Unfinished cards and other stuff

Today I decided to clear some of the bits and pieces off my craft area.  Digis I printed, colored  and abandoned; half finished card fronts; those oopsies that needed some cosmetic surgery;  I'm sure you get the picture.  The simplest thing would be to scoop it all into the trash.  But that would be contrary to the whole philosophy behind this blog.  Frugal cardmaker that I am, not much hits the circular file.  

Last week I mixed some of my own paint to make a tag for the challenge at A Day for Daisies.  I was going to use a stencil to create the background.  I tried making one stenciled flower on a bit paper first before applying the paint directly onto the tag I had cut.  It turned out okay, so I started on the tag.  After I finished the tag, I took the remainder of the paint and brushed it onto a piece of scrap paper.  No sense wasting it.  

Here's how I cleaned the sample stenciled flower and strip of leftover painted paper off the table.  

And I had just enough ribbon on the roll to add a bow.

Next I got to work on the abandoned digis, both Bugaboo images I had printed, colored and never used.

The first image was Rudolph Presents, currently a freebie at Bugaboo stamps, and perfect for the pile of cards I'll be mailing to Send a Smile 4 Kids.

The second image that now has a home on this summertime birthday card is Beach Monkey Inner Tube, also a current freebie. 

 With the orange arrows secured by a brad, you can point them to whatever number, or numbers represent the recipients age.

 Here is the photo inspiration for the current challenge at Catch the Bug where I'll be entering this card.

This card has also been submitted to these additional challenges:
Creative Knockouts Challenge #151 - Birthday Wishes
Polkadoodle Challenge Week 28 - Summer
Chocolate Coffee and Cards Challenge #114 - Use a number
A Gem of a Challenge #174 - Animals
Eclectic Ellapu July Challenge - Purple Team - Life's a Beach
Come and Get It Challenge - Kids Cards
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #326 - At the Beach

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I did get a few more cards completed, but I'll save them to show you another day.

BTW,  all of the stamps I used for sentiments are from Close to My Heart.