Hang in There

I'm sharing a card I made for my brother.  Those of you that follow my crafty blog know he is going through cancer treatment.  As with any treatment, it has it's ups and downs.  He is getting closer to the finish line, but it's still a daily struggle.  I'm sending this card to him just to let him know, I'm thinking of him.

For some reason this image seem to suit.  Just looking for something happy and postive.  We climbed a few dozen or more trees in our lifetime.  A friend down the street had a treehouse with a rope to climb.

I kept it very simple and the color choices are from the current MFT Color Palette Challenge, which I thought were cheerful colors.  The image is MFT Tree Swing and the little dog watching is too cute.  I fussy cut the overalls, tree leaves and the dog, to bring some depth to the card.  Of course I used my water colorpencils and regular colorpencils.  I even made sure to put shading on the overalls.

MFT is one of my favorite companies.  I used to play in the sketch challenge, but life has gotten in the way lately.

Here's the inside.  I'm sure I'll write some encouraging words and let him know his little sister still loves him...lol.  

thanks for looking and reading :o)

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
MFT - Color Palette Monthly Challenge
Challenges 4 Everybody - #38 Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - #55 Kiss (Keep it Sweet & Simple)
Cute Card Thursday - #308 Clever Cutting (fussing cutting and die-cuts)
Simon Says - Kraft Paper
The Stamping Chef - #16 Anything Goes


stamp used: MFT Tree Swing
paper used: MFT Blu Raspberry, Yellow from MFT sample pack, Chocolate Lovers Kraft paper
die-cuts used: MFT Oval Stax 1 & 2, MFT Fishtail Flag Stax

Male Room Valentine Challenge

I'm excited to announce this is the first post for a new design team I'm on, The Male Room.  It's a perfect fit since I'm surrounded by boys and the challenges here are for manly creations.  It's a bi-weekly challenge blog and for the next 2 weeks we want to see manly Valentine creations.  It's also weird because we don't celebrate the Hallmark holiday of Valentine's in this house, but I love to make cards and things for the kids or friends that ask for a special card for their love ones.

I went for a simple design, nothing too over the top.  The image is from the Unity's stamp set Love Leads the Way.  The heart dp was a homemade paper I found and it's the last piece of scrap I have of it :o(  It had the hearts on the front and the deep red on the back (which was used for the sentiment).  Watercolor pencils and regular pencils were used to color in the image.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

Hope to see you in our manly Valentine challenge.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

stamp used: Unity - Love Leads the Way

paper used: SU black & red, scraps

die-cut used: MFT Oval Stax 1 & 2

Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog #23 - Who Love Ya Baby!!

Welcome to another challenge at Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog.  It's February, the month for love (so they tell us) and that's the challenge.  Create a project with the word LOVE on it.  

We have two sponsors for this challenge.  So, that means we will have two winners!   

A Day for Daisies winner will receive a $12 gift certificate (equal to 3 images of choice). 

The winner for QKR will receive 5 images.

Here's my card for this challenge:

I got to play with the image In Love from QKR.  She can't help she's all that and then some.  I colored the image with my water colors and regular color pencils.  I even got the LOVE sentiment from QKR.  It's a patchwork sentiment, but I thought it was perfect for this image and challenge.  Hand drew some lines around the card and put a couple of die-cut hearts to add some finishing touches. 

Here's a close up and this lovable gal.  She even did her nails for the occasion.

For the inside of this card I kept it simple. Repeat the front and added a simple sentiment.
Hope to see your creation in the Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog

thanks for looking and reading :o)

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks - #170 AG
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 244 Love is in the Air
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - #99 Sharing the Love
Cards in Envy - Love is in the Air
Craftin Desert Divas - Linky Party #24 Pink, White and Red
Open-Minded Crafting - #3 Show Some Love

The Pink Elephant Challenge - #236 Inspiration Challenge (heart pic below)

stamps used: QKR In Love and LOVE, MFT Homespun Hearts
paper used: SU grey, MFT smooth white and red
die-cuts used: MFT oval Stax 1 & 2, MFT Designer Label Stax Set 2, MFT Heart Stax
embellishments used: Martha Stewart ribbon

Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog #22 - Tag Your It!

It's time for another challenge at Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog.  This time we want to see a tag in your project or just make a tag.  Remember you must use a stamp/digital image or sentiment.  This challenge we are being sponsored by Your Next Stamp.  The winner of this challenge will receive a stamp set from Your Next Stamp.  

 I decided to do a tag for this challenge.  Really fell in love with this I Ruff You image.  Having boys, I thought this image just worked.  I could give it to them or one of their friends on a gift.  

I colored the image with my handy dandy water and regular colorpencils.  Fussy cut the image out to paste on some die-cuts.  It was that easy! :o)   Simple and fun!

Since the images were stamped for us on white cardstock.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks to dye the sentiment tag.  (Thought the white stuck out too much.)  

thanks for looking and reading :o)   hope to see you in our challenge!!

I would like to enter this tag in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - #98 Use any sentiment

Challenges 4 Everybody - #37 Anything Goes

Creative Knockouts - #20 Tag, You're It

Little Miss Muffet Challenges - #77 Fussy Cutting

The Stamping Chef - #12 Anything Goes

stamps used: Your Next Stamp - I Ruff You

paper used: all from scraps

die-cuts used: MFT Traditional Tags Stax, MFT Notebook Edge, MFT Fresh Cut Grass, MFT Cloud Trio, MFT Mix & Match Banners

embellishments used: Recollections Brads, Really Reasonable Ribbon Twine

Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog #21 - Anything Goes

Happy New Year!!  So glad in starting a new year.  At Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog we are having our first challenge for the new year....it's a favorite....Anything Goes.  Remember, you still have to have a stamped and/or digital image or sentiment on your project.  This year we will pretty much have TWO sponsors per challenge.  That means two winners per challenge.  How awesome is that!!!

We are being sponsored by Technique Junkies and The Paper Nest Dolls for this challenge.  

Technique Junkies winner will receive a Specialty CD.

The Paper Nest Dolls winner will receive a $25 gift certificate for their online store (good for digital and rubber stamps).  

I decided to decorate this burlap envelope I found at Hobby Lobby for this Anything Goes challenge.  Using the digi Winter Mail Ellie image from The Paper Nest Dolls collection, I thought it would be perfect for this envelope.  Die-cuts, lace, Stickles, paint, and couple hours later, this envelope turned out pretty cute (at least I think so).

Using MFT First Class Friend stamp and die-cut set to finish the envelope look of my project, by creating a stamp and postmark (they no longer sell the set together, looks like just the die-cut is still available).

Since Ellie had a heart on her envelope she was mailing, I decided to put a heart on mine too.

Here it is stuffed with some goodness.

Please join us at Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog with your cute creation.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

I would like to enter this creation in the following challenges:
2 Creative Chicks - #10 Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody - #37 Anything Goes
Craftin Desert Diva's - Linky Party #22 Winter
Creative Knockouts - #18 All That Glitter
Cuttin and Stampin Challenges - #52 Anything Goes Using Something New (burlap envelope)
Flat Friends Challenge - #16 Anything Goes 
Little Scrap Pieces - Fun Friday Linky Party (AG)
One Stitch At A Time - #194 Anything Goes
Parade Your Crafts - #11 Christmas/Winter (winter scene, lots of snow)
Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog - #193 "Use a Digi!"
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Blog - #10 Anything Goes
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - Anything Goes
Your Next Stamp - #8 New Sketch and Inspiational Photo (photo)

stamps used: The Paper Nest Dolls-digi image Winter Mail Ellie, MFT-First Class Friend Stamp & Die-Cut set, MFT-PI Plane Amazing (sentiment)
paper used: MFT-Smooth White, Red, Pink from scraps
die-cuts used: MFT-Mini Album Bracket Stax, MFT-Framing Flourishes, MFT-Ticket, MFT-First Class Friend, SU-Scallop Heart
embellishments used: Stickles-Pink, Crystals, Liquid Pearl, White Puffy paint, Really Reasonable Ribbon-lace

Christmas Bags

It's Friday!!!  This is the last Christmas project I will share this year and it's for Unity's Friends with Flair.  I needed a couple of bags to put money and a gift card inside.  This is what I did.

Using some canvas bags I had, I stamped the image with Staz On (hopefully the image will last).  The image is from Unity's stamp set Christmas Wishes.

Some bling and ribbon was needed to jazz it up a bit.  I thought about sewing the ribbon on, but it was easier to glue it on the bag.  Make sure you put a thick cardstock or cardboard between, even when you stamp the image.  I had to Stickle the heart for a little bling.

Here's another bag I made using the same stamp set.

This was the first bag I made.  I learned that you need to press and let the stamp set for a few for a darker image.  Again, ribbon and twine was used on the bottom.

This time I used Liquid Pearls for the star.  These were very easy to make.  Hope everyone had a great Christmas and thank goodness a new year is on it's way!!  

thanks for looking and reading :o)

I like to enter in the following challenges:

Unity - Friends with Flair

Creative Knockouts - #17 Anything Goes

One Stitch At A Time - #194 Anything Goes

Ribbon Carousel - RCC88 Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant - TPE231 Anything Goes

stamps used: Unity - Christmas Wishes

embellishments used: Recollections Rhinestones, Stickles pink, Ranger Liquid Pearls, Ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon, MFT twine, Michaels

Sending Peace & Comfort

We had two fallen angels in my family within a day and half of each other.  It seems like every year I do more sympathy cards than I really want to and too close to the holidays.  Sometimes I think sympathy cards are the prettiest though.

Here's my card for my Great Aunt that I was named after.

I used the sketch from cardabilities.  The image Flower Angel is a digi from Eureka, it also comes in rubber.  I choose this image because my great aunt did sing gospel music and played the piano and organ.  She had a voice of an angel.  

Here's a close-up.  I colored with water colorpencils and regular colorpencils.  Put Stickles on the dots, to give the angel some sparkle.

Inside I left blank to leave my Uncle and cousins some love.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

stamps used:  Eureka - Flower Angel & Praying for You (inside sentiment), Unity - Heartfelt Sympathy

paper used: Bazzill, MME-market, Paper Studio-Paisley Blue Tonal

die-cut used: MFT-Mix & Match Banner

embellishments used: Stickles, Recollections cross brads

Love to Scrap! Challenge #20 - How Sketchy is That!

Well, this year is almost over, thank goodness!!  Before it ends though, we have one more challenge at Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog.  It's one of my favorites, a sketch challenge.  We are being sponsored by Eureka Stamps, the winner will receive 5 images of choice.  How awesome is that!

Here is the sketch for this challenge.  The sketch is provided by Starry Nights Studio Sketch 6.

Here's my take using Dragon Blowing Candles image.

I don't think he is going to get his wish that way.  The image was colored by water colorpencils and regular colorpencils.  The image was fussy cut out.  The orange ribbon was used to pop some extra color.  

He really is a cute dragon!

Here's the inside, using a Stampin' Up sentiment.  

Hope to see you in the challenge!  

thanks for looking and reading :o)

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - #172 Food & Drink (birthday cake)

Crafty Ribbon Challenge - #73 Anything Goes w/ Ribbon

The Stamping Chef - #9 Anything Goes

Little Scrap Pieces - Fun Friday Linky Party (any card, project, or layout)

Ribbon Carousel - RCC88 Anything Goes

stamps used: Eureka - Dragon Blowing Candles, Stampin' Up - For A Friend

paper used: Bazzill - Vibrant Blue, MFT Sample Pack (green color), Heidi Swapp dp

die-cut used: MFT Hexagon Stax

embellishments used: Really Reasonable Ribbon, Making Memories-square brads, Making Memories-metal birthday sentiment

Stuffed with Joy

Today is Friday!!!  I'm sharing my second design for my Christmas cards this year.  Since I used Unity stamp set for my creation, I'm entering the Friends with Flair today only at Unity.  I tried to keep it simple this year  with my cards.  I didn't want to overwhelm myself.

I used the Unity stamp set Stuffed with Joy Stockings.  Sponged the edges on the image and added ribbon to the bottom.  Just a little brad on the top of the sentiment.

Try to keep it the same for the inside.  The  inside sentiment is from Stampin' Up.  

I made 10 sage colored ones and 10 red ones.   Simple and easy!

thanks for looking and reading :o)

I would like to enter in the following challenges:

Unity - Friends with Flair

The Pink Elephant Challenge - TPE228 Winter

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

stamps used: Unity Stuffed with Joy Stockings, SU Four the Holidays

paper used: SU Basic Brown, Red & Sage Shadow

die-cuts used: MFT Designer Label Stax Set 2, MFT Fishtail Flag Stax

embellishments used: Ribbon Michaels, Recollections brads

Sending a Little Christmas

I almost didn't make my Christmas cards this year, but I felt I would be letting some people down if I didn't.  A couple of my friends and family members say they look forward to see what I create each year.  That just makes you smile and want to create.  I didn't do what I have done in the past with my cards.  Instead of creating 5 different designs of cards and making 10 of each.  This year I made 2 designs and made 20 of each.  Yes, I even cut some from my list :o(  I figured if I haven't received a card in the past 3 years from them, then I not making any more cards for them (family is excluding from this clause).  

Here's one of my designs for this year.  Sorry it has been dark and gloomy here, so the pics are dark and off color to me.  

I kept the design pretty simple so I could get them done pretty fast.  The coloring takes the most time.

I used MFT Pure Innocence Sending You a Little Christmas stamp.  

 The paper is Stampin' Up, except for the white which is MFT.  I'm trying to use up some old paper and I did.  The ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

The inside sentiment is from the same MFT stamp set.

thanks for looking and reading :o)

I like to enter the following challenges:

Come and Get It Challenges - Christmas and Blog Hop

Crafty Ribbon Challenge - #73 Spots or Stripes

Created with Love Challenges - #69 Christmas

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Ribbon Carousel - RCC88 Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant Challenge - TPE228 Winter

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Christmas Using Traditional Colors

stamps used: MFT PI Sending You a Little Christmas (discontinued)

paper used: SU Old Olive, red and dp

die-cuts used: MFT Oval Stax 1 & 2

embellishments: Really Reasonable Ribbon, Recollections brads, white shiny paint