Loving The New Squigglefly Challenge

This week Squigglefly offers its last challenge, one with Heart! Crafters have a few last days to purchase their fave images from their fave artsits before Squigglefly Designs closes its virtual doors after a fantastic run by multi-talented designers, artists and owners. I have grown as a card maker and an artist by being challenged each week, and am grateful for having had the opportunity to design using the wonderful images offered by Squigglefly in the last couple years.

Using a Squigglefly digi image, create a card or project with hearts or Love as the theme-it could be your image, embellishments, sentiment-whatever you LOVE to craft with!
I used a Squigglefly January new release called "Flyin' Foxy" by artist Fawn Palmer. My patterned paper is filled with ways to say "I love you," while my sentiment describes the way I feel about my hubby. Ric rac, pearls and a jeweled flourish embellish my card.
There are so many people whom I love that I want to gift with special cards this Valentine's Day. At first I thought it was too early to start making them, but after making my list, I decided I might barely have enough time!! How about you...do you have a short list of those who will receive cards from you this Valentine's Day?  Or, if your list is long like mine, why don't you come play in this week's Squigglefly Challenge? You might just win a free digi!

Going Dotty Over at Squigglefly

Today's card features a September release from Squigglefly Designs. It's called "Hurt Bunny Sling" by artist Fawn Palmer. It is too cute!!
Squigglefly's newest challenge is to use dots on your card. I cleverly framed my Copic-colored image with dotty patterned paper and tore the bottom edge before adhering to the patterned paper background. A couple butterflies and a whimsical snail embellish my card.
Have you played in Squigglefly's challenges yet? You could win free digis every time you enter the weekly challenges when you use a Squigglefly image and follow the challenge guidelines. If you don't yet have a Squigglefly digital image to play with, check out their FREEBIES.
Meanwhile, have fun crafting!

Keep Calm and Carry a Cupcake

Keep calm and carry a Cupcake--at least that's what grandmother always said. But after Little Red took the shortcut through the woods, she heard the wolf howl and  lost her cool--and her cupcakes! Poor grandmother, will she ever see Little Red again?
Bet you can't guess what the new Squigglefly challenge is this week?! CUPCAKES!!
Use cupcakes in your image, patterned papers, embellishments, and don't forget to use a Squigglefly image! If you do that, link up your card or project and you're in the running for free digis!
I used a Squigglefly image called "Little Red" by the talented Fawn Palmer. I colored her with Copics, distressed her frame with some Tim Holtz ink, framed her again with cardstock, and popped her onto a paper doily.
Although this image comes with two (yes, TWO!) sentiments, I used a 3D sentiment sticker to go along with this week's theme. Patterned paper is from CTMH and I used a few teal-colored skittles for embellishments. My cupcakes come in the form of washi tape and my card is complete!
Now back to Little Red...
When she lost her cool, she ran off the path and straight into the arms of the big bad wolf. But never fear, her basket was full of yummy cupcakes. She shoved a handful of these delightful treats into the wolf's mouth and ran straight to grandmother's house, where she called animal control to take care of that hungry critter so he wouldn't bother Little Red again.  Last they heard he had been adopted by a nice family who owned a bakery and he was fat and happy!
Don't you love a happy ending?

Published Using Squigglefly Image

Doing the happy dance in my craft room! I was asked by Holly Young of Squigglefly to make a masculine card for the upcoming issue in Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine. My card is in issue #123 (page 54) which will be out in the newsstands on April 24th, 2014 in the UK (I don't know about in the US).
Anyway I made a step card using Squigglefly digi image Recycle Guy by talented artist Fawn Palmer. The image is a new April release and available HERE.

I separated the sentiment that comes with the image into three parts for the three "faces" of my card. Coloring my image with Copics, I fussy-cut him and popped him onto patterned paper. Embellishments include Skittles, arrow brad, ribbon bow and ink. This kind of card lets the recipient stand it up on desk or craft table, and has a lot of dimension.
This is my first publication in a printed magazine, and I feel so honored and blessed to be a DT member for Squigglefly. They have really pushed my creative buttons and helped me grow in my crafting and art. So, a big THANK YOU to Holly Young and all the talented artists whose digi images I adore!!
I would love to see some of your projects using Squigglefly images. This week the challenge at Squigglefly Challenge Blog is to use BUTTERFLIES. Now, my card doesn't show butterflies, but if you use an SQ image and butterflies, you have a chance to win free digi's!

Owl Always Love You

Today I don't have a card for you.  I have a lovely altered notebook that I created using a Squigglefly image and one of the sentiments that comes with it.  This cute image is called "Hooo Loves Ya" from artist Fawn Palmer, and it comes with not one, not two but FIVE sentiments!
I snagged a couple cute notebooks from the $1 bin at Michael's.  It already had the diecut white cover and the blue "under-cover" was so pretty that I used the same color for my image and sentiment (Copic B93).  I decided to fussy-cut my sentiment so it would fit where I wanted to place the words.
For embellishment, I added adhesive-backed pearls and doodled (and highlighted) with a white gel pen.  That's it!  Simple but very stylish.  So stylish, in fact, that my daughter, an owl-lover to the nth degree, now has possession of my altered notebook (with my blessing, of course).
This week's challenge over at Squigglefly is to use a Squigglefly image AND sentiment on your project.  And just like me, you don't have to make a card (although you go right ahead if you want to) LOL.

Stanley Scarecrow Has Stamina

Now that the weather has finally turned chilly, I'm really looking forward to the upcoming holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving.  So I was in the mood to make an autumn card.  I used a Squigglefly digi image called "Stanley Scarecrow" by artist Fawn Palmer. 

I colored the image with Copics and set him off with a little green at his feet.  My card base was made using leftover cardstock which had a negative cut of a pumpkin, in which I framed my card's message.

I used a shiny yellow button for the sun, and added some jeweled flourishes, butterflies, a bow and some freehand doodles to embellish my card.  Even the adhesive stitches at the top were found in my leftover stash container.  

As for my message, who has the most stamina in the Fall?  A scarecrow, of course!  All day and night in the fields with no complaints!! LOL

I'm entering my card in the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge this week,  The requirement is to use a pumpkin!!  If you haven't discovered the crafting social network yet, you should check it out for inspiration, resources and challenges!!

Down on the (Pumpkin) Farm

This city girl is no stranger to urban settings, airplanes flying constantly overhead and stop and go traffic.  But when Squigglefly announced this week's challenge, I was kerflummoxed!  The only farm I have ever been on or seen is the pumpkin farm I took my kids to just before Halloween.  And how could I make a card with a Down on the Farm theme if I didn't have farm papers, stickers nor an image to play with?!

THEN I checked out the design team cards on the challenge blog, and besides oohing and ahhing at the beautiful cards there, I also found some inspiration, too!

So move over, my country bumpkins, I made a card with frost upon my pumpkins.  Yes, I am quoting a country song.  I used to date a guy who always took me to a bar that played country songs and offered the biggest fattest dill pickles in a big old jar that I have ever seen--right smack on the bartop!

Anyway, I digress!  I printed this Squigglefly digi image and colored it with Copics.  It's called "Stanley Scarecrow" by artist Fawn Palmer.  I used a leftover piece of patterned paper that shows the clouds and sun.  I tore green cardstock and layered it to look like fields, and adhered my scarecrow with dimensional tape.  I added a bow of raffia to my card-it kind of looks like straw, right? LOL

Your turn to step up to the challenge.  Enter a card or project with your version of a down-on-the-farm theme for your chance to win a free digi!  Don't forget to use a Squigglefly image.  Click HERE for a freebie!

Hey Big Boy, I Got a Card for You

Our wedding anniversary is coming up in September-37 years!!  I can't believe we've made it this far.  I can't believe we haven't called it off, nor that we haven't killed each other.  So many of our friends are divorced.  Luckily, none of them have resorted to murder.

We've been through good times and bad; five moves throughout three states; arguments over home renovations, bringing up the kids and money; weddings, funerals, Baptisms, graduations, and loads of birthdays--together.

Our first date was at the Santa Cruz Beach and Amusement Park.  As far as I was concerned, the sun and sand weren't the only things HOT that day. This memory was the inspiration for my card featuring an August new release from Squigglefly.

Fawn Palmer is the talented artist of 50's Sunbather digi image, which comes with a sentiment that I didn't use on my card.  I used leftover papers from my stash, a pattern for the background, and some fussy-cutting for the border and sentiment frames.

I colored Fawn's image with my Copics, then fussy-cut her out and used dimensional tape to attach her to my card front.  I printed my own sentiment (to my hubby) from my computer onto transparency paper and cut and attached it all onto the flip flops.  I embellished with a few colored and shaped paper clips.

I'm hoping that this card will bring back that beach memory to my hubby, but I won't hold my breath.  He's not famous for his memory of dates, but then again, that's not why I married him.  And evidently, the reasons I did marry him are good enough, at least for the last 37 years!

I'm also hoping that my card inspires you to join in the Squigglefly Challenge.  This week's theme is Masculine card using a Squigglefly image.  Check out the inspiration at the blog, then go create your card for a chance to win free digis!!

A Passion for Purple

Do you have a passion for purple?  If you do, it's your lucky week!  The new Squigglefly Challenge this week is to use purple passionately, along with a Squigglefly digi.!!

I colored this cutie-pie of a digi image with my purple Copics.  The image is called Baby Upside Down by the very talented Fawn Palmer.

After coloring the image, I fussy-cut it and popped it onto a diecut lacy circle, cleverly inked with a coordinating purple.  the box, which will hold treats and serve as a favor for a baby shower,is from a leftover die cut.  It stands about 4 inches tall.

I inked all the edges with Tim Holtz Distress ink and adhered a border of lace on the top.  I wanted my image to pop, so the only embellishment I use on the front was a line of adhesive jewels.

The top of the favor box, however, is a different story!  I went all out with lots of purple flowers, since everyone will see the top while the favors are sitting on the table.

Here's a shot of my finished box.  I like this one, so I know that a table full of twenty or so of these favors, all sporting Fawn's digi image, will look fabulous!

You'll find all kinds of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing over at Squigglefly Challenge blog.  One random winner will get a free digi of her choice, so have fun with the color purple, and happy crafting!!

The Long and the Short of This Week's Squigglefly Challenge

Today I made a card from Squigglefly called "Baby Upside Down."  It's a new release this month from Fawn Palmer.

The challenge this week at Squigglefly Challenge Blog is to "make a card that uses something long and something short.  Could be a long piece of ribbon and short sentiment, a long card with a short image or short piece of designer paper."

As you can see, I decided to go with a l-o-n-g tall card.  It fits in a business letter envelope.  I again used up papers from my stash, plus a couple of stickers for embellishment.

Isn't that image adorable?  I know just the new mom to give this to this month!
The image comes with the sentiment you see here.  It reads: "a baby is sunshine, moonbeams and more, brightening your world as never before."

That is the perfect sentiment, don't you think?

So, how are you going to face this crafting challenge?  Wherever your muse takes you, make sure you use a Squigglefly image for your chance to win a free digi this week!!  And have fun!!

Live and Learn with a Squigglefly Challenge

Today I made a Spring card for the Squigglefly Challenge Blog, whose theme is SPRING!!  I used a new March release called "Over An Egg" by artist Fawn Palmer.  I love the image, but I tried a different coloring technique and I don't like it, so you'll probably see more than one card using this delightful Spring digi very soon.
I mistakenly put photo paper in my printer instead of cardstock, then thought I would still color and use it to try something different.  But the alcohol inks don't blend on the glossy texture, and it can smudge unless you wait longer than I am used to for cutting and handling purposes.
But the overall design of the card still rocks it I think.  I used a small piece of patterned paper for my inspiration, then added coordinating cardstock to frame the image and the pp.  The trim, rosettes and parls are all Michael's clearance items that I snagged for 50 cents a bag.  The black stitching is part of the pattern on the paper, and I punched the scallop design at the bottom with my CM punch system.
I think Robin's Egg Blue is my fave Spring color!  What's yours?
Whatever it is, get over to the Squigglefly Challenge Blog for your chance to win free digi's, and there are so many new ones from which to choose!!! If you don't have any Squigglefly digi images, pick up some FREEBIES.  Have fun, and happy crafting!

Recipe for a Squigglefly Card

This week the Squigglefly Challenge Blog is asking for players to use a recipe.  In crafting terms, a recipe gives you the ingredients that must be used on your project.  Their recipe calls for a circle, a button, a flower and a Squigglefly image.

I used the digi image Forget-Me-Not Fairy by artist Fawn Palmer, a February new release (woohoo!).  The card is a patterned card base left over from a previous project, which inspired the Copic coloring of my fairy.

I CIRCLE-cut my image to frame it before adhering it to the card base after using a brown marker to color the rim of the circle.

I covered the flower on the digi image with a flower-shaped BUTTON.  I added a bow out of the same ribbon I used under the FLOWERs on the bottom half of the card.

And there you have it, my recipe for a Squigglefly card and a cute birthday card to boot!  Now it's your turn to go to Squigglefly Challenge Blog for more inspiration.  Check out all the new releases for February and play in the CHALLENGE for a chance to win free digi's!!

Red and Green Equals Merry Christmas!

The new challenge on the Squigglefly Challenge Blog is to make a card or project using a Squigglefly digi image and the color combo of RED AND GREEN.  I decided to make a small Christmas gift box. 

 I started with a small paper mache box from Michaels on clearance when my local store closed down.  It maybe cost me ten cents!
I covered it with some Christmas patterned papers leftover from another project.  I attached a couple "Merry Christmas" sentimebnt stickers to the long edges of the lid.
Next I printed this newly released Squigglefly digi image from Fawn Palmer called Winter Owl.  Due to the small size of my box, I had to cut off part of the image.  On the inside, I printed up the sentiment that goes with the image: "Owl be Home for Christmas".

I have some apple red nail polish that I plan on placing in the box to give to my teen daughter.  It's already under the tree!  I love this cute winter owl, don't you?  I colored him with red and green holiday flair, instead of making him look "realistic".
Now it's your turn to pull out the red and green colors (like they aren't out already) and play in the Squigglefly Challenge this week.  Use a Squigglefly image (FREEBIE HERE) and you're in the drawing for a free digi!  Everyone likes free, right?  Have fun and happy crafting!

I'm So Thankful...

...for my life, my loves, my homes, my job, my five senses, my creativity...
AND the new Squigglefly Challenge!!  (You'll never guess what the new challenge is...wait for it...)
A THANKFUL THEME!!  (Bet you didn't see that one coming)

You can create a thank you card, a Thanksgiving card, or anything with a grateful theme.
One of November's newest digi releases from Squigglelfy mixes both the "giving thanks" theme with the Thanksgiving theme for one terrific image.  Our very talented Fawn Palmer is the artist of Happy Turket Day digi image from Squigglefly Designs.
I decided to go along with the Thanksgiving theme and create a feast for the eyes, in bold bright colors!  I used my Copics to color Fawn's image, then added a little Stickle here and a little Liquid Glass there for a little shine, especially on the pumpkins.  I actually printed up two images, then used just the larger pumpkin to add to my scene.
I found a leftover piece of Dasher patterned paper and distressed the edges.  Before adhering my image to the card, I fell into a feather frenzy for a fun feel (feeling funny using all those F's).  I glued the feathers under the image and slipped the pumpkin pie recipe sticker (Tim Holtz Idealogy Sticker Pad) and a bit of K&Co border in orange along the side.  Then had to staple a few snippets of ribbon and thought I had better quit before my card exploded!!
The girl in the image just looked like she was having a blast in her turkey costume, so I wanted to give my card that same fun feeling.  I hope you like it!  For more of Fawn's digi images, check out the Squigglefly Store.  And don'y forget to showcase the things for which you are grateful with a card!  Use a Squigglefly image and enter it in the challenge for a chance to win!
p.s.  One more thing to be grateful for:  the honor of being on the Squigglefly Design Team for another term!!  I am such a lucky duck (or should it be turkey, in line with the season?)!

Oldie but Goodie

Every Thanksgiving, I call a few select people and tell them how grateful I am that they are in my life.  Some people have been there for as far back as I can remember.  Others just made their appearance recently.  Regardless, they made a difference in my life, and I am grateful
This is the inspiration that helped me create this card today for the new Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  The challenge this week is to use an image that's been stored in your computer for a while, one that you used once or twice, but not recently.

I printed up an image called Patchwork Apple by artist Fawn Palmer.  I decided that my card should be cut in the shape of the apple image, so I adhered it onto red cardstock and cut around it.  That's when the fun began!  I used a mix of Copics and Spectrum Noir markers to bring my Patchwork Apple to life.  Once colored, I made it sparkle with sequins, glitter and jewels.  To give it the final Fall touch, I popped on a Harvest sentiment and tied a bit of fiber to the apple's stem.
I had fun "unearthing" an oldie but goodie, and I bet you will too!  If you use a Squigglefly image, go post it on the Squigglefly Challenge Blog for your chance to win!!

Squigglefly Sneak Peek in Teal, Pink & White

(Psst! Click here for the QKD Thirteen Days of Halloween Blog Hop.

What's new today?  Squigglefly has a new weekly challenge, and it's a color challenge! They want you to use the color combo of: TEAL, PINK & WHITE.  I love these challenges because I use up my leftover stash!  Do you know how I organize all those leftover pieces of paper?  I keep them in a file drawer.  Each folder holds all shades of a color.  When I play in a color challenge, I pull the folders with papers in colors I need for the challenge--easy peasy!!

Today I made an easel card for you, in order to show off not one but two great Squigglefly artists and a wonderful quote.  My card base is layered with two shades of teal and some pink cardstock.

Closed, the card showcases a sneak peek at Fawn Palmer's soon-to-be-released "Baby in a Tutu".  This digi comes with two images, a baby crawling toward the viewer, and crawling away from the viewer.  I can see a lot of fun card designs using both together!
I printed the image twice, coloring the entire image once, and coloring just the upper body of Baby on the second.  I adhered the second with dimensional tape.  She really does look like she's moving toward you!
I embellished the face of the front with some K & Co Borders in pink and teal and added a teal feather behind Baby because, well, babies are so fluffy!! LOL

When my card is standing up on its easel, the soon-to-be-released digi "Always Do Your Own Thing" by artist Lynne Stansbery is showcased.
Aren't these little girls too precious?!  They look just like the girls in my daughter's ballet class (the one hanging upside down would be her cousin, Shenandoah)!  I used the same borders here too, cutting out the biggest butterfly from a leftover piece of it.

I decided to give the second digi image a dreamlike quality with torn edges because of the quote I snagged off of quotegarden.com.  It reads: "God gives us dreams a size too big so we can grow into them".
Which dreams have you grown into?  Do you ever dream of winning free digi's?  You have a chance this week with Squigglefly's color challenge--one random player who uses a Squigglefly digi image will win free digi's!  So strap on your dancing shoes and jete over to the their Challenge Blog for your turn in the spotlight!!
SNEAK PEEK BLOG HOP COMING OCTOBER 5!!  Want a sneak peek at the new releases??  Check out the Squigglefly Blog on October 5 for some fun, inspiration, and a chance to WIN 5 free digi's!!

You Are the Wind Beneath my Wings

You have to love the sheer simplicity of a monochromatic palette.  This week Squigglefly offers crafters a challenge in just that--make a card with a monochromatic color scheme and use a Squigglefly digi image.  Everyone who plays gets a chance to win free digi's!

So here's my card, using several lovely shades of Pink!  And a bonus perk--it's all leftover from other projects!!  There's some DCWV Luxury patterned paper, K&Co sentiment sticker, even a feather!  The flowers is a handmade that I stickled for extra glitz and the pink frosting border (it does look like cake frosting, doesn't it?) was leftover from a clearance aisle purchase.

The only thing "new" on my card is my Squigglefly image.  This is a cute digi from artist Fawn Palmer called Fairy Pig.  I colored her with my Copics, using just two markers for her body, RV11 and RV00 (and a little green for the leaves in her flower barette).

It's your turn to play!  Have fun with just one color.  Remember, using one color opens up all kinds of possibilities when you think of all the different shades you can get with that one color!!