Dreamin'

My final card for the 2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop features an adorable digi from Little Blue Button named "Dream Charlie." You can find here HERE  I printed Charlie on kraft brown cardstock because I wanted to experiment with coloring her skin and hair on that darker base. I think it worked pretty well, as the Spectrum Noir markers, plus white gel pen and micro-fine brown watercolor marker adding depth and richness to the colors. The card is a simplified tri-fold, at least that is what I'm going to call it. I planned to make a tri-fold card, cut the base card too short. So I basically had a regular A2 card. Ha. Math never has been one of my skillsets. But I wanted something different than a basic card shape, so I folded the front flap back and then adhered Charlie to the exposed half of the card front with double stick tape. Easy-peasy. The inside Sentiment if from a Beccy's Place digi set named "Walk by Faith." I think that it matches the "Dream" theme of the card. And… of course, I added a little fun by popping a few 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 a few additional challenges including If You Give a Crafter a Cookie [my card has some soft pastel shades of pink... and sweet little hearts. Plus.... a few cookies would be nummy with that steaming mug of java, doncha think?]

 

  

Entered into: 

2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop    

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #116      

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 19-Anything Goes                                           

I wanted to make another card for the Simon Says Monday Challenge "Add Something Metallic" so dug through my collection of brads and charms for inspiration. This wonderful Family brad grabbed my attention. I needed to make a card for a nephew and his wife who just adopted a baby. It's been a long journey with several heartbreaks along the way… but finally, a few weeks ago, they welcomed a beautiful little two-year-old girl into their family. She is being welcomed by a seven-year-old sister who is thrilled. Okay… thrilled most of the time and vexed the rest… by this new baby sister. I wasn't sure what greeting to add. Found this pretty gold "Congratulations" sentiment that I'd upcycled from an old card and thought it would be appropriate, but I wanted to be sure. So I googled and this definition popped up, "Congratulations are expressed for good wishes on a special occasion, not just an accomplishment."  Amen and Amen. I created a background for the Brad with a few layers of decorative papers and embossed a beautiful Grunge Cross stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs onto vellum so that the brad would stand out. [I thought this company had gone out of business but was happy to find that many of their stamps were still available HERE. [After looking over the catalog, I've started a new wish list. So fun.]

 

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Add Something Metallic

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #386-#387 Anything Goes                    

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                        

My final card features a beautiful bunch of bright flowers, stamped with assorted wood-mount stamps from Posh Impressions. I wanted to give the card a true feeling of freshly picked flowers in the spring, then remembered a freebie digi of a vintage canning jar that I'd discovered a few years ago. Found it tucked away in my laptop and printed it off on an acetate transparency sheet [an old office supply store purchase back when I used an overhead projector to make presentations. [Yep. I'm OLD.] Since tape would show through the acetate then I taped it to the card, I opted for a different process that was a little time-consuming but well worth the trouble. I basically cut little "flaps" [1-2 inches wide and 2-3 inches long] when I trimmed the acetate- a small one on each side of the jar rim, a larger one on each side of the jar and on the bottom. After decorating the front of the card with stems of flowers that would fill the jar, and assorted leaves and petals strewn across the bottom of the card, I cut small slits in the card front, slipped these flaps into the slits, folded them open and taped them down with transparent tape on the inside of the card.  I stamped a few more blooms and leaves on scrap paper, fussy cut them and attached to the bouquet with foam mounting squares. The final touch was to loosely wrap a strip of ribbon around the neck of the jar and add a gentle knot. Ahh. Pretty.

PS You can find the free digi of the vintage canning jar HERE. I decorated the inside of the card to match the brightness of the flowers. The sentiment is from a Whimsy digi set named  "Vintage Sentiments." You can find it HERE [for just $3.]
Am entering this card into several challenges including Outlaws color challenge [my entry has several shades of yellow on the front and inside of the card] and Simon Says "For a Special Lady" challenge [what lady wouldn't feel special getting a beautiful bouquet like this. I  personally like it better than a dozen long-stemmed roses. And the money my hubby would save could be used to buy... um... let me think... perhaps chocolate? ] 

Entered into: 

The Sisterhood of Crafters- It's All About Flowers  

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- May Flowers                        

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge  [Twist= Feminine]             

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- For a Special Lady                                

Butterflies Galore

For this weeks QKR Stampede Challenge, my DT card features an image [Butterfly Background] and a sentiment [Butterfly Saying] from Eureka Stamps. You can find them HERE. I wanted to use the digis to create a card to enter in the current Butterfly Challenge "F is for Flap Fold" so followed the card fold instruction on that site. To make the card closure, I printed off an extra copy of a few butterflies from the background, colored one with bright red, fussy-cut around it and layered it upon a few circles of cardstock with a piece of foam tape.  For contrast, and to meet the challenge colors, I added tan [flax] parchment paper behind the butterfly panels, bright red vellum behind the red butterfly, and colored an additional butterfly a pretty dusky rose tone, fussy cut and attached it to the inside sentiment.

 

Entered into: 

Butterfly Challenge- #122 Letter F for Flap Fold                 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #386-#387 Anything Goes                    

I also used the Eureka "Butterfly Saying" digi  on the inside of my next card that was made for the 2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop. I used a coffee cup stack digi that I purchased from an Etsy shop and used directions for paper piecing provided HERE to create a card that I posted HERE. I remembered that I had cut out some extra cups, so found them and crafted this card. The white embossed background is actually a notecard from a pack I purchased at Walgreens a few years ago, and the pretty little butterfly is a free digi that you can find HERE. I wanted to provide you with the link where you could purchase the stack of cups, but discovered it is no longer available at that Etsy shop. However, there is a similar digi set at Beccy's Place – named "Time for Tea" that works, too. I actually made a card with it last Christmas using this same paper piecing process and provided a photo tutorial on my blog when I posted the photo. You can find that post HERE. The little My Friend tag is from Lili of the Valley digi set named "Sentiment Tags." You can find them HERE. Am entering this card into several challenges including "If you Give a Crafter a Cookie" [pastel colors of the cups and their patterns reflect the colors and patterns on the cookies. Plus the lacy texture on the cookies resembles the white embossing on the background of the card.] 

 

Entered into: 

2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop    

Cute Card Thursday- #581 Tie a Bow                                                                   

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #116        

The Eureka "Butterfly Saying" digi makes a third appearance on my DT creation for this week's Colour Crazy Challenge. The sponsor is All Dressed Up and this wonderful image is named "Oriental Girl." You can find it HERE. I colored the beauty with Spectrum Noir markers, a white gel pen, and a micro-fine grey watercolor marker. The turquoise butterfly is a freebie from HERE. Am entering this in several challenges including All Dressed Up's "Your Favorite Color" [I have several but Turquoise is one of them] and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge [I just sent this card to my youngest sister for Mothers Day. She is an amazing mom and Grandma and I think she'll appreciate this sentiment and sweet image.] 

 

Entered into:  

The Paper Shelter- #38 Colour It

All Dressed Up [FB]- Anything Goes- Use Your Favorite Colors   

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- For a Special Lady                                

This week I actually made two cards for the Colour Crazy Challenge because I loved BOTH of the images from All Dressed Up that were available for DT use.  This adorable image and sentiment are from a set named, "Dino." You can find it HERE. I colored the little cutie with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen. [ I love his little cap set at a jaunty angle. So cute.] The background paper was a recent purchase from Hobby Lobby, and the white vellum and clear photo corners are from my scrapbook stash. The inside sentiment is a freebie from Wink Wink Ink. You can find it HERE.  I fussy cut two little dinos from the background paper and attached them to the inside of the card with foam tape to add a little dimension. Plus… I find fussy cutting relaxing. [Yup… I am weird like that!]

 

Entered into: 

All Dressed Up- Anything Goes- #92 Anything Goes                                     

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                        

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

Four for Thursday

I wanted my final card for the Double D challenge to be something "horsey," then I remembered a wonderful line art image of a horse that I found on the DeviantArt site some time ago. [The artist, Margony, gives permission to use the image. You can find it HERE.] I printed the image on kraft cardstock, added a little shading with tan and gray Tombow markers and finished the beauty with white colored pencil and white gel pen highlights. The sentiment on the front is from a digi set called "Medley of Greetings 1" from TLC Creations. [This set doesn't seem to be available any longer, however, TLC Creations offers many freebies HERE and also offers some nice sets HERE.] The sentiment on the inside is a freebie from Desert Diva. You can find it HERE. The cute little horseshoe image is from a rubber stamp that I purchased when I owned a stamp store in South Dakota. I think it was from JudiKins and is actually mounted on the end of a pencil eraser. I also purchased a tiny ant stamp on a pencil eraser at the same time. Had never seen anything like them. So fun.]

 

Entered into:

Double D’s Challenge- Kentucky Derby Hat                 

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #26                                                                    

Fabrika Fantasy Challenge- #30 - Animals

My next card is for the 2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop. I used a tea set image that I've had since the late 90's. I pulled the rubber from the wood, but think it's either a Stampin' Up or Printworks image. I colored it with Tombow markers and a white gel pen, added layers of gold paper, a vintage rose card from a packet of ephemera that I purchased several years ago, a bit of sheer ribbon and gold photo corners. Put together, they are lovely. The inside sentiment is a freebie from Gerda Steiner. You can find it HERE. Am entering the card into several challenge, including "If You Give a Crafter a Cookie" [the card reflects the pastel color scheme and little pink flowers on the cookie tray.]

  

Entered into:  

2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop    

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- For a Special Lady                                

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #386-#387 Anything Goes                    

Cute Card Thursday- #581 Tie a Bow                                                                   

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #116                                                    

Another card  for the 2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop features a  Stamplorations free digi named "Coffee And Roses Collage." You can find it HERE. This time I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and a white gel pen, layered it atop patterned background paper and a torn scrap of green vellum and finished the card with silver photo corners to add a gleam of elegance.  The sentiment is from a Beccy's Place digi set named "Tea Time." You can find it HERE. 

Entered into: 

2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop    

The Sisterhood of Crafters- It's All About Flowers  
The Paper Shelter- #38 Colour It

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                                    

A2zscrapbooking Monthly Challenge- May Flowers                     

I love making Asian paper dolls to use as embellishments on my cards. While recently spending a few minutes… umm… hours… visiting Pinterest, I saw a photo of an Asian paper that inspired this card. I used bits and pieces of beautiful origami papers from my stash to create the card, fussy-cutting several little flowers from one of the papers to make her hair adornment. and to decorate the inside sentiment. I've had a packet of these little coins in my stash for many years, and it added the perfect touch of metal to this card, allowing me to enter it into the current Simon Says Monday Challenge. For the inside of the card I used a pretty Asian fan image from a packet of scrapbook paper, plus a Grace Symbol sentiment. [This sentiment is from a rubber stamp block that I pulled from the wood mount years ago. I think it might have been from Hero Arts or Embossing Arts.]

Entered into: 

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Add Something Metallic

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 17-Anything Goes                                           

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                                                        

Coffee, Tea and a Flying Elf!

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 made two cards as a DT for Penny's. The first used a fun and whimsical image from challenge sponsor, Fabrika Fantasy, named "Flying Elf." [You can find it HERE.] I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers, plus a white gel pen and sparkly gold gel pen. [You can't see the gold in the photos, but I dabbed dots across the dragons head, body and tail to add a bit of glimmer to his scales. I used some patterned vellum that I purchased at Hobby Lobby to use on mermaid cards. It nicely mimics dragon scales, too.  To highlight the image, I added a white circle beneath the vellum, then mounted both the image and vellum circle onto black cardstock. Perfecto. Lastly, I smeared some clear glue across the bottom of the card front then liberally sprinkled a path of large glitter to beneath the dragon and his cute rider. Finished the card by adding a glitter trail to the inside of the card to match the front.  The sentiments are both computer generated.

 

Entered into: 

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- #26                                                                    

Do-Al[l] Creative- Mythical Creatures / Fairies                                               

Fabrika Fantasy Challenge- #30 - Animals

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                        

Cute Card Thursday- #580 Anything Goes                                                        

Outlawz Challenge- Crash Your Stash- Loose Glitter                                     

My second card for Penny's this week features the adorable image named "Tea Cup Teddy" from the challenge's second sponsor, Di's Digi Stamps. I used a super simple card technique named the Diaper Fold [you can find instructions in this VIDEO.] I used a square doily as the base for the folded card,  adding pink cardstock on the back of the card, and also as an insert to add strength and durability. The image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen. The sentiment is from Whimsie Doodles, which is no longer available after they closed shop last year. [I sure miss them.] Am entering this card into several challenges including If You Give a Crafter a Cookie [the pastel colors and lacy doily on the card reflect those in the pretty cookies. Plus... Mothers Day is the perfect time for a tea party.] The sentiment is from Whimsie Doodles [which, sadly, went out of business last year.]

 

Entered into:  

Di’s Digi Stamps Anything But A Card                                                                

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie- #116    

2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop    

My final card for this post is another coffee themed card for the 2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop. I love the fun Bugaboo image named "Make it Snappy JJ" that fills a card front so beautifully. You can find it HERE. I printed the image on both kraft and white cardstock, cut them apart, colored the white image with Spectrum Noir and white gel pen, then trimmed it down a bit and layered the colored image atop the kraft sentiment. The inside sentiment is a freebie from Gerda Steiner. You can find it HERE. Such a fun card!

 

Entered into: 

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes                                 

2019 Spring | Summer Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop    

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays