Happy New Year from the Outlawz

Getting ready to start a new art journal for the New Year. It's out with the old and in with the new! I'll be trying new techniques, using new media and generally learning and soaking up inspiration wherever and whenever it appears.
So of course I had to embellish my new journal to start the inspirational juices flowing. I adhered a strip of metallic ribbon down the center before adding a Copic-colored digi image from one of my new fave companies, Aurora Wings. Isn't she adorable? She's called Mistletoe Fairy and I had fun playing with the shades of green I used for her hair.
I added some flourishes and pearls to the cover after adhering a spray of flowers and a clock sticker (time flies when you're creating). Of course, my sentiment bows its hat to the coming new year: "Out with the Old, In with the New." Every project entered into the Outlawz Greetings Challenge needs to have a sentiment.
Speaking of which, the new challenge this week is Happy New Year! So my project fits in perfectly! You don't have to make cards for the Greeetings challenge at the Outlawz, but your project does need a sentiment. This week our sponsor is Aurora Wings--I just might have to go to her store before the old year winds down!
Kick off 2015 with a fun challenge at the Outlawz!! Other challenges I am entering:
Craft My Life - Anything Goes but NOT a Card
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Anything CUTE and NOT a Card
My Creative Moments - New Somethings
Not Just Cards Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Friendships Are Golden

I'm meeting a very dear friend I met while in college. We have kept in touch through the years. Her son is one year older than my daughter. We live within twenty minutes of each other.
Lately it seems our lives have become busier, with less time to spend together. So this New Year's eve, we'll meet up, share some memories and laughs, vent our frustrations, cry on each others' shoulders, and then go to our separate homes, each knowing that no matter how much time goes by, our friendship will survive.
I made this card for my friend Janie. Although we didn't grow up together, we matured together, and this image, a Squigglefly December new release from artist James Horvath, pretty much says it all to her. Her friendship warms my heart, and I am so blessed to have it.
After coloring my image, called "Girl Scouts," with Copics, I fussy-cut the girls out and popped them onto a K&Co frame. after embellishing the front, I decided to cut around the edge of the frame, giving my card an interesting edge.
I hope everyone has a good friend in their lives.
You can find "Girl Scouts and more images from James Horvath HERE. Have fun and Happy Holidays!

Outlawz Are Going Non-Traditional this Christmas

Hello my holiday peeps! Time for the last few cards to show off before the big day! This one showcases a lovely image from Digital Delights called Holiday Flippity Felicia and non-traditional Christmas colors. That's the new theme at the Outlawz Greetings challenge. nd Digital Delights is this week's sponsor!
After coloring Felicia, I fussy-cut her and popped her onto a royal blue piece of cardstock. I added lace, ribbon, pearls and snowflake buttons, along with some burgundy colored branches to embellish the heck out of my card.
I think it turned out well!
She's going to my blue-eyed blonde haired granddaughter, whose presents are lying under the Christmas tree as I write. She is he youngest of my five grandkids and they are all the loves of my life.
Need some "me time" during the hectic holiday preparations? I find peace and balance in my craft room. If you like to craft to keep your sanity, play along with the Outlawz Greetings challenge this week. Remember, make a Christmas card with non-traditional colors! See you there!

Kiss Me It's Christmas (almost)!

A while back, Betty of Simply Betty had a birthday bash and offered up a couple freebies on her Facebook page. I managed to snag this lovely and finally got a chance to give her some life.
Her name is "Kiss Me Betty" and I've used her on one of the last Christmas cards of the year. She looked like the type of girl who would like green hair-I think she looks good in green, don't you?
This card is a Z-fold card, with a holiday sentiment inside. I'm finished (I hope) with all my shopping and my cards and groceries (I'm hosting dinner). I just need to get my turkey for the big day!
How about you? Are you exhausted or full of excited energy? Are you finished shopping or just starting?

Have Faith in Your Dreams while on the Path of Positivity

'tis the month for making Christmas gifts, and I created this mixed media canvas for a friend's daughter who has always dreamed of being a musician. Not a music teacher, but a member of an orchestra. She is in her senior year of college, and has been working hard, playing violin and flute, entering contests, winning scholarships, and just this year sending out her portfolio all over the country.
But times, they are difficult, and there isn't a lot of call for violinists or flautists just out of college. She is, of course, taking education courses so that she'll be able to teach, but she still has faith in her dreams.
I do, too. I have watched her grow from a spirited child struggling with the bow to a mature and caring young woman, pouring her heart and soul into her music. I have faith that wherever her path will lead her in life, music will be the biggest part of her journey.
Today's canvas showcases the theme of FAITH, an important part of my life, and the theme for this month's Path of Positivity challenge blog. I used a digital image from Fresh Brewed Designs called Daydreaming. I also used a sentiment from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, my go-to place for sentiments!

The sponsors and prizes for this challenge are:

• A prize package of a $7 gift certificate to the Pickled Potpourri Designs store (good for any digital product) for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• Three digital images from Fresh Brewed Designs for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

• One digital designer paper (made to order in a few different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

So, what's your creative take on the theme of Faith? Come show us at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. Everyone can use a boost during this holiday season. Whether you come to share some positivity or to find some, all are welcome!

Happy Holidays to You from Squigglefly

Squigglefly offers this December new release digi image from artist Sandra Caldwell, and I am one lucky duck for getting to play with it!!
He's called "Santa and His Birdie." He is so stinkin' cute.
I colored him with Copics and framed him with a window card. Patterned paper is a piece of leftover from my stash files, along with that sentiment and flower. ut with the old, and in with the new!
Making holiday cards this week? Use a Squigglefly image and enter it in their challenge for your chance to win free digis! Get a freebie HERE.

Sing Along with the Outlawz Greetings challenge This week

Here's my card for this week's newest challenge from the Outlawz Greetings.

The challenge is to use music on your project. I used musical patterned paper to frame my image. It's called Emma the Caroler by this week's sponsor, Fred She Said.
After coloring her with Copics, I fussy-cut her before popping her on my musical patterned paper. I added beautifully-foiled reindeer stickers to my card, along with die-cut snowflakes. I stamped my sentiment, which is required on the Greetings challenges.
There's a lot of inspiration over at the Outlawz-come check us out!
Other Challenges I am Entering:
A Gem of a Challenge - Anything Christmas
The Corrosive Challenge blog - Anything Goes
I Love to Create Challenge blog - Create a Scene
Come & Get It Challenges - Merry Christmas
That Craft Place Challenge blog - Christmas
Imagination Crafts Challenge blog - Anything Goes

Here's Another Card for Bugaboo!

I am in my glory, relaxing and crafting in my favorite room of the house, where all my papers and embellishments are at my fingertips. So I decided to make another card featuring a Bugaboo digi image. This one is called "Reindeer Silhouette Snow Globe."
I colored the image very minimally and fussy-cut the image out, framing it with a homemade red shimmer spray. Bugaboo's Catch the Bug Challenge blog offers another challenge called Stella Says Sketch Challenge. Here's the sketch for this one:

 As you can see, I took a little poetic license with the sketch, but the framed image, framed patterned strip, and sentiment are all there, just skewed a bit. LOL
So, crafters, get your Bugaboo images colored, make a card and join me in the Stella Says Stamp Sketch Challenge #221.

Challenges I am Entering
Come & Get It Challenge - Merry Christmas

Bugaboo Wants to Know if You've Been Naughty or Nice

My card today is for a fabulous friend with a fiendish sense of humor. The image is a digi from Bugaboo called "JJ Christmas Box." I fussy-cut her out after coloring her with Copics, then popped her onto my embellished card. She comes with the sentiment, "I asked Santa for the Sexiest person EVER for Christmas...I woke up in a box!"

I'm almost finished with my Christmas card-making. How about you? If you need to make a few more, head over to the Bugaboo Store for some great images. Then enter your card into their Naughty or Nice Themed Challenge!

Other Challenges I am Entering:
The Corrosive Challenge - Anything Goes
Open-Minded Crafting - Unusual Christmas
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Naughty Christmas
A Gem of a Challenge - Anything Christmas

Emboss or Diecut Your Way toward the new Squigglefly Challenge

Deck the halls with dry embossing, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la-la!

You can use any of your diecuts,

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la-la!

Squigglefly is offering prizes,

Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la, la, la!

Post a card and use their digi,

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la-la!

Today I made a card using both embossing and diecuts, although the new challenge only asks you to use one or the other. I also used a Squigglefly image from Cheryl Grant Alger called "Punkin Pick-up." I colored it up with Copics and fussy-cut it. I made my "scene" using an embossed card front of snowflakes, then added a diecut border of pine trees.

I added a Santa hat to the little girl, and finished off my card with a small sentiment sticker. 

Time to play in this week's Squigglefly challenge. Just use a Squigglefly image and embossing or diecuts for your chance to win!

Patterns and Bling Are the Thing at Outlawz Greetings Challenge

Another Monday, another fun challenge at the Outlawz Greetings Challenge! This week crafters are asked to "USE THREE PATTERNED PAPERS AND SOME BLING." My three patterned papers are the background/base layer, the (roller coaster) border of Christmas lights, and the strip of fun colored dots. I blinged my image with a pink Sakura gel pen.
After adding the sentiment, I had this somewhat large "pink space" that begged for embellishments, but not too much or the card would tip into the gaudy awards section. So I used a small pink feather. I have a box of them in all colors that I love finding ways to incorporate on cards.
My image is from this month's Outlawz Greetings sponsor, Lacy Sunshine. The image is called "Coco's Holiday Ornament." I rummaged in my stash of stamped sentiments and found just the right one, I think.
If your patterned paper stash is overflowing, take it down a notch by using three pieces on a card with some bling. Then you can play in the Outlawz Greetings challenge this week!
Challenges I am entering:
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion blog - Non-Traditional Christmas
The 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up - Christmas cards
lOVE TO cREATE cHALLENGE bLOG - nON-tRADITIONAL hOLIDAY cOLORS

Fave Project Month at SBP!

Have you checked out the new challenge at Your Scrapbook Place? It runs for a month and it started on Monday.

"This challenge is about reminiscing. We have all made cards, scrapbook pages and other crafting items. This isn’t just about paper crafting, anything project you have made. 

The challenge is to pick your favorite crafted item that you made and post a picture of it along with why it’s your favorite. If you posted about your item, then feel free to link that post"

I think my favorite projects are those I made for my son's wedding. From invitations to favors, menus to boutonnieres, ring pillow to wedding card treasure box, I put a lot of time, sweat and love into each  item. 
The wedding was beach-themed and my now daughter-in-law lived and breathed Pinterest and YouTube. I am blessed that my son married a fellow crafter!
One of the wedding gifts I gave her was a Martha Stewart 18x18 Scrapbook with refill pages. She is still filling that puppy up! LOL

 

After the wedding I scored a shadow box frame on clearance and made a montage of wedding photos and memorabilia.

So, these are my fave projects, the things that mark my fave memories. I hope you have some great memories and some favorite projects to share with SBP Challenge blog this month.

Brand New Challenge at the Outlawz Starts Today - Freebie Progressive!

Today I made a card for the grand opening of a new challenge at the Outlawz. It's the new monthly Freebie Progressive Challenge, running from December 1st through the last day of the month, and repeating each month of 2015.
Their first sponsor is Simply Betty Stamps, and does she have a lot of great images to choose from. We all got to use the image above, called Tangled Wednesday, to kick off the new challenge. And guess what? You can too!
The rules are very simple: join the challenge, send them an email to outlawzprogressivechallenge@gmx.com and then enter a project made with the image supplied before 6:00pm Outlawz Time on the last day of the month and you will automatically get the next image free. Now, who doesn't like FREE?!
So, on to my card. The image is, as I wrote, called Tangled Wednesday. I colored her with my trusty Copics, adding a little shine to her image. As she's tangled with Christmas tree lights, I added an over-sized Christmas bulb to the end of her card. My colors didn't photograph well, but they really are all shades of teal.

Having Faith in the Path of Positivity Challenge this month

Today we trip lightly along the Path of Faith. Faith isn't something we can see or touch. It's not something  we can wrap our minds around. Faith is something that you feel in your heart and soul. It is taking that first step without seeing the path. It's trusting that a higher power will see you through. It's letting go of control.
Faith is something I sometimes have difficulty keeping. It's easy to keep when things are going swell. But who in the world has a life without strife? Who hasn't thrown up their hands in anxiety, fear, longing, despair?
That's when it is most difficult but most rewarding to keep the faith-to trust that you will survive, you will thrive, you will triumph.
So when life creates a stumbling block on your path, have faith that you won't trip-and if you do, you will come out on top and reach your journey's end!
Today I made a Christmas card that to me features faith, which is the theme of the Path of Positivity's challenge this month. I used a lovely digi image from Pickled Potpourri called Christmas Candle. I printed and colored the image twice, cutting out the candle and circular sentiment from one so I could add some dimensional tape and give my card depth.
I love the image in its rich simplicity, so I didn't want to overwhelm it with lots of embellishments. I only added a border of sparkly white poinsettias from K&Co. My patterned paper was from DCWV. Of course, I inked the edges of the image and the sentiment with Tim Holtz Distress Ink.
This month's sponsors at the Path of Positivity Challenge blog are Pickled Potpourri and Fresh Brewed Designs.

The sponsors and prizes for this challenge are:

• A prize package of a $7 gift certificate to the Pickled Potpourri Designs store (good for any digital product), from our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• Three digital images from Fresh Brewed Designs for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

• One digital designer paper (made to order in a few different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

The blog has featured a guest designer to showcase our sponsors' images. Her name is Sue. Please check out Sue K. from Sue's Paper Crafts and leave her a little love. 

Challenges I am entering:

Corrosive Challenge Blog - Happy Everything
The 12 Months of Christmas card Link Up - Christmas cards

Skipping Tradition with the New Squigglefly Challenge

Today brings a new challenge from Squigglefly, and they want us to show them holiday and seasonal cards that have not one dot of RED or GREEN on them! Gasp! Use non-traditional colors only on your cards and a Squigglefly image and you can play for free digis!

I made a winter card using Squigglefly's "Smooth Sailing"  a digital image from Cheryl Grant Alger. I tried a new design, with an extra fold and a "sloping" top edge. I love the way it looks, both open and closed!
I used Stickles on the edges of my snow hills. The card fits into a standard business envie for easy mailing, too!

Tired of the old red & green color scheme? Try your hand a t a holiday card and have your way with other colors. Use a Squigglefly image and come play in this week's challenge for your chance to win!

Challenges I am Entering:
Imagination Crafts Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

New Challenge at the Outlawz Greetings This Week

Copics dried up? No sharpener for your colored pencils? No worries! Outlawz Greetings challenge this week is for Black-and-White, no coloring on your card!
I thought it was going to be difficult, but it's easy because you don't have to pull out all your papers and inks and embellies to make sure they match or coordinate with each other. Just black and white for a simple yet elegant look!
I used a digi image called "Chubby Snowman" from the Outlawz Greetings Challenge sponsor this week, The Stamping Boutique.
 
I printed my image and colored a few spots with black Copic markers and gave it sparkle with white diamond Stickles. Then I framed it and my sentiment with black cardstock. My patterned papers are from the Paper Studio. I added a few musical notes, snowflakes and a pretty organza bow and mt card is finished. It literally only took about two minutes!
If you haven't tried to create a black-and-white only card yet, try your hand at it. Don't forget to post it on the Outlawz Greetings challenge for your chance to win prizes from our monthly sponsors!

Challenges I am Entering:
Corrosive Challenge Blog - Happy Everything

A DEAR Challenge from Squigglefly

This week, Squigglefly challenges us to use a DEER on our project, or the word DEAR in our sentiment. Since I didn't have a deer image, I opted to go with the word DEAR in my sentiment.
I created an easel card using a Squigglefly digi image from one of their newest artists, Sal Schiebe. The image is called "Fairy on a Stool."

After coloring her with my Copics, I fussy-cut her and framed her with a paper doily I sprayed with homemade shimmer sprays. The patterned paper was part of a 12x12 page from which I cut out the corner "shrubbery."
My sentiment was printed in Microsoft Word, and I highlighted the word DEAR to make sure it fit in the challenge guidelines.
I love making easel cards, as they are so simple to create and have a great presentation. They are my go-to card. Using images from Squigglefly give me so much choice as the number of their artists keep growing, any style is satisfied! Check out the Squigglefly Store! And then use one of their images and the word DEAR in your sentiment or a DEER image and come play in this week's Squigglefly challenge for your chance to win!

Anything Goes at the Outlawz Greetings Challenge

It's the last challenge of the month at the Outlawz Greetings challenge, and you know what that means!  ANYTHING GOES!!

Our sponsor this time around is the fabulous Rick St. Dennis.

 

I got to play with this awesome holiday image. It's called Starry Night Santa. I love the details in this image. I can just imagine Santa holding a star aloft and all the elves at the North pole oohing and aahing, and then cheering as he lets the star go and it rises high in the dark sky to light Santa's once a year sleigh ride (He's got to have more magic up his sleeves than a few flying reindeer).

After coloring my Red Man with Copics, I distressed with Tim Holtz Ink, matted it and popped him on some leftover patterned Christmas paper. A bit of K&Co Holiday border lines the bottom edge of my card, and I cut a few extra stars to frame Santa. 

I finished off my card with a DCWV cardstock sentiment sticker, and a leftover floral sticker. To add a little detail, I used my white gel pen to highlight some of Santa's cape, as well as put in some hand-sewn (faux) stitches to keep the stars in their places.

I hope you like my card, and I know you'll like the images that Rick St. Dennis offers at his shop. I hope my card inspires you to start your Christmas cards, entering the Outlawz Greetings Challenge in the meantime. Don't forget, you don't necessarily need a colored image, nor does it have to be a card, but it MUST have a sentiment on the front.

 

I'm entering my card using 2012 Starry Night Santa from Rick St Dennis to his Facebook page, where the theme is: ANYTHING GOES

 

I'm entering my card in the Corrosive Challenge blog where the theme is: HAPPY ANYTHING

 

 

 

 

 

 







The Path of Gratitude Leads to Self-Discovery

There's a new challenge over at the Path of Positivity blog. This month’s theme is Gratitude.  I made a star-fold card and am pretty proud of it. I saw it on Pinterest and figured out using pictures only how to make it.

I used a digital image from Ike's Art called Female Troops Bundle. I used 2 images from the set, the first being the image you see on the front of my card. The insignia (rank) on the cap is not on the digi. I drew it on because that was my rank while serving in the 54th Military Police Co. at Fort Ord, California. I made this card to show my thanks to all the Veterans who serve and have served their country.
This month I was given the gift of self-discovery. Every year the school at which I work celebrates Veteran’s Day by inviting servicemen and women to honor them, and each time I met and thanked them as an employee and civilian, even though I, too, had served in the Army. I had never felt comfortable sitting with those older gentlemen who served in Vietnam, Korea and even WW2.

This year I was convinced by the event organizer that the students needed to see and talk with a woman who had served her country, so I greeted and sat with other veterans to trade “war” stories with them. We each visited class rooms and told stories and answered questions. It was heartwarming to hear and be heard, validating my service as worthy of sharing with others. You see, I was a “peace time” soldier. I was in no war, fought no battles, saw no “action.”
I was, however, one of the FIRST women mechanics in the U.S. Army. My company was the last female company to NOT qualify on the M16 rifle in Basic Training, even though my scores would have earned me an Expert medal. I was the ONLY female mechanic in the Motor Pool at Fort Ord, California. I routinely changed tires that were as tall as I was, and eventually assigned to a posting in Germany, getting to see the land of my ancestors. And best of all, my co-worker’s best friend, a stockade guard at the time, became my husband.
I learned that a veteran is a veteran, no matter when or how served. I learned that to belittle my own service was in fact belittling others’ service. I made friends that day, and I am thankful for their service to their country. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve my country. I am thankful for finally recognizing and appreciating my past.

Everyone has something to share with others. Even the most mundane experiences have worth. I am humbled and thankful for learning this.
Here is the inside of my card. It makes a very pretty presentation, both folded and opened. I used the second digi image from Ike's Art to frame that photo in the middle. The digi is a circular patch with the sentiment She Wears Combat Boots Too!! It didn't quite fit into the triangular center on my card so I cut the sentiment out and adhered it around my photo.

And before I tell you all the details about the Path of Positivity's Gratitude challenge, here's one last photo of PFC Martin and a close-up of the circular sentiment.

Now for the good stuff!!

The sponsors and prizes for this challenge are:
A prize package of a $10 worth of images, from DigiStamps4Joy, our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

• Three digital images from Ike's Art for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:
*One digital designer paper (made to order in a few different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
*One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.
 

New Squigglefly Challenge Starts Today

Today I made a card to showcase another new Squigglefly November release. This one is called "She Plays For The Waves" by artist Niina Niskanen. I wanted to play up the tartan without going overboard, so I kept my patterned paper (this week's challenge theme) monochromatic.
I love this line from the song "Rhythm of Love" so used it for my card, adding some musical notes to embellish.
Come play in the Squigglefly "patterned paper" challenge this week. If you use a Squigglefly image (FREEBIES HERE), you are in the running for free digis.

Happy Thanksgiving! from the Outlawz

The Outlawz Greetings challenge offers a very appropriate theme for this week's challenge: Thanksgiving!
My son and his family moved out of state this past summer. Although the car ride isn't too long (3 hours) it's still further than the tem minutes it took us to pop on over to their house (or vice versa).
I'm very happy that we have been invites to spend Thanksgiving with them in their new home. It will be a true Thanksgiving, as family gathers round the board to hold hands and share a meal, together again. Aren't most memorable moments in our lives those shared together at a meal?
Anyway, my card today showcases a digi image called "Tra-La-La" from ALL DRESSED UP. 

I colored the image with Copics, then punched one corner before popping it onto cardstock. My card is full of Fall-themed embellishments, which pretty much use up the season's crafting leftovers!
Now it's your turn to show us a project for a Happy Thanksgiving. Upload your card at the Outlawz Greetings Challenge--don't forget that your project needs a sentiment!
Happy Thanksgiving, crafters. I hope your day is filled with food, family and fun!!
Challenges I am Entering:
Craft Your Passion - Pumpkins & Turkeys
Imagination-Crafts Challenge - Anything Goes

Watercolors Wednesday - Humming Along

I painted a hummingbird today. I like the way the bird turned out. It has some dimension while showing off that bit of chaos I love about water colors.
I made a bit of a mess while painting my bird and tried to pull the paint off the paper, but just managed to smear it around my background. Other than that, I'm happy with it. After all, I'm always learning from each time I paint.
Hoping to get more time to paint, so I can show you my latest next Wednesday. Happy crafting!

Spice Up Your Christmas Colors

Today brings a new challenge from Squigglefly- a Christmas card! But there's an optional twist: Use non-traditional colors!
I replaced Pine tree green and Holly Red with Hot Pink and Neon Green and made this nifty card.
I got to use a November new release from artist Sandra Caldwell called "Pete & Pat Penguins." I used my trusty Copics to color this pair, then framed it with hot pink cardstock. My card face uses a piece of leftover Christmas patterned paper from last year.
To embellish, I found a hot pink Christmas ornament and adhered it so that it looks like Pat (hey, that's my name) is holding it in her, uh, flipper. My sentiment is stamped and embellished with sequins, and a pink feather finishes off my card.
Are you bored with the same old Christmas colors? Try using some non-traditional ones with a Squigglefly image and you will be in the running for free digis. If you don't have a Squigglefly image, check out the FREEBIES.

Challenges I am entering:
xCraft Your Passion - Beginning with B (Bells, buddies, Brrr)
Imagination Crafts Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
xLove to Create - Anything Goes

Thank You for Your Service

 

What better way to say thank you to our nation's servicemen and women than by crafting and sending them a Thank You card? That's what the Outlawz Greetings Challenge is this week-to make a Veteran's Day or Thank You card for a veteran. BEANSIE DOODLES is one of this month's Greetings sponsors. 

                                                      

I am one of those few people who love a good pun, so when I saw this image, I had to create with it. She's called Volleyball Rebekah by BEANSIE DOODLES. I thought she would be great with my sentiment. If you don't know anything about volleyball, the pun will go right over your head - LOL there's another one!

BEANSIE DOODLES is one of this month's Greetings sponsors. 

I like to color block with my cards, and had some leftover Autumn patterned papers that I blocked together for my 6x6 card. A bit of leftover ribbon (2 points for de-stashing), a couple of stars, and my card is finished.

My family holds a lot of service in its history. My great uncles both served in WW2 (Infantry), as did my father-in-law (Navy). I met my husband while we both were posted at Fort Ord, California (ARMY). My sis-in-law joined during Desert Storm, but it was over by the time she was trained. My son is an M.P. in the ARMY Reserves, and it looks like my grandson is gearing up for Basic Training in the Marines.

Even though we know/knew that people supported our efforts, it's always nice to hear about it in the way of letters and cards, so think about sending yours to a Reserve Unit or Recruiting Station near you. They'll be able to ship it out with their next package. And there's always Operation Write Home!

 

Challenges I am entering:

My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

xCrafters' Café - Thank You

xArtistic Inspirations - Anything Goes

xCrafting by Designs - Anything Goes

xLove to Create - Anything Goes

 

 

Girly and Lacy Thank You Card

A new place opened up in our local mall. It's called "Nothing Bundt Cakes." They offer about a dozen different flavors of bundt cakes in four different sizes. I have tried six of them-they are delish!
The owner, Cindy, donated a few plates of bundt-zinis for a meeting my office was hosting, and to thank her, I made this card.  I used Cupcake Anya, coloring her with Copics. The background is a piece of leftover patterned paper, and I embellished with flowers, feathers, sequins, Stickles and lace.
I am entering my card in Love To Create challenge blog. Their theme is to make a card or project that is

 GIRLY AND LACEY

I think my card qualifies, don't you? LOL

I'm bringing it to the store tomorrow, along with my daughter and granddaughter. I have a feeling they'll want to choose their own dessert.





Watercolors Wednesday Bluebird in Winter

After a few weeks of hectic family and work stress, during which I had NO time to play with my watercolors, I finally carved out some me time. I have really been interested in paintings of birds lately, so I thought I'd start an art journal of water-colored birds. My first is this bluebird in winter. He's a fat bird, so it must be early in the winter.
I had to control the paint more o I used less water. It almost doesn't seem like watercolors to me. I think I'd rather have more chaos in my art. I guess I'm just an abstract kind of girl. LOL
I do like the way the needles of the pine tree turned out, though.
I've got my eye on hummingbirds next. See you next Wednesday!

Skipping Along the Path of Positivity with Gratitude

Have you visited the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog yet? It is an inspiring and positive experience for all who go there. It is a place where you can come to see projects or posts that provide help, hope, courage, love, forgiveness, peace, motivation, encouragement, etc. A place to come especially on those days when the woes of the world just seem too much to bear.
I happened to love the blog so much that I begged Lisa, the owner to put me on her Design Team. I am happy to report that I have been designing for her blog for almost a year now, and I still love the inspiration I get from it.
This month the challenge theme is Gratitude. It is not enough to feel thankful for something. It is imperative to show your appreciation--that's what gratitude is all about. It's a feel-good attitude that gifts both the giver and the recipient with worth and inspires pride and joy in all. It's what makes life worth living, knowing that the things you do for others makes a difference, however large or small. It's what makes the world continue to go 'round.
This month's guest sponsor is Digi Stamps 4 Joy. 

I am using a DS4J image called "Owl Always Love You." I colored it with Copics and then fussy-cut my image to pop onto a stair-step card. I love this kind of card as I have three card "fronts" with which to play and embellish.
Above is a frontal view of my card. It makes a nice presentation just the way it lays. There's definition and dimension. You see the DS4J image as the focal point, with my sentiment just under the branches. You see the background, with the silhouette of the tree, and a pop of Fall color behind the owls.

Here you see the skinny front where I had my way with my Autumn-themed leftovers. It was difficult to stop piling them on! LOL
Now for the best part: in addition to coming away from the Path of Positivity blog with renewed hope and positive vibes, if you share your positive projects with a theme of Gratitude, the blog offers some lovely prizes:

A prize package of $10 worth of images, from DigiStamps4Joy, our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

• Three digital images from Ike's Art for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:
-One digital designer paper (made to order in a few different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
-One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

Challenges I am Entering:
DigiStamps 4 Joy - Anything Goes

Squaring Off for Squigglefly's New Challenge

Square cards are in at Squigglefly this week. My card showcases a new Squigglefly image from artist Cheryl Grant Alger. It's called "HoHoHo Snowmen." I love this image because it is image and sentiment all rolled up in one.
I wanted to keep it clean, with pattern behind the image, so I colored the letters and details, leaving the rest of it white. I added white pompoms over the letters "o" to highlight the "snow" factor.
I added a holiday tree behind the snowmen, and added a couple snowflakes among the swirls of the patterned paper for movement.  The Christmas holly ribbon makes a nice finishing touch to my card.
Squigglefly has released some cute and whimsical digital images this month. You can find them at the SHOP.
To check out some inspiration from the DT, and participate in this new challenge, check out the Squigglefly Challenge Blog. And as always, crafters, HAVE FUN!

Outlawz Challenges You to Show Off Your Fall Colors

They say that April showers bring May flowers, but Autumn showers bring crunchy carpets that color our world with crimson, gold and orange paths on which we walk quickly before it all blows away into winter. To show off those gorgeous colors, this week’s Outlawz Greetings Challenge is to create with FALL COLORS.

There are two sponsors for this week's challenge:
Whoopsy Daisy

and Sweet n Sassy.

Today my card features a digital image from Whoopsy Daisy Sheet 463. I think she showcases Autumn in all its glorious color so very well. I can almost feel the crisp wind she faces as she walks home in the early afternoon.
I used a leftover piece of patterned paper for my card face, which became my inspiration for coloring my image with Copics. Some Tim Holtz ink distressed the edges before I frame it and place it just under a ribbon border where my sentiment resides.
Of course, with a sentiment like that, there was only one embellishment to finish off my cards. I used metallic leaf brads and a couple chipboard die-cuts. The pearls add a smidgen of bling.
Quick, before the leaves all blow away, show your Fall colors and play in this week's Outlawz Greetings Challenge.
Other challenges I am entering:
xDivas by Design - Anything Goes
xMarkerPOP Challenges - Anything Goes
xWhoopsidaisy - Add a Sentiment
xPpinky Dolls - Anything Goes or Add Bling
xNot Just Cards CHallenges - Anything Goes
xCraft Your Passion - Bright & Sparkly