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

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT) Theme Challenge #18 - Ornaments

Hello friends and followers, so happy that you've stopped by to visit me again!  This week the challenge at 52CCT is theme based and we want to see your beautiful Christmas card creations with ornaments on them.  I have several ornaments stamps that I could have used but then I spotted this little one that I had purchased last season and hadn't found a way to use it.  Take a look at what I've made to inspire you:

 

Here's a full front view so you can see the detail a bit more:

 

In looking at this I just realized that I have also pulled bits from the past couple challenges this month - I used a bit of baker's twine and the color green :o)  Wasn't intentional but I thought it was kind of fun to mention. 

 

My family and I have a fun weekend planned.  My son is just home from college and we are going to try to squish as much time in with him and his lovely lady friend as we can these next couple of months before they move to Wisconsin for college.  He has been in Washington - which is less than 6 hours from where we are, so we've been able to see him fairly regularly.  When he moves to Wisconsin (which is about 2 1/2 days drive away since my husband doesn't fly) we will probably only see him two times a year. This makes my heart sad :o( as he is my first baby and I'm not quite ready to have that distance from him.  However, I am also very proud and happy for him that he is living his life and taking opportunities in a responsible way.  In any event... as you can now imagine I think our summer will be go...go..go and do with him while he's home.

 

So enough about me... please go visit the other lovely ladies on the DT for 52CCT and see what they've prepared for your inspiration.  I can't wait to visit you too and see what you make this week.

 

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

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #49 - CAS

Hello to my fabulous friends and followers!  Time for another challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More! ATS&M Challenge #49 is the ever popular CAS (Clean and Simple).  CAS is a hot trend in card making right now and one that I had struggled with for a bit, but am finally feeling more comfortable with it. For those of you who aren't familiar with CAS, it means that the card has a clean design with limited embellishments and lots of white space (white space can be a color other than white, but is generally not DSP or other busy patterns) and the image or sentiment is the main focal point and really stands out as part of the design.  This is an easy card that I could easily mass produce with the rest of the stamps from this set and send to a friend as a gift.  The overall size is 4" square.

I used a retired SU hostess stamp set for this cute little elephant (inked up with my markers to get the different colors).  I did add the tiniest of rhinestones to the middle of the flower and embossed the white frame with the clouds texture folder (one of my favorites right now).  I used my circle Sizzix dies to make the cut out area around my image.

Hope you enjoyed this card and that I've inspired you to join us this week at ATS&M.  If you would like more inspirations there is a whole bunch of it from our other talented DT members.  To visit the challenge site and then each of their blogs you just need to click here to get started.  

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D

ABC Challenges - I {Heart} Animals

Happy Monday friends and followers!  This week the hostess at 'ABC' Challenges is AnnMarie who has chosen the theme of "I {Heart} Animals".  Our DT wants to see your beautiful cards that have an animal (or more) on them.

My favorite animals are dogs and horses (and elephants and giraffes).  But I had colored up this cute little fella a while ago and hadn't ended up using him as planned, so I was excited to see this week's theme as I now had a definite purpose for this penguin.  This could be a valentine's day card, a thank you card, or just a general "I love ya" card.  The other DT members over at 'ABC' Challenges have come up with some really great cards to share with and inspire you - you can see them by clicking here.

What will you create this week with the animal theme?  I can't wait to come visit you and see.  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

Color Challenge #18 - 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown

Hello and happy weekend to each of you! Here it is June already (my goodness where is the year going already?) and we have a color challenge for you this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  I wonder if its a coincidence that our hostess Jacqueline chose shades of green this week with it being spring and so close to summer.  Considering the fact that she lives in an entirely different part of the country from me, I'm guessing it is truly a coincidence - but I like it!  I'm so excited about all the beautiful green I'm seeing here and I love to make Christmas cards and get them done in plenty of time before Christmas.  It's a win win situation for me this week :o).

My card this week was inspired by one that my dear DT member Ruth made a bit back using this same stamp set. I remember thinking to myself "Oh I have that set - I need to pull it out and use it".  So here's my card using the Patterned Pines set from Stampin Up! (retired).

Kept it CAS this week - but had to try my hand at doodling a design around the edge, just to be different. I used 3 different shades of green - Gumball Green, Garden Green and Old Olive.  In keeping with the spirit of our color challenge, the only other color I used was white as my neutral.  

To see the wonderful creations by the rest of our DT at 52CCT and the view the rules of this week's color challenge, just click here and you will get right to it.  Hope to see your green Christmas card in our gallery this week!  

As I'm writing this post the night before it goes live to all of you, I've decided I'd better get myself off to bed.  My mom, grandma, sister and I are having a HUGE garage sale tomorrow and I have to be there early.  I spent the equivalent of about 2 days going through my craft room gathering neglected stamp sets and designer paper that I had been hoarding for the sale.  It felt really good to make some space.  Now I'm  hoping that I sell all of it so that I can go buy some new stuff - LOL. 

Thanks for stopping by to visit me - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D 

Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #48 {Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Perfect Plum}

Hello all - hope you are doing well this first week of June!  It has been raining, raining, raining here off and on for days and for once I'm not complaining.  When I look out my window and see all the green, and the splendor of the trees and lilacs in bloom, I realize how thankful I am for the rain right now - it makes things so gorgeous!  I think our color challenge this week at ATS&M is very appropriate for spring and summer themed cards.  Taking my inspiration from the beautiful flowers I am seeing cropping up all over this is the card I've made to share with you:

I've done a couple unusual things for me - I made a one layer card (gasp!) that I really love (double gasp!!) and I used a two-step stamp set.  Quite pleased with how this turned out - :o).  Hope you like it too!  To see the beautiful work of the rest of the ATS&M design team members and say "Hello" to our new teamie Monika all you have to do is click here. 

We have been blown away with the fabulous entries that have shown up in our gallery the past couple of weeks - thank you for supporting our challenge.  Hope you will have time to play along with us this week.  I can't wait to see what you create with these fabulous colors!  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting. 

'ABC' Challenges - Masculine cards

 

Hello dear friends and followers!  Here it is a new week and a whole new month of challenges at 'ABC' Challenges.  We thought we'd kick off  the June challenges with a  "Masculine" theme.  Yep... that's right, with father's day just around the corner we thought it might be a good idea to make a card for the men in our lives.  My card is ultra clean and quick this week.  My Dad is not one to appreciate a lot of frills or fancy paper - however he does like cards that play music or have some moving part on them.  He's out of luck in that aspect from me as I don't do moving parts quite yet - lol! 

 

Dad's not a huge outdoors guy (unless he's working) nor does he hunt, he doesn't watch much tv (my Mom doesn't complain as she doesn't have to share the tele with him), and the only sport he likes to watch is basketball.  But my dear Daddy really loves old cars, fast cars (once he had a corvette - whoooeeee was that fun to drive) and small planes.  So, I bet you are wondering why I chose this old bicycle.  I decided to be a bit funny with my Dad because he has been talking about slowing down lately and just not being able to do all the things he used to (or as fast).  I'm borrowing a really funny sentiment from a friend to put in the inside - it says something about no longer living life in the fast lane (can't recall the whole saying just now) and then I'll put a digi of a race car inside (since I don't have a stamp of that).  I think he will appreciate it. 

 

The other fine gals on the DT at 'ABC' Challenges have made some terrific cards to inspire  you this week - I hope you will go visit them and then decide to play along.  Hope your week (and your month) is starting off wonderful.  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D