Healthy Lifestyle Starts NOW

I have felt like a slug all winter, with no motivation to get moving or eat healthier. Until I read about a Diet Trial Program offered through Woman's World magazine and created by Trim Healthy Mamas. I started the trial on Sunday, February 28 and wanted to share my journal entries with you.
Day 1 of my journey:

As soon as I woke up, a smile popped onto my face. This will be the start of something great, I thought. Although I dreaded going on the scale, I managed to not break into tears as I weighed myself. My courage came from the knowledge that I was on my way to a healthier me.

The measuring was very tough--who measures their body parts?! But I understood that in order to go forward, there has to be a starting point. With the help of my daughter, I managed to swallow my pride and note my measurements (I blush while I write this). It's time to make breakfast. Here we go!

I can't go into details about this Diet Trial meal plan until the results are published at the end of May, but they didn't send me anything to cook or chew on LOL I bought a set list of items with which to cook, and guidelines for how to prepare the food and what foods go with other foods. In fact, I did most of my shopping at WalMart!
Here's where it gets interesting:

Day 2 of my Journey:

Yesterday was easier than I thought. I didn't go to bed hungry, but I think I dreamt of what to make for breakfast. LOL This morning I got out of bed and went to weigh myself. I weighed myself three times...because I couldn't believe the scale. I am down 3 pounds! In one day!

Who would have thought losing weight would be so easy?! Of course, these results motivate me even more to stay steady on my healthy eating plan. My stationary bike had been attracting lazy dust bunnies, but this was the first time in forever that I used it twice in one week. So the bunnies will have to nap somewhere else this week! Mwahaha! I am on a mission of self-improvement.

You know, I am successful when I see successful results, and reading that scale on Day 2 just made me want to lose more poundage. So I am going to try to "get physical" every day this week. The second day I biked for 10 minutes and took a brisk walk with Wilson (who outpaced me the whole way, all 12 pounds of him). Tonight we're expecting a drop in temps and snow/sleet/ice, so I will try to stick to indoor biking, but I also work at the office. I packed my lunch already, and have to fit in that biking sometime in my day.

The reason I am journaling this adventure is that the magazine has given me permission to share my experiences (minus certain details and recipes) so that if you are interested in a trial, the magazine does them throughout the year. The contact person is Beth at: bweissman@bauerpublishing.com It may not be the same trial, but it couldn't hurt to kick-start your own journey toward a healthier lifestyle.

I'll keep you updated through the week in between my DT makes and art projects. I am so looking forward to sharing what I am experiencing!

Having Fun with SLS Lines at Craft Your Passion

Hello, crafty peeps! Today I created my DT card for Craft Your Passion using an image from SLS Lines, this week's sponsor. She's called Art Nouveau Girl with Flowers and can be found HERE.
I tried to give my card a vintage look with shades of pink and brown, embellishing with flowers, pearls and lacy borders. I don't do vintage often, so I am still stretching my comfort zone.
Are you in a rut? WHat's a technique or tool that you have wanted to try or improve upon? Give it a shot this week, and share with us at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. It's always Anything Goes there!!

Anything Goes at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge

I have a friend who turns 21 on February 29. It's a magical birthday, as it only happens once every four years.How many 84 year old women can say they're celebrating their 21st birthday?!
I couldn't let this special Leap Year month go by without making a calendar page for my desk calendar. It is literally an acrylic set of boxes, whose four sides sandwich my monthly calendar pages. Since the middle is hollow, I can fill it with whatever suits my fancy, and this month I must fill it with those adorable Valentine conversation hearts. Yum!
Today starts another Anything Goes Challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings. Our sponsor this week is Lacy Sunshine, and I got to play with a cuter-than-cute image called Rory - Catching Butterflies. Although it is still mighty cold this month, it's always wise to keep warm thoughts close to your heart. So Rory is showcased on my February calendar page to remind me that warmer weather will eventually wind its way to my neck of the woods.
After coloring her with Copics, I frame her with cardstock and cut her out and pieced the sentiment next to her. A few jeweled flowers keep the embellishments simple and flat enough to fit between the acrylic layers of my calendar box.
Be sure to link up your own creation for your chance to win images from Lacy Sunshine this week. Don't forget to check out the DT inspiration and leave a little love before you go--everyone needs a little love!

Loads of Fun at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

I am having such fun as Guest DT member at Scribbles Designs challenge blog this month. Today I created an easel card using both image and sentiment from Scribbles Designs.

The image is called Champagne Glasses and it is showcased on the front of my card. I love the sentiment on the inside, as I always seem to have an urge to jump onto a table and dance after sipping (a bottle of) champagne. Yes, I am that woman with the lampshade on her head, free from most inhibitions when I imbibe the bubbly! LOL And that is why you rarely see me imbibing!!

However, the card with its black and white patterned paper and beautiful images makes a great wedding or anniversary card. p.s. Don't you just love the sentiment I placed on the inner face of my card? Have you ever felt that kind of kiss? I have, and still do, with my hubby of almost 40 years. I am a lucky woman in many ways!

Meanwhile, hop on over to Scribbles Designs challenge blog for some amazing inspiration. Grab some images at Scribbles Store. Create with this month's theme and you have a chance at winning some awesome prizes.
Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:
Paper Creator's Crafts - Must Be Love
World Wide open Design Team challenges - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Something to Eat or Drink
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Stampin' Royalty - Sparkle & Shine
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
Unicorn Challenges - Lots of Love
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Anything Goes
As You Like It - Favorite Occasion & Why (anniversary-seems like there are so many broken relationships out there, it is truly a celebration when a couple can work through their differences,doubts and fears and keep the love burning)
Aud Sentiments challenges - Cute + Sentiment
Southern Girls challenges - Add a Little Sparkle

Handmade Backgrounds

I had a spare moment or 20 and decided to check out what all the hubbub was about making your own backgrounds with alcohol inks. I used some palette paper and squeezed a coupe drops of different colored inks on. After spraying lightly with water, I started pressing some pieces of glossy paper from my stash onto the palette paper.

Look at all the pretty papers I created! I especially like the large piece-so many possibilities there. I took one of the smaller pieces and created a card (shown above) using a freebie from Miss Rach. After coloring with Copics, I fussy-cut this little cutie. Before placing him on the card, I used a white gel pen and helped define some of the coral reef areas. After I set my tortoise to swimming, it was an easy matter to embellish with fibers, lace, charms and a spray of pearls. I think the sentiment is perfect for my card, don't you?

I try and stretch my comfort zone often enough to keep me on my toes. How about you? If you haven't already, I hope you get to try to make your own backgrounds, whether from alcohol inks, photography or other media.

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet challenges - Z is for Zoo Animals 

Through the Purple Haze - Make a Scene

Mod Squad challenges - Animals

The Paper Shelter challenges - Animal Magic

Fan-tastic Tuesday challenges - Anything Goes w a Twist: Animals

Tuesday Throwdown challenges - Create Your Own Background

Crafting When We Can - Use a Digital stamp

Cre8tive Hands Friends challenges - Use a digital image

Going in Circles at Ike's World Challenge Blog

 The challenge over at Ike's World Challenge blog is "Going in Circles" and I created a piece of altered art. This dog treat container started life (a long time ago) as a Jean Nate dusting powder container that my neighbor had decorated and filled with candy for me at Christmas.

So I painted and Mod Podged, layering with black tissue paper for dimension. Then I dry-brushed gold metallic paint here ad there and my base was ready to add my image. It's called Pooch with Leaf and perfect for my dog treats container. I used my circle cutter and punched out a couple hearts.

Then I framed it with a paper doily I had also brushed with the gold paint. I filled in the punched hearts with same hearts colored red. I added red alphas and my treats container is ready to fill.

p.s. (Did I mention I had some canvas sentiment stickers that I placed artfully on and inside my cover? No to mention some leftover puppy stickers that ring the side of my container. LOL).
So, what do you think of when you hear the words, "Going in Circles"? Let them inspire your crafting this week. and whatever you end up creating, don't forget to link up at Ike's World Challenge blog for your chance to win a gift certificate to the Store.
p.p.s. (This is the lucky dog whose treats will wait for him in my new altered art piece. His name is Bandit).

Challenges I am Entering:

Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers - Mixed Media

Creative Artiste - Mixed Media

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media Goes
Altered Eclectics - Anything Mixed Media Goes
Wags & Whiskers - Furry Friends

Time Out challenges - Home Sweet Home photo inspiration (To me, Home wouldn't be Sweet without our furry friends. I pulled the black from the color pallette and altered a dusting powder container to hold treats for the puppy)

Let's Get Quirky Pink (or Red) with Black & White

I'm back with a midway challenge reminder for Quirky Crafts today. The monthly challenge is to use PINK or RED with Black & White. Sponsoring this challenge is The Cutting Cafe, who generously allowed the DT to play with two sets:
Bendi Card, which comes with 1 main BENDY CARD template that will fit inside of a A2 sized envelope (with the card laying flat), 5 Assorted backs for the card,2 Assorted fronts for the card, 5 Printable sentiments (in PDF and JPEG formats), 9 Word Sentiments, 5 Assorted borders in large and small sizes (flowers, hearts, double hearts, fence, butterflies). The cutting files come in: PDF, SVG, MTC and WPC; and
Wheelbarrow Deliveries Printable Set, which comes with 2 different wheelbarrows (with a few separate cutting templates to paper-piece the wheelbarrow (in the following formats: PDF, SVG, MTC and WPC), 10 different fillers for the wheelbarrow and 20 Sentiments.
I decided to create a Bendi Card using Wheelbarrow for a double whammy! I printed out the tilted wheelbarrow, 2 sets of hearts, and 2 sentiments. I had already printed out the Bendy Card templates to cut out my card pieces, since I don't have a cutting system that reads SVG files or the like. But as you can see, the PDF files work just fine!
Using my stash leftovers, I kept a Pink with Black & white color scheme. There are so many patterns and elements that I embellished simply with a pale pink bow and a few small heart stickers.
I know that Valentine's Day is over, but there are plenty of family to whom I can send this card.
Got any pink or red left in your stash? Then create with it and share your project during the month of February for your chance to win prizes from The Cutting Cafe!

Challenges I am Entering:

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes
The ABC challenges - B is for anything that starts with a B (Bendi card)
Card & Scrap challenges - Layers
The Crafter's Cafe - Love is in the Air
Creatalicious challenges - Favorite Color Combo (Pink & black)

Winter Wonderland at the 12 Months of Christmas

Do you like getting a head start on your Christmas cards? Then come join us at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up Challenge Blog! Create at least two Christmas cards, link them up and you will receive a Christmas-themed digital paper every month you do so. Plus, each month there is an optional theme. Create with the theme in mind and you can win sponsor prizes.
Today is the midway point of February's challenge, whose theme is WINTER WONDERLAND. Make sure that your card has some snow on it in some form or other.  Snow, snowmen, or snowflakes, it is completely up to you!  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.
Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper each month, and have your name thrown into the year end draw for some extra digital goodies.  You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of a $10.00 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.
My first  DT card uses an image from this month's sponsor, Scribbles Designs. It's called Snowflake Mason Jar. I decided to cut around the image for a shaped card, and gave my Copic-colored snowflakes some shimmer with Stickles. I think I found the perfect sentiment for the image, don't you?

My second project uses the same image, Snowflake Mason Jar, on a hybrid card mixing the hand-colored image with digital papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles: "That’s Snow Biz” Paper pack (White/purple); “Christmas Glitterati” (Pink); “Snow Much Fun Kit” (Rolling Hills); and “Grungy Christmas” pack (purple).

  

I hope I have inspired you to start your stash of Christmas cards now. You can also find inspiration at Scribbles Design challenge blog, as well as the 12 Months of Christmas challenge blog. Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - AG/Christmas

Sparkles Christmas challenges - Winter Landscape

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Desire Blossoms into Everlasting Love

We've reached the midpoint in this month's challenge at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. Our sponsors are Ike's Art

and Scribbles Designs.

Today I made a hybrid card, one that mixes digital compilation with a hand-colored image, then printed out and ready to slip onto my hubby's pillow before he turns in tonight. I used an image from Scribbles Designs called "Always Kiss Me Good Night." After coloring the image, I photographed it and played in Photoshop, using Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Gold paper from Glitterati paper pack, yellow and aqua papers and aqua button  from Heartland Mini Kit, and red paper from Grungy Christmas Paper pack.
After I printed my card, I added a teal bow placed my card in an envelope, and sealed it with a kiss. Why? Because the theme of this month's challenge at the Path of Positivity is DESIRE, and after almost 40 years of marriage to my husband, I still Desire him in my bed, in my house, in my life.
People can desire many different things--what do you desire most? Show us in a card or project, then link it to the Path of Positivity blog for your chance to win these awesome prizes:

• A $10 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, one of our guest sponsors this month, 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:

• A small selection of digital designer papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge timeframe.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

Hope to see you on the Path this month!! 

Just What the Doctor Ordered at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge

Now that we are in full swing with winter temps, there have been lots of calls in from parents saying their kids won't be in class because they're sick. So I decided that now would be a good time to create a few get well cards..
And just in time for the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge starting today!! The guest sponsor this week is Di's Digi Stamps, and I got to play with this pre-colored digi image called Get Well Mice. I printed it three times, cutting the image out to build up a few layers for dimension.
In keeping with my promise to use up my stash, I pulled embossed,  machine-stitched and patterned papers to complete my card. What do you do with the leftovers from a project? If you keep pieces of paper, how small do they have to be to chuck them? I have a definite problem getting rid of the smallest strips and squares of paper!Maybe if I used some guidelines, I could control the urge to save every last bit of paper left over on my desk when the day is  done!
Well, how ever you control the stash dilemna, I hope you get time to create something this week. And I hope I see it over at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge! Have fun, crafters!

Challenges I am Entering:

The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Cute & Cuddly

Forget Me Not

Welcome to a new challenge at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. This week's sponsor is The East Wind, and the lovely digital image I got to play with is called Aurora Forget-Me-Not. After coloring her with Copics, I popped her onto a card face with stitched edges. I added a big old moon for her to gaze at and added a few hand-drawn stars. I added coordinating fibers in red before finishing off my card with a well-known quote.
We haven't seen the moon for quite a few days near Chicago due to the overcast skies. But I sure love to see that old devil moon looking down on me on those clear nights. Some people wish upon stars, but I love to make wishes on the moon.
The challenge this week is Anything Goes, and we would love to see what you create. Link up at the challenge blog for your chance to win three digis from The East Wind. Meanwhile, check out the inspiration from all the DT this week! And as always, crafters, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Card Mania - Add some Red

Naughty or Nice challenges - Seeing Red

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Our Creative Corner - Sew & Sew (Machine stitching on edges and chunky red fibers)

Everything is Prrr-fect at Scribbles Designs Challenge blog

I created a Bendi card for this month's GDT project for Scribbles Designs Challenge blog. It is my new go-to card. I really love the presentation, and as long as I include instructions on how to reattach the sides, the card can lie flat in an A2 envelope for mailing. I used a template from The Cutting Cafe to make it.
I played with an image called Nimble Puss by Scribbles Designs. The sentiment is also from Scribbles. Reaching into my crafting bag of tricks (known as my stash), I pulled coordinating pieces of patterned papers, as well as the butterflies, sequins and jeweled flowers with which I embellished.
Check out all the inspiration at Scribbles Designs challenge blog this month. Don't forget to link up your card or project for your chance to win prizes from the Store! Tell them Pat sent you.

Challenges I am Entering:

The ABC challenge blog - A is for Animals

Animal Friends challenges - Katzen/Cats

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Papers challenges - Anything Goes

Just Keep on Creating challenges - Anything Goes

Show Us Your Pussies/Cats Only challenges - Kitty Love
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Cute & Cuddly
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - Inspiration photo

Creative Knockouts - Furry Friends
___________________________________________________

Love, Actually, with Ike's Art

Time for another challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog, and here is my DT project for the midway reminder post. I used an Ike's Art image called Muse 5 for my "Love, Actually" inspiration. After coloring her in Photoshop, I placed her onto a patterned paper from Marta Van Eck's "ATC Written" collection available at Mischief Circus. I embellished with a strip of paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Glitterati paper set and various digital flowers.
My sentiment came from Pinterest, printed using the font "Coventry Garden." The sentiment comes from my heart straight to my hubby of almost 40 years.
You have another week to join in on the challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog. One lucky winner will get a gift certificate to Ike's Art Store. What are you waiting for?!
Challenges I am Entering:
DigiStamps4Joy challenges - Anything Goes

Five Little Froggies

Five little froggies sitting at the well,

One hopped off ‘cause he heard a bell.

The second one croaked “My mama’s calling me”

The next leaped after a buzzing bumble bee.

Another caught a fly and he left grinning

and the last frog sang, "Brr, I wish it were Spring!"

~Pat Martin, 2016

Five little froggies sitting at the well,

One got excited and down he fell.

The second one said, “Our brother’s in the drink!”

They all croaked loudly and started to think.

“I’ll get a ladder” and one hopped away

While the others jumped off to find another way.

The first one cried, “What’s all the fuss about?”

And he gave a mighty leap and hopped on out!

~Pat Martin, 2016

Good morning, crafters! Monday brings us a new challenge from the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge. The theme this week is Springtime! I created my card with leftover papers and embellishments to frame a Robyn's Fetish digi image called Five Little Froggies. Robyn's Fetish is this week's Guest Sponsor.

As soon as I laid eyes on this image, my mind started playing with rhymes and came up with the two ditties above. Which do you like better? Tell me in your comment and I'll pick one to mail this card to!
Sometimes an image inspires me, but most often words do. What inspires you? Whatever your muse, have fun creating, then link up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge this week!

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet Challenge blog - Y is for You Choose
Craft for the Craic challenges - Something to Make You Smile (please read the poems that go with the card)
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Just a Quickie

I have a good friend who s celebrating a milestone this month. After successful surgery to remove a brain tumor, she has now been seizure-free for six years! Not only is she celebrating, but everyone who knows her is celebrating. Personally, I would not be the crafter I am today without her inspiration and support. And to think that I may not have ever known her if her surgery hadn't been successful!
To celebrate, she is offering month-long blog candy and it's anybody's game. Her name is Holley Barnhart. One of her challenges is to make a bookmark using a specific image from Sandra Caldwell, one of her many sponsors. The image is called "Bearly a Headache" and can be found at Sandra's Etsy store. 
My bookmark is a magnetic folder bookmark in that it sits at the top of a page and when folded over the magnet holds it in place. Making a bookmark is very CAS as you don't want embellishments poking holes in your pages. My flower embellishments are felt, and I hand-drew the dots around the edges of my image.
Don't forget to check out Holley's blog, and leave her a little love while you're there. And as always, crafters, have fun!

My First Bendi Card

Welcome back to another new challenge from Quirky Crafts challenge blog. This month our gracious sponsor is The Cutting Cafe,which is a new experience for me. I think I have a new favorite site, even if I don't have cutting software. When you buy from The Cutting Cafe, you get several different formats of cutting files as well as printable templates, which I used on my card today.
I used a cutting file called Bendi Card Template, which includes: 1 main BENDY CARD template that will fit inside of a A2 sized envelope (with the card laying flat), 5 Assorted backs for the card,
2 Assorted fronts for the card, 5 Printable sentiments (in PDF and JPEG formats), 9 Word Sentiments, 5 Assorted borders in large and small sizes (flowers, hearts, double hearts, fence, butterflies). The cutting files come in: PDF, SVG, MTC and WPC. I scored my side "flaps" with my trusty ScorPal, which has become a true life saver for me in all my card-making ventures.
The challenge theme over at Quirky Challenges is to use RED OR PINK with Black & White. After using the templates to cut my layers for the card, I cut to size some pink patterned papers from my stash. I colored a digital image from Ike's Art called "My Teddy" and added a sentiment sticker. I embellished with a large jeweled flower, a cloth flower and the word Love from a DCWV booklet of sentiments from the Wedding/Love stack.
I like the way my card turned out-I've always wanted to try one of these cards, and now I think you'll be seeing a lot of these in the future LOL The Cutting Cafe also offers images, and I'll be creating with one of them for the midway reminder at Quirky Crafts later this month. Meanwhile, our sponsor has generously offered 3 sets to the 1st Place winner, 2 sets from the 2nd Place winner and 1 set to the 3rd Place winner, all from the Cutting Cafe.

Now it's your turn to create with Red OR Pink and Black & White. Can't wait to see what you come up with! Need inspiration? Check out the lovely creations at The Cutting Cafe Blog.

Challenges I am Entering:

Open-Minded challenges - Try Something New (Bendi card folding)

Aud Sentiments challenge blog - Use a Love sentiment
Cute Card Thursday challenges - In the Pink
In the Pink challenges - With Love
Southern Girls challenges - Anything Goes w/Team Trace
Time Out challenges - quote inspiration
"Love is the flower you've got to let grow"
(children are like flowers, needing to be nurtured, yet space and time to grow)
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Cute & Cuddly
Double D challenges - Pretty Pink Hearts (mine are in black but there's loads of pink)
The Crafter's Cafe - Monochromatic
Crafting Musketeers - Monochrome
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Papers challenges - Anything Goes
ScorPal More Than One Score challenges - Pink or Blue It's Up to You
(scoring at the side flaps of my card, both the ones tucked into cuts and the ones adhered to the card base)
Paper Sweeties Inspiration challenges - Photo inspiration

I Desire Balance

It feels like it's been forever since I created a larger mixed media canvas, and now I remember why--this one took almost a week to create from start to finish. But I am very happy with it!
I created it as my DT inspiration for the Path of Positivity, whose theme this month is Desire. Now, an individual can feel Desire for more than something physical. I desire BALANCE in my life. 
I often feel like the amazing Elasto-Woman, stretched well beyond her abilities to juggle a job, a family, kids, spouse, creativity, household accounting, friends, co-workers...well, you get the drift. You probably feel the same way.
Always on the lookout for ways to improve my life, I have made it a tradition to "name" my New Years, and 2016 is the year of personal Balance. I will try to dance and try to remain still. I will work hard, and play with abandon. I will spend time with friends, and grab some "me" time. I will sing out loud, and remain silent. I will embrace all side of who I am.
My canvas showcases a digital image from Ike's Art called Robot 2. My materials of choice are tie-dyed napkins, tissue paper with words printed on it, a red paper doily heart and lots of homemade Mod Podge. Once I had my base, I added alcohol inks, acrylic paint and gold Pearl X pigment powder (with a little spritz of water).
Then I added the Copic-colored image, framed it, and sorted through my stash for all the eye candy you see above. I printed a couple lines from Pinterest using Photoshop and green textured digital paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. 
How do you feel about DESIRE? Create a card, a layout, altered art, anything that features the theme of Desire, then link it up to the Path of Positivity challenge blog. I'd love to take a peek at your own desires.
This month, Ike's Art

 and Scribbles Designs

are the guest sponsors. Here are the fabulous prizes offered this month:

• A $10 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, one of our guest sponsors this month, 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:

• A small selection of digital designer papers 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.

Hope to see you there!

Challenges I am Entering:
Not Just Cards - Always Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes w/optional twist: Use your Stash
Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers - T is for Technique (take your pick: Mod Podge or Mixed media)
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything BUT a Card

Please Bee My Valentine

Love is in the air this month, and to celebrate Valentine's Day, the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge this week is to create using wings or something with wings on your project. We have two awesome sponsors, Rick St Dennis 

Prize 3 images

and

Creative Bug

Prize – 5 images

I created a set of Valentine cards, two of which I am posting. The images I used are from Rick St Dennis and are called Busy Bee Kids. For my card base, I re-discovered a set of note cards snagged out of the dollar bin at Michael's Craft store a year or so ago.

As soon as I saw the images in Rick St Dennis' STORE, I knew I wanted to create a punny Valentine. The images were colored with Copics, but by the time I was ready to put my cards together, my printer was having a nervous breakdown, so I hand-wrote the sentiments. 

To finish off my CAS cards, I added simple embellishments - a bit of ribbon, a few punched hearts, and some inking with a gel pen on the edges. Each card is actually folded into three parts for a nice amount of white space for personalized messages from me.

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day with cards? The challenge doesn't restrict your projects this week to Valentine's cards, as there are plenty of ways to use WINGS on your cards. Remember to link in to the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge post for your chance to win prizes. And as always, crafters, have fun!

The East Wind Blows into Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog

Can you believe that January is gone?! That was a fast month, and a cold one for us folks in the northern half of the world. Cold days means I stay in more, so I got to play in my craft room and create another page in my acrylic album.
I used an image called Aurora Love You from The East Wind. They are sponsoring Your Scrapbook Place challenge this month. I love to use non-traditional colors for hair, so I made mine pink and carried it into some of the embellishments on my acrylic page. The pink flowers are handmade, and I used a spellbinders die to frame Aurora using leftover patterned papers.
My album is nearly full. Have you worked with acrylic albums before? I have to keep reminding myself to check the back so I don't embellish myself into a corner by making it difficult to work with the back side of each page. So far, so good!
Your Scrapbook Place offers monthly challenges from the first to the end of each month, and are almost always Anything Goes. AND you get twice the chance to win prizes from the sponsor, The East Wind, if you yourself use an image from The East Wind!
Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting by Designs - Add a Flower
Moo-Mania & More - Use your Scraps
Sisterhood of Crafters - Love Letters

Don't Look Back

This week at Craft Your Passion challenge blog, Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps is sponsoring the Anything Goes challenge. I got to play with an image called Princess Natalya. I colored her with Copics, using metallic gel pens to give her dress the shimmer it deserves, although it doesn't show up very well in my photo.
Then I photographed her and used Photoshop to "fussy-cut" her to place on a card I created with Stitchy Bear digital papers that came with this image. I created the sentiment in Sonoma Script font.
You have a week to link up your crafty project in order to be eligible for prizes from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps. Have fun, crafters!

Holding My Friends Close to My Heart

Today is the start of a new challenge at the Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenges. Our generous sponsor is Teresa Arsenault of Tickell Expressions. If you've been playing along with the progressive challenges, you will receive this image in a couple days. If not, what are you waiting for?! LOL
I am an avid paper-ripper, so I created my card's background from leftover pieces of papers in my stash. After coloring my image with Copics, I framed her and popped her onto my card. A simple bow and embossed sentiment finish off my card. This is MY idea of a CAS card. LOL
If you'd like to join in the fun, hop on over to the Outlawz Progressive Freebie challenges. We could all use more inspiration! And as always, crafters, have fun!