Feb 15 challenge at the Crafter's Cafe

Lil patch of CaftyFriends

The current challenge at the Crafter's Cafe is to use embossing and/or fancy folds - take your pick!  I chose to emboss the background - this time, I embossed both the pink mat and the white layer using a Quick Cutz Vine folder.  The image is the Old Roses Frame  from our sponsor Morgan's Art World.  If you look at the other DT designs you will notice that I flipped the image - I think it works either way!  You will also notice that I am still struggling with coloring due to macular degeneration,  I used Twinkling H2O's for a shiny finish. This is inspired by the song "Red Roses for a Blue Lady".   I hope we see you at the challenge!
 All things bright and beautiful:  Stamping Sensations
 Anything but a Square:  Addicted-to-stamps-
Typography:   Smon Says Stamp Monday
Love Song:   Cut it up 
Any:  Lil Patch of crafty friends
           Angies
            Crafters Castle
             Corrosive Challenges  

Crafter's Cafe DT card for challenge 205 - black, white, one color

The current #205, at the Crafter's Cafe is to use black and white with one color. This adorable angel from Cute as a Button just seemed to need to be surrounded by gold!  I prepared several of the angels while doing this card, so I will be prepared to make a few more Christmas cards.
Details:  O Holy Night image by Cute as a Button;  Snowflake embossing folder by Cuttlebug; unknown DP; glittery gold mesh and cheer gold ribbon; gold glitter, Spellbinder oval dies; Twinkling H20 Egyptian gold.   (I do not do well with adding glitter, and I wanted to use some sparingly on the angel's wings and robe.  I made a wash of white glue and water to paint on designated areas, then added some Tinsel embossing powder by Recollections - then heat embossed.  This achieved the desired result.
We hope you will join us at the Crafter's Cafe for the current challenge.  And we have special news for this challenge:

"The still new Double Trouble Challenge, held on the1st and 3rd Mondays of each month, coincided with our October 1st challenge. We have joined for a linking up of the Black, White plus 1 colour,

If you decide to link your project on both challenges, you have a chance of be a randomly selected winner at The Crafter's Cafe and also  a randomly selected winner of Double Trouble  where the prizes are: If you are in North America, you will receive their "Bag of Things" and if you are outside of North America, you will receive a monetary gift from a popular digital company!  That gives you a chance of winning one of five prizes."

 Check it our here:  Double Trouble Challenge

Challenges entered: 

 Sketch  #291:  Sketch Saturday

Favorite color:    Dare2bartzy.

Christmas comes early:   Addicted-to-stamps-

"B" - black, border:   Sir Stampalot

Any:    Simonsaysstamp Wednesday

             House that stamps built 

             Scrapyland 

                        

 

The Crafter's Cafe challenge #204 - DT card

• Challenge #204 at the Crafter's Cafe is to follow a seasonal theme - either spring or fall.  Here in Arizona it is hard to think of anything but summer - the forecast is for close to 110 on Saturday!  That being said, as fast as this year is passing by, Halloween is really just around the corner!  This cute Halloween Sign  image is from Paper Nest Dolls.  I used several scraps of paper from a collection by The image is colored with water color pencils and an aqua pen, and I added some shiny gems.
• Please join us with a maximum of 3 entries over the next two weeks - you will have a chance at one of several prizes.  
• Sketch:   Cheerful Sketches
• "B" - bat, black:   Stamping Sensations
• 3 or more layers:   Crafty Gals Corner 
• Fall:  Aud Sentiments
• Critter:   2 Crafty Critter Crazies
• Any:   Pammies Inky Pinkies 
•             Sum More Fun     
•             Paper Nest Dolls

Shepherd boy

Image - Recollections, colored with water color pencils (which I have not used much recently); Sentiment - Hampton Art; glittery star; Washi tape; Distressed stripes embossing folder.
Sketch:   Mojo Monday
Christmas:   Penny Black at Allsorts
                      Imagine that Digistamp
                      Stamping Sensations
Any - twist-different coloring:  Julia Spiri
Any:        Word Art Wednesday      

Christmas 2015 #43

(The bottom of the card seems to be absent!  Sorry...)
Another in my series.  The stamped image was an RAK; I added a die cut tag with computer sentiment; strip of ribbon, embossed panels.
By the way - Inspired by stamping team - I have not been able to contact you by e-mail or comment - some kind of computer glitch.
Sketch:         https://joannamunster.com/2015/12/15/ibsic-101/
Die crazy::   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Any:             http://liastampz.blogspot.com/        
                     http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ 
Stamp and ribbon:    http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/

                     

Christmas 2015 #41

This continues my series of similar yet different cards using an unknown image received as an RAK.  I used shimmery silver cs (Recollection) and added some shine with ribbon, glitter (on branches), and metallic gold on the star.  The sentiment is computer generated matted on a Spellbinders Labels 43.  The DP is from my stash.  I used torn edges to add contrast. The branches are Cheery Lynn dies.
Sketch:                   http://scrappingeverydaymiracles.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-12-09T06:00:00-05:00&max-results=2
Christmas::             http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/Shine and sparkle:  http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.ca/
Stamp and ribbon:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:                         http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
                                  http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com.au/

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/ 

Pastel wedding

A friend asked me to make a card similar to one I had done earlier - especially the pale peach and cream.  I used Nestabilities Majestic Element ovals.  I inadvertently did not cut through one of the dies - and I like the way the two (or is it three?) outer ovals remained attached.  I added Swiss dots embossing, a Cheery Lynn butterfly, a bit of lace and sheer ribbon, and drops.  The clear drops are available in a number of sets at Classy cards 'n Such.
Sketch:     http://sweetsundaysketch.blogspot.com/2015/06/sweet-sunday-sketch-challenge-272.html
Wedding:  http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge/
                   http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/2015/06/ccns-challenge-88-june-wedding.html 
Spots and Dots:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Die cuts:     http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/     http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/

Celebrating Mom

This Tilda With Heart is holding a heart to greet her mom!  She is colored with Prismas, and metallic pens for her leggings.   The mats, button die cut, and letters are from eggplant cs.  The swirly ef is Cuttlebug, and the pink dot cs is DCWV - part of a great prize I just received through Hiding in my Craft Room (You will see a lot of this in future posts.)
Sketch:  http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
Any:      http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/
              http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/
Tilda:    https://tildastown.wordpress.com/
Spots and dots:   http://digichoosday.blogspot.co.uk/
Holiday - Mother's Day:  http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/
Mother's Day:     http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/
Girls:     http://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/
               http://marvelousmagnoliachallenge.blogspot.co.uk/      
Pink:      http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
Magnolia/children:   http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/

Thank you #8

Another version, using the Cuttlebug folder and an old sentiment stamp, with chalk to color the flowers.
Chalk:  http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/
Blooms:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/

Darla's baptism

In our church we practice infant baptism.  On Sunday, parents who are not members of our church brought their year old daughter to be baptized.  This is a cause for celebration and most definitely a new beginning.  These colors are not very frilly/feminine for a little girl, but I wanted to use some of the DP from the Paper Studio Faith collection - I think the butterscotch cs helps to lighten it.  I used the Spellbinder Majestic Elements ovals,  I am trying different ways to use this set.  You can see that i used a middle sized die for the main verse.  The layer under is cut with the same die and the next larger - which creates two pieces.  I put them back together with tiny bits of scotch tape., and adhered this to the bg square.  Oh, yes - I used a piece of DP the same color as the square with crosses - since I wanted contrast I sponged burgundy ink to match the DP designs.  The scallops are a Martha Stewart punch,  The main verse is SU, and the blessings is a part of a sticker from Dazzles (Hot off the Press.)  I have a special verse for the inside, including her name.
Sketch:  http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/04/april-month-long-choose-your-challenge.html
Die/punch:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
 Beginning: http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2014-04-10T06:30:00%2B01:00&max-results=10
Sentiment:  http://flatfriendschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
Uplifting verse:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Yellow (butterscotch):  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Lots of layers:   http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/
Ink on paper:  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.com/

Swirly pink and white

(The blotchiness is not a part of the original photo.)  For the challenge at Love's Rubber stamps we were to use ugly papers.  I have a bit of the trellis-like dp showing - actually, it probably is not really ugly, but just looks that way after I have had it in my stash for several years.  It was part of a stack (DCWV, I think) that was one of the first I purchased - I am down to one more small scrap of this print!  The scrolls are in the frame, and the floral image is by Verve.  The frame embossing folder is available at Joan's Gardens.  I also used Versafine Tuxedo black ink, and my hard working Vagabond machine - both also available there - http://www.atjoansgardens.com/.  The lattice strip is a Cuttlebug die.
(Oops -the sketch I used has closed.  Oh, well...)
Ribbon and bow:  http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/
Pink and white, lattice, flower, item from Joan's Gardens (see above):  http://www.joanstouch.com/
Ugly paper:   http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Pink:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
Spring:  http://stamplorations.blogspot.ca/2014/03/march-challenge-stamps-spring.html
Swirls:  http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/

Quail in Kraft

Perfect sketch and stamp for a very quick (for me) card - and I will have to come back with more info.
Stamp - Copper Leaf Creations  Kraft cs; misc d[; cord
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Kraft:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
            http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/
Birds:  http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge/#comment-4305
Wings:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
This is a man's world:   http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

Vintage, in Sympathy

 

I used this pattern paper and the Textile embossing folder (Cuttlebug) to give this card a vintage feel.  (The textile reminds me of the textured tin ceilings - a restaurant we used to frequent had one),  I used a scrap of glossy cream CS for the embossed piece and the sentiment - though the ink does not take well. I added small strips of paper with a hand made look, and placed turquoise ribbon over that.  It has been a long time since I tried the "faux bow" and I am not sure I did it correctly.  (I made two parallel slits, and threaded the ribbon - first down, then up through the opposite slit.)
It is my first time to use this Verve set, New Mercies, my recent prize at Mojo Monday - yeah!
Sketch:  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Sympathy:  http://www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/
Vintage:  http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/
             http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/2014/01/vintage-distressed-shabby-chic.html
New:  http://heckofachallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
           http://greatimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenge
Ribbon and bow:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
    http://hobbyhousechallenge.blogspot.com/
 Any:   http://flatfriendschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Joshua's graduation

We just heard that the son of friends of ours graduated in December - so this is pretty much a belated congratulations card.  Since it was so late I decided not to make it look so much like graduation.  I saw Erin's sample card at Clear it Out, and used it for a case/inspiration for this masculine look.  (used:  wood grain dp (from my very old stash!); Cuttlebug Congratulations embossing, Washi tape (the design looks like an arrow); a freebie verse from TLC (Thanks so much - perfect for my greeting); button dies tied with cord. For a simple card, I met a lot of challenges!
Sketch:  http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/
Sketch:  http://seemsalittlesketchy.blogspot.com/
      This is a cross challenge!
CASE Erin's card (stash item - DP):  http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any (with sentiment):  http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Bow and dies:  http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/
Wood (DP):  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
Button and bow :  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
A for arrow:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/ 
Their digi: 
Bingo - row 3 - digi, sentiment, embossing):  http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
Uplifting sentiment:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Joanne's birthday

 

This is for a friend from church.  Her birthday is right after Christmas.  She has been undergoing cancer treatment, and can use a bit of a lift.  The Stampin Up image and Basic Grey paper and doily have been in my stash (From Splitcoaststampers WishRAK) for several years.  The irridescent gems are by Recollection, as is the sentiment.
Sketch, with stash items: http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any, with Basic Grey papers: http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
 Any:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Colors:  http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-12-18T08:00:00-05:00&max-results=4
Any:  http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/

For Phyllis

This is not quite so shiny IRL!  I neeed a quick card to cheer a friend who is in a lot of pain following surgery.  I have had this ribbon that I do not use on regular Christmas cards, so I thought I would combine seasonal colors with an encouraging message.  Thanks to Hayley at the Sunday Stamps blog for the inspiration.
Sketch:  http://sundaystamps.blogspot.com/
P - for Psalm:  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/
Free and easy - any:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/

Guest Designer at High Hopes

High Hopes sketch - Challenge 188

How exciting!  This is the card I created as a guest designer for the challenge this week at High Hopes - so appropriate, as sketches are probably my favorite challenge - nearly every one of my cards has a sketch challenge as the starting point.   I used a previous prize from High Hopes - Country Garden.  The pinks are an inspiration from Stamping Sensations.  Coloring is by Prismas.  Another favorite technique is to sponge embossing (CB Happy Birthday folder) with chalk.  Both DP patterns are by My Minds Eye.  Some butterflies (Marvy) complete the card.  It is 4.5 x 6.25, since it is a large image.  This card is already on its way to my sister-in-law, who enjoys her garden a lot.
Sketch:  http://highhopesstamps.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (pink flowers):  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
Chalk:  http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/
Birthday:  http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.ca/
How does your garden grow?:  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Woman's Birthday:  http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/

A doily for a birthday card

The doily is the bg for the JustRite Birthday Celebrations circular border and sentiment.  Other items:  Basic Grey paper ribbon, Cheery Lynn butterfly, Petaloo flowers, Cheery Lynn leaf border, blue grey crystals.  To create the correct color, I used an aqua pen and metallic teal reinker to color the smaller flowers.  The larger one has a sparkly finish.  The circles are cut with Nesties.
Sketch (summery colors):  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
Layers:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Use a doily, with Just Rite stamps:  http://justritestampers.typepad.com/justrite-inspiration/justrite-friday-challenge/

Summertime Blossoms

For some reason these blossoms (SU Petal Prints) are much less subtle IRL than on the screen - sorry they are so pale.  The sentiment is Recollections.  I used an EK Success punch, and included the punched flowers.  The edges are done with an edging scissors.
Sketch:  http://ynschallenges.blogspot.ca/
"B" (blossoms):  http://drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/challenge-76-letter-b.html
Summer blooms:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/http:
Flowers:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Summertime (garden flowers):  http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/