Life Would Be Unbearable...

Friday was my wedding anniversary. Hubby and I have been married 36 years (of course I got married when I was 12). We met in California when we were both attached to the 54th Military Police Company at Fort Ord.

So I made this anniversary card for hubby. I used a Squigglefly digi image called Polar Bears by artist Deena Parreault. I used it because the inside of my card has the sentiment: "Life would be unbearable without you in it!"
I love using all shades of teal, so I decided to go with a color-blocking card design. It really is a very simple clean card, which I do very rarely, but sometimes you know you have to change up your style so you don't get into a slump.
Have a Squigglefly image and an idea for a card? Come join the new challenge at the Squigglefly Challenge Blog:
"Go to the Corner! Ever get told that by your teacher? Well I am telling you now because that is the challenge this week! Let's see a wonderful card and top it off some fun decor in the corner. A die cut, embellishment, punch? I can't wait to check out what you make!"
As you can see, I used both white and black pearls in my corners to jazz up the blocks of color. So, what are YOU going to put into your corners for this challenge? Whatever you decide on, have fun and keep crafting!

Candy War

 Today I have another Halloween card.  I decided to use another stamped image from artist Coriander Shea Detwiler, called Orc.

I like to celebrate halloween in a BIG way, with lots of decorations, handmade cards, special treats, bowlfuls of candy, and hopefully a day off!  So for this card I used a Queen Kat Designs stamp.  I decided to go, well, BIG!  I stamped the image several times and made an army of trick or treaters!!

I found some pieces of leftover patterned papers in my Halloween stash. I used the biggest piece in my background, and tore a piece of stitched paper for the "battle ground".  I fussy-cut the pieces of candy corn to make the "spoils of war".

I colored my Orcs with my Copics, keeping them all in different shades of green.  The sentiment was from a snag in the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby.

If a homeowner is brave enough to answer their call for candy, I think they'll bring in a great haul of treats, don't you?  Orc by Coriander Shea can be found this month in the QKD SHOPPE. along with more fun Halloween stamps.

BOO! said the Warrior ORC

...and if I met an Orc who said BOO to me, I would not want to stick around!  I saw ALL the Lord of the Rings movies.  Those Orcs were creepy.  But...
this little Orc doesn't seem very creepy, does he?  In fact, he looks a little, shh, don't let him hear... well...CUTE!

This Queen Kat Designs stamp is called ORC and is from artist Coriander Shea Detwilter.  I found some small leftover pieces of patterned papers that seemed to build a landscape of sorts for my little warrior.  I cut out some glittery clouds from another piece of patterned paper and popped a beautiful, flourish-y 3D Halloween sticker on my card.  Then I colored my image with Copics and adhered him onto the Halloween flourish.  I added an orange "BOO" sentiment label to finish off my card.

Do you like Halloween as much as I do?  Show off your love for this spooky holiday with a card using one of the many Halloween stamps, like ORC by Coriander Shea, offered at the SHOPPE!!

Who Wants Candy???

Every month or so, my mom, sisters and I get together for a girtls' day out.  Most times we go to my single sister's house where the distractions of kids and husbands is absent.  Often we invite my daughter, who is a senior in high school.  Now that I have a daughter-in-law, we invite her too.  And every so often, each of us brings a little gift for the others.

Here is my gift to each of them for October.  I had such fun coloring Winnie, a Squigglefly digi image, for this week's challenge, that I had to make more.  Then I found a fantastic deal at Goodwill, and as you can see, I have a candy box for each of them!!

These little houses even came with the little scoop you see in the forefront of the photo.  I really had a hard time embellishing the container--not because I didn't have enough Halloween goodies to put on--I had too many!!  I wanted people to be able to see the goodies inside, so I had to be very conservative with my embellishments.

I lined the bottom of my box with felt fusions black spider webs.  Lucky I had some spray adhesive--nothing else worked!!  I attached a piece of patterned paper to the oputside bottom of the box, with the pattern viewable from the inside.  I also attached another piece to the back protion of the roof.  A Halloween sticker sits on the front of the roof, and a few stars are scattered around the sides of the box.

Winnie, by artist Jane Beljo, stands waiting to welcome guests to take their treats.  I colored her with Copics and used dimensional tape to attach her.  The front part of the roof opens, and the scoop has a slot in which it rests with the handle sticking out, just like at those bulk candy stores.

Do you like Winnie?  She's available for purchase--the nice thing about digi's is that you get them FAST! right to your email.  You can also resize them, turn them around and even print in different colors (although I haven't tried that one yet LOL).  Go check out the Squigglefly Store and after you get some images, join us at Squigglefly Challenge Blog for a chance to win some images FREE!

Spooky Squigglefly Challenge Card

Today I had lots of fun with a cute Squigglefly digi image called Winnie from artist Jane Beljo.  I popped her onto a stair-step card.  This type of card is easy to make, but lots more fun to embellishment!  There are loads of tutorials on PaperCraft planet and Splitcoast Stampers.

I colored Winnie with Copics and fussy-cut her.  Then I started on the scene of her trick-or-treating adventure.  I had some lovely spider web felt fusion border leftover from previous projects, so I used it on the first, shortest "step".  I added some card candy receive in a swap on my Yahoo Group, Your Scrapbook Place.
Next I wanted to set the scene with some 3D stickers I had in my Halloween stash.  That went into the background onto my third, tallest "step".
Then I took my time deciding where to place Winnie, as she is the focus of my card, and I didn't want to lose her.  From there, I added a couple tombstones and some floating ghosts and my card is complete.
I love to make these stair step cards, as their presentation is so pretty, whether it's in the envelope or standing up on someone's desk.  I hope you like my card.  It's going to be entered into Squigglefly's newest challenge, which is to make a Halloween card.  I think my card qualifies, don't you?? LOL
If you haven't started to collect Squigglefly digi images yet, click for some FREEBIES and you will be hooked on their huge offering of cute, realistic, vintage, quirky and/or whimsical images.  There are images for everyone and anyone's card making tastes!  Then enter your card into the Squigglefly Challenge Blog for a chance to win free digi's!!!  Free and free, that's my kind of challenge!!
Meanwhile, crafters, have fun with the season and keep crafting!

Playing with Your Food

Today I want to show off a card I made using a House Mouse stamped image.  When it comes to Halloween treats, to each his own, I say.  My hubby likes those nasty, I mean not-tasty-to-me, peanut butter kisses that are wrapped in orange and black paper.  I like the caramels, which he can't stand.
So these little mice are more than happy with their Halloween haul of peanuts!  And let's face it, when we have a treat in front of us, the world is right.  It is the simple pleasyres in life that make it so.
I colored my image with COpics, double-matted it and popped it onto a piece of leftover patterned paper.  I used K&Co Fall-colored borders, threading my fibers through the top border.
Inside I put a "definition" quote sticker about Autumn and a lovely stamped sentiment about friendship.  I am in a House Mouse & Friends Card Swap for September on PaperCraft Planet and this is going out ot my partner with a little treat.

Do You Dream in Color?

I do!  That's where I was inspired to make this card using the colors shown here.  Memories of my dream are hazy now.  I remember a bonfire, with purple smoke billowing from it, in a forest of greens sparkling in the firelight.  So when I started coloring Shire Uni by artist Marianne English, I naturally grabbed Copics in those colors I slept with.

I circle cut out my image and distressed it with Tim Holtz Bundled Sage Distress Ink.  The patterned paper is leftover from a previous project, and I glitzed it up with some Stickles and jewels.  Some jewel flourishes finish off my card.
Shire Uni can be found at the QKD SHOPPE, along with so many gorgeous images and fabric blocks.

Tropical Wedding Layout

Last month, my son married the love of his life.  Since he is signing up for the next deployment, they decided they couldn't wait to tie the knot, but they didn't have enough time for "the big day".  So they planned a simple civil service for now, and will celebrate the sacrament of marriage when he returns.
The ceremony was held at our local lake, and his godmother, my sister, officiated.  Family and a few close friends were invited.

After the ceremony, hubby and I raced home because the reception was in our backyard, and stupid me didn't think to cater.  The theme was tropical, so the menu and decorations were in a luau theme.  We even had a Tiki Bar.
I had hired a photographer for the photos at the lake, and depended on relatives to take enough pictures at the house to satisfy everyone.  I just got some of my nephew's pictures developed and put together my first layout, which is in a shadowbox frame, now hanging in our living room.  I used a few photos and some of the items I made for the day, along with embellishments that show off the tropical theme.
The background is a piece of linen, and I hot-glued the straw and shells to the bottom.  Most of the photos and memorabilia was adhered with 2-sided tape, and the lei, being plastic, had to be glued on with some scotch quick dry glue.
The best part?  I placed it along the wall where my large mirrored shadow box shelf and a register clock hang, and all three pieces match perfectly!
So now I'm a grandma to five grandchildren, as my new daughter-in-law had four of her own.  The house comes alive with the sound of laughter and music and love when they visit.  I am so happy for my son!!

Christmas Magic

Last year I started a tradition in my house.  Our living room Christmas tree was decorated completely with handmade ornaments--by me, my mom, my gram, my kids, my extended family members--and it was beautiful!  Not only did it look gorgeous, but every time I glanced at it, an ornament caught my eye and I had the best memories from each and every one of them.
So from now on my tree upstairs will be one filled with handmades.  I'm making more ornaments this year to add to my collection.  I expect to share a little crafting time with my grandkids, too, and maybe add onto my collection with theirs as well.

Here is a glass globed ornament that I altered. I stamped and colored a Crafters' Companion stamp onto a transparency sheet.  This image is from the Cute Companions collection and is called Christmas Magic.
I like that you can see my colored image on both front and back. Inside the globe, it seems to float on the snow and glitter.  I made the snow by rubbing two styrofoam balls together--(it's a lot like white FlowerSoft).  Once the little bit of Stickles on the snowflakes was dry, I was ready to place it inside the globe.
And that's where I had an ah-ha moment (more like an uh-oh moment)--how was I going to get that image through that tiny hole and into the globe??  After a lot of thinking, I ended up using a pair of tweezers and rolled my image tightly, stuffing it into the globe and miraculously, it unrolled perfectly flat, as you can see!
To finish off my ornament, I tied a blue polka-dotted ribbon to the top.  I entered my ornament into the Crafters' Companion Blog Challenge.  This month they want a CC stamp used AND STRIPES and/or DOTS.  One lucky crafter will win a $30 gift certificate.  (I could use that to add to my growing collection of Spectrum Noir markers, or snag a bunch of newly-released stamp sets!!)

Eas(el)ing Into Christmas

I have the most festive Squigglefly digi images to show you today!  I couldn't decide which one to use for this week's Squigglefly challenge, so I made an easel card and showcased them both!!

The challenge is to use POLKA DOTS on your card.  I chose to use a piece of polka-dotted patterned paper from my stash.  With my card flat, it measures 6x6 and features Kris Kringle digi image by artist Marla Shega.  I love the depth of this image, and the vintage feel.

When my card is opened and standing on its "easel", you see Three Stockings Waiting by artist Lynne Stansbery, another realistic and beautiful digi image.

I colored both images with my Copics, then used a Sakura glitter pen for that tiny bit of shine that you probably can't see in these photos. I decided to tear my edges for a more distressed look, inking them as well..

 I embellished the top card front with a flower, handmade by my friend Shannon, as well as a crocheted heart from my friend Linda, both very talented artists.  I sprinkled a few red star buttons on the left as well.  Then added some diecut greenery and berries (red brads) to Kris' hat.

For the inside of my card, I just colored my image and framed it with darker cardstock.  Although I did add just a smidgeon of that Sakura gel pen to the candles, and a drop of Stickles to the flames for a little shine.

I think the card is good enough to leave for Santa when he comes around our house this December!  This year we jumped from one grandchild to five grandchildren!!  Our son got married and his new bride has three boys and a daughter!  We are going to have one terrific Christmas morning!!!

Squigglefly Challenge Blog offers weekly challenges, and if you use a Squigglefly digi image, you can be in the running for free digi's!  Click HERE if you need a freebie to start your Squigglefly collection.

And as always, friends, happy crafting!!

Brewing Some Halloween Treats

I made another Halloween card today using the Queen Kat Designs stamp called Cauldron Congregation by artist Coriander Shea Detwiler.  I love this cool ghoul--it puts the cute in to Halloween!

I found this piece of striped patterned paper that I thought would look great on my card, so I colored my image with Copics in colors that coordinated with it.  Framing it in black to make it pop off the paper led me to use black embellishments like the diecut leaf, the flower and the skittles.

A very simple card, but...
My card features a hidden element!.  Can you guess what it is? (hint: check out the blog post title)  What is Halloween without CANDY?

If you lift this little guy by his hat, you'll see what he is brewing, and it is a cauldron full of chocolate!!  Now that's what I call a delicious surprise!

For more inspiration and loads of fun and funky stamps, check out the QKD Shoppe!

Fishing for Candy

Have you checked the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog this month?  There's a new challenge and the theme is STRIPES AND DOTS.  
Crafter's Companion has a wonderful line of whimsical stamps called Popcorn the Bear.  One of the stamp sets in the Men's Collection is called Fishing Popcorn, obviously for summer fun or even a Father's Day card.  You can see what the set looks like here:

Anyway, I love using stamped images for holidays other than what they were originally designed for.  Like placing an image of a witch on a valentine's Day card, or a flag-waving turkey on a Fourth of July card.  So, my idea was to place Fishing Popcorn in the middle of Fall, participating in a little unique trick-or-treating!
Besides the Fall-themed patterned paper, I found a small leftover piece of orange-striped paper. I framed both pieces with black cardstock and placed them on a 6x6 card front.
I colored Popcorn with my Copics (I added to my Spectrum Noir collection but still don't have those browns).  Popcorn is sitting on part of a cardstock tag and framed by another one.  Instead of hooking a fish, he's looking toward a sweeter catch with his trick-or-treat bag.
I decided to add DOTS to my STRIPES by embellishing with a few dotted buttons.  A bit of eyelash fiber finishes off my challenge card. 
Have you entered the CC Challenge yet?  The winner of this challenge will receive a $30 gift certificate to the Crafter's Companion online store!  That's a lot of Spectrum Noir markers I could add to my collection!!  Then again, the new Christmas stamps are just being released!!  Decisions, decisions...

You Are the Wind Beneath my Wings

You have to love the sheer simplicity of a monochromatic palette.  This week Squigglefly offers crafters a challenge in just that--make a card with a monochromatic color scheme and use a Squigglefly digi image.  Everyone who plays gets a chance to win free digi's!

So here's my card, using several lovely shades of Pink!  And a bonus perk--it's all leftover from other projects!!  There's some DCWV Luxury patterned paper, K&Co sentiment sticker, even a feather!  The flowers is a handmade that I stickled for extra glitz and the pink frosting border (it does look like cake frosting, doesn't it?) was leftover from a clearance aisle purchase.

The only thing "new" on my card is my Squigglefly image.  This is a cute digi from artist Fawn Palmer called Fairy Pig.  I colored her with my Copics, using just two markers for her body, RV11 and RV00 (and a little green for the leaves in her flower barette).

It's your turn to play!  Have fun with just one color.  Remember, using one color opens up all kinds of possibilities when you think of all the different shades you can get with that one color!!

Shire Uni by Maryanne English

I've been playing with my Copics, trying to give depth to some new Queen Kat Designs images with just one color, sometimes just one marker!

I used a September soon-to-be-released stamped image from Maryanne English.  It's called Shire Uni.

I wanted to see if I could shade a white unicorn, and I think it turned out pretty well.  I used a different color for her mane and her tail, and used a Sakura glitter gel pen in black for the hooves.  I like to fussy-cut my images, and have a special scissors I use that resembles a set of tweezers.

Maryanne English has some beautiful stamps for sale in the SHOPPE, as well as the many other talented artsits who are featured there.  Come check them out during QKD's Labor Day Sale going on this weekend.

30% off unmounted rubber stamps. 

15% off on cross stitch patterns

15% off on fabric blocks

A Watched Pot Never Boils

And isn't that a lucky thing for this little ghoul?  Since he almost looks like the main course, or at least the main ingredient!!

This cute image is called Cauldron Congregation and it is a September Queen Kat Designs new release from artist Coriander Shea Detwiler.  It was love at first inking when I opened up my QKD envie and found him.
I knew I had to make a special card for his first debut, so I made a Step Card.  Have you made one yet??

If not, it's very easy!  Just cut a piece of cardstock to 5-1/2"x12".  Then, placing the cardstock horizontally, score at 1", 2", 4", 6", and 9".  From the end starting with the 1 inch scores, fold in and then out, mountain and valley folds, so that you end up with three "card fronts" of ascending height.

From there, you can cover with any patterned paper, stamped image and embellishments that strike your fancy!  For my card, I had some fall leaves patterned paper that I used to cover my three "card fronts" in varying heights. I fussy-cut the leaves at the top to give it some fullness and shape.

On the first, shortest front, I placed my Halloween sentiment, "Eeeek A Ghost!"  I added a spider and a black pearl on each end, and replaced the letter "O" with a googly eye.

On my second front, the one on which I personally like to showcase my stamped images, I colored Cauldron Congregation with my trusty Copics.  I added a few more colored ghosties and adhered them with dimensional dots for an even more 3D effect.  A painted wooden gravestone sits beside the unlikely gathering.

The tallest card front, or my background piece, sets the scene, with an extra ghost from the stamp.  In addition to it, I stamped QKD's Steampunk Butterfly and gave it Halloween coloring.  I couldn't help myself,  I had to add a googly eye to the body of my beastly butterfly.  I think it lends the card a more, well, unique look, don't you?

When you try this step-fold style of card, have fun with it!  And check out the QKD Shoppe for some killer Halloween stamps.  When you receive your new stamps, make sure to check out the Facebook Page to sign up for our 13 Days of Halloween Customer Blog Hop!  Fun, inspiration and prizes will definitely put the treat in your crafty trick-or-treating!!