Mother's Day on Squigglefly's challenge..or Grandmother..or Mother figure~ come join us!

 I've always had a tender spot in my heart for Owls..as did my mom...as does my daughter.  So what  a perfect card for Mother's Day.  That is the challenge for Squigglefly this Challenge~ or you can use the challenge for recognizing Grandmothers or a Mother figure in your life!  The image that I chose was Framed Owl by Fawn Palmer and it comes with 3 sentiments so that you can use it for several different occasions.  It's a very simple pattern but that makes it great because the focus then is directly on the owl.  I used some whimsical papers from my design stash and of course, my favorite embellishments-buttons.  Even stacked on top of each other!  On the inside is the complimentary sentiment with a prima flower and pearl accent center.  What a fun card!  Come show us your Mother's Day cards and if you use a Squigglefly image, you will be eligible to be a winner and get a free image of your choice.  There are many new artists debuting on the first weekend of May so be sure and check out all the new images!!

An April Release Masculine set from The Doodle Pantry-Awesome!!

 I just love this masculine set from Doodle Pantry-there are so many different ways you could use it!
I've been needing more Birthday cards so this time I decided to layer the images & sentiments as they are png's.  The design paper, watch, and sentiment are all on one layer from DP-it's great!  Then I wanted to offset the underneath layer-it's a shimmery, wheat colored, flecked natural cardstock from The Paper Cut-great weight and texture. I wrapped some black & cream baker's twine around it and used some buttons from my friend Holley.  Added a vintage style ribbon medallion and it's ready for some lucky gentleman!

Squigglefly's Springtime Challenge is "Flutterby Butterfly"

The Squigglefly rules this week are to please add a butterfly somewhere on your creation.  This can include a butterfly in your image, on your printed paper, or as an embellishment (like a brad, sticker, diecut, bling,...). We'd love for you to use a Squigglefly image, to be prize eligible it's required, but everyone is welcome to play along.  I just love this image called Floral Baby Boot by Elizabeta Kushner but I can see it being used for so many different themes!  I like this vintage style-works real well with the coloring!  Accents of vintage dyed rayon seam binding, a die-namics round die cut, some distressing with a Tim Holtz tool, using the double sided design paper, and of course the addition of 2 butterflies that were gifts from friends!

Mygrafico comes to Seems a Little Sketchy's Challenge this week

What a fun set of images from Mygrafico that we have to help illustrate our Seems a Little Sketchy Sketch Challenge #63!  Perfect for a special card for a young man~all from the Aeroboy group.  AND they will give as a prize for the winner a full set of your choice up to $5!

I think the way I've layered the paper, it seems like he's dropping out of the clouds in his parachute!  I set up his image on pop dots to help with that illusion!

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I also got the chance to use these images for a friends' grandson's gift.  I used them on a box picture frame.  With that one, I applied some design embossed airplane themed paper to the outside of the mat.  I applied some eclectic letters spelling out her grandchilds' name in the corner, the image elements, a complimentary center background paper, and added an oval die cut to center a future picture.  You're all set to put this in your office or present it as a gift to the family.
Hope you enjoyed!  Hope you come back for another visit to my blog!
Carolyn

Doodle Pantry Fun Sponsors Creative Knockouts-Furry or Feathery Friends!

This weekly challenge from Creative Knockouts is being sponsored by Doodle Pantry and what fun it is!  One lucky person will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Doodle Pantry store!  How lucky is that!!  There are so many great sets available to choose from! Now that Spring is finally here you start thinking of all the bunnies and birds that the season brings!  Here's the perfect challenge for you!
For my entry, I'm using an April release set from DP called Jiggles-you can see from the insert all the interesting papers, images (colored & B/W), and sentiments.  I decided since he's so tall that I'd use this new Slider Die cut Card Blank from The Paper Cut so it would POP him up like a peek-a-boo.  This card blank will be in their store very soon.  On the slider front, I used 2 of  the different papers & a sentiment from the kit. Additional papers & sentiments are exposed as the slider pulls up the image of Jiggles.  So that you can get an idea of size, this card would fit closed into an A2 envelope. Also I'm showing you a sideways view so that you can see the mountain fold.  What doesn't pick up in the photo is the metallic like shimmer of the yellow card-it's stunning.
So I hope you find time to join us all the Creative Knockouts and get a chance to win the DP prize-  The library is FULL of gorgeous images just waiting for you!  Thanks for visiting and come back often~
Carolyn

I'm entering this in this challenge:

            Creative Knockouts #33 Furry or Feathers

Easter Themed cards at Squigglefly this week

This week the Theme for Rhonda's Rowdy Rascals Squigglefly Challenge is "Easter Themed" and I chose the intricate but gorgeous Springtime image called Painting Springtime by Lynne Stansbery.  While this is a very challenging it is WELL worth the time taken to color it in--I just love it.  In this set you also get a sentiment that is so appropriate for this time of year.  Now the Easter Joy was stamped on the bottom with a stamp from Studio G so that I could use this verse for the challenge.  This image is one of several new releases this month-they can always be seen the first weekend of every month.  We have super talented artists that give us so many amazing digitals!  Come and check us out and get your entry in before next Monday.  The winner gets a free digi of their choice if they use a SF image on their creation.

Doodle Pantry "Cute Cake" new release makes it's debut this month!

 This is one of my favorite new releases from Doodle Pantry for SO many reasons!  I just love the greens and purples together, so many possibilities with all the download has to offer, the crisp clean images, multiple sentiments, great design papers--Wow how cool!
I wanted my card to be all about the CAKE so I enlarged the digi , mounted it on the 5 x 6.5 horizontal card blank and then did a fancy cut around the image.  By doing that, it is hinged so that it has a dimensional look!
I slid the complimentary design paper under the image, rounded the corners of the blank so it would match the round features of the image and fancy cut the banner.  By cutting the saying in half, I could frame the cake.  Nestled under the cake digi is one of the sentiments from the release.  I just love all the flourishes she puts on these! The little turquoise Twinkle Goosebumps are great bling to use-by Queen & Co.  And several accents on the cake are glittered with Stickles, crystal-purple- turquoise.
The great thing about Doodle Pantry is that if you use one of the new releases from the website in our challenge "any digi ", then you get a free new release called Petite Bouquet.  This card was made using that wonderful set--Come on and join us!

 

Emerald Fairies and Artful Inkings are debuting as a Sponsors at Southern Girls Challenge! Welcome!

 This great new sponsor for SGC is named Emerald Fairies and they have so many cute pixies it just puts a smile on your face to work with them!  The one that I'm using is called "Jewel" and she fits right into the theme at Southern Girls Challenge this time--Stripes!
I'm using an Outer Stair Step Card blank from The Paper Cut in a very springlike color, Sour Apple.  With this being pre-scored, it takes all the measurement and folding hassles out of your hands!  Easy, Peasy!  On the back level, I used a fence die cut and a TH grass dc and then multicolored small prima flowers to create an outdoor scene.  The design paper I used was 2 sided so I used both as accent papers.  The digital image was colored in copics and then I used diamond Stickles on the wings for some shimmer.  I used my computer to create the sentiment and then mounted it on some complimentary green cardstock.  Here at Southern Girls, we have a new challenge every 3 weeks with different, awesome sponsors.  Come and place your entries and join in the fun!

And additional card was needed so I quickly chose a cute image with a guitar, as my husband sells guitars in our shop in his spare time!  This image was very easy to color and shade so that made me happy!  I basically used some masculine striped paper and musical paper from my stash...sad but I could probably furnish a shop with my paper addiction.  I made some loops from a roll of satin ribbon and added them to the matted image.  Stamped with a Studio G "Big Hugs" stamp on the front and Hero Arts stamp with happy Birthday image.  Think I've got several uses for this card!
 

Masculine Card for Birthday or Father's Day~For the "Big Wheel" from Squigglefly

 This is a great chance to combine 2 of my Favorite Design Sites!!  Squigglefly and The Paper Cut~ This new image from SF is called the Big Wheel Bike by Elizabeta Kushner.  I know I'm going to be using this a lot, changing the colors on the bike and accessorizing with so many things!
Wouldn't this make a great anytime card for your husband, son, or friend/family member?
This is the Double Hinge card that I've been having a blast with from The Paper Cut.  They have pre-scored card blanks from great weight cardstock in fabulous colors, the base of this one is Basis Lt. Brown.  I've tried turning it like this before and love the effect. I double matted the image, with a chocolate felt cs and a green from my stash. That's a black and tan baker's twine wrap and the mat is only attached halfway.  The button helps weigh it down. When lifted, it shows the neat vintage Watch paper.  I attached some manly sitckers, a die cut label with a sentiment stamped.  I just love the old time feel of this card and hope you will go to Squigglefly to check out all their great digis!  They make a card just come together!

New Sketch at Seems a Little Sketchy-Robyn's Fetish is the sponsor!

 We got some cute images from this great site, Robyn's Fetish to use on this week's sketch at Seems a Little Sketchy.  Mine is a Strawberry cluster and it really makes me think that some warm days are ahead.  I can just picture the juicy strawberry juice dribbling down my chin....well it's 40 degrees here tonight so let me have my dream right?
The cluster of flowers features a punched layered paper flowers-pierced in the center with a brad, moistened and scrunched up into a dimensional flower.  The other flower is actually a prima stacked flower that is sitting on top of a cloth "spoolie" or "yo-yo" they used to be called. Then I filled in with tan, green, and cream branch punchies from a friend.  I gave this to my daughter for her recent Birthday and she just loved it!
Come and play along with our 2 week challenge-Robyn is giving away 3 digital images to the winner and you can enter more than once.  We'd love for you to visit!

Springtime Bright colors at Squigglefly-It's about time in the Midwest~

 This week's challenge is to use Bright Spring Colors on your Squigglefly entry!  Wow, that leaves you SO MANY choices to use and it just puts a "Spring" in your step to be working with them!
The image I'm using is Bloom Where You're Planted by Cheryl Alger.  She's one of the talented artists that lend their talents to this great site.  On top of that, the first weekend of each month is used to premier new designs by all of their artists and it's a great bargain for the great digital images that you get!  Be sure to check them out!  The set I used also included a sentiment.  Also for this card, I used a pre-scored card blank by The Paper Cut.  Normally you would use this card vertically but, I've been trying a different style with it horizontally.  I half attached the copic colored image so that the full image goes across the split front but, it allows the bottom panel to pull free and show your inside for your stamping, pictures, or sentiments.  This Bright Color is called Basis Magenta and I was so lucky to find a matching button for the front-my favorite embellishment! 
You have a whole week to get your entry in for the challenge-and the prize is a great image of your choice for your library! That would definitely be a hard choice-there are so many!!

Previewing a New Card Blank Design at The Paper Cut-the Double Hinge Card!

This is a new pre-scored card blank that will be sold soon in The Paper Cut store-It's called the Double Hinge card.  The pre-scoring takes all the guess work out of the equation and it's really easy to fold along the creases and holds it's shape!  The base color and mat that you see here are Basis Aqua and Gold Manilla File.  AND the adorable print I used is called Azure Mini Print and comes in several colors.  I used a Cheryl Alger Digital print on this Welcome Baby card and a baby clear acrylic stamp on the inside
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To show you another version, I bring you a thank-you card using the same Double Hinge card blank from The Paper Cut!  They are so versatile-I used a digital card front that spans across the folded opening-it's adhered only across one side.  When you pull the opposite side out from underneath, I used the backside of the b&w front mat which is white and stamped LOVE on it. When the Basis Red card base opens, there's plenty of room to showcase your sentiment, a picture, a complimentary stamped image-possibilities are endless.
Over the next several days, I want to keep previewing different takes on this new style for The Paper Cut as well as some other folds that they will be featuring-be sure to check back to get some new ideas for 2014!  Thanks for looking!

So Happy to be on the Doodle Pantry Creative Team!

Even though this is April Fool's Day, this is no joke for me!!!  I'm so excited to have been chosen for the Summer Creative Team at Doodle Pantry~ This is a unique site with a huge library of delightful images, sentiments, and papers for MANY eclectic tastes.  I think I didn't close my mouth the whole time I was visiting the shop-Laurie does beautiful artwork and coloring.  And her perspective is spot on--funny how being married to a retired Art Teacher for so many years rubs off on you. 
We use the First of each month to "launch" the new releases but also to invite you to play along with the monthly challenge which starts at Noon Eastern time the 1st through the 24th Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge 44. The challenge is "anything Digi Goes".
On to my debut card for them:  the image, papers, and sentiments all come from the set called Petite Bouquet and you get SO much in the set!  I wanted to give some dimension to the Bouquet so, I cut back the front flap of the card so that I could overhang the flowers. THEN I cut out the yellow rose, 2 red petal sections and the blue bow from a duplicate print and with small pop dots, raised them up for more dimension. A coating of Diamond Glaze over the flowers puts such a shine on them!  The purple print as well as the golden yellow paper are some of several choices of papers in the set-this color combination just sings SPRING to me!
Inside and out, I used the solid purple paper swatch to accent the Beautiful sentiments with flourishes on them.
I hope you felt a breath of Fresh spring air when you looked at my card and I hope you will return soon to see some of Laurie's other beautiful sets.