French Chic

This is one of those cards that just kept evolving as I was creating and I LOVE how it turned out.  It is for my husband's grandfather's wife (yeah, don't get lost on that one!) for her birthday.  I actually picked out this image with her in mind quite a while ago and just got around to turning it into a card.

I used a Viva La Verve sketch and used the layer of cheesecloth (which I had left over from cooking a turkey last week, yum!) as one of the panel layers.  It gives a great subtle texture and a lot of interest.

Tip for Top Tip Tuesday: cut a die twice and then piece it together to fit another panel as I did with the black "frame" behind my image panel.  You don't even really notice and now you can have it to fit a different size than intended.

 And here is the sentiment on the inside:

Challenges:

The Paper Nest Dolls #4--anything goes

East Wind Challenge #29--fibre-licious (my cheescloth and recycled lace)

Brown Sugar Challenge #143--anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge #103--anything goes

Crafty Catz #276--things with wings (rooster)

Viva La Verve April week 4--sketch

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #77--use some lace

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps #277--black & white

Make It Monday #210--use vellum to soften patterns ( used vellum on my main panel behind the chickenwire)

Eureka Stamps #138--add some bling

{Pin}spirational Challenge #199--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the banners and the birthday theme)

Cuttlebug Mania--we love to stamp (Everything is stamped on my card except the weathervane--no patterned paper used on this one)

Loves Rubber Stamps #149--use at least 2 dies (I used 4)

Retro Rubber #13--anything goes (I think I've had the Damask Designs Stamp set since 2009 and the script stamp even longer than that)

Top Tip Tuesday--duo challenge (my duo is black and white) see my tip above

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI "Damask Designs" damask pattern on front and Happy Birthday inside, "Big Birthday Wishes" sentiment inside; Hero Arts French Script stamp and Musical Score background stamp; Stitchy Bear "Barn Top"

Dies: MFT "Chicken Wire" and "Blueprints 13" stitched panel; Verve "Pennant Trim"; Spellbinders "Fleur Di Lis Squares"

Get Well Soon

Happy Monday!  It's time for another challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog and this time it's super easy: Anything Goes!  I know how much everyone loves those kind of challenges.

Here are the three fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

Dr. Digi's House of Stamps

Kenny K Downloads

The Paper Shelter

I got to play with this adorable image from The Paper Shelter "Teddy Bear with Flower" and here is my card using him:

 Oooo . . . isn't he so cute!!!  One of the woman in our church is going to have knee replacement surgery next month, so I used this cutie to make a card for her.  I mean, really, wouldn't he just brighten up your day?!  Here's a close up of this cutie:

 

Here is my tip for Top Tip Tuesday:  To create a bit of dimension under the main panel, I cut a piece of think cardboard slightly smaller than the rectangle and adhered it to the back of the panel and then to the card.  It lifts up the panel, just enough without adding a lot of height and it was so much easier than cutting a bunch of foam tape, not to mention less expensive!

Challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper
Dragons Lair--Add an animal
The Paper Nest Dolls #4--anything goes
Card Mania Challenge #67--flowers
A Gem of a Challenge #142--spring is in the air
Digi Sketch Challenge--"F" is for flowers

{Pin}spirational Challenge #138--anything goes
Cuttin'  & Stampin' #12--cute critters
Top Tip Tuesday--3 of something (3 pearls and 3 colors of card stock)--see my tip above
Creative Craft Cottage #39--use die cuts
Fan-tastic Tuesday #81--use some pearls
Word Art Wednesday #179--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Crafter's Cafe #112--animal antics
Sister Act Card Challenge #102--anything goes
Di's Digis--include an animal
Fussy & Fancy #137--Springtime Flowers
Wags 'n Whiskers #152--flowers
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #76--die or punch

Supplies:
Stamps: The Paper Shelter "Teddy Bear with flower" digi; Verve sentiment (sorry, can't remember what set it is from  "Small Phrases" maybe?)
Dies: Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics; Verve "Sprightly Sprigs" and "Flag It!"

Cupcake Explosion

I've been eyeing the cards-in-a-box all over blog land, but have been rather intimidated by them.  But I finally made the plunge and it was FUN!!  I followed this tutorial and the construction of it was so easy!  Sorry about the pictures.  My camera died and I had to go with plan B and I was in a hurry and didn't even think about finding better lighting.  Arg . . .brain freeze.

So, how can you not love a card filled with cupcakes and balloons?!  But to make it even more fabulous I made the front flap into a shaker.  So fun!!

And since there isn't any place inside the card for a sentiment, I stamped it onto the back panel.

This was so much fun; I definitely will be trying this again.

Challenges:

V's Sweet Ideas #33--anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper

Sister Act Card Challenge #101--anything goes

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes

Craftin' Desert Divas--Shake it Up!

{Pin}spirational Challenge #138--anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown #240--All Clear (I used a piece of acetate for my shaker element)

Top Tip Tuesday--3 of something (I have 3 cupcakes, and 3 balloons)

Creative Craft Cottage #37--use die cuts

Word Art Wednesday #179--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Crafting By Designs--shaped card (I hope this counts, it's a rectangle when folded up, but the real card part is definitely shaped)

Crafty Creations #287--seeing spots

Supplies:

Stamps PTI "Baker's Dozen"; MFT "Delicious Birthday" sentiments

Dies: PTI "Baker's Dozen" and "Heart 2 Heart #2" balloons; Spellbinders "Classic standards circles, large"; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" stars in shaker element

Holiday Hello

Hi, Everyone!  It's time for our mid-month inspiration for Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, we are a month long anything goes (as long as it is Christmas related) challenge.  Our Sponsor is THE fabulous Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice.  Here is my inspiration for you:

I just love this sweet little snowman.  He's so cute and the hat and scarf are perfect for paper piecing.  Love it!  The plaid paper was in my scraps pile.  All I had to do was trim off about 1/2 inch from one end.  The paper for the hat and scarf was also in that pile.  So, two scrap pieces used up; love it when that happens.  

TIP: You can use your dies for embossing only!  Use your die with an embossing pad as I did with the snowflakes on the red layer.  It doesn't cut, it just embosses the paper.

Now it's your turn to get a jump start on your Christmas cards and come play along with us.  Can't wait to see what you create.

Challenges:

Cards Galore--make a card

Your Next Stamp #11--sketch

Creative Craft Cottage #37--use die cuts

Sister Act Card Challenge #101--anything goes

Crafty Catz #274--two or more patterned papers

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps--anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #224--add some texture (my red card stock is textured and increased with the embossed snowflakes.  I also used a felt snowflake over the vellum one)

{Pin}spirational Challenge #138--anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday--3 of something (I have three embossed snowflakes) Check out my tip above.

Supplies:

Stamps: YNS "Holiday Snow Globe" snowman and sentiment

Dies: PTI "Fancy Flakes"

Little Ballerina

Hello, everyone!  It's time for a new challenge from Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog: Dots or Stripes.  We have three fabulous sponsors:

Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet

Pattie's Creations

Kith & Kin Stamp Co.

I got to use this adorable "Ella Ballerina" image from Kith & Kin.  And here is my card using her:

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #176--anything goes with uplifting sentiment
Mod Squad Challenge--tic tac toe (I used the piercing, coloring, rhinestone/pearls column)

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

V's Sweet Ideas #33--anything goes
Cards Galore--make a card
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes as long as it is covered with patterned paper
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes
Creative Knockouts #83--Die Cut/Punch Frenzy

Supplies:
Stamps: Kith & Kin Stamps Co "Ella Ballerina" digi; sentiment was computer generated
Dies: PTI "Filigree Border"; Verve "Charming Ovals"; MFT "Four Corners"; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Large Scalloped Circles"

Dad

April is a busy birthday month for us; my dad, my mom and my sister all have birthdays this month.  This card is for my dad.  Brown is his favorite color and I just love this chevron paper and the feel it adds to the card.

 Here is a close up of the sweet image and those "faux" buttons.  I used button dies from PTI layered them on top of cardboard cut out of the same dies for dimension and then added diamond glaze to give them a nice shiny look; just like a real button.

Challenges:

Southern Girls Challenge--Punch above your weight (use punches and/or dies)

Sister Act Card Challenge #99--anything goes

As You See It #80--a new technique I want to try (I had not used my diamond glaze yet, and I was dying to try it out on these "buttons"  I also used it on the dad's glasses for a glass look)

Digi Sketch challenge--Furry Friends and/or sketch

Craftin 'Desert Divas--anything goes

The Cuttin 'Divas--anything goes

Shopping Our Stash #195--No foolin': faux techniques (I used faux buttons)

Crafting By Designs April challenge --anything goes

Crafty Creations #286--anything goes

Fab n' Funky #253--lots of layers

Raisin Boat #32--It's a guy thing

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday--anything goes

Supplies:

Stamps: "Father and Daughter" digi (I have no idea where this came from; if you know please let me know!!); Verve "World's Greatest" DAD

Dies:PTI "Button #1" and "Bitty Button Stacks"; Spellbinders "Classic standard circle, large" and "Scalloped circles, large"; Verve "Flag it!" banner die

Simple Bear

Happy April 1st!  Do you pull April Fool's Day pranks?  I do not, it doesn't appeal to me at all.  So, it's not joke that today begins another challenge from Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra.  As always, it is "Anything Goes" all month long.  Enter as many times as you want and build up that Christmas card stash.  Our sponsor is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps and the winner will receive 7 images of their choice.  Here is my inspiration card:

I just bought some Spectrum Noir markers and I'm working on learning how to use them.  I like the blending and shading abilities, but on my card stock they bleed a bit.  It's just learning a new skill I think.  The image has been printed out for a while and has been sitting in my image stash and the striped papers were just scraps.  Love it when I can use up some things like that.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve March week 4--sketch

Sister Act Card Challenge #99--anything goes
Winter Wonderland--embossing
DRS Designs #167--pet store (the bear is not a pet, but he is an animal)
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #42--Dies to Die 4
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #73--add a sentiment
Christmas card challenge #17--anything goes
Holly Jolly--feature a creature
Creative Craft Cottage #36--digi/3 of a king (I have three green enamel dots)

Supplies:
Stamps: Bugaboo Stamps "Poinsettia Bear" digi; Verve "Ornamental Christmas" sentiment
Dies/embossing folder: Verve "Flag It!"; Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder; MFT "Blueprints 13" die-namics