Crafter's Cafe - DT card for challenge #201 - Travel and/or Relaxing

This pre-colored image by one of the sponsors,Polkadoodles (Primrose, the Darling Buds)  is great for the current theme at the Crafter's Cafe.  She is definitely relaxing among the flowers and butterflies.  Please check out the details of the challenge - Travel and/or Relaxing - and join us during the next two weeks.  There are great prizes available!.
Image - precolored digi by Polkadoodles;  papers - Garden Party by DCWV; punched butterflies
Challenges entered:
Sketch:     Creativesketchygirls:  
 warm wishes:   Pileitonchallenge
Flowers:  (10 ch max)   Southerngirlschallenge
Any - option - use yellow (flowers):  Craftycatz
Any:   Polkadoodle
           Crafting-with-friends
           Jo'sscrapshack
           Simonsaysstamp Wednesday 

Experimenting with Tri-fold Nativity by AI

This uses a new set, Nativity,  from Art Impressions - a prize that I just won.  It includes 4 stamps and 2 dies.  You see the 3 layers in the view above - the main stable and sentiment, the inner manger, and the baby revealed in the last view.  The two dies create openings to show the inner layers.
I used chalk and stencils for a background - in subtle colors.

Challenges:  
Christmas:   Diecuttindivas
                     Modsquadchallenge 
                     Cutedaisymay
                      Sasayakiglitter
Inspiration:   Pinspirationalchallenges
"On" (star on roof):  ABC Christmaschallenge 
Any:   Createsandmakes
            ttcrd.blogspot 
           Simonsaysstampblog Wednesday
           Crafting-with-friends

QKR Stampede DT card Anything Goes challenge #306

Once again the weekly challenge at QKR Stampede is Anything Goes.  Join us here by 6 p.m. Friday, with up to 3 entries, and you have an opportunity to win digi images from the shop.  There is a separate category for QKR/Eureka images, and for non-QKR. Stop by to see what great cards the other team members have created!
 This week I used the image I Corinthians 13:13 - I am not sure if I will use it for a wedding or anniversary card.  I had a bit of Anna Griffin paper to use - very elegant looking, I think!
Other supplies -Spellbinder circle dies;  Fiskar border punch, shiny leaves and sprigs from a floral stem; flowers from my stash.
 Sadly, this is my last DT card for QKR Stampede.  I have enjoyed a long stint  first with Eureka and then with QKR Stampede.  A special thanks to Karal and the rest of the team for their support and encouragement.  On a personal note, I am having to step aside because of a deterioration of my eye sight.  I have been diagnosed with macular degeneration for several years.  Until just recently it was the lesser dry type.  Now I have the "wet" version in one eye.  Over a period of a couple of months I have noticed a marked change.  There is a considerable amount of distortion - wavy lines, missing bits, blurriness.  I can no longer do a decent job of coloring images, and it is a challenge to read and comment.  I will be taking a series of shots, which may slow the progress of the damage to my eye.  If anyone has any personal experiences with this condition I would welcome your comments.  Needless to say, this is a very discouraging diagnosis.  I am relying on prayer and the skill of my doctors to preserve as much vision as possible.
Challenges entered:
Wedding/anniversary:     My time to Craft
 Inspiration:   Cupcakeinspirations
Any:  Scrapyland
           Angiesdigitalstamps 
           Crafting-with-friends  
            Lil patchofcraftyfriends 
            Wordartwednesday 
            Simonsaysstampblog Wednesday

Happy Anniversary, hubby!

This is doing double duty.  Today is our 61st anniversary - I must admit that I sometimes run out of ideas after exchanging so many cards over the years.  (He has anniversary, birthday and father's day within about 3 weeks so that increases the challenge.)  But this certainly expresses how I feel,  In spite of health challenges over the past few years, he does so much to make me feel loved.

This image is from QKR Stampede.  I hope you will join us for the anything goes challenge.  You may enter up to 3 times - the deadline is always Thursday at 3 p.m.
I used Twinkling H20's to give some shimmer to the hearts and the cup.  The papers are from a Beau Papier collection.
Sketch:    Die-sketch-tanten-challenge.
Hand colored image:   My Creative Scoop.
Coffee cup:  Coffee Loving Cardmakers
Any:   House that stamps built
           Simon says stamp Wednesday  
           Crafting-with-friends 
           Crafty Gals Corner
           Lemon Shortbread

Bonus DT card for Crafter's Cafe - TIc Tac Toe

I had an opportunity to select a bonus image for the current Tic Tac Toe challenge at the Crafter's Cafe.  I was happy to select All American Owen from the Paper Nest Dolls.  He will make a great card to donate to the local group Hearts for the Troops - but not so great for the tic tac toe grid LOL!
  The embossed layer is by Darice and looks like fireworks.
Diagonal - white, patterned paper, dry embossing


Come join us during the next two weeks!

Challenges entered: 
Hand colored image:   My Creative Scoop.
Masculine:   Simon Says Stamp Monday
Any:    Lemon Shortbread
            Crafty Gals
            Crafting-with-friends
           House that Stamps Built
          Simon Says Stamp Wednesday 

Strong coffee

Well, I don't like super strong coffee, but I don't care for weak brew either.   My addiction is hazelnut cafe by Maxwell House International - I can prepare a cup at home whenever I feel the urge!
This image and sentiment are part of a freebie from Verve - from a year ago, I think.  Thanks!  The DP is from a DCWV Fall stack.  The band is sheer fall ribbon from Michael's and the die is Spellbinder Labels 4.
Sketch:   VLV Sketches
Coffee:    Coffee Loving Cardmakers
Fall:    Hiding in my Craftroom
Feels like autumn:    Allsorts
Golden harvest - leaves:    Cuttlebug Mania
Colors (brown, vanilla, rust, beige):  Your Next Stamp
                                                               Star Stampz
Ribbon:     Di's Digi Designs 
Any:    Crafting-with-friends
             Morgans Artworld
             Polkadoodle 
             Crafting with an Attitude
 

Soar up up and away - and back down again

This is my card for this week's Design Team samples at QKR Stampede.  The theme is Up up and away.  You may enter up to 3 times and you have a chance to win images from the QKR digi store.
As is often the case, I have a story behind this card.  If you have seen previous cards you may recall we have a granddaughter who is beginning her second year at the US Air Force Academy.  She recently completed her requirement to earn her military freefall wings.  Even their first jump is a solo.  So of course the sentiment is not quite accurate - she was certainly not sitting! ( But I could not resist.)    Reading her description - it must be a magical experience.
Recipe:  Parachuting birdie image and sentiment - QKR digis; DP by Sugartree; twine:  Washi tape; Prismas; chalk; star sequins;  Cheery Lynn cloud die cuts;  Spellbinder label dies;  glitter on clouds and goggles
Challenges:  
Sketch:  Tuesday Morning Sketches
Things with wings:   Simon Says Stampblog.Wednesday
Up up and away:    Dragonfly Journeys.
Travel:      The Paper Girls
Magical:   Incy Wincy
Stripes:    Come and Get It
Any:     Sparkle n Sprinkle
              Little Claires Designs   
              Dragonfly-Dreams
              Classic Design Team
              Crafting-With-Friends
              Great Impressions 
              Through the Craft Room Door
              Love to Scrap
              Word Art Wednesday 

DT card for QKR Stampede challenge #199 - transportation

I am not sure how good this transportation might be...!!! I need a card for a brother-in-law who really enjoys long trail rides on his trusty Boots.  Certainly Boots is a bit more sedate than this bronco!  At any rate, check out the  QKR Stampede Blogspot  for this week's challenge - transportation.  You will find quite a variety of ideas from the talented DT members.  You may enter up to 3 times, and could win some of the fun QKR images.  Entries are due by 3 p,m, EDT, Thursday.
I colored the horse and rider with Prismas, and used chalk to lightly distress the edges. I used twine for a lasso, and Washi tape (maybe it is duck tape?) for the strips.  The background is dry embossed.  The sentiment is also from QKR (available as a rubber stamp) .  It is actually a single line that I cut apart to fit the sketch.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:  
Sketch:    Mojo Monday
Travel:     Digitally Sweet Challenges
It moves me:     Pile it on Challenge 
Summer/outdoor fun:    Deep Ocean
                                          Aloha Friday
Family memories:           Frilly and Funkie
Any:     Lemon Shortbread
              Crafting-With-Friends 
              Digital Delights
              DLArt
              A Bit More Time to Craft
              Doodle Pantry
             Sunsational Stamps
              Sisters of Craft
               
              

Baby Card - Design Team card for Eureka Stamps challenge 187

I thought it would be a good idea to have a generic card in my stash - hence the "neutral" yellow tones!  This adorable Baby Zebra and the sentiment with the great font are from the digis available at Eureka Stamps - they also come in the more traditional rubber stamps.  This week the challenge is to create a baby card.  The challenge is open through Sunday, and you may enter a maximum of 3 times.  The papers, button and Washi tape are from my stash.  The image is colored with a dark grey Prisma.
I used the sketch from Paper Craft Crew, but I am entering too many challenges to participate in theirs.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:
Make your mark (color):  Addicted to Stamps
Button:                                The Paper Shelter  
Pastel:                                  Fussy and Fancy 
Yellow:                                 Fresh Brewed Designs
Baby:                                    Crazy Challenge
                                              Crafting-with-dragonflies
Any:                                      Crafting in a Beautiful Mess   
                                              Crafting-with-friends                 
                                              Crazy4challenges 
                                              Creative Moments  
                                              Little Claires Designs 
                                              Crafty Sentiments
                                              Crafty Gals Corner
                                              Artistic Inspirations
                                              Lemon Shortbread
                                              The House that stamps built 
                                              Inspiration Destination 
                                              Simon Says Stampblog Wednesday  
                                              DLArt

Eureka Challenge #182 - CAS

Here is my design team card for Eureka Stamps challenge #182, which is open through Sunday, March 6.
I will be the first to admit that CAS cards are not my first choice - I really like CAS cards done by others, but struggle with my own - I tend to want to fill up all that space, or add embellishments.  However, this cute Digi by Eureka Stamps - Cool Cat with Shades - worked well for me.  I edged the image layer with a bit of ColorBox Marigold ink.  (Tip - I did not tear the edges of that layer.  I did use my trimmer with a very dull blade I keep for that purpose - it is dull enough to give what I call a controlled ragged edge!)  The ink was applied directly from the mini ink pad, to add a hint of color and some dimension.  Another tip - the sentiment is also a digi by Eureka.  I printed it separately, hand cut it in a bubble shape, and photo copied it unto the cool cat image.  This process left a look of an edge around the sentiment - which I enhanced a bit using a grey chalk pencil.  It looks like a layer but is not.  I used a metallic pen to draw the line to "attach" the bubble, and also to add some specks to the background.  The cat was colored by mixing orange and beige chalk pencils. Thanks for looking.
CAS #182:  Eureka Stamps
CHALLENGES ENTERED:         
Animal:      Mod Squad Challenge
                    The Paper Shelter
                    Wags n Whiskers
                    Fan-tastic Tuesday
Cats:           Show us your Pussies 
CAS:           Clean and Simple on Sunday
Cute:           Aud Sentiments Challengeblog
Any:            Crafting-with-Friends
                     Crafty Gals Corner
                     Creative Fingers Challenge
                     Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
                      Our Crafty Corner
                     Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday     

TeaPot Tuesday #395

I got a large pack of items from Kanban not long ago - lots of great black, cream and gold.  I have had little chance to use them, but decided the look would work with this rooster (Stampin' Up Provencal) - a suggested theme for our TeaPot Tuesday challenge at SplitcoastStampers (Splitcoaststampers - Teapot-Tuesdays-mmtpt395.  The card will go as an RAK to someone who suddenly developed some mysterious, serious health issues.  I doodled some faux stitches on the circle, and added a gold strip and gold ribbon.  The DP is lightly embossed, and I also embossed the black mat layer.
CHALLENGES ENTERED:  
Sketch:      Share Joy
Layers:      Tuesday Throwdown 
Any:           Addicted to Stamps
                    Crafty-girls-creations
                    Crafting-with-friends
                    Through the Craft Room Door
                    One Crazy Stamper
                    The Paper Nest Dolls