Sweet, Wise and Funny

I have a ton of mulberry paper that has been sitting in a drawer for nearly 20 years. So was excited, and inspired, when I found a card on Pinterest that was made from brown mulberry paper. I ended up using brown, white and a bit of pink mulberry paper to create this sweet little bear that actually went together pretty quickly. I love how the feathery texture of the paper creates a real sense of fuzziness!  Isn't he adorable?

Entered into: 

QKR Stampede- #284 Anything Goes                                 (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

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

Deep Ocean Challenge- Cute & Cuddly                               (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Cute Card Thursday- #518 Cute Critters                            (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

I found a wonderful free digi from Dearie Dolls to make this Dragon card, my final entry into the wecraftcards Crop. I wanted to enter it into the Simon Says Stamp Challenge this week, "Make your own background" so created a scene with a castle stamp (unmounted, don't know the company), trees stamp (Stampendous), torn paper "grass" and a flowering tree made with markers (yup… that's what that big blog is on the right panel!)  For some reason the card wouldn't lay flat... so it is held shut with a paperclip. (That isn't an embellishment!) Had fun finding a sentiment to go with it. In case you can't read it, the inside quote, from an author named Neil Gaiman, reads, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” 

Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CROP: Dragon                               (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Make Your Own Background     (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

This front and back stamp set from Art Impressions has always made me laugh, especially after I learned that her name is Fanny! When I found the hilarious sentiment in my files I knew that I had to make a card using it… and featuring Fanny.  (I think I had copied the sentiment from a birthday card my ever-so-nice sister sent me for my 50^th birthday years ago.) Used the Art Impressions fence stamp to lean Fanny against, and pencil sketched the house to fill in the background. (I left it black and white to serve as a simple backdrop that would show off Fanny in all her glory! So funny!

 

Entered into: AI Fanny

Art Impressions- Anything Goes                                   (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #194        (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Snippets, Shirts and Shields

I love using up scraps making backgrounds like this. I found the instructions a few years ago and make up a bunch of them when sitting and watching movies with my sweetie. (Here is the link to the instructions stampinpretty.com/2016/01/strips-of-love-blossoms-valentine-card.html) For this card, I used a wonderful image and sentiments from a Beccy's Place digi set named "True Beauty." Beccy did an excellent job of catching the amazing grace and beauty of this majestic bird. I actually used her colored image, but then painted on an assortment of blue, teal, green and tan Radiant Pearls. I wish I could show you how this card just shimmers in the sunlight. Finished it off by adding a bit of the white in the feathers with a white gel pen. So pretty!

I'm entering this in several challenges, including one that requires the use of "snippets" of paper, and another that is titled "Woodland Creatures. "After doing a little research I discovered that "peacocks generally reside in the densely wooded area having a lot of maple and pine trees, oaks, cedars and many more." (birdsflight.com) Can you imagine living in a place where these gorgeous birds live in the wild? They also roost in trees! And I know that they are really loud critters. We once lived on the edge of a town in South Dakota with a zoo just down the hill and you could hear them caw-screetch on a regular basis, especially at night and in the early morning hours. So nice!

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Make Your Own Background      (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

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

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

Pixie's Snippets-  Week #320                                                                       (pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com)                    

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

                             

I like shape cards and don't make them as often as I used to. A challenge during the wecraftcards Crop inspired me to make this simple shirt card. I used a tutorial that I found here aloadofoldpickle.blogspot.com/2013/04/shirt-cards.html and was surprised how easy it was to create! The tie is made from scraps left over from one of the backgrounds that I made while watching TV last night. (I really do upcycle just about anything. I even upcycle upcycled images!) The inside sentiment is a freebie from paulaposts.blogspot.com/2013/02/vcmp-challenge-5-free-digi-sentiment.html

Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CROP:Tie             (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #194            (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

This final challenge entry for the Crop over at wecraftcards was fun to make. I used a wonderful Wizard image from Bugaboo that I won a while. They couldn't call him "Harry Potter" probably because of copyright laws. So, he is "Wizard #6"... but we all know who he is! I colored his clothes to match his house colors (Gryffindor) and added a golden glow to the tip of his magic wand. I spent some time looking for free clip art background that I could pair with him. Found this wonderful – and free- Hogwarts Shield at www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/111533-hogwarts-set-vector. Covered it with a sheet of vellum so that it didn't overpower our adorable Wizard #6!  I found a packet of the wonderful golden arrow paperclips on 50% off sale at JoAnns last weekend. One of them finished the card perfectly by pointing out the "house" where Harry Potter belonged. I'm also entering this card in the SumMoreFun challenge, because the Gryffindor's colors are gold and the deep cheery red that is on the current mood board. 

Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CROP: Hogwarts Houses            (wecraftcards.com/forum)

SumMoreFun  Challenge- Mood Board                                                    (summorefun.com)  

Feminine Touches

Once again, I used a digi image from Beccy's Place, a Peacock feather, from the "Feathers" digi set  for a challenge in the wecraftcard crop that required we use feathers in an unusual way.  One thing that I love about digis is that I can enlarge or reduce the image, in this case I did both. Fussy-cut just the eyes of the feathers and adhered them to a diecut swirl to make a flower. Mounted it onto a scrap of a greeting card that had blingy swirls to create a whimsical card! The sentiment is a freebie from createwithtlc.blogspot.com 

Entered into: 

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

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CROP: Feather Imagination     (wecraftcards.com/forum)

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

I used a Bugaboo digi named "Best Wishes Dandelions" and sponged ink on the scene to reflect the colors on the current challenge's mood board. Made the dandelion fluff with dots of Liquid Pearls and a shake of Polar White Flower Soft mixed with micro-fine glitter.  (I provided a close up to show you how pretty the fluff looks. You can't really see it very well, but they sparkle nicely.) Because I wanted to send a card to encourage an amazing friend who is going through a rough time I covered the Best Wishes sentiment with one from Beccy's Place "True Beauty" digi set. Am also entering the card into the Butterfly Challenge that requires using things/things that start with the letter P. This card includes Pink (large butterfly) and Patterned paper (the lavender background) and the Power Poppy Challenge that requires sparkle.

Entered into:

Bugaboo Stamps- Color Challenge                                   (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- In My Garden  (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Butterfly Challenge- #95 Letter P                          (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Power Poppy- Love to Sparkle                                (powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2018/02/february-power-spark-love-to-sparkle.html)

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

The current Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is "Create your own background." I decided to use an old technique of repeat stamping an image to fill in the background of a card. For my card I used unmounted teapot border stamp and sentiment. I think they are from SU but am not sure. Wanted to add a feminine feel to the card so added some sheer ribbon and embossed the sentiment in gold. Decided the card needed a bit more elegance so trimmed a scrap of wine colored paper with Victorian decorative scissors, bounced the cut edges onto an embossing pad, pulled them through gold embossing powder and finished with a heat gun. (I provided a close-up so that you can see the pretty gold edging. This simple technique provides an extra special detail.) The final touch was to punch two hearts out of the wine colored paper so that the background paper could peek through.

 Entered into: teacup card background

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Make Your Own Background   (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #194                                   (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

From Grunge to Cute

I've enjoyed having a blog because it has caused me to seek out new challenges… and some new cardmaking styles. I've made many CAS cards in the last 9 months, and am surprised how much I enjoyed it. Now… am trying my hand at grunge cards. Don't have many materials that help with this style, but did find this wonderful hello image that I had printed off some time ago. (I know it was a free digi, but I don't remember who made it. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know!) Finished it off with a little layering and a bit of bling. (Is there such a thing as a grungy bling card!?)

Entered into:

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Grunge It Up            (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

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

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #194          (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)                   

Spent the whole weekend in my craft room making cards for one Crop and several challenges. I was a happy stamper!  One of the challenges for the current wecraftcards Crop was to create a card with an owl (the crop theme is Harry Potter.) I just knew that I had to use this fluffy little owl from Beccy's Place. The background is actually a scrap of wallpaper, and the sentiment is made on my laptop and printed off. A simple yet cute card!

Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CROP: Hedwig      (wecraftcards.com/forum)

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

The Paper Shelter- #327 Things that Fly                          (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

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

Cute Card Thursday- #518 Cute Critters                           (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

                             

Another challenge for the wecraftcards Crop required a step card and a bottle image of some sort. I decided to use a Lili of the Valley stamp named "Little Nurse" and the stamp of an Rx bottle from an old SU set. The Get Well Soon stamp is either SU or Hero Arts (it is no longer on the wood block.) When the card was finished, I kept thinking it was missing something. Then… decided to make some miniature bandaids with tiny paper scraps of tan paper which added that perfect final touch!

Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CROP: Potions        (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Deep Ocean Challenge- Cute & Cuddly                               (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

End o' the Week Cardmaking- Part 2

A final card for this week's Bingo challenge at Bugaboo. For this card I used the Bugaboo image and sentiment from the set "Young Couple Person to Annoy"  and the center column- down. (The inside sentiment reads, "Isn't it great to find that special someone you can annoy for the rest of your life?") This card is also being entered into a challenge at wecraftcards Forum, which is having a crop this week. This challenge included making a Library Pocket card. There are many templates on Pinterest. 

Entered into: Bugaboo Bingo

Bugaboo Stamps- Bingo  (add logo)                                                         (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CROP: Library Pocket Card      (wecraftcards.com/forum)

QKR Stampede- #284 Anything Goes                                                     (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

Doing Life- Create with TLC Challenge                                                  (desiref.blogspot.co.za)
Art Impressions- Anything Goes                                                             (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

                              

As I noted above, this week the wecraftcards Forum is hosting a crop. One of the challenges was to create a Magic Card and a video tutorial was provided  (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed5_o926A_s)  Although it took a while to make the card, the steps in the video were all easy to follow.  I set my card on a landscape (horizontal) orientation, but that was easy to do using the instructions. I used a Power Poppy Stamp set named "Tea in the Garden." My hubby was so impressed with the results that I decided this will be the card that we send to his mom next month for her 95th birthday! 

Am also entering into the current Power Poppy Challenge (added the silver corners to add some sparkle), the SumMoreFun Challenge (their mood board includes berries. I'm really craving Strawberry Shortcake after making this card) Simon Says Challenge (since I made my own background for my card... the colored version) and two Anything Goes challenges (Penny's and Word Art Wednesday.) Whew! So much fun! 

Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Monday Challenge- CROP: Magic Card                    (wecraftcards.com/forum)

Power Poppy- Love to Sparkle                                                                 (powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2018/02/february-power-spark-love-to-sparkle.html)

SumMoreFun  Challenge- Mood Board                                                 (summorefun.com)  

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Make Your Own Background  (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Penny's Challenge- #368 Anything Goes                                              (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

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

I joined the Outlawz Challenge Blog a few months ago and finally am entering my first card in a challenge. Had fun using the free sunflower digi provided by SheepSki Designs (sheepskidesigns.blogspot.com) Printed the digi off on patterned paper (orange with small white polka dots), fussy cut the blooms, made the flower centers with brown mulberry paper to add a bit of texture, added die cut leaves and a die cut sentiment . Finished the card with a scrap of ribbon tied onto the sentiment frame. (And made sure that the artists signature showed through the "o".)  I won the neat die in a challenge a few years ago and misplaced the package. If anyone knows the company that makes it, please let me know. I would like to purchase any additional sentiments in this framed format as it adds a nice bold statement to a card.

Entered into:

Outlawz Challenges- 7^th Birthday Celebration          (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #194       (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge           (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

Di’s Digi Stamps- Die Cuts                                            (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)                              

End o' the Week Cardmaking

Had fun making a few more cards for this week's Bingo challenge at Bugaboo. For this card, I used the Bugaboo Girl Sitter Cat image and the center column- down. I've had the sentiment on computer for several years. I remember that it was a free digi, but I don't know who makes it. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know. 

Entered into: 
Bugaboo Stamps- Bingo                                          (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Deep Ocean Challenge- Cute & Cuddly                (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Cute Card Thursday- #518 Cute Critters              (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

QKR Stampede- #284 Anything Goes                  (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

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

Wanted to use one of my seldom used dies for the current CAS Challenge at AAA Cards. Decided to add a circle of lavender behind the ornate circle die because I loved the way the color set off the beautiful teal butterfly (that I printed off on vellum. You can download a sheet of colored butterflies here what-a-beautiful-mess.blogspot.com/2013/04/scraps-of-elegance.html) Because of the butterfly, I am also entering the card into The Paper Shelter's challenge, Things that Fly plus a few other challenges.  The sentiment is a freebie from createwithtlc.blogspot.com

Entered into: 

AAA Card Challenges- Die Cuts Only                               (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

Di’s Digi Stamps- Die Cuts                                                  (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)
The Paper Shelter- #327 Things that Fly                         (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes           (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)
Doing Life- Create with TLC Challenge                            (desiref.blogspot.co.za)

I loved coloring the happy little images on this free digi using the colors on this month's mood board at Calling All Sista's challenge.  You can find the digi here  katehadfielddesigns.com/freebies. The sentiment is one of Kelli Winnell's Friday Freebies. You can find it, and dozens more, here kelliewinnell.typepad.com/blog/freebie-friday/

Entered into: 

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

Penny's Challenge- #368 Anything Goes                     (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #194         (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Cute Images

Had fun using a Bugaboo image named "Three Snowmen" that I cut apart for the current Bugaboo Bingo Challenge, where it meets the requirements of center column down. 
The wonderful filmstrip die is from Marianne Design. I have a feeling you'll be seeing it again as I love the way it looks on a card. And the sentiment is a freebie from createwithtlc.blogspot.com. 

Entered into: Bugaboo Sketch

Bugaboo Stamps- Bingo                                        (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge  (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)
Power Poppy- Love to Sparkle                             (powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2018/02/february-power-spark-love-to-sparkle.html)

This sweet Bugaboo image named "Giraffe Trio" fits perfectly into the CASual Fridays current Sketch challenge.

Entered into: 

CAS-ual Fridays- #193 Sketch  (Add logo)             (CAS-ualfridays.blogspot.com)

Penny's Challenge- #368 Anything Goes                (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

                  

I've always loved the crisp and clean look of B&W&Red on a card. For this one, I used some scraps and an SU die cut, then topped it off with a little white puffy sticker.  

Entered into: 

AAA Card Challenges- Die Cuts Only                          (aaacards.blogspot.com/)

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

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #194        (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)