'There is Nothing More Deceptive than an Obvious Fact.'

One of my favorite crafts to create is an ATC, or Artist's Trading Card. I have made tiny cards for co-workers with them, as well as showcased them on full-sized cards. They measure 2.5x3.5 inches and are tiny masterpieces of creativity.
ATC's are what you need to create to join in the Ike's World Challenge blog this week. I used an Ike's Art image called Sherlock, but you don't have to use one of her images. However, if you do, you will be entered into the prize drawing twice. Twice is nice when we're talking prizes, don't you agree?!
If you join the Ike's Art Fan Page, there are several FREEBIES posted. I love her images and "collecting all Ike's Images" is on my bucket list.
Hope I'll see you at Ike's World Challenge blog this week! Have fun, crafters!

Fall Into a New Challenge at Craft Your Passion Blog

Everyone loves an Anything Goes challenge, and when it's sponsored by the East Wind, it's a win-win week! I got to play with a gorgeous image called "Maple" for my DT card for Craft Your Passion challenge blog. It was awesome to pull out all my autumn-colored Copics and breathe life into her before fussy-cutting her out and framing her with falling leaves.
Fall is my favorite season of the year, for the sheer beauty of it. The trees shake off their richly emerald-hued summer dresses, leaving crunchy carpets of velvety browns, golden yellows and crimson. I find more wonder during the months of September and October than at any other time of the year.And my kids go crazy because they know Halloween is coming. They have the house decorated already and are planning their costumes--already!! Well, I have planned a trip to our local Goodwill store so that they can find the perfect (inexpensive) costumes for the long-awaited holiday But they want it all NOW! So I made this card and placed it on the kitchen table. Maybe it will keep them a little more patient?? Well, at least I was inspired by all that luscious color out there!
What inspires you? Whatever it is, I love seeing what other crafters share in each week's challenges at Craft Your Passion. I hope to see your card or project there this week! Until then, happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Cards in Envy - Fall Colors 

Anything Goes with SLS Lines and the Outlawz Greetings Challenge

It's my favorite theme time at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges--Anything Goes!! One of our sponsors is SLS Lines, and their Etsy Store is full of gorgeous images to color and create with.
My card features an image called Air Fairy. After I colored and fussy cut her out, I discovered a Tim Holtz Idealogy Cabinet card that I covered with shimmer paper (in teal, my fave color). I found a leftover piece of beach scene paper and embossed my sentiment onto the front, where my fairy is hovering in the clouds. To create the look of soft movement, I added  few pearl leftover flourishes around her. All that was left to do was add a shimmery border to the bottom of my card, and a soft dove for good measure.
What will your project be? The sky's the limit with just a few guidelines: make sure to use a sentiment or quote on the front of your project, and link up your project post (not your whole blog), making sure that you didn't post it before the start of the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge.
Other than that, the world is your oyster, and the DT look forward to seeing what you create!

Dedicated to the One I Love, Part 2

There are some things worth dedicating your best efforts toward. I believe the most important of these is relationships. Friends may walk into your life unexpectedly and with ease, but it takes hard work, flexibility and time to keep a friend from walking out of your life. I have a few very good friends who could have been lost through the years, with only memories of good times shared left to me.  Instead, they are people I can still laugh with, love and trust with my deepest secrets and fears. And our relationships have taken dedication on all our parts to keep them strong.
Dedication is the theme at the Path of Positivity challenge blog this month, and my DT project is a card dedicated to my very best of friends, because while good friends know all your stories, best friends help you write them.
My card is a mix of digital and paper crafts. The image I used is from Sparkle N Sprinkle, this month's guest sponsor. The image is called Beachy Friends, and I thought it was perfect to showcase how friendships can last a lifetime when you dedicate yourself to its success.
Elements used:
Background: vacation photo from Spring break
Frame: Christmas Grunge collection, Royal Blue textured cardstock, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles
Image: Beachy Friends, Sparkle N Sprinkle, colored with Copics and fussy-cut
Embellishments: Ship, Crab, Summertime collection (freebie), Rucola Designs; Ribbon 2, Because of You collection, MMullens

CHALLENGE DETAILS SUMMARY

Whether you are new and need to familiarize yourself with all the details,  or a returning participant and just need to refresh yourself, you can always find out everything you need to know in order to enter this challenge in the 'Challenge Details' tab at the top of the page. I've provided a quick summary below.  Please note that dates and times listed below are for this particular challenge only:

• Each Path of Positivity challenge will remain open for approx. a full month.  Entries for this challenge will be accepted from September 7th - October 4th, 2015.
• Link up your inspirational post by 11:55 p.m. on October 4th at the Path of Positivity.
• When you link up, leave a comment summarizing what it is about your post that you feel is inspirational  / positive / motivational and how it fits into the theme if you have not included this information somewhere within your post.  You can simply add a sentence or two right next to the link for this challenge if you want.
• Don't forget to come back throughout the month and visit others that have participated. 
• You can link up a total of three (3) creations.
• Voting for this challenge will begin once the top picks have been determined.  There will be a separate post detailing those picks.  You will then have the opportunity to vote on the creation or post that you have found to be the most inspirational of the chosen picks.  Be sure to leave a comment telling us what it was that inspired you or something in general if you uncomfortable disclosing any details of your vote. 
• For Challenge #30, prizes will be the following:
• $15.00 worth of digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• $15.00 worth of  digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

• One digital designer paper made to order in a couple different ways or three existing papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on on posts published during the challenge time frame.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

Not Much Time Before Christmas

So, with Christmas closing in on us (especially at the stores), how is your pile of Christmas cards coming along? I just created this card and am well on my way to having all my cards ready to mail out before Thanksgiving (yay me).
The new theme at the Outlawz Greetings challenges will help you on your mission. The theme is to make a Christmas card. Our guest sponsor, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, has a fantastic offering of digital papers, elements and sentiments. You don't have to create a digital card to use them--you can print them out and color, cut and paste, too.
I am learning how to create digital cards in Photoshop, so my card is 100% digital. I got to play with Decosse's lovely papers from the Familiar Refrains collection. I framed each panel with her textured cardstock from the Christmas Grunge paper pack.The bows came from her Mommie Dearest collection, and the green frame around my sentiment is called Holiday Hoopla Square Frame. I used a sentiment from Decosse's Holiday Hoopla Word Art collection.     .
Whether you create with paper and ink, or go the digital path, link up your card with us at the Outlawz Monday Greetings for your chance to win prizes. As an added bonus, Lisa Decosse co-owns the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up blog, where sharing links to two Christmas cards a month nets you a free digital paper, and if you follow the optional theme, a chance to win sponsor prizes!
Enjoy a merry season of crafting!

O, Christmas Tree!

Today my DT project for the 12 Months of Christmas blog uses a cute digital image called Santa Takes a Nap from Fresh Brewed Designs, as well as 2 papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles:  Christmas Grunge Red, and Snow-Topped from the Treemendous collection. I printed out the image and colored it with Copics, then fussy-cut it out and popped it onto  patterned paper 05 from the Cabinet of Curiosity collection from Marta Waniek. My "loaded" Christmas tree is a 3D sticker.

I am just stacking up the Christmas cards and it's only the middle of September. How about you? Are you enjoying the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge blog? It's easy to join in if you haven't already, and there is still time to get your Christmas cards linked up. The challenge runs from September 1 - 30. 
This month, the optional theme is to use a decorated tree on your card. Remember, you don't have to create within the theme, unless you want a chance to win our guest sponsor's prizes. If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw for the prize. But as long as you link up at least two cards, you will receive a free digital paper from Decosses Dynamite Doodles,   who also offers to  one lucky random winner, the mini set of six digital papers from the Treemendous collection.

      

Our guest sponsor is Fresh Brewed Designs, where they always have a fresh pot of creativity brewing. They are offering 3 digital stamps for one random winner chosen from those who participate in the optional theme.

Happy crafting!

Think Pink!

Today brings a new challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges. The theme is to use PINK on your project. I love a funny card, so I created my project for our anniversary. I reached into my magical bag of craft supplies and pulled out a sticker sheet with funny speech bubbles. I thought this one was very appropriate!
After coloring my image, a Dr Digi called "Made for Each Other," I "pinked" the heck out of my card, first with a sewn-border piece of cardstock and then with pastel pink-embossed paper. That nice fat bow finishes off the color theme. I added a few jewels, and those hand-drawn stitches coordinate with this lovely couple's own stitches.
All in all, I think he'll like it!
Dr Digi is one of this week's sponsors, and he has some fun images with which to play. I always have a difficult time choosing an image--there are so many! I hope you'll check the store out and fine some inspiration there, as I always do.
And whatever you create this week, add pink and link up with the Outlawz Greetings challenges for your chance at some free digis. And as always, crafters, have FUN!

Challenges I am Entering:

Cards in Envy - Inspired by a Song (Hey, Good Lookin')

Card Mania - Pastel colors

Craft-Dee BowZ - Anything Goes w/a Handmade Bow

House of Cards - Stitching

Hoppy Birthday!

Here is my DT project for Craft Your Passion. It's a new week, and a new challenge, sponsored by A Day for Daisies. I got to play with a digital image called Birthday Frog. After coloring him with Copics, I tossed on some crystal fine glitter onto his hat streamers, then fussy-cut him and placed him on my card front. I created the background by ripping leftover patterned papers from my stash.
After my frog was adhered to my card with dimensional dots, I punched out the sentiment and embellished with a handmade bow, ribbon and jewel borders, and some leftover flourishes (I don't throw anything out!). My girlfriend's son has a birthday this month, so this is going out to him.
So, what do you feel like crafting this week? It's up to you, as Craft Your Passion offers Anything Goes every week! Come for the inspiration, stay for the challenge...and don't forget to check out the fun digital images at A Day for Daisies!

Challenges I am Entering:

Pile It On - Birthday

Sparkle N Sprinkle - Anything Goes w/loose Glitter (hat streamers)

2 Crafty Girls - Photo Inspiration (I took the colors from the top photo and the bright round circle for my sentiment from the next photo down)

Autumn Fun at DeeDee's Digis Progressive Freebie Challenge Blog

Here is another digital card I created for DeeDee's Digis Progressive Freebie this month. The featured image, Leaf Your Cares Behind, is on special all month so that if you missed their fabulous challenge last month, you can purchase this image

for half price. Create with it and link up to the challenge blog and the next month's featured digi is yours-FREE!

I actually used one of her colored layering images from leaf your Cares Behind, along with the pumpkin from Goody Jars. Honestly, they are more than images, they are sets, some with papers, often with sentiments.
Here is what I used to create my digital card (which is so nice and flat to mail out):

Images:
DeeDee' Digis, Leaf Your Cares Behind, Goody Jars
Papers:
Lisa Decosse, Brown textured paper, Christmas Grunge Paper Pack
ArtbyMiran, Patterned paper 02, Trick or Treat Digi  Paper Pack
Elements:
Nancy Baumiller Crowabout Studio B: Element 39 (border), Red, Brown, & Green leaves, Hello Autumn Collection
Lisa Decosse, green-checked bow
Sentiment:
The Quote Garden, using Betty Font

Whether you cut, color and paste, or let your fingers do the work, DeeDee's Digis are awesome. Check out the store for some great inspiration!! Then link up your card or project at the challenge blog. See you there!

Challenges I am Entering:

Doodle Pantry challenges - Anything Goes

Making the World a Sweeter Place...

One year ago, a new store opened at up the local mall. Since that time, my daughter started working there, and I became friends with the owner. This weekend will be the Nothing Bundt Bakery's one year "birthday"
There will be lots of free samples (you don't know YUM until you've had one of their Bundtlets), kids' activities, drawings, etc. The owner has been very generous with donations toward the program in which I work, so I made a very special celebration card for her.
My card is a step-card, so that I had three fun backgrounds on which to pile on the goodies. I colored up a Fred She Said digi image called "I Love You This Much" using my Copics, then fussy-cut her. The sentiments and embellishments were easy--but I knew I wanted her to be juggling baked goods, and without the cardstock behind my image, it was a challenge. I finally decided on wire, then had to shore up her arms so that the cakes wouldn't droop back or forward.

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Cardmakers - Floral Embellishments
Karleigh Sue challenges - Ribbon or Flowers
Use Your Stuff - TV or Movie- Inspired (Cupcake Wars on Food Network)
4 Crafty Chicks - Birthday

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Allsorts challenge blog - Lots of Layers
 Simply Create Too - It's a Special Occasion (Birthday!)

Southern Girls' challenges - Layer It Up

Clear It Out challenges - Anything Goes (must use stash)
Card & Scrap - Use Flowers
Sparkles Monthly challenges - More Than One Fold

Crafty Gals Corner - BINGO!

Dedicated to the One I Love

Are you a dedicated person? Do you have goals that you work hard to achieve? This month's theme at the Path of Positivity is Dedication. I am dedicated to my family. I am dedicated to the families in the educational program in which I work. I know many others who are dedicated to people, to causes, to lifestyles.
And then there is the spirit of Christmas! Santa is dedicated to bringing joy to children worldwide, and speaking from one dedicated person to another, our willingness to focus our dedication toward something specific requires some major downtime. 
So today my DT project is a funny "after the holidays" card that showcases  Santa's dedication to children. you may only see him once a year, but he works the entire year to make Christmas morning the delight that it is to children everywhere--except the day after Christmas. That's when Santa can unwind, and dedicate a few days toward relaxation and simple pleasures, like wiggling his toes in the warm sand and not worrying that all his reindeer are flight-ready!
You have from today through October 4th to create a card that showcases in some way the theme of dedication. If the theme isn't obvious in your card or project, please write in your post or comment on the challenge blog the reason how dedication plays into your project. We love to read about the themes, it inspires us in our own creativity.
Our guest sponsor this month is Sparkle N Sprinkle, who is offering two prizes for this challenge, which will be:

• $15.00 worth of digital images for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• $15.00 worth of digital images for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

There will also be:

• One digital designer paper (made to order in a couple different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge time frame.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge

My project today showcases an image called Southern Santa from Sparkle N Sprinkle. He is definitely on down time. I colored Santa with Copics, "sprinkling" some "sparkle" on the scene by making a few waves. I used a couple papers from my "de-stash" box of leftovers, and played around with the last of my lovely teal webbing, a broken bracelet of starfish charms and beads, a few beach-y buttons and a couple sentiment labels. I do believe someone should warn Santa that it's time for him to turn over or he may be mistaken for a lobster!! I am willing to fly out to the beach and join warn him. LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Anything Goes

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Digitally Sweet challenges - Anything with wings (seagulls & flamingos)

Simply Papercraft challenges - Anything Goes

Stempelsonnen challenges - Alles Geht (anything Goes)

Sparkle & Sprinkle challenges - Anything Goes w/loose glitter, powders, etc

One More Semester to Go for My Daughter

My daughter opted to get her associate's degree from the community college before going out into the world to finish her education or start her career. And this semester is her last--she is three classes away from graduating, and I am SO proud of her.
So my DT card for this week's challenge at the Outlawz Greetings is for her. The challenge is to use circles on your project. It doesn't have to be a card, it can be almost anything else, BUT it must have a sentiment or quote on the front of it. My image comes from Kenny K, our guest sponsor for this week.. The image is called Graduation girl and can be found HERE along with so many other fabulous images. And if you subscribe to their newsletter, you can receive free digis from him. Here's what I got for August:

I always have fun when playing with a Kenny K!!
My circles are die-cut from paint chips, as well as jeweled. My sentiment is embossed, and everything comes from my never-ending stash of supplies (sigh). I will use it all up, I know I will, but every time I think I'm making headway, I find a box I missed and there's more paper or flourishes or alterable materials. There's just so darn much of it! I have discovered what my super power is---I can clean out craft supplies one week before I need to use them on a project. ROFL
The DT at the Outlawz Greetings challenges have some lovely inspiration for you, so please check them out and leave a little love. If you link up your project using the theme, you have a chance to win free digis from Kenny K.
Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Bloggers' challenges - Use Ovals or Circles

Brown Sugar challenges - Use Something Recycled (paint chips)

Creative Corner challenges - Back to School

Fussy & Fancy challenges - Back to School

Simply Create Too - It's a Special Occasion! (graduation)

Summer's Blooms Leave Us Wanting More

I love Progressive Freebie challenges, and the Outlawz Freebie Challenges has a new challenge and a new sponsor. You know how it works- if you created a project using the August image, you will receive the image I used for my DT project today. If you didn't you can still join in. Just go to Nice Crane designs and purchase this cutie pie called Flower Child 4 and link your creation up with us and you will receive the next month's image for free (and so on and so an...).

I created a tag card, covering it with CTMH paper from my stash (who am I kidding, it's ALL from my stash LOL). After coloring her, I popped her out and framed her with a large flower. I found a quote I like for a Thank You card, then plunged into my bin of flowers and had my way with them. I finished off my card with a bit of wide ribbon and more flowers and it's ready to head out to a very generous woman who offered up a few weeks of her summer off by volunteering in several programs offered by my church. She'll be back in just a couple weeks to teach this Fall as well.
Meanwhile, check out all the lovely images at the Nice Crane store, and soak up some inspiration at the Outlawz Progressive Freebie this month. Then join us for some fun!!
Challenges I am Entering:
Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes
Creative Knockouts - Flower Power
Southern Girls challenges - Flower Power
Digi Galore - Anything Goes
World Wide Open Design challenges - Anything Goes
Cheerful Stamp Pad - Remembering Summer
That Craft Place - Mixed Media
The Shabby Tea Room - ABC-1 2 3/Inspiration from Photo

Cupcake Inspiration challenges - photo-inspired

Under the Sea

Today is the midway point of the newest challenge at Ike's World Challenge blog. The theme is Pets or Animals, and I made a card to cheer up a friend. She's in elementary school and is having a rough time, so I thought it would be appropriate to send her a laugh.
Do you know what's in the middle of a jellyfish??

.That's right, a jelly button!! ROFL
I got to play with a few images from the digi set  Sea Life from Ike's store. There are several images in the entire set, so besides printing and coloring the set of jelly fish with Copics, I decided to use Mr. Crab as the riddle teller.
On the inside, along with the punchline, I snuck in another image from the set, and wrote  LOL. I think it will at least put a smile on her face, don't you?
Okay, there's still another week left in the Pets/Animals challenge. You don't have to use an Ike's Art image to join in, but she sure has a bunch of awesome ones, and she even has posted a freebie for you to use!! (psst, she's offering a $20 gift certificate for one winner.

Book Love with SLS Lines and Your Scrapbook Place

It's September already?! What happened to August?! Well, they say that time flies when you're having fun, and I have been having fun with this too-cute image from SLS Lines. She's called "Bookworm in the Library" and I made this card as my DT project for Your Scrapbook Place Anything Goes September challenge.
After coloring her with my trusty Copics, I tore her (second fave technique) and popped her onto CTMH patterned paper. There wasn't much room for a lot of embellishments, so I made it simple with a bit of ribbon, a handmade bow, a snall pearl flourish and a couple jewels. my sentiment reads: "It's alwasy better to have too many books than not enough." At least, that's what I believe!! How about you?
I love to read, and I am on the waiting list for the Maze Runner book series. I saw the first movie, and while I liked it, I figured there was a lot more to it than what the movie showed. i never judge a book by its movie. So now I have the first three books to look forward to reading. The question is, shuld I read the second book before seeing the second movie and be disappointed? Or should I wait until after the movie to get "behind the scenes" so to speak?
While I wait for the library to call with that series, I am reading (again) a Jude Deveraux book entitled "Sweet Liar." What are you reading??
In between chapters, why don't you create a project and link up with Your Scrapbook Place for your chance to win prizes from their guest sponsor, SLS Lines?