Recycling

I did not receive anything for Valentine's Day, but afterwards I bought a Valentine decorated orchid plant for $2.00 that had been put on sale. It was wrapped in this red cellophane. I made a skirt for Pile a CS Design image so she is now wearing an evening dress. The silver behind the sentiment is the foil that was inside the can of mixed nuts that I purchased for myself the same day. It is the seal that keeps the nuts fresh.  The sentiment and checkered background are also from CS Designs.  I randomly put some brads in the checkered background to give it a little color.

I made this a s inspiration for Art with No Boundaries' recycle challenge and I am also entering this at One Stich at a Time's Digi challenge.

Current Challenges

Don't forget that the current challenge is now listed on my sidebar at the very top.  Click on the listing and it will link to the current challenge.

Words of Encouragement

I made this card for a friend whose husband has been in the  hospital since the beginning of January.  The image from McMahonFive says everything.

Challenge #37 "Land of Fantasy"

I haven't hosted a challenge with this theme before, but I thought since Michelle Perkett is sponsoring this challenge and she has such beautiful images along this line, that it would be the perfect theme. This theme has loads of possibilities so let's see what the Design Team has to offer first.

Vicki

I took Michele's image called Lily for my creation this time.  I first colored her with Copics and then placed her in a frame by Cherry Lynn which I had cut while at a neighbor's house.  My matting paper is a little busy, but I like it.  Completing the card is an acrylic sentiment which says "Happy Day".

Sharon

I've used a gorgeous Michelle Perkett image - "Lilly the Fairy of Enchantment". I have coloured her with Copic Markers and then coated the entire image with fine glitter - I've never done that before but I like the sparkly effect for this new Challenge theme "Land of Fantasy" (Michelle's images are perfect for this type of challenge!!)

Cindy

"I must be a Mermaid..."

I had a great time creating with "Tutti Fruitti", the beautiful mermaid from Michele Perkett Digitals. I used glossy cardstock to cut the tag from and created the background with alcohol inks. Colored her with Distress Inks and then embellished with Stickles and Liquid Pearls. I added lots of fun sea embellishments and will add her to a cruise scrapbook.

Valerie

As I have been ill in bed with a nasty cold over the weekend, I had to make a quick tag here. I have cobbled the tag together using bits and bobs flying about my table. The background picture has been cut out of a free magazine from the chemist's, the little girl is from Scrollswork, and was stamped and cut out, but not used, for another project, and the rest was in my stash.

 

Jenn

I used Michelle's gorgeous mermaid image paired with one of her sentiments to make this pretty card - Michelle's images are so detailed and fun to color, and these sticker pearls were the perfect accent.

Michele

For my Land of Fantasy creation I've used a Michelle Perkett image with a saying to "Be Strong."  These are wise words from this beautiful fairy whom I've colored with pencils and laid on some decorative origami paper.  This challenge gives you the chance to let your imagination go and create at will.  Be strong!  Take chances and make your art bravely!

Petra

The Meadow Fairy

What a wonderful image from our sponsor Michele Perkett - I love all the flowers in the image, it looks and feels so cheerful. I layered the image on Pink Petticoat papers and coloured it with Copics. A little bit of stitching, some paper flowers and a little gem complemented the card.

My Sponsor

is

Click on the logo above to visit t he Etsy Store of Michele Perkett.  You will find loads of wonderful digitals expecially for a fantasy theme.  They are all beautifully drawn and are so much fun to color.  Michele has graciously offered to give the random generated winner a choice of one of  the three images the Design Team is using.  I know you will agree with me that they are superb.

My Last Two Twinches

Here are my final two of the six Twinchies that I am swapping in the Gingersnap Creations' Twinchies swap.  Sometimes it is so much easier to work in small areas than in large.  Twinchies are 2 inches by 2 inches so your images and embellishments cannot be very large.  Each one of my twinchies has a piece of paper that I altered.  The nice thing about making small pieces of art is that you can use some of those very small scraps that most people throw away.  Not me!  I keep everything!

Two More Twinchies

Here are a couple of more Twinchies for the Gingersnap Creations' Twinchies swap.

Twinchies

I .recently made some Twinchies for a swap at Gingersnap Creations. Here are the first two.  These were so much fun to make.  If you didn't join this swap,  you really missed a fun time.  I can't wait to see the ones that I will receive.  My images are from Dezinaworld.

Note:  The post below tells you where my current challenges can now be found.

Current Challenge- Please Note!

Please note that from now on my current challenge will be listed at the top on my sidebar.  That way my current posts will be at the top of my blog.  Just click on the words "Current Challenge" and it will link directly to the one that is running now.  I hope everyone will find this easy and will still enter the challenge and will also look at my current posts.  Please feel free to leave feedback  on this.
Also, keep in mind that I will continue to notify my winners.  I hope you like this feature of my challenges.

Challenge #36 - "Happy Birthday"

This post will stay at the top as long as the challenge is running.  Please scroll down to see more current posts.

Is it your birthday?  It is not mine; nor do I think it is one of my team member's.  However, you always need to have a birthday card on hand to send when a friend has a birthday.  Therefore, we are going to help you out by asking you to make a birthday card for the challenge this time.  It can be a classy card, a funny card or even a belated birthday card.  Just think by entering this challenge you will be prepared for the next birthday.

Oops!  I just found out it is Michele's birthday.  She is one of my DT members.  So Happy Birthday Michele.  Consider all the entries in this challenge your birthday cards!

Vicki

My birthday uses one of the Clear Dollar Stamps' digital stamps.  I colored my basket image with Copic markers,  I used an bought flower embellishmnent and attached a button as the center.  For my "Celebrate" sentiment, I attached an acrylic sentiment.

I am also entering this in  The Crafty Pad's challenge "B".

Jenn

I made this birthday card for my April baby, my daughter Cassidy. She'll be 17 on April 22. I love this set from Clear Dollar Stamps with the daisies, the script, and several words stamps including "April" - small nymph digi image is from Michelle Perkett Studio.

                                      

Sharon

I've used a fantastic Eclectic Cat Design from Clear Dollar Stamps to make this "bright" Birthday Card along with a matching sentiment. The "splotchy" background paper was made with crayon shavings & greaseproof paper. Happy Birthday!!!

                                                    

Valerie

Hello you all, Valerie here. I have made a birthday card using a lovely stamp, but I don't know who made it! I have made it for a little girl who loves blue and bling, so think this should be ideal. After stamping, I coloured her with water-colour pencils. I added matching ribbon to her dress and the parcel, and some lace to the hem of her dress.  

                                             

Cindy

What a fun theme for this challenge! Birthday cards are always on my "To Do" creative list, so it was a delight to select some lovely digital images from our sponsor, Clear Dollar Stamps.

For my birthday card, I chose the "Teariffic" set. Usually when I work with digis, I use watercolor pencils and my waterpen. But it was time to change it up! To color this card, I used acetate and alcohol inks and I love the glossy look of it. The rose in the upper right is lifted off the card with foam tape. I added stitching, lace and pearls to complete the dainty details.

Petra

A Little Birthday Ornament - I love such little ornaments because they can always be used as toppers for cards or added to presents or boxes or .... The focal point a lovely little Pansy, a digital image from this month's sponsor 'Clear Dollar Stamps' which I coloured with Copics and then 'fuzzy' cut. The frame is cut in several layers with a Tim Holtz Alteration diecut. The final embellishments are a stamped sentiment from Elzybells, some blings and a little bow. Happy Birthday to everyone!

Michele

The Clear Dollar Stamp "Patchwork" sentiments digis called for the Technique Junkies "Patchwork" technique!  I did the patchwork design on the digi and then used some festive designer paper as a background.  And as it turns out it IS my birthday -- or it was on the 12th.  Me and Abe Lincoln.  Hope you'll join the challenge.

Clear Dollar Stamps has graciously offered to be my sponsor this time.  They have a great choice of clear and digitals stamps.  Many of them have multiple messages along with the image to give you a choice of sentiments.  To the winner, who will be selected by random generator, goes a $15.00 gift code for purchases on the site.  This is a great prize so let's sing "Happy Birthday".

Dots and More Dots

You will see a lot of dots in my paper for the next couple of cards/ projects as I recently bought a pack of cardstock that was nothing but dots.  I love the cardstock and all the papers can go together in a mixed-matched fashion--oh what fun!

My first card is one I made with a CS Designs digital that is part of the Express Yourself series.  The green card has mats of large dots and the mat behind the image has small dots of the same color scheme.  Inside is a sentiment digital of CS Designs.  The three round stick-on letters spell "Dance". 

This card is for the "Let the Dancer in you Escape"  theme on  Art with No Boundaries' present challenge.  Put on your dancing shoes and join in. 

This will be entered in Digi Doodle's Anything Goes.

Know Someone with a Birthday?

We are on our second week of our "Happy Birthday" challenge.  Please make sure when you submit your entry at the Inlinkz button above that you are following the theme.  We have had some great entries, but they haven't followed the theme.  If you want the random generator to pick your entry, submit a card or project with the birthday theme.
Here is some more inspiration from the Design Team.

Vicki

Isn't this the cutest snowman to use for a birthday card?  It is a Clear Dollar Stamp and it comes with a number of sentiments.  I colored him with Copic markers and placed him inside a Cherry Lynn die of a darker blue than the card itself.  I also matted the sentiment with the same dark cardstock.

Cindy

Yay, another week of celebrating Birthdays! I'll be celebrating my own on the 26th so I guess "Birthday Week" will be lasting even longer at my house! For this card, I used another wonderful digital stamp (Biggest Wishes) from our sponsor, Clear Dollar Stamps.

The sweet little mouse was colored using colored pencil and gamsol, which allowed me to match the colors in the digi to my background paper. I matted the oval with a free scalloped SVG file (Scalloped Basics Set) also available at Clear Dollar Stamps. All the paper edges received distressing with Dusty Concord Distress Ink. I added pink ribbon to the top and bottom of the card and the sentiment is an epoxy sticker. This cute card will be sent to my youngest niece...who is very crafty herself for a soon-to-be 10 year old!

Michele

This cheerful basket digi by Clear Dollar Stamps bears birthday wishes for someone special.... The digi is colored with colored pencils. The happy birthday stamp is by Hero Arts.

Sharon

I've used another of the Eclectic Teapots from Clear Dollar Stamps to make this "Joy Fold" card from a Splitcoast Stampers Tutorial. I've machine sewed the patterned paper on and colured the teapot with Copics. The "Birthday" stamp is from Kaszazz.

Petra

I do love pansies. I have lots in the garden and I am really really happy to use them in my creations. They look ever so friendly with their sweet little faces and are perfect for a birthday card. I printed the pansy text on a square slightly textured card which I distressed around the edges with distress ink. The pansies are printed, cut, coloured with Copics ... if you look very closely you will see they have a little glittery middle .... and layered them on to the text. Both text and image are from our sponsor Clear Dollar Stamps. The sentiment is printed on tracing paper. The only additional embellishments are two tiny dotty spotty buttons from my stash.

Springtime

Digi Darla is having a "Spring" theme challenge.  Here is a Spring card I made using a Robyn Fetish digital image. After coloring it with Copic markers, it was placed on a piece of faux designer paper that I created, At the bottom of the card is a trim made with a Martha Stewart punch. The greeting is part of an image on a Studio G stamp.

Bovine Humor

I needed something for a nursery rhyme or fairy tale challenge at Just Some Lines.  This is what I came up with.  This adorable cow is from Just Some Lines and the computer generatored sentiment says "Guilty!  I am the cow that jumped over the moon!"  It must have been years ago that he did it as I don't think he could do it now.  This little guy is colored with Copic markers.  I hope it made you smile.

Dancer Tag

I have made another mixed media tag.  This time is it for Art with No Boundaries' challenge Let the Dancer in You Escape.  Besides the dancer, Minuet,  the black and white checkered background and the sentiment belong to Chris of CS Designs.She  has some adorable Express Yourself images; you will have to go and take a peek.  The green background on the tag is fabric, There is a little foil and of course the ticket to see the show,

Also, I am entering it in Make It Monday's Anything Goes

Boy with Flower

Isn't this a cute image of a boy with a flower?  He is probably bringing it to his mother.  The precious image is by DigiDarla  You must drop by her site to see what she has.  I used a bright blue diecut to emphasize the image on the background of letters.  A ribbon and bow of yellow act as a contrast color.   He is colored with Copic markers.  The sentiment is from an unknown stamp that I have had for quite a while.

Challenge # 35 - "Romance is in the Air"

Here we are almost in February and our attention turns to love.  The challenge this time is "Romance is in the Air". 

In the past challenge we had some wonderful entries, but they did not follow the theme.  I don't have many requirements and my themes are usually pretty broad, but you really should make sure that you have followed the theme as I want all entries eligible to be a winner.

Here are some ideas for you by the Design Team.

Vicki

My card uses an image I have had for a while and I am not sure of the origin.  I started with a basic card.  On that I placed some decorator paper with white stars on a a blue background.  On top of that is a layer of lace.  The image is on a blue mat and the same blue cardstock was cut into scrolls with a Spellbinders die.  As a finishing touch, I added three flowers I found in my stash.

Sharon

I needed to make an engagement card for some friends so this was a perfect challenge for me!!

Papers are from a new 6 x 6 Bo Bunny pad which were great for this vintage style card with co-ordinating embellishments.

Cindy

For my card, I wanted to use one of my collected vintage images and this sweet cupid girl went perfectly with a sheet of kraft base paper I've had for over a year (American Crafts--LOVE Many Splendored). Of course I used Walnut Stain Distress Ink to shade all the elements and distress the card edges. I stamped the sentiment on velum and hand cut into a banner. I also used the DI to tone down the twine on the button.

Michele

It is time for making Valentine's Cards! I love to give cards to friends and I make as many as I can. With this card, romance is definitely in the air. The image is a free download from ArtFreebies (another website by June of Dezinaworld!). I used a beautiful piece of origami paper over the red card stock (looks hot pink in the scan...) and I decorated with flowers. Enjoy and spread the love!

Valerie

Hello everody, Valerie here. I have made a tag in Victorian romantic look, with lace, vintage roses, hearts and a cupid.   Have a good week you all!

Petra

Romance is in the air ... and aren't they sooooo sweet .... stamped (stamp by Heindesign) on white card, coloured with Koh-i-noors and Copics and layered on FancyPants Design papers.

Jenn

Jenn's card uses a large heart-shaped sticker made of gemstones, mounted onto Kraft cardstock and sprayed with Bubblegum Pink and Cherry Glimmer Mists. That piece was mounted onto a Kraft card, also spritzed with Bubblegum Glimmer Mist and Spun Sugar Smooch Spritz. Rub-on sentiments are from Stampin' Up!

Of the Heart is graciously sponsoring the challenge "Romance is in the Air".  They are the originaters of the International Stamp-a-Month Club - which started in 1995. There is no sign up fee, no contract and it's only $10.95 a month plus $2.99 shipping.  FOUR choices each month, too!

One of my favorite things that Of the Heart carries is 3D paper tole sheets.  They are reasonably priced and are so much fun to use and the paper tole gives an elegant look to your cards.  Of the Heart is known for their card kits, which they have consented to give as a prize to the randomly picked winner of this challenge.

Don't Hug Me So Tightly

"Don't hug me so tightly."  Can't you imagine that is what this kitty is crying out?  This cute image is from Just Some Lines.  I placed the image on a matted diecut and attached it to a daintly-dotted piece of cardstock.  As added touches, I included a little twine and some rubbery-type flowers.  The acrylic sentiments reads "Hug, hug, hug".    With the right sentiment inside, I think this makes a really cute get-well card.

Flower Tag

This is a flower tag I made recently using the cute flower pot image from Just Some Lines.  This is definitely a mixed media tag.   It used fabric, cardstock, an area distressed with ink, foil and completing the tag is paper lace made with a punch.  The flower pot of flowers was colored with Copic markers. After coloring, I did a little fussy cutting around the image.   I attached two sets of acrylic sentiments which read "Share" and "Remember to Share".  I really enjoyed working on this one.

My Heart Flies to You

Here is another Steampunk type card with an image and sentiment from CS Designs.  The heart is colored with Copic markers.  The wings are some I made and cut out of cardstock.  I put some pop dots under the heart to give her a little dimension.  The sentiment was put on a tag and a polka dot ribbon finishes the card.

My Heart is Dangling

Here is a card that is a little unusual.  This one has a dangling heart. .The front of the card is very simiple.  It has only a mat.  My designer paper is full of hearts of various shades of red, and messages of love.  I made a simple holder for the heart by using one of my Spellbinders and made a circle from cardstock.  On top of that is a pearl brad.  From the brad a silver cord is hanging.  The heart was then attached to the cord by another brad.  The heart is an image from CS Designs.  Using my Copic marker I colored part of it red and in one of the squares I put a little bling with Stickles.

Chris of CS Designs is having a "All You Need is Love" challenge on her blog Art with No Boundaries.   You still have a number of days to join in on the challenge.

I am entering this in Basic Grey's Valentine Challenge.

It's Love

Yes "Romance is in the Air" is still here. Our challenge is running one more week so you have plenty of time to enter. We have some more inspiration for you.

Vicki

My card uses one of my favorite crafting items 3D paper tole flowers. This is an item that my sponsor for this challenge Of My Heart carries. It is hard to see in the photo, but the flowers have 3-4 layers. I used liquid nail which is clearer than silicone to separate the layers. I think the additon of the flowers really gives a romantic feel to my card. The image is from Dezinaworld. I did quite a bit of cropping on the image. Lastly a little of baker's twine finishes off the card..

This card is also being entered in Crafting When We Can's Love Challenge and Gingerloft Challenge Love is in the Air challenge.

Michele

I decided to make some tags for week 2 of "Romance is in the Air" and I really had a lot of fun with these. I stamped the colored tags from Shabby Cottage Studios with a stamp called "dream text"from Stampendous. The vintage images are from Dover Publications (every week they share free images!). As you can see I've also used various other embellishments from my stash of Valentine themed goodies. I'm loving this theme and I hope you are too.

Sharon

I've used a tag die cut to make several "layers" of tags to mount this great vintage image on along with some scraps of paper, skeleton leaves, love ticket and old lace. I love the vibrant colours of the image so I tried to make the embellishments compliment those bright colours.

Cindy

"LOVE Hanging"

This hanging was created on a metal sign and blinged up with lots of "love"-ly elements! Every piece was altered...either with Distress Inks/Stains or alcohol inks. The roses started out as white wedding flowers that I altered using Distress Stains and Stickles.

Petra

Romance without words

The card is built around an image from: On The House. It is so telling and so very romantic. I cut it with Nestabilities oval shapes and glittered it around the edges. I layered it on Authentique patterend paper cut with a Sizzix Tim Holtz Alteration die and adorned it with some paper and fabric flowers and a lace bow.