Beautiful Blue

Hi there 🙂  I had this image almost all colored up last month, then life hit…..you know how it goes… Well, I got it all colored and on a card now 🙂  The beautiful rose is from Make It Crafty, and is part of one of Zoe’s Floral Elements sets (#7).  I added the dew drops (for last month’s challenge….oops), while I was coloring the image with my Copics.

Afterwards, I fussy cut the rose out.  The background is embossed with a We R Memory Keepers folder, with an inlaid wreath die cut.  I used the same shimmery green paper to cut the wreath as I used to mat the background.  I added 2 little blue sparkle balls as an embellishment.  I tried a number of different methods to add a sentiment to the front of the card, but they all detracted from the design, so the birthday sentiment is on the inside 🙂  Love the simplicity of this, and how it makes the rose POP 🙂

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Make It Crafty Coloring Challenge – May: Flora

Through the Craft Room Door – ATG week of  May 15

Stamping Sensations – Close to Nature

Morgan’s Artworld – ATG for May

CCC Digi Creations – #92 Flower Power

Mr. & Mrs. Owl

Hello there 🙂  The 20th of the month brings the start of a brand new challenge at the Sheepski Designs Facebook group 🙂 Although we are an ATG challenge (using a Sheepski image, of course), Andrea likes to give an optional theme, and this month   it’s Fur, Feather or Wings.  I managed to cover two of those categories by working with Oliver and Olivia, image no54, from the Sheepski Designs Etsy store. To help out with any shopping that you may want to do at the shop, please feel free to use this discount code:  SKISUSAN10

After coloring this adorable owl couple with my Copics, I cut them out using a cool shaped stitched die.  To give the card a woodsy feel, I embossed a piece of kraft CS with a woodgrain embossing folder from We R Memory Keepers.  I cut out a heart cluster with a Simon Says Stamp design die, from a blue scrap, and inlaid a few of the hearts with the off cuts.  I had the kraft colored flowers in my stash for quite awhile…I grabbed them off of a clearance rack, then proceeded to hoard them 🙂  The white blooms are from a jar of blooms set that I’ve had for forever and a day.  I tried a number of different methods to add the Mr. & Mrs. sentiment, and wasn’t happy with how anything looked.  My alpha dies were way too big to use, and I was at the point of giving up on this particular design, when I remembered a small Merry Christmas die I have.  The letters are all separate, and lo and behold, the right letters are all there!!!  Woohoo!!!  I matted everything up and added gold Liquid Pearl accents to the centers of the white blooms, the heart between the Mr. and Mrs. and on the corners 🙂

I’d love to enter the following challenges with this:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – #14 ATG with a Critter

The Crafter’s Cafe Blog Challenge – #194 All Creatures Great & Small

Creative Moments – ATG #143

Crafty Gals Corner – #165 Add a Flower

Stamping Sensations – Close to Nature

Shine

Hello 🙂  I’m taking a break from enjoying the beautiful weather we’ve been having, to share my DT card for the latest ATG challenge at Creative Fingers.  Our sponsor this fortnight is Angelique, who has this lovely stamp set on offer as the prize 🙂

I had a play with a lovely image by Alicia Bel for my card. I colored Feather Fans up with my Copics and then fussy cut her out.  I used a wave design die by Avery Elle to cut a piece of black CS out that I layered over pink mirror card.  Between lighting and the lovely reflection of the mirror card, the colors ended up looking lilac-y, rather than their true pink 🙂  I used the same black to cut a stitched banner with a MFT die from a stacked set.  The word “shine” was cut with a Recollections die, from silver mirror card.  I dug into my stash of adhesive gems, and used a bunch of odd sized clear rhinestones, scattered across the background to emphasize the “shine” theme with bling 🙂  I’m thrilled with how this sassy card turned out…..perfect for an equally sassy lady’s special day!

I’d like to enter this in the following:

As You Like It Challenge – Favourite…pink or blue….Pink – for cardmaking….why?? I think it’s because, depending on the shade of pink, you can make a soft and sweet, super femmy card, to a striking and classy card that shouts elegance!

Fab N’ Funky Challenge – Retro Chic Challenge – the image I used is reminiscent of the Burlesque shows of the 1950’s

Double D Challenge – Bling It Up

Morgan’s Artworld Challenge – May ATG challenge

Scrapping 4 Fun Challenges – #115 Ladies

Spring Flower Girl

Hello 🙂  I colored this lovely lady from Julia Spiri up a while ago, and figured it was high time I got her on a card! I colored The Flower Girl up with my Copic and SN markers, then fussy cut her out.  I really liked the sketch this week over at Tuesday Morning Sketches, so decided to use it again 🙂

I die cut the oval shape that I placed the image on, then found some corner dies from Cheery Lynn that went quite well with the design on the oval cut.  I glued these down on a pretty floral DP from my stash, then attached the image.  I used flowers from Wild Orchid (pink ones) and Petal Lu (yellow), as well as some die cut leaves to compliment the colors in the image.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Tuesday Morning Sketches – Sketch #451, shown above

World Wide Open DT Challenge – #04 ATG

Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge – Week 18 ATG

CCC Digi Creations – #92 Flower Power

Crafty Catz Challenge – #415 ATG with optional twist, add flowers

Feel Better

Hey there 🙂  I’m here to show you my DT inspiration project for the new ATG challenge over at Creative Fingers.  We have a new sponsor for this challenge,

LeAnn’s World 101

I was given the super sweet image Cindy’s Umbrella, to use for my project.  After coloring her with my Copics, I cut the image out with a die and inked the edges with some Distress Ink.  For the layout of the card, I turned to the current sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

I embossed a plain white piece of CS and inked the edges for the background, then used doily quarters for the corner details.  I found a cute gingham ribbon flower, and added a small get well sentiment to finish the card off.  It’s always nice to have a few of these cards on hand, as illness is never planned, and a cheerful card does a bit to brighten a patients day 🙂

I’d like to enter this in the following challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches – Sketch #451, shown above

LeAnn’s World 101 Challenge – #2 ATG

Fab N’ Funky Challenges – #392 Embossing, wet or dry

Jo’s Scrap Shack Funday Friday Challenge – #232 ATG

A Gem of a Challenge – #218 Get Well or Sympathy Cards

Sympathy Poppies

Good morning 🙂  The first of May already!!! At least it finally feels like spring time here….it was an extremely long winter, and I’m sure we’re all ready for some sunshine and warmth!!! I was asked to join the DT ladies at the Sheepski Designs Blog for this months challenge 🙂  The theme is Use Your Favorite Color.  My favorite has always been red, so the beautiful Poppy (image #116) is the perfect choice from the Sheepski Designs store to work with :).  When you do your shopping there, remember to use a code to save some $$!  Here’s my code:

SKISUSAN10

It’s been a while since I’ve used my Prismacolor pencils for any coloring, so I printed the image, and sentiment, out on some new paper that I’m trying for pencils.  I’m a notoriously cheap…er…..thrifty….person, so am always looking for a less expensive alternative to “almost” everything.  I was in Michael’s and browsing around….I think I was looking for something really random, so was going up and down every aisle.  I was in the kid’s section, and saw some paper pads, so of course reached over to see them, and to feel for a “tooth” in the paper.  The paper was a bright white, and the tooth was PERFECT!!!  And – the paper pad was $5.99 for 40 sheets!!!!  MINE!  My pencils layered beautifully on it….I did get a bit lazy with the background….but my excuse is that I wanted a bit more of a rustic look, lol.  The only thing I can say about this paper that’s remotely negative is that it’s lightweight….not crazy light, but lighter that the “grown up” paper that I’ve been using (but even my ultra finicky printer at work took it!).  Anyhow…..lol…..after coloring the image, I distressed the edges and layered it on a printed paper that I’d also distressed.  I matted everything with some red, and added a few grey pearls to finish this off 🙂

I’d like to enter this in the following challenges:

Create and Inspire – #73 ATG

Crafty Gals Corner – #164 ATG

Through the Craft Room Door – ATG for the week of May 1

Lemon Shortbread Challenge – #66 ATG

A Gem of A Challenge – #218 Get Well or Sympathy Cards

Every Girl’s a Princess

Hi there!! Time is just whizzing by and I really had to push to get some of my end of the month projects done!!! This one features the beautiful Princess Alea, from the Leann’s World 101 Etsy shop.  I colored her up with Copic and SN markers, then added glitter to her dress, crown and necklace.  I tried to add some Wink of Stella to the bustle of her gown, but found that my WoS was empty….time to shop!!  I have a huge pack of black and white paper in various designs, and as I was looking through it, I found the 2 that I’ve used on the card, which are opposite colors of each other 🙂  I matted everything with pink, before diving into my flowers to find the right shade!!  I recently got a killer deal on some very pretty flowers at the dollar store, of all places….the big pink fluffy one is from some of my splurging, and the darker pink ones are from my older stash.  I stamped and embossed a sentiment, then cut out the tag shape with a stitched die, and tied it with some pretty silver ribbon, to reflect the sparkle in the card.  Loving how pretty and feminine this card turned out <3

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Leann’s World 101 Blog Challenge – #1 ATG

Stamping Sensations – One for the Girls

Simon Monday Challenge – Flower Power

Simon Wednesday Challenge – ATG

Color Crazy Challenge – Week 17 ATG

Little Stars

Hi there 🙂  I went all girly with this card, but this sweet group of dance friends called for it!!  The adorable image is from Lili of the Valley, and is called You’re A Star.   I colored the image with my Copic Markers, then cut it out with a Xyron die.  I found some pieces of coordinating DP in the scrap pile, and distressed their edges before layering up.  The stars were cut with a Frantic Stamper star border die, that I used both the negative and the positive parts of.  I’ve had the flowers for something like 10 years, as I received them as part of a swap when I was online swapping…and they became a treasured part of the hoard!  The leaves were cut with a die from my stash.

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Simon Monday Challenge – Flower Power

Cute Card Thursday – #526 Shades of Pale

Southern Girls Challenges – Triple F – Fairies, Fantasy, or Flowers

The Rubber Buggy Challenge – April Showers bring May Flowers

Double D Challenge – Friendship

Amigo :)

I’m determined to get these cards that I’ve made recently blogged!!! This one features a sweet Sasayaki Glitter image, called Peggy Is In Love.  This is also the featured image for the Sasayaki Glitter progressive challenge in their Facebook Group.  I colored her up with my Copic and SN markers, then cut her out with a stitched die. I think it was her glasses that made me think she looked like a hippie girl….so I dug around until I found the paper pad with all kinds of 60’s Hippie prints 🙂  As you can see from my card, I had a very hard time deciding which prints to use, so went with as many as possible!!!  I love the glitter touches in the background and some of the strips!!  I edged a few of the pieces with white gel pen “stitches”.  I heat embossed a white “Amigo” sentiment, and this card to send to a good friend was all done 🙂

I’d like to enter this in the following:

Cutie Pie Challenges – #122 Delightful Digis

Stamping Sensations – April Challenge: One for the Girls

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – #80 ATG

Simon Wednesday Challenge – Sparkle and Shine

Double D Challenges – Friendship

Good Luck

A while ago, Mitzi, the genius behind Aurora Wings images, introduced this adorable Shamrock Sprite (Etsy) or (Aurorawings.com) 🙂  I just can’t seem to get enough of these fabulous whimsical little beings!  I do cards for a nearby school’s social committee, and always need good bye and good luck cards at the end of the school year, so I like to be prepared, rather than turning into a crazed card-making machine in June!!  This little sweetie was a perfect image for such a card <3  I colored her up with Copic and SN markers, then added some sparkle with a gold gel pen, and some gold inking on the distressed edges.

You can see the gold sparkle accents in her outfit in this close-up.

I went through my scraps of paper and found a few different greens to layer up on this card.  I swear, the scraps seem to be reproducing overnight, as I thought I would see a lessening in the pile by now!!!  I used some even smaller scraps to die cut a bunch of shamrock leaves, some of which I tied into a bouquet with a small white bow.  For a sentiment, I turned to my Cricut, and the Essentials preloaded cut, and  a piece of gold mirror card.  To carry a bit more shiny gold through the card design, I used some gold studs that I purchased at a local sewing store.

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

{Pin}spirational Challenges – #213 6th Anniversary ATG

Tuesday Throwdown – #388 Glimmer and Shine

The Cutie Pie Challenge – #122 Delightful Digis

Penny’s Papercrafty Challenge – #376 ATG

Fab N’ Funky Challenge – Fantasy or Fairytale