Perfectly Pink at Rainbow Card Challenge

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

It's the first of the month, so that means it's time for a new challenge at Rainbow Card Challenge.  Our theme this month is Perfectly Pink although your card does NOT have to be perfect, if you don't want to!  What we do ask is that it is MONOCHROMATIC PINK, but we don't mind a hint of another color if necessary.

And here's my card...

Card: Unbranded card blank and SU's pink pirouette and sweet sugarplaum
Stamp set: SU's Touches of Texture
Ink: Worn Lipstick Distress Ink
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson's Cascading Butterfly die and unbranded rhinestones

Challenges...
#188 Spring is Here at Crafty Gals Corner
#214 AG at Artistic Inspirations
#349 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Yummy Yellow at Rainbow Card Challenge

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

It's the first of the month, so that means it's time for a new challenge at Rainbow Card Challenge.  Our theme this month is Yummy Yellow although your card does NOT have to be yummy, if you don't want to!  What we do ask is that it is MONOCHROMATIC YELLOW, but we don't mind a hint of another color if necessary.

And here's my card...

Card: SU's whisper white, daffodil delight, and so saffron
Ink: Antique linen Distress Ink
Stamp sets: SU's Timeless Textures
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions Petite Petal Mini Striplet, SU's Petite Petals punch, Nuvo sparkle shimmer pen, and unbranded rhinestones

Challenges...
AG at TTCRD
Wk 9 AG at Polkadoodles
#218 AG at 613 Avenue Create

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

End of Term Blog Hop at House of Cards

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

The end of the 6 month long DT term at House of Cards would usually mean it's time for a Blog Hop.  Today is no different in that regard, but after much thought and deliberation between HoC's owner Mynn and DT Co-ordinator Judy, they have come to the very difficult decision that this month will be the last challenge at House of Cards.

It is, of course, a decision which myself and the other Design Team members fully understand.  I'm sure we'll all continue to support both amazing ladies, as well as each other, when the doors to our House close. 

I am beyond honored to have been with the team for SEVEN terms, or 3 and half years, plus a GDT spot in early 2015 before joining that July.  And have been utterly inspired by all the amazing creations, not just from the DT, but challenge participants too!  Thank you! 

We're not done yet, and this month's challenge will run until December 15, after which the winners will be posted.  Here's the gorgeous inspiration photo...

Our hop sponsor is Beccy's Place...

Prize - $10.00AU Gift Certificate 

And here's my card, using a gorgeous poinsettia from one of Beccy's sets which I printed twice...

Card: SU's Whisper White, Basic Black, and Cherry Cobbler

Markers: Spectrum Noir
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions Noble Ornate Pierced Squares and Intermediate Weaving dies, Die'sire Downton Abbey Bow die, and Nuvo Sparkle Shimmer pen

Challenges...
#340 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (bow cut 3 times from cherry cobbler card and stacked)
AG at TTCRD
Wk 47 AG at Polkadoodles

Here's the hop order...

House of Cards Blog

Cohenna 

Donna 

Em <--- you are here

Judy 

Karen

Michele

Rocky 

Rosi 

Sue N. 

Susan 

Make sure you leave a comment at each person's blog along the way because the prize is hidden and we'll be doing a random drawing from the blogs where it is hiding! :) 

 After you're done, we would love for you to make a creation to share with us, too.

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Autumn Flowers and/ or Colors at House of Cards

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

It's the 1st of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge at House of Cards.  This month we're asking you to create a project using fall flowers, and or the colors from the inspiration photo...

And here's my cards...

I used both the inspiration photo and colors to create twin backgrounds, inlaying the fall away pieces from one into the other

I changed the popsicle to an ice cream, but kept to the color palette.

Card: SU's whisper white, early espresso, so saffron, peekaboo peach and tiny snippets of mossy meadow for the leaves
Ink: Mowed Lawn and Wild Honey Distress Inks
Tools and embellishments: Birch Press Delfina layer die background die, Sue Wilson's Sweet William (leaves) and Striped Nasturtiums

Challenges...
#336 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (used snippets for flowers and leaves)
#175 Anything Fall Goes at Crafty Gals Corner
AG at TTCRD

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Birthday and/ or Colors at House of Cards

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

It's the 1st of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge at House of Cards.  This month we're asking you to create a project for a birthday, and or the colors from the inspiration photo...

And here's my cards...

I've kept the personal theme going and again used Avery and Owen images from the Paper Nest Dolls, but changed up the dies while sticking to the color palette.  Do you think they are bringing me belated gifts for my birthday last week?  Grin

Card: Unbranded White, and SU's Dapper Denim, Bermuda Bay, Sweet Sugarplum and Blushing Bride
Markers: Spectrum Noir
Images: Paper Nest Dolls Birthday Owen and Cupcake Avery
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for CE Pacific Ocean Background, rhinestones from my stash, and Nuvo Sparkle Shimmer pen

Challenges...
Wk 35 AG at Polkadoodles
AG at TTCRD
#173 AG at Crafty Gals Corner

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Patterned Paper &/ or Colors with HOC Team 4

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

House of Cards Design Team 4 are sharing our creations with you today for our current challenge. This month it's to create a card or project featuring patterned paper and or use the colors in this inspiration image...

And here's a reminder of my card...

Full details can be found on the original post here.

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.  In the meantime, please take a look here at what my Team 4 teamie Sue has created.

Patterned Paper and/ or Colors at House of Cards

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

It's the 1st of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge at House of Cards.  This month we're asking you to create a project using patterned paper and or the colors from the inspiration photo...

And here's my card...

Similarly to last month, I've used another image from the Paper Nest Dolls, some of the color palette, and the same die/ embossing folder combo.  Yes, the little man is a bit pinker than usual, but perhaps he's spent a bit too much time in the sun?

Card: Unbranded White and SU Dapper Denim
Markers: Spectrum Noir
Image: Owen with Toy Boat from the Paper Nest Dolls
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions Noble Ornate Pierced Squares, CE Pinpoint Waves embossing folder, and Nuvo Sparkle Shimmer pen (on the boat)

Challenges...
#150 AG at Creative Fingers
Wk 30 AG at Polkadoodles
AG at TTCRD

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Another Tower Twofer

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments.  I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Today's cards have been patiently waiting in my "To Blog" pile for quite some time.  They were among the first towers I created, but kept back because I didn't want to bore you with so many!  So, it's kinda appropriate that they appear today, as my post scheduling shifts to twice weekly, or as will happen this, three times thanks to my HoC DT post on Wednesday!

Why have I made the change?  Well, a couple weekends ago, I started my own Facebook group, "Creative Crew," where crafters and visual artists who work with any and all mediums are welcome, and the only rules are to be respectful and kind.  And as part of that, a series will begin here this Friday, "Creative Crew Showcase."  I'll say more about it in that post, but in the meantime I'd love you to join the group if you're on Facebook!

Despite the fuzziness (sorry!) of the 1st photo, I love how they are the same, yet different.  The dies and style are among my favorites, but they can both rest awhile now.  Grin.

Card: SU's Sweet Sugarplum and Thick Whisper White
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for CE Finishing Touches Cascading Butterflies, and rhinestones and pearls from my stash

Challenges...
#331 Use Snippets at Pixies Snippets Playground
#205 AG at Artistic Inspirations
AG at Not Just Cards

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Food Image &/ or Colors with HOC Team 4

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

House of Cards Design Team 4 are sharing our creations with you today for our current challenge. This month it's to create a card or project featuring a popsicle or other food image, and or use the colors in this inspiration image...

And here's a reminder of my card...

Full details can be found on the original post here.

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.  In the meantime, please take a look here at what my Team 4 teamie Sue has created.

Popsicle or Food Image and/ or Colors at House of Cards

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

It's the 1st of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge at House of Cards.  I'm honored to be starting my 7th term among such a great group of talented designers, and I do so as the new Team Leader of Team 4.  To say I was blown away when offered the position after my dear friend Shawna stepped down is an understatement!

This month we're asking you to create a project using a popsicle or other food image, and or the colors from the inspiration photo...

And here's my card...

I changed the popsicle to an ice cream, but kept to the color palette.

Card: Unbranded White and SU Blushing Bride
Markers: Spectrum Noir
Image: Ice Cream Avery from the Paper Nest Dolls
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for CE Noble Ornate Pierced Squares, CE Pinpoint Waves embossing folder, rhinestones from my stash, and Nuvo Sparkle Shimmer pen

Challenges...
#53 AG at CARDZ TV
#409 Summer is here at 4 Crafty Chicks
Cookie challenge #97 at Give a Crafter a Cookie

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Petite Petal Mini Striplet Tower

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Today's card is a combination of a favorite die and card style...

Card: SU's Thick Whisper White, Sweet Sugarplum, Emerald Envy, and unbranded silver mirror
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for CE Petite Petal Mini Striplet and unbranded rhinestones

Challenges...
#6 More than 1 fold at Crafter's Castle
#148 AG at Creative Fingers
#181 Add some bling at Dream Valley Challenges

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

MHKDesigns Branched Birds 2

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments.  I truly appreciate them all!

The card I'm sharing with you today is the second I created with the now not to be released Branched Birds digi stamp set from MKHDesigns.

Markers: Spectrum Noir
Dies and embellishments: Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions Sintra from the Portuguese Collection (image and its frame) and Oslo from the Scandinavian Collection, and rhinestones from my stash

Challenges...
#6 AG at Crafter's Castle
#210 AG at 613 Avenue Create
#23 AG at Polkadoodles

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

End of Term Blog Hop at House of Cards

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Can you believe we are at the end of another term here at House of Cards?!  Unfortunately we are saying a fond farewell to some of our DT members and fortunately, we are so happy to those staying on.  To say goodbye and thank you, we're celebrating with a blog hop! 

This hop is also a DESIGN TEAM CALL! If you are interested in joining our team, please put "DT" after your name when you enter. You will be notified by June 25th about your application!

This hop will run FROM JUNE 1ST AT 6:00 AM CST THROUGH JUNE 15TH AT NOON CST,  ANY CARD STYLE is welcome and we've got a gorgeous photo inspiration for your crafting enjoyment!

***PRIZE WINNERS FROM THE BLOG HOP WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE 20TH OF JUNE.  CARD WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT MONTH ON THE 15TH, AS PER THE USUAL HERE AT HOC.  THANK YOU!***

Here is the photo inspiration...

And here's my card...

Card: Unbranded white, and scraps of SU's Pink Pirouette and Crumb Cake
Image: Flower Corner from digistamps4joy
Markers: Spectrum Noir
Embellishments: butterfly dies from Sue Wilson for CE Butterfly Circle, and Nuvo glitter gloss pen

Challenges...

Here are all of our fabulous sponsors.

Our team will be using a variety of products

from these amazing companies!

MHKDesigns

Prize: Any three products of your choice!

2 Prizes - 2 Digis Each

So, are you ready to get hopping?! 

Make sure you leave a comment at each person's blog along the way because the prizes are hidden and we'll be doing random drawings from the blogs where they are hiding! :)  After you're done, make a creation to share with us here, too, for another chance to win!

Here's your hop order....

 

House of Cards Challenge Blog

 Judy

Cohenna 

Donna 

Em<--- you are here

Jane

Karen 
Katarina 

Michele 
Rocky 
Rosi 

Shawna 
Sue N. 
Susan 

Now get to hoppin'!  Your next stop is Jane's Blog!  Don't forget to link up a project with us after completing the hop for an extra chance to win a mystery prize from one of our fabulous sponsors, too!  HUGS and happy stamping to you all! :)

Challenges...
#50 AG at Simon Says Wednesday
#22 Flowers at Pause Dream Enjoy
AG at TTCRD


I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

MHKDesigns Branched birds

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

As everyone knows by now, MHKDesigns has sadly closed its doors.  But because I had already created this and another card using the now not to be released digi set Branched Birds, I still want to show you the cards.

I'll show you the other card on its scheduled date later this month.

Card: Unbranded White and SU's Tempting Turquoise
MHKDesigns Stamp set: Branched Birds
Markers: Spectrum Noir
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions Herald Square from the New York Collection (image cut out with the largest die too)

Challenges...
#327 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (turquoise card)
#50 AG at Simon Says Wednesday
AG at TTCRD

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Tower Card Pictorial

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

After posting my tower card earlier this week Kate asked how they are made.  So, while I tried to explain in a reply to her comment, it's much easier to see visibly.  By its nature the post is image heavy, so sit back and enjoy!

The card can be made in a number of sizes, but all mine fit into a 5" x 7" envelope.  So begin life as a 7" x 9" card, which is then scored on the long side at 1", 2", 3", 6", 7" and 8"...

Fold both the 2" and 7" lines back.  You can also fold all others forward at this point, but for ease of photography I left that until later...

Using a ruler and pencil, mark each side every 1/2".  You can use a stylus to do this, but using a pencil makes cutting with scissors easier...

Mark the cut lines to the center (3" and 6") scorelines...

Keeping the sides under, cut all lines through both layers of card to the center scores...

It was at this point which I burnished the other lines, and this is what it will look like opened up...

Erase the pencil lines and carefully push alternating cuts to the back.  It doesn't matter whether the bottom is in or out because it will stand both ways...

View from above to show the towers which give the style its name...

The card can now be decorated as desired.  Although I've not added a solid layer to the center, the offcut piece is perfect to use for this or another such card...

Card: SU's Thick Whisper White, Sweet Sugarplum and Blushing Bride
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for CE Bora Bora from the Pacific Ocean collection, SU's long retired Petite Petal punch, and unbranded rhinestones

Challenges...
#200 AG at Artistic Inspirations
#166 AG at Crafty Gals Corner
#151 AG at Inspiration Destination

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.