Cake Time Card

Hello crafty friends! This week Bugaboo Stamps is celebrating their 8th birthday at the Catch the Bug blog and I made this Cake Time Card using the sketch challenge (day2). My birthday stash is really low, so this was the perfect time to play along.

Looking back on my blog I first used this image in February 2013 (click here for card). At that time, it had only been a year since I started making cards. That also seems to be the only time I used this image called Birthday Monkey - Cake. Copic markers were used to color the image and then it was die cut with a stitched circle die. All patterned paper are from the Party Time paper pad by Echo Park. I kept the colors neutral so it could be sent to males or females. The Cake Time sentiment is retired by Stampin' Up! from the Party Pants stamp set. Five small sequins add some sparkle and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Catch the Bug: Sketch
• Naughty or Nice: It's a Celebration!
• Dragonfly Journeys: Hooray for Birthdays!
• 2 Crafty Critters: Anything Goes with a Critter
• Bugaboo Crafty: Anything Goes with Bugaboo Image

Birthday Card for a Child

Happy Tuesday! This week at Tuesday Throwdown our theme is For a Child and we are sponsored by Digital Delights. My card is featuring their Birthday Mickey Monkey image and I paired it with patterned paper from the Cherry On Top paper stack by Stampin' Up!. The design team has some super cute inspiration this week. Click here to check out all the challenge details and design team inspiration. You have until mid-day on Monday, May 29th to play along.

The layout for this Birthday Card for a Child is from the Sketch Saturday Challenge. When I was coloring the image I noticed my lightest tan Copic marker is going dry, on top of that I tried a new white cardstock which did not allow the alcohol markers to blend well. So, I'm not really happy with how the coloring came out on this card. It's probably a good thing it's for a child, hopefully they won't notice.

This card is entered into the following challenges:

• Sketch Saturday: Sketch #413
• Crafting From The Heart: Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes

Monkey Hello Card

There is nothing like waiting until the last few hours to play along in a monthly challenge. I had good intentions of getting my card for the April progressive challenge from Gerda Steiner done earlier. The image has been printed and on my desk for at least three weeks, but I'm pretty good an procraftinating!!!

All the patterned papers on this card have been in my stash for a number of years. The cardstock colors are Whisper White, Early Espresso and Mossy Meadow by Stampin' Up!. Using a stitched square die cut by Lil' Inkers the image was die cut and then colored with Copic markers. Then using Tumbled Glass distress ink I sponged the clouds. I added seven 4 mm aquamarine sequins by Pink Posh to add a little sparkle. The sentiment is from TPC Studios and was stamped using Early Espresso ink. That's it! Pretty simple and everything was adhered flat for easy shipping.

This Monkey Hello Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Gerda Steiner: Hang In There 
• Brown Sugar: For the Boys
• Aud Sentiments: Animals + Sentiment
• Crafting By Designs: For Boys or Men

Happy Birthday Card for Boys

I hope you're having a lovely day! Mine has been calm and quiet, just how I like them. This afternoon I spent some time in my craft room and I made this Happy Birthday Card. The digital image used is by Bugaboo Digi Stamps and it's called Monkey with Balloon. I colored the image with Copic markers to coordinate with the patterned papers used. The patterned papers are from the Party Boy collection by Photo Play that I found at my local scrapbook store. As usual, I kept the embellishments to a minimum and added some twine. The Happy Birthday sentiment is by Hero Arts and it was stamped using Memento black ink. That's pretty much it! I'm glad you stopped by and enjoy the rest of your day!


This card is entered into the following challenges:

• Catch the Bug: Bingo (top row across)
• Crafting with Dragonflies: Masculine Card
• Crafty Friends: For a Child
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: Anything Goes
• Star Stampz: Use a Digi

Hang in there! Card

Happy Tuesday! Today is the start of a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week we want to see Exotic/Jungle Wildlife featured on your card. When going to the Zoo, I can watch the monkeys for hours and decided to use a fun digi called Moses the Monkey from SK Digis. I colored Moses with my Copic Markers and cut the image into an oval . The Hang in there! sentiment was printed from the computer. I did go to the store and purchase the Safari patterned paper for this card. The intent was to find a couple of single sheets of paper that would work, however I wasn't that lucky. I ended up buying a 60 piece paper stack called Land of the Sahara by The Paper Studio. It was on clearance, but I will now need to make lots of safari themed cards.

We would love for you to play along with us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz. Click here to see more Exotic/Jungle Wildlife inspiration from the design team. It seems many of us were inspired by monkeys. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Happy Birthday at Cardz 4 Guyz

Greetings! It's a celebration at Cardz 4 Guyz this week to commemorate their first year. To celebrate the theme is Happy Birthday. If you saw my card from last week (click here) you may be thinking that I like monkeys. Yes! I find them very amusing and some of them are just super adorable! However, when I selected the Surprise Cake stamp by Stampendous! as the focal image, it had slipped my mind that I used a monkey as the focal image last week. There must be a reason I select a monkey for a masculine card, hmmm....I should probably stop this train of thought before it gets me in trouble. So, moving on....

To create this masculine birthday card the supplies are pretty minimal. I used patterned paper from The Paper Loft and Scrapbook Customs. The cardstock used includes Whisper White, Pacific Point and Real Red by Stampin' Up! I colored the Stampendous! image with Copic markers. To add some detail I used a splatter punch from Creative Memories and topped them with Real Red Candy Dots by Stampin' Up! That's it!

We would love for you to join us this week to help celebrate at Cardz 4 Guyz. Click here to check out the inspiration from the rest of the design team. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Vintage Circus Monkey Card

Hello crafting friends! The last couple of weeks has been crazy around my house, but the holidays are over and normal is somewhere in the near future. Hopefully, I can get back to making several cards each week. This Vintage Circus Monkey Card was created for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz. We would love to see your masculine card with a vintage flair this week. Unfortunately, my stash doesn't include a lot of vintage materials but I do have several vintage playing cards. Last year at a local antique show I purchased several cute single cards to use on my handmade cards. I think they look adorable repurposed this way. Plus, by using a repurposed item I'm going to play along with my friends at The Paper Players this week.  To make the papers look a little more distressed, I crumpled the brown harlequin paper and used Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink around the edges and over the crumpled places. I used Antique Linen distress ink on the Tempting Turquoise polka dots paper, slightly crumpled it and then added Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink to the edges. The sentiment is from TPC Studios and I used my oval and scallop oval punches. I really wanted to add some brads or something else but everything I tried was too modern, so I went with jute twine to add more texture and detail. That's it!

Looking for more vintage inspiration? The design team did a fantastic job this week and really created some fun cards. Click here to visit the Cardz 4 Guyz challenge blog. I hope to see your creation in the gallery! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Halloween Sock Monkey Card

Howdy! I hope you're ready for a Halloween challenge! This week at Cardz 4 Guyz we would love to see your Halloween cards made for a guy. For my card I was happy to color up this fun Halloween Sock Monkey image by Bugaboo Digi Stamps. I used a combination of Stampin' Blendabilities markers and Copic markers to color the image. The patterned papers are by K & Company with the exception of the Lucky Limeade/Black polka dot it's retired Halloween paper by Stampin' Up! I'll be the first to admit I'm a sucker for Halloween patterned paper. I'll never use everything I have and of course I buy more when I find something I like. Oh well, back to the card... the layout is from the current Stella Says Sketch challenge. The sentiment label is from the retired Tags 4 You stamp set by Stampin' Up! and the final touch were the five black rhinestones by Recollections. That's it! Using the sketch made this Halloween Sock Monkey Card come together pretty easy. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see your card in the gallery at Cardz 4 Guyz!

My card is linked to the following challenges:

• Catch The Bug: Stella Says Sketch #217
• Crafty Boots: Falling Leaves and/or Halloween
• The Stamping Boutique: Trick or Treat

Colorful Easter Card

This bright and Colorful Easter Card was made for my teenage niece. Monkeys are not the traditional Easter animal, however I love the fun image called Changito Chick by Stampendous! I colored the image with my Copic markers and used patterned paper from The Paper Studio. The Happy Easter sentiment is from the dollar bin from several years ago. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

My Colorful Easter Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Cards in Envy: A2 Easter Card
• Make My Monday: Easter Card
• My Craft Spot: Happy Easter
• Artistic Inspirations: Easter Animal/Anything Goes
• Crafting from the Heart: Anything Goes/Easter

Heart Monkey Valentine's Card

It's time again to start making cards for the children at the hospital on Valentine's Day. The last two years I have participated in the Cards from the Heart Card Drive organized by Winter Sims. I urge you to participate! It's a lot of fun to make cards for a good cause. This Heart Monkey Valentine's Card is my first card for this year. I usually make several of each design and I stay with simple details to make sure I follow the rules. She is accepting cards until January 31st. Here are the rules and details that I copied and pasted from her blog:

As always, here are some of the guidelines from the hospital's and a few of mine. (Please read carefully.)
* Cards need to be a Valentine theme.
* Cards can't have anything about 'Get Well Soon', 'Feel Better', or anything reminding them of being sick. (Only Valentine Cards)
* Please make cards that can be used for any gender or age. (This could be a little tricky, but I think you can handle it!) :)
* No buttons or anything that can be pulled off and become a chocking hazard.
* Cards MUST be able to fit into a 4 1/2 X 5 3/4 envelope (A2 size, but can be smaller, just not bigger). I CANNOT use them if they are bigger! (I will provide clear envelopes for each card, so there is no need to send one with your card.) The clear envelopes make it easier when they hand them out to the kids.
* You can include a message in the inside, but please remember, nothing reminding them of being sick. (Maybe just a Valentine sentiment.) You can also sign your first name and what state you are from.
*I will be excepting cards for the whole month of January. ( Jan. 1 - Jan. 31, Please don't send any after that, because I have to send them off so they will get to the hospitals in time for Valentine's Day.) At the end of the month, I will draw names for prizes.The more cards you send, the more times your name goes into the drawing to win prizes. Let your kids get involved too! I will be adding more prizes and sponsors, often.  :)
* Please send a piece of paper with your name, address, email address, and the amount of cards you sent. (It will help when I have the drawings.) A lot of the prizes will be sent from the sponsor, so I NEED to have your email address for sure!
*Please send cards to me at:

Winter Sims
"Cards from the Heart Card Drive"
P.O. Box 754
Warren, TX 77664

* If anyone wants to donate a prize for the drawings, please email me with the details at wintersims1@aol.com .
*You are welcome to use the Card Drive badge on your blog to spread the word, just remember to save it to your computer first.

I know it seems like there are A LOT of rules, but they are the hospital's rules and we want to obey them, to keep the kids safe. So I hope you will join us again for another great year and help us put some smiles on those sweet kids faces on Valentines Day! :)
Go here to check out the Sponsors and Prizes.

If you have any questions, please just send me and email at: wintersims1@aol.com

My Heart Monkey Valentine's Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Simply Create Too: Anything Goes
• Sister Act: Anything Goes
• Polkadoodles: Anything Goes

Monkey Business Winner

Good morning! The entries in my Monkey Business challenge were all super cute and I appreciate each of you for entering the challenge. I enjoyed visiting your blogs and I hope you will join me in the next challenge! The winner for the Monkey Business challenge is....

Dora of Especially For You Cards

 

 

 

Dora's card is adorable! I love all her fussy-cutting and the terrific bright colors she used. Thanks for playing along Dora! I will send you an email with your prize code to Bugaboo Digi Stamps. Thanks to Bugaboo for sponsoring my Monkey Business challenge.

 

Come back tomorrow for a new photo challenge! Have a wonderful day!!!

Sock Monkey Halloween Card

**For the Monkey Business Challenge please scroll down or Click Here.** Thanks!

It's been several days since I've been in my craft room. My nieces showed their sheep at the Tulsa State Fair on Wednesday and then my hubby had knee surgery on Thursday, so it's been a really busy week!!! This evening I was able to sneak a little time to make this Sock Monkey Halloween Card while my hubby took a nap. It's amazing how tired I am after his surgery!!! If you've ever taken care of someone after surgery then you know what I'm talking about.

In case you haven't guessed, I LOVE monkeys! Their antics are amusing and the majority of them are super cute. When looking through the selection of images at Bugaboo Digi Stamps I found this fun Sock Monkey image and decided he would be perfect for a few of my Halloween cards this year. I colored him with my Copic markers and used patterned paper from American Crafts. It's been awhile since I've stitched on a card, so I got the machine out and did a little stitching. The spider web punch is by Fiskars and the Trick or Treat sentiment is from the Best of Halloween stamp set by Stampin' Up!. Thanks for stopping by and if you get a chance there is still time to play along with my Monkey Business challenge. Have a great night and a pleasant tomorrow!

My Sock Monkey Halloween Card is entered into the following challenges:

• 'ABC' Challenges: 3 or more Patterned Papers
• Card Makin' Mamas: Trick or Treat!
• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: Cats and Dogs/Pets/Animals
• Craftin' Boutique: Halloween
• Everybody-Art-Challenge: Stitch

Monkey Business Challenge + DT Call*

Hello fellow card making enthusiasts! Today is the start of a theme challenge titled Monkey Business.  You may have guessed it, that means you need to use a monkey on your card. We have an amazing sponsor this week Bugaboo Digi Stamps and they are providing the winner with a very generous $21.00 gift certificate to their store.

 

If you're needing a monkey image to play along check out Bugaboo's wonderful monkey images. They have three pages to choose from.

 

My card features the Monkey Love - Big Heart image. When choosing this image I knew the challenge date would start on my sixteenth wedding anniversary, which is today. So, I made my hubby a card for our anniversary. I colored the image with my Copic markers and added a little Cherry Cobbler dazzling details by Stampin' Up! to the heart. The sentiment stamp is from Verve Stamps and the patterned papers are from The Paper Studio. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will play along with my Monkey Business Challenge!

 

 



Challenge Guidelines:

1. Create a New card using the challenge theme, no linking to old posts. 
2. Only one entry per blog address.
3. This is a card only challenge.
4. You must use a stamp, either rubber or digital.
5. You can combine this challenge with other challenges.
6. Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to this challenge. Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
7. All brands of stamping products are welcome.
8. HAVE FUN!!!

Entries not meeting the challenge theme and guidelines will be removed. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.

 

The challenge will run for 12 days, 9/27/2013 - 10/8/2013.

 

* DT Call- I'm looking for two card making enthusiasts to create inspirational cards for each challenge and to comment on challenge entries. If you're interested please put DT after your name when you link up your challenge entry. example- Andrea W- DT. Thanks!

Back to School Card

It's really hard to believe that it's time for school to start. My nieces start tomorrow. I'm pretty sure they are ready to go back. Summer is fun but it can be really boring at home. There are a lot of back to school card challenges going on. To participate I made this Back to School Card for my youngest niece. The cute sock monkey image is by Bugaboo digital stamps. I colored the image with my Copic markers and made the sentiment on the computer. The patterned papers are from the Anthologie 6 x 6 collection by We R Memory Keepers and I used kraft card stock for the base. I sponged antique linen distress ink around the image and sentiment panels and added three Candy Dots by Stampin' Up! for the finishing touch. When I was making the sentiment, I wondered if they even use the word arithmetic anymore? I figured if my niece doesn't know the meaning, then it's a good learning moment. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful evening and a pleasant tomorrow!

My Back to School Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Party Time Tuesdays: Back to School
• Make It Monday: Anything Goes
• Craftin Desert Diva's: Back to School
• Crafting By Designs: Anything Goes
• Crazy 4 Challenges: Back to School

 

Balloon Monkey Birthday Card

Good evening! My hubby worked late tonight and I found a couple of challenges that I couldn't pass up, so I spent a little extra time in my craft room. I made this Balloon Monkey Birthday Card using the Seize the Birthday sketch and their sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps. The digital image I used is called Critter Balloons - Monkey by Bugaboo and I colored it with my Copic markers. I added some white puffy paint to the cloud for some dimension and sponged a light blue around the image. There were five challenges combined to create this Balloon Monkey Birthday Card:

• Seize the Birthday: Sketch
• Make It Monday: Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion: Party Animals
• Creative Creations: For a Child
• Catch the Bug: Bingo

The bingo challenge at Catch the Bug is always fun! I colored the balloon green for the starts with G, did a little sewing, and used a Bugaboo image. The patterned paper is from the Confetti collection by K & Company and the orange brads are from The Paper Studio. I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment using the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set by Stampin' Up! Making cards for kids always puts a smile on my face, especially when it has a monkey party animal on it! Thanks for stopping by and I hope my card made you smile too.

Cute Monkey Birthday Card

Hello! This afternoon I created this Cute Monkey Birthday Card for my Brother. His birthday is only days away. I love this monkey image by SKdigis and it seems to be a fitting image for my Brother, he likes to "monkey around". I coloured the image with my Copic markers and followed this weeks sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches for the design. Thanks for stopping by!

My Cute Monkey Birthday Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: Sketch
• Digi Sketch Challenge: For the Boys
• Incy Wincy Designs: Animal Antics
• The Pink Elephant: Masculine Birthday

Cute Monkey Birthday Card Supplies*:

• Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, and Whisper White card stock, Crumb Cake dsp, Lucky Limeade woodgrain patterned paper from the Orchard Harvest dsp (retired), and Rouge Red card stock by My Mind's Eye.
• Stamps: Moses the Monkey digital image by SKdigis and sentiment stamp by Hero Arts.
• Inks: StazOn Jet Black and Copic markers.
• Other Stuff: Cricut machine for circles and ovals.

*All supplies by Stampin' Up! unless noted.

Happy 1st Birthday Card

It's another Monday and time for another challenge at Created With Love Challenges. This week our theme is Birthdays and you must use a die cut and embossing.  Our sponsor is Crafty Emblies and they carry wooden items to accent your creations. My card was made for a niece who is turning one.  I used the Birthday Monkey - Cake image by Bugaboo for this Happy 1st Birthday Card. I colored the image with Copic markers and added white puffy paint to the frosting to add dimension. The balloon was cut using a Cricut machine with the Stretch your Imagination cartridge and the embossing folder is swiss dots by Cuttlebug.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will play along with us at Created With Love Challenges.

 

 

This Happy 1st Birthday Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Make It Monday: Anything Goes
• Challenges 4 Everybody: Anything Goes
• Word Play Saturday: Balloons

 

You Drive Me Bananas Card

Good afternoon! We have reached the middle of the week, hooray! This afternoon I've been playing around with my stash and trying to come up with a Valentine card for a boy. In the end I created this You Drive Me Bananas Card. The monkey paper is from The Paper Studio topped with a 3" heart I cut with my Cricut machine and the sentiment was made using the computer. I know it's nothing fancy but it's simple, cute, and it has a monkey sticking it's tongue out which makes me chuckle. Thanks for stopping by!

This You Drive Me Bananas Card is entered into the following challenges:

• The Sisterhood of Crafters: Hearts
• City Crafter: Forever Mine, use Hearts
• Our Daily Bread Designs: For a Child

Go Bananas Birthday Card

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Are you ready to participate in a birthday theme challenge? This week at Created With Love Challenges we would love for you to create a birthday themed card or paper crafting project and participate in the challenge. Our sponsor is Guylou's Inimitability Digistamps and my card is made using the Monkey and Bananas image. You can never have too many birthday cards so, go ahead and make a card today. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Go Bananas Birthday Card Supplies:

• Paper: Brown card stock, green card stock, white card stock, black card stock, and Monkeyin' Around patterned paper by The Paper Studio.
• Stamps: Monkey and Bananas image by Guylou's Inimitability.
• Inks and Coloring: Copic markers (colorless blender, 100, E55, E15, E27, R59, Y17, YG61).
• Other Stuff: Corner rounder, StickyPix photographic stickers by Paper House, and stampin' dimensionals.

This card is also linked to:

• Make It Monday: Anything goes
• One Stop Craft Challenge: No floral embellishments
• Challenges 4 Everybody: Anything goes

Birthday Monkey Card

The monkey has become a popular trend in the clothing and crafting worlds.  This birthday monkey card can be made for a young boy or girl.  I picked a boyish color scheme but you could duplicate this design and give it a girly feel with just a few changes.

Supplies used:  Recollections white card 4" x 5.5", white cardstock, Confetti designer mat pad by K & Company, Stampabilities balloons rubber stamp (NR1025), Stampendous monkey rubber stamp (E221 Changito Solo), Hero Arts clear Happy Birthday stamp (CL414, classic messages), ColorBox Chalk ink pad in blackbird and warm red, Copic markers in dark suntan (E15), cardinal (R59), manganese blue (B34), amethyst (V17), K & Company grand adhesions (Happy Birthday 2U!, 30-572188), and The Paper Studio Sticky-Doos or foam tape.

Birthday Monkey Card Directions:

1. Trim designer mat paper and adhere to card.
2. Trim accent paper and adhere.
3. Stamp images on cardstock and color as desired.  Ink edges of cardstock and adhere to card.
4. Stamp sentiment, ink edges, layer, and adhere with sticky-doos.
5. Accent with star stickers.

If you don't have Copic markers, any marker or colored pencil will do.