Digi Darla's Challenge + CTMH Card Class 7/30/13

The theme for Digi Darla's Challenge #73 is Copy Cat.  There is a free digi image of an adorable mouse which must be used for the challenge.  I quickly printed up 3 copies of this cute little guy.   I always print multiple copies in case I want to pop a section or two.  Today I decided to make 3 cards:

I might print a few more and make a nice gift set.  

Here are the other challenges this little guy will be entering:
Southern Girls Challenge #74 - Animal Antics
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #44 - Animals
Daring Cardmakers - Creature Comforts
Digi Haven Challenge - Any Animal
Addicted to CAS Challenge #18 - Glitter
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #43 - Clean and Simple




As promised, here are the cards from yesterday's CTMH class using the July Stamp of the Month.  

(I'm still thinking I might color just the cherries bright red.)

If you like the stamp set, don't waste a minute.  Today is the last day you can order it and then it disappears.
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Mojo Monday Round Card

This is my second Mojo card for this week.  I don't usually make two but I was having a decision issue yesterday.  Round or Square card?  So I made both.  Monday I posted the square card, if you didn't see it and want to check it out. 
The digi image is from Bugaboo Stamps.  The red papers and holly leaf sticker are from a new My Minds Eye paper pack I received for being a teacher's assistant at the CKC convention.   I used the CTMH cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the gold scalloped circle, red circle and the circle card, which is actually behind the gold piece.  

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday # 304 - 

Get Inky Challenge #9 - Christmas in July and/or Birthdays
Make It Monday #151 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #12 - Anything Goes
Stamp and Create July Challenge - Christmas in July
Card Crafters Circle Challenge #85 - Christmas in July
Crafty Catz Challenge #193 - Christmas in July
Creative Corner Challenges - Christmas in July
Jellypark Friends Friday Challenges - Christmas in July
Jingle Belles Challenge - Sleigh Bells Ring
Scrappers Delights Challenge #4 - Inspired by a Song (Santa Claus is Coming to Town)
Partytime Tuesday Challenge #131 - Anything Goes
Bitten by the Bug 2 Challenge - Christmas in July (CTMH Art Philosophy Cartridge)
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #171 - Shaped Card
Clearly I Stamp Challenge # - Christmas in July


Stop back tomorrow to see the cards I made this afternoon at Joyce's Close to My Heart Card Workshop using the current Stamp of the Month pictured below.   Tomorrow is the last day you can order it.  Where did the month of July go????

Mojo Monday Square Card

The Mojo Monday #304 Challenge Sketch this week gives you a choice of round or square card.

It was a busy week-end starting Friday with the CKC show in Lancaster,  baseball games Saturday and Sunday in Perkasie (My grandson, Nick, got to pitch an inning.  He did awesome!), a trip to the orchard for peaches and 4 loads of laundry on Saturday, making a yummy peach pound cake and tea with Mom on Sunday.....  It's Monday.   I wasn't ready for decision making this morning.  Hence, I made a round and a square card.  So first the square card:

The digi image is from Bugaboo Stamps and the pretty brad from Close to My Heart.

Besides Mojo Monday, I am entering this in the following challenges:
Get Inky Challenge #9 - Christmas in July and/or Birthdays
Make It Monday #151 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #12 - Anything Goes
Stamp and Create July Challenge - Christmas in July
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #230 - Christmas in July with a Catch (This card measures 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 so it easily fits in an A2 envelope and will not require extra postage as it is only 1/8 inch thick.)
Sweet Stamps Challenge - Christmas Greenery
Sparkles Forum Christmas Challenge # 30- Christmas Trees
The Stamp Spot - Christmas in July Challenge
ABC Challenge - O is for O Christmas Tree
Crafting By Designs Challenge - Christmas in July
Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #57 - Christmas in July
Scrappers Delights Challenge #4 - Inspired by a Song (O Christmas Tree)

Nice Job! Way to Go!

For this Red Hat card I followed the sketch from the Catch the Bug Blog's Stella Says Sketch Challenge # 137 just because I liked the sketch.

I stamped the image twice so I could color, cut out and pop the butterfly and the hat. 

This card is my entry in the following:

Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes
Eclectic Ellapu Challenge - Yes, it's Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge # 30 - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #165 - Anything with Wings
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #134 - Anything Goes 
Inspire Me Fridays Challenge #113 - Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #17 - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #217 - For the Girls
Divas by Design Challenge - Anything Goes 
The Paper Shelter Challenge # 122- Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #90 - Anything Goes
Anything Goes Challenge #97 - Anything Goes
Oldie But A Goodie Challenge - Best Dressed (The red hat DP is ancient!)
Through The Craft Room Door Challenge - Anything Goes

Uh oh!!

Missed a birthday. 

How did that happen?

This cardstock is a very unusual shade of blue/purple.  Doesn't match any of my DP but looks great with black.  I used a little chalkboard technique, smudging the sentiment (CTMH) ink a bit and brushing the edge of the diecut lightly.  Then I used a chalkboard marker to make some faux stitching.  I stood in line quite a while at the CKC show in Lancaster yesterday for the pieces of 99 cent bling flourish which I used here.  The ribbon is an old stash item.

I'm entering the card in these challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge #17 - Anything Goes
A.R.T. Card Challenge #7 - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #54 - Anything Goes with a Ribbon
Dutch Dare Challenge #227 - In Stitches

Sympathy + CTMH Card Class 7/24/13

Unfortunately I needed to make a sympathy card this morning.

To arrive at the embossed pattern you see on the card, I took a rectangular piece of white paper and faintly marked the center of each side.   I scored the paper from mark to mark creating a diamond design.  Then I folded along each scored line and placed the folded paper in an embossing folder and ran it through my Cuttlebug.  Once unfolded, you see this interesting pattern with the diamond in the center. I used a digital image from Bugaboo Stamps  with just a touch of color on the flowers to match the background CTMH Dream Pop paper.

I will post this card to the following challenges:

Cards in Envy Challenge  - Layers

Aud Sentiments Challenge #85 - Sympathy/Thinking of You

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #54 - Anything Goes with a Ribbon

Paper Crafting Journey Challenge - Punches and/or Die Cuts

And here are the 4 cards we made yesterday at Joyce's Close to My Heart Card Class:

 You can check out Joyce's current events, including her class schedule on her blog.

Coloring at the Crop

I went to my 1st Crop on Sunday.  It was great.  Organized by Erin of The Dreamers Relay for Life Team, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, it was a combination Vendor Fair and Crop.   (Here is the link to their fundraising page, if you'd like to help them reach their $1500 goal. You can also check out their Facebook page.  If you live in the New Hope, PA area, maybe you can come to their next crop.) Some crafters were making cards and some scrapbook pages.  Joyce and Betty, both CTMH consultants, were on hand to help with cutting layouts on their Cricuts using the new CTMH ARTBOOKING cricut cartridge, lending an opinion here or there, and supplying card stock or items that had been forgotten.  Erin and her mom worked really hard and had wonderful raffle items and goody bags for the crafters.  A special thank you to all the companies that donated our goodies especially The Crafters Workshop.  Their contribution was awesome.

Since it was my first crop and I wasn't sure what to expect, I didn't take my whole craft room with me.  What I mainly took was a pile of digi images that I could sit and color in the comfortable AC.  Worked for me!  I purchased several Christmas gifts at the vendor fair and won 2 nice prizes in the raffle.  It was a fun day.  Can't wait for Erin to plan the next one. 

I did get one card partially completed while there.   I wanted to show this wonderful digi image from A Day For Daisies to the gals.  The digi image was printed twice; then one image was colored and fussy cut; on the second image only the flowers were colored, fussy cut, popped onto the first image and little pearls added to the centers.  Some glitter gel was added to the ribbon around the tree trunk. 

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I'll be entering this card in the following challenges: 

Crafting When We Can Challenge # 49- Floral
Gingerloft Challenge - Trees
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #111 - I don't need any more......  (Paper is my downfall.  Even though I tell myself I'm NOT buying any more, I see something cute and I can't help myself.  It's so addicting.)

Milk Coffee Challenge - Emboss It
A Day For Daisies Challenge #74 - Use a Die Cut
The Paper Shelter Challenge #122 - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations Challenge #51 - Embossing
Bunny Zoe's Craft Challenge July - Pink & White
Through the Purple Haze Challenge - Flowers

We made great cards at Joyce's CTMH card class this afternoon.  I'll be posting them tomorrow.  Please come back and have a look see!

Summer Picnics

Summertime foods and drinks are the best.  Seasonal fruits and vegetables.  Nice cold beverages.  ICE CREAM!!!!  As a child, I can remember my mother packing a picnic lunch for all of us before we traveled any distance.  Then there were roadside picnic tables available along the highway where we would enjoy our meal.  Now the rest areas come complete with various restaurant chains, vending machines and even gift shops.  No need for a picnic basket.  But my mother still packs that same tin picnic basket (painted with a basket weave design) with paper goods, plastic cutlery, etc. to use at our annual family reunion which isn't too far off.  Any Elliott's reading this?


When I saw the digi image I used on the card below, it went right in my cart. Not only do I love the packed basket, but the mustard and ketchup bottles make me smile. It was designed by Patti Gomez, and is available in her Etsy store, Pattie's Creations Digital Images. She also has a freebie available the first Friday of every month on her blog. 

 

I used 2 different paper packs for the layers, Dotty Paper a special pack last year from Close to My Heart and the Dear Lizzy Neopolitan Paper Pad from American Crafts and Kraft Paper for the die cut.  The little wood elements and sentiment stamp are also from Close to My Heart.  I put CTMH liquid glass on the ants and watermelon seeds to give them a glossy appearance.

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge #97 - Anything Goes 

Bearly Mine Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Inky Chicks Challenge #9 - Summer Colors

LEJ Designs Challenge #63 - Cute, Cute, Cute

Through the Craftroom Door July 23-29 - Anything Goes

Emergency Crafters Challenge - Summer

Ladybug Crafts July Challenge - Favorite Embellishment  (I love the tiny wood embellishments from CTMH and I almost always add some type of bow to my cards.)

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #51 - Dry Embossing

Digi Makeover Challenge #98 - Color It 

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #181 - Anything Goes

Make It Monday #150 - Anything Goes

Make It Monday Challenge with Kraft Outlet - Tie It On

Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #11 - Use a butterfly on your card
One Stitch at a Time Challenge #173 - Use Your Favorite....  (that would be polka dot paper)
Pumpkin Spice Challenge #29 - Summer
Digitally 'Sweet' Challenge #45 - Sunshine/Summertime
Sister Act Card Challenge #16 - Anything Goes
Wags n Whiskers Challenge # 108- Summer Fun

Finally!!!!

Using today's Mojo Monday Challenge #303 Sketch:

 

and Dynamic Duos Color Challenge #62

  

I finally used 2 items I found on clearance quite a while ago.... a deep coral and black ribbon and a sheet of various overlays. 

Here are a few other challenges into which I am entering this card:

Pile It On Challenge #29 - Thinking of You, Just Because

The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge #48 - Use something spooled (ribbon)

A Gem of a Challenge #89 - Anything but Square

Brown Sugar Challenge #51 - Anything Goes

Card Makin Mamas Challenge #51 - Monochromatic

Creative Corner Challenge #28 - Let it Sparkle

Crafty Creative Challenge #231 - Time to Sparkle

Sweet Stamps-anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown-anything goes

The Pink Elephant Challenge #209 - Monochromatic

Christmas in July with Bugaboo Stamps - Post # 7

Day # 7 of Catch the Bug Challenge Blog's week long Christmas in July Event.


Friday's Challenge is a Recipe Challenge.

All of the images I used this week are from Bugaboo Stamps, which is having a great 50% off sale for this Christmas in July Event.   This little mistletoe fairy I resized to make two rows of inchies.
The sentiment stamp, ribbon, bling and papers are from Close to My Heart.

Since this is my last card for this week long event, I am also entering it in a few more challenges:
Catch the Bug Challenge - Christmas in July week long Event
Clearly I Stamp Challenge - Christmas in July
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #133 - Inky Fingers
Polka Doodle Challenge #29 - Let it Fly
Stampin for the Weekend - Sparkle and Bling
Crimbo Crackers Challenge #46 - Anything (Christmas) Goes
My Craft Spot Challenge #104 - Christmas in July
Fab n Funky Challenge #179 - Christmas in July
Cuttin and Stampin Challenge - Christmas in July
Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge - Christmas in July

Christmas in July with Bugaboo Stamps - Post #6

Day # 6 of Catch the Bug Challenge Blog's week long Christmas in July Event.

Thursday's Challenge Theme was 'Tag You're It'



All of the images I used this week are from Bugaboo Stamps, which is having a great 50% off sale for this Christmas in July Event. 

Christmas in July with Bugaboo Stamps - Post #5

Day # 5 of Catch the Bug Challenge Blog's week long Christmas in July Event. 

Wednesday's Challenge Theme was 'Make Us Laugh'

All of the images I used this week are from Bugaboo Stamps, which is having a great 50% off sale for this Christmas in July Event. 

Christmas in July with Bugaboo Stamps - Post #4

Day # 4 of Catch the Bug Challenge Blog's week long Christmas in July Event.
Tuesday was a Bingo challenge.









I used an embossing folder to give my card a border all the way around, bling, and ribbon.

All of the images I used this week are from Bugaboo Stamps, which is having a great 50% off sale for this Christmas in July Event. 

Christmas in July with Bugaboo Stamps - Post #3

Day # 3 of Catch the Bug Challenge Blog's week long Christmas in July Event.


Monday's Challenge was a color challenge - chocolate, cream and raspberry.
All of the images I used this week are from Bugaboo Stamps, which is having a great 50% off sale for this Christmas in July Event. 

Christmas in July with Bugaboo Stamps - Post #2

Day # 2 of Catch the Bug Challenge Blog's week long Christmas in July Event.

Sunday was a sketch challenge which I turned sideways.


















I did some paper piecing on this jumbo sized mug.
All of the images I used this week are from Bugaboo Stamps, which is having a great 50% off sale for this Christmas in July Event. 

Christmas in July with Bugaboo Stamps - Post #1

Catch the Bug Challenge Blog is having a week long event, starting with a blog hop last Saturday and continuing with challenges every day this week.  Since it has been super hot this week, what could be better than spending the day in the AC making Christmas cards and using some fun digis from Bugaboo Stamps?

Here is my entry for Sunday's Challenge  'Show me your Santa', a shaker card with some ribbon from Love Bug Creations.

I love lemons! + CTMH Card Class 7/16

Lemon Pie, Lemon cookies, Lemon Pound Cake, Lemon Squares, Lemon Candy, Lemon Angel Food, and have you tried the Lemon Whoppie Pie Mix at A.C.Moore?

The freebie this month at A Creative Need is a lemon slice.  I contemplated making it a slice of lime because Key Lime Cheesecake and Key Lime Fudge are pretty tasty, too. But lemon is my first love when it comes to citrus fruits.  

This is my entry for the current challenge at A Creative Need Challenge # 9 - Fresh Fruit.

and also for these challenges:
Southern Girls Challenge - No Spoolin
One Stitch at a Time Challenge #172 - Use a Digi
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #156 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps Challenge #126 - Anything Goes
Sketch Saturday Week #267 with Simon Says Stamp!
 

By the way, I will gladly accept any lemon recipes with which you might like to tempt me. 

Here are the cards we made at Joyce's CTMH card class yesterday:

(Sorry, Joyce but I changed this one up a bit when I got home.

)

 Now it looks like this.

And I took a bunch of liberties with this card, originally intended to be a baby card, I made some adjustments to I could send it to my grand niece with some cookies she loves.

 The little giraffe was cut with the new CTMH cricut cartridge available Aug. 1st!

No stamping on this one

The other day a few of us were working on a technique that was new to me using stencils and embossing paste.  Most of my results were a little messy (it was my first time using the paste), but after fussy cutting the image it didn't even matter.  Here is a card I just made using a blazing sun - and since we are in the midst of a heat wave - I'd say it is apropos.

 

This was made with gold embossing paste, a bit of glitter and a touch of chalk in the center.

Papers are from the Close to My Heart retired Pemberly Paper Pack.  The sentiment is the border strip off one of the sheets in the pack.  

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Created With Love Challenge #50 - Anything Goes

Get Inky Challenge #8 - Summer Sun Fun

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #180 - Any Embossed Work

Make It Monday #149 with Bugaboo Stamps - Always Anything Goes

Crazy Challenge #149 - Without Stamps

Emergency Crafters Challenge - Summer

The Crafting Cafe - Summer's Here July Challenge

Amusing Challenges - Summer Theme

2 Sisters Challenge Blog # 152- Make It Sparkle

Playing with Pemberly Paper

Pemberly is one of my favorite paper packs from Close to my Heart.  I was organizing my overflowing paper drawer on Saturday, realized that I haven't used it for a while, and set it aside to make this week's Mojo Monday Card.     Usually I do my MM card first but today I also needed to make a Congratulations card and that should get in the mail asap.  Why not just combine the two, you might ask.  Originally that was my intention, but the Mojo Sketch just wasn't doing it for me right away.
Without further commentary, here is my first card for today:

 And here is the sketch and my entry for  Mojo Monday Challenge #302 :

I used the CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge to cut out the bow and stars.  The stamps are from a CTMH set called For Every Occasion.
(Tip of the Day:  Remember to place the strainer in the sink before washing your stamps.  I bid a sad goodbye to my little "Hi!".)