Coffee and cream

The color is not showing well on my screen - the mats are all a coffee brown, and the patterns are varying shades of brown.  Several years ago I HAD to have a spray bottle of Walnut ink - which has been barely touched.  I think it is primarily because I have a very hard time controlling the spray - lots of big blobs.  Oh, well...  The Joanna Sheen butterfly-Back to Nature (a prize for me!) and Recollection sentiment are in Tim Holtz distress ink, and the glittery flowers are Petaloo.
Sketch:  http://www.creativecreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Coffee and Cream:  http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.ca/
Splash:  http://www.annabellestamps.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/ac171-theme-challenge.html
Any:  http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/stamp-challenge.html 
Flowers:  http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/

HB Brother in law

 If you follow my blog, you might notice that there are a lot of cards with a fishing theme - a popular activity among family members!  This is for a brother-in-law.  I fudged a bit on the sketch, as I wanted the names of the fish to show - one of the challenges using DP is to get the correct part of the pattern visible.  This is Karen Foster dp.  I used the Distressed Stripes embossing folder - and promptly covered all but a sliver of the border - and it does not show here!  I like the slight lift it gives the bg.

Sketch:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/

Masculine, with CB embossing:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/

Fun in the sun:  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

Anniversary in teal and ivory

I always need several anniversary cards at this time of year.  This image from Kitchen Sink works well - at least I think it is not too fussy.  The DP is a piece from my stash, and I used a bit of it for the butterfly - which is mounted on a solid teal base - IRL a bit of it shows to help highlight the dainty creature.  As for the ribbon - I layered teal satin over sheer pale teal.  I tried tying the bow with the two still layered, but they seemed to have a mind of their own and separated as I made the bow - but I decided that looked fine and was much less work!  Not sure why I even attempted this as I am rather ribbon/bow challenged.
Sketch:  http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/
Polka dots:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenges 
Ink - really the focal point:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/

This is the day

This is always a favorite verse, reminding us to be thankful for everything from day to day, and to rejoice in all that the Lord has done for us.  The challenge is to create our own background - I hope this SU embossing folder is suitable.  It i easy to see the dry embossing is one of my favorite backgrounds.  I stamped these images and left the stamps in our home for the summer - I forget where it is from. 
Sketch:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
Created bag, with uplifting sentiment:  http://twistoffaithcards.blogspot.com.au/
Any, with praise:  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Father's Day birthday

I don't have any one to whom I would send a Father's Day card - but that is the day of my brother's birthday, so this is kind of double duty. Once again I used a new Tim Holz stamp set, with Ranger Distress Tea Dye ink.  It is combined with some cute DP from a Wish RAK (SCS) friend.  The image is cut with Nesties Labals 4.   I have lost the id for this set of sentiments.  It does not fit my oval, so I cut it with scissors - then distressed the edges to hide my cutting!!
Sketch #41:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
Father's Day, with a die cut:  http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/
Father's Day:  http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Another Graduation - Leah

This is my second graduation card - two granddaughters, one HS, one college - same family, same day, hundreds miles apart.  what a problem.  I used a photo of her high school.  Sorry - the L got tipped and I did not notice - too many things going on right now.  I will fix it!  The DP are both Basic Grey.  THe mortar board is a chip board sticker. 
Sketch:  http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/
Mix & Match:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Any  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
   http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/
   http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/

Emerson in red and white

I have procrastinated in doing this red and white card, as I was trying to think of something that did not look too much like a Valentine or Christmas.  This Emerson works well for that color combination.  I added dots to her dress with the gel pen.  The dp is not quite spots - they are tiny stars.  This is DP that I have had in my stash for several years - and I had scraps just the right size.  The bg is a new swirl folder.
Sketch:  http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/
Red & white:  http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
Spots & Stripes:  http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
Any, with encouragement:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Swirls, pearls and lace

This adorable digi is from A Day with Daisies.  I colored with several shades of aqua, with a touch of deep red and glittery platinum.  The sentiment is from Recollections, and the swirly frame is LifeStyle Crafts.
Sketch:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
Swirls and pearls:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://clearlyistamp.blogspot.com/
White embossed bg:  http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/
Shades of aqua, red and grey: http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Cute:   http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/

laugh a Little

I made a similar card for a challenge at Splitcoaststampers and was happy with the result.  Here, however, in retrospect, I should have used a solid color (maybe embossed?) for one set of panels - this is just busier than I like. Oh, well, I am known for going along with whatever the result is.  Some one will like it!!!
The papers are Recollections, the stamps (border and sentiment) JustRIte Smile Set, flowers by Petaloo and twine separates the panels - hard to see here.
Sketch:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
Grey, black, yellow, JR stamp:  http://justritestampers.typepad.com/justrite-inspiration/2013/02/justrite-friday-challenge-091-color-challenge.html
Two pattern papers (one grey, one yellow):  http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
Tic Tac Toe - yellow, twine, flower:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/

New stage in life

I am trying to fill in some gaps in the assortment of cards I have available for sale.  Once in a while some one needs to recognize a new job, retirement, etc. with a card of this type.  Here, the inside verse says "As a chapter closes in your life, and a new one starts for you, May your years be filled With all the things You're looking forward to.  ENJOY!  I like the color combo, but I did struggle to find something to work.  I think this does!  I should add - I am probably pretty well known for my frugal ways!  I have had the verse (computer) printed on the base for some time, and it had become a bit smudged on the back - not much, but noticeable.  I solved the problem by cutting a slightly larger piece of the grape cs, and glued the entire base card to the grape piece.  I kind of like the result!  The flourish is from an SU set - sent to me quite a while ago through the WishRAK forum on SCS.  The sentiment is from a new set received from Mark's Finest Papers.  The pumpkin dp is K&Company, and I used the Congratulations ef (CB).
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Colors (grape, waterfall, pumpkin):  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
"New":  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Christmas #6

I have seen so many gorgeous sponged and chalked back grounds, especially the sky, so I have tried one.  I used SU Brilliant Blue and Night of Navy chalk.  I outlined the star (SU Bitty Bolds) with a gold Spica pen. The sentiment is Studio G.
I was inspired by one of the examples here, and I used the sketch:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/
A challenge for Clean & Simple:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
And for anything:  http://stamp-n-doodle.blogspot.co.uk/
Use chalk:  http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/