Guest DT for DS4J "Dropping in"

It is my honor to be the guest designer for the mid-month inspiration post at Digi Stamps 4 Joy.  The challenge is Anything Goes - with the option of bright colors.  I selected this image - "dropping in" - so I could use bright colors for the parachute. The details are here.  I wanted to make a card for our granddaughter.  She is a member of Wings of Blue at the US Air Force Academy.  At last count she had some 450 jumps.  Of course, her parachute is much more subdued!
The bright stars DP is Recollections.  I chose the darker bg paper to look like a night sky - but the details do not show up on the photo!  It is embossed with my new cloud embossing folder.  Dotted ribbon, red gems, and the die cut greeting (Cuttlebug) complete the look.
Challenges entered:

Sketch (reversed):    Feeling-Sketchy
ATG - opt. "me time":   Creative Moments 
ATG with a critter:    2 Crafty Critter Crazies
All creatures:    House that Stamps Built
Inspiration - colorful transportation:   Give a Crafter a Cookie
Any:   Crafters Castle
 

Surprise Kitty DT card for Crafter's Cafe World Art Day

This  is my DT card for the new challenge at the Crafter's Cafe.  We are recognizing World Art Day by creating works of art or using artistic techniques. That sounds like just about anything card makers would do - so be sure to get your entries in!    Take a look at the blog to see the artistic creations done by my fellow DT members as well as to check out the details of he challenge.
 Here is my framed portrait of Surprise Kitty by Knitty Kitty Digis.  You can buy this cute image at their store here.  I colored her with Prismas and Twinkling H20's- to add a bit of shimmer to the cake.  The words on the bg paper include "I love my kitty" and Purrrrrrrr....
Challenges entered
Sketch:   Cheerful Sketches
Critter:    2 Crafty Critter Crazies
Any cat:    Show us your Pussies
Any:   Creative Moments
            Crafters Castle. 
            Angies Digital Stamps
 

My debut as a member of the Crafter's Cafe DT

I am excited to join the Crafter's Cafe Design Team, beginning today.  There will be a new challenge on the 1st and 15th of each month.  This time the challenge is to use dies or punches.  You may have as many as 3 entries, but please limit the number of challenges per entry to 10. My card features the Eureka image called Love Potion.  The sentiment is also by Eureka.
I used Spellbinder circle dies.  The base die cut is from their Majestic Element set.  Hard to see in the corner are a couple of punched butterflies.  The background papers come from a kit by Kanban. 
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:   Stella Says Sketch
Focus on  a sentiment/verse:    Allsorts
                                                     Double D 
Layers:     Creative Knockouts
Any:          Creative Moments 
                   Simon Says Stamp Wednesday 
                    Word Art Wednesday
                    Day Dreamer
 
 

Merry Christmas to you

I know that I will not "see" many of you again this week - or maybe this year - Thanks to all the DT members and others who visit my blog.  I am not very good at getting back to you, but you are so appreciated.  May you have a most blessed holiday season, whatever it is you celebrate.  I am especially thankful for the assurance that the Christ child came to sacrifice Himself for us.
This is one more card for me - I heard the other day that someone being visited by a member of our church visitation team needed to have his mail picked up.  When that was done, all he received in a week's worth of mail was a couple of pieces of junk.  I am sending something so he does get mail.  He does not see well, so I printed a greeting inside in super large font.
Snowflakes - CB folder plus glitter;  Stamp - no name;  Chevron washi tape;  Cheery Lynn Blessings die; shimmery aubergine cs for bg.
Sketch:  http://yournextstamp.com/blog/
 Snow/Christmas:   http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.com/2014/12/decembers-challenge-is-snow-and.html
                                http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
Special occasions:  http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/
Shimmer/glitter/sparkle:  http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.ca/
                   http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Uplifting:  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Christmas:  http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.com/
Non-traditional Christmas colors:  http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/
Christmas with a twist - non traditional colors with glitter and snow:  http://suzysmarty1.blogspot.co.uk/ 
Any:   http://livelaughstamp.blogspot.com/search/label/challenge%20at%20MCM
           http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/2014/11/december-2014-challenge-links.html

Monochromatic Sympathy with vellum

I will take this to our Bible Study this week for members to sign - a member of the class succumbed to cancer  a few days ago.  This will go to his wife and family.  It is 4.5x6.5.
Supplies:  vellum (overlay for butterflies and branches); Cheery Lynn dies, CB Victoria embossing folder, SU Natural Beauty image, Prismas, ribbon; medium and light sage DP; half pearls.  My color choices were dictated by the envelope I had on hand for this size card!  Embossing folders and die cuts are my go to ways to add texture - easy and versatile.
Sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/
Any, with pearls and swirls:  http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/
Vellum:  http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/
Monochromatic:  http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/little-claire-monthly-challenge-42.html
3d texture #137:  http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/
                       http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
Butterfly:  http://cuttinandstampinchallenges.blogspot.com/
Green:  http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/

Asian in the round

I am very late for this week's Tuesday Teapotters challenge at SplitCoastStampers.  I only got a bit of the theme - using Scripture, but I am sure to have dessert - an Asian inspired card.  We are sending encouragement to a woman of South Korean origin who is suffering from a rare terminal brain tumor.  For the following sketch I decided to go with a round card, cut by my Vagabond machine - you can see it is slightly connected to the back of the card.  I have not tried cutting through the double thickness - worked like a charm.  So that is a new technique for me.  I have had this Asian cs (DCWV) for several years - kind of forget to use it.  It is nice to have several coordinating patterns.  The bg circle is a mauve metallic cs.  I had cut the scalloped card base in white, then decided it was too stark, so I chalked the edges with SU Perfect Plum.
Sketch:  http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/
Layers:   http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Pearls:  http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/
Encouragement:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/

John's birthday

We missed a friend's birthday last week, so needed to make one quickly and get it in the mail.  He is an avid golfer who bears no resemblance to this Ralph (Rubbernecker).  The autumn bg has some leaves - hope you can see them.  I added a bit of ribbon and Washi tape.
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Fall colors with leaves: /http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/
Any fall colors:  http://houseofgilli.blogspot.com/
Fall:  http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/
"For the boys"   http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Leaves (BG paper):  http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Autumn colors:  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Autumn is here:  http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Sunny summer holiday

I have spent a lot of my stamping time this summer filling orders from friends/customers.  In fact, this is for an order that I have had to set aside, and it is time to get to work.  A friend, close to 90, still travels from place to place according to the season -though no longer in her RV.  She does spend several months each year at an RV resort near Kino Bay, Mexico - with her boy friend!  I have some humorous "inside" verses she likes, and she requested that I make several cards for her girl friends - I think this is a perfect image - they will have a giggle from it.  The image is in my stash of items from friends at Wish RAK (SCS) so I do not know the name.  I used Prismas in colors to match the DCWV Summer DP, and the backing is a deep burgundy.  There is glitter on the hats and glasses (as well as on me), and a sparkly center for each flower.  I used my Cuttlebug to cut the rectangle scalloped die,  My computer has been cropping (on its own) the top - there is also a half sun tucked in the corner - it is from the CB Olivia die set.
Sketch:  http://www.sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.com/
Holiday:  http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/
Summer:  http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/
Fun in the sun:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
Sparkle:  http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/:  

Girl Friends with Flowers

These Art Impressions Girl Friend stamps are adorable - and So popular in my age group LOL!  They are colored with Prismas, and surrounded with dots, stripes, and Petaloo flowers.  I prefer to not endorse adult beverages, but this caption just went with the image!
Sketch:  http://www.sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.com/
Flowers:  http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/
Stripes:  http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/
Flowers:  http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/
Summer Blooms:   http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/

Summer fun on the beach

This Cool Cat is a Hambo digi.  I colored with Prismas, and used Ranger Enamel Accents (white) for the cat - I think you can see a hint of the texture.  I added a scrap of DCWV summer DP, some twine, and a die cut sun (from the CB Olivia alpha set.)  In case you are wondering, I am not sure what that pink liquid could be...
Sketch:  http://www.sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.com/
Summer fun:  http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Summer fun:  http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Beach:  http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/
Sunny weather:   http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/