Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Flutter with a Twist

This week at Flutter By Wednesday, we are asking you to create your fluttery creation using the color scheme green, blue and yellow. You may use other colors, but those three MUST be prominent on your card.

I've used a lovely little fairy by Wags and Whiskers which I've colored up using my Copic markers. You'll note that I have used just the three required colors with the exception of the skin and hair of my little image. My card is white base layered with a navy blue card (which I've used as my matting for all the pieces). The three designer papers are by K&Co. I was thrilled to see the fern design that I used as my background. I think of fairies living in the forests among the ferns and mosses (except those who pay for lost teeth and then we all know where they live). The second green layer is a pattern of small leaves. My yellow doily is cut using LifeStyle Kraft's nesting doilies set D0429 (may be purchased from Darlene at Dutch Paper Crafts). I added a couple of little rhinestones and the flowers (Recollections and Wild Orchid Crafts), and I hand punched the leaves out of the same yello as the doily.

Do take a few minutes to visit the Flutter By Wednesday blog and have a look at the other beautiful inspiration cards. Then, flutter on into your craft room and make a lovely of your own, but DO REMEMBER the twist this week.

Challenges:
Everybody Art Challenge - Fairy
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Anything Goes
Simply Challenged Challenge - Layers
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday - Use a Digi
7 Kids College Fund - Things with Wings
Creative Corner Challenge - Layer It Up

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tuesday Means Sketches


It is Tuesday again, so that means another fantabulous sketch for you. This week's sketch was provided (along with those fab doilies) by Jessi Fogan. Here is her sketch:



Also, you have a chance to win some of Jessi's beautiful crochet doilies. She is offering a wonderful set to a lucky winner this week. Jessi also sells her lovely doilies, so if you just "can't wait" to see if you have won them, you may purchase them straight from Jessi herself.

Here is a direct link to Jessi's Crocheted circles to buy and a tutorial on how to use them on a card:


I went with the Easter theme this week. My image is a line art image from a Provo Craft CD I purchased years and years ago. It is called From Season to Season. When my children were little, they were each given a hand-made sugar diorama egg. They were fascinated by the tiny paper images that had been cut and put inside. I remember going to the library (no internet at that time) and looking up the instructions for how they were made. Have to say I was highly impressed with the time and effort it took to make those little beauties. Surprising, too, was how sturdy they were. We kept them for quite a number of years.

Anyway, I colored my image with Copic markers and then fussy cut it. The doily Jessi sent to each of us is solid in the center (with the crochet around the scalloped edge). One of the Spellbinder circle dies fits perfectly inside, so I used it to cut my pink stripe paper. My card is a white base with a layer of yellow and then the layer of blue DP. I rounded three of the corners of the blue DP (yes, I deliberately left the 4th one unrounded), and added the scalloped pearls. I printed my sentiment onto the same yellow that is under the blue and cut it into a banner shape.

I hope you will visit the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog and I hope we will inspire you to join in our challenge this week. Now I realize you more than likely aren't going to be lucky enough to have one of Jessi's beautiful hand-crocheted doilies to use, but we won't "count off" if you use a paper doily instead (pinkie promise)!

Challenges:
Cutie Pie Challenges - Easter
Heart2Heart - Easter
Kaboodle Doodles - Easter or Early Spring
Victorine Stamps - Anything Easter
The Squirrel and the Fox - Easter
2 Sisters Challenge Blog - Easter
Crafty Calender Challenge - Easter
Raise the Bar - Use bunny, chick or baby animal

Make It Sparkle


This week's #30 challenge theme at Twist of Faith is:

Our theme for you this week is 
MAKE IT SPARKLE!

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

"Those who are wise will shine like the bright heavens.  
And those who lead many to do what is right and good 
will shine like the stars forever and ever."
 ~ Daniel 12:3 NLV ~

Our sponsor this week  is Melonheadzand our winner, will receive their choice of a bundle of images from the Melonheadz etsy store!



Unfortunately, my image is NOT from Melonheadz. Due to a malfunctioning printer, I was unable to print off one of the images that our generous sponsor provided. (I am hoping, since I just purchased 5 new ink cartridges -- three black and two color -- that the printer will start working properly again.) I decided that even though I could not make a DT card and post it to the TOF blog, I could use an image I already had colored and the inspirational verse -- which is what I did. I had this adorable Sassy Cheryl's image in my stash and thought she looked quite sparkling (no, no bling) and radiant in her little flower outfit.

I started with a white card base and added a layer of blue card. I cut the orange DP and matted it so as to leave a very thin border of the blue. I then cut a 1.5" strip of a yellow DP and punched it with the Martha Stewart daisy border punch. On top of the yellow border, I adhered a burnished gold colored ribbon. I cut my image (colored with Copic markers on X-Press It brand card) in an oval using a Spellbinder die, and then layered that on top of the blue card which was cut with the Spellbinder scalloped oval die.

I typed and printed the first line of our inspiration verse onto cream paper matted with the blue. Of course, you know I'm pretty routine with my cards -- gotta add a bow and some pearls or gems. Even though they look clear in the picture, my little gems are blue rhinestones.

Now, hop over to the Twist of Faith blog and have a look at what my teamies have done with our sponsor's images. Some very creative work over there which we hope will inspire you. We would also like to have you join us this week in our make it sparkle challenge -- REMEMBER though, you must add a Scripture verse, an uplifting poem/saying or words from an inspirational song in order to be eligible to win our sponsor's prize.

Challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Girly
Eureka Stamps - It's In the Word
House of Gilli - Anything Goes with Ribbon or Flowers
Squigglefly - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Kenny K's Krafty Krew - Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
Lady Anne's Challenge - Anything Goes with a Sentiment
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Bring on Spring

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

It's Wednesday - How Did That Happen?


Good morning. Somehow I had it in my head that today is Tuesday. Don't know why as I wasn't confused yesterday. Even after watching my usual Tuesday night NCIS show, I still went to bed thinking that today would be Tuesday. Now that I've come to realize the error of my ways, here is the Flutter By Wednesday challenge for this week!

This week we have a sketch for you from Flutter By Team member, Kathy! Just remember to have a butterfly or fairy!!

I have used LaLa Land's Marci Fairy for my image. She is colored with Copic markers on X-Press It brand card. I used Spellbinder oval and scalloped oval dies for cutting and matting the image. I did lift the image off the background a bit when I adhered it by using foam dots.  I started with a white card base and a solid pink piece of card. I then cut a piece of the butterfly paper for the center (paper pack from UK), and I cut a strip of yellow from the same paper pack. I adhered green ric-rac on top of the yellow strip and added pearls. The sentiment is matted with the yellow, and the two punched butterflies (Martha Stewart punch) are from the yellow. I also added three smaller pearls to the upper right corner.

Don't be late (like me). Run right on over to the Flutter By Wednesday blog site and have a look at the beautiful inspiration cards our DT members have created this week. You will be inspired with all of the creativity and beautiful cards. Then join us in this week's challenge -- hey, we've done part of the work for you by providing you with this fantastic sketch!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Easter Card


This week our challenge theme is:

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

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
 ~ John 3:16 NIV ~

This week's scripture share for you is probably one of the most powerful and well known scriptures in the Bible. It is offered to set the theme of our challenge, but as always, you are free to use whatever scripture, or verse/passage that will suit your creation in our theme.

Our sponsor this week is Robyn's FetishOur randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images from  Robyn's Fetish ... and we thank our sponsor for their generous prize and continued support of our challenges.

If you read my previous blog entry, you know that we had a tornado run through our area last night. This is the second one, in the past 5 years, that has come through. Thankfully, this one was not as deadly or destructive as the previous one, but there was still damage done and property lost. As I look at the work that is ahead of us to clean up the mess that the winds and rain have left us (and figure out how to get our garage out of the greenhouse and off the roof of our storage building), it reminds me of the far greater work the early Christians faced as our Lord and Savior left them. I can imagine how over whelmed they must have felt. Yet, despite the winds of fear and destruction, those early Christian held fast. They knew the promises of God first hand, and they believed. Each spring we are reminded of our Lord's resurrection. We celebrate His Life, His death and His return to Heaven. Whatever ill winds may come our way, we are reassured year after year, day after day that we are loved. 

I have used Robyn's Bible image which I colored with Copic markers. I wanted to give my image an "antique" look. Unfortunately, my Bible pages are a bit darker than I had wanted, and I was not able to get them to lightening up. However. . . I cut the image out using a Spellbinder decorative frames die. I then used Tim Holtz's antique linen distress ink and inked around all of the sides. My background paper is a beautiful piece from my stash with a soft floral (roses) design on one side. My base card is a soft green that matches the leaves on my DP perfectly (wish the photo was better so you could see the beauty of the papers). My green ribbon is a sheer fabric with a cream line running through it. I made a triple loop bow for more fullness since the ribbon is so narrow. I added three lilies (Wild Orchid Crafts) above the bow. I printed off my sentiment ("He is Risen") and distressed it with the Tim Holtz ink, then curled it for the banner effect. Lastly, I added some pearls in the corners for a little more elegance.

Please take a look at the cards that our wonderful DT members have created this week, and if you are so inclined, we would really like to have you participate in our Twist of Faith weekly challenge. Thank you for stopping by, and God bless.

Challenges:
Celebrate the Occasion - Easter
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Easter
LEJ Designs Challenge - Add a Flower/s
Glitter and Sparkle - Easter
Sentimental Sunday - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Easter Treats
The Pink Elephant - Easter
Craftin Desert Diva's - Easter
Shopping Our Stash - Easter
Catered Crop - Flower Power

Tuesday Morning and Tornado


Good morning everyone. I'm a little late this morning posting my Tuesday Morning Sketch and card. We had a tornado run through yesterday evening and were without power until this morning. We are all fine, but our detached, canvas garage is now partly in our greenhouse and partly across the top of a storage building. The side view mirror of the auto was ripped off when the wind took the garage. Our down the street neighbors have a tree through their roof and had about 2" of rain inside their kitchen. This tornado was not as bad or deadly as one that hit this area five years ago, so everyone is counting their blessings. Anyhoo, on to today's challenge sketch, and here it is:


As you can see, I followed the sketch pretty much to a T except for changing the square to a circle. I did try to find one of my images that would work as a square, but despite my hundreds of images/stamps, I couldn't find anything the Muses wanted to play with, so I went with the circle instead. This image is from the Scottish company called Sugar Nellie (you've seen one of these little girl images before, and you'll see them again as I think they are just so charming). After coloring her with Copic markers, I cut her into a circle and matted her with a circle cut with a Spellbinder die. I then layered that onto a doily type circle cut with a Marianne die.

The papers I've used are from a little British packet that I got free with a British magazine purchase. Gotta love those freebies (although considering the conversion rate between the US dollar and the British sterling, I don't really think anything is "free" - LOL). I simply layered one pattern onto a white card base and then cut my streamers from a coordinating pattern. I added three large pearls at the top of each banner. There you have it.

I hope you like this week's sketch and will join us at Tuesday Morning Sketches in this week's challenge. We always enjoy seeing everyone's beautiful artwork and interpretation of our sketches. Now I must go write up one more DT blog entry and then get started helping the Hubs clean up the mess Mother Nature has left us.

Challenges:
Challenges for Everybody - Anything Goes
Pin and Tack - Anything Goes
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
NanaVic's Challenge - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Tuesday Alchemy - Anything Goes

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Any Winged Creature


Hello there flutterby friends!! I am so happy to see you here today!! Our challenge this week is one of our most popular--Any Winged Creature!! Yup, all you flutter by friends who always ask if birds or dragons or dragonflies are allowed--here's your chance to use them--for this week only!!

I looked through my stamps (rubber and digi) and tried to find something other than a fairy or butterfly that would inspire me -- didn't happen -- so I have done another fairy card this week. This little image from A Day for Daisies was colored with Copic markers and cut into an oval shape using a Spellbinder oval die. I used a white card base and a layer of pink card (which I had intended on dry embossing -- had the folder out and everything and then simply forgot as I got going with the construction).

I cut and embossed two Joy Craft corner dies (6002/0126) and a Die-Versions doily die (DVW-4x4-119) from white card (both from Dutch Paper Crafts). I placed the Die Version doily behind my image so that part of it shows. This is a lovely die with butterflies, humming birds and flowers in an oval ring. The corner dies are at opposite corners. I added the flowers and pearls and there you have it. Turned out quite nice, if I say so myself.

Now it is your turn. Go to the Flutter By Wednesday blog, have a look at what the other DT members have done and then create your own card and join us. Remember, you can use anything as long as it has wings -- lots of options there from flying dragons to angels -- what will you use?

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Tuesday Morning Sketches 189


Good Morning Tuesday Morning Sketches friends.  We hope you're doing well!  We also hope you're as excited about this week's sketch and Judged Challenge as we are.  Before we get to all that, let's talk sponsors!

This week we're sponsored by returning sponsor My Creative Classroom.

My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Our interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. Our Spring Semester is just beginning with over 100 workshop classes to choose from.We have just announced the addition of our Library and Foundation category! The Library features retired classes at 40-50% off their original price and our Foundation classes help you get started on your crafty journey right away! 
Here's a sampling of our Workshop classes:
We are excited to be sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches. You can view our entire class list on our website at My Creative Classroom. You can also view classes on our Facebook Page too! One lucky winner will receive a free seat to a class of their choice.....Good Luck!

Now here's how you can win a seat in an online class of your choice.... Here's the sketch:



And as I said, it's the Judged Challenge, so you must add in the twist:  Monochromatic Green.


My card starts with a white base. I placed a layer of solid green on top of the white card and then a layer of a green stripe DP. Next, I matted another DP with the solid green. My little image is matted with green, and my swirls are cut from a piece of very subtle green patterned paper (they look cream colored in the photo, but are really a light green). I've added two little paper flowers and punched leaves. Very quick and easy, but ohhh so cute!

Take a look at the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog and see what the other DT members have created to inspire you. Lots of lovely work there. Then join us this week for your chance to win a fab online class of your choice.

Challenges:
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Make 'em Green
Broken Box Stock - St. Patrick's Day
Card Making Mama's - Green
Creative Corner Challenges - Green
Digi Haven - Green
 

Irish Blessings



This week our themed challenge for you is:

IRISH BLESSINGS
(as always, your creation must include a scripture, inspirational verse or positive words of healing, encouragement, or support)


We are happy to introduce a new sponsor ... Digi Darla's Designs! Our random prize winner will receive their choice of  FIVE images! DigiDarla is the brain child of Kim Eskola and her daughter Emilea.


“May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us.
 - St. Patrick”

I went looking for Irish blessings to use with this week's card. I have Irish ancestors on both my maternal and paternal sides of the family, so this week's challenge holds special meaning for me. What I did learn in my search is that Irish blessings is about welcoming, warmth and turning a negative situation into a positive one, the philosophy of the Twist of Faith blog. However, I ended up not using any of the beautiful blessings I found. Instead, I used words I found on a sweet blog that I follow called Little Birdies Blessings, "For those who have placed their trust in the Lord, things don't happen by luck or coincidence. . ."

It is often hard to remember, when things are taking a downward turn in our lives, that God has a purpose for all He sets before us. We hear things such as "When God closes a door, He opens a window." We want to believe that God will not give us more than we can handle. It is hard to keep from getting tired or discouraged. Yet, how many times has hindsight proven that there is a purpose and good things do come from what first appeared to be bad? Irish blessings are reminders to stay strong in our faith. God is good. God is faithful. In all things, give Him thanks. 

I've kept my card simple. I started with a white 5.5" square card base. I layered green card on top of that and then DP by Recollections. I then computer generated my sentiment, cut it and layered it with the solid green. The plaid DP is also from the same pad of paper by Recollections. I matted it with the solid green along with the image piece. My only embellishment are the three flowers in the corner of my image piece. 

In closing, I would like to say:


May you have:
A world of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand.
Friends and family their love impart,
and Irish blessings in your heart!



Challenges:

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Dutch Paper Crafts Release - Die-Version Dies

Tonight Darlene of Dutch Paper Crafts has released a set of Die-Version dies using samples that I did for her sometime last year. I was almost afraid I wouldn't be able to find the pictures to share with you (LOL)! Actually, my samples reached her in the fall about the time that all the new Christmas dies were being released, and since the Die-Version dies were less season specific (in fact, tend more towards a spring/summer theme), she held off releasing them until now. You can actually see a very nice video of my release by going to Dutch Paper Crafts or see the video at the bottom of this post . Darlene does a wonderful job of presenting the dies and the DT samples for you to see. However, I will recap the video in stills here and be glad to answer any questions you may have (just email me).

This first card I call "Simple Pleasure." 


I started with a white card base, then I matted a piece of white (which I embossed using QuicKutz bloom embossing folder) with purple card. I also lightly inked the embossed piece with purple Colorbox ink.  I cut the “Lucky Scallop” Whispers doily (DVW-4x4-117) and stamped my saying onto the middle. I adhered the doily atop the embossed piece and then added purple roses and buds (Wild Orchid Crafts) and punched leaves (I believe the punch is by McGill, but I’m not 100% positive as there is no name on it). I shaped my leaves with a stylus, and I brushed a thin coat of Star Dust Stickles onto the flowers. This scalloped die makes a beautiful background with the intricate scallops and small holes.

The second card using "Chrysanthemum" Whispers DVW-4x4-121 is called How Silently.

Even though the die is named "Chrysanthemum, I thought it looked a lot like a snowflake. As I said, I was creating these cards in the fall, so I was already thinking winter instead of spring (smile). I cut the die from white paper and layered it onto a piece of white that I embossed using Provo Craft's snowflake embossing folder. The embossed piece is matted with a silver gray, and my card base is white. I stamped my sentiment and heat embossed it with silver which I also matted with the gray card. I added pearls around the die cut and in the center. This is a beautiful die and would make a lovely background for your spring/summer images, too.

My next card is called "Live Happy; Go Shopping."

For this card, I layered a blue and white patterned DP onto a white card. I cut another pattered DP and layered that on top of the blue. I then cut a third DP (orange dotty paper) which I matted with orange, and placed it to the side. I’ve used the “Daisy Chain Scallop” Whispers doily (DVW-4x4-118) as my decorative backing for the little Magnolia Tilda stamp. I matted the sentiment with the orange paper and used foam dots on one end to make it “sit” level. I added a black and white ribbon/bow and orange flowers (Recollections and WOC). I finished with two small pearls in the bottom right corner. Isn't that daisy chain doily beautiful? 

The next card is called "With Love."
I covered the top of a white card with the butterfly DP and the bottom with stripy paper (both from a pack of paper from the UK). Using one of my Martha Stewart punches, I created a border across the card where the two papers meet. I placed ¼” pink gingham ribbon over the lacy border. I then placed my doily which was cut with “Flight of Fancy” Whispers die (DVW-4x4-119) in the middle of the card. I adhered my sentiment to the doily. I placed my Magnolia stamp to the left of the doily, and added pink pearls to the centers of the flowers created by the die. This beautiful die cuts an intricate design of butterflies, humming birds and flowers in an oval shape. The center creates a diamond shape which is large enough to add a sentiment, flowers, punched pieces, or a small picture. 

My last card is called "Gnome." 

For this card, I backed my die cut (“Spring Scenery," DVW-4x4-115) with a green circle (which I cut using a Spellbinder die). Rather than go with the “spring” theme, I decided to go with a little bit of a woodland look (again, remember spring had already passed, so I wanted to show the versatility of this die). I matted green DP with black and adhered those to a white card. I cut a darker green strip which I matted with black and adhered about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom. I added the Whisper’s die cut over the strip. My little gnome is a digital image colored with Copic markers. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and my leaves are from the same punch previously mentioned. I added four black photo corners which I punched (Stampin Up), and 2 green pearls. This die would look equally as lovely with Easter/spring colors, but as shown, is not limited to that season.

All of the dies may be purchased from Darlene at Dutch Paper Crafts (in fact, she is giving a nice discount if you want to purchase the entire set -- although you may purchase individual ones). Simply go to the Dutch Paper Crafts blog and then email Darlene with the name and item number for the dies you wish to purchase. She is a wonderful vendor and will get your purchases out to you right away.

Happy Crafting!



New Crafty Blog

Hello fellow paper crafters. I don't have a new card to share, but am sharing a new blog site that you may be interested in. This nice lady, S'andra Gagnier Vanwoerden is trying to build her blog following. Her blog is called "Oh My Scraps" and right now she is offering some very nice blog candy to a randomly chosen follower.


If you have a few minutes, go have a visit. She'd love to have you drop by, and of course, she'd love for you to become a follower. Whether you are interested in stamping, scrapping or using your Cricut, S'andra has something for each of you.

Have a wonderful Sunday. Happy crafting!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Vintage Flair and Good-Bye


This week at Card Crafter's Circle we invite you to create cards on the theme of:

VINTAGE FLAIR!
(Show us your vintage colours, images, and embellishments!)

Floppy Lattes Digital Designs ::All Digital All The TimeOur Sponsor this week is Floppy Latte Digital Designs, and they are offering our challenge winner a $6 certificate to shop at the Floppy Latte store .... 






This is my last DT card for Card Crafter's Circle, and I'm feeling a bit melancholy. I have been a member of the design team since CCC's inception back in December 2011. However, life brings changes, and so it is time for me to make some changes, too. I am going to miss my team mates, but fortunately, we've become good friends so I will stay in contact through emails and their blogs.

I have used Floppy Latte's Bonnie Lass silhouette image for my card. Floppy Latte has a series of beautiful silhouette images that are perfect for vintage look cards. I have printed mine and then cut it into an oval shape (reminding me of an old fashion cameo broach). I matted the image with a black oval (both Spellbinder dies). I then cut two corner pieces from a Spellbinder die and placed them under the ovals so that they created the design above and below the ovals.

My DPs are from Hot off the Press's heritage pad, and I've matted them with a matching card from Stampin' Up. The card base, itself, is white. I used the border die from the same Spellbinder set as the two pieces behind the ovals to cut the border piece which I tucked behind the floral DP piece. I've added three full roses and two rose buds in off-white from Wild Orchid Crafts, and I created a double loop bow from white ribbon which I adhered above the roses.

I hope you will agree that my last contribution to the Card Crafter's Circle is a beauty. I was very pleased with the outcome. Now, take a few minutes and go have a look at the lovely heritage cards that the rest of the team has created -- definitely eye candy for you!

Challenges:
http://www.4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ - Use Dies
http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.co.uk - Anything Goes with Ribbon
http://foreverfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - Lots of Flowers
http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/stamp-challenge.html - Anything Goes
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - Dies or Punches

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Purple Fairy

Good morning! This week our challenge at Flutter By Wednesday is being sponsored by Pattie's CreationsThere is a prize of 3 digi's from Pattie's Creations store to be won so I hope you'll join in this week's challenge for your chance to win!!



Pattie provided several images for the DT to use, and I have used this little fairy. I chose to color her up as if she is dressed in a flower, with her bodice in green and her skirt in purple. As a general rule, I am NOT a purple kind of gal and seldom use that color at all. However, I wanted to try something different. I think it turned out quite stunning. I printed the image onto Neenah card and then cut it into an oval shape using one of my Spellbinder oval dies. I matted it using the Spellbinder scalloped oval die.

The cardstock and DP that I've used are by DCWV -- a pad I've had for quite a long time called Latte. The solid strip across the front is punched using an EK Success border punch. The ribbon is from my stash and doesn't have a brand on the roll, but I purchased it from Hancock Fabric. Under the bow is a small crochet doily from Michael's Crafts, and the pearls are by Recollection.

This week's challenge is everyone's favorite--Open Challenge! Anything goes as long as you have a butterfly or fairy on your creation!! 

Hope you all have a great day. I'm out the door in just a little bit to have my annual boob smashing -- ugh -- and then to attend to a list of errands. As a side note, we've been having a most unusual week thus far weather wise. Sunday morning I woke to a dusting of snow on my porch and deck. Yesterday the temperatures reached spring-like 60's, followed by a heavy rain storm in the evening. This morning I find another dusting of snow on my deck. March can't seem to figure out if it wants to be a lion or a lamb -- crazzzy!

Challenges:

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Challenge #188 - Tuesday Morning

Good Morning!  Welcome back to another fun sketch challenge.  We're sponsored this week by DRS Designs.  They are a wonderful stamp store on the internet.  DRS Designs is giving away this:



Let's just get right to the sketch

And here is my contribution. . .


This simple little card has a wonderful image for a boy's birthday. Boy cards are much more difficult to make than girl cards as there are far fewer images available. Isn't this one just the cutest? What little guy wouldn't just love receiving a package bigger than he is?  (In fact, my now driving grandson would especially like getting something bigger than him -- with four wheels -- er, not happening.)

I started with a white base for my card and layered it with green card. I then cut my two panels from DP (We R Memory Keepers). My image is colored with Copic markers. I cut it and matted it with red card (as I did with one of the DPs). The yellow DP had those scallops as part of the design although not cut out. I hand cut around them to separate that portion of the paper from the rest of the sheet. The sentiment is rub-on words from an OLD package I had in my stash (wonder they still worked, they are that old - grin). I used an EK Success punch for the 4 little corner pieces, and then I added silver beads to each.

Have I made you ready to play this week? If not, then take a gander at what my fellow team mates have created at the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog. I bet your Muses will be chomping at the bit to get to crafting after you see all the wonderful cards.

Ribbons and Bows


RIBBONS and BOWS (either or both!)
and a scripture, or uplifting verse or positive words of healing, encouragement, or support

"...the King gave a banquet for all of the people. from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden.  The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, 
mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones."
                                               ~ Esther 1:5-6 NLT ~

We are excited to welcome our sponsor for this week, Eureka StampsEureka

Finally, The Stamps You've been Looking for! Eureka stamps offers a large variety of  images and sentiments in many different categories for all of your stamping needs. 
Our randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images from  Eureka Stamps ... and we thank our sponsor for their generous prize!  



My card this week uses this beautiful angel image from Eureka. She is holding a dove which I always associate with the concept of peace. With that in mind, my verse is the first several words from Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious in nothing." This verse goes on to tell us to let God know, with thanksgiving, of our needs and then reminds us that God gives us peace that passes all understanding.

I have colored this gorgeous image using my Copic markers. I first printed it off onto Cryogen card. After  coloring, I used QuicKutz nesting circles DC0253 to cut it out. My card base is made from DCWV card, and my patterned papers are from a pad by Hot Off the Press called Heritage.My pink ribbon is from Offray. I added the lace and flowers (WOC). The vine die cut behind the flowers and image is cut with a Cheery Lynn die (B117), and the extra leaves behind the flowers are from a Martha Stewart hand punch. The three little lavender pearls in the upper corner are from the dollar bin at Michael's Crafts.

Please take a few minutes to run over to the Twist of Faith blog to see more beautiful images from Eureka Stamps and the lovely cards made with them by my fellow team members.

Challenges:
http://gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk - Ribbons and Bows
http://ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/ - Ribbons and Bows
http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk - Flowers and pearls
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk - Anything goes
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com - Anything Goes
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Pick 2 (ribbons, pearls, sentiment)

Friday, March 1, 2013

Better Late than Never


This week at Card Crafter's Circle we invite you to create cards on the theme of:

MAKE-BELIEVE!
(Elves, Fairies, Gnomes, Pixies, Sprites, etc)

Our sponsor is MICHELLE PERKETT STUDIOS! Michelle skilfully presents a huge collection of mermaids, fairies, people, and with various images in between!  They will delight you, so we hope you avail yourself of her designs!

What does my title have to do with this week's challenge theme, you ask? (Well, even if you didn't ask, I'm going to tell you.) I have been totally loopy-loo lately, and I made a beautiful card for our challenge -- only problem is that it is for next week's theme and not this week's. It was not until this morning when I went to  the Card Crafter's Circle blog that I noticed my error. I then had to madly color up this beautiful image from Michelle and make this week's card. To add to the frustration, I had a minor medical procedure scheduled this morning, so could not begin working until this afternoon. FINALLY, I got everything put together, posted it at CCC, and can now write up this entry for my own blog -- as I said, better late than never -- hope you agree.

This is Michelle's  Enchanted Slumber image. Isn't that just the sweetest? That wee one cradled by Mommie Fairy looks so peaceful and content. Anyhoo, I've colored it up using Copic markers after printing it off on X-Press It brand card. The image naturally cuts into a rectangle which I've matted with black to make it pop. 

My card base is brown card. Over it I've layered a sheet of DP from Glitz Pack (Afternoon Muse) which I first punched using a Martha Stewart border punch. I then took a pre-made doily (Wilton) and antiqued it using brown Colorbox ink. The large cream colored rose is by Wild Orchid Crafts. The ribbon is by Offray, and the leaf swirls are cut with a Doohickeys die by Magnolia.

Please drop by Card Crafter's Circle and have a look at the other beautiful images supplied to the DT by Michelle, and enjoy the lovely card creations the DT made with them.

Challenges:
http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/stamp-challenge.html - Anything Goes
http://thesweetpeastampers.blogspot.co.uk/ - Use a digital stamp
http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.com/ - Anything with Ribbon
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ - Anything goes
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/simon-says-anything-goes.html - Anything goes
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/stamping-dragon-challenge-anything-goes.html - Anything goes
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/challenge-133-fairy-tales-fantasy.html - Fantasy
http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/2013/02/challenge-38-fairy-tale-or-fantasy.html - Fantasy