Sympathy

Hi there 🙂 Sadly, we all seem to need some sympathy cards in our stash, and I’ve been getting a little low. I printed off this beautiful floral corner image that came from the now closed Bugaboo Stamps. I decided to color it in monochrome for a more somber effect. The sentiment was printed at the same time as the image. I thought about adding a few small embellishments, but decided that it was good with just a plain black mat, and no fancy additions. Love how it turned out so simple, elegant and effective!

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – #211 ATG

613 Avenue Create – August ATG with optional CAS

Time Out Challenges – #244 Monochromatic

Crafty Calendar – August ATG

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies – #2331 ATG

Girly 40th

Hi there 🙂 After a friend saw the 30th birthday card I made for my son recently, she asked if I could make a girly 40th version for her daughter. Of course I said I’d give it a try!! I love the look of gingham and flowers together, and I knew I had pink gingham paper in my stash. After cutting out the card base in the shape of a 40, I cut the gingham pieces a bit smaller and attached them. Then I went rummaging through my flower bin and picked out a variety of different blooms to make a pretty bouquet.

I stuck in a few pearl sprays, just to make it extra girly 🙂 A die cut sentiment banner draped across the top balanced things out a bit. For a finishing touch, I added a few more pearls. Love how feminine this is, and so did my friend!!

I’d like to enter this in the following:

As You Like It Challenges – Favorite Floral or Gingham? Gingham! Because it is a simple print that can go with so many themes, male or female, and it provides great contrast to ultra feminine projects.

Creations In Pink – #60 ATG in Mainly Pink

Dream Valley Challenges – #299 Add Gems and/or Pearls

Time Out Challenges – #244 Monochromatic

Allsorts Challenge – Weeks 739/40 Anything But Square

Sweet Birthday Wishes

Hi there 🙂 I was so thrilled to be asked to Guest Design at Rabisco Challenges this month!!! When I was given this sweet image from All Dressed Up, a bunch of ideas immediately popped into my head, and I began to rummage around my craft stash for baking themed papers and embellishments. After settling on the papers, I colored up Love to Bake with my Copics in a similar color scheme.

I assembled the card layers, then took a look at the pile of embellishments in front of me to make a choice. I realized that one of the charms that I chose came in the same kit as the papers (I got the kit at a store that’s been out of business for about 15 years, which gives an idea how long I hold on to stuff!!). I selected another charm, then tied them together and attached them to the card with a red bow to reflect the bow in the image. Then I chose 2 buttons to also add as embellishments. A quick stamped sentiment finished this card off. I’d like to thank the team at Rabisco for inviting me to join them this month, and I hope that you will join in the fun as well!!

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – #210 ATG

Polkadoodles Craft Challenge – Week 30 ATG

All Dressed Up Challenge – July ATG Challenge

Classic Design Challenge – #8 August ATG

The Corrosive Challenge – #7 July ATG

Sunflower Bunch

Hi there 🙂 A very special person’s birthday is around the corner. My kids’ step-mom (who I call my wife-in-law) has got to be one of the most amazing people I know. She loves sunflowers, as they are so summery and happy, so of course that was my only choice for an image on her bday card. With flowers, I usually turn to Power Poppy first, and was certainly not disappointed this time!! This beauty, Sunshine of My Life, is not only beautiful, it’s free!! I colored it with my Copics, then matted it with a dark brown.

As with many of my cards where I want to keep the image the focus, I kept the design of this rather simple. The gingham print background gives a real homey feel to the card. A die cut sentiment in sunflower colors and a few yellow enamel dots finish this card off.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Passion for Markers – Week 700 Summer In Full Bloom

As You Like It Challenge – Favorite Gingham or Florals – Why? I love that ginghams are so homey, and they provide such a nice contrast to floral and ultra feminine images)

The Crafty Challenge – Summer Time

Let’s Craft and Create – #197 AG + Add Flowers

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge – #7 ATG with Flowers with optional mood board

Sew Sweet

Hi there 🙂 When I saw this image, I just knew I had the perfect papers to make a card with it! These sweet mice from Di’s Digi Stamps are set to make something special for somebody! I colored them up with my Copics, then cut them out with a pierced circle die.

I used papers that I’ve been hoarding for 5 or 6 years to assemble the card, using the current sketch at Creative Sketchy Girls challenge for the layout.

I added some white faux stitching on the one layer with my Posca pen to give it a bit more definition. A few buttons from my button jar were tied with some floss and added as embellishments. To finish things off, a stamped sentiment was added.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Country View Challenge – July – Four Legged Friend

Creative Sketchy Girls – #86, Sketch shown above

Di’s Digi Stamp Challenge – Animals Acting Like Humans

Digi Choosday Challenge – Week 29 ATG

Your Scrapbook Place – July ATG

Flower Elf

Hi there 🙂 It’s been ages since I’ve had a play with an image from Aurora Wings, so my good friend’s birthday seemed like the perfect time! I remembered to choose some paper before I started coloring, so the color scheme was established. I colored this adorable big eyed elf (couldn’t find her in the Etsy store, though) with my Copics, and added some sparkle to the flower centers….because my friend loves sparkles, lol. I then matted the image with a cool stitched die.

I cut out the rest of the layers with different size dies from an elongated rectangle set. I was happy to find the floral swag die in my collection – yes, I forgot I owned it!! After cutting it from gold sparkle paper, I cut it again so I could make sure the flowers could match the rest of the card. A sparkly die cut sentiment finishes this off.

CRAFT Challenge – #686 Shaped Card

Passion for Markers – Week 700 Summer In Full Bloom

Die Cut Divas – A Birthday Themed Month

A Place to Start – July 2023, using ATG option

A Perfect Time to Craft – #7 July ATG

Ginger Fun

Hi there 🙂 I have another Christmas card to share today. July has really got me into the groove of Christmas card making, but I’m still lagging behind my usual rate!! I used a fun image from Polkadoodles for this card. I colored up Candy Cane Fun with my Copics, then fussy cut it out.

The image seemed to be perfect for a slimline card, and with the candy cane in the image, I just had to use the Twisty frame die from Whimsy. After assembling the card base, layering the twisty part with red to resemble a candy cane, I used a dark green for the centre part to provide contrast for the image. I popped the gingers on the dark green with some foam dots, then die cut a simple sentiment to add to the bottom of the frame.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge – #76 Gingerbread Treats

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers – Christmas In July Linky Party

Crafty Catz – #647 Christmas In July

Creative Knockouts – #499 Christmas In July

Dream Valley Challenge – #298 Christmas In July

Birthday Surprise

Hi there 🙂 I was thrilled to be asked to guest design at Coloring With Pencils this month! I was provided with an image from one of their fabulous sponsors….Amanda Jayne Designs…..to work with. I colored up Lily Quokka with my Prismacolor pencils, then cut it out with a die, fussy cutting a few of the over hanging pieces.

I layered 2 parts of a pretty die to frame this adorable little guy, then went to work looking through my paper stash to see if I could find some paper to use as a background. I was both thrilled and surprised when I found this striped piece, which was perfect for the colors I’d used on the image!! I tried 3 different colors of the die cut sentiment, but none of them looked just right. Then I had the brain wave to layer them up, and tada!!! Sometimes more is better, lol. I would like to thank the team over at Coloring With Pencils for inviting me to join them this month, and encourage any of you pencil lovers to check out their ATG with pencils challenge 🙂

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies – #2329 ATG

The Die Cut Divas – A Birthday Themed Month

Crafty Calendar – July ATG

Simon Wednesday – 4 Legged Friends

The Corrosive Challenge – #7 July ATG

Teddy’s Tree

Hi there 🙂 With all the Christmas in July activity, it gave me just the push to double down on my Christmas card making! I printed off this adorable digi stamp from Lili of the Valley, then took the time to look through the smaller pieces of Christmas papers to establish a color scheme.

I keep telling myself that things go a lot easier when I pick my papers before starting to color, but seldom do it!! Sucker for punishment, I guess!! I colored up James Christmas Tree with my Copics, then added a bit of Stickles on the snowflakes and star for some sparkle.

Since the papers were already picked out, the card went together fairly quickly and easily. I layered the printed pieces and the image, matting everything in a dark blue, then added a layered die cut sentiment and some home made enamel dots (made with paper dots with Nuvo clear coating them) to finish things off. Love how coordinated everything is in the finished product!!

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Passion for Markers – Week 699 Christmas Animals

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers – Christmas in July Linky Challenge

Pixie’s Snippets Challenge – #459 Christmas In July with Snippets

Crafty Catz – #647 ATG with optional Christmas in July

Creative Knockouts – #499 Christmas In July

Double D Challenges – Christmas In July

Berry Fairy

Hi there 🙂 With the beautiful summer weather we’ve been having, this image seemed to jump out at me in all it’s berry goodness!! Berry Fairy Amai is one of many adorable fairies that you can find over at Mo’s Digital Pencil. I colored her up with my Copics, then set her aside while I figured out the rest of the card.

After wrecking more than a few pieces of cardstock trying out failed ideas, I decided on this layered, dimensional framed look. Each layer is popped on to the next with some foam dots. For the pink layer, I added a silver dotted border, done with a Posca pen. A silver die cut sentiment and a few sparkly silver enamel dots finish this card off.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Rabisco Challenge – #47 July ATG

Crafty Catz – #646 ATG / Optional Make it Sparkle and Shine

Incy Wincy Designs – July – Food or Drink

Classic Design Challenge – #7 July ATG

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies – #2328 ATG