Everlasting love

I use this wonderful subway art image from createwithtlc-createwithtlc.blogspot.com quite often. Love i’s powerful message. For the inside sentiment, I print off the following, “Rest in these truths. And remember, YOU are loved with an EVERLASTING love!”

(Today I need this promise because I am a soggy, sneezy, miserable mess. Staying home from work with a horrible head cold. Ugh and Yuk. My sore nose feels like it is the size of my face. And my hubby is making fun of how I talk. Thad is nod fuddy! However, he is also waiting on me… so thad is nidce!)   

Entered into: 

Double D’s Challenge- Sentiment/Quote                            (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

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

Bugaboo Stamps- Color                                                          (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge 186                  (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes             (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

I am a lover of animals and critters so they often show up in my cards. Was blessed to have a mom with a large heart, so just about anything we brought home got to stay! Dogs, cats, salamanders, rabbits, and more. I even had one of those “bug boxes” and cared for a many a ladybug, caterpillar and other creepy crawlies (except spiders. Never spiders. I squish them with no remorse!) For today's card I found some great dog sentiments via google and fussy cut a Scottie pup to showcase them. The inside sentiment reads, “…but it can’t wiggle its butt when you walk in the door!”

Entered into: 

Cute Card Thursday- Monochrome                                     (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes         (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

I think this might be the first card I’ve ever made that used just scrapbook paper and accessories. Wanted to make another card for the Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge using pink, green and red and this paper almost jumped into my hands! It als works fro three of Crafty Hazelnut’s challenges, too. So…. Win, win!

                            

Entered into: 

Christmas Card Throwdown- Pink, Green and Red          (52cct.blogspot.si/)

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

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge2- Extra for Sept  (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.com)

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

I stamped several images of this cute little Eureka snowbear when I had it out last week. So you might be seeing him pop up often in future cards. This card also includes a shaker element plus metal charm so that I can enter it into a few other challenges. (The shaker includes glitter and a dozen plastic snowflakes which are all clumped together! I even added some rock salt to the mix that is supposed to prevent static and clumping. I guess they just are really bonded!) 

Entered into: 

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

CAS-ual Fridays- Shaker Card                                              (CAS-ualfridays.blogspot.com)

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

End of summer card

I used to make a lot of explosion cards. Haven’t done that for a while… but the current Simon Says Wednesday Challenge “Pop It Up” seemed like a reason to try it again. Ended up making a shape explosion card, after seeing a similar card on Pinterest. I love the look of the colored vellum on the butterfly wings. Am also entering it into several other challenges.

Entered into: 

Deep Ocean Challenge- Goodbye Summer                         (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Pop It Up                   (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Calling All Sista’s                                                                      (callingallsistahs.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge 186                  (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
Di’s Digi Stamps- Autumn                                                     (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

                             

One of my sister-in-laws was recently diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. After learning that the ribbon color for that is teal, I made her a card using a wonderful image from Tiddly Inks. The fighter even looks a bit like her. Attached the image to an A2 size card with black photo corners, then added a few scraps of ribbon and a metal star charm. Will mail it tomorrow, along with a whole boatload of prayers!

Entered into: 

Tiddly Inks- Anything Goes                                                   (tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.com)

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

Double D’s Challenge- Sentiment/Quote                           (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

Bugaboo Stamps- Color                                                         (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

                             

Love this sweet image from Lili of the Valley. Added lacy edging to be able to enter it Challenges at Victorine Stamps and We Craft Cards Forum. Plus a patterned paper challenge. (I think it is meant to be three bridesmaids, but I decided to turn one of the cuties into a bride by adding a veil.) Don't know if you can see it very well, but the card also has some wonderfully delicate silver thread lace. I've had it in my craft stash for a few decades. Got it at an estate sale where it was hidden deep in a box of other "treasures." 

Entered into:

Victorine Challenge- Pearls & Lace                                         (vostamps.blogspot.com)  

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- Crossing the Border  (wecraftcards.com/forum)

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

Doesn’t this feisty little bear (from Eureka Stamps) look like he is itching to nail someone with that snowball? I love the look on his face. I used a CAS theme to showcase this cute little guy, plus used the Sketch template at this weeks Less is More challenge. The light grey paper has a nice sheen, and I made the snowflakes "from scratch" with copy paper. My sisters and I used to cut hundreds of them when we were growing up. The inside of our home resembled a blizzard many years. 

Entered into: 

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

Less is More Challenge- Sketch                                           (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

                                             

Mermaid Love

I love this mermaid image from www.buzzle.com/articles/free-printable-coloring-pages-for-adults.html

Colored with chalks and Tombow markers, then added shimmer with Radiant Pearls paints in several colors. Love the way these paints bring the scales to life! The inside of the card reads, “May your special day be filled with mermaid kisses and starfish wishes.”

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Shimmer and Shine       (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

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

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge 186                   (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Made this card with a PSX Floral Frame wood mount stamp that is surely considered “vintage” since it is from the 90’s. The stamped image is mounted onto a Cascading Card base. (Tutorial can be found here

anngcrafts.blogspot.com/2016/09/cascading-halloween-a2-card-tutorial.html) The sentiment on the front of the card is a rub on, and the other sentiment is printed off on my computer.

                            

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Pop It Up                   (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

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

                             

I’ve always loved this sentiment that I found many years ago. The inside of the card reads “for they shall be known as sisters.”

The rose and leaf stamps are from Hero Arts. The background paper is from a stationary set I’ve also had for some time.  

Entered into: 

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

Double D’s Challenge- Sentiment/Quote                            (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

My final card, created with a cute image from freedeariedollsdigistamps.blogspot.com,  is for an “ode to the end of summer” challenge.  What could be better than a cool ice cream toast? (Especially since I am from Wisconsin where ice cream is dairy fresh. In fact one of our favorite places to get a cone is on a dairy farm. You can’t get any fresher than that!)

Entered into:

Deep Ocean Challenge- Goodbye Summer         (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Bugaboo Stamps- Color                                          (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Purrrfectly Adorable II

Another card using Art Impressions set, “Purr-thday" and one of the digis set from Beccy’s Place called “Seasonal Windows.” This time I used the Fall window, colored the beautiful foliage with alcohol markers, cut out the window panes and added the layer of “glass” (acetate). The sentiment is also from the digi set. I added a few fall leaves to dress it up a bit. Lightly colored a free fireplace clip art and attached it to the inside of the card to add some autumn warmth. The cat stamp is a front & back image, so the inside flap of the card is also adorable. (PS I haven’t decided what sentiment to add to the inside of the card yet. Will finish that up when I make up my mind!) 

Entered into:

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

Art Impressions- Flowers & Foliage                                     (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

                             

This card was created for a Bingo Challenge at Bugaboo Stamps (middle column- sparkle, red and washi tape. If you look close, you'll see that the spider's body is red with an embedded red gem). Also, since I kept it simple, am entering it into two CAS challenges- AAA Cards Challenge is Autumn Colors (this card has deep red and orange… plus Halloween colors of purple, black and a few more), Less is More Challenge is Take Flight (I’ve seen a few spiders fly in the wind attached to their webs, and I definitely fly out of my chair when I see one near me!)

 

Entered into:

AAA Card Challenges- Autumn Colors                             (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

Less is More Challenge- Take Flight                                 (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

Bugaboo Stamps- Bingo                                                      (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

                             

I upcycled this suit and dress image from an old card. Loved the shine of the paper. Added additional shimmer with two different scraps of satin ribbon. Added a bit of tulle for a veil and mounted the finished embellie onto patterned background paper.

Entered into:

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Shimmer and Shine       (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

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

Cute Card Thursday- Monochrome                                     (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Made another card for the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. This one includes several rich fall colors, a bit of vellum, a sweet little cup image from Stampin' Up (not sure what set it is from, but am sure it is retired), and a wonderful saying from an author named The Church Curmudgeon that makes me laugh!

Entered into: coffee

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop                                                         (coffeelovingcardmakers.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge 186                 (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Java Love

Discovered that my entry into the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop was no fall related. I was so excited to enter a coffee-focused hop that I didn't stop and think about the fact that my card theme was more Christmas than fall. And, I had only had one mug of coffee so possibly wasn’t functioning a fully caffeinated capacity! Ha! Amy was kind enough to delete my oops… so here is a more appropriate entry.

I’m calling this sweet whimseydoodles image a fall image because she is wearing a robe and slippers. Although, the fact that they are bunny slippers tells me that she is not yet totally awake.  Must have more coffee! The heart of the coffee pot, and all the hearts in the background papers, tell of her love of the bean!  Ah, life is good.

Entered into:

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop                                                             (coffeelovingcardmakers.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge 186                     (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
                             

I still had the bubble wrap and golden yellow ink pad on my worktable from making a honeybee card yesterday. So created another honeycomb background. Tried keep the card CAS by just stamping a single bee and finishing the card with a free sentiment from papersmooches.blogspot.com 

Entered into:

Less is More Challenge- Take Flight                             (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

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

                             

One neat thing about this hobby is inspiration can be found everywhere! I've been inspired by brochures from a doctor's office, the colors of the walls and furnishings in a café, the pattern in someone's shirt, a billboard or advertisement. Recently I was inspired by an ad in a local newspaper. I liked the silhouette (I think it’s an Elk. But I might be wrong. I’m a stamper not a game warden or hunter!) and wanted to cut one from cardstock to add to a card front. So I scanned the ad and then reduced the size of the silhouette to fit an A2 card. After fussy cutting the image I mounted it onto an A2 sized piece of vellum, which I adhered to an upcycled  calendar scene. (I saved this calendar page because I love the way the moon shimmers on the water.) Will attach a sentiment when needed especially since I never seem to have enough masculine cards. 

Entered into:

We Craft Cards Wednesday Challenge- Inspired by…   (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Shimmer and Shine       (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Last month I used this free digi from Beccy’s Place to make cards for a few challenges. I remembered its beautiful rich fall colors, so decided to make it again, this time in a larger size. Once again, masked the moon with a circle punched from a post-it note and put painters tape along the edges of the image. Then sponged the inks to get intense coloring.

Since the sentiment is fairly small, I'll add it here, "The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

Entered into:

AAA Card Challenges- Autumn  Colors                               (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

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

Deep Ocean Challenge- Goodbye Summer                         (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Calling All Sista’s                                                                      (callingallsistahs.blogspot.com)

     

                        

                              

Purrrfectly Adorable

I was trying to decide what to create for Art Impressions current challenge, “Flowers and Foliage” but wanted to use my new AI stamp set, “Purr-thday”.  Decided my favorite (and newest) digi set from Beccy’s Place called “Seasonal Windows” would be a good fit. Once again, used acetate for the window (you can see the shimmer and shine from my light source) and a free kitchen clip art for the “interior” of the house…um… I mean card! The final touch was a cute little bluebird stamp from Stampendous. So fun! (Just realizing that the card doesn't contain much foliage... but hope it qualifies for the challenge because there IS one branch with leaves!) 

Entered into: 

Art Impressions- Flowers & Foliage                                     (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Shimmer and Shine       (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

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

Had fun making this CAS card for the current Less Is More challenge. Even butterflies need to go on adventures! (And, since I added the little sentiment on a vellum banner, I am entering this card into the current Cute Card Thursday challenge.)

Entered into: 

Less is More Challenge- Take Flight                                   (simplylessismoore.blogspot.com)

Cute Card Thursday- Add a Banner/Flag                           (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

                             

Am glad that the talented Whimsie Doodles Crew is back from summer vacation and posted a new challenge with a theme, Dress Up. Loved being able to use one of the images that I won on a past challenge, a sweet little guy in a Pooh costume! I created the honeycomb background by wiping a golden yellow ink pad across  a chunk of bubble wrap and then pressing the card against in, gently rubbing the ink into the paper. Added a few bees with a small Printworks stamp, and added “bee tracks” with a fine tip black marker.

  

Entered into: 

Whimsiedoodles Challenge- Anything Goes: Dress Up      (whimsiedoodles.blogspot.com)

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

Calling All Sista’s                                                                         (callingallsistahs.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge 186                     (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

My final posting for today is with a free digi from sliekje.blogspot.com. Decided to not color the kitten, just adding some gray shadows, so that the lightbulbs glow would stand out. (Was easy to add these “glow circles.” After coloring all the lightbulbs, I just punched a small circle out of a scrap of acetate. Placed it over a bulb and using chalk on a Q-tip filled the punched area with color, making the color more intense along the edge of the punched circles.)

Entered into: 

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge2- Extra for Sept     (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.com)

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

One final card for the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. I needed a thank you card so decided to give it a fall coffee theme. Started with an uncycled piece of tan file folder. Hand cut the fold with a herringbone weave. Adorned the card with a few cute little coffee mugs cut from scrapbook paper, paper and ribbon scraps in rich fall colors plus a cute little heart button. (Because… well.. I do love my coffee!) 

Entered into: 
Coffee Lovers Blog Hop                                                         (coffeelovingcardmakers.com)

Seeing Stars

My final card for this weeks Simon Says Monday Challenge. Used a cute Christmas image from Di’sDigis. Traced a star stencil and then colored the image that fell inside of that shape with my Spectrum Nior markers. Dappled a bit of gray along the edges of the star in the open areas. I think this technique is called spotlighting? I just know that it really simplifies coloring larger images. (Am entering it into a few challenges. One, the Christmas Card Throwdown, requires the use of Pink, Green and Red. The pink is a little hard to see in this photo, but Penny’s cheeks are a pretty blush pink.)

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Written in the Stars         (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Christmas Card Throwdown- Pink, Green and Red            (52cct.blogspot.si)

Another card for AAA Card’s Autumn Colors challenge. The thank you sentiment is stamped with white pigment ink on Kraft cardstock. Added a large skeleton leaf that I’ve had in my stash for some time, tying a small white bow to its stem to match the white ink. Simple!

Entered into: 

AAA Card Challenges- Fall Colors    (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

Love this sweet image and sentiment, which are both freebies from whimsiedoodles.blogspot.com. Printed the gingerbread guy (and one cropped image of his right hand) on Kraft paper and shaded them with tan Tombow marker. Cropped and printed the mug, marshmallows and candy cane on white cardstock, added coloring with Tombow markers. Adhered it to the front of the gingerbread guy and then added the shaded hand with mounting tape (to make it 3-D). The frosting doodles were added with white liquid applique.

Entered into: 

Whimsiedoodles Challenge- Anything Goes: Dress Up     (whimsiedoodles.blogspot.com)

Power Poppy- Krafty Coloring                                                (powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2017/09/get-krafty.html)  

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

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge2- Extra for Sept  (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.com)

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop                                                            (coffeelovingcardmakers.com)

Made a simple yet elegant card with scrapbook paper, patterned vellum, a scrap of white lace with lavender velvet ribbon, a strip of wide ivy green satin ribbon and a sentiment printed on my computer. Plan to add a few pearls once they come up for air on my workspace. I can't find them anywhere!!

                

Entered into: 

Victorine Challenge- Pearls & Lace                                    (vostamps.blogspot.com)    

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

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge 186               (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)