New DP

I just received my prize from Classy Cards n Such - a pack of lovely watercolor papers by Ken Oliver.  Thank you!  I tend to make A2 size cards, so I minimized the layering - I wanted to show the pretty floral bg.  I used up some scraps of items from my stash of odds and ends.  The fabric strip and the mesh piece were there - I think they came from a grab bag at a yard sale.  I added 3 shiny gems and tied a bow with DMC metallic 6 strand thread.  The verse is from Our Daily Bread.  I used a different sponging technique:  Sponging inside the die is not new, but using twinkling H20 is. I mixed a bit of the pigment with water, and used my aqua pen to sponge - I like the shimmery effect.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:  
Sketch:                  Our Daily Bread
Coral and teal:     Classy Cards n Such
3 of a kind:    
Nature (Flowers): Craftin Desert Divas
Stamp and die:    Penny Black Allsorts 
Devotion:             Words 2 Craft by
Any:                     Simon says Stamp-Wednesday Challenge
                             Paper Nest Dolls
                              Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Don't spill the coffee

The verse inside reads: " I don't do exercise...it makes my coffee spill."
Edna, by Rubbernecker; DP by Beau Papier; Petaloo flowers, shiny gems; Prisma colors; glitter; Fiskars scallop punch.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:           Stella Says Sketch
Coral, aqua:  Classy Cards n Such
                        DRS Designs
Coffee:            Creative Corner
                         Crafty Creations 
Glitter:            Sparkle n Sprinkle
Celebrate:       Great Impressions
Birthday:        Allsorts 
Any:                Whimsy Inspires
                         Crafty-Girls-Creations

Cast your cares on Him

Verse by Verve: DP in circle by Beau Papier; other misc. papers; stitched ribbon - Bobbin Ribbon; Cuttlebug circle dies.
Sketch:       Verve Sketches
Die cuts:      Addicted-to-Stamps 
Patterns,, stitches and colors:  Classy Cards n Such

Congrats, Hanna

This is not typical of a Verve entry - but I found this sketch fit the image and theme I wanted to use.  Our granddaughter-in-law just got results for her pre-nursing exam - and she did very well.  She has been studying for some time, and is so excited.  Our grandson just started med school so the next few years will not be easy for them.  I wanted a fun card to congratulate her - and a quick card I could get in the mail this morning!   The image is from Dearie Dolls, and I used a school themed paper from Studio 18 - thought it reflected the studying she will be doing.  I used my red gel pen to put her name on the cap - had to make it tiny! Circle dies  cut an open circle that would not cover too much of the patterns.
Sketch:     Verve Sketches #1
Color, pattern and stitches:   Classy Cards n Such
Stitches:    Creative Knockouts
Red:          Dies r Us

Stitched doggie

I don't sew, but I added some faux stitching to this image (sorry - I did not record the source).  I used the stitches to highlight the patchwork.  If you-  are looking at the sketch - I do have a panel under the oval image.  I used a piece that I have been saving for a long time.  It is beige, and looks a little like the mesh bags used for produce - maybe you can see the little knots.  These items add interest and texture without hiding the DP pattern - and do not make it look too busy.  The strip is Washi tape - as usual, I mounted it on cs - burgundy, this time.  The image is precolored - the blue is inspired by the Classy Cards inspiration.  I fussy cut the ears before using the oval die, and added a stack of punched bones.
Challenges:       
Sketch:     Tuesday Morning Sketches
Color, pattern and stitches:   Classy Cards n Such
Recycle (mesh bag):                Simon Says Stamp - Monday   
Kids:         Die Cuttin Divas 
Cute:         Fan-Tastic Tuesday
Any:          Addicted to Stamps

Another one for Saidey

I was not satisfied with the first card I made for this little girl - I like this better.
Image - Dearie Doll (pre-colored digi, highlighted with a shiny red gel pen); glitter on her name; die cuts for the letters and ovals; DP from a Martha Stewart pack; brad hearts; computer generated sentiment; new red cs.
Sketch:       Come and Get It
Hearts:       Crafting Desert Divas
Valentine:   DLArt
                    C.R.A.F.T.
Love:          Classy Cards n Such
Bling:         Allsorts  
Kids:          Cuttlebug Mania
Any:           Jo's Scrapshack
                    Simply Papercrafts
                    Simon says Stampblog Wednesday 

Monochromatic sympathy

Blessings by CheeryLynn, Spellbinder butterfly, Darice butterfly folder, Recollections shimmery silver cs, grey and white cs.  Sent to Hohensee family June 17
Sketch:     Feeling-Sketchy
Neutrals:   Classy cards n such
Any:          Cheery Lynn Designs

Not a morning person

Image - Art Impressions; Sentiment - Bugaboo; ovals-Spellbinder Majestic Elements; New pattern paper - Lily of the Valley;  ribbon - Ribbon Boutique; gems - Hampton Art; Petaloo flowers .  The dp is new and everything else is from my stash.  This card will go to a friend - she likes her coffee in the morning!
Sketch:       Stella says Sketch
Flowers:     Crafty Catz  
New:           Dies R Us
Bright:        Classy Cards
Colors:       Share Joy
Any:            DLArt
                    Creative Knockouts

Sparkly Christmas 2015 #37

Image by Stampabilities; snowflakes embossing - Cuttlebiug;  "trees" - Lifestyle Crafts; Nestabilities ovals; Fiskars star punch; glitter (on stars); Celebrate It ribbon; shimmery champagne cs; green cs.
Sketch:           http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/
Stars:              http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/12/ccns-challenge-115-starry-starry-night.html
Christmas:     http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
                        http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/
                        http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Christmas (traditional):  http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ 
Brrr...                                http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/
Any:                                  http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ 
Any (w/ stamp, ribbon):  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/ 
A favorite from 2015:       http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/ 

Christmas 2015 #36 - starry

What an adventure ach time I enter two photos here.  I cannot seem to figure out how to do the layout.  Oh, well - variety adds interest, right?
Stamp by Stampabilities; sentiment by Stampourri; dies - Nestabilities.  The blue cs and shiny star cs are new and all the rest (ribbon star, dp) have been around quite a while. (I hope you can see the stars on the larger bg paper.)
Sketch:               http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/    
Old and new:      http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/
Starry night:       http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/
Any Christmas:  http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/
                             http://lauralcraft.weebly.com/dragonfly-dreams-challenge 
                             http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ 
                             http://scrap-craft-inspiration.blogspot.co.uk/
Blue and white:  http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/12/dlart-thankful-thursday-challenge-170.html 
A special birthday - Jesus Christ is born!    http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/
Any:                     http://crafty-girls-creations.blogspot.co.uk/

Christmas 2015 #35 - recycled

I need to make a bit of a dent in the large stack of cards I have been saving - my goal is to make simple cards to donate - but I never get started early enough on that project.  Oh, well, maybe next year...
In the meantime, I found one that would work behind the window.  (I hope you can see the wings of these young angels - I had to crop quite a bit to get the faces to show!)  The blue bg is embossed with Tim Holtz' bg folder, and the sentiment is by Stampourri.
Sketch:         http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Angel:          http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/12/ccns-challenge-114-angels.html
Christmas:    http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/  
                     http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
                     http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/#
                     http://polkadoodle.blogspot.ca/2015/12/week-49-polkadoodles-crafting-challenge.html
                     http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/
Warm & cozy:  http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.com/
Non-traditional:        http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com.au/

Christmas 2015 #24

Here is another card with the ornament DP (Paper Studio).  This time I realized I could create an ornament with this Labels 1 die - I dry embossed the green layer, and added a twine tie.  The back panel is embossed with a LifeStyle Crafts folder.  The image is by Unity.
Sketch:        http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Song - O Christmas Tree:    http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
                                             http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/
Any, with a die cut:              http://thecraftyaddicts.blogspot.co.uk/
Ornament:    http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/
Tree:             http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.com/

Christmas 2015 #23

This is a departure from most of the Christmas cards I have made this year - I wanted to do the "ornament" challenge - I hope the paper counts, as I have no ornament stamps or dies! This paper is by Paper Studio.  Also used:  stamp by Rubber Stampede; shiny ribbon; embossing folder by LifeStyle Crafts; Nile green and shimmery champagne cs.
Sketch:              http://yournextstamp.com/blog/category/challenge/
Ornament:        http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/
Focal sentiment   http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/a-month-of-holiday-cards.html
Colors:              :http://drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/%E2%97%8B%20Challenges
"Joy to the world" (carol):   http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Any:      http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/
               http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/10/dlart-thankful-thursday-october-linky.html

Thanksgiving

I generally skip Halloween, but it is not too early to think about Thanksgiving - we need to be thankful every day, but I hope people will take time to give special thanks on this special day.  Even though today has been filled with bad news, we remember that there is much for which to give thanks.
Paper - fall stack: Sizzix leafy die, burlap.
Sketch #3:     http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/p/link-list.html
Fall:         http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/09/ccns-challenge-104-feeling-fall-ish.html
              http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/09/dlart-thankful-thursday-challenge-165.html 
Any:       http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
 

Oh, deer

I was inspired especially by some of the examples for this week's challenge at the House that Stamps Built, and wanted to see what I could do.  Well, ladies, your positions are not at all in jeopardy as your examples are so much better than any I would do - although I think that IRL this is much more shimmery than on the screen.  Feel free to add any suggestions for improvement.
Method:  aqua pen with several colors of  Twinkling H2O, on shimmery champagne cs (Recollections).  I used masking for the moon and to stamp the deer (mixed results there.)  The deer is an old stamp from Embossing Arts, and I have always felt it is a bit out of proportion - minimized that by making it blend into the bg!)  The bird is a Cheery Lynn die, and the chip board from my collection.  By the way, it is not my intention to slight the design team members of other challenges - you all do a fabulous job, and inspire me a lot!   Thanks one and all.
 Sketch:   http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Inspiration:    http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/

Add caption

Oh, deer:        http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/

For fall

Apples always remind me of fall - when we lived in Omaha there were so many apples available in September and October!  This got darker than I had anticipated - trying to use the apples as a guide for the colors.  I used red, dark brown and dark gold from the color challenge; sentiment from ODB; red rain drops from the Freedom set available at Classy cards; and a bit of ribbon from my stash.  The DVine Swirl embossed piece (Cuttlebug) is sponged for added depth; some edges are distressed.
Sketch:    http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Apples:    http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/
Colors:      http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (colors):  http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/
Fall:         http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
Any:         http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/ 
                 http://ema-ginationstation.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-10-30T00:00:00-05:00&max-results=1

Quick child's card

A couple of years ago I received a huge box of goodies - including a pack of bright colored papers, stickers, die cuts, etc.  I seldom use them - but since it is my nature to find a use for everything - I thought I could create a celebration card for a child.  The red layer includes the embossed word "celebrate" The sentiment is from Unity.  .The fun look is completed with red tear drops from Classy Cards.
Sketch:       http://www.theunitystampco-challenge.blogspot.com/
Celebrate:   http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/08/ccns-challenge-100-100th-challenge.html

For a teacher - thank you

Whew!  We are close to officially beginning the next phase of our lives.   We just finished emptying and cleaning the motor home, and the new owner is coming tomorrow.  He will spend a few days with us getting accustomed to it.  This will be the first time in over 55 years we have been without a camping vehicle of some kind (well, sort of - we started with a tent).  It is just getting to be kind of a hassle, which would diminish the future enjoyment.  It has been a great time for us, but we are comfortable with this decision.  Who knew how much stuff we could get in that vehicle - and now the challenge is to sort, store and sell those items.
Enough of that....'
This verse is from fivehearthome.  I used some apple DP, and a die for the corner apple and the books.  The other corners were completed with Tear Drops (Freedom set) from Classy Cards 'n Such.
A new technique:  I used a die with many pieces - and separated the apple and the books.
Sketch #43:    http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/p/papertake-sketches.html
School:      http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/
                   http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/  
                   http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/08/ccns-challenge-99-back-to-school.html
                    http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/
                    http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/

TLC HB

I am trying hard to use some items that have been around for a while but have never made it to one of my cards!  This pre-colored digi is from TLC (Thank you!!).  The strip is part of a bag of goodies from a yard sale.  There were several long paper strips - not sure of the origin but I thought the colors complemented the image and met the color challenge.  I added a scrap of DP that me from a DCWV Spring pad - several years ago.  I have a little envelope stuffed with punched flowers from one of the gals at WishRAK (SplitCoastStampers).  I added some of the clear Tear Drops (Freedom set) from Classy Cards.
Sketch:    http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Colors:  http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/08/ccns-challenge-98-color-inspiration.html
Pattern Paper:  http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:        http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/08/dlart-august-linky-challenge.html
Inspiration - pink:  http://www.craftindesertdivas.com/search/label/Linky%20Party

Birthday Cupcakes

The image is from my stash - colored with shiny and metallic gel pens.  I added some Washi tape, a sequin with a rain drop center.  It does not seem to show, but I had a bit of an accident with the glue, so used some glitter - on the cake, candles, and flowers of the embossing.  The mats are a favorite cs - Stardream Metallic Neptune, from Classy Cards.
Sketch:    http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/ 
Food:       http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
                 http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/
Glitter:    http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges.blogspot.com/
Colors:    http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/
Favorite color - this time it is the emerald green, contrasted with white:      
                 http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/