Out of Town, in Penang

The whole family is away in Penang since Tuesday for short holiday. Attended nephew's wedding dinner last night. Many cards to make when we get home this evening. It has been an eating holiday in Malaysia's food paradise. Eat, sleep, drive around.

365 Cards Day 86 ~ Color Scheme

For this color challenge, I chose Tui Nathan's sketch for Freshly Made Sketches.


The card remains simple to the sketch.  Glued the scalloped squares using the Cuttlebug, stamped the white card with Hero Arts' Heart Owls stamp and mounted it, and completed the card with Flora Doodles' Jeweled Florettes.  For the couple who are so in love...

365 Cards Day 85 ~ Divide and Conquer

Divide the background into 6 parts - each part decorated differently.  Those parts do not have to be equal in size and shape.

This card was kind of interesting to make, again with the Cuttlebug. This time, I used both the diecut and its frame. The frames are glued in place, then the butterflies mounted on with mounting tape. Then each butterfly is embellished differently.

365 Cards Day 84 ~ Keep It Simple

Today's challenge is to create a Clean and Simple card using only 1/3 of the space provided.  The card size and theme are entirely up to you.

I just love the KIS or CAS cards. They say so much with so little. Like Stillness Speaks. And I definitely love the Cuttlebug. A pastel sweet box of flowers (Cuttlebug dies) to thank you (Hero stamp) for your friendship.

365 Cards Day 83 ~ Opposites Attract

Today's challenge is called Opposites Attract because we're looking for a set of opposites -- colors, patterns, images, words - anything you can think of do really stand out on your card.

I chose pink and yellow as opposing colors for my card to depict mirror images in colors other than black and white. The embossed backgrounds are reverse of each other as well. Looks like my tab camera does changes to the color pink.  In any case, this card is for TWO OF A KIND in opposites.

365 Cards Day 82 ~ Colors of Spring

It's raining here today, but I'm sure there's sunshine somewhere, and I'd love to see some bright springy colors on your cards for this challenge.

In fact let's make it a minimum of FIVE colors that make you think of Spring.

Spring colors to me are the pastels ~ pink, lilac, light blue, light green and yellow.  I love butterflies and this Cuttlebug ones that I just kept the card plain and simple to show butterflies fluttering their wings in the wind and living life.  Simply ENJOY LIFE!

365 Cards Day 81 ~ Super Sketchy Sunday

I think this sketch is just lovely.  But it will have to wait while I work on the other cards after no card making weekend as usual.

Finally got to work on the card today, after a hectic week. Also my first attempt using the Cuttlebug. My sons are just thrilled with it and helped me cut and emboss stuff.  The flower is from Irene's Garden.  Green frame behind flower and pink butterflies are from Cuttlebug dies, blue background is Cuttlebug emboss, green ribbon with pink stitching is from Momoyo.

This card uses colors for Outlawz CAS052012.

Lisa has us thinking of warmer weather :) The challenge this week is for you to use these colors that remind Lisa of spring:

Pink, Green and Yellow (any shades you choose).




Treasure Trove from USA

Ohh... I am so excited with the stuff from Joann's which were bought by my brother Frankie and hand carried back from West Virginia to Malaysia by my sister Margaret.  I just had to capture photos by category spread on my bedroom floor.  Love everything I asked for from Frankie to order.  Will have to work out the total amount he spent on all these wonderful things.

The Cuttlebug and all the dies from Cuttlebug and Nestabilities

Hero Art Stamps

Christmas Cardstock and abc stickers

Flowers galore, K & Company diecuts, vellum quotes, brads

Flowers closeup

I Was Spotlighted in 365 Cards for Day 78

And here are the Spotlight Designers

I am ... pleasantly surprised to be spotlighted for my card for Day 78.  Thank you 365 DTs for the honor for a 2nd time.  And I was just thinking to myself this morning that I may have to give the 365 commitment up as I get so worked up making the cards especially when there is little time.  I guess this motivates me further to keep the commitment.

Another pleasant surprise (well not quite a surprise) is getting my Cuttlebug V2 which was purchased by my brother Frankie in West Virginia from Joann's and lugged back to Malaysia by my sister Margaret.  You see, my sister has just returned from a month's holiday in good old USA with her husband SG.  Since paper crafting stuff are so expensive here, I got my brother to purchase the stuff (the Cuttlebug, dies, stamps, papers, flowers) from Joann's online and my sister brought them back safe and sound.  I am just so excited to get started on the Cuttlebug.

So today is a day of GRACE and GRATITUDE.  I sent a thank you message to my brother and sister for their support, and now I say thank you to 365 Cards for the honor.  Also thanks to Annie Ling who actually led me to card making and 365 with her lovely cards, and thanks to all the new found friends on 365 and The Outlawz Challenges.  The card making fraternity is truly a supportive sisterhood which I am proud to be linked to.

365 Cards Day 80 ~ Imagine This: Fire

I love these challenges that are wide open for interpretation.  There's no major restrictions, just the opportunity for some serious creativity.

So here's how it works - just imagine the word "Fire" and let it inspire your card.  Colors, images, words - anything fits as long as it works for you.

What came to mind were images of campfires, candles and barbeque.  So got down to work this one out.  Ready or not, it's BBQ Time and cooking outside.  Hurray!!

365 Cards Day 79 ~ Color Scheme

Have just been so busy with family and chores, feeling down the weather and lethargic.  Feel like time is just zipping by and having to remind myself to stay present.  So my cards have not had the full attention.  In any case, I managed to get this one out this morning.

365 Cards Day 78 ~ Fun with Fabric

It probably sounds like I would like you to use fabric on your card, doesn't it?  But that's not the case with this challenge.

Looking around your home you might realize how you've surrounded yourself with patterns and colors that please you, so it makes sense that these would inspire a beautiful card, doesn't it.

Pick a fabric that you love and use it to inspire your card design.

The inspiration, my bedlinen, in brown and cream, with sillouettes of trees.

The card with my tree of life.  The tree is hand drawn, trunk colored in pencil, leaves stamped on.

365 Cards Day 77 ~ Wordy

We're looking for a mix of sentiments on your card, scattered about, and they need not be from the same source (stamps, stickers, die-cut letters, etc.). 

I am tackling this challenge by just using a quote by spiritual writer Don Miguel Ruiz and Outlawz Sketch Challenge for May 9.  The words mean a lot to me these days as I see and read a lot of anger and violence in the news.  Unconditional love with the eyes of love is all we need.  Stamped the flowers and colored them in pencil and pens.  The satin ribbon is an added accessory to the card which makes it lovely, I feel.

Outlawz SC051612 ~ Thinking of You

Outlawz Wednesday's Sketch Challenge May 16

Another clean and simple card from me for the challenge.  It's a bright yellow card with stamped flower card on card, embellished with some jewels, and a stamped sentiment.

365 Cards Day 76 ~ Shape Up

Today's challenge is all about shapes - specifically a SQUARE.  We want you to use 3 squares on your card, and NOT have them overlap in any way.

This card was made with Outlawz Color Challenge May 15 in mind.

The card is kept clean with two patterned papers (from scraps of previously cut papers by AEIOU and Cosmo Cricket Salt Air Mini Deck).  Stamped three images in Smokey Grey on 3 square-on-squares (off white on white) to a friend for tea or coffee and mounted those on the CCSAMD paper which is then mounted on the AEIOU paper pasted on a white card.

365 Cards Day 75 ~ Tone on Tone

The challenge is to add letters, images, patterns or anything you can think of that creates a tone-on-tone appearance.

You have lots of freedom with this challenge - whether you use paper or embellishments there must be an overlap between at least 2 elements that creates a tone-on-tone look.

Made this card with Outlawz Creative Freebie Challenge May 6-19 in mind, using the 2nd digi image for the challenge, the shoe or boot or boot shoe, on different tones of cream and brown.  The shoe (colored in pencils and embellished with pearls) is mounted on the card with floral sticker, embellished with some gems.  A biege tag with sentiment serves like a base with two ribbons, brown on biege (or cream).

Outlawz CFC050612

I have not really done digi images before so this is my first attempt (although I ruined the first one by cutting it too close to the lines).  Since this is an open medium challenge, I do what I do best - with color pencils.  Another reason is that I have not gotten any promarkers yet.  Anyway, the card is cream with patterned paper and a piece of floral fabric sticker, and she stands there, thinking a hello is fine.

365 Cards Day 74 ~ Super Sketchy Sunday

The sketch

As with my last few cards, I decided to take the clean and simple approach to the card and came up with this.  The twist is the pink stamped flowers on a cream based card.

365 Cards Day 73 ~ The 3 F's

Let's finish off the week with 3 trigger words that begin with the letter F...

Floss, Fuschia and Flower

Took a while to make this card as I was not sure of what floss was.  Googled it as floss for making cards and search came up with two main categories - dental floss and embroidery floss.  Couldn't be dental floss.  It was sometime yesterday that Dobea confirmed that it is embroidery floss (or yarn or thread).  So I got to making the card after I completed the card for Day 74.

For this card, I used Cardabilities Sketch #54 for its simplicity.

Instead of using patterned paper, I decided to leave the card background plain for an elegant clean and simple look.  Thought that this card is apt for Outlawz Greeting Challenge May 14 (Purple for Peace Day), I stamped a sentiment With Love to make it right for the challenge.

Clean And Simple Birthday Card

I was actually working on another card challenge for 365 Cards but got detoured to making this card for Outlawz Sunday's Clean and Simple CAS for May 13 as I had just gotten some new cling stamps from a local bookstore.  This card is also for Less is More Week 67 One Layer Card using three stamps.  To all the May Birthday card makers, Have a Blessed and Happy Birthday.

365 Cards Day 72 ~ Color Scheme

Another simple card for the 365 Cards challenge, highlights the blue ribbon and stamped vase and sentiment.  Have a Happy Day on Mother's Day!!  Made this card using Chocolate Coffee Cards Challenge 12 Sketch.

365 Cards Day 71 ~ The 3 G's

Hey 365ers, we've got another set of trigger words for you, and they all begin with a G.

Green, Grass and Glitter

Made this Get Well card for Outlawz Paper a la Mode Challenge May 12, using the above elements in sketch #119 for Cards and Things.

365 Cards Day 70 ~ The 3 C's

Colorful, Coffee, and Classy

A simple layout with colored stripes, polka dots and die cut make the card colorful and classy.  A brown band with a hot cup of coffee stamped completes the look.  Rather classic casual I must say!

This card is also made for Outlawz Twisted Thursday May 10

using Die Cuts, Designer Paper and Inks.

So what is our twist for this week’s “Anything Goes” challenge? It is BINGO!  How do you play you ask?  You choose 3 of the squares either going across, down or diagonal.  Then add those elements to your card.

The challenge tag for this week is TT051012.

365 Cards Day 69 ~ The 3 B's

Today's challenge is to create a card with 3 trigger words beginning with the letter B.

Those three words are

Black, Blue, and Button

Time has been zipping by so quickly with so many things to do at home - cleaning, cooking, gardening, laundry.  There was a period of lethargy as well with too much running around and so little time was left for making cards.  So I had to make time today to catch up.

The card is simple, with patterned paper on Black card, sentiment in Black, navy Blue ribbon bow and Buttons.

365 Cards Day 68 ~ The Three P's

The 3 P's ~ Pink, Paisley and Pom-Pom

Took me a while to get this card done.  I think I got all the 3 P's in the card.  The layered flower in pink and blue with the jewels was decorated by my 8-year old Joey.  The little white posy was given to him by his class teacher for Mother's Day.  So in a way, this card is made for Mother's Day by my son.  And as you can see, I am so into ribbons!!

And for Mojo Monday MOJO240, I added the white tag.  This card is also apt for Outlawz Greetings Challenge May 6.

Say Hello in Blue, Green and Big Red Bow

Two Challenges in One
Outlaws Color Challenge May 8

The color palette is 

Afternoon Blue,
 Talipot Palm Green
 and
 Red Riding Hood.


The
Twist
 is to add a red embellishment.



Card Positioning Systems Sketch 264

The amended card - stamped image in place of sticker

Have Car Will Travel

Two super Sunday challenges from my favorites, 365 Cards Challenges and The Outlawz. I think the sketch is apt for the CAS travel challenge.

Outlawz CAS Challenge May 6

Travel related products are huge in paper crafting right now.  As summer approaches, make a "travel" inspired project or card (think maps, transportation or postage)!

365 Cards Day 67 ~ Super Sketchy Sunday

A quick and easy card to fit both challenges.

365 Cards Day 66 ~ That Tickles Me

What makes you smile?  Do you have a strange sense of humor? A silly one?

We're not necessarily looking for what you think others will find funny, but rather something that reflects your sense of humor. 

Really when you think about it, this challenge is all about YOU, so put your thinking cap on and figure out what tickles you, and put it on your card.

Day 65's colors got me on the brown mood.  So for this challenge, brown rules the day.

A dancing tree, a happy tree, a tree with googly eyes.

A big smile, waving branches, a tree doing the hula dance.

Have a happy day!!!

365 Cards Day 65 ~ Color Scheme

I can never get to make cards on weekends as time is spent with my guys.  That means at the start of each week, it is catching up time.  The colors for Day 65 are fantastic.  The only problem is when there is a mental block and creative juices aren't flowing.  So to beat that, I made this very simple card using ribbons on a "barkish" patterned paper.  Perhaps it is "Tie a Yellow (mustard) Ribbon round the old Oak Tree" time.

Tree barks in various shades of brown (and white) tell the age of time (like friendship).  They tell the test of growth and weathering.  Ribbons tie bows of friendship.  All on black because friendship stands out no matter what.

365 Cards Day 64 ~ Name Brand

Inspiration is everywhere, you just need to stop and look around.

And that's what this challenge asks you to do.  What are your favorite name brands?

Think of food, drink, clothing -- really anything.

Ordinarily, I am not a brand conscious person although I was in my younger days.  In my late 20s and 30s, it was all about fashion and cosmetics.  Estee Lauder, Chanel, Clinique, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Dior, Coach, Gap, Guess, and so on, and so forth.

But as Mother's Day approaches, what comes to mind is a brand that treasures Mothers and Women.  The brand is Crabtree & Evelyn, the elements from their Spring collection, the message "Mum, You're the Best" and "You deserve the Best".  May 10th is my 15th marriage anniversary and Mom's 12th year in passing on.