Enjoy the Ride -- For The Paper Shelter

 It's Wednesday, and a new challenge starts today over on The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog.  Challenges run for a week and have a theme.  This weeks theme is 'Going Dotty'.  You don't have to use a Paper Shelter image, but if you do, and your card is chosen as the winner, you'll be awarded a $30 gift certificate! 

'Going Dotty' -- what a fun theme!  I had a great time with this one!  I found a wonderful image that I thought would lend itself to papers with dots -- here's YMMV:

I colored YMMV with a combination of Spectrum Noir Triblend Brush markers and Copic markers.  The sentiment is computer generated.  The banner dies are from Crafter's Companion, while the stitched heart die is from Lawn Fawn.

All The dotted papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are from the Dotted Swiss Collection.

'Going Dotty' -- I hope you join us at The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog with your dotty creations this week!  I'd love to see what you create, and we've got wonderful prizes you could win!

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

D.L. Art -- June Linky Party

Colour Crazy Challenges -- ATG with a Colored Image

DigiChoosday -- ATG

Crafty Sentiments -- ATG

Happy Easter! For Dies R Us Challenges

 It's March 1 (already!), and that means it's the start of a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges.  The challenge will run for 12 weeks, with the next one beginning March 15.  They are always Anything Goes, as long as you use a die from a brand sold in the Dies R Us Store. They sell lots & lots of dies (plus stamps and others great supplies!) so this is very easy to do!

Easter is not that far away, so I thought it was time to get a start on my Easter cards.  Besides, we are in the middle of an Arctic cold snap, and I need some bright Springtime colors in my life 😀.  Here's what I created for today's challenge: 

I started by inking my background.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks found in the Dies R Us Store.  The rabbit focal point of the card is called Bunny Silhouette, and is by Memory Box. The frame is called Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangles Frames.  The sentiment is a Memory Box Mini Vintage Varsity Happy Spring.

I hope you share your creativity and join us for our Anything Goes challenge At Dies R Us Challenges. You can win a gift certificate, and 3 Designer Choice awards will be given each challenge.

I want to let you know that the Dies R Us Inspiration team is having a DT call.  It's a great company to design for, and a fun team to be on.  Here's all the details, if you are interested!

For our Canadian friends, check out the Didi Crafts Store.  You'll find wonderful products and reasonable shipping rates.

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

A Bit More Time to Craft Extra -- ATG

Lemon Shortbread -- ATG

Crafts Galore Encore -- ATG

With All My Love -- For Dies R Us Challenges

 February -- the month of love!  February first -- the start of a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges.  Challenges start on the 1st and the 15th of the month.  They are always Anything Goes, as long as you use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. That's easy to do with all the brands sold in the Dies R Us Store! 

I wanted a card that centered around the theme of "Love" for my inspiration today.  Here's what I came up with:

The large sentiment die is from Tonic Studios.  It is not in stock, but you will find lots of different Love sentiments that would work for this.  The heart in the middle of the word 'Love' is from the Impression Obsession Hearts Set. I mounted the sentiment onto a Stitched Rectangle die from Lawn Fawn. The Doily Hearts are from Cheery Lynn.  They are called the Two of Hearts Doily Dies. 

Papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are part of the Romantic Hearts collection. 

The Dies R Us Challenge Blog -- join us with any project you like!  Just make sure it uses a die sold in the Dies R Us Store. For our Canadian friends, there's the Didi Crafts Store option.

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

D.L. Art -- February Linky Party

Crafter's Castle -- ATG

Crafts Galore Encore -- ATG

Hare to Celebrate -- for Lavinia World Challenges

It's Thursday, and it's time for a new challenge at Lavinia World Challenges.  Challenge #21 starts today.  They are always Anything Goes as long as you use an acrylic or rubber  stamp.  Of course, we love to see those Lavinia Stamps and papers! 

You can never have too many birthday cards, that's why this Woodland Hare donned his party hat and grabbed some balloons! It's time to celebrate!

I used one of the 2 hares in the Woodland Hares set and stamped him with VersaFine Clair ink in Morning Mist.  I think he might have been able to hold on to all 3 of those helium balloons if his party hat wasn't just a tad too big. But then again, he's a Woodland Hare, and doesn't have thumbs, so he was bound to have some trouble. Hopefully a magical fairy will come his way and help him to the party!

All the fun die cuts on this card are from a Birthday Icons set from Frantic Stamper. The 'Celebrate' sentiment is also from Frantic Stamper. The stitched circle die is from Lawn Fawn. The pretty birthday papers are a new release at We Are 3 Digital Shop.   They are part of the Happy Birthday Collection.

I used the current sketch at Cheerful Sketches to jumpstart my creativity and will be entering it in their challenge. 

I hope you can join us at Lavinia World Challenges.  You might be the lucky winner of a $15 gift Certificate to the Lavinia World Store.  How great would that be?!?  If you don't have a blog, you can enter in the Anything Lavinia Facebook Group.

Have fun getting inky!

 I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Cheerful Sketches -- February
Outlawz Festive Friday -- Birthday
Crafty Animals Challenge -- ATG with an animal
Crafty Sentiments Challenge -- ATG

Happy Holiday Treat Boxes -- for We Are 3 Digital Shop

Yes, Christmas is fast approaching!  Are you like me, and you are often looking for quick gifts before dashing off to a get together, or maybe something a little be more unique than a gift bag?

Don't get me wrong, I think gift bags are the greatest invention since toast, but sometimes I want a little something else.  At times like that, I like to create small favor or treat boxes.

The beautiful Christmas papers found in the We Are 3 Etsy Shop make beautiful Gift boxes and bags. 

These boxes were created very quickly with a Lawn Fawn die and 2 different papers from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  Let me give you some details.

The dies is the Tiny Gift Box from Lawn Fawn.   It is about 8x7.  We Are 3 Digital Shop are 6x6, so I placed each paper in my word processing program so I could stretch them to the size I needed.

2 of the boxes use the Evergreen paper from the Winter Plaid paper set.  The one on the right is printed on a light green paper.  the middle box uses one of the papers in the Holly Berries Collection.

There are many beautiful papers for Christmas, Winter, Valentines Day, or whatever season you may need a paper collection for.  You can always find what you need at We Are 3 Digital Shop.

May your Christmas season be filled with wonder and joy!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L.Art -- December Linky Party
Cuttlebug Mania -- Christmas
The Holly and the Ivy -- Christmas
Outlawz Festive Friday -- Christmas

'Tis the Season for Reindeer -- for Lavinia World Challenges

'Tis the season to start thinking seriously about making Christmas cards.  'Tis also time for a new challenge at Lavinia World Challenge Blog.  Challenges are Anything Goes, as long as you use a rubber or acrylic stamp (no digis).  There is a $15 gift certificate winner each challenge, and the design team chooses a few honorable mentions.  It's all great fun!

For this challenge, I made a Christmas card using a beautiful reindeer stamp.  It is one of the most realistic reindeer stamps I've ever seen!

I started by inking my background with distress inks and spritzed them with a light spray of water to make the "snow".  I let that dry very well.  In the meantime, I die cut the snow drifts and the Tis the Season sentiment.  Once I knew the background was good and dry, I stamped the Reindeer stamp (small)  onto the inked background.  I stamped the Reindeer with VersaFine Clair ink in Nocturne.  All I had to do was glue the pieces of the card together and I was done!

I hope you join us at Lavinia World Challenges.  I'd love to see what you make, and you just might win that $15 gift certificate from the Lavinia World Store! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
The Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Christmas
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge -- ATG with a Critter
DigiChoosday -- ATG
Pink Gem Challenge -- ATG
We Love 2 Create Challenge -- ATG
D.L. Art -- October Linky Party

Hidden Secrets - for Lavinia World Challenges

It's time for challenge #9 at Lavinia World Challenges!  I am having so much fun with these awesome stamps, found in the Lavinia World Store, but first, let's go over the rules of the challenge:  you must use an acrylic or a rubber stamp (not digital). The theme is always Anything Goes. You do not have to use Lavinia Stamps, but it doubles your chances of winning the awesome $15 gift certificate up for grabs.  There are also Honorable Mention awards, all chosen by the design team.

I tried something a bit different for today's card --

I have had this Lawn Fawn cutting die forever, and have never used it. I thought it was time to see what it did.  Once I got it cut, I decided to use a different Lavinia Stamps image or sentiment in each of the windows, then blend it all together with distress oxide inks.    

I started with the sentiment  "Secrets are Hidden", stamping it with Versafine Clair ink in Fantasia, then using clear embossing powder over the top.  Next, I stamped with Versafine Clair in Summertime (and embossed with clear powder again) the image of Rory from the Darcy and Rory set.  The rabbit was next.  It is one of 3 from the Whimsical Hares set, stamped with Charming Pink Versafine Clair ink and headset with clear embossing powder.  Lastly, stamping it 3 different times because it was smaller and I wanted to fill up the space in the window, I stamped the Flutterby Miniature using Versafine Clair Golden Meadow and clear embossing powder.  

After all the stamping and embossing were done, I just needed to get busy inking. I used a variety of Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks to achieve the look that I got.  I used Victorian Velvet, Tattered Rose, Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac, Broken China, Salty Ocean, and Squeezed Lemonade.

That's it for this card!  I hope you are loving these Lavinia Stamps as much as I am!  The stamps are magical, and it's such a treat to go back to when I used to play with inks, sprays, and embossing powders.  I can barely remember how to use it all!

Please join us this 2 weeks for our Anything Goes Challenge at Lavinia World.  Just make sure you are using an acrylic or rubber stamp -- no digital.  Thanks!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- Sept. Linky Party
Crafting by Designs -- ATG
Crafty Creations Challenges -- ATG
Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- embossing Powders

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

Happy May! -- for Bugaboo Stamps

OK, it's not May yet, in fact we're still trying to get the snow to melt here where I live, but it's New Release Tuesday at Bugaboo Stamps, and today's new release is this May Word digi.  I colored it up, decorated it up a bit, and here's what I created:

I colored the May Word digi with Copic markers.  I used a Lawn Fawn fancy lattice background card front, a wooden "happy" from my stash, and some mulberry paper flowers I picked up at Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I think it makes a cheerful spring card.

There are a thousand different ways you could color this May Word digi. It's 1/2 price for the week, so pick yours up, color it up, and enter it in the challenges at Catch the Bug.  Win some more digis!  You'll also want to check out what the other talented designers made with this digi on the Catch the Bug Blog.  It'll give you great ideas on how to use it. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- Spring
Stamping Sensations -- April Showers Bring May Flowers
Allsorts -- Blossoms, Butterflies, Bugs

Ms. Owl -- for Kitty Bee Designs

To the moon and back!  That's a lot of love, and that's what today's owl is sending you.  I'm posting today for Kitty Bee Designs, where I'm the DT spotlight. 

I'm sharing an inky creation with you today using the adorable digi, Kawaii Ms. Owl, found in the Kitty Bee Designs Etsy Shop. 

I colored this sleepy time Owl with Copic markers, then fussy cut her.  I inked the background with Tim Holtz distress oxide inks.   I hope you like this Kawaii Mr. Owl.  Check out all the delightful digis and acrylic stamps in the Kitty Bee Designs Etsy Store.

The moon and one star were cut out on my Silhouette Cameo 3.  The other die cut is from Lawn Fawn.  The star paper in the background was found at Pixel Scrapper. 

Join us on Fridays for the Aloha Friday Challenges. 

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

D.L. Art -- February Linky Party

Celebrate The Season -- at DigiStamps4Joy

December 15 -- woah!  This is getting close to Christmas!  Dec 15 -- it's also time for some mid-challenge inspiration on the DigiStamps4Joy Challenge Blog.  Challenges are always Anything Goes with an optional theme.  This month it's Christmas/December.

I was able to color up my all-time favorite snowman for today's challenge.  I'm so excited!

This is Mr Snowman, colored with Copic markers. 

Papers on this card are from Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez. They are part of the Blue Christmas Digital Papers.  The sentiment is an acrylic stamp from Technique Tuesday.  The big silver snowflake is a stitched cutting die from Lawn Fawn. 

I hope you find time during this busy holiday season to join in the challenge at DigiStamps4Joy Challenge blog, where the optional theme is Christmas/December. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Alphabet Challenge -- 'S' is for Seasons Greetings
Color Crazy Challenge -- ATG
Polkadoodles -- ATG
Daring Cardmakers -- Snowflakes Falling
Pattie's Creations -- Winter/Christmas
Winter Wonderland -- Anything Christmas Goes

Ms. Christmas Panda -- for Kitty Bee Designs

I'm posting today for Kitty Bee Designs, where it's time for my monthly designers spotlight.  

I am sharing an adorable Christmas Panda from the Kitty Bee Designs Etsy Shop.  This is Ms. Christmas Panda, an acrylic stamp that is available for pre-order now.  She's perfect for your Christmas cards!

I colored Ms. Christmas Panda in bright, non-traditional Christmas colors using Copic markers, then used some non-traditional papers to keep the look going.

The papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are part of the Color Me Christmas Collection.

You'll find more new acrylic stamps to pre-order and great digi stamps in the Kitty Bee Designs Etsy Shop.  Go have fun exploring!

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

D.L. Art -- December Linky Party

Outlawz Festive Friday -- Christmas

Not Just Cards -- ATG

Warm Winter Wishes -- for All Dressed Up

December 1!  It may not officially be winter, but it sure feels like it where I live.  We've been bundling up in winter clothes for months already! So, I'm wishing you warm winter wishes today!

December 1 -- it's the start of a new challenge for the All Dressed Up Facebook Challenge.  This month's theme is seasons/holidays.  Since I'm burning out on Christmas cards, I went with a winter theme on this one instead :)

Isn't she the sweetest?  Wendy Burns draws the most lovable characters that are so fun to color!  You will find this Snowy Day digital stamp, and many other wonderful digis in the All Dressed Up Etsy Shop. 

I colored Snowy Day with Copic markers.  The sentiment is computer generated. 

The teal designer paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  This is one of the papers in the Touch of Teal Collection. 

The step card base was cut out with a die from Sizzix.  The snowflake dies are from Lawn Fawn, and the teal twine is from Timeless Twine. 

I hope you aren't too busy this month of December to join the holiday/season challenge at the All Dressed Up Facebook Group.  There's also an All Dressed Up challenge underway on the All Dressed Up blog.  Check that one out too!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Saturday ala Mode -- snowflakes
Fussy and Fancy Challenge -- Winter/Christmas
Winter Wonderland -- Christmas or Winter Characters -- people only
ABC Christmas Challenge -- W is for Wish
Cute N Crafty Christmas -- ATG Christmas

Pansy Sympathy -- for The Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

It's the first Monday in October, so it's time for a new challenge at The Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. We've been featuring an optional color each month this year.  This month's optional color is purple.  Or, you can enter any positive themed project you'd like!

We have 2 sponsors this month.  For the first part of the challenge, I am using an image for our wonderful sponsor, A Day for Daisies.  This is Pansy Flower Frame: 

I colored Pansy Flower Frame with Copic markers. 

The sentiment is from We Are 3 Digital Shop, as is the lighter colored frame with the purple flowers in it.   The frame dies are from Lawn Fawn.

I like to keep sympathy cards flat as I often have to mail them.  I think the frames create interest, while still remaining flat. 

The optional purple challenge goes all month, so I hope you find time to join in the fun.  I'd love to see your creations at The Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Crafting with Dragonflies -- CAS
Hiding in My Craftroom -- ATG
Jo's Scrapshack -- ATG

Christmas Gift Bag -- Monday Catch the Bug

It's tough to juggle projects in-between puppy naps, but I got a couple things made today while Winter slept.  He's a good boy!

This Christmas gift bag is for the Catch the Bug Christmas in July week.  This is for the Monday gift or gift holder challenge.

Since it was for a gift bag, and I tend to need those in a hurry, I used a pre-colored image on this (I didn't know Bugaboo Stamps had them.  It was a very pleasant surprise!)  This Christmas Hedgie stamp came in both a B&W and pre-colored version with the same version.  Really nice!  I hope to sometime color it, too.

I created the gift bag with a die from Lawn Fawn.  You cut it twice, glue it together, and you have a cute size bag for a gift card, a pair of socks, some candy, etc.  The paper is from Close To My Heart.  The ribbons used to decorate it up are from Really Reasonable Ribbon. 

That's it!  Puppy is starting to stir....

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Catch the Bug Christmas in July -- Day 3, Anything but a card

You Arff the Best -- for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez

Do you like mermaids?  How about merdogs?  I have both for you today!

This adorable digi image is from Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez.  This digi is called Mermaid with Merdog. I've never seen a merdog, but then, I've never seen a mermaid either!  They sure look cute snuggling together, though, don't they?

I colored Mermaid with Merdog with Copic markers.  I found the sentiment on an old acrylic dog stamp set I have and it seemed to fit.  I created the background for the card using distress inks and a stencil. 

For more mermaid digis, new releases, and other adorable acrylic stamps, digis, and printable papers, visit the Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez store.  Check out Patricia's blog for great inspiration using the products just mentioned. Then, there's the Kinda Cute Facebook Group for a monthly challenge and more great inspiration for you!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- July Linky Party
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Outlawz Challenges -- Thursday Twist - Wags and Whiskers

For a Good Friend -- and for SheepSki Designs Challenges

I am happy to announce that I'm on the SheepSki Designs DT.  I've admired Andrea's images ever since she introduced them, but haven't had time to think about joining her team until my recent retirement.  I reached out to her recently, and when she had an opening, she offered me a spot.  I'm super excited to have the opportunity to work with her lovely images and her equally lovely SheepSki Designs DT! She has both a blog and a Facebook team.  You'll find me on the blog team.

There's a new challenge starting today on the SheepSki Challenge blog.  The theme is "For Someone Special".  It goes for the month of July.  

I am blessed with many friends, and like to send "just because" cards to them to make them feel special.  I created this card with a special friend in mind.  It uses Wild Roses (#68):

I colored Wild Roses with Copic markers.  I love to color flowers!  They are my favorite thing to color!  

I created the card used a frame die from Lawn Fawn and some beautiful pink ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The base of the card is card stock from Close To My Heart.  They have a color to match everything!   The sentiment is an acrylic stamp from Close To My Heart (retired).

Will you join us at SheepSki Designs Challenges this month for our "For Someone Special" challenge? There's a random winner, and winners chosen using SheepSki Designs images.  They are so much fun to color!  And to win! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art - July Linky Party
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- Flowers
Pearly Sparkles -- Girly

29 again? Really? For QKR Stampede Challenge Blog

Friday, Friday, Friday!  I'm doing the Friday dance! (OK, at this stage in life, it's more of a shuffle, but my hips still move!)  

Friday!  It's also time for a new challenge at QKR Stampede challenge blog, where challenges are always Anything Goes -- every. single. week!  Anything goes!!!

I need a lot of birthday cards early in July, so I created this for a friend's birthday coming up very shortly.  She's nowhere near the age of 29, AND she likes chickens,  so I hope she enjoys this:

The expression on this chicken's face just cracks me up!  Such a cackle!!  (oh, aren't I funny?!?)  

I used QKR Stampede digital stamp Chubby Hen (Q-digi24230) to create this card.  I colored Chubby Hen with Copic markers, did a little computer generated printing for the sentiment, and finished the card with papers and embellishments from old papers in my stash (My Mind's Eye, I think?)

I had a great time making this birthday card, and I hope you join in on the fun this week at QKR Stampede Challenge Blog. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Friday -- birthday
Outlawz Sunday Song & Rhymes -- Old McDonald had a Farm
Pattie's Creations -- anything that flies
4 Crafty Chicks -- optional twist - Birds & Blooms
Craft rocket Challenge -- birthday

I Thank God for You -- and the Path of Positivity Challenge blog

It's time for some mid-month inspiration over on the Path of Positivity Challenge blog, where the optional theme this month is 'Pastel colors'.  This month, we are sponsored by Sparkle N Sprinkle. 

I used the awesome Nasturtium #1 digi stamp to create this for the mid-challenge inspiration:

I'm not all that great with flowers, so I honestly don't know what Nasturtiums usually look like, so that gave me the liberty of coloring Nasturtium #1 any color I wanted.  Since our optional theme is 'pastel', I chose some pastel violets for my nasturtiums, and colored them with Copic markers.   The sentiment is part of the Nasturtium #1 digital stamp set.  I love pastel colors, especially in the spring, and I tend to gravitate towards shades of pink and lavender. 

I hardly ever have a chance to use this long, skinny oval die by Spellbinders, but I used it on both the challenges this month for Path of Positivity.  Awesome!  The sentiment die and backing die are from Spellbinders Paper Arts.  The pretty background die is from Lawn Fawn.   The butterfly die is from Tattered Lace.

I hope you have a chance to link up something at The Path of Positivity yet this month.  Our challenge runs until May 6, so there's still plenty of time! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday -- Say it with Flowers
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party  
IDCB -- ATG
Paper Crafter's #11 party at Ellie Belle's -- ATG

Think Spring! for QKR Stampede

Friday!  Fri-yay!   We've gotten lots of fresh snow this week here in Northwest Wisconsin, so I thought this snowman would be in vogue for this week's Anything Goes challenge at QKR Stampede Challenge Blog.  I don't know about you, but I'm thinking spring, and I think he is, too!

I hope he realizes that the same sun he's hoping for will be the end of him for the season!  This is QKR Stampede digi image Tan Snowman (Q-digi14702)  I colored the Tan Snowman with Copic markers, then used a die from Lawn Fawn to cut it out.  The card base is a cutting file from The Silhouette Design Store and was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo 3.  The sentiment is computer generated.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. 

I hope you can join us this week at QKR Stampede for our Anything Goes challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

I'd like to enter this in the following Challenges:
D.L. Art -- February Linky Party
IDCB -- ATG
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- ATG