Using My Stash Challenge

Hi friends and fellow crafters!

Over at the Cricut Circle Message Boards, there is a challenge to use only our stash until September 1st. I jumped at this challenge because I have way too much stuff! Here are the guidelines for the "Using My Stash Challenge"
**adhesives and tape can be purchased
**blades and mats can be purchased
**ProvoCraft products, such as cartridges, folders, dies, and machines are allowed
**something that is needed to complete a project
**No impulse buying or just because you have a coupon!

I have stuck completely to the guidelines. I have even been on a self imposed Cartridge ban, although my Mom offered to buy me the new Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cartridge from one of my best crafting buddies, Belinda. If you haven't already picked this one up, I fully recommend it! Contact Belinda at her CTMH site if you need a rep to order from. You can also see some of her wonderful artwork at her blog.
So for my first card, I used my Harry Potter Digi Stamp from Simply Betty Stamps to make a card for one of my dearest friends. We haven't gotten together since Christmas and I was missing her. She is a fellow Potter Nerd as my DH calls us, so I knew she would appreciate this one! The background paper is from K&Company Happy Trails. I love my K&Company paper! LOL!  I FINALLY used some Tim Holtz paper that I have been hoarding forever to make a doily cut from Art Philosophy! The front sentiment, "Accio" for non-Potter nerds, is a summoning charm used when you want something to come to you. I printed that and the sentiment on the inside with my computer,  and grunged it up with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in walnut. All of the embellishments have been sitting around my craft room for quite some time. The swirls are Prima Say It With Pearls that I had to have for something ages ago. I was right, it makes a great spell shooting from Harry's wand. I have had it so long, that package was collecting dust! The Hello embellie is from 7 Gypsies that I picked up when my LSS closed 2 years ago. The beads are from Basic Grey, and the flower is Prima.
Here is the inside of the card.

Naturally, I colored Harry with my copics. I used some Diamond Glaze on his eyes to give the glasses effect.

Next are two cards for the family of a fellow Circle member. Her daughters lost all their belongings in a horrible fire. Another Circle member asked us to make cards for her daughters and young Grandson who thankfully is OK, but traumatized.  I made him a card using my Imagine and the Buccaneer cartridge. The card has 2 wobbles (that I made) on it. The boat wobbles and the pirate in the look out wobbles.

I tried to get a picture of it in motion, but it just wouldn't take. It is fun to watch the pirate wobble as the boat wobbles, too. I hope her grandson likes it. I am also sending him a little something to cheer him up.
The whole card is Imagine except for the back and the inside top which are K&Company Happy Trails paper. I used Life's A Beach for the word Ahoy, ran it through my vagabond using a cuttle bug folder, I think it's bubbles and used Diamond glaze to give it a wet look. I also outlined the letters with copics. The O in Ahoy is from LAB, I thought it was a sun, but I am not so sure! The waves are also from Life's A Beach, and I ran them through the vagabond as well. I used a white gel pen to add the dots to the waves. I used MS glow in the dark glitter that I got on clearance a year or two ago (it was a good deal for 1.99 and it's a big bottle!) on the sails. Here is the inside of the card.

I computer printed the sentiment, then distressed the daylights out of the papers. I cut a couple of "V's" into the paper in various places, ran some black copic marker around the distressed edges, and used Tim Holtz Distress inks, walnut, old paper, antique linen and burlap to give it an aged look. I tied some  baker's twine around the sentiment because I had it sitting in front of me on the table. Then I added another pirate on it just for fun. It turned out to be one of my favorite cards that I have made.

The last card is for her daughters. I used my Imagine and Lori's Garden, which I owned even before I had an Imagine! The paper is K&Company Gypsy Baby Paper. The ribbon has been sitting on my desk for sometime now, and I was so happy to finally use it. No more moving it around!

I used my copics on the image to change a few colors on the bird and flowers, then used Diamond Glaze and sprinkled MS Chunky Glitter on it. A couple of years ago, there was seller on eBay where I got about 6 or 7 sets of MS glitters for about 4.00 each, plus free shipping. It feels good to be finding reasons to use it!

The cuts on the inside are from Art Philosophy. I just love this cartridge! I changed the color of Thinking of You (I am pretty sure it's from Paper Lace) with a copic. Then I shined it up with some Diamond Glaze and added a glittered flower with a skittle center for a little extra pop of color.
The horrible rain that we had here made it nice for me to create these cards. It was even better knowing that everything is from my stash. It's amazing how much I have acquired in just 4 short years of paper crafting.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. I hope to continue posting using my stash creations until September 1st. I still have a couple pieces of Berry Sweet paper left to use! LOL!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen