"Faithful Friend" MOJO Monday

Hello Crafty Friends!

Yesterday I dove into my paper scrap bin and created a card using scraps and Tim Holtz products.  Today I took another dive into the bin to create a feminine friend card.  The card is based on this week's MOJO Monday sketch:

The sweet stamped sentiment is from Quietfire Design's Always Be My Friend stamp set:

That is one of my favorite Quietfire Design stamp sets...so lovely!

Scrap pieces of Basic Grey's Basic Curio were cut to size and Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke and Black Soot applied to the edges.   The sentiment was stamped onto white card stock using jet black Archival Ink.  Distress Inks in Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet were applied to the edges.

Spellbinders' Silhouette die cut black card stock and a wee pink half pearl added.

 Another scrappy card completed!  Not surprised that I kept those patterned papers as that collection was beautiful- especially the rose sheet.

Thank you very much for stopping by!
Have a happy, crafty day!
Big hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG

"Our Friendship Spans the Miles"

Hello Crafty Friends.

You know, sometimes life throws you a curve ball- such as a health issue, the loss of a loved one, a good friend moving or loss of a job.  Unfortunately we have all had to deal with these down points in our lives and having support from friends and loved ones help us through those difficult times.  Admittedly the past 10 months have been one life test after another and I am fortunate to have the most amazing, caring and trustworthy friends that have always had an open ear and shoulder to lean on.  Every day I am thankful for my friends and family and I do try to express my appreciation for their friendships.  Sometimes I like to go a step further and send a card.  This card is for my Aunt Carol who lives back in Illinois.  She is not only my aunt but a very good friend.

The card used the sweet sentiment from Quietfire Designs set, In a perfect world:

Such a lovely set- and as usual Suzanne Cannon's calligraphy is gorgeous.  It was stamped in black archival ink on Cheery Lynn's die from Dutch Daisy Boutique.  The paper is Bo Bunny's Juliet Collection.  The roses were fussy cut and Stickles applied.

The inside is "wish you were here" from the same stamp set.

Gold was applied to all straight edges for a little extra touch of pretty.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a happy crafty day.
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch
613 Avenue Create, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG

"Sometimes" said Pooh...MOJO Monday Graphic 45 card

Hello Crafters!

It may appear that I have been avoiding the blogosphere and that is partially correct.  Life is quite busy at this end and the crafting projects created are for future dates.  However, today I was able to complete a project to post...yay!  The card is based off the sketch for this week's MOJO Monday:

It used my new Graphic 45 paper (Gilded Life) and Quietfire's stamp "Sometimes, said Pooh":

Such a sweet stamp!

I used Cuttlebug's embossing folder to add texture, a strip of lace, two hearts (die punched with Martha Stewart punches) and an antique button.  The ink used for the sentiment and along all the edges is Stampin' Up's Baked Brown Sugar.  (Great color!) Spellbinders squares dies were used for the sentiment and frame.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hope you all are having a wonderful summer!
Big Crafty Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch
613 Avenue Create, AG
Simon Says Stamp Monday, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
TTCRD, AG
Sister Act, AG
Crafting from the Heart, AG
Crafting by Design, July AG

MOJO Monday Butterflies card

Hello Crafters!

Well, I did it.  I cut Ken Oliver's beautiful papers that I received at CHA.  It was a tough decision as I only have the one pad but I was careful: measured thrice and cut once.  But you have to understand why I was so careful...just look at those butterflies!

The card layout started out following the newest sketch at MOJO Monday:

I followed the sketch then added lace under the butterflies and the luscious lace and double satin bow to the left side of the card.  I die cut two scalloped tags- one from corrugated board and one from Ken Oliver's paper.  Quietfire's "Butterfly" was heat embossed in gold.  

The entire edge of the patterned card base was also heat embossed in gold.  Consider this card gilded!

The inside has Quietfire's "If nothing ever changed" stamped in black and a strip of Ken's paper adhered as shown.

Here is the outside again.  Goodness, I love the colors of the papers with the gold and black.

Hope you like the card!  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch
613 Avenue Create, AG
Deep Ocean Challenge, Wings
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Little Miss Muffet, AG
Little Scrap Pieces, AG
Craft Your Passion, AG
Pile it on, Borders
TTCRD, AG
Sister Act, AG

Take Time to Delight in the Joys of the Season card

Happy Saturday, All!

Well, I am slowly getting back into the craft room.  It felt so good to play with my paper crafting pretties.  For inspiration I followed this week's MOJO Monday sketch again...

...and used Quietfire's Take Time to Delight stamp.

The paper used was my pristine Websters Pages paper set, Royal Christmas.  Spellbinders die set Poinsettias was used to die cut more Webster's paper.

Here is a closeup of the stamp and poinsettia:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you all have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch
613 Avenue Create, AG
Crafting by Design November, AG
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra November, AG
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper November, AG
Dies R Us, Christmas
Sister Act, AG
TTCRD, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG

Butterfly Thank You card and reason for absence

Hello All.

It has been a while.  My last post was October 20th and actually that card and post were made at the beginning of October.  I feel like I owe many of you an explanation as some blog friends have emailed me and I have not responded.  Nor have I really visited any blogs in a few weeks.  This past month has seen a lot of changes in my life.  Although I try to keep personal information off of my blog, this post will be personal.  You do not need to read this but I need to write it.

Last month my husband and I went home to visit my parents on their anniversary.  Unfortunately before I went home my mom was placed in the hospital.  She was released the day we arrived so that was encouraging.  However, it was difficult to see my mom in her condition as she had been through a lot.  By the end of the week she was walking on her own with a walker and I thought all would be well.  My husband and I returned to Nova Scotia.  The next few days I spoke to my mom on the phone and she seemed to have more enthusiasm in her voice.  My dad said she had more energy and we started to feel as if she would recover.  Her health quickly changed and by the end of the week she was back in the hospital.  By Sunday she could not fight any more and she passed away.  That was two weeks ago.

My world is different now.  The most beautiful person I ever knew is no longer here.  My best friend, my confidant, the heart of my family is gone.  Because of this, I have avoided my craft room among other things.  Luckily I have the best husband and a fantastic group of friends that have provided a shoulder to lean on.  Also, the Quietfire Design team has been incredible- providing support and filling in for me.  Gloria Stengel and Hazel from CraftyHazenlnut have been so understanding with my lack of guest designing duties.  I cannot say how fortunate I have been to have received so much comfort during this time.

I pushed myself to return to the craft room last night and a return to the room tonight.  It took a while but I finished a thank you card using MOJO Monday's sketch.  Hopefully finishing this card will make it easier to return to the craft room more often.  

Here is the sketch this week:

The Thank You stamp is from Quietfire:

The paper is from Prima (Forever Green) and a scrap piece of wood paper was used for the background.  The antique button on the bow was a gift from my mom.  Seemed fitting to have it on the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Thanks to all of you for listening and for sending kind thoughts.  I cannot express how much your kind words and thoughts have meant to me.

Have a good evening.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday Sketch
Word Art Wednesday, AG
613 Avenue Create, AG

MOJO Monday- Graphic 45 Friend card

How is your Saturday going?  Were you able to squeeze in some crafty time?  I was able to finish a friend card using Graphic 45's By The Sea and Quietfire's "Friends are those rare people" stamp.  

The card layout is as per this week's MOJO Monday sketch.  I don't really make tall and skinny cards so this was a challenge!  

Isn't the sentiment true?  I am very lucky to say that I have friends that do that very thing...wait to hear the answer.

I have been better lately with using my Graphic 45 paper.  Usually, I buy an 8x8 pad and avoid cutting it because I don't want to "ruin" it.  However, I have slowly come to realize that although their paper is always beautiful, I bought it to use and have been slowly...cautiously...ever so gently cutting away at it.  I should own stock in the company as I cannot be the only person that has pristine pieces of G45 paper lovingly stored in an iris box!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you all have a good night!
Big Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch
Word Art Wednesday, AG
QKR, AG
613 Avenue Create, AG
Crafting by Design, October AG
TTCRD, AG
The Sisterhood of Crafters, Lots of Layers

Quick Spirit of Christmas card

Have you ever found a challenge that you just had to do?  Card Maker magazine has a new challenge this week: 

“We’ve all been there. You forgot a birthday, anniversary or other occasion, and you need a quick card. When trying to make a last-minute card, my problem is always narrowing down what materials to use. So, follow this recipe to get it done quickly: 1 cardstock sheet, 1 patterned paper, 3 ribbons or washi tape, 1 sentiment and 1 button.”

This challenge really peaked my interest.  It was a challenge filled with sub challenges: last minute, limited materials, a card subject you usually forget or need a quick card and there was no mention of using dies- which is a challenge for me.  Immediately I thought of Christmas...again.  That's right, my New Year's Resolution of not making last minute Christmas cards will be met this year.

Ok.  The challenge was on.  I grabbed white card stock, scooped up one of my fave Quietfire Christmas sentiment stamps and rapidly grabbed a sheet of sei's Silicon Valley patterned paper.  If I was really rushed then I would need a sketch to follow...MOJO Monday!  

I cut, I stamped, I embossed, added a lace ribbon, made a double bow, glued on a button.  Voila!  Quick Christmas card.  Whew!  That was a good test.  It feels like there should have been a long beep following the completion of the card:

'This has been a test of the emergency card making system.  If this had been an actual Christmas card making emergency it would have been followed by frantic photos, the removal of glue stuck on fingers and tape stuck in hair.  This concludes this test of the emergency card making system.'

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a good day.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
CardMaker, Last minute card
MOJO Monday, Sketch
Fantastic Tuesday, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Loves Rubber Stamps, AG
Crafty Sentiments, AG
Sweet Stamps, AG
CDD, AG
Crafts Galore Encore, AG
Sisters of Craft, AG
Crafting from the Heart, AG
613 Avenue Create, AG