Now That's Challenging

Some of my favorite cards are CAS.  I like simple.  I do well with simple.  But one layer cards?  Now that is definitely a challenge for me.  And that is the challenge at the Kraft Journal this week.
That should be challenge enough but, oh no, not me, I had to add to the challenge by doing something I have never done before - stamp, emboss, and color on Kraft.  I used Light Kraft Cardstock from the Kraft Outlet.

The surprising aspect of this is it was fun; I love the results; I will do it again.
The stamp is by Unity.  I used Copics  to fill in a little color.  I added some beautiful hand stained Vintage White Bias Ribbon.  That doesn't count as a layer, does it?
So do you want to take on the challenge to make a one layer card.  We at the Kraft Journal would love to see what you come up with.

Challenges:
Papertakes - Bingo (ribbon, free, blooms)
Simon Wednesday - add texture
Simon Monday - anything
Cute Card Thursday - floral delight

Sending Smiles

Everything about this card (except the card base) is made from leftovers and scraps.

The digital image is an older Designed2Delight which I have had printed and colored for ages.  The papers and the "smiles" that I cut out of designer paper are all pieces .  Even the ribbon is a left over piece. 
I used the sketch at Sketch Saturday and kept the card very simple and mailable.

Challenges:
Sketch Saturday 
Papertake Bingo - ribbon, free space, blooms
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Your Next Stamp - colors (three shades of green, gray, pale yellow)

National Gumdrop Day

Did you know that it was National Gumdrop Day on Feb. 15.  I knew that and then forgot to post the card I made with it as my inspiration.  Who comes up with these National days anyway?  Maybe today should be National Better Late Than Never Day. haha

These gumdrops and sentiment are from the Doodle Pantry set Sweet Stuff which is a Free with Purchase set.  Using several pre-colored drops, I formed a heart and put the sentiment in the middle before printing.

One of the reasons I made this card was for the Ants In My Pantry Digital Challenge at the Doodle Pantry Digital Blog.  The challenge is to use candy or some kind of sweets on your card or project (because of the National Gumdrop Day).  We would love to see your entry.  The challenge closes on Feb. 23.

Challenges:
Stamping Boutique - hearts
Little Claires - love digi
Crafty Cardmaker - love
Stamp and Create - love
Without Words - love
Words to Scrap By - do something different

The Evolution of a Card

Pure enjoyment.  That is what I felt as I put this card together.  It was just plain fun!  And turned out way better than I anticipated - a bonus!

I started off with this cute dog by Meljen Designs:

but I wanted him looking over a fence.  I cut out two different fences and didn't like either one so I used a piece of photo designer paper of rocks.  After coloring him, I fussy cut him out but even with the Doodle Pantry sky paper, it was too plain so I stamped some trees using a Stampin Up rubber stamp and colored in some grass with a Copic.  I couldn't figure out how to use the sentiment on the digital image so I cut out a "hello" with the Silhouette.
I ended up using so many techniques and mediums:
Silhouette cutting out hello
Cuttlebug cutting out the front grass - YNS die
Digital paper
Digital image
Designer paper
SU stamp and brown ink
Copics
Prisma pencils
And see that TINY little heart by the "hello".  Can you believe I fussy cut that? I am so happy that I still have that much flexibility in my fingers.
So that is how my card evolved.  Here is the sketch I used:

I don't think I will be making any more cards exactly like this.  However, now that I have all the bugs worked out, maybe I will!

Challenges:
Your Next Stamp - sketch
Love to Scrap - anything
Simon Wednesday - all creatures great and small
Meljen - loving you
Sister Act - anything
Words to Scrap By  - so something different
Stamping Boutique - hearts
Paper Creators - love is in the air

Cleaning. Really!

Today I was cleaning off my desk and looking for a stack of invoices.  Because I couldn't find them (and it is driving me crazy) I cleaned off my craft desk too.  I just had to stop and play with this cute Bugaboo image.  It has been on my desk for a very long time so what better way to clean off the desk than use up a printed image lying around.  LOL

I love this DP that I have been hoarding.  And I didn't even notice the heart in the center of the flower until I was measuring out a piece to cut.
The sentiment is Meljen Design which I cut out with a banner die cut by MFT.  The circles are cut with Spellbinders.
Here is the sketch I used:

Challenges:
MFT - sketch
Love to Scrap - anything
Papertake - hearts and flowers
Meljen - loving you
Die Cuttin Divas - photo inspiration
Little Claire's - love digi
Stamping Boutique - hearts

February Celebration

The challenge at the Kraft Journal, which starts today is Any February Celebration.  I chose Presidents' Day.  No, I don't send out Presidents' Day cards, but I do make cards for OWH and many of those are patriotic in nature.  So I took Presidents' Day as my jumping off point.

I started with a Light Kraft Cardstock base. From some of my stash, I tore a piece of ephemera paper by TJ Designs which has the red, white, blue postal stripes.  The letters, "USA" are Tim Holz idea-ology stickers.  This collection is no longer available at the Kraft Outlet, but there are many other Tim Holz collections to choose from.  The letters were put onto small Scalloped Grungy Prim Tags.  I replaced the strings with Red Baker's Twine and hung those from a string of blue Dark Jewel Hemp Cord.  I added a few stars - some are paper, some are brads.  See those TINY little stars?  They are brads!    Then to just give a finishing touch, I added a piece of Air Mail Washi Tape.  It took me a long time to get into washi tape - now I love it.
How will you interpret February Celebrations?  We, at the Kraft Journal, hope you will accept our challenge and come over and play.

Challenges:

Craft Your Passion - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Sister Act - anything
Di's Digis - lots of embellishments

Valentine's Day

Whew!  I did it; I got all the Valentines finished and mailed in time.  Maybe I need to re-think this idea of making so many each year.  I make more Valentines than Christmas cards.  Now that is crazy.
Well, here is one of them.  I again used the Heart Spray cutting file by Quietfire and then embossed the sentiment with red EP.  The sentiment is by GKD.

As in a previous post, I must apologize for the poor photo quality.  I just could not get a good photo of this pink.
On the inside of the pink card base, I attached a piece of Real Red cardstock.  I really love this cutting file.  Quietfire is the sponsor for the Die Cut Divas challenge this month.  They have beautiful stamps,  paper, embellishment, and more besides the cutting files.
Have you entered the challenge yet?  You have two more weeks.  Come play; we would love to see your entries.

Challenges:
Papertakes - hearts or flowers
Stamp and Create - love
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamplorations - stamps and hearts
Sister Act - anything
Crafty Creations - owl, or hearts, or love
Without Words - I love you
Wags and Whiskers - for someone you love
Cute Card Thursday - perfectly pink