Your Scrapbook Place Midway Challenge Reminder

Today marks the halfway point in Your Scrapbook Place June challenge. Our sponsor this month is DeeDee's Digis, and I got to play with a sheet of images called Coffee Cup Greetings.
Today I mixed digital and paper crafting together to create this card. In Photoshop, I used three pre-colored coffee cup images, adding parts of my sentiment onto each cup. My patterned paper is a digi delight from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. Once I had the background paper and the cups sized right, I printed and cut them out.
In order to stack my cups, I used an Exacto knife to cut slits in the tops of my two bottom cups, slipping each into the slits. The rest was just a matter of finding the right embellishments. I am meeting my girlfriend for lunch on Friday. I haven't seen her in months. Since our kids have grown up, we seem to be busier than we ever were before! Both her son and my daughter are in college now, and we have full-time jobs, so there are no more free days when we'd get together for a play date, or spend the morning at the local thrift store together.
So I wanted a card to give her this week that would let her know that, while we may not see each other often, her presence is very much known to me, and I appreciate her being there.
Now it's time for you to join in the fun at Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog. If you need some inspiration, head on over to DeeDee's Digis blog. And as always, crafters, have fun!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Fairy Tale Stampers - Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Simply Papercrafts - Anything Goes

Sister Act card challenges - Anything Goes

Stempelsonnen challenges - Alles geht (Anything Goes)

Christmas is Coming - Are You Ready?

Well, it only took two days and a lot of sweat but my first 100% digital Christmas card is ready to print up. The 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up has a new challenge this month, and I created a card for the midway reminder. The theme is always Christmas, with an optional twist of VINTAGE.
The sponsor is Luna Girl and they have the most beautiful collages and images! The one I played with is called Blue Christmas Collage sheet and comes with 8 Christmas scenes.

I used Adobe Photoshop to work with my card, and when i say work, I mean it! I am still learning the software and make the simplest mistakes! I used digital papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, as well as those sharp-looking icicles and flourishes. My sentiment is from within Photoshop. Don't you just love that little angel lighting the tree for the holiday?
The way the Link-Up works is this:
As long as you link up two handmade Christmas cards, you will receive a holiday-inspired digital paper each month. If you follow the monthly theme (which is Vintage this month), you will be in the running for prizes. Make sure you type in the letters FT after your name so it will be easy to place your name in the draw! And remember, the theme is optional!
Sponsor and Prize Info for this challenge:

• Guest Sponsor:  Lunagirl
• Prize being offered:  A $15.00 gift certificate for one random winner chosen from those who participate in the optional theme
• Additional Sponsor: Décosse's Dynamite Doodles
• Prize being offered: One free digital paper to everyone who links up a minimum of two cards to the challenge.  Cards can be anything goes for this prize, they only have to follow the theme if they want a chance at the sponsor's prize.  The mini set of six digital papers called A Grungy Christmas, will also be offered up as a prize to one random winner.

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Christmas Card challenges - ANything Goes
A Gem of a Challenge - Something Blue
CASE-ing Christmas - Inspiration card

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Christmas

ABC Christmas challenges - L s for Lyrics (Angels We Have Heard on High)

Happiness is Making Cards

Happiness is a new challenge, and today I am brimming with happiness because the new Outlawz Greetings challenge starts! The theme is to create something that completes the phrase, "Happiness is..." I find happiness wherever I go, but mostly I find it at home. My family, my cozy bed, my craft room--I am surrounded by people and things that generate happiness.
So I made a card to reflect the good feels I get from being home. Of course, my recent family vacation to the beaches of Florida inspired my design, but who says you can't call a sand castle your home? LOL This cute digi image is from MelonHeadz Illustrations and is called Sand Castle.
I popped my image onto some dreamy background paper from the Summertime Collection by Rucola Designs, found over at Mischief Circus. I used Photoshop to type in the sentiment, then popped it into a frame from Sweetly Scrapped, adding a bow and flowers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.
Then I put in my crafty thumb and pulled out a plum of a background paper for my card face, from that pesky box of papers I re-discovered last month. A bit of ribbon and some pearls for a border, and a charm to give it some charm, and my card is complete.

Other Challenges I am Entering:

4 Crafty Chicks - Polka Dots

Cute Card Thursday - Beside the Seaside
Crafting Musketeers - Shades of Summer

Joining the Outlawz Groups is free, fun and inspirational. Each day of the week offers a different type of challenge, and there's even a Progressive Freebie monthly challenge. Besides the challenges, there are tutorials, free digital images and inspiration. Did I forget to mention the prizes?! Each challenge group has their own sponsors, and there is no limit to the number of challenge groups you can join. Each of your entries has a chance to win a weekly prize and a monthly prize.
Did you know that there's a group on the Outlawz with tons of FREEBIES for you to play with?! This week MelonHeadz AND the Outlawz Freebies group is sponsoring our challenge. Melonheadz prize will be as usual for the weekly winner and a Gina K Designs stamp set will be an instant prize (as in you don't have to wait for the monthly list) if you use an Outlawz freebie and follow the Happiness theme. This does NOT affect the weekly winner prize.  
So, my second project today uses a freebie from Mayzy Arts. Like I said, I can find happiness in so many things, and music is one of them. That's why I made this card. Can you believe this cute cute image is a FREEBIE?!

As pastel and clean as my first card is, my second card is bold bright colors and I threw on pretty much everything that was lying on my desk today, including a die-cut frame, some banners and wings, and a handful of jeweled flowers!

Challenges I am entering this card into:

Creative Knockouts - Use Your Stash

Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination - Always Anything Goes

Wonderful Wednesday challenges - Anything Goes

Fan-tastic Tuesday challenges - Anything Goes w/a twist: Bling

CMD challenges - Inspired by Movie or TV Show 

(Ich war von dem Film inspiriert Katie Perry: Part of Me)

Progressive Freebie Challenge at DeeDee's Digis

DeeDee's Digis Challenge Blog offers a free stamp set to all crafters who create with this month's Featured set, "Diver Daniel."

If you don't have this set, it is on sale for $1.25 this month only. All you have to do is create something with Diver Daniel and post it on your blog, linking your post to their challenge blog. You'll receive next month's Digi Set for free!! Now, who doesn't like FREE?!

I went away over the weekend, to a place that time forgot (well, at least there was no wifi anywhere to be seen). So, I played with Diver Daniel in Photoshop, and created this digital card. In addition to DeeDee's Digis images, I used the following:

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - Patterned paper #11, Frame #1

Rucola Designs - Seashells

The rest was accomplished in Adobe Photoshop Elements 12: grass and speech bubble stamps, sentiments and coloring/shading. I am learning more and more with each project I attempt, but have a lot more to learn! 

So, what about you? Do you have any crafting machine that you haven't used yet? I also have a Bind-It-All that is still in its bag, and I was REALLY excited to purchase it when I did, about six months ago?! I really need to retire so that I have more time to craft!!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Cute Card Thursday - Beside the Seaside

Creative Moments challenges - A/G; Man inn Your Life; Father's Day

Crafty Gals Corner - the Great Outdoors

Crazy for Challenges - Masculine

For the Mom to Be

Today I wanted to show you my very first project as a DT member for Ike's World Challenges. It is a gift box that I re-purposed and recycled from a cream cheese container! Here's where I started:

I generously covered my container with homemade ModPodge and some thickly textured paper, both inside and out. I had to be careful to ensure that my lid would still open and close when dried. Trying to wait until each coat was completely dry before applying another, it took almost a week before it was ready to embellish!

First, I had to find its feet. I used water bottle caps, painting them white and adding gold glitter to each (more time spent drying). I added them and made sure the box stood stable before decorating.

Then the fun began!

I decided to use New Baby from Ike's Art. We have planned a baby shower for my daughter-in-law, scheduled for the end of June. Although their family includes five children, this one will be their first together. I wanted to make something special for the soon-to-be new mama, and my box fits the bill perfectly.
I placed my Copic-colored image onto the top of my box, framing it with a gold-rubbed paper doily. Since the challenge theme is to be inspired by song lyrics, I thought the song All I Have to Do Is Dream by the Everly Brothers.

Once the top was completed, I cut up old lace pieces I had snagged at rummage sales, strings of pearls, and creamy white roses to make the front of my box pleasing to the eye. The sides were the last to be finished.

I do so like to fling those feathers onto my projects!  Now I have just one thing more to make my beautiful box ready for the baby shower---
What am I going to put into it?!
Any ideas? Anyone? Anyone?
LOL While you're thinking about it, you can surf Ike's Store for inspiration and eye candy!! And don't forget to join in the challenge at Ike's World Challenge blog.
Other Challenges I am Entering:
Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - Anything Goes/must recycle: from cream cheese container to gorgeous gift box

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes/mixed media only

Always Something Creative challenges - Anything Goes

Stampin Royalty challenges - Anything But a Card

"All I Have To Do Is Dream"
Dream, dream, dream, dream

Dream, dream, dream, dream

When I want you in my arms
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
Dream, dream, dream

When I feel blue in the night
And I need you to hold me tight
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream

I can make you mine 
Taste your lips of wine
Anytime night or day
Only trouble is 
Gee whiz
I'm dreamin' my life away

I need you so, that I could die
I love you so and that is why
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream

I can make you mine
Taste your lips of wine
Anytime night or day
Only trouble is
Gee whiz
I'm dreamin' my life away

I need you so, that I could die
I love you so and that is why
Whenever I want you 
All I have to do is dream

Dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream.

(lyrics courtesy of AtoZLyrics.com)

Spring Puts Music in My Heart

I love to listen to  music, especially when I craft. I have an old 2nd generation iPod with pver 1200 songs and jam while I ink, sing while I stamp, and croon while I color! That's why I love this gorgeous digi image from The East Wind for my DT card for Craft Your Passion challenge blog.
The East Wind is this week's guest sponsor, and my image is called Spring Melody.
Craft Your Passion offers weekly challenges that are Anything Goes, and I took the theme to heart. I used leftover patterned paper from my stash, then popped my Copic-colored image onto my card front after framing it with a die-cut paper doily. The circles of musical notes have been punched out from more leftover papers, while I printed and punched out my sentiment. A sprinkling of "negative" die-cuts from the doily embellish my card, along with a few golden yellow pearls.
Now it's time to get your Anything Goes mojo to work and come play at Craft Your Passion's challenge this week!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Sister Act challenges - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Summer Colors

CMD challenge blog - Movie/TV show inspired (Ich mag den Film Pitch Perfect und nicht kann warten um die Fortsetzung zu sehen)

Some Old-Fashioned Rock n Roll

 In this whirl-wind world of constant technological breakthroughs and never-ending improvements, there are few things that remain constant. One of them is my husband of almost 39 years, and I am so happy for that. He isn't above a little trip down memory lane, and playing a little air guitar along the way (I know, I've caught him at it).
 Today starts a new challenge at the Outlawz Greetings, and this week's sponsor is Dr Digi. I made a card for my rockin' hubby using the digi image Derek Clapton. The challenge this week is to use embossing on your project - dry, heat, whatever your pleasure. My chipboard musical notes are heat-embossed with black powder and glitter.
I also have a confession to make to you all---
I---
am---
a Paper-holic!!
I have two photo boxes on my desk that I discovered earlier this month, filled with 6x6 and 4x6 papers. Papers I had totally forgotten I had in my stash!  I am embarassed, I am mortified, but I am determined to use it up before touching all my (pre-cioussss) other papers.

So, I grabbed a handful of patterned paper strips and used them to create the background for my easel card. I was able to use some of the larger strips on the rest of my card. And now my box(es) are a little lighter and I have a lovely card to show for it.
Come play at the Outlawz Greetings challenge this week. Dr. Digi is offering 2 digi images to the winner!
 What Does It Take To Win A Prize?

1. The sentiment must appear on the front of your card or project to be eligible to win.
2. YOU DO NOT have to use an image on your card. Also, non-card entries are acceptable as long as they have sentiments that are visible on the outside. 
3. Please only one entry per week per challenge.
4. No back linking. Any projects posted on your blog/online gallery before the start date of a challenge should not be entered and will not be eligible for prizes. 
5. Please post your own creations only to the challenges.

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Challenge Up Your Life - Use Digi Stamps

Digi Galore challenges - Father's Day

My Time to Craft - Male

Bloggers' challenges - Boys of Summer

Creative Corner challenges - Just for Dad

Simply Create Too - Masculine

Stempelsonnen challenges - Anything Goes

Always Something Creative - Anything Goes

Paper Creators Crafts - Anything Goes

Words 2 Scrap By - It's a Man's World