Cards for a Cause Fall 2011-Spring 2012

In an attempt to catch up on all of the happenings in our Cards for a Cause group, I am doing one massive post covering all of the cards that we have done since I privatized my personal blog last fall.** We have 73 cards pictured here that will soon be delivered to the hospital for ladies undergoing chemotherapy to use to brighten a loved one's day.  Please pray over these cards, for the people who will use them, and for those who will receive them. So without further ado, here are the cards that the most wonderful group of Christian ladies has put together over the course of this year!!!

Card #1: Chevron City!

I absolutely love following Jennifer McGuire's blog, because she is one of the most talented crafters out there today. I got the idea for the chevron stripes card from her you tube video here. It includes a step-by-step tutorial if you are interested in recreating these cards. Just keep in mind, this type of card is very time consuming.

I love all of the different color schemes that were used on the cards. Some were very subdued and soft, while this one caught my eye, because of its cheeriness and how it reminds me of strawberries!

Supplies:

Cuttlebug Machine
Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug, Sizzix
Buttons & Twine: Papertrey Ink
Stamps: You Make Me Smile, Hope Your Day is Fabulous, So Sweet of You - Papertrey Ink; I love you - Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday; Happy{Birthday} - Studio G

Card #2: Post It Mask

This card was one that I learned how to make while taking the Clean and Simple Card Class. You simply place a post it note in the center of your square card and stamp a large background stamp right over the top. The Post It masks off the center area where you can stamp your sentiment. I have found that the best combinations include versa mark ink for the background stamp, because you want it to be subtle an monochromatic and white gel pen/white ink for the sentiment. Lastly, the three little doo dads that are adhered over the sentiment should be done so with dimensional adhesive so they pop right off the page and topped with a little bit of stickles--Robbie's orders.

I didn't like this card when I first made it, but now that I have had time away from it, I realize that I really do love it!!!

I also really love this card, because the sentiment font has rounded edges just like the background stamp.

Supplies:

Stamps: Various. Many of the backgrounds are from Hero Arts, Many of the sentiments are from Studio G.
Punches: Studio G
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Cardstock: Various
White Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink Frost
VersaMark Ink
Stickles
White Gel Pen (Uniball Sigmo)

Cards #3 & 4: Sending Blessings Your Way

By Diane A.

Diane always impresses me with the cards that she designs for our group. They are always very simple and easy for anyone to construct, but always pack a nice design punch and wow factor :-)

The butterflies were punched out using a large punch. The teal flower design was stamped and cut out. Very simple, yet very effective! And fun to see the same card done two different ways!

Card #5: Thinking of You

By Diane A.

Again, another job well done on Diane's end! This card looks like it would take hours, but it was actually quite easy to assemble and went very quickly!!!  Cut yellow polka dot paper, ink edges, and adhere to card base. Cut white rectangle. Add 4 patterned paper strips. Stamp sentiment. Round Corners. Ink everything. Adhere white rectangle to card. Punch 2 flowers and flower center. Glue layers to each other and down to the card. Add pearl. Done!

Great Design, Easy to Assmeble!

 

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, Hobby Lobby

Sentiment Stamp: Studio G, Michael's

 

Card #6: Happy Birthday, Sweet Thing!

I was thrilled beyond thrilled when my Papertrey Ink box came in and I received the supplies needed to make this card. I just love these little playful ice cream cones that you can stack to whatever height you want!  You can cut them out of felt or use paper and add stickles to make them really sparkle!  I just love how versatile it is, too--works for both boys & girls.

Supplies:

Cuttle Bug Machine
Swiss Dots Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug
Stamps, Dies, Patterned Paper - Papertrey Ink
Rhinestones, Michael's
Stickles
Brown Ink - VersaFine Vintage Sepia
Pink - Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz

**I really regret having to do that, but my daughter's safety is our number one priority. I was not comfortable with the general public (I almost had 10,000 views!) knowing the ins and outs of Addison's daily routine. (Email me (only if I know you) and if you would like to follow that blog, because I can add you to my list of approved readers.)

Headbands for Little Addison

Papertrey Ink is celebrating their 5th year in business...and throwing a super fabulous party for their customers!!!  The challenge for today is to pick a design team member's project and make your take on that project.  If you want to join in on the fun, the details are here on Nichole's Blog.

I chose this project from Erin Lincoln.  One of the reasons that I chose this project is because I frequent Procrastination Station, her blog.  Being a fellow procrastinator, I just find the title of her blog hilarious, especially when I am popping over while I'm supposed to be writing a paper or grading papers ;-)  Nothing makes my day like seeing a memo on the side of my blog that Erin has made another post on her blog!!!

From a humorous birthday card with empty cupcake wrappers stacked up to a card with a snowmen engaged in a snowball fight to cuter than cute baby shower gifts to my favorite...projects for her daughter; I am always amazed at how she seamlessly thinks outside the box.  Not only is Erin one of the most clever, creative crafters out there, she also has a daughter just a little older than my Addison.  I enjoy seeing pictures every now and then as well as the crafty things that she does within her family.  She has been a wonderful inspiration for me all year long!

So this project is a tribute to Erin...thank you so much for all of your amazing inspiration...keep up the awesome work...and thanks for all you do :-)

<3 Your Biggest Fan!!!

Headbands for Addison:

Although I'm not a PTI design team member (in my dreams!!!), I do have 5 favorite products:

1.  Mat Stack 3 Dies

2.  Raspberry Fizz Cardstock

3.  Doily Details Collection

4.  Bitty Baby Blessings

5.  Gracious Vases

Baby Food Jar Party Favors & Cupcake Toppers

Here are the baby food jars repurposed as favors and cupcake toppers for my daughter's first birthday party.  The "theme" was polka dots and the "colors" were raspberry fizz, sweet blush, and dark chocolate.

The jars were filled with a mixture of bright pink, light pink, and dark brown M&Ms

Cupcake Toppers (bad lighting in the room...)

I also put pictures of my daughter from the year on the table for people to take as favors as well ;-)

Mommy, Daddy, and the Birthday Girl :-)

Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge

I thought this month's challenge at Papertrey Ink to share your favorite card from 2011 and then make a new card for 2012 based on some element from your favorite was a great idea!

I love this card that I made for a Make It Monday challenge.

However, my resolution in 2012 is to make my cards more clean & simple, because that is my favorite style.  I'm not sure why sometimes I try to push myself to make a shabby card or one that is distressed...especially when I love the the clean, crisp look of white cardstock! 

So I decided to use the mat stack and try it on a different card for a clean streamlined look.  Instead of getting all inky with a brayer to roll out the woodgrain look, I just used an impression plate with no ink.  I also didn't us any ink for shading or going around the edges like I usually do.  I also used white embossing powder on the words to make it pop. I just love how it turned out!!!

Here you can see how the mat stack is the bottom layer, the sentiment strip is the middle layer, and on top is the boat layer.  I found that tiering the layers up added a lot of interest.  To achieve this, I used two different thicknesses of foam squares.

Here you can see the texture from the impression plate.

Another 2012 card goal is to start stamping a small image on the inside of the card.  Here is the litte boat this time colored with copics.

Supplies:

Thank you for your kindness

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Iconic Images
• Impression Plate: Papertrey Ink - Woodgrain
• Dies: Papertrey Ink - Mat Stack 3 and Layerz Mat Stack 3
• Cardstock: Paperbilities - Kraft; Papertrey Ink - Dark brown, Burgandy, Green
• Ink: Papertrey Ink- Vintage Cream; Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmelade; Colorbox - Chianti
• Glitter Pen: Sakura
• Twine: Papertrey Ink
• Rhinestone: Michael's

Hello Sweet Baby

• Stamps: Boat - Papertrey Ink, Bitty Baby Blessings; Sentiments - Sweet Baby, Technique Tuesday, Ali Edwards
• Impression Plate: Linen & Canvas - Papertrey Ink
• Dies: Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circle Collection, Mat Stack 3 and Layerz Mat Stack 3
• Punches: Corner Rounder, Square Punch (to create V on sides of sentiment strip)
• Stickles
• Copic Markers 0 Colorless Blender, T1, BG18, and E13
• Cuttlebug
• Ink: Colorbox Frost White, VersaFine Vintage Sepia
• White embossing powder, heat tool
• Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye Home 6"x6" stack
• Cardstock - Aqua Mist & Ocean Tides, Papertrey Ink 

For someone very special going through something very difficult...

Stamp Sets Used:

Through the Trees, Papertrey Ink

Psalm 46:1, Verve

Simply You, Ali Edwards

CAS Week 1 Entry 3

I am LOVING this sketch from Kristina Werner!!!  You are my card-making hero!!!

CAS Week 1, Entry 2

 Those hearts really sparkle!

Clean & Simple Card Class Week #1

Keeping it simple for this class...including the blog post ;-)

I figure I would rather spend the time making more Clean & Simple cards than typing about how I did it...other than to thank Kristina for the advice on choosing colors for the card...thanks!

dashing through the snow

Supplies
Cardstock: Hobby Lobby
Ink: Black - VersaFine; Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Sleigh Die: Papertrey Ink
Stamp Set: In The Meadow (PTI)
Embossing Folder: Sizzix
Glitter Glue: Stickles, Ranger
Rhinestones colored with E57 Copic Marker
Dimensional Adhesive

Make It Mondays #38: Brayer Techniques

 It is time again for another Make It Monday Video, which can be found on Nichole Heady's blog for Papertrey Ink here:  Make it Monday Video.  This week, the technique is using an impression plate and then going over it with a brayer and ink to darken the raised areas and leave the impressed areas un-inked--is that a word?

I was inspired to use the woodgrain impression plate on Kraft cardstock, which reminds me of the wooden look and darker brown ink.  I ended up using Tim Holtz Distress ink, because it tends to give great coverage and blends well when going over larger areas. 

I love the way this technique turned out as I think it looks just like stained wood, which is perfect for the recipient of this card.  She has a lot of stained wood in her house that she paints folk art onto...so this is just her look :-) 

To go with the stained wood, I used the distressed pitcher with flowers coming out, because not only is she a great folk art painter, but she is also an excellent gardner and loves flowers.

The Mat Stack needed a border inside, so I drew around the inside with a Sakura glitter pen.  That pen is one of my all-time favorite tools!!!  I also added a little glitter in the center of each flower.  To add dimension, I popped up the Mat Stack 3 die on dimensional adhesive.

Thanks for looking :-)

Supplies
Stamps:  Papertrey Ink - Iconic Images
Impression Plate:  Papertrey Ink - Woodgrain
Dies:  Papertrey Ink - Mat Stack 3 and Layerz Mat Stack 3
Cardstock: Paperbilities - Kraft; Papertrey Ink - Dark brown, Burgandy, Green
Ink:  Papertrey Ink- Vintage Cream; Tim Holtz Distress Ink:  Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmelade; Colorbox - Chianti
Glitter Pen:  Sakura
Twine:  Papertrey Ink
Rhinestone: Michael's