PTI Make It Monday #158: Stamping with Watercolor Mediums

Hello Friends & Followers!  I hope you have had a good weekend!  Those of you who follow my blog know I tend not to use watercolors much, but when I saw Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday Challenge 158 to stamp with watercolor mediums I broke out my watercolor crayons, Out on a Limb- Revised & Out on a Limb Sentiments sets and gave it a whirl with this sympathy card:

I used watercolor crayons in chocolate chip for the branch and pale plum & perfect plum for the blooms but I think I used a little too much water in my watercolor brush and washed them out a bit too much, they have a pretty soft quality IRL, but they are a little difficult to even see in this picture.  I really like how this came out though, I think I am going to make a bunch more, perhaps in other colors, so that I have them on hand in the unfortunate event they are needed as sympathy cards can be difficult to make on the spot if you know what I mean.
     Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great week!
~ Crafty Math Chick

Valentine's Day Goodies 2014

     Hello friends & followers!  I hope everyone had a wonderful valentine's day!  Sorry I didn't get to post this sooner, but there was a mad rush to complete all the baking and creating and get the goodies distributed before the holiday was over.
     First, I made tags for the valentine treats (this year - heart-shaped rawhide treats purchased from Target) that Ty distributes to his neighborhood doggie friends.  Paper Smooches has SO many CUTE dog images out that I decided to play with a bunch of them and make a variety of tags for the treats using their Woofers & Tweeters & Paws for a Cause set: 

(I think my favorite is the one on the left of the doxie I tried to color like Ty). 

Then I decided to make one inspired by Paper Smooches' Sparks Picture Perfect Challenge's inspirational photo this week:

I drew inspiration from the gold and pink colors and the heart shape and created this tag for one of the treats:

The puppy silhouette, sentiment and paw print images were heat embossed with gold EP (not sure you can tell from the photo, but they are) to match and scalloped heart punched from brushed gold paper and I added a few hot pink rhinestones with my trusty kraft knife.  

     So, what do you think?  I am also going to enter these in Paper Smooches' 'Fun & Cute; Anniversary Challenge that is currently going on as well.  Here is a group photo of some of the treats all bagged up and ready for distribution:

     Now for the human goodies - I went with a froggie 'Hoppy' valentine's day theme for hubby's staff this year.  I found this cute little plush frogs and 'Hoppy Valentine's Day' goodie bags from the Oriental Trading Company and packaged them up with some conversation heart candies, some chocolates and other treats and sealed the bags with some froggie clips I made using PTI's 'Frog Hop' stamp set & coordinating die and some plain clothespins by Creatology that I purchased at Michaels.  I must say, Scrapbookpal.com's 1/4" scrappy covered the front of the clothespin perfectly and was very tacky!  Perfect for attaching the frog!  I punched some hearts out and hand-wrote the sentiment in lieu of a tied on tag, here is a close up of the froggie clip:

And one of the goodie bag with one of the plush frogs posing beside it:

Well, that concludes my valentine goodies for 2014, I hope they were enjoyed by all and maybe provide you with a little inspiration for next year.  Thanks so much for stopping by to view my creations.  Have a wonderful long President's Day weekend!

~ Crafty Math Chick

CAS Retirement Card

Hello Friends & Followers!  Today I have a retirement card based on this week's sketch from Sketch Saturday:

I used Papertrey Ink's 'Polka Dot Parade #3' stamp set & dies paired with a retirement sentiment from their 'On the Links' set to create my card:

(please click on the photo for clearer resolution).  At first I was going to use the same colors I used in the card I created yesterday, but then I decided how the yellow looked in place of the tangerine for the particular recipient of this card.  Isn't the little recliner image cute?  Hee hee!  Since my card is CAS I am also entering it into My Crafty Spot's Clean & Simple Challenge as well.
     Thanks so much for stopping by - feels good to be creating again on a regular basis!
~ Crafty Math Chick

PTI: Make It Monday 128 ~ Stamping Random Backgrounds

Hello Friends & Followers!  I really enjoyed AShley Cannon Newell's video on this week's Make It Monday Challenge - Stamping Random Backgrounds, looked like a fun way to make a quick, easy & colorful card.  I selected 'Boy Basics: Rock On' and used the little music notes for the background:

(click on photo for clearer resolution please).  Isn't this color combination cool?  It's pink passion, tangerine tango, tempting turquoise and black.  The 'Rock On' sentiment was actually stamped on a sun die cut from heart-2-heart #6, I popped the pink guitar (I made this card for my best friend's daughter's birthday - she plays the guitar - the inside says 'Happy Birthday' in a 'Guitar Hero' type font) with dimensionals and added a big shiny music note brad for a little balance.  Like it?  Hopefully she will too...
     I am also entering this card in the following additional two challenges:

• Moxie Fab World's Birthday Card Challenge, and
• Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge 232 - make your own background paper using stamps.

     Thanks for stopping by to see my card.  Hope the upcoming week is a great one for you!
~ Crafty Math Chick

Dare to Get Dirty Challenges - Post 8

Hello again!  I thought since I had a total of four projects to post this evening I would break it into two posts, make it easier to read or something (do you mind posts with a big string of cards?  Let me know!).  The first is actually a tag rather than a card, using There She Goes Clear Stamps' 'Warmest Wishes' stamp set and coordinating dies and some designer papers from Echo Park's 'Season's Greetings' stack (LOVE that collection!):

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution).  I just love the rustic look of these colors and papers, so I thought the tiny wooden buttons would be the perfect accents for the mittens with a little twine here, little bling there.  I am entering this tag in the following additional challenges:

• Sweet Stamps Challenge - Christmas tags,
• Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - stitching, real or faux, (if you look closely at the mittens you can see faux stitching is part of the image - something I love about this set!), 
• ABC-Challenge - S is for Stitching (see above), 
• Inky Impressions Challenge - Button it, and
• Jellypark Challenge - Christmas in July.   

My second card uses Papertrey Ink's Heart-2-heart #6 collection:

I used the rays of sunshine cutting plate by Taylored Expressions' as a template for the sun's rays and sponged some soft sky ink at the edges of the clouds (I am still 'on cloud nine' myself after realizing I have cloud dies in my collection and no longer have to cut them out by hand, YIPPEE!).  I am entering this card in the following additional challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge - Ode to Sunshine, and
• Charisma Cardz Challenge - Up in the Clouds.  

     Thanks so much for stopping by again this evening!  I appreciate you taking the time to view my creations and read my ramblings.  Have a wonderful evening!
~ Crafty Math Chick

Dare to Get Dirty Challenges - Post 6

Hello Friends & Followers!  I'm back with more for you!  I have three cards for you in this post and (GASP!) NONE of them involve coloring (I KNOW!  and I LOVE to color!!)  First, a card that fulfilled 4 of the DTGD challenges over on SCS that uses WPlus9 Design's Love Birds stamp set and coordinating dies:

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution).  I created the pink heart background using Papertrey Ink's Background Basics: Hearts set.  I am entering this card in the following additional challenges:

• Die Cuttin Divas Challenge - Anything Goes with die cuts (here the birdies were die cuts),
• Papercrafting Journey - Punches +/or dies (here I used the birdie dies and a corner rounder and scalloped edge punches), and 
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.

My second card only met the requirements of one DTGD challenge, but I really like it just the same:

I used Papertrey Ink's Frog Hop stamp set and coordinating dies and kept it simple with just Lucky Limeade and Garden Green cardstock & inks.  I think this will make a nice birthday card for one of my numerous nephews!  I am also entering this card in the following additional challenges as well:

• Die Cuttin Divas Challenge - Anything Goes with die cuts (the froggie and lily pad are both die cuts),
• Papercrafting Journey - Punches +/or dies (ditto), 
• Dutch Dare Card Challenge - For a Child (this card is perfect for one of my nephews), 
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge - monochromatic, 
• One Stop Craft Challenge - Keep it Simple, and 
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes, 

This brings me to the last of the three cards I have for you today - this one satisfied FIVE DTGD challenges (I think that is a record for me... not sure though...).  It uses the cute little bunny from There She Goes Clear Stamps' 'Good Times' set and some more DP from MME's Sunshine stack (I think that stack is becoming one of my favorites, I am going to be sad when it is all used up!):

Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me NOT to color this bunny?  LOL!  I need to learn that sepia coloring technique where you are shading with lots of shades of brown - that would have looked nice on this card.  I aged the Very Vanilla cardstock with some Memento Rich Cocoa, Crumb Cake and Close to Cocoa inks and sponged some on the ivory lace I used too.  That paper& ribbon flower accent could not have been possible without the use of glubers (which I actually got in this cool Cosmo Cricket paper kit I saw at Tuesday Morning, which I had originally purchased because I loved the stamp set in it, LOL!)  This card actually is not very 'me' at all - lots of challenges that aren't my style, but that is why they call them'challenges' right?  I am also entering this card in the following additional challenges:

• Whimsy Stamps Challenge - ribbons and lace, 
• C.R.A.F.T. challenge - monochromatic, and
• Gem of a Challenge - anything pearlescent (I have added pearls and a pearl brad).

Thanks again for stopping by - I will have more for you to see tomorrow, so you all come back now, 'y hear?  ;)
~ Crafty Math Chick

BDay Card for BIL-2

Hello!  Back again with a birthday card for my other BIL.  This time I was inspired by the colors of this week's Color Throwdown Challenge (they are celebrating their FIFTH anniversary - WOO HOO!)

Pretty, aren't they?  I was even inspired by the flip flops to use Papertrey Ink's 'Flipping Out' stamp set and dies:

I really wanted to play up the pink more and add some fun rhinestones or flowers or hearts on the flip flops, but I refrained from doing so since this card was, after all, for a man.  I am hoping he won't mind the splash of pink.  
     I am also entering this card in the Anything Goes Seize the Birthday Celebration, and 

Moxie Fab World's Birthday Card Challenge.
  Thanks again for stopping by!  Have a wonderful evening!
~ Crafty Math Chick

My 200th Blog Post!

Hello Friends & Followers!  Can you believe it - 200 posts!  From the girl who thought she'd never have a blog no less!  I think a little candy might be warranted... do you?  ;)
     While I am mulling that over, let me show you the two quickie cards I created today (I KNOW!  NOTHING for the entire month of January and now - BOOM! - two in one day!).  Both were for Papertrey Ink's 6th anniversary celebration sketch challenges.  The first was for Sketch 1:

(Shoot!  I just realized the sketch was in portrait and my card is in landscape - sniff sniff... does it still count?)  

I used PTI's 'Sign Language' for the little boxes which were punched with a 1" square and matted with a 1 1/8" square and popped up with dimensionals, and 'Simple Valentine' for the sentiment.  Added a large heart shaped rhinestone and VOILA - clap clap, done!  The second card is based on Sketch 5:

(Oh thank goodness, got the orientation right on this one!  Goodie!) 

The geometric elements are from PTI's 'Dot Spot' and the sentiment is from 'Think Big Favorites #7' (I really need to get some more of these big bold sentiments for my collection, I have a precious few).  Colorful and postage friendly - two good things right?
   Alrightie, back to the issue of celebrating my 200th post.  Since I used PTI this week and they are celebrating their anniversary, why don't I celebrate with a PTI prize?  One person who leaves a comment on this blog post will be randomly chosen to win PTI's Life stamp set (unfortunately, with the increase in postage rates I cannot afford to ship  overseas anymore, so I have to limit the celebration to USA residents & APO/FPO addresses only, I feel very badly about this, but just can't afford the shipping with my tutoring sessions being so few and far between at the moment, I hope you understand and can forgive me).  
     Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope your weekend was wonderful and that you have a terrific week ahead!
~ Crafty Math Chick

At Long Last... I Create Again

(FINALLY right?)  ;)  Hello again Friends & Followers - I thank you all so much for not abandoning me when I was sick, then better for a few moments, then sick again, then almost better, then sick again (seriously, this is getting ridiculous!).  Short version - THANK YOU for haning in there with me!
     Today's creation was for one of Papertrey Ink's 6th Birthday Challenges - It's a Wrap - to create a wrap, tag or gift packaging product inspired by something we saw on the internet.  I have seen tons of people make these adorable multicolored crayons using silicone baking pans (I found mine in Target's 'Dollar Spot' for $2.50), so I got out a pack of Crayola crayons I got at Walmart back during 'back to school time' when they are only 25 cents each (good time to stock up, oh, and you DO want Crayolas specifically for this - I have tried this in the past with Rose art crayons - all the colors ran together making almost a dark blah monochrome crayon - don't need to go through all the work for that), cut off the paper bands, broke the crayons into pieces, filled the impressions and baked them at 250 degrees for 20 minutes.  When they were completely cool I popped them out and packaged one in a clear bag with a tag made using PTI's 'Tiny Treats - Valentine':

(please click on photo for clearer resolution).  I tried to make the heart in the image multicolored like the crayons, using the fine tips of 6 different primary colored markers.  Here is a close of the tag detail:

Can you see all six colors?  Well, I tried!  I also used 5 strands of embroidery floss for the bow as well (I discovered I don't own a bright purple, will have to remedy that sometime).
     Thanks so much for looking!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend and that my friends in New England are safe, warm, dry and have power!!
~ Crafty Math Chick

Da Plane! Da Plane!

Hello friends & followers!  I hope you are all having a happy Friday!  Today's card was created for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday Challenge - to create a background using non-background stamps using Paper Sundaes Sketch 85 (flipped 180 degrees):

I used the little plane image from PTI's Tiny Treats Valentine set to stamp the outline plane image in Lemon tart, Pure Poppy, New Leaf and Enchanted Evening inks and paired it with one of the planes from PTI's mini set 'Fly Away' - this was my first time ever using one of PTI's dies in my new Cuttlebug - it worked like buttah!  I was PSYCHED!  My CB does not cut CB dies, so to have a way to cut all these wonderful thin dies a lot of stamping companies are offering now is AWESOME!  I figured this would make a good birthday card for one of my nephews or maybe to include in my next Operation Write Home bundle for troops to send home to their kids.  This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenges:

• Birthday Sundaes Challenge 25 - to make a birthday card,
• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 27 - The Sky's the Limit (it is an anything goes challenge, but I kinda like that the title matches the plane motif of the card),
• The Ribbon Carousel Challenge 19 - Anything goes with ribbon or twine, and
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes.

As a side note - my friend Anita is giving away some blog candy on her blog, you can check it out HERE.  Speaking of blog candy, want to learn how to make COOL goodie bags like this:

make sure you check out The Twinery Blog's Halloween Treat Bags Giveaway Post.  Have a great Friday Night everyone!  :)
~Crafty Math Chick

April 2011 PTI Blog Hop

Welcome friends, followers and hoppers!  I finally get to reveal the card I made for Papertrey Ink's April 2011 Customer Blog Hop.  The theme was 'Boys to Men' so I used PTI's 'Father Knows Best' set (love the trees in this) along with lemon tart, summer sunrise, and dark chocolate cardstocks and PTI's Father Knows Best patterned papers (the stripes I used are my favorite). 

For some added dimension I popped up a few of the lemon tart circles punched out with a 1/2" punch and stamped a couple of the smaller circles in summer sunrise ink over the circules in the tree image.  I tied it up with some 5/8" lemon tart grosgrain ribbon, and voila - card complete!  I think this makes the 4th Father's Day card I have created this year.  Since I only need one to send to my Father-in-law I will let my hubby pick his favorite and ship the rest off to Operation Write Home for the troops to send out.

Thank you all so much for stopping by to see my card on this hop.  And for my regular followers I will be posting some additional creations later this afternoon if you wish to check back.
Have a great day!
~Crafty Math Chick

Viva la Tuesday Trigger

Good afternoon friends and followers.  :)  Today I have four (count 'em) cards for your viewing pleasure. The first is for this week's Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Challenge, using this picture as inspiration:

I was inspired by the jar image and the turquoise, orange & white color palette.  I came up with this card:

I used Papertrey Ink's 'Studio Style' set, and let me tell you, it was pretty tricky trying to ink only the jar in turquoise and only the buttons in orange without bleeding.  Then I wanted to create a frame of buttons playing off of the buttons inside the jar.  At last, a sentiment that will be perfect for one of the many thank you's I need to send to all of my supportive and kind crafty friends.  (Card one, clap clap, done.)

I am happy to say I was successful in completing cards for all of the Viva la Verve! challenges at SCS this month.  I had such a block with Week 2's Sketch by Charmaine, so I did what I always do when this happens, I rotated it and flipped it over for a fresh perspective.  And I thought 'Hey, that circle in the corner kind of looks like a balloon..." and I came up with this card:

The balloon was punched out using a Mega (purple) Marvy Uchida punch from this pretty pre-glittered sparkly paper by Making Memories.  I cut the 'balloon tail' out of the same paper and tied some twine by Martha Stewart around the end to substitute for the ribbon in the photo.  For the side strip I found this brown piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock that had been embossed using the CB 'Branches' embossing folder and though it resembled bark and would make a good tree trunk behind the balloon (light bulb -> at this point the idea for the next card popped into my head).  I stamped the cute little birdie from Verve's 'Wordy Birds' set onto Real Red cardstock and colored in his wing for a little depth and positioned him as if he was holding up the greeting.  Another birthday card for my stash.  (Card two, clap clap, done).

Here is the card that was conceptualized while making the previous card - when I was adhering the trunk I thought "Hm, I should have just made this a tree instead of a balloon..." and (ding! ding! ding!) realized I could do this using a few scalloped punches and thus became the card above.  I turned the bow from the sketch into a yellow ribbon (You all have "Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree..." going through your heads now, don't you?) and created a bird nest for another little Wordy Birdie to nestle in using some scraps that resulted from trimming down the tree trunk.  On both of these cards I created the cloud background by sponging Bashful Blue ink around a scalloped oval punch (I kept the one from before - every day is Earth Day!)  (Card 3, clap clap, done).

My final card was made for the Week 3 Viva la Verve Challenge by Maureen.  This one took me a while to come up with but I am happy with the final result.  It uses both Verve's 'Glad Tidings' and 'Merry Wishes' sets.  The white berries were embossed onto Real Red cardstock and the red berries were stamped with Real Red ink.  The snowflake-poinsettia was stamped twice - once embossed on red cardstock and one onto white cardstock with red; both were cut out and layered.  I attached a velvet ribbon and bow and some rhinestones to random red berries and to the center of the snowflake-poinsettia.  (Card 4, clap clap, done AND all five of the Viva la Verve challenges are now complete - so I am a Viva la Verve Champion for the month of March - WOO HOO!...Now you hear Queen's 'We are the Champions...." in your head, right?)

Holiday card count: 15 (As a personal goal, I try to complete at least 10 holiday cards every month so that I am all set when the holidays arrive and I do not have the stress of trying to create a gazillion cards in addition to all of the tradition holiday shtuff we all have to do, and I usually have plenty left over to send to family, friends and Operation Write Home; I am a little behind at this point because of my surgery, but I am confident I will be able to catch up as my healing progresses, even if I have to take the CAS approach - hey, they are easier and cheaper to mail anyway right?)

Thank you Cath, Charmaine and Maureen for the cool challenges and inspiration, and thank you all for taking the time to read my blog and look at my cards.  Have a great day!
~Crafty Math Chick