Flower Journey #904

Hi Friends!  I hope you're having a Terrific Tuesday.  I have a quick share for you today featuring a lovely image from the AALL & Create "Flower Journey #904" Stamp Set, designed by Tracy Evans.

I stumbled across Tracy Evans on You Tube, and was intrigued by her style of designing.  I'm not very good at mixed media but I do like to sit and have a play, sometimes I'm pleased and other times I look at my completed project and say Hmmmm This is one of those Hmmm cards...and I thought I would share it.

To start, I created a mask our of low tack wide tape and blended Catherine Pooler inks in shades I thought looked nice together.  I also stamped various images, from small sets in my stash, in the background using a gray ink.  

After everything was dry, I stamped the focal image along with the words that are included in this set.  To finish everything off, I've added gold sequins and white acrylic paint splatters.  Before adhering to the card base, I thought it needed a bit more so I inked around the edges with a medium shade of brown ink.  

It's fun to be messy sometimes, to sit and allow yourself to just go with the flow.  Creating these types of projects are out of my comfort zone but I do it anyway; it's good for the mind and creative spirit!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Triple B

SSS Monday Challenge

A Place to Start

Outlawz Monday Greetings

Double Trouble

Stamping Sensations

We Love Stamping

613 Avenue Create

Corrosive Challenge

All Sorts

Crafty Calendar

Simply Create Too

Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge - Peppermint Santa

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!  Today starts a new challenge month at the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge Blog and Jan has released 3 new sets for the month of September:  Pumpkin Pie, Halloween Treats and Peppermint Santa.  For my project, I've used the Peppermint Santa digital set to create one of my first cards for this Christmas Season. 

I've colored the images using Prismacolor Pencils and kept the card design fairly simple by showcasing a large focal image on my card.  The sentiment is part of this digital set and I've fussy cut it so it wouldn't cover up too much of the scene, then popped the strip on craft foam for dimension.

Lastly, I've highlighted parts of the images with a Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust Pen and added green faux gems.  I like this style of Santa Claus; Jan's drawings remind me of vintage with a touch of whimsy, and now we know how Candy Canes are really made!

Please visit us at the challenge this month.  Be certain to stop by the Jan's Digi Stamps Shop for the Fall is Falling Sale, there are 10 Autumn themed sets specially priced through the end of this month.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

CD Sunday

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Peace On Earth Christmas

Fairy and Unicorn

Mirtillamente

12 Months of Christmas

Moving Along with the Times

Merry Little Christmas

NBUS

Jingle Belles

Inspiration Station September 2023 Challenge

Hello Friends and Happy 1st Monday of September!  It's a new challenge month at the Inspiration Station Challenge Blog and soon to be officially "Autumn" in the Northern Hemisphere; my favorite time of year. 

Although we don't have an Autumn in Florida per se, I've lived in places that do have a change of season and I adore the colors, crisp air and anticipation of the upcoming holiday season.  Our photo inspiration this month ushers in Autumn and really jumped started my love of Fall Crafting:

For my team project, I remembered I had the Pumpkin Die Set from STAMPtember 2022 at Simon Says Stamp.  I didn't use the set last year, so you can imagine my delight to have found it in my stash. 

To start, I've embossed a panel of white card using the Fall Foliage 3-D Embossing Folder from Simon Says Stamp and inked around the edges with Catherine Pooler Brown and Yellow ink shades.  I've die cut the pumpkin pieces out of white card and colored them by ink blending with Distress Inks.

The sentiment is from the Fall Sampler Stamp Set by Scrapbook.com, which I stamped using a dark brown ink and popped the strip on craft foam.  I've arranged the pumpkins and leaves, popping the 2 smaller pumpkins on craft foam.

Before adhering the focal panel to the card base, I've splattered everything with white Posca Pen paint and adhered gold sequins, then called this card complete.

I would love for you to visit us at The Inspiration Station and join in the challenge.  We hope to inspire you with our projects and enjoy seeing everyone's creativity with the photo inspiration.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Double Trouble

Dream Valley

Outlawz Monday Greetings

613 Avenue Create

Colorful Options

Classic Design Challenge

Your Scrapbook Place

Incy Wincy

Crafts Galore Encore

Challenge Up Your Life

Die Cut Divas

Four Seasons

Instagram Rediscovery Hop - August 2023

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!  Today is the Instagram Rediscovery Hop for August 2023.  The premise of this Hop is to "shop your stash" and create a card following the monthly theme and use what you already have.  This is a HUGE Just for Fun Hop featuring loads of talented crafters, showcasing ways they've used their stash.  You can start the hop HERE.

The theme this month is "Get Well" and I came up with a quick and easy card using only scrap patterned papers and a stamped sentiment.

I was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest (always a great place to visit when you need inspiration).  I cut 1.5" strips and 1" squares of patterned paper to create adhesive bandages.  

The squares have been popped on craft foam for dimension and clear gems added to bling.  This card couldn't be any easier to create and I think it's an adorable idea.  Nowadays, fun and colorful bandages are all the rage, I have some camo patterned ones in my medicine cabinet now.

I hope you'll Hop along, starting at 11 am EST.  There is lots of inspiration for your Get Well projects.  Have a fabulous weekend, until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Krafty Chicks

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday

Mid Month Inspiration at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge

Hello and Happy Monday!  Today is mid-month inspiration time at the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge Blog and the team is featuring new sets that were released at the beginning of the month.  For my project, I've went with an Autumn theme and chose one of Jan's older sets:  Harvest Wreath.

My card measures 5.5" square and I've colored the wreath using Prismacolor Pencils.  I've chosen color coordinating mats and decorated the corners with a punch.  The sentiment is part of this set and lastly, I've added golden gems for additional interest.

I adore this Autumn wreath with all those lovely Fall Fruits; it was a joy to color as well.  Please stop by the challenge blog and see what my teammates have created using the new Dog Days of Summer and Pretty Posies Sets.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

A Perfect Time to Craft

Crafts Galore Encore

Mirtillamente

Your Scrapbook Place

CD Sunday

613 Avenue Create

Corrosive Challenge

Make My Monday

Natural Silhouettes

Hello Crafty Friends and Happy Sunday!  I hope your weekend is going well and you're rested enough to face the coming week.  I have a quick share today featuring a silhouette image that has been heat embossed.

Using the Gina K. Designs Natural Silhouettes Stamp set, I've created a quick and easy Card of Encouragement for a dear friend.

To start, I've cut random sized strips of colored card snippets in Autumn colors, then glued to another lightweight piece of scrap card (I cannot bring myself to throw out scrap card - colored or white).  I stamped the image and sentiment, then heat embossed using fine detail Gold powder from Ranger.

I've popped the panel on craft foam and adhered to a Kraft card base.  Lastly, I've added gold sequins and called it complete.  I did add a panel of vanilla card to the inside and stamped the same silhouette image onto it using brown ink.  This gives me a brighter place to write my message, and the card base isn't as heavy as I tend to use, so the added panel inside gives the card a nice weight.

This was a quick and easy card to create and a great way to use up those snippets of colored card, which I have loads of (what about you?).  

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

Night Owls - I love silhouette images and heat embossing

Can You Handle the Pressure

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Outlawz Festive Fridays

Creative Knockouts

Creative Inspiration

The Male Room

Word Art Wednesday Guest Designer - Bless Thee and Praise Thy Name

Hello Friends and thanks for visiting me today.  I'm back with my 2nd guest designer project for the Word Art Wednesday Challenge Blog.  It's been an honor to join the talented creators and I've had a lovely time creating with this inspirational verses.

I've created a sweet and simple card, allowing the Psalms verse to take center stage.  I backed with patterned paper from my stash, die cut the focal panel with a stitched rectangle die and die cut some twigs in white card.  To further highlight the foliage, I've added reddish gems and a baker's twine bow. 

Please visit us at the Word Art Wednesday Challenge, we hope you'll be inspired to share with us.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Penny's Challenges

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday

The Male Room

Happy Little Stampers Die Challenge

Ally's Angels

Pammie's Inky Pinkies

SSS Monday Challenge - Fav Technique is using Die Cuts

A Place to Start

613 Avenue Create

Corrosive Challenge

Beautiful Blossoms August 2023 Challenge

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!  It's the 15th of the month and that always signals a new challenge month at The Beautiful Blossoms Challenge Blog.  The challenge theme is Always Anything Florals Goes with an optional mood board (should you want to use it).  The mood board this month contains one of my favorite flowers and inspired my design today.

Using the "Like a Sunflower" Clear Stamp Set from Sweet 'n Sassy, I've created a sweet and simple card featuring a large Sunflower Head and lovely sentiment.

This image (the set has more than 1 sunflower image) is created as half a sunflower head so I stamped it at the edge of my focal panel, and colored the flower using Prismacolor Pencils.  The only bells and whistles added were touches of Wink of Stella on the flower and the blue gems.

Lately, I've been trying to perfect my CAS technique.  Usually, I don't know when to stop, but lately it's been oppressively hot here, we've been busy with travel and I've not had loads of time in the craft room.  Creating clean and simple designs has given me the opportunity to meet design team deadlines and the stress relief needed from this busy, hot Summer!

We hope you'll visit us at the challenge and share your floral projects.  We always love seeing everyone's creativity.  Until next time, Stay Cool and Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday

Unicorn Challenge

SSS Monday Challenge - Fav Technique is coloring with Pencils

Ally's Angels

World Wide Crafters and Colorists

Crafter's Cafe

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue Create

Stamping Sensations

Corrosive Challenge

Outlawz Sunday Songs and Rhymes

Sweet Stampin' - Song "Sunflower" by Neil Diamond

 

Jan's Digi Stamps August 2023 Challenge

Hello and Welcome Back!  Today starts a new challenge month at the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge Blog.  Jan has released 3 new sets for this month:  Pretty Posies, Dog Days of Summer and Back to School.  For my team project today, I've used the Back to School Digi set and created a Clean and Simple card for my neighbors (who are husband and wife - and both teachers).

I've colored the image using Prismacolor Pencils and cut the focal panel using a stitched rectangle die from Kat Scrappiness.  I've kept the design simple, using only a black mat for contrast.  The sentiment is included in this digi set as well.

This is a sweet and nostalgic image, which Jan draws so well.  I, personally, never carried my books wrapped with a strap, and book bags were not in fashion when I was in school so I carried them in my arms.  At times, there were many books and I had great upper arm strength!  How about you?  Strap, Book bag or arms?

Stop by and visit us at the challenge, we love seeing everyone's creations.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

CD Sunday

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Krafty Chicks

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

A Place to Start

Crafting Happiness

Love to Craft

NBUS

A Perfect Time to Craft

Crafts Galore Encore

Inspiration Station Challenge #52 August 2023

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!  Today starts a new challenge month at The Inspiration Station Challenge Blog.  If you're not familiar with the challenge, the premise is to be inspired by the photo prompt provided and let your creativity flow.  Our photo prompt for August 2023 is:

Needless to say, everything in this photo spoke to me: the butterflies, the colors and the "out of focus" parts of the photo.  I've used a portion of a layering Butterfly Die Set from Altenew and embossing powers to create my card for this challenge.

To start, I stamped a panel with the Old Letter Background Cling Stamp from Simon Says Stamp, using gray ink from Catherine Pooler.  Using a stencil from Uniko, I've applied embossing ink through the stencil and heat embossed translucent Distress Embossing Powders in colors Twisted Citron, Wilted Violet and Wild Honey. 

I've die cut only the base layer of the layering Butterfly in black card, cut a piece of stiff honeycomb ribbon for the butterfly to rest on and adhered all to the card panel using Fabri-Tac Adhesive (due to the ribbon).  Lastly, I've added a pre-made sentiment strip from Simon Says Stamp, which has been popped on craft foam.

I hope you'll join us at the challenge.  The team and I always enjoy seeing how the photo inspires everyone's creativity. Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

A Place to Start

Creative Moments

Happy Little Stampers Stencil Challenge

Triple B

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Inkspirational

Crafty Calendar

Creative Fingers

Paper Dragonfly

Through the Purple Haze:  Punch, Girly, Floral

Creative Inspiration

Moving Along with the Times

Crafty Animals