now that...

...was a FASSSSSSSSSSSST two weeks, wasn't it?! doesn't it seem like five minutes ago i was showing my card from scrapdragons' challenge #6? and now, already, it's time for challenge #7: you pick two!!! i will let you go to the scrapdragons' site for the details of this one, as it involves picking two (well, duh) elements out of a group of concepts, words & photos, and then using your choices in a layout...and yes, remember that scrapdragons' generally are layout challenges, if you want a shot at the prize!

so why do *i* make cards?! well, partly to just to keep my fellow jersey girls company, but partly because i love the way that just about ANY challenge...or magazine ad, or artbook, or website... can be used to inspire a card, or a layout, or baby announcements, or...well, whatever! it's "the fundamental interconnectedness of all graphic-design-type things" (as douglas adams so memorably never said) that impresses me! plus, in this case, you know, it's bound to be one of my friends' flamingoes' birthday quite soon, isn't it? ...so of course i'll be needing a card for that... :)

i chose, from the list of elements, the concept of "bling" (never far from my heart, as we know!) and the word "inspire"; this is what i came up with:

(anahata katkin clipart flamingo; creative imaginations paper; heidi swapp ghost flower & gems; making memories rub-ons; kay & co chipboard; hot off the press brads; epoxy stickers from the michaels' dollar spot; plus: acryllic paint, sharpie pens, feathers, foam tape)

talk about yer snappy titles!

i am currently hosting my second card-making challenge over at scrapdragon: it’s called the “nothing-like-the-last-minute procrastinator’s mass-producible halloween card challenge”! you have until the 30th to create two (or more) spooktacular holiday greetings which utilize the same basic materials. head on over there for complete details, but in the meantime here’s what i came up with:



the nieces have started postcard collections… (yeah, as a matter of fact i am responsible for that!) …tho i’ll be mailing these in envelopes, they're 4” x 6” in order to fit in the special postcard collecting books i made for the girls this summer. (in fact they are just inexpensive photo albums from Michaels’ that I personalized and decorated with rub-ons, but as far as the girls are concerned these are totally serious and official books for totally serious and official postcard collectors!) we started out by sending them a few “princess” postcards from disneyworld in may, and the girls--especially riley and lindsay--were just absolutely crazy about them, so now i try to send cards from anywhere we go. they’re sooooo adorable on this subject! each time i've visited since summer, they have both run to get their books and proudly show me all of the cards inside! after lindsay’s birthday party when i mentioned it was the first time i had not seen said books, lovely husband jeff revealed that *he* had been the lucky recipient of the postcard show on this occasion!


ps: we're still "on the road"...a real post about atlantic city is on the way...tomorrow or sunday!

i challenge you...to a (scrapbooking) duel!

well, not a duel, as such.

ok, not at duel at all, really. (sigh)

but there is a cool new layout challenge over at casa de scrapdragon! challenge #6: mix it up again started yesterday (deadline is midnight, 10-30) and it's a goodie! just use a bit of pink (in honor of breast cancer awareness month) and a bit of paint, pop the word "ART" into your title, link to the comments on their post, and you've got a shot at the prize! now, to be eligible for said reward, you do need to make a layout...but you know how i like to prove you can use ANY challenge as inspiration for ANY type of project...so of course i made a card, as usual; hey--it's what i do! :)

(paper: urban lily; letter stickers: reminisce; butterfly punchout: fancy pants; chipboard: basic grey; bling crown: mambi; ribbon: heidi swapp; rub-on letters: making memories)

btw, the sentiment for this card, "life is the art" is inspired by the very cool lucrecer braxton's very cool blog--check it out!

i *totally* crack me up!

...yes, i am a sad, sad woman...

...not to mention tardy! yepper, tardy and sad...that'd be me. admittedly, i have cut this deadline pretty close, even for me: the fourth challenge over at scrapdragons ends at midnight on sunday. but it's a sketch challenge.... (and you KNOW how i love me some o'those!) ... & the sketch is by erica hilldebrand of sketch it, no less... (those scrapdragons, they are hooked up!) ...so of course, i had to play!

now, to qualify for the big prize, you have to do a layout. being the resident "card diva" at said challenge site, i have no shot at the goodies anyway, and as you know, i am not so much with the layouts; i prefer the cards. plus, i am always up to prove that pretty much ANY sketch can be adapted to any size, shape or medium. so--surprise, surprise--i made a card!

the illustration is from a vintage goldenbook. the minute i saw it, a couple of months ago, the caption popped into my head. it still makes me chuckle everytime i see...or even think...of it. (yes indeedy--very sad; see above.)

(pattern paper: imaginesce; acryllic letters & punctuation: heidi swapp; border & frame stickers: ki & making memories ; question mark sticker: kelly panacci; brads: doodlebug; font: tangerine; other: colorbox ink; foam tape; cardstock)