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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Sketch Casing!

Sunday, Sketch challenge #12 was posted on the OWH Stars and Stamps blog. It is a really simple sketch that has the potential for SO much - however, I decided to case the featured card. I had a sentiment that had already been stamped and trimmed into a square - part of my scraps - and I decided to use the color scheme of that square.
I happened to have the Martha Stewart border punch that was used in the featured card, so I used that as well on my card. I did deviate a bit by placing the jewels on the strip of black as I already used the square for my sentiment and didn't need another sentiment. I also added this paper rose from Prima Flowers. I LOVE these little roses. They come in a package with three different colors and there are 10 of each color for a total of 30 little wonderful roses - for about $4.00 at Michael's. Not a bad deal.
Well, I am off to find another card to case - so come back soon for a visit to the Paper Spa - where you can relax and find inspiration.
~Paula~

Monday, April 12, 2010

More Scrap Play

Yesterday was sketch challenge on the OWH blog - however, I discovered that not only had I not done LAST weeks sketch, I hadn't done the week before either. So, this morning - after going and working out at the gym for an hour or so, I came home and got to work creating more cards. For sketch #10 we were to use tags on our card and though I have a small tag punch from Stampin' Up, I seldom use it. I have the book Tag Art by Paper Pizazz that has tags of all sorts in it - but the only problem is that they were in two's not three's! However, I did discover these three tags and decided I would make an AnyHero card using them. I grabbed a piece of Pacific Point for my card base and then found a couple scraps that I used for the tag frames and the backing behind the tags. I also used a piece of scrap vanilla cardstock for my sentiment. Just a word of caution - it is MUCH easier to stamp your sentiment, THEN punch it out! ~smile~

This next card was made using a piece of a card that I had gotten from a friend. I took that piece and mounted it on the light purple textured bg and then mounted that onto Eggplant Envy (this is a retired color from SU - in fact LONG retired) I chose a piece of vanilla cardstock and stamped snowflakes from the retired SU set 'Snowflake Spot'. While doing this, I discovered a couple snowflakes that I had previously cut out in the stamp box, so decided to use eyelets in the center and then popped them off the card.

Now, on to yesterday's sketch ~~~

Thanks for stopping by - I will have more posts in the days ahead.

~Paula~

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Scraps - What do YOU do with them? It's a Challenge!!

If you are like me, you have TONS of scraps from your card making, and scrapbooking. You can't throw that little piece away because you could use it SOMEDAY for a matte on a sentiment, or as an added element, right? So, the scraps accumulate, until you are OVERRUN with them - and you contemplate throwing them away, because you know there are MORE where they came from, right? Well, the 'frugal' in you just won't let you - and why should you?
Yesterday, I spent most of the day playing with my scraps - did I put a dent in my scrap stash? Not on your life - but I did come up with a few cards - This first one I really like. I found the green scrap with the edge cut with no-doubt those fiskars paper edgers - yes I have TONS of those scissors laying around and seldom use them - but this piece was cut sometime ago - who knows when and I found it coordinated well with this DP. Using some of my new flowers that I recently purchased and a flower brad that I have had for WHO KNOWS how long - well, it just finished off the card nicely.
Now, this next one is a rare one for me - I seldom do green cards! I honestly don't know why that is, I just don't reach for green when making cards. However, I had this scrap of DP and the green base just fit. Now one of the frustrating things I am finding is that my circle punches are great, but they don't layer as closely as I would like - however, I did discover that my smallest nestibilities scallop circle and this circle punch nested the way I like - I guess I will just have to finally use my cut-at-home certificate and buy the nestibilities circles. Anyway, back to the card - Here is another one that made use of the fiskars scissors - and then I added the buttons - stolen from another project that I discarded not long ago. The buttons started out white and I colored them with my alcohol inks - great way to make things the way YOU like!! I made only 4 cards yesterday - so hardly a dent in the stash - but today I finished up some cards from a Basic Grey kit that I have had for quite some time and then did this final card (work calls and I have to go relax in the REAL spa) I had bought some of those border CB folders some time ago and was trying them out - so I had this pink piece just waiting for something to be done with it. The Basic Grey DP is from the bittersweet line and it worked nicely for the added touch to this simple card. The rub-on sentiment is left over from the Basic Grey kit. Adding the ribbon, and the card is done.

Now off to the spa where I will give relaxing massage to a couple clients - however, I will return later today and will play some more with my scraps - Until then - my CHALLENGE to you is to get out your scraps and DO something with them - then leave me a comment and a link to your project.

Thanks for visiting the spa today - tell your friends to stop by for a visit and join in the challenge.

~Paula~

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Tuesday Tidbits

Since my big push last week to get the 100+ cards sent off to OWH I haven't done much in the way of crafting. Of course, the Easter weekend fell upon me - I did get a card made for my mom and I did make up some little 'baskets' for my teens - that was fun. My mom will go home tomorrow - she doesn't live all that far from us, but far enough to stay over - and then I can get back to my crafting. Of course, it doesn't help that the kids are on Spring break right now, so today we are going to the San Diego Wild Animal Park - they have never been, including my mom and it has been YEARS since I have been there, so it should be an adventurous day - with lot's of pictures to take as well. I can't wait to get the pictures digi-scrapped that I took at the San Diego Zoo last week - GREAT picture of the lion and the koalas too - SO cute!! Out of all the Koala's in the area, there was only one that was awake and that one was far in the back, so I didn't get any GOOD shots of active Koala's. Anyway, the kids are waiting -

Thanks for visiting the spa today, I am sorry I couldn't stick around and visit with you, but feel free to enjoy a beverage while you look around and find inspiration.

~Paula~

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Changing the look

I didn't get much chance to make cards today - so I worked on getting a three column blog up and running. Thanks to my friend Gloria and her advice to check the Three Column Blog, I now have a 3-Column blog - with a few bugs to work out.
I did do a bit of remaking of cards, until I ran out of adhesive.
I hope you like the new look - check back here in the next few days as I will be posting more cards.
Thanks for visiting,
Paula