Say Cheese

 This week at Creative Knockouts, our challenge is Birthday Greetings.

I used Birthday Cheese from Dr. Digi's House of Stamps for my project.  While I was working on it, I had the idea to make the picture into a shaker element.  It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it took me four tries to get it right!  When making a shaker, be sure your frame is pointing the correct direction as you are gluing on the acetate and foam!

You have a chance to win 2 images for playing along.  Click the badge below to check out the shop.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"

Spellbinders Decorative Labels 34

The Paper Studio banner tag

The Paper Studio lace

DeNami Design Petit Four sentiment stamp

Stampin' Up! cotton twill

I Am Roses flower

Martha Stewart glass microbeads

Tulips

This week at Crafty Sentiments, we have an Anything Goes challenge for you.

I chose Tulips for my project.  It was colored with Copic markers and cut out using a Die-Namics die from My Favorite Things.  I thought pretty spring colors would work well for this!  The sentiment stamp is from DeNami Design.

You have a chance for some great Crafty Sentiments prizes for playing along this week.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
My Favorite Things Stitched Scalloped Ovals Die-Namics
Simplicity Lace
The Paper Studio banner tag
I Am Roses flower
American Crafts pearl brad
Michaels dollar bin butterfly
Gems, pearls & ribbon from my stash

Hugs

This week at Creative Knockouts we want to see stitching on your projects for our In Stitches challenge.

This is Bundle of Hearts by Crafty Sentiments.  It is one of their digital images.  The faux stitching is actually part of the image!  He was colored with Copic markers and cut out using the Silhouette Cameo.  I decided to make a shaped card to match and used some dies to make layers.  The Spellbinders die has stitches as well.  And last but not least, I used a canvas banner from Maya Road that also has some stitching.  I stamped the sentiment from a DeNami Design petit fours stamp set using Staz On ink.

You have a chance to win 3 images from Crafty Sentiments for playing along.  You can click the badge below to check out what they have to offer.

Card measures approximately 5.5" in diameter

Spellbinders Open Scallop Edge Circles dies

LifeStyle Crafts Doily Circles dies

Pearl heart from my stash

Smile

This week at Creative Knockouts we want to see a sentiment on the front of your card.  So are you ready to enter our Something to Say challenge?

I used Emmi Loo - Just Me from Crafty Sentiments for my project.  She is colored with Copic markers and was cut out using the Silhouette.  I popped her onto a Martha Stewart doily tag that I had laying around because I decided not to use it on another project.  I used a stamp from a Denami Design Petit Four stamp set.  They are the perfect size for these awesome tags I found at Michaels.

You have a chance to win 3 images from our sponsor Crafty Sentiments.  Click the badge below to check out the shop.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"

Spellbinders Curved Borders 2

The Paper Studio brad

I Am Roses flower

Recollections tag

Sending Smiles

This week at Crafty Sentiments Designs our challenge is to add glitter.  I have a love hat relationship with glitter.  I love the sparkle but I had the mess and finding glitter on my face weeks after I have used it.  I try to use papers that have glitter encapsulated so it won't flake off.  Unfortunately...the paper I used today was not that kind!  But it fit my project so well that I decided to use it anyway!

This is Special Delivery.  He was colored using Copic markers and I pieced the balloons using some fun matching patterned paper.  I fussy cut him and popped him up for some dimension.  The sentiment is from DeNami Design and is one of my favorites to use.  You can see the glitter on the paper and I also used some silver Wink of Stella on his buttons, bag hardware, and the band on his hat.  Last but not least, I cut the legs off of a glitter heart brad and added it to the sentiment.  Whew!  That's enough glitter for me!

As always, you have the chance to win some Crafty Sentiments digital stamps for playing along.  The prizes are listed below.  If you use a Crafty Sentiments image, you can win even more!

Dig out that glitter and play along.  Just be prepared to find it again weeks from now!  If you will excuse me, I think I see some glitter I need to clean up!

Card measures 5" x 5.5"

Spellbinders Elegant Ovals dies

Simplicity Lace

Recollections heart brad

Ribbon from my stash

Snuggles

Wow!  So much has happened since last week!  I moved our daughter in to her dorm to start her senior year in college.  So crazy!  It is a 12-hour drive one way.  And we had furniture to move this year.  Up three flights of stairs of course!  I am pooped!  Luckily, I planned ahead and finished my project for this week's challenge over at the Crafty Gals Corner.  The theme this week is Lots of Layers and we are sponsored by Flat Friends Boutique.

I used Snuggles for my project this week.  I colored this adorable digi with Copic markers.  I created the mats by cutting a Spellbinders Curved Rectangle three times from different design paper. All of the patterned paper came from the My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose Mabel collection.  It is my favorite and I hoard every scrap!! Everything was matted with Chocolate Chip card stock from Stampin' Up! to make it pop.  I doodled the stitching with the matching marker.  The sentiment is from DeNami Design.

So, like I said, Flat Friends Boutique is our sponsor this week.  Click the badge below to hop over to the shop and take a look.

Inspiration Destination has an anything goes challenge so this little girl is going to go give some hugs over there.

Kraftin' Kimmie is having their anything goes Wonderful Wednesday challenge, so this little girl and her bear are going to go play over there.

Simon Says Stamp has an anything goes challenge.  My little Flat Friend is going to take her bear and give hugs all around.

Cards in Envy has a cute and cuddly challenge, so this little girl is going to snuggle her bear there.

She is going to visit Stamp and Create to hang out with the other girls in the One for the Girls challenge.

I hope I used enough layers to inspire you today!  I can't wait to see all of your layers!

Card measures 4.25 x 5.5

DeNami Design Heartfelt Greetings Petit Four

Spellbinders Curved Rectangle dies

Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip card stock and marker

Ribbon from my stash

So Excited!

Why am I so excited you ask?  Well, DeNami Design currently has a sketch challenge on the blog.  I haven't played in a DeNami challenge in FOREVER!  DeNami Design is one of my favorite rubber stamp companies and I was so happy to play in another challenge.  Lucky for me, it was a sketch challenge.  It doesn't get any better than that!

So this was the sketch we were given.

And this is my interpretation of the sketch.  I love the way this came together!  I used the Medium Curly Christmas Tree and just colored in the ornaments.  It is hard to see in the picture, but I used Copic Spica pens to add some sparkle.  I have been hoarding saving those little cookie cutter buttons for a special project.  I think it adds a great touch.

Card Measures 4.5" x 4.25"
Stampin' Up! - Curly Cute stamp set
Stampin' Up! -  Lucky Stars textured impressions folder
Dress it Up - A Keepsake Christmas button set

New Beginnings V2.0

I wanted to get a card in for Mo's current challenge and how funny that the theme is new beginnings as well!  I found Maurie Manning's images a long time ago and Sumpin's Wrong was one of the first ones I bought.  I finally feel like I can do it justice. =)

I have had this card idea rolling around for a while, but it still took me forever to put it all together!  The little bits always seem to trip me up.  The stamp is colored with Copic's and I paper pieced the shirt.  I had this idea in my head that I wanted his shirt to be tan plaid.  Couldn't exactly tell you why though.  With all of the paper I own, can you believe I did not have the right color?!  I went in search online and found this gorgeous tan plaid digital paper on Granny Enchanted.  There are a lot of wonderful kits and freebies!  If you love paper, this is definitely the place for you!  The great thing about the digital paper is I could reduce the size of the plaid to fit the scale of the shirt and then use a larger version for the background paper!

Now I just have to wait for someone to have a little boy so I can give them this card. =)

Card measures 5" x 5"
Spellbinders Decorative Labels One
DeNami Design Congratulations
Basic Grey button (blue)
ribbon, lace, and buttons from my stash

Hugs on Acetate

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is looking for a few Krafty Guests to play with them over the coming months.  I decided to give it a go!  You don't have to use a KKS image to play, but if you have them, show them off!  I just got a few in the mail...well...not just.  I have had them for a little while and not had a chance to play.  So now is the perfect time!

I used Jayne and colored her with Copics.  She is retired so if you love her, better go get her!  Wouldn't you know...as I was coloring my E000 marker ran out!  I couldn't finish coloring her legs!  I was so happy with what I had done so far, that I decided to crop the stamp and put it on the card.  This was my first go at an acetate card and I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.  It isn't easy to photograph though!  I stamped the DeNami Design sentiment from the Heartfelt Greetings set with StazOn directly onto the acetate.

And since it is Wednesday and the new Wonderful Wednesday challenge is up, I am going to add my project there as well!

Fingers crossed for the Krafty Guest spot!  I think it would be so much fun to play along!

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
LifeStyle Crafts Nesting Circles
Basic Grey buttons
Recollections Gems
DeNami Design Heartfelt Greetings Petit Four

A little Sketchy...

We are getting sketchy at Meljen's Designs.  You can get sketchy too.  We have a great sketch for you to follow for this week's challenge.

Isn't it great?!  There are so many fun things you can do with this sketch.  This is my take.

I turned the square on point and matted it with a die cut.  I colored Bird's Little Letter with Copic markers.  Don't feel like coloring?  That's okay too.  This image also comes in a colored version!  I really need to invest in some additional blue markers.  I am really lacking in that color family!  It made shading a bit harder to accomplish.

Card measures 5" x 5"

Spellbinders Fleur-de-lis Squares

DeNami Design Sending You Love

Stampin' Up! Soft Swirls background stamp

Ribbon & lace from my stash

Bead charm and twine from my stash

Inspired by...Trash?!

Our Design Team theme this month is inspiration at Meljen's Designs.  I pulled out my inspiration file, to find some inspiration for my post.  My inspiration file is full of things that grabbed my attention in one way or another.  I have a half page from a catalog, a flyer that came in the mail, and other assorted bits and pieces.  Most people would have thrown them away, but I saved them because of the color combinations on them.  In fact, I even had this tag from a pair of jeans in my file.

This pair of jeans is long gone, but as soon as I saw this tag, I knew this was the color scheme for my inspiration post.  I loved the colors then and I still love them now!

I even borrowed the basic layout from the tag as well.  I used Mailed With Love for the image and colored it with Copics.  It is a great image when you just want to let someone know you are thinking about them.  I used Sending You Smiles from DeNami Design for the sentiment.

I am inspired by color.  I have even been known to take a picture of pillows at the store because I loved the colors on them!  Start your own inspiration file so that when Mr. Mojo is having his temper tantrum, you can fight back with a little ready-made inspiration of your own.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Crystal Stickers Mosaic squares
Stampin' Up! So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon

Keeping it Simple

Keep it simple...those are words that make me cringe.  Clean and simple cards are so hard for me.  Those that can manage to pull them off amaze me!  But that is the theme for our challenge at Meljen's Designs.  I had to work really hard to remember to keep it simple!

I used Love Letter from the recent release and colored it with Copics.  Well...shaded it with Copics really since the image is mostly white!  A little faux stitching and some twill ribbon and it is done!  Whew!  I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out.  Now to go back to my regular crafting style.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Sentiment by DeNami Design
ribbon from my stash

DeNami Design Birthday Blog Hop

Welcome to your next stop on the the birthday inspiration express.  You should have come here from Wendy's blog.  She always has such wonderful projects to share.  If you didn't come from Wendy's blog and you would like to start at the beginning, just pop over to the DeNami Design blog for the list of participants.

Here is my project to inspire you today.

Who could resist the Penguin with Balloon stamp?  I stamped him three times and colored him using a combination of alcohol ink markers and Prismacolor pencils.  I framed him using the Small Dot Circle Frame.  I stamped the Mini Scallop Circle in the center of the fourth Small Dot Circle Frame.  I used a Making Memories looking glass embellishment for the sentiment in the center of the Mini Scallop Circle.  It is hard to see (looking at the larger image makes it much easier), but it says happy day.

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to comment.  Why you ask?  Because two lucky commenters will be chosen at random to win a $20 DeNami Design gift certificate just for taking the time to leave a comment!  One participant will also be chosen at random (design team ineligible) to win a third $20 gift certificate.  You have until 11:59  PST on Monday, March 12th to get your comments posted to be eligible to win.

The next stop for more birthday inspiration is Suzanne's blog.  I can't wait to see what she has waiting!

Card measures 5" x 5"
Lifestyle Crafts nested circle dies
ribbon from my stash

Sketch Challenge & Going Buggy

It's time for a sketch challenge at DeNami Design.  The very talented Paulina came up with this sketch for us to play with.

I flipped the sketch around a little.

I used one of the flowers from the Ornamental Flowers set and I used Fancy Butterfly.  Fancy Butterfly is an  older stamp, but I find myself pulling it out again and again.  I heat embossed the butterfly in gold and cut it out.  I replaced the stamped antennae with wire.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up!.  I need to invest in some more DeNami Design sentiments.  I love the font, but there are always so many other stamps that I want that I can't seem to get the sentiments into my cart!

The challenge at Going Buggy this month is to use lace and butterflies.  I am entering this card in that challenge as well.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Lace and wire from my stash

Cute Chickies Blog Hop

Welcome to the next stop on the Chickies blog hop.  You should have hopped here from Andrea's blog.  I am sure she had something amazing for you to look at!  If you didn't come from Andrea's blog and you would like to start at the beginning of the hop, just pop over to the DeNami Design blog.

If you are like me, as soon as you saw the chickie stamps from DeNami Design you fell in love!  My collection of chickie stamps just keeps growing!  I started out trying to make a CAS card, but I just never seem to be able to manage it.  Here is my project for this hop.

I cut a window in the card using a scalloped circle die.  I cut the frame for the window using the same scalloped circle die and a slightly larger one.  I stamped the Chickie in Balloon and colored it with Copics.  I cut it out and popped it up in the window using a bit of foam.

Don't forget to leave a comment because every comment gives you a chance to win one of two $20 gift certificates.  You have until 11:59 PST on Monday, February 13th to leave a comment on all of the blogs.  The winners will be chosen randomly from all of the comments.  In addition, one $20 gift certificate will be given to a random participant (design team not eligible).

It's time for you to hop on over to Suzanne's blog.  I will bet she has something wonderful in store for you!

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
The Paper Studio Intricate Swirls embossing folder
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder
Lifestyle Crafts nesting scalloped circle dies
ribbon and pearls from my stash