Busy, busy, busy....

...But, all in a good way and I have had lots of time to create this week.  On a happy note, I have been feeling better too and one benefit has been spending more time offline and use my iPad to keep up with my craft groups and friends.

   I have lots of fun new cards to share and most all were created with a challenge or theme in mind when I started.  My first card was created for a new Challenge over at Crafting By Designs and it's was based on the idea of created a card using our favorite patterned paper and I did that in two different ways.  The first card I created will be my first Christmas Card for 2012 and was created with one of my favorite Christmas paper sets from last year, Bo Bunny's Snowfall collection.

     And my second card was basically created for fun and used papers from my current favorite set which is Viola from Memory Box.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to create this fun design and found it's a cool design that I've already used again!

  And with the same design in mind, I also created this bright fun card!

  And another....

   And this card was created on Thursday for the Twisted Thursday Challenge over at The Outlawz.  Our theme this week was to to create an Easel card, something I had not done in a long time!  

   My next card was one I created yesterday for the 90 Scramble over at the Hero Arts Group!  I totally enjoy this group and it's a great place for anyone who loves Hero Arts products.   The talent in this group is amazing and I've really enjoyed meeting and creating with everyone.   This is my second time playing in a 90 minute scramble and I totally LOVE them.   It's really a fun challenge and you never know what theme or idea you'll have to work with.  Yesterday, our theme ended up being "Inchies" and we had to use at least three on our card along with a Hero Arts Stamp.   

   Once I quickly dug through my stash and found my "Inchies" I had to decide which of my many wonderful HA stamps that I wanted to use.  I decided to use this set, Merci Bouquet, which is one of my newest and a favorite.  I stamped the image directly onto White Cryogen Cardstock and quickly colored it with my Copics.  I then cut it into four equal section, each jsut under 1" square, so I could adhere them directly to my Black 'inchie' bases.  I was a big Fan of Inchies when they first came out and love the whole concept.  If you would like to see more Inchie Prouduct, please go HERE!!   I've always bought all my Inchie products from Ellen Hutson and I love her store and have shopped there many times.   The service is excellent and I I have always been very pleased with everything I have bought there!   

   My little Inchie Card turned out to be one of my favorite cards this week, and one that I would like to re-create with other designs and colors!!

    I also worked on a second card yesterday and this one is for the Paper a la Mode Challenge being hosted at The Outlawz.  Our challenge this week is "No Coloring" and the technique we need to use is Paper-Piecing to create our project.   I actually love paper-piecing and use it often, but I tend to also color with it, so it was different for me to NOT have any coloring.  It took me a few tries and my first card was a bust, but I do like this one and it's the card I am submitting to the Challenge.  My stamps are again from Hero Arts and the papers are a variety I dug out of my Scrap Bin!!  

  I also has a new Sketch Card to share and it was based off of today's new Sketch #111, from the Stars & Stamps Blog, which I have copied over to share!  

Sketch #111

My Card

  This card is not making me overly happy and I find myself struggling a bit today with the "white space" area of the card and what I want to add.  I did pick out a sentiment from another Hero Arts set, but I feel like this card to not quite right, so I do hope to work on another one!  Anyone have any hints or ideas to improve it?  I'd love to hear them??

  Before I sign off, I have one more card or too to share and this one had been inspired by the favorite paper challenge at CBD.   The stars were punched from the same wonderful Viola paper from Memory Box.  It was a really easy card to create, but is full of color and texture!!  

   I'm off now to work on something new for Operation Write Home and also want to start on a new cards for today's CAS Challenge at The Outlawz.   Our challenge today is to use two different patterned papers and create a very clean and simple cards.  The cards the DT created are all fantastic and I'm think I may use the OWH Sketch and incorporate both challenges together?  

   If I come up with something good, I will be back to share, otherwise, I'm going to keep on creating and working on some new things!!  Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead.

  Update:    I completed a second card based on today's Sketch over at the Stars and Stamps blog - Operation Write Home and also finished up my card for today's new CAS Challenge at The Outlawz.  I used the wonderful new Viola Collection for both cards and I'm much happier with my new OWH card!!   Hope you like it too!

  Revised OWH Sketch Card

Challenge Card

(CAS at The Outlawz)

  
    I'm much happier with my second OWH card and glad I took the time to start over!   Now, I'm off for the night and getting ready to watch "The Amazing Race", once of my favorite shows!!   Nighty Night!!