Friday, July 31, 2015

A Day for Daisies #127 - Add A Feather Challenge

It's the second week celebrating the More Birds release at ADFD.  This is my second image from the release, called Bird in Flight.  This week we are challenging you to add a feather to your project.  I don't have any feathers or feather dies, so I went to Pinterest and found out how to make a feather with a little white school glue and two book pages.  It was super simple and didn't cost a thing!  My Copics were used to color the feathers to go with my image and the button.

Stop by the ADFD Blog to see the beautiful DT inspiration.  I'm looking forward to seeing your feathers!




Challenges Entered:
Through the Craft Room Door 7/29 /- AG
Digi Choosday # 30/ - Animals
Top Tip Tuesday 7/21/ - Bingo (kraft, sentiment, stitching)
Little Red Wagon #300 /- Things that Fly
Crafter's Cafe #127/ - Button

Thursday, July 30, 2015

4 Crafty Chicks #257 - AG

It's my last post as a GDT member for the 4 Crafty Chicks.   It's been fun to be on the team and I wish them well.  I know I'll continue to enter their challenges!

The fifth Thursday of any month is a"Crazy Egg" or anything goes challenge for the Chicks, so this one should get your creativity revved up.  I decided to do a little something different and tried one of the watercolor techniques for my card.  I dug out an SU!'s long-retired stamp set, Petal Prints and inked up the open daisy with Daffodil Delight (at the center), Melon Mambo (middle), and Antique Linen Distress Ink (tips), spritzed with water and pressed!  Sounds easy, right?!?  I was in my craft room for hours getting this right!  Placement of the flowers around the sentiment, masking, and color combination!  One of those cards that took a whole lot longer than I thought.  It kind of works that way, doesn't it??  I'm pleased with the results, though. . .  love the look of it.

Stop over at the 4 Crafty Chicks to see what the DT has for you this week.  See you in the gallery!



Challenges Entered:
Fantastic Tuesday #96/ - Make it Feminine
Creative Inspirations #323 - Flowers
Addicted to Stamps & More #155/ - Photo Inspiration
Crafty Gals Corner #30/ - AG

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Online Card Class - Day 2

Just here to share some of the fun going on in my craft room this week.  I'm taking the Jennifer McGuire & Kristina Werner's Online Card Class called Background Check.  I've found my sweet spot from today's ideas and my new best friend is Versa Mark ink!

My favorite sample is this one.  All of the vibrant colors are super-delicious! This is from a 6x6 pad - one of those pages that I typically cut into strips and use the sections I like best.  (You can see what I mean in the photo below.)  Now- I have a new use for those pages.  I can't wait to use this on a card!













Take a peek at the same background stamp on two other patterned papers:

The one on the left looks ready for fall!  It's a green dot on white background with chocolate chip ink.
The paper on the left is a text paper with different words written in a variety of colors.  At first, I tried a green ink on top and then Blushing Bride on the bottom.  I didn't really like them and was about to pitch the page, when I thought to just use black on top of the other two colors - it's a keeper!  Love this technique - super easy and quick!

















My last sample to share uses Versa Mark and glossy paper.  Thanks to Jennifer,  I have a way to used the glossy paper in my stash (untouched for 6 years).  Another super-easy technique.  The biggest issue is choosing an ink color! (This one is Pear Pizzaz.)  It's in need of some more playing, but I love the technique!  I could be making polka dot paper rather than buying it!!

  

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #371

Happy Saturday, Sketchers!  We have a new sketch from Deb this week to jump start your creativity.  Sketch Saturday is being sponsored by The Paper Shelter, with a $10 credit to their store to the challenge winner.

My card uses an old Papertrey set called, Warm Happiness.  Stop over at the Sketch Saturday blog and check out the DT creations, then play along!

Challenges Entered:
Little Miss Muffet #116/ - AG
Aud Sentiments #136/ - AG+ sentiment
Southern Girls7/16 /- Get Messy with Ink or paint

Friday, July 24, 2015

A Day for Daisies #126 - AG

The A Day for Daisies DT is working with two of Tammy's new releases over the next two weeks.
 My card features one called, Birds in Little Hats.   I love listening to songbirds - as a matter of fact it's one way I relax over a cup of coffee in the morning, but I don't really color birds.  This was an easy way to get started!  These were so quick to color and came out cute!  I used an MFT die to cut around them and a wood grained eb folder for the background.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches.   Check out the blog here and then head to The Shop to buy!

Challenges Entered:
Through the Craft Room Door 7/21/- AG
Dream Valley #111/ - Embossed
Shopping Our Stash #211/ - Destress (listening to songbirds)
Top Tip Tuesday 7/21/- Bingo (embossing sentiment die
Fab 'N Funky #269/ - No Patterned Paper
Cute Card Thursday #383 /- Pets











Thursday, July 23, 2015

Creative Knockouts - Paper Piecing

I loved this Creative Knockouts challenge!  I decided to use neutrals with a pop of color.  This little crab is an oldie from Amuse Studios.  I bought it a while back with the sentiment - and this is the firat time I've inked it up - probably because I'm never crabby (Although my DH would likely disagree - LOL!).  I masked the crabs stamped in PTI's Soft Stone, paper pieced one from scraps for the color pop, added some Frantage (maybe more than some!), and added the sentiment.  Come and join our Paper Piecing Challenge.  The DT has fun inspiration for you here!

Challenges Entered:
Through the Craft Room Door - AG
Dream Valley #111 - Embossed (heat)
CASology #156 /- Line
Addicted to Stamps and More #154 /- CAS

 

4 Crafty Chicks #256 - Sun, Sand and Sea

What says summer better than the smell of sunscreen, sand between your toes, and laying on the beach?!?  I am a water baby.  It's where I go when I want to relax and find peace.  Unfortunately in MN, the closest we get to the feel of the ocean is Lake Superior - and there is nothing much warm about that water!!  I don't mind - at least the waves crash on the beach.

The 4 Crafty Chicks have a Sun, Sand, and Sea Challenge for you this week.  I added some sand and sea to create a scene for this Little Umbrella image from Mo's Digital Pencil.  Come and play with the Chicks in the summer fun this week!

  Challenges Entered:
Through the Craft Room Door 7/21/ - AG
Digi Choosday #29/ - All About the Girl
ColourQ #300/
Fan-Tastic Tuesday #95/- A Day at the Beach
Crafting by Designs 7/22/ - Summer Holidays



Saturday, July 18, 2015

Sketch Saturday #370

Bunny Zoe is sponsoring this week's challenge at Sketch Saturday. There's going to be a new grandbaby in our family next March, so Alex's sketch was perfect to create a card congratulating my son, DIL, and their two other children.  We are all thrilled for them.  The stamp set, I'm Here from Amuse Studios was great fun to use for this quick card.

Hope you will play along with us. Check out the other Sketch Saturday DT creations  here.



Challenges Entered:
4 Crafty Chicks/ - CAS
Sister Act #115/ - AG
Not Just Cards - July AG
Crafting from the Heart #68/ - AG
Word Art Wednesday #192/ - Family Friendly





Friday, July 17, 2015

A Day For Daisies DT! & Challenge #125 - Use Newsprint

Some exciting news at My Creative Space - I have been asked to join the ADFD DT!!  I am just now breathing and have stopped squealing because I have been a fan of Tammy's work for a long time. It's truly an honor to be part of this amazing and talented group of ladies.

The ADFD theme for Challenge #126 is Newsprint.  I dug in my stash and pulled out at stack from SU! for the background and the flowers.   PTI's Good Times stamp set is used for the pink on the right side.  (I can tell I will get a lot of use out of this stamp - love it!!)  The word bubble die cut is from WPlus9.  A pixie needs glitter, so the leaf part of her dress is Stickled.

Aside from the beautiful lines and sweetness of the illustrations, one of the things I have loved about ADFD images is each one I have colored has stretched my skills in a new way.  This one is no exception.  Unsatisfied with my attempts at coloring her top like a hat, I decided to take try it as hair and was much happier with the results.  I also worked at where the light would hit her dress.  When I worked on the card in iPhoto, it seemed that the right spot was a little off and too big.  Note to self - let photo editing help with highlights and shading!!

Enough of the babble - Check out the DT creations HERE and play along with us.  The lucky challenge winner will receive a choice of 4 ADFD images from the shop and be featured on the ADFD Community FB page!


Copics used:
Hair and dress - RV000, R81, RV63, 55, & R39
Skin -  E00, 21, & R20
Leaves - YG00, 01, 03, 25, & a hint of 67

Challenges Entered:
In the Pink #73/ - Floral
Digi Chooseday #28 - something old (newsprint paper, brads)
As You Like It - Favorite Color (Love every shade of pink!)
Creative Inspirations #322/ - Color It
Fab 'n' Funky #268/ - Floral Delight
Not Just Cards July  - AG



Thursday, July 16, 2015

4 Crafty Chicks #255 - CAS

The 4 Crafty Chicks are looking for CAS cards for this week's challenge.  I have to admit that CAS cards usually take me as long as a card I color with my Copics.  Sometimes I find myself paralyzed with just starting.  This week's card came together super-fast for me.  I knew what I wanted to do right away and the card came out just as I pictured in my head.  No only that, but it's a one layer card - and I never do that because I usually mess up and have to cut something off!  Papertrey Ink's Good Times stamp set and matching die are used for my card.

Play along with the Chicks and post a CAS card for the gallery!

Challenges Entered:
Craft Your Passion #270/ - AG
Tuesday Throwdown #253/ - Tic Tac Toe (stamp die cut, enamel dot)
Addicted to Stamps #153 - Holiday
Aud Sentiments #136 - AG

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Sketch Saturday #369


 Hi Sketch Saturday Fans!

Niki created our sketch and it's a Simon Says Stamp! sponsor week for us - which means $25 for the lucky winner. I adjusted the orientation of the image panel to fit this fabulous Fairy  Godmother image from Mo Manning.




















On June 29th, Sandy Allnock posted a coloring ethnic skin tones video on her blog as a result of the tragic deaths in South Carolina and in support of #thehumanrainbow project.   She invited crafters to join her.  I've decided it's one of the things I can do from my little corner of the craft world, so you will be seeing me try different color combinations for skin tones on the cards I post. Think of the power we like-minded folks have when we join together.  I am reminded about a quote I love from Margaret Mead:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. 

Play along with us at Sketch Saturday this week and I'd like to extend the invitation to you to join supporting #thehumanrainbow on social media sites.

Challenges Entered:
Mo's Digital Challenge #253 - AG
Creative Fingers #87/- AG


Thursday, July 9, 2015

Creative Knockouts #97 - Fun in the Sun

Hi Everyone!
Love the Fun in the Sun theme for this week's Creative Knockouts challenge! Those of us in the northern hemisphere are approaching the middle of our summer, so vacations by the water are on my mind.   My card features the image Summer Laundry Line from our sponsor, The Stamping Boutique.   I seem to be into making scenes lately, so I added some water behind the image.  Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #276 allowed us to go back in their archives and use any sketch.  I used #157 for my card.  Don't you think it's a great design for this summery laundry line?!

Stop over at Creative Knockouts and see what the gals have for you and then play along with our challenge.


Challenges Entered:
Sweet Sunday Sketch #276/ - ? (Choose any sketch)
Pile it On #76/ - Hot Fun in the Summertime
Natalie and Amy #34 - Summertime



4 Crafty Chicks #254 - Christmas in July

The Four Crafty Chicks have turned their thoughts to Christmas this week.  I pulled out a snowflake eb folder and a stamp I bought from Amuse Studios called Peace on Earth and used Cherry Cobbler embossing powder.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but the white half circle and the snowflake die cut are from glitter paper.

Take a peek at the DT's inspiration at the 4 Crafty Chicks Blog and then play along with us this week.  I promise, it actually feels good to start on Christmas cards in July!














Challenges Entered:
Emerald Faeries #69 - Christmas in July
Digi Chooseday wk#27 - Christmas in July
Crafty Calendar - Christmas in July
Little Claire #7- Holiday
Crafty Hazelnut #236/ - Sentiment on a Xmas card

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #368

Sketch Saturday is being sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps this week.  I know they are having a big sale at their site through the end of July, so now is a good time to shop for some of their fun images.  I have teamed up their image, Frame-It Cinderella with Deb's great sketch.  I don't have many patterned papers in the purple family, but luckily I had this piece. All the little flowers are mirrored around the card.  The shoe is stamped with a mini-flower cluster from W Plus 9's Fresh Cut Floral set.  A friend of mine has a killer pair of spikes with a wild flower pattern on them - which is what inspired me to embellish this shoe.  I also used the cluster as the shape from the sketch.  I needed to adapt Deb's sketch for my card.  When I decided a horizontal card fit the image better, the extra panel of pink needed to stretch across the horizon as well.  Check out what the rest of the DT did with Debra's sketch here and then play along with us!








Colors Used:
Dress: BV 00, 02, 17, 09
Bow: V02, 06, 09
Shoe:RV 000, 00, 21
Hair:  E50, 51, 53, 37
Skin:  E00, 21, R20
Happy Independence Day to everyone in the U.S.  We are off to a 4th of July parade this morning and a big water fight with grandkids this afternoon.  We have squirters and water balloons ready to go!  My four year old granddaughter has been advising me to be prepared!!  It's pretty cute!  I don't know which will be more fun - the water battle or fireworks tonight.

Challenges Entered:
The Pink Elephant #305 - AG
Craft Your Passion #268/ - AG
Digi Chooseday #26 - Use embossing
Creative Inspirations #320/ - AG
Addicted to Stamps & More #151/ - AG
Catch the Bug July - AG


Thursday, July 2, 2015

Guest DT Member - Four Crafty Chicks Challenge #253 - No Stamping

I am super-excited to be a Guest DT member for the Four Crafty Chicks during the month of July.  I won a challenge a few months ago and was invited to be a Guest DT member!  I love playing along with 4CC, so I was honored and thrilled by the invitation.


This week's 4CC challenge is No Stamping.  I decided that a digital image would be too close to stamping, so I went with die cuts and embossing.  Both die cuts are from PTI.  The word "celebrate" is from June's release.  Stop by the 4 Crafty Chicks Blog to peek at the DT's inspiration for the challenge and then play along!

Challenges Entered:
The Pink Elephant #305 - AG
Craft Your Passion #268 /- AG
CASology #153 /- Pop
Fan-Tastic Tuesday/ - AG/twist=A touch of summer
Creative Moments #71/ - Embossing
House of Cards July Challenge - color inspiration