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