A Cheerful Snowman -- for The Paper Shelter

 Hello, crafty friends!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Shelter.  This is our Christmas Break challenge.  It will run for a month to give the design team a little break.

I used one of my favorite winter images from The Paper Shelter -- A Cheerful Snowman -- 

I colored A Cheerful Snowman with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  The wonky stitched oval dies that I used tout out and back the image have been in my stash for a long time and no longer have an identifying label on them.  The snowflakes were cut out with glitter card byAltenew.  I used a combination of snowflake dies by Cheery Lynn and Lawn Fawn.  The sentiment is by Hero Arts, cut out with a die from Pink & Main. 

I hope you can join us this next month at The Paper Shelter.  The above graphic explains the rules of the challenge and the prizes you could win.

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

The Holly and Ivy Challenge -- AT Christmas Goes

AUD Sentiment -- Christmas or Winter

A Cut Above -- ATG

DigiChoosday -- ATG

Passion for Markers -- ATG

My Good Boy -- for The Paper Shelter

 Hello, crafty friends.  Thanks for visiting my blog today!

A new challenge starts today on The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog.  The challenge will last for a week, and has the theme of '3 of something'.  The Paper Shelter has so many darling images and coloring pages.  Grab one, color it up, and join us! 

For my card for this challenge, I colored up the image, My Good Boy. I used the black & white .png stamp to create this: 

I used 3 circles and 3 die cut dog bones to meet the criteria for the challenge theme. 

I colored the image with Copic markers, used a set of circle dies from Hero Arts to cut out the circles.  The designer paper is from Newton's Nook.  The dog bone dies are from Cheery Lynn.  The sentiment is a stamp and die set from Taylored Expressions. 

I hope you can join us this week At The Paper Shelter for our '3 of something' challenge.  I'd love to see what you crate! 

Butterfly Hairdo -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

  Hello, and happy June!  Thanks for visiting my blog.

June first starts a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group. The theme for June is 'wings/tails/paws'. This does include fairies. There are many, many ADU images that fit this theme.  You will find them in the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop. 

My card for the challenge uses the digital stamp, 'Butterfly Hair'. 

I colored Butterfly Hair with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.

I designed the card using dies from Memory Box to cut out the image and back her.  The papers on this card are from Crafter's Companion.  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions.  The butterfly die cuts are from Cheery Lynn, with foil paper from Anna Griffin. 

I hope you can enter the ADU FB challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

Let's Have S'more Christmas --for The Paper Shelter

 It's Wednesday, and the Paper Shelter Challenge Blog is starting a new challenge today.  Both teams are joining in on this one, as it's the last one of the year.  It's also an Anything Goes Challenge, as we know how busy everyone is. So, link up whatever you're creating.  If it uses a Paper Shelter image and you win the challenge, you win a $30 gift certificate to the Paper Shelter Store.  Wow! This challenge will run for 4 weeks. 

I made one more Christmas card for today's challenge.  It's already been mailed out.  Here in NW Wisconsin where I live, bonfires are very popular, and in turn, so are roasting s'mores over those fires, so this Christmas card was perfect for some friends we've done some camping/kayaking with through the years...

This card uses A Marshmallow for the Christmas Elf. In comes in the black & white version, that I used here, a pre-colored version, and some papers also.  

I colored A Marshmallow for the Christmas Elf with Copic markers and Spectrum Noir markers.

All the papers on this card are from Crafter's Companion.  The sentiment is a die cut from Spellbinders Paper Arts.   The snowflakes are dies by Lawn Fawn and Cheery Lynn. 

Please join us at The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog for our Anything Goes Challenge. You have until January 11.

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

Passion for Markers -- Mega Christmas Challenge, ATG

DigiChoosday -- ATG

Morgan's Artworld -- ATG

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG

QKR Stampede -- ATG

12 Months of Christmas -- ATG

Golden Fall -- For Ching Chou Kuik

It's Tuesday, and this is the day that I am fortunate enough to be able to post for the Ching Chou Kuik Inspiration & Challenge Blog. A new challenge is just getting underway, lasting the month of October.  The theme is Boo-tiful Halloween or pumpkins or Halloween colors. 

Speaking of Boo-tiful.  I  used the awesome Golden Fall digital image for my inspirational card:

I colored Golden Fall with Copic markers, then fuzzy cut her out. The doily behind her is a die by Cheery Lynn. The pumpkin is a die by Yvonne Creations.

That pretty strip of pumpkin paper is by We Are 3 Digital Shop. It is one of the Pumpkin Delight papers.

Check the Ching-Chou Kuik Inspiration & Challenge blog often for great motivation and talent, and of course, the challenge.  There's another challenge in the Facebook Group. 

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

D.L. Art -- October Linky Party

A Bit More Time To Craft -- ATG

Challenge Up Your Life -- Pumpkins

Classic Design Challenge -- ATG

A Bit More Time to Craft Extra -- ATG

Rudolf's Little Helper -- for SheepSki Designs

 It's July 1, and it's time for a new challenge at SheepSki Designs Challenge Blog.  The theme this month is Celebrations.  You can take that any direction you want -- birthdays, anniversary,  wedding, and you'll find many wonderful image for lots of celebrations in the SheepSki Designs Etsy Shop.

Celebrations -- I went with Christmas because it's time for me to get going on Christmas cards, and I've been wanting to color up this darling digital image, Rudolf's Little Helper...

Aren't they adorable together?  I think this is really going to make someone smile when they get this Christmas card!! I know I'd like to receive it! Those noses!!

Rudolf's Little Helper is colored with Copic markers.  Those fantastic papers are by We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are part of the Winter Digital Paper Collection.

The snowflakes are dies by Lawn Fawn and Cheery Lynn.  The layers of snow are made with dies by Lawn Fawn.

Join us this month at SheepSki Designs Challenges.  I'd love to see your Celebrations themed project, and we have wonderful digis you can win -- like this one! 

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

2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a critter

Crafty Animals challenge -- ATG with an animal

Worldwide Open Design Team Challenge -- ATG

Classic Design Team Challenge -- ATG

12 Months of Christmas Link Up -- Christmas in July

Enjoy the Little Things -- for Cute Card Thursday

 It's Thursday, and every Thursday, a new challenge begins at Cute Card Thursday.  Some weeks there is a theme, but this week, it is Anything Goes!  Yes, everyone's favorite -- Anything Goes! The challenge starts today, and goes all week.

This week's challenge is sponsored by Whimsy Stamps. I had the joy of coloring up the delightful digi, Travel At Your Own Pace. I used it to create this:

I colored Travel At Your own Pace with Copic markers, then used a wonky stitched die by The Scrapping Cottage to cut it out. 

The papers on this card are by AMB Illustrations.  The paw print die cut is by Cheery Lynn, and was purchased at the Dies R Us Store. 

I hope you can join us this week at Cute Card Thursday, and a big thank you to Whimsy Stamps for sponsoring us! 

D.L. Art -- May Linky Party

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a critter

Crafty Animals -- ATG with an animal

Colour Crazy -- ATG with a hand colored image

Happy Christmas -- for Ching Chou Kuik Digital Stamps

 It's Monday,  and it's my day to post on the Ching-Chou Kuik Inspiration & Challenge Blog.  The theme this month is Happy Christmas or Happy Birthday.  I'm done with Christmas cards, but there's always next year, right? 

I used the adorable Aurora Woods to create this:

I colored Aurora Woods with Copic markers, then cut her out with a stitched oval die from my stash. 

The pretty background dies are from Anna Griffin, the Happy Christmas sentiment is from Crafter's Companion, and the snowflakes dies are from Cheery Lynn and Lawn Fawn. 

I hope you join the "Happy" (Christmas or Birthday) challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik this month.  You'll find another challenge and more inspiration in the CCK Facebook group!

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

D.L. Art -- Thankful Thursday - Red & Green

Morgan's Artworld -- ATG

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG

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

Oh Deer, Christmas is Here! For Jan's Digi Stamps

Here we go!  The first ever challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges, or, as those of us that have followed her work affectionately refer to it as, JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  The challenges will be on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, so what a great way to start out your week! The will run until noon (Eastern) the Sunday before the new challenge.  You'll find all the rules on a tab at the JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  Her beautiful digis can be found in her shop here.

For the first challenge, I wanted to showcase one of Jan's beautiful Christmas images.  I decided on a silhouette so I could play with inks.  This is 722J Reindeer:

Each of Jan's Digi Stamp's sets comes with a black and white version (what I used here), a pre-colored image, and several sentiments.  This set also has each of the deer separated, so you can also use them in whatever configuration you wish.  Lots of flexibility here!

I placed the Reindeer family to my liking on white card stock, then placed the sentiment (included in the Reindeer set) where it appealed to my eye. Then, it was time to ink it up.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks to achieve the look I wanted, and lightly spritzed some water on it to give the look of snow. 

The snowbanks were cut out with dies from Lawn Fawn.  The snowflake background was created using a Gemini Hot Foil Press machine and a foil stamp.   The blue snowflakes are dies from Cheery Lynn.

That's it!  My first card for the first challenge at JDS Designs Challenge Blog.  It's Anything Goes! You might win a $9 gift certificate to the store!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Fridays --Christmas
D.L. Art -- November Linky Party
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge -- Christmas/Winter
The Paper Players Challenge -- Into the Woods 

Well, Doggone! for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez

I'm posting today for Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez.  She has more than just kinda cute digis. They are darling.  You'll see what I mean in a second!

For today's card, I used both a digital image and digital papers created by Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez. 

This is Girl Running with Dog:

I colored Girl Running with Dog with Copic markers.  The designer papers are called "Red & Blue Basic" digital paper.  There are 12 different papers in the set, and they are all fantastic! I've used 3 of them here. 

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

I added a couple of die cuts that I cut out from a Cheery Lynn set.  The sentiment is computer generated.  The border is a die from Diamond Press. The image is cut out with a Spellbinders die.

Kinda Cute by Patricia Alvarez has a great Facebook Group.  You'll find it here.  You'll also find great inspiration on her blog here.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Wednesday Sketch Challenge -- ends Sept. 17
Animal Friends Challenge -- ATG
Crafty Animals Challenge -- ATG
D.L. Art -- September Linky Party

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

Time for Cake -- a New Release at All Dressed Up Stamps

It's new release day at All Dressed Up Stamps! There are 4 new releases this month, and I had the really, really great pleasure of designing with "Time For Cake".  You'll see why!

I'm such a dog lover, that I'm quite sure Wendy Burns drew this new release just for me!  Thank you, Wendy!  I think it is just the sweetest thing!  Time for Cake, colored with Copic markers, reminds me so much of my dog, Winter, and I.   There is a local coffee shop, where, in good weather, I sit out on the patio with him.  I get ignored.  He gets talked to like he's a prince.  The mayor walked by not too long ago and said, "That dog should run for mayor!  He'd get more votes than me."   Hmmm.  It's a thought!  Except I like our present mayor!

But, back to Time for Cake!  I already mentioned I colored it with Copic markers.   I had my E71 marker make a big blop on the paper.  Can you see where?  I worked and worked and worked with the colorless blender to try to fade it out.  I'm hoping it covered well enough.  Most of my coloring was done by that point, of course.   I computer generated the sentiment. 

The fun dog themed papers on this card are from AMB Illustrations.  I like how bright and colorful they were.  The frilly heart is cut out from a die by Cheery Lynn. 

You can find what the other talented All Dressed Up designers did with the New Releases by checking out the All Dressed Up Facebook group.  You'll also find a folder for this month's Facebook challenge -- All You Need is Love.  I hope you can enter.  I'd love to see your creations! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- February Linky Party
2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a Critter
AUD Sentiments -- Love or Valentine Sentiment
Craft Rocket Challenges -- Valentine
Cute Card Thursday -- ATG
Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge -- Love is in the Air
Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode -- Girly Girl

Friendship Warms the Heart -- for the 12 Months of Christmas

February 1st!  Time for another challenge on the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  The challenge will run all month.  The optional theme this month is Holiday Humor.  To be eligible for the awesome prize, we'd like to see a humorous sentiment, a funny image, or an element that elicits a smile.

Our guest sponsor this month is Scribbles Designs.  I used the Snow Kisses image to create this:

That image will make you smile for sure, and I think the sentiment fits it very well!  I love those 2 winter characters together.  I am sending this card out this morning, using it as a thank you card.  An elderly couple I know have been so supportive of me during my chemo journey.  I think they'll smile when this lands in their mailbox in a few days.

I colored the Scribbles Designs Snow Kisses image with Faber-Castell Polychromos color pencils. I am a big fan of color pencils on Kraft!  The very fun background papers are from our other sponsor, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  Lisa created this Cartoony Christmas set for this challenge, and they are fantabulous!

I used cutting dies by Spellbinders (Card Creator Basics, and Cheery Lynn - snowflakes).  The sentiment is a retired stamp set from Close To My Heart.

 Our sponsors this month:

Scribbles Designs

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles

Link up any Christmas card you make this month!  If it fits the cartoony Christmas theme, you're eligible for the guest sponsor prize.  Have fun, and good luck!

Friends warm up even the coldest day -- for Crafty Sentiments

Hello, and happy Tuesday!  It's time for a new challenge at Crafty Sentiments Designs.  New Tuesday, new challenge.  Every week!  This week, the challenge is to use dies.  I think many of us have dies in our arsenal, so this should be easy. 

I used a digital stamp today.  This is 'Snowman Song', and I think these 2 are adorable!

I printed Snowman Song unto Kraft paper, then colored it with Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils.  I love the look of colored pencils on Kraft!  The sentiment is from Close To My Heart.  The snowman background paper is digital.  It was found at Snap Click Supply.  It is a Lori Whitlock paper -- Frosty.  The card base, cut out on my Silhouette Cameo, is from Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons. 

I hope you can join our 'Use a Die' challenge this week at Crafty Sentiments Challenge blog.  We have great prizes, and I'd love to see what you make!