Keeping Inspired & Positive

Hello Everyone and Happy Thursday!

Last week while communicating with friend & fellow Double D design team member Birgit, she mentioned how she was struggling to get into crafting and found herself sitting on the couch watching TV and becoming a bit depressed.  Instantly I thought 'what can I do to help her through this slump'.  If you follow my blog, you know that BFF Diane & I have been participating in the same online challenges to help keep us motivated and it's been a lot of fun.

So that is what I proposed to Birgit and asked her to jump over to Paper Playful and choose a challenge that looked like fun to her.  She did exactly that and I'm happy to say that some of the other DT ladies (lol in fact, ALL of them) have decided to join in the fun!  So, today we are playing along with the Cut It Up Challenge where the theme is:

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail (Easter)!

(and instructed ... Don't forget the die cut!)

At the bottom of my post I will share link to each of the girls who are playing along ... please take a minute, pop over to their blogs and share some positivity!  It's a difficult time we are all going through right now and we need to stick together.

Here's what I've created . . .

The dies I've used are:

Frantic Stamper 'Easter Basket & Bow' (FRA 9389)

Impression Obsession 'Bunny Set' (DIE 043)

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Lace Corner Deco E' (B165)

Paper Rose 'Grass Edge' (17571)

I began my card with a background panel of pink/blue plaid designer paper then added a panel of pink card stock.  My basket was die cut from white card stock then colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  Now HERE COMES the FUN PART ... the eggs inside my basket . . .

were fussy cut from a smaller scrap piece from this designer paper.  Wasn't sure if it was going to work but it worked out beautifully I think!!  Adds extra dimension but is totally flat! LOL

After die cutting my bunny trio and coloring their ears & noses pink, I decided to die cut just the one from brown card stock to appear in the basket as a 'chocolate bunny'.  I was tempted to 'bite off' part of one ear but just didn't have the heart to do that!  LOL

Friends playing along are:

Birgit

Amelia

Donna

Barbara

Diane

Judy

Vicki
Kathy

Annie

How awesome that all my Double D friends are joining in this fun challenge!
Can't wait to pop over to their blogs and see what they've created!

Well, that's it for me today!  

Stay safe and healthy my friends!

We will get through this Corona Virus outbreak as long as

everyone follows the rules and watches out for friends & family.

Friendly reminder . . .

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

As always . . .

Sisterhood of Crafters - Kids Card

Hello my friends!

Today I have a card for the new challenge over on The Sisterhood of Crafters!

Our theme this time around is 

Make a Kids Card ...

WOW ... the ideas on this theme are endless ... my mind is swirling!

Here's what I came up with . . .

A while back, I bought all four of the cutest Stampendous sets

over on Dies R Us and thought the cute little elephant set

would make for a really cute kids card.

I actually created my own background panel using just the leaves stamp.

and colored a leaf here & there using Magicals by Lindy's which was gifted to me

by my sweet Aussie friend Annie.  

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!
My 'sistahs' have created some fabulous creations to help inspire you ... 

be sure to pop over and check them out!

 See you there!

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Bleaching Technique

Hello Friends!

This past Sunday, I shared a card I created for the CAS MIX UP Challenge using a 'Bleaching' Technique and Stamps.  I actually had created 2 cards to share in that challenge but then my friend brought it to my attention that the challenge is also CAS ... well pooh!  Missed that fact!  So even though I don't feel I can now enter these two cards into the challenge, I still wanted to share them with you and encourage you to give this technique a go ... I'm really impressed with the outcome!

Second thought ... maybe they are CAS enough to qualify ... I will enter them and if not that's okay too ... at least they will know I loved their theme and wanted to show off my creations.

On my 1st card,  I've used Jennifer McGuire's tutorial ... found here: 

Coloring with Bleach - Jennifer McGuire (13:07)

What do you think?

I've used TH Oxide Distress Inks 'Salty Ocean & Chipped Sapphire'. The stamp set used for my leaves & flower are from Simon Says Stamps called 'Even More Spring Flowers' (#SSS101814) and my sentiment is from Inspired by Stamping.

I actually followed the base card that Jennifer created by cutting my card stock at an angle first.  After smearing & sponging on my inks as she did, I then did the water spritzing for the upper portion and the bleaching for the lower portion.

For my 2nd card,  I used the technique shared by Andrea Kidman found here:

Watercolour card with bleach - Andrea Kidman (6:16)

After watching the video, I grabbed a few of my artist brushes and began creating. As instructed but not nearly as well as she did, I began layering my background using the colors across the back row of my watercolor box from right to left (4 colors) ...

My stamp is an old stamp by Whispers - Sugarloaf Products (circa 2003).  After bleaching the butterfly and while my brush was drying out I lightly made some STREAKS across the background.  Lastly I splattered white watercolor using a little larger brush.

Well, that's it for me today!  

Stay safe and healthy my friends!

We will get through this Corona Virus outbreak as long as

everyone follows the rules and watches out for friends & family.

Friendly reminder . . .

Thanks so much for stopping by!

As always . . .

Tutti Designs - Lily of the Valley

Hello friends ... Happy Monday!

Spring is on it's way and since the Tutti Designs Store has so many beautiful flower type dies, that is what you'll be seeing from me throughout this month for my Monday posts.  Beginning with today's card using a couple of their beautiful Lily of the Valley dies.

I LOVE how this card came together and it could be used for a variety of occasions!

Dies used are:

Spellbinder Chantilly Paper Lace 'Hemstitch Ovals' (#S5-332)

Tutti Designs 'Lily of the Valley Frame'

Lily of the Valley Branch

Memory Box 'Peaceful Joyeux Noel'

I've die cut the 'Lily of the Valley frame' three times, coloring (Spectrum Noir alcohol markers) only the one used on the top as I glued them together to create dimension.  I also off set the 'flowers' just slightly to create a 'shadow effect'.  Then popped it all up with dimensional tape around my Hemstitch Oval panel which was also then popped up.  

A little sponging of Tim Holtz Broken China distress ink directly to my card front helped make the little flowers pop a bit more.  Also used the same ink on the birds which were snipped from this holiday die.  I love when I can use my dies more then one way!

The lower leaves were also snipped from the original die, colored and added to the frame die for more fullness.

Please be sure to pop over to the Tutti Designs Store and check out all of the fabulous dies available.  Need more inspiration?  The team has something new to share on the Tutti Designs Blog  EVERY DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY!   

Pop in often and see for yourself ... what a talented group of designers!!

For your convenience, here are all the Tutti Designs quick links you will need:

Tutti Designs Store

Tutti Designs Pinterest

Tutti Designs Facebook

Tutti Designs Blog

 OH ... AND DID YOU KNOW?

We now have a Tutti Designs UK Store ...


AND

Tutti Deigns Canada


CHECK 'EM OUT!!

Wishing you all an AMAZING day ahead!  

As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by! 

Artsystamper Challenge - Things with Wings

Hello my friends!

It's time for a new challenge over on the Artsystamper Challenge Blog where the team is showcasing digital images designed by Beverly Cole at Artsystamper Digitals!   The 1st and 3rd Monday of each month brings another Artsystamper Challenge

and today's theme is

Things with Wings

I have used the two following digital sets along with Word10 and a few dies to create today's card.

 Nesting Sparrows

and for the background, I've used the one 'neutral tone & pattern'

sheet and changed the color to blue from the following kit

Lucky Oxalis (paper)

I've OBVIOUSLY used Bev's precolored images (I wouldn't be able to get

the colors so perfect on my own lol) and then after printing on photo paper, proceeded

in matting using navy & kraft papers to create my card.

I've used a cross-stitched die to cut my image & mat as well as using a

die cut for the pretty accent pieces.

Hop on over to the Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog and enter!
You will also see more inspiring designs from the Artsystamper Addicts DT ... so much fun!!

 TheArtsystamperShop Etsy

Artsystamper Digitals Blog  
BZCole Mixed Media (YouTube)  
Artsystamper Digitals on Facebook

Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog

I hope you'll come join in our challenge fun!

You do NOT have to used Beverly's images (of course we would love to see them if you have them) ... but you must follow the theme to qualify for the prize.  PRIZE you say . . .

YEP ... The winner of our challenges will receive the stamp set of their choice from TheArtsystamperShop.  Beverly Cole's selections offer stamps and sentiments in each set as well as pre-colored images for easy, last minute cards.  Why not take a moment and check out what she has in the store!!

Hop on over to the Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog and enter!

You will also see more inspiring designs from the Artsystamper Addicts DT ... so much fun!!  As always, thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by!

Inspired by fellow crafters . . .

Happy Palm Sunday Everyone!

This is going to be the strangest Easter holiday we've ever seen but

somehow, we will get through it!!

In the meantime, I'm continuing my social distancing by crafting and earlier

in the week I was inspired by fellow crafter & friend Ros with THIS BEAUTY!

Of course I just HAD to play along!
AND, I've once again asked Michigan BFF Diane (Nellie's Nest) to play along too ...be sure to pop over and see her awesome creation!

It's the April challenge over at the CAS Mix Up Challenge Blog.

They shared videos done by two artists using this technique and today's card was created after watching the video by Jennifer McGuire here:  Coloring with Bleach - Jennifer McGuire (13:07)

I've used TH Oxide Distress Inks 'Twisted Citron & Mowed Lawn'.

The stamp set used for my leaves & flower are from Simon Says Stamps called 'Even More Spring Flowers' (#SSS101814) and my sentiment is from Lawn Fawn 'Our Friendship Grows'.

I am really impressed with the outcome and will be making a few more

cards along this line in the weeks to come. 

I've used the Memory Box 'Wrapped Stitched Frames' for added dimension.

I find it interesting that 'blue' shows up on some of the bleached petals.
You can tell those petals that were done first while the tip of my brush was 'full' of bleach and those that were done as my brush began to dry out!  INTERESTING!!

Well, that's it for me today!  

Stay safe and healthy my friends!

We will get through this Corona Virus outbreak as long as

everyone follows the rules and watches out for friends & family.

Friendly reminder . . .

Thanks so much for stopping by!

As always . . .

       

Crafting through another weekend . . .

Happy Saturday to you my friends!

As mentioned on Thursday, Michigan BFF Diane (Nellie's Nest) and I have challenged each other to participate in a couple different challenges this week just to keep things interesting!  She chose the challenge for this past Thursday (in case you missed it ... click HERE) and today I've chosen the fun challenge we are playing in.  And, that is the AAA Cards Challenge ...

This card was not only made in minutes, but I also used the 'Use a Stencil' twist.

What do you think???

Memory Box 'Butterfly Vine' Stencil, 

Tim Holtz Distress Inks and 

Picket Fence Studio Blender Brushes 

was all that was needed to make this beautiful & quick card. 

There's really not much to tell in regards to the process of creating this card.

White card stock panel,

Tape down your stencil,

Begin brushing on your inks ...

Add a final sentiment (if you want) and VIOLA!  Card complete!

Don't forget to pop over to see what Diane has created for you ... I know I'm excited to see what she has come up with ... our styles are very different one from the other but many times we draw inspiration from what the other one has created!  How Cool Is That!!!

Challenges to share in:
Time Out Challenge #158 -  Lots or a Little Purple

Crafty Calendar April Challenge - Add a Butterfly

Well, that's it for me today!  

Stay safe and healthy my friends!

We will get through this Corona Virus outbreak as long as

everyone follows the rules and watches out for friends & family.

Friendly reminder . . .

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

As always . . .

Crafting my way through Isolation . . .

Hello Friends!

Earlier in the week, Michigan BFF Diane (Nellie's Nest) and I decided we would each choose a challenge to play along in to help spark our crafting mojo and fill in some time while we are staying isolated.  For today, Diane choose the fun challenge over on the Paper Players Blog ... here's their theme:

I went with the right side up & down elements ... patterned paper, birthday & flowers.

My background floral paper is from Mintay (you can't go wrong with these beautiful papers as your starting point!).  The frame die I used today is by Sue Wilson 'Frames & Tags Collection - AVA'

And the floral cluster above my sentiment is also Sue Wilson ... Petite Peony Cluster.

After die cutting from both green & pink card stock and doing some fussy cutting, I realized I could have made this embellishment a lot faster had I looked at the entire set to see there are extra flowers that I could have simply die cut & adhered to my green panel ... oh well, next time!  LOL

My sentiment panels are by Tutti Designs ... HAPPY and BIRTHDAY.  Both sets include a small & large die ... here I've used the larger dies.

A few iridescent sequins and my card is ready to share.

Don't forget to pop over to see what Diane has created for you ... I'm sure it will be TOTALLY different from mine as we have different styles and with this mood board the options are endless!

AND, JUST A HEAD'S UP ...

We are doing this again on Saturday!  It's my turn to choose and I have chosen the challenge offered over on the AAA Cards Clean and Simple Challenge Blog.  Be sure to stop back and see what we came up with using this theme.  And of course, we'd love to hear your thoughts on our designs so feel free to leave some love!

Well, that's it for me today!  

Stay safe and healthy my friends!

We will get through this Corona Virus outbreak as long as

everyone follows the rules and watches out for friends & family.

Friendly reminder . . .

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

As always . . .