Sympathy

I've done Day 1's challenge entry already but haven't put the panel "together" yet so that will be posted tomorrow. But here's Day 2's challenge entry! This is also an entry for Lily Pad Cards "Patterned Paper" challenge.

To see sketch #166 click below:
http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/2012/01/cps-5th-anniversary-day-2-with-linda.html

This card unfortunately has some background. A niece of my domestic helper was killed by a taxi (in South Africa the mass transport in the form of mini-bus taxis are extremely dangerous). This is for the little girl's Mom. She was only 6.

Stamp used:
All Occasion Tags (GinaK Designs)

Materials used:
Designer Paper: Trim Craft paper pack "Desert Blooms" (flower uses same)
Ribbon: The Ribbon Company (South African)
GinaK pure luxury 80lb card stock (white)

Tools used:
Tonic paper trimmer
Spellbinders Classic Circles (small)
Spellbinders Rose Creations
Scor-Pal

CAS thanks

This is my first entry for Love My Tapes. I adore how they look and have seen them in my favorite papercraft shop (but been a bit pricey over here in SA).

Here's my take on their sketch (http://lovemytapes.blogspot.com/2012/01/love-my-tapes-sketch-challenge-1.html)

I'm really holding thumbs to get some Tape!

I also want to enter this into:
http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/2012/01/r56-clean-and-simple.html
http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/terrifically-thrilling-thursday-at_26.html
http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-92-anything-goes_26.html

Stamps used: 
All Occasion Tags (GinaK Designs)
Calendar Bits & Pieces (frame) (GKD)

Materials used:
GinaK pure luxury 80lb card stock (white)
Fabscraps bronze pearls
Ribbon: The Ribbon Company
Pop dots

Tools used:
Spellbinders Labels 8
Tonic paper trimmer
Scor-Pal

Card ministry: Kiddies' cards February 2012

The February 2012 kiddies' cards follow this layout which I CASE'd in the current www.stamptv.com challenge. Here's the challenge link: http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/free-for-all-friday-challenge-case-the-dt-jennie-harper  - Be sure to follow the link to Jennie's page and see her gallery! (Click on Photos in the left-hand column) 


Here's Jennie's card: http://stamptv.ning.com/photo/get-welltrees?context=user
And my version:

I used a lot less layering but the general layout is the same.
I first stamped the wheelbarrow and then created a mask. I use Post-it Notes and stamp over the sticky edge so that I can easily stick and peel off my stamped panel:

The wheelbarrow was paper pieced and the little farm girl colored with coloring pencils.
The number was stamped to correspond with the kid's age for the birthday. Luckily all 3 kids having birthdays in February are girls so I made the same card just with different ages stamped.

Stamps used:
Funny Farm (GinaK)
Calendar Bits & Pieces (GKD)

Materials used:
Memento Tuxedo Black
Scrap paper for paper piecing and cut flower
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Dusty Concord (for the number)
Background DP: BasicGrey, Hopskotch - First Dance
Back panel: Tim Holtz
GinaK 80lb white card stock
Stabilo coloring pencils

Tools used:
Tonic paper trimmer
Corner rounder
Scor-Pal

I'd like to enter this card into:
http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/01/just-kidding-around.html
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-it-monday-73-with-cupcake-cards.html
http://sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/anything-goes-for-kids-challenge.html
http://glittergeeks.blogspot.com/2012/01/week-3-two-images.html

Card ministry: Men's cards February 2012

This card was also made for the current www.stamptv.com Friday challenge.
Here's the challenge link: http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/free-for-all-friday-challenge-case-the-dt-jennie-harper  - Be sure to follow the link to Jennie's page and see her gallery! (Click on Photos in the left-hand column)

Here's Jennie's card I CASE'd: http://stamptv.ning.com/photo/masculine-get-well?context=user
Here's my version:

Jennie has quite a couple of cards using one of my favorite sets: Tree Silhouettes (GinaK Designs). I just had to use it again.
On white card stock I first stamped the tree with Tim Holtz Antique Linen. I then stamped over it with Pine Needles BUT I would stamp off once on scratch paper before stamping over the background trees.
The sentiment was stamped on some leftover card stock. The right edge was rounded and the edge all around distressed with Antique Linen. I also rubbed some Antique Linen over the trees and edges to darken the white.
The tree panel was glued and then stitched to the background DP.
I used Twinery Twine on the sentiment section and popped it on with foam tape.

Stamps used:
Tree Silhouettes (GKD)
Garden Silhouettes (GKD)

Materials used:
Tim Holtz Distress ink:  Antique Linen, Pine Needles
Memento Tuxedo Black
Twinery Twine - Cappuchino
Background DP: Bo Bunny "Et Cetera Stamped"
Background black panel: Tim Holtz

Tools used:
Tonic paper trimmer
Scor-Pal
Corner rounder

I'd like to enter this card into the Stamp And Create challenge:
http://stampandcreateblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-monthly-challenge-anything-goes.html
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-it-monday-73-with-cupcake-cards.html
http://birthdaysundaes.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-40-sponsored-by-meljens.html
http://letsinkitup.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-19.html
http://quirkycrafts.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-2-2012-silhouette.html
http://celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-47.html

Card ministry: Ladies' cards February 2012

I am so glad for the current Friday challenge over at www.stamptv.com. It really shook me out of my rut with all the inspiration I got. We had to CASE a DT, Jennie!
Here's the challenge link: http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/free-for-all-friday-challenge-case-the-dt-jennie-harper  - Be sure to follow the link to Jennie's page and see her gallery! (Click on Photos in the left-hand column)

What I usually do when the challenge is CASE'ing a DT is I start looking at the gallery from the 'back'. So I go to the oldest postings and work my way back :D I love to see how even the DT's have improved over the years - very motivational.

The first card CASE'd this one: http://stamptv.ning.com/photo/friendship-floral?context=user
Here's my version:

I used stitching for the first time and love the effect (although it's not too clear here - I used whatever spool I had on the machine). I might haul it out more often from its hiding place.

To stamp the flowers I inked up the flower part with the Memento Dandelion dewdrop ink pad. I then colored directly onto the stamp the green stalks with Memento Marker. I would stamp once in the bright color and then 'stamp off' a second time on the white card stock to create the lighter effect.

Stamps used:
Faithful florals- GinaK Designs
Enjoy the Sunshine - GKD

Materials used:
Memento dewdrop ink pad in Dandelion
Memento Tuxedo Black
Plain card stock from Tim Holtz
Background paper (unknown) - NOTE: The paper is actually cream with light brown print. To "yellow" it up I rubbed the Dandelion ink pad directly over the paper
Memento Markers (green stalks)
GinaK white 80lb card stock
Twinery Twine - Lemondrop

Tools used:
Corner rounder
Tonic paper trimmer
Scor-Pal
Edge distress tool (bought at my local sewing shop)

I'd also like to enter this into the following challenges:
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-it-monday-73-with-cupcake-cards.html
http://mimchallegeblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/mmm-week-33.html (Flowers & leaves)
http://letsinkitup.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-19.html
http://hotshotcraft.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-3-flowers-and-winner-of.html

Love balloons

(Sorry for the picture quality. Was in a bit of a rush to send it in to a Stamptv challenge and my usual photo-place, the kitchen, was still sticky from having a liter of orange juice poured over the floor thanks to my 2 year old)

I decided to do a CAS card with hand-cut heart balloons. I tinted their edges slightly with Aged Mahogany. I also didn't want to go with the traditional pink/red colours but used my paper scraps stash that included some neutrals and greens :D
This is also the first card I made using twine from The Twinery!
Sentiment: GinaK Designs "Bold and Beautiful"

I'm entering this into:
http://www.lilypad.inlinkz.com/2012/01/20/virginias-view-a-new-challenge/

Ribbon storage

I don't have a lot of ribbon but they were starting to climb out of their little drawer so this morning I decided I need to do something about it.

When I Googled "Ribbon storage ideas" I was blown away by how much ribbon people have!! A favorite storage idea for ribbon on spools can be seen here http://thefrugalgirls.com/2011/02/ribbon-storage-ideas.html

I do have some ribbon on spools but since I usually buy by the meter I had these odd strips of ribbon bundled up. So this is what I did:

 Wrap the ribbon around 2 or 3 fingers into a roll. Stuff the roll into a small plastic zip bag, leaving one end sticking out. Close the zip on the sides of the ribbon. Now when you need some, just gently pull out the length needed and cut.

I had this odd plastic container lying around so I stacked the plastic bags in it. Where I only had a short strip of ribbon I grouped like colours together, stuffed the strip in and left one edge sticking out