Just for fun

It's been far too long since I have made a Christmas card, way too long since I used anything from my bits and pieces stash, and quite a while since I have made a card just for fun.  So, as I had a little time this afternoon, I remedied all three of those issues with this card:

I started with the panel that the image is stamped on; it was in my bits and pieces stash.  I stamped the image and then stamped the musical score and inked the edges with some antique linen distress ink.  It seemed a little plain still, so I stamped some sprigs around the edges.  Done with that, I die cut a kraft panel with a stitched rectangle die, stamped it with a background stamps and inked the edges with the same Antique Linen distress ink.  Added the ribbon and stamped the sentiment; done!  Well, done after I added a few green rhinestones for fun.

Supplies:
Stamps: Verve "Beyond Measure" image, sprigs and sentiment; JustRite Stampers background stamp
Dies: Spellbinders "Butterfly Corner" main image panel; MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin'--anything goes with the optional twist: monochromatic
Creative Craft Cottage--no patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday #385--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
As You Like It--flowers or ribbon (I definitely prefer ribbon.  It can be used in so many ways and when used like this, it doesn't add any bulk.)
Crimbo Crackers #183--anything goes
Crafty Catz #459--anything goes with the optional twist: add a sentiment
Atlantic Hearts #314--sketch

Double Trouble #27--Anything Everything Something (Thing #1: free for all, Thing #3: enter with one of the partners: Atlantic Hearts)
Die Cuttin' Divas #418--anything goes
Crafty Sentiments--lace and/or ribbon
Merry Little Christmas Challenge #10--anything goes
Crafter's Cafe #218--make your own background and/ or use dies and punches

Sending Smiles

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week is a Designer's Choice Challenge and Shirley has chosen: One Layer card (you can use embellishments if you want)

And here is the card I created:

Now, I have to confess that one-layer cards are not my thing!  I'm not into really fancy cards, but I do like using layers, so this one was a bit of a challenge.  But, I am really happy how this one turned out.  I started out by stamping the border stamp, colored it, stamped it again on some scrap paper, fussy cut that one out and used it as a mask so I could create the plaid section on the top.  I used the same markers to create the plaid as I did to color the image.  Then I stamped the sentiment and finished everything off with some gray enamel dots.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Sending Smiles" and "Blueberry Strand"

Challenges:
Double Trouble #27--Thing #1: free for all
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes
Addicted to CAS #158--contrast (the contrast of patterned top to white bottom)
Cardz TV #88--anything goes
Alphabet Challenge--C is for CAS
CAS(E) This Sketch #319--sketch

Word Art Wednesday #384--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Your Next Stamp #112--CAS

Foxy Birthday

Happy May!  It's time for a new challenge on the Love to Scrap Challenge Blog.  This month the challenge is Anything Goes and we are sponsored by the fabulous CAS-ual Fridays.

Here is the card I created for your inspiration:

I used the adorable "Bushy Tailed" stamp set.  There is this adorable fox and also a super cute raccoon, the banner and a ton of little sentiments to fit in the banner.  I stamped the fox and colored it and fussy cut it out.  I wanted him to be holding the banner, so I stamped his arms a second time, fussy cut them out and adhered them on top of the banner; so cute!!
Thanks for stopping by!!  Head on over to the LTSCB blog for the full details and to see what the rest of the team has created.  Then, get inky and play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.

Supplies:
Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays "Bushy Tailed"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 12" stitched circle

Challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #225--Happy Birthday
Creative Fingers #162--anything goes
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #104--anything goes
Try Stampin' on Tuesday #405--sketch with optional twist: anything goes

Crafty Creations #389--anything goes
Creative Moments #160--anything goes with the optional twist: animals
Time Out Challenge #134--playful
Crafty Catz #459--anything goes with the optional twist: add a sentiment
Cardz TV #88--anything goes
A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #351--anything goes with snippets (the papers were both scraps and all the white were cut from scraps)
Die Cuttin' Divas #418--anything goes

Hero Arts Celebration

Hero Arts is celebrating their 45th anniversary this year!  Wow, pretty amazing!  As part of their celebration, they are having a show and tell link-up.  They want their customers to share their first Hero Arts stamps and memories.  This is my very first Hero Arts stamp: Old French Writing.

It was actually one of the very first stamps I ever bought; I've probably had it at least 15 years and it is still one of my favorite background stamps.  My only wish is that is was larger, so it would cover more at one time.  The font is so elegant and it I just love it!  Here is one of the the most recent projects I created using it:

I stamped it in on the background before dry embossing the panel.

Anniversary Wishes

Happy Friday!!  It's time for another challenge from Jo's Scrap Shack.  As always, we are now an Anything Goes challenge and our sponsor for this week is Little Blue Button Stamps. 

Here is the card I created for your inspiration:

My husband's aunt and uncle are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this weekend.  I wanted something soft and elegant and not too girly.  I think the blue and gray are just enough contrast to the pink to keep it from being too feminine.  So many great details here: mulberry paper, stitched dies, pearls and a bit of ribbon that was in my bits and pieces stash.

What do you need to do to enter?

Challenge Rules

1.  Please post a direct link to your blog post that includes your challenge entry project, using the linky tool on Jo's blog.

2.  Be sure to include a link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering your project into.

3.  THREE entries per person are allowed for each challenge and you must post a separate blog post for each entry.

4.  For all entries-NO BACK LINKS ACCEPTED--the date on your blog post should be dated between the start date and the end date for the challenge you are entering, in order to be eligible for the challenge prizes.

5.  You may link up to other challenges but be sure to link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering.

*All entries that do not meet the challenge requirements WILL NOT be eligible for the top 3, any sponsor wins or any random wins by Jo.

All random wins will only be mailed within the US and Canada only.

You have until May 3rd by 12:00AM  (eastern, USA) time to link up.

All winners will be announced during the week of May 6th.

Have fun and we look forward to seeing what you create.

Supplies:

Stamps: Little Blue Button Stamps "Magnolia" digi; Papertrey Ink "Damask Designs" sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle; MFT "Stitched Scalloped Trio"; PTI border die

Dies:

Moving Along With the Times #96--florals

As You Like It--Flowers or Ribbon and Why? (I love using flower images on my cards, but for embellishments I prefer ribbon.  It can be used on cards for pretty much any occasion, comes in unlimited colors and can add embellishing without adding bulk.  Plus, it's much cheaper than purchased flowers and much easier than making your own!)

Crafty Creations #389--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #427--anything goes

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Tuesday Morning Sketches #500--sketch

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #104--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #217--Easter and/or Florals

Pile It On #153--lots of layers

Crafty Calendar--1 ribbon and 2 or more patterned papers

Creative Sketchy Girls #35--flowers

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Pattie's Creations #157--flowers

Unicorn Challenge #42--spots and/or stripes (one of the blue papers has gray polka dots and the ribbon is dotted)

Peaceful water

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week it is a fan favorite: Anything Goes!! And here is the card I created for your inspiration:

This is my attempt at a water colored scene.  For my first attempt, I'm relatively pleased.  The last two years when my mother-in-law and I have attended the Stamp And Scrapbook Expo, we've watched the water color demonstration at the ART Impressions Stamps booth.  They make it look so easy and fun!!  Since then, I've watched a couple of their Water color Wednesday videos and was inspired to try my hand at it.  I used some water based markers for the images (just cheap ones that I've had for a really long time) and some gelatos for the water and sky.
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the House blog to see the rest of the DT's creations and then get inky and play along with us.  And if you need any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your ENTIRE order coupon code over in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Grass Border", "Birdbath", "Cattails", "Calm Water", "Random Dots" (for the little purple flowers), "Sandcastle" (for the group of birds), and "Waterlily"
Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle

Challenges:
Your Next Stamp #112--CAS
Creative Fingers #162--anything goes
Double Trouble #26--Splish Splash (I created a water scene using watercolor techniques)
Stamplorations Theme and Sketch--stamps & watercolors

Creative Craft Cottage #117--no patterned paper
Love To Craft Challenge Blog #33--anything goes
Die Cut Divas--water
Crafting with an Attitude #50--anything goes
Crafts Galore #62--anything goes
Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Daffodil Bear

It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is: Spring Flowers
And here is my card for your inspiration:

This sweet card is going to be my birthday card for my mother.  As her birthday just passed a couple days ago, this little bear with his daffodil is perfect!  Daffodils are starting to show their pretty faces here in the Northeast.  I added a fancy die cut, some mulberry paper, a few pearls and two pieces of ribbon that were in my bits and pieces stash.  Oh yeah, the patterned paper has been in my stash forever!!  I really thought I was going to use yellow patterned paper but it was just too much of a contrast with the dark green ribbons.  I think I ended up liking the green better anyway, it feels very fresh and springy.

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stams: Di's Digi Stamps "Daffodil Bear" digi

Dies: Spellbinders "Filigree Delight"

Challenges:
MFT #433--sketch

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--spring mood board (I was inspired by all the fresh green and the yellow flowers in the upper right picture)

Penny's Challenge #426--anything goes
Die Cuttin' Divas #416--Animal Cruelty Awareness
Crafter's Cafe #217--Easter and/or Florals
Use Your Stuff #355--Easter/spring
Simon Says Stamp Monday--beautiful blooms
Pink Gem Challenge--anything goes
Cardz TV #87--anything goes
Moving Along with the Times #95--that spring feeling
Time Out Challenge #133--2 or more embellishments with the optional twist: one layer (I did not use the optional twist)
Creative Moments #166--anything goes with the optional twist: Easter or spring
Brown Sugar #289--spring or fall
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #23--anything goes
Pile it On #153--lots of layers
Three Amigos #25--spring
Dare 2B Artzy--animals
Power Poppy Creative Confetti--think spring