Charge the Head, Not the Heart

Happy Hump Day - It’s Wednesday! What does that mean? Not only is it the middle of the week, but it also marks the time during the week where my last minute streak shows its ugly self...waiting to the last day of a challenge to post my card.

This quote sums me up in a nutshell: “If it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done.”

Getting on with the business at hand…It’s CAS-ual Fridays Challenge time. This week’s challenge offered a lot of variety as your CAS card could contain any 3 elements listed (in the below pic) on the vertical, horizontal or diagonal.

As you can see in my card, I went with the top horizontal row: Chipboard, Gems and Emboss.

I have never used chipboard, but I think I’m in love once I finally figured out what to do with it. I inked it up, and then embossed it with Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE). I got lazy and only did it once, so it didn’t turn out smooth, but hey the bumpy texture gives it character. That took care of two of the three elements. Then I added three crystal rhinestones for the dot dot dot in the sentiment. For the Pièce de résistance, I used a “fake” American Express card that I got from a credit card offer.

That about sums it up. Please let me know what you think.

~Alberta~

~Supplies~

Paper: White (Georgia Pacific), Kraft (Hobby Lobby)

Ink: Lady Bug Memento (Tsukineko), Fired Brick Distress Ink (Ranger), VersaMark

Accessories: UTEE (Melt Art) Chipboard, Crystal Rhinestones, Fake American Express Card, Microsoft Word

Sweet Birthday Bear Wishes

It's Tuesday!  You're like, "and...?"  And that means it's time for another Triplicate Trials Tuesday challenge!  I hope you will play along with us.

This Triple T challenge is based on the following elements:

 Here's what I came up with:

The beauty of this challenge is you have until Sunday, June 26th to participate.  So, you'll have plenty of time to play along with us and all of those other groovy challenges out there in blog land.   

Please visit the Triple T Challenge blog for additional details and to see the other Triple T Team creations.

 
As always. I appreciate the time you take to visit my blog. 
 
~Alberta~

~Supplies~

Stamps: Birthday Bear  (Beccy's Place), Birthday Cupcake (Inkadinkado)

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)

Paper: White CS (Georgia Pacific), Colors (Hobby Lobby)

Other: Glitter (Martha Stewart), Star Punch (EK Success), Copic Markers

Turn that frown upside down

Hello, Hello, Hello! If you haven’t noticed the pattern yet, it’s CAS-ual Fridays challenge time. The pattern I’m talking about is my terrible habit of posting at the last minute. I know I have problem. Like the lyrics from one of my favorite gospel songs by Albertina Walker…"Please be patient with me, God is not through with me yet."  I’m a work in progress.

This CAS-ual Fridays challenge is based on the following sketch:

This is my contribution...

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks, Alberta

~Supplies~

Paper: White and Colors (Hobby Lobby)
Accessories: Cream Soda Thickers (American Crafts), Circle Punches (EK Success), Microsoft Word, Foam Squares

Thanks a Latte

I made this note card set as a gift for a friend's birthday.  They are pretty simple but I think they turned out pretty good.  What do you think?

'til I craft again or have something to say...

Supplies:
Stamps: Latte Love (Fiskars)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Paper: White CS (Georgia Pacific)
Other: COPICS, foam square

Graduation 2011

It’s another CAS-ual Fridays Challenge. This time it’s all about Graduation. When I saw this challenge, I knew immediately what I was going to do. Of course, I had to live up to my procrastinator status and post it at the last minute. They say the first step is admitting you have a problem. Fine…I have a problem. I am a procrastinator. Now what? LOL! Enough of that…back to the card. I totally stole, lifted, cased the idea from Kim Hughes. She has a fantastic card (Congrats 2011 Card) in the May/June 2011 issue of the Paper Crafts magazine, page 40.

This card is just a mere example of how great her card is and I only wish I could replicate its awesomeness exactly, but I did what I could. Excuse the graininess of the photo - the color red and my camera didn't get along very well this go round.  I used Microsoft Word to create the tag and the “2011” on the side. Any who, I seem to be awfully chatty today. What’s up with that? Ok…I’m stopping now, right now. Please let me know what you think about the card. Ok, for real this time. Bye for now!

The day has finally arrived...

It’s time for our very first Triple Trials Tuesday Challenge. Yeah! The Triple T challenge is a three-part challenge based on a theme, colors and a sketch. This first challenge is based on the following:

Theme:

Colors:

Sketch: 

 So, here' s what I came up with:

I fell in love with this little girl the first time I saw her on this YouTube video. Isn’t she just the cutest thing you ever seen? She worked perfectly for this challenge as the colors and the sketch just wrapped everything into a tidy little cute package. Just to give the image some pop, I added dimension to the bubbles and the bottle.

I hope you will play along with us this week. Please visit the Triple T Challenge blog for all the details and to see the other Triple T Team creations.

'til I craft again or have something to say...

~Supplies~
Digi Stamp: Maya Blowing Bubbles (Whimsy Stamps)
Paper: White CS (Georgia Pacific), Colors (Hobby Lobby)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger)
Other: COPICS (skin: E21, E33, E25, R32), Embossing Folder (Provocraft), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Coluzzle, Paper Crimper, Foam Squares

Celebrate with a Cupcake

It’s a new CAS-ual Friday Challenge and it’s all about the **bling**.

I kept this card pretty simple…it’s a small card (4 x 4) with a small focal image (chocolate on chocolate...yummo!) with blingy sprinkles and a sentiment.  Voila!  Done!

Please share with me what you think.

'til I craft again or have something to say...

~Supplies~
Stamps: Cupcakes (Inkadinkado), Find Joy (Hero Arts)
Paper: White CS (Georgia Pacific)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: COPICS, Gemstones, Corner Chomper, Foam Squares

Who Knew Buttons & Twine Could Be So Special

It’s a new CAS-ual Fridays Challenge and it’s all about buttons and twine. Instead of using the buttons and twine as an accents, I really wanted to make them the focal point of this card. My craft mojo was a little low on fuel and in need of help.  Believe it or not, my inspiration came from the oddest  place…MY HUBBY! 

He gave me the idea you see before you – to wrap the twine around a layer of cardstock, then I added buttons to accent the mini canvas. I think it turned out into a little mini piece of art. While art is subjective and beauty is in the eye of the beholder…yada yada yada, I think this card is rather “special” hence the sentiment on the card. It’s particularly special because Hubby's idea rocked. Thanks Hubby!
Please share with me what you think.
'til I craft again or have something to say...

~Supplies~
Stamps: Find Joy (Hero Arts)
Paper: White CS (Georgia Pacific)
Ink: Pearlescent Rust Brilliance Ink (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Foam Square, Buttons and Twine

Finding the words to say...

Finding the words to say thank you can sometimes be difficult, but I think this card makes it easy to say it, without saying it, if you know what I mean.  It is a card after all and it does not speak.  Corny, I know but I couldn't resist making the connection.  My apologies.  Moving on...

This card was inspired by CAS-ual Fridays' first challenge.  The challenge’s focus was to create a CAS project using "texting skills" - meaning something beyond a simple sentiment.  I created a small word search (using this website: armoredpenguin.com) with words of thanks in different languages (the few I knew).  I circled the words with an ink pen to give it a touch of realism.  The sentiment on the inside reads, “...but hopefully this is a good start.”  The sentiments I created for the front and inside of the card were printed directly onto the card base. 

Let me know what you think.  I enjoy reading your comments.

'til I craft again or have something to say...

It's a banana type of birthday

I made this card for my hubby’s birthday. Anytime I give my hubby a card, it has to have some “corn” to it. By that I mean, it has to be funny, punny or down-right corny (see the card sentiment). He has a sense of humor that I love and only gets better with age. Ok, enough of that as I’m starting to get mushy and I don’t do mush…much. :)

Of course the card had to have a masculine edge. As my hubby would say, it has to be “Dude Approved” to be good for a dude/man. I decided on a clean and simple (CAS) design but with a rustic edge to it. I used the SCS Faux Wood Frame tutorial to get that edge.

I think it turned out pretty good for my first swing at it. Hubby was happy with it and that’s the most important thing.
'til I craft again or have something to say...

~Supplies~
Digi Stamp: Banana 
Paper: White CS (Georgia Pacific), Orange & Brown CS
Ink: Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks (Ranger)
Accessories: COPIC markers, Brads, Computer Font, Foam Squares, Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)