Add a Splash of Color to Every Day

 We've got some really nice weather here on the East coast right now - expecting some rain today and tomorrow, along with lower temps, so I can do some cooking INSIDE the house! LOL Don't get me wrong, I appreciate grilling outside but I do miss my kitchen after a few days! I think I'll make fried chicken sandwiches for dinner tonight, we have some yummy brioche rolls that will be perfect for something like that!

I would like to enter my card below into the following challenges today:

Passion for Markers 847 - Under the Sea

AllSorts #854 - AG/At the Seaside

Time Out - Water

Art Nudge #726B

Just Add Ink #790 - Dies, Stencils, or Both

I created my background by blending Distress Oxide Inks in Cracked Pistachio and Spiced Marmalade through a mermaid scale stencil. I spritzed with water and let it dry, then used a strip to stamp the sentiment on, inked the edges and added some pearl stickers to it. The digi image I used is called Sammy from Miss Sandia's Ko-Fi shop, I colored her with Copics and a white gel pen, fussy cut, and attached with foam tape. Peace.

Farm Animals

Hello all! I have a cute little tag to share today, I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:

TGIF Challenge #586

Tag-alongs & ATC's - AG/Optional Favorite Colors

The Little Things #06 - AG/Optional Elephants or Flamingos

Color Hues #137

I stamped the little cow, sentiment, and pattern (stamp set from Stampin' Up!) on a piece of white cardstock, embossed and colored with Copics, then die cut with a tag die. I stamped the pattern again on a separate piece, embossed it, cut it into a strip and sponged the edges with black, then glued it on the tag and trimmed the edges. Tied the tag off with a couple of coordinating ribbons to finish it off.

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While I'm on the subject of farm animals - I have one more project today - this one is a card for the following challenges:

Conjurer of Dreams July Free Image Challenge

Krafty Chicks #829 - Clean & Simple

I ran my kraft cardstock base through my woodgrain embossing folder. I used a little piece of a bandana DP from Doodlebug Designs, die cut the twigs, then layered the free image on top with foam tape. I added the word WILD to it, sponging the edges with brown ink. Peace. 

Own Your Dreams

 Just popping in quick to enter this tag below into the:

Conjurer of Dreams July Tag Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Add Some Text

Try it on Tuesday - Animals Real or Imaginary

I used a tag die for the base, added some text stickers to the freebie image (from Conjurer of Dreams), die cut some glasses, and tied a black twine through it. Peace.

believe in yourself

 I'd like to share another card I made using one of the stencils from the July release at:

This one is called Mid Century Minimalist:

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Stencil Fun - Anything Goes/Optional Patterns

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Fabulous Florals

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers - Clean and Simple

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

read

 One more project for today - I love making tags & bookmarks and I have several die cuts that make it easy! I'd like to enter this bookmark into the following challenges:

Color Hues #137

Aud Sentiments #339 - Bookmarks and/or Hobbies Plus a Sentiment

Outlawz July - Main Challenge

The Outlawz Challenge - July/Anything But a Card

I used the bookmark die from Newton's Nook. I stamped a script stamp all over the watercolor paper after I distressed it with some Candied Apple ink blending. I added some white paint dots then attached the book that I had stamped & colored along with the tiny "read" sentiment. Peace.

Nothing is impossible

Good morning! I have an art journal page I'd like to share today - I'll enter this into the following challenges:

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Outlawz July - Anything But a Card

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

I Spy With My Little Eye #39 - Something with Wings

Tic Tac Toe #297 (I used any color, free, sentiment)

I started this page in my art journal by ink blending Oxide Inks through a polka dot stencil with some yellow ink. I then just kept adding layers of ink and some opaque crackle paste through a honeycomb stencil. I stamped the images/sentiment with a permanent black ink and then sponged some more ink around it. Stamp set is Let it Bee from Funky Fossil, I spot colored his wings with markers and Stickles. Peace. 

Stir the Pot.

Hello friends! I have a cute Halloween card to share today - Halloween cards are definitely some of my favorite holiday cards to make! I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

A Place to Start - AG/Black and White

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Any Holiday

Passion for Markers - Clean and Simple

Two Old Bats - Anything Halloween Goes

Try it on Tuesday - Animals Real or Imaginary

Super easy for this clean and simple card! I stamped the Witch Please Pissy Kitty & sentiment from Unity Stamp Co. on a piece of watercolor paper with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and then sponged the edges with Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink. I spritzed water on the edges and let the ink kind of flow around the edges, drying with my heat tool. Peace.

Polkadoodles Interactive Card

 Good morning!  We have some awesome Polkadoodles inspiration for you today!

The DT was tasked with creating an interactive card this time, and I enjoyed the challenge! I made a "peek-a-boo" style card using the adorable Sweet as Candy - Love Always digi. I started by printing out several digi papers, then I printed out the image on Neenah Solar White cardstock. I colored with Copics and some pink fluffy glitter, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. I used nesting dies for the sentiment and added a little ticket die cut from the DP which went perfectly with the carnival theme look of this card! 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges today:

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Lil Red Wagon #867 - P is for Pink

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Any Holiday

Creative Creases - Anything Goes with a Fun Fold

Thanks for stopping by! Peace.

TGIF!

 Phew! TGIF! After 2 sleepovers with the grands this week, this Grammy is tired! LOL My husband's grandmother raised him and I'll tell you, I have a deeper appreciate than ever for her now! ;)

RaeRae, 7, and I squeezed in some card making while she was here! She is really getting good at it, I was so impressed with her ideas! Here is one of the cards she made:

This was an old digi from MelJen's that she found in my stash! LOL She used my die cutting machine all by herself to cut it out!

And this card below is one of the cards I made that was one of her favorites, and I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:

A Place to Start - AG/Optional Black & White

CAS on Friday #338 - Use Dies and Only Word Stamps

4-Season #106 - Focus on Text

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

A Cut Above - Anything Goes (with die cuts)

I had so much fun making this card. I used the Snow Globe die from Jaded Blossom, and I sponged Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink all around the edges of the "glass ball" with my Cloud Edger Stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off). I stamped the sentiments from Pink & Main with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder and attached the crystal ball to a white card base, then sponged the edges with black. 

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I also have a tag to share today - this is for the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments #339 - Bookmarks and/or Hobbies plus a sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Fun With Paint

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

I created my background by starting out with blue acrylic paint on my Gelli plate. I had some extra paint on there, so I took a blank tag from watercolor paper and gave a second pull with that. I then applied black acrylic paint thickly through my alphabet stencil and let that dry. I sponged the edges with black ink and tied the black twine through it. The die cut books & sentiment are from Newton's Nook. Peace.

Color Dare #713

 Good morning!  We have a new challenge for you at:

Color Dare #713

I created my background by ink smooshing Bundled Sage Distress Oxide Ink on watercolor paper, then sponged the edges in black. I stamped the sentiment & flowers from Unity Stamp Co.'s Snarky Mama set directly on the background with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and added some rhinestone stickers.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Fabulous Florals

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers

Passion For Markers - Clean and Simple

Krafty Chicks #829 - Clean and Simple

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

Beach Day - Tag Hop on Instagram!

I have joined a bunch of Instagram hops and it has really helped to increase my followers on there and seems to have helped my algorithm. Today's hop is a monthly tag hop and you can find out the details and join in by visiting @craftyengineer on Instagram.  You can follow me here if you're interested!

Our hop theme was to try a new technique called Homemade Diffusers - but I joined the hop late and I didn't have time to learn a new technique, so I went with the 2nd technique which was "stacked die cuts". I'm a die cut addict lately so I had no problem coming up with ideas for that part of it!

Here's my tag:

My tag is a die cut from the Tag Trios at Gina K Designs. I used a stamp from CC Designs Sugar Plum Summer set (on clearance now!), colored with Copics and fussy cut, then attached with foam tape. I die cut the banners and seashells 4 times and layered them on top of each other, then attached with adhesive. I die cut the letters and added those to the banner, outlining the DAY with some matching Stickles glitter glue. I'm looking forward to this hop every month and to seeing my tag ring grow - tags are so much fun to make, I find myself making them more and more often!

I'd like to enter my tag into the following challenges:

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Summer Sunshine

We Love Stamping - Summertime

Paper Funday #89 - Summer Splash

Let's Craft & Create #233 - AG/Fun in the Sun

Time Out #310 - Water

Thanks for visiting!  Peace. 

Head Up Gorgeous

 Good morning!  Tags have quickly become one of my favorite things to make - I have amassed quite a collection of them. I don't use them often but I can always add them to a card or grab one to quickly tie onto a gift! I would like to enter my tag below into the following challenges:

The Little Things #06 - AG/Flamingo or Elephant

Tag-alongs & ATC's - AG/Favorite Color

Try it on Tuesday - Animals Real or Imaginary

I grabbed a previously made background and die cut a tag out of it. I stamped the flamingo & sentiment from Tracey Hey with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I added some rhinestone stickers and a die cut heart and tied it off with a ribbon! Peace.

Unity Creates Peace - Art Journal

 Hello!  We have terrible air quality today due to the fires burning in Canada and my heart just goes out to my Canadian friends. I hope you are all safe. :( The sky has such an eerie, hazy glow to it - both the sun and the moon have appeared red in the sky, it's amazing to me how nature can be so beautiful and so terrifying at the same time.

I have one more project to share today - this one is an art journal page that I made with one of the new July stencils from A Colorful Life Designs. This one is called Hand Wreath - and don't forget to use code JennFan10 for 10% off:

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

AllSorts #853 - Stencils

Colorful Options - Red, White, and Blue OR Rainbow

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

I just had fun with this one, playing with the stencil along with some sprays, inks, die cuts, and stamps from Hero Arts. I love the freedom of art journal pages! Peace.

Friend

 Today I'm picking up the oldest granddaughter for a sleepover - don't tell the others, but she's my favorite sleepover buddy. LOL  I've probably talked about this before, but RaeRae usually asks to go to bed by 8 p.m. LOL She's up at the crack of dawn but that's another story. hee hee  I truly enjoy spending time with her so I'm looking forward to it.

I would like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Friends of Unity FB Challenge - Red, White, and Blue

All About Papercraft #7 - Friendship

Cupcake Inspirations #639

Colorful Options - Red, White, and Blue or Rainbow

I created my background with Lindy's Magicals on watercolor paper. I then took another piece of watercolor paper and stamped a script stamp and some random stamps along the side with Versafine Clear, then embossed with white embossing powder. I then used the butterfly stamp from Unity Stamp Co's Let Adventure set with Distress Oxide Inks in red & blue that I had smooshed out on my glass mat and sprayed water on, creating the watercolor effect. After I stamped the butterfly, I then smooshed the card into the remaining ink on the glass mat, which helped to highlight the white stamped script/images. I roughed up the edges and attached the panel with foam tape. I die cut the word Friend and attached it to a separate strip of cardstock that was a scrap from the main focal piece. Peace.

You Make the Holidays Sweeter

 One more card for Christmas in July! I made this one for the Friends of Sweet November FB challenge for July, but it also fits the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts - Christmas in July

Die Cut Divas - Christmas in July

Fab n' Funky - Christmas in July

Krafty Chicks #828 - Christmas

Make My Monday #282 - Christmas in July

My papers are from Doodlebug Design. Sentiment is from My Favorite Things, stamped with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder before die cutting with a die from Emily Moore Designs. I printed out the Gingerbread Man (I drew eyelashes on him to make him a girl at my 6-year-old granddaughter's request - LOL), colored with Copics, and fussy cut. I die cut the rolling pin (Hero Arts) and sat the Gingerbread man on top of it using foam dots. I finished it off with some red pearl stickers and a candy cane brad. Peace.

by the sea

 Good morning!

I would like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Cut it Up - Make Your Own Background

Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Time Out #317 - Water

I created my background by stamping some script stamps on watercolor paper with Versafine Dazzle, then embossing with clear embossing powder. I then ink smooshed with Distress Oxide Inks and kept repeating it until I was happy with the watery look of it. I die cut the sand dollar and sentiment, sponged the edges, and attached with foam dots. Finished it off with some rhinestone stickers. Peace.