Gift Card Card

I found the directions for making a card with pockets for gift cards in the current issue of Scrapbooks Etc. I thought it looked good and graduation would be the purrfect time to use one (or more). Appropriately, this week at Paper Cutz Challenge is to make a graduation card. The scholar owl is a Sew Many Cards Digi. I used some light blue cardstock and a coordinating patterned paper from that infamous pack I got from the shopping channel (with no name), I added some silver Dazzles from Paper Wishes to outline the owl and for the upper corners.There are two pockets inside. One can hold a gift card or a check. The other can have a tag with your greeting to the graduate. I really liked how this came out and it actually didn't take long to do. Now having made one, future ones will go even faster.

Penelope's Flowers

Penelope loves flowers. The challenge at Robyn;s Fetish this week is to give Penelope some more flowers for her garden. Penelope is colored with Copic markers. I used multi-colored flowered paper for the background. Then added some yellow daisies in the lower corners, Dazzle flowers are in the upper corners. This card is wide open on uses: birthday, get well, Mother's Day, Thinking of You and Friendship.

Singing for Peace

My sketch challenge entry at Soft Pencil. I used My Mind's Eye paper, cutting out the circle design from the coordinating pattern. Teal blue 3mm crystals accent the center of the circles. The image is Michu & Ratiny singing from Soft Pencil. I colored it, of course, with Copics. I colored an acrylic square with alcohol inks. "Peace" is a gold Dazzle from HOTP . The acrylic square is fastened to the card with a brad. The Dazzle is underneath.

Deja Vu

Think you are seeing double - been here before? Sort of. The uplink for the challenge would not let me enter two images from the same URL. So for all the details scroll down to the previous post. Otherwise this is for the uplink.

Smile!

New images at Phindy's Place

This first card was made with the freebie image from Phindy's Place when we reached 600 followers. It is such a darling image and I colored with my copics (what else?). The challenge this week is to use ribbon so I added a strip of green ribbon between the two papers. The papers are Paper Pizazz from HOTP. The flower is my first attempt at tea bag folding. Not as tight as it should be, but I mounted it on a chipboard circle to hold it together. The paper for this is also from Paper Pizazz and I added the large pink brad in the middle.

This is my 3rd entry in Phindy's challenge this week. Her message board is a family and one of the members' cat (actually her Mom's new kitten) had disappeared. When Earl returned home the board cheered and Phindy drew this adorable image. Now you may not be able to see the grey in my hair (dye does wonders) but I do sleep in a recliner with an afgan. Sir Chester likes to cuddle. I had to have this image. The paper is Paper Pizazz as usual. The LOVE lettering is Sticko. I added gold Dazzles and the same green ribbon - this time across two corners.

Check out Phindy's Challenge , if not for this week - entries are due tomorrow - but how about next week's challenge. It should be posted on Friday. In the meantime go to Phindy's store and see all the wonderful images.

Just when I think I'm caught up...

Any teacher will tell you that May is a blur. If you survive with your sanity you deserve the restfulness of summer. Okay okay it isn't May yet, but we only have 18 class days left. May is a subjective term referring to the last month of school.

So,,,,.,.., I just realized that it is Tuesday evening and I usually post the new ABC Christmas letter on Monday nights. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. (translation: I'm sorry).

The new letter is "B". "B" is for

• Baby Jesus
• Blizzards
• Bethlehem
• Baubles
• Blitzen                                                  I bet you are keeping up with your cards better than I                                                         I am way behind!

Prepare to Be Challenged

There's a new place in town to hang out! It is "I Did It Creations".  There are several groups to join. One of them is the Prepare to Be Challenged group. This week's color challenge -ends Monday April 26th, allowing for time change to Australia- is to use pink/brown/green to make any creation. It does not have to be a card, but that's what I made.
I'm not at the lake tonight and am limited on supplies. I didn't even think I'd be able to do the challenge. Amazing what you can accomplish when you start digging through the stash.
The digi is from Prairie Fairy and colored with copic markers. The dark green base card is DCWV. The light green paper is a scrap so I no longer know the company. I used a short strip of gold Dazzle across the line where the two papers meet. The EK Success letters I had in my travel bag. I think I won them at a retreat a while back.
Check out I Did It Creations. There is sure to be a group for you.

While I was wandering through the blogs today...

While I was wandering through blogs today - linking from various challenges to see the submissions - I saw an announcement that Stamping Dragon Designs had a DT Call. Since Max & Mason both love dragons I went ot check it out. There are some of the cutest dragons (among other images) I have ever seen. The DT Call had been extended to April 25th so I got to work.

The digital stamp of Baby Jiggy was a  requirement for the application card. I tried several color combinations (Copics of course) and on the 4th try came up with the above card. The DP is from Imaginesce (2 sided coordinating) and some blue cardstock from the stash. I purposely set the strip of green at an angle to allow room for the "Welcome Little One". A Punch & Fold punch was used to cut out the flower and I secured it with s small brad tucked inside. Baby cards lend themselves to buttons so I used three button brads that matched colors already on the card.

I think this could be a fun team to work on. I recently resigned from 2 DTs (1 cards and 1 layouts) and am staying on with Paper Cutz Challenge. This has allowed me to check out other sites (like this one) and try some other challenges. I know the boys would like to see Grandma make some dragon cards.

Boy Time

This week's challenge at Sew Many Cards is (drum roll please)............. Anything Goes. The best part is that if you use a SMC image (other than a free one) to make your entry, you can then choose a single image digi for free. Just email Jeri and her know which one you want after you post your creation.
To make my card I used Tayla Fishing. Instead of background paper I chose this photo that John took on one of the canoe trips in the Boundary Waters. I added some tiny blue crystals in the water and three fish brads.. This card would be great for Father's Day or for an outdoor person's birthday.

I usually don't use dark colored background paper on cards, but the green and brown really went well with the coloring of the child's shirt. Both papers are Paper Pizazz (HOTP)  This card is my (at least) first entry for the current Phindy's Place Challenge. The only requirements are to use a Phindy image and some ribbon. I chose a pale green ribbon to accent two corners of the image along with a silver pearl in each corner of the brown paper. Think about when a child is learning to count. The numbers are rarely in order. I tried to imply that idea with the random numbers alongside the image.

I hope you are trying out some new ideas and/or techniques. Try a challenge from a different site this week. Stretch your talents.

Getting Ready for Mother's Day!

Paper Cutz Challenge this week is to make a Mother's Day Card using a digital stamp. This rose is from Fred-She-Said. I colored it with Copic Markers: 3 shades of pink and 2 shades of green. The paper was in a stack I bought on a shopping channel over a year ago. I don't remember which channel and there is no marking as to the manufacturer. The corners are gold Dazzles from HOTP.

Last Friday Sew Many Cards began their Mother's Day Challenge and this is my entry. I used the same Mother paper as the card above along with a coordinating stripe. This was a sketch challenge that I reversed.(mirror image). I also tilted the three digis so they would fit on the card. All 4 digis are from Sew Many Cards. I colored them with Copic Markers. I added three silver pearls from Mark Richards and 3 blue paper roses. These were purchased at Paper Wishes.

I hope these cards inspire you to make a special card for your Mom. Mine has been gone 4 years as of next week. I know she sees these cards - even if she didn't like computers. Dad is with her and I'm sure he's pointing them out. Cherish your parents while you have them here.

Reach for Your Goals!

Prairie Fairy Challenge for this week is to use string & eyelets. I couldn't find my Cropadile for the eyelets so I used the brads with the ribbon loop. A card of encouragement, the sentiment is "Reach for Your Goals". It could also be used as a graduation card. I used DCWV Christmas Stack paper - blue with ice skates. The PF image is a hockey playing bear. The floss is strung across the card to resemble a hockey goal. Thus the "play" on words. Forgive me, I'm tired.

The week always seems to drag until I suddenly realize it is Wednesday and there are several challenges due on Thursday. I have dropped a couple of my DTs so if I don't get to all of the challenges, it isn't a problem.

Enjoy your time playing and don't forget to enjoy the family too!

Mom Said There'd be Days

'Mom said there'd be days like this! The joys of Motherhood captured on a card. This is my creation for the recipe challenge at Friends Having Fun. Three different kinds of paper, something sparkly (glitter, mist....), hand cut papers and some humor. My digis are from Bugaboo and colored with Copics. We lived through these times as Moms and get to laugh at them as Grandmas. Hope this makes you smile.

Phindy's Challenge - Annie & Kitty

I love kitties. No surprise there. Phindy has several images with kitties and I think I have almost all of them. I will have all of them eventually. This one is so sweet. My kitties through the years have loved to sleep among the soft dollies and teddy bears.
I used some pretty pink paper that has flocking on the dark pink circles. So soft.... I added pink paper roses to hold the easel open, some silver Dazzles for glitz and a strip of green ribbon from Michael's. Purrfect card for a little girl or new baby daughter.

Woo Hoo - Cards for Men

This easel birthday card is my submission to the Cards for Men Challenge this week. I used an image from Sunshine Stamps. My grandsons love trains, especially Zerek, so I had to make a train the first digi I purchased from Sunshine. I think men of all ages will admit to liking trains at some time (even as adults).

I used a copper arrow with a screw brad to hold the easel open. It also "points" the way for the train. This was a fun card to make. I find I'm using a lot of orange lately. Maybe I OD'd at Halloween and it has taken almost 6 months to get back to enjoying the color.

A reminder to check out the post below and let me know which sample announcement you like best. I'd appreciate the imput.

Engagement Announcement Samples

I spent time this weekend making engagement announcements using a cute digi from Elizabeth at Soft Pencil. I made it four color/embellie versions.

The lavender version uses HOTP paper with white ribbon and pale blue paper roses.

The green version uses HOTP paper (light green with small dots of lavender, blue, pink and yellow). A short border from a Cardmaker's Creative Pack is topped with blue mini crystals. The crystals also make the buttons on the grooms chest. A silver love Dazzle is at the top.

The pink/red version uses a pink print from HOTP. Silver rose Dazzles are colored with coral copic markers.

The blue version uses HOTP paper. The green ribbon and the pink paper roses match the colors in the paper.

Share your opinion and leave a comment voting for your favorite below.  See if you agree with my daughter and her fiance. (I haven't heard from them yet.)

Prairie Fairy Friends Having Fun

Prairie Fairy is sponsoring the Friends Having Fun sketch challenge this week. The winner will receive 5 images of their choice from PF. This is my submission. The image is from Prairie Fairy - one of my favorites. It fits in well for so many occasions. The ribbons I believe are all from Michael's. The papers I got in a boxed set through a shopping channel but I don't remember which one. The brads are Boutique Brads. I know I used Copic markers to color the image.

I know some of my supply lists are a bit vague lately, but I'm trying not to buy a lot of new stuff (except digis) and use some of my stash. I almost feel like I'm shopping since much of it I forgot I had. It is a surprise in every box, drawer and tote.

Happy Scrapping!!!

Paper Cutz Challenge - Use a Tag

The Paper Cutz Challenge this week is to use a tag on the card. The papers and the tag for this card are from the Cardmaker's Creative Pack "Icy Rainbow". I added some brads and some gold Dazzles from HOTP.

It is rare that I make a card without a digi but this is one card that is fine without one. (I did almost add a kitty, but went for the Dazzle bird and butterfly instead). This card is simple but elegant enough to be a birthday card, friendship card or even a sympathy card. The muted green, yellow, rose and lavender are very peaceful colors.

Let's see what you can create!

A reminder that Prairie Fairy DT call is posted above. There are Yummy Candy notices on the right hand column. Amazon.com daily specials.

Don't forget the link to Purrfect Sentiments store on Shop Handmade. I have some already made cards and also some sets of serendipity squares for sale for those who like to make their own cards. I hope to have some quilling items in the store soon.

Prairie Fairy Color Challenge

The Prairie Fairy Fun Friday Challenge showed a picture for inspiration this week. The colors appeared to be orange/coral, yellow, ivory, pink, and light blue. Very springy colors. I used a striped paper with coordinating solid in a peachy-coral. I used some gold Dazzles to decorate the card and colored in the rose Dazzles with a Coral Copic Marker for the blooms and two shades of green for the leaves. I actually like this product with the fairy better than the ones I used to apply for the DT. Maybe Roberta will take a look at this one and keep it in mind. It is almost Wednesday as we come up to midnight in just a few minutes. Need to get some sleep.

Digi Girl

The current challenge for Kaboodle Doodle is Digi Girl. This digi girl is from Squigglefly and the kitty is from Phindy's Place. I used paper from HOTP and added a large round and small butterfly brads. The lettering is in green glitter that just doesn't show up on a photo.

Do you think she realizes that she's talking to the kitty? The stories he could tell!

Bugaboo Images for 2 Challenges

First of  all, the Bugaboo challenge was to use a "bug". I like bugs - the digital kind, not the creepy crawly kind. My Dad used to call me "Bug". I love images of bugs in jars - remind me of summers catching fireflies and other multilegged critters. This easel card is made with K & Co paper and gold Dazzles. I used gold brads with the ribbon loops bent upward to hold the card in position. I think it looks very springy.

The second card is for the Copic Colour Challenge.
The colors for this week were apricot, duck blue and copper. I came as close as I could. Apricot was the only one I had exactly.
I didn't add a sentiment yet. It could be "Under the Weather?... Get Well Soon." or "Don't be Blue.... a Rainbow is on the Way".

I dozed off about 9:00 last night but then woke up around 130. I had colored this images before falling asleep, so I got out the paper and xyron and Dazzles and got to work. Finished them up in less than an hour. It was too dark to photograph them so I had to wait
until this afternoon. Now I need to upload them to the appropriate sites.

On the Spot and other such things

On the Spot is My Time to Craft's challenge this week. I found spotted paper from HOTP and a spotted ladybug in a jar with a spotted ribbon from Bugaboo. I also added some blue crystals for more spots. The lettering is glittery green but it didn't show up in the photo. (Sorry I'm not putting in links today, having technical difficulties with the satellite Internet company). You've heard the commercial "Got Milk?" well this card is "Got Bug?.... Get Well Soon"


Also for those of you who check in for ABC Christmas - the new letter is "D". "D" is for:

• Dancing
• (Twelve) Days of Christmas
• Drummer Boy
• Drifting Snow

I hope to have mine up soon. 

Cards for Men

The Cards for Men challenge is becoming one of my favorites to enter. Maybe because I have 3 grandsons?? Zerek is particularly interested in trains at the moment so I chose this digi from Sunshine Stamps. They have a great collection of trucks/trains/cars. Boy stuff! "Choo Choo......means Happy Birthday" makes this a great card for a young boy. Bright colors and a happy face - I know Zerek would like it.

Phindy's Baby Card & other weekend projects

When I saw this Phindy image I had to have it. I remember my children looking up at the mobile, wearing a onesie and booties. I double cut the mobile animals to give a 3D effect. "It's a Boy" is cut from green Oh My Vinyl using the Cricut cartridge New Arrival. Two red hearts hold this easel card open. The background paper is Imaginesce. My nephew and his wife are expecting a boy in May and there is a shower coming up. I believe this will be the card I'll be enclosing with the gift.

My sister-in-law hurt her knee (doesn't know how or exactly when) and will be off work for three weeks at least. I sent this Duncan the Duckling card to her with Get Well Soon wishes. Duncan appears to be having a problem with Ace bandages. He's rather "tied up" at the moment.

Well, it is on to the next project. Trying to get those due today and tomorrow done tonight. I spent Thursday night til noon today in Kansas City. Only had some quilling with me and lots of ideas.

DT Cards

Sew Many Cards challenge this week is to make a card with stitching on it. The stitching can be hand sewn, machine sewn or drawn on. I chose to hand sew a flourish using a Bazzill template. Owen & Duncan are a delightful Sew Many Cards digi. This card is perfect for Mother's Day or Mom's birthday.

The Paper Cutz Challenge is to use 3 patterned papers. I chose a stripe, a penguin print and a swirled chocolate brown. I added a large yellow flower and some fish brads to draw the patterns together. This summery card could be used to send a note, or add a sentiment and use it as a Thank You, Birthday or Friendship card.

Prairie Fairy Design Team Call

Prairie Fairy is having a design team call. Click on the banner at the top of the page if you are interested. Roberta is providing a free digi of this precious fairy for us to use in creating a project as part of our application.

I tried several color combinations before deciding on peach puff and mignonette for the main colors. I wanted the fairy to be nestled in the flowers so I picked the muted flowery paper from HOTP. Fairies live in the woods so I added brads of our Forest Friends. Silver Dazzles add some sparkle as does the glitter lettering. I added some Paper Glaze (Aleene) to just the fairy's flower. The rosy pink background paper is also HOTP. I originally had a different paper in mind, but of course couldn't find it. Why do things disappear just when you want them?

And then they reappear right after you choose something else and apply the adhesive. Here is the green/yellow/blue paper I originally planned on using. I colored the fairy the same as in the above card and backed her with a tone on tone green paper. Same glittery lettering but a different flower (Sticko) and a brad in the same shade of green as the background paper that says "Flower" The ribbon is filmy with thick cords of colors - the same colors in the paper and on the fairy.

Same fairy, different papers and embellishments - different effects. Which is better? I don't know. I think the first one photographed better, but the second looks nicer on my table. So I am leaving the decision up to you. I would be honored to serve on the design team for Prairie Fairy. I thoroughly enjoyed my month as a guest DT member. If I am not chosen, you can't get rid of me that easy. I'll be around. I'll be participating in the challenges. The Prairie Fairy digis are too good and too much fun to not continue playing with them.

ABC Christmas - Getting Caught Up

ABC Christmas. "T" is for Toys. This delightful digi is from Squigglefly. It is very versatile. I used it on a baby card and now on a Christmas card. It would also be appropriate for a first birthday. I used some self adhesive ribbon of presents for the top border and a silver ornament charm for an embellishment. Dazzle "Joy" filled in the rest.





"O" is for..... is our new letter this week. "O" could be for

• Oranges & Nuts
• Opening presents
• O Come All Ye Faithful

or my choice "O" is for ornaments. This Phindy's Place digi has a sweet kitten playing with the ornaments (don't they all?). He has knocked one off the tree already and is playing with another. The plaid paper is from HOTP as are the "Joy" and the stocking Dazzles.

It's not too late to join in. (I missed "J"). No commitment except to yourself. You feel less stressed in November when your cards already well on their way to being done.

Friends Having Fun

Friends Having Fun is a new site. The challenges will be rotating color, sketch, recipe and pop culture. The first color challenge just started today. The colors are bright blue, yellow and white, see the site for shades. I am submitting this Mother's Day card. Owen & Duncan the Duckling are a Sew Many Cards digi. They are just soooo cute! The papers are from HOTP and DCWV. The sentiment : Love you..... sooo much" is cut from Oh My Vinyl Teal using the Cricut Expression cartridge George.

This easel card was the result of just playing around today. I haven't done much with coloring in Dazzles but I had a perfect match Copic marker for the paper. It is a simple sketch but (I think) elegant. A purrfect Mother's Day or birthday card for Mom or Grandma.

It has been a productive day. I also finished two cards for DTs that you will see later in the week and I posted earlier today too. There was also one card that I finished but didn't like. You won't see that one. I tried something different and it didn't work.

Tomorrow it is back to school. Only about 6 weeks left I think. Maybe 7. Students are finished May 21st and teachers on the 24th. It is short week for me. Not only did we have today off for Easter, but I have a dentist (yech) appointment on Friday.

Beautiful Blogger Award

I received this award from my friend Elizabeth at Soft Pencil.

Now 10 things about me:

• I am a cat person (no surprise there)
• I am originally from Chicago, but now love living at the lake in a small town.
• I have three children & three grandsons who I love to spoil
• I am addicted to Sudoku puzzles
• I must have a serving of chocolate every day and pizza at least once a week
• I have taught for more than 20 of the last 30 years (Math)
• I just opened a store on ShopHandmade but haven't sold anything yet
• I started out scrapbooking but now do more cards
• I have hundreds of digi stamps from many sources
• My husband is the neat person in the family, he is also the better cook

Now to pass this on to 10 friends: Cec, Phindy, Roberta, Sarabeth, Angela, Jeri, Kateri, Tammy, Lynda, Anne.

Baby Card

I'm joining a new challenge (for me) this week: My Time to Craft. The challenge this week is to make a Baby card.

Used a digi from Squigglefly of the Teddy and other toys. The background paper (unmarked) has coral, golden yellow, pale pink and white stripes. I added some darker pink cardstock strips. The lettering is Cricut Expressions cartridge New Arrival cut out of Oh My Vinyl - Orange.

Another new challenge is starting April 12th at Phindy's Place. Sign up now to join this sure to be fun challenge site.

Phindy's Place Challenge

Phindy's Place posted a challenge to make two or more cards using the same image. I chose one of her newer digis of the giraffe with his duckling friends.

The first card is a birthday card. The striped paper (pink, orange and white) and a square of pink cardstock make this card appropriate for a girl or woman. The yellow flower with the pink center draws out the yellow ducks. "Party"........"Happy Birthday" is the sentiment.

The second card is more neutral. "Hello Friend" could be a friendship card or a Welcome to the Neighborhood. Again I used stripes: blue, green, white and brown this time with navy blue lettering cut on the Cricut. Three large brads is gold, pale green and brown accent the bottom of the card.

The challenge ends tomorrow night so there is still time to enter!

Sew Many Layouts - Poetry Month Sketch Challenge

It is National Poetry Month so Sew Many Layouts Challenge has an element of poetry.

The sketch is below but you are to add a favorite poem or at least a few lines from one to your layout. I used photos from a trip to Dallas last summer to see the Max & Mason. While we were there, some hot air balloons came across the golf course behind their house and on down the fairway. The boys were excited (so were Grandpa and Grandma). We used to see hot air balloons a lot when we lived in St. Louis and our kids were small. Now the grandkids are enjoying watching the big balloons.

The background paper is from My Mind's Eye. Some of the smaller pieces were in the Sarah's Supplies set. I added some gold Dazzle hearts and flourishes plus big yellow flower. Miki is holding a cupcake (it was Max's birthday) and floating down with the help of a very strong red balloon. The lines about the red balloon is an excerpt of a poem I found on line: "A Red Balloon Dream".

So here is the sketch. Get out the photos, the poems, the embellishments, the papers, (you get the idea) and be creative! We sure to share your creation with us. We love to see them. Sir Chester will personally check out any LOs with kitties on them.

Paper Cutz Challenge

If you are looking for the SMC Blog Hop, just scroll down to the next post. 

The Paper Cutz Challenge this week is to make a card (or other creation) using brown/white/red/green. I knew immediately which paper I wanted ot use. I thought this was such pretty paper but didn't have the right occasion to use it. I added a self stick red ribbon and a carnation digi from Fred She Said. Remember the color tipped carntions from the 1970s?

SMC Blog Hop - New Releases!!

Blog Hop time!! You should have arrived from Audrey's blog. If not, then go to Sew Many Challenges and start from the beginning so you don't miss anything. New releases to check out! 

Isn't this little man soooooo cute! His hair has been wet combed and he has his best clothes on. A perfect card for Mom (Grandma, Auntie) for birthday or Mother's Day. He is coming with his flowers for a favorite lady.

I used paper from Paper Pizazz (HOTP) and lettering from Cricut Expressions cartridge Beyond Birthdays cut from Oh My Vinyl-black. The little boy is colored with Copic markers.

Sponsors this month are Simon Says Stamp and The Cutting Cafe. Check out their sites. They have some really good stuff.

Please leave a comment to let me know what you think of this image. Consider becoming a follower if you aren't already. Then your next stop on the Hop is Cheri G. Have a great hop (appropriate term at this time of year).