Girl With Balloons

It's the last day of the month and I am sharing this card I made for the Die Cut Divas November Challenge, thoughtfully sponsored by SheepSki Designs.  This month's theme is "anything goes" and you still have a bit of time to get your project in, but hurry!





Here is the card I created:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Bristol Card
SheepSki Designs Birthday Balloons, #157
Spellbinder Nestabilities Curved Etched Rectangles, #S5-006
Various Alcohol Markers
Falling Star Background Die {Unbranded}
Baby Blue Card
Sakura Pigma Micron Black Marker in .005
Sakura Gelly Roll White Gel Pen in .05 
Small Purple Gem 

While this image was designed for a birthday card, I decided to make it an all occasion card as I don't have nearly enough "just because" cards.  As you may know, I am struggling to learn how to use alcohol ink markers successfully and I had printed this image out much smaller, thinking smaller would be easier to color.  Nope.  That was NOT the case.  It was much harder to color when it was smaller.  I did color it though, but I wasn't pleased with it at all, so I printed out the image on a bigger scale and found it to be much more relaxing to color.  I am actually proud of how I colored this digital stamp; I colored the entire thing which is something new for me.  I colored the background, the girl's skin, everything.  Being a good student, I looked up online how to properly color hair but, as usual, I didn't have the colors I needed.  I'm sure once I become more comfortable with using the markers, I will be able to improvise better with the colors I do have on hand.  I even attempted to color her eyes and give her that look that makes the images seem to actually be looking at you; again, I couldn't do that with the smaller image {I used a white Gelly Roll pen and I highly recommend buying the 3 pack which has the sizes .05, .08 and 10}. All in all, I think I did a pretty good job! 

Once the image was colored, I used the curved rectangle die to cut it out.  I found a piece of pale blue card and used an unbranded die I have of what looks like falling stars to cut it for the background.  I mounted the panel onto a white card base, and then the image onto that.  I noticed I went a bit outside the line around the ear, but I fixed that by giving her an earring made from a small flat-backed gem from my stash.  

I hope you like my colorful "anything goes" card for Die Cut Divas.  I'm so glad I am on this design team and I am getting much more comfortable with using digital images; considering about two years ago I wouldn't have touched them and really wasn't pleased that I couldn't use my Zig markers to color them.  I think I may have found a fix for that; I have an old spray can of fixative that fixes the image but you are still able to color it.  That's going to be my next experiment working with digis.  I hope you and yours had a marvelous holiday and thank you so much for stopping by. ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Girl With Balloons card in the Following challenges:
CARDZTV - #76, Anything Goes
Colour Crazy - #48, Anything Goes
Cut it Up - #162, World Hello Day
CASology - #322, Girl
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafting Challenge - #408, Anything Goes

Challenge Graphics

CASology

Hero Arts You Are Appreciated

You still have a bit of time to enter the a2z Scrapbooking November challenge.  The theme this month is "Thanks" and you can use any brand products you wish.  But if you use Hero Arts or Sugar Tree Digital stamps and are chosen as the monthly winner, you will get a gift certificate from the a2z Scrapbooking store.  That's an awesome prize!

I went a smidge out of the box with my card.  I have a plethora of old Somerset Studio, Take Ten, and Stampers Sampler Catch Up issues and I've been looking at all the beautiful creations from years ago.  Seeing all the beautiful cards with fibers used as embellishments inspired me! Here is my card:

What I  Used to Make my Card:

White Square {5 1/4" x 5 1/4"} Base

White, Blue, Light Blue, Aqua and Yellow Card

Hero Arts Ink in Summer Sky, Tide Pool, Deep Blue, Fiesta Yellow, Teal Topaz and Intense Black

Hero Arts Color Layering Peacock Stamps, #CM126

Hero Arts Paper Layering Feather Die, # DI491

Hero Arts You Are Loved Stamps, #CM171

Die-Namics Stitched Square Die STAX

Unbranded Long Round Stitch Die {it's a long single die}

Fibers from my HUGE Stash

I started by stamping the peacock on a piece of white card.  When a stamp is as detailed as the head and body of this peacock, and it is a layering stamp, instead of stamping the solid image first I'll stamp the detailed image and then the solid image on top of the detail.  It's backwards from the directions that you get with the stamp, as well as backwards from what we used to do with the old 2 Step stamps from SU!, but it seems to work better for me.  Trying to use a layering stamp for the first time is the hardest; it gets easier {in my opinion} once the stamps are stained a bit so you can see the clear stamps better.  I followed the directions for the rest of the peacock per the directions; solid stamp, detailed stamp, even more detail stamp for the feathers of the bird.  It isn't lined up perfectly, but I like imperfect creations {good thing because I'd never get finished with anything if I didn't!}

I finished the peacock by stamping its legs.  I wasn't sure if I was going to use the accompanying die cuts and cut out the bird, and I decided against it.  That was mostly due to the fact that since my peacock wasn't layered that well, cutting it out would have been a problem.  The bird was then cut out with a square stitched die.  Then I realized that I had a feather die - and a peacock has feathers!  I dug out the feather die and cut it from three coordinating card stock colors, glued them together at the top, then pulled on that inspiration I'd

Another Look

gathered from all those older magazines and added some fibers.  Yes, I wrapped the fibers around the top of the feathers and adhered them.  Do you recall when fibers were the rage?!?  I have an entire drawer full of them.  Occasionally I go through it and get rid of some I doubt I'd ever use, but it always seems as if there are more to take the place of the ones I tossed.  I think they multiply by themselves.  Anyway, while the feathers were drying, I stamped the sentiment for the card.  I also made my own round stitching pattern on the large blue square since I had no die large enough.  I mounted the peacock onto the blue square, added the feathers, mounted the whole thing onto a white square card, and I was done.  I am tickled about how the card came out and I'm so proud that I used something from my stash; especially because these holiday sales are so hard to resist {yes, I confess, I bought more paper.  It was SUCH a good deal!}

I hope you have time to craft a bit before the serious holiday rush begins.  This card is going into my newly formed "Thank You Card" stack.  I've made it a mission to make more thank you and thinking of you cards because it seems I never have the right one on hand.  Maybe you'll join me and use some of your older craft supplies to make your stack of cards a bit taller?  If you do, be sure to enter it in the November "Thanks" a2z Scrapbooking challenge, but hurry! Time is running out! 

Thank you for stopping by today; I hope your season is going smoothly and you are finding joy in the process!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my You Are Appreciated Card in the following challenges:

A Blog Named Hero - M, Thankful {challenge graphic below}

Creative with Stamps - #32, Feather {challenge graphic below}

The Artistic Stamper - M, Square It

Brown Sugar Challenge - M, #284, Thankfulness

Stamps & Fun - #335, White & Blue

Incy Wincy - Square Cards

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

A Blog Named Hero

Creative with Stamps

Hero Arts Leafy Vines Thanks

Hello! I hope this post finds you and yours doing well! Being a card maker, you'd think I would have thank you cards lying all around my house.  Not so.  I am one of those people that can't seem to keep cards in stock {I have PLENTY of cards, they are just never the "right" card!} which causes me to make each one as needed.  The good news is each card is created for a specific event and/or person. The bad news is I am always running around like crazy with 307,513 cards in the works.  Anyway, I created this Thanks card for this month's theme at a2z Scrapbooking which is "Give Thanks" 

What I Used to Make my Card:
Olive Green Card Base
White Card
Copper Glitter Card
Kaleidacolor Ink Pad in Autumn Leaves, #KA-000-008
Hero Arts Stamp & Cut Thanks Set, #DC152 {you can special order on the site}
Hero Arts Leafy Vines Stamp, #CG509 {you can special order on the site}
Clear Embossing Powder, #PW106
Delicata Ink in Gold and Copper


I love this background stamp, Leafy Vines.  One look on Pinterest and you can find hundreds of ways crafters have made cards with this stamp.  I love it because it's so versatile - you can change the feeling of the card using different  colors.  You can basically make this stamp work for any occasion or time of year!  It's also one of the first stamps I bought when I finally got to unpack my crafting stuff from my last move.  I began this card by inking the Kaleidacolor pad onto the stamp and stamping on a panel of white card.  Just a quick little story about this pad - I had originally purchased it about 18 years ago when I was demonstrator; I purchased it from the company I represented and it was branded with their name.  The case has been cracked {I keep it in a zipper bag} but the pad has never been re-inked, never failed me.  Just consider how old this stamp pad is next time you want to buy one but the price seems a tad high.  It could vote, drink in some states, and join the armed forces!  So I

Another Look

stamped the Leafy Vines on the white card, then added a bit of bling with copper and gold inks, just randomly inked on the stamp.  I finally covered the image with clear embossing powder, trimmed the card panel, attached it to the card base, and set it aside.

I wanted the sentiment to be visible, but not be the focus of the card.  I used the die with several different papers and each one just didn't give enough oomph.  I settled on the copper glitter card and I think it achieves the look toward which I was working.  I considered some gems but I think the card is pretty enough without them.  You can't see the little touches of gold and copper ink, but when you have the card in hand and move it just so, it's beautiful.  Fall colors are my favorite for creating; I can almost smell the smoke from the fireplace just seeing the rich rusts, reds, and browns.  

I hope my little post gets your creative juices flowing and you enter the November 2018 "Give Thanks" challenge at a2z Scrapbooking.  You just might win a Gift Certificate to the store!  However, while you are waiting to see if you've won, you can get 15% off your purchase by using my code, CHRISTI15.  I hope you are having a wonderful fall. ~ Christi

I'm entering my Leafy Vines card in the following challenges:
Dragonfly Journey - #129, Thanks & Thanksgiving
DL ART - Thankful Thursday
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday - Give Thanks
Dies R Us - #109, Giving Thanks
Crafty Gals Corner - Thankful

You Warm my Heart

I made this card especially for the current theme on the Lawn Fawnatics challenge blog - the 40th challenge is this cool color inspiration:

Now, using these colors was a stretch for me, but making this card was a nice break from all the holiday and fall colors.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow Petite Christmas Paper Pack,  6 x 6, #LF1740
Lawn Fawn Snow Day Stamp Set, #LF723
Lawn Fawn Snow Day Dies Set, # LF724
Colored Paper from Stash
Watercolor Paper
Zig Clean Color Markers
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Hero Arts Ink in Amethyst
Tim Holtz Stamp Platform

I first have to share why you shouldn't be crafting at 2 AM - can you spot what I did wrong?

It was an easy fix because I do this ALL the time - I have even gotten into the habit of checking which way my card opens before I attach anything to it and I STILL attach things upside down or on the wrong side.  Nothing a quick cut won't fix.  

My first step in making this card was finding one of the background papers from the Really Rainbow Christmas Pack.  I knew I wanted to use the cute heart and the scarf from Let it Snow and I had a vision in my head of what I wanted to do.  I needed to find a paper that didn't clash with my intentions and I chose the rainbow snowflakes.  

Then I stamped my scarves on watercolor paper and colored them in using Zig Clean Color Markers.  I cut them all out and set them aside.  I thought using pastel color papers for the hearts would work but they were too bland.  So I found coordinating paper {that matched the scarves} and die cut the hearts from bright colors.  I paired the scarves with the matching hearts.

Another Peek

The sentiment comes in the set as a square and I didn't have enough room to use it in that shape so I used my Platform and some sticky notes. I didn't take pictures of the process because it was getting late and I was tired.  It took me a few tries before I got the sentiment to line up sort of straight, but by that time I felt it was good enough.  I basically used the sticky notes as masks to stop the part of the saying from stamping where I didn't want it to. All in all I think it was a successful adaptation, but next time I'll give myself enough time to screw up without stressing myself.

I hope you like my card; I enjoy making holiday cards out of unexpected colors and this one fits the bill in my book!  Thanks so much for swinging by. ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my You Warm My Heart card in the following challenges:
Lawn Fawnatics - #40, Color Challenge
Stamping Sensations - Christmas Inspiration
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - #411, Anything Goes Option: Something Beginning with H {Hearts!!}
Cardz TV - #74, Anything Goes
Colour Crazy - #46, Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks - #429, Snowflakes
As You Like It - Monochrome or Rainbow? I like to stretch myself and monochrome is MUCH easier for me, so Rainbow it is!
Lost Coast Designs - #65, Cute {badge below}

Scrapy Land - #101, Anything Goes w/ a Company They Carry

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - M, Anything Christmas Goes

That's Crafty! - M, Winter Wonderland

Bastel-Traum - #71, Winter/Christmas {badge below}

Lost Coast Designs

Bastel-Traum 

Let it Snow

Hello and welcome to my incredibly late post for the Not Just Cards November challenge.  I completely forgot that my post was due today! Oh well, better late than never!  I have some fabulous friends up north and a good friend of mine is involved with designing dies for various companies.  She sent me a HUGE goodies package a while back and this tree die was included.  I think I can find out where to get one if you'd like.  Just drop me a note by using the contact form on the right side of the blog or message me on Facebook.  This is the card I made with that die; it looks very peaceful to me.

What I Used to Make my Card:
5 x 7 white card
Trees Die {unbranded}
Stickles in Diamond and Stardust
Elizabeth Craft Dies, Let it Snow, #1234
Silver and White Shimmer Paper

The first step in this card was to cut out the trees and go to town with my Stickles.  I just used all the white glittery bottles I had and, in hindsight, I could have used some silver as well.  I let the trees dry overnight; this is a MUST otherwise you will get Stickles, glitter, and/or glue everywhere.  

Another Peek

The next day I mounted the glittered trees onto a 5" x 7" card.  While it was drying, I found some scraps of silver and white shimmer paper.  After die cutting the sentiment twice, I glued the white onto the silver, with just a peek of the silver paper showing.

Lastly, I adhered the sentiment onto the trees.  That's it!  I really love the glittery trees; I think I've figured out a way to cut the die cut paper to fit on an A2 card.  If my idea works, I'll be making more of this type of card to send out to my friends.  Don't worry, I promise to let you know how I accomplished getting the trees sized down to A2 size!  Why not enter your projects in the challenge? The theme is always Anything Goes and you can enter anything you'd like - remember it's Not Just Cards! I hope this post finds you and yours happy, healthy and joyful. ~ fondly, Christi

I am entering my Let it Snow card in the following challenges:
Daisy Chain Challenge - M, Christmas/Winter
Friendship Challenge - #35, M, Anything Goes w/ Option of Mostly White
HLS Anything Goes With Dies - Anything Goes
Monochrome Magic - M, #16, Anything Monochrome Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything Goes
Crafters Castle - M, #11, Anything Goes w/ Option of Holidays
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes w/ Option of Getting Ready for Christmas
Cardz TV - #73, Anything Goes
Cut it Up Challenge - #160, Clean & Simple
That's Crafty! - Winter Wonderland
Craft Rocket Challenge - M, #54, Christmas is Coming!
Little Red Wagon - #471, Just a Sentiment
Creative Moments -#156, Anything Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - #79, Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies

Jo's Scrap Shack

I'm With You

Hi all! I hope you had a fantastic Halloween - I know I haven't posted as much since Halloween ended; I needed some recovery time!  Well, it's a new month and that means a new challenge at Die Cut Diva's - and this month is ANYTHING GOES!  I don't know about you, but that is my favorite challenge theme! 

The sponsor for this month's challenge is SheepSki Designs; just click the name to go to the shop on Etsy, and if you win you will get your choice of 3 digi images!  Andrea is a truly talented artist.  Now, for my creation, I'm With You:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Alcohol Ink Markers {various manufacturers} 
Gelly Roll Stardust Pens
SheepSki Designs, Snowman Selfie, #100
Gold Card
Tutti Designs Stitched Nested Squares, #TUTTI-218
Tutti Designs Stitched Nested Rectangles, #TUTTI-217
Embossing Ink
Gold Embossing Powder 
Hero Arts Sentiment from You Are Loved, #CM171
Gold Snowflake Paper {from stash, but I think it is old, very old, Anna Griffin}
Wink of Stella in Clear

I started my card by coloring in the image with alcohol ink markers.  For those of you who use them on a regular basis, I have a question; why is it no matter what color I am using I never have the correct color to achieve the effect I want?  It's not like I want to make some crazy design.  I'd just like to highlight like I see all the "pros," but regardless if I am using blue, purple, or brown, I never seem to have the correct color to highlight.  Honestly, I think if I had every color known, I'd still be unable to color like I want to simply because I don't practice enough.  I am thinking that after the holidays, I'm going to invest some time and money and sharpen my skills.  I say that now - eh, we'll see.  

After my image was colored, I cut it and a gold frame, using the stitched nested dies.  I set the frame and image aside.  I had found the glittery gold snowflake paper in my stash, it was even cut to the size I needed, and I adhered that to my white card base.  I wanted to make the card a support card, not just a winter card, so I grabbed the You Are Loved set {and I just have to say, Hero Arts donates 100% of the proceeds of these certain "kindness" sets to various kindness charities - check them out and get more information HERE} and choose my sentiment from it.  I gold embossed the saying, cut it using the stitched rectangle die, and set it aside.  Then I mounted my Snowman Selfie on the card at an angle and placed the sentiment on the card as well.  Lastly, I decided to add some bling and I colored randomly on the hats and noses with

Another peek

the sparkly Stardust Pens.  I also used clear Wink of Stella to add a shine to the white portion of the Santa hat.  I just couldn't have that beautiful gold snowflake paper do all the sparkle work!

For readers who have been around for a while, I am still struggling with the digi images but I have come to realize that most of my angst is because I don't feel that I can color them correctly.  As you have already read, I think I have figured out a plan to remedy that.  While I am waiting to be able to devote the chunk of time and resources, I'll be watching all the free You Tube videos I can.  If you have one to recommend, please put it in a comment!  I've got to go close the windows now; it's about 34 degrees and my nose is cold. Hopefully I will see you playing at Die Cut Diva's Challenge.  Have a great day and thank you so much for stopping by!  ~Christi

I would Like to Enter my "I'm With You" card in the following challenges: 
To Be Filled out After I take a nap.  I apologize for being so late adding these challenges - my 4 am to 8 am shift is a bit hard to adjust to!  Without further ado:

Scrapy Land - #101, Anything Goes with a die company they carry
DL Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - #237
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Thanks
Papercraft Challenge - #24, Friendship
Dies R Us - #108, Stitched Dies {entry #2}
SheepSki's Designs Challenge - #20, Anything Christmas Goes

The Main Reason Santa is SO Jolly

I love mixing snarky sayings with traditional holiday images {OK, I love using snarky sayings with everything!}, especially when they are unexpected.  I recently found out about a new stamp company and I just had to buy the set that had this image.  Santa is getting hip in his old age!  I made this card for the Stinkin' Inkers November Challenge, the theme is "Just Because" ~

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Polka Dot Paper from my Stash
Craft Foam
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Happy Holla Days Stamps from The Ink Road
The Main Reason Santa is So Jolly Sentiment from Quietfire Designs
Stitched Nested Squares from Die-Versions, #DV-572 {appears to be discontinued, but any nested or stacked square dies would work}
Stitched Nested Rectangles from Tutti Designs, #TUTTI-217

I'm not sure where the idea for this card started.  I had pulled out my Christmas papers and spied this polka dot paper that has to be at least 10 years old.  I have no idea who made it, but I thought it would be great as a small frame since the pattern was so close together and, out of that, this card was

born.

I inked up the Santa image and stamped it on white card, cut the front of the frame from the polka dot paper, and cut a square from the craft foam I have lying about for when I make shaker cards {you can learn about what foam I use and my shaker card process here.}  I glued the polka dot frame onto the foam square, then attached the Santa to the front of the card {after I cut him out with one of the square dies} and finally glued the frame front over the image.

Lastly, I stamped the sentiment on a piece of white card, cut it out with a stitched rectangle die, and used dimensional dots to attach it to the front of the card.  

I debated about coloring in Santa's pipe, but I like the clean look of minimal color on this card.  The fact that the sentiment is so fancy looking, you expect it to say something delicate and then you read it - let me say everyone who has seen this card lets out a huge laugh.  Holidays are so stressful; I think everyone can use a good chuckle!

If you have a moment, we'd love to see your "Just Because" creations at Stinkin' Inkers! I hope you have enjoyed my little tutorial.  I appreciate your visit and here's hoping your holidays bring you lots of laughter. ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my The Main Reason Santa is SO Jolly card in the following challenges:
The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - #40,  M, Anything Christmas Goes
Incy Wincy - Christmas
Less is More - #383, Dimension {graphic below}
The 12 Months of Christmas - #47, M,  Anything Christmas Goes
CAS Christmas - M, Santa {graphic below}
Stamping Sensations - M, Get Ready for Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - M, Humor

Less is More

CAS Christmas