Wedding Card

Today I dug out my prettiest off white papers to make a wedding card for my granddaughter.  These papers were selected with much care, each having it's own texture.  They were from a challenge prize a long time ago.  You may have to look very closely to see the faint stripe in the top sheet, the gloss on the die cut in the upper  left corner, and the fabric design of the layer on top of cs and below the pale pink glitter.  That makes a lot of layers.

(Inspired by a card on Pinterest)

 Those 2 pink pearls have got to go, now that I look at the photo.  I colored them with a promarker which matched perfectly, but dried too pink.  I will switch them to white pearls before I give her the card.  I didn't know if I had ribbon that would work.  Then, to my surprise, I came across a yard of this pretty ribbon with tiny hearts, also a challenge prize from long ago.  The corner dies are from Our Daily Bread Designs.  And the little flowers were punched.

Now I must find the perfect sentiment to wish her all the happiness she deserves!

Challenges:

Pile It On Challenge #153 - Lots of Layers

Craft-Dee Bowz April Challenge - AG 

Path of Positivity Challenge #68 - AG twist Happiness 

Joy of Sets Challenge - Tic Tac Toe (I used the first column: Wedding, Glitter, Die Cut)

 613 Avenue Create April Challenge #220 - AG

Kid Friendly Birthday Cards

Thought I'd use the new set of Tim Holtz robot stamps I purchased at a stamp show in Florida, to make some kid friendly masculine birthday cards for SAS4K.  

This is my favorite, 

and I'm entering it in a few challenges:

Craft Rocket Challenge #58 - For Men or Boys

Seize the Birthday Challenge #163 - AG 

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #336 - AG

Through the Craft Room Door Week of April 9th - AG

Love to Scrap Challenge #120 - Male Call 

Joyful Stars Close to My Heart April Blog Hop

Welcome to the April

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.

 Have some fun hopping between the blogs of this group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, where we share creative projects using CTMH products.

I've made a fairly simple birthday card to share with you this month. 

Now, since this is a blog hop,

you might have arrived here from  Krista Hershberger's blog.

Your next stop is Joyce Gough's blog.  

The hop is circular.

If you are just starting here,

simply continue hopping until you find your way back,

making the full circle.

Challenges:

Unicorn Challenge #42 - Spots and/or Stripes 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #429 - AG 

Always Fun Challenges #105 - Flowers 

Crafty Friends Challenge #107 - Happy Birthday

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #336 - Tic Tac Toe  (fern, sugar plum, charcoal)

  

Double Trouble Challenge #25 Card 2 & Mojo Monday #513

The last time I made a card for Mojo Monday was June 5, 2017.  That was sketch #500.  Apparently, Julee Tilman has resumed designing her wonderful sketches and is sharing them every other week on her Poetic Artistry blog.  Looks like I've missed 12 sketches, so I have some catching up to do.  But, I've never seen a Julee Tilman sketch I didn't like and couldn't wait to try.

Today I've used Mojo Monday Sketch #513 as my inspiration for my second Double Trouble Challenge card.

 

 I had stamped, colored and die cut a little owl to use on this card, but it was too big.  Instead I just fussy cut one from the dp and popped it right over an owl which had been decapitated when I sized the paper. 

That was the start of my second card of the day.

(I'm really supposed to be working on my income tax forms.)

 I was going to follow the Mojo Monday Sketch for this card, too.  But I didn't want to cover up the cute little fence with the rectangular layer.  I made the layer.  And then just decided not to use it.....on this card.

I used it on this card, instead.

Challenges:

Double Trouble Challenge #25 - wood, woodland creatures, Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #457 - 

  

Mojo Monday Sketch #513 - see above 

Allsorts Challenge week #514 - Sentiment in Focus

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Include an Animal

Dare 2B Artsy Challenge - Animals

Addicted to Stamps Challenge # 173- Lots of Layers (Papers, my choice, or Stamps)

Pile It On Challenge #153 - Lots of Layers

Mother's Day Trio

As I was putting away some of my papers today, I came across half a sheet of double sided patterned paper.  I didn't know quite where to put this lonely half sheet.  I set it aside and when everything else was properly stored, I made these three Mother's Day Cards.  They will be perfect to send off to Send A Smile 4 Kids.

The colored digi image is from Doodle Pantry.

I added the sentiments in my Paint program.

And that's what I do with a lonely half sheet of paper.

Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's April Patterned Paper Challenge - AG 

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #25 - AG

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #230 - That Special Someone

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics

Moo Mania Challenge #188 - Polka Dots

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday Challenge - Wings, Tails or Spring Blossoms

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #576 - AG

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - For Moms from Kids

A Gem of a Challenge week 6 - AG

Crafty Calendar Challenge - 1 ribbon; 2 or more designer papers

 

Hello Spring

Today I've made a card for the following challenges:
Love to Scrap Challenge #120 - Male Call
(Pin)spirational Challenge #235 - 
  
Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - Lovely as a Tree
The Male Room Challenge #108 - Spring 
Southern Girls Challenge - Frame It 
Moving Along With The Times Challenge #94 -  For a Man
DL.ART: Thankful Thursday Challenge #242 - Anything Spring
Craft Rocket Challenge #58 - For men/boys 
Aud Sentiments Challenge #224 - Easter/Spring Sentiment

Here's the card:

The background patterned paper was random stamped with a little bird's nest.  The tree and frame dies are by intricutz dies.  The tree was sponged with several shades of green and brown.  The textured paper behind it was lightly brushed with water colors.  Hello die is by Simon Says Stamps.  Sentiment stamp, wood birds and waxy flax nest are CTMH retired items;  Sentiment die by ODBD; Glitter paper from MFT.

Thanks for stopping by on this lovely spring day.

Double Trouble Challenge # 25

Much like the Mojo Monday Challenge*, which I miss terribly, I always check the Double Trouble Challenge every other Monday morning.  That usually gets my brain in gear.  The only problem with that is, my brain is anticipating crafting.  Consequently, I don't get much done until I've made a card for this fun challenge.

Challenge #25 is looking for something wood, woodland creatures,  and a link to the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge, also.

 First I looked for a piece of woodgrain paper (CTMH).  Then I found this fun paper with a fox, tiger and monkey in my stash.  And I pulled out the blue and yellow colors for the die cut (Honey Bee Stamps) and stamped sentiment (CTMH).  I used a light blue card base and just couldn't resist adding a little wood heart.

Now, as soon as I enter a few challenges, 

I'll be able to get on with my day. 

Challenges:

QKR Stampede Challenge #341 - AG

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 13 - AG 

A Gem of a Challenge Week 6 - AG

Double Trouble Challenge #25 - Wood, Woodland Creatures & Cupcake Inspirations

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #467 -  

 

*I recently discovered that Julie Tillman has relaunched the Mojo Monday sketches on her blog, Poetic Artistry, every other week. 

If you love Julie's sketches as much as I do, you might want to check it out! 

 

Butterfly Card

This morning I packed up all my craft supplies in preparation for our trip back north.  It will be sad to leave the sunny weather and my wonderful friends here.  But, I have a new great grandaughter, who I have yet to meet, and equally wonderful friends at home.

Today I thought I'd share this Smile card with you.  I saw something similar online and was intrigued with how the butterfly is attached on the inside of the card and is poked through a 1/4 inch slot so it also shows on the front of the card.

Challenges:
CCEE Stampers Challenge 1912 -  surprise element
Aud Sentiments Challenge #223 - Any Sentiment except Happy Birthday
Cut It Up Challenge #170 - Flowers
My Time to Craft Challenge #393 - Mother's Day or special female

 

Double Trouble Challenge #24 - Card #2

When I get a chance, I try to make 2 cards for the Double Trouble Challenge, one for each week.  Today I am sharing my second card for Challenge #24.

I picked up some gold foil for the cards in the post before this one and had enough to add something metallic to this card.

I love this car die, which I borrowed from a friend, cutting it in gold and also black and then off setting the two just a tiny bit.  The die for the gold foil corner is by Tim Holtz.  The "CELEBRATE" stamp is by CTMH.  And, if you squint a bit, you may be able to see the Happy Birthday embossing folder I used on the red background.

 

CHALLENGES:

Double Trouble Challenge #24 - Metallic + Transportation + enter the Brown Sugar Challenge

Brown Sugar March Challenge #288 -  Transportation

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #213 - Masculine 

Simply Create Too Challenge #147 - AG twist for a male

Die Cut Divas March Challenge -  AG

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge March 18-30 - For the Men or Boys 

 

Card Club at Seabreeze Rec. Ctr.

This afternoon was my last Card Club meeting here in The Villages until next year.  Below is the card we all made, with a few variations in colors and sentiments.

And here are a few more I made using the same layout, a set of pretty spring flower stamps from Crafts Beautiful magazine, and a sheet of patterned paper I just couldn't resist buying.

 I'm happy to have a few spring birthday cards ready for upcoming April birthdays.

 

Double Trouble Challenge #24

It took me a little while to figure out how I was going to play in this week's Double Trouble Challenge.  We are currently at our home away from home and I have limited supplies on hand.

The Troubles want to see something metallic and some type of transportation on projects this week.

Plato once wrote,  "Necessity is the mother of invention." 

Here is where necessity and Thing 1 and Thing 2 took me:

I used some CTMH papers, fussy cutting one biking dino to pop onto the biking dino on a die cut piece of patterned paper, which is glued to a die cut piece of aluminum foil on top of a matching blue die cut.  Then I added a simple sentiment.

Now I just need to link to the current Brown Sugar Challenge and Thing 3 will be happy, too.

Challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge #288 - Transportation 

Double Trouble Challenge #24 - Metallic, Transportation, and BSC link
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge March 2019 - AG 
Crafter's Cafe Challenge #215 - Borders or something Metallic
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Cards 4 Boys or AG
Through the Craft Room Door Week of March 19th - AG
Crafty Calendar March Challenge - For a Child

Ice Cream Weather

It has definitely been ice cream weather in Florida the last few days.  Today, using a set of stamps from Sunny Studio, I made a pair of birthday cards complete with ice cream cones.

 The sentiment doily pops through a matching opening in the front of the card, so it is visible when the card is open and closed.

The dies are by Spellbinders.  The ice cream cone was fussy cut.

Challenges:

Scrapy Land Challenge #109 - Anything Goes with dies sold at Scrapy Land (Spellbinders)

Through the Craft Room Door Week of March 11th - AG 

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 11 - AG 

QKR Stampede Challenge # 339- AG

As You Like It Challenge - Stencils or Dies (Dies are relatively simple to use.  And I haven't had that much experience with stencils to be happy with the results.) 

Mod Squad Challenge - Layered Looks (Not only did I use multiple layers of die cuts, but the ice cream cone and cherry were stamped in layers using a total of 8 different stamps.)

Scribbles Designs Challenge #75 - Yum Yum For the Foodie in You 

 

Easter Handbag

Today, while my DH played 9 holes of golf, I played with a handbag die set a friend loaned me.

These will be perfect gift bags with a bit of Easter grass, a few chocolates, and a gift card. 

The little chick with banner is a stamp with matching die  from CTMH, which I colored with watercolor pencils.  I also die cut a piece of craft foam to mount them on.  It gives the image a lot more stability than pop dots, especially those skinny legs and feet.

Challenges:

Sparkles Forum Monthly Challenge # 113- Include an animal

Die Cut Divas Challenge - AG 

Crafty Animals Challenge #24 - AG 

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #61 - AG 

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #24 - AG with a critter 

Get Creative Challenge #78 - AG twist anything but a card 

One Layer Card + Envelope Part 2

In order to make the card and envelope in yesterday's  post, I used a My Favorite Things matching die cut of the flower to mask an area on the card and envelope while I brushed ink around it.  

(I'll keep these with the stamp and die for future use.)

That also left me with a negative of the flower.  I adhered that to another piece of white cs and brushed color around the inside edge to create a second card and envelope.

 Flower stamp is from MFT, sentiment stamp is CTMH,

 

Background crossstitch canvas die is by AlteNew. 

I love the tiny bit of texture it gives the card.

And here are the two cards together.  Same stamp, two ways.

I like the pink one best.

How about you? 

Challenges:

2 Sisters on the Blog Challenge #25 - Clean and Simple 

Creatilicious Challenge #158 - AG optionasl CAS

Creations in Pink Challenge #7 - AG in mainly pink

Scrap from your Heart Challenge #31 - CAS

Southern Girls Challenge - Flora and Fauna

A Place to Start Launch Challenge - One layer card w/ matching envelope or AG

 Did you see the dinosaur display card that I made for the 

Joyful Stars Blog Hop?  Scroll down one post to see it.  

Thanks so much for your visit today! 

Joyful Stars Close to My Heart March Blog Hop

Welcome to the March

Close to My Heart Joyful Stars Blog Hop.

 

 Have some fun hopping between the blogs of this group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, where we share creative projects using CTMH products.

This month I've made a Double Display Card using the adorable Something Fierce paper pack from Close To My Heart.

Now, since this is a blog hop,

you might have arrived here from  Krista Hershberger's blog.

Your next stop is Joyce Gough's blog.  

The hop is circular.

If you are just starting here,

simply continue hopping until you find your way back,

making the full circle.

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:
Do-Al Creatives Challenge #127 - Fancy Fold
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Card 4 Boys or Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Week #510 - For a Child 
Crafty Calendar March Challenge -  For a Child
Double Trouble Challenge #23 - Thing #1: Green, Thing #3: Gold (sparkles), Thing #2: enter the Heart 2 Heart Challenge
Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Wearin' of the Green 

 

One Layer Card + Envelope Part 1

One layer cards are generally my least favorite cards to make.  They always look unfinished to me.  But, I really wanted to play in the A Place to Start Challenge, so here is a one layer card and matching envelope.  

(I will not promise to mail it this way.) 

 Flower stamp is from My Favorite Things, sentiment is by Close to My Heart.

Challenges:

A Place to Start Launch Challenge -  A Single layer card and matching envelope or AG

Crazy 4 Challenges #474 - Flowers 

The Flower Challenge #30 - Anything Goes

To see another way I used this flower stamp, check tomorrow's post.  And you might want to glance at the CTMH Joyful Stars Blog Hop post in between for a fun multifold dino card. 

Flowers for Barbara's Birthday

At the crop I attend on Saturdays, there are often stamping and scrapbooking items on a table, free for the taking.  This half sheet of flowered paper caught my eye.  Since my friend, Barbara, was soon having a birthday, I used it to make her card.  The center die cut is by Impression Obsession and the swirl die cut is by My Favorite Things.  The flowers were all fussy cut from the paper. 

 

Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge Week 4 - AG

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #228 - Flowers 

Make My Monday Challenge #91 - Something New (The circle die, butterfly, and paper)

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - For a Special Female

Just Us Girls Word Challenge #477 - Birthday

 

Double Trouble Challenge #23

They are sporting lots of green with a touch of gold over at 

Double Trouble Challenge #23.  And they've paired up with this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge, as well.

I started out making an altered double display card. It turned out so nicely I decided to save it for the March Joyful Stars Blog Hop this coming Sunday.  You might want to check back to see it.

Consequently, I was back to needing a card for this week's Double Trouble Challenge.  I decided to pull out one of the card fronts I made the other day using a baggie of CTMH paper scraps.  Things are pieced here and there, but you'd never know it.  

The stamps I used are from the retired March Word Puzzle stamp set  from Close to My Heart.

Additional challenges:

Cut It Up Challenge #168 - Clovers (I used dies for the stitched rectangle and the scalloped strip.)

Inkspirational Challenge #181 - Use your stash

Young adult male birthday card

As the grandsons move into their upper teens, making their birthday cards becomes more of a challenge.

No more cute animals or ferocious dinosaurs.

This card is for my oldest grandson, who will be 19 shortly.

I considered a Tim Holtz Crazy Bird, 

but decided to just use the Crazy Bird party hat.  

 Papers are from CTMH and the die cut is by Memory Box.

Challenges:

Country View February Craft Challenge - Black and White plus one (yellow, in this case)

Seize the Birthday Challenge #159 - Anything Goes 

Daring Cardmakers Challenge - Oh Man! 

Inkspirational Challenge #181 - Use Your Stash, Designer's Choice 

Crafty Catz Challenge #450 - Anything Goes with For A Boy Twist 

 

Double Trouble Challenge #22 - Magic Slider Card

Hello My Crafty Friends!

Today I wanted to try a die from Tattered Lace that I had received in a blog challenge a long time ago.  And it just so happened to be perfect for the "magic" element requested by Twisted Sister at Double Trouble Challenge #22.  

 I've made a tiny Magic Slider Card and attached it to the front of a normal A2 card.

 

 Trouble Maker supplied a Tic Tac Toe board this week.

 

I chose the middle row: sentiment, image. sparkle/glitter. 

The sentiment is a CTMH stamp and the image was a freebie magazine stamp.

Glitter foil is a fabulous way to get that sparkle without the mess. 

I used it on both the flourish and the butterfly.

And Double Dare wants everyone to also enter the Use Your Stuff Challenge #348 . 

Additional Challenges I am entering:

Little Red Wagon Challenge #484 - Move On!

A Gem of a Challenge Week 3 - AG

Crafter's Cafe Challenge #213 -  Fancy Folds or Embossing or both

Animal Friends February Challenge - Butterflies 

2 Sisters on the Blog Challenge #24 - More than 1 fold