SNOW in Spring??

Hello dear friends and followers.  Did my title catch your eye?  

Finally, finally we have spring here in Montana - so why in the world would I say Snow?

Well...that's because my DT card for the challenges this week at 

52CCT - May Pick a Previous Challenge (this time its a previous sketch)

and My Time to Craft #250  No Designer Papers

 is all about SNOW.   Take a look:

Digital image by Bugaboo Digis

Not a stitch of designer paper in sight on this card :o).
That's the idea for MTTC #250.
You can use inks, stamping, watercolor or embossing - just no DP.
I find that I don't miss DP as much when I use some dry embossing to add texture.

As I mentioned the challenge this week at 52CCT is to Pick a Previous Sketch.

I used the Sketch #16 from April 2013

Please visit our sketches archive HERE and select any one of the sketches to work with.  

You can change shapes, rotate the layout, make a rectangular or square card. 

As long as the basic layout comes through to us, it's all good! 

 Please don't forget to tell us which sketch you selected!

You may have noticed that most of my DT cards this month for the 52CCT Challenges
used images from Bugaboo Digis.  I was very honored to be chosen as May's Biggest
Fan at Bugaboo and had a lot of fun creating with the cute images this month.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenges #264 - It is all about "S"
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for May

Completely Christmas #14 - Anything Goes

Christmas Card Challenges #26 - Anything Goes
The Outlawz Friday's Alchol Markers Challenge - Anything Goes
w/option to make it Christmas or Winter Holiday.

I hope that I've inspired you to play along with one of these great challenges.
I can't wait to visit you and see what you've made.
The rest of my lovely DT pals have also made some amazing creations
for your inspiration.  Please go visit them as well and say "hi" while you're there.

Time for me to get my crafty little self to bed tonight.
Have a busy day planned in the yard tomorrow (barring rain or snow - lol)
Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

Monthly Digi Stamp Challenges - Deedee's Digis & From the Heart

Hello friends and followers.  Hope each of you is doing well.

I seem to be burning the candle at both ends lately and feel as though
I'm suddenly running out of steam.
So much to do, so little time left for crafting lately. 

I started two cards weeks ago, but finally got them finished last night so that  

I could participate in a couple of my favorite progressive challenges. 

The first card is for Deedee's May Digi of the Month Challenge. 

This is a progressive challenge which gives you a free digital image
each month just for participating in the previous challenge.   

I've loved each fun image I've received.
Perhaps I'll inspire you to check it out and start playing along too :o)

Take a look at what I made using "Not a Tie":

Just for fun - here's the inside too :o)

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #20 - Anything Goes

Crafty Girls Challenges #19 - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper May Challenge

The second card was made for the
From the Heart May Digital Stamp of the Month Challenge.
This is also a progressive challenge where you get a free digital
image each month for participating in the previous challenge.
Who doesn't love a freebie?
All of their images are just so wonderful!
I'd love to see you start playing along too.

The digital image is called "Whimsy Garden Fence" and here's my card:

On this card I used my new Stampin' Blendabilities markers by Stampin Up!
on the Flowers, banner and bird (Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
and Coastal Cabana). Each color comes in a light, medium and dark shade for blending.
Really impressed with the deep rich color and the way they blend.

I'm also entering the following challenges with this card:
Come and Get it Challenges - Lots of Layers
Papertake Weekly - Sketchie Free for All (using sketch below)

Corrosive Challenge Blog - Challenge #200 Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper May Challenge
Digi Haven - Spring has Sprung Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Okay, so that's all for me today friends.
Thanks again for stopping by.
Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

Lacy Sunshine Ebony Mer {Just for Your}

Hello friends and followers, so glad you've stopped in to visit me today!

I made this card for the Lacy Sunshine Facebook Fan Group challenge 

using the digital image called "Ebony Mer" which I received for free for being 

part of the fan group and participating in the challenge.

Take a look please:

Isn't she a lovely image? I got brave and tried something new and a bit out of my 

comfort zone on this card - I colored her face blue.  

Eek - I gotta tell you, I wasn't sure if it was a good decision or not 

at first. But the more I look at it, the more I like it :o)

This is how I always imagined a mermaid would look. 

Well, maybe a bit more sparkly - but still as blue. 

I also tried frantage but had a bit of a disaster with it.    

I think I'll be picking up frontage particles for awhile - quite comical really.

Did manage to get some of the stuff on the card - but it sure wasn't how I planned for it to look.

Guess I'll be googling for you-tube videos on how to use the stuff - lol.

Ahhh... the creative process is somethings not what we expect and yet 

we end up with a great project if we just embrace it.  

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Lacy Sunshine Dies and/or Punches Challenge

(I used two dies and one punch on this card)

Thanks so much for visiting me today! Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

Praying for You - ATSM #97 Make Your Mark

Hello friends! Time for another great challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!

This week ATSM Challenge #97 is Make Your Mark.  

We have an awesome sponsor - Eureka Stamps with an awesome prize for our Top Addict.

Check out the official challenge to learn more.

 For my DT card this week I've used one of the sponsor images - take a look:

I had so much fun coloring this gorgeous image.

I even tried my hand at the subtly dotted background again.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit a butterfly habitat area

that was in the Smithonian Museum.  It was the most amazing experience to 

have all these beautiful butterflies floating around.  I'll never forget it.   

I've had a crazy last couple of weeks so I'll keep my post short for today. 

But I'm sure glad that you came by to visit me and I hope that you will 

also go check out the lovely creations that my fabulous DT pals

over at ATSM have made for you to as well.  You'll be really glad that you did!

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

52CCT May Stash Challenge - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue

Hello friends and happy weekend! 

The past couple of days have been in the 80s - so sunny and beautiful.

I think spring is finally here - whoot whoo!!

I will admit that I had a bit of a hard time today with thinking about snow and Christmas. 

But then I realized that the beauty of it is that it can be very nice outside

and I can still have fun making a Christmas card to be ready for the season ahead of time.

On that note...it's time to show you what the  newest challenge is at 52CCT.

Our hostess with the mostest, Ruth, has chosen a fabulous challenge this time.

I think this is a super fun challenge.
Almost all crafters have a combination of something brand new and something old in their stash.
If you are lucky enough (like me) to have a friend who has something different
in their stash that you can borrow, then you've gotten the third piece of the challenge.
And last but not least - use the color blue somewhere in your Christmas creation.
Easy Peasey - right?

Don't stress out if you can't use all 4 categories, but please do use at least 2 of the categories for creating your Christmas card. Let us know in your post what elements you used so we can ooh and ahh with you. 

Here is my DT creation for the 52CCT May Stash Challenge:

The designer paper is my something old (from Stampin Up! season 2009)

I used my NEW stampin' blendabilities markers in daffodil delight and coastal cabana

to color the nutcracker.  I really like these. They are very smooth and quite comparable

to the copics that I normally use.  It was fun to have another coloring option. 

(The hair, face and sword were colored with copics).

I borrowed a stamp set from my friend Jeanne (the wreath and nutcracker) 

and the something blue...well that seems quite self explanatory :o).

Hope you like this card and that I've inspired you to join us this week at 52CCT.

The rest of my lovely DT pals have made some awesome creations to 

further inspire you.  Go visit them and say "hi" while you're there.

Til next time... enjoy the sunshine and take some time for crafting! Hugs D

ATSM Challenge #96 - Anything Goes {I think you're lovely}

Hello friends and followers - hope that you are having a most wonderful day!

Time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! 

ATSM #94 is Anything Goes - one of our most popular challenges.

We have a fabulous sponsor for this challenge - Rick St. dennis

Rick has generously allowed our DT to select one of his digital images to create

with for this challenge.  Soooo many awesome images - it was hard to choose.

I finally settled on one that reminds me of a friend of mine.

Here's my ATSM DT card to share with you using "Morning Goddess":

Now don't you agree that she is lovely? 

I love her fancy high heeled slippers.

I can't wear shoes with that much of a heel during the day 

much less shortly after waking up and before 3 - 4 cups of strong coffee :o)

Please go check out the gorgeous work by my ATSM DT pals for more inspiration.

I hope to see your card in the gallery soon! 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Feeling Crafty Challenges #28 - One for the Girls/Ladies

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

52CCT May Recipe Challenge and Catch the Bug BINGO

Hello dear friends and followers.  Sooooo happy its the weekend. How about you?  

This week at 52{Christmas}Card Throwndown Ruth has a recipe challenge for us.  

It's a C.A.R.D. recipe and she is asking us to:

COLOUR something in (an outline image or sentiment)

ADD RHINESTONES and/or RIBBON (use rhinestones or ribbon or use both)

DEBOSS (the recessed side of a piece of CS you've embossed with a folder)

I think this is a wonderful challenge! 

How very creative, it brings together my loves of cooking and card making :o)

We also have a wonderful Guest DT this month - Judy V of Created Just 4 You.
So happy to have her with us - LOVE her work!!

Here's my DT card for this challenge - hope you like it:

Digital image by Bugaboo Digi Stamps: "Make it Snappy - Ssnowman"

I also designed this card for the current BINGO challenge going on at Catch the Bug Challenges 

where I have the honor of being May's Biggest Fan.  I apologize if you are tired of hearing that. 

I'm just so stinkin' tickled to be named this that I can hardly help myself :o)  

To see the BINGO Board click here.

I used a horizontal line - stripes (scarf), Starts with S (snowman) and Kraft (panel)

and

I also used the middle column - Bugaboo image, Starts with S and flowers.

As Min would say, I was a bit of a BINGO Overachiever :o)

  

The fabulous 52CCT DT have made some wonderful Christmas recipe creations 

for your inspiration this week. Please pop in and visit them to see.

The talented DT at Catch the Bug have also made some fabulous BINGO creations 

to get your creative juices flowing. Go check them out!

I hope that you will decide to play along with these two great challenges this week. 

I'll be coming by to visit you and I can't wait to see what you make!

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

Life Doesn't Have to Be Perfect - and - Flowers for Mother's Day

Hello friends - hope each an every one of you is doing well.

I have a couple of cards to share with you today.
The challenges I'm entering are listed below each card.

The first one was made for a hostess club where we did stenciling  - take a look:

I'm entering this card in two challenges:

Crafty Catz Challenge #230 - Black/White and One Other Color

Fusion - Sketch and/or Photo (Black/White/Yellow or Flowers )

My second card is a card-in-a-box that I made for my Mom for Mother's Day.

Here's a second look at some of the details:

I love these box cards. Such a wow factor for the recipient when they open them :o).

What was fun about this card for me was that I used up a lot of extra bits & pieces

 that were on my craft table (the flowers, the leaves, the grass, the scalloped oval shape).

My Mom loved it! That was the best part about making it. 

I'm entering my box card in the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper May Challenge

Suzy B's Bloomin' Challenges #28 - Flowers

Inky Impressions #159 - Flower Power

Simon Says Wednesday Challenges - Die Crazy (the yellow flowers are from dies).

Thanks so much for stopping by - I'm sure glad that you did. 

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

Photo Inspiration - ATSM Challenge #95

Hello lovelies!  Time for another weekly challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! 

ATSM Challenge #95 is a photo inspiration challenge based on this great image:

Now how gorgeous is that? 

All that pink makes my heart happy :o)

You can choose any portion of this photo as your inspiration -

colors, bird(s) or flowers.

We have an awesome new sponsor this week 

who is offering an awesome prize to our TOP ADDICT.

My DT card this week uses an image by one of the Stitchy Bear artists 

Take a look:

This fabulous digital image is by Hope Jacar called "Birds and Babies"

I had a lot of fun coloring this image.  I decided to practice some more dotted 

background  technique with my copics.  I wasn't sure that I liked it but my best 

 (and most honest) critic walked in the craft room as I was finishing it and said, 

"Oh Mom that is GORGEOUS!"  

So I decided that I liked it after all :o)

The other talented ladies on the ATSM DT have made some wonderful

cards to inspire you this week as well.  I hope that you will go check

out their blogs and leave them a little love.  

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart - Challenge #18 "anything goes"

Sister Act Card Challenge #56 - "anything goes"

I sure hope that you will be joining us this week at ATSM!

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

Lil Frolic Sitting Pretty

Hello friends and followers - so nice of you to stop by to visit.  

I have a card to share with you on which I tried something new. 

First, here's the card and then I'll tell you what I tried for the first time :o)

Digital image by Lacy Sunshine: Lil Frolic Sitting Pretty

So....what did I try that's different? 

I colored her hair a bright, non-typical color.

I wanted to do a  monochromatic purple theme and keep everything else neutral.

So I stepped out of my comfort zone and went for the purple hair - and I LOVE it!! 

Probably not as exciting for you as it is for me, but thanks for sharing it with me!

I'm also happy because I managed to use up several items from my stash 

(LOVE tickets, designer paper, purple flower shaped brads & the teeny paper daisy). 

I added some rich razzleberry ink to the flowers with a sponge dauber,

I like the depth and interest it gave them. 

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Always Playing with Paper - The Challenge #6 (a great sketch!)

The Card Concept -Challenge #9 Monochromatic Purple 

and create in one of the style's of the design team.

I tried a freestyle collage style this time (hope I succeeded). 

4 Crafty Chicks - 4CCC #193 "Flowers"

Lacy Sunshine Facebook Group - Lil Frolic Sitting Pretty or Little Fidgit

Love to Create Challenge #114 "Say it with Flowers"

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Spring Flowers

Sister Act Card Challenge #56 "Anything Goes"

The Stampin' Chef Challenge #28 "Anything Goes"

TIME OUT Challenges #5 - Time Flies/ Love Lasts (see Love on the ticket strip) 

Papertake Weekly "Anything Goes" (optional twist no designer paper- no twist for me)

613 Avenue Create Challenge #70 - Anything Goes (twist bling)

Kit and Clowder May Challenge - Flowers

As a side note - a couple of months ago I found the Lacy Sunshine facebook group 

and have been participating in Heather's special challenges.

Heather gives the group members a choice of two images for each challenge

and offers us the opportunity to get one of them free to use. 

The image I used for the current challenge is called Lil Frolic Sitting Pretty.

I've had a lot of fun being part of this group and the challenges.

If you think you would like this too - check it out at the Lacy Sunshine Facebook page.

My Time to Craft - Recipe Challenge - Catch the Bug Challenges - Pick up/Get Well

Hello friends and followers and happy weekend to you all!

The challenge this week at My Time to Craft .  MTTC #247 is a Recipe Challenge 

We'd like you to pick 3 items from the following list for the recipe this week:

2 images

stripy design paper

3 or more eyelets

double bow (ribbon, twine, cord etc)

gate fold

easel card

blue

3 flowers

3 buttons

It's also time for another new challenge at Catch the Bug Challenges 
this week the theme is Pick Up/Get Well.
As May's Biggest Fan I get the honor of having my card featured for this challenge.

Without further ado, here's my card for MTTC #247 - Recipe and
Catch the Bug Challenges - Pick Up/Get Well
My 3 recipe ingredients are stripy paper, easel card and blue.

Digital image by Bugaboo Digis: Kitchen chicken - soup

I love making easel cards so this challenge was a no-brainer for me :o)
You can get this great digital image in the Bugaboo Digis Store.

I hope that you will decide to join both of these challenges this week!
My lovely DT buddies at MTTC have made some fabulous creations to inspire you.
There's terrific inspiration on the Catch the Bug Challenge by the DT there as well.

Can't wait to see what you create :o)
Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

A little dash of Merry...52CCT May Color Challenge

Hello friends! Time for another weekly challenge at 52 {Christmas}Card Throwdown (52CCT).

This week it's a color challenge from Ruth - take a look:

Some great colors here to use to create a non-traditional colored Christmas card.  

We ask that you use at least 3 of the colors (to be considered for Top Honours)

but you are welcome to use all five if it makes you happy :o)

I chose to use all five colors - take a look:

Digital image by Bugaboo Digis 

I used another digital image this week from Bugaboo 

not only because I LOVE the Bugaboo images but also

because I've been honored by Bugaboo as May's Biggest Fan - whoot whoot!

I really like the way this turned out and my high heel shoe loving daughter  

squealed with delight when she saw it and gave it her stamp of approval :o)

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges #235 - Bingo
I used Flowers, Sentiment, Bling


Christmas Fun - All that Glitters/ Anything Goes
Completely Christmas Challenge #11 - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra Challenge May Anything Goes

I hope that I've inspired you to play along at 52CCT this week using
Ruth's fabulous color challenge.  The other lovely ladies on the DT
have also made some fabulous Christmas creations to inspire you.
Please go visit them and say "hi".

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

Thank You So Much! My Favorite Color Combo

Hello friends and followers.  Almost the end of the week -

 and boy what a week it has been for me!

Seems as if I've been constantly spinning in circles and trying to catch my own tail.

Or maybe catch my breath since I don't have a tail - lol.  

The good news is that tomorrow is Friday!! 

Perhaps I can catch myself over the weekend and recharge  :o)

I needed some crafty therapy to get me into Friday so I finished up this card tonight.

Take a look:

Digital image by Lacy Sunshine: Emmilou Boo's Inchworm

I'm really happy with how this turned out. It makes me smile - hope it does you too. 

I chose my colors based on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge #32

which is to use our favorite color combo.

My very favorite color combo is pink with any other color :o)

but I thought that might be interpreting the challenge a little too liberally so 

I went with my second favorite color combo of blue and yellow.

There is a tiny little bit of green in this on that cute little worm she's holding.  

My layout is based on the sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #166

As you can see, I rotated the sketch.  I didn't chose the twist of Mother's Day

but this card is definitely made with a lady in mind.

I'm also linking up in the following challenges:

The Outlawz - Twisted Thursday Challenge May 7 - 14: Anything Goes with 

optional twist of using die cuts and/or punches (I used 3 different die cuts)

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #176 (use 2 or more patterned papers)

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (optional twist is no patterned papers -  no twist for me)

Feeling Crafty Challenge #28 - One for the Girls/Ladies 

Crafting from the Heart - Challenge #17 "Anything Goes"

Come and Get it Challenges - Anything Goes with a Digi

613 Avenue Create Challenge #70 - Anything Goes w/twist of Bling (a few candy dots)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper May Challenge 

Through the Craft Room Door - TTCRD May 6 through 12 "Anything Goes"

Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me today - I'm sure glad that you did.

I hope that you will find some time to craft over the weekend and maybe join one 

or more of these fun challenges too.

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

ATSM Challenge #94 CAS

Hello friends, hope each and every one of you are doing well today :o)

Here it is the first challenge of May at Addicted to Stamps and More- my how time flies!

ATSM Challenge #94 is CAS (Clean and Simple).

You may have notice that stenciling has been quite the rage lately.

After seeing many amazing examples and watching a couple videos on this technique

I decided to give it a go.  It turned out to be so much fun that I taught it to my card group.

Here's one of my cards that I made using a plastic painting stencil:

A big, bold image can still be CAS if you keep all other elements such as 

layers and embellishments minimal, and leave some white space around it.  

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #70 Anything Goes (no twist for me)

Crazy 4 Challenges 234 - April Showers Bring May Flowers

Dragon Fly Dreams Challenge #5 - How Does Your Garden Grow 

Less Is More Week 170 Color Challenge - use 3 colors or 3 shades of color

(I used 3 colors: Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight & Gumball Green)

Love to Create Challenge #114 - Say it With Flowers

STAMPlorations - May Challenge: Stamps & Flowers (my sentiment is stamped)

Suzy B's Bloomin Challenge #27 - Anything Goes

I hope that I've inspired you to play along with ATSM Challenge #94 CAS this week. 

My lovely and uber CAS talented ATSM DT pals have made some gorgeous

CAS cards to further inspire you.  Please go visit them and say "hi". 

Our sponsor for this challenge is Kathryne from StampArt Design

If you haven't checked out her images, you definitely should. They are so cute! 

Thanks so much for stopping in to visit me today! 

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

52CCT May Sketch Challenge and Bugaboo's Biggest Fan for May

Hello friends and happy weekend!  

I have some fun news to share with you today.

This month I am featured as the Bugaboo Stamps Biggest Fan in the May newsletter!

I love Bugaboos fun images and participating in their challenges. 

It's quite an honor to be chosen for this :o)

 The current challenge at Catch the Bug is "Anything Goes" and you can see my card there.

My other fun news to share with you is that its a new month of great challenges

at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT)!

We have a fabulous GDT this month--Judy V of Created Just 4 U!

Judy has been playing along with our challenge for quite some time

and I'm always in awe of her lovely Christmas cards. 

Welcome Judy - so happy to have you with us this month.

Ruth is our hostess this month and she has started us off with this great sketch:

Here's my card using the May sketch and a darling Bugaboo digi:

I got some new copic markers (E97 and E99) recently and decided to 

try a monochromatic theme for my card this week. 

I like how it turned out. Hope you do too! 

I hope you will decide to participate in the 52CCT May Sketch challenge 

and the Catch the Bug Challenge - Anything Goes!

For more inspiration, go check out the work of my lovely DT pals at 52CCT

you'll be very glad that you did :o)

I'm also entering the following challenges:
Christmas Card Challenges #22 - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - May 2014 "Anything Goes"

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