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

A Blizzard of Kisses -- for Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

I'm posting today on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog, where I always have such fun playing with the wonderful stamps and dies found in the Dies R Us Store. 

I very much enjoy the pre-orders and special events that the Dies R Us Store has to offer.  I have gotten to try out some brands of dies and stamps that I don't find in my local (limited) craft shop. I, for one, look forward to seeing what the weekend will have to offer.  To find out about the pre-orders and special sales, sign up for the Dies R Us newsletter.

One of the last several weekends,  the Dies R Us Store offered stamps and dies from Picket Fence Studio.   I had seen this particular stamp and die set, but jumped at the chance to purchase and work with it.

This card uses 'Have a Wonderful Wintery Day':

Here's a picture of all the supplies used for this card:

I don't often get out my watercolor supplies, but this little snowman seemed to need it.  I used Spectrum Noir Aquablend pencils on him. 

Here he is, all colored up:

I don't always purchase the matching dies for stamp sets, but in this case, I'm really glad I did.  The stamps are small, and I would not want to try to fuzzy cut around those stick arms!!

My camera got switched to manual, so I apologize for this blurry photo. I wanted you to see, though, how the die is positioned over the colored stamp, and held in place with washi tape.

Hopefully, you can see all that!

Here's everything die cut.  I used snowflake dies from Lawn Fawn, and a stitched circle die, also from Lawn Fawn.  The sentiment is included in the 'Have a Wonderful Wintery Day' Stamp Set.

The designer papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are 2 of the papers offered in the Snowmen Paper Collection.

I'll leave you with one more photo of the wonderful wintery card!

I hope you check the Dies R Us Inspiration 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! 

click below for:

STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

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

Cupcake challenge-- show us your snowmen 

Dragonfly Dreams --Christmas/Winter

Festive Fridays --- Christmas

New Year's Advice - and a New Release -- for MHKDesigns

Happy New Year, crafty friends!  I'm hoping for a healthy, happy 2018!  My goal is cancer free all the way through, for many years to come.

Today starts a new challenge on the MHKDesigns blog, and it's also New Release day.  This month's set is Framed Favorites.  I loved the pansy frame and this quote from the Framed favorites Digital Stamp Set.  I thought it was some good New Year's advice for us all:

Great quote, right?  I printed the Framed Favorites pansies and quote on Kraft paper, then colored the pansies with Spectrum Noir Aqua Blend pencilsS, using a Close To My Heart clear shimmer brush to blend the colors.  In real life, there's lots of sparkle and shine on the pansies.   Papers used on the border of the card are also from MHKDesigns.  They are part of the Get Well Flowers digital paper pack (one of my personal favorites!).  The borders are dies from Spellbinders, with a little glimmer trim from CTMH.

I used the colors from the inspiration/mood picture for this month's challenge at MHKDesigns.  If you use an MHKDesigns image, the challenge is 'anything goes'.  Otherwise, please use this picture for inspiration:

MHKDesigns products used on this card:

Framed Favorites Digital Stamp Set

Get Well Flowers Digital Paper Pack

Come join the challenge at MHKDesigns!  You have the whole month of January to join in the fun!

Birthday Clematis -- for Bloom Arts Stamps

Flowers, nature, birds, bugs.  Bloom Arts Stamps is everything I love in stamps -- both clear acrylic and digital -- so when I saw their DT call at Splitcoast Stampers, I reached out to Lisa, and here's my first post!

I tried something new, for me, on this digital stamp, Clematis Vine.

I used Spectrum Noir Aqua Blend pencils on this Clematis Vine digital stamp, then used a shimmer brush to blend with instead of a water brush or paint brush.  It's difficult to see in a picture, but IRL, it's very sparkly, especially on the flower petals.  I really like the effect, and I'll definitely do it again!

Bloom Art Stamps has some amazing stamps that you really need to check out.  The design team is growing, so you'll be able to find more inspiration over on Splitcoast Stampers (Bloom Art Stamps has a gallery there), on the Bloom Arts Stamps blog, and there's a Bloom Arts Stamps Etsy Store. You can find the Clematis Vine stamp here in the Bloom Arts Etsy Store.