Dreams of Fall -- for Inspiration Destination

There's a new challenge that starts today at Inspiration Destination Challenge Blog (IDCB). As always, the challenges last one week, and are Anything Goes.  

We have several wonderful sponsors this week.  I am working with 2 of them -- Beccy's Place and Fabrika Fantasy. 

First, my card, using Blue Iris, from Beccy's Place:

I colored the Blue Iris image with my Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor pencils.  Designer papers are from Graphic 45.  I used Spellbinders dies to cut out the image and back it.  Alphabet stickers are from my stash.  Triangle studs are from Close To My Heart. 

Card 2, from Fabrika Fantasy -- 

This is Dancing Squirrel.  I used the pre-printed squirrel and background paper that comes with the digi stamp.  

All other designer papers on this card are from Photo Play - Autumn Day 6x6 collection.  The card base is from Bazzill basics.  The crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM.  I used my We R Memory Keepers Cloud Corner Chomper on this, too.

I hope you come play with us this week (and every week!) at Inspiration Destination Challenge Blog.  I'd love to see what you make! 
I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Eureka Stamps -- Color of Fall/Autumn Leaves

The Sky's the Limit -- for Julia Spiri Stamps

It's time for a new challenge at the Julia Spiri Challenge blog. The  theme for our second challenge is 'Girls, Girls, Girls'.  Since Julia Spiri has some of the cutest girl images in the world, take the opportunity to use of them to increase your chances to win a better prize!

This is Girl on a Swing, and she's colored with Copic markers.  I used 2 sizes of a Spellbinders label die to cut her out and back it.

Backing paper and the sentiment are from Pink Paislee - Prairie Hill Collection.  Paper behind the image is from We R Memory Keepers.  I also used their scalloped corner chopper. The card base is Bazzill card stock.  There's Webster's Pages lace trim, and 3 Girl JAM crinkle ribbon on here.  Although it's hard to see in the picture, I also used a Spica glitter clear pen on the sun and the clip in her hair.

Please join us at the Julia Spiri Challenge blog for our 'Girls, girls, girls' challenge.  It will last 2 weeks. I'd love to see your creations!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Craft-Dee Bowz -- ATG with a handmade bow
Crafting from the Heart -- Always ATG
Craft Your Passion -- ATG
D.L. Art -- Sept. linky party
Through the Craftroom Door -- ATG

Friends

I'm sharing a card today that I made for a friend that recently had surgery.  I wanted a card that would let her know I was thinking of her.  I'd received a beautiful poppy image, designed by Anne's Digital Art, and this month's progressive challenge freebie at The Outlawz Challenge.  I thought it would be perfect for what I had in mind.

I colored the poppy image with Close To My Heart watercolor pencils, then used a Close To My Heart Blending Pen. 

The card base is from Bazzill, the designer paper is from Basic Grey, and the ribbon is from my stash.  The banner stamp and sentiment are from Close To My Heart -- Finding the Words.

This is such a versatile image. I know I will use it again and again.  Thanks to Anne's Digital Art for participating in The Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenge!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
The Outlawz Monthly Progressive Challenge -- June
D.L. Art -- June Linky Challenge
Sister Act Card Challenge -- ATG

*****Please note this post has been previously published on the new blog. I am in the process of switching everything back. Thank you for your patience.*****

I Smile Inside -- for Eureka Stamps

It's Monday, and time for a new challenge at Eureka Stamps. This week, our theme is "Anything But a Card."  I like this theme -- it pushes me a bit.

I needed a gift bag for a fellow dog lover, so I created this:

I used Eureka Stamps digi 'Heart Puppy' (digi1203) for the image and 'Whenever I Think' (digi13506) for the sentiment.  I colored the image with Copic markers.

I cut the image out with 2 sizes of a Spellbinder die.  The designer paper is My Mind's Eye 'A Beautiful Life' 6x6 pad.  The card base is Bazzill basics.  I've had the washi tape for a long time, and don't remember where I got it.

Join us this week at Eureka Stamps for the 'Anything But a Card' Challenge. 

Under the Weather? for Eureka Stamps

It's Monday, and time for a new challenge at Eureka Stamps Challenge Blog. Our theme this week is, "Birds of a Feather."  Ah, FUN one!

I used the adorable Eureka Stamps digi "Rainy Day Duck" (digi2006) to create this:

The sentiment is Eureka Stamps digi "Under the Weather" (digi2007).  I colored the Rainy Day Duck with Prismacolor pencils.  

Designer papers are by My Mind's Eye -- Jubilee 6x6. The washi tape is from Close To My Heart.  The card base is Bazzill card stock.

Come join our "Birds of a Feather" challenge this week at Eureka Stamps. 

A great gift box -- for The Cutting Cafe

I love making gift boxes and bags.  They are one of the favorite things I make with my diecut machines.  So, when Regina, from The Cutting Café, gave us the assignment of making a pizza box this week, I was very excited.  And, as it turned out, I needed a box for my Sister-in-law's birthday gift.  Perfect!

I set to work, picking out my papers and deciding how to embellish the box. Here's what I came up with...

 

 

The pizza box was very easy to cut out and assemble. I used Pink Paislee Prairie Hill 12x12 papers on this project.  I loved working with them -- they have a nostalgic feel to them.  I used a chipboard tag from Bazzill, covered it with designer paper, and used a Unity Stamp on it from the Sweet Celebration birthday set.  The rhinestone brad is from Making Memories, and the twine bow is Trendy Twine.

Here's a view of the inside of the box:

 

 

The bow is also from The Cutting Café.  It's called "Loopy loopy bow flower" cutting file.

I'll leave you with a close up of the bow and sentiment...

 

 

That's it for me today.  I'm off to make more pizza boxes!  I love this thing!

 

 



It's Friday, It's Fall, and it's Friends with Flair!

I keep thinking, one of these weeks I'll miss linking up to FWF, but here it is, the end of September, and I'm still keeping my New Year's resolution of linking up every Friday.  We'll see if I can make it all year.  It's getting tougher and tougher! Anyone else got a long FWF streak going?

I had a little spare time Wednesday evening, so I wanted to make a card for this week's FWF.  I decided to try some things I don't normally do.  Namely -- CAS, embossing, working with textured cardstock, and using my distress inks.  So, I set about getting inky and having fun.  Here's what I came up with:

 

 

I used two different Unity sets on this card:  Susan Weckesser's "Autumn Grunge" (LOVE these leaves!) and "Grateful Hearts".

I used a piece of Bazzill textured cream colored cardstock for the base.  I embossed the leaves using Ranger gold embossing powder. Then, I used various distress inks throughout the card.  The sentiment was stamped with Close To My Heart desert sand ink.  The bling is from my stash.

I mailed out the card to my BFF, thanking her for having me for dinner last week when I was at conference, and letting me play with her Golden Retriever puppy! So fun!

Hope you have a chance this weekend to create some of your own "Fun Fall memories."

 

I'm entering this card in the My Sweet Earth Create to Live September Challenge





Anything Goes -- at Sweet Stamps

I am having so much fun with my guest designing for Sweet Stamps this month. The month is going WAY too fast!

A new challenge started yesterday over on the Sweet Stamps blog, and it's the always popular theme of "Anything Goes".

When I was given the opportunity to guest design for Sweet Stamps, I was also given the chance to pick out some stamps to design with.  The first one I chose was this dashing young lady, Margery (Margery 527).  She's a beauty, and I HAD to color her!

 

Isn't she fun? I paired her with some old fashioned looking papers I picked up from Hobby Lobby, added a nostalgic sentiment, also found in the Sweet Stamps store, "Old Fashioned Wish" (9065E). Both images were lightly sponged with Tim Holtz distress ink in worn paper to further the 'aged' look.  Some Close To My Heart ribbon, a stick pin created for me by a friend, a Bazzill card base, and voila, the card is complete! I hope you fall in love with Margery!



Joy's Life Super and Everyday Life Hero blog Hop

It's here, it's here! The Joy's Life Hero Hop is here! I've been excited about this ever since I knew I made the design team!  First, I'll give you the hop order, just in case you stumbled on to this hop.  I know you'll want to do the whole thing.  It's a great one!

 

Joy: http://joyslife.com    

Cyndy: http://arcyscraps.blogspot.com

Dawn: http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com

Jennifer:  http://creativecricutdesigns.blogspot.com 

Julie: http://muddypawsinkyfingers.blogspot.com -- you are here

Kendra: http://luv2scrapnmakecards.blogspot.com -- go here next

Laura: http://www.laurascraftsandmore.com

Lori: http://got2bcrafting.blogspot.com

Maria: http://asimplefive.blogspot.com  

Megan: http://thoughtsoftraveling.blogspot.com

Stacey H: http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com

 

I have to give you the background to my project before I share it with you.  I am the activity director in a nursing home in the small town where I live.  I made this card in honor of a very special young lady who has volunteered at our nursing home for many years.  Here's the story:  Every Tuesday, after school, the children's choir from our church, grades 1-5, practices at my nursing home.  We have snacks, visit with the residents, play some games, then get serious about learning songs to sing in church.  It's a wonderful ministry that both young and old benefit from.  One young woman, Hannah, when she got to grade 6, said she didn't want to leave the choir, she enjoyed it too much.  Well, she graduates from high school today, May 25, and she stayed in that choir the entire length of time.  She became the co-director, and blossomed into a beautiful, talented, sensitive young woman.  She has filled in for the director when she couldn't make it.  She's even filled in for church services and preached when the pastor can't make it.  She is truly a super hero.  Hannah is the reason I've been excited about this hop.  I wanted to recognize HER!  This card was passed around the nursing home and signed by residents, then presented to her, along with a book of quotes about life, at her last Joyful Noise Choir visit. She is a role model to the children in the choir and a gift to the residents in the nursing home alike.

 

 

Hannah has grown into a wonderful woman.  She is super fantastic and totally awesome.  This Joy's Life My Hero stamp set is absolutely perfect for this card.  I had so much fun making it!

 

I also used Bazzill cardstock for the base, UmWow Studio chipboard that my friend DeeDee makes (lots of fun shapes to check out) and designer papers by GCD Studio Charleston Collection. Sentiments were stamped with Close To My Heart cocoa ink.

And, because today is Graduation Day here in my town, I made a little gift box for Hannah, using the school colors.

It is a box I found in the Silhouette Store.  If you'd like to make it, you can find it here.  I once again used the Joy's Life My Hero Stamp Set, heat embossing with white embossing powder.

 

And, there's a peek inside of the box -- perfect for a gift certificate, jewelry, even a fancy cupcake.  Don't look too closely at the tassel!  It was the first time I'd tried one and it's far from perfect! :)

 

I have blog candy!  I have a 6x6 paper pad, some ribbon, some twine, and some rub ons.  To be eligible to win, please follow my blog and leave a comment on this post.  I will choose a winner after the holiday weekend.

 

Now hop on along to the talented and lovely Kendra's blog.  You're going to LOVE what she has for you!

 

I'm entering this box in the following challenges:

 Silhouette Challenges -- anything goes

Ribbon Carousel -- Celebrations
Crafting by Designs -- anything goes with a twist - Graduation
 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge -- anything goes

D.L Art Thankful Thursday Linky Party -- anything goes