FALLING LEAVES

Three challenges are hopefully being met with my card today.  First of all, I have a personal challenge every month to design a card for a class I teach - for me it has to be relatively easy to do, different from any store bought card and an interesting technique.  The second and third challenges are for Addicted to CAS (leaves) and The Paper Players (colors).

I decided the women in my class would enjoy making a picket fence card.  So I watercolored some sheets of paper using my Brushos until I had a wide variety of fall colors and then die cut dozens of various leaves.  They will be able to choose some leaves after the base card is finished - also choose a sentiment and add gold spatter if they wish.  My Brusho colors were the ones from the PP challenge and of course leaves everywhere for Addicted to CAS challenge.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

If you need to add some birthday cards to your stash then this TicTacToe Challenge #220 is for you - "birthday" is right in the middle so practically any which way you go there's inspiration for a birthday card!!  I went diagonally from left to right with flowers, birthday sentiments and gems.

supplies: flowers; leaf border 

I loved the idea of a blue and green card so began with a leafy border on a darker green base.  Then die cut some flowers in blues to fill out the corners.  Before adding the sentiment and enamel dots (my gems as I don't have any sparkly ones!), I spattered it all in white (white acrylic paint and a little water).

 

Be sure to add to your birthday card collection with an entry in this week's TicTacToe Challenge #220 - you will have a chance to become a future guest designer. Crafty Hugs,

 

FLOWERS ON THE FENCE

It's been forever since I entered a challenge and today's the day!!  Freshly Made Sketches has a great CAS inspiration for this week and was playing around with some new (to me) dies and came up with this card.  Just realized DieCutDivas has a birthday theme for this month so will enter there also.

 supplies: flowers and leaves

Recently purchased these floral dies and did a "Jennifer" marathon cutting out a bunch of them and putting them together.  Had this picket fence card base sitting on my desk and VOILA!! the card came together in no time!
 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

SUNFLOWERS

How about some sunflowers for Felicita's TicTacToe Challenge #220 this week!  I went diagonally from left to right with any shape die, free and CAS.

supplies: arched dies; sunflowers

I began with making a shaped card and then popping up the same smaller shape again.  After cutting out my sunflowers and leaves, I added some shading with various inks.  Put some black Nuvo drops in the centers of the flowers and tucked in the little sentiment and done.  I consider a CAS card to be one with lots of white space, one focal point and uncluttered.

Hope to see you in our challenge this week - winner will be a future guest designer!

BUTTERFLY

It's a floral butterfly for this week's TicTacToe Challenge #216 designed by Elizabeth.  Loved the idea of blue and green together so went down the left side with green and blue, layers and die cut.  My card also works for diagonally from left to right with green and blue, CAS and critter and straight down the center with foliage, CAS and gems.

 supplies: butterfly; flowers and leaves

The butterfly base is heavy white cs with a vellum overlay and gold body.   Then did a floral arrangement with flowers in two shades of blue and a variety of green leaves.  Lastly spattered the whole thing with gold metallic paint and added a few sequins.

 

Play along with our challenge this week for a chance to be one of our future guest designers.  Crafty hugs.

 

TWOFER

Joanne has a great board for you for designing a card for this week's TicTacToeChallenge #124. I went right down the middle with patterned paper, flower and enamel dots.

supplies: die; enamel dots

 
I've had this paper from a 6x6 pad and was kind of hoarding it - am sure you can identify with this - but decided it was time to use it!  I die cut the large sentiment from it and then also cut the same sentiment again from white cs and thin foam.  Glued the white cs and foam together and then fit it into the negative space on the card base.  Added some enamel dots and done!!

Had a strip of patterned paper left over and couldn't waste it and so made a second card.  Made an eclipse card - a little more tedious this time adding all those little bits and bobs back in - just a fun card makers puzzle!  Added enamel dots to it also and done!  Both of these cards are mini slimline - 6"x6.25".

Hope you'll join our challenge this week for a chance to be one of our guest designers!

MAGNOLIAS

It's time for a new TicTacToe board - this week designed by yours truly.  It's not a difficult board so hope many of you will join in the fun - that "free" square in the middle makes it even easier!! 

supplies: embossing folder; magnolias; shape die

I went from left to right diagonally with ink blending, free and floral (I always have to have that floral element!!)  I saw Yana create an arches card a few weeks ago and HAD to have those arches dies - they make such a unique card.  After die cutting the smaller arch, I embossed it with a magnolia folder.  Die cut the magnolia, leaves and branches from white card stock and just did some subtle ink blending to give all the pieces some color.  Will wait until I need a card for a special someone before adding a sentiment.

 Hope to see your card in this week's gallery.  Crafty hugs,

 

MAGNOLIA BRIDGE CARD

Jennifer M. did pop-up bridge cards in a video the other day - so was inspired to make one also. The embossed arch was already on my desk from another card and followed her idea of using a large piece for across the bridge. Added the magnolia branch and a few sequins - before putting it all together, I shaded the background with some of the same pink as in the flower.

supplies: embossing folder; magnolia: shape die

Thanks for stopping by - crafty hugs,

 
 

VELLUM CARD

In Jennifer Mcguire's FB group, Share Handmade Kindness, there is a monthly challenge where the card is to be based on a technique from one of her videos.  This month it's creative uses for vellum.

Striped vellum formed my card base.  I die cut some Alexandra Renke leaves four times, stacked them and arranged on the card front.  Die cut the smaller rectangle in the center for writing a message.  Finally spattered with gold ink, added some gold sequins and the sentiment and done.  Watch Jennifer's video for all the instructions on how to construct this card. 

Crafty hugs,

TICTACTOE #210

Vicky has designed a very versatile board for us this week for our TicTacToe Challenge - I took the challenge across the center and went really masculine with tools, CAS and metallic element.  Certainly all those tools have some metal in them - right?

I downloaded a png file from PNGwing as I don't have any "tool" stamps.  I die cut the word "DAD" from the center of the card, then die cut "DAD" again from fun foam.  Glued the background piece on a gray card base; then added the popped up letters.  Added the little "happy Father's day" sentiment along with a few gray enamel dots and done!

Hope to see your card in the gallery this week!  Crafty hugs,

BOAT ON A LAKE

 This card was so out of my comfort zone but I persevered.  A friend wanted a Father's Day card with a lake and a boat for her Dad.  So decided to have a go.

I began by doing the background - green for the grass, aqua for the lake and blue for the sky.  Did some shading and then added the grass stamping and the water ripples.  Colored the dock and boat and put it all together.  I'm kind of proud of myself for managing something like this!!

The stamps and dies are from SU and I used all distress oxide inks for the blending and coloring.

Have a great weekend.

TICTACTOE #208

This week's TicTacToe #208 was designed for us by Felicita and perfect any of your masculine family or friends.  I went left to right diagonally with masculine, free and square.

I have a stash of authentic French wine labels and one of them happened to be square.  I simply glued it to the kraft piece and  stamped the grapes, wine bottle and glass over the top.  Then mounted on a cream card base.  Inside the sentiment says "Like a fine wine, you only get better with age!"

Hope you'll join our challenge this week - there's a guest designer prize for the winner!  Crafty hugs,

 

CARD FOR CAROL

Here's my card for the TicTacToe Challenge #206 with the board designed by Elizabeth.  I went across the top with flowers, word die and a matching envelope.

supplies: washi tape; alphabet letters; sentiment

The floral background is washi tape applied to an A2 card base.  I die cut the letters from this background;  then stacked them up with more layers of cardstock and fit it all back.  Added the little "happy birthday" sentiment and done.  I had a leftover piece of the floral so put that on the envelope with a white rectangle for writing the address.  Voila! matching envelope!!

Hope you'll join our challenge this week - winner will be a future guest designer which is always fun!  Crafty hugs,

 

BLUE FLORAL

Spring time in Texas - bluebonnets are covering the roadsides  - so amazingly beautiful!!  So I have created a blue birthday card!

 

Joanne created a lovely spring board for TicTacToe#204 this week.  I chose to go from left to right diagonally - floral, free, enamel dot.  My blue flowers were printed from a PNGwing file and then a rectangle die cut from the center and popped up - I just die cut more rectangles to pop it up.  Added a little birthday greeting and the enamel dots and done!!  So quick and easy!

Please join our fun this week at TicTacToe #204!  Crafty Hugs,

HE IS RISEN

My board for TicTacToe #202 this week is perfect for your Easter or spring cards.  The card I designed will fit several ways but I was thinking of across the top with gold, butterfly and die cut(s).

supplies: Alexandra Renke Magical Butterfly; Miss Ink Floral Wave; The Greetery Easter Jubilee

I started out with my butterfly cut once from an alcohol ink piece and secondly out of vellum.  The background was done with a stencil in abandoned coral DO.  Then I spattered the whole card with gold metallic ink, added the little sentiment and some gold sequins.   Lastly I had the bright idea to stencil and spatter gold on the envelope too - used the ink that was left on my brush so it's a nice pale color.

Hope you'll join us this week at TicTacToe #202 for a chance to be one of our future guest designers!
 

SPRING MEANS IRIS!

Here in Texas, I've seen pansies, daffodils and crepe myrtle signs of spring and decided to use my favorite spring flower for my card today's TicTacToe #200 challenge designed by Vicky.  I went down the middle with pastel colors, flowers and a spring theme.

supplies: Iris; sentiment

I'm having fun making these pop-up cards inspired by Jennifer's video.  So easy to do and very quick.  I colored the iris with my copics and arranged on the top and inside.  Blended a little yellow in the background for extra color.

Hope you'll join our challenge this week for a chance to be a guest designer.

Thanks for stopping by.  Crafty hugs,

 

CROCUS

Crocus are such a glorious sign of spring, don't you think?  I thought they would be perfect for an Easter card.

supplies: crocus

I die cut all the flower parts and leaves from white cardstock and then colored with DO ink blending.  Added some texture with a circle impression plate, added a little sentiment and done.

Thanks for stopping by.  Crafty hugs,

 
 

HYDRANGEA

There's a great inspiration board this week designed by Felicita at the TicTacToe Challenge #198.  I went straight across the center with Easter, free and floral.

supplies: Honey Bee Lovely Layers Hydrangea

I used four colors of cardstock for my flower and then blended in the centers for some added dimension.  Cut my card base to 4x5.25 so part of the leaves could hang over the side a bit.  Did some yellow ink blending on the card base before attaching the flower and adding the little sentiment.

Come join our challenge this and have a chance to be a future guest designer.