Apothecary Art

Today's post is for this week's sketch from Try Stampin' Tuesday.  I can't say I'm super happy with it, but I don't hate it either! lol  I loved the sketch, but just couldn't seem to get the look I was looking for.  Does that make sense to anyone else?  It seems like I'm so overwhelmed with the new sets I have lately that I just wanted to use a set that's been out for a little while.  This set is so pretty, but it does take a bit to color it in.  I definitely wanted to go with non-traditional colors for this so went with green flowers and blue leaves with a touch of yellow mixed in too.

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It's hard to tell, but I cut out all the flowers that have pearls on them and popped them out a bit.  I really like how that looks and you can't even tell it! lol

Make sure you head on over to Try Stampin' on Tuesday's blog HERE to check out the other great cards the designers made using this sketch.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Supplies used on this card: 

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Rich Razzleberry Apothecary Art

Oops...not getting this posted as soon as I usually do!  Today's card is for this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday sketch challenge and the twist is Girlfriends.  I can't really say I did the twist unless you count a birthday card sent to a girlfriend...nope, probably not.  For today's card I pulled out a set I haven't using in quite a while...Apothecary Art.  I've always loved this set and am glad it didn't retire. :)  I used some sponges around the edge and Blendablilites to color them in.  I love them!  So easy to use and no water running anywhere or paper falling apart from too much "coloring".

Remember to head on over to Try Stampin' on Tuesday HERE to see what other great cards are made using this sketch and play along if you get a chance.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stamp Sets:  Everything Eleanor, Petite Petals & Apothecary Art

Card Stock:  Rich Raspberry and Very Vanilla

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Rich Razzleberry

Blendabilities:  Rich Raspberry & Old Olive

Punch:  Petite Petals

Framelits:  Labels Collection

Sponges

Creative Crew Challenges for December

Today I will be posting a LOT of pictures because I'd like to show you all of the creations I made for the December Creative Crew monthly challenge.  ***If you think you came to this blog by mistake looking for another card or project just keep on reading and scrolling it will probably be on this post somewhere.***  Anyway, it's been a fun journey, but my time is up and there will be new designers starting in January.  This month started out with 

"Art begins in imitation and ends in innovation" - Mason Cooley

As we end 2013, let's CASE someone else's work and give them credit for inspiring us.

CASE someone else's work?!  Hmm...I not sure about that.  I just don't usually do it, but for this...OK!  There are some ladies...(and guys too!) that do some pretty great cards out there, and I had an excuse to copy their cards! :)  **Just a side note...I did ask permission to copy and post these cards.  Remember to always respect other people's work and give them credit when you CASE their work.**

Here is the first challenge:  DSP/Color Focus: Modern Medley or basic black and very vanilla. Check out the gorgeous cards on SCS or Pinterest that only use black and vanilla. CASE someone you admire.  

I found my first card to CASE while I was checking out the colors Basic Black and Very Vanilla on Pinterest...  This CASE'd card is from LeAnne Pugliese. I didn't know it was her card at first until I checked out the watermark, and guess what?  I know her from the Paper Players blog challenge.  Maybe some of you know her from there too, or or you follow her blog.  As soon as I saw her card I knew it was the one to CASE.  No more looking for me! lol  I have to admit I didn't case it 100% because I didn't have the DSP she used or the embossing folder, but I came as close as I could.  If you'd like to check out her card click HERE.  Thanks for the inspiration LeAnne! :)  Now I'm going to have to wait until Father's Day to use it. ;)

Now on to the second part of the challenge...

Catalog Focus: candy dots

Copy someone's artwork that loves brads or candy dots. Use candy dots generously on your project.

Candy dots, huh?  I use them every now and then and really like them, but who do I know that uses them?  One of the blogs I follow is Michelle Zindorf's.  She makes amazing cards using the brayer a lot, and I remembered she uses candy dots and brads.  I glanced through a bunch of cards on her blog to find one that had dots on it AND that I had all of the things I needed to make it.  I was only missing one thing for this card and that was a stamp.  I just used an embossing folder instead.  Now I must say I did NOT use the brayer for the scene on my card.  The brayer and I do NOT get along! lol  I'm a sponging girl and my sponges and I get along just fine, so that's what I used instead to create these cards.  If you'd like to see Michelle's card and her very distinctive work check out her blog HERE.  Thanks for the inspiration Michelle!

I opened this card and turned it to the side so you could see a hint of the inside, then totally forgot to take a pic of the inside. :(

Yes, I made two of them. I figured if I was getting everything out for one I'd do two.  I always think it's pretty interesting how two of the same cards that are sponged can turn out differently.  I guess you can't see as much of a difference in the pic, but one scene is a lot darker than the other in person.  

Believe it or not, I didn't copy anything for the third part of the December challenge.  So on to the third challenge...Holiday Focus: December 24th is National Chocolate Day.

While eating the best chocolate you can find, make a card using chocolate chip on it. If you CASEd someone fabulous, give credit to this wonderful stamper.

My first pic had to be some chocolate! lol  I have a large bag of Ghirardelli chocolates waiting for my December stamp a stacks.  I always have these on the table for the last sas of the year. :) Notice the chocolate chips...yup, they are one of my favorites too.  I'm sure many of you have a stash of chocolate chips handy somewhere when you get a craving for chocolate! lol

Since I had to use chocolate chip card stock I decided to make flowers out of them.  Have you ever seen an all chocolate covered cake with chocolate flowers on it?  I have and they look pretty cool!  I decided to let that inspire me for my next card...

Chocolate chip roses. :)  

This card took a little time to make since I needed to make the flowers, then let them dry overnight.  I put dazzling diamonds in the center since I used crystal effects to hold the flowers together.  The "dazzle"  looks great in person, but boy was it hard to get a good pic with the flash on.  That's all you could see was the dazzle! lol

I couldn't put a rose on the inside, so I just went with the leaves.

I also HAD to make an envelope using the envelope punch board.

The little strip along the back is so the envelope will close without needing to tape or glue it.

And finally the last project for December...

Scrapbook and More Focus: Make a calendar, to do list, booklet or journal for a friend to use in 2014.

My plan was to make a one page calendar with all of 2014 on it.  Nope, didn't happen since my printer decided to go wacko!  It sounds like it's printing, shoots out the paper like it printed, but nothing.  Just a blank page...err!  And yes, it has plenty of ink!  So on to plan B.  I needed a birthday card for me niece and decided to make her a little booklet/journal and slide the birthday card inside the folder.  I got the idea for this from Steph at the SU! Convention back in July.  It was one of the pillow gifts she made for me and the other ladies.  You can check out what she made on her blog HERE.  I just downsized it and made it the perfect size for a little girl. :)  I quickly snapped a few pics of it and decided I'd get her sister's made too!  Whoa!  I'm ahead on one thing!  Amazing! 

I still need to put crayons in it, but I managed to get a pic of the birthday card with this one. :)

I've added the dimensions for this mini journal/booklet and pocket.  The score lines are marked too.  Hope this helps if you want to make one yourself. :) 

I hope you enjoyed my Creative Crew Designs for December!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

First Card

Stamp Sets:  The Open Sea, World Map & Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock:  Basic Black & Very Vanilla

Ink:  StazOn Black

Embossing Folder:  Woodgrain

Punches:  1 1/4" Circle & 1 3/8" Circle

Black Brads

Baker's Twine:  Whisper White

Second Card

Stamp Set:  Wetlands

Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip, 

Crumb Cake & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Old Olive, Soft Suede,

Soft Sky & Pacific Point

Embossing Folders:  Modern Mosaic & Woodgrain

Framelits:  Deco Labels

Candy Dots:  Neutrals (Soft Suede & Chocolate Chip)

Sponges

Third Card & Box

Stamp Sets:  Perfectly Penned, Everything Eleanor

& Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla

Classic Stampin' Pad:  Chocolate Chip

Punches:  2 3/8 Scallop Circle & 1 3/4" Scallop Circle (for roses)

Sizzlit:  Little Leaves

Embossing Folder:  Delicate Designs

Ribbon:  1/2" Seam Binding in Very Vanilla

Envelope Punch Board

Crystal Effects

Stampin' Glitter:  Dazzling Diamonds

Sponges

Fourth Card & Journal/Booklet

Stamp Sets:  Too Kind, Loving Thoughts

& Apothecary Art

Card Stock:  Strawberry Slush, Wisteria Wonder

& Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Strawberry Slush, 

Wisteria Wonder & Pistachio Pudding

Ribbon: 3/8" Tafetta in Whisper White

Sponges 

TSoT - So Grateful

Today's card is my design for Try Stampin' on Tuesday and its twist is Give Thanks.  I did some quick sponging to create a sunset, then added crushed curry in the background.  However I didn't like the crushed curry and had to change the background to blushing bride.  The crushed curry was way out of my comfort zone, but I didn't want to use whisper white or very vanilla either.  My daughters think I use those colors way too much. ;)  

Don't forget to check out what the other designers made using this sketch HERE.  Don't forget to play along too!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Sets:  Best of Flowers & Apothecary Art

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Blushing Bride 

& Very Vanilla (sponged piece)

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Pool Party, Crushed Curry, 

Crisp Cantaloupe, Pumpkin Pie & Old Olive

StazOn Black & Versa Mark

Embossing Powder:  White

Punch:  3/4" Circle & 2 1/2" Circle

Framelits:  Circles Collection

Embossing Folder:  Woodgrain

Sponges

Creative Crew - CCREW0913SF

Ok, this is my fourth (and final) challenge for the September Creative Crew Challenges!  Whew...I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever get these posts done! lol  Our last challenge was Scrapbook and More Focus: Make a gift for a good neighbor as you celebrate National Good Neighbor Day (September 28th).

I went more the traditional route and made a set of four all occasion cards for my neighbor with a simple but pretty box to put the cards and envelops in. Who doesn't need a card to send out every now and then? :)

I had to take individual pics too.  I always like to see cards up nice and close so I can check out all the detail. :)

And of course a box to package it all up in!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Sets: Apothecary Art & Loving Thoughts

Card Stock:  Blushing Bride, So Saffron, Pool Party, Perfect Plum & Very Vanilla

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Blushing Bride, Daffodil Delight, 

Pool Party & Perfect Plum

Accessories: Embossing Folder: Fancy Fan, Framelits: Labels Collection; Festive Paper-piercing Pack; Ribbon: 3/8" Seam Binding in Very Vanilla; Jewels: Basic Pearls

Paper Doily Die Day 2

And now day two using the paper doily die...  

I saw a few cards that inspired today's two cards.  This first card was inspired by Maureen McGrail...you can check out her card here.  She used the stamp Hello, Doily.  I really loved the white on the Elegant Eggplant and  how she layered part of the stamp and lined the doily up with what was underneath, so I decided to give it a try using the Paper Doily Die.

This second card was inspired more by the colors.  I love these colors together, saw a few cards using them and this is what I came up with.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

First Card ~ Stamp Set:  Thank You Kindly

Card Stock:  Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White

Versa Mark

Embossing Powder:  White

Embossing Folder:  Elegant Lines

Lg Sizzlets Die:  Paper Doily

Punch:  Lace Ribbon Border

Jewel:  Basic Pearls

Shimmer Paint:  Champagne Mist

Second Card ~ Stamp Set:  Apothecary Art

Card Stock:  Soft Suede & Very Vanilla

Classic Stampin' Pad:  Soft Suede

Lg Sizzlets Die:  Paper Doily

Framelits Die:  Label Collection

Apothecary Art ~ Thinking of You

Today's card is for some dear friends that lost their mother/grandmother this week. :(  She was such a lovely, wonderful woman and will be missed!  She always had a kind word to say, and was friendly and easy to talk to.  I had actually made this card for my upcoming February stamp a stack, and as I was going through my sympathy/thinking of you cards I decided this was the one I wanted to send.  

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Set:  Apothecary Art & Curly Cute

Card Stock:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Soft Suede

Framelits:  Labels Collection

Edgelits:  Adorning Accents

Embossing Folders:  Adorning Accents

Apothecary Art Birthday

It's time for another sketch challenge from the Red Hot Stampers.  I thought I'd use some colors I haven't used lately and the new set Apothecary Art with the Framelits Labels from the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  To see some other cards with this sketch go to the Red Hot Stampers blog.  Play along too if you'd like!

Yes, I finally did something on the inside of my card!  Kind of plain and simple, but better than nothing. :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Set: Apothecary Art

Card Stock:  Basic Gray, Basic Black & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Basic Gray & Basic Black

Embossing Folder:  Vintage Wallpaper

Framelits:  Labels

Ribbon:  3/8" Taffeta in Whisper White

Shimmer Paint:  Champagne Mist