Mouse Ahoy! for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The challenge runs for the next 2 weeks.  The theme of the challenge is Summer Fun (include a sun or water or both on your project).  You don't have to use a Di's Digistamps image, but we sure do like to see them when you do. 

I used both a sun and water on my challenge card, and an absolutely darling Di's Digistamps image called Dreamboat Mice.  This is the black & white version.  There is also a pre-colored version. 

I colored Dreamboat Mice with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then fussy cut the image.  The water was created using 2 dies.  One was part of a rainbow die from Taylored Expressions.  The other was a die from Close To My Heart (retired).  The sun die is from Spellbinders Paper Arts.  The sentiment is from Colorado Stamp Company. 

I hope you can join us these next two weeks for our Summer Fun challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges. I'd love to see what you create!

Strawberry Season -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello, fellow crafters, and welcome to August!  A new month means a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group. The challenge starts today and runs all month.  It has the theme of 'Favorite time of the year'.  You must use an All Dressed Up Stamps image to enter. 

I love strawberries and strawberry season!  It's a short season but we make the most of it here in NW WI where I live.  There was numerous places to pick your own berries, various strawberry stands to buy them by the bucket, and a good share of strawberry festivals install towns around here.  We love our berries!  In honoring this special time of year, I colored up and designed with the very cute image, Strawberry Season: 

I colored Strawberry Season with Copic markers, then using nesting oval dies by Hero arts to cut out the image and back her.  The designer strawberry papers are by AMB Illustrations.  Aren't they perfect for this card?  I decided to go 'old school' and add a little ribbon to this.  It's been so long, I forgot where my ribbon was! The 'sweet' sentiment is part of a new set I got from Concord & 9th. 

I hope you can join us this month at All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group for our Favorite Time of Year challenge.  I'd love to see your creations! 

Beach Time -- A New Release for All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's the 22nd of the month, and it's my turn to showcase some New Release inspiration for All Dressed Up Stamps.  Every month, Wendy Burns releases 3 new images for our enjoyment.  This month's are all fantastic, of course, but Beach Time is perfect for July and the hot weather we've been having.  It's 90 here today with heat warnings to limit your time outdoors. 

I colored Beach Time with Copic markers.  I found the sentiment in a mermaid set from Newton's Nook.  The seashells and starfish are from a die set by Honey Bee Stamps. The designer background paper is digital and is by AMB Illustrations. 

Check out the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group to see the other new release inspiration and the All Dressed Up Stamps blog for even more great makes! 

Prickly Hedgy -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 It's Saturday, and it's time for another 2-week challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  For the next 2 weeks, our theme is: Christmas is July.  I should start on my Christmas cards, how about you?  Here's a good excuse to do it!

I colored up the super cute Prickly Hedgy image for today's challenge.  You'll find it available in both a black & white version and a pre-colored version.  I chose the black & white so I could color him with Copic markers. 

After I got Prickly Hedgy colored up, I cut it out and backed it with some torn edge circle dies from my stash. The designer papers are also some really old Christmas papers I've had for many years.  The sentiment is from Taylored expressions.  The leaves and berries dies are from an old set I've had.  (I searched all the old stuff for this card, lol!)

And, there is it, my first Christmas card of 2025. I hope you are inspired to make one of your own and join our challenge this week.  I'd love to see what you create!

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

Passion for Markers -- Flowers

Use Stash Items -- a New Challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges

 It's Saturday, and that means a challenge is underway at Dis Digistamps Challenges. The challenge will run for the next two weeks.  Use a Di's Digistamps image and increase your chances of winning awesome prizes!! She has so many great ones in her Etsy Shop! The theme for the next 2 weeks is 'use stash items'.  Most of us have been crafting long enough we have a serious amount of items in our stash!  This should be an easy challenge!

Di has some new Fairies in her shop, and I decided to use one of those for this challenge.  I chose 'Sleeping Moon Fairy'.  It comes in both black & white and pre-colored, but I chose the black and white version, so I could color it. I also thought it would be fun to make it into a rocking card: 

I colored Sleeping Moon Fairy  with Copic markers, a long-time stash item for me.  Then, I fussy cut her out using my favorite detail scissors from Close To My Heart that I've had for years (so, another stash item).  The circle die she is mounted on is from Hero Arts.  I have many of their nesting dies in my stash and use them all the time. Some of the first dies I ever bought were from Spellbinders.  I thought it only right that I use a Spellbinders die on this project, so the scalloped circle die is from that company.  The sentiment is from one of my favorite companies, Taylored Expressions.  I stamped it, then used the coordinating die to cut it out several times. 

That's my card for the 'Use Stash Items' challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges. Please join us!  I'd love to see your creations! 

Little Ladybird -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 July -- a new month, and a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group.  The theme this month is "We Have Wings". The challenge starts today and goes all month.  Enter as many times as you'd like, as long as you use an All Dressed Up Stamps image. 

I have colored up a lot of All Dressed Up Stamps images through the years.  When I can, I try to find something new to challenge myself with.  I found this darling Little Ladybird image and thought, why haven't I ever colored this before? It's been around so long, I had to have Wendy put it back in the shop. But, it sure is sweet!

I colored Little Ladybird with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  I used some oblong oval dies from Taylored Expressions tout out the Little Ladybird image, back her, and create the shaped card base. Everything else I used to create the card is from Pink & Main:  the cute designer daisy and ladybug paper, the ladybug die cut, the sentiment and the banner it's stamped on, and the little clay ladybugs I glued on here and there on the image and sentiment.

I hope you join us this month for our All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook challenge.  There's also another challenge on the ADU Challenge Blog.  I'd love to see your creations!  

Little Captain -- A New Release at All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's never too early to start teaching children respect, right?  That's what I thought of when I saw this new image from Wendy Burns at All Dressed Up Stamps.  It's one of 3 new releases this month, available in the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop. 

Here's my take on Little Captain: 

I think this would be a darling "Just like Dad" image for Father's Day, too.

I colored Little Captain with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  I desperately need to spend a day refilling my Copics, so I fill in with Olo markers where I need to.  

The designer papers are old, old, old.  I remembered I had some patriotic papers from long ago.  The company is Authentique.  Are they still around?  They are from my scrapbooking days.   I cut them out with some stitched dies from Taylored Expressions. The stitched star dies are from Pink & Main. 

You can see more great inspiration from all three cute releases in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group and on the All Dressed Up Challenge blog.  Check it out.  You'll be glad you did! 

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

A Perfect Time to Craft -- ATG

Crafter's Cafe -- Masculine

Send a Smile For Kids --Summer Fun cards 4 Kids

Avenue 613 -- For the Guys

Prickly Friend -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Hello, and happy Saturday!  It's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps challenges. The theme for the next 2 weeks is, Show Us Something New (anything new to you). Di has the cutest digis, and although you can enter the challenge without using one of her images, why not look around the store and choose something to treat yourself?  She has both black & white and pre-colored images. 

For the current Show Us Something New challenge, I used the Daisy Hedgy B & W image. 

I colored Daisy Hedgy using mostly Copics, and just a couple Olos on the flower petal. Then, I fussy cut the image out.

To try something new, I placed some stripes of double sided sticky tape on my card panel.  The, I applied foil and ran it through my Mini Minc using no heat.  Just the pressure allowed it to stick to the tape.  I didn't think it would work, but it did!  Woot, woot! 

The sentiment is from a clear sentiment set I often reach for.  It is from Tailored Expressions.  It has dies to cut them out, but this time, I just stamped directly on the card base.  I then attached the base to a mini slim card front that I created. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our Show Us Something New challenge.  I'd love to see what you are trying new.  We can learn from each other.

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

Passion for Markers -- Animals

Creative Fingers -- ATG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG

Wishing You a Day of Calm -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Wake up. Take bath.  Read a book.  Stay calm.  Now, that's my idea of the perfect day!  I cannot remember the last time I did it, but I can always dream!  

A new challenge starts today at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The challenge will run for two weeks, and the theme is 'Animals acting like humans'. Many of us have stamps that fit that category, and Di has a store full of darling images of animals doing human-like things!  Take a look, pick something out, color it up, (or buy pre-colored) and join the challenge. I used Teacup Mouse for my challenge card:

I colored Teacup Mouse using both Olo and Copic markers.  That scene is so sweet, it makes me giggle! I found the sentiment in a set of Spellbinders clear stamps.  Lucky for me it had a backer to cut it out.  The paper behind the sentiment and the scalloped paper are from Pink & Main.  All the other card stock is from Taylored Expressions.  The bubble-like gems are from Concord & 9th. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks.  I would love to see your take on 'Animals acting like humans"!

Wake Up. Hug Dog. Have a Good Day. For All Dressed Up Stamps

 Happy June, blog readers!  Thanks for stopping by!  It's the first of the month, so it's time for a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group. The theme for the month of June is 'My Favorite Things'.  You don't have to know me too well to know that my card will have something to do with dogs.  They will always be among my most favorite things!  Paws down!

Using one of the images in the Dogs in Shades set, I created my card for this month's challenge: 

There is is!  One of the Dogs in Shades images, blown up quite large, colored with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then fussy cut. 

I don't know where I got this paws stencil, but I love it and use it often.  What could be better than a rainbow of paw prints dancing across the page?  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions, and is part of a whole set of fun dog expressions.  You can never have too many dog sentiments when most of your friends are as dog obsessed as you are. 

Here's the reason I'm so dog obsessed.  This is my sweet boy, Winter.  He will be 7 soon, and is the best boy, ever! I am with him most of my waking moments.  He is truly my favorite thing!

I hope you can join our Favorite Things challenge at All Dressed Up Facebook Challenges this month. I'd love to see what your favorite things are!

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

Passion for Markers -- 4-Legged Friends

Allsorts Birthday Challenge (Congrats!) -- ATG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG

We Love To Create -- AT Mixed Media Goes 

Hold On! for The Paper Shelter

 Hold on!  It's almost the end of May, can you believe it?!? The month's are marching by!

A new challenge starts today at The Paper Shelter.  Challenges start every Wednesday, running for a week.  Each week, there is an optional theme.  This week, the optional theme is Enjoy the Outdoors. There is no place I'd rather be than outdoors with my husband and my dog, so this was an easy theme for me! You can always choose to enter our challenges with an anything goes theme.  Your choice!

I found a darling image that I thought would be great for spring.  It was a super windy day the day I colored the image and created the card, and I thought the sentiment was perfect for a "hold on to your hats" kind of spring day:

The image is called Ducklings.  I colored Ducklings with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then proceeded to make it into a mini slim card (3.5x6).  The sentiment is by Colorado Stamp Company.  The clouds and sun are from Spellbinders, and the mini slim die was from Taylored Expressions. 

Here's a graphic of our prizes for the challenge.  Use one of our images  You could win big!

I hope you can join us this week for our Great Outdoors  or anything goes challenge.  I'd love to see what you create!

Small Things, Great Love -- For Di's Digistamps

 Hi, and thanks for stopping by!  It's Saturday, and time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges. The challenge runs for 2 weeks with the theme of Sentimentally Yours (use a sentiment).  Now, that's an easy theme!  Use a Di's Digistamps image and increase your odds of winning a great prize.  She has such great ones in her Etsy shop and she's always adding new ones, too. Plus, they are often on sale!

For this Sentimentally Yours challenge, I used the darling Daisy Mouse image:

I colored Daisy Mouse with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  I am smitten with how sweet this image is!  I used arched nesting dies by Hero Arts to cut out the image and back it.  The backing paper and the dotted background paper are both by Pink & Main.  The sentiment and die used to cut it out are by Taylored Expressions.  The sequins I used to finish off the card are by Nuvo. 

I hope you can join us these next two weeks at Di's Digistamps challenges for our Sentimentally Yours challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

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

CRAFT challenge -- ATG

Craft Rocket Challenge -- Flowers

Elliebelle's Garden Party -- Anything in or around the garden

Crafty Catz -- ATG

Cut it Up -- At least one die cut (has 3)

Passion for Markers -- ATG (special anniversary challenge)

You're a Fin-tastic Friend -- for The Paper Shelter

 Hello!  Thanks for visiting my blog today!  Wednesdays always start a new challenge on The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog. Themes are optional now.  You can always enter as an Anything Goes, if you prefer.  This week's optional theme is Mermaid.  There are some great mermaid coloring pages and book in The Paper Shelter Store. I found a single mermaid coloring page that I knew I just had to color! It's called Mermaid's Melody:

I colored Mermaid's Melody with Copic markers, then fussy cut her out.  I found the background stamp at Taylored Expressions and I thought it would work perfectly.  It is a split stamp.  Part of it stamps the water, then the other part stamps the sand.  They blend together seamlessly.  It's very clever!  The sentiment is from a Lawn Fawn stamp set. 

I don't often color mermaids or ocean themes, living in land locked Wisconsin, but I really enjoyed this project.  I hope you can join us this week at The Paper Shelter.  I'd love to see your mermaid project, too!  Or, anything else you care to enter!

The above graphic explains the prize structure.  Use a Paper Shelter image.  The prizes are way better if you do! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Winter Squirrel -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Here it is!  My first Christmas card of 2025!  And, I'll barely get them all done before I need to send them out, no matter when I start.  It's just how it works, lol.

There's a new challenge starting today at Di's Digistamps challenges.  The theme is 'Make it Male'.  I found this awesome image in the Di's Digistamps Store that fits the 'Male' theme and also can be a Christmas as image, so, here I am, fa la la la-ing along in the middle of May. The challenge starts today, and runs for the next 2 weeks, and while we'd like to see a 'male' theme, and a Di's Digistamps image, we're really pretty happy to comment on anything you'd like to enter. 

Here's Winter Snowy Squirrel for my entry: 

Winter Snowy Squirrel is a pre-colored image so it was the easiest card I've made it a long time.  I printed it to an A2 size, then used a frame that was a bit smaller to highlight it a bit.  I stamped a Christmas sentiment, and I was done. The frame and sentiment are by Taylored Expressions.  

I hope you can enter our 'Make it Male' challenge this next 2 weeks.  I'd love to see how you interpret it!

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

Creative Inspirations -- ATG

Crafty Chicks - Christmas

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

Festival Boy

 It's May, and that means a new challenge is starting in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group challenge.  The theme this month is "Boy Time", and you must use an All Dressed Up image to enter. 

Boy Time -- I found a darling image for this theme!  And, it fits me and my love of music to a tee!  Here's Festival Boy: 

I colored Festival Boy with Copic markers. I think the boy and his dog, along with his guitar is just so heart warming!  It tells a story! 

I used dies by Spellbinders to cut out the image and back it.  The paper with musical symbols on it is by AMB Illustrations.   I thought the sentiment fit the image so well.  It is from Taylored Expressions.  The sticky back pearls are from Pink & Main. 

Thank you for visiting my blog today.  I hope you can join our "Boy Time" challenge this month in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group. I'd love to see what you make!

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

AS You Like it Challenges -- soft or bold (I've always liked soft, almost a watercolor look when I color)

Creative Inspirations Challenge -- ATG

DigiChoosday - ATG

Green Apples Cutie -- for The Paper Shelter

 Hello, and welcome to my blog!  I can't believe we're at the last day of the month already.  Woosh!  Another month has flown by!

A new challenge starts today at The Paper Shelter Challenges. The challenge will run for 1 week and has the optional theme of "cuties".  Since almost all the TPS images are cute, this should be easy to stick to this theme. But, you can always enter ATG. 

For my card this week, using the cutie theme, I've chosen the Green Apples digital stamp.

 I color her using Copic markers,  then used a set of Spellbinders Oval dies to cut her out and back her.  The papers are digital, from AMB Illustrations.  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions. It's a new one to me and I really like the font. 

I hope you can join us this week.  I'd love to see what you create, and the TPS prizes are so wonderful! Here's a graphic of the prizes: 

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

Crafty Gals Corner -- Anything you think is Adorable

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG

Have a Sweet Birthday -- for Di's Digistamps

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The challenge will run for 2 weeks, and the theme is 'Birthdays'.  You are not required to use a Di's image, but the prize is greater if you do.

Di has fantastic creatures doing all kinds of human-like things, but this time, I decided to use one of her cute humans.  Here's the black & white version of Wendy's Cupcakes.  There's also a pre-colored version for making for quick and easy cards!

I colored Wendy and her outfit with Copic markers.  For the cupcakes, I switched to Olo markers.  I liked the bright colors I found.   The hexagon die and die that cut the hatchings is and both from Taylored Expressions. The sentiment is also from there.  The papers are old ones from Crafter's Companion.  The flat backed sequins are from my stash. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our birthday challenge.  We always need birthday cards!  Here's your chance! 

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

Crafty Calendar Challenge -- Feminine

Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers -- ATG with Patterned Paper

Polkadoodles -- ATG

Creative Knockouts -- 2 or More Patterned Papers

Little Pirate -- a New Release at All Dressed Up Stamps

 Don't you just love a good new release?  There's something very exciting about it. This month, at All Dressed Up Stamps, there are 3 wonderful new release images.  I had toe great fun of designing with Little Pirate. 

I colored Little Pirate with Copic markers, then fussy cut it out.  There is lots of detail with this image, and great possibilities if you like to build scenes.  

I found the sentiment at Taylored Expressions and thought it was rather fitting for the little pirate and his dog sailing the big seas. I made the high seas by using a die called Rainbow Bright, also from Taylored Expressions. 

There will be new release inspiration on the All Dressed Up Stamps Challenge blog today and also in the ADU FB group. Check it out, please!

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

A Cut Above: ATG

Dream Valley Challenges -- Our 4-legged Friends

Dragonfly Dreams -- Animals

Hoppy Easter -- For The Paper Shelter

 Happy Easter, everyone! Whenever Easter is late, like it is this year, I expect the weather to be warm and spring-like.  We've had a few nice days here in NW Wisconsin, where I live, but plenty of cold, windy days, too. At least the snow has melted and the ice has left the lakes.

A new challenge starts to day at The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog.  The optional theme is "Pastel", or you can enter with Anything Goes. The challenge runs for a week.

I wanted to make one last Easter card for this challenge.  I found this beautiful bunny in a basket in The Paper Shelter's Easter Bunny's Digital Coloring Book. There are 30 pages in this book, worth they are an incredible value!

I colored the greyscale image with Copic markers, using some pastel colors I hardly ever use.  

I kept the card simple, wanting to showcase the beautiful Bunny in a Basket image. 

Here's a graphic of the prize structure at The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog.

I hope to see your beautiful pastel images this week!

Bunny Love -- For Di's Digistamps Challenges

It's Saturday, and time for another challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The challenge will run for 2 weeks, and has the them, "load on flowers". A Di's Digistamps image isn't required, but the prize is better if you use one!

I colored up the darling image, Bunny Love for the Load on Flowers challenge:

I colored Bunny Love with Copic markers, then used 2 sizes of Spellbinders oval dies to cut it out and back it.  The sentiment is from Pink & Main.  The purple gems are from Taylored Expressions. 

I hope you can join us at Di's Digistamps Challenges for the Load on Flowers challenge.  It's the perfect time to color up one of Di's delightful images.  Or, use a recolored one and make it really easy on yourself!

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

As you like it -- Floral

CRAFT Challenge -- Easter

Graft Gals Corner -- Adorable (this bunny)

Easter Prank -- for The Paper Shelter

 Hello, my crafty friends!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I'm posting for The Paper Shelter.  We are starting a new challenge today, with a theme of 'Something Funny', with an optional Anything Goes.  The challenge will last for a week. There are many humorous images in The Paper Shelter store. Pick one out, color it up, and play along with the theme. I used the hilarious image, Easter Prank for today's inspiration: 

I started with a black & white image of Easter Prank and colored it with Copic markers.  I used a set of mini slim dies from Taylored Expressions to cut out the image, back it, and make the card front.  The Easter egg paper is a digital paper from AMB Illustrations.  The stamped sentiment and the stamped Easter egg embellishments are from an Easter set from Pink & Main. 

I hope you can join us this week for our optional 'something funny' challenge.  Or, you can always enter as an ATG.  I'd love to see what you create! 

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

Classic Design Challenge -- optional bunnies

Crafty Animals --- ATG

Daisy Chain Challenges -- Animals

Thanks a Bunch -- For All Dressed Up Stamps

A new month, a new challenge!  It's April, and time for a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group.  The challenge starts today and runs the whole month of April.  The theme is 'We love flowers'. An All Dressed Up Stamps image is required. 

For my DT inspiration using flowers, I colored up the lovely Thanks a Bunch image: 

I colored Thanks a Bunch with Olo markers.  I inked the edges of the stitched panel with a soft blue ink. I cut out the postage stamp panel with a die from my stash.  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions. 

I hope you can join us this month for our 'We love flowers' challenge.  I'd love to see what you create!

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

Passion for Markers -- Anything but birthdays

A Perfect Time to Craft -- ATG

Bunny Daffodil -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Here we are at the end of March, and Easter is less than a month away.  Today is also the start of a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The theme for the next 2 weeks is '2 or more patterned papers'.  I used 3 on my card, and the digital black & white image, Bunny Daffodil:

I colored Bunny Daffodil with Copic markers, then used decorative oval dies by Spellbinders Paper Arts to cut it out and back it.  The patterned papers are digital.  They are a set of papers by AMB Illustrations called Easter Chicks papers.  I used a set of dies from Taylored Expressions to make the card base. The sentiment, backer die, and gems are all by Pink & Main. 

I hope you enjoyed your visit today.  I loved having you stop by!  Join in the Di's Digistamps challenge these next 2 weeks, using the theme, 2 or more patterned papers.  I'd love to see what you create!