Card Design: Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge...March

Hello there! It is time to get my progressive card for the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge uploaded.

Check out the adorable image that we got to work with this month...

Everyone who played along in last month's challenge received Bee Strong for free. It has a version with the sentiment and one without. If you decide to hop on and play along in the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge, then you can purchase this digital by clicking HERE (or on the watermark above to head to its location in the store). This way you'll receive next month's digital stamp for free.

Here are my card and details...

General Info:

• This card has been created 100% digitally and then layered in a Mock Up (courtesy of Frisk Shop). I will print it out and assemble it a later date.
• I was inspired by an old From the Heart Stamps sketch for this card.

FRONT

Digital Image Details:

• Bee Strong: You can find this image in the store. Details above. 
• This image was coloured digitally using my brand new program that I still need to gush over:
•  The background was 'air-brushed'. 
• The remainder was mostly 'watercoloured', with a bit of 'markers' work.

Digital Embellishment Details:

• The tag shape used to create the pennant and the template I used to create the tulip buttons were designed by Marisa Lerin, Pixel Scrapper. The pennant shape was paper pieced with a paper from Leesa's Tulip from Imagine That Digistamp. Clicking on the watermarks below will take you to its location in the store.

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment Details:

• The sentiments on the inside was created by Paulette from Create with TLC. For great freebies and inspiration be sure to click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for awesome sets for purchase, click HERE to go to the home page of the store. Both have been recoloured to suit the purposes of this project.

OVERALL
Digital Paper Products:

• The cloud digi paper is also from Imagine That Digistamp. This one from the Counting Sheep set. I just altered the hue slightly. Clicking on the watermark below will take you to its location in the store.

Digital Embellishments:

• I have used basic shapes in Photoshop Elements to create matting in behind the image and the sentiment. 
• I have applied shadow layer styles to give certain elements some depth. These styles were designed by Sheila Reid, Pixel Scrapper.

Challenges I am entering:

• Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge

Challenges I am hoping to enter...

• http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ (5E)-- Anything Goes
• http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Always Anything Goes
• http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com.au (3E) (Max 10) -- Anything Goes
• http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.ca/ (3E) -- Always Anything Goes 

Well guys, that is it for this one. Time to rest a bit before some more catching up.

Until next time,

Card Design: Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge...April

 As promised I'm back with my entry into the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge. 

This month we got to work with the following adorable image...

 
Another cutie pie!  Everyone who played along in last month's challenge received Hang in There for free. If you decide to hop on and play along in the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge, then you can purchase this digital by clicking HERE (or on the watermark above to head to its location in the store). This way you'll receive next month's digital stamp for free.

Here are my card and details...

General Info: 

• This card has been created 100% digitally and then layered in a poster mockup (courtesy of Design Bolts).  I will print it out and assemble it a later date.

FRONT

Digital Image Details: 

• Hang in There:  You can find this image in the store.  Details above.  
• This image was coloured partially digitally and partially with patterns and with paper piecing.
• Credits:  
• Sky & Clouds pattern courtesy of Webtreats, Etc.
• Fur and branch were paper pieced with textures found on the internet
     

Digital Embellishments: 

• The frame was part of a limited time freebie bundle picked up at Inky Deals.
• The brads are from the Brads & Buttons section of my A Touch of Class kit.

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment Details:

• Another great sentiment created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  For great freebies and inspiration be sure to click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for awesome sets for purchase, click HERE to go to the home page of the store.
• I coloured the sentiment to match my project.

OVERALL
Digital Embellishments: 

• I have used basic shapes in Photoshop Elements to create matting in behind the sentiment on the inside.
• I have applied shadow layer styles to give certain elements some depth.  These styles were designed by Sheila Reid, Pixel Scrapper.

Digital Paper Products:

• The paper used as the base for the front and inside is one I purchased from Marisa Lerin, Pixel Scrapper.

Challenges I am entering: 

• Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge

Other challenges I hope to enter... 

***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button***  

• http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ -- Always Anything Goes
• http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.ca/ -- Wonderful Wednesdays: Always Anything Goes
• http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/ (UL) -- Always Anything Goes
• http://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.co.uk/ -- (3E) -- Always Anything Goes

Well guys, that is it for this one.  There is a TLC bloghop tomorrow that you aren't going to want to miss!  Be sure to stop by again then.

Until next time,

Digis for Debbie Fund Raiser with Fresh Brewed Designs

Good morning and welcome to the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Blog Hop. Recently, we learned that Mrs. Debbie Lynch, the beautiful and loving mother of Heather Dennis, owner of Fresh Brewed Designs, was diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer. As most of you may know, cancer related medical costs can be quite expensive in the United States, and Mrs. Debbie currently has no medical insurance, which makes the cost significantly higher. Therefore, we have decided to help raise enough money to cover these medical expenses, as well as aftercare expenses, by creating a digi shop. All the proceeds of the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Shop and the Fresh Brewed Designs Store will go directly to Mrs. Debbie to fund her lifesaving surgery and the aftercare necessary to bring her back to wellness. Furthermore, Heather has created a Give Forward Account to assist her mother. 

If you would like to help, please stop by the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Shop, the Fresh Brewed Designs Store, and/or the Give Forward Account. For those of you who are not able to contribute monetarily, we would love for you to add Mrs. Debbie to your prayer list. If there is one thing we know, prayers can work miracles that money cannot and healing and wellness is what we are praying to receive.

The hop launches today, Tuesday, July 14th on the Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge Blog, and will run until Tuesday, July 28th @ 11:59 PM Eastern Time. All participants can be found in the linkies section of *THIS POST* on the Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge Blog, and we would love to have you join us! We do ask that you use a digi from the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Shop or the Fresh Brewed Designs Store, and the theme is Anything Goes, and you can enter as often as you would like. Two prize packages will be awarded, one prize for a digi purchaser and one prize for a blog hop participant. Winners will be chosen on Saturday, August 1st. The prizes will consist of stamps, papers, ribbon, embellishments, etc.; plus, some random prizes will be offered by some generous blog hop participants along the hop.  Also, Cara is offering one random commenter a 12-month subscription to her awesome on-line crafty magazine, Through the Craft Room Door.  It is filled with creativity, inspiration, crafty techniques, and loads of helpful information to fuel your artistic mojo.  

Thank you for dropping by and for helping us with our fundraising efforts; and again, we ask that you keep Mrs. Debbie in your prayers. Have a wonderful Tuesday, crafty friends! We look forward to admiring your creations! :)

I know all too well the ravages of cancer as it has affected and / or taken many of my family members.  My own mother battled and won her fought with vaginal cancer and continues to battle her fight with skin cancer on her scalp.  Thankfully it has been almost two months since her surgery and while she remains sore, she is healing.  Better yet, the biopsy came back with all the margins being cleared.  We are lucky in Canada that the majority of our medical costs, especially for surgeries and such are covered by our government.  Sadly it is not the case in the US.  I have heard of many families going bankrupt just to pay their medical bills so if there is any way you can help out, please do so.  Remember, even if you can't assist monetarily, helping to spread the news of this special hop and or including Debbie in your prays can still help out a lot.

I have created a special sentiment set for the hop along with a special set of papers that will hopefully be added to the fundraiser page very soon.  The sales from either of these sets will go towards the fundraising efforts.  Once again you can find all the images available for sale in the Digis for Debbie Fundraiser Shop.

Here are my contributions...

I will also choose a random person who leaves a comment on this post between now and July 28th to receive the sentiment set for free and another person to receive the paper set for free; so, be sure to leave me a comment for your chance to win!

Here is the card I have created for the hop.  I will also being sending it to Heather so that she can forward it to her mother...

FRONT

Digital Image Details: 

• I have used two images from Fresh Brewed Designs. One is the wonderful Heart Hot Air Balloon that I adore so much.  I coloured this image with Copic Markers.  For the second one I took the tree image from the fundraiser set and duplicated the tops of it a few times so that it looked like my balloon was floating above the trees.  I coloured this image with coloured pencils.

Embellishments: 

• The half pearls were purchased at Dollarama. 
• The tag is a digital shape from Marisa Lerin, Pixel Scrapper, that I duplicated, added the sentiment to and then fussy cut.

INSIDE

Digital Image Details:  

• I have used one of the images from the fundraiser set to serve as accent pieces on either side of the sentiment.

OVERALL
Digital Sentiment Details:

•  My own from the sentiment set I created for the fundraiser.  Preview and details above.
  

Paper Products: 

• Card, image and sentiment bases: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
• Designer Papers:  The floral paper and the piece on the bottom are from the Recollection's The Sweetest Thing paper pad. The yellow striped paper is from the Recollection's Bold Basics paper pad.

Challenges I hope to enter... 

***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button***

• Word Art Wednesday -- Anything Goes
• http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes but must be a card
• http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes but no digital colouring
• http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.ca/ (3E) -- Always Anything Goes (2nd entry)
• http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Always Anything Goes
• http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.ca/ (2E) -- Always Anything Goes (first entry)
• http://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ -- It's a Triple Play (I have used three different digi images.  I have also used three brads on the front of my card)
• http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes
• http://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ --  K is for Kind Thoughts (offering up hope to someone going through a challenge serves as a kind thought)
• http://graphitmarkers.blogspot.co.uk/ -- SHADES OF PINK, YELLOW or ORANGE (my DP has all three colours and the image has been coloured with pink and yellow as well)

Thanks so much for popping over today.  I hope that you get the chance to join in our hop and give to the cause if you are able.  It is always wonderful when the crafting community is able to come together for events like this!

Click HERE to join in now!

Until next time,

Card Design: Deedee's Digi of the Month Challenge...May

Hey there and a happy Monday night to you all!  It is high time I post my project for the Digi of the Month Challenge taking place over at Deedee's Digis.

In order to enter the progressive challenge, you must either have received the latest image by having participated in the previous month or you can buy the stamp for the current month's challenge.  Everyone who enters and follows the rules is a winner because you automatically get the stamp for the next month's challenge.  Stop by the site and check out the rules for yourself.  Be sure to check out the store while you are there too.  Currently there are a few sets available for free and of course there are some wonderful ones available for purchase in the store.  Due to the new EU VAT tax, Deedee's store has been split into two sections so make sure you head to the right section of the store if you plan on making a purchase.

Right now it is time to check out the wonderful set participants got to work with this month...

"Dad's Day Off" is a fun set filled with great images.  Of course, each set comes with both outline and coloured versions to provide you with some variety.  If you did not participate in last month's challenge, you can still purchase this set for just $1.25 during the month of May at the store. You can find it HERE if you are a resident of the European Union, or find it HERE if you are NOT a resident of the EU.

Here are my card and details...

General Information: 

• I didn't want to make a father's day card so I decided to use the dog with slippers image.  I thought a comfort card would be a good idea so I did a search in my files for a sentiment with the word comfort in it.  When I found a sentiment both with the idea of comfort and also related to dogs, I knew it was the perfect match.

• Once again, I've kept this card clean and simple. 

 

FRONT

Digital Image Details: 

• Dad's Day Off:  You can find this set in the store.  Details above.  I used the coloured version from the set to once again help save me some time. 

Digital Sentiment Details:

• I picked up this great sentiment over at Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking.  They have quite a selection of free sentiments.

INSIDE

 Digital Sentiment Details:

• This particular sentiment was one I picked up as part of a prize I won when Scribble and Scrap offered up digis.  It was actually part of a Christmas set but I thought it went well for this card.  While the store no longer exists at all, you can still play in their challenge blog which can be found HERE.

OVERALL  

Paper Products: 

• Card, image and sentiment bases:  Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, Neutral collection.
• The matting is Crafts brand cardstock available at Dollarama.
• The Designer Paper used on the inside is from my stash but originally from the Michael's Recollection's Mosaic Memories paper pad.

Challenges I am entering: 

• Deedee's Digi of the Month Challenge

Other challenges I hope to enter...
***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button***  

• Word Art Wednesday -- Always Anything Goes
• http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.ca/ (UL) -- Always Anything Goes (but must be a card)
• http://www.cardsinenvy.blogspot.ca/ -- Masculine
• http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Always Anything Goes 
• http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.de/ -- Anything Goes
• http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.ca/ -- Keep it Simple
• http://www.aaacards.blogspot.co.uk/ --For the Guys

Well guys, I've managed to finally finish my first progressive card of the month.  Just two more progressives to go in the next 5 days plus several DT creations. Wish me luck!

Until next time,

Card Design: Path of Positivity #26--Perseverance

Hello everyone.  I've had the opportunity to create for the start of The Path of Positivity Challenge.  However, as busy as I have been I didn't get the opportunity to print out the pieces and assemble my actual card but I can show you the digital version of what it looks like.

Perseverance is the theme this month.  To succeed in life you need perseverance.  Even when facing difficulties, one needs to stay slow and steady and stay on course.  Encouragement cards are a great way to show someone you care about the importance of never giving up and that is the focus of my creation tonight.  I have a dear friend going through a severe depression right now and I'm trying to encourage her in every way to hang in there and not give up.

This month our sponsors are...

 Deedee's Digis...

and Ike's Art...

For the start of the challenge, I'm working with an image from Deedee's Digs.  Both Deedee and Ike had so many awesome images to choose from that worked well for this challenge.  You can see the images the rest of the team chose to work with over on the challenge blog.  For now, here is the one I chose to work with...

If you are a Non EU Resident, please click HERE to find this image in the store.
If you are an EU Resident, please click HERE.

Here are my card and details.  I hope I haven't forgotten anything important...

General Info:  

• I have used a sketch from From the Heart Stamps for the front of my card.

FRONT

Digital Images Details: 

• Chance of Showers: Details above.  I've used one of the COLOURED images from the set.  I recoloured it digitally to match more with the colours of my paper.  Thankfully, Deedee's terms allow one to do this.  Be sure to always check!

Digital Embellishments & Paper Details: 

• I paper pieced basic shapes using three different papers from my new Colours of the Rainbow Textured Papers set.  I'm working on getting it uploaded to the store.  I just need to find the time to do so!

 

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment Details:

• This wonderful sentiment was created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  I picked it up as a freebie.   For great freebies and inspiration be sure to click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for more awesome sets for purchase, click HERE to go to the home page of the store.

OVERALL
Digital Paper Products: 

• I've also used my own paper on the front and inside.  It is also from a new set, this one called, Rainy Days.

Challenges I am hoping to enter...

• http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ (5E)--  Always Anything Goes
• http://www.deedeesdigis.com/ -- Special NSD CASE Challenge (Okay, I'm not sure if I'm interpreting this correctly but I lifted the idea of encouragement based on Deedee's "Need a Lift" creation.  I've also used three of the same colours (two different blues and the green) in my creation.  Hope this qualifies!)
• http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/ -- Anything Goes
• http://ttcrd.blogspot.ca/ -- Always Anything Goes
• http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes for May
• http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Always Anything Goes (the rules are a bit confusing.  The rules page itself states three entries but only if you use a SD image; however the challenge posts themselves state, that you can enter as many times as you like as long as it is a new and current project each time.  This is my second entry so I hope it is okay)
• http://digitallysweetchallenges.blogspot.ca -- April Showers Bring May Flowers (my second entry focusses on the 'showers' part. Hope that is okay.  It is also 100% digital.)
• http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com.au/ (1E) Max.10-- I is for Inspire (a big part of my style is doing digital creations)

For Challenge #26, prizes will be the following:

• A $10 gift certificate from Ike's Art, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.
• A $25 gift certificate from Deedee's Digis, one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.
• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be: 

• One digital designer paper (made to order in a couple different ways) from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment.
• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

So what are you waiting for?  Create a project and/or post that is positive AND relates to perseverance, provide an explanation of how your project and/or post relates to the theme somewhere in your post or  leave a comment on the challenge post with the explanation.  Easy, peasy!

To find out all the details you need along with the link up, click HERE.  The team and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!!!

Until next time!