Pastels and Gentle Colours

The challenge for the DT team this week was to use our sponsor's image with pastel colours. I keep thinking I'm not really a pastel person, but when I look back at many of my cards, I realize that I use a lot more pastel colours than I think I do. Anyhoo, first the details of our challenge --

We are happy to welcome back, as our sponsor, Happileigh Scrappin' (http://happiscrappinstore.blogspot.com.au/). Her delightful little images lend themselves well to a soft colour palette (as you will see from the DT cards at Card Crafter's Circle (http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/). My DT sisters are quite talented ladies, so you will enjoy seeing their lovely works even if you decide not to join us this week with the challenge (but it is such an easy challenge that I cannot see how you wouldn't - smile). Our randomly drawn challenge winner will receive the 4 Sponsor images the Design Team has created with - coloured and uncoloured!

My delightful image of the little mouse sneaking cookies from the cookie jar reminded me of a song we used to sing with the younger kiddies when I was teaching kindergarten and grade 1. The song was called "Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar." It was a fun little song that helped the children learn each other's names. Oh, I digress down memory lane -- sorry.

I happen to receive a little gift package of papers from a company in the UK just as I received this DT assignment. The papers were a perfect compliment to this little image as the colours are pastel, and the one sheet was covered with those delightful tea pots. After colouring my image using Copic markers, I covered a white base card with solid pink. I then cut the teapot paper to use on just the top half of my front. I used a Martha Steward edge punch to create the white lace that separates the pattern paper from the solid pink. I added a small pink grosgrain ribbon and bow. Over the top of  patterned paper, I place two squares of solid paper (from the UK paper), staggering them over each other. I then matted my image with the pink and placed it on the top square. I typed the sentiment on white card and cut it using just the top portion of one of my Spellbinder dies. I tucked the sentiment under the green square so that the words are peeking out on the side. Lastly, I added two pink gingham buttons from my stash. Everything came together quite nicely to make this charming little card. I was rather pleased with it once it was all done.

Hope you will create something lovely today using soft, pastel colours. Then hop over to the Card Crafter's Circle blog and enter this week's challenge. We'd love to see what you create.

Chocolate Bunny

Hello my dear blogger friends. I know I've not been around much -- just my weekly posts for the Card Crafter's Circle DT challenges/cards. After being tagged for a week of jury duty followed by my little granddaughter (whom I keep during the week) having a week's bout with strep, I'm running way behind. I've been madly trying to get my samples finished up for new dies for Dutch Paper Crafts, and I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Had hoped to get those samples in the post today, but sadly, will be Monday before they get sent out.

Anyhow, this week's challenge at Card Crafter's Circle is CHOCOLATE BUNNY. You are asked to either use chocolate as your colour scheme or to use a bunny. We are excited to have a fabulous returning sponsor MELJENS DESIGNS. Meljen images are so delightful and fun. Her whimsey is quite charming, so if you haven't visited the Meljen site, treat yourself and go have a look.

I have kept with the Easter theme for my card, but you don't have to use your bunny for Easter (after all, Easter is just two days away, so you may have finished up all the Easter cards you need). Bunnies are also delightful images for babies, spring, birthdays, love -- hey, who doesn't love a bunny?

The image I used is MD Hop Along Bunny. I coloured it up using my Copic markers. My base is white card, and picking up the flower theme in the design, I used a colourful flower design as my background paper. I used a sketch from "The Sweet Stop" sketch challenge blog (http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com). I placed a strip of pink card across the patterned paper and then cut a piece of ribbon which I layered on top of the pink and under the image. I inked the square from which my image is cut and matted it atop a piece of blue paper. Lastly, I added the flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts) and the sentiment (matted with pink). Not a tremendous amount of work, but the results is a colourful, spring-ish card that celebrates the season. Over all, a rather pretty little card.

If you have a few minutes (or are looking for a bit of inspiration), drop by Card Crafter's Circle (http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/) and see what my DT teammies have created. I know you will enjoy all the wonderful cards. Also, remember to enter our challenge this week as our  randomly drawn challenge winner will receive 4 digital images (uncoloured) of their choice... and since Melissa's designs are FAB, you'll not want to miss the opportunity of possibly getting four free images.

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates this glorious season.

Easter Challenge

This week, our challenge at Card Crafter's Circle, is to make an Easter card. Our sponsor, Dearie Dolls (http://www.deariedollsdigistamps.com/), provided the DT membrers such adorable images with which to work, and our inspiration cards definitely reflect what fun we had with the images. So, we'd like to see what you come up with to celebrate this joyous season.  You do not have to use a Dearie Dolls image although we'd love for you to.  At Dearie Dolls, you will find both coloured and uncoloured images, and they are delightful for every occasion!  So go visit the store, and spoil yourself with something fabulous! The winner of this challenge, randomly picked by Mr. Linky, will receive 3 digital images of their choice!

My inspiration card is an egg easel card. I cannot take credit for the idea (sadly), as I was searching the web and found a lovely card created by Frances Rodriquez. I thought it would be a perfect background for the adorable little Dearie Dolls chick image (isn't she a cutie?). I used Spellbinder's grand oval dies to create my card, but I've since seen a tutorial where the parts were hand cut. I also think that the parts could be cut using a Cricut (or other) cutting machine.

The base for the card is made using two equal size ovals. The bottom one is folded in half and then the top half is folded in half to provide the easel. The second oval is cut in half and one half is adhered to the folds of the base to create the easel. The rest of the card is just smaller ovals, punched borders, decorations of your choice, and of course, image of your choice.

I apologize for not copying down the URLs for Frances's blog and the other blogs where I saw the card made to share with you. Maybe if you Google "egg easel card" you will be able to find a tutorial if you are interested in giving this a try.

There are only about 10-11 more days until Easter Sunday, so get busy making those cards -- and remember to share one of them in our challenge at Card Crafter's Circle (http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-16-easter.html).

Entering this card in the following challenges:
http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ - Easter
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ - Easter
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ - Easter
http://scrapbooksisters.blogspot.com/ - Easter

Tic-Tac-Toe

This week the challenge at our Card Crafter's Circle challenge blog is to use the tic-tac-toe board shown above. You may pick any of the items to use on your card as long as they are in a row. You may go horizontal, vertical or from corner to corner. Any direction you want, as long as you use the three items that are next to each other. For my card, I used the first box, the middle box and the last box (upper left corner, middle, bottom right corner).

We are happy to welcome back Whoopsie Daisy as our sponsor for this week's challenge! Our randomly drawn challenge winner will receive their choice of 2 sheets of Whoopsie Daisy images... which is 8 images! These are adorable images (check out more by seeing what the other DT members used at http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/).

My card base is green card by Bazzill. On top of that, I layered solid pink card and a DP. I actually got the piece of DP out of my scrap stash. I was thrilled that it matched everything so perfectly, and I didn't have to cut into a new piece of paper. It is always nice to be able to "use up" some of the lovely papers we tend to collect in our crafting. I cut the butterfly, the doily circle behind my image and the small decorative circle behind my sentiment from the solid pink using my Spellbinder dies and a hand punch (the butterfly).

I printed my little image onto Xpress-It card and coloured with my Copic markers. I also added some 3-D Crystal Lacquer by Sukura to some of the bubbles the little girl has blown, giving them some depth and gloss. I ran pink satin ribbon over the DP and under the die cuts and tied the bow to the side. The flowers are by Wild Orchid Crafts, and the little pearls on the butterfly's body are by Recollection.

I hope you will be inspired to try your hand at our Tic-Tac-Toe board and enter your creation in the challenge this week at Card Crafter's Circle.

Challenges:
http://cachallenge.blogspot.com/ - Spring
http://celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com/ - Spring
http://littledarlingschallenges.blogspot.com/ - Spring is in the Air
http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes with a Butterfly/Angel/Fairy
http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes

Pretty in Pink (and Green)

I have not been in a creative mood lately. The weather has been so beautiful (and warm) that I've just wanted to spend the time outside (despite the bazillion pollen count). We had a really mild winter, so the warmer temps shouldn't be such a treat. However, add in the lengthening daylight, and the body/mind is thinking spring and outside. This would be all fine and good EXCEPT that I have some DT projects that need to be done! Can't exactly take them outside which is a total bummer!

So, knowing the DT assignments are hanging heavily over my head, what do I do instead? Yuppers, the little card above. This charming Saturated Canary image was already coloured up and was calling my name. Afterall, if I'm going to try to entice my Muses back to a work schedule, shouldn't I do it slowly (grin).

For this little card, I started with pink Bazzill card as my base. I rounded the two right side corners and then added the green stripe paper on top. I also rounded the edges. I then cut a square of cream paper that has green circles and pink butterflies, which I matted with the same pink as the card base. The green stripy paper and the other DP are both by Close to My Heart. I've had it for a number of years, so it isn't available any longer.

I printed my digital image onto Xpress-It card and coloured it with my Copic markers. I then cut it down and matted it on green card. I cut a strip of white and punched it using a Fiskar's border punch. I then topped that with that pretty pink and white dotty ribbon. Lastly, I added three green gems to the upper left. Easy peasy, but I really like the effect. Those Saturated Canary images with their big eyes and long, flowing hair are stunners, eh? I have several others all coloured up and waiting to be put on a card or project - AFTER I complete my DT projects, though (sigh).

Maybe my independent, wayward Muses will quickly learn that they can play all they want once their chores are finished -- humph, my children had a hard time with that concept, and these Muses can be just as stubborn!

I'm going to enter this little Lass in the following challenges:

http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ - Use some green
http://www.4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ - Chicks Rule
http://thepoodlesparlour.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://sweetnsassydigis.blogspot.com/ - Use a Digi Image, Green
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ - Girly

Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from the Latin aurum); yet, legend, myth and history have countless tales about the search for this elusive substance. Countries have based their economy system on the gold standard. Fine jewelry is made from this element. Buildings and shrines are encased with it. Gold is a symbol of great wealth and beauty. This week at Card Crafter's Circle, we'd like to see what you do with gold.

This week we are excited to introduce a new sponsor to our challenges, Milk Coffee! Our randomly drawn challenge winner will receive their choice of 3 Milk Coffee images. But wait.... there's more!
The awesome designers at Milk Coffee, will also provide one image to each of our chosen Top 3! How generous is that?

My card this week uses the Milk Coffee image "Tiffany Diva." Tiffany is a beautiful little lady all decked out for a formal affair. I printed the image onto Cryogen card and coloured her with my Copic markers. I picked up the red from the roses in Tiffany's hair and on her dress as my background colour. I first used black card as my base and placed the red on top of that. I then used Cheery Lynn die B159 and cut a black and a gold border. The gold is a beautiful matte gold paper. I adhered the gold border to the top of the black so the black peeked out ever so slightly, giving a shadow effect and making the gold stand out against the red better. I matted my image with both black and red. I printed my sentiment, "You've Got Style" onto a piece of scrap Cryogen and cut it into a circle. I then used a Spellbinder die (sorry, it doesn't have a name or product number) to cut the design from gold to hold the sentiment and added two red gems. Lastly, I adhered a gold metal corner piece to the upper right hand corner.

This image is so pretty that I tried to keep it the main focus of this card while still getting the gold for my challenge onto the card. I hope you will be inspired to add a little gold to your crafting this week and enter your art in the challenge at Card Crafter's Circl (http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/).

May all your crafting experiences be golden!

A Tisket, A Tasket, Here's Another Basket

When I first saw this little Marianne Craftable die (CR1209), I thought, "What in the world can I do with this?" It is a small die (only about 2" from handle to bottom and only about 2 1/4" wide). However, when I got started making this card, the little die turned out to be one of my favorites of the Marianne Craftables basket dies. The size makes it a perfect addition to a little tag (I used Marianne LR0154), and I already owned a tiny hand held flower punch that proved to be just perfect (although the die does contain "flat"  flowers and folage inside the basket, I like a 3-D effect more).

For this card, I started with a pink card base. I then placed a layer of designer paper on top. I topped the DP with a layer of solid pink card which I matted with the same card as the base card. I then cut the lacy background using my Cricut and the Paper Lace cartridge. Before placing the paper lace layer, I added pink satin ribbon but placed the bow atop the lace panel. Lastly, I added a butterfly that I cut using Marianne Creatable die LR0153, and the birthday sentiment which I matted with both the pink colours. I cut the basket out twice -- once from green card and once from brown. I cut the handle and basket from the brown and adhered it over the green cut. This allowed the green folage to show through. I then punched the tiny flowers using my hand punch. I took my ball flower tool and pressed into the center of each little flower so that it would cup. To the center of the flowers, I added tiny pearls.

I have enjoyed using the Marianne basket dies. There are four different styles in the set (you can get them from Dutch Paper Crafts), and each one makes lovely and versatile shapes. This was a fun assignment to do.