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

Craft Your Passion with Sasayuki Glitter This Week

When this post publishes, I will be sipping MaiTais on the beach, soaking up the sun and listening to the waves lap gently at the shore. You can call it a late Spring Break or an early summer vacation, but my family is on it!
I worked ahead and played with an image from Sasayaki Glitter, this week's sponsor over at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. It's called "Smile" and I can see why she's smiling. After a long, cold winter and a bipolar Spring, we finally entered Spring with a capital S. LOL
After coloring her with Copics, I colored a bit of a scene to let her sit in the grass. Patterned papers, flowers, stick pins, ribbon and a button embellish my card. I finished off my card with some faux stitches.
For lots more inspiration, visit Sasayaki Glitter on Etsy, and join us at Craft Your Passion challenge blog for your chance to win free digis! Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge Blog - Mother's Day (I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my mom, so I gave this card is to her on Mother's Day)

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 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)

Let Your Dreams Take Flight

Hey, crafters! I am still practicing making my own backgrounds after a free online class over at Kit & Clowder. Today, I created my background for the new challenge at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. The sponsor this week is Sasayaki Glitter, and I got to play with an image called Flying Bunny. I thought the image would go well with my background. She looks like she's far above the rolling green hills.
After coloring my image with Copics, I fussy-cut her out and placed her on my background (created with Copics and colored pencils). I popped my framed scene onto my card face and embellished simply with a few pearls, a tiny bit of leftover lace and a bow. I embossed my sentiment and my DT card is complete.
It's always anything goes at Craft Your Passion, and this week Sasayaki Glitter is offering a prize to one lucky winner!! Will it be you? Only if you link up before the end of the week! Have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

City Crafter Challenge blog- On Cloud Nine

DigiStamps4Joy - Anything Goes w/twist: Animal

Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes
Challenge Up Your Life - Bunny
Let's Color Saturday Linky Party - Anything Goes w/something colored
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Cupcake Challenges - Photo inspiration

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!!

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)

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!

Sami Stamps Sponsors New Challenge

This week, Sami Stamps is sponsoring Craft Your Passion challenge blog's newest challenge. Of course, the challenge is always Anything Goes, and crafting is easy with images from Sami Stamps.Check out their awesome, winsome images HERE.
My DT card today features the image Winter Cocoa, and believe me, here in Chicago, it's going to take a LOT of cocoa to warm up a body. We have had a roller coaster ride of warm and cold temps this winter,  and are (not) enjoying the cold descent into sub-zero nights and near zero days. Brrr! So I guess you would say I'm lying when you read my card's greeting, huh?! LOL
Whatever the weather, I always make time to craft. It is the only way I keep sane nowadays. I hope you are keeping warm (in the northern hemisphere) or cool (in the southern hemisphere), and always have time to craft!! Don't forget to link up your card or project with Craft Your Passion this week.

Challenges I am Entering:

Sami Stamps challenges - Add a little sparkle (glitter & Stickles)

Allsorts challenges - Girly & sparkly

Hiding in My Craft Room - Embossing (sentiments and snow

My Time to Craft - Tag it! (card shape)

Card & Scrap - Blue & white
Craft for the Craic - January Blues

Just Us Girls - Color challenge

Ringing in a New Challenge at Craft your Passion

Happy New Year, crafters! 2016 brings a new challenge to blog land at Craft your Passion challenge blog. Our sponsor this week is All Dressed Up.

I created a card using the digi image "A Cuddle Makes It All Better." Our family recently added a new member to our household. His name is Wilson. He is 7 years old and we got him from the Buddy Foundation, which rescues dogs from kill shelters. After his first vet visit, we were saddened to learn that he had Lyme Disease, but he's been on antibiotics for two weeks now and we can see a big difference.

Here he is enjoying a nap in his Christmas present, a new bed. He is a Silkie Terrier. He has been easy to train, and will sit, give us paw and stay pretty well. We're in the middle of training him to get in his crate, but we're still at the treat part of his training there. He doesn't often bark, but when he wants to get out for a walk, he lets us know!
Why am I going on about our new family member? My card was inspired by Wilson and I decided that since his cuddles make us all feel better, I would create a Get Well card. What inspires YOU to create? Let me know, as my muse has been spotty this new year, and I could use some new inspiration! In the meantime, have fun creating this week, and link up your project with Craft your Passion for your chance to win!!

Holiday Baking with Lacy Sunshine at Craft Your Passion Challenge Blog

Chicago lived up to its reputation for fickle weather this weekend. After a very mild November, Bella blew in and dropped 8 inches onto my part of the northwest suburbs--which puts me into a holiday baking mood. And this gorgeous image from Lacy Sunshine, called Pinni Cookie Crumbler, carries my mood into my crafting.

My granddaughter was over this weekend, and we baked a few goodies for our Confirmation Bake Sale. The 8th graders bake for and work the weekend-long sale, and the monies go toward a Christmas Party they host for families in the New Hope Program of Catholic Charities. This is our 8th Annual bake sale and Christmas party, and in Chicago we don't let a little snow get in the way of going to church and supporting our students.

Lacy Sunshine is this week's sponsor over at Craft Your Passion challenge blog, and I used Pinni Cookie Crumbler on a side-step card. I just love the presentation a step card makes! And every bit of my card except for my image comes from last year's holiday crafting leftovers!!
The weekly challenge starts today, so go visit Craft Your Passion for some inspiration, then link up your own Anything Goes project for your chance to win prizes.
And as always, crafters, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:
Lacy Sunshine challenges - Anything Goes

Crafty Friends challenges - One for the Girls

Alphabet challenges - T is for 'tis the season (tis the season for baking holiday cookies)

Digitally Sweet challenges - All about the Title

Jingle Belles - Holiday leftovers

Cardz 4 Galz - Favorite Christmas Color combo (red & green)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - Photo inspiration (I used the color combo)

Sending All My Love to You This Thanksgiving

It's always anything goes at Craft Your Passion challenge blog, and this week brings a new challenge with a new guest sponsor, DeeDee's Digis. I played with a digi set called Sending My Love. The set comes with: 1 outline image, 1 pre-colored image, 1 white-filled layering image, and 4 sentiments, in JPG and PNG file formats.
Sometimes when winter hits, I feel like this little guy. No matter how close your destination, it takes forever to get there. I'm worried about my son and his family now that they live in Wisconsin. It's only a two hour drive, but double that time when winter kicks in--or cancel a trip to visit family!
So I'm sending them all my love in a card this year, just in case Thanksgiving comes and goes and we don't get together. I am, however, grateful for whatever time we do spend together. My son got a rocky start to adulthood, hanging with a crowd that led him down a dark path. There were days when I didn't think he would be alive to graduate high school.
But he survived, went to college, joined the Army Reserves, met the love of his life, and has gifted me with not only a crafting daughter-in-law, but four grandsons and two granddaughters. The youngest one is not quite three months old.
No matter where my  children and their families will be in this whole wide world, I will always have them in my heart. And for that I am thankful.
You have a week to create anything your heart desires, and link it up at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. Have fun, crafters!
My project uses:
Image & sentiment: DeeDee's Digis-Sending My Love
Papers: Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Christmas Grunge in Blue; from Mischief Circus, Marta Van Eck's Winter Scene Papers; from Mischief Circus, Krysty Designs' Glitter Overlay #09
Embellishments: free clipart Snowflake; Kitten Scraps Nathalie MacKay-Kerr Three Ring Show Add-Ons, Build A Flower #52 & Blue Bead

Let Freedom Ring!

I hope everyone in the US had a great holiday weekend. My daughter Wendy was born on the Fourth of July. In fact, while in labor, the fireworks were sparkling outside the hospital window 20 years ago. Everyone watching was oohing and ahh-ing. I was like erghh-ing and ughh-ing. She was the first baby born in the area on Independence Day.
Every year, Wendy would get a kick out of all the parades and picnics and fireworks "for her birthday." Of course, as she grew older, she understood that it wasn't just about her, but about the birth of our nation, and of the bravery of so many men and women to keep that nation independent and democratic.
What does this have to do with my project today? Well, it's a new week and a new challenge at Craft Your Passion. Doodle Pantry is the sponsor this week and I got to play with this cutie called Fireworks Birdie. The sheet comes with black line, layering and colored images, as well as several sentiments.
I started to create a birthday card for my daughter, and then the muse pushed me toward this mixed media shadow box. Funny how inspiration often takes you somewhere completely opposite of where you were headed.
So, where will inspiration take you? Whatever you do, link it up and share with us at Craft Your Passion challenge blog!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Doodle Pantry Blog - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge - Red, White & Blue

Challenge Up Your Life - Sequins

Crafty Friends challenge - Anything Goes

Splendiferous challenges - Wave the Flag

Brown Sugar - Red, White & Blue

Digitally Sweet Challenges - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes (mixed media, no cards)

Crafting Musketeers - Anything Goes

Naughty or Nice challenges - Seeing Stars

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes

Look, Up in the Sky-It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Super Dad!

I made a card for my dad today, to celebrate all that he was when he was still with us. He's been gone for over 20 years, but I still like to give him his due on this June holiday. My dad is my hero, teaching me by example to love words and reading, to keep going especially when things were difficult, and to enjoy the little things in life.
Craft Your Passion has a new Anything Goes challenge starting today, and Bugaboo is the sponsor. I love the images from Jodie at Bugaboo-there's something for everyone, and her new shop looks fabulous!

I colored Super Dad and used up more of my re-discovered papers. I keep them in a box on my desk so that I don't go crazy and pull out the big guns--the 12x12 papers--when I'm creating cards. Besides, they are the papers that time (well, me) forgot, and I have a duty (since I bought them) to use them up before I have my way in any paper aisle at Hobby Lobby or Michael's. (Amen)
So, I used some glossy cardstock for the card base, some checked blue & white paper, and some glitter cardstock to pull the colors together with those I used on my image. I hand-printed my sentiment and tore the Copic-colored background to fit my card, adding a heart brad and a paper clip to embellish.