So Glad You're My Friend! -- for Dies R Us

Friendly greetings, fellow crafters!  I'm on the Dies R Us Inspiration blog today.   I have several different friends that I send cards to every week.  One of them is a gentlemen that just turned 98!  I started sending him a card a week when he turned 90.  It's turned into quite a tradition.  I need lots of friendship cards, so I enjoy making them!

Today, I have a friendship card with a spring twist to it:

The hardest part of this card was finding the papers I wanted to use.  I played with papers quite a while to find a combination I like.  Here's a picture of all the supplies.  I'll link everything at the bottom of this post.

I cut out all the die cut pieces.  What I really like about this craft die from Sue Wilson is that it can be used in either a portrait or landscape direction.

Here's all the pieces once they were die cut.  Then, it was just a matter of constructing the card.

Ready for sending, don't you think?

Dies R Us supplies used on this card:

Sue Wilson Designs - Ornate Oval - My Friend

I used a Cheery Lynn butterfly similar to this one:

Best Glue Ever

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

click below for:

STORE 

 CHALLENGE BLOG

  FACEBOOK

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

D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
QKR Stampede -- ATG
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- April Showers (bring May Flowers)

Something Shiny -- for Aloha Friday Challenges

It's Friday, and it's time for some mid-challenge inspiration on the Aloha Friday challenge blog.  Challenges run for 2 weeks, and this time the theme is "something shiny".  You can make your project look shiny, or you can use foil, glitter, or anything on your project that will add shine. 

SheepSki Designs is the sponsor this challenge.  I adore Andrea's images, and I loved the opportunity to color up, and practice my shine technique on Cherry Duo (image #74):

I colored Cherry Duo with Copic markers, and worked hard to make those 2 cherries look shiny.  I hope I succeeded!  

I found some fun papers that I thought worked well for this card at Imagine That! Digistamps.  This is the Tooty Fruity paper collection.  The fun cherry ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I followed a card sketch that I found in 'past sketches' at Sketch Saturday Challenge Blog. 

Something Shiny -- I hope this theme inspires you to join us at Aloha Fridays for the challenge.  It will go through next Thursday.  I'd love to see your creations, and you might win a prize from our awesome sponsor, SheepSki Designs! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- no twist
Jo's Scrap Shack -- ATG

Have a Sweet & Sassy Day!

Happy Thursday, everyone!  Happy Spring!  Yes, there are actual signs of spring where I live, including ice out!  This is HUGE!  People are getting the boats ready to launch all over town.  It's also time to get those rakes out to prepare the gardens and clean up the yards.  It's so nice to be outside after a long winter trapped indoors!

I made a card to enter in a couple challenges at The Outlawz.  The image is this month's progressive freebie.  She is from Oddball Art, and she is sassy!  

This is Oddball Art Sassy Big Eye Girl Sorry Sally image #205, and I am most appreciative of Lizzy Love for sponsoring The Outlawz this month!

Sorry Sally was a joy to color with Copic markers, and she seemed just sassy enough to me to need  a sassy saying to go with her.  I computer generated that sentiment. 

The blue background brick paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is from the Brick Wall paper pack.

Another challenge this month at the Outlawz, sponsored by We Are 3 Digital Shop, is the Crash Your Stash.  The challenge is to use glitter.  This is a huge challenge for me.  I do NOT like glitter!!!  It is way too messy for me!  But, I broke some out, mixed it with texture paste, and used it on a brick wall stencil.  I also used some glitter paints to add more dimension. 

Lastly on this card, I used the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch for this time to help me complete the card.  Here's the sketch:

I do believe that's a wrap for this card!  

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

Outlawz Progressive Freeebie Challenge -- April

Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- Loose Glitter

Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge -- ends April 30

D.L. Art -- April Linky Party

Oddball Stamps -- April Challenge

Hey Bird Friend! for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez

I'm posting today for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez.  Patricia draws the cutest, most whimsical art, and I love to color it up and create cards with it.  She has animals, fairies, dragons, monsters, snowmen, all kinds of adorable characters.  It's definitely worth a trip to the Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez Store to see it all. 

Today, I'm showcasing a digi image called Magpie Thief.  Magpies are black and white -- a very striking bird -- but since I'm in spring mode, and I'm waiting anxiously to see the first bluebird where I live, I colored my Magpie Thief to look more like a bluebird:

He looks like a thief, with his mask on and his bag to hold all his treasures, doesn't he?

I colored Magpie Thief with Copic markers, then used a frame die from Craftin' Desert Divas to frame him with.  I found a challenge at The Outlawz for using damask, so I used this fleur de lis, or damask paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles as a background paper.  The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp, and is an acrylic stamp.

You can find my Kinda Cute inspiration in the Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez Facebook Group and on Instagram.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Thursday Twist -- Fleur de Lis (damask)
Dare 2 Be Artsy -- Animals
Not Just Cards -- ATG
Dragonfly Dreams -- add an animal

Trotting by to say Hi... for Scribbles Designs

It's the 23rd of the month, so I'm on the Scribbles Designs Blog with some inspiration. Once a month, the 23rd is my day. 

Today, a used a darling Badger digi to create with. 

I colored the Badger digi with Copic markers, and computer generated the sentiment.  The papers on this card can also be purchased in the Scribbles Designs Store.  You can find the Puppy Power papers here.

You'll find many wonderful digis in the Scribbles Designs Store (including many free ones).  There are great challenges for you to join in on at the Scribbles Challenge Blog. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a Critter
Dragonfly Dreams -- Include an Animal
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party

Happy May! -- for Bugaboo Stamps

OK, it's not May yet, in fact we're still trying to get the snow to melt here where I live, but it's New Release Tuesday at Bugaboo Stamps, and today's new release is this May Word digi.  I colored it up, decorated it up a bit, and here's what I created:

I colored the May Word digi with Copic markers.  I used a Lawn Fawn fancy lattice background card front, a wooden "happy" from my stash, and some mulberry paper flowers I picked up at Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I think it makes a cheerful spring card.

There are a thousand different ways you could color this May Word digi. It's 1/2 price for the week, so pick yours up, color it up, and enter it in the challenges at Catch the Bug.  Win some more digis!  You'll also want to check out what the other talented designers made with this digi on the Catch the Bug Blog.  It'll give you great ideas on how to use it. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- Spring
Stamping Sensations -- April Showers Bring May Flowers
Allsorts -- Blossoms, Butterflies, Bugs

Hello, Spring! An All Dressed Up Stamps New Release

It's a day to showcase New Releases at All Dressed Up Stamps.  There are 4 new releases in the All Dressed Up Etsy Shop this month, and they are being showcased in the All Dressed Up Facebook Group today.

For my card, I am showcasing Little Butterfly Girl:

Little Butterfly Girl is looking like she is ushering in spring, isn't she?  I colored Little Butterfly Girl with Copic markers.  The card was constructed with a die from Yvonnes Creations, purchased in the Dies R Us Store.  The papers and embellishments all came in a Spellbinders Papers Arts kit I purchased. 

Check out the All Dressed Up Facebook Group to see what the other designers made with New Release images.  All check out this month's Animal-themed Challenge. Then, so some shopping in the All Dressed Up Shop, and join in the fun! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Crafty Catz  -- ATG
DigiChoosday -- ATG
QKR Stampede -- ATG
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- no twist
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Jo's Scrap Shack -- ATG

Stop & Smell the Flowers -- for Di's Digi Designs Challenges

It's Saturday, and every other Saturday, a new challenge begins on the Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog. For the next 2 weeks, the challenge theme is 'Spring Flowers'.  You will find many wonderful images, including many with spring flowers in the Di's Digistamps Shop. 

Springtime Bear seemed like the perfect digi for this challenge:

I colored Springtime Bear with Copic markers.  The papers are digital, and I found them at Pixel Scrapper.  All the embellishments were in a kit from Spellbinders Paper Arts. 

Springtime Bear --  you could win him or many other wonderful digis if you enter the spring flowers challenge this next 2 weeks at Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog.  I'd love to see what you create, so link up!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
TTCRD -- ATG
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- Anything Spring
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Polkadoodles -- Spring colors
Brown Sugar Challenge -- Spring
Outlawz Sundays Songs & Rhymes -- May Flowers 
Crafty Catz -- All Creatures Great and Small

I'm Glad You're My Friend -- For Scrapyland Challenge Blog

It's the 3rd Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time for a new challenge at Scrapyland Challenge Blog. The challenges are always Anything Goes, as long as you use a die sold in the Scrapyland Store.  There are 2 winners every challenge.  Each wins a $10 gift certificate to the Scrapyland Store!

Here's my card for this challenge, using a Sue Wilson die set:

This uses the craft dies by Sue Wilson, Ornate Oval, My Friend.  It is a 4 die set.   I was worried about the words and gluing them down, but since they are all one piece, they are very easy to work with.

Ornate Oval - My Friend

Papers used on this card are by We Are 3 Digital Shop.  I used papers from several different digital collections.  The background paper is from the Peonies Ballet paper collection.  The ornate part of the oval (teal color) is part of the Sunny Days paper collection, and the light pink circle is from the Pinkalicious papers.

Do you have a project where you used dies?  See if it's in the Scrapyland Store, then link it to the Scrapyland challenge.  You might just win a $10 gift certificate, and I'd love to see your creation! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
The Crafty Addicts -- optional pink
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge -- Die Cuts

Happiness is a Wet Nose -- for Path of Positivity

It's the 3rd Monday of the month, and that means it's time for some mid-month inspiration on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The optional theme this month is "Happiness".

Few things make me as happy as my dog, so it should come as no surprise that I went with a dog theme on my card!

I used a digital image from one of our sponsors, Limited Runs Stamps called Puppy Love:

I colored Puppy Love with Copic markers and computer generated my happiness sentiment.

I used the sketch from this month's Cheerful Sketches Challenge Blog.  Here it is:

The fun dog themed papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are the Dog Love papers. 

Happiness -- it's the optional theme this month at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  Enter a project with that theme to be eligible to win the prizes from our awesome sponsors.  Or, enter any positive themed project you'd like!  I look forward to seeing what you create! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Cheerful Sketches Challenge Blog -- April
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Blog -- anything goes with a critter
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Outlawz Festive Friday -- ATG

You're Some Bunny Special -- for Sasayaki Glitter Stamps

It's the 15th of the month, and that's Oldie but Goodie day on the Sasayaki Glitter Blog.  This month, bunnies are being featured.  Cute, cute, cute!

I used Bunny Be Mine, and colored the digital stamp with Copic markers.  The sentiment is part of an acrylic stamp set by Simon Says Stamp. The butterflies were cut out with dies by Cheery Lynn.

Papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The background daisy paper is part of the Miss Daisy paper collection.  The blue butterflies are a new April release.  It is one of the Spring Butterflies Too papers. 

I used the current sketch at The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  Here's the sketch:

I hope you have time to check out all the cute bunny projects over at the Sasayaki Glitter blog.  Then, do some shopping at the Sasayaki Glitter Etsy Shop!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge -- ends April 16
Outlawz Monday Challenge -- use an embossing folder or diet (several die cuts here)
Cute N Crafty Challenge Blog -- Easter

Happy Ewe-ster -- Stella Says Sketch

Happy Sunday to you, and Palm Sunday, if you are religious.  I am spending this morning at church on the organ bench, while the kids process and wave those palm branches.  Meanwhile, in the crafting world, Stella Says Sketch over on the Catch the Bug Challenge Blog.  I don't know about you, but I find Stella a bit intimidating.  If Stella says sketch, I sketch!

First the card, then I'll share the sketch:

This card uses Bugaboo Stamps digital image, Easter Ewe.  I colored Easter Ewe with Copic markers.

Here's the Stella Says Sketch for the next 2 weeks (April 14-27):

Papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are rom the April New Release.  The background paper is one of the Color Burst papers.  No need to create the color burst effect, just print it!  Amazingly easy!  The circles are from the Spring Butterflies collection & Spring Butterflies Too. 

The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp acrylic stamp set.  candy dots are from my stash. 

I hope you can join us at Catch the Bug Challenges the next 2 weeks for Stella Says Sketch!  There are great prizes to win, and it was a fun sketch to use.  I'd love to see what you create!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday -- Easter
AUD Sentiments -- Easter/Spring
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- no twist 
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- Anything Spring

Emilee the Elephant & Ladybug for Kitty Bee Designs

It doesn't feel too much like spring where I live, but I am hopeful!  I am posting today for Kitty Bee Designs, where it's my day for the designer spotlight.  Emilee the Elephant & Ladybug are making me think Spring is possible! 

Emilee the Elephant and Ladybug is an acrylic stamp.  It is the perfect size for making shaker cards!  It would also be a nice size for treat bags and candy bars -- small, without too much coloring.

I colored Emilee the Elephant and Ladybug with Copic markers.  Here's a close up:

You can find many cute Kitty Bee Designs in the Etsy Store in both acrylic and digi stamps.  Join us, also, for the Aloha Friday Challenges! Each challenge lasts for 2 weeks, and we have wonderful sponsors!

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

AUD Sentiments -- Easter/Spring

Creative Knockouts -- Spring is on the Way

Outlawz Monday Greetings -- Spring is in the Air

Outlawz Saturday ala Mode -- Spring

2 Craft Critter Crazies Blog -- Anything Goes with a Critter

Flower Vase of Sympathy -- for Bugaboo Stamps

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for a new challenge at Catch the Bug Challenges.  This week's theme is "Back to Nature".  That can be interpreted many different ways, and there are lots and lots of digis that would be great for this theme at the Bugaboo Stamps Store!

I attended 3 funeral/memorial services last week.  One was an elderly lady from my church who I had known for years.  One was one of my best friend's mothers, and one was one of my best friends.  It was a rough week.  I also spent time during the week making sympathy cards for each service. This is what I created for one of them, using Flower Butterfly Vase:

I colored Flower Butterfly Vase with Copic markers.  The papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The violet flower background paper is one of the Spring Flowers Collection.  The butterfly paper behind the sentiment is a new April release.  It is one of many beautiful butterfly papers from the Spring Butterflies Collection.

Ready to enter the challenge at Catch the Bug? You have all week for the 'Back to Nature' theme!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
TTCRD -- ATG
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Polkadoodle -- ATG
Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes -- Flowers that Bloom in May

Dandelion Jar -- for Colour Crazy Challenge

I've long admired the talent on the Colour Crazy Challenge team, so when I saw they were having a DT call, and the requirements were once a month posting, I decided to go for it.  Well, here I am, with my first official post for the Colour Crazy Challenge!  Woohoo!  Challenges are every week, so you can enter often!  Challenges are Anything Goes, and you can use any coloring medium you want, on any project, in any colors.  Lots of possibilities!

Our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies.  I love the art of Tammy Thompson, so this was an absolute joy for me to color!  

I used my favorite coloring medium -- Copic markers, then inked around the edges of the oval die cut with Tim Holtz distress inks. 

The background paper on this card is a new release from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is one of the Color Burst papers.  I didn't need to create the background -- just print it.  Easy peasy!  The card shape was cut out on my Silhouette Cameo 3 with a file from Pretty Paper Pretty Ribbons.  The ribbon on this card is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. 

The Colour Crazy Challenge -- link up your colored projects -- I'd love to see what you create, and there are great prizes you can win!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Jo's Scrap Shack -- ATG
TTCRD -- ATG
Outlawz Saturday ala Mode -- non-rectangle shaped cards

Just Scurrying By.... for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez

Hello, fellow stamp lovers!  I have an adorable little mouse to share with you today.  I'm often afraid of white space on my cards, so I made myself leave a bunch of it on this one!

This adorable mouse is from Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez:

This mouse is part of a set of 3.  It is called simply, Mice Set.  I used the digital version, but there is also an acrylic version with some sentiments that are available in either Spanish or English. 

I colored one of the mice in the Mice Set with Copic markers, then computer generated the sentiment.  

Papers on this card are from Close To My Heart.

Have you checked out all the wonderful stamps, digital papers, cards, and other things in the Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez Store?  It is certainly worth spending some time in! There's a newsletter to sign up for, with a discount code in it, too!  Then, check out the Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez Facebook Group for a monthly challenge, more inspiration, friendship, and fun! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Digichoosday -- ATG
QKR Stampede -- ATG
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- favorite product or technique (love this diagonal look)

Tulip Square Spring Card -- for Dies R Us

Spring greetings, fellow crafters!  I'm on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog today. Signs of spring are showing up where I live -- the birds are returning, the snow is melting, and there are some buds on trees.  It won't be long and there will be springtime flowers.  Those flowers were the inspiration behind today's card:

I began this card by making the basketweave background with a stencil.  I picked up the stencil from the Dies R Us Store on one of the special purchases weekends.  Look for these special products in the newsletters and emails, and in the Special Order section of the store.

I used Washi tape to adhere the stencil to the card stock, then used 3 shades of similar inks on the stencil so they would blend nicely. 

Below, the stencil has been removed from the paper.  Inking is complete.

In the picture below, I trimmed away the portions of the card stock I didn't want, getting it ready for the card base.  I also included a photo of the brush I used for inking:

The next step was die cutting the tulip.  I cut it multiple times to get all the colors I needed. Here's a photo of all the supplies and the tulip with the die cuts.

Once that was done, then all I needed to do was use the Best Glue Ever to glue all the pieces together to construct the card.  I left it without a sentiment, not being sure whether I'd use it for a spring card, an Easter card, a get well card -- who knows?  It's appropriate for many occasions, don't you think?

Dies R Us supplies used on this card:

Creative Expressions Tulip Flower Square

by Sue Wilson

Best Glue Ever

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

click below for:

STORE 

 CHALLENGE BLOG

  FACEBOOK

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

D.L. Art -- April Linky Party

Outlawz Festive Fridays -- ATG

Polkadoodles -- ATG

Lemon Shortbread -- ATG
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- Anything Spring

Rejoice! for Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog

It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog.  This time, the theme is add or show texture.  Yikes!  This one was a bit tough for me!  

Picking out a fun image to color from the Di's Digistamp Store -- now, that was easy!

I made this card using the darling Bunny & Bow (black & white version):

I colored Bunny & Bow with Copic markers.  To add the texture to the card, I ran the bubblegum card stock through a floral embossing folder.  

I like shaped cards, so I made this one round using various circle dies.  Since the rabbit looked very Easter-like to me, I stamped the 'Rejoice' sentiment so I can use it as an Easter card.  The green ribbon that finishes off the card is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Add or show texture -- that your challenge for the next 2 weeks at Di's Digi Designs Challenges.  I hope you can join us!  You'll find many wonderful images to use in the Di's DigiStamps Store. 

I've found the following challenge to enter this card in:
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- non-rectangle cards
Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge -- Spring
Alphabet Challenge -- 'A' is for Animal
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge -- ATG with a Critter
Not Just Cards -- ATG
AUD Sentiment -- Easter/Spring Sentiment
Cut It Up -- Bonnie or Baskets
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday -- ATG Spring

You Are Egg-ceptional -- for Bugaboo Stamps

It's Friday! That's Fri-yay!  Today, being Friday, means there's a freebie for you in the Bugaboo Stamps Store.  I truly adore all of Jodie's digis, but some of them just really make me giggle.  Today's freebie is one of those images that made me smile the whole time I "worked" with it.  It is so much fun!

This is Skinny Bird Easter, and he's free for this week!

How cute it THAT?!?  I colored Skinny Bird Easter with Copic markers, and like many of Jodie's images, I didn't spend hours coloring it.  It was pure fun to color up Skinny Bird Easter.

This week at Sketch Saturday, you can pick any past sketch to work with.  This is the sketch I chose:

Papers on this card were found at Pixel Scrapper, searching Easter papers.  The flowers are mulberry, so I'm going to enter this in the Crash Your Stash at the Outlawz, where this month the challenge is to use mulberry paper.

Grab the Friday Freebie at Bugaboo Stamps,  then hop over to the Catch the Bug blog to see what the other talented designers have made with this delightful freebie!  There will be a new challenge tomorrow.  Color it up and enter it! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday -- using Sketch from week #321
Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- mulberry paper
Alphabet Challenge -- 'A' is for animal
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party