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.

Bloomin' Center Stair Card

My mom's birthday is next week (she will be 92) and I wanted to make her a special card.  I really love how it turned out.  I hope she will like it too.

I started with GKD white cardstock - nice and heavy and cut the step card using a template as a guide.  The designer paper is a piece that has been in my stash for years.  All the flowers are cut out with my Silhouette.  The paper lace border is a die cut that also embosses. (I don't know the company but I think they are no longer in business.)  The white circle is a Spellbinder die as are the pink Scalloped circle and the circle with the sentiment.  My Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish die was perfect to work around the flowers and to go with the flourishes in the designer paper.
The centers of the coral and maroon flowers were part of the cutting file.  For the yellow flowers I added a green pearl.
This is only the second step card I have made but I really enjoyed making it so it won't be my last.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - anything
Simon Wednesday - anything
Stamping Boutique - more than one layer
Cheery Lynn -anything goes
Di's Digi Design - birthday

Doodle Pantry and OWH

There are always challenges at Operation Write Home and this new sketch challenge is sponsored by Doodle Pantry.  Most of the challenges at OWH do not have sponsors so if you have thought about entering, now would be a good time - you might win some digital images of your choice.
Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

I used a set that was a new release this month:

I love the papers, especially the gorilla faces.
The banana border is made by repeating the banana in a row in the publisher program before printing.
You really should head over to Doodle Pantry and check out the store.  It is amazing. 
And don't forget to read the guidelines for cards made for OWH.  Things like no bulk, no glitter are really important.

Challenges:
Love to Scrap - anything
Simon Monday - anything
Papertakes - cool colors
Simon Wednesday - anything
Stamping Boutique - more than one layer
Little Claires - love digi
Stamp and Create - love

Today You Are You

How much better off we would be if we would just be ourselves and stop trying to be someone else or some thing we are not.  I have used this Bugaboo image before and made a few more cards with it this week because I love the sentiment in the frame.  If you are a Dr. Seuss fan, you will recognize it.

The challenge at Die Cuttin Divas is to make a card with Dr. Seuss inspired card.  I used Copics for coloring.  The image and layer are cut out with MFT rectangles.  It doesn't show in the photo but there is a little embossed layer on the image panel and the Kraft panel by running them through the Cuttlebug a second time with an embossing pad.  The bow die is from My Craft Spot.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - anything
Papertakes - Take Your Pick -  Kraft
Die Cuttin Divas - Dr. Seuss
Word Art Wedenesday - anything
Simon Wednesday - anything 

Doodle Pantry and Clear It Out

There is a new challenge at Clear It Out - Animals and Stripes.  Doodle Pantry is the Sponsor.  There are so many Doodle Pantry animals to choose from.  I chose from one of the newer releases.

The striped paper is from a different set, Bright Smiles

I kept this card flat and mailable because it will be going to OWH.  Just a few pieces of interest like the grass which is cut with a MFT icicle die, the button with twine, and under that a piece of Washi tape.

Stop by Clear It Out and enter your animal card.  You may win some great Doodle Pantry sets.

Challenges:
Papertakes - Take your pick  (colors, technique)
Through the Craft Room Door - anything
Pennys Paper Crafting - spots and stripes
Simon Monday - anything
OWH ODBD challenge - animals