The Challenge #37 and Muse #120

Woohoo, it is the first day of summer vacation for us and I celebrated by ignoring my kids and papercrafting!

I still have a few graduation cards to make an this one is in the school colors for one of my daughter's BBFs who is graduating as Student of the Year at her school.

The sketch from The Challenge #37 is flipped on its side and the numbers I die cut when I made this card last week are used over a shaker box. 

This second card is my take on Vicki Dutcher's last card as a Muse for the Muse Challenge #20.

One of my favorite elements of Vicki's card is the tall, thin card base and I cut my card base an inch narrower than usual. A bouquet of stamped and masked flowers colored with Distress Inks replace the butterflies and a Technique Tuesday sentiment finishes the card off.

I love the sketchy style of these Mama Elephant flowers.

I said we were on summer vacation, but technically my daughter is not done until her graduation ceremony on Thursday. Seniors at her school have finished their academic work and leave for a Senior Trip Sunday, enjoying a few of the iconic Southern California activities: water parks, theme parks and beaches.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jacquie

Muse #113 + CTS#119 + CQC#287 & The Challenge #30 + CASology #142

When I saw the sketch for CAS(E) this Sketch #119 I knew I would play around with the double partial die cut technique again. It took a few tries to get this combination to work, with the tree partially cut first, then the rectangle frame die cut around it and the exacto knife came out to complete the cuts on the left side of the frame.

An MFT sentiment is stamped and heat embossed directly onto the frame and adhered over an inked portion on the card base.

The card is inspired by Michele's blue & black & white beauty for the Muse Challenge #113,  also fits the color palette from Colour Q #287 and takes the design from CAS(E) This Sketch! #119.

My second card combines a favorite color palette from The Challenge #30 with the CASology Week 42 Cue Card: Sweet.  I haven't pulled out Wplus9's Fresh Cut Florals in a long time and used a few different red and aqua inks to make this bouquet. 

An Avery Elle sentiment and Memory Box watering can die cut finish the card off. My Smoky Shadow gray is darker than the one on the challenge, but the only one I had in my paper pile.

This post has taken me far to long to write because I keep getting distracted by the hockey game, so I'm going to hit publish and concentrate on cheering for the Canucks.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jacquie

MIM #207: Double Partial Die Cutting + Virginia's View #14 + The Challenge #28 & Muse #111

I've been playing around with Laura Bassen's great double partial die cutting technique demonstrated for this week's Make It Monday #207. Check out her tutorial here and put a sharp blade in your exacto knife.

This first card uses the same "HUGS" die that Laura used, along with a Spellbinders label die to create the bigger opening. I inked the card base and selectively stamped part of a sentiment from Thank You Kindly Stamp set.

Before I adhered the dark gray panel to the card base I decided to cut a channel with a Building Block die to nest in a line of buttons. This card is also being linked to Virginia's View Challenge #14: Layers & Dimension and The Challenge #28: Anything Goes in celebration of their one year anniversary.

This second card is inspired by Kristie Goulet's card as the Muse #111.

I played around with another attempt at the double partial die cut technique on this card. This was a bit trickier to pull off until I remembered I had a smaller On the Edge cutting plate which made it easy to partially cut the tree die to one side of the panel and the oval after.

The card base is inked to create a sunset/sunrise (you decide) and the sentiment is stamped and heat embossed before the panel is adhered with foam squares.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jacquie

Muse #109 + Curtain Call: Jelly Bean Challenge & The Challenge #27 + NBUS #4

It is a quiet Saturday night around here after everyone was running around in 20 different directions last night and for most of the day. Three of us are now home catching up on TV and surfing the internet while my husband is still trapped in the infield oval of the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for the NASCAR races. Did you know they have RV camping in the middle of the race track?  Every time I talked to him today it was with the noise of cars racing in the background.

The quiet evening meant I had time to finish a couple of cards. I've been wanting to play along with The Challenge from Lesley Croghan for a while and was happy to find I haven't missed the deadline for The Challenge #27.

My translation of the sketch and colors is about as literal as you can get, but this pair of butterfly dies as been sitting on my desk forever, waiting to be used. How handy that Darnell is running a new Never Before Used Schtuff challenge, NBUS #4, starting today. I'm sure everyone reading here is already familiar with the delightful and generous Darnell, but if not please head over and say hi.

 

I tend to make top fold cards, but had a Smoky Shadow card base cut already. I love that this orientation gave me the opportunity to run my flags on the inside of the card.

This second card is inspired by the jelly bean colors from the Curtain Call: Match 15 Jelly Bean Challenge and the sweet little birdhouse image from Muse #109, which were morphed to create this thank you card.

The clouds and windows are touched up with Wink of Stella for a little shine and glitter.

With Stefan away until tomorrow I expect to get a little more crafting time before I have to put together his belated birthday dinner together. Steak, sushi and a blueberry cheesecake are on his wishlist.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jacquie