Damask Butterfly

 When I saw the sketch from Flutter By Wednesdays, I thought and thought and thought about how to make it work.  I just had problems with the inner panel.  But then I thought about making the top layer a flap and I loved the idea.  So, here it is.

Challenges:
Flutter By Wednesdays #237--sketch with butterfly or fairy

Just Add Ink #163--Just add a fun background
JUGS #186--photo inspiration (I chose the black and pink color scheme and Damask, of course!)

Celebrate the Occasion #110--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Damask Designs" damask image; Verve "Text Objects" sentiment
Dies: spellbinders circles and scalloped circles, large, Butterfly Corner dies (corner and butterfly); Verve "Charming Oval" die

Following the Star

This adorable image is called "Birth of a King" and I just love how it shows the snowfamily following the star to find the baby Jesus.  It's so cute, I just HAD to make another Christmas card.  I'm so excited that I got to use up a bunch of scraps that I've been saving for a couple years, 'cause they were just too pretty to throw away.  Sometimes, super layered cards can be hard (at least for me) since you have to coordinate all the papers and have enough different patterns to make it work.  But a bonus, is that you can piece together scraps that aren't big enough for anything else. I'll tell you a secret (don't tell anyone, ok?): the poinsettia layer is actually THREE small pieces that I was able to make look like one larger piece.  And the green dotted paper is actually TWO pieces.  You'd never know, would you?  So, there's my tip for you today.  If the middle part is going to be covered up, you don't have to use a continuous piece of paper.  Now, go out and use up those scraps!

Challenges:
Creative Inspirations #211--ribbon and pearls
Charisma Cardz #16--polka dots
Crimbo Crackers #40--anything goes as long as it is Christmas related
Winter Wonderland--photo inspiration (I used red and the scraps of poinsettia papers)

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #122--ribbons and bows
Cutie Pie Challenges #43--lots of layers
Squigglefly #17--Odd Man Out (use odd numbers--I have three snowman, three pearls, one ribbon)
Tammy's Scrapin Corner #60--lots of layers
Take Time for you #91--dots and stripes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly "Birth of a King" digi image
Papers: DCWV Christmas pack

Peace on Earth

 I know, I know, Spring has finally arrived and here I am posting another Christmas card!  I had to print out a digital image for another card and when I do that, I like to put several images on a page so I don't waste paper and because while I'm already opening digital images, I may as well do a couple more since it doesn't take all that much longer.  And I've been wanting to use this image, so that's why you're looking at a Christmas card.  I even decorated the inside after being inspired by a couple entries into the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long challenge this week.

Challenges:
Word Art Challenge #77--anything goes with an uplifting sentiment
Charisma Cardz #16--polka dots
Viva La Verve April week 5--sketch
Crimbo Crackers #40--anything goes (Christmas related)
Sister Act #4--anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #122--ribbons and bows
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes
Catered Crop--embossing (I used an embossing folder and gold embossing powder on the sentiment outside and the star inside)
Eureka Stamps #37--black and white
Desert Islands Challenge #52--pick at least 3 of the following (I used #1,2,3,4,8)

1. No Flowers

2. use Black or Red or Teal or a combo of all three

3. No markers

4. follow a sketch

5. use a birthday sentiment

6. use glitter/stickles

7. bling it up

8. go dimensional

9. Make is square, not rectangle

10.  use stripes and dots

Supplies:

Stamps: Eureka Stamps "Mary and Joseph Circle" digi image; Verve "Star of Wonder" sentiments and star

Dies/embossing folders: Spellbinders circles, large and ovals, large; Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder; Verve "Pennant Trim" die

You make me smile

Sometimes, you just need to have no occasion cards to add to your stash.  Specially if you still hand write (gasp!) notes to people.  And every once in a while, I still do that.  So, this one is going in my stash, though I do have a letter to write to a friend, and it might go in this card.

Challenges:
Inkspirational Challenges #17--sketch

Delightful Challenges--I appreciate you (who doesn't appreciate someone who makes them smile!?)
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #204--Queen for a day/fantasy/Bling it UP/land of make-believe (I went with bling with my purple rhinestones)
DRS Designs #67--pastels
Charisma Cardz #16--polka dots (on my flowers)
Stamping with Dragon--Spring has sprung
There She Goes Again #205--April Showers and May Flowers
Get Inky #3--Fabluous Floral
Go Fish #39--Purple

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Blue Skies" sentiment, "Joyful Blooms" flowers
Dies/punches: PTI "Turning a new leaf" die; SU! scalloped border punch

Santa

Good morning and happy Friday!!  Time for another challenge at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long, and it's one everybody loves: anything goes!!  That's right, anything you want as long as it is Christmas related.  Our awesome sponsor for this week is Di's Digital and there are going to be TWO lucky winners this week.  Each will receive a $10 gift certificate to the shop!!  How's that for incentive to play along?!

At our house, we don't celebrate Santa, we celebrate Jesus Christ as the true reason for Christmas.  Not that we don't acknowledge Santa, we just don't make him the focus.  But as I was thinking of this challenge and how I wanted to combine it with some others, I wondered if there were any digital images out there of Santa kneeling before the Baby Jesus.  I didn't have a whole lot of luck, but I did find this beautiful image that I ended up using on my card.  The brilliant blue sky gave me a bit of trouble for a while, but then finally ended up with this vintage-y looking card that I think works.
  I've seen a few of the projects from the other DT members, and they are beautiful!  So, hop on over to the CSAYL blog and check them out, then play along with us.  Just think of how much less stressful life will be when Christmastime rolls around and you already have a good head start on your card stash.

Challenges:
Sarah Hurley Challenges #79--projects with character (any character human or creature)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #121--red and green must be seen
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes
52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown #16--Santa
Sugar Creek Hollow #55--Baby Face (must be vintage/shabby chic style)
The Squirrel and The Fox #42--Furry Friends
Eureka Stamps #36--animal catwalk
Sparkles Christmas Challenge--Tag It
Holly Jolly Challenges--embossing with Ribbon (must be Christmas related)
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--Krafty Christmas

Supplies:
Stamps: Santa image; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment
Dies/embossing folders: spellbinders scalloped circles and circles, large and scalloped tags; cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Mustache

The current challenge over on The Lollipop Ladies' Blog is: Mustaches with the option of other facial hair.  Today is my day to post my project and I was at a total loss as to what to make.  Luckily for me, the mustache craze is taking over the world (and Pinterest)!  I decided to search for mustache printables and found a myriad of great ideas.  When I saw one that was for Father's Day, I knew I had found my inspiration.  Unfortunately, everything was designed to be printed as they were created and as I'm not that computer savy, I decided to try my hand at creating my own mustache.  So, I drew one, cut it out, traced it onto black cardstock, cut it out and added some black glitter for a bit of glamour.  And I think it came out quite well, if I do say so myself.

Here is the inspiration photo for the challenge:

And here is my interpretation:

Obviously, I went with the mustache and then also used the black and tan (though mine is definitely more kraft than sand) colors.  As an added bonus, my dad's favorite color is brown AND he has a mustache, so this one is probably going to be for him.  Come play along with us and show us what you can do with this inspiration photo.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve April Week 4--sketch
Catered Crop Challenges--Just Add Glitter
Sister Act #3--anything goes

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Happy Thoughts"
Dies/embossing folders: spellbinders oval, large die; Darice clock embossing folder.

Chickadee

 Happy Friday!  My three kiddos went off to stay with Grammie for a couple of days so I am enjoying some quiet time where I can do anything I want!!  Hope you get to enjoy yourself this weekend, too.  Since it is Friday it's time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week we are Celebrating Snow--use a snowflake image, embossing folder, paper, embellishment, or include snow in your project somehow; it's up to you.  Our wonderful sponsor is Fred She Said and the prize is a $10 gift certificate to the shop!

I got to use this gorgeous image Winter Chickadee and he is perfectly drawn!  I looked up images of chickadees to make sure I colored him correctly and this little guy looks just like his real life counterparts.  Made it easy to color properly. : )

Hop on over to the CSAYL blog to see all the details and the projects from the rest of the Design Team.  Then play along; we'd love to see your snowy creations (even if in real life we are ready for the spring to come!)

Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #120--Wonderful Wings

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown--dark blue, light blue, white

Christmas Card Challenge #20--Something with Wings

Merry Monday #58--sketch

Beat the Christmas Rush--any Christmas card

Supplies:

Stamps: Fred She Said "Winter Chickadee" digi; PTI "Guide Lines 2" background pattern; Verve "Merry and Bright" background pattern"

Dies/embossing folders: spellbinders scalloped circles and circles, large; cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder

Gift card #2

 In my last post, I showed the gift card holder I made for my sisters birthday, today I have a more masculine version that I made for my Dad who's birthday is also this month (my mother's is too for that matter, busy month!)

Challenges:
Seems A Little Sketchy #37--sketch
Eureka #35--for the boys
Timeless Tuesdays #216--frame it (I created a frame for the sentiment with a labels 4 die and an oval die)
Creative Inspirations #210--anything BUT a card
Southern Girls Challenges--buttons, badges or flair

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Joyful Blooms" sentiment; Clear Dollar Stamps "Calendar Additions" flourishes
Papers: DCWV
CS and ribbon: PTI Ripe avocado
Dies/punches: Spellbinders labels 4 and classic ovals, large; SU! corner rounder

Gift card holder

 When I asked my sister what she wanted for her birthday she said a gift card because she feels the need to go shopping with someone else's money. : )  Who doesn't?!  So, that's what I got her, a gift card.  But you know that just giving a gift card isn't super exciting; it has to be dressed up a bit.  I made this adorable gift card holder and I think it satisfies both of our desires.

 This picture shows it with the band removed and the picture below shows how it opens up and stands the gift card right up.  Unfortunately, I lost the tutorial for this holder and had to guess on the measurements.  I was a little short on the two panels that form the stand, but it still works.

 The last picture shows some shoe clips I made for her, too.  Have you seen these yet?  They are so gorgeous and actually pretty easy to make.  A few feathers, a little hot glue and clip on earrings.  Perfect!  She's going to love them, but I'm not sure yet if I could pull them off or not.  What do you think, would you wear them?

Challenges:
Viva La Verve April week 3--sketch
Flutter By Wednesdays #235--anything goes as long as it has a butterfly or fairy

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Joyful Blooms"
Paper: DCWV
Punches/dies: Spellbinders floral doily motifs die and ovals, large; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; fiskars apron border punch; SU! corner rounder

Golden Butterflies

 It's bright and sunny this morning and I am hoping it will turn into a nice warm day!  I'm sure spring is coming, but sometimes it seems like it is taking forever to arrive.  For this card, I attempted the water stamping technique from Technique Tuesday and while I am sure it can be a stunning technique I had such a hard time with it!  I think I didn't use the correct inks the first couple times (yes, I had to try about 5 times before actually getting it to work a little) and then I used some that were too light and it didn't show up very well in some places.  In real life, you can see that it worked, but it's hard to tell in the picture.  The picture below shows it better.  I used a damask stamp if that helps you to find it.

Challenges:
Technique Time Tuesday--water stamping
Fab n Funky #166-spring colors
Inkspirational Challenges #15--inspiration photo

DRS Designs--one stitch at a time (use stitching--I used my sewing machine to sew around the edge of the main panel
Charisma Cardz #15--tags
The Sweet Stop Sketches #206--sketch
Tuesday Alchemy--in the garden + gold (I gold embossed the butterflies and sentiment, used a gold eyelet and gold thread to tie on the tag)

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Damask Designs" sentiment and Damask image on background; Rubbernecker Stamps--butterflies and branches
Dies: Spellbinders scalloped tags

Love, true love . . .

 I didn't realize until I typing the title of this post how perfect the word "love" is for this card.  I will explain in a minute and maybe you will figure it out before then.  Two challenges this week are to create a card inspired by your favorite movie or song.  It's kind of hard to narrow it down as there are some really enjoyable movies out there.  But as I was thinking, I came to the conclusion that (yes, I know it's cheesy) "Princess Bride" is probably my favorite movie.  There are so many great one-liners in it and it's so ridiculous, but you've got to love it (or hate it, but one or the other).  I mean, really, what's not to love: pirates, rhyming giants, R.O.U.S.s, swordfighting . . . and love, true love.  I've wanted to use this image for quite a while and this was the perfect occasion because the movie ends by talking about the 10 most perfect kisses in the history of the world and how this one between Princess Buttercup and Wesley surpasses them all.  Awwww . . .  So, there you have the story of this card.  If you haven't seen Princess Bride, I apologize (and you should see it) and if you have, then you know what I'm talking about.

I sponged around the image, which was no easy task as my printer ink tends to smear, to create the look of a sunset (more romantic that way, right?) and added a few glitter pen dots to be like the first evening stars appearing in the sky.  Then I found this paper that I have had for ever that is actually a picture of a sunset (or possibly a sunrise) and I think it gives a really fun look.  I added the clear rhinestones to sort of mimic the sparkle of the stars.

Challenges:
Cutie Pie Challenges #41--favorite film
The Squirrel and the Fox #41--inspired by a song or movie
{Pin}spirational Challenges #52--inspiration photo

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #201--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Stamping Dragon Designs "Kissing Couple" digi; Verve "Text Objects" sentiment
Papers: DCWV
ribbon is recycled from a card someone sent to me

Cardinal

 Hello, it's Friday!  That means another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long.  This week it is: something that would be on Santa's coat--it could be anything (white, red, black, trim, buckle, etc).  I sort of forgot what the challenge was while I was making the card, but luckily I used red, white, and black plus some "faux" snow in the shaker window.  Santa would definitely have snow on his coat, right?

Our sponsor this week is Annabelle Stamps and the prize is a $10 gift certificate to the store.

The second picture shows the glitter snow in the shaker a bit better.  So, how does Santa's coat inspire you?  Hop over to the CSAYL blog for all the details and the projects from the other DT members.

Challenges:
Christmas Card Challenges #19--vintage (I have a hard time with vintage, but these papers are vintage-y)
Merry Monday #57--sketch
Timeless Tuesday #215--use something from around the house (I used a piece of acetate that I had saved from stamp packaging)
CRAFT challenge #202--Christmas in April
Delightful Challenges--Round up (use circles)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #119--must use the word Christmas on your card front
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes
Beat The Christmas Rush--Any Christmas card

Supplies:
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps "Christmas Cardinal" digi; Verve "Merry and Bright" sentiment (heat embossed with black embossing powder)
Paper: DCWV Christmas pack
Dies: spellbinders scalloped circles and circles, large

A cute thank you

Since my oldest daughter turned 7 three weeks ago, I have been working on "thank you" cards.  This one is going to be for my parents because they gave her a cute stuffed animal giraffe a few years ago and he always has to "talk" on the phone to my mother when we call her.

Challenges:
JUGS #183--sketch

Pike's Playground--anything goes as long as you use a Doodle Dragon image
Creative Inspiration #209--anything goes with the option of hearts
Sweet n' Sassy Digis #99--cute and cuddly animals

Supplies:
Stamps: Doddle Dragon freebie giraffe digi (I wrote in "thank you" on the banner)
Papers: Basic Grey
Dies: Verve "Pennant Trim" die

Toys

Hello, everyone.  It's my turn to post my card for the current Lollipop Ladies' Challenge: 

Lego Lollies with the option of toys.

Here's the inspiration photo.

 

How cute is candy shaped like legos??  I don't have anything that has to do with legos (and with three girls not too likely to, either) so I took my inspiration from the red color of the candy.  And I did use the option of toys.  I'm thinking this might make a great Christmas card for a child.  It took forever to make, but I think I like the end result even though there were many questionable moments along the way.  

Hop on over to the Lollipop Ladies Blog to get the full details (there is a prize to be won but only if 7 people play along--so get your friends to play, too).  I'd love to see your take on the challenge.

Challenges:

V's Sweet Ideas #10--anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #119--must have the word "Christmas" on the front

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything Christmas goes

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown--sketch

Supplies:

Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Chuggin' Along"; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment (embossed in gold embossing powder"

Papers: DCWV Christmas pack

Dies: Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" (I used the punched out stars to decorate the train car)

Birthday

Clean and Simple, that definitely seems to be the easiest way to create masculine cards.  This one is for my husbands great-uncle.  He really loves old, classic cars.  Unfortunately, I only have two car images; so I went with this one.

Challenges:
Retro Sketches #58--sketch
There She Goes #202--yellow, blue and a neutral (I chose white although I do have a little bit of tan and black on the car)

Supplies:
Stamps: Trimmgym "Convertible"; Verve "Happy Thoughts"

Pop-up Technique

 Sweet n' Sassy Stamps is having a release week party (you can read about it on their blog) and one of the challenges is to use the pop-up presents technique.  I have never even seen this before but figured I would give it a go.  It was fairly simple and really adds a fun surprise on the inside of a card.

The above picture shows the inside of the card and the front of the card before it was adhered so you can see them both together.

This picture doesn't show the dimension as well, but it shows the sentiments I combined better than the previous picture.

Challenges:
Sister Act Card Challenge #1--anything goes (always anything goes)
Seize the Birthday #12--sketch, must be for a female (oops! missed the deadline for this one)
Card Mania Challenges #18--punches/diecuts

Supplies:
Stamps: Rubbernecker Stamps "Garden Sentiments" (front of card); Verve "Joyful Blooms" (flowers); PTI "Big Birthday Wishes" and "Damask Designs" (sentiments inside card)
Paper: DCWV
Punches/dies: Fiskars scalloped border punch; spellbinders oval and scalloped oval, large dies
pearls; white embossing powder

One layer

I love the clean and simple style, but sometimes one-layer cards can be really challenging!  But I do kind of like the simple elegance of this focal stamp and I think it can stand on it's own.

Challenges:
Sweet n' Sassy April Release Virtual Stamp Day challenge #1--one layer card with buttons/and or twine
Just Add Ink #160--inspiration photo (I went with the fall-ish colors: brown and orange and the rustic feel of twine)
 

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI "Through the Trees" sentiment; Martha Stewart "Save the Date"

Trimming the tree

Yikes!  It's Friday again already!  And it's April, too!  Boy, does time fly.  Anyway, it's time for another challenge from Christmas Stampin' All Year Long: List to Santa (use your 3 favorite products: cardstock, dies, etc.)  I have so many favorites, it's hard to narrow them down to three.  But here are my top picks: Stamps (though I am getting more proficient with digis, I still prefer actually stamping), die cutting machine/dies, and ribbon.  The Design Team was also asked to tell the three items we would put on a new {Paper} crafter's list.  I would say buy a big assortment of colored cardstock, an all occasions sentiment stamp set (super versatile and can go with any image sets you pick up later on), and ribbon (it's such a versatile embellishment and almost any card is better for having ribbon on it, I think)

Our Sponsor for this week is the super-talented Melissa from Meljen's Designs

and the prize will be 4 non-colored images of the winner's choice!  How awesome is that?

 I got to play around with this image: Bitty Christmas tree.  Aren't those bears cute?!  And I created a little gift card holder.  It's super easy because you use an A-2 sized envelope, fold it in half, adhere a slightly large piece of cardstock to the back and decorate the front half.  You can see a picture of the inside down below (sorry for the brightness).  It's a bit difficult to see, but the left side is where the gift card goes.  I cut off that half of the envelope flap and the gift card slides right in.  Now that I think about it, I should have taken a picture with a gift card in it, so you could actually see how it works.  Note to self for next time.

 On the snowbank and the snow on the tree I used a snow marker (you color it on and when it is dry, or mostly dry if you are impatient like me, heat it with a heat gun and it puffs up all nice) to create a snow-like texture.

Now, it's your turn.  Head over to the CSAYL blog for the full details and more inspiration from the DT.  Then, play along.  I'd love to see what is on your "favorites" list and maybe what you would recommend to a new {paper} crafter.

Challenges:

Creative Craft World: Beat the Christmas Rush--anything goes as long as it is a Christmas Card (runs for the whole month)

Crimbo Crackers #38--No papers (no patterned papers were harmed in my card)

Sweet Stop Sketches #204--sketch

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #118--based on a carol or song (mine would be "O, Tanenbaum" or "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra--anything goes as long as it is Christmas related

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown--anything BUT a card, tag or ATC

Supplies:

Stamps: Meljen's Designs "Bitty Christmas Tree" digi; Verve "Merry and Bright" sentiments

Dies: spellbinders "Address Book" die

SU! ribbon

rhinestones and snow marker; A2 envelope

April Showers . . .

 . . . bring May flowers and in the case of my card--blue skies.  A cheery little card for someone who might be in need of some day brightening.

Challenges:
Eureka Stamps #33--stripes and/or circles
Flat Friends #7--stitching real or faux (I actually pulled out my sewing machine for real stitches)
Timeless Tuesday #214--layer two ribbons
Celebrate the Occasion #106--April Showers (must use an umbrella)
Tuesday Morning Sketches #192--sketch
Fab'n Funky #165--April Showers
Flutter byWednesdays #234--flowers + butterfly/fairy (my flowers are tiny--under the little pearls on the left side)
Inkspirational Challenges #14--pink, banana, slate (it looked bluish to me, so I went with a slate-y blue)
Word Art Wednesday #74--anything goes with an uplifting sentiment

Supplies:
Stamps: Emma Canning "Under the Weather" digi; Verve "Blue Skies" sentiment
Dies/punches: spellbinders ovals and scalloped ovals, large; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; flower hand punch

Birthday Wishes

 April and September are big birthday months for our family (and friends, too): there are at least four this month.  I don't usually make square cards, but since I will be sending this one to my sister with her gift and I thought the sketch looked better as a square rather than a rectangle, so I gave it a go.  And it just so happens that lilacs are my sister's favorite flowers, so this little Cocoa image was just perfect for her.

I dressed up the centers of the flowers with a little bit of liquid pearls.

Challenges:
Sweet N' Sassy Digi Challenge #98--think spring
Creative Inspirations #208--let's get krafty (must use kraft paper)
Sweet Sketch Wednesdays #200--sketch


Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet N' Sassy "Lilac Cocoa" digi; Verve "Joyful Blooms" sentiment
Spellbinders charm die