Goodbye, Baby Teeth

Started to sort through my photos on my laptop, and decided I had better start to at least digitally scrapbook them. Today's page is all about my granddaughter, who this year lost her first 2 teeth. She is growing up faster than I can blink!

Here is what went into my page:

Papers & Elements:

PS Sharon Dewi Stolp, Good Day Paper Paint Ombre

PS Violet Irisovna, Bright Days Extra Papers Solid Pink

PS Ania Archer, Art of Everyday Heart Scatter

PS Janet Scott, Christmas Day Pink Twine, Circles Border

PS Melo Vrijhof, Thankful Harvest Elements Rope 2; All the Princesses Elements Flower 1

PS Pauline Thompson Shell Hues 1 Paint Swirl

PS Elif Sahin, Flowers #8 Flower 05

Something New by Sugary Fancy, Arrow

Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles, Button 01

Fonts: Speedball No. 3 NF, Graphis

Precious Baby Girl

I got my second commission this month--I'm really on a roll. I just need to get one a day and I can retire when I reach 75. LOL I was asked to create a card for a granddaughter's christening. She liked a card on my desk that was framed with a line of pearls and had a vintage feel to it. She also wanted me to keep it simple (not too chunky) so I created this 6x6 card in pink with mostly flat embellishments.

Above is the top part of the card's inside, and below the "meat" of my card.

The sentiment reads:
"Lord, Wrap your loving arms around (name) and let your grace shine freely into her precious life in all the days ahead" I love that sentiment! I hope my client will be happy with her requested card.
And I just realized that I better get crafting! I'm going to a baby Shower on Sunday and everyone there knows I make my own cards!
Wherever you are, happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Craft Rocket challenges - Pink & Pearly

In the Pink challenges - for a child/baby

Time OUT challenges - Celebrations w/optional twist die- or fussy-cutting

Word Art Wednesday challenges - Family-friendly/Anything Goes

Anything Goes at Craft Your Passion

Today starts a new challenge at Craft Your Passion, where it's always Anything Goes. This week's sponsor is Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

My card showcases a digital delight called Karate Kevin. He reminds me of when my son took karate classes. He was in Kindergarten, but did so well that the instructor bumped him up to the next level, where he was the youngest student (and the shortest). When the class practiced moves from one side of the gym to another, the other students had to wait quite a while for Chase's shorter legs to catch up to them before they worked their way back to the starting point.
I stuck my hand in my stash and pulled out an envie of Asian ephemera and had my way with it all on my card. A couple rows of pearls, part of a ribbon and my ticket sentiment complete my card.
The Craft Your Passion challenge lasts through the end of the week, so don't forget to link up your Anything Goes card or project for your chance to win prizes this week! And as always, crafters, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Sunny Day Crafting - Travel photo inspiration

Crafty Time challenges - For the Kids

Inky Impressions - All about the Boys

Just Add Ink - Just Add "M" (M is for male & memorabilia)

Brown Sugar challenges - Anything Goes

Anything Goes at the Outlawz Monday Greetings

Today brings us a new challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings. And they also have two sponsors-that's twice the prizes offered this week! My first card uses the digi "Wine Bottle w/Glass" from Angie's Cards & Digis. My sentiment was inspired by the theme song from the movie "Cabaret." However, the theme this week is Anything Goes!
After coloring my image with Copics, I added a little dimension with white gel pen. My papers, die-cuts and embellishments are all pulled from my magic bag of leftovers (magic because it seems to be bottomless). I think my color scheme of pink, green and ivory work well here, don't you?

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting when We Can - Based on a song (Cabaret)
Corrosive challenges - Girls, Ladies, Women (girls' night out)
Great Impressions challenges - Ladies Night

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday challenges - Add a Quotation (misquoted from Cabaret)

My second card today uses a digi image from Creative Bug Designs, also sponsoring the Outlawz Monday Greetings this week.

I colored an image called "Look at Me, Lolly." I love that he's peeking through a hole just to greet us! I found this fabulous paper (again, stash is endless) and popped him smack in the middle of the "rays" of sunshine, thereby inspiring me to continuously hum "Hello Sunshine" by Aretha Franklin from 1968.

I adhered tiny jewels around my circle of sunshine and added some sequins for sparkle. After adding some fiber for texture, I die-cut my song-inspired sentiment, and my card is complete. Now if I could just get the song out of my head...

Challenges I am Entering:

Not Just Cards challenges - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Time OUT challenges - Celebrations w/optional die-cuts or fussy-cutting)

Although my art today was inspired by songs, the theme at the Outlaw Monday Greetings is ANYTHING GOES, so go create and link up with us for your chance to win this week! 

Playing in Photoshop

Had a little time tonight but my craft table was taken over by my daughter, so I decided to craft on the computer. I have been stretching my comfort zone and learning new things in Photoshop and created this layout of Wilson, our new rescue dog (new five months ago). That's him in the front of the "pack" with his winter jacket and booties on.
I joined this fabulous website that has not only helped me maneuver around Photoshop, but lets me choose a few digital goodies every day. It's called Pixel Scrapper and after lurking around for a few weeks and picking up my freebies, I finally had the courage to share a couple of my digital layouts.
Anyway, I have been collecting digital goodies here and there, and was able to not only put this layout together, but pulled Wilson out of the photo I took of him and "attached" his own antlers. See the shadows on my dog and the polar bear? I hand-drew them using a brush in Photoshop! (Can you tell I'm having fun?!
Anyway, here are the papers and elements that went into my digital scrapbook page:

Pixel Scrapper Pauline Thompson’s Shell Hues 1 Paint Swirl

Marta Van Eck Winter Elements 48 (Polar Bear)

Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles Frame 01

Marta Van Eck Winter Scene Papers 09

Fonts: LD Handwritten Greetings, Leathery Soft

Challenges I am Entering:

As You Like It challenges - Favorite Animal & Why (I love puppies and dogs, but up until last year I didn't think I would ever own one as I am allergic to dogs & cats. BUT Wilson, our 7-yr-old rescue dog, a Silkie Terrier, has HAIR, not fur, so I don't sneeze {or worse}. I love Wilson because he knows when I need a cuddle, and is patient with me as a new dog owner. He also doesn't bark, and loves to walk)
Scrap It with a Song challenges - Rock Song Hello I Love You by the Doors ( I used the two lines, "Sidewalk crouches at her feet Like a dog that begs for something sweet", except my love is really a dog!! LOL)

Skipping Gracefully Down the Path of Positivity

Greetings, crafters! We have reached the midway point of the challenge at the Path of Positivity. You still have two weeks left to create with the theme of GRACE and link up your projects. When I think of Grace, I think most often of all that God has given me. I am graced with a family, a home, creativity, courage and generosity. I have so much to be thankful for, that the best way to show my gratitude is to live my life using the gifts he gave me, and sharing them with others.
I created a digital card today, using an image from one of our sponsors, Pickled Potpourri Designs, called Hearts Forever. Papers and elements came from another sponsor this month, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles: Colors of the Rainbow Kit, patterned paper Sea; Glitterati Paper Pack, Purple Glitter paper; Mommie Dearest Collection: Doilies Pack, Doily 9, Textured Paper 7; Grab Bag 1 Accessories pack, Staple 1.

What does Grace make you think about? Create with that thought and join us this month. There are some awesome pries to win:

Challenges I am Entering:

Digitally Sweet challenges - Fantasy

Challenge Up Your Life - In the Air

Furry and Funny is the Theme at the Outlawz Greetings

It's time to laugh out loud, or rather make us laugh out loud at the Outlawz Monday Greetings this week. The theme is Furry and Funny. I created my card inspired by the old saying "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
The image is called "Trotsky" and is from one of our sponsors, Dr. Digi. There are loads of funny, sweet and funky images at Dr Digi's Shop.

I've started digging deep into my stash of leftover papers (I'm finally making some headway in the paper chase that is my craft room). I pulled out some embossed cardstock and sanded it to pull out the white core of the paper. I had punched some dog prints while at my daughter-in-law's house a couple months ago and lo and behold I found them! LOL They make a nice border for my image.
Instead of tying a bow with my ribbon, I twisted it, then stapled it to hold together. I like the look-something different. A star hides the staple.

Challenges I am Entering - 

Creative Knockouts - Humorous Card

WOW Embossing Powder challenges - Anything Goes WOW White Embossing powder on paw prints)

My next project is an altered candy container, shaped like a house.

The image I used is from QKR, and it's called "This Much." I colored my bunny with Copics before popping him onto my Easter candy container. You know, most people think of a candy house and think of the witch in the story Hansel and Gretel. But never fear, my bunny is not planning to fatten you up & eat you. No wait, he is beckoning you to "enter" his house and help yourself to some candy, so I guess you could say he is planning to fatten you up...hmmm, I'm sure he doesn't plan on eating you later. But you'd better not take the chance. Just leave all the candy for me (mwahahahaha).

I hope you have time this week to create for the Furry & Funny theme. Don't forget to link your project up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge for your chance to win prizes!

Challenges I am Entering:

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes

Crafty Time - For the Kids

Open-Minded Crafting - Easter/Spring/Pastel colors

Jumping in Puddles

Did you ever jump smack into a puddle on purpose, not even avoiding it? Probably not since you were a child. Well, I'm telling you to LET THAT CHILD COME OUT AND PLAY! Life is stressful and everyone needs some down time, some relaxation, some PLAY! Jump in puddles, stay in your pajamas all day, eat dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner. Better yet,  spend the whole day crafting! You deserve it.
To highlight my advice, I created this card for the challenge over at Ike's World Challenge blog. It's the midway point and crafters have one more week to create with the theme of RAIN and link up for their chances for prizes. I used a digi image from Ike's Art called "New Shoes."
After coloring my girl with Copics, I sketched and colored in the puddle and surrounding grass and flowers, then used my Epic Six and Nestabilities die to frame her. Another cut and I had my sentiment framed as well. I thought the blue trim looked like water so I went for it, adding a couple more embellishments before declaring my card complete.
Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy doing it. You know what they say, "Love what you do, and Do what you love."

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting Musketeers - Spring is in the Air

Card Mania - Spring

Die-Cut Divas challenge blog - pertaining to April (daffodils, April showers, puddles in which to play)

Creative Loops challenges - Water

Crafty Enjoyments challenges - BINGO grid (I used  sentiment, chipboard (cloud), and flowers (hand-drawn and colored: middle vertical line)

It's Quirky Raining Cats & Dogs This Month

In the northern half of the globe, April is a month of warmer weather and rain showers. Well, the Quirky Challenges blog has put a quirky spin on the showers. This month's theme is "It's Raining Cats & Dogs," Show us a project with a cat or dog or both!
This month's sponsor is Crackerbox Palace. They offer a wide variety of wood-backed rubber stamps. I got to play with a stamp called Hang on Cat. As soon as I saw it, I knew it related to how I felt eery Monday. Although...now I have Mondays off, so this would be how I feel on Tuesdays. But I'm not sending a card to myself, so most people will relate to the "Monday attitude." LOL
While at my local thrift store, I snagged an almost full paper pad of cat/dog patterned paper from DCWV for 50 cents. So I popped a piece onto a stitched card face, hung my cat, and added my sentiment and some ribbon.
Now it's your turn-Don't forget to link up for your chance to win prizes!
Challenges I am Entering:
Show Us Your Pussies - Any-furry-thing Goes
My Time to Craft - People & Their Pets

Christmas Card with Sami Stamps Image Today

We've reached the midway point of the Gifts Galore challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up blog. Gift giving is a fun part of Christmas and something we all look forward. Weather we are giving or receiving, it is always fun to watch the surprised faces on Christmas morning when opening up our packages. While it may be a bit early for gift giving, let's add some presents to our cards this month.

This month the blog is sponsored by Sami Stamps. 

I got to play with one of their digi stamps called "Curious Gifts." I  colored it with Copics and then printed out some festive digital patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles (ribbons paper from Merry Mix Paper Pack, Chevrons paper from Gifts Galore Paper Pack, Bauble 3 from Bauble Bonanza Paper Pack and Red from the Glitterati Se 1 Glitter paper. I love using digital papers-I can print and cut them out for my cards, or create a card in Photoshop-either way, the storage is SO much easier! LOL
I finished my paper off with a sticker, a tiny bow and my sentiment. Want to get ahead with your handmade Christmas cards? Join the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up and create and link up two cards each month. Every one who does so will receive free patterned paper each month. If you choose to create with the optional theme (Gifts Galore this month), you will have twice the chance to win prizes from the sponsor.

• Prize being offered:   $12.00 gift certificate from Sami Stamps  for one random winner chosen from those who participate in the optional theme.
• Additional Sponsor: Décosse's Dynamite Doodles
• Prize being offered: One free digital paper to everyone who links up a minimum of two cards to the challenge.  Cards can be anything goes for this prize, they only have to follow the theme if they want a chance at the sponsor's prize.  The mini set of six digital papers called Gifts Galore, will also be offered up as a prize to one random winner.

Challenges I am Entering:
Southern Girls challenges - Patterned Paper Free-for-all
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
A Snowflake's Promise - Anything Goes

Moonflower Designs Sponsors Your Scrapbook Place April Challenge

Happy Spring, crafters! Today I created a card for the midway challenge reminder over at Your Scrapbook Place Challenge blog. The theme is Anything Goes, and the sponsor this month is Moonflower Designs.
I got to play with a lovely image called Gina Cupcake from Moonflower Designs.I am always on the lookout for ways with which to use feathers, and today I used one to frame my birthday card. On my (never-ending) goal to use up my stash, I pulled out a couple pieces of patterned paper and cut on the diagonal for a different look. A bit of craft paper frames my card front. I also pulled out my Epic Six and die-cut my Copic-colored image before popping it onto my card.
Do you have a growing stash? It seems that mine keeps growing, but I haven't bought any new paper in months and months. I think I just need to "Let It Go' and toss papers under a certain size. But think of all the lovely ATC's and cute tags I could create with them...
I hope you join us at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog for a chance to win free digis from our sponsors this month!

Challenges I am Entering:

Craft Rocket challenges - Favorite Color Combo (Pink & teal)

Crafty Gals Corner - Die-cuts and/or Punches (Nestabilities Die for image, circle punch for sentiment)

Fab n Funky challenges - Girly & Pretty

The Crafty Addicts - Girly

Crafting for All Seasons - BINGO Grid (Girly, Digi Image & Flowers)

Scribbles Designs Wants to Bug You

As the weather warms up in the northern hemisphere, the bugs start to wake up. So, Scribbles Designs challenge blog wants you to BUG them. Create with the theme of BUGS on your project (p.s. there are a couple of free images on the blog you can use).
I created my DT card using two digi images from Scribbles Designs - Mason Jar - Fireflies, and a freebie called Firefly! After coloring my Mason jar with Copics, I fussy-cut it and put it aside. Then I used Copics to create a backyard scene. I popped my jar onto the grass and extended a few strands of grass onto the jar. I added the border on top and a metal star, along with a few strips of jewels.
Then I went to Photoshop where I added the freebie Firefly, creating a couple free-flying flies escaping the jar. I remember spending weekends with my grandmother. Her son, my uncle, was just four years older than I. Between the two of us and my sister, we spent many a summer evening catching fireflies (we called them lightning bugs) and naming each one before putting them in jars. Of course, we released them all before going in to bed. Back then, the front yard was SO BIG, with evergreen trees and bushes creating our own personal forest. After we all grew up and the house was sold, I revisited the house. That "forest" was no bigger nor smaller than everyone else's front yards on the block! Still, lots of carefree memories were made there at Gram's house. She's been gone a year now, rejoining her husband at the ripe old age of 104 (and a half, she'd always remind us). God bless her for giving me the kind of childhood I can cherish and look back on with love.
The Bug Us challenge at Scribbles Designs lasts a month, so have fun and craft your heart out! Then link up for your chance to win prizes. Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Digital Delights by Louby Loo - Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes

Color Throwdown - Inspiration photo

Let's Color Linky Party - Anything Goes w/something colored

Let's Go Fly a Kite with Kitty Bee Designs

Today brings a new challenge to the Outlawz Monday Greetings. This week's sponsor is Kitty Bee Designs, and I got to play with this cutie called Panda with Kite. I say play because after coloring it with Copics, I popped it onto a scene I created in Photoshop. The theme this week is "Let There Be Sky."
My card uses:
Image from Kitty Bee Designs (Panda with Kite)
Papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Glitterati Paper Kit (gold) and Chasing Rainbows Patterned Paper Pack (sea)
Elements:  Fence from Rucola Designs Our House Elements 1, Shell from Rucola Designs Summertime Freebie, Boat and Glitter overlay #9 from Krysty Scrap Designs
Sentiment created in Word from the song "Let's Go Fly a Kite" from the movie Mary Poppins using Speedball #3NF

Anything Goes at Craft Your Passion

Another Monday, another new challenge from Craft Your Passion. The challenges are always Anything Goes, so the sky's the limit. For my DT make, I had fun playing in Adobe Photoshop, where I created this 100% digital card. Now that my sister lives overseas, the postage to send a handmade card, especially the chunky ones I so love to make, is exorbitant!
Enter the digital card, which can be attached to an email. Believe me, creating a digital card takes as much time as making a paper-crafted card. But now my sister gets a card a week, every time I email her.
My card uses a digital image from this week's sponsor, Lacy Sunshine. The image is called Marguerite Daisy Flower from the Pot Pretties Collection. Isn't she sweet? My granddaughter would be ecstatic if there were a whole world of flower fairies that she could visit with. I colored her in Photoshop, then placed her onto a background scenery paper from the Boring Evening Collection from Krysty Scrap Designs. After framing my card face with papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, I added a few elements to embellish my card, then added my sentiment.
Come join us in our newest Anything Goes challenge at Craft Your Passion.

Challenges I am Entering:

2 Crafty Girls - Anything Goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Make a Scene

Cards 4 Galz - Springtime

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Cre8tive Hand Friends challenges - Anything Goes

Digitally Sweet challenges - Fantasy (flower fairy)

It's Raining Quirky Dogs and Cats

Just a reminder that the new Quirky challenge is to use a dog or a cat on your project this month. Sponsor is Crackerbox Palace Stamps, and I made an easel card with Crackerbox Palace's "Spot the Dog". 

I love easel cards, especially when I have a "two-part" sentiment. Above is my card closed, the way it would look coming out of an envelope. I love the expression on Spot's face, don't you?!

Below is the card open with my punchline. This is what our silkie terrier, Wilson, thinks every time someone goes into the kitchen. Although he will go for a walk just as many times as he would like to eat. The boy can walk!!!

Get your hairy or furry muse working and create a card or project with the theme of dog/cat. Then link up at the Quirky Crafts challenge blog this month for your chance to win prizes!

Challenges I am Entering:

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Digital Delights by Louby Lou challenges - Anything Goes

Time Out challenges - Photo Inspiration (I pulled inspiration from the colors blue, green & brown. I have a rescue dog, Wilson, who acts as our 12 pound guard dog)

Have a Purr-fectly Happy Birthday

Spring brings rain showers (and in Chicago, snow showers), flowers, sunshine and in my family, lots of birthdays. So I had some play time in my craft room and created this colorful birthday card for a friend. She is a mom to several fur babies so I think she'll like this card. I, however, am severely allergic to cats, so I must adore them from afar, much to the chagrin of my daughter, whose biggest wish is to have a kitten (or five) to cuddle all the time. She'll just have to wait until she has a place of her own. 

Challenges I am Entering:

Show Us Your Pussies challenges - Furry-thing Goes

My Time to Craft - People & their Pets
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Graceful Living

Welcome to a new challenge at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. This month we are celebrating GRACE. Grace is an attitude, a way you act, or react, to any given situation. Grace can be achieved with practice, with patience, and with compassion. Grace can lift spirits from a depressing day, a stressful event, even an overwhelming disappointment. It can turn a life around, as my sentiment reads. We should all practice to live gracefully-the world would be a much nicer, more peaceful place in which to live.
The challenge has two sponsors this month, Pickled Potpourri 

and Decosse's Dynamite Doodles

I used an assortment of papers and elements from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles:
 Acts That Can Change Lives set- sentiment 2
 Mommy Dearest Collection- Doilies Pack: Doily 1,2 & 3; Textured Paper Pack: Texture 9; Buttons,  Bows, Brads Pack: Button 5
 Cotton Candy Collection- Tag Grab Bag 1: Flower 6, Leaf Spray
 Glitterati Paper Pack- Purple glitter paper
...as well as elements from other digital resources:
from Pixel Scrapper Marisa Lerin- Pretty Things Elements Pack- Scatter, Butterfly 18; from Janet Scott- Christmas Day Glitter Dot Swirl; from  Elif Sahin- Ribbons #7 Templates, Ribbon template #6
All of these digital elements and papers came together to create my DT card for the new challenge. Some crafters do not appreciate the time and energy that goes into making a digital card or layout. I love hybrid and digital cards because I can store them easily, and I can print them to send out to family and friends. I can even email cards to my sister who now lives in Germany (postage across the world is SO expensive).
I hope soon that there will be more challenge blogs that accept hybrid and digital creations. Meanwhile, the Path of Positivity challenge blog accepts any and all creations of a positive nature, and this month the positive theme is GRACE. What can you create this month?

Spring Has Sprung with Digi Stamps 4 Joy

Could it be Spring, finally?! I don't know about your neck of the woods, but Chicago has been on a roller coaster when it comes to temps and weather conditions. March come in like a lion,bearing snow and freezing temps, then flipped around and teased us with temps in the 60's. I would really like Mother Nature to make up her mind so I can plan out my wardrobe! LOL
Meanwhile, the Outlawz Monday Greetings offers a new challenge asking for cards with a Spring theme. The sponsor this week is Digi Stamps 4 Joy.

Doesn't the digi, Spring Has Sprung, showcase the new season's weather perfectly? I love the hedgehogs peeking out of the flowers with their smiles. They're not the only ones happy with the respite in cold weather! I rounded all my corners on my card and embellished with a spray of flowers and a few butterflies floating past my scene. My sentiment is on my printed ribbon.
Why don't you link up your Spring-themed card at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge this week. There are some fabulous prizes offered!

Loads of Laughs at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Avast, matie! Thar be a new challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog, and we've hit the midway point. No, it's not Pirate week! The theme is to "Make Us Laugh." While my Lady Pirate from Ike's Art is not funny in and of herself, the sentiment I used should qualify.
My project is a hybrid canvas. I hand-drew and colored my background, colored my image with Copics, fussy cut her and placed her onto my background. Then I used my improving digital skills in Photoshop to add a few elements to give the scene more life, like the boat (element 25, Boring Evening Elements 1 Pack, Krysty Scrap Designs) and fence (Our House Elements 1 Pack, Rucola Designs by Ildi Geist). The treasure chest is an altered project I created for my son's beach-themed wedding almost 3 years ago.
I framed my canvas with blue textured paper from Grungy Christmas Paper Pack, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, and Glitter Overlay 3 Kit and patterned paper 09, Dead or Alive Paper Pack,   Krysty Scrap Designs.
Now tickle your funny bone and join in the fun at Ike's World Challenge blog this week for your chance to win free digis! Whatever you create, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

A Beautiful Mess challenge blog - Anything Goes
Craft for the Craic - Anything but a Card (hybrid canvas)
Digitally Sweet challenges - Fantasy
Morgan's Artworld challenges - For the Men
The Stamping Boutique - Masculine
{Pin}spirational Challenges - Inspiration photo

Golden Wedding Anniversary

 I was commissioned to create an anniversary card for a friend. Her friends are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary later this month. Wow! That's a log time being married to the same person. So I had to make a card worthy of their evidence of love for each other. I am not the best "florist", maybe because I have allergies and they sometimes "leak" into my crafting. But today I think I brazened past my subconscious barrier and created a nice spray on my card.

Of course, the sentiment is very important for this very special occasion. I found one on Pinterest and framed it before adding to the inside of my card. I embellished with gold, jeweled rings, and the tiny white box is for my client's signature.
So, a chunky card needs a box envelope, so I pulled out my Ultimate Crafter's Companion and Envelope Creator to make it. Below is the front of my card with a detachable tag.

 Here is the back of my box envelope. The flap has a small Velcro fastener to keep the box closed.

So there is my commissioned card for a 50th anniversary celebration. Everything I used came out of my stash, which follows my 2016 crafting resolution of using up my stuff. My favorite find is the gold button with chain swag that covers the Velcro fastening.
Now I hope my friend is as happy with the card as I am!

Challenges I am Entering:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes/Optional twist: pale, pastel
Crafting When We can - Inspired by a Song - Endless Love
Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

It's Raining Quirky Cats & Dogs

Welcome back to another Quirky challenge! This month you are asked to create something with a  Cats & Dogs theme. Our sponsor is Crackerbox Palace Digital Stamps.

I got to play with an image called "Peeking Cat." I colored my kitty with Copics, then added her onto my card face. A simple ribbon border and jeweled flourishes decorate my card. I printed my sentiment in Adobe Photoshop using Butch font from the Hungry Jpeg.
Quirky challenges run monthly starting on the first Sunday of the month, so you have time to let those creative juices flow. Think muddy paws and kitten cuddles, wagging tails and purring greetings. Then link up your creations with us at Quirky Crafts challenge blog!
Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet challenges - C is for Cats

Brown Sugar challenges - Anything Goes

Sheepski Designs Sponsors the Outlawz Progressive Freebie This Month

I created a card for Mother's Day today.  This lovely image, called "For Mom," is from Andrea Norris of Sheepski Designs. She is sponsoring the new progressive challenge at the Outlaw in April. Those who have been playing along will receive this image free, and will continue to receive free sponsors' images every month as long as they create and link up their cards using the freebie.
There are a lot of layers on my card, including some mulberry paper, some handmade patterned paper using alcohol inks and a bit of embossed paper rubbed with gold Pearl Ex. Add the image and my flowers and it's pretty chunky. Luckily, my mom lives about 6 blocks from my house, so I will be hand-delivering her card on the special holiday.
Now to create Mother's Day cards for my kids' godmothers, my daughter-in-law and her mom, and my granddaughter's mom. Whew, I had better get busy!! LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Inky Impressions challenges - Let's Hear It for the Girls

Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog Has a Song in Its Heart

Welcome to the midway point of Scribbles Designs challenge blog's Song in Your Heart challenge! I am such a lucky bunny to have been asked to join the Scribbles Design Team. My first DT make was inspired by the song "The Candy Man", introduced in the 1971 movie called Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory. The song became so popular it made it to number one on national radio, sung by Sammy Davis, Jr.

I remembered when the movie went to TV for the first time. I was in the US Army, 54th Military Police Company. I was visiting the Day Room at my (soon-to-be) hubby's barracks. The room was a lounge of sorts for all the guys and their guests to hang out. I'll never forget that as the movie Willy Wonka" came on, there were at least 20 guys watching it! Although I enjoyed reading Roald Dahl's book on which the movie was (very loosely) based, I like the original more than the remake with (sigh) Johnny Depp.
Alright, back from my trip down memory lane, let's look at my card - I created the background with alcohol inks on glossy paper. I used dimensional dots to pop my Copic-colored image, called Bunny Bum, onto my card.

#440 Bunny Bum ($2.50)

I found the poem on Quote Garden and used my Epic Six to die-cut the frame around it. I embellished simply with a line of adhesive-backed pearls and a bit of ribbon.
Check out the inspiration at the Scribbles Designs Challenge blog and don't forget to link up your own cards for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store.

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Cardmakers - Easter

Marker Pop Challenge #91 - Critters

Our Crafty Corner - Anything Goes

Where the HeART Is challenges - Easter/Anything Goes