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

Ike's World Challenge Blog Getting a Little Sketchy

It's a SKETCH challenge over at Ike's World Challenge Blog!

I'll tell you a little secret- - - I don't really like sketch challenges. So saying, I challenged myself to create a card for my DT make using the sketch offered at Ike's World Challenge blog. That is the nature of challenges, isn't it?!

I think I did fairly well following the sketch. A crafter can position the sketch anyway he or she wants, so I flipped it, also flipping my oval-shaped image. It's called New baby and I have used it several times since getting it. I've created cards and canvases with this image.
I also added some embellishments not in the sketch, but the main focal points are obvious. So now I don't "not" like sketch challenges, but I prefer ones that give a person free rein on the placement of elements on her cards.  How do you feel about sketch challenges?
My card is for my BFF, who has become a grandma for the first time. Her grandson, Brady, is the cutest, blondest baby! When I see my friend holding him, she sparkles with unconditional love for this new member of her family. Now we have one more thing in common!
Whether you like or dislike Sketch challenges, let's see what YOU come up with for this fortnight's challenge over at Ike's World Challenge blog!

My Favorite Kind of Challenge at the Outlawz Greetings Challenges

It's the last Monday of the month, which means ANYTHING GOES is the theme at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge. Kitty Bee Designs is this week's sponsor, and I created my card using a digital image called Best Bun.
My card is all about friendship today, inspired by the many many times my BFF and I sat in front of fireworks, the lake, a garden, etc., It's so relaxing to sit with a friend, knowing that you will never be alone, even when she is far away. That's how I feel about my soul sister, Janie. She and I go back to college days.
I drew and colored my card face with a mix of Copics, colored pencils and white gel pen. After framing my Copic-colored image with cardstock, I added siimple embellishments and my sentiment.
The inside says it all:

What will you create this week when it's Anything Goes? Just don't forget to link up for your chance to win 3 digi images from our sponsor, Kitty Bee Designs.

  Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Cardmakers - Summer

4 Crafty Chicks Challenges Has All That Glitters

Today brings a new GDT make for 4 Crafty Chicks challenge blog. The theme is "All that Glitters" and I created a hybrid card. A hybrid card is the merging of digital and paper crafting. My paper crafting uses a digital image from Bugaboo called Dottie 2-Step, coloring her with Copics. I also printed out my sentiment. After adhering my image onto digital paper, I used Photoshop to complete my card. The details are below:

Copic-colored Image: Bugaboo’s Dottie 2-Step

Papers: Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles Grungy Christmas Textured Paper Kit, Red, & Glitterati Paper Kit, Gold; Bokeh Solid Color Set 1, Blue; Pixel Scrapper Marisa Lerin’s “Yesteryear” Paper 02

Sentiment: My Mind’s Eye Lil Cowpoke cardstock quote

Font: Rosewood Standard

Digital Elements: DeeDee’s Digis’”Happy Trails” stamp set- Wagon Wheel & Hat on Cactus; Pixel Scrapper Melo Vrijhof’s “Thankful Harvest Elements- Rope 2; Pixel Scrapper Pauline Thompson’s Star Brad 7 & Bright & Beautiful Glitter Scatter 1

Do you "do" digital? Or 100% paper-crafting? Or like me, creating hybrid canvases and cards? Whatever you create, link up to 4 Crafty Chicks to show off your art! Happy crafting!

In the Good Old Summer Time at the Outlawz Greetings Challenges

Happy summer, crafters! For those in the northern hemisphere, that means sunny days and hot weather. This week at the Outlawz Monday greetings challenge, the theme is Summer Recreation. What do YOU do to keep cool and active?
This week's summer brings Lacy Sunshine to sponsor and inspire us. I colored up this pretty image called Sandy Boo - Collecting Seashells. Using Copics, I extended the beach from which she is gathering her shells. After popping her onto an embossed and inked card face, I embellished with twine and tiny colorful seashells. My sentiment says it all.
Do you play beach volleyball? Swim at the local pool? Play tennis or roller blade? Whatever you choose for recreation, let it inspire you to create something for this week's challenge at the Outlawz Greetings. Don't forget to keep hydrated as you craft! LOL

Challenges I am Entering:
Southern Ridge Trading Co. - Memories of Summer Mixed Media
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafting when We Can - Based on a Movie (Teen Beach Movie)
Eclecctic Ellapu - Life's a Beach
Cupcake Inspiration - Tropical

Christmas Blooms All Year Long

Flowers always seem to perk up a living space and Christmas flowers are no exception.  Christmas just doesn't feel like Christmas if there isn't a poinsettia, a wreath, some holly leaves and berries, or some pine boughs and pine cones scattered about. That's why this month the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up offers the theme of CHRISTMAS BLOOMS in their challenge.

I decided to go CAS with this acrylic Christmas card.

I colored a digital image from Robyn's Fetish called Prissy Poinsettia. Robyn's Fetish is the guest sponsor for this month's challenge.

In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, make sure that your card has a Christmas plant or flower somewhere in the design. Examples include: Holly and berries, laurel, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, wreath, etc. Whether you choose to feature the bloom as part of your image, within the papers or as part of your embellishments, it is completely up to you. However you display the blooms, please keep in mind though, that they should feature prominently. 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.

My card background is a patterned paper called Garlands from the Paper Kit Christmas Blooms from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. 

Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards and earn a free paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles 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 three images from Robyn’s Fetish Digital Stamps. 

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib. Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

Robyn’s Fetish Digital Stamps And More is happy to award 3 digital stamps of the winner’s choice to the winner of this challenge. If that isn't enough incentive to create a couple Christmas cards and link up at the 12 Months of Christmas blog, I don't know what is! Here's one last look at my acrylic Christmas card using Prissy Poinsettia:

Challenges I am Entering:

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes

ABC Christmas challenge - N is for No Rules

Crafty Creations - Clean & Simple

Cardz for Guys - Christmas in July

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots - Christmas in July

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Christmas Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenges - Anything Christmas Goes

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

Flowers are Blooming at 4 Crafty Chicks

Good morning, crafters! Time to show off my DT make as this month's GDT for 4 Crafty Chicks challenge blog. Today I created a Tic Tac Toe and storage box filled with flowers. I thought it would be perfect for this week's theme of FLOWERS. And it is perfect for my granddaughter, who crafts and loves to play Tic Tac Toe. What can I say, she's 8 years old.
I started with an empty box that I believe held a man's wallet and covered it with patterned paper on the sides and the drawer. I decided to recess the playing board, so built up a frame from layers of cardboard and covered it with green tissue paper. The face of my Tic Tac Toe board is covered with handmade paper.

Since the theme is FLOWERS, I loaded my frame with blooms, and my playing pieces are jeweled flower gems. Then I filled the drawers so my granddaughter can craft her little heart out.
Where will your Muse lead you this week? Whatever you make, link it up with 4 Crafty Chicks challenges. And as always, crafters, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes/no cards

Rhedd's Creative challenges - Anything Goes/no cards

Southern Girls - Flower frenzy

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

 While December 25th  is still a few months away, here in the States we celebrate Christmas in July because that's when the stores start selling ornaments, decorations and holiday lights. I kid you not, I went to Hobby Lobby and they were clearancing out their summer items to make room for their Christmas inventory!!
Well, Ike's World Challenge Blog has a new challenge this fortnight, and it is Christmas in July, crafters' style. Create a card, canvas, layout or other artsy project with Christmas in mind for your chance to win a gift certificate to Ike's Art Store.
I got to play with a digital image called Christmas Pixie. I love coloring her up in Christmas colors and decorating my cards with her. It's one of my favorite images! Did I mention that if you use an Ike's Art image, you get double chances of winning.AND Ike always offers a FREEBIE at the start of each new challenge. Why don't you check out the blog and double your chances of winning?!
Whatever you do this week, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Catch the Bug - Christmas in July Tuesday BINGO grid (I chose the bottom line going across)

Holly Jolly Christmas challenges - Inspired by a Song  ("Have a Holly Jolly Christmas")

Crafty Boots challenges - Christmas in July

Get Creative challenges - Celebrations

Doodle Pantry - Anything digital image Goes

Button, Button, the Outlawz Needs a Button

Happy Monday, crafters! It's a new week, and a new challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings, and Rick St Dennis is this week's guest sponsor. I got to play with this awesome digi image called Morning on Valhalla, featuring a favorite character of mine, Morning Goddess.

I snagged a metal art piece at my local thrift store and distressed it by sanding the edges and inking them. After coloring my image with Copics, I framed it with a paper doily before standing it up against the pole holding my sentiment. I re-colored the "O" in LOVE and framed it with a paper doily as well., adding a button to the center of the flower. I added some bunting on the base of my art, then threw some flowers at my Goddess' feet.
This year, hubby and I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary! I know, I can't believe it either! LOL I used my Pan pastels to color up the number 40 and hung it onto my piece with a couple more buttons. It's my anniversary present for him and I hope he likes it. (After 40 years, it gets mighty difficult to figure out what to get him)
I hope you check out Rick's Shop to see all the amazing images he has to offer. And don't forget to link up your card or project, using at least one button, of course, at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge.
Happy Crafting!

    Challenges I am Entering:

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes       

Naughty or Nice challenges - Anything Goes

Rhedd's Creative challenges - Anything Goes

Sisters of Craft challenges - Anything Goes

Crafting when We Can - Based on a Movie (The Honeymooners)

We Love2Create - Anything Creative/mixed media

A Taste of Summer Blog Hop EXTENDED!

Hello!  I'm popping in to let you know that the deadline to win the prizes offered up in the A Taste of Summer Blog Hop has been extended.  You now have until July 15th, at 11:55 p.m. EDT, to get your comments added and your name linked up if you want a chance to win the full kit and the 1 year subscription to the Through the Craft Room Door on-line crafting magazine.

Don't know what I'm talking about?  Click HERE to find the original post and read all about it.

Good luck to you all!

Guest Designer for 4 Crafty Chicks This Month!

Hey, crafters! During the month of July, I will be a GDT for 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge Blog! My first GDT project is a watercolor I created for their #306 Summer Challenge, which starts today.
While on vacation in May, I pulled my water color supplies and let myself be inspired by the view out our hotel window. The Muse hit me hard, so along with my painting, I also wrote a Haiku poem that describes my attitude during that sunny, sandy week. Haiku are difficult to write, as you only get 17 syllables with which to relay the message you wish readers to have. Most Haiku are about nature serious, but I like to slip in a little humor here and there.
I matted my canvas on the Paper Studio’s solid goldenrod cardstock. My poem  (copyright 2016 Pat Martin) was printed with LD Handwritten Greetings Font, matted with the Paper Studio’s teal cardstock. What's really cool is that I printed this up on glossy cardstock and made my friend a set of notecards for her summer birthday!
Now it's your turn to create with the theme of SUMMER. Don't forget to link up your card or project at 4 Crafty Chicks challenge blog by end of week. And tell them Pat sent you! LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Sasayuki Glitter - CAS Cards

Craft Rocket Challenges - Anything Goes

Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes

Celebrating with "A Taste of Summer" Blog Hop and Prizes

 Lisa D. from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles is this month's

Featured Artist in the Through The Craftroom Door Magazine.

She created a brand new digital kit to mark the occasion and asked several

of her crafting buddies to help out by creating samples for the July/August edition!

We've all come together to celebrate this event by bringing you a blog hop

featuring projects made with items from Lisa's brand new digital kit called...

 A TASTE OF SUMMER

 

If you are arriving here from Julie's blog, you are right on track!

If you are just starting, you can find a full list of all the hop stops at the bottom of this post.

To kick off the event, Lisa is providing a free summer themed

word art creation that you can find on her blog.

 Comment at EACH stop along the hop for your chance to win

the full digital kit as shown in the preview above.

One lucky person will also have the chance to win a

1 year subscription to the TTCRD Magazine!

Please be sure to head to Lisa's blog to read the full details

 on how to qualify for both of these prizes!

For another chance at winning the Floral Elements section of this kit...

 

Simply leave a comment on this post and be a follower of my blog!

You have until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 8th, to submit your

comments for a chance to win one of the above mentioned prizes.

For my stop along the hop, I am excited to share the project I created for the magazine.

Check it out:

I decided to create a two-page digital layout using Lisa's Sunburst patterned paper from "A Taste of Summer" Patterned Papers Kit. The sunny look of this paper was a great backdrop to my trip to Anaheim and Long Beach, California. 

AND the elements from her A Taste of Summer" General Elements kit perfectly delivered my message of sun, sand and surf.

I can't wait to scrapbook our family's most recent trip to South Padre Island, Texas, with the help of Lisa's "A Taste of Summer" papers and elements!

If you miss any of the stops along the way, here is the complete list. You are definitely going to want to check out what my fellow hoppers have in store for you:

LISA

SUSAN 

MARJI

PIPPA

HELEN

   

DONNA

KATRINA

SUZE

 

JULIE

PAT

Musically-Inclined at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenges

Greetings, crafters! A new challenge is starting today at the Outlawz Monday Greetings and the theme is Music. I  created a card for my true love--we'll be married 40 years in September, so I used the song Thousand Years sung by Christina Perri. You can listen to it HERE.
This week, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles sponsors the challenge, and I got to play with some patterned paper from Lisa's Familiar Refrain Patterned Paper Kit. I used a golden overlay from Krysty Designs before framing my card face with black cardstock. I used another Decosse paper from her A Grungy Christmas Textured Paper Kit to print out a couple lines from the song that inspired me, cutting it out and making it my focal point. A bit of lace and a charm were added as simple embellishments and mt card is finished.
I love plying with papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles so much that I made a second card.

This time I created a 100% digital canvas/card using the same patterned paper from Lisa Decosse along with images from Happy Trails, a digital set by Dee Anderson of Dee Dee's Digis and embellishments from the following Pixel Scrapper designers:

Melo Vrijhof’s Thankful Harvest Elements, Rope 2 and

 Pauline Thompson’s Star Brad 7

My sentiment includes a couple lines from an old camp song in Black Betty Font.

Another sponsor this week is Bloobel with its quirky and funny images. My card above showcases an image called Birdy in a Tree. Teal is my go-to color, so I tend to grab papers and embellishments that coordinate in the many shades of teal. This will go to one of the several young women who have been graduated this year.
Finally (yes, I have been busy!) I created a calendar page for my desktop calendar.

I colored up another Bloobel image, Flootiful, and paired her with 4th of July embellishments.

My daughter was born on the 4th of July, and for years she thought she was very special because there were parades, carnivals and fireworks for her birthday. She is very special, because she has grown up to be a caring, generous and intelligent young woman. Happy Birthday, Wendy!!

Challenges I am Entering:

Dream Valley Challenges - Colors of your flag (USA-red, white & blue)

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Marker POP challenges - Let's Celebrate

What's on your playlist? What will inspire you to create with the theme of music in mind this week? Whatever you create, don't forget to link up at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge for your chance to win! And as always, have FUN!

Sip & Savor the Iced Coffee at Scribbles Designs Challenges

Here we are at the midway of the Sip & Savor challenge at Scribbles Designs challenge blog. I don't know about you, but creating this card makes me thirsty! LOL
I colored up my Scribbles digi image, called Frappe, with my Copics. Before fussy-cutting my image, I created a canvas by superimposing a free clipart image of Albert Einstein onto pattern paper and printed it up. Then I popped my frappe onto my canvas and added my scientific formula for daily enjoyment.
Have you let your thirst inspire you for the Sip & Savor challenge yet? Don't forget to link up your project for a chance to win free digis!