Flowers in the chair

Click on any image to enlarge.
This was an interesting card for me. I colored the chair and flowers with my prisma colors, but then couldn't decide what colors I wanted to use on the card. Then I was inspired by a card that had several layers that were sewn together. So I took everything to the sewing machine for the second time. The pink papers were all in a collection, so I knew the patterns would all go together. The stamp is by Digi Doodle.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Colour Create Challenge - pastels & spring
Digi Doodle Challenge - spring
Stamp Something Challenge - something pink
The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - let your garden grow
Crafty Cardmakers - challenge yourself
Forever Friends Challenge Blog - spring

TFL,

dj1952 (Debra)

First paper piercing project.

Click on any image to enlarge. This has been a challenging week for me. I decided to try my hand at paper piercing after I purchased some digi images from Fred She Said Store. I think the card has a simple elegance with the single image and the paper piercing. It's a technique I've always wanted to try, but just never got around to doing. Now I love it. It helps that several of the images from FSS already have the marks for the piercing on some of the pages.

Of course, it's still a bit of a challenge to get it to work when you reverse the image and punch from the back side. I threw away several images before I got it lined up just right.

I also made the background paper that is at the bottom of the card. I did it with my "scribble" stamp, and some random stamping of other small stamps. I like this because I can make up whatever color I need.

I've entered this card at the following challenges: Fred She Said Challenge - spring and pastels
The Play Date Cafe - light blue, dark blue and white
Crafty Creations Challenges - anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - challenge yourself
One Stitch At A Time - anything goes
For Fun Challenges - anything goes
TFL,

dj1952 (Debra)

My Bestest Friend...

Click on any image to enlarge Isn't he cute? I can just see him dragging this dog around with him everywhere. I've wanted to use this digi image for a while, but just haven't gotten around to it. It's one of Mo's digital pencil images. The papers are all from my stash. The background paper is from K and Company, the ribbon is from Michaels $1 bin. The flowers are from a bunch that I purchased at Michaels also. This is the first card that I actually stitched on, but it didn't contrast enough with the page to show up very clearly.

I'm entering the card in the following challenges:

Sketch and Stash Challenge - image is new, but not used until now, other items from stash.
Stamp Something - doodle
Sketchy Colors - orange, turquoise, white and brown The Shabby Tea Room - scraps
Cute Daisy May - boys
Paper Take Weekly Challenge - anything goes

I thought I had another, but dummy me used the wrong layout. Oh well, maybe next time.

TFL,

dj1952

Penny Black Fantasy Tree

Click on any image to enlarge I've had this stamp for a while, not really knowing exactly how I wanted to use it. One of the challenges I wanted to enter was "spring", so instead of just black or green for the leaves, I went with the pinks on the Penny Black stamp that I also used for that challenge which also wanted a sketch. I used George to cut the circles. A second challenge called for spots or dots, and I have that with the papers, tree, and on the ribbon. Another challenge called for a sketch and blue and brown, again I wasn't really sure how I'd get this worked into a "spring" card but, I think with the K & Company's wonderful papers, I found the right mix. I then painted some bronze perfect pearls on the tree and added bling to the blooms.

This is also the first time I've used buttons on a card. Now that I've started however, it won't be the last time. I also used Ranger alcohol inks on the background of the image and on the buttons to color them. (More new techniques for me.) (Maybe I've been watching too many videos on YouTube at one time.) LOL

The challenges I'm entering are:
Crafty Creations Challenge - spots and dots
Paper Cutz Challenge - 1 ribbon, 3 buttons
Secret Crafter - spring colors or stamp
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - sketch & Penny Black stamp
Squigglefly - buttons

Polka Doodles - sketch and blue & brown

TFL,

dj1952

A Happy Hello

Click on any image to enlarge.

I've been wanting to do a birdhouse recently, but wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with it. This didn't turn out exactly how I wanted, but I think my friend will enjoy it.

I used SYI for the house, and HD for the bird, which I cut two at 2" and then cut the darker one apart and placed in areas I thought might enhance the bird. The wreath around the entrance was made with a MS punch. I pop dotted the first layer of the birdhouse and the perch.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Cute Daisy May - anything goes
The Pixie Cottage - green
Fussy and Fancy Challenge - green
Paper Cutz Challenge - anything goes


TFL,

dj1952

Gumballs Anyone?

Click on any image to enlarge

I just had to do another gatefold card for this card. These are more images that I reduced from a coloring book. After coloring the boy and girl with my prismacolor pencils I remembered seeing a gumball machine on its own, so I got the idea to use it on the front of the card. I didn't want just a plain back showing on the inside, so I colored two, matted them both, and pop-dotted the top one so the right side of the front would slide inbetween it when closed.

The papers are more from a beautiful stack I purchased for $7.95 by K&Company with 360 pages. (What a deal!) I used the new MS pansy punch. The sentiment is done with Sweethearts and PS. I wanted more of a 3-D effect, so I punched some foamies with my "1/4" hole punch and drew a highlight mark on them for more gumballs. Of course, by now I've run out of room to put my message to my friends, so I did a hidden pocket under the picture and used a gumball as the pull.

I'm entering this card at Polka Doodles Challenge and at
Saturday Challenge

TFL,

dj1952

First Gate-fold Card

Click on any image to enlarge.

For a while I was only making easel cards, so I decided that I would learn some new designs (new for me). So this is my first, but not last, gate-fold card. I think it is such a nice way to send your message to others.

The floral paper is from K&Company's Best. It is such a beautiful backdrop for my card. The image is from a coloring book that I purchased at Target. I purchased three for $1 each and now I have a stack of new images to color, after printing them at 50% of the full size. I cut the circle on the front from Storybook, as well as the design. I colored the image with my prismacolors and gamsol.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly Challenge (buttons, bows, brads or bling) (I chose bling)
Pollycraft Monday Challenge (distressing)

Cricut Cardz Challenge (gate-fold card)

TFL,

dj1952

First Stairstep Card

Click on any image to enlarge.

This is my first attempt at the stairstep card. I thought I was doing a different take on it by adding the part on the left, then I see that a couple designers did similar cards. I did come up with my own dimensions, as I hadn't seen this size on the web. The top picture is how it will look when it come out of the envelope. And the bottom is the open version. I really had fun putting the elements together. I'm entering this in four (4) challenges:


The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - folds
Cute Daisy May - bright & cheerful colors
Sketchy Colors - dark green, light green & pink
Polka Doodles - hearts & flowers


The heart is cut from HD, and I used three MS punches. The butterflies are made with one of the new stamp and cut punches, which I really like. I also used the feathered leaf and the new pansy border.

TFL,

dj1952

Ampersand Anniversary Card

Click on any image to enlarge.

A dear friend likes cards that are not the normal greeting card. She had really liked an ampersand card that I did for another friend's anniversary, so I thought I would do this for her and her husband also. This is not my original design, but from a Cricut member, Tracy Gough.

I cut the ampersand base at 7-1/4" in brown regular shadow and one flipped using Plantin School. I also cut another at this setting, however I cut it in a coordinating aqua for the back. (To cover the back of the hinge.) Then I cut the aqua front, and the tops on the inside in regular at 7" (One has to be flipped for the left inside.) I did my sentiments up with Corel Draw so they would follow the curves of the ampersand. I added flourishes from SYI at 3" & 3-1/2". The flowers are from AE at 1-1/2" and the monogram from MM at 1". I then added lots of bling. I put the cards together with a hinge from FF. I made the top with the holes showing and the back with the holes filled in. I didn't like the way the back looked, so as I said before, I covered the back with another ampersand the same size as the base.

I'm entering this in the challenge over at Simon Says Stamps Challenge. The challenge is about love. I hope that even though this doesn't use the word "love" it will suffice.

Thanks for looking.

dj1952

Happy Anniversary from Antoinette

Click on any image to enlarge

I'm so happy to be able to make cards again. My cricut and all my supplies had to be temporarily moved. I never thought it would take over a month. I'm entering this on the challenge at Kraftin Kimmie Stamps. The challenge was to rip something. I find it hard to rip paper, I'm always working hard to cut everything evenly, however, I wanted to use my new stamp I purchased from them. I've always thought she was so cute.

The only thing I used my cricut for was the background and the frame. I used silk flowers and jewels.

Thanks for looking,

dj1952