It's Always Someone's Birthday Somewhere

 

Another month, another birthday card to feature. Today I used an image from Ike's Art. I sure miss Sue. She was an artist who really pulled me out of my comfort zone and inspired me to try so many different techniques and media. Anyway, this image is from her Peter Pan collection. 

I used a photo I took from  an airplane I was on, as it was landing at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Adhering Peter to the photo with dimensional tape really makes him look like he's soaring above the city. I've used this image once before, and it got my project printed in a magazine.

I colored him with Copics and fussy-cut him for a more realistic look on my card face. a flourish of adhesive pearls marks his flight. and his famous line from the book is embossed in white. Can you tell I eyeballed and cut my own star? (Hah, ha, of course you can. I should have used a button or sticker for my star)

The greeting inside reads, "Hope you have a magical birthday". My box of finished birthday cards is finally filling up. I guess these and mynote cards are the most popular cards that I use. Well, those and Holiday cards...

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

I'm Showing My Pussy Cat

Of course,due to allergies,  my pussy cat is not real. He's blue and adorns the card above. I was inspired to create him from my childhood memories back when I was in high school. I would stop at my best friend's house on my way, and we would walk to school together.
Some days she wasn't quite ready so I would come in and stand close to the front door. Where this very tall wardrobe stood in the corner. Right within striking distance. Where their cat was waiting for me. Ready to pounce on my back. Swat at my hair. Every morning.Until we graduated (on fair weather days I would wait outside).
I made my card as Clean and Simple as I was able to. I have a problem with CAS cards. I'm like a little kid with a full bag of M&Ms.I don't know when to stop! LOL But my Ike's Art image, called Cat on Shelf, is printed directly on my card base (something I never do), as well as my sentiment.
The only bit of "extra" on my card is that I framed the "shelf" (or wardrobe) my cat is leaning over and the border of dots I penned.

Challenges I am Entering:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes w/optional Critter

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - AG wa critter

Crafty Animals - AG w/a critter

Oddball Art Stamps -AG w/optional Sentimentally Deranged (the cat is seriously  deranged,right?)
Show Us Your Pussy Cats - Furrything Goes

Turning Green at the Path of Positivity

The optional challenge this month at the Path of Positivity is "Shades of Green" and there are two fabulous guest sponsors whose images the DT (one of them ME) get to play with:

Ike's Art

and 

Scribbles Designs

My card today uses a digi image from Ike's Art called Stitchy Cats. I decided to use a die that I bought at a CHA Convention, the only time I know that came to Chicago. I printed my image in green ink so I could color it minimally. I couldn't resist the greeting inside:

"you smile, I smile

You hiss, I hiss,

You cry, I cry,

You jump off bridge,

I gonna miss you!"

In order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. There is a Random Draw prize of a $10 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs.

You do need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win the prize for the project chosen as Most Inspiring, which is a $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art.

You've got the whole month to create and link up your project with the Path of Positivity. If you choose to create in shades of Green, you have the chance to win either or both prizes! So good luck and happy crafting! 

Challenges I am Entering:

Whoopsi Daisy - AG w/optional Monotone

2 Crafty Crazy Critters - Anything w/a Critter Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Goes

Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes

Oddball Art - Anything Goes

Ike's Art Sponsors Your Scrapbook Place Challenge Blog

Time for a new Anything Goes challenge at Your Scrapbook Place blog. This month's sponsor is the fabulous Ike's Art. Today, my DT make uses a digi image called Coffee Cup 1, from the  "I LUV Coffee" Set at Ike's Art Store. 

After digitally coloring the image and printing it twice, I placed the the images onto a little "scene" I digitally made, placing it all onto layers of die-cuts and handmade papers. I finished off my card with a line of jewels and one of satin roses. You can't see it in the photo, but I did use Stickles to shimmer up the steam coming from the coffee. Here are the details of my card:

Image: Ike's Art Coffee Cup 1

Digital Elements: Pixel Scrapper's Janet Scott's Yellow Room Paper from Oh Baby Baby PS June 2014 Blog Train; Sunny Faith Rush's Lacy Floral Border; Tina Shaw's Back to School Flowers; and Sheila Reid's Yellow Polka dot Grunge Paint from Outdoor Adventure Kit.

Card Base: DCWV

Roses: Paper Temptress

Misc. Embellishments from my stash

It's Christmas in July at Ike's World Challenge Blog

There's a new theme at Ike's World Challenge Blog, and it's sure to bring cooler thoughts during this hot and humid month. It's "Christmas in July," and I found the perfect digi image in Ike's Store for my DT make. I colored up this cutie called Santa's Beach. It was originally a FREEBIE offered on the challenge blog.

It lends itself very well to a step fold card, so I used a holiday-themed embossed piece of cardstock for my background. I popped my fussy-cut image onto the middle "step" , leaving the front to showcase my sentiment.

A funny story about this card: the only reason I created this folded card was because I messed up when I colored the sky. I hated it, so I fussy-cut the sky off. In looking for a nice piece of patterned paper for the background, I came up with the step fold card idea. Another twist was the sentiment. It's actually from a tag I had made previously. The original sentiment was impossible to print, because I ran out of ink!! My first sentiment would have been:

"Now we know why Santa is so pink-cheeked and jolly"

Have you ever created something that started out differently than you planned, whether from a mistake, a missing embellishment or an overactive scissors? Several of my best cards have been through accidents that I covered up or changed a design to conform with what I was left with. I just wanted to know if I was the only one, or if there are more imperfect crafters out there.

Anyway, pull out those holiday papers and embellishments and create a holiday card for Ike's World Challenge Blog. One random winner will receive a gift certificate with which to plunder her store.

Actually, the DT at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up are on va-cay this month, so I get to showcase any card I want for my DT make there. I think I'll use this one, my perfectly imperfect step fold card from Ike's Art. See you at Ike's World Challenge Blog, and if you have a mind to it, at 12 Months of Christmas blog as well!

Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:
A Snowflakes Promise - Anything Goes
The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge -  Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - The Great Outdoors
Whoopsi Daisy - AG w/optional Christmas in July
Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Must Add Tree (mine happen to be palm trees)
Digi Doodle Studios - Christmas in July
Fabrika Fantasy - Summer (where Santa vacations in the "off-season"

!2 Months of Christmas Feature the Festive Feline this Month

Ah, the beloved cat! Those curious, sweet, four-legged furry creatures that sit innocently watching the Christmas tree and all those beautiful baubles shining in it. Until those tempting balls of fun drive our lovable but mischievous fur-balls into the heart of the tree to wreak a bit of holiday havoc! And yet, the holidays wouldn't be the same without this family tradition of cat vs. tree. So this month, cats rule and dogs drool.

As you can read from the intro above, the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge Blog is midway through its newest holiday theme of Festive Feline. I've got a new holiday card for you. I got to play with a digi image from my favorite artist, Sue Eisenhower, owner and artist of Ike's Art. My image is called Basket Case, and a picture formed in my head of a cat trying to wait up for Santa but not being very successful. But like a dog who can hear the refrigerator open from across the street, my kitten hears a jingle and peeks its sleepy head up to see where the noise is coming from.

My card is a hybrid mix of hand-colored image and digital papers with one digital element (the cat's cap). How I do this is to print and color my image and take a photo of it. Then I can digitally "fussy-cut" my image onto the digital papers, adding a sentiment. Once I like what I've created, I print my card, backing it onto cardstock (this time with glitter paper as well). Then I can add other embellishments from my stash.

Back to the challenge at the 12 Months of Christmas. In order to have a chance to win the prize from their guest sponsor, Ike's Art, you are asked to create a card that has a CAT as the focal point. You can choose any kind of cat image--wild, domestic, cartooned or something in-between. Whether you want to wish someone Fleas Navidad or hope they have a Pawsome Christmas, it is time to get into a furry mood. 

If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that you are included in the draw for the prize.

Of course you don't need to follow the theme to earn a free paper each month or for a chance to win the featured paper set. You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win this month's sponsored prize of

a $15 gift certificate to the Ike's Art store.

Challenges I am Entering:

  Show Us Your Pussies Cats Only - Anything Purry Goes

  2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes w/a Critter

  Crafty Animals - Anything Goes

  Sheepski Designs - Animal Magic

  Creative Crafters - Anything Goes

Finding Shades of Red on the Path of Positivity

February is a month known for many things - blustery, frigid temps in the northern hemisphere, Mardis Gras and the beginning of Lent for Catholics around the world, and showers of love in the form of candy, flowers, jewelry, dinners out, etc. to celebrate Valentine's Day.

I chose to create a Valentine's Day card for my DT make for the Path of Positivity challenge blog. The theme this month is "Shades of Red," which fits perfectly with the amount of attention thrown into affection (alliteration intended). I used a digi image from Ike's Art called "Little Miss Innocence."  She got into the spirit of the theme as well by dyeing part of her hair red. I think when she says "forever and always" she really really means it by that look in her eyes.

The Path of Positivity offers an optional challenge theme of "shades of RED" this month. Any kind of artwork is accepted, as long as it is positive, affirming or motivational. You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, one of the guest sponsors this month.

You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win an additional sponsored prize of three (3) images from Pattie's Creations, the second guest sponsor this month, for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

Whatever you create, have fun - and don't forget to link it up with the Path of Positivity challenge blog for your chance to win great prizes!  Happy crafting!

Midway at Your Scrapbook Place Challenge Blog

Today I created a card using an image from Ike's Art called Husky. This month Ike's Art is sponsoring the anything goes challenge at Your Scrapbook place. Today is the midpoint of the challenge. 

Once I colored my Husky with my trusty Copics, I fussy-cut it and placed it onto my dry embossed cardstock. I used VersaMark ink and white embossing powder around the edges before adhering it all to my card base. Using a black marker to ink the edge of that base, I made an "oops" at the top - a nasty black "oops". So I cut out and added a few hearts, the topmost one covering my mistake.
Where will your Muse take you this month? Wherever you go, whatever you create, don't forget to link your project with your Scrapbook Place challenge Blog. And don't forget the double bonus at SBP: you get twice the chances of winning the random draw of prizes, AND you can also visit Ike's World Challenge Blog and enter there for a chance to win free digis. You can find Ike's Art Freebies HERE and on Facebook HERE.

Challenges I am Entering:

A Gem of a Challenge - Animals

Pause, Dream, Enjoy - Emboss It!

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Out with the Old, In with the New at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-up Blog

Looking for the Scribbles Designs Birthday Bonanza Blog Hop? 

Please click HERE or scroll down to find it. 

What a year 2016 has been! Changes in my personal life, my work life, my family life...political drama and economic upheaval...

I am certainly glad to close the curtain on the last 12 months and focus on the new year. If you are, too, then the best place to start your year off is at the 12 Months of Christmas Blog. You can keep that fuzzy warm holiday feeling while starting on your Christmas cards for Christmas, 2017.

This month the optional theme is "Out with the Old, In with the New." I say optional, but IF you choose to create a holiday card with the theme in mind, don't forget to put the letters FT by your name and you'll have a chance to win a gift certificate to our January sponsor's Store, Ike's Art.

My craft room is still being held captive by the contractors, so I created this digital card using an image from Ike's Art called "  ".

My OLD in this card were all the papers & elements from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles & Pixel Scrappers.

My NEW in this card is the digital image from Ike's Art.

A lot of digital goodies went into my card.

Papers: Decosse's Dynamite Doodles- A Touch of Summer Sunburst & Waves; Grungy Christmas Burgundy Textured paper; Glitterati Gold Glitter paper; An Eclectic Christmas-Gold & Silver Diagonals patterned paper.

Elements: Decosse's Dynamite Doodles A Touch of Summer Bucket; Pixel Scrappers Sheila Reid's Santa Hat, Pauline Thompson's Wire Doodle 7, Sharon Dewi Stolp's Winter Wonderland Red Poinsettia, Brooke Gazarek's Blank Green Tag.

Font: Catfisch Script Pro.

Are you going to start the New Year with some creativity? I hope it's a Christmas card, and I hope you link it up at the 12 Months of Christmas blog for your chance to win prizes!

Looking Ahead on the Path of Positivity

Today my card features a digital image from Ike's Art called "Gene & Fred," after the famous dancers Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. I write digital because my craft room is still barred from entrance. Once the contractors are finished, I can finally get into my room and do some hand-crafting, and mixed media canvases, some water colors and altered art - ooh, I can't wait! LOL

I love this image because it can men so many different things. Because we are embarking on a brand new year, I got to thinking about how I will go down my path in 2017. So many choices to make, some shortcuts, and some just looking like shortcuts but aren't. Some people seize each day, learning, laughing, loving. Then there are those who are, 

"Dancing through life

Skimming the surface,

Gliding where turf is smooth..."

(-from the song Dancing through Life, Wicked Broadway play)

Hubby's time with me is limited, mom is getting older, daughter is saving her well-earned money for her own place, and the grandkids are growing like beanstalks! I don't want to miss any of that. So I will grab life by the horns, live in each moment, and appreciate where I'm going and all the stops along the way. 

My card is my DT make for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. 
The following went into creating this card:

Papers: Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Sunburst from A Taste of Summer Patterned papers, Burgundy paper from A Grungy Christmas Textured papers; Pixel Scrapper B White's Back to Nature Paper 6 and patterned paper 2.

Elements: Pixel Scrapper Sheila Reid's Outdoor Adventure Compass Rose Stamp & Yellow Polka-dot Grunge Paint, Marisa Lerin's Doodle Set Brush 4, E Minkus' Back to Nature Element 7

Font: Kismet  

This year every month is ANYTHING Positive or Affirming GOES, sometimes with an Optional theme. To start the New Year off, the first challenge has the OPTIONAL theme of "The Road Ahead."

There are two sponsors in January - Scribbles Designs

AND

Ike's Art

Prizes offered: 

In order to be considered eligible for this month's sponsor prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some nature. 

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 for Most Inspirational.

From Ike's Art, a $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art

From Scribbles Designs, a $10 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs

From Creative Bug Digital SnapShots, one digital image for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

I hope you'll choose the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog to create and link up a card or project this month. Anything positive or affirming is welcome!

Watch 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNA3RTvFH6E

It's Furry-thing Goes Today!

There is a purr-fectly fun challenge blog called "Show Us Your Pussies," which allows cat lovers to create with their favorite feline craftiness. Any type of project is welcomed, so I created this fun sign to hang on my daughter's door. She is the real kitty lover in our house, as my allergies cannot take any kind of cat (poor thing).
I created the background paper with resources from Pixel Scrappers Janet Scott (Kitty Illustrations 02, Ball of Yarn) Sheila Reid (Furry Friends Silly Kitty), and Marisa Lerin (Pet Illustration 15, Small Paw Print).

The framed quote was created using Ike's Art digital image "Kitty Love." The borders are from Pixel Scrapper Sharon Grant (It's a Girl Thing Border 1) and Amanda Brown (Reflections Flower) There are awesome digital elements and papers to be had at pixelscrapper.com, and it's free to join their community of scrapbookers.
Now for a treat, I am offering my visitors the Playful Kitty digital paper that I created. This free paper is 12 inches by 12 inches (3600 pixels x 3600 pixels) in jpg format and published at 300 dpi. Credits include Pixel Scrapper Janet Scott’s Kitty Illustrations 02, Ball of Yarn; Pixel Scrapper Sheila Reid’s Furry Friends Silly Kitty; Pixel Scrapper Marisa Lerin’s Pet Illustration 15, Small Paw Print. TOU, please credit me if you use it. Since I don’t have a store, please use: Copyright 2016 Pat Martin, http://patacakespages.blogspot.com  As always, leaving a little love is always appreciated. Thank you! (Just right click on the image first to get the best resolution, then right click and save to your computer)

Girl Power at Ike's World Challenge Blog

What an empowering month this is for women everywhere. To celebrate, the challenge this fortnight at Ike's World Challenge blog is Girl Power. Whether you are or know someone who fought breast cancer; whether you own your own business or work alongside others; whether you're married, single or in a relationship; we are women, hear us ROAR!
Empowering women, however, needs to start when girls are young. Now our daughters and granddaughters face cyber-bullying and body-shaming that, when done through the internet, reaches well past the school she attends or the community in which she lives. This issue was the inspiration for my mixed media canvas today. Each and every one of us is unique. We each have value in this world, and should not be judged by how we look.
I used an Ike's Art image called "Do Your Thing." Using patterned papers, acrylic pint and ink to build my background, I colored my image with Copics and chose the sentiment to make my point that everyone has faults. Nobody is perfect, and you know what they say, "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
The challenge has one more week to it, so let's get crafty. And don't forget to link up your project at Ike's World Challenge blog for your chance to win free digis! See you there!

Challenges I am Entering:

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Your Next Stamp - Sketch and/or color inspiration

Fussy & Fancy - Bingo Grid

Show Us Your Favorite Designer at 4 Crafty Chicks

Well, crafters, this was one difficult project. When I learned that the theme this week at 4 Crafty Chicks was going to be to choose your favorite designer, I thought, "Who can choose just ONE designer from all the fantastic artists and companies in blog land?! I finally went with a designer who has pushed me out of my comfort zone and into broader and more creative outlets. That designer is Sue Eisenhauer from Ike's Art.

Today I created a mixed media canvas and popped it into a wooden frame that I spray-painted in gold and white. My background is patterned paper that I sprayed with homemade blue shimmer spray. I used an American flag from Oriental Trading Company, then used a strip of leftover star-patterned paper at the bottom on which to adhere part of my sentiment.
I colored my image, called Libby, with Copics before attaching her against the front of the frame, giving my canvas some dimension. I added glitter to my image's hair, crown and nylon-ed leg as well as adding a strip of die-cut glitter paper to give my canvas even more dimension (and a little shimmer). My last bit of embellishing is the silver spray behind my image.

I chose my sentiment carefully. It reads: "May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what's right"
Which designer is YOUR favorite? Choose one and create something and link it up to 4 Crafty Chicks this week!

Challenges I am Entering:

Craft Rocket challenges - Spots and/or Stripes

Southern Girls challenges - Anything Goes w/Team Trace

Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes

Moo Mania & More - Summer (I was inspired by my country's Independence Day summer holiday)

Everybody Art challenges - Summer/Holiday

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media/Altered Art Goes

Let's Quirky Create with Flowers

Good morning, crafters! Today finds us surrounded by flowers, not only out our windows but in our projects. It's time for another Quirky challenge and flowers are blooming all over it. There are three generous sponsors this month, which gives participants incentive enough to link their blooming projects with us this month.
My card today uses a digi image from Ike's Art called Holland. I would love to visit Holland! Now that my  sister lives in Germany, maybe I can hop around Europe if I even get to visit her.
Here is what I used to create my project today:
Papers: my original water color, framed by Paper #5 from the Curiosity Scene Paper Kit by Marta van Eck, MischiefCircus.com; Purple Glitter Paper from the Glitterati Paper Kit by Lisa Decosse, DecossesDynamiteDoodles.blogspot.com
Embellishments include: Eroded Glitter and Shell Hues Glitter Splatter elements from Pauline Thompson, PixelScrapper.com; Rope2 from Thankful Harvest Elements Kit by Melo Vrijhof, PixelScrapper.com; Button 02, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles; Princess Bunting by Marisa Lerin, PixelScrapper.com
Our Quirky sponsors this month include Ike's Art

Bloobel Stamps

and Delicious Doodles

Hats Off to Ike's World Challenge Blog

 I mean, Hats On at Ike's world Challenge blog, as in the theme for this fortnight is Easter Bonnets/Hats.

I created a card in soft pastels for my DT make, using Ike's Art "Hat 1." Pulling out leftover papers, I built up my card face. After coloring my image with Copics, I used a little Stickles on the bow and framed it with a paper doily. I used the yellow felt flower border to pull the yellow onto the rest of the card. I embellished simply after popping on my sentiment and my card is ready to be mailed.

As Judy Garland sang, 

"In your Easter bonnet, 

with all the frills upon it, 

You'll be the finest lady (or gent) 

in the Easter Parade."

-song by Irving Berlin from the movie "Easter Parade"

We've reached the midway point of the challenge, so get cracking and link up your projects HERE.

Challenges I am Entering:
The Crafters' Cafe - Easter
Paper Creator's challenges - Spring Colors
Just Add Ink - Just Add "E" (Easter bonnet)

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

Sketch Challenge Brings in the New Year at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up

Happy Winter, crafters! Well, it finally happened! After a warm, wet, unusual winter, we finally got the snow we had been hoping for Christmas. It was a scene right off of a post card, pretty shimmery flakes of frozen wet stuff silently falling, dusting the bushes and branches with a powder sugar-like coating. It was beautiful! But not so much fun to drive in!! Evidently, we cannot have our cake AND eat it too.
Speaking of cake,I have a sweet card for my DT make this month for the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up blog. This month's sponsor is Ike's Art,and I just can't get enough of her images. And she gives a freebie every month on her challenge blog!! Actually, I have two cards to show off for this midway challenge post. 
First, my Christmas card following the optional theme of the sketch below. As you can see, I turned the sketch 90 degrees to the left. The image I colored up is called Holly. After creating my card, I played with it in Photoshop, giving it a pop of glittery pink color in the sentiment and the strip with Pink paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Glitterati pack.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, we want to see you use this sketch on your Christmas or other December holiday card.   Monica has provided the inspiration for the basis of your design, now you just have to run with it.  You can flip it on its head if you like but we must be able to see all the elements of the original sketch in your card in order to qualify for the prize.  If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that we include you in the draw.

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 $15 gift certificate to Ike's Art.

My second card doesn't follow the sketch. It uses one of my fave Ike's Art images, Santa Hunk. I colored him up with Copics before playing with him in Photoshop. Don't you love the papers I used?  They are all from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. From the 2014 12 Days of Christmas Patterned Paper pack - December Tree & Checkered, and from the Grungy Christmas paper pack - Green. I even embellished using another paper from the 12 Days of Christmas pack - Stars.
Whether you create with paper and ink, digitally, or make a hybrid card using both techniques, you have until January 31 to link it up for your chance to win several different ways. 

 Don't forget to check out Ike's Art. There's a lot of eye candy there! LOL

 
Challenges I am Entering:

Come & Get It challenges - Baby It's Cold Outside

Eclectic Ellapu - 12 Days of Christmas

Card Mania - Winter Fun

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas Goes

New Beginnings at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Every day is a new beginning, and this is especially true at Ike's World Challenge Blog, where a new challenge inaugurates a New year. New Beginnings is the challenge theme, and my inspiration came from this Ike's Art digi image called Crystal Ball, and the fact that most of us would like a tiny peek at what's ahead for us this year.
While 2015 ended on a sour note for me and my family, I am learning that the future is what you make of it. You need an optimistic outlook, a positive attitude, a keen eye for opportunities that pop up, courage to snatch those opportunities, and a grateful heart. With these as my weapons, I can just let go and Believe that Good things are on their Way, as my crystal ball shows us all.
I am also back to mixed media canvas. I haven't pulled out all the bells and whistles for a while, but it's a new year and I'm ready to begin again. My canvas is 7x7 inches, covered in patterned papers from my stash. The top layer is chalked,while the image is colored with Copics. I printed the sentiment onto transparency paper after chalking the misty innards of my future forecaster, and the year is created with stickers.
The rest is tchochki that I've collected throughout 2015. Broken jewelry, miscellaneous charms, leftover buttons and brads, even parts of a patterned card stock border. I love the freedom of mixed media, don't you? Have you ever tried it? You don't have to paint or Mod Podge a canvas - try making a card and throwing on embellishments that aren't standard crafting supplies.
Pinterest and YouTube are great places to inspire your new adventures. And link up with Ike's World Challenge blog this week with whatever card or project you decide to create. We'd love to see your art!

Challenges I am Entering:

Love to Scrap- New Beginnings

Our Crafty Corner - Anything Goes

2 Creative Chicks - ANything Goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media Goes

My Guardian Angel

When I was young, I was a daredevil. I ran away from home once, went water skiing before I learned how to swim, went spelunking without a partner, and dated a few dangerous guys. I believe I had a guardian angel who kept me from losing my life a couple of times...and I believe I wore her ragged with my "adventures."
When I saw this digital image in Ike's Store, I knew I had to create something with her. She looks like my guardian angel might have looked after a particularly rough patch, needing some downtime far, far away from earthly noises.
The image is called Angel 2, and this is my DT make for Ike's World Challenge Blog. The theme is Vintage, which I don't do very often. After I printed and fussy-cut my angel, I covered her clothing with very fine white glitter. I used a little flocking along with some glitter on her wings, too.
I dug out an oval unfinished wooden plaque I had kept through the last three moves (one of them across two states!). Wiping gold metallic paint across the wood gave it more of a stained look than a painted one. Then I sprayed paper doilies with homemade shimmer mist, tore them and Mod-Podged them onto my wood canvas.
Next came my angel using dimensional tape. I didn't think her wings looked feathery enough, so I added a couple white feathers to frame her, hiding their stems with the single rose. I glued both white fuzzy fiber and a string of palest pink pearls to the edges to give my art a more solid frame. To finish off my mixed media piece, I cut up lace flourishes and flowers I snagged off a vintage collar fond at a rummage sale. A few assorted pearls and jewels decorate the rest of my canvas and I am very happy with my Vintage Art.
Ike's World Challenges run every two weeks, and today is the midpoint of the most recent challenge. You have a few more days to gather your Vintage mojo to you and create for your chance to win a gift certificate to Ike's Store. Yu don't have to use an Ike's Art image to play, but you get double points in the drawing if you do. AND she gives away freebies often!!
If you would like to own this altered art piece, please visit my Facebook Page, Patacake's Paper Play.

Challenges I am Entering:

Come & Get It challenges - Lots of Sparkle

Quirky Crafts challenges - Light as a Quirky Feather

Clear It Out challenges - White + One/must use stash item(the oval wood frame)
Creative Card Crew - Sprinkle!
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Make It Sparkle
Through the Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes

Resiliency Brings its Own Rewards

Today starts a new challenge at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The theme is Resiliency, and I have a personal story to tell:
 At the end of summer, my co-worker had to quit and find another job because the business manager pulled her benefits-eligibility. Then my boss opted to leave for a number of reasons. Except for a part-timer, I carried on despite lack of communication from the powers that be. While on scheduled vacation, my new boss arrived. Two months later, I still have no guarantee that my job will remain the same as far as being benefits-eligible. I wouldn't mind lesser hours, but let me keep my family's insurance please. It also seems that my part-time friend and I are in competition for remaining in the department. So we are both working our butts off to save our butts.
So, where does the theme of Resiliency come into play here?
Resiliency is defined as the ability to recover from or adjust to change. Change is a part of life, and success is measured by how resilient a person is throughout changes in life: growth, education, relationships, work, health, aging. A resilient person can learn from mistakes, adapt to changes in environment, work to maintain balance in their lives, and keep a positive attitude throughout it all.
Personally, this last change in my life has taken a toll on my own resiliency. I am learning from mistakes, adapting to the changes, and maintaining an outward appearance of calm and positivity. However, the stress of not knowing what tomorrow will bring is playing havoc with my emotional and spiritual balance.
But I am an optimist, and just need to work on returning to a healthy balance by letting go of fear and doubt. I started spinning to keep my energy levels up; I meditate and "shed" the stresses of each work day before I go to bed; I pray to remind myself that I am exactly where God wants me to be at this point in my life.
And of course, I spend tine crafting to relax. I used a digi image from Ike's Art called Muse 7. I chose to showcase the seasonal changes that Autumn brings. Crisper air, a bounty of color in the trees, a crunchy carpet of leaves underfoot--one would be hard put not to recognize all the beauty that Fall brings to our neck of the woods. And that's just what I need to remember. The Earth is resilient, and adapts itself to the changes of the seasons. And each season brings its own beauty into the world.
I, too, can be resilient, and bring forth my own beauty into my life.

This month's PRIZES are from two of my favorite sponsors:

Ike's Art 

and The Stamping Boutique (TSB)

A $10 gift certificate from Ike's Art, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• 2 images from The Stamping Boutique (3 if you use a TSB image), for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

• One digital designer paper (made to order in a couple different ways) 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.

Besides inspiration from the DT, we are very fortunate to have for our guest DT member Hanne from Handmade by Hanne. Hanne has been playing along at the challenge blog when she is able to. We've seen many of her wonderful projects throughout the year. Please be sure to check out her blog when you enter your project this month.

Challenges I am Entering:
Colouring in Scrapland - Toda vale (Anything Goes)
House of Cards - Add texture (felt leaves, burlap bow) &/or color challenge (autumn palette)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Robyn's Fetish - Add Leaves, Faux or Real

2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes