So Fun! for Oddball Stamps Challenge Blog

It's the 15th of the month (already?)  so it's time for a new challenge at Oddball Stamps Challenge Blog.   The challenge is a month long, and this month's theme is "lots of layers."  Layer up the paper, ribbon, embellishments -- however you want to interpret it.

I used image #138 for my 'Lots of Layers' project.  I colored the fun snowman digi with Copic markers, working on my white color combos and shading. White is a hard color to color, isn't it?!?

I used a Spellbinders die to cut out image #138.  The card itself was constructed using my Silhouette and a card file found in the Silhouette Design Store.  I layered up papers from the Echo Park Winter Park 12x12 collection.  I also layered on the ribbon.  There are 2 layers of ribbon -- both from Really Reasonable Ribbon.   The 'so fun' sentiment is a sticker that came with the Echo Park papers. 

Do you love Oddball Art Stamps like I do?  Here's a discount code for you to use:  DTJULIE10.  Use this for 10% off of anything in the Etsy shop.  Anything!

Here's some more useful links for you:

Company Website ♥ http://www.oddballartco.com
Art Blog ♥ http://oddballartco.blogspot.com
Facebook Fan Page ♥ http://www.facebook.com/oddballartco
Facebook Friend Page ♥ http://www.facebook.com/oddballart
Twitter ♥ http://www.twitter.com/oddballartco
Flickr ♥ http://www.flickr.com/photos/oddballartco
Zazzle ♥ http://www.zazzle.com/oddballartco
Fine Art America ♥ http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/lizzy-love
Tumblr ♥ http://www.oddballartco.tumblr.com

Don't forget our Anything Goes with Oddball Art images challenge on our ODDBALL ART FACEBOOK GROUP CHALLENGE.    We have a new challenge on the 1st of every month, so still lots of time left to go play there:)

I hope you find time to join us this month at Oddball Stamps Challenge Blog for our Layer It Up challenge.  I'd love to see your entry and have a chance to comment on what you make!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Creative Fingers Challenge -- ATG
Graph It Markers Challenge -- Christmas Sparkle
PDE Linky Party -- ATG
D.L. Art -- Nov Linky Party
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge -- ATG
Crafting with Dragonflies -- Let it Snow

Happy Halloooooween! for Eureka Stamps

It's Monday, and time for a new challenge at Eureka Stamps Challenge blog.  This week's theme is 'orange & purple'. With that theme, I HAD to go with Halloween!

I used two Eureka digi Stamps on this card: digi10103(431) -- Halloween Border and digi3907 -- Happy Halloween.  The designer paper s from DCWV.  Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Card stock is from Close To My Heart.  The bats were cut out on my Silhouette, using a file from the Silhouette Online Store.

Join us this week at Eureka Stamps for our Orange and Purple challenge.

It's New -- for DigiStamps4Joy

It's Wednesday, and time for some mid-challenge inspiration on the DigiStamps4Joy blog.  This challenge' theme is "new" -- new baby, new home, new career.  I stretched it a bit, and used a new cutting  die, a new digi, and some new alcohol ink markers on my card.  They were new to me, hence fitting the "new" category.

I used two DigiStamps4Joy digis on this card, "Flower Corner" (a new-to-me digi) and one of the "Blessing Sentiments" (there are 4 in this set).

The corner butterfly die is new, and I was so excited to try it out on a card.  It is by Cheery Lynn.  The butterfly was cut out on my Silhouette.  I colored the Flower Corner Digi with ShinHan Touch Twin alcohol markers. All cardstock is from Close To My Heart.  I used a Close To My Heart 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch corner rounder throughout the card.

Come enter the DigiStamps4Joy "new" challenge.  You have until Tuesday, August 19th. 

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

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- August Linky Party

Art by Miran Challenge -- ATG

Craft for the Craic -- a craft item you have never used before (Cheery Lynn Butterfly corner die)

Crafts 4 Eternity -- ATG

Stamplorations Challenge blog -- Stamps and Dies (2 of 3)

4 Crafty Girlz Challenge -- ATG

Milk Coffee Challenge -- 2 or More Diecuts (used 2)

Bunny Zoe's Crafts -- Summer Colors
Crafting From the Heart -- always anything goes
Crafty Boots Challenges -- Flowers
MarkerPop -- ATG (must use Copic or ShinHan markers)
My Craft Creations -- ATG
Stamp and Create -- ATG

I'm Steppin' Out for Fitztown!

Today is my last guest designer post for Fitztown Challenge blog.  I've loved the opportunity to work with the fantastic images given me! And the Creative Team has been wonderful to me!  

The newest Fitztown challenge is a step card.  I had great fun with this one!

I love butterflies and this image was wonderful to color!  I have 2 Spectrum Noir markers.  I used both of them on this butterfly.  The butterfly is from "Garden 16", and is one of 6 butterflies that comes in the set.

I intentionally left this center step card very simple, because I wanted the butterfly to be the focus.  The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company.

I used my Silhouette to make the step card, using a design I found here, in the Silhouette Online Store.  The papers are from Carta Bella.  

Don't forget to check the Fitztown Challenge blog for tons of wonderful inspiration, and the Fitztown Store is a wonderful place to explore!

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

Crafty Sentiments Designs -- ATG

Try it on Tuesday -- Things With Wings

2 Cute Ink challenges -- ATG

Crafting from the Heart -- Always ATG

Make My Monday -- Butterflies

Melonheadz Friends -- Things with Wings or Tails

My Craft Creations -- ATG

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- July Linky Party

Card in a Box -- for Pinque Peacock

It's Friday! And a very special one for me.  This is my last day of full-time work.  I'm starting 3 weeks of vacation.  When I go back to work, it will be part-time.  After working 45-50 hour weeks the last 30 years of my life, I still can't believe that I'll be working 3 days a week.  I hope the plan works!

I'm posting today on the Pinque Peacock blog.  I have a delightful card in a box that was on my blog yesterday.  It's so cute, I'm showing it again today.

These card in a boxes are so popular right now, that I just had to try it.  This one is a file from The Cutting Cafe. And, it was very fun to make.

I have several views of the box.  Here's a straight on shot of it:

I made this card for my BFF.  We're both big dog lovers, so I used some Unity stamps that had a dog theme to them.

What makes this card-in-a-box different from others, though, is the Pinque Peacock 3/4 inch yellow fabric covered button.

I attached the fabric covered button  to the middle of a flower.  It matched the yellow of the DCWV paper perfectly, and added that extra little something. Beautiful!

This was my fist card-in-a-box, but it certainly won't be my last.  I loved creating this with my Silhouette.

My first Scene Card -- for Silhouette Challenges

Looking for Julie's Blogoversary Blog Hop? Click HERE
Looking for Ashley's 21st Birthday Blog Hop? Click HERE

It's the time for another challenge over at

Ch# 11 Create your Own Scene Card

Begins: Saturday, March 1

Ends: Monday, March 31

A blog dedicated to the Silhouette Cutting Machines.

You MUST use a Silhouette somehow in your project.

Sponsor this month is:

My Crafting Channel

Tiny Tags Metal Dies by My Craft Spot

This might not be my first scene card, but it was my first attempt at a scene card made entirely on my Silhouette. I've been thinking about this for about 3 months now, and maybe I put way too much thought into it.  All I could think to do was a bird on a fence with a sun behind it.  Clever.  Original.  Scenic.  
I wanted something different.  But still a scene.  See what I mean? I over think everything!
Well, after much thought (3 months of thought -- really!)
this is what I made for the "create your own scene card" challenge.

I found this howling wolf (I'm calling it a dog) in the Silhouette Online Store.  The Sentiment is a stamp from Unity Stamp Co.

Phew! I did it! A scene card!

Hop on over and join us -- you can't have as much of a struggle as I did!

CLICK HERE

Simply White Blog Hop -- with Timeless Twine

It's here, and it's simply beautiful! Today is the release of Simply White twine from Timeless Twine.  I know if you're following the hop, you've seen faNtAsTiC creations so far, and you should have just arrived from the amazingly talented Isha's blog.  If you happened to have just stumbled across this hop, you'll want to start at the beginning, at the Timeless Twine blog to see Stacy's creation.

Here's the whole hop line up for you:

 Here is the order of the hop:

Timeless Twine: www.timelesstwine.blogspot.com

Brianna Loeffelbein: http://bloeffelbein.blogspot.com

Cassandra Chen: http://www.thescrapperinme.blogspot.sg

Debbie Crowder: http://bugjuiced.blogspot.com

Isha Gupta: http://hobbyandideas.blogspot.com/2014/02/simply-white-timeless-twine-hop.html

Julie Odil: http://muddypawsinkyfingers.blogspot.com/2014/02/simply-white-blog-hop-with-timeless.html

Karen Nofziger: http://karey2005.blogspot.com/2014/02/timeless-twine-simply-white-blog-hop.html

Kristy Asche: http://www.scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com/

Madge Gillen:http://www.thescrappinlounge.com/

Rose Miller: http://roseshappyplace.blogspot.com/2014/02/timeless-twine-simply-white-blog-hop.html 

Ruthie Nixon: http://www.septemberninthdesigns.com

Shannon Morgan: http://designsofapaddymack.typepad.com

Tara Chaussee: http://secretbeesstudio.blogspot.com

I absolutely LOVE this new color of twine.  It goes with anything and everything.  I had so much fun creating with it that I have two projects to share with you today.  Here's the first one, a card I made with my Silhouette:

There's Simply White Timeless Twine in several places on this card, but it's probably the most noticeable on the hot air balloon.  Yes, Timeless Twine has many uses, including holding up balloons! I also wrapped it around the base of the card 'cause I love the stuff so much!

I used a Bella Creationz Valentine Sticker on the hot air balloon, because it just needed to be there.  

OK, on to project #2 -- love notes.  I also used my Silhouette to make this project.

I wove the Simply White Timeless Twine through the doily shape, and then wrapped both Bubblegum Pink and Simply White Timeless Twine around the lid of the box. 

Inside, the box holds 12 love notes.  I tied more Simply White twine  and Bubblegum Pink twine through the cut out heart of each love note.

 And, here's one more view of the box and notes:

Twine and supplies used on these projects, found in the Bella Creationz store

That's it for me, but you still have lots more hopping through a very talented Timeless Twine team.  Just wait until you see what the lovely Karen has for you.  She'll have you {Simply} tied in knots and bows! Hop on and have FUN!

I'm entering the card in the following challenge:

Kraftin' Kimmie Blog -- Krafty Bowl Challenge #4 -- Something New (new stamp, new twine color)

Santa Hats Galore -- for 3 Girl JAM

Hello, blog friends.  I'm posting today on the 3 Girl JAM blog.  Tomorrow, I'm getting together after work with my staff, and I needed cards for each of them. What better way to personalize gifts than with the many colors of 3 Girl JAM ribbon and the new Christmas Flair buttons?  I got busy:

 

Aren't they adorable?  I'll show you each one so you can see them up close.

I used my Silhouette and the Santa Hat cutting file from The Cutting Café.

 

 

I used Echo Park Christmas This & That papers on all 4 Santa hats.  Each was stamped with a sentiment from a Unity Stamp of the Month kit (Oct., 2012).  The first hat features 3 Girl JAM Goblin Green ribbon from the Spooky Bundle, and the peppermint twist Flair from the new Christmas Flair buttons.

Here's hat #2:

 

 

This hat uses the new Ribbon Candy Bundle and Christmas Flair button.

Hat #3 coming up:

 

 

This hat uses the Spooky Bundle ribbon again and a Pinque Peacock fabric covered button.

And, hat #4:

 

 

This hat uses Merlot ribbon from the Wine and Jewels Bundle and another of the adorable Christmas Flair Buttons.

I'll leave you with one last picture of all the hats together.

 

 

I promised to announce the winner of the 3 Girl JAM ribbon from last Friday's blog hop on my post today.  Random.org chose comment #11 -- Miriam Prantner!  Congrats, Miriam!  Contact me for you choice of ribbon color.

 

I can check one more thing off the "to do" list getting these hats made! Thanks for visiting! Come back tomorrow and Sunday.  I'm hopping with the Pinque Peacock design team both days.

 

Snowmany Thanks! for Get Inky! Stamps

Happy Friday, my blog friends!  I'm posting today on the Get Inky! Stamps blog.  The current theme for the Get Inky! Stamps challenge blog is "Thanks & Thanksgiving". With that in mind, I created this gift card holder:

 

 

 

I cut the gift card holder out on my Silhouette, and used the Get Inky! Stamps Holiday 2013 stamp set to stamp the sentiment. You can find it in the Etsy shop.  The gift card holder can be found in the Silhouette Online Store here.

Here's the inside view:

 

 

I think this will be the perfect holiday gift for the teachers, staff members, Sunday school teachers, beauticians, and Postal workers in my life.  That's all for me, I've got more gift cards to make and stamp!

Create your own "Thanks and Thanksgiving" project and join the challenge! I'd love to see what you make!



I'm Nuts about You! For 3 Girl JAM

Hello, crafty friends.  I'm posting today on the 3 Girl JAM blog. I wanted to come up with a way to showcase the fun 3 Girl JAM jute ribbon & string bundle.  And, of course, I wanted a Fall/Thanksgiving theme to it.  So, I fired up my Silhouette and went to work:

 

 

I found this acorn cutting file in the Silhouette Online Store. It is a Lori Whitlock file. I tied 3 Girl JAM jute string and ribbon on both bags. These jute strings and ribbon are the perfect colors for Fall projects! The paper is from Echo Park.

I used Joy's Life stamp set, "That Tastes Punny" for the sentiment.

 



 

And, a close up of the other treat box, too, to showcase that jute ribbon and string one more time:

 

 

And that's it for today!  Thanks for the visit!

 

I'm Nuts about YOU! -- For Joy's Life Design Team

Here we are, Hump Day already!  This week is going fast! I'm posting again today on the Joy's Life design team blog, filling in on an empty day.  Our theme this week is "Yum, yum, yum."  I love to make treat bags and boxes, so I fired up the Silhouette, and made a quick little treat bag, perfect for Fall:

 

 

I used the Joy's Life stamp set "That Tastes Punny" on this treat bag.  I thought it was the perfect sentiment for this die cut acorn.

 

 

I found this bag in the Silhouette Online Store. It's a Lori Whitlock design. I tied a variety of jute ribbon and string from 3 Girl JAM on the handles. The paper is Echo Park 2-colored card stock.

I hope you enjoyed today's yummy treat bag.  I had a great time making it! 



Get Inky! 3D Holiday

Happy Day-Before Halloween, everyone!  The current challenge on the Get Inky! Challenge blog is 3D Holiday. Being so close to Halloween, I just HAD to create a "spooky" 3D character for some inspiration! 

 

 

This treat bag is cut out on my Silhouette and stamped with the Get Inky! Stamps 2013 Halloween set.  Isn't it adorable?  Perfect for a little treat for the ghosts and goblins in your life!

The treat bag is an SVG file from My Scrap Chick. I inked the cheeks with a little Tim Holtz distress ink in Spun Sugar, because every ghost looks better with rosy cheeks.  The crinkle ribbon bow is from 3 Girl JAM.  It is, of course, from the Spooky Bundle -- how appropriate is THAT? The eyes were made with an anthracite Viva Décor pen. 

That's it for today! Have a safe, fun, candy filled Halloween!



A Fun Friday, For Sure!

Hello, blog friends.  I'm having two great Fridays in a row.  Last Friday, my husband's birthday, we were celebrating in a small town on Lake Superior.  Today, I'm leaving shortly for a girl's weekend in the woods in Northern Wisconsin.  My two BFF's and I have rented a house, signed our souls away so we can bring our dogs, and we're spending the weekend with just the 3 of us and our 4-legged friends.  If the dogs do anything to the house, we may just as well buy the property for the size of the damage deposit we've put down!

Time has been short this week, but I did manage one card with a Unity sentiment that I'm going to share with Friends With Flair.

I found this adorable witch at the Silhouette Online Store here.  As soon as I saw her, I knew what sentiment matched her perfectly.  And, it's a Unity one, of course!!

 

 

I used October Afternoon Witch Hazel 8x8 paper on the background of the card, a spider web embossing folder to emboss the oval, cut out with a Spellbinders die.  The sentiment is part of a Unity Itty Bitty stamp called "You Witch!" The ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM.  Both ribbons are from the Harvest Bundle.

I will not have internet access again this weekend.  Once again, I apologize for not visiting your blogs.  Next week, I'll pay you a visit, I promise!  I miss all the inspiration when I don't!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 



A very special Friday!

Hello, and happy Friday! Today is my husband's 55th birthday.  We met when he was 24 and suffering from a brain tumor.  We started out our life together thinking life was precious and not knowing how many years we'd have together.  We'll celebrate our 30th anniversary this December.  We now know without a doubt life is a gift.  So is love, and every day we have together!

We're celebrating his birthday by getting out of Dodge.  The dogs are being kenneled (something we never, ever do -- bad things happen when we kennel our dogs, but that's a story for another day), and we're heading North to Lake Superior. We're hoping for some nice weather to enjoy our favorite lake together (but the forecast is for 2 days of rain mixed with snow. Oh well!). We're taking today off of work to get an early start, making a 3-day weekend of it.  Off we go on a little adventure, celebrating life and love!

I've made my husband several different birthday cards that I'll give him throughout the weekend.  You'll be seeing them in the next few weeks.  Today, I'm showing you a kinda goofy one I whipped up, saving the fancier ones for later...

 

I cut this out on my Silhouette, using some old DCWV birthday papers I've had FOREVER.  The candles are sorta 3D, sticking out from the cake.  Inside, I stamped a Unity sentiment:

 

 

I framed the sentiment with a couple more birthday candles.  One of them covered up an ink smudge ;)

 

I have a couple more cards to share with you also.  This week, my 26 year old nephew was diagnosed with Leukemia.  He is facing a month of hospitalization and chemo.  I made what I'm guessing is the first of several cards heading his way:

 

 

I used the Unity/Susan K. Weckesser Autumn Grunge stamps on this card, stamping the leaves randomly, and in different Fall colors.  The sentiment is from Close To My Heart.

I made another one almost identical to it.  Those of you who know me, know I often make 2 cards the same.  This one went to a co-worker recovering from carpal tunnel surgery.

 

 

I added a little bling to this card, since it went to a "female" recipient. I was also liking the way the fern-like leaf stamped, so stuck primarily to that one on this card.

I promised my husband this weekend is all about him.  I don't know that I'll have a chance to visit all your blogs like I usually do, so forgive me if I skip a week.  I also don't know if we'll have internet access where we're going.

Have a great weekend!

 



Wishing You a Beautiful Day! for Creative Inspirations Paint

Today is a very exciting day for me! It's my first day to post on the Creative Inspirations Paint blog as a design team member -- something I've dreamed about for a long time! I'm so excited about being on this team and having a chance to use these wonderful products! Let the fun begin!

Even though it's October, I'm still seeing butterflies. I live in NW Wisconsin, and they need to be migrating or building their cacoons, but instead, they seem to be enjoying our mild weather. They were the inspiration behind today's project.  I wanted to make something with fall colors, but using butterflies. 

I made a fun card to share today, and used Creative Inspirations Paint on the embellishments:

 

I cut this easel card out on my Silhouette, using a file from My Scrap Chick, found here.  The papers are from Close To My Heart, but are now retired (Stella paper pack). The sentiment is from Whimsical Designs stamp company.

Here's a close up of the embellishments:

 

 

The flower (from Close To My Heart) looked similar to this one before I painted it:

 

I painted the crocheted flower with fuchsia, Turquoise, and Sage Creative Inspirations Paint.  The button was white when I started, but I coated it with Mocha Latte Creative Inspirations Paint. I love how it brought out the texture in the button!

 

 

 

 

That beautiful beaded stick pin is from Pinque Peacock, and can be found here.

I'll leave you with another angle of the easel card, so you can see how the wings of the butterfly appear to be flying.

 

Have you heard about the CIP Giveaway?  There's two chances to win each day! Here's the details:

"Have you heard we have a few new DT members that will be sharing
their projects here on the blog soon?! To celebrate and waiting to see the new DT members reveals lets have a fun giveaway!! 
All you have to do is share on facebook and here on the blog your favorite CIP color! Every Sunday for the next 2 weeks we will be drawing names for 2 people to win their favorite CIP color!
Each day you leave a comment on the blog or facebook one a day per person on facebook, blog or both your name will be entered into the drawing for each day!
That means you have a chance for your name to be added 14 times for a chance to win, if you leave a comment each day on the blog and facebook!
The 2-winners will be announced Sunday night 10pm CST!
What's your #1 favorite Creative Inspirations Paint color?!
Go!!"
 

I hope you enjoyed my first Creative Inspirations Paint project. I had so much fun creating it!

 



It's All Fall with Joy's Life

Happy Tuesday, crafty friends.  Joy's Life is having an "It's All Fall" project parade on her blog today.

I knew right away I wanted to do something besides a card, so I started thinking "outside the box".

And, what did I make? Well, a B-O-X! And, it has a wonderful fall feel to it:

 

 

All the projects featured today on the Joy's Life It's All Fall project parade use the "It's All Fall Puns" stamp set, found in the Joy's Life store.

 

 

 

Here's a close up of the stamped image:

 

 

 I used Close To My Heart cardstock and ink throughout this project.  The box is a cut file from the Silhouette online store found HERE.  The ribbons are all from Really Reasonable Ribbons.

Make sure to check out Joy's Life blog for the rest of the great projects showcased by the Joy's Life design team today!