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

Late Night HYCCT Card

Hello friends & followers!  I hope you all have had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend!  Tonight I have a card I created for SCS's Looking in on You HYCCT Challenge to make a window card and Lee's Mix It Up Monday Challenge over at Stamp TV to make a card with at least one snowflake on it.  Here is what I came up with:

(Note: Holiday card count: 47)  Since this was Lee's challenge I had to use a lot of sparkly bling because Lee loves bling.  The red cardstock is embossed with the CB's Snowflakes embossing folder, but I am not sure it shows up much.  I kept it sentimentless on the inside so the recipient can write whatever they wish.  This card also fulfills the following additional challenges as well:

• Charisma Cardz 42 - Embossing,
• Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Spark-al-lay,
• One Stop Craft Challenge 154 - No designer paper, and 
• Creative Inspirations Challenge 134 - Monochromatic.

Thank you all for stopping by, I hope to have  LOT of cards for you to see this week as I get caught up on my HYCCT challenges!  Have a great week!
~Crafty Math Chick

Taylored Expressions Blog Hop

Hello friends, followers and hoppers!  Welcome to your next stop on Taylored Expressions' October Blog Hop!  If you arrived here from Rebecca's blog you are in the correct spot, if not, please visit Taylor's Blog, the first stop on the hop (she has the complete list).  Our theme today: Trick or Sweet!  I decided to make some cute little Pixie Stix holders to go in some Boo! boxes for our neighbors (I was inspired when Jami Sibley did this a few years ago in this post.) using Taylored Expressions' Frightful Night set and some papers from a past TE Key Ingredients kit:

I just love the silhouette of that black cat!  These are really easy and so much fun to make - don't they make those sugary Pixie Stix look extra festive?


In addition to the theme of the TE Blog Hop, these goodies also fulfill the requirements of the following additional challenges as well:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - Some Stripes,
• The Poodles Parlour - Happy Halloween,
• Repeat Impressions' Designer's Choice Challenge 1012  - Fall or Halloween,
• ABC Card Challenge - B is for Boo!,
• The Pixie Cottage Challenge 92 - Sweet as Candy (you can't get much sweeter than the pure sugar of Pixie Stix right?)
• Inky Impressions Challenge 29 - Trick or Treat, Halloween, Spooky,
• Creative Card Crew - Spooky Fun,
• Color Throwdown 164 - Purple, orange, green & black, 
• One Stop Craft Challenge Week 153 - Halloween,
• Paper Sundaes Challenge 91 - Halloween or Fall, and
• Paper Creations Ink - Halloween Theme.

Here are the entries from the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past blog hop! Click here for details on how you can join us next month! There's a free stamp set up for grabs for one lucky participant!

1.	Taylor VanBruggen	19.	Laura Jean Nygaard
2.	Sankari Wegman	20.	Lisa Petrella
3.	Pattie Goldman	21.	Margie Cortina
4.	Jen Carvajal	22.	Michelle Single
5.	Tracy Clemente	23.	Jodi Collins
6.	Jules Romano	24.	Kelly Collins
7.	Cindy O'Donnell	25.	Wendy McGaffey
8.	Jen Shults	26.	Karen Giron
9.	Rebecca Ednie	27.	Kary Lim
10.	Crafty Math Chick	28.	Tangii Crain
11.	Chris Loritsch	29.	Lea Lawson
12.	Mary Collins	30.	Cindy Coutts
13.	Bonnie Ratzloff	31.	Kristie Wilson
14.	Natalie Houston	32.	Lesa Smaligo
15.	Cassie Trask	33.	Jacquie Peifer
16.	Joan Ervin	34.	Carole Chesser
17.	Melody Rupple	35.	Jess Willison
18.	Peggy McCurry	36.	Angela Bear

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

The next stop on the hop is Chris' Blog, I am sure she has something lovely for you to see.  Thanks for hopping by!
~Crafty Math Chick

Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz

Hello friends, followers and waltzers!  I am so sorry my post for the 'thankful/Thanksgiving' waltz was not available for you bright and early the morning of the 17th - without further delay, here is my card:

That beautifully illustrated image is from Waltzingmouse Stamps' 'Peace & Plenty' set - some really gorgeous fruits in that set!  The paper id from DCWV's happy Harvest mat stack.  I added some pre-glittered foamy leaves that seemed to match the colors in the patterned paper well, along with its pre-glittered sparkle, and tied the ends of a thick Offray evergreen ribbon with linen thread and orange buttons (not exactly the final result I had in my mind, but relatively close).  In addition to the blog Waltz, this card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Paper Sundaes Challenge 91 - Fall or Halloween,
• Wags n Whiskers Challenge - Fall Colors, 
• Sundays With Chrissy Challenge 22 - Thankful or Thanksgiving,
• Repeat Impressions Designer Choice Challenge 1012 - Halloween/Fall, 
• For Fun Challenge - Pumpkins (not Jack-o-lanterns),
• Color Me Creative Copic Challenge Group - Autumn Inspiration,
• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 134 - You Choose (i.e. anything goes), and
• Pile It On Challenge 42 - Fall is for Fun.

Thank you for waltzing by to see my card.  I do apologize it was not posted sooner.  I hope you liked it anyway and have a wonderful afternoon and evening.
~Crafty Math Chick

Distressing HYCCT

Good evening again friends & followers!  I have two more creations for your viewing pleasure this evening - both are distressed creations for the Hope You Can Cling To card drive over at Splitcoaststampers.  We do not get the newspaper regularly, so I tend to go through those freebies thrown in our driveway each week and cut out the sections that have text (vs. ads) and every now and then when I am in the mood I distress them up (since my hands get very messy when I do this I try to do them in batches, then when I need one - TA DA!  Nice and handy...).  The first card uses Week 3 Viva la Verve!'s sketch, designed by Maureen, and Verve's Sip & Savor and Better with You sets:

This card was completed for HYCCT1115 - P.I.N.K. - where you had to use an element that began with each of the letters in the word 'pink' - I used the color pink, ink, newspaper, and kraft cardstock (since the hostess Patricia spelled it this way I say it is fair game!).  I used to the crimper on the section of kraft down the center to resemble one of those coffee cup cozies you see in the fancy coffee stores.  In addition, this card also fulfills the requirements of the following challenges as well:

• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 133 - So Distressing,
• Karen's Doodles Challenge - Distress It, and 
• Truly Scrumptious Challenge 67 - Distressing.

My second card was designed for Dina's Challenge over at SCS: HYCCT1103 - Real Men Wear Pink where you are supposed to take a masculine card and add pink to it.  I used My Cuppa Joe by Gina K. Designs to create this card:

In addition, this card also fulfills the requirements of the following challenges as well:

• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 133 - So Distressing, and
• Truly Scrumptious Challenge 67 - Distressing.

Well, that is all I have for you this evening, I hope you will come back tomorrow!  Have a good night!
~Crafty Math Chick

More Hope You Can Cling To Cards

Good evening friends & followers!  I hope your weekend is off to a good start!  I plan on crafting well into the evening hours so I figured I would take a break and post what I have so far.  Two more cards for the Hope You Can Cling To card drive.  The first I made for HYCCT1104 - H.O.P.E., which stands for 'having only paper embellishments' using my favorite color combination: sky blue and chocolate brown (A requirement for this week's Paper Sundaes Challenge 90) and a sketch from Deconstructing Sketches.

I just love coloring this little girl from Gina K. Designs' 'Warm & Cozy Christmas' with my Copic markers.  The patterned paper is from American Crafts' 'Merrymint' collection (which I really love!) and since we could not use any embellishments that were not made of paper, I punched two snowflakes from a Martha Stewart snowflake punch and two 1/4" circles for their centers since I could not use bling or buttons.  In addition to these challenges, this card also fulfills the requirements of this week's Papertake Weekly Challenge - Get in Shape! - to incorporate at lease 3 shapes into a card, mine include circles, ovals or ellipses, rectangles and snowflakes.  


My second card was for HYCCT1112 - Brave Heart to make a card with at least one heart on it.  I decided to use the Repeat Impressions' What If Wednesday Sketch 0511 to make this card:

When I was making it I had Stamp TV's Free-for-All Friday challenge to make an anniversary card in mind, but it seems that challenge has been changed, but that is the reason for the masculine feel to this card - I thought it would be a good masculine anniversary card for a man to give his wife for their anniversary.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Papertake Weekly Challenge - Get In Shape - to incorporate at least three different shapes into your card - I used ovals or ellipses, hearts, rectangle (card base) and circles (the buttons), and 
• Sweet Stampin' Challenge  - to make a masculine card.

Thanks for stopping by!  I will have more for your viewing pleasure tomorrow.  Cheers!
~Crafty Math Chick

Christmas in October

Hello again friends & followers!  I had a fun and crafty day, and have three more cards for your viewing pleasure, all with a Christmas/winter theme.  The first I created using this week's Sweet Stop Sketch SSS129 from Sweet n Sassy Stamps using their Christmas Joy stamp set and some yummy papered from Echo Park's Season's Greetings collection (both new items):

I had so much fun coloring this BEAUTIFULLY illustrated cardinal with Copic markers.  I added some platinum Stickles (LOVE this color!0 to the edges of the paper poinsettia's and, although it does not show up well in the photo, I went over the pine cone with a Copic Spice pen to give it a subtle sparkle as well.  In addition to SNSS's sketch challenge, this card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:
Wild Rose Studio Festive Frolic Blog Hop - Make a Christmas card,
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Unused Stash (the stamp set and the paper pack were brand new, gifts from hubby - Thank You Sweetie!!),
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Things with Wings,
Ribbon Carousel Challenge 24 - Make a card with sparkle & ribbon or twine.
My second card was created with two challenges in mind: (1) Stamp TV's Free-for-Friday Challenge by Suzanne Dean to use red & kraft cardstock, and (2) Bridget's 'Things are Looking Up' HYCCT09 challenge on Splitcoaststampers - you are supposed to incorporate something you can see when 'looking up'; I used snowflakes, which can be seen falling from the sky on a snowy day.  :)  Here is my card:

I went with a CAS approach and stamped the snowflakes from Gina K. Designs' 'Warm & Wonderful' set in white and sponged the edges in white as well, inspired by the way snow collects on the edges of your windows when it is falling.  The sweater and hat are embossed with white EP onto Real REd cardstock and I added a pom pom to the hat for additional dimension.  In addition to these two challenges, this card also fulfills the requirements of Creative Inspirations Challenge 133 - to make a one layer card.
I stuck to the CAS style with my last card as well, based on Skipping Stones Design Sketch Challenge SSD97 and Wanda's Hope You Can Cling To Challenge HYCCT1108 - Hang in There! - to incorporate something that 'hangs' into your card - I selected an ornament, which hangs from the bough on your Christmas tree:

The ornament & sentiment are from SSD's 'Christmas Swirls' set and the ribbons are both from a recent score at the Offray Ribbon Outlet in Hagerstown, MD (if you live within driving distance, totally worth checking out!).  In addition, this card fulfills the requirements of the following challenges:
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge 139 - make a card with an Ornament,
Creative Inspirations Challenge 133 - create a single layer card, and
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Unused Stash (both ribbons were recently purchased but this was the first time I had used them).
(Holiday Card Count - 45, still shy of where I like to be by this time of year)
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!  I will have more creations for you to see tomorrow.  have a good night!
~Crafty Math Chick

Rainy Wednesday

Hello friends and followers!  I hope you are all well.  It is raining raining raining here today which is perfect weather for crafting right?  Today I have two cards for your viewing pleasure, the first was created for Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge 76 - no patterned papers:

I used the sentiment 'You Did It!' sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers' 'Here Comes the Grad' set to create a sort of 'Congratulations for beating cancer!" kind of card for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges over at Splitcoaststampers, more specifically, Lori Craig's HYCCT1101B - to add bling to your card, kinda resourceful huh?  ;)  In addition to these two challenges, this card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Ribbon Carousel Challenge 24 - A card with bling and ribbon or twine,
• Creative Inspirations Challenge 133 - A Single Layer Card, 
• One Stop Craft Challenge - Anything Goes, and
• One Stitch at a Time Challenge 83 - Anything Goes

My second card I created using Sketch TESC147 sponsored by Taylored Expressions using TE's cute new Autumn Wreath set and season wreath die and the new Fall Harvest mat stack from DCWV.  Here it is:

I just adore that sweet little squirrel and had so much fun coloring him with Copic markers.  (For the record, I know oak leaves turn brown, not all these different colors, but I was going for colorful whimsy here, not accuracy).  In addition to the sketch challenge, this card also fulfills the following additional challenges as well:

• The Pink Elephant Challenge 120 (TPE120) - Inspiration challenge (there is a wreath of leaves at the bottom leaning against the barrel),
• Repeat Impressions Designer's Choice Challenge 1012 - Halloween/Fall (I chose fall),
• Sundays with Crissy Challenge 22 - Thanks/Thankful, 
• Cute Card Thursday Challenge 186 - Tree-mendous (create a card with images of trees or leaves - I have leaves in the wreath and with the acorns in the corner),
• Pals Paper Arts 115 - Fall or Thanksgiving (there is a lovely leaf garland similar to my wreath in their inspiration picture),
• Stamps R Us Challenge - Autumn or fall,
• Fab N Funky Challenge 94 - Autumn Colors,
• Fussy and Fancy Challenge - Fall or Halloween (I obviously chose 'fall'),
• Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge 18 - The Colors of Fall,
• Delightful Challenges - The Colors of Fall,
• Totally Stampalicious - Happy Thanksgiving, and
• ABC Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Well, that is all I have for you now, but please check back later, I have lots of the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges to catch up on and plan on stamping my little heart out today, so there should be more for you to see later!  Have a great day!
~Crafty Math Chick

Hope You Can Cling to Cards

(if you are looking for my 'Operation Julie's Smile' post - please scroll down, thank you)
Hello friends & followers!  I have two more cards for you today - both are created for the 'Hope You Can Cling To' challenges over at Splitcoaststampers, a card drive for the patients of the UT MD Anderson Cancer Treatment Center.  The first is for my friend Lee's Challenge: HYCCT1102 - Inspirational Cupcake Photo Challenge.  I used Card Patterns' Sketch 135, 'Bars Vol. 1' by Skipping Stones Design and some yummy papers from Echo's Park's 'Be Mine' collection to create this card:

I rotated the sketch and created little breast cancer support ribbons and adhered them to these big black buttons in place of the little circles in the sketch. I hope whoever receives this card will like it.  In addition to the inspiration and the sketch, this card fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges as well:

• Skipping Stones Design's World Card Making Day Challenge - to make a card using SSD stamps,
• The Crazy Challenge 87 - Think Pink for Breast Cancer Support,
• Partytime Tuesdays Challenge 26 - Shaped cards or show your support for breast cancer,
• Inky Impressions Challenge - Show Your Support for Breast Cancer/monochromatic pink,
• Ribbon Carousel Challenge 23 - Anything Goes with ribbon or twine, and
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

My second card was created for my friend Lori's challenge HYCCT1107 - The Colors of Hope - to create a card using the colors yellow, green and brown.  I used Sweet N' Sassy Stamps' Sweet Stop Sketch 128 and their cute Olivia Owl image (I have it in a clear stamp set, but she is still available as a digi) and some papers from DCWV's Blossoms & Butterflies stack to create this card:

I colored Olivia with Copic markers and stuck yellow button centers in the middle of some brown flowers, used some jute ribbon that I love, and paper pierced along the bottom near the 'I'm hootin' for ya!' sentiment. In addition to the color & sketch challenges, this card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges as well:

• The Paper Variety - Forest Friends,
• Repeat Impressions Designer Choice Challenge 928 - Animal Theme,
• Paper Play Challenge Week 40 - Autumnal Colors,
• Paper Sundaes Challenge 89 - Lots of Layers (I have six here),
• Ribbon Carousel Challenge 23 - Anything Goes with ribbon or twine, and
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and viewing my creations!  I hope you have a wonderful Columbus Day Weekend!
~Crafty Math Chick

Operation Julie's Smile

Hello friends, followers & hoppers!  Today I am part of the Operation Julie's Smile Blog Hop to help support our dear crafting friend, Julie Ranae.  If you arrived here from Peggy Sue's Blog, you are in the right place!  The creative blogging community is coming together this weekend to help Julie, who you may know as the Design Team Coordinator for many wonderful companies from bakers twine, die cuts, rubber stamps and more.  This is Julie's story: Julie Ranae has had some pretty major dental surgeries in her lifetime due to medication she had to take as a child.  It was in her plans to think about having all of her teeth  replaced at some point in the next 5 years, a decision that was pretty easy to plan out.  But then it happened…she chipped her front teeth on a weekend a month ago. The dentist told her there was no way to save them & that it was his recommendation that she give in and have them all her teeth removed soon, but for that day, they needed to get her front teeth done so her gums could begin to heal. He said he would 'work out payments with her to have ALL this work done...but when she called to make her appt. for the first step of impressions, they told her the amount of money that was needed and that the 'payments' applied only to the two teeth that were extracted that day. Her husband Paul was with her & that too, was his understanding as well. So this is how she has found herself in this situation…Needing at least $4000 to get started and another $3000 to finish the process…a total of $7000.


Nicole Rixon, the owner of Sweet Stamp Shop, put together this benefit after finding out about this situation and before Julie knew it, it took flight!  Because Julie is an event organizer by trade, she has taken on the job of organizing all of the blogs in this hop as her way of 'working overtime' for what she needs, the same as if she were able to work overtime at an outside job to pay for the work to be done.  It is the goal of all of these generous friends & sponsors to help make this situation more do-able for our friend so that she can share a brand new smile with all of us soon.  If there is anything you can do to help with a financial donation, there is a donation button ready for you to click - just visit The Sweet Stamp Shop Blog and click on the 'Operation Julie's Smile - Donate' button (the complete list of blogs is available there as well, in case you have gotten lost along the way).  We know times are tough for everyone, and any amount is appreciated and ALL DONATIONS will be eligible for prizes from our sponsor pool of over $2500.  You have all weekend to hop around, comment and be eligible for prizes.


Here is the card I made for today's hop.  It uses a sketch (which I flipped) from Jimmi's Circles Sketch for the Hope You Can Cling To over at Splitcoaststampers - a card drive created to generate cards for the cancer patients at MD Anderson Canter Treatment Center and their families to use while they are there in addition to raising overall breast cancer awareness - and a cute stamp from Lili of the Valley:

I added LOTS of glitter to her hat, the edges of her coat, and the ice and colored her in with Copic markers.  I layered three different punches for the sentiment and used some DP from K.I. Memories Holiday Fun stack.  I hope this card will make Julie, and whoever receives it at the hospital, smile.  :)


It also fulfills the requirements of the following challenges:

• Inky Impressions Challenge 17 (IIC27) - Show Your Support/Monochromatic pink,
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes, and
• Fab & Funky Challenge - Die cuts or Punches.

I hope you enjoyed your stop here on the hop!  The next stop is Heart Song Inspirations Blog.  Make sure you leave a comment here before you go so that you can have a chance at the amazing prizes up for grabs and if you can, please make a donation so we can help bring back a new smile for our friend!


Thanks for visiting!  I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!  :)
~Crafty Math Chick

Happy October!

Hello friends & followers!  I hope you all had a Happy World Card Making Day!  Regretfully, I spent the day admiring the creations of others rather than making any cards of my own (have to do that differently next year, LOL).  Today I have a card for you based on Skipping Stones Design Sketch 95:

I used SSD's "Sassy Snow' set and some papers from DCWV's Winter mat stack and changed the big circle in the center of the card to snowflakes (FYI: Marvy Uchida's snowflake punches do NOT like DCWV's pre-glittered cardstock, maybe it is too thick or something, maybe I am just weak, LOL, but it got stuck in my punch three times before I switched to something thinner) and the star on the side into a snowman. The way his arms are outstretched I thought he would look cute tossing some snowballs around so I added an arc of pom poms attached by glue dots and I added some 'candy stripe' red & white twine and some yummy ribbon  I found at Offray's ribbon outlet.  (Holiday Card Count - 41).  This card also fulfills the September 27th Recipe Challenge over at Paper and Such Online - I selected ribbon, twine and designer paper as my three ingredients.


I am afraid that is all I have for you this evening.  But please keep checking back - I will have lots and lots for you to see as I complete all of the "Hope You Can Cling To' challenges over at SCS.  I hope your October is off to a wonderful start!
~Crafty Math Chick