Mojo Monday 300/ Many Mojo

It's hard to believe that the ladies over at Mojo Monday are already on their 300th sketch.  What a huge accomplishment!  I so enjoy playing along, and it's always a great way to get my creative juices flowing.  Right now, I'm working on a bunch of masculine cards for my class at the end of the month and it's great to have a starting place.  So, I took the sketch and added a little bit of a manly flare.  My sentiments are courtesy of one of my Paper Pumpkin kits.  They are so much fun!  I get a new box every month with a surprise project and the stamps to go with it.  It's great fun to create the projects, but even more fun to then use the supplies on new projects.  You too can join in the monthly fun.  Just visit www.mypaperpumkin.com and follow the easy steps to set up your own monthly crafting escape.  List me as your demonstrator and join my paper pumpkin patch!

Beau Chateau Mojo/ Mojo Monday #289

I woke up early enough this morning to take a look at the Mojo Monday sketch, but not early enough to do anything with it.  So, the wheels in my head were turning on ideas all day.  It was kind of fun, really.  I knew I really liked the sketch.  In fact, I may make several different cards based on this one.  However, I wasn't sure what exactly I would do with it.  As the day went on, it became clear to me who this card would be for and that always helps with design inspiration.  Sometimes it's great fun to design just for the fun of designing, but it's important to remember the real WHY behind homemade cards.  The point of this particular paper craft is to  send a message and love to some one we care about.  That's what I love most about making cards--- the creative processes brings joy to me and the finished product is designed to bring joy to someone else.  So, this little beauty will go out tomorrow to remind a friend of mine who is going through a tough time that she isn't going through it alone.  Thanks to the ladies at Mojo Monday for giving me a great launching point for this design.

Mojo Monday 271/ New Years

Sorry the photo quality on this one isn't great, but I thought I would snap a quick one with my iphone so I could just blog and go.  It's been way too long since I've done a Mojo Monday and I just knew that waiting to do a "real" photo would mean I wouldn't actually post it.  So, we'll make do with a little lack of focus and some less than perfect lighting. ;)  The card is soooo shiny in person though... glimmer paper makes everything sparkle!  I got to try out one of my new Single Stamps for this one.  In addition to releasing a few stamps from sets within the current catalog, SU also came out with a few never before seen stamps for sale as singles.  Isn't this new year's greeting great?  The stamp is super big & at $6.95 a great bargain too.  It's a perfect solution for folks like me who rarely get it together in time to send Christmas cards, but have just a bit of free time at the start of the year.  Head on over to my SU website to look at this and the other single stamps--- available for a short time only!

Manly Mojo/ Mojo Monday #255

My new goal for classes is to have at least one "masculine" card for each one.  I've considered having an all masculine class, but I think I like the sprinkling idea even better. Then folks will always have at least one on hand (& I don't need to think of five masculine designs all at once!).  So, this week's Mojo Monday sketch needed to go manly for me.  I found inspiration in an unexpected place--- Floral District designer paper.  With so many blossoms, I didn't think I could find a design that work work for my manly theme.  However, one of the "B" sides worked just great.  All it needed was a little bit of soft suede sponged around the edges.  It's hard to believe I used to dislike this color.  Now I use it ALL the time!  I went with the distressed look on my stamped piece.  My distressing tool took care of the edges & my color spritzer added just enough to my repeated stamps.  I even think the accidental stamping of the edge of this stamp adds to the distressed look.   That's why I didn't redo it.  I am the Accidental Stamper after all.  My very favorite part of this card is the combo of the embossed scallops & the pierced ones along the side.  It was such a fun alternative to a punched piece of paper.  The card didn't really need another layer & this way I could include that element more subtly (and use even more toys!).

Floral District Mojo/ Mojo Monday #254

This is one of the first signs I may actually be getting back into gear: I completed my Mojo Monday card on MONDAY.  That hasn't happened in a long while. :)  Tomorrow is the start of a new school year for me and I hope to get off on the right foot.  Hence actually focusing on my Mojo Monday sketch.  I know my organization is bound to deteriorate as a new job begins, but I wanted to start with things as well off as possible.  That way, they have a lot further to go! :)  I've been eyeing this pattern from the Floral District designer paper ever since it arrived as part of my title benefit bundle.  Isn't it lovely?  I knew I wanted to create something elegant with it.  However, I was struggling a bit until I added Night of Navy to my color mix.  Originally, I had a Tangerine Tango pennant on the far right, but that just wasn't doing the trick.  I was inspired by some simple Night of Navy Grosgrain ribbon and decided to sponge my layers with Night of Navy as well.  The overall effect could work for any occasion from birthday to sympathy.  I like to keep things versatile because you never know what sort of card you'll need next.  Do you recognise the leaf stamped on the small rectangle?  It's from the Language of Friendship set & is designed to punch out using the XL Bird Punch.  I just inked that bit of the image with my markers so the leaf could fly solo on this card.  Perhaps I would punch some leaves to go with it next time around?  We'll see what folks decide to do at class this month.  I bet no two cards look alike.  That's one of my favorite parts of class!

Monochrome Mojo

I was feeling in a purple mood today, can you tell? All three of the current SU purples are used in this card including Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, and Concord Crush. I've been trying hard not to limit myself to reds and greens for Christmas cards, but still have been missing parts of my pallet. Time to branch back out!! I also wanted to use some sets that are starting to get a bit dusty on my shelf. :)

Of course, I spent the morning checking out the offerings on Stampin Up's online spectacular. WOW! I put in my own order first thing. There were a couple of bundles I just couldn't pass up! Check out my SU website to see the savings available now through Nov 30th.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who came to play for my first ever Punch Art class. It was great fun. I want to share one more possibility with you. This one comes from my upline, Cindy. She posted him on her blog yesterday and he's about the cutest moose you'll ever see! Check him out here.

FYI I leave for Illinois this afternoon, but will try to post from there. I'm making no promises as there was VERY little room for stamping stuff in my one carry on. I think the folks at TSA are going to be perplexed by my Sizzlets & punches, don't you?