Hi to Leah

We have a granddaughter who is spending this semester at school in New Orleans.  She is taking several culinary courses.  As I was browsing through some blogs earlier today I saw a digi of a pastry chef - but by now I totally lost track of where I saw it.  (Anyone know what I am talking about?)  A search resulted in a site called Broken Box, where I found this cutie - Baker Toodle (http://www.brokenboxstock.com/).  It is pre-colored - I changed the hair color, and added a few shiny touches, as well as her name.  My handwriting is terrible but I managed 4 letters!
Sketch:           http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/
Colors:            http://www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/
Orange:           http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.ca/search/label/challenges
Handwriting:   http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
For the kids:    http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com.au/

Shimmery stripes

This is definitely based on the inspiration card at Verve - Julee Tilman created a different take on the sketch and I wanted to try her version.  I started with the CB birthday embossing.  I have lots of neglected Twinkling H20 inks, so I selected an aqua - IRL it adds a nice shimmer.  The mat and butterfly are cut from Stardream Metallic cs (Emerald green) which is available at Classy Cards.  Small clear crystals decorate the Cheery Lynn butterfly.
Sketch #5:     http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Embossing:   http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/08/ccns-challenge-96-adding-texture.html
Any:              http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
                      http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/

Get well, Gordon

I have used this image several times lately - I need another get well card for a guy.  Too many of these this summer...
Image - pre colored Dearie Doll, Verve sentiment; We R Memory Keepers DP;  Basic Grey epoxy sticker
Inspiration (circles, layout - Tenia's card):   http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/search/label/July%20CASEplorations
Pattern Paper:     http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/
Animal:     http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Any:           http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/  
                   http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com.au/  
                   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

This IS pink

Sorry about the color - IRL the paisley has various shades of pink, and the polka dots are also pink.  The mat is eggplant, not black.  The stamps are both from an old set by SU - Etruscan.  It has a nice variety of stamps I like a lot but forget to use - or just have so many others that I cannot possibly make good use of all of them.  I tried something new for the "flower".  The cut outs from the fancy circle were spread out on my desk, so I decided to try to put them together - and I am very pleased with the result.  It does get pretty thick where all the points meet, so I just used a sequin for a flat center.  There is glitter added, as well as the pink drops in the corners.
Sketch:     http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2015/04/lawnscaping-challenge-sketch-inspired.html
Pink:         http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
Thank you:  http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/
Glitter:      http://inthepinkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
Die cuts:    http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/
Sentiment:  http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
Hand made embellishment:  http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:          http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
                   http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/

A new garden gate

I just received the Marianne die (for the gate) as a prize at Creative Card Crew, and I have been anxious to try it.  I thought it would work to place the Day for Daisies cherry blossoms behind the gate.  When I got it put together, it seemed pretty bare just behind the gate, so I unstuck a bit and slid in the row of tulips with the sentiment (dollar bin stamp) - the best I could do to rescue what I had already done!  Next time I will make more of a scene.  I added a couple of Cheery Lynn branches, and Rain drops - the clear and many colors are available at Classy Cards 'n Such.  The cherry blossoms are subtly colored with pink pastel chalk pencils; the centers are brown gems from Hampton Arts.
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Spring:   http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
Sentiment:  http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/
Colors (shades of blue):  http://www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/
Cherry blossoms:      http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/
Any:       http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/
Any digi:   http://doodlepantryblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/ants-in-my-pantry-digital-challenge-4.html

HB, Ethan

Our grandsons are in their mid 20's, and to me, this is a difficult time period for card making!  However, I am always on target with a dog for Ethan!  He will soon be heading to central Washington to fight forest fires again this summer - Grandma's prayer is for an uneventful season!
Supplies:  image, ribbon, bg DP from my stash; doggie DP from a pad I got at Big Lots; tiny bone punch - $1 bin.
Sketch:    http://feeling-sketchy.blogspot.com.au/
Two pattern papers:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Texture (ribbon, punches, distressed edges):  http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-04-09T08:00:00-04:00&max-results=4
                 http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/

Shimmery spring

Techniques/supplies:  Embossed butterflies using silver shimmer cs; Labels One, Majestic Elements dies (Spellbinders); sentiment by Verve;  glittery flowers by Petaloo, with pink gems; unknown DP - loose glitter added to highlight the flowers.
Sketch #2:   http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/p/link-list.html
Glitter:        http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges.blogspot.com/
Not square: http://digichoosday.blogspot.co.uk/
Bling:         http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/
Color:         http://drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/%E2%97%8B%20Challenges
                   http://www.frosteddesigns.blogspot.ca/
Pastel:         http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
Spring:       http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:           http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Little bit o' green

I do not do much for St. Patrick's Day - hope this is close enough!
Unkown image; misc. papers and cs, Sizzix wood grain embossing folder; Prismas and metallic gel pens; twine.
Sketch #3:  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/p/link-list.html
Green:        http://www.craftindesertdivas.com/search/label/Linky%20Party
Kraft with green:  http://www.thekraftjournal.blogspot.com/
Kraft:         http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/
Spots and stripes:  http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/
Embossing:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
For a boy:    http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/

dots, pink and burgundy

Supplies:  sentiment - part of a freebie set from Paper Sweeties;  Image - a Day for Daisies digi, colored with prismas, markers, and shiny gel pens;  glitter (on balloons); circle from Lovely in Lace collection; unnown dp- burgundy cs
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Inspiration - polka dots and colors:  http://papersweeties.com/category/blog/
Glitter:  http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges
Child play time:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Favorite color(s) (some of many!!!):  http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.ca/
Circles:     http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
Up in the air:   http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca/
Any:           http://www.scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/
                   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

Young at heart

We are rvers (at this point, summers only) - and we can relate to this!  Once again I am using one of the elements from the Art Impressions Pop ups sets - they have stamps with these images but these are pre-printed, pre colored punch outs - complete with sentiments and accessories. 
New:  AI Pop ups, ; SteamPunk embossing (Darice)
Other:  Jewel (shimmery) blue cs; Washi tape; pop dots
Sketch:  http://yournextstamp.com/blog/category/challenge/
Texture:  http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/
inspiration:  color and circles:  http://giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.ca/
No pattern paper:   http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/ 
Freestyle:   http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/#
Any (no digi):  http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/
Any:                 http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the RIde

New:  Another of the new AI pop-ups I just got - I could not decide which to purchase so I got one of each - as I look through them there are probably enough to make at least 100 cards! They are pre colored and scored to pop out of the cs base. The sentiment is part of the set.  I have this verse inside:
"I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose fitting clothing.  If I had any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!"
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/ 
Favorite color - I have many, but teal is right at the top of the list:   http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/
What's new:   http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
No DP:    http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
Any:    http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
             http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ 

Pair of cards

There is a month of Christmas card challenges at Beccy's Place (see link below).  One of the challenges is to be inspired by someone' card - not hard to do!  I thought it would be fitting to use one of the previous entries for this challenge, and I selected this one:

The original is here:  http://sunflowerytale.blogspot.com/2014/11/red-and-green.html?showComment=1416487217210#c250513200047620110  Thank you, Kre.
As usual, mine are not nearly as lovely as the inspiration ones.   The image is by Stampendous, and the small sentiment is an old one from Stampourri.  Blessings is a die from Cheery Lynn.  The gold is my recycling - from a very shiny gift bag, which is embossed with snowflakes (Cuttlebug).
Inspiration #19:  http://beccysplace.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-month-of-holiday-cards.html?showComment=1414839841807#c3699530758315813145
Bright:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
Recycle/repurpose:  http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/
Green:  http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
A pair:  http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/
Die & stamp (green card):  http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Any Christmas:  http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/
                           http://christmasstampin.blogspot.com/
Colored sentiment (green card):   http://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Ribbon, lace and pearls

The inside verse makes this suitable for a sympathy or thinking of you card.  The lace is from Wang.  THe image is SU Herb Expressions, and the EF is Victoria by Cuttlebug.
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Ribbon and lace: http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
                         http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
Lace and pearls: http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/
Any: http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/
"B" for Bow:  http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/

I'm back!

I have been MIA for just a month.  DH and I really enjoy cruising, so we were off on another relaxing jaunt.  This time we visited ports in western Europe, then crossed the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale.  It was all very enjoyable on board the Celebrity Infinity.  We did encounter some fairly rough seas, and had to miss Lisbon due to dangerous conditions.  We were not in any of the hurricanes, but we did visit Bermuda in the aftermath of two of them. 
There is still some unpacking to do, and more laundry waiting, but the draw of the craft table is just too great!  I am not much into Halloween (I know, I am bucking a trend...) but I thought this would work.  I used a digi from Anonymous stamps, and some papers from a fall/Halloween stack by DCWV.  I hope you can see the cobwebs and stars and moons.  The bird is a Cheery Lynn die cut from textured cs.
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Purple, lime, orange, black with a die cut:  http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/
Halloween colors:  http://melonheadzfriends.blogspot.com/
For the boys:   http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Haunted/Halloween:  http://anonymousstamps.blogspot.com/
                                   http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
                                    http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.de/
                                   http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/
                                   http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/   
                                   

 

HB Marilyn

My friend really likes black and white - she buys quite a few from me - so this worked well!  I used a variety of embossing folders, including just one line from the CB happy birthday  I stamped the second circle in grey to look a bit like a shadow. - and flipped it to the other side because of the shape of the stamp.  It is from a set from SU - I can never recall the names, and I am not home right now to check.
Sketch:  http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
Embossing:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Negative die

Don't you like it when elements for various challenges work really well?  At least, I hope you agree with me about them working well here...
I think I have close colors for the color challenge.  I used a very old ProvoCraft (Cuttlebug) border die to cut into the yellow strip - and used the actual die cut for the corner flourishes.  I think I will do this again.
The sentiment is by JustRite, and the image is in my stash from WishRAK at SplitCoastStampers. 
Sketch:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/
Colors - pumpkin, cherry, daffodil:  http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/
Negative die:  http://justritestampers.typepad.com/justrite-inspiration/justrite-friday-challenge/

Faith

I wanted to use this verse, but it did cause a bit of a struggle for me with this sketch - I hope the result is ok. 
Sketch:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/
Scripture:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Soccer mania

This stamp by YNS is called Corey.  After such excitement over soccer, this should be a good time to use it!  The DP is by Basic Grey, and the sentiment by Paper Smooches.  I colored with chalk pencils.
Sketch:  http://ynschallenges.blogspot.ca/
Sports:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/
For the boys:  http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com/

For Peyton

This is for the son of a friend who will be 14.   He is a big basketball fan.  I seem to have left all my basketball items at our house, so had to do clip art - I thought this basketball was great!  I see I forgot to circle the 14, but will do that.
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Sport:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/ 
For the boys:  http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com/

Blessings for you

This looks much more pink on the screen than IRL, where it seems rather subtle - not sure what happened!  The bg is ivory and I used tan, ivory and pink to color the ODB image.  The Blessings die is from Cheery Lynn.  I thought I could use this for a wedding card.
Sketch:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/
Ivory, pink, tan, white:  http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Any:  http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/
          http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/
wings:  http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/