Make a Splash !

It's been a busy week (month actually) getting things ready for our impending move . . . so I haven't been able to spend a lot of time in my Craft Studio. However, feeling rushed to get a card completed seems to be when I'm happiest with the cards I create.  Go figure.

Imagine That! digis by Kris August Monthly Progressive Challenge was to use the digital set "Dolphins."  And, since I played along in July, I received it for free.

I don't remember how I picked the card colors, other than they just "happened" when I opened my scrap drawer.  Sometimes my cards just come together that way.

I printed two sets of the dolphin digi, cut one out and added dimensionals.  Makes me feel I'm at the beach watching the dolphins play.

I used a punch that I've had for awhile, but I don't recall ever using it. It just looked like waves to me, so I added it to the bottom.

 

My motto this year is "Use it up or toss it out."  So, since there were a few pieces of DSP remaining, I added them to the inside of the card.  Nothing fancy, but it 'finishes' the card . . . and I don't have to store leftover scraps that you and I both know will never get used.

How cute is this digi set?  Visit the Imagine That! digis by Kris store to see what other sets she has available.  Or click on the picture below if you want to purchase the Dolphins set.

Christmas Card Challenges # 40

There are only 13 more weeks until Thanksgiving weekend ~ which is usually when I send out my Christmas cards. Only THIRTEEN more weeks ?!?!  Where did this year go?

The theme this week at Christmas Card Challenges is: Anything Goes.  And, since there are only 13 more weeks until Thanksgiving weekend . . . now would be a great time to make a few Christmas cards and join our weekly challenge.

This card . . . the design and materials . . . were not my own.  I get together once a month with a couple girlfriends and we each bring a card design and the supplies to make one card. It's a fun, relaxing day and we each walk away with 5 totally unique cards.

So, kudos to Gerry Baker for designing this Christmas card. I had a lot of fun putting it together and it's a great CAS design that will be easy to mail.  We punched a circle in white cardstock, then embossed it.  On the inside, we embossed the top and bottom of the cardstock after stamping a Christmas message.

I suppose you could add something to the front, but I really like the clean look.  Sometimes I have a tendency to overdo and this is just right.

Stop by the Christmas Card Challenges blog to see what the other Design Team members created this week. Then, get working on your Christmas cards.  Did I mention there are only 13 weeks before you'll need to mail those cards?

Squeal !!

A short post tonight, but an extremely fun card to show you.  The digital stamp and sentiment are from From the Heart Stamps as part of the Free Stamp of the Month Challenge.  

I just love the PigWit series and this set is called "Pumpkin PigWit." There are 3 additional sentiments in the set.

I found a pumpkin stamp in my stash, so I used it for the inside since I thought it tied in with the digi image.

There's still time to play along (click here for the details).  I can't wait to see what Faith has in store for us next month.

Christmas Card Challenges: Presents

Are you working on your Christmas Cards?  This week Christmas Card Challenges' Theme is:

Presents (an Inspiration Photo is included)

I used an embossing folder for the tree then fussy cut around the image. The presents/stockings/teddy bear strip is something I found in my stash. I colored the back of clear dots with a Red Copic to add some color to the tree.  A gold star at the top and another quick and easy Christmas Card is completed.

This is the Inspiration Photo for you; however, remember there are no steadfast rules as long as you create a Christmas Card. Hope to see your creations.  Be sure to stop by Christmas Card Challenges to see what the other DT members created this week.

Crafty Creations Challenge #270

I'm a day late posting my card for the Crafty Creations Challenge, but I have a very good excuse.  Hubby and I closed on our new house Wednesday~YAY!!.  So my mind was on a few other things that had to get done.

I'm sure you'll all LOVE this Challenge Theme: Dig Deep

Use Something Old From Your Stash

My Dig Deep item was the hot pink, purple (it's bright purple, even though I don't think the picture does it justice) and blue ric rac. I bought this years (I mean YEARS) ago and never could quite figure out what to do with it. I think I have 20 yards of each color.

The image is from Bugaboo ~ Flower Tea Cup. I added Glossy Accents to the Cup and colored the flowers with Sharpies . . . I wanted a real vibrant color to match the ric rac.

Now I know I'm not the only one who has lots and lots of "old" items that haven't been used in a while or have NEVER been used. So dig deep, find something old in your stash and play along. Stop by the Crafty Creations Challenges Blog to see what the other Design Team Members have put together by "Digging Deep."

There's also a Design Team Call . . . so if you'd like to be on a fun and friendly Design Team, be sure to link up a creation with DT behind your name. 

Challenge #38 -- Embossing - Wet or Dry

Time to get out your heat gun or embossing folders because this week at Christmas Card Challenges the theme is: Embossing ~ Wet or Dry

I sponged the Ornament/Star/Snowflake embossing folder with VersaMark Ink. Then carefully placed my Blackberry Bliss cardstock on top and pressed down to transfer the ink. I sprinkled it with Shimmer Embossing Powder I found in the sale bin at Tuesday Morning and heated. First time using this EP, so I didn't know what to expect. I thought it looked a bit silver, so I added 2 silver die-cut ornaments (shimmer silver cardstock and Die-namics Ornaments dies).  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up! 

Stop over to the Christmas Card Challenges blog to see what the other Design Team members created this week. You just might be inspired to grab your supplies and make a couple Christmas Cards. It's never too early . . . and you can also join in the fun by linking your creation (click here).

Thank You!

I thought I would try something new that I've never done before in cardmaking.  I've used digital papers and images for quite some time, but I've never done a one layer card out of digis.

Using Doodle Pantry digi papers and pre-colored image from the Forget Me Not Color Plus set and Microsoft Word, I created the following one layer card.

Now to be honest, I did print a second flower image and cut out three of the flowers to add a bit of  dimension to the card.  However, the patterned paper, the green matting and the first flower image were all printed in one pass . . . no cutting, no piecing ~ I inserted the paper png files, resized each one, added a green border, added a white frame in the center, placed the flower png file in the frame and wallah . . . my card was done.

The picture below shows the one layer better; except for the 3 flowers (and of course the Stampin' Up! sentiment) that I "puffed" up.

I added pink candy dots that I made~love making these~to the corners and an organza bow to finish off the card.  

I think I'll print a few more of these.  I need to send a Thank You card to my two cousins who worked many hours helping my parents clean up a flooded basement from the Michigan rains this past week. I love them like sisters and I know my parents are grateful beyond words.

There's still time to play along in the Monthly Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge. You can use any digital image, but if you use a Doodle Pantry image, you'll receive the Camo Digi Paper Pack for FREE.

Enter the DPDC49 using a Doodle Pantry image (not just a sentiment) and you'll not only be entered in the monthly prize drawing, but you'll receive the following for free. 

Just for Fun

So I had this card in my mind for some time now . . . and it finally came together in real life . . . almost as I imagined it.  I just love FUN cards.

The cow is a digi image from the Doodle Pantry Farm Critters Set.  I colored this image using Copics (but the pre-colored image is just as cute).

Other items used include Die-namics Farm Fence Die, Clouds from a Die-namics Die (but I can't find the name), burlap from stash, punches from Stampin' Up! and computer-generated sentiment.

Inspired by:

2 Cute Ink Challenge #112 ~ Theme: Animals

House of Cards August Challenge ~ Sketch (I used the fence as the horizontal stripes of the sketch)

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #14: Z is for zoo -- ok, maybe a cow isn't really considered a zoo animal; but where I grew up, they had a farm section at the zoo...so there were cows at MY zoo :-)

Christmas Card Challenges #37: Color Challenge

Do you need to add a few more Christmas Cards to your stash?  Why not join along with us at Christmas Card Challenges?  This week it's a Color Challenge and the colors are so beautiful.

I used the Poinsettia Cuttlebug Die that I bought awhile ago but had never used.  Cut it out of shimmery pink cardstock and cut the leaves out of shimmery green cardstock. I then inked the edges of the flower and dab glitter glue over the petals.  I think it's hard to see in the picture, but it sure sparkles and shines in real life.

The sentiment is from the Doodle Pantry Holly Wreath set.  I love the fancy, elegant look of this sentiment.  A little bit of organza ribbon finishes off another Christmas Card.

Here's the Color Challenge Photo. There are so many beautiful colors to pick from; use one or use them all.  What colors will you choose for your Christmas card?  Once it's finished, be sure to link it up (click here) so the rest of us can see what you created this week.

Products used:

Cuttlebug  Poinsettia Set

Pink & Green Shimmer Paper

Green Organza Ribbon (2 widths)

Burgandy Red Cardstock from stash

Doodle Pantry Holly Wreath (sentiment)

Crafty Creations Challenges #269: Flower Power

If you've been following me for any length of time, you know how much I love flowers on my cards.  So, I was excited that I was the one to host the Challenge for the next two weeks at Crafty Creations Challenges. The theme is:

Flower Power

Beccy's Place is the sponsor and she graciously sent me the most beautiful flower image to color and use~Daisies.

I colored it with Copics and I actually have 3 blending pinks and 3 blending greens, so it was really fun and easy to color.

Stop by Crafty Creations (click here) to see what the other Design Team members created for your inspiration. We'd love to have you join along. The Challenge ends August 18 at midnight.

Creative items used:  Spellbinders Petite Ovales Small and Large Dies; Dienamics Flourish Die; Copics; Stampin' Up! Punches, Stamp & Ink; Paper Roses from Stash

Christmas Card Challenges: #36 Embellish it

Welcome to another challenge at Christmas Card Challenges. 

This week the Challenge is Embellish It: Use 2 different types of embellishments on your Christmas Card.  I used a snowflake charm and some homemade candy dots as my two embellishments.

I love the background paper and how well it works with this card.  It's a digi paper from the Doodle Pantry Sheltering Lights set. The sentiment is also from Doodle Pantry ~ Holly Juniper set.  The single snowflake and border are Whimsy Dies ~ Winter's Jewel 1 and Snowflake Border.  I also used Memento Espresso Truffle to ink the doily edge.

I added a bit of glitter glue to the tips of the snowflakes and thought it would show in the close-up, but I don't think it does. It looks good in person.

Now I normally wouldn't make a Christmas card in black, grey and white, but I really like the look of this card. I added glitter to the snowflake on the inside as well . . . but I'm sure you can't see that glitter either :-(

Stop by the Christmas Card Challenges blog to see what the other DT members created this week. Then, once again, get out your cardmaking supplies and get those Christmas cards done now !  Before it's too late.

Doodle Pantry Sheltering Lights & Juniper Holly Sets (click on the image to go to the website)

  

Doodle Pantry: August Products

Welcome August. That means there are new products in the Doodle Pantry Store. And, as a bonus, all August products are 15% off; there's a free set with purchase AND if you join in the monthly challenge beginning later today (click here) and use any Doodle Pantry image, you'll receive a free set.

I used "On the Road" ~ it was super easy to put this card together, except the "cutting out the Jeep" part.

Using the png files, I overlayed the map digi onto the striped paper digi.  I printed the Jeep separately, cut it out and popped it up with dimensionals. I went over the pre-colored Jeep image with Copics.

On the inside, I added a white circle over the striped paper digi and added a mini Jeep on top of everything. It's all printed in one pass.  Like I said, super easy. All I basically had to do was print, cut and mat ~ and cut out the large Jeep image. The sentiment is computer-generated and my own.

Stop by the Doodle Pantry Store to see the other sets available this month. And don't forget, all August sets are 15% off.  Hint: There's another 20% off coupon available but only until August 8th, so act now to save even more ~ and don't forget to pick up the freebies and the Flying Hi set (free with purchase).

On the Road

  

Flying Hi ~ free with purchase