Celebrate Independence at Ike's World Challenges Blog

Today I created a hybrid layout for my DT make at Ike's World Challenges Blog. Hybrid projects mix hand-crafting with digital design. I hand-colored images from Ike's Art, fussy-cut them, and added in a mix of photos to make a 21st birthday page of my daughter.I thought it was perfect for the theme of "Be Independent" as Wendy was born on the 4th of July, 1995. That's right, my baby girl is 21!!  

I tried to encompass her journey from little tyke to young woman, and I am proud that I am her mom. Happy Birthday, my love!

Here's what went into my layout:

Digital Images (colored with Copics): Ike’s Art New Baby, My Teddy, Teenager

Papers: Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles’ Glitterati Glitter Pink Paper; Pixel Scrapper Melo Vrijhof’s Painted Papers Flowers

Elements: (PixelScrappers) Sharon Grant’s It’s a Girl Thing Frame Cluster02; Pauline Thompson’s Masculine 2 Clock & Star Brad 7; Ania Archer Art of Every Day Heart Scatter; Janet Scott’s Toolbox Calendar Metal Fireworks Doodle; Elif Sahin’s Christmas Day Elements Washi Tape 1
Now it's your turn. You have another week for the Be Independent challenge over at Ike's World Challenges Blog. What are you waiting for?! LOL

Anything Goes at the Outlawz Greetings Challenge This Week

Welcome to the last Monday of the month, where it's Anything Goes at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges. This week's guest sponsor is SLS Lines, and I got to play with a digi image called Goth Girl w/Goldfish & Balloons.  She looks a little sad, or at least thoughtful, so I created a "Thinking of You" card that I can personalize for a long-distance friend I am missing, someone who needs a cheerful note, or even a get-well card.
I colored my image with Copics, using white and metallic gel pens for a little shimmer. Then I fussy-cut her out and framed her with a paper doily. I placed an embossed piece of cardstock on my card face to pull the colors together, adding some black ink on parts of the embossed "bumps." 
I embellished simply with pearls, ribbon and a single black square jewel.
So, what are you going to create for the Anything Goes theme this week? whatever it is, don't forget to link up at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge for your chance to win some awesome prizes from our sponsor, SLS Lines. and as always, crafters, have fun!

Congratulations Are in Order

I created a Congratulations card for the midway challenge reminder at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. This month we have been exploring the positive elements of Achievement. Since graduation comes to mind during June, I created a care for my daughter's friend who has graduated from Culinary Cooking School. I used a digital image called Bakendayz from Robyn's Fetish, one of two guest sponsors this month.

 After coloring my image with Copics, I fussy-cut it and popped it onto a scalloped oval die-cut and scalloped ribbon border. My background paper is homemade using glossy cardstock and alcohol inks. I stamped my sentiment and added it with an assortment of coordinating embellishments.
I am so proud of Margaret, whose life has been a bit bumpy. She persevered and achieved her life goal of landing a job in the field for which she dreamed. I am as proud of her as I would be were she my own daughter, and wish her good luck. I hope she gets to eat her cake AND frosting for years to come!
The challenge runs until July 3rd, and is also sponsored by Kitten Scraps.

SPONSOR & PRIZE INFORMATION: 

• 3 Digital Stamps from Robyn's Fetish, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $20 gift certificate from Kitten Scraps, one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

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.

Life is a Phantasi at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenges

Welcome to the Outlawz Monday Greetings new challenge. This week crafters are asked to create using a new technique. The guest sponsor this week is Digi Stamps 4 Joy, whose digital image, Phantasi 7 is showcased on my card today. Isn't she lovely?
My new technique is using some fancy die-cuts I colored with Copics to frame my card. Usually I stick to my Nestabilities dies that don't take twenty minutes to get out of the dies and trim them. But it does look nice on my card. LOL
Inspired by the feathers in her hair, I embellished my card with feathers, and added a line of pearls as well. I created this card for my granddaughter's graduation, and she loved it! Of course, it came with an altered container topped with a grad cap which, when pulled off the top of the container, was followed by a number of one dollar bills taped end to end. It presented an almost endless ticker tape of money, so who wouldn't like that?!
So what technique have you been wanting to try? Do it this week and show us your project. Just link  up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge for your chance to win digi images from our sponsor, Digi Stamps 4 Joy.

Opposites Attract at Ike's World Challenges blog

 

I swear, sometimes I wonder how my husband and I figured out we were "made for each other." While there are many things we both like, we are more like "ebony & ivory" in our personalities. For instance, he likes to plan things out in advance, while I can hop in the car at even the suggestion of an adventure. He loves to soak up the sun and sweat, while I take my Girl Scouts winter camping!
But there is the old saying that Opposites Attract, and it must be true, because we are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary this Fall!
Which brings me to my DT card today for Ike's World Challenges Blog. The theme this fortnight is in fact Opposites Attract, and we have reached the midway point of the challenge. I got to play with two digital images, Sexy Cowgirl and Singer, and I created a Swing card to showcase these images.

If you're as old as I am (bless you), then you might remember the Donny & Marie Show on TV. The opening theme song was with Marie Osmond singing a duet with her brother, Donny Osmond. She would claim she was "a little bit country," while Donny would sing that he was "a little bt rock & roll." That song inspired my Opposites Attract" card today. Above you see the front of my swing card, with some lace and pearls for embellishment. Below, you can see my rock & roll side.

A funny coincidence: My hubby is from a very small country town called Kennett, which is i "bootheel" of Missouri. I am Chicago-born and bred. How did the innocent country boy and the wicked city woman meet up? On the beach at the Santa Cruz Amusement Park in California!!  LOL
Got an interesting Opposites Attract story? I'd love to hear it! And I would love to see you share your crafty creations at Ike's World Challenges Blog this week. Happy crafting!

Time to Sip & Savor at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Today starts a new challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. The theme this month is to create with thoughts of tea or coffee in mind. The challenge runs from June 15th until July 14th.
I created my card using a Scribbles digi image called Tea Cup Stack. I printed out and colored my image four times. I used thin dimensional tape between each of the cup "layers" and framed the stack before adding my sentiment and a "timely" embellishment.
The Scribbles Store has loads of images, inspiration and a few freebies, so get inspired and come join the challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog.

Silver & Gold at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up Blog

Hey, crafters, I have a question for you---

Have you started your Christmas card-making yet? We have almost reached the halfway mark until Christmas! If you need a little inspiration and a little motivation, take a look at what I created today for the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up blog.

Here is what went into my newest Christmas card:

Lunagirl "Christmas Angels" Sheet, one of 13 different images

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Snowflakes Paper from "An Eclectic Christmas 1: Silver & Gold" and Gold Glitter Paper from "Glitterati" Paper Packs

Pixel Scrapper Janet Scott's "Christmas Day Glitter Dot Swirl" 

Pixel Scrapper Karry Dempsey's "Thank Heaven for Little Boys" Star 2

Pixel Scrapper Marisa Lerin's "Christmas Day" Flower 165

Sonoma Script font

This month's guest sponsor is Lunagirl.com They offer several hundred unique digital collage sheets and dozens of themed craft CDs. They are a great resource for card making, scrapbooking, jewelry making, and much more! They are easy to use, carefully researched and curated, all thoughtfully organized and lovingly cleaned up, and ready to use in your projects, just like I used an image from one of their sheets on my newest Christmas card.  

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that you use a combination of BOTH silver AND gold somewhere on your card. Whether you choose to use these colours in your image or your paper or choose to use silver or gold embellishments, 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 at the 12 Months of Christmas blog 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 $15.00 gift card from Lunagirl. 

Join the Summer Beach Party at the Outlawz Monday Greetings

Welcome back to a new challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges. The theme this week is Summer Beach Party, and we have two generous sponsors this week:

Eureka Stamps, with which I used "Shell Border,"

and

Creative Bug Digital Stamps

Today I created a fun card using "Shell Border" from Eureka Stamps. I created my background using torn patterned paper. I punched yellow cardstock for my sun and placed it behind my image, which is colored with Copics and sparkled with glitter. I added some twine and my sentiment and my card is finished. 

Challenges I am Entering:

My next card is from this week's second sponsor, Creative Bug Digital Stamps. I got to play with Marcella Manchester who happens to be a sock monkey!

This card is a hybrid, in that all my images are hand-colored then placed digitally onto a scene I created. My scene is actually a photo that I took while in Australia. I framed my scene with textured glitter paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Glitterati Paper kit. here are the rest of the items used to create this card: Flip Flops,Sand Pail, Beach Drink and sentiment from Scribbles Designs; banner and beach sign from pixelscrapper.com

The only thing missing from my card is the sun block Marcella Manchester is going to need! LOL

Now it's time to get your beach on and come play in this week's challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings. See you there!

Scrapping My Heart Out

 Life is short, so if I want to get all my digital (and paper) photos scrapped, I'd best be starting NOW. So I did! Over the last week, I experimented and practiced and learned in Photoshop elements and created a 6-page layout of trips to Great America over the years. We live about 45 minutes from Gurnee, IL, which is our amusement park of choice. In creating my first page, I made the photo framed above transparent and enlarged it to fit the entire page before adding it in the center.

Page 1: PS Pauline Thompson’s Bright & Beautiful Solid Paper 7, PS January 2016 Create-a-Kit, Dream4Ever Designs, Metal Stitches; PS Amanda Brown’s Better Together Solid Paper Purple; Kitten Scraps’ 3 Ring Show Elements Kit, Glitter Trail 2, Button 7; Satans Font   (2 photos)

I decided to carry over the transparent photo theme onto most of the other pages. Scrapbookers know how important it is to journal, so my second page's journaling takes up most of the room.

Page 2: PS Pauline Thompson’s Bright & Beautiful Solid Paper 7, Shell Hues Solid Paper 5 & Star Brad 7; Background photo credit: Originally posted to Flickr by Hendricks Photos at http://flickr.com/photos/86636033@N00/997320652

Leathery Soft Font   (5 photos)

Between kids and grandkids, friends and family, we have made a load of memories to cherish. In fact, hubby and I visited Great America in San Francisco, CA, on our honeymoon, but I don't have photos of that trip. 

Page 3: PS Pauline Thompson’s Bright & Beautiful Solid Paper 7; PS Violet Irisovna’s Bright Days Extra Papers, Green; PS Marisa Lerin Be Bold Paper 7, Gold Template; PS Melo Vrijhof’s Summer Splash Word Art, Good Day

Some of our favorite rides have been the American Eagle, the Viper, the X Factor, Batman the Ride and Superman. Although the grandkids loved them, I wouldn't go on a spinning ride to save my life!

Page 4: PS Pauline Thompson’s Bright & Beautiful Solid Paper 7, Rocket Girl Solid Paper 1 & Shell Hues Paint Swirl; PS Velo Vrijhof’s Thankful Harvest Elements Rope 1; PS Janet Scott’s Look a Book Red & Blue Balloons, Sophia Font

This page is not 100% digital. It's a hybrid, a merging of paper-crafting and digital.  I forgot to mention the Carousel, the first ride visitors see when entering the park. On one visit, my daughter, my sister and I each jumped on our favorite racing steed and galloped off into the sunset. Just not before grabbing a couple funnel cakes to split.

Page 6: (Hybrid) Paper-crafted except for: PS Sharon Dewi Stolp’s Good day Washi Tape Yellow Stripes, PS Janet Scott’s Look a Book Blue Pinwheel

Finally, one can't appreciate Great America until they've visited Fright Fest, the best and scariest of Halloween fun. My DIL was hired for the celebration and seeing her in make-up was the best entertainment! The photo above shows her with my son sans make-up. I like her better in pink, though. LOL

Page 5: PS Pauline Thompson’s Bright & Beautiful Solid Paper 7, PS Violet Irisovna’s Bright Days Solid Paper Black,  Melo Vrijhof’s Thankful Harvest Elements Rope 2, Pink Lotty Designs’ Human Skeletons 1&3, Rucola Designs’ Dead or Alive Crow 

PS in the credits is short for pixelscrappers.com

New Challenge at the Path of Positivity

Howdy, y'all! I was going to say Aloha, but I just came back from a dream beach vacation. It wasn't in Hawaii, it was in Texas! There is a great escape waiting for you at South Padre Island, TX, where my family and I just spent 9 days. We sat in the sun, rocked in the shade, swam in the pools, walked along the shore, laid back in the hammocks, and generally did nothing but that! It was the most relaxing vacation I ever took, and it was sorely needed.
The greatest part about it was that we saved up for it all, and whatever part of the flights down there and the cost of the hotel, we paid off completely when our bill came in. Now THAT is a great achievement for us, so I created a tropical escape card for this month's ACHIEVEMENT challenge over at the Path of Positivity challenge blog. 
There are two lovely guest sponsors this month:

Robyn's Fetish

and

Kitten Scraps

My hybrid card uses papers and elements from Kitten Scrap's Summer Fish Fun Kit by Nathalie MacKay ©2008. I created the sea complete with waves using Photoshop, added many elements from the kit, and used Sweet Pea font.
What have you achieved that inpsires you to create this month? Or who inspired you? Why? Tell us, photograph the resaon or create a card, canvas or other form of art that showcases the theme of achievement for your chance to win the following. 

SPONSOR & PRIZE INFORMATION:

• 3 Digital Stamps from Robyn's Fetish, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $20 gift certificate from Kitten Scraps, one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

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.

Happy crafting! 

Anything Goes at Craft Your Passion

Good morning, crafters! Today sees a new challenge at Craft Your Passion challenge blog, where it's always Anything Goes. This week the challenge is sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy. I got to play with this little Happy Mouse.
I colored my image with Copics, and die-cut him onto a tag. I grabbed a circular card front and added a few pieces of patterned paper before adding my sentiment and a few embellishments (I love feathers, don't you?)
Whatever you create this week, make sure you link up at Craft Your Passion for your chance to win 3 free digis from our sponsor, Fabrika Fantasy.

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting with dragonflies - Animals

Beccy's Place Sponsors the Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenge This Month

Warm weather has finally set in the Chicagoland area, and I'm ready to soak up some sun, watch the butterflies float past me and drink gallons of iced tea. This attitude of mine inspired me to create a card with summer days in mind for my DT make at the Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenges this month. The challenges run monthly, and those who participate will receive the featured image each month. June's featured digital image is from Beccy's Place and is called "Gran's Chair Summer."
I set my scene by recycling the front of an old card received from a friend. After extending my card front so that the rocker wouldn't be smack in the middle of the flower garden, I colored two images so that I could pop a more detailed coloring on top of the other using dimensional dots.I embellished simply with a few of those butterflies I had mentioned above, as well as a few sequins.

My sentiment continues inside along with a stray butterfly. Now it's your turn to create and link up for your free digi image. And as always, crafters, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes

Shopping our Stash - Choose 1 of the 4 Elements (I chose EARTH because "it laughs in flowers" -Kahlil Gibran)

Artistic Inspirations - Flowers

Tools of the Trade Challenge theme at Scribbles Designs challenge blog

When I saw that the theme for the challenge over at Scribbles was "Tools of the Trade," I instantly thought hammer and screwdriver, but not everyone works with those tools. A lot of people, however, work with other kinds of tools, which inspired me to create a scrapbook cover for my daughter's birthday. Even before she adopted Wilson, our 7 year old Silkie Terrier, the man on my project, Cesar Millan, was her hero. I decided to create a scrapbook for her in which to place her photos of Wilson.
I used 2 digis from Scribbles Designs: "Dog Biscuit" and the sentiment "Talk to the Paw." I snagged a photo of Cesar off his website (credit for photo goes to Robin Layton). Positive reinforcement by way of doggie treats can be construed as tools of his trade. Before printing it out, I added the sentiment. I covered my generic 6x6 scrapbook with patterned papers from DCWV "A Pet's Life." I adhered the photo to a piece of foam board to pull it away from the cover and give it dimension before adding it to my cover. Colored with Copics, my biscuits create a frame around Cesar. I can't wait to give this album to my daughter. Her birthday is on the 4th of July, so I won't have long to wait. Think she'll like it?
If you have time to create, I hope you put your own tools to work and link up your project with Scribbles Designs Challenge blog. You have until June 15th.

Challenges I am Entering:

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Our Crafty Corner - Anything Goes

Sunny Day Crafting - Photo Inspiration (I was inspired by the puppy)