From Christmas to Butterflies

The current challenge at Tiddly Inks Challenge is to create a card that includes a circle (has no corners, squares or rectangle backing allowed.)  I used one of the sweet images from the elf coloring pages that were a freebie in December 2017. Cute the ornament from a scrap of patterned metallic wrapping paper. I wanted the playful elf to take center stage, literally, so I only colored him and used grey tones for the background images.

Entered into: Tiddly Ornament

Tiddly Inks- Let's Go Around                                       (tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.com)

Art Impressions- #230 Good Goes Around               (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

QKR Stampede- #291 Anything Goes                         (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

The Cutie Pie Challenge- #122 Delightful Digis        (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)                               

This card includes so many of my favorite things- Christmas, a vintage color scheme, a bit of bling and some marvelous scraps!  

Entered into: Royal Xmas

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Add some Texture               (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #330-331 Anything Goes      (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #381 Anything Goes  (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Pixie's Snippets-  Week #323                                                           (pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com) (

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

The current Butterfly Challenge focuses on the letter D. For my card I included all three colors- Dark Salmon, Dirt, Denim Blue and all three items- Die Cut, Dimensions (via dry embossing), and Digi Image (a freebie from    janbrett.com/mothers_day_butterflies.htm) This beauty will be heading to my sweet MIL in a few weeks. I think she will like it!

Entered into: Butterflies

Butterfly Challenge- #98 Letter D                              (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Sketch Saturday- Week #509                                      (sketchsaturday.blogspot.com) 

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #198     (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Mid-April Creations

The current challenge at Tiddly Inks Challenge is to create a card that includes a circle (has no corners, squares or rectangle backing allowed.)  I  sketched the large cookie background out onto a circle of kraft cardstock, added a bit of texture with a tan marker, then used markers in several shades of brown, and a white gel pen to create the yummy chocolate chips. had fun making a circle card using Tiddly's sweet set named "Cookie Bugg." Am entering it into another challenge that also requires a card that includes a circle. 

Entered into: 

Tiddly Inks- Let's Go Around                                   (tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.com)

Art Impressions- #230 Good Goes Around           (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

Penny's Challenge- #375 Anything Goes                (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au

Am entering this card that includes several types of texture (grosgrain ribbon and a hand-woven basket with strips of a brown paper bag into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge. And, also in the A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge and SumMoreFun challenge because it includes fresh flowers (hydrangeas) in the pastel colors on the SumMoreFun mood board.  

Entered into:  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Add some Texture    (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

SumMoreFun  Challenge- Mood Board                               (summorefun.com)  

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Flower Power       (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

QKR Stampede- #291 Anything Goes                                  (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

My final card includes a wonderful Vintage Pooh stamp set from All Night Media. Created a honey jar shaped card with a sentiment that I printed off on my computer (the font is a free one named Disney.) So fun! I made the honeycomb background by tapping a  golden yellow ink pad across a scrap of bubble wrap, laying it atop the shape card and firmly rubbing the back of the bubble wrap.  Finished the background by scattering pooh related images across the card front with brown ink. Am entering it into a few challenges including  Double D's "Twine" Challenge and Simon Say's Monday Challenge inspired by the story of Pooh.

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Inspired by a Story                (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

The Cutie Pie Challenge- #122 Delightful Digis                        (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)                

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #330-331 Anything Goes   (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #197                        (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

                   

Winter is Baaackkk!

Although the calendar says Spring, we are getting yet another blizzard this weekend here in the Midwest. It is so big that the National Weather Service even named it, Winter Storm Zanto. Enough already!! So, since it looks like winter outside, I decided to make a few winter cards. This is the first, using a Bugaboo Digi named "Snowmen Block. I cut the images apart and adhered them to a filmstrip created from a Marianne Design die.

Entered into:

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes                                         (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

QKR Stampede- #291 Anything Goes                                  (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

The Cutie Pie Challenge- #122 Delightful Digis                (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)                

Another winter themed card that will add to my Christmas Card collection, since it seems like I am always too busy during the holidays to make enough cards. I had found a sweet template a while ago that I loved… but had put aside. I used it to make a cute card. I used a page from a Christmas coloring book, cut down to fit the front of a card as the background. Added a little coloring to this image, but kept them muted so that Santa's laundry will stand out. However, wanted it muted even further, so added an oval of vellum behind the clothesline.  I stretched a piece of white twine across the front of the card, then attached Santa's Suit and long-johns with foam tape. I drew some clothespins on white sticker paper and added them to the card. To add a bit of texture, the trim and cuffs on the jacket and pants are cut from quilt batting.  A little tedious to make, but oh so cute! Am entering it into several challenges including one that requires twine and one that is to focus on mythology (There is a historical Saint Nicolas, but the popular Santa Claus is a myth!) 
You can find the template here-   
www.papercraftsmag.com/content_downloads/E19_Santas_Clothesline_Frame.pdf 

Entered into:

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Mythology/Inspired by a Story   (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge-  Anything Goes                 (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Double D’s Challenge- Twine                                                                 (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #197                                 (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
                  

Decided I didn't want to focus on winter anymore so made a beautiful Peacock card using an image and sentiments from Beccy's Place digi set named "True Beauty."  I seldom use pre-colored images because I am a miser with printer ink, and I love to color. But I really like the coloring that Beccy did on this beautiful bird, so decided to print it off. The blues and teals are so gorgeous! The beautiful paper is from a 12x12 pad of Asian inspired paper a JoAnnes a while ago and was fun to put it to use!  I'm entering the card into a few challenges, including one that requires texture (the gold pattern on the paper is raised, and the gold corners adds a smooth and shiny texture. ) A tutorial for the card can be found here- www.qbeesquest.blogspot.com/2013/05/secret-garden-tri-fold-shutter-card.html

Entered into: 

Beccy’s Place Challenge- April                                                       (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

Penny's Challenge- #375 Anything Goes                                     (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Add some Texture           (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #330-331 Anything Goes   (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

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

Beccys Place Guest Designer

I've enjoyed Beccy Muir's wonderful digis for over a years… and her blog for much longer (mainly because Beccy has provided so many wonderful tutorials for folds, cuts and other card techniques that I love to use! Plus she has a HUGE number of free digis.) So I was thrilled when she recently invited me to be a guest designer. My "stint" doesn't start for another month, but I am having fun with some of her new digi sets and images. This first card uses a wonderful poppy image that Beccy is providing as her monthly freebie.(You can nab it here- https://beccysplace.blogspot.com/2018/04/april-challenge-bingo.html) The sentiment is from another of Beccy's sets named "Nasturtium." I'm entering this card into a few challenges including the Callin' All Sistahs monthly challenge. It is the perfect fit for this month's mood board.  Plus, I love making encouraging cards to send to one of my Sistahs (by birth) to send my love as she goes through chemo for Multiple Myeloma. She is such an amazing woman and my prayer is that she is able to kick the big C to the curb! And pronto! 

Entered into:  

Calling All Sista’s- Color Challenge                                    (callingallsistahs.blogspot.com)

Beccy’s Place Challenge- April                                             (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

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

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Flower Power   (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

Di’s Digi Stamps- Hand colored Image                             (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

I absolutely love this Beccy's Place digi set named "Prehistoric Party." I know that I'll use it to make cards for kiddos. But, decided to have a little fun and make a card that will be sent to an older brother. (Older as in two years!) The sentiment was created on my computer. How fun! Am entering this card into Bugaboo's current "Anything Goes" challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge that focuses on birthdays, the wecraftcards weekly challenge that I'm hosting, entitled "Make Me Laugh" and the current Sketch Saturday challenge.

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Happy Birthday      (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Make Me Laugh      (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Sketch Saturday- Week #508                                              (sketchsaturday.blogspot.com)

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes                                        (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

My final card, also made with two images from Beccy's Place digi set named "Smooth Sailing." I cut the wonderful sailboat scene from an old calendar and adhered it to the card front with kraft photo corners. Then printed off the sentiment and anchor. Colored the anchor with Spectrum Noir pens, fussy cut and attached it to the scene. Using old calendar pages is one of my favorite ways to make quick and easy cards!  Am entering this card into a few challenges- Simon Says Monday (it was inspired by the book "The Old Man and the Sea" a favorite book -and later movie- from my childhood), Word Art Wednesday, and  

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Mythology/Inspired by a Story     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #328-9 Anything Goes                 (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #197                                  (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Gnomes & Critters

This month's free digi for the Monthly Progressive Challenge at Gerda Steiner Designs is this cute Gnome couple. Decided to pair it with the wonderful door from the digi set "Fantasy Sheet 2 - Digital Sentiments" from Whimsy Stamps. Took a little fussy cutting, plus I made the front of the gnome house with a hand-cut stencil. I had colored the Whimsy door image with alcohol inks. The bleed-through allowed me to sketch the inside of the door with the markers and micro-tip black Sharpie. Created a door frame for the inside of the card, used a thin strip of tape to make the door hinge, and finished off the inside of the card with small print "wallpaper." Printed the sentiment off on my computer. Am entering it into several other challenges, including A2Z Scrapbooking "April Flowers" (which rim the gnome door!) Note- I had to prop the door open with a paper clip for the second photo. The tape hinge is a little stiff!

 

Entered into: 

Whimsy Inspirations- #104 Anything Goes                                            (whimsyinspires.blogspot.com)

Gerda Steiner Designs- Monthly Progressive Challenge- Gnomes     (gsd-stamps.com/blogs/news)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #328-9 Anything Goes                    (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Flower Power   (April)            (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

CAS-ual Fridays- #196 Spring Fever                                                         (CAS-ualfridays.blogspot.com)
Penny's Challenge- #374 Anything Goes                                                 (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

The current challenge at Little Scraps of Heaven is "Teddy Bears." They have so many cute bears from which to choose. But I decided to use some of the patterned paper that I purchased a few weeks ago to make a card for a dear friend that is fighting breast cancer. Figure it is time to send her another encouragement card. So… this cute little bear will help me to do that! Am entering it into several other challenges, including The Paper Shelter's "Girl Power" (because women who have survived breast cancer are some of the bravest people I know!)

Entered into: 

Little Scraps of Heaven (FB)   Teddy Bear Challenge       (lshdesigns.blogspot.com)

The Paper Shelter- #333 Girl Power                                    (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

QKR Stampede- #290 Anything Goes                                 (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #197                (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
Cute Card Thursday- #524- Anything Goes                       (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

I love this giraffe trio digi from Bugaboo, especially when I reduce the image to fit within a wonderful film strip die from Marianne Design. (Being able to enlarge or reduce images is one of the reasons that I love using digis.) Printed the sentiments off on my computer.

 

Entered into: 

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes                                        (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- A Trio of Something    (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Happy Birthday      (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Di’s Digi Stamps- Hand colored Image                              (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

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

Easter & Birthday

Made a few Easter Cards last Saturday and am finally getting them posted. For this card I used a sweet image from Di's Digis named "Bunny Treats." Entering into Di's "Spring Flowers" challenge, SumMoreFun Mood Board challenge (used a few of the colors and the images of flowers for inspiration), A2Z challenge "April Flower Power" (because of the sweet blooms), Simon Says Monday (the trio of flowers) and used sketch #371from the current Sketch Saturday challenge.  I printed the inside sentiment on my computer using a fun font named "Jokerman."

Entered into:

Di’s Digi Stamps- Spring Flowers Challenge                       (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Sketch Saturday- Week #507                                                  (sketchsaturday.blogspot.com) 

A2zscrapbooking Challenge- April Flower Power              (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- A Trio of Something       (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

We Craft Cards Wednesday Challenge- Complimentary  (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Cute Card Thursday- #524- Anything Goes                        (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

This Easter card was created with a scrap of vintage choir music from a box we discovered in the basement of my hubby's family home. (Most of the music sheets and choir books are from the 1920's through 1940's, when his Grandma Laura was the music director at her church.) Used several other paper scraps when putting the card together- Layering paper (blue scrapbook paper as the background and behind the sentiment), butterfly die (scrap of black cardstock, lined with a scrap of lavender vellum). Finished the card with a bit of dimension and bling by adding a large flower, and several small blossoms, from my sticker stash. Entering this into several challenges including SumMoreFun (reflects a few of the colors and butterfly in the left photo), Pixie's Snippets (because the card is made with treasures from my scrap box) and CAS-usal Fridays (because the card just shouts "Spring".) 

Entered into: 

SumMoreFun  Challenge- Mood Board                                   (summorefun.com)  

Pixie's Snippets-  Week #323                                                     (pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com) 

CAS-ual Fridays- #196 Spring Fever                                        (CAS-ualfridays.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #197                     (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #328-9 Anything Goes    (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

QKR Stampede- #290 Anything Goes                                      (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

The current challenge at Art Impressions is to create a Gate Fold card. This simple fold creates a perfect way to highlight two of my favorite AI characters, Eunice and Cliff. The fun sentiment is also from Art Impressions but is no longer available.

Entered into: 

Art Impressions- #229 Gate Fold Cards                             (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Happy Birthday       (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Penny's Challenge- #374 Anything Goes                            (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

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

Spring Fever

For this card I used a sweet image from Di's Digis named "Mias Koala Hug." I think that my Koala is a bit too brown. But… he's still cute, right? Entering into Di's "Spring Flowers" challenge, SumMoreFun Mood Board challenge (used a few of the colors and the images of flowers for inspiration), A2Z challenge "April Flower Power" because of the sweet little blooms, that I sketched out and then fussy cut) The Paper Shelters challenge "Girl Power" (because from what I've heard about Koalas' they are mean. So hugging one would be gutsy!) and I used sketch #218 for the current Sketch Saturday challenge.  

Entered into: 

Di’s Digi Stamps- Spring Flowers Challenge                              (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Sketch Saturday- Week #507                                                        (sketchsaturday.blogspot.com) 

SumMoreFun  Challenge- Mood Board                                      (summorefun.com) 

The Paper Shelter- #333 Girl Power                                            (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- April Flower Power    (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

This weeks challenge at wecraftcards is to create a Z-fold card. I made mine a little differently than the norm, crafting the z-fold strip across the top of the card using acetate. Then, attached a colored image from Whimsie Doodles, a cute little Porker, floating down on his heart balloon, attached to his "wrist" by a twist of twine.  When the card is standing open, he does look like he is partially suspended in the air. (I did tape his right leg to the front of the card to add some stability. The sentiment came with the image. And I used cloud stationery paper to line the card front and interior (Plus, the front strip of acetate is taped under the cloud paper hiding it from view.  A simple to make card with a nice wow factor. (The balloon is actually a pretty wine color. In the photos it looks almost black!)

Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- A to Z CARD    (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Penny's Challenge- #374 Anything Goes                    (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Double D’s Challenge- Twine                                        (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

The current challenge at Art Impressions is to create a Gate Fold card. This is the simplest fold of all and fun to use, especially when highlighting one of my favorite  AI characters, Eunice. Wanted to use the AI sentiment, and when I found the wonderful word bubble in my paper stash, don't have a clue who makes it, I knew it was perfect. As always, Eunice wanted a little bling, so I added pearls to her earrings. Mahvelus!!

Entered into: 

Art Impressions- #229 Gate Fold Cards                             (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #197                (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
QKR Stampede- #287 Anything Goes                                 (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

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