Howdy Partner-Time to circle the digis

Thanks to The Kraft Journal Challenge this week, I get to play among the Cowboys!  Their challenge was to use Kraft paper with the theme of Western Flair and I think I've done that.  I used the sketch from Crafting  For All Seasons by angling a red checkered strip- under a star filled circle-which sits on top of a horizontal brown tooled leather paper-which has a weathered red barn wood paper on top of THAT-the smaller circle w/ boot image has a deep red large button with hemp cord tied through it.
Now they said that you needed to keep to the image pretty much but that you could add other embellies-I added the Howdy banner and elected to use the brad accents to hold up the sign instead of in the corner.  Because of my love of textiles, I also added a braided rough ribbon along the front. I had such fun with the easel card recently, I couldn't resist using the cowboy printed paper and buttons on this special card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

The Kraft Journal Challenge #23:Western Flair-FEATURED ARTIST AWARD

Crafting For All Seasons-Sketch-TOP THREE AWARD

Paper makeup Stamps#29-For the Boys

Karens Doodles Challenge #101-make it for a Male

Thanks Deborah for the nomination!

I also wanted to share and thank Deborah Anton from Beadn&Stampn for nominating me for the Liebster Award. What is it? Allow me to share...



Liebster is German for Dearest, but can also mean Beloved or Favourite.

Apparently to receive this award there are a few 'rules'... so here goes!

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog ... check!
2. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you ... check!
3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog ... check!
4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed ... check
5. Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog ... will of course do this!

My nominations for this are:

-Linda  http://scrappingheaven.blogspot.com/ 

-Holley  http://holleybarnhartsblog.blogspot.com/ 

-Pat  http://patacakespages.blogspot.com/ 

-Melissa  http://www.melissa-thoughtsonpaper.blogspot.com/ 

-Teresa  http://www.teresasscrappinspot.blogspot.com/ 


Now, head over to these fine ladies' blogs and leave them some love! Thanks for checking it out and have a great weekend!

Easter Time is coming..bring on the Bunnies!

This week's challenge at The Hambo Hoedown  is to get in the Easter Spirit using the digi image: BUNNY PARADE - digital image by Hambo Stamps". Using "Bunny Parade" (or any other Hambo image), make an EASEL CARD using the spring colors of lavender, yellow, pink, green and blue! Choose at least THREE of those colors for your card. (Bonus points if you use all five!)  Yeah, I was able to use all five colors what with the paper and the coloring~~~ 

I absolutely love this glossy embossed swirl paper as the background and hand cut a scalloped circle for the base mat to match.  The Salutation is matted with a coordinated striped paper and mounted with 3 flower brads.  The Spring pointed sign  is from Memory Makers is a glittery blue and green. 

 For the Easel part on the base, I used a speckled green paper mounted with pop dots and then I put fence die cuts from my friend Karissa across it and the points on the fence help to hold up the front.  Along the fence are the multiple eggs that are part of the image.  For an extra pop, I attached 2 triple layered felt flowers  


I'm so glad that I was "challenged" to do something I've never done before --I can't wait to try others!!  Thanks for looking and hope you've been inspired  to try a new style of cards-If I can do it you can!

Challenges I'm entering this card in:

Hambo Hoedown58: Easter Parade(used all 5 colors)WON B.I.S.
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog: Spring
Sweet Stampin'- Anything Goes
Phindy's Place Challenge #98- Animals (Bunny)
Sassy Cheryl's SMT Challenge- Show Me
Celebrate the occasion #55-Welcome Spring!

Thinkin' Green for Spring!

It's so frustrating when you've spent your time creating your little works of art and then after you take your pictures...your camera doesn't cooperate for downloading!  Know you all have been there but it sure adds to the stress doesn't it!  I only have a small window in the evening to get everything done so of course the clock's a tickin' in my head.  Anyway, I don't mean to go off on a tangent :o)
The card tonight is done using the Mojo Sketch Challenge 233 turned on it's side. I used two mats separated as in the example and did a zig-zag stitch around each edge.  Stamped image is colored with copics and elevated with pop dots on a soft cream top notch die cut.  I fancy scalloped the edge of a coordinating paper strip and mounted a button cluster and satin ribbon on the side.  There's a similar mat inside with a Birthday verse stamped on it.

I would like to enter this in these challenges:

Mojo Sketch Challenge- sketch

Sweet Stampin' Challenge: anything green 

Thanks for looking and come back soon when you can stay for awhile!

Spring & Flowers are in the air....

Well it's been a long time since I've crocheted but a dear friend Linda encouraged me to try her recipe for flowers.  When I saw the tut online for the "picket fence card" I could just see those flowers against this new weathered paper I'd just gotten..  With the green peeling paint that looks so dimensional, I think it's a hit!  I used vine ribbon for their stems and put mini buttons in their centers.

When you open the picket fence gate (it's mounted to the card by brads) you see the LadybugLady digi from Cheryl Alger up against a cloud filled sky with even more flowers. I used red/white bakers twine for the path of the ladybug. The inside flowers were buttons that I cut the shanks off-they have a rubbery feel to them~they're mounted on pop dots.

This card is for the latest Squiggle Fly Challenge #1112 where   

this week the challenge is to use homemade flowers on your card/project. You can use punches, your cricut, tissue paper-or any other great idea for homemade flowers that you would like to share. 

 

Blog Challenges I'm entering this in:

Squiggle Fly-#1112 Homemade flowers

Sassy Cheryl's-show me Thursday #67 Winning Entry!

Phindy's Place-Spring has Sprung #97

 LTC Challenge-Anything Goes
One Stop Craft Challenge-Handmade Flowers

Need a Little Hug?

The Challenge on Hambo Stamps Challenge this week is to use the oh so cute digi image: "BAILEY HUG" - digital image by Hambo Stamps AND to have stripes somewhere on the layout.  So I decided to get a little GRUNGY.  Of course, to make matters easier, I decided to go to SWEET STAMPIN' and see what was the sketch of the week.  What a perfect combination!  The striped paper has great oranges/browns/greens in it.  I teamed it up it a doggie paw print background paper and a mat that is covered in dog bone treats with sayings.  I accented the edges with some zigzag and straight stitch rubons.  I show you a close-up of Bailey so that you can see a new method for me, putting tiny little hash marks to make it look like fur.
I'm entering this in these challenges:
Hambo Stamps Challenge-Bailey/stripes
Sweet Stampin-layered Sketch


Join us in the fun-branch out and try something new!  Thanks for visiting!
Carolyn

Sweet Stop #SSS149 & SQUIGGLE FLY #10 Challenge

Using a  Cheryl Alger dig called That's One Big Flower..well I DID need an accent for my paper flower!...I followed both the recipe for Squiggle Fly week's challenge AND used a great place to get sketch ideas, the Sweet Stop, for my card layout.  With Squiggle Fly, you needed to use 1. Patterned paper, 2. a paperclip (shaped or otherwise), 3. a flower (any kind) and a Squiggle Fly digi image. I used the horizontal paper band as a "pocket" to slip the insert down at an angle.  The paper accordion flower has a disk with the image painted with copics.  There's a winged butterfly poised on the petals. Materials used: paper (My Mind's Eye & Deja View), Copper clip, ribbon, and assorted buttons(from my stash), stamped sentiment (Stampology), heavy brown cotton lace (JoAnn's), Baker's twine.

The wonderful thing about Sweet Stop challenges is that they like you to be creative with the "suggestions" of placements--like instead of flowers, I used buttons, instead of a circle die cut, I used a paper Flower.  They let your creative side go wild!  Their site has a vast library of very creative sketches in case you ever get stumped!