ABC Challenges (ABC47) - Use 3 or More DSP and Freshly Made Sketches

Hello friends and followers - happy last day of September, 2013.  Wow - time flies right on by - sometimes so fast I can't hardly remember which day it is :o)  That, I'm told is a sign of old age - but I refuse to accept that.  Our challenge this week at ABC Challenges is to make a card using 3 or More DSP (designer or patterned papers).  I've used 4 DSP patterns.  Here's what I came up with to share with and inspire you: 

Still having fun with my new Envelope Punch (Stampin Up!) to make coordinating envelopes for my cards.  I got my order of new papers in the mail on Saturday so I couldn't wait to use them for this challenge.  This paper is called "Sweater Weather" (SU) - how perfect is that for Fall?  I'm so cold all the time that sweater weather for me starts rather early (sometimes late August - definitely early September) and sometimes lasts into June.  I found this die cut in my Stash pile - I remember buying it years ago for a scrapbook page layout on Thanksgiving that still hasn't come to pass, so I thought I'd use it for this card.  Honestly, I can't remember what the idea what that I had in mind at the time - and I'm not sure when I'm going to get back to scrapbooking much.   I'm rather tickled with how it turned out!  The overall size is 5 1/2" square.  

I'm also entering my card this week in the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #105 since I used their great sketch for my inspiration and design.  As you can see I substituted a circle for the middle square.

The other lovely ladies over at ABC Challenges have also made some terrific cards to share with you this week.  I sure hope that you will go visit them and say "Hi" and that you will decide to join our challenge this week.  I feel very grateful to be part of such a wonderful team and to get the opportunity to visit each of your blogs each week to leave notes and get more inspiration.  

Thanks for continuing to support us at ABC Challenges!   Til next time dear friends and followers...hugs and happy crafting! D

A Fall Thank You for - MOJO Monday 312, ATCAS #23, & CAS-ual Fridays #115

Hello dear friends and followers. Fall is definitely in the air and there are lots of challenges out there featuring a Fall or Autumn theme.  It's been a long time since I've done a card outside of my DT responsibilities so I thought I'd give it a go again.  The laundry, cleaning and cooking just had to wait today 'cause mama wanted to play in her craft room :o).

Here's what I made today (using some of my new DSP that I got in the mail yesterday!):

I'm entering my card in MOJO Monday #312  since my card is based on this sketch below:

I felt like this sketch was a good one to use as CAS (lots of open space - mine is colored instead of white,  and few embellishments) so I'm also entering my card in the following challenges as well:  

Addicted to CAS (ATCAS #23) - Code Word: Autumn/Fall

CAS-ual Fridays CFC115 - Fall Colors with a Leaf

And finally, since my sentiment on the front is text language (aka "teen speak") for Thanks or Thank you (I get this one a lot in text messages from my kids), I'm also entering my card in   

My Time to Craft Challenge #236 - Thank You.

I just realized that I didn't do any stamping on this card - I used all die cuts and/or punches.  Seems odd when I do that.  I did stamp a sentiment on the inside though so I feel better :o).  I'm lovin that new DSP - it's call Sweater Weather (from Stampin Up!) - how perfect is that?  The papers have almost a texture look to them and the colors are just too perfect for the fall season.  Hope you enjoyed my card and that I've inspired you in some way. 

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

52CCT Technique Challenge #21 - Emboss Resist

Hello dear friends and followers so happy that you've stopped in to visit me today!  This is the last week of Ruth's challenges over at 52{Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT).  I've had a lot of fun with her challenges this month and this last one is no exception.  This is something I haven't done in quite awhile but really wondered why because it is quite fun to do.  Take a look at what I've done using the 52CCT Technique Challenge #21 - Emboss Resist.

For those of you who don't know this technique, I'll explain how I did this.  First you stamp your image using Versamark ink and then heat emboss using either a clear or white embossing powder.  I used very vanilla cardstock and a clear embossing powder for my stamped image.  Second, you can sponge, or use a brayer to go over your entire panel with one or several ink colors.  The embossed image will resist picking up the ink.  I find the sponging goes on a bit smoother if you are using a smoother texture cardstock (like Whisper White from Stampin Up!).  I also like using the sponge daubers more than the sponge pieces because I seem to have a more smooth blending effect (here I used both types).  When you're done adding ink around the panel and your image, you can just wipe off the excess ink from the embossed image (using a cloth,paper towel or tissue) and the embossed image will be shiny again.  Isn't it lovely how it stands out against the background?  Easy and fun to do - you gotta try this!! 

I used 3 different ink colors (daffodil delight, not quite navy and soft suede) to get my effect.  I wanted it to look like the star was shining brightly in the night sky.  I got a tad heavy handed at first around my image but decided I kind of like the effect after all (learning to embrace our mistakes and call them art - right?).  Found an older piece of non-Christmas designer paper that seemed to fit well with this image and color scheme (LOVE when I can use up some of my stash) and decided to forgo extra embellishments.  I stamped my sentiment after I had done all the sponging.  

Well... not much else to say really - except I sure hope that you will decide to join us this week.  The rest of the DT at 52CCT  have made some stunning cards using this technique to share with and inspire you.  I hope you'll go check them out and decide to play along.

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

ATSM#64 - CAS

Hello everyone!  Here we are at the end of September already - my how time flies when you're having fun.  We've been busy at my house doing a bit of re-decorating so that our daughter can take over our son's room since he has moved quite far away for college and will now only be home a couple of times a year.  She is very excited (he is not - lol) and has planned a pink and zebra print scheme.  It's going to look very different from when he was in there.  She wanted to move in the week after we moved him to Wisconsin (nearly 1400 miles away from his mama) but I told her that I needed a bit of time before I would be ready to do that. I asked her how she felt about January - you should have seen the look I got from her LOL (I'm guessing NOT on that idea).  I still get a bit teary when I think about how far away he is.  Wasn't sure I could handle the change in his room so quickly (it still smells a bit like him).  But...life goes on, and he is happy, so it only makes sense that she should have a reason to be happy too :o).

Have still managed to find some good quality crafting time in the midst of all this, especially as it pertains to my DT cards.  This week at Addicted to Stamps and More! we have the ever so popular Clean and Simple (CAS) theme for you.    CAS seems to be where it's at lately - so many of you do such a fabulous job.  Our sponsor for this last week of September is The Paper Nest Dolls.  I've used one of their darling images for my ATSM#64 CAS creation - take a look:

Even though I've used patterned paper - it doesn't distract from the openness of the design and the image being the main focus.  No embellishments but a bit of layering to frame the image.  Happy with how it turned out.  Hope you like it too!  I forgot to include a photo of the inside (its already on its way to a dear friend) but it says "Everything will be OK even if we don't know what OK looks like yet".  Good thing to keep in mind sometimes right?  Especially if you have a good friend by your side - "okay" seems so much more real. 

Please go visit our other lovely DT members and see what they've made to share with and inspire you.  There's a great prize to be won from our challenge sponsor The Paper Nest Dolls if your CAS card is chosen as the Winner of the ASTM#64 CAS challenge (more details can be found on the challenge blog).  I can't wait to see what you create - so go get busy won't you?  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting. D

ABC Challenges #46 - 3 in a Row

Hello dear friends and followers, can you believe it's Monday already? How is it that the weekends fly by so quickly?  Seems as if I'm just starting to make headway on checking off the items on my weekend "to do" list and suddenly its Sunday and I still have lots of unchecked items.  Maybe I ought to stop making the list - feels almost as if I'm setting myself up for failure sometimes - LOL.  

Anyway...time for another great challenge over at ABC Challenges.  Last week you amazed our DT with your beautiful fall themed cards.  This week for ABC#46 - we have a 3 in a Row challenge for you. I LOVE 3 in a Row!! So many options to choose from.  You can choose any 3 that make up either a column (vertical), row (horizontal) or diagonal.  My card uses Row 1 - Halloween, Pattern paper and 2 or more embellishments - but it could also fit the 2 or more embellishments, Any Stampin Up image and Use a punch (diagonal to the bottom right). Take a look:

I recently saw this sunburst technique and had to try it (thanks Dawn O for the video).  I also recently purchased the new envelope punch from Stampin Up! and made a coordinating envelope for my 5 x 5 card.  The sunburst technique is a great way to use up some of your scraps of patterned paper. Was really pleased with how this turned out and taught it to a class this weekend.  

Hope you enjoyed my card this week and I sure hope that you will pop on over to ABC Challenges to see what the rest of our lovely DT ladies have made to inspire you.  We love getting your entries each week - looking forward to visiting your blogs soon! 

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

Card details (all products from Stampin Up! unless noted otherwise): Cardstock - More Mustard, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Stamps: Bootiful Occassions (sentiment) and Halloween Bash (new SU holiday catalog).  Papers are from the designer series paper (regals, brights & neutrals).  Punches: bat (retired) and decorative label.  Rhinestones from Close to My Heart.  

52CCT Challenge #21 - Theme Challenge (Christmas Trees)

Ho Ho Ho - and Hello dear friends and followers.  I went into to Costco this past weekend as was absolutely floored to see the Christmas decorations staring to come out already.  I found myself wondering...Did I miss Halloween somehow? I mean I LOVE to make Christmas cards - in fact they are my favorite type to make. But...REALLY....Christmas decorations already???  Hmmpff!  Not sure that I like that for some reason.  Anyway... let's get back to what I do like and that is to make cards and share them with you for the fabulous 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT) challenges.  

Ruth has chosen a great theme challenge for us all this week.  She wants to see our Christmas cards with a Christmas tree theme.  Oh what fun!! Second to snowmen and snowflakes I like trees :o)  I had another kraft colored base sitting on my desk from last week's color challenge so I decided to use it.  The CAS style was appealing to me this week so I followed that nudge and this is what I came up with - hope you like it!

Well friends... got lots to do this weekend so I'm gonna get going for now and try to enjoy a little of what's left of our gorgeous fall.  Maybe I'll go buy one or those great big snowmen for my yard and put it up while its warm outside. Ok, now I'm just being silly, so off I go.  Hope to be visiting you soon and leaving comments on your cards for 52CCT #21 - "Christmas Trees" .  Don't forget to go see what my lovely DT teamies have made as well.  They all do such lovely work.    

Thanks for stopping by - Hugs!! D

ATSM#63 - Colors (Riding Hood Red, Kraft and Marina Mist)

Hello again dear friends and followers - hope you are all doing well!  This week at ATSM the challenge is to use the colors above.  I've been on a Kraft kick lately so was delighted that this is part of the colors we have for you this week to try.  Here's my card to share with you:

I've had this great sentiment stamp for ages and have never used it.  In fact, I can't even remember what idea I had in mind when I purchased it. But...I think its a wonderful sentiment and I thought it would work perfectly for this color challenge.  I quickly inked it up with my Stampin Up! markers (isn't it great how you can use these right on the stamp to achieve two or more colors?).  Those things that kind of look like fat dots are actually hearts from a textured embossing strip (SU) - don't seem to show up too well in this photo.  I think if I make another one like this I'll skip the texture as the sentiment stands nicely all on its own.  A very quick card really - kind of nice when that happens :o). Hope you like it! 

 

The other lovely ladies over at ATSM have also made some terrific cards to share with you this week. I hope you will get a chance to go visit them and check it out.  What will you make this week with this great color combo?  Can't wait to come visit you and see!

 

We still have The Paper Nest Dolls as our sponsor for this month.  They have some really darling digital images.  If you are chosen as our Top Winner this week for ATSM#63 you will win a wonderful prize from the sponsor (more details can be found on the challenge blog). 

 

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



'ABC' Challenges #45 - "Fall"

Happy Monday dear friends and followers! Hope you are having a great start to your week!  The challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges is a very appropriate one for this time of the year...ABC#45  "Fall".  Whatever Fall means to you - leaves, Halloween, hot cider, hunting, thanksgiving... we want you to show us with your beautiful card.  Here's my DT card to share with you:

For me fall means cool nights and warm days, beautiful colors of the leaves, the last of the flowers, the start of baking season and casseroles, and especially of pumpkins on the porch (LOVE pumpkins and anything baked from them :o) ).  The sunflower reminds me of the fields of them that we saw as we drove through South Dakota (acres of them that went on forever it seemed) on our way to Wisconsin recently.  It was absolutely amazing - I'll never forget that. This lovely fall scene is a digital image from Bugaboo Digis.  I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.   The papers are from a 6 x 6 pack (loved the colors) that I picked up while I was in Minnesota at the Archiver's store. I used Stickles (also purchased then) to add some sparkle to the image.  I so love Stickles - what a shame I hadn't discovered them sooner.  Here's a closer look:



 The other lovely ladies on the 'ABC' Challenges DT have also made some beautiful cards to share with you - please pop on over and visit them as well.  Can't wait to see what you come up with this week for your "Fall" favorite!! Thanks for stopping by to visit. Til next time...hugs and happy crafting friends. Hugs D

52CCT Challenge #21 - Color Combo (Red, White & Kraft)

Hello and happy weekend to each and every one of you. I've had my DT card done for 52CCT for more than a week but after the craziness of this past week (on a variety of levels) I found myself scrambling to get my post up.  That seems to be the story of my existence lately and I'm starting to wonder what I would do with myself if I wasn't always scrambling to keep up with everything.  At least I work well under pressure - lol.  Anyhoo...I was super excited about Ruth's gorgeous color combo challenge this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Here's my card to share with and inspire you this week:

I'm using a new single stamp from Stampin Up!.  Since I haven't yet purchased the coordinating die cut I just trimmed close around the sentiment and did some other layering.  I made my own background by using a stamp from the Delicate Doilies stamp set (also SU).  Really wanted to throw a couple other embellies on this just cause I love to use them so much - but it ultimately seemed just fine as it was, so I stuck with a clean but layered design. 

 

My stack of Christmas card is getting pretty big now - how about the rest of you?  If you are just getting started now is the perfect time to join along with us at 52CCT #21.  If you've been playing along I know you gonna want to use this great color combo.  The other ladies on the DT at 52CCT have made some amazing cards to share with you as well.  Please go visit them and see. 

 

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





ATSM#62 - "Make Your Mark"

Hello dear friends and followers - so glad to see that you've stopped by to visit me today!  My card today is my DT card for Addicted to Stamps and More! ATSM#62 - "Make Your Mark".  Our sponsor this week is The Paper Nest Dolls and the image I've used is from there. Isn't it cute?! The sentiment is from Stampin' Up!

Still practicing on hair - getting there - but pleased with how the whole card turned out :o).  I used some yellow Stickles on the leaves of the sunflower.  I think I'm becoming addicted to Stickles as I'm always looking for a reason to use some on every card I make lately - lol.  As far as the coloring goes, I always admire my dear DT member Nonni's coloring using more subtle and earthy tones, so I'm trying to do a bit more of that myself.

If you love to use crayons, markers, colored pencils or watercolors, we would love to see your wonderful creations using them this week at ATSM#62.  Oh and by the way... you could win a terrific prize from our challenge sponsor The Paper Nest Dolls (see more about the prize here) if you are chosen as our Challenge Winner this week.  How cool would that be?

My wonderfully talented ATSM DT teammates have made some amazing creations to share with you as well.  Please go visit them if you get a chance - you won't be disappointed, I guarantee it :o). 
Hope to see your entry in our gallery this week. Til next time friends... hugs and happy crafting! D

'ABC' Challenges #44 - Sympathy

Hello dear friends and followers - Happy Monday to you!! Time for another challenge at 'ABC' Challenges.  Before I tell you about this week's challenge I would like to say that I was completely blown away by the amazing entries last week for the Use Your Markers Challenge - thank so much for continuing to support us and share your talents with us!  I came across a couple of blogs and talent that I just have to share with you at the end of this post.   So...back to this week's challenge ABC#44 - Sympathy.  Here's my DT card to share with you:

Sympathy cards are not something most of us think just to make - but sadly we do seem to need to have a couple on hand from time to time. I have found that it's very nice to have one to grab and send rather than try to make in a hurry (especially as my heart is breaking for someone for their loss).

 

I kept this one kind of subtle and added just a couple embellishments.  The background is made from a retired piece of Stampin Up DSP that I ran through the BigShot and the square lattice texture folder.  The paper was thin enough that the fibers came through so I sanded it a bit more to give it a uniform texture.  This is the first time I had used this particular stamp.  The flowers were a bit tricky for my tired eyes to color in but I like how it turned out.  Hope you do too. 

 

If you would like to have a sympathy card on hand to share with someone, please consider joining our challenge this week at 'ABC' Challenges.  The other ladies on the DT have also made some beautiful sympathy cards to share with and inspire you.

 

P.S. here are a couple of blogs that I visited last week that I really enjoyed:

 Nicole from Nicole's Craft Nook (thanks Nicole for being my newest follower too)

Lisa from WishCraft Cards 

Pam from Expressions from the Heart

and Pia from Pias Papir og Perler

 

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'm sure glad that you did! Hugs always and special hugs to dear Jeanette. D

 

 





    

52CCT - Ruth's September Sketch #21

 

Happy Saturday friends!  Time for another challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown (52CCT), the home of opportunity for getting your Christmas card stash done in plenty of time for Christmas while having lots of fun doing it :o).  

 

Each month one of the DT member get to take a turn with setting the challenges.  Ruth is our hostess for the month of September and she has started us out with this terrific sketch.  

 

And here's what I did with it:

 

I haven't done a great deal with this stamp set since I bought it so I thought I'd dust it off a bit and give it a go while I'm waiting for some of my new goodies to come in.  Added three little self-adhesive dots in Crumb Cake in the corner (wishing now I'd have used red so they stand out better).

Colored up the stamps with my SU markers using Real Red, Lucky Limeade and Gumball Green.  Don't they look like yummy holiday drinks?  Whose ready to celebrate with me?? Guess it might be a bit early yet so I'll take a rain-check :o)

 

Welcome to our Guest Designer for the month of September - Margaret.  Margaret's blog is called Em's Paperdaze.  She has been a regular player of our challenge for a very long time - we are delighted to have her join us this month! To see Margaret's card and the lovely creations from the rest of the 52CCT DT just click here. 

 

If you haven't been joining us, September is a great time to get started. You'll still have plenty of cards by the time Christmas rolls around if you join us each week.  Hoping you'll decide to join us this week!  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting! D   

ATSM #61 - Anything Goes {PaperNest Dolls Sponsor} & Seize the Birthday "Anything Goes"

Hello dear friends and followers - so happy that you've stopped by to visit me today! Can you believe it's September already?  Just a couple days ago it was still 90 plus degrees here - August wasn't giving up without a fight for sure.  I have noticed that the mornings are now crisp and cool so I'm sure that Fall is definitely upon us.  I LOVE Summer, but must admit that Fall is my second favorite season and I am ready for it to be here now. It's much nicer to sleep at night with the windows open - ahhhhh, so lovely.

So...back to the reason you came to visit me.  This week at Addicted to Stamps and More! Challenge #61 is our ever popular ANYTHING GOES!  That's right - any theme, any color, any layout, any occasion or reason - a card, a 3D project, a scrapbook page that you've stamped on or created digitally - Anything Goes!  We also have a new sponsor for the month of September - The Paper Nest Dolls - who is offering a very nice prize (check out the challenge site HERE to get more details). 

I have a card that I made for my Aunt using a darling Paper Nest Dolls image (colored with copic markers) for my DT contribution to ATSM#61 Anything Goes.  I'm also entering this card in the Seize the Birthday "Anything Goes" challenge.  Drum roll please....

 

Okay - so it might seem as if this card was made for a kid, but my Aunt actually loves clowns and she's still a big giggly kid at heart - so I think she will like it.  One of my new purchases in the Archivers Store in the Mall of America (first time I had ever been there, or to an Archivers store) was some Stickles glitter glue.  This stuff is so much fun!! Wish I had bought a few more colors. I added a glimmer red dot from Close to My Heart on the clown's nose that fit just perfectly.  The papers are some retired DSP from my Stampin Up stash (I knew someday I'd have the perfect reason to use them again).  Usually I do pick my papers first but this time I just started coloring. If I had picked out the papers before I colored the image I would have colored the coat blue and the balloon red.  The sentiments on the front and inside are both from Stampin Up! I especially love the one on the inside - take a look:

Well that's enough from me today.  I'm sure that you would like to go see what the other lovely ladies on the ATSM design team have made for your inspiration - they are awesome as usual.  I hope to see your entry in our challenge this week - so go get crafty!  Til next time... hugs and happy crafting. D



'ABC' Challenges #43 (ABC43) - Use Markers

Hello dear friends and followers, hope you are all doing well!  I've been away from my computer and crafting for about 10 days while on a family trip.  This is a card I made just before I left for my DT contribution to 'ABC' Challenges #43- Use Markers (ABC43). Take a look:

I used a negative cut-out and ran it through my polka dot texture folder.  This digital image is from Bugaboo Stamps, which I fussy cut around after coloring with copic markers.  Since summer is on its way out I thought it would be fun to use this image one last time before I turn my focus to more fall and winter themed cards. 

 

I love stamping but I've also re-discovered the joy of coloring with markers.  I often use digital images that I've printed out on my laser jet printer but I do have a few stamps that also work well for coloring in.  Do you love to color as well?  If so, then go get busy and make a card to share with us this week at 'ABC' Challenges.  I can't wait to see what you create!! The other lovely ladies have "colored" some wonderful creations to share with and inspire you as well.  Please go visit them and say "hey!".  

Am going to make this a brief post today as I have a lot of catching up on comments and making cards for my next several DT challenges to do.  Thanks so much for stopping by - I'm sure glad that you did. Til next time....hugs and happy crafting! D