Saturday, April 30, 2011

"Case"ing me...and a prize!

Hi everyone! Well, today is the day! I am announcing the winner of my contest. She will receive the $25 gift certificate of her choice to either Papertrey Ink or Verve stamps. First, though, I thought I would participate too and case myself.

I decided to go with the first card I ever blogged as my inspiration!

Here is my first card:





And here is my new card:



I kept the same basic layout and colors, but decided against using the black this time around..lol.


Ok, so I know you really here just for the winner, so here we go. I used the random number generator and the winner is:

Number 15: Teresa!!!


Teresa, please email me at brownee617 at gmail dot com and let me know which gift certificate you want and i'll send it right over to ya!


Thank you ALL for playing along! Everyone did a fabulous job with the cards. Love you guys!!!





Thursday, April 28, 2011

I finally did it!

That's right. I finally finally FINALLY made a circle card. After saying for months that I would, I finally did. It's not perfect, but I am happy with it. :)


I'll go ahead and show you the card first:




I had such a great time creating this card. I bought the Circle Cutter from SU a few weeks ago and finally decided to open the box and give it a go especially since Julee has really simple instructions on her blog, albeit using nestabilities, HERE.


I made it using this weeks' Mojo Monday sketch and the Color Throwdown color challenges.  Here is the sketch:





And here are the colors from Color Throwdown (brought to us by Kristin!)




Look at all of those fun colors!! The paper that I used seemed to have all of those colors in it {lucky!}, so I went with it. I also used the new Think Big Favorites #3 stamp from Papertrey.

Well, I hope you have a great Thursday! It's almost the weekend!! Woot!

Thanks for stopping by.






Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Man's Heart

Hey there! Having a great week? I hope so. Today's card is for a dear friend of mine. He's going through some things and I want to send a little love through the mail. :)

He is a golfer and this paper TOTALLY seemed so very "Golf" to me, so I decided to go with it. It's Cosmo Cricket's Social Club. As soon as I saw the Verve sketch for this week, I knew I would be using this paper. All of those patterns are so cool to me and in this sketch, I thought they would work perfectly!

Here is the Verve April Week 4 sketch:





And here is my card:




Isn't it fun? I am not so much a fan of a ton of patterns, but I like it here.


Well, I've got to get out of here and get ready for work! Thank you for stopping by!


Don't forget to play along with my contest. It ends Friday! Check it out HERE!





Monday, April 25, 2011

Papertrey Blog Hop! Rockin' 13...

Hi and welcome to this month's Papertrey Blog Hop which is all about the guys!







This month's blog hop is dedicated to all the boys and men in our lives!  Now is your chance to create Father's Day projects, boy birthday cards and more to build up your stash!  Focus on masculine color schemes, fresh pattern combinations, understated embellishments and unique uses of images you may already have in your stash!




I decided to go with a teen boy birthday card! Although I know no one with a 13th birthday coming up, surely one will pop up soon at Ava's school...lol. So, here is my card using Rock On and Grunge Me both from this month's Papertrey release.

Here is my card:




I had such fun using these two sets. They really do work well together especially the "random" patterns in Grunge Me. And I just cannot get enough of that Rock On die - eek! Love it! I used Crystal Effects on the give it a little extra rock n roll feel and I just adore that skull and crossbones paper! :)


Well, there are lots of blogs to check out, so be on your way. Thanks for stopping by!



Laters!



Sunday, April 24, 2011

Mod Hello...

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by! Today, I have a quick post with a card I made using the Verve Week 2 sketch for April. All of the sketches have been so fabulous this month. I really liked the feel of this sketch and thought it would be perfectly suited with my new Papertrey Think Big Favorites set. I also used a little of the Grunge Me set under the sentiment.

Here is the week 2 sketch created by Andrew Ewen:




And here is my mod card:








I just really like those colors together and he paper, I thought, was perfect for the look I was trying to achieve.

Well, that's all for me. I better run!  Don't forget, the contest for my blogaversary is still up and running! Check it out HERE


Laters!






Saturday, April 23, 2011

Favorite Peep!

Hey you guys! Thanks for stopping by. I decided to spend the morning doing a top to bottom clean of the house. I normally do that every Saturday, but i've been a little lax the last few Saturdays. I love the smell of Pine-Sol and bleach in the mornings, don't you? lol

Today, I made a quick card to go in Ava's "Easter basket". That's in quotes of course because, at 12, she is WAYYYYY too old for a typical Easter basket according to her. So, it's really just a  gift bag with some goodies, an iTunes card, and this card. :)





I also decided to use my Verve "Chick's Rule" set because it's just so cute! Here is my card:




I added the brown to give it a little heaviness...it just seemed too "soft" without it. I don't know why. The patterned paper images are trimmed in brown, so it works IRL even if it doesn't online (does it?!?). 


Well, I better get back to cleaning. Don't forget to check out my blogaversary post HERE and play along. There is a prize involved!!! :)


Laters...




Friday, April 22, 2011

Happy Blogaversary to....um, Me!

Wow, can you believe that hownowbrownkow is 1 today?!?! I reemember the day I started this blog. I was on Kristina Werner's blog and wanted to comment. Well, when I went to comment it asked me something about a blog name, I think, and I thought "well, why not start a blog?". I had been stamping since 2003, but abruptly stopped and sold every single craft related item I had { note to self: never ever EVER sell all of ANYTHING that you own, because you'll probably end up coming back to it and then you have to buy everything over again!!}

So, here is a little bit of card history. This was my first blogged card:




I still adore this little card and my idea to put the wedding cake on top of the car..lol.


Next up is my most "popular" card (according to comments - blog hop cards are excluded):



I am a total sucker for Kraft paper and I just love the way it looks with pink and brown.  I really like how simple this card is...sometimes simple is good, though, patterned paper is NEVER far away.

Next up is my all time favorite card from the blog:



Again with the kraft - I know, I know - but I just adore this card.  The colors, the layers..everything just worked for me on this card. Most cards I have to rework, but this one just fell together so perfectly for me.

Ok, well there is a trip down memory lane. NOW, for some fun stuff. I have a $25 gift certificate to Papertrey or Verve for the winner of this little contest. I will use random.org to select a name and post it here on Saturday, April 30th at noon Central.

Here are the details:

I want you guys to CASE one of my cards. Does that sound pretentious? I hope not..lol. I just want to see what you guys would do with one of my cards as inspiration. So, pick any of the cards on my blog from day one and link it back here on my Mr Linky. Be sure and show my card on your post, too, so I'll know which one you're casing. Feel free to change up the stamp set, colors, whatever - just be inspired by me. Hmm..yeah, now THAT sounded pretentious..lol.

 I will close the Mr. Linky on Friday, April 29th at 9pm Central. Thanks for being a part of my blog life so far and I hope you'll stick around. Follow me, subscribe, whatever...I love visitors! :)

Oh, and as you guys know I love Adele. Well, I also love Corinne Bailey Rae. I'm sure most of you have heard of her, but if not I thought I would give a litle intro. This is my favorite of her songs and is from am older CD. And yes, I do have a fondness for all things from "across the pond" including Robert Pattinson and Daniel Craig. :) That love has been passed down to Ava who is about to get a Union Jack inspired room..lol..much to the chagrin of my U.S. military hubby!...heehee











Thursday, April 21, 2011

You Rock, Chica!

Good morning! You know what I just realized? Tomorrow is my blogaversary! Yikes..I had planned to DO something, so I guess I better start thinking of something, huh? Haha...

Well, anyway, today's card uses the week 3 Verve sketch for April (I'm a little behind..lol). I know it may seem like a bit of a stretch, but aren't sketches supposed to inspire and you just take it from there? No? Hmm..well, just pretend that's the way it is. :)  I do think that I have the gist of the sketch even if I did take a few liberties. :)

Here is the week 3 sketch:



And here is my card:





I used the new set from Papertrey called Rock On. It's techinically a boy stamp, but I know lots of girls who rock so I bought it. I love the way it turned out. Such a fun set and I love those little dies!

Well, thatnks for stopping by! Be sure and come back tomorrow for a  last minute blogaversary post! :)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Happy (simple) Baby Boy!

Hello! Sorry i've been such a sporadic blogger lately. Life is getting in the way of my "me" time! I'm home today, though, so I'm going to try to get a few things done! I miss stamping - especially since I'm still buying more stuff..lol

Today I made this simple little baby boy set for this week's Color Throwdown challenge. The sponsor this week is Lil' Inker Designs, owned by my great buddy Laura Pryor! She is such a joy to know and the pinwheel die and stamp set is a favorite of mine.

Here are this week's colors:



We were to use Navy, White, and one other color. Well, my favorite combo with navy and white is kraft. I think it's such a calm and masculine combination.



And here is my project:








































The card also works for this week's Card Patterns sketch, seen here:








Here is a close-up of the card:





I really wanted to make something simple, but cute. I think this fits! We have a new baby in our family, so this gift bag will be filled with gifts for Mom and baby and shipped off to Seattle today!


I hope you get a chance to play along with both the Color Throwdown and Card Patterns challenges this week. There are great prizes to be had on both!!


Have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by!!





Saturday, April 16, 2011

Hello, Sunshine!

Happy Saturday! I hope you guys have started the weekend off in a great way. I'm on my way out to a brunch with the other women in my Sunday School class. It should be fun but I'm not exactly a social butterfly so it's a little anxiety inducing!

So today I am playing along with this week's Color Throwdown! Here are Broni's colors:



So springy, right? It's sort of spring here in middle Tennessee. Lots of storms lately, though,  and I noticed this morning when I got up that the fence in the backyard has come down in a couple of spots...great! I'll get on that after brunch, I suppose.


Anyway, so I decided to use a stamp that I haven't used n AGES. When I bought it, I thought I would use it all of the time, but every time I reach for it I get a serious mental block. Today, I think {hope} it worked out.





Isn't that huge sun so great? I especially love how it's kindof distressed when it stamps..so great! I added a few butterflies and a sentiment and I was done. None of my usual ribbon, buttons, or really layers to speak of...but I like the end result.


Well, I better get ready to get out of here. Have a wonderful Saturday!!





Stamps:  Here Comes the Sun (Market Street Stamps); Let it Shine (Verve)
Card Stock: Taken with Teal, Certainly Celery (SU); White (Papertrey)
Ink: Summer Sun, Taken with Teal (SU)
Extras: SU Butterfly die

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

hello friend

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by. Today I have a card that I had such fun creating. I used the latest petite Papertrey Posse challenge. It was a sketch Debbie designed and I just love it. Here is the sketch:





And here is my card:





I just love these colors together and the "Modern Basics" butterfly is SO fun. The addition of the flower from Hello, Friend just made it all work for me.

Well, that's all I've got. Hopefully, I'll have some good craft time soon. I really want to get some use out of these sets. I think they're just screaming to be used in fun and unexpected ways. :)

Thank you for stopping by! Laters...

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Let us be grateful...

Hi everyone! Sorry i've been away. Just haven't had the mojo and haven't really been feeling quite myself.

Today, though, I have a card for this week's Mojo Monday sketch. I used a kinda funky color combo, but I think I like it.

Here is this week's sketch:



And here is my card:



I really really love Inside Out: Thank You by Papertrey. It is my favorite "thank you" sentiment set ever! :)

Well, that's it for today. I'm going back to my cave now. Womp womp...



Thursday, April 7, 2011

Good Things..

Hello there! Sorry i've been more MIA than usual this week but my mom is still with us and though she is mobile and stuff now, I find myself hanging out with her more than anything else. :)

I did manage to make this little creation for this week's Color Throwdown. Laura is this week's hostess and she chose these fab colors:




They DO match oh so perfectly to the Stella Rose papers, so I went with that. I decided to make a more masculine card since I have so few of those. I actually think this card could go either way. It was the chevron pattern on the orange paper that made me lean towards masculine. Speaking of chevrons - does anyone know who makes a chevron border punch?? Is there such a beast? I have seen single chevron's but not a border style punch. If you know of one, please let me know. Ok, so on to my card:




It's so simple, but I like it. :) Well, thanks for stopping by! Laters...



Stamps: Through the Trees (Papertrey); Big Wish (Verve)
Card Stock: Kraft, Stella Rose dsp (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust
Extras: Ribbon, Mat Stack 4 die, and button (Papertrey)



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Pinwheels!!!!

Hello and Happy Tuesday! Let me just tell you guys how excited I am about this card. My friend, Laura, owns Lil' Inker Designs and has a new stamp set and die just released last week. It is a pinwheel die with the matching sentiment stamps. They are so dang fantastic. I have been waiting for weeks for this to make its' debut and I must say that I totally love it! Ok, let me show you the card and then i'll talk more about the product :)

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch:





And here is my card:





Is that die not to die for? I mean, really..I just love it. The sentiments,too, are so neat. They are:


You mean the whirl to me
Blowing you Kisses
You spin me right 'round
Happy Baby Boy
Sweet Baby Girl
I miss having you 'round
Love makes the whirl go 'round
Thank You
Your generosity blows me away


This was so easy to create these little pinwheels. Just die cut and attach. I have so many ideas in my head for this little set. So cute! You guys have to stop in at the shop and take a peek at some of Laura's samples with this set. Here is the link: Lil' Inker .


Well, that's it for me. Have a wonderful rest of the day! Thank you for stopping by!




Stamps: Pinwheel (Lil' Inker)
Card Stock: Ocean Tide, Orange Zest (Papertrey); Alphabet Soup Boy dsp (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Real Red (SU)
Extras: Ocean Tide saddle stitch ribbon, Buttons, Medium scallop border (Papertrey); Square Lattice Folder (SU)



Monday, April 4, 2011

Verve Diva Dare!

Hello all! I'm here today with my card for the latest Verve Diva Dare!





Here is the challenge:


This month we dare you to make a card, project, layout, or whatever fits your stamping style using this month's theme - Color Me Spring!  Whether you are shoveling snow off of your sidewalks and only dreaming of warmer weather or you are already enjoying the first blooms of the season, this challenge is sure to put a spring in your step! How you interpret the challenge is up to you!


I am not normally a big user of pastels and springy colors, but I have to admit this was a fun fun fun card to make. I used my new Verve set, "Chick's Rule". It is just adorable!







This set has some of the cutest phrases in it! Perfect for little girls, teens, women, and even little boys if you use the "chicks dig me" sentiment..LOL.

I also decided to use the sweet SFYTT sketch for April:


I think this sketch is SO cute!

Well, that's it. I hope you get to play along. There are prizes to be won!



Stamps: Chicks Rule (Verve)
Card Stock: White (Papertrey); Cameo Coral, Old Olive (SU); Stella Rose by My Mind's Eye dsp
Ink: Cameo Coral, Barely Banana, Old Olive (SU)
Extras: Flowers (Glory Delightful Day by Prima)

 

Design by Custom Blog Designs/FreeStyleMama Creations