Friday, July 29, 2011

It's Doodle Time and Yes I Finished It Ladies!!!


I did it - I finally finished this card!!!  Make it Crafty Challenge Blog is celebrating Make It Crafty's first birthday with five different challenge categories, one of which is to merge as many of their digital images into one stunning project.  When I first saw the challenge at the beginning of July, I quickly purchased more digis from this creative site, and then spent an evening merging both old purchases and new into this final project.  I managed to get 11 different images into this little ole card.  Anyone who saw the uncolored image said that it reminded them of the doodle art posters we used to color when we were teens ( now I'm aging myself! ).  So over the last few weeks I have spent a lot of hours coloring with my Copics, and this is the end result.  Now that I'm finished it's time to enter the challenge, plus maybe a few more, so here's the list:

Make It Crafty Challenge - Merge as many MIC digital images into one scene
Delightful Sketches - Dog Days of Summer
Digi Doodle Shop - #69 Anything Goes
Crafting for all Seasons - #6 Beach/Ocean
Paper Sundaes - #79 Beachy or Summer
Craft Your Days Away - #25 Summertime

Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine!!!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Tumbling Along

Wow, it's been a busy few days and I am finally getting the chance to enter a card into some challenges!  Cuddly Buddly has a big announcement this week -
  
"We are truly honored and delighted to let you know that the experienced and highly talented coloured pencil artist, Karen Middleton has joined us and that we’ll be releasing eight beautiful illustrations from her Enchanted Wishes collection as digi stamps on Thursday 11th August."

I received Tumble Angel to play with this week and here is the finished card!!!


Isn't she just the sweetest little angel?!!!!
The image was colored with Copics and cut using my latest purchase - Spellbinders Grand Circles Nestabilities.  Love the size of the grands as they allow you to make all the elements of your card - as you can see here, even the card base was cut with them!
The design paper was from my stash and was embossed with Craft Concepts embossing folder Starry Night, and then I rubbed white ink over the embossing to highlight the stars.  Pearls from Kaiser Craft, ribbon from my stash and sparkle was added to the card using Sakura's Gelly Roll Clear Star Pen.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
The Outlawz Copic/Promarker challenge - July 22 Things with Wings
Simon Says Stamp - Shaped Cards
Lexi's Creations - #45 A Shaped Card
Ohh la la Creations - #85 Circles
The Crafty Pad - #131 Embossing Heat or Dry
Little Claires Designs - #11 Things with Wings
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - #13 Oh So Girly

Make sure to check out Karen Middleton's digital images at Cuddly Buddly!!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Bee-tiful Birthday Wishes

I hope everyone had a great day today - this post is a little late, but my coloring friends just left after a wonderful night of coloring and chatting.  It was nice to finally get together, as it has been a while with everyone away for holidays.
This bright colorful card features a Cuddly Buddly digital stamp from Picture Kitchen Studio and is entitled "Cupcake Bee".  The image is colored with Copics, then highlighted with Stickles on the wings, diamond glaze on the cherry and around the flame of the candle, and micro beads on the sprinkles.  The image was cut and matted with a Spellbinders die, and the edges were inked and pierced.  The dp's are from an older Basic Grey paper pad called Lime Rickey, ribbon, button and sentiment are from my stash.
Challenges that I am entering this card into:
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - #33 Sentiment to make someone smile

Thunder and lightning are on the way, so it's time to go cuddle with my two shaking dogs!!  Have a great evening everyone!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Attitude Anyone!!


It's Sunday so that means it's time for the next Dream Valley Challenge.  For Challenge #12 we want to see a "Surprise" - a hidden thing, flap or pop up, etc and the sponsor this time is Digi's with Attitude, so the design team was asked to work with a DWA image.  I have choosen to work with "Gina Giraffe" who I colored with Copics, and then cut out with deckle scissors, and double mounted onto two shades of brown cardstock.  The dp paper is from Bo Bunny's Zoology collection, and the film strip ribbon is from Tim Holtz Idea-ology line of products.  The Film Strip Sentiment and die are both from Whimsy Stamps, and when you move the copper photo trim you will find the hidden sentiment that I stamped and hand wrote.


Come and join in the fun and win a great prize!!!  See you there!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
2 Sisters Challenge - #49 Anything Goes
CES Challenge - #46 Humour/Funny
Stampin for the Weekend - #13 Paws for Thought - Anything with 4 legs
Craft Us Crazy - #13 Anything Goes
Southern Girls Challenge - #23 Happy Birthday


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Mr and Mrs

Time for another challenge at Cuddly Buddly Let's Keep Creating! Digi Challenge!!  This time Team Buddly design team member Wendy has chosen the theme of "Add a Charm".  For this challenge I got to work with the adorable digital images by Wee Stamps artist Sylvia Zet, just one of seven fabulous digital artists that Cuddly Buddly offers.  Cuddly Buddly is a massive on-line store that carries everything a crafter could need or want,  and the winner of the weekly challenges receives a gift certificate to spend in the store.  If you haven't already checked out Cuddly Buddly you should head right on over there!!


This is my card using Mr and Mrs Teddy Bear from Wee Stamps.  I colored the bears with Copics and then used Blender solution misted on to terry cloth to make the fur.  The front of the card has the arched window cut out from it, and mosaic tiles to frame the shape.  Mr and Mrs Teddy Bear were cut out and mounted on the inside of the card.  The ribbon and bow holds two charms - the word Together and a pewter heart from a PEI store that demos how it was made.  Both the design paper and the sentiment come from Kaiser Craft's Le Chateau collection.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Bee Crafty - #52 Wedding Wishes
4 Crafty Chicks - #47 Wedding
Crafty Sentiments - Happy Ever After

Have a great day everybody!!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Dream the Impossible

Starting in August I will be on the design team for The Paper Shelter, so I've been playing with a few of their cute digital images.  This is "Whimsical Dragon" who was colored with copics.  The seam binding was sprayed with different colors of glimmer mist, and the background night sky has twinkling stars made with Stickles.  The dream sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps.
I am entering this card into this weeks Cupcake Craft Challenges whose theme is Wish Upon A Star.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Summer Sweet Sarah

If you haven't guessed by now, I love Crissy Armstrong images.  I have quite a collection of stamps and digitals all created by Crissy, and this card features a digital from Whimsy entitled "Sweet Sarah".  This sweetie is colored with Copics, cut with a Spellbinder die, and mounted on to 1 of the 2 design papers used on this card.  The dp is from Basic Grey Kioshi collection, the butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch which was glittered, and both the butterfly body and the bottom edge of the card feature pearls made with Viva Decor pearl pens.  The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley, and the flowers are from the local big box craft store.  And yes Linda, those are your favorite YR colors on her dress!!! ( Thanks for the tip ).
I am entering this card into Sundays With Crissy dt call and the following challenges:
One Crazy Stamper - July Recipe - 1 image, 2 dps, 3 embellishments
Ladybug Crafts - Summer Birthday
Colour Me Creative Copics Challenge - Favorite Copic Technique
Copic Creations - #54 Pastel Colors
Phindy's Place Challenge - #63 Pretty Pastels


Here's a close up of the copic technique I used - using the colorless blender to make dots on her dress!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Time for Howling!!

This is one of my all time favorite images - probably because I am a dog lover ( but don't tell my two cats that )!!  This is a digital image by artist Crissy Armstrong for Whimsy Stamps entitled "Dog Song" colored with Copics, and even the sentiment comes from a digital set from Whimsy.  I made the flower embellishment from some left over paw print ribbon, and then accented it with another paw print ribbon to make the leaves.  I am entering this card into Sundays with Crissy dt call and the following challenges:
Diecut Dreams - #94 Animal Antics
KB Cute Monday - #22 Use a digital stamp
Corrosive Challenges - #125 Let the Music Play
My Sheri Crafts - #64 Faithful Companions
Tiffany Doodles = TD14 All Creatures Great and Small

This card won the following award:

Sunday, July 17, 2011

My First Black & White Card


Okay, this card was a challenge for me as I had never done a monochromatic card with just greys, with the addition of one color for some punch!!
This dramatic little lady is "Wednesday's Child" from Mo's Digital Pencil and except for the turquoise fur, the entire image was colored with Copic greys - C's, W's and T's.  The image was cut with Spellbinders Label 2, and then layered with black and white cardstock.  It's really hard to tell but the black background of the card was embossed with a Cuttlebug Folder.  A Martha Stewart punch was used as a border on the bottom of the card, as well as an accent inside the card.  I searched through all my stamp and digital sentiments, but couldn't find one that I felt suited the image, so I created my own.  Hope you like it!!
Challenges I am entering this card into:
Mo's Digital Challenge - #91 Black & White with one contrasting color
Birthday Sundaes - #18 Anything Goes Birthday Card
Challenge Up Your Life - #48 Tent Card
Sir Stampalot Challenge - July Anything Goes

Saturday, July 16, 2011

A Christmas Fairy

Another Mo's Digital Pencil image - this one is "Holly, A Christmas Fairy" colored with Copics, double matted and layered onto an older christmas dp from Basic Grey that was punched with a Martha Stewart border punch.  Ribbon and charm are from my stash, pearls were made with a Viva Decor Pearl Pen, and I did a little bit of faux stitching around the edge of the card.  Oh yeah, the water globe has a shimmer to it, but unfortunately it didn't photograph that well.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - #23 Christmas in July

Friday, July 15, 2011

Bee-tiful Friend

Summer has finally arrived - the sun is shining and it's suppose it be warm, warm, warm for the next week!!!!!!  This card seems to be celebrating this great weather.
This cute digi image is from Cuddly Buddly, and is called Thankful Bee from Picture Kitchen Studio.  I colored the bee with Copics, flocked the black parts of the body, glittered the wings and added touches of Twinkling H2O's to the flower centers.  The border is a Martha Stewart punch with pearls emphasizing the centers, and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Paper Play - Things With Wings
KB Cute Monday - #21 Something Cute
Make It Monday - #45 Anything Goes
The Outlawz - July 11 Greeting Challenge
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes

Check out the new challenge this week at Let's Keep Creating Digi Challenge at Cuddly Buddly and join in the fun!!!
Yeah - this card won!!!


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

You Give Me Wings

Wooohooo, two cards in one day!!  This pretty little fairy is from artist Crissy Armstrong's collection by Whimsy Stamps and is entitled "Fairy Day Dreams".
She is stamped on Copic Xpress- it paper with Memento ink, and then colored with Copics.  Her wings were glittered with Star Dust Stickles, the image was cut out with Spellbinders Classic Scallop Circles small, and then popped up with pop dots.  The dp is from one of my favorite 6 x 6 paper pads - Prima's Fairy Flora and ribbon is from my stash.  Sentiment is from Kraftin Kimmie and was cut out with a Spellbinders label.

I am entering this card into Sundays with Crissy dt call
and Stampin for the Weekend Challenge #12 Wings & Things.

Moments filled with Wonder

A Christmas card now!!!  When the sun is suppose to be shining in the blue sky!!  Yes, I decided to make a small dent in the amount of Christmas cards that I make every year!!  And when I saw the announcement on Lili of the Valley today, I knew it was time to get to work ( for those of you who haven't heard, starting next week they will start previewing the new Christmas stamps ).


This image is "Christmas Candle" and the card uses this weeks wonderful LOTV challenge sketch by Donalda.  I used Copic markers to color the image and the airbrushed night sky, and for the first time I tried using the candlelight glow for the light source ( note- the glow on her coat, face and hair ).  I used Spellbinders Label 18 to cut the image out.  All of the gorgeous paper is from Bo Bunny's Midnight Frost collection from last year.  Clear acrylic snowflakes have added glitter on them, and both the image and sentiment are bordered with Star Dust Stickles.

Challenges that I am entering this card into are:
Lili of the Valley - #104 Sketch by Donalda
The Outlawz - Monochromatic Blues
Card Cupids - Monochromatic Card
CMC Copic Challenge Group - #22 Favorite Copic Technique
Craft Us Crazy - #12 Christmas in July
Moving Along with the Times - #106 Christmas in July
Stamping with the Dragon - Christmas in July

Monday, July 11, 2011

Second post today - scroll down for the News!!

A second card that I finished late last night, featuring another Mo's Digital Pencil Image.  This sweet image is called "Sisters" and is colored with Copics, I even added small flowers to the fabric on the little seat to match the background paper.  I cut and embossed the image with Spellbinders Label 11, and then sanded the entire image to give it a more vintage feeling, also rubbing Antique Linen Distress Ink over the image.  The two dp's are from the Gossamer collection by Memory Box, the pink layer was sanded and inked, the background floral paper was crumpled, edges were distressed and also inked with Antique Linen. Pearls were made with a Viva Decor Pearl Pen, lace is from Prima, and the sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Mo's Digital Challenge - #90 Vintage with distressing & Lace
Crafty Catz - #90 A Vintage Look
ABC Challenge - Y is for Yesterday - Vintage

Gloomy Weather but More News!!

Yes, it's another day of clouds and rain here - it's been so wet here this year that you fear going outside in case the mosquito's carry you away!!  They even came out last week when we had a couple of days of sunshine - all you have to do is walk outside and it's a feeding frenzy!!  Lots of thunderstorms lurking around Calgary today, which will mean that both dogs will be trying to hide under my desk again.
I have more news today - as of August 1, I will be joining the design team at The Paper Shelter for six months of coloring fun with their wonderful digital images and digital paper.  My first challenge will be as a part of Team B, so I will have a card posted on their blog on August 10th.  If you haven't seen the designs that they offer you need to check it out today - you won't be disappointed!!
Here's a card using one of their images entitled "Steam Punk Girl " -

The image was colored with Copics, and then fussy cut and mounted onto Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante designer paper collection.  The metal embellishments are from either Tim Holtz or 7 Gypsies ( from my stash ).  The sentiment is part of an older MSE stamp set entitled Card Backs.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
One Stitch at a Time #70 Anything Goes
Stamp Insanity #SISC66 Anything Goes
Scrapalicious #10 Use Turquoise


Saturday, July 9, 2011

Princess??!!!

Time for Challenge #11 at Dream Valley and this time the design team was asked to come up with a project for a "Summer Theme".  I had just won this sexy "Beach Baby Jayme" from Whimsy Digital Stamps and knew that this was the image I wanted to play with.  I colored her with Copics, and made her nice and slick with a coat of Judikins Diamond Glaze, because after all she is a frog!!!  The dp is from Fancy Pants Beach Babe collection, as is the sentiment ( and when you check out the Dream Valley Challenge blog you'll see that great minds think alike - another member of the dt used the same paper ).  Ribbon and embellishments are all from my stash of course - someday my stash may run out, but I think I'm safe for at least a few years yet - LOL!!!
Color Recipe
Frog - YG21, YG23, YG25 and her lips R89
Swimsuit - B00, B02, B04/ R81, R83, R85/ RV000, RV00, RV02/ YR12, YR16, YR18
Umbrella - Y11, Y13, Y15, Y19/ E55, E57, E59
Ground - C0, C1
Sky - B0000

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
2 Sisters - #47 Summer Fun
Crazy 4 Challenges - #C4C95 Summer Themed
Totally Gorjuss - #88 Summertime
Card Makin' Mamas - #24 Summertime

I am also entering this card into Sundays with Crissy dt call. 



Hope that someone is enjoying summer weather somewhere, and don't forget, check out Dream Valley Challenges and play along with us this fortnight.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Team Buddly's First Challenge

Woo Hoo, it's time for Team Buddly to show their first stunning projects for Cuddly Buddly's Let's Keep Creating! Digi Challenges.  The theme for Friday July 8th Challenge #2 is "Lace & Flowers".  Each week the design team members use a digital image from one of seven talented artists, and this week I am featuring one of Eline Pellinkhof images entitled "Baby in Flowerpot".
The image was colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped up on the card front.  The designer paper is from My Mind's Eye Stella Rose Mabel collection.  The flowers are from Prima, pearls are from Kaiser Craft and the lace is from my stash.  The sentiment is a digital from Whimsy Stamps.

Color Recipe:
Skin - E0000, E000, E00
Cheeks - R20
Flower pot - YR12, YR14, YR18
Largest Flower - YR16, YR18, E07
Shirt & Flower - BG11, BG13, BG15
Two small flowers - BG10, BG11, YG00 & YG0000, YG00
Stem - YG00, YG01, YG03

Check out Cuddly Buddly and leave some love for all of the designers, and then get coloring and enter the challenge!!!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Jack and the Beanstalk

My mojo is returning, and the fever and chills seem to have finally passed, so it's time to enter another challenge or two.
This little boy card features "They Grow So Fast" by Mo Manning.  Challenge #89 at Mo's Digital Challenge is a project inspired by a book or story, and I loved Jack and the Beanstalk as a child.  The image was colored with Copics, dp's are from Fancy Pants Beach Bum collection, and I used an old EK Success leaf punch to add some dimension.  The sentiment was handwritten, and Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum was stamped with another old tool from Provo Craft.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Mo's Digital Challenge #89
Bearly Mine #14 Anything Goes
The Outlawz Copic/Promarker Challenge July 1 Male Theme
The sun is shining, and I hope everyone is enjoying the summer weather.  I'm off to bake in the sun and pull some weeds.

P.S. This card was featured on the The Outlawz Challenge Blog!!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Countdown Begins!

Sorry I have been absent for a few days - Friday I was hit with a flu bug so my long weekend was spent in bed!  Still feeling dizzy and tired, but I need to color, it's an addiction, so here's my card for this weeks challenge at The Paper Shelter - #20 Anything Goes. 
There are only three more days until the Calgary Stampede starts with the parade on Friday, and this year the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are officially starting the parade, so all the Royal followers are starting to camp out already!!  So my card this week has a tiny bit of a western theme to it.  The image from The Paper Shelter is entitled "Victorian Beauty" and was colored with Copics.  Both the image and the dp mat were cut with Spellbinders Reverse Wonky Rectangles.  The floral dp is from 7 Gypsies Conservatory Collection, and the card front dp is from Cosmo Cricket Wanted collection.  Sentiment and image stamped on corners are from Waltzingmouse Back In The Saddle set.  Ribbon with beads was purchased from a large hobby store, the perfect embellishment to finish off this card.