Warming Up to Spring with a QKD Image

Today I'm trying to "think Spring."  The birds are slowly making their way back to the area, so I thought this pretty treat holder using Laura Macy's "Love Birds" was a good way to hurry the season along (especially when the treat is a packet of hot chocolate to warm up my insides).

I cut a piece of cardstock 8.5x5.75" and scored and folded at 2-1/2" and 6-1/2".  I popped my colored image onto a piece of patterned paper after punching the corners.  I did a little distressing with my blender tool and some distress ink.  I added lace on the top and bottom and placed it on the center part of my folded cardstock.'Then I adhered the back flaps together and punched a hole at the top through it all.

If you thread a piece of lace from the front to the back, you can then add a treat, like a pack of gum, a candy bar, or a packet of hot cocoa on top of the ribbon inside the card.  Push it down until it meets the bottom edge of the card, then tie it at the top.

When you pull on the bow at the top, the treat comes up out of its card:
So my treat card with the Love Birds stamped image (as well as the hot cocoa) will warm someone special this week as temps are supposed to drop to below zero yet again!!

Discover all the warm images QKD offers at the SHOP!!

A Squigglefly Recipe

This week Squigglefly offers crafters a recipe challenge: Use a Squigglefly image with patterned paper, buttons/brads AND twine.
I used Squigglefly digi image Tiger by artist Enid Barnes. The drawing is so life-like that you don't have to be an experienced artist to color it. I just swiped it with Copic YG04.
I fussy-cut it out and framed it with cardstock and then patterned paper (to match its eyes). For my base, I used a dollar store journal whose cover was Kraft paper. I covered the covers with Basic grey patterned paper. After popping on my image, I applied sticker alphas to read ROAR, then embellished with jewels and buttons. I finished my altered journal by tying bakers' twine to both edges of my front cover, as well as using coordinating fibers to the spine. 
Now to explain the use of the word Roar:  Some girls don't ROAR out loud; sometimes they can only ROAR in the privacy of their own thoughts.  I know a very quiet girl who could use some ROARing lessons, so to start her off, I made this journal for her, so she can ROAR all she likes on paper.  She is also a big Katy Perry fan, so the following lines are for her as well:

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire 

Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar.."

(lyrics copyright of Katy Perry)

Your turn to ROAR with Squigglefly's Recipe challenge.  All participants get a randomchance of winning free digi's!!  And if you haven't started your Squigglefly digi collection yet, pick up some FREEBIES.

Owl Always Love You

Today I don't have a card for you.  I have a lovely altered notebook that I created using a Squigglefly image and one of the sentiments that comes with it.  This cute image is called "Hooo Loves Ya" from artist Fawn Palmer, and it comes with not one, not two but FIVE sentiments!
I snagged a couple cute notebooks from the $1 bin at Michael's.  It already had the diecut white cover and the blue "under-cover" was so pretty that I used the same color for my image and sentiment (Copic B93).  I decided to fussy-cut my sentiment so it would fit where I wanted to place the words.
For embellishment, I added adhesive-backed pearls and doodled (and highlighted) with a white gel pen.  That's it!  Simple but very stylish.  So stylish, in fact, that my daughter, an owl-lover to the nth degree, now has possession of my altered notebook (with my blessing, of course).
This week's challenge over at Squigglefly is to use a Squigglefly image AND sentiment on your project.  And just like me, you don't have to make a card (although you go right ahead if you want to) LOL.

Floral Thank You Card

Today I made a card using "Florophone," a QKD January new release.  I can't tell you how many times I have printed this up with which to make cards.

Here, I colored my image with Copics, framed it with cardstock, and popped it onto some handmade paper I was given by a dear friend, Liz.  I plan on giving this card to her as a thank you for her generosity, and for thinking of me as someone who can use it. She gave me 3 foot square rolls of this and more handmade paper with which to play!  Lucky me!

I attached my image onto embossed cardstock and embellished simply with a jeweled flourish that I cut apart for the two corners.

For more inspiration, check out the Queen Kat Designs Facebook page.  If you're interested in this cute image, go to the SHOP.
Check out the Buy 3, Get 1 Free February Sale here:

A Love of Lists

I am a list maker.  I LOVE making lists.  

Not just your hum drum to-do lists, but lists that tell a person’s life story.  Lists like “the many ways my husband shows he loves me.”  Or “all the things I have for which to be thankful.”

One that really helps me pull my wretched self out of a deep pit of depression is “how many people whose lives I have touched (and who have touched mine).”

One year I kept a journal of lists and wrote in it at least once a week.  Luckily I am just enough of a hoarder to have buried the journal for a couple years.  I just re-discovered it while cleaning out my dresser drawers.  And upon reading my lists, I re-discovered myself. 

I remembered the things that made me happy not so long ago.

I re-discovered my passion for art and painting.

I renewed my dreams.

I re-evaluated my bucket list.

And most importantly, I reminded myself how much I LOVE making lists!!

I created the project above for the Path of Positivity's February Challenge on the theme of LOVE.  Since I LOVE making lists, I decided to make a journal cover for all my 2014 lists.

I started with a 4x6 index card notebook.  It has an acrylic cover, which works perfectly for setting the background of heart-themed patterned paper from DCWV.

Next I chose my image.  Since journaling is really just a conversation with yourself, I used a digi image called "Skellie Gossip" from one of our monthly sponsors, Ike's Art.  I used very little color (Copic E000) for my pair of bony companions, then fussy-cut them out.  I adhered a leftover diecut of patterned paper on the front cover of my notebook, placing a border of washi tape from Recollections on which my pair could rest their weary bones (pun intended).

I embellished the patterns on the tape with black Skittles.

A few adhesive-backed jewels and a large heart charm almost finish off my project.  I just needed to bring out the edges of where the two front flaps join together to keep all my lists from spilling out.  I used black and Diamond Stickles for that and my altered notebook is complete.

What's going to be my first list of the year?  The people I love to LOVE-that would make a very good start to the new year.  Judging from my project, 2014 will be another banner year for my list-making love.  

Will you share something you LOVE with us?  Go to the Path of Positivity to play in this month's challenge.  The fabulous sponsors and prizes are:

   Ten digital images from Creative Bug Digitals for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.

    Three digital images from Ike's World for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

    Three digital images from Scribbles Designs, our guest sponsor this month, 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.

Square Off with a New Squigglefly Challenge

Today I made a card for this week's challenge at Squigglefly.  It is a 6x6 square card to match the challenge's theme of SQUARE-SHAPED CARDS.
I used some leftover patterned paper for the background.  Then I colored up this awesome image from Squigglefly called "58 Impala" by artist Carmen Gamble.
I framed the image with black cardstock, which I also used to frame my birthday sentiment (I also used a negative piece of paper to frame my sentiment).
All that was left were the embellishments, which included Skittles, pearls. adhesive lace and a pretty green ribbon bow!
In the mood to make a square card?  Use a Squigglefly image on it and play in the challenge for your chance to win free digis!

Love Is in the Air

With Valentine's Day coming up this Friday, I thought I'd better crack the crafting whip and get some projects done to give to all my Valentine's.  The first thing I wanted to create was a canvas. I haven't done one in a couple of weeks, so I pulled out my homemade "modpodge," brushes and tissue paper and made a base for my canvas art.
Next I cut out a patterned paper heart, embellishing it and drawing a black glitter glue line (also homemade) around it.  Then I found the perfect alphas to spell out the word LOVE. Finally, I "had my way" with my canvas, adding sparkle, hearts and ink to finish it off.
For anyone thinking about joining the mixed media canvas craze, it's so easy and fun!  And below are recipes for my homemade modpodge and glitter glue:
modpodge:  2 parts white glue + 1 part water.  Stir and create!
glitter glue:   1 bottle white glue  minus  2 TBSP + 1 TBSP fine glitter.  Stir and start sparkling!

Here are the challenges I'm playing in this week:
OUTLAWZ SATURDAY PAPER ALA MODE CHALLENGE: Valentine's
PAPER TAKE WEEKLY Challenge:  Anything Goes
THE CORROSIVE CHALLENGE:  FEEL THE lOVE  
LOVE TO SCRAP Challenge:  WHO LOVES YA BABY?!
CREATIVE MOMENTS Challenge:  Anything Goes/Add Some Sparkle

Happy crafting, everyone!