Christine Girl for January Challenge - new Unity Stamps in the house!!

I was challenged again by my good friends, Carmen and Carolyn, to get crafty more often, and this Unity Challenge for this month has been on my mind and started on my craft table since last weekend.  It was a busy week, but I finally got the coloring completed with my Copics and all the layers put together this morning to complete the following card using my new Christine Girl stamp from Unity.  I also used Spellbinders' Large Ovals and Floral Ovals, Crafty Secrets pastel paper pack, Stampin Up Pretty in Pink, my Copics as mentioned above, spica gel glitter pen and liquid applique.  Some sheer navy blue ribbon and a snowflake pendant were also used for adornment.

Here is a closeup of the dimensions and liquid applique.

This challenge is ongoing until February 11th, so be sure to stop on by and check it out.

Warm, Inky Hugs to you all on this chilly weekend :)

Brrrr ... it's been Christmas Craftin Weather!

Since it has felt so cold and breezy this week with the wind whippin' around up on our hill, I haven't felt much like going outside.  So I have been gathering ideas for Christmas cards from Pinterest and my craft table is a mess right now, but ... I got a few cards done before the end of the month to participate in Lisa's 12-months of Christmas Link-Up challenge.  :)  Yeahhh!

The first card is using the image I have had on my desk for a while now from From The Heart stamps called "For The Birds."

The second image is my attempt at a vintage style card with a collage.  Not sure I am crazy about that one, but it will do for now.

The last one is in the group photo and I had used a House Mouse ATC that I have had from a trade quite a few years ago that I have been holding onto as well.

I need to simplify a bit here in the craft room and have decided to start using other's ATCs on my cards to send to friends and family.  I think they will enjoy them as much as I have.

Thanks for stopping by.  I would love to hear from you.  Please leave a comment.

Hugs,

Make A Wish KD kit - Lovin' It!

Hellooooo, Crafters and Friends! :)

I took a little time off this summer to enjoy some family time, but I am hoping to get back to a few cards a week at least now that the fall weather is upon us.

I needed a quick card today for a BRAK (birthday random act of kindness) mailing, and so I grabbed a couple of printed digis and digi papers from Imagine That ... digis by Kris' Make-A-Wish KD Kit.  This kit is superb for a quick celebratory card of any kind.  I am sure you will find you can create a lot of things with it as well.

Life with Porpoise

It's a new month already, and Imagine That's blog has a great new Dolphin image for the Monthly Progressive Challenge. If you played along last month, you should have already received this one in your email.  If not, you can swing on by the shop to purchase it to continue playing along with us all at IT by clicking on the link above.

My card is fairly simple, yet sweet with this adorable, pre-colored image from Kris.  It truly made for a quick card using a Cuttlebug dry embossing folder, Spellbinder's Labels One dies, some scrap paper, a whale charm from America and some ribbon.  Hope you like it and get a chance to play along with us too.

Inky Hugs,

Winter Friends FTH SOTM challenge

It is almost half way through the month already ... it's going so fast, but I finally got a chance to play along with the From The Heart SOTM challenge! :)  Look at this wintery image called Winter Friends.  Aren't they sweet?!  Here is my creation for the challenge.

Image:  Winter Friends from From The Heart stamps
Papers:  Bazzill cs, light green, light blue and pink, BasicGrey Eskimo Kisses pink and green plaid
Tools:  Spellbinders large ovals and lacey ovals, Copics, corner rounder punch and glittered snowflake ornament from Walmart package

If you joined the challenge in June, you would have received Winter Friends via email by now.  This challenge closes on the last day of the month, and a new image will be posted by the 3rd of next month.

If you missed out, you can still play along with the challenge by purchasing the image. Then you can enter the challenge and receive next month’s digi free. OR if you spend $10 in the From The Heart Stamps store this month, you can enter code SNOWINJULY to receive Winter Friends as a free gift.  *Only one offer per person, please. Make sure your purchase doesn’t include this image or you will receive 2. Thank you!

Inky Hugs,

Gloooorrrriiiiiaaa!

This week's "I {Heart} Sketch Challenge" at From The Heart's blog is starting today.  Please join us this week by playing along.  Only restriction is to use a FTH image and this sketch ...

I used the lovely Gloria image from From The Heart Stamps 

and dry embossed with the Joy and Cheer Cuttlebug folder.  

Image: Gloria 
Papers: Stampin Up Pretty in Pink, Bazzill light blue textured cs,
blue cs and dp scraps and marbled vanilla/sand cs 
Color Medium: Copics (B00, E00, E02, E11, E13, C1, C3) and Spica glitter pen 
Tools: Spellbinders large ovals and lacey ovals

I love this folder and I really hate to cover it up, so I used it on the inside as well.

Now just a small area will be covered with a sentiment to finish out this card in time for Christmas.

Hope you have a great week and are able to play along with us this week using this great I {Heart} Sketch #74.  Maybe try a Christmas card earlier this year so that you too are ready for Christmas gift giving. :)

Inky Hugs,

Wishin You a Meowy Little Mouse-mas

I have been making Christmas cards lately to "keep cool." ;)  Seriously, I figured why not get a couple more done today (this post now and the other one will post tomorrow).  This one is using the digital image from Imagine That Digis by Kris called "Meowy Mousemas."  It is the July Stamp of the Month Challenge from the Imagine That blog.  Join us this month and get next month's image for free.  Don't have this image already?!  Check out the blog (click on the previous link) to find out how you can get this one at a discount.

The image was printed on Neenah white cs after re-sizing with Photoshop Elements 6,

cut out with Spellbinders Labels One dies, Christmas DP from both BasicGrey Eskimo Kisses, other scraps and a tablet I received from my good friend, Chris Sather, years ago (yep I still have it and use it sparingly).

I copied the same sketch idea on the inside with the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses piece, blue striped paper, Labels One dies and two of the sentiments from this set.  

Inky Hugs,

FTH Hop - Christmas in July!!

Welcome to our From the Heart Stamps blog hop. Our theme this month is “Christmas in July”. 

Our designers are showcasing lots of gorgeous projects.

As you hop along, please leave a comment on each blog for a chance to win the following:

• One random commenter will be selected on each blog to win an image (of their choice) for themselves and one for a friend.
• One commenter on the From the Heart Stamps blog will be selected to win a $15 gift voucher to the store!

If you have arrived from Cheryl's Blog, you are in the right place, if not why don’t you start on the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything.

Here is my project, using Seven Christmas Birds.

I have really fallen for these cute birdies, and they are so much fun to color with my Copics.  Thanks to Faith's image for reference, I was able to shade them without too much difficulty (seems to be the hardest part for me).

I created two cards for today's blog hop using the image and sentiment from this set.

Image:  Seven Christmas Birds
Papers:  Bazzill textured cs, Neenah white cs, BasicGrey Eskimo Kisses
Color Medium:  Momento London Fog, Copics (B00, B02, B14, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y18, R11, R20, R22, C1, C3, C5, R29, R24, R08, G03, G07, G09)
Tools/Accessories:  Spellbinders curved rectangles,
Stampin Up Coluzzle oval, SU ribbon trim punch
and SU gumball green satin stitched ribbon

Inside of Card 1 using Spellbinders curved rectangles
and Labels One dies with the Sending Love sentiment
from the Seven Christmas Birds set

Image:  Seven Christmas Birds
Papers:  Bazzill textured cs, SU pretty in pink cs, Neenah white cs,
and BasicGrey Eskimo Kisses
Color Medium:  Momento London Fog, Copics (B00, B02, B14, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y18, R11, R20, R22, C1, C3, C5, R29, R24, R08, G03, G07, G09)
Tools/Accessories:  Stampin Up Coluzzle oval, SU punch board used
for ribbon, Spellbinders curved rectangles and light blue ribbon
flower accent from my stash

Inside of Card 2 using Spellbinders curved rectangles
and Labels One dies with the Sending Love sentiment
from the Seven Christmas Birds set

Now head on over to Angela's blog and see what she has created.

Thanks for hopping with us today!! :)  The hop will end on Monday, July 7th at 6 a.m. EDT.  Winners will be posted on the From the Heart Stamps Blog on Wednesday, July 9th.  Good luck to you!

Inky Hugs,



P.S. - I have linked up at Lisa D's Christmas Link-Up too.  If you create your Christmas cards early, check out her blog!!

Frosty Images for a Muggy June Day

We have a blog hop coming up on July 4th (Christmas in July), and you won't want to miss it!! 

 I have been playing around with some Christmas images from FTH.  I will be making more, so here are a couple I can share with you a little early, but don't forget to stop back and see the rest on July 4th!!  I just adore these Seven Christmas Birds, and Faith's example image was so much fun to try and duplicate.  I think I will make a ton more like this for my Christmas cards this year.  :)

Image:  Seven Birds Christmas
Papers:  Scrap pieces from DCWV - snow and snowflakes,
SU blue and Neenah white
Tools/Accessories:  Corner rounder punch, Spellbinders Curved Rectangles dies,
1 inch circle punch, SU large oval punch, Martha Stewart lacy punch, Spellbinders
small ovals and small scalloped oval sets and of course Copic markers

Image:  FTH Trimming the Birdhouse
Papers:  SU real red, DCWV Christmas pack, BasicGrey Wassail scrap.
Tools: SU large oval punch, Spellbinders largest small oval and largest small scalloped oval die
Colored image within Adobe PSE (need more practice at that)

Seven Christmas Birds closeup

Inky Hugs and cooler nights to you all! :)  Hoping these wintery images help you feel a little cooler if you are having muggy days/nights as well.

Entering these cards quickly into Lisa D's 12 month Christmas link-up.  If you haven't started making your Christmas cards yet, you may want to get a jump on them and link up at Lisa's page here too!  You get a free Christmas digi paper each month that you complete at least 2 cards - now that's incentive!!

I.T. Ladybug for Summertime

We had a wonderful weekend with family and friends, and this card just flowed.  My hands weren't very steady though, and the coloring isn't perfect, but ... it sure was fun to make it.

The cute ladybug image was created by Kris at Imagine That Digis.  You should really check out her new designs for June, which can be found here.

Image:  Imagine That Digis by Kris Ladybug with Watermelon
Paper:  Neenah white cs, SU real red cs, SU DP and BasicGrey Lemonade dp
Color Medium:  Copics and sponged SU Summer Sun
Tools/Supplies:  Spellbinders circle dies, lacey circle dies, SU ribbon and gingham buttons

Inky Hugs,

Still a Spring Chick! :)

Today's card was created with a few of my girlfriends in mind.  The sketch I used was From The Heart's I {heart} Sketches #72 using the twist of warm reds, oranges and yellows!! :) With the Summertime fun

fast approaching, this Sketch will be held for 2 full weeks to give you all extra time to play along.  So,

please upload your photo to play along at the FTH blog by July 6th.

We can't wait to see what you come up with too!  :)

Image: Birthday Candle Birdbrain 
Papers: pale yellow and light red-orange Bazzill card stock and
Stampin Up red, only orange, summer sun and barely banana cs 
Coloring Medium: prismacolor pencils and Gamsol Tools/Other Supplies: SU large oval punch, Spellbinders circles and scalloped circles,
sheer orange ribbon w/white polka dots.

This was a fun sketch, and I hope you get a chance to play along too.  See you there!!

Inky Hugs,

Bugaboo Challenge Weekend

Have you seen the fun, monthly Bugaboo Challenges?!  I have been wanting to play along with Bugaboo's challenges for a couple of weeks lately, as it has been a while since I have used my Bugaboo images.  This month's Bingo Challenge is the following:

Well, I pulled out this cute little turtle guy last week and colored him with my Copics and finally got him on a CAS card today.  I used the top line on the bingo card. Squares on the card (rectangles are squares right?); three layers are under the image itself, and I used both yellow and hot pink, which I think looks great with that green on the turtle :)  What do you think?!

Image:  Turtle Flowerpot
Papers:  Pale Yellow Bazzill cs, SU hot pink (rose red) cs and Neenah white cs.
Tools/Supplies:  Spellbinders rectangles and scalloped rectangles, Copics and pink rhinestones.

Inky Hugs,