Spring Has Sprung with Digi Stamps 4 Joy

Could it be Spring, finally?! I don't know about your neck of the woods, but Chicago has been on a roller coaster when it comes to temps and weather conditions. March come in like a lion,bearing snow and freezing temps, then flipped around and teased us with temps in the 60's. I would really like Mother Nature to make up her mind so I can plan out my wardrobe! LOL
Meanwhile, the Outlawz Monday Greetings offers a new challenge asking for cards with a Spring theme. The sponsor this week is Digi Stamps 4 Joy.

Doesn't the digi, Spring Has Sprung, showcase the new season's weather perfectly? I love the hedgehogs peeking out of the flowers with their smiles. They're not the only ones happy with the respite in cold weather! I rounded all my corners on my card and embellished with a spray of flowers and a few butterflies floating past my scene. My sentiment is on my printed ribbon.
Why don't you link up your Spring-themed card at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge this week. There are some fabulous prizes offered!

Loads of Laughs at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Avast, matie! Thar be a new challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog, and we've hit the midway point. No, it's not Pirate week! The theme is to "Make Us Laugh." While my Lady Pirate from Ike's Art is not funny in and of herself, the sentiment I used should qualify.
My project is a hybrid canvas. I hand-drew and colored my background, colored my image with Copics, fussy cut her and placed her onto my background. Then I used my improving digital skills in Photoshop to add a few elements to give the scene more life, like the boat (element 25, Boring Evening Elements 1 Pack, Krysty Scrap Designs) and fence (Our House Elements 1 Pack, Rucola Designs by Ildi Geist). The treasure chest is an altered project I created for my son's beach-themed wedding almost 3 years ago.
I framed my canvas with blue textured paper from Grungy Christmas Paper Pack, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, and Glitter Overlay 3 Kit and patterned paper 09, Dead or Alive Paper Pack,   Krysty Scrap Designs.
Now tickle your funny bone and join in the fun at Ike's World Challenge blog this week for your chance to win free digis! Whatever you create, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

A Beautiful Mess challenge blog - Anything Goes
Craft for the Craic - Anything but a Card (hybrid canvas)
Digitally Sweet challenges - Fantasy
Morgan's Artworld challenges - For the Men
The Stamping Boutique - Masculine
{Pin}spirational Challenges - Inspiration photo

Golden Wedding Anniversary

 I was commissioned to create an anniversary card for a friend. Her friends are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary later this month. Wow! That's a log time being married to the same person. So I had to make a card worthy of their evidence of love for each other. I am not the best "florist", maybe because I have allergies and they sometimes "leak" into my crafting. But today I think I brazened past my subconscious barrier and created a nice spray on my card.

Of course, the sentiment is very important for this very special occasion. I found one on Pinterest and framed it before adding to the inside of my card. I embellished with gold, jeweled rings, and the tiny white box is for my client's signature.
So, a chunky card needs a box envelope, so I pulled out my Ultimate Crafter's Companion and Envelope Creator to make it. Below is the front of my card with a detachable tag.

 Here is the back of my box envelope. The flap has a small Velcro fastener to keep the box closed.

So there is my commissioned card for a 50th anniversary celebration. Everything I used came out of my stash, which follows my 2016 crafting resolution of using up my stuff. My favorite find is the gold button with chain swag that covers the Velcro fastening.
Now I hope my friend is as happy with the card as I am!

Challenges I am Entering:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes/Optional twist: pale, pastel
Crafting When We can - Inspired by a Song - Endless Love
Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

It's Raining Quirky Cats & Dogs

Welcome back to another Quirky challenge! This month you are asked to create something with a  Cats & Dogs theme. Our sponsor is Crackerbox Palace Digital Stamps.

I got to play with an image called "Peeking Cat." I colored my kitty with Copics, then added her onto my card face. A simple ribbon border and jeweled flourishes decorate my card. I printed my sentiment in Adobe Photoshop using Butch font from the Hungry Jpeg.
Quirky challenges run monthly starting on the first Sunday of the month, so you have time to let those creative juices flow. Think muddy paws and kitten cuddles, wagging tails and purring greetings. Then link up your creations with us at Quirky Crafts challenge blog!
Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet challenges - C is for Cats

Brown Sugar challenges - Anything Goes

Sheepski Designs Sponsors the Outlawz Progressive Freebie This Month

I created a card for Mother's Day today.  This lovely image, called "For Mom," is from Andrea Norris of Sheepski Designs. She is sponsoring the new progressive challenge at the Outlaw in April. Those who have been playing along will receive this image free, and will continue to receive free sponsors' images every month as long as they create and link up their cards using the freebie.
There are a lot of layers on my card, including some mulberry paper, some handmade patterned paper using alcohol inks and a bit of embossed paper rubbed with gold Pearl Ex. Add the image and my flowers and it's pretty chunky. Luckily, my mom lives about 6 blocks from my house, so I will be hand-delivering her card on the special holiday.
Now to create Mother's Day cards for my kids' godmothers, my daughter-in-law and her mom, and my granddaughter's mom. Whew, I had better get busy!! LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Inky Impressions challenges - Let's Hear It for the Girls

Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog Has a Song in Its Heart

Welcome to the midway point of Scribbles Designs challenge blog's Song in Your Heart challenge! I am such a lucky bunny to have been asked to join the Scribbles Design Team. My first DT make was inspired by the song "The Candy Man", introduced in the 1971 movie called Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory. The song became so popular it made it to number one on national radio, sung by Sammy Davis, Jr.

I remembered when the movie went to TV for the first time. I was in the US Army, 54th Military Police Company. I was visiting the Day Room at my (soon-to-be) hubby's barracks. The room was a lounge of sorts for all the guys and their guests to hang out. I'll never forget that as the movie Willy Wonka" came on, there were at least 20 guys watching it! Although I enjoyed reading Roald Dahl's book on which the movie was (very loosely) based, I like the original more than the remake with (sigh) Johnny Depp.
Alright, back from my trip down memory lane, let's look at my card - I created the background with alcohol inks on glossy paper. I used dimensional dots to pop my Copic-colored image, called Bunny Bum, onto my card.

#440 Bunny Bum ($2.50)

I found the poem on Quote Garden and used my Epic Six to die-cut the frame around it. I embellished simply with a line of adhesive-backed pearls and a bit of ribbon.
Check out the inspiration at the Scribbles Designs Challenge blog and don't forget to link up your own cards for your chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store.

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Cardmakers - Easter

Marker Pop Challenge #91 - Critters

Our Crafty Corner - Anything Goes

Where the HeART Is challenges - Easter/Anything Goes

Miss Rach Sponsors New Challenge

Today starts a new challenge at Your Scrapbook Place Challenge blog. Our sponsor is Miss Rach, and she has some cuter-than-cute images at her store. There are also some freebies, so if you snag some and create with them, then link up with Your Scrapbook, you will get not one but TWO chances to win prizes.
I used a freebie from the store to make my birthday card today. Copi-colored I rubbed ink lightly to color in the white space before popping her onto my card face. I used punches to frame my sentiment and to give my card a "wavy" border.
Your Scrapbook Place is offering TWO challenges this month, so get your projects linked up by April 14 for your chance to win! Happy crafting!