Prayers for Julia

My friend, Julia, is undergoing some medical tests and has asked for prayers.  I thought she might like a card, too.

 Here is the card, made by Nancy Gleason, I found on Pinterest and I tried to CASE.

Challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of April 28th - AG
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - AG
Lil Red Wagon Challenge # 547- White or any color space
Through the Purple Haze Challenge #166 - AG
Krafty Chicks Challenge #505 - AG

CTMH Happy Birthday Die

The cookie jar is empty.  Hence, my next task is baking.

So, I only have time for a quick Birthday Card post today.  

Die, papers, embossing folder, and stamp for the bird are all CTMH products. 

Challenges:

Try It On Tuesday Challenge - Black, White + One Color

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Birthday and/or Fun Fold

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge Week 9 - Anything Goes

 

Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge #552

Today I have news!

I've joined the wonderful Design Team at

Tuesday Morning Sketches. 

Every Tuesday I'll be sharing a card based on the sketch for that week and hoping it will inspire you to join the fun at 
Tuesday Morning Sketches.

Here is my first contribution:

I've used a new digital stamp set,
In This Together, from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps 
for the image and sentiment. 
The image was colored with pencils and and then fussycut. The paper was a freebie from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.

And here is today's Tuesday Morning Sketch:

My teammates have also made wonderful creations 
to help inspire you.

 I hope you'll join the fun this week. 

Challenges I am entering:

Using odds and ends

These leftovers and the Polkadoodles cupcake freebie made a perfect birthday card for a guy.

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge # 189- Birthday + Food and/or Drink

Aud Sentiments Challenge #249 - Birthday

Polkadoodles Challenge wk 17 - AG

Allsorts Challenge Week 569 - Add a Bow

And these scraps made a nice thank you card.

  

Challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Flower Power 

DiesRUs Challenge #143 - Spring Flowers

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge #240 - Flowers

A Place to Start April Challenge - Use Ribbons or Bows

Missing the sun

Not only am I missing a lot of my friends and family 

but I am also starting to miss the sun!

Here's a rainy day card:

Challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge #223 - Things with Wings
Double Trouble Challenge #55 - Spring Things (My patterned paper has rainbows, clouds, and rain; the owl has his umbrella,  protection from the raindrops; and I've entered Artsystamper Challenge.)

Artsystamper Challenge # 14 - Springtime
Lil Red Wagon Challenge #546 - April Showers
Creative Moments Challenge #189 - AG twist April Showers Bring May Flowers
Through the Purple Haze Challenge #166 - AG
QKR Stampede Challenge #395 - AG
Polkadoodles Challenge Week 17 - AG
Crafty Catz Challenge #503 - AG

Anniversary W Fold Card

 Today I'm sharing a W fold card.

I don't think I've ever made one before, unless this fold goes by another name.

It was really very simple to make.

The photo above shows why it is called a W fold.

The photo below shows the inside of the card, partially opened. 

And I thought you might like to see the front of the card, too.

Papers, dies and stamps are from Stampin' Up.

Challenges:

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Non-Birthday Occasion and Why (I chose anniversary because everyone has a birthday but celebrating an anniversary is an accomplishment.)

 

Krafty Chicks Challenge #504 - All Occasions 

Southern Girls Challenge - Anything Goes 

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #166 - AG

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Flower Power 

The Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Birthday and/or Fun Fold (I chose fold) 

Arty Divas Challenge #20 -  AG

Through the Craft Room Door April 21st Challenge - AG

Dies R Us Challenge #143 - Spring Flowers 

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Add a Flower or Flowers 

Allsorts Challenge #568 - Flowers and/or Showers (I chose flowers) 

Challenge Up Your Life Challenge #122 - Flowers

Mojo Sketches

Sketches are  great jumping off points when making cards.

 Today I used MMS#535 for a birthday card

 

and MMS#534 for a thank you card.

Bugaboo digital image colored with Promarkers.

Challenges:

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of 4/21 - AG

Passion For Promarkers Challenge #539 - Add a sentiment

Digi Choosday Challenge Week 16 - AG 

The Paper Challenge #424 - Happy Colors

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #386 - AG

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #534- see above

Tuesday Morning Sketches

Today's agenda included making a card to enter in the new challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  After receiving a bit of sad news, I looked at the sketch and wasn't so sure that I would be able to use it for a sympathy card.  

I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. 

 Here's the sketch:

 

The dies I used are from Spellbinders with the exception of the little flower which is from MFT.

I used a pale lavender embossed velum from SU, and plain velum over a piece of purple paper to get a similar color for the raised layer.  For the flower I used the purple paper with glitter foil over top.  The sentiment is a CTMH stamp.

 

Double Trouble Challenge #55

Spring Things is the Theme for the new Double Trouble Challenge, with a twist to use something that reminds you of water.  As always, they have partnered up with another fun challenge - Artsystamper Digitals Challenge.

 Using Sketch 533 from Mojo Monday, here is my card:

This is the Double Trouble Inspiration Board

 

for the challenge.  I've included a rainbow, a sun, storm clouds, a bird on a branch, flowers, and liquid glass rain drops on my card.

(The raindrops didn't show up in the photo, but they are there.)

I used a new set of Sizzix dies to make the rainbow 

and the stamps are all from Close to My Heart.

Challenges:

Double Trouble Challenge #55 - Spring Things; Water; entry in Artsystamper Challenge

Artsystamper Challenge #14 - Springtime 

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge # 533 -

 

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Create a Scene 

Shabby Chic Bird House

This fancy fold card has been on my work table for over a week, in different stages of completion.  And, today, out of necessity, I finally finished it.

Folded size 4"x5.5"

 The digi image I used is called Shabby Chic Birdhouse, from Beccy's Place.  I printed up the uncolored version, used markers and pencils to color it before fussy cutting. 

 I popped it on the teal cs framed with a glittered paper die cut.

The green bird house roof was paper pieced.  The ornate woodwork below the roof was die cut from glitter paper.  I decided to add a bit of twine in the bird's beak as nesting material and to cover a little blemish in the paper.

The wood birds are old embellishments from CTMH.

Inside of card: top, bottom and sides are washi tape

These sentiment stamps are by Stampendous.

partially open

fully open 12" x 5.5"

Challenges:

Sweet Stampin April Challenge - Blooming Wonderful 

Beccy's Place April Challenge - AG with a BP image; option of flowers or foliage

Seize the Birthday Challenge #187 - Spring Fling

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Knock on Wood (The little birds are made of wood; the image is of a wood birdhouse.)

Aud Sentiments Challenge #249 - Birthday Sentiments

 

More Purple Hats

My craft table looked a bit like a hat boutique after making yesterday's card.  I found a spot for them on this card which also uses a leftover from Tuesday's card.

Challenges:

Gem of a Challenge Week 13 - AG 

The Paper Shelter Challenge #423 - Birthday Card

Aud Sentiments Challenge #249 - Birthday Sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - E is for...Embossing

Double Trouble Challenge #54 - Hip to Be Square; old stamps (new to me in 2014); enter a previous partner's challenge*

*Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - Crafter's Choice

 

Purple Hats

Did you know that members of the Red Hat Society 

don't always wear Red Hats?

The month of their birthday 

they switch it up and wear 

Purple Hats.  

This card layout is from the Stella Says Sketch Challenge;

the bird digi is from Bugaboo Stamps and is colored with markers; the sentiment stamp is by CTMH; and the fussy cut purple hat is from Stampendous stamps.  

Challenges:

Stella Says Sketch Challenge # 808 - 

 

Stamplorations April CAS Card Challenge - AG; twist:Lemon Yellow

 

Daisy Challenge #40 - Birthday

2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #37 - AG with a critter 

Through the Purple Haze Challenge #166 - AG

Colour Crazy Challenge Week 14 - AG with colouring

Simon Says Monday Challenge - E is for ... Embossing on the purple strip

Colouring in Scrapland April Challenge - AG; embossing

Always Fun Challenge #158 - Clean and Simple 

Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge #337 - Photo Inspiration  (birthday, cake, balloons, animal with hat)

 

Through the Craft Room Door Week of April 14th - AG

Digi Choosday Challenge Week 15 -  AG

Tuesday Morning Sketch

Thought I'd make a relatively simple card for today's 

Tuesday Morning Sketch.

 

I'm at a loss for words today,

so I'll enter a few challenges

and be on my way! 

Challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge #550 - see sketch above

Simon Says Monday Challenge - E is for.... Embossing

Always Fun Challenge #158 - CAS

613 Avenue Create Challenge #232 - AG, option:Geometric Papers

 

Another Happy Easter Card

This is the last Easter Card that I have to share with you this year. The image is a very old CTMH seed packet stamp which I colored with pencils.  The butterfly is a brad, originally white but colored yellow with a marker.

Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland April Challenge - Embossing

Use Your Stuff Challenge #395 - Easter

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #206 - Easter/Spring 

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday April Challenge - Bugs, Blossoms and/or Butterflies 

Inkspirational Challenge #210 - Spring 

Crafty Calendar April Challenge - Add a Butterfly

Challenge Up Your Life Challenge #122 - Flowers 

Easter Lilies

Who knows when or where I bought this single piece of scrapbook paper with beautiful lilies across the center of the sheet.  It is so pretty.  Unfortunately, because of the positioning of the lilies, it only made three Easter cards.

Fortunately, the flip side had a nice cross design suitable for my grandson's Confirmation.

These stamps are from Our Daily Bread.  The sentiment is stamped on a small piece of pale green velum leftover from the Happy Easter die cut words on the 3 cards above.

The most difficult part of this card was fussy cutting the olive branch in the mouth of the dove!

Thanks for dropping by today.

Challenges:

Path of Positivity Challenge #79 - AG, option style (My style is usually fairly simple, and I love my fussy-cutting.)

Through the Craft Room Door April 7th Challenge - AG

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #434 #435 - AG

Water Cooler Wednesday Challenge #266 - Occasions

The House That Stamps Built Challenge A820 - Tic Tac Toe (I've used the center column)

 

 

Double Trouble Challenge #54

Happy Easter!

It's Hip to Be Square if you are playing in the Double Trouble Challenge right now.  And even better if you use an old stamp set.

The stamp set I used has got to be well over 10 years old and is a set of 4 Easter themed square stamps.  I only used 3 of the stamps because they are so old that when I tried to take the 4th stamp off the sheet, it came off in little sticky pieces, which I just couldn't piece back together.  Never had that happen before.

 I stamped each square on a different colored paper and then framed them using square stitched dies from MFT.  The patterned paper was embossed with a square quilt pattern. 

Challenges:

Double Trouble Challenge #54 - Hip to be Square,Old, and Linked to a *Previous Partner

A Place to Start April Challenge - Ribbons and/or bows 

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - Easter (I used my Cuttlebug to dry emboss the background paper and to die cut the square frames.) 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Spring Mood Board (inspired me to use the egg bg paper and the spring colors)

 

If You Give A Crafter a Cookie Challenge #139 - Fun spring colors on these cookies:

DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #257 - Bunnies and/or Chicks

*Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #388 - Color Inspiration Board

 

QKR Stampede Challenge #393 - AG

Cut It Up Challenge #197 - Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #254 - Easter 

*Use Your Stuff Challenge #395 - Easter 

*The Crafters' Cafe Challenge #239 - AG

 

Bee Thankful

It's a bee-utiful day to bee thankful.

I've used pieces from a paint strip for the banners, a digi image from Bugaboo Stamps colored with pencils and Wink of Stella, clear glitter foil to make the wings sparkle, and a Starform sticker sentiment.

Challenges:

SheepSki Designs Challenge #37 - Show Us Your Wings

Daring Cardmakers Challenge - Clean and Simple with a Dash of Sparkle 

CAS on Friday Challenge #177 - Black & White and 1 Color 

Catch the Bug Challenge - Spring 

Double D Challenge - Banners

CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #367 -  

 

Joyful Stars Close to My Heart April 2020 Blog Hop

Welcome to the April 2020

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.

The March/April catalog is out and I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot of new CTMH products if you hop along.

I make a lot of children's cards and just fell in love with the adorable animals in the CTMH

You Make Me Happy Stamp Set (#D1920).

(This stamp set is special because with each set purchased
$7 USD are donated to the life saving mission of Operation Smile™.)

The 25 stamps in the set also make wonderful cards for those that aren't necessarily children but are still young at heart.

Here's my blog hop contribution for April:

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:

Papercraft Challenges #56 - Pastel Colors 

Crafty Creations April Challenge #408 - AG

Lemon Shortbread Challenge # 117- AG 

Stinkin' Inkers Challenge - Crafter's Choice
 

A Place to Start April Challenge - Ribbons and/or Bows 

ArtsyStamper Challenge #13 - Things with Wings

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Things with Wings