Another Challenge Card

I can't believe I'm posting a second card in one day but I just couldn't help myself. I intended to watch the Germany/Canada game (Olympics men's hockey) but the fates (my husband & kids) conspired against me. The first period viewing went well but then everyone got home. I knew my viewing was at risk when DH said "any ideas for supper?". So the second period of the game passed in a blur of cooking dinner, waiting on the children and listening to complaints of "I don't liiiiiiike that". The third period was looking promising though (and Canada was well ahead) but there was homework to help with and stories to read. Next thing I knew the game was over and I'd missed pretty much the entire thing.

Oh well, I used that disappointment as my excuse to try out this image from Stampotique and the colour palette (mossy green, rose, yellow) for this week's challenge was just so pretty that I knew it would cheer me up.

I'm actually entering this card into several challenges (everyone has spring colours on the mind):

• Stampotique Designers Challenge - use mossy green, rose, yellow (my yellow turned out quite a bit darker than the challenge pallette but I hope it's still OK)
• Colour Create Challenge - use red, chocolate, white/off-wht, pink (absolutely all of these colours are in the DP)
• The Play Date Cafe - use red, brown, linen (again, all these colours are in the DP)
• The Pink Elephant - sketch

As usual, I've used Basic Grey papers; this time the series is from "Indian Summer". The image is from Stampotique Originals and is coloured with Copics. The stamps they carry are just so unique but I haven't found anyone locally who carries them - this means a month or more wait anytime I order one (which luckily reduces the impulse purchases a bit).

Pollycraft Double Up Challenge

I created this card for Pollycraft Monday Challenge. 

The theme for their new challenge which was set by Joanne is: "DOUBLE UP" (need to use TWO SEPARATE images).

I chose to use Felicity - swing out as she reminds me of my sister Margaret (the same tomboy cuteness, I think) combined with this sweet fence to make a summer scene. Felicity and the fence are coloured with Copic markers. I made the trees using a brass stencil (Dreamweavers, Tree of Life) and the Copic airbrushing system. The different components are each popped up to make for a very 3-D card.
 

Challenge cards for Mo's DP and for ABC Challenge

I came down with a cold over the weekend so aside from scrubbing out the bathroom, I didn't do much except sneeze, sniffle and sit at the table crafting. On that positive note I finished up several cards for several challenges.

My first card uses one of my favourite images from Mo's Digital Pencil. The challenge was to create a card using just cream or white paper and one ribbon. No embellishments, patterned paper or layers. This was a lot tougher than I would've thought but it sure worked to bring all the emphasis to the image.

I angled the ribbon and embossed the cardstock using a Cuttlebug folder to give it a bit more interest but otherwise it's all about the cranky 2-yr old. I'm entering this card into these challenges:

• Mo's Digital Challenge - cream/white cardstock & 1 ribbon
• I love digi challenge - use pink

This second card was a relatively quick one to make as it uses outline stickers coloured in with Copic markers. The challenge here, from ABC Challenge, was to make a card using only one piece of paper (front & back). I chose this patterned paper from Basic Grey. I used the reverse (which was plain white) for the layers and I cut out some of the flowers for extra embellishments. I just love the ease of outline stickers for making quick, dramatic cards.

Kayla

I finally scrapbooked some pictures of my dog Kayla who passed away a few years ago. She was such a sweet, sweet dog. Homely as a stump but with the best personality in the world. I started this layout at CKC last year (I think?) and decided that it would be perfect for Kayla as she deserves very pretty pages.

Chipboard accents - Crate Paper, "Bliss" collection
Letter stickers - Scenic Route

Another vintage card

I was so happy with the way my last card using a vintage image worked out that I decided to try another. This card is to congratulate my husband's nephew on the birth of his second daughter. I found the image on the Digital Two for Tuesday site and just fell in love with the sweetness of the two little girls holding hands.

Once again I am using a sketch from Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. Their sketches are just so good and they always include two versions - one clean & simple and one fancier.

I'm also entering this card into these additional challenges:

• Digital Tuesday Challenge - create something girly
• Fab 'N Funky Challenges - theme is "it's childish" (this card is to welcome a new baby)
• Stampotique Designers Challenge - theme is "love" (this card just screams of sisterly love to me)
• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - digi colouring

Recipe:

• Patterned paper - Basic Grey
• Digital image - free vintage image from Digital Two for Tuesday
• Spellbinders nestabilities die cut
• miscellaneous buttons

Olympic Winter Games

The energy here in Vancouver is quite incredible now that the Olympics have begun. Even out in the suburbs (where I am) the excitement is noticeable. I've been pretty apathetic about the entire thing (I don't like sports, especially watching sports) but now that it has started I find myself getting involved too. There are flags flying from the car, a big Canada flag in the living room window and, much as I hate crowds, I am taking the kids downtown today to visit some of the venues and see the sites.

The kids have been doing all sorts of Olympic-themed activities at school and daycare. I wanted to share this picture of them putting on their own Torch ceremony for us. I admit the passing of the flame was a bit more like a sword-fight but they were soooo proud of their homemade torches and so pleased to imitate their heroes.

Card Challenge: The Bugaboo Stamps Catch the Bug Challenge challenged us to create an Olympics-themed card this week. I started this card before I "caught" the fever so you will have to excuse the tone (inside the card reads "Cuervo Gold that is". Nonetheless, I kind of like this card and its tone. You have to check out the cards submitted by the design team - they are absolutely fantastic!

Recipe:
Digital stamp - Bugaboo Stamps
Olympics images copied from web
Copic markers
Glossy accents (for dots on shirt, glasses)
Stickles (for purse, shoes)

Just because vintage card

I've been wanting to try out this vintage image that I found on Digital Two for Tuesday (which features 2 free vintage images each week) and so decided to make a "just because" card to have on hand. After all, you just never know when you will need a card in a hurry.

This card also meets several challenges:

• Midnight Madness sketch challenge - sketch
• Fab n Funky Challenges - shabby chic
• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - digi colouring
• Polkadoodle - hearts & flowers

As usual, I used my Copic markers to colour the image. I also used Copic marker to colour the flourish on the left side of the card so that it would match the patterned paper. The flower is a mix of some cheap flowers I bought at Walmart (and then took apart). Polka Doodle required hearts too and if you look you will see that the patterned paper is actually made up of stylized hearts.

A card for Delia

One of the reasons I so love being a crafter is how quickly the crafting community responds to a call for help. This was proven yet again when Dustin Pike posted a request for cards for a sick little girl on his blog. From what I have heard, the cards are flooding into little Delia! I made this card for her - I hope all the goodwill cheers her day.

This was such a fun card to make as I took inspiration from quite a few challenges (and used a brand-new digi stamp):

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  Crazy 4 Challenges - valentine card
• 
  
  One Stop Craft Challenge - use the colours apple green, chocolate & clotted cream
• 
  
  The Pink Elephant - valentine card
• 
  
  Digital Tuesday - all about animals
• 
  
  Everybody Art Cchallenge - valentine card
• 
  
  Truly Scrumptious - sketch, plus use buttons & bows
• 
  
  Copics Colour - use copic colours R29, RV23, B12
• 
  
  Cute Card Thursday - valentine card
• 
  
  ABC Challenge - "n" for new stash
• Simon Says Stamps - love

The Recipe:

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  Digi stamp is called Herbert the Turtle, from Karen's Doodles - I just discovered her work and am totally in love with her style!
• 
  
  Papers - Basic Grey
• 
  
  Ribbon - scrap ribbons

Thanks for looking!

Valentine's Day Inspirations

Just posting a couple of Valentine's Day cards that I made for my nieces. As usual, the inspiration was found in many places:

Card 1 (Elephant):

• Cute Card Thursday - challenge #98 - spots & dots
• ABC challenge - "N" is for new - use some new stash (the digi is new and the paper came from a new magazine)
• Doodle Dragon Studio - challenge #2, provided the sketch

Card 2 (Girl):

• Copic Creations - challenge 21, use feathering technique
• Crazy 4 Challenges - challenge 23, create a Valentine

I played around with Dustin Pike's sketch quite a bit because I really wanted to make a wiper card. The picture doesn't show it well but basically the little Suzy's Zoo angel pops up when the card is opened. I left the side of the card purposefully blank so that I can write in a mushy, lovey-dovey message (which I will not inflict on you) to my niece. I absolutely adore the elephant image which is (of course) from Dustin Pike. The polka dot paper was a freebie from a card making magazine.

This card also uses a Dustin Pike image - isn't she adorable? I used more of the card making magazine free paper as well as some scrap ribbon. I have to do more practicing, but I also tried a new technique called "feathering" on the skirt. This was in answer to a challenge on Copic Creations. Check out Marianne Walker's great tutorial to learn more about using this cool method of combining colours!