Sugar Creek Hollow Challenge and . . .

 . . . another Nicecrane Design 'pyramid' creation.

Happy Monday to You!

You know how much I love 'vintage' ... well the challenge over on Sugar Creek Hollow this week is 'Sweet Vintage Valentine'.  I didn't do your traditional valentine colors on this one ... but chose to use more of the distressed/vintage look and colors.  I have used the Sugar Creek Hollow digi images called 'Valentine Vintage PostCard' which you can find in their store HERE.  After printing the image I used various Tim Holtz distress colors and sponge applicators for my coloring.  I must admit, I'm very happy with the outcome.

(click on image to enlarge)  

Other challenges:

CD Sunday - Love Is In The Air

Creative Cowgirls - Love Is In The Air

Creative Inspirations - Love

Craft Your Days Away - Love

Crazy 4 Challenges - Vintage or Shabby Chic

Marks Finest Papers - Valentine Card

Fussy and Fancy - Valentine no red/pink

Mami Doodles - Magic of Love
Charisma Cardz - Valentine/Love
Delightful Challenges - include a Heart on project

Meljens Designs - Something with Hearts

Fab 'n' Funky - use a Digi

Stampavie and More - Love

* * * * *

Another fun creation I made this weekend is this "Little Queen Anne" pyramid card.  The pyramid sheet is from Nicecrane Designs and is a NEW RELEASE.  If you haven't checked out what Ignacio has in his store ... you are really missing something AMAZING ... especially if you are a lover of Vintage!

(click on image to enlarge)

I have used this week's sketch from Card Patterns for my layout and the designer paper is from the DCWV Far East booklet.  Zva gem swirls were used as an accent as well as satin ribbon from Michaels.

I hear a lot of ladies 'gasp' when they see these sheets and think they CAN'T do this ... well it's really not as hard as it looks and in fact, once you've done ONE ... you'll want to do MORE and Ignacio has a VARIETY of  pyramid sheet sets for you to choose from.  Come On!  Give it a try ... they really have that WOW factor when you share them with friends & family!!

Okay ... must go for now.  They are calling for MORE SNOW & ICE over the next couple of days so I'd better get errands run so I can HIDE OUT in my crafting cave and wait out the storm!!

Have a wonderful day and THANKS SO MUCH for stopping by today!
Hugs to you!
Darlene

Joans Gardens Challenge #4

It's time again for a fun challenge over at Joan's Gardens and this week her challenge requirements are:

1.  Use Yellow and Green for your colors
2.  a piece of trim
3.  a frame to call attention to your focal point
4.  embossing

 (CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Recipe for card is:

Papers:  Basic Grey (origins), garden green, whisper white

Stamps:  Serendipity 

Accessories:  Martha Stewart floral vine border punch, lacy butterfly punch, Webster Pages trim, Nestabilities classic & scallop ovals, white gelly roll pen, Prima flowers

Other challenges:

Basic Grey - BG item +FlowerPower

Colour Create - Colour: lemon, green, white

Do You Stack Up? - patterned paper

Some Odd Girl - scallops gallore

Top Tip Tuesday - Fabulous Flowers

Crafty Cardmakers - Floral

Magical Monday - Flowers

* * * * *

SOMETHING FUN TO SHARE WITH YOU!

On my last post I showed you an altered Crystal Lite container filled with Dum Dum lollipops and showcasing a digi image from Nicecrane Designs.  Ignacio (the artist/owner) was so intrigued with the LOLLIPOP concept that he did some research and then made THIS . . .

(CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Keep in mind, Ignacio is in SPAIN and it amazed me that he would go to this length of get the information.  LOL!  I have offered to send him a bag of these Dum Dum goodies.  The fun part is that this candy company was originally based out of Akron, OH (where I live) and it states that in the article. 

Isn't this flier amazing!!  He is SO TALENTED!

Okay ... that's it for me today!!  I've been busy helping out with the CDAC Group Heart Hop but did take a break to create this card.  I hope you like it and find inspiration in it.  Have a wonderful weekend! 

Hugs, Darlene

Excitement & Fun at CDAC

IT'S TIME FOR A FUN WEEKEND AT CDAC!

Yes, we are having a GROUP HOP over on CDAC and it's going to be great fun!  You can go to the Main Page of CDAC for all the details.

The NEW CHALLENGES are now posted too (can also be found on the Main Page).  One of those challenges is the Holiday/Special Occasion Challenge.  This time being sponsored by Nicecrane Designs and hosted by DT member JenLee.  Ignacio has provided a FREEBIE for you to use on your creation and the theme is BIRTHDAYS and "OLD - VINTAGE".

My card does not really have that "OLD" feel (will be making another one soon) but I did make a card & gift package using this adorable image called Incredible Friends DS2.

(click on image to enlarge)

Another little creation I made using this same image is an Altered Crystal Lite container turned into a TREAT CONTAINER!  As you can see, I have used the smaller container but of course you could do the same thing with the larger one.  After covering the canister with designer paper (RAK from JenLee - South Africa), I have colored and added lace and the image.  Of course, then filled with DumDum Lollipops from the Spangler Candy Company (an Ohio based company).

How SWEET is this idea ... I know the 'young lady' this was made for is going to LOVE IT!!!

* * * * *

While we're talking about Nicecrane Designs, I'm thrilled to say that he liked my Red Riding Hood Tissue Box Cover (using his Red Riding Hood Images) so much that he has used it for his Product Preview Sheet and a FREEBIE found HERE. (password 291162) 

  If you aren't familiar with this Tissue Box Cover idea or missed my posting on the subject ... you can CLICK HERE for the details.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Now I must go HOPPING!!  Catch you all later and for those of you expecting MORE SNOW (like we are) ... hang in there ... Spring is Coming!  Really!!

Hugs, Darlene

Delicious Doodles Challenge

Happy Friday Everyone!

First I wanted to share with you that yesterday my daughter Carolyn & I took my Mom shopping & to lunch for her birthday and had a wonderful fun time.  Mom turned 81 years old yesterday but I'll tell you ... I can only pray to be in 'that good of shape' ... 'that sharp minded' and enjoy life as much as she does when I reach her age!!   

Happy Birthday Mom~!!

Now on to today's 'crafting business'!  Today's is Delicious Doodles Challenge time and it's with sadness that I tell you this will be my LAST creation for the DD Team.  I need to regroup a little & dissolve some of my 'commitments' to make more time for my family.  Of course I will ALWAYS support Teri , the DD team and enjoy creating using Teri's AMAZING images.

This week we are sponsored by TLC creations and they were generous enough to supply the team members with images for today.  I have a very good friend who had a birthday yesterday and needed to make a 'special card for her' so I chose their 'Old Bird' image.

 (click image to enlarge)

I wanted to bring main focus to this adorable image so I made a pretty easy peasy creation using designer papers from DCWV for my stripes & dots.  Grosgrain ribbon from JoAnn's is my only other addition.  Prismacolor markers were used for coloring.

Be sure to pop over to our challenge blog and check out the AMAZING variety of inspirational creations by the design team ... then join in the fun yourself!  Looking forward to seeing YOUR creation!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back later with creations designed using Nicecrane Designs.  Hope to see you then.

Hugs,

Darlene

Just playing a couple challenges . . .

While blog-hopping yesterday, I saw a card that inspired me to play along with a few challenges and so that's exactly what I have done today!

(click image to enlarge)

I made this card for the following challenges:

Sunday Sketch and Stamp - SKETCH

Let's Ink It Up - NO DIGI - anything goes

Crafty Pad - Girly

Paper Sundaes - Distressing

Alphabet Challenge - "L" is for "Ladies"

Crafty Catz - use a forgotten stamp

Stamp Man - Distressing

Sweet Stampin - Brown + 1 other color

Stamp with Fun - Blue & Brown

Tuesday Throwdown - Distressing

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

My daughter & I took the day for shopping with 

My Mom ...

she's 81 years old today so we decided

to do a little shopping & lunch.

Girls Day Out!

Hope you're having a great day too!

Hugs,

Darlene

Sisterhood Challenge and a tutorial . . .

Yep ... it's time again for The Sisterhood Challenge and this time it's one EVERYONE can enter ... you guessed it ...

 ANYTHING GOES

Be sure to pop over, check it out AND we have another TWIST to our challenge blog (hint: Guest Designers) ... all the details are on our blog.  Today I'm sharing a NEW gift card idea I just learned from a very creative friend (June Knaack - The Stamp Pad).  This gift card holder is made using an A-2 envelope ... tutorial further down in this post.

This is the gift card holder ...attached to the front of this A-6 card in 'closed' form.

This is how it looks 'open'.  

 The nice thing is you can still put your personal 

message on the inside of the base card.  

My choice of focus image is this adorable *Wink *Wink Ink digi image named 'Love Fairy'.  I have added sparkle to the wings and crystal effects to the heart for extra dimension.

Other challenges this qualifies for are:

A Spoonful of Sugar - Valentine's

Scrap-Creations - Red/Black/White

Tuesday Taggers - Alter something, include wings

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Love is in the Air

Pollycraft - Black/White & 1 color

Woodware - Anything Goes

Gingerloft - Things that Fly
Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings - Heart theme

NOW FOR THE DIRECTIONS:

Using an A-2 size envelope, fold each side into the center (gate fold style) then cut out the left & right corners from the flap (as indicated in the photo).

You can decorate the outer panels or just leave plain.

This is how it looks completed ... in closed form.

Here it is OPEN ...

and here it is completed and added to the front 

of an A-2 size card base.

You can also turn it the other direction ... as shown below:

I hope you will try this VERY EASY technique for your next gift card holder.  And, if you do, please let me know so I can come visit, see your creation and leave you some love!!


Thanks for stopping by today and I look forward to seeing what you create for this week's Sisterhood Challenge!    Have a wonderful day!

Darlene

Midnight Madness and MORE . . .

Here's a little snippet of this week's Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge card.  The beautiful butterfly image I've used is from the "priscillastyles" store and I thought it was perfect for this week's CAS sketch.  Did you know your have the choice of TWO different sketches at Midnight Madness... AND ... you can get a sneak peek at the sketch the Friday BEFORE the challenge!  How cool is that ... really helps give you those 'extra hours' in your day before the challenge is posted.  Now  here's my card for this week's challenge . . .

(click image to enlarge)

I've used a combination of DCWV designer papers for my backgrounds and my new Beaded Oval Nestabilities die.  Prismacolor markers were used for coloring and Stickles for a touch of sparkle on the wings.

* * * * *

It's Tuesday and that means it is time for another TAG challenge over at Joan's Gardens.  Today I went for another 'vintage' style tag.

(click on image to enlarge)

I have used images from Crafty Secrets and designer paper from Webster's Pages (purchased at Joans Gardens).  This is such a fun way to get tags made up early and have them on hand and the ladies are creating some B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L tags ... pop over an see ... then join the fun!!

Other Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - Vintage

Happily Scrappin - (vintage) picture inspired

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - vintage

* * * * *

And lastly is my creation for today's Crafty Secrets Challenge over on the forum of Splitcoast Stamper.  Marcy is our hostess today and she's asked us to use HEARTS along with our Crafty Secrets products.

(click image to enlarge)

The recipe for this card is:

Papers:  Black, Red & Kraft cardstock, DCWV dp, Paper Pizazz dp

Image: Crafty Secrets Valentine Cotton Scraps

Accessories:  Creative Memories heart punch (small hearts), 

Martha Stewart Lacey Heart Punch, K&Co. key, Offray blk ribbon,

Crafty Secrets Valentine Stickers 
(postage stamp stickers in the little hearts)

Other challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Use two patterned papers

Lexi's Creations - Valentines

Ooh La La Creations - 3 of a kind (3 little hearts)

Craft Your Days Away - Love

Totally Papercrafts - add a heart

Pals Paper Arts - Sketch

Freshly Brewed - Love or Valentine Theme

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Valentines

Flourishes - use hardware

Thanks everyone for stopping by today!  I hope you are having a wonderful day and remember to HUG the ones you love and let them know they are precious to you!!!
Hugs,
Darlene

A VERY SPECIAL young man . . .

 . . . my nephew, DANNY MOYER!

The son of my older sister, Linda, Danny has severe cerebral palsy and has been in a nursing home since he was around 2 years old.  We don't get to see Danny much because he gets too excited/upset and goes into seizures ... so we are limited in our visits.  In fact, his father who is his primary parent is only allowed 2 visits a month.

My sister called me on Saturday and asked if I would go with her this week to see Dan ... so that's what I did yesterday.  It's still very difficult for her to visit him alone and feels more comfortable when I'm there too!  That's fine with me because then I too get to visit with Danny ... otherwise, I may not be allowed.   Guess I'm kind of a comforting cushion between my sister and her son ... and I'm okay with that.  

It just so happened that my granddaughter was able to join us for lunch before heading over to the nursing home and came along to MEET her cousin for the first time.   Morgan is VERY good with special needs people and Danny warmed up to her right away!!  It was a very sweet moment when he made eye contact with Morgan and you could feel their connection!

At times it was difficult to get photos of Danny ... he can't/doesn't respond to your requests so ... we all came down to his level and talked to him when he wasn't feeling up to sitting up.  It turned out to be a very comfortable, warm visit and my sister was pleased to be able to introduce her new fiance' to her son.

Dan will be 38 years old on March 16th and we pray he will have many more birthdays ahead.  His life expectancy is of course shorter than normal due to his illness ... but he has already surpassed that and we are blessed to have him as long as we can!


Thanks for letting me share this experience with you and remember to give your kids a big hug today and let them know you love them . . . they are all precious gifts that we sometimes take for granite.


I'll be back a little later with some crafting creations to share!  Today is Midnight Madness day ... Joans Gardens Tag day ... Crafty Secrets challenge day ... and who knows what else I'll have for you!  LOL!    Happy Day Everyone!!


Hugs,
Darlene

Nicecrane Designs DT creations . . .

I am so excited to show you today's DT creations for Nicecrane Designs.  Ignacio has been extremely busy creating new collage sheets, pyramid sheet, backgrounds and MORE ... you really need to check it out for yourself over at his STORE and you might want to pop by his BLOG too.

 (Lid Photo - click to enlarge)

Using the Red Riding Hood Vol. 1 - ATC/ACEO Backgrounds, I have created a Tissue Box Cover (tutorial here)  for the little 6 year old girl next door.  The background is actually the Red Riding Hood story which I found online and printed out. 
 

(click on image to enlarge)

Four of the six images were used on the four sides of this box.  I have cut the Wolf & Red Riding Hood images from the other two and used on the top.  Nestabilities were used for the opening on the lid and I've not used many embellishments with the hopes that Little Emily will like reading some of the story shown in the background and prompting her to want to get the book and have Mommy read it to her.

This is what it looks like taken apart.

 (click on image to enlarge)

For the matching card I have used the Red Riding Hood image from yet another Red Riding Hood ATC sheet.  I have used the same storybook background for my card and added a couple Prima flowers as well as Martha Stewart leaves/sprigs punched from scraps laying on my work table.

* * * * *

Another set of images Ignacio has been working on and can be found in the store TODAY  is the Little Maids Collection.  I have chosen "Little Maids #2" for today's card and chose to make it a gate-fold card.  There are FIVE beautiful little images in this collection and each one is sweeter than the last!!  I've used a combination of Prismacolor markers and chalks for my coloring.

 Other challenges this card qualifies for are:

Crafty Pad - Girly

I Did It Creations - Card for a child

Quirky Crafts - In the Spring Garden

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Vintage

One Stop Craft - More than One Fold

Stamp Something - Cute something

Here is what the inside looks like.  
Ready to add what ever sentiment is required for the occasion!

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by and if you've left me a comment, thank you, thank you, thank you!  I always love hearing from you even if it's just a short & sweet comment ... it truly makes my day!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of Ignacio's (Nicecrane Designs) latest designs and are inclined to pop over and pick up a few for yourself!  They are GREAT FUN and so unique.

Hugs,

Darlene

Nicecrane Designs DT

Having a 'FAIRY' nice day . . .

Happy Monday Everyone!  

Well the football playoffs are over and my 

Pittsburgh Steelers are  

'GOIN' TO THE SUPER BOWL'  .... YEAH!!!

Today I have a card for you created using a brand new digi image from Delicious Doodles ... in fact, it's so new it won't even be released into the store until Wednesday of this week!  There are two other images that will also be released with this beautiful 'Mushroom Fairy'.

(click on image to enlarge)

The recipe for this card is:

Image:  Delicious Doodles - artist Teri Sherman

Sketch:  Case Study Challenge

Papers:  Pomegranate, Black, White cardstock, 

DCWV (Once Upon a Time) designer paper

Accessories:  Prismacolor markers, Deco Art Glamour Dust, 

White Gelly Roll Pen, Quickie Glue, Michael's ribbon,

Crafty Secrets Sew Special zig-zag stitch stamp, 

Versafine black ink

Other challenges this card qualifies for are:

Crafty Emma - angels & fiaries

Wags 'n Whiskers - use a fairy or an angel

Case Study Challenge - Case card (design)

Paper Play - use a black base

Stampin' Royalty - Anything with wings

Flutter By Wednesday - Butterfly, Fairy or Angel

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope your week is filled with fun & laughter!  It's still VERY cold outside ... I'm headed to the crafting cave!  See you later!

Hugs,

Darlene

A couple challenge cards to share with you today . . .

. . . for Sugar Creek Hollow and Pattie's Creations.

Happy Sunday Everyone!  I hope it's WARM where you are ... it sure is COLD ... Brrrr ... here in N.E. Ohio.  We are in the 'single digits' and it's snowing again!  My battle cry these days is "come on springtime"!  LOL   Anyways, onto today's challenge cards.

First is a card I did for the Splash of Color challenge over at Sugar Creek Hollow.  What a fun challenge ... won't you come join us??  

 (click image to enlarge)

  

The recipe for this card is:

Image:  Sugar Creek Hollow

Paper: Powder Blue, White, Black cardstock

Accessories: Prima flowers, Deco Art Glamour Dust, 

Quickie Glue, White Gelly Roll Pen, Black fine tip marker

Technique:  Faux Stitching

Other challenges this card qualifies for are:

Pattie's Creations - color challenge PLUS digi

i{heart}2stamp - Sketch

Challenge Up Your Life - Clean & Simple

Mami Doodles - Mostly Blue

* * * * *

Secondly is a card I created using a digi image from PattieG.  Her challenge (as you can see above) is also to use Black & White + one other color . . . but this challenge has a twist ... use a digi image.  Well, I got a little carried away with my coloring (oops, old age ... forgot what I was doing, LOL) and used more than one accent color ... oh well, I'm still going to share it with Pattie and label the plus color as "springtime color".  I know that's cheating but I like how the card came together.

 (click image to enlarge)

The recipe for this card is:

Image:  Pattie G Creations

Paper:  Apricot, Black, White cardstocks

Accessories:  Prismacolor markers, SU photo corner punch, 

Martha Stewart butterfly punch, White Gelly Roll Pen, 

SU Crystal Effects, Sentiment stamp and Versafine black ink

Other challenges this card qualifies for are:

Fairy Fun Fridays - Happy Birthday

Fairy Tale - Flowers

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Anything Goes 

Thanks so much for your visit today and I hope you enjoyed my creations!  Stay warm out there and have a great day!

Big football game on for us today!  GO STEELERS!!!

Hugs,

Darlene

Joans Gardens Challenge #3

Hello Everyone!  Another snowy day in N.E. Ohio so I took the opportunity to play along in the challenge over at Joan's Gardens. 

Here are the guidelines for this week's challenge:

1.Make a box...any kind of box will work.....even an alter box (how about a box for your tags)

2. a flourish

3. a butterfly

4. Make a flower  (alright...if you can't make one use one you have purchased)

Be sure to pop over and check out the Explosion Box that Selma made ... it is AMAZING & BEAUTIFUL!   For my BOX ... I have chosen to make a Tissue Box Cover.  I've been wanting to make one of these for awhile now and Joan's challenge was the perfect opportunity!!  I have used the tutorial from SCS ... you can find it HERE.

(here's a photo of just the lid)

I've used Graphic45 (Le Romantique) designer paper, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch, Wild Orchid flowers and my flourishes are by Zva Creative.  All of which were purchased at Joan's Gardens.

(So much prettier IRL)

 I have used the Classic oval & Scallop Oval from Spellbinder for the opening on the lid.  I've also used the Martha Stewart 'branch' punch for the springs around the flowers.

If you've never tried one of these boxes ... NOW'S THE TIME to give it a try ... then enter Joan's challenge for a chance at a really awesome prize!  You can decorate these any way you like and for ANY occasion!  This one is going in my "poofy room" that is all decorated Victorian! 

Weekend's almost here!  Have a great one!  
Hugs,
Darlene

More EXCITING news . . .

WOW ... what a fabulous week I am having!!  You've heard me mention a new artist I've been working with from Spain . . . company name is Nicecrane Designs and the artist name is Ignacio.  I have just fallen in love with his designs and am having so much fun creating with them AND he has asked me to be a member of his DT (or CT as he calls it ... creative team). You can also check out his blog for more beautiful works of art from other members of the team.

He has a brand new "Sweet Fairies Collection"     and I'd like to share a couple of creations I've made using images from this collection.  Just click on the collection name for a direct link to the ENTIRE collection.  This first card is made using Sweet Fairy #1 image.

My second creation uses Sweet Fairy #7 . . .

When you pop over and check out the ENTIRE COLLECTION, you will notice that Ignacio has used these two creations on his Product Preview Pages!  I'm so honored & thrilled.  Here's a little preview of how his product is displayed for you . . .

 

 

Ignacio has also given me permission 

to let you all have a

FREEBIE 

(password: 291162)

that you can use to create with for yourself.  

How generous is that!! 

If you grab this freebie ... and create with it ... please let me know so I can come check it out and share some crafting love.  Then be sure to pop over to Nicecrane Designs  ... check 'em out ... and order some of these awesome images for yourself!!  

Thanks SO MUCH for letting me share this wonderful news with you today!  It's snowing outside (again) so I'm headed back to the crafting cave for some card making fun!!!

Hugs,
Darlene