Gnome for the Holidays! for Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends

It's with pleasure that I am posting today for the Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge Blog! My crafty friend, Joy runs the team, and I'm super excited to be on another team with her -- and this time she's my "boss"! It's a great challenge blog (always anything goes with the exception of July where it's a Christmas in July theme), and there's always wonderful sponsors! 

Speaking of great sponsors, for the next 2 weeks, our sponsor is Pattie's Creations. Pattie is offering a prize of 2 digis of your choice from her Etsy Shop.  Great prize!

I love gnomes, so when given the opportunity to use this adorable Winter Gnome, I colored it up right away! Here's the card I came up with:

I colored Winter Gnome with a combination of Copic markers and Spectrum Noir markers, then fussy cut it.  The G-N-M-and E were cut out with dies from Spellbinders.  The 'for the holidays is computer generated.  I found that pretty snowflake paper in the AMB Illustrations store, and the blue ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. 

That's it for my Winter Gnome card.  Come link up a Christmas in July project, or whatever you'd like at Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends, and thanks to Pattie's Creations for her lovely sponsorship!

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

Pattie's Creations Challenges -- ATG

You Make My Heart Happy -- a New Release at Bugaboo Stamps

It's Tuesday, and that's always New Release day at Bugaboo Stamps.  Every Tuesday, there's a New Release, and its 1/2 price for a week!  Grab it while the grabbing's good!  Today's New Release is the really cute Flower Trio:

It's quick to color, and quick to make into a card.  I was easily able to color Flower Trio with Spectrum Noir and Copic markers.  Then, I used a Crafter's Companion die and matching stamp set for the sentiment and sentiment stamp.  And, just that simple, my card was done!

I hope you visit the Catch the Bug blog today to see what the other talented Bugaboo stamps designers did with this delightful Flower Trio new release.  You won't be disappointed.  

I'd like to enter the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Digichoosday -- ATG
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
TTCRD -- ATG
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- ATG
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Spring

Celebration Puppy -- Rediscovering Cottage Cutz

I had some spare time this afternoon, and my order from The Scrapping Cottage arrived, so I just had to play!  I discovered a 60% off sale going on, and took advantage, picking up quite a few things I "had" to have.  I quickly broke two of my favorites out of their packaging and made this card for a friend's upcoming birthday:

Oh my gosh!  That puppy with the leash makes me smile!  He is so like my dog, Winter, it is uncanny! 

The adorable puppy is Good Boy Puppy. The sentiment is also from The Scrapping Cottage. It is Celebrate.  I really like the script on this particular word die!  I certainly didn't need another word die, but I'm so glad I purchased it.  And yes, I DID need the Good Boy Puppy!  Life is much better with this die in my arsenal!

I made the background using a stencil, 2 different Spectrum Noir inks, and a fine liner pen.  I blended the inks together with the hexagonal stencil over 1/2 of the paper, then traced around the stencil with a pen.  I carefully removed the stencil and the tape that was holding it in place, and my background was ready.

The Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes Challenge for the past 2 weeks theme has been "Walking the Dog".  I am finally able to enter that challenge with this card.   I will look for some more to enter it in, too:

The Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes -- Walking the Dog
2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a Critter
Crafty Sentiments Challenge -- ATG
Crafty Animals Challenge -- ATG
TTCRD -- ATG

Love Today -- for Scrapyland Challenge Blog

It's the 3rd Wednesday of the month, so it's time for a new challenge on the Scrapyland Challenge Blog.  Challenges are anything goes, as long as you used products sold in the Scrapyland Store, and they will go for 2 weeks.

I used 3 dies to create this card:

I started out by inking a background with 3 different, matching pink  Harmony inks from Spectrum Noir.  I then cut out the circle with a die from Paper Artist that was the same size as the Delicate Butterfly.  The Delicate Butterfly is a die from Memory Box.  Doesn't it have a pretty, lacy, cut?  I'm in love with it!  Speaking of love, I also love the basketweave background die from Sue Wilson that I used on this. 

Delicate Butterfly by Memory Box

Paper Artist Circles & Scallops

Sue Wilson Basketweave Background

The Scrapyland Challenge blog has 2 winners each challenge, giving away $10 gift certificates to each winner.  Come join in the fun! 

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

A Gem of a Challenge -- ATG

TTCRD -- ATG

Take a Word Challenge -- Wings on Things

Make A Wish -- for We Are 3 Digital Shop

Greetings, fellow crafters!  I'm sharing a card I made today when I applied for the Lavinia World design team.  I thought I'd share the card today and enter it in some challenges.  (Stamps on this card are NOT from Lavinia World).

I used a Crafter's Companion Stamp and Spectrum Noir inks on this card.  I used a couple different shades and blended the stamped panel out:

Papers are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are from the May New Release.  There is a piece from the Floral Burst Collection (pink embossed), and a piece from Frame It ( white with magenta dots).

I cut the circle out with a stitched die from Lawn Fawn.  The dragonfly was hidden away in my stash.  

I DID make the Lavinia World design team, hopefully, partially because of this card, and the first challenge starts on May 23!  Check out the Lavinia World Challenge Blog for details and join us!  

Onward to some challenges:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
Digichoosday -- ATG
A Gem of a Challenge -- ATG
AUD Sentiment -- Feminine with a Sentiment

Watercolor Botanicals -- for Pickled Potpourri

I seem to be reaching for different watercolor mediums these days. I have a short tutorial to share, using Spectrum Noir watercolor pencils and a fairly dry paintbrush. 

I have two cards, both featuring Pickled Potpourri Grand Botanicals digi stamp. 

Here's the first one, using the Grand Botanical digi stamp, Rose Sentiments and free Robyn digital papers, all from Pickled Potpourri.

Here's how a did this:

Step one.  I started with the lightest color, 

then, I added a second, similar shade

last, the third color, which I blended slightly with a damp paintbrush

I made the leaves with 3 shades of green and some purple for contrast.

Then, I did the same thing again, using shades of violet on the flower.  I fussy cut both flowers and all the leaves.  Then, I started creating cards.

Another card, using the same Grand Botanical digital stamp, Rose Sentiments, and free Robyn digital papers

Two cards, same products, but the look very different.  I love how that happens!  I hope you enjoyed your visit to the blog today and will come back often!

I'm Steppin' Out for Fitztown!

Today is my last guest designer post for Fitztown Challenge blog.  I've loved the opportunity to work with the fantastic images given me! And the Creative Team has been wonderful to me!  

The newest Fitztown challenge is a step card.  I had great fun with this one!

I love butterflies and this image was wonderful to color!  I have 2 Spectrum Noir markers.  I used both of them on this butterfly.  The butterfly is from "Garden 16", and is one of 6 butterflies that comes in the set.

I intentionally left this center step card very simple, because I wanted the butterfly to be the focus.  The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company.

I used my Silhouette to make the step card, using a design I found here, in the Silhouette Online Store.  The papers are from Carta Bella.  

Don't forget to check the Fitztown Challenge blog for tons of wonderful inspiration, and the Fitztown Store is a wonderful place to explore!

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

Crafty Sentiments Designs -- ATG

Try it on Tuesday -- Things With Wings

2 Cute Ink challenges -- ATG

Crafting from the Heart -- Always ATG

Make My Monday -- Butterflies

Melonheadz Friends -- Things with Wings or Tails

My Craft Creations -- ATG

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

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