Take Flight

This amazing butterfly was pretty easy to make. It is from a book named "Easy Butterfly Origami" that is available for purchase HERE. I had signed up for a weekly newsletter a while ago from  Dover Publications and have appreciated that it offers links to a half dozen coloring books and activity books, each offering 4-5 pages that are available for a short time as free downloads. This Blue Morpho butterfly is one of those pages available this week. Here is the LINK. [If it is not available to you as a download, sign up for the sampler newsletter to start getting your own treasures.] I attached the butterfly to the circle cutout with a strip of acetate.  [I was surprised to learn that this gorgeous butterfly looks like bark on the underside. You can see it on the inside of the card.] The sentiment is from an Imagine That digi set named Airplanes. I am not sure who I'll use this card so I didn't add a sentiment on the inside. It might make a nice graduation card? Am entering this card into a few challenges including the current Butterfly Challenge that focuses on the Letter E.- my card includes one of the color options, Egyptian Blue.

 

Entered into:  

Butterfly Challenge- #121 Letter E for Easel Card               

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes                                       

I haven't made many Christmas cards this month… but decided that I needed to make one now to enter into two challenges that end tomorrow. One requires that a Fairy is included, another requires the use of brads, sequins or gems. I don't know the who makes the Merry Christmas stamp as I pulled the rubber from the wood several years ago. The sweet fairy digi on the card front and the inside sentiment are from a Craftin Desert Diva digital set named Magical Day. I stamped the front sentiment with black pigment ink and embossed it with black sparkly EP that is from Embossing Arts [yep… it's pretty old.] I colored the images with  Spectrum Noir markers and added tiny red rhinestones and sparkly star stickers. I traced her wings onto decorative vellum, cut them out and taped to the back of the image. Used the same vellum to decorate the inside sentiment.

 

Entered into: 

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up- Challenge #52: Twist…Fairies   
Cute Card Thursday- #579 Brads, Sequins or Gems                                       

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #435 Anything Goes                     

Rudolph Days Challenge- April

The new challenge at Simon Says Monday is named Tag It. I decided to make a simple summer tag using a tag that I bought in an office supply store [I love the waxed string that came with it… so bought a small packet of them.] Made a beachy background with a strip of scrapbook paper, then added a few paper scraps and a charm that I've had for several years. The sentiments are computer generated.

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Tag It   
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- Anything Goes

The last challenge at wecraftcards was to make a Diaper Fold treat holder and this VIDEO was provided to help in that task. I used a few of the images and a sentiment from a Beccy's Place digi set named "Time for Tea." Used Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen, plus a few scraps of paper doily to finish up. Oh… and a teabag and packet of decaf coffee. Easy Peasy.

Entered into: 

Beccy’s Place Challenge- April                                                                               

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April                                       

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #384-#385 Anything Goes                    

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

Eeek

This is my final card for Double D’s Challenge named "B&W Only."  This might look like a Halloween card, but it's actually a birthday card for a friend who hates birthdays almost as much as she hates... you got it... SPIDERS. So fun. I sketched and fussy cut the ugly spider, layered it atop a piece of B&W patterned paper, an oval of vellum and a spider web die cut [don't know who makes this die as I took my dies out of their packages for storage on a magnetic sheet, forgetting to note the company. My newer ones are all noted!] The "Eek" Sentiment is from TLC [it doesn't appear to be available anymore, however, there are dozens of freebies on the SITE.] and the inside sentiment is computer generated. Oh… and just had to add a bit of bling for sparkly eyes.

Entered into: 

Double D’s Challenge- B&W Only  [photo]                  

Cute Card Thursday- #579 Brads, Sequins or Gems                                       

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April                                       

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

My second card for Butterfly challenge #121  features an adorable Conie Fong image named "Butterfly Girl2." I incorporated all of the colors [Egyptian Bluebutterfly, Emerald Green and Eminence/Dk Purple-embossed background], and all of the themes [Easel Card, Embossing, and Edging- I scored and folded the edges of the embossed metal sheets because when I cut them to size they seemed a bit sharp. Not sure if this counts as edging… but it seemed necessary for safety!]  I colored the sweet image with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. The sentiment is a freebie from Desert Diva. Am entering this card into a few other challenges, including Bugaboo photo inspiration [used the same bright royal colors, which I love.]

 

Entered into:  

Butterfly Challenge- #121 Letter E for Easel Card               

Conie Fong Art & Design Group [FB]- Monthly Challenge- April              

Bugaboo Stamps- Photo Inspiration                            

Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Spring                                                 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #384-#385 Anything Goes                    

Last year, I saw bags of luminaries at the local Goodwill after Christmas sales. They were 10 for $ 10 so I just had to pick up a few, right? Right!  Will use some of them as luminaries, but also decided to try making cards with a few. This is the first. It also includes several upcycled items- the inside sentiment came from an old Christmas card, the snowflakes on acetate on the front were cut from a Dove Chocolate gift box, and the sweet little Santa was cut from a used gift tag. The only new items are the red ribbon and silver charm.

 

Entered into: 

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #435 Anything Goes                     

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes                                       

Three "B's"

This is my second card for Double D’s Challenge named "B&W Only" and creating it made me realize how much I like adding color to images. It is really difficult for me to not add a pop of red or a wash of teal to the butterfly on this card… but I didn't! Instead, I printed the free digi (that I found HERE) onto a sheet of music from my scrapbook stash. I selected the background papers to fit within the current Butterfly Challenge that focuses on the Letter E. My card includes an Easel Card, embossing and also, of course, a butterfly.  The sentiment is a freebie from Desert Diva. You can find it HERE. Am entering this into a few additional challenges including Bugaboo Stamps current BINGO challenge, where I focused on the top row [Hope die from CASual Fridays, sentiment "hope", and texture- embossed swirls]. ]

 

Entered into: 

Double D’s Challenge- B&W Only                    

Butterfly Challenge- #121 Letter E for Easel Card               

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- Use Embossing Folder or Die cut              
Bugaboo Stamps- BINGO                            
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April                                       

I'm busy working on card assortments to give as graduation gifts so am making cards for all seasons. Am thinking that the high school grad that receives this card will enjoy sending it to a friend or family member next Halloween. I found the instructions HERE.  However, I didn't have the flip fold die, so had to create that on my own, and used circle dies for the eye and cutout behind the "BOO." Speaking of the "BOO" I cut the three letters from a sheet of scrapbook paper for the football team at a nearby high school, the Baldwin-Woodville Blackhawks, and wrote the rest of the sentiment by hand.

Entered into:  

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Going Around in Circles   
The Paper Shelter- #380 Sentimental

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

A few days ago I posted a bunny shape card using a template from a fun kids craft site named Easey Peasey and Fun. The card was so easy to make that I decided to make the bear shaped one. I wanted his little nose to be shiny black and couldn't find any paper in my stash that would work. Then I noticed a package in my trash bin that a new embossing folder came in… and it was just what I needed. The inside sentiment is from Eureka Stamps. You can find it HERE.  

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes                                       

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #384-#385 Anything Goes                    

Contributor and DT

I enjoyed being a Guest DT for Beccy Muir at Beccy's Place last year, so was thrilled when she invited me back to be part of her new concept, inviting several of us to be "Contributors" on her site. Every few months I receive a new "assignment" using a new digi set and can decide if I want to accept the assignment or pass on it. [cue the "Mission Impossible" theme song.]  This is the first card that I made in this new role, and it was a fun assignment. If you visit Beccy's Place you can see that I colored three different birds- a crane, flamingo and this blue heron. [See them HERE.] I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen. To add depth, I printed off additional flowers, fussy-cut and attached them with foam tape. I used a small scrap of a paper bag to add a "brown paper wrapping" to the image. I used an Exacto knife to cut around the Heron's wings and lower bunches of flowers, then slipped the wrapping beneath them, taping it into place. The sentiment is from the Beccy's Place digi set named "Big Wishes." It contains several other sentiments and two additional fun images. You can find it HERE.

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday

Di’s Digi Stamps Spring Flowers                                                                           

For this weeks QKR Stampede Challenge, my DT card features an image [Sheep Pair] and sentiment [Ewe Are Loved] from Eureka Stamps.  Both can be found HERE. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. I added a few layers to the card by printing off the Sheep Pair image plus an extra image of their sweet little noses. Colored and fussy-cut these items and adhered them onto the background with foam mounting tape. Decorated the inside of the card with a few scraps of the background paper and sentiment, then added some 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 several challenges, including If You Give a Crafter a Cookie  [the delicate flowers on the  background paper resemble the patterns on the cookies, and although not as common as Easter bunnies, lambs are also considered Easter critters.]

 

Entered into: 

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #115 (Easter Eggs  Photo)                            

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #384-#385 Anything Goes                    

Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Spring                                            

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April                                       

My final card for this posting is my DT creations for this week's Colour Crazy Challenge. The sponsor is Fabrika Fantasy and this sweet image is named "Summer Kitten."  You can find it HERE. I colored the adorable feline with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. Jennifer McGuire's Ribbon Slider Card is super easy to make. You can find video instructions HERE. The sentiments are computer generated.

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Going Around in Circles   

The Paper Shelter- #380 Sentimental

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays         

Shapes and Cuteness

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, I used a digi set from one of the challenge sponsors, Little Blue Button Stamps, named "Coffee Love." I used the teapot and teacup from the digi set for my card, sketching small flowers on the items with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen. Leaves from two different die cuts helped frame up the wreath, which I topped with a sheer purple bow and some rhinestone bling. The sentiment is also from the digi set.

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Going Around in Circles   
Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- Use Embossing Folder or Die cut              

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

I recently joined the Cute As A Button FaceBook page and was thrilled to see that they have a progressive challenge, for which I got this first image named "Enjoying the Rain" FREE.  Isn't she beautiful? She was also so much fun to color with Spectrum Noir markers and my trusty white gel pen. I decided to add some depth to my card by framing her behind a diecut window, making it appear that she's peeking in to say "Hi." The sentiments are from two Beccy's Place digi sets, "Keeping It Simple" and "True Beauty." You can find the sets HERE. 

 

Entered into:

Cute As A Button-#43 Anything Goes     

Cute As A Button [FB]-Progressive Challenge                                                                          

Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Spring                                            

I found an adorable shape card last week on Pinterest and just had to make one. When I visited the site named Easey Peasey and Fun I was amazed to see so many wonderful crafts for children… or for those of us who are kids at heart. Instructions are provided for many of the items. For others, like this bunny card, you can purchase a template [a 1-month membership is just $4.99, with unlimited access to a bunch of creative templates. After I printed the template off I was surprised at how quickly the card went together. So fun. The inside sentiment is a freebie from Desert Diva. I'm entering this card into a few challenges including Simon Says Wednesday Mood Board [because... well... cute bunny.]

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Spring Mood Board                              

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 16-Anything Goes