Pretty Fast Birthday Cards

Hey there, these are some super FAST cards that I whipped up in a frenzy last week, LOL. The first, brighter one was for my little cousin’s seventh birthday party, and the more sophisticated one was for my dear friend, Jenny. 

I used the same layout and some printed tags for each card, also some coordinating papers, stamps and lots of embellishments. I had some chipborad sentiments which were also fast and added a nice textural element to the cards.  If you need to make cards fast, skip the coloring and head right to the preprinted, precut tags and throw in a lot of sparkle with gems and glitter. Hope you like them!

Hugs, Noelle

Supply list: tags and paper: K&Company; paper: MME; stamps: Stampin’ Up!; punches: EK Success; glitter photo corners: Martha Stewart Crafts; epoxy flowers: Prima & Recollections; button: SU!; chipboard sentiments: Studio G (from dollar section at WalMart; ribbon; assorted gems

Happy 4th of July Birthday! (CQC143)

Wow, what a weekend! Did you have a good one? We had a very productive (read: busy!) one. It was fun though, and I am THRILLED with all I got accomplished, though it meant I finished this card up less than 24 hours before posting (so TOTALLY not my style!) and was wading through all my ColourQ, and blog comments, plus around 500 emails at midnight Sunday night! LOL, I tell you, shift your focus for a couple days and watch the rest of your life fall into disarray! Well, I was painting my oldest son's room most of the weekend; he is almost 12, and he was really OVER his rocket ship mural and planet pillows! So, I had a few vetoes, but basically gave him what he wanted, a football field on one wall (way less yellow than it looks in the photo), and the rest a soft blue paint. It was actually kind of funny to me that he picked football... He's never played football, and we really don't even watch that much football as a family! But all the men in my family LOVE the Denver Broncos, and Ian does too. I ordered him a vinyl cutout of a Broncos helmet to go right in the middle of the "field." He'd picked out this duvet cover at IKEA a couple months ago, and we picked out some fabric for me to make new curtains, still in progress! I will show you photos when everything is done! :) But, I had a few tears here and there too. My baby is growing up :( Where has the time gone?

I do love home decorating, I used to work in that field, and I never tire of redoing this or that.... design on a dime kind of projects. My biggest issue tends to be that my "eyes are bigger than my stomach" when it comes to getting stuff done! In addition to Ian's curtains, I've got fabric stacked up for an office chair slipcover, a valance for Collin's room, and I'd like to buy some more fabric for some floor pillows for the reading nook I'm creating. Then there's the paint projects to do.... still have to paint my dresser to match the headboard I made last Fall, plus I've got my grandparents old bench that needs a fun color, and while getting Ian's paint we came across a quart of red paint in the "oops" paint at Lowe's for only 2.50! Why is red significant you might wonder? Well, Ev is a fan of the color red like I've never seen a kid be into a favorite color before! EVERYTHING is about being red! Don't dare try to give that kid a blue bowl if you have a red one available! LOL, he cracks me up that little one, he is my little ray of sunshine:) Or "red-shine!" ;) Anyway, he's got these old shelves on the walls of his room, they are white, a throwback from the baby furniture we used to have, and really don't look right with his new rustic looking bed and dresser. So, I thought a coat of red.... he will LOVE them red, they will match a lot better since he has a lot of red in his room anyway, and for 2.50 how can you go wrong? So, the jist of this looooooong story is that I have too many things I think I should do! Ha! ;) And now Collin wants a "new room" too! All in good time, I told him.

Sadly, I wish other folks in CO had better weekends. We are in the worst wildfire season ever around here, so sad, hundreds of homes have been lost, and now there's a fire burning right near the town I grew up in. One broke out near here over Spring Break, and it was really scary because we were out of town, and I was worried what might happen to my little dogs if they evacuated our neighborhood. Anyway, the weather has been unusually hot, record setting heat streak!

Well, I guess you'd like to see a card or somethin' ;) Look at this GORGEOUS palete for this week's ColourQ! You know how excited I get when I see Pacific Point! :) Honestly, I wouldn't mind having this shirt in the picture! How cute is that?

I decided to use these colors, plus the June Sketch For You To Try, I was bummed I missed playing over there in May, totally screwed up my intent to play every month this year. :(

But isn't this a cool sketch? I decided to keep the stars as stars, I was making a birthday card for my stepsister, her birthday is on the 4th (yes, we DO have a lot of holiday birthdays in my family, LOL). I used these cool Let Freedom Ring PTI stamps, that I bought off of my friend, Kelli Jo, she was selling off her PTI stuff and I couldn't resist! turned out to be the perfect fit for this card! Love the versatility of this set, too. :) I turned the firecrackers into candles, and the main part of the big circle is silver paper, I thought it was in the gray family, and I used the Basic Gray as the scalloped mat around the edges of the dry embossed silver circle. The big circle in the sketch became the place for my 3 little circles to land, do you like it? Cut a bunch of stars with my MFT stars die for accents. 

Well, I apologize for this MONSTER post! Gee with all the free time I have (NOT!) and all.... ;) I gotta get back to getting Ian's furniture back in the room, and I will show you pics when it's all done! :) Have a wonderful day, and STAY COOL out there! Since you can't do much outdoors with all this heat, maybe you should come play at the ColourQ this week. :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: stamps: Papertrey Ink; dies: Spellbinders and My Favorite Things; decorative paper: K&Company and Stampin' Up!; silver paper: Martha Stewart Crafts; circle punches: EK Success; dye ink pads: SU!; solid card stock: SU!; red adhesive buttons: pebbles; embossing folder: Cuttlebug

DUST IT OFF!: Some used stamps a friend was selling sure are working well for me! Also, lots of old scraps of card stock and DP on this.

How Much Is That Bunny In The Window? (TCPTUES214)

Hello hello, I promised you another fun TCP Tuesday challenge on thursday, and here it is! This card is really fun, a bit of a departure for me:) But I love Mr. Bun on his Field of Pinwheels. The challenge for this week is to use any stamps that are "taken by the wind" and either the pinwheel or cloud border CutUp. I also used the new Window CutUp, it was really easy to line up and make a larger window that just a 4-pane window, too! For this one, I created a 16 pane window and then cut it down to a 9 panel. Then I cut a slightly larger square "hole" from the card front and taped down my window grid.

On this card, the main image is actually inside the card, I used both the Cloud Border CutUp and the Grass CutUp to accent Mr. Bun and all his pinwheels. Pulled the sentiment stamps from another TCP set. Cut the bottom of the card front with the Big Scallop CutUp, and the final touch was to add some adhesive buttons. I hope you like it! :) Have a fabulous day!

Hugs, Noelle

supply list: stamps and dies: TCP; solid card stock: SU!; Copic Markers; buttons: Pebbles; assorted gems; papers: K&Company

Summer Sprinkle (TCPTUES213)

Hello friends! Sorry for the minimal posts, just always so crazy when the boys are home! Also, trying to get some magazine submissions in by the deadlines, so the crafty time I have found has been mainly focused on that. But I have missed playing challenges, this is for TCP TUESDAY 213, fun summery color challenge, here's the palette:

I used an older TCP set called Fun In The Sun, Sprinkle is such a diva! I love how she's in her fabulous floatie having a fruity hard lemonade! ;) I actually had an ooooold challenge card of mine in mind when I did this layout, I had used an old SFYTT on that card, and this one is similar, minus the strip across the center of the card. I used my new Pom Pom flower die to make the flowers, and the accented the card with 2 circle-punched sentiments, a few gems and epoxy flowers, fun and bright! :) Hope you like it, too:) Pop back soon, I've got two more posts scheduled to publish, another one for a different TCP challenge, and some quick birthday cards for those times you've only got a few minutes to throw together a card.

See ya later:)

Noelle

supply list: papers: stamps: TCP; die: TCP; Cosmo Cricket & SU!; epoxy flowers: recollections; markers: SU!; assorted gems; circle punches: EK Success

DUST IT OFF!: Some old papers, stamps, and even an old sketch make for a fun summer card!

Sunburst Scrapbook Layout: Children's Museum (CQC142)

Hey there! Time for a super-fab color palette at the ColourQ! I was so excited when I saw this one, so many fun possibilities! :) 

I knew I wanted to use these pics from the trip to the Children’s Museum that I took with my cousins and the boys. I even got so far as pulling out these fun DP’s I wanted to use, and then, just got stuck! So, I walked away from it, sometimes that is the best thing to do when you are struggling with a creative block.

 2 days later I was feeling back on my crafty game, so I sat back down at the desk with the papers, and photos laid out. Started pulling ideas from my Inspiration Board on Pinterest…. Then I saw THIS awesome layout that I had pinned on there, and it even linked me up to a tutorial on the Laura Vegas blog on how to do the sunburst. I had actually made sunbursts before, you may remember this card…. But, this was a great tutorial for using multiple papers, which I was. So, I followed that. Also I used this sketch as a jumping off point, but obviously replaced the tree element with the sunburst.

I used the lined element of the DP to do my journaling on! It worked well and I didn’t need to make a separate journaling block, either. :)

I had so many fun papers that had these colors in them, even that background DP was lined with coral and sky colored lines. I found an old sheet of stickers that made great accents, perfect colors! I also used glitter tape between my “rays” on the sunburst, a good tip if you end up having a few ugly seams, since this technique is not an exact science. Additionally, you could stitch those seams or adhere ribbon or paper strips over them too….. 

And now that you’ve been studying my seams, I bet you see my mistake too;) I missed taping one seam, and then ran out of tape! LOL, did you notice before I pointed it out? I kind of figured that the sunburst was pretty busy already and people might not notice, but I may end up picking up another roll of glitter tape at the crafts store next time so I can fix it!

On page 2, I punched squares of the different DP’s to create a border. I did the 9 panels of photos, leaving the center photo a bit largerand matting it. A few more stickers and my page was done!

That is all for me today, I am really excited to see what pops up in the CQC Gallery with the amazing colors this week! Hope to see your creation among them! :)

hugs, Noelle

supply list: Designer Papers: My Mind's Eye, Die Cuts With a View, Sassafrass, TPC Studio, American Crafts; dies: Spellbinders and Sizzix for SU!; letter stickers: Simple Stories and October Afternoon; glitter tape: American Crafts; solid card stock: Stampin' Up!; stickers: Cosmo Cricket; ribbon: PTI (I think); label maker with yellow tape: Dymo; marker: SU!

DUST IT OFF!: Many oldie but goodies on this page! Lots of scraps and those Cosmo Cricket stickers are at least 2-3 years old:)

Cute Animal cards for kids

Hey there! Hope you are having a wonderful June so far:) We are doing well, just busy in the summer months (as usual!;) Most days it seems if I to get to craft & blog, it's because I **need** to do something, lol! Like these cards for example, The "get whale" one is for a friend's son who had surgery, and the bird one is a birthday card for my niece, who is SEVEN. I just can't believe she is 7, honestly.... I'm really having a hard time with how big ALL the kids in my family are getting. Guess it's time to find my shrinking box! ;)

So, these cards.... I made the whale first, just kind of threw the card together, and I really liked how it came together, very happy with that! So then, I decided to make the layout of the second card essentially the same. These cards were really fun for me, because this was the first time I'd used some of this adorable new paper pack! It's called "pb&j" by BasicGrey. LOVE these colors, and I always love the vintage vibe they give their designs, too. :) The whale is from TCP, and the whale sentiment, bird, and bird sentiment are from an oldie-but-goodie SU! set: "Pun Fun." Not sure if that set is still available through Stampin' Up! or not, but I've got a new catty on the way to find out! :)

The only hesitation I had about these was were they "kid" enough? I mean, they are very cute, but I do hope they appeal to the younger set. :) Had fun loading them up with buttons, since neither had to be mailed, yea!

Well, that is all for me today! I'll tell ya, I keep bookmarking challenges, and then the deadline passes before I even have time to pull out a stamp set! So, i keep hoping, but I will see you soon, with something! Haha! Have a stellar day, Noelle

supply list: stamps: TCP & SU!: patterned papers: BasicGrey "pb&j;" dies: Lil' Inker & Spellbinders; embossing folder: Cuttlebug; adhesive buttons: Studio g; twine: Doodlebiug & Divine Twine from TCP; circle punch: EK Success

DUST IT OFF!: Old stamps make for fresh cards with some new papers:)

Have a collage-y Father's Day (CQC141)

Hey folks! We have a wonderful, masculine color palette for ya this week at the ColourQ! I loved this so much, I ended up making 4 of these cards. You likey? ;)

I have always been a big fan of collage..... I love collage in artwork, when I was a kid, I used to just LOVE it when the teacher would say "Children, we are going to make a collage today..." ;) Just that word, so soft and pretty..... collage. :)

This card started out as several different elements that I wasn't sure how to put together.... the more I played with them, I realized that I really loved them all layered on top of each other, so that's what I ended up doing! Ordered these Cricut Craft Room Exclusive: Best Dad Ever cut files which I used for the tie. The shape behind the tie, the banner and the sentiment are all from Lil' Inker's Flags & Tags dies and stamp set. That brackety shape behind the tie was dry embossed with an inked up embossing folder in the Cuttlebug.

Behind that is a large punched circle stamped with my new Paper Smooches Timber stamp. Love that one, I have been using it a ton. :)

The final layers behind all of it are some funky punched circles, using this Martha Stewart Crafts punch all over the page pinking circle. I really like that punch, since you can use up scraps and not even have to cut them!

Final touches of a few rhinestones... even dads need a little bling sometimes. :)

I hope you like it! Like I said, I made 4, they were quick and fun, and now I have all the Father's day cards I need. :) Hope that YOU will come play with this great palette this week at the ColourQ!

big hugs, Noelle

**supply list included within post.

Mini Wellness Journal

Hi there! Continuing on with my theme of physical, emotional, and mental wellness this week. :) I made this mini (purse-sized) journal, so I can keep track of what foods I'm eating and my exercise log. I have an iPhone app that I can also input everything into (figures calories, etc...) but I think this will be handy to just keep tabs on everything at the moment it happens. That way I won't forget to input things later in the day. I made it small enough that I can slip it in my purse. And, I'll keep it in the kitchen when I am at home. I used another of the sports theme banner stickers that I used on Ian's from the other day.

Colored my image from MFT (Let's Get Physical set). Die cut the banner and stamped the "Under Construction Journal." Added some sparkly brads, a clip, and the sticker. That wild netted trim was in my ribbon scraps bag. Kida reminded me of one of those net hair ties (ala Madonna) from the 80s. And, if you remember that, you must be as old as me. ;) 

Made this cover for the inside front, to cover up all the backs of brads, clips, etc. 

This is the back cover. All the stamps on the back and inside covers are Unity/Melody Ross. 

hope you like my project! For a fun twist, if you comment, I'd love to hear what healthy choice you are making for yourself today. :)

hugs! Noelle

stamps: Unity and MFT; sticker: Jillibean Soup; clip/sparkly bard: SU!; other brads: Recollection; netting trim; notebook: Target

DUST IT OFF! That netting trim was from a gift set. Gives this project a funky vibe! :)

Race Day Cards for Friends

You might remember me telling you in my last post about how I did the relay last weekend. Well, I have some pretty awesome friends who also were involved in the race, and I wanted to do something small for them. I had recently bought these fun Let's Get Physical stamps from MFT, and they hadn't been inked yet! I bought them so I could make a food/exercise journal for myself. Tune back in a few days to see that little project! ;) Also, I thought it would be fun to make cards for my friends who were also doing the race.

I came up with a simple design using scraps of DP as the base of the cards. So they are all a little different. Jennie and Taryn were my relay buds. Jennie ran and Taryn biked in the race. I think it was really nice of them to team up with a beginning swimmer who is quite a bit older than either one of them(that would be me!) ;)

Donna is my regular workout friend, she is so encouraging! Mary is a dear friend and my coach, I trust her opinion, she really wants for me to achieve my best self. Wendy is a supportive friend who is quite the athlete in her own right! She's also an amazing jewelry designer, and we have really bonded over creative ventures. :)

I tried to pick colors I thought each lady would like. I used layered flowers as the embellishments. I thought it would be a fun touch to add their names, too :)

That's it for me, lots of scraps and old product used on these, so I'm not doing a supply list, but the stamps are from My Favorite Things.

big hugs!

Noelle