Happy Winter, Happy 2018! for QKR Stampede

It's the last Friday in 2017, and the new year is soon upon us.  This is my last blog post I've got planned for 2017, so I'll take this opportunity to wish all my readers a happy and creative 2018!

Since it's Friday, it's also time for a new challenge at QKR Stampede challenge blog. It's our last challenge with an optional theme.  Next year, all our challenge will be Anything Goes, so I hope you link up often to join the fun! 

This week's optional QKR Stampede theme is 'Snowman or 'Snowflakes'.  I used both on this winter card: 

This adorable little snowman, is called Catching Snowflakes (Q-digi21304), colored with Copic markers.  

The snowflake card base was found in the Silhouette Online Store, and was cut out with my Silhouette Cameo.  The snowflake dies, from Paper Wishes, were cut out with gold paper to add a festive touch.  The sentiment was computer generated. 

Speaking of snowmen -- what did the snowman say to the other snowman?  Do you smell carrots? Bwahahahaha!

I hope to see you often in 2018!  Join us at QKR Stampede for this week's optional Snowman or Snowflake challenge.  I'd love to see what you make!

Christmas Joy -- for QKR Stampede Challenge Blog

Another Friday, another week closer to Christmas!  These weeks are flying by!  It's time for another challenge at QKR Stampede Challenge blog, where this week's alternate theme is 'Christmas Cards'.  I've been hard at work sending mine out all week, including this one:

This card uses Eureka Stamps digital image, Christmas Joy (ES-digi6503), colored with gel pens.  I was not very successful with this medium, but it's how we learn, right? 

The die cut deer is one of my Christmas favorites, and I've had it so long I no longer remember who it is by.  The snowflake card base was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.

I hope you can join us this week at QKR Stampede for our 'Christmas Card' optional challenge -- or enter anything you'd like.  In 2018, all the QKR Stampede challenges will be Anything Goes, so look for those coming very soon! 

Skiing Over the River and Through the Woods --- for QKR Stampede

Is it really Black Friday?  Did you make it over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house yesterday?  I worked all day, so I only made it as far as the nursing home parking lot, lol!  Tomorrow, though, some celebrating will go on with the family.

There's a new challenge going on, starting today, at the QKR Stampede Challenge blog.  This week's challenge will be Anything Goes.  Yea!!!!

My brother loves to ski.  He's been on the ski patrol at his local ski hill for over 30 years now, and he's taught and coached countless young people how to downhill ski.  This card is in his honor and will end up in his mailbox by Christmastime:

Santa on Skis (ES-digi6607) was colored with Copic markers, and icicle Stickles were added to his trim.  He's swooshing down that hill with impeccable form!  The Merry Christmas sentiment (Q-digi13806) placed just below the skis to make him go even faster -- kind of like wax!

The card base is an SVG cutting file from Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons.  Papers used on this card are from Close To My Heart.  The snowflakes are cutting dies by Lawn Fawn. 

I hope you can join us this week at QKR Stampede for our Anything Goes challenge.  We've got great prizes, and I'd love to see what you make!  

You Rock! for Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

Hello, all you rockin' craft friends.  Happy Monday!  Today, there's some mid-challenge inspiration going on over on the Path of Positivity Challenge blog. Our theme this month is: Surround Yourself with Music.  

One of our sponsors this month, and the one I had the privilege of using for this challenge, is Imagine That! digistamp.  I had the fun of using Elvis Bear on this Rockin' card! 

I used a pre-printed image of Elvis Bear because he was just too cute with his glittery sunglasses and blue guitar!  The sentiment was computer generated.  The rocker card was found on the Silhouette Design Store and cut out on my Silhouette Cameo.  The awesome star paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. 

I grew up in the 60's and 70's, so I'm a child of rock 'n roll.  I'm actually not a fan of Elvis, but play me a good Beatles tune, and I can't sit still!  

I hope you can join our optional themed 'Surround Yourself with Music' this month at Path of Positivity, or enter any positive themed project that you'd like. 

Fancy Folds Blog Hop with Imagine That! Digistamp

Hello, and welcome to my portion of the Fancy Folds blog hop!  I hope you are enjoying yourself and I know you are seeing lots of great inspiration along the way!  You should have arrived here from Jennifer's Blog.  If you stumbled across my blog, start at the beginning, at the Imagine That! Digistamp blog.

I found this fun file in the Silhouette Design Store, and I thought it worked so well with the new Imagine That! Digistamp Scallop Circle Sentiment set.  What do you think?
 Here's the front of the card, with the belly band in place:

I used one of the MANY sentiment circles (there are also many scalloped circles in the set).  They all come both pre-printed and in black & white.  This is a pre-printed version.  I sized it to 2.23 inches, then used a circle die (2.25 inch die) to cut it out.   Papers on this card are also from Imagine That! Digistamp.  I think they match the sentiment so well.  They are the Rose Duo 2 digital papers. 

Here's the inside of the card, with more of the pretty Rose Duo 2 papers showing:

Imagine That! Digistamp products used on this card:

Scallop Circle Sentiment Set

Rose Duo 2 Digital Papers

Off you go to the next stop on the hop, Ink Something.  You'll love what Kristy's got for you!  Have fun, and fancy fold on!  

Fly High, Angel! For QKR Stampede

It's FRIDAAAAAY!   And, it's time for a new challenge at the QKR Stampede Challenge blog.  This week, our optional theme is "Angels", or you can always enter an 'Anything Goes' project.

If you know me at all, you know I love dogs.  I colored my card this week to resemble my British Golden Retriever.  I'm not sure she's an angel, but...

This card uses Angel Dog (ES-digi14701) and Flyin' High (Q-digi20005).

I colored Angel Dog with Copic markers.  The dies used to cut it out are from Stampendous.  The card base was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.   The blush ribbon is from Close To My Heart, as is all the card stock. 

I hope you join us this week at QKR Stampede challenge blog for our optional 'angel' challenge.  I'd love to see what you make, and we've got great digis you can win!  

Love is a Warm Puppy -- for QKR Stampede

This is a first for me!  I'm posting a day late for QKR Stampede's challenge.  This week's optional theme is, "Keep Your Eye on the Ball."  You can always enter Anything Goes, if you prefer.

We have a new Golden Retriever puppy in the house, so this card seems perfect:

This card uses 2 QKR Stampede digi stamps -- Happy Puppy (Q-digi17400) and Warm Puppy (Q-digi11301).

I colored Happy Puppy with Copic markers.  I used some new dies I bought from Stampendous to make the card base and layers.  Papers are digital.  They are the Echo Park Bark Collection, purchased from Snap Click Supply.  I printed the Warm Puppy sentiment on one of the digital Bark Collection papers.  The tennis ball was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store. 

I hope you can join us this week at QKR Stampede for our "Keep Your Eye on the Ball" challenge.  It runs until Friday, Sept. 1. 

Just Fur You! An MHKDesigns New Release

It's time to showcase another MHKDesigns New Release.  This one is 'Pet Puns'.  Being a dog lover, it's perfect for me and many of my dog loving friends!  

I used the dog image of the Pet Puns set and colored it with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils.  The sentiment, also from the Pet Puns set, was cut out with a round punch and secured with a paw brad from my stash.  The paw print paper is from MHKDesigns.  It's the Pawsitively Purrfect digital paper pack.

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

MHKDesigns products used on this card:

Pet Puns Digital Stamp Set

Pawsitively Purrfect Digital Paper Pack

Have you entered the MHKDesigns challenge yet?  You still have  time, as it runs all month.  Use an MHKDesigns image, and it's Anything Goes!  

You Are My Sunshine -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Hello, and happy Friday!  I love big, bold sentiment stamps that can be the focal point of a card.  I found this great one in the Great Impressions Stamps store, and fell in love with it. 

This is E876 My Sunshine.  All I did was ink it up, cut it out with a square die cut, back it with another die cut (both by Spellbinders) and centered it on the card.

The bright, summery designer paper is from Echo Park.  I cut the sun die cut out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store. 

It was a fun, easy card.

This is my last post for Great Impressions Stamps, and I want to thank Deone and Ruza for the wonderful experience!  I have loved every minute and will treasure each of my Great Impressions Stamps. 

Be Like a Giraffe -- for Imagine That! Digistamp

Ha! Giraffe cards 2 days in a row on my blog.  I have a theme going here!  Giraffe patterned paper 2 days in a row, too.  What are the chances?

Today, I'm featuring a coffee-drinking giraffe who is very wise, and he's from Imagine That! Digistamp.  This Giraffe With Coffee set can be your free if you enter this month's challenge at the Imagine That! Creative Playground.  All you ned to do is use an Imagine That! Digistamp image and the set is yours.  He's too cute!  Go for it!

I used the pre-colored image of the Giraffe with Coffee set, and one of the fun sentiments that came with the set.  The giraffe patterned papers are also from Imagine That! Digistamp.

I cut the card base out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The sun is from a file found there, too.  The bronze shimmer trim is from Close To My Heart. 

Imagine That! Digistamp products used: 

Giraffe with Coffee

Giraffe Patterned Papers

I hope you can join in on the challenge this month in the Creative Playground!  You have until June 30 to try and win this set. 

Congrats Giraffe -- for QKR Stampede

Friday, Yes!  That means it's time for a new challenge on the QKR Stampede blog.  This week's optional theme is Quilting or Stitching (faux or real).

A friend of mine recently had a baby, and I'm invited to her baby shower next week.  I needed a baby card to take with me, so I created this.  I think it will work for both the shower, and the stitching challenge at QKR Stampede:

I got out my colored pencils to see what I could do with that giraffe.  I'm not overly thrilled.  He's not quite as bright as I would like, but it'll do.  The adorable giraffe stamped image is a digi stamp from Eureka Stamps, the sister company of QKR Stampede. It's ES-digi40002 Giraffe and Baby.  The Congratulations stamp, also from Eureka stamps, is ES-digi25404.  I created the 'stitching' around both the giraffe and sentiment using a black marker.

The giraffe print designer papers on this card are digital papers from Imagine That! Digistamp. Aren't they fun?!?  I cut the sun out on my Silhouette Cameo from a pattern I found in the Silhouette Design Store. 

Stop by the QKR Stampede blog to see the other quilting and stitching projects from the team and to enter this week's Quilting or Stitching Challenge (real or faux). The theme is optional.  You can enter anything you'd like.  You have all week!

Masculine Thank You -- for QKR Stampede

Woohoo! It's Friday!  and Woohoo!  I'm back on the QKR Stampede team for the summer!  I've missed working with the fun, quirky, images of QKR Stampede and Eureka Stamps, so I'm glad to be back!  

QKR Stampede has a new challenge every Friday.  Challenges are now everything goes with a twist.  This week's twist is -- For the Guys.  Here's what I made for the challenge:

I used 2 QKR Stampede digital stamps on this card.  They are Q-digi22103 trees and Q-digi20002 thank you.  I used them together, lining them up so they'd fit on the oval paper I wanted to use, sizing them according.  That's the beauty of digis!  

The oval shaped card base is from the Silhouette Design Store and cut out on my Silhouette Cameo.  Papers for this card are from Close To My Heart.  The deer die cut is also from CTMH.

With Father's Day just around the corner, many of you are making Father's Day cards, so I hope you link them up at QKR Stampede's Anything Goes with a 'For the Guys' twist this week.  I'd love to see what you make! 

Vacation! for Crafty Sentiments Designs

It's Tuesday, and time for a new challenge at Crafty Sentiments challenge blog.  It's also New Release week at Crafty Sentiments Designs and this card is created with one of this month's rubber stamps New Releases.  The challenge this week is Anything Goes!

For the Anything Goes challenge, I created this, using the rubber stamp Hotel Resort:

I colored the Crafty Sentiments Designs Hotel Resort image with Copic markers, then fussy cut it.  The tropical card was created on my Silhouette Cameo with a design I found at the Silhouette Design Store. 

I hope you can join us this week at Crafty Sentiments Challenges for our Anything Goes challenge.  There's also a Facebook challenge that goes all month.  Check out the other new releases this week, too, on the Crafty Sentiments Inspirations blog. 

Happy Summer Days -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Greetings, fellow stamp lovers!  It's June, and we have finally hit 80 degrees here where I live.  We hit 70 one day and 80 the next, then crashed back into the 60's.  I hope that wasn't summer, LOL!  

There's a new challenge starting today over on the Great Impressions Stamps blog.  With Father's Day this month, the theme is 'masculine'.  I made this card with my dog-loving husband in mind:

This card uses two rubber stamps from Great Impressions Stamps.  They are: E896 Dog Wearing Sunglasses and B213 Happy Summer Days.

I colored E896 Dog Wearing Sunglasses with Copic markers, then fussy cut it out. 

The paw border card was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo with a file I altered, found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The plaid designer paper is from Lawn Fawn. Dies are from Spellbinders. 

The masculine challenge at Great Impressions Stamps blog runs all month.  We've got great prizes, so I sure hope you join us!  I'd love to see what you make, and I sure hope you use a Great Impressions Stamps image. 

Birdies on a Swing -- for Great Impressions Stamps

Do you like to swing?  Did you enjoy it as a child?  Sometimes I watch birds and squirrels sitting on branches, swinging in the breeze and it looks like FUN!  Great Impressions Stamps has a great rubber stamp, Two Birdies on a Swing (G486) that is so, so cute!  I just had to color it up!

I stamped G486 Two Birdies on a Swing onto watercolor paper, then used watercolor pencils and a paint brush to color the Two Birdies.  The Hello sentiment (A138) is also from Great Impressions Stamps.  It's one of my favorite sentiments as it's a great size, it can be used for many occasions, and it stamps so cleanly! 

The frames were created with Lawn Fawn dies using Lawn Fawn plaid papers.  The flower was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo.  The label for the sentiment is a die from Paper Wishes. 

Have you entered this month's challenge at Great Impressions Stamps yet?  It's nearly over for May, but a new one starts on Sunday, June 4.  Join us!

A Watercolor Thank You -- for Pickled Potpourri

Happy Friday, everyone!  I'm posting today for Pickled Potpourri.  I discovered their digital stamps when using them for a challenge blog and loved them (and their reasonable price!) so begged to be on the team!  Here I am today with my first official card and a tutorial.
First, a view of the finished card:

I used Pickled Potpourri's Dahlia digital stamp for this card.  The 'thank you' sentiment is part of the Rose Sentiments set.

Here's how I colored the Dahlia digital stamp:

I started by adding the colors I wanted to use on a palette.  I used watercolor crayons. These are the colors I used on the flower petals.  I used a fairly dry brush. I tend to dip my brush, then pinch it with my fingers before using it. 

Here's those 3 colors blended on one flower...

all three flowers completed:

I worked on shading each of them a bit differently.

Last, I needed to finish the stems and leaves.  I used the same technique:

Here's one more view of the finished card:

There you have it!  This Dahlia digital stamp was perfect to practice my watercoloring technique with.  It's pretty no fail, and very fun!  Check it out for yourself!

The card was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo, with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The flowers are from my stash.  They started out white and I inked them with a couple colors of Tim Holtz distress inks. 

I'll be back later in the month with another Pickled Potpourri post.  Yeehaw! 

Pop Up Flowers for You -- and The Cutting Cafe

Hello, and happy spring!  The daffodils are blooming here where I live, the trilliums are beginning to open up, and it won't be long until we have lilacs.  This is my favorite time of year!

This week, at The Cutting Cafe, we're featuring pop up cards.  Since I've been so moved by all the daffodils I've been seeing, I decided to feature them on a pop up card:

I used 2 different sets from The Cutting Cafe.  The pop up card was created with the Assorted Pop Up Cards Templates and Cutting Files.  Then, I printed the daffodil from the Beautiful Flowers Printable Stamp Set multiple times in various sizes and fussy cut them.  The designer paper background is part of the Beautiful Flowers Printable Stamp Set. 

Pop up cards are so fun when the recipient open them up, and voila!  The vase and flowers literally pop out at them!  So fun!

I hope you check out the other pop up cards that The Cutting Cafe design team makes this week.  You can see them in the Cutting Cafe Be inspired Facebook group, and on The Cutting Cafe blog.  Leave a comment and you could win 3 sets of your choice. They'll be on the blog May 21. 

Spring! for Crafty Sentiments Designs

Hello, and happy Tuesday!  April is quickly winding down.  Today starts the last challenge of the month at Crafty Sentiments Designs. This week's theme, always a favorite, is 'Anything Goes'!  Come join us!

I used the Crafty Sentiments Designs rubber stamp, I Love Butterflies to create this card.  She is colored with Copic markers.  The card base was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo with a design I found in the Silhouette Design Store.  The frame dies are from Lawn Fawn.   The Crafty Sentiments Butterfly girl is ready for Spring, isn't she? I know I am!

I hope you join in on the challenge and the fun this week at Crafty Sentiments Challenge.  I'd love to see what you make, we have great prizes, and Anything goes is as easy as it gets!  

Funky Flowers -- an MHKDesigns New Release

Hello, my crafty friends, and happy Thursday.  The new releases are winding down at MHKDesigns.  I hope you've been enjoying the month as much as I have!  Today, the design team is showcasing Funky Flowers.  It is available in the MHKDesigns Etsy Shop, along with the other new releases (and all of the wonderful MHKDesigns!).  

I used one of the Funky Flowers designs and colored it with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils.  The sentiment, which I love, is part of the Funky Flowers digital stamp set.  The light blue background paper is also from MHKDesigns.  It is part of the Rosy Posy Digital Paper set.

MHKDesigns supplies used on this card:

Funky Flowers

Rosy Posy Digital Paper Pack

Have you entered the MHKDesigns challenge yet for your chance to win some MHKDesigns sets of your own?  You have until the end of the month, and it's going fast!  Use an MHKDesigns product, and it's anything goes.  Use another image, and there's an inspiration board for you to follow.  Check out the awesome MHKDesigners and Friends Facebook group, too! 

Spring! For Path of Positivity Challenge Blog

It's the third Monday of the month, which means it's time for some mid-month inspiration over on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The optional theme this month is The Beauty of Nature, but you can link up any positive themed project.

Here's my Beauty of Nature entry:

I love to color butterflies, and this one from this month's guest sponsor, Sparkle N Sprinkle, was a joy to color. I got to use some of my fluorescent Copic markers that I hardly ever use. After coloring the butterfly, I fussy cut it out.  The card was a design I found in the Silhouette Design Store, cut out on my Silhouette Cameo.  The embellishments are from Paper Whimsies. 

The challenge at Path of Positivity Challenge blog goes a month.  You have until April 30 to join in our The Beauty of Nature challenge.