Challenge #59-"April Showers Bring May Flowers"

With all the rain we have had lately, I should have loads of flowers coming up--or weeds!  In any case my theme this time is "April Showers Bring May Flowers"  You may either enter your creations about rain or flowers; it is your choice.  I would love to see loads of entries for this challenge.  I was beginning to think no one was going to enter the last challenge.  However, after a while I received some great entries.

Let's see what the DT has prepared to inspire you.

Vicki

This card is a little on the busy side, but all the elements have the same colors.  I like the polka dots of the background picking up the round centers of the daises.  My daises and frame are colored with Copic markers.  The smile tag is one I found in my stash and the small diecut was lying on my table waiting to either be used or thrown away

Yvonne

I used an image from our sponsor and created a scene in a computer craft program.

Petra

These daisies made me smile as soon as I saw them, they are such wonderful Spring flowers. I printed this images from our sponsor as big as it was possible for the card and layered them on digital paper and coloured card. The image is coloured with inks and Copics, cut out and added to the card with foam pads. A little bow, button and a sweet butterfly are the finishing touches for the card.

 

Krisha

A simple card to show off the Artsy Flower from Floppy Latte Designs!

Colored with florescent gel pens to make the design POP!

Sentiment is from Rogue Redhead Designs, on a ribbon banner that is raised with a pop dot for dimension.

Michele

I colored this delightful "artsy flower" digital image from Floppy Latte with colored pencils.  I chose three pretty designer papers for my background layers.  This digi is perfect for an all-occasion card. I hope you'll join our spring-y challenge!

Barbara

I picked Eddie's Favourite for my image and decided it needed to be a 5 inch square card, the sentiment is computer generated. The flowers were coloured with pale vermilion and the leaves in olive.

Rene

 My Artsy Flower, generously supplied by our sponsor, Floppy Latte,  is coloured in oranges & yellows. Greens were used for the leaves. The flower was 3-D'd for extra dimension & I sponged the edges. The red of the card is the promise of all the bright colours that will pop up in your garden, and of course here at the challenge!

 Jenn

I used Delayed Delivery from Floppy Latte Designs, colored with Copics and paired with some coordinating polka dot and cloud digi papers.  Ribbon is from Stampin' Up!  I sponged around the edge of the card with gray ink and added a sentiment from A*Muse Studios.

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The images that the Design Team used come from my sponsor this week, Floppy Latte.  A visit to their site, will reveal that they have a great assortment of delightful images.  There are images for almost any theme.

Another Art Journal Page

Here is a Art Journal page I made the other day.  I really like how this turned out.  I think it shouts "Spring"  I used a base of yellow acrylic paint and used two different stencils for the dots in the two sizes.  When I started I didn't know what I was going to use nor what colors I was going to put on the paper.  It just happened.  But I am pleased.  As you can tell, I am having a blast with my Gelli Plate.   Now I have to decide how to use it.

Tag

I just love making tags.  This one was made for Just Some Lines' "Earth Day" challenge reminder.   I used one of Just Some Lines' new images for this one and added some earthly embellishments on top of a flowered piece of designer cardstock. Do give the tag some recycling I used the string that comes with the tag.  In this case I used instead of throw away!

Drunken Sltampers Challenge

Drunken Stampers has just started its challenge "Up"  I used a Just Some Lines image for my card.  This little lady is having trouble holding her balloons; they just keep going up..  Jump over to the Drunken Stampers' site and join in on the challenge fun.

Here is the challenge announcement.

 

Journal Page

I am following  the workshop of Carolyn Dube "Use Your Words" and here is my second interpretation.  This my Rainbow of Friends and the various names are people I feel close to on the net and in blogland.  I'm not really happy with t his one.  I think I should have made the rainbow cover more of the page.  Oh well!

Challenge Reminder

The "Gothic Cuties" challenge is beginning its second week.  The post for submitting your entries is listed just a couple of postings below.  I  haven't received many entries in this challenge, so ladies get to work.  Everyone has a chance to win as the winner is picked by random generator.  The winner will be contacted next Tuesday after the challenge is over.

A big "thank you"  to Dilly Beans Digital Stamps for sponsoring this challenge which ends Sunday at midnight.  They have allowed the DT to use some of their wonderful images.  If you take a peek at their site, I am sure you will find something there you can use.  Here are some additional inspirational creations by the Design Team.

Vicki

I used Dilly Beans' Page image.  Working with these images is so much fun and they are so versatile.  My image is colored with Copic markers and I love the sentiment.   The polka dot background keeps the image from being on the dark side  This is a great card for someone who is feeling blue or down because they are dealing with many problems.. 

Sharon

Another Dilly Beans Gothic Cutie for this reminder post! I made this card using a completed ATC I already had - mounted it on an embossed card, added borders at the top and bottom and some baker's twine at the spine! Nice and colorful in bright orange and green!

 

Petra

I really wanted the image of the girl from Dilly Beans to be the focal point. Your eyes are so striking! I colored the face and the background of the image with Copics. I drew a frame around the image with Sharpies. The background was created with spray inks and some stamping.

Michele

This week I chose to make an ATC featuring Dilly Beans' Ragdoll Ruby.  I've colored her with pencils and layered her with torn coordinating designer papers.  I finished her off with buttons, ribbon and flower.  I love ragdolls and she is a cutie.  I hope you'll join our challenge!

Yvonne

The image on this card is a Sugar Nellie stamp. Layered onto papers from a craft CD.  I used watercolors  on this cutie. She is a wild one who likes to keep her toys well under control.

 Barb

For my second card I used a Dilly Beans Stamps image #415 Pinkys Skull, coloured her with prismacolour pencils and odourless mineral spirits, layered the image on a piece from a DCWV matstack.

 

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Krisha miss uploading a project last week, but she really went all out with 3 pieces of inspiration this week!

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Krisha



 Paige, my first choice is colored with colored pencil and mounted on a sparkling background, with black lace and black rhinestones. Sentiment is from 7 Gypsies.

Krisha

 Here is Pinky's Skull Bow in 3 different colors, to match the sentiment from Inkadinkado.  The tag is 6 1/2 inches long and painted with water colors and tied with different colors of embroidery thread.  Who says Goth has to be so dark and dreary?

Krisha

Last, but not least I went with Cordillia, printed her rather large to go into my art journal.  The sentiment is a song that has been running through my brain all morning.  I want to thank Dilly Beans for letting us use their CUTE digi images, they are just great!

 

Rene



I've used the creepy cute Cordillia (#378). She looks like she can be a real party animal if she puts her mind to it. I used pencils to colour her, layering colours. The rest of the card was created with  textured card & board. The sentiment was handwritten and a metal heart brad gives a final touch. Cordillia will be delighted if many of you cute Gothic creatures come and join her in the dungeons.

This challenge is being sponsored by Dilly Beans.

 

Just Some Lines' Challenge

Just Some Lines has an Earth Day challenge going on.   Everyone should drop by and submit an entry.  I added a religious slant to the challenge so I could send my card to some one who needed a friendly reminder.

First of all, I made my  background using my Gelli Plate. 

Then I created my card with a piece of it and used Just Some Lines' tulip image.

 

 

 

Challenge #58- 'Gothic Cuties'

I am reposting the challenge here as I have not had any entries and I know there are bloggers out there with wide-eyed images.  For examples by the DT scroll down to the previous announcement.  I will leave this near the top until the challenge is over.   

Art Journal Page

The past couple of days I have been working on some art journal pages.  This is one of my favorite.  The picture does not show it, but the purple has a sheen / glimmer / metal appearance.  I think that is why I like this one the best.  The page has many layers and is topped with a layer of green paint used as a fern.

I will show some of the others in additional posts later.

Stand Alone Card

Here is a stand alone card which is very easy and quick to make.  I used a piece of designer cardstock and added a small card to attach to the front out of a complimemtary solid color.  To hold the card closed I used a brad with a latch.   The beautiful lady on the front is from Lunagirl.  On the "wings" are some flowers from Petaloo to accent the card and give it a little bling.

Use Your Words Journal

I am trying my hand at journaling based on the workshop of Carolyn Dube's Use Your Words.  My first page looks like I spilt a cup of coffee on it which isn't true as I very seldom drink coffee.  I just hate to do anything that includes my handwriting as it is so ugly.

The words down the side are "heavenly home", "my husband" "To Be Thin Again", "To Dance", "Crafting", "Sing" (should be singing), and "No Pain"   The background was done with splotchy airbrushing with Copics made to run. I  have started on my next page.  It is going to be full of color.

My First "Moo"

I am joining in on the Moo Mania with my first Moo.  A Moo is 1.1 x 2.8 inches.  The theme is "Numbers"   When we in the US think of numbers, probably the first thing that comes to mind is Tax Day, April 15.  My Moo has has a watercolor background.

New DT Member and Challenge #58

We are beginning a new challenge today, Challenge #58 "Gothic Cuties"  I think you will enjoy creating an entry for this challenge.  There are a number of possibilities for this theme.  You may use  a scary or a cute Gothic image.  It is being sponsored by Dilly Beans.

I also would like to welcome another new member of the Design Team.  She is Barbara Godden.  Below she has given a short bio to tell about herself.

Barbara Godden

My name is Barbara Godden I live in South Western Ontario, Canada. I am retired and busier than ever. In the summer I spend as much time as I can at our cottage at Turkey Point on Lake Erie with my husband of 52 years and our 15 year old black cat named Spook, she is not fond of the one hours ride in the car but once there really enjoys the change.

I love all styles of stamping, some I am better at than others. The medium I use most often is prismacolor pencils and odourless mineral spirits, I haven’t really tried copics yet. I might like them too much. 

I started out stamping with some things bought at a yard sale, markers, ink, stamps, embossing powder and books , I was “hooked” and then that fall I found a lady that had a home based store and have enjoyed classes ever since. It is amazing on how far the tools have evolved since starting my journey in card making. 

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Now for the first pieces of inspiration of the two new DT members, Meggymay and Barbara along with those of the other team members.

Barbara

Yvonne

 For my first project here at the Cheerful Stamp Pad I have made a small wall  hanging. I used a Stampotique image for this Goth cutie, she's dressed to impress and ready to party. The arch is die cut before embossing in a  brick folder, all the shading is distress inks.

Vicki

I thought this would make a cute sick card.  I should brighten someone's spirits.  I colored the Dilly Beans image with Copic markers and placed her on coordinating papers.  As an added touch I added an artificial flower.

Sharon

I love Dilly Beans images so it is always fun to create with them! Bakcground is Distress Inks and a Tim Holtz texture stamp. Dilly Beans "Little Monster & Bat" image has been coloured with Copic Markers, fussy cut & mounted onto the card. I stamped the letters "BOO!" for a bit of fun!

Petra

I just love the Dilly Bean images, they are so quirky and Cordillia is no exception! She just looks as if she is prepared for everything ... even if it is just getting one year older (LOL). I coloured the image with distress inks and layered it on a background of watercolour paper coloured with inks. Some little punched flowers, stamped text (PaperArtsy) and two little blings are the final touches.

Rene

My Gothic Cutie, supplied by our fabulous sponsor, Dilly Beans is the cute and a little creepy Ragdoll Ruby. I went a bit more cute than creepy with the colours I chose. Her face is green though, because of the lack of sun. We hope to see many cute Gothic inspired creations.

Jenn

Jenn has a couple of gothic cuties to share with you today, the first one uses Dilly Beans 376 - Martin.

Jenn

This next card uses one of Dilly Beans newer images, 533 - Nutmeg, and I paired her with some angel wings.

                                                                         Michele
Speaking of cuties, this "flower girl" from Dilly Beans is a real cutie. I colored her with pencils and set her on a background done with the "faux paint swatch" technique from Technique Junkies.  I added a few embellies to finish the card.

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I am very please to have Dilly Beans as my sponsor for this challenge.  Megan of Dilly Beans hay s created a wonderful array of big-eyed images.  Drop over to her site and check the digitals out.  You definitely will enjoy working with them.

JSL is Having "Child's Play"

Just Some Lines is having "Child's Play" as the theme for their challenge.  This is the second week of the challenge so you still have a week to enter.  For my card I went with the idea that children like to play with their pet.  Sometimes though the animal is not thrilled with being carried around.

My image is colored with Copic markers and is placed on a page from an old book.  Behind the image is a couple of layers of cardstock-solid and printed.  Can you see this little girl asking her Mom if she can play with her kitty. She loves her kitty, but the kitty doesn't love her at the moment!

 

I am also entering this card at CDAC;s Anything Goes challenge.

Drunken Stampers' New Challenge

Drunken Stampers has a new challenge going .  The theme is Steampunk which is based on the movie Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.  It runs from April 13 to April 19.  All of Drunken Stampers' challenges lately have been based on movies.

For this challenge I made an easel card using an image from Kenny K Downloads.  The  policeman was colored with Copic markers.  To give the card a  steampunk feel, I added some sequin waste under a star emblem embellished with a little blingy stone.   The sentiment "protect and serve" comes from the motto of the force.  The altered punched border is from a Martha Stewart punch. A clock charm in the middle of the base acts as a holder for keeping the card upright.  They are referred to as the Boys in Blue, thus the signage on the bbase of the card.

 

This card is also being entered in KennyK Downloads' easel challenge and the CDAC's Anything Goes challenge.

 

 

Newest Design Team Member

A warm welcome  is extended to one of the new members of the Design Team of The Cheerful Stamp Pad..  She is Meggymay.

Meggymay  (Yvonne Whaley)

Hello,  I am Yvonne, many friends in Blogland will know me as Meggymay.  I am happily retired after working in education with children who had Special Educational Needs.  We live in the N.E. of England close to miles of open countryside.  Besides craft work which takes up all my spare time. I enjoy getting away in our caravan, with my husband and Border Collie dog.

The style of crafting I am most comfortable with is Vintage/Shabby Chic, however I do enjoy new challenges, altering, recycling and journalling are now on this increasing list.  Something new to try is always around the next corner.
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Welcome Meggymay to The Cheerful Stamp Pad!  Her creative work will be first shown in the upcoming challenge which begins Monday 12:01 AM CDT. Make sure you come back to see the inspirations of the Design Team and plan to enter the challenge.

Second Post by GD

Here is a second post by our Guest Designer this week Vee Cassidy.  She uses another image from Kenny K Downloads, my sponsor this week.  If you haven't entered the challenge,  you have a couple of days left to enter.  Just scroll below to the challenge announcement..

 Vee using Craft Star  by Kenny K

I coloured this super image using Promarker alcohol pens and cut with a spellbinders label, I left her feet outside the cutting edge for effect and inked the edges with Forest Moss Distress Ink. The layer is K&Co Speciality Scrapbook Paper which has a lovely flittered surface, I rounded the corners and inked the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Everything is mounted onto and A5 shaped, white silk art card. The edges are inked in Forest Moss. The embellishments are a large fabric flower trimmed and a string (twine) bow with an embroidered flower for centre. The flowers are from the Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Challenge Reminder and Guest Designer

From time to time I will have a Guest Designer.  This not only gives my blog more variety and interest, but also gives another crafter exposure.  My GD this week is Vee Cassidy.  Below she tells us a little about herself and gives her inspiration along with the DT  for the current challenge "Work is Good".  If you haven't entered yet, you have until next Sunday midnight CDT.

Hello, I am Vee (short for Veronica) Cassidy. I live on the outskirts of Glasgow in Scotland, UK. I am 55 and have two sons, 36 and 26, who are both grown and flown.  They both still live in Scotland and my current babies are two little cats, Lenny and Minnie, who adopted me almost three years ago after they were rescued by Cats Protection (Glasgow) from a really appalling situation.

I have loved Arts and Crafts ever since I could hold a crayon!   Some of my earliest memories are hoarding cellophane and foil and cutting up cardboard boxes to make dimensional things like cityscapes and scenes. I was not into dolls or it would have been dolls houses I suppose! I was not allowed to continue with Art at school and was pushed into what was termed more “academic” courses! But kept creative with sewing, knitting, crochet, home decor and baking especially when my sons were younger.

When I had to take early retirement a few years ago owing to severe, permanent health issues, Art and Crafts provided an escape. I am not always able to undertake as many opportunities as offered owing to limits of health but the crafting community is so supportive and really keeps me going, especially as I am often housebound.

Guest Designer`-Vee

I used the  Firefighter by Kenny K
I coloured this fab image with Promarker alcohol pens and cut it out with a Spellbinders label die, and mounted onto an A5 pearl blue card blank made from an A4 sheet of card from stash. I then used Tim Holtz tissue tape  to frame the image and added string (twine) with a knot. I added Tim Holtz metal gear and brad for embellishment.

Sharon

This week I've used an image from Guylou and new digital patterned papers From Gecko Galz along with the layout from Tuesday Morning Sketches to make this "Gardeners" card! Part of my work involves gardening so I couldn't resist making this!

Michele

These Kenny K images are a hoot!  I pencil colored the police officer digi and layered him over a torn piece of highway map and some designer paper.  I added the "This Affects You" stamp (100 proof press) and a star I cut out of some additional designer paper.

Krisha

My new dish towels...Thanks Kenny K!!

I worked the image through Printshop, then printed it on transfer paper, then ironed onto the dish towel.  I used an Inkadinkado "Hello" with StazOn ink. These are photos of then hanging on the stove! 

Petra

Well, who says only men can do DIY? Girl power with one of KennyKs brilliant digital stamps coloured with Copics and layered on Kraft card and printed paper. Letter stickers and a ruler ribbon are the finishing touches for the tag. Let's do it!

Rene

The Business Woman is doing her bit in the office this week. She is wearing her silver-gray office suit but added some fun colour with her accessories. I put her on an aqua panel that matches her shoes and a silver layer gives some more contrast. The background collage was created with pictures from an advertising booklet, a quick & fun way to create a card that suits the recipient. I hope that you are inspired to join this fun challenge.