Road trip to Seattle!

We're packing and about to head out to Kelowna tonight. I can't wait to get my fill of wine, good food, and good company. One of our friends in Seattle has a new house = card moment!

Today's inspiration is from Mojo Monday: Mojo Monday 256.

This looks like a crazy hodgepodge of patterns, but I had originally wanted to use the other side of the paper from Avonlea until I ended up putting glue on that side! I guess sometimes fate just wins out. I also distressed all edges of the other pieces with Olive Ink.

Interestingly enough I came across a blog that had talked about mixing and matching different paper packs from CTMH - and this card is no exception! If you look closely I mixed in Stella (retired) for a punch of pink.

This time I opted to not stamp a sentiment inside the card but I did decide to add a little growing tree - to symbolize a new house. I colored it using CTMH inks and a paintbrush. Bordering the writing area is the side of the Avonlea paper I originally had planned on using.

All papers from CTMH mix and match beautifully no matter what the color or the season you bought it in - keep that in mind if you have a few paper packets and are stumped as to what to do with them.

Michaels, etc:
* Solid cardstock
* Ribbon

CTMH: 
* Avonlea Level 2 Paper Pack
* Stella Level 2 Paper Pack
* Live Out Loud - July 2012 SOTM
* Beary Busy
* Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge
* Olive
* Barn Red
* Moonlight
* Cocoa

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Every card has a story...

I find that each card is tailored in some way to the recipients, but usually I take inspiration from who I'm giving it to. And sometimes a background paper or a color or some part of a stamp set jumps out at me. In this case, because it's a housewarming card for both my friends, I decided to stick with a neutral color. I've never been out to their house in Airdrie, and I'm looking forward to seeing it when they have time!

This naturally calls for a card, and the past Mojo Monday: MOJO230. (I actually had it complete but never got around to posting until today) was perfect for this.

Instead of flowers I opted to do three chairs and for some reason, the chair stamped in brown always cries out to me for paper piecing. I don't think I've ever stamped that chair without piecing the cushions, now that I think of it. And I wanted some sparkle in the border, so out came the rhinestones.

I love saving scraps, since sometimes they come in really handy for that last little embellishment you want to do on a card without cutting a huge 12 x 12 piece of paper.

Michaels etc:
* Solid cardstock
* Ribbon
* Fiskars edging scissors

CTMH:
* Around the Block
* Chairs to You - May 2011 SOTM
* Clear Sparkles
* Lucky Level 2 Paper Pack - retired
* Outdoor Denim Ink
* Spring Iris Ink

I'm looking forward to spring! Are you?

Come drink my rum... and Cherish the Day Nov SOTM

The housewarming invitation read something along the lines of 'come help me drink my rum...' We helped a friend move back in January when the wind was whipping around us with cold flurries. And although it's almost close to winter again, her new little home is ready for a party, and she apparently has some rum to share.

I thought she deserved a card and a little present. After all, what is a housewarming without a bit of celebration? This card actually (for once) did not follow any templates at all!

I used Lucky Level 2 embellishments and canvas buttons to help me embellish this lovely card! Strangely enough this became a SOTM card. If you look closely, can you identify the three months featured on this card? If you guessed March, September, and more importantly November you are correct! The stamp of the month for November is called Cherish the Day.

With every purchase over $55 CAD this can be yours for $5.50; which would also qualify you for the Holiday Wishes campaign.

Michaels:
* Cardstock from "Spice Market" set
* Cardstock from "Primary" set

CTMH:
* Grace Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)
* Chairs To You (March SOTM)
* Limited Edition (September SOTM)
* Cherish The Day (November SOTM)
* Cherished Flourishes
* Chocolate Ink
* Cranberry Ink
* Tulip Ink
* Juniper Ink
* Canvas Badge Buttons

New House New Beginnings

A friend who originally was a coworker of mine back in the day 7 years prior, recently bought a new home. I know that he has been dying to move out of the basement suite he has been living in since he moved into Vancouver.

I had acquired Chairs to You without realizing what I'd use them for, but they were just perfect for this occasion. Today's inspiration comes from a previous Teneal Williams post: Creative Elements Case Study 50 Hop.

As the middle chair needed to stand out, I used a technique known as paper piecing. What you do is stamp the image onto two sheets of paper, one is your base image, and the other you cut pieces out of. In this case I used plain brown cardstock, but you could do this with patterned cardstock to really 'pop' the image. As well, the sentiment on the front is embossed in black.

I seem to have a real habit of decorating the inside as well, but I find that it helps to balance out the card weight if it's a card with the fold on top. This time I opted to stay simple, to keep in theme with the rest of the card.

Michaels:
- Cardstock
- Embossing Inks

CTMH:
- Chairs To You (May 2011 Stamp of the Month)
- Lucky Level 2 Chipboard accents
- Chocolate Shades Collection Mini Medley
- Black embossing powder
- Chocolate Ink
- Smokey Plum Ink