, scissors, pinking shears

On the sixth day...

Using up some old kraft cardstock, some old-ish yummy October Afternoon paper, with some relatively new stamps and some brand new flower embellies.

If you'd like to win a large flat rate box stocked full of papercrafting goodies, you can participate in the my twelve days of Christmas challenge by checking out THIS post, or linking up your card on the sidebar!

Thanks for popping in today!

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: October Afternoon "Fly A Kite"
Stamp: Hero Arts "Just Saying Hi"
Ink: Staz-on
Flowers: Recollection (Michaels)
Pearls: Recollection (Michaels)

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, sewing machine, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, scissors, MFS die, MS punch

Sledding

...hasn't been a real possibility here yet, as we've hardly gotten any snow! Right now, that is perfectly with me, at least until this finals week is over. ;) After that, let it snow, let it snow!

This card was published in the November Create magazine...

Gah! I love this brad (with hinges cut off) on these metal snowflakes!

I love sticking random objects in here and there - this little sticker added a pop of green I needed here, and then a little 'button' for the finishing touch.

And a big ol' fat silky bow...if you've never tried silk ribbon before, you need to try it soon! It's the loveliest stuff to tie into bows - soooo....silky! ;) It's totally worth the price!

I don't have this card in the Etsy shoppe, but I have added a couple! Here's a few peeks;

 

More can be found in the shoppe. :)

And now for some pretty slick news! Check THIS out - I can officially say I'm a covergirl. ;)

Pretty much my typical shabby card - pretty papers, die cut, interesting focal point, doily and some fibers. I'll have a giveaway celebrating this and the end of finals (last one on Friday) soon. :)

Thanks for popping in and God bless!\

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Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: October Afternoon 'Sidewalks'
Fibers: ribbon (Creative Impressions), burlap (LSS), hemp cord (Bearydo Shoppe)
Other papers: sticker (October Afternoon), die cut (K&Company)
Other: metal snowflakes (Bearydo Shoppe), brad and pearl (Michaels), doily (hotel), wooden tag (Darice), button (stash)

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, scissors, sewing machine

Precious Remembrance New Stamp Release

Hello all!
Popping in to post about an awesome new stamp set - Precious Remembrance's new Christmas stamp set! I tried posting yesterday, but the Wi-Fi was terrible and wouldn't give me a good connection with Blogger, so here I am now!
Here's the stamp set...

Isn't it sweet? I foresee very many interesting and artsy projects in the future with this unique stamp set!

Here's my project...

It's hard to tell, but I also used the border stamps to add bits of glitter to card.

You can check out this project, and rest of the design teams amazing samples on the blog HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping in and for the sweet comments! Enjoy your Sunday! :)

I mustashe you a question

....'shave it for later'. You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard this one. ;) My younger brother keeps coming up to me and putting my ponytail right below his nose saying that line.
When I saw an 12x12 patterned paper sheet with mustaches all over it, I had to pick it up and make some cards for some of his friend's with upcoming birthdays.

I don't usually make card sets, but these mustaches were too funny to resist!

My favorite one - it just reminds me of a man with a mustache in a vintage bathing suit...you know what I mean?

All the sentiments typed up and all the striped paper yummy October Afternoon. The mustache paper is by Recollections, Michaels brand, so next time you're in Michaels, be sure to look out for this mustache-tic sheet! (sorry, couldn't help myself ;))

Cards made for the CAS-ual Fridays stripe challenge and the Simon Says Stamp and Show (anything goes) challenge.

I'll be back tomorrow with an overdue card post for a bloggy friend. :)
 

Project Thursday {hello}

Hi there! I'm so happy you've joined me again for Project Thursday!
Today I have small, sweet card to share...

Punched the corners with mini hole punch slightly so that the floss could stay in place easily.

Used the adorable hello stamp from Positive Thoughts (is this anyone else's fave sentiment of the set?) and the faux stitching image - this is so perfect when you're worried about the sewing machine sewing right (if you have one), or just because it's so darn easy to use!

Thanks so much for stopping in with me today, and I hope to see you same time next week! :)

Shabby Chic Lawn Fawn

....I just think that shabby chic cards with cartooney like stamps look SO cute, so I had to give it a go with some adorable Lawn Fawn stamps. :)

I started out with a whole doily and frame die cut in the center of the card, with ribbon coming on the side, and patterned paper in the backgound - typical Clare shabby chic card. ;) I don't know if you've noticed, but I feel like I tend to use pretty much the same sketch every time I make a shabby chic card -
 

Sketch made using PicMonkey - love this editing tool!

....look familiar? ;)

Sometimes I just have to challenge myself NOT to use a familiar layout, and I tried to on this card - though it still looks a lot like the sketch...well, at least I tried. ;)
Made this card for Stamp It! Cards Love Card Challenge in the Moxie Fab World and Lawnscaping's dimension challenge...

 Here 'tis my shabby chic Lawn Fawn card. :)

I know my last Lawn Fawn card also used a chocolate milk cow, but I really can't help myself! And no, I won't promise that my next two or three Lawn Fawn cards don't have chocolate milk cows...in fact, I think I could safely promise the opposite. ;)

Wee little hearts drawn in the sentiment using a Copic marker borrowed from my sister.

That's all for me today - I have lots of cleaning to do (Wednesday cleaning day...yuck), blogs to hop to, and various assignments to finish. :)
Thanks so much for stopping in and have a blessed day!

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Supplies not shown:
Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: October Afternoon 'Fly A Kite'
Other: pearls, ribbon (Bearydo Shoppe), button, doily, string, Copic

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, scissors, sewing machine