..and more challenge cards...

   If you stopped by to read  my a2z Scrapbooking Guest Designer Post, please click on the link or go to the post below this one.  Thanks so much for visiting and I hope my card inspired you to play in their "Fireworks Challenge".  And speaking of challenges, I'm back this afternoon with three more cards that were all created today for more of my favorite challenges.

 

   My first card was created for a "Color Challenge" being hosted at "The Outlawz" and was based on this gorgeous inspiration image --

 

 

 

 

  I love anything with Purple, as you know and I love that using it with other shades, especially the complimentary shade of green and of course, lavender and white!   This card was super easy to create too.  it's simply a card base, a few layers of cardstock, two heart die cuts, a white doily and some sequins and gems.  It literally only took me about 10 minutes to make and I was very happy with the outcome!  YAY! 

   Once I was in my "Purple" mode -- I  continued on and created a new cards for this week's Muse Challenge, based on this lovely card by the newest Muse Member -- Jenni Murray.  Congratulations Jenni on your new role at one of my favorite challenge groups!

 

 

 

  I loved how she added her card panel off to the right side of the card and then added the sentiment coming in from the right, which is what I chose to use in my design.   I also went with a floral theme, using a SSS Die cut, called Calliope Flourish.  I cut it from white cardstock and colored it with my Copic Markers.  I finished off my card with some gems on the floral die cut and the "Love you" sentiment, which is from this Hero Arts set - (CL944) Color Layering for You Flowers, a brand new set, I had to add to my collection!    

CL944 - Color Layering for You Flowers by Hero Arts

 

 

  My last card today was today was created for the newest challenge over at "Cas(E) This Sketch" and was inspired by this wonderful sketch.

 

 

    I immediately knew that I wanted to use this a fun "Sunshine" die that is part of my large collection from Simon Says Stamp.  

  

    I die-cut my "sun" in white and they layered it onto a piece of Hero's Sunshine Layering paper, which I also used to create my card base.  I then stamped the "You are my Sunshine" sentiment, from the Sun Showers Stamp set, (shown below) another favorite from Hero Arts.  I used an "oldie" Spellbinders Label die to cut it out and added it to my card with pop dots.   I pulled out a pretty silver vintage style button, (part of a sweet RAK that my card swap friend LesLee sent to me this week), and added that onto after tying on a little yellow bow. 

 

    And now I am off to working "packing" some for my upcoming trip to San Diego!  I am so excited that it's now only a week away.  Just think, as this time next Sunday, I will be in California and getting ready to watch the Superbowl at Rare Form!    

Very excited today...

...to be back as a "Guest Designer" for the a2z Scrapbooking.  Today is also the very last day of the month and your last chance to enter their January challenge, which you'll find HERE!!  The theme for January is called "Fireworks" -- we would love to see lots of Sparkle and Shine, using your favorite Hero Arts products, of course!

    I have two cards to share and this first one, is the card that I created earlier this month as my entry to the challenge.   I used Glitter cardstock along with a little "Hello" die cut set, one of my favorites from my Hero Arts collection of their Stamp and Cut Sets.   Note:  This set is currently sold out, but we'll be happy to order it for you and are always happy to do "Custom Orders".

 

    For today's post I created a brand new card with one of the adorable Stamp and Die sets, by Lia.  The set I used today is called "Avery", how cute is he!   And the best part is that all these fun sets are currently On Sale,  along with lots of other goodies, all in our Etsy Store.   Please click HERE to go directly to the Sale and Retired section!

"You are Great"

 

   On top of the sale, I encourage you ALL to use our current Promo Code - LOVE15, which will take any additional 15% off any and all orders of $25 and up, excluding shipping.  The code works for everyone and can be used as often as you'd like.   It's also good for any item in the store, including the brand new release!  A great way to save even more at the a2z Scrapbooking Store!

InLinkz.com

Creating again...Yay!!

  Happy Saturday!  I'm back to creating again and loving it!   Today I have two new cards to share, both created for challenges.

   My first card was created for this current challenge over at CASology, where this week's them is "Adore".  As soon as I saw the challenge I new exactly which stamp I wanted to use, which is an "Oldie but Goodie" from "Memory Box".

 

 

 

    A very easy CAS card made very easily with this wonderful "collage style" stamp, which stamped with Black Versafine Ink, onto some white cardstock.  I colored the peonies using Wink of Stella markers, in one shade of pink and two shades of green.  I then added dimension to the flowers by coating them with a layer of 3d Crystal Lacquer.  All I had to do next was trim my image, and foam mount it onto a Black Hero Arts Card base.

   My next card is another very easy card, and this one was created for this week's "Anything Goes" challenge hosted over on the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenger Blog!  I am also sharing in in the Simon Says Stamp - Work It Wednesday challenge!   

  This card was started by using this wonderful new SSS "Heart" die and my main focal point.  I die cut it in white and then took a piece of lime green textured cardstock and created a window using a Stitched Circle Die.  I layered that onto some matching pattered paper from Stampin' Up, and adhered the heart on top.  I added the fun polka dot flair button, mounted it all onto a Hero Arts Card front and I was done! 

   I have a few more, but they are for upcoming DT projects, so you'll to stay tuned for those.  Please be sure to come back tomorrow, as I have a fun new card that was created for a Guest Designer post over at a2z Scrapbooking!!   Bye bye for now! 

Happy Friday!!!

   Be sure to hop on over to The Outlawz for our brand new Festive Friday Challenge, where our themes this week are:  

Beer Can Appreciation Day

Chocolate Cake Day

Irish Coffee Appreciation Day and

Bubble Wrap Day!!

 

  Who would have know we had all these fun days to "celebrate" the last week in January!   For my card this week and because I have been "Craving" some Chocolate Cake, I made a Birthday Card, using a super cute digi image from Bugaboo Stamps, which I colored with my Copics and some sparkling glitter!!   Be sure to hop on over to Bugaboo every Friday, where you can download their "Friday Freebie"!!

  

And speaking of Coloring, my friend Kathy Racoosin is hosting another fabulous 30-day Coloring Challenge on her blog - The Daily Marker, and it starts on Monday, February 1st.!! 

   Kathy is a fabulous designer and a true artist when it comes to coloring.   I adore her and feel so lucky to have met her in person, she's a gem and is also a lot of fun!   Her 30 Day Coloring Challenges are always a lot of fun and are well-loved for all!   For all the details, please visit this POST!!   Kathy is also an amazing cook and will often share some of the recipes with us on her blog, including this great post and video where she makes some "Yummy" goodies for Valentine's Day that I am dying to try!   Here is a picture to show you just how delicious they look.  (Courtesy of Kathy's Blog). 

  

 

     I also wanted to post a little update about the fabulous "Watercolor for Cardmakers" class that I'm currently taking over the Online Card Classroom.  Sadly, due to having had "cataract surgery" this week, I have fallen behind on painting, but I have been watching every lesson and they have all been amazing.   The class content and instructions videos are superb, I can't begin to tell you just how fantastic this class has been!   A huge value and one I highly recommend!!  I am planning to spend all weekend catching up and will be sharing more cards and class projects soon!   Note:   The surgery was a total success and I am so happy to have wonderful vision again in my left eye!  YAY!!

 

    Stay tuned on Sunday (January 31st),  for a special post I'll be sharing as a Guest Designer for the a2z Scrapbooking Store and Challenge blog, both of which are very near and dear to my heart!  As you know I was part of the a2z Design Team for well over a year and truly enjoyed every minute!  I had planned to apply for their latest DT call, but decided it would be best to stick with one team for now, at least until I return my wonderful vacation to San Diego, which starts in just nine days!  YAY!!

 

   In the meantime, I'm having a blast being back on the DT at The Outlawz Challenge Group and really hope you'll come on over and join the fun!!    

  That's it for today !!  Have a Fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend!  

 

Day One -- Watercolors for Cardmakers!!

...Today is Day One in the brand new "Watercolors for Cardmakers - Intermediate Techniques" class, which is hosted over at the fabulous "Online Card Classroom".  I absolutely LOVE the classes that Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner offer in their classroom, and I am very honored and proud to have had the opportunity to take EVERY class!  I have loved them all!   The watercolor classes are my all time favorites, and this class is the third the the series.  You can head over to the main site for information on any and all the classes offered and you can take any of them now! 

   I, personally love to take the classes, when they are "Live" or "Interactive" as is this class now.   But, all classes are offered at Lifetime classes, and while you can not "Interact" in the past classes you can enroll and take any of them at anytime!  For more on that and all the details on all the classes that are offered and how they work -- please visit the Online Card Classroom.   

   Today's first class and the "before class homework", was taught by Dawn Woleslagle, the owner and creator of WPlus 9, and Dawn is an amazing designer and watercolor artist.  She has been part of every one of the Watercolor classes and is also a fabulous teacher.  There are several other superb teachers, in addition to Jennifer an Kristina, who will be part of this class, here is the list for you along with links to theirs blogs.  (Info courtesy of the "Online Card Classroom")

  The wonderful Guest Artists for this class are:

Dawn Woleslagle, Debby Hughes, Laura Bassen, 

Lydia Fiedler and Shari Carroll

    In today's class we focused on learning some really fun techniques, including how we can use certain brushes to create really fun and somewhat easy designs.  Here are two pics of my "brush stroke" and practice sheets.

   I created my card with a fun technique using "dies", which as based on one of Dawn's lessons today!   Please keep in mind that "water-coloring" is very new to me and I have a lot to learn, but I am totally enjoying it!   

   Supplies used:   Strathmore Watercolor Paper - Cold Press, Heart and Hug Dies  from Simon Says Stamp, Bazzill "Red" Cardstock, Silver Brush Black Velvet Brushes, (they are awesome, pricey by worth every penny), Kuretake Watercolors,  Black Copic Multiliners, the basic black cardstock and gems are all from my stash.

    This card is also being submitted to today's new "Love is in the Air" challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge Blog.

      I have three cards to share, both were created for challenges over at "The Outlawz Challenges", where I am currently a new member of their "Festive Friday" challenge -- Design Team.

  

     This first card was created for this week's Wednesday Sketch Challenge and was inspired by this sketch.

 

   A super fun and easy card that started with this cute little "Penguin" which is a Pre-Colored digital image I bought from DigiStamp Boutique!    I added some additional details to the him with a white Signo Gel pen and a Wink of Stella Marker.  The sentiment and "die cut" hearts are both Simon Says Stamp exclusives and the gems are from Hero Arts.    

  This next card was created for Sunday's CAS Challenge, where the theme this week is a Birthday Card and the color Red.   My image for this card, comes from this fun "Doodle Buds" stamp set by WPlus 9, and it was colored with my Copics and highlighted with 3D Crystal Lacquer.  The sentiment came from this sweet set by, Reverse Confetti!  A fun, yet, SUPER easy card!!

  And that brings me to my last card for today, which was created last night for the "Twisted Thursday" challenge over that The Outlawz.   In this challenge the main theme is always "Anything Goes", and there is also a "Twist" thrown in, this week's Twist is "Baby" and I created my card with this adorable baby digi image, from "By Lori Designs", which I adore.  The image is actually two babies and was part of special fundraiser for the two sweet babies, "In Memory of Jakin Isaac and Shyla Joy", who now, as Lori's says - live in Heaven.   I have owned these for a few years and was so touched by their meaning!   

   For this card, I edited the image and used sweet little "Shyla" for my card.   I Love Lori's wonderful talent and hope in time, she'll add some new digis to her store! 

  

"Love" was printed directly onto "Copic Ready" cardstock, this is my favorite "Cryogen White", which is a subtle hint of shimmer!  I buy mine (and all my Copic Cardstock) from "The Paper Temptress"...a wonderful online store, owned by my friend, Patricia!  

  Phew!  Long post and now this girl is VERY tired....it takes me a long time and several breaks to type a post this long (darn Fibro), but I had a lot of share and really wanted to inspire you to join th class, shop at all of my favorite crafty stores and also join me in some of my favorite challenges!  

   I can't begin to express the JOY of being able to create again .....battling cancer sure made it hard for awhile, but now I'm doing so much better and so happy to be back!  Woohoo!!  

Short and sweet....

   Rushing in to post a card that I created to for the new challenge over at "Cas(E) This Sketch!   I am rushing as it's almost time for "Football" and my team is playing today -- GO PATS!!

    
   This is the lovely sketch that inspired my card, you'll also find out of on the CTS site and the link above. 

     Being that I am in the process of organizing all my craft supplies, it's given me the chance to once again see some of my oldest stamps, and this is one of those.  It's a pretty wooden stamp from Memory Box.   I have several in this style, but this one "Adore" is one of my favorites and I thought of it as soon and I saw the sketch.  It also was so far and easy to make my card.  (NOTE:  Sorry about the pic, my photograph skills are off lately and I hope one I have my cataract surgery this week, things will be much better)!   

   To create this card I stamped the image onto white cardstock, then using my Zig Color Markers, I added some pretty shades of purple to the flowers and then coated them with a clear Wink of Stella Marker, and mounted the card base onto a matching piece of "Olive" green cardstock!

    Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!   My heart goes out to ALL of you in the Mid Atlantic states who are buried in snow!   Luckily we only got about 5" and even that was more than expected!  But, the sun is out, the temps are warming up and the melting is beginning!!

That's it  for me...time for the big GAME!!!

Happily, NO snow for us....

....at least not yet!  And if the forecast is correct, we will be very lucky and only end up with a few inches.  But, my heart goes out too all those in the Mid Atlantic states who are in the middle of a major blizzard with 1-3 feet of Snow.  Sorry guys, I feel for you after the very snowy winter we had last year!

     As for me, I am delighted to not have to worry about this one and I am enjoyed a nice day of creating.  I'm here now to share a couple cards with your.  I made several more, but many are for upcoming DT posts, so stay tuned to see those soon!

   My first card today was created for this weeks' challenge over at the the MUSE Card-making blog and is base this wonderful card, created by Tracey!  I love the bright happy colors and that it reminds me of Spring and wonderful warm weather!!..

 
    I created my flowers using the "Mod Flower Border" die from Poppy Stamps, which I cut from white cardstock.  I then used my Copic markers to color each of the flowers in my favorites colors of Purple and Pink.  I also used the same stamp set, the "Acts of Kindness" Set from Hero Arts, shown below!  I absolutely LOVE this set and was thrilled when it was given to me at the Simon Says Stamp Create event that I attended in October!  I LOVE Hero Arts and I also loved being part of Jennifer McGuire's wonderful Kindess Campaign.   I also blessed to be on the receipts of Jennifer's wonderful "Kindness Packages".  I just love her and feel so luck to call her my friend.

 

   Speaking of Jennifer, I also want to remind you that the newest class over in her "Online Card Classroom" starts on Monday.  It's called Watercolor for Cardmakers - Intermediate Techniques and you can go HERE and enroll today!   Hope you do and if you do, please let me a message, so can look for you in class!!  YAY! 

   My next couple of projects were all created this week for a variety of challenges and for fun.. The next two things, we created at a fun little craft event I went to last weekend.  My friend Tobey, is an AMuse Demo and she often hosts workshops at her wonderful Bed and Breakfast.  I'm hoping to host a little retreat there this Summer.  If you think you might want to come, let me know.  It's OPEN to all and we live in a wonderful Coastal town, perfect for a summer vacation.

 

   And my next card was created for an upcoming "Card Swap" that I take part in every month.  It's hosted on the blog of Debbie Nolan and you can find it here!   The recipient of my card does not current follow my blog, so I can share it here and not ruin the surprise.  It was based on the March - - Sketch as well as the Color Combo, which you'll see below !   This swap it OPEN to all--I hope you'll sign up and join us.   I have my card done nice and early, since I'll soon to be off on my trip to San Diego -- 19 fabulous days of fun, sun and relaxation!!  WOOHOO!!

M A R C H  - 2016!

Sign-up:  02/07/16        Closes:  03/06/16        Deadline:  03/31/16

Color Palette:

Sketch: 

....  and one more for the road...a sweet little Valentine...just for fun!!

   That's it for today folks...I'm off to get ready to go out with Hubby to have a nice little 'Late Lunch/Early Dinner".  Hoping we are out and back before the snow hits our area!!