Starry Skies -- For Dies R Us Challenges

 Here we are, to the 15th of June already.  Summer is just about here on the calendar, and many of us are in summer mode now that schools are out, and graduation is over.  

Dies R Us Challenges has a theme of Dads/Masculine this month.  Use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store, follow the theme, and you have until the end of the month to link up. 

I needed several Graduation cards recently, and this is what I created for one of them:

I used the Starry Skies background die from Sizzix, and the You Did It dies from Frantic Stamper.  The yellow background was blended with inks from Hero Arts and Tim Holtz Oxide Distress inks. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our Dads/Masculine challenge.  Just remember to use a brand of die found in the Dies R Us Store.  For Canadian friends, there is the Didi Crafts Store.  It offers a wonderful selection of craft products and reasonable shipping rates. 

Happy Chocolate Cake Day! For The Paper Shelter

 It's National Chocolate Cake Day, and that is certainly worth celebrating!  The Paper Shelter is using it as this week's challenge theme.  Bring on those glorious chocolate confections! The Paper Shelter has many images in the store that will work for this challenge, and we'd love to see them in the challenge.  If you win the challenge, and you use a Paper Shelter image, you receive a $30 gift certificate to the Paper Shelter Store. Otherwise, you win any 3 images of your choice.  Great prizes, any way you look at it!

For today's challenge, I used Birthday Cupcake.  It's a chocolate cupcake, of course!

I colored Birthday Cupcake with Copic markers, then fussy cut it.  I created the stepper card using a deform Sizzix. The gingham and dotted papers are from We Are 3 Digital Shop. I used both Gingham Pastel and Dotted Swiss. The twine is by Tonic Studios.  I also used some Nuvo Drops to finish off the card.

I hope you join in on our Chocolate Cake Challenge this week at The Paper Shelter Challenge. I think I might be craving cake all week!

Joyous Manger Scene --for Dies R Us Challenges

 It's November 15th, and although it's not even Thanksgiving, we card makers have been making Christmas cards for months now.  I'm taking advantage of the anything goes challenge at Dies R Us Challenges to get another Christmas card made.  The challenge is Anything Goes, as long as you use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. 

I have a collection of mangers, or creches, that I use to decorate my house at Christmas, so it's no wonder I am drawn to them in my crafting also.  I really like this Manger set by Spellbinders. 

The sentiment is from a set of Christmas sayings by Sizzix.  I inked the edges of the card with 2 Distress Inks -- Old Paper and Tea Dye.

The vintage looking paper with musical notes on it is from We Are 3 Digital Shop. It is from the Holiday Wishes Collection.

I hope you are able to join us these next 2 weeks for the Anything Goes with a dies sold in the Dies R Us Store challenge.  There will be a gift certificate awarded and 3 designer choice awards.  I'd love to see your creations! 

For Canadian friends, check out the Didi Crafts Store. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Dragonfly Dreams -- Christmas/Winter

My Time to Craft Christmas -- Vintage Christmas

12 Months of Christmas -- ATG

D.L. Art -- November Linky Party

Crazy4Challenges -- die cuts only

Thanksgiving Treat Box -- For Paper ala Mode Challenges

 It's Saturday, and there is a new challenge underway at The Outlawz Paper ala Mode.  The challenges all year have been sponsored by We Are 3 Digital Shop.  One lucky participant will win a gift certificate to the We Are 3 Shop! Great prize! This time, the theme is Give Thanks. Thanksgiving truly is the overlooked holiday, so I'm glad we are focusing on it.  I have much to be thankful for! 

The design team was given some gorgeous products to use for today's inspiration!  Very fall-like in feel, and perfect for Thanksgiving!

I started with 2 of the Howdy Autumn papers and printed them back to back.  I used a Bigz die from Sizzix to cut out the box die.  Once I got that constructed, I started on the tag.  Again, I used 2 matching papers from Howdy Autumn, the basket from the Harvest Printables (there are 4 in the set) and a 'Thanks' sentiment from the Itty Bitty Sentiment Set. The tags are a set by Tonic Studios.  The twine is by May Arts.  

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our 'Give Thanks' challenge!  I'd love to see your creations, and I'd also love to see you win a gift certificate to the We Are 3 Digital Shop! 

Fairy Magic -- For All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's September 1st, and there's a new challenge starting in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group.  The challenge will run the whole month of September, and it has a theme -- Winged things.  You must use an All Dressed Up Stamps image. You'll find lots of wonderful images that fit the Winger Things theme in the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop.

Fairy Magic is an older image.  In fact, I think it was the first All Dressed Up image I ever purchased, and one of the first digital images I ever colored up.  I wish I could find that card now, but that was before I was even photographing and watermarking my cards.  I'd like to compare it to today's image.  Have I improved?  I sure hope so!  I've done a lot of coloring between then and now!

I colored Fairy Magic with a combination of Copic & Spectrum Noir markers.  The papers are from Crafter's Companion.  The stitched oval die is from Spellbinders.  The 2 banner dies are from Crafter's Companion.  The butterfly dies are by Sizzix.  I hope you like my darling Winged Thing! 

I hope you find your own adorable Winged Thing and join in the challenge over on the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Challenge. I'd love to see what you create! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Classic Design Challenge -- ATG

DigiChoosday -- ATG

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG with a hand colored image

ABMTTC -- ATG

A Perfect Time to Craft -- ATG

Floral Hello -- for Dies R Us Challenges

 It's September 1st, somehow (I'm not sure how we've gotten to this point in the year), and it's time for a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges.  As always, challenges are Anything Goes, as long as you use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. 

Flowers are still blooming, and the monarchs are starting their migration south.  They are the inspiration behind today's card for the Dies R Us Challenge:

I started out with a sunshine yellow card base, then cut out a Tutti Designs Multi Floral Background panel.  My original plan had been to use some distress inks on it, but once I cut it in white, I really liked it just the way it was.  The sentiment is by Poppystamps.  It is the Hello Poe Script.  I like that all the letters are connected.  I makes it easy to position it on the project.  The butterfly is by Sizzix, but there are many butterflies that would work equally as well in the Dies R Us Store.

The challenge will run for the next 2 weeks, so I hope you can join us!  Remember, it's Anything Goes, as long as you use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. For our Canadian customers, there is the Didi Crafts Store, with fantastic products and reasonable shipping costs.  

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

D.L. Art -- September Linky Party

Classic Design Challenge -- ATG

Love To Craft Challenge -- ATG

ABMTTC -- ATG

TTCRD -- ATG

Worldwide Open Design Team Challenge -- ATG

Snow Friends -- for Cute Card Thursday

 It's the first Thursday of the month, so that means it's time for a new challenge at Cute Card Thursday Challenges. Challenge now are month-long.  They are Anything Goes with an optional theme.  This month's twist is Bright Colors.  I like that!

One of our sponsors each month is Whimsy Stamps. They have so many great products, including a digital release each month.  Today, I'm freaturing this Snowman & Bird by CC Designs, found at Whimsy Stamps. 

I colored Snowman and Bird with a combination of Spectrum Noir and Copic markers, using bright colors to fit the challenge theme.  The card base is a die from Sizzix.  The designer paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop. The panels are from the Color Me Christmas Collection.  I computer generated the sentiment and cut it out with a die from Queen and Company.  The snowflakes are dies from Lawn Fawn. 

I hope you join us this month at Cute Card Thursday for our Anything Goes with the optional twist Bright Colors challenge. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Passion for Markers -- Favorite Colors (teal and bright pink)

DigiChoosday -- ATG

Crafty Sentiments -- ATG

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG with a Colored image

12 Months of Christmas Link Up -- Warm Winter Wear

Magical Moments -- for Dies R Us Challenges

 Life is full of magical moments when you look for them!  I'm convinced of that!  The card I made for today's Dies R Us Challenges reflects that.

There is a new challenge that starts today over on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog and it will run for the next 2 weeks. All you need to do is use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. Magically easy, right?

Are you a fan of Mary Poppins?  It was one of my favorite movies growing up, and I was so excited to see its remake a couple of years ago.  This die by Sizzix takes me right back to that movie.  It's called The Park.  I used a small portion of the dies in the set and created this...

The houses and tree on the base of the card are dies by Crafter's Companion.  The sentiment is from a clear stamp set from Molly Harrison called A Summer Day.  I stamped it on a label die by Crafter's Companion.  I used a variety of Distress Oxide Inks on the base of the card. 

I hope you join our challenge these next 2 weeks at Dies R Us challenges. I'd love to see what magical creation you create! 

For customers in Canada, check out the Didi Crafts Store!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

D.L. Art -- June Linky Party

613 Avenue Create -- Paper Piecing

A Bit More Time to Craft -- ATG

ABMTTC-Extra -- ATG

World Wide Open Design Team Challenge -- ATG

Sandy Toe & Salty Kisses -- for JDS Challenges

It's time for our mid-month inspiration over on the Jan's Dig Stamps Challenge Blog.  The challenge started on May 3, and goes all month.  The challenges are always Anything Goes!  There will be 2 gift certificates awarded one will be chosen at random.  The other will be awarded for a Jan Mahew image.  There will also be 3 designer choice awards. 

I used a fun new Jan Mahew set called The SandBox for my DT inspiration. Here's what I created:

I colored the flip flops from the set with my Triblend Brush markers by Spectrum Noir.  The sentiment is also part of the SandBox Set. 

The side stepper card base is a die from Sizzix. Then, I used some other dies in my set for the rest of the card -- the circle dies are by Crafter's Companion, and the tag and heart tag dies, along with papers and ephemera are by Close To My Heart. 

After this month's challenge, the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge team is taking a break for the summer.  We will be back in September, so look for us then! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

D.L. Art -- May Linky Party

QKR Stampede -- ATG

A Place to Start -- ATG

A Bit More Time to Craft -- ATG

A BMTTC Extra -- ATG

I Love You More -- for Bugaboo Stamps

It's Friday!  It's Freebie Friday!  Every Friday, you can get a new freebie at Bugaboo Stamps.  You'll find it in the Bugaboo Stamps Store for the entire week.  Free!  How great is that?!? 

Today's freebie works great for a variety of occasions -- summer, celebrations, love, just because.  You name it, you can probably make it work.  I think it's darn cute.  What do you think?

This is Ice Cream, colored with Copic markers.  I used luscious ice cream colors -- mint chocolate chip and bubble gum flavor!  Yum yum!  And Red Cherry, of course!  I cut Ice Cream out with a Spellbinders die, then used a Sizzix die to cut out the front step card.  I found the fun ice cream papers at Pixel Scrapper.  I computer generated the sentiment.  I found a font called Baskin Robbins.  That seemed appropriate!  I little piece of bubblegum twine from Timeless Twine finished off the card.

You can see more fantastic designs with this Ice Cream image over on the Catch the Bug Blog. Check out what they made, then come back tomorrow for the start of a new challenge.  I'd love to see your creations! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Lemon Shortbread -- ATG
Crafty Friends -- ATG
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- ATG for Kids

And relax... a New Release for All Dressed Up Stamps

You may have seen this image on Facebook, especially if you are involved with Kit and Clowder.  It was given away as a freebie last weekend by the generous Wendy of All Dressed Up Stamps for anyone that wanted to color it. It is also one of 4 New Releases this month at All Dressed Up Stamps. I think this image, And Relax, is so precious (and very appropriate for our times).

I wanted some nice, bright colors for this little yoga girl.  So, using Copic markers, I used YG's and YR's on the outfit.  The plaid paper is from a Lawn Fawn paper pad. The stepper card is cut out with a die from Sizzix. the flowers are by Prima.

The other super talented designers from the All Dressed Up team will be sharing their new release makes on Facebook and on the blog today.  I hope you check it out! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Polkadoodles -- ATG
QKR Stampede -- ATG
D.L. Art -- June Linky Party
TTCRD -- ATG
A Gem of a Challenge -- ATG

Welcome, Little One -- a Bugaboo Stamps New Release

It's Tuesday, and that's New Release day at Bugaboo Stamps.  Every single Tuesday, there is a new release.  The new releases are 1/2 price for a week, so grab them while the getting's good!

Today's new release is perfect for baby cards, tags, and gifts.  It's called BOO Teddy Bear:

I colored BOO Teddy Bear with Copic markers.  I got out the front step card with a die from Sizzix.  The papers on the card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop. They are the Dotted Swiss papers. I computer generated the sentiment, then added some Timeless Twine to finish off the card.

Need an easy to color image for a quick baby card?  Look no further than Boo Teddy Bear! You can see what the other talented designers made with it at Catch the Bug Blog. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Lemon Shortbread -- ATG
The Cutie Pie Challenge -- Bunnies, Bears and other 'B's (baby)
The Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Anything Goes 

Brighten the Darkest Day -- for Colour Crazy Challenge Blog

It's Friday, and that means a new challenge is starting today over on the Colour Crazy Challenge Blog. Every Friday, a new challenge begins.  They are always anything goes, as longs as your image is hand colored, using whatever medium you prefer.

Our sponsor this week is Fred She Said Designs. Perfect for spring, get well cards, sympathy cards, birthday cards, encouragement cards, ANY type of cards is this beautiful digi, African violets.  I used it to create this encouragement card:

I colored the African Violet image with Faber Castell color pencils on Kraft.  I really like the look.   The front stepper card is a die from Sizzix.

Papers and sentiment  are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The papers are from the Rainbow Skies Collection. The sentiment is one of sentiments in the Encouraging Words sentiment set.

A little twine  from May Arts finished off the card.

I hope you join us at Colour Crazy Challenge Blog for this week's challenge.  Every challenge runs for 2 weeks, so if you want to get in on the challenge with this week's wonderful sponsor, you have 2 weeks! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Through the Purple Haze -- ATG
TTCRD -- ATG
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG
Outlawz Festive Friday -- ATG

You're the Cat's Meow!

I try to participate in the Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenge each month.  I've broken my streak a month of two due to illness, but overall, I keep the streak going.  This month's image is provided to us by Star Stampz.  It's called Red String.  I'm not a cat lover.  Think "dog" and you have me figured out!  My mother-in-law, though, is living with 2 of them, and she's recovering from a major surgery, so I'm trying to send her cards every few days.  This is another one heading her way:

I colored the Red String digital image with Copic markers.   I used a card base from Sizzix that cuts out the front stepper design.  The papers are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are the Dotted Swiss papers.  I computer generated the sentiment, and added a bit of twine from Timeless Twine to finish off the card.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenge -- April
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party

Count Your Age by Friends Not Years! for JDS Challenges

It's the 3rd Monday of the month, and it's time for a new challenge at Jan's Digistamp Challenges. Starting in April, challenges will be month-long, beginning on the first Monday of the month, and ending the Sunday before the first Monday of the following month. The prize structure will also change. There will be 2 random draws each time:  one for a JDS image, and one for everyone else.  Each winner will be given a $10 gift certificate to the Jan's Digistamp Store.

Today, I colored up an image from one of Jan's newer releases, Birthday Buddies.

This birthday cake and birthday sentiment are both from the Birthday Buddies Set.  The cake comes in a black & white version also, but I wanted to color this one with my Copic markers.  The sentiment is one of several that come in the set.  

The designer papers used on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop. They are from  the Party Celebration papers.  The card base is a Sizzix die that I cut out on my Gemini die cutting machine. I also used a couple of Spellbinders dies to cut out the cake and the sentiment. A little Timeless Twine finished off the card.

This challenge will be the last of the challenges that will go for 2 weeks.  Challenges will remain Anything Goes, so please link up at Jan's Digistamp Challenges!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Festive Friday -- Birthday
D.L. Art -- March Linky Party
Polkadoodles -- ATG
Lemon Shortbread -- ATG

One Card Panel, 3 Cards -- for Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

I'm pleased to be posting today for the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog.    I had a great time with today's post!  

I've been playing with a card panel die, and I want to show you what I've come up with!  One panel, 3 looks!

The die is a Diagonal Striped Card Panel Die from Frantic Stamper.  There's lots you can do with this!

The first card I created was a Christmas card:

I'll tell you more about it in a bit, but first, a photo of all the supplies used in today's projects:

All the die cut pieces for the first card look like this:

Once it was die cut, it was easy to put together.  I used Stick It Adhesive for small die cuts and the Best Glue Ever for everything else.

Card 2 is a thank you card.  In this one, the card is a landscape card, and I cut out a square to go behind the diagonal panel.  Here are all the parts of the card after they are die cut, but before they are put together:

Here's the assembled Thank You card:

The final card is a sympathy card.  I went back to the original orientation with this one.  Here are all the pieces die cut:

Here's the last card, assembled:

I'll give you links for all the wonderful dies and products I used on these cards, found in the Dies R Us Store: 

Frantic Stamper Diagonal Striped Card Panel

Creative Expressions 'Tis the Season

Creative Expressions With Sympathy

Stick It Adhesive Sheets

Best Glue Ever

I also used dies from Crafter's Companion, Sizzix, and Memory Box.   

I hope you enjoyed your visit and that I was able to inspire you to use your dies, create a project, and come play along with us at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the 1st and 15th of every month.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Pinterest too.

click below for:

STORE 
 CHALLENGE BLOG
  FACEBOOK

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Festive Fridays --Christmas

D.L. Art --Oct linky Party

Lil Patch of crafty friends --ATG

Summer Rose -- at Catch the Bug

It's Oldie but Goodie day over on the the Catch the Bug Blog, and I always enjoy posting on Thursday, as Bugaboo Stamps has enough wonderful Oldie but Goodie stamps to keep me going for months -- probably years!  I found this beautiful Rose Watering Can that I just had to color up in celebration of summer. 

I colored the Rose Watering Can with Copic Markers.  Isn't it pretty?  I just love a rusty watering can.  It looks just like one I have here at home.  

The papers and sentiment on this step card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are both new releases in June.  The papers are from the Cone Flower Love paper collection (I used 3 of them on this card), and the sentiment is part of the Itty Bitty Summer sentiments. 

I hope you have time to check out what the other designers made for Oldie But Goodie Thursday.  Then, come back to the Catch the Bug Blog tomorrow for Freebie Friday.  You won't be disappointed!  Pick up the freebie and enter it in Saturday's challenge!  Visit that Catch the Bug Blog everyday for inspiration and fun.  Don't forget about the Bugaboo Stamps Fan Group on Facebook, too! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- June Linky Party
AUD Sentiments -- ATG plus a Sentiment
Digichoosday -- ATG
Outlawz Twisted Thursday -- no twist, ATG

Warm Winter Wishes -- for All Dressed Up

December 1!  It may not officially be winter, but it sure feels like it where I live.  We've been bundling up in winter clothes for months already! So, I'm wishing you warm winter wishes today!

December 1 -- it's the start of a new challenge for the All Dressed Up Facebook Challenge.  This month's theme is seasons/holidays.  Since I'm burning out on Christmas cards, I went with a winter theme on this one instead :)

Isn't she the sweetest?  Wendy Burns draws the most lovable characters that are so fun to color!  You will find this Snowy Day digital stamp, and many other wonderful digis in the All Dressed Up Etsy Shop. 

I colored Snowy Day with Copic markers.  The sentiment is computer generated. 

The teal designer paper is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  This is one of the papers in the Touch of Teal Collection. 

The step card base was cut out with a die from Sizzix.  The snowflake dies are from Lawn Fawn, and the teal twine is from Timeless Twine. 

I hope you aren't too busy this month of December to join the holiday/season challenge at the All Dressed Up Facebook Group.  There's also an All Dressed Up challenge underway on the All Dressed Up blog.  Check that one out too!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Outlawz Saturday ala Mode -- snowflakes
Fussy and Fancy Challenge -- Winter/Christmas
Winter Wonderland -- Christmas or Winter Characters -- people only
ABC Christmas Challenge -- W is for Wish
Cute N Crafty Christmas -- ATG Christmas

All Wrapped Up -- for The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up

It's the 15th of the month (already?!?) and it's time for some mid-month inspiration on the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  Our optional theme this month is "All Tied Up".  We'd like to see ribbon, twine, bows -- anything you'd use to tie up those Christmas gifts!

One of our generous sponsors at the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up is Limited Runs.  I had so much fun with this Mini Snowman!

I colored the mini snowman with Copic markers -- it didn't take much coloring.  I used a die from Sizzix to cut out the step card, then a Spellbinders die to cut out the snowman and the backing paper.  The designer papers on this card are from one of the other sponsors at The 12 Months of Christmas -- Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.  Lisa makes beautiful papers for us each month.  I love the pink and teal in these snowflake and swirl papers!

The twine on this card is from Timeless Twine. 

I hope you find time to link up your Christmas  cards at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up, with our optional All Tied Up theme!  Christmas is coming ever closer! 

You Drive My Batty -- for the Scrapbook Stamp Society

Hello, fellow stamp lovers.  I'm on the Scrapbook Stamp Society blog today with some Halloween inspiration.  

Halloween is soon upon us, so this img157, "You Drive Me Batty" digital stamp is right on target!

What do you think?  Cute?

I colored img157 with Copic markers, and did some inking around the edges.  I wanted a spooky effect!

The background paper on this card is from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is the Into The Night Collection.  The sentiment, also be We Are 3, is one of the Halloween sentiments. 

I created the card base with a Sizzix die.  I finished the card with some Timeless Twine.  

Check out all the delightful Halloween, Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any season you want images in the My Besties Shop.  You won't be disappointed! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- October Linky Party
Digichoosday -- ATG
Crafty Sentiments -- ATG

Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge Blog -- ATG

My Besties Aussie Challenge -- ATG

My Besties Dutch Girl Challenge -- ATG

Colour It Create It Show it Off -- ATG

My Besties International -- ATG

My Besties 3D -- ATG

My Besties Scandinavian -- Fall