Use What You Have Challenge, Card #2

Here is another card I made for the same challenge, which you can find  here.

For this one, I wanted to use some sequin trim I had bought in the dollar section at Target, thinking, who couldn't use sequins that cost $1?  I had no idea sequins were going to become a trend!

The stash:

The card:

Although the sequins on a string looked like they would be much easier to deal with, I decided that individual sequins would have been much easier.  I pulled some of them off to add some of the accents at the top.  The sentiment is stamped Colorbox ink and then embossed in clear.

Use What You Have Challenge, Card #1

This card is one of my entries into Sweet Stamp Shop's "Use What You Have Challenge".

The challenge is to use some old supplies that we've neglected, to make something new.  For this first card, I wanted to use some Kelly Purkey letter stickers that I got with a card kit.

The stash:

The card:

Using a technique I learned in Summer Card Camp 2 on layering die cuts, I layered the stickers for a little more dimension, especially since they were going onto an embossed panel.  They were white, and I colored them with a Sharpie (Copics didn't work, the stickers were too glossy.)  The sun is also a die cut made from a couple of layers of cardstic, but I wanted it match the rays, so I inked it with Memento Dandelion, the same ink I used for the rays.  Then I covered the sun with some Glossy Accents.  Love that stuff!

Cuddlepill Designs update

I have a few more cards to share today, but I've also been up to some fun business-promoting things lately.

1.  I participated in SLAM (the Saturday Local Artists' Market) here in Somerville, which was on the same day as ArtBeat, a huge street fair.  While I didn't sell as many cards as I had previously, I got the chance to chat with people and give out some business cards.

2.  I met with a librarian friend who helped me tag my items on Etsy so that they can be more searchable.

3.  I signed up to participate in Assembled, another craft fair in Somerville.  I will be there twice - once on August 24th, and again on Sept. 21.  More info here: http://www.assemblyrow.com/events/#post-1482

4.  I contacted a local store about selling my cards there, and the manager told me to contact him again in October.  At least it's not flat out no, right??

5.  I've been working with a photographer friend of mine to help take better pictures of my cards.  I hope you can see the difference!

Meanwhile, I've mostly been working on those Rosh Hashanah cards for my friend who ordered some, but I also have some other ones to share with you today.

These two were made from ideas and sketches from Summer Card Camp:

And the rest are just general cards that I made so that I would have inventory for the craft fair!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Simon Says Stamp July Card Kit

I just got my August card kit, but I'm still playing with the bright colors from the July card kit!

Here's a card I made using all the patterned papers - I loved how they all fit nicely together, but cutting out all those hexagons took some time!

And here's another one that I made using that one piece of patterned paper with all the little strips of patterns.  I saw it and immediately felt like I needed to take it apart, only to put it back together, in a way.

I hope you enjoy these!

Happy New Year!

Well Summer Card Camp is over, and while I did complete the class, it was so overwhelming that I'm sort of marinating on all the different ideas right now.

Meanwhile, fall will be upon us before we know it, and the Jewish holidays are early this year, which means it's time for me to start making Shana Tova cards.  I sold a few at a craft fair last weekend, and am trying to persuade my friends to buy sets of cards to send to their loved ones.  :)

Here are some, and I also asked a friend to help with photographing them, so I hope you can see the difference!

I decided to go with a bee/honey theme for most of them, since I figure everyone is sick of the traditional Shofar and Star of David nonsense.

Also, here is a birthday card I made for my dad.  He lives in Florida and loves the ocean.

Summer Card Camp, Day 1!

I'm back... I have been neglecting the blog lately, which is part of the reason why I signed up for Online Card Classes' Summer Card Camp 2.  I didn't take Summer Card Camp 1, but I'm excited nonetheless.

Yesterday was our first day of class, so I have some homework to show off to you.

This first card is a simple one that uses the colors suggested to us for the first week, but none of the sketches.      Those chevrons are stamped in grey ink and then the spaces are colored in with Copics.  (Side note:  Whenever I hear people say "Coh-pick", I always think of The Cutting Edge and "Toe pick!"  Anybody else?)

The second card follows one of the sketches almost exactly, and I used Jennifer McGuire's technique of making the banner be the entire front of the card, so that is the part that opens.  I also used her technique of layering the die cute, in order to give it a little more dimension.

Sorry these pictures are a little dark... a friend is working with me to take better pictures, and teach me how to use my camera.  In the meantime, though, be thankful they are in focus! :)

Cards galore!

Hi! I know I've been away for a while, I don't even have an excuse... I've been job hunting, and have been a busy bee crafting.  Sorry for neglecting my blog, but when I sit down to make stuff, I just want to make stuff, not have to worry about taking pictures of it.  Though I do like to show off! :)

So without further ado, here is a little photo album of all the stuff I have been making lately.

This first one is an invitation I did for my grandfather's 90th birthday party.  The inside is just printed from the computer and mounted, but it took about 3 weeks to put 25 of these together.  That was a lot of die cuts, and a lot of poking the little pieces out of that die.

I started doing these cards with the sketched rainbow background, and liked it so much I made like 4 of them.  Here are two.

The layout for this one was inspired by one of Kristina Werner's cards that I found on Pinterest.

New dies from Avery Elle below!

This next one is probably one my favorite ones I have ever made.  When I started it, I was all, "I don't even like making baby cards."   But then I thought of the toys in the envelope, and now I love the way it came out!  The toys are stamps from Lawn Fawn, MamaElephant, and various Etsy shops.

And here's my Mother's Day version of that same card.

Whew!  So much fun to make all of these.  Thanks for stopping by and sticking around!