Have Yourself a Merry Little Puppy!

Merry Christmas to all of our Friends & Followers who celebrate Christmas,  Happy Hanukkah to everyone who celebrates Hanukkah and a joyous winter season to EVERYONE and every pup!  (Woof!)
~Crafty Math Chick

Crazy for Cocoa

Welcome Friends & Followers!  Toady's card was created for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps' Crazy for Cocoa Blog Hop.  Cocoa is SNSS' signature little mouse and I think he is just adorable,you may recognize him from other cards I have made.  I decided to use this stocking image from SNSS' 'Cocoa's Christmas' set to make this card:

I just love the bright and non-traditional colors in Echo Park's Holly Jolly Collection - don't you?  And you know, it think this is the first time I have colored Cocoa in his namesake brown, I usually leave the little guy white!  (Holiday card count: 54)  Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you like my card and enjoy the other terrific Cocoa Creations on the hop - visit the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog for a complete list of all the stops along the way.  Have a happy Sunday!
~Crafty Math Chick

Sparkling Snowman

Hello friends & followrs!  Today's card was made using December's First Skipping Stones Design Sketch by Jen del Muro:

I decided to combine this challenge with my friend Lee's VSN challenge on SCS to glitter your entire image panel.  I stamped the cute snowman from SSD's 'Sassy Snow' set, colored it in, ran it through the Xyron upside down, peeled the back off, sprinkled clear glitter all over (if you are the kind of person who needs pictures to envision this, Kim has a terrific tutorial on this technique in today's post on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog).  Here is my card:

It might not show up in the photo, but the image panel is wicked sparkly!  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Pixie Dust Studio Challenge 104 - Glitter & Bling,
• Winter Wonderland - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow,
• The Pink Elephant 128 - Snowflakes & Sparkle,
• The Poodles Parlour - Thank You,
• Cupcake Craft Challenge 172 - Don't Look at the Light (make something sparkly), and
• PaperPlay Challenge 49 - Snowmen.

     Thanks for taking the time to stop by!  Have a wonderful evening!
~Crafty Math Chick

Red-y to Hop?

Welcome friends & followers to the first ever Lawnscaping Blog Hop Lawnscaping Blog Hop!  So glad you’re here!  You should have come to me by way of Vera Yates' blog.  This theme is all about RED!!!  The hop runs from Friday, December 9th - Sunday, December 11th! Make sure to comment on all of the blogs because there are LOTS of prizes to be won! All the details can be found on the Lawnscaping home page (http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com). The hop is being sponsored by some amazing companies. Lawn Fawn, Mold Muse and Whisker Graphics!

     For my card I decided to go with a Valentine's theme and a little play on words using Lawn Fawn's 'My Silly Valentine' set:

I used Verve's 'I Heart U' die and replaced with dot of the 'i' with Lawn Fawn's happy little apple, added some red ribbon loops and some bling, and TA DA!  Quick and easy cute little card.  I hope you like it. 

     Next head on to Brenda Urbanik's blog. I am sure she will have something lovely for you to see.  If you've gotten off track, don't worry! Head on back to the Lawnscaping Blog  to see the complete list of designers and prize information!  Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Crafty Math Chick

Cup of Cocoa?

Hello Friends & Followers!  Hope everyone is doing well among the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  Today I have a card I designed for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps' Inspiration Challenge 17 over at Splitcoaststampers.  The photo Taylor Usry chose for the challenge was warm & delicious indeed:

I went with a cocoa theme using SNSS' one and only Cocoa mousetucked inside this mug of cocoa with a candy cane sticking out:

It doesn't show in the photo, but I went over the snowflakes in the cup with a Quickie Glue pen and sprinkled iridescent glitter over it and BOY does it ever SPARKLE!  I added some Glossy Accents over the candy cane too to give it some gloss & shine.  I layers a bunch of snowflake punched shapes and topped them with a red button and some red & white twine that reminds me of peppermint which matched the glittery horizontal striped peppermint stick ribbon I purchased at Michaels that I wrapped around a piece of white cardstock that I punched with a scalloped border on both sides.  I also embossed the red background using my Snowflakes CB EF (I don't know what it is about red snowflakes that intrigue me so much... probably just that I like red and I like snowflakes) and matted my Copic colored Cocoa image on some red foil cardstock by American crafts - Voila!  Another card for the holiday stash, up to 53 now I believe.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• The Pink Elephant Challenge 128 (TPE128) - Snowflakes & Sparkle, 
• Crafty Hazelnut's Challenge 49 - Monochromatic Christmas,
• Paper Sudaes Challenge 98 - A toppings bar of t least two of red, stripes, die cuts & stitching (I went with red & stripes, though I don't know if punches count as die cuts too),
• Stamps R Us Challenge - Emboss It,
• Ribbon Carousel Challenge 32 (RCC32) - Peppermint Twist with ribbon (both my ribbon and twine here look like peppermint, don't you think?),
• ABC Challenge - E is for Embossing, and 
• Clearly Inspired Challenge 41 (CIC41) - Christmas.

     Thanks for stopping by to see my card!  I hope you have a wonderful evening.  Stay warm!
~Crafty Math Chick

Sweet 'n Sassiness

Hello Friends & Followers!  I have been having some fun with my Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps I was able to pick up during their 4th Birthday sale (Cocoa images are on sale now at SNSS too if you are interested).  The first was for this week's Sweet 'n Sassy Inspiration Challenge 16 over at Splitcoaststampers which incorporated this week's Sweet Stop Sketch 137 and SNSS' Woof You! stamp set as well:

You guys know how much I love da doggies!  I colored this little guy with my Copic markers and used some patterned papers from DCWV's Pet Stack (thanks Barbie!) and some self-adhesive ribbon and VOILA!  Since some of the paper has polka dots on it this card also meets the requirements of Challenge 47 by Charisma Cardz - 'Seeing Spots'.  Now I wish I had added some spots to the doggie as well...
     My second card was for a past SNSS Inspiration Challenge whose deadline I missed, but the colors in the inspiration photo were so bright and happy I just had to play along with SNSS' Cocoa Kinda of Birthday using this week's sketch by PaperTake Weekly:

You can never have enough birthday cards in your stash, right?  Since I could not find any striped DP in the colors I wanted I created some using strips of scraps that I adhered diagonally to Only Orange cardstock(every day is Earth day!).  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following challenges:

• Party Time Tuesdays Challenge 44 - Anything Goes, and
• Do You Stack Up Challenge 48 - use Ribbon or Anything that Ties.

     For my last card I started making this for SNSS' VSN night, but didn't get to photograph and upload it in time, but I thought it was cute and wanted to post it here to give it a little love and for everyone to see.  It is a simply one layer Christmas card using Santa's Little Helper Cocoa:

(Holiday card count: 52, eek!)  I didn't have quite the right ribbon so I layers some thin red satin ribbon in the middle of this pretty white satin sheer ribbon I picked up from the Offray Ribbon outlet the last time I was there. This sweet little Cocoa mouse card fulfills the following challenges:

• Christmas Card Challenge Week 1 - A One Layered Christmas card, and 
• Forever Friends Monthly Challenge - Christmas with an Animal Image

     Thank you so much for stopping by my blog to see my creations!  I will have more for you soon!  Have a great day!  :)
~Crafty Math Chick

Finally Stamping Again!

Hello friends & followers!  Sorry for the brief hiatus there, I got caught up with the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving and after-Thanksgiving sales a bit.  But I am back and was eager to stamp again.  I am embarrassed that I missed two weeks of sketch challenges by Skipping Stones Designs and wanted to make sure I rectified that today by participating in this week's SSD105 sketch challenge:  Here is the sketch we were given this week:

And here is the first of two cards I created for this challenge, it is similar to one I made with a different sketch several weeks ago (when I see ovals these days I think 'olives' - especially with Valentine's Day not that far off):

(you all get that the big thing in the center is an olive right?).  The sentiments are from SSD's Chic Martini set and the paper is from the 'Birthday Extravaganza' stack by the Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby).  Then I decided to make a second card using SSD's Heartsong set and some soft & feminine papers from Echo Park's Victoria Gardens stack:

I added some soft pink bling to the butterfly body and curled it's wings up just a bit for dimension.  I created a flight trail to mirror the stem of the flower in the sketch using a paper piercer and then went over the holes with a black fine tipped pen so make then stand out more.  
     Alrightie, that is all I have for you this evening.  I hope to be doing a lot more stamping later this week so I hope you will visit again soon.  Take care!
~Crafty Math Chick

Happy Thanksgiving One and All!

...from our family to yours!
Warmest Regards,
     Crafty Math Chick

Poppin' By to Say Hi

Hello friends & followers!  Are you starting to get caught up in the chaos of the holiday season yet?  With shopping for all of your Thanksgiving ingredients, casing out the best Black Friday sales and starting your holiday shopping?  Takes away from crafting a little bit doesn't it?  Today I have a card that was inspired by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps' Inspiration Challenge 14 based on this photo:

and SNSS' The Sweet Stop Sketch 135.  The Circus theme made me think of elephants, which I adore, but since I don't have any SNSS elephant stamps the next circusy thing that came to mind was POPCORN!  And I just happened to have a digi image of cute little Cocoa mouse peering around a box of popcorn so I used that in combination with some striped DP from Echo Park to create this card:

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution).  I just love coloring little Cocoa with my Copic markers.  I figured 'Poppin' By to Say Hi!' of something of that nature would be a good sentiment for the inside, don't you agree?  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges as well:

• Shopping Our Stash Challenge - Never Been Inked or Neutral Color Challenge (I went with 'never been inked' as this is the first time I used this digi image),
• Pile It On Challenge 47 - Anything with a 'P' (Popcorn!!),
• Forever Friends Challenge - Something Old, Something New (the image is new, the cardstock and twine I have had for over a year, I hope that is old enough), and
• One Stitch at a Time Challenge - Anything Goes.

Thank you all for stopping by my blog and viewing my creations.  If I do not have the opportunity to post again before Thursday (though I hope I will) I wish you all a very happy, healthy Thanksgiving and lucky shopping on Black Friday!!  :)
~Crafty Math Chick

Waltzing With the Stars

Good afternoon Friends, Followers and Waltzers!  Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  This month's Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz theme is Christmas - my favorite kind of cards to make (well, maybe tied with dog themed cards, LOL).  I decided to finally ink up my Seasons of Love Tags set by WMS and create this CAS number for your viewing pleasure:

I embossed that pretty star shape with silver EP and cut it out (it is designed to fit the Stars Nestabilities set, but I don't have it yet), added a silver eyelet using my Crop-o-dile and some silver cord, which was a little tricky to fit through the opening.  I popped the star tag up with dimensionals onto some red foil paper by American Crafts which I punched at the bottom with Martha Stewart's stars border punch which I matted with shimmery silver cardstock and voila - that is pretty much it.  Relatively easy right?  This makes my holiday card count for the year 50 on the nose.  Still behind where I hope to be this time of year, but not too bad right?  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following challenges:

• The Pink Elephant Challenge 125 - Embossing,
• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 138  - Punch it, and
• Shopping Our Stash  - Never Been Inked (I know, it is so embarrasing that I did not ink up this pretty set sooner!)

     Thanks so much for stopping by to see my creations.  I hope you enjoy your journey along the WMS Blog Waltz.  I am always impressed with the pretty things the other waltzers create with Claire's lovely images.  Have a great day!
~Crafty Math Chick

Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Blog Hop

Hello Friends, Followers and Blog Hoppers!  Welcome!  If you arrived here from Kary Lim's blog you are on the right track.  This month's theme was 'Thankful'.  While I do have an Autumn/Thanksgiving set from Taylored Expressions I could not use it for today's hop as we are only supposed to be showcasing the 'Blast from the Past'.  So, I got a little creative and used the It's A Banner Day 1 set and die along with the cute cows from TE's Green Acres set to create this thank you card 'from the whole herd' using this week's TESC150 sketch:

I used some denim and handkerchief patterned paper for a farmy feel abd a Martha Stewart punch to create the grass.  In addition to the TESC150 sketch Challenge, this card fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Fussy N Fancy  - Be Thankful,
• Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays - Thank you,
• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 138 - Punch It (I used a circle punch, and two different edger punches for the grass and scalloped lace and a It's a Banner Day 1 die as well),
• Creative Card Crew - Thankful,
• Shopping Our Stash - Never Been Inked Challenge (This is the first time I used both Green Acres and It's a Banner Day 1 sets),
• Party Time Tuesdays Challenge 42 - Thank you,
• The Paper Variety - Thanks,
• Inky Impressions Challenge 33 (IIC33) - Give Thanks,
• Stamps R Us Challenge - Crafty Sentiments Bling It On,
• Forever Friends Month's Challenge for November - Something Old, Something New (the patterned papers & rhinestones are old and the stamp sets and die are new), and
• The ABC Challenge - D is for Dazzle (I added several rhinestones to bling up the card).

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you like my card.  Jen Shults' blog is next, I am sure she will have something spectacular for you!  Just click on her name below.





~Crafty Math Chick

The Last of my HYCCT Cards

Hello friends and followers!  It took me so long to upload all my HYCCT cards to SCS that I didn't have time to post them here for you last night, so I am doing so now.  I have five for your viewing pleasure today.  The first was for a challenge to make a card inspired by 'your happy place' - well, to me, that is when I am cuddling the sweetest little dog on Earth so I made a dog card using this adorable 'I Woof You' digi from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps along with the sketch from their release party and some patterned paper from DCWV's Pet stack to create this card:

I really like how my copic coloring came out on this little guy.  I had no idea what to do with this little quarter circle tucked behind the intersection of the two strips so I came up with the idea of having the cute little doggie peek out from behind them.  My husband adores this card.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Digital Tuesday Challenge 135 (DTC135) - Cute & Cuddly with a digi image,
• The Poodles Parlour Challenge - Let's Hear It for the Boys (to make a masculine card),
• Stamps R Us Challenge - Masculine Theme, and 
• Charisma Cardz Challenge 44 - Cutesty.

     My next card was made for the HYCCT challenge to use paper like it was ribbon.   This was the most difficult challenge for me.  I saw in the SCS gallery that a lot of folks were punching tissue paper with a border punch to resemble lace so that is what I did with some hot pink tissue paper.  It kept jamming my punch and I can't say I will be doing this again anytime in the near future, LOL, but here is my card using the cute There She Goes Clear Stamps' 'Freeze the Moment' set and The Deconstructed Sketch 26:

In addition, this card also fulls the requirements of The Play Date Cafe's Color Challenge 106, to use pink, yellow and grey based on this inspirational picture:

   My third card was for the HYCCT challenge that required us to disguise our stamping style.  I like to think my stamping style is varied and I don't really have one set style, but I rarely do any fancy folded cards so I figured I would go with that and make a center step card using Gina K. Designs' Snow Much Fun set:

This card was surprisingly easy - though it turned out requiring a large square envelope, and I rarely make card that don't fit into the standard A2 envelopes either so - double disguise.  It doesn't show up well int he photo, but the bottom is all pre-glittered paper I used to create snow mounds for this little guy.
     The fourth card was made for HYCCT's challenge to 'send a little sunshine' with a card of encouragement, so I made this one using Gina K. Designs' You Are Not Alone set:

The floral images in this set are really perfect for the thumping technique with markers.  I embossed the background using CB's Birds & Swirls embossing folder and some yummy ribbon from the Offray outlet.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the Stamp-n-Doodle's Emboss it Challenge.  
     That brings us to the last card of the five I have for you this morning, made for the HYCCT challenge to make a card with lots of girlie embellishments.  This was also a challenge for me - I would rather make a masculine card than make one with lots of foofy embellishments any day - but I stretched myself for the challenge and came up with this one using My Favorite Things' Flopsey Flowers and MFT's Gettin' Sketchy Week 44 sketch (I substituted Flopsey in for the oval), some papers from the DCWV's Flower stack, lace, velvet ribbon and prima flowers with rhinestone centers:

'Girlie' enough for you?  LOL!  This card also fulfills the requirements of the Forever Friends Bling-Bling Challenge - to use rhinestones with a cute & cuddly animal image, and I for one certainly think Flopsey is cute & cuddly.  That's it - all 33 HYCCT challenges complete!  Now to mail all of these to their new home at the UT MD Andersen Cancer Center where I hope they will spread some joy...
   Well, that is all I have for you this morning, I hope to do some stamping later today but am not sure if I will have much time after straightening up my craft room, I have a few scraps to organize and put away.  Thanks so much for stopping by and seeing my creations!  I hope you have a wonderful week!
~Crafty Math Chick

Still More HYCCT Cards

Hello friends & followers!  I have been busy in my craft room all day stamping away trying to complete the remaining Hope You Can Cling To (HYCCT) challenges over at Splitcoaststampers (SCS).  I have five more for your viewing pleasure today.  
     The first card is for Judy's HYCCT challenge to create a card with yummy edibles and a splash of pink.  I decided to use Peachy Keen Stamps Sketch 64 and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps' So Sweet Cocoa set paired up with some patterned paper from DCWV's Sweet mat stack to create this card:

This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Inspiration Challenge 12 - the sprinkles on the cupcake in the picture made me instantly think of this image of Cocoa mouse peeking out the middle of the donut,
• Paper Cupcake's magical Monday Challenge - Trick-or-Treat or Something Sweet (I obviously went with 'something sweet'),
• Forever Friends Bling Bling Challenge - to use rhinestones with a cute & cuddley animal,
• The Ribbon Carousel Challenge 27 - Anything Goes with Ribbon or Twine, and 
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes plus a Bit of Bling.

     My next card was for Jami's HYCCT challenge to make a holiday card where pink is the predominant color.  I used Sketch TESC149 by Taylored Expressions and their adorable new Woodland Winter set which was a birthday present from my 'deer' friend Barbie (THANKS BARBIE!!) and came up with this card:

The sweet little woodland critters are colored with Copic markers and I tied a bit of green & pink twine at the top in a bow for a little fun.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - to choose a favorite sketch and make a holiday card using it,
• Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge 35 - make a Christmas card and use ribbon, and
• The Ribbon Carousel Challenge 27 - Anything Goes with Ribbon or Twine.  

     My third card was made for Beate's challenge to make a circle card.  I used a cute digi image called 'Cocoa with a Cause' from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, some nestabilities die cuts and some punched hearts from my heart trio punch from Stampin' Up! to create this card:

I decided to leave Cocoa white here.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Allsorts Challenge Week 128 - to make a card that is 'anything but a square', 
• Digital Tuesday Challenge 135 - Cute & Cuddly with a digi image,
• Charisma Cardz Week 44 Challenge - Cutesy, and
• Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Release Party Challenge #3 - to make a card using at least 2 die cuts or punches.

     My fourth card was made for Cathleen's 'Thank a Caregiving' HYCCT challenge using the clean and simple version of The Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge 128 (MMSC128), Doctor Hanna by Hanna Stamps and some yum-MAY S.E.I. paper from their Charlamagne collection with glossy raised embossing on it:

This card also fulfills the requirements of two additional challenges:

• Do You Stack Up Challenge 44 (DYSU44) - To Use Teal in your card, and 
• One Stop Craft Challenge - To Use 3 of something in honor of their 3rd Birthday.

     My last card was made for Lisa Lara's HYCCT challenge to make a CAS card with a splash of pink.  I figured Skipping Stones Design's Birthday Purses would fit the bill perfectly:

Just five more challenges to complete and I will have finished all 33 HYCCT challenges!  Wish me luck!  Have a great weekend!  And thanks for stopping by!!  :)
~Crafty Math Chick

Viva la HYCCT (and Verve!)

Hello friends & followers!  I have three more cards for your viewing pleasure as I slowly but surely catch up on my HYCCT challenges.  The first was for HYCCT1116 - to make a card using a pink ribbon.  I borrowed Verve's Viva la Verve sketch for Week 4 of October to create this card:

There is no actual stamping on this card - the BIG 'i' & 'u' are die cuts from Verve called 'I Heart U'.  The heart is from a heart trio punch by Stampin' Up!  The patterned papers are all from retired SU hostess stacks.    This card also fulfills the requirements of Wags n Whiskers Challenge 66 since I used ribbons & the color black.  
   My second card was for HYCCT1113 - to make a card with a butterfly on it.  I used Verve's Viva la Verve Week 1 October sketch and their Blue Skies set to create this card:

I added pearl accents to the butterfly's body and the tips of its antenae.  This card also fulfills the following additional challenges:

• Wags n Whiskers Challenge 66 - To use the color black plus ribbons or pearls (I used both in this one), 
• Our Craft Lounge Challenge 89 - Going Pink, and
• Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Challenge - Monochromatic.

     My last card was for HYCCT1125 to make a birthday card, which I did using Verve's 'Big Wish' set and Viva la Verve's October Week 5 sketch:

The papers are from Basic Grey's Indian Summer collection (I think they work great for autumn too!) and I colored in the cake with markers and adds rows of pink rhinestones around the top & bottom edges of the cake for a little sparkle.  This card also fulfills the requirements of Basic Grey Challenge 56 - Anything Goes with a Basic Grey Product, and Dolce Stamps & Cards Challenge to make a square card with at least one die cut.
     Well, that is all I have for you so far, but I have a lot of stamping in my future as I still have several HYCCT challenges upon which to catch up, so please keep checking back!  Have a great day!!  :D
~Crafty Math Chick

Still Working on HYCCT Cards

Hello friends & followers, I hope you are all doing well.  I have two more cards to show you, both were created for Hope You Can Cling To (HYCCT) challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.com (SCS).  The first uses Teresa Kline's 'Viva la Verve!" Week 2 sketch - I thought it was a really challenging sketch that perplexed me for weeks so I am proud of myself for finally seeing a way to utilize it - along with Eva's HYCCT1129 Challenge over at SCS, to make a card that focuses on words of encouragement; I knew There She Goes Clear Stamps' Angel Mail set would be perfect for this challenge:

I used some heart shaped Marvy Uchida punches and some patterned papers from retired Stampin' Up! hostess stacks and cut the wing images out by hand.  I added a piece of twine purchased from Home Depot and tied a knot in the end to match the 'tie a knot and hang on' sentiment - and now it fulfills the requirements of Challenge TSG128 - Au Naturale - to use twine, burlap, hemp, etc. on your card, and Dolce Stamps & Cards Challenge - make a square card with one or more die cuts.  


My second card was designed using Skipping Stones Design's Sketch 100 and their Bra's Volume 1 set to create this card for Tammy's Bosom Buddies HYCCT Challenge - to make a card that incorporates pink, ribbon and a friendship theme.  

This card also fulfills the following additional challenges:

• Stamp Scrap and Doodle - Monochromatic, and 
• Our Craft Lounge 89 (OCL89) - Going pink.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my creations - I am way behind on my HYCCT challenges so plan on seeing a LOT more cards from me in the next few days.  Thanks again!  :)
~Crafty Math Chick

We Have a Winner!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:6Powered by RANDOM.ORG

(I do not know why it says '100' here - my search parameters were 1 through 7... strange...)
TA DA - Makalah - it's you!!  Please PM me your mailing address at SCS (my username there is the same - Crafty Math Chick) so I can get your goodies in the mail to you.  If I don't hear from you in a few days I will draw another name.  Thank you all so much for being my loyal stamping friends & followers!  Off to create... I have some HYCCT challenges to catch up on!

~Crafty Math Chick

The Birds & The Bees

Hello friends & followers!  I hope you are enjoying your weekend.  Today I have three cards for your viewing pleasure, all for Hope You Can Cling To (HYCCT) Challenges over at SCS.  The first was created for Lydia's Pink Critters HYCCT Challenge using The Craft's Meow's October Sketch and CTM's adorable Owl Be Thinking of you set:

The branch takes the place of the ribbon in the sketch and I stamped the 'Save the Hooters' sentiment in the sign image included in the set to take the place of the tag in the sketch.  The letters from PTI's Simple Alphabet fit perfectly in the little sign.  Since it is snowing here I tore a piece of pre-glittered white cardstock to serve as the ground, though the true sparkliness does not come through in the photo.  In addition, this card satisfied the following challenges:

• Our Craft Lounge 89 (OCL89) - Going Pink,
• Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge 141 - Use a tree or leaf element in your card, and 
• The Kraft Journal Make-It_Monday Challenge - Anything Goes with Kraft Cardstock.

My next card was made for the HYCCT Save the Boo-Bees Challenge using this week's CAS-ual Friday Sketch 26 (CFC26) and There She Goes Clear Stamps' Bee Happy mini set:

I substituted the popped up bee in for the circle in the sketch and the dotted 'bee flight trail' for the ribbon element in the middle.  I added petite black rhinestones at the ends of the antenae though I don't bee-lieve they show up well in this photo.  The honeycomb paper is from Echo Park's Walk in the Park collection.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following two additional challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - One Color (I obviously went with yellow), and
• Pile It On Challenge 43 - Bee Happy.

I had bees on the brain by this point so I decided to use the fancy version of Priscilla Styles' Midnight Madness Sketch 127 (MMSC127) with some bees from Kim Hughes' The Birds & The Bees set from Cornish Heritage Farms for the HYCCT 'Paint Your Heart Out' Challenge - to use paint on a card.  

I used the crayon resist technique (see the white 'highlighting' on the sides of the hives?  that's crayon!) for the background sponged with summer sun, pumpkin pie and close to cocoa ink on glossy cardstock, and stamped the bees separately, cut them out and popped them up with dimensionals.  I painted the bees' wings with Angel Wings Shimmerz paint to give them a glistening, gossamer effect (which doesn't really show up in the photo unfortunately).  This card also fulfills the following additional challenges:

• Shopping Our Stash Challenge 25 - Fall Color (or Halloween, but I went with fall colors obviously),
• Charisma Cardz Challenge 43 - Anything Goes, and 
• Pile It On Challenge 43 - Bee Happy.

Alrightie, that is all I have for you right now.  I hope to stamp the day away tomorrow too and will have more to show you then.  Don't forget to check out my blog candy in my 100th Blog Post: HERE!  Happy Saturday Night!
~Crafty Math Chick

Berry Thankful

(If you are looking for my Blog Candy post - HERE is the link to it)

Hello friends & followers!  I hope you are all doing well.  Today's card was created for Cathy Tidwell's Free-for-All Friday Challenge at Stamp TV to CASE DT member Donna Baker by taking a card from their gallery and changing at least two things on it.  Here is Donna's original card that I decided to CASE, and here is my card based on it:

I used the same image from The Enjoy The Sunshine Stamp TV kit, the same papers and the same embossing folder (Swiss Dots) and layout, and changed (1) the mat Nestabilities shape is a small scalloped rectangle rather than the bigger scalloped rectangle die, and (2) I substituted black brads for the silver ones Donna used.  Other than that, it is a pretty close CASE.  I had fun coloring these ripe strawberries with my Copic markers.  In addition to the Stamp TV challenge, this card also fulfills the following challenges:

• HYCCT1119 - Give 'Em a Squeeze - to use dry embossing on a card,
• Karen's Doodles Challenge 86 - Emboss it,
• Sundays with Crissy Challenge 21 - Make a Thank you or a Thanksgiving card (I went with thank you in this one), 
• One Stop Craft Challenge 154 - No Designer Paper, and
• Charisma Cardz Challenge 43 - Anything Goes.  

I am hoping to get crafty a bit more this evening, we will see whether that comes to fruition or not.  Either way, thanks for taking the time to stop by and view my creations.  Have a great night!
~Crafty Math Chick

My 100th Blog Post!!

Hel-LO Friends & Followers!  I have a mini milestone celebration today - this is my 100th blog post!  And YOU are here for it!  YAAY!  (blowing a teenie tiny noise maker horn, LOL)  If you had told me a year ago I would be blogging I would have told you that you were crazy... apparently not because here I am!  And I really want you all to know how much your visiting and your comments have meant to me - it really has just given me a warm fuzzy watching the number of my followers grow and the kind, supportive, and sometimes flattering things you all write to me make me smile.  So, as part of my mini celebration and to say thank you to all of you I thought it would be fun to give a little blog candy away.  On that note, a little ribbon anyone....?

I have not measured it all, but there is quite a bit here.  Mostly grosgrains and satins of different widths, but a few sheers are in the mix as well.  I think they are all solids rather than patterns.  All you have to do is be one of my followers (if you are not already, easy enough to sign up by clicking the Blogger link on the left), and leave a comment and - TA DA! - you are entered.  Let's see... I'll leave this open through... Halloween and I'll pick a random winner on Tuesday, November 1st and announce it here on my blog.  Commenting will remain open until I pick & post a winner (please, only one post per person).  Alrightie!  Have a great day and thanks again for visiting!!  I appreciate you!!  :)
~Crafty Math Chick

More Hope You Can Cling To Cards

Hello friends and followers!  Today I have three cards for your viewing pleasure, all for the Hope You Can Cling To (HYCCT) card drive for the patients at the UT MD Andersen Cancer Center and their families to use during their stay.  The first is based on Skipping Stones Design Sketch 98 using their Chic Martini set:

(You can tell that the big olive circle and the small olive circle are supposed to create a great big olive, eight?).  I found this cool DP from the Paper Studio's Birthday Extravaganza Mat stack from Hobby Lobby and thought all those different sized circles went well with the two forming the olive, and added some Offray ribbons to hold the sentiment highlighted with a few petite rhinestones.  This card also fulfills the following additional challenges:
HYCCT1121 - Big or Small Save 'Em All (use two sizes of any geometric shape, I obviously chose circles), and
Wee Memories Challenge 73 - Free for All (anything goes).
My next card was created using a Stamp TV Release Party sketch by Theresa Momber and Holly's HYCCT Challenge to make a supportive card featuring the color purple.  Here is what I came up with using Gina K. Designs' Many Wishes set and a Kaleidoscope spectrum ink pad:

(This picture really does not do this justice - there are lots of rich purple and lilac hues in this card, for some reason the photo washes them out, it is much more vibrant in real life).  The flowers are velvet from an old Stampin' Up! kit with black brad in the center.  This card also fulfills the following additional challenges:

• Paperworks Friday Recipe #20 - You Float My Boat - Use an image that floats (the dandelion seeds here are floating through the air), ribbon (check) and brads or eyelets (I have just the one in the center of the velvet flowers),and
• One Stop Craft Challenge Week 154 - No Designer Paper.

My last card was created for another Stamp TV Release Party Challenge to use Pink in a card with Gina K. Design stamps and I decided to combine it with the HYCCT Challenge to create a collage card to create this card:

Personally, I am not a fan of collage style cards, it just is not my taste, but since beauty is in the eye of the beholder I am hoping that one of the patients at the hospital or a family member will like this card and it will make them smile.  I used a lot of different GKD stamp sets to create this card: Little Tees, Many Wishes, Timeless Textures, and You Are Not Alone and various shades of pink and tan ink.  In addition this card fulfills the following additional challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - One Color (! obviously went with pink), 
• Creative Inspirations Challenge 134 - Monochromatic, and
• One Stop Craft Challenge Week 154 - No Designer Paper.

Thank so much for stopping by.  You know... my next blog post will be my 100th... might just have to have a little bit of blog candy to celebrate...  ;)
~Crafty Math Chick