Saturday, August 30, 2014

Sketch Saturday Challenge #325

It is the 5th Saturday of the month so that means it is Anything Goes at Sketch Saturday - Choose any sketch from the Archive.  Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps.  The prize - a fabulous 7 digis of the winners choice.


I chose Sketch #304 which was designed by Lesley.
My Interpretation:
The Bugaboo image I used is Flower Teapot.  The patterned paper is Pebbles Seen and Noted.  The cardstock is PTI Smokey Shadow.

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Creative Corner Challenge - Anything Goes
Sister Act Challenge - Anything Goes
Sweet Pea Stampers - Lots of Layers
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings,
Deb

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Sketch Saturday Challenge #324

Happy Saturday!

We have a new sketch today at Sketch Saturday and our sponsor is 2 Cute Ink!  The prize is 2 images of the winners choice.

We have a great sketch today designed by Vannessa.
I used a new release from last month - Boy and Frog, such a cute image.  I figured if this little boy was catching frogs he was bound to be muddy.  It is my husband's birthday today so this is his card.  
I used several dies for this card.  The grass is an A|Muse die.  The cloud border is from Taylored Expressions.  I didn't want to cover the cloud paper so I went with vellum.  It has been some time since I used vellum and I'm seeing it a lot again.
Close Up

Supplies --
Digital Image: 2 Cute Ink Boy and Frog
Patterned Papers: MME Adventure
Cardstock: PTI Smokey Shadow
Copic Colors:  R02, E00, E09, E11, E13, E21, E33, E35, E37, E81, E85, B000, B91, B95, YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, 0 
Dies: A|Muse grass border, TE Cloud Border
Black Twine

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks - Lets get Masculine
4 Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
Little Miss Muffet - Anything goes
My Heart Pieces - Use digi
Copic Marker Europe - Anything Goes with Copic

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings,
Deb

Monday, August 18, 2014

A Unique Hop Continued

Happy Monday!


The Unique Blog Hop continues today with Chris and Mischelle's post.

I wanted to share a couple cards I started for last week and they just didn't come together until yesterday.  Above is a card using a stamp set I won on Chris' challenge blog back in May.  I am so rusty at stamping, I just could not get it to stamp cleanly, until yesterday and several ink and paper combinations.  I colored it with distress markers.  Papers are digital from Doodle Pantry.

I also haven't stitched on a card in months because my machine was giving me fits, stalling shortly after getting started.  I couldn't remember if I fixed it before I put is away.  I do recall cleaning and straightening the needle and re-threading it.  Turns out it was fine, so I must have fixed the problem. 

The second card uses the paper pad I won on Andrea's challenge blog in May.  {May was a good month}.
So next Unique blog hop stop ...

Chris Franco @ Blessings Ink
(New Amusing Challenge theme - Die Cuts)
and 


Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings
Deb

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Sketch Saturday Challenge #323


Happy Saturday!

We have a new sketch challenge at Sketch Saturday.  Our sponsor this week is Bunny Zoe's Crafts and the prize 10 pound gift certificate.


Alex designed this weeks sketch.
I used a set from Fun Stampers Journey called 'Fly Away' which was the June Stamp of the month.  It will be available again soon - September I think.  I was told SOTM sets will be available for purchase 3 months after the card kit. The first official FSJ catalog debuts in September too.

Close Up
Supplies --
Stamps: Fun Stampers Journey 'Fly Away'
Ink: VersaMagic Magic Red
Papers: A|Muse Cloud paper
Cardstock: PTI Blueberry Sky, Spring Rain, White
Dies: Taylored Expressions Cloud border, Lil Inkers Clouds
Sequins

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:
ScrapbookerPhD - 3 die cuts and add some sparkle
Seize the Birthday - ATG birthday
4 Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
DRS Designs - They say it's your birthday
Little Red Wagon - Happy Birthday

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings,
Deb

Monday, August 11, 2014

A Unique Blog Hop

Happy Monday!

Today, I have a unique post...it is a blog hop.  I was invited to join by Andrea Whisman.  I thought this would be an opportunity to share what I'm working on and also introduce my blog readers to some of my friends blogs too. 

Those of my friends who agreed to hop will post next Monday.  I have more details at the end of this post. 

Andrea Whisman posted her blog hop post August 4th.  I discovered her blog on Paper Playful. She has a challenge blog, Savvy Handmade Cards, with new challenges on Friday.  I entered her zoo animal challenge in May. My 2 Cute Ink 'Panda Love' card was chosen as the winner. :D  Thanks again Andrea!

1.  What am I working on? 

I'm working on quite a few things for August.  There are lots of birthdays this month, starting with my Dad's 91st birthday August 4th.  Here is his card.
Love this image.  It is a very detailed stamp and it stamped beautifully on the first try.  That is always SO exciting! The image is from Stamping Sensations 'Large Pasture Scene'. It was really fun to color. 

Here are some sneak peeks for my upcoming August Sketch Saturday posts...
We have some great sponsors this month!

My Style? What inspires me?

I love to make things so cardmaking has been my creative outlet over the years.  My style has certainly changed over the years from simply stamped, to watercolors, to colored pencil blended with mineral spirits and now Copic Markers.  I do love to color.

I'm attracted to images I can color - love cute images but also realistic and vintage images.  For the most part my style is clean and simple with not a lot of embellishments. Over the years, I've added many more layers to my cards and stitching and even distressed/vintage look.  I love trying new things and different styles.  
      
3.  Where did it all start?

I started stamping in 1997 when a friend gave me a SU! set from my birthday. That's where it all began.  In 2004, I joined The Angel Company after seeing the catalog at a craft expo.  I joined for the discount and large selection of craft supplies, but found the angel gatherings were even better.  How great to gather with hundreds of women from around the country who love the same hobby!

In 2007, I was asked to create some cards with the Stamp of the Month.  That was followed by a request to make samples for the catalog - what a dream. It was an awesome opportunity that continued through the last TAC catalog in 2011.  I loved every minute. 
Believe it of not, I was introduced to digital images by TAC in 2010.  I didn't know it then but it helped me transition after TAC closed.  Since then I've had the privilege to be a member of several design teams with super cute digital images - Whimsy and Stars Studios, Little Miss Muffet and 2 Cute Ink.

About 4 years ago, I starting sending monthly cards of encouragement to the homebound at our church.  I have so many images, oodles of supplies and this really helped to keep creating.  It gave me a monthly purpose.

Here is the May card I created for the homebound, using Nina B Vintage papers and Spring printables.
4.  How does your creative process work?

This past year, I have been trying to create with purpose more and more and give the majority of cards I make away.  Unlike the past 10 years or so, where I was much less intentional and accumulated very large collection of cards. I should really figure out what to do with them.

My creative process starts with an event - birthday, anniversary, get well etc... I choose an image.  I pair up the image with the patterned paper I plan to use. I pick out coordinating cardstock and pull markers or inks.  I measure the main image and sketch out what I was thinking for a layout.

I love using sketches and creating my own too.  That is why Sketch Saturday has been such a perfect fit for me.  Even the majority of challenge posts are now created for someone and eventually sent.  

~~~~~~~~~~
I've asked 2 friends to post next week (Aug 18)
to continue this Unique Blog Hop...

Chris Franco from Stamped Blessings
Chris and I met through TAC and have become friends over the years through e-mail and Facebook.  Since the close of TAC, Chris joined A|Muse Studio and started her own challenge blog - Amusing Challenge.  New challenge themes are posted Sundays with winners are announced on Mondays.

Mischelle Smith
Mischelle - the founder of TAC.  What can I say?  She took a bit of a break from crafting after TAC closed, but she is back. She is with Close To My Heart now and rocking it!  You can also see some of her stamp designs at Stamping Sensations - like the image below!
Using Beautiful Friendship


Hope you enjoyed this little hop.  Visit Andrea's post HERE.

August 18th, we will see what Chris and Mischelle are working on and what inspires them.  I'm so looking forward to it.

Blessings to you,
Deb

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Sketch Saturday Challenge #322

We have a new sketch challenge starting today at Sketch Saturday!  Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Simon Says Stamp, with a generous $25 gift certificate going to one lucky winner.

Here is sketch #322:
The image I used today is a stamp I won from a Great Impressions challenge last Fall.  I also used my Distress markers to color it.  It took me a couple tries managing the water was the tricky part.  I ended up using Potion #9 blending solution and that worked the best.


Supplies Card 1 --
Stamp: Great Impressions F548 Elephant with Kite
Ink: Palette Black
Patterned Cardstock: Echo Park Happy Days
Cardstock: PTI Pure Poppy
Distress Watercolor Cardstock 
Distress Markers: Barn Door, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Pumice Stone
Potion #9 Ink blending solution
Aqua Brush
Yellow Twine
Yellow Ribbon


My second card was actually the inspiration for the sketch this week.  I made it last Fall and never posted a write up on it.  It was made for my husbands co-worker who had surgery...an engineer who plays guitar.     
The image is a TAC image 'Hey Life' is the set and is available at Red Rubber Designs. Papers are Simple Story Awes{one}, one of my favs.

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings,
Deb

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Sketch Saturday Challenge #321

Happy Saturday!

We have a new sketch challenge and a new sponsor too this week at Sketch Saturday.  It is Laura's DT week and she asked a new artist to join us - Lee Holland Illustrations.  He has an etsy site with the sweetest images.


This week's sketch - designed by Laura
Lee gave us a couple images to use this week.  This is Elephant with Flower. Love how this one turned out.  I haven't felt much like coloring lately so it was good to get back to it.

Close Up


Supplies --
Digital Image: LHI Elephant with Flower
Patterned Papers:  Studio Calico Darling Dear
Cardstock: PTI Smokey Shadow and Vintage Cream
Copic Colors: E01, E50, E51, E53, R01, R02, R46, R56, R59, YG93, YG95, YG97, N1, N2, N3, N4, 0
PTI Border scallop die
Corner Round

You can see all the DT inspiration and enter our challenge HERE.  Hope you will join us this week.

Challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Girls - Anything Goes
Crafters Cafe - Use a Digi
ScrapbookerPhD - Use digi with Animal

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings,
Deb