Beautiful -- for DS4J

It's Sunday, and there are once again fabulous new releases at DigiStamps4Joy.  The design team was given a choice of 3 to work with this week.  I wish I would have had time to make projects with all 3.  Each digi is FABuLouS!  Today, I chose to work with 'My Ballgown'.

Isn't this a great digi?

You will find it in the DigiStamps4Joy store.  New today!

I sized the digi to just over 4 inches, and colored it with Copic markers, then fussy cut it.  I used 2 Spellbinders Gold dies to frame it with, and CTMH Pear and Hollyhock cardstock.  The sentiment is a Close To My Heart retired stamp, and the designer paper is also retired from CTMH.  There's a bit of crocheted lace behind the die cut labels, and some 3 Girl JAM crinkle ribbon in lemon-lime from the new LG Bundle. The flowers are from Recollections.  They are white, daubed with CTMH Hollyhock ink.

Here's a closeup of the colored image:

I can see this image colored in so many possible combinations.  So fun!

Speaking of fun, have you heard about the celebration at DigiStamps4Joy?

The 100th challenge starts Sept. 3 and so does the month-long celebration.  Join us that day for the start of it all with a blog hop.  This design team is uber talented, so the hop is going to be an event!  And, of course, there are lots of prizes.  I'll be giving away a $10 gift certificate to the DigiStamps4Joy store to one lucky commenter. See you at the celebration!

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

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge -- Girly

Art by Miran -- ATG

Brown Sugar Challenge -- ATG

Creative Corner Challenges - ATG

Frosted Designs -- ATG

Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

Stamplorations -- Stamps & Diecuts

D.L. Art -- Thursday Linky party -- ATG
Word Art Wednesday -- ATG
AUD Sentiment -- other than birthday
Crafting at the Weekend -- ATG
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge -- ATG

Altered Card Box -- for Fitztown

Hello, and happy Thursday!  Fitztown  has a new challenge that started this week.  I'm honored to be guest designing for them again today.  This week's theme is an "altered item". One of my favorite things to alter are card boxes -- it's something I can have on hand and give as a gift, filled with handmade cards:

The box is 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 inches deep.  It will hold about 8 handmade cards with envelopes, depending on how embellished they are.  I inked the edges of the box with Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Tarnished Silver, then, using Mod Podge, attached Close To My Heart paper from the Lucy paper pack.  I used the Fitztown image, Garden 7 as the focal point, coloring the flowers to match the papers.  I used Copic markers to color the flowers.  I used a Spellbinders Gold label die in 2 sizes.  The flowers started out white, but I inked them to match the papers and added matching brads (flowers and brads from CTMH).  The rhinestone flourish is also from Close To My Heart.

Here's a view where you can see the box a bit better:

This is a great challenge -- it takes us out of our comfort zones a bit and does what it's supposed to -- challenges us!  I had a wonderful time with my altered card box for Fitztown!

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

Miram's Crafting blog -- containers
The Sailing Pineapple -- Anything but a card (limited to one entry)

Three Favorites for Your Next Stamp

Your Next Stamp is having a DT call!  And I'm excited! Some of my friends on Cropchocolate.com first got me interested in YNS.  But, I was hooked when a gal posted an adorable card using this stamp set:

 

And, what's so special about this stamp? Well, YNS designed it just for her.  She asked for a stamp that made a young boy look "spiffy cool", not nerdy.  And they did it.  I thought right then, "I'd love to work for a company like that."  So, here I am, submitting three of my favorite cards, and applying for their new digital design team.  Wish me luck!

 

This first card uses a Penny Black stamp and Echo Park Dots & Stripes papers.  I colored it with Copic Markers.

 

 
This second card, using a Sparkle Creations image and sentiment, is also colored with Copic markers.  It uses Amy Tangerine Sketchbook 6x6 papers, and 3 Girl JAM Cherry Lipstick ribbon.  I sponged Tim Holtz distress ink (Spun Sugar) on the image while it was still in the Spellbinders Gold die.
 

And, I'm showcasing this third card for 2 reasons. First, it uses a digi stamp.  I want to show that yes, I can work with digis.  I use them often in my work.  Second, I really, really like how this card turned out.  It uses Fancy Pants Park Bench 12x12 paper, American Crafts glitter paper (I think -- I've had it forever), a digi from Sassy Studio Designs for the image and Unity Stamps for the sentiment.  Three Girl JAM ribbon and a Pinque Peacock stick pin finish off the card.  The sassy image is colored with Copic markers.

 

I'm keeping my fingers crosses and saying a little prayer that Your Next Stamps likes my work.

A Melon Thanks

Sometimes I make a card and think, "oh well, it'll have to do."  Sometimes I make a card and absolutely love it.  Today's card falls into the "I absolutely love it" category. 

I'm posting today on the 3 Girl JAM blog, with this little lovely:

 

 

She just makes me happy with her sweet smile and bright outfit.  The image and sentiment are from Sparkle Creations. Her name is Watermelon Rin. The crinkle ribbon is, of course, 3 Girl JAM, and it's the Cherry Lipstick, from the Pink and White Bundle.  I used American Crafts Amy Tangerine Sketchbook 6x6 papers on this card.  The image is colored with Copic markers.  I used a Spellbinder Gold die, and sponged the paper with Tim Holtz spun sugar distress ink while still in the die, concentrating on the edges of the paper. The bow is popped up on a Vintage button, also from the 3 Girl JAM store.

 

That's it for me today.  I hope you can visit my blog this weekend.  I'm posting again tomorrow, and I have 3 posts on Saturday!

 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes
D.L. Art Thankful Thursday Linky Party -- anything goes
Simon Says Stamp -- anything goes
Marker Pop Challenge-- Summer Fun
Oozak Challenge Blog -- anything goes with a sentiment
Ribbon Carousel -- fun in the Sun
Reasonable Ribbon -- I'm seeing dots and ribbon
AUD Sentiments -- Summer sentiment
SYCN challenge -- Anything Goes