Gatefold engagement card for grandson

 I don't make many cards with multiple folds  -  but our grandson's engagement is an event worth commemorating with a special card.  I used Spellbinder's Labels 4 die to cut the image and to create a window for it. I used my ScorPal to create the folds.   My "surprise" includes images of a firefighter and nurse (Dearie Dolls pre-colored) which I cut out and placed on the inner panels.  Our grandson is a hot shot firefighter - in Alaska this summer.  His fiancee is a travel nurse.  Both really enjoy the outdoors - fishing is a high priority - and I had enough of this paper for the front of the card.
The photos do not show this, but the base is double sided cs - I cut the mat and the letters from the side which also forms the back of the card.
I most likely will not make many of these cards - for me, very time consuming!  I realize the delicate image does not quite go with the outdoorsy DP - but I wanted to incorporate the heart theme as well as references to the interests of the couple.

CHALLENGES ENTERED:

Trio (3 visible Labels 4; 3 words):  Simon Says Stamp Monday

More than one score, with a surprise:   Scor-Pal

Gate fold card:   Art Impressions

Things that make me happy (family):   Cut it Up

Anything but square:   Delicious Doodles

Hand made bow:    Craft-dee Bowz  

Pattern Paper:    Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper.

Hero (hot shot firefighter, nurse):  Cardz4guyz

Any:  Digichoosday 

Technique practice

I have decided it is time for me to make use of some of the many written and video tutorials that I have been watching and saving!  Another goal is to make use of some of my recent and neglected purchases.  I am not overly happy with this result, but it is against my nature to discard anything unless it is really bad!!!
The AI crew have done a lot of how-to videos on many topics, including water coloring.  They make it look so easy.  Well, it may be easy for them, but I need to work on my skills.  The background is another story. I used a few drops of reinker -- I just placed them on a used gift card.  I used a second gift card to pick up some of the color, and kind of spatter it on the water color paper.  Next time I will spritz some water for a softer look.  For the left panel I mixed blue and avocado.  The right hand side .used avocado ink.  With a tooth pick I spread out some gold glitter glue - probably a bit too heavy handed for my taste.  I used some of the same glitter glue along the edge of the green mats as well as on the rocks.
My hint - I save a small paper cutter with a very dull blade which I use to cut when I want to achieve a bit of a distressed look.  For me, that is easier than tearing.
I used watercolor paper for the image  (AI Windows to the World) and the bg.   That is why the verse around the image is a bit blurred.
Sketch:  Sketch Saturday.
Bling:   Art Impressions
Sea:   Delicious Doodles
Summer (enjoying a lazy boat ride):  Frilly and Funkie 
Any:    Through the Craft Room Door
             Crafty Creations
             Inspiration Destination

Serene farm scene

Recently I have seen several beautiful cards that feature lovely backgrounds as a base for silhouette images.  Some are sponged and some are "squished".  I decided to try my hand.  I used various Twinkling H20 inks with an aqua pen.  I have several colors of this ink but still was somewhat limited - though I am pretty happy with the result.  (I painted the base cs in the location where I knew the digi would be printed.)
Digi - Beccy's Place Nell's Cottage;  Twinkling H2O ink; Spellbinder circle dies;  Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU sentiment (very old!); twine, scrap of DP, green cs.  For my snippets I used a bit of twine and small pieces of green to back the DP, as well as a bit of cs for the sentiment.
Sketch:  Mojo Monday
"Snippets"    Pixies
Go Green:   Crafty Cardmakers
Going round in circles:   Whoopsie Daisy
Add green:   Delicious Doodles
Dies:    Happy Little Stampers
Any:   Beccys Place

QKR - Things with Wings (DT card) meets SCS Dare to Get Dirty - TexasGrammy

The weekly challenge at  QKR Stampede is "things with wings".  I have used this image before, but I like penguins, black and white, and COOL!  (We have had mostly 100+ temps the past couple of months!)  The image is Penguin on Ice by QKR, and the sentiment is from the sister company Eureka. I made my own background using a spatter technique with an aqua pen and black re-inker.  I added a favorite sparkly cord and shiny gem, as well as some glitter on the ice.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:    Tuesday Morning Sketches
Creatures:     Delicious Doodles
Sparkle:    Allsorts
Glitter:      Sparkle n Sprinkle 
Summer:   Animal Friends
Hot summer days:   Country View 
Favorite embellishment:  Crafty Friends
Any:    Doodle Pantry 
            Jo's Scrapshack 
            Digital Delights 
            A Bit More Time to Craft
            Classic Design Team
              
 

Another blue Christmas

We have had a fun couple of days visiting with our oldest grandson, his new wife, and his younger brother.  It is the first time they have visited us in our AZ home.  Now back to crafting!  I really simplified this layout - added LifeStyle crafts die cuts for the corner pieces, and some ivory half pearls in the corners.  I need a different embossing folder for Christmas - here are the snowflakes again!
Sketch:  http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/
Non traditional Christmas colors:  http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/
Christmas:  http://www.throughthepurplehazechallenges.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (blue, cream):  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Uplifting:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/Freestyle:  http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/
Any:  http://treasuredtimesrubberstampschallenges.blogspot.com/
         http://craftcreatoins.blogspot.com/p/new-challenge.html
         http://avenue613.blogspot.com/

Christmas in Gold and White

This card is layered on a white base.  The gold comes from a large gift bag - I often buy the metallic ones at the Dollar Tree - there is a lot of paper to use!  This one is actually a little too "intense" for my taste - I embossed with the Cuttlebug textile folder, and that tones it down a bit.  I layered some sheer ribbon on the strip.  There are snowflakes at the top and distressed stripes on the bottom, with a computer generated sentiment.  Tip - I created a full page of sentiments with slight variation in wording and shape - so I have a ready choice.  The image is by Stampendous.
Sketch (rotated):  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
White:  http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/
Sentiment:  http://melonheadzfriends.blogspot.com/Holiday sentiment:  http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
 Bling:  http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/
Let it snow:   http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/
Traditional Christmas:   http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.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/   
                                   

 

Digi frame

First of all, a personal note.  Please include in your prayers the people in Colorado affected by the many fires.  Our daughter and son-in-law had to evacuate last night.  They managed to pack up quite a few important items, and had help to get their vehicles, including a fifth wheel.  We have been watching tv and internet sites all day to try to figure out the affected Black Forest area.  As of tonight, it seems they are just a couple of miles from the SE edge of the fire - so far, the strong winds have been in their favor - but the last report we heard indicated close to 100 homes destroyed.  With little or no containment, that number is going to increase.
As a result, this card took me forever to complete - I was pretty distracted.  I tried the freebie from Delicious Doodles, then was not sure how to use it!  I hand cut the borders including butterflies.  I colored with Prismas and gel pens.  The "leaves" are from the Cheery Lynn wreath die - available at Joan's Gardens.  She also has many CB and Spellbinder items.  I used the CS Swiss Dots for the hot pink layers.
Sketch:  http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Digi frame:  http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/
Pink, black, embossing (oops - I used a circle rather than oval - too distracted.  I will see if I can fix it.) http://www.atjoansgardens.com/

An angel to watch over you

I decided to use this angel on a spring like card - I have many friends who can use an encouraging word.  The image and Scripture are from the SU set On Angel Wings.  I used spring green cs and DCWV dp.  The embellishments are a gold cord, Spellbinders border die cut, and half pearls.
Sketch:  http://sketchyfriday.blogspot.com/
Angel:  http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/
1, 2, 3 (see above):  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Encouragement:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Green:   http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/

2nd Funky valentine

This is very similar to the previous valentine - for grandson #2.  I hope they are not too frilly!
Image - Penny Black, colored with chalk pencils and edged with chalk.  I used the actual piece of chalk to edge the cs, after having sponged lightly - I wanted a darker edge.  I filled the corner with stickers - did not want flowers on this one.  Sentiment by JustRite; tape by Basic Grey.
Sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/
Chalk:  http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/
Love:  http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
For a guy:  http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com/
celebrate valentine's day:  http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2013/02/challenge-51-lets-celebrate.html#comment-form

Pink hearts

I need a few valentines so these challenges are perfect!  I have used this hand made paper (hearts) before.  This time I added a Martha Stewart punched border, and a bit of pink lace.  The image is a digi - I have it labeled Heart Song - Rose Heart, but just now could not find the source.  I colored with Prismas and green Spica. The image has lots of open space - just right for the Fancy Pants sentiment.  The oval Nestie is embossed with LifeStyle Crafts Woven EF. 
Sketch:  http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/
Hearts:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Valentine:  http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/#
:Love:  http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/
Pink, white, heart and fancy border:  http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2013/01/this-weeks-challenge.html