Give Peace a Chance

I was inspired today to  create a Christmas card for  my 2019 stash, which was depleted last month. I absolutely adore this digi image from A Day for Daisies. It's called Placing the Stars
http://adayfordaisies.com/stamps/fairies-nymphs/placing-the-stars and I've used it before.
Today I colored my image with Copics, adding some shading with colored pencil. I've been doing this often now, using both markers and pencils to get a deeper depth tp my images. I used 2 patterned papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles for my background from these Paper Sets:

I printed out my image (with its blue background) twice, cutting out the image and the patterned paper bow and adhering them to the first layer with dimensional tape.

Then I popped it  all on a piece of cardstock with stitched edges. To finish off my card, I gave the ribbon, angel wings and edges of the blue frame some shine with Stickles. I had some extra tiny stars die-cut from a border die. My sentiment goes (I think) perfectly with the image: Star light, Star bright, A wish for Peace on Earth tonight. If only...

Challenges I am Entering

ABC Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Cute & Crafty Christmas - Anything Christmas

the Sisterhood of Crafters - Make It Sparkle (gold & Stickles)

City Crafters - Give Peace a Chance (paper-pieced bow)

Get Inspired on the Path of Positivity

The Path of Positivity Challenge Blog is offering an optional twist on its Anything Goes theme: focus on INSPIRATION. If you would like to challenge yourself, create a project to uplift and/or motivate someone in your life. However, remember that the optional twist is just for fun.

This card is for my neighbor. She adopted a dog around this time a year ago. He is a rescue, a cute senior beagle (except when he howls). LOL She had lost her husband a few years ago and decided to fill her empty house with barks and dog hair. She also got cuddles and licks and unconditional love.
Using an Ike's Art image called "Kindness", I colored it with Copics and placed it onto a card front created from embossed and stitched metallic paper. The greeting didn't show up well against that background, so I crimped some red (for love) to back up the words, "Happy Adoptiversary!" I helped my image pop out from the background paper by using dimensional tape and a die-cut snowflake peeking out from behind it.
So I made this card to celebrate her dog's Adoptiversary! We rescued our dog, Wilson, a senior Silkie Terrier, three years ago. He's one of the family now, and we couldn't be happier. If and when we're ready to adopt again, my daughter and I agreed to look for another senior dog. It makes your heart melt to see their blank stares turn into looks of love after they know they have found what it is to be loved and cared for (again or sometimes for the first time). Don't we all need just that?
If you're trying to decide if you're ready to get a dog, please consider adoption from a shelter. They have dogs and cats from 4 weeks old to seniors, playful to mellow, all of them just looking to be loved and to love in return. Go ahead and, "make their day!" 
And if you're interested in playing along with the challenge at the Path of Positivity, please note that ALL projects must be positive, encouraging or uplifting in some way (so make sure you mention you are following the theme this month).
 Prizes this month include:

A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants.

ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.

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

You have until February 3rd to link up to three projects to the first challenge of 2019 at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog!  Go for it, crafters!

Challenges I am Entering:

Get Creative - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes w/a Critter

Happy Craft - Anything Goes

Scribbles Design's Year in Review

It's midway through the last challenge of 2018 at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog. The theme is "Year in Review" and crafters have until January 14th to  link their projects at the main challenge blog. If you choose to follow the optional theme, you can pick out any of the 11 previous (2018) challenge themes for your project. This is a win-win opportunity here, as  one of those themes is ANYTHING GOES.
I chose to create a card with the May "Make It Masculine" theme. And what a paper, am I right? The paper is called Clockworks and is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. I love this big old pattern of the inner and outer workings of a clock, with all its gears and gizmos.This  concept of time can be used in birthday, friendship, even sympathy cards, as well as many other projects.

The image I used for my card is Scribbles Designs' #800 Treasure Chest. I colored my image with colored pencils to get that weathered look just right. Here's where digital and handmade come in: I digitally placed on my paper a couple shapes (heart & star), then printed it. I printed the treasure chest twice so that I could cut out parts of the second image to give it more dimension. 
I love using Scribbles Designs' Treasure Chest with the sentiment above: There is no greater Treasure than a  Good Friend". What a perfect pairing, right? Since this card is going to a veteran I met at the VA hospital, I kept the design simple. 
So that's MY take of the Scribbles Designs Year in Review. Are you going to play along? You have 14 days in which to capture your Muse and shake some inspiration from her (kind of like pixie dust) and link it to the challenge blog. Happy crafting! 
And a Happy New Year to you, too!

Challenges I am Entering:

Craftyhazelnuts Patterned Paper - Anything Goes w/patterned paper

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Sheepski Designs - New or Old (Old Friendship)

World Wide Open Design Team - Anything Goes as a DT  member

Welcome to IKE'S WORLD CHALLENGES 2019

Looks like Ike's World Challenge Blog is going through the alphabet, starting the year off with an optional theme of ANIMALS. So I got to play with an Ike's Art image called "Magician's Hat + Bunny" I found a cool quote on Pinterest (and of course couldn't follow up to the author):

Always believe that something Magical is about to happen

This is a New Year's card for my girlfriend, Janie.She and I are having an old-fashioned sleepover this New Year's Eve (and hopefully not a hangover for New Year's Day). We're mapping out 2019, with goals, journals, helpful hints, etc. We used to do this every year but life got busy and we dropped it. .Now we're back, ready to get healthier, get organized, de-clutter and simplify.

About my card: After coloring my image, I digitally popped it onto Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Blue Glitter Textured paper. I have squares on my mind, so made everything but the embellishments matching in shape. And everything is from my stash as almost every project I've created this year has been. I really am trying to downsize my craft supplies. I'm like a craft hoarder (but an organized one).

So, as this year comes to a close, and a New Year starts,I hope everyone sees a prosperous and healthy year, with plenty of time to craft and relax, spend time with friends and family,  and find yourself in a better place. Happy crafting!

p.s.(DON'T FORGET TO LINK UP YOUR OWN PROJECT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN DIGIS  FROM IKE'S ART STORE)

Challenges I am Entering:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes w/a Critter

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Everyone Loves a Freebie

Who doesn't like FREEBIES, right? For a very limited time, Decosse's Dynamite Doodles has a game on her BLOG, The 12 Days of Christmas. Each day, you are asked to complete a quest. If you do, you will receive a free digital paper. Above is the watermarked copy of Day One's prize. All you have to do is complete the quest (it took me less than five minutes).

So what are you waiting for?! FREE DIGITAL PAPERS!! Got five minutes for the net few days? 

Merry crafting, y'all!

Year in Review at Scribbles Designs

Wow, can you believe how fast 2018 flew by? I don't know about you, but I think my year went quickly because I was so busy with school, traveling, crafting and setting myself up to sell my art and teach craft workshops. All in all, it was a successful year, although overshadowed by the loss of my husband. A bittersweet year of grief, growth, self-realization and exploration.

At Scribbles  Designs Challenge Blog, the theme is Year in Review. Check out all the themes offered in 2018, choose one and create a project for your chance to win a gift certificate to the Scribbles Store. My card was inspired by Challenge #68, Year of the Dog. The image I used is 441 Santa Puppy Hat . Isn't he cute? Of course, my Silkie Terrier, Wilson, is just as cute!

While trying (once again) to organize my craft room, I re-discovered my crimper. I think the crimped paper gives the card a little extra dimension. I also used a sentient from the Scribbles Store called Happy Howl-idays! I think my Christmas card turned out well, don't you?

You have until January 14th to link up your project for the Scribbles Challenge. Don't be late, like I am (my DT make should have been posted yesterday, YIKES!). Hope to see your art at the main blog. Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - AG w/a critter

Animal  Friends - AG w/a critter

Crafty Animals - AG w/an animal

It's Day 10 at Scribbles Designs' Raise the Hoof 12 Days of Christmas

You may have heard of Olive the Reindeer. There has even been a boo written about her. Well, this is NOT about that Olive. This Olive is a real diva. She blew into Santa's reindeer village a long time ago. Her dream was to meet the one and only Rudolph, have him fall madly in love with her beauty and charm, and they would lead Santa's sleigh together (which would ultimately lead to a few Christmas movies with her name in lights).

Poor Olive! She strutted around, teasing all the other reindeer. She even had her nails polished a bright red to match Rudolph's nose! She was a true coquette, very popular with the bucks. She didn't have any doe friends, but she was so busy trying to get close to Rudolph that she didn't notice.

Of course, Rudolph was in love with Clarice, and nothing could pull them apart. Try as she might, she got nowhere with Rudolph, and only got Clarice angry with her. And when Clarice is upset, Rudolph is upset. And when Rudolph is upset, Santa is upset. Olive's attitude and actions produced a domino effect, with her being the domino, or reindeer, to topple the hardest.

Olive knew she had to change, or at least set her sights on another buck. She's still on Santa's turf. She hasn't made up her mind yet, but loves to flirt and have "fun with the boys." The does are okay with her, as long as she stays away from the bucks that are already committed to other does. That's fine with Olive. After all, there were plenty of bucks on the tundra, and there was plenty of time before she had to settle down...

Welcome to Scribbles Designs' Raise the Hoof 12 Days of Christmas holiday celebration! Today is Day 10 and Olive is today's new release! Each day from December 1 - 12, Scribbles is releasing a Christmas digital image. For more information on the celebration, click HERE to go to the main blog.

My card is a hybrid, a mix of digital and hand-colored images and embellishments. Here's what went into it:
Image: Olive from Scribbles Designs
Papers: Marta Van Eck Winter Scene Paper 9; Eena's Creations Winter Overlay 17; Decosse's Dynamite Doodles Black paper from Naturally Cool Paper Kit.
Elements: Digi Dewy Christmas Day Holly Sticker 2; Santa's Reindeer free clipart from Wilson Info
Wordart: Mandy's Lovable Designs Classic Christmas Red & Green Banner