Bah! Humbug! Challenge --- Vellum

This week over at Bah! Humbug! we are working with vellum. I have quite a bit of vellum but often forget to use it, so, thank you ladies, for the great challenge this week.  For my card I used two types of vellum.  The first layer is speckled with gold glitter and I laid that on a shimmery vellum.  Then the two layers are mounted on a piece of gold metallic moire cardstock.  All of these pieces are punched with EK Success Alpine Trail border punch.  Behind this combo is a strip of gorgeous metallic ribbon laid on white shimmery cardstock that was embossed with the Cuttlebug 5 x 7 brocade folder.  The gold peel off sentiment finishes it all off. 

I love white and gold together, especially when there is a lot of shimmer and texture!  I hope you like this project and that you hop on over to Bah! Humbug! to see more beautiful projects and join in the fun.  Christmas is not far away!

Thanks for stopping by today! I appreciate you!

Cute Little Halloween Witch

I'm a bit behind with Halloween cards this year, but when I saw this little witch over at Mo's Digital Pencil Too I just had to get moving on a card.  Not only is the witch spooktacular, but that poor little cat hanging on for dear life is so funny.  In just a couple of weeks the ghosts and goblins will be winging their way through the neighborhoods looking for tricks or treats.  If they are all as cute as this one Halloween just might not be so scary.

The little witch is colored with copics and mounted on a card made with scraps of Halloween dp from last year (I never through anything away!)  The tree and skeleton were cut with my Cricut using the Paper Doll Cut Out cartridge.  The border along the bottom is Martha Stewart wrought iron punch.

Thank you for stopping by today!  I sure appreciate it!

Bah! Humbug! Challenge --- "Cuties" Using Sketch from "I {heart} 2 Stamp"

It has been difficult to leave the television today, watching as, one by one, the Chilean miners are returned to the surface and their families after being trapped for 69 days far underground.  What a joyful day for them and for the world --- we need such good news during these times.

As for good news, the most joyful season is quickly approaching so the card I made today is one of many I hope to send out to extend Christmas greetings.  The Bah! Humbug! Challenge this week was to make a project with our favorite "cutie" image. There are so many cuties in my stash, but this was a new one that I was eager to color.  The paper is some I've had for a couple of years, but didn't use much because of the pink and black. This image and this paper turned out to be a really fun pairing!  The sketch from I {heart} 2 Stamp lent itself well to the tall form of the image, so I am also putting this card in Jen's challenge this week.

Mo Manning's "Dani with Gifts" looks pretty in pink! I used Copics to color and stickles to sparkle.  The DCWV Christmas Stack dp also has glitter.  Simply topped off with satin flowers from Olfay in Michael's bridal department, and a bow with tinsel-trimmed organza ribbon.

I hope that big gold gift is for me! 

Thank you for stopping by today!  Now I just have to get back to the rescue in Chile.  Every time that capsule rises to the top I say a prayer of thanks for another miracle.   

Whiff of Joy Challenge #89 --- Jane's Sketch

Whiff of Joy has been one of my favorite challenges for a couple of years now.  And when I see one of Jane's sketches in the challenges I just can't wait to get busy!  Jane has a way of making a layout that produces a card full of interest and fun.  So, here is my interpretation of her latest sketch:

I've had this image colored for quite some time just waiting for the right sketch and papers.  Well, all things came together with the scrapbook kit from Colorbox.  I have a bad habit of coloring images without papers in mind but I don't often have too much trouble matching them up. This one sat for awhile and I am so glad to bring it out now.  The "Sweet Memories" sentiment says it all about this image, a sister reading to her little brother, cherished moments for so many.

The image is colored with Copics and I added a vintage Prima flower, a lace band cut from MS border punch, and some swirls of rhinestones.

Rather than post Jane's sketch here, I encourage you to hop over to Whiff of Joy Challenges and see it and all the inpiring projects for yourself.  But first, let me thank you for stopping by and any comments you leave are appreciated and welcomed.

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #52 --- It's a 1st Anniversary Hop!

Ask me how much I LOVE Mo Mannings Digital Pencil!! Well, today I have an extra special reason ---

I won the drawing for last week's challenge!!  Woo Hoo! 

And since I just had a birthday this week this was a surprise present and I got to select it myself!  For my free image I chose "Diva" and can't wait to get her colored.  Thanks, Mo!

This is also a big birthday for Mo's DP2.  They are celebrating their first anniversary of the challenge blog!  Congrats to Mo and her team.  You really have to go check out the challenge blog here and hop along.  The theme is all colors of the rainbow and each team member made a project using a single color.  They are amazing!  But before you hop over there, please take a look at my card for the challenge:

 My favorite color is blue, all shades and tones of blue.  I especially love the aqua and torquoise shades.  Purple isn't one of my favorite colors, but it does complement the aqua quite well.  This card is for my good friend's birthday.  She just turned 50 (but looks 30) and she likes bright colors.  The paper is DCWV Pocket Full of Posies collection, accented with hot pink. The gorgeous flowers are Prima.

This image of Bella was irresistable, especially with the big question mark candle on the cake.  I colored her with Copics. 

The sentiment on the inside carries on the teasing we've been giving her about turning 50.  Although, since I just had a birthday, and I am older than she, I won't rub it in too much :-). The border on the light blue paper is from the Martha Stewart punch around set --- I just can't get enough of these!

Thank you for stopping by today.  Your comments are not only welcomed but appreciated.  Ok, now, don't forget to hop along with the DP2 Design Team!  Start here.

Fresh Brewed Designs New Releases

It's early October and that means new releases from Fresh Brewed Designs!  This pumpkin is one of my favorites!  To see more be sure to visit FBD Challenge blog and go shopping at FBD Store.

For my card I used the image "The Great Pumpkin", colored with Copics.  This simple card is embellished with a beautiful pumpkin ribbon, some maple leaf brads, and a sticker sentiment.  I love this image and can think of many more projects to use it for. 

How lovely autumn is, and how quickly leaves change colors turn then fall.  But the fun doesn't stop there: walking down the road with the crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet; gathering around bonfires of dried leaves; the smell of fireplaces on chilly nights; then waiting for that first flurry of snow.  This is the time of year that I missed during the 30 years in Arizona, so I get really jazzed with it all!

Thank you for stopping by today.  Now hurry on over to FBD Challenge for more inspiration.

     

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #51 -- Altered Items

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge this week is "Altered Items".  I'm so hooked on doing cards that thinking of an altered item using Mo's fabulous digital art was difficult.  However, I had purchased several composition books to "alter" for back-to-school gifts.  With the holidays coming up and all the shopping, baking, and card lists that come with this time of year I knew I would be making lots of plans.  So, here is my "Christmas Shopping and To Do List" all in one book.  Mo's Santa "And What Do You Want?" image is perfect! I love the little boy with the long list and Santa's somewhat concerned expression. 

The front is covered with some fun dp.  The label at the top is computer-generated with graphics on Print Shop Pro Publisher.  The ribbon for the spine is some very fun fur-trimmed velveteen.  The image is colored with Copics, cut out with Nesties label, mounted on a matching label of gold metallic.  I love buttons for dimension so I added a few on the image.

Now, I hope there will be enough pages for all the lists, ideas and planning! 

Here is a close up of the image.  Very fun to color!

The back is covered with coordinating dp.  I think I will do more of these!  They are very simple.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope this first week of October is bringing you cooler weather and beautiful fall colors.  Be sure to hop over to Digital Pencil Challenge for lots of inspiring altered items.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge --- Across the Miles

It's no secret that I soooo love the ladies at Bah! Humbug! --- the Trio of Tinsel! Max, Irene and Ann always bring grins and giggles in their challenge posts along with terrific ideas for cards.  They've kept me on track with Christmas cards all year and as we get closer to the holidays I'm going to have to double down to make my goal.  So, if you don't know these ladies get on over to Bah! Humbug! and get acquainted!  Then, get busy!

I've been AWOL the past couple of weeks but I have a card for this week's theme, Across the Miles, that I can only take credit for being pretty good at cutting and pasting.  This is just one of eight beautiful Trinitage pop-up card designs by the uber-talented Jak Heath.  They can be found at Imag-e-nation, which has a bazillion other goodies!  I actually ordered the downloadable versions (I'm all about instant gratification) and printed them on semi-gloss photo paper.  On one sheet are all the pieces for the 3D on the outside of the card and the pop-up on the inside.  There is also a sheet with instructions for assembly.

This is the front and you can get a peek at the pop-up inside.

The inside reveals a beautiful scene of the Christmas train about to leave the station.  Maybe the travelers are headed to Grandma's house, or maybe a country cottage for a big family get-together.  Each layer is supported by a square tube and the instruction sheet has the template for making these.  I did find that the card stock I used for the tubes was too heavy, but plain paper is too light weight.  So I'll be trying something in between for the next ones. 

This is a closer view of the festive scene.  I love the artwork!

The 3D piece on the outside is a lovely invitation to open the card for the surprise inside. 

Now, there are seven more beautiful holiday scenes like this one.  But you will just have to go to Imag-e-nation and take a look!  And don't forget to hop over to Bah! Humbug! for more inspiration and fun!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you are having a great weekend!

Back In the Studio with a Card for a Guy

Oh my gosh! I didn't realize how long it has been since I posted anything! September flew by so fast I could almost swear I was in a coma for part of it! But today I have a guy card that I was asked to make. I am actually finding guy cards easier to do. The secret for me is to keep it simple and use lots of texture.  It also helped that the sentiment was given to me by the person commissioning the card.

I was inspired by a sketch from i {heart} 2 stamp.  It works so well for a masculine card.  The dark blue paper was run through the Cuttlebug with the argyle embossing folder.  The dark grey paper is a scrap of Bazzill textured card stock and the silver metallic has a nice linen-like texture.  The argyle ribbon is one of my favorites from the $1.00 bin at Michaels.  The flower is from the Paper Studio Spare Parts collection.  The sentiment pieces were computer generated. 

I like this card so much that I'm sure the sketch will be used again and again! 

Thanks for coming back and having a look after all this time!  I actually made another card today which I will post later.  It will be worth another visit and I know you'll want to try this fun project! 

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #34---Christmas Carol

Ah, Bah! Humbug! girls! Now we're gettin' down to some serious Christmas business --- the CAROLS!!  I love the Christmas music sooooo much!!  Let's see, today is September 8.  Is it too soon to start playing carols?  I don't think so!  One of the largest playlists on my iPod is holiday tunes!

Anywho.... this Mo Manning image of the children's choir is just so cute for this challenge.  They are all so adorable with their little mouths in perfect Os.  My guess is that they are singing "O Christmas Tree".  Since that is the sheet music I placed behind them, that would be a pretty good guess! ;-)

These little cherubs are colored with Copics and I sparkled it up with gold Spica on the star and silver Spica on the music books.  The gold ribbon is from my stash and the music embossing on the red card stock base is Cuttlebug.

The Season of Peace will soon be here, though I know we all pray for peace each and every day. 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to hop over to Bah! Humbug!  Anne, Ann, Irene, and Max will have you jingling bells and roasting chestnuts!

Fresh Brewed Designs September Blog Hop --- Shades of Brown and New Releases

Good Morning! **YAWN STRETCH** Can you believe our month off has gone by already and we are well into September? School is already started for most of the little ones. Moms are all busy and getting up early, always on the go. We know how you are feeling. TRUST US! We know! This blog hop / image release was created with you in mind.

Ready for a hint? Here is a little poem for you:

Coffee and spice, Lattes are nice

That's what this girl's made of!

HEHEHE!!!

You guessed it, we have some fun coffee images to share with you. LOTS of caffeinated fun... just the boost you need for the mid-week slump. You will find some relaxing images, some sassy "woohoo the kids are gone" (lol) images... but most of all you will find these images are perfect images for someone you love. They are centered around love and romance with a dash of sass. Intrigued?

Wait no longer, here is the card I created using two of the new images:

I used some paper piecing and Copics coloring for each image.  Coloring the coffee and chocolate candies late at night had me craving both!  I settled for Yoplait Chocolate Whip yogurt...... yum! 

I love this image and both "cups" have coffee in them.  But when I use this image for a lovey-dovey card for my honey I will have to put hot chocolate in his cup.  Can you believe he doesn't like coffee??!!!  Well, I love him anyway and he does grant my every coffee-whim, including driving into town to get me a Starbuck's -- extra hot so I don't have to microwave it when he gets home.

These chocolate bon-bons are the best accompianment for coffee, don't you think?  Hmm, caramel filled, nougat, chocolate creme... or my favorite chocolate covered cherries!  What a time to have only M&M Pretzels in the house!

Now, on to the hop!  Be sure to complete the hop in full! The DT has created some lovely cards you will not want to miss! AND one lucky winner will receive two free images of choice just for hopping!

Start with our fearless leader and creator of these high octane caffeinated images.........

Heather
Jeanette
Jenn
Kelly
Barb (me!)
Scrappy (Guest)
Rhonda
After you hop, be sure to stop by the Freshly Brewed Challenges blog to check out the newest challenge!
 

Digital Pencil Challenge and Copic Certified!!

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend with some fun end-of-summer activities!  Now, bring on the cool days and fall colors!

First, I am so excited to say that I am finally Copic Certified!! Woo! Hoo!  After missing two other classes in Kansas City and Des Moines, I was thrilled when I saw the Branson class scheduled.  It was a small class of 17 fun and talented ladies.  Lori Craig was our facilitator and showed us some terrific techniques.  She did a great job and I have never had a 9:00-4:00 class go by so fast!

Now, on to my card for this week's Digital Pencil Challenge, which is shades of brown and aged/antiqued.  I chose the adorable Punkin and put him in 3D with 4 layers.  Of course, he is colored with Copics.  I pulled out my box of Autumn papers and embellies, which I'm sure I'll be using quite a bit during the next few weeks.  The leaves are from silk stems I recently purchased at Michaels. 

Here's a close-up of Punkin............. 

This close-up side view shows the layers........

I did color all the layers for depth from all angles.  It takes some time but I love the effect.

Thank you for stopping by today!  Be sure to hop over to Digital Pencil Challenge for inspiration from the uber-talented design team.

Cards for 4-year old and New Baby Girl; I {Heart} to Stamp Sketch

My stepson has an adorable little boy who just turned four years old ...... AND he became the proud father of a baby girl on 8-9-10!  He is one happy man!  I am running late with cards for them (they live in Pennsylvania) but they are sweet enough to understand.

This is the birthday card for the four-year old.  He loves cars and trucks so this image from Mo Manning was perfect.  Leland isn't a red head, but I had already colored this, and the dp looks great with it.  The image is colored with Copics and the gold racing stripe is covered with Spica gold gel pen.  The rest of the car is covered with Spica clear.  Gotta jazz up the little hot rods!  I am also entering this in the "I Heart 2 Stamp" sketch challenge this week. 

I found these cute little smilie faces in my sticker drawer (yet to be organized) and love the way they look on the circles.  Along with the card Leland will be getting some books (he loves to "read" and just started pre-school.)  One of the books is all about BIG trucks like his "Pop pop" drives.

I don't have many chances to make cards for new arrivals so I couldn't wait to use this Mo Manning digital image to welcome Sydney.  I especially love that I get to make a PINK card.  The baby is colored with Copics and mounted on Nesties labels cut from Bazzill cs.  The card base is Bazzill cs with the Martha Stewart butterfly border embossing punch.  The punch is repeated on the inside with the darker pink as a border on the right side.  These gorgeous butterfly stickers are from Michael's Recollections collections.  It is so hard for me to keep a card simple, but this one comes close.

 Along with this card Sydney is getting a package full of pink one-sies, pants, little bitty socks and a bright pink jumper outfit.  Once I ger out of the "joy of pink" mood, she'll get more of a variety, like denim with little pink hearts on the pockets.  :-)

To my friends on the east coast, especially North Carolina, please keep safe as the hurricane roars by.  One of my favorite places is the Outer Banks, expecially the Hatteras Light House.  My prayers are for the safety of everyone out there.  My husband is headed to New Jersey and Virginia, so I keep praying they can clear the area before the weather gets bad.  Interestingly, this hurricane bears the same name as my dear Uncle Earl, who is the kindest hearted person you would ever meet.  In 1999 hurricane Floyd was notorious for damage along the southeastern Atlantic coast.  My dad's name was Floyd and, like his brother Earl, dad was kind and gentle, though a bit mischievous at times, I hear.  Let's hope this hurricane Earl has a quick change of heart and runs out to sea without doing damage. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Bah! Humbug! Challenge --- Charms

Can you believe Christmas is less than 4 months away?  More to the point, Thanksgiving is less than 3 months away --- that's about the time that many folks start sending out Christmas cards and decorating for the festivities of the season.  Soooo, time to get really serious about reaching my goal of 100 Christmas cards.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge has been stoking those holiday fires all year long and this week the theme is charms.  I love using charms on cards, but when I started this card my drawer of charms has everything BUT holiday bling.  I did find these pretty little silver snowflake charms, though, and found just the spot on the card.  As luck would have it, the snowflake on the dp just happened to be directly over the Eskimo-kissing cuties, so I hung the charm there, sort of like mistletoe. 

The Eskimo couple are from Mo Manning Digital Pencil and colored with Copics. Aren't they just adorable? They are sitting on a background of shimmery cardstock embossed with swirls in the Cuttlebug.  The white beaded flowers are from the Michaels bridal department, and the rhinestone swirls and ribbon are from my stash.  I haven't decided on a sentiment yet.... depends on who I send this too.

They look so snuggly in their furry parkas!

Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to visit Bah! Humbug! if you haven't already.  The DT's projects are gorgeous!  Very inspiring!