Monday Lunchtime Sketch

I'll be continuing with the Valentines theme here for a while, and since Mary Jo has been kind enough to include hearts in her next few Lunchtime Sketches, it works out perfectly!

Check out her blog for the sketch and details.

This stamp set (Moose You) has some cute animals with fun play on words. I love this little porky with the "stuck on you" sentiment.

I didn't really follow traditional Valentine's colors, but thought it would still work.

The pumpkin pie background has been dry embossed with a heart texture plate.

I'll be back next week with the next sketch challenge, but probably not before. Have a great week everyone.

Technostamper's 100th Sketch

Well, that wasn't a very long "blogging break," but I had to play along for Mary Jo's 100th Monday Lunchtime sketch.

Wow, I can't believe she has come up with 100 different card layout ideas! Way to go, Mary Jo!

I'm starting to think about Valentine's Day for my Etsy Shop. I'll begin putting cards in there in early January. So that was my theme for this sketch.

This is some very old designer paper (Loves Me), that I have just a few pieces of, so I thought I should use some of it up. The punched out hearts both have crystal effects on them. The "highlighted" words that the arrow is pointing to say, loves me."

Don't forget to check out Mary Jo's blog, and her cards this week.

Blogging Break

I'm feeling like I need to take a blogging break. Right now, it's not something I'm enjoying, but more feeling like it's a duty. I don't want this blog to be like that. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to continue the blog, or just quit it, so until then, I'm taking a break.

Thanks for understanding!

I should add, that this does not mean that I am not making cards. I still am, and am posting them in my Etsy shop. I just won't be posting anything new here for a while.

TSSC97--Sort of

I think I should just call this day "Mary Jo Monday," since most of my Monday posts are inspired by her wonderful sketches. (Check out her blog for all the details.)

I didn't follow this sketch exactly, just sort of, kind of. I think she wanted the card to be square, but since I'm posting it in my Etsy shop, and a rectangular card is easier to mail, I didn't do square.

I followed the layer and the rounded corners, up until you get to the focal image. Then there was supposed to be another rectangle. I was planning on putting the snowflakes down in a vertical line, but they looked better "blowing" across the card. So that's that. :)

You can't tell from this picture, but the snowflakes are sparkly too, with dazzling diamonds embossing powder.

I'm not sure if I will get anything else posted this week, since Thanksgiving dinner is at my house.

Have a wonderful week, and great Thanksgiving day! Eat lots...I know I will!

Sense Of Time

This card has a slightly masculine feel to it, but yet, I don't think it has to be given to a man. The sentiment says, "An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth."

I'm not always a big fan of sayings like this, but I do really like this one. I think because life is so busy, it's nice to think of just enjoy time.

Both of the clock centers have a brad in them, giving it slightly more dimension.

The brown cardstock has been dry embossed, and then sanded. It looks a little like suede. A great all occasion card for anyone!

Embossed Snowflakes

It's not too often that I pull out my heat gun, and heat emboss. It's a messy business, and I usually end up with fine, embossing powder all over that place. Once in a while though, it's worth the effort.

This card is like a gently falling snow. Each of the flakes is stamped on glossy white cardstock, and then sprinkled with clear embossing powder. Once the powder melts, you have a slightly raised image.

After that, I rubbed different shades of blue over the cardstock. The embossed images resist the ink, so they stay their orginal color.

The metal tag frames "joy," which is covered in an irridescent, sparkly embossing powder. It reflects the light just like fresh fallen snow.

She Keeps Me Going

I was going through a little bit of an unmotivated phase. I didn't know what to make, and therefore, I didn't feel like trying. Mary Jo, has inspired many of my cards with her wonderful sketches though, and that was were I started today.

This layout is for her Monday Sketch Challenge.

Make sure you check out her blog, to get all the details, and see what she's come up with.

At first I did not have any words on the front of this card, and it just didn't look finished. Once I added the sentiments though, I was happy.

I was having so much fun, that I made another card with the same layout:

And since I still had some time until the kids arrived home from school, I made a card with last weeks layout. I really meant to play along last Monday, but never had a chance to sit down and make the card. So, better late than never!

Thanks so much Mary Jo!