Monday, October 31, 2011

Brandy and Emma - Good Morning!

Okay - isn't that one of the sweetest images you have EVER seen?!?!?!? I got the new Brandy and Emma stamps from Unity Stamp Co - and couldn't WAIT to ink them up! They are ADORABLE!!! I also decided to play with my Copics and coloring skills a little too...which can definately use some work - but that's why I'm practicing! Also need to get more colors I guess too...that might help!


Inked the edges of the white with Tim Holtz distress ink in Antique Linen, and used October Afternoon papers for the background, and the border strip along the bottom that has the sentiment - perfect for this card, no?


Finished off with a little twine and a button from Papertrey Ink.


I better warn you - I will be having a lot of fun with these images in the days to come! Thanks for taking a peak! Sorry for the 3 posts in one day - finally have a day at home and having fun playing!!!


Unity October KOTM Sketch challenge - just in time!

Well, I almost just skipped it, since it has been a crazy month, but I had a few minutes this afternoon and still wanted to enter the Unity Stamp Co October Kit of the Month sketch challenge. Here is what I came up with:


And here is the sketch:


I used am image and sentiment from the July KOTM. Did some coloring with my Copics, and a bit of inking with some Tim Holtz distress ink.


The background I stitched down with my sewing machine using a tiny zig-zag stitch.


Thanks for checking out my short and simple post today! Happy Monday everyone!


Love you a Latte!

So, my husband is a COMPLETE coffee addict, and when Cricut came out with the cartridge Love You a Latte, I knew I had to have it eventually. I have been stalking it and waiting to be able to get it, and to be able to get a good deal on it - since late spring! The time finally came last week, so I broke it open and made a card for my hubby - to let him know how much I love him!


It is pretty simple! I just made a 5x5 card base, cut all the layers out at 5 inches, ran them all through my Cuttlebug with my PTI linen impression plate, and added some stitching and doodling to finish it off.


Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful week!


Friday, October 28, 2011

First Yourstory Project - handmade journal

Hello! I just got a Yourstory Machine, and today I looked up a couple of tutorials on YouTube on how to make your own books - including covers - using a hot glue gun! SOOO in love with this idea!!! Anyway - I wanted to make something for a special friend, so I pulled out some paper, and my Unity stamps and came up with this:


Paper is from Basic Grey Out of Print collection. The background pattern stamp and the book image are from Unity Stamps. I added some bling with my Jolee's heat set tool, a little color with a Copic marker, used a Martha Stewart edge punch, and finished off with a bit of ribbon.

I am entering this in the Basic Grey weekly challenge to use stamps, and Unity Friends with Flair Friday - make sure and check that out and leave a comment for a chance to win some free Unity Stamps!!!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

You're the light of my life...

Whew! This past couple of days have been crazy...and I haven't had time to sit down and play with paper - which  makes me feel crazy too! Anyway - I decided to steal a few moments this morning from all the other things I need to be doing, and ink up the Unity KOTM from October that I have had sitting there begging for attention. Here is what I made:


I also got my first order from Papertrey ink...and used the the texture plates for the first time! I am in LOVE!!! Such a cool and subtle effect! Doesn't the paper kind of look like linen?


I textured the background paper first, then stamped my image and colored with Copics. Used some paper from October Afternoon, and a couple of stick on pearls.


Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you back here soon with something more!


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

WINNERS from my first blogiversary celebration!!!

Good morning!!! First of all, can I just say a big THANK YOU to everyone who joined me for my First Blogiversary Celebration?!?!?! That includes the blog friends who joined me in the hop, and each and everyone of you who stopped by and left such sweet comments. I want to send something to EACH one of you!!! I love how small the world feels when we are able to connect in this way!

Anyway, without any further delay, on to the winners!!! Here is a reminder of the prizes that were up for grabs:


So I have four winners who will each be getting one of these prizes!!! I picked from comments on all the blogs along the hop using Random.org to select the winners. If your name is listed below, please send me an email with your mailing address so I can get your prizes out to you!

The first winner, of the Sentimentals Cricut Cartridges is from my blog - Congratulations Brandy!


Winner #2 of the Peachy Keen Happy Lashes Face Assortment is from Bonnie's blog:


Winner #3 of the 6x6 Cosmo Cricket Upcycle paper pad is from Amanda's blog:


And the winner of the Unity Stamp "Love Ewe" set is from Savannah's blog:


Congrats to all the winners!!! Hope you enjoy your goodies!!!

I will announce the Facebook prize winner a little later this morning on my Facebook page - so make sure and check back there a little later this morning!




Tuesday, October 25, 2011

No card...just checking in!

I meant to get something posted this afternoon...but life decided to get in the way! I had some car trouble that took up my whole afternoon, so I just thought I would share a couple of pictures real quickly of my two daughters from this last weekend! We took a drive to enjoy the fall colors, and I managed to snap a couple of cute pictures!

I also wanted to give one last reminder that if you haven't left a comment yet on my Blogiversary post, you have couple of hours left! I will draw a winner first thing tomorrow morning...so click HERE if you want to get in on the fun!

Here are the pictures of my two daughters - I know I'm biased, but I think they are SOOO cute!!!




Monday, October 24, 2011

My Creative Time Design Team Call!

If you are looking for my 1 year blogiversary click HERE or scroll down. Still 2 more days to enter the giveaway! 

I was so excited last night when I saw that Emma over at My Creative Time is having a Design Team Call. I LOVE her sentiment stamps - and use them ALL the time! I have a couple of favorites that I have made with her stamps, but the post said it had to be new, just for this DT call. So, I pulled out my Cricut and stamps, and whipped this together early this morning:


I used Simply Charmed for the cupcake, inked all the layers and added some faux stitching. Added a Peachy Keen face - because I am still addicted to Peachy Keen stamps after last week designing for their blog!


I used a die from My Creative Time to stamp my sentiment on, and added some Baker's Twine. Also pop-dotted the cupcake and sentiment tag from the background for some added fun.


Thanks for stopping by, and thanks Emma for a chance to be on your Design Team! I'm sure no matter what they will be amazing, and I can't wait to see who you pick!

And here, just because I can't resist, are a couple of my FAVORITE projects using Emma's stamps:

Click HERE to see this post!

Click HERE to read this post!

Click HERE to read this post!

Click HERE to read this post!

Click HERE to read this post!

Click HERE to read this post!

Click HERE to read this post!



Saturday, October 22, 2011

One Year Blogiversary, Giveaway, and a Special Introduction!

Welcome to my one year blogiversary celebration! The date was actually 2 days ago,  on October 20th, but since I was busy that day, I decided to save the party for today! I also find it rather perfect, that today I am making post #365. That means I have *almost* posted an entry per day for the last year! Before I go on, can I just say THANK YOU to each of you that has inspired and encouraged me along the way! What a journey this has been - and so much FUN!!! I feel like I have this huge extra family that I have never met!

Anyway, back to today. I have a short blog hop, with some FABULOUS blog friends that have inspired me SOOO much in this journey the last year, and in my creativity! I also have a great giveaway (more on that at the end of this post...) so make sure and leave a comment here for a chance to win. I will be choosing from comments all along the hop, so the more you comment, the better your chances! Here is the line-up:

Heather - You are here!

Now, if you are just visiting my blog for the first time, or have been a follower and wondered why my blog is named Houses Built of Cards, let me give you a short explanation. Like many crafters, I found out quite quickly with how addicting this cardmaking craft is, and that I can never use all the cards I find myself making. I also realized that I could not sell them for enough to justify my time and expenses. Then I realized that I could use them to help someone else. Something that had deeply touched my two young daughters, and filled their prayers,  is what decided the direction to go from there.

We had some connection through my church to a ministry called Sister Connection that works in Burundi Africa to bring hope and healing to the widows and orphans of the Civil War that happened in the 1990’s. One of the ways they do that is by building homes – at an incredible cost of only $600! They hire local builders, and purchase supplies locally as well, fostering a sense of ownership and pride within the community. In Burundian society, widows are viewed as outcasts, and have no one to advocate for them. The miracle of a new home is a testimony to the widow, her children, her community, and ultimately, to the country at-large. “Widows and orphans deserve healing, dignity, and hope!”  

I would like for you to meet someone very special. Her name is Charlotte (Ndimurwanko Charlotte). She is the first recipient of a home through sales of my cards. I have also committed to partnering with her as a sponsor for $30 a month to help provide her and her family with food, seed to plant, clothing, household necessities, medical care, and education assistance.


Charlotte has 3 married children, and she cares for 3 orphaned grandchildren. Her husband passed away in 1983. Her health is not good. This new home will help restore dignity and hope for Charlotte and her children. It is a true testimony of God’s love to the widow and orphan and a constant reminder that they are not forgotten. 
So, I decided to make a special project today - a card I am planning on sending to Charlotte. Cards and notes are encouraged, so I really wanted to make something special and meaningful. Here is what came out of that:

I used Heritage for the silhouette, Elegant Edges for the frame, and Blackletter for the banner on the bottom. The sentiment is from My Creative Time stamps. Added a doily behind the frame, inked that and all the cream paper with Tim Holtz distress ink, and finished off with some machine stitching. 


Now, if you have made it all the way through this LONG post, it's probably about time I told you about the giveaway, right? So...here is a picture! Even though it is all in one picture, I am actually giving each item away separately - so that means there will be FOUR winners!!! I will use Random.org to select the winners on Wednesday morning from all the comments along the hop.


And here's a little bonus hint: this last photo is a giveaway that I am doing on my Facebook page...so head on over and "like" my page and leave a comment answering the question "If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to ____!" on this photo on my page for a chance to win Summer in Paris and some random Unity stamps!


 Once again - thank you for stopping by! Now hop on over to Amanda and see what she has waiting for you!



Peachy Keen Guest Designer week - WINNER!!!

Thank you again for such a FUN week with Peachy Keen stamps! I know everyone says it, but I really wish I could give EVERYONE a prize!!! But, thanks to Random.org, we do have a WINNER!!!



Congratulations!!! I will be sending you an email!


Friday, October 21, 2011

Peachy Keen Guest Design Week - Day 5

Wow! What a fun week it has been! This is my 5th, and final day guest designing on the Peachy Keen Blog. I have had so much fun! I'm still going to be busy...yesterday was my 1 year blogiversary, and the celebration is tomorrow! I have a short blog hop planned, several great giveaways (including some more Peachy Keen Stamps!), and a very special introduction for you. Hope you come back tomorrow for all the fun!!!

 So for my last post, I decided to use 2 more of my favorite sets of face stamps: Princess Face Assortment and Wide Eyed and Bush Tailed Assortment. I used a cut from Meow Lite Cricut cartridge. Doesn't that little cat make you want to laugh?!?!?


Kind of reminds me of my daughter carrying around our cat...he really loves to be petted and loved, but he HATES to get carried by anyone! So he always looks a little annoyed at the inconvenience! Here you can see how I pop-dotted the image from the background.


Added lots of inking and doodling with my white gel pen, and a sentiment from My Creative Time stamps. Also used a Fiskars edge punch along the side of the background paper to make it look like a notebook page.




And tomorrow morning I will be drawing the lucky winner of the prize Peachy Keen allowed me to select to giveaway - a $25.00 gift certificate!!! So make sure and leave a comment here and on the Peachy Keen blog for a chance to win!!!


And if you've made it this far, here are a few more of my favorite projects using these 2 sets:

To see this post click HERE.

To see this post click HERE.
  

To see this post click HERE.

To see this post click HERE.

To see this post click HERE.

To see this post click HERE.

To see this post click HERE.

To see this post click HERE.