Sweet Sixteen

 Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Favorite Colors

Here is my card for your inspiration:

Can you tell what my favorite color is?  Ha, ha, yes, blue!!  It also happens to be the favorite color of my middle daughter.  She and her twin sister turned 16 this past week and this is the card I created for her.  (You will get to see the card for the younger twin later in the month.)  Since they were turning 16, I wanted something a little classy and more grown up than usual (though this twin did ask where her monkey was since I usually make her cards with monkeys on them).  I chose this elegant little lady from All Dressed Up.  I really love paper piecing and thought it might be easier than coloring.  I was wrong, but I still really like how it turned out.  I chose this image because my daughter quite often wears her hair in a bun.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: All Dressed Up "Best Frocks" digi; Verve "Beautiful You" sentiment; PaperTrey Ink "The Sweet Life" flourish

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Ovals, large"; PaperTrey Ink fancy border die and "By the Numbers" border die; MFT "Formal Flourish"

Challenges:

Double Trouble #179--Delicious Layers (Thing #1: more than three layers)

Cards Galore #129--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #224--anything goes

Cutie Pie #200--Special Occasions (a 16th birthday is very special!!)

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Cheerful Sketches #656--sketch

Sheepski Designs #92--anything goes

{Pin}spirational #319--numbers

Penny's Challenge #584--anything goes

Crafty Catz #682--anything goes with the optional twist: use ribbon/twine

A Gem of A Challenge--anything goes

The Paper Shelter #618--spots and/or stripes

Be Merry

 Hello, everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Winter.  I am using an image from our fabulous sponsors: Polkadoodles.

 Here is my card:

I was given this adorable little fox image to use and he is sooooooo cute!!  I thought he would look perfect with some paper piecing, so I printed him out on several different patterned papers, fussy cut them out and adhered everything together (after coloring up the rest of the image, of course).  I added some micro fine glitter to the snowflake to give it some sparkle.

My brother-in-law was in London a couple weeks ago and he brought me back a beautiful paper pack.  It has several sheet of paper that have this gorgeous gold foiling in it.  You can see it more in the photo below.  I die cut some corner pieces out of gold card stock to go along with the foiled pattern.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Polkadoodles "Snowflake Fall Autumn Fox" digi; Paper Trey Ink sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "Floral Ovals"; Verve "Mini Classy Labels"; MFT fancy corner die

Challenges:

Penny's Challenge #584--anything goes

Double D--warm & cozy

Crafty Catz #682--anything goes with the optional twist: add some ribbon/twine

Make My Monday #238--wild animals

Double Trouble #179--Lotsa Delicious Layers (thing #1: 3 or more layers)

Cards Galore #129--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #224--anything goes with hand-colored image

Unicorn #104--Christmas and/or winter

Die Cut Divas--any holiday of the year

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #92--anything goes

Creative Inspirations--Christmas animals

Craft Rockets #120--Christmas and/or winter

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #289--sketch

Aud Sentiments #319--glitter AND/OR Christmas

Inkspirational #328--layer it

Merry Christmas

 A week or so ago, I created a card using an upcycled image from a commercial Christmas card.  You can see that card here.  I still had a piece of the image left over and it was already cut to the perfect shape and size for the sketch I used for this card.

Such a sweet image and I think the felt snowflakes pull out the snow in the image perfectly!

Supplies:

Stamps: PaperTrey Ink sentiment

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 12"

Challenges:

Unicorn #104--Christmas AND/OR winter

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Aud Sentiments #317--glitter AND/OR winter

Peace On Earth #75--anything goes with optional mood board (I used the color scheme)

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmaker #41--sketch

Colorful Options--red

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #166--snowflakes

Cards Galore Challenge #129--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #584--anything goes

Crafty Catz #682--anything goes with the optional twist: add some ribbon/twine

Thankful

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Thankful or Grateful

Here is my card for your inspiration:

I bought this beautiful die set on Amazon a couple of years ago.  The leaves are just fabulous and I love the font on the sentiment.  It was the perfect choice to create a CAS "thankful" card.  I started by inking up a dotted background stamp with a pale blue ink and a blender brush to get a nice soft stamping.  Then I die cut the two leaves and inked the edges of the orange leaf with some red ink.  I die cut the sentiment once with the gold and two more times with white cardstock and layered them all together for some dimension.  I finished everything off with some really, really old orange and yellow gems.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Better Together" dotted stamp

Dies: unbranded leaf and sentiment set

Challenges:

Fab n' Funky Challenges #603--Autumn/Halloween

Penny's Challenge #583--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

CRAFT #738--anything goes

ART Impressions Stamps #380--fall challenge

Creative Knockouts #533--Halloween or Fall

Krafty Chicks #740--anything goes

Crafty Catz #681--anything goes with the optional twist: use dies or punches

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Comfort and Joy

Happy November 1st!!  It's time for a new challenge on the Critter Crazy Challenge blog!  As always, it is a month long challenge: Anything Goes as long as you feature a creature.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

I'm trying to work on recycling some commercial Christmas cards that I received last year.  This horse image was one of those cards.  I cut it down and then did the spotlight technique with die cutting to draw attention to this beautiful horses.  One of the star border die cuts was sitting on my desk since it didn't make it onto a previous card, so I die cut two more to go along with it.  I stamped the sentiment several times in black ink so it would stand out on the image.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hop on over to the Critter Crazy blog and check out the details and the rest of the projects from the Design Team.

Supplies:

Stamps: Flourishes "Country Time Christmas" sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; MFT western border die

Challenges:

Penny's Challenge #583--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

CRAFT #738--anything goes

Krafty Chicks #740--anything goes

Crafty Catz #681--anything goes with the optional twist: use dies or punches

Jingle Belles--While Shepherds Watched their Flocks (use animals)

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

ABC Christmas--U is for unusual Christmas colors, V is for velvet (I went with unusual Christmas colors

Creative Sketchy Girls #96--sketch

Birthday Wishes

 Hello, everyone!  It's time for the mid-month reminder for the challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Monochromatic.  I am using an image from one of our fabulous sponsors: Mirtillamente.  Our other sponsor for the month is Pattie's Creations.

 Here is my card:

I chose this beautiful "Rose Mandala" image and decided to go with t a pink color scheme.  I did add a neutral gray to keep it from being to boring.  I actually used pink nuvo drops on all the little dots around the image, but when they dried on the black printing, they changed into gray.  They must have soaked up the color, which was kind of disappointing, but I also kind of like it!  They should have been pink like the ones flanking the sentiment.  What do you think?  Do you like the gray, or wish they had stayed pink?

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Mirtillamente "Rose Mandala" digi; Verve "Better Together" sentiment

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges: 

Penny's Challenges #583--anything goes

CRAFT #738--anything goes

Crafty Catz #681--anything goes with the optional twist: use dies or punches

A Gem of A Challenge--anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms #22--anything goes with the optional mood board

Noel

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Add Embellishments

Here is my card for your inspiration:

It's getting chilly, so I'm in the mood for Christmas!!  Actually, my cats knocked over a box of stuff on one of my work stations a while ago and I just got around to picking the things up this week.  Most of the stuff was Christmas cards that were waiting to be recycled and there were also these metals letter stickers (which I have had so long that the adhesive has dried up!)

Anyway, I picked a card with this pretty little cardinal couple and decided to create a card around them.  After picking my papers and matting them with a blue cardstock that pulled out the blue in the scarf, I added some metal letters with glue and then added my embellishments.  I consider the letters as embellishments since they add a great bit of texture and were something I had to glue on.  I also added a bunch of (previously die cut) holographic snowflakes and little dots (that are kind of like enamel dots, but flat) to add interest and I finished it off with a die cut snowflake border that someone had given me years and years ago after I commented how pretty their's was.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Dies: PaperTrey Ink "Snow Globe" snowflakes and dots; the snowflake border is either from Memory Box or Whimsy Stamps (again, it was a gift)

Challenges:

ABC Christmas--U is for unusual Christmas colors and V is for velvet (I chose unusual Christmas colors of blue and grey)

Die Cut Divas--anything goes for World Card Making Day

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Christmas with the Cuties--feature a creature

Triple B--anything goes with the optional twist: crimson (my cardinals are crimson colored)

Little Patch of Crafty Friends #239--anything goes

Fab n' Funky #602--Fur or feathers (feathers for this one)

Word Art Wednesday #670--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Creative Knockouts #532--use your favorite embellishments (I love to embellish using die cuts, specially small ones.  They add interest but no bulk, so perfect for mailing)

Tuesday Morning Sketches #778--sketch (I turned the sketch on it's side)

 

Mothers

Hello, everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Monochromatic.  I am using an image from one of our fabulous sponsors: Pattie's Creations.

 Here is my card:

I created this card for my mother-in-law's birthday which was earlier this week.  Her favorite color is purple, so the monochromatic color scheme was an easy choice!  I colored my image and fussy cut it out and then picked some patterned paper to coordinate.  I layered up some different purple ovals and the white sentiment oval.  I finished everything off with some dotted crystal dots.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Pattie's Creations "Gerber Daisy in Vase" and Flourishes "Jewish Proverbs"

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Ovals, large" and scalloped oval (I can't remember the name)

Challenges:

Cards Galore #128--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #223--anything goes

Die Cut Divas--anything goes for World Cardmaking Day

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #91--anything goes

Creative Fingers #286--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #239--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday--patterned paper

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #598--sketch

Word Art Wednesday 3669--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Penny's Challenge #582--anything goes

70 amazing years

Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Inspired by a Song (please let us know which song you were inspired by)

Here is my card for your inspiration (I was inspired by the Happy Birthday song):

A family member is celebrating his 70th birthday this weekend and that deserves a special card!  I created a gatefold card, which is actually a little difficult to photograph as it doesn't want to stay flat!!  But I think it adds a fun twist.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: PaperTrey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes" both sentiments

Dies: PaperTrey Ink "By the Numbers" border die; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; MFT "Blueprints 13" banner; Verve larger 3 stars; Stamps of Life smaller stars

Challenges:

Creative Creases #92--anything goes with a fun fold

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #597--sketch

Double Trouble #176--Something, Anything, Everything (Thing #1: anything goes)

As You Like It--What is your favorite card shape and why?  (I almost always create A2 rectangle cards.  Why?  Well, you can get two card bases from one sheet of 8x11 card stock.  And A2 envelopes are inexpensive and easy to find.)

Cards Galore #128--anything goes

{Pin}spirational Challenge #318--shapes (I used rectangles, circles, and stars)

Snippets Playground #490--anything goes using snippets (other than the card base and the blue star paper, everything was cut from scraps.)

Moo

Happy October 1st!!  It's time for a new challenge on the Critter Crazy Challenge blog!  As always, it is a month long challenge: Anything Goes as long as you feature a creature.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

I took my favorite cow and turned him into a Christmas cow!!  Actually, I have a set of punny Christmas sentiments and I found this one that says "Merry Christmas to Moo!" and I knew I had to pair it with this adorable rolly polly cow!!  Ooo . . . I just love him!!  Other than figuring out those wonky paper strips, this was a pretty quick and easy card.  I stamped, colored and fussy cut the cow and winter hat, die cut 3 of the snowflakes and layered them together for dimension and finished everything off with a tiny strip of gold cardstock and several clear rhinestones.  Before adhering the snowflake to the card, I spritzed on some white shimmer which you can see better in the photo below.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hop on over to the Critter Crazy blog and check out the details and the rest of the projects from the Design Team.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "The Whole Herd" cow; Pretty Pink Posh "Penguin Pals" hat; Cardz TV "Christmas Critter Captions" sentiment

Dies: PaperTrey Ink "Fancy Flakes"

Challenges:

ABC Christmas--S is for stencils, T is for Traditional Colors (I chose traditional colors)

Pattie's Creations #222--anything goes

Creative Fingers #285--anything goes

Sketch Saturday #760--sketch

Fab n funky Challenges #601--add gems or pearls (I added clear rhinestones)

Inkspirational Challenge #325--headwear

Penny's Challenge #581--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Art Impressions #388--Farm fresh (farm elements)

Krafty Chicks #735--all occasions

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Simon Says stamp Monday--Christmas or winter card

Girlz Creative #92--anything (Christmas) goes

Happy, Happy Birthday

Hello, everyone!  It's time for the mid-month reminder for the challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Interactive.  I am using an image from our fabulous sponsor: Hetty Clare.

 Here is my card:

I'm not sure this card is technically "Interactive", but it does have a fun fold that the recipient can interact with, so I'm hoping that is close enough!!  I have a fun Stamps of Life die set that cuts the card base, the panels, and several different types of stars to fit on the star panel.  The hard part is just figuring out how to dress it up!!  I added a die cut "happy" to the star center in a silver card stock for some shine.  The I stamped "Happy Birthday" down the side of the left hand panel.  I colored and fussy cut a little birthday penguin and added him to the card.  He is actually part of a trio of penguins in one image, but the other two had winter scarves and sweaters and they didn't fit with the rest of my card.  There really isn't anywhere to write a message because of the card shape, so I die cut a panel to go on the back side of the card and added a stamped sentiment on to that.  Later, I wrote the message before giving it to the recipient.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Hetty Clare "Penguin Party" digi--remember I only used one of the penguins; Papertrey Ink "World's Greatest" front sentiment and "Big Birthday Wishes" back sentiment

Dies: Stamps of Life star flip die set; MFT "Happy Trio"

Challenges: 

Cards Galore #127--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #222--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #312--anything goes with the optional twist: include an animal

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

Craft Rocket #118--dots AND/OR stripes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #238--anything goes

Crafty Catz #678--anything goes

Creative Creases #91--fun fold

Creative Fingers #285--anything goes

Alphabet Challenge--M is for masculine

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Birthday balloon

I created this birthday card for my husband.  I used a die set I bought from My Favorite Things several months ago.  This is the very first outing for it; it is perfect for quick and easy, and fun birthday cards!

I started by die cutting the base panel with a stitched, curved corner die, then I sponged on clouds with a stencil.  I die cut the balloon and tied on a twine string.  Then I die cut the "birthday" part of the sentiment and added it along the bottom and tied the opposite end of the twine around the "y".  I used a silver card stock to die cut the "happy" and some small stars to go along with a larger star I already had sitting on my desk.

Supplies:

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 26" and Stamps of Life stars

Taylored Expressions "Set the Scene: Clouds" stencil

Challenges:

Sheepski Designs #90--anything goes

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

Paper Funday #67--anything goes with the optional twist: create your own background

{Pin}spirational Challenge #317--stitching (stitched rectangle)

NBUS--never before used schtuff

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #238--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--make your own background

Creative Fingers #285--anything goes

Alphabet Challenge--M is for masculine

 

Just a note

 Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Colors of Fall

Here is my card for your inspiration:

I love leaves and I love leaf dies, so this challenge was the perfect opportunity to pull out some of those dies and create the first fall(ish) card of the season.  This is actually a birthday card for my brother-in-law.  The inside says "it's your birthday" to finish off the sentiment.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Take Note"

Dies: Verve "Sprightly Sprigs" and "Flag It"; Spellbinders border die; Papertrey Ink large leaf; Unbranded die set small leaf

Challenges:

Cards Galore #127--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #238--anything goes

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #595--sketch

Penny's Challenge #580--anything goes

Crafty Catz #678--anything goes

Double D--fall leaves

Appreciation

 Hello, everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Interactive.  I am using an image from our fabulous sponsor: Hetty Clare

 Here is my card:

I created a fun slider card using a die set from MFT.  When you pull the tab at the top, the center section folds up to reveal a place for a hidden sentiment.

The hidden sentiment says "You make everyday a happy one".  It's such a fun sentiment, specially when it is a surprise like this.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Hetty Clare "Pony Flower"; MFT "Something for Everything" front sentiment; Verve "Better Together" hidden sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Ovals, large" and "Scalloped Ovals, Large"; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched banner and "Slider Surprise"; the stars came from the negative of an old MFT star border die

Challenges:

Shopping Our Stash #529--just because

Word Art Wednesday 664--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Creative Knockouts #529--anything goes

Creative Creases #90--anything goes with a fun fold

Di's Digi Stamps--fancy folds

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #237--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #222--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #90--anything goes

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

Love Those Pretty Papers--anything goes with the optional twist: fall papers (I did not use the optional twist)

Thanks

 Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: How Does Your Garden Grow

Here is my card for your inspiration:

My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary back at the end of July.  Our kids threw us a big party so I have a number of Thank You cards to make and send out.  I wanted something that was relatively easy to mass produce but was still pretty and elegant.  So, I used some watercolor markers on this beautiful flower image and stamped it onto watercolor paper.  Then I just used a fine paintbrush with a tiny bit of water to create the watercolor look.  It is a little time consuming, because I have to switch back and forth with the markers, but it really creates a beautiful card!  I die cut the panels with a stitched rectangle die and stamped the sentiment.  I die cut a second stitched rectangle to mat the image and mounted it all on a white card base.  Then I added some clear drops and done!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Beautiful Flowers" (seems to be no longer for sale) and "Something for Everything"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" smaller stitched rectangle and "Blueprints 12" larger rectangle

Challenges:

Penny's Challenge #579--anything goes

The Paper Shelter #608--add a flower

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--stamp it

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #237--anything goes

Cards Galore #127--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #90--anything goes

We Love Stamping--handcolored image OR Anything Goes

{Pin}spirational #317--stitching

Krafty Chicks #732--stamps

Triple B--anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms #20--anything goes

Be Merry

 Happy  September 1st!  It's time for a new challenge on the Critter Crazy Challenge blog!  As always, it is a month long challenge: Anything Goes as long as you feature a creature.  Here is my project for your inspiration:

I created a cute little tag using an adorable polar bear from a stamp set I had yet to ink up.  I will be using him a lot for Christmas projects, I think.  This one used a lot of bits and pieces.  I had the strips of patterned paper already on my desk, I just had to trim them to length.  The little strip of silver paper was also on the desk as well as the holographic snowflakes.  I stamped the polar bear on white card stock and the scarf on a bit of a coordinating patterned paper.  Then I stamped the sentiment onto the patterned paper strips.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hop on over to the Critter Crazy blog and check out the details and the rest of the projects from the Design Team.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT Stamps "North Pole Pals"; Papertrey Ink sentiment

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" tag die; Papertrey Ink "Snowglobe" snowflake dies

Challenges:

Inkspirational Challenge #323--CAS with the optional twist: animal

Penny's Challenge #579--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

C.R.A.F.T. #731--Christmas

Creative Knockouts #529--anything goes

Krafty Chicks #731--anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #237--anything goes

Snippets Playground #488--anything goes with snippets

Moving Along With the Times #170--not a card

Christmas Joy

 Hello, everyone!  It's time for the mid-month reminder for the challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Patterned Paper.  I am using an image from our fabulous sponsor: Beccy's Place.

 Here is my card:

I chose this pear image and figured I was going to have a really hard time coloring them as I wasn't sure how to achieve the right color combo for a pear.  But I have to say that it turned out really well (at least in my opinion)!  Probably I didn't use the correct colors for this type of pear, but my favorites are D'Anjous and that's the color I went for.  I took three patterned papers and cut them into 1/2 in. strips and used them to create the background.  For a little fun, I used the "outside the box" technique which allows some of the image to remain outside the outer edge of the die cut you use.  I also let part of the image hang off the right hand edge of the card itself.  It just adds a fun look.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Beccy's Place "Pears and Mistletoe" digi image; Verve "Beyond Measure" sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "Classic Circles, Large"

Challenges: 

Pattie's Creations #221--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #89--anything goes

{Pin}spirational Challenge #316--die cuts

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers #48--sketch

Creative Fingers #283--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #236--anything goes

C.R.A.F.T. #730--anything goes OR back to school

As You Like It--favorite coloring medium and why (my favorite medium is Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and here's why: they are much less expensive than Copics and I love how you are able to blend the colors/shades together.  And I just love the bright, rich color you get with alcohol markers)

Krafty Chicks #730--all occasions (Christmas)

Jingle Belles--an old-fashioned holiday (these papers have a vintage feel to me)

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

City Lights

 Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Anything Goes!!

Here is my card for your inspiration:

My brother-in-law has lived in NY City for the last several years.  When I discovered this die set in my stash, I thought it would make the perfect birthday card for him.  I started with a white piece of cardstock and inked it up to resemble a sunset sky starting with yellow, to pink, purple, dark blue and ending with black.  Then I die cut the top die cut layer out of silver cardstock and the base layer out of black card stock.  I poked out some of the window pieces and backed the black piece with yellow cardstock so it looks like some of the lights are still on in the buildings.  Then I adhered everything together and stamped a simple sentiment to allow the scene to shine!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Something for Everything" sentiment

Dies: Altenew "Layered Cityscape A & B"

Challenges:

Cards Galore--anything goes

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #89--anything goes

{Pin}spirational Challenge #316--die cuts

NBUS #65--never before used schtuff (first outing for these cityscape dies)

Cupcake Inspiration #600--Happy Birthday

The Paper Shelter--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #578--anything goes

Creative Fingers #283--anything goes

Make My Monday #232--something metallic (silver cardstock)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #236--anything goes

Cardz 4 Guyz #354--sunrise or sunset

C.R.A.F.T. #730--anything goes/back to school

Art Impressions #385--Keep Calm and Celebrate On

Krafty Chicks #730--all occasions

Christmas Joy

 Hello, everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from the Creative Moments Challenge blog.  The theme is: Patterned Papers.  I am using an image from our fabulous sponsor: Baccy's Place.

 Here is my card:

I saw this sentiment image and figured it would be perfect for paper piecing.  So, I printed it out and then printed it out again on patterned paper, cut out the letters and adhered it in place.  Then I picked out 3 other patterned papers in the same pack and used them to create the rest of the card.  I had a snowflake die cut from a holographic paper sitting on my desk and thought it would go perfectly.  I die cut a few more and since that same die cut a lot of tiny circles, I used them to sprinkle around kind of like enamel dots.  It adds so much shine in real life, you can see some of it in the picture below.

You have all month to play along.  So, get inky and link up your creation; I can't wait to see what you create!

Supplies:

Stamps: Beccy's Place "Christmas Joy" digi

Dies: Memory Box "Lindeman Snowflake"; MFT "Sweet Snowflakes"; Papertrey Ink "Snowglobe"

Challenges:

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #235--anything goes

Cards Galore Challenge--anything goes

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Creatalicious #279--anything goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 #284--sketch

{Pin}spirational Challenge #316--die cuts

Paper Shelter--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #577--anything goes

Krafty Chicks #728--Christmas

Creative Fingers #283--anything goes

Friendship

 Happy Friday!!!  It's time for a new challenge from the Cut It Up Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is: Thinking of You

Here is my card for your inspiration:

I created this card for the pastor of our church and his wife.  They unexpectedly had to leave our church so he could care for his father who has an aggressive form of dementia.  It is a sad time for all of us.  A few weeks before they left, we held a celebration picnic to wish them well and send them off with love.  I gave them this card at this event.  I paper pieced the sails on the boat making sure I was able to get one of the anchors from a sheet of patterned paper in the center of the larger one.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the Cut It Up blog for the full details of the challenge and to see what the rest of the Design Team has created. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Verve "Text Objects"

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle

Challenges:

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #235--anything goes

Cards Galore--anything goes

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Sheepski Designs #89--anything goes

Creative Inspiration--summer fun

Creatalicious #279--anything goes

Love Those Pretty Papers--anything goes with the optional twist: summertime

Cardz 4 Guyz #353--camping or outdoor activities

Word Art Wednesday #660--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

The Paper Shelter--anything goes

Lil' Red Wagon #768--make it masculine

Somebunny

Happy August 1st!!  It's time for a new challenge on the Critter Crazy Challenge blog!  As always, it is a month long challenge: Anything Goes as long as you feature a creature.  Here is my card for your inspiration:

Confession:  I have a whole, entire, large box of crafty items that I have never used and I've had them for probably 3 years (most of them anyway).  I've been thinking that I should just pull items out and use them instead of reaching for the things I use all the time.  This cute little bunny from CAS-ual Fridays was in that box and it was time to pull him out and get him inky!!  I stenciled a puffy, cloud sky for him to float in, added a bright, warm sunshine and a fun sentiment.  Then I finished it all off with some bright, sunny enamel dots (using up that package, finally!)

Thanks for stopping by!  Hop on over to the Critter Crazy blog and check out the details and the rest of the projects from the Design Team.

Supplies:

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays "Some Bunny"

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle

Stencil: Taylored Expressions "Set the Scene: Clouds"

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday--4-legged friends

Make My Monday #231--Colouring mediums (I used alcohol markers)

Shopping Our Stash #527--Up, Up, and Away (use balloons)

The Paper Shelter--anything goes summer challenge

Penny's Challenge #577--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Crafty Catz #677--anything goes with the optional twist: use hot colors (I did not use hot colors)

Creative Fingers #282--anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

The Cutie Pie Challenge #196--Beginning with "B" (I have bunny and balloon)

Crafter's Cafe #310--anything goes with the optional twist: include some balloons

Creative Inspirations--anything goes

Creatalicious #279--anything goes

Paper Funday #67--anything goes with optional twist: critter crazy