Summer Fun at Crafty Catz

Hello crafty friends! This month I have the honor of being a guest designer at the Crafty Catz Challenge and today is the start of a Summer Fun theme challenge. The sponsor this week is The Paper Shelter and they provided the design team with a couple of wonderful digital images to create with. Unfortunately my old printer decided to die, the poor thing had been making an awful noise for months, but that meant no digital images for me. So, I've used a House-Mouse Designs image called Umbrella Nap and colored it with Copic markers. We would love for you to join the Summer Fun challenge! Click HERE for all the challenge details and design team inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

This Summer Fun Card is entered into the following challenges: Cute Card Thursday (Anything Goes), Through The Purple Haze (At the Beach) and Tuesday Throwdown (The Great Outdoors).

It's Been Forever Card

This It's Been Forever Card was made for the Stella Says Sketch Challenge. My time as a guest designer is finished but I wanted to play along with this fun sketch.

Here's the sketch:

Sketch challenges are one of my favorites because the foundation has already been decided, all you have to do is assemble the pieces. I started this It's Been Forever Card by selecting the darling Flower Puppy image for the focal area. The hardest part is always deciding what patterned papers I'm willing to cut into (I have a hard time cutting my favorites!). Most of the patterned papers on this card are from the Happy Day! paper pad by Pebbles with the exception of the middle strip by Stampin' Up!. The sentiment is from a Fiskars stamp set called Hello Fabulous and was stamped using Memento black ink. I used some of my retired and hoarded candy dots for detail and that's it. I'm glad you stopped by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day

Cute Car Congrats Card

Hello and happy Saturday! This last week went by really quickly and now it's time for another weekly challenge at Catch The Bug. It's a recipe challenge to use - 1 image, 2 buttons and 3 colors. Easy peasy! We would love for you join the challenge and share your creation. You can find all the challenge details and design team inspiration HERE.

When pondering how to use the buttons on my creation I decided to use the new Attitude Car image by Bugaboo to add the buttons over the tires. The layout is nothing too creative but it works. I thought this Cute Car Congrats Card would be perfect for a young lady I know who just got her drivers license. The plaid paper is by Recollections and yellow rhinestone flowers are by Jolee's. That about sums it up. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see your card in the gallery at Catch The Bug.

Photo Challenge at Catch The Bug

Happy Saturday and happy Earth Day! Today is the start of a photo challenge at Catch the Bug and I love the sweet bird photo. The colors were fun to work with and I hope you will think so too. So, go outside and do something earthy for Earth Day and then use the photo as your inspiration during some afternoon crafting. I can't wait to see what you create! Click here for all the challenge details and design team inspiration.

Using birds on cards is one of my favorites, so I went with a literal interpretation of the photo. The Cherry Bird image by Bugaboo was colored with Copic markers and then die cut with a stitched square die by Lil' Inkers. All patterned paper is by Bo Bunny from the Butterfly Kisses Collection. To add some detail I stamped and punched a flower from the retired Polka Dot Pieces stamp set by Stampin' Up! accented with die cut leaves. The Just for You sentiment is from the Watercolor Wings stamp set and a glitter sticker was added to the middle of the flower. That's it!

This Cherry Bird For You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Brown Sugar: Use a Die Cut
• Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes
• QKR Stampede: Feathered Friends or Anything Goes

Flower Teapot For You Card

Hello crafty friends! Today is the start of a new Stella Says Sketch Challenge at Catch The Bug. This Flower Teapot For You Card is what I was inspired to create. I used the Flower Teapot image by Bugaboo and colored it with Copic markers. The image was then die cut with a stitched circle die by My Favorite Things and matted to a slightly larger piece of Calypso Coral cardstock by Stampin' Up!. All patterned paper is from the Penny Black Painted Blooms paper pad. My sewing machine was sitting close by, so I added some yellow zig zag stitches where the papers joined. The Especially For You sentiment is slightly crooked but I decided it added character and I wasn't scrapping it. Three round glitter stickers by Jolee's was added for detail and that's it. I hope you will play along with the sketch challenge! Click here for the design team inspiration and challenge details. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Bingo at Catch The Bug

Happy Saturday! I hope you have time this weekend for crafting because we would love for you to play along with the Bingo challenge at Catch The Bug. You'll find all the challenge details and wonderful design team inspiration posted HERE.

For my cards I used the center row down using a Sentiment, Player's Choice and Stitching. I ended up making two cards because I didn't realize the Violet Can digi was retired, so I decided to make a second card using a current image called Cute Owl. The layouts and sentiment are the same but the colors are drastically different. I was in the mood to use purple and that's what prompted me to use the Violet Can digi. Both images were colored with Copic markers and die cut using a stitched circle die by My Favorite Things. The Just A Note sentiment is from the Watercolor Wishes stamp set by Stampin' Up!. Three sequins were added for detail and everything was adhered flat for easy shipping. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a lovely day!

This Violet Can Note Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Daring Cardmakers: Spring Garden
• Pattie's Creations: Shades of Purple in Your Image
• QKR Stampede: Flowers or Anything Goes 

The Cute Owl Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Crafty Catz: Anything Goes with Animal Twist
• Moving Along With The Times: Birds & Feathers

Cute Kitty Hello Card

Hello and happy Saturday! I'm on my second month as a guest designer at the Catch The Bug Challenge and I'm having a lot of fun using Bugaboo Digi Stamps and sharing them with you. Today is the start of a theme challenge and the theme is Raining Cats & Dogs, such a fun theme! I hope you will play along. You can find all the challenge details and fantastic design team inspiration right HERE.

When it came to image selection... it was clear this challenge was going to the dogs. Most of the design team went with a canine approach. Well, that just wouldn't do! I'm proclaiming to be on the "Cats Team" and decided to use the Cute Kitty image for this Hello Card. The image was colored with Copic markers and then die cut with a stitched circle die by My Favorite Things. All the patterned papers are from my scrap bin, I was just about to cut into some new papers when I changed my mind. The sentiment is from Jillibean Soup Handwritten Sentiments stamp set by Hampton Art. For detail I went with a bitty blue butterfly and twine. That's it!

This Cute Kitty Hello Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Creative Knockouts: Outside Fun
• Brown Sugar: Anything Goes
• Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes
• Show Us Your Pussies: Furrything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!!!

Anything Goes at Catch The Bug

Hello and happy April! No April Fools' Jokes here today... I've never been good and pulling them off. I'll just stick to making cards and leave the pranks to someone else.

Today is the start of an Anything Goes challenge at the Catch The Bug Blog. The design team has some fantastic creations to share with you, so click here for all the challenge details and design team inspiration.

This card was made in anticipation of a new family moving into the house across the street from us. I'm not really a "social" person but I will introduce myself and take them some cookies when they move in. I wanted the card to be bright and cheerful. The Whimsical Cat digi by Bugaboo has a wonderful mix of colors and goes well with the Doodlebug Designs floral paper from the Hello Sunshine paper pad. The Yellow Gingham was a 12 x 12 paper by Paper Pizzazz. I cut it to 8.5" x 11 and added the sentiment using the computer and printer. Bermuda Bay and Pumpkin Pie cardstock by Stampin' Up! were used to mat the image. The final detail was adding the pink twine and blue sequins and this card was done. Pretty easy and simple! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

This Whimsical Cat Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Brown Sugar: Anything Goes
• Crafty Gals Corner: Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations: Anything Goes

Keepsake Box with Photo Tutorial

Do you have lots of patterned paper scraps laying around waiting to be used? If so, a Keepsake Box is a fun project and makes a great gift. I made this Keepsake Box for my youngest niece's birthday. She keeps all the cards I send to her and now she has a special Keepsake Box made especially for her. The list of supplies are simple: Mod Podge, foam brushes, plain photo storage box, patterned paper, embellishments, your favorite Bugaboo Digi Stamps and markers.

First, gather your supplies and layout some newspaper to protect your work surface.

Second, decide how you want to arrange your patterned papers and trim as needed. I found the thinner papers work best on areas that you need to bend.

Third, start painting the photo box with the Mod Podge in sections, place your patterned paper and smooth with your fingers as you go. Apply a layer of Mod Podge to the top of the paper making sure the sides seal. Continue this process over the entire storage box.

Fourth, select your digital images. I used colored images because they are vibrant and quick. However, you have to be careful applying the Mod Podge to the top because the ink has a tendency to smear. I colored one image with Copic markers and had no problem with smearing. Die cut images to the desired size.

Fifth, select any embellishments you desire. I used sticker letters to spell my niece's name and several punched butterflies from my box of extras.

Note: You will need to allow drying time for the sides of the box before turning and working. A second coat of Mod Podge can be applied after the first coat is dry.

Here is the finished Keepsake Box:

Front

Lid/Top

Side

Side

Back

Thanks for stopping by and I hope this project has inspired you to use those paper scraps along with a few of your favorite Bugaboo Digi Stamps.

Color Challenge and Card

Happy Saturday! I hope you have some time this weekend to get crafty and play along with the color challenge starting today at Catch The Bug. To get all the challenge details and design team inspiration click here.

The colors are bright and cheerful! When I first saw the color inspiration photo I knew I wanted to use the Cute Dragon image to make my card. It's perfect to color green and add the purple flower. However I didn't realize the image is retired, sorry. Although, Bugaboo has several other really cute dragons to choose from click here. To work the remaining colors in I relied on patterned paper scraps for the background. Then I added three die cuts: Stitched Sun by Lil' Inkers, Sending Smiles sentiment and grass both by Impression Obsession. That's it!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a happy and crafty weekend!

This card is entered into the following challenges:

• Pattie's Creations: Image with Wings
• 4 Crafty Chicks: Punches or Dies
• Southern Girls: Use a Die Cut

Garden Cat Hugs Card

Hello crafty friends! Since I started this blog back in 2012 I've been playing along with challenges at Catch The Bug and the Stella Says Sketch  challenge has always been one of my favorites. I'm excited to share this Garden Cat Hugs Card with you as a Guest Designer for the challenge. Click here for the sketch, challenge details and design team inspiration. It's a bi-weekly challenge, so you have some time to play along. I hope to see your card in the gallery!

This Garden Cat - Plant Pot image is one of the first digital images I purchased and I've used it several times. I think the cat looks sad, so I usually use it for an encouragement card. The image was colored with Copic markers, trimmed and matted to Watermelon Wonder cardstock by Stampin' Up!. All patterned paper is from the Echo Park Just Be You paper pad. Other cardstock colors include: Daffodil Delight and Mint Macaroon by Stampin' Up!. The {{HUGS}} sentiment is from a Fiskars Hello Fabulous stamp set. A stamped flower from the Flower Shop stamp set by Stampin' Up! was added with a circle glitter sticker by Jolee's in the center and that finishes the card. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

I'm entering this Garden Cat Hugs Card into the following challenges:

• Hiding in My Craft Room: 3 Designer Papers
• Brown Sugar: Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz: Anything Goes w/ Twist: Touch of Pink

Bingo at Catch The Bug

Happy Saturday! Do you like bingo challenges? They are one of my favorites! Today is the start of a bingo challenge at Catch The Bug and you're invited to play along. Click here for all the challenge details and design team inspiration.

When selecting which row to play with, I could have gone several different ways but selected the right hand row down: Bugaboo Image, Flower and Stripes. The deciding factor was the colors in the Bo Bunny striped paper from the Butterfly Kisses paper pad. I really wanted a purplish boot and the paper had the right color stripe to match my Copic markers. The Bugaboo image is called Spring Boot and it's the FREEBIE this week, so make sure to get yours click here. Once the image was colored it was die cut with a pierced oval and scalloped frame set by Avery Elle. Cardstock colors include: Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White by Stampin' Up!. The Blushing Bride Flower was stamped using a retired set called Polka Dot Pieces by Stampin' Up! and the sentiment is from the current Watercolor Wings stamp set. The last detail was adding the polka dot butterfly along with three tiny adhesive pearls. That's it! I do hope you will play along with the challenge this week.

This Spring Boot For You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge: A for Anything with Wings
• Craft Rocket Challenge: Make It Feminine
• Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day! 

Spring Duck Hi Card

Hello and thank goodness for Saturday! I hope you get to enjoy the day and do something crafty. You're welcome to play along in the new challenge starting today at Catch The Bug, the theme is Birds, Bees or Butterflies. The design team have made some wonderful inspiration to share with you! Click here for all the challenge details and design team creations. I hope you can join the fun!

The Spring Duck image is one of my favorites! It was colored with Copic markers and then die cut with a stitched square by Lil' Inkers. I combined papers from several different companies. First is a layer of Daffodil Delight cardstock by Stampin' Up!, second is red gingham by Pebbles (America the Beautiful Collection), third is Field of Flowers by Photo Play (Happy Glamper Collection) and last is Grass Paper by Creating Keepsakes (date on the paper is 2002, so it's been around for awhile). The Hi (that's all) sentiment is from the retired Sale-A-Bration Party Pants stamp set by Stampin' Up!. Some twine and three green sequins are the finishing accents and that's it.

This Spring Duck Hi Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Crafting by Designs: Use 3 Patterned Papers
• Make My Monday: Colours of the Rainbow
• Color Inspiration Monday: Hand Colored Image

Anything Goes at Catch The Bug

Hello crafty friends! I'm excited to be a Guest Designer at the Catch The Bug Challenge for the next two months. Bugaboo Digi Stamps was my very first purchase of digital images and they remain one of my favorites to use. If you haven't heard of Bugaboo... then you must check them out HERE.

Today is the start of an Anything Goes Challenge at Catch The Bug and that means all you have to do is link your new creation to the challenge. Using a Bugaboo image is not required, but if you have them you know you want to use them. Click here for all the wonderful design team inspiration and challenge details. Three winners will be randomly drawn for three digi prize packs.

To make this card I used the Raggedy Angel - Stars image and colored it with Copic markers. I made the image fairly large and framed it with Basic Gray cardstock die cut with a Scalloped Frame by Taylored Expressions. The starry paper is from Recollections and the plaid is by Lawn Fawn. To finish off the card a Thinking of You sentiment by Stampin' Up! was adhered with dimensionals and three sequins added for sparkle. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This Angel Thinking of You Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Little Red Wagon: March Birthstone
• Crafty Creations: Anything Goes
• Simply Papercraft: Anything Goes

Fancy Deer Christmas Card for The Paper Players

Well... this is it! My last post as a guest designer at The Paper Players, (sad face). I want to thank each member of the design team for being supportive and encouraging during the last six months. It's been so much fun!!!

Okay, the challenge for the next two weeks is to create Fancy Holiday Projects. The theme title is Black Tie and it's hosted by the awesomely talented Nance.

My card features a silver embossed fancy deer image by Bo Bunny. I dug through my stash and found the black and silver foil paper by The Paper Studio that I bought for a "special occasion" and this is definitely one of those occasions. The deer and snowflake were heat embossed using VersaMark and silver embossing powder. The Good Greetings sentiment was stamped using Memento black ink onto the focal panel. Then I decided to add some color using Soft Sky cardstock. I added a layer and embossed a strip using the Fancy Fan embossing folder. The last detail was layering the snowflake on the scalloped circle and using a black glimmer brad in the center. All in all, this card was pretty simple to make but the embossed details and fancy paper really made this card shine.

We would love for you to join us for the last challenge of 2014 at The Paper Players. You have two weeks to play along and all paper crafting products are welcome. Just make your project and link your post to the gallery by NOON (PST) on Friday, December 19th. Click here to see the wonderful inspiration from the design team and thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Home Card for The Paper Players

Happy Sunday! I'm getting close to the end of my guest designer spot at The Paper Players. It's been an honor to be featured alongside these super talented ladies! There is a definite feeling of sadness that it's coming to an end. So, I hope you will celebrate the last couple of weeks with me and share one of your creations at The Paper Players. This week the wonderful Jaydee has a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge for us. I always enjoy a good Tic-Tac-Toe challenge and I'm sure you will too. To play along choose any three items across, down or diagonally.

Here are your choices:

My design started with the idea of a starry night Christmas card. When I read the choices the star was the first thing I gravitated to, but I ended up choosing the Tree going diagonally with Embossing and Glitter. I could have also used the bottom across with Star, Die Cut and Glitter but I just fussy-cut the house instead of using the coordinating framelits. To create the stars I used the decorative mask and applied VersaMark ink and then heat embossed using clear embossing powder. Then I sponged on Soft Sky, Lost Lagoon and Night of Navy inks. To add the glitter I used a VersaMark pen and went over the stars, applied the glitter and then heat set. I did the same with the trees, first I stamped them then used the VersaMark pen and dipped them in the glitter and then heat set. The card really has a lot of shimmer that the picture doesn't show. The Peace & Joy sentiment from the Good Greeting set was stamped in black Memento ink. From the Holiday Home stamp set Santa and his reindeer and the house were stamped with black Memento ink. Then I colored the house with my Copic markers, fussy-cut and adhered with dimensionals. That pretty much sums it up!

Now, you should definitely check out the inspiration from the rest of the design team at The Paper Players. Then, play along! You have until NOON (PST) on Friday, December 5th to link your creation in the gallery. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!                 

Casual Fall Thank You Card

Happy Sunday! I hope you're having a relaxing weekend and I'm also hoping you will have time to make a card for this weeks challenge at The Paper Players. The amazing Ann has a wonderful Clean-and-Simple Thank You challenge for us this week. To start my card I chose the colors from the Pals Paper Arts Challenge to use Crushed Curry, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie. Then I remembered a layout from a previous card I made. It was from 2012 and featured an emboss resist leaf that I really wanted to duplicate using the PPA colors. I retrieved the retired French Foliage stamp set and went to work. The Crushed Curry background paper is from the Color Me Autumn dsp and to change up the design a bit, I added three Candy Dots and used the Itty Bitty Banners Thank You sentiment. Finally, I've kept a Clean-and-Simple challenge, well... clean-and simple.

Click here to check out the designs from the rest of The Paper Players. We would love to see your card in the gallery! You have until Friday, November 21st at NOON (PST) to link up your creation. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Merry Little Christmas Card for The Paper Players

Hello friends! It's beginning to sink in that Christmas will be here shortly. There is only six weekends left to get all the shopping done. In the past I would be done with my shopping before Thanksgiving, however in recent years I've waited to the last weekend and knocked it out in a day. This year I started early but I definitely won't be done by Thanksgiving. I would love to hear your approach to Christmas gift shopping!

When it comes to card giving at Christmas I only make handmade Christmas cards for immediate family. I give the card to them with their gifts. I love seeing their faces when they open their cards. For the rest of my family and friends I'm still mailing my stash of store bought cards. For years before I started making handmade cards I loved to buy boxes of cards at after Christmas sales. Needless to say, I still have years worth of cards.

Okay, enough of my rambling! Today is the start of a cozy color challenge hosted by Sandy at The Paper Players. The colors are perfect for a Christmas card. I used the new Festival of Trees stamp set and Tree Punch by Stampin' Up! The Cherry Cobbler colored background dsp is from the Festival of Prints paper stack from 2012 and the Mossy Meadow  paper is from the current All Abloom paper stack. I added silver heat embossing to trim the tree along with three clear rhinestone basic gems and a clear star. Then I adhered the focal panel to a scalloped circle created using a die by Spellbinders. Lastly, I punched and adhered the sentiment. That's it! We sure hope you will join us this week. For more inspiration from The Paper Players make sure to visit their blogs. To enter your card in the challenge you have until Friday, November 14th at NOON (PST). Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Vintage Floral Card for The Paper Players

Hello and Happy Sunday! Today is the start of a Vintage Theme Challenge at The Paper Players hosted by the lovely LeAnne. This challenge gave me the opportunity to use some of my supplies that were bought just because I liked them, even though I had no idea if I would ever use them. Do you ever do that? A good example is the patterned paper used on this card. It's by Graphic 45 from A Ladies' Diary Collection and it's been in my stash for a couple of years. Until now, I never had a reason to use it on a card. The stamp I used is another item I bought just because I liked the design. It's by Heartfelt Creations and it's called Majestic Collage. I stamped the whole image on Very Vanilla cardstock and then I stamped the flowers in the design onto: Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride and Summer Starfruit cardstock and fussy-cut them. On the edges of most of the papers and flowers I used Antique Linen Distress Ink by Tim Holtz. Since the stamp size is large, this card is 5.25' square. A little twine and a Fleur De Lis charm and this Vintage Floral Card was complete.

Do you have some supplies just waiting to be used? Now is your chance!!!

We would love you to join us this week at The Paper Players. The design team have created a wonderful variety of vintage inspired cards. To check out their designs click here. All paper crafting brands are welcome and you have until NOON (PST) on Friday, November 7th to enter your card in the gallery. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Neutral Toned Christmas Card

Last week was crazy busy for me! So, I'm super happy today is Sunday and I have nothing on the agenda except some much needed crafting time! I do hope you have time this week to join us at The Paper Players for a wonderful sketch challenge hosted by Nance. Sketch challenges are one of my favorites and I really love the sketch Nance designed. A couple of weeks ago I cut the snowflake paper I used for this Neutral Toned Christmas Card but I never could come up with a good design. Thankfully Nance solved my dilemma.

All supplies for this card are by Stampin' Up!. I used Early Espresso and Whisper White cardstock and the patterned paper is from the Trim the Tree paper stack. For the embossed panel, I stamped the Good Greetings sentiment first and then left enough space to add the Espresso paper strip and then embossed the far side. Don't you think the big polka dots look like falling snow? The last step was adding the die cut snowflakes.

This sketch is definitely a keeper! I can't wait to see what you create. To play along at The Paper Players simply create a card using the sketch and link it to the challenge blog HERE. All paper crafting products are welcome but you can only link your creation to a total of three challenges. The deadline to enter is NOON (PST) on Friday, October 31st. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!!!

Here is the sketch: