ATSM - Addicted to {Stamps}, ATCAS#7 - Masculine, Creative Card Crew #30 Birthday and CASology Week 33 - Circle

Hello dear friends and followers - so nice of you to come visit me today!  This week at ATS&M the challenge is Addicted to {Stamps}Challenge #6.  The DT wants to see your beautiful creations using stamps - which can also include digital stamps. My card uses both digital and regular stamps.

I wanted to try a version of the spotlight technique but yet keep it CAS so that I can enter it in the Addicted to CAS #7 - "Its Raining Men" for the code word Masculine. 

Oh my does this bring some wonderful images to mind - The Rock, Channing Tatum... and me without my umbrella. Oops I digressed, sorry (slightly naughty grin here). I am also entering this at Creative Card Crew Challenge 30 -Birthday and CASology Week 33 - Circle.

So.. on to my card - after coloring my digi with copics I used one of my circle Spellbinders.  Instead of accentuating the circle with any kind of color around it I left it white and just ever so slightly popped it up a bit with dimension dots. This way you can still see the edges but it doesn't distract from the lovely white space around the main image.  To get the sentiment on the card, I stamped it first on the base layer and then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig thingy and lined up where it would need to go to stamp again on part of the circle. My friend Donna will be so proud of me as I have told her that I just can't get the hang of the Stamp-a-ma-jig (she uses hers a lot).  But I've been practicing lately and I'm really pleased with how well this turned out.  Here's a look from the side:

I used Memento ink so that it wouldn't bleed over the top of the colored image.  I wish it had been a touch darker grey as you can't immediately see the "Y' on jeans.

This card is going to my nephew who will be 17 on the 28th of this month (he was very nearly a leap-year baby).  He is a huge gamer and this Mo Manning image fits him to a "t".  I think he'll like it - but who knows with boys sometimes :o)

Well... better get going for now.  I hope that you will go visit the rest of the DT members over at ATS&M and see what they've prepared to inspire you. I can't wait to see what you create this week using Stamps.  Til next time... Hugs and Happy Stamping! D

'ABC' Challenges - Sketch & Crazy4Challenges (C4C174) - Texture

Hello dear friends and blog followers! So nice to have another person join me - hello Deborah :o) . Time for another weekly challenge over at All Beautiful Cards ( 'ABC') Challenges, which is a sketch challenge (see below).  Isn't it awesome?

I flipped - or maybe its more like reversed, the features of the sketch for my card - but I think  you can still see the basics of the sketch.  Here's my card:

This card is a bit outside of my normal style. I'm not really sure that I have a definite set style yet, at this point as I'm still messing around and trying all kinds of new things. But this is a style (rustic - I think, and nature themed) that is something I seldom do. I really like it though - how about you? Here is the inside - kept it simple since most of the sentiment was on the front and wasn't sure how exactly it would be used. Perhaps its just a "hello" or "Thinking of you" card, or it can be a "hang in there card" or a masculine birthday card, or a father's day card giving Dad permission to go take some time to himself.  Oh sorry - got side-tracked by myself - here's the inside:

I am also entering this card in Crazy4Challenges #174 (C4C174) - Texture, Texture, Texure.  My card has texture from the woodgrain embossing folder, the tattered edges and the sponged buck. 



I used the sketch this week from 'ABC' Challenges to make this card for a card exchange group that gets together once a month with a specific challenge each time.  This month's challenge was a cue word. Can you guess what my word was? It was "mountain".  It doesn't immediately jump out at you - but I think of mountains as peaceful and full of gorgeous creatures of nature.  I enjoy hiking in the mountains with my son.  When I'm hiking though I hope to avoid the wildlife - just be at peace with the beauty of nature. 

I hope you will decide to join the challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges. Please go visit the rest of the DT members and see their beautiful cards - you'll be glad that you did. Did you know that 'ABC' Challenges is now on Pinterest and Facebook?  Check it out!

P.S. The first card I made I tried to encompass the word "mountain" more literally.  This card didn't even pass the 12 yr old daughter test (she told me it looked kind of like something a school kid would make - but she was careful to say that she didn't want to "hurt my feelings" - lol). I'm going to be brave and show you the first card just because I think it's fun to see that even crafter who practices all the time can struggle sometimes and make a card that they aren't absolutely thrilled with.  Here it is... be kind won't you? It's really not horrible -but I do need more practice with making mountains :o)

Welll - that's enough for me today.  Thanks for stopping by to visit me - I'm so glad that you did!  Til next time... Hugs and happy crafting! D

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - FELT, PPA153 and ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for Designer Paper

Hello and happy weekend! How have you FELT this week?  I have FELT like it was a long week and am glad for the weekend myself. This is the last week that I get to be the hostess for the month of February at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown. I've had so much fun this month and have really been impressed with what many of the participants at 52CCT have come up with each week.  My challenges have been a bit "unusual" I guess you could say - maybe even a bit difficult.  I think a couple of my challenges have really pushed some of you out of your comfort zone - but wow did you rise to the challenge! 

This week's challenge might also be a bit tough for some of you. For me it was easy because I discovered a stash of Christmas felt embellishments in  my craft drawer a while back and decided a good way to use them up would be to use them for a challenge.  I realize that felt isn't something many of you might have just stashed in a drawer but you can use a piece of felt (a square, a circle, a strip, etc.), a felt embellishment, a felt bow, a felt covered button, felt letters... you get the idea.  Just use felt somewhere or somehow on your Christmas card this week.  I sure hope this doesn't stop many of you from joining in on the fun at 52CCT this week.  It wasn't my intent to pick a hard challenge - really it wasn't.   Maybe you will be glad that this is my last week??

Before I show you my card I'd like to give a warm HELLO to my newest follower Sue.  Sure glad to  have you :o)

So here's my card to share with you this week:

and here's the inside:

I'd like to pat myself on the back for just a small moment and tell you that I have only fallen off my New Year's resolution once regarding decorating the inside of my cards.  They are not always spectacular (maybe just a sentiment) so I don't always photograph them to share - but I've been really good about keeping up with it (thank you Ruth :o) ).
 
My card is based off the sketch challenge at Pals Paper Arts.  I really should say its "loosely" based on the sketch as I was trying to do it from memory and it doesn't exactly follow the sketch - but its pretty close.  Think I'm gonna try another one this weekend because I do really like that sketch (see below).  I'm also entering this card in the ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for Designer Paper (I used the Snow Festival DSP from the Stampin Up Christmas mini catalog):

Thank you so much for stopping in to visit me today!  I'd love for you to pop into the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge and see what the other talented and lovely ladies have come up with.  I was especially tickled with Louise's creativity - I don't want to spoil the surprise for you, you must go check it out though (I dare you not to giggle with joy).  Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting! D

ATS&M - Addicted to {Vintage} and MOJO Monday 281

Hello dear blog friends and followers - I was so excited to see that I have a few new followers in the past couple of weeks!  Welcome and I'm so glad that you've decided to join along.  I hope that you like what you see and that I can inspire you in some way with the cards that I make :o)

This week the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! is to make a Vintage card or other crafty creation.  Vintage is definitely one of those types that is outside my comfort zone and yet I'm thrilled when I have the chance to give it some more practice.  My card is based off the MOJO Monday #281 sketch (see below). 

I've made this card for my husband's niece who found out a couple of weeks ago that she has Hodgkins Lymphoma. She has started her first round of treatments but is waiting to find out if the cancer has gotten into her bone marrow.  We are all praying for her like crazy that the answer is "no" and that she will only have 3 more treatments to go. We are told that this is a highly curable disease, especially when caught early.  This little gal - who is a mom to three very young kiddos, has the most positive attitude and strong faith of anyone I've seen in a long time.  She keeps us updated on Facebook quite often thankfully.  I wanted her to know that we are continuing to pray for her and to stay strong. 

 

Thank you for stopping by to visit me today. It would be great if you decided to join us this week at ATS&M and share your vintage creations with us.  This week the ATS&M challenge has another fabulous sponsor and prize that you could win.  Pop on in and visit the rest of the DT here won't you? They don't seem to struggle what-so-ever with the vintage theme as their creations are amazingly beautiful.   Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D

 

All Stitched Up at 'ABC' Challenges {Mine's Faux}

Supplies (all from Stampin' Up): Cardstock - Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla.

Embossing folders - Needlepoint border (SU Spring mini catalog)

Stamps - Oh Hello (SU Spring mini catalog)

Inks - Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery

 

Hello dear blog friends!  Some of you have the day off for President's Day - how very wonderful :o)  I'm lucky to be one of those too this time and am hoping to do something fun with my daughter and my son who is home from college for another day before he heads back. 

The delightful Ger got to pick our challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges and she has chosen "All Stitched Up - Faux or Real".  Oh gosh - this one kind of struck fear in my heart as I thought of the "D" I got on a wrap around skirt in home economics some 30+ years ago.  I am impressed with myself if I sew on a button and can "marginally" hem my pants, but only if absolutely necessary.  So... I guess you can figure out that I definitely went for the faux stitching this week - LOL.  I had purchased the textured embossing folders recently from Stampin' Up (whew) or I would have been sunk on this one.  I added a bit of saharah sand ink across the raised stitching so that it would stand out a bit more. There is also some faux stitching on each quilt piece courtesy of a stamp.  I had lots of fun coloring the stamp with my markers and it is an easy shape to snip out.  I think the patterns on the strip are so gorgeous. 

I really do love when a challenge pushes me to try something new - or think about something differently - thanks Ger! And, I really do like how this card turned out.  It reminds me of the old-fashioned quilt that I have on my bed (a hand-me down from my Grandma).  

Hope you like this too and will consider joining us this week at 'ABC' Challenges.  To see the rules and the great cards the rest of the DT have prepared for you, all you have to do is click here.  Hope to be visiting you soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by - til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D

CASology - RED

Hello friends so happy that you've stopped by to visit me today!  This is a card made for my sweet daughter for Valentine's day.  It reminds me of her with her blond hair and love of cupcakes.  I was in a bit of a rush this year - down to the wire getting my cards done in time, so I chose a pre-colored digital image (first time I've done that) and used an outside piece from a sizzix die cut out (Top Note) that was laying on my craft desk to frame my image. I stamped the sentiment inside the heart and added glitter glue to the wings.  I was really pleased with how it turned out - but more importantly, my daughter LOVED it :o). Score one for Mom :o) 

It's been a while since I've entered a challenge other than my own DT responsibilities - so I was crusing around my other favorite challenges and saw that RED was the cue card this week at CASology so thought I'd join in on the fun.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Til next time...hugs and happy crafting.  D

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - February Theme Challenge #6

Hello dear friends and blog followers!  Time for another challenge this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  I've been having a lot of fun being the hostess this month for the challenge! Last week I might have stumped some of you a bit with my unusual non-traditional color combo, so this week I decided to choose something a bit easier.  I think that Christmas is just as much - if not actually more - the season of LOVE than valentine's day, so I decided that I want to see a heart(s) on your Christmas cards.  You can also make you card using the word or expression of LOVE instead of (or in addition to) a heart.  Here's what I came up with:

I went with kind of a rustic look to my card this week using a woodgrain pattern from some retired DSP from Stampin Up (Frostwood Lodge).  I used my Sizzix Framelit hearts for the two heart layers and added some sponging to distress a bit.  I also used my favorite dry embossing folder "perfect polka dots".  Hope you like it!  Here's the inside too:

I didn't put a sentiment on the inside so that there would be more room to write.  I used the cut-out frame from one of my hearts to sponge around the inside and create the subtle heart.  It turned out a bit more pink than I was going for - but I like the soft effect.  

I hope you will go check out what the rest of the DT at 52CCT has made for your inspiration and then decide to play along with us again this week.  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting!! 

Addicted to Stamps and More! Bingo Challenge #6

Hello dear blog friends and followers, hope you are having a wonderful week! The challenge this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! is Bingo Challenge #6.  The sponsor for ATS&M this week is Clear Dollar Stamps  and I've used three of their digis (they all come as one set) for my cards today.  It's almost Valentine's Day so I made my cards Valentines using the DIGI, RED, HEART bingo squares.  The first is a valentine for my son (this is my favorite of the 3 I made):

  here's the inside:

I found some of this great textured paper in my stash and sanded it a bit to make it look a bit distressed.  I used the circle from the cut out portion to put inside.  The two sentiments (and hemp twine) are from Stampin' Up!  

Here's the second card I made using this digi set:

and the inside:

the piggy is my daughter's favorite as she likes his sweater :o)  I used a retired Stampin Up corner punch (pinking hearts) for the edges of the image, matting and top corner of the card.  The sentiment on the front is one of the digis in the set with the animals and the sentiment on the inside is from SU. 

Finally here is my last one for now :

I won't bore you with the inside of this one - but can you guess which sentiment I used? Hint: it looks much like the one I used for the other two on the inside :o).  At first I wasn't sure I liked this color combo but then decided its okay after all.  I used two of my textured embossing folders for the card base - the perfect polka dots one is my all-time favorite.  I like how the scallops on the base kind of go along with the scallops around the heart that the sweet little lamb is holding.  Then sentiment is also part of the digi set.  

Well - best be going for now.  Still need to make 5 more valentines - so maybe I'll be able to share them with you before I send them.  I hope you will decide to join us this week at Addicted to Stamps and More for the Bingo #6 Challenge.  The other gals on the DT have made some fabulous cards to share with you as well - please pop in and see them.  Til next time.... hugs and happy crafting! 

ABC Challenges - Color Challenge {Red, Pink & White or Cream}

Hello dear friends and followers! Valentine's day is just around the corner are you ready? Well if you aren't you might want to join the challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges where we've chosen a color challenge for you this week that is often associated with Valentines - Red, Pink and White or Cream. Here's my card this week:

 

 

I made a Valentine's card because I am behind and still have more to make (being behind seems to be the story of my life lately).  If you are already done with Valentine's you can use this terrific and versatile color combo to make a birthday, baby girl, baby shower, Mother's day, or just Hello/Thinking of you card.   You can use other colors in addition to these, but Red, Pink and White or Cream must be the predominent colors on your card to be chosen for Honorable Mention and Top Honors.

 

I used some retired DSP from Stampin Up! that had the perfect combo of colors in it for this challenge. If you look closely you can see that it also has the slightest bit of glitter in it too.  It's really quite lovely and I was glad to have a reason to use up some more of my stash. I used my Sizzix Framelit Hearts for the main heart cut out.  I used the reverse side of the paper to put back into the cut out because I loved how well it coordinated and it was much prettier than the plan cardstock peeking through.  I also used a new Sizzlit Framelit die from the spring mini catalog for the frilly heart die (red) and layered a punched heart in Very Vanilla and sponged some pretty in pink around it to layer on top of the red heart.  Then I added a tiny little heart made from red glitter paper (using the Owl builder punch).  The sentiment is also retired - but one that I can't quite give up and love to use. I used the doily border punch for the sides to give the card a romantic feel. 

 

Here's a look at the inside. This time I played around with the border punched strip a bit and ran it through my crimper to see if it made it look more like lace - I think it does, and kind of wish I had thought of it for the front too.  I also placed one of the border strips on top instead of behind - did you notice that it was different?    

I have now made 3 valentine's cards (for my two sisters and my bestie), but really should make 9 more so I can give them to my nephew, son, husband (masculine valentines cards are challenging for me), daughter, nieces, grandmas and parents. Oh gosh... I better get started on them or I won't make it in time. Thankfully they know I love them all the time, but it is still fun to get a valentine no matter how old you get - it still makes a person feel special.

Will you decide to join the 'ABC' Challenges this week and share your beautiful card with us?  I sure hope so!  Please pop on over to the challenge site and see what the other talented ladies have made for your inspiration.  Hope to be visiting you soon!  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting!

Liebster Award Nomination

 

Wow - what a wonderful surprise to pop into Kylie's blog - Kylie is Addicted to Stamps (and now butterflies) and see that she has given my blog the Liebster Award. Thanks Kylie - you are so sweet!

 

ABOUT THE AWARD - this award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated you in turn award it to blogs that you like to visit that have fewer than 200 followers.  This is to encourage new visitors to visit these blogs - isn't this a fabulous idea?!

 

RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE - you must thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award on your blog. Give the award to 5 bloggers who you appreciate that have less than 200 followers.  Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award.

 

PAY IT FORWARD - Listed below are five blogs that I think you should visit:

Ruth - Flower Sparkle

I met Ruth through our design team membership for 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown. Not only are Ruth's cards amazing on the front, she also decorates the inside each time and most times the envelope as well. She has inspired me to finish the insides of my cards now too :o)

 

Ger - Cards and Chocolate

Ger and I are on the design team for a new challenge called 'ABC' Challenges. ABC stands for Always Beautiful Cards and Ger's are definitely beautiful.

 

Rosie - Rosie's Sanity Corner

Rosie is also one of my fellow design team members for 'ABC' Challenges. Rosie has such a sweet style that I really admire and she likes to use her markers like I do. 

 

Rocky - Rocky's Crafting Blog

Rocky is a frequent player at the 52CCT Challenge.  I always look forward to seeing what she will come up with as she has great style.

 

 Chrissy - Chrissyxx

I stumbled across Chrissy's blog a few months after I finally decided to start my own.  I was also just a stamp gal until I saw Chrissy fabuolous work.  My digital library was started and has grown in large part thanks to Chrissy and all the fabulous cards she makes with digis that truly inspire me. 

Please go visit these wonderful ladies and their blogs - you will be glad that you did. Thanks again Kylie for this great award - I'm so honored! 

 

 

 





52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - February Color Challenge #14

Happy February ya' all!  As the hostess at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown for this second week in February I have chosen a non-traditional color scheme.  I have to tell you that when I initially picked these colors I had something quite different in mind than what I ended up making. Here's my card:

and the inside:

I do like how it turned out and I have lots of other ideas for this somewhat unusual and non-traditional color scheme for Christmas cards.  I added some sponged color around all the layers to give it a little depth (seemed a bit too plain or flat to me without it).  What do you think?  Is it too odd of a color combo or are you up to the challenge?  

Please go visit the site and see what the rest of the DT has come up with.  I hope you will decide to join us this week at 52CCT!   Til next time... Hugs and Happy Crafting! 

Addicted to Stamps & More! Make Your Mark #6

Hello all - so happy that you've stopped by to visit me today!  Today I've made a card using a digi image from Bugaboo Stamps.  I had made this for a different challenge last month when Bugaboo was sponsoring a couple of the Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenges - but then I wasn't crazy about it with the other ideas I had and left it sitting on my desk.  This week the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! is to use markers on your cards or creations and was the perfect excuse for me to finish coloring up Eggbert and make a birthday card.  I tried a different fold to my card this week (see below) - I took the photo above by hovering the camera over it so you could see what it looks like when the card is closed.  Here's a look at just the front panel of the card (as it is being opened): 

 

 I added some small pops of red on the letters and in the corners to break up the blue/green theme a bit. This leans a bit more toward the masculine genre - but with the red rhinestones it could also easily be a card that a lady (or girl) would enjoy. Here's a look at the inside:

I didn't like how the blue and green inside looked un-finished so I put another piece of white on the inside of the front.  I inked up the stamps with my markers.  The banner stamp also has the word "happy" on it but since I said that on the front I decided not to ink it up on the inside.  The white layers match up when the card is closed and provides an additional space for writing a message.  The overall finished size of the card is still a standard A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") - but with this folding it gives the illusion of being a square card. This way I can use this card for a male or female.  I like how it turned out.  Hope you do too!

 

Please go visit the Addicted to Stamps and More site and see what that other DT members have come up with this week for your inspiration.  Thanks for stopping by - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time... hugs and happy crafting!

ABC Challenges - "Candy Hearts" and Addicted to CAS - Code Word "Heart"

Happy Monday dear friends and followers!  The challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges is "Candy Hearts".  Aside from chocolate this is one of my favorite treats - the orange ones are my favorite :o).

 

Here's my Candy Hearts card:

I apologize for the rubbish photo.  The camera seemed to want to focus on the embossing and the words of the hearts are a bit blurred.  I do think you get the idea though - right?

 

I used a retired stamp from Stampin Up! for my card today. I fussed around with the colors for quite a bit trying to use pastel colors that are more similar to real candy hearts, but the sayings on the hearts didn't show up with the lighter colors, so I ended up going a bit more bright. On the stamp, the hearts are all in a row with a saying underneath, but I found that trying to color them with my markers created a streaky look. So I inked up the stamp and then used the small heart punch to get all the different colors. I was already a bit behind this week in getting my card done, and after all that fussin' around with the colors and stamping and then punching I decided to go with a more simple design and relied on one of my embossing folders to add some texture and detail. I think I'm getting better at this CAS style. But in my case, CAS doesn't necessarily mean a quick card - lol.

 

And here's the inside (I used some of the left over pieces that I had made to scatter inside):



Will you decide to take the challenge of "Candy Hearts" this week at  'ABC' Challenges?  Hope you like this card and that I've inspired you.  Please go visit the other members of the DT and see the beautiful cards they have prepared for your inspiration.

I am also entering my card in the Addicted to CAS challenge this week where the code word/theme is "Heart".

Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! 

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Sketch #14

Happy start of the weekend!  I love Saturdays for two reasons...1) because I typically don't have to work and can sleep in a little and 2) because that's the day our weekly 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge starts over again.  I love visiting blogs and viewing all the wonderful cards that we get each week as entries for the challenge - keep those cards coming!!  

This month I get the honor of being the hostess at 52 CCT - whoo hoo.  My first February challenge is a sketch challenge.  This is a sketch I've used a time or two and really love it, so I thought I'd share with you and see what you come up with too.   Here's what I did with this:

What do you think - is it too busy?  I wasn't sure I was in love with it after I finished it - somehow it looked better in my head.  I used the new tiny bottle caps and a teeny tiny stamp set for the little trees in the middles (even added a tiny little bit of bling on top of each tree).  I realized that I had cut my sentiment strip too short but since I had already stamped and glued the layers decided to just go with it.  A sketch is after all a starting point and doesn't need to be followed exactly - as long as we can see the basic parts of the sketch, we are happy :o)

 

I know the rest of the DT have come up with some fabulous cards based on this sketch - so please pop on over to their blogs and take a peek.  Hope you decided to accept this sketch challenge and then share what you make with us over at 52CCT! Can't wait to see what you come up with.  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting!