Birthday Card with Turtle

Today is day 6 of the Bugaboo Birthday Bash at the Catch the Bug Blog. The challenge is a recipe challenge to use: Kraft, Ribbon & Bold Colors. I chose some fun bright bold colors using patterned papers from the Hello Sunshine paper pad by Doodlebug Designs. The turtle image has been in my stash since 2013 (click here for another turtle birthday card). Copic markers were used to color the image and then it was die cut with a stitched circle die. The ribbon was adhered flush to the card behind the image. I'm not good with bows, so I avoid making them whenever possible. Five larger sequins were added for sparkle and the Happy Birthday sentiment is from the new Perennial Birthday stamp set by Stampin' Up!. That's it, thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

Challenges entered:

• Catch the Bug: Recipe
• Cute Card Thursday: Something Fun
• Aud Sentiments: Anything Goes
• Crafting with an Attitude: Anything Goes

Cupcake Birthday Card

Well... I never went outside today! It's still really cold and I decided just to stay home, do laundry and make a card. The hubby is picking up a pizza on his way home and the plan is to take it easy this evening. I hope you can do the same!

When I was searching for the image to use I decided to look through my already printed images and I found this cupcake. I'm playing along with Day 4 of the Bugaboo Birthday Bash and it's a Bingo challenge, my selections are middle row down using Cake/Cupcakes, Bugaboo Image and Bold Colors. Looking back to see when I used this image last it was January 2014 for Bugaboo's 4th Birthday Bingo Challenge. How funny is that? Click here to see that post. I decided to make my cupcake similar to the first one with a paper pieced liner and puffy paint for icing. All patterned paper are by The Paper Studio and the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts. Three sequins for sparkle and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Cupcake Birthday Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Catch the Bug: Bingo
• Crafty Gals Corner: Anything Goes
• Craftaholics R Us: Anything Goes

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

Bright Birthday Bird Card

It's been pretty cold the last couple of days, so I was happy to see a challenge for something bright. I like making cheerful cards and I think the image and colors on this Bright Birthday Bird Card will be perfect for my youngest niece. Her birthday is in April, so nice spring colors are perfect. I also want to wish a happy 8th birthday to Bugaboo Digi Stamps! My very first digital image came from Bugaboo and they continue to be one of my favorites. Wishing them many more years of creative success.

This Bright Birthday Bird Card design started with the selection of the bird image by Bugaboo Digi Stamps. Copic markers were used to color the image. The fun striped paper is by Doodlebug Designs and it was matted to a piece of black and white chevron. A black die cut frame was used along with a die cut happy birthday sentiment. To add a little sparkle, three sequins were added and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Catch the Bug: Bold & Bright Birthday
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Birthday Goes
• Simon Says Stamp: Patterned Paper
• Brown Sugar: Birthday
• A Gem of a Challenge: Happy Anything 

Owl Love Card

It's been a long and crazy day around my house! So, to help reduce my stress I made this Owl Love Card. The colors were inspired by the current Pretty in Pink challenge at Inky Paws. Pink isn't a color you see often on my card creations but this time of year it's perfect for Love/Valentine's Day Cards. I thought the cute owls from the What a Hoot stamp set by Newton's Nook were perfect for this card. They were colored with Copic markers and then die cut with the coordinating dies. The sentiment stamp is by Stampendous! To create the pink background Distress Oxide inks in Picked Raspberry and Worn Lipstick were used on mixed media paper. The paper was spritzed with water and then a heat gun was used to dry the wet spots. Picking the patterned paper was the hardest part! The stripes by Doodlebug Designs are subtle and I thought it worked well with the design. Then I decided to add some stitching and the final touch were three clear sequins. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

Challenges entered:

• Newton's Inky Paws: Pretty in Pink
• Simon Says Stamp: Patterned Paper
• Southern Girls: Stitching
• 4 Crafty Chicks: No Winter Blues
• Creative Moments: Anything Goes

Valentine Panda Card

Last year I was playing along with Gerda Steiner's progressive challenge, then I had surgery and stopped. This months new darling Panda image prompted me to start playing along again. I really love this cute image and it's perfect to use on the cards I make for the Cards from the Heart Card Drive. The cards for the card drive are supposed to be gender neutral which this one really isn't. So, I'll probably send this Valentine Panda Card to one of my nieces. If you have time this month I encourage you to make cards for the Cards from the Heart Card Drive, click here for all the details and guidelines.

The patterned papers on this card have been in my stash for awhile and both are by The Paper Studio. Copic markers were used to color the panda image. It was challenging to make the purples match! I used the following purple Copic markers: BV11, BV17 and V17. The pink hearts are a little light but I didn't have the exact shade needed, so I used: R83 and RV34. The green is a single color of YG25. N2 was used to help shade the black on the panda and that covers all the colors used. I use this XOXO sentiment a lot on Valentine's cards and it's also by The Paper Studio. That's about it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Gerda Steiner Progressive Challenge
• Crafty Animals: Anything Goes
• Craftyhazelnut's: Patterned Paper
• Crea Chicky's: Valentine
• 613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes w/ Something New Twist 

Recover Card with Band-aids

The first week of the new year is almost over and it's been a cold one for many places in the United States. I'm still working part-time but not for much longer. The job is seasonal, so in about a week I'll be finished. It has been nice getting out of the house, but it also made me realize my day to day pain was more than I thought. When I sit for long periods of time or stand for too long I'm in pain. So, I made an appointment with a doctor and had an x-ray to find the reason. Come to find out... I have a bone spur on my right hip bone. It could be causing more damage, but I need an MRI to determine the extent. Anyway.... that's what's up with me. I hope you're having a better New Year!

This Recover Card with Band-aids was made for my aunt who had rotator cuff surgery earlier this week. The design is repeated from a card I made back in 2013. It's simple and easy to make. The band-aids and sentiment came from the retired Patterned Occasions stamp set by Stampin' Up!. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Challenges entered:

• Alphabet Challenge: Use 3 of Something
• Simply Create Too: Use Embossing
• QKR Stampede: Anything Goes
• Just Us Girls: Anything Goes