i {heart} card sketches no. 55

Guess what I found out today!?! It was the bestest news ever! From the Heart weekly sketch challenge participants receive $1 for each challenge! Plus the usual prizes. You know how that goes. Random.org is not my friend! :( I was just so thrilled! It's a weekly challenge and I don't do well with weekly challenges but I'm gonna try my best! I love From the Heart images! Faith Skrdla draws the cutest images! I've just not been able to buy all the ones I want as often as I want because of the tight money belt situation right now. Recently, I won a set from her store! Yay me! lol She was having a contest on FB and my comment was picked, along with two others. It was such a dilemma to chose ONE image! But I did! :) I settled on Chocolate Box Birdbrain.

I've bought several sets that come with sentiments and then I participate in the From the Heart progressive challenges. Some of these images come with sentiments. I find myself using the sentiments on other cards. That's what I was doing today. I used a sentiment on a project and wanted to link the set I used to the post. I'm HUGE about linking everything! lol ;) I cannot stand to read a blog and there's no information about where to get things or what they are called so I can find them on my own. So I probably go overboard linking all that I can for my readers... hahahahaha... sorry, that idea gave me the giggles. I think I'm my only reader. :-\ So anyway, I was looking for the store link on the blog and I don't know WHAT drew my attention but I went over and read the i {heart} card sketches no. 55 post. I perked up big time when I read the awesome news. Get this... it's been going on for awhile! Because the post read that participants "will still" receive the $1 for each challenge. Where have I been? Apparently under a rock! ;) lol

So, I went through the images I currently have printed out and I decided to use Sweet Chef with a sentiment from Cupcake Trio. Then... when I was looking for these links, I discovered LOYALTY POINTS! Sorry, didn't meant to scream but I did NOT know about these! I have points I can redeem! So I did... I could not wait to spend these! What a dilemma again! I was torn between Martini Chicks, Birdbrain Football Fanatics, Meet Anneke or Birthday Pickup. On the other hand... I'd also been eyeing a heap of her sentiment sets... so that's what I got.

Sorry, lost my train of thought! Here is my card:

I colored the image with Copic markers and all supplies used are from my long-hoarded stash. Ha! I'll never finish that stash! :-\ I've been throwing my scraps too! I use to keep ALL my scraps but I thought to myself, I'd be getting rid of my long-hoarded stash for DECADES! So I've been purging. Still hard to do... I fight the urge to pull things out of the trash can. lol I'm hopeless! What can I tell you?

Anyway, I went kinda long but I had such fantastic news! :) lol Thanks for stopping by!

DD Challenge #103 - Make it Masculine

When I saw Digi Darla's Challenges was having a masculine card challenge, Challenge #103 - Make it Masculine, I had to go for it. I like making these because they take me out of my comfort zone and push me to work with something I'm not used to. Well, today... this project almost made me cry!

It started fairly simple. Based on the fact that it was for a masculine card, I went and chose the paper I wanted to work with. Then... the nightmare began. I colored the image with Copic markers. My first thought was to color the overalls navy blue, the t-shirt baby blue and the baseball cap red. Well, I started with the t-shirt and discovered I was out of B000. I'd already outlined with the B02 and B00. So I decided to use a very light BG. I thought it would blend well but instead I ended up with a dirty gray t-shirt. NOT what I wanted so I reached for B15, B13 and B11 and went with that. Then, with the whole dilemma of the t-shirt, my color scheme went out the window! It wasn't until I was assembling the card I realized I did not color it as I originally planned. :( To top it off, I thought his forehead was kinda pale and decided to add some E00 for more color. Well, let me explain... the ink cartridge I purchased for the printer recently... well... it seems to be like really juicy. The images have been smearing. Well, I was heat setting the images with my heating tool but that was not working very well. Today, I pulled out the ironing board and iron. It did the trick! But for some reason, when I was coloring the forehead, the ink ran around the eyebrows. I was devastated! After all I'd been through with the whole outfit coloring fiasco. I almost cried! I actually thought of throwing it away and starting over but who was I kidding!?! I have not ever been able to do that. So I played with it and played with it but all I accomplished was making the smear look lighter but it's still there. :'(

Then... when I was assembling it, I forgot it was for a masculine card! I added rhinestones to the center of the flowers on the image. I added flowers to the side of the sentiment. Thankfully, as I was admiring the final result... I always admire my cards... ;) lol I realized it was suppose to be a masculine card! The flowers had not set yet so I was able to remove them easily and replace these with buttons. The rhinestones on the flowers were also not set so I took those off. I added some itty, bitty silver brads to the overalls where the buttons are to add some detail. I like detail. :) 

Here is my card:

The sentiment was picked out when I forgot it was to be a masculine card but I think it will still work. I'm ssooo glad I decided against the red, frilly ribbon I was originally looking at! *SIGH* As you can see, the navy overalls ended up being black and the cap was colored to match the shirt. :-\ Ugh! I don't know what I was thinking after the t-shirt mishap. :) What a challenge this card turned out to be! lol ;) 

Thanks for stopping by!

ADFD Challenge #90 - Add Green

I hope I make it on time! Last time I wanted to participate in A Day for Daisies challenge I missed the deadline... and not just by minutes or hours... but by days! ;) lol I've been laid up in bed and I colored my image... just didn't ever get to turn it into a card. Last time, I think I remember it was a yellow theme and this time it's Challenge #90 - Add Green theme and the same colored image will work! Yay! :) Here is my card:

I used the same card sketch and embellishments I originally intended to use... I just changed the color! How easy was that I ask you!?! :) I colored the image with Copic markers and all supplies are from my long-hoarded stash. The sentiment is from From the Heart Digital Art Stamps called Autumn Flower Jar. I used Stickles Glitter Glue in Firefly, Green, Yellow, Star Dust and Diamond to line the entire card. Image, flower, sentiment, paper... ALL of it. Stickles makes everything so much prettier. I don't know if you can see the shimmer but IRL it's very shimmery and just plain purdee! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Watermark

I discovered recently the importance of a watermark. I was of the mindset that if I were to see someone using one of my cards I'd not watermarked, I'd probably be flattered. To be honest, when I found this image on Pinterest in its unwatermarked stage, I was horrified. Not because someone else did use it, but because someone could use it and I haven't even had time to turn it into a card! :-\

So I don't know how to undo what has been done but I've learned a valuable lesson of the importance of a watermark. 

Just as an FYI to you... this is the image I refer to:

It's a Mitzi Sato-Wiuff image called Rite of Spring. I colored it to use on a challenge for Scrapbook Stamp Society and shared it in their private group on Facebook. Maybe I did inform them to use it but I cannot imagine that I did. lol I was seriously deep into my chemo drugs back late last summer so I may very well have had that fleeting thought. Still, I think someone would have asked me to watermark it. :-\ Nonetheless, as I wrote, the damage is done. I'm only here to claim the right to my colored image. :)

Fitztown Challenge #24 - Stitching

Please come join us at Fitztown Challenge Blog for Challenge #24 - Stitching. This can be faux or real. Here is my card:

This is from Fitztown's Cutie collection and isn't he the cutest!?! I've colored the image with Copic markers and all supplies used are from my long-hoarded stash. I added some knots of silk lime ribbon from Raisin Boat at the bottom to give the illusion of grass. Clever aren't I? ;) lol I have to say I am! No one else will tell me that! I'm a single gal and I have two adult children so there... enough said... ;) lol

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges:

Challenge #113 Spots and Stripes at A Gem of a Challenge (I've used striped BG paper and spotted ribbon)

Challenge #12 - Anything Goes at 4 Krafty Girlz Challenges

Challenge #77 - Anything Goes at Crafty Ribbons

Challenge #38 - Anything Goes at Challenges 4 Everybody

Challenge #12 - Anything Goes at Scribble and Scrap Challenge and Blog

I am a follower of these blogs and I display badges here.

Please be sure to join us for some fun and prizes at Fitztown Challenge Blog!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Release at DS4J

It's that time of week again! I've got Spring Time from DigiStamps4Joy's Sunday Release. This is my card:

Retired paper is from It Takes Two. I made the daisy with a Michael's Recollections Daisy Punch and used a rhinestone for the center. The spring sentiment is from StampArt Design by Kathryne at Whimsy Stamps. I've colored the image with Copic markers. I dabbed some Stickles Liquid Pearls in Buttercup on the centers of all the daisies and baby breath on the flower bouquet.  

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges:

Challenge #207 - Spring at Totally Papercraft Challenges

Flower Power at Stampin' for the Weekend

Challenge #45 - Anything Goes at Sister Act Card Challenge

I am a follower of these blogs and I display my badges here.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to pop on over to the DS4J blog to see the other new releases and what my teammates have come up with to show you. 

SSD Progressive Monthly Challenge #10 - Spring Colors

Here is my card for Progressive Monthly Challenge #10 at Sassy Studio Designs. The challenge has been moved over to FB so I'm not sure the link will show for you. It's a "Soft Spring Colors" challenge using Sassy Effie Trinket. Here is my card:

All the supplies are from my long-hoarded stash and I colored the image with Copic markers. I dabbed the butterfly with Stickles for some added shimmer. 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

The 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up

Haha! I'm always a dollar late and a day short. ;) I know, I know it's wrong but that's my point! lol Here is a Christmas card I made for a Christmas progressive card challenge at DigiStamps4Joy. I totally missed the deadline due to illness but here is my card so I can get it entered into Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' The 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up. Wow! Try saying that really fast three times! lol I am a follower of this blog and I display challenge badges here. Here is my card:

I've colored the image with Copic markers. All supplies are from my stash. The image is from DigiStamps4Joy and is called Christmas Candle. How appropriate! ;) lol I totally goofed when I originally showed the card. I wasn't thinking and I added the wrong watermark. Imagine my dismay when I was able to wipe it out on Paint! I added my personal watermark but included both cards to show this is really MY card. I cannot believe some of the things I've seen on some of these challenges all in the name of winning a few dollars in prizes! Anyway, that's why there's two cards. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

DS4J Progressive Christmas Challenge

Did you know DigiStamps4Joy is having a Christmas-themed progressive monthly challenge? Yes! I love these types of challenges! Here is my card:

This is My 1st Christmas and I think it's such a fun image! I colored the image with Copic markers. All supplies used are from my stash. I cannot remember where the sentiment comes from. Sorry about that! :( I'm gonna organize my digital sentiments first chance I get so I can give you better information about where I get them. 

I'd like to enter this card into this challenge:

The 12 Months of Christmas Card Link Up at Decosse's Dynamite Doodles

I am a follower of this blog and I display my badges here.

Thanks for stopping by!

DS4J Challenge #86 - Punches and Dies

Here I am with DigiStamps4Joy's newest challenge, #86 - Punches and Dies. Pull out your favorites and show us what you do with them! Here is my card:

Here is a close up of the detail:

I colored the image, Tulip Basket, with Copic markers. I added Stickles to make everything prettier! ;) I used a Michael's Recollections border punch for the edging and a Fiskars corner punch. I like using those corner punches for an unexpected interesting tid bit on my cards. I made this a long card for a #10 envelope. I'd forgotten how L - O - N - G they come out. lol I had a time photographing the card. I called it my Leaning Tower of Pisa. No matter what angled I snapped from, it looked like it was gonna tip over. I scanned it once but I don't care for that. It makes the cards look so flat. lol This has a ribbon on it and that's what I was referring to. I so like to use these happy colors on my cards. Don't they just make you smile? :)

I'd like to submit this card into these challenges:

Challenge #7 - Digi Image + Digi Sentiment at Squigglefly 

(The digital image is Tulip Basket from DigiStamps4Joy and the digital sentiment is from Create with TLC.)

Anything Goes at Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog

Challenge #12 - Always Anything Goes at Scribble and Scrap Challenge Blog

I am a follower of these blogs and I display badges here.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you will pop on over to DigiStamps4Joy and join in on the current challenge. 

From the Heart Stamp of the Month - February

This card is for the monthly challenge at From the Heart Stamps Community. Faith Skrdla will gift you a digital image for each month you participate in the challenge. Isn't that way generous of her?!? It is a progressive challenge that started in September 2012 and at the time, the first image was free. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered this in January 2013. In order to receive the freebie, you must make a purchase and request the freebie of the month, and as long as you continue participating in the challenge, you'll receive a free digi each month. For the month of February, the freebie image is Birthday Candle Birdbrain and here is my card:

I've colored the image with Copic markers. The rest of the supplies are from my long hoarded stash.

 I am a follower of this blog and all my badges are displayed here in alphabetical order.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Just Some Lines - Hearts and Love February Challenge

Here I am with this month's freebie from Just Some Lines to participate in their February Challenge - Hearts and Love. I hope the heart in the image will work for the hearts part of the challenge. :) I am a follower of this blog and all my badges are displayed here in alphabetical order.

Here is my card:

All supplies are from my long-hoarded stash and I've colored the image with Copic markers. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Kinda Late

Here I am with a post I've been trying to complete since October! Yes! I am a little late or kinda behind... depends on how you look at it. Ha!

I altered this box for my friend, Maria. 

Here are some larger pics for the detail:

 

 

 

 

Isn't it fabulous?!? ;) lol

Thanks for stopping by!

SSD Progressive Monthly Challenge #8

Here is my card for Progressive Monthly Challenge #8 at Sassy Studio Designs. The challenge has been moved over to FB so I'm not sure the link will show for you. It's a "Hearts and a Sassy Sentiment" challenge using Pin Up Kitty. Oops! I overlooked the hearts! I hope this does not disqualify me for next month's challenge. Here is my card:

I don't mind telling you, I love how it came out! I think it looks so elegant! Aren't I just so full of myself? All the supplies are from my stash and I colored the image with Copic markers. I dabbed the flowers with Stickles for some added shimmer. I used a tutorial from Whiff of Joy for the card fold and you can find the tutorial here.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

DigiStamps4Joy Challenge #85 - Hearts

Come join the newest challenge at DigiStamps4Joy, #85 - Hearts! Just in time for Valentine's Day. Not my favorite holiday but always calls for pretty red and pink cards. :)

Here is my card using Bettie Bow and calling for some ooh la la!

Isn't she just the cutest image ever!?! I love it! I've colored the image with Copic markers and all supplies used are from my long-hoarded stash.

I'd like to submit this card into these challenges:

Challenge #77 - Anything Goes / Hearts at Artistic Inspirations

Craft it Up and Link it Up Linky Party #24 Photo Inspiration using Red, Pink and / or White at Craftin' Desert Diva's

Digi Makeover Challenge #126 - Anything Goes at Paper Makeup Stamps Blog

I am a follower of these blogs and I display my badges here. 

Pop on over to the DigiStamps4Joy Challenge Blog to see what all the rest of the team has made for Challenge #85 - Hearts and come play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Fitztown Challenge #21 - Anything Goes

Come join us at Fitztown Challenge Blog for the new challenge #21 - Anything Goes! You know you want to! It's always the best type of challenge to play along with!

Here's my card:

I've used a Morgan Fitzsimons image from the Wild Animal Collection at Fitztown. I kept it very simple for this very majestic image! I trimmed it close so that there would not be any empty space in each of the rectangles. I love the simplicity of it and I also think it will make a great masculine card! 

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges:

Challenge #38 - Anything Goes at Challenges 4 Everybody

Clean and Simple at Come and Get It Challenge Blog

Challenge #74 - No Designer Paper at Dream Valley Challenges

Challenge #11 - Always Anything Goes at Scribble and Scrap

February 2014 Monthly Challenge: Clean and Simple at Crafter's Companion

I am a follower of these blogs and I display my badges here

Thanks for stopping by and I sure hope to see you over at the Fitztown Challenge Blog for the current Anything Goes Challenge #21!

Sunday Release at DigiStamps4Joy

It's that time of week again! Sunday Release at DigiStamps4Joy. Check out this fun image! It's Pompom Love and you can find it here. 

This is my card:

I've colored the image with Copic markers and all supplies used are from my stash. Isn't this a fun image? 

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges:

Challenge #112 - All You Need is Love at A Gem of a Challenge

Love is All Around at Crafty Calendar Challenge

Love and/or Valentine's Challenge at Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog

I am a follower of these blogs and I display their badges here. 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to pop on over to DigiStamps4Joy Blog so you can see other fabulous creations from my teammates with the new releases!