CAS in red, white, blue

I placed a full sized red layer under the top of the card, to cover the back of the embossing, and to show through the punched edge (Fiskars).  Embossing - Cuttlebug stylized flowers; butterfly die - Cheery Lynn; 7Gypsies sentiment, glitter on the tiny flower topped with a gem; blue cs for the mat and the butterfly.
CHALLENGES:  
Sketch:   Share Joy
Red, white, blue:    Cheery Lynn
Birthday:      Allsorts 
                       AAA Cards
                       Polkadoodle 
                       Dies R Us  
                       Star Stampz
Flowers:        Pink Gem Challenge
Embossing:   Crafting for all Seasons
Glitter:      Sparkle n Sprinkle 
Wings:    Crafty Calendar
                       

Graduation - Jason

I try to use school colors for graduation cards - the school represented here did not really show colors, but, judging from uniforms and the graduation invitation, I think that black and burgundy are right.   You might be able to see that the top panel is burgundy, embossed with a portion of the Cuttlebug  Congratulations folder.  I lightly sanded this so some white will show through.  I used a bit of a Spellbinder banner die to "hang" the banner with the year on it.  Washi tape separates the embossed piece from the DP.
Sketch:    Iuesday Morning
Black and white, 1 color:   Crafty Creations
Banner:     Crafting for all Seasons
Any:    Creative Card Crew
             Through the Craft Room Door

Eureka Stamps challenge #189 - Buttons and Bows

This week for my Design Team card at Eureka Stamps I selected these adorable kittens - "Big n Little Cats".  The challenge is "buttons and bows, found here:   Eureka Stamps.   Both the image and sentiment are available as stamps or digi images at Eureka.  They have lots of cats - I may use them all for my granddaughters who really like their cats!  I thought this funky DP resembled the stripes on the kitty, and I completed the black and white design with polka dotted DP and ribbon.  If you look closely you will spot the button at the left. This completes the middle column for the tic tac toe challenge. 2 + 2 + 2   - 2 DP; 2 Embellishments (ribbon and button); 2 ovals.
 CHALLENGES ENTERED: 
Sketch:             Cheerful Sketches         
Monochrome:  Crafty Catz
Black &white:  Dies r us
Die Cuts:          Tuesday Throwdown
                           Starstampz
Polka dots:        Simon Says Wednesday
Stripes & dots: Chocolate Coffee Cards
2 + 2 + 2:           DRS Designs
Digi image:       Crafty Friends
Cats:                 Show us your pussies 
For a child:      Crafty friends
Tic tac toe:       Crafting for all Seasons
Critter:            Critters and Creatures
Any:                 Not Just Cards
                          Our-crafty-corner.
                          The paper nest dolls
                          Crafty Calendar
                          Crafty Sentiments 
                          Inspiration Destination 
                           
 

Eureka challenge #183 - paper piecing

The challenge this week at Eureka stamps is paper piecing.  This is a fun way to add texture and a bit of dimension.  It is also a great way to create a different look for items of clothing as well as other images.  I have learned that it is important to choose patterns carefully - I find that dainty patterns work best for me.  I used two different patterned papers - for the dresses, the ribbons in the hats, and the backgrounds. I used markers to add a touch of color to the flowers on the hats. I used a darker golden yellow for the mats, and a sheer gold ribbon to add a final touch - along with the shiny gems.  Here is another tip if this is a new technique for you - color the rest of the image (the part next to the pieced layer) before adhering the DP in order to achieve a well blended edge.  (I'll bet you can figure out how I know that!)  I recently read a tip to use Stickles around the edge of the main image - I tried it here, though you cannot really see it well on the screen.  It does a lot to highlight the image.  I lightly sponged the image and sentiment, and distressed the edge of the circle to give a bit of a distressed look.
The new Eureka image I used is Best Friends, and the new sentiment is also from Eureka.  It is a font I really like.
Sketch:                Share Joy Challenge
Spring (I used colors and the pretty dresses to represent spring):
                             Digitally Sweet 
                             Fresh Brewed Designs
                             Crafty Sentiments Designs
 Bingo:     Row 1 - sentiment, flowers on hat, gems:
                             The Paper Shelter  
Bingo - Row 2 -  distressing, new image, texture, ribbon: 
                             Fussy and Fancy
Touchy, feely:      Simon Says Stamp Wedneday
Ladies:                 Digi Choosday
Child:                   Fan- tastic Tuesday
Sparkle:               Crafting for all Seasons
Layers:                 Frilly and Funkie 
                              Craftin Desert Divas     
Any:                      Lemon Shortbread
                              Jo's Scrapshack 

Love in the RV park

For some of you this may seem a rather unusual card for the "love" themes.  However, we know several couple who have found love the second time around, after losing a spouse.  Many of these "more mature" couples have known each other for some time through associations in their RV travels.  This scene (Art Impressions pre colored and die cut pop-up) is realistic, but I must say our friends are better looking!  I added some of the layers from the set, but not all.  BG pieces are from a Martha Stewart collection, and one corner features embossed hearts from Darice.
Sketch:                    Sweet Sketch Wednesday2
Sunshine:                The Paper Girls
Hearts:                    Fresh Brewed Designs
Embossed hearts:   Cuttlebug Mania
Love is in the air:   Crafting for all Seasons
Love, love, love:     Art Impressions Stamps
Love:                       Frilly and Funkie  (funky)
                                 Lunagirl Moonbeams

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 2014 in blue

Since I do use the same image for most of our cards for the year, I am tiring a bit of the same look!  I did change out the colors here - thanks to the inspiration of this card:  http://www.rosemary-reflections.blogspot.com/2014/12/mojo-monday-374.html    It is one of the DT cards at Mojo Monday.  I added glitter to the snowflakes, and a bit of a metallic sticker strip between the DP panels.  The image is Stampendous, and the sentiment computer generated.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
"s" for snow, star:  http://suzysmarty1.blogspot.co.uk/
Snowflakes & glitter:  http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Present - brought by the Magi:  http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
Dec. holiday:  http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2014/11/dlart-thankful-thursday-145-any-winter.html
Traditional - the scene:  http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/
Tis the season:  http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/
Anything uplifting:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/http:
No red or green:  http://inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ 
Freestyle:   http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/

Final Love Fest 2014

This card completes an entry for the last of the Love Fest challenges at SplitCoastStampers - though I have some catching up to do on additional entries for a few of the categories.
Supplies:  Costco double sided cs; unnamed stamp; Charm ("faith" by Pizzazz Aplenty; pale green ribbon, half pearls.
Technique:  I used scoring for the horizontal elements at the bottom of the panels - it does not show too well here, however.  I also scored the corners of the sentiment layer.
Sketch:  http://ynschallenges.blogspot.ca/
Focal sentiment:  http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/
Spooled item:  http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/
Pearls:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Charm:  http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/
Inspiring:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/
           http://4kraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Sentiment is the focus

Supplies:  Verve New Mercies; Spellbinder Dies; Misc cs and papers; tear drops.  The teal strip is die cut, then embossed.  I think this color scheme and message is a good masculine one.
Sketch:  http://suzypantssmarty.blogspot.com/
Sentiment is the focus:  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
                                      http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/
Use 2 or more dies: http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
Uplifting: http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Masculine:  http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/

Love is...

I saw this sketch at Mojo Monday and knew what I wanted to do, but I am not sure the result is all that I had hoped.  I did incorporate a lot of "my" usual style - layering, embossing, die cuts.  The birds are from Cheery Lynn (Tiny Things with Wings) and the flourish (which I cut in sections) from Joanna Sheen.  They are cut from shimmery cs.  The bg is vellum , and the Love panel from Paper Studio.  The verse is computer generated.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
LOVE - L-love; o- ornate; v - vellum; e-emboss:  http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Love:  http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.com/
           http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ 
           http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/
Romance:   http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/
Flourish, + Cheery Lynn die:  http://cheerylynndesignschallenge.blogspot.com/
Personal style:  http://digidarlas.blogspot.com/
DP:  http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/

Fluffles in Pink

I have not used a Fluffles for a while - the pink challenge seemed just right for this cute kittie.  The sentiment is Paper Pretties.
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Pretty in pink: : http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Bright and beautiful:  http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/
Monochromatic:  http://liastampz.blogspot.com/
Any   http://lejdesignschallenge blog.blogspot.co.uk/
Cute and sweet:  http://suzypantssmarty.blogspot.com/
Pattern Paper  http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/

100 x 100 #2

This is the first time to use this cute digi - I very recently downloaded it from A Day For Daisies - thank you so much for a great gift!  I do have a little problem printing some of the digis I get - the logo stays there.  Fortunately, this layout allowed me to place a butterfly over the logo - I used a button die cut to anchor it.  For the recycle challenge (Sentimental Sundays) - thanks for the encouragement to dig in to my bin of recycled items.  I think this yellow striped piece is from an express envelope - chip board weight.  The image is colored with Prismas and gel pens.  The bg mat and border punch (Martha Stewart) are from Coredinations - not sure if the color looks right - IRL it is kind of a rusty burgundy.  I think this is a great color combination.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Altered (recycled) item:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Use yellow:  http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges
Bright and beautiful:  http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/
Border: http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
New (image):  http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
          http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/

Recess - back to school at the end of summer

U

I am pretty limited in my "school" images but this gal really looks like she is dressed for her classes. School starts so early in many places - summer and school kind of blend.   The Basic Grey "Hopscotch" DP reminds me of recess - I played a lot of hopscotch - over 65 years ago.  Does anyone still play it?  One of my "all star" items is the Cuttlebug - used here for the You folder.  Coloring image (A Day for Daisies digi) with gel pens and Prismas; ribbon, button, twin, flowers, gems added. 
Sketch:  http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/
Bingo (button, flower, ribbon):  http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/august-challenge-bingo.html
Use yellow:  http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/
School:  http://loriboyd2.blogspot.com/
              http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/
 End of Summer fun:  http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/
For the kids:  http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/

CASing Karen L

The Kraft Journal challenge this week is, for me, an intimidating one - copy your favorite designer.  First of all, these designers are favorites because I cannot possibly create a card as they can.  Additionally, I have so many favorites - too many to copy, and how to choose?  Well, I took an easy way out.  I simply chose one of my favorites from the inspiration for this challenge.  I could easily have selected any of them - all do great work - as do DT members for other blogs.  This is not to diminish the work and inspiration of Karen Letchworth.  Her work is lovely, and her comments are so thoughtful and encouraging.
Selecting this card also gave me a chance to try what I would call a "shabby chic" style - though maybe that is not the best term for a masculine card.  I used this cute turtle and funny saying - from my Wish RAK stash, so I am not sure where it came from.  This Paper Studio dp has leaves - more masculine - in colors that work well with Kraft.  I used a Memory Box stamp on some kraft, and then used the same stamp to edge the image - though I used a bit more than I should have.  The turtle is colored with a chalk pencil  I added twine, washi tape, an arrow by Basic Grey, pine branches by Cheery Lynn, and another sentiment.
Whew!  I finished with plenty of time to get ready for church!
Copying Karen:  http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com/
Office (twine, tag, tape):  http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Funny masculine:  http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/
Tag:   http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

And - a favorite for 2013, using Kraft:  http://www.thekraftjournal.blogspot.com/