There's a train coming.....

Spent all morning putting in tile in the bathroom, felt that was as good an excuse as any to get to spend some time in my craft room!  As if I need an excuse!  LOL.  Anyway.......I have no "male" cards left in my stash (and you know how lonely those 'female' cards get)  :)   I decided I needed to get cracking and this is what I came up with..................

Both the image and the background paper are digi's from Create with TLC.  Aren't they just wonderful!  Paulette gives away an amazing number of digi's (she loves vintage) and word art.  She always seems to know just what I am trying to say, LOL. 

The train image is printed and colored twice with one copy popped onto of the first at the front of the train up flat on the paper at the back.  Sort of looks like it is coming out of the page.  It image is colored with what else:  my copics.  The bakers twine is from the twinery and the button from my stash.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show:  Buttons

Aly's Sunday Challenge:  Bakers twine

Digi Doodle Shop:  Anything Goes

Creative Friday:  Open Theme

Paper Cutz Challenge:  Anything Goes

Moving Along with the Times:  Anything Goes

Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses

Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses.....isn't that a wonderful sentiment!  And check out this DP.  Isn't it just to die for.  I picked this up in Maui (in December) at Island Paperie and finally have decided that I had to cut into at least one piece of it!  LOL..

The DP is cut just under the size of the kraft card base.  The image (from OCL) is stamped directly on the DP.  The ribbon is layered directly under the stamped image.  Spellbinder Fleur de Lis shapeabilities are used for the embellishments and the base for the sentiment.  Memento inks for stamping and sponging.

The shadings of the blue work perfectly for sky scene and the hibiscus flowers are just amazing.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge:  Use punches, die cuts, etc.

Take a Word:  Travel (Maui)

Totally Stampalicious:  Keep it Simple

Birthday Wishes

There is a beautiful picture of a cake on Our Craft Lounge to use as an inspiration for a project.  Couldn't wait to play with the idea that immediately popped into my head.  I would use my circut and design studio and make a card in the shape of a cake.  Only..........there has to be a stamp from OCL used to be able to enter their challenge.  Well,  I dug out "Life's a Picnic"  and this is what I came up with..................

Don't you just love those hungry little ants!  LOL,

The ants are stamped, colored, cut out and placed on the card.  The flowers are also individually completed.  The petals are curved out and the flowers mounted on the the cake. 

The 'happy' is from "Sunshine Cheer" and Birthday is from "Say it Big" stamp sets.

It is cool how you can mix and match the different sets to make your projects.

The decorative "icing" is made with an EK success border punch.  The ribbon and flat back pearls

are from my stash.  All coloring is with Copic markers and the stamping and sponging is all done

with Memento markers.  The center sentiment is from the "Life's a Picnic" set.  The die cut

is a new Spellbinder nestibility.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge:  Photo inspiration
Birthday Sundaes:  Birthday card
Crafty Ho's:  Scrappy Birthday
There's Magic in the Air:  Let's use flowers
Fairy Tale Challenge:    Happy Birthday
PaperPlay Challenge:  Critters Galore
Paper CupCakes:  Let's use flowers

Spring may have Sprung!

This is a picture heavy post!  Be warned!

Spring is trying hard to come out and it definitely is influencing me.  My friend Marsha just had her birthday and I made her a beautiful spring lantern to celebrate it.  This is my first attempt at a lantern and I think it turned out just wonderful.  (Remember, this is paper.  Use a flameless candle)!

Isn't this just gorgeous?!  The tutorial that I started with for this lantern is on 'From my Craft Room'.  I did some changes, ie:  windows in all 4 sides, slight changes in size, added a shelf with a holder for the flameless candle inside the lantern, etc.  The basic frame is almost the same though. 

This beautiful butterfly is one of my new dies from Mariannes Creatables.  (see last post for another die cut from Mariannes).  I cut it out of white cardstock and colored it with my copics.  All of the flowers are cut out with my cricut, shaped, sponged and assembled with brads.  All of the leaves are a sizzix die cut.

The ribbons are from Michael's.  The papers and brads are from my stash.  The windows all have acetate (fastened on the inside with ATG adhesive).  I use overhead transparencies for this.  To access the inside to place/replace the flameless candle, the top comes off.  Didn't Norma do an amazing job designing the top to this great lantern!? 

Including the top, this lantern stands close to 7 inches. 

I can't think of a better celebration of spring than flowers and butterflies.  What better way to say happy birthday to my friend!

This project may be entered in the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenges:  Things with wings

Creative Cowgirls Challenge:  Spring or Easter

Sparkles Challenge:  Springtime

One Stitch at a Time:  3-D

The Crafty Pad:  Flowers

I did it Creations:  Anything Goes

Bows and Berries:  Inspired by Nature

The Crazy Challenge:  Just add Flowers

Lollipop Crafts:  Make a box or a gift

There's Magic in the Air:  Lets use flowers

Clear it out Challenge:  Make a flower and use it

Papertake Weekly:  Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown:  Spring

Flutter by Wednesday:  Open theme, must have a buttlerfly, fairy or angel

Fresh Brewed Designs:  Flowers

Ambers Crafts and Such:  Try a new technique

Craft us Crazy:  Spring or Easter

Little Claire's Designs:  Celebrate Spring

Shannon's Sentiments:  Use an oval (the windows)

So Artful Challenges:  April Showers bring Spring flowers

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge:  Butterfly

Allsorts Challenge:  Bloomin' Blossoms

DYSU:  Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Dutch Dare Challenge:  Spring

TSB:  Monthly Challenge

Thinking of You

Teal, dark brown and white.  What an amazing color combo!  That is the challenge at OCL this week.  Once again I am breaking out my favorite stamp set "Natures Notes" and playing with that gorgeous butterfly!

And.......how about that die cut on the front!  I just got that in the mail last week.  From England!  The company name is Marianne's Creatables and they are awesome!  Watch out for some of the other dies that I bought to come up on projects soon. 

Another first in this project, I colored with my copics on kraft cardstock inside the card.  Not to bad although you do have to use quite darker colors to get them to show enough.

Deets:

Image & Sentiment:  Our Craft Lounge:  Natures Notes

Coloring:  Copic Markers

Paper:  Neenah solar crest

Stamp ink:  Memento

Glitter:  Dazzling Diamonds from SU

Paper, ribbon and half pearls:  from my stash

**Note:  I am still on with my new years resolution and have not bought any DP this year!**

The gorgeouse butterfly is stamped on the die cut.  Another is stamped on some scrap paper, colored, cut out.

The body is glued to the die cut, the wings are popped up for dimension.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge:  Dark brown, teal and white color challenge

Sparkles Forum:  Spring

Whoopsie Daisy:  Spring

Cooking it up with Kate:  Shimmer, sparkle and shine

Pixie Dust Studios:  Fluttering Wings

Christmas Stamping all year long:  Decorate the inside too

Little Claire's Designs:  Celebrate Spring

Secret Crafter:  Butterflies

Dream Valley Challenges:  Things with Wings

TSB:  Monthly challenge

Spring dreaming

Lots of time in my craft room yesterday!  I got to play for the entire day.  It just rained and rained and rained.  I got 3 cards and a 3D project done.  Will get them posted as I can.  This card started with a sketch from Our Craft Lounge.  They do a weekly challenge with a monthly winner from all the entries.  The best part is that the winner gets to pick ANY stamp set that OCL makes.  Their stamps are 'the bomb'!

Lots of layers and little touches on this sketch.  Actually had to think for this one.

This stamp set is 'Tree-rific Trees'.  I didn't like it.  I only bought it for one of the sentiments on it. (not this one)  My friend Cammie (one of the owners of OCL) talked me into getting it and.......now I use it all the time!  There is just something about those trees and the fat little birds.  Easy and fun to color, very versatile, and they just ooooooze Spring.  Sorry about the glare from the flash, no natural light happening here at all!

Deets:

Stamp and sentiment from OCL. 

Memento Ink to stamp image and for sponging.

EK success border punch

CB embossing folder

Ribbon, buttons, half pearls and all papers from my scrap stash. (gotta love using those scraps!)

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge:  Sketch and use their stamps
Pals Paper Arts:  Embossing (dry embossed with CBF at left edge)
The Cuttlebug Spot:  Dry emboss and buttons
Clear it Out:  Buttons
Res-Q-challenge:  Scrub it up!
Little Miss Muffet:  Brads, gems and pearls
I did it Creations:  Welcome Spring!
Aly's Sunday Challenge:  Spring theme
Creative Stamp Friends:  Spring
Inspiration Avenue:  Spring
Stamp with Fun:  Spring
Pear Tree Designs:  Happy Birthday
Everybody Art:  Happy Birthday
Top Tip Tuesday:  3 or more buttons
Wags n Whiskers:  Spring
Stamp Something:  Spring
Totally Gorjuss:  Spring

CAS -

Dreaming of spring..........waiting for the fields to fill up with crops,  Fresh fruit and vegetables for the table.  Fresh, clean air, dirt between your fingers. picnics in the sun.    Come on spring cause it means summer is right around the corner.  This card is clean and simple.  I did use a layer because I color with copics and I didn't want the inside to show the bleed through. 

The stamp set is by OCL and called 'Bountiful Harvest'.   The coloring is with copics.  The dry embossing is with a cuttlebug folder 'Swiss Dots'.    I also did some score lines above and below the main image with my Scor-pal.  The paper is Neenah solar white and the ribbon is from JoAnns.  The brad holding the sentiment and the half pearls are from my stash.  Hint:  I only buy white half pearls.  I use my copics to color them in the exact color that I need for each card!

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge:  CAS (must use one of their stamps)
Stamping Vacation:  No, no, no fancy borders.
Paper Sundaes:  Embossing
Incy Wincy Designs:  Embossing
Stamps R Us:  Spring
Digi Stamps 4 Joy:  CAS
The Rubber Cafe:  Embossing

Butterfly explosion

Our Craft Lounge has its Friday challenge up and running.  What could be more fun than to use your "BLING".  Use an OCL stampset (or more) and bling up a project!  At the end of each month, one contributor is picked to win a free stamp set.  Entering in the challenge also puts your name into the "Customer of the Week" pot and this person also wins a button for their blog and a free stamp set of their choice.  Lots of chances to get free stamps and a chance to show off your talent!

I am showcasing the amazing butterfly in the 'Notes of Nature' stamp set.  It is the best butterfly (IMHO) out there.  I stamp, color, cut-out and bling up lots of them just to keep around for embellishments on many of my projects.  On the outside, 'Dandy Days' made the perfect surround for all the beauties inside.

(Lots of photos)

The box is small-about 3.5 inches tall, 1.5 across.  Just love how the colors worked out.  Wasn't too sure about the lime green but it works! 

The larger butterflies are from 'Natures Notes'.  They are colored with copics and then sprinkled liberally with OCL crafty sparkles.  They really shine!   The smaller one is a MS punch.  The flowers are a punch and covered in crafty sparkles and a rhinestone center.  If you look closely, there is a button in the shape of  frog at the base of the box, hiding under the flowers.

The DP, cardstock and ribbon are all from my stash.  I have left the inside panels blank for a sentiment to go with whatever reason I decide to give this away.  I am thinking that it will be one of my Pay it Forward gifts.

Anyway, this explosion of butterflies makes me think/dream of spring and I am SO READY for spring!

This project may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge:  Supply challenge:  Bling

Pals Paper Arts:  Spring/Easter

Penny's Challenges:  Green

Paper Play Challenge:  Shades of Green

AiFactory:  Luck of the Irish or use green

Flutterby Wednesday:  Butterfly and photo inspiration

Scrap-Creations: Going green

House of Gilli:  Use green

Corrosive Challenges:  Green

ECP challenge: Use green

Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes

Craft your Passion:  Anything Goes

Miami Doodles:  Greens

Card Makin' Mamas:  Something Green

Ann's creative Nook:  Lets hear it for green

The Three Muses:  Spring

Crafty Ann's Challenge:  Spring

The Pink Elephant:  Springtime

Kaboodle Doodles:  Go Green

Stampin For the Weekend:  Springtime

Raise the Bar:  G-green, R-ribbon, E-Embellishment (glitter), E-Embellishment (Flower punches), N-Notes of Nature(butterfly stamp set).

Stamp Insanity:  A pop of green

 

Shower of Blooms

OCL had a new release party in February and let me tell you, there are some spectacular images in these stamp sets.  I have already had to go to Memories of Time in Coos Bay and pick a couple of the sets up.  This is the first card I made with "Shower of Blooms".  This a a beautifully illustrated set (by Marianne Walker) with so many possible uses.  This one is going to my sister for her birthday!

This photo definitely doesn't do this image justice! 

The large rabbit is raised and the outer little rabbit is raised even further.  The front section of the umbrella was also stamped and colored a 2nd time.  The tips (all 3) and glued to the original picture and the center, near the edge was pop dotted to raise it out.

The image is stamped with Memento tuxedo black ink on Neenah solar crest cardstock.  Copic markers were used for the coloring.  All of the die cuts are Spellbinders.  The ribbon, flowers and half pearls are all from my stash.  The DP is DCWV. 

Can't wait to play with the other images!

This card may be entered in the following challenges:
Shelly's Images:  Lots of  layers
Craft Us Crazy:  Nature
Fairy Knoll:  Think Spring
Cute Card Thursday:  Signs of Spring
Die Cut Dreams:  Spring Garden Scene
Everybody Art:  Spring
Scrapbook Sisters:  Spring
For Fun Challenges:  Purple, green and yellow
Cooking it up with Katie:  Spring, add yellow, top off with some flowers
Belli Challenge:  Animal
Delightful Challenges:  Welcome Spring!
Delicious Doodles:  Make a card you would want to recieve
Stampin for the Weekend:  Springtime
Tellen's Place:  Use at least 2 embellishments
Simply Create:  The Power of Flowers

 

Show me some Flowers!

GingerLoft Challenge Blog is at it again.  This fortnight the challenge is to Show me some Flowers!

Tami has an amazing number of digi's, both for sale and for free in her store.  Just go to the challenge site and follow the hot air balloons to her store! 

Now, on to the challenge.

 

One of my favorite stamps at GingerLoft is called 'Playground'.  The look on this dog's face just says it all, and so much.  I can see using him for a " I'm going to miss you", "sorry I missed your birthday", "how can I help" etc card.  Acutally, I have used him for all of those!The coloring is with copics.  The pawprint punch is EK Success.  The papers, ribbon, flowers and brads are all from my stash!  (My new years resolution to not buy any new papers until I have used 75% of what I already have (except cardstock) is still intact!)

I love the daisy DP paper used as the background. 

This card may be entered in to the following challenges:
Stamp Something:  Use a digi
Craft Us Crazy:  Be one with Nature
Paper Playtime:  Digi anything goes
Tip Top Tuesday:  Use a favorite (this digi)
Allsorts Challenge:  Card for a teenager
Simply Create:  Use flowers
Sarah Hurley Challenge:  Four-legged friends
Meljens Designs:  Animal
Charisma Cardz:  Four-legged friends
Belli Challenge:  Animal

Make a Splash, spring rains are coming!

This is my second post today.  If you are looking for 'Happy Hello' click scroll down.

The only fun thing about the heavy rains of spring (other than the flowers it brings forth) is getting to go out and play in the puddles.  Splashing around is something I did as a child and did with my boys when they were little.  I'm sure they are "too old" to do it now!  LOL

This is a wonderful Dustin Pike image.  I just love it!  The puddle, the boots, the yellow rain slickers!  Just like when I was a little!

The heads of both animal and the legs of the rabbit are all cut out a second time and pop dotted.  The sentiment (from Create with TLC) is also raised on pop dots.  The coloring is done with copics, the bubble DP is DCWV and the cardstock is dry embossed with a CB embossing folder.  The ribbon is from Joann's.

I have glazed the water and splashes with diamond glaze.  It looks wet IRL!  The brads are from my stash.

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Pike's Playground:  Spring is in the Air

Digi's with Attitude:  Anything Goes

Fairy Knoll:  Think Spring

Meljens:  U R such an Animal

Shelly's Images:  Lots of Layers

Fussy and Fancy:  Embossing

Cute Card Thursday:  Signs of Spring

Pixie Dust Studios:  Seeing Polka Dots  (embossing and brads)

KB Challenges:  Anything goes with a digi

Stamp Something:  Use a digi

Creative Craft World:  Card for a male

Stamping Vacation:  No, No, No flowers!

Charizma Cards:  4 legged friends

Fab N' Funky:  Spring

Happy Hello!

Spring is just around the corner (I hope)!  I am sending this 'Happy Hello' out to Spring with hopes of encouraging her to hurry up!  LOL

This is CASE (copy and share everything) card based off of Broni Holcombe's card here.

I used her layout, basic colors, and the same stamp set.  I did add the bird (from the set) and a different sentiment. 

Come on Spring, it's time already!

Deets:

Stamp set:  Tree-rific Trees by Our Craft Lounge

Stamp Ink:  Memento black tuxedo

Coloring:  Copic markers

DP, ribbon and button from my stash

This card may be entered in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge:  CASE an OCL card
Card Makin'Mamas:  Green
DYSU:  Just Green it!
Cute Card Thursday:  Signs of Spring
Craft Us Crazy:  Nature
Paper Crafting Journey:  Things with Wings
Pennys Challenges:  Use Green
Crafty Purple Frog:  Things with Wings
Fairy Knoll:  Think Spring
Fab N' Funky:  Spring into Action

HB2U (happy birthday to you)

Happy Birthday to you Danna!  Follow a sketch, pick an image, grab some colors and go!  This funky birthday card was a breeze to make.  And, you gotta love purple!

This card image and sentiment are from the 'Robot Family' stamp set by Our Craft Lounge.

The die cuts are spellbinders and the border punch EK success.  Both the image and the sentiment are up on dimensionals.  Coloring is with copic markers.  The drops are 'inky dinky dewdrops'.  The ribbon and papers are from my stash.  A little dotting with a white ink pen and it is finished.

This card may be submitted in the following challenges:

Our Craft Lounge:  The sketch

Delightful Challenges:  Use your scraps (ribbon, papers)

DYSU:  Anything goes

I Did It Creations:  Punches and Dies

Dream Valley Challenges:  Anything Goes - Good luck with the new challenge blog.

If the Shoe Fits:  Purple

Card Makin Mamas:  Happy Birthday

Crafty Annes Challenge:  Happy Birthday

Aud Sentiments:  Trendy Saying

Paper Crafting Journey:  Anything Goes

Southern Girls Challenge:  Brads, gems or dewdrops

Sentimental Sundays:  Anything Goes

Res-Q:  Get Packing (square or rectangle)

Our Furry Friends

Today is the start of the new challenge at  GingerLoft Challenges.  Every 2 weeks, a challenge, this time it is "Our Furry Friends", is posted.  Tami has lots of wonderful digital images available in her store.  There are freebies and digis for sale as well.  Go and visit GingerLoft designs, pick up an image and come and play.

This is Bentley.  He is a new image for Tami, and he is just adorable.  Can't you just see him trying to figure out how to get to that hive with the honey.  You know that little round body isn't going to be climbing that tree any time soon!  LOL

Bentley (the bear), the hive and the bees are all on dimensionals.  All of the diecuts are spellbinders, the coloring is copics.  The sponging is with Memento inks.  All papers, brads and ribbon are from my stash.

Bentley also has some Sparkley Fluff from Our Craft Lounge on him for the furry factor! The ribbon is actually dark blue, not black.

This card may be posted in the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges:  Use die cuts

Paper Pretties:  Card for a child

Digital Tuesday:  Use die cuts

Stampin' Royalty:  Use markers

Cute Card Thursday:  Shiny, happy cards

Totally Paper Crafts:  Do it with a digi

Res-Q:  Something that makes you Happy

OWOH door prize winners!

Today is the day that we announce our individual blog doorprize winners!  Congratulations to the 2 winners from my blog "Playing with Paper".

They are:

Cyndi from "By Light of the Moon"  and

Anna from "Quiltmoms Journey"

Hopefully I will be mailing out their prizes Friday or Saturday (faster they email me their snail mail, the faster the prizes go out)

I hope that everyone had a wonderful OWOH - I know that I did!