52CCT - Pick a Previous Challenge! Mine is Sketch #15

Hello dear friends and followers!  I'm excited to share with you that the DT at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown 52CCT have decided to mix things up a bit and add a different challenge to our list.  I think you are going to like this one a lot! For every month that there is a 5th Saturday our challenge for you at 52CCT is to Pick a Previous - sketch and make a new card with it to share with us. Sometimes this will be pick a previous color combo.  Actually if you wanted to get very creative you could combine a previous color combo and sketch challenge for your entry.

For my first "previous" option chose a previous sketch by Louise that I thought was particularly fun.  Here was the sketch:

Here's what I did with it this time:

Very little stamping (just the sentiment) thanks to the darling DSP.  I lined the inside with that same ornament pattern and added an additional sentiment (sorry couldn't get a good photo for some reason of the inside).  Here's what I did with the sketch the first time (using that same DSP paper):

I just found this to be a very versatile sketch and loved the way it helps me use up some of my hoarded patterned paper :o) .

So...I can't wait to see what you choose to do this week with our "new" challenge option of PICK A PREVIOUS Sketch and/or Color Challenge.  The other talented DT members at 52CCT have also made some wonderful inspiration for you this week - so please pop on over and give them a visit as well.

Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D

Mo's Digital Challenge #190 - Use Bright Colors

Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well! My card today is for the wonderful and kind husband (Bob) of one of my wonderful, kind and terrific friends (Nette) who fashioned a jewelry organizer that hangs on the wall for my daughter.  He patiently, and perfectly, placed lots and lots of little hooks on this jewelry organizer for necklaces and bracelets.  My daughter was absolutely over the moon excited to have it.  We wanted to thank Bob for doing such an awesome job and were delighted to see this Fixer Boy image in Mo's gallery that would work so perfectly for his card.

Since I was going to use a Mo Manning image I decided to see what the current challenge - it's been a while since I've  had a chance to participate in one of Mo's Digital Challenges.  To my delight  Mo's Challenge #190 is to Use Bright Colors.  So I pulled out some of my bright copic markers and went to town coloring this darling image. Did you notice that some of his tools are even brightly colored?

This is my second easel card. I'm delighted that it turned out so well.  Easel cards are so much easier to make than I thought.  I wish I hadn't waited to so long to give it a try. I promised the ladies in our Crafty Cars Gals group that I would post instructions and photos on how to make an easel card. So I best be planning to make another one soon ;O)

Well... guess I better get going for now. Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #51 - "Anything Goes"

Hello dear friends and followers - thanks so much for stopping in to visit me this fine day!  Our challenge this week at ATS&M {Addicted to Stamps and More!} is the very popular "Anything Goes".  I decided to stretch myself a bit for this challenge and make a card that is a bit outside of my normal "style" if you will.  I used a couple different spritzes to create the background for this card (not sure if you can see the shimmery effect it has) and then stamped the sentiment right over the top of it. I first misted the paper and then kind of plopped it down on top of a scrap paper. Then I added some sponged spots of orange to pallet while it was still a bit damp. A fun technique - and I've seen some amazing examples for inspiration.  Why do I say that it is outside my norm?  Well - some of you might think (and I sure hope that you do) that it is a lovely card - but I think it feels chaotic and messy (and the sentiment is crooked). Somehow my own card doesn't seem as pleasing to my eyes as some others that I've seen using this technique.  I do like how the butterflies give the eye a place to rest in all the noise of the background and I added the peach panel to further ground it a bit.  Not my favorite card - but pleased that I've stepped out of my box a bit and still shared it with you (was a bit tempted to toss in the waste basket).

This is a note size card (3 1/4 x 5). I used the Stampin Up! beautiful wings embosslet folder to make the butterflies.  Spritzers are Blushing Bride and Vanilla. Sponged spots are made using Tango Tangerine.

The other lovely ladies on the ATS&M DT have also prepared some wonderful inspiration to share with you.  I hope you will go visit them and leave a little love.  To enter the ATS&M Challenge #51 - "Anything Goes" all you have to do is click HERE.

Hope your summer is treating you nicely and you are getting plenty of sunshine and vitamin D.  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting!D  

'ABC' Challenges - Red, White and Blue {Celebrate the 4th of July}

Hello dear friends and followers so glad that you are here visiting me today!  This is the last Monday of the month of June (oh my goodness how time flies) so that means that just around the corner is the 4th of July.  The DT at 'ABC' Challenges has picked a terrific color challenge for you this week that works perfectly with the holiday coming up soon.   Fourth of July cards not your style? That's okay - make a card using those colors for any other reason.  How about a masculine birthday card, or a nautical themed card? Or... you fill in the blank :o)  I can't wait to see what you make this week.  

I only send one or two 4th of July cards out typically but I still choose this theme for my card as I had this darling digital image that I just couldn't resist using.  I resisted using other colors as much as possible to stay to true to the main colors in the challenge (neutrals are okay though to add  - grey, black, brown, and skin tones).  So without further ado - please allow me to share my card with you this week.  Here is my Red/White and Blue(s) card:

Aren't they just the cutest pair? My daughter said "a blue elephant?"  Yeah I guess I went a bit overboard with the blue theme (I used 4 different shades of blue) and probably should have used the traditional grey for my elephant - but I really wanted to keep the neutral color as an accent and not as one of the main colors. I still like him - he's an original :o).  Hope you do too!  

The other lovely ladies have prepared some beautiful cards to share with you this week as well.  To see them all you have to do is click here - or go visit 'ABC' Challenges.

Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D

Sequins and Pearls - 52CCT Embellishment Challenge #18

Hello dear friends and followers! Time for another great challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT).  Good gracious where has this past week gone?  We had such fun last week viewing your amazing ornament Christmas cards and this week we are looking forward to being wowed by your creations for the next challenge - 52CCT - Embellishment Challenge #18.  Are you ready for this?  This week at 52CCT we want to see your Christmas cards using sequins and/or pearls.

This photo evokes very pleasant memories for me.  Every year my Grandma would order one of these ornament kits for my two sisters and me.  We would take turns adding the pearls and sequins and fancy stick pins to create our own lovely ornament to hang on the Christmas tree.  I still have one of them that I put out each year that looks similar to the one in the photo (except its green).  

I was a bit panicked at first that I wouldn't have any sequins to use on my card - and I really wanted to use both (although I didn't have to).  So I dug through my stash drawer and lo and behold I found two small packages of sequins (not sure what I even bought them for but was sure glad to find them) so I set to work making my very first easel card.  Take a look...

I had a bit of trouble getting the sequins on this card - those darn little things get very staticy and want to stick to your fingers :o) but I managed to get them on (maybe not perfectly straight or even - but glued on).  I used my Big Shot and the large scalloped circle die to make the base and front panel - leaving just a wee bit of space at the top of the folded cardstock as I ran it through the machine so that the pieces would stay together.  I had never done this before so I googled it and found a great example on the Splitcoast Stampers site (thanks for that).  Wasn't nearly as challenging as I thought it would be and I can't wait to make another.

So enough about me. The rest of the lovely ladies on the DT for 52CCT have made some really wonderful Christmas cards to share with you this week as well using Challenge #18.   What will you make this week for our Embellishment challenge this week using sequins and/or pearls?  I can't wait to come visit you and see!  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D  

Happy 1st Anniversary to Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #50 - Photo Inspiration

Hello dear friends and followers - so happy that you've stopped by to visit me today.  This week at Addicted to Stamps and More! is our very first anniversary!  Whoo Hoo!  What fun we have had with our participants over the past year - we thank you for being with us and hope you continue to play along! 

This week the ATS&M Challenge #50 is based on the gorgeous photo above.  We'd like to see your gorgeous creations using this photo as your inspiration.  What is it that grabs you in this photo?  Is it the bee, the flowers, the butterflies, the colors, the scene, the feeling it evokes?  Whatever it is the DT members would like for you to share it with us this week at ATS&M.

I'll bet you can tell what inspired me about this photo - take a look:

The butterfly is made using Dazzles.  The bottom one is the inside of the sticker and the top is the frame of the image which I coloring in with my copics after adhering to a piece of white cardstock.  I fussy cut around it after coloring and then popped it up some dimesion dots for additional effect.

Hope you enjoy this summery, bright card.  I especially hope that you will decide to join us this week at ATS&M for our photo inspiration challenge.  To get more inspiration from the rest of our fabulous DT members just click HERE.

Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D   



It's Summer time at ABC Challenges

Hello friends and followers hope you are enjoying the start to your week!  Not sure if any of you follow the show Long Island Medium but my daughter and I LOVE that show and Theresa Caputo and we had the opportunity to go see her in a group setting.  My husband, son and our son's girlfriend all decided to tag along for the trip (but not to see the show) so we just made a fun family weekend out of it.

But enough about me.  I'm guessing you popped in to see what the newest challenge is for 'ABC' Challenges and to see what I've made to share with and inspire you.  The theme this week is "Summer" and we want to see what summer represents to you.  Is it sailing, butterflies, bumblebees, flowers, gardening, laying on the beach?  Here's my Summer theme card...

You might not immediately get what the challenge is from this card - but if you are from Montana (or know anyone who is) you will know that rodeos are a big deal in the summer in Montana.  I love rodeos, but unfortunately my allergies from the dust and animals prevent me from attending for very long and from a great far away distance :o(.  My favorite event is the when the kids ride the sheep :o) and my least favorite is the bull riding - scares me to death!!

I made this card for my friend Jeanne who has an "almost" summer birthday in June.  Jeanne loves to wear really fun cowboy boots.  When I showed this card to my husband he said "there's not nearly enough bling on those boots to belong to Jeanne" -  lol.  Purple is also one of Jeanne's favorite colors so I used lots of that.

I stamped my own background added a bit of bling with my Versamark pen and some dazzling diamonds on the stars.  Then I added just  touch more bling with some teeny little rhinestones too.  Of course it couldn't be all sweet and soft so I added a bit of texture with the burlap ribbon and the hemp twine rope.  You can't see it really well in this photo but I also embossed the card base (6" square) and sanded the embossed portion to give it a western feel.

Jeanne loved this card and I hope you did too!  I would love to see what you make this week to share with us at 'ABC' Challenges so go get 'er done!  My lovely DT teamies have also prepared some wonderful cards to share with you so be sure to pop in and visit them as well.

Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D