Love - ATSM #84 CAS

Hello friends! I have a CAS card to share with you today as my DT card for ATS&M #84 CAS. The lovely Cathy from Cathy's Card Spot is our guest designer again this week.  She does such beautiful work! Please go visit her and take a look at her creations.  Here's my card this week:

I've cased a style that one of my DT buddies, Sue, has used a few times - the image in the circle.  I've really admired her cards when she does this and I had to give it a go.  I kept it monochromatic and used the colors (three different shades of pink) from the following photo at House of Cards as inspiration.

I'm entering my card in the House of Cards Challenge - CAS cards (the style I chose)with photo inspiration.

I do hope that I've inspired you to join the ATS&M Challenge #84 CAS this week.  
If you need more inspiration all you have to do is pop into the challenge site (here) and check out the lovely creations by the other DT members.  
Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D 

Just Chicken in... cQc#229, The Card Concept #4, 4CC #182

Hello friends - a quick post for me tonight as I'm right up against the deadline to participate in 

the ColourQ Challenge #229.  

I just fell in love with this wonderful color combo and I had just gotten this great digi at From the Heart that I knew was perfect for these colors.  I'm practicing my shading techniques with my copics - getting a little better I think. Practice makes perfect they say :o)  Hope you like it!   

I am also entering this card in these challenges:

The Card Concept #4 (Use a floral theme) and the style of one of the DT members. 

 I used the shabby chic style this time. 

and

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #182 - Things with Wings (4CC #182) .

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

Still Lookin' Hot! - Happy Birdday

Hello friends!  Sometimes being a DT member on the two challenge blogs can be a bit dangerous for me. Why, you might ask? Well...there have been a few times that I have seen products such as digital images, stamps and papers that participants are using for challenges and then I think that I just must have them too. Definitely fun - but could be dangerous for my pocketbook if I'm not careful.  The digital image and sentiment on today's card is an example of just such an occasion.  I recently saw it used by several people and fell in love with it - so I went out and grabbed it for myself and decided that I should then enter the monthly challenge with it :o)  Great idea - right?   Take a look at what I made please:

I love the look on this bird's face - too funny!  It could be used for a man or woman really.  

But I decided I wanted to take a masculine approach to it this time.  

I might give it to my husband in April (don't worry he never reads my blog - lol), although he recently told me that he really prefers the cards I make that are "simple" (translated to card making language to Clean and Simple  "CAS").  Still he has a great sense of humor so I think he might really like this card anyway. 

I am entering my card in the following challenges that helped me make this card:

From the Heart - February Stamp of the Month Challenge (Birthday Candle Birdbrain) - where I'm also throwing my hat in the ring to be a guest designer (please wish me luck).

Color Throwdown Challenge #280 - the colors were perfect to make it a masculine card.  Congrats, by the way to my blog buddie Nicole for being a guest designer for this challenge!

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Humor (the little "whoo hoo" is stamped and cut out with a die cut).

Papertake Weekly - Lovely Layers

and 

Seize the Birthday - I didn't choose the topping option this time. 

So that's all for now. 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

Hip Hip Hooray - Happy Birthday - PPA192 and Deedee's February Digi of the Month Challenge

Hello friends and followers - so happy that you are here to visit me today!  It's the weekend and I have lots of errands to run...groceries, oil change, drop off stuff to Good Sam.  Maybe I'll even get a visit in to my Grandma.  I haven't seen her for nearly 3 weeks due to having a really bad head cold/sinus thing for the past 2 weeks (which I think is finally gone!).  But...before I start all of that. I have a fun card to share that I made for my sister-in-law (add mailing this to the "to do" list for today) using a couple challenges as inspiration.

Take a look please:

The challenges I am entering with this card are as follows:

Deedee's Digis February of the Month Challenge 

(where I got this great image for free by participating in the January digi of the month challenge)

and 

Pals Paper Arts #192 - Sketch by Margaret Moody

So... off I go to do my weekend errands. Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D

52CCT - Stash Challenge - Metallic Papers

Hello friends and happy weekend to you!  A special hello to my newest follower Tam! So glad you have decided to join me in my creative journey:o)

This morning I woke up to snow and quite a bit of it.  Our crazy Montana weather just can't seem to make up it's mind lately.  One day it feels like spring and literally the next morning it is blizzarding.  Oh well, snow really makes me want to make Christmas cards, which are my favorite type to make anyway, so I guess I won't complain too much.

Speaking of Christmas cards... it's time for a new weekly challenge at 52CCT.  Our hostess Jacqueline wants us to dig through our stash and find some metallic papers to use on a Christmas card.
That wasn't too hard for me as I keep mine fairly close by and handy. 

Here's my DT card to share with and inspire you this week - Hope you like it!

I used my largest snowflake die and some brushed gold metallic cardstock. I had stamped the Santa image in gold ink (sadly the shimmer doesn't show up as well in the photo as it does IRL).  After stamping I grabbed my circle dies used part of the image for the center.  That strip in the bottom third of the card is washi tape. I'm happy with how it turned out :o)

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenges - D is for Die Cut  

Divas by Design - Rubber Stamps Only 

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Snow Much Fun

Papertake Weekly - Lovely Layers

Crafty Hazelnut's CHNC Challenge Extra for February - Anything Christmas

I hope that you will decide to join us this week over at 52CCT for the February Stash Challenge - Use Metallic Papers.  The other lovely ladies from the 52CCT DT have made some stunning Christmas cards to share with you as well. Please pop in and say "hi" to them as well.  We love to hear from you :o)

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

Happy Easter Every Bunny - ATSM #83 Holiday

Hello friends! Hope you had a restful weekend. I was fortunate enough to have a 3 day weekend which I really needed to try and kick this cold that just doesn't want to go away :o(.  I think it's because of our crazy weather (warm one day, cold and snowing the next - constant wind either way) that many people are having a hard time getting completely healthy, including me.

Oh well...enough of my woes.  Let's talk about the new challenge starting today at Addicted to Stamps and More! Oh...and before I do that, allow me to welcome Cathy from Cathy's Card Spot as our guest designer for the next two challenges.  She does such lovely work! Please go visit her and take a look at her creations.

Now back to the challenge at hand.  ATSM #83 is our Holiday challenge.  You can make any holiday card or project to share with us.  I chose Easter and I used a digi from our sponsor this week

Here's my DT card:

Details: Cardstock - whisper white, basic grey and smoky slate (all Stampin Up)

Designer paper - Watercolor Wonder (Stampin Up)

Sizzlit Framelit Dies - Starburst (Stampin Up)

Digital image - by Kathryn at Stamp Art Design and colored with copic markers and spicas.

Sentiment: from "Every Bunny" (Stampin Up - retired)

Extras - sequins and Stickles in yellow. 1/8" ribbon in Daffodil Delight (SU).

Last week in our Make Your Mark Challenge (ATSM82) I saw a card in our gallery #24 by Valerie Ward that I just knew I had to case.  I had to improvise a bit on my layers as there wasn't an in-between level for either of the starburst dies.  I decided to keep all the other colors neutral so that the image really pops.   Finished card size is 5 1/2" square.  

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Just Us Girls #228 Color (I used orange, yellow and purple plus neutrals)

and

Make it Monday #179

Hope you like this card and will decide to join us this week at ATS&M for Challenge #83 Holiday.  The rest of our lovely DT members have made some really wonderful creations to share with you as well so please go visit them and say "Hi".  Til next time friends...hugs and happy crafting! D

Retrosketches #102 & Creative Card Crew #55 - KISS

Hi friends! A special hello to my newest follower Aneta. So glad you have you along! 

I have a very quick post today to share a card I made for Retrosketches #102 using a couple new products I recent got.  I'm so in the mood for spring...sigh!  Take a look please:

Very simple really - I guess it's almost CAS but without the white space.  I was trying for an ombre effect with the sentiment and flowers (going from dark to light).  I lined up my saying using my trusty Stamp-a-Mjig tool.  I slightly blurred the edges of the small flowers with my watercolor pen after stamping and punching them out to go along with the watercolor paper. To my surprise when the flowers dried all the way the edges (petals) curled up slightly from that water. Really love how they turned out.  

I am also entering this cards at Creative Card Crew #55 - KISS (Keep it Simple and Sweet). 

As I said a quick post for now.  Fortunately I get the day off for the holiday so will hopefully be back later with another card or two to share (after I get  my DT cards for this week done).  

So "TaTa" for now.  Hugs and happy crafting dear friends! D

Birthday card in a Box

Hello friends and followers, thanks for stopping by to visit me.  A special hello to my newest follower Kristie! So happy to have you along :o)

Today I taught my card group how to make a really cool 3D card that I've been wanting to try.  I'm excited to share it with you too.  Warning...this is a bit photo heavy.

So...here's how the card looks when folded flat:

Eww - I really need a manicure :o)

And here's how it looks as you start to open it:

And...wait for it....here's how it looks when it's fully opened:

TaaaDaahh!

A birthday card in a box!  Is that fun or what?  Here's a look from the side:

Lot's of fun to make and sure to bring a smile to the recipient :o).  If you would like to get the instructions for this card just leave me your email address in the comments and I'll happily send it to you.  The details for the products are listed at the end of this post (all products are from Stampin Up!).  

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday - Topping Option - Hearts

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #194 - Pack a Punch (use a punch on your card). 

I used a decorative label punch and a tiny circle punch and a cupcake punch.

Papertake Weekly Challenges - With a Heart (show a heart somewhere on your project)

Divas By Design - With Love (the heart and the Love Ya word bubble).

City Crafter Challenge Week 198 - Love Bug (create a card or project with the word love in it)

See the Love ya word bubble on my card to meet this challenge. 

Thanks again for stopping by! Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

Card products used (all are from Stampin Up!):

Cardstock - Soft Suede (base), Coastal Cabana, Poppy Parade, Baked Brown sugar. 

DSP - Retrofresh designer series paper 

Word Bubbles - Stamp set "Just Sayin;" with coordinating Word Bubbles framelit dies.

Arrow: from the On Film framelit dies.

Punches: Cupcake Builder, Decorative label, circle from Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack

Stamps: Perfect Pennants (heart, stars, Make a Wish) and Just Sayin' (love ya, whoo hoo and how old?)

Ink colors: So Saffron, Tango Tangerine, Soft Suede, Costal Cabana, Strawberry Slush (heart)

Christmas Landscape - February Theme Challenge 52CCT

Hello friends!  Welcome to my two newest followers, I'm so happy that you're on board with me :o)

Time for another weekly challenge at 52CCT. This week our February hostess Jacqueline has chosen the theme challenge of landscape.  We'd like to see you create a Christmas card with a Landscape on it.

I really, really admire cards that have a nature theme and especially landscapes, but must admit this one wasn't easy for me as nature and landscapes are not my strong suit.  I fussed and fussed around with different ideas and then decided to stay true to my own style and still meet the landscape theme with a spin of my own.  Take a look please:

This card took me a L-o-n-g-g-g-g time to make - LOL.  I started with a piece of glossy white cardstock and stamped Santa and the reindeer, and then embossed in black.  Then I stamped the trees along the bottom of the panel using Always Artichoke. I cut a small circle and put it over Santa before I cut masks of the trees using a few post-its (this was tedious and took the most time).  I wanted to create an ombre effect in the sky so I started using the brayer with Marina Mist from the right edge, then I added Island Indigo for the darker color. The brayer didn't get really close to the trees so I had to go back over all of that area (and around the moon) with a finger dauber. Thankfully with the glossy paper it was fairly easy to smooth out and blend.   Somehow along the way I got a finger booger on the panel and didn't notice it until I had heat set the color :o(  Then I colored in the moon with a finger dauber and some Daffodil Delight.  As a last step I put the white layer on the trees and embossed (hoping it would look like snow covered trees that Santa was flying over).   When I was done I had this really gorgeous flow of darker to light in the sky - was pleased and let it dry overnight.  When I finished the card the next day I noticed that the colors had soaked into the paper a bit more and the ombre effect wasn't quite as noticeable any more - bummer.   I am not in love with this card... but it's okay and I had fun making it (while learning a couple lessons along the way). 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Merry Monday #85 - Use an animal on your Christmas card

Twisted Tuesday Challenges - 2TC69 - Up in the Sky 
(they want to see the sky and something in it (flying reindeer)

and

Crafty Hazelnut's CHNC Challenge Extra for February (anything Christmas)

I hope that you will decide to join us this week at 52CCT for the theme challenge - landscape.  The rest of the DT have made some amazing creations to share with and inspire you.  You can see them by clicking here.  I can't wait to see what you create!  Til next time friends... hugs and happy crafting!D
       

XOXO for my Sweet Daughter - Happy Valentine's Day

Hello friends - Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you are feeling loved today! 

I have a card to share with you today that I made for my sweet teen daughter. 

I got to use several new products on this card (lucky me)! Truth be told, I bought the paper pack, dots, and digital image specifically with a valentine for her in mind (not like I probably didn't have something in my stash already - lol) as I wanted it to be extra special. 

Take a look please:

Digital image - Sami Stamps

I had so much fun creating this card - put lots of extra love into it! My daughter squealed with delight and said "it's soooo cute Mom. I LOVE it!"  Made my heart happy that she liked it so much :o)

I picked up the colors from the papers and colored them in the image using copic markers (E000, E00, E02 - skin, R27, R29 - coat, RV02, RV06 - hearts, Y21, E31 and E34 - hair, E53, E55- mittens and scarf, #E51,E53 -earmuffs, and RV000 all over color shading around image).  That darling, glittery "xoxo" is a die cut with glitter paper.  Isn't it just "to die" for??? LOL

Well enough of my silly humor for now. Thanks for stopping by and letting me share with you again today.  

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Sami Stamps #0010 - Add a touch of Glitter

The bright pink hearts have sparkle added with copic spicas (very hard to see in the photo) 

and the xoxo is red glitter paper.

Divas By Design - With Love

Papertake Weekly Challenge - With a Heart 

Make it Monday - MIM#178

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

Masculine Valentine - CAS LOVE

Hi there! Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today.  I have a card to share with you that I made for my husband for Valentine's Day.  Take a look please:

I had been flattened by an awful cold/sinus for the past 3 days but managed to make this card just in time. My husband is always very appreciative of my cards but he surprised me by telling me that it's his favorite card that I've given him.  Go figure - I didn't know he was a CAS card guy.  Good to know :o)  I guess it makes sense as for a very long time I didn't make CAS cards as I was intimidated by them, so he didn't get a CAS card from me before.  Now I really enjoy that style.  Don't you just love the the woodgrain stamp?  I looks very touchable to me - it's almost as if you could feel the wood.

The code word over at ATCAS (chosen by Shana) is LOVE - so I'm entering my card in the challenge.

Gotta get myself to work so I'll close quickly.  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

Bee My Valentine - Retrosketches #101, Corrosive Challenge Blog #192 (Feel the Love)

Hi again - here's my last quick post for tonight.  

This card is for my son's darling girlfriend who loves bees (they have a special meaning to her).
I love her like another daughter - she is as sweet as honey :o)   

  For her card I've colored up a favorite Mo's image - take a look:

I kept the layers and embellishments to a minimum so I can mail it in a regular card envelope (and hopefully get to her by Valentine's day).  It was hard to resist adding some bling - but I like how it turned out. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Retrosketches #101  as I used this great sketch (below)

and 

Corrosive Challenge Blog Challenge #192 - Feel the Love

Thanks for stopping by to visit me and allowing me to share what I've made with you.
Now I am off to bed in hopes that tomorrow I will feel lots better.  

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

Masculine Valentine's Day card - CFC127 (Over the Edge), City Crafter Challenge Week 197 (Color Splash), C4C222 (Love w/Glitter),Stampin' Royalty #213 (All About Love)

Hi there. Back again with three valentine cards that I managed to get in tonight.  Gonna keep all 3 posts short and sweet as my head feels like a lead balloon and I'm achy all over.  Pretty sure that I suddenly caught my husband's really bad cold/sinus thing.  It was as if someone waved a wand and "poof" I now have a cold :o(  He says "hopefully it will only last a few days.  That's all mine lasted until I passed it on to you".  He thinks he's a lot funnier than I do at the moment... Should just go to bed but am not sure how well I'll feel tomorrow so I want to share what I made tonight while I have some gumption.

Anyway, here's a card I made for my son (red is one of his favorite colors) - take a look:

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 197 - Color Splash

Use Black / Grey and White as your Main colour and a Splash any other one colour

CAS-ual Fridays #127 (CFC127) - Over the Edge

Crazy 4 Challenges CFC222 - Love/Valentine's Day with Glitter

Stampin' Royalty Challenge #213 - All About Love

Thanks for stopping by to visit and for letting me share my card with you tonight.  I'll be back with 2 more quick posts and then off to bed.  Til next time...hugs and happy crafting! D

52CCT - February Color Challenge - Pick 3 plus gold.

Hooray it's the weekend!!

It's also time for another weekly challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown (52CCT).

Jacqueline is our hostess this month and she has a great color challenge for you to try.

We want to see at least 3 of the colors above on your Christmas card creation plus the gold.

Here's what I came up with:

A quick and simple card. 

A die cut snowflake, a strip of vellum w/a gold embossed sentiment

 and a few tiny rhinestones. Ta-da... done!

I rather like the simplicity of it. What do you think?

I hope that you will decide to join us this week at 52CCT!

The rest of the 52CCT DT has made some beautiful creations to inspire you.

Please go visit them and say "hi".

I am also entering this in Crafty Hazlenut's Christmas Challenge #163 - use a die cut or Punched shape,

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

ATSM Challenge #81 - Anything Goes

Hello friends, hope this post finds each and every one of you healthy,  happy and in a good crafty space :o)  I am so excited to see that I have two new followers - yahoo! Welcome and thanks for adding my little blog.  Since this is my anniversary month (3 years) I'm planning to offer some blog candy for the first time.  So stay tuned as it will be announced soon (I'm so excited to share it with you!).

Our challenge for you this week at Addicted to Stamps and More! ATSM#81 is the ever popular ANYTHING GOES.  Dawn from LilyPink Scraps is our very special guest designer this week  - Welcome Dawn!  Please go visit her and say "hi".

Our wonderful sponsor for this week is....

My DT card this week uses one of our sponsors images called Little Bear Spring Bonnet  and it is just too cute for words - take a look please:

I haven't made a shabby chic/vintage style card in a while so I thought it would be fun to do so with this image.  I paper pieced her dress and hat.  Important lesson to remember when you are coloring with alcohol markers - color first then paper piece.  The DP I used is much more porous than the cardstock and I got a few areas of bleed over ink that I wasn't expecting.  Mistakes are sometimes part of the crafty process - right?  So I thought I'd pass that little tidbit of info on to you (I'll bet most of you knew that already didn't ya?).   The finished card is 5 1/2" square and will still fit nicely into a 6" envelope even with the lace peeping over the edge. I had a lot of fun with the distressing process on this card - I think that's why I like this style. 

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today, I hope you enjoyed this card! I'd encourage you to pop on over to the challenge blog and see what the rest of the DT ladies have made for your inspiration (just click here to get there). While you're at it, leave them a little love too - we LOVE to hear from you. :o)  Hope you will decide to play along this week with us - remember Anything Goes!

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Divas by Design - Vintage with Lace

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #179 (4CCC179) - Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays #192 - Birthday cards for a Special Woman, Using Pastel colors   

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

One Sketch - Two Cards - Two Different Looks: 52CCT February Sketch Challenge

Hello friends - happy weekend and happy February! A brand new month and some new challenges from 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  We also have some new DT members this month. So excited to have them!  Please go say "hello" to each of these lovely ladies.

The first week of the month for 52CCT is a sketch challenge and we have a fun one for you this week that has lots of possibilities for your creativity.  You can flip the sketch and use any shape for the oval. Just make sure we can still see the basic sketch in your creation.
As soon as I saw this sketch my brain went right to washi tape for the strips in the sketch.  I also had a couple extra die cut ornaments in silver foil that I thought might be a good substitute for the oval shape.

The only washi tape I had to go with this silver was a bit unconventional for the so I really had to think about how to make this work.  I decided to use the traditional A2 card size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") instead of square.

Here's what I came up with (a very non-traditional color combo):

I was happy with how it turned out, but then... I was shopping at Staples this afternoon and came across a wall display of all kinds of new washi tape - ooohhh heaven.  I had a terrible time deciding which two to narrow it down to but finally snatched up a silver and gold.  Here's the second, more traditional with lots of bling, using the silver washi tape and another silver foil die cut ornament: - take a look:

This card uses 3 different textures with the silver, there's the super shiny (ornament), the glittery (brads and snowflake) and the mat-finish (the washi tape and sentiment).  Kind of hard to photograph - but it's really lovely IRL.  This is my favorite of the two cards :o).  

I'm entering the first card (black/silver/green) in the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #179 Anything Goes and Crazy Egg (4CCC#179)

I'm entering the second card (blue/silver) in the following challenges:

Merry Monday #93 - Ornaments

Twisted Tuesday Challenges #68 - Gimme a "T-A-P-E" - Use washi tape and something that begins with a T, A, P or E.  My E is embossing. 

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Silver & Blue Christmas

and 

Festive Friday #24 (FFC24) - Photo Inspiration - Ornaments and glitter is what inspired me in the photo.

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today.  I sure hope that you will consider joining us this week at 52CCT. Please go visit my lovely DT teamies and see what they've made to share with and inspire you too.  

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