Kanban gate fold

 Above:  front of card, closed.  Top right - inside;  bottom right - half closed view of part of top and part of inside.

Materials - the pre-cut die cuts (butterfly, oval, all of inside, as well as the small rectangles are all from a kit by Kanban.  I added black and white dots and a white ribbon.

Sketch:              Sketch Saturday

Wings:               Allsorts

                           Wags n Whiskers

Gold:                  Dragonfly Journeys

Black, white, touch of gold:    

Any:                    Craft Your Passion

                            Our Crafty Corner

                            Papernest Dolls 

Sympathy - cream and gold

(I am not sure what is happening with the color) - This is a chocolate brown and cream, with gold accents.  DP and the butterfly are Kanban; gold trimmed ribbon is Celebrate; SU Chocolate Chip ink; sentiment - Paper Inspirations.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:             Your Next Stamp
Wings:              Allsorts
                          Wags n Whiskers
                          Morgans Art World
Good as Gold:  Dragonfly Journeys 
Ribbon:             Chocolate Coffee Cards
Cream n Sugar: Polkadoodles 
3+ Layers:          Vintage Stamping Challenge
Any:                    Stamped Blessings Amusing Challenge

AI - Masculine birthday

 The AI challenge is to use watercolor and highlight with white gel pen.  I used watercolor pencils and an aqua pen. I did highlight the hat and the arms of the chair as well as the star (it was a purchased die cut) - but they do not show up much on the screen.  (IRL I created a plaid pattern for the lawn chair.)  Embellishments include Washi tape, shiny dark gold gems and die cut grass.
Sketch:                              Stella Says Sketch
Watercolor/white  pen:    Art Impressions Stamps 
Masculine:                        Stamping Boutique
Make us Laugh:               Ikes World  
3+ Layers:                        Vintage Stamping Challenge 
Die:                                    2 Crafty Girls 
Any:                                   Creative Fingers
                                            Avenue 613
                                            Stamped Blessings - Amusing Challenge
                                            Craft Your Passion 
                                          

Last Easter card for 2016

I made another card at the last minute and did not get it posted.  Stamps and sentiment - Eureka digis; Washi tape (this one has several patterns on the same strip); Sizzix embossing folder; unknown DP. This peach with a dark rusty burgundy is one of my favorite combinations.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:      The House That Stamps Built
Easter:       Pink Gem Challenge
                    Glitter n Sparkle
Holiday:     Hiding in my Craft Room
Fav colors: Deep Ocean 
Any:           Crafty Friends  
                    Little Claires
                    Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Fluffles

Fluffles image; Lily of the Valley DP; peach embossed with Embossalicious EF; colored with watercolor pencils and aqua pen - highlights with white gel pen; black bow. Fluffles is enjoying his/her own tiny garden!
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:                 Sketch Saturday  
Creature:             Fantastic Tuesday
                              Penny Black at Allsorts
"B" -black bow:  DRS
Garden:                 Come and Get It
Any:                       One Crazy Stamper 
                                Jades Sparkly Butterflies 
                                Creative Fingers    
Water color with white highlights:   Art Impressionsstamps               

Springtime for Design Team - Eureka Challenge #186

The challenge this week at Eureka Stamps is "spring" -Eureka Stamps.    I chose this digital image ("tulips") and paired it with a digital sentiment from Eureka.  When we lived in the midwest (Omaha) I always looked forward to seeing tulips, as they signaled the end of winter.  We are now in Arizona, where there are few if any tulips except in the flower shops!  Instead, I enjoy a variety of flowering shrubs that add color to our yard.
Image - Eureka "tulips", colored with Prismas; striped dp by Paper Pizazz.  Right now I have several sheets of this deep pink and golden yellow sitting on my desk - a favorite spring color combo.  When I saw the challenge to be inspired by a song, I thought of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" - is any one else old enough to remember the Tiny Tim version back in the 80's?
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:             Your Next Stamp
Spring:             Crafty Gals Corner
                          Digitally Sweet
                          Paradise of Stamps
                          SLS Lines
Spring colors:  Whimsy Inspires 
Fave colors:      Deep Ocean
Song:                 Scribbles Designs      
Flowers:            Lunagirl
                           In the Pink
Three +Layers: Crafting by Designs
Use DP:              Crafty Hazelnut
Any:                   A Bit MoreTime to Craft   
                           Cre8tive Hands Friends 
                           Creative Craft Cottage   
                            DLArt
                            Dream Time
                            Lemon Shortbread 
                          

Sympathy - shimmery silver

CS - shimmery silver; Butterfly embossing folder - Darice; stamp - Paper Inspirations; flowers from a dollar store stem; green gems, Cheery Lynn branch die; Labels 1 die - Spellbinders;  creatures - butterflies
Sketch:       Feeling Sketchy
Spring:       Die Cut Divas
Creatures:  Penny Black at Allsorts   
                    Fan-tastic Tuesday
B - butterfly: DRS Designs
Any:            Cheery Lynn Designs
                    One Crazy Stamper
Aug 13 - words:   Our Creative Corner 

Spring Birthday

I have an order for several birthday cards so I need to add to my stash.
Image - Stampendous; colored with watercolor pencils; Dp by Lily of the Valley; sheer ribbon; shiny red gems. 
Favorite color - actually, it is usually any I am working with:  This yellow and red is a spring and summer fave:  Deep Ocean
Sketch:           Tuesday Morning Sketches
Spring:            Paradise of stamps
                         Crafty Enjoyments
Ribbon:           Chocolate, Coffee, Cards
Any:                 Julia Spiri

Easter Blessings - to friends

We will send cards to a few friends from church - those who have been ill.  This features digis from Eureka stamps, colored with chalk pencils,  I added branches from Cheery Lynn dies, and Making Memories flowers.
Sketch #2:           VLV Sketches
Easter:                 AAA cards
                             Crafting-with-Dragonflies
                             Crafters Cafe  
                              Crafty Enjoyments
Color:                  Cupcake Inspirations
B = Blessings:     DRS Designs 
For a friend:       Suzypantssmarty   
Any:                     Cheery Lynn Designs
                              Creativec Craft Cottage 

MMTPT399

I am upcycling a card sent to me by my late RAK friend Linda Palmer.  Over the years I  have been so blessed to receive many RAK cards - so many that they fill a photo box and more.  I feel I can honor the makers of those cards by sharing with others.  This goes to Mary, who has been battling cancer - and who is struggling right now.

Easter Blessings, everyone

Once again I used the Eureka Stamps Lily Cross and sentiment (digis).  The bg papers come from my stash, and I added a bit of Washi tape.
Green + Sentiment (5 CH)  Whoopsi Daisy
Sketch:     Sketch Saturday
Easter:     Inky Chicks
                  Pink Gem
                  Jo's Scrapshack 
                

HB, Deb

Since our daughter has declined to quit having birthdays (each one she has makes me feel older LOL!) it will be good to remember her special day.  This year it falls on Easter Sunday - a double celebration.  They are planning a visit in June so we will not be together at this time.  This is an image from Beccy's place, and the sentiment is a gift (RAK) I just received from a generous friend, Valerie.  It is from a set called the Stamps of Life.  I used some DP that was also a gift from another friend - I have had it for a couple of years and I am sure she had it much longer..  It is double sided by Craft n Crafting'.  I added a bg of a bird folder by the Paper Studio, and a tiny punched bird - headed for  home!   Shiny gems complete the card.
Sketch:   Viva la Verve #1
Any:        Crafty Sentiments
Green:    Creatalicious Challenges 
Spring:    Digitally Sweet Challenges
Wings:     Fussy and Fancy
Bird:         Avenue 613 
Paper from stash:   Clear it out Challenge
Special female:        Crafty Calendar
Any:                         Julia Spiri

Easter Blessings - Eureka DT #185

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This week the challenge at Eureka Stamps is "Easter".  You may enter up to 3 times before 6 pm EDT on Sunday.  We hope you will join us!  Eureka has a great line of traditional stamps and digis.  The digis for Easter include this "Lily Cross" and several similar ones, as well as other styles of Easter images and many sentiments, including the one I used.  If you enter using a digital image from Eureka, your chances of winning increase greatly.   I am including spring challenges because for me, spring means the Easter season.  Each time I see this image I think of the hymn "The Old Rugged Cross."  I think it is a Johnny Cash version that goes through my mind.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:        Cheerful Sketches
Use green:   Patties Creations
Easter:         Allsorts
                      Cuttlebug Mania
                      Pink Gem Challenge
                      Jo's Scrapshack
                      DLArt
                      AAA cards 
                      Deep Ocean
                      Inky Chicks  
                      Kitty Bee Aloha challenge
Spring:         Creative Knockouts
                      Fan-tastic Tuesday
Song:            Scribbles Designs
Any:              Corrosive Challenges
                       Our-Crafty-Corner
                       Word Art Wednesday         

For my sister

The "sister" and floral embossing folder is by Tattered Lace; hearts by Darice.  The embossed cs is shimmery silver by Recollection.  I added a small strip of Washi tape, and highlighted the main panel with light teal chalk.  My favorite embossing is dry embossing - I have a lot of folders so I can achieve variety!  I like the dimension and ease of use - a stroll through my gallery will support this claim!
Sketch:           Sketch Saturday
Washi tape:    Crafting when we can
Favorite embossing:    As You Like It

For pre-school prayer partner - #2

You will be seeing a lot of similarities in my posts for a few days.  Recently I got a great deal at the Spring stamping show in Mesa, AZ. Never one to let a bargain go by - I acquired several paper packs (25 sheets) at $1 each.  I am sure you know how many A2 cards can be made with 25 sheets!  I knew I wanted to use these matching purple sheets for spring/Easter - so here is one more!  It is similar to a recent post - different layout.  Pre-colored image by Dearie Dolls - with a change of hair color.  I used a strip of Washi tape, and computer generated sentiments. The prayer I printed on the inside is also on a recent post.
Sketch:               Sketch Saturday
Easter:                Deep Ocean
Spring colors:    Polkadoodle   
Washi tape:        Crafting When we Can  (5Ch)

For Pastor

This thank you goes to a retired pastor who has been leading a winter Bible study for 8 years.  He has decided it is time to retire a bit more!  I used this Easter image from Eureka digis combined with purple - to represent this Easter season as well.  I found a good verse at

www.heavensinspirations.com/appreciation.htm

Sketch:                  VLV Sketches - 1

Spring:                   Pink Gem Challenge
Thinking of  you:  Digi Choosday

For pre-school prayer partner

One of my friends at church asked me to make Easter cards for her pre-school prayer partners.  I find myself struggling a bit with pre-school style, but I think this Dearie Doll (pre-colored digi) image and my computer sentiment will combine a little girl feel with a religious theme.  I  googled children's Easter message and found a good prayer to use as an inside verse.  My computer does not seem to like purple - the dp and Washi tape are purple.

Here is the prayer I found - suitable for a young child: 

 My Easter Prayer

God made you and God made me,

He made the world for us to see.

God loves you and long ago

He sent His Son to tell us so.

Jesus showed us many things,

To love and share, dance and sing.

To learn and pray, to help and care,

He promised he'd always be there.

He died but then came back to life,

Let's celebrate for He's alive!

Amen

from Living-prayers.com

CHALLENGES ENTERED: 

Sketch:             Sweet Sketch Wednesday2
Easter:              Southern Ridge

Easter sentiment:   Aud Sentiments 

Spring:              Pink Gem

                      Wags n Whiskers 

Any:                  Word Art Wednesday

DT card for Eureka challenge #184

This is the card I made for the Design Team Inspiration at the Eureka challenge #184 - anything goes.  Such an easy challenge to enter - I hope you will join us this week.  I used the Eureka image "clover" and sentiment "May the road...".  It is a fun image to work with - easy to color, and it comes with its own sprinkles! I colored with Prismas and baby oil.  Oh, yes, there is another shamrock and longer stems - covered by the sentiment.  It is hard for me to leave blank space, so I added 3 light green gems, and embossed a corner with a Cuttlebug corner embossing folder.  Dry embossing is my favorite - so easy to use, and I like the resulting texture.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch & stamp +  texture:   Stamplorations
Aug. 2913 - Words, words:   Our Creative Corner
Focal sentiment:                    Crafty Creations
Favorite embossing:              As you Like it
St. Patrick's Day:                  Get Creative 
Lucky:                                     Ike's World
Green & sentiment:       Whoopsi Daisy
Shamrock & green:       Pinspirational
Spring color:                          Paper Creator's Crafts
Monochrome:                         Jade's Butterflies
Green:                                     Incy Wincy
                                                 Simon - Wednesday
                                                 Double Click
                                                 Mod Squad
Any:                                         Sweet Stamps
                                                  Our Crafty Corner
                                                  Not Just Cards
                                                  The Paper Nest Dolls 
                                                  Through the Craft Room Door 
                                             
  

Easter Blessings 2016 (#1)

I may be making several cards  using this lovely digi image and sentiment by Eureka.  IRL the polka dot layer and mats are a light purple - looks blue to me on my screen!  I colored with prismas and a green gel pen.
Sketch:  Tuesday Morning Sketches
Easter:    Deep Ocean
                 C.R.A.F.T. 
                 DLArt
                 Southern Chipboard
Easter sentiment:   Aud Sentiments

For Adrienne & a tutorial with Washi tape

This is a card I should have made and sent a few days ago.  Our Air Force Academy granddaughter is completing her last basic training this week end, and should earn her wings at the end of today!  All  of basic is strenuous, but apparently this 3 day period is especially so - there are cadets who realize at this point (f not already) that life in the service is not for them.  As you can tell, we are so proud of her success and determination.  This card is a bit dark - but I discovered this DP in my stash - the starry one reminded me of camouflage.  We never write directly on our cards so Adrienne can share with others - maybe with one of the guys.  I obtained the eagle stamp from Our Daily Bread as I can use it a lot for her!
Now for the tutorial I mentioned in the heading.  I do not really do tutorials - I just have to learn from all of you.  But I tried something here you might be interested in.  I suspect a couple of you might have a good stash of Washi tape.  I used it for the layered strip - two rows of tape on the green cs bg.  For the die cut sentiment here is what I did:  Adhere the tape to desired cs; run through the die cut machine.  (This sentiment just fit on a single width of tape.)  To avoid having  to apply adhesive to the intricate cut, I then peeled off the die cut tape, and applied the sticky tape to the panel.  I was concerned that it might not stay in place, so I put the entire panel between the plates, with a shim, and ran it through the machine once again.  I am so pleased with the result - the sentiment is practically imbedded in the panel. And no glue everywhere!
I know it is hard to explain and follow directions like this - if you are interested and don't understand, let me know!  I will try to clarify.
Sketch:            Mojo Monday
ODB stamp:    Our Daily Bread Shining the Light
Green:              Incy Wincy
                          Simon Says Stamp Wednesday
Monochrome:  Crafting by Designs
 Any:                 Not Just Cards
                          Paper Nest
                          Sweet Stamps
                          Through the Craft Room Door 
What makes you smile (see above) - June 2015:    Our Creative Corner6

Thanks, Bob and Judy

DP by Kanban; Joanna Sheen image, ribbon, 2 circle die cuts; You embossing folder, butterfly punch; pearls, glitter (on butterfly and scallops)
CHALLENGES ENTERED: 
Dry embossing - I like it because it is easy to use and adds texture and variety (I have plenty of folders for that!) - this time I just used a selected small part of the You folder):  As you like it
Sketch:   Mojo Monday 
Pearls:    Dragonfly Journeys
2+ dies:   Di's Digi Designs
Punch, die:   Creative Knockouts
7 layers:  4 Crafty Chicks
Stamp, glitter:    Addicted-to-Stamps-challenge
Any:          Dreamtime Craft Supplies 

My first Swinging z-fold card

Inside view

I just purchased a die to cut the half scalloped circle for this z-fold card.  I need to work on my photography to showcase this fun fold.  I also need to figure out how to do layering around the circle die cut - for this first time I used double sided paper, and I decorated with die cut birds and strips of washi tape. (You can see the reverse of the DP just behind the sentiment circle - the front of the green dp has glittery leaves and flowers, and the reverse is more subtle with small leaves.)  The sentiment and inside (bird & music) image are from the Our Daily Bread Music Speaks set, and are stamped on pale yellow cs.  The image on the inside is torn in an irregular shape.
Challenges entered:
ODB image:     Our Daily Bread-Shining the Light Challenge
Spring:             Cuttlebug Mania
                          Pink Gem Challenge
Green:              Double Click 
Green & Sent:  whoopsi Daisy
Garden:           Aloha Friday Challenges
2 or more dies : Di's Digi Designs
Any:                 Simply Papercrafts
                          Lemon Shortbread

Happy Birthday (BIL) Hal

 Last year I almost forgot my brother-in-law's birthday, so I intend to be early this year!  They both enjoy lots of travel, so I thought this Stampin' Up image from the Provencal set is just right, and the DP from a Kanban kit has great colors.  The bg is embossed with the Cuttlebug HB folder.
Sketch:     Mojo Monday
Any:         Word Art
Home:       Art Impressions  
Any.monochrome:   2craftygirls 

Remembering Gary's father

Unfortunately, I needed a quick sympathy card to get in the mail today.

This is one of my favorite ODB images!  I colored with chalk pencils to achieve a soft look.  The embossing folder is by Darice.  A bit of chalk sponged on the sentiment adds highlights to the texture. The cs I used is Recollections shimmery silver - I really like the result when it is embossed, and it is great for stamping images such as this one.

CHALLENGES ENTERED: 

Sketch/theme:         Stamplorations

Any; ODB image:   Our Daily Bread Designs

Chalk:                      Chalknstock

Color/Insp:              MHK Designs by Mynn

                                  Give a Crafter a Cookie

Touch/feely:             Simon Says Stamp Wednesday

Any:                         Word Art

Eureka challenge #183 - paper piecing

The challenge this week at Eureka stamps is paper piecing.  This is a fun way to add texture and a bit of dimension.  It is also a great way to create a different look for items of clothing as well as other images.  I have learned that it is important to choose patterns carefully - I find that dainty patterns work best for me.  I used two different patterned papers - for the dresses, the ribbons in the hats, and the backgrounds. I used markers to add a touch of color to the flowers on the hats. I used a darker golden yellow for the mats, and a sheer gold ribbon to add a final touch - along with the shiny gems.  Here is another tip if this is a new technique for you - color the rest of the image (the part next to the pieced layer) before adhering the DP in order to achieve a well blended edge.  (I'll bet you can figure out how I know that!)  I recently read a tip to use Stickles around the edge of the main image - I tried it here, though you cannot really see it well on the screen.  It does a lot to highlight the image.  I lightly sponged the image and sentiment, and distressed the edge of the circle to give a bit of a distressed look.
The new Eureka image I used is Best Friends, and the new sentiment is also from Eureka.  It is a font I really like.
Sketch:                Share Joy Challenge
Spring (I used colors and the pretty dresses to represent spring):
                             Digitally Sweet 
                             Fresh Brewed Designs
                             Crafty Sentiments Designs
 Bingo:     Row 1 - sentiment, flowers on hat, gems:
                             The Paper Shelter  
Bingo - Row 2 -  distressing, new image, texture, ribbon: 
                             Fussy and Fancy
Touchy, feely:      Simon Says Stamp Wedneday
Ladies:                 Digi Choosday
Child:                   Fan- tastic Tuesday
Sparkle:               Crafting for all Seasons
Layers:                 Frilly and Funkie 
                              Craftin Desert Divas     
Any:                      Lemon Shortbread
                              Jo's Scrapshack 

Quilt for Cherylquilts, MMTPT397

Each week the TeaPot party gang at SplitcoastStampers selects a recipient for cards.  This week our cards will go to Cheryl, aka cherylQuilts at SCS.  She is experiencing some health issues, and we want to send some cheer.  What better than this House Mouse quilting image!  These adorable mice are working on a labor of love  (At least, on paper, the are adorable....)  I have had the image in my WishRAK stash for a very long time - saving a few for special situations. I colored with chalk pencils, and backed with some DP that has also been in my stash for a very long time.  A bit of Washi tape and some cord (ironically, a cast off from our church quilting group!) complete the card.
Sketch, and some of the colors:   Your Next Stamp
TeaPotParty:   Teapot-Tuesdays
Any:                 House Mouse  
                          Our-Crafty-Corner
                          Simply PaperCrafts
                          Crafty-girls-creations.
                          
                           

Happy 90th, Peggy

A friend is celebrating her 90!  The DP is from Beau Papier, and the sentiment by the Rubber Cafe. The birds and flowers are enhanced with glitter.  I used Spellbinder oval dies and Cuttlebug numbers, and a Paper Pizzazz dragonfly brad.
Sketch:     VLV Sketches #2
Glitter:      Sparkle n Sprinkle
Spring:      Cuttlebug Mania
Wings:        Glitter n Sparkle
Layers:       Craftin Desert Divas
Creature:    Mod Squad Challenge
Any:            Creative Fingers Challenge
Personalize:          Incy Wincy Designs 
Sentiment focus:  Allsorts
Stamp and Die:    Penny Black at Allsorts  
Two+ dies:             Dis Digi Designs Challenge
                    

Pink Thinking of you

I will give this to a friend from church.  I embossed a bit of the bg piece with Cuttlebug's textile, and lightly distressed it.  The main pink layer is embossed with the Darice butterfly folder.  I used a bit of pink chalk to create a background for the Cuttlebug sentiment, and added a shaded Bobbin ribbon.
Sketch:     Share Joy
Pink:         In the Pink
Spring:      Cuttlebug Mania
Embossing: AAA Cards

Arlene is 98!

This is for a friend of a friend - what a milestone!  The DP and sentiment are from a large pack of items from Kanban.  I am still experimenting with the Spellbinder Majestic Elements - I used the same black and shimmery Champagne cs that I used to create the card base.  The name and numbers are die cuts, and I added some sheer ribbon as well as a bit of glitter at both the top and bottom of the oval.
Sketch:              Die Cuttin Divas
Special lady:     Crafty Catz
                           Digichoosday
Ribbon:             The Stamping Boutique
Layers:              Frilly and Funkie
Any:                   Craftin Desert Divas 
                           Creative Fingers Challenge      
                           Simply Papercrafts