Back to Skool -- Freebie Friday at Bugaboo Stamps

It's Friday!  What makes Friday even better, is that every Friday, Bugaboo Stamps gives away a freebie! For an entire week!  Then, just like clockwork, here comes Friday, and BAM!  Another Freebie!  How great is that?!?

School has been underway for a couple weeks now in the small town where I live, and I know the kids are working on their spelling, reading, and so much more.  Today's card features Deacon, and he's needing a little help with his spelling...

This is Deacon - School Sign It 3, colored with Copic markers.  The sign part is blank, so you can fill in whatever you want. I computer generated my sentiment.  If you need a thank you card for a teacher, I think this would be a great one!

I fussy cut Deacon - School Sign It 3, then used a past sketch at Sketch Saturday to jump start my creativity. You'll find tons of great sketches there!  The school themed papers were found at Pixel Scrapper (just search 'school').

Go to the Bugaboo Store to find this week's Friday Freebie, color it up, and you'll be ready for tomorrow's challenge. Check out what the other designers did with Deacon - School Sign It 3 when you visit Catch the Bug. There's a new one every Saturday at Catch the Bug Challenges. Stella Says Sketch has gone back to every other Sunday, now that summer is over, so there'll be a new one of those this Sunday. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Polkadoodles -- ATG
Digichoosday -- ATG
AUD Sentiment -- Fall/Autumn sentiment
Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes -- See You in September

Life is All About Balance -- for Colour Crazy Challenge Blog

It's Friday, and that means there's a new challenge underway at the Colour Crazy Challenge Blog.  The theme is always Anything Goes, as long as you hand color your image, using whatever medium you prefer.  

Out sponsor this week is Little Blue Button Stamps. I colored up this darling image, Asana.

I'm not too good at standing on one foot since developing peripheral neuropathy from chemotherapy, but I sure do admire Asana her sense of style here!  She has this yoga pose down well!

I colored Asana with Copic markers, computer generated the sentiment, found a paper that seemed to have a bit of an oriental flair to in at AMB Illustrations, and topped off the card with some puffy gold circle stickers.

Life-- it really IS all about balance!

I hope you can join us this week and every week at Colour Crazy Challenges!  We have great sponsors.  Like Little Blue Button!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Not Just Cards -- ATG
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- scrap your hobby (card making)

Hidden Secrets - for Lavinia World Challenges

It's time for challenge #9 at Lavinia World Challenges!  I am having so much fun with these awesome stamps, found in the Lavinia World Store, but first, let's go over the rules of the challenge:  you must use an acrylic or a rubber stamp (not digital). The theme is always Anything Goes. You do not have to use Lavinia Stamps, but it doubles your chances of winning the awesome $15 gift certificate up for grabs.  There are also Honorable Mention awards, all chosen by the design team.

I tried something a bit different for today's card --

I have had this Lawn Fawn cutting die forever, and have never used it. I thought it was time to see what it did.  Once I got it cut, I decided to use a different Lavinia Stamps image or sentiment in each of the windows, then blend it all together with distress oxide inks.    

I started with the sentiment  "Secrets are Hidden", stamping it with Versafine Clair ink in Fantasia, then using clear embossing powder over the top.  Next, I stamped with Versafine Clair in Summertime (and embossed with clear powder again) the image of Rory from the Darcy and Rory set.  The rabbit was next.  It is one of 3 from the Whimsical Hares set, stamped with Charming Pink Versafine Clair ink and headset with clear embossing powder.  Lastly, stamping it 3 different times because it was smaller and I wanted to fill up the space in the window, I stamped the Flutterby Miniature using Versafine Clair Golden Meadow and clear embossing powder.  

After all the stamping and embossing were done, I just needed to get busy inking. I used a variety of Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks to achieve the look that I got.  I used Victorian Velvet, Tattered Rose, Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac, Broken China, Salty Ocean, and Squeezed Lemonade.

That's it for this card!  I hope you are loving these Lavinia Stamps as much as I am!  The stamps are magical, and it's such a treat to go back to when I used to play with inks, sprays, and embossing powders.  I can barely remember how to use it all!

Please join us this 2 weeks for our Anything Goes Challenge at Lavinia World.  Just make sure you are using an acrylic or rubber stamp -- no digital.  Thanks!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- Sept. Linky Party
Crafting by Designs -- ATG
Crafty Creations Challenges -- ATG
Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- embossing Powders

Celebration Puppy -- Rediscovering Cottage Cutz

I had some spare time this afternoon, and my order from The Scrapping Cottage arrived, so I just had to play!  I discovered a 60% off sale going on, and took advantage, picking up quite a few things I "had" to have.  I quickly broke two of my favorites out of their packaging and made this card for a friend's upcoming birthday:

Oh my gosh!  That puppy with the leash makes me smile!  He is so like my dog, Winter, it is uncanny! 

The adorable puppy is Good Boy Puppy. The sentiment is also from The Scrapping Cottage. It is Celebrate.  I really like the script on this particular word die!  I certainly didn't need another word die, but I'm so glad I purchased it.  And yes, I DID need the Good Boy Puppy!  Life is much better with this die in my arsenal!

I made the background using a stencil, 2 different Spectrum Noir inks, and a fine liner pen.  I blended the inks together with the hexagonal stencil over 1/2 of the paper, then traced around the stencil with a pen.  I carefully removed the stencil and the tape that was holding it in place, and my background was ready.

The Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes Challenge for the past 2 weeks theme has been "Walking the Dog".  I am finally able to enter that challenge with this card.   I will look for some more to enter it in, too:

The Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes -- Walking the Dog
2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a Critter
Crafty Sentiments Challenge -- ATG
Crafty Animals Challenge -- ATG
TTCRD -- ATG

Oh Happy Day! A New Release at All Dressed Up Stamps

It's the 7th of the month, and there's a New Release showcase going   on at All Dressed Up Stamps.  You'll find inspiration in the All Dressed Up Facebook Group, and in the All Dressed Up Blog.  The 4 new releases, and all the wonderful All Dressed Up Stamps can be found in the All Dressed Up Etsy Store. 

I had the absolute joy of coloring up Floral Wellies, one of the 4 New Releases:

Since Autumn is coming on fast where I live, I went for earthy, Autumn-like colors with these Floral Wellies.  The possibilities, though, are of course endless!  

I used papers from We Are 3 Digital Shop to create this card.  The 2 designer papers are both from the Autumn Woodland paper collection. 

I used this week's sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches.  Here's the sketch:

Check out all the New Releases in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group, and on the All Dressed Up Stamps Blog.  Shop for them HERE!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches -- Week #519
Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday Challenge -- something beginning with 'B' (Boots)
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- ATG
The House that Stamps Built - things that begin with 'B' (boots)
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

You are Fabulous, Girl! Catch the Bug and Sketch Saturday Challenges

I'm doubling up on my posting today. Normally, this would be my Sketch Saturday post, but Bugaboo Stamps is the sponsor, and the challenge starting today at Catch the Bug is Anything Goes, so I thought I might as well support the Bugaboo team at the same time.  So, one card, 2 challenges.  Win, win!

I'll start by showing you my card, then show you the fun and easy sketch this week at Sketch Saturday.  I really, really liked working with this one, and know I will use it often!

Isn't she fabulous?  I'll show you the sketch, then tell you all about the digi at Bugaboo Stamps and where to find her.

Here's this week's sketch at Sketch Saturday:

Claire has the best sketches! This one is a keeper, for sure!  

Now, for the Bugaboo Stamps deets.  This digi is Fashion Girlz 001.  I think she is so darn adorable!!!

I colored Fashion Girlz 001 with Copic markers, then obviously used the sketch to build the card.  Next, I had to find papers.  My source for that is almost always We Are 3 Digital Shop.  I can find papers for whatever I need, all in Bonnie's Etsy Shop.  The fun designer papers on this card are from the Howdy Paper Collection. 

The 'Fabulous' sentiment is a word cutting die from Crafter's Companion.  The banner is a die from Diamond Press.  The heart is a die from Spellbinders.  The last thing I added were the enamel dots, from Close To My Heart.

And, that, blog readers, is a wrap!  Thanks for visiting today!

Check out what the other design team members created using this sketch at Sketch Saturday, and visit the Catch the Bug Blog for inspiration, then to enter this week's Anything Goes Challenge!  Don't forget to pick up yesterday's Friday Freebie.  It's available just for this week in the Bugaboo Store!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- September Linky Party
Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge -- Layers
Creative Moments -- optional theme, Lovely Ladies
The Paper Shelter -- Dress it Up
Watercolor Wednesday -- Feminine
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- Hobbies (shopping)

Hello Friend -- For Di's Digi Designs Challenges

Hello, Friend!  It's time for a new challenge at Di's Digi Designs Challenges, and a mouse and butterfly have become the best of friends today!  The theme for the next 2 weeks is "hand colored images", so link up anything that you color, with whatever is your medium of choice.

This card uses Mushroom Mouse.  It is available in both black & white and colored, but of course, for this challenge, you'll want the black & white variety.  

I colored Mushroom Mouse with Copic markers.  There are signs of Autumn showing up in the trees and plants where I live, so I was striving for Autumn colors in Mushroom Mouse. 

The papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.   They are the Fairy Delight papers.   I used 4 of the papers from the pack on this card.

The fun woodland/mushroom border and falling leaf is a die from Craftin' Desert Divas.  She just closed her business.  I will miss her fun dies. 

The last few days I have had the most fantastic butterfly in my yard.  It is similar to a Tiger Swallowtail, only bigger, and the markings aren't quite right.  It loops along, flying in the breeze, and brings me such joy!  Two days ago, there were 8 Blue Jays trying to catch it, but it eluded them all.  I was so pleased to see it the next day!  

Check out all the wonderful stamps and digis at Di's Digi Stamps Store.  Purchase something that strikes your fancy, color it up, and enter our 'hand colored image' challenge.  You have 2 weeks!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- Stitching Real or Faux (in this case, faux)
QKR Stampede -- ATG
DigiChoosday -- ATG
Animal Friends Challenge -- ATG
2 Craft Critter Crazies Challenge -- ATG with a critter