PagesPat's Ponderings

Monday, October 31, 2016

Anything Goes at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge

Happy Halloween, crafters! Today I have two cards for you, as the Outlawz Greetings challenge has two awesome sponsors from which you can win free digis. My first card comes from Bugaboo
I am loving her new digital images, but to celebrate the holiday today, I used JJ Broomstick and made a spookalicious card. I really need to create for Halloween all year round, I love it so!
Challenges I am Entering:
My Time to Craft - Autumnal Colors or Halloween
Creative Fingers - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

The Outlawz second sponsor is Di's Digis

I got to play with a cute image called Shopping with Ellie to finish off my first acrylic album. I've been trying to use my stash, and all the papers and embellishments are leftovers from previous projects. That sentiment is one of my favorites.
Challenges I am Entering:
Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Crafting-with-Friends - Anything Goes
 Aud Sentiments - Cute & a Sentiment (what's cuter than a pink elephant, unless you've been drinking)
So that's my inspiration for you today. Don't forget to link up your card or project with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge! Have some safe fun today if you're celebrating!


Sunday, October 30, 2016

Going Digital!

I have been playing in Photoshop and am slowly but surely getting my photos off the computer and onto layouts (yay, me). Here is my latest page, featuring my newest grandson, Jonathan.
For this layout, I used the Never Forget Kit from Studio Basic Designs, as well as elements from Pixel Scrappers Pauline Thompson and Janet Scott.
Challenges I am Entering:

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Another Halloween Freebie!

Usually when Halloween rolls around, the weather goes from wonderful to cold and rainy. So I was surprised to hear that those of us Trick-or-Treating around Chicagoland will enjoy temps near 70 degrees and (dare I say it) no rain!!
So enjoying this outlook, I created one more Halloween paper to offer my crafty followers for Halloween. This free paper is 12 inches by 12 inches (3600 pixels x 3600 pixels) in jpg format and published at 300 dpi. Credits include resources from Pixel Scrapper Sheila Reed. Regarding TOU, please credit me if you use my paper. Since I don’t have a store, please use: Copyright 2016 Pat Martin, http://patacakespages.blogspot.com Thank you!
As always, leaving a little love is much appreciated.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Animal Antics at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge and a Halloween Freebie From Me to You

This week's challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings is all about Animals, and has not one but TWO sponsors from whom participants can win prizes, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.

AND
Crafty Sentiments
My card above uses some goodies from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles: Kitty Curiosity Brown Patterned Paper, Grungy Christmas Red Textured Paper, Colors of the Rainbow Wine Textured Paper, Taste of Summer Floral 1, Mommie Dearest Button 1. I decided to let the sweet kitty on the paper take the stage, using a sentiment to bring it to life on my card. By the way, I am severely allergic to cats, so I can only enjoy them when they're on paper (yes, pity me). On a good note, I am less allergic to dogs, and a happy owner of a Silkie Terrier (no fur, just hair) named Wilson.
The card below uses an image from Crafty Sentiments called Couples.
I created an anniversary card for our neighbors. Like hubby and myself, they have a Fall anniversary.
You have a week to create a project using animals prominently. Don't forget to use a sentient or greeting. After all, that's the name of the challenge! LOL Whatever you create, have fun!

Here is another Halloween Paper I created. Resources include Pixel Scrappers: Janet Scott’s Plastic Spider Toy & Toolbox Calendar Template #182; Elif Sahin’s Bootiful Googly Eyes Up & Left; Brooke Gazarek’s Skeleton; Melo Vrijhof’s Jane Torn Paper Lace Stacked Frame (pixelscrapper.com)

Challenges I am Entering:
(Anything Goes)

(Themed)
The Crazy Challenge - Cozy (I am always cozy snuggling with my husband)

Monday, October 17, 2016

Girl Power at Ike's World Challenge Blog

What an empowering month this is for women everywhere. To celebrate, the challenge this fortnight at Ike's World Challenge blog is Girl Power. Whether you are or know someone who fought breast cancer; whether you own your own business or work alongside others; whether you're married, single or in a relationship; we are women, hear us ROAR!
Empowering women, however, needs to start when girls are young. Now our daughters and granddaughters face cyber-bullying and body-shaming that, when done through the internet, reaches well past the school she attends or the community in which she lives. This issue was the inspiration for my mixed media canvas today. Each and every one of us is unique. We each have value in this world, and should not be judged by how we look.
I used an Ike's Art image called "Do Your Thing." Using patterned papers, acrylic pint and ink to build my background, I colored my image with Copics and chose the sentiment to make my point that everyone has faults. Nobody is perfect, and you know what they say, "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
The challenge has one more week to it, so let's get crafty. And don't forget to link up your project at Ike's World Challenge blog for your chance to win free digis! See you there!
Challenges I am Entering:
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
Your Next Stamp - Sketch and/or color inspiration

Fussy & Fancy - Bingo Grid


Finding Friends on the Path of Positivity

This month at the Path of Positivity Challenge blog, we are centering on Friendship. Have you visited the Path of Positivity yet? It is "... a different sort of challenge blog designed to inspire, nurture and provide support for the soul by creating a positive path to follow, one project or post at a time! ALL kinds of projects are welcome, as long as it is positive. We hope you will follow each month's theme, which is general enough to fit most projects. For instance, using this month's theme of Friendship, you can create a get well or thinking of you card; a sympathy card for a friend; even a handmade gift for your BFF.
I created a card this time around to remind you that not all friends walk on two legs. I have several friends whose lives are pretty solitary, except for that BFF who always knows when they're in need of a snuggle or a brisk walk. By the way, BFF here means Best Furry Friend!
My card uses an image from Sparkle N Sprinkle, this month's sponsor. The image is called Paw Prints. My card is for one of the friends I mentioned above. As a special bonus, there is a detachable bookmark with that fun-loving dog on it. My friend not only loves her dog, but also loves to read, so I think she'll love it, don't you?
Let's get to the details of the challenge:

SPONSOR & PRIZE INFORMATION: 
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:
  • A small selection of digital designer papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge time-frame.
  • One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

Challenges I am Entering:
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Critters & Creatures - Anything animal goes



Layer It Up at the Outlawz Greetings Challenge Blog

This week the team at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges wants to see layers on your card - at least 2+ layers. Angie's Cards & Digis. My image is called Fairy Sitting and I colored my fairy "garden camouflage" with my trusty Copics (after all, fairies are not easily detected).
I used cardstock, patterned paper and handmade paper for my layers, and embellished simply with a few sequins and jewels. If you can't read it, my sentiment says:
Garden fairies come at dawn,
Bless the flowers and then they're gone.
So what are you going to create this week?  I hope I've inspired you to create with some extra layers, and I hope YOU don't forget to link up your card or project with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenges for your chance to win 5 digital images from our sponsor, Angie's Cards & Digis.
Challenges I am Entering:
Cards in Envy - Purple & Green (I made these pastels)
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes w/optional Green & Gold)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Fifteen Days until Halloween

Halloween is getting closer - are you ready to trick-or-treat til you drop?! To get you in the mood, here's Wilson, our Silkie Terrier, in his Halloween costume:
I have another freebie paper for you to celebrate the season. Just click on the photo and then right click to save it to your computer. Please leave a little love before you go...
If you use the paper, please give credit where credit is due (Copyright 2016 Pat Martin, http://patacakespages.blogspot.com)
Challenges I am Entering:
Lasting Memories - Favorite Fall Activity



Anything Goes at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up Blog


Christmas is coming, the days are getting shorter! How is your stash of Christmas cards coming along? I have quite a healthy one myself, and am glad I've kept up all year creating them. This month at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up, there will be no optional theme--it is a completely Anything Goes challenge. So, as long as your card is Christmas-related, the sky is the limit! That means that EVERYONE who enters this month will have the chance to win this month's sponsored prize of three (3) images from the Crafty Sentiments Designs store!
Crafty Sentiments Designs started back in 2009 by myself Suzette the owner, Myself and my artists brings you cute whimsical and fun characters. We also carry our own brand of exclusive Rubber stamps, Digital stamps, Sentiments and cutting dies, perfect for all your scrapbooking and card making needs. There is always something new each month as we release new images. Crafty Sentiments Designs is now having live shows on Hochanda.TV a UK based craft channel. Visit the website at www.craftysentimentsdesigns.co.uk for lots of products.


Store:           www.craftysentimentsdesigns.co.uk

http://craftysentiments.blogspot.ca/
My card this month uses a digital  image called Harriet - Cold Christmas from Crafty Sentiments and Snowy Scene patterned paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' Nature of Christmas Paper Kit.

  • 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 An Eclectic Christmas 2, will also be offered up as a prize to one random winner.
http://decossesdynamitedoodles.blogspot.ca/

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Fall into a New Challenge at Scribbles Designs

Halloween Night
Spiders and goblins and bats, oh my!
Witches on broomsticks, tonight they fly.
A walk in the woods on Halloween night
Will send you off running and screaming in fright…
(If you make it out, that is, mwahahahaha……)
c Pat Martin


Autumn is finally here and with it comes my favorite holiday -- Halloween. The new challenge at Scribbles Designs is Fabulous Fall. Anything to do with the Fall season is up for grabs, so grab your earth tone colors, light up a pumpkin-scented candle and create for your chance to win free digis.
For my DT make, I created a hybrid card. I so love to create cards with paper and digital parts, I just can't stop playing with them! I colored the Scribbles Designs images (Spooky Cat, Pumpkin Stack & #8105 Tomb) with Copics before using Photoshop to place them into a scene. When I was satisfied with the card, I printed it out and added a button---just because! LOL
As Halloween approaches, there will be lots more holiday-themed projects I'll be featuring here, so I hope to see you again. Meanwhile, I can't wait to see what you create for the Fabulous Fall challenge over at Scribbles Designs. Happy crafting!
Card Details:
Images: Scribbles Designs Spooky Cat, Pumpkin Stack & #8105 Tomb
Digital elements: Krysty Scrap Designs' Boring evening Scenic Paper 11; PS Elif Sahins' Bootiful Wordart 1; PS Melo Vrijhof's Thankful Harvest Rope 2.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Let's Put the Scary into Halloween

Hey there, crafty peeps! Are you dressing up for Halloween? Every year, we join the "other in-laws" at their cabin/trailer near Starved Rock. It's a trailer community that celebrates Halloween by offering activities and events the weekend before Halloween.
There are at least a hundred kids who pass by, bags out and yelling Trick or Treat! Last year, I poked holes in a pumpkin and after coloring the tips of several suckers/lollipops, stuck them into the holes. So when those trick-or-treaters came by, they got to pull a sucker out of the pumpkin. If they pulled one with a colored tip, they got a full-sized candy bar. Boy, were we the hit of the weekend that year!!
I love this holiday, so to get my blogging friends in the Halloween mood, I have another digital paper that I've created. It's my new hobby, and I want to share it with you.

The paper below is 12 inches by 12 inches (3600 pixels x 3600 pixels) in jpg format and published at 300 dpi. I have used resources from DigiScrapCafe.com. Regarding TOU, please credit me if you use it. Since I don’t have a store, please use: Copyright 2016 Pat Martin, http://patacakespages.blogspot.com Thank you!

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Halloween Freebie!

I love Halloween! Put that love together with my budding interest in Adobe Photoshop and I have unlimited digital goodies for this holiday as well as others. I started creating my own sentiments and my newest venture is digital paper. And I want to share it with you! Just click on the image and save to your own computer. This free paper is 12 inches by 12 inches (3600 pixels x 3600 pixels) in jpg format and published at 300 dpi. I have used resources from Pixel Scrappers Tina Shaw and Sheila Reid. Regarding TOU, please credit me if you use it. Since I don’t have a store, please use: Copyright 2016 Pat Martin, http://patacakespages.blogspot.com Thank you!
And if you like the paper, please leave me some love...
 I will be offering more Halloween papers as the month progresses. Enjoy!

Monday, October 10, 2016

It's Christmas at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge

Okay, crafters, it's time to start those handmade Christmas cards, and just in time for the new challenge at the Outlawz Greetings challenge!! Anything Christmas Goes this week, and DT got to play with images from Rick St Dennis.
I love his images, and my goal is to collect all his Santa Claus images. This one is called Naptime Santa, and he inspired my sentiment. Santa does a whole years' worth of work in just one very long night, one very Hard Days' Night. The song kept buzzing around my brain (and out my mouth) until I realized I had to put it on my card!
You'd best start making those Christmas cards unless YOU want to spend a Hard Day's Night catching up on your stash. And don't forget to link up your card this week for a chance to win free digis from Rick St Dennis!!

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Tag! You're It at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Have youchecked out the new challenge at Ike's World Challenge blog? We're at the midway point in the TAG! YOU'RE IT challenge, and I created my DT make to inspire you. I colored up a digi image called Celebrate. You can get it at Ike's Art with or without the word Celebrate.
After designing my card and putting it together, I thought it looked a little lacking, so I added another tag after distressing it and adding faux stitches. I like this "double vision" look better, don't you? My girlfriend's birthday is coming up in October, and this tag will be attached to her present. Speaking of presents, I got a few craft kit goodies last week. I am stretching out of my comfort zone with leather working and wood projects. So far I've made a cool bracelet with charms out of leather, and have started to create a wooden pen.

You have one week left to create something for the Tag You're It challenge at Ike's World Challenge blog. I can't wait to see what you create!!

Monday, October 3, 2016

Let's Be Friends on the Path of Positivity

There's no better way to celebrate a new season than with old friends. This month at the Path of Positivity Challenge blog the theme is FRIENDSHIP, and Sparkle n Sprinkle is the very generous guest sponsor. 

I got to play with my favorite couple. The image is called Old Friends, which I colored up with Copics. Then I fussy-cut the image and played with it in Photoshop to create a hybrid card, using all these goodies:
Papers: Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles Twelve Days of Christmas Gold Star Patterned Paper 
& Heartland Blue Glitter Hearts Patterned Paper; Mischief Circus’ Holliewood Dramatic Backgrounds Paper 8.
Sentiment is a quote from Oprah Winfrey, printed in  Draughtsman font.  

Do you have a friend who will ride on the bus with you? Send her a card, and don't forget to link up your creation at the Path of Positivity challenge blog for your chance to win some awesome prizes:


SPONSOR & PRIZE INFORMATION: 
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:
  • A small selection of digital designer papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge time-frame.
  • One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.


'tis the Season to Use Orange and/or Black

It;s a color challenge this week at the Outlawz Monday Greetings, and those colors are perfect for the season - Orange and/or Black. The sponsor is Melonheadz
The image sheet I played with is called Bag of Bones. I used one of 12 images in the set!
I love Halloween, do you? Of course, I chose to create a Halloween card. You don't have to. All you have to do is create in Black and/or Orange. Just don't forget to link up to the Outlawz Greetings challenge for your chance to win prizes.
Happy crafting!
Challenges I am Entering:
Angies' Digital Stamps - Anything Goes w/optional Halloween
The Paper Players - Happy Halloween





Saturday, October 1, 2016

Into the Woods with Scribbles Designs

Hey, crafters, I'm here with a reminder that the newest challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog is now at the halfway point. The theme is Woodland Animals, and if you use a Scribbles Designs image you double your chances of winning. Don't have any? Check out the FREEBIES.
My card today is a hybrid, mixing paper-crafting with digital papers and elements. I printed and colored up a Scribbles Designs digi image called Bunny Bum (several times, as you can see). Using Photoshop Elements, I added my images to patterned paper and used a couple more papers and elements to finish off my card. Here are the details of my project:
Copic-colored Image: Scribbles Designs’ Bunny Bum; 
MischiefCircus’ Holliewood Dramatic Scenes Paper 1 & Pixel Scrapper KakleiDesigns Back to Nature Blog Train Patterned Paper 8;
Pixel Scrapper Tina Campanale's Dear Dad Border 1; 
Font: Cleaver’s Juvenia Shadowed.

What will you create for this Woodland Animal challenge? Whatever you make, don't forget to link it up with Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. Happy crafting!