Just Start

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was great and you found time to do activities that made you happy and creative.  I have a quick project to share using the Simon Says Stamp Stamptember 2022 Collab set with Pink Fresh Studio named "Just Start".   The sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp "Love You Greetings" Set.

This is the first time stamping this set and it's a gorgeous bouquet of roses with another smaller set of florals for a corner placement and it's also the first stamping for the sentiment.

My crafty friend Donna Ellis from Creative Smiles and I were talking about the color Orange.  This is a color that's not in my wheelhouse of favorite colors. I gravitate to pinks and purples with the occasional blue, however we decided we should step out of our comfort zones and use it.  This is my result.  

I also want to expand my Colored Pencil technique.  I love my Prismacolor Pencils but always default to alcohol markers, so I've made a conscious effort to color this image with pencils.  Coloring with Pencils is a slower process than coloring with alcohol markers.  If you want a nice, relaxing coloring session, then pencils are a good choice.  If you need a "in a hurry" coloring job - pencils are not a fast medium, however let me say that coloring with pencils is not difficult, you just need to build layers slowly. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed this coloring session and found it quite relaxing.

If you're looking for great inspiration and instruction on colored pencils, let me suggest Coloring Bliss.  She provides instructional and informational videos on You Tube and she has a lovely personality.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Dream Valley

Stamps Fun Creativity

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

SSS Wed Challenge

Through the Purple Haze

Re-Discover Your Supplies IG Hop - Encouragement/Congrats

Hello Friends and Happy Sunday!  It's been a minute or two since I've posted and today I'm sharing my contribution to the Instagram Card Makers Re-Discover Your Supplies Hop.  This is a Just for Fun Hop providing inspiration with found supplies from your stash.  The objective is to dig through your stash and create using only items that you haven't used or forgotten about.  You will start the hop HERE.

For my project, I've dug deep into the stash and found some dimensional items, a die cut sentiment, an older embossing folder and gems to create a Card of Congratulations that can be used for any special occasion.

List of stash supplies are:  a Frame from a Spellbinders Card Kit, Flower embellishment from a card swap partner (and this flower has a faux leather texture), Congrats Die Cut sentiment from Altenew, Embossing folder from Darice and gems from my large stash assortment of gems and sequins.

These types of projects always leave me with a feeling of accomplishment.  I love buying new craft products and spend way more than I should, however it's equally important to think outside the box and use what we have.  I'm embarrassed to say that I have loads of supplies that haven't been used.  It's time to start Shopping the Stash!  

Please hop along for loads of inspiration from my crafting buddies, who also shopped their stashes and created some beautiful projects!  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

Corrosive Challenge

Can You Handle the Pressure?

TGIF Challenges

Creative Fingers

Krafty Chicks

Creative Knockouts

SSS Wed. Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge Mid-Month Inspiration for January 2023

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  I hope you are staying warm, we dipped down to freezing over the weekend here in Florida!  Wowzers, it was cold and since Flip Flops are the State shoe of Florida..my toes are still frozen!  LOL

Today is the mid-month inspiration post for Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge and the team has created some gorgeous projects using the newest sets released at the beginning of the month:  Lovin' Lily of the Valley and Sweethearts.  I've chosen to use a set that's included in the Sweetheart Sale, going on now through the 31st of January.  I've used the Valentine Wishes Set to create a card for a Swap partner.  

The floral wreath was colored using Prismacolor pencils, I've been gravitating to pencils instead of alcohol markers lately.  I've fussy cut the image, mounted on foam pads and adhered to a 5.5" card base.

The sentiment is from the same set and it has also been popped on craft foam.  Lastly I've added a gold thread bow and clear sequins.  Please stop by the challenge blog and check out what my teamies have created.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Make My Monday - Challenge#170: 3 Colours Blue, Purple and Yellow

A Place to Start

WWO DT Challenge

Coloring with Pencils

QKR Stampede

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Send A Smile 4 Kids

Taylormade Cards 4 U

The New Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #1

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Sunday!  I'm excited to announce that today begins a new challenge month at the new Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  This is a new monthly challenge that focuses on florals.  There will be a moodboard provided as inspiration, the main focal/focus of entries must be flower related and you can enter up to 8 times a month.

The challenges run from the 15th of the month to the 12th of the following month.  There will be a Randomly chosen winner and Top 3 picks each challenge with occasional prizes being awarded.  The moodboard for this month is as follows:

This is a great moodboard to get the ball rolling for this cold January.  It's a monochromatic winter color palette with lovely images.  For my design team project, I've used the Exotic Tulips Layering Stamp and Coordinating Die Sets from Altenew to create a sweet and simple card design.

To start, I've ink blended a panel using Catherine Pooler "Sand Castle" ink.  I've stamped the floral layers using graduated shaded of blue inks from Altenew, the leaves were stamped using 2 shades of Catherine Pooler grays and all pieces cut using the coordinating floral dies.

Before assembling the card, the blended panel was splattered with diluted Sand Castle ink and White Gloss Acrylic Spray.  The sentiment, from the Creative Expressions "Festive Script Sentiments Stamp Set" was stamped using Memento Rich Cocoa ink and silver gems from Kat Scrappiness were added as a final touch.

I hope you will visit The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge and check out what my teammates have created for this challenge.  They have created some stunning projects and I hope you'll play along with us.  We look forward to seeing how you are inspired by the moodboard.  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

613 Avenue Create

WWO DT Challenge

Corrosive Challenge

We Love Stamping - in the Winter, I love Winter Blues and Teals

All Sorts

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Cut It Up

Pattie's Creations

QKR Stampede

Word Art Wednesday

Pearly Sparkles

A Place to Start

  

 

Beautiful Lily

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!  Today I have a quick share for you, it's the Beautiful Lily Stamp Set from an Altenew/Simon Says Stamp Collab.  This set may have been part of the Stamptember 2022 release, I cannot remember.  It's my first time using it so if you know, please comment below :)

I'm loving the Pantone Color of the Year for 2023 - Viva Magenta and I thought I had it for this floral image but it turned out more pink than magenta.  Oh well, let's roll with it!

To start, I stamped the image and colored with my Prismacolor Pencils.  This set has a matching die and I used it to cut the image.  I then prepared the background panel using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes 6x6 Stencil.  

I did a bit of splattering, mounted the die cut image on craft foam and trimmed the sentiment; this sentiment is part of the Beautiful Lily stamp set.  Lastly, I've added clear sequins for a finishing touch.  

I plan to post this card to my dear friend in the UK for Galentine's Day.  I truly treasure our friendship, even though we've never met in person.  We also speak about meeting up in person some say, I would love to make that happen.

That's all for today friends, until next time - Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Altenew January Challenge

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

Make My Monday

Krafty Chicks

Stencil Fun

Pearly Sparkles

Your Scrapbook Place

Classic Design Challenge

613 Avenue Create

A Place to Start

Ally's Angels

QKR Stampede

Creations in Pink

Colouring with Pencils

 

Watercolor Painted Flowers

Hello Friends!  I hope your weekend has been great so far and you've managed a bit of "me" time!  I did find some "me" time today and created 2 cards; one I'm sharing with you now, the other you'll have to wait to see on the 15th of February for the Beautiful Blossoms February Challenge.

I had a play with my Gansai Tambi watercolors and created a pink panel with a hint of yellow.  I didn't try to hard to create a perfect panel, I just let the watercolors run and have fun mixing.

After the watercolor panel was completely dry, I stamped the outline of the flowers all over the panel.  This is a layering set so using just the outline stamp, it gave the flowers that Artsy look.

While staging the panel on the cardbase, it looked too busy for the Thank You sentiment die (also from Altenew) to be visible.  I decided to trim the panel using a fancy edged die from My Favorite Things.  I've saved the other half to use at a later time.

I've embossed a white panel using a Swiss Dot embossing folder (this folder has been in my stash for a very long time - I think it may be from Cricut) and adhered the half watercolor panel on top.  I painstakingly applied itty bitty pieces of foam tape behind the die cut sentiment for dimension.  It was a labor of love but worth it, the sentiment looks great popped up.

Lastly, I've added clear sequins for the sparkle and shine that I love.  That's all I have to share today.  Hopefully I'll find more time at the craft table before this weekend is over.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna  

**Challenges Entered:

Altenew Monthly Challenge

Crafty Calendar

Crafty Catz

Alphabet Challenge

Creative Fingers

Pattie's Creations

Let's Craft and Create

Krafty Chicks

Cardz 4 Galz - April 2022 Think Pink #171

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

Word Art Wednesday

613 Avenue Create

Creations in Pink

QKR Stampede

The Paper Funday Challenges - January 2023

Hi Friends and Happy Wednesday!  It's the 1st Wednesday of the month (and new year) and that signals a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenge Blog.  Our sponsors this are LeAnn's World and Fred, She Said.  The Challenge theme is Always Anything Goes and the Optional Twist is "Starry Night".

For my team project, I've used the Swallowtail Butterfly image from Fred, She Said.  I've turned it into a New Year's Card.

I've printed the image and sentiment using a Laser printer and hot foiled both with toner reactive blue foil.  This photo picks up the sign beautifully.

I've colored the image using alcohol markers and to add more shine, I've back the focal panel with silver mirror card and added blue gems. Otherwise I tried to keep the design clean.  

Please join us this month at The Paper Funday Challenge and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Red Wagon

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday

Passion for Markers

Critter Crazy

Double Trouble - partnered with Critter Crazy

Make My Monday

  

Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge - Happy New Year!

Hi Friends, I'm back with a project for the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge.  After the December Holiday Break, the team is rested, rejuvinated and ready to get crafty in 2023!

Jan has released 2 new sets this month:  Lovin' Lily of the Valley and Sweethearts.  However, for my team project, I've used 2 of Jan's older sets:  New Year's Eve and Happy New Year.  

I've colored the images using alcohol markers and kept the design simple.  I've punched the corners of the focal panel with a decorative corner punch and matted with black card.

I've added loads of bling with Wink of Stella over the Balloons and the champagne.  I also adhered Stickles loose glitter to the highlights on the balloons.  Lastly, I've added black gems to complete this festive card.

Please join us at the challenge blog and be certain to visit the Sweetheart Sale at the Shop.  All Valentine's Sets are on sale this month.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

A Perfect Time to Craft

Crafty Friends

Sheepski Designs

Country View Challenges

Pearly Sparkles

SSS Monday Challenge

Global Design Project

A Place to Start

Crafting Happiness

Love to Craft

Double Trouble - linked up with Crafting Happiness

Make My Monday

Inspiration Station Challenge #45

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy New Year!  I trust you had a lovely holiday season and ready to tackle 2023!  Today begins a new challenge at the Inspiration Station.  The challenges are now monthly, beginning on the 1st Monday of the month and running through the 25th of the month.

The inspiration photo this month is the following and the prize this month is a lovely Swirling Hearts Stencil from Creative Expressions.

For my team project, I was inspired by the purplish blue outdoors and the bird on the branch.  Using the "Own Kind of Beautiful Bird" digital image from Angie Blom, I've colored the images using alcohol markers.

I've colored my bird in the colors of the Chickadees I see here in Florida.  I also choose the cool colors of lilac and mint green for the flowers and leaves.

I kept the design simple, only adding a few purple gems and a black mat.  The sentiment was computer generated.  This is such a lovely image, an easy color and very versatile.  

Please join us this month at The Inspiration Station Challenge.  We hope to inspire you and love to see how the prompt inspires others.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Double Trouble - partnering with Critter Crazy

Critter Crazy

Outlawz Monday Greetings

A Place to Start

Little Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

We Love Stamping - Purple is my favorite color!

Creatalicious

Love to Craft

Pearly Sparkles

Birthstone Challenge

Crafts Galore Encore