Serene farm scene

Recently I have seen several beautiful cards that feature lovely backgrounds as a base for silhouette images.  Some are sponged and some are "squished".  I decided to try my hand.  I used various Twinkling H20 inks with an aqua pen.  I have several colors of this ink but still was somewhat limited - though I am pretty happy with the result.  (I painted the base cs in the location where I knew the digi would be printed.)
Digi - Beccy's Place Nell's Cottage;  Twinkling H2O ink; Spellbinder circle dies;  Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU sentiment (very old!); twine, scrap of DP, green cs.  For my snippets I used a bit of twine and small pieces of green to back the DP, as well as a bit of cs for the sentiment.
Sketch:  Mojo Monday
"Snippets"    Pixies
Go Green:   Crafty Cardmakers
Going round in circles:   Whoopsie Daisy
Add green:   Delicious Doodles
Dies:    Happy Little Stampers
Any:   Beccys Place

HB, Margaret

      We have more birthdays - lots of family events this time of year!  I used this color combo a few days ago and decided to use it again.  Sentiment die by Sizzix, and floral by Tattered lace.  

Sketch #283:   http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/

No DP:            http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

Any:                 http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/    

                         http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.com/

Pair of Birds

Image by Flonzcraft - a recent prize (Yeah!).  I think they have an Old World feel - I used Sepia ink, and a deep rust base mat - not as red as it appears here.  I lightly inked the Distressed Stripes (Cuttlebug).
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
Olde World:  http://www.flonzcraft.com/vsc/#
Stripes:   http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

One more sparkly Christmas card

Today I will take this to Bible Class so others can sign - it will be sent to former members.  Phyllis recently stopped chemo treatment - she is feeling better now but we know that she is in need of support.  (It is 4,75 x 6.5).  Stamp: Santa Rosa; computer sentiment; NestabilitiesMajestic Element circle; Recollections snowflake punches; ribbon, CB snowflake EF; lots of glitter (that is probably not visible).
Sketch (enlarged to make room for signatures):  http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
Glitter:  http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges.blogspot.com/
Inspiration (white cupcakes=embossed snow):  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Christmas:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
                   http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
Christmas Carol:  http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/
White:   http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Snowflakes and ribbon:  http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/
Any:  http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk/

Another easel card - closed view

I will have 9 easel cards for family members this year.  I hope to make it a tradition.  This year there is some variety - now the trick is to remember which card goes where.  I am wondering ijust do nof I should follow the same color scheme for each person next year - or make sure it is different?  Or not worry about it...?  For this one I used the aubergine shimmery cs as a base - it is white backed to that works well.  I have a whole drawer full of colored ink and do not use it often, but this time I stamped in SU Eggplant Envy.  The DP is Paper Studio (Faith collection).  When I sponged with Eggplant chalk it did not look right, so I added some soft gold - IRL it looks good against the DP.  One more experiment for me...  The edges of the Stampabilites verse are distressed.  The image is Stampendous.  Not visitble - some punched shiny gold stars to support the easel, and above that a Cuttlebug border die cut.  
Sketch (turned):  http://digisketchchallenge.blogspot.com/
Vintage (10CH) :  http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/
Christmas:  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/p/our-challenge-roolz.html
                   http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/
                  http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/
Song - We Three Kings of Orient are...:  http://www.flonzcraft.com/vsc/
Chalk:  http://chalknstock.blogspot.com/
Unusual Christmas colors:  http://alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.ca/

Cream and Aubergine

I nearly forgot I have quite a few sheets of DP left in a stack called "Faith", by Paper Studio.  The colors will work well with this Aubergine cs - I have a good supply of that as .  The stamp is by Stampendous.  I distressed the edges - the white does not show well here but it provides contrast and dimension.  From my stash:  the dp, the geometric EF, Cheery Lynn pine branch die, and the set of Ribbon Buckle dies by Spellbinder. 
Sketch: http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/
Presents (from the Wise Men):  http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
(Christmas) celebration:  http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
 Christmas:   http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
                     http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
Distress:     http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/2014_11_01_archive.html
Inspired by the Nativity (wise men) and earthtones:  http://giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.ca/
Any:  http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2014/12/dlart-december-linky-challenge.html
          http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

Better CAS look

This CAS card is at least better than my last!  (Note - the black bg is to enhance the picture and is not a part of the card.)  I  used Distressed stripes, and lightly chalked the edges for a bit of a distressed look.  The image is Stampendous, and the sentiment by my computer. The main color is cream.
Sketch:  http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/challenge-52-sketch-and-happy-2nd.html
Distress:   http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com
Shabby chic:    http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Stripes:  http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/
CAS:   http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/a-month-of-holiday-cards.html
Inspiration - cream color and traditional Christmas scene:  http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/
Inspired by the mostly cream color:   http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Non-traditional Christmas colors:  http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
 Any:  http://treasuredtimesrubberstampschallenges.blogspot.com/
       http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.com/
Christmas present (brought by the Wise Men):  http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/

Blessings

I need to add to my stash of cards to send for encouragement.  I used DP from the Paper Studio Faith stack - lots of wonderful papers that are lasting forever!  The scroll is a Spellbinders die, and the sentiment is half of a JustRite sentiment.
Sketch #5:  http://vlvsketches.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://treasuredtimesrubberstampschallenges.blogspot.com/
Die cut:  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

Painterly card

The challenge at A Day for Daisies is to create a card with a "painterly" effect.  I thought I had some paints, but it has been so long since I used them that they are pretty much dried up.  My printer's ink and water colors do not get along - there is much smearing.  But, I did try - just used the aqua brush and stayed well away from the lines - I think I sort of accomplished the effect with very little bleeding.  Maybe some one has some suggestions.... 
This image is from A Day for Daisies.  The strip is a glittery border from a sheet by Hobby Fun.  I used Coordinations white core to emboss with Cuttlebug's dots and spots - though I did enhance the white by lightly sanding.
Sketch:  http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/2014/09/bi-weekly-sketch-challenge-19.html
Bright colors:  http://arandomfandt.blogspot.com/
For a child:  http://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://www.craftindesertdivas.com/
Embossed:  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
Embossed:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
Circles:  http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
"Painterly":  http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.com/
Embossed:  http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/

TeaPot Party for Connie Jo

If you frequent SplitcoastStampers you may be familiar with the TeaPot Tuesday challenge and party.  I have not participated very regularly as of late, and I need to get back in form.  Each week a special recipient is chosen, and the leader writes a nonsense story to go with the situation.  Connie Jo has had a lot going on in her life and needs some cheer.  Our mission is to do humorous cards to accomplish this.  I used the first bubble from a piece of Paper Pizzazz dp -and hand wrote "Things could be worse... we could be trying on bathing suits!"  The image is large, so the card is 4.5x6.75.  I added a strip of gold sticker, and some garnet gems. The sketch is flipped for this image.  Difficult to see - the garnet mat was embossed.
Sketch and colors (garnet, pink, sand):  http://poppysketches.blogspot.com/
Stamped image:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/http:
Not square:  http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/
Embossing:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/
                   http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

MMTPT299 - Fishing for Nemo

 

This week the SplitcoastStampers TeaParty is going to a young (grade 6) girl who is fighting a mysterious illness.  She loves Scripture and Nemo - I think this House Mouse is looking for Nemo!!!  This was in my stash of images I have colored (I often do that while sitting at my table at craft sales) - time to use them and add some new ones!  I used bubbles on the bg strips - then sprayed with Glimmer spray and added glitter for a sparkly sea look - but with a large image not much of it shows.  The card is 4.5x6.25 - still hardly large enough for this image.
Prayers for Emily are encouraged.
Sketch:  http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/
Tea Party:  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/teapot-tuesdays-f260/mmtpt299~april-22-2014~first-nemo-now-cousin-namo%3B-cant-you-stay-home-t586751.html
birds/feathers:  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Wings:  http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
Flowers:  http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/
"B" - blooms, bubbles, bird, blue, beak:  http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
Pastels:  http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/
 Celebrate spring - by going fishing:  http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:  http://sisterhttp://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/actcardchallenge.blogspot.com/
 Any uplifting:  http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/

No black

This was a bit of a tough challenge for me - use blues, browns, purples/plums - and no black.  I used a variety of Costco double sided cs (in my stash for  LONG time - it was a huge pack!), and Chocolate Chip ink for the Unity stamps.  I fussy cut the bird, and embossed the light blue layer with a bird folder - from Paper Studio.  The embossing is highlighted with Chocolate Chip chalk - but does not show well here.  The strips are Washi tape.  Oh, yes, some of the circles are Spellbinders Majestic elements, and the tag is highlighted with a crystal gem.
Sketch  (and inspiration):  http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-choose-your-challenge.html
Washi tape:   http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/
Purple, blue, brown - no black:  http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.co.at/2014/02/a-three-colour-challenge-without-use-of.html
Inspiration -  tiny blue birds:  http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/
Dies:  http://feelingcraftychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
Any:  http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.com/ 
With a bird:  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

Quail in Kraft

Perfect sketch and stamp for a very quick (for me) card - and I will have to come back with more info.
Stamp - Copper Leaf Creations  Kraft cs; misc d[; cord
Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Kraft:  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/
            http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/
Birds:  http://stampedblessings.com/amusing-challenge/#comment-4305
Wings:  http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
This is a man's world:   http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

Showing love in green

It seems I do not use a lot of green - but it goes well with this Irish blessing (Verve), and it also looks like spring!
Sentiment - Recollection;  DP - DCWV;  Washi tape, Nesties.

Sketch -  http://feeling-sketchy.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/sketch-challenge-79.html
Green -  http://www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/

Any -   http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Love - http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.com/
     

Black,, white and yellow

I need a lot of cards right now, and this was a fairly quick one to make.  I used my neglected Spellbinder corner dies, and stamped the greeting directly on the yellow DP.
Sketch:  http://sundaysketchandstamp.blogspot.com/
Black,,white and a color:  http://hobbycutzchallenges.blogspot.com/
Winged things::  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
Birthday: http://www.tammyscrapincorner.com/
Using Simon product (Nesties):   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

Cozy trees and snowflakes

I have not thanked the sponsors of challenges for a while - I have a special thank you to those who are providing Christmas challenges - I do need to get a better start!
Supplies:  Studio G image, SU sentiment, Basic Grey DP, Cuttlebug Snowflake EF, Cheery Lynn pine branches (from Joan's Gardens store); gold gel pen, edging scissors.
Sketch:  http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Christmas, with snowflakes:  http://createdwithlovechallenges.blogspot.com/
Snowflakes:  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
Christmas:  http://www.creativecreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Christmas, with cozy colors (To me, ivory is warmer than white - combined with burgundy);  Christmas dp; snowflakes, trees, die from her store):  http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2013/09/this-weeks-challenge.html

HB Brother in law

 If you follow my blog, you might notice that there are a lot of cards with a fishing theme - a popular activity among family members!  This is for a brother-in-law.  I fudged a bit on the sketch, as I wanted the names of the fish to show - one of the challenges using DP is to get the correct part of the pattern visible.  This is Karen Foster dp.  I used the Distressed Stripes embossing folder - and promptly covered all but a sliver of the border - and it does not show here!  I like the slight lift it gives the bg.

Sketch:  http://annabellestamps.blogspot.com/

Masculine, with CB embossing:  http://cuttlebugmania.blogspot.co.uk/

Fun in the sun:  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/

CAD Colorful Strips

Thank goodness for challenges!  All summer I could not keep up with card making as I was selling quite a few at our weekly craft sales.  Now I have excellent internet connections, and a fair amount of time, but no immediate outlet for cards.  I appreciate having challenges to keep my interest - and it is good to build up my stash.
In addition to completing challenges, I am trying to accomplish a couple of goals.  I need to use more of my oversupply of materials.  (can you see how many I used here?  LOL!!)  I also need to try new techniques and styles.
For this card I used Buttercup cs by the Paper Company.  The corner punch is one of my first paper crafting purchases - the label says Family Treasure.  I think most of the scraps are Basic Grey - including the butterflies.  The flower is Sandylion Essentials - a couple of years ago I got a whole box of these embellishments, and a lot more for just a few dollars, at a store closing.  The sentiment is from a grab bag - it could be DRS.
"Wings":  http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
More wings  http://willowsketchiechallenge.blogspot.com/
Bright colors, no neutral:  http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/
Use DP:  http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/
and finally, our Card a Day blogger's Group has a weekly challenge.  This week it is to use a card by one of the group as inspiration.  Mine is from Nathalia:  http://d28studios.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-kind-of-great-outdoors.html
I especially liked her creative way to use paper strips and stickers. Below is her inspiration card: