Spring Showers

This sweet image if from a Beccy's Place digi set named Stanley in the Rain. You can find it HERE.  I paper pieced Stanley's slicker using the same process I used on a rain slicker card yesterday. [Just pop back one day and "read all about it."] The clouds are cut from vellum. The chipboard sentiment on the front is from my scrapbook stash and the inside sentiment is a freebie from Create with TLC. You can find it HERE. 

 

Entered into: 

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

Bugaboo Stamps- Make a Scene                                                      (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Kitty Bee Designs- #138 – Animals                                                (alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.com)

The Cutie Pie Challenge- #133 Beary Sweet                                 (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #24                                               (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Wed Challenge- Whatever the Weather                   (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

If you've followed my blog for very long, you'll know that I like using vellum. Found this beautiful holly vellum in a card making kit at a thrift store a few years ago. I love its subtle elegance, which plays a nice backdrop to the super blingy embellishment that a friend gave to me a few months ago. I slid a filigree die cut the vellum to add a bit more interest and did the same with a small Hope die.[Sorry, I don't know who makes the two die cuts since I removed them from the package a while ago and attached them on a magnetic base.]  The inside sentiment is from a Beccy's Place digi set named Lamb of God. You can find it HERE. 

Am entering this card into a few challenges including If You Give a Crafter a Cookie-'s  "Festive Sprinkles." The little red rhinestones I attached to the vellum holly berries resemble the sprinkles and the lettering style of the die cut and the lettering on the cookie look similar.]          

Entered into: 

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #11 Festive Sprinkles                            (giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #427      (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #378-#379 Anything Goes                          (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com) 

Through the Porthole

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! (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com) This week, our sponsor is "Fred She Said," and I used a few images from their digi set named "Emma the Mermaid." You can find it HERE. The sweet image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers plus a white gel pen. The sentiments are both computer generated. I had fun making a tri-fold card and creating a "porthole" on the front with a ring cut from cardboard, some aluminum foil and a handful of silver brads. So cute.

Entered into: 

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                             (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Polkadoodles Challenge- Anything Goes Week 10                    (polkadoodle.blogspot.com)

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

Do-Al[l] Creative- Fancy Fold                                                        (do-allkreatives.blogspot.com)

While I had this Hero Arts rubber mount stamp out this weekend to make the card that I posted yesterday, I decided to stamp it onto a background made from a section of music from a vintage choir book. I was thrilled when my SIL gave me a whole boxful of choirbook that she found when cleaning the basement of the family home. Some of the music is nearly 100 years old. My hubby's grandmother was a choir director and, thankfully, a packrat. I love using them on cards. I wanted a lighter touch on the coloring than I could get with my Spectrum Noir markers, so used Tombow Markers and watercolor pencils and a white colored pencil. So pretty.

Entered into: 

Double D’s Challenge- Let's Make Some Music  [photo]                  (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Color It In    (Logo)              (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

Waiting for Spring

After yet another blizzard this weekend, I love this sweet Bugaboo image on this card that reminds me Spring WILL come this year. The sentiment is from a Beccy's Place digi set named Stanley in the Rain. You can find it HERE.  I colored the image and the little raindrops with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. Oh... this item is paper pieced. I printed two copies of the image, one on kraft cardstock and one on white cardstock. Colored the one on white cardstock with a few shaped of yellow and the white gel pen. You can't see it in the photos, but before I fussy cut them, I covered the yellow hat, boots and "slicker" with a strip of clear packing tape to make them shine like the real thing. In real life, it adds a nice touch of realism to the card.

Entered into:

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Whatever the Weather     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Outlawz Challenges- Songs and Rhymes- Seasons               (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Create a Scene              (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Bugaboo Stamps- Make a Scene                                               (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Kitty Bee Designs- #138 – Animals                                         (alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.com)
2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #24                                        (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com)
The Cutie Pie Challenge- #133 Beary Sweet                           (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)

My second card for the current Butterfly challenge features a Hero Arts rubber mount stamp that I've had for a few decades. It includes the color bluebell [on the ribbon] and a bow and butterfly to fit the theme. I used a delicate pastel colored patterned paper, mounted atop an embossed white card. The image was colored with Tombow markers and a white colored pencil. 

 

Entered into: 

Butterfly Challenge- #118 Letter B for bi-fold                          (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                            (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- March            (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Color It In                    (a2zscrapbookingblog.com)  

My final card is for The Paper Shelter's current challenge, Let It Be Spring. I used one of their cute digi images named French Brunch but swapped out the items in her shopping bag. I cut out the baguette and bottle of wine and replaced them with a nice bunch of tulips from Patties Creations, the sentiment is a freebie from Scrapbookandcards, and the background is a free coloring sheet from Favoreads printed on kraft cardstock.

       

Entered into: 

The Paper Shelter- #373 Let It Be Spring                            (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #376-#377 Anything Goes      (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Cute Card Thursday- #572-Anything Goes!                        (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 
Polkadoodles Challenge- Anything Goes Week 10             (polkadoodle.blogspot.com)

Unicornmania

This week's Colour Crazy Challenge sponsor is The Paper Shelter. I had fun coloring this sweet image named Unicornmania. I colored the little cutie with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen. The Hello sentiment is a freebie from Scrapbookandcards. The inside sentiment if a freebie from Desert Diva. You can find it HERE.  

PS To see examples of beautiful cards made by the other Design Team members, stop by the Colour Crazy Challenge site. You'll be glad that you did! 
I'm entering this card into several challenges including If You Give a Crafter a Cookie's  "#11 Festive Sprinkles"  [the rainbow-colored chevron stripes resemble the sprinkles in the inspiration photo and the bold sentiment is black and is in a similar font to the cookie].  

Entered into: 

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #11 Festive Sprinkles       (giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.com)

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

For this week's challenge at QKR Stampede I made a card using an wonderful  Eureka digi  sentiment named "Loving Ways." You can find it HERE. I found an old postcard in my stash and ripped it along all four edges. Layered it atop an old postcard from my stash, added scrap of green vellum, a few pink vellum hearts and copper wire swirls. The inside sentiment if a freebie from Desert Diva. You can find it HERE.  

 PS To see more fun cards, stop on by the QKR Stampede where the weekly challenges are always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded.
I'm entering this card into several challenges including The Paper Shelter's "Let It Be Spring" [to me, Tulips are a wonderful shout to Spring)

Entered into: 

The Paper Shelter- #373 Let It Be Spring                               (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                         (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #376-#377 Anything Goes         (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

I won a recent challenge at Bugaboo Stamps and had so much fun picking out new digis. This was one of them. Named "Banana Monkey" the sweet little girl was fun to color with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen. The circle sentiment is a freebie from TLC Creations. You can find it HERE. 

Entered into: 

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes                              (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)
The Sisterhood of Crafters- In the Red                     (thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com)

Cute Card Thursday- #572-Anything Goes!            (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Kitty Bee Designs- #138 – Animals                           (alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.com)

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #24                         (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Color It In  (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

Giraffe

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! (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com) This week, I used an image and sentiment from a dig set named "Giraffe with Butterflies" from our challenge sponsor Imagine That.  The sweet image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers, plus both a black and a white gel pen. The sentiment on the front is on a chipboard element from my scrapbooking stash and the inside sentiment is from the Imagine That set.

And entering this into several challenges including the Butterfly Challenge "Letter B for Bi-fold" [the card also includes the color banana and a bluebell colored butterfly.]  

 
 

Entered into: 

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

Butterfly Challenge- #118 Letter B for bi- fold                  (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Chipboard          (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #24                                   (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Color It In           (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 

Do-Al[l] Creative- Fancy Fold                                              (do-allkreatives.blogspot.com)

Had so much fun making this ATC  with a cute Tiddly Inks freebie  named Annie. You can find her HERE. Colored her with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. Shamrock paper and a little bit of golden bling helps make this St. Pats ATC shine.

Entered into: 

Cute Card Thursday- #571 Greens                                           (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greetings- St Pats Day         (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Polkadoodles Challenge- Anything Goes Week 9                 (polkadoodle.blogspot.com)

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

Am entering this card into the current Pixies Snippets challenge because it includes scraps of patterned paper, corrugated cardboard, ribbon and wrapping paper [from which the sentiment is fussy-cut.] I've never tied a Windsor knot, so the one on this card is definitely not perfect. But doesn't it look dapper with the sparkly tie tack created from a square rhinestone?

Entered into: 

Pixie's Snippets-Week #347                                                       (pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com)      

Outlawz Challenges- Twisted Thursday- Anything Goes     (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes                                              (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

My final entry into the If You Give a Crafter a Cookie challenge that features baby themed cookies. The baby image is from a retired Stampin' Up set and the sentiments are computer generated. I've had the template for this card in my stash for a few decades.

Entered into: 

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #111 Baby  (Photo)                 (giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.com)

Word Art Wed Challenge- #376-#377 Anything Goes           (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                           (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Smokin'!

I've enjoyed being a Guest Design Team member at the Colour Crazy Challenge for the last few months. One thing I love about their challenge is that it requires that the images used are not pre-colored. Since I love to color it is a perfect fit for me, so I was thrilled when I was invited to become a regular DT. The sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps and I had fun making a card with their digi named "Heels Polka Dots." I colored it with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen. I had used bounced the bullet end of a light grey marker around the image to add some contrast but didn't like how it looked.  Tried to lighten the shade with blending fluid, but it didn't help. So… when it dried, I provided a layer of white gel pen. When finished, I thought that it looked a little like the heel was "Smokin'"! The sentiment is computer generated.

PS To see examples of beautiful coloring by the Design Team members, stop by the Colour Crazy Challenge site. You'll be glad that you did!

Entered into: 

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

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                     (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Outlawz Challenges- Twisted Thursday- Corners, Borders, or Framing        (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

For this week's challenge at QKR Stampede I made a card using an adorable Eureka digi named Baby Animals that you can find HERE for just $2.00.  Back in the 90's I made a card at a Stampin' Up party using this template. It has been in my files ever since and I pulled it out to make this card. Printed off just just used the little elephant digi  and colored it with Spectrum Noir markers  to match the flowers in the patterned paper that I used to make the onesie. To help the little Elli not get lost in the background, I used a few circle stencils to sketch the white circle around the image, and then to make another circle from peach colored vellum. Used the same two-circle framing for the inside Welcome Baby sentiment, which is a freebie from Papercrafts Magazine. You can find it HERE.  [BTW- the little amber colored gem on the tail of the sentiments heart is covering a little oopsie that I had with my marker. I'd already trimmed around the sentiment and didn't want to have to do that over. Besides, a little bling can usually fix most anything, right?]

PS To see more fun cards, stop on by the QKR Stampede where the weekly challenges are always Anything Goes and prizes are awarded 

Entered into: 

The Paper Shelter- #372 Birthday Creations                 (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #111 Baby                       (giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.com)

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #24                                (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com)
Polkadoodles Challenge- Anything Goes Week 9          (polkadoodle.blogspot.com)

I have always been an avid reader so this sweet image from Time For Tea named "Reading Girl" warms my heart. These days I listen to audio books, mainly so that I can create cards while authors create characters that draw me into the stories. I love that. The wonderful image that peeks out behind a nice haze of vellum is a freebie from TLC Creations. You can find it HERE. The books that the reader is sitting upon and the sentiment on the inside are both freebies from Winkwink. You can find them HERE. The final touch was to add a bit of bling and whimsy with a spattering of sparkly stars.

Entered into: 

Time for Tea Challenge- Anything Goes-Feb  [FB or web]     (etsy.com/uk/shop/TimeForTeaDesigns)

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- Color It In                    (a2zscrapbookingblog.com) 
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes                 (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Recent challenges that required the use of wood or clear stamps made me dig into trays and boxes that have been ignored for some time. I found this vintage looking image and sentiment at a thrift store a few months ago and they seemed to be a perfect fit for the current Simon Says Monday Challenge theme "Vintage/Past Times." I colored the image and sentiment with Spectrum Moir and a white gel pen and used a paper doily to add to the vintage feeling.

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Vintage/Past Times         (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Cute Card Thursday- #571 Greens                                          (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 
Word Art Wed Challenge- #376-#377 Anything Goes       (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)