I Love Free Images!

Don't you just love free things?  I know I do!  As an extremely broke person, getting anything free is amazing.

Well, Digistamps 4 Joy has a special deal going on right now.  The current challenge, until next Tuesday night, is Blue Water.  If you link a Blue Water themed card up to the challenge blog and either belong to or join the Digistamps 4 Joy group at Crafter's Digital Art Center (CDAC) and link your card to the Additional "Gift" discussion you will get one of three brand new, unreleased images for free!  I HAD to see what the new images looked like, so I created an extra Blue Water card for the group and received one of the new images.  Here it is!

Isn't that a sweet Easter basket?!?  I just love it!  Trust me, the other two brand new images are just as cute.  What are you waiting for?  Join the challenge, then link up your card to the discussion group for a FREE image!  =D

Friends

Good morning, blogland!  I hope you are all doing well.  I've been running around quite a bit, so this has to be a short post.  I'm here on this lovely Thursday to tell you about the new Digi Doodle Shop challenge.  This week we want to see cards about Friendship!

I used the adorable Irish Bear.  Isn't he a cutie?  I just love that little smirk!  You can find him here, in the St. Patty's section.  My sentiment is also from Digi Doodle Shop, part of the Irish Sentiments, found in the Word Art/Sentiments section.  The best part?  Digi Doodle Shop sentiments are FREE!  One of my favorite words. =D  Now, I know St. Patty's day is past.  However, this image was just too cute to pass up.  I guess it's never bad to get an early start for next year, right?  =D

Well, now you've seen my card, skip on over to the Digi Doodle Shop challenge blog to check out the amazing projects by the rest of the DT.  We have some new friends on the DT, so you definitely don't want to miss them.  Stop by and say hi!

Remember, you don't have to use a Digi Doodle Shop stamp, but if you do your entry will count twice.  Also, you can enter as many times as you want...as long as it's with a new card/project each time.

Don't forget our Newsletter Contest!  Click the picture below to head to the store and check out the details.

Don't forget the new special for March! Aren't these images fabulous?!?  They're only available for a few more days, so get them while you can!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and we'll see you soon!

Archiver's Crop, Night Three

***Warning - Picture Heavy Post***

Hey y'all!  Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.  As you might have noticed, there was no post for Archiver's Crop Night Two.  Turns out I went out with my hubby right after the crop last night, so you get two days worth of work in one post.  Woo hoo!  =D

First, I have a card for the CDAC Progressive Challenge challenge 14.

This adorable image is from A Day for Daisies. Isn't it great? I just love all of the stuffed animals.  It reminds me of when I was little and had a room FULL of stuffies.  It turns out I must have had babies on the brain this past weekend.  A third of the cards I made were either congrats for pregnancy or welcome baby. LOL 

Challenges:

CDAC Progressive Challenge: Round 14

This next card was created with an image from an artist I just found: Mayzy Art.  I saw this image over on my blogging buddy Trina's blog, and thought it was just awesome!  I had to get it immediately.  Trina did a better job coloring the image, but she rocks like that. =D

The front sentiment is from Create with TLC, and the inside sentiment is from Digi Doodle Shop. 

Challenges: 

There's Magic in the Air: Less is More

My next project was inspired by this fortnight's Digistamps 4 Joy challenge: Blue Water.  There's a deal going on in the Digistamps 4 Joy CDAC group that if you are a member of the group (or join), create a card for the current Blue Water challenge, link it up on the challenge blog, then link it to the group discussion you will get a free image!  It's a brand new image...I haven't even seen it yet.  I can't wait to see!  =D

It was made with a Digistamps 4 Joy image, one of my favorites actually.  I just love the fairies!  I really like playing with blue, so this challenge is a blast for me.  I hope y'all will play along!  The sentiment is from my head.  I think. I tried forever to find a good water quote, but couldn't really find anything.  I decided to go with this encouragement sentiment.

Challenges:

Digistamps 4 Joy: Blue Water (as a DT member, not actually entering the official challenge)

Now, this next card is one of my favorites from the weekend.  Sassy Studio Designs is having a DT call.  I just LOVE their images, so I decided to apply.  I'm really hoping it works out...wish me luck!

The image is (of course) from Sassy Studio Designs.  The flower was made with Paper Blossom punches.  I wish you could see the card in real life...the sparkle is just thrilling!  I can't wait until someone gets pregnant, hopefully with a girl, so I can give it to them!  =D

Challenges:

Ditzy-Craftymess: Baby or Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes: Spring Blossoms

Scrap-Creations: Flowers

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: Handmade Flowers

Pixie Dust Studio: Your Favorite Things (The color pink, Fiolex Girls font, lace, lily made with Paper Blossoms punch)

Sweet Sketch Wednesday: Sketch

 

My final card was created for my grandma's birthday in August.

The image is from Sassy Studio Designs.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it.  My grandma is a huge Wonder Woman fan, so she's going to flip.  I got to use one of my favorite fonts (SF Comic Strip Shaded), so that's always fun.  I'm really thrilled with how this card turned out.  It took forever to make; the stars on the blue paper were originally a faded yellow/white.  I wanted it to match WW's pants, so I colored every star with a white unibal pen.  It took AGES, but was well worth it!  =D

Whew!  Ok, well that's finally it!  I am so happy I was able to go to this weekend crop.  We had a blast and got a lot done.  Now I'm ready for sleep and to recharge my creativity.  =D  Thanks so much for sticking around to the end of the post and we'll be seeing you soon!

Archiver's Crop, Night One

Hey, y'all!  Today was the first day of our 3-day crop at Archiver's, and we had a blast!  I made some new friends and got lots done.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish most of my projects because I forgot my papers at home.  Whoops!  I'll have to remember those tomorrow!  Here's what I've finished so far...

For this card I used a Sassy Studio Designs image.  I just think it's so sweet!  She was colored with Copics, then paper pieces  I think next time I will let the bows be the same color as the dress and shoes.  It looks better as a contrast, but let me tell you, it was a PitA to cut out!  LOL

Challenges:

Sassy Studio Designs: Paper Piecing

Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Congratulations

This Easter card was created using a Simply B Stamp.  Isn't she adorable?  She was colored with Copics and a Spica marker. I also used my new nesting dies that I just LOVE.  (Plus, the eggs were made with a Spellbinders die.)  

Challenges: 

Sweet Stamps: Easter

Crafts and Me: Light Airy Spring Colors

PaperPlay: Spring Colors

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog: Spring into Spring

Crafty Catz: Spring is in the Air

Paper Pretties Monday: Easter Blessings

Paper Sundaes: Photo Inspiration

 

Ok, this next project was inspired by a challenge over at the Beyond the Burtonesque Dolls.  They challenged us to take something cute and goth it up.  Here's my something cute:

I know it's a cruddy picture, but it really was cute, I promise.  It's a light tan, with dark brown, red and white accents.  Unfortunately, I forgot my memory card so I had to save the picture to my camera.  Then, when I got home, I realized that I didn't have a cord to connect my camera to my computer, so I had to take a picture of the picture on the camera with my phone and email it to myself.  I looked online, but unfortunately couldn't find the correct box.

Here's how I gothed it up:

My stamp is from Simply B Stamps.  She was colored using Copics. The papers are from DCWV's Immortal Love collection (red) and my stash (purple).  Flowers and bats are also from my stash.  The quote is one I absolutely love by Dean Koontz.  I can't remember what book it came from, but I've remembered it for YEARS.

Challenges:

Haunted Design House: Can I Quote You On That?

Beyond the Burtonesque Dolls: Alter It - Goth Up Those Cuties

Scrapbook Sisters: Anything Goes

Forever Night: Purple, Red and Black

Whew!  Quite a long post!  Thanks for sticking around 'til the end. =D  We'll see you all tomorrow with more projects (hopefully!).

World Water Day

Hey y'all, happy Wednesday!  I don't know if you were aware, but World Water Day is tomorrow (March 22).  This international holiday is a way of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.  In honor of World Water Day, Digistamps 4 Joy's new challenge has a theme of....

BLUE WATER.

That means we want to see a paper craft project focusing on water, with blue being the predominant color.

I used the adorable image Alex Can Surf, which can be found here in the Summer Daze section of the store. 

  Remember, you don't need to use a Digistamps 4 Joy image to enter.  However, if you do, you get not one, not two, but THREE entries into the random draw!  Plus, you can enter three projects per challenge (as long as they are all new projects), so if you used a Digistamps 4 Joy image for all three....that would be NINE entries!!  Who can beat odds like that?  PLUS all the projects using Digistamps 4 Joy get entered into a separate contest: the DT's Choice award!  The DT will vote for their favorite and the winner will get a $6 gift certificate to the store.

Pop on over to the Digistamps 4 Joy challenge blog for inspiration from the rest of the DT and then get your craftin' on!  =D  Thanks for stopping by, and hopefully we'll be seeing you soon!

Challenges:
Sassy Studio Designs: Monochromatic
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days: Add a Sentiment
Copic Oz: Be Challenged (blue, boy, board)
Paper Playtime: For the Boys and Include a Sentiment
Sketch Saturday # 199: Sketch
 

People Are People

A very happy Thursday morning to you!  I hope y'all a having a fabulous week.  I know I am!  The weather is gorgeous (60-70's and sunny), I'm on the early shift at work so I still have time in the afternoon, I have a Copic coloring class on Saturday...everything's going peachy.  Plus, it's time for a new Digi Doodle Shop Challenge!  That's one of my favorite times of the week.  =D This week we want to see.........PEOPLE!  Girls, boys, women, men....anything goes as long as you show a person in your creation.

Meet Uncle Sidney!  Isn't he just precious?   I can hear the banjos now.  (Really, I can.  DH is listening to country radio in the next room...Rascal Flatts' new song, Banjo.)  Uncle Sidney is one of the Body Tots, which can be found in the Collectables section of the store.  While creating this card I was inspired by the sketch over at The Sweet Stop.  They're kind of hard to see in the picture, but instead of flowers I used a gold star outline stickers filled in with gold Stickles.

 

Well, now you've seen my card, hop on over to the Digi Doodle Shop challenge blog to check out the amazing projects by the rest of the DT.

Remember, you don't have to use a Digi Doodle Shop stamp, but if you do your entry will count twice.  Also, you can enter as many times as you want...as long as it's with a new card/project each time.

Don't forget our Newsletter Contest!  Click the picture below to head to the store and check out the details.

Don't forget the new special for March! Aren't these images fabulous?!?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and we'll see you soon!

Challenges:

The Sweet Stop: Sketch

A Couple Cards and Dinner

Hey y'all!  Just stopping by to share some news and some cards.  First up....the news!  Last Saturday I joined Weight Watchers (gotta get in shape for my California trip!), so I've been trying to eat healthier.  I decided that I was going to cook dinner tonight.  Now, I never, ever cook.  I never cooked growing up, never really learned how.  I might make a sandwich, or something in the microwave, but actually turning on the oven?  Nope!  I've lived in my current house for almost 2 years and have used the oven twice; once for Christmas cookies and once for a birthday cake.  Needless to say, I was quite nervous to make a dinner for DH and myself, but I really wanted to give it a shot.  I found a recipe for baked chicken with lemon, rosemary and parsley that sounded fairly easy.  After much "eww"ing and "ick"ing (raw chicken is gross!) I finally finished the meal.  It was fabulous!  I added some extra lemon and garlic salt, and am SO happy with how it turned out.  I just had to share.  =D

Ok, thanks for listening. Now let's get to the cards!  First up, I have a Mother's Day card I made for my Mema.  She's a huge sunflower fan, so I was happy to use this beautiful image by Pattie's Creations from the CDAC Progressive Challenge challenge 13.  

The image was colored with Copics.  The yellow paper is from Stampin' Up and the green paper, ribbon and sunflower sticker are from my stash.  (These poor sunflower stickers have been in my stash for AGES. I figured it was finally time to use them again.)  The sunflowers on the front of the card were created with a daisy punch and brown brads.  For inspiration, I used this wonderful sketch from Sketch N Stash.

 

Challenges:

CDAC Progressive Challenge #13: Spring is Coming

Sketch N Stash: Sketch

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days: Mother's Day

Crafts 4 Eternity: Special Mum

Crafty Catz: Mother's Day or a Special Lady

Papertake Weekly: For the Girls or Mum

Last year two of our friends invited my husband and me to their annual St. Patrick's Day party for this year.  We've been looking forward to it for ages (it's a HUGE bash) and it's finally almost here!  I decided to make a St. Pat's card for them to say thank you.

The image I used is from Sassy Studio Designs and was created specifically for their followers for Freebie Friday over at Paper Craft Planet.  Isn't she adorable?!?  I love all things Irish, so I know I'll get a lot of use out of this image. It was colored with Copics and a black glaze pen, then the beer foam and bubbles were covered with glitter.  The sentiment is by Create with TLC. (Paulette has a ton FABULOUS sentiments!) The holographic shamrock stickers are from Stampendous. The shamrock border on the bottom of the front is from reminisce. The wording on the inside is from Little Yellow Bicycle.  It's kind of hard to read in the picture, but it says "For each petal on the shamrock this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck & happiness for today and every day."  The papers are from my stash.  The card was inspired by this month's Sketch for You to Try over at i {heart} 2 stamp.

 

Challenges:

i {heart} 2 stamp: Sketch

Do You Stack Up: Go Green

Pixie Dust Studio: Show Us Your Irish

Card Crafter's Circle: Orange and Green/St. Patrick's Day

Dilly Beans: I Love Glitter

Pile It On: St. Patrick's Day and/or Shades of Green

Whew!  Ok, sorry for the extra long post!  I was feeling very creative today. =D  Thank you for stopping by, and we'll be seeing you soon!

New Header!

I just got a new header for my blog, and I love, love, LOVE it!!  Isn't it fabulous?!?  Isn't it ME?  (It matches my new watermark.) =D  I'm just so thrilled I had to do a quick post.  

A big, big thank you to Judy from Digi Doodle Shop for putting it together for me.  You're a rock star!

Interested in your own custom header?  Contact Judy through the store.  She just might be able to help you!  =D

Simply B Stamps Release Day

Hey y'all!  A few months ago I won a challenge over at Simply B Stamps. As my prize, I received a then-unreleased image to play with.  Not only that, but Betty asked if I would use it in a guest design for the official release!  After jumping up and down and squealing with glee for a bit, I recovered enough to tell her of course I would.  Well, that long-awaited day is here!  I am so excited to introduce you to Miss Rio Burton, the lastest in the new Burton Chibi release!

Isn't she just the cutest little thing?!?  I've already colored about 6 different versions of her, and I have been just DYING to show  you!  For this project, I decided to use her for a post-it note/scratch paper holder.  That way I can keep this creation near me as I craft. (I use a lot of scratch paper to plan my cards as I'm working.)  Miss Rio was colored using Copic Markers.  (I know you're just shocked. I NEVER use those. LOL)  My papers are all from various We R Memory Keepers paper packs.  (Actually, I'm not positive about the purple and brown diamond paper.  I think that's We R Memory Keepers, but I'll check later to make sure.) I stamped bats all over the blue paper to create a little more detail and interest.  The bats, skulls and spider stickers are all from my stash.

Well, thank you so very much for stopping by.  Now you should click on over to the Simply B Stamps blog to check out the amazing creations by the DT.  Their work is so incredible, you won't want to miss it!  Have you seen the rest of this fabulous release so far?  Not yet?  You can also find that at the Simply B Stamps Blog.  They're just the most fabulous little things!

Challenges

Beyond the Burtonesque Dolls: Alter It!

Catch the Bug: March Anything Goes

Challenge Page!

Hey y'all!  I'm just stopping by to give you a quick update.  I have added a new page to my blog called "You Could Be Wishing For a Challenge".  This is where I will keep a list of challenge blogs and their current challenges.  I know I like to have a centralized place to check where my cards fit in or get some inspiration without going to 100 + different blogs one at a time.  I thought this little list might be helpful.  I'm still in the process of creating it (currently I'm only through the "c"s of my challenge list) but feel free to check it out and let me know what you think!  I've included a link below, but find it any time by clicking on the tab under my header.  Thanks!

You Could Be Wishing For a Challenge

Spring Green

Hello, hello, hello!  Welcome to another fabulous Wednesday.  I love Wednesdays because it means we're half way to the weekend!  =D  This weekend is especially nice because it's "spring forward" for Daylight Savings Time here in (most of) the US.  I'm so ready for spring to come, even though we haven't had much of a winter. The sooner spring gets here, the sooner summer will be here and I do love summer.  That brings me to another thing I love about Wednesdays.....new Digistamps 4 Joy challenges!  This week we have a fun one for you: 

A New Dress for Ms Spring.

We want to see cards where the predominant color is GREEN.

I used the lovely Merry the Mermaid.  Isn't she fabulous?!?  I've been eyeing this image for a while and decided this would be the perfect challenge for her.  You can find her here in the Fantasy section of the store.  She was colored with Copics.  Then I used Spica markers to outline the bubbles and Stickles to outline her scales.  The sentiment I printed out on my computer.  Some of you Disney fans might recognize the lyric from one of my favorite Disney songs...Under the Sea.  (There's something about a singing crab with an island accent that I just love. LOL)  The main background paper is from Stampin' Up.  The dot paper strips are from my stash, as are the fish and the gems.  The seaweed transparency is from K & Co.

Now, you ready to play along?  Remember, you don't need to use a Digistamps 4 Joy image to enter.  However, if you do, you get not one, not two, but THREE entries into the random draw!  Plus, you can enter three projects per challenge (as long as they are all new projects), so if you used a Digistamps 4 Joy image for all three....that would be NINE entries!!  Who can beat odds like that?  PLUS all the projects using Digistamps 4 Joy get entered into a separate contest: the DT's Choice award!  The DT will vote for their favorite and the winner will get a $6 gift certificate to the store.

Pop on over to the Digistamps 4 Joy challenge blog for inspiration from the rest of the DT and then get your craftin' on!  =D  Thanks for stopping by, and hopefully we'll be seeing you soon!

Challenges:
Craft Your Passion: Anything Goes
Glitter Geeks: Song Title
Paper Pretties Monday: Going Green
Paper Sundaes: Green or Good Luck
The Pink Elephant TPE138: Lets See Those Layers
Sweet Stamps: Monochromatic

Pink and Green

Happy Thursday, y'all!  It's time for the newest Digi Doodle Shop challenge!  This week we want to see creations using Pink and Green.  Sounds pretty simple, right?  I love pink, and I love green, but I don't usually use them on the same card.  When I started with this project, though, I realized how much I love the two colors together!

I decided to make a treat box using the same principal as in the tutorial here. I was originally going to follow the tutorial exactly with the heart dies, but realized the image I had printed was too big for the heart dies.  So, I decided to go with scallops.  The image I used is Pumpkin Carriage, found in the Anniversaries & Weddings section of the store.  I colored it with Copics and Spica markers.

Well, now you've seen my little project, hop on over to the Digi Doodle Shop challenge blog to check out the amazing projects by the rest of the DT.

Remember, you don't have to use a Digi Doodle Shop stamp, but if you do your entry will count twice.  Also, you can enter as many times as you want...as long as it's with a new card/project each time.

Since it's March 1st, there are new specials in the store and lots of other fun things going on.  First of all.....Digi Doodle Shop is having a DT Call!  Do you LOVE Digi Doodle Shop images?  Would you like to work with them on a regular basis?  Would you like to work with utterly fabulous people?  =D  Head on over here to check out the details for the DT Call!  It's only open until March 15, so I hope to see you!

Also, Digi Doodle Shop is having a special Newsletter Contest!  Click the picture below to head to the store and check out the details.

Don't forget the new special for March! Aren't these images fabulous?!?

Last, but not least, check out some of the newest images!  Totally adorable.

Whew!  That was quite a bit of info.  =D  Thanks so much for stopping by and we'll see you soon!

Challenges:

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Love is In The Air