sparkle and shine and dazzling

I made this card for three challenges:

https://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ (D is for Dry embossing)

http://yournextstamp.com/blog/  (sparkle and shine)

SCS Free for all Challenge - Sparkle, shimmer, shine

The stamps are Gina K. I stamped the image with versafine black ink, and colored the image with alcohol markers.. The ligther pen is highlighted with sparkle gel pen. I added a few tiny rhinestones to add a little more spakle and I  dry embossed the white card base. 

CCEE2022 Favorite techniques

Hi everyone! Kelly here with the last challenge for May 2020

and I've enjoyed making cards with you this month!

 Saturday is World Creativity Day!

Such a fantastic day to embrace your own creativity 

 and for us to support each other in the paper crafting community. 

 Let’s make a card using YOUR favorite card making technique ~ the sky is the limit! 

Thanks, Kelly for all the great challenges this month. 

Here's my card for this week's challenge:

Since I could not decide which technique out of these three that I like the best, I used all three: dry embossing, stenciling, and paper piecing. I kind of used a circle pattern theme to tie all this together. I used distress oxide inks for the stenciling and blending with my fabulous makeup brushes I use for this, I dry embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder, and my image is Margaret, one of my favorite Angie girls from Unity. I paper pieced her skirt and colored the rest with Copic markers. The sentiment was stamped in Versafine black ink. 

This could be a birthday card or any other special celebration in one's life. 

Color Throw Down #595

This card was made for the Color Throw Down challenge to use black, white, and light blue.

This stamp is from Unity.  I wanted to use a large stamp to leave mostly black and white, and then just spotlight a section to use the color. I used BG72 for the flower and BG10 for the background part of the circle.

You can find the color throw down challenge HERE:
https://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/

Y is for Yellow

This is for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers' Challenge this week. The theme is Y is for Yellow.
This stamp set is from Unity and I thought this bathing beauty was the perfect image for a time in the yellow sunshine. I have been semi-retired for years, only working a few days a week, but since the quarantine, I have gotten to feel like what it might feel like to be fully retired and "doing what I want, when I want" with the only restriction being not being about to leave the house LOL!!! So,  days in my pajamas and stamping all day long with a few afternoon naps thrown into the mix of things, and I guess those have been my best times so far!! And as of this past year as a preschool music teacher, I have finally said "the end" to my long and wonderful life of teaching in public school and at  my church school. I've been trying for years to figure out how to zap some of the energy out of those little chargers I saw during the week, but I just haven't found the process, and I am just getting too old to keep up at their pace anymore!! God bless the children for all the joy they bring the world. I am ending my 40 year teaching streak.

HMFMC 317 - gingham or plaid

A new challenge started this week over on HMFMC, which is to use plaid or gingham. I found this pretty plaid in one of my paper pads, so used this little cutie for it. He's like me,  and  getting a lot of naps in during the quarantine. I used colored pencils and copic markers to color the image.

You can find the challenge here:

http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/2020/05/hmfmc-317-anything-goes-with-option-of.html

JUGS 537 - photo week

website: http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/

I also did this for the rainbow challenge for the Addicted to CAS challenge you can find here:
http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com/

The wavy pattern in the fabric on the chairs reminded me of the wavy pattern on this stamp I had that I have not used very often,  So here is my entry to this challenge that I stamped in Versafine black, and colored with copic markers. The stamp is from Laura Burch. 

Just Add Ink challenge 506

Just doing some Friday stamping challenges to keep me entertained. Here is the one I found on
 Just Add Ink today:

Here's my card I did using yellow, blue, and purple inspired from the picture, and thought about this stamp from Unity Stamps that were stacked with these cute birds.  I stenciled a little bit for a slight background. 

Here's my card:

Crafty Catz challenge - spots and stripes

Since I have been staying mostly at home for months now, I fantasize about being on the beach this summer. So today I let my card making therapy session take me there. I found this challenge on Challenges for days today called Crafty Catz. I love using up my scraps and I love dots and stripes, so I knew I had some scraps just screening to be used on this card. These stamps I used are from Unity. Did you notice there are even stripes on the swimsuit??  Hope you are finding productive things to do during these strange times in which we are living. I love rubberstamping so that is my therapy to get through this so I have been doing a lot of challenge hopping. It has been fun. This is where I found this one:  https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/

Color Throwdown 594

Using Unity stamps, I made this card using this week's colors for the Color Throwdown challenge.

I used distress oxide ins for the gray, versafine black  for the image and the sentiment.

You can find the challenge here: https://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/2020/05/color-throwdown-594.html

M is for Mouse and makeup

This card is my entry into the challenge going on over at Double D.  You can find that challenge here:

http://daranddiane.blogspot.com/2020/05/begins-with-m.html

I have quite a collection of  House Mouse stamps and thought this one perfect for things that start with M. You have mouse and makeup. Don't these two just look marvelous in those magnificent red lips? I colored my image with copic markers.

CCEE2021 Mother May I?

 Hi everyone!  Kelly here with another challenge for this month.

Mother MAY I?  

 Create a card based on the popular children’s game 

 featuring children playing or create a card for a child.

I used this silhouetted image of kids playing follow the leader and enjoying the sunshine. 

I loved that my childhood was spent with outdoor fun with the neighborhood kids on the block.  Children don't seem to have the safety of that kind of outdoor play any more and it is a shame  Great memories and friendships were made. 

I used distress oxide ink to smash tthe color onto the sky. I blended the green for the grass and used a stencil to make the sun and sun rays. Versafine black was used for the stamping.  

Play along with us if you would like. If you put it on SCS use the keyword CCEE2021 on your card. Mr. Linky can be found over on the CCEEstampers blogsite you can find HERE. While you are there check out the other team members' cards to see the cards they have created. 

Addicted to stamps and more challenge

I did this challenge for the challenge on Addicted to stamps and more that can be found here:/

http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com/

I used some old retired Stampin' Up sets for the shells, a speckle stamp for the sand, and water colored it with frayed burlap disress oxide ink. I used copic markers for the inside of the shell and the sky also with a light aqua copc marker.  The sentiment is from an old Flourishes set. 

Candy Cane Christmas

I try to make Christmas cards all through out the year, because I make all mine different. So I thought this would be a fun one using the Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge this week, using candy canes. This is a wonderful digital I purchased from Power Poppy earlier this year. It was so fun to color and I really liked how it turned out.   You can find that challenge here:

http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/

I colored my image with copic markers, and used kraft paper for the base, also red and white cardstock, and striped design papers.  

CAS586 and MOJO Monday 537

Here is my card for the MOJO 537 challenge today:

I also used it for the CAS challenge on Splitcoaststampers. 

Allsorts - Anything Goes challenge

Here is my card for the Anything goes challenge over on Allsorts that you can find here:

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/

I tore strips of wash tape and taped across the card. Then I sponged in various SU ink colors from some old pads I have lying around. I removed the tape for the white spaces between the colored shapes for the background. I stamped this image from Unity, colored with alcohol markers and fussy cut to add to the card base. Then I stamped the sentiment onto the cardbase. I was pleased with my color choices on this. I think the sentiment is a good one for the times we are now faced with. What will be will be, so live and love each moment and take it as it comes.. 

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Thank you

I took a technique class this morning on Zoom. Fun thing to do and we did the painter's tape ink technique. I use washi tape and this is how mine turned out. I used some of my older SU ink pads and a retured SU stamp, I liked the look. I made it a thank you card to use for this challenge on Sweet Stampin' this week. You can find their challenge here:
   
                          http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Twofercardchallenge

This is the first time I have tried doing this challenge. I used the rose from a My Sentiment Exactly set and colored it with alcohol markers. I made one a thinking of you card and one a joy fold card as a birthday card.  I hope I followed all the rules correctly. During the quarantined time, I have been exploring many card challenges as my card making is my mental therapy that keeps me sane each day. Being creative is a great outlet for me.

You can find the challenge for Twofer Card Challenge here:
https://twofercardchallenge.blogspot.com/p/rules2.html

Gingham and rose

Three challenges helped me put this card together. I used the sketch from the MOJO challenge 536, the gingham is for "c" is for checks the Alphabet challenge, and the Just use Ink Challenge for the thinking of you theme. The stamps are from My Sentiments Exactly!  I used alcohol makers to color my image.  You may find all of these great challenges HERE below:

http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2020/05/just-add-ink-505thinking-of-you.html


https://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2020/05/c-is-for-checks.html

https://poeticartistry.blogspot.com/p/mojo-monday.html

Festive Friday challenge 0059

This is for the Festive Friday challenge :

I picked to include: water, fish, and aqua. I water colored my fish, so I even used water to create this card. With Father's Day coming I though this might make a nice Father's Day card. The image is a digital from Power Poppy.

CCEE2020 Asthma Awareness Month

Hi everyone ~ Kelly here continuing as your hostess for the May challenges.

May is Asthma Awareness Month.  

 Let’s bring the awareness to 339.4 million people worldwide 

affected by asthma by creating a card where you need to use your lungs! 

 Think blowing up a balloon, blowing out birthday candles, a dandelion, a whistle etc

You can link up your cards below with the LINKY button.

If you share to an online gallery and Splitcoaststampers, use the keyword CCEE2020.

We look forward to your cards!

I used Distress Oxide Inks to smash onto my cardstock, then I stamped the musical staff in Versafine black. The trumpeter is a die I found at Tuesday Morning a few months back. I have a friend who does music with me on mission teams that go into Texas state jails, who is a trumpeter and May 14th is her birthday. So, Happy Birthday, Pam! 

Tuesday Morning Sketch 534

Before embossing my black cardstock, I rubbed antique linen distress oxide ink over the inside of the embossing folder, then ran it through my embossing folder. Cut my circle next, and stamped the coffee mug from Unity Stamps onto it. I colored it with copic markers, and trimmed with a gold metallic pen. I added the sentiment that was stamped in Versafine black ink (as was the mug). 

The link to the challenge is: http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/

Paper Players Color challenge 490

I made this card to enter in the Paper Players color challenge this week. You can find their challenge here: http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/

I used one of my Unity stamps for the image and sentiment. I stenciled the background with granny apple green and melon mambo ink. I colored the flowers with copic markers and water colored the jar with pool party (or the color of ink I had closest to it). 

CASology - plant

I made this card to place in the CASology challenge this week whose theme was plants. It was to be one image and limited layers, and mostly white. This image is from Unity stamps. I water colored it using distress oxide inks.  As the final touch I found this scrap by my paper cutter that had a stripe of gold to add to the side. You can find this challenge here:
http://casology.blogspot.com/

AAA cards - CAS 165

The challenge for this card was to use only a third of the card. The twist was repeated image. I repeated the leaves (an old retired, but very favorited stamp of mine from Stampin' Up) down one side in two different shades of distress oxide inks. The I stamped this sentiment  from Unity stamps in versafine black. An easy case for sure.  The challenge can be found here: https://aaacards.blogspot.com/ 

Less is More white and cream

This is my card for the Less is More challenge  that is to use cream and white. My cream is not as pale as I would have liked it to be, but since I only used it on the leaves I used it.  I embossed the white card base with an inked Distress Oxide ink pad rubbed over it before I ran it through my machine. I stamped the flower in versafine black, die cut the leaves in ivory (cream) and attached over the embossed background. Here is the link to the Less is More challenge:
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Challenges Zentangled lady

A few years ago I discovered the wonderful world of zentangling, so for one of the Tuesday challenges that I chose to create this card. I stamped the face with a Stampendous stamp, and then I splashed a few pastel colors of distressed oxide ink around the face, and then I added hair and the zentangled designs in her hair around in the background. I decided to let the face be all that I colored so I used a combination of copic markers and distressed oxide inks that I water colored with like on the eye shadow, and also blended with for eyeshadow and blush to face.

So this is for the which  Try it on Tuesday challenge with the theme Lovely Ladies.

Spa-tastic Friendship

This is one of my newest House Mouse stamps that I haven't even used before. But I thought it would be perfect for this pastel challenge over on their site: http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.com/2020/05/hmfmc-316-always-anything-goesoptional.html

I used pale pink cardstock for my card base, found this pretty floral print in the colors I needed and choice a soft brown color to color the mice as they had this luxurious bubble bath. The only embellishment I added was some small paper flowers and some die cut leaves. Small pearls are the centers for my flowers. The sparkle to the bubbles I did with a glimmer gel pen,

Celebration - graduation

The Crafty Cardmakers Challenge this week is celebrations. With graduation coming up and many I need to make cards for, I decided to get those going so I can help these young people who have been robbed of all the usual events that go into this celebration have not gotten to happen this year. So  I will be sending a few more than usual this year. This one was done with a stencil I won from Stamplorations, and the stamps are from Unity. I watercolored the cap and gown, and used copic markers for the rest of the image. The inks for the stenciling were done with Distress Oxide inks.

Another card for the Double D challenge

Trying out some layered stenciling on this card and decided to go with the purple and lavender theme that Double D has going this week.  I used my great art makeup brushes to blend the ink onto these stencils and of course, I used those wonderful distress oxide inks. I stamped the sentiment, which is a set from Gina K in versafine black ink. I love that this is a one layer and easy to mail card without any lumps or bumps that cost extra postage.  Again, the link to the Double D challenge is :
http://daranddiane.blogspot.com/2020/05/lavenderslilacpurple-challenge.html

Winter Berries CAS Christmas challenge for May

I made this CAS card with winter berries for the CAS Christmas challenge this month. The image is from Power Poppy. I colored it with copic markers and colored pencils. I embossed the sentiment to keep it white.  I have been searching out new challenges to try since I have had a lot more time to stamp during the quarantine. I have stayed pretty much home bound and grateful I have had my computer to keep connected with people. Perhaps I will have many of my Christmas cards made and ready to go in a few more weeks. LOL

You can find the CAS Christmas challenge for May HERE: https://caschristmascardchallenge.blogspot.com/2020/05/cas-christmas-may-2020-challenge.html

Double D challenge

For the challenge you can find HERE: http://daranddiane.blogspot.com/2020/05/lavenderslilacpurple-challenge.html  The challenge was to use purples, lavendars and lilacs.  I used a Gina K stencil and all of my purple, lavendar, and lilac distress oxide inks. The flowers and leaves are die cut. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up.

Wideness of God's Mercy

This card was so fun to make. I am a very eclectic rubber stamp artist with an extensive collection of stamps and digital designs.  I have collected over the past 20 years. I entitled this piece "Wideness of God's Mercy" and the stamps and supplies to create this have come from lots of sources. I patronize all paper and stamping supply businesses and collect up the images I love, and the inks I find most effective for my style of stamping. I used watercolor paper to stamp, stencil, and smash ink onto. The sailboat and the sun are stamps from Stampin' Up. The silhouetted palm trees are from Sweet and Sassy, the sentiment is from what use to be Our Daily Bread Designs. As some of these stamps are perhaps no longer available for sale, it makes them all the more valuable to me. I don't usually buy too many of the stamps that are faddish but rather I go for some quality art that seems to always be vogue. And as you can see, they mix so well into fabulous scenes or focus points for cards for decades to come.  The stencil I used is from Gina K and is one of my favorites. My favorite "go to" inks are Tim Holtz's distress oxide inks because it can be used in such a variety of ways and I love the finish look it has.  When I saw that the challenge this week for Daring Cardmakers was inky background, which is one of my favorite things to create, I was right into getting this done. check out their link by clicking the above Daring Cardmakers that is underlined.

Hope all mothers everywhere have a  great mother's day even if it is  spent not even getting to be with your grown children due to this COVID 19. To the mothers whose little ones are quarantined at home, take advantage of this quality time with each other, life passes all too quickly.  I do pray God's mercy is covering all of  you with health and safety.

CCEE2019 - It's fiesta time!

  Fiesta like there’s no mañana!   

(party like there's no tomorrow!)

Hi everyone ~ Kelly here with your May challenges.

 Tuesday was Cinco de Mayo, let’s continue the celebration with anything fiesta! 

Create a card sing the the word fiesta or the colors *red, green and yellow* or piñatas, sombreros, etc.  Feel free to simply create a celebration card in lieu of fiesta if you need to!

We look forward to your creations and 

use the LINK UP at the bottom to share your creations.

If you post to an online gallery and Splitcoaststampers, use the keyword CCEE2019.

I used a Bugaloo digital for my card, added a stamped cactus to the scene, and colored my blanket like the colors you might see on a pinata, and the colors of the Mexican flag on the sleep mask. Since this has been a time for masking, I decided  my mask of choice for my face after a night of too many margaritas, would be a sleep mask.  Just a warning, beware of too much partying, your body can only handle so many of those sleepless days and sleepless nights LOL.