Sending Cheer

Materials Used:

• Kraft, white Card stock
• Picadilly paper pack by Basic Grey
• Boy with Flowers from Digi Darla
• Ticket: Freebie from 4/5/13
• Distress Ink: Tea Dye
• Ribbon from The Paper Studio
• Offray lace
• Queen & Co. pearls
• Martha Stewart leaf branch punch
• EK Success & The Paper Studio flower punches
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts: Flowers & Lace

Stampin' for the Weekend: Diecuts or Punches

Totally Gorjuss: Ribbon and Pearls

Milk Coffee Challenge: Lace and Pearls

Friday Freebie: The Future

Sorry you missed it!  

Freebies are only available for a week,. so get here quick!

A "Manly" Card

This week is a our challenge for you at Card Crafter's Circle is:

MASCULINE CARDS

Create for the boys and men in your life! 

We are happy to welcome this week's sponsor ... Digi Darla's Designs! Our random prize winner will receive their choice of  FIVE images! DigiDarla is the brain child of Kim Eskola and her daughter Emilea...

I grew up in a small town in Idaho. I always found it funny that when I crossed the Mississippi River and was in the "eastern" U.S., the perception was that my backyard must have been a potato patch, and we had to get up at 4 am to feed cows - JUST because I lived in Idaho.  Now, granted, we had my grandparent's fairly large backyard garden (including potatoes), and a field that occasionally housed someone else's horses out back - but I'm definitely not a farm kid by any means.   Cows terrified me, and I still look at them suspiciously when they get to close to me.

My hubby's family, on the other hand, grew up raising and auctioning beef cattle.  And though no one in the family is still in the cattle business, they are all very much still COWboys.   So, when trying to come up with a masculine card for that side of the family - Western theme is always a good fit!  

I created the rope on the card front, by twisting together three strands of the twine and then adhering it with my hot glue gun.  The cut ends were dabbed with the hot glue as well to seal them off.

Be sure to go check out the other "manly" creations by my lovely teamies at Card Crafter's Circle this week!

Materials Used:

• Kraft, white, red Card stock
• Patterned Papers from K & Co. and Recollections
• Distress Ink in Walnut Stain
• Western 4 digi from Digi Darla's
• Twisted Jute Twine from the Rope King
• Jolee's dimensional sticker embellishments'
• Spare Parts brads
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Tree Topping

Materials Used:

• Navy, white, Card stock
• Echo Park Winter Wishes paper pack
• digistamp Meljen's Designs
• sentiment by Create with TLC
• Lil Davis Designs chipboard swirls
• Zing white embossing powder
• Studio G glitter glue
• Viva pearl pen: cream
• EK Success stickers: vellum snowflakes
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Christmas Card Challenges: Ornaments

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long: Celebrating Snow

ABC Christmas Challenge: H for Holiday Helpers

A Happy Anniversary

My wedding anniversary was last week, and I have to tell you, when it comes to cards, my hubby makes it super easy on me.  The first time I tried to give him a "masculine" card, he looked at it with disappointment, and asked why he didn't get one with "all the stuff on it".  So, he no longer gets the "masculine" style cards (I reserve them for the other male family members that I send cards to).    

I don't have a ticket die, so to make this card, I cut the corners of my card base with a circle punch.  Most circle punches (not hole punches) have an arrow, or line, marking the center of the top and sides.  I just lined up the card with both of these marks.  I cut a black mat and also cut the corners with the same circle punch, but had to go back with a craft knife to make some adjustments to the corners.  I printed the dates (the numbers) and sentiment onto card stock, cut them into strips and edged the top of each strip with black Distress Ink.  I glued the strips onto either end of the black matting, then trimmed the corners/sides and inked the cut edges so it looks like it is part of the black matting.

Materials Used:

• Kraft, White, Black Card stock
• Colorbok Natural Expressions paper pack
• Hugs and Kisses digistamp from Saturated Canary
• Ticket: Freebie from 4/5/13
• EK Success dainty black flourishes stickers
• Queen & Co. self adhesive pearls
• Studio Calico wooden hearts
• Offray lace
• details satin ribbon
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Saturated Canary Challenge: Anything Goes

Paper Crafting Journey: Use a Sentiment

Friday Freebie: Mother's Love

Sorry you missed it!  

Freebies are only available for a week,. so get here quick!

More Rain

For this week's Challenge at Card Crafter's Circle our Theme is:

APRIL SHOWERS

...show us your creations about rainy days.... rainy images... 

We are so happy to have Milk Coffee Stamps joining us again with their sponsorship for you! Our random prize winner will receive their choice of FIVE  Milk Coffee images!  I know that will be a fun prize to choose!

This week I got to work with the adorable " Lisbeth Walks in the Rain" stamp.  Isn't she just SO CUTE!

I printed her twice and colored her in, then cut a raindrop shape around the image.  I'd found a packet of raindrops and umbrellas on sale at Michael's a few weeks back, so I adhered them, inked up some alpha rubber stamps, popped some flowers on, and the card was finished.   

Be sure to go check out the other beautiful, rainy, cards from the other DT ladies at Card Crafter's Circle!  

Materials Used:

• Kraft, Aqua, White, Green Card stock
• Loolah paper pack from Iron Orchid designs
• "Lisbeth Walks in the Rain" by MilkCoffee
• Distress Ink in Faded Jeans
• Jolee's Boutique Embellishments: Raindrops and Umbrellas
• Studio G Paper Flowers
• Spare Parts brads
• Martha Stewart punch
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

MilkCoffee Challenge: Welcome Spring

Totally Gojuss: Spring Shades

Papertake Weekly: One Paper Taker

Digi Haven: Rain/Umbrella

No Freebie this week

There will be no freebie this week. 

I will be taking the next week off as a bit of a "spring break" to get 

some spring cleaning and household projects completed.  

My next post will be my DT post next Friday.  

Have a wonderful week!

Die-Cutter Wedding Card

This week at Card Crafter's Circle we invite you to create cards on the theme of:

DIE-CUTS and/or DRY EMBOSSING!
(Use die cuts and/or Dry Embossing in your creations!)

Our Sponsor this week is Floppy Latte Digital Designs, and they are offering our challenge winner a $6 certificate to shop at the Floppy Latte store.

I  chose to use the Doves and Heart frame from Floppy Latte this week.  The image was very "wedding-y" to me, which was handy as I need to have a wedding card soon!  ;-)  

Besides the other, more standard, die-cuts on the card, I die cut a piece of card stock and then adhered aluminum foil to it before dry embossing the panel.  I rubbed gunmetal colored acrylic paint over the panel, waited for that to dry, then darkened areas a bit more with black distress ink.  Once that was dry, I used my trusty nail file to sand the raised portions back to a shinier finish.  

The texture paste is my homemade version.  I use a combo of equal parts gesso, acrylic paint, and cornstarch (aka: cornflour or maizena).   I added a little pink acrylic paint to the paste to get the shade I used for this card.  I used a ratty kid's watercolor brush to bounce a light coating onto the card for the effect shown, however, this can also be applied with a pallet knife or used with a mask for even more dimension.   BTW,  this mix will keep for a while in a SEALED container (a couple of weeks, depending on how airtight the container is), but it will last a little longer if you put a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the texture paste, before sealing the container.   A little goes a long way though, so it's best made in very small batches.   Also, you can add more cornstarch to get a thicker paste, however it will not keep very long, and may possible become crumbly when applied thickly (after drying).

This was a lot of fun to make.  Be sure to stop by Card Crafter's Circle to see what gorgeous things my teamies have come up with this week!  

Materials Used:

• White, gray, cream, pink, Card stock
• K & Co. Classic K paper pack
• Doves and Heart frame from Floppy Latte Designs
• Darice paper doilies
• Spellbinders die: Lacey Circles
• Spellbinders die: Labels Eight
• Cuttlebug Embossing folder: Birds & Swirls
• Distress Ink: Black Soot
• Distress Ink: Pumice Stone
• Martha Stewart Craft Paint: Gunmetal
• Details sheer ribbon
• Momenta metal corner
• Studio Calico wooden hearts
• Martha Stewart 5 leaf branch punch
• Homemade texture paste
• Inkadinkadoo Sketchy Flourishes stamps
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Forever Friends Challenge: Diecuts/Punches

Papertake Weekly Challenge: BINGO (Punches, Free, Ribbons)

Let's say the free space is metal!

Anything Goes Challenge: Heavy Metal

Creative Inspirations: Anything w/ opt. hearts

Diva's by Design: Flowers

Altered Lantern

Materials Used:

• Ivory spray paint
• homemade texture paste 
• Queen & Co. self adhesive pearls
• Studio His & Hers pearl trim
• Hobby Lobby brand lace
• Offray lace
• details sheer ribbon
• Pink, cream, green Card stock
• The Paper Studio Leaf punch, Retro flower punch
• EK Success small flower punch
• Martha Stewart leaf branch punch
• Random Adhesives

Hippie Chick

It's my sister-in-law's birthday today.  The age difference between me and.....well, EVERYBODY else (I'm 10 years younger than my YOUNGEST sibling-in-law)...is a bit of a running joke in the family.  They all like to point out the things that I wasn't "around" for, and I like to point out that having experienced those things firsthand just means they are a LOT older than me - and that they better be nice, because I will likely be helping their children pick their retirement homes. ;-)

We are a loving bunch.

I used another of those super adorable Lacey Sunshine stamps on this card.  I colored her up with my usual combo of random markers and pencils.  The peace sign charm, hanging from the bow, was originally part of a set of charms.

Inside

Materials Used:

• Kraft, white, Card stock
• Picadilly by Basic Grey paper pack
• Eleanor Hippie Chick digi by Lacey Sunshine
• sentiment by me
• cheesecloth
• Distress Ink in Walnut Stain
• Rope King jute twine
• Paper punches by Paper Studio and Martha Stewart (for flowers)
• Queen & Co. self adhesive pearls
• charm from my stash
• Fiskars Clear Stamps: Nature's Flora - Flourishes
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Happy Birthday

4 Crafty Chicks: Charms

Dutch Dare Challenge: Birthday Fun

2Sisters Challenge: Anything Goes

One Stop Craft Challenge: Birthdays

Dream Valley Challenges: Happy Birthday

Cupcake Inspiration: #205 (colors)

Friday Freebie: Ticket Sentiments

Today's freebies look amazing printed onto kraft cardstock (although you can definitely use ANY color that coordinates with your project.  And, a tip for when you are cutting them out - cut the corners square, and then use a circle cutter/hole punch (depending on the size you've printed them at) to cut the corners and get that "ticket shape".  

Sorry you missed it!  

Freebies are only available for a week,. so get here quick!

No Creepy Crawlies here!

It's that time again!  Time for another challenge over at Card Crafter's Circle.
This week is a our challenge for you is:

BUGS!

We are excited to welcome our sponsor for this week, Eureka Stamps! 

Our randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images from  Eureka Stamps ... and we thank our sponsor for their generous prize!

The image I'm working with this week is the gorgeous Lacey Butterfly.  I chose to print the image in two sizes, then lightly shade the butterflies with pencils, before using two colors/types of glitter glue to accent them.

We've had this discussion before.  Butterflies are meant to be sparkly.  End. Of. Story.  

After the sparkle treatment, I fussy cut the images out, and carefully used my bone folder and embossing tool  to shape the wings.  I then added a small bit of black puffy paint to the bodies.

Flutter on over to Card Crafter's Circle to see what my other teamies have created, and get inspired to pull out your butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and other bugs to join in!

Materials Used:

• Gray, gray parchment, white Card stock
• Prima's Nature Garden paper pack
• Lacey Butterfly from Eureka Stamps
• ticket from dhscrap
• Inside sentiment from Create with TLC
• Martha Stewart border punch
• details sheer ribbon
• Queen & Co self adhesive pearls
• glitter glues from studio g and dollar store
• Tulip brand puffy paint
• Studio g alpha stamps
• Great Impressions butterflies stamp
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

Fine Feathered Christmas

Materials Used:

• Kraft, black, white Card stock
• Handmade Holiday by Simple Stories paper pack
• Chickadee by Dana's Digis at Whimsy Stamps
• sentiment by me
• Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Darice paper doilies
• Hobby Lobby brand craft feathers
• Make It Christmas pinecone spray
• Momenta metal corner
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Anything Goes

A Koala!

I happened to be the VERY lucky winner, from a challenge a couple of weeks ago, of a generous gift certificate to a digi stamp store I hadn't heard of.   I think I may have drooled on my keyboard a bit while picking my new digis.  These stamps are super adorable! 

I had to have this one simply because she was holding a koala.  I mean, c'mon!  How adorable!  I think there's always been a part of me that secretly wanted to be a zookeeper and work with super adorable animals from all over the world.  But, I'm not so great with having to pay THAT much attention to poop.  Everytime I watch a zoo program, they mention watching the poop to help them know if the animal is healthy.

Yeah, no thanks.  But the animals are still cute.

Materials Used:

• Kraft, white, lilac, and purple Card stock
• Patterned papers from The Paper Studio, Paper Pizazz, and Penny Lane by My Minds Eye
• Aussie Girl Kenna stamp by Lacey Sunshine
• Twine from the Rope King
• brads from Spare Parts 
• Random Adhesives

Challenges:

Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes

Through the Craftroom Door: Anything Goes (entry #2)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes

Lacey Sunshine Challenge: Anything Goes