The Male Room Guest Designer

How lucky am I that I was invited to be a Guest Designer for The Male Room for their final challenge of the year.  The theme is Christmas or Seasonal Greeting.

On Friday, my work day ended early, which left me some extra time for Christmas shopping.  One of the stores I visited had a rhinestone covered stag head on display which inspired me to make this card.

The stag image is a digi that I purchased from www.misskatecuttables.com for another project.  The sentiment is stamped and heat embossed.  The final touches that I added were twine and snowflakes. The chevron paper is by Echo Park.  I hope you are inspired to join in the fun!

Safehaven Crafts

As promised, here are some pictures of items I made for the Safehaven fundraiser yesterday.  The first two are upcycled glass angels.  I had a friend send me a pic as she wants one for her flower bed; she will be getting one for Christmas.  They are pretty easy to make; it takes the right glue and a little patience.  Using glassware that was once owned by a relative would be a great memento.

This is my friend Kari, who is our fearless leader for these events putting together the reindeer gift bags.  She wants me to design some snowman bags.

Two samples of upcycled books I made to use as home decoration.  The first book was created using the chalk transfer technique and a Sharpie Paint Pen.   I used the technique featured here by Little Bit Funky for the second book.  The image was printed in brown and looked perfect without the ink overlay I was planning to do.

I will be linking my angels and books to Funky Junk Interiors.

Safe Haven Fundraiser

Hello!  I thought I would share a project I have been working on with some friends of mine.  They are passionate in their support of a local no-kill animal shelter and I have been helping them with fundraising.  We spent a Sunday morning making 19 pet sympathy cards after eating brunch.  They especially enjoyed using the Big Shot and playing with the Tim Holtz inks to create the watercolor backgrounds.  The die is from Paper Smooches and sentiment is by Our Daily Bread Designs.  I have other

Tomorrow is a craft show that I made some stuff to sell for Safe Haven that I will share in a future post.  I also designed a Make n Take Gift Bag activity based upon a creation that can be found here.  I am glad that I made a sample as it allowed me to tweak it.

Have a creative weekend!

Nerdy Pencil

A quick share of the card I made with the Nerdy Pencils digi from 2 Cute Ink.  Heidi's digis are generally perfect for fussy cutting, so I decided to take advantage of it for this card.  If you sign up on her Facebook page, you can get a free digi sent to you monthly.

 

Deedee's Digis

Good Morning!  I had the day off yesterday and took advantage of it by finishing my card for the current challenge at Deedee's Digis.  I decided to fussy cut the image out which ended up being challenging.  The sentiment is from her Autumn Blessings set.

 

W2SB & CSSC #7

I needed a little project to take my mind off some negative work things so making a card seemed like just the right medicine.  The theme at Words 2 Scrap By is "Book Lovers" and Leslie's new sketch is out at The Crooked Stamper.  I have always been a lover of books (probably why my home is cluttered with them).  I still remember when I discovered Pearl S. Buck's books in the school library. 

The image by Tori Beveridge was a freebie several years ago.  It is hard to see, but I popped the spine for a little more interest and added some brads.  Thanks for stopping by!

Deedee's Digis

Here is my card for this month's progressive challenge at Deedee's Digis.  I made this card a couple weeks ago, but forgot to post it.  I am happy that they decided to extend the deadline this month. 

 

CSSC #6 meets Cards in Envy

It has been quite awhile since I have played in The Crooked Stamper Sketch Challenge or Cards in Envy challenges and feel like I have been missing out.  I started with this fun image from 2 Cute Ink.  I just had to pair it with the pink Making Memories paper.  Another little hurdle for me was the diagonal element of Leslie's sketch.  I tried some different things and they just did not work for me.  I finally settled on the yellow paper by Studio Calico.  Sentiment is by CTMH. 

 

OWH Sketch #257

I have to admit sometimes I create my own creative roadblocks. When I was started the card, I was thinking the three accents needed to be the same shape, but I got past that idea.  This is sketch #257, and I am a little sad with things winding down at OWH.  Besides the sketch challenge, I am linking this card to the current challenge at Cards in Envy: Red, White & Blue and the OWH July ODBD:  Thank You challenge.  Colored papers are by Doodle Bug, White embossed Letterpress and sentiment by Paper Smooches.  Definitely a fun sketch by Kristie M.

Deedee's Digis

I absolutely love this little pup by Deedee's Digis so it was easy for me to CASE a card I had made earlier with the same image.  Kathy D had suggested that I add the graduation cap to my card.  My nephew will graduate from Iowa State in December so I decided to use school colors for the background.  He wants to get a puppy as soon as he has a "real" job and his own place which is the start of my inspiration.  I have had lots of fun as a guest this month.  Thanks to all, especially Zella, Guest Designer Coordinator.

Deedee's Digis Diver Daniel & OWH Sketch #253

This card was super fun to make.  A Darice embossing folder to create the background; I embossed the paper twice to add a little depth. Both images were used pre-colored but I did recolor the sentiment to a matching blue.  I used OWH Sketch #253 to create the card.  I will definitely miss getting new sketches to use each month when they close August 1st.  Some sequins were added to replace the bubbles I lost when I fussy cut the image.

Deedee's Digis: Blooming Blessings

This card is being featured over at Deedee's Digis.  It is a CASE of one that I had made earlier, but this time I colored it using some Copics.  The Ball jar image can be found here.  I just love how one can mock emboss using a white Signo pen...it really softens up the image.  The papers out of my giant scrap pile.

OWH Sketch #256 & 2 Cute Ink

Hello! This week's sketch by OWH seemed a perfect fit for this sweet image by 2 Cute Ink.  Heidi has a monthly freebie that is available by signing up.  Papers used were dug out of the scrap pile.  The tickets were another digi that I had saved a couple of years back.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

DeeDee's Digis

Hello there...  Just a quick post to share a few details about today's card.  I printed the wreath out twice on kraft and fussy cut one out.  I used the second one to cut out the rounded leaves to pop them up a wee bit.  Edges were all inked and Glossy Accents was added to the berries.  Another easy card once the cutting is complete and I just love the font on the sentiment!

Word's 2 Scrap By: It's a Mans World

Here is my card that is featured on the current challenge at Words 2 Scrap By: It's a Man's World.  It is a CASE of a card I had made previously.  The mechanic is a Birdie Brown digi that is no longer available.  The retro background is an older image that I found through Free Digital Stamps.  I love how the colored image really pops when next to it.

 

Deedee's Digis: Guest Designer

I am playing catch-up on my posting.  Lucky me to be asked to be a guest by Deedee's Digis for this month.  This card features a verse from Endless Beginnings and a frame is from Blooming Blessings.  I printed both out as one image and then did a little fussycutting.  White faux stitching and Liquid Pearls were added as the final touches.  Super easy card.

 

I have decided to start donating some of the cards I make to a group of retired nuns for their personal use.  So many of Deedee's Digis will work perfectly for this venture.  My sister takes care of their hair needs which is how I got the idea.

 

OWH Sketch #255



It has been quite awhile since I posted, since my life has been super busy.  Even longer since I played with an OWH challenge.  I tweaked sketch #255 a bit to work for the card.  Stamps used were Stamping Up, Hero Arts, and Close to My Heart; papers by Doodle Bug.  Pretty easy peasy!

 

 

W2SB #17: Say Cheese

I have been super busy this month with life, so I had to forgo playing in a bunch of card challenges and participating in the last OWH Blog Hop (insert sad face).  My weekend did include checking out all the wonderful cards in the hop when I had a free moment.  I started this card about 3 weeks ago and finally finished it this weekend.  It is for the current challenge at W2SB #17: Say Cheese.  Sentiment is by Mama Elephant; image is by Darcie's Stamps.

DeeDee's Digis and OWH ODBD

I am so behind on making cards for challenges I like to participate in.  Most of my free time is on the weekend and last week was jam packed and the upcoming weekend doesn't allow for any creativity either so  I am definitely feeling the pressure.

This image was a freebie from Deedee's Digis.  I have a nephew that loves corgis and pugs so I will definitely be using this cutie again for his college graduation card.

The patterned paper is by K & Company; the rest I pulled out of the scrap pile.  The star is embossed so the card works for the current OWH ODBD challenge to make a card using embossing.

DeeDee's Digis: Blooming Blessings

I was super inspired by a card posted today by Lin at Sending Hugs so I CASE'd it.  I printed the colored image from DeeDee's Digis and used my white pen to create mock white embossing.  What a change the white made to the image.  The jar is a Simple Stories sticker that I drew the stems on with a marker.  Sentiment was made using a Mama Elephant die.

 

Cardz 4 Guyz

The current challenge at Cardz 4 Guys is Exotic/Jungle Wildlife.  I wanted to use this sentiment by CTMH and dug around until I found this monkey image.  He is kinda cute with the boxer shorts.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

Cards in Envy: Child's Play

A quick post to share my card for the current change at Cards in Envy; the theme is "child's play".  I ran across a bag of unmounted rubber stamps that I was gifted.  Inside that bag was this delightful stamp and sentiment.  I created a little scene using stickers from Simple Stories.

OWH Sketch #252

Oh I am so behind on some challenges due to work and life.  This card started out because of the theme at Cardz 4 Guyz was Super Hero and I wanted to combine it with the challenge at OWH.  I missed the first deadline.  Great OWH sketch as always.  Sentiment was a freebie from Papercrafts...I really miss that publication, "sigh".  I will be saving this card for my dh as our anniversary will be here before I know it!

Owl "heart" You

I decided to use this cute owl image from 2 Cute Ink to make a card using Leslie's sketch for the current theme at W2SB: The Earth Has Music and Shopping Our Stash.  First I went looking through my old 12x12 sheets looking for some music theme paper when I ran across the  "watercolored" dp.  I ended up going online to find some free digital sheet music and recolored it a light purple to print onto the dp.  The branch and sentiment were part of the same stamp set.  The tulip is popped to add a little dimension.

ATCAS: Cute

After letting the current challenge over at Addicted to CAS stew in my mind, this is the card I came up with using my new set from Darcie's Stamps.  

OWH ODBD April & The Male Room

Honestly, I made this card a couple months ago after I bought the Hero Arts OWH set, but I never got around to sharing until now.  The trees were made from a La-La Lands die.  I am linking it up to the current challenge at The Male Room: Metallic Embossing and the OWH April ODBD.

Cardz 4 Guyz: Start with the letter S

This card was inspired by the current challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz, which I am just barely making the deadline.  Stars, stripes, scarlet red and silver are my "s" components.

OWH Sketch #251

Wonderful sketch as always over at the OWH blog.  I decided that it was perfect for a new stamp set "Barnyard Buddies" by Darcie's Stamps recently purchased from my LSS.  This is one of my few attempts at image layering.

OWH MMT: Red, White & Blue

I have to admit that this card was uber easy as I let the paper do all the work.  A little stamping with a Mama Elephant sentiment and a little twine and it was done.

The Male Room: Under Water

I have to admit I was a little stumped at first for the current challenge at The Male Room in spite of the out of the box DT samples.  Luckily I remembered a free image that was available from Alison at The Alley Way Stamps that Sandy Allnock had worked her magic on.  It reminds me of "Finding Nemo"; a fun fish tale.

ATCAS & Cardz 4 Guyz

It seemed like a good idea to combine the current challenge at Addicted to CAS: Green with the current challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz: CAS.  I had this "stencil" leftover from the adhesive backing of a diecut.  I used a Hero Arts sentiment and some sequins; the sequins add a little pop.

 

OWH Sketch #250

My sister needed a card for one of her clients...she does hair and one of her regular jobs is the retired Sisters.  I did CASE Sandy's stamped "heart" butterflies but added my own twist by using a mini heart punch.  Papers were out of my scrap pile.  Here is the link if you want to join in.

 

 

Cards in Envy: Spring is in the Air

Lucky me that the current challenge at cards Cards in Envy fits well with this card I made from a kit I received through a recent swap.  I just love yellow tulips; they remind me of my mother.  I ended up adding the yellow strip out of my scrap pile to accent the image.

 

The Crooked Stamper: Sketch #2

Thanks Leslie for an inspiring sketch.  I decided to add a few extra layers to the birthday card I was making for a co-worker.  Purple is her fave color so I know she is going to love it!  The image is from an old Stampin' Up set.  The image is heat embossed in gold and watercolored.  I pulled a few scraps from the "pile" for the extra layers.  The little wooden butterfly was colored with Copics.  Here is the link: The Crooked Stamper, if you want to join in.

OWH March ODBD Challenge: Sentiment

This card features an old Imaginations stamp that I had found at a garage sale.  I love the bold lettering that makes it easy to try several techniques; I went for watercoloring this time.  I added a diecut, brads and some distressing and will be linking to the OWH March ODBD Challenge.

The Male Room: A Sketch

I am quietly sneaking in a last minute card for the current challenge at The Male Room which is a sketch. 

I decided to make an Easter card for my DH using papers from a new pad and an old digital image.  I added the sentiment to the image.  Thanks for stopping by!