Furry Friend

For this week's challenge at QKR Stampede I made a card using a Eureka digi image and sentiment (ES-digi 1108 Cat with Hearts and ES-digi 24201 Cat-astrophe) that you can find at Stamponit.

I love this cute cat image, especially when colored with my Spectrum Noir markers. After coloring the cat, I added a few "Layers' of blender pen that results in a soft blurry color that I think resembles soft fur. So fun. Mounted the finished image atop a gatefold card that held a few scraps of dotted swiss background paper. The inside sentiment is such as a fun addition [it even includes those two little paw prints... which I love.]

PS To see more fun cards, stop on by the QKR Stampede where the weekly challenges are always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded. 
Am entering this into several challenges including "If You Give a Crafter a Cookie" [It almost looks like he has an armful of cookies] and  A2zscrapbookings Mood Board [included pink and grey colors plus brightly colored hearts.] 

 

 

Entered into: 

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #110                                                (giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.com)

Bugaboo Stamps- Love Is In The Air                                               (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Feb [Mood Board]          (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

I love the colors on the mood board at Double D’s current Challenge called "The Month Of Hearts." I purchased a packet of these kraft tags at JoAnne's a few months ago, and think that they capture the feeling of the floral embroidery on some of the mood board hearts. I've had the beautiful pewter tag in my scrapbook stash for a while. Love how it looks on this card, especially after I added a "Diamond." Added a few shouts of color with the ribbon plus hunter green and royal purple paper, plus a layer of brushed silver cardstock behind the tag adds some additional sheen to the card. The inside sentiment is computer generated. 

 

Entered into: 

Double D’s Challenge- The Month Of Hearts                                (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

Di’s Digi Stamps- All About Love                                                     (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                 (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #374-#375 Anything Goes                 (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com) 

This months challenge at Little Scraps of Heaven is "What's Your Fav?" They have so many wonderful images that it was hard to pick just one. So I'll just say this is my first "fav" as I'll be making more cards before the end of the month with other LSOH images. I colored the image named "Bear with Snowflake" [you can find a free digi of this image HERE or purchase a colored image/cut file for $1 HERE.] A handful of snowflake stickers in pretty metallic pastel colors adds a bit of sparkle. The "Let It Snow" sentiment is a freebie from Desert Diva that you can find HERE. 

 

Entered into: 

Little Scraps of Heaven- February [What's Your Fav?]           (lshdesigns.blogspot.com)

The Paper Shelter- #370 Letters and/or Numbers                  (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- Feb                  (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

I love this sweet digi that I received free from Gerda Steiner Designs after I signed up for their newsletter last Spring. {The newsletter sign up link is available HERE. I made the gift pouch card with an A2 sized card. After clipping the upper right corner from the front of the card, I attached a "quilt" made with assorted snowflake papers, punched two holes along the right edge and tied a bow to add some texture to the card and attached a large sparkly snowflake that I upcycled from an old Christmas card. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen, trimmed it and attached it to an oval cut from a blue plastic document folder. [These wonderful gems come in a pack of assorted colors and you can find them in office supply stores. They're often cheaper than colored vellum and are more translucent.  You can write on them with a fine-line permanent marker and they are also easy to fussy-cut with a nice, sharp pair of scissors.] The final touches were to add a puffy heart sticker, a small whiff of "steam" cut from a scrap of vellum and assorted beverage packets.  

Entered into: 

Gerda Steiner Designs- Share Your Designs Challenge-Feb        (gsd-stamps.com/blogs/share-your-designs)

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #23                                                  (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com)

Moms Day Card

It's Wednesday! So time for another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog where the challenges are always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded from one or more sponsors.  Stop by the blog to check it out! (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com) This week, I used a digi from our challenge sponsor A Day for Daisies named "Book Time." I colored the sweet image with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen.  The "Hello" sentiment is a freebie that you can find HERE and the inside sentiment is computer generated. I provided the watermarked digi sketch so that you can see that I added some "words" plus simple illustrations to the book. I do love this tender scene!

 

Entered into: 

Bugaboo Stamp- Stella Says Sketch Challenge #703               (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                             (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- Feb                   (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

I love this sentiment stamp from Victorine Originals which easily fills a page with beauty, especially when embossed. After adding a bit of color with Tombow markers, I trimmed the image with decorative scissors then blinged the card up by adhering the image atop metallic gold paper and a smattering of clear glitter.

 

Entered into: 

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- Love is in the Air          (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Typography                                   (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

I have collected several Ching-Chou Kuik digital images and they are so fun to color. One thing I love about digis is that they are so easily resized. For this card, I cropped a beautiful image named "Love Maneki-neko" so that only the woman was showing. I was curious about the digis name, and after a little research discovered that Maneki-neko means "beckoning cat" and is a common Japanese figurine that is believed to bring good luck to the owner. Ooopsie!! I did have fun coloring this image with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. The floral scrap of background paper is upcycled from an old card, and the gold trimmed papers are from an Asian 12x12 paper pack that I picked up recently at Hobby Lobby. The little sentiment on the card front is computer generated. The beautiful scripted greeting on the inside of the card is from a Hero Arts digital set named "Words of Love" available from a2zScrapbooking. You can find it HERE. 

Am entering this into several challenges including Outlawz Tuesday Color/Photo Inspiration [includes sage green plus pink and red], Outlawz Saturday Challenge "Girly Girl" [this beauty has flowers in her hair, dangling jewelry, and also a dressy dress],  a2zscrapbooking mood board [hearts, red and pink, black and greys in her hair, and cream in the background] and Mod Squad "Spring Flowers" [in her hair and background photo.]

Entered into: 

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge-Photo Inspiration      (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Mod Squad Challenge- Spring Flowers                                                    (modsquadchallenge.com)

Outlawz Challenges- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Girly Girl                         (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Feb [Mood Board]                  (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

Ching-Chou Kuik's FB Challenge-Valentine's Day/Love        (facebook.com/groups/chingchoukuikdigitalstamps)

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration & Challenge- Valentine's Day/Love  (cck-digitalstamps-challenge.blogspot.com)

Entering another Birthday card into Scribbles Designs 6^th Birthday celebration. I used a technique that I haven't used in years- Bleach Stamping. In the past, I'd embossed an image and then "painted" within the embossed lines with bleach on a thin brush. This time, I made a "bleach pad" with folded paper towels, using instructions that I found HERE and an old wood mount stamp from Denami. The bleached image didn't have quite the contrast I'd hoped for, but when I added a bit of sparkle with Spectrum Noir Metallic Sparkle Pens. The sentiment  on the front of the card is upcycled from an old card and the one on the inside is from a Beccys Place digi set named "Keeping It Simple."

 

 

Entered into: 

ScribblesDesignsChallenges- It's Birthday Time Again            (scribblesdesignschallenge.blogspot.com)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #374-#375 Anything Goes               (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com) 

Snow Day Fun

We are having our third blizzard this month… and I'm snowbound again. But I don't mind because that means I get to play in my craft room. The results? Four cards to share!

This week's Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is to make an Interactive Card. Years ago I'd made a tri-fold window card and decided to make one again, using some of my oldest Stampin' Up wood mounts from a set named "Quilts Give Comfort." The card fits into a regular envelope, yet unfolds and Velcro dots allow it to stand so that the sweet angel can spin a bit. This fun card will be making it's way to my MIL in a few weeks to add a little brightness to a cold wintry day [which is all that we've been getting in the Midwest for the last month.] Am entering this into a few other challenges, including the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge [the card has sage green, pink, blue and a few other colors from the inspiration photo], and Bugaboo Stamps Love Is In The Air [the sentiment has a small heart… and is statement that will make any friend feel loved.]

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Interactive Card                      (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Outlawz Challenges- Tues Color Challenge-Photo Inspiration        (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Cute Card Thursday- # 568 Anything Goes                                       (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Bugaboo Stamps- Love Is In The Air                                                   (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

I recently discovered a challenge blog that is new to me… although I've appreciated their wonderful digi images for some time. Scribbles Designs is celebrating their 6^th Birthday and I had fun using one of their free images that you can find HERE.  [They offer weekly Freebie Friday' digis, so you might want to stop by the challenge and check them out.] The sentiment is a freebie from Desert Diva. The "fabric" for the bikini is actually upcycled from a plastic gift bag that has a wonderful animal print. I also upcycled some ornate gold edging from an old card to create some bling on a few corners of the card. Because... a wild bikini always requires a bit of bling, right? 

 

Entered into: 

ScribblesDesignsChallenges- It's Birthday Time Again            (scribblesdesignschallenge.blogspot.com)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                 (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Outlawz Challenges- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Girly Girl          (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

One of the first sites I discovered back when I started using digi images was TLC Creations. The owner and image creator extraordinaire, Paulette, regularly offers wonderful free images and sentiments, plus has an Etsy shop and a FB group. 

I printed this freebie named "Vintage Easter Cross" on vellum [it is available with the background music or without] and colored it from the backside with Tombow markers. The sentiment, embossed in gold, is an old wood mount stamp from Printworks. The photo corners were made with scraps and decorative scissors. Am entering this into a few challenges including Doing Life [which often features cards made with TLC images], Simon Says Monday Challenge Typography [because the words of the hymn fill the background of the card] and Word Art Wednesday.  

Entered into: 

Doing Life- Create with TLC Challenge #26                        (desiref.blogspot.co.za)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Typography                      (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #372-#373 Anything Goes       (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

This is my final entry in the current Butterfly Challenge which focuses on the Letter K. My card features two of the required colors [Kobe and Kobi] and two of the required themes [a knot and kraft card base.] The butterfly is a vintage wood mount from Rubber Stampede. The sunglasses were handmade from scraps, and the sentiment is computer generated.

 

I'm adding another photo because the first is a bit blurry but is sized to fit the Mr. Linky thingee. 

Entered into:

Butterfly Challenge- #116 Letter K                                    (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #23                                (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- Feb       (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

wcc Love Crop

I've been part of a cardmaking forum, most recently named "WeCraftCards" for over 7 years and have so enjoyed getting to know this small but wonderfully friendly group of paper crafters. February 6-9 the group held a card crop that was built upon the letters L-O-V-E. I had fun creating five cards for the event.

Wednesday's Challenge was "L is for Layout." I used the Penny Black/Mo Manning Clear set named "Fairy Sweet" to make this cute card. Colored the little cutie with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. The little Hello sentiment was stamped with a wood-mount Embossing Arts stamp that I purchased back in 2001 when I co-owned a stamp store in South Dakota. 

 

Entered into: 

wecraftcards Wednesday  Challenge-L is for Layout                  (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Polkadoodles Challenge- Anything Goes Week 6                        (polkadoodle.blogspot.com)

Outlawz Challenges- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Girly Girl          (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Thursday's Challenge was "O is for Origami." The challenge was to create a card that includes an origami fold named "Hearts and Flowers." The forum member that hosted this challenge provided instructions for this fold on her blog. You can find that link HERE. It took a few attempts to master the fold, but after changing the size of the squares to 3x3 inches. The little leprechaun is from one of the first Stampin' Up sets that I purchased back in the late 90s. The sentiment on the front is computer generated and the stamp I used on the inside was stripped from its wood mount years ago so I don't have a clue who makes it.

 

 

Entered into: 

wecraftcardsThursday Challenge-O is for Origami         (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Cute Card Thursday- # 568 Anything Goes                      (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- Feb         (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

I hosted Friday's Challenge which was "V is for Vintage Valentine." The challenge was to create a Valentine with a vintage feeling using stamps, clip art, paper products, embellishments, lace, ribbon, doilies… anything that gives a vintage look.  I provided two examples. I used a Stampin' Up set named TapTapTap to create the first card. The "Hello" sentiment is a freebie that you can find HERE.  The inside sentiment is from a digi set called the "Medley of Greetings 1" from TLC Creations. The other is a feminine shabby chic card. I made another key charm butterfly [you can find details on my posting from February 3^rd.] 

The background postage image is from my scrapbooking stash, and the LOVE diecut is from Stampin Up.

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Add Some Red           (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Kitty Bee Designs- #136 - Love & Valentines                (alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.com)

The Paper Shelter- #369 For the One You Love           (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Bugaboo Stamps- Love Is In The Air                              (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Di’s Digi Stamps- All About Love                                    (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Feb                   (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

Saturday's Challenge was "E is for Easel Card and Envelope." I was in the mood to create another St. Patrick's Day card. This time I used a wonderful subway art freebie that focuses on the historical St. Patrick versus a whimsical leprechaun. I found it HERE. A Celtic Cross, stamped in gold and layered atop a circle of green vellum, enhances the subway sentiments. [I found the clear stamp of the Celtic Cross at a thrift store several years ago so don’t know who makes it.] The inside sentiment is a freebie from LoveSVG. I used a little wood mount stamp from Inkadinkado to stamp the Celtic shamrock in dark green ink. 

Entered into: 

wecraftcards Saturday  Challenge-E is for Easel Card and Envelope      (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #372-#373 Anything Goes                               (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                               (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)