Enjoy Fall -- for Bugaboo Stamps

It's Saturday, and that means there is a new challenge starting today over at Catch the Bug Challenges. Every Saturday, there is a new challenge, and the last Saturday of the month (today), it is a color challenge.  

Here's what I created, with the photo provided over on the Catch the Bug Blog...

I used the image Pumpkins and Leaves on this card.  I colored Pumpkins and Leaves with Copic markers, and a couple new Spectrum Noir markers that I have (on the pumpkin). The background pumpkin paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop. It is one of the Pumpkin Delight papers.  The 'Enjoy Fall' sentiment is a die from The Scrapping Cottage. 

I hope you join us this week for our photo (color) challenge at Catch The Bug Challenges. I'd love to see what you make, and there are great prizes for you to win!

Warm Winter Fishes -- For Bugaboo Stamps

It's Friday, and at Bugaboo Stamps, that means it's Freebie Friday!  Every Friday, a new freebie can be found in the Bugaboo Stamps Store.  It will be there all week, until Friday, when ANOTHER freebie appears.  What a great system! 

Here in Wisconsin, we're crazy about a few things -- The Packers, cheese, beer, and ice fishing!  This week's freebie is perfect for anyone living in the frozen North!

Isn't he just too cute, sitting on his minnow pail?  I tell you, he'd be right at home on the chain of lakes where I live.  As soon as deer hunting ends in a couple more days, the ice fishing will really begin! 
In case you find this too late, the stamp is called AKV Winter Ice Fish.  I colored him with Copic markers. 

I used a variety of papers from We Are 3 Digital Shop on this card. The red dotted paper is from the Peppermint Collection. There's also 3 papers from the Winter Serenity Collection, and the gray paper behind the image is from the Woodland Christmas papers. 

Stop on by the Catch the Bug Blog to see the other great makes from the talented Bugaboo designers.  Tomorrow, a new challenge will start, so come back again.  Use your free image to enter!

Spinning Christmas Joy -- For Bugaboo Stamps

 It's Tuesday today, and that's New Release day at Bugaboo Stamps.  Every Tuesday, there's a new release, or occasionally a cute re-release in the Bugaboo Stamps Store. Today, there are actually 2 new releases, and both of them are adorable!

I combined both of today's AKV Ice skater's into this card:

I thought I'd jumped on the slimline bandwagon with this card, and use a new slimline die I just got.  

I colored the AKV skaters with Copic markers, computer generated the rather original sentiment, and then completed the card.  The stitched star is a die from Crafter's Companion.  The slimline die is from Tuttie Designs. 

Check out the Catch the Bug blog to see what the other designers created with these awesome skaters! 

Vintage Christmas -- for The Outlawz Paper ala Mode

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge.  In a little over a month, it will be Christmas.  Can you believe?  To help us get those Christmas cards made, the Outlawz Paper ala Mode Challenge for the next 2 weeks has the theme of Vintage Christmas.  Oh, pretty, pretty! 

Our sponsor this week, and all year long is We Are 3 Digital Shop.  There are many wonderful Christmas products to be found in the shop.  Take a look for yourself!

Using some of the fantastic vintage products in the We Are 3 Digital Shop, I created this for the challenge: 

This uses the printable, Victorian Holiday, and papers from the Victorian Christmas Collection. 

I hope you join us at The Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode for our Vintage Christmas Challenge.  It will run for 2 weeks. 

Sweet Holiday Wishes -- For Jan's Digi Stamps

 We're more than 1/2 way through November, and it's time for some mid-challenge inspiration at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge Blog.  The challenge started the first Monday of the month, and it will run until December 6.  You still have plenty of time!  JDS challenges are always anything goes.  Anything! Link up whatever you are working on!

You'll find many wonderful digital set in the Jan Mayhew store. If you're working on Christmas cards, there are some fantastic sets, including several news ones.  I used the wonderful new Holiday Sleigh to create this:

This is one of Jan's pre-colored images.  She does such a fabulous job on them.  I couldn't color them as well so it's really hard to not use the pre-colored variety that is offered. The sentiment is also from the Holiday Sleigh set. 

I hope you can join us at JDS challenges! They'll be a random gift certificate given away, one for a Jan Mayhew image, an 3 designer choice awards. 

Life is Good When You're a Princess

 It's Wednesday today, and on the Catch the Bug Blog, we are celebrating humorous holidays for Humor Me Wednesday.  Every Wednesday, we celebrate the quirky, obscure, but definitely worth making a note of days of the year!  For instance, did you know that today is Princess Day?  I for one, think I deserve to be treated like a princess everyday, but today is my day!

There are a number of princess images in the Bugaboo Stamps Store, but I found this pre-colored image that I decided to start with: AKV Princess:

I printed the pre-printed AKV Princess image, then enhanced her with Prismacolor pencils.  I cut her out with a wonky stitched die from The Scrapping Cottage.  The pretty designer papers on this card are from Crafter's Companion. 

So, what other holidays are being celebrated today?  Check out Catch the Bug to find out!

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

Send a Smile 4 Kids -- ATG

Not Just Cards-- ATG

DigiChoosday -- ATG

D.L. Art -- November Linky Party

Blue Dragonfly for Ching-Chou Kuik

 It's Monday, so it's my day to post on the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge & Inspiration Blog. This week, the inspiration team is using the theme pink &/or blue.  I decided to use both!

I found an awesome image in the Ching-Chou Kuik Etsy Shop I wanted to color up. 

Using Hello Dragonfly:

I colored Hello Dragonfly with Copic markers.  I concentrated on using pink and blue colors, with just a hint of blue violet.  

The papers on this card are by We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The pink flowered paper is one of the Darcy's Garden papers. The blueish background paper is from the Pastel Fantasy papers. Those pretty dies used to cut the papers are from Sharon Callis.  The dragonfly was cut out of foil paper and a Cheery Lynn die. 

Check out all the awesome inspiration at Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge & Inspiration Blog. 

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

Polkadoodle Challenges -- ATG

Crafter's Castle -- ATG

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

Happy Fall -- for Dies R Us Challenges

 It's the 15th of the month, so it's time for a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges. Each challenge runs for 2 weeks, and they each have a theme.  This time, the theme is "happy Fall, Y'all!"  Isn't that a fun one?!?!?  I love fall!  I love the colors, the geese passing over, the cooler temperatures, I even love what's coming next! (well, most of the time). 

In honor of Fall, and today's Dies R Us Challenge, I created this: 

I started with the circle, and built up from there.  It is one of the Fitted Circles by Elizabeth Craft. I cut the acorns out of white card stock, then inked them.  They are part of the Yvonne Creations Fabulous Fall Collections (no longer in stock).  The various leaves are also from the same set.  They are cut out of colored card stock.  

I hope you can join us for our "Happy Fall, Y'all" challenge at Dies R Us Challenges. Just use a die from a brand that is sold at Dies R Us Store, and you are good to go.  For those of you in Canada, check out the awesome Didi's Crafts Store for wonderful crafting supplies.

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

A Gem of a Challenge -- ATG

D.L. Art -- November Linky Party

Crafty Calendar-- ATG

Dragonfly Friend -- For Ching-Chou Kuik

 It's Monday, and I'm once again posting for the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge & Inspiration Blog. The challenge theme for November is Remembrance or Thanksgiving.  Join us!

This week, the Inspiration design team is using the theme Butterflies or insects or birds.  Ching-Chou Kuik has many wonderful images that fit this theme in her Etsy Shop!

I used the beautiful image, Drifting Soul to create this:

Drifting Soul is a digital download that comes with a black & white image (used here) and a partially colored image for those of you new to coloring, or just wanting a head start. 

I colored Drifting Soul with Copic markers, then inked around the edges of the stitched oval with almond ink from Close To My Heart. The stitched oval is a die from Spellbinders.  The 2 dies behind it are from Crafter's Companion.  That pretty sunflower paper is from Close To My Heart.  The sentiment is a digital sentiment from We Are 3 Digital Shop. It is one of the Itty Bitty Birthday Sentiment Set. The rhinestone bling is from my stash.

Visit the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge & Inspiration Blog often to see loads of great inspiration from the talented design team, then join in our remembrance/Thanksgiving challenge. For even more inspiration, and another challenge, visit the CCK Facebook Group. 

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

D.L. Art -- November Linky Party

TTCRD -- ATG

AUD Sentiment -- ATG with a sentiment

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

QKR Stampede -- ATG

Polkadoodles Challenge -- ATG

You Are My Sunshine -- For Bugaboo Stamps

 It's Saturday, and over on the  Catch the Bug Blog,  a new challenge starts today.  The theme for the next week is Anything Goes!  Now, that's easy!  You'll find tons of fun digis in the Bugaboo Stamps Store for this challenge, and all the Catch the Bug Challenges. 

I found this delightful image I wanted to color up for today's Anything Goes Challenge called Make It Snappy - You Are My Sunshine.  Here's what I created:

I colored Make It Snappy - You Are My Sunshine with Copic markers.  Then, I cut it out and mounted it on a piece of designer paper from We Are 3 Digital Shop. It is one of the papers in the Back to Basics Collection. 

I hope you join us this week at Catch the Bug for our Anything Goes Challenge.  We have great prizes for you to win, and I'd love to see what you make! 

Give Thanks -- For the Outlawz Paper ala Mode

 It's Saturday, and I'm giving thanks today -- for many things!  We've had a glorious week of weather with temperatures in the upper 60's (the ice even melted off the local lakes!),  I have a wonderful husband, the world's best dog, and many supportive fiends:  all things to be thankful for.   I'm also thankful for all of you that stop be my blog.  

Saturday -- the start of a new challenge at The Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode.  As always, today's challenge is sponsored by the wonder Bonnie of We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The theme for the next 2 weeks, as you have probably guessed is: Give Thanks!

Using some wonderful products from the We Are 3 Digital Shop, I created this for the challenge: 

That pretty pumpkin arrangement is called Harvest.  I used the pre-colored image here, but it also comes in a black & white image.  The papers on this card are from the Pumpkin Delights Collection. I used 3 of them on this card.  The sentiment is one of the Itty Bitty Sentiments.

I hope you join us over at the Outlawz Paper ala Mode for our Give Thanks challenge.  The Outlawz has challenges every day so there's always a challenge to play in! 

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

D.L. Art -- November Linky Challenge

Pattie's Creations -- ATG

Lemon Shortbread -- ATG

Butterfly & Fern Thank You -- for Ching-Chou Kuik

 Today is a big day for me!  I am posting for the first time on the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge and Inspiration Blog.  Yes, I made this awesome team!  I've long been a fan of Ching-Chou Kuik art, so I'm super excited about this! 

The Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge theme this month is Remembrance or Thanksgiving (thanks).  With that theme in mind, I created this:

This card uses the beautiful Butterfly & Fern  image from the Ching-Chou Kuik Etsy Store.  I don't often use watercolors, but I really enjoy it when I do.  For this card, I got out my Spectrum Noir watercolor pencils. There is also a gorgeous pre-colored version of Butterfly & Fern image available. 

I cut out and backed the image with Spellbinders dies.  The lacy butterfly die is by Cheery Lynn.  The pretty fern paper is from AMB Illustrations, and the great burlap trim was purchased at Really Reasonably Ribbon. 

Join us this month for our Remembrance/Thanksgiving Challenge at the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge and Inspiration Blog. You'll find inspiration on the blog everyday, and more great inspiration in the Ching-Chou Kuik Facebook Group. 

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

D.L. Art -- November Linky Party

A Bit More Time to Craft -- ATG

CCC Digi Creations -- ATG

Morgan's ArtWorld -- ATG

Rejoice! For JDS Challenges

 It's the first Monday of the month, and that can only mean one thing:  there's a new challenge starting at Jan's Digi Stamp's Challenges (or JDS Challenges, as we like to say!). Challenges run all month, and they are always anything goes.  We love to see anything!  Knitting, gardening (well, not this time of year in Wisconsin), quilting, scrapbooking, quilling, whatever you are working on, we'd like to see it! 

Last month, Jan Mayhew released this darling Christmas set called Caroling. For me, Christmas  is all about the music, so this set really resonates with me.  I had to create it with! 

I used one of the pre-colored images that come with the Caroling set because it's better than I could do.  The sentiment is also part of the set.  There's also black & white images, and each of the carolers are separated for you, plus various sentiments.  It's a great set!

I used papers from We Are 3 Digital Shop. These are from the Holiday Letters Collection. 

I hope you join us this month at JDS Challenges.  There are 2 gift certificates given away.  One for anyone who enters, and one for someone using a Jan's Digi Stamps image.  There are also 3 designer choice awards. 

Have you signed up for the JDS newsletter yet?  If you have, you've gotten a gift certificate for a turkey buck, worth $1off any stamp set -- even sale ones!  It would be worth it, just to get this cutie at a reduced rate!

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

12 Months of Christmas -- for the Boys

Merry Little Christmas Challenge -- ATG

QKR Stampede -- ATG

Dragonfly Dreams -- Christmas/Winter

Hello Winter -- For SheepSki Designs

 It's November 1st, and the start of a new month means the start of a new challenge at SheepSki Designs Challenge Blog. Challenges will run the whole month, all there is always a theme.  This month, the theme is Christmas &/or Sparkle.  I'm still working on Christmas cards, so I like this theme!

I used a darling image, found in the SheepSki Designs Etsy Shop, called Christmas Bunny to create this:

I colored Christmas Bunny with Copic markers.  The blue snowflake background paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  The snowbanks are made with die from Lawn Fawn, and are cut out of glitter paper, but it's difficult to see in this picture.  The Hello winter sentiment and dies are from Crafter's Companion. 

I hope you can join us this month at SheepSki Designs Challenge Blog for our Christmas &/or Sparkle Challenge.  I'd love to see what you create, and Andrea has such great digis that you could win! 

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

DigiChoosday -- ATG

Crafty Animals -- ATG with an Animal

2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a Critter

Fa La La La La -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's November 1st, and there's a new challenge that starts today over in the All Dressed Up Facebook Group.  Every month, we host a challenge there.  There is always a simple theme to follow, and images must be All Dressed Up Stamps digis.  This month, the Facebook group theme is "Feeling Christmasy".  I'm still making Christmas cards, so I like this theme! The challenge will run all month.

Here's my "Feeling Christmasy" inspiration, using one of the 3 Little Christmas Girls...

I colored the 3 Little Christmas Girl image with Copic and Spectrum Noir markers.  These rich Christmas papers are from Crafter's Companion, and I wanted to match the colors.  I generally color first, then find my papers, but I did it the other way around this time.

I  hope you join us over at the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group for the "Feeling Christmasy" challenge this month. I'd love to see your creations, and you could win some awesome digis from the All Dressed Up Etsy Shop. You'll also find many Christmas images in the shop to fit the theme!

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

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

Dragonfly Dreams -- Christmas/Winter

A Gem of a Challenge -- ATG

Festive Cheer -- for Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends

 It's November 1st, and a new challenges starts today at Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends.  The challenge will run for the month of November, and as always, it's Anything Goes! Our sponsor this challenge is Leann's World 101.  You'll find some great images in the Zibbet store!

I used the super cute Rudy image to create this: 

I colored Rudy with Copic markers, then cut him out with dies from a long defunct company, Top Dog Dies. The crinkle ribbon is from D.L. Art's Etsy Shop. 

I hope you join the Anything Goes challenge at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends.  You have all month! 

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

613 Ave. Creates -- Cute Critters

Dragonfly Dreams -- Christmas/Winter

2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a Critter

12 Months of Christmas Link Up - For the Boys

Give Thanks -- for Dies R Us Challenges

 It's the start of another month already, and the start of a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges.  The theme for the next 2 weeks is Give Thanks (thank you, Thanksgiving).  I have much to be thankful for, and I'm forever needing thank you cards (isn't that a blessing?), so I took advantage of today's theme to create this:

That pretty doily that is really the focal point of this card is by Sue Wilson.  It is the Camilla Frame & Tag.  That beautiful butterfly is by Cheery Lynn.  I have a lot of butterflies in my collection, but no one makes them like Cheery Lynn. This is one of a set of 3, called Small Exotic Butterflies #2 with angel wings.  The 'Thanks' Sentiment is part of a Greeting Set by Impression Obsession. It is one of my go-to sets. 

The Give Thanks challenge runs until Nov. 14, so you have plenty of time to enter!  Just use a die by a brand that is sold in the Dies R Us Store, and you are good to enter. If you are in Canada, check out of sister store, Didi's Crafts. 

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

D.L. Art -- November Linky Party

Dare 2 Be Artzy -- Thankful

AUD Sentiments -- ATG + a sentment