Ike's World Challenge Blog is All at Sea

A new month brings a new challenge theme at Ike's World Challenge Blog. The optional theme this month is ALL AT SEA. When I think of summer, I'm reminded of summer camp. My favorite movie that highlights the antics of campers is Disney's Parent Trap. There's a scene where the twins go camping with their dad and their "future" mother-in-law", whom they can't stand. So one of the many tricks they play on her is to pull her airbed onto the lake and gently push her out on the water. Here's a little clip from YouTube.

This is what happened to my kitty. He fell asleep on land and woke up in the middle of the sea. I don't think he's a water cat. But no worries, I'm sure a passing boat will rescue her. At least there are plenty of fish in the sea for her to eat...

I love tearing paper, especially when I'm designing water for my cards. I used the smallest of my paper stash. The sentiment is a play on the words "You've got to be kidding me." I printed my cat, an Ike's Art image called Basket Case, twice, so that I could give my cat a little dimension by bringing her head to the front.

You've got all of August to create a project that incorporates the theme ALL AT SEA. Link up for your chance to win free digis from Ike's Art Store. Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

That's Crafty - Animal Antics

Paper Minutes - Scenes by the Sea

Show Us Your Pussies - Furry-thing Goes
Sunny Day - Anything ANIMAL Goes

Make It Masculine at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

I don't know why, but I don't have a lot of cards I can give to the men in my life. Honestly, I have more girlfriends and family members than guys, so that may be the reason, but I should still keep a few cards on hand. Sine I'm still building my stash of Thank You cards, I thought this Scribbles Designs image, called Hammer, would be perfect for the sentiment I am using.
Usually I embellish with flowers and flourishes and bows, so I had to scrounge around and came up with a few brads. I tore the paper  to give it rough edges, and  also doodled my own patterns on it to break up all that empty space (I can't call it white now,can I?).
Besides this gem of an image from the Scribbles Store, I printed Sharon Dewi Stolp's Bricks Paint Spray onto the sentiment (you can just barely see it). The fonts I used are Big Book & Due Date.
The challenge theme over at Scribbles Designs is MAKE IT MASCULINE, so you need  to feature a guy or gear your card toward guys if you want a chance to win free digis from the Scribbles Store.
Happy Crafting, and good luck!

The Path of Positivity Celebrates Shades of Blue

This month the Path of Positivity Blog welcomes the New Year with a new challenge; in fact, a new year of optional themes all centered around shades of different colors or sets of colors. For my DT card today, I created a digital card using papers and elements from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, one of two guest sponsors for the first challenge of 2018.

I used Fun Shape pp from Naturally Cool Papers 2 set and Blue Glitter paper from Glitterati Paper Kit, as well as Flower Brad from Naturally Cool Brads Set to create my digital card. The sentiment I chose is a great way to start out the new year, by "attacking each day with enthusiasm", don't you think? In fact, I think I'll print it out as a wall poster, too, to remind me to give it all I have each and every day.

If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that you are included in the draw for the prize for Most Inspirational. The challenge also asks you how this month's colour makes you feel, if you'd like to share that with them. What kinds of feelings does the colour BLUE evoke in you? You can write a sentence or two in the body of your post, write a sentence at the bottom of your post next to the link up for this challenge, or simply leave a comment on the main blog post if you'd like. 

Remember, in order to be considered eligible for this month's prizes, ALL creations must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging 
in some way. 
You don't need to follow the optional theme if you simply want to have a chance at the Random Draw prize of a $10 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs, the second guest sponsor this month. 

You only need to follow the theme if you want a chance to win an additional sponsored prize of the Naturally Cool Kit from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles, for the project chosen as Most Inspiring.

Here are the watermarks from the awesome kit from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles: 

Going Green at the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge blog

Hello, crafters! Welcome to a new challenge at the Outlawz Monday Greetings. This week's theme is Going Green - use something green on your project. Our generous sponsor this week is Moonflower Digistamps, whose image I used to create my card. She's called Gypsy Flower.

I decided to create an acrylic card. This is my second attempt. My first was just too "invisible." It was hard to photograph and brooked no embellishments at all. So I gave my card a cardstock base, adhering some leftover patterned paper to it. The pie e of acrylic is attached to a slight overlap of cardstock from the back, and I had to add a strip of the same to keep the front from sliding forward all the time it was open. I added a line of pearls to the strip.

I popped my image onto the acrylic face of my card, added a bow to her hair, and decided to place one butterfly onto this part of my card. I added a smaller butterfly to the inside, along with my sentiment. I finished off my card by adding a row of glittered brads and Gypsy Flower is ready for her close-up.

Now it's your turn to play with a "bit o' green." Create a project (don't forget a greeting or sentiment needs to be on the front of it) and ink up with the Outlawz Monday Greetings challenge for your chance to win digis from Moonflower Digistamps.

Challenges I am Entering:

ABC challenges - C is for Cute

Card and Scrap - Shabby Chic/Vintage 

Crafter's Cafe challenges - Inspired by a Song (Just the Way You Are-Bruno Mars)

Just Keep on Crafting - Anything Goes

Naughty or Nice challenges - At the Movies (nice-Romeo & Juliet)

Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes

The East Wind Blows into Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog

Can you believe that January is gone?! That was a fast month, and a cold one for us folks in the northern half of the world. Cold days means I stay in more, so I got to play in my craft room and create another page in my acrylic album.
I used an image called Aurora Love You from The East Wind. They are sponsoring Your Scrapbook Place challenge this month. I love to use non-traditional colors for hair, so I made mine pink and carried it into some of the embellishments on my acrylic page. The pink flowers are handmade, and I used a spellbinders die to frame Aurora using leftover patterned papers.
My album is nearly full. Have you worked with acrylic albums before? I have to keep reminding myself to check the back so I don't embellish myself into a corner by making it difficult to work with the back side of each page. So far, so good!
Your Scrapbook Place offers monthly challenges from the first to the end of each month, and are almost always Anything Goes. AND you get twice the chance to win prizes from the sponsor, The East Wind, if you yourself use an image from The East Wind!
Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting by Designs - Add a Flower
Moo-Mania & More - Use your Scraps
Sisterhood of Crafters - Love Letters

New Beginnings at Ike's World Challenge Blog

Every day is a new beginning, and this is especially true at Ike's World Challenge Blog, where a new challenge inaugurates a New year. New Beginnings is the challenge theme, and my inspiration came from this Ike's Art digi image called Crystal Ball, and the fact that most of us would like a tiny peek at what's ahead for us this year.
While 2015 ended on a sour note for me and my family, I am learning that the future is what you make of it. You need an optimistic outlook, a positive attitude, a keen eye for opportunities that pop up, courage to snatch those opportunities, and a grateful heart. With these as my weapons, I can just let go and Believe that Good things are on their Way, as my crystal ball shows us all.
I am also back to mixed media canvas. I haven't pulled out all the bells and whistles for a while, but it's a new year and I'm ready to begin again. My canvas is 7x7 inches, covered in patterned papers from my stash. The top layer is chalked,while the image is colored with Copics. I printed the sentiment onto transparency paper after chalking the misty innards of my future forecaster, and the year is created with stickers.
The rest is tchochki that I've collected throughout 2015. Broken jewelry, miscellaneous charms, leftover buttons and brads, even parts of a patterned card stock border. I love the freedom of mixed media, don't you? Have you ever tried it? You don't have to paint or Mod Podge a canvas - try making a card and throwing on embellishments that aren't standard crafting supplies.
Pinterest and YouTube are great places to inspire your new adventures. And link up with Ike's World Challenge blog this week with whatever card or project you decide to create. We'd love to see your art!

Challenges I am Entering:

Love to Scrap- New Beginnings

Our Crafty Corner - Anything Goes

2 Creative Chicks - ANything Goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Ringing in a New Challenge at Craft your Passion

Happy New Year, crafters! 2016 brings a new challenge to blog land at Craft your Passion challenge blog. Our sponsor this week is All Dressed Up.

I created a card using the digi image "A Cuddle Makes It All Better." Our family recently added a new member to our household. His name is Wilson. He is 7 years old and we got him from the Buddy Foundation, which rescues dogs from kill shelters. After his first vet visit, we were saddened to learn that he had Lyme Disease, but he's been on antibiotics for two weeks now and we can see a big difference.

Here he is enjoying a nap in his Christmas present, a new bed. He is a Silkie Terrier. He has been easy to train, and will sit, give us paw and stay pretty well. We're in the middle of training him to get in his crate, but we're still at the treat part of his training there. He doesn't often bark, but when he wants to get out for a walk, he lets us know!
Why am I going on about our new family member? My card was inspired by Wilson and I decided that since his cuddles make us all feel better, I would create a Get Well card. What inspires YOU to create? Let me know, as my muse has been spotty this new year, and I could use some new inspiration! In the meantime, have fun creating this week, and link up your project with Craft your Passion for your chance to win!!

BELIEVE in the Path of Positivity's Last Challenger of 2015

Welcome to the last challenge of 2015 at the Path of Positivity challenge blog!! It has been a wonderful year, filled with happiness, uniqueness, laughter, growth, serendipity, perseverance, opportunity, sharing, dedication, resiliency and gratefulness. The challenge themes have inspired cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages, altered art and mixed media projects. I am so blessed to be a part of the Design team!
This month's theme is "Believe." I believe that next year will be filled with just as much inspiration and creativity as 2015 has been. I also believe that the holiday season brings more chances to believe in a better future. So I created a card today that showcases my belief in a better world, with the sentiment, "Star light, Star bright, A wish for Peace on Earth tonight." Let's make it happen in 2016, shall we? I believe in us!!
This month we have TWO fabulous sponsors for our challenge:  Fresh Brewed Designs:

and Pickled Potpourri:

For my card today, I used a digi image from pickled Potpourri called Christmas Collage.

I used several papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles, one if the Path's regular sponsors (and why not, as Lisa of DDD is the owner of this fabulous blog). She has a paper kit called Glitterati that is so fun and sparkly and in several colors that I couldn't resist using it as my card base, framed with a paper from her 12 Months of Christmas paper pack. I also use papers from her Christmas Grunge pack, especially to frame all my images and sentiments. The pack comes in a variety of colors as well. The strip of patterned paper in dark teal of Santa's sled and reindeer is one from a new set called "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and is available here.

Before I go into the prize details, please check out Teresa, from Tickell Expressions.  Teresa has been a supporter of the Path of Positivity and plays along quite often, and is our Guest Design team member for December. Don;t forget to leave her a little love.

Here we go:

PRIZES:

•A $7 gift certificate from Pickled Potpourri Designs for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

•Three images from Fresh Brewed Designs for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

•One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

ALSO:

•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. 

So, crafters, what do you Believe?  Show us in a card, an art project, a photo, a layout or tell us in a post. And as always, have fun!!

The Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenge

I can't believe that the Outlawz Progressive Freebie challenge group has finished off its first year! Just 12 months ago, this group wrangled twelve wonderful sponsors to give away a digital image to every crafter who participated the previous month. The group must have given away images to hundreds of crafters around the world!!
Are you one of them? All you have to do is join the Outlawz Network and sign up to join the Progressive Freebie challenge group. And wait until you see who this coming year's sponsors are!
This month, we get to play with a cutie from All Dressed Up called "Happy Christmas Little Star."
I wanted a card I could easily mail so, while I loaded up my card with elements and embellishments, it still remains relatively flat. I started with a handmade flower made with torn pieces of newspaper, then inked and shimmer sprayed it. The Christmas tree is a die-cut, and the star is "glitterized". My border is made up of ribbon and lace.
My dainty little girl is colored with Copics and her wings have been doused in very fine glitter so she is ready to dance with happiness and then fly off should anyone interrupt her.
If you linked up a project with last month's free image, you will receive this one very soon. We love to see what you create. There are so many different styles and designs from just one image. It's very inspiring!
If you're a new player, just go to the All Dressed Up Etsy Shop and purchase her, then create ad link up with us at the Outlawz Progressive Freebie challenge. You'll receive next month's digi for free, and will continue to receive free digis as long as you create and link up with us.
And as always, crafters, have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

Pile It On #97 - Red & Green

Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes w/Twist of Christmas

Get Creative challenges - Holidays

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

A Snowflake's Promise - Christmas

Clear It Out challenges - Christmas and stash item (I have held onto some Christmas die-cuts forever, and decided it was time to set them free)

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes 

It's Snowing Cupcakes (I wish!)

Here is my midway DT project for this month's 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up challenge. I got to play with a sweet digi image from Imagine That! Digis by Kris. It's called Cupcake Snowman. The blog offers us an optional theme of Kids' Christmas cards. In order to have a chance to win the prize from our wonderful guest sponsor this month, they want to see a Christmas or other holiday card, meant for a child between the ages of 0 & 12. I can't wait to see how it turns out! If you do follow the optional theme, be sure to add FT after your name so that they include you in the draw for the prize.
Remember, you don't need to follow the theme to link up your cards, 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 $10 gift certificate to Imagine That! Digis by Kris store.

Here's a little about this month's sponsor:

 Imagine That! Digis by Kris™ is a mother/daughter team bringing you our cutest hand-drawn images that you can flip, re-size, re-color, print & use in your crafting creations!  Almost all our digi sets include both color & outline formats & include sentiments for a great value.  In addition to carrying family-friendly digi stamps, we also offer digital papers and KD-Kits, all available as instant downloads!  You may want to check out our Free blog Wear category, as well as find freebies on our Facebook Page and join in our monthly progressive challenge where everyone who plays, Wins!  You can read more about us here on our 'About the Artists' page.

Okay, crafters, it's your turn! You have until October 31st to link up your card(s) at the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up blog. If you link up at least 2 cards, you will receive a free digital Christmas-themed paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. If you create using the theme of Kids' Christmas, make sure you add the letters FT after your name for that prize draw.
And as always, crafters, have fun!!

Found a Happy Place

Today I decided to create a scrapbook page for my last guest DT project for DeeDee's Digis. I have had a lot of creative fun while playing with some awesome image sets. Everyone who participates in their progressive challenges has a chance of becoming a Guest DT member. AND when you use the digi of the month, you will receive next month's digi for free!

Pictured above is my hubby during our road trip vacation to Siesta Key back in 2009. We tried Siesta Key again this Spring, but only my daughter and he enjoyed the vacation. I ended up with acute bronchitis and a sinus infection the day we got to our luxurious condo on the beach, and spent most of the time in bed.

I created this page using the following in Adobe Photoshop:

Elements from the following DeeDee’s Digis sets:

Monkey Business/ Paper Dots patterned paper

Beachy State of Mind/4 pre-colored images & sentiment

Elements from Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles:

Christmas Grunge Textured papers/Royal Blue & Chocolate Brown

Button 2

Elements from Mischief Circus:

Rucola Designs freebie/Summertime poster

Clipart:

Newsprint Butterfly

Palm tree

Challenges I am Entering:

Anything But a Card challenges - Anything Goes (no cards) 

Allsorts challenges - Add a Butterfly

Splendiferous Creations - B is for...(Beach)

Outlawz Challenges You to Show Off Your Fall Colors

They say that April showers bring May flowers, but Autumn showers bring crunchy carpets that color our world with crimson, gold and orange paths on which we walk quickly before it all blows away into winter. To show off those gorgeous colors, this week’s Outlawz Greetings Challenge is to create with FALL COLORS.

There are two sponsors for this week's challenge:
Whoopsy Daisy

and Sweet n Sassy.

Today my card features a digital image from Whoopsy Daisy Sheet 463. I think she showcases Autumn in all its glorious color so very well. I can almost feel the crisp wind she faces as she walks home in the early afternoon.
I used a leftover piece of patterned paper for my card face, which became my inspiration for coloring my image with Copics. Some Tim Holtz ink distressed the edges before I frame it and place it just under a ribbon border where my sentiment resides.
Of course, with a sentiment like that, there was only one embellishment to finish off my cards. I used metallic leaf brads and a couple chipboard die-cuts. The pearls add a smidgen of bling.
Quick, before the leaves all blow away, show your Fall colors and play in this week's Outlawz Greetings Challenge.
Other challenges I am entering:
xDivas by Design - Anything Goes
xMarkerPOP Challenges - Anything Goes
xWhoopsidaisy - Add a Sentiment
xPpinky Dolls - Anything Goes or Add Bling
xNot Just Cards CHallenges - Anything Goes
xCraft Your Passion - Bright & Sparkly

Anything Goes is the Challenge

Got some time to craft over the weekend and colored up this pretty image from Art by MiRan.
I used up some paper pieces from my stash to make a background, then framed my Copic-colored image, called "Catching Hearts."
I embellished simply with a few candy heart brads and a charm I placed in the middle of a paper flower.
I'm entering my card in the Anything Goes challenge at Art by Miran. And as soon as payday comes along, I will be adding to my Art by Miran inventory.  I LOVE these cute images.