Anything Goes at the Outlawz Greetings challenge

I love the Anything Goes challenges at the Outlawz Greetings. They're on the last Monday of each month. This week the sponsor is Lacy Sunshine, and I got to play with this cutie called "Rory - Eggstra Delivery." I know, it's an Easter-themed image, but I don't care. I paced jeweled flowers over the colored eggs in her bag so I could use her on a birthday card. As far as the bunny ears and carrot, well, there are all types of people...  LOL
I made a Z-fold card-I love this type of card, as it makes a very pretty presentation, and is very easy to create. Using left over papers, and embellies, I am keeping my promise of recycling and reinventing what I already have. Only the image is new, which you can get HERE.
Come play with us at the Outlawz Greetings challenges. Plenty of inspiration and a chance to win when you join the challenge!!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

Monday Morning Challenge - Pretty Flowers 

Love to Scrap Challenge blog - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Cardmania - Flowers

Monday Mood Board #9- Inspiration came from the colors of thew slices of fruit as well as the blue clothes

Using DeeDee's Digis at Craft Your Passion Challenge Blog

Anything Goes (always) at Craft Your Passion challenge blog, and today starts another new chance to be a winner!'
The sponsor this week is Dee Dee's Digis and the image is called Open Window, which come with layering, outline and colored window images. In addition, there are several cute images to place in the window, like a kitten, a jack-o-lantern,, a pitcher of lemonade and more.
I decided to color my puppy with Copics and add him to my 3D window. I printed my window twice, fussy-cutting it out and very carefully using wide silk ribbon to "hang" my curtains. The patterned papers are from Prima.
I printed my sentiment using Microsoft Word, then tore it out and inked it to coordinate with the brick facade. To finish my card, I sprinkled a few pearls.
You have all week to play in Craft Your Passion's challenge, so have fun crafting!!

Other Challenges I am WEntering:

AAA Cards - There's a Hole in My Card

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Black and Blue Crafting

When I read the challenge at Ike's World Challenge blog, I didn't know if I were up to it! Patterned paper is my middle name!! LOL
My box of re-discovered papers still sits on my desk, and is amazingly getting lighter every day! Since I had the papers and (always) my Copics at hand, I QUICKLY found a stitched piece of cardstock. I have also placed a small file box on my table where I have been tossing excess supplies with which I may create within the week. and die-cut. So I managed to create this card using NO PATTERNED PAPERS and super fast, which for me was stepping way out of my comfort zone.
I colored up this fantastic Ike's Art image called Muse 6 using Copics, giving her some interesting stripes in her hair (I was just in that mood). Then I adhered to a stitched piece of cardstock a die-cut that was given to me in a swap before adding my fussy-cut image.
I embellished simply with a butterfly a few pearls and a sentiment. I kept the card two-toned, although the blue paper of the sentiment and the diecut embellie are also blue but hard to tell in my photo.
Since I placed my
I am entering my card in Ike's World Challenge blog, as well as other challenges:

Mema's Challenge blog - Anything Goes w/a punch or die-cut

Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes
Pixels & Paper challenges -  Inspired by Photo below (I love the color combo of black and blue and used that for my color scheme)

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Q is for Quick (under 10 minutes)
Brown Sugar challenges - Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards challenges - Use a Die-cut
Simply Create Too challenges - Pretty Woman

And so the student becomes the teacher...

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I had re-discovered a box STUFFED with papers that I had forgotten about. I placed it on my craft table and promised that I would use it before buying (or even looking) for other papers. Well, that box took a pretty big hit today!!

My Granddaughter is sleeping over this weekend, and the number one pastime she want to do is CRAFT!! last night she made a card, and we both made bookmarks.
This morning, I returned from German class and found her busily creating origami boxes. Now, I had seen them before, but didn't know how to make them. She went through a demo, then we went step by step (with her correcting my mistakes) to leaning over me and watching that I correctly folded my paper. I made the big one made with 12x12 paper and three smaller ones made with 6x6 papers. She is faster and made the rest, along with all the tiny ones that are out of sight. And so the student becomes the teacher...
I chose to gift her with all but one of the boxes I made, so she can offer them in her "sale." Meanwhile, I am trying to think of ways to incorporate the box into a project for a challenge. Will I be successful? Only time will tell!!
BTW, I am mailing out the physical prize packages this weekend from my birthday celebration,so some of you should receive them later this week. I need time to concentrate on my digital prizes and their new homes, and I can't accomplish this with Bella at my elbows, so it may be Monday before I start that. Thanks again to everyone who joined in the fun! I hope you return for inspiration.

It's a Zombie World

I found a challenge blog today that stirred those dormant zombie genes within my crafting soul. It's called Haunted Design House and they truly do NOT want cute. They crave dark and macabre, and I tried to please the minions creating there with my card today.
It features a zombie girl coming for her boyfriend, as they were "in a relationship" and she would like to continue that "status." Haunted Design House has a challenge theme of Going Green, and I gave my card a green card base, as well as recycling some jewelry and using up my stash.

BINGO! with Bugaboo

Time to get your game on at Catch the Bug challenge blog. There isn't much time left to play, and the theme is BINGO. I chose the vertical row of Bling, Pastels & a Bugaboo image:

I colored my Bugaboo image, Ava Latte, with Copics and framed her with a die-cut, adhering her onto embossed and inked cardstock. My card base is white cardstock with a stitched-border frame.

I Stickled parts of my image, and added jewels for that touch of bling. A punched flower and sentiment finish off my card.

 Other Challenges I am Entering:

Hiding in My Craft Room - Freestyle
Suzie B's Blooming challenges - Use a Die or Punch (I used both!)
Our Creative Corner - Colour Your World (Blue skies, partly cloudy, yellow daffodils)
Scrap It with a Song - (pop song Shake it Off-NOT until I have my coffee!!)

Scribbles Challenge of Spring Colors

Today I made a card that was CAS to me. CAS in that the image is so simple to use. Here, I inked the white spaces of this Scribbles by Sandy digi, called Hugs, with Distress Ink, and it was ready to pop on a card. I used a large tag by K&Co, folding it in half to make a card. A few embellishments, and I am ready to welcome Spring.

However, in Chicago, we woke up to (gasp) snow left over from a weather system who partied hearty in the windy City! It's now in the 40's and the snow has melted, but can I say BRRR! O Spring wehy doth thou abandon me??? LOL

Scribbles has a challenge in which I am entering my card. Do you think I welcomed Sprung a little too enthusiastically? Maybe I scared her away?? 

Cheers to You

Somebody just had a birthday, so I whipped  out my trusty Copics and found this cute House Mouse image and created her a card.
I love the vibrant color combo of lime green and purple and golden yellow. The cardstock and patterned paper is from my newly re-discovered stash of papers that was stuck in the deep dark recesses of my craft closet. I helped it escape and it's on my desk, scheduled for re-assignment, like on this card! LOL
I also found a huge bag of jeweled flowers and butterflies of various sizes that I released onto my card for a little embellishing.
I made this card lickety-split, as all my elements were at hands reach, including that pretty bow I tied with leftover ribbon!!
What's on your craft table today?

Challenges I am Entering:

Creative Card Crew challenges - Use a Sentiment
Party Time Tuesdays - April Anything Goes
Craft D BowZ - Anything Goes w/ a handmade bow
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes
Allsorts challenges - Quick & Easy
House Mouse & Friends - Anything Goes or April Showers
Stamping Ground - WOYWW - April 22

Here is my desk today I found a box on the floor of my craft closet stuffed with papers. I am ashamed! So it will remain on my desk until I have used a good chunk of its contents! I am also getting ready to make some Christmas cards for the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, I will have a nice pile of handmade cards to send out to friends and family! Woohoo! Oh, and my camera needs charging, and I keep its cable on my desk, as that's where I try to keep my camera (key word here is TRY).

So, what's on YOUR work desk today?? 

A Card for My Sweetie

I am embarrassed to admit that I just "discovered" a BOX of papers in my craft closet. It was bulging with patterned papers, embossed papers, stitched papers, textured papers--the list goes on and on and on...
Hello, my name is Pat and I am a Paper-holic!! After rifling though the box and tossing out "unusable" paper  (which is an oxymoron if I ever used one), I placed this box on my craft table and made an oath to create from this box ONLY until I can see a sizable difference. I've made three cards so far, and there is no measurable difference. So I will not be purchasing new paper for a long, long (very long) time. Sigh!
Meanwhile, this is one of the cards I created. I colored up a cute digi image called Patsie from Art by Miran. I adore her images, and this is an older one from her shop. I used sparkly colored cardstock as well as patterned paper from "the box." I found a small paper doily and used my homemade shimmer mist to coordinate the color with the rest of my card. Besides a strip of ribbon and a bow, I scattered jeweled flowers and butterflies on my card. She looks like the kind of girl who wishes to be surrounded by glitz and diamonds, don't you think?!

Challenges I am Entering:

Artbymiran challenges - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes w/a Twist of Spring

House of Cards - Add a Butterfly or Color Challenge (butterflies)

The Crazy Challenge - Springtime

Use Your Stuff - Anything Goes (admitted paper-holic-will be using my stuff for months)

Crafting When We Can - Sing Me a Song (Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Grow into Your True Selves while on the Path of Positivity

 I made a card today for the Path ofPositivity midway challenge reminder. The theme is Growth. Looking back on the last 29 years, I remember using a ruler and marker (as my dad used to do with my sisters and me) to chart my son’s and daughter’s growth throughout the years. I stopped when they grew to full height.
Luckily, that growth chart is not the only method used for marking time and growth in their lives. My many scrapbook albums keep a record of changes in their appearance, as well as milestones in their emotional, intellectual and spiritual growth. Another way I’ve charted their personal growth is through artwork, letters and award certificates, neatly kept in one of their elementary school backpacks for each child.
I know, it’s difficult to imagine the 8-12 years of saved (and very precious) creations and honors made and earned by a child, crammed into the restricted depths of a single backpack. However, if you were to give it to them before they really need to remember their childhood, what exactly would they want with a stick-figure drawing of the family, or an honorable mention for a poem they wrote? It would go into the “circular file” without a second thought. Why? Because it doesn't have the same emotional attachment that a parent gives it.
So I pare down what I keep. If something is too close to my heart to keep in its original form, I take a photo of it (especially all those 3D masterpieces) and add it to that year’s folder. Each of my kids has a backpack waiting for them to discover and reminisce over, and possibly show their own kids how it was “back in the old days.”

My card today uses an image from the Gumball Wishes set from this month's sponsor, Sparkle & Sprinkle. The set comes with colored and uncolored images of the gumball machine and gumballs.  It also comes with several sentiments. I used the colored image on my card, and coordinated the patterned paper, cardstock and ribbons with the image's colors. I also doodled with colored and white gel pens, and cut out a piece of transparency paper to pop onto the gumball dish to help it look like glass.
How does my card reflect what I’ve just written? Growth is accomplished by change and change occurs over time, and like gum balls, sometimes life can become sticky. Too, if you put in your quarter (talk about the old days-it used to be a penny), you would expect a fresh gumball bursting with flavor as you bite into it. Without change, those gumballs would feel like jaw breakers and taste nasty! So, in a round-about way, the Sparkle n Sprinkle digi image I used points me in the direction of Growth. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! LOL 
 Come join us on the Path of Positivity with its new monthly theme of GROWTH. Sparkle N Sprinkle is the sole sponsor for the main prizes of this challenge.  They are offering up two prizes for this challenge, which will be:

• $15.00 worth of digital images for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• $15.00 worth of  digital images for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

There will also  be:

• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.
• One digital designer paper (made to order in a few different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers challenges - Anything Goes

Use Fabric Today at the Outlawz Geetings Challenge

Today brings a new challenge from the Outlawz Greetings, one with a little (or a lot of) fabric on our projects. That's right, my crafty peeps, the challenge is to drag out any type of fabric to use on your card, tag, ATC, canvas, anything your little crafting heart desires to create. Of course, the Numero Uno requirement is to make sure there's a sentiment on the front of your project. That is, of course, why we are called the GREETINGS challenge group. LOL
I am not a sewing person. The only fabric I have on hand is fleece, because I make those cute blankets with the tied edges for children's hospitals. And believe me, fleece did not play well with my card!
So I rummaged through drawers and closets and finally found a piece of fabric I could use. (I really wanted some nice burlap so I could pull on the edges and get all fringe-y with my card) What I found was a tattoo sleeve leftover from a Halloween past, as in a few years past. It's (or rather was) made of stretchy nylon material, so I cut cardboard and cardstock and adhered my fabric to its "frame," then placed it on a card base of cardstock and white-dotted vellum.
Did I mention that the sponsor this week at the Outlawz Greetings challenge is the fabulous Dee Dee's Digis? I got to play with "In Season.", which includes outline, layering and colored images of trees in all four seasons and several sentiments! I used the colored version of Spring tree and one of the sentiments for my card. I framed each on red cardstock before placing them on my fabric-colored card. A small white paper doily sprinkled with pink shimmery flowers decorate my little "canvas. I also added some fibers  and glittered the tiny flowers on the just-blossoming tree.

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Creative Knockouts - Texture
Creative Moments - Anything Goes - Spring or Easter
Try It on Tuesdays - New Beginnings (buds on trees)
Naughty or Nice challenges - In Bloom (I chose to use a "budding" tree)
Recycle, Re-purpose & Re-invent - Anything Goes/must re-cycle (recycled my Halloween accessory into a project background)
Open-Minded challenges - Recycle something (Halloween tattoo sleeve)
A Gem of a Challenge - Spring is in the Air
Dragonfly Dreams challenges- Let's See Spring
Krafty Hands blog - Nature's Work
My Creative Moments - Colorful Creations
Moo Mania challenges - Feelings of Spring
Our Creative Corner - Color Your World
The Crazy Challenge blog - Springtime
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes w/Diamonds (optional)

A Sweet Image from Sweet Pea

This little sweetie from Sweet Pea Stamps is from artist Lynne Stansbery. She is free this month at the Progressive challenge over at the Sweet Pea Fan Page on Facebook.  Their challenges are progressive, in which you can create a project using any Sweet Pea stamp or image; participants will receive a Sweet Pea image for free for the second part.
Here is my project. I used the sentiment that came with the image, and left the inside blank. I will probably make it a Thank You card as I seem to need them often enough. The face of the image really draws me back time and time again. I just love the expression on my image's face! It's a sort of shy delight she's showing. Lynne's images are very realistic-she's always been a favorite artist of mine, and I hope you think so too! You can find more of her images at the Sweet Pea Store.

Challenges I am Entering:

Stamping Sensations - Pretty in Pink

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Use a Die

Crafty Catz - It's a Girl Thing
Polkadoodles challenges - Pink & Pretty

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Thank you all for coming to my Birthday Blowout celebration.

I hope you all had fun-I know I did!!
Now that the party has ended, there are some guests who mustn't leave without their goody bags and prizes. I've listed winners for each day, as well as the "100 Follower" winner and the Grand Prize winner!!
Anyone listed in RED means I need your email address. Depending on the prize, I may have to email you for your mailing address, as not all my prizes are digital.
Please note: I will leave this list up through April 30. If your nae is in RED and  I don't hear from you by then, I will just have to choose another crafter to give my prizes to (sigh).
And here we go:

APRIL DATE WINNERS--
1. LISA D, KATHY B, HOLLEY B, VIRGINIA M, SUE, AMY, DIANE, TERRI, KAYE, SUE H, L CHIPPY76, DESIRE, NIKKI C, EDWINA, MONICA, TERESA, LINDSEY, JULIE O, LINDA W

3. Nikki C

4. Susan Slomski

5. Lisa D

6. Lindsey

7. Virginia

8. Edwina

9. L Chippy76

10. Holley B

11. Kathy, Ginny, Edwina, Julie O, L Chippy 76

12.  Ike

13.  Edwina

14.  Kathy B

15.  Lisa D

100 follower prize:  LINDA W.

Winner of the Grand Prize:      VIRGINIA M

Do you see anything missing? It's the April 2 winner' post, or should I say winners?! ALL my FOLLOWERS who have commented at some point on my blog during my celebration will receive the Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Birthday Balloon paper. (I need more time to compile that huge list, so check back tomorrow to see if I need your email to send you your prize)

Book Your Next Challenge with Your Scrapbook Place

Today I am going to let my Dreams Take Flight. After work, I will sit down and tally up all the winners of my Birthday Blowout celebration. I wished to increase my Blog Following, which I did, and Lisa from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles has made a badge for me to display in my sidebar. Thank you Lisa!
Everyone who joined me in my Birthday Blowout is getting something, so please send me your email, either in the comnents section or by emailing me at: patacake1956@yahoo.com
Now, on to my project. I design for Your Scrapbook Place with other talented crafters. The blog's challenges are always Anything Goes, so today, as a midway reminder of our April challenge, I made a bookmark. It features an image from our sponsor, Angie's Digital Stamps. I used Butterfly on a Toadstool, which can be found along with many others on her Etsy Shop.
After coloring it with my trusty Copics, I shimmered it a bit with Stickles and then fussy-cut the image out. I prepared a base of cardstock and patterned paper which I border punched. I embossed my sentiment. A piece of trim and some sequins and all I needed to finish it off was a ribbon. BUT, I promised myself that today I would look no further than the top of my craft table to create, and there was no ribbon to be had. There was, however, a strip of that black cardstock that happened to be red on the other side as well as the core, so I stapled it to look like a ribbon, added a punched circle to each end.
I still have so much on my craft table, including images. I could probably make another 10 projects without touching anything except what's on my table. And that is the promise I am making today. If it's not put away immediately, I MUST use what's leftover before rooting around for more. The madness has to stop somewhere, and I alone have the power!!
Meanwhile, back to reality. Please carve some time out this month to play, and then join Your Scrapbook Place for its April Anything Goes challenge.

BTW, I will post this week once I have made my birthday goodies lists. Keep checking back!! Everyone is a winner!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

City Crafter challenges - CASE the card

All Crafts - Anything Goes no Cards

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Sparkle n Sprinkle - Anything Goes w/loose glitter,emb powder,flocking

12 Months of Christmas Cards Link-up Colour Challenge

I'm ticking off another Christmas card made for my 2015 stash. How am I keeping on track so well, you may ask?! I've been invited to join the Merry Maidens Design team at the 12 Months of Christmas Cards Link Up!
This month's sponsor is Sami Stamps and I got to play with a cute image called Christmas Gift Poodle, as well as some fabulous patterned papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles called Bauble Bonanza.
This month, the optional twist to your Christmas card entries is a Colour Challenge:

Instead of your typical holiday colours, they want to see cards using non-traditional colours like the ones in the photo above.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your card showcases at least THREE of the colours from the palette below.  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.

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 $12.00 gift card from Sami Stamps.
I used these colours as my background, coordinating my ribbons and extra large bauble to embellish. How's your stash of holiday cards coming along? Need a boost? Then make a couple cards for the Link Up for your free paper! That's enough inspiration for me! LOL!!
And as always, crafters, have fun!!

Sponsor and Prize Info for this challenge:

• Guest Sponsor:  Sami Stamps
• Prize being offered:  $12.00 gift card from the store 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 Bauble Bonanza, will also be offered up as a prize to one random winner.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize(s)

I can't believe that it's my birthday already!! And that means (boohoo) my Birthday Blowout Celebration is almost over. This is your last chance to Follow and comment for prizes starting with the April 1 Party post.
Here are a few of the goodies I'll be sending out:
From Ike's Art, everyone who wishes me a Happy Birthday by leaving a comment on my April 1 post will receive the digital image Ike made for my celebration.

Ike's Art has also offered a $10 gift certificate to her store as a prize.

From Lisa of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, everyone who is a Follower of my blog by April 15 will receive this special Birthday Balloons digital patterned paper.

Lisa has also offered several digital packages as prizes.

Creative Bug Digis has offered a prize of  5 digis of the winner's choice.

Also in the blog candy mix are:

Wood-mounted  Stampin Up rubber stamps

Rubber and acrylic stamps from QKD

1 Rubber stamp from Simply Betty

1 set of digital images from Bugaboo

1 digi from Ike's Art

1 set of Inkadinkadoo cling stamps

1 set of celebration stamps

plus product from Fiskars, Jolee's Boutique, Doodlebug Design, Chatterbox, Making Memories, Copics, Colorbok, and many more!

So check back tomorrow as I start listing out the winners and their prizes on my blog. Thank you to everyone who commented and wished me Happy Birthday several times over. Thank you to my loyal Followers who supported me. Thank you to my new Followers-I hope I don't disappoint you, only inspire you!

Thank you to my sponsors, especially:

Lisa of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, for her blog post here and on her own blog, the Birthday Blowout badge she made for me, the Birthday Balloon paper she let me give everyone, and for all the prizes she has offered to winners.

Sue of Ike's Art for that special digi image made especially for my celebration which I am allowed to share with you, and for the gift certificate going to one lucky winner.

Holley of Holly's Blog for her blog post here and on her own blog, and her support and advice on how to host a great party!

I know there are many more of you, but I'm like the Oscar winners who become tongue-tied when they are at the end of their speeches and their minds go blank. Thank you all! I hope you all continue to have fun crafting!

Since all my Followers who have celebrated with me get a digital prize, please comment with your email addy so I may send that (at the very least) to you.

Better Late Than Never

I have been super busy at work and home. I had a lovely visit with my son and his family over the weekend, but housework and groceries and errands stacked up, so this post is a little late, and my project is a work in progress.
I started playing with my digital papers and images and embellishments while at my son's house. The mermaid is an image from Kenny K, the dolphins from Dee Dee's Designs, and the fish and shells from the Doll House. The paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, and I used the stamp tool in Adobe Photoshop to create the seaweed.
I still need to frame my project and add a quote, but I am pretty satisfied with it so far.
On this next to the last day of my Birthday Blowout celebration, I want to know how you feel about digital crafting. I like all my digital images and mostly print them out and color them with my Copics. I used to print out the digital papers and embellies and fussy-cut them when necessary, making the project with scissors and glue and real life elements. But I have started to add so much more digital items and have finally got a handle on Photoshop that I like to play with it all on the computer. And the more I play, the better I get, and the more I like it!
While I love the new world of digital crafting, I think I spend more than half my crafting time at my desk instead of on my computer. How about you? Digital or by hand? Print and add to non-digital, or completely virtual? Inquiring crafters want to know!!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

April brings many things, like longer days, crocuses blooming, birdsong in the early morning, and rain showers. Along with showers come rainbows. I have been very lucky to witness many rainbows where I live. When I see them I turn into a kid again, standing with my mouth open in wonder and awe at the beauty imprinted on the sky.
I created my card using two digital papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. Lisa has a delicious assortment of papers, embellishments and sentiments, and I used a couple to create my card today for the Outlawz Greetings challenge. The theme this week is April Showers and/or Rainbows.
I chose a textured cardstock and a patterned paper for my project. After printing my sentiment (inspired by the movie Wizard of Oz, the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow) straight onto the papers in Photoshop, I colored up a couple cute birds from the Fred She Said set called Emma the Caroler. I fussy-cut them and popped them onto my scene. Then I had my way with the embellishments I had left on my desk from a previous project. Here are the papers I chose for this card:
DDD Colors of the Rainbow Collection,
From the Textured Paper Pack: Wine
From the Patterned Paper Pack: Sea
I hope you get a chance to visit Lisa's blog to see the wonderful papers and products she creates, as well as the Outlawz Greetings challenge this week. Follow the theme of April Showers or Rainbows and remember to put a sentiment on the frontt of your project, and you'll be in the running for some awesome prizes!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting When We Can - Based on a Song (Somewhere Over the Rainbow)
Ike's Art World Challenges - Something with Wings
Krafty Hands - Nature's Work
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Shabby Tea Room challenges - Rainbow of Colors
Sisterhood of Crafters - April Showers
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes

Rock That Card

"I love rock & roll" is what my card today says. I love this image from Kenny K, called Rock Chick. I got to play with her for the newest Craft Your Passion challenge starting today.
After coloring Rock Chick, I framed her in cardstock, distressed the edges with Tim Holtz Tattered Roses ink, and added a tiny piece of leftover sticker.
I had fun creating my card background. Some Prima patterned paper sets the mood, and various trim and stickers highlight her passion.
What's your passion (besides paper crafting, that is)? I love to listen to my iPod, bike, read and water color (just not at the same time).
Whatever it is, enjoy what you do. And if you love to create, hop on over to Craft Your Passion challenge blog for another Anything Goes challenge this week. Kenny K Designs is the sponsor this week, and you can have a lot of fun with his images!!
The party is in its final days, so if you've just visited my blog, go back to my April 1 post. I have some amazing prizes from sponsors and favorite designers, including Creative Bug Design, Ike's Art, Simply Betty, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, Stampin Up, Stamping Bella and Queen Kat Designs. In addition, I have some great product from Making Memories, Fiskars, Lawn Fawn, Penny Black, K&Co, Martha Stewart, and a score of others.
In order to maximize your chances of hauling in some great prizes, please start by FOLLOWING MY BLOG, if you haven't already. Next, please help to spread my Birthday Blowout celebration by PLACING MY PARTY BADGE in your blog's sidebar with a link to my blog. Lisa from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles created this badge especially for me and I love it!! O, I forgot one last thing. I ask you to HAVE FUN! That's why we craft, isn't it? LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting When We Can - Sing Me a Song (I Love Rock & Roll by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Cupcake Inspirations - Photo inspiration:

Kenny K's Krafty Krew challenges - Anything Goes (optional twist Steampunk)

Extra Fries?!

Well, I just booked our family vacation and we're headed to swim suit country. Which leads to spending what little free time I have on my spin bike. I'm up to 30 minutes, part (a very small part) of that time at 30 mph. So when I wanted a killer sentiment for my card, I was compelled to use the one I did. I think it's hilarious!
Today I colored up a Sweet Pea image called Spa-de-ha-ha by artist Lynne Stansbery. Don't those women look like they're having a fabulous time? The feel of this card is in sync with my Birthday Blowout celebration this month. If you haven't already, go to my original party post and read how you can be one of many winners of such prizes like digi goodies from Ike's Art, Creative Bug Designs, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles and Bugaboo. I also have crafting products from Stampin Up, Simpy Betty and much much more.
ALL my Followers who comment there will receive a special digi paper from Decosse's Dynamitr Doodles, and everyone who wishes me a Happy Birthday on that original post will receive the Ike's Art digi image I colored up for the card there. So you're already a winner just by Following my blog, wishing me Happy Birthday and placing my Birthday Blowout badge on your sidebar!! Woot, Woot!

Are you going on vacation this summer? Where are you going? If you have no plans, where would you go if you had the time and the money?? Comment today for your chance to win!!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Sisterhood of the Snarky Stampers - J is for Just Kidding

Crafty Catz - 2 or More Patterned Papers

Sister Act - Anything Goes
Sweet Sketch - (I turned mine 90 degrees and tilted the image)

Tuesday Throwdown - Friendship

Lisa's Birthday Card

Hello all!  My name is Lisa D. and I'm here to talk a little bit about the lady of the hour herself, Pat!  

I originally met Pat back in the fall of 2013 through my challenge blog, the Path of Positivity.  At that time she had been entering challenges for a couple months and had been chosen once by the Voters as a winner and once by the team as our Most Inspirational choice.  We started talking at that time and she let me know how much she enjoyed participating in our challenges.  We as a team were always thrilled to see not only her creations but also what she had to say on our theme each month.  Often during the month, I'd receive a message from one or more of our team members stating,  "oh you have to go and see what Pat has written" because she always had something so positive and incredible to share in her posts.  This is one of the things that drew me to her.  We were very fortunate to procure Pat as a full time team member in January of 2014.   Since joining she has added another role to her job description as she writes for a special column we have called, "Ponderings Along the Pathway".  If you haven't read any of her positive reflections then you are truly missing out on something incredible.  I was also lucky enough earlier this year to have Pat come on board the team for the 12 Months of Christmas Challenge that I co-coordinate with Monica Taylor.  It is great having her on both of my teams.  I can always count on a thoughtful project and post from her. 

Throughout the past year our 'work' relationship has blossomed into something more.  As time has passed I have come to learn more about Pat and I can honestly say that I am fortunate and blessed by the relationship we have developed.  While we have never met in person, I can truly call Pat my friend. You can count on her to cheer you up with something funny or just to listen if you're having a hard day.  When I found out that she was planning a birthday bash, I just had to jump on board as one of her sponsors and of course as a cheerleader!  My life has been truly enriched since Pat has come into it and I hope that yours has as well.

As those of you who've been following Pat for a while now know, she is a talented writer and also makes really wonderful projects with a focus in mixed media art. If you are new to her blog, it would behoove you to spend some time looking through past posts and creations.  I'm sure you'll find many things to inspire you. 

So before I go I just want to say "Happy Birthday Pat".  May you have a fabulous birthday on the 15th and continue to be blessed throughout the year to come!  Here is a special digital 'card' that I have made for you in honour of your special day!

Credits:    Images...Nicecrane Designs

               Sentiment...Create with TLC

               for all the details, check out the post on my personal blog, by clicking HERE.

Dearest Lisa,

You are one of a kind (in a good way). You truly inspire me and other to stretch their creativity, step out of their comfort zones, and relish in all the positivity in the world.

Thank you for the lovely write-up and for my special birthday card. It is gorgeous!!

Hear that, crafters, time is ticking away. There are only a few more days to go back to the initial post and comment there, Follow me, and place my Birthday Bash badge on your sidebar, in order to be guaranteed prizes for this celebration! 

Today, if you have time, click on the ponderings link and read my write-ups. Which one strikes a chord in your soul? Leave me a comment with your answer for today's prize, the Heartland mini set containing 12 items...
 .

Spread the love, please! Who doesn't like to win free stuff, especially free crafting stuff!! LOL

Have fun today!

Warmer Days and Chilly Nights

We're on the final stretch of my Birthday Blowout Celebration. As soon as all the winners are announced after April 15, I will start getting the prizes packaged up and sent out to everyone. Meanwhile, I wanted to talk about nicknames. A person can go through life never receiving or giving themselves a nickname, while others gather and lose them throughout the lives.

When I was born, I was called Daddy's Little Deduction, because at that time in the U.S., April 15 is called Income Tax Day, and everyone who works must file their income and expenses with the government by that date. I was called Patty by my cousins and sisters when I was growing up, and till hear it come out of their mouths every now and then. Then there's my BFF, Janie, who lovingly called me Chicken Liver Pate. I still to this day do not know how she came up with that one!

Do you have a nickname? If you've had more than one, what's your favorite? Leave me a comment today with your answer for today's prize giveaway.

Today, I found a colored image stuck in one of my stash files of patterned papers and decided to create a quick card with it for today's Birthday Blowout celebration. The image is from Whiff of Joy, an oldie but one of my faves. It fits well with these early days of Spring, where I wake up to the promise of warmer weather, but the hours after dinner cool off more than I'd like. A mug of tea is still a comfort on these chilly evenings.
I found a piece of patterned paper in my stash from a DCWV paper stack. I used a Diamond Dazzle gel pen to fill in the lines of flowers on the paper to give it a little shimmer, as well as some shimmery satin ribbon from Martha Stewart. I stamped and punched out my sentiment, using it as the center of my flower embellishment.
Winner Announcement: The winner of the April 4 Blog Post prize as been posted. ThE Random.org snapshot is on that post. The winner is:  SUSAN SLOMSKI
Congrats, Susan! Send me your email address. You're getting a surprise in your inbox. Go check out the April 4 post to see what you won!!
That's all, crafters. Don't forget to leave a comment today and for the rest of the celebration. I have lots of prizes to give away! LOL

Never More...

It's overcast today, and I feel in tune to the weather. So I created a darker project than I usually do. I am having so much fun with my backgrounds from the Doll House and my images from Ike's Art. This is a mixed media canvas, done both digitally and with paper, ink and whatever happened to be lying on my craft table.

The image is Poe Bust from Ike's Art. I placed it digitally on a background paper by artist Marta Vaneck called Scene Papers #03. I cut out the window and added a piece of some Tim Hotlz collage paper. I inked and embossed the extra raven from a set from QKD. The quote is of course from the poem The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. Other patterned papers used are from Close to my Heart.I painted the foam core base a fire engine red and wiped gently for a textured look, although my papers almost covered it all up!

I sprinkled on some flowers, jewels, bow and brad, and was compelled to add a feather (from a stranger, tap-tap-tapping on my own window sill, perhaps?).

My craftiness knows very few bounds. I like  to make cards, layouts and ATCs, and dabble in water colors and mixed media and altered art. In celebration of my Birthday Blowout Blog Candy games, I'd like to ask you today:

What do you dabble in? What have you not tried yet but would like to? Leave me a comment about your craftiness for today's prize package. And as always, have fun crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Quoth the Raven - Tic Tac Poe (Flowers, Poe & Feather)

Craft My Life challenges - Wings
Love to Scrap challenges - Stripes or Dots
Ike's World challenges - Things with Wings
Try It on Tuesdays - They Who Have Wings

Just Kidding

You know, for a crafter who doesn't feel comfortable with a purple color palette, I am creating an awful lot of cards these days using same color. I think it's because I have a monster by its tail-meaning I am trying hard to clean out my stash of papers, and I just happen to file my leftovers by color. I pulled a piece of purple out a week ago and it's still on my desk.

Anyway, today is Wednesday, April 8, and we are halfway into my Birthday Blowout celebration. It's time I called some winners!

First of all, everyone who wishes me a Happy Birthday on my initial party post (HERE) will receive the awesome digi image from Ike's Art that she made for my celebration. I m leaving that post open to newcomers to add their wishes before the end of the party, April 15.
And of course, every Follower will receive the lovely Birthday Balloon Paper from Decosse's Dyanmite Doodles.
The winner of the 100 FOLLOWER goodie bag prize is:  Linda Weber!! The Random.org snapshot of the pull is on the poSt HERE.

Congrats to you, and thank you all for your support!! More prizes to follow. I have a closet full! LOL
My card today features a sweet sexy image from Bugaboo called Sassy Birthday 2, colored with my trusty Copics. I added a few handmade flowers to coordinate with the flower patterns in my papers. I printed up the sentiment and punched it out, and placed the second half of it on the inside.

Challenges I am Entering:

Bugaboo - April Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - J is for Just Kidding
Creative Card Crew - Handmade Flowers
Fan-tastic Tuesday challenges - AG w/Twist: Die or Punch
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Let the Sun In!

Rise and shine, crafters! I have a mixed media project to "shed some light" on my Birthday Blowout Blog Candy today. For those of you just joining me, from April 1 through April 15, I am celebrating another trip around the sun by thanking all the crafters whose art I have admired and been inspired by. I'm doing that by offering some awesome prizes and blog candy throughout those two weeks, and you can go back to the very first post to "catch up."
All I ask is that you are or become a Follower of my blog, display my Party badge in your sidebar, and if a question is asked that day, that you answer it. I may ask you your preferences in technique, or maybe to check out a sponsor's store for your favorite image or paper.
So today I decided it would be fun to try a new technique. One should never be averse to stretching out of our comfort zones. Betty from Simply Betty created a YouTube video of a project using melted crayons. Not the drippy ones on canvas, but ones you cut into small shavings and add to a surface to give it new color and texture. You can click HERE to view it.
I started with broken crayons (slated for the trash can at the school I work at) in various shades of yellow, orange and pink. Do you see that off-white sun shape next to the foil? I got that sorry looking piece of acrylic from a Goodwill Store for 49 cents! It originally had a mirror in it, but hubby dropped it on the way into the house! Silly man, he was going to throw it away (gasp)! I let hi clean up the broken glass and remove any leftover from the base, and locked myself in my craft room (mwa-ha-ha).

I shaved those outcast crayons with a manual pencil sharpener. After a base coat of yellow acrylic paint, I used adhesive glue spray and dropped and mashed in my pink shavings. I heated the whole thing with my heat gun, then did the same for the yellow and orange. I think in doing the pink first, I lost a lot of it, and didn't have enough to add to it. Next time I will hire, I mean ask, my daughter to start shaving the crayons I need to use a couple days before I plan to start the project, using a hand sharpener took some time!
After I got the melty, textured look I wanted, I held a white crayon over my sun and let a few drops fall randomly for a little highlighting. Then I sprayed everything with homemade shimmer mist, giving it a subtle shine.
The most difficult part of this project was deciding what to place in the center. I found a great quote from the book Anne of Green Gables and misquoted it for my project, which reads, "Life is new every morning, and I feel as if I washed my very soul in that bath of earliest sunshine."
Once the quote was in place, I embellished with a ring of pearls around the sentiment and a ring of Stickles around the diameter of my sun. Too plain! So I added a butterfly and a flourish of pearls, then balanced my "canvas" with a flurry of white flowers. And I like it!!
I hope you do too, and you make that decision to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.
Now on to today's prize. I have a rubber stamp from Simply Betty from her Teen Scene collection that I want to give to someone today. So why don't you go check out her YouTube video (link above) and leave her some love?! Let me know you've done this, and you will be in the running for one amazing stamp!
Thanks all for stopping by !!

Challenges I am Entering:

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes (no cards/ATCs)
Recycle, Re-purpose & Re-invent - Anything Goes
2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes (no cards)
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Goes (mixed media)

Scrapbooker PhD - Focus on the Sentiment
Decorate to Celebrate #97 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations challenges - Anything Goes w/a Twist of Flowers
All Crafts challenges - Anything Goes (no cards)