The Reason for the Season

Here is one of my newest Christmas stamps.  It is by Inkadinkadoo and it portrays the reason we celebrate Christmas.  It seems to get lost nowadays with the buying of presents, cooking, and the rush of the daily chores.  The image is on top of a piece of green handmade paper and designer cardstock that I have had stashed away for a while.  The image was colored with Copic markers.

 

I am also entering this in the  Unruly Paperarts' 12 Days of Christmas Linkup.

Second Week of "Love / Valentine"

I have really had some great entries this time for the challenge.  If you haven't joined in, the Design Team would love for you to.  Don't forget you may enter twice per challenge.  The DT has some more pieces of inspiration for you.

Vicki

My sponsor Stitchy Bear Outline carries images from a number of designer.  This image called Balloon Boy is by BB Kates.  I think he is so cute.  I put him on a multi-layered background and added some hearts.  The image was colored with Copics.  This little card is ready to give some love.

Michele

As we continue to celebrate the love holiday, this week I've used a digital image from our sponsor by BB Kakes called "cutesy cupid."   I colored it with promarkers and used coordinating designer paper and lots of wonderful hearts.  Cupid is both cute and sly and i think someone is about to be struck with a whole lotta love!  I hope you'll join our challenge -- what a great way to get more Valentine creations done!

Barbara

For the second week of the Love / Valentine challenge I used this cute fairy Flora Fae from Stitchy Bear. I wanted to use the Floral Frames from Stampin'up so I made a 5 1/4 square card. she was coloured with my alcohol markers and the wings were sparkled up. Because of the size I used the larger dot embossing folder and the sentiment was computer generated.

 Karla

Hello everyone! Hope you are well. For the second week of the challenge, I decided to use the image from our sponsor Stitchy Bear : it is our lovely “Flirty Frog” by Pookie Designs. I colored it digitally. The background is made of fabric as well as the hearts behind our frog. This is going to be for my daughter’s boyfriend.

Petra

Who can resist this adorable Flora Fae from our sponsor Stitchy Bear-Gingerloft. She is so sweet ..... her little wings are cut with vellum and she sits on heart-patterend paper from Papermania.

Hazel

I covered a red card blank with lots of different washi tape strips, such from Paperchase and some Tim Holtz tissue tape, added some Craftime flowers and the love Stitchy Bear BB Kakes Balloon Boy 1, coloured with copics, addiing the I LUV U.

Thanks to Stitchy Bear Outlet for providing the images the Design Team used for this challenge.  This is only a sample of the great images you will find there.  Just click on the Stitchy Bear Outlet banner above and visit the site.

It's Cold Outside

Here is a cute card I made with Chris Stern's new image at CS Designs.  It's she cute?  Chris has a new challenge going on at her blog Art With No Boundaries.  It is Christmas / Winter using red and green.

Take a peek through all the new images at CS Designs as Chris has put up a number of new sentiments just in time for  you to use for Christmas and the upcoming winter season.

Well enough of posting today as I am off to go shopping.  I desperately need some Christmas-looking paper and cardstock.  I thought I had some stashed away, but I can't find it.  The best way to find what  you have is to go out and buy more!

Challenge # 29 "Trees"

For this challenge we are going to look at "Trees" Your possible images are endless. There is the autumn tree with leaves turning their many colors, There is the tree that has lost all of its leaves. And deep in the forest in the dead tree with part of one of its limbs broken. If you head south, you will see the palm trees. Then there is the evergreen which stays so pretty and full all year long. As we head to the end of November and the beginning of December, we think of the Christmas tree all decorated with tinsel, ornaments and lights.

What type of tree can you show us?  Here is the Design Team's thoughts on the subject.

Vicki

My card uses one of Digi Darla's images.  This tree is a symbol of one's childhood with the swing hanging from one of its branches.  I had a little trouble trying to color it as I wanted it to have fall colors .  I used my Copic markers and tried to show the colors of the leaves.

This card uses a technique called Stacked Nesties.  I had never done this one before, but I am pleased with how it turned out.  The greeting is an acrylic greeting sayng "Remember". 

Barbara

 For this week's challenge I chose one of my favorite tree stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps. It's actually a multi step stamping image. I just think that the result looks like the trees you find in nature during the autumn season. The sentiment is from Stampscapes. The background is waterstamping on distress ink. The stamp used there is a leaf background stamp from Heartfelt Creations. I really love autumn colors; why does winter have to follow!

Petra

I am not quite sure why but I felt Christmassey this week ... maybe because I started to bake Christmas cookies. So it turned into a Christmas Tree. The card base is relatively simple with layering some October Afternoon papers and some ribbon and lace from my stash. The tree itself is assembled from paperbeads whereby I also used October Afternoon patterend paper. I embellished the tree with littel blings and a little glittery star.

Michele

I was feeling very autumn-y as I approached this project.  I stamped this tree by Stampscapes on several different types of card stock with several different backgrounds trying to strike the right mood.  Finally this version was the winner.  The card stock is already a delightful pumpkin color.  I wanted the image to be indistinct so I stamped it twice, once with markers and once with ink.  I added additional coloring with markers.  This is a simple card, just some beads and a little winged heart charm to finish it off.  Trees are an excellent subject for a challenge.  I hope you'll join in.

Valerie

Here is Valerie. I have made a simple winter tag. The top half of the tag has been distressed with faded jeans and stormy skies, the snow has been embossed with Utee white, and the farmhouse and small tree has been stamped on top with archival black. Then added a TH branch tree die cut, which has been cut into 2 pieces and glittered with ice stickles in silver.

Digi Darla Stamps

I am so pleased to announce that my sponsor of this challenge is Digi Darla Stamps. You can find her site my clicking on the name above.  There are many digitals on her site and she gives quite a few away from time to time.  I think you will find her site very appealing.  Go take a peek at her site and join in on her challenges. 

The winner of my challenge will be picked by random generator and she will receive three digitals.

Angel Wall Hanging

Here is another project I just finished.  It is a wall hanging using the newest image found on CS Stamps.  She is Angeline.  I thought she would be perfect as a snow angel.  I really like the way my background (that is where I always panic) turned out this time.  I used a mixture of gesso and acrylic  paint.  The picture doesn't show it, but the two colors are in slight swirls.  The snowflakes are a combination of different kinds  that I had.  Some have a slight pick irresdiscent color, some blue and some are made from glitter cardstock.  I like the combination of using different flakes.

Angeline was colored with Copic markers, and her wings have been Stickled.  Her body is dimensional as I layered one over top of the main image.  Cutting out her curls really took time, but she still has them all.  I felt Angeline had to be standing on something; therefore the cloud of  cotton.

 Completing the wall hanging is a silver rope hanger and a ruffle  on which the snowflakes have collected.  If you haven't had a chance to visit CS Design lately, you must take a peek at all the original designs Chris has created.

My Day

Here is a type of card I have not made recently.  It is a birthday card.  Since today is my birthday, I thought I would make one to remind me that I am a little older.  However, I already realize that each morning when I get up and I move a little slower.   I am thankful for each day and each year I get.

I used a piece of altered designer paper I had on hand on the right side of the card and took a piece of trim off a candle for the center trim.  The little lady is colored with Copic markers.

Trick or Treat

Here is a little card for Halloween.  I usually do not make very many Halloween cards, but this is giirl dressed in her pumpkin outfit is irresitable.  She is Priscilla, a digital, from CS Designs.

I began my card with a web embossing folder and embossed the black cardstock.  Then I used white ink to highlight.  Next I cut out my little chain from a brand new punch and I realized that the links could be interlocking when put on top of each other so I put one orange chain on each side of a black with dots one.

The image was cut with an octagonal die and place on a medallion circle cut with a   punch.   She was colored with Copic markers.  As a final touch I added a weird-shaped pumpkin to the side.  Also, what is a web without a spider?

I am entering this on Forever Night Challenges' Anything Goes and I Did It Creations' Halloween Challenge.

Additional Transparent Inspirations

Ok ladies, don't be intimated with the title of this challenge.  As you can see below at the DT inspirations that your entry does not have to use a complicated technique to be a part of the challenge "Be Transparent".  You still have a whole week to enter.

Vicki

I wanted to make a window for my sample this time.  However, I didn't want to put it in a card as that is where most people put their windows.  I put mine in a tag.   

I started my tag by using black cardstock and embossing it with an embossing spider web folder.  I then highlighted it with white ink.   Next came the window.

The window was cut with a Spellbinders die and then I covered it with a plastic sheet.  Afterward I placed the image behind the plastic.  The image is little Priscilla from CS Designs.  She was colored with Copics.  Her hair is decked with Fall leaves and she carries  a pumpkin and a spider.. 

I finished off the tag with a ribbon of rafia and a couple of stickers in the spider web.          

Valerie

Hi, Here's Valerie.
I have printed the row of houses (Hampton Art Stanps) onto a scrap of transparent packaging materal using Stazon black, and made a blue window frame round it, to make it look like the view out of a window.

Petra

You might ask where is the transparency ... I know, it is not easy to spot because of my photographic skills or the lack of! The little bird sits behind a transparent window. For my little wall hanging I reused an old Kraft window envelope and layered it on patterend paper (Echo Park and Prima Marketing). the stamped images are stamps from Stamper Anonymous and Kaisercraft.

Finding Inspiration

If you think about stamping and card making all the time like I do, you will find inspiration in very odd places.  The other day, I was in a fast food restaurant  and I noticed a tent advertisement sitting on the table. I went hone and started working on one.  I didn't like a  head sitting on top of a pyrmid so I used a dress pattern I had for the body.  The "tent"  doll will sit on a table just like the advertisement.

The digital (face and sign she is holding) are the two parts of a digital by CS Designs.  Go have a peak at the unusual designs there. 

Coloring was done with Copic markers and around the doll's waist I used the Glitter Roll technique

I'm Excited

I am so excited to announce that I am a member of Digi Darla's first Design Team.  For my first creation I made a Father's Day card with one of her digitals.  Kim, who is creator of this site is constantly adding digitals to her new blog.   You can find the blog here:  http://digidarla.com/

This Father's Day card is also an example for her "Something Blue" challenge.  The digi was place over a double Spellbinder's mat and part of the card is covered with the Technique Junkies Zig Zag technique.  The greeting is computer generated and the football player is colored with Copics.  Since the challenge dealt with the color blue, I had to put a little blue on that uniform.

If you have a chance drop by and see her blog.  Don't forget to enter her challenge "Something Blue" for some of her digis.

Challenge #18 - Color My World

I will be a little late posting the challenge winner for "Little Girls with Curls" as I had so many entries. I want to at least look at all of them even though I may not make a comment. I am so pleased that so many artists are particiipating in my challenges.

This next challenge should be a great challenge. It is "Color My World". Here are some ideas, You may color your image, color your background, or airbrush your card; you may use markers, ink, chalk, paint, or pencils. The challenge is not limited to just these ideas. No particular brand is required for this challenge as we all have invested in different products. The only requirement is that your card or project is colorful and that you state what you used.

Here are some ideas from the design team.  If you look closely you will see each of us has a different way of emphasizing color.

Vicki

I decided to go with basically a monochromatic color scheme.  I chose a lavandar base card.  On top of that I used a light purple.  And on top of that I used a piece of dark colored cardstock on which I used the Technique Junkie technique embossed webbing.  This is a fun and extremely easily technique.  The hardest thing about it is finding a store that will carry the webbing paint. 

My featured image is a Magnolia stamp.  I colored her with Copic markers, the sponsor for this challenge.  A sheer piece of ribbon is added for my embellishment as I didn't want to overshadow the background paper.

Petra

It feels like going back to my childhood sitting with colouring books for hours, filling the pages with scribbles and ... colour! Little did I know about the colourful world of the Mandalas at the time. I adore these vibrant circles and their manifold patterns. My Mandala image is from one of the free colouring pages for children. I printed it twice, one slightly larger. The smaller circle is coloured with Copics and layered on the second slightly larger circle which I left uncoloured. The base is a plain white card and some embossed and inked Kraftcard (Tim Holtz texture folder and Distress ink Walnut Stain). The Mandala is mounted onto the base with foam pads. The finishing touches are some button twine, a stamped sentiment (Hero Arts) and a little gem.

Barbara

When I found out the theme for this challenge I immediately thought of my EarthArt International images and my Copics. The EarthArt International images represent the animal spirits and are inspired by nature. It's amazing to  examine the images because within the animal itself are so many other images from nature. If you look closely at the moose, you might see an owl, a butterfly, many leaves, a racoon, a leapard, flowers, snakes, raindrops and clouds, a lizard, a ladybug, and different animal skin patterns. It was so much fun to color the moose (with my Copics) because I kept discovering the different images. The background of my card was a piece of design paper. It was printed with pale leaves. I used my Copics to change the colors and used the blender to give them a more watercolored look. Using Versafine, I stamped a marble background stamp over the entire background. It is more like a watermark. I thought the sentiment from Stampscapes was perfect for both the challenge and the image. Now I can't wait to see what you share with us. 

Krisha

Sometimes you can stick Mr. Mojo in a box and close the lid, because things just fall into place by themselves! When Vicki sent me this challenge I already had this image colored and stored in my "ready to go images" (yes I have a stash of these, from times I just want to color and do nothing else LOL) So I did a few touch ups, trimmed him out and found this background paper, that I have had stashed for years and completed the card. I don't know who the image is from, he came through an image swap and I just love him. Wish I had the stamp!

Michele

There's nothing like coloring! One reason I fell in love with stamping was the way it reminds me of being with my coloring books as a little girl. Actually I still have coloring books! Sweet pea stamps offer a great basis for coloring fun. My stamp here is a Ching Chou Kuik design called Hummingbird. I colored it with colored pencils then cut it out and placed it on a background done with the antiqued glimmers technique from Technique Junkies. That background was adhered to some lovely shiny paper from The Paper Temptress. I finished it off with some flowers cut from a punch and I put some little shiny colorful dots in the flowers. I hope you have fun coloring!

When I think of "color" I personally think of Copic Markers. Copic Markers are Awesome.
Copic has everything you need; they offer a versatile selection and are designed to be the highest quality available. With markers in over 300 colors, ink pens, a marker compatible airbrush system, paper, and books – Copic has it all.

This company with wonderful alcohol-based markers is my sponsor for this colorful challenge.

Stampotique Designer's Challenge

I know everyone loves free stuff - and this is your chance for great prizes!  Pat Huntoon's Technique Junkie Design Team is participating this week in the Stampotique Designer's Challenge. One lucky participant will win a Two-Year subscription to the Technique Junkie Newsletter (on-line only) and a Fancy Folds and Motion CD. The other winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to use on the Stampotique Store. Instructions for participation are below.

Here are your rules for participation:

1. For this challenge, use Stampotique Stamps only.

2. You must use either the Faux Barnwood Technique or another Technique Junkie technique of your choice, and state which one you used in your post.

3. On the Stampotique Designer's Challenge blog, you must link directly to your challenge post, not to your general blog.
4. The contest will close on March 8, 2011, at 5 PM EST.

5. Have fun and show us what you can do!

Both of my samples use Faux Barnwood as the background.  It is just two different colors.  All stamps are by Stampotique and coloring was done with Copics.

Challenge # 9 - "Let's Relax"

This post will stay at the top as long as this challenge is running.  Please scroll down for newer posts.

Now that most of my computer problems have been solved (I  hope) I am  posting my newest challenge.  The theme is "Let's Relax".  I thought this would be the perfect theme after having a hectic holiday and computer problems.

Each of us has a different way to relax.  Some go to the gym and exercise, others get on a bike and ride,  and others read, stretch across the bed for a nap, or even sit down in one's craft room.  I would love to see what you do to relax.

My sponsor for this challenge is Rogue Redhead Designs.  Sharon Briss of  Rogue Redhead Designs is offering a number of  stamps from her first plate.

Rogue Redhead Stamps

Sharon Briss

Below are some inspirations from the Design Team for this challenge.

Vicki

 My husband got a Kindle for Christmas and I an Ipad so we are both trying to do a little more reading even if it is electronically.  Going into the world of others is a great form of relaxation.  It is something you can do without disturbing others too.

My card uses Antique Wallpaper technique for the background.  Stamps are from Rogue Redhead Designs.  Coloring was done with Copics.

Barbara

There's nothing I find more relaxing than sitting by a large body of water and listening to the waves hit the shore. Just typing that idea brings a smile to my face. I have to admit, that I don't get much of a chance to sit by the sea. I live in Chicago, in the heart of the midwest. However, we do have Lake Michigan which has its own relaxing beauty. For my card I used an image and sentiment from the Artistic Outpost stamp set Beyond the sea. I tried to keep with sea type colors and the background is embossed with swirls, reminding me of the waves. I guess I'll have to stick to stamping images of the sea for a while, at least until the snow melts.

Krisha

So the holidays are now over and this is just how I feel. I don't think I have moved much since New Year's Eve. Stamped image is from Red Rubber Romance, done with paper piecing. Sentiments are PC generated. All I can say is thank goodness it is an other 11 months before we do it all over again! LOL

NOTE: The winner will be posted near the top on my sidebar for all future challenges

Let's Relax Challenge Requirements

Still Decorating for Christmas

Following the theme of my current challenge "Deck the Halls" I also chose poinsettias.  Krisha in the previous post created a delicate card using poinsettias.  I used a little different approach on mine.  I chose to make  them bold by coloring the poinsettias with Copic markers.  The stamp is by PSX and the beautiful gold matting is by Paper Temptress.  The tag uses highlighted cuttlebug.

Won't  you go back to the top post and enter Challenge # 5 "Deck the Halls"?  There are manty ways you can deck the halls so pull out those Christmas stamps.  The prize is a grab bag and a gift certificate from  our sponsorWild Frog Creations.

Card for a Friend

This is a card I made for a stamping friend who has been in the hospital. Hopefully, she will be out soon and on the way to recovery. I used a technique out of the newly published TJ Newsletter for October-November. It is called clipped corners.

The flower is a stamp from PSX.  The calla lilies are colored with Copics on Cryogen White from Paper Temptress.

Gingersnap's Markers Challenge

This is a card I made for the Gingersnap Creations'  Markers Challenge.  This was a very enjoyable piece to do.  I had received this image from a girl with Technique Junkies when I first joined the group so I don't know the origin of the stamp, but i love the image.  I hope she likes what I did with it.  The inage was colored with Copic Markers. In  the center of the roses I used  a Spica gel pen.  The greeting was from the computer.

The matting behind the image is Coredinations technique.  I had to sand this very lightly as I was using paper instead of cardstock.  At the bottom a lacy punch was used.

The embellishment made the scanner sit up on one edge thus the lighting is bad.

Using My Copics

Here is a card I did for Pay Date Cafe Challenge using  purples and greens.  The mat behind the flower is using a sprayed dye technique.  In order to get the colloring for my flower I looked at the hydrangea in my front  yard.  This picture gave me a chance to practice using my Copic markers.  Stamp is Rubber Stampede.