Attempting an Unusual Challenge

 I am not going to lie when I read the challenge over on AAA Cards I was a bit stumped😅 on what to do. 

I have never heard of a challenge that wants you to cover only 2 quarters of your card.  Well, the first thing I did was take a card base and section it off into quarters.  I knew I wanted to include the optional twist of using my favorite color (RED) for sure but what to do?  It finally came to me that if I had a repeating die or object that covered two OPPOSITE quarters it would look as if it was cascading.  At least, that was the look I was going to go for.  I decided then on my layering triangle dies.  I took scraps from my scrap bin in different hues of red, cut them out, and layered them.  I needed something...so I added some gold cardstock inlayed into parts of the triangles.

The sentiment I knew I wanted to straddle to two sections.  A sentiment in the July Spellbinders Card Kit was perfect.  A sentiment like to my friend...is so generic you could use it for anything.  

But I did fudge just a bit😆...but for a good reason.  When I erased all my pencil lines I made a bit of a bigger smudge in one area.  I needed to cover that up.  So I added some 4mm half-backed red pearls.  So technically down in the right-hand corner, I did go a bit over into a 3 quarter of the card.  OOPS!  🤷‍♀️

I am entering this card into 2 card challenges:

AAA Cards Game 196- Two Quarters and Optional Twist Favorite Colors found here.

&

Creative Craft Challenge # 143 No Patterned Paper found here.

Listen to the Music in your Heart

Here is a sweet hula girl I added to the tag from a few posts ago.  You can find that post all about washi here.

The hula girl is from Prettygrafikdesign.  You can find the image here.  I colored here in Copics and she has been happily waiting in my bin of die cuts waiting.

Since I already had the tag started this was easy to put together.  I added her to the tag, put a doily behind her, added some enamel dots, a pink glittered chipboard flower with an added bling center, then cut out one of my sentiments I made with Cricut sticker paper.

Another card ready to give out to encourage someone.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Creative Craft Cottage Challenge: #87 Three of a kind (Three enamel dots) You can find the challenge Here.

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #41 Anything goes found here.

Crafting with an Attitude Challenge # 27 Anything goes found here.

I Just Love Being a Girl

I think this cards has the most layers I have ever used on a card. I love it!

All the cardstock is either Recollections or from Amy Tangerine's Rise and Shine 6x6 paper pad.  Just as a side note this paper collection is one that I can't cut down into my usual sizes.  I have kept every single scrap...I can't help myself.

Ok back on on  track.  I followed the current sketch over on the Mojo Monday Challenge blog for this card.  

The ballerina silhouette I found from a free clip art site..I have no idea which one.  My Cricut cut out the ballerina in no time. I did add clear wink of stella to the ballerina for some shine. Then I added some Distress Ink in Picked Raspberry around the sides using my ink blending tool.  Finally, I used my die cuts from Wish to cut out the frame for the sentiment.  Just that little bit of stitching really does make that pop.

The sentiment is another I inherited from my sister.  It says, "I love being a girl!".  I also cut out a butterfly using a die in the same blue strip but at a diagonal.  To the butterfly I added some clear wink of stella as well.  To make it shine I also added a layer of glossy accents.

Here is the sketch from Mojo:  

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Mojo Monday's Card Sketch Challenge #491

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper April 2017: Anything Goes

Creative Craft Cottage Challenge: #85 Dies or Punches

Cards with Multiple Folds

I typically stick with the good ole standard A2 card size.  But once in a while, I will try something new to me.  Then, I wonder why I haven't done this sooner.

So this cutie I have had colored, in a stack of die cuts for some time now.  She is a fairy I purchased from one of my favorite Etsy shops for digital stamps, Prettygrafikdesign.  She is colored with Copics, layerd on a couple of pieces of cardstock that I sprayed with shimmer mist.

I added a layer of of white cardstock that I used my New Bo Bunny die.  I then layered all of that on some Recollections purple patterned paper.  I added that same patterned paper to the sides.  I also used my new Lawn Fawn stamp set to make the balloons and cut them out with their coordinating die.  I used the Happy Birthday sentiment from the same set.  This I centered at the bottom of the card using my Perfect Stamp positioner. ( I so am in love with that stamp positioner!)

I learned how to do the Center Step Card by watching the tutorial over on Splitcoast Stampers.  You can watch it here.  While I was making the card I  had  to make cuts from 1 inch to, I think 6 1/2 inches one inch from each end of the card.  This became a challenge because I have completely rubbed off the 1inch mark and any marks up to 2 inches on my a paper trimmer.  So I just had to guess where the 1 inch would be.  This means I need a new trimmer, right? 😉

This makes a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 card, which means I need to make an envelope to hold it.  But it is such a stinkin' cute card.  I am so happy with it.

I did color the balloons with copics also.  I added some clear Wink of Stella to add shimmer to the balloons.  I couldn't resist sneaking in 3 Nuvo drops in silver to add a bit of something extra.

I am entering this in Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #83:  Shaped Cards or More than one Fold.
Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge: Anything Goes
Crafting with an Attitude Challenge: #25 Anything Goes

A Good Sketch Helps Me to Stretch

So, I admit it, I do love a good challenge.  I think sketch challenges are my favorite.  I like to mull over what I have in my stash.  I contemplate for days on how I can make the sketch work in a way I like.

I am also a big fan of a of websites that do these types of challenges. Today's card is from the latest Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge.  

I didn't deviate much from the sketch.  

I love how the elements I picked worked together.  Whatcha think?

I began in Cricut design space to see what digital elements I might have to begin the card.  That's where I found the sentiment.  "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck" is something I heard a lot growing up.  There is even a song I remember that goes with this.

Also using my Cricut I was able to print out a black and white rose background.  I have this saved as a pattern I purchased from somewhere.  I looked through my files again, but can't figure out which collection it belongs to. I did add some color to this using Picked Raspberry distress ink.  I rubbed it on making sure to be heavier on the outside leaving it light in the middle.

The lips came from design space.  If you have a subscription to access it is a free image.  I added some clear wink of stella on this to make it shine.

The pink cardstock is cut out using a cross stitch edged die.  I took a white strip cut it to 1 1/2 inches wide, then dry embossed it using a swirl cuttlebug folder.

Finally, I stacked the layers referencing the sketch.  I added some pink and white twine and some rhinestone circles which brought the card together.

I really like the card.  The sketch really helped me stretch because when I first saw it earlier this week I did not think I could pull of a card using it.

Hope you are having a good weekend.  If you like haul videos, I do have one in a previous post so check it out.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Mojo Monday #486

Brown Sugar Challenge #240 Anything Goes

Creative Craft Cottage #82 Tic Tac Toe:  Red, Image, Die/Punch

That's a horrible idea. What time?

I am not known for my Copic coloring...but I still try.  Today's card includes some of my Copic Coloring.

I started with a 4 1/4x 5 1/2 top folding cardstock in Black.  I then colored my cute image from Bugaboo Stamps. I also added a cute lantern to image from the Cricut Design Space.  I added my clear wink of stella to her purse, shoes, drink, and the lantern to add some sparkle.  You really can't see that in a picture but it is beautiful in real life.

I layered the image on red cardstock.  All of the cardstock is Recollections.  I then printed out the sentiment on my computer and cut it out.  I found the quote on Pinterest.

Doesn't she look like she is up for anything? 

As an added touch I added some cording in black and gold that I got from the Target Dollar spot at Halloween.  This is such a cute card.  I am pleased with my coloring.  This is one of those cards I just knew was going to be cute when I started.

The sketch for this card came from CAS(E) this Sketch's # 208.  You can find the link here.  Here is the sketch:

I am adding this card to the following challenges:
CAS(E) this Sketch #208

Creative Fingers Challenge #124:Anything Goes

Creative Craft Cottage #81: Anything Goes

Rocking the Glitter Cardstock

Hello everyone!  Not been on the blog here much the past month.  I have had some family things going on so creating and getting into my crafty supplies has taken a backseat.  Life just happens sometimes.  

For those who check things out here on my blog, I thank you!  I love comments and checking on the  traffic.  I doubt I will ever be professional blogger, nor do I see myself being the blogger with all the latest tools.  I am just you average papercrafter who yes, spends too much money sometimes on her craft but also is probably the last person to get the latest gadget.  The longer I am a papercrafter I realize that I don't have to have all the gadgets.  I just need to get in there regularly to create with the "stuff" I have.  It makes me happy.  So I hope you are happy stopping by today.

Today I wanted to share with you a couple of Thank You cards I made.  I started with the latest CASE(E) this Sketch challenge as inspiration.

First here are the cards:  

And here is the sketch:    It isn't an exact copy but I am happy with the results.

The card base is 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 in cream.  All the papers are Recollections brand by Michaels.  The thank you sentiment and flower I cut using my Cricut.  I used glitter cardstock as the next layer.  The next layer I cut using a Papertrey Ink die.  The card on the right I used my swiss dot embossing folder to give it a bit more texture.

I always find it a challenge getting glitter cardstock to stick down and to get other layers to stick to it.  So I brought out the heavy guns in the adhesive department.  I used Tombow Extreme and Ranger's multi medium in matte.

Now got to take the time to write in these to get them off to those folks who have been so kind to me in the last few weeks.

I am entering the cards into CAS(E) this Sketch # 206 and Creative Craft Cottage #80 must use flowers.  I hope you enjoyed!