Monochrome birthday

While searching for a piece of purple scrap paper for the hat on yesterday's card, I came across this piece of embossed paper.  It didn't take long to turn it into a birthday card for another of my Red Hat friends celebrating a June birthday.  

The birthday stamp is from CTMH.  I used White Daisy ink and gave myself a pat on the back for not smearing it!  I'm still contemplating the addition of white pearls in the center of all the punched x's, or maybe just 3 across the top embossed strip.

Challenges:

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - Embossing (I used 3 different embossing strip folders to make this card.)

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #114 - Anything Goes 

Craft Your Passion Challenge #314 - Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #165 - Monochrome

Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #59 - Polka Party (I used a dotted embossing folder)

Craft Rocket Challenge #16 - Monochrome

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Embossing 

 

My Mojo Monday Make

It's the 5th Monday of May! 

How did that happen already?  

There are 6 birthdays in June among my Red Hat friends. I thought I'd get started on those cards and use today's Mojo Monday Tall & Skinny sketch.  

Generally, I'm not too fond of the T&S sketches.  But, you can let objects hang off the edge and not worry about the card fitting in the envelope.  This card base measures 3.5" x 5.5".
Every time I go to a stamping/scrapbooking show or store, I search for hat dies.  This is the first one I've found, by Ellentina Cutting Dies.  Included in the die set is also a pair of gloves and a pair of shoes.

Challenges:

Mojo Monday Challenge #450 - sketch

 

613 Avenue Create Challenge #178 - Anything Goes

Cut It Up Challenge #97 - Use any sketch 

Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge Week #20 - Birthday 

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #110 - Bingo  (using right column: emboss, diecut, ribbon)

 

As You Like It Challenge - Big or Little Bows   (I love making little bows.  They are cute, dainty, use up my ribbon scraps, and often quite a challenge.)

TTFN!

Bugaboo Bird

Catch the Bug has a photo inspiration challenge this week that sent me in search of a bird.  I sized, I printed x3, I fussy cut, I paper pieced, and I planned to let the finished image sit and maybe use it on my Mojo Monday card tomorrow, depending on the sketch.  Needless to say, it didn't sit very long before I had it glued to this card:

Papers and sentiment stamp used are from CTMH; scalloped circles are cricut cuts from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge; stitched circle die is from La La Land; and I used my Craft-Dee Bowz Maker for the yellow sheer double bow.

inspiration photo

Today I am entering these challenges:

Catch the Bug May Challenge - Photo Inspiration

613 Avenue Create Challenge #178 - Anything Goes with an anything goes twist

Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #59 - Polka Party

One Stitch at a Time Challenge #263 - Stitching, real or faux (stitched circle)

My Time to Craft Challenge #322 - Paper Piecing

Just Add Ink Challenge #313 -  'B'   (Bird)

 

 

 

A bee in my tea!

What would you do if you found a bee in your morning tea?  

your very first cup of the day?  

That's how my day started.

As the bee was boiled, still in one piece, and quite dead, I plucked it out of the cup and took my first, wonderful sip of the day.  

Unfortunately, the insect was too soggy to 'look good on a card'.

*****

Last week a friend posted a snake her daughter, age 9, had drawn.

I told her Layla could draw some pictures for on my cards.  It was really very good.   A few days ago I received a colored drawing of a fish in the mail.  I did some sizing, some flipping, some copying and some fussy cutting and used it for her parents' anniversary card.  

Won't they be surprised!

original drawing by Layla age 9 (oh my, she might be 10 already!)

Challenges I am entering:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #156 - Anything Goes + a sentiment 

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #102 - Under Water

Digi Stamps 4 Joy May Challenge #124 - Anything Goes & ribbon

The Ribbon Girls May Challenge - Any Image

 

My DH just made me another cup of tea and offered to retrieve the bee from the trash for garnishment.  Isn't he sweet!

 

Slam Dunk Father's Day

With grandsons very active in various sports, I tend to pick up lots of sports themed stamps.  I recently won a digi set from Sparkle n Sprinkle and added a great baseball and basketball set to my collection.  This Father's Day card features both a basketball player and sentiment from the set.

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:

DRS Designs Challenge #228 - Play Ball 

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #365 - Father's Day/Male

Aud Sentiments Challenge #156 - Anything Goes + a sentiment 

DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #181 - Boys/Men

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Connie Can Crop Challenge #46 - Dads and Grads

I'm glad you stopped by.  Have a great day.

 

Mother Owl's Rockin' for W2CB#29

Four pieces of Pie for five People... is an inspirational message about motherhood and this month's challenge theme at

 Words 2 Craft By Challenge.  

I didn't get a chance to post this Mother's Day card earlier.

 (I was making cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids faster than I could post them.) 

So, I'll take this opportunity to post it now and enter their challenge.

The digital owl stamp is from TLC Creations and sentiment stamps are CTMH.

I am also entering... 
Sasayaki Glitter May Challenge - Mother's Day 
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #251 - Feminine
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #317 - Pastel Colors
Love to Scrap Challenge #78 - Anything Goes
Critter & Creatures Linky Party # 4 - AG with a critter or creature as the focal point
Craft Your Passion Challenge #313 - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #113 - Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #295 with Digital Delights

This week Design Team B at Tuesday Throwdown Challenge is working with delightful images from Digital Delights using the theme For a Child.  I've chosen Farmer Mitzi because the digi reminds me of my red haired cousin who still keeps a chicken coop of chickens and has some little peeps of whom she is especially fond - her granddaughters.
 
The Tuesday Throwdown DT has some awesome inspiration cards to share with you this week... Monkeys, Pirates, Pam's Farmer Mitzi at sunrise has some great coloring, and there's the cutest pup on a park bench.  You really should head over to the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog and the DT blogs to see them all and leave my teamies some love.  We look forward to  seeing your cards For a Child and visiting you, too.

Wouldn't it be fun to win a prize from our sponsor,
Digital Delights?  
You have until Monday, 5/30 to link up your project. 

********

I am entering this card in....

Cutie Pie Challenge # 99 - Escape to the Country

Craft Your Passion Challenge #313 - Anything Goes 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #113 - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #16 - Anything Goes

Digi Choosday Challenge - Birthday Celebrations

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes

More Mojo

Sometimes the best remedy for a stressful day is a bit of crafting.  Luckily, I had just enough time before starting dinner, to make a second Mojo Monday card.   Once again using a Stampers Anonymous Crazy Bird stamp, Graduation sentiment from DRS Designs, "Bravo" CTMH stamp, this card features more greens and browns, the forest colors requested in the current DRS Challenge.

  

Challenges: 
DRS Designs Thursday Challenge #227 - Inspired by Color
 
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #449 -

Crafting From The Heart Challenge #113 - Always Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #313 - Always Anything Goes
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - For the Boys


That's the last post for today.  But be sure to come back tomorrow for some Tuesday Throwdown Challenge inspiration.

Early Bird Mojo Monday Card

Using a combination of stamps from Taylored Expressions, DRS Designs*, CTMH, and Stampers Anonymous, papers from CTMH, punches, an ODBD die, and some CTMH shimmer trim, my Mojo Monday card is ready for posting.  

*(The Graduation sentiment is from DRS and you can find it  here.)

Think this would be suitable for my son who is receiving a Doctorate in Education?

Challenges I am entering this morning are: 

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 449 -  

 

613 Avenue Create Challenge #177 - Anything Goes w/ Make Your Own Challenge twist (A2 card; Graduation; Gold)

 

Stampin Royalty Challenge #330 - Graduation 

Well, I'm happy I got my Mojo finished early.  Lots on the agenda today.  At least the sun is shining.

One Layer Catch the Bug Card

What a craze the new adult coloring books have become!
You see them everywhere.  The variety of designs is endless.  
Today I thought I'd make a coloring page card featuring a spotlight technique.  I love all the owls.


The new digital coloring pages at Bugaboo Stamps are fabulous.  I send most of my cards to Send a Smile 4 Kids to be distributed to patients in Children's Hospitals.  I'm hoping these will be a hit with the older girls.  And, I'm hoping Bugaboo adds a few more coloring page designs to their store.

This is my entry in the current Catch the Bug May Bingo Challenge, following the top row - One layer, Bugaboo Image, Player's Choice - washi tape.

 

I used a La La Land stitched circle die, colored just that section with markers, and inlaid it back into the page to keep it one layer.  At the bottom I added a strip of glitter trim, washi tape and a few gems.

Here are a few more challenges I am entering:

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #189 - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #199 - Anything Goes
Crafting with Friends Challenge #21 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz Challenge #325 - Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft Challenge #29 - Anything Goes

Puzzling Challenge at The Stamping Boutique

Challenge themes are interesting.  They seem to run in spurts.  When there is an upcoming holiday many of the challenges reflect that in their theme.  The same goes with seasons e.g. April Showers; May Flowers; June Weddings....  Then you have the technique challenges, highlighting new items in the stamping market, dies, watercolors....  It's fun to play the embellishment challenges, loading up a card with flowers, ribbon, lace, sequins, wood, metal, gems, glitter... There are the sketch challenges, color challenges, bingo, tic tac toe, sentiments.... Everyone enjoys the Anything Goes challenges.  The large number of entries proves that.  Personally, I like to be able to combine challenges, which can be a challenge itself.  

You might be wondering where I am going with all this?  

Here's the thing - 

I am totally puzzled as to why no one is entering the current challenge at The Stamping Boutique.  I figure I am sure to be the winner.  It's the second week and my card is the only entry.  And just for good measure, I made another card for their challenge.  

 The digi image is Word Search Brat Birthday Boy from Bugaboo Digi Stamps. I colored the images with ProMarkers; printed a couple extra balloons, fussy cut, gave them a coat of glitter glaze and popped them.  The card is a bit larger than I usually make, but it will make doing the puzzle easier.  Plus, my friend collected a pile of unused envelopes, in great colors and sizes, from the lady changing the card display at the grocery store.  

Challenges I am entering: 

The Stamping Boutique Challenge - Puzzle Cards

Brown Sugar Challenge #199 - Anything Goes 

Polka Doodles Challenge Week #20 - Birthday Celebrations

Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday + optional  Add Dimension

Digi Choosday Challenge Weeks 20/21 - Birthday Celebrations

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Bright Colors 4 Kids

 

Grad card for TE Share the Joy Challenge

It's hard to believe that my friend's son just graduated from college.  This super easy card is for Chip.  

 Pre-colored digi image and sentiment are from Beccy's Place.

Challenges:

TE Share Joy Challenge #36 - Sketch & Clean and Simple

 

Beccy's Place May Challenge - Anything Goes with one of Beccy's images (freebie available)

Alphabet Challenge - F for Furry Friends

Creative Corner Challenges - Clean and Simple

Stampin' Royalty Challenge #330 - Graduations

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #120 - Man's Best Friend 

 

 

 

Special delivery

The current theme for Challenge # 266 at Die Cuttin Divas is Bike Week.  

Other than a few digi stamps, this is the only bike stamp I could remember owning.  It's colored with Pro-markers, with a touch of clear Wink of Stella on the gray part of the bike frame.  I used 3 different sizes of La La Land stitched circle dies, two are inlaid and the third is popped.  The bike and 'for you' sentiment are CTMH stamps.  The 'special delivery' stamp is from Taylored Expressions.

The bottom black border is punched and the top black and white gingham border is adhesive backed fabric ribbon. 

This card will be going in my next box for Send a Smile 4 Kids, as it is suitable for one of the older girls for any occasion.  

I thought about sending it to Carol for her birthday, but then I couldn't post before the challenge deadline without Carol seeing it.  So, I'm headed back to the craft room to make her card.  

Challenges I am entering today include:

Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #266 - Bike Month 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #112 - Always Anything Goes 

Craft Your Passion Challenge #312 - Always Anything Goes 

The Ribbon Girls May Challenge - Any Image + ribbon
I Love Promarkers Challenge #309 - Anything Goes 
Scrapy Land Challenge #402 - Anything Goes
Stampotique Designers Challenge #245 - Circles

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a great day!  We actually have sun here in Pennsylvania!

 

Red Hat Cards & CTMH Card Class 5/17/16

Busy, busy.  I've had 2 consecutive days of card making classes.  Monday I taught a class for some Red Hat friends.  

Tuesday I went to Joyce's CTMH card class.  

Today I have time to share. 

May Flowers was my theme for Monday's cards.

Here are my sample cards:

You might recognize the last 2 designs.  

We made cards like these at Joyce's class  few weeks ago. 

****

Happy Times was Joyce's theme for Tuesday's class.  All of the cards used the Happy Times stamp set, which matches the Happy Times paper, both of which are only available from CTMH in May.

Here are 3 of the 4 cards we made:

I accidentally left my 4th card on the table at Joyce's.  But she was kind enough to send me a photo, so I could include it in my post....

******

 And, finally, here's a Father's Day card I made using a lot of really old scraps and Inkadinkadoo stamps.

Challenges:

DRS Designs Challenge #226 - It's a Guy Thing 

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #59 - F is for fugly 

Sunny Day Crafting Challenge #7 - Country or Farm Theme

Cards und More Challenge #158 - Masculine Cards 

Cutie Pie Challenge #99 - Escape to the Country 

Enjoy your day !

AJ Race Car Driver from The Stamping Boutique

Here's a second card using the same digi, AJ Race Car Driver from the Stamping Boutique, as I used yesterday for my Mojo Monday card.  In fact, the layout is almost the same.  This time I printed the digi and then ran it through the Cricut using a jigsaw puzzle cut on the CTMH Artistry Cartridge because the theme of the current challenge at The Stamping Boutique - Puzzle Time.  I lightly edged each piece with a dauber. making the cricut cuts more distinguishable.

Inside the card is a pocket to hold the same puzzle pieces so the recipient can assemble and color the picture himself.  

I'm thinking my nephew, who will be 'graduating' preschool and heading to kindergarten next year, will just love this!

Challenges:

The Stamping Boutique Challenge  -  Puzzle Time

Cards in Envy Challenge - Deep Blue 

Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #126 - Add some Embossing 

 

Mid-Afternoon Mojo Monday Card

Usually, I have my Mojo Monday card started before the water for my morning tea starts to boil.  Today, I was up and out early to teach a card class for some Red Hat friends.  That was followed by lunch, and a bit of shopping on the way home.  (I bought some unusual and very beautiful begonias.)  Once home, though, I fired up the computer; checked out the Mojo Sketch, and got right to work.  

The digi image is from The Stamping Boutique; DP is by CTMH; Sentiment is CTMH stamped in White Daisy ink.  I colored the image with promarkers and used Gold Wink of Stella for the flag sticks.  The headlights have a big drop of CTMH Liquid Glass on them for a clear look.

Challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 448 

 

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #112 - Anything Goes 

Craft Your Passion Challenge #312 - Anything Goes 

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Transportation 

613 Avenue Create Challenge #176 - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge #155 - Anything Goes + a Sentiment

Moving Along with the Times Challenge - Man or Boy 

The Male Room Challenge #35 - Transport 

 

Doodle Pantry Bird Playing Ball

For this card, I've combined 2 digis and a stamp in a CAS design.  The pre-colored baseball bird is from Doodle Pantry; the baseball alphabet letters, also precolored, are from Imagine That! by Kris B; and the Father's Day stamp is from Close to My Heart.  

Challenges: 

613 Avenue Create Challenge #176 - Anything Goes, no twist 

Crafting When We Can Challenge #119 - CAS

Ants in My Pantry Digital Challenge #17 - Anything Goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - No Designer Paper

 

Nuts about Bugaboo Father's Day Digis

Aren't these 2 Bugaboo digis great fun for Father's Day or Dad's Birthday?  In reality, most little ones are nuts about those big nuts just about everyday!

Personally, I'm nuts about Bugaboo digis.  They are great for the kid-oriented cards I make to send to Send a Smile 4 Kids.

Challenges:

Catch the Bug May Challenge - Anything Goes 

Moving Along with the Times Challenge #20 - Man or Boy

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #119 - Dig It!  (You have to dig up peanuts. Hope that's not too much of a stretch for your theme.)

 

The Great Save! using an Ai Stamp for a Red Hat Birthday

Last Wednesday, on the way back from a Red Hat luncheon, Mom and I stopped at Pet Smart for a few items for Mom's new cat, Angel.  It just so happens, Pet Smart is right next to Michael's where I picked out a few sheets of sale paper and flowers I just had to have. Unfortunately, the 50% off coupon I was carrying only applied to regular priced items.  What better way to spend it than on an Ai stamp set that would be great for Red Hat cards! 

I knew I had a card to make for the 15th.

Last night, while attempting to fall asleep, 

I remembered that I had a card to make for the 15th.  

Not a problem.  It was this morning's first order of business.  

I'm not including the mundane everday stuff like making the bed, getting breakfast, getting dressed.... 

I stamped the image, multiple times on various paper scraps, so I could do some paper piecing.  Then I headed to the patio table with the images, markers, pencils, scissors and my tea.

We haven't seen sun in a while and I wasn't wasting it! 

When everything was colored and fussy cut I came back inside to complete the card and get it in the mailbox before the mailman arrived.  Mission completed!

So, while the liquid pearls dried, I got an envelope and my birthday/mailing list.  Whoops!  I needed 2 cards for the same day, only it wasn't the 15th, it was TODAY!!  I got out another envelope.  If I changed the hat and feather from red to purple, one of the cards I had would work fine.  And I didn't have to hurry, because the mailman just went up the street and both cards were already late. 

Before I put the cards in their respective envelopes, I took the card with the fun Ai stamp upstairs to show my DH.  It was my favorite and a lot of work.  As I was patting myself on the back for all the intricate fussy cutting I had done,

I saw it! 

Do you see it?

 Look closely!

BTW, this is the second card I altered to fit the occasion:

I not only changed the hat, but changed it from a side fold to a top fold, because I stamped the Happy Birthday inside the wrong way.

Yeah, it's one of those days!

So did you find my oops?

Would you believe, I dug out the scrap paper I had used and there in the middle was one, tiny, unscathed hand? 

I colored it, cut it out, and saved the card.

 

 I am entering these challenges: 

Art Impressions Challenge #184 - Laugh with you!
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #363 - Birthday 
Sassy Studio Designs Challenge #333 - Anything Goes 
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday + Coloring (Dresses and polka dot hat trim are paper pieced.  Everything else was colored with pencils or markers.)
Southern Girls Challenge #134 - Anything Goes 
Through the Purple Haze Challenge #101 - Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #71 - Polka Dots or Stripes
Scrapy Land Challenge #41 - Anything Goes + Die sold by Scrapy Land (I used 3 of the Heart Oval Dies by Spellbinders.)

 

Ombre card

In the wonderful goodie bag I received at a recent crop were a few sheets of ombre double sided patterned paper.  This one, in particular, caught my eye. 

After embossing the paper, I paired it with a tag made from a few homeless scraps of paper that were floating around on my table, a CTMH trophy and word stamps,  a punched border strip, and a few enamel dots for this Father's Day Card. 

Challenges:
Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #126 - Embossing 
Little Red Wagon Challenge - Let's hear it for the boys
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge - Tag It!
Lemon Shortbread Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Emboss It
Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge - For Dads or Special Males (From the Kids)

Have a wonderful day!
Please feel free to scroll down through some of my recent posts for Tuesday Throwdown Challenge, the Joyful Stars Blog Hop, 2 Mojo Monday cards.....
 

Tuesday Throwndown Challenge #293 with Crafty Girl Creations

In this area of Pennsylvania, I try not to plant my annuals until closer to the end of May.  We still get some chilly nights.  But, a good hardy pansy can withstand the colder temps.  For those of us anxious for color in our gardens, pansies are the way to go.   

 

And that's why I chose the Pansies digital stamp from Crafty Girls  Creations  to use on my DT inspiration card for this week's Tuesday Throwdown Thinking of You Challenge.

 I also thought it would look great with my pansy border punch.  Then when I was making the card, I forgot all about using the punch.

It was so nice of Crafty Girls Creations to sponsor us this week.

I hope you'll be able to play along and maybe win one of their lovely digital designs.

I've used a yellow card base, topped with textured purple paper.  The image was printed on white CS, paper pierced around the swirls, colored with pencils and purple Wink of Stella in the flower centers.  The sentiment is a CTMH stamp.  The die cut is from Our Daily Bread.  

I'll be entering these wonderful challenges:

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - May Flowers (I used the Cuttlebug for the die cut.)

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #251 - April Showers bring May Flowers 

The Ribbon Girls May Card Challenge - Anything Goes with a ribbon

 

Don't forget to join us for this week's Tuesday Throwdown Thinking of You Challenge.   I look forward to visiting your blogs.

Joyful Stars May Blog Hop

Welcome to the Joyful Stars May blog hop, where a group of talented Close to My Heart consultants, and me, gather to share ideas with you in a fun blog hop.  

CTMH just released their newest Seasonal Expressions catalog, full of new products.  For my card, I've used one sheet of new double sided paper from the Magical paper pack to make this locking gate fold card.

Card #1

* Challenges to which I am submitting this card can be found at the bottom of the post.

We made a card similar to this in Joyce's card class and I really like the fold.  The card below uses stamps from the May Stamp of the Month.  Scroll down or use the link to see the inside and the other cards we made with this set.

 

The die cuts on my Father's Day card are from the CTMH Artistry Cricut Cartridge.

The sentiment and frame stamps are from the 

CTMH Framed stamp set. 

Now, since this is a blog hop you might have arrived here from Marie's blog.

Your next stop is Andrea Sherman's blog.  The hop is circular. So if you are just starting here, simply continue hopping until you find your way back, making the full circle.  If you get lost, the complete list of participants is on Joyce's blog.

Wait!
Don't go yet!
Here's a second Father's Day card I made following this week's Mojo Monday Sketch # 447 and using the same Magical paper packet and a CTMH Happy Father's Day Stamp (M1134).

Card #2

Challenges for Card #1 (at top of post):

Cards und More Challenge #158 - Masculine Cards
Lemon Shortbread Challenge #15- Anything Goes
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Cards for Dads or Special Males from the Kids

Challenges for Card #2:

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #447

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge May 10-16 - Anything Goes

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #111 - Always Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #311 - Always Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps Challenge #126 - Sentiment, no image 

Now you may hop on over to Andrea's blog. 
Thanks for stopping by.