12.28.2013

Lame blogger and 13 cards

I've been a pretty lame blogger this year.
Lame at posting, lame at commenting, just pretty lame.
I would like to tell you that one of my New Years resolutions is to be a better blogger, but, well, it's not really on the list. I usually don't have a list anyways, but it still wouldn't be on the list if I had one.
Basically because I've accepted my blogging lameness.

But also,...because I'll probably be spending the fall semester in Austria!! Booyah! You probably still won't be completely rid of me even then, as I'll probably post some old cards and trip updates now and then, but still, it should be a well-deserved break for any readers. ;)

Anywho, I'm not really posting today to excuse my lameness - I wanted to post my favorite cards from 2013! Or rather, my favorite cards from my 2013 blog posts. Because while I haven't had a whole lot of cards picked up for publication this year (I haven't had a lot of time to submit, and, let's face it, I'm pretty rusty), I still did have a couple nice ones that haven't been published yet. So I can't really post those.

But here are my 13 favorite posted cards from 2013...


Made for a Precious Remembrance release, I just liked this card because of all the random things on my desk I put together to make some semblance of a decent card. ;)


This isn't a particularly flattering photo, because this is such a soft and pretty card. Stamping all those feathers, one by one, then covering them up with embossing powder so I could see the actual image before I stamped the next feather, took awhile, but it was so fun.


This is probably one of my favorite cards out of the bunch, and it seemed a lot of people thought so too, judging by all the traffic generated it. It was kind of funny, because when I finished this, I was thinking "I really like this card, but I think this card will end up one of those ones that I really like but no one else really gets" (such as the card above) - it's kinda fun to predict which cards will be favorites with readers. ;)


This card is such an unusual color combo for me, which is why it made the list.


I can't usually seem to pull of clean and graphic too well, so combining that with the inking I did, made me happy with how this one turned out.


I love making personalized cards, and this is about a personalized as you can get - an athletes wrapped foot for some sports medicine assistants! I mean seriously, a foot, on a card?! While I love all things pink, blue and floraly for my cards, this card actually fits my non-cardmaking taste best - green, funky and happy. :)


This one...well, this one's just cute. Plus I felt a little Teri Anderson-ish with it. Makes me feel like a big, full fledged cardmaker. ;)


I just love the softness of this one, and that big ol' grosgrain bow just makes me happy. This card makes me realized how little I've been using ribbon in my most recent cards. Something I definitely wouldn't have foreseen a year ago. ;)


I am deeply blessed teenager who hasn't had to experience a whole lot of loss in her life so far, but I was still proud of this card.


This just seems kind of a cool, hip card to me, and it was so fun putting all the random elements together.


While I did end up rearranging the flowers a bit like I mentioned in the original post, I still feel a bit off with this card. But those flowers (using one of 2013's most popular stamps, Fresh Cut Florals) are just too dang pretty to leave this one out of the list. ;)


This card makes me smile. The cute image. The frame. The patterned paper. Then the actual picture itself - I finally got a DSLR camera, so I can use background papers with my cards photographs from now on, without it looking too distracting. Oh, and the fact it helped me make the SPARKS design team doesn't hurt either. ;)


I'm not crazy about the photo itself in this one (acetate is just so dang hard to photograph), but I seriously love this Hero Art stamp - I don't think there's any way to use it that doesn't look awesome. :)

Woo! You made it! Congrats!
Despite being a lame blogger, I do want to let you know I appreciate each and every comment, and also, I do watch your blogs and keep up with all your amazing creations. It's just, well, like I said - I'm a lame blogger, and between school and procrastination, I never get around to commenting.
But still, I just wanted to let you know, even if it is a pathetic excuse. ;)

Thanks so much for stopping and enjoy the rest of 2013!!

12.25.2013

Merry Christmas!

I hope you and all your loved ones are having a beautiful Christmas so far - I haven't made many Christmas cards this year, but wanted to schedule this one ahead of time for yinz. :)


According to Wikipedia (great source, huh? ;)), the word Noel comes from the Latin nātālis [diēs Dominī] (birthday of the Lord), so happy Noel and God bless!

12.22.2013

Paper Smooches SPARKS Designer Drafts Challenge


...it's a full house here, with my sister and nephew from Texas up for a surprise visit, so I'll make this post a quickie. ;)
The card today is for Paper Smooches SPARKS Designer Drafts challenge (as I'm sure you've picked up from this blog title ;)), using the adorable new Enjoy the Show stamp set.
Seriously, when I got my hands on this set, I could NOT stop making cards with it!


And a wee bit of Glossy Accents for the ball...


Be sure to check out the blog to get a peek at the rest of the design team's takes on the challenge! Here's the list of individual blogs, for an 'in-depth' look. ;)

Savannah

That's all for me today - thanks for stopping in and enjoy your Sunday!

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Cardstock: Canson, stash
Patterned paper: American Crafts Dear Lizzy "Neapolitan" and "Polka Dot Party"
Stamps: Paper Smooches "Enjoy the Show"
Ink: Versamark, Stazon, Memento, Tim Holtz
Other: sequins, embossing powder (Martha Stewart)

Tools: Fiskars border punch, heat gun

12.16.2013

You are

....amazing! Thanks SO much for all the sweet comments lately! I just finished finals, had some friends over for a couple days, and now I'm sick, so it will be a while before I can return the compliment, but just wanted to know you are appreciated. :)

Anyways, here's an old Create: Vintage January '13 pub - the brightness of it just makes me happy, and I thought you might like it too. ;)


Not my usually pink and blue color scheme for shabby cards, but I like it for a change. :)


Pretty hemp cord, flower, and metal medallion....


A little navy ink peeking out at the bottom to bring out the navy in the die cut...


Thanks so much for stopping in today and God bless!

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Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: K&Company 'Cut N Paste'
Stamps: PTI 'Year of Flowers', Martha Stewart
Ink: Colorbox, Staz-on
Other: die cuts (K&Company), doily and metal medallion (stash), tag and hemp cord (Darice), brad and rose (Recollection)

Tools: sewing machine

12.10.2013

Four down

...one final left to go!
Popping in to share a simple little card for the Simon Says Stamp challenge (make your own background) and CASual Fridays (out on a limb)...


Sweet little buttons and a perfect sentiment from PTI finish off the card...


The stamp was a dollar stamp from Joann's, and I inked it up first with Versamark, then Distress Inks. I wanted the image to be sticky for the embossing powder, and while Distress Inks are a bit sticky, the effect will be even better if you ink first with Versamark.

Anyways, gotta take a nap, and then study for that last final! Any prayers would be appreciated! ;)

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Cardstock: LSS
Stamps: PTI, Joann's
Ink: Versamark, Tim Holtz
Other: buttons, embossing powder (Martha Stewart)

Tools: heat gun

12.01.2013

Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect Challenge



Happy New Year! That is, it's the first Sunday of Advent, which means it's the new year, liturgically speaking! ;)
Anyhows, I'm here today with my FIRST Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge! It's anything goes this week, so there's really no excuse not to play. ;)
Here's my card, using Party Posse...


I knew I wanted to use the cute sentiment with the cat image, and the length of it lent itself perfectly to the chalkboard craze that's been going on.

Be sure to check out the blog to get a peek at the rest of the design team's takes on the challenge! Here's the list of individual blogs, for an 'in-depth' look. ;)

Savannah

That's all for me today - thanks for stopping in and enjoy your Sunday!

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Cardstock: Canson, Bazzill
Stamps: Paper Smooches "Party Posse'
Ink: Versamark, Papertrey Ink
Patterned paper: American Crafts "Polka Dot Party"
Other: gems (Darice), ribbon (stash), embossing powder (Martha Stewart)

Tools: heat gun, circle punch