Reminder - EASTER is ...

. . . EARLY this year!  That's right ... Easter 2012 is on APRIL 8th.


 I have a customer who has requested I do a 'CARD party' for her at her house.  (This is where I bring all my cards which I have categorized & individually sleeved for everyone to look through and choose the ones they want/need). She has invited 4-5 other ladies who have seen my cards and want to see more (YEAH!!).  We have scheduled the party for St. Patrick's Day ... March 17th and she has already informed me of some of the cards the ladies will be looking for!  Of course, one of the requests is EASTER creations ...

I had this wonderful EASTER Creative Scraps sheet from Crafty Secrets in my stash and thought that would be a good place to get my mojo started.  These images are ADORABLE and no coloring required ... which really helps!  Here's what I've come up with so far . . .

 

This last card image is NOT from Crafty Secrets.  Rather, it is a rubber stamp by Paper Inspirations which I have inked with Memento 'Dandelion' ink and I'm sure you recognize the background panel as being embossed using the Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dot' embossing folder.

I have many more creations to complete before our 'CARD PARTY' and as time allows, will share them with you here on my blog.  You never know when something might inspire you ... or even jump start your mojo!

Since the party is being held on St. Patrick's Day, there is no need for additional St. Patty's Day creations, however, this same lady has requested I make & send her a couple of cards  that she can send to the college students that she stays in touch with.  Here's what I have created for her ...

Keep in mind, this lady DOES NOT like 'cutsy' so I tried to keep them kind of simple ... yet thought that possibly the college students may enjoy a bit of 'cutsy' ... hope she likes them! Sorry for the LONG post, but I hope you've enjoyed seeing my creations and maybe even have drawn inspiration from a few!

Qualifying Challenges for the St. Patrick's Day Cards:\
Sweet Stamps Blog #55 - St. Patrick's Day
The Scrapbooking Queen - Anything Goes & Green
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Color Your World - No Brown or Black
 House of Gilli - Gilli Goes Green


{{DEEP BREATH}} ... okay, time to get back to 'work' (play).  Thanks for stopping by today and I wish you a FABULOUS week ahead!

Hugs,
Darlene

More from Nicecrane Designs

Happy Monday Everyone!
I know I promised to share more creations using Nicecrane Designs with you yesterday, but hubby & I decided to leave on Saturday and drive to Toledo, OH and visit friends from our 'old' neighborhood!  We had a wonderful time and the weather was very cooperative although we did drive through some snow on the way up!

Anyways ... here are my creations using some of Ignacio's (Nicecrane Designs Artist) latest collage sheets.

The first two creations use images from the Vintage French Postcards (Young Couples) ... I have added a direct link to it's name directly below the preview sheet image below.

Vintage French Postcards (Young Couples)

The next two cards utilize images from the Vintage French Postcards (Lovers) collage sheet.  Remember, these particular collage sheets are PRECOLORED ... so putting together a card is quick & easy!  NO COLORING required on these images!

Vintage French Postcards (Lovers)

Please be sure to pop over to NICECRANE DESIGNS and check out all the amazing images Ignacio has to offer for your crafting needs.  I will be back a little later in the day to give you more details on the products used to create these lovely cards but first I need to get my breakfast and run some errands.  Hope your day if off to a wonderful start!!

Hugs,

Darlene

NEW Nicecrane Designs images . . .

 . . . and cards to share with you today.

Goodness, Ignacio at Nicecrane Designs has sure been keeping me busy this week!  He has designed several new collage sheets and I've been trying to keep up with him in providing sample cards.  Take a look . . .

Do you remember the Roosevelt Bears
 (in honor of  our 26th president - Theodore Roosevelt)? 

Here are a couple of cards I made using these fun images.

Coloring was done with Prismacolor Markers.

This is actually a card within a card!  

The outside card says "BELATED - The art of sending things after the fact, so yours is noticed more"

and the inside card is a

Birthday Sentiment

 This second image depicts Roosevelt so well ... I remember seeing photos of him dressed like this ... and that pointy hat of his ... he was quite a character from what I have read!  Sure looks like he's ready for some 'down home' fun in this image.

And this last creation is a little 'PICTURE BOOK' I have put together using the PRECOLORED Roosevelt Bear images found in this set:

This 'book' is A-2 is size and I simply adhered two white A-2 sized cards together to creation the book ... then added the images, sentiments and embellishments.

SHEW !!!  That's it for today ...
Please stop back again tomorrow when I will have new VINTAGE cards to share with you that have been created using the Nicecrane Designs 'Vintage French Postcard' collage sheet images.  If you love vintage (as I do) ... you will want these adorable images (and they are precolored!).

Thanks for your visit and I hope you'll come back again tomorrow.
Hugs,
Darlene

CDAC Progressive Challenge #12

We are in the midst of another ROUND at the Progressive Challenges at CDAC (Crafter's Digital Art Center) and here are my cards made with a few of the images offered by various artist this time around ...

 With my husband's family being IRISH ... this digi image offered by Crafting with Jack 

works perfectly for this years cards.  

Recipe:
Papers:  Hunter green cs, Avocado green cs, White cs
Accessories:  Sizzix embossing folder Prismacolor Markers, Fiskars swivel craft knife, Gold Stickles, Michael's ribbon
 

 It's always a good thing to have a variety of Birthday cards in my stash.  You never know what folks are looking for when you take them to the craft shows.  I decided to use a Crafty Secrets sentiment with this fun image by Happileigh Scrappin.  This is actually a PRECOLORED digi which made putting this creation together even quicker! 

Recipe:
Papers: K1 Memories 'Posh' dp, old olive cs, bashful blue cs, garden green cs
Stamps:  Crafty Secrets 'For the Birds' sentiment
Inks: Versafine black
Accessories:  SU crystal effects on frog's eyes and bird, Spellbinder classic circles, pop dots, Michaels ribbon
 

Isn't this little guy adorable with his froggy?  This fun digi is from Fred She Said and works perfectly with this new designer paper I picked up at Archiver's last week. 

Recipe:
Papers:  Stemma dp, garden green cs, white cs, (ovals) are scraps from making other projects
Accessories:  Prismacolor markers, Fiskars swivel craft knife, Signo white gel pen (for doodling), Spellbinder classic & scallop oval dies, Creative Memories fine tip green marker pen (handwritten Frogs ~ Toads)

If you are not familiar with CDAC, please click on the link and check it out!  It's all about DIGIS ... new artists to get familiar with, challenges, swaps, free images sprinkled throughout and lots of new friends & fun!

Hope to see you there!
Hugs,
Darlene

Joan's Gardens Challenge & Mini Tutorial

I always LOVE when Thursdays roll around ... that means it's time for another fun challenge at Joan's Gardens.  Today's requirements are as follows:

• Create a card with lots of layers
• Color theme should be Pink and White
• Add some dimensional flowers.
• Use a rectangle and an oval layer

Of course Selma has inspired us with her AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL card ... you'll want to pop over to either Joan's Challenge Post or Selma's Blog to take a peek!  I'm telling you, she is the most talented lady I've ever met!  Especially when it comes to making flowers!  She is the "QUEEN OF FLOWER MAKING" ... but I'm learning!!  LOL

What do you think?  I'm thrilled with the outcome and actually think I will make a matching 'box' to send it in (scroll to bottom for photos/link to make the matching box).  Most all items used on this card can be purchased through Joan's Gardens Store and I will try to identify each item to make it easier for you to make your own purchase.

* * *NOW FOR MY MINI FLOWER TUTORIAL* * *

Here are the items I used to make these flowers.  Be sure to look under PUNCHES & TOOLS FOR FLOWERS on Joan's sidebar for easy location of these items.  MS punches are shown in the MS category.

Martha Stewart Hydrangea Punch - M283028

Martha Stewart 3 in 1 Hydrangea Punch - M283031

Sun Punch - 474789

Tool Kit (A MUST HAVE) - 474934

McGill Paper Blossoms Molding Mat (A MUST HAVE) - 459223

Art Institute Adhesive - Art Glitter - Dries Clear - 159723

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist 'cranberry zing'

Step 1:  Punch out the number of flowers you will want for your project.
I used the scrap of pink from the base card to make my flowers.

Step 2:  On the LARGEST and center petals, I have spritzed with Glimmer Mist.

 Step 3:  The MIDDLE size petal will be used on my actual flower ... the extra SMALL flowers will be scattered around on my card and a marker will be used to make a dot for the center.  Here I have used my Stylus from the flower kit and pushed down in the center to make the petals 'CUP'.

Step 4:  While the spritzed flowers are still damp, I use the FLAT tweezers from the toolkit to form the petals.  By simply putting your tweezers down the center of one of the petals, and holding between your fingers, you gently TWIST the tweezers forward.  Do this with each petal ... really gives the petals beautiful dimension.
 

 Step 5:  Next you will want to use your Stylus and push down in the center of each of your flower pieces to make them 'CUP.

Last Step:  Glue your pieces together to create your flowers.  Just a little DAB of this Art Glitter glue works perfectly but you can use what ever glue you are comfortable with.

There you have it!  These are so easy to make ... but I must tell you, having the RIGHT TOOLS makes all the difference in the world.  You can see MANY wonderful flower making tutorials over on Selma's Blog ... be sure to check it out.  AND, before I forget ... other items used on my card are as follows:

Spellbinder Classic & Scallop Ovals
Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
Martha Stewart Pine Branch Punch

Cheery Lynn Designs -Fanciful Flourish Die (B117)

Tim Holtz (Sizzix #657197) Fancy & Floral Frames Embossing Folder

Items in RED were purchased through Joan's Gardens.

Other qualifying challenges:

Cooking It Up With Katie -  Recipe - 3 favorite things (Flowers, Butterflies, Embossing Folders)

 Crafts and Me - Shades of Spring

Gingersnap Creations GC140 - Only TWO colors (Pink and White)

Paper Pretties - Use Punches and Dies

The Paper Shelter #52 - Add a Sentiment

 Flutter By Wednesday - Photo inspiration & something with wings

** EDIT TO SHARE BOX FOR CARD **

Instead of reinventing the wheel ... I will direct you to Selma's post on how to create the matching box for your cards.  This is where I got the idea in the first place.  Here is mine using her instructions:

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and card.
Have a wonderful day!
Hugs,
Darlene

Shelly's Images Challenge

Time for another fun challenge at SHELLY'S IMAGES.

Today's theme is:

Make It A TRIPLE

(Use 3 of something on your card/project.)

and we are FEATURING ... 'GOOD OLE DAYS' and 

"GOOD OLE DAYS 2".  Remember, you can purchase today's featured images for a REDUCED PRICE ... TODAY ONLY.

GOOD OLE DAYS 2

GOOD OLE DAYS

(You can click on the image name below the image photo

to go directly to it's location in Shelly's store!)

I chose to create using 'Good Ole Days' with the ladies in the truck!  I've used various mediums to color my image and as you can see, my THREE of something are the 3 black birds down the left side of my card.  There are always 'Red Wing Black Birds or just plain ole Crows' out in the fields so I thought it was appropriate!  I've also added birds into my focus image with a Stampscapes rubber stamp (027A).

I'm not sure if you can see in the photo, but I have added a touch of SU Crystal Effects to the headlights, bumper and the 'chrome' dome hub caps.  This was a fun image to create with and at my age, will work perfectly for several of my friends/family.  I was a country girl so I can relate to this old truck and being out 'checking the fence line'.

I hope you'll come join in our MAKE IT A TRIPLE challenge!  I look forward to seeing your creation and promise to stop by and leave you some love!!  Till then ...

Hugs,

Darlene