Happy Easter!

I've been on Pinterest quite a bit lately, but I have also been OFF Pinterest, creating my own art using inspiration found on the site. This type of card caught my eye, so I knew I had to make one for this week's challenge at Squigglefly. I like the unusual folds and the way it looks both closed and slightly open.
I took a 5x12" piece of cardstock and scored it at 2", 4", 8" and 10". I folded in at 4" and 8", and folded out at 2" and 10". That's the base.
I used a Squigglefly digi image called Easter Tree by artist Carmen Gamble.  I colored it with Copics, distressed it with Tim Holtz Distress inks and popped it onto cardstock that I diecut with my Epic Six. I attached the whole thing to the left
panel of the front of my card.

Here's a better photo of the lovely Easter Tree image.
You can find lots of inspiration at the Squigglefly Challenge blog, where the challenge is to make an Easter-themed card. If you use a Squigglefly image ( there are freebies at the Store) you have a chance to win a prize!

I am also entering this card in the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge (Happy Easter theme).

Here's another card just to show you how easy it is to create this multi-folded card.  It isn't an Easter card, but it uses the Squigglefly image called "Dove" by artist Diana Garrison.

I made it for a dear friend of mine, who today celebrates his 25th anniversary of being ordained a priest. He is a great preacher, awesome counselor and has saved my soul numerous times. Congrats, Fr. Steve!

Easter During the Zombie Apocalypse

I wonder what Easter would be like during the Zombie appocalypse?  Well, I sure wouldn't want this bunny hopping around my house, hiding eggs and eating brains! LOL

I used a digi image from Meljens Designs called Zombie Bunny (very apropos for my theme) and he is one cute bunny...uh, I mean zombie...uh, I mean...oh, never mind!  Here's a close-up of the image on my gate-fold card.

  Now  get your marshmallow guns out and hide your chocolate!!  Easter's coming!!  Boo!  Mwahaha!

Challenges Entered:
Meljens Designs - Sequins Color Challenge
Open-Minded Crafting Fun - Easter or Pastel Colors

Altered Board Book Becomes a Birthday Album

Today I found inspiration on Pinterest and set out recycling a leftover board book neglected by my now 6 year old granddaughter.
I gathered my supplies: 1 Sesame Street board book, a large sheet of butcher paper, a foam brush, and Gesso

I brushed two coats of Gesso onto each page, drying in between coats. I also brushed Gesso onto the covers.  Two coats didn't completely cover all the brightly colored pictures from the original book, but it was enough for my purposes. I plan on covering each page with patterned papers to make a birthday album for said granddaughter.
Once all my pages were dry, I started with the front cover.

I like the way it turned out! I used Bo Bunny patterned papers, tearing out the parts I wanted to showcase (the cake, cupcakes, pennants and title). I added some blue acrylic paint to my Gesso and colored around the pictures (I used Mod Podge to adhere them). Then I outlined the words and pictures with Copic markers to make them pop. I finished off the cover by inking the edges with a darker blue ink and covered the page with first Mod Podge and then Tattered Angels glimmer mist for a subtle shimmer.
And that's all I can show you so far, as it is a work in progress.  Luckily, I have until October before I give it to my "I'm-too-old-for-board-books" granddaughter. LOL

Here's something else I found on Pinterest--a recipe to make your own Mod Podge, which I used in the project above!!
Mod Podge:
1 large Mason jar (or any clean glass jar)
3 cups White Glue
1 cup water
Stir well and keep sealed until ready to use.  YUP, that's all it is!!

Do you surf Pinterest? If so, there's a new challenge blog called Your Scrapbook Place and their first challenge is to create a project using Pinterest as your inspiration point. The sponsor for this challenge is Squigglefly, so participants get a chance to win free digis from them!! Hurry, the challenge ends April 13!

Another New release from QKD

Today my card showcases another new release, this time from artist  Jacquelynne Steves.  It's called Spring Chick.
  

I made a card using color blocking, as I don't make many that way and I need to stretch my crafting occasionally so I don't get stuck in a rut.  The patterned papers are a mix of leftover and my own hand-painted background using watercolors.

After decorating the top with various pieces of lace and trim, I added a few jewels and a nice sparkly button to denote the longer days and warmer Spring temps.  A tiny bouquet finishes off my card.

I colored my chick with Copics, then distressed the edges using Tim Holtz Faded Jeans distress ink. My chick looks so happy, waving her banner to announce that Spring is (finally) here!  I'm happy, too!

You can find Jacquelynne's Spring Chick at the QKD Shop.  For more inspiration, check out the Queen Kat Designs Facebook page.  And as always, happy crafting!

Peaceful, Easy Feeling

I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t deal with tension and stress on a daily basis. Between work and school, family and friends, errands and budge, it is a rare moment when we are at peace in our hearts. To live with stress day in and day out can be deadly; at the very least, it can sour your mood all day. So, what do YOU do to bring a sense of peace to yourself and your family?

For myself, I go to my craft room. When I create, my focus is complete and I forget my worries for a “mini” vacation. I also get together with my mom and sisters for a girls’ day out. We eat comfort food, play games and cards and laugh (a lot).

For my daughter, she achieves peace with journal writing. We also get cozy in my king-size bed and watch the movie “Mama Mia.” We’ve seen it so many times that we’re free to talk about our day and anything that’s bugging us.
For my husband, he bowls every other week. I also take him out to his favorite watering hole where we’ll snack on artichoke dip, sip his “dirty” martini (and I take the car keys when we leave), and opens up about all the stresses his work gives him. He also putzes (if he can call my craft room a "crap" room, I can call his hobby putzing) in the garage, making fun little projects with wood.
His hobby inspired me to make a Birthday card using a digi image from Sparkle N Sprinkle. SNS is this month's guest sponsor over at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog, and the theme for April is...wait for it...
PEACE!
Here is what the original image looks like:

For my artwork, I made a stair step card, which is a 3D card with three layers from front to back. My sentiment adorns the first layers, while some fun buttons embellish the second.  I saved the SNS digi image, called Workbench, for the largest layer. Printing it twice, I colored both with Copics. I fussy-cut both and adhered the bottom layer flat against the card face. I used dimensional tape to adhere the second layer on top of the first.
I added a birthday sentiment, embossing it with glossy black powder.  After adding some "sparkle and sprinkle" with a fine tip glue pen and silver glitter, my card is complete.
Having a hobby is a simple and fun way to bring inner peace into your day.  None of us are running away from our problems. They are still there; but the little opportunities to put them on the back burner and be free of strife give us a much needed “peaceful, easy feeling.”
 So...Let me ask you again - how do YOU bring a sense of PEACE to yourself and your family?
While you reflect on that question, let me tell you about the wonderful prizes that the Path of Positivity Challenge is offering this month:

Three digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.

 Three digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

 Three digital images from Sparkle N Sprinkle, 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.

Note that Sparkle N Sprinkle is offering prizes in three different categories. That is in celebration of their new offerings of digital images!  Check them out HERE.

Project Details:
Papers-Tim Holtz Idea-ology, K & Co
Ink- Copics
Embellishments- Dress It Up buttons, SU glitter, SU black embossing powder

Challenges entered:
Sparkle N Sprinkle - Anything Goes with glitter, Embossing powder or flocking

Impatient for the Bright Colors of Spring

I am so impatient for Spring to arrive. Last month we went to Seatlle to check out the university there with our daughter.  When we landed, our eyes were dazzled by all the GREEN on the ground and in the trees.  Flowers were blooming in a riot of color. It was awesome.
When we returned to the Chicago area, we were happy that almost all of the snow had melted, but it was so BROWN and dull and blahh...
So in anticipation of my location getting a much needed change of season, I have used a Squigglefly digi image by artist Pamela Lehto called Dogwood Angel and Spring's brightest colors.  In fact, the challenge on the Squigglefly Blog is to make a card using a Squigglefly image and bright Spring colors.
I embossed yellow cardstock and popped it onto green cardstock base. My image is colored with Copics I used part of the image, which comes with wings and extra dogwood flowers.
I went a little crazy with embellishments, but I am so sick of winter, I just had to jazz my card up with jewel flourishes and flowers and a butterfly.  I even highlighted my card and the angel's wings with white gel pen!
I think I achieved my goal of using bright Springtime colors, don't you?!  So, get out your inks and papers and markers, grab a Squigglefly image and brighten up your day with a new card.  Show it off at the Squigglefly Challenge blog for your chance to win free digis.

Spring is Getting Ready to Bloom!

Today I used a Queen Kat Designs April release.  It's called Bloomin Basket by artist Jacquelynne Steves and it is just loaded with colorful blooms in anticipation of Spring!

I made a specially-folded card that was inspired by an image on Pinterest. I like it because it has a pocket in which to put surprises for the recipient.  In this case, it looks like a flower pot, so behind Jacquelynne's image, I plan to put a seed packet and send this card to somebody special!
After cutting and folding my "flower pot," (see instructions here) I added patterned papers from Basic Grey and the Paper Studio. I colored my basket with Copics, giving them sparkle and shine with smooch and Liquid Glass. The basket seemed to get lost on the patterned paper, so I colored a small paper doily with ink to frame it and then attached it to the front of my card.  I embellished simply with flower sequins, as the patterned paper was enough eye candy.
You can find Bloomin' Basket by Jacquelynne Steves in the QKD Shop. Happy crafting!

I am entering this challenge in Your Scrapbook Place challenge blog, which requires you to be inspired by a Pinterest project in order to play for prizes.