Hope Your Day is Pure Magic

Good morning and happy Friday! We have a bonus challenge for you this week at Color Dare!

My 3 colors I chose are aqua, green, and yellow:

I used a piece of watercolor paper that had tooth to it, I like the texture look of it with the Distress Oxide Inks blended on it. I stamped the mushrooms (Hello Fungi Hero Arts) with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and used a stitched edge nested arch die (Unity Stamp Co. Scallops & Arches) to cut it out. I added some die cuts from the Mushrooms & Ferns die set from Hero Arts. I stamped the sentiment directly on the background, splattered some black ink on it, and sponged the edges with more black ink. 

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

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers - Use 3 of Something (colors AND mushrooms AND ferns)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Time Out #318 - Mother Nature

Peace.

With Deepest Sympathy

  Hi again! I'm back to add the card below into the following challenges:

Clean and Simple on Friday #339 - Flowers

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers

I made my background with Lindy's Magicals, let it dry and then applied the rub-on roses transfers from Wandic. The sentiment is a stamp from Unity Stamp Co. Peace.

Wrapping Station

 I have ONE final Christmas in July card to share today! This one is for the following challenges:

Jaded Blossom July - AG or Christmas in July

Crafter's Cafe - AG or Christmas in July

Christmas Kickstart #112 - Grace Us with Your Presents

Classic Design Challenge - AG or Any Holiday

Inkspirational - Christmas in July

Funny story - a long time ago I bought these Christmas paper pads from Craft Consortium called Made by Elves but I really didn't know what I was buying. They were supposed to be layering pieces, but I didn't realize that until I had already used a bunch of what I THOUGHT were just ephemera pieces. LOL  So I have pieces leftover that are just fun to play around with. I used one of them with the Snow Globe die from Jaded Blossom to create a holiday scene inside a snow globe. I used coordinating papers for the background and to die-cut for the snow globe base sentiment. Peace.

explore

 Good morning!  I would like to enter the card below into the following challenges today:

Time Out #318 - Mother Nature

Addicted to CAS #313 - Trees

Creative Knockouts - Outdoor Fun

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

I created my background with alcohol inks on yupo. I then simply die cut a tree from Memory Box Tall Evergreen Tree Dies out of a rectangle of white cardstock and attached the negative with foam tape. I added a little "explore" sentiment from a sticker book. Peace.

Be Your Own Hero

 Hello there - I would like to enter my art journal page here into the following challenges today:

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media

Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Outlawz July Anything But a Card

Outlawz July - Main Linky

Paper Funday #89 - AG/Optional Summer Splash

So this was an art journal page that I started working on for a guest designer spot, but it did not turn out the way I envisioned it. That's not to say I don't "like" it, I do - but it's not what I wanted.  One of my biggest pet peeves about it is the way you can see the Distress Crayon marks - they didn't blend well.  I could have done something about it and layered ink on top or something, but I just wasn't "feeling it". I didn't want to spend a ton of time on it - I had a new idea and wanted to run with it. Does that ever happen to you?  Sometimes I get an idea while I'm laying in bed and I can hardly sleep until I get up and give it a try to see if it will come out the way I'm envisioning. Anyway! it's still a cute art journal page! I used texture paste through my Love Waterfall stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off) and then applied Mica Spray Stain in Cocktail Party to the dried hearts. I made the "wreath" from stamps from the My Tribe set at Tracey Hey/Alpaca Pals - I stamped the birdie in the middle and colored him with Copics.  Everything else was colored with Mica Sprays and Stickles. Peace.

Thankful

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

TGIF #587- Tone on Tone

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Make Your Own Background

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

I made this clean and simple one layer card with a piece of watercolor paper - I used Distress Oxide ink in Villainous Potion and ink smooshed it on the paper. Once dry, I applied the same ink darker through a galaxy stencil. I then stamped the sentiment (Impression Obsession) with the same ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. Peace. 

Mixed Media Moth

Good morning!  We are picking up the youngest granddaughter Mille, age 4, for her sleepover today! She has not slept over alone without her sissies since she was about a year old! We are taking her out for tacos and ice cream, then movie night with Grammy. :)  Tomorrow we'll spend some time in my craft room before we bring her home. I am such a lucky lady and I know it!

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

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Make Your Own Background

Time Out #318 - Mother Nature

Stencil Fun - AG/Optional Patterns

Art Nudge 726C

I used a mixed media technique to create my background, layering inks, sprays, and texture pastes with a stencil. I stamped the moth from Unity Stamp Co. Nocturnal Nature set first with Uncharted Mariner Distress Oxide Ink (and the bigger words) and then again with Versafine Black and embossed with a clear sparkly embossing powder, then added some rhinestone stickers to his wings. I . Peace.

Surfer Santa ATC's

 I forgot it was almost the end of the month so I have ONE MORE project for today... LOL  This is for the following challenges:

Conjurer of Dreams ATC Challenge (July ATC sheet required)

Crafter's Cafe - AG/Christmas in July

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Any Holiday

Krafty Chicks #830 - Masculine

Inkspirational - Christmas in July

I used the freebie images posted on the Conjurer of Dreams ATC Challenge page here to make a set of 3 ATC's. I did some fussy cutting and layering with foam dots, etc. I added some holiday sentiment stickers from my stash. Peace.

Love You tag

 I have one more project for today - this one is a tag for the following challenges:

The Little Things - AG/Flamingos or Elephants

Tag-alongs and ATC's - AG/Favorite Colors

I created my tag with my Tag Trio die from Gina K Designs - I used a background that I had in my stash with some pale pink & green inks blended on it. I stamped the elephant from the Stackable Cuties set at Mama Elephant with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder, colored with Copics and used a heart die to cut him out, adding some rhinestone stickers around him. I sponged the edges with black and tied a piece of black twine through it. Peace.

Happy BEE-day!

 Good morning! I had such a great weekend - we had a party for my adult son on Friday with the family, then I went to a local farm for "Botanicals and Brews" event on Saturday, and Sunday I got to spend the day in my craft room! Today I'm off to do some clothes shopping - unfortunately we have yet another service to attend tonight for a friend of ours who passed away from cancer. 51 years old, left 4 daughters.  Just heartbreaking. :(   The past couple of years have really impressed upon me how short life really is and how you just never know. It's made me focus a little more on what's really important.

On that note, I have a cheerful card I'd like to share today and I'll enter it into the following challenges:

LeighSB Designs #53 - Summer Buzz or Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar - Happy Birthday

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

I layered the Honeycomb backdrop cover plate die from Lawn Fawn on top of my bright yellow cardstock base. I printed out the image from LeighSBDesigns, colored with Copics, fussy cut and attached with foam tape. I printed out the sentiment separately, used a die cut from Emily Moore Designs to cut it out, and attached it with adhesive after sponging the edges with a touch of black ink. Peace.

You Can Never Have Too Much Happy

 I was playing around with my fairly new Brother Scan n Cut to see if it could cut through Yupo paper easily, so I tested it on a piece that I had colored with alcohol inks and cut out this frame below. It worked perfectly! I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

AllSorts #854 - AG/At the Seaside

Passion for Markers - Under the Sea

Time Out #318 - Mother Nature

I stamped the sentiment directly on the white card base and framed it with the die cut frame. I stamped the little turtle and seaweed from Pink & Main's Let Make Waves set with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder, then colored with Copics. I fussy cut and attached with foam tape. Peace.

Hand Wreath - Love

 Good morning!  I have another card to share with one of the new stencils from the July release at:

This one is called Hand Wreath:

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

Just Us Girls #833 - Anything Goes Stencil Week

Colorful Options July - Rainbow or Red, White, and Blue

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Make Your Own Background

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

I made this with the reverse stencil technique on a piece of watercolor paper and kept it very simple - I just added some rainbow colored rhinestone stickers and die cut the word LOVE, then sponged the edges with black.

Cute side story: When my 7-year-old granddaughter RaeRae slept over recently, she saw this card and asked if she could give it to Grampy.  Of course I said yes - she took the card and wrote in black marker under the word LOVE "Grampy".  OMG she melts our hearts. LOL 

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

Merry Xmas

 Hello all! We're off to a local brewery today for a "Brews & Botanicals" event, should be a fun day!

It's hard to feel festive when it's 80 out but Santa Ian sure does help! I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

The Greeting Farm - Christmas in July

Make My Monday #282 - Christmas in July

Crafter's Cafe - AG/Christmas in July

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Any Holiday

Color Hues #137 - Black and Red

I blended Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink on a piece of watercolor paper, then applied Black Soot through my flannel/plaid looking stencil. I stamped the "ho ho ho" on random empty squares, then stamped Ian out with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored him with Copics and Fluffy Stuff, fussy cut, and attached with foam tape. I die cut a little Polaroid picture frame, stamped merry xmas on it and sponged it with black, then added the little Christmas bulb brads. Peace.

Today is a Good Day

Good morning! I have one more last red, white, and blue card that I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

AllSorts #854 - AG/At the Seaside

Colorful Options - Red, White, and Blue OR Rainbow

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #218

Cupcake Inspiration #639

My image is called Ships Ahoy from All Dressed Up - I colored with Copics and used a scalloped edge nesting square die to cut out. Papers are from Doodlebug Designs, I added a little sentiment sticker and a couple of buttons to finish it off. Peace.

C.R.A.F.T. #785 - Christmas

 Hi all!  I'm super excited to announce that I am now on the Design Team for the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge blog!  

Our challenge #785 is a Christmas theme - we have a couple of sponsors this time around and I used the image from Star Stampz called The Nutcracker Holiday:

I used papers from Unity Stamp Co. and colored the image in coordinating colors, using the stitched edge arch dies to cut her out (also from Unity). I added some die cut snowflakes and a kraft sentiment along the bottom. I like the non-traditional, soft look of this Christmas card. 

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

Die Cut Divas - Christmas in July

Crafter's Cafe - AG/Christmas in July

Make My Monday - Christmas in July

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Any Holiday

Inkspirational - Christmas in July

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

head up gorgeous

 I would like to showcase another of the new stencils from the July release at:

This one is called Mid Century Minimalist:

I created my background by spraying Mica Stain on a piece of watercolor paper, then applying translucent crackle paste and black texture paste through the stencil in different areas of the paper. Once dry, I sponged the edges with black ink. I stamped the flamingo from Tracey Hey's Flamingle set with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and used a rounded edge nesting rectangle die to cut out.

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Add Some Text

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Make Your Own Background

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

Good for the soul

 Hello there - I'm a sucker for a sale (don't tell my husband - ha! Like he doesn't already know...) - anyway, I saw Stamping Bella was having a sale a couple of weeks ago and I HAD to update my stash a teeny tiny bit. I would like to enter the card I made with one of the new stamps below into the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash #578 - Popsicle Colors

AllSorts #854 - AG/At the Seaside

We Love Stamping - Summertime

Papercraft #132 - Good Enough to Eat

Paper Funday #89 - AG/Optional Summer Splash

I created my background by blending Distress Oxide Inks in xx and xx on a piece of watercolor paper, then I spritzed it with water and blotted it dry with a paper towel. I added some die cut clouds to the sky, layering them with foam tape. I stamped the images from Stamping Bella's Summer Bundle Girl in a Floral Swimcap with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam tape. I got so into the colors of the Shopping Our Stash challenge that I forgot to shop my stash until the end!  LOL  The little sentiment sticker is from my stash - it's an old sheet that I don't even remember the manufacturer of anymore but I've been hoarding it for years! Peace.

All Dressed Up - Play Day

Have you seen these adorable new images from All Dressed Up?!?

This is Fireman Play:

And this is Play Day:

I used Play Day for my card, cropped close so I could focus on her adorable face: 

I created my background by blending Distress Oxide Ink on watercolor paper, then applying gray ink through my Patterned Noise stencil from A Colorful Life Designs. I colored with Copics and used a filmstrip die to cut her out. I added some die cut hearts and a little sticker sentiment from Funky Fossil.

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

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Just Add Ink #790- Stencils and/or Dies

..........................................................................

I loved the Play Day image so much, I made 2 cards with her for today! LOL I'd like to enter this one below into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Add Some Text

Cupcake Inspirations #639

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - Mood Board

Colorful Options July - Red, White, and Blue OR Rainbow

I created my background by blending Candied Apple, Tumbled Glass, and Black Soot Distress Oxide Inks on a piece of watercolor paper. I then used the Dotted Cover die from Pink & Main (holy crap - it's on sale for $6!  I paid $20! LOL) to cut out my background and attached the "together" definition at the top. I die cut a heart and dragged the edges through the Candied Apple, then spritzed with water so it would drip around the heart. Once dry, I added the "together" sticker to it. I printed Play Day, colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam tape. Peace.