Bag N’ Tag

Hi there 🙂 I’m here with my second inspiration post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Facebook challenge for March. Our theme this month is Easter or Floral. The DT got thrown an extra challenge this week, and that’s to use both our favorite and least favorite colors. Red is my all time favorite, and peach …. makes me nauseous, lol. Oh well…a challenge is a challenge! I used Blue Poppies for my project. Since I’m getting seriously overloaded with cards, I decided to make a bag and tag set. I used the full image for the tag, and enlarged and cropped some of the poppies for my bag.

After coloring everything with my Copics, I dragged out a Tim Holtz stencil. I used distress inks to make a background on the tag, and a combination of distress inks and Versamark ink and embossing powders on the bag. To finish off, I tied the tag to the bag with some crinkle ribbon from DL Art.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

A Gem of a Challenge – Challenge #6 ATG

DL Art – March ATG Linky Challenge

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – #153 ATG

Your Scrapbook Place – March ATG Challenge

Crafts Galore Encore – Challenge #85 ATG

Timeless Friends

Hi there 🙂 I was delighted to be invited to be a Guest Designer over at Incy Wincy Designs. Their theme this time is Vintage or Steampunk…among my favorite themes!! The generous sponsor is The Paper Shelter, offering 3 images to the lucky winner. I used So Chic, and went with the vintage theme. I colored her up with my Copics, following the color palette of my papers.

After fussy cutting the image out, I glued it onto a piece of black CS that I’d lightly stamped a script pattern onto with some gold ink. The rest of the papers i used came from a paper pad called Steampunk Botanica. I distressed all the layers, before assembling the card. For the middle band, l placed a black die cut border over a piece of vintage lace. The lace piece is actually the edging off of a very old pillowcase!

After I finished assembling everything, I added a fluffy bow, tied with the fabulous crinkle ribbon from DL Art, and a bouquet of die cut flowers and feathers. Vintage works need pearls somewhere, so I added some to the flower centres and around the image to finish off. I’d like to thank Karen and the team at Incy Wincy for inviting me to join them, and hope to see you join us for this challenge!

I’d like to enter this in the following:

The Paper Shelter Blog Challenge – #460 Digital Image

Crafty Creations – #419 March ATG

Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge – ATG

Classic Design Challenge – #3 March ATG

CCC Digi Creations – #123 Use Lace, Ribbon, and/or Flowers

Easter Friends

Hi there 🙂 Today I’m sharing my first inspiration project for the current challenge at the Ching-Chou Kuik Facebook group. Our theme this month is Easter/Floral. So springy!! I used Hello Spring for this Easter card, and colored the image with my Copics.

I found a card layout on Pinterest, and used various prints from a DCWV paper pad. I matted everything with white CS, then added an inlaid die cut sentiment. To finish off, I arranged some flowers with die cut greenery, and added some white enamel dots.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Cute Card Thursday – #676 ATG

A Gem of a Challenge – #5 ATG

Penny’s Papercrafty Challenge – #491 ATG

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge – March ATG with Patterned Paper

Aud Sentiments Challenge – #269 Spring + a Sentiment

Sweet Racoon

Hi there 🙂 It’s hard to believe that the first week of March is almost past already!!! Time for a brand new ATG challenge over at Creative Fingers!! We are lucky to have Maria Medel Illustrations as our sponsor this time, and she has generously provided the DT with images to make our inspiration pieces. I used the cute Racoon image to make a gift card holder to thank someone special. I colored him up with my Copics, then cut him out with a stitched rectangle die. I folded some gray CS to form the base of the holder, then chose some plaid paper for a background. I added a stamped and die cut sentiment, then arranged the front with a white mat. For the inside, I die cut and folded over the gift card “pocket”, then glued it in place. I used the same plaid paper, and die cut a window into it before layering it over some white CS. This coordinates with the white matting on the front, as well as leaving a space to write a personal message.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge – March ATG with Patterned Paper

The Crafter’s Cafe – #261 March ATG

Lemon Shortbread Challenge – #140 ATG

Cute Card Thursday – #676 ATG

Crafty Catz – #541 ATG with option of Dies/Punches

Dahlia Get Well

Hi there 🙂 It’s been feeling so spring-y around here, that I really felt like getting flowery!! When I feel flowery, the first thing I think of is Power Poppy!! This gorgeous, supersize Dahlia digital stamp was just perfect for my mood!! I colored it up with my Copics, then cut it out.

Dahlias come in so many beautiful colors, but one of my favorites is the yellow and pink combo which I used for the inspiration for this. I wanted to keep the card style simple, and decided to go for a CAS one layer card, with only a simple die cut and a few sequins to accent the bright bloom. A stamped “get well” sentiment was the perfect greeting to go with this cheerful blossom 🙂

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Less Is More – #437 – One Layer Card – Flowers

Dream Valley Challenges – #242 Hand Coloured Image

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies – #2109 ATG

Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge – #491 ATG

Cute Card Thursday – #676 ATG

2021 Calendar

Hi there 🙂 For the last 4 years, I’ve been making a wall calendar out of Aurora Wings images. The first year was a killer, as I was trying to get the calendar made at the same time as I was doing all my Christmas cards, baking and everything else associated with the holidays. Since that one, I’ve been doing them from Februrary – January of the following year. Waaay better, and easier on me 🙂 This year, I chose to use the images found in 2 of Mitzi’s PDF coloring books. I used the Wings Collection images, the books are in Volume 1 and Volume 2 ( here and here on Etsy), and my calendar included all the images from both sets. The images are also available individually, links will be under the images. I colored all the images up with my Copics, loosely basing the color scheme with the birthstone of each month.

After coloring all the images, I cut them out with a pretty die. This was glued on to a piece of gray CS, that I’d cut the edges with edging scissors (!!!!), and detailed with white Posca pen. Since it’s important to keep embellishments flat, and at a minimum, for wall calendars – because extra weight and/or bulk causes it to hang funny or tear when it’s on the wall – I added some simple die cut designs. Some gems that correspond with the birthstones were added to the centres of the die cuts. This was all attached to a calendar page with the month printed on it. The back sides of each sheet has the monthly grid for the previous month, which I added holidays and moon cycles to. I used some rings to bind all the calendar pages together. Now, I get to enjoy Mitzi’s beautiful images throughout the year and into next 🙂

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Classic Design Challenge – #3 March ATG

Crafts Galore Encore – #25 March ATG

A Perfect Time to Craft – #3 March ATG

Allsorts Challenge – Week 613 Feminine

Creative Knockouts – #390 ATG

Polkadoodles Craft Challenge – Week 9 ATG

Dream Valley Challenge – #242 Hand Colored Image

Simon Wednesday Challenge – ATG

What “Wood” I Do?

Hi there 🙂 I’m here with my last inspiration card for the “Love” challenge at the Ching-Chou Kuik Facebook group. I used the image Awaken, for my card. I colored her up with my Copics, to look like a marionette, with woodgrain features.

I chose some coordinating background paper, then framed the image with a sentiment frame that I had the very devil of a time lining up on my computer!! lol I die cut a few flowers to place on a ribbon strip, and tucked some floss strings from behind them. To finish off, I matted everything up, and added some Nuvo drops to the heart parts of the sentiment.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

CCC Digi Creations – #122 Valentine’s Day/Love

Createful Heart Designs Challenge – #29 ATG

Crafty Gals Corner – #216 Add a Heart

Paperbabe Stamps – #138 ATG

Little Patch of Crafty Friends – #152 ATG

Distinguished Gentleman

Hi there 🙂 We have a new challenge over at Creative Fingers 🙂 Our theme is always ATG, so you can let your inspiration run wild! This time, we are sponsored by the lovely Angelique, who is offering this stunning stamp set as a prize.

I’m a little bit sparse on my masculine birthday cards in my stash, and it’s been ages since I’ve used a KennyK image, so combined the 2 to make this card 🙂 It’s so sad that KennyK no longer has a shop, but luckily, I stocked up before he closed down!! I colored it with my Copics, having a bit of fun with the subtle print in his smoking jacket.

I used this sketch, from Cheerful Sketches as the guide for my layout.

A few years ago, I picked up the background paper, with this image in mind…..took me long enough to get around to making up a card, huh? I didn’t realize that it was 2 sided paper, and the back side was book spines!! I cut one of these spines out as the vertical element of the layout. An old book page seemed to fit in with the theme nicely, so after tearing the edges, I lightly inked it. The sentiment is printed on my computer. Some rich red matting finished the card off.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Cheerful Sketches Challenge Blog – February Sketch, shown above

Creative Knockouts – #389 Lots of Layers

Aud Sentiments – #268 ATG with a Sentiment

Penny’s Papercrafty Challenge – #490 ATG

Classic Design Challenge – #2 February ATG

Love Birds

Hello there 🙂 For years, I wasn’t a ‘bird’ person, but after working at a pet store for awhile, I got to know about them better, and fell in love. I even ended up rescuing 4 budgies, of which I still have 2. I really enjoy using bird images on my cards, and how sweet are these Love Birds, from Lee Holland?!?! I colored them up with my Copics, then fussy cut them out. I had a completely different idea for this card, but tackled sorting out my mess of dies, and found this pretty wreath one in the mess. The curve went perfectly with the image!! After cutting the wreath out, leaving the center solid, I attached the birds, and stamped the sentiment. I glued it on to a circular card shape, and done!! Very simple, but so elegant and effective for a wedding card <3

I’d like to enter this in the following:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – February ATG with a Critter

Classic Design Challenge – #2 February ATG

Sheepski Designs Blog Challenge – #47 Romance and/or Use Red

Incy Wincy Designs – Feb. 15 – 21 Animals and/or Use Buttons

Creative Inspirations – Jan/Feb Animal Antics

Salute!!!

Hi there! Well, I just could not resist making this rude little card for one of the guys at work. We are always at each other, trying to elicit a special “salute”. Dustin Pike, from Whimsy Stamps, came up with Dudley Flipping the Bird, that was perfect for my birthday card! It comes in both censored and uncensored versions, but I had to give the full salute! After adding a little sentiment on the sign, I colored him up with my Copics, then fussy cut him out.

I chose a piece of black and white dotted background paper, then dug around in my scraps for pieces that were big enough for the die cutting. I cut 2 frames, inlaying one with a black and white stripe piece, and positioning the frames at a wonky angle. I cut a few candles to tuck in, adding some glitter to the flames. To finish off, 2 “celebrate” die cuts were layered and attached. I love the bright and bold look of this card!!

A censored version of the card 🙂

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Allsorts Challenge – Week 611 Masculine

Crafts Galore Encore – #84 ATG

Classic Design Challenge – #2 February ATG

Polkadoodles Craft Challenge – Week 7 ATG

Pixie’s Crafty Workshop – #396 Ruby’s Memory ATG Challenge