Frosty Winter Friends -- for Sunday Sketch And Stamp

Hello, I hope you are enjoying the weekend.  It's time for another challenge at Sunday Sketch & Stamp.  This week's sketch looks like this:

I had a lot of fun with this one!  It seemed to have unlimited possibilities for me.  Here's what I did with it:

Besides the fantastic sketch, I used a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp, "Frosty Winter Friends" -- I think it's 'snow' cute!  I colored the image with Tim Holtz Distress markers and a water pen. The designer papers are a 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye -- 'Tis the Season.  I also embossed some of my favorite chipboard snowflakes by UmWow Studio.  LOVE that stuff!

It's been a long, cold, snowy winter here in NW WI.  Somehow it doesn't seem so tough with these guys close by!  Have a great week.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Kraftin' Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday -- anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes

JustBCreativeCrazy -- February Linky Party

Bloggers Challenge -- 2 or more patterned papers
Craftitude Challenges -- Anything Goes
A Creative Romance -- Let's Get Sentimental
D.L. Art, Thankful Thursday - February Linky Party
 

Mixed Media Art Journal Girlz Blog Hop and FWF --plus blog candy! Woohoo!!

Hello, all you artsy types, and welcome to my blog! I'm participating today in an art journal blog hop! And I'm in way over my head -- as you'll soon see! You should have arrived from the beautiful and talented Rebecca's blog.

My friend, Maria, has organized several of these hops.  And they always seem like so much fun, and such a good idea.  I OWN an art journal after all, and she gives us plenty of notice, BUT>>>

Well, here's the thing.  Art journals intimidate me.  I see that big, blank piece of paper, and I have no idea what to do with it.  So, here's what I did:

I got out the gesso.  Gesso's good, right? Artists use gesso, this is an art journal.  Then, I got out some Faber Castell Gelatos, and a Unity/Christy Tomlinson stamp, a squirt bottle of water, and here's what happened...

I tried to make the Gelatos look rather like a rainbow.  The stamp is called, "Through the Changes", and I really like the message of it. I got this far on it, and thought about what else to add.  Some stenciling? Hearts? After all, it's Valentine's Day.  But, I liked it just the way it was.  Anything else seemed like it might detract from the rainbow, the moth, and the sentiment.  So, I stopped.  Art is knowing when to sign your name, right?  Here's a close up for you.

I'm a much better card maker than I am an art journalist, so I made a card to share with you today.  It's my husband's Valentines Day card.  We've had one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record, and that is what I was thinking about while designing this card:

The image and sentiment are a Unity Stamp Company Itty Bitty, "My Heart Melts {snowpeeps Frosty and Misty}". There's some Cherry Red Timeless Twine wrapped here and there on this card, too.

The papers used are Close To My Heart in Outdoor Denim for the card base, Neenah Classic Solar White to stamp the image on, and My Mind's Eye 'Tis The Season' 6x6 papers.  I colored the snow peeps with Copic markers. Spellbinders label dies were also used.

Did I mention I have blog candy?  You need a reward for sticking through all this!  I have a bunch of goodies to give away -- stamps, twine, ribbon, rub-ons, embellishments, a 6x6 paper pad.  Please follow my blog and leave a comment on this post.  I'll announce the winner early next week. 

There's one more stop on today's hop. You are in for a treat, visiting Tameko's blog.  She does the greatest art journals! Hop on and have fun!

 

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

 

Stamp N Doodle -- Love/Valentine's Day

Hearts -- DigiStamps4Joy Challenge #85

Hello, and happy Wednesday, blog friends.  We finally started a morning with above zero temperatures, so perhaps the worst of winter is behind us! I can only hope!
DigiStamps4Joy is in the middle of a Hearts challenge, hosted by Karin.  You can see the details on the DigiStamps4Joy blog, and more of Karin's beautiful work on her blog.  It's almost Valentine's Day, so it's the perfect time to make something with hearts, and link it up to our challenge!
I used the beautiful "Vase of Hearts" image for my card.

And with it, I created this:

I colored the DigiStamps4Joy image with Copic markers, then cut it out with a circle die by Lifestyle Crafts.  The heart shaped card cutting file can be found at The Cutting Cafe.  The sentiment is from a Unity Stamp Company kit, "Handmade Valentines".  The crinkle ribbon is 3 Girl JAM Ice Blue ribbon from the Hot & Cold Bundle.  The stick pin, bling flourish, and bling button are from Close To My Heart. Designer papers are a Carta Bella Devoted 6x6 pad.
Now it's your turn.  We'd love it if you used a digi from the Digistamps4Joy store, then link up for the challenge.  See you there!

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

A Random Fan challenge blog -- Hugs & Kisses -- Valentine Theme 

Crafty Sentiments -- Buttons & bows (I have both on this card

Paper Take Weekly -- With a Heart

Tuesday Throwdown -- Roses are Red, Violets are Blue challenge

LEJ Designs Challenge Blog -- Hearts

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

My Little Red Wagon -- for Timeless Twine and GIU winner, and a Card Make Over

Hello, and happy Monday.  It's my day to post on the Timeless Twine blog today and our theme this month is 3D.  Since it's so close to Valentine's Day, I went with a Valentine theme for today's project.  

This cute little wagon, with it's special delivery, is tied up with two colors of Timeless Twine.  I used Tuxedo Black and Cherry Red.

This wagon is an SVG cutting file from The Cutting Cafe. The boxes are part of the file, as are the delivery labels.

How about a little different angle of this cutie?

There it is, my 3D Valentine project.  I'm off to make a special delivery, packaged with care -- and Timeless Twine, of course!

And, for those of you who visited my blog each day last week for Growing In Unity, you may remember day 1, when I had this card:

I thought it was a little 'blah', and asked for advice on how to liven it up a bit.  The general consensus seemed to be, "bling it up, Baby," so I did.  I added some sequins, some rhinestones, and a stick pin.  Here's the end results.

The sequins on this card can be purchased in the Bella Creationz Etsy Shop.

So there you have, the finished product.

And, FInAlLy, the winner of the 2 Itty Bitty stamps from Unity Stamp Company.

I used Random.org and first picked 1-5 for the 5 days if GIU.  It chose Day 3.  Then, I entered the # of comments for day 3 (43), and comment #18 was chosen.  

CG Handley -- Carla from Utah, you're the winner!

Congratulations! Please email me at julieodil at charter.net

Thanks everyone for a wonderful GIU week and for reading my really long post today!

My First Card for DigiStamps4Joy

I'm getting my feet wet today, so to speak, and posting my first card for DigiStamps4Joy.  I've learned a lot from this experience already! I don't often use digi stamps, so this will be a wonderful growing experience for me.  I'm so pleased Margy had faith in me, and was willing to give me this wonderful opportunity!

There are 3 new digi stamps being released in the DigiStamps4Joy store today. I used the one called "Treasure Hunt" as the focal point of this card:

I colored the basket, bow, and eggs with Copic markers.  The "trail" is highlighted with  Aqua Delight Timeless Twine.  There's more twine 'intertwined' with the crinkle ribbon from 3 Girl JAM -- in Ice Blue from the Hot & Cold Bundle.  The designer paper is by Pebbles (Family Ties), and there's some UmWow Studio arrow chipboard that I embossed using Ranger Gold Pearl embossing powder.  The sentiment is a stamp by Jillibean Soup.
I'll be back on Wednesday with another DS4J card.  I'm having so much fun!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Blog --  colors beginning with 'B' (there's plenty of blue in my card)

Sister Act Card Challenge -- Anything Goes

JustBCreative Crazy -- February Linky Party -- Anything Goes

D.L. Art Thankful Thursday Linky Party -- Anything Goes

Hiding In My Craftroom -- use your scraps (papers were left from another project)

How About This Box? for Silhouette Challenges

It's the time for another challenge over at

Ch# 10 Box Any Type

Begins: Saturday, February 1

Ends: Friday, February 28

A blog dedicated to the Silhouette Cutting Machines.

You MUST use a Silhouette somehow in your project.

Sponsor this month is:

My Crafting Channel

Cute Critters Stamp Set by My Craft Spot

Boxes! Boxes! Boxes!  I love making anything 3D.  The hardest part of this month's challenge was choosing which one to make.  I tried something new for me.  What do you think?

This is a file from SVG Attic, and the box is BIG! It used 2 12x12 pieces of paper, connected to an octagon base.  It'll hold a lot of Valentine chocolates for my special someone, let me tell you!
The cranberry cardstock is Close To My Heart.  The designer paper is American Crafts, "XOXO".
Here's a better view at the top of the box, how it makes a heart, and the hearts make a flower:

Hop on over and link up your project today.

CLICK HERE

Growing In Unity, day 5, Pinque Peacock, and FWF

Looking for the Simply White Timeless Twine Blog Hop? Click HERE!

Day 5 already of my Growing In Unity week.  I've enjoyed the whole week! Make sure you visit each blog post throughout the week and leave comments to increase your chances of winning two free Itty Bitties from Unity Stamp Company.

I've had a heart theme going all week, and today's card is no exception. Plus, I used another of my favorite stamps -- a Unity/Phyllis Harris stamp.

This is "Brandy & Emma, Let It Snow" by Unity/Phyllis Harris. And what better way to decorate up the card than with some wonderful Pinque Peacock embellishments.  The heart behind the image (colored with Copics, BTW) is a Felt Heartie found at The Discount Hut @Pinque Peacock.  The crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM, and it's the Hot Chocolate from the Hot & Cold Bundle. And that great button in the middle of the ribbon? It's a Pinque Peacock 3/4 inch Red Corduroy button.

Papers used were:  Echo Park Keepin' Cozy 6x6 papers, and the card base is Close To My Heart Cashmere card stock. I used a Spellbinders die on the image. 

Thanks for a wonderful week!