Dream Fairy

Hello and Happy Monday!

Today I'm sharing a card I created using Gansai Tambi Watercolors, Canson Watercolor Card, Neenah Cardstock, Glitter Cardstock and die cuts for the Fairy, the Frame and the word Dream.

I needed a quick card and this was actually quicker than I though it would be to create.   I added small gems for the added sparkle - it's a Fairy and all Fairies need Sparkle!

I am going to send it to one of my card swap partners in the Facebook Group Card Making Tips.  I enjoy exchanging cards with other card makers; some of my swap buddies have been from Germany, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, England as well as the U.S.A.  

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you were inspired to try watercoloring in your card making.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card has been entered in the following challenges: Cardz TV #58, Crafting from the Heart #217, Artistic Inspirations #205, Aurora Wings

Love You a Latte

Hello and Happy Friday Eve!   It's Thursday afternoon as I'm posting this and I'm craving a pick me up...more specifically...COFFEE!!

With that being said, here's something that I currently have on hand...not the real thing but it will have to do until I can get to my local coffee shop!

This was a quick and easy card.  It's a standard A2 (4.25" x 5.5"), I used Kraft card for the base, die cut some mats from designer paper and used an image I found on Cricut Design Space.

I think I will give this card to my husband because I love him a lot and he's crazy about.......iced coffee!  :)

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card entered into the following challenges:  4 Crafty Chicks, Little Miss Muffet Challenges, Crafting By Designs, Creative Moments #148

A Wilted Violet and Gold Happy Birthday Celebration

Good Monday to you!  Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for a co-worker, her favorite color is purple.

I wanted a simple yet striking card that incorporated her favorite color and few design elements.  I used Wilted Violet Distress Oxide Ink for the background with an intricate die cut for an overlay and a die cut Butterfly for dimension.  I heat embossed the sentiment with Ranger Gold Embossing powder and place some violet gems for sparkle.

I'm pleased with how it turned out and I hope she likes it.  Thanks for stopping in today and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card entered in the following challenges:  Crafting from the Heart #215, Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1828, Cardz TV #55, Digi Choosday

Tropical Girl

Hello Everyone, I hope you are well and enjoying the day.

I'm back to share a project I completed recently using my new Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  I'm quite a novice when it comes to coloring with these fantastic markers.  I'm learning and enjoying every minute of the process.

This lovely image of the Tropical Girl is by artist Jeremiah Ketner.  I purchased the downloadable image from the Crafts and Me shoppe on Etsy and colored her using the Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.

The card measures 5.5" square and is a top fold (tent fold) on a vanilla cardstock base.  The printed mat is designer paper by the Paper Studio.  I used die cuts for the leaves, the tag and the frame.  The sentiment is cut from some designer paper I had in my stash.

At the time I was coloring, I didn't have the mindset to record what colors I was using for the image but I will record for the next image I share.  If I may say so myself I thinks he came out lovely.  I'm patting myself on the back for being a complete newbie and this image coming out this good....beginners luck I imagine.  I hope you enjoyed my post and thanks for stopping by today.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** Card has been entered into the following challenges:  CardzTV Challenge #51, Lemon Shortbread Challenge #70, Crafting By Designs: Flowers, Crafty Gals Corner #168, Creative Moments #145, That's Crafty Challenges: A Summer Day, Little Miss Muffet Challenges # 191 Anything Goes 

Totally Girly Cards - A Dress and a Corset

Hello Everyone!  I hope you are well and ready for your awesome week!

Today I'm sharing feminine cards I created using unbranded dies.  My first card features a corset, die cut word and cheerful patterned paper.  The card measures 4.25" x 5.5" and the card base is Neenah 100 lb solar white cardstock.

My second card features a lovely dress, cheerful papers and mesaures 4.25" x 5.5".  The card base is also 110 lb. solar white.  The sentiment is a CardzTV stamp and it has been heat embossed using Ranger White Embossing Powder.

I would like to invite you to Creative Knockouts Challenge and Creatalicious Challenges; I'm on the Design Teams and there are challenges going on with great prizes to the winners!

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Happy Crafting.

Donna

** Cards Entered into the following challenges:  CardzTV Anything Goes

The Anything Goes Challenge at Creatalicious Challenges

Hello Everyone!  I hope you are doing well and ready for your weekend!

 Today I want to share my design team project for the challenge over at Creatalicious Challenges.  The Challenges are posted on the 15th and on the last day of each month.  The challenge for June 15th is Anything Goes with Optional Flowers.  I created a shabby chic themed card for the Challenge.

I used embossing, die cuts, lace, faux pearl, paper foliage and a flower; all on kraft card to pull together this design team project.

Please join us over at Creatalicious Challenges for this challenge - the sponsor is Wild Orchid Crafts and if you are not familiar with them, please check them out.  The have lots of beautiful, handcrafted flowers as well as embellishments of all sorts.

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

Lovely Lavendar and White Card with Matching Box

Hello Everyone!  I hope all is well with you and yours.

Today I have another card with matching box to share with you.  I couldn't resist creating this set using my favorite color which is Purple and all shades thereof.  This card measures 4.25" x 5.5" (A2).

The die cuts used for this card are the lace doily, the white background mat and the sentiment circle.  The sentiment is heat embossed with Ranger Gold Fine Embossing Powder.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the ribbon is from my stash (Wal-Mart I believe).

I dotted the flowers with liquid adhesive and sprinkled extra fine glitter on the adhesive.  The adhesive will dry clear and all that's left to be seen is the glitter.  This technique of using glitter in this way was inspired by Christina Griffiths at Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls.

The Box was made using heavy weight cardstock, Neenah 110 lb Solar White and Embossed Purple cardstock placed on top.  The box is finished off with a ribbon closure and the box measures 4.5" x 5.75", slightly larger than the card for a good fit.  *** Tip:  I used a circle punch to cut 1/2 circles from the sides of the lid in order to provide an easier opening of the box.

Both the card and box are being offered for sale in my Etsy Shoppe (link to your right - in the column).

That's all I have for you today; I hope you were inspired and until next time....Happy Crafting!

Donna

**  I support the following card challenges:  CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #49

Lemon and Blue Card with Matching Box

Hello Everyone, I hope all is well with you and yours.

Today I want to share the first completed project in a series I am creating.  I love to create embellished cards however they can be too bulky to properly fit into an envelope so I decided I would create a box to match the card.

This project was very enjoyable to create; the lemon and blue combo turned out fantastic and I feel the black sentiment really sets the card apart from crowd.

I used some of my favorite embellishments which are flowers!  I also used die cut leaves and a background piece I cut from Cricut Design Space.  I embossed the blue mat with an unbranded embossing folder and added some lace trim from my stash.  The sentiment and yellow shadow piece are also from Cricut Design space images.

The Box was embellished with a polka dot mat and some matching ribbon.  The card is an A2 size ( 4.25" x 5.5") and the box is slightly bigger than that to accommodate the card.  

This card and box are currently listed for purchase in my Etsy Shoppe (link to my shoppe on the right).  I hope you enjoyed this project today and were inspired.  Please come back to see more cards with matching boxes this week.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

I support the following Challenges:  CARDZ TV ANYTHING GOES CHALLENGE #47, Creative Knockouts Challenge #246

Create Your Own Backgrounds

Hello Everyone.  I hope you are well and happy!

Today I would like to share some cards I created using the Tim Holtz Distress Inks and water to create some gorgeous backgrounds for cards.  The cards are A2 size (4.25" x 5.5").

This 1st card was created using an unbranded Star die I purchased from AliExpress and Distress Inks in the following colors:  Candied Apple, Abandon Coral and Barn door.  I used an Embossing Folder with a Star pattern and my Cuttlebug to dry emboss the top mat which measures 4" x 5.25".

I placed the 3 inks on my craft mat at spritzed each with some water.  I then placed the white card on top of one color to pick up some color, rotated the card and placed on another and so on.  I dried with my heat tool and repeated the process until I was happy with the result.

I used the "left over" piece of star from the die cutting process to pop up on foam and placed in the middle of the cut out for some dimension.  I heat embossed the sentiment on Vellum, for the finishing touch and sparkle I added clear sequins here and there.

The 2nd card was a bit simpler in design using an unbranded dies from AliExpress and Distress Inks in the following colors:  Seedless Preserves, Peacock Feathers and Aged Mahogany.   I heat embossed over the word Lovely with Ranger Black Embossing Powder for some shine and thickness.  For the finishing touch, I used Tonic Nuvo Drops in Crystal for some interest.  

If I may say so myself, this is my favorite of the group!  This time I used the Distress Inks in the colors Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers and Chipped Sapphire to create this awesome background.  I ran the card mat through the Cuttlebug using an Embossing folder with a Burst pattern.  I die cut the middle and the dimensional piece with 2 unbranded dies from AliExpress.  The Dream wording is also an unbranded die that I heat embossed with Ranger Black Embossing Powder.  I again used Nuvo Drops in Crystal to add some interest. 

Last but not least, I wanted to see how the colors would look against a Kraft colored card.  The Distress Colors I used here were:  Mowed Lawn, Tea Dye and Spiced Marmalade.  I cut 1/2 inch strips and die cut a circle for the focal point.  The front of the card was embossed using an embossing folder with dandelion images.

The flower die cut was colored using Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks in the colors Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint.  The sentiment was heat embossed with Ranger Black Embossing Powder.  I finished the card by placing Nuvo Drops in Bronze around the card.

I hope you enjoyed today's blog post and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** I support the following challenges:  CardzTV Anything Goes Challenge #48, CardzTV Anyting Goes Challenge #49

Diamond Fold Birthday Card

I love to create cards with unique folds.  The standard portrait or landscape card is nice but a fancy fold card just makes a statement!

I often cruise Pinterest looking for inspiration and found a Diamond Fold Card.  After reading through tutorials, it seemed the card usually came out as a 4" x 4" square but I wanted a slightly bigger card so I followed directions from this Blog: Crafty Maria's Stamping Blog and added a 1/4 inch, making my card 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" square; just right for a standard A2 envelope (4.25" x 5.5").

Here is the front of my card.  I created a Birthday Card and used the Photo Play Collection Pack 12"X12"‑French Flea Market.  The papers in this Pack are gorgeous!

Instead of leaving the front as a diamond shape, I used one of the cut outs provided in the paper pack and adhered to the diamond on the front.  

I stamped the sentiment  on a plain white piece of cardstock and adhered inside; to the back of the diamond shape.

I added a lace paper doily, cut in half, on either side of the fold and also placed a whole paper doily right underneath the oblong cut out.  Presto....a beautiful Diamond Fold Card.  Give this fold a try...you won't be sorry and it's very easy to create.

Till next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

I support the following card challenges:  Always Happy Birthday Card Challenge

A Wooden Crate of Daisies

Hello Everyone!  I hope all is well with you and yours.

I love box cards and when I came across the tutorial for this sweet wooden crate of daisies I couldn't resist creating it myself.

The tutorial can be found on the Mixed Up Craft Site here:  Daisy Week.  This lovely lady has a wonderful talent for creating unique fold projects and this daisy box is no exception.  I followed her instruction but added my own spin on things.

I used beige 110 lb. cardstock for the crate base and sent the strips through the Cuddlebug using a wood grain embossing folder.  I inked the strips with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.  For the flowers, I used an unbranded daisy die set I purchased from AliExpress and hand cut the stems from green cardstock.  The stems were a little too flimsy for my liking so I glued strips of paper together to give the stems some strength.   I colored the centers of the flowers with a yellow alcohol marker (Ohuhu Markers on Amazon).

I cut a circle using an unbranded circle die set I purchased on AliExpress and stamped a sentiment from the Scrapbooking Queen for the front of the box card.  I needed a place to write a sentiment so I cut out 2 mats, inked the edges with Vintage Photo, stamped the sentiment from a CardzTV Stamp Set and attached to the back of the flower crate.

This lovely daisy crate can be used as a shelf or desk sitter; it will also fold flat for mailing.  It will fit into a stand A2 card sized envelope.

I hope you enjoy my post today.  Till next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**I support the following challenges:  Always Happy Birthday May Challenge, Creative Knockouts Card Challenge - Friendship