Beautiful -- for DS4J

It's Sunday, and there are once again fabulous new releases at DigiStamps4Joy.  The design team was given a choice of 3 to work with this week.  I wish I would have had time to make projects with all 3.  Each digi is FABuLouS!  Today, I chose to work with 'My Ballgown'.

Isn't this a great digi?

You will find it in the DigiStamps4Joy store.  New today!

I sized the digi to just over 4 inches, and colored it with Copic markers, then fussy cut it.  I used 2 Spellbinders Gold dies to frame it with, and CTMH Pear and Hollyhock cardstock.  The sentiment is a Close To My Heart retired stamp, and the designer paper is also retired from CTMH.  There's a bit of crocheted lace behind the die cut labels, and some 3 Girl JAM crinkle ribbon in lemon-lime from the new LG Bundle. The flowers are from Recollections.  They are white, daubed with CTMH Hollyhock ink.

Here's a closeup of the colored image:

I can see this image colored in so many possible combinations.  So fun!

Speaking of fun, have you heard about the celebration at DigiStamps4Joy?

The 100th challenge starts Sept. 3 and so does the month-long celebration.  Join us that day for the start of it all with a blog hop.  This design team is uber talented, so the hop is going to be an event!  And, of course, there are lots of prizes.  I'll be giving away a $10 gift certificate to the DigiStamps4Joy store to one lucky commenter. See you at the celebration!

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

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge -- Girly

Art by Miran -- ATG

Brown Sugar Challenge -- ATG

Creative Corner Challenges - ATG

Frosted Designs -- ATG

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

Stamplorations -- Stamps & Diecuts

D.L. Art -- Thursday Linky party -- ATG
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
AUD Sentiment -- other than birthday
Crafting at the Weekend -- ATG
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge -- ATG

Party Pooches! It's a Blog Hop!

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!  I'm hopping today with the Eureka Stamps and QKR Stampede design teams. 

Here's the line up:

Julie Odil - http://muddypawsinkyfingers.blogspot.com -- YOU are HERE!

Emily Thubbron - http://emsmanythoughts.blogspot.com -- go here NEXT!

Cheryl Caldwell-Nyboer -  http://cherylndesignscreate.blogspot.com

Alex. Menzlewski - http://mrsstampfantasy.blogspot.de/

Kristie Maynard -  www.kristiekreates.blogspot.com

Sherri Dean - http://thecatatemycard.blogspot.com

Marji Franklin -  http://www.fstampaholic.blogspot.com/

Zoe Morton  -  http://handmadewithlotsoflove.blogspot.com/

Emily Dee -   http://studiomcreations.weebly.com/

Susanne Rose - http://clayscrapkreativ.blogspot.de/

Karal Schuknecht - http://karalscreativespace.blogspot.com

Diane Ahlers - http://ahlers5.blogspot.com

If you've come from the Eureka Stamps blog, you saw this sneak peek:

And, you probably figured out that my card had something to do with dogs. Yes, the dogs are throwing a party this week on my card for the Eureka Stamps Anything Goes Challenge:

I haven't had this much fun coloring an image in a long time! I'm quite sure it will turn out differently every time I color it.  

Here's a closup of the cute pooches:

I love this sentiment, too.  It's so true!

I used the Eureka Stamps digi Party Poopers on this card (digi14303). The sentiment is digi24206, also from Eureka Stamps.

Other Supplies used:

Basic Grey Knee High 6x6 paper

American Crafts Glitter paper

Copic markers

Close To My Heart card stock and ribbon

Spellbinders Wonky Squares dies

I have some blog candy to give away for all of you hopping with us. I have a 6x6 pad of paper, a stamp set, some ribbon, and various embellishments. To be eligible to win, please follow my blog and leave a comment on this post.  I will announce the winner on Sept. 15 -- the next Eureka Stamps challenge.

Now, hop on to the talented and lovely Emily's blog!  You'll love what she has for you!  Then, enter our Anything Goes Challenge with either a Eureka Stamps or QKR Stampede image.  You'll have a chance to win some great prizes! There's also prizes for commenting on the blog hop.  Win QKR Stampede and Eureka digi stamps.  Hop on and have FUN!

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

Frosted Designs -- Break out the stamps!

Crafty Sentiments -- Animal Crazy

Art by Miran -- ATG

D.L. Art - Thankful Thursday -- August linky party

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

Fussy and Fancy Challenge -- Pets
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
AUD Sentiment -- other than birthday
Di's Digi Designs -- All About Animals

You're One in a Melon!

It's Thursday, and time for a new challenge at Delightful Challenges.  Our theme this week is "Layer It".  I had fun with this one!

I made a tri-fold step card, using the following Digital Delights by Louby Loo products:  Watermelon Time Set and Wicked Watermelon Digital Paper Pack.

I added some layers to this by adding a rhinestone flourish, and by making a flower from the paper pack using a heart-shaped punch.  There's a Pinque Peacock 3/4 inch fabric covered button in the middle of the flower for yet another layer.

Here's what the card looks like closed up:

And here's a view of that adorable Watermelon Time image up close, colored with Copic markers:

Our sponsor this week is:

Come play along at Delightful Challenges "Layer It" challenge for your chance at the $10 voucher!

Summer's almost over -- I'm off to enjoy the last of the watermelon!

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

Pinque Peacock Challenges -- sparkle and bling

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

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

AUD Sentiment -- Anything but a birthday

C.R.A.F.T. challenge -- animal

Cute Card Thursday -- ATG

My Heart Pieces -- Use a Digi Stamp

Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog -- Animal Crazy

Birthday Roses for DigiStamps4Joy

It's Wednesday, and time for some mid-challenge inspiration at DigiStamps4Joy.  The current challenge is "Circles", and it goes through Sept 2. 

I love to color flowers, and choose them every chance I get.  For this card, I chose roses:

See why I like to color flowers?  Aren't those pretty?  This digi stamp, found in the DigiStamps4Joy store, is called Rose Trio.

I colored the image with Copic markers, then used 2 different sized Lifestyle Crafts circle dies to cut out the image and the layer behind it.  The designer papers are by My Mind's Eye. I used some 3 Girl JAM Aqua Splash crinkle ribbon from the Caribbean Bundle.  Cardstock and sentiment are from Close To My Heart. Some Aqua Skittles finish off the card.

There's a month-long party happening at DigiStamps4Joy, starting Sept 3.  Join us for our blog hop, and random prizes throughout the month.  It's the 100th blog challenge!

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

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

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

Crafting at the Weekend -- ATG

Aloha Friday Challenges -- In the Garden

Paper Creators Crafts -- Bows, Bling, and Blooms

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge -- ATG

A Random Fan Challenge # 13 -- ATG with a hand colored image

Digi Choosday Challenge -- Blooms

Fan-tastic Tuesday -- ATG

Loves rubber Stamps Challenge -- Two or More Patterned Papers

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

Joy to the World

Yea! Another Christmas card done!  This one uses the free digi image provided this month from DigiStamps4Joy.  Since I used this month's freebie, I will get next month's free also.  Score!

I usually stick with traditional Christmas images, so this was a bit of a stretch for me.  I also forget to use embossing folders, so I broke out this pretty snowflake design for the background by Darice..  I used a Spellbinder ornament die and a Spellbinder tag die, some Timeless Twine in Cherry Red, and some Icicle Stickles. She is colored with Copic markers, and the edges are inked with Tim Holtz distress ink in Spun Sugar because it sounds like a Christmas color! The sentiment is a Close To My Heart retired stamp.

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

DS4J -- Monthly Christmas Challenge

CHNS August Challenge Anything Goes as long as it is Christmas related
ABC Christmas - Q forQuick and Easy
Winter Wonderland - Christmas - Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

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

Summer Beauty

Although it's still summer, there are signs of Fall in the air.  But, I'm not ready to let it go yet!  I have a summer card to share with you today, that I'm posting for Timeless Twine.  It uses some of my favorite products and favorite things -- twine, doilies, stamps, and butterflies.  Oh yeah!

Here are the Bella Creationz/Timeless Twine products I used on this card:

Papers are from My Mind's Eye.  I got the butterfly in a scrapbook kit long ago.  I'm sorry, I don't know who made it. A We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper finished some of the edges.

Enjoy summer -- it won't be here much longer!

Find Joy! for Eureka Stamps

It's Monday, and time for a new challenge at Eureka Stamps. This week's theme is CAS (clean & Simple).  Since I never think my cards are very complex, this one was an easy one for me, and I kept it very simple, letting the sentiment have center stage.

I used the digi "All Things" (digi26903) on this card.  The background is various Tim Holtz inks.  I used some Timeless Twine in Pumpkin Orange to finish off the card.

Come join the Eureka Stamps CAS challenge this week!

Joy is Not in Things -- for Fitztown

Hello, and happy Monday.  It's challenge time at the Fitztown Challenge blog. This week's theme is:  Banners or Pennants.  Banners make me think of a celebration.  I needed to make a birthday card for a very special friend celebrating her 60th birthday.  I didn't want it to be a typical birthday card, but rather, a beautiful card about happiness.  Fitztown's stunning images helped me achieve what I was after:

I used Fitztown digistamp Garden 9 on this card.  I love to color flowers, and sunflowers are one of my favorites.  So, this card was a joy to make. I used Copic markers to color the image.  I made the image quite large so it would be the showcase of the card.

Designer papers and sticker sentiment are from Close To My Heart.  Pearls are from Basic Grey.

I hope Lori likes her non-traditional birthday card!

Come enter the Fitztown Banners or Pennants Challenge.  You have 2 weeks!

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

A Girl Who Crafts -- AATG

Bearly Mine Challenges -- ATG

Cards Galore Challenges -- ATG

Sisters of Craft -- ATG

Art by Miran -- ATG

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

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

Stamplorations -- Stamps & diecuts

Graphit Challenges -- Summer Florals

Ice Cream! for DigiStamps4Joy

It's Sunday, and that means there are new releases in the DigiStamps4Joy store. This week, there are once again some amazing new releases for you to check out!  I had the privilege of having 3 to choose from to work with.  I chose "ice cream".  Really, who wouldn't, LOL?

This is the newly released digi, icecream. You can find it with other new releases in the DigiStamps4Joy store.

I colored the image with Copic markers, then inked around the edges while it was still in the Spellbinder die, using it as a stencil.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Old Paper around the edges.  There's some red Stickles glitter glue on the cherry to make it sparkle a bit.  The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company.  It is a kit of the month stamp from a couple years ago.  The designer paper is from My Mind's Eye.  The crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM.  I used Christmas Candy ribbon from the Seasons Bundle.

DigiStamps4Joy is having a blog hop, and a month-long celebration starting Sept 3.  Come join in the hop and the many, many prizes!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Color Me Scrappy -- color challenge
A Girl Who Crafts -- AATG
Bearly Mine Challenges -- ATG
Cards Galore Challenges -- ATG
Doodle Pantry Challenge -- Any Digi goes
Sisters of Craft -- ATG
Art by Miran -- ATG
Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- August Linky Party
Stamplorations -- Stamps & diecuts (3 of 3)

It's Canning Season!

Hello, and happy Friday!  It's canning season here in my neck of the woods.  I don't can, but I sure love it when my friends do, and bring me some canned goods.  It seems you can can just about anything -- pickles, beets, watermelon, peaches, green beans, even venison.  I have a fondness for canning jars, so I've loved these canning jar files from My Scrap Chick for a long time now.  They were one of the first files I ever bought from the company.  Combine them with some 3 Girl JAM ribbon, and these could win blue ribbons at the fair!

I used the My Scrap Chick Canning Jars/Preserves cutting files. There are 3 different patterns.  I used 2 of them.  On two of the cards, I added some Gold Crown 3 Girl JAM crinkle ribbon from the Royal Bundle. 

Here's a couple of close ups:

On this second card, I used a Unity Stamp of the Week for the sentiment.

The papers for these cards are a retired pack from Close To My Heart.  I thought they worked well for these canning jars.

Today is my last post for My Scrap Chick.  I have very much enjoyed working with their incredible files.  This may be my last design team project, but you will definitely see more My Scrap Chick files on my blog.  I love their files as much now as I did when I first discovered them.  They are a great company.  And, I don't have to tell you how much I LOVE 3 Girl JAM ribbon!

It's a Celebration!

Hello, and happy Thursday!  I have a birthday card to share with you today.  My cyber friend Donna, whom I first met on the Pinque Peacock design team, is celebrating a birthday today.  The 3 Girl JAM team has hijacked the  blog to help her celebrate her big day.  I made this card in honor of Donna and her special day.

That's one big birthday cake, sending sweet greetings Donna's way!

The cake pedestal is sitting on a layer of 3 Girl JAM distressed lace and Purple Passion ribbon from the Royal Bundle.

I created the background with a stamp called "She Sells Seashells" from Market Street Stamps. The cake die is from Die-namics.  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company. All cardstock is from Close To My Heart.

Donna, I couldn't fit 50 candles on this cake, but age is only a number!  Enjoy your day, Love!

Best Teacher

It's Thursday, and time for a new challenge at Delightful Challenges.  This week's theme is School Daze. With many schools already back in session, or, here in Wisconsin, heading back after Labor Day, school is on many people's minds.

One of my staff, who has worked for me for 8 years, has also worked her way through college.  She was just hired to teach 4 year old kindergarten.  She will be moving about 3 hours away.  However, she likes the job and the residents so much that she still plans on working every other Saturday.  In honor of her and her new career, I made her a notebook to take to the classroom with her:

This notebook uses several delightful Digital Delights by Louby Loo products:  Scholar Myrtle, School Digital Paper Pack, and the School Sentiments Pack.

 

Here's a closeup of Scholar Myrtle, colored with Copic Markers...

Oh my, she looks studious, doesn't she? And that pencil background paper from the School Digital Paper Pack works beautifully with the theme.

Some 3 Girl JAM ribbon tied along the binding, and some UmWow Studio chipboard, covered with Stickles finished this School Daze themed notebook.

Our sponsor for this week's challenge is:

Digital Delights by Louby Loo!

 Play along for your chance at the $10 voucher!

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

Crafty Sentiments Designs --Back to School

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

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations -- Animals

Craftin' Desert Divas --Back To School

Lexi's Creations -- Back to School

Melonheadz Friends -- Back to School

3 Girl JAM Challenge -- Back to School
Whimsy Stamps -- Back to School
Ruby's Rainbow -- Back to School
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -- Back to School
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

Is It Too Early for New Year's Resolutions? for The Cutting Cafe

Hello, and happy Wednesday!  I'm posting for The Cutting Cafe today.  Regina has designed this awesome 2015 Planner.  And, I'm already determined to be more organized in 2015 -- all because of this Planner.  It is sooooo cool!

Warning:  Picture heavy post!

I kept the cover simple.  I plan to use this planner everyday.  I don't want lots of embellishments getting in the way.  I used one of the covers the come with The Planner.

Here's a look at the first tab and the yearly calendar.  I stamped "2015" on this tab.

This next picture is of a typical month.  Each month starts with a calendar of that month.  

Then, flipping to the next page, there is a page of notes, and then a daily planner:

Here's a page showing more towards the middle of a month:

The last picture of the planner shows the back cover, the tabs, how I bound my planner, and the ribbons I tied on my rings.

I used a retired Close To My Heart calendar stamp set to stamp the month on each tab.  I stamped both front and back so I could find the month from either side of the planner. 

Pages are 8 1/2 x 11 copy paper, folded in 1/2, and glued with a glue stick. the tab pages (like the one pictured above) are cut out of cardstock.

I plan to use this Daily Planner for scheduling blog posts, keeping track on design team assignments, doctor's appointments, work schedules, etc.  Regina has added Oct-Dec., 2014.  I have them printed, but haven't had a chance to add them to the planner yet.

Before I end this post, I want to leave you with one more picture:

Happy birthday to an awesome design team leader and friend.  Regina, you are the best! (and her birthday is tomorrow).  Stop by The Cutting Cafe blog on Thursday, Aug. 21 to wish Regina a great birthday.  Tell her Julie sent you!

This balloon shaped card is from The Cutting Cafe.

Christmas Wishes -- for SVG Attic

Happy Tuesday! There's a chill in the air at night here in Northern Wisconsin, reminding all of us that Fall is just around the corner, and Christmas is not that far away.  I've been trying to make several Christmas cards each month throughout the year.  With the help of the delightful SVG Attic JGW Sweet Wishes Card Kit, I've managed to get more than several made this month (pat on the back).  Today, I'm showing you 2 cards, but it's one variation of the same theme.  I used the Vintage Sleigh card to make these:

Both cards are pretty similar, with the only exception being I used designer paper (Echo Park Dots & Stripes) on the sleigh on the top card.  I love how lacy and wintery the sleigh looks!  I used double sided cardstock from Echo Park.  It's actually the same piece of cardstock, just reversed for a different look on each card.  The sentiment is a Unity Stamp Company stamp.  All other cardstock is from Close To My Heart.  The bling is from my stash.

This JGW Sweet Wishes Card Kit is a wonderful kit -- check it out for yourself!

Wishing You Joy

It's Monday, the start of another week, and the start of a very fun cross-promotional event between Timeless Twine and Lil' Inker Designs.  The Timeless Twine team was given the opportunity to choose some Lil' Inker Designs products to play with, and let me tell you, I found JOY!  Timeless Time and Lil' Inker Designs are a great combination!

I've been working diligently to get a Christmas card or 2 (or more) made each month so I'm not so overwhelmed when December hits.  Here's another one to add to the "ready" pile:

I used the Lil' Inker stamp set, "Jolly & Joyful" to stamp the words "wishing you", and to stamp the Scandinavian looking tree.  I then separated Timeless Twine Olive Green baker's twine into strands, using just the green, and stitched over the stamped tree image.  The word "joy" is a Lil' Inker Designs word die.

Here's a closeup of the stitched Christmas tree:

Some Cherry Red Timeless Twine wrapped around the card, and several cute bows finish off the card.  One of those cute bows is the mini bow die from Lil' Inker Designs.

Papers -- Echo Park Christmas This & That

Rhinestones -- stash

rectangle die -- Spellbinders

card base -- Close To My Heart cranberry

Would you like a chance to win a $20 gift certificate? Visit the Timeless Twine blog each day during the cross promotion and leave a comment.  You could be the winner!

Stop by both the Timeless Twine and Lil' Inker Designs blogs each day this week for tons of fun and great inspiration.  It's going to be amazing!