Beautiful Nature

After my unexpected ER visit last week, I’m feeling a little better, but still tired and dizzy. I wanted to post my card for The Butterfly Challenge (one of my favorites) before the deadline. So… I’ll do that and come back after my nap to add a few more cards and fill in the details.

I recently discovered a wonderful stamp/digi shop named Impression Obsessions. They offer a large assortment of free digital images in several styles. This wonderful scenic digi is named Morning Glories. I had fun bringing the scene alive with a sunrise and butterflies. The little butterfly antennas were made with thin wire and jewelry pliers, then topped with a thin strip of black paper for the bodies.  I created this gatefold card to enter into the Butterfly Challenge and it meets their requirements of Color (Three colors-Yam colored butterflies plus Yale Blue and  Yarrow/light yellow in the sky and sunset) plus a theme (Your Choice) plus my butterflies!

  

 Supplies: 

·    Digi Scene- Impression Obsessions Free Digital Image (Morning Glories)

·    Front Sentiment “Thanks for Everything”- Buddly Crafts (Sugar & Spice Sentiments)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Inside Sentiment “You are a Treasured Friend”- Buddly Crafts (Sentiments 1)

·    Small Butterfly- Embossing Arts Wood Mount Stamps (business no longer in business)

·    Assorted background papers from my stash

Entered into: 

Impression Obsession Challenge- Down on the Farm   
Butterfly Challenge- #142 Y for YoYo Spinner  

The Paper Shelter- #430 Thank You

Crafty Catz Challenge- Anything Goes #509

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft 2020-Anything Goes- Challenge #6-2020

Last year I met a talented young artist named Sherry West via her FB page. The images she creates are adorable, so I was thrilled to win a few of them through contests on her FB page HERE. She also has an  Etsy shop HERE and is making a name for herself as an author. Her first children’s book, named “It’s Raining Cats Dogs And Pollywogs,” quickly sold out the first run on Amazon after its release. The sweet digi on this card is named Starlight Starbright. I had fun coloring the little beauty and adding some silver bling.

 

Supplies: 

·    Digi- Sherry West Art (Starlight Starbright)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir markers, Sakura Gelly Roll white and silver gel pens

·    Front Sentiment- from Whimsy Stamps Fantasy Sheet 2 digi set(no longer available)

·    Inside sentiment- “You Are Something Magical” TLC Creations Freebie (no longer available)

·    Assorted background papers from my stash

·    Sheer ribbon with stars- JoAnne’s

Entered into:  

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends- #133 Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #442-443 Anything Goes                   

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #637 Anything Goes

Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #23 Anything Goes                                

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                       

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge

The Whimsy Stamps Virtual Weekend was held on FB this past weekend.  There were lots of games, challenges, and freebies! I nabbed several of the freebies and now have until Friday to create cards and post them. The first card I made for the event is being entered into a photo inspiration challenge. I printed off the beautiful colored photo and cropped the sentiment off to create the background brackets. After coloring the Dude, I attached it, and sentiment banners to the card front. On the inside I used a section of patterned paper that looks like a paint chip. The two colors are labeled Blue Skies and Yellow Sunshine.

Supplies: 

·    Digi and Sentiment- Whimsy Digital Stamps (Toucan Surf)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Inside sentiment- “Enjoy Life One Wave At A Time” Imagine That digi set Surfer Sloth (retired)

·    Wave photograph is from photo challenge on Whimsy FB page

·    Assorted background papers, paint chip, and enamel dots from my stash

Entered into:  

Whimsy Stamps Virtual Weekend- Photo Challenge

Simon Says Monday Challenge- It’s A Man Thing                                 

Outlawz Challenges- Monday Greeting Challenge- Masculine

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Masculine                                                      

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- June 2020 #39                                    

Honored

I am so honored to serve as a DT/Contributor for several challenges and companies. So I apologize that I am late posting a few of the cards below that were made for challenges in which I’m a DT. I DO have a valid reason! Earlier this week I felt “odd” (extremely tired, with mild dizziness.) I thought it was related to allergies. Then, on Wednesday, the dizziness increased drastically, making it hard to stand. My hubby took my BP and it was 220/121 so off to ER we went. Four hours and blood work, Xrays, a CAT scan,  IV potassium, and nitroglycerin later my BP was down... but the tests showed just a few minor issues. So I was told to schedule a follow-up with my doctor the next day. I did that and some adjustments were made in my meds. I am feeling better but it will take a few weeks to see if this keeps my BP at healthy levels. My doctor also said it should work on reducing my stress level and my weight. Both are difficult to do when confined to home… and… when I speak the same language as ice cream. (Yikes! I can hear it calling to me right now!)

This first DT card is for the Friday Colour Crazy Challenge. This challenge is an “Anything Goes” but it adds a requirement- the creation needs to include coloring in “any colouring medium you like, onto any project you like, and in any colours you like.” I’ve never outgrown my love for coloring… which is why making cards is stress therapy for me!!

I loved creating my DT card with a heartwarming digi and little band-aid sentiment from an Oddball Art digi set named Get Well Soon Sally. I colored Sally with Spectrum Noir markers and a Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen, then tucked her in under a quilt made with patterned color blocks I upcycled from the cover of a 6x6 paper pad. (I did cut them apart and rearrange them so that there was no text included.) Scraps of ribbon and lace, plus a cute little teddy bear sticker, finish off the card front.  The little band-aid sentiment on the inside is also from the digi set and the puffy heart sticker is added ‘just because!”

 

Supplies: 

·    Digi- Oddball Art (Get Well Soon Sally)

·    Sentiments- Computer Generated

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Assorted background papers, upcycled paper pad cover, scraps of ribbon and lace are from my stash

·    Little Bear Sticker- Recollections (from my stash)

·    Puffy Heart Stickers- Sticko’s from WalMart (The pack contains 113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents!)

Entered into:  

Lemon Shortbread Challenge- Anything Goes #121

Bugaboo Stamps- Anything Goes

Polkadoodles Challenge-Week #23 Anything Goes                                

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- June                                

A Perfect Time to Craft 2020-Anything Goes- Challenge #6-2020

My next DT card was created with a Sheepski Designs digi named “Giant Mushroom.” I’m excited to tell you that Sheepski Designs owner/artist, Andrea Norris, is giving this digi away (yep, FREE!) to everyone over in the @Kit and Clowder Colouring Group (for one week-starting yesterday, June 5!) ! To claim yours, just head to the FB freebie post HERE.  Plus, during this event,  you can all receive up to 25% off all stamps at Sheepski Designs digis HERE.  SO fun!

Now… a few details about my card. After coloring the sweet digi, I used decorative chalks, a makeup sponge and a stencil cut from a paper scrap to make the wispy clouds. I used a white eraser to remove any blue chalk from the Gnome couple (I love how you can easily erase most chalk colors, especially if you use a light hand when applying them.) I added a party feel to the scene with balloons created from scraps of a plastic document folders. (These wonderful items come in a pack of assorted colors and can be found in the office supply section of most stores, including Dollar Stores and Amazon.) I really like using them on my cards because they're cheaper than colored vellum and are more translucent.  You can use punches or dies with the folders, but they occasionally require a little trimming since the plastic can shred a bit on the edges.  (I used a balloon punch to make these colorful balloons.) Scrapbook stencils also work. Just trace the shapes with a fine-line permanent marker then fussy-cut them with a nice, sharp pair of scissors.  The front sentiment is from an Imagine That! digi set and the inside sentiment is computer generated, reflecting my odd sense of humor! Also, the clouds on the inside were a happy mistake. After I chalked them onto the card, I realized I’d accidentally added them to the inside of the card instead of the front. If I flipped the card they’d be upside down. I was going to erase them, but instead decided to just extend the cloudy sky scene to the inside of the card, complete with a few wayward balloons! I love it when mistakes are so easily fixable!

Supplies: 

·    Digi- Sheepski Designs (Giant Mushroom)

·    Front Sentiment “Happy Birthday to You”- Imagine That digi set (Airplanes)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Cloud template cut from scrap paper, chalks and makeup sponge

·    Inside sentiment- Computer Generated

·    Balloon Punch- Martha Stewart

·    Assorted cardstock and scraps of plastic document folders in assorted colors from my stash

Entered into:  

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Make Your Own Background              

Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #637 Anything Goes

Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday- Anything Goes (Optional TWIST: Party Time)

Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                       

Let’s Craft and Create- #160-Anything Goes + (Option) Punch It!        

My final card features a collaborative work of art, created with one of my favorite artist/designers, Beccy Muir. Some of the first digis I ever used were from Beccy’s Place, which I stumbled upon back in 2017. (Actually, a Beccy’s freebie appears on one of my first blog posts HERE) Since then I’ve added dozens of Beccy’s wonderful digital sets to my collection, many of her freebies (she has 223 available!), and since I love to use fancy folds on my cards, I enjoy the Card Fold Tutorials section of her blog (currently she provides 116 tutorials with dozens more planned!)  Whew! You just need to stop by Beccy’s Place to see for yourself what a gold mine of inspiration is there!

Okay, not on to card details. I am honored to have served as a Guest Designer for Beccy and now one of her “Contributors” which means that Beccy provides me with digis or clear stamp sets four times a year and I get to create an assortment of cards or other items with them. It is always fun to see what items she will invite me to use.  Recently I received a package with a Beccy’s Place clear stamp set and I was thrilled to see a card from Beccy herself tucked inside. It featured images from a set named “Feathered Nest.” I thought the card was created with a colored digi, so did what I usually do after I receive a beautiful card from a friend. I first display and enjoy it for a bit, then upcycle it.  When I upcycle a card, I always make a few changes or additions to the card with coloring, embellies, sentiments, etc. In this case I swapped out the sentiment and added some coloring additions to the card; a bit of shading with alcohol markers and highlights (with my beloved white gel pen).

Since I often add shading and highlights to pre-colored images so I wanted to share this example on my blog since I was thinking that people that often use pre-colored images might like this idea. I also added a vellum frame with an oval die-cut to draw attention to that lovely momma bird!

Since the card was from Beccy, I asked her permission to share it on my blog, along with the explanation above. When I learned that the image was not a pre-colored image, but was actually a stamped image watercolored by Beccy, I was appalled. I would never intentionally color on top of another persons’ hand-painted art! That felt wrong to me. When I apologized to Beccy, her reaction shows why I so enjoy working with her.

Beccy was not offended. Instead, she responded, “I love the idea that we’ve both done some work on it... a bit like a collaboration!”  With those few words, she turned something I felt bad about into a collaboration. She really is one of the kindest and sweetest people I know.

Supplies: 

·    Precolored Digis- Beccy’s Place (Feathered Nest)

·    Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen- add shading and highlights to digis

·    Sparkly Heart Stickers- Hobby Lobby

·    Front  sentiment- “Spread Your Wings and Fly” Imagine That digi set  (Airplanes)

·    Inside sentiment-Computer generated

Entered into: 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #442-443 Anything Goes                    

Pattie's Creations Challenge- #171 Things that Fly

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- June 2020 #39                                    

Beccy’s Place Challenge- June      

Welcome to June!

It’s the 1^st of June… and QKR Stampede is launching its first once-a-month challenge (switching from weekly for the summer.) Stop by the challenge, which is always “Anything Goes,” and several prizes are awarded. Maybe you’ll be inspired to enter a card or two yourself? 

My DT card features the Eureka Digital Stamp named Time for Tea. I colored and fussy-cut the image, then adhered it onto some pretty patterned paper (that resembled wallpaper.) A fine-line permanent Sharpie marker helps me to add the stray hairs surrounding her pretty head. I wanted to add a lacy tablecloth with an embossing folder and a scrap of vellum but it didn’t turn out quite as I had planned. Although I like that her legs and the wallpaper show through a bit, I think if I used a different folder with a smaller pattern it would look more like a lacy tablecloth. The front and inside sentiments are both freebies and a little puffy heart stickers add some color to the inside of the card.

PS- Stamp On It is offering a site-wide discount on any products, including QKR and Eureka images, plus free shipping on purchases over $30. Just use discount code WEB2020 at checkout to receive these nice specials!)

  

Supplies: 

·    Digi- Eureka Digital Stamps (Time for Tea)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Front Sentiment- Handmade by Paula Freebie- (Thinking of You)

·    Embossing Folder-Spellbinders EL-009 M-Bossabilities Reversible Embossing Folder, Flora

·    Inside sentiment- Free digi from Love SVG (Bless Your Heart)

·    Puffy Heart Stickers- Sticko’s from WalMart (The pack contains 113 assorted puffy hearts for just 99 cents!)

·    Assorted background papers and vellum from my stash

Entered into:  

Jan’s Digi Stamps- Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #440-441 Anything Goes 
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Fridays                                                       

A Perfect Time to Craft 2020-Anything Goes- Challenge #6-2020

Since it’s the first of the month, I also get to share my DT card for the May Sheepski Designs Challenge. This month’s theme is “Your Favorite Colours” and since I love Christmas, I love red and green! For this card, I used a fun digi named Camouflage, paired with a cute little ladybug that was cropped from a QKR Stampede digi.  The leaves that I added to the branch were hand-sketched on sage green cardstock then colored and fussy cut.  I added a vellum oval behind the chameleon and his friend didn't blend into the background! 

PS Stop by the Sheepski blog to learn more about the monthly challenges. Maybe you’ll be inspired to enter a card or two yourself and have a chance to win some wonderful digis from Sheepski Designs!

 

   

Supplies: 

·    Digi- Sheepski Designs (Camouflage)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Ladybug Digi- QKR Stampede (Knome and Ladybug)

·    Inside  sentiment- “You Give My Life Color” Beccy’s Place Digital Set (The Button Collector)

·    Assorted background papers and vellum from my stash

Entered into:

2craftycrittercrazies Challenge- June 2020 #39                 
Outlawz Challenge- Saturday Paper Ala Mode- Encouragement            

Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- May                                 

I recently won several digis from The Paper Shelter and this sweet little beauty was one of my picks! I decided to perch her onto a tag that I made from a scrap of beautiful paper, added a scrap of sheer ribbon, dark green die-cut flourishes and several pretty fabric flowers. The final touch was a transparent oval “Wish” sticker that I purchased from Oriental Trading Company’s after-Christmas sale back in 2008. (I remember the year, because it was just before a major move and my hubby gave me a hard time about all the craft items I had just purchased. He complained that we’d have to transport the additional boxes of stuff- and there were several- to our new home. He actually said that I already had enough craft supplies. I don’t think that is even possible, is it? Especially when the supplies were 60-70% off!)

Supplies: 

·    Digi- The Paper Shelter (Ballerina)

·    Colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen

·    Front Sentiment- “Dream” clear sticker (Oriental Trading Company)

·    Assorted background papers and a scrap of sheer ribbon from my stash

·    Fancy Foliage Dies- Spellbinders Our Daily Bread Designs

Entered into:  

The Paper Shelter- #429 Flower Power

Scribbles Designs Challenge- #89 Brads, Buttons or Bows    

Digi Doodle Studios Blog- Challenge #28 Anything Goes

Cute As A Button- #57 Anything Goes  (Option- Tag! You're It )