EBTKS Around the House Challenge

Well, you'll all have to wait one more day to see what Chase and I have been working so hard on. So make sure you check back tomorrow.

Today's the 30th and that means a new EBTKS challenge. Kelley whipped up this challenge and prize, and I think they are both fantastic. Here's the challenge:

And check out this prize for the winner - Big and Bold Wishes by PTI and a few buttons from EVERY PTI current buttons!

 

And here's what I came up with:

Stamps: Big and Bold Wishes (PTI)

Card Stock: Krafts (SU), White

Pattern Paper: Crate Paper

Button: Aqua Mist (PTI)

And you have to go check out the other girls cards. They are fantastic. 

Now it's your turn! I can't wait to see what you make. Head over to the EBTKS blog for more details and Mr. Linky!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Challenge Winner!

Wow... has it been a crazy week for you guys? It certainly has for me. And can I just say thank you! Thank you for playing with us here at Everything But The Kitchen Sink. I hope you are having fun! The response for the first sketch challenge was amazing - thanks guys. I can't tell you how long it took for me to narrow down some great cards - there were just so many!

But since we have to pick here they are:

The big winner of the $25 gift card is Kathy. How cool is her card. Kathy email me at courtneymbaker@gmail.com and I'll get you set up!

Now for a few other cards/scrapbook page we all loved (top left clockwise) Mariana, Courtney K, Heather, Julie, and Christina.javascript:void(0)

Check back early Monday morning for a new "Around the House" challenge! I've already seen a few of the design team cards - and wow. You don't want to miss those. I guess that means I need to start on mine!

Courtney

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday and it's a big one. I won't tell you her age, but it's clearly shown on her birthday invitations!

Can I just say I love my mom. It's crazy how you can go from being two people that fight about clothes during the teenage years to best of friends. It's funny how age changes you. When I was a teenager my brother and I used to moan whenever my mom would talk about how much she loved my dad. Now I feel so privileged to have grown up in that kind of loving environment. I really consider my mom one of my best friends. I can go to her with anything. Plus she's so funny. I didn't realize it until I was older and everyone kept talking about her being so funny.

My dad threw my mom a surprise party on Saturday. It actually worked out great because it did cross my mom's mind that it might be a surprise party, but then remembered that I was out of town. How could there be a party without me, right (well, at least that's how my mom feels :)). My dad did commission me to make cards for him to send out. I was in the middle of planning for our big class at church, so I needed something pretty and quick. These were 100% inspired by Ashley Newell. She did a card very similar to this template, but I wasn't able to find it when I went back through her blog.

 

I thought they were fun. Again ... happy birthday Mom! You're the best.

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On a totally different note, I'm sure you are all reading Kelley's blog about her shocking news. If you haven't you can find it here. I only post this here to encourage you to join me in praying for her and her family. Over the years Kelley has become such a good friend ... I love that girl. I also know she believes in prayer, and that her theory is "the more the better." And therefore I know she wouldn't mind me asking here as well.

Petal Flower Tutorial!

Now, I'm going to warn you... I sound awful in this video. Not only will you hear my southern accent, but you'll also get to enjoy my raspy congested voice as well! If you're able to bear with it ... you'll learn how to make these:

Please notice the bigger flower is fabric - gotta love it. And the button looks off-center in the picture. I think it's just the way it's laying in the photo.

You can also watch the video here.

Here's the video that started it all. And here's the card that started it all:

Leave a comment and I might just pick a random recipent of a few flowers! And if you try your had at this flower - I'd LOVE to see it!

We're Back.

We had an amazing weekend! Really it was just incredible. Although it is a ton of work, and I'm exhausted it is still worth every ounce of effort to be able to invest in those kids lives. And not only that, but I learn so much as well from them.
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I started a card for the Tuesday Trigger this week, and just like last week I'm probably past the deadline. O-well. I added 1 to my Christmas card stash, and that is always a plus.

Here's this week's image:

I really wanted to play off the negative space on the napkins and the icons. So, I pulled out an old Stampin' Up set Lots of Thoughts and Merry and Bright, and here's what I came up with:

Okay, I'll just say it. Not my favorite card ever. I think I'd like it a lot more with copics, but I don't have browns yet. The colored pencils actually look better in person.

Stamps: Merry and Bright, Lots to Say (Stampin' Up)

Cardstock: Bashful Blue (Stampin Up)

Pattern Paper: Bo Bunny

Ribbon: Offray

I also got a fun package in the mail today from my friend Carly's new etsy shop. The ribbon she sells is right up my alley:

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Tomorrow is the last day to submit your cards for the Everything but the Kitchen Sink Challenge! And if you haven't checked out the participates you really should. There is some amazing inspiration there! Also, we'll have another challenge on the 30th with an item to use from around the house!

Big Bows!

I have been following the CARDs blog for awhile now, and I think one other time I made a card for one of their challenges. However, I never got around to actually sending it in! Well this time around, I knew that I could make a Christmas card for this challenge: big ol’ ribbon bows!

So here's what I came up with:

  OccasionallyI have to pull out neglected stamps like Guide Lines. I used Liquid Pearls to add some interest to the pattern. And, after adding the ribbon and the scallop to the tag, I realized I need one more red (you know that whole thirds thing). So I colored in the air plane - just the thing I needed to be satisfied.

Stamps: GuideLines - Papertrey Ink

Ink: VersaMark

Accessories: Liquid Pearls, Scallop Punch

Tag: Jolly by Golly - Cosmo Cricket

AND A BIG OL' BOW

By the time you read this, this challenge will be over! But I'm sure they will have a new challenge on the blog ... so go check it out.

December Daily - the Second Half

Wow - that was way more response that I was anticipating. I'm thinking I'm going to be doing a tutorial really soon! :) Thanks for all the comments. It's a lot easier to spend time on a video when you know people want to watch it!

Now back to December Daily. I'm not sure if I like the first or the second half better. Well there is one thing in the second half I just love... but you'll have to wait for that (but not too long because I don't have a ton of pictures from the second half).

Day 17 and 18

Do you realize why the below is my favorite? It's 100% because I was able to work in one of my vintage flash cards from PaperTales in SanDiego. I just love it.

Day 19 and 20

Day 25

Not a lot of chit chat tonight. I'm off to pack!

Embellish Brads Color Challenge

I'm so tired, and I have a lot more to get done this week. We have community group at our house tomorrow (and Chase will be gone)... did I mention we eat at community group? Thankfully I've already started the prep work for the food. Then Friday we are off to the Middle School retreat! Oh, and did I mention I'm teaching crafts, but I have no idea what I'm doing yet! Start praying girls. I need it. :) I will say that's mainly because I won't know how many have signed up until tomorrow. I'm sure it will work out.

I did manage to make a card today for the Embellish Challenge. Plus I had a new flower technique I wanted to try and a PTI package at my door. What more do you need to be creative? Here is the color/item challenge:

I just love the pictures Ashley uses for these challenges. They are always terrific. And here's my card:

Stamps: Big and Bold Wishes (PTI)

Card Stock: Lemon Tart, Stampers Select White (PTI)

Pattern Paper: Cherry Hill (October Afternoon)

Ribbon: Pure Poppy (PTI)

Button: Pure Poppy (PTI)

Did I mention that flower is just folded paper? I watched a little 1 minute video on YouTube to learn how to make the petals. Unfortunately the video isn't that great. It's just visual so it took me forever to learn the last step. Maybe I'll do my own video. Let me know if you're interested.

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I've been SUPER impressed with all of the EBTKS challenge cards! You ladies are rocking that sketch. If you haven't played along you still have until the 24th.

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I'll be posting the rest of my December Daily tomorrow!

December Daily - the First Half

I think I forgot how messy scrapbooking can be. I'm really a clean work surface kind of girl, and that went totally out the window. It was a total mess, and I realized that I worked on this entire album standing up! Totally weird.

So here is the base for the first half of the album:

1 & 2

 

3 & 4

 

I'm going to have to redo 6. I tried using some spray ink to show just one number on the bingo card. Well. I really don't like it at all. So I'll have to rework that page. 

5 (with a little glossy accents)

Seven is a baseball card holder cut to fit. 

6, 7 & 8

9 & 10

11 & 12

 

I think page 12 is my favorite. I sewing on a little pocket from one of my sheets of baseball card holders. I had no idea if my sewing machine could sew onto acrylic - but it can!

Are you doing a December Daily? What holiday crafts are you planning? I had a ton of things I made last year. I can't wait to get started!

Tuesday Trigger.

Apparently I'm becoming a last minute challenge participate. I've really wanted to do this challenge since Cath posted it, but with EBTKS launching and finishing up my December Daily (check back tomorrow night to see) I'm just not getting to it. However, with an inspiration photo like this ... how could I not jump in the fun!

Check out this image from Laura O'Donnel's inspiration. Isn't it fantastic? That Martha... she really knows what she's doing:

And here's my card:

I'm just loving these blues mixed. I would have never put these together without this inspiration! That's why I love challenges ... cards like this.

Plus, I only have one gold thing in my craft room - embossing powder. So I broke it out in a big way. I love how the embossed chipboard letters turned out.

Stamps: Grainy Background - Unity Stamp Co. 

Card Stock: Not Quite Navy - Stampin' Up!, Ocean Tides - Papertrey Ink

Ink: VersaMark

Embossing Powder: Detail Gold  - Stampendous!

Die Cut: Birds & Blooms Bird - Sizzix, Ephemera - 7 Gypsies

Ribbon: Ecru Crochet Trim - Maya Road 

Pearls: Denim Kaiser Pears

Punch: Scallop

Paper Clip: Tim Holtz

 

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Thank you all for your super sweet comments about EBTKS Challenge! We are super excited about the blog, and about the fantastic creations we know you are all going to make! THANK YOU!

EBTKS Makes A Move!

Yep, you read that right. Everything But The Kitchen Sink Challenge has moved to its very own blog. You can find it here. And that's not the only exciting news! We have also decided to do TWO challenges each month. Here's the run down on both:

15th - EBTKS Sketch Challenge, this sketch will be based off something around the house (fridge, couch, etc.)

30th - EBTKS Household Item Challenge, this challenge is based on using an item we all have around the house.

And since today's the 15th... we have a sketch challenge for you all. Here was the inspiration for the challenge, my fireplace mantel:

And here's the sketch I based off of it!

I can't tell you how excited I am about this new side of EBTKS. I hope you like the sketch and that you'll play along.

Here is my card I made from the sketch ... I like to call it BLING BLING CHRISTMAS:

Card Stock: White (Papertrey Ink)

Pattern Paper: Eskimo Kisses (Basic Gray)

Stamps: So Many Scallops (Stampin Up!)

Ink: Old Olive (Stampin' Up!)

Die Cut: Snowflake #2 (Sizzix)

You'll certainly want to check out what the other girls made... so head on over to the Everything but the Kitchen Sink Challenge blog to see their fantastic work.

P.S. There is also a $25 Two Peas gift card up for grabs for the winner!

Just for Fun Cards!

Whew. What a day. I've been busy, but it's good busy. I did want to drop by to show you a couple of cards I made recently.

First up... on how I love Hambly card:

This is a cute little 4x4 card. I don't know why I like this card so much... oh yea that's right NEUTRAL AND NEUTRAL. I can't help it.

Many Thanks
Cardstock: Kraft - Stampin' Up!; Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Overlay: Woodgrain - Hambly; Bitty Boxes - Papertrey Ink
Stamps: Glee, Thanks - American Crafts
Ink: Ripe Avocado - Papertrey Ink; Chestnut Roan - ColorBox
Twine: Farmers Market - ShabbyGreenDoor
Punch: Scallop Punch - Stampin' Up

So next up is on the opposite spectrum. Go figure.

Laugh. Smile. Love. Card
Cardstock: Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Patterned paper: Sweet Marmalade - Sassafras Lass
Stamps: Glee - American Crafts
Ink: Lipstick Red - ColorBox
Ribbon: Aqua Mist Twill - Papertrey Ink
Buttons: Pure Poppy, Black, Lemon Tart - Papertrey Ink

Just blame Sassafrass.

So that's it. I'm off to finish The Help. Have I mentioned how incredible it is? Have you bought it yet. :) JK.

Embellish Owls Color Challenge

Well, here's to cutting it close. I was just looking for a little challenge to participate in tonight, and I realized I had just a few short hours to make the deadline for the latest Embellish challenge.

Here's the challenge:

And here's my little 4x4 card:

Card Stock: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip (SU); Berry Sorbet (PTI)

Stamps: Whimsical Birds (Inkadinkado); Guide Lines (PTI); Buttercup (Basic Gray) (yea you didn't think I used that many stamps did ya?)

Ink: Versa Mark; White (SU)

In other news we have picked the winner for the latest Everything but the Kitchen Sink Challenge. Kelly really gave us all a great challenge to think out side the box! And this time around rather than picking just one winner, we picked the big winner and three Domestic Divas, because well it was just too hard to just highlight one card.

Dana! You are our winner! Congratulations to our 3 domestic divas Mariana, Ashley and Karen!

Just a side note, we decide the winner via committee. We all have different styles, and I don't want to just limit the winner to the type of style I like best.

Also, just another reminder. Big EBTKS news coming early Saturday morning! :)

A Card and a Few Other Random Things

First, up. I'm not sure where this card came from because it was so quick to make, and well I really like it. Am I allowed to really like it, right? Well, just the truth, I really like it. So here it is...

Card stock: Stampers Select White, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate - Papertrey Ink
Patterned paper: Animal Crackers - g.c.d Studios; Bitty Box Basics Spring Moss - Papertrey Ink
Stamps: Bitty Baby Blessings - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Craft White - Stampin' Up!
Ribbon: Chocolate Dots - American Crafts 

Have you all ever heard of g.c.d. Studios? I hadn't but man I love that paper. 

And onto the randomness...

I changed my profile picture. I realized that my hair has not been blond in some time, and that at the moment it's pretty dark. It always throws me off when people change their pictures. I'm such a visual person that it really throws me for a loop. So just a heads up! When you see that girl with dark hair ... IT ME!

It's moments like this that you are glad you have a camera around.

I finally got a label maker so I could see the names of my stamp sets clearly on the sides of the CD labels. I know this probably isn't blog worthy normally on a normal blog, but oh so worthy on this decorating/crafting blog!

Off to read The Help. It's so good.

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Oh, I almost forgot. I know I've done this to you before, but we have big Everything But The Kitchen Sink news coming out on the 15th! I hope you all will be as excited as I am!

Plum Crazy!

This is random, but have you ever tried using Fruity Pebbles instead of Rice Krispies in Rice Krispies Treats? SO GOOD!

Tonight I tackled Cath's latest challenge. I love this idea of a plum challenge. I actual took a nod from my own wedding to create this card. Just like for my wedding I used several different tones of purple.

The first thing I did for this card was create a grid. I wanted a small grid, so I used the grid from Guide Lines, to double stamp it to get my elegant eggplant grid.

Then I embossed stamps from Damask Designs on top. Then I inked up the rest with more elegant eggplant.

I especially love how you can still see the grid. I added my other shades of purple with the background color and rhinestones, and there you go! I just think plum is so elegant.

Stamps: Damask Designs, Guide Lines (PTI)

Cardstock: White, Elegant Eggplant (SU); Plum Pudding (PTI)

Embossing Powder: Clear Ranger

Ribbon: SU

A lot to say!

At least I gave you a warning right? I've been quiet for a few days, and now I've got to catch up.

The classes last night went great, but it is always so much harder than I think it's going to be. By the time we got done I was exhausted. I did want to show you the other card the ladies could make.

Pattern Paper: Jolly by Golly - Cosmo Cricket

Cardstock: White, Real Red - SU

Stamps: Merry and Bright - PTI

Ribbon: White Grosgrain

And here's a few pictures during class (the first one is my mom... isn't she cute she turns 50 in just a few weeks):

 

 We really did have a blast last night. And ... once we got done with all of the cards there were tons of little dots from the Holly Card we made. So I thought I'd use all of those cute dots to make a card (are your tired of Jolly by Golly yet? I'm getting there.)

 

Pattern Paper: Jolly by Golly - Cosmo Cricket

Card-stock: White

Stamps: Merry and Bright - PTI

Ribbon: Pink Satin - Olfray

Okay, I'm almost done. Seriously. Remember a couple of months ago, I was asking for your advice about your favorite black ink. It was interesting to hear everyone's take, and since I needed three new black ink pads for the class this weekend I decided to test out some different versions. 

First I tried the "Let it Snow" image from the above card with the following inks:

Stazon

Memento

Versafine

Memories

Because I also want to use the same ink on my "cheap" stamps (aka not polymer). I grabbed the flower from an American Crafts sets.  

Hands down overall I think the VersaFine was the best. It even looks better in person. I'm going to use it on a daily bases of the next few weeks. I'll let you know what I think after that! 

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Only one day left for the latest Everything But The Kitchen Sink challenge (see link in my sidebar)! Oh and we have some news about this challenge coming out soon! I hope you'll be excited.