29th birthday

Sentiment- Art Impressions; Coloring - Prismas; brad; DP by Teresa Collins; Washi tape; distressing; chalking
Sketch:  http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Color:   http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/
Color inspiration   http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Touch of vintage:   http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/

Hearts for an Anniversary

I kind of struggle to make anniversary cards - not too girlie, yet not too plain.  This is probably plenty feminine - oh, well...
Not quite new, but neglected - flourish die by  Die-namics; Wishing You stamps by Verve
Other:  Cheery Lynn butterfly die; Heart embossing by Sizzix; handmade paper with hearts; red, white cs
Sketch:    http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Add a flourish; include Cheery Lynn die:  http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.ca/
Anniversary:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Any Stash:  http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
H - heart, happy:   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Love:   http://whimsiedoodles.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Monthly%20Challenge
            http://alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.ca/
Bright and Beautiful:  http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/monthly-challenge-53-bright-beautiful.html
           

Shabby Aubergine and Cream

I distressed the edges of the sentiment tag directly from the ink pad - it distressed a bit more than I intended - true to my style, I will do almost anything rather than discard pieces!  So I distressed the other edges, and rolled the top of the tag to make it look a bit like an ancient scroll.  The rest:  strip - Spellbinder die; stars - punch; sentiment - Kolette Hall; DP - Faith by Paper Studio.
Sketch:  http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/
Sentiment is focal point:  http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.com/
Christmas - non traditional colors:  http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/
Christmas:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
 Layers and a sentiment:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
God's gift to us (presents):  http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/
Embossing:  http://fattastictuesday.blogspot.com/

Half a flourish

Not long ago I expressed a wish for a more delicate flourish die - wish granted!  This is from a Die Namics flourish die - part of a prize from My Favorite Things!  How fortunate for me.  However, I only used half of it so the image was not covered.  The flourish, the collage look of the image, and the sponging are all influenced by Tim Holtz' style.  I used pale gold and rust for fall - as well as the sunflowers. That stamp, by Inkadinkadoo, is one I have had for several years, and tend to neglect.  I stretched the sketch due to the size of the image.  The bg. is embossed with the Vines folder(Quickcutz).  That layer as well as the stamped layers are sponged with ColorBox Chestnut ink.  The flowers are from a little strip I have had a very long time.
Sketch:  http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/
Autumn in the garden:   http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/
Any:  http://craftcreatoins.blogspot.com/p/new-challenge.html
 Autumn colors:  http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/
Touch of vintage:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Tim Holtz style with a flourish:  http://www.vintagejourney.com/

Back to School with an apple

Wouldn't you know!  I decided to use some stamps I had not yet brought in to the house fro the motor home, and just at that moment a monsoon wind (called haboob) came up - I decided it would be prudent to stay in and use supplies I had!  This die is from Cuttlebug - a bit labor intensive, but with a cute result from all the pieces.  The embossing folders ( a tree trunk and leaves) are both Sizzix.  I used pop dots behind the circle.
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Layers:   http://thesweetpeastampers.blogspot.co.uk/
Embossing:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
Texture:  http://wedodoobadoo.blogspot.co.uk/
Back to school:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
                         http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.com/
                       http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ 
                        /http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/

For a special friend

 

Once again, this image is not true to life - the shadow that seems to appear on the white layer does not exist IRL!  It is a solid white embossed piece.  The floral image is from Antique Images - they have a lot of lovely images - both pre-colored, like this, and black and white.  The sentiment covers a banner on the image, and it is popped up.  The bg is sea green, and the ribbon a pale version.  The floral strip is a yard sale find - I think maybe the package of strips includes iron on material, but I like the look for this kind of  strip.  The pink one is Basic Grey.
Sketch:  http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/ 
Pastels:  http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/
Color inspiration/photo:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
For a special lady - a friend who shares my like for the vintage look:  http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/
For a friend:  http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ 
Birthday:  http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/ 
Embossing:  http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/

Monochrome graduation

I have a fairly long list of graduation cards and not much time, so I will need some quick and easy styles!  I think this works - when I get invitations I will try to create a card to match the colors.  This uses a Cheery Lynn Tiny Things die - which I bought when Joan had her Joan's Garden shop.  The flourish Frame folder is now available at Joan's Gardens - as is the Vagabond die cut machine I use.  The Congrats is a Cuttlebug die I have had for a while.  Two layers of purple are matted on white base.
Monochromatic:  http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
wings:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
Purple, with Cheery Lynn die:  http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.com/search/label/challenge
Embossing:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Die cut (no stamp), with layers and items from Joan's Gardens:  http://www.joanstouch.com/
Frame (embossed frame):   http://www.suzypantssmarty.blogspot.ca/
Spring (Graduations!!!)  http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/

Rejoice! Have a blessed Easter

This is a favorite technique - using a white embossed bg - this time, with an addition of chalk.  I used some of the Stamp 'n Plus powdered chalk - just received as a prize from Chalk ah Lot.  I mixed it with water and painted it on the leaves - it looks grey here but IRL is a lovely green.  I like the way that I could use the aqua brush and control where it is placed.  I added some gems, and butterflies.  The image is from my stash of pre colored items - ready to use when needed.  The mats and butterflies are a dark green for the spring look.
Sketch:  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/search?q=stella+says+sketch&max-results=20&by-date=true
He is Risen - pastel:  http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Easter - with chalk:  http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/
Easter:  http://createdwithlovechallenges.blogspot.com/
Spring:  http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/
Favorite technique (see above):  http://www.fashionablestampingchallenges.com/?p=8200
Emboss:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://aurorawingschallenge.blogspot.com/
    http://suzypantssmarty.blogspot.com/

Lighthouse for Hal

This is especialy for DH's brother - he and his wife really enjoy the Oregon coast, and he frequently travels to the far east as a volunteer teaching English and otherwise helping in a small orphanage - I picked the part of this abstract map that kind of shows that region.  The image, new to me is SU Coast to Coast.  I used dies for his name.
Sketch:  http://adieforasketch.blogspot.ca/
Birthday:  http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com/
                     http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Masc. birthday:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Spots and stripes (well, my stripes are not quite straight lines LOL!):  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:  http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Celebrate:  http://hobbycutzchallenges.blogspot.com/

Green, white and a doily

Supplies:  Snowflake EF (I think it also looks like a Starburst); Verve stamp, doily, Cheery Lynn dragonfly, flowers.  Technique:  Dry embossing, masking, die cuts. The pale green cs, flowers, doily and embossing folder have been in my stash for several years.  My favorite textures are dry embossing and die cuts - I like the versatility and ease of use - plus the look they give to my cards.
Sketch:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Green & white, EF, oval (well, the doily piece looked oval before I covered it up LOL!), snowflake EF sold at Joan's Gardens:  http://www.joanstouch.com/
Doily, with dragonfly (part of Tiny Things with Wings):  http://cheerylynndesignschallenge.blogspot.com/Spring:  http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/
Any, with stash items:  http://avenue613.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
Embossing:  http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/
Sweet and soft color:  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
Favorite texture:  http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

CASE'ing a favorite

This ODB challenge gave me a chance to take advantage of one of the cards I have in my favorite file at Splitcoaststampers - and it is a card by a friend of mine at Wish RAK:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2333403?perpage=48&thumbsonly=0&thumbcheck=
Supplies:  some ribbon I have had a LONG time; a Studio G stamp with Verve sentiment; punches, a die cut butterfly, and gems.  (The punches are under the gems.)
Sketch:  http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/
CASE:  http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Brown and blue: http://hobbycutzchallenges.blogspot.com/
Punch and sentiment:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Sentiment:  http://acreativeromance.blogspot.co.uk/
Sympathy:  http://digidarlas.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/

One last Christmas card

A last Christmas Card

Yes, I did need one more Christmas card - and I found a lot of last minute challenges!  For these last cards I am trying to use up some materials left from previous years - that stash just grows!  This is a sentiment embossed in silver - it is on a cube of Christmas images.  The sentiment is computer generated.  I added glitter to the circle, and used a bit of Paper Pizzazz dp, as well as some ribbon and silver cord.
Sketch:  http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
Christmas:  http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/
Any Christmas:  http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ 
Any Christmas and upcoming new year:  http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/
Christmas with sparkle:  http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.ca/
The true meaning of Christmas - the glad tidings announcing the birth of the Savior:  http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/
Christmas with a sentiment:   http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
The last Christmas card:  http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ 
Christmas: /http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/
 

Christmas 2013 #3

This will also become a part of a 5 card set.  Stamp set by Stampendous; border cut from Shape 'n Tape (Washi).
Sketch: http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
Favorite color - I have a lot of them, but I really like Hunter green and cream/beige -  http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/
Borders:  http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/

Christmas in July

I left nearly all of my Christmas stamps and supplies at our home in an effort to cut back on what I packed in the motor home for this summer.  I do have this Christmas tree embossing folder, and my 7Gypsies stamp that includes the word JOY - tied with a bit of Martha Stewart cord. I know the tree is very hard to see - there is glitter added for the baubles.   Branches from the Cheery Lynn Wreath die are in the corners - also with glitter added.  This die is from Joan's Gardens store - I am so happy to have found it.
Christmas, with red and green, and tree and branches from nature:  http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2013/07/this-weeks-challenge_18.html
Christmas in July:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/

Black and white sympathy

Unfortunately, I frequently need sympathy cards, for myself and for customers.
Right now we are asking for prayers for friends and their family - their son-in-law, Glen (in his 50's), fell down a long cement staircase.  He is in a coma, and the family has been called home as the prognosis is not good.
This is a digital image from TLC Creations.  It is a lovely image, and great to use with the shading and background.  The white layer is CB Victoria.  I clipped the corners to follow the sketch.  A layered Nestie, Martha Stewart punched border, and ribbon complete the card - easy, and in my estimation, elegant.
Sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/
Condolence:  http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.lovesrubberstampschallenges.com/
Any, with a bird:  http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/
Wings:  http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Digi:   http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/

Floral and acetate

Oh, to be more technical!  All of a sudden something happened to the settings on my scanner - I need to find someone to help create a "full" image.  Oh, well...
I hope you can see the results of my experiment - to meet challenges using an unusual item/recycling (acetate).  I used the same leafy embossing folder on the acetate - the result was a milky look on the embossed leaves.  I then placed it over the green layer in the same spot - except I should have had a larger piece as much of it is covered with the image.  The acetate was from some packaging, and there were lots of bumps and curves so the flat section was a bit small.  This is something I will do again - maybe with flower dies next time.  I used a bit of the CB birthday folder, and a Hampton Arts stamp, colored with chalk pencils.  I finally got to use the picket fence die I bought from Joan's Gardens.
Sketch, with lace:  http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/
Outdoors: http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
Outdoor fun - take a walk!:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
The woods:  http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
Leafy bg; white, green, purple; purple flowers; sentiment; item from her store:  http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2013/05/this-weeks-challenge_30.html
Acetate packaging - not usually used for cards:  http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/ 
Transparent:   http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/04/sdc-may-2013-challenge-links.html

CAS pastel

CAS cards are the most difficult for me.  I forced myself to keep this clean!  The strip is a CB border die, and I added bits of the negative to highlight the sentiment - I got a bit of ink in the wrong spot!  The sentiment is a 7 Gypsies library stamp - this has a dozen sentiments and is my go-to stamp for small sentiments.
Sketch:   http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/
CAS in pastel:  http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/
CAS with a sentiment:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/

Inky Sky

I have been posting several of my new cards in my gallery on Splitcoaststampers, as I have been trying to keep up with the Love Fest challenges this week.
For an "inky" challenge I inked a very large bg stamp (B&J's Art Stamp), sprinkled with water, and tried to create a bg.  Not sure I like the effect but I did try something new!  I also used a new (to me) die from Spellbinders Ribbon Buckles.  The dark blue layer is dry embossed. THe sentiment is Just Rite.
Sketch:  http://justritestampers.typepad.com/justrite-inspiration/justrite-friday-challenge/
Use ink differently:  http://www.clearlyistamp.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Clearly%20Inspired%20Challenge
Bingo - lace, pearls, dry emboss:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Punches and Dies:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Lace & pearls:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/