Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #61 --- The Great Outdoors

As I write this we are just hours away from the first day of MAY!  Where did April go?  If that old saying about "April showers bring May flowers" holds true we should have a FANTASTIC May! Last week alone we had 11 inches of rain here, and that was moderate compared to other areas nearby.  Cheryl's challenge topic, "The Great Outdoors," is quite appropriate.  Who wouldn't want to be outdoors now that the trees are a delicious green and the flowers add so much color everywhere!

I chose the image "Ladybug Lady" for my card.  I have always loved ladybugs.  When I was growing up bugs scared me and I'm allergic to bees. Then my grandmother told me that the ladybugs wouldn't sting or bite, so I actually looked for them in her garden.  This card makes use of scrapbook paper I've had for years and I added some new Jolee's ladybug stickers.

The image is colored with Copics and I've been practicing using the colorless blender to create clouds.  I'm really happy with this one! A touch of C1 adds dimension.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope May brings you lots of flowers and many happy days outdoors!  Be sure to hop over to Sassy Cheryl's to see the DT's gorgeous projects.  Then add one of your own!

Tiddly Inks Treasure Hunt Blog Hop

Welcome to the Tiddly Inks Treasure Hunt blog hop. We are kicking off Tiddly Inkʼs first birthday celebration and I am so glad you joined us to hunt for inspiration and goodies. If you came from Tracyʼs blog then you are at the correct spot. If not, you might want to go back to the Challenge Blog and start hopping THERE. You might miss some of the prizes that are hidden around the hop if you donʼt start at the beginning. :)

My creation today features Tiddly Inksʼs new image Bev Tiddlyinks. Christy created about 20 new images for her birthday celebration and you can find the rest of the images HERE.

I colored the image with Copics.  The dp for the card is the new Watercolor Bouquet by K & Company which is double-sided so the background Nesties label is the reverse side. I love the extra large border punch by Martha Stewart and it makes a lovely fence.  The flower border is matching Watercolor Bouquet dp stripes.  The butterfly is by Recollections at Michaels.

Here is a close-up of Bev. I added a flower from the border strip and a bit of bling to her hair. This card will be either a Mother's Day card or a birthday card. 

Just a little reminder that Tiddly Inks will be having a sale May 1-3 to celebrate itʼs first birthday. If you are interested, visit the SHOP and then plan to create a fun project for the challenges or the next blog hop on May 10.

On May 10, Tiddly Inks will hold another blog hop that is open to everyone. You can check out the details on Christyʼs blog HERE. It will be part of TIʼs fun birthday party celebration and the special prize for the that blog hop will be a chance to win a digital stamp customized and designed for you.

Thanks so much for hopping in our Treasure Hunt. I hope you enjoyed seeing a lot of  new images, some beautiful cards and visiting with our special guests and regular designers.

Lou

 

 

 

Barb

Bah! Humbug! Challenge -- The Man Himself - Santa Claus

This week at Bah! Humbug! the challenge is to make a card or project featuring the man himself, Santa Claus.  I took a little different approach to this challenge.  If there are any children in the room, you might send them to the kitchen for cookies and milk.  The image you are about to see might be disturbing to them.

The old man got caught playing Santa Claus!  This image is from Mo Manning and reminds me of the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".  The image is colored with Copics. I used the large border punch from Martha Stewart.  The gift foam stickers are from Michaels.

Here's a close up.  The looks on both faces tell it all! Mo has such a gift for expressions!

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to visit Bah! Humbug! for their next challenge, which will be up in just a few hours! Happy crafting!

Happy Easter!

My son is definitely grown up, but when it comes to Easter time I think there is still a lot of child in each of us. When Scott was little, and even to this day, he likes to be the one to play Santa Claus and hand out all the presents.  But when he was little he didn't play Easter Bunny and hide the eggs -- he was way more into hunting for them. This year I made him this card, preserving the his childlike enthusiasm which, fortunately, he has never lost.

                                    

The image, Bunny Wannabe, is from Sassy Cheryl and is colored with Copics.  I used papers, ribbon, and embellies that are odds and ends in my stash.  I sent a similar card to Paula, Scott's fiance. You can see that one here.  

I didn't notice till the card was done and I looked at the photos that I mounted the image a bit on the downhill side.  Oops! Well, I do live on the side of a hill so I guess I was a little off kilter the day I made this one. If it keeps raining the way it has been we just may be sliding down this hill!

Bunnies, eggs, chocolate and Peeps are all wonderful things about Easter.  But the true joy comes from the truth of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I hope you all have a blessed and fun Easter!

Design D.I.V.A.S. Facebook Group -- Oldies But Goodies Blog Hop

What's one of the best things about crafting?  There is a very good chance that we have supplies, toys, and tools that we have neglected for at least 6 months --- maybe even longer --- and we get to dust them off for the monthly Design D.I.V.A.S. Oldies But Goodies Blog Hop.  Today is the day for the April hop and I know we are going to see some fantastic projects.

The Design D.I.V.A.S. is a private Facebook group, which is a branch of the Original Design D.I.V.A.S. on the Splitcoaststampers website.  The acronym for the D.I.V.A.S is, Divine, Inspirational, Virtuous, Artistic (or annointed) Sistahs.  This is a very talented and supportive group, which I'm blessed to be a part of .

If you came here after visiting my wonderful friend Cindy then you are on the right track. Today the hop started with the lovely and talented Vicki so if you didn't start there be sure to hop backwards to take in all the stops.

Everything about my card is an oldie but goodie!  I colored this adorable House Mouse image last year!  I matched it with the paper and layout --- last year!  The dp has been in my stash for a couple of years.  And the flower brads came in a kit --- last year!  The Mother's Day sentiment was actually computer generated --- you guessed it, last year! Can you believe Mother's Day is less than three weeks away?  So, this might be an OBG, but it is timely!

I colored this image with Prismacolors.  GASP!!  NOT COPICS??  Well, I guess my Prismacolors would be another OBG to get dusted off.  Maybe I'll do that for next month's OBG hop.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Now, be sure to hop on over to see what our clever and crafty Gina has dusted off for the hop!

Mo's Digital Challenge #78 --- Start of Something New!

Spring is the season of "new" and that is the theme this week at Mo's Digital Challenge.  I chose the image "Wonder", which is new to me.  As I watch the new flock of hummingbirds visit our feeder, and see the new tulips and crocuses burst up from their winter hibernation, and see young children look at the world in a whole new way from last year, I am also reminded of the Easter promise of new life through Christ. 

I made this Easter card for my future daughter-in-law.  It actually coordinates with the card I made for my son, which I will show in a couple of days. 

I've been trying to use scraps and miscellaneous papers and these worked so well with the image, which I had already colored.  I love the shape of the Nestabilities Label Sixteen. It adds the feeling of motion to the project. The flowers and brad centers are also odds and ends I am using up. The sentiment is computer generated.

Here is a close up of the image, which is colored with Copics.  Mo has so many wonderful images that I just can't pick a favorite, but this one just really tugs at my heart.  I remember sitting in the cool grass near my grandmother's flower bed. I never had a hummingbird light so close to my hand, but often got close up looks at butterflies and ladybugs.  Now, though, we have our regular hummingbird visitors and many don't care if we are standing right there as they drink.  We have some that actually hover as we hang up a new batch of nectar!  They are amazing!

Be sure to visit Mo's challenge blog to see the great new projects by the DT.  I'm sure you will find something new that you will want to try.

I hope your week is amazing and joyful as we celebrate Easter and Passover.

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #59 --- Think Spring!

Horray! It is finally spring! Don't let those April blizzards around the country fool you! The calendar says it is spring, and Sassy Cheryl says it is spring, so it must be spring! And that is the theme for Sassy Cheryl's Challenge this week.  Since Easter is also a very important part of spring my card is an Easter card that I am sending to my aunt and uncle. 

I used Cheryl's image "The Little Girl's Flower", colored with Copics.  The card, butterfly and inside liner --- and this is the best part --- is all from one 12" x 12" sheet of double sided dp from the K & Co. Susan Winget collection.  So many times these large sheets have beautiful artwork that is just too large for a card.  Well, with some inspiration from Becca Feeken at Amazing Paper Grace, I was able to use this gorgeous paper, front and back. The rhinestone swirls add sparkle.

Here is a close up of the image.  She is so cute!  This time I actually colored the image after choosing the paper and the pink and yellow worked out nicely.

The butterfly is two layers, Martha Stewart large and small punches.  Both are from the dp, the large one from the back side and the small from the front. 

Inside is the back side of the dp with the remaining corner of the front design layered on the right.  The sentiment on the front and the Bible verse John 3:16 are embossed with Pearl Lustre opaque Emerald embossing powder.  All in all this was a simple card to make and will mail nicely. 

Now, I've gotten run and get this posted.  I'm sliding in at the last minute again.  Where has the time gone?  But, it looks like my mojo is returning and that is a very good thing!  Be sure to hop over to Cheryl's and see what the DT has come up with.  You will be inspired!  And another challenge will start tomorrow!.

Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge -- Royal Treatment for the Royal Wedding

This week at Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge we are celebrating the royal wedding with our own "Royal Treatment".  Amanda, our favorite Brit, is our featured designer this week and, with Leigh's image of the royal couple, we have made cards for the celebration.  Leigh's image, and many more new ones, can be found here.

My card is quite simple. I used silver cardstock for the card base and gold cardstock for the tiara and sentiment.  The tiara and sentiment were cut on my Cricut using the Storybook cartridge.  The image is colored with Copics and placed on a Nesties die cut, flanked with little roses. My card is ok, but you MUST see what the rest of the DT has come up with! We have carriages, crowns, and even argyle. Hop on over to Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge and see what my Happi Sisters have come up with!

We all wish much happiness for Prince William and Kate.  It doesn't seem that long ago that we were watching his parents' wedding.  There is something about weddings, whether simple or royal, that brings good feelings of hope in new beginnings and the love that brings people together. 

Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge -- Stef's Sketch

This week at Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge one of our new Happi Sisters, Stef, has provided a lovely sketch for us to use.  Also, Leigh is introducing many more wonderful new digis.  Here is Stef's sketch:

For my card I used Leigh's new digi April with Flower Pot.  You can find Leigh's digis at her store here. I really love this character April. Instead of coloring this week, I did paper piecing.  You see, there was this fabulous stack at Michael's called Fashionably Chic and it is chock full of delicate colors and prints and 50% off, though I think I would have paid full price anyway.  I just couldn't wait to get into it.  All of the dp here is from that stack.  I used paper flowers and decorative brads that have fallen into my "odds and ends" box since they don't really match anything anymore, but isn't it fun how they all came together here?  The card base is Kraft and the image and sentiment are on GP 110# cs.  April's image is cut with the Nestabilities Deckle die and the sentiment with the tag die.

Here is a close up of April.  Underneath the paper flower is a lovely flower by Leigh that can be colored beautifully in any media. 

We all would love to have you join us this week using Stef's challenge.  So hop on over to Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge, check out the DT's wonderful pieces, Leigh's new releases, and show us your own creations, too!  I hope you all have a great week!

MISSING: My Mojo

MISSING!

MY MOJO

I miss you very much!

Last seen on March 29

MOJO, please come home! The days are finally sunny and the trees and flowers are blooming! The studio is warmer now without using the fireplace.

I promise to:

Clean the studio to make it more organized

Try new techniques that I have in the "Gotta Try This" folder

Play with ignored and neglected stamps and toys

Meet challenges in a timely matter

Get my taxes done so that gloomy task isn't such a buzz kill.

But most of all..........

I Promise to Have FUN!

P.S. MOJO, I have a new Wacom Bamboo that I need you to help me with, so hurry home!

Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge #16 --- Getting In Shape AND New DT Members

This week at Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge our Happi Sister Georgia is getting us in shape --- no squares or rectangles allowed! So that means anything goes --- except right angles! With Leigh's fantatic new images for spring and easter and other occasions we have plenty of inspiration!

I am always drawn to butterflies and birdhouses so when Leigh showed us this digi I had the best of both!  Here is my shapped card with the new butterfly house.

I enlarged the Nestabilities flower die for the card, then mounted a large flower on the front. The image is colored with Copics.  The flowers are from silk stems; butterfly is Martha Stewart punch; and the sentiment is computer generated and cut with the smallest flower die in the Nestibilities set.  A very easy little card, perfect for a quick note to say hello and cheer someone up. 

I just can't believe how many fun new images Leigh has released this week.  Not only that, but we have three new DT members, so you just MUST hop over to the Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge blog and meet them.  We are thrilled to have Steph, Molly and Starla with us!