Little Red Wagon # 226 Yearning for Spring

Are you ready for another challenge at Little Red Wagon?

This week Rosanne is setting the challenge and I think she is tired of winter because she would like to see spring themes or colours on your creations.

Well I was more than happy to jump into this one. My Winter and Christmas papers and supplies are getting pushed further away from my working space and I am finding myself excitedly reaching for bright pinks, blues and yellows.

The image is a digi from Tiddly Inks called "Celebrate Joyfully Emma". I really love these images and they are so fun to colour. The paper in the Pink Paislee's "Hey Kid" collection really works well for spring. I backed the pattern paper with a bright pink Coredinations Core colour card stock which I distressed.

For this card I tried another style for my background (my other background here). I am still deciding if I like this look or not. I have seen some great effects where you are just dabbing your markers around the image. It may be that I just need a bit more practice and playing with this technique. The image does pop more with this background.

Inside the card I used a sentiment from a Your Next Stamp set called "Heartfelt Sentiments".

Are you yearning for spring? Join us over at Little Red Wagon for this weeks fun challenge. Please remember to stop by and see the spring creations the other Girlfriends have made to inspire you.

Have a wonderful day and please come back soon.

Tracy

Spring Bloom

It could be a bit of wishful thinking, but I have decided to start working on my Spring and even some Summer themed cards. Despite all the snow we still have outside, it seems to be getting just a bit nicer, so here's hoping!

The image I used on this card is by Cheryl Alger for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps from the set called "Let's Dish the Dirt". I used paper from the Little Yellow Bicycle's  "Hello Spring" 6x6 paper pad to create a quilted look (squares are cut 3/4") on the card. 

The flower was created using the MFT Layered Rose die. The top flower I ran through my Xyron sticker maker to add adhesive to the top and then sprinkled it with glitter.

The image is coloured with Copic markers. I played around this time with creating a background behind the image. For the grass I used various shades of green and just flicked the marker until the area was covered. The sky I used 3 shades of blue. Starting with my lightest blue shade, I just worked my  way up colouring the darker shade at the top. I really had to work in the blending due to the difference in shades. 

This was actually my second colouring with the background. For my first, I actually tried to work clouds into the background. It was okay (I suppose), but I was not happy with the results. I think I was a bit too ambitious with the clouds and shading I was trying to achieve.

Inside the card, I added another sentiment and image from this set. There are 3 great images in this fun set.

Supplies:
Image: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Let's Dish the Dirt"
Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle "Hello Spring"
Tools: My Favorite Things "Layers Rose", EK Success scallop border punch
Other: Glitter Ritz Micro Fine Glitter, American Crafts Twine, Yellow enamel Dot

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie: # 218 Spring Colours
Sassy Cheryl: #203 Punches and/or Dies
Papertake Weekly Challenge: Lovely Layers
Shopping Our Stash: #139 Embellish me
Curtain Call: Cozy Quilt

I {heart} Sketches 54: this is my first play with this challenge. I really loved this sketch and I saw the "quilted" look for the bottom as soon as I saw this. 

Thanks for stopping by to check out my first Spring card. Please come back soon. Have a super day!

Tracy

Sweet and Sassy Layout

Here is another layout that I created at a recent crop using the super fun Elle's Studio Penelope line.

I love the paper in this collection and the tag and little embellishments were so fun to play with. Other than my foam letters for my title and the vellum I didn't stray from adding items outside this set.

This is the second of three layouts I have created using the Penelope collection pack I bought. I was able to incorporate a lot of my scraps from one layout into the next so I still have a lot of paper to play with.

A close up of my title and the cluster of embellishments that include a tag for my journaling. I know there is a lot of open white space that I could use, but I still prefer to keep the journaling tucked away whenever possible.

I love the Kraft colour that was incorporated into the pattern paper, so I used that on my layouts to back my photos and for borders. On this layout I also added a bit of vellum that I have had in my stash for years (it's almost embarrassing how old it is), so it was nice to find a way to use it.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my recent layout.

If you are looking for a fun challenge, please join us over a Little Red Wagon. This week's theme is "Anything But a Card - as long as you use paper". So a layout like this would work fine. Check it out.

Have a super crafty day and please come back soon.

Tracy

Little Red Wagon # 225 - Anything but a Card

Hello everyone it's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge over at Little Red Wagon.

This week Jan is setting the challenge and she is asking to see anything BUT a card!

So what does that leave you? Well as long as you are getting creative with paper you have a lot to choose from; including scrapbook pages, bookmarks, tags or even an altered project of some sort.

For my non-card project I went with a layout. I attended my first crop on Saturday and going in I really didn't know what to take or how much I would complete. After finishing the day I did manage to finish three layouts. I think that's pretty good!

Using the Elle's Studio Penelope line I created a layout of my oldest daughter (she was two) enjoying a Valentine's chocolate cake we baked for my husband. As you can see she really enjoyed the cake.

I couldn't decide on a title, so I cut up one of the branding strips on the bottom of the 12 x 12 paper that had all these fabulous phrases. They seem to work so well describing these pictures.

The "Love" paper clip is from Freckled Fawn. It came in a great treat bag I received for attending the crop. We were given the challenge to use 4 items from the treat bag on one of our projects. I was so excited this clip worked well with the colours in my layout. The other items I was able to use included the red wash tape, the tiny red heart in the bottom corner and the kraft hearts which I punched out of my treat bag.

I cut additional hearts from a second sheet of this pattern paper and attached it with foam adhesive. It gives a bit of dimension to the layout, and helped work around the image on the paper that was only partially covered with my chosen layout design.

I hope you will join us this week over at Little Red Wagon for our "anything but a card" challenge. While you're there please check out the fabulous creations the other Girlfriends are sharing. Don't forget to link up your project back at the Little Red Wagon blog.

Have a super crafty day.

Tracy

School Valentine's

This year my daughter's decided to go with different crafts to handout to their classmates this year for Valentine's day.

My eldest daughter felt that she was getting too old for traditional Valentine's, so she decided a book mark would be an ideal give a away for her 28 classmates.

I created the bookmark using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge "End Cap" function. The worm is from my favourite "Create a Critter" and the apple is from the "Happily Ever After" cartridge.

My youngest daughter wanted something more like a real Valentine's card and for that we also used the "Create a Critter" cartridge to make this super cute Bee.

The flower is cut from the "Elegant Edges" cartridge. The sentiment was printed from the computer.

Although I don't use my Cricut machine that often, the Create a Critter cartridge has been my most used. The images are adorable and easy to put together, my daughter had a lot of fun helping.

To help our flower stand up we attached a small box of Smarties to our flower.

On the back we added a little tag for my daughter to put her classmates name and her own.

Thanks for stopping by to see our Valentine's treats. Please come back soon.

Tracy

Little Red Wagon # 224 - Pocket

Happy Wednesday everyone. Not only is it the middle of the work week (yeah), but there is also another fun challenge over at Little Red Wagon.

This week Joanne is issuing the challenge and she would like to see us include a pocket on our card.

A pocket is not something I have incorporated into many cards, so I was very excited for this challenge. My initial plan for my card, was to use a pocket die that I have in my stash, but after thinking it over a bit, the creativity wasn't really flowing. So instead, I decided to make my entire card into a pocket!

My card is a criss-cross pocket card. The image on my cards is from Wild Rose Studio called "Bella with Dahlia".

To allow the pocket card to stand on it's own (and of course be displayed), I only secured one side of my criss-cross folds down to the card base, which holds the message insert.

The sweet image was coloured with Copic marker.

The paper for the card is a mixture of Michaels Recollections paper from my stash and Echo Park "Beautiful Life" 6x6 paper.

I also added a few Recollection gems around the outside of the image.

I hope you will join us this week over at Little Red Wagon for our latest challenge. While you are there please check out what the other Girlfriends have created with pockets. I am sure that you will be inspired to create your own pocket project. Just remember to link up your creations over at the Little Red Wagon blog!

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon.

Have a crafty day!

Tracy

Rollin' By to Say Love You

Today I have been enjoying a rare quiet day off from work. Usually on these days I have appointments or errands to run, but nope today was free and clear to create. I dropped the girls off at school and went straight to the crafty cave.

This morning has been very productive and I have managed to complete a few items from the crafty to do list:

• Finishing touches on my oldest daughter's Valentine's book marks 
• Cut all essential pieces for youngest daughter's Valentine's (she is going to assemble after school)
• Complete a card

I have been trying very hard to keep up using my new stamps as I purchase them; so I was happy to use a second image from the "Lulu on the Move" set by Cheryl Alger by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

There is a fun challenge going on over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge blog # 216 "Unconventional Valentines". The challenge is to use an image that you wouldn't normally use for a Valentine's Card. Well I think cute little Lulu on her roller-skates fits that criteria. I also decided to use colours that aren't typical Valentine's colours (using some card stock from my stash). I am also impressed that no pattern paper was used. I haven't done that often.

I modified my sentiment to use the "Rollin' by to say" removing the "hi", then adding the "You" from a MFT set. Now I have "Rollin' by to say {heart} You".

Adorable Lulu is coloured with Copic markers. I also added Glitter Ritz Micro Fine Glitter to her roller-skates and hair baubles.

inside

Inside the card I stamp a sentiment from a MFT stamps "Love You with all My Heart" and used a Lawn Fawn die "Stitched Journaling Card to create the heart border.

Thanks for joining me today and checking out my latest Valentine's card. Have a very crafty day!

CHALLENGES:

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: #216 Unconventional Valentines

Sassy Cheryl: #202 All about Hearts (using a Cheryl Alger image by Kraftin' Kimmie)

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Have a Heart

Simon Says Monday Challenge: We Love Stamps

Cute Card Thursday: # 307 Lots Of Love

Shopping Our Stash: #137 Love Me Tender

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes

Simon Says Blog: Work it Wednesday (use something new - this is a new stamp and using it in a new way as a Valentine's image)

Tracy

Hoop Hoop Hooray!

I would like to start off by saying that I am so very excited to have found out today that I have the opportunity to be an upcoming guest designer with the amazing Kratin' Kimmie stamps. I think I actually squealed with delight (at work) when I saw the announcement on the blog today.

I would like to say congratulations to all of the talented top 10 that have been given this fabulous opportunity.

This card is my 4th entry for the 5 different Krafty Bowl Challenges that started on Sunday and close tomorrow (Friday). I'm  not sure that I am going to be able to finish the last one, but I am going to try.

Challenge # 4 is "Something New".

For my card I used a Cheryl Alger design for Kraftin' Kimmie from the set called "Lulu on the Move". Although this is not a new set to Kraftin' Kimmie, it is a new set to my collection. I picked it up the other week as one of Kimmie's great Frugal Friday deals.

The paper is also one of my newer 6x6 purchases that I have been using a lot. It's called "Cool Summer" by Carta Bella. These colours are so fun and vibrant and the thought of summer is so much better than what I am currently looking at outside my window (which is snow, snow and more snow).

My close up picture of Lulu is a bit off. I am still working on my set up for the card and flash to get these shots right. I will figure it soon. Lulu is coloured with Copic Markers. I did add some of my Wink of Stella glitter to the hula hoop and her hair baubles.

Inside the card I added some of the Carta Bella paper and used a sentiment from the Stampendous set called "Birthday Wish".

Thank you for taking the time to view my card. Please come back soon.

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 1: It's Ma Birthday (see my card here)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 2: Another Six Weeks of Winter (see my card here)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 3: Something Old (see my card here)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 4: Something New (COMPLETED ABOVE)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 5: Show us the Love

Challenges:

Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

One Crazy Stamper: Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door: Feb 4 - 10 Anything goes

Happy Crafting!

Tracy

Little Red Wagon # 223: Love

Yeah it's Wednesday and that means it's time for another fun challenge over at Little Red Wagon.

This week we have Jodi taking the lead with her first challenge and she would like to feel the "LOVE" this week. Valentine's day is getting close, so it's a perfect time to get in the mood and create some lovable cards for someone special.

For my card this week I went back to a clean and simple layout. I really don't know what has come over me, but I am lovin' the CAS. I used a stamp from My Favorite Things called "Love You With All My Heart". Behind my stamped image I added the red card stock that I used the "Love" die from Your Next Stamp (Journal Bracket Insert Die). The back ground is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder called "Floral Fantasy".

The image is coloured with Copic marker. I also tried a bit of paper piecing on her dress using Echo Park Beautiful Life 6x6 paper.

Instead of using my usual Glitter Ritz to add sparkle to the heart I tried my new Wink of Stella glitter pen. The pen is "clear", however I found it actually comes out looking a bit gold. I like how easy it was to apply (once I figured out how to get the glitter flowing - thanks YouTube my pen didn't come with instructions), however I am not sure if the gold"ish" colour is working for me. This was only the first use, so I will hold off on making final judgement (for now).

Inside the card I added a sentiment from the MFT "Love You With All My Heart" set and added the hearts, which were cut from the Lawn Fawn "Stitched Journaling Card" Lawn Cuts.

Are you feeling the "LOVE"?

Join us over at Little Red Wagon for this week challenge inspired by love! Link up your projects over at the Little Red Wagon blog and make sure you check out the lovely projects created by all of the Girlfriends.

It's been great having you stop by and check out my new Valentine's card. I can't wait to see what you are going to create. Have fun!

Challenges:
Shopping Our Stash: #137 Love me Tender

Tracy

In Gear for Valentine's Day

This is my third card for the Kraftin' Kimmie Krafty Bowl Challenge which started on Sunday. Over the course of the day, 5 different challenges were issued (see below) and the crafting fun began. I have really enjoyed digging into my Kraftin' Kimmie stamps.

Challenge # 3 is Something Old.

For this card I used the fun image from a set called "Batteries Not Included". This is actually a set that I picked up at a craft yard sale last year. Unfortunately I don't have all the images and sentiments from the set (boo), but for this card I am making use of all the images I do have.

I decided to make a masculine valentine's card (maybe for the hubby - I don't think he reads my blog too often). The paper is My Minds Eye "Love Me". I added a few brads from my stash and Tim Holtz gears that I have had for ages. All "Something Old".

I coloured the image with Copic markers. I decided to make a card without using my glitter. Not sure the hubby's into glitter as much as I am.

 Inside the card I added another cute image from the Batteries not included set. The sentiment is pulled from a My Favorite Things set called "Love You With All My Heart".

The Krafty bowl challenges are open until Friday February 7 if you want to check each of them out, I have linked them below.

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 1: It's Ma Birthday (see my card here)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 2: Another Six Weeks of Winter (see my card here)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 3: Something Old (COMPLETED ABOVE)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 4: Something New

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 5: Show us the Love

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie: Krafty Bowl Challenge #3 Something Old
Simon Says Monday Challenge: Love Notes
Allsorts Challenge: #244 Love is in the Air
Crafty Cardmakers and More: #109 This is a Man's World

I am glad that you were able to stop by and see my card. I had a lot of fun working on this one.

Have a super crafty day!

Tracy

Tweet Friendship

I am back featuring another fun card created for the Krafty Bowl challenge going on over at the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge blog. There were 5 challenges given out on Sunday and so far I was able to complete 3 on the weekend. I am still hoping to be able to finish the final 2 challenges.

This card is my submission for the Krafty Bowl Challenge # 2: Another Six Weeks of Winter. I really hope this is not the case because I don't think we have anymore room to put snow.

For this card I used another image by Rachelle Anne Miller for Kraftin' Kimmie called Friendship is Tweet. I went with a CAS card just to change up my usually style.

The image is coloured with Copic markers. For the snowflakes and little swirls I traced over the image with my Zig Two-Way glue pen and added white Glitter Ritz fine glitter.

Inside the card I added a sentiment from a Hero Arts set (CL351) "Friends". I also re-stamped the sweet little Kraftin' Kimmie image in a soft pink.

In case you were wondering the other challenges are:

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 1: It's Ma Birthday (see my card here)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 2: Another Six Weeks of Winter (COMPLETED ABOVE)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 3: Something Old (Coming soon to a post this week)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 4: Something New

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 5: Show us the Love

My challenge 3 card will likely appear on tomorrow. 

Thanks for having a look at my CAS card. Happy crafting everyone.

Tracy

Birthday Girl Flying High

This is my second post tonight. I have had a fabulous weekend crafting and I have made a number of fun card using Kraftin' Kimmie images. Today while many people were enjoying the Super Bowl, Kimmie was hosting her very own Krafty Bowl Challenges.

Over the next week, I am going to post the cards that I have completed for the 5 challenges. I've completed 3 cards today and I am so excited to have used so many fun images. I really am pleased how the cards all came out.

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 1 - "It's Ma Birthday".

First of all I would like to wish the fabulous Kimmie a very Happy Birthday, which I believe she said was on Monday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Here is my card for challenge # 1:

I used the super adorable image by Rachelle Anne Miller for Kraftin' Kimmie called "Birthday Girl". She went so well with the Carta Bella "Cool Summers" 6x6 paper. I cut out some of the clouds from the pattern paper to include around the image of the little girl flying with her balloon.

The image is coloured with Copic markers. To added a bit of sparkle to the balloon, I used my Zig two-way fine tipped glue pen to cover the balloon. Then I sprinkled the area with Glitter Ritz micro fine glitter.

Inside the card I re-stamped the Kraftin' Kimmie image and added a sentiment from Stampendous "Birthday Wish" set.

You can play along with this challenge and the other Krafty Bowl challenges until Friday February 7th. If you have Kraftin' Kimmie images to use that is preferred, however, if you don't own any, she would still love for your to join in the fun!

In case you were wondering the other challenges are:

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 1: It's Ma Birthday (COMPLETED ABOVE)

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 2: Another Six Weeks of Winter

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 3: Something Old

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 4: Something New

Krafty Bowl Challenge # 5: Show us the Love

Thanks for the super fun challenges Kraftin' Kimmie and enjoy your birthday celebration.

Thanks for stopping by.

Tracy

You Warm My Heart

Well the snow kept coming this weekend and I stayed indoors and worked on cards. I was able to complete 5 this weekend. That may not sound like a lot however with colouring, planning and other everyday family things this was a successful crafty weekend.

My first card to showcase was made using a stamp from Your Next Stamp called Ellie Love Cocoa. I paired the image up with some older papers in my stash from a Michaels Recollections set called "Blue Christmas".

This card was perfect for this weekend as the girls and I enjoyed a few cups. Them after playing in the snow and me......well..... just because!

The layout for the card is inspired by the current challenge at Your Next Stamp. The image and colour was inspired by the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.

Of course the sketch appears a bit more CAS, however if you know my style, I will add layers wherever I can. The image is coloured with Copic markers.

  Inside the card I added a bit of left over pattern paper. The sentiment and cute little mugs are from another Your Next Stamp set called Hot Stuff Mugs.

Inside

Thanks for taking a peek at my card. Please come back soon. Happy crafting.

Challenges:
Your Next Stamp: Fun Friday Challenge 8 YNSFFC08 Sketch
Curtain Call: Cuppa Cocoa Inspiration Challenge

Tracy