Freshly Made Sketch 328

Here today with a card for the Freshly Made Sketch #328 challenge.

That little square on the right gave me a little angst, but all’s well that ends well, right?  I used my new Mixed Bouquet stamp set for the flowers.  And I think I am on a navy blue kick – can’t seem to leave my Enchanted Evening DP alone.  And Berry Sorbet is my new go-to color.

Freshly Made Sketches #328 challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you are in for a wonderful weekend!

-Ally

Pink, Red, and Gray

In addition to coloring all my stamped images, I sometimes like to sit and do some sponging on white cardstock, just to have some on hand for when I get around to using them and also to practice my blending skills.  I used one of the ombre panels for this card.  I’m not much of a Valentine kind of person, so I turned these Color Throwdown Valentine colors into a birthday card, instead.

This card was designed for the Freshly Made Sketches #323 challenge:

And also for the Color Throwdown #479 challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by today.
-Ally

Painted Petals – Freshly Made

It was tricky getting into the craft room today, as we were busy with a field trip.  (We’ve been learning about Johannes Gutenberg and his wonderful printing press in our history lessons – how amazingly blessed we all are because of him!)  But I was able to sneak in for a few minutes to create a little something for 2 challenges.

Painted Petals is one of my favorite Papertrey Ink anniversary sets.  Yet, like most of my stamp sets, it has been used so infrequently!  I have actually started to give each stamp set and die collection a test run as they arrive at my doorstep, so that even if I don’t get a card made immediately, at least there will be some in my pre-made stash so that I can grab them and make something in a hurry when I actually do have extra time.  Anyway, I love this stamp set – such adorable flower images!  And I have really loved the Mix + Mat series, with all the fun variety in patterns and designs.  Their versatility makes them fun to use.

This card was designed for the Freshly Made Sketches #322 challenge:

And also for the Color Throwdown #478 challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Happy Crafting!
-Ally

Freshly Made Sketches 200

Stopping in today to join the Freshly Made Sketches 200 celebration.

I love the FMS sketches.  I can always count on them to help get my creativity going.  And lately, I have definitely needed help getting my creativity going!  Summer has been a crazy ride, and I am really looking forward to the great calm down that autumn brings with it.

Anyhoo.  Here is my creation for the challenge:

The cane print layer at the bottom is a shimmery silver, which I cannot capture AT ALL with my meager photography skills, but which is so pretty in real life.  In fact, I wish I had a magic wand for photographing white, in general.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I’m sure it will be awhile before I am back.  😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Script Sentiments (Sweet & Sassy Stamps)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Smokey Shadow Cardstock (PTI); Shimmer Cardstock (DCWV)
Inks:  Delicata Silvery Shimmer (Tsukineko)
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections, Kaisercraft); Misc Satin Ribbon; Misc Buckle

Hello There, Yellow and Blue

Not sure why I felt the need to try the ColourQ challenge #296 color scheme, but I gave it a go.  I also used Freshly Made Sketches #192.  Just having some fun, creating.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Hennah Elements (Altnew); Fancy Flourishes, Scripted (Papertrey Ink)
Paper/Cardstock:  White (Xpedx); Enchanted Evening Striped DP, Lemon Tart (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Harvest Gold, Enchanted Evening (PTI); Marina Mist (SU); Copic markers
Embellishments:  Rhinestones, Enamel Dots (Recollections)

Happy Belated Birthday, Marybeth!

Joyce contacted me to ask if I would like to participate in a belated Birthday Blog Hop for our sweet blogging friend Marybeth, and obviously I said, “Of course!”  Marybeth is such a sweet, sweet lady, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to create my first card in over a month to help celebrate her life!

Marybeth, I hope your birthday was a great day, and I hope the next year will be filled with much happiness and joy and everything good in your life!  Thank you so much for all the lovely and kind comments you leave on my blog and for your sweet friendship.  You’re a wonderful person with a beautiful spirit, and I’m so happy that I’ve had the opportunity to get to know you through our blogs.  Hugs and blessings to you, my friend!

This image is from Annabelle Stamps, colored with Copic markers and spritzed with sparkle shimmer mist.  I did use the Freshly Made Sketches #100 challenge to assist me, and I’ll post this over at Seize the Birthday, too.

Here is a list of all the Birthday Blog Hop participants, so you can check out all the beautiful birthday love created for Marybeth.

Joyce / Cathy / Ally / Bev / Bonnie / Carol J.  / Carol S.
Christina / Darnell / Helen / Jeanne / Jill / Kara / Kelly / Kim
Lisa / Nancy / Renee / Sharron / Sue / Tracey / Vickie

Hope you’re all doing well!  Thanks for stopping by today, and…

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Marybeth!!  Hugs and best wishes to you.  😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Squared Posies (Annabelle Stamps); Flower Blocks 2 (Sweet & Sassy Stamps)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Soft Stone Designer Paper (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copic Markers
Embellishments:  Ribbon (Offray); Rhinestones (Recollections); Sparkle Shimmer Mist (Tsukineko)
Tools:  Stripes Impression Plate (PTI)

Freshly Made Sketch 94

Hi there.  😉

There are only 40 days until our local schools are back in session.  Though I know that the heat will continue on through a few weeks in September, the thought of nearing the end of the ‘crazy’ season (a.k.a. Summer) is comforting to me.  We’ve had some changes going on at our house, and I anticipate more as we head into a new year of lessons in the fall.  I’ll have a 4th grader and two 1st graders in our little academy, and I’m looking forward to all that the new year holds.  But it will definitely be a balancing act!

I’m sad to say that, though I had hoped to still have time for it, blogging and keeping up with craft challenges is about to take a big hit.  There has not been an official announcement yet, but I have resigned from the Fusion DT in order to free up a bit of time and to consolidate and focus my crafting opportunities.  I think I might be looking at only one card being created per week.  And I think that might be on my LUCKY weeks!

I’ve done a whole lot of soul searching over the past year, and especially the last few weeks and months.  It is a challenge to balance everything that I am committed to doing in my life, especially with my health concerns.  But I feel confident that I have chosen the better part, and there is no more worthy cause to sink my efforts into, in my mind.  I know I’ll be able to set aside a little time for crafting, but I am just not able to keep up with particular crafting schedules such as DT responsibilities require.

I guess I’m saying, be ready for a whole lot of sporadic randomness here at Laughadaisy!  There’s so much going on in the crafty blogosphere that I’m sure I’ll hardly be missed.  But hopefully I’ll have a little more time to comment on blogs of choice now, and I’ll be happy to see you all here whenever that is.  😉

Enough babbling.

Here is a card for Freshly Made Sketches #94:

I thought I was using the current Color Throwdown colors, but discovered the Island Indigo was supposed to be Bermuda Bay, when I went back to check the graphic.  So, scratch that.  And I wish I had used some varying sizes of the sequins rather than all the same size.

Supplies are listed below.

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Happy Birthdays (Sweet & Sassy Stamps)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Tart Designer Papers (PTI); Island Indigo Designer Paper (SU!)
Inks:  Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Embellishments:  Sequins (Misc)
Tools:  By The Numbers Impression Plate (PTI)

Freshly Made CAS-ual Fridays

So, I was in the hospital having surgery on Monday.  And after a rough few days after that, I am just about feeling back to how things normally are with fibromyalgia – where the pain and soreness are just constants in the background and something to get used to.  From that perspective, and even though I am really, really taking it very easy this week, I decided I wasn’t going to let a little residual pain and soreness keep me from creating a card.

However, I might have to label the next few weeks of cards as part of my exclusive “Controlled Substance Collection.”  If you know what I mean. 😉  You might be able to discern that they were made while under the influence! LOL.

Actually, I am no longer taking the pain killers, even with some residual pain still left, because I find that the side effects of drugs are much more difficult to live with than the residual pain.  I’m accustomed to pain, from living the life of a fibromyalgic, so if it’s up to me, I’ll take the pain and leave the drug side effects.  Thank you very much.

Total recovery, I am told, is about 2 weeks for the incisions and such, 4-6 weeks for the energy levels.  I really do hope that this will all add a little bit of quality to life, so to speak.  But truthfully, the energy prognosis doesn’t mean much, since ‘normal’ energy levels for me aren’t that spectacular.  But we’ll go with it for a while and see what happens, shall we?

And in that light, I’ll add another disclaimer about today’s card – the pinks don’t look like they clash so much in real life!  Just sayin’.

I got by with a little help from my friends for this card – the CAS-ual Fridays #95 and the Freshly Made Sketches #78 challenges.

I had to switch the sentiment and focal panel locations in order to accommodate my plans for the ‘no stamps’ portion of the challenge.  So I added three rhinestones to imitate the line of the sentiment at the bottom.

Although I used my favorite lace at the top, I dove into my stash of neglected cardstocks for the white panel and the glittered pink areas.  The white was from a pre-embossed pack.

This is also the initial use of my I Heart U die set from Verve, using the pink glittered cardstock and some Smokey Shadow patterned paper.  The ribbon was tied months ago and was sitting around patiently enough, so I threw it on there.  Which, as I now see, was maybe not the wisest choice.  It really does not look that bad in real life.  But let’s just chalk that all up to Percocet, ok?!

Thanks for stopping by today.  BOY, am I over the MOON to be doing something pleasant this week!  And now I’m going to have a nap.  😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:
Supplies Used:
Paper/Cardstock:  True Black Cardstock, Smokey Shadow Patterned Paper (PTI); White and Glittered Cardstocks (Misc)
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Kaisercraft); Lace (Offray); Sweet Blush Ribbon (PTI)
Tools:  I Heart U Dies (Verve)

Freshly Made Sketches 76

I began a card last week with an idea in mind that never really materialized.  But the pieces I cut for that card have sat there on the counter staring at me every day since then, so I finally grabbed them today and tried something different with them, with a lot of help from Freshly Made Sketch #76.

Neglected supplies used here are the Super Stars and Star Prints stamp sets.  I think this is the first time I’ve used this particular Think Big Favorites sentiment, too.  And in retrospect, I wish I would have used one of the featured colors for that sentiment, instead of black.   And I really did want to use something other than so much white – I just couldn’t wrap my brain around the logistics of colors and patterned papers today.

Again, I just feel blessed to have found time to create something right now!

Thanks for stopping by today.  😉
-Ally

Challenge Photos:

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Star Prints, Super Stars, Think Big Favorites (Papertrey Ink)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); Primrose Petals, Tangerine Tango Cardstocks (SU!); Summer Sunrise (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Primrose Petals, Tangerine Tango (SU!); Summer Sunrise (PTI)
Embellishments:  Rhinestones (Recollections, Kaisercraft)
Tools:  Filigree Border Die (PTI); Star Stax Dies (MFT)

Dynamic Duos #33

I am here today with something for the Dynamic Duos #33 challenge, which is to use Gold and Black on a project, with a Dessert Option for a Music Theme.

I have been so very ill for the last week and a half, not able to find much energy or ability to create, so my crafty bones are a bit rusty.  I am so far behind on my blog reading, and I’m afraid that with the upcoming holidays, my intentions for catching up are not looking very hopeful.  Actually, I’m behind on just about everything now, but especially with the holidays.  I’m afraid we’ll be sending out New Year’s letters this year instead of Christmas cards!

It has been a rough few weeks, but I was finally able to muster up enough energy a few days ago to create something for this Dynamic Duos challenge, with the assistance of the Freshly Made Sketches #65 challenge.  To me, though, it feels a bit over the top, or something, I think.

It’s not easy to see in the photo, but the wide gold ribbon is gathered a bit underneath the butterfly.  I know it looks like a weird diagonal angle, but the gather is the reason for that.  This cute butterfly was calling out to me last month at Michael’s, so I brought it home with me, and I think it is now happily situated on this card.

Don’t ask me what on earth I would use this card for, I haven’t the slightest idea.  It’s bulky, so I wouldn’t likely send it in the mail.  And it seems so extravagant, and yet so black…   Give me an idea, if you know what I could use it for. 😉

Make sure you stop in to see what the rest of the Dynamos have created and to check out the details for the challenge.  I hope you will participate with us!

Allyson Andersen (me) | Christina Barnes | Vicki Burdick | Karen Day | Deanna Dean
Jenny Engelke | Anne Marie Hile | Erna Logtenberg | Bobbie Trost | Amy White

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today. 😉
-Ally

Other Challenge Photos:

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Background Basics: Sheet Music, Gracious Vases (Papertrey Ink)
Paper/Cardstock:  White Cardstock (Xpedx); True Black Cardstock (PTI)
Inks:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Embellishments:  Rhinestone Flourishes (Prima Marketing); Ribbon (Celebrate It); Butterfly (Recollections)
Tools:  Herringbone Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)