Birthday Violets -- a New Release at DS4J

It's Sunday, and New Release Day at DigiStamps4Joy. I was so excited to get a chance to work with one of today's new releases, 'African Violets'.

I love coloring flowers.  They are my favorite thing to color.  I colored these Violets with Copic markers, then used several colors of Tim Holtz distress inks around the edges of the die cut heart (Die-namics).  The sentiment is from Close To My Heart. 

I have long admired Graphic 45 papers, but have been afraid to use them.  They seem so "busy" to me.  I decided to bite the bullet while at a crop at the LSS, and bought some.  This is my first attempt using Graphic 45.  The crinkle ribbon is 3 Girl JAM. 

Don't forget the DigiStamps4Joy challenge that is underway.  It is an Anything Goes challenge, and you can find it HERE. Also, check out the other new release project on the DigiStamps4Joy blog.  They'll be wonderful!

Berry Sweet chance to GD for Scrappin' Madge!

Awhile ago, my good friend Madge asked some of her scrappy friends if anyone wanted to guest design on her blog.  I, of course, said, "sure!". Then, a week or so ago, a sign up document showed up -- very official looking -- I signed up, and suddenly, my day is here!  Thanks, Madge, for the chance to be featured on your lovely blog, Madge's Scrappin Lounge with you and your uber talented friends!  I am honored!

It is berry season here where I live.  In Northwest Wisconsin, few things get us as excited as fresh strawberries.  Well, maybe a Packer win, catching fish, and a good beer, but strawberries rate right up there, too.  The season is short, but when they're ripe, we're picking, cleaning, jamming, jellying, baking, and anything else we can think to do with berries.  In this case, I'm crafting berries.  After all, it's berry season!

These berries in their berry carton are treat boxes.  I tucked my favorite year-round treat inside (chocolate), and gave them to a friend celebrating a birthday.  I found this cutting file at My Scrap Chick, and cut them out with my Silhouette Cameo. 

Here's a couple close ups of the strawberry treat boxes. All the card stock on these projects is from Close To My Heart.  The designer paper is Echo Park Dots & Stripes 12x12. 

No gift is complete without a card, so I made a Strawberry Shaped card to match the carton of strawberries:

I found this in the Silhouette Design Store.  The sentiment is a stamp from Close To My Heart.  There's also a bit of Timeless Twine on there.  Madge and I first met through 3 Girl JAM, so I just HAD to throw a pretty crinkle ribbon bow of 3 Girl JAM Sterling ribbon, from the Celebrations Bundle on here. 

I'll leave you with one more view of those yummy strawberry treat boxes...

Again, I want to thank Scrappin' Madge for the opportunity to guest design for her.  If you are ever in need of inspiration, head to  Madge's Scrappin' Lounge.  She never runs short of scrapping mojo!

Christmas in July

Yesterday, we celebrated Independence Day here in the U.S.A., today, I'm bringing on Christmas.  It'll be here before we know it!  Eek!

This week, at The Cutting Cafe, we're celebrating Christmas in July. I want to increase my stash of Christmas cards, so here's what I did:

Both these cards are from the Christmas Card Fun cutting files. There are 12 different card designs in this one set alone. There are also 17 sentiments included.  Tons of possibilities!  The snowflake card uses the Christmas Mini Words printable set.

Supplies used:
Close To My Heart card stock, Echo Park card stock, 3 Girl JAM ribbon, Lawn Fawn "Joy" die, Creative Memories tiny tag punch, rhinestones from my stash

If you check out The Cutting Cafe blog on July 7, you'll see lots of fantastic Christmas projects. Leave a comment on the blog, and you could win any 3 sets of your choice.  This is a great one!!!!

Alice in Wonderland Blog Hop!!!

Today we are celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Alice in Wonderland, and what better way to do that, than to share lots of creative projects inspired by this wonderful story.

Not only will you see lots of amazing artwork today, but you can also win prizes from the following amazing companies;

The Stamping Boutique

Rick St Dennis MFA

Faery Ink

That Craft Place

Ike's Art

Delicious Doodles

Sweet Pea Stamps

Sassy Studio Designs

Vera Lane Studio Digital Stamps

Prize winners will be selected from Random blogs throughout the hop using Random.org to select each winner.  In order to be eligible for a prize you must visit all stops on the hop and leave a comment. The prize draws will be open until July 18th, with winners announced on July 20th.

 I thought long and hard about my favorite Alice in Wonderland character and kept coming back to the Mad Hatter.  The older I get, the more I can relate!

This image is from The East Wind. The image is Lucy Loo 'Mad Hatter'.  I colored her with Copic markers and fussy cut her. Here's a close up of the image and the sentiment.  The sentiment is from Unity Stamp Company. It seemed very appropriate for The Mad Hatter!

The teacup-shaped easel card is a cutting file that I found in the Silhouette Design Store. The papers are retired from Close To My Heart.  The crinkle ribbon is my favorite -- 3 Girl JAM!  No Mad Hatter card would be complete without a hat pin.  This one is from Pinque Peacock.

Blog Hop List

Suzi

Alison

Trudie

Sharon

Milo

Donna

Leigh

Claudia

Leadonna

Nan

Jenn

Nikki

Black Dragon

Teresa

Ike

Creepy Glowbugg

Shelley

Alana

Harp

Lori

Monica

Kemly

Margaret

Julie  you are HERE!

Katie

Julie W S

Kathi
Karen
Corrie
Emily
Geraldine
Carol
Avril
Lisa
Kim
Mo
Lorraine

I'll leave you with my favorite Lewis Carroll quote:

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense." 

 I hope you are enjoying this Alice in Wonderland hop as much as I am! Off you go to Katie's blog!  Don't get lost in all this mad talent!

Bring Your Own Sunshine!

I'm posting today for 3 Girl JAM, my favorite ribbon company, and also for Morgan's Art World (formerly Fitztown).  There's a new challenge starting at Morgan's Art World, with an optional theme of Red, White, and Blue. Since it's so near Independence Day here in the U.S.A., I wanted a patriotic feel to my card.

The butterfly is a digi image , Garden 17.  Morgan Fitzsimons' digis can be found in the Fae Entertainment Store.  I colored the digi with Copic markers, and fussy cut it.  The sentiment is from Close To My Heart.  I found the card kit in the Silhouette Online Store here.  The designer paper is from Basic Grey.  Card stock is CTMH.

The pretty crinkle ribbon?  The stuff that ties the whole card together?  That's 3 Girl JAM, of course!  It's from the Red, White, and Blue Bundle.  

You can use discount code JO10 to get 10% off of anything you order from the 3 Girl JAM Store. 10%!  That's huge!  Or, use code JULY to receive the new Summer Harvest bundle for just $1 with the purchase of any other item from the store. 

Enter Morgan's Art World's challenge -- it's Anything Goes, with an optional Red, White, and Blue twist.  Enter 3 Girl JAM's Anything Goes with ribbon challenge! Fun, fun, fun!!!!

Trim the Tree -- for the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up

It's July 1st, a new month, and a new theme at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  We're having a DT call.  This is a great team to be on.  What better way to keep up with Christmas cards than to have them assigned each month as part of a design team?  We also get great images to work with, and fantastic digital papers!  It's a win-win-win situation!  Check out the DT Call details here.

Our theme this month is "Ornaments".  Many of us have the tradition of exchanging ornaments at Christmas, so why not incorporate them in a Christmas card?

The image on this card is from Robyn's Fetish, the sponsor this month at 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.

I colored the "Christmas Ornaments" image with Copic markers, then stamped a sentiment from Joy's Life Stamps.  I used a couple Spellbinders dies on this -- a circle die and an ornament shaped die.  

Designer papers on this card are all digital, and were designed by Lisa Decosse, of Decosse's Dynamite Doodles. The papers are from the 12 Days of Christmas Set -- Baubles, Sweater, and Flake Trees. The Silver Shimmer Trim is from Close To My Heart. The Dress White crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM -- the Navy Bundle. 

Join us this month at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up.  You can link up any Christmas cards you like.  To be eligible for the prizes, you need to follow the ornament theme. Link up 2 Christmas cards each month to be eligible for the monthly digital paper.  Get busy!  Christmas is coming!

Enjoy the Summer -- for Crafty Sentiments

Great news!  Yesterday, as if by magic, Google chose to give me access to my account again, and therefore my original blog.  Woohoo!  Soon, I plan to move these posts over and use that one again.  It's where most people look for me and expect to find me.

Today, there is a new challenge at Crafty Sentiments blog.  The theme is 'summer'. Summer, to me, is spending time on the water, swimming, sailing, kayaking.  Just like this adorable girl, Primrose:

This Crafty Sentiments Designs rubber stamp is Primrose - Sailing Boat.  I colored her with Copic markers.

It's almost Independence Day here in the U.S., so I went with a patriotic theme with this card.  The star-shaped card can be found at the Silhouette Design Store. Papers for this card are from Pebbles - Americana 6x6 pad.  The blue crinkle ribbon is 3 Girl JAM -- from the Red, White, and Blue Bundle. The star confetti chipboard is from UmWow Studio. The sentiment is from Hot Off the Press. 

Join us this week at the Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog for our Summer Challenge.  I'd love to see what you make! 

Dance Like There's No Tomorrow

I am a really bad dancer.  Maybe that's why I admire the ability so much in others.  I also love images  of dancers and gymnasts -- they're so graceful, unlike me.

When I saw this image in the Polkadoodles store, I just knew I had to color her!

She's called Gymnast/Twirling girl/Acrobat.  I wanted her to fit on a tag, so I modified her a bit from the original, below.

I colored the Gymnast image with Copic markers, then fussy cut her.  The tag is a die from Paper wishes.  I cut it out with a background paper from Webster's Pages, Everyday Poetry, 6x6 pad.  The butterfly is a Cheery Lynn die.  The tie dye crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM.

I created this tag today to enter in:

Digi choosday -- Tag Challenge and GD Call

Enjoy! - a new challenge at 3 Girl JAM

It's time for this month's challenge at 3 Girl JAM. Again this month, it's "Anything Goes with Ribbon."

I've been trying to enter Gerda Steiner's progressive challenge each month.  I find her images so delightful!  I used her image and combined it with some of my favorite 3 Girl JAM!

I used the lilac color from the Diagonal Striped Ribbon Bundle on this box.  The box was cut out on my Cricut Explore, using the Close To My Heart Cricut Artiste cartridge. 

This Gerda Steiner digi is called "Watermelon Kid."  I colored him with Copic markers, then used a Spellbinder die to cut him out.  The sentiment was cut out with another die. The sentiment is from Hot Off the Press -- Tiny Words and Phrases.

The 3 Girl JAM Challenge goes from today until July 31.  Link up your "Anything Goes With Ribbon" projects all month long.  I'd love to see what you make!

I'm entering this in:

GSD Progressive Challenge -- June/July

Piano Girl -- for Inspiration Destination

I am posting today for Inspiration Destination Challenge Blog.  It somehow seems fitting that the image I'm using is a little version of myself, a glimpse of me that many in the craft world don't know about.

This precious image is from Polkadoodles.  Isn't she sweet?  The digi is called "Piano Girl".

 I actually play piano for a living (well, that and many other things.  I am a music therapist).  This image takes me back to piano recitals and childhood.  I loved playing on that grand piano at my teacher's house!  It was so close to heaven for me.

I colored Piano Girl with Copic markers.  Ever tried to make a black piano look shiny?  It was quite a challenge!  

The music background paper and the note embellishments are from Echo Park -- the Melody of Life Collection.  The floral embellishments are from Wild Orchid Crafts, found at Really Reasonable Ribbon. The Purple Passion crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM. 

Please join us this week at Inspiration Destination for our Always Anything Goes challenge.  I'd love to see what you make!

You Are On My Mind -- for The East Wind

It's Tuesday, and that means there's a new release today at The East Wind Etsy Shop.  It's Aurora today, Aurora - Bloom:

I colored Aurora - Bloom with Copic markers, then mounted the image on some Close To My Heart card stock in colors found in the colored image.  The Designer paper is from My Mind's Eye.  The sentiment is a stamp from Close To My Heart.  The tie dye crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM.

Aurora - Bloom is a beautiful image to color and design with.  Check her out at The East Wind Etsy Shop today!

Little Polly -- a New Release for Crafty Sentiments

Crafty Sentiments Designs is having a big New Release the next few days.  I'll have 3 different project to share over the next several days.  You'll love these adorable rubber stamps!  They are all from the "Little Polly" release. Today, I'd like to introduce you to Little Polly -- Dear Friend.

Sweet Little Polly -- Dear Friend is colored with Copic markers, then mounted on a decorative treat box. The treat box was cut out on my Cricut Explore, using the Close To My Heart Artiste cartridge.  

All papers and sequins are also from Close To My Heart.  The tie dye ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM. 

My first blog got hacked a week ago.  It took a few days to get up and going again, and this one is still obviously very much under construction.  One of the posts I missed was for the Crafty Sentiments Challenge blog. The theme of the challenge this week is "Anything Goes."  Here's my card...

This card uses the Crafty Sentiments Designs rubber stamp, Annabel -- Mermaid's Hair.   She was colored with Copic markers. Every mermaid should have 2-toned hair! The ocean creature embellishments are from Close To My Heart.  The tag is a die cut, and the sentiment is computer generated.  I used a Close To My Heart scalloped edge border punch, and some luscious Timeless Twine.  I hope you join us this week for our "Anything Goes" challenge.  You have until Monday evening!

Please check out the Crafty Sentiments Inspirations Blog for more great ideas of how to use today's new release -- Little Polly - Dear Friend! 

Sorry for Your Loss -- for 3 Girl JAM

When my first blog disappeared, it felt like such a loss.  I felt as if someone or something very important to me had been stolen forever.  It was a death, of sorts.  So, here I am, my first day of posting on my new blog, and ironically, it's a "Sorry for Your Loss" card.  Maybe I should have changed that sentiment to, "sorry for my loss".  

I'm posting today for 3 Girl JAM.  Several weeks ago, I needed a sympathy card for one of my best friends.  She lost a very special aunt, a lady she loved deeply.  Her aunt was a gardener, so I wanted a card that would reflect that. 

                                 

This rose is a digi from Aurora Wings. I colored it with Copic markers.  The designer paper is from Wild Rose Studio. The sentiment is part of a stamp set from Craftin' Desert Divas -- Simply Said. The rose image was cut out using a Spellbinders die.

I used several 3 Girl JAM products on this:  2 layers of 3 Girl JAM Distressed Lace, topped with 3 Girl JAM Baby Girl  crinkle ribbon from the Baby Bundle.  I made the hatpin myself and thought this was the perfect card to use it on.  My We R Memory Keepers scallop Corner Chomper got a workout on this card, too.

Don't forget about the Anything Goes with Ribbon challenge

underway at the 3 Girl JAM Challenge blog.  There's still time to enter!

If you use discount code JO10, you can get 10% off anything in the 3 Girl JAM store.  Or, for the month of June, use code JUNE to get the new Sunny Meadows Bundle for just $1.  Go shop!