Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Flutter By Challenge


Time for another fun Flutter By Wednesday Challenge!
This week's challenge is to have 3 or more layers on your card--the base does NOT count) and remembert your butterfly or fairy!!

My card starts with a green card as the base. I've added a layer of green print DP (very hard to tell from my photo, but there is a pattern on it). I then layered two pieces of pink with green card. My image is a sweet fairy from A Day for Daisies, and I've layered it with the green also. My flowers are from a variety of sources, and my leaves are punched with a Martha Stewart punch using two shades of green. I've added pearls in two corners.

I am working on trying to get a new light box. Lately my photos have not been  coming out well and the colors have been "off." My old method was working well for quite some time, but now seems to be wonky each time I try to get a sample photo of my pieces. I hope to get this corrected soon. In the mean time, I hope my work still provides some inspiration. If not, then do hop over to the Flutter By Wednesday blog and have a peek at the lovely cards my team mates have made to inspire you.

This is a short entry this morning. Am headed out the door for the day but wanted to get this posted before I left. Have a good day yourself.

Challenges:
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/challenge-122-dies-or-punches.html - Dies or Punches (Leaves)
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ - Anything with Wings
http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/vickie-challenges.html - Anything Goes
http://cardmaniachallenges.blogspot.com/ - Fairies or Butterflies

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Sketch 187


Good morning dear followers. Today is Tuesday which means another sketch for you from Tuesday Morning Sketches. We have a fun and easy sketch and a FABULOUS sponsor!  Sweet n Sassy Stamps is in the house.  

The prize is 3 digital stamps, winner's choice
.



I have to admit I struggled some with this sketch -- not because it isn't a great sketch because it is. However, I have problems with scrolls and swirls. I have swirl stamps and swirly type dies, but I'm not comfortable with them to use them very often. I fussed and fussed with this trying various ideas. Finally I was successful when I turned the sketch so that the swirl was at the side rather than at the bottom. 

I apologize for the photo. The lighting has distorted the colors even after trying several different pictures and photo editing techniques, this was the best picture I could get. So, this is what we will work with today.

The card base is a mustard colored textured card from DCWV. The swirl is a clear stamp by Inkadinkado (97632, Sketchy Flourishes). I stamped it using Garden Green ink by CTMH. The green card and DP that I used for my square piece are from my scrap bag. The white oval is cut using one of my Spellbinder small oval dies. I stamped the swirl image onto white card and then cut a portion of it with the oval (it is from the part of the swirl that is hidden behind the square).

I punched three butterflies from two Martha Stewart punches in a melon color (from my scrap bag), placing the largest onto the white oval and the two small ones onto the stamped swirl at the side. I used rhinestone gems on the butterfly bodies. Lastly, the "with thanks" sentiment is a clear stamp I received in a free set when I purchased Cardmaking Magazine, a British magazine.

Now, please take a few minutes and run over to our Tuesday Morning Sketches blog -- and be prepared to be totally inspired by the wonderful DT cards shown there. 

A Stitch in Time




This week our challenge theme is:

STITCHING!
and a scripture, or uplifting verse or positive words of healing, encouragement, or support

Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by.
Life is like that - one stitch at a time taken patiently
and the pattern will come out all right like the embroidery.
 ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~

Not a scripture share for your this week, but a piece of wisdom  that is encouraging, and comforting. As always, you are free to use whatever scripture, or verse/passage that will suit your creation in our theme.


We are pleased to welcome our sponsor for this week, Robyn's Fetish! Our randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images from  Robyn's Fetish ... and we thank our sponsor for the generous prize.

I have used the image "School Girl" for my card, and my verse reads, "Even a child shall be known by his doings (Proverbs)" I started with a piece of pink card for my base. The DP are all coordinating papers from the same pad by K&Company. This is a wonderful pad of double sided papers, so the background piece and the pink flowered piece are actually the front and back of the same sheet as are the green piece and the plaid piece. How neat is that? Only had to cut into two pieces but all those different patterns/looks. After lightly tacking the pink, the ribbon, the plaid and the green to the background pink and brown DP, I then sewed all around with my sewing machine (you can ever so slightly see it if you enlarge the image). The bow, the flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts) and the sentiment finish off this little card. 

The inside will be words of praise following the lines of the outside sentiment and will read, "We are so very blessed by all you have done."

Stop by Twist of Faith this week and see the cards that the other DT members have made to inspire you. Then pull out your sewing machine or needle and thread and join us in this week's challenge.

Challenges:
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/  - Anything goes
http://www.gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - Ribbons and bows
http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/layer-it-up.html - Layers
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ - Use a Digi
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/challenge-148-use-ribbon-or-twine.html - Ribbon or Twine
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/ - Flowers
http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/  Add a Bow

Friday, February 22, 2013

Teddy Bears On Parade

This week at Card Crafter's Circle, our theme is "Teddy Bears on Parade."
Our sponsor is STAMP ART DESIGN BY KATHRYNE! These images are sure to delight you! Kathryne creates images covering so many themes, and they are so very cute too! You can find SADK designs here in the Whimsy Shop. Our random prize winner will receive a selection of 4 images, of their choice - what a wonderful treat.

I am running behind this week, so am tardy getting my little card posted and my blog post written up, so without further ado, let me present my card (smile). I used Kathryne's  Bonnet Bear with Large Flower. Isn't she a cutie? If you send Easter cards, this little darling would be "perfect" wearing her Easter bonnet with the large flower. I printed my image onto X-Press It brand card and colored the bear, her hat and her "slip" with Copic markers. I then decided to paper piece her dress, so printed a second image onto the blue dotty paper, cut the dress only and glued it over my printed image. I did use a Toner gray 1 pen to emphasize the shadows in the folds of her skirt, and a red pen to color in the little heart.  I then fussy cut the entire image.

My card base is white card with a panel of stripy DP (My Mind's Eye). I've created a panel of blue card, punching both sides with a Martha Stewart punch. I added a multi-colored ribbon and bow over the blue and a white paper doily (Wilton). I used foam dots to adhere the little teddy so that she is standing out against the doily and not flush. Lastly, I added my sentiment (which I inked around) and three white pearls.

We do hope you will play along with us this week in the challenge at Card Crafter's Circle. A reminder though...to be eligible for prizes and badges, your entry must follow our rules, and please post the DIRECT link to your actual card entry, not your blog.

Challenges:
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com.au/ - Teddy Bears
http://foreverfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/ - Anything Goes
http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/digi-makeover-challenge-76.html - Anything Goes
http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/stamp-challenge.html - Anything Goes
http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/ - dies and punches
http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.com/ - Make it cute


Wednesday, February 20, 2013


Welcome to another Flutter By Wednesday Challenge! This week's challenge is a fabulous sketch by Flutter By Team member, Kathy! Remember to add your butterfly or fairy!!

For my card, I used a fantastic new image from Sugar Nellie. Sugar Nellie has released a set of little girls images that are just absolutely beautiful. This one is 135746-Suzie. Isn't she lovely? I have colored her up using Copic markers on X-Press It brand card (seems to be my current go-to combination). I started with a white card base, and added a colorful layer of DP from a free pack I received. The middle scalloped piece is also from that packet. I cut a decorative circle from blue card using a LifeStyle Crafts circle doily (DC0253 from Dutch Paper Crafts), and my flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I added punched leaves from green card. My two butterflies are Martha Stewart punches. The blue one at the top was punched from a piece of card that had printing on it, adding a little more texture, and the yellow butterfly was double punched for dimension. The blue ribbon on the side is from Offray.

Do flutter over to the blog and have a look at the other beautiful cards the DT has made this week for your inspiration. Then with our little sketch (Kathy's done half the work for you), create your own wonderful card and let us see what you've done by posting it in this week's challenge.

Challenges Entered:
Bearly Mine - 2E, SIO - #74 Lace/Ribbon/Twine
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything Goes
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ - Make it Girly
http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup - Girly Time
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ - birthday


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Colors of Spring


This week is a color challenge. We challenge you to create with:


SPRING COLOURS

and a scripture, or uplifting verse or positive words of healing, encouragement, or support

"The earth causes plants to grow, and a garden causes the seeds planted in it to grow. In the same way the Lord God will make goodness and praise come from all the nations."
                                               ~ Isaiah 61:11 NCV ~
 
We are so happy to have From the Heart Stamps joining us with their sponsorship for you! You may remember them as Designed 2 Delight.
 
My card for this challenge is another CAS (for me) card using the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches (see my previous blog entry). I have started with a white card base, added a layer of green card and then a lively multi-colored stripy paper. I then made a "lacy" strip by punching both sides of the green paper using a Martha Stewart punch. I added a bit of yellow grosgrain ribbon across the lacy panel. I cut my colored image into a square and then used a LifeStyle Crafts lacy square die on which to adhere my image. I've popped the image up off the card using foam dots. I then computer generated my verse and cut it with a small oval Spellbinder die. I inked around the oval using Tim Holtz distressing ink in a honey color and topped it off with one pearl on each side.
 
We look forward to seeing your creations on our SPRING COLOURS theme. Do take a minute to run over to the Twist of Faith blog and see the lovely cards the DT have made this week for your inspiration -- they will all make you feel warm and sunny!

Tuesday Morning Sketches #186


Good Morning!  Happy Tuesday.  We have another great sketch this week and a wonderful sponsor! This week is sponsored by our very own Debbie who is offering some delicious blog candy that includes an adorable digi set by Imagine That Digi Stamps.

As a side note, we were supposed to be sponsored by Daydream Designs, but unfortunately the store had to close.  I mention this only because there are no more caring people in this world than stampers.  Please send your happy thoughts to Diane and her family.

Now let's take a look at the sketch we're playing with...

 
 
For my card, I have used a cute bunny digital stamp by Meljen Designs. I've colored it up with Copic markers on X-Press It brand card. I then cut the image into a square and matted it with a bit of melon colored card. Using the same melon card as my base, I cut a piece of stripy DP, scalloping the one edge with a Fiskar's border punch. I then used a piece of green ribbon that I've had for ages. Don't the little flowers on the ribbon match perfectly, and look so spring like? I think I've mentioned, only once or twice, that I'm very much ready for spring (grin)! Lastly, I added three small yellow buttons.
 
Do take a few minutes and hop over to the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog site to have a look at the beautiful inspiration cards my team mates have made. There is also a picture of the wonderful prize you will be playing for. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at all the goodies in the package.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Using Red



This week at Card Crafter's Circle we invite you to:

PAINT THE TOWN RED!

... with a RED colour challenge! We ask that your creations be predominantly red, or all red! We are excited to introduce a new sponsor this week, Digi Darlas Designs!!  

One randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images from  Digi Darlas Designs! ... thank you for such a generous prize!

My little card uses Darla's little girl with balloons. This image would look equally at home on a birthday card, but since I made my assignment prior to this week, I went with a Valentine theme. I've used DPs from a pad of paper by Recollections. My card base is white with a layer of red card and then the DP papers. My doily is made using a Marianne Die. I colored my image with Copic markers except for her little dotty dress which I paper pieced using a bit of scrap from my scrap bag. I fussy cut the image and placed it over the white doily using foam dots for dimension. I then added the flowers (Spare Parts from Hobby Lobby) and the leaves (Recollections from Michael's Crafts). To finish it off, I cut out my words from a piece of paper by We R Memory Keepers.

Even though Valentine's Day was yesterday, red is such a lovely color with which to work (it is also my favorite color). We would like to see what you do with this vibrant color -- will you combine it with white only; with black and white; with green or gold or even pink? Let your imagination soar and then show us what you can do! Go over to Card Crafter's Circle and enter for your chance to win those 5 wonderful images from Digi Darla. Card Crafter's Circle is also having a DT call, so if you are interested in being on a wonderful design team, take a few minutes to look at the requirements. This is a wonderful team with a great "leader" so if you've been wanting to try your hand at a design team, this may be your chance.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Flutter By Wednesday #227

Welcome to another Flutter By Wednesday Challenge! I'm so happy you fluttered in!!

This week our challenge is a popular one throughout blogland--Hearts!! Be sure to have a butterfly or fairy on your creations too!!

This week my card is a CASE of a card made by Ann Schach. I know, as a designer, I am supposed to create my own designs and cards, but I have to confess that my  3-days per week part time job with Rome/Floyd County Parks and Recreation has temporarily turned into 5-days per week with longer hours due to personnel shortage and a hiring freeze, so my crafting time has been sorely limited. Caught in that time crunch, I saw Ann's card and ran with it. I did add my touches and made a few changes, but the basic concept is hers!

I have started with a white card base and added a layer of black with another layer of white. I then used Life Style Craft heart embossing folder and embossed a 3 x 3" piece of white which I also matted with the black. The little heart is a Joy Craft die. It is an open heart, and I hand cut a backing for it from red card. The butterflies are made using two Martha Stewart punches. I then added small pearls for the butterfly's body, and even smaller pearls (Recollections) to every other "hole" around the heart.

I hope I have inspired you enough to get into your craft room and try your hand at a card. Only one more day until Valentine's Day, so if you haven't created a card for your loved one/ones, this would be a quick one for you to try. There is room on the right side for a sentiment if you want to add one (I left one off because I like the crisp, clean look of this card and will put my sentiment inside). We'd so like it if you join us this week by sharing your art work with us at Flutter by Wednesday. Just remember to add a butterfly or fairy to your card!


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Sketch #185




 Happy Tuesday.  We have another great sketch for you by Laura and Bugaboo is sponsoring.  What a wonderful combination.  But we're going to put the cherry on top with a Judged Challenge twist.... Lovey Dovey.  This doesn't necessarily have to be for Valentine's Day.  You can get really creative on how to tell someone you love them.

But it is the Judged Challenge, so to be considered for the winner spot, you must use the sketch and the twist. Here is the sketch:


I have used Bugaboo's Ava/Deacon Love image which I colored using Copic markers. The DPs are from We R Memory Keepers Love Struck 6 x 6" pad. I have used this pad and used it, and I still have lots of papers left! My glittery hearts are from a package that I bought last year for my granddaughter to use  on her Valentine candy bags for her classmates. As I've mentioned before, she is my bling-bling girly-girl! The sentiment is also from the package I bought for Claire. The ribbon is from my stash (Offray), and rather than tying a bow this time, I just tied a simple knot. I've matted everything with either white or red card.

I hope you will join us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches. Laura's sketch this week is a great one for those special "love notes" for the special people in your life.

Challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/search/label/challenge - Affairs of the Heart

Friday, February 8, 2013

Love is in the Air

Hello! Today is another challenge day at Card Crafter's Circle, and like so many of our fellow challenge blogs, we are looking towards that day of love, Valentine's Day. Our challenge this week is LOVE IS IN THE AIR! We ask that your creations be themed on LOVE or VALENTINES. 

This week we are honored to have two sponsors, Robyn's Fetish and Floppy Latte Designs! So we have two prize winners this challenge!  One randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images from  Robyn's Fetish ... and another randomly drawn winner will receive a prize of $10 to spend at the Floppy Latte Designs store.  Thank you to both of our sponsors for their generous prizes!

I have used Randy Valentine's Boy by Robyn's Fetish for my card today. I started by cutting a white card base using LifeStyle Craft's scalloped square die, giving me the lacy border (see previous blog entry). I then cut a piece of red gingham DP matted with solid red card which I placed on top of the white card. I added a red and white ribbon/bow and then a layer of white embossed card (LifeStyle Crafts embossing folder) matted with red. I colored little Randy with Copic markers and then paper pieced his shirt and socks. I then fussy cut him and adhered him with foam dots to the embossed panel. I stamped a sentiment using Inkadinkado stamps and CTMH cranberry ink.

Challenges:
http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com/ - Love is in the Air
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.co.uk/ - Hearts and Dots
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ - Valentines
http://stamp-n-doodle.blogspot.co.uk/ - Love is in the Air
http://stampinroyalty.blogspot.com/ - Valentine/Love
http://celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com/ - Valentine with Ribbon
http://cachallenge.blogspot.com/ - Hearts
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - Hearts

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Flutter By Wednesday 226


It's time for another fluttery challenge so let's get right to it!

This week we have a sponsor~ StampFairy!



StampFairy generously donated some digi's for the Flutter By Team to use so be sure to check out the inspiration on the Flutter By blog. There is also a prize of $10 to spend at the StampFairy store!!

This week is an open challenge which means that anything goes as long as you include a butterfly or a fairy somewhere on your creation.

My image is one of the freebies that you will find on StampFairy's blog, Isn't it just the sweetest little bunny, and doesn't it look so spring like holding that big flower? I'm definitely ready for spring (have I mentioned that before??), so this little image made me feel happy as I colored it up.

My little card has a lot going on with it. First, I cut the card base using a LifeStyle Crafts die (Nesting Doily Squares, L-CC-003). I layered a bright, sunny DP on top as my background. I then used one of my Spellbinder circle dies to cut out my little bunny image. Under the image circle, I cut a lacy strip using a Martha Stewart border punch and I added a piece of yellow grosgrain ribbon. The three small butterflies are from a MS hand punch, and I made my flower and leaves using punches. The little rhinestones (on flower and butterflies) are by Recollections.

Challenges:
http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.com/ - Make Your Own Embellishment
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://lejdesignschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything Goes
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes - Use Yellow

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tuesday Morning Sketches 184

Good Morning TMS friends!  I am so happy that you're here.  We have another great sketch for you all to play with and I hope this one will inspire you as much as last week's.  This week we're sponsored by Freckled Fawn.  And once again, Doe has a wonderful prize to give to one lucky winner.
Let's get to this week's challenge.  Here's our sketch...

My card for this week is featuring a new image that I've absolutely fallen in love with. The image is from a new release by a little Scottish company called Sugar Nellie (thank goodness for the internet). There are 5-6 of these little girls in the new release, and I think I own all of them (grin)! They are beautiful and such a joy to color. Anyway, this image is 135746-Amber (which happens to be my second daughter's name). After coloring my image with Copic markers on X-Press It card, I used a 3" circle punch and punched out the image.

My card is a white base topped with blue card. The background DP and the pink checked DP are from the same piece of double sided paper by Piggy Tales. My circle lace die is by Marianne Craftables (CR1201). My sentiment is from a clear stamp set by Inkadinkado (97636, Love Letters).

Now its your turn. Hop on over to Tuesday Morning Sketches and have a look at the beauties the design team have created, then make your own wonderful creation for this week's challenge.

Challenges:
http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/anything-goes.html - Anything Goes
http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything Goes
http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - Gingham
http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ - Friendship
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes

Twist of Faith Challenge #23

This week  our challenge for you is:


Your Favourite Scripture/ Inspirational Words

(your creation must include a scripture, inspirational verse or positive words of healing, encouragement, or support)

We are happy to introduce a new sponsor this week at Twist of Faith ... Digi Darla's Designs! Our random prize winner will receive their choice of  FIVE images! DigiDarla is the brain child of Kim Eskola and her daughter Emilea, and I know you will find their images wonderful.

Since this week's challenge is scripture/inspirational words, I have used one of Digi Darla's word images. I don't have a "favorite" scripture as they ALL speak to me. It always amazes me that no matter what my need, I can find the right scripture/words (not necessarily the ones I "want" but the ones I "need") in the Bible. The lovely verse from Romans that I used is a wonderful "motto" for all times. It isn't always easy, but if we can adopt those three principles into our life, our days will be so much easier.

I used a white base card and have kept the design simple, keeping the focus on my verse. I cut a white strip which I embossed using a The Paper Studio embossing folder. I matted the embossed piece with blue card. I then cut a frame using Spellbinder's Fleur de Les squares die from the blue card and put my digital image on it. I made the roses using a 5-petal flower hand punch, and the leaves are from Spellbinder's rolled roses and leaves die. My three pink pearls are from Michael's Crafts.

Please take a few minutes and go over to the Twist of Faith blog and have a look at the cards the other design team members have created for your inspiration. They are all lovely!