Week of May 21-27 (Saturday)

A few fun cards to brighten a rainy Saturday. The first features my all-time favorite Art Impressions image, the always irresistible Maude! The inside reads, "I know how easily people your age pee their pants!" 

Entered into:

Art Impressions Challenge-White Space    

    (http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/)

The next features a free image that is sure to warm a kiddos heart. The inside of card reads- “…and I like warm hugs!”

(Find Olaf here http://www.lovebugsandpostcards.com/disney-frozen-olaf-build-snowman-printable/)

Entered into:

Christmas Cards All Year Round Challenge-Precipitation 

     (christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk)

 

The final card is for a challenge entitled "Mighty Man." The inside of the card reads, "Dad- Thanks for all that you do and for who you are! Hope you have a Happy Birthday.  (P.S. Can I borrow 10 bucks?)"

I ask you, what can be mightier than a man with a sense of humor?! 

Entered into:

Open Minded Crafting Challenge-Mighty Men 

    (open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca)

Week of May 21-27 (Friday)

A few end of the week challenges. The first includes gold hearts stamped from a Godiva Coffee bag (I love to upcycle items in my cards and I love Godiva Crème Brule coffee!)  The inside sentiment reads "...but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!"   

 

Entered into:

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-#180Anything Goes
     (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

For the second card I used a few images from an old SU set, “Dreams & Dragons.”

Entered into:

Send a Smile for Kids Challenge-Bright Colors for Kids                

     (sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com)

Week of May 21-27 (Thursday)

Art Impressions has some wonderful images of old guys and old gal. But they also have this sweet baby with a balloon. Their challenge this week is to create a card with lots of white space. So… here ‘tis!  (The paper actually has a tiny bit of pastel color and texture. Years ago I added a few drops of food color to a bottle of bubbles then blew them across white card stock. The results? Small pale circles, blotches and drips. 

Also entered into another challenge for CAS (Clean & Simple)= lots of white space!

Entered into:

Art Impressions Challenge-White Space 

    (http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/)

Cute Card Thursday Challenge-#479 CAS 

    (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

My second card is made with a wonderful sentiment from Beccys Place digital set called Iris Garden.  The photo of the flower bouquet is cut from an old calendar, framed by a cutout in yellow vellum (not sure if you can see the details, but it has yellow curlicues). Finished with gold photo corners. The frame and flowers allows entry into two other challenges. 

Entered into:

Beccy’s Place May Challenge 

     (beccysplace.blogspot.com)
Poppy Power Challenge-Frame It Up

    (powerpoppy.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge- Flowers 
     (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Week of May 21-27 (Wednesday)

Had the chance to create some cards focusing on furry and feathery friends this week.

For the first, I found a silhouette of a Scottie dog on Google. Traced and fussy-cut, and paired with a fun sentiment that I also found via Google. It makes me giggle!

Entered into:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge-Furry Friends      

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

My second card includes one of my favorite birds, from a digi set that I found at Beccy’s Place. Added a computer generated sentiment (the inside says, “Owl always be younger than you… and there is nothing you can do about it!”

Put the sweet little owl in a cut-out frame card so that I could enter it into the Poppy Power Challenge.

Entered into:

Beccy’s Place- May Challenge 

     (beccysplace.blogspot.com)
Poppy Power Challenge-Frame It Up 

    (powerpoppy.blogspot.com)/ 2017/05/our-may-challenge-frame-it-up.html

Just discovered a new blog that includes scripture-based (or inspirational) challenges.  Loved having the chance to use another one of the free digi coloring sheets from http://tammytutterow.com. Printed it on vellum and mounted on scrapbook paper. Love the crisp look.

Entered into:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Be Thankful

     (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Week of May 21- 27 (Tuesday)

Three very different cards for three separate challenges.

The first was made with a stamp that I inherited from my Mom. She passed away in 2011 and I still miss stampin’ and scrappin’ with her. She especially loved cute images and this was one of her favorites, we called it her “lil cheeps”!  

 

Entered into:

Deep Ocean Challenge- Furry & Feathers Friends               

    (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

The second is for a challenge that provided an inspiration photo of a mother in lacey gown holding her little one. My card reflects the lacy textures in the photo and the muted coloring. I hardly use mulberry paper anymore. Added the perfect touch here!

Entered into:

 (Pin)spirational Challenge- Inspiration Photo               

     (pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com)

The third reminds me of summers as a child. I remember the first time I caught lightning bugs. When I woke up the next morning and ran to see my new treasured critters, I thought my brothers had raided my jar and put some ugly bugs in their place. So funny!

Entered into:

Simon Says Monday Challenge-Little Critters     

   (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Week of May 21-27 (Monday)

Enjoyed spending many hours in therapy this weekend (aka- making cards in my craft room with a fragrant cup of hazelnut coffee close to hand!) As a result, I was able to finish up several challenges. So fun!

For the first two challenges, I used a favorite fairy stamp from Simon Says stamps. (I find that I use this set more often after I got a MISTI for Christmas. Love how I can restamp numerous times if needed to get a bold image.)

Entered into:

Simon Says Monday Challenge-Little Critters     

    (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Send a Smile for Kids Challenge-Bright Colors for Kids                   

     (sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com)

When I saw this great fish image in a Game, Fish and Parks booklet I knew I had to put it to use. The finishing touch on my card was some fun cord I found in my stash that looks like flimsy seaweed. Reminded me how a bit of cord, twine, yarn, ribbon, etc. can often add that extra ooomph that a card sometimes needs to make it look complete. So… the challenge at wecraftcards (which I was hosting this week) was to incorporate something tied on or around the card. Also entered into another masculine challenge… just in time for Father’s Day. 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge-Tie it up 

     (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Open Minded Crafting Challenge-Mighty Men                           

    (open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca)

Week of May 14-20 (Friday)

Had some fun with these challenges creating cards that span across a few seasons!

The first one includes an interior greeting, recessed in a circular "frame". 

Entered into:

Poppy Power

     (powerpoppy.blogspot.com)/2017/05/our-may-challenge-frame-it-up.html

The next cards celebrate Spring. The first was to include a bit of sunshine in honor of May.
The second features a free digi from Beccy's place. (Plus, I used a lovely lace scrap that was in a basket of craft items that were among my mom's "treasures." I didn't put a greeting on this card since I don't know who is going to receive it yet. But... I'm thinking it will go to one of my sisters, who will appreciate the bit of Moms lace.) 
And the third, with a few subdued blossoms, are colored with chalk on dark cardstock, for an embossing challenge that is to be CAS (clean and simple.) I love the bit of bling that the glittery embossing adds. 

Entered into:

Simon Says Works It Wednesdays Challenge- Sunshine

     http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-wednesday-may-2017/

Entered into:

Beccy’s Place May Challenge

     (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

Entered into:

AAA Cards CAS challenges- #90 Embossing                      

   (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

The final card includes a new stamp from Stampendous that is already a favorite! 

Entered into:

Christmas Cards All Year Round- Precipitation

     (christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk)

Week of May 14-20 (Thursday)

Enjoyed making a card for a few challenges. 

Entered into:
Little Miss Muffet Challenge- #163 Anything Goes

     (littlemissmuffetchallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Deep Ocean Challenge- #155 Furry, Feathered Friends

    (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Week of May 14-20 (Wednesday)

I don't have any horse stamps, but remembered that I found this great image on a coloring sheet that I use at the office. The sentiment shows my usual odd sense of humor. The inside of the card says, No, I meant “Hay girl.” That is your job, right?

Entered into:
We Craft Cards Wednesday Challenge- Horses

          (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Deep Ocean Challenge- #155 Furry, Feathered Friends
    (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Used a section of scrapbook paper, plus a sweet wedding stamp and some rhinestones to create this card for a challenge that required a bit of sparkle.

Entered into:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Bit of Sparkle

     (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Week of May 14-20 (Tuesday)

Another favorite image from Art Impression stamps, Eunice, is celebrating a birthday with a BINGO as only Eunice can!  The inside sentiment, printed off on my computer reads, "Happy 65th Birthday... let the fun begin!" (The AI challenge required that the card includes dots and stripes. I paper pieced Eunice's blouse with some dotted scrapbook paper and also mounted the Bingo card on purple plaid paper, to play off of her purple blouse. She always was a trendsetter!) 

Entered into:

Crafters Café Challenge Blog- #173 Birthday       

     (crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com.au)

Art Impressions- Dots & Stripes                                      

      (http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/)

A birthday card with a sweet image from Stampendous, plus kitten tracks and a bow from a box of Godiva Chocolates (They were yummy!)

Entered into:

Deep Ocean Challenge- #155 Furry, Feathered Friends
    (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Week of May 14-20 (Monday)

Was fun making a few Father’s Day cards with a few alphabet letter stickers, a strip of leather from an old purse, pop tab, and subway art from 

http://paulaposts.blogspot.com/2013/06/gallery-idol-2013-round-2-defining-dad.html. 

Entered into:
We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Man Cards

     (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Open Minded Crafting  Challenge- Mighty Men

    (open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca)

I co-owned a stamp store in South Dakota years ago and Art Impression stamps were one of our best sellers! I loved that the characters all had their own unique personalities… and actually had names! One reason I started this blog was so that I could enter challenges so I was thrilled to recently learn that AI has a blog with challenges! I made this fun card (complete with a torn corner "burned" with brown ink sponging.)

Entered into:

Art Impressions- Dots & Stripes

      (http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/)

Crafters Café Challenge Blog- #173 Birthday

     (crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com.au)

This card meets the requirements of a few challenges PLUS I got to use vellum, one of my favorite stamping supplies.  

Entered into:
Simon Says Monday Challenge- Home Sweet Home 

(simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Poppy Power Challenge- Frame It Up
       (powerpoppy.blogspot.com)/2017/05/our-may-challenge-frame-it-up.html

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-#179 Anything Goes
     (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Living in the Midwest, one of my favorite spring flowers are peonies. For this card, I stamped a single peony and small butterfly on a vintage piece of music that is from my husband's grandmothers basement. (Most of the music books are 60-80 years old. And the antique lace is from my mother.)

Entered into:
Whimsie Doodles Anything Goes Challenge- In the Garden

     (whimsiedoodles.blogspot.com)

Week of May 14-20 (Sunday) 

Some fun challenges this week. Starting with a floral beauty on Sunday! 

Entered into:

AAA Cards CAS challenges- #90 Embossing     

          (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

Whimsie Doodles Anything Goes Challenge- In the Garden

          (whimsiedoodles.blogspot.com)

Spring Crop Day 4- Life is An Adventure
The final day of the crop included two challenges. One was to create a card celebrating a new job and include origami. My card is for a friend that just retired. When I asked what she now planned to do with her time, she simply said, "Fishin'!" So the inside of my card reads, "Go get 'em!" 

The other challenge was to create a wedding card that incorporated lace. I loved being able use a vintage lace medallion that I inherited from my mom. (She was a packrat crafter... so I have lots of treasures from her stash!) 

Entered into:
We Craft Cards Challenge- Crop

     (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #179
     (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Spring Crop Day 3- Life is An Adventure
One of the challenges for this crop was to create a card that incorporates an announcement or invitation. Our great-niece graduates from high school next week. Was fun to make this care with her announcement photo and "Congrats Grad" medallion. I think she will love it (especially the Dr. Seuss saying and scooter!)  

 Then new baby challenge required that our card could not include blue or pink. I used a bunch of cute embellishments from my stash.

We Craft Cards Challenges- New Baby & Graduation

This card incorporated a "frame" in the design. Used an old image from Stampin' Up that has always been a favorite. 

Poppy Power Challenge- FrameUp

     (powerpoppy.blogspot.com)/2017/05/our-may-challenge-frame-it-up.html