Spice Up Your Christmas Colors

Today brings a new challenge from Squigglefly- a Christmas card! But there's an optional twist: Use non-traditional colors!
I replaced Pine tree green and Holly Red with Hot Pink and Neon Green and made this nifty card.
I got to use a November new release from artist Sandra Caldwell called "Pete & Pat Penguins." I used my trusty Copics to color this pair, then framed it with hot pink cardstock. My card face uses a piece of leftover Christmas patterned paper from last year.
To embellish, I found a hot pink Christmas ornament and adhered it so that it looks like Pat (hey, that's my name) is holding it in her, uh, flipper. My sentiment is stamped and embellished with sequins, and a pink feather finishes off my card.
Are you bored with the same old Christmas colors? Try using some non-traditional ones with a Squigglefly image and you will be in the running for free digis. If you don't have a Squigglefly image, check out the FREEBIES.

Challenges I am entering:
xCraft Your Passion - Beginning with B (Bells, buddies, Brrr)
Imagination Crafts Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
xLove to Create - Anything Goes

Thank You for Your Service

 

What better way to say thank you to our nation's servicemen and women than by crafting and sending them a Thank You card? That's what the Outlawz Greetings Challenge is this week-to make a Veteran's Day or Thank You card for a veteran. BEANSIE DOODLES is one of this month's Greetings sponsors. 

                                                      

I am one of those few people who love a good pun, so when I saw this image, I had to create with it. She's called Volleyball Rebekah by BEANSIE DOODLES. I thought she would be great with my sentiment. If you don't know anything about volleyball, the pun will go right over your head - LOL there's another one!

BEANSIE DOODLES is one of this month's Greetings sponsors. 

I like to color block with my cards, and had some leftover Autumn patterned papers that I blocked together for my 6x6 card. A bit of leftover ribbon (2 points for de-stashing), a couple of stars, and my card is finished.

My family holds a lot of service in its history. My great uncles both served in WW2 (Infantry), as did my father-in-law (Navy). I met my husband while we both were posted at Fort Ord, California (ARMY). My sis-in-law joined during Desert Storm, but it was over by the time she was trained. My son is an M.P. in the ARMY Reserves, and it looks like my grandson is gearing up for Basic Training in the Marines.

Even though we know/knew that people supported our efforts, it's always nice to hear about it in the way of letters and cards, so think about sending yours to a Reserve Unit or Recruiting Station near you. They'll be able to ship it out with their next package. And there's always Operation Write Home!

 

Challenges I am entering:

My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

xCrafters' Café - Thank You

xArtistic Inspirations - Anything Goes

xCrafting by Designs - Anything Goes

xLove to Create - Anything Goes

 

 

Girly and Lacy Thank You Card

A new place opened up in our local mall. It's called "Nothing Bundt Cakes." They offer about a dozen different flavors of bundt cakes in four different sizes. I have tried six of them-they are delish!
The owner, Cindy, donated a few plates of bundt-zinis for a meeting my office was hosting, and to thank her, I made this card.  I used Cupcake Anya, coloring her with Copics. The background is a piece of leftover patterned paper, and I embellished with flowers, feathers, sequins, Stickles and lace.
I am entering my card in Love To Create challenge blog. Their theme is to make a card or project that is

 GIRLY AND LACEY

I think my card qualifies, don't you? LOL

I'm bringing it to the store tomorrow, along with my daughter and granddaughter. I have a feeling they'll want to choose their own dessert.





Watercolors Wednesday Bluebird in Winter

After a few weeks of hectic family and work stress, during which I had NO time to play with my watercolors, I finally carved out some me time. I have really been interested in paintings of birds lately, so I thought I'd start an art journal of water-colored birds. My first is this bluebird in winter. He's a fat bird, so it must be early in the winter.
I had to control the paint more o I used less water. It almost doesn't seem like watercolors to me. I think I'd rather have more chaos in my art. I guess I'm just an abstract kind of girl. LOL
I do like the way the needles of the pine tree turned out, though.
I've got my eye on hummingbirds next. See you next Wednesday!

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

Squaring Off for Squigglefly's New Challenge

Square cards are in at Squigglefly this week. My card showcases a new Squigglefly image from artist Cheryl Grant Alger. It's called "HoHoHo Snowmen." I love this image because it is image and sentiment all rolled up in one.
I wanted to keep it clean, with pattern behind the image, so I colored the letters and details, leaving the rest of it white. I added white pompoms over the letters "o" to highlight the "snow" factor.
I added a holiday tree behind the snowmen, and added a couple snowflakes among the swirls of the patterned paper for movement.  The Christmas holly ribbon makes a nice finishing touch to my card.
Squigglefly has released some cute and whimsical digital images this month. You can find them at the SHOP.
To check out some inspiration from the DT, and participate in this new challenge, check out the Squigglefly Challenge Blog. And as always, crafters, HAVE FUN!

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