Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hello everyone!

This cute card was made for my Design Team project on The Paper Funday Challenge.  The theme is Irish Luck (use green on your project) and my card features a bunch of Lawn Fawn goodies. Since most of my family is Irish, St. Patrick's Day is a holiday close to my heart.  I enjoyed making this card and I hope you like it: 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Green Glitter Card
Light Green Card
Copic Markers
Lawn Fawn Special Delivery Stamps, #LF2466
Lawn Fawn Special Delivery Dies, #LF2467
Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Spring Stamps, #LF1896
Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Spring Dies, #LF1897
Lawn Fawn Celebration Scripty Sentiments, #LF1898
Lawn Fawn Quilted Backdrop, #LF1625
Die-Namics Fishtail Sentiment Strips, #MFT-1125
Distress Oxide Ink in Lucky Clover
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink

You can see the
glitter a bit better
here

I began, as I do with most of my cards by stamping, coloring and cutting out all the elements I need. The birds were water colored {and their beaks were cut with the included die; isn't that just the cutest?} and the clover was colored with Copic markers. I then set them all aside to concentrate on the backdrop portion of the card, I cut a piece of green glitter card and the quilted backdrop out of a lighter green card and attached them to the white card base.  The sentiment was stamped onto a piece of scrap white card then die cut. After everything was done and dried I assembled the card as you see in the picture. I think it came out so cute!

Whilst there are a lot of different stamps, dies and coloring mediums the project was easy to put together and it looks like the image in my mind {always a plus!}  

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? My mother used to make corned beef and cabbage and that is one meal I truly miss {not the cabbage}! And the sandwiches the next day were so good! I have fond memories of this holiday and that meal.  I hope you have a fantastic St. Patrick's Day - like the saying says "everyone can be Irish for the day" - and be safe!

Fondly,
Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
The Rainbow Challenge, #27 - Judiciously Jade
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - Today our Favorite Color is Green
Little Red Wagon, #591 - Fun Feathered Friends
The Card Concept, #150 - Luck of the Irish
2 Crafty Critter Crazies, #48 - Anything Goes with a Critter
The House that Stamps Built, #321 - Going Green

Anything New with Die Cut Diva's

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was wonderful!  Since it is a new year, Die Cut Diva's has chosen the January 2019 challenge to be Anything New and we are sponsored by the fabulous Bugaboo Digi's.  Bugaboo is offering a

$12 gift certificate to our winner; you can get some great digi's with that much credit!  For my Anything New entry I used these Altenew dies which are brand new and, honestly,  I probably would not have purchased them myself, so I consider them a new design for me as well.  They came in a box of stamps and dies I had bought from a designer; lots of popular designers get so much given to them and they typically design for more than one team, that they can't possibly use it all.  Now, since they can't resell the items {which I didn't know}, a few have put together charity boxes where they stuff as much product as they can into a box, sell the box, and then the proceeds go to their charity of choice.  It's a win for everyone; the designers get to clear out some stash, the buyer gets FANTASTIC deals on stuff, and the charity gets money!  

What I Used to Make My Card:
White Card Base
Grey,  White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Blue, Green & Purple Card
Altenew Shattered Triangles Die Set, #ALT2031
Die-Namics Fishtail Sentiments Strips Die
Altenew Painted Rose Stamps, #ALT1542
Wendy Vecchi Ink in Watering Can
Line Stitched Die {literally a metal line with a pattern on it - manufacturer unknown}
3mm Crystals
Orange Copic Marker

Click to make photo larger

The first step in making this card was cutting out all of the triangles.  I used the smaller set of dies and I first cut out the top of six triangles in white, which are actually the detailed dies in the picture, then cut out the bases, the solid die.  I made a "cheat" sheet of how the dies look so it would be easier for you to understand my references.  Then I cut out the colors using the detailed top again.  I chose muted primary colors - not exactly pastel but I didn't want the colors to be the focus of attention.  I wanted you to notice the intricate detailed "tops." 

Tons of Triangles

Once all the triangles were pieced together and glued, I set them aside.  I cut a panel from gray card and covered the white card base.  Then I used the fishtail die to cut a small banner.  The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap piece of white card.  I wanted some stitching on the sentiment panel but I don't have a die the right size; this is where the line dies come in handy.  I used the stitched one and put stitching on the top and bottom of the sentiment, tucked the gray banner under it, and attached those to the card.  While I was pleased with the triangles, I felt they need a little something more so I put matching gems on each one.  I didn't have an orange gem to match so I colored a clear one with an orange Copic marker.

Finally, after trying out many configurations, I decided to just glue the triangles

Another Peek

randomly onto the card.  I did keep the colors in rainbow order but I didn't place the triangles in any special manner.  I love this card and I'm already thinking of ways to use these triangles; I could cut them out in red and green for the holidays, metallics for special occasions, and tones of red for Valentine's Day!  Making this card has opened up so many possibilities for the geometric dies I have.  I'm thinking of how I could use all the shapes I have in different ways, other than just to mat images or sentiments.  

I hope your imagination has gotten a bit of a spark from this creation and you look at your geometric shape dies in a different way!  I especially hope to see your Anything New entry in this month's challenge.  It's the perfect time to try a new technique, new stamp set, and of course, new dies!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  I'd love to visit you back so be sure to leave your blog, Instagram and/or Pinterest link in your comment.  See you again soon!   Fondly, Christi

Since I posted this late, I am now entering my Card in the following challenges:
Fab 'n Funky - #422, New Beginnings {well, new product?}
City Crafter - #444, Give Piece a Chance
Cuttlebug Mania - New {new product}
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Use Something New
Make my Monday - #87, Use Words or a Sentiment
Challenge Up Your Life - #103, New {new product}
Papercraft Business Challenge - Anything Goes, option of New Beginnings 
Take It, Make It - M, Anything Goes
Cardz TV - #80, Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes w/ Dies

House of Cards End of Term Blog Hop

Wow, did the last six months fly by or what!?!? For our end of term Blog Hop here at House of Cards, we are offering the lovely inspirational photo below or you can use the theme of ANYTHING GOES! I wish I could stay on with the fabulous & talented group of ladies but, due to some ongoing health issues, I feel it is in the best interest of the blog that I step down.  However, no need to be sad! The team is carrying on and will have many more challenges for you to enter, and, it's the perfect time for you to follow me so you don't miss a post! Before I get into the hop, let me share this card I made, actually using a digi stamp from Digistamps4joy (if you are a follower/reader of my blog you know I do not do well with digital stamps) and this time I think I did fairly well!

First:

This hop will run FROM June 1st AT 6:00 AM CST THROUGH June 15th
 AT NOON CST.  ANY CARD STYLE is welcome and we've got a gorgeous photo inspiration for your crafting enjoyment!

Here is the photo inspiration~

And, here is my Card:

What I Used to Make my Card:

Light Blue Card Base

White Cardstock Panel

Digi Stamp from Digistamps4joy Coral Corner

Copics & Spectrum Noir Markers

Wink of Stella in Clear

Hero Arts Ink in Intense Black

Various Colored Cardstock

Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit, May 2017, #heroarts 
Oxide Distress Ink in Broken China 

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Labels, #660060

Nuvo Crystal Drops in Duck Egg Blue, #680N

Pop Dots

I'm sure you want to get hopping, so I'll be extra quick with my tutorial.  I first

printed the coral stamp on some white card, trimmed out the panel, colored it with Copics and Spectrum Noir markers, then set it aside.  I stamped the mermaid with Intense Black Ink, colored her with the alcohol markers, die cut her with the matching dies (seriously, these Hero Arts kits are an amazing value!) and added some clear Wink of Stella to her fins.  I then stamped the fish on some colored cardstock, die cut them, and began to work on the placement of everything.  I adhered the white card panel to the blue

card base and stamped the sentiment on some light blue card and die cut it.  I Pop Dotted everything except the coral image, attached the items to the card, and finished off with some dots of Duck Egg Blue Nuvo Crystal Drops.  I've decided to start adding to my Copics collection as I really enjoyed coloring these images! 

So, are you ready to get hopping?!  Yep, it's time, but first we've got some 

fabulous sponsors  to share with you!  Make sure you leave a comment at each person's blog along the way because the prizes are hidden and we'll be doing random drawings from the blogs where they are hiding! :)  After you're done, make a creation to share with us here, too, for another chance to win!

Here are all of our fabulous sponsors.

MHKDesigns

Prize: Any three products of your choice!

All Dressed Up

Prize: 2 Images

Prize: $10 to use in store

Prize $10 Gift Certificate to use in store

 You should've arrived here from Judy's blog

and your next stop is Cohenna's blog

Here's your hop order in case you get lost along the way

 House of Cards Challenge Blog

Mynn | | Judy | Christi | Cohenna | Donna

 Em | Heather | Jane | Karen | Katarina | Maria 

Merethe | Michele |Nancy |  Paula | Rocky | Rosi 

Shawna | Shirley | Sue N. | Susan 

I am entering my Mermaid card in the following challenges:

Die Cuttin; Divas - #319, Anything Goes

The Cat's Pajamas - #336, Sun, Sea & Sand

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Come & Get it Challenge - Nautical

Mod Squad Challenge - Background Stash

Best of luck to you all!

And a HUGE thank you to my teamies, Judy and Mynn!!

Hugs, Christi

Through the Craft Room Door with Digital Delights

I thought Glitzy Gladys, from Digital Delights by Louby Loo,  was just so cute and springlike I had to use her for my pick for this week's challenge at Through the Craft Room Door.  Not only does TTCRD have a weekly Anything Goes Challenge, but they also publish a magazine every 2 months.  The magazine is full of tips, techniques, beautiful images and more.  If you aren't familiar with it I urge you to take a look either at the sneek peak on my sidebar or on the TTCRD home page.  Here is my card for this week:

If you are interested in how I made this card be sure to subscribe to the magazine!  I think this card would be so cute for a little girl, don't you?? I wish the computer showed a bit more of the detail, I actually used 2 different colored yellow Copics for her hair, but you can't really tell.  I'm learning how to use them, sort of ~ LOL.  And she is quite sparkly in person.  I love Wink of Stella pens!!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Don't forget to enter your creation at TTCRD! Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Cards in Envy - Just Purple
The Paper Girls - #100, The Paper Girls
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #180, Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Add a Sentiment
Sparkles Monthly Challenge - (March) #78, Make it Girlie

Just Inklined at Through the Craft Room Door

Better late than never, right?? 

When I had to choose an image to use for Through the Craft Room Door's challenge from Just Inklined I struggled because I am so new at coloring I did't feel I could do any of the images justice.  I chose the hyacinths because my mom was a serious gardener (I personally can't grow a weed) and we always had an amazingly colorful backyard.  I loved the beautiful purple hyacinths and I plan on giving her this card. So, here is my attempt at this beautiful flower:

Honestly, it didn't come out as well as I wanted it to, but, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I only have about 20 Copic markers, so I try to fill in with water color pencils, gel pens or anything else I can think of.  I am not as nervous as I used to be working with the Copics, but I still have SOOOO much to learn.  I think if I had made the image bigger and used it as a wall hanging I would of been able to color it better - who knows, maybe that will be Mom's birthday gift!

Now it's your turn to enter your creation in the Anything Goes TTCRD challenge. You never know, you just might win! Thanks so much for stopping by! Christi

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
DigiChooseday - Easter/Flowers
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #29, Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams (M) - Use a Die Cut
Digitally Sweet - (M) - Spring is in the Air

Through the Craft Room Door with Morgan's Art World

Hello everyone and welcome to another challenge at Through the Craft Room Door.  You do know that every week there is a challenge and the theme is ALWAYS "Anything Goes?" Everyone should be entering since you don't even have to make a special card or project!  

http://www.artstampsstore.com/ 

This week the Design Team got to choose from absolutely beautiful images from Morgan's Art World - if I was better at coloring I would have been in heaven - I have a love for fairies and there are some amazing fae and other mythical creatures - do take a look! Since I am not an experienced colorer, I chose to work with "Valentine 12" , a beautiful and elegant rose:

I think I did ok - I am losing my fear of working with digi's and I am starting to look forward to coloring them - but don't tell anyone.

If you'd like to see more of my card, as well as my talented teammates, just go to Through the Craft Room Door - we'd love it if you'd let us know you were there! And, you'll find the linky for the "Anything Goes" Challenge, so why not link up? Thank you so much for stopping by ~ Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Cards in Envy - (ends 3/6) Tickled Pink
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge - #118, Anything Goes w/ a Twist of Mothering Sunday
Brown Sugar - #186, Anything Goes
Graph it - Spring Greens
Simply Create Too - #103,  Use Pink or Red

Butterflies at Through the Craft Room Door with Little Claire's

** Sorry for posting this late - had a monster of a migraine earlier!

A big hello to everyone this fine Tuesday!! This week the Design Team at Through the Craft Room Door got to play with images from Little Claire.

http://www.mylcdesigns.co.uk

Here is a sneak peek of my card - you can just see the sparkles on the butterflies

I chose the Butterfly Cage and I knew exactly how I was going to use the image.  To see how I made my card, including the supply list, just hop on over to Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Page.  And don't forget to enter the "Anything Goes" (always anything goes!) challenge! Thanks ~ Christi

PS: Please join my blog candy! The more who enter, the more goodies (and I have a TON of goodies!)


I would like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Left of Centre - #116, Things with Wings
Glitter 'N Sparkle - #174 Fireworks/Sparkle (I used Sparkles)
Cards and More - #151, Anything Goes
Avenue 613 - #162, Anything Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - #13, Anything Goes

Dr. Digi at Through the Craft Room Door

This week the Design Team here at Through the Craft Room Door was able to play with some Dr. Digi's House of Stamps digi stamps.  

http://www.doctor-digi.com/

Since I have 5 cats (The Fabulous Feline Five) it was a natural that I would choose "Climbing Kitties" as my stamp. I actually have a HUGE cat tree in my living room and every one of my cats plays on it - even the 17 year old.  

I can go on and on about my cats like parents do about their kids - in fact, I think I'm worse!  Anyway, here is the card I made for inspiration:

Here is Sylvester helping me take pictures of the card.  He was SUCH a pain in the great help! Here is a clearer picture:

To get all the details on my card, and to enter your own "Anything Goes" card at Through the Craft Room Door, just click HERE.

Now I know you are dying to read all about my FFF, so I have actually put a page up on my blog - just go here: My Cats - The Fabulous Feline Five - be sure to grab a cup of tea or whatever - it's not a short page ;)

Thanks SO much for stopping by my blog today! Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter "Have a Purrfect Day" in the following challenges:
Creative Card Crew - #105, Anything Goes
City Crafter #296, For the Love of Pets
Creative Ladybird's Creations - #11, Anything Goes
AudSentiments #147- Anything Goes
The Cats Pajamas - #306, Anything Goes
SUYP - #2, Furrything Goes
613 Avenue - #160, Anything Goes
That Craft Place - (M) Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft - (M) #21, Anything Goes

Marvelous Metals at Twofers ~ Challenge #12

Hello crafters! Welcome to my post featuring the new challenge at Twofers, challenge #12, Metal, chosen by Zoe. This time I took the theme literal and made an embellishment out of metal! Here is my project, which could be hung on a wall, stood on an easel or framed:

What I Used to Make my Project:
White Card
Fredrix 4" x 6" Canvas Panel, painted prior
Tin (I used a soda can)
Copics: G17, V09, RV04, R29
Tria Marker in V564 (pantone purple)
Spellbinders Inspire Die Plum Blossom, IN-046
DieNamics MFT Pierced Oval Stax, MFT-521
Sentiment from Hero Arts, C2768 Moments (disc.)
Thin Gold Decorative Paper
Embossing Fluid
Embossing Powder in Gold

The first step in making this project is getting the tin can ready.  I rinsed the

The die taped to the tin, & the tin taped to the metal
adapter.  You'll have to tape the tin down because it
will keep rolling up on you.

can out thoroughly, set it out to dry overnight and then cut the can with tin snips (wearing gloves AND goggles!), removing the top and bottom.  That leaves you with a nice piece of tin to work with.  I have cut tin with dies before and the only thing that is different is you have to use a metal plate adapter when you are using low profile dies.  I have found that the "regular" dies from Tim Holtz will cut the tin without a plate but the low profile dies seem to need that extra push.  I bought mine at a stamp convention from Tesslar Stamps/Scrapbook USA, but I imagine you can get them from other sources as well.  

The die cut with one coat of green alcohol ink

Next you want to paint your 4" x 6" canvas panel.  Mine was already painted; I used acrylic paint, I think it was called Champagne Gold, but it was months ago. If you have to paint your panel, set it aside to dry and start coloring your tin die cut.

I wasn't sure that the Copics and Tria markers would work on the tin, but I was pleasantly surprised at how cool the

Close up of the flowers

colors blended together.  Be very careful holding the die cut, it is VERY sharp and while it appears harmless, it isn't.  I held mine down while coloring it, and I started with the branches, which I colored green.  I then colored the rest of the die, using pinks for the flower buds, pinks & purples for the flowers and red for the bird (I do love Cardinals!).

I found that the ink would sort of swirl together, giving the appearance of texture.  I let the ink dry a bit, but I did go over the die quite a few times to get the dept of color I wanted.  While I was coloring the die I moved on to getting the rest of the piece ready.

I cut the oval die cut out and the metallic gold paper. Then I embossed the sentiment using gold embossing powder.  While the stamp isn't manufactured any more, you can find it online.  I trimmed the sentiment, placed everything where I thought I wanted it to go and glued the gold background paper onto the panel, then the sentiment. 

Once I thought the tin die cut was colored enough, I glued it onto the oval and set it under the floor tiles I have on my desk.  The tin really didn't want to stay

Shiny!

straight, having been curled when it was a can, so I needed the weight of the tile to hold it flush with the paper and to ensure the whole die stuck.  I let it sit overnight.

The next day I attached the oval to the panel and I was done.  I love reusing items that would just be thrown out, and since we don't have bottle or can returns here in Colorado, I saved this can from the landfill.  Even if you do have can returns, it's worth the few cents to have a little crafty fun.  I'll be coloring with alcohol inks on tin more now that I saw how the inks reacted with each other.  I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and got some inspiration to join our Metal theme at Twofers.  You have TWO WEEKS to enter your project, just make sure you follow the rules, and you could win a $20 gift certificate to Alleystamps - yes, you can even pre-order all the new goodies coming out at CHA right now!!   

If you do have a moment, please stop by and marvel at the creations my wonderful teammates have made; you can visit Jane here and Zoe here.  Thanks so much for visiting and I'd love to hear what you think so please leave me a comment - Fondly ~ Christi 

I am entering my Marvelous Metals project in the following Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #346 Not a Card
Addicted to Stamps - #176, Anything Goes
Scrappy Land - #33, Anything Goes (you carry Spellbinders)
Die Cuttin Diva's - #248, Tweet, Tweet Use a Bird
Stamping Sensations (M) - Anything Goes with a die(s)
Create And Inspire -#37, Anything Goes

Christmas Door Hanging at Through the Craft Room Door

This week at Through the Craft Room Door we are sponsored by the wonderful Anne Fenton. Her art can be found at Anne's Digital Art .

I chose the image Christmas Grapevine Wreath to make my wall hanging.

Here is a close up of the digi

If your curious on what I used to make my wall hanging please take a look at the TTCRD website. As always, the challenge is Anything Goes, so you can enter any of your creations! After you enter your piece of art, please take a look at my teammates' blog's - we all appreciate nice comments :) And be sure to check out the online magazine - it is chock full of inspiration and goodies that you won't see anywhere else - there is a small preview on the TTCRD website, at the top, under the title.

I plan on giving this to my Mom to hang on her apartment door - she lives in a high rise, so the piece won't get exposed to any inclement weather (in fact, as I write this, snow is once again on it's way to Denver, probably today! ~ edit: we got over 18" of snow and I couldn't get online ALL day!!) as it's really nothing but cardstock.

I hope your holiday preparations are going smoothly and I invite you to become a follower of mine and to help me reach my goal of 100 new followers in 2015. I only need a few more people and the clock is ticking! Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Christmas Door Hanging in the following challenges:
Paperminutes -#413, Winter Greetings
A Snowflakes Promise - #12, Winter/Christmas Theme
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - (month of December) Anything Goes Christmas
Unicorn Challenge - (M) #4, Winter Time
Use Your Stuff - #203, It's Christmas Time
The Paper Girls - #93, It's Christmas
Not Just Cards - (M) December
Come & Get It Challenge - (M) Anything Goes Christmas
Glitter 'n Sparkle - #167, Traditional or Non-Traditional Christmas Colors
That Craft Place - Christmas
Just Us Girls - #323, Sequins (there are little star sequins around the holly)

My first post as a member of the Through the Craft Room Door design team!

I was surprised to see an email from Through the Craft Room Door inviting ME to be on their Design Team - this was the first time I have ever been flat out asked with no previous knowledge and where I didn't apply.  After getting over the shock, I had to say yes.  Now, I need my readers and faithful followers to bear with me - this Design Team does things a bit differently than I am used to and while I am confident I will eventually get the hang of things, it may take a bit.

Every challenge at Through the Craft Room Door is Anything Goes and I hope you will link up a creation here for the chance to win some fabulous prizes.  In addition to the challenge, there is an online magazine that is awesome - there are tutorials, examples and all sorts of crafting goodness so please do consider checking it out!

This challenge we are sponsored by Deedee's Digi's, who supplied me with my very first digital images.  I used Open Window to create my card:

A close up of the digi and my coloring

I have never used a digital stamp before. I am definitely an inky, messy, stamps scattered everywhere kind of crafter, so this is brand new to me.  But, I am willing to learn and expand my abilities, learn to color (hopefully!) and create some smashing projects.  This first card was made by using one of Deedee's Digi's and you can get all the details by popping over to the TTCRD (cause, yeah, typing Through the Craft Room Door can get kinda long) blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you like my very first attempt at using digital stamps. I didn't find it as hard as I originally thought it would be and I hope my coloring skills improve! ~ Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Open Window card in the following challenges:
Come & Get It Challenge - Anything Goes w/a Sentiment
The Crazy Challenge - #211 Everything Goes
Simply Papercraft - #18, Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - #145, Anything Goes w/a Sentiment
CRAFT Challenge - #339, Winter