(Lotsa) CPS cards...

My friend Cindy came over today and after we perused Archivers and Jamba, we created some CPS 156 cards using this sketch:

And here's the one my friend made and gave me for my birthday (in addition to some of the best homemade salsa in the world!)

And finally...just another random clock card.

Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a :-)

CAS Again :-)

I love the Tim Holtz sentiment that I used for this card.  It's a reminder to me that I need to live each day carefully, because there's no do-overs.  While it is true that God's mercies are new each morning, my desire is to live in a way that I have no regrets at the end of the day.
It's not so clear in the photo, but I used liquid glass to pop the sun and the word art.

I have several card projects I am working on for gifts and feel like discovering the Clean And Simple challenges were a huge help.  Here's this week's CAS sketch:
: 
The card above, which uses one of the wonderful Tim Holtz sentiments, also meets the criteria for :
Daring Cardmakers  (sunshine)  and
Stamp Something  (DP, buttons and ribbon)

Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a : )

Thursday on Friday...

Since I had class last night, I didn't actually create any cards yesterday, but I did peruse a couple of challenges and started one that I finished today:

This was for two challenges.  

The first was the above sketch from 

Lili of theValley  and Cute Card Thursday which was to use ribbon.  Now I'm off to pick up Alyssa and Matthew before tackling a Friday challenge since Scott has a late night of work.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marie with a :-)
PS  I received a wonderful box of goodies from my sister today...you can check out some of the handmade goodies HERE

Outside of (my) box...

 I decided I needed to do something different from my same old, same old so decided to play with paint.  Here's a vintage-ish card I came up with for FOUR challenges:

 The four challenges were:
1) a sketch by my grafico


2) A color challenge by The Color Throwdown (pink, brown and green): 

3) Use of a butterfly, angel or fairy from Flutter By Wednesday

4) and use of a pop up by Crafty Creations

Now I'm off to make muffins for Scott's breakfast.  Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a :-)

My Time To Craft Challenge 80: In The Frame

When I saw the challenge for My Time To Craft  - In the Frame - I pulled out the sizzix frame die that I purchased last summer and had not yet used. I also pulled out a stamp that I got on clearance at Hobby Lobby this past summer and had only used once or twice.  It was clearanced for $2.20 and then they gave me an additional 50 percent off...for a total of $1.10...the next best thing to free :-)

   

 Now I'm off to have some popcorn and play Word Blur with my family :-)  Thanks for stopping by!

Marie with a :)

FTTC55

I used scraps from my previous card, and the same stamp set, to create this quick and easy card for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge, which was to use flowers on your card.

Wishing you lots of everything wonderful,
Marie with a : )

Our Daily Bread challenge

Our Daily Bread has a fun challenge going on right now called Secret Admirer. The challenge is to case the card or project of a crafter you admire.  There's a lot of crafter's out there that I admire, but from the very first time I saw one of  Silke Ledlow's cards,  I was stunned.  I love all of her white on white and the way she is able to keep her cards uncluttered yet stunningly beautiful.  Here's my take on one of her cards:

Mine doesn't come close to hers and my photography skills are woefully lacking.  Peruse her blog and see if you can find the card I cased :-)

Whew, nine cards and a number of challenges for me this weekend...it's snowy and cold and indoors has been a good place to be!
Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a :-)

CPS 155, OCC and SSIC 27

One of my favorite Close To My Heart products is the window charms - these acryllic "bubbles" come in both squares and circles, which I used for the pocket watch above.

The first card incorporates all three challenges: CPS 155 (sketch above),Our Creative Corner  (a new technique - I used crackle paint on the butterflies which was new for me) and Stampin' Sisters in Christ  which is based on Esther 4:14 and was to use a time piece of some sort.  The second card also fits the SSIC challenge.  You really should head over there and read what Laurie has to say about this Scripture and see the wonderful creations there.

Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a :-)

Unscripted 43

I've been so busy trying to organize the kabillion pictures on my computer that I didn't realize how late it was!  Here's my take on the Unscripted Sketches 43 challenge.  I've been trying to keep my cards simple and using sketches to create at least two cards...and succeeded tonight :-)

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a :-)

I'm in love...

with the new blog/challenge I found.  It suits me to a tee...I love simplicity.  It is called Clean and Simple and here's my take(s) on this week's sketch challenge:

I have spent most of this morning helping the girls organize their craft area (they have been crafting like crazy.  They have TONS of supplies and I recently handed down my Cuttlebug to them since I have the Big Shot) and now need to get a few chores done before making dinner and getting ready for church.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Marie with a :-)

I Love Freebies: a fun day @ Archivers

Because our van was acting up, Scott took Alyssa to work this morning, and then left me the car to pick her up.So I left early and  ran into Archivers...which is conveniently located right across the street from where Alyssa works...to pick up my "free" gift. (A free gift means you've been a loyal customer...the first year I started scrapbooking I spent a lot of time and money at Archivers...and I've made "the list" ever since for the freebies.)  Anyway, it is a cool key stamp with matching screen and some glimmer mist!  Plus they were giving out these beautiful sets of flowers and butterflies.  I love FREE :-)

After I met Alyssa, I asked if she wanted to make a vintage album at Archivers,which was the "project" make and take for their Make and Take weekend.  I was quite surprised when she said yes!  We had lots of fun and we LOVE our vintage albums. Here's mine (of course I didn't exactly follow directions, but anyone who knows me, knows that was to be expected...)

And I was still in the crafting mood after dinner (southwestern chicken soup to go with the snow we were gifted with last night :-) ) so while some of my gang watched the Olympics, the younger girls and I headed to the craft room(s).  I'm so excited that M and E have been crafting up a storm lately.  I've even learned a few things from them.

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie wit a :-)

Simple, Simple and More Simple

I had a little time to play in the craft room but ended up looking at my blogging buddies creations more than actually creating.  I'm really on a "Keep It Simple" kick.  Here's the quick and easy cards I came up with:

I love the giant SU Medallion stamp.

For this one, I used a leather texture plate that my sister Samantha gave me. I really like the look IRL.

If you click on the photo you can see the cool texture.  The flowers were inspired by my 11 and 14 year old daughters.  They sprayed glimmer mist on card stock and crumpled it up while still wet, then opened up the cs to dry before punching out flowers.  They have a cool texture tool

Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a  :-)

Tri-shutter card

When I first saw my sister Samantha's tri-shutter, I thought "I doubt I will attempt that!"  Then my friend Theda came over and showed me how to do both the tri-shutter and the stair-step card so I decided to give it a try:

Here's the open look. (As always, you can click on the photo to enlarge.)

And here's what it looks like closed.


Thanks for taking a peek!
Marie with a :-)

Card Pattern masculine valentine-ish cards :-)

I have six kids...three of them are boys.  So between three sons and a husband, I need lots of masculine cards...but find them a challenge, since I'm a flowery- scroll - sparkle kind of girl :-) I used the Card Patterns sketch to create a card for both my husband and one of my sons.

Thanks for taking a peek,
Marie with a :-)