Birthday card for my son's friend

My middle son is going to a Birthday party tomorrow afternoon (hopefully the weather will be okay by then), of a little guy in his class at school and I got a freebie digital image from Karen's Doodles two days ago. Thought it would be perfect for a Birthday card for this boy :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Digi image and stamp set: Karen's Doodle's "Rootin' Tootin' Cowboy" image, sentiment from Inkadinkado "Round Frames" set
Card stock: Carousel Rubberstamp store blue and white cardstock
Ink: SU Bashful Blue, "Coffee" Archival ink
Accessories: Touch Markers, Nestabilites Die #8, Sook Wang Double Sided tape, sponge from dollar store

Softpencil guest DT member

It is hard to believe, but my time at Softpencil is over :(!  Thank you so much for the chance to be a  guest designer, had fun and it was great meeting new people :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Kellie Winnell's blog "Blog of a Craft-a-holic Waffler" blog candy giveaway

Hurry on over to Kellie Winnell's blog "Blog of a Craft-a-holic Waffler", she is having a kit giveaway and you have until Feb.18th I believe to enter. Look at the kits she is giving away, looks good eh? Good luck :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Softpencil Thursday challenge

This weeks challenge we were given an image called "Michu and Michula", we were told that we could use rhinestones, brads, eyelets and we could use one of them or all of them.  So, last night I had full intentions of making my card but sadly my sinus/cold meds kicked in and I fell asleep on the couch...here I am coming up with a project now.
 The other day I found some Valentine Freebies on someone's blog, I wrote down the blog addy but sadly someone (thinking it was my son who was in the crafty mood yesterday) made off with my paper and has lost it. I will look for the link this morning and get back to you for where I found the Valentine Pillow box freebies, there were also some patterned paper and some sentiments too. I decided that for this weeks challenge that I would use one of the pillow boxes that they had up for grabs, and somehow attach this weeks digi to it :)! I decided that I would use rhinestones on my image all around the heart, am pretty happy with how it turned out...
Thanks for stopping by, and have a creative day :)!


Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Digi image: Softpencil "Michu and Michula", freebie pillow box
Card stock: White card stock from Carousel Rubberstamp store
Accessories: Sook Wang double sided tape, Touch Markers, pink and red Swarovski crystal rhinestones, Nestabilites label die

CCE card from Madge Haycock

Here is a calendar card that I received in the mail today from Madge Haycock, for the Dec/Jan CCE group 5B and boy was it worth the wait :). Thank you so much Madge, I love it and it will sit on my desk in my crafty room :)!  Here are the months for Jan-March 2010...

Here is the April through June calendar, on the opposite side of the card....

Here are the months of July to September, gorgeous job for this month...love the flowers :)!

Here are the months from October to December :)!  Gorgeous calendar, love how each section of the card is different in layout and colors etc.

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Card Pattern sketch 48

So here is my take on sketch 48, for Card Patterns Sketch! I also decided to participate in this weeks sketch,  just because their last one was a good sketch to try out and I think this one will be good too :). I decided to use a new stamp I picked up a few weeks ago, by a company called "Crafty Individuals" at Deserres Art store that used to be Loomis and Toole's Art store. They had a few gorgeous stamps there, and I think I bought 3 different one's :)!

I have decided that I think I may have to take a photography course, just to learn how to use my camera and how to take better pictures because this picture looked a lot better when I took the picture but now it seems darker. Suggestions??


Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Stamp: "Crafty Individuals" bird stamp
Card stock: Blue Cardstock from Carousel Rubber Stamp store
Patterned paper: Cloud 9 Designs "Floral Cocoa", Photo Memories polka dots patterned paper
Ink: Archival Coffee colored ink
Accessories:  Sook Wang double sided tape, Nestabilities classic square and scalloped dies, black ribbon (unsure of where it is from)

Card Patterns Sketch 47

I decided this morning, to do a sketch, and this is the one I decided to do :)! It is the Card Pattern Sketch that I have chosen to do this morning :)! I What a fun sketch this as to do, dare you to try it out! I know I am late with doing something with this sketch, that they are on sketch 48 now but I still wanted to do this sketch...not to worry will do sketch 48 next this afternoon I think.

I also did a sort of my own twist to this sketch too, my friend Anita stamped off a ton of images for me to use and so I thought it was high time I used one of the images she gave to me.  Have a super Sketchy day :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Stamp: Anya image (not sure which one it is, will find out for you from Anita)
Card stock: all card stock from Carousel Rubber stamp store
Accessories: Touch Makers, Sook Wang double sided tape, ribbon from Michaels, Cuttlebug border embossing folder, Nestabilites classic oval and scalloped oval dies, Cuttle bug, Swiss dots embossing folder

Q and A

When using clear stamps are you finding you don't get a crisp clean image or the ink beads on the stamp??

Here is one of my crafty friends secret, Julie told myself and a few of my other crafty friends this secret and we have been quite happy with the outcome of using this secret tool.  The secret is this, to use Versamark Watermark stamp pad first and then ink up your stamp after that using whatever ink you like to use and you should get a crisp, clean, and unbeaded image.  I am sure most of you knew this before, but just thought for some of you who have said " I will never buy another clear stamp set again!" this is for you or perhaps a newbie to the crafty world of cardmaking :).

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Softpencil DT friendship card challenge

Wow, where did that week go??? Sorry, I haven't posted anything crafty in the past few days but I do have to say that this has got to be the worst head cold I have EVER had and it has knocked me off my feet.  Anyways, at least I was able to do the challenge...which was to do something to do with friendship using the digi image that Kerry sent us on the DT.

Not only did I come up with a card for you, but I came up with this cute little treat bag too using this weeks digi image called "Amy, Michu, and Ratiny" :)!  I sadly don't remember where I got the template from for this cute bag, but am still looking for the file and I think I might be close to finding it...will post it once I do find it.

Here is the backside of the cute bag that I used for my project for this week :)! The bag I made using a sheet of Vellum, wanted to do something different instead of using patterned paper or regular cardstock.
For both the cards image and the image I used on the cute treat bag, I used a base image, colored it all in, then I printed off another image and cut out Michu's paws and Ratiny's body so I could put dimensionals on them. Then I attached the paws and body to the base image I started out with :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Stamp: Softpencil digital image "Amy, Michu and Ratiny"
Cardstock: blue and white cardstock was from Carousel Rubberstamp store
Patterned paper: PhotoMemories BoBunny
Accessories:  Vellum, dimensionals, glass finish, Sook Wang double sided tape, Touch markers, Ribbon from Michael's, Nestabilites labels die, cuttlebug, template for treatbag (will find out for you).

Posh Designs Scrapbook Store Blog candy giveaway

Check out this great looking blog candy giveaway, where is these goodies?? Well, they are on a blog called "Posh Designs Scrapbook Store"...so head on over and check it out for yourself :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

will post something tomorrow

Sorry, I haven't posted anything crafty over the past couple of days but I have a really bad head cold that is giving me grief!  I will be back tomorrow with a crafty card or two :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

ABC toys and Crafts Blog candy alert

Hurry on over to the blog called "ABC Toys and Crafts" as she is having a giveaway over there...actually 3 giveaways of Martha Stewart Punches and this is one of the sets she is giving away.  Hurry on over, as she is doing the draw on January 25th!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Happy 8th Bday

Happy 8th bday :)!  Wow, hard to believe that you are 8 years old today...where did the time go!  Hope you have a SUPER special day and we love you :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Winnies Whims and My Crafts blog candy giveaway

Check out the blog candy giveaway over on Winnies Whims and My Crafts blog candy giveaway,better hurry over there as the giveaway is almost over. Amazing giveaway eh??

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Q and A

Do you use background stamps a lot if at all?? Have you used the small almost rectangular one's that are about 2 " by 2.5" big?? If you have my question to you all how do you make sure that the images are lined up nicely and that it isn't noticeable that they are several stamped images together??

I bought a set of 4 of these backgrounds stamps today at Michael's as they were on sale $5.99 each, they are gorgeous background stamps but here is my catch. I have used background small stamps like this before and have had SERIOUS issues with getting them to line up just so. Or to even have them look like a nice solid pattern...advice would be great :)!


One more thing before I take off here, wanted to let you know that I used Photoshop Elements 5 to create the Sketch that I did the other day. If you would like me to create a tutorial for you to show you how, let me know :)!  I didn't download the Photoshop Elements 5.0 it came with my Bamboo fun tablet, which I am still a newbie when it comes to being creative/crafty with it...


Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Today's Creative blog

Good morning everyone, hope everyone is doing SUPER today :)!  Just wanted to stop by and suggest you pop on over to Todays Creative Blog blog to check out the neat giveaways that they have there  :)!!
Inky Hugs,Catherine

Delurker day

Today, is Delurker day and was reminded by a few blogs I was browsing tonight as I had a cup of hot chocolate. So if you are a "luker" to my blog, one who doesn't post but does stop by to see what is going on then don't hesitate to stop and comment today :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

365 card challenge

I decided I wanted to participate in a card challenge this morning, and I found one over on 365 Cards blog :)! The challenge was to do a project or card with the theme of  a "Tea Party", so here is what I came up with...hope you give this challenge a try.

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Stamp sets: MFT "Hot stuff" set, Gina K set called "Cuppa Joe"
Cardstock:  Green carstock from Photo Memories, white cardstock from Carousel
Patterned paper: BO BUNNY 
Ink: Archival "Coffee", SU " Soft Sky", VersaMagic "Red Magic"
Accessories:  Sook Wang double sided tape, dimensionals, sponge, Touch markers, heart scalloped and classic Nestabilities

Softpencil Thursday challenge

This weeks Softpencil DT challenge is to use your favorite sketch, and we got a new image to play with for this challenge called "A Lovely Couple".  I have created this sketch for you, since I don't really have a favorite sketch that I like...I really like them all and so I thought I would create something to use for this weeks challenge :).

You are more than welcome to use my sketch, would love to see what you can create with it :)!  Thank you for stopping by, and have a super crafty day :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine


Stamp:  Softpencil digital image "A lovely couple"
Cardstock:  Pink Cardstock from Photo Memories, white and black cardstock from Carousel
Patterned paper: from Photo Memories

Accessories: Touch markers, Sook Wang double sided tape, Scallop Oval Nestabilitie, Flourish Nestabilitie, white Inksenntials pen, white puffy paint .

Verve Sketch Challenge

Here is the  Verve Sketch Challenge, and I HAD to participate in this challenge :)! They also have free digi images over on their blog too, you may just want to hop on over to get your hands on these before it is too late. The images that I used are the freebie's that the Verve are offering up, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to use them for this sketch :D!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog today :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Stamp:  Verve Digital images
Cardstock: Carousel White cardstock, Pink cardstock from Photo Memories
Patterned Paper: BO BUNNY  "12" Coffee Dot" 
Accessories:  Sook Wang Double sided tape, ribbon from Michael's, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, classic rectangle and scalloped rectangle Nestabilities dies, Tombow markers

Inked Inspirations blog candy giveaway

Hurry on over to the blog called "Inked Inspirations" as she is having a great giveaway of Magnolia stamps, and thought you wouldn't want to miss out on this giveaway :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Confessions of a Ribbon Addict blog Candy giveaway and tutorial

CHECK this card out, amazing right??? Well, Jody Morrow was the one who made this card and she also has the tutorial up on her blog to show you how YOU can make this gorgeous card :)! She also has a chance for you to win on her blog:

~this card
~Pure Innocence Heart Stripes set (MFT)
~Selection of sticky stuff from her sticky store
~selection of Die cuts from her die cuts store


So, hurry over onto her blog to check out what you have to do to win these goodies...just to let you know the information is under her tutorial for this card :)!




Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Q and A

Are you the kind of person who sits there until you have the picture of your card you are going to make in your head before you go ahead and make it? OR are you the kind of person who just goes ahead to make a card, you see what direction it will take you as you go along with each process of putting the card together?? OR do you just use sketches, Magazines, Splitcoaststampers or Paper Craft Planet pictures for ideas??

For myself, I start to make the card and see what direction it takes me :)! I can't wait to make a card, or wait for an idea to appear to make a card...now don't get me wrong sometimes (rarely) that happens though where I have an idea of a card I want to make.

What do you do???


Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Mo's Digital freebie image on Papercraft planet

This is a digital image that I picked up from Mo, she has digital images you can buy or a few freebies for you to try your hand at like this one called "Bella hearts Bronte". You can get this image over at Paper Craft Planet , while you are over at the Paper Craft Planet site you should check out the other groups, galleries, etc. you can be part of...tons of fun challenges and giveaways etc.
For the hearts on this card I used the Glass finish product on them, to make them shiny and look kind of dimensional :)!  I also used one of the Flourish Dies from Nestabilites to help frame my digital image more, am very happy with how this image and card turned out :D!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Image:  "Bella hearts Bronte"
Cardstock:  PhotoMemories Chocolate, Pink and Red cardstock, White cardstock Carousel Rubberstamp store
Patterned paper: Bo Bunny "Love Bandit Tweetheart"
Accessories:  Touch Markers, Flourish Nestabilities dies,  Labels 4 Nestabilities, Sook Wang Double sided tape, Tombow glue, Glass Finish, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder.

My Stamping Heaven blog candy giveaway

Andrea's blog called My Stamping Heaven, is having a blog candy giveaway :), in honor of a New Year and also to celebrate how much joy she gets out of her Papercrafting hobby. So hurry on over to her blog and check out what she has up for grabs....plus how you can win this stash of goodies :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

simple card

I was sent a "digi gift" from Elizabeth over at Softpencil, and decided to make a very simple yet different kind of card for you all :)!  What exactly do I mean by this is a different card?? Well, I mean that the image is actually the flap that opens up to reveal your sentiment/message to someone and the base is basically a "frame" to the card. I tried adding various bling and ribbon to this card but it just didn't work or look quite right, and so I went with the simple look :)!

You lift up the "digital image" and there is where you will put your sentiment :)!  I used white Puffy paint for the snow on the ground, I used glass finish on the snowflakes and on the windows on the house. Thank you so much Elizabeth for that image, enjoyed coming up with this card.

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Stamp used: Softpencil Digital image
Cardstock: Green and Chocolate cardstock from PhotoMemories, White cardstock from Carousel Rubberstamp store.
Patterned paper: SU wintergreen 
Accessories:  Touch Markers, Sook Wang Double Sided tape, white puffy paint and Glass finish, SU scallop punch, Nestabilites label die

Simple Green

Someone asked me if I have used Simple Green on a cleaning pad or just directly onto my stamps, and I have only used it directly onto my stamps not a cleaning pad. I found that the cleaning pads when used in the past (not with Simple Green), that it would leave little fuzzies on the stamp and that is just irritating.  However, once I do spray onto the stamp I let it sit for a second or two then take a soft bristled brush to the stamp while running under slightly warm water.  Hope this helps :)! Will let you know how the Simple Green wipes work out :D!

Inky Hugs,

Catherine

Q and A

Here is a question for you all:


What do you use to clean your stamps???


I personally use something called "Simple Green", you can get it at any Canadian Tire location and it is in the Automotive section (I know, sounds weird). One bottle has lasted me 4 years now, just ran out the other day, so while I was out running errands I stopped in to get more. To my surprise I found out that they now have this lovely product in wipes, and so I picked up a thing of the wipes and a bottle of the cleaner. You are to mix it 2 parts water with one part Simple Green, and I have found a small spray bottle from the Dollar store to  put it into. Then I spray it onto my inked up stamps, and it takes of pretty much all inks off your stamps :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Had to do some re-arranging and editing

I have to apologize for the wacky layout of my posts, I didn't realize what some of the pictures were doing to my  posts until I was looking for something to show a cousin of my dh. Well, I fixed several of them and will do better next time to post and put pictures in better places...and I also changed the background to my blog too! Felt change was in order for 2010 :D! Let me know what you think...would love feedback if you have some :D!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Softpencil new blog look and new shop addy

Please, go and check out what Elizabeth did over on the Softpencil blog she created a new look for the blog and also she has a new shop link for you too just click on the Softpencil name above to goto the new site. Love what Elizabeth did with the new blog :)!  Keep your eyes open for the DT/Guest DT members creations next Thursday, using a new image that Elizabeth created :)...you won't want to miss out!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Valentine Card

I wanted to use this image to make a Valentine card, and I created this sentiment using my Photoshop program that came with my Bamboo fun tablet.  Wanted to make one more card before I went off to see my dh's cousin to help his fiancé with their wedding invitations, am hoping that we can come up with a plan tonight so I can get going on finding the materials for them.

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

Cardstock: pink, red, brown, white cardstock from PhotoMemories 
Stamp: Stampendous "Parkscape" stamp
Ink: Archival Jet black ink, SU Wild Wasabi and Soft sky
Accessories:  Nestabilities classic rectangle, scalloped rectangle, tag, Sook Wang double Sided tape, ribbon from Michael's, sponge, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder

Baby Card

Good friends of ours just had their first baby, I got them 2 little outfits for their little girl and just HAD to make a card for her too :)! I decided to use the new Valentine BoBunny line of patterned paper for this card, as well as the Heart Nestabilities too...so in a way it looks like a Valentine card too. The stamp set I used was a CTMH set called "A Birthday Wish", just LOVE the 3 animal stamps (Dog, sheep, Bunny) and have used them a few times but not yet for invitations!

Inky Hugs,

Catherine

Cardstock: Pink, Brown cardstock from PhotoMemories

Patterned paper: Bo Bunny "Love Bandit Tweetheart" paper

ink: Archival Ink "Coffee"

Stamp sets: CTMH "A Birthday Wish"

Accessories: Sook Wang double sided tape, heart/scalloped heart Nestabilites, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, Dimensionals, Ribbon from my friend Deborah, SU markers and Touch Markers.

Mojo Monday Sketch 120

I LOVE Mojo Monday sketch challenges, and this challenge is another one I try to do often but haven't gotten around to doing one lately . Life happened I guess, plus Christmas but now I hope to do more sketches in this New Year :)!

Here is the card I created using this sketch, and I also thought I would include a close up shot of the Inkadinkado Sentiment stamp I used as well :)!

I also would like to tell you that over on the Softpencil blog there is the NEW Valentine Collection, a new blinkie as well as Elizabeth's new shop...so please hurry on over and check it out.

Inky Hugs,

Catherine

Cardstock: turquoise, red, pink, white, black from PhotoMemories

Patterned paper: BO Bunny, and the XO's is from Michael's

Ink: Versa Magic Red Magic

Stamp: Inkadinkado Valentine stamp

Accessories: Classic Circle Nestabilities, Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, Hero Arts bling, SU scallop punch, Sook Wang double sided tape

Embellish Hearts challenge

LOVE the Embellish Magazine challenges, I try to participate in them as much as I can because they are usually pretty fun challenges :)! LOVE this challenge!! This challenge is called the "Embellish Heart" challenge, and couldn't wait to participate in it as I had a new "House Mouse" stamp that I wanted to use. Dare ya to try this challenge :)!

Inky Hugs,

Catherine

Cardstock: White cardstock from Carousel Rubber stamp store

Ink: Archival Jet black ink, SU Bashful blue, Archival ink Coffee

Stamps: House Mouse "Lip Smackin' Relaxin' "

Accessories: Su markers, Touch Markers, White puffy paint, Heat gun, Heart Nestabilities, cuttlebug, dimensionals, sponge, cuttlebug embossing folder, Sook Wang double sided tape

Skipping Stones Design sketch challenge #6

I decided that I would participate in the "Skipping Stones Designs" sketch challenge #6, what a great sketch :). I couldn't wait to use my new "Bo Bunny" stamp setcalled "Harmony" that I picked up today from PhotoMemories using my gift certificate from my brother and his family...yes, Julie that is a butterfly you see there. I also wanted to use my new "Color Box" silver ink pad in someway as well, and I turned the sketch on it's side too but not to worry it is the same sketch...lol. Wanted to put my own twist on the challenge :)!

Thanks for stopping by :)!

Inky hugs,

Catherine

Cardstock: white cardstock from Carousel Rubberstamps, SU Mello Moss

Patterned paper: Bo Bunny, Infuse

Ink: Color Box Silver ink, Archival Jet Black ink

Accessories: SookWang Double sided tape, dimensionals, Classic Circle nestabilities

Stamp sets: Bo Bunny "Harmony"

My son's Learning Center Teacher is expecting

E* came home this afternoon from his first day back to school since xmas vacation, and he was so excited because he found out today that his Learning Center teacher is expecting. He was telling me that she is going to bring the baby in once it "get's out of her tummy!", that his teacher can feel the baby kick her and move. So he told me he wanted me to make her a card, which I was going to do anyways of course :D (any excuse to make a card right?)!

For this card I used the Hampton Art stamp set called "Oh Baby", I got this stamp set at Michael's and they had a ton of other Hampton Art stamp sets there too which I have my eye on. Just have to get another coupon or two :p! I also used the Martha Stewart punch that has cute little daisy flowers on it, and I also picked that up at Michael's using a gift card my in laws gave me for xmas.

Tonight we had friends over for supper, they have a little girl who is a few months younger than our dd and they are home visiting for xmas holidays from Ontario.

While we were waiting for them to come my dd fell asleep waiting, as we had supper late tonight since our company got stuck in traffic due to a car accident. She slept for about 1 hour, which she needed to have before our company arrived so she could have a fun play date.

Here is a picture of our friends little girl, she was sitting next to my dd playing with the flash cards apps on her father's iphone. It was cute because they were both trying to see who could name what the picture was that would pop up on the phone's screen the fastest. Great time tonight, just wish they lived closer!

Inky Hugs,

Catherine

Softpencil DT color challenge

We were asked to use the image that Kerry from Softpencil sent to us, the color's we had to use were red, olive green and cream/ivory. The image we were given is called "Two Birds two cats", cute image :)! Here is my card for the challenge, had fun making this card...looking forward to seeing what the others made and you can do so by clicking on their names on my sidebar.

For this card I printed off two sets of the digital image, so that I could use one as a second layer to make the cats and the kite image pop off the page. Here is a side view of my card so you can see what I did with the images :)!

Inky Hugs,

Catherine

Cardstock: SU Very Vanilla, olive green cardstock from Carousel

Inks: SU Bashful blue, Wild Wasabi

Digital image: Softpencil designs

Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug embossing folder, sponges, Touch Markers, dimensionals, glass finish, Sookwang double sided tape