Healing Thoughts Recessed card

Hello!  Lately I have WAAAAY too many friends hurting themselves or getting sick (I need my friends to stay healthy and stop hurting themselves already!  Poor things!!) so I have quite a few 'get well soon' cards to make.  This one I made for a friend I originally met on youtube, and got to know a little better on FB, for her hubby that had a horrific accident (he is going to be fine, but he is pretty banged up and broken for a while until he heals).  I got the idea for it from Stamp TV's October Release Party Challenge - to make a recessed card.  Haven't made one of those in a while.  

The teddy bear isn't too childish for a grown man, is it?  I used the teddy bear image from 'Under the Weather' by Gina K. Designs and paired it with the above sentiment, which I thought was more appropriate for someone who was not sick per se, but healing... a lot...  I colored the bear with my Copics (E59, 57, 55) and paper pieced his paw pads & bandages using some papers from Gina's 'Poolside' collection.  In retrospect, I wish I had used teenie wooden buttons instead of the black rhinestones, more masculine.

Additional Challenges:

Creative Knockouts Challenge: animal friends, 
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge 76: for the boys, and

Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenge #34: dies or punches (I used a die to cut out the recessed window)

Thank you for taking the time to look at my card!  Have a great evening!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Grateful Peacock

Hello again!  Today I wanted to show off a card I made for one of the DTGD challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.com.  I used 'Pretty as a Peacock' by my friend Asela for Gina K. Designs along with some colors that I think look terrific together:

The pretty peacock image panels & sentiments were heat embossed in black on Bermuda Bay cardstock along with Pacific Point, Lucky Limeade, and Eggplant Ency accents and lime colored rhinestones.  The peacock square was cut out and popped up, and that lime accent under the sentiment?  It was a strip of cardstock that I double punched on both sides with a fiskers border punch that didn't center in an asthetically pleasing way, so I snipped off a symmetrical piece and positioned it under the sentiment, I think it looks pretty there!  I think the peacock feather background paper was by Recollections...

Since a peacock is featured I am also entering it in 2 Cute Ink's Challenge #112 - to feature an animal.

I made this card for a dear friend who has been SUPER kind, patient and generous to and with me as I am attempting to learn how to crochet from videos on the internet.  I am extremely grateful and wanted her to know it.  I hope she won't mind that I shared it here with all of you as well (I am guessing not, she is pretty awesome!)

Have a great day!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Dare to Get Dirty Challenge Cards - Post 10

Welcome back Friends & Followers!  I DID IT!  I finished ALL 42 DTGD Challenges before the deadline - WOO HOO!  Never done this before, it feels GREAT and I have a nice collection of cards for my stash as well - SWEET!  Enough babbling - let's get to the cards!  The first one combined 2 challenges and uses images from Holiday Baskets by Melanie Muenchinger of Gina K. Designs:

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution if necessary).  The background was created using the polished stone technique for Stamp TV's Chat & Challenge to use the polished stone technique - never done it before, it calls for metallic reinkers, which I do not own, so I used Yoyo Yellow, Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie instead.  Since they had a fall feel to them I combined them with some sunflowers stamped on summer sun cardstock and cut out by hand (ouch) and popped up above the basket which is embossed with Brownie EP by Zing! directly onto the glossy cardstock base.  I added some Cinnamon Stickles to the centers of the sunflowers for some extra sparkle and pizzazz.  In addition, I have entered this card in the following additional challenges:

• All That Stickles Challenge - Anything Goes with Stickles (I used cinnamon stickles in the sunflower centers - doesn't it look pretty?  I love this color!), 
• Paper Playtime Challenge - use lots of yellow, 
• Stamp and Create's August Challenge - glitter (Stickles glitter glue counts, right?), and
• Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - embossing (the basket is heat embossed).  

My second, and final DTGD creation, doesn't have any stamping or embossing at all - just adhesive - check it out:

The 'joy' is die cut from WPlus9 Designs' 'Season Sentiments' die set which was run through my Xyron (do you have one of these things?  If not - you gotta get one!  They have three sizes for every crafter and you can use a half off coupon from Michaels the next time they come around - Easy way to apply loose glitter without messy glues!) on both sides - one side I sprinkled red glitter over, the other was peeled off and adhered to the card.  Then I attached a snowflake rhinestone cluster to the center of the 'o'.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy right?  I am entering this card into the following additional challenges as well:

• Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - 'Spread a little joy and love' (my sentiment was 'joy'),
• Glitter & Sparkle Challenge - add some red, and
• The Paper Girls Challenge - Glitter, Glitter, Glitter.

Thanks so much for sharing my DTGD journey with me and joining in the celebration that I finished them all!  WOO HOO!  
~ Crafty Math Chick

Dare to Get Dirty Challenge Cards - Post 1

Hello Friends & Followers!  I was finally able to begin on my Dare to Get Dirty Challenges hosted by Splitcoaststampers.com (note - you will only be able to see the challenges if you are an SCS Fan Club member).  I had hoped to be able to make a separate card for each of the 41ish challenges, but seeing as how we had expected company stay with us this weekend, I got a late start and began to panic that I would not be able to complete them all, and I would like to do so, so for now, I am combining challenges.  If I have time to spare at the end I can go back and make cards for the challenges that I overlapped right?  
     Here is the first card which I created using Some Odd Girl's July Sketch Challenge sketch:

using their adorable Preppy Pups set colored with Copic markers and paired with some patterned paper from MME's 'Sunshine' collection (which I really like!)

(please click on the photo for clearer resolution if necessary).  I figured I would write 'to have you as my Daddy' on the inside and let our furbaby give it to his Daddy for his next birthday or father's day (yes, our dog gives cards of his own).
     This card also fulfills the following challenges:

• Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 221 (based on this inspiration photo): and

• Songbird Challenge 25 - My Favorite Things (you KNOW how much I LOVE da pups!), 
• Creatilicious Challenge - I love my pet, and 
• Paper Playtime's Patterned Paper Challenge.  

     My second card was created for two of the DTGD challenges along with Stamp TV's Saturday Night Chat & Challenge to create a floral card with an encouraging sentiment (which I later found had expired the week before, LOL!  Hey, it is still inspiration right?).  I used GKD's 'You are Not Alone' set along with the Floral Fantasy CB EF and Perfect Plum and Pale Plum cardstocks and chalks to create this card: 

I don't know if I am personally in love with this card (I am not much of a floral person or a purple-lover, but someone else might, right?).  Since this card contains embossing I am entering it in Milk Coffee's embossing challenge.  
     So, those are the two cards I have created today thus far, you may seem more later this evening, but if not, most likely tomorrow!  Thanks again for stopping by!
~ Crafty Math Chick

Pink CAS Love & Hope

Hello Friends & Followers!  Hope you have been having a good weekend!  Today's card was made for Stamp TV's Mix It Up Monday Challenge to make a pink CAS card inspiring love & hope hosted by my friend Ceal.  I combined it with Splitcoaststampers' HYCCT Challenge to make a shaped card and used my new Gina K. Designs 'Strength & Hope' set by Theresa Momber, a gift from hubby (Thanks Babe!) and lots of heart-shaped Spellbinders Nestabilities dies to create this card:

(LOL, please click on the photo for clearer resolution, heart-shaped cards are difficult to photograph, LOL!)  I ran the larger white heart through my CB with the Swiss Dots EF and added some hot pink velvet ribbon and a little pink bling.  I must say, I really love the Memento Markers I used to ink up the letters and pink ribbon 'O'.
     This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• CAS-ual Friday's Challenge CFC74 - a CAS card with a heart on it, and 
• Your Next Stamp Challenge 19 - Think Pink. 

     Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a great week!
~ Crafty Math Chick

Healing Thoughts for Karen

Good afternoon Friends & Followers.  My friend Karen is in the hospital recovering from surgery and Linda Payne dedicated a challenge over at Stamp TV in her honor: to make a get well card.  Here is the card I sent to Karen using Gina K. Design's 'Under the Weather' set and some GKD 'Petals & Wings' patterned paper along with Jen's Deconstructed Sketch 46:

 I have to tell you, paper piecing the little paw pads, ears, sling and bandages was NOT easy (can you even tell I did it?) but Karen is worth it!  I found some petite pink buttons to adhere in the centers of the 1/2" punches circles of Daffodil Delight cardstock but the twine would not fit through the tiny holes, so I separated the 4 skein twine into only 2 threads and they fit through like a charm.  That hot pink horizontal section is actually some satin ribbon I picked up during one of my trips to the Offray Berwick ribbon outlet in Hagerstown, MD, going to miss that place.  This card also fulfills the requirements of Stampin' for the Weekend's Challenge 7 - Ready...Teddy...GO!  
     Thanks for taking the time to stop by and see my cards and read my ramblings.  I hope you have a great Friday night!
~Crafty Math Chick

Ellies and Tigers and Cards, Oh My!

     Welcome back friends & followers!  Two posts from me today, impressive no?  I have two more cards to show you today.  The first was made for a Stamp TV Challenge to CASE DT Member Lee Murphy, a daunting task if you have seen her uber impressive gallery.  I selected to CASE this card: 'Wild Elephant' using Theresa Momber's new 'Wild About You' set which I LOOOOVE because I really love elephants.  In fact, when I saw this card by Lee I was SOLD!  So, here is my card based on this one:

You are supposed to change at least 2 things about the card for this challenge, so I swapped out the background patterned paper (mine is by DCWV - it has orange glitter on it, not sure that shows up in the photo), changing the ribbon to this pretty, gold, glittery, netted ribbon that I picked up at Michaels in the holiday section (Lee likes glitter) and I didn't have room for the sentiment so instead I attached some pretty bronze bling (Lee also likes bling) in a favorite 'Lee arrangement' in the corner.    My section with the silhouette elephants is a little smaller as well.  The adorable ellie was stamped on the orange oval die cut and then again on Gina K. Luxury cardstock and colored with Copic markers (C00, C1 & C3) and cut out and paper pieced onto the orange oval.  I like how the cute ear sticks out a little bit this way.  I hope I did Lee proud.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Sundays with Crissy Challenge 27 - Animals,
• Stamp & Create March Month Challenge - Paper Piecing,
• Challenge Up Your Life 65 - Zoo Animals,
• CMC Copic Challenge Group Challenge 39 - Anything Goes w/Copic Markers,
• Inky Impressions Challenge 50 - You're My Pot of Gold (use gold (ribbon) & bling (lower left corner)),
• Card Crafter's Circle Challenge 14 - Gold, and
• Heidi's Hobbystugu Challenge - make a card where an animal is the focus.  

     My second card was created using My Time Made Easy Pretty Patterns Sketch 50 and the cute 'Cubbin' Around' image from Meljen's Designs:

(aren't they cuuuuuute?!!)  I used Prismacolor pencils and OMS to color in the tiger cubs and Copic Markers (C00, C1, C00) to shade around them (wanted to see what it looked like - do you like that effect?  I am still deciding).  The wild B&W striped background paper is from a new Recollections stack by Michaels and then I embossed a few Only Orange strips with my Animal Prints EF and tied a narrow, black stain ribbon around it to complete the sketch.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Kaboodles Doodles Challenge 111 - How Cute Is That? (I think the tigers cubs are wicked cute),
• Desert Island Crafters Challenge 27 - They listed 10 items of which you had to incorporate at least 3 - my card has (1) orange, (2) grass, and (3) colored pencil coloring,
• Sundays with Crissy Challenge 27 - Animals, 
• CMC Copic Challenge Group Challenge 39 - Anything Goes w/Copic Markers, and
• Heidi's Hobbystugu Challenge - make a card where an animal is the focus.   

     Well, that's all I have for you today my friends.  Thanks so much for stopping by to see my creations and read my ramblings.  Be sure to stay tuned, blog candy will be forthcoming in the near future!  ;)
~Crafty Math Chick

Stamp TV 3rd Anniversary Celebration

     Hello friends & followers!  Hubby was kind enough to watch Ty baby today so I was able to steal upstairs and STAMP!  YEAH!  I was able to make four cards, WOO HOO!  It felt soooooo good to be stamping again!!  The first card I have for your viewing pleasure was made for Cat Tidwell's Anniversary Challenge to Distress Newsprint.  If you haven't checked out the videos at Stamp TV yet Gina has the BEST distressing tutorial I have seen anywhere!  I used Sketch 257 by Card Positioning Systems and created this card using Gina's 'Cool Beans' set:

I crimped some kraft cardstock and sponged it and around the image to accentuate the distressed look.  I topped it off with this cool Offray ribbon that reminds me of steam coming off of hot cocoa and some bronze brads around the mat for a little added texture and shine.    This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:
Sassy Studio's Dare to Be Sassy Thursday Challenge 116 - Monochromatic,
Partytime Tuesdays Challenge 59 - Monochromatic,
The Pink Elephant Challenge 140 - 'Get Krafty"  (use kraft cardstock),
Make It Monday with The Kraft Journal - Anything Goes w/kraft cardstock, and
Shopping Our Stash Challenge 43 - Food & Beverage.
     Card one, clap clap done!  My second card was created for Deb Felts' Stamp TV Anniversary Challenge to make a card using the chalkboard technique and using My Time Made Easy's Sketch 51 along with 'Stenciled Spring' by Gina K. Designs to create this card:

     Not really in love with how this one turned out, but art is subjective and all cards need some love right?  My white ink didn't smudge this time, but I had trouble getting all of the pastel chalk off.  And the colors look off here, I used Real Red, Ballet Blue (with metallic ribbons over them) and Sage Shadow, which kind of blends into the background.  I added yellow brads to the flower centers for a pop of color.  I punched some 5/8" circles of black cardstock and added some blue buttons with maraschino twine threaded through them.  This card also fulfills the requirements of Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge to make a thank you card.
     I have a few more cards to post, and all the stamping and only makes me want to increase the size of my upcoming blog candy because stamping makes me so happy, so be sure to check back!
~Crafty Math Chick

CASEing Jimmi Mayo

Hello friends & followers!  Today's card was made for Cat Tidwell's Free-For-All Friday Challenge over at Stamp TV to CASE DT member Jimmi Mayo.  I selected this card by Jimmi using the True Love Stamp TV kit.  This is my card:

I changed (1) the background (Jimmi had lots of stamped white hearts, I used CB's Pretty Paisley EF), the Nestabilities Shape (I don't own the one Jimmi used so I opted for Labels 1 instead), and (3) I added a heart-shaped rhinestone in the center of the paper pieced pink paper coming out of the typewriter.  This card also fulfills the following challenges:

• Stamp & Create's Monthly Challenge - Valentine/Love, and
• Pixie Dust Studio's Challenge 115 - to CASE someone.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my creations!  Have a great day!
~Crafty Math Chick

More Gina K.!

Hello again friends & followers!  I have another card for your viewing pleasure, also made with Gina K. Designs stamps, although this time the Stamp TV kit set 'Sent With Love.'  I used some cute preformed plastic shapes I won at a recent Stamp Festival to create a shaker card for this week's Mix-It-Up Monday Challenge on Stamp TV and used some cute sunshine paper I recently picked up from Tuesday Morning along with Card Positioning Systems' 5th Anniversary Day 2 Sketch, (shown here:)

to create this card:

I thought birdseed would make a cute filler for this shaker card considering the image, don't you think?  I hope the finches don't mind that I borrowed a little.  This card also fulfills the requirements of Inky Impressions Challenge to use punches or dies (I used both on this card).
     Thanks so much for stopping by - I am hoping to squeeze in a few more cards made with sketches from CPS' 5th Anniversary before the end of the evening, so I hope you will check back.  Have a great night!
~Crafty Math Chick

Happy Gina K. Day!

Well, technically, Gina K. Day!  This is a holiday created by GKD & Stamp TV fan Sean to honor and celebrate all the wonderful inspiration and tutorials Gina has created to help us grow and improve as crafters (not to mention all the wonderful crafty products Gina & her illustrators have made to help us create with ).  For this special Gina K. Day Challenge at Stamp TV we were to pick a video that had the most meaning to us and re-create the card in the video as a tribute to Gina.  Well, I had hoped to get off my duff by now and watch Gina's videos on how to the Janome Sew Mini sewing machine, but since that has not happened yet, the next tutorial of which I am most fond is Coloring with Colored Pencils & Odorless Mineral Spirits.  I don't have the stamp set that Gina used in the video, so instead I used one of my first GKD sets that I ever purchased, Owl Always Love you and created this card:

I borrowed Card Positioning Systems' 5th Anniversary Day 3 Sketch:

along with the Big Scalloped Square Nestabilities dies and colored this sweet owl image with Prismacolor Colored Pencils and OMS.  I figured the sentiment is perfect for a close friend who will be moving sometime this summer.  This card also fulfills the requirements of Inky Impressions Challenge to use punches or dies, and Paperplay's Week 7 Challenge to make a card with critters on it.

     Thanks so much for stopping by!  I will have more for you to see soon!

~Crafty Math Chick

A Whole Lotta Paper Piecing Goin' On!

Hello friends & followers!  I have three cards for your viewing pleasure today and I guess I was in a paper piecing mood.  The first was for CAS-ual Friday's Challenge 36 - to make an all black & white card in honor of Penguin day.  I decided to use some pretty black & white striped paper I have had in my stash for quite some time and paper piece the chaise lounge image from 'Fine Furnishings - Additions' by Gina K. Designs to come up with this untraditional valentine:

I created a 'floor' for the image with a scrap of black cardstock with one edge run through the scalloped edge border punch.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Crafty Creations Challenge - Valentine Theme,
• Charisma Cardz Challenge 2 - CAS, and 
• Paper Sundaes Challenge 104 - Paper Piecing.  

My second card was created for Stamp TV's Free-for-Friday Challenge to CASE DT member Jennie Harper - not an easy task if you have seen her impressive gallery!.. I decided to CASE this card, I selected the same bird image & 'Te Amo' sentiment from 'Warm & Fuzzy' by Gina K. Designs, different patterned papers (from Echo Park's Victoria Gardens stack) and a regular scalloped border punch rather than the one with ones that Jennie used to come up with this card:

I sponged around the oval image like Jennie did also, though I am not sure it shows.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges as well:

• Crafty Creations Challenge - Valentine Theme,
• The Poodles Parlour Challenge - Valentine/Love,
• Do You Stack Up Challenge 55 - Use patterned paper, and
• Paper Sundaes Challenge 104 - Paper Piecing.

My last card was created for Sweet 'n Sassy's Inspiration Challenge 23 over at Splitcoaststampers based on this lovely photo selected by Taylor Usry:

I was inspired by the wood elements and the sparkly mint bird and created this card:

I used SNSS' 'Winter Friends' set and colored in the snowman's scarf, hat and bird in a mint color (don't use that one too often!) and added some sparkle with some matching glitter from Martha Stewart and some glittery white snow using a Quickie Glue Pen.  I embossed a piece of kraft cardstock with a woodgrain embossing folder by the Paper Studio that I picked up at Hobby Lobby and ran my Palette New Canvas ink pad over the raised surface to give it a wintery feel.  I added a touch of twine for a rustic look.  (Holiday card count - 3).  This card also fulfills the following additional challenges as well:

• Paper Pretties Challenge PWC189 - Add glitter to your card, 
• Fussy 'n Fancy Challenge - Let It Snow, 
• Papertake Weekly Challenge - Happy Highlights (to add glitter or glossy accents to your card), and 
• Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge 24 - Out with the Old (I think I have had that mint cardstock in my collection since 2005... it was discontinued long ago...)

Well, that is all I have for you today.  Thanks so much for stopping by to visit my blog and view my creations.  Have a great week!
~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

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

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

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

Who Says Christmas Cards Need to be Red & Green

(If you are looking for my Taylored Expressions' Blast from the Past Blog Hop Post, please scroll down)
Hello again Friends & Followers!  I have two more cards for you today, both fit Sharon's Free-for-all Friday Challenge at Stamp TV - to create a holiday card in non-traditional colors, as well as Jennie's current Stamp TV Challenge on Facebook - to create a card using Gina K. Designs stamps using 3 patterned papers; since there is no doubling up of Stamp TV challenges I will submit one for one challenge and one for the other. I was just having so much fun with this little girl image from Gina K. Designs' 'Warm & Cozy Christmas' and papers from American Crafts' 'Merrymint' collection (in case you have not noticed, sky blue & chocolate brown is my favorite color combination!).  So, without further ado, here is card #1 (think I will submit this one for the FB challenge):

And here is card #2 (which I will submit for the non-traditional holiday colors challenge on Stamp TV):

(Please click on the photos for clearer resolution).  I am also submitting these cards for the following additional challenges:

• Touch Twin Challenge 1 - Playing with our Peeps (color in an image of people with markers, I used Copics here, don't have any Touch Twin markers yet and probably won't be able to afford any for a while, they look really cool though), and
• The Crazy Challenge's September-October Christmas Challenge - to make a holiday card with no red or green in it.

(Note: Holiday card count: 40, still way behind I hope to be by this time of year, oh well).  Thanks for stopping by and viewing my creations!  I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday!
~Crafty Math Chick