Say Cheese!

I found this blog with the cutest image AND... it's free! For the month of April anyway... you can use it to participate in a challenge and so I went for it. :)

This is Birdie Brown's April Freebie Challenge. The image came with two sentiments and in both JPEG and PNG format. I love that kinda flexibility! :)

I used Twist of Faith Card Challenges #34 Sketch Challenge for inspiration.

Then Through the Craft Room Door Challenge has an Anything Goes challenge. Yay! :) By the way, did you know if you subscribe to their digital magazine, you could have access to FREE digital images? I am ALL over free! lol ;) 

Here's the card:

All card stock and printed paper is from my stash. I used Robin's Nest Dew Drops in Sunflower. I colored the image with Copic markers. I dabbed Inkssentials Glossy Accents on the camera to give it some definition. I also dotted the centers of the flowers with Liquid Pearls in Buttercup. Here's a close up of the camera:

Thanks for stopping by! :)

April Showers Challenges

I used this adorable image from Scrapbook Stamp Society called Emily Rainy Day for these FIVE challenges. Like I've written before... I'm feeling a little big for my britches! ;) lol

I'm using a sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #115.

I've used twine AND ribbon for Ribbon Carousel Blog's RCC80 Showers and Flowers challenge.

Digi Galore Challenges has a One for the Girls challenge. What a coincidence! Emily is a girl! ;) lol

Heck of a Challenge has a Just Add Water challenge. The image has raining going on AND puddles on the ground! 

Finally, Whimsie Doodles' April Challenge - April Showers fits into the image as well! How awesome! :)

Here is the card:

All card stock, printed paper, ribbon and twine are from my stash. I added Robin's Nest Clear Daisy Dew Drops in each corner. I dabbed Stickles in Aqua on the curves of the Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Circles SM die cut. I also dotted all the rain drops on the image and raindrops and hearts on the tag with Inkssentials Glossy Accents. The sentiment is from Raisin Boat's newest clear stamp set, Sprinkled with Wishes. The image and the raindrops and hearts on the tag are colored with Copic markers and EK Success coloring pencils. The image is matted and popped off the card with foam tape. 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Meljen's Designs #156 and Little Claire's #32 Challenges

I think I may be cutting this close! :)

I made this card for Meljen's Designs' Challenge #156 - Recycle. I like recycling. :) It's good for the soul and the planet. I have to use a Meljen's Designs image and I did. It's a freebie! :) Who doesn't like free? ;) Don't get me wrong... I have purchased LOTS of Meljen's images. These are too cute! I found myself running out of time and I had this image all colored up so it was beckoning me to use it. So I did. It's Honey Bee Buckets.

I am also participating in Little Claire's Designs Ideas and Inspiration Blog's Monthly Challenge #32. It's a spring and sketch challenge. I think I've got it covered too!

Here is the card:

All card stock, printed paper, pearl beads, wiggle eyes and ribbon are from my stash. I dabbed Stickles in Purple all around the flowers and in Green on the leaves. The flowers and leaves are made from used, and therefore recycled, dryer sheets. :) I also added some Inkssentials Glossy Accents on the heart, the drops of honey floating in the air and on the bee's nose. I colored the image with Copic markers. I punched a strip of paper with a Michael's Recollections border punch and it runs across the middle of the page behind the image cutout. I used a Hot of the Press Design Tool #2 to create the cutout frame for the image. I popped the cutout off the card with foam tape. The digital image is also popped off with foam dots. I printed the image on the cutout. Then printed and colored a second image. I cutout the bee's body, hands and buckets and placed these on foam dots. I also used a small wire on all three buckets and ran these behind the bucket cutouts and covered the top with the bee's hands. 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

KK Krafty Krew Challenge #140 and CMC Red Challenge

I am participating in two challenges with this card. I hope anyway! lol ;)

First one is Kenny K's Krafty Krew Challenge #140 Anything Goes. I am using Kenny K Downloads' Fourth of July digi stamp. 

I found inspiration with Kathy's Waffle Sketch File's April Update Sketch #3.

I didn't think I would have time ... getting ready for finals and all ... for a third submission to Color Me Creative's Reds, Reds and More Red Challenge. I did find time! Yay me! lol I just hope it is not too late! :-\

Here is the card:

All card stock, printed paper, grosgrain ribbon, brads and tag are from my stash. I colored the image with Copic markers. The image is popping off the card with foam tape. I used a Cuttlebug Polka Dots embossing folder on the red background card stock. I dabbed Stickles in Star Dust on all the printed stars. The tri-color twine is from Whisker Graphics. The red satin ribbon is from Raisin Boat as are the sentiments. I used two stamp sets to achieve the sentiment; Red, White and Blue and Highway High. 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Totally Tubular!

What a blast from the past! Actually... that's the sentiment inside the card. lol This image brought high school back to me and I'm not so sure that is a good thing! :-\ I had this same outfit but it was all in black and I remember thinking I so wanted it in red so I went with that! :)

I have four challenges I'd like this card to fit.

There's Sketch Saturday's Challenge #255 with a super easy sketch. :)

I received my latest wins from Simply Betty Stamps. I've used Cool Chick Lola to join in with Simply Challenged Challenges' Embossing Folders challenge. I love embossing folders! How could I pass this one up? ;)

I've used lots of red for Color Me Creative's Reds, Reds and More Red Challenge. I so totally love red! It's so wicked! ;) lol

I also used some of my handmade flowers and what a coincidence! Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog's Challenge #156 - Make Your Own Flowers asks for just that! Woohoo! :) 

This is the card:

All card stock and printed paper is from my stash. As I wrote earlier, I made the flowers from card stock and a petite daisy punch from Michael's. I used a petite snowflake punch to give the illusion of leaves peeking from behind the flowers. I saw this idea on the highly addictive site, Pinterest. Surely you know what I speak of, right? ;) I used a Cuttlebug by Provo Craft Spots and Dots embossing folder. I dabbed the flowers with Stickles in Tropical Tangerine and added a tiny self-adhesive silver rhinestone from Kaisercraft. I also outlined the belt buckle on the image with Stickles in Platinum. The sentiment is from Raisin Boat's Gals on Flashback Lane. 

So don't you agree? Totally tubular, right? lol ;) Thanks for stopping by! :)

Five Challenges with One Card!

I'm feeling kinda big for my britches! lol I hope I get them all correct! My original intention was to make four cards today. This card proved so incredibly challenging! The swirls almost did me in! Let me tell you all about it. :)

Chocolate Coffee and Cards' Challenge #37 - Layout is a card sketch. I believe I followed the layout but sometimes those are kinda hard to interpret. :-\

Color Me Creative Challenge #66 Reds, Reds and More Red wants lots of red on the card. I feel I covered that fairly well with this card! :)

Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog's Challenge #156 - Make Your Own Flowers wants handmade flowers. Hands down... I'm all over this one! I've been on a flower-making bend no one could top! I made all the flowers on this card. :)

Simply Betty Stamps' Facebook Fan Page Challenge #2 - Elaine asks for swirls and ribbon with the image provided for the challenge. I did use a ribbon on the bottom of the card and the background paper has swirls on the left hand side and bottom of the card. I realized after I was done I covered most of the swirls but you can still make some out. Also, the stamp I used has the "Y" in a swirl and I added Stickles in Star Dust to bring that out. :)

Raisin Boat's Challenge 10 - Mother's Day is asking for a Mother's Day card. I am gonna give this to one of my sisters for Mother's Day. I'm almost tempted to include a kitty! She likes to go on and on about how I always show up at her house empty-handed. :-\ Can you believe it? My sister can be a pip sometimes. ;) lol

Here is the card:

Let me tell you how I put the card together. All card stock is from StoryTellers Club. Ribbon, doily and tag are from my stash. The larger flower is made from a small daisy punch and tissue paper. The two smaller flowers are made with a petite daisy punch with red card stock. I added "leaves" to the small flowers with a petite snowflake punch and green card stock. All punches are from Michael's. The black beads are from Studio 112 at Hobby Lobby. I added shimmer to the larger flower with some Tsukineko Pssst Shimmer Spritz in Frost. I dabbed the two smaller flowers with Stickles in Star Dust. I stamped "For You" on the tag with Raisin Boat's Formal Phrases clear stamp set. The image is from Simply Betty Stamps FB Fan Page as I mentioned previously. She's popping off the card with foam dots and colored in Copic markers. :)

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Too Early

I've posted a card to Scrapbook Stamp Society featuring Mitzi Sato-Wiuff's image called Christmas Floral. You can read all about it here.

This is my card:

Thanks for stopping by!

Alicia #5, Sentimental Sundays #150 and Oozak Challenge

I'm participating in Alicia's Challenge (AC) #5 - Anything Goes, Sentimental Sundays (SS) Challenge #150 - TAG YOU're IT and Oozak's Challenge (OC) - Anything Goes with Lace, Ribbon and Pearls.

To participate in AC's challenge, I have to use an Alicia's Little Shop image. I am using Shopping Girl. The theme is anything goes and I went with that! ;)

For SS's challenge, there has to be a sentiment and a tag. I used a small pink TAG at the bottom of the card and the SENTIMENT "It's all about the FUN!" :)

For OC's challenge, I must use lace, ribbon and pearls. I ran a strip of black LACE ribbon across the striped paper midway down the card. There are PEARLS on the centers of all three flowers. I tied a thin pink RIBBON into a bow and placed this on the top of the tag and topped it with a PEARL bead as well. There's also a small pearl beaded flower on the tag. I believe I got this covered as well! :)

Here is the card:

For the sake of detail, here is a close up of the "bling":

 

I used card stock, printed paper, pearl beads, rhinestones, silver cording and pink ribbon from my stash. The small pearl beaded flower on the tag is from Basic Grey's Opaline's collection called Wonder. The black lace ribbon is from Raisin Boat. I dabbed Stickles in Tropical Tangerine on the flowers and the larger bracelet on the Shopping Girl. I also dotted Stickles in Stardust on the flap of the purse and heel of the shoe on the image and on the dot on the "i", the apostrophe and the dot on the bottom of the exclamation point in the sentiment. I made the flowers from two small punches, petite daisy and snowflake, from Michael's Recollections' line. I used Copic markers to color the image and a silver gel pen on the buttons on the image.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

LTS Challenge #4 and CC Challenge #48

This card is for Love to Scrap! (LTS) Challenge #4 - Cut It Out and Creatalicious (CC) Challenges #48 - Let's Make a Cake. Sassy Studio Designs (SSD) is sponsoring both challenges. What a wonderful coincidence! ;) lol I've used SSD's digital image called Fourth of July Honey. I could not find a direct link. I looked on every single page at the SSD site to find the image. I'm thinking it may have been retired because I did not find this one but I found an image  called USA Honey in their Small World Collection. You can find the image on this page about 3/4 down the page. It appears to be a new collection. I haven't been over there in awhile and I saw a whole bunch of new images I'm thinking about going back to get! :)

LTS's challenge calls for using die cuts or punches. I did use punches! I made the flowers from a small flower punch. I punched six flower shapes for each flower. I also used a small snowflake punch to layer 3 snowflakes behind each flower to make an appearance of leaves peeking out from behind the flowers. I saw this idea on Pinterest. What an incredibly helpful site! ;) lol Not addictive in any shape or form either! ;)

CC's challenge is based on a recipe and what a recipe it is! I have to say... I found it to be very challenging. Isn't that what a challenge is all about after all? lol It is also a very fun recipe! Here it is:

1 ribbon/bow

2 buttons

2 flowers

1 clip / stitch / fastening

2 patterned papers

glitter (any kind)

Here is the card:

Unless otherwise noted, all supplies are from my stash. I used a total of THREE patterned card stocks (the red mat is printed with a crumpled red paper design... kinda hard to see that in the picture), THREE buttons with twine, THREE flowers made from TWO different PUNCHES, silk RIBBON from Raisin Boat tied into a BOW, rhinestones, a CLIP and STICKLES Stardust GLITTER GLUE to add shimmer to the flag and flowers. I also dabbed a dot on the blue button to keep the twine from unraveling. :) I colored the image with Copic markers. 

Well, that took my breath away! lol ;) Thanks for stopping by! :)

Some Odd Girl April Challenge and TSG 202 Color Challenge

I'm not sure why I don't play along more often with Some Odd Girl's  (SOG) monthly challenge. It's a MONTHLY challenge after all! Plenty of time for me to work on stuff. Plus... them SOG digis are just too cute! This digi is called Sunny Mae. On top of that... they are super, super easy to fussy cut... and I don't know if you knew this about me... but I was once the Fussy Cut Queen of New Hampshire. :) Also, I am not 100% sure about this... but I think they mostly use sketches... this is my third challenge playing along with them... I think I remember the first two were also sketches... but I could be wrong! If I am... first time ever in my whole entire lifetime. :) I like them there sketch challenges! :) I struggled with this one but only because I made it hard for myself. :( It's still an awesome sketch and I will probably use it again cause I really like it! :) This is the sketch for SOG's April Monthly Challenge:

Nifty ain't it? ;) Like I wrote earlier... I. Like. It. :)

Then today... I stumbled upon a wicked awesome stamp store... There She Goes (TSG) Clear Stamps! I want me some of them! They have TSG 202 Color Challenge going on right now... alas... it is a weekly challenge. This week's challenge is a color scheme... I normally do not like to play along with these... I find it super hard to follow a color scheme. Here is the color scheme:

I kinda rushed through this card too so I could get it in. If I had a TSG stamp set, I would have, for sure, used it but I don't have a set... YET! Something to work on! :) I actually came upon it because Designed to Color's (DTC) Challenge #10 - Hexagon Fun is being sponsored by TSG. I tried desperately to participate in this challenge. The prize is a $30 gift card to TSG! I just might could make out like a bandit! I'm ever the optimist here! :) However, DTC's challenge calls for HEXAGONS, thus the name of the challenge!! :( I did not have ONE single piece of paper with this pattern! Just recently... I had been looking at an embossing folder with hexagons and I remember clearly thinking... "That can wait... I cannot imagine needing it right away"... :-\ I could KICK myself! :-| Anyway... I've gone on and on long enough.

So, here is the card:

I cannot make a beach themed card without using sand paper. I. Simply. Can. Not! I can't do it! I've tried! I don't get far with it. :( So ... I used some blue sky paper and sand paper for the background. I meant to emboss the blue paper with a cloud embossing folder but remembered AFTER I glued the paper down. :( Sometimes... if my head were not screwed on... :-\ the shaped fish, sunglasses and sun brads are from HOTP. I buy these in this massive "Bevy of Brads" set sold by Paper Wishes. Each time I've bought the set, it has come with different shaped brads. I like that! :) I don't buy it often. I bought the first set back in 2006. A second set in 2010. I was thinking of buying a new set because the one in the link is quite different from the first two sets I've purchased in the past. Again... I. Like. That! :) The yellow acrylic sun shapes were from ScrapGoods. As far as I know... this company closed years ago. Makes me sad. They had the most awesome monthly scrapbooking club ever! If you click on the link, it takes you to an article written about the club; however, if you click on the link for the club, it takes you to a domain selling website. I colored the image with Copic markers. I used ribbon from my stash. I freehand cut the three banners on the bottom. I placed the image on foam dots to make her pop off the card. I added some Crystal Gloss to her shades because sunglasses are suppose to be shiny in my "Ema-gination"! :) lol So, I think that is pretty much how I put her together. 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

April Free Stamp of the Month Challenge

I've written before about participating in Designed to Delight - Delightful Inspiration by From the Heart monthly challenge. Faith Skrdla gifts the digital image as long as you participate in the challenge. These are very cute images! I did not start with the first free image. I discovered the blog about four months after the freebie was available. I had to buy the first image but since then, I've kept it up. Something about the word "free" that just appeals to me! What can I tell you? lol

This is for the April Free Stamp of the Month Challenge. The free image is called Flower Pot Chick and comes with the sentiment. 

Here is the card:

The card did not come out as I "Ema-gined" it but I love the deep red and bright yellow colors I used on the image. All card stock, printed paper and twine are from my stash. I added some Robin's Nest Sunflower Dew Drops for some bling and because I absolutely LOVE using these. :) I colored the image with Copic Markers. I dabbed some Stickles Liquid Pearls in Buttercup in the centers of all the flowers. I also added texture to the image with Michael's Recollections Flocking Powder in Sunflower on the chicken.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Crafty Catz Challenge #178 - Sketchie Time

I am participating in Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Challenge #178 Sketchie Time. Can you believe I use to be intimidated by sketches at one time? lol I've grown to love them! They are great inspiration and I believe... that is their purpose! ;) lol

Here is the sketch:

Here is the card:

I used card stock, printed paper, rhinestones and pearl beads from my stash. 

The image is from The Paper Shelter (TPS) called Gothic and Modern. I love TPS images! I play along with TPS challenges as often a I can in hopes of winning a $30 gift card! Whenever they announce they are sponsoring a contest, if I can, I am ALL over it. That's why you find me here! :)

I colored the image with Copic markers.

The image is centered and cut from an HOTP Design Tool Kit #3. I love these tools. I have all four from Paper Wishes! :) I also used this same tool to cut the tag. 

The "For You" sentiment is from Raisin Boat's Formal Phrases clear stamp set.

I made the flowers. The two smaller flowers are from an EK Success 1" Circle - Medium nesting punch. After punching out six circles, I cut "V" shapes along the circle. I then snipped, snipped and snipped some more all around the circles. I scrunched the six circles into itty bitty wedges. I punched a 7th circle and generously covered it with glue. I layered five of the scrunched wedges around the edges and placed one in the center. I think they kinda look like miniature carnations. What do you think? The larger flower is from a The Paper Studio punch I purchased at Hobby Lobby just this week! I'd been wanting it for the longest time. I finally caved and went in with my 40% coupon. :) lol I punched 9 flowers from three different types of paper in the same shade. I then alternately layered them, scrunched it tight and curled the petals back. I made leaves from a small snowflake punch. After punching these from three different shades of green card stock, I layered two together and folded these to tuck behind the flowers to give the appearance of leaves peeking out from behind the flowers.

I made the corners from a Fiskars Lace 3-in-1 Corner punch. After punching the corners, I cut these into squares. 

I also used a Fiskars border punch on the strip of black paper. After punching out the border on one side, I flipped the paper and repeated the process on the other side. I added rhinestones and pearl beads randomly for some interest and the necessary added bling! ;) 

I dotted Stickles in Diamonds around the edges of the two smaller flowers to give them a bit of shimmer and lined the edge of the image in Black Diamond for some interest as well.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Challenge 7 - April Fool's

Cards for Men is having Challenge # 7 - April Fool's. The premise is humor. :) Who cannot laugh when looking at this Kiss the Cook image from Just Inklined? It definitely brought a smile to my face for sure! 

Here is the card:

I used plain and embossed card stock, ribbon, button and twine from my stash. Cuttlebug wood grain embossing folder and Darice cloud embossing folder added texture to the background card stock. I colored the image with Copic markers. The sky background on the image was accomplished with Pebbles chalks. The small stamped vegetables and alphabet used on the sentiment both come from unknown stamp sets. The tomato and bell pepper pop off the card with foam tape.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

April Challenge - Beccy's Place

Here's another card for Beccy's Place April Challenge using a free digital image called Peony Flower. 

I used card stock, printed paper and ribbon from my stash, a Cuttlebug embossing folder and Copic markers to color the image.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Beccy's Place - April Challenge

I am participating in Beccy's Place - April Challenge. I used her free digital image Peonies in a Vase. 

Here is the card:

I used card stock and ribbon from my stash, two Cuttlebug embossing folders, Crystal Accents on the vase and colored the image with Copic markers.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Challenge #65

I didn't plan on using this image... it's a free digital image from Jade Dragonne and called Flora. I originally thought she was blowing a kiss and realized as I was coloring her she instead is sucking on her fingers. :-\ I wanted to gift this to my sister as a Mother's Day card. While putting it together, I realized... I might could make it work! :) I'm no quitter!

I kinda like how it turned out too!

For this sister's last birthday, I made her a card with cupcakes and you can see it here. I thought I could use this card for an inside joke as well. :)

When I was very young... so young I have no memory of it... but the story goes we were celebrating her birthday and my mother loaded a tray of cupcakes in the backseat of our then vehicle. When we left the farm, my brother and she threw me into the back seat... this was before the days of car seats and seat belts... it's a wonder I survived my youth! lol Well... long story short... when we got to the party... I'd stuck my fingers in ALL the cupcakes and was covered head to toe in frosting. I ask you... WHO places a child next to a tray of cupcakes!?! lol This happened well over 45 years ago and to this day... I'm not allowed to guard cupcakes! Anyway... I thought to use the word "Yum" on a banner but while looking for that I found this sentiment and decided to go with this one instead. So anyway, here is the card:

I used card stock, ribbon and printed paper from my stash. The table image is from a Hannah stamp set. I added some Liquid Applique to the cupcakes on the table which are cutout from some printed paper. The sentiment is from The Angel Company (bought out by Red Rubber Designs! I was so thrilled to learn this!). I colored the image with Copic markers.

I am entering this in the Color Me Creative Challenge #65 - All About Hair challenge.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

CMC Challenge #65 - All About Hair

I am participating in the Color Me Creative Challenge #65 - All About Hair challenge. In case there's any doubt... it's all about hair! ;) lol I used a Jade Dragonne free digital image called Shyness. There is a policy about copyright and contests. I emailed with questions about challenges classified as a contest and did not receive an answer. I hope this is acceptable... if it isn't... I guess I'll be finding out now! :-\ Anyway....

Here is the card...

Card stock, ribbons, pearl beads, rhinestones and printed paper are from my stash. I layered the image on Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Circle dies. The butterfly is punched from an EK Success Butterfly Layering punch. I used Stickles on the edges of the flowers; Christmas Red on the red, Stardust on the white and Purple on the purple. :) I colored the image with Copic markers. 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Just Around the Corner

I've posted to Scrapbook Stamp Society featuring a digital image by Morgan Fitzsimons' called Ragamuffin Kids #5 You can read all about it here.

This is my card:

Thanks for stopping by!