Happy Birthday in Two Colors

Dustin Pike is still enjoying his two-year Blog-iversary celebration so the challenge at Pike's Playground is to create a birthday card using just 2 colors from his blog header.  Yes that's right...only two colors!  I chose blue and green.  And before you say there is no blue in the blog header...look very closely at the bunny's teeth!  Yep...there's blue there!

You can find Dustin's amazing digi stamps at his website, Doodle Dragon Studios.  I colored the image using colored pencils blended with baby oil.  I stamped the plaid design using the Three Line Border from DeNami Design.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up and is from the So Happy for You set.  I embossed the green panel with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and added some twill tape from Stampin' Up.  The dewdrops are from the Robin's Nest.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

DeNami Color Challenge

The current challenge at DeNami Design is to used the color palette chosen by their super talented design team member, Ayana. 

This is the card I made using the color combo:

I used the Small Solid Filigree stamp and the Teeny Swiss Dot to make the background.  I stamped the Elegant Floral Vine and used a scalloped die to cut it out.  The sentiment is actually on the inside of the card and peeks through a window cut with a scalloped die.  It is from the Assorted Greetings Petit Four.

I finished it off with some ribbon and a brad from my stash.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Lifestyle Crafts circle and scalloped circle cookie cutter dies
Pearl brad from American Crafts

Mouse Hugs!

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is to create a masculine card.  Why is it that masculine cards are the most difficult?!  This is my card for the challenge this week:

I used the image Teeny Mouse Hugs and colored it using colored pencils and baby oil.  The sentiment stamp is from DeNami Design and comes in the Assorted Greetings Stamp Set.  I did a little stitching and added some ribbon I just bought at Hobby Lobby.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Lifestyle Crafts cookie cutter cirlce and scallop circle dies

Play Date Color Challenge

This week The Play Date Cafe had a great color palette for their color challenge.

I thought the colors were so pretty together so I thought I would try a Mother's Day card with them.  I haven't started any yet, and thought this was as good a time as any!

I stamped the Wild Garden Frame from Rubbernecker Stamps with VersaMark ink and embossed it using Whisper White embossing powder from Stampin' Up.  I stamped just the word "Mother" from the Well Scripted stamp set from Stampin' Up and embossed that as well.  I punched it out using Stampin' Up's Scalloped Oval punch.  I added some lace ribbon from my stash to finish it off.

Card Measures 4.25" x 5.5"

A Recipe for Adorable

The challenge at Meljen's Designs this week is a recipe challenge.  The recipe is 3 colors, 2 papers, and one bow.  The challenge at Wee Memories this week is All Things Adorable.  So easy to combine these two challenges because I think Meljen's Designs images are so adorable!!

This week I decided to use the image Lovey Pup that I won in a recent blog hop.  You can find him in the Whimsy Stamps store.  I have had him printed for a while but decided to color him using my new favorite technique, colored pencils blended with baby oil.  I thought I was in love with the alcohol ink markers, but I feel like I have much more control over where the color goes with the colored pencils.  For the recipe, I used red, creamy caramel, and baby blue as my colors.  The papers I have had forever just waiting for the perfect card.  I added a little faux stitching with a fine Sharpie and a tiny rhinestone for the tag on his collar.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

Tying the Knot at Polka Doodles

The current challenge at Polka Doodles is to create a project with a wedding theme in mind.  I made this card for a co-worker.  The picure isn't very good, because I had to take it in a hurry.  But hopefully you get the idea.

I cut the dress from the Cricut Wedding Solutions cartridge.  It had sleeves, but I decided I would leave them off.  I used tacky tape on the bodice and added micro beads.  The top layer of the dress was made from an embossed paper and I added micro beads to the embossed pattern using Crystal Lacquer.  The background is a beautiful embossed vellum that I have had for ages and I used a cream and gold ribbon on each side to frame the dress.  The flowers are actually table confetti that have been dressed up with some gold brads.  They actually have a wonderfuly pearly sheen to them.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

It's a Party!

In anticipation of his Blogoversary, Dustin Pike set the theme It's a Party for the challenge this week at Doodle Dragon Studios.  My card started as a congratulations card, until I reread the challenge information and realized it was supposed to be a birthday card!  A quick sentiment change and here is my new and improved birthday card.

I colored the image using colored pencils blended with baby oil.  I am still learning the process, but I really like the look it gives to the image.  The mat behind the image was created using Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Tuscan Sun, Patina, and Latte.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Martha Stewart Scallop Dots border punch
Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls embossing folder
Stampin' Up Four Square (sentiment)
My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose Mabel paper stack

Oh Boy!

The challenge at DeNami Design was to create a boy card.  Always a struggle no matter what images I am using!!

I knew I wanted to use the E140 Giraffe from the latest release and stamp him on design paper.  I think he is absolutely adorable.  I actually had him on a different paper and just couldn't get the card to come together.  Stamped him on the polka-dots and that was all it took.  Although, the card still didn't turn out like I envisioned it!!  I stamped the D123 Small Stitched Circle on a scallop and popped the giraffe up with some foam leftovers from trimming stamps.  I don't have the Happy Birthday sentiment, so I used the word "birthday" from the N114 "Hoppy" Birthday Frogs.  I love when you can make stamps do extra duty!  I have to thank Sue Lelli for sending me the baker's twine.  I still haven't gotten around to buying any, Sue!  But don't worry, I will soon!

I just discovered that my card also fits the Tangled Up challenge at Wee Memories this week...use twine on your card!  So I am submitting my card for that challenge too!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

Easter Inspiration

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is Easter Inspired.  Not just spring, but bunnies, chicks, eggs and other Easter images.

I used the image Cuddle Bun Baby from a recent release.  It is available at Whimsy Stamps.  I colored the image using Prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil.  The portion of the card below the ribbon is actually embossed with Swiss Dots, but it doesn't show up in the picture!  Sorry for the short post, but I am pressed for time!

Card measures 4.25" x 4.25"
Cuttlebug embossing folder-Swiss Dots
Stampin" Up Embosslits-Beautiful Wings
Lacy Labels Cricut Cartridge
Ribbon and flowers from my stash

Meljen's Designs Challenge #52

This challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is a sketch for us to follow that was created by design team member, Dianna.

Dianna allowed for flipping the sketch as desired.  This is my take on the sketch:

This image is from the new realease this week and is called, Victorian Shoe Daisies.  All of the images this week had a vintage feel to them.  They were so wonderful!  You can buy this image at the Whimsy Stamp store.

I colored the image using copics for the boot and prismacolor pencils for the heel and toe.  This is my first time using the pencils, and I have a lot to learn!  I added pearls to the buttons on the boot using a Viva Decor Pearl Pen in cream.  I used the Tea Stain ink pad from the Stampin' Up distressing kit to age the paper.  I crocheted the flower using the pattern I found here.

Card measures 5" x 7"
Pearl Brads from American Crafts

Card Aisle Inspiraton

Like many people I used to love standing in the card aisle laughing and admiring the many styles of cards for sale.  Once I started making my own, I didn't visit as often.  Laurie at Soapbox Creations has challenged everyone to visit the card aisle once more for inspiration.  I didn't actually make it to the card aisle, but there was  box of cards for sale at work so I had a quick look through them.  As soon as I saw this card, I knew I had found my inspiration.

I loved all of the colors and the implied textures.  The card didn't actually have any texture or dimension at all.

This is my interpretation of the card.

I embossed each of the color panels with a different embossing folder.  I cut the stars on my cricut and embossed them as well.  I sponged ink over each of the stars to make the embossing stand out.  I cut the flourish using a die.  The sentiment is the Small Congratulations from DeNami Design.  I really enjoyed this challenge and will make sure to keep an eye out for inspiration when I am strolling down the card aisle.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Cuttlebug Embossing folders:
    D'Vine Swirls
    Birds & Swirls
    Floral Fantasy
Stampin' Up embossing folder-Elegant Lines
Cricut George and Basic Shapes cartridge
BossKut Swirls #0989 die

Hop to It!

Dustin challenged all of us who wanted to play at Pike's Playground to create anything but a card with an Easter theme.  Well, I have to say I was a bit stymied at first.  I had no idea what I could possibly do that wasn't a card.  Then I remembered I had these great templates from DeNami Design for treat bags.

I created my own Dustin Pike designer paper using several of his colored Easter images.  I traced the template onto the newly minted designer paper and cut it out.  I used three different colored images to create the decorations popping out of the bag.  I printed the chickie image in black and white and colored it using ProMarkers and Copics.  All of the images were cut using a Lifestyle Crafts circle die and matted using the Lifestyle Crafts scalloped circle.  I haven't bought any Easter grass yet, so I made my own with a scrap of designer paper and my corrugating tool.

Here is a picture of the back.  Not quite evenly spaced, but I couldn't paste the images into the PDF and so had to wing it on placement.

Using the pre-colored digi images made this project really quick and easy!