A Few Missing You Cards

It is beautiful outdoors and I am heading out soon but when I saw the new sketch at MFT, it did not take me long to choose making a few cards over pulling weeds.

After I made the first card, I thought maybe it would look better with a blue insert, but after finishing that one, I like the first one better.  I will keep playing around with a few more colors, ribbon, etc.
I am cutting up an old map - it will provide MANY cards. It is always fun finding a card that I can make multiples of fairly quickly so I can send them to OWH.
I used a MFT die and stamp set , You Move Me, which was perfect for cutting out the window and adding three pieces of interest per the sketch:

Okay, I'm outta here.  Have a great day - hope it is sunny where you are.

Challenges:
MFT - sketch
Craft Your Passion - things that fly
Party Time Tuesday - fussy cutting
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafty Hands - travel
What if Wednesday - for the guys

Totally CAS and Sunny

Today I want to share a card that is TOTALLY CAS :  print, layer, done.

Isn't this image so cute?  You can find it at Diane's Daydream Designs.   It puts a smile on my face (as does the sunshine we have been having here in the Pacific NW).
As I said earlier, I just print this out on white cardstock, ( putting a box around the sentiment first), layered it and it was done.  Even the little dots around the cloud are already on the image.  The only other thing I did was put some liquid glaze on the sunglasses so when you look at it IRL, you can see the shine.

Hope you are having a day filled with sunshine.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - yellow
Simon Wednesday - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Creative Knockouts - anything
Sister Act - anything
Frosted Designs - 3words - yellow, bright, clouds

Last Card For April Release

May is almost here and the Doodle Pantry May release is in a few days.  But I am not done playing with the sets from the April release !

All elements of this card is provided in the beautiful digital set New Butterfly.

For this card I printed the pre-colored daisy onto white cardstock and then cut out another one and a butterfly with the Silhouette. 
Such beautiful paper in this set so I used a strip of it for a fish tail banner.
Here is the sketch I used:

Stay tune for the May Release.  It is going to be awesome.

Challenges:
MFT - sketch
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Simon Wednesday - CAS
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - anything
Frosted Design - 3 words= flower, blue, yellow, spring, clean
Stamp and Create - flowers
Craft Your Passion - things that fly
OWH ODBD - insects
Simon Monday - yellow

For A Special Lady

The new digi makeover challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps is to make a card for a "special lady".  Mother's Day is less than two weeks away so I am sure many of you could make and enter a card with that in mind.  My card, though, is a birthday card for a DIL. 

There is history and meaning behind this card but rather than give too many personal details, suffice it to say that she loves playing the guitar, singing, and will like these bright colors.
The sentiment is by GKD.  The notes are cut out with a Cuttlebug die.
Here is the sketch I based my card on:

Paper Makeup Stamps would love to see the card you create for your special lady.  The challenge runs from today, Monday, April 28 and ends May 3rd.

Challenges I will enter:
Your Next Stamp - sketch
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Creative Knockouts - anything
Sister Act - anything
Love to Scrap -  3 colors(yellow, orange, green) and layout with circle in middle

Use Up Those Pieces

Taking a little time this week to use up some images that I have stamped or printed but never used.  I printed and colored this image by quite some time ago.  When I went into the company store to verify the artist, the image was not there so it is either discontinued or I assigned the wrong company to the image when I saved it.  When I first started saving digital images, I was really bad about adding the company to the description.  If anyone knows where this digi came from, I would be happy to know so I can give proper credit to the creator.
 I thought about making a "get well" card but ended up printing "well wishes" instead.

I used the sketch at MFT 
turning the panel and fish tail banner.

The background paper is Doodle Pantry from the Spring Day Papers.
After printing the well wishes onto dark Kraft, I ran it though the Cuttlebug with a wood grain embossing folder.

Thanks for looking.  Love to read your comments.

Challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Simon Wednesday - CAS
Crafty Catz - anything

Miss You in Multiples

As I was looking at the sketch at Tuesday Morning,  Paula's Miss You digital images came to mind.  I usually don't make multiples but am starting to do more of that for the cards I send to Operation Write Home.  I really liked the looks of this card so I did make multiples and used up some scraps in the process. 

I really like the colors on Paula's Miss You digis and using dark craft as a card base gave me lots of options to match the colors or use complimentary colors for the fish tail banners.  The banners were cut out by hand.  The circles were cut with a die.
The stitching is hand drawn with a brown marker. The stitching on the sentiment circle is part of the pre-colored digi.

Tuesday Morning Sketch

Challenges:
Tuesday Morning - sketch
Simon Monday - big stamp
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Simon Wednesday - CAS
Sister Act - anything
Creative Knockouts - anything
Simon Wednesday - CAS
Through the Craft Room Door - anything

 

April (and May and June) Showers

We had several nice weeks here in the Pacific NW which, for some reason, makes us delusional thinking we will have sun from now until October.  Ha, ha, ha.  In reality, it will rain off and on until July.  But at least it is green here ! Don't get me wrong,  I love it here but as I said in a previous post, sometimes I get tired of the clouds.
Diane's Daydream Designs has such a cute set called Sunshine and Rain.  I am having a lot of fun making cards with these images and also having fun (and frustrations) learning how to use my new Silhouette.  I did cut out these images with my machine, layering and popping up pieces.  I love how it turned out.    I cut out the sentiment with a Spellbinder oval.

The background paper is by Doodle Pantry.  I put liquid glaze on the puddle to make it look like water.
The ground is a dark light weight Kraft from the Kraft Outlet.

You can find Diane's set at the Daydream Designs Store.  

Challenges:
Kraft Journal - rain
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Cuttin and Stampin - april showers
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafty Catz - b for boots
Pink Gem - spring

My Last Week With CWLC

For the past six months I have been on the design team for Created With Love Challenge.  Thank you Cris and Dawn for the opportunity to design cards for your challenges.  One of my favorite sponsors has been Fred She Said.  I love their digital images.  So it perfect that this last challenge for me is sponsored by FSS.  I chose the images from the Happy Flowers Rainbow Collection.
Love these cheery flowers.

The new challenge at Created With Love is "In the garden".  We would love to see your creations.  One of you will be the lucky winner of some Fred She Said digital images.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafter's Cafe - CAS
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - b for blooms
Pink Gem - spring
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - spring
Stamp and Create - flowers

All Kinds Of Weather

One would think that I would be used to the rain, having been born, raised, and lived most of my life in the Pacific NW.  And even though I absolutely love living here, I must admit that I do get tired of the rain.  I love this sentiment (and image) by Paper Makeup Stamps because it is such a reminder that we might as well be content with the weather because we can't change it anyway.

 

I used a rain stamp by GKD, and some distress ink for the raindrops and sky.  After cutting out the umbrella, I thought it might be fun to loop the hook of the umbrella over the twine. 

How is your weather?  The challenge this week at Paper Makeup Stamps is any form of water.  We would love for you to come and join the challenge.

Before I go, here is a little bit of trivia that I heard but cannot verify: 

There are more umbrellas per capita in California than Washington, but more sunglasses per capita in Washington than California.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafters Cafe - CAS
Sister Act - anything
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - spring

Fields Of Tulips

It is the month of tulips here in the Pacific NW.   Over one million people come to see the spectacular display of over 300 acres of bright, beautiful tulips.   Here are a couple photos, compliments of a friend of mine.

The first two weeks of April was just beautiful, then the rains started again a few days ago.  But the festival continues and today we have the sun back -at least for a few hours.  You never know here.  It comes and goes with such speed.
Anyway, on to my card.  But I thought you might like a look at a few pics of the glorious colorful fields.

I made this card as a sympathy card and opted to keep the sentiment inside.  The tulip wreath and papers are by Doodle Pantry.
The sentiment I used inside is by Diane's Daydream Designs.

The sketch I based this card on is found at Sketch Saturday

Challenges:
Really Reasonable Ribbon - monochromatic
Crafters Cafe - CAS
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - letter B (bow)
Pink Gem - anything
Open Minded Crafting - pastels
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - Spring
Paper Creators - spots

Planting Time

A digital image and a sketch at From The Heart

Embossing folder is Stampin'Up!
Image colored with Prisma pencils.
I love this bright green paper.  It is a little brighter in the pic than IRL but it is one of my go to greens. Wasabi by Stampin Up.

Challenges:
Sweet Stamps - emboss
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Pink Gem - Spring
Stamp and Create - flowers

Doodle Pantry Sponsors Creative Knockouts

Creative Knockouts has a new challenge, Furry Friends,  beginning today and Doodle Pantry is the proud sponsor.  I used a sweet image from the Doodle Pantry set, Hoppy Logs.

Here is a pic of some of the images and sentiments in this set:

I used the sketch at Your Next Stamp just exchanging the banner for clouds which were cut out with a MFT die.
The digital image is a pre-colored image.  The paper is also from the Quirky Bunny set by Doodle Pantry.
 For the little flower brads, I drew little leaves for each of them, coloring them with pencils.  
Here is the sketch:

I hope your will check out the Furry Friends challenge at Creative Knockouts and also enter your card using a digital image at the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge which runs through the 24th.

Challenges I will enter:
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - animals
Crafty Hands - anything
Pink Gem - Spring
Stamp and Create - flowers
Paper Creators - spots and dots
Love to Scrap - anything

Happy Spring

This adorable little lamb is a digital drawing by Katlyn Traxler's KnK Designs .  You can find it at Diane's Daydream Designs.

Pretty basic stuff for this card but I did add liquid applique to make the lamb "fluffy".
Coloring is done with Prisma pencils.


Challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - animals
Crafty Hands - anything
Pink Gem - spring
Love to Scrap = anything
Creative Knockouts - spring
Simon Wednesday - animals

One a Penny, Two a Penny, Hot Cross Buns

Remember that nursery rhyme?
We never did Easter eggs or the Easter bunny in our household.  But I did make hot cross buns for Resurrection Sunday morning and gave each of the children a special gift.  We haven't had any children home for quite a few years but I still enjoy making the buns and this year I will make a few for my mom.  She doesn't bake any more.  At age 91 she still has at least 4 friends come to her home every Monday morning for coffee and goodies, so I will provide enough buns for her to serve the day after Easter.
Here is a little 3 x 4 card I made to include with the bakery items:

    And a little tag in case I bake up extras for someone else:

Paper Makeup Stamps has a new challenge beginning today.  The theme - Easter Treats.  It will be so fun to see the entries.  If you are planning on making some Easter treats, Paper Makeup would love to see what your creative minds and hands come up with.  Challenge runs from today, April 14 to Saturday April 19.

Challenges I will enter:
Die Cutting Divas - pastels
Sweet Stamps - Easter
Cuttin and Stampin - Easter
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Simon Wednesday - Easter or sweet treats
Creative Knockout - spring
Sister Act - anything
Totally Papercrafts - Easter
Craft 4 eternity - Easter

Crafty Hands - anything
What if Wednesday -  Easter
Open Minded Crafting - Easter or pastels

Doodle Pantry Sponsors Aud Sentiments

Doodle Pantry is the proud sponsor over at  Aud Sentiments where the challenge is "For A Friend".  I have a very special friend who is having a birthday soon, so I make this card for her using one of the new sets at Doodle Pantry.

 Here is a pic of the set, although more comes than is shown in this picture:

I used a pre-colored image and one of the papers.
I really like how many sentiments are included in this set.

Aud Sentiments would like you to come to their blog and enter the challenge.  There is also a digital challenge at the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge Blog.

Challenges I am entering:
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafty Catz - Springtime
Your Next Stamp - colors
Stamp and Create - flowers
Creative Knockouts - Spring is in the air

Rejoice - He Is Risen

Because Christ broke the power of sin and death, I too will live forever.  What an incredible plan He had; what an incredible future He gave me.  Not only joy now on earth because my sins are forgiven and I am counted as righteous in God's eyes because of Christ's death, but the gift of eternal life and therefore no need to fear death.  Obviously, I could go on and on.  But suffice it to say, Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is a pretty big deal for me.
I really love this image by Designed 2 Delight, now From the Heart, because even though we think of the cross for Easter, it is really the empty tomb that symbolizes Easter.  When friends and family members came to the burial place of Jesus, there was an angel at the entrance that said, "He is not here.  He has risen just as He said He would."

I used the weekly sketch at  i heart sketches

Challenges I will enter:
From the heart sketch 61 - sketch and image
My Craft Spot - Easter
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Sweet Stamps - Easter
Cuttin and Stampin - Easter
Simon Wednesday - Easter
Stamping Boutique - Easter
Love to Scrap - anything
What if Wednesdays - Easter

Easter Is Two Weeks Away

Easter, or as we say in our house, Resurrection Sunday is less than two weeks away.  Created With Love Challenge blog's newest challenge is to create something relating to Easter.
The DT worked with digital stamps by QKR who is the sponsor of this challenge.  I chose these beautiful floral frames.  What is so fun about using these digital frames is that you can choose to use a stamp or another digital image inside them.  I am using a digital sentiment by Doodle Pantry:  for this first card:

 

For the second card, I used a Scripture provided by Word Art Wednesday. 

I love the designer paper on the second card. It is from the Timeless Amour Collection by Heartfelt Creations.

Thinking about Easter projects?  Enter them in the Created With Love Challenge which starts today and runs until April 19.

Challenges I am entering:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Brown Sugar - CAS
Totally Papercrafts - pastels
Stamping Boutique - Easter
Crafty Catz - springtime
Crafty CardmakerCrafty - frames

Paper Makeup Stamps - Anything Goes

Anything goes is the challenge theme this week at the digi makeover challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps.

Using this digital image by Paper Makeup Stamps, I colored part of it but paper pieced the sails.  Such a pleasant sentiment.  You can find both the boat and the sentiment at Paper Makeup Stamps.

The challenge runs from today, Monday 7 through Sunday, April 13 9 pm EST.

Challenges I am entering:
Sweet Stamps - dies
Brown Sugar - CAS
Crafty Creations - blue and yellow
Totally PaperCrafts - pastels

OWH Sketch and Doodle Pantry

This is my second post today.  If you are looking for the Daydream Blog Hop, go back one post to here.


Doodle Pantry is once again sponsoring the sketch challenge at  Operation Write Home  which means some lucky cardmaker is going to win some free digital images just for making a card and entering it over at  Operation Write Home.  The purpose of OWH is to make cards which are blank inside to send to our deployed troops so they can write back to their family members and friends.  Please check out this WONDERFUL organization if you have not done so previously.   I am a proud supporter of OWH, sending approximately 40 cards a month.  For many of my cards, I used Doodle Pantry digital images and in every box sent, I include some thank you cards for the heroes to keep for themselves.  This is one going in my next box:

Laurie Wilson, the creator of the images at Doodle Pantry, has made up some wonderful patriotic sets as well as some sets that are very appropriate for our heroes to send back home.  You can check out some of these wonderful sets by going to the Doodle Pantry Store and searching for  "patriotic".
The image I used is from the Patriotic Eagle Color set.  The background paper (lower portion) is also included in that set.
I almost forgot to show you the sketch for this week:

I hope you will come over to OWH and play.  If you use a digital image, enter it in the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge too.  You have until April 24th to enter. 

Challenges:
Simon Monday - anything
My Craft Spot - thank you
Sweet Stamps - dies
Penny's Paper Crafting - feathered friends
What If Wednesday - wings

Daydream Designs Blog Hop Day 3

Welcome to the Spring Has Sprung Blog Hop sponsored by Daydream Designs! We are so glad you are joining us!  We hope you’ll join us each day since some of our design team will be posting each day of the blog hop with new projects to inspire your spring crafting.

This is a unique blog hop because EVERYONE WINS! There will be free digi stamps on each DT blog available only for the duration of the blog hop.  So grab them while you can.  Other prizes for qualifying participants:  3 winners get 3 FREE stamp sets, 2 winners get 2 FREE stamp sets, and 1 person will win 1 FREE stamp set...all from Diane’s Daydream Designs Stores. 

To qualify, comment on each DT blog   (one time for each DT is sufficient even if they post each day.  Start the blog hop at Diane’s blog and continue through this list:
 Diane Noble
Amy Almeida
Carole Robb Bisson
Elizabeth Hart
Gail Scott
Helen Phelps
Jerusha Borden
Margaret Ashby
MariLynn DeGroot
Marsha Drain - you are here
Miesje Flach
Mynnette Kitchen
Pam Phelps
Vickie Yeakley
Katlyn Traxler
Tricia Traxler 

Day 3 and final day of our blog hope.  I hope you have enjoyed hopping as much as we enjoyed sharing with you some of the wonderful new sets at Daydream Designs.
I just could not decide which card to showcase for this third day, so I am showing you two cards!

For this first card I used the Garden Accessories Color Set again. (just love these seed packets!)

 

 Lots of layers, some twine, and a button brad.  I wish you could see the detail of the brad - it really looks like a small button with four holes.

And for this last card I used the Poppies For You Color Set:

 I put some black liquid pearls in the center of the poppies.  It may not show up well, but I fussy cut and layered the flower petals for dimension.

Thank you for hopping with us.  I feature one of Diane's sets each week so if you would like to follow my blog to see more of her sets showcased, I sure wouldn't mind - LOL.

And lastly, if you didn't pick up this free sentiment or this is your first day to hop, you can grab it now:
No longer available. 

Challenges:
Simon Monday - anything
Kaboodle - Spring is coming
Really Reasonable Ribbon - flower, button, bow
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - springtime
Paper Creators - spots and dots
Crafty Cardmaker - frame

Diane's Daydream Designs Blog Hop Day 2

Welcome to DAY 2

Welcome to the Spring Has Sprung Blog Hop sponsored by Daydream Designs! We are so glad you are joining us!  We hope you’ll join us each day since some of our design team will be posting each day of the blog hop with new projects to inspire your spring crafting.

This is a unique blog hop because EVERYONE WINS! There will be free digi stamps on each DT blog available only for the duration of the blog hop.  So grab them while you can.  Other prizes for qualifying participants:  3 winners get 3 FREE stamp sets, 2 winners get 2 FREE stamp sets, and 1 person will win 1 FREE stamp set...all from Diane’s Daydream Designs Stores. 

To qualify, comment on each DT blog (one time for each DT is sufficient even if they post each day.  Start the blog hop at Diane’s blog and continue through this list:

 Diane Noble
Amy Almeida
Carole Robb Bisson
Elizabeth Hart
Gail Scott
Helen Phelps
Jerusha Borden
Karen Letchworth 
Margaret Ashby
MariLynn DeGroot
Marsha Drain
Miesje Flach
Mynnette Kitchen
Pam Phelps
Vickie Yeakley
Katlyn Traxler
Tricia Traxler

I hope you are enjoying the Blog Hop.   We had so much fun working with these new sets.  Here is my second card, again using the Garden Accessories Color Set: 

 These seed packet images are so beautiful and come with the frame and banner already printed on it.  I distressed the edges, layered the flowers and added a die cut button with twine.  

Before you head over to Miesje's blog, pick up this FREE sentiment if you didn't grab it yesterday.      
No longer available.

Have a wonderful Day.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for Day 3.

Challenges I am entering:
Pile It On - floral
Simon Monday - anything
Kaboodle - spring is coming
Really Reasonable Ribbon - flower, button, bow
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafty Cardmaker - frame

Crafty Catz - springtime

Daydream Designs Blog Hop Day 1

Welcome to the Spring Has Sprung Blog Hop sponsored by Daydream Designs! We are so glad you are joining us!  We hope you’ll join us each day since some of our design team will be posting each day of the blog hop with new projects to inspire your spring crafting.

This is a unique blog hop because EVERYONE WINS! There will be free digi stamps on each DT blog available only for the duration of the blog hop.  So grab them while you can.  Other prizes for qualifying participants:  3 winners get 3 FREE stamp sets, 2 winners get 2 FREE stamp sets, and 1 person will win 1 FREE stamp set...all from Diane’s Daydream Designs Stores. 

To qualify, comment on each DT blog   (one time for each DT is sufficient even if they post each day.  Start the blog hop at Diane’s blog and continue through this list:
 Diane Noble
Amy Almeida
Carole Robb Bisson
Elizabeth Hart
Gail Scott
Helen Phelps
Jerusha Borden
Margaret Ashby
MariLynn DeGroot
Marsha Drain - you are here
Miesje Flach
Mynnette Kitchen
Pam Phelps
Vickie Yeakley
Katlyn Traxler
Tricia Traxler

 I will be showcasing three cards - one each day of the hop.  So without further chit chat, here is my first card using the Garden Accessories Color Set

There is quite a bit of dimension and I am not very good at close up shots but the next picture will give you a little idea of some of the layering and dimension:

The poppies are layered, the gloves over the planting pot and the spade on top of those.  Lots of fussy cutting but I love how much 3-D was achieved.
These beautifully drawn images are also pre-colored - perfect for me, seeing that I am not the best when it comes to shading.
Hope you liked how I used this set.  Your next stop is the talented Miesje Flach .  I know you are going to love the eye candy she has prepared for you.

BUT WAIT.  Before you head over there, pick up this free sentiment : No longer available

Challenges I am entering:
Pile It On - floral
Kaboodle - Spring is coming
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamp and Create - ready for Spring
Simon Monday - anything

APRIL RELEASE At Doodle Pantry

I am sooooo happy April is here.  I am loving all the blossoms on the trees, all the new growth (all except how fast my grass is growing).
But I am also soooo happy April is here because it means brand new, wonderful digital sets by Doodle Pantry. 
I was in such a quandary trying to decide which of the sets to showcase.  There are so many sets I am anxious to play with.  But I finally decided on this adorable Jiggles Giraffe set.
The first card I made, I made a standard A-2 card and really like it.  I used the new giraffe image, new paper (green) that comes with the set, and giraffe paper from an older set, "Sweet Giraffe".

Isn't he just adorable!!!
For the next card, I wanted to capitalize on the long neck so I made a tall card:

So FUN !


Here is a view of some of the images, sentiments, and papers that come in this Jiggles Giraffe set:

Check out all the new digital sets and SVG's at the Doodle Pantry Store.  The new challenge starts today too at  Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge.  
And Laurie is having a birthday - the bog "40" so she is having a HUGE sale with 40% almost everything in the store.  Now is the time to go stock up.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Catz - anything