PIP Challenge 1832 - Limited Runs

How can Mondays keep coming so fast and Fridays so slow? Good thing Monday's mean new PIP challenges. Our sponsor is Limited Runs Digital Stamps and if you play along you have a chance to win 3 digital stamps from her shop. Maybe use one of the 3 to buy the image for her Facebook progressive challenge.... Just a thought.

Nikki allowed me to pick my image and I couldn't resist "Insane Girl" . Sort of fits life the last few years. A million things to do, get one checked off and 50 more appear in the process which can drive me a bit batty at times.

Printed on white cardstock and colored with Copics. Again I stuck with my favorite style, clean and simple because I want the image and sentiment to be the focal point. Card base is an off-green. Design papers are from The Angel Company and sentiment is from Penny Black, simply masked off the word "what" when inked.

Time for me to get moving and you to get creating. Please swing by Limited Runs and leave a little love to show her how much you appreciate her sponsorship.  Just remember to link up on the PIP challenge for your chance at the prize. While there check out the rest of the Design Team creations. We really love feedback.



Parting thought:
        Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked.      Oliver  Wendell Holmes Sr.

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 404 - Anything Goes

Welcome to Tuesday Throwdown's weekly challenge. This time it's anything goes, my favorite!

Sponsoring us is SugarPea Designs, where paper crafting is sugar sweet and full of whimsy...

Today's card was made using Pure Magic (he's currently on sale!) Clean and simple style, stamped onto ivory card stock. Colored with Prismacolor pencils (no Gamsol was used.)

I apologize for the slight bends in right corner, let's just say I had a crafty klutz moment. 😎 Will look for iron so I can smooth them out. 

Managed to keep this post short, win for everyone. Speaking of winning, don't forget to enter the Tuesday Throwdown challenge for a sweet prize from SugarPea Designs. While you are at the challenge blog, be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team creations. We love getting feedback!

PIP Challenge 1830 - Newton's Nook

PIP challenge time and since it's the 5th Monday, we have a theme for you! Sunny day. Admit it, when you hear that phrase, you want to start singing  "Sunny Day, sweepin' the clouds away".... Sponsoring our sunny journey is Newton's Nook who is offering a $15.00 gift code to the winner.

Today I am featuring another stamp from the Newton Rides West stamps and coordinating dies. Stamped, cut and colored using white card stock. Sun was created from yellow felt card stock run through an embossing folder covered with Versa Mark chalk ink. Sentiment from The Angel Company stamped directly onto a 5" x 7" kraft card blank. One cactus is layered with foam tape and 2 flowers I discovered in my catch-all drawer were added to make cactus blossoms.

Supplies used are below with the exception of the green Copics and Newton's colors. Forgot to take a photo. The colors are 03 Yellow Green, G21 Lime Green and 99 Olive on the cacti. Newton is C1, C3 and B60 Pale Blue Gray, R11 Pale Cherry Pink. Bandana accent is YR 16 Apricot.

Time to go. Thanks for stopping by and wishing you a sunny day!

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 402 - Heatwave

Heatwave, we're having a heatwave. At Tuesday Throwdown's challenge blog this week. I prefer their version of a heatwave which is to use hot colors. Easier on the body than Mother Nature's version. Our sponsor is Winnie and Walter where they want you to have fun in creating..

I am using Do You See What I See cutaway from Winnie and Walter. First I created my "heat wave" by using watercolor paper and shaking some Ken Oliver Color Burst in Gamboge. Spritzed generously with water, patted with a paper towel and shook Color Burst in Cadmium Scarlet onto this. Placed another paper towel over this and sprayed again, saturating the towel.

Gamboge

Cadmium Scarlet

Saturated toweling

Let dry and this was the result.

Applied a sheet of adhesive to the back side, ran through the die cutter with the "Do You See What I See" die, which cut like butter! Using a milkweed card, 5" x 7" (finished size), picked the majority of the shapes from the frame (remember I applied an adhesive sheet before die cutting.) Peeled the liner from the back and applied frame and pieces to the card. Ran a line of glue on bottom of the frame and randomly stacked some of the pieces I had picked out. Sentiment I am playing with for the inside is "I thought you might need a pick me up" but haven't made a decision yet. Any suggestions?

Here is the finished card.

Okay, even I admit I was a bit gabby in this post. You deserve to take a break. Might I suggest you do some shopping with Winnie and Walter. Of course you can't forget to make and share your version of hot colors with everyone at Tuesday Throwdown.

Catch you later, need to find someplace with A/C!

PIP Challenge 1828 - StarzStamps

Once again the weekend flew by. Lucky for you, I'm so behind this is going to be a short post.

It's time for a new PIP Challenge and our sponsor is StarzStamps. Sarah provided the team with two very different images,  Goldfish Fishing and My Sweet Rose to pick from. While I colored them both My Sweet Rose is what I am showing.

She's a beauty and I think she makes a wonderful zombie. Zombies are discussed on a daily basis in my home thanks to my grandson. Colored with Copics and fussy cut. Background is a stamp from Fun Stampers Journey and stamped with white pigment ink on black card stock. Sparkle chalk applied with a cotton ball to set the pigment ink. Everything is mounted on a mottled green and white card blank. Sadly, I didn't keep track of my Copic colors. No sentiment as haven't decided how she will be used other than she will not be a Halloween card.

Thank you Sarah and StarzStamps for such a great  image.

Okay, you know the drill... Here's the link for StarzStamps. Shop till you drop (into your craft  throne) and enter your creations into the PIP challenge for a chance to win. Anything goes.

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 400 - Color Challenge

Tuesday Throwdown challenge time and what a lovely challenge it is! Our sponsor is Power Poppy and if you haven't checked Marcella's shop it's "unabashedly upbeat" and her florals are beautiful. It's always a privilege to work with her images. The other lovely part of this week's challenge is it's a color challenge. They make me think of sherbert or petite four cakes. What do you think when you see this

I loved the images we were thoughtfully provided to work with. One just "screamed" to me, the beautiful Dahlia digital stamp. I left it fairly close in size, such a dramatic image deserves to make a bold statement.

Here is the start of my coloring and in my opinion, the most color accurate photo I managed. More on that later.

Here it is completely colored.

The markers and papers used are in this photo. Feeling the need to prove I behaved before you see the final image. Four markers, three backing papers.

Here is my finished Dahlia.

I love how this turned out but I struggled with an accurate photo. The Dahlia seem so much lighter or brighter in the photo than in person. I am starting to think it's the background papers affecting the photo. Anyone else struggle with this? No matter, it's such a lovely image you can't go wrong with it!

Bed is calling so I hope you treat yourself by checking out Power Poppy and treat us at Tuesday Throwdown by entering into the challenge.

PIP Challenge 1826 - Sparkle N Sprinkle

Anyone challenged by the warm weather? Despite warmer than normal temps here, there was a lovely lake breeze that made the days pleasant and me grateful for living where I do. However, come winter someone might have to remind me I said that...

Time for a new PIP challenge sponsored by Sparkle N Sprinkle, where there's a sale going on. Buy 3 digital stamps, get the 4th free. Rubber lover, digital or clear they have what you desire. A crafter's paradise for all!

Sparkle N Sprinkle provided me with Lovely Magnolia Digital Stamp Set (also available in rubber.) Since I was short on time, I aligned and printed the white magnolia, two leaves and sentiment on a laser printer in color. I changed the sentiment to print in green just because I could and I love green.

While this makes a lovely panel, I took Copic B000, Pale Porcelain Blue to deepen the blue already there. Then I mixed Diamond Glaze with Amuse Stardust Sparkle Spray and painted two coats over the blue ink. It added dimension and a soft sparkle (like flower petals have) to the overall look. Here's a close up though I'm not sure I captured it very well.

Trimmed and adhered to a black panel and layered with green and blue panels to a white card blank measuring 8 .50" by 4.00" , which fits a business size envelope.

Do yourself a favor and check out  all that Sparkle N Sprinkle have to offer. You can call it research, just in case you win the PIP challenge and $15.00 gift certificate to Sparkle N Sprinkle.

Happy crafting!

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 398 - Interactive Card

Fun challenge alert at Tuesday Throwdown! This week we want you to create an interactive card.  Kim Sherrod, owner of Lily Patch Boutique and the head honcho at Tuesday Throwdown is our sponsor and one busy lady.

I used Newton's Nook's Newton Rides West stamps and dies along with their Sea Borders die. My inspiration came from Jennifer McGuire's Hidden Slider video. While my card isn't perfect, I certainly learned a trick to die cutting from her video. I've always struggled with getting an even border but her trick of cutting a blank one first and using the negative image to keep the die in place over the stamped image is brilliant! If the photos don't make that clear enough, please watch the video where she demonstrates it.

My apologies to Newton for taking artistic license and making him a her but I couldn't resist. After coloring "her" with Copics I die cut my sand hills from brown cardstock using the Sea Borders die and applied some Versa Mark ink to the edges.

While not perfect I'm happy with the end result. I intend to keep working on perfecting the details because I love the idea of a hidden track.

Enough jabber jawing from me because you need to  start creating those interactive cards. Just don't get so busy playing with them that you forget to enter Tuesday Throwdown's challenge.

PIP Challenge 1822 - Polkadoodles

This cracks me up! I stumbled across a website called Relatably and my eyes landed on this. Coincidence?I don't think so. It's Monday and I have a hobby. Part of my hobby is being a member of the PIP design team and since it's Monday, time to make a card. A big thanks to Polkadoodles for sponsoring the challenge this week and it's anything goes.

Polkadoodles graciously provided the digital image I used, Flower Bunch - Winnie Special Moments.

I sized and printed on card stock, colored with Copics and die cut both the image and background with some Spellbinder dies. I have to confess to another "duh" craft moment...  I've been struggling with dies and embossing since I purchased a new machine in March. There is suppose to be a nice edge on these die cuts, yes I said suppose to be. After assembling the card, I went back to the manual to recheck the "sandwich" . While I had it correct in plate quantity, I discovered I had been using the embossing pad as the magnetic sheet from day one. Who would have thought they were the same color? Obviously, not me 😊. Here's to looking forward to nicely embossed things in the future.

Sentiments are rub-ons from My Sentiments Exactly. Yes, it's an innie/outie sentiment so the thought is completed inside. Maybe, if someone asks really nice I will post the rest of the saying.

Here is my take on Flower bunch Winnie.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your time while here.  Time for me to get ready for work so I will leave you with two requests. First check out Polkadoodles. They have everything you need to craft the day(s) away in bliss. Second, check out the Design Team's creations and enter the PIP challenge for fun and a chance at the prize, three (3) digis from Polkadoodles!

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 394 - Create Your Own Background

It's challenge time at Tuesday Throwdown and it's one of my favorite things to do, create your own background. I view this as the adult version of school recess!

Our sponsor is Kindred Stamps which Audra started after hand carving her own "geeky" stamps. Geeky or not, I am seriously waiting for the "Happy Accidents" set to be back in stock. My daughter is a huge Bob Ross fan and I'm thinking it will be perfect for next year's birthday card.

The technique I used is Cling Wrap Background.
Supplies are regular white card stock, Adirondack inks in Lettuce and Raisin, Posh Rainbow ink in Beach Ball Yellow, Adirondack Alcohol Blending Solution and cling wrap.

Since I love to play and can be a bit of a rebel, I stamped and embossed my panel before experimenting. Embossing powder is Black Diamond. Sad to say I haven't a clue who 's stamp it is, won in a basket of goodies shortly after I started my stamping journey. As I was just experimenting I didn't bother with a perfect panel as you can clearly see.

After heat embossed

Followed tutorial for inking and scrunched best I could.

In my excitement after it dried, I forgot to snap a photo of the panel before creating the card. The background was a perfect result for the image, rather stained glass looking.

To finish the card, I stamped the image again with StazOn ink on acetate and the sentiment (The Angel Company) on to the background panel. Assembly was a bit of an issue as really didn't want to use brads, eyelets or ribbon and glue would show through. Some internet hunting provided my "duh" moment and solution. Simply painted select areas of the acetate with Diamond Glaze! Lined up, let dry, trimmed excess paper/acetate off and mounted on a soft blue card blank.

I really wish my photography skills were better as the marbling  of inks  along with the subtle glitter in the embossing really give the card a wonderful 3D effect.

If you were kind enough to get through my narrative, thanks 😀. Now is the time I gently remind you to check out the Design Team creations and Kindred Stamps, I know you won't be disappointed. Then kick back, play with creating some backgrounds of your own to turn into creations for entry into the Tuesday Throwdown challenge. I'm on edge waiting and maybe I will "lift" something new from you. Just saying...

PIP Challenge 1820 - Sparkle N Sprinkle

Sparkle N Sprinkle have joined with the PIP design team for this week's challenge. Winner will receive a $15.00 gift code to spend at Sparkle N Sprinkle, which is certainly not a challenge! Seriously, check them out of you haven't already.

Sparkle N Sprinkle allowed me to pick Bonnet Bouquet for my project. I love the images and sentiments that come with this set.

Printed on white cardstock and colored with Copics. A pink glaze pen was used on the word "always".  Trimmed and layered to pink and then purple Bazzil cardstock and all onto a green card blank. Marker colors are below.

My thanks to Sparkle N Sprinkle for such a beautiful set to work with and for the generous prize offering. People, let's show some love and check out their website and when finished there hop on over to the PIP challenge blog, check out the team's creativity and enter yours for a shot at the prize.


Colors:

Daisy 

Flower centers

Phlox

Bonnet

Ribbon

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 392 - Crop Your Image

Shock alert. Short post ahead! Tuesday Throwdown challenge time and we want you to crop your image. Kitty Bee Designs is our sponsor. I love her motto: "leave here smiling, inside and out!" 

I am using Flower Love Bug for my card. I cropped, then printed the portion I wanted use. Colored with Copics (listed below) and added some scraps from my stash for background and below the cropped image. Everything is mounted to a white card blank. Sentiment stamped on background paper with black Memento ink.

Babies are love and I think Flower Love Bug is perfect for a baby card!

Please swing by Kitty Bee where there are lots of great images you could use. Of course, don't forget to enter the Tuesday Throwdown challenge and check out the Design Team creations while you are there. One talented group of ladies!

As promised...

Skin

1st 3 are shell, last 2 are belly & cap

Flower petals

Flower center

Leaf (bottom left)

A bit of clear glitter pen added to shell spots and the flower.

PIP Challenge 1818 - Newton's Nook

It's Monday. There's a new PIP challenge and it's anything goes. Our sponsor is Newton's Nook, home to adorable Newton, Winston and oodles of stamps, dies and stencils.  They are providing the challenge winner with a $15.00 code for shopping!

Since so many people in my life have birthdays this month I went with that for my card. Pug Hugs and Pug Hugs Die Set were my choice cause they are just too cute and I wanted to challenge myself using black. I find it to be an intimidating color to use in crafting.

Stamped with Memento ink, colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils after die cutting the pup and party hat. Stamped the sentiment (included in the set) onto light blue cardstock and adhered a ribbon and some design paper. Pug is glued flat while the party hat is slightly raised with a rolled glue dot. Bones are some Recollection brads, colored with Copic marker, prongs snipped off, glued in a little pile. Colors used are at the end of the post.

Don't you love his expression?

All done here so you are free to shop Newton's Nook and join the PIP challenge for your chance at the $15.00 gift code.


Colors used:
  Copics

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 390 - Critter Crazy

Happy May Day and welcome to a new Tuesday Throwdown challenge. We want you to go Critter Crazy! Mygrafico is our sponsor this week. They were founded to help Illustrators and Digital Artists gain a foothold in the children's commercial market so I promise you will find critters galore in their shop, from clip art to cutting files, digital stamps to templates. While not required, it's a great way to say thanks to a sponsor by using their products on your entry.

Mygrafico supplied the Design Team with images from Woodland Animals Digital Stamps. I picked the squirrel for my card simply because I have a family of 5 living in the trunk of a tree in my yard. It is both amusing and astounding that they all fit in there. Judging by the wicked tufts going every which way (who knew squirrels can have bad hair days too) when they emerge in the morning, I'm guessing they must sleep on top of each other in a much disorganized stack.

Once again, I kept it simple. Colored with Copics and fussy cut. For the background, I'm using paper I received from a wonderful friend (thanks again, Legs!) I just love the squirrels holding hearts and thought it was perfect for the image. I die cut a circle, applying the negative directly onto a white card blank. The circle is placed back in its correct spot and raised with a double layer of foam tape. The squirrel is centered in the circle and also raised with a double layer of foam tape. Sentiment deliberately not added at this point as toying with the idea of giving to hubby as an anniversary card this fall; he's very protective of those squirrels.

Time to run a bath for a certain little man in my life so thanks for stopping by, I greatly appreciate you taking the time. Please be sure to check out all that Mygrafico has to offer for your crafting needs. As always, don't forget to check out the Design Team creations and enter your work of art in the Tuesday Throwdown challenge.

Colors used: 

PIP Challenge 1816 Sasayaki Glitter

How was your weekend? Mine was so much better than last weekend and the prolific snowfall. Blue skies, cool temperatures and birds singing just do something so positive for one's outlook!

Another positive for one's outlook is crafting. So for the sake of your outlook (sanity) come play with us at the PIP challenge blog. Our sponsor this week is Sasayaki Glitter and she's offering a digital stamp to this week's winner. Bet your outlook is even better, right?

Naz kindly provided the image I used, Mia's Graduation. Kept things simple and colored everything with Prismacolor pencils except the skin. Just haven't mastered skin tone I like with pencils so I used Copics.

She was die cut (Nellie Snellen die) and edged with VersaMagic Mango Madness. Background paper is from DCMV's Fun in the Sun glitter pack. I die cut a section at the bottom, creating negative space for the sentiment, using Dotted Pattern - Scallop Frames from Studio Katia. Applied background paper to a white card and stamped sentiment. Mia is attached with foam tape.

Time for me to go so do yourself a favor and check out Sasayaki Glitter. She has great images and they are really versatile.   Pick an image or two and get crafty; just don't forget to share with everyone at the PIP challenge this week. We love seeing your entries.


Pencil: 916 Yellow Canary, 919 Non-photo Blue, 1030 Raspberry, 943 Burnt Ochre, 109 Prussian Green, 1033 Orange Mineral, 937 Tuscan Red, 994 Process Red.
Copics: E50, E51 and R11

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 388 - Glimmer and Shine

Thanks for stopping by!
Tuesday Throwdown challenge time and we have a new sponsor (imagine me doing a happy dance now.) A warm welcome to Studio Katia.

I picked Hello Alice to play with. Isn't she a sweetie? I received some iridescent flowers and green and gold confetti with my order.

Alice and the umbrella were colored with watercolor markers, everything else with Copics. Die cut all but the sentiment and 3 sets of raindrops, which were stamped direct to the background paper. Mounted Alice with foam tape and added some flowers and confetti to her umbrella. Covered the umbrella with Diamond Glaze to mimic a vinyl look. Raindrops were filled with Diamond Glaze, tinted blue, along with the rain splash off the umbrella. Finishing touch was a single iridescent flower backed with a gold piece of confetti and topped with a yellow gem for it's center.

My thanks to Studio Katia for sponsoring us this week. Please visit her web store, lots to check out and as a small family run business, I know she goes the extra mile for her customers. As always, don't forget to enter into the Tuesday Throwdown challenge for your chance at the prize this week. Well that and I love visiting and commenting on your creations as well 😀.

PIP Challenge 1814 Polkadoodles

Two hours till this goes "live" and I'm just sitting to write my post. That's good for you; no time to be so wordy I put you to sleep! It's PIP challenge time and since this isn't the 5th Monday it's anything goes. Our sponsor is Polkadoodles. I am so stoked for this challenge as it's my first time using one of their images. The store is loaded with everything you need to create!

I was provided (by choice) Pfff! You crafty old bag! This image is a hoot to color! She screamed go bold and I did (at least in my mind!) Coloring medium was Copics. In addition to the image you receive a plethora of hysterical sayings. My daughter talked me into the one you see here. There is one about tattoos I wanted to use as well as an equally funny one on bingo wings...serious discussions took place between outbursts of laughter. Here is my take on the crafty old bag.

 I created a card within a card.  A piece of acetate was cut to cover the image and creased to fold to the left so it could be adhered behind the image. The sentiment was added on the front of the acetate as was the coffee cup, fussy cut from some design paper. Everything was mounted to a scrap of green card stock and all of this was attached to a full size card blank in a deep golden orange color.  My description of the assembly brings to mind the phrase "clear as mud"; sorry about that. With acetate open, I added a second sentiment, not from the set, to solve the adhesive show through problem. 

Picture is worth a thousand words in showing final assembly.

The two sentiments also blocked the hysterical part of the image...

Side note: it took all my restraint to NOT glitter anywhere on this card. Next time she won't be so lucky.

I hope you enjoyed because I certainly had a blast making this one. Before I wobble off to bed, promise you'll check out the Design Team creations and Polkadoodles store. Did I mention they are generously providing the winner with 3 digis? You read that correctly, 3 digis but you do have to enter into the PIP challenge for a chance to win.

Off to bed now with " boobs in my coffee" being sung to "Your so Vain" melody in my mind. Might be a sleepless night.