Wags 'n Whiskers: Flower Power!

Hello and Happy Friday! Wow, another week has just flown by around here. But all good things, the kids are staying busy, the weather is GORGEOUS and of course got in some stamping time!

Today we are bringing you a new challenge over at Wags 'n Whiskers. In the true vein of springtime, we want to see FLOWERS! Don't forget, there are FREE STAMPS up for grabs! Bring on the floral fantasy with your lovely creations, and link up on the W'nW blog post!

Here is my card, using the image "Fairy: Lacey". She's my favorite of the fairies, but they are all quite lovely. You can find all of them in the Wags 'n Whiskers shop.

I had a hard time pulling this card together initially. I had a different sketch and layout in mind, but it just wasn't working. I ended up changing it around and I'm much much happier with the end result! I did use a sketch for this project today, Digi Sketch Challenge for this week, which included the sketch, with an optional twist of flowers. I also chose the inspiration photo piece from Creative Colors (#33) for my color palette. I actually searched around for a color challenge specifically for this image. I LOVE it (I think I mentioned that....) but when I'm doing fairies, I tend to gravitate toward pink/green/white as my color combo. Not that there is anything wrong with that! I love that one. I have a whole bunch of them in my stash, and they are so pretty and girlie and fun. But I wanted to branch out a little bit today, and this bright, springy, happy photo really caught my eye! So here are my inspirations:

Instructions:

This is a 5.5" x 5.5" square card. I gave it 1/4" margins all around (the 1/8" didn't allow enough of the layers through for my taste). The Orchid layer is stamped with the outline Mosaic Background Stamp from Starving Artistamps in Versamark and heat embossed using "Bridal" embossing powder from a local stamping shop - a clear EP with a purpleish glitter tone to it (how's THAT for a description?!). Of course Lacey is done in black on Papertrey white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I cut around her to use the circle Nestabilities and the entire main image layer is adhered with dimensional foam tape. The patterned paper pieces are from Die Cuts With A View, Basic Grey, and Stampin' Up! All flowers are from Prima and the pearls are Kaisercraft (they are yellow). I paper pierced the edge using my SU piercing template and did the faux stitching effect using a gold metallic paint marker. The sentiment is actual wooden Scrabble tiles I pilfered from a Scrabble board game to further the cause of extreme stamp supply {hoarding} needs. :)

Challenges:

• 613 Avenue Create - #119: Create Your Own (Square, Thinking of You, Wooden Shapes)
• Crafting From The Heart - #55: Anything Goes
• Craft Your Passion - #257: Anything Goes
• Crafty Cardmakers - #136: Wings
• Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #81: Square card + Pearls
• Creative Colours - #33: Photo Inspiration + Embossing (photo above, and I used heat embossing)
• Loves Rubberstamps - #147: Pearls
• Digi Choosday - #15 Pearls
• Inspiration Destination - #29: Anything Goes
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - #223: For The Girls
• Whimsy Inspirations Challenge - #82: Colouring an Image

Cardabilities #120

Good morning everyone! Happy Sunday to all you lovely stampers around the world! Today I have a wonderful card to share with you using the current sketch from Cardabilities. Karan has some of the most BEAUTIFUL out there, and she always has such AMAZING entries. I love the push I feel when working with her sketches to really up my game and doll up my creations - lace and flowers and BLING - everything! :) A girl needs a lot of bling in her world, am I right?

Here's what I came up with, using Time For Tea Designs "Hugs" image (oh yes, I printed SHEETS of digis from all different companies last week - time to PLAY!!!). I love this image! This sweetie is so easy to color with her clean lines, and her beautiful hair of course. Truthfully, all of the Time For Tea digis are adorable. 

As I said, I used the current Cardabilities Sketch for this card, Cardabilities #120. Here it is:

So lovely, as always. Thanks to Karan and her DT for the inspiration! I'm linking up a couple of other challenges:

MarkerPop - #66: Anything Goes (the image is colored with Copic Markers)

Crafty Calendar - April: Add A Sentiment

Graph'it Colouring Crazy Challenge - wk#15: Flower Power

Polkadoodles - wk#15: Pink and Pretty

Sister Act Card Challenge - #101: Anything Goes

Saturday Challenge FUN!!

Wow, Saturday already! Our Spring Break week flew by...and we weren't even that scheduled! The boys and I had some very fun days though, and even some crafting time as you can see below. :) I *heart* them and I *heart* being back in the stamping groove!


As part of diving back into my craft, I've been back to surfing some of the lovely blogs out there, and picking up interesting ideas, inspiration, and challenges for use in my own studio. I made this card on Thursday evening, but yesterday was so packed I didn't have time to blog it. So a lovely Saturday bonus instead!! I'll take it ;)

Here is the card I made, inspired by Verve's April Inspiration and Viva la Verve April Sketch for week #1. I combined it with a few other challenges too (below) as the card evolved.  I had actually colored another image with a different sketch in mind, and then I saw the verve colors and I thought "oh I have the PERFECT idea for this!!!"....I ended up hopping between the two cards a bit and at one point I confused myself so much on which papers were supposed to go where I just have to burst out laughing. hehe! Once I got back on track I finished both of the cards and called it the BEST stamping day of the year!

I can't tell you enough how much I ADORE this bunny image from Time 4 Tea Designs. When I saw it for the first time I actually went "squeeeeee!!". True story! So SO cute. He's a digi, so I printed him off on Papertrey white cardstock and colored with a whole pile of Copics. The sentiment is from Paper Pretties, I broke it up so I could use both the leaves and the tag to make the sentiment section.

Here is the inspiration from the amazing Julee at Verve - April Sketch #1 and April Inspiration:

Supplies:
Patterned papers from Basic Grey, Die Cuts With A View, and Stampin' Up
Papertrey white cardstock
Copic Markers
Stampin' Up Baja Breeze Ribbon
Baker's twine in pink
Martha Steward rose leaf punch
Time 4 Tea Designs: Somebunny Loves You
Paper Pretties: Sentiment from Birthday Sentiments
Self-adhesive pearls
Basic Grey button
Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss
EK Success border punches
Tag from Studio G


I chose birthday for this creation to play along with some other fabulous challenges this week. I have so much fun linking up and checking out other ladies' amazing creations too! Thanks for the ideas and inspiration everyone! :)

DRS Designs - #169: Birthday Blues
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - #222: Anything Goes (entry 2 of 3)
The Pink Elephant Challenge - TPE293: Pastel Colors
Crafting For All Seasons - Animal Magic
Inky Impressions - IIC #204: Spring is in the Air
Paper Shelter - #198: Birthday with Sentiment
Loves Rubberstamps - #146: Anything Goes
Cards und More - #129: Tag
Cuttlebug Mania - Tag It (Swiss Dots Embossing Folder on the background paper, Nestabilities circles on the main image; both with Cuttlebug machine)
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - March Challenge: Spring colors
Aud Sentiments - #129: Birthday
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes (the Papers, Ribbon, pearls have been stashed for ages!)
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes (entry 2 of 3)
Crafting From The Heart - #54: Anything Goes (entry 2 of 3)
Digi Sketch Challenge - Furry Friends
Love To Scrap Challenge Blog - #51: Dots or Stripes
613 Avenue Create - #118: Anything Goes (entry 2 of 3)
Pile It On - #63: Dies or Punches
Robyn's Fetish - IDIC #258: Pastel Colors
Seize the Birthday Challenge - Birthday

Simply Papercraft - DT Announcement & Challenge #2

TGIF, my lovely stampers! I'm so happy to be crafting and sharing again! What a great feeling :) It's been a little nutty here this week with my two little guys home from school on spring break, but luckily, I did manage to get in a bit of stamp room time!

But before we get to the card, I have another exciting announcement! I've accepted a position on the Design Team of a new challenge blog called Simply Papercraft. I'm very please to join the wonderful ladies over there! We have bi-weekly theme challenges that post on Fridays, with Top Pick awards and prizes too! Head over and check it out, I think you will enjoy adding them to your challenge rotation.

Speaking of Simply Papercraft, this is a new challenge week! This is Challenge #2, Steampunk. The challenge is being sponsored by Stitchy Bear. You can visit the Simply Papercraft blog for the challenge link up and prize details! I think that those who know we can agree that Steampunk is NOT something that has EVER been in my wheelhouse, although I have seen many fabulous projects made with the theme. That being said though, I have to say I'm very pleased with how this card turned out. What a great image this Goth Prom Queen is for the challenge!

My card uses this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #392, as well as this week's ColourQ #286 color challenge. My two favorite challenge types to play along with!!

Challenges that I love...
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - #28 Anything Goes 
Crafty Creations Challenges - #286 Anything Goes (Entry 2 of 2)
Crafting From The Heart - #54 Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Fab 'N Funky - #254: Bingo (Diagonal line: Kraft, Digital Image, Charm {the hanging part is covered by the flower!})
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - #222: Anything Goes
Digi Choosday - Wk #14: Use a Die
Loves Rubberstamps - #146: Anything Goes
Avenue 613 Create - #118: Anything Goes
Little Miss Muffet Challenge - #109: Anything Goes

Cute as a BUTTON ~ W'nW Challenge, April 3

TGIF, my lovelies! I'm so excited today because I am able to share my first new card as a Wags 'n Whiskers Design Team member!

W'nW has challenges every other Friday, with FREE STAMPS up for grabs! The April 3rd Challenge is BUTTONS. Easy peasy....add buttons to your fantastic creation and link up on the W'nW blog post!

Here is my card, using the image "Happy Day". I love her! What a doll. Since I have two boys, I always enjoy making girlie cards ;)

I colored this little Miss with Copics, cut out with my newly-rediscovered Nesties, and added buttons and bling for spring. :)

This is also a Sketch Challenge! You know those are some of my most favorite things! It's Sketch Saturday #354, and here is the sketch:

How did I do? :)  This is a nice one, really quite perfect for a main focal image!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Pastels
Crafty Cardmakers - #135: Spring
Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick (Pastels)
Crafty Creations - #286: Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - #307: Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination - #27: Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - #1: Anything Goes
Whimsy Inspirations Challenge - #81: Die Cut

Crafting From the Heart - #53: Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions - IIC#203: Thank You
Fab 'N' Funky - #253: Lots of Layers
Little Miss Muffet - #108: Spring colors
Graphit Markers - Springtime
Aud Sentiments - #128 Anything Goes Plus Sentiment

Thanks for stopping by today! Make sure you check out the inspiration on the Wags 'n Whiskers blog, and link up your own buttoned up card for a chance to win!