Pink Pachyderm + CTMH Card Class 4/7/15

Here's another sheet of designer paper that I couldn't resist! 

I'm telling you it's an addiction!

I dug out a retired CTMH stamp set for the elephant and sentiment, paper pieced the ears, added a few skittles, a charm, bow, and white toe nails.  Pretty simple card.  I think this would make a really cute Mother's Day card from a kid, which is the current theme at the Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

Double Click Skittles Challenge #18 - funny or punny sentiment
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #222 - Anything Goes
Clear it Out Challenge - Anything Goes + Stash item: anything goes (it's all from my stash!)
Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #246 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Partytime Tuesdays Challenge #197 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #54 - Always Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #255 - Always Anything Goes
Through the Purple Haze Challenge #84 - Anything Goes

****************

This week at Joyce's card workshop we learned a new technique for making backgrounds.  It is called Bokeh.  First we wet the paper, added drops of ink with a water brush and swirled it around for a marbled effect, dried the paper, then stenciled white circles over top.  If you'd like to give this technique a try, there are several videos on You Tube explaining how to do it.

Here are the 2 Bokeh cards I made:

(If you squint, you can see the white stenciled circles.)

I really didn't like how the background on this first card turned out and wasn't even going to finish it.  In fact, I used the back of it as scrap paper while making my next 2 cards.  I guess it grew on me.  After running it through the cuttlebug, I liked it a bit more.  Unfortunately it really toned down the white stenciled circles. With the contrast paper and ribbon, it's okay, but certainly not a favorite.
 

This one turned out a little better.  No squinting required.

For this next card we used sponge daubers to rub ink onto dry paper before stenciling.  This I like much better because the colors are more vivid.

Of course, I must have laid it next to something and got a blue mark at the bottom. 
I'll work on disguising that later.

And finally, we made this cute kitty card using a new CTMH Friendly Pets stamp set and one of the new paper packs, Jackson (very masculine paper; I like it)
 

I must have been having a very OFF card day on Tuesday.  This poor kitty looks like it got sprayed by a skunk and then got a bath in tomato juice.  It doesn't do much for the stink, but leaves the cat a funny color.

Hope you are having a great craft day!
Thanks for stopping by!

Deedee's Digis April Guest Designer Card #2

Once again I'd like to thank Deedee for asking me to be the April Guest Designer.

This week I've made a lever card using one of the precolored images from Deedee's Digis Hello Spring Set. It was hard to decide between the adorable groundhog, bluebird, bunny and this cuddly bear.  

 

I started out with a plain, pale blue card base.  Then I decided it needed something more.  With a tiny flower stamp and some additional sponging, I quickly had a whole different look.

Have you gotten the set, Bloomin' Blessings, for Deedee's April Progressive Challenge, yet?  It's wonderful for Mother's Day.  And if you enter the challenge using any of the digis from the set, you'll get next month's digi set for free.  

Have a wonderful day!

This card has been entered in the following:

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #99 - Animal Magic 

Inky Impressions Challenge #204 - Spring is in the Air 

Little Red Wagon Challenge #284 - Spring is in the Air
Creative Corner Challenge - Animal Fun 
Through the Purple Haze Challenge - Anything Goes
Digi Sketch Challenge - Furry Friends

 

What a gorgeous Easter Monday!

The sun is shining on us in Pennsylvania today.  We may have spring afterall!  I even have wash hanging on the line for the first time this year! And I'm thinking an afternoon walk is a real possibility.

I know you aren't here for a weather forecast.  

You've stopped by to see my Mojo Monday Sketch Contest card

 

(Graphic 45 paper; CTMH stamps; Cheery Lynn die; CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge flowers)

Challenges for this card: 

Mojo Monday Sketch Contest #392

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #128 - Anything Goes w/ Flower Twist

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #54 - Anything Goes 

Bitten by the Bug Challenge - Spring Flowers

Craft Your Passion Challenge - Anything Goes

and this week's card for the  

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

(CTMH heartstrings paper, stamps, ribbon; SNS embossing powder)

Challenges for this card:

 Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #102

 

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #131 - Anything Goes

Mema's Crafts April Challenge - Die or Punch (I've used a scalloped border punch.)

My Creative Moments Monday Morning Challenge #5 - colorful creations

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A is for aqua 

Sparkle n Sprinkle April Challenge - AG with glitter, flock, or embossing powder)

Have a great day!

I'm going out to pick up the wash that's blown off the line.

Anyone recognize the paper?

Time to get a few Mother's Day cards made. 

I just received 2 stamp sets I won from the Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge and didn't waste any time trying out the All About Mom set by CC Designs.  I've added a few skittles and a flower from Reflections.  That reminds me they just released their summer colors

and I wanted to order a few while the shipping is free.  

So does anyone recognize the background paper I used?  You Stampin Up people should know this!

It's from the cover of the last Stampin Up promotional booklet.  You see, I didn't start out making a Mother's Day card.  I started out tidying up my craft table.  I just couldn't put that beautiful bunch of flowers in the recycle pile with the rest of the sale booklet.  And a card was born!  BTW, it's embossed with my favorite, go to, EF from SU.

This card is my entry for these challenges:

Challenge Up Your Life Challenge #12 - Embossing

Crafty Calendar April Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Crafty Catz Challenge #273 - Anything Goes

Card Mania Challenge #67 - Flowers

Crafty Hazelnut's April Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes

Recycle, Repurpose, Reinvent April Challenge - Anything Goes (background paper is recycled SU catalog)

Scrapbooker PhD Challenge #22 - Focus on a sentiment

Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #145 - Favorite Embellishments (love these skittles)

 

Vintage Bunny Paper

Paper addictions are a real problem.  I know.  I have one.  I just love all the designer papers available and have a hard time resisting purchasing more.  But because I have oodles of paper already, I usually try to talk myself out of adding to my stash.  This vintage bunny paper really caught my eye.  I didn't buy it the first time I saw it.  Rather, I made an extra trip back to the store to buy it.  I'm certainly glad that I did.  Now I wish I had bought more than 1 sheet.

Easter egg, pussy willow branches and sentiment stamps are all CTMH.  Glitter tape and bling, too.

This card has been submitted to the following:
Crafty Catz Challenge #273 - Anything Goes
Dream Factory Challenge #18 - Chicken Run or Easter Bunny 
Tinker-Dream Challenge #27 - Easter
Crafter's Cafe Challenge #110 - Easter
Crafting by Designs April Challenge - Anything Goes
Ruby's Rainbow Challenge #101 - Bunnies
Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #145 - Use Your Favorite Embellishments (Gems)

Speaking of bunnies....

Would you sit on this bunny's lap?  Could they find a creepier bunny?

My great-granddaughter certainly wasn't thrilled with the experience!

CTMH Card Class 3/31/15

There is a very fresh white cake with chocolate frosting sitting on the table next to my computer making it very difficult to concentrate.  But I will do my best.

Here are the 2 cards I made at Tuesday's 

CTMH Card Workshop at Joyce's.

We usually make 3 or 4 cards.  Unfortunately, in the middle of class, I received a call from my DH that we needed to go to my son's and get our grandson off the bus.    Joyce, very quickly, gave me an idea of the 2 remaining cards they would be making, the oval base and topper for one, and a piece of CS and template to make a braided card.  I quickly stamped 2 sentiments on a piece of white CS, (I would have stamped them on off white to match the oval base if I hadn't been in such a hurry.), collected my stuff and headed home.

I didn't get a chance to make my other 2 cards until Wednesday afternoon.  Here they are:

My first braided card:

And an Easter card:

inside

(closeup of the butterflies with acrylic wings)

I am submitting this last card to the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #128 - Anything Goes + Sentiment
DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #153 - Easter (butterflies and sentiments are CTMH stamps)
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #138 - Holiday (Easter)
Crafter's Cafe Challenge #110 - Easter
The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Come Fly with Me
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #177 - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Mellow Yellow
Creating in Faith Scripture Challenge FHL017 - Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time Challenge #233 - Anything Goes with Nature

April Guest Designs for Deedee's Digis #1

Thank you so much, Deedee, for asking me to be your Guest Designer for the month of April! Not only is it a great card month with Easter, Spring, April Showers, Mother's Day, but there are 5 Wednesdays and I've made 5 very special cards for you.  

I've been using Deedee's Digis on my cards for some time.  She even has her own 'label' on the right side of my blog where you will find the cards I make for the monthly progressive challenge. 

One of my favorite things about card making is all the fabulous folds.  My first GD card features Deedee's Digi Set - Uneggspected and an upright diamond fold card.  I used pencils to color the image so I could match my paper and ribbon, but there is a colored version available.

I'd like to submit this card to the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon Challenge # 283- Call the vet (use an animal)

The Paper Shelter Challenge #197 - Easter Time

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #221 - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - More than 1 Fold

Brown Sugar Challenge #139 - Easter

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe #219 - Easter