Birthday Cards Today

 

Today I'm showcasing the birthday cards I made from the misc. stash leftovers I've been cleaning out, organizing and donating. Again, I mostly used die-cuts and a few pre-colored images I had from leftover projects. It was a quick and satisfying chore. 

I also managed to go through a few small tubs of trading cards o take to Geek Toys, whose owner bought a nice amount from me earlier in the year. They are all from my mom, bless her soul. She loved non-sport trading cards, especially of her favorite sci-fi shows, like Star Trek, Babylon 5 and Stargate. Unfortunately, they didn't generate as much cash as I had hoped, but I got rid of another bin taking up room in my basement. Yay me!

I have another appointment with my Whole Health coach. I'll continue to work on decluttering my craft supplies (Lord knows I have enough to keep me busy for another few weeks). My next target is punches and scissors and wooden-block stamps. But I'm seriously trying to get my A1C numbers down as well as cholesterol, which ties in with weight loss. Luckily, I have access to a dietician, kinesiologist and my very own spin bike (okay, the spin bike is an old Schwinn without a working display, but I can still pedal).

Mad Tea Party

 

I have two pages left in my newest Art Journal!! I've been doodling away and have finally completed the journal. Lucky me, I have a brand new one red-hot and ready for me. Meanwhile, I wanted to feature this Zen Doodle which was inspired by Alice in Wonderland. I saw something like this on Pinterest and wanted to try my hand at my own magical teapot.

I freehand drew the whole pge before coloring it with Copics markers. Doesn't it look sweet?! Makes me want a cuppa...

Quill Power

 

Today's post features a Hedgehog using a Scribbles Designs digital image. After coloring my buddy with a light pink Copic, I pulled out my container of paper flowers and arranged them on my hedgehog's body. Afterward, I realized I wanted to create a background, and to do so, I had to remove all those tiny flowers! 

Once I drew and colored the flowers and grass. I adhered the flowers onto my pet (again) and then adhered her onto my new background. I found a cute hedgehog quote on Pinterest, but then thought to  add the "disclaimer" at the bottom. It reads, "not really. I walked thru the flowers, got scared and came out this way." Those quills are pointy and sticky, aren't they?!

You can find at the Scribbles Design Store HERE. It is actually a FREEBIE at the moment, and is called F#188 Dust Bunny. This artwork is a page in my Art Journal. I really like her, and shall name her Dusty.

Everything is Peachy Keen at Oddball Art Challenges

 Today's card was inspired by this month's challenge at Oddball Art Stamps. The theme is called "Powdered Peach Scones" and is a photo inspiration.

I decided to pull the color peach and the sweetness of a huggable hedgehog for my card. After coloring the hedgehog with my trusty Copics, I photographed him and popped him onto a photo of ripe delicious peaches. I framed him using Oddball Art Stamps Torn Paper Frames set.
I printed this arrangement 3 times, cutting sections out of 2 of them to give the card some dimension. I thought my sentiment perfect for my friends in Georgia (USA). Aren't peaches the state fruit (or is there even such a thing??)? LOL

Card created with:

Oddball Art images: Creepy Cute Chronicles #36 & Ripped Paper Frame 3

Ink: Copics

Papers: Pixel Scrappers' Jan Clark's ITP paper 16 & Marisa Lerin's patterned paper 303

Font used: Petunia

Challenges I am Entering:

Oddball Art June Challenge - Photo Inspiration (above)
Corrosive Challenges - Anything Goes
Your Next Stamp - Pets
Happy Craft - Anything Goes

Time to Relax at Ike's World Challenge Blog

 What do you do to relax? Besides, craft, that is?! I like to lose myself in a book. I like to read science fiction/fantasy, as well as themed mysteries like Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson mysteries.

One of my favorite authors is Charlaine Harris, whose Sookie Stackhouse series spawned the TV show True Blood. Her new series, about the people in the town of Midnight, will be a summer TV show in the States, premiering later this month.

Relaxation is the theme for this fortnight's challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog, and I ran with my love of reading to create the book bag above using a digi image called Book of Dreams. Ike's Store is celebrating a summer blowout sale and you can get this image for just $1.50 US! The sale lasts through July and there are LOADS of images for 50% off.

Here's a close-up of my colored image on my book bag. I used colored pencils, gel pens and Copics, as well as Stickles for a little sparkle.

You have one more week to create something that shows how you relax and link it up to the IWC challenge post for your chance to win free digis from the new store. While I Keep Calm and Read, you  Keep Calm and Craft On!

Challenges I am Entering:

Allsorts - Magical & Mythical

Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Discovering Confidence along the Path of Positivity

Have you ever noticed that the most confident people know their talents and skills and have figured out the best way to use them? Everything we have and who we are is within us, if only we could recognize these treasures. But like buried treasure, they have to be dug up through experience and self-awareness. We have to remove doubt and disbelief in order to gain the confidence to use what we have.

This month,, the Path of Positivity challenge blog offers us the theme of Confidence with which to be inspired. I created a hybrid card with two images from Scribbles Designs. They are colored with Copics and then popped onto a digital scene I created in Photoshop. I also printed out my sentiment, whose second part is on the insode of my card, which reads:

"The second greatest challenge is nowing how to use them"

The following is what went into creating my hybrid card:

Images: Scribbles’ Designs Treasure Chest & Sand Bucket

Papers: Decosse’s Dynamite Doodles’  Grungy Christmas Brown Textured Paper & A Taste of Summer Sunburst Patterned Paper

Pixel Scrappers:  Janet Scott’s Ripped Paper Border Template & Many Thanks Shadowed Bunting; Melo Vrijhof’s Thankful Harvest Elements 2; Marisa Lerin’s  Coastal Seagull Metal.

Font: Hotline Bling

Scribbles Designs is one of two sponsors this month, offering crafters a $10 gift certificate to the Shop!

Our second sponsor is Ike'sArt, who offers a $15 worth if digital images from the Shop/

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.

Confidence can inspire a college graduation, someone starting a family, owning a new home, getting promoted, retiring...the list goes on. So, what inspires you to create with Confidence, about Confidence? Show us at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog this month!

Scribbles Designs Wants to Bug You

As the weather warms up in the northern hemisphere, the bugs start to wake up. So, Scribbles Designs challenge blog wants you to BUG them. Create with the theme of BUGS on your project (p.s. there are a couple of free images on the blog you can use).
I created my DT card using two digi images from Scribbles Designs - Mason Jar - Fireflies, and a freebie called Firefly! After coloring my Mason jar with Copics, I fussy-cut it and put it aside. Then I used Copics to create a backyard scene. I popped my jar onto the grass and extended a few strands of grass onto the jar. I added the border on top and a metal star, along with a few strips of jewels.
Then I went to Photoshop where I added the freebie Firefly, creating a couple free-flying flies escaping the jar. I remember spending weekends with my grandmother. Her son, my uncle, was just four years older than I. Between the two of us and my sister, we spent many a summer evening catching fireflies (we called them lightning bugs) and naming each one before putting them in jars. Of course, we released them all before going in to bed. Back then, the front yard was SO BIG, with evergreen trees and bushes creating our own personal forest. After we all grew up and the house was sold, I revisited the house. That "forest" was no bigger nor smaller than everyone else's front yards on the block! Still, lots of carefree memories were made there at Gram's house. She's been gone a year now, rejoining her husband at the ripe old age of 104 (and a half, she'd always remind us). God bless her for giving me the kind of childhood I can cherish and look back on with love.
The Bug Us challenge at Scribbles Designs lasts a month, so have fun and craft your heart out! Then link up for your chance to win prizes. Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Digital Delights by Louby Loo - Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes

Color Throwdown - Inspiration photo

Let's Color Linky Party - Anything Goes w/something colored

Let's Go Fly a Kite with Kitty Bee Designs

Today brings a new challenge to the Outlawz Monday Greetings. This week's sponsor is Kitty Bee Designs, and I got to play with this cutie called Panda with Kite. I say play because after coloring it with Copics, I popped it onto a scene I created in Photoshop. The theme this week is "Let There Be Sky."
My card uses:
Image from Kitty Bee Designs (Panda with Kite)
Papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Glitterati Paper Kit (gold) and Chasing Rainbows Patterned Paper Pack (sea)
Elements:  Fence from Rucola Designs Our House Elements 1, Shell from Rucola Designs Summertime Freebie, Boat and Glitter overlay #9 from Krysty Scrap Designs
Sentiment created in Word from the song "Let's Go Fly a Kite" from the movie Mary Poppins using Speedball #3NF

Let Your Dreams Take Flight

Hey, crafters! I am still practicing making my own backgrounds after a free online class over at Kit & Clowder. Today, I created my background for the new challenge at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. The sponsor this week is Sasayaki Glitter, and I got to play with an image called Flying Bunny. I thought the image would go well with my background. She looks like she's far above the rolling green hills.
After coloring my image with Copics, I fussy-cut her out and placed her on my background (created with Copics and colored pencils). I popped my framed scene onto my card face and embellished simply with a few pearls, a tiny bit of leftover lace and a bow. I embossed my sentiment and my DT card is complete.
It's always anything goes at Craft Your Passion, and this week Sasayaki Glitter is offering a prize to one lucky winner!! Will it be you? Only if you link up before the end of the week! Have fun!

Challenges I am Entering:

City Crafter Challenge blog- On Cloud Nine

DigiStamps4Joy - Anything Goes w/twist: Animal

Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes
Challenge Up Your Life - Bunny
Let's Color Saturday Linky Party - Anything Goes w/something colored
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Cupcake Challenges - Photo inspiration

Decorate Your Holidays with Love

Christmas may come once a year, but a stash of handmade cards take a lot longer to create. That's why the 12 Months of Christmas Link-Up was created. Each month, create and link up a minimum of two holiday cards and you will not only increase your pile of cards, but also receive a digital paper from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. If you create with the monthly theme, your name will also be in the hat for the sponsor's prize of a $12 gift certificate at the .
This month's theme is Holiday Decorations. If you do follow the theme, please type in the letters FT after your name in the Linkie so that it gets put into the draw!
Our sponsor this month is A Day for Daisies, 

and I got to play with an image called Sami for the midway reminder challenge post.

After printing out my image, I colored with Copics, then arranged it onto a digitally-designed card front using papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Holiday Decorations paper pack, Grungy Christmas paper pack and Glitterati papers. 

I also used Winter Overlay element 11 from the Winter Overlays Kit from Eena's Creations, and Word Art 5 from Holliewood Holly Jolly Add-on kit by Hollie Harradon. I popped some White Puffy paint onto the Christmas stocking's dots for added dimension.

Only three months into the new year, and my pile of Christmas cards is starting to add up. How about joining in the fun at the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up blog? It's always nice to be prepared, don't you think?

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas Goes

Don't Look Back

This week at Craft Your Passion challenge blog, Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps is sponsoring the Anything Goes challenge. I got to play with an image called Princess Natalya. I colored her with Copics, using metallic gel pens to give her dress the shimmer it deserves, although it doesn't show up very well in my photo.
Then I photographed her and used Photoshop to "fussy-cut" her to place on a card I created with Stitchy Bear digital papers that came with this image. I created the sentiment in Sonoma Script font.
You have a week to link up your crafty project in order to be eligible for prizes from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps. Have fun, crafters!

How's the Weather?

The weather has been crazy all over the world, so what better theme to have at Ike's World Challenge blog than the Weather. I used my trusty Copics to color up this digi image from Ike's Art called Rain Girl. Then, through the magic of Photoshop, I popped her onto a photo my daughter-in-law took while hiking at Starved Rock State Park. I added a few digital embellishments before choosing what I think is the perfect sentiment to go with my artwork. The embellishments are from the Boring Evening Elements Pack by Krysty Scrap Designs. I framed my card with a textured paper from the Grungy Christmas Paper pack by Lisa Decosse of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.
The challenge at Ike's World challenge blog has reached its midway point, so if you want a crack at a great gift certificate to Ike's store, remember to link your project to THIS POST.

Celebrate with the Quirky Challenge Blog

Another winter-y Sunday keeps me holed up in my craft room, warm and cozy. Not complaining!! Come on, Old Man Winter, bring it on! Any excuse to play in my craft room...

So today, the snow outside inspired me to play with this Stitchy Bear digi image for my DT make for the Quirky Crafts challenge blog. Stitchy Bear is the sponsor this month. The image is called Lake Winter, and I couldn't wait to use the lacy paper doilies I snagged at my local thrift store on this card. I gave the image a light teal color wash with Copic BG10 before framing it onto a card using assorted shades of teal. The bright white really makes my image pop!

I used a toothbrush  and some white acrylic paint to flick a flurry of snow over the lake. I found a floral spray of silver along with a tiny bow to add to my snowflake embellishments.A spray of tiny pearls "lifted" from an old flower arrangement and some hand-drawn stitching complete my card today.

Have you linked up your celebration card or project with the Quirky Crafts challenge blog yet? This is the midpoint, so you have plenty of time to come join the fun! Whether it's freezing outside, or starting to boil over, depending on your hemisphere, I hope you have some time to craft!

Stitchy Bear is offering some great prizes this month:

 1st prize: 3 images of choice from the entire Stitchy Bear store
 2nd prize: any 3 images used by the DT
 3rd Prize: any 2 images used by the DT

Challenges I am Entering:

Crafts & Me - Anything Goes/Optional Winter (linked to Facebook page)

Dream Factory - The Snow Queen

Stitchy Bear (on Facebook) - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Sponsors Challenge This Week

Today brings a new challenge from Craft Your Passion. This week's sponsor is Crafty Sentiments, and I got to play with this cute digi image called "Sweetheart Bunnies."
After coloring my image with Copics, my go-to coloring media, I fussy-cut it out and popped it onto an embossed card face. To make the embossing pop a bit, I inked the raised edges of my "scene." I used a paint chip from my stash of papers to frame it all, punching the top edges.
My sentiment is an Oprah Winfrey quote, which reads, "Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo," and continued on the inside, "but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."
I threw on a scattering of jeweled butterflies and flowers, a fantastic find at my local Goodwill store last year.
I love this image, and hope you do too. You can find it and so many more cute images at Crafty Sentiments Shop. Whether you buy or not, the theme of this week's challenge is Anything Goes, as always, at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. Come on over and play with us!!

Other Challenges I am Entering:

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenges - Embossing

Alphabet Challenge blog - F is for Friendship

Stempelsonnen challenges - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Photo Inspiration

Pile It On - Cute animals

Limited Edition

Hello, my crafty peeps! I've been very busy in my craft room this week. Today I have a card for a very special girl. She has matured into a trailblazer, making her own path for others to follow if they wish. She is special, and I'm proud to call her my daughter.
I colored a Kenny K digi image called Kitty Katastrophe. I colored her with my trusty Copics, then fussy-cut her to pop onto my card front. I gave her some shimmer in her hair, because when she chases her dreams, her face lights up with determination and anticipation. The butterfly symbolizes the wings she has found, and the lacy heart doily shows that I have her back. She is one of a kind, and I love her.
Challenges I am entering:
Kenny K's Challenge blog - "I am Special"
the Path of Positivity Challenges - Uniqueness
Cute Card Thursday - Colorful
Creative Knockouts - Lots of Embellies
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Scrapping4Fun Challenges - All about Love

My Web of Friends

Got some new images and couldn't wait to color, so I locked my craft room door and before the firemen bring it down with an ax, I thought I'd share the card I made with it. The image is called Web Spinner from Sugar Nellie. I just love fairies, and mushrooms, so this image went prefectly with the background paper from Cosmo Cricket Earth Love stack. I used brown textured card stock for the base, some glitter paper in blue to match the coloring in my image abd a big chunk of the CC patterned paper. the flower behind the butterfly is from Basic grey, but I used my Copics to match the colors better.
Here are the Copics I used to color the image: E00,37; R02; YR61; Y11; YG03,05; G00,21,94; BG10,72 & B32,95.
The butterfly is one I purchased from OTC and attached with a glue dot, after I put a tiny bit of Icycle Stickles on the wings. My spinning fairy is glitzed with Icicle Stickles and Liquid Pearls from Ranger Crafts.
The inside sentiment says: "Friendship is sewn with love and measured by kindness" from some leftover stamped sentiments.