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

Live Joyfully -- an All Dressed Up Stamps New Release

It's New Release Day at All Dressed Up Stamps!  Every month, on the 7th and the 22nd, the design team features the new releases.  Today is my turn.  There are 3 new releases this month.  Here is Skipping Girl...

I colored Skipping Girl with a combination of Copic and Spectrum Noir markers.  The rectangle dies are from Spellbinders.  The banner dies that the sentiment is on are from Tonic Studios.  The cloud dies are from Close To My Heart.  The cloud papers are from We Are 3 Digital Shop. They are 2 of the Canvas Scenes papers.

Check out what the other design team members have created, and the other new releases on the All Dressed Up Stamps Blog, and in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group. 

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

Morgan's Artworld -- ATG

D.L. Art -- August Linky Party

A Perfect Time to Craft -- ATG

A Bit More Time to Craft -- ATG

ABMTTC Extra -- ATG

Creative Fingers -- ATG

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG with a hand colored image

Dream of Dahlia -- for Ching-Chou Kuik

 It's Tuesday, and it's my day to post on the Ching-Chou Kuik Inspiration & Challenge Blog.  Our current challenge is just over 1/2 way complete.  The theme is Thanksgiving or Autumn or Fall or Autumn colors (red or green or orange or brown).  

For my inspiration card today, I used the beautiful image, Dream of Dahlia, colored with Copic markers, then fussy cut. 

I created the card base with a Sunflower paper from We Are 3 Digital Shop. The stitched flower layer is a die from Diamond Press.  The Big Thanks sentiment is a die from Spellbinders.  The dragonfly is a die from Cheery Lynn. 

I hope you check the Ching-Chou Kuik blog often. For another challenge, check out the CCK Facebook group. You'll find great inspiration there, too.

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

D.L. Art -- August Linky Party

A Perfect Time to Craft -- ATG

A Bit More Time to Craft -- ATG

Digichoosday -- ATG

Crafty Sentiments -- ATG

AUD Sentiments -- ATG + a sentiment

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

TTCRD -- ATG

Hey Sunshine! For The Paper Shelter

 It's Wednesday, and a new challenge begins today at The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog. Today is the start of the Paper Shelter Summer Break Challenge.  The challenge will run for 4 weeks.  Both teams are participating, prizes are as wonderful as they always are, but the teams are taking a break from commenting.  But PLEASE!  Enter and have fun while we take a bit of a break. 

There are so many adorable Summertime images in The Paper Shelter Store, and since this is the start of our Summer Break, I decided to color one of them up. This is Summer Attitude:

I colored Summer Attitude with Copic markers, then fussy cut that darling image out.  I used Distress Oxide inks and inked a background, hoping for sea, sky, and sun.  

The palm tree is a die by Spellbinders.  I found the surfboard paper at PixelScrapper.com. The 'Hey Sunshine' is from an old card kit I had.

You have a month to join our Anything Goes Summer Break Challenge at The Paper Shelter. If you use an image from The Paper Shelter Store, and you're the winner of the challenge, you'll get a $30 gift certificate to The Paper Shelter Store.  Wow!  Use any other image, and you win any 3 images of your choice.  Still a great prize! 

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

D.L. Art -- July Linky Party

Get Creative Challenge -- Show Water

Use Your Stuff -- Summer Fun

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG with a hand colored image

Lemon Shortbread -- ATG

A Special Gift Bag -- For Paper ala Mode

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at The Outlawz.  The Saturday Paper ala Mode Challenge, that is! Our challenges are always sponsored by We Are 3 Digital Shop. The theme for the next 2 weeks is Gift Bags.  Oh, I like this theme!  I always enjoy making gift bags and gift boxes!

Since my mother-in-law's birthday is next week, I took advantage of this challenge to make her a gift bag.  This bag is just the right size to hold a couple pieces of chocolate -- just the right amount for a lady who says she's watching calories, but secretly likes to munch (just like her daughter-in-law).

I cut this bag out on my Silhouette Cameo 3 with a file I found in the Silhouette Design Store. The designer paper on this bag is Watercolor Textures. I used 3 different designs from the set. The sentiment is from the For You Sentiment Set.

I cut the "For You" sentiment out on a tag by Spellbinders.  The butterfly is a die from Cheery Lynn.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks at the Paper ala Mode Challenges.  I'd love to see what you create with this theme, and you could win a gift certificate to Bonnie wonderful shop!

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

Cut it Up -- Nature

D.L. Art -- May Linky Party

TTCRD -- ATG

LTCCB -- ATG

You Give Me Wings -- For Dies R Us Challenges

 It's the first of May, so that means it's time for a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges. Challenges run for 2 weeks, and are always Anything Goes, as long as you use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. 

The day I made this card, we had snow showers, but I am very ready for spring.  I was thinking sunshine, and warmth, and things that make me think of spring -- like butterflies!

This card uses a Create-a-Card die by Crafter's Companion called Butterfly Love.  The sentiment was stamped on a frame by Nellie's Choice that was purchased during a European die weekend event at Dies R Us. It is also available in the Didi Crafts (sister store) here.  The small butterfly on the sentiment tag is by Spellbinders.

I hope this card make you think of and feel like spring, and I hope you can join us at Dies R Us Challenges.  There will be a gift certificate awarded, and 3 designer choice awards! 

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

Crafty Catz Challenge -- ATG

D.L. Art -- May Linky Party

Crafty Gals Corner -- Spring

I'm Glad You're my Mom -- For JDS Challenges

 It's time for some mid-month inspiration at It's the first Monday of the month at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges (or JDS Challenges). Challenges are absolutely Anything Goes -- knitting, glass etching, scrapbooking, woodworking -- we want to see it all!  There is a gift certificate for a project using a Jan Mahew image, and another random winner each month. There will also be 3 designer choice awards. Awesome!

Jan Mahew has some awesome flower files.  They are some of my favorites.  I have lots of flower stamps, as they are my favorite thing to color.  Jan's are so great because they come in black & white and precolored versions.  There are also sentiments included with each file. For today's mid-month inspiration, I used the beautiful Botanical Orchids digital stamp to create this:

I colored Botanical Orchids with a combination of Spectrum Noir TriBlend Brush markers and Copic Markers. I cut it out with a Spellbinders label die, inking around the edge with ink from Close To My Heart while it was still in the frame.  The sentiment is from the newly released set called, My Mom. 

Papers on this card are by We Are 3 Digital Shop. The background paper is from the Fairy Land Collection. The butterfly border (by Crafter's Companion) paper and the sentiment paper are from the Sentimental Canvas Collection. 

The pretty crinkle ribbon was a recent prize I won from Diana Larson.  It is available in her D.L. Art Etsy Shop.  The butterfly was found in my stash.  I've been waiting for the perfect project to use it on. 

There's still time to join us this month at JDS Challenges.  I'd love to see what you create, and I'd also love to see you have a chance at the 2 gift certificates.  Use a Jan Mahew image to increase your chances! 

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

Morgan's Artworld -- ATG

D.L. Art -- April Linky Party

Passion for Markers -- Feminine

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG with a colored image

Lessons from the Easter Bunny

 It's another Thursday, and that can only mean one thing!  It's time for another challenge at Cute Card Thursday. Every Thursday, you'll find a new challenge starting on the Cute Card Thursday Blog. This week, our sponsor is Whimsy Stamps, and the theme is Anything Goes. 

I used the Whimsy Stamps digital image Esther Bunny for today's card. She's a release by Some Odd Girl. 

I colored Esther Bunny with Copic markers, then fussy cut her out.  Here's a close up of the coloring: 

She's got sort of a sassy look on her face, doesn't she?  Maybe she's already eaten all the jelly beans?

Here's a close up of the sentiment:

I found the sentiment while cruising Pinterest. Where else, right?

The floral stitched background is a slimline die from Diamond Press.  The floral background paper is part of the Caring Thoughts paper pad by Crafter's Companion.  The paper flowers are from my stash. 

I hope you join us this week at Cute Card Thursday for our Anything Goes Challenge.  Whimsy Stamps is such a great sponsor.  You could win some great digis -- like this one! 

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

The Paper Shelter -- Easter

Shopping our Stash -- Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Cutie Pie Challenge -- Bunnies & Blooms

Stamps & Fun -- Easter

Spring Jasmine -- For Ching-Chou Kuik's March Challenge

 It's March, and a new challenge just got underway over on the Ching Chou Kuik Inspiration & Challenge Blog.  The challenge has the theme this month of Easter &/or Florals, and it will the whole month of March.

I used the beautiful Spring Jasmine for this month's challenge:

This gorgeous little fairy girl is a black & white image that I colored with Copic markers. Then, I went looking for pretty dies and papers to construct the card.  The dies are by Crafter's Companion.  That pretty paper is by We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It's one of the new Sweetness Papers. The rabbit die cut is from my stash, but I think it's from Peachy Cheap. The sentiment is computer generated, and placed on a banner by Crafter's Companion.

You have all month to link up to our Easter/Floral challenge.  There is also a challenge in the CCK Facebook Group, along with great inspiration both on Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge & Inspiration blog and in the group.  Check back often! 

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

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG with a colored image

D.L. Art -- March Linky Party

Crafty Sentiments -- ATG

DigiChoosday -- ATG

Love You -- for Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps

 It's my day to post on the Ching-Chou Kuik Inspiration & Challenge Blog. Our theme all month is "All You Need is Love".  There is a blog challenge going on using that theme, and we'd love to have you join us!

For my inspiration card this week, I used the lovely image, Love is In the Air, colored with Spectrum Noir Tricolor Brush markers. 

The lovely heart border was a die I found in my stash, and I have forgotten who it is by.  I think perhaps, it's by Technique Tuesday, but I'm not sure. The "Love You" sentiment is by Spellbinders.

We have challenges both on the Ching-Chou Kuik Inspiration & Challenge Blog, and In the CCK Facebook Group.  I'd love to see you linked up at either -- or both.  You'll find lots of wonderful images that fit our "All You Need is Love" theme in the GJZCCK Etsy Shop.

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

D.L. Art -- February Linky Party

Morgan's Artworld -- ATG

Colour Crazy Challenge -- ATG

Classic Design Challenge -- ATG

Worldwide Open Design Team Challenge -- ATG

Swing Girl -- for Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends

 It's the first Sunday of the month, and that means it's time for a new challenge at Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends.  The challenge will run for a month, and they are always Anything Goes!

This month, our exclusive sponsor is Lemon Shortbread.  I used the awesome digi called, Swing Girl to create this:

I colored Swing Girl with Copic markers, then fussy cut her.  The card base (tree shape) is a die from Lawn Fawn, purchased at the Dies R Us Store.  The background cloud paper is by We Are 3 Digital Shop.  It is one of the Back to Basics papers.  The sentiment is a die cut from Spellbinders. 

Lil'Patch of Crafty Friends -- it starts today, goes all month, and it's Anything Goes!  Come link up! 

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

ABMTTC -- Extra -- ATG

Love To Craft Challenge -- ATG

Promarker Challenge -- Dies &/or Punches (used dies)

Lemon Shortbread Challenge -- ATG

Oh Deer! Another Birthday! For Bugaboo Stamps

 It's Friday, and that means it's time for a Freebie at Bugaboo Stamps!  Every Friday!  It's Freebie Time! Every freebie stays in the store for a week.  

Tomorrow, Bugaboo Stamps celebrates a birthday.  Eleven (11!!!) years of being in business!  That is incredible in this business where companies are going out of business left and right.  Congrats to Jodie on her success!  The party is a week-long event, and you are the invited guest!  Catch all the fun on the Catch the Bug Blog! 

Today's freebie called simply, Deer:

I flipped one of the images, sized them about the same, colored them with Copic markers, then fussy cut them.

The sentiment is computer generated and cut with a Spellbinders speech bubble die.  

The papers on this card are from Crafter's Companion. 

Check out what the other talented designers have mad with this cute freebie over on the Catch the Bug Blog. Then, join us tomorrow for all the fun!

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

Pattie's Creations Challenge -- ATG

Polkadoodles Challenge -- ATG

D.L. Art -- January Linky Party

Christmas Stocking -- for SheepSki Designs

 It's a new month, so there's a new challenge starting at SheepSki Designs Challenge Blog. Challenges start on the first of the month, and run all month.  This month, the theme is "Feature a Creature."  You'll find many images in the SheepSki Designs Etsy shop that will work for this theme!  Or enter any image you have that fits the theme. 

I think Christmas Stocking is so, so sweet!  I wanted a chance to color it up, and it features not one creature, but many!

I colored Christmas Stocking with Copic markers.  The Christmas Stocking digi comes with several versions -- just the bed, and then the whole scene that I colored. I cut out the Christmas Stocking image with a square stitched die from Spellbinders.  

The papers on this care are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The blue sparkly paper is from the Christmas Magic paper pack. The pink bunny paper is part of the Snow Globes Collection. 

The 'Noel' was computer generated, and cut out with a die from Crafter's Companion.

I hope you find time to join us this busy month of December at SheepSki Designs Challenge Blog  for our Feature a Creature challenge!

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

2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG

Crafty Animals -- ATG

Christmas with the Cuties -- Feature a Creature

Animal Friends -- Bunny

Christmas Joy -- For Dies R Us Challenges

 It's December 1st,  and that means it's the start of a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenge Blog. Our challenges run for 2 weeks (this one goes until Dec. 14), and they have themes.  The current theme is "Christmas".  Now, that's a perfect theme to finish up, or maybe tackle those Christmas cards! Just use a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store, and link up at Dies R Us Challenges! 

Here's my Christmas card for the Dies R Us Challenge: 

There's a lot going on with this card.  Let me tell you how it's made:  The poinsettias are made with a die from Memory Box called Poinsettia Bloom Trio. They layer so nicely! The oval is from a Spellbinders set. I cut it out with a piece of gold foil paper.  Gluing it was a bit of a challenge, but it cut beautifully! The stitched rectangles are by Lawn Fawn.  They are from both the small and the large Stitched Rectangle Stackables.  The 'Joy' sentiment is one of the sentiments in the Winter Wishes set by Elizabeth Craft Designs.  This is a great set, and one I reach for often. 

The designer papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are from the Victorian Christmas Collection. 

You'll find many wonderful dies and other  supplies in the Dies R Us Store.  If you are from Canada, you'll want to check out the sister store, Didi Crafts for more great products, and great shipping rates! 

I hope you join us for our Christmas Challenge over on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog!  A $10 gift certificate will be awarded each challenge, and 3 designer choice awards.

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

D.L. Art -- December Linky Party

Not Just Cards -- ATG

AUD Sentiment -- ATG

TTCRD -- ATG

Hello Summertime Fun! For Dies R Us Challenges

It's the 15th of the month, so it's time for a new challenge at Dies R Us Challenges. Every challenge runs for 2 weeks, has a theme, and you need to use at least 1 die from a brand sold in the Dies R Us Store. Until June 30, the theme is Summertime Fun!  Woohoo!  Gotta love that theme! 

I found some great dies to work with for today's summertime fun card:

The centerpiece of the card, that fun tubing girl, is an Impression Obsession die.  It comes with the female and a male version and it's called Tubers.    She's playing in waves that were made with Lawn Fawn Ocean Waves Border dies.  The sun is a die I had in my collection from Spellbinders, but this set by Sue Wilson would work really well.  The 'Hello Summer' sentiment is a 2-die set from Impression Obsession.

I hope you join the Summertime Fun challenge going on through June 30 at Dies R Us Challenges. A random $10 gift certificate will be awarded, and 3 designer choice awards.  Shop the Dies R Us Store for all your die cutting needs, and the Didi Crafts store if you are in Canada. 

Good Friends -- A Reminder for Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges

I have this card on my blog today as a reminder that we are 1/2 way through the month for Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges. The challenges are always anything goes.  There are 2 winners each month - one using a Jan's Digi Stamp image, and a random winner. There are also 3 designer choice awards given out.

If you follow my blog at all, you know I love dogs, and will take any opportunity I can find to create a dog related project.  When Jan released this new set, I was in doggy heaven!  This is the black and white version of A Boy and His Dog:

I colored A Boy and His Dog with Copic Markers.  The shading was pretty easy because Jan kindly gave the colorist lines to indicate where the shading should be.  The is also a colored version in the set. I used one of the sentiments that came with the image.  There are several more great ones, too.

Papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  They are 2 of the Dog Love Papers. 

Remember, the challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges is always Anything Goes, and you could win wonderful images -- like this one!  I'd love to see what you create! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- May Linky Party
2 Crafty Critter Crazies -- ATG with a Critter
Crafty Animals -- ATG with an animal
QKR Stampede -- ATG

Oceans of Love -- for Dies R Us Challenge Blog

It's the first of the month, so there's a new challenge starting today on the Dies R Us Challenge Blog. For the next 2 weeks, the theme is "Seas the Day" (water themed).  We'd love to see any project with a water or beach theme, made with a brand of die sold in the Dies R Us Store. 

I haven't done any paper piecing in awhile, so I thought it was time for bit on today's Seas the Day themed card:

I started with the lighthouse die from Die-versions.  I cut it out twice.  Once in the grey buffalo plaid paper from We Are 3 Digital Shop, and one in the Blue Pastel Burlap paper, also from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The sun is from a Spellbinders set, but just about any sun die would work, including this set from Impression Obsession. The seagulls are in a Lighthouse set from Elizabeth Craft Designs. They, and the torn paper "sand" were made with the same paper as the light house.  It is part of the Plaids Stripes Neutrals collection at We Are 3 Digital Shop.  The sentiment, also from We Are 3 is one of the Mermaid Wishes sentiments, and it's printed on Pastel Burlap paper in orange, and cut out with a Nellie's multi frame die that I purchased as part of a European Die weekend sale.

There are other great project from the Dies R Us Challenge team that I hope you take time to study and enjoy, and I hope they inspire you to create a water-themed project of your own. One $10 gift certificate will be awarded and 3 designer choice awards. 

.Dies R Us now has a sister store with warehouses in the USA and Canada called Didi Crafts.  

It will ship to both the US and Canada.  Didi Crafts will carry some of the same products as DRU, but most will be different.  Now our Canadian friends don't have to worry about huge taxes or shipping fees. How great is that!?!

  

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

AUD Sentiments-- Masculine + a sentiment
QKR Stampede -- ATG
Through the Purple Haze -- ATG

Best Wishes -- For Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges

Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges are now month-long challenges, so I'm posting today just to remind my blog readers of this change, and to get another fantastic new release image out on social media. I created today using the  beautiful set called Pansies for Mom.

This set is perfect for Mother's Day, but also many other occasions. I used a pre-colored image here, and inked around the edge of the die cut to bring it to life a bit more.  The Best Wishes sentiment comes with the set, but there are several others, including a Mother's Day sentiment.  There are also several more pre-colored individual pansies.  

The die cut edger is from Crafter's Companion, as is the designer paper.  I used a Spellbinders stitched oval die to cut out the Pansies for Mom image and sentiment.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

You still have a few more days to join in on the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamp Challenges.  I'd love to have you join  us! There is a random gift certificate for $10, and a gift certificate for someone using a JDS image. 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
QKR Stampede -- ATG
Creative Fingers Challenge -- ATG
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- Spring
Outlawz Crash Your Stash -- Ribbon

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

Ladybug Thank You -- For Bugaboo Stamps

It's challenge time at Catch the Bug Challenges, using Bugaboo Stamps!  Today begins a week-long bingo challenge.  It's an easy bingo card for you to follow along with.

First, my card, then, I'll show you the bingo card:

I used the very versatile image, Thank You Flower, to create my card:

I love the look of colored pencils on Kraft, so I thought I would do that on this challenge.  The Thank You Flower is a very easy color. I used Faber Castell pencils to get this look.

Here's the bingo card:

I went diagonally (stitching, Bugaboo image, flower) or straight across the bottom (stitching, twine, sentiment).

Papers on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop.  I used a paper from both the Ladybug Lace and the Ladybug Lace Too collections.  The "stitching" was accomplished by using a Spellbinders die. I added the twine using some I purchased through Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I hope you can join us this week for our bingo challenge at Catch the Bug!  I'd love to see your creations, and there are wonderful prizes up for grabs! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Polkadoodles Challenge-- ATG
QKR Stampede -- ATG
D.L. Art -- April Linky Party
Outlawz Festive Fridays -- ATG