Guest Designer~Send A Smile 4 Kids

Several weeks ago my card was picked as a Top 3 for a Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge (check it out here). 

With that recognition, I was asked if I wanted to be a future Guest Designer ~ well, HELLO!! Who wouldn't want to be?!  This is a wonderful organization full of wonderful people who dedicate their time and talents to collecting (and making) donated handmade cards to be distributed to children while they're inpatient at Children's Hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.

The Challenge for the next two weeks is:

Anything Goes 4 Kids 

  

The sponsors are Flat Friends Boutique (prize 6 digis), Crafty Sentiments (prize 3 digis) and Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet (prize $6 gift certificate).

I used a digital image from Flat Friends Boutique ~ All Wrapped Up.

And, of course, I had to "bling" it up a bit by adding strips of lilac glitter paper to the bottom gift.

Children cards accepted are: Thank You Notes (the children give these to the nurses or doctors); birthday cards; Mother's or Father's Day cards; holiday cards and "Happy Any Day" cards.  Check out the Guidelines for donating cards here; or to read more about Send A Smile 4 Kids and what hospitals they support, check it out here.

SCP Craft Club Members:

I started a box that will be sent around the mid to end of September. If anyone from the SCP Craft Club would like to donate a Handmade Card to this extremely worthy cause, please let me know.  

On second thought, bring your card/s to the September meeting (9/10) and you'll receive a free package of Paper Crafting goodies ~ from me to you ~ for supporting this worthy cause. 

Since our cards will go to children in Florida Hospitals, wouldn't it be nice to send a box of at least 100 cards?  Please help me reach this goal.

Crafty Creations #295 ~ Chalkboard

I'm the hostess this week at Crafty Creations Challenges.  By the time I had written that challenge post I completely forgot to write my own. Duh!  So, I'm sorry this is a bit late today. 

The Challenge Theme for the next two weeks is: Chalkboard  I've been wanting to try this technique; although I think I did mine a bit unconventional.

We're sponsored by Oak Pond and I used one of their digital images called Wine.

I reversed the digital image and then changed the background to a dark grey~have I mentioned before how I love working with digital images? LOL  I created the sentiment also.  It's a png file with white lettering ~ I've included the black image below as a freebie.  In hindsight, I think I should have softened the "white" sentiment a bit; but it was my first try at "printer" chalkboard (vs. "stamping" chalkboard).

It may be hard to see in the photo, but I used a white watercolor pencil to shade the grapes (and darken a few of the lines) and green to color in the vines. A CAS card, but certainly not as quick as I had hoped.

I hope you hop on over to the Crafty Creations Challenges blog and check out what the other DT members created.  I hope you join along because I'd love to see what you create.

Feel free to save and use the sentiment below. I'd love you to link back to my blog if you use it.  It's a png file with clear background, so it can be layered over other digi's. I hope you enjoy!

Happy Birthday Little Princess

I just love this little dinosaur from the Doodle Pantry Kids Toys Set.  I merged the crown and dinosaur together, printed a "lighter" version, colored it with Copics and added Glossy Accents to the crown jewels, the eyes and white spots.  A little bit of rhinestone bling and ribbon finishes the card.

The inside sentiment is a personal creation. I've included it at the end as a Freebie ~ my gift to you. 

If you save it, please leave me a comment.  If you use it, please link back to my blog (who doesn't love a "shout out" every now and then).  I'd also love to see your creation with this sentiment, so please leave the link to the specific blog post on any of my posts~I realize it may be hard to find this particular post.  

I'm linking this card to Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge (Bright Colors). Now, I realize this may not look bright, but the card base is actually a beautiful bright purple color. One of these days I will learn the secret to photographing purple.

To save the Free Sentiment: click on the image above, then right mouse click to save it to your computer.

Doodle Pantry AIMPDC #6

Hop on over to Doodle Pantry for the monthly Ants In My Pantry Digital Challenge (it opens noon EST).  Any digital image is accepted; although we love it when you use a Doodle Pantry image (click here to see all the sets you can purchase, or pick up a few freebies to use).  Anyone, from anywhere, can win.

I used Bird Bath Joy-color Plus for the pre-colored digital image and sentiment on the front and Gift Monkey for the sentiment on the inside. The DSP are also from Bird Bath Joy-color Plus.

Note: You may be wondering why there's no "white piece for writing" on this card.  My cardmaking friends send each other cards with our message written on an unattached insert.  This way the card receiver can re-use the card.  Since we don't do big, fancy gifts, our card becomes our "gift."

I was inspired to create this card by QKR Stampede. Their challenge this week is Bath Time. And this little birdie is definitely "taking a bath."

  

  

Better Late Than Never

I'm almost embarrassed to write this post today. 

See, back in December I won 3 digistamps from Crissy Armstrong. She has some of the best images; if you're not familiar with her designs, check them out here.  I already owned several of her stamps and had a difficult time picking just 3, but I finally did.

In emails back and forth, I found out she's not only a talented artist, she's also a wonderful, caring person and a fellow sister in the Lord. It was a Win - Win - Win.

I couldn't wait to print out the images and get to coloring. Which I did . . . right away...back in December. 

However, I just realized that I never posted even one of the cards I made using my new digistamps. So, here's the first card I made w w w a a a y y y back in January.  It's already out of my possession and in the hands of my "sister" (she isn't really, but we call each other that since we finish each other's sentences). At least I took pictures before I sent it to her.

Crissy, I'm sorry for not showcasing these stamps sooner. You know how excited I was to get them (I really was) . . . I guess life just happens sometimes.

The card is actually an easel card.

I just love these little happy fellas.  I added Stickles to their little poms.

On the inside, I left room at the top to write a little note.

Due to the new EUR VAT laws, the digistamps aren't available at this time. However, you can still purchase Crissy Armstrong rubber stamps through Whimsy Stamps.  Click here.

I'm entering the following Challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #132-Cute + a Sentiment (hopefully the Happy counts as my sentiment)

Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenge #83-Anything but a Square Card

Di's Digi Design Challenge - 2 or more Designer Papers

Sister Act Card Challenge #108-Always Anything Goes

Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Anything Goes for Kids (what child wouldn't love these penguins)

Crafty Gals Corner -  #21 Critters

Finally . . .

Yes, Finally !!!   I finally had a chance to ink up and color this LOTV stamp ~ it's so cute, I'm not sure what took me so long to use it.  

And this wonderful sketch design at Tuesday Morning Sketches just seemed to be the perfect time to use this stamp.  It's been awhile since I've played along with them, but I love their sketches and the fact that I don't really have to "think" about how I'm going to put my card together.

And here's the sketch I used.  I really didn't waiver from it, other than I added a sentiment to the bottom.

I thought I'd also play along in the following Challenges:

Seize The Birthday - Must be Birthday Card - Anything Goes Challenge

QKR Stampede – #140 - Children's Birthday Card

Simply Papercraft - #5 Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - #107  - Anything Goes

WordArt Wednesdays - #184 -Anything Goes Family Friendly
On A Stampage  Mynn's birthday bash

Imagine That! Monthly Progressive Challenge

I had to take a bit of a hiatus from the Monthly Progressive Challenge at Imagine That! digis by Kris due to our move, husband's unexpected surgery and other issues. But I'm back . . . and a what a great time to re-enter the challenge because Kris offered the colored digis for free !

I love the bright pinks, greens and blues in the peacock.  And I just happened to have cardstock in those same colors that accent the card.  I also snagged the beautiful DSP for free from Kris.  I used the Flourish Pink DSP, although I lightened it a bit.  And I used Peacock Spread from the Pretty Peacocks digital set (see below).

There are still a few days remaining to play along in the monthly challenge. Check out Kris' blog (click on the name or image below) to find out how you can get this month's image (flowers and peacocks) for free. Then create your card/project and you'll get another set for free to use next month . . . and so on and so on.

BTW, I also used the beautiful, bright pink flowers on another project that I'll share on Monday.

Imagine That! digis by Kris

It's Cupcake Time

Have you ever needed double-sided cardstock for a project, but couldn't find the right pattern or color for your project?

That's what's SO great about Doodle Pantry digital sets. Not only do you receive beautiful images (color and B&W) and sentiments, but you also get several coordinating papers ~ both patterns and solids.

I wanted to make a cupcake holder that I saw . . . somewhere~on some blog or on YouTube. But I didn't have the "right" double-sided cardstock.  Enter the Yummy Cupcake Digital Set by Doodle Pantry.

I created my double sided cardstock by printing a full page of one digital paper pattern, flipping the cardstock over and printing a coordinating digital paper on the other side.  There are lots of possibilities with this set.

After die-cutting the pieces (sorry, the die cut is no longer available), I ran the solid brown through an embossing folder to create the "lines" in a cupcake wrapper.  Then glued the DSP "top" to the "bottom," added a bit of ruffled ribbon and pearls and placed a ribbon through punched holes in the top to hold it all together.

I printed 2 pre-colored cupcake images; cut one out completely and cut just the "frosting" out of the second to pop it up.  The sentiment is from the set also (punched with a tag punch), matted in brown and placed on the DSP that I used on the inside of the cupcake holder (the reverse side of the tag has the little sprinkles).

There are so many possibilities using digital images. Hop on over to the Doodle Pantry store for your next digital set or check out the Doodle Pantry blog to see wonderful inspirations from the DT.

I'm entering the following challenges:

• Whimsy Inspiration -#81 Use A Die Cut (ends 4/13)
• Wonderful Wednesdays - (Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps) -  Always Anything Goes
• Digi Sketch Challenge - Sketch* and/or Anything Goes (I chose "Anything Goes") - WINNER
• Get Creative Challenges #11 - Die Cut (ends 4/5)

Doodle Pantry New Releases

You may have noticed that my January Doodle Pantry post is today rather than on the 1st.  

Beginning this month, Doodle Pantry is changing their New Products Release Day. Instead of releasing all the new products on the first of the month, there will be 2-5 new products released every Tuesday for the first four Tuesday's of the month.  And if you shop on a Tuesday, the products released on that day will be marked 25% off . . . but only for that day !

One other change . . . the Monthly Challenge as you know it has changed. The new challenge is now called Ants in My Pantry Digital Challenge (AIMPDC).  Monthly challenges will start on the first Tuesday of each month and run for 2-1/2 weeks. Winners will be announced on the 4th Monday of the month.

Anyone can enter, anyone can win . . . even our friends in the EU. So check back after 12 noon EST (click here) for January's Theme and more details on the new monthly AIMPDC. 

Now onto the new products and my card (finally . . . right ? LOL)

This digital set is called Moo Birdie.  The pre-colored digi image is great by itself, but I added clouds to the background ~ in lieu of coloring the digi {smile}.  I also used one of the digi papers (blue & black mini polka dots) and a sentiment from the set.

I added some "grass" as my "ribbon."  A few black plastic rhinestones accent the corners ~ they're not pearls and they don't sparkle, but they have facets so I guess they can be called "rhinestones."

I tried to carry the "theme" to the inside also; adding clouds to the top and grass to the bottom.  The inside sentiment is computer generated because . . . well, it was in my "box of stuff" that I'm trying to eliminate this year, so every card I make has to include one piece/element from this box.

Moo Birdie includes several sentiments, papers and image styles (line art, pre-colored with soft "cow" body outline and pre-colored with black "cow" body outline) all in jpeg and png files. I used the pre-colored soft "cow" body outline for my card. You can check out the Moo Birdie set and all the other sets released today by clicking here.

Deedee's Digis December Challenge

This has to be a short post . . . kids are going to be here in about 15 minutes. But I wanted to share a card I made for the December Challenge at Deedee's Digis.

I merged the cake and balloons together. Then cut around the cake, fussy cut the balloons out, added pink, blue and yellow glitter to them and popped them up.  I also added a bit of clear glitter to the frosting. The sentiment is also from the digi set.

I kept the inside simple, but tried to tie it to the front sketch.

There's still time to play along. Check out the challenge here or her shop here

And here's the digi set you must use to play in the December challenge. But, hint . . . it's only 31 cents, so who couldn't play along this month ? !

Happy Birthday, Dad

I may not be completely unpacked and "settled" into the new house yet, but I was able to spend a half day in the 'still unorganized' craft room. What a great feeling to be Creative again.

This is one of the adorable digi images from Doodle Pantry's Silly Critter set. The sentiment is my own, but I think the sentiment lends itself to the look on this critter's face.  Priceless.

This card is for my dad. We live far away from him and we'd love for him to move closer to us, but so far we've had no luck in convincing him to move. And with us recently moving into a new house (same community, same street, just a different home), making a trip north for his birthday this year was not practical.

Happy Birthday, Dad. Hope your day is special ~ since you're very special to us.

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.