Hay There, Cowboy!

Living in the southwest, I thought cactus, wolves and coyotes were the obvious choices to making a western themed card for The Paper Players Theme Challenge #289, so I selected a horse. I don't often make cards with goofy critters on them but found the image at Bugaboo Digi Designs and thought "she" was cute.

The barbed wire frame was a freebie that was downloaded from the Internet, sized and printed. The remaining images were downloaded, sized, printed and colored with alcohol markers. The "C" shaped horseshoe was fussy cut from silver foiled cardstock and the star was die cut. The hearts were punched from pink cardstock. Everything was popped up with foam tape. The suede lacing was tied in a reef knot and adhered. The elements were adhered to a white card base. The inside of the card was decorated with a hand drawn rope tangled into a lasso.


For challenge fun, visit PP289!

Techniques: Digital imaging, hand drawing (inside), coloring, die cutting, punch cutting
Size: A7 (5" x 7")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Bugaboo Digital Designs (downloaded) "Hay There" and "Cowboy Sign"
Ink: Soft Suede Stampin' Write marker (inside); Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, pink scraps; DCWV foiled cardstock
Die: Stars Framelits
Punch: Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (heart)
Misc.: Dimensionals, suede lacing from stash

Hummingbird Tag Pocket Card

4/13/2016 Update: This tag card was a Top Three winner at the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.


One of the pleasures of living in Arizona is having Hummingbirds all year. In the winter months, they migrate from the north and the feeders are loaded with them. These tiny little creatures are feisty, quarreling among themselves while vying for a turn at the feeder tubes. Now that April has arrived, they will begin their journeys back north. Right now, just a few have left and there is still a fair sized crowd awaiting breakfast each morning. In another three weeks, most of them will be gone and we will be back to our normal Hummingbird population.

My card was inspired by several challenges for design, theme and colors:
1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #154







2. Fab Friday Color Challenge #84






3. Tag You're It Photo Inspiration Challenge #44

4. Creative with Stamps #1





















My design includes the birthday card and a tag that fits into a pocket that will also hold a gift card, check or cash.

Several DSP patterns were adhered to the card base forming a background and a pocket. The card was decorated with some die cut and punched images, including a simple inlay technique with circles inlaid into the banner decoration. Rhinestones were added to the butterfly. The sentiment was stamped onto DSP and popped up with foam tape. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock decorated with tiny stamped flowers.

A bird was stamped and colored with alcohol markers. The tag was made from the bird panel and three of the four corners were punched for added design. Tiny flowers were also stamped on the tag and die cut flowers were added to show the bird feeding. A slit was punched into the top of the tag, it was also matted with cardstock and ribbon was run through it and then tied with a piece of Baker's twine.

For additional information and challenge fun visit the blogs AHSC154, FabFriday84, CWS1 and TYI44!

Techniques: Stamping, coloring, sponging, die cutting, fussy cutting, punch cutting, inlay
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Remembering Your Birthday; Inkadinkadoo Patterned Birds
Inks: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, So Saffron; Memento Tuxedo Black; Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, So Saffron
DSP: Best Day Ever Collection and scraps from stash
Dies: Verve Award Banners, Lil' Inker Designs Perky Posies
Punches: Bitty Butterfly, Curvy Corner
Misc.: Thick twine, ribbon, Dimensionals; gems from stash

Lakeside Memories

The design inspiration for my card came from Can You Case It? Sketch Challenge #114. My family consists of plenty of men (I grew up with three brothers and also have nephews) so I can always use a masculine card. My card is reminiscent of time spent on the water, not an uncommon theme for me.

The challenge sketch was switched from left to right in order to place the boat image toward the bottom of the card.

The lower left portion was colored with alcohol markers and then stamped with the reeds in the foreground. The sky was lightly sponged and birds in flight just simply drawn with a black marker. The upper right image of shore birds was stamped then lightly sponged over. Washi tape was added for a diagonal stripe. The buttons were sewn on by sewing machine and the jute was wound around the buttons then tied into two reef knots anchored with glue dots. The focal panel was adhered to another panel, revealing color on the right edge and then adhered to a card base. The sentiment was stamped, punched and then popped up on the card with foam tape.The card base was lined with a panel of white cardstock decorated with stamped shore birds.

Be sure to stop by CYCI114 and join in the challenge fun!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, coloring, sewing (buttons), punch cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Moon Lake, Wetlands, Work of Art

Inks: Soft Suede, Soft Sky, Coastal Cabana, Mossy Meadow, Memento Tuxedo Black, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Coastal Cabana
Punch: Word Window
Misc.: Dimensionals foam, 5/8" buttons (stash), brown jute cord, Washi tape, Bernina sewing machine

Beyond the Rainbow

It wasn't Judy Garland, but Ella Fitzgerald, who changed a few words to the lyrics of the song, Over the Rainbow. She sang,

"If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,

Why, oh, why, can't I?"

Here I have a "happy little bluebird" flying beyond the rainbow as the focal image of the card. When I saw the challenge sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch #166, I thought it was just right to combine with the whimsical theme challenge at Sunday Stamps #123, which reminded me of the lyrics to begin with.
 

The digital image of a tiny boy on a bird was downloaded from A Day for Daisies, resized, printed, colored and fussy cut. The clouds were die cut. The rainbow was made by cutting a stencil to add each stripe of color and sponging ink onto white cardstock. The rainbow was then trimmed to fit the card up to the image. All elements except for the sentiment, were popped up with foam tape for dimension and adhered to the blue panel. This was all adhered to a card base. The inside of the card was decorated with die cut clouds from blue cardstock.


Visit the CTS166 and SSC123 blogs for challenge fun!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, coloring, die cutting, fussy cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")





Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: "Simply Wonderful" (sentiment); A Day for Daisies "Bird in Flight"
Inks: Wisteria Wonder, Not Quite Navy, Gumball Green, Daffodil delight, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black, Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Sky
Die: Reverse Confetti (clouds)
Misc.: SU! Dimensionals

Focus on the Sun

While looking at digi-stamps for an idea using umbrellas, I found this image and thought the flower looked as if it were an umbrella. I thought it represented spring showers and the freshness of spring quite well.

I was inspired by several challenges this week:
1. Inkspirational #105 Photo Challenge









2. Tag You're It! #44 Photo Challenge









3. Just Us Girls #337 Word Challenge

I have never before participated in the Tag Challenge, but have been following the blog. With this card, I decided to take the plunge. I rarely use "critters" on my cards other than birds, butterflies and bees, but this little caterpillar made me smile as he sat out the spring shower using the flower as his umbrella. And I knew the digi-stamp could be sized to fit a tag.

The tops of the tags were punched, then the lower edges were die cut. The clouds, sun and sentiment mat were die cut. In the end I covered the fancy tag tops in order to use the rainclouds. The digital image was resized and colored. The raindrops were stamped onto the tags. The sentiment was computer generated. All of the elements
were backed with foam and popped up for dimension. The dimension does not photograph well because the shadows are not visible on the black card base. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with stamped tiny flowers.

Please visit the Inkspirational105, TYI44 and JUGS337 challenge blogs and enjoy the fun!

Techniques: Stamping, coloring, die cutting, punch cutting, computer generated sentiment
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials:
Stamps; CTMH Rain or Shine (raindrops); A Day for Daisies (digital image); sentiment computer generated
Inks: Stampin' Up! Soft Sky, Calypso Coral; Memento Tuxedo Black; Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
Cardstock: SU! Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky, Basic Black
Dies:  Crafter's Companion Scalloped Rectangles, Reverse Confetti Sun & Clouds, Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Borders
Punch: SU! Scalloped Tag Topper
Misc.: SU! Dimensionals foam

Plane Awesome!

4/05/2016: This card was selected for the Artist's Pick Award at Hand Stamped Sentiments!





Coming from an aviation family means that I always notice stamps with airplanes. I've had this stamp and die set for a long time and finally was inspired to use the set for a birthday card when I saw the Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge #234.

The airplane was stamped, colored and die cut. The sentiment was stamped, die cut and matted. The clouds were die cut. The trees were stamped and fussy cut. The hearts came from a punch. Everything was assembled and adhered onto a panel of cardstock. The plane, two clouds and sentiment were backed with foam tape and popped up for dimension. The hanger for the sign was hand drawn. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of cardstock and hearts were adhered.

Be sure to stop by the HSSSK234 blog to view the challenge!

Techniques: Stamping, coloring, fussy cutting, die cutting, punch cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: "Lovely as a Tree"; Taylored Expressions "Plane Awesome"
Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Memento Tuxedo Black; Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Soft Sky, Real Red
Dies: Taylored Expressions "Plane Awesome" (airplane); Simon Says Stamp "My Heart Soars" (clouds) and "Double Stitched Squares" (sentiment)
Punch: "Confetti Hearts"
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Love You to Pieces

The inspiration for this card came from Color Throwdown Challenge #386. The colors are always vibrant and pretty.

The teal card base was lined with a panel of white cardstock and a die cut of a puzzle piece in the lime DSP. A panel of white cardstock spattered with ink along with a panel of lime DSP were adhered to the card base. A white die cut tag was adhered to a teal fussy cut tag. The sentiment was stamped along with one piece of the puzzle and some hearts. The puzzle pieces were die cut and adhered. The ribbon was added and tied in a bow. The tag was backed with foam tape and popped up on the card. Three teal enamel dots were added.

Visit CTD386 and join in the challenge!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting, fussy cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted -
Stamps: "Gorgeous Grunge"; Lil' Inker "Piece of Me"
Inks: Island Indigo, Certainly Celery, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Island Indigo; Bazzill Juicy Pear
DSP: CTMH "Penelope" collection
Dies: Lil' Inker Dotted Tags & Puzzle Pieces
Misc.: Dimensionals, Island Indigo ribbon, enamel dots

Spring Leaves... oops, Feathers

When I saw the color selections at Color My Heart: Color Dare #187, I was so pleased. I love all the hues of the color green. In the fall we use leaves to depict the season, so why not use fresh green leaves to depict the new life that spring brings to us? But then as I was selecting my stamp set, I saw the feather stamp set and thought that would be fun to use. Spring brings us fresh leaves but also birds. I chose to use the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #153 as the basis for my design. A friend told me about the Festive Friday Challenge at The Outlawz blog so I am also joining in the celebration of National Feather Day!

Four different feather designs were stamped in various challenge colors onto white cardstock. A touch of grunge spatter and scrapes were also added by stamping off. The stamped panel was adhered to another panel of cardstock, then to the card base. The card base interior was lined with a panel of white cardstock and stamped feathers. Four different colors of cardstock were cut into thin strips and adhered to the top of the card. Onto that, the sentiment stack was backed with foam tape and adhered. Additional feathers were stamped and die cut then also popped up on foam. Three enamel dots were added to the oval sentiment stack.

Join in the challenge fun at AHSC153, Color Dare #187, and The Outlawz.

Techniques: Stamping, stamping off, die cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

CTMH Materials
Cardstock: Pear, Fern, New England Ivy, Topiary

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamps: Four Feathers, Gorgeous Grunge, Simply Wonderful (sentiment)
Inks: Certainly Celery (sub Sweet Leaf), Gumball Green (sub Topiary), Pear Pizzazz (sub Pear), Old Olive (sub Fern), Mossy Meadow (sub NE Ivy)
Cardstock: Whisper White
Dies: Feathers Framelits
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Dies: Gina K Designs nesting ovals
Misc.: enamel dots

Wild Violets

4/04/2016 Update: Wild Violets was an Emerald Award winner at the Color Dare Challenge!





5/05/2016 Update: This card won the Stamplorations gift card at Creative with Stamps monthly challenge!

Violets are so lovely when they grow in the wild and growing African Violets can be a pleasant hobby. I gave the African violets away when I adopted a cat because I could not keep the cat from eating the flowers or digging in the pots.

My card was inspired by the gorgeous colors in the Color My Heart: Color Dare Challenge #186, and the very first challenge at Creative with Stamps #1!

Some scraps of cardstock were spattered with the white craft ink. Once dry, all of the elements were die cut from the spattered cardstock and popped up on foam tape for adhering. On a panel of white cardstock, leaves and flowers were stamped and the edges were cut with a reversed scallop border die. The panel was adhered to cardstock and then to the card base. All of the elements were then adhered. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and two die cut flowers.

Visit the Color Dare challenge to view some lovely creations!

Techniques: Stamping, stamping off, die cutting

CTMH Materials
Cardstock: Gypsy, Lagoon

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Flowering Fields, Gorgeous Grunge
Dies: Botanical Builder
Cardstock: Whisper White
Inks: Wisteria Wonder, Coastal Cabana, White Craft
Misc.: Dimensional foam, Itty Bitty Butterfly punch, pearls

Other Materials:
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Dies: Gina K Designs stacking and nesting ovals (both plain and reverse scallop); Lawn Fawn scalloped border (reversed)