More Saturday Fun

My second entry into the Outlawz Sunday Songs and Rhymes Challenge "Sitting on the dock of the bay" features an iris-folded ship in a bottle. You can find the pattern HERE. I used some cloud stationary for the "sky folds" and scraps of white and browns for the other sections. It was a little tedious to make, but I do like the results. The sentiments are computer generated and the little anchor "charm' was created with silver cardstock with a little punch from JoAnne's. 

 

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #386-#387 Anything Goes                    

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                        

Wanted to make another card for the Simon Says Monday "Happy Hour" Challenge and remembered a wonderful template for a Margarita glass that I'd found HERE. I used regular vellum and also a few scraps of orange vellum to make the glass. Added some glitter "salt" around the glasses edge, then slid an orange slice over the edge of the glass, too. [The orange slice was cut from a sheet of background paper. I drew around the edge with an orange Spectrum Noir marker to create the rind, then added a little white gel pen highlights to add some definition to the fruits yummy pulp before cutting a slit into the orange slice.]  The sentiments on the front of the card are from my scrapbook stash. The sentiment on the inside of the card is from a Whimsy digi set named "Vintage Sentiments." You can find it HERE [for just $3.] 

 

Entered into:  

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Happy Hour

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 20-Anything Goes                 

My final card for this posting is actual two cards that I'm entering into this month's Twofer Challenge. I love this challenge which requires the use of the exact same stamp or die to make two cards with distinctly different designs for two different occasions. For my cards, I decided to use a stamp that I purchased back when I was making cards for members of our military through Operation Write Home. Now that I live in the state where Harley Davidson Motorcycles was "born", I use it quite often. [I thought the company went out of business when Operation Write Home closed but was excited that the Deep Red Stamp line is still available through Amazon. You can find this motorcycle stamp HERE.]
For both cards, I made the image look like it is moving by stamping it with black ink on glossy cardstock. Then, while the ink is still wet, I gently pull my index finger across the ink from the front of the motorcycle to trail behind it. I then added additional details to the image with a silver pen plus a red and a white gel pen. 

I made the birthday card using a simple "Tent Topper Fold" that was part of this week's challenge at the wecraftcards Forum. [You can find the instructions for the fold HERE.] To add a bit of texture [and fun] to the card, I pulled a few fluffs from a cotton ball and adhere them behind the cycles exhaust pipes. The sentiment is computer generated.

The retirement card took a bit longer to make, but I know that the person I made it for will love it. [He serves on the board of a community drug prevention coalition that I chair… and although he retired from a full-time job years ago… he is finally going to take some time to enjoy retirement. He and his wife of 50 years are heading out on a cross-country motorcycle trip in a few weeks. Plan to give them this card, with a gas gift card tucked into the inside pocket.  So fun.

Now… to the card. I found a pattern for the leather motorcycle jacket HERE. [It's an SVG so I had to make some adjustments and estimations, but it wasn't too hard to revise.] I had a roll of foil tape in my stash and it worked perfectly for making the buckle and zipper pulls, plus made the "silver brads" by using a small circle punch. Easy peasy. [The foil tape, named HVAC Multipurpose tape, is available from most hardware stores.]

I made a label for the jacket by printing "Celebrate" onto tan cardstock, sponged the edges with brown ink and sketched stars with a light tan pen. Layered atop a scrap of white paper, and made a tiny size tag, printing "LG" on it and taping it to the label. After constructing the jacket, the final touches were to add stitching to the jacket, pockets, belt, and label with a regular school pencil.  

Am entering this into several challenges including Power Poppy Creative Confetti's Roll the Dice [I'd rolled a "1" which designated "Celebrate a Special Occasion" which gave me the idea to make the jacket into a retirement card] and Bugaboos BINGO Challenge, Top row- Sparkle [the silver kind of sparkles… or at least gleams, right?] stitching and sentiment.

 

Entered into: 

Twofer Card Challenge- #16 Things with Wheels   (logo)                             

Birthday
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Half and Half                                         

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- Anything Goes-Birthday      

 

 

Jacket

Cute Card Thursday- #582  Stitching Bugaboo Stamps- BINGO    
Power Poppy- Creative Confetti- Roll the dice

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Stitches                                                    

Art Impressions- #256 Shaped Cards                                                                  

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

Finally Saturday

I've had a super busy week at work.  Developed and presented 24 presentations on the dangers of e-cigs for local health classes. The use of e-cigs [called vaping or Juuling] has increased five-fold in my state in the last few years, so these classes were very much needed to help the nearly 400 students that were in the classes learned this important info that I hope will help them avoid vaping, or consider stopping if they are already using. I love working directly with teens, but it also tires me out… so was happy to have some down time this weekend to make a few cards to enter into the Outlawz Sunday Songs and Rhymes Challenge "Sitting on the dock of the bay." I used a wonderful coloring sheet from a place named Favoreads that I joined which offers free color sheets via FaceBook every Friday. Check HERE for details. The sentiments on the front and inside of the set are from a Whimsy digi set named  "Vintage Sentiments." You can find it HERE [for just $3.]

 

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenges- Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay 

Double D’s Challenge- Frames [photo]                  

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday- [TWIST –Hip to be Square= Use Three Squares]

Haven't had a chance to make any cards for the Simon Says Monday Challenge named "Happy Hour" so whipped up a few today. I couldn't find a template for a beer mug on the web for this first one, so developed one of my own. Used yellow and regular/white vellum to make the mug, and made the "foam" with white and cream paper scraps that I'd embossed with a swirls die. Used a grey marker and white gel pen to add a few water droplets on the mug.  The sentiment is a revision of something that I saw on a greeting card on the web a while ago.

 

Entered into:  

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Happy Hour

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- Anything Goes-Birthday  

Needed a Graduation card for a nephew so dug through my stash and found graduation background paper and stickers. Wasn't sure of his school colors opted to go with some rich royal tones of navy and burgundy. Used punches to make the star that holds the diploma sticker and heart on the inside of the card. The grad cap is made with a Stamping Up wood mount stamp from a retired set. The sentiments are computer generated.  [I love using Jeremiah 29:11 on graduation cards and personalizing the verse with the grads name.] Finished the card with a smattering of sparkly star stickers. Quick and easy to make this card that is so very personalized. [Oh, and the check that will be enclosed is sure to be appreciated.]

 

Entered into: 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #386-#387 Anything Goes                    

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #117 (diploma  Photo)                                   

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                        

Hoppy Day

For this weeks QKR Stampede Challenge, my DT card features a fun image [Eureka Stamps:digi306 Jumping Frog Digital Stamp] and a sentiment [QKR Stampede: Q-digi17701 Hoppy Birthday]. You can find them HERE. I kept the card pretty simple so that the frog takes center stage. I colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. Some cloud background paper, a few scraps of green cardstock clipped into grass clumps plus several dainty butterflies fussy-cut from a bit of scrapbook paper complete the playful card. Am entering this card into a few challenges including Fabrika Fantasy's "Animals" [I did google it and discovered that although a frog is an amphibian, it is also considered an animal.]

 

Entered into: 

Fabrika Fantasy Challenge- #30 - Animals

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                        

One of Power Poppy Creative Confetti Challenges this month is called "Simply Resistible" and requires the use of a "Resist Technique." I immediately remembered a wonderful technique named Joseph's Coat a few decades ago. Actually, when deciding on what I wanted to stamp for my background, I spotted the front cover of an outdated planner on my craft desk. I'd saved it because I'd loved the slightly vintage look of the flowers and decided it might just work as my Joseph's Coat base. Inked a few bold rubber stamps from Posh Impressions with clear embossing ink and stamped them onto the floral cover. Liberally sprinkled them with clear powder and heated it. Because didn't trust my memory on the next steps, I found a tutorial on Pinterest that served as a refresher course  [you can find it HERE] then finished the resist technique with a sponge and black ink. Because I wanted to also enter the card into the current Double D's challenge named "Frames" I trimmed the resist element down into a rectangle that I could attach to a patterned background to create the look of a frame. I added a pop of color by attaching a strip of knotted ribbon to this front section and adding a computer generated sentiment,  before layering it onto additional rectangles of various colors to add additional framing.                                                                                 

     

Entered into:  

Power Poppy- Creative Confetti- Simply Resistible

Double D’s Challenge- Frames [photo]                  

My final card for this posting is for the current Butterfly Challenge that highlights the letter F. My card includes one color [French Rose], one theme [Flowers] and, of course, a butterfly. The beautiful Peony is an old wood mount from Embossing Arts that I stamped onto a scrap of old sheet music from a stash that was discovered in the basement of my MIL's home when she moved into an apartment several years ago. My hubby's grandmother had been the director of her church choir and also a packrat… both benefited me with the gift of a few large boxes choral books and sheet music. I love using them to create cards. The butterfly stamp was pulled from the wood long ago but I think it might be from Hero Arts or Embossing Arts, and the tag sentiment is from a Lili of the Valley digi set named "Sentiment Tags." You can find them HERE.

 

Entered into: 

Butterfly Challenge- #122 Letter F for Flap Fold                 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #386-#387 Anything Goes                    

Scribbles Designs Challenge- #77 Flowers                                                        

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- May Flowers                   

Fairy Love

It's Wednesday! So time for another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog. Penny's challenges are always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded from one or more sponsors.  Stop by the blog to check it out! 

This week, my DT card features an image and sentiment from a set named "Fairy Love" from one of the challenge sponsors, Oddball Art. [You can find it HERE.] I love that the sentiment is decorated with had both stars and hearts, so decided to make a background that includes both. After picking out the papers, I liked the navy blue and rich pink colors together so much that I decided to use shades of those colors in the image.  I colored the little cutie with Spectrum Noir markers, white gel pen, and a fine-line grey watercolor marker. Decided to used a subdued hair color to not overpower the color scheme and really like the results. Also sketched a few additional stars in the sky with a silver gel pen to add more sparkle. Didn't stamp the inside yet because I am not sure who it will be sent to.

Entered into:  

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 19-Anything Goes                                           

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                        

Oddball Challenge- May  

This is my second card as a DT for Imagine That Digi Stamps.  It features an adorable image named "Skippers Pocket."  You can find it HERE right [On sale right now for just $1.50!] Plus, designer/owner of Imagine That, Kris Breach, provides her DTs with a coupon code that allows any friends a discount on their next digi order. If you stop by the shop I know that you'll find lots of digis that you'll want to add to your collection. .

Since I knew that I wanted to layer the frog on top of the pocket I printed several  copies of the pocket image from the set named "Pocket Frog with Flowers" on white cardstock. I clipped the head of the frog from one of the pockets, leaving the little webbed hands on the pocket as they'd be covered when I layered the frog on top. Then I sponged blue ink pretty liberally over the pocket until I thought it resembled worn denim.  I fussy-cut the from the other pocket, then colored the cute little amphibian with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen and set him aside. Embroidery floss was used to add the stitched embellishments on the pocket. To make this process easier, I first placed the pocket on to a foam mat, took a large needle and gently punched holes through which I'd thread the embroidery floss. Then I got to work with embroidering while watching TV.  When finished I layered some scraps of patterned paper to create a background. I also found a wonderful freebie sentiment that would make a nice pocket tag and printed it off sized very small to look realistic on the pocket, trimmed it to size and attached it to the pocket edge with transparent tape. You can find the tag sentiment HERE. Added a few brads on the pocket corners, then mounted it onto the background with foam tape, leaving the top of the pocket open to be able to slide the little guys bottom down "into" the pocket.  Since I like to decorate the inside of my cards to match the front, I colored and fussy cut another little frog and perched him behind a sentiment that I layered on the inside of the card. The sentiment on the inside of the card is a digi from QKR Stampede. You can find it HERE.

 

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Stitches                                                    

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- Anything Goes-Birthday  

The Sisterhood of Crafters- It's All About Flowers  

Scribbles Designs Challenge- #77 Flowers                                                        

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- May Flowers                     

My final card is a simple one that I made for the current Outlaws Tuesday Color challenge [shades of yellow], plus I used a bunch of patterned paper scraps which allow me to enter it into the current Pixie's Snippet's challenge. I found a template for the sweet Tinkerbell silhouette on a blog that was sharing creative pumpkin carving. [Yep, you read that correctly. This Tink was created to be carved into a pumpkin. Check it out HERE. I resized the template a bit and trace it onto a scrap of black paper [actually is a scrap from a black envelope that had a white interior. Made it very easy to see my pencil tracings. Created the sunburst background using a tutorial that I found HERE. Finished the card with a computer generated sentiment, a bit of vellum and double stick tape to attach the sun rays to the card. Love the way it turned out.

 

Entered into: 

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge  [Twist= Feminine]             

Pixie's Snippets-Week #352                                                                                            

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #386-#387 Anything Goes                    

Dreamin'

My final card for the 2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop features an adorable digi from Little Blue Button named "Dream Charlie." You can find here HERE  I printed Charlie on kraft brown cardstock because I wanted to experiment with coloring her skin and hair on that darker base. I think it worked pretty well, as the Spectrum Noir markers, plus white gel pen and micro-fine brown watercolor marker adding depth and richness to the colors. The card is a simplified tri-fold, at least that is what I'm going to call it. I planned to make a tri-fold card, cut the base card too short. So I basically had a regular A2 card. Ha. Math never has been one of my skillsets. But I wanted something different than a basic card shape, so I folded the front flap back and then adhered Charlie to the exposed half of the card front with double stick tape. Easy-peasy. The inside Sentiment if from a Beccy's Place digi set named "Walk by Faith." I think that it matches the "Dream" theme of the card. And… of course, I added a little fun by popping a few puffy heart stickers onto the front and inside of the card. [I get these gems from WalMart- 113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents. What a great deal!] 

I'm entering this card into a few additional challenges including If You Give a Crafter a Cookie [my card has some soft pastel shades of pink... and sweet little hearts. Plus.... a few cookies would be nummy with that steaming mug of java, doncha think?]

 

  

Entered into: 

2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop    

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #116      

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 19-Anything Goes                                           

I wanted to make another card for the Simon Says Monday Challenge "Add Something Metallic" so dug through my collection of brads and charms for inspiration. This wonderful Family brad grabbed my attention. I needed to make a card for a nephew and his wife who just adopted a baby. It's been a long journey with several heartbreaks along the way… but finally, a few weeks ago, they welcomed a beautiful little two-year-old girl into their family. She is being welcomed by a seven-year-old sister who is thrilled. Okay… thrilled most of the time and vexed the rest… by this new baby sister. I wasn't sure what greeting to add. Found this pretty gold "Congratulations" sentiment that I'd upcycled from an old card and thought it would be appropriate, but I wanted to be sure. So I googled and this definition popped up, "Congratulations are expressed for good wishes on a special occasion, not just an accomplishment."  Amen and Amen. I created a background for the Brad with a few layers of decorative papers and embossed a beautiful Grunge Cross stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs onto vellum so that the brad would stand out. [I thought this company had gone out of business but was happy to find that many of their stamps were still available HERE. [After looking over the catalog, I've started a new wish list. So fun.]

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Add Something Metallic

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #386-#387 Anything Goes                    

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                        

My final card features a beautiful bunch of bright flowers, stamped with assorted wood-mount stamps from Posh Impressions. I wanted to give the card a true feeling of freshly picked flowers in the spring, then remembered a freebie digi of a vintage canning jar that I'd discovered a few years ago. Found it tucked away in my laptop and printed it off on an acetate transparency sheet [an old office supply store purchase back when I used an overhead projector to make presentations. [Yep. I'm OLD.] Since tape would show through the acetate then I taped it to the card, I opted for a different process that was a little time-consuming but well worth the trouble. I basically cut little "flaps" [1-2 inches wide and 2-3 inches long] when I trimmed the acetate- a small one on each side of the jar rim, a larger one on each side of the jar and on the bottom. After decorating the front of the card with stems of flowers that would fill the jar, and assorted leaves and petals strewn across the bottom of the card, I cut small slits in the card front, slipped these flaps into the slits, folded them open and taped them down with transparent tape on the inside of the card.  I stamped a few more blooms and leaves on scrap paper, fussy cut them and attached to the bouquet with foam mounting squares. The final touch was to loosely wrap a strip of ribbon around the neck of the jar and add a gentle knot. Ahh. Pretty.

PS You can find the free digi of the vintage canning jar HERE. I decorated the inside of the card to match the brightness of the flowers. The sentiment is from a Whimsy digi set named  "Vintage Sentiments." You can find it HERE [for just $3.]
Am entering this card into several challenges including Outlaws color challenge [my entry has several shades of yellow on the front and inside of the card] and Simon Says "For a Special Lady" challenge [what lady wouldn't feel special getting a beautiful bouquet like this. I  personally like it better than a dozen long-stemmed roses. And the money my hubby would save could be used to buy... um... let me think... perhaps chocolate? ] 

Entered into: 

The Sisterhood of Crafters- It's All About Flowers  

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- May Flowers                        

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge  [Twist= Feminine]             

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- For a Special Lady