Flutter With Buttons

This week at Flutter By Wednesday, we are asking you to not only use a fairy or butterfly on your card, but to also use BUTTONS. Now, I'm not really a big button fan, so every time one of my DT requirements asks me to use buttons, I go into panic mode. However, I was so happy to find just the "perfect" button to use on this card, so all ended well.

I have, once again, used an image from A Day for Daisies. (Are you getting tired of seeing the ADFD images? I sure hope not because I am certainly NOT getting tired of coloring them!) I colored this little beauty with my Copic markers and cut it into a square. I then used a Spellbinder die and cut a black frame. This card is based on an old Tuesday Morning Sketches sketch and worked wonderfully with this image. I started with a white card base, layered black card on top and then my DP (My Mind's Eye). I then cut a piece of red paper (stash) into a triangle and matted it with black. My green ribbon is from Offray, and after tying a double bow, I added my button (which reminds me somewhat of a flower). I tied green and white Baker's Twine through the holes in the button. My sentiment was computer generated. I cut it into a strip with fish tails on both ends and then matted it on black.

Our Flutter By Wednesday boss lady, Danni, has some important announcements posted on the FBW blog this week. Please take a few minutes to hop over there and read them as well as to enjoy the eye-candy provided by the DT. We have a very talented team of designers, and I always enjoy seeing the beautiful cards created each week. I know you will, too.

Challenges:

Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade bow

Kaboodle Doodles - Use ribbon and at least 1 button

Brown Sugar Challenge - Fairies and Angels

Stampin for the Weekend - Buttons

Creative Corner Challenges - Things with Wings

TMS 198 - Flowers, Flowers, Flowers

This week at Tuesday Morning Sketches, our challenge is a judged one. That means you have the opportunity of winning a nice prize. Here is the sketch and "twist" for you:

JUDGED CHALLENGE

Sketch:

Twist: Flowers, Flowers, & More Flowers

Sponsor: The Greeting Farm

I have used a cute little Tiddly Inks image of Wryn with Ice Cream for my card. My bad because I have oodles of Greeting Farm images and actually thought I was using a sponsor created image -- my eyes read Greeting Farm but my mind registered Tiddly Inks. I apologize to the Greeting Farm for my error.

At any rate, I did color Wryn using my Copic markers and cut her using a Spellbinder label die. I lightly inked around the edges of my die using Colorbox sky blue ink. I then used a white card base and a layer of fun ice cream paper from a pad by Recollections which I matted with blue card. I cut my strips from green card and laid them corner-to-corner per the sketch. I made my three little roses using the La La Land rolled roses dies and added green leaves punched with a Martha Stewart punch. My sentiment was computer generated using the Rockford font, cut and matted with the blue card.

This was a fun (and different) sketch, and I hope you will give it a try. Hop over to the TMS blog and have a look at what my DT teammates have created this week. I'm sure you will be highly impressed (as always) with the wonderful talent and lovely cards we have to share with you this week. 

Challenges:
Stamp with Fun - Selfmade flowers
Songbird Challenge - Flowers
Love to Create Challenge - Flowers
Tiddly Inks Challenge - Use a Wryn
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Flowers
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
Lady Anne's Challenges - Anything Goes

This week's challenge theme is:

THE TIES THAT BIND!

We want to see STRING/TWINE on your creation.

Your creation should also include a scripture, uplifting verse or positive words/quote

Our challenge this week is sponsored by MelJen's Designs. Those of you who are familiar with MelJen's Designs know she creates the most adorable, whimsical images. I always have the hardest time when I go to her site because I just want them ALL. Our randomly chosen winner will receive 4 uncoloured images from MelJen (and I don't envy you having to decide on which four - grin - as it will NOT be an easy decision).

When we use the word "bind" in our 21st century conversations, we are usually referring to tying off something -- connecting them with cord or string or metal. We don't necessarily think of the term as being a permanent, unbreakable bond (unless, of course, we are using that Perma Bond stuff which seems to take FOREVER to get off if we happen to get it on our fingers/skin). However, whenever the term is used in the Bible, it IS referring to a very strong, permanent commitment. We are repeatedly admonished to bind God's words to our hearts or to make a binding agreement or that vows made by husbands and wives are binding, etc. Our scripture verse this week is

"¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Colossians 3:13-14

I have used MelJen's image, "A girl and her kitty." I am the "mommy" to two little feline fur-babies. One is an old lady (a gray tabby) who is going on 14 years old. The other is a youngster of 2 years old. I love all fur-babies, but I've always been more partial to the feline variety, so this little image especially "spoke" to me. I have colored the image with Copic markers (of course), and I've used a Spellbinder die to cut it out. (I had to smile because when I went to post my card at the TOF blog, I saw the cards of my teammates for the first time. Not only did one of my teamies use the same image, but she had used the same Spellbinder die to cut out her image -- talk about being on the same creative wave length and not know it -- grin.) Anyway, I inked around the edges with TH's blue china distressing ink, and I added white liquid pearl to the dots in the design.

My base is a 5.5 x 5.5" white card. My DPs are from a My Mind's Eye pad called Gnome Sweet Gnome, and my red card is from my stash. I matted my background DP with the red, cut a mat for my image from the red, and created a red scalloped border (Martha Stewart punch) from the red. Now, I have to confess (although it won't come as a surprise to those who know me well), but I really don't "do" twine or buttons -- and yet, here they both are on this little card (did you all feel the earth tremble?). I have used red Baker's twine (thank you, Bonnie, for having sent me some a long while ago) which I wrapped around my strip twice and then threaded through the white button. I computer generated my sentiment, cut it into an oval shape and then matted it onto red.

If you have some free time, we really would like to have you visit our Twist of Faith blog and have a look at what the DT have made to (hopefully) inspire you this week. We would like it even better if you were to share your own work with us by joining in our challenge. Just remember to use twine AND an uplifting phrase, sentiment or scripture on your card.

Challenges:

Challenges4Everybody - Anything Goes
CMC Copic Challenge - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Children at Play
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Animal Antics

Flutter By Wednesday #239

This week at Flutter By Wednesday, the challenge is one of your favorites, OPEN. This means that you can do anything you like as long as your card has a fairy or butterfly on it.

I have made one last Mother's Day card. This one will go to my older daughter. I have, once again, used a beautiful image from A Day for Daisies which I colored with my Copic markers. I've colored the sweet baby in blue because my older daughter just has one child, a boy, who unfortunately isn't little like this any more. He started college this past fall. Where did that time go (sigh)?

I've used a green card base and put a DP from a package of Paula Deen paper. I cut the beautiful Joy Crafts die from a bluish cardstock and cut my image into a circle to fit the center portion of the die cut. Normally I might not have chosen the blue color to go with my DP, and this came about rather seredipitously. The Joy Craft die, itself, is that exact color and when I laid the die onto my card to make sure the cut would fit, I really liked how the color looked against the background paper. I went searching my stash of blue paper/card stock and was able to find the exact color. I then added the flowers, leaves, bow, sentiment and pearls to finish off the lovely card.

As always, the Flutter By Wednesday DT have provided a BEAUTIFUL array of inspiration for you, so do visit the blog and have a look. Then, of course, join us in this week's challenge. We'd all love to see what you create.

Challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion - Mother's Day

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything with Wings

The Squirrel and the Fox - Mother's Day

Inky Impressions - Mother or Special Lady

Fun and Fancy Friday - Anything Goes

Mother and Tuesday Morning Sketches

We have another great sketch for all of you at Tuesday Morning Sketchs, and we hope you'll be excited about this week's challenge.  We have Floppy Latte Digital Designs sponsoring us this week - yay!  And we have some wonderful inspirational cards to help you find your muse.

This is the sketch we're using, this one was created by Debbie.  This can be super simple or super decorated, the choice is yours.

I have, once again, gone with the Mother's Day theme. As mentioned in my previous post, I no longer can share Mother's Day with my own mother; however, we are blessed to still have my husband's mother with us. She is a wonderful 87 years old; mother of three, grandmother of 11, and great grandmother of 13. She definitely deserves a wonderful Mother's Day!!

I've used one of Floppy Latte's silhouette images and tried to give it a vintage feel with the colors that I've used. The base card is white. I've then layered a marbled looking brown DP from heritage pack that I've had for ages (sorry, it didn't have manufacturer's name). I matted the brown DP on black. The middle strip (with the gold swirls) is actually cut from the border of the same brown paper I used for the middle. Isn't it pretty? 

The oval (both the black part and the part with the image) is a Nellie Snellen die, (Nellie's multi frame MFD044 which can be purchased from Dutch Paper Crafts -- link on my side bar). I placed the black under my image and cut both pieces at the same time. I inked the edges of my image piece with TH antique linen distressing ink. I then created a double bow from cream satin ribbon and added a couple of my "signature" pearls.

For more inspiration (and eye candy), visit the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog and take a look at what the other DT have done. Then join us for this week's challenge. Your card does NOT have to be for Mother's Day (that was just the theme I used). You may make your card for any occasion -- just remember to use the sketch.

Happy crafting!

Challenges:

Inky Chicks Challenge - Shabby Chic

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge - My Mother

Annabelle Stamps Challenges - Anything Goes

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - Mother's Day

Brown Sugar - Mother's Day

Remember Mother

This week's #36 challenge theme is:

Mother's Day (or for Mum for any occasion)

Your creation should also include a scripture, uplifting verse or positive words/quote

"Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her."

Proverbs 31:28

Our challenge this week is sponsored by Lacy Sunshine Stamps, who has delighted us with magical images! Our Lacy Sunshine Stamps prize for you, is $20 worth of Lacy Sunshine images, winner's choice! And to make things even sweeter, we will have two 'runners up' prizes (INSTEAD OF OUR REGULAR TOP 3)... One challenger will receive two images of their choice, and our second runner up will receive one image of their choice.... thank you LACY SUNSHINE! 

I have used the image called Jillian for my card. Jillian is a "hip" looking lady , don't ya' think? I no longer can share Mother's Day with my own mother, so I created this card with my younger daughter in mind. I thought her children might enjoy giving it to their Mom. I colored Jillian with Copic markers. I've used a combination of orange (my daughter's favorite color) and teal paper.

The background die is from Spellbinder, and I fussy cut the image to fit on top of it. I think I got a wee bit carried away with the leaves behind my flowers, but it is what it is (grin). The leaves and the fern pieces are both punched with Martha Stewart punches. The flowers are purchased flowers (orange from WOC and blue from Recollections). The sentiment is computer generated,

Join us this week for the weekly challenge at Twist of Faith. But do remember what our challenge is all about.... our 'twist of faith' ... 

your creation should  include a scripture, quote or an uplifiting verse!

Have a wonderful and blessed week!

Challenges:

Inky Impressions - DT Call (10 Ju 13)

Joy Crafts Noor Release on Dutch Paper Crafts

Pink and Green card – I used the border die 6002/0133 and the corner die 6002/0136. My image is 135746-Annabel by Sugar Nellie. She is cut into a circle and then mounted on the Heart Circles die by Spellbinder. The flowers are, again, from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I used corner die 6002/0135. I simply cut and embossed it and used it on one corner. This is a BEAUTIFUL corner die and doesn’t need much else to make a beautiful card. However, I did add a lacy strip under my image (Martha Stewart). The colored image is 121417-Flora by Sugar Nellie. I cut the image and the mat for the image using Spellbinder Labels 4. I cut the leaf scroll (Cheery Lynn B117) twice and placed them under my image. I added two butterflies (Martha Stewart) and a single Wild Orchid Crafts flower.

I used die 6002/0124 to create the side border. After cutting and embossing it, I added tiny pearls (Recollections) to each of the intersecting points of the trellis looking part. The image is 140424-Hope by Sugar Nellie, and the rose is from Wild Orchid Crafts.

There is one more card which I made for my release, but I have, once again, managed to lose the picture. It is a white on white card using die 6002/0124. It can be seen on the video, but I do not have a still picture to share.  (Note: Darlene has the card turned side-ways in the video. The card is a bottom opening card with the front roses going side to side and not up and down. I'm sure Darlene did not realize she had it turned during the filming.)

These are truly beautiful dies, and I very much enjoyed using them. They are perfect for card crafting and add a lovely elegance. They cut wonderfully, and they emboss beautifully. Since doing my release, I've seen the dies used, and there was so much more that I could have done (but then Darlene's video would have been almost as long as a featured movie - smile). I've only given a tiny sampling to show off the beauty of these dies.