Ahhhh...to create for challenges again...how refreshing!! I've had a little more time with the critters back in school and was itchin' for a challenge! Embellish Magazine's most recent challenge..."Quirky - Cutesy - Clean Style" proved to be a serious challenge for this shabby, vintage lovin' girl. I wasn't sure if I had a quirky, cutesy or clean bone (or stamp set) in me (and one of my cards really shows it!)

I created this card after I felt I had totally failed on the first one (posted also below). I forgot I had picked up this sweet and inexpensive set at CHA...Up, Up and Away by Papertrey Ink. This little banner is certainly clean and tidy...

...as is this fun little airplane below! I colored them both with watercolor pencils and used my Copic blender pen to blend a little. My Aqua Flo brush just wouldn't allow me to stay in those tiny little spaces, but the Copic marker did the trick. I'm trying to build up my Copic supply so I can start practicing with those...but for now...the watercolor pencils did just fine. The clouds were cut out of white glitter felt with Papertrey's die cuts and then I stamped the polka dots (a little quirkyness?) on them (Background Basics - Retro - PTI).

The little plaid strip on the lower portion was made with some stripes from Background Basics - Retro again, with Melon Berry and Aqua Mist inks. I used PTI's ric rac die with their MB cardstock for the trim. It was all set on Kraft cardstock (PTI). I really like this little set and the way the card turned out. It was for our little next door neighbor.

The next card was my "failure" card when it comes to cutesy, quirky and clean, but I couldn't let it go to waste. I used a sentiment, stems and bumble bee image from PTI's Honey Bee's...another really nice and inexpensive set...

It's hard to see but I stamped some light "wheat" bees on the painted chipboard before applying some glittered clear embossing powder to the whole thing. The chipboard (Tim Holtz) framed in a little handmade flower (Sweet Blush and Melonberry cardstock) with some stems and leaves (Turning a New Leaf).

The sentiment described the little church friend this card was going to perfectly.
The "Mary, Mary..." papers from My Mind's Eye gave just a bit of a honeycomb feel and the Aqua Mist ribbon and buttons from PTI finished the whole thing off.

So, so happy to be creating again!! Next week will leave little spare time as I dig deep and prepare for new carpet to be put down in this 12 year old house. Hope to see you again soon, though!!

Have a great week!!

Geri

I'm sure many of you are like me and can't believe that summer is over (for all practical purposes) and it's once again time for school. This is my first year to say goodbye to all three kids on the first day of school, as my baby girl is finally in Kindergarten and heading out for the first time with her big brothers. Daddy took her and her 2nd grade brother. She gave me a big smiley, "Bye...I love you Mommy!!!" She didn't even let him walk her to her classroom. She went on her own with a lunch box, backpack and two bags of supplies hanging on her arms. Those of you who know her probably aren't surprised at that little strong-willed and independent spirit of hers shining through on her first day of Kindergarten, are you?! I wasn't either!

I was more surprised at how hard it was to drop the oldest one off at middle school for the first time and watch him walk away, knowing how nervous my big baby boy was. He was so excited though. "Just think...no more walking in lines, Mom!!" He and the others came home just as excited as when they left...Daddy and I were very relieved.

I got a back-to-school gig, myself! At the end of last year, the Title teacher at the kids' school 'ordered' 25 clipboards for the teachers to receive on their first day back this school year. I posted back in May some that I had made as door prizes for Teacher Appreciation week. Even though the Title teacher was in charge of organizing all the goodies for the teachers that week, SHE was the first one to win a clipboard. She like it so much, she wanted all the teachers to have one this year. This is what I came up with. Had to keep it somewhat simple since I was trying to keep the cost down, and knew that what ever I did, I would have to do it 25 times. Tried to keep it kind of a 'classic teacher look' that everyone might go for...

The black paper was from DCWV and the other paper was from Paper Pizazz. The sentiment at the bottom was from PTI's Teachers Apple and PTI inks were used also, as well as their ric rac die. I was really pleased the inks did not bleed at all under the mod podge.

I cut some wool felt from JoAnn's with one of PTI's Beautiful Blooms dies and free-handed some leaves to embellish the clip. The ruled ribbon was also from JoAnn's, and I was able to come up with 25 creme buttons from my own stash for the flower centers. I really enjoyed this little project. I love doing nice things to support teachers, since I was one myself and know what comes with the job. It's always nice to know you're appreciated. My goal is to come up with a little something each six weeks for my younger two kids' teachers and assistants this year. We'll see how that goes...I'll keep you posted (no pun intended!!)

I'm so looking forward to having a little more time to craft now that the kids are back in school. We had a great summer but I have to admit...a few hours in my craft room each week does wonders for my attitude and I have really been missing it the last few weeks! I'm so looking forward to it again!! It's almost a relief to know we'll ALL be more productive now that our "school days" are back.

Thanks for stopping!

Geri