My Time to Craft - ATC Card

The latest challenge on the MTTC Blog is to create an ATC card.  Here's a link to a YouTube video for folks who aren't familiar with ATCs.  It's basically a multimedia 2"x3" trading-style card.

My card was made to celebrate artist, Sandra's Caldwell's 65th birthday.  The image is a digi she created called, Glamour Nana, which is available in her Etsy shop.  I started by stamping and masking the balloons with a sentiment stamp in the background.  The "birthday" sentiment panel and heart punched from patterned paper came as the next layer.  Sandra's image was colored and fussy cut and layered on top and the whole panel was adhered to the 2x3 piece of colored cardstock.

I love Sandra's unique style as an artist. You can see several examples of her work by finding her name on my sidebar, checking out her Etsy Shop, or joining her FB Group Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans.

I'm looking forward to seeing the ATC cards you come up with in the MTTC gallery.

My Time to Craft #359 - Winter Birthday

Amy is the creative mind behind the Winter Birthday theme of the newest challenge on the My Time to Craft Challenge Blog.  I am featuring a digi from the talents of artist Sandra Caldwell for my card.  You can find the image (and hundreds more!) in her Babycakes Design and Digis Etsy Shop; it's called 1018 Reindeer Child.  I love Sandra's quirky eye and her unique illustrative style.

MTTC challenges run for a fortnight, so you have plenty of time to check out the DT creations and then enter a card in the gallery!  We'd love to visit you blog and leave you some love!

Challenges Entered:
Crafty Catz #393 - AG
Pattie's Creations #140 - Birthdays

Sandra Caldwell New Release Friday

It's Friday, so that means Sandra Caldwell has another batch of new images for you in her Etsy Shop Babycakes Digis and Designs.  This is one of today's releases, called #1645 Jamaican Cutie.  She was fun to color.  I used Copics for her skin, hair and dress and blended pink, yellow and orange Distress Inks on her head scarf.  Isn't the SU! ombre ribbon yummy?!?  Love the way it looks and ties.  I used to add ribbon to almost every card and got out of the habit.  I just love how it gives a finishing touch and a bit of "fancy" to a card.

This is my final card as part of Sandra's DT.  I've been one of her part-time girls since I started 15 months ago - although I have been promised the chance to be a guest DT!  I was drawn to her unique style as an artist and the diversity of her images.  Being part of her fabulous team has been a joy.  It's a great group of women.  I encourage you to check out the vibrant Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Facebook Group (which has grown to 422 members in the last year) and the Babycakes Digis and Design Shop to support this talented artist.

Challenges Entered:
4 Crafty Chicks #357/ - AG
C.R.A.F.T. #422/ - Add Ribbon and Sparkle
Crafty Girls Creations #37/ - AG
Creative Knockouts #200/ - For the Girls
Star Stampz 6/29/ - Bright Sunshine Colors
As You Like It 6/29/ - Favorite way to add ribbon + why

Sandra Caldwell New Release Friday

The image I have from Sandra's new releases this week is called #1603 BBQ Dad.  The sentiment is Labeler Alphabet from Stampin' Up!  and the dots behind him are from a PTI set called Celebrate.

I thought about making this a Father's Dad card for my husband, because he is the Grill King in our house, but my brother's birthday snuck up on me - so it's going to him.  The  inside reads:  Hope your birthday is smokin' hot!!   

You can find this new digi and the rest of today's new images on the Babycakes Digis and Designs Etsy Shop.  Check out the rest of the DT images on Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group page.

Challenges Entered:
Hand Stamped Sentiments #265/ - Sketch
Aud Sentiments #181/ - Summer + sent.
Craft Rockets #38/ - For the Men/Boys

Sandra Caldwell New Release Friday

Back with another new image from Sandra Caldwell.  This one is called #1573 All Ears!  You can find this cutie in Sandra's Babycakes Digis and Designs Etsy shop.  Take a peek at the FB group to see the DT's cards using the other whimsical images Sandra has drawn this week.

Challenges Entered:
Freshly Made Sketches #289
Creative Moments #118 - AG
Artistic Inspirations #179 - AG
Color Inspiration Monday #22

Sandra Caldwell New Release Friday

Back with another Sandra Caldwell image from the Babycakes Designs and Digis Etsy shop.  This one is called #1101 Wormie Apple.   May's sketch from Die Cuttin' Divas helped design my card.  I tried adding white colored pencil on top of my Copic colored apple to give additional texture.  I've seen this technique used at vanillaarts.com and am contemplating taking a class because the idea of combining Copics and colored pencils intrigues me.  Pop on over to the Sandra Caldwell Facebook Group and see what else is in this week's release!





















Challenges Entered:
Die Cuttin' Divas #315/ - May Sketch
Cute Card Thursday #476/ - AG
Crafting By Designs May Challenge - AG

Sandra Caldwell New Release Friday

Hi Everyone,
I'm back with another card using a fun image from the talented Sandra Caldwell.  This one is called My Pretty Bows - #1361 and is one of the many new images available in the Babycakes Designs and Digis Etsy Shop.  Check out the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Facebook group to see other creations the DT has for you this week.

Sandra Caldwell Release -

Hi Everyone,
Back with another release from Sandra Caldwell's Babycakes Digis and Design Shop.  16 brand new digis are part of this release!  This one is called 1344- Jumping for Love!  Perfect for Valentine's Day or the Heart Association's Jump A Thon!

Check out Sandra's Shop - and find something to color!  Hope to see your creations in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Facebook group.

Challenges Entered:
In the Pink #112 - with Love
Aud Sentiment #173 - Valentine
Craft Rocket #32 - It's a Love Thing!
Cute Card Thursday #464 - Lace or Frills

Sandra Caldwell February Release

Hi Everyone,
After a brief holiday break, the Sandra Caldwell DT is back with this week's new release.  My card features the image #1321 Forever Love.   You can find all of the new releases in the Babycakes Digis and Designs Etsy shop.   Check out the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group!

I have to admit, this couple could be my husband and me!  My hair's a whole lot shorter though!!  Thanks to Try Stampin' On Tuesdays for the sketch inspiration!

Challenges Entered:
Card Concept #66 - Love  & Romance
Craft Rocket #32 - It's a Love thing
Cute Card Thursday #463 - Be My Valentine

Try Stampin' on Tuesdays #307 - Sketch

Reindeer Birthday

I declared yesterday a "pajama day" and spent a much-needed day in my craft room.  This card is one of the things I created.  I have a friend who has a December birthday, so I thought this would do the trick.  I just love the face on this girl!  It's a digital stamp from Sandra Caldwell, called #1018 Reindeer Child.  You can find her and more of Sandra's images in the Babycakes Digis and Designs Etsy Shop.

I masked the girl, stamped a background stamp with birthday words from Mama Elephant and added the words "B-day girl" to her t-shirt.

Challenges Entered:
Crafter's Cafe #162 /- Birthday or Christmas
Crafting By Designs December - AG
Craft Rocket #29/ - Winter
Little Red Wagon 370/ - Chilly Friends
Aud Sentiments #169/ - AG + Sentiment
Southern Girls #147/ - AG
Pencil Case #34 - AG
WWDT Open Challenge/ 11/15-12/12
Come and Get It - Christmas
TFIG 84 /- colors:  Cherry Cobbler, Espresso, Olive

Sandra Caldwell New Release

Back with a new release image from Sandra Caldwell.  This one is called #1213 Pork Elf. Don't you love the look on its face?!?  You can find it later today with all of the other new digis in the Babycakes Digis and Designs Etsy shop.

I hobbled together sentiments from a variety of sources to create my custom sentiment.  The word Christmas is from PTI's Rustic Wreath set and the "hogs and kisses" is altered from Sugar Pea Design's Happy Mail set.  It was originally "hugs and kisses," and with the magic of a brown marker and some white gel pen hugs became hogs!!  Puny - right?!?!

I think I have discovered a combination of colors I like for coloring Sandra's pigs.  Just the right amount of pink with a little brown.  I color the pig with R000, shade with R01 and then go over everything with an E50.  For the ears and nose, I start with R02, shade with E11 and then a light coat of E41.  My hooves are E41 with R01 and shaded with E31.

Challenges Entered:
Aud Sentiments #169/ - AG + Sentiment
4 Crafty Chicks #376 /- Winter Wonderland
CraftRocket #29 /- Winter Time
Come And Get It 11/27/- Baby It's Cold Outside
House of Cards 11/25/ - Lots of Layers/Colors
Pile It On #122/ - Two Patterns

Sandra Caldwell New Release

 My card features one of the many  images Sandra is releasing today in her Etsy Shop Babycakes Digis and Designs.  This one is called #1144 Snowballed Kitty.  Be sure to check out the rest of the DT's work on the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Facebook Page.

I used a snowflake embossing folder for the background and my new SU! alphabet to make the sentiment.  There was lots of white to work with in the image, so I used some B000 and B41 for shading for the snow and colored lots of layers for my sky background to provide contrast for the snow and snowballs.

Looks like kitty is on the losing side of the snowball fight!!

Challenges Entered:
Crafty Catz #345/ - AG w option of snowflake
Creative Fingers #119- AG
Simply Create Too #121/ - Christmas Colors
The Pencil Case #32/ - AG
613 Avenue Create #191/ - AG
House of Cards November Challenge - Lots of layers

No Lion- Once Sketch, Two Cards!

I'm back today with an image from Sandra Caldwell's new release this week.  This image is called #1133 Barely A Coward.  I started coloring the lion in traditional colors and then as I was going to work one day, I had the idea to color him in blues for a baby card (boys have been born in my family lately).  My idea for blue changed when I pulled out my 6x6 pack of boy baby papers.  The sentiment on the left is from PTI and the one below is a die from Mama Elephant.  I borrowed an idea from one of my fellow DT members, Bonnie Irving, and double fussy cut the turquoise lion from Bermuda Bay paper,

The sketch from this week's Paper Players challenge is used for the card layout on both cards.

Check out Sandra's Etsy shop for all of today's images and Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Facebook Page to take at peek at the DT work.

Challenges Entered:
Paper Players #318/ - Sketch
Crafty Friends #43 - AG
Pencil Case #31- AG
SAS For Kids - Celebration
Just Keep on Creating October - AG
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #15 - 10/15-11/12

Sandra Caldwell New Release Day

Back with another new release from Sandra Caldwell.  This week's image is called 1105 Cute as a Daisy.  She's one of a whole bundle of newly released images.  Check out Babycakes Digis and Design to shop or the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Facebook group to see what the rest of the DT has created.

Challenges Entered:
Crafty Girls #27 /- AG
Creative Knockouts #163 /- AG
Crafty Friends #42/- Autumn Colors
613 Avenue Create/ - AG/optional: green & gold
Little Patch of Crafty Friends #44 /- AG

Monday New Release for Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans

Monday means new digis are available in the Babycakes Designs and Digis Shop.  This one is called 702 Circus Balloon Pig.  Pop over to the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Facebook Group and see the other images the DT has for you - and then go do some shopping!

Creative Knockouts #161 - Fall

Creative Knockouts latest challenge is sponsored by Di's Digis.  The prize is a generous $12 certificate for her shop.  Our theme is fall, so I used lots of fall colors on my card.

I used a digi (#624 Best Friends) from artist, Sandra Caldwell for my card.  You can find more of her digis on her Facebook Fan Group or in her shop, Babycakes Digis and Designs.  A thanks to Sketch Saturday for the card layout!

This is my last challenge as a member of the Creative Knockouts DT.  I've had a wonderful time working with the team and getting to know Kelly.  She's the best!  I hope you will join the fall challenge at Creative Knockouts.

Challenges Entered:
Sketch Saturday #431/

All Tied Up!

Back with another adorable Sandra Caldwell image.  This one is called 718 Mummified Pork.  I love how this card turned out!  Start with a fun image, add a little Memory Box bow die and some heart punches and viola! 

You can find this little piggie in the Babycakes Digis and Designs Etsy Shop HERE.  Stop by the Sandra Caldwell Facebook group to se the other new images this week and what the DT has colored up for you!

The inside of the card.

Challenges Entered:
Crafty Friends #38 - AG
Let's Color/ August - AG
Pencil Case # 26 - AG
Crafting From the Heart #123 - AG

So confused - Or Maybe Not?!?

Back today with another new image from Sandra Caldwell.  This one is called 972 Confused Kathy Angel.  You can find her in the Babycakes Digis and Design Etsy Shop.

 I just fussy cut around her head so she could pop out of the frame and I added three little stamped flowers for her to hold.  A couple of enamel dots and a sentiment flag, and viola!  The background paper was perfect for the card!

I loved the look on this little girl's face!  I wonder if she is more naughty than confused?!?  Anyway, the card is going to my granddaughter who just finished a week of theater camp.  She was on Cloud 9 because the 5-7 years olds in her age group got to perform It's A Hard Knock Life from Annie!  She gave it all she had and was completely adorable.

I hope you will check out the other DT cards on the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Facebook page.  If you haven't joined the group, you should!  Sandra is always sneaking a game or challenge in - and that means people win some of her digis.

Challenges Entered:
Creative Fingers #113/ - AG
ABC Challenge M/ is for Maiden (card for a young girl)
Just Us Girls #353/ - Wild Card Week
Paper Players #306/ - Tic, Tac, Toe  - Enamel dots, patterned paper, die cut

Beach Ball Kitty!

Monday means another collection of new digis at Sandra Caldwell's Etsy Shop, Babycakes Digis and Designs.  This one is called 770 Beach Ball Kitty.  I decided to go with primary colors and cut the card back to 4" so I could pop the speech bubble off to the side and it would still fit in a standard envelope.

Pop over to the shop and to Sandras's Facebook group to see the other images and catch some inspiration from the DT!

Challenges Entered:
Cards in Envy 7/18- Summer
Creative Fingers #113 - AG
Pattie's Creations #124 - Make a Splash
The Pencil Case wk. 24 - Xanthic Yellow
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #38 - AG

Under the Big Top!

Hi Everyone,

Sandra Caldwell has some fabulous new images in her Etsy shop this week with a circus theme!  How fun is that?!?  My image is called #954 Circus Tent.  I searched for sayings about the circus and found one that seemed like a perfect fit for those days when life is a bit crazy!  I made my own background paper using clear embossing powder over patterned paper, then rubbing ink over the paper and wiping the ink off of the embossed part.  I love how it looks with this image.

Pop by Sandra's Facebook Fan Group to see what the other girls made with this week's circus images and then do a little shopping!









Speaking of the Facebook Group, there's a fun ATC card exchange happening as our challenge through July 25th.  This is my entry.  She's called #799 Celebration Glamour Nana. The challenge is in honor of Sandra's 65th birthday!  You go, Girl!!

Challenges Entered:
Crafting From the Heart #120/ - AG
Craft Your Passion #320 - AG
Inkspirational #112 - AG with Red
The Pencil Case wk 23/ - AG
Pile It On #112 - Favorite colors