Grungy

She just looks kind of grungy, right?  Colored with water color pencils, and backed with new to me K&Company paper (yard sale find).
Sketch:   Sketch Saturday
Grunge it up:   Rubbernecker

QKR Stampede DT card - Anything Goes Challenge #279

For this week's QKR Stampede Anything Goes challenge I used this adorable image - Bedtime Bear.  I distressed the edges and added a bit of chalk shading to the image as well as the edges of the patterned paper. The narrow strip between the papers is a sticker. The image and sticker are new to me.
The QKR Stampede challenge is open, with up to 3 entries, until 4 p.m. EST on Thursday.  
Prizes are given for a card using a QKR image and for one using any product.
Sketch:  Tuesday Morning Sketches
Critter:   2 Crafty Critter Crazies
New to me:   A2Z Scrapbooking 
                       Deep Ocean 
Distressing:    Tuesday Throwdown 
Any:    Angies Digital Stamps
            Crafting With an Attitude
            Crafters Castle 
            A Bit More Time to Craft 
            A Perfect Time to Craft 
            Classic Design Team
            Love to Scrap
            Love to Craft
            World Wide Open Design Team Challenge 
           

 
                       

HB, Ethan

Inspiration for coloring of this card = photo from the Durango, CO Herald - as seen on Facebook. The photo was taken in Alaska and features several firefighters from Durango.

This needs a bit of explaining.  One of our grandsons has achieved his dream job - a hot shot firefighter.  He is currently stationed near Salt Lake City, but will travel as needed.  I have had this image (from Little Stamps of Heaven) in my digi files for a while.  The embossed bg is by Darice.  I smudged a lot with Memento London Fog and Tim Holtz Distress Tea Dye inks.  The edges are also distressed - I figure these firefighters are usually smudged and distressed!  The images are colored with chalk and chalk pencils - my favorite for a soft and smudgy look!
Sketch:        Sketch Saturday
Masculine:  Frilly and Funkie
                     Inky Impressions
Emboss:      Dis Digi Designs
Not square: Pink Gem
Coloring:     Incy Wincy
Distressed:   Artistic Stamper
Any:             Sandee-and-Amelie

A falcon for MMTPT

This is an image from Flonzcraft.  The sentiment is a Cuttlebug die, and the embossing folder is Darice.  I chalked the embossed gears and the edges of the image.  The edges are also distressed.  This is also for the TeaPot Tuesday challenge at SplitCoaststampers - the card will be sent to Dave, who is going through a rough patch.  The link is below, if you would like more information and would like to join us.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Use a sketch, with chalk:   http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/
Old world look:  http://www.flonzcraft.com/vsc/
Add sentiment:  http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ 
Song - hymn, On Eagle's Wings:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:     http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/
              http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/
Teapot Tuesday:      http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/teapot-tuesdays-f260/mmtpt344~march-3-2015~im-bird-watcher-bucket-list-t597182.html 

Distressed birthday!

There are several family birthdays coming in the next few weeks, and I need to build up my stash.  I really like this cs - it has texture and sparkle - as well as giving me a sense of  old fashioned (vintage) wallpaper.  This is one of many sheets of cs that was in a box sent to me by my sister - given to her by an acquaintance. I added some gems to the strip, and used ribbon that has a bit of shine to it as well.  I distressed the edges.
Sketch:  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/
Technique (distressing):  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Distress, vintage, layers:  http://www.joanstouch.com/
Distress:   http://www.joanstouch.com/
Distress:  http://paulaholifieldcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/

Distressed Vintage

Our friends are celebrating a milestone anniversary, and I thought the challenge to use hearts would be appropriate - as well as the distressing!  In addition to the die cut hearts, there are hearts in the embossed portion - one one each side has been left uncovered but nearly impossible to see here.  All of the edges are distressed, and I added tiny flowers with pearls, some gems, and a bit of lace.  The CS is all from a huge packet from Costco.
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Distress, vintage, layers: http://www.joanstouch.com/
From the heart:  http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/
Pearls and lace: http://paulaholifieldcrafts.blogspot.com/
Technique - distressing:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

tombstone inscription

This has quite a story to it.  The photo is by Eva Searcy, an acquaintance who is a photographer.  Thanks to her talent, I have this photo with the inscriptions superimposed.  It reads:  My good people, as you pass by, As you are now so once was I  As I am now you soon must be.  Prepare yourselves to follow me.
This is a touching verse - especially on the tomgstone of a 17 year old. 
However, I have been unsure as to how to use it - though several customers indicated they liked this bg.  I created it using an unmounted stamp whose identity has vanished - I sort of masked some portions and stamped various parts of the stamp randomly.  I do not do well with random stamping, but I think this worked.  I may try it again with black and white.  Now - what verse for the inside????  I used a die for the middle strip and the corner treatment.
Faces:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
  Dies and distress:  http://www.vintagejourney.com/
Sketch:  http://ynschallenges.blogspot.ca/

Fish Whisperer - Dale

This image is perfect for our friend whose birthday is soon - I just received it as part of a Bugaboo prize package.  I used a computer sentiment so I could make it small and add his name.  It is colored with Prismas.  The DP is from a Karen Foster "Gone Fishing" pack - there are (subtle) lures.  I added some chalk sponging, and distressed the edges.  The button and circle are die cuts on my machine. 
Inside top:  It's your birthday again?  Didn't we do that about a year ago?  And for the main verse, I have a list of fishing wisdom - such as "When in doubt, exaggerate".  (I think that is needed with this cartch LOL!
Sketch: http://adieforasketch.blogspot.ca/
No flowers:   http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Humor:  http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.com/
Shabby chic:  http://craftyhandsdevon.blogspot.co.uk/
Make me smile:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
Distress:   http://onesweetchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/search/label/challenge

Aged birthday card

Seems like I always need masculine cards!  This sentiment from TLC seemed just right for a distressed card.  I sponged with Tim Holtz Tattered Rose Distress ink.  Once again I ran the birthday folder through twice - hard to see here, but the "seam" does not show.  However, I really wish the manufacturers (artists???) would listen and create a landscape birthday folder!

Sketch:  http://seemsalittlesketchy.blogspot.com/
Birthday:  http://sunflowerfielddesigns.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunflowerfield%20Designs%20Monthly%20Challenge
Any sentiment:  http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Colors (expresso, chartreuse, cream):  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Ribbon:  http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/

Baptism Card

Our church pre-school director asked me to make a card for a baptism - in our church, we have infant baptism, but this is for an 8 year old boy - not as easy for me to do as a baby card.  I hope that I have found something that is suitable.  I am going to add his name at the bottom of the main layer - but I need to verify it before gluing on the letters.
Some information on  making the card:  For the main image layer - I used subtly patterned paper. and stamped (Cross and Blossoms, by Paper Inspirations) in craanberry - I deliberately did not ink evenly. 
 For rhe letters I used LifeStyle Crafts Hello, GoodBye die set.  I cut the letters I needed, then sponged cranberry ink around them - kind of a mask. (At church on Sunday I saw a "slide" that was beautiful, with subtle lettering - that was my inspiration for trying this technique.)
 I will use the same letter style for his name.  The DP layers are from Paper Studio Faith, and the mats are dark cranberry and cream.  The strips are metallic gold stickers.
For an additional distressed look, I am using dull blades in my cutter - just the right amount of rough edges for many of the layers! 
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Cuttlebug (die cuts, distressing):   http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
DP layers ((DP has been in my stash for a couple of years):  http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
Embellishments (gold strips):  http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://myheartpiecesdigitalstampchallenge.blogspot.in/
Shabby:  http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com/
New (to me) technique - see above:  http://dreamtimedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/12/challenge-3-at-ddcc.html

Gambol Quail

This is a stamp I just purchased at a nearby LSS - which is unfortunately closing.  The maker is Copper Leaf Creations.  The CS is AMuse, and I used SU Always Artichoke ink. I am not sure of the origin of the sentiment - probably an older SU.  I distressed the edges quite a bit to compensate for the simple layout.  This will be a good addition for masculine cards.
Here is the background story:  Last year we had 8-10 quail that visited our back yard on a regular basis.  In late spring we discovered a nest full of eggs (15-20).  My research showed that the mom would lay about an egg a day until she thought there were enough - can't imagine how  she could sit on 20 eggs!  Then she would begin to sit on the nest - while the male paced up and down on our fence, guarding the female.  We left for the season - never saw any chicks.  We are afraid that some predator did get at the nest.  This year we have had just a few visits.
Note:  I am not sure what happened - IRL the image is much darker - not faded as it looks here.  Sorry...
Sketch:  http://fetch-a-sketch.blogspot.com/
Wild life: http://createdwithlovechallenges.blogspot.com/
Monochromatic:  http://fetch-a-sketch.blogspot.com/
Animal catwalk:  http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/2013/04/challenge-36-animal-catwalk.html

RVer's greeting

I just received this DP from a friend (Wish RAK at Splitcoaststampers) - it works so well for a card request.  It is a texturized cs, with shiny raised (embossed?) images. I added more texture with the die cut birds and the tape.  I made it messy with distressing, tearing and sponging.  The sentiment is computer generated.
Sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/
"Messy" look: http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
Texture:   http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/

Distressed birthday

This dp comes from a Fall pad by DCWV.  Image by GinaK. 
Edges are distressed for:  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
The sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/

Distressed Birthday

This used the image from the Our Daily Bread Happy Birthday set.  CP is from a recollections pad.  Bg is a dark brown.  Coloring with Twinkling H20's and pastel pencils.  Distressing, tearing, using ODB stamp:  http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Rough around the edges, combined with two browns, blue and white for 2 entries:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Sketch:  http://willowsketchiechallenge.blogspot.com/

Vintage masculine

The JustRite challenge is to do a vintage masculine card.  I am ok with distressed, but I need lots of practice with vintage.  I see so many cards that make use of several stamps, often randomly placed - combining with shading. I am certainly open to suggestions.  The DP is Recollections, and the Beached Boat was in my digi file - the label says Nina Jay.  I inadvertently left many of my JustRite behind for the summer, but I do have this Happy Everything set.  I added portions of one of the Attic Collection stamps (EK Success).
Vintage/Masculine:  http://justritestampers.typepad.com/justrite-inspiration/justrite-friday-challenge/
Sketch:  http://sketchesbycarly.blogspot.com/

Scripture in aqua

I needed a lot of cards so have been busy today.  This is similar to the last one I posted, but a bit more subtle.  I usually have more contrast between layers, but I am also happy with this result.
The Scripture is from Our Daily Bread.  The bg dp is K& Company - no brands for the rest.  The flowers are Prismmas, with aqua rhinestones added.  The soft aqua panel is dry embossed with textile. The border punch is Martha Stewart.  I distressed the edges, frayed the ribbon, and lightly sponged the verse with aqua chalk.
Lots of layers with the shabby look is for: http://www.sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/
The scripture with aqua is for: http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Here is the sketch: http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/