Card for hubby

Image by AI, colored with chalk pencils;  herringbone embossing folder, lightly sanded; teal washi tape; unknown sentiment.
CHALLENGES:  
Sketch:   Sketch Saturday
Masculine/ father's Day:   Double Click Connections 
                                             Craftin Desert Divas
                                             Jo's Scrapshack 
                                             Polkadoodles
                                             Dragonfly Journeys
Colors (orange, sand, shades of teal):  DRS
Any:     Inspiration Destination

Black and White with red

This silhouette is one of my favorite images from Beccy's Place.  I like the image, and I also really like black and white!  I thought the tiny red  punches at the corner echoed the main items on the image - not sure if they are flowers or seed pods, or...  (Gardening is not my forte!).  I added glitter to the tiny butterfly as well as the flowers of the image.
Sketch:                                 VLV Sketches - 1
Black, white, bit of color:   Craftin Desert Divas
Glitter:                                 Sparkle n Sprinkle
Any:                                      Beccys Place

Happy 90th, Peggy

A friend is celebrating her 90!  The DP is from Beau Papier, and the sentiment by the Rubber Cafe. The birds and flowers are enhanced with glitter.  I used Spellbinder oval dies and Cuttlebug numbers, and a Paper Pizzazz dragonfly brad.
Sketch:     VLV Sketches #2
Glitter:      Sparkle n Sprinkle
Spring:      Cuttlebug Mania
Wings:        Glitter n Sparkle
Layers:       Craftin Desert Divas
Creature:    Mod Squad Challenge
Any:            Creative Fingers Challenge
Personalize:          Incy Wincy Designs 
Sentiment focus:  Allsorts
Stamp and Die:    Penny Black at Allsorts  
Two+ dies:             Dis Digi Designs Challenge
                    

Arlene is 98!

This is for a friend of a friend - what a milestone!  The DP and sentiment are from a large pack of items from Kanban.  I am still experimenting with the Spellbinder Majestic Elements - I used the same black and shimmery Champagne cs that I used to create the card base.  The name and numbers are die cuts, and I added some sheer ribbon as well as a bit of glitter at both the top and bottom of the oval.
Sketch:              Die Cuttin Divas
Special lady:     Crafty Catz
                           Digichoosday
Ribbon:             The Stamping Boutique
Layers:              Frilly and Funkie
Any:                   Craftin Desert Divas 
                           Creative Fingers Challenge      
                           Simply Papercrafts   

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

Practicing CAS

I still struggle with CAS cards, and will readily admit that this is an attempt for me to improve in that style.  I wanted to see if I could use my Cuttlebug embossing frame and I think it works.  My computer skills (especially relating to graphics) are also lacking - I have not been able to figure out if I have a program that will allow me to reposition the digital image.  I printed this in a 4x6 layout and it is satisfactory.   I edged the layer with ColorBox Marigold ink.  The image itself is colored with chalk pencils and glittery metallic markers.  For the larger leaves I colored first with a regular green marker, and over colored with the glittery marker - this looks nice and sparkly IRL.
CHALLENGES:
A Day for Daisies image; use wood:    A Day for Daisies
One layer wonder:                                Clean and Simple on Sunday
No DP:                                                    Crafty Catz  
CASing Anita:                                       Stamplorations     
Inspiration colors, shape):                    Pinspirationa Cchallenges
Nature's Wonders:                                 Craftin Desert Divas
 CAS:                                                       Hiding in my Craftroom

Hearts and a rose for DH

I hope this is masculine enough.  Hubby is always so thoughtful - he wrote a poem and brought a rose for me (yes, already) - he always says he'd buy a million if he could.....awwwww...!1 After 58 1/2 years we just don't come up with much of anything new!
Enough of that...
I lucked out the other day as I popped in to JoAnn's - they had Darice folders at 6/$10 - this is one  that I came home with.   I had to use it.  The image came from A Day for Daisies, several weeks ago.  I colored with Brilliance ink and an aqua pen.  The tiny heart is part of the image but I cut it out and popped it up a little.  Die cuts by Spellbinders, and the heart ribbon from my stash.  I did the sentiment on the computer.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:      Sketch Saturday
Hearts:      Craftin Desert Divas
                   Deep Ocean Challenge
                   Whimsie Doodles
                   Double Click Connections  
                   Fresh Brewed Designs
                   The House that Stamps Built  
                   Mod Squad Challenge
Love:          Dies r us
                    Polkadoodle
                    Whimsy Inspires 
Use red:      Di's Digi Designs

Valentine:   The Paper Girls
                     The Paper Shelter
Any:            CCCdigicreations

To Ethan

Here is my second grandson card - another dog lover in his mid 20's - no frills for him!  I do really like making cards for these grandkids, as they appreciate my work and save their cards!  (If you have good ideas for 20 something males - all ideas are welcome!)  DP is from my Martha Stewart Valentine pack; I replaced the shamrock with a heart on the Dearie Doll image; finished with a bit of Washi tape and dog bone punches - might as well have a Valentine treat for Fido!
Sketch (turned):          Die Cuttin Divas
Valentine/heart/love:   DLArt
                                       Dream Valley Challenges
                                       Incy Wincy
                                       The Paper Girls
                                       Craftin Desert Divas
Animal:                         Crafty Friends
                                   

For Spencer and Hanna

It is so difficult to make cards, especially Valentines, for 20-something guys!  This grandson and his wife both love dogs - I found a Dearie Doll image for St Pats, and I covered the shamrock with a heart.    The DP is from a Martha Stewart pad - lots of cs but most of it more frilly!  I added a bit of Washi tape, and a circle die cut.
Sketch:   Tuesday Morning Sketches
Valentines/hearts/love:  Fan-tastic Tuesday
                                         DLART 
                                         Dream Valley
                                         Incy Wincy Designs
                                         The Paper Girls
                                         Craftin Desert Divas
                                         Die-cut-divas
Animal:                           Crafty Friends
                                      

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 

Snowy, white, mountain scene

If you live in the mountains you can relate to this!  It was lovely to see these snowy scenes as we drove to Colorado for Christmas.  We have had a lot of rain in AZ recently - we are very thankful that rain does not need to be shoveled, though we are concerned for those who have had way too much rain.
Image -new from  Our Daily Bread; Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossed in winter white cs; small panel and Cheery Lynn branch dies  cut from white on white cs; scalloped rectangles by Spellbinders
Sketch:                          Sketch Saturday
Winter:                          LawnScaping
White:                            Cheery Lynn 
Let it snow:                    Craftin Desert Divas 


 

Christmas 2015, #29 in red and green

Stamp by Stampabilities; red and green Washi tape; Cuttlebug Snowflake folder; green and white cs.
Sketch:                              http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
Christmas - red & green:  http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ 
                                          http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any Christmas:                 http://asnowflakespromise.blogspot.co.uk/
                                          http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/

Christmas 2015 #27

This was a very hard sketch for me - perhaps more so because I was using it for a Christmas card, and did not want too busy a look.  The DP is Paper Pizzazz, with a blue that has a purple tinge to it.   I punched the snowflakes, and used a Cheery Lynn branch die for the finishing touch - as well as a few sequins that could be considered antiques!  The stamp is Rubber Stampede.  The Christmas season is a favorite - first of all, Joy in celebrating the birth of Christ; then the Joy in family, decorations, being in touch with old friends through cards - and so much more.  This card is 4.5 x 4.5.  (Sorry for the strange layout - the appearance in "edit" is quite different from the final result.)

Sketch:   http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Sequins:  http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/ 
 Layers:   http://starstampz.blogspot.com/
Brrr...:     http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/
Christmas:   http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/                                       http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/search  /label/Linky%20Party 
Winter:   http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
Blue/white:  http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/
Fave Season:   http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
Get ready for Christmas:        http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/
Non-traditional Christmas colors: http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.ca/  

Christmas 2015 #26

First of all - can any one answer this question?  I usually use GP 110 cs (from WalMart) for card bases - I prefer to use the computer to print verses on the inside.  Some one told me that Recollection 110 (Michaels) is better - I got some - but it will not go through the printer.  My question - both say 110, but the Recollections seems twice as thick.  I thought 110 referred to weight and would be the same.  What does 110 really mean?  (I had anticipated the printer problem so am not overly disappointed - will just have to be more creative with those inside verses.)
Now to this card:    DP - Faith collection by the Paper Studio; snowflake folder (CB); stamp by Stampabilities.  It has a date of 2008 - I am sure I have not had it that long, but it has been in my collection for a few years - have not used it much recently.
Sketch:               http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/
Something old:  http://beccysplace.blogspot.com/
Christmas:         http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/11/dlart-thankful-thursday-challenge-169.html 
                           http://asnowflakespromise.blogspot.co.uk/ 
                           http://www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/ 
                           http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/search/label/Linky%20Party 
                           http://www.flonzcraft.com/vsc/2015/11/02/challenge-38-traditional-christmas/
Winter:              http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/     
 Any:                  http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.co.uk/

Christmas 2015 - #25 - glittery

One of the following challenges is for a quick card - I think that is a relative term but this was quick for me!  The bg tree is embossed with a QuickKutz folder, and snowflakes are embossed on the small panel.  Stamp by Ann-ticipation; a bit of blue for pop; snowflake punch.  I used much glitter on the snowflakes, and a bit more here and there (truth be told, on the back of the card as well!!)   I got the stamp at a yard sale, and I see the date on it is 1993 - but I think it is timeless,  As for the glitter - I bought a lot many years ago - think it must have been a lifetime supply!
Sketch:         http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Quick:          http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/
Glitter:         http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
                      http://12monthsofchristmaslinkup.blogspot.ca/
                      http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
White:           http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/monthly-stamp-challenge-63-christmas-in.html
                        http://liastampz.blogspot.com/
White & 1 color:   http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Christmas:     http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/search/label/Linky%20Party
Religious:       http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Insp by  "star of wonder" from "We three kings of Orient are..."   
                        http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Christmas 2015 #25

Image by Unity:  Classic circle, Majestic Element circles, Blooms Two dies by Spellbinders; Snowflake embossing folder by Cuttlebug
Sketch:                 http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Christmas:           http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/a-month-of-holiday-cards.html
                              http://asnowflakespromise.blogspot.co.uk/
                              http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/search/label/Linky%20Party
Traditional Christmas:       http://www.flonzcraft.com/vsc/
Song - O Christmas Tree:   http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
3 or more dies:                    http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Warm and cozy - thinking of gathering around the tree, with family members, and perhaps a fire burning, reading the message of the first Christmas - it doesn't get better than this:                                             http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.com/2015/11/warm-and-cozy.html

HB, Sister in Law

 Image and Sentiment- Sing to the Lord by ODB; chalk pencils; misc. DP from my stash; shimmery champagne cs; shiny gems; Spellbinders circle dies.  The strips at the bottom are kind of a glittery embroidered felt - several similar pieces were included in a bag of ribbons from a yard sale.  I am never sure how to use these strips!
Sketch:        http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (wildlife):    http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Fav. colors (this time, teal and beige):    http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/
Stamps:       http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Any:             http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
                      http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Christmas 2015 #15

It is time to work on Christmas cards again!
CS:  Shimmery champagne, red;  Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder; Unity stamp; Computer generated sentiment; ribbon; corner punch
Sketch  #4:               http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/p/link-list.html
White Christmas:     http://inkychicks.blogspot.co.uk/
Christmas:                 http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/
Fav. colors (I have a lot!):    http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/
Bingo (top row)        http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2015-09-21T07:00:00-04:00&max-results=3&start=2&by-date=false
Punch:                       http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Another for Anthony

This is to send to Anthony, a 14 year old who is suffering from a rare heart condition, and is very concerned about the prognosis.  The TeaPotters at SplitCoastStampers are sending cards to cheer him.  I find cards for teens and young men very difficult, unless I know specifically some of their interests.  The suggested theme was "be connected" - eg by train - well, I could not find a train but I thought this Monster Truck would work.  I used some shiny gel pens and chalk pencils to color the digi image by Anonymous stamps.  I used an embossing folder by LifeStyle Crafts to give the illusion of tracks - the red layer is also embossed.
The teapot challenge - feel free to join us if you would like:    http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/teapot-tuesdays-f260/mmtpt371-~september-8-2015~-blue-chip-we-beseech-thee-connections-just-key-t602785.html
Sketch:        http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
For a boy:   http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/
For kids:      http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/search/label/Linky%20Party
                      http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com.au/ 
Bright:          http://thepencilcases.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:              http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-09-06T07:00:00-04:00&max-results=3&start=6&by-date=false
                       http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/

Amazing Grace

Verse by Verve; Labels 6 die by Spellbinder; Spring DP by DCWV; lace; polka dot Washi tape; hummingbird by Cheery Lynn.  (The floral design and butterfly are part of the pattern paper)
Sketch #3:   http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Lace:           http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/
Colors:        http://www.craftindesertdivasblog.com/search/label/Linky%20Party
Sentiment:  http://greatimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenge
Any:            http://www.flonzcraft.com/vsc/2015/08/17/challenge-35-anything-goes/