Light House and new DP

I got a new packet of DP at a yard sale and it will pair well with travel themes - the DP and stamp are both Stampin' Up.  I added a ribbon  and Sizzix die cut.
Sketch:   Tuesday Morning Sketches
Black and White:    Paper Girls
                                  Tuesday Throwdown.
Pattern Paper:    Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper.
Bow:   Craft-dee Bowz
Any:   Pammies Inky Pinkies

Flowers for an anniversary

Image by Eureka, colored with Prismas; Heart die by Spellbinders, Washi tape, Darice butterfly embossing folder.
Sketch:  Tuesday Morning Sketches
Flowers:  Cute Daisy May
Inspiration (Flowers) :  Pinspirational
Colors:    Paper Girls Challenge
Any:  Pammies Inky Pinkies
           Crafty Sentiments

Soar up up and away - and back down again

This is my card for this week's Design Team samples at QKR Stampede.  The theme is Up up and away.  You may enter up to 3 times and you have a chance to win images from the QKR digi store.
As is often the case, I have a story behind this card.  If you have seen previous cards you may recall we have a granddaughter who is beginning her second year at the US Air Force Academy.  She recently completed her requirement to earn her military freefall wings.  Even their first jump is a solo.  So of course the sentiment is not quite accurate - she was certainly not sitting! ( But I could not resist.)    Reading her description - it must be a magical experience.
Recipe:  Parachuting birdie image and sentiment - QKR digis; DP by Sugartree; twine:  Washi tape; Prismas; chalk; star sequins;  Cheery Lynn cloud die cuts;  Spellbinder label dies;  glitter on clouds and goggles
Challenges:  
Sketch:  Tuesday Morning Sketches
Things with wings:   Simon Says Stampblog.Wednesday
Up up and away:    Dragonfly Journeys.
Travel:      The Paper Girls
Magical:   Incy Wincy
Stripes:    Come and Get It
Any:     Sparkle n Sprinkle
              Little Claires Designs   
              Dragonfly-Dreams
              Classic Design Team
              Crafting-With-Friends
              Great Impressions 
              Through the Craft Room Door
              Love to Scrap
              Word Art Wednesday 

Patriotic Gertie for granddaughter

Our granddaughter is completing her requisite 5 (parachute) jumps.  She is beginning her second year at the USAF academy. We told her to let us know after she finishes, not before!  She enjoys my cards, and I am sure she will like this.  I have had these papers, brads and buttons for some time.  The red stars are punched, and the blue trellis and sentiment are die cuts (Cuttlebug).  Blue and red Washi tape strips at the top do not show up on the photo.  Patriotic Gertie - ready for an outdoor parade - is part of a freebie set at Imagine That Digi Stamp Store.
CHALLENGES:  
Die cut:   Dies'r Us Challenge
                Digi Stamps 4 Joy  
Star:        Dragonfly Journeys
                 Love to Scrap
For a girl:        Aud Sentiments
Celebration:     Star Stampz
Family memories:        Frilly and Funkie
Fancy fold (Easel):      Incy Wincy Designs   
Red, white and blue:   Scrap-Creations
                                      Crafty Catz
                                      Simon Says Stamp
Colors of flag:     Dream Valley  
Patriotic:              Paper Girls

QKR Guest Designer - Paper Piecing #197

Today I changed hats, and will join the QKR design team for a few weeks.  This week the challenge at  QKR Stampede  is Paper Piecing.  You may enter as many as 3 times, and you have a chance to win 2 digital images - the prize is 3 images if you use a QKR image.
I have been wanting to use this cute image for a while, and I think it worked well to paper piece the cactus and also the lazy turtle. (I think he is trying to keep cool in our 110+ temps in AZ!)  This  Relaxin Turtle is by QKR, and the sentiment is Eureka.  I used the same pattern paper for the Spellbinder border style die cuts, and backed it with black.  The sun is from a Cuttlebug Die.  I used scraps for all the paper piecing and the strips.  The image is new to me; all the papers are old, including the blue sky.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Sketch:   Stella Says Sketch
Layer it up:    One Stitch at a Time
                         Corrosive Challenges
Bingo - column 3:   Get Creative 
Stuck on you (cactus):  Dragonfly Journey
Pattern Paper:    Simon Says Stamp - Monday
Bring on Summer:   Cute Daisy
Summer:   Starstampz 
Old, new and blue:   Pile it on 
Animal:    C.R.A.F.T.
Scraps:    Paper Girls
 Any:    Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
              Love to Scrap
               Crafting with an Attitude

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

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
                                      

HB, Will

The background is Distressed Stripes by Cuttlebug; DP is Paper Pizazz; image - embossing Arts.
Cheery Lynn die cut branches; Nestabilities circles.
Sketch:        Viva la Verve Sketches
 Celebrate:  The Paper Girls Challenge
Any:             Cheery Lynn Designs
                     Through the Craft Room Door
                      Crafty Creations Challenges
                      Inspiration Destination Challenge

Die cut thanks

Some of my favorite techniques - 1) adhere Washi tape to plain cs.    2) I do not use this often - but for contrast and added texture - double cutting the die cut words - in this case, teal on cream.
In retrospect I wish I had sponged the edge of the Labels piece - I did not use a mat because the next size is just too large.   (That makes a wish list - that the labels did not have such a great difference in size.)
Sketch:          http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/
No stamps:    http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/
Thank you :   http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Any, with fave technique:   http://www.scrapbookblessingsclub.com/2015/09/september-challenge-anything-goes-with.html

Happy birthday, sister

ver

Note- this color seems off - the flower and some stripes are more of a pale pink, and the Washi tape matches the pink stripe.  Oh, well...
Stamp by Hampton Art; Impression Obsession sentiment; Craft 'n Craftin' DP; Pastel chalk creation coloring.
Sketch #3:    http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Birthday:      http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Use DP:        http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:             http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/06/dlart-june-linky-challenge.html

Masculine - Thinking of You

Image - Unity, colored with Prismas; sentiment - Cheery Lynn - rust backed with black for added dimension; Cheery Lynn branches for corner treatment
Sketch:    http://theunitystampco-challenge.blogspot.com/2015/05/unity-be-inspired-challenge-may-14-june.html
Corner treatment:  http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.com/search/label/challenge
Masculine:             http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
                               http://whimsiedoodles.blogspot.co.uk/   (5 CH max)
                               http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/

Masculine / RV

We anticipate that, after 50+ years of rving, this will be our last summer.  That means that it is time to use up some of the rv items I have been hoarding!  This image and DP came from friends at WishRAK on SplitcoastStampers. The brad is SU.  A creative opportunity arose when it came to the metallic strip.  You may have heard me mention that I pared down the supplies I brought along this summer.  Apparently my stash of metallic papers and scraps did not make the cut!  I had to open a new can of International Coffee so I could use the metallic seal.  Since it is so thin, I should have used an extra shim to do the die cut - so I decided to use it as an embossed piece rather than struggle to get the pieces out of the Cuttlebug die!
Sketch:          http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (black, white, metallic ):  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Masculine:    http://memascrafts.blogspot.com/
                      http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Colored image:  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
Summer:       http://www.craftindesertdivas.com/
Bling:            http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/

Spring showers and flowers

We are in Arizona and could really use some showers!  I know it is much worse in other parts of the country - I hope there is some relief soon.  Our weather map showed the possibility of showers - but they often do not materialize.
Okay - on to this card.  I really like the window box die and flowers (Cheery Lynn), but I struggle to know what to put behind the window!   This is an image by Beccy - I had to remodel the window (removed a bar at the top) to not obstruct her face LOL!  I found this DP in a much used pad by Prima.  I changed the sketch a bit so the design in the corner would not be covered completely.  There are gems on some of the flowers, and also black gems in the corners.  The Mom sticker is by Hot off the Press.  I used chalk pencils to color the image.  I hope you can see she is holding and umbrella (ok, could be a parasol!) to ward off the showers.
Sketch:    http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/
Colors (gold, shades of lavender, pale peach):  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Any Beccy;s image:    http://beccysplace.blogspot.com/
Showers and flowers:  http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Spring:  http://www.frosteddesigns.blogspot.ca/
Any:      http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.ca/
              http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
               http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.com/
              http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge/

Critters and wings in pastels

This Inkadinkado stamp is a nice one, but it is one I am not sure what to do with.  There are so many elements to color - I ended up leaving some with no coloring and then had a chance to use lots of colors - mostly pastels and a few brighter ones.  I used some metallic gel pens for finer details, and watercolor pencils with an aqua pen for some of the larger items.  Your ideas are most welcome.
I used a couple of pieces of DP from my scrap stash.  The gold embossed "corner" is also a scrap that was just the right shape and size.  The card is finished with a strip of Washi tape and punched butterfly.
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Colorful:  http://livelaughstamp.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-04-02T09:45:00-05:00&max-results=7
Rainbow of colors:   http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/
Stripes:    http://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Pastels:    http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Middle (image in the middle of the card):  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Colors of spring:    http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.co.at/2015/04/color-your-world.html
Scraps:      http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/
 


 

Inside outside Marsala

Here is another outside/inside card. Again I have used the shiny deep burgundy cs, apparently a new color trend, as explained at the Paper Girl challenge.
Other products:  Sentiment by Paper Pretties;  Spellbinder circles and buckle die; Tattered Lace scroll panel; Darice butterfly EF;  ribbon; shiny rain drops.  Inside - unknown border die, KanBan sentiment panel.
 Sketch:  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Monochrome:  http://diesruschallenge.blogspot.com/
Marsala:      http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Freestyle:    http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/
"B"- birthday, butterfly, bow:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Inside/Outside:   http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:    http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
     http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
             http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
                                 

Marsala

Items from Lovely in Lace set by Kanban.  I was particularly intrigued by the current challenge at The Paper Girls.  Apparently, a hot new color is Marsala - a new term for me.  I know that color on the screen is not always true - but it certainly looks like the base color I used.  Since I (inadvertently) recently purchased a couple of packs of cs this color - now I can use it confidently, knowing I am in style LOL!!!  It goes well with these Lovely in Lace items.  the focal point is a punch out spray of flowers, with the floral bg.  I trimmed a bit around each piece, to allow the solid base to show through.  You may notice that the inner section has intentionally uneven edges - hard to cut, so I roughed them a bit for contrast.  I added a tiny button brad.
Sketch:   http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/
Marsala (color):  http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Button:   http://drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/%E2%97%8B%20Challenges
Color inspiration:   http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/ 
Any:         http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2015/03/dlart-thankful-thursday-march-linky.html

Circles and a Flourish - Get Well

Dp and medallions - Kangan Lovely in Lace collection; Spellbinder flourish and circles (To make mats behind small medallions);  Cuttlebug Get Well
Sketch:  http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (circles): ///cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Spring flowers (on bg):  http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Pattern Paper:  http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/
Focal sentiment:  http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.com/
Any:  www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
          http://www.scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ 
          http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Heart wreath

This is probably pretty subtle for a heart challenge - but a good image for an anniversary.  Once again - the dilemma of how feminine or how tailored an anniversary card should be - what do you think?
And, once again, I dug into my "already stamped" folder - and found this image, not labelled.  If you know it, please let me know, so I can give credit for it.
Supplies: DP by Keeping Memories Alive; gold glitter cs, shimmpery burgundy cs, white ribbon, scallop punch, Cheery Lynn branch dies, shiny metallic gel pens, sentiment by 7Gypsies.
Love and Hearts 182:   http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/
Anniversary:   http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/
All is love:  http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
Punch/die:   http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/
Heart:        http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.com/
Love:          http://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/ltscb-47-love-is-in-air.html
Tickled Pink, with Cheery Lynn die:  http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.ca/
Red, white, pink:  http://www.craftindesertdivas.com/
Pink, white:    http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Use a bow:   http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:             http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/