BEE Happy!

Squigglefly Challenge

Make a JOY FOLD card.

May 31 - June 6

Remember:

Please use a Squigglefly digital image.

You may combine challenges.

It must be a new creation!

Joy Fold cards are such fun to make. If you've never made one, you'll find a great tutorial here... and here are lots of examples.

Here's my JOY FOLD card:

Squigglefly Flower Love Bee

Here's the inside of my card:

I generated the Bee Happy sentiment on my computer.

Image: Squigglefly Flower Love Bee

Sentiment: created on my computer

Ink: Stampin' UP! Riding Hood Red and Copic markers

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Yo Yo Yellow

Card Base: double-sided paper (vendor unknown)

Other Papers: from my scrapfile

Embellishments: silk flower and Studio 18 rhinestones

Thank you - KLM with Bling

Crafty Ho Challenge

May 30 - June 5

I encourage all of you to join the challenge!

Bring out the Bling, Lush Ribbons, and Fab Flourishes

For my card, I chose to go with sparkly glitter paper and pearls for bling. I also used a KLM Designs stamp set (it's one of the first acrylic stamp sets created by KLM Designs).

Crocus Window Box

This is a bittersweet post for me. It will be my last time posting as a member of the KLM Design Team. My tenure is finished and it is time for the new design team to show their stuff. It has been a joy to work with Kathryn, the owner of KLM Designs. I will treasure the memories. Thank you, Kathryn!



Image and Sentiment: KLM Designs Crocus Window Box
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Blue Bayou and So Saffron
Designer Papers: Craft & Craftin' (green glitter paper), K & Company Hopscotch Boy Teal Flat Paper (feathered paper), and Pressed Petals Baby Boy with Glitter (striped paper)
Embellishments: Kaiser Pearls

SMC Three's a Charm Blog Hop

Instead of a challenge, this week SEW MANY CARDS is having a blog hop! Fun!!!

May 28 - June 3

Blog Hop Title: THREE'S A CHARM!

And yes, there are THREE sponsors for the blog hop!

Sunshine Stamps

Sew Many Cards

The Stamping Boutique

If you arrived at my blog post from Melissa's blog, you are at the right place. Welcome! If you got here some other way, you are WELCOME, too. However, you aren't going to want to miss this incredible blog hop, so be sure to go to the Sew Many Challenges Blog to begin at the beginning. (*wink *wink... be sure to leave comments along the way on the blog hop. There will be prizes for randomly selected individuals.)

Here's my card for the SMC Three's a Charm Blog Hop:

Sew Many Cards Donkey Behind Cactus


I wanted to make it look like the adorable little donkey really is behind the cactus, so I printed ot two images and created a layered look, with the cactus popped up off of the main image.

In fact, I popped two other layers, too, to give the card lots of dimension.

I think a cactus in bloom is absolutely gorgeous, so I added some tiny paper flowers to the cactus on my card, using some of these teeny tiny brads that I am so fond of. (Three flowers = THREE'S A CHARM!)
Speaking of which, it's time to send you on your way to the next blog on the Sew Many Cards THREE'S A CHARM Blog Hop. Hop on over to my online friend Lorie's blog and be prepared to be WOW'ed! She is AMAZING!!! Oh, and be sure to leave a comment along the way!



Image: Sew Many Cards Donkey Behind Cactus
Ink: Copic markers (Bush, Cook Gray #4 and #7, Flesh Pink, Prawn, and Warm Gray #1) and Prisma markers (Sahara Sand and Warm Gray 30%)
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! (Green Galore, Marigold Morning, and Riding Hood Red)
Designer Papers: from my scrap file
Embellishments: paper flowers and brads

Is It Almost Friday?

Treasure Hunt

The hunt was on last Friday... at the local yard sales! I was looking for unique, inexpensive, and fun items to use in my card-making.

Here's what I found:

A packet of plastic mini-signs: cost 10 cents
A vintage leather-like belt: FREE! :)

I wondered how I would use them, but just KNEW that I had to have them. (After all, the price was right.)

Here's my creation:

Truthfully, I didn't open the package of mini-signs so I didn't know what any of them said, other than the one that was on top (Caution... The force is with ME). I was super-duper excited when I got home and opened the package. The one I used is sooooooooo appropriate for my dear daughter (who is the recipient of many of my cards). During her semester of student teaching (did I mention she went to college 630 miles from home?) every time we talked on the phone, she would ask: "Is it Friday yet?" It didn't matter if it was Monday, or Wednesday, or any other day, it was always the same question. Wouldn't this have been a perfect card to send to her?!?!?

Here's the front of the card:

and here's the inside:

For the image, I wanted a lighter color, so I stamped it off one time on scrap paper before stamping on the piece I would be using.

Image and Sentiment: Shirley's2Girls Skater

Ink: Memento Lady Bug and Versafine Onyx Black

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Black, Real Red, and Yo Yo Yellow

Designer Paper: (flowers) Making Memories and (check) unknown vendor

Embellishments: mini-sign and belt from yard sales

Flip Flops + Beach = Summer Fun!

Oh the lazy relaxing days of summer!

Lorie is the hostess of this month's Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards Swap. For the theme, she chose SUMMER! Oh, how I love summer!
She made it really easy for us, too... NO rules. She said, Just have fun, and make sure that the creations reflect what YOUR favorite thing is about summer!!
Oh my! That is wonderful!!!

My card reflects two of my favorite things about summer. One (which I don't get to do very often at all since I live in northern Illinois) is to go to the beach. I'd love to be able to go every week - yet I don't even get to go every summer. Drats! There is just something peaceful and refreshing about walking along the beach and listening to the waves.
The other thing on my card that represents something I love about summer is the FLIP FLOPS! Yes, I love to wear them! I wear them every day it is warm enough to do so.


Digital Image: Creations by Penny Beach Umbrella
Ink: Copic markers
Paint: Scribbles Crystal Gel Sparkle 3D paint
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Ballet Blue, Green Galore, Real Red, and Summer Sun
Designer Paper: Leisure Arts (beach scene) and unknown vendor (words)
Embellishments: American Crafts Blue Waves ribbon and Eyelet Outlet Beach Ball brad

Friends and Fun Creations

Having Fun with my Friends

in a

Different Kind of Card Swap!

I am very fortunate to be part of a 6-month swap on SCS. It's a different kind of swap. Each group has six members. A different group member prepares a kit each month and mails the kits out to her fellow-group members. The kits are identical. Group members create a card for each person in their group, using the kits provided.

Joy was the hostess of our group this month. She sent bright pink designer paper, flower shapes punched out of what appears to be a book, and the TGF images. I added some inks, a striped designr paper, a brad, and cardstock.

Here's the card I created:

The Greeting Farm - WS Ebony

I colored the image with Copic markers and sponged Stampin' UP! ink onto the paper flowers.

Thank you for a fun kit, Joy!


Image: TGF WS Ebony
Ink: Copic markers and Spica Pen, and Stampin' UP! Classic ink pads
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Elegant Eggplant, Tempting Turquoise, and Yo Yo Yellow
Designer Paper: Target Celebration Collection (stripes) and unknown vendor (circles)
Embellishment: a brad

Get Well with some Bounce

Squigglefly Challenge

Theme: Get Well

I decided to go with a non-conventional type of Get Well card. I chose a Squigglefly image that would rarely be considered for a Get Well Card. I created my own sentiment in word processing on my computer.

Here is my card:

Squigglefly Bouncing Ball Bear

To contribute to the Get Well theme, I chose not to color the main part of the image. Instead, I outlined it with a Warm Gray Copic marker. This gives the impression that the bear is not feeling quite like himself.

I printed out a second copy of the image and colored the bouncing ball. I then carefully cut it out and popped it up off of the main image to give it some dimension.

To provide some consistency with the circular designer paper, I punched out three different sizes of circles, layered them and added a sparkly brad. This unique embellishment was placed near the Get Well sentiment.

Here's a close-up:

Image: Squigglefly Bouncing Ball Bear
Sentiment: created in Microsoft Word
Ink: Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Tangerine Tango
All Other Papers: from my scrap file
Embellishment: Imaginisce Eye of Newt brad

Road Trip - Places to Go

NOTE: I have two blog posts today so please check them both out! Thanks!!!

Sew Many Cards has incredible digital images and great challenges!

This week's Sew Many Challenges continues to run through Thursday evening!

Theme: Anything Goes

Sponsor: Bugaboo Stamps

Sponsor Prize Package:
Seven digital images of winners choice from the Bugaboo Shop

In addition to the generous prize package being offered, Jodie Mackrell (the owner of Bugaboo Stamps) has also given the Sew Many Cards design team members (me!!) a digital stamp with which to create. THANK YOU, JODIE!!!

Stella - Places to Go

Here's a picture of the inside of my card:

The sentiment makes me laugh!

Oh, and in case you didn't know... every Friday there is a new FREEBIE image posted (sometimes 2) in the Bugaboo Store! Be sure to check them out.

Image and Sentiment: Bugaboo Stamps (Stella Places to Go)

Ink: Copic markers (Cool Gray #1, 2, 4, and 7; Lipstick Red, Blush, Pinkish White, Green Bice, Abyss Green, Ice Ocean, and Pale Aqua)

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! (Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, and Taken with Teal) and The Paper Company (Ice Blue)

Designer Paper: Colorbok

Embellishments: Spare Parts (brads)

A Great Hat Speaks for Itself

"Luxurious, flirty and at times a bit sexy. We're out to prove a great hat can change your day." (Plaza Suite hats)

Every Sunday there is a new Challenge posted on the Crafty Ho Challenge Blog. This week's challenge is a photo inspiration challenge. The photo (of a pink hat) can be seen on the Crafty Ho Challenge Blog.

Here's the card I created:

Saying you don't look good in a hat is like saying you don't look good in shoes!

Wearing a hat versus not wearing a hat is the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. (Martha Sliter)
So....... show us your best! (your best hat-inspired creation, that is.)


Image and Sentiment: Stampin' UP! When I Grow Up
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Black, and Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, and Wild Wasabi
Designer Paper: Making Memories Spring Fling
Embellishments: Imaginisce Eye of Newt brad, Prima BelleFleur flower, Stampin' UP! ribbon, Smooch, and Stickles

I Love This City!

I'm a city person, although we live in a dinky town. I prefer the sights, the sounds, the acitvity of city life. We used to live in a suburb of St. Louis, where one could easily see this view...

What an AWESOME view!

Image: I Brake for Stamps

Ink: Stampin' UP

Cardstock: Stampin' UP!

Embellishments: Hobby Lobby (decorative ribbon) and Spare Parts (flowers and brads)

Anything Goes with This Challenge

It's time for another challenge at Sew Many Challenges!

This week it's ANYTHING GOES!

(It can't get any easier - or more fun - than that!!!)

May 21 - 27

You can find all the details for entering in the side column on the Sew Many Challenges blog, but for the Reader's Digest Condensed Version, create something (card, whatever) using a digital image no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 27 and post a link to your creation in Mr. Linky on the Sew Many Challenges blog. Simple, right?

You don't have to use a Sew Many Cards image for the challenge, but there are some really awesome ones so you might want to! Check them out at the Sew Many Cards store!

Every week, Sew Many Challenges has a sponsor who gives away a prize to a lucky participant! How cool is that?!?!?

This week's sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps!!!

Jodie Mackrell, the owner of Bugaboo Stamps has donated a generous prize package!

Sponsor Prize Package:
Seven digital images of winners choice from the Bugaboo Shop

That's an incredible prize package because Bugaboo has many many fun and creative images from which to choose!

Here's my ANYTHING GOES card creation:

Sew Many Cards Duncan with Owen

Isn't this an adorable image? I colored it with my Copic markers and added some silver mini brads for the buttons on little boy's overalls. Some designer papers and a fun button provide a colorful background.



Anything goes... what will you create?





Image: SMC Duncan with Owen
Ink: Copic markers (Africano, Blush, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Yellow, Caribe Cocoa, Chrome Orange, Cool Gray #7, Golden Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Light Crockery Blue, Light Grayish Cobalt, Pale Grayish Blue, Silk, and Willow)
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! (Brocade Blue, Garden Green, and Summer Sun)
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: brads and Paper Studio button

A Treasure Hunt with Love

It's time for another TREASURE HUNT Creation!

Last weekend I ventured to yard sales in search of something to use in creating this week's Treasure Hunt Card.

Here's what I found:

Plastic box filled with lace, ricrac, and cords - Cost 50 cents

Pair of earrings - cost 25 cents

There were actually so many possibilities with the box of lace that it was a little overwhelming.

I used an old favorite stamp set to create my card - it is a Stampin' UP! set (long retired) called I Love You.



Image and Sentiment: Stampin' UP! I Love You
Ink: Versafine
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Ballet Blue, Orchid Opulence, and Yo Yo Yellow
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: lace and an earring purchased at yard sales

KLM Designs Spring Bouquet

Today's creation is a simple Spring card, featuring a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. It is one of KLM's digital images, released just this month. I chose a mixture of bold colors and spring pastels for a striking color combination. I also went with a fairly symetrical layout, which is not my normal style.

KLM Designs - Spring Bouquet

Image: KLM Designs Spring Bouquet

Ink: Copic markers

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Barely Banana and Certainly Celery

Designer Paper: from my scrap file

Embellishments: Stampin' UP! Certainly Celery brads

It's Magick!

Sew Many Cards - Magick the Mini Horse

My sister has always loved horses. As a child, she dreamed of having a horse, so my parents bought her one. Granted, Billy wasn't much of a horse, but in her child-eyes, he was perfect. Now as an adult, she raises and trains horses as a hobby. Did I mention she loves horses?

So, I'm always on the lookout for horse images/stamps to use in creating cards to mail to my sister. She's going to love Magick!

I've entered my card in two challenges:

• A Spoon Full of Sugar (cute and girly)
• Scrap Creations (child theme)

There are so many adorable digital images at the Sew Many Cards store, there's truly something for everyone there, not just horse-lovers like my sister. Go check them out... and have fun shopping.

Image: Sew Many Cards Magick the Mini Horse

Ink: Copic markers (Baked Clay, Cool Gray #7, Cool Gray #9, Leather, Light Prawn, Prawn, and Willow)

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! (Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, and Regal Rose)

Designer Paper: Paper Studios (Girl Dots, Girl Flowers, and Girl Stripes)

Embellishments: ribbonFX and mini brads

JOURNEY

Squigglefly has a new artist!

Let's give a BIG WELCOME to Michelle Bertuzzi!

* clapping * cheering *

I decided to use one of her very first Squigglefly images to create my card for this week's Squigglefly Challenge.

Challenge Theme: a Criss Cross card

Squigglefly Vintage Truck

I hope you will play along in the challenge this week.

Image: Squigglefly Vintage Truck

Sentiment: Hampton Art

Ink: Copic markers and Versachalk ink

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Garden Green, Real Red, and Yo Yo Yellow

Designer Paper: a road map (seriously, it is!)

Embellishmenht: Creative Beginnings key charm and Stampin' UP! gold cord

Come to My Apple Home

NOTE: I have two blog posts today. After viewing this Sew Many Cards Sponsor post, be sure to check out the next post, too. It's this month's KitCat creation.

Sew Many Cards is proud to have Soft Pencil Digital Stamps as a sponsor for this week's Sew Many Challenge.

SOFT PENCIL DIGITAL STAMPS -- ELIZABETH PUJALKA -- OWNER

Soft Pencil Store

Soft Pencil Blog

SPONSOR BLURB --

"Hello everyone! My name is Elizabeth Pujalka and I´m the illustrator and designer behind Softpencil - Digital Stamps, home of Michu and his lovely friends, where you can find cute illustrations for your crafting needs.

My illustrations are a homage to the Nature and their creatures, where a sweet child, a simple flower or a fragile animal become protagonists.

I invite you to know my whimsical world plenty of gorgeous characters and to enjoy creating with them!"

The winner of this week's challenge will receive an awesome prize package from Soft Pencil!

SPONSOR PRIZE PACKAGE -- $15 Voucher to the Soft Pencil Shop

All the details for this week's challenge can be found on the Sew Many Challenges blog.

In addition to the awesome prize package that Soft Pencil has generously donated, Elizabeth also provided digital images for the Sew Many Cards design team to use in creating a project. I was delighted to receive the Come to My Apple Home image. It features a cute little worm lounging outside an equally cute apple-shaped house.

I actually printed out four of the images in a tiny format, so I could use them for this week's Crafty Ho's Sketch Challenge.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

I had some wonderful apple designer papers that worked perfectly with this Soft Pencil image. I also had some apple ribbon that I used as an embellishment. Instead of coloring the images (which would have been fun and adorable), I sponged Stampin' UP! Creamy Caramel ink all over them and then sponged Riding Hood Red ink on the edges. I punched them out with a Stampin' UP! 1 1/4" square punch. I layered the images on green cardstock, which I had punched using a Stampin' UP! 1 3/8" square punch.

A couple of scalloped borders (punched with a Stampin' UP! punch) and a couple of green glittery brads completed the design.

Easy and cute!

Image: Soft Pencil Come to My Apple Home

Ink: Stampin' UP! Creamy Caramel and Riding Hood Red

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Riding Hood Red

Other Papers: Paper Studio and scraps from my scrap file

Embellishments: Karen Foster brads and Offray ribbon

Argh Matey!!! It's KitCat Sunday!

It's KitCat Sunday!

Purrs!!!

Please don't panic. I know the KitCat post is normally on the first Sunday of the month, but this month we're posting a couple of weeks later. Have you been wondering where we were???

Michelle is the hostess this month and my goodness, she sent us a marvelous package of goodies. We each received oodles of High Hopes images (with a pirate theme)! Argh! We also received Basic Grey designer papers galore, and buttons and brads, too, and a Rain Drop skull piece. This kit was just too fun. It definitely made me think outside the box.

Argh Matey!!!

I decided to make a scene - a pirate scene, complete with a paper-pieced pirate ship.

This is definitely not my normal card-making technique. (Shiver me timbers!)

I wonder what the other KitCats created with their kits? Let's go see...

Catherine

Kelly

Lorie

Michelle

Susan

Images: High Hopes (stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink)
Coloring: Copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Gray
Designer Papers: Basic Grey
Embellishments: rhinestones, Basic Grey brads and button, Rain Drop skull, and Stampin' UP! hemp

Look Deep Into Nature

Now that the harsh reality of winter in the north is past, we are enjoying springlike temperatures, green grass (and the sound of lawnmowers, instead of snowblowers), and other delightful signs of the season. YIPPIEE!!!

Perhaps that is why I like this KLM image so much. When I see the little girl gazing at the butterfly resting on the blooming flower, I am reminded that Spring is indeed here.

KLM Designs - Butterfly and Friend

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

(Albert Einstein)

Image and Sentiment: KLM Butterfly and Friend

Ink: Copic markers

Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink

Designer Paper: from my scrapfile

Embellishment: scrap of ribbon

A Chance of Rain

It's Time for A New Challenge at Sew Many Cards!

May 14-20

Sew Many Challenges - Easel Card

Easel cards are easy to make and lots of fun!

The sponsor for this week's Sew Many Challenges is Soft Pencil Digital Stamps.

ELIZABETH PUJALKA -- OWNER


SPONSOR PRIZE PACKAGE -- $15 Voucher to the Soft Pencil Shop

SPONSOR BLURB --

"Hello everyone! my name is Elizabeth Pujalka and I´m the illustrator and designer behind Softpencil - Digital Stamps, home of Michu and his lovely friends, where you can find cute illustrations for your crafting needs.

My illustrations are a homage to the Nature and their creatures, where a sweet child, a simple flower or a fragile animal become protagonists. I invite you to know my whimsical world plenty of gorgeous characters and to enjoy creating with them!"

Here's the Easel Card I created:



I used the Sew Many Cards Springtime Umbrella image.

With all the springtime rains we've been having, it seemed like a very appropriate image to use. (Rain! Rain! Go away!)




I used lots of layers of designer paper and cardstock to create a sturdy card that stands up well when propped in the easel position.

To create the image, I printed it out twice: once on a soft yellow plaid designer paper and once on blue cardstock. I colored the hearts and patch with a variety of colors of gel pens. Then I carefully cut out the images and glued the umbrella onto the frame.

For embellishments, I used heart-shaped brads, in keeping with the design of the image. I also used a piece of ribbon that features glittery umbrellas and a single tear drop to create the illusion of a droplet of rain dripping off the edge of the umbrella.

Here's a close-up view:

I'm looking forward to seeing your easel card, too, so be sure to play along in this week's Sew Many Challenges.



Image: Sew Many Cards Springtime Umbrella
Ink: Gel Pens
Paper: Stampin' UP! Glorious Green (all other papers are from my scrap file)
Embellishments: American Crafts ribbon, an aqua Tear Drop, and four pink heart-shaped brads