Happiness

The current challenge at the DeNami Design blog is to use twine on your project.  This is such a hot product right now, but I still haven't gotten around to actually buying any ( I know...shock and horror!).  So I have made my card using faux twine.

I used the DeNami Design N100 Heart Garland stamp.  I colored the hearts and cut them out to string them on my "twine".  I hung my garland from a couple of buttons and added a sentiment using a Hampton Art Studio G stamp.  A little embossing and a border punch finishes it all off.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder
Stampin' Up Pinking Hearts border punch
buttons from my stash

Fun Fold Birthday Cake

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is Fun Folds.  I knew what I wanted to try right away, but as always I seem to be squeaking this entry in at the last possible minute!  But here it is.

I am sure you are saying to yourself  "Self...there are no folds on this card!"  And I would say that you are correct.  Because the folds are IN the card!  I used a pattern I got ages ago for an explosion card.  I have never actually tried it until now.

This is what the folds inside the card look like when partially opened.  Then when you open it completely, the folds explode out of the card. 

I used the image Topsy Turvy Cake for the front of the card and colored it with alcohol ink markers and a silver gel pen.  You can get it here at Whimsy Stamps.  I used the freebie image Happy Birthday which you can get on the website.  Just click on the link to the freebie pack on the left side of the blog.

The instructions for making an explosion card are below.  If you would like them, click the picture then right click and "Save As".

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Marth Stewart Double Loops border punch
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder
Core'dinations cardstock
Rhinestones and ribbon from my stash

Be Mine

This is my card for the Meljen Designs challenge Put Your Heart on It.  The challenge is to put a heart on your project.

I used the freebie from Monday called Little Winged Heart.  You can get it from the website.  The sentiment is computer generated.  I glittered a heart button and used some ribbon from my stash to finish it up.  The square doily is from a package I bought from Stampin' Up more years ago than I can count!

Card measures 5" x 5.5"
Martha Stewart glitter in garnet
Bosskut Swirls die #0989

Black Cheep

The current challenge at DeNami Design is to create a card based on this sketch.  The sketch was created by their awesome design team member, Laurie.

This is my interpretation of the sketch.

I didn't put a sentiment on this card, because I am waiting for some inspired idea to pop into my head!  But since my head is a bit stuffy, it may take a bit of time!  I used the B90 Chickie and used Sparkly Fluff from Our Craft Lounge on the black chickie.  I colored the others using the So Saffron Stampin' Write marker.  I also used the N133 Polka Dot Background.  I embossed the small square with my Cuttlebug using the Birds and Swirls folder.  I grabbed some brads and ribbon from my stash to finish it up.  Now to find the perfect black cheep to send it to!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

You Light Up My Life

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is Pink and Red.  I struggled a bit with this card.  My head is stuffy and it appears is blocking my mojo.  It ended up being very simple, but since it is for my hubby and he doesn't like a lot of bling, I guess simple is best.  I tried some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist for the first time.  So yeah...discovered what a complete mess it can make...but even though you can't see it in the picture there is a bit of a sheen to the background.  I used the DeNami Design A94 Mini Heart to stamp the background.  The Meljen's Designs image is a freebie called Little Light Bulb.  You can find it on the website.  The sentiment is computer generated.

I colored the rhinestones to match using a Copic marker.  If you do this, make sure to let them dry for some time before you touch them!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

Snowtime

The current challenge at the Doodle Dragon Studio challenge blog is Baby It's Cold Outside.  How appropriate since we just got 9 inches of snow and the temperature has dropped.  This image is by Dustin Pike and so is the sentiment.  You can purchase his images on his website, Doodle Dragon Studio.  I love his images because they are great for anyone.

The background paper was a freebie that I got from the Polka Doodles challenge blog.  I colored the image and sentiment using alcohol ink markers.  I added a snowflake brad and some ribbon as well as a snowflake punch and self-stick rhinestone.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

Hello

This card was made for the Polka Doodles challenge.  The challenge commemorates the life of one of the design team members, Enfys.  She lives 6 months in the UK and 6 months in the US and totes her creativity and her stash back and forth!  Her blog, Going Buggy, is having a celebration for hitting some pretty major milestones: 2,000 followers, 1,800 email subscribers and over 500,000 hits!  I hadn't heard of Polka Doodles before visiting Going Buggy, but it is a place that I will certainly visit often.

For the challenge you had to use red, white, and blue and it had to be a card that was suitable to send to someone in the US or the UK.  It also had to follow this sketch

Nikky from Polka Doodles even created some papers and a sentiment as inspiration for the challenge.  You can download them from the blog post.  So here is my card.

The diamond background paper is one of the freebies you can get from the challenge blog.  The image is from Meljen's Designs called Holiday Bird.  It was a freebie that is available here on the website.  The word "hello" was made using Alpha Stax from Colorbok that I have had in my stash for a very long time.  I punched the flower using a Marvy punch from Stampin' Up Real Red and a freebie gingham digital paper I found here.

Card measures 5" x 5"
Cuttlebug Diamonds in the Rough embossing folder (under hello)
Bosskut Scroll # 0986
Fabric covered brad from my stash