Clean and Simple (CAS)

This week at Card Crafter's Circle, we will have TWO winners. We were blessed this week to have two sponsors who have both donated wonderful prizes for our winners (yes, plural).


Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is one of our wonderful sponsors. Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib. Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

We are also excited to introduce a new sponsor to our table... welcome Oak Pond Creations! Oak Pond is owned by Kim, a resident of my neighboring state of South Carolina. She has a delightful variety of charming images suitable for every occasion.

My card was made using one of Kim's images (Georgia's Daisies). Isn't it lovely? I printed the image onto Cryogen white card and colored it with my Copic markers. I used YR24, 23 and Y15 for the center. I colored the petals with C01 and C00. The sems are just G11. My ribbon/bow is colored with BG02, 01, 000, and 0000. The heart is R81, RV00.

I started with a white card base. On top of that, I used a paper from my scrap bag (sorry I don't remember who manufactured it) that looks like a piece of fabric with eyelit type embroidery (I know there is a term for that material, but I cannot recall what it is. I vaguely remember having a sundress when I was a little girl that was made out of that material -- hum, that was a while back.) I added ribbon and a bow the color of the bow in my image and a Cuddly Buddly sentiment which I colored around the edge with the BG02. I cut my image using my Spellbinder oval die, and I inked around the oval with Colorbox ink. I used foam dots to adhere my image and my sentiment so they popped up slightly.

There you have it, clean and simple! I think the card is lovely as it is -- no need for a lot of fru-fru added because the image is beautiful and stands on its own. What do you think?

Now, grab your papers, adhesive, and stamps (or digi images) and make your own clean and simple card. Then hop over to the Card Crafter's Circle challenge blog (simply click on the link at the side of my blog) and enter your work for a chance -- no, make that two chances -- to win some FAB prizes.

I am entering this card in:
http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/

Flowers and Wicker

I am playing again this week in the {Pin}spiration challenge. The photo we were given for our inspiration this week is:

Isn't this such a pretty, feminine looking bedroom? Anyway, after looking closely at the photo, I decided to use the colours, the white wicker and the flowers for my card. Using Hubby's stamp collecting magnifying glass, I determined the flowers on the bedspread are an aster/daisy looking flower, so I found a stamp among my hoard that I thought looked similar. I stamped the image onto Cryogen card with Momento Black Tuxedo ink.

Here is the card I came up with:

I colored the image using my Copic markers (yes, I kept the list of colours I used; no, I cannot find the list -- but I promise I'll add the colors as soon as I clean up in my craft room a little bit -- grin).

I started with a white card base and added a layer of of DCWV card which I embossed first. I thought this embossing folder (Geometric Rings by Cuttlebug) looked similar to the wicker in the canopy of the bed. I cut the flower image out using Spellbinder Labels 14. I cut a piece of darker orange card using the next size die from the set.

Lastly, I added three gold baubles to the top left of the card, white ribbon (edge with gold), and a sentiment.

I plan to enter this in:
http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/

Bring Out the Kid in You

This week at Card Crafter's Circle, our challenge is children. We would like for you to make a card (or other project) with a child in mind. Our current sponsor is Dearie Dolls, and  although the Dearie Dolls Shop is closed at the moment, they are still graciously sponsoring our challenges. The winner will have their choice of three images showcased by our Design Team!

I urge you to go visit the Dearie Dolls blog and see what is happening .... it's a blog full of freebies! And they are so adorable! Do leave some love in your comments when you collect the free images, won't you?

My card uses the Little Boy with Ice Cream image. Isn't he cute? When my three grandsons were little, they loved to hear the music of the ice cream truck signaling a run through the neighborhood. They would come running with hands out asking for ice cream money. I don't even know if there are such things as ice cream trucks any more, but I have fond memories of those little guys and the big smiles on their little faces as I grabbed my purse and we ran out to stop the truck. Sigh, all three of those little guys are now teens, one having graduated high school this past June.

OK, on to my DT card. I started with a white base. I added a layer of navy and then of the striped DP (from a pack by Making Memories called "Sydney.") Atop the striped paper, I placed a yellow dotty DP which was mounted on the same navy card. My little image is printed on X-press It brand card and coloured with my Copic markers (Shirt: YG97, 95, 93; Jeans: B26, 24, 23, 21, 12; Shoes: C5, 3, 1, E37, 35, 33, 31, 01; Hair: E17, 13, 11; skin: E01, 00, 93 and ice cream: E31, R32, 30). Using my Spellbinder wonky rectangle die, I cut out the image and lightly pounced Colorbox sky blue ink around the sides. I layered that onto a green that was from the same pack as the stripy paper.

The embellishments for my card are baker's twine which I threaded through a spiral paper clip and attached to the dotty yellow panel, and three green buttons in the upper right. The sentiment was computer generated and matted onto the yellow dotty DP and then the navy card.

There you have it! Do go over to the Card Crafter's Circle blog at http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/ and have a look at what my fellow DT members have created for your inspiration. The cards are fantastic (as usual), and I think you will definitely be inspired. It is not necessary, but if you want to use a Dearie Dolls image, remember there are lots of frees ones right now on their blog. There are quite a number of images perfect for a child's card. Go grab some!

Seeing Things Differently

Going to give the challenge at {Pin}spiration challenge blog another go this week. It is kind of fun seeing how a picture inspires people. This week's photo -- well, instead of trying to explain, let me just show you ---

Now, I noticed that most of the DT members went for the love and marriage aspect of the photo. Not that I'm not a romantic at heart -- can go all mush over a good love story -- but the thing that struck (and inspired me) was the colour scheme and over all "country" feel of the photo. I saw the golden grasses in the field, the black of her jacket (that may be dark navy denim, but it looks black to me), the barn red of his checkered shirt and the browns and creams. So, with that in mind, I used a Magnolia stamp from the new fall collection, and here it is ---

I started with "Tilda with Peanut" stamped on Cryogen paper with tuxedo black Momento ink. I then colored her with my Copic markers. I picked up the golden grasses in her scarf, the black jacket in her skirt and shoes, and the cream blouse with Tilda's sweater.

I used cream card for the base and DPs from 7 Gypsies. The ecru lace is from the French General collection by Jolee's Boutique, and my flowers are by Wild Orchid Crafts.

And there you have it. Now I'll go enter it in the challenge at:
http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/

Deja Vue

Are you, who follow me regularly, getting the feeling of deja vue? Yes? Well, there is a good reason for it. This card, sans the image, is an exact duplicate of one that I made not too long ago for a DT project. I liked it so much that when I decided to colour up this little Saturated Canary miss, I decided to use red and duplicate my previous efforts. The current challenge at the Saturated Canary blog is to use bling (and lots of it). Isn't this quite blingie?

I printed the image onto Cryogen card and coloured it up using my Copic markers. For the dress, hair bow and roses, I used R29, 27, 24 and 22. For the skin, I used E11, 01, 00 and 000. The hair was done with E35, 33, YR23. I coloured in the daisy type flower with Y35 and then coloured over them using Sakura Gelly Roll "clear star" pen to give them sparkle. Krista's image also had small circles in the hair which I interpreted as being gems or sparkles in the formal updo, so I placed tiny pearls over each of the circles for added bling and to match the pearl swirl on the side.

The three red flowers are by WOC, and the ribbon is a roll by Ofray that I purchased at Michael's.

I am entering this card in the challenge at:
 http:saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.com - Bling it On
http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.com/  - 3 of something (I used 3 flowers)
http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes

Christmas in July

This week at Card Crafter's Circle, our theme is Christmas in July. We are fortunate to have two sponsors this week (which means twice the prizes for our lucky randomly drawn winnter). First, we are welcoming back the wonderful  Happileigh Scrappin'. Leigh's delightful designs are perfect for any time of the year, but her wonderful Christmas designs are a pure delight. We are also welcoming a brand new designer sponsor, Stamp Art Design by Kathryne! I think you are going to very definitely want some of Kathryne's images in your collection, so do have a look.

For my DT card, I used a combination of images from both of our designers. My Hollybelle Bear image is from Kathryne (Stamp Art Design), and the small bells (around the circle) are from Leigh (Happily Scrappin').

I started with Kathryne's Hollybear image printed off on Cryogen card. I coloured it using my Copic markers. Because Hollybelle bear gave me a homespun feel after colouring him up, I chose craft card as my base and a simple craft and cranberry red patterned paper for my background. I simply added a strip of green which I wrapped with gold ribbon and bow. I cut a cranberry circle using my Spellbinder circle die on which to anchor Hollybear.

I then used the pre-coloured jingle bell image from the mini-Christmas collection by Happileigh Scrappin'. I printed off six bells and cut them all out. I then lightly shaped three of the bells using my flower tools stylis and rubber mat. I layered the slightly rounded bells on top of the second set of three that I'd cut, giving them a 3-D effect (cannot tell because I didn't take a side view photo for you -- hanging my head -- my bad). I finished off my little card with a sentiment I created on my computer which I matted atop cranberry and then craft papers.

We all look for Christmas cards that are quick to make, but have a definite wow factor. Time runs out during the holidays, but we still want to give our friends something special. I think this card meets those requirements. With Leigh's and Kathryne's images, you can create quick cards without sacrificing the WOW factor. Go over to the CCC blog (http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/) and have a look at what the other DT members have done with these FAB images. Then, make your own Christmas in July card and enter this week's challenge!

I am going to enter this little card in the following challenges:
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ - Christmas in July
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ - Christmas in July
http://stampwithsarahkay.blogspot.com/ - Christmas in Summer
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ = Christmas in July
http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - Christmas in July
http://lollipopcrafts.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/christmas-in-july-challenge-84.html - Christmas in July

Flower Fairy

This week I decided to make a card to submit in a challenge at a new blog called {Pin}spirational Challenges, http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/. I learned about this blog because my dear friend, Bonnie, is one of the DT members. Each week the blog finds a picture on someone's Pinterest board for the participants to use as inspiration. This week's inspiration picture is --

For my entry, I've used a free digi stamp (sorry, I don't know the designer). I've printed the image onto Cryogen card and coloured using the following Copic markers:

Dress & Stockings: BV04, 02, 01, 00, 000
Flowers: R81, 00 and Y12, 11
Leaves & Hat: G82, 43, 40, YG03, 01
Skin: E01, 00, R20
Wings: B000, B0000, CB

I used a piece of green Core'dinations card for the base, and all my DP is from a lovely little pad that I received this past week in the mail from the UK called "Butterfly Garden" by Wild Rose Studio. I've layered each piece of the DP with the green card. The lace is from Recollections (Michael's Crafts), as are the pink gems. The lighter roses are also by Recollections whereas the darker (top) roses are by Wild Orchid Crafts. I tried to colour the dress to look like a Petunia blossom. I think it is close, don't you (grin)?


As I mentioned earlier, I am entering this card in the challenge at http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/

Summer Holiday

As I sit here in my little area of the USA that has been experiencing 100+F (30-40+C) temperatures for the past several weeks, a summer holiday sounds pretty nice. However, I'd definitely head towards the mountains rather than the beach (grin). Sand and sunburn are not my idea of a fun holiday, not to mention the higher elevations are slightly cooler!

None the less, this week's challenge at Card Crafter's Circle (http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/) is summer holidays, and our wonderful sponsor, the uber-fabulous... Bugaboo Stamps, has provided us with some darling, mostly water related images with which to work. Not only that, but they are offering our randomly picked winner SEVEN adorable images of their choice. How cool is that?

My little image is JJ in August (http://www.bugaboostamps.com/JJ-Calendar-Months--August_p_1654.html). Isn't she a hoot? I had a lot of fun colouring her up with my copic markers and then using such fun, colourful papers to create this summer time card.

Starting with a yellow card base, I cut a layer of bright green, then a layer of patterned paper (DCWV). At the bottom, I layered a bit of torn tan to look like sand, and then I cut the waves from another piece of the DCWV paper. I used green baker's twine around the sand strip and added sea shells in the lower right corner. To finish off, I added two small yellow buttons at the top and the sentiment "Have a sun shiney day" along the side of the image. Both the image and the sentiment were matted on the green.

I do hope you will stop by the CCC blog site and have a look at the sample cards my teamies have made to inspire you for this challenge. They have really shown their creativity and their humour this week. You will definitely enjoy what you see!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/challenge-33-summer-fun.html
http://clearlyistamp.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/07/clearly-inspired-challenge-55-cic55.html#comments
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/
http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/