365 Days - Challenge for Day 210

I just heard about this blog yesterday:  365 Days.  A card challenge for EVERY DAY of the YEAR.  This card was made for Day 210, a "recipe"challenge to use:  1 image, 5 buttons, 3 different ribbons, 1 patterned paper, and a Sentiment.  It also fits for two other challenges currently running - Cute Card Thursday #236 and Just Us Girls #156.

The card has one designer paper with lots of dice (each representing a number!), two dark blue brads, three ribbons, four bronze gems, and five buttons.  There is one "popped" dice image above the red ribbon, with a sentiment is from Ginger's House that fits the theme.  The paper is a vellum I've had in my stash for several years.  I'm SO GLAD I've finally gotten "into" doing challenges.  They're making me use stuff I was saving for that "special day" that never seems to come.

Oozak Challenge #6 - Sparkle & CAS-ual Fridays CFC72

Oozak is a Website I found out about thru Sandy Allnock and Operation Write Home.  It has a monthly challenge, and today is the last day for September.  This month the theme is "Sparkle" and they even have a little extra for folks who sparkle their names. 

The card is also for the CAS-ual Friday challenge #72 "Toot Your Own Horn" where the idea is to do a card that is inspired by your own blog header.  Well, my blog header is pretty plain, but I used it to choose the color for the card-stock and designer paper (by Stampin' Up!).
My card uses a rainbow image I've had for decades (yes, decades!).  It was made by a home-party company called D.O.T.S., which closed down over a decade ago. The sparkle comes from Elmers glitter glues for the rainbow colors, and Stickles for the clouds.  Had to let it dry/harden all night.  I also used Diamond Glaze to attach some small crystal beads for added bling, but they don't really sparkle.  After I put on the sentiment and the rainbow, I called it done - - - but - - - Sandy Alnock is a ribbon nut and I realized I had to add the ribbon.  That definitely improved the finished product.  Thanks Sandy, for being that 'voice' in my head when I'm making cards!  LOL!

StampTV "Make it Simple" Challenge

The current Live Chat challenge at StampTV is to "Make it Simple" - so here is the most Clean and Simple (CAS) card that I've ever done!

Pink Gems "For the Girls"

The current challenge at Pink Gem Designs is to do a card "For the Girls" and this friendship card just fits the bill.

Another Colorwash for STV12MON38 & Mojo #260

I decided to combine a few challenges in this one.  The StampTV Mix it Up Monday for a color-wash background, the new sketch for Mojo Monday #260, and the Pink Gems "For the Girls" challenge #56.
I wanted to try the STV12MON38 color-wash technique again, so that is the background.  Done in Distress Inks on the acrylic block, then misted with water and "stamped" on paper.  The colors used were Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Dusty Concord, and Tea Dye.

The Mojo Monday sketch #260 was to do either round or square.  The sketch shows a strip of paper from the right and a wide ribbon from the left. My ribbon options were somewhat limited, or I would have picked something with more contrast to the strip of paper.  The flower was made using the Boho Blossoms punch, distressing the paper, then crumpling and layering them.

SRM "Birthday" Card for OWHsketch take2

I decided to take another shot at the SRM Challenge to do a birthday card for OWH.  The calendar sticker set included the phrase "A Year of Memories" -- and that sort of fits a birthday.  I didn't do so well with the sketch part -- completely forgot because I was concentrating so much on birthday!

I WON a Challenge!!

I was at "My Page" on StampTV, to post the last card, and found a message saying I had WON a challenge back in June of 2011!!!  Knocked my socks off with surprise!  I hadn't even started this blog when I entered the challenge.  Life has been so crazy the last 18 months or so, that I've had very little crafting time until recently.  My mental health was suffering!!  Anyway, here's the link to the challenge that shows my card as winning:  http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/stvfrilm1-challenge-winner
I won't be at all surprised if it's too late to collect the prize (more than a year!!), but it was a real kick to see I had won!

Colorwash - Mix it Up Monday STV12MON38

The current Mix it up Monday challenge on StampTV is to do a color-wash background.  The image is from Gina K Designs, "Holiday Basket" by Melanie Muenchinger.  
I used Distress Inks on my acrylic block:  basket area is Rusty Hinge, flowers is Wild Honey and some Dried Marigold, and the edges/non-image area was Tumbled Glass. Then misted with water, and 'stamped' the block onto the paper.  Then I stamped the image on the color-wash using Memento, used a paper-stump and Peeled Paint Distress Ink to fill in the leaves.  I added more Tumbled Glass around the image, and then use Broken China to darken the edges and corners.  The flowers were darkened with Copic markers Y11 and Y17.

SRM Sticker/OWH Challenge

This week was SRM Sticker week for the Operation Write Home birthday party month.  SRM challenged us to make a card using the OWH Sketch of the week (#139) and an SRM sticker.  

I didn't know if I had any, so I checked the SRM site to find local distributors.  Several Archiver's stores around the Twin Cities were listed, so I went to the closest one.  The clerk had to hunt and look up SRM in their system to figure out where the stickers were.  Then she showed me, and they only had two choices, because they are discontinuing them.  SRM please tell Archivers we NEED Stickers by the Dozen!!!

Anyway, both stickers (autumn and pumpkin time) are from the SRM calendar sheet I bought.  Pumpkin time made it obvious I needed a big pumpkin to use in place of the Top Note.  Well, I decided to do a digital image I found at Clip Art by Carrie.  The patterned paper is from paperprintables.com.

OWH Sketch #139

I don't have any SRM Stickers yet, so I'm not sure if this entry "counts."  I turned the sketch on it's side, used the Nestabilities Lattice Rectangle die instead of the Top Note, and the designer papers are from Stampin' Up! -- some bits from my scrap stash.

JUGS #155 - Photo Inspiration Challenge

Just Us Girls (JUGS) has a weekly challenge, with a different theme each week of the month.  This week's challenge is a "photo inspiration" challenge. 

I'm also submitting these to the Hero Arts challenge to help Operation Write Home get "love" themed cards for Heroes to send home.

My blue and red look a little brighter in the photos than in real life.  In person the papers actually look much more like the colors in the JUGS photo.  I picked the papers and, as I played around with the design, came up with two cards (so as not to waste paper, of course!).  Which version do you like better?

CASEing Theresa Momber STVFRICT23

The current Stamp TV Friday Free-for-All Challenge is to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) the Design Team member, Theresa Momber. The rules are that you have to change two or more features (color, image, etc.) 

I chose "Thoughtful-Blue" from Theresa's gallery, and changed the color from blue to green, the image from flowers to tree, and a slightly different sentiment. I was going for a "masculine card" look here.

Birthday Mouse Card

These little critters are all from one stamp set (I think it is by Penny Black).  I wanted to use a group of them, but they are all different sizes and shapes.  Not sure if it works.  The images are colored with Copic markers, and the background was simply done with an embossing folder - no ink this time.  My granddaughter liked this one because of the cute mice.

Friends are Treasures

I had some 5x7 cards to use up, so I made a set of these thinking of you / friendship cards.  For the embossed background, I inked a Cuttlebug embossing folder with Antique Linen Distress Ink before putting in the paper and running it thru the Big Shot.  I wanted a "mat" for the Thinking of you sentiment, but didn't have a scalloped oval that graduated up from the Stampin' Up scalloped oval punch.  So I used that punch and cut the oval in the middle, to add the pieces behind the sentiment.  The scalloped oval pieces didn't provide full background, so that's why the sentiment mat overlaps the mat for the little girl image.

Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge #27

Doodle Pantry makes tons of great digital images for card-makers.  Their challenge this month is to use a Doodle Pantry image (not too hard)!  Here's a dino-mite card I started in June, but never got around to finishing it until now.

Here's the link if you'd like to see cards other folks made: 
http://doodlepantryblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/doodle-pantry-digital-challenge-27.html

(P.S.  Can you tell what day I get to "play" most?  LOL!)

Our Daily Bread Designs Shining Light Challenge #123

Well, I just realized I've missed the deadline for this challenge.  Dog gone timezones!  My card probably wouldn't "count" anyway, because after doing it I realized the challenge was to STAMP your own background.  Mine was a new technique to me, but it didn't use stamps!

The gears are from a package by Petaloo, Color Me Crazy chipboard Gears.  I placed them on white paper, then sprayed on Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist "Tattered Leather" -- but you can't see the "glimmer" in the photo.  Oh well, maybe next time.

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #34

 The challenge was to use blue and white, have a tree, a snowman, and a corner embellishment.

The white paper is by Astrobrights, maybe "Stardust White", and the blue papers are from my stash.
  Northwoods Rubber Stamps made the Think Snow stamp.  It was stamped using the second-darkest blue in the Kaleidacolor "Blue Breeze" rainbow dye ink-pad, then I "stamped off" to get the shadow words.
  The tree is by Stampin' Up (maybe Lovely as a Tree set), and the snowman is from Stampin' Up in 2000.  The tree was stamped in Vivid! "Sky Blue" ink, with some VersaMark Dazzle in the background.The snowman was inked in Hero Arts Shadow "Soft Grey," then his snowflakes and strings were colored with the Stampin' Up "Pool Party" marker before stamping.  The stamped image was then colored-in using a variety of materials.  Stampin' Up markers for his carrot nose "Peach Parfait", his eyes & mouth "Pacific Point", and "So Saffron" for the yellow in his hat and scarf.  The blue in the hat and scarf, as well as his buttons were water-color painted using the same Kaleidacolor ink as the sentiment.  Copic markers were used for his stick arms E25 "Caribe Cocoa" and the shadows around him BG10 "Cool Shadow" (good thing it wasn't warm shadow - LOL!).
   The corner embellishment is a Stampin' Up snowflake punch.  You probably can't tell, but I used the matching stamp with VersaMark Dazzle and embossed the snowflake with an iridescent embossing powder before punching it out.   
    Play along at:  http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2012/09/this-weeks-challenge_20.html
P.S.  After I had posted the card and linked it to the challenge site, I decided the tree needed snow to tie it into the rest of the card. 

Red & Green - OWH Mid-week Throwdown

Operation Write Home (OWH) has a weekly sketch challenge on Sundays, and then a "mid-week throw-down" challenge.   This week the throw-down is to do red & green cards for our heroes to send home to their families.  Naturally, that said Christmas to me.

I may have to try some non-Christmas ones, too!  If you'd like to play along, here's the link:
   http://operationwritehome.org/stampers-best-giveaway/

Fisherman Colored

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Here is the fisherman image, colored with Copic markers.  I followed the colors on the wooden stamp block, but it's not a great result.  It seems to have lost much of the detail with the coloring.  I guess I just don't know how to color detailed images like this one.  Anyone have any tips to share?

OWH Sketch Challenge #138 – Hero Arts week!

This week's OWH sketch is a nice, simple one.  The distressing on my card image looks much better in person.  I stamped the two-step flowers in two shades of pink and two shades of purple. 

If you want to play along, here's the link:  http://operationwritehome.org/sketch-challenge-138-with-hero-arts/

Hope you are having a good week.

A few other Telescoping Images I tried

Here are a few of my early attempts at doing the telescoping image card for club -- before deciding on the butterflies. 

  I like the floral images, but it seems the more detail there is in the image, the harder it is to get the layers to look right.  The fisherman with the spotlight technique is pretty crooked.

Telescoping Butterflys

The card club I belong to had us make a multi-layer card at club in July that I think of as "telescoping".  Our swaps for September were to be cards made in this format.  Any subject or picture we wanted, just so long as it was one picture on three "levels" with mats between.  (Hard to describe, but easy to do.)  I tried several pictures before I settled on Butterflies.  The sentiment and the butterflies all come from Gina K Designs. After stamping the butterflies & sentiment in black dye ink, I used three colors of Tim Holtz Distress Inks to color randomly on the butterflies, and then two more to make the background blue & green.  Had a lot of fun.

I did green mats for club, but had some silver cardstock to use up.  I wasn't sure I liked the plain silver, so then I tried coloring the edges of the mats using Copics, to get a color that fit the image better.

The blue one isn't very straight, but it made me think I should try doing one with the layers purposely angled to see how that would look.

May Arts Patriot Day Sketch Challenge

Boy, it's been awhile since I've posted anything.  I was working like crazy designing cards and making up kits to have an Operation Write Home (OWH) birthday party at work, and then it became too "political" for my workplace.  So now I have LOTS of cards all ready to assemble by myself!  LOL!    Check out Operation Write Home site and the Stars and Stamps blog.

Anyway, Sandy, as a new Ribbonista on May Arts blog, presented the challenge to use this sketch and make a Thank You card for a local hero - like a firefighter or police officer.  See the video here:
May Arts Patriots Day Card Challenge
 
The sketch has LOTS of bits, and Sandy encouraged me to only use papers from my "scrap" stash.  Every bit was in my 'bits & pieces' left over from previous creative sessions.

I started with the M&M paper, and then looked for a sentiment to fit.  Happened to have "You're one of the good ones!" from a Stampin' Up set.  Made me think about how my stepfather used to say "the green ones make you . . ." well, anyway, how people often have a favorite M&M color. Although it doesn't say "thank you" on the outside, the inside will have plenty of words of appreciation for our local police force.  They have been really good to work with this summer on some issues in our community. 

I'll post the cards I designed for the birthday party, and a few others I've done lately, one at a time for the next few weeks.  Have a good day.