The Paper Funday Challenge - Artistic Dreamer

Hello and Happy 1st Wednesday of the Month!  Today begins a new challenge month at The Paper Funday Challenges where the theme is Always Anything Goes with an Optional Twist; the Twist this month is Family.

We have 2 generous sponsors this month:  Dr. Digi House of Stamps and Colour of Love.  For my design team project, I've used the Artistic Dreamer digi stamp from Colour of Love. 

I've colored the image with Spectrum Noir Illustrator Alcohol Markers, fussy cut and set aside to work on the background.  I've die cut a panel using the Cube Cover Die from Altenew and ink blended varying shades of Blue Distress Oxide inks over top.  I splattered the panel with water and White Gloss Spray for a dreamy and ethereal look and feel.

The image has been mounted on craft foam for dimension, stitched die cut stars adorn the piece and the sentiment comes from the Blooming Brushes Stamp Set by Miss Ink Stamps.  Lastly, clear crystal gems have been added for additional sparkle and shine.

We invite you to join us this month and we hope to inspire you with our designs.  Until Next Time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

The Paper Shelter

SSS Wed Challenge

Word Art Wednesday

Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday

Penny's Challenges

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Color Challenge

Shopping Our Stash

Path of Positivity

Use Your Stuff - Inspired by the film "Paper Moon" with a young Tatum O'Neill and her father Ryan

CD Sunday

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

All Sorts

Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge May 2022 - PAWS-itivity

Hi Friends, I'm back to announce a new challenge month has started at Jan's Digi Stamps Challenges and Jan has released 2 new digi sets for the month of May:  The Aviator and PAWS-itivity. 

For my project today, I've used PAWS-itivity and designer papers from DCWV to create a standard sized A2 card for the challenge post.

Funny story about this card.  I had to stop writing this post to re-photo the card as I had forgotten to add the "whites" to the kittens' eyes....needless to say the image looked like a ZOMBIE kitty....with solid green eyes LOL,,trust me..much better with the whites of the eyes added.

Please join us this month at the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge blog.  Also, check out the May Sale at Jan's Shop, there are 2 sets on sale that would be great for the upcoming Father's Day holiday.

Until next time, Happy Carfting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

We Love Stamping - trying again and hopefully this will pass muster :)

Dream Valley

CD Sunday

Send A Smile 4 Kids

2 Crafty Critter Crazies

Crafty Animals

CCK Digital Stamps Challenge

Crafty Friends

Crafts Galore Encore

Inspiration Station Challenge #29 - Mother and Child

Hello to you and Happy Monday!  It's the 1st Monday of the month and that means the beginning of a new challenge round at The Inspiration Station.  The inspiration photo is just that...meant for inspiration and it's a lovely painting of a woman and child.

For those of us living in the States, Mother's Day is celebrated on the 8th of May this year.  This photo inspired me to create an art journal page in tribute to my dear Mother, who went to be with her Heavenly Father on April 4th of 2014.

There are a few things about my mother in this journal page.  The lady at the bottom reminds me of my mother; with the dark hair, hispanic features and skin tone.  

My Mother had my Senior High School picture on display; hung on her bedroom wall.  She and my Father paid a lot of money in 1982 to have an entire series of photos taken of me.  She told me she wanted photos like this of all her children because neither she nor my father graduated high school.

My mother was an avid gardner and loved her flowers.  She could grow anything...she had large flower beds and a huge veggie garden every year.  Nothing tastes as good as a home grown tomato or smells as sweet as fresh cut flowers from the garden.  

This large bloom reminds me of some that she planted and after she fed them Miracle Grow, they grew larger than life.

There were times in my young adult life when my mother wasn't exactly my friend..or that's how I saw it.  Actually she was always my friend, my support, my cheerleader, my inspiration and my hero.  When I married and started having children, she was always a phone call away.  When I was scared to give my 1st born his 1st bath....my Mom came to the rescue...and taught me that it was ok to get him wet and that he wouldn't break.  I miss her every day and I'm thankful to have had such a caring Mother.

Please visit us at The Inspiration Station and join in.  We hope you'll be inspired by the photo prompt and our projects for this challenge round.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!  And Happy Mother's Day!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Cupcake Inspirations

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

613 Avenue

We Love 2 Create

Outlawz Saturday PAM

Alphabet Challenge

Creative Fingers

Paper Babe

Krafty Chicks

Creatalicious

Crafting Happiness

Love to Scrap

The Four Seasons Challenge May 2022 - Spring

Hello Friends and Happy May Day!  Today is the 1st of May and that signals a new challenge month at The Four Seasons Challenge Blog.  We have 1 more month of Spring inspiration before we change seasons and move into Summer.  The Inspiration Board contains lovely inspiration and is provided for exactly that....Inspiration:

For my design team project, I was inspired by the purple flowers and since purple is my favorite color, I knew I just had to create a card featuring this lush color.

Using my new Sweet Blooms Border Hot Foiling Plate by Becca Feeken for Spellbinders, I've foiled the image with gold and colored with alcohol markers.  I've trimmed and mounted the panel on craft foam and attached to a white mat that has been embossed with the same hot foiling plate.

The sentiment is from a package of stickers that I received in a card swap, the enamel dots are from Kat Scrappiness.  Please join us this month at The Four Seasons Challenge, we hope to inspire you with our designs and would love to see yours.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Avenue 613

Dare 2 B Artsy

Dragonfly Dreams

Stamping Sensations

Crafting Happiness

NBUS

Pearly Sparkles

Scrapping 4 Fun

QKR Stampede

A Perfect Time to Craft

Classic Design Challenge

Alphabet Challenge

Not 2 Shabby Moo-tiful Buddies

Hello and Happy Saturday!  Today I'm sharing a fun Birthday card created using the Not 2 Shabby Moo-tiful Buddies Stamp Set.

I've colored the image with Spectrum Noir Illustrator Alcohol Markers and the papers are from the Birthday Essentials paper pack by Kat Scrappiness.

The images were fussy cut, popped on craft foam and touched with Wink of Stella.  The oval focal die cut was also embossed with a birthday themed embossing folder.  Lastly, sequins were added for sparkle and shine.

Pop over to the Not 2 Shabby Shop to pick up this set or one of the other terrific sets on offer.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

All Sorts

Gem of a Challenge

Polkadoodles

Creative Friday

Outlawz Festive Fridays

Krafty Chicks

The Paper Shelter

SSS Wed Challenge

Addicted to Stamps and More

Penny's Challenges

Elliebelle's Corner

Colour Crazy Challenge - Polkadoodles

Hello Crafty Friends and Welcome to Friday!  YAY...today begins a new bi-weekly challenge round at The Colour Crazy Challenge and our sponsor is the ever popular Polkadoodles!

For my design team project, I've created a card featuring the sweet Honeypie Just Lovely Digital Stamp. 

I've colored the image using Spectrum Noir Illustrator Markers, the papers are from the Recollections Blush and Mint 6x6 paper pad and the die cut sentiment is from Creative Expressions.

Honeypie has been fussy cut and popped on craft foam for dimension.  The focal panel was die cut with a fancy scalloped die from Creative Expressions and adhered flat to the mat.  Lastly, sequins were added for additional interest and shine.

Join us over at The Colour Crazy Challenge Blog!  We'd love to have you.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

*Challenges Entered:

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Krafty Chicks

AYLI :  I wouldn't say I have a favorite layout but I do use sketches quite frequently

Cardz 4 Galz

Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge

Penny's Challenges

Word Art Wednesday

Digi Choosday

Passion for Markers

Varada Sharma Designs Fuchsia and Hummingbird

Hello Friends, I'm back with a card created using the new Fuchsia and Hummingbird digital stamp from Varada Sharma Designs.  This image and sentiment are part of the larger Blooming for You April 2022 Release.

This image is so gorgeous and was an easy color using my Spectrum Noir Illustrator Alcohol Markers.  I've kept the card design sweet and simple; deciding on one layer with a black mat behind before adhering to a cardbase of 110 lb. Neenah Solar White Classic Crest card.

The sentiment is part of the Framed, which is another newly release set by Varada Sharma.  Lastly, I've added the lightest of the Purple Nights enamel dots by Kat Scrappiness to finish off the design. 

Please visit the Varada Sharma Shop for more lovely digital sets.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Use Your Stuff

Get Creative

Path of Positivity

Colouring in Scrapland

CD Sunday

INTAAS

Outlawz Sunday Songs & Rhymes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Corrosive Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams

Avenue 613

All Sorts

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Happy Monday!  I trust your weekend was lovely and I hope you had some Crafting Time.  Today begins a new challenge week at Pammie's Inky Pinkies with the theme of Anything Goes.  Our Sponsor this round is the generous CAS_ual Friday's and for my design team project, I've used the stamp set "Floating" with a lovely hot air balloon but I fear this set may now be retired.  Never fear however, CAS_ual Friday's has lots of lovely sets on offer.

To start, I created a background using Dylusions Ink Sprays on watercolor card.  I spritzed the card with water to make the paper moist and then sprayed with 2 coordinating colors of Dylusions Ink Sprays; a blue and green.

After completely dry, I treated the watercolor panel with antistatic powder, then heat embossed the image and sentiment using fine detail white powder.  To finish the design, I've added White Rhinestones from Kat Scrappiness.  

Please visit the Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge Blog and share your lovely projects with us.  Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends

Corrosive Challenge

Avenue 613

All Sorts

Gem of a Challenge

Shake It Up with Kat Scrappiness

Hello and Happy Saturday!  I hope your plans for the weekend include some fun; we are attending a family wedding, looking forward to spending the night away from home and visiting with family members we don't get to see that often.

Today Kat Scrappiness is releasing some awesome Dimensional Shaker Card Elements and Stencils.  Please visit the Kat Scrappiness Blog for all the team inspiration. 

For my Design Team projects, I've created 2 shaker cards using 2 of the new the dimensional shaker card elements and stencils.  My 1st card uses a Rose Shaker Kit and the Falling Hearts Stencil.  This is a standard A2 card (4.25 x 5.5) so you can see how big this particular shaker kit is.  The Shaker element is packaged as unfinished hardboard and includes the acetate with dimesional craft foam.  

I've painted my elements using acrylic paint; I've heat embossed gold on this one.  I've also ink blended through the Falling hearts stencil with inks and Cosmic Shimmer Frosty Dawn Glitter Paste. 

For my 2nd shaker card, I've used the Hourglass Element to create a Birthday Card.  Using the same techniques as the first, I've painted the hardboard with acrylic paint and stenciled through the Falling Starlights Stencil with inks and Cosmic Shimmer Frosty Dawn Glitter Paste.  This card is also a standard A2 size.

Kat Scrappiness has released several other Shaker Kit Elements; I'm only showcasing 2 so you will want to check out the team inspiration on the Blog HERE for examples of other shaker kits.  On the Blog, there is a Giveaway and 1 Random Winner will be picked from comments left on the blog post.

Also, today at 12 noon EST (USA), the team is hosting an Instagram Hop with loads more inspiration using the stencils and shaker kits.  Please visit the Kat Scrappiness Instagram Page HERE and start where you see this Hop Graphic.

Thanks so much for visiting today and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Card Challenges Entered:

Rose Shaker:

Birthday Shaker:

All Sorts

You Light Up the World!

Hello and Happy Wednesday!  Today, I'm sharing an Art Journal page I've created using images from Art by Marlene.  It's been a very long time since I've had a play and created a page for my journal, so I decided to get inky and create something colorful.

I cut a 5x7" piece of heavy watercolor card so I could adhere it into my journal as I typically do not use the actual pages in the journal.  The pages of the journal can handle the products but I prefer to use a separate piece of card and adhere to the journal page.  

I've colored the panel with Dylusions Ink Sprays to create the base color and after completely dry, I started adding stamped images using Ranger Archival Inks in black and coordinating colors to the background.

I've splattered the dried panel with White and Black Acrylic sprays and after dry, I started adhering fun images from Art by Marlene, using Matte Gel Medium on top and bottom.  I wanted the images to become non porous so I could use my PITT Artist Markers later to add highlights and shading. 

To finish up my art journal page, I've added a black border and some white highlights to the images with a White Gelly Roll Pen.  I hope to make more art journals in the future, it was so nice to just have a play with my inks and mixed media products.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

** Challenges Entered:

Make the Cards

River of Creativity

Digi Choosday

Outlawz Color Challenge

Pearly Sparkles

Art Journal Journey - inspired by the song You Light Up My Life by Debbie Boone

Challenge Up Your Life

ARTastic Challenge

We Love 2 Create

Fairy and Unicorn