Dahlia Hello -- A Stencil Challenge at The Outlawz

I have a confession to make.  I've never been crazy about using stencils.  That all changed.  I had a play with a layering stencil and it was SO.MUCH.FUN!  

The Outlawz has a monthly Crash Your Stash Challenge, and this month the theme is "Use a Stencil".  That's what made me decide to break out this particularly set of stencils.   I am now hooked -- at least on these layering stencils I recently purchased.  Take a look and tell me what you think:

I created this with a Crafter's Companion Dahlia Delight layering Stencil.  I'm sorry, I couldn't find it on their website to link it.  It comes with 3 5x7 stencils.  They are numbered so you know which order to use them with.  The "Hello" is a die, also from Crafter's Companion. I felt it was small enough so it wouldn't take up too much space on that pretty dahlia.  I used inks that I thought would blend well together -- all from Close To My Heart, and sponge daubers.  I used some low tack tape to hold each stencil layer in place so it wouldn't shift while I was working on it.  I had a lot of fun making this card for any occasion.  

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

Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- stencils 

Creations in Pink -- ATG in mainly pink

D.L. Art -- February Linky Party

TTCRD -- ATG

Don't Let Life Ruffle Your Feathers -- for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez

I'm posting today for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez.  I have a darling new release digi to show you today.  It was SO much fun to color up!

This is rooster: 

I colored Rooster with Copic markers.  I Googled photos of roosters, and there's lots of options for how to color up roosters.  They are very colorful birds!  

The sentiment on this card is from Technique Tuesday and is an acrylic stamp.  The papers were found at Pixel Scrapper.  They are part of the Petting Zoo collection.

The Outlawz Crash Your Stash Challenge is having a photo corners challenge this month.  I don't own any photo corners, so I added my "homemade" one in the corner of this picture.   I will enter this in that challenge.

The Kinda Cute By Patricia Alvarez Shop has many wonderful images for you to check out!  Stop by and do some shopping!  If you sign up for the newsletter, there is a discount coupon for you. 

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

Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- photo corners

Pink Gem Challenge -- ATG

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

Sweet Stampin' -- Things With Wings

AUD Sentiments -- Animal + a Sentiment

You Simply Sparkle - for Aloha Friday Challenges

It's Friday, and it's time for a new challenge at Aloha Friday Challenges.  For the next 2 weeks, we are being sponsored by We Are 3 Digital Shop.  Bonnie has been kind enough to make a set of papers just for this challenge.  You can get them for free if you make a Christmas project and link up at Aloha Friday Challenges, or she is selling these paper in the We Are 3 Shop for only $1.  Aren't they beautiful?  I think they are perfect for any summertime project!  The papers are called Honeycomb, and I created this card with them:

This adorable bumble bee image is from QKR Stampede.  I colored up the bumble bee with Copic markers.  The sentiment is from a stamp company, Market Street Stamps, that is no longer in business.  

I used this week's sketch from Sketch Saturday to create this card.  Here's the sketch:

I included a couple of stick pins on this card so I can enter it in this month's Crash Your Stash challenge at The Outlawz. 

I hope you join us at The Aloha Friday Challenges the next 2 weeks.  There's a Christmas in July theme going on.  Join us and get  these beautiful papers for free!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday -- challenge #569
Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- stick pins
QKR Stampede -- ATG
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- ATG

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

Is it a Chick or a Bunny? for Kitty Bee Designs

Hi, fellow stamp lovers!  I'm posting today for Kitty Bee Designs, where I have a darling stamp to share with you. 

What do you think?  Is is a chick or a bunny? Isn't it the sweetest?

Papers on this card are from AMB Illustrations.

I added some chipboard so I can add it in the Outlawz Crash Your Stash Feb/March Challenge, where the theme is 'use some chipboard.'  I found a piece of chipboard in my stash, found an acrylic stamp with the 'Happy Easter' sentiment, then inked the edges of the chipboard. 

You can find many cute Kitty Bee Designs in the Etsy Store in both acrylic and digi stamps.  Join us, also, for the Aloha Friday Challenges! Each challenge lasts for 2 weeks, and we have wonderful sponsors! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- Chipboard
Digichoosday -- ATG
D.L. Art -- March Linky Party

I {Heart} You -- an Oldie but Goodie for Bugaboo Stamps

Happy Valentine's Day!  It's a snowy one here in Wisconsin!  We have been very far behind in snow totals all year, and now, in about ten days, we've made up for it, and we're destined to go down in the books as one of the snowiest seasons on records.  Mother Nature never fails to surprise us!

Valentine's Day!  I realized on Tuesday I didn't have anything scheduled on my blog for today, so I quick whipped up this adorable Heart Basket and created a card with it.  It's Oldie but Goodie day today at Bugaboo Stamps, so the Heart Basket image worked out perfectly. 

I colored Heart Basket with Copic markers, then used this week's  sketch from Sketch Saturday to create the card. Here's the sketch I used:

I used papers from We Are 3 Digital Shop. The hearts on the base of the card are from the Happy Birthday Collection.  The paper with the stylized hearts is from the Hearts in Love Collection. 

I used an eyelet on this card so I could enter it in the Crash Your Stash challenge at The Outlawz.  It turned out to be just that -- a challenge!  I have totally forgotten how to do eyelets!  It took many tries, & many ruined eyelets, but I finally accomplished ONE!

To see some more great Bugaboo Stamps oldie but goodies, please visit the Catch the Bug Blog.  Thanks! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday -- week #550
Outlawz Crash Your Stash Challenge -- January 15-Feb. 14
D.L. Art -- February Linky Party