On the 21st Day of Christmas Crafting...

 Good morning, crafters! Today I added some new holiday decorations to my front deck. I have a ramp that extends from one end of the front of ,my house to the other, ,and this is where I put my string of Christmas lights and my new candy cane hearts.

 I made three of these large hearts using Dollar Tree candy canes and good old-fashioned hot glue. They are hanging from the posts between those that have thicker red & white candy canes attached. I added a small accent to each cane: a  sprig of pine, a red bow and a poinsettia.

At first I was going to join several "hearts" that I put together to create a huge wreath, but I was short on canes AND room to hang it!! I had enough problems hanging my crystal 8"snowflakes off the gutter as hubby had put leaf guards on all the gutters before he passed. Nothing worked to hang my lights so 

 I bought some industrial-strength Velcro and attached the strings of lights to the window frames on the deck. They won't be coming off come snow or high winds (hopefully I can bring them down before Spring).

I'm so glad I did most of my holiday outdoor decorating last week! The temps went from a balmy 50s to a frigid 20s!! Ho, ho, ho, Chicagoland!

Two Weddings and a Shower

Today I made a wedding card for my sister's son-in-law and his bride-to-be. The digital image is from A Day for Daisies called "I Do". After coloring the happy couple with Copics, I cut it in an oval and attached lacy trim for a border. After adhering this to my card front, there was very little room for embellishments other than a few jewels in the corners.

The family lives in Germany so I used my two semesters of German language classes (and a little help from Pinterest) for the greeting on the front of my card... 

...a "loose" translation of a quote from Maya Angelou for the upper inside

(A successful marriage requires one to fall in love many times,

always with the same person)...

...and a congratulatory wedding sentiment on the bottom inside. I think the couple will understand what I've written. Well, if not, at least they will know who it's from!

I'll post the shower and wedding card I made for one of my "all grown up" Girl Scouts at a later date. This card was needed for my trip to Germany,and the others for my return.

Challenges I am Entering:
 Classic Design Team Open Challenges - Anything DT Goes
Leann's World 101 - Anything Goes
Love to Craft - Anything Goes
Your Scrapbook Place -Anything Goes
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything DT Goes

Piling on the Layers at Scribbles Designs

The challenge at Scribbles Designs is at its midway point, so grab up your papers and supplies and pick up your Muse and "get 'er done." I chose to make a Z-fold  card and used a Scribbles Designs image called #85 Heart String.
I went to town on the paper layers for my card using leftover stash. When it came time to place the Copic colored image on my front panel, it was too wide! So I did what I usually do for most of my images - I fussy-cut it and framed it with the same orange cardstock as the rest of the papers. The middle panel is actually just orange cardstock with three strips of narrow Washi tape.
I used a punch on the two ends of my sentiment panel, which I really love to read. It says:

"Be yourself today. You look beautiful like that."

Remember, crafters only have until the 14th of the month to link their layered (at least three) cards to the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for their chance to win free digis of their choice from the Scribbles Store. I like FREE, don't you?

Have fun and happy crafting, peeps!

Challenges I am Entering:

Colour Crazy - Anything Hand-Colored Goes

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

As You Like It - One or Many Layers (I just can't stop at one layer! Besides, I have too much leftover stash to NOT layer it up)

Layer Up at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

It's time for a new challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. And they want us to grab our papers and layer it up! That's right, no less than three layers on your cards, crafters. My layers include a stitched piece of cardstock, framing of  my images with black cardstock, and my images and sentiments (doesn't include the actual white cardstock base, which is peeking through the heart-shaped die-cuts.
The Scribbles Designs image I chose to use is #618 Flower 1 at the Scribbles Store. I printed it 3 times in three different colors to make a triptych look to my card. The challenge runs from February 15th until March 14th and one winner will receive a gift certificate to the Scribbles Designs Store. So don't forget to link up your cards to Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog for your chance to win!!
Have fun, crafters!

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

Going Digital!

I have been playing in Photoshop and am slowly but surely getting my photos off the computer and onto layouts (yay, me). Here is my latest page, featuring my newest grandson, Jonathan.

For this layout, I used the Never Forget Kit from Studio Basic Designs, as well as elements from Pixel Scrappers Pauline Thompson and Janet Scott.

Challenges I am Entering:

Lasting Memories Scrapbook Challenges - Squares 

The Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenges Us to Brighten Someone's Day

There's not a week that goes by that I can't think of someone who needs a pick-me-up, something that will brighten their day. So I was very happy to see the newest challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge this week. To brighten someone's day is to share with them your happiness, to lend them your smile, to give them hope.
My DT make this week is a Thank You card for one of the many caring and supportive staff at the VA Hines Hospital. My husband and I are veterans, and with me getting laid off, and my husband being handicapped now, we are spending one to two days a week at one appointment or another. We have yet to experience a "bad day" or discourteous staff member.
My card features a digital image from Sheepski Designs, this week's sponsor over at the Outlawz Greetings challenge. They are offering a prize of a $10 gift card toward a purchase at their Etsy Shop.

The image I used is called Annabell.  I colored her with Copics and colored up a little scene for her before framing and then placing her on my card. I embellished simply with Skittles and a K&Co sticker. My sentiment is on the acrylic heart I tied onto my card with some organza ribbon.

What will you create to brighten someone's day? A birthday card, a Thank You note, a funny note  card  that will  make him or her laugh out  loud? Whatever you create, remember to link up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings  challenge for your chance to win that Sheepski Designs gift card!

Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers - Lots of Layers

Ooh La La Creations - Anything Goes

Left of Center challenges - Butterfly

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Happy Summer, crafters! Today brings a new challenge to Scribbles Designs Challenge blog, and we want to see how your garden grows (at least in your crafting project). I created my card using a digi image from the Scribbles Designs Store.called Tomato Doodle.
After coloring my images, I framed them with cardstock and popped them onto my card face, which features patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles from her Bokeh Paper Kit. Don't you love that sentiment? I found it at Pixelscrapper.com. It's word art from Melo Vrijhof's Veggie Patch collection. I embellished with the following:
 Pixel Scrapper Melo Vrijhof’s Thankful Harvest Elements Rope 2 & Pixel Scrapper Janet Scott’s Paint Stamp Template 207 (heart)
This challenge runs for a month from today through the 14th of August. Get your inks out and strap on your garden gloves and let's see what you can create that shows us how your garden grows.

Challenges I am Entering:

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Doodle Pantry - Anything Digital Goes

Naughty or Nice - Anything Goes

Southern Ridge Trading - Memories of Summer

Someone Stole My Heart

I am finally branching out in my digital crafting and creating scrapbook layouts in Photoshop. No more hundreds upon hundreds of photos on my laptop lying dormant and un-scrapped until I get "the time" to spend a few hours and crop!
This is my newest page, showcasing one of my newest grandchildren. Jonathan is now 8 months old, and I don't want to get too far behind! Now I can spend some time getting more proficient in Photoshop and get photos scrapped at the same time. It's a win-win situation!
Here's what went into my page:

Papers:

Pixel Scrapper Merisa Lerin Egyptian Quick Page 42

Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles Grungy Christmas Textured Paper Red

Elements:

Pixel Scrappers Janet Scott, Rustic Charm Heart Scatter; Marisa Lerin Birthday Flair 4

Font:

The Hungry JPeg, Leathery Soft Font

Monochromatic, Crafters

Monochromatic coloring is the theme this week at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge. The image I used is called Heart Banner and it's from My Stitch Back in Twine, who's sponsoring the Outlawz Greetings this week.
I decided to go with the color pink on my monochromatic DT card, using Copics: R85; RV00,34,95 to color it up. My card stock and patterned paper is from my never-ending stash, as well as the jeweled flowers I used to embellish. My sentiment is stamped using a Stampin Up stamp. I don't know about you, but I can always use Thank You cards.
Whatever you create, try a monochromatic approach and then link up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge this week. You could win three digi images from our sponsor, My Stitch in Time!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting by Designs - Monochromatic
2 Crafty Girls challenges - Anything Goes/monochrome
Just Keep On Crafting - ANything Goes
Pink & Main challenges - Spring
Alphabet challenges - A is for Anything Pink

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

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

Challenges I am Entering:

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

Anything Goes with an Extra Fold

Today brings a new challenge to the Outlawz Greetings. This week you are asked to use an extra fold in your card or project. I made an easel card, so my card front folds down, resting on the card inside.

 One of this month's sponsors is Bugaboo, and as soon as I saw this funky chicken, I knew I had to play with it. The image is called Kitchen - Chicken Soup. While chicken soup may be the standard for making the sick feel better, I thought it a little odd that a chicken would be tasting, well, chicken soup!!  And so my sentiment was born..."Sick people should not self-medicate." Inspiration comes from the most unusual places, doesn't it?! LOL

SO, run, don't walk, to your craft area and make a card or project with a sentiment and an extra fold! Show us what you got!! Challenge runs until Sunday night--good luck, and have fun, crafters!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Digitally Sweet Challenge - Anything Goes

Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything Goes

 Sister Act challenges - Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. challenges - Get Well

Happy Anniversary to my Knight in Shining Armor

Another Monday with the Outlawz Greetings Challenges!
 This week is Anything Goes, my fave kind of challenge. I decided to make an anniversary card for my sweet hubby of 38 years. He truly is my Knight in Shining Armor, which also happens to be the name of the digital image I used from one of this month's sponsors, A DAY FOR DAISIES.
After coloring my hero with Copics, I fussy-cut him out, changed out his frame for a patterned paper one and popped him on some shiny silver foil paper (after punching the edges with a Martha Stewart set of hand-helds). Then came the jeweled flourishes, the hearts, the pearls and the sentiment (K&Co). Don't you love that patterned paper I used in the background? It's from CTMH.
I went all out on my card, even adding m'lady's (my) scarf at the end of his lance, as well as adding a feather (ahem) I mean plume, to his helmet. And my valiant knight is off to win his true love's heart. Silly boy, he should know he has it by now! He's much better off sneaking in to his lady's bedchambers and...oops, never mind. Some things are best left unsaid. LOL
My inspiration for this card came from a few sources:

We Do Dobadoo - Romance Challenge #2 

Open-minded Crafting for their "Inspired by a Movie" challenge (First Knight & Camelot)

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers for their brilliant alphabetical challenge (I chose "I for Iconic-call him Lancelot, King Arthur-any guy on a horse wearing a tin can holding a long stick is easily identifiable as an icon)

Other challenges I am entering:

Left of Center Challenges - Layer It Up
Glitter n Sparkle - Pearls & Swirls
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
That Craft Place - Love and/or Valentine

Anything Goes is the Challenge

Got some time to craft over the weekend and colored up this pretty image from Art by MiRan.
I used up some paper pieces from my stash to make a background, then framed my Copic-colored image, called "Catching Hearts."
I embellished simply with a few candy heart brads and a charm I placed in the middle of a paper flower.
I'm entering my card in the Anything Goes challenge at Art by Miran. And as soon as payday comes along, I will be adding to my Art by Miran inventory.  I LOVE these cute images.

Love Is in the Air

With Valentine's Day coming up this Friday, I thought I'd better crack the crafting whip and get some projects done to give to all my Valentine's.  The first thing I wanted to create was a canvas. I haven't done one in a couple of weeks, so I pulled out my homemade "modpodge," brushes and tissue paper and made a base for my canvas art.
Next I cut out a patterned paper heart, embellishing it and drawing a black glitter glue line (also homemade) around it.  Then I found the perfect alphas to spell out the word LOVE. Finally, I "had my way" with my canvas, adding sparkle, hearts and ink to finish it off.
For anyone thinking about joining the mixed media canvas craze, it's so easy and fun!  And below are recipes for my homemade modpodge and glitter glue:
modpodge:  2 parts white glue + 1 part water.  Stir and create!
glitter glue:   1 bottle white glue  minus  2 TBSP + 1 TBSP fine glitter.  Stir and start sparkling!

Here are the challenges I'm playing in this week:
OUTLAWZ SATURDAY PAPER ALA MODE CHALLENGE: Valentine's
PAPER TAKE WEEKLY Challenge:  Anything Goes
THE CORROSIVE CHALLENGE:  FEEL THE lOVE  
LOVE TO SCRAP Challenge:  WHO LOVES YA BABY?!
CREATIVE MOMENTS Challenge:  Anything Goes/Add Some Sparkle

Happy crafting, everyone!

 

Red + Pink = This Week's Squigglefly Challenge

This week's challenge over at Squigglefly is to use a Squigglefly image and a red and pink color combo.  I loved this Squigglefly digi image called "Tiger" from artist Enid Barnes.  As soon as I saw it, i knew it was going to be used on a Valentine's card for my hubby of 37 years.
I used pink chalk ink and dabbed it all over a gray cardstock base.  After coloring my image with Copics (V12), I adhered it onto red cardstock to frame it, then added it to my card with dimensional tape.
I had a piece of leftover hearts border from a previous project to use on the bottom of my card.  I added a red ribbon bow, then colored with a white gel pen a few hearts onto the card in random spots.  I also outlined the letters that spell out "Wild Thing."  Three tiny red pearls embellish my image.
On the inside of the card, I used Microsoft Word for the sentiment:  "You make my Heart sing."

And he does--my hubby, I mean.  He makes my heart sing and I am so happy he remains my one and only Valentine!

Hop on over to the Squigglefly Challenge Blog for some inspiration.  Hope you play in our challenge this week!

Hearts a-Flutter

Time for a new Squigglefly Challenge and have I got a treat for you.

I don't stock a lot of pink in my stash, and I am again trying to reuse, recycle and reduce in my life, especially when it comes to crafting.
So when I saw that the Squigglefly challenge has a HEARTS theme, I decided to make a card using non-traditional colors. I found this piece of leftover patterned paper and loved the whimsical look of it. I used it as my cardbase, framing it in black. Then I added the strip of color with the punched hearts in coordinating colors and framed that in black as well.
The image is a Squigglefly digi from artist Cheryl Alger called Polly's Pink Flower, although pink is nowhere on my card today. I colored it with my Copics and framed it, punching hearts in the corners. A black ribbon bow finishes off my Clean And Simple challenge card. (Did I mention the button in the middle of her flower?)
Are you getting ready for Valentine's Day already?  Do you have hearts on your mind?  Are you sadly lacking in Heart-themed images?  Check out the Squigglefly store for some awesome digi's, and then create your own magic and enter for a chance to win free digi's at Squigglefly Challenge Blog this week!