Still waiting for Spring!

The calendar says it is Spring... but the weather isn't buyin' it! So am making Spring cards. 

This month's challenge over at Tiddly Inks is to make a card featuring an image of their adorable character named Molly. I discovered that I have mostly Wryn images, but did find this sweet Molly coloring sheet. It's actually a freebie in their shop. You can find it here- www.tiddlyinks.com/coloring-books/thankful-heart-digital-stamp-and-coloring-page.

I reduced the size to fit four on an  8.5 x 11 page. Colored the image with Spectrum Noir and a bit of white gel pen to make her summer dress a soft green plaid. Finished it off with a B&W checked bow for texture and mounted the finished creation atop yellow plaid patterned paper. The sentiment on the inside of the card is a freebie from TLC Creations (createwithtlc.blogspot.com)

Entered into: 

Tiddly Inks- Molly Month                                        (tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.com)

Di’s Digi Stamps- Flowers Challenge                     (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Bugaboo Stamps- March Photo Inspiration         (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge      (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

Penny's Challenge- #372 Anything Goes               (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

The Cutie Pie Challenge- #121 Spring Cuties        (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)                

My second entry into an intriguing challenge named the "Twofer Card Challenge." The goal is to use the same stamp to make two distinctly different designs for two different occasions. This month's theme is "Blossoms". I've had this large Embossing Arts Valentine's Day stamp for a few decades. It includes blossoms (in the rose, and in the little basket with the doves.) Decided it would work for its intended purpose, and the two doves could be used separately on a wedding card. To get two very different looks, I stamped the complete image on tan parchment cardstock with deep rust ink. Added a bit of color with chalk and colored pencil, but tried to keep the colors muted for a monochromatic look. Finished it off by coloring the ribbon and adding some highlights with a white gel pen. Trimmed it into shape with decorative scissors and adhered it to a card cut from handmade pumpkin colored paper (from my stash. I think it was from Hero Arts years ago.) For the wedding card, I stamped the heart-shaped image with black ink onto a scrap of white cardstock. Before stamping the image, I took a damp cotton-tipped swab and wiped off the leaf tip that lays across the frame around the heart. I colored the image with Tombow markers and then used a fine tip black marker to gently sketch in the section of the frame that had held the leaf tip. Fussy cut the heart-shaped image then added it to the card I'd decorated with patterned paper, embossed pink vellum and aqua ribbon that has a little white daisy silhouette in its pattern. (I added close-ups so that you could see the details.) It was fun to stretch my stamp in this way!

Entered into: 

Twofer Card Challenge- Blossoms                                  (twofercardchallenge.blogspot.com)

Double D’s Challenge- Just Wing It                               (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #196          (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
QKR Stampede- #287 Anything Goes                            (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

Pixie's Snippets-  Week 322                                      (pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com)

Decided to make one final  card to enter into the current Butterfly Challenge that focuses on the Letter L.  My card includes all six of the options- layers, letters and two of the colors (lavender and light blue.) I loved this beautifully layered flower sticker that I picked up at Joann's or Michaels a few months ago and it added a bit of bling to the card. The acetate printed with LOVE is from a scrapbook paper pack that had some fun specialty papers. I love making peek-a-boo cards with acetate but have never used printed acetate before. Love it! The sentiment on the front of the card is a freebie from TLC Creations (createwithtlc.blogspot.com) and the inside sentiment is one that I made on my computer.

Entered into: 

Butterfly Challenge- #97 Letter L                                              (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

The Paper Shelter- #331 Easter Time                                       (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Floral Frenzy                 (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #326-7 Anything Goes    (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Doing Life- Create with TLC Challenge                                   (desiref.blogspot.co.za)

Deep Ocean Challenge- Easter Spring                                     (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Cute Card Thursday- #522 Easter                                            (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

Easter is Coming!

With Spring just around the corner (I hope), decided to make another card to enter into the current Butterfly Challenge that focuses on the Letter L.  (My card includes all six of the options-lace, layers, letters and all three colors (lavender, lemon yellow, and light blue.) I developed the template for the tri-fold I[heart]U for a Valentine card last month. This time I cut the base from yellow cardstock and added layers of patterned paper that includes all three of the required colors. Tied lace and ribbon around the first letter, ribbon around the last letter, and tied on Lili of the Valley dig set "Sentiment Tags."  Finished the card with two butterflies (die cut in black with lavender and light blue vellum attached to the underside of the wings.)

Entered into:

Butterfly Challenge- #97 Letter L                                                 (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Easter/Spring Inspiration   (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Easter Inspired                (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge                            (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

I love the Easter season because it promises New Life. Here in the Midwest, the earth also comes to life with green shoots and pops of color. It is such a joyous time and provides a reason to celebrate!  For this card, I used a stamp that I've had since 2000 or 2001 (I removed the rubber from the wood many years ago but think it is from Northwoods or PSX.) Stamped the image in fine-line black EP and colored with Spectrum Noir markers. Added a sprinkling of microfine glitter to add more emphasis to the beautiful blooms. Mounted the image atop a scrap of golden yellow paper, then adhered both atop a lime green colored card with an accent strip of darker green patterned paper and a strip of sparkly, gold-edged ribbon. Finished the card with a sentiment (unknown company) gold embossed upon a tag that is accented with a loop of the gold-edged ribbon.

Entered into: 

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #327 Anything Goes  (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Cute Card Thursday- #520 Celebrate                                 (cutecardthursday.blogspot.com) 

CAS-ual Fridays- #195 Going Green                                   (CAS-ualfridays.blogspot.com)

Di’s Digi Stamps- Lots of Green                                           (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Since I had my gold embossing powder out, I decided to make a vintage card using a cherished PSX stamp. The background  and small white "note" is stamped with an SU stamp and gold pigment ink. I embossed the vintage purse image and fussy cut around it before taping a small length of gold chain and edge of a lace doily to it. Then mounted the purse on foam tape. The sentiment is a wood mounted stamp from Hero Arts.

Entered into: 

Deep Ocean Challenge- #176 Vintage/Shabby Chic          (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #195                 (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)
QKR Stampede- #287 Anything Goes                                  (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

Penny's Challenge- #371 Anything Goes                              (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Oh HAPPY Day!

The sentiment on this card describes my feelings right now. I've been writing a large federal grant the last few weeks and have spent many evening hours in my craft room 'de-stressing.' (It's much cheaper than therapy. Well… okay… it's a bit cheaper than therapy!) 

I am officially joining the monthly challenges at Gerda Steiner Designs with this card. The sweet kitty on a shelf image is the designated image for this month. Love it! And it just begged to be showcased in a window card, so that is what I did. The card base came with the window panes precut (no longer available). To make the curtains, I drew a pattern to fit the window opening, made the patterned paper two sided (with double stick tape), cut them out then used a light grey marker to add the pleats. I used the same grey marker and a stripe stencil (available here  www.etsy.com/listing/478445757/stripes-stencil-template-stencils) to create the wallpaper and to create the "siding" on the outside of the house. The sentiment is a freebie (from here decossesdynamitedoodles.blogspot.ca) Am entering the card into several other challenges including a few "anything goes", plus Art Impressions "Perfect Past Times" (besides card making, I kinda like napping!) and DigiStamps2Joy "Being Young" (because many of my favorite childhood memories involved kittens and reading.) 

Entered into: 

Gerda Steiner Designs- Monthly Challenge           (gsd-stamps.com/blogs/news)

Art Impressions- Perfect Past times                        (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

DigiStamps4Joy- Anything Goes (Being Young)  (digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.co.za

QKR Stampede- #287 Anything Goes                     (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)

Penny's Challenge- #371 Anything Goes                 (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

These two sweet images are from Little Scraps of Heaven. I combined them onto one card that I'm entering into the LCOH monthly Challenge "Easter." Had fun using pastel colors… because… well… SPRING! And tried to add a little bit of texture and whimsy by adding thread whiskers. They aaren't quite what I had planned. Should have used a smaller needle so that the bunnies didn't have those caverns in their cheeks. But they still are cute… just a bit prickly! Am entering the card in several other challenges that focused on Easter or Spring and offered a few wonderful mood boards! 

Entered into:

Little Scraps of Heaven (FB)   Easter Challenge                         (lshdesigns.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Easter/Spring Inspiration    (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Easter Inspired                 (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

The Cutie Pie Challenge- #121 Spring Cuties                              (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)                

SumMoreFun  Challenge- Mood Board                                       (summorefun.com)  

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #195                        (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

The current challenge at Power Poppy is called "Inspired by Fabric." Thinking about fabric always makes me think of my mom, who was a seamstress who made most of my clothes when I was very young. She used most of the fabric scraps to create one-of-a-kind quilts, sewn by hand in a crazy quilt pattern.  As I little girl I especially loved that the quilt she made for me included pieces of fabric from favorite dresses and pajamas, sewn together with embroidery stitches in a wide range of colors. So… I searched the web to find fabric that reminded me of Mom's quilts. (Sadly, I no longer have the quilt mom made me back in 1962. It endured lots of heavy use and many repairs as sections became threadbare. About 10 years ago it basically fell apart. I wish I would have preserved it, but Mom wouldn't have liked that. I can almost hear her saying, "I made it to keep you warm! Use it!" t On the web I found a quilt piece that was perfect! The floral pattern and lacy accent inspired me to make this card. The cute dress is made with the simplest origami pattern I've ever used! (yelloworigamibird.blogspot.com/2014/08/3d-dress-card-tutorial.html) The doily behind the dress is from my "Mom stash of treasures" that my sisters and I discovered when we cleaned out her apartment years ago after she moved to her mansion in heaven. I hadn't seen her crochet since the early 1970s, so it is an heirloom!  And the sentiment, that I printed out on my computer, also makes me think of Mom. She was the kindest, sweetest person I ever knew. She's been gone nearly 8 years and I still miss her! Am entering this card into a few additional challenges, Crafty Hazelnuts patterned paper challenge, and Deep Oceans, "Vintage/Shabby Chic" (because the doily is vintage.) I'll be sending this card to one of my sisters who will appreciate the story behind it. And… the origami dress was so easy to make that I put together another one, changing the waistline a bit, and adapting the color scheme to meet the challenge at The Paper Shelters "Hot or Cold Colors" (the champagne white, grey and frosted vellum look icy cold).

Entered into: 

Power Poppy- Inspired by Fabric                                   (powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2018/03/power-spark-inspired-by-fabric.html)

Deep Ocean Challenge- #176 Vintage/Shabby Chic  (deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au)

The Paper Shelter- #330 Hot or Cold Colors              (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge             (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

          

Giggles and Golf

My final entry into the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge, "Girl Power" is this sweet little image from Tiddly Inks named "Petite Q." (Available for just $1.00 at www.tiddlyinks.com) The Princess is wearing a cute little crown, but I chose to add a sparkly crown sticker that I just bought last weekend. (I added a closeup so that you can see it better.) The little blue bird is upcycled from an old card. I haven't used watercolor pencils for a while and had a hard time getting smooth results on her poofy skirt. So switched to my trusty Spectrum Noir markers for her raven tresses. The sentiment is from my stash of funny sayings, printed on my computer. I love pairing it with this image since it says, "Princess (noun): A giggle with bling on it." So appropriate! (Oh, am also entering this into the Bugaboo Challenge, "ALl Creatures Big and Small" because she is a petite cutie, and current Sketch Saturday Challenge. I really liked this sketch. Simple to do and really shows off an image.) 

Entered into:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Girl Power              (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Sketch Saturday- Week #504                                             (sketchsaturday.blogspot.com) 
Bugaboo Stamps- All Creatures Big and Small               (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

The current Art Impressions Challenge is called "Watercolor Wonders" and I decided to let the fun image named "Earl" take center stage. Am not too adept at watercolor as I prefer the tight control of markers or pens, so I decided to used watercolor pencils and a good quality brush. Gave Earl some plaid golf pants, and also gave the card a little extra pizazz by making it into an explosion card. (Here is my favorite tutorial for making these cards. They are really easy to make, especially if you use a square of wrapping paper for the center section like I did!) Printed the sentiment, front and inside, on my computer. And he's ready to sent to someone who loves the links! (PS I'm also entering this into the current Simon Says Monday Challenge "Easter/Spring Inspiration" because I know several people that are ready to get on the golf course as soon as the snow is gone.)

Entered into:

Art Impressions- Watercolor Wonders                                         (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #195                         (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Easter/Spring Inspiration     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Cute Critters

Used a Bugaboo digi named "Rottweiler Trio" to make this cute card for the Bugaboo challenge "All Creatures Big and Small."  Colored it in grey tones to enter into Double D's "When Skies are Grey" challenge. The patterned paper is actually upcycled from the inside of an envelope and the sentiment is a freebie from  desertdiva-hannelie.blogspot.com

Entered into: 

Bugaboo Stamps- All Creatures Big and Small         (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Double D’s Challenge- When Skies are Grey             (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

I don't do much watercoloring on my cards, preferring the more controlled feeling and look that markers provide. However, I created this card with a vintage Art Impressions stamp that I embossed in gold on the inside of a card so that it peeked out of the die cut scalloped window. A light wash of color on the basket, egg, and bow helped bring the little cutie to life. (I did use a grey Tombow marker to add the shadow, as I feared I wouldn't be able to get a thin line with a brush.) I added subtle stripes on the front of the card with a sponge, stencil, and light rose ink. Stamped the sentiment with a burgundy ink… but forgot how dye ink doesn't always give a good impression on glossy paper. Oh well… we'll call it a grunge font!

 

Entered into:  

Art Impressions- Watercolor Wonders                                         (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Easter/Spring Inspiration     (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

The Cutie Pie Challenge- #121 Spring Cuties                               (cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com)                

I wanted to make a special card for the current Simon Says "Girl Power" challenge, and I've always loved the Tinkerbelle movies. The poster for one of them inspired this card which was totally made by hand. I made the wings with vellum, added the veins with a white gel pen and then covered them with clear sparkly sticker paper. Ahhhh… magic!

Entered into: 

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Girl Power       (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #195      (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Signs of Spring

A few current challenges focus on weather. So… decided that this sentiment would work perfectly. Used the chalkboard technique, embossing with white powder on black paper. Trimmed and mounted the sentiment on gray raindrop patterned paper. Added a bit of color and white gel pen to the raindrops to make them come to life. And of course… some bling! I mounted the layered item onto blue-grey paper, and then attached it at a jaunty angle to a shimmer white card base with black corner mounts. Provided a close up to show the bling and coloring on the raindrops. 

Entered into: 

Double D’s Challenge- When Skies are Grey                       (daranddiane.blogspot.com)

Simon Says Monday Challenge- Whatever the Weather  (simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge)

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge                     (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

With Spring in mind, decided to make another card to enter into the current Butterfly Challenge that focuses on the Letter N.  (My card has No stamping, is Not square, and includes the color Navy in the butterfly wings.) I printed free colored butterfly digis onto vellum and love how they look so real!  (You can find them here what-a-beautiful-mess.blogspot.com/2013/04/scraps-of-elegance.html?utm_source=feedly) And the wonderful sentiment is also a free digi that you can find here- desertdiva-hannelie.blogspot.com)

Entered into: vellum butterflies

Butterfly Challenge- #96 Letter N                                        (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge- #325 Anything Goes   (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com)

Bugaboo Stamps- All Creatures Big and Small                  (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #195                (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

March Magic

Had fun using a Bugaboo image named "Peeker March" for the current Bugaboo Stella's Sketch challenge. You can't see it in the photo, but the gold coins have a little bit of bling because I colored them with the gold marker from a set of Spectrum Noir Sparkle Markers, Metallic. The sentiment is a freebie from createwithtlc.blogspot.com

Am entering the card in a few other challenges. One, the Outlawz Color challenge, requires the use of at least three colors from their inspiration photo plus bling. The three colors I included are Aqua, Fuchsia, and cream.

Entered into:

Bugaboo Stamp- Stella Says Sketch Challenge       (catchthebugblog.blogspot.com)

The Paper Shelter- #329 Let It Be Spring                (thepapershelter.blogspot.com.ar)

Outlawz Challenges- Tuesday Color Challenge       (Outlawzchallenges.ning.com)

Doing Life- Create with TLC Challenge                    (desiref.blogspot.co.za)

The current wecraftcards Wednesday Challenge requires that we create "Anything But" a card. I decided to make a St. Pats Day gift for a few little readers that I know. Abigail and Hope are sure to love these little page toppers. They went together so quickly that I might make extras for my staff at the office, and slip a few treats into them. (Was also a great way to use us some of my scraps… because, well… I have a ton of scraps! Here are the instructions that I adapted a bit- www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X3o5p65GtE) Am entering this creation into a few other challenges, including a mood board challenge at SumMoreFun. (I was inspired by the color green and shamrocks.)

Entered into: 

We Craft Cards Wednesday Challenge- Anything But   (wecraftcards.com/forum)

SumMoreFun  Challenge- Mood Board                            (summorefun.com)  

Pixie's Snippets-  Week #321                                              (pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com) 

Di’s Digi Stamps- Lots of Green                                         (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

The current Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is called "Girl Power." Decided to make a card with this cute image from Whimsie Doodles named "Ballerina" paired with the sentiment from the Whimsie Doodles set, "Unicorns." I added a scrap of ribbon, a bit of bling to the card, plus created the idea of tulle in her tutu with a white gel pen.

Entered into:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge- Girl Power       (simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge)

Penny's Challenge- #370 Anything Goes                  (pennyschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge-Challenge #195      (artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com.au)

QKR Stampede- #286 Anything Goes                       (qkrstampede.blogspot.com)