Digital Tuesday Challenge 'Its All About the Animals'

Hello and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is 'All About the Animals!' Simply make a card or project using at least one digital image on it that has something to do with animals. Our sponsor this week is our very own Digital Stamp Oasis and they are giving away 3 digis to one lucky randomly chosen winner.

To make my card, I used the Digital Stamp Oasis image 'Bestest Buddies'. The sentiment is computer generated. The paper is DCWV 'The Pet Stack'. The main image is colored with Copic Markers and is mounted up on dimensionals. The layout is last week's Paper Craft Planet sketch. Here is a close-up of the main image.

If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions. If you'd like to purchase this image, simply click on the Digital Stamp Oasis Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Etsy Store.

Have a great day! Amy

The Last of My February Christmas Cards

Yeah! I finished my February Christmas Cards for the Christmas Card Challenge on SCS early for a change, instead of waiting till the end of the month Oh, what a relief that is! LOL! As you already know, I make 5 Christmas Cards a month so I'll have 60 cards at the end of the year, instead of having to make them all in November/December. I already showed you two of my Christmas Cards using JustRite images, here are the last three.

The first one uses a digital image by Heather Ellis. I know MFT also sells these images as stamps, but some of them are also available as digitals in Heather's Etsy Store. To make my card, I used JoAnn's 'Peppermint Forest' designer paper. I colored the image with Copic Markers and I added a white gel pen to the berries in the mistletoe. I also added Liquid Applique to the hats, some 'puff balls', and a holiday button. Here is a close up so you can see the detail of the Liquid Applique.

My second card uses last week's sketch from Midnight Madness. This is also another digital image by Heather Ellis. The paper is Cosmo Cricket. I embossed the heart with a Cuttlebug Folder and rubbed some white craft ink over the raised snowflakes. There are Stickles on the Snowflake Die Cuts, the main image is mounted up on dimensionals, and also has Liquid Applique on her fur trim. I love this image. It reminds me so much of how I feel in the winter. UGH!

Here is another close-up so you can see the Liquid Applique detail.

And, my last card, I'm not thrilled with, but I decided to post it anyway. It is another JustRite image embossed in Silver Embossing Powder. The sketch is from a challenge blog, the paper is from My Minds Eye. This card is so much prettier in real life, but is just one of those cards that is really hard to photograph. The designer paper is very glitter IRL, and that is Silver Metallic paper, not grey paper. The ribbon also has lots of metallic/glittery accents in it.

Have a great day! Amy

A Few Crafty Secrets Cards

Here are a few cards I made this month using Crafty Secrets Products.

My first card was made using last week's sketch challenge on SCS (SC265), and last week's Crafty Secrets Challenge to use something old and new on our card. Well, just about everything on this card is old...the stamp set, the paper, etc., but the sketch, was brand new! LOL! I know that's a stretch, but it was the only thing I could of. The stamp set is 'Coffee and Tea', and the paper is DCWV 'Nana's Kitchen'. This card was made using the 'Sweet Kids' Stamp Set and I know I made it for a Crafty Secrets Challenge, but for the life of me can't remember what that challenge was. LOL! I think I need to post my cards a little sooner after I make them so I don't forget why I made them in the first place. Anyway, I believe the sketch is from Paper Craft Planet, and the designer paper is K & Company 'Small Wonders Girl'.

And finally, this card was made for FS155 on SCS when the fabulous Karen B. Barber was the Featured Stamper. My, what an amazing gallery she has! HERE is the card I cased. I loved Karen's card so much, that the only thing I changed was the sentiment and the image. It was so perfect the way it was, I couldn't bear changing a thing.

Have a great day! Amy

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate

Mmmn, I love DARK chocolate. My favorite treat! In fact, I just finished munching on a dark chocolate candy bar my husband bought me. I was dipping it in a peanut butter jar as I blog hopped. I'm suppose to be on a diet in a quest to lost 20 lbs before my daughter's wedding. But, with my love of food, I doubt that will happen. But hey, I just had a my annual physical on Tuesday, and my doctor told me I was in PERFECT health, and my cholesterol levels were amazing! So There!

Anyway, I forgot to show you these little chocolate treat packages I made. I actually received the envelopes from my EX-Stampin Up! demo. I no longer am a demonstrator, nor do I buy their products since their decision not to allow demos to post pics and links to other paper crafting companies. My ex-demo sent me these envelopes, but they were a bit too plain for me, so I dressed them up a bit. They are just the cutest envelopes that a Ghirardelli Chocolate Square fits perfectly inside of. This one I made using a dollar stamp from JoAnn's, a Cuttlebug Die, and a fabric flower and ribbon. The little heart on the sentiment is a red adhesive gel sticker.

This sentiment is from the retired SU! set 'Like it a Latte'.

Here is what the back of the envelope looks like. Isn't it cute? Such a cute gift to hand a co-worker or friend for no special reason other than to brighten their day.

Well I finally got around to visiting all your blogs since today was my day off. I've only been on the Internet for about 4 hours now. Sheesh! That's what happens though when you have dial up and about 87 emails to respond too! LOL! Have a great day! Amy

Longing for Spring

Well I know the groundhog saw his shadow yesterday, so were going to get 6 more weeks of winter, but here in Wisconsin we would have gotten 6 more weeks of winter anyway, so it makes no difference if the groundhog saw his shadow or not! LOL! Yesterday at work I was absolutely freezing. They keep it so cold in the place to save costs, even the customers complain and they have winter coats on! I wore two undershirts, plus my work shirt, and I couldn't stop shaking. Today, I will wear a sweater too! And then in the summer, we sweat at work, because they don't cool the place. UGH! Anyway, I'm tired of being cold and longing for spring. Spring is my favorite time of the year because there are no bugs and my garden looks it best with all the blooming trees, and before heat, disease, and insects arrive to wreck havoc on my garden. I always try and get friends and family to come and see my garden in the spring, but everyone always puts it off, and puts it off, and usually shows up in July and August after everything is done blooming, looks fried, and is full of weeds. Its a good thing my daughter's wedding is in the spring, because then everyone will be FORCED to come then! LOL!

Anyway, I haven't scrap booked in probably a year, which is pretty funny because I originally began my paper-crafting adventure as a scrap booker. But, being on design teams, and selling my creations, forces me to mostly make cards and projects, and not scrap book pages. I really need to FINISH my son's high school scrap book before he graduates this May, but I fear, that may never happen with my daughter's wedding preparations taking priority. That's so sad, he may not have a scrap book to display at his graduation party. Oh well, only so much time in a day.

Anyway, since I was longing for spring, I was looking through some old photos of my garden last spring. Oh, I tell you, my garden is like heaven on earth in the spring! I hate to brag but, it really is. Between the scent of the flowering crab apple trees, the lilacs, peonies, iris, etc., the air is just filled with perfume. You can smell it the second you step out the door. And everything is just so perfect because the insects, heat, and drought haven't arrived yet to destroy it yet. The birds are chirping like crazy, having lots of babies, and building their nests. The weather is absolutely perfect, not humid, not to hot, not to cold. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE spring. There is no place I would rather be than in my own yard at springtime.

So in honor of that, I made this page. My garden is mostly pink in the spring, and then changes to all the 'hot' colors of yellow, orange, and red in midsummer. The top picture is an overview of just the west side of my garden, the second picture is a close up of a peony, and the bottom picture is a close up of a bleeding heart. The pictures were placed on white card stock and I sponged the edges with green ink. I made the flowers with the Peony Dies from Spellbinders Nestabilities. I cut each layer out of a different shade of pink and sponged the edges. I hand stitched the stem with floss. The title was made with Cuttlebug Alphabet Dies.

Here is a close up of the butterflies that were made from 'Flying Beauties' from Spellbinders. I colored them with chalk to bring out more detail and added dew drops for their heads.

I hope I've 'warmed you up' a little today. Have a great day! Amy

JustRite Challenge 003 'Valentine Love'

First of all, I apologize to everyone who's blogs I have not been visiting this week. I've been working extra long hours trying to get our store ready for inventory. I'm absolutely exhausted. And when I am home, its a challenge just to read all the emails I receive, much less visit and comment on blogs. But I promise, I will get to all your blogs soon.

For today's card, I did the JustRite Challenge 'Valentine Love'. The company just started doing challenges, this is their third one, but the first one I've been able to participate in. I think they actually wanted to see a Valentine 'Project', but I've already made all of those because I have to work a month in advance since I sell my creations at a consignment store, so I decided to make a card that could be used for an anniversary or wedding.

I wish you could see this card in person. It is so much prettier in real life. The entire card just SPARKLES! I used the gorgeous new DCWV 'Maribosa' designer paper. The green background paper is 'glitter paper', and the ribbon has a gold sparkly edge, and the butterfly designer paper has gold glitter on it, and I put Stickles on the frame of the sentiment. Its so pretty! So, since you can't see the shimmer, just use your imaginations.

The sentiment and decorative frame are from JustRite, and the sentiment is embossed in clear embossing powder and is up on dimensionals. Do you remember this card HERE? I just found out that it won this week on Paper Craft Planet and is featured in their Newsletter. I am once again their 'Shooting Star'. I was excited to hear that news.

Have a great day! Amy

Digital Tuesday Challenge 'A Different Fold'

Hello, and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is to make a card that has a different fold. Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Bee Crafty! They have the CUTEST bunny images!

For my card I used the Bee Crafty Digital Image 'Fluffy Bunny Birthday'. I never made an easel card before, so I decided to try one. They are quite easy to make, but my only issue with it is that if you send it in the mail, you have to include a little note on how to open it and set it up. LOL!

Anyway, onto the details of my card. I used DCWV 'Nana's Nursery, Baby Boy' designer paper, and Bashful Blue and White Card Stock. The balloon is cut out separately, covered with Crystal Effects to make it shiny, and then popped up on dimensional. I also popped the cake up on dimensionals and added some Stickles to the flame. The sentiment is a Cuttlebug Die Cut, and the border punch is Stampin Up!

Here is a close up so you can see the dimension, the Crystal Effects, and my coloring with Copics.
Here are a couple of side views.

If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions.

Have a great day! Amy