Last Day of March

The challenge at Die Cut Divas for the month of March has been Spring and/or Children.  This digital image by Bugaboo (the sponsor for the month) combines both.

I'm not sure why I want to color flowers orange.  All my flowers in my flower beds are yellow, pink, purple - but no orange.  Maybe that's why!   The yellow centers of the little colored flowers are dots of Liquid Pearl.
So after coloring these flowers orange, I cut out some flowers and leaves with a Cuttlebug die set called Asterisks.  It is always fun to try to match the shape of the flower.  
All the coloring was done with Copics.
I think I will follow this little girl's example and go pick some flowers, tulips, but not orange!

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Little Claire's - springtime
Scrapping4fun - spring
Di's Digidesigns - spring is here
Die Cuttin Divas -anything and die cut
Through the Craft Room Door - anything

Color Inspiration at the Kraft Journal

It is time for another challenge at the Kraft Journal.  This week it is a color inspiration.

I did have lots of fun with this one. It was a little out of the ordinary for me - No stamping, No digital, No sentiment.

The flowers are cut out with my Silhouette.  After adding the centers, I used a Versamark pen to just darken the color of the flower around the center.  The leaves are cut out with a MFT leave die.  All the flowers and leaves are glued onto a piece of Buff Ivory card stock and the beautiful bow is made with Hand Stained Butter Bias Tape.
We hope you will enter the Kraft Journal Challenge.  It ends Sunday, 6 pm Central.

Challenges:
Papertakes - cuts 
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Di's Digidesign - Spring is here
Scrapping4fun - Spring or Easter 
Little Claire's - Springtime

Fun New Fold

Seeing "Quarter fold" several times this past week so I took on the challenge to make one.  I was surprised at how easy.

I used Doodle Pantry images and paper.  The pears are outline images which I colored with Copics but before printing the images, I added pre-colored lips and moustache (also Doodle Pantry).  The sentiment is computer generated.
I'm not showing the inside because I put a personal message in it but the inside is 4 1/4 X 51 1/2 so it allows for another layout and decorating or just a nice area for writing.

Challenges:
Craft Your Passion - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Sweet Stamps - quarter fold
Simon Wednesday - anything

Some More Thanks

A quick post.  Another thank you card using the Meljen digi and the YNS sketch but this time in red, white, and blue.

The papers are Doodle Pantry.  The tiny little star brads in the middle of the digi stars I picked up at my local craft store.

Challenges:
Meljen - recipe
Craft Your Passion - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Your Next Stamp - sketch
30 Days Coloring Challenge
Simon Wednesday - anything

Thanks to Our Military

It is time to start a new box for OWH and of course I always added some cards of thanks.  This digital thanks letter is so great for children to write a letter to one of our service men or women.  But I thought it would be fun to "shrink" it and use it on the front of my card.  (Oh, I just got an idea - I'm going to print some up 4 x 5 and put them on the inside of some of my thank you cards and actually write on them.  Won't that be cute?)  But back to the card.  Just a little bit of colored pencil.  The buttons are actually covering digital stars. I love buttons and especially shaped ones.   These are my last three stars and unfortunately I have no idea where I bought them. (Insert sad face)  Dps are just pieces in my stash.  The base is Kraft from the Kraft Outlet.
The sketch is Your Next Stamp

Just a note - the Meljen Design store is closing the end of the month.  This digital is a freebie.  If you happen to like my idea, you will need to pick this digi up before the end of March.

Challenges:
Meljen Designs - recipe
Craft Your Passion - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Penny's Paper Crafting - favorite embellishment.  (
30 Day Color Challenge 
Your Next Stamp - sketch  

CAS Easter Card

Easter is less than two weeks away.  The new challenge which starts today at the Kraft Journal is Less Is More and either an Easter or Passover card.

I love this digital image by Doodle Pantry and the designer paper by Heartfelt Creations.  They just seem to go together.

 The card base is Brown Kraft from the Kraft Outlet.  I used  Spellbinders Label Four Die , edged it with Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink which looks like Kraft ink before layering it with black.  In lieu of ribbon, I used a piece of Black and White Script Washi tape behind the cross image which I think highlights that panel and also ties in with the script on the designer paper.
I really like Clean and Simple, especially when it turns out looking quite elegant.  We at the Kraft Journal would love to see your Less is More cards.  The challenge closes Sunday 6 pm Central.

Challenges:
Cuttlebug Mania - frame it
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Scrapyland - Easter
Craftin Desert Divas - Easter
NBUS - script washi tape
Time Out - CAS black, white, splash of color
Scrapping4fun - Spring or Easter

Warts And All

Our wedding anniversary will be this coming Monday.  47 years!  All bliss?  Hardly.  But we stayed it out through the good and bad and I love this guy more than ever.  So here is the card I made for my husband. 

Why frogs?  Several reasons.
 1. I think this pre-colored digital image by Doodle Pantry is just so cute.   
 2. During this time of early Spring, when we step outside in the evening, there are a gazillion frogs croaking in and around the pond nearby. One of the many reasons why we love living in the countryside. (You can see it does not take much to please us! LOL)
 And #3 which is the most important.  I am so thankful that my DH loves me unconditionally, flaws and all.  Recently I expressed that to him, thanking him for sticking with me even through the tough times, even through my years of depression, even as I age.  In other words - warts and all.  That is my sentiment inside:  Thank you for loving me all these years, warts and all.
The sketch:

The image and designer paper are both Doodle Pantry.  The sentiment is computer generated and then cut out with a banner die.  The image and layer are cut with Spellbinder ovals. Heart is a metal brad.
I know this post is long but I just have to tell you one more thing.  The candy dots are melted Pearler beads.  Really!  I saw that on a blog this week, tried it, and love how beautiful and round they come out. 
Okay.  That is all for now.

Challenges:
MFT sketch
Di's Digis - lots of green
Dies R Us - shades of green
Simon Monday - animals
Papertakes - anything
Die Cuttin Divas - Spring
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Little Claire's - Spring
Scrapyland - Spring

More Yellow

Recently I won some digital images by Zap Pow.  I am sure using a lot of yellow lately.  I think I need that sunshine color.  I was anxious to use these new items and of course the light bulb had to be yellow.

On the card above, those are clear gems.  They seem to look like silver brads in the photo.  (I like that too.  Maybe I will use silver brads next time)
Here is the card with amber brads:

I used the sketch at Sketch Saturday:

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Simon Wednesday - photo inspiration
Penny's Paper Crafting - favorite embellishments (gems)
30 Day Color Challenge

Sunshine and Daisies

For this card I used the sketch at MFT.  I like it so much, I am working on another card using it too.

Speaking of sunshine (sentiment), I wish someone's friendship would bring sunshine to my sky not just my heart.  Oh, it is so cloudy and gloomy today.  In fact, this photo is darker than it should be because of that.  But you get the idea. Meg Ryan says in the movie that daisies are such friendly flowers.  They remind me of sunshine and bring a smile.  Polka dots just seem to go with them - they too bring a smile.
The daisies and the sentiment are Diane's Daydream Design.  The circular frame was cut with MFT Die-namic Circle Stax.  I don't think you can tell by the photo but the yellow circle is the largest cut, green is layered under that, then the sentiment piece is the farthest back, so that piece is actually framed instead of being on top as I usually do. 

Challenges:
Scrapyland - spring
Dies R Us - shades of green
Creative Moments - for a special lady (my friend)
Die Cuttin Divas - spring
Cuttlebug Mania - frame
Simon Monday - photo inspiration
MFT - sketch
Word Art Wednesday - anything

Thanks A Bunch

Using some beautiful images by Hero Arts.  I colored all the flowers and leaves with Copics.  The center of the flower is a brad. Under that is a black punched circle.  Sentiment is Unity.
I love those three flowers.  They remind me of fruit blossoms which are on so many trees right now. 


Challenges:

A Blog Named Hero - bright colors
Hero Arts - nature
Paper Takes - anything
Little Clair's - springtime
Crafty Sentiments - bright colors

Silly Bird-day

This is my second post.  I wasn't intending on two today but made this fun card and decided to post it.  It qualifies for several challenges, so why not?

The BG paper is just from my stash.  The two washi tapes are from the Kraft Outlet.  All stamps and die cut are from the MFT Contemp Cage set.  The cage is cut out of gold metallic paper and I popped it up with dimensional tape. 
Cardstock is SU Pumpkin Pie (love that color of orange!)
This is the sketch I used:
  

 Challenges:
Simon Monday - animals
Crafty Sentiments - birthdays
Simon Wednesday - things that fly
Sister Act - anything
Suzy Bees - stripes
Clear It Out - orange
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Meljen - gold
MFT Card Challenge - sketch

Who Is Ready For Spring?

So many flowers and leaves budding and opening.  I love Spring and yet get impatient for more flowers, more color.  I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.  I made a card that might brighten some one's day even if it is cloudy or rainy.  We had a lovely February and so far March but we in the Pacific NW know that just when we get to thinking that this is the way it should be, we get a few months of drizzle and/or rain.

I went back through some of my old digital images and sentiments and found these.  After coloring the image with Copics, I added buttons, tying a bit of Baker's Twine from the Kraft Outlet onto each button.  The beautiful Hand Stained Bias Tape is also from the Kraft Outlet.  The die cut behind the sentiment is one I haven't used for years.  It is a Spellbinder and it was fun to have the same shape as the flowers in the digital image.
Speaking of the Kraft Outlet, their challenge blog, the Kraft Journal, has a new challenge beginning today - Anything Spring.  Apparently I am not the only one anxious for Spring!  We would love to see your cards depicting Spring.  Enter by Sunday 6 pm Central.
Hope this card brightened your day.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Simon Wednesday - things that fly
Sister Act - anything
Little Claire's - springtime 
Stamp and Create - spring
30 Day Color Challenge

Saturday Fun and Frustrations

It is a gloomy day so I thought it a perfect day to make some cards.  That is the fun part.  The frustrating part is the struggle I had with this card.  It sure didn't turn out as well as I would like and I changed the paper - cardstock combos three times.  But here it is.

One of the challenges at Stamplorations is to CASE a card.  Easy enough, right?  Wrong.  Here is the beautiful card I CASED

I wanted to use yellow for the butterfly but could not find any striped paper I liked.  I finally chose the one I used but added a strip of gingham Washi tape to add some yellow.
The leaves are Vellum cut with a MFT leaf die.
Butterfly is Hero Arts
Tag is Kraft Outlet.
I put Deepti's card in my CASE file so I can make another one.  I love her red butterfly and red dots.

Challenges:
Stamplorations - CASE
A Blog Named Hero - bright colors
Hero Arts - nature
Simon Wednesday - things that fly
Simon Monday - B is for butterfly 

Bright Blooms

A birthday card with bright blossoms.

The flowers are from the Hero Arts set Hello Flowers.  I colored them with SU alcohol markers then fussy cut, rolling the petals for dimension.  The BG paper is ancient paper from my stash.  Sentiment is Unity.

Challeges:
Simon Monday - B is for bright blossoms
Crafty Sentiments - birthday
Penny's Paper Crafty - ribbons and bows
Di's Digi - birthday
Crafty Cardmaker - for special woman (my DIL)
30 days Coloring Challenge 
A Blog Named Hero - bright and bold
Hero Arts - nature

Special Women

There are some very special women - mothers of men and women in the military.  I am finishing up some Mother's day cards and some cards for Moms so I can get them sent out to OWH this next week.  Here are four that I made the other day. Using two sketches, I made two cards with each sketch.
The first one using the sketch at Sketch Saturday:  

 You can see that I used yellow gingham Washi tape above and below the sentiment panel.  The flowers are cut out with a Cuttlebug die.  The centers are black pearls.

The second card is a slightly different in that I used an old piece from a  scrapbooking kit.

 The second sketch is at Stamplorations:

For the first card, I used Diane's Daydream daisy digis and the sentiment offered by Paula at OWH.  The LOVE is missing the "O" so I filled it in with a matching daisy. 

 The next card is using the same sketch, same digi sets minus the bee and after coloring the centers, I added brads.

All these cards are very simple and very mailable but very important to not only individuals in our military but also, and maybe especially, to their moms.

Challenges:
Stamploration - sketch
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Pink Gem - CAS
Crafty Cardmakers - for a special woman
Simon Monday - B is for bee
30 Days Coloring Challenge

An Open Window

When I printed up this darling Bugaboo image, I printed several to a page.  So I have been having fun coloring them in different combinations and using different sketches.  It seems as if she is looking out a window so I made one for her.

The window frame is a SVG file from the Doodle Pantry Card Cut Window set.  After cutting it out, I ran it through the Cuttlebug with a woodgrain EF.

The window box is also by Doodle Pantry, Window Box Wishes which I embossed with the same EF.  I enlarged the flowers from the set and hand cut them to put on the box.  Because I wanted the card to look like the outside of a house, I cut strips of cardstock, layering them to look like siding.
The Bugaboo Girl with Wavy Hair is colored with Copics.
Do you have ideas for Spring and/or Children cards?  That is the challenge with the Die Cut Divas this month and Bugaboo is our sponsor.

Challenges:
2 Cute - Spring
Stamp and Create - Spring
Pile It On - green
All Sort Challenge - Spring
Meljen - use two images
Your Next Stamp - color inspiration
Simon Monday - B is for -  Bugaboo, blossoms
Word Art Wednesday - anything 
30 Day Coloring Challenge

Pick Three at the Kraft Journal

It is time for the Pick Three challenge at the Kraft Journal this week.  I ended up with 5 of the elements.

I started with Buff Ivory Text paper from the Kraft Outlet, running it through my Cuttlebug with a Swiss Dot embossing folder, also by Cuttlebug.  I then used the DTP technique by lightly rubbing the yellow ink pad over the raised dots and then sponged some more of the same ink on the edges.
After cutting out the image (by Unity) with a Spellbinders Oval and layering with orange cardstock, I sewed on the button with some of my favorite olive green twine from the Bright Hemp Cord collection.  Three strands of the same twine covered the seam between the two papers. The sentiment is Verve and cut out with a MFT banner die cut.
The list of elements is green, yellow, white, button, washi tape, cross, bunny, die cut.  Lots to choose from and we would love to see your card. Pick three or more and enter the Kraft Journal challenge before Sunday 6 pm Central.  You may win products of your choice from the Kraft Outlet.

Challenges:
Pile It On - use green 
Inspiration Destination - anything
All Sorts - Spring
2 Cute - Spring
Stamping Boutique - more than 1 layer
Party Time Tuesday - anything
Scrapyland - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything 

Life Is A Journey

Sometimes I get bummed out when I stop and realize how old I am, how fast time is moving, and how few useful years I have left compared to what I have already lived.  But you sure can't stop the marching on of time and I remind myself (often now) that life really is short and that I need to make all the time I have left count.  Sure I still waste a lot but I am much more aware of quality vs. quantity now.
The sentiment, by Diane's Designs, on this card is a good reminder.

The sketch is Die Cuttin Diva's sketch this week:

The BG paper, car, and sentiment are all Diane's Design digitals.
I cut the car panel out with MFT rectangles.  The sentiment and layer are cut out with Spellbinder ovals.

Classy Cards and Such - photo inspiration
Simon Monday - touch of green
Paper Takes - anything
Die Cuttin Divas - sketch
Inspiration Destination - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Pink Gem - CAS
Stamping Boutique - more than one layer
Scrapyland - anything

Too Much Caffeine

Big day tomorrow.  I should be in bed.  But my mind won't shut down.  Too much coffee? Power of suggestion because of the Spring Coffee Lover's Bloghop?  Who knows.  But I felt like coloring and making a few more cards so here is another one for the coffee bloghop and the 30 day coloring challenge. 

I love these grunge tags from the Kraft Outlet.  Looks like coffee was spilled on it.  That is actually why I decided to print the cup image and the sentiment on it.  The twine and the dictionary page are also from the Kraft Outlet.
I used the sketch at My Favorite Things:

Okay, I think I will head off to bed.

Coffee and Coloring

Two things I have been doing this morning - drinking coffee and coloring.  Two challenges I am entering - 30 days of coloring and the Spring Coffee Bloghop .  Hum, is there a pattern here?

This is a Bugaboo image and the sentiment is Doodle Pantry.
I colored the image with Copics.
The sentiment is cut out with a Spellbinder die. 
When I was looking for pink brads, I found this heart brad in the container.  I had no idea I had it but thought it went with the card. (Love those surprise finds.)

A few more challenges I will enter (hey, why not?):
Simon Monday - touch of green
Simon Wednesday - girly
Penny's Paper Crafting - girly
Pink Gem - CAS
Scrapyland - anything

Another Mother's Day Card

Same digital sentiment.  Different layout.  I might even like this card better than the last one.

Spellbinder Ovals
Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish
Prisma flowers
Gems

Challenges:
Cheery Lynn - use doily
Simon Monday - touch of green
Papertakes - anything
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Simon Wednesday - special lady
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Scrapyland - anything
Party Time Tuesday - anything
Cards Galore - anything
Stamp and Create - Is it Spring yet?

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is not until May but OWH needs these cards by March 31 so I am turning up the heat and making some this week.  This is the first, using the sketch at Die Cuttin Diva's.

Here is the sketch:

The sentiment is cut out with a Spellbinder's Label die, the flourish leaves are Cheery Lynn.  The flower is a Cuttlebug die with a punched circle between the two pink layers.
This is a sentiment that Paula made for OWH.  It is pretty, yet simple and I like it because it is pre-colored.


Challenges:
Die Cuttin Divas - sketch
Simon Monday - green
Sweet Stamps - girly
Papertakes - anything
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Inspiration Destination - anything
Simon Wednesday - special lady
Scrapyland - anything
Party Time Tuesday - anything
Cards Galore - anything

Thinking of You

Here is my second center stair fold card I made the other day.  I love how these come out.  And what a cute image by Bugaboo.  They are the sponsor for the Die Cut Diva's Challenge this month.

The square scallop frame is a Spellbinder's die cut which I backed with the maroon cardstock, matching the color of the tulips. I also layered the image panel with it too so it really frames the image nicely.   Butterflies were made with a Martha Stewart punch.  I used designer paper for those and then ran a line of liquid pearl down the center between the wings.  The sentiment is stamped and then cut out with a Spellbinder die cut. Image is colored with Copics and Prisma pencils.
The challenge at Die Cut Divas is Spring/ Children.  We would love to see your entry.  

Challenges:
Sweet Stamps - girly
Crafty Sentiments - spring colors
Inspiration Destination - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Simon Wednesday - girly
Stamp and Create - spring yet?
Scrapyland - anything
Partytime Tuesday - anything

St. Patrick's Day Challenge At The Kraft Journal

I make only one St Patrick's Day card a year and that is only because I make one for my daughter who loves that day.   Most of the time I use an Irish blessing or saying.  Sometimes they are a spoof.  I keep it fun. This one is no exception.

This year I went with a light green instead of the normal shamrock green. The sentiment is a Unity stamp that I stamped onto a Grunge Prim Tag from the Kraft Outlet.  Two different colors of green, one from the Bright Hemp Cord, and one from the Dark Jewel Hemp Cord and the original string are tied in a bow at the top of the tag.
The border is a strip of designer paper.  The main panel is Buff Ivory Cardstock with just a bit of distressing around the edge. What would a St. Patty's Day card be without a shamrock? so I cut out some hearts, gluing them on to form a three leaf clover.
Are you ready for the inside?

Using temporary adhesive on the back of a small Glassine Bag, I attached it to a piece of paper before running it through my printer. After it printed,  I sprayed it with an acrylic coating so the ink would not smear.  When dry it is safe to remove it from the paper and then glue it onto the card.  Of course you could stamp a sentiment with Stazon but I wanted my own words.
Now I just need to get over to our nearest Starbucks to buy her a gift card to slip into the bag.

We would love to see your St. Patrick Day cards.  That is the challenge this week at the Kraft Journal. Stop by to see the other great eye candy by the design team and play the challenge too.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - green, clover
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Cards Galore - anything
Pink Gem - CAS
Simon Wednesday - anything
Spring Coffee Lovers Bloghop - coffee and Spring

Bugs, Butterflies, Buttons, and Bugaboo

There is a new challenge at the Die Cut Divas blog - Children and Spring.  Our sponsor is Bugaboo.

Isn't this just the cutest?  KKgirlbugs.
Very CAS with ladybug BG paper, the image cut out with Spellbinders, and a button for fun.
It should brighten someone's day.
Come play - just use images of children and/or Spring.  The challenge runs all month.