Friday, May 31, 2019

A Glittery Hello -- for Di's Digi Designs Challenges

It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digi Designs Challenges.  For the next 2 weeks, the theme is "Add Glitter" -- it can be glitter, glitter glue, glitter paper, liquid pearls -- however you want to make your project sparkle!

I just love coloring up Di's Digi Stamp images, and there are so many wonderful ones in the Di's Digi Stamp Store!  I used Hide & Seek Mice to create this: 



I made this tag by first coloring the Hide & Seek Mice image with Copic markers. I then added Stickles glitter glue (Christmas red) to the poppies and added a clear Wink of Stella pen to the mushroom.  

Papers on the tag are from Heartfelt Creations.  The tag dies used to build the tag creation are by Paper Wishes.  The fibers are retired from Close To My Heart. 

Di's Digi Designs Challenges has the best prizes!  You can win images from the Di's Digi Stamp Store -- some of the cutest digital stamps around!  I hope you enter our "add some glitter" challenge this next 2 weeks.  I'd love to see what you make!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge -- Flowers
Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes -- Butterfly
Brown Sugar -- Flowers

Thursday, May 30, 2019

I Only Have Eyes for You -- and Bugaboo Stamps!

It's Thursday, and very nearly the end of May.  I hate to see this month end.  I love May!  The temperatures start to warm, the birds migrate through, and all the leaves and flowers start to bloom.  I think it's the prettiest month of the year here in Wisconsin.  But, all good things must end.

June will soon be upon us, and that means warmer temperatures, picnics, and ants!  Yes, ANTS!

Today is Oldie but Goodie day at Catch the Bug.  I used a well loved Bugaboo Stamps digi, that quite describes picnics in Wisconsin -- or anywhere!



This adorable image is one of a set of 3 in the Picnic Ants Set, colored with Copic markers.  There's also one drinking out of a soda can, and one chewing on an apple core.  They are all darling!  I love to color cherries, so this one was right up my coloring alley!  Besides, I could put googly eyes on him, and enter him in this month's Crash Your Stash Challenge at the Outlawz.  Bonus!

The sentiment and papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The sentiment, part of a set created for the Crash Your Stash challenge I mentioned, is called, Eyes. I used 2 different paper packs on this card.  The black denim and red paisley are from the Howdy Collection.  The green gingham is from the Rainbow Gingham collection

I used this week's sketch from Sketch Saturday to help me construct this card.  Here's the sketch: 
You can see I gave it a 90 degree turn, but followed it closely.

Oldie but Goodie day at Catch the Bug -- I hope you check out what the other talented designers made, and the oldies they used.  You're never disappointed with a trip to the Catch the Bug Blog

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges
Sketch Saturday -- week #565
Outlawz Monday Challenge -- Flowers or Ribbon
Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- Googly Eyes
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
Cute Card Thursday -- masculine

Saturday, May 25, 2019

You Flamin-go Girl! for Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

I'm super excited to be posting today on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog.  It's always a joy to be playing with stamps and dies! Today, I'm sharing a non-traditional graduation card.  One of the young ladies from my church is graduating this weekend, and when looking for something to make for her, I came across this stamp set with coordinating dies, and thought it would be perfect for her.  It was Lawn Fawn to the rescue!




This card uses a few Lawn Fawn products, including Flamingo Together Stamps and Flamingo Together coordinating dies

Here's a photo of all the supplies I used.  I will link everything at the bottom of this post.


I stamped all my pieces first, colored the flamingo with Copic markers, then used the matching dies to cut them out:
You can see that I use washi tape to hold all the thin dies in place.  That way they don't accidentally shift and ruin what I've been working on.  Washi tape is easily removed after I've run it through my die cutting machine, and the cut is complete. 

Here's all the pieces cut out, including the yellow circle I'm using for a sun, and the sandy bottom where I stamped the sentiment.

I created some interest in the sand using one of the Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders.  The sun was cut out with a Lawn Fawn Large Dotted Circle Stackables.  

After everything was cut out, all I had to do was assemble it with the Best Glue Ever.

My graduation card is ready!










Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.
click below for:

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
Polkadoodles -- ATG


Friday, May 24, 2019

Why Blend in When you can be a Unicorn? for Aloha Friday Challenges

It's Friday, and that means there's a challenge underway over on the Aloha Friday Challenge Blog.  Challenges run for 2 weeks, so today, I have a little mid-challenge inspiration.  The theme of the challenge for these 2 weeks is Fairytale/Fantasy, and one of our sponsor is Paper Nest Dolls

I used the adorable Fairy Emma with Unicorn to create this: 



I colored Fairy Emma with Unicorn with Copic markers, blending some colors I wouldn't normally blend.  That's the fun of Copic markers and coloring!

I used this month's sketch from Cheerful Sketch Challenges to design this card. Here's the sketch:
The fun unicorn papers on this card are from AMB Illustrations.  They are the Magical Unicorn papers. The sentiment is an acrylic stamp from Close To My Heart.  The sparkly gems are from my stash.

You still have a week to join us at The Aloha Friday Challenges.  This Fairytale/Fantasy challenge ends on May 30th. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Cheerful Sketch Challenges -- May
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
Jo's Scrap Shack -- ATG

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Farrah the Flamingo -- Fabulous! for Scribbles Designs

It's the 23rd of the month, and the day I have some inspiration on the Scribbles Designs blog.  Every 23rd of the month, you'll find me there!

Today, I'm featuring Farrah the Flamingo.  There are a number of Farrah Flamingo digis in the store, but this is Farrah Flamingo Close Up:



I colored Farrah Flamingo Close Up with Copic markers, then used a Lifestyle Crafts circle die to cut it out, and another one a size bigger to cut out a black circle to back it with.  

The fun designer papers on this card are from Imagine That Digistamp. They are the Tropical Breeze papers.  The 'Fabulous' sentiment is a cut from a die from Frantic Stamper, purchased at the Dies R Us Store.  The flamingo was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo 3 with a file found in the Silhouette Design Store. 

I used a sketch from Sketch Saturday on this card.  It was last week's sketch.  

Check out the Scribbles Designs blog to see what the other designs have created.  You won't be disappointed!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Crafting from the Heart -- ATG
2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party

Colorful Bird Hello -- Catch the Bug Oldie but Goodie

Hello, and happy Thursday!  It's almost Friday, which is almost the weekend!  Hang in there, it'll be here before you know it!

It's Oldie but Goodie time on the Catch the Bug Blog, and I found a delightful spring bird I wanted to color up for today's post.

I live in a very diverse environment.  Within a 3 block area there is a lake, wetlands, woods, and a meadow.  This makes for a great variety of birdlife, especially during spring and fall migration.  It's not at all uncommon for me to spot Red Breasted Nuthatches, Common Loons, Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Downy Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmice, Sandhill Cranes, Wood Ducks, Osprey, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, and any number of other birds great and small all within my 3 block area at any given time.  I love to go for walks with my dog Winter and see what we will see!

I have to tell you, I have never seen a bird that looks exactly like this one, but you just never know!



This Bugaboo Stamps digi is called, appropriately, Spring Bird.  I colored Spring Bird with Copic markers, then used a Spellbinders foil and cut set to hot foil the card and cut out the bird.  There's something very elegant about foiling, isn't there?  I wanted to keep the rest of the card simple so the foiling really showed up.

That's it for me and my Oldie but Goodie post.  Check out what the other talented designers have created at Catch the Bug Blog


Off to find some challenges for this:
Lemon Shortbread -- ATG
A Gem of a Challenge -- ATG
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Paper Minutes -- Friendship



Live the Life You Love -- For Lavinia World

Today is a big day!  It's the start of the first challenge at the Lavinia World Challenge Blog, and my first official post on the Lavinia Stamps team!  Challenges will be every other Thursday, so they will run for 2 weeks.  You must use a rubber or clear stamp -- no digis will be accepted.  Using a Lavinia World stamp doubles your chances of winning! 

I used 2 Lavinia World stamp sets on this card: 



I used one of the Fairy Dandelions stamps on this.  I heat embossed it with black embossing powder, then used Tim Holtz Distress inks to blend the colors on the oval panel.  I cut it out with a Spellbinders die.  The sentiment stamp, also from Lavinia World Stamps, is "Live the Life You Love" .  Each word is individual, so it was easy to stamp each one on a small piece of paper to create the effect on this card.

I cut the card base out on my Silhouette Cameo 3 with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.

The dandelion background paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is from the Dandelion Wishes Collection.   

The lace was purchased at Hobby Lobby, and the crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM, a store no longer in business.  

Please -- 'Like' Lavinia World on Facebook
                       Follow Lavinia World on Instagram, and don't forget to include #laviniaworldstore on your projects, and tag us at @laviniaworldstore so we can be sure to see and comment on your Lavinia World projects!

The Lavinia World Challenge Blog -- it's going to be great fun, so I so hope you can join us! 




I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
We Love 2 Create Challenges -- AT Mixed Media Goes
Artistic Inspirations -- ATG
Angie's Digital Stamps -- ATG
Addicted to Stamps -- Flowers
TTCRD -- ATG
Dare 2 Be Artzy -- Flowers



You're a Classic -- guest designing at The Outlawz

It's my 2nd time this month that I've had the pleasure of guest designing for the Twisted Thursday Challenge over at The Outlawz Challenges.  The Outlawz is one of my favorite places to play, with their daily challenges, so I love having a chance to guest design!  

For the next 2 weeks, the optional theme is 'Masculine', and the sponsor is LeAnn's World. Enter the optional theme, or an Anything Goes project.  

Using Beatle Bug, here's my Masculine card:

I decided to be a bit lazy on this card and not color it, but instead use the Beatle just the way it is.  I liked the look of the silhouette against the paper.

Speaking of paper, the gorgeous papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The paper that the Beatle is printed on is from the Dreamy Creamy Collection.  The fun houndstooth paper that gives it such a masculine look is from the Houndstooth Neutral papers.  I computer generated the sentiment.

All the Outlawz challenges go for 2 weeks, so you have plenty of time to get your masculine projects made.  With Father's Day looming ever nearer, now's a great time to get going on them! 

Thanks to Angela and the entire Twisted Thursday team for including me in today's masculine challenge!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Try it on Tuesdays -- Let's Party


Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Fabulous Summer! All Dressed Up Stamps New Releases

It's the 22nd of the month, and that's the day that this month's new releases from All Dressed Up Stamps are featured in the All Dressed Up Facebook group.  I had a little spare time this month, and a couple of our members are on leave, so I colored up 2 images for today's New Release.

This first card uses the New Release digital stamp, Wild About Flowers:

I colored Wild About Flowers with Copic markers, then used new release papers from We Are 3 Digital Shop. The background papers on this card are from the Floral Burst papers.  The 'Fabulous' sentiment is a die cut from Crafter's Companion.

This 2nd card uses the New Release digital, Popsicle Girl:

I colored Popsicle Girl with Copic markers, then fussy cut her.  I cut out the box card on my Silhouette Cameo 3 with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  I computer generated the sentiment.  Popsicle Girl is ready for some warm temperatures and beach weather!

I hope you enjoyed my takes on these 2 new releases of All Dressed Up Stamps.  To see even more inspiration, check out the All Dressed Up Facebook Group, and the All Dressed Up Blog

I've found the following challenges I'd like to enter:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party 
Digichoosday -- ATG
QKR Stampede -- ATG

Monday, May 20, 2019

You Are My Moon & Stars -- for Path of Positivity

It's Monday, and it's time for some mid-month inspiration on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  This month, the optional challenge theme is 'Admiration', or you can enter any positive themed project you'd like.  Our ongoing sponsor each month is Scribbles Designs.  

My husband is a source of great inspiration for me, and I admire him very much.  He has a work ethic that few can rival, calling in sick once in his nearly 30 years with the company he works for.  His 8 hour work days are 10-11 hours each and every day, although he's paid for 8, and I could go on and on.  I made him this card, using a free image found in the Scribbles Designs Store, to show him my appreciation for the things he does for me:



I used #F146 Moon & Stars, colored with Copic markers.  The star and moon die is from Craftin' Desert Divas.  The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with a die from Spellbinders.  The starry sky background paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is a new release this month. It is one of the Moon Desert papers. 

'Admiration'-- the optional theme this month at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  I hope you can join us!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- 3 circles (not 3 squares)

Friday, May 17, 2019

Masculine "For You" -- Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog

It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digi Designs Challenges.  For the next 2 weeks, the theme is "Make it Masculine."   Hmm.  I thought long and hard about this, and think I came up with the perfect digital image from the Di's Digi Stamps Store, and the perfect card for this challenge.  But first, a little background.

I have a friend.  He's now 98.  When he and his wife were newly retired, his wife volunteered in the nursing home where I worked.  Milt was a wonderful gardener.  He had the most beautiful flowers you've ever seen, including hollyhocks.  The other things he was incredible with were asparagus and raspberries.  I still miss all those things!  His wife, Eva, dies in her early 80's, and not long after that Milt moved across the state to be nearer to his children.  I started sending him a card every Monday morning, and still continue it to this day.  Little did I know how many years the tradition would continue, but he is one of my biggest fans.

The card I made for today's challenge is going to Milt.  It may not look real masculine, but I know he will love it.  He will the hedgehogs at the mailbox, and he'll adore the hollyhocks!



This card uses Posting Hedgehog Love, colored with Copic markers.

The designer papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are from the Spring Letters papers.

Make it Masculine -- you have 2 weeks to join in the fun, and the digis you can win are the absolute cutest -- like this one!  I hope you can join us at Di's Digi Designs Challenges

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Polkadoodles Challenge -- ATG
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a critter
Brown Sugar Challenge -- Flowers
Cheerful Sketches -- May

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Fly High -- for Sasayaki Glitter Stamps by Naz

It's May 15, and that means it's time to share some Oldies but Goodies on the Sasayaki Glitter Blog.  This time, the theme is 'In the Sky'.  You'll find many cute and charming projects today on the Sasayaki Glitter Blog

What better way to get Up In the Sky than with Pilot Shy

I colored Pilot Shy with Copic markers.  I found the airplane paper at Pixel Scrapper.  The cloud and burlap papers are from We Are 3 Digital Shop. I cut the airplane die cut out on my Silhouette Cameo 3 with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store. 


Check out the Sasayaki Glitter Blog to see all of the Up in the Sky projects.  You won't be disappointed! 


I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG
Allsorts Challenge -- Transport
Inkspirational Challenge -- adventure
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- ATG for Kids

Love Today -- for Scrapyland Challenge Blog

It's the 3rd Wednesday of the month, so it's time for a new challenge on the Scrapyland Challenge Blog.  Challenges are anything goes, as long as you used products sold in the Scrapyland Store, and they will go for 2 weeks.

I used 3 dies to create this card:

I started out by inking a background with 3 different, matching pink  Harmony inks from Spectrum Noir.  I then cut out the circle with a die from Paper Artist that was the same size as the Delicate Butterfly.  The Delicate Butterfly is a die from Memory Box.  Doesn't it have a pretty, lacy, cut?  I'm in love with it!  Speaking of love, I also love the basketweave background die from Sue Wilson that I used on this. 


Delicate Butterfly by Memory Box



The Scrapyland Challenge blog has 2 winners each challenge, giving away $10 gift certificates to each winner.  Come join in the fun! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
TTCRD -- ATG
Take a Word Challenge -- Wings on Things

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Birthday Derek -- Outlawz Progressive Freebie

Happy Tuesday!  This is the most beautiful day of spring so far!  Winter (my Golden Retriever) and I are just home from the dog park.  He had so much fun with a couple of his buddies.  I'll include a couple of recent pictures of my boy at the end of this post.   He's 11 months old now, so probably full grown, but still all puppy.

Derek -- he's the progressive freebie image this month at The Outlawz Monthly Progressive Freebie Challenge.  He's provided by Dr. Digi.  He's called Valentine Derek, but I need a birthday card, so mine's birthday Derek:


I colored Valentine Derek with Copic markers.  Handsome, isn't he?  I thought of using the sentiment, "I used to be a stud muffin, now I'm just a muffin", but I didn't know how to fit all that on the card.  

I used the sketch from the Wednesday Sketch Challenge that ends today, so I'm squeaking in under the wire on this one.  Here's the sketch:

Papers on this card are from Close To My Heart.  I like the bright colors of the papers.  I thought they looked celebratory, and worked well with my image and for a birthday card.  The birthday banner die cut on the left side is from Diamond Press. 

OK, I'm going to wrap this post up and get back outside to enjoy this glorious day!

Here's Winter at 11 months:


I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Monday Greeting -- Birthday
Outlawz Progressive Freebie -- May
Outlawz Sketch Challenge -- ends May 14
Seize the Birthday -- ATG

When We're Old... for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez

Greetings, fellow stamp lovers!  I'm posting today for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez.  She has some of the cutest stamps in both acrylic and digital images! 

I created today with this darling image called, "Old Lady with a Cane."  She reminds me very much of some of the ladies in the nursing home where I volunteer!



I colored Old Lady with a Cane with Copic markers, then fussy cut her.   The sentiment is part of a set I got at Sparkle N Sprinkle and it seemed very appropriate for Old Lady with a Cane.  I have a very good friend I plan to send this card to.  I know she'll get a giggle out of it!

The funky orange background paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.   It's one of the Orange Retro papers

I hope you enjoyed today's card.  If you did, please check out the Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez Shop and the Facebook Group.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
Lemon Shortbread -- ATG
DigiChoosday -- ATG


Monday, May 13, 2019

Happy Birthday to Ewe -- for Bugaboo Stamps

It's Monday, and that's the day for Anything But a Card projects on the Catch the Bug Blog. I have a cute gift bag idea to share with you today:



This was super easy to whip up for a gift.  I used the Bugaboo Stamps Circle Sentiments Birthday Ewe on this project. The Birthday Ewe didn't take much coloring at all with my Copic markers, and two circle dies were all it took to cut it out and back it.

The treat bag is a die from Lawn Fawn.  It's the perfect size for a gift card, a bit of candy, or even a pair of socks.  Yup, this Circle Sentiment Birthday Ewe bag is ready to go!

Check out what the other talented designers created over at Catch the Bug, do some shopping for yourself in the Bugaboo Store, enter our challenges (there's a new one every Saturday), and win some digis to enter again! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
Pattie's Creations -- Birthdays
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Birthday

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Thanks a Bunch -- Stella Says Sketch at Catch the Bug

It's Sunday, and it's the start of a new sketch challenge at Catch the Bug Challenges.  Yes, that's right!  Stella Says Sketch!  So, I sketched!

I used a whimsical springtime image to make this thank you card using the current sketch to create this:



I used Make it Snappy - Thanks a Bunch and colored it with Copic markers, then cut out the square and mounted it on a piece of black card stock.

Here's the sketch I used:


Papers on this card are from the We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are from one of the new releases this month -- Floral Burst.  

Stella Says Sketch -- come join the fun at Catch the Bug Challenges!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Crafting With Friends -- ATG
ARTastic Challenge -- use flowers
Creative Sketchy Girls -- Flowers
Tales From the Craft Room -- Floral Frenzy
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge -- ATG
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party



Just a Song Gift Bag -- for We Are 3 Digital Shop

Hello, and happy Sunday!  I have a cute gift bag I made to showcase one of the new release papers from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  Isn't this sweet?



I cut the gift bag out on my Silhouette Cameo 3 with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store. The beautiful note paper is from the Just a Song Collection.  This is just one of 8 gorgeous papers in this collection.

That beautiful bold butterfly is a die from Cheery Lynn.  The ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

There is a fabulous new release this month at We Are 3 Digital Shop.  If you haven't checked it out yet and done some shopping, it's worth a visit to Bonnie's We Are 3 Etsy Shop

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Rainy Day Panda - for Kitty Bee Designs

It's my day to post on the Kitty Bee Design blog.  I love it when I have the chance to work with the adorable designs from Kitty Bee Design

In May, we get lots of rain here in Wisconsin where I live, so I thought coloring up this Rainy Day Panda would be great fun!


This Rainy Day Panda is a clear acrylic stamp,  available in the Kitty Bee Design Etsy Shop.  Right now, this Rainy Day Panda is on sale, at 20% off!

The Rainy Day Panda was super fun to color up.  I added the mud puddle with a stencil from Whimsy Stamps, and stamped the sentiment directly on to the background paper (sentiment from Close To My Heart). Lastly, I added the rhinestone raindrops.  

The fun papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop. They are from the April Showers Collection.  

Check the Kitty Bee Designs blog often for more inspiration from the Kitty Bee Design team.  You'll see some awesome designs, available in the Kitty Bee Design Etsy Shop



I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party