Journaling Cards Aren't Just for Scrapbooking

I'm not sure why, but I love the packets of journaling cards that companies put out. They're meant for pocket scrapbooking—you just slide the artwork (sized for the pockets) into the slots and then add some photos to the other pockets. However, I'm not a huge pocket scrapbooker, though I have done a few pages. I mostly just buy the journaling cards! So, in order to justify the purchase and to use some of the cute cards, I've trimmed them to fit a standard card base and made greeting cards with some of mine.

I bought these at Scrapbook.com and they're super on sale right now, so here's a link (not affiliate) in case you want them. This first card uses the cutest cupcake card and I cut apart the word birthday and then outline the edges. The happy die is from Stamplorations. I also added Nuvo blue drops and used another card for the background.

This one just uses a few different cards and a sentiment strip I had from a pack. I think this one might need more bling. What's fun about using a pack is that they all match, so you can mix and match.

I think this one is my favorite. I used just one card, but I added glitter stenciling and the same happy die, along with mini letters from a sticker pack, and circle holographic stickers.

I used three cards on this one, but again, I feel I need some more bling. I do love the different-colored rainbows, though.

What item do you buy even though you technically can't use it all? Tell me I'm not alone!😆

Happy Friday!

Chark

Die-Cutting All the Livelong Day

When I drag out the Big Shot and the dies and plates and all that goes with it, I like to get a lot out of it, so I spend a few days die-cutting things here and there. I think if I had a permanent set-up, I wouldn't feel the need to pile up the die cuts. I do like having some things to choose from at any given time, though, so who knows?

Here's a card using the Stamplorations Dragonfly cover plate. I love this so much! I cut it from all sorts of colors and papers so I could play around with cards. For this one, I die cut the panel from a piece of coated paper (similar to the properties of Yupo) that I had used Distress Oxides on. They came out very light, but kinda perfect for Spring. I mounted it with liquid glue onto a piece of watered silk from a vintage book flyleaf. The Happy Birthday is die cut from Lawn Fawn plaid paper.

You can see the fabric in the close-up, but not the subtle sheen or pattern. It's lovely irl.

For this card, I used another Stamplorations die, this butterfly, and impressed it into cardstock instead of cutting it. I mounted it on rainbow paper and added some bling and called it a day.

I keep my die cuts in stackable plastic bins that come in different depths. I have one for words, one for circles and rectangles, one for fancy dies, etc. The containers are flat, so it works well for sorting through. Do you die cut a bunch at a time and then just store the die cuts? Just wondering.

Happy Friday!

Chark

Birthday Palooza

I have so many birthday cards to send out in August, it's almost as bad as April...and it doesn't help that I let July get away from me. SO! Here are a few I've been working on.

My grown nephew has started a local cheesecake business in our hometown in Ohio and business is booming! I admit I've cheated on his cheesecake with a slice from The Cheesecake Factory but guess what? His are better! For his birthday, I found this "masculine" journaling card paper from Authentique and I drew a cheesecake to replace the cupcake on the plate.

This next card uses some papers from the Echo Park Happy Birthday Boy collection that I bought at the lss the other day. I controlled myself from adding glitter, because it's already pretty busy.

And this final card uses even more of the same papers. The lighting on this one is odd, but I took the pics at the same time in the same spot, so who knows what happened!

I had a pretty productive weekend, how about you?

Happy Monday!

Chark

I'm Late For An Important Date

Ok, I'm just late to post today, but I actually had to make a card first. I had not a thing to post! Crazy--that means I need to do more crafting and less tv watching or whatever it is I'm doing. I did just finish Shotgun Lovesongs and really enjoyed it. Never sure if I will, when I read that a book is popular...that tends to put me off for no logical reason.

It's a novel about small town life and four good guy friends who are now adults...just good characters and excellent setting description and all-around good novel. Highly recommended if you like character-driven books.

Here's what I made today. I love this paper by Kaisercraft, but it's a little loud, so I added some stamped vellum to help the cotton candy and ice cream stand out without competing with the candy background. Hope it works! The sentiment is a digi stamp from Hero Arts and I added color with ink daubers. 

That's all I have for today, enjoy the weekend!

Happy Friday,
Chark

International Hot & Spicy Food Day

Yum! Except I'm not a too spicy kind of gal...so let's just call this Mexican Food Day because although I like medium spice, you won't see me with lots of heat in any culinary treats. Like, I won't eat a hot pepper for fun like my Aunt Mae does. And I won't put them on my pizza...but I do love Mexican Pizza with Azteca Salad Shells. You can find them in the refrigerated section at the store and just make taco salad with them for a fun lunch or you can make an appetizer of Mexican Pizza (I eat it for lunch too!). Here's one recipe that uses beef, but I usually leave it out and just do refried beans and cheese with the Salad Shells. Delish! And you can use spicy sauce or not. I go medium. Don't use salsa, it's too runny. But Taco Sauce or Enchilda Sauce is fine.

Here's a wintry birthday card to cool you down. Use Unicorn Ink on Kraft, edge in Distress Ink in Broken China, add sequins and Stickles and a greeting and you're finished! The glitter tape is Darice and I found it at the Five Below store near me. I love it cuz there's no glitter mess!

Happy Friday!
Chark

His 'N Hers Birthday Cards

Here's a little sneak peek of my post on the a2z Scrapbooking Supplies blog today.

I made two cards with the same stencil for my niece and my nephew. It was fun! Don't forget, if you need some crafty goodies from a2z, you can use my code CHARK15 to get 15% off your order of $25 or more. Woohoo! Pluuussss, you can enter the November monthly challenge if you use a Hero Arts stamp and try to win a gift certificate to the store! 

Here's the Book Cover of the Week—haven't read it, but I want to because I like the cover!

Happy Monday!
Chark