Ellie w/ Scarecrow from Paper Nest Dolls! Do you feel the Crispy Fall air?

I'm sharing with you Ellie w/ Scarecrow and it has really put me in the mood for these COOL mornings, on my way to work!  I love the combination of blue & brown so that's what I chose for Ellie-did the Scarecrow in 

Complimentary Copic colors.  THEN, what a wonderful find when I pulled out some Fall paper I recently purchased to find a Perfect Match!! I edged the background in a colorbox Blue and Cat's Eye Chestnut Roan, extended the brown mat behind the image and used raffia** for the "ribbon". One of my other papers had these adorable pumpkins on it (see inside) so I cut them out and elevated the one in the front.

What Fun this was!!  You need this image for your collection!  ** My trick with the Raffia:  You know how "bundled Raffia" from craft stores always has kinks in it and is hard to get to lay flat?  My crafty daughter gave me this hint--buy a child's size HULA SKIRT from a Party store!  You can just hang it up by the waistband string near your craft area, it hangs straight, cut off from the waist or whatever length you want. ** Yea! no more kinks!

Christmas Fairy Ellie Time over at Paper Nest Dolls

 Using a New Release from August over at Paper Nest Dolls called "Christmas Fairy Ellie" , I'm asking that you all join in our monthly challenge!  You too could win a prize from the extensive digital library that our resident artist, Christine, brings to us each month! 
I haven't made a 5x7 card in a long time but I didn't want to make her smaller-she's so gorgeous I wanted to show her all off.  I usually use card blanks for my base, but this time it was a shimmery cardstock for the base.  Picturing a golden angel, I used plum for an accent color. The plum berries have a "frost" of clear Wink of Stella" as does her wings.  after coloring her coat and dress ruffle, I used some gold WOS for that highlight and for the bells on her toes.  I also added some "fur" around her coat collar and edges by using some white flower soft.  The snowfall she is standing in is flower soft but I added some Shaved Ice to it from Frantage/Stampendous.  Hope the mini fringe I put on the side looks like snowballs!  On the inside, I used the Ornament Background paper along with a KKS Christmas stamp.  I'm so happy that designers are all putting out their Christmas goodies-helps a working gal get her cards done early!
Please come and participate in our Challenge and get inspired like we all do when we see your creations!  Come back real soon!

Gift Giving Avery from Paper Nest Dolls--Wintertime!

In order to keep myself cool...still..in Illinois I'm working on several Fall and Winter cards.  This one features "Gift Giving Avery" from the images from The Paper Nest Dolls site.  She's one of their 4 main characters--one of the questions on our Celebration Party post yesterday for gifts, prizes, and giveaways.  Christine Young, resident artist at PND, was so excited about our 5000th Follower to the site.  WooHoo!

Besides coloring Avery with Copics, I added glittered snowballs, mylar ribbon, Wink of Stella in clear, shiny silver snowflakes and white chunky Frantage for the falling snow!  On the inside, I used a complimentary design paper and stamped a rubber sentiment from Hero Arts.  Make sure you visit the blog site on September 3rd for the New Release reveal.

Avery with Pointsettia from Paper Nest Dolls-Starting my Christmas List!

 I don't always get a chance to start my Christmas cards this early but was so inspired by the images at Paper Nest Dolls that I'm getting ready!
This image is called Avery with Poinsettia and, what luck!, I had the perfect paper!  After coloring her with copics, I put clear Wink of Stella on the poinsettia pot for a shimmer, some great ribbon I found discounted which is mesh-like with sparkles all over it, and some chunky white Frantage for snow.  Attaching a tag stamped with a KKS stamp, I accented it with little bling diamonds.  On the inside I used more design paper and stamped with another stamp from the same stamp set from KKS.
I hope you like it and that you'll join in our Challenge, found here.  It's not too late to get started on your list!
Entering this card in the following Challenges:
SheepSki Designs Challenge-Favorite things (flowers, pink, poinsettias)

Tree Dress Avery from Paper Nest Dolls

 I've thought that maybe by making some winter/Christmas cards that this Heat will leave Illinois and take the humidity with it!  Thank goodness for FANS!
This image is from Paper Nest Dolls and is called Tree Dress Avery.  I don't know about you ladies out there but I find Purple a very hard color to show in photos?  The background of this card has Winter/Christmas sentiments all over it in a soft lavender color.  Then a shimmery pink cardstock as a mat behind the image.  Then the snowy scene--I used white chunky Frantage- love it for snow!  For the inside, I finished it with some gorgeous design paper, done in unusual colors for Christmas - love these ornaments!  Found a sentiment from my stash and added a white sheer ribbon for a bow and I'm done -ready to send it off!  Come join in on our Challenges-we'd love to see your work!!

Emma with Camera -from Paper Nest Dolls

This was such a fun image to work with from The Paper Nest Dolls sight!  There's always great opportunities for highlights and folds in Christine's images!  On this Birthday card, I used a torn complimentary color paper to accent the stamped sentiment.  On the inside, I used a creamy tan polka - dot paper with a stamped sentiment that could either be colored in or just left b&w as I did.  Love these wooden cutouts that are so popular in the craft shops-I think I'm addicted to them!
Make sure you visit the PND Challenge site to get your latest card entered--there are lots of opportunities to win images!  We can't wait to see yours there!

Great summertime images at Paper Nest Dolls new Release!

 Over at Paper Nest Dolls we are celebrating Summer and Christine Young's Newest Releases for June!  This image is called Avery with Summer Drink -one thing that you find with her images is that they are so versatile!  For instance, the b&w image you receive has a dress and headband that are blank.  I decided to make stripes and polkadots an option for this fun coloring and here we are!  I love working in her images hairdo's --the waves always come out so luxurious!
So I found in my paper stashes (hoard) some very colorful, Spring/Summer papers to use.  The good thing about these double-sided papers is that one of the sentiments I used in the inside, comes from the back!  So on the front, I split the card in half and used some paper lace to tie them together, trimmed with some beautiful satin ribbon.  The final touch "for the beach look" was adding some beige Flower Soft glued at the bottom to replicate Sand.  These type of "in the moment" cards are great for SO many occasions!  I'm sure you can think of lots of ways!  Please check out all her other images and new releases-Come join the fun!

It's Graduation time over at Paper Nest Dolls and Christine has lots of Choices

 May is the perfect time to showcase Christine's Graduation Series, from Paper Nest Dolls, what with celebrations from kindergarten through College graduations!  As I was planning on three different ones (and customized from hair color to gown colors), I used both Avery and Owen gowned images!   On Owens' blue gown, his tassel is burgundy and I used several silver
embellishments that were dimensional.

Here's Avery's card-I think it's just perfect as her tassel and gown were going to be royal blue/silver and royal blue.  The shiny silver striped cardstock was the perfect background for the image.The nice things about Christine's images is there are tiny tiny details that make it hard to get your copic pens in small spaces, but they still have enough features to make it interesting!  Again I used the dimensional embellishments, although no matter how I tried, I could not get the ultra shiny inside greeting to show up-it says Contrats Grad (text disclaimer is in white under the embellie)

The last Owen card was done in shiny metallic Gold and black gown.  I wanted the graduation sentiments to show from the inside so I cut the front flap in half, triple matted the colored image-hope you can see the lighter folds-then let the image hang over.  The sentiment paper inside has lettering in both black and gold.  I added some more embellie accents.  I loved how all of these card turned out and Christine from Paper Nest Dolls came out with the Graduation Series JUST in time!!!  Yea!  Be sure and check out all of her other great images in the shop!

May is Graduation time -Especially over at Paper Nest Dolls!

This new May release image from Paper Nest Dolls is called Grad Avery 2018.  There's also an image with Glasses and one with Noah celebrating.  Great for all those Special cards for friends and family!
I colored her with copics and matted her on a rich red cardstock.  As I didn't want the focus on DP and more on the Image, I kept the background in just appropriate sentiment paper.  I also added some dimensional embellishments that are everywhere in the craft stores now.  On the inside, there's some more brighter colored graduation paper and lots of room to write those good luck wishes.
This is the start of our May Challenge so please check it out and let us see your talent and give us some inspiration!  We can't wait to see your creations!

Springtime over at The Paper Nest Dolls with Ellie!

This week for Paper Nest Dolls, I'm using Ellie with Flowers--perfect for Springtime that will Hopefully come to Illinois soon!
I love this bright blue and yellow combination for my Get Well card-I'm always needing those.  To me this copic colored image is perfectly framed with a denim looking paper and crisp polka-dotted background.
I used a Stampin' Up stamp and yellow mini buttons for accents.   I repeated the dotted paper as the liner inside the card and a circle stamp for a sentiment.
So, as this is a REMINDER to you, come over to our challenge to enter your creation and maybe win a prize!  We'd love to see your projects!

Using "Welcome Baby" image for the April Challenge at Paper Nest Dolls!

Well after a brief hiatus, I'm able to return to Paper Nest Dolls for the April Challenge, which we have every month on the 3rd.  So excited to be using one of the new March Releases called Welcome Baby.  It seems people are always wanting baby cards and I never have enough.  So it was a great chance to start building these up with these cute animals.
After coloring with Copics, I kept the background white-sort of Fresh looking!  Put brown, gray, blue and yellow epoxy dots as accents.  This mini dot design paper already had the heart edge so I used it as an accent also.  There's a brown & white check as a mat for the image-I decided to give them a gray paver street to walk on.  On the inside, I used a boyish style print that I thought match really well and stamped it with a sentiment from my stash.
I hope you will join us at the Challenge-we'd love to see your creations!

Paper Nest Dolls Challenge--I'm using Avery with a Snowman

 It's that time again to showcase an image from Paper Nest Dolls that's perfect for this Terrible Winter SNOWY weather we've been having in Illinois lately-Think tonight it will be -25 degrees with the wind chill- YIKES! 
I would be wearing my snowsuit just like Avery With Snowman, found here at the PND Store.  Did you know that this isn't a rubber stamp? Paper Nest Dolls has digital images also and they are so handy to resize!
I decided to use this as a Birthday card-I always have requests for those!  After coloring her with copics, I edged the white card stock with a Color Box fluid ink in Peony.  Looks sharp next to the black sky/white snowflake paper and the Raspberry trimmed image.  I stamped using a white ink so it would show up against the pinkish-red card stock.  I finished the inside off with the same snow design paper.
Christine from PND has so many images for you to choose from--be sure to join in our challenge for a chance at some fabulous images.  It's our Birthday month--even more special when you join us to celebrate. Hope to see you there!

It's the Start of my Christmas Cards with Paper Nest Dolls-Have you started YOUR list??

 I'm so excited that Christmas soon will be here...and a little terrified that it's closer than I think!  I love all the lights, trees, ornaments, family traditions...It's all part of the Magic.
I love this image from Paper Nest Dolls called Tree Dress Avery and she's helping me get my cards made for the Holidays.  I'm sorry that I couldn't get the lavenders and pinks to show up on this card as well as I wanted to but, her tree dress is so pretty with the pink and lavender ornaments and shimmer with a Wink of Stella clear.  I've been on a Frantage kick lately-hope it doesn't get snow heading our way!  There is a lavender Christmas Sentiment paper in the top half of the card and the bottom is a matching paper in beautiful ornaments of pinks, whites and soft purples.
On the inside is another ornament paper in the series and a stamped sentiment from my stash.  I hope this card will inspire you to start on YOUR cards also and take a trip to the Paper Nest Dolls shop to see all the delightful Holiday / Seasonal images that are available-  Best Wishes!

New Challenge for December at Paper Nest Dolls-Cocoa and Snowflakes-It's Winter!

There are so many adorable Christmas images over at Paper Nest Dolls that it's never hard to find one that you love to work with!  For the Challenge this month, I've chosen one of Christine's new digital images called Hot Cocoa Avery.  Yes, that's right, She not only has Stamps but Digis also!  Love them as you can adjust the images to suit your needs.

I had some paper that had red, swirled, embossed glittered accents on it--well it matched her gorgeous red Velvet? dress with the candy cane stockings so well.  I matted her image with black to make it stand out then tucked in some snowflakes from the edge of a full 12 x 12 sheet underneath the Doll.  Then I colored the light evening sky in some lavender hues, added spots of snow and made some snow drifts around her boots with white Flower Soft.  I always finish the inside panel of my cards and this time I used one of my favorite papers-it looks just like a cable knit sweater-perfect for snowy days!  I used a fairly large Christmas stamp-new this year that says Peace on Earth.  I hope it warms someone special this year and sends them love.

Pilgrim Girl from Paper Nest Dolls--my first Inspiration post for Thanksgiving

Hi Everyone!  This is my first card for Paper Nest Dolls and I'm thrilled to death to be joining you Ladies for the Nov. 1st post.  Until then, I'd like to share an inspiration card for you for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, using Pilgrim Girl!  She was an absolute dream to color up using copics.  I found some "heritage-like" design papers and added some hand-crocheted (HMBM) small flowers in the colors of the card for the corner.  I've been waiting for just the right creation to share them!  With the pearl centers, they are nestled in among the paper flowers and buds.  On the inside, I finished it with the same paper and a stamped Thanksgiving sentiment.  I can't wait to join you in November and am looking forward to using all of Christines' gorgeous images!

Paper Nest Dolls Sponsors "Too Cute Too Spook" at Come And Get It!

This week at Come and Get It October Challenge, We are celebrating our THEME-Too Cute to Spook!!!  EEEK be watching for those FUN scary cards/projects coming your way.  Our Sponsor is Paper Nest Dolls and boy does Christine have some great Digital Halloween images!  **That's right you heard me!  Not only does she have those wonderful rubber stamps but ALSO great digital images as well.  I just love the versatility of those!** 

This one is called Witch Ellie riding broom and she was a dream to color up!  Copics were my coloring choice and I added some random roof tops underneath her-they aren't part of this image.  I matted her with this Amazing thick, wrinkly, neon green paper that has sparkle to it.  I got it at HL in black, green and purple-awesome for this time of year. Added some accent buttons and then used a design paper that had green bats flying around.

On the inside, I used the reverse side of the bat paper and then stamped it with a great Halloween sentiment from KKS.
Come on over and play with us at Come and Get It Challenge!  We'd love to see your inspiring creations!!

Help us Celebrate National Grandparent's Day over at Come and Get It!

 It's Grandparents Day around the world, so it's a perfect time to let them know just how much they're loved.  Here at Come and Get It Challenges, we are fortunate to be Sponsored by Paper Nest Dolls for this Special Day.
Because of my Mom's love of "critters", we've always loved Owls.  So when offered a choice of images, I was thrilled to use this one "Owl Always Love You".  I colored her up with Copics and used this reversible paper from Echo Park and Bella Blvd.  Using a small oval die cut from a friend, I stamped the most appropriate sentiment from KKS!  On the inside I used scraps to give it some interest and used one of my rubber stamps for a special person.
We'd love to see your creations in our challenge-we get SO inspired by your creations!  Great chance to win images also!
Entering in PND Anyhing Goes Challenge