Life is a Phantasi at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenges

Welcome to the Outlawz Monday Greetings new challenge. This week crafters are asked to create using a new technique. The guest sponsor this week is Digi Stamps 4 Joy, whose digital image, Phantasi 7 is showcased on my card today. Isn't she lovely?
My new technique is using some fancy die-cuts I colored with Copics to frame my card. Usually I stick to my Nestabilities dies that don't take twenty minutes to get out of the dies and trim them. But it does look nice on my card. LOL
Inspired by the feathers in her hair, I embellished my card with feathers, and added a line of pearls as well. I created this card for my granddaughter's graduation, and she loved it! Of course, it came with an altered container topped with a grad cap which, when pulled off the top of the container, was followed by a number of one dollar bills taped end to end. It presented an almost endless ticker tape of money, so who wouldn't like that?!
So what technique have you been wanting to try? Do it this week and show us your project. Just link  up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge for your chance to win digi images from our sponsor, Digi Stamps 4 Joy.

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!

Life Is a Beach

Traditionally, I send out New Year's cards the whole month of January. So today's project is another New Year card using a digi image from Digi Stamps 4 Joy. They happen to be the guest sponsor for the Outlaw Monday Greetings challenge this week.

This week's theme is to use two or more "inchies" on your project (inchies are 1 inch squares added to the project - they can be part of the background, the image or used as embellishments). DS4J is offering a prize of $10 worth of digital stamps from their store for one lucky winner.

I decided to create another card using a two-part, tongue-in-cheek humor (my favorite kind of card). So while the front of my card uses a well-known quote, the inside of my card...

...continues the quote with a qualifier. Come on, wouldn't you love to own a home on beach front property? LOL Of course, to bring it back to the reason for my card, I added New Year greetings as well. My embellishments are an assortment of die-cuts, stickers and jewels.

Do you send out Christmas cards? Or do you wait until January to start the year off with news of the past year and hopes for the coming year? Whatever you make, try to use Inchies on your project for your chance to win that gift certificate to the Digi Stamps 4 Joy Store. Good luck, crafters, and have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Classy Cards n Such - Bright Colors

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Daring Cardmakers - Inspiration Photo

Skipping Along the Path of Positivity with Gratitude

Have you visited the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog yet? It is an inspiring and positive experience for all who go there. It is a place where you can come to see projects or posts that provide help, hope, courage, love, forgiveness, peace, motivation, encouragement, etc. A place to come especially on those days when the woes of the world just seem too much to bear.
I happened to love the blog so much that I begged Lisa, the owner to put me on her Design Team. I am happy to report that I have been designing for her blog for almost a year now, and I still love the inspiration I get from it.
This month the challenge theme is Gratitude. It is not enough to feel thankful for something. It is imperative to show your appreciation--that's what gratitude is all about. It's a feel-good attitude that gifts both the giver and the recipient with worth and inspires pride and joy in all. It's what makes life worth living, knowing that the things you do for others makes a difference, however large or small. It's what makes the world continue to go 'round.
This month's guest sponsor is Digi Stamps 4 Joy. 

I am using a DS4J image called "Owl Always Love You." I colored it with Copics and then fussy-cut my image to pop onto a stair-step card. I love this kind of card as I have three card "fronts" with which to play and embellish.
Above is a frontal view of my card. It makes a nice presentation just the way it lays. There's definition and dimension. You see the DS4J image as the focal point, with my sentiment just under the branches. You see the background, with the silhouette of the tree, and a pop of Fall color behind the owls.

Here you see the skinny front where I had my way with my Autumn-themed leftovers. It was difficult to stop piling them on! LOL
Now for the best part: in addition to coming away from the Path of Positivity blog with renewed hope and positive vibes, if you share your positive projects with a theme of Gratitude, the blog offers some lovely prizes:

A prize package of $10 worth of images, from DigiStamps4Joy, our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

• Three digital images from Ike's Art for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital Stamps for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:
-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:
DigiStamps 4 Joy - Anything Goes

Another Christmas Card Today

Today I made a Christmas card for the Digi Stamps 4 Joy progressive Christmas card challenge. I received a lovely DS4J image called Santa's Helper. I colored the image with Copics, then fussy-cut her out and popped her onto DCWV patterned paper. She's waiting for her Christmas Eve ride with the red man, and has her bag packed and ready to roll. I added some Stickles to give my snow shimmer. I added some diecut snowmen and the sentiment, "Wishing you sacks of fun this holiday season."
I really like this challenge, as it only requires one card a month, and if you participate in the challenge, you receive your next image free. So if you want a headstart on getting your Christmas cards finished well in time for the holidays, go check out the DS4J Progressive Christmas card challenge.

Christmas in July

I have a very good start on my Christmas cards for December, and I owe it all to the DigiStamps4Joy Progressive Christmas Card Challenge and this month's Christmas in July challenge over at SBP Challenge Blog.
Today used FREEBIES (don't you love freebies?!). My image, called "Irresistable Bling"  was given to me by DS4J just for joining in their progressive challenge last month! You get a free image each month you link up your card with them using their last image given out.
My paper is another free giveaway from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles offered as incentive to create for the SBP challenge. DDD is this month's sponsor and she's giving away some great digital papers, sentiments and embellishments to FOUR lucky participants!
So after I printed out the paper and created my card base, I printed out my image and colored it with Copics. Aren't those mischievious cats cute?! My sentiment is vellum from Daisy D's and I used some leftover rub-ons to frame the words, then colored in just the holly berries to coordinate with the colors in my tree as well as the baker's twine I used to embellish my card.
Want to get a headstart with your Christmas cards? Join in the SBP Christmas in July challenge through July 14 for some great prizes! Don't forget to check out the DS4J progressive Christmas card challenge, too!

DS4J Progressive Christmas Card Challenge

Today I made a Christmas card for the Digi Stamps 4 Joy Christmas card challenge. I received a lovely image created by Margy called Snow Globe.
I decided to create an easel card. I colored the image with Copics and embellished with homemade SoftSnow (kind of like Flower Soft). I covered my card base with pine needle patterned paper from DCWV.
I added a sprig of Christmas flowers (it even has jingle bells) made by my talented friend Shannon. A metal charm holds the card front in place. You can't read it in the photo, but the round silver brad reads, "Santa Rocks!"
I really like this challenge, as it only requires one card a month. Also, if you participate in the challenge, you receive your next image free. So if you have a hankering to get some Christmas cards finished well in time for the holidays, go check out the DS4J Progressive Christmas card challenge.

Creating for Christmas

I love challenges that help you grow in your art, teach you new techniques, and help you build your stash of cards for the holidays. The Digi Stamps 4 Joy monthly Christmas Card does just that, and this is my third Christmas card for the upcoming holiday.
I received this image called "King 1-Time to Go" just for playing in last month's challenge. I colored it with Copics and placed it on a background of DCWV holiday patterned papers. The tree s were part of a diecut border I had cut, while the bow and start were leftovers in my Christmas stash. The sentiment is from a SU set.
There are less than 230 days until Christmas, so why not get a headstart on your card making by joining in the challenge at DS4J!

You Must Be Very Wise!

“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”

― Oprah Winfrey

This is a very clever way of saying that wisdom comes with experience and age. Most people gather experience (wounds) as they grow and mature, always confronting, evaluating and learning from each year by year (licking their wounds). So I thought this quote very appropriate for my card.  It’s a humorous birthday card, with the sentiment on the front reading: “Wisdom comes with old age…”

On the inside, it reads: “You must be VERY wise!”

I know the perfect person to whom I will give this card! And being somewhat wise (and a good friend) he will smile and laugh.

My card uses an image from Digi Stamps4 Joy.  It’s called Gramps and is one of many that are endearingly funny…

I would have loved to give this to my dad. He was the one who told me that a person could be smart as a whip but a fool when it comes to life.  Wisdom, he said, is a merging of smarts, experience, understanding, and the ability to balance it all when faced with decision-making and action. And, he added, once the decision was made, the ability to follow through and accept the consequences. 

Even 20 years after his passing, I am still learning from his words, and feeling his love for me, my mom and my sisters.

I made my card for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog to herald a new challenge for the month of May. 

The MAY challenge theme of WISDOM runs from May 5 until June 1. Any project that reflects a positive spin on the subject of wisdom is welcome. Looking for a blog challenge that showcases your sewing/knitting/crocheting? Scrapbooking or card-making? Altered art or mixed media? Your creative writing/poetry? Everyone is invited to share with the Path of Positivity!

You may come back to vote for the Top Seven posts/projects chosen by the DT members from June 9 - June 16.

Prizes offered this month are:

 ·   Ten digital images from Creative Bug Digitals for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.

·     Three digital images from Ike's World for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

·     Five digital images from Digi Stamps 4 Joy, our guest sponsor this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

·     One digital designer paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.

·     One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles as well.

What are you waiting for?  It would be very WISE of you to link up your project showcasing WISDOM as soon as you can!
Now for other challenges I've entered:
Craft Your Passion - Show Us the Funny

Christmas Robin Decorates Another Challenge Card

Today I'm showing off my Christmas card for the month of April. I'm playing in the Digi Stamps 4 Joy monthly Christmas Card Challenge. Every time you play in the challenge, you get a free digi for the next month!!  It's a win-win partnership--you win a free dgii and you win at beating the clock to get all your cards made for next Christmas!
For this month's card, I used the DS4J digi called Christmas Robin and colored it with Copics. I colored it blue, thinking of the bluebird of happiness.  Christmas makes me happy, seeing the family gathered around the table together, laughing and sharing food, and watching the grandkids squirm with anticipation of presents to unwrap and sopngs to sing.
The patterned paper is from DCWV, the border from K & Co and the JOY sticker from the Dollar Tree. And that makes two cards to add to my collection for the holidays!!
Come play with your holiday craft supplies and link it up with the DS4J Christmas Card Monthly Challenge!

Progressive Christmas Card Challenge

 Today I discovered a Christmas card challenge over at Digi Stamps 4 Joy. Basically, you make a Christmas card for each month and link it with the blog and you will receive a digi paper/image with which to make the next month's challenge card. I received this delightful digi paper with all words Christmas-y and managed enough time to make two cards with the same sheet of patterned paper and embellishment pack that I found in my Christmas stash.  Both sport the DS4J paper printed ATC-sized.  The patterned papers are from the DCWV Christmas stack. The silhouette stickers are from Craft n Craftin.
My first card is horizontal, and the DS4J paper is framed with white cardstock. I added two reindeer stickers and then used a Fiskars snowflake border punch to cut out a few tiny snowflakes.

I made my second card on the vertical, choosing to add the border to the top of my card and framing my digi in black.  I used the Christmas tree sticker and added some leftover white snowflake brads to the border.
So I have a very good start to this year's Christmas card stash. And now I want you to check out that link and see all the other beautiful and festive cards, all made with the same DS4J digi. Don't be shy--come join us!!

Thoughtfulness Theme at Path of Positivity Challenge Blog this Month

Have you ever been waiting in the grocery line and let someone step ahead of you?

Have you ever taken a walk in your neighborhood and tossed a neighbor’s morning paper onto their front stoop?

Have you ever taken a few more minutes to clean snow off your co-worker’s car before you drive away in yours?

These are just a few of the many ways you would be showing your thoughtfulness for others.  Thoughtfulness is defined as giving consideration to others.  Opening the door for someone…checking on a neighbor…thanking the cashier…and the bagger.  If everyone just gave a little thoughtfulness to others once a day, what a wonderful world we would all live in!

My project today is a card for a friend.  She has not been having a good week and I thought that a pretty card might cheer her up.  It uses lovely images from Pickled Potpourri called "Today" and they come with several sentiments!  I love that the scenes are already framed, and that the flower and the butterfly extend past their frames.
Sometimes all it takes to show a little thoughtfulness is a simple card or note to show someone that you thought of them.  Very easy to do, and doesn't take any time at all!
This month the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog wants to see what you think about Thoughtfulness-show us with a project, or tell us in a post.  The challenge runs from March 3 through April 6.  Blog sponsors and prizes are:

Ten digital images from Creative Bug Digitals for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.

 Three digital images from Ike's World for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

$7 gift certificate from PICKLED POTPOURRI, our Guest Sponsor, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

 One digital designer paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.
  One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles as well.

"And So Shines a Good Deed...

...in a weary world."  This quote comes from the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory movie starring Gene Wilder.  The scene is in Wonka's office when he denies Charlie his lifetime supply of chocolates.  Although poor, Charlie has a good and generous soul, and places Wonka's secret invention, an everlasting gobstopper, on Wonka's desk instead of selling it to his competition.

This movie quote was the inspiration for my tea candle lamp that I altered with "Cupcakes Galore", a Digi Stamps 4 Joy image.  I got to play with this image as a DT member for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog, as DS4J is their sponsor this month.

Here is what the full image looks like:

I love working with digital images.  You can do so much with them for whatever project you can dream up.  Today I printed my image twice and just used the three full cupcakes that are front and center.  Then I fussy cut them out and used them to alter a mini hurricane lamp.  I adhered a thin strip of leftover patterned paper to my base, and added some adhesive-backed lace from Recollections and a bit of bright pink ribbon for borders.  Next I threw on the bling, with teal jewels in between my cupcake images, and a line of adhesive-backed pearls from the Paper Studio at the top of my glass.

My daughter loves tea light candles, and she loves cupcakes, and she lights the world with her generosity.  So my mini lamp has made its home in her bedroom.

This month's challenge at the Path of Positivity challenge blog is GENEROSITY.  If you've a mind to share a project or post on this theme, please share with us!
The sponsors and prizes for this challenge are:

 ·   Ten digital images from Creative Bug Digitals for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.

·     Three digital images from Ike's World for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

·     Five digital images from Digi Stamps 4 Joy, our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

·     One digital designer paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.

·     One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles as well.

If You Can't Feed the World, Just Feed One

Happy New Year, crafters!  I am starting the year with a wonderful gift.  I am now a DT member for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog, a place where you can go to see projects or posts that provide help, hope, courage, love, forgiveness, peace, motivation, encouragement, etc. It is a place to come especially on those days when the woes of the world just seem too much to bear. 
This is my first post as a POP team member and and I want to introduce this month's theme of Generosity with a story.

When my kids were small, I used to take them to the local grocery store and give them $5 to spend on food to be donated to a local food pantry. I warned them that I had the option to trade out their choices with something I thought would be nicer, and they would have to eat whatever they had chosen but been traded (I know, I'm sneaky that way). So they would spend twice the time I planned at the store choosing their food donations, but we all left happier for knowing that families somewhere would enjoy the goodies we gave.
I (secretly) was also giving my kids a lesson in generosity. Generosity is not a quality that people are born with but that must be learned.  What better teachers than parents to give children their lessons in generosity?  So when you give, whether it be money, time, even a smile, do it in front of your children so they will pick up on your good habits, kind of like that saying "Do what I do, not just what I say."  Or did I misquote?! LOL
For my easel card, I used a digi image called "Cupcakes Galore" from this month's POP sponsor, Digi Stamps 4 Joy.  I printed the image three times, twice at one size and once at a slightly larger size. (There was something wrong with my printer and the image kept spitting out in red, so I just went with it)  I colored my images with my trusty Copics, then fussy-cut the first in its entirety,and the second just the cupcakes that appeared closet to the eye, which ended up being the top cupcake, and the middle three on the next two steps.  I used dimensional tape to adhere my layers.  I colored just the top cupcake from my largest image to use on the bottom/inside base of my card.
The patterned paper is from DCWV "The Colorful Life" Stack.  I embellished with jewels from The Paper Studio.

When the card is closed, you can see the bit of lace, ribbon roses and washi tape that I used for embellishments as well.
I used a quote from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  It defines generosity so well, because often people think that to be generous you have to have a lot to be able to give it away. But just think: If you gave just enough to feed one person, you've made a positive difference in that one person's life.  Now what if we all made that small but significant gesture of generosity? Can you see the domino effect building from it? Wouldn't the world be a better place for your one small act?
I bet you're wondering about the challenge, huh? 
Anything that you'd like to share of a positive and inspirational nature that follows the monthly theme, is acceptable!  The challenge runs from January 6 for about a month.  A top seven will be chosen by the entire Design Team (DT) and will be posted in a separate post. 

The sponsors and prizes for this challenge are:

 ·   Ten digital images from Creative Bug Digitals for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.

·     Three digital images from Ike's World for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

·     Five digital images from Digi Stamps 4 Joy, our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

·     One digital designer paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.

·     One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles as well.

I Hope you will play along this month, so link your GENEROSITY creations to Path of Positivity Challenge #10.