Sketch 127

The OWH sketch challenge for this week is super simple.  Simple layouts are my favorite.

Paper-Provo Craft and My Mind's Eye, Image-The Saturated Canary, Sentiment-Melonheadz

Isn't that little girl adorable?  Her frizzy hair reminds me of mine-summer's making it go out of control!  When I thought about what to put with it, I thought of that cute sentiment from Melonheadz, because this girly's unique and beautiful.

Linking up:

Operation Write Home-Sketch 127

The Saturated Canary-use red, white, and blue

Crafting for All Seasons-patriotic

Paper Pretties-red, white, and blue

Simon Says Stamp-patriotic

Forever Friends-inspired by the USA

Bonus Sketch Card:

Paper-Provo Craft, Ribbon-Offay, Image-Digital Delights

Love that snuggly bunny and the sparkly ribbon.  I guess since glitter is off limits for OWH cards, I love when I can add a bit of safe bling for the troops.

I used a fork tying bow technique that I found on Pinterest.  You can find the tutorial HERE.  Thanks for stopping by.  Ciao!

Blushing Bride

I rarely make wedding cards.  They don't do a whole lot of good for OWH-soldiers rarely need specific wedding cards, and even if they do, a generic love or thinking of you card can also work for the occasion.  Generally, if I'm going to a wedding I *GASP* buy a card from the store.  But my husband's cousin is tying the knot and she comes from a super crafty family, so I figured I'd better step up and make a wedding card.

Paper-All My Memories, Image-Beary Wishes, Sentiment-Hero Arts

I really like how simple the layout is.  I also like how the bride's face directs your eye to the sentiment.  I think Jackie will like receiving this card.

Linking up to:

Creative Inspirations Paint-wedding cards

CASual Fridays-use pink

Marker Painting

This week's Hambo Hoedown challenge is to use a technique from Splitcoast Stampers.  After trying to make a pull tab flip card and failing horribly, I decided to try something else.  I've heard of watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils before, but I'd never heard of watercoloring with markers.  Splitcoast Stampers explains that using water based markers and an aquapainter or brush, you can make a watercolor look on stamped images.  It actually works!

Cardstock-Provo Craft, Image-Hambo Stamps, Sentiment-K&Co

I love watercolor painting.  It astounded me that the marker ink acted exactly the same as paint.  You can use the same techniques for this.  I really like the splotchy faded look that I painted on the pond and the grass.

I do have some tips if you are going to try this out.  Splitcoast Stampers recommends using watercolor paper.  Since the image I was using is a digi, I printed on really heavy cardstock since I didn't want to run watercolor paper through it.  It bubbled a lot when I got it wet, but it dried relatively flat.  If I do this again, I'll probably stick with the watercolor paper.  I'd also use a less detailed image.   This cute one is "Wee Henry Fishing" by Hambo Stamps, but it has lots of little details, and the colors bled a bit.  It also worked best to wet the section I was painting first and then added the marker.  Then I spread and blended the color with the brush.

Watercoloring with markers is a fun technique that I probably wouldn't have tried without this challenge.  But it's fun and freeing-definitely worth trying out.

Linking up:

Hambo Hoedown-Use resources from Splitcoast Stampers

Creative Inspirations Paint-Inspired by Father's Day

Crafting for all Seasons-Masculine Cards

Why I Can't Make Nice Pop Up Cards

The Hambo Hoedown challenge this week is to use a technique from Splitcoast Stampers.  I attempted to make a pull-tab pop-up card.  And then I attempted it again, and again, and again.  By the time that I had to start over a forth time, I was screaming at my cardstock.  In anger, I took my green decorated pop up flap, ripped it off the pull tab, and just glued it down on yellow cardstock.  Then I pasted the sentiment (which should have shown on the pull-tab) on the inside.  So now I need a new card for the hoedown because the challenge isn't "cards that started out using Splitcoast Stamper techniques, but then the card maker got frustrated and angry and just made a regular card."  Thankfully there's lots of summer link-ups that this card is perfect for.  And it turned out cute even if it's just a regular card.

Cardstock-Provo Craft, Image-Hambo Stamps, Chipboard Borders-Provo Craft

Linking Up (all challenges are for summer cards):

Always Crafting

Celebrate the Occasion

Deep Ocean Challenge Blog

Scrapalicious USA

and Digi Haven

Movie Time

Do You Stack Up has a fun link up this week-cards inspired by a movie.  I couldn't resist.  I had to make some movie cards.  I started out making a dragon card, but then my husband asked if I wanted to have a movie night watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  

As dorky as it is, that is one of my absolute favs-no movie makes me laugh more.  If you haven't seen it-wait for a day when you want a brainless comedy and then check it out-it's hysterical.  I laugh so hard that I cry every time.  So then I had to make a Monty Python card:

Paper-All My Memories, Image-A Day for Daisies, Sentiment-TLC

Remember the "killer rabbit" from the film?  He's one bunny you'd want to have your back!

Random movie fact:  The cast borrowed the killer rabbit from an elderly lady who lived in the area that they were filming.  She was very nice, letting them use her bunny for free; however, she became furious and threatened to sue when the fake blood stained bunny's fur morbid red.  (I know WAY too much about this movie.)

Bonus card!  Here's my super simple How to Train Your Dragon card.  My sweet dragon looks nothing like Toothless; oh well.  That movie always makes me cry too-my husband finds my tears hilarious.

Paper-Colorbok, Image-Sliekje Digi Stamps

Any movies ever inspire your cards?

Linking Up to:

Do You Stack Up?-Inspired by a movie

Tuesday Taggers-Anything goes

Sketch Challenge #126

OWH has a fun sketch challenge this week.

Even though I usually struggle with sketches, I found this one rather inspiring.  I even got brave enough to switch it up a bit.  I made 3 cards from it today!

Supplies used:  Paper-All My Memories, Image-Milk Coffee Stamps, Sentiment-Desert Diva

My mom has a Provo Craft mini sewing machine that's sat unopened for months.  I borrowed it and tried it out.  It's not the simplest machine nor does it give the best results, but maybe I just need practice.  Any tips? Reading Simple Scrapbooks by Cathy Zielske.  She encourages relaxing on crafts and to remember that imperfections add whimsy and character.  I'm trying it out, so my crooked stitches are staying put!  Linking up to Milk Coffee Stamps Challenge-Use Purples and Greens.

My second card is by far my favorite.

Supplies Used:  Stamps by Eat Cake Graphics and Hero Arts, Paper by We R, Ribbon by Offay, Clothespins by Provo Craft

The ribbon actually is really wide, I cut it in half to make it fit.  Then I decided to fray the ends for a more folksy look.  Linking up to:  Simon Says Stamp and Show-use a bit of brown, Crafts and Me-Anything Goes, Crazy Amigo-Warm Colors, Make It Monday, and Forever Friends-feature and animal.

My last card turned out nice too.  This week's midweek throwdown is cards that use blue and yellow.  The cute flower is actually three brads-how fun is that!

Supplies: Paper-Target, Ribbon-Offay, Brads-Making Memories, Image-Doodle Pantry

Linking up:  OWH-midweek throwdown, The Cheerful Stamp Pad-in the garden, and Doodle Pantry-use a DP image.

It's been a rather accomplishing day.

A Letter Full of Love

When I saw The Alley Way Stamps Be Inspired Challenge, I instantly was reminded of a card that saw on Pinterest.  All the balls and fans look a lot like the hearts bursting out of the card.  I've been longing to CASE that fun card for weeks, and this was a great excuse to take the time to do it.

I used patterned paper from My Mind's Eye and the text from The Alley Way Stamps.  It's one of their freebies, I just cropped off the word "snail".  I drew the heart by hand matching it to the fun font on the envelope.  Originally, I used the same fun summery colors in the be inspired photo, but then decided that the hearts would look better with patterned paper.  I found some distressed plaid paper in my stash that had lots of the same bright colors in it and then matched the paper to the others.  Then my grey envelope clashed so I switched it with a subtle tan.  I like that much better.

This card just makes me smile.  It's so happy and is perfect for a OWH card.

Linking up to:

The Alley Way Stamps-Be Inspired #5

Paper Pretties-Summer Cards

Great Impressions-Die Cuts and Punches

Simon Says Stamp-Summer Inspiration

Thank you cards (plus a cow)

Well I'm late at posting (as always).  OWH's midweek throwdown is a week past, but I like my thank you cards so I'm linking up anyways.  This first card I made for my mentor teacher who's been saving me all year.  Being a first year teacher is rough, and thankfully my mentor was great.  I don't think I would've made it through this school year without her.

Paper by Provo Craft and DCWV, Image by Whimsie Doodles, Sentiment by The AlleyWay Stamps

I liked this card so much that I made some more just like it.  One of the best parts is that it used only scrap paper-yay for using up scraps!  Linking this up to Creative Inspirations-CAS cards and Paper Pretties Challenge-Favorite Color Combo (gotta love black, white, and red-my school's colors!)

Here's a quirky thank you card.  I really liked it, but decided it needed more outline so I inked the edges of everything (bad habit of mine) and am not so sure I like it as much now.  My husband teased me about it since I tend to ink the edges of nearly every craft I do.  But it does have a cool shabby look about it.

Paper by Target and My Mind's Eye, Brads by Making Memories, Image by Doodle Pantry

Linking this up at Crafting for all Seasons-Layers Challenge and A Blog Named Hero-Colors Challenge

Bonus Card!  (You'll be seeing more cards from me.  School's out so I've got lots of crafting time now.)  Isn't this little calf sweet?!  I just love her cute little bows and her eyelashes.

Paper by Diane's Designs, Button by Offay, Image from A Day for Daisies, Stamp by Hero Arts

Thanks for dropping by.  Keep working on those OWH cards.  *Hugs!*

Sketch 124

 This week's sketch was fun.  I like how it had the big area for an image or sentiment.  But I wasn't too fond of the bow, so you'll notice that I just left it off.  Here's my first card; I flipped the sketch and put a sentiment in place of the bow:

Paper and cardstock by Provo Craft, both images by Kadoodlebug Designs

I just love that sweet little bear.  She was really fun to color.  I really enjoy matching bright blue or teal with red.  It makes such a good contrast and the combo makes for a bright summery card.  I'm linking this card at Whoopsi Daisy's summer colors challenge.

My next card is a fun birthday card.  I just left the bow off this one altogether.

Paper by American Crafts, Image from The Saturated Canary, Sentiment by Desert Diva

I just love that adorable stamp.  It's fun to color because her dress has so many funky layers with alternating patterns.  

My last card is Grease inspired.  I love musicals (and I'm especially loving Grease since right now I'm "summer lovin' .")  Sandy's rockin' her black leather pants:

Paper by DieCuts With a View, Images by Digital Delights

Not too found of this card, but I hope there's a hero out there with a knowledge of musicals.  Well that's all from here.  Ciao!

In case you haven't heard, I'm the new Saturday poster at Free Digital Stamps.  Hop on over and see all the freebies (and let me know if you find some freebies that I missed).