Flowers in Memory -- for JDS Challenges

It's the first Monday of the month, so it's time for a new challenge at JDS Challenges.  Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges are always anything goes, and run for a month, so this challenge will go until Sept. 6.  You can link up absolutely anything you have made from crocheting to paper crafts to gardening -- anything goes!  There will be 2 gift certificates given away at each challenge -- one for a Jan's Digi stamp image, and one random project.  There will also be 3 designer choice awards. 

For this month's inspiration, I used the beautiful Church Sympathy Set. I used it to create this:

There are several images in the set, both in black & white and in pre-colored.  I used one of the black & white images, and one of the sentiments, and colored the image with Spectrum Noir water color pencils and a damp paint brush.  I cut that layer out with a stitched oval die.  I foiled the layer directly behind that, using my Gemini Hot Foil Press machine, then cut that out with a slightly bigger stitched oval die.  The 2 papers behind that are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The paper behind the ovals is from the Glorious Collection.  The largest piece of printed paper is from the Fairy Dreams papers. The 2 largest dies are from Crafter's Companion. 

Check out the Church Sympathy Set and other fantastic set in the Jan Mayhew store. Then join us this month in our Anything Goes challenge at JDS Challenges.  I'd love to see what you make!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Crafter's Cafe -- ATG
D.L. Art -- August Linky Party
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Love to Craft -- ATG

Winter Fairy -- Freebie Friday at Bugaboo Stamps!

It's Friday, it's Friday!  Not only is it almost the weekend, but it's also Freebie Friday at Bugaboo Stamps! Every Friday, there is a freebie that you can grab for the next week to do with what you'd wish.  I'd suggest coloring it up and entering it in challenges at Catch the Bug so you can win more wonderful Bugaboo images!

This week, at Bugaboo Stamps, the freebie is Winter's Fairy.  Isn't she sweet?

 I colored Winter's Fairy with Copic markers.  The sentiment was from a Newton's Nook Designs acrylic set. 

I foiled  the background with my Gemini Foil Press machine and a snowflake foil stamp.  After that, the work was pretty much done for me, I added some contrasting card stock and 3 flat backed pearls to finish off the card.

Hop on over to the Bugaboo Stamps store to pick up this week's freebie, then go to the Catch the Bug Blog to see what the other talented designer created with this wonderful Winter's Fairy.  Join in tomorrow's challenge.  I'd love to see what you create!

Loads of Love Card - for Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

I'm posting today for the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog, where it's always my pleasure to create something with my lovely and growing collection of wonderful dies from the Dies R Us Store. 

My husband loves old trucks, so when trying to figure out his Valentine's card for this year, an old truck seemed like a good choice:

This old truck is by Cheapo Dies and is called Loads of Love.  I also used a set of stitched snowdrift dies from Lawn Fawn.

Here's all the supplies and papers I used:

Here's everything die cut.  I cut out extra wheels and hubcaps so I could keep the best 2 to use on the truck. Gluing small things together can be tough for me, so I gave myself extra chances :)

I thought the truck could use some rust, so a little metallic wax did the trick:

I used a hot foil machine and a foil stamp to achieve the background on this card.  I really like the look you can achieve with hot foil:

I used Stick It Sheets to adhere the letters to the card.

I wanted to make sure you've heard the exciting news!  Dies R Us now has a sister store located in Canada called Didi Crafts.  It will ship both to the Us and Canada.  Didi Crafts will carry some of the same products as Dies R Us, but most will be different.  Now our Canadian friends don't have to pay huge taxes or large shipping costs.  How great is that?!?!

I hope you check this blog every day for wonderful inspiration!  The design team is so creative, you don't want to miss anything.  Then, join in the challenges at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  Here's one last link to the Dies R Us Store for you, too! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

D.L. Art -- January Linky Party

Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Snowy Weather

DigiChoosday -- ATG

Crafty Happiness Challenge -- ATG - optional Love

Oh Deer, Christmas is Here! For Jan's Digi Stamps

Here we go!  The first ever challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges, or, as those of us that have followed her work affectionately refer to it as, JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  The challenges will be on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, so what a great way to start out your week! The will run until noon (Eastern) the Sunday before the new challenge.  You'll find all the rules on a tab at the JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  Her beautiful digis can be found in her shop here.

For the first challenge, I wanted to showcase one of Jan's beautiful Christmas images.  I decided on a silhouette so I could play with inks.  This is 722J Reindeer:

Each of Jan's Digi Stamp's sets comes with a black and white version (what I used here), a pre-colored image, and several sentiments.  This set also has each of the deer separated, so you can also use them in whatever configuration you wish.  Lots of flexibility here!

I placed the Reindeer family to my liking on white card stock, then placed the sentiment (included in the Reindeer set) where it appealed to my eye. Then, it was time to ink it up.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks to achieve the look I wanted, and lightly spritzed some water on it to give the look of snow. 

The snowbanks were cut out with dies from Lawn Fawn.  The snowflake background was created using a Gemini Hot Foil Press machine and a foil stamp.   The blue snowflakes are dies from Cheery Lynn.

That's it!  My first card for the first challenge at JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  It's Anything Goes! You might win a $9 gift certificate to the store!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Fridays --Christmas
D.L. Art -- November Linky Party
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge -- Christmas/Winter
The Paper Players Challenge -- Into the Woods 

Peace -- for Sheepski Designs

It's November  1,  and there's a new challenge starting at the SheepSki Designs Challenge Blog.  Our theme this month is  Christmas is coming (and it is!).

I loved this relatively new image to the SheepSki Design Etsy Shop. and used it  on my card, winter deer:

I created the card by using various distress oxide inks on the background.  Then, I mounted it with a piece of black cardstock.  The snowflake background  is foiled with my  crafters companion foiling machine.

You'll find Winter Deer and other beautiful SheepSki Designs Images in the Etsy Shop.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Christmas
AUD Sentiments -- ATG with a sentiment
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
CRAFT Challenge -- Winter