Free Digi Fruits!

Hello, friends!  Well, I have gone a bit fruity over the current challenge at CASology in which the cue word is FRUIT.

I made three cards using digi images from Kim Hughes at Paper Smooches and Jane at Jane's Doodles.  Such cute images at both websites...and they are FREE!

So I broke out some of my favorite patterned paper 6x6 pads and started printing, cutting, mixing and matching.  A little dry embossing, a little twine here and there, and voila!  Three quick and easy cards.

I'm also entering these cards into the Simon Says Stamp! Anything Goes Challenge.

My first card uses a free digi image and sentiment found at Kim Hughes' Paper Smooches.  I printed the berries on patterned paper by My Mind's Eye (Lime Twist, Happy Go Lucky) and I printed her sentiment directly onto the kraft card stock.  (As an aside, I have to say that I am loving THIS embossing folder!)

My next card uses Kim's berry image (printed on another pp from the MME Lime Twist Happy Go Lucky pad), this time paired with a computer-generated sentiment and some dry embossing and twine.  Super simple!

Finally, a simple white card base paired with a sweet strawberry image found HERE at Jane's Doodles.  So CUTE!  I printed the berry twice, once on MME Ooh La La for Her  (for the berry) and again on MME Lime Twist Life of the Party (for the stem).  The sentiment is computer generated and printed directly onto the card stock.

Here are all three cards together...

I am really enjoying the fact that these sweet digi images are so easy to print onto patterned paper.  And, you guessed it, I printed a whole bunch and cut them out for future card use.  I LOVE doing that!

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!
Judy

So Sweet of You!

Hello friends!  Today's card is a clean and simple card for the current CASology Challenge for Week #3.

The lovely ladies at CASology remind us that cards for these challenges should follow these guidelines...

I think this card meets the above requirements.  It didn't take long to make, it uses two simple apple images, there are no layers and minimal embellishments, and it has lots of white space. 

The sentiment is Papertrey Ink, the apples and chalk inks are Hero Arts, the twine is We R Memory Keepers, and the embossing folder is Cuttlebug. 

I will also be entering this card into the current "ANYTHING GOES" challenge at the Simon Says Stamp! Blog.  I love it when it's anything goes!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

LIM #77 Sewing...Sort Of?

Hello friends!  You know I love to participate in the challenges at Less Is More but I must admit that I cringed when I saw the theme for this week...SEWING.  Oh, drat!  I'd love to know how to sew, I'd love to have the patience to hand-stitch, I have all the tools to do so, but I guess I lack the drive and the skills!

Then I read the challenge requirements closer:  "For this it could be machine or hand sewing... faux or stamped... you could even use sewing related images... just let your imagination roam!" 

I immediately thought of two particular stamps I have from Hero Arts that resemble stitching...and off I went!

So I inked up my "Stitched Rectangles" and my "Swirl Pot And Flowers," stamped and colored in with colored pencils, added some Antique Linen distress ink inside the stitched rectangle, and finished off with three black pearls.  The birthday sentiment is also an older Hero Arts stamp.

Here is a close-up of the pearls and the "stitched" stamp images...

So, there you have it.  This challenge IS possible, even if you don't sew a stitch!  Be sure to check it out, there are some wonderful entries at the Less Is More Week 77 Theme challenge!

Have a great day,
Judy

Inspired by Sally Traidman

Hello friends!  While I was cruisin' around the "Ideas" section of the Hero Arts  website the other day, I came across several clean and simple cards made by the very talented Sally Traidman.  So, as another contribution to the contest at A Blog Named Hero, I made a shameless CASE card inspired by THIS one-layer beauty:

I used similar stamps but not identical...I have a smaller script (Long Writing Background), I added the Harlequin Pattern Block inked in soft vanilla shadow ink in the background, and I used the woodblock Wild Flowers instead of the cling.  I inked up the flowers with Marvy markers, spritzed with water, and stamped. 

Actually, after all that coloring I figured I'd try to re-spritz the stamp and re-stamp it onto watercolor paper; I'm glad I did because I can definitely use this...

If you haven't checked it out yet, there is still time (and lots of inspiration) over at A Blog Named Hero.  I know I am inspired by ALL the Hero Arts artists...it's hard to choose a favorite!

Have a great day!
Judy

Happy...Birthday, that is!

Hello, friends!  I have three cards to share today, all HAPPY birthday cards using a paper-pieced digital image available for free at Jane's Doodles blog. 

I am entering these cards into the current CASology Challenge since the cue word is "HAPPY."

I am also entering them into the Play Date Cafe challenge to use these gorgeous colors:

Here are the three clean and simple birthday cards I made...

OK, so here's how I did this.  It was quick and easy-peasy!  First I printed the bird image onto three white cards and again onto three different patterned papers from the Cosmo Cricket "Odds & Ends" 6x6 mini deck.

Next, I cut out the patterned images, lining the edges with a Marvy black marker... 

then I rearranged the pieces, mixing and matching them...

and then I adhered the images on the cards.  For final touches, I added black enamel accents to the eyes and glitter pen around the gift bow (hard to see here).  Here they are together again...

Here is my favorite happy birthday card of the bunch...I am so partial to the little roses!

And here are the other two...

and

Thanks for stopping by...I do appreciate it!

Have a good one,
Judy

Inspired By Shari Carroll

Hello friends!  I'm playing along with the current challenge at A Blog Named Hero to make a card inspired by the work of one of the fabulous Hero Arts artists. 

Since I made a birthday card using mainly stamped images (and only a small strip of dotted swiss paper), I am also entering it into the Stamp It! Cards Birthday Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

My card was inspired by two specific cards made by Shari Carroll.  First is THIS awesome big-eyed fella, and next is THIS sweet bird.  Check them out here:

Isn't the patchwork effect on the owl cool?  And I love the newspaper print background behind the bird.  So, for my card I combined the owl and the text background! 

I stamped the owl in black on white card stock, drew the lines with a black Sharpie, then colored with colored pencils.  I added black rhinestones on the eyes, then cut it out and popped it up on the card.  On the card itself I masked the bottom, stamped the Friend Definition cling in Wet Cement ink, and stamped an older Hero Arts sentiment in Poppy chalk ink.

I had a really nice time scrolling through the IDEAS section of the Hero Arts website...I was reminded of how many inspiring cards there are to recharge you when the mojo is lacking!  Be sure to check it out if you need a jump start for this challenge.  THIS LINK will take you directly there!

Thanks for stopping by...have a great day!
Judy

LIM#76 One Layer Challenge: Style Is Eternal

Hello, friends!  Today's card is inspired by the current Less Is More One Layer Challenge to make a card using THREE of anything (e.g., three colors, three images, three stamps, three words, the number three.... it's up to you!). 

[Funny story.  I originally made three cards using a free digi image from Jane's Doodles in which I used three-word sentiments and three different patterned papers to paper-piece three parts of the image.  Then, after getting ready to upload them, I realized that they wouldn't qualify for this challenge because paper-pieced cards are not actually one layer!  OOPS!  So, they will be a post for another day.]

So back to the drawing board...and I must say I am pleased with where this all went.  I started thinking about 3-word sentiments I have in my stash (e.g., "Thinking of You," "Get Well Soon," etc.) and I suddenly remembered an oldie from Hero Arts that states -- three times, no less -- "Style is eternal."  Here is what I ended up with:

I actually did three techniques to this My Mother's Dress stamp, too: I embossed, water colored and glittered (sections).  You can see it better here:

So there you have it.  Three word sentiment, three times, with three techniques on the dress.  AND it's a one-layer card with lots of white space. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy
 

You Are Truly Amazing

Hello, friends!  I have a card today that I made for three different challenges. 
I followed the color cue from the Play Date Cafe...

using strips of paper for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge...

 following a sketch from A Blog Named Hero's Flickr site. 

I have one more link for you, too.  (Hard to believe!)  I made this card after reading THIS POST about a card drive for Maddy and her sister Melanie.  I plan to send this in along (with some others) to this wonderful sister duo!  Be sure to check it out at the Simon Says Stamp! blog...all the details are there.

So, now to my card.    

The strips of patterned paper are from the Odds & Ends set by Cosmo Cricket; the embossing folder is a Sizzix Argyle pattern.  The sentiments and butterfly are all by Hero Arts.

Thanks for stopping by...enjoy your day!
Judy

Neon Birthday

Hello friends!  Just stopping by with a birthday card I made for two current challenges.  First, I used the pink neon inspiration from the current Hero Arts July monthly contest...

and I made it a birthday card for the Stamp It! Cards Birthday Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. 

So, I'm walking past the card section at my local CVS Pharmacy the other day, and I always check out the card designs for ideas and inspiration.  I spotted a set of thank you notes that were neon pink with a pinstriped background, and along with the sentiment were white flowers tied with a bow.  A very clean and simple design...just my style!  I was immediately reminded of some of my favorite Hero Arts stamps, and I thought to myself, "I can do that!"  So, once I had my allergy medicine in hand (yes, welcome to New Jersey, folks!) I was on my way home to make a card.
 
I made a card base using neon pink cardstock, and stamped the Large Canvas Stripes using Bubblegum Shadow Ink Mid-Tone.  Next, I embossed the flowers in the Thinking of You Messages clear set in white and stamped the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from the Sending Smiles Messages clear set in black.  Finally, I added the neon striped bow with a glue dot and rounded the corners. 

So at dinner that evening I told my husband how much money I saved him by making this card today.  He smiled.  He knows.  Someday I'll break even...maybe.  (Or not.  And that's OK!)

Have a great day!
Judy

CCNS Challenge #11: Outline Stickers

Hello friends!  I'm back again with two cards I made for the current Classy Cards 'n Such Challenge to make a card using outline stickers. 

I was lucky enough to win some lovely gold outline stickers from a previous challenge at this awesome blog, so I was thrilled to be able to play with them this week.

Here are the two cards I made...

For the first card, I used Gold Sunflowers Outline Stickers along with a border of gold butterflies found HERE; I colored inside the stickers with Copic markers.  I embossed the dots on the top half of the card using a Sizzix embossing folder, and the sentiment is from Hero Arts stamped in Latte chalk ink.  Here is a closer look:

The second card uses the same Gold Sunflowers along with a beautiful Daisy Flourish embossing folder also available in the Classy Cards 'n Such shop.  I colored again with Copics and stamped another sentiment from Hero Arts.  Here is my second card:

I'm glad I was able to play along with the current challenge...I encourage you to go check out the Classy Cards 'n Such blog and shop when you have a minute!

Have a great day,
Judy

CASology Cue Card #1: Sun!

Hello, friends!  Have you heard about the new blog called CASology?  I was so happy to hear about it through Rosemary's blog (she is one of the talented design team members) and I couldn't wait to check it out. 

If you know anything about me, then you know I LOVE clean and simple cards.  LOVE them.

So, they have their first challenge posted, and here is how it works.  Every Tuesday, a cue card will be posted containing a single word; this week the word is "SUN."  We are challenged to take that word and run with it, keeping the card design clean and simple. The deadline is Sunday of the same week and winners are announced on Monday.  Another cool thing: weekly winners will have the opportunity to be guest designers for upcoming challenges! 

So, I checked out the blog and was immediately inspired, particularly by the cards made by both Jen and Rosemary.  I immediately thought of my cheery little "Sunshine" stamp (Me & My Big Ideas) and a simple Studio G sentiment...together with a little Scattered Straw distress ink, Spellbinders wonky rectangles, gingham paper, and hand-drawn stitches, I was DONE!

I hope you get a chance to check out this new blog...they have some very talented ladies on the design team, and ANY challenge surrounding clean and simple designs is MY KIND OF PLACE! 

Have a great day!
Judy

90-Minute Scramble at Hero Arts

Hello, friends!  I was SO happy to be able to play along with the 90-Minute Scramble at the Hero Arts Flickr group today, hosted by Ger (Cards n Chocs).  She challenged us to make a card of encouragement with the optional theme of masking.  I did both, and I may go back and make a whole bunch of these since it was so quick and easy to do!

I first embossed the label in black, then added the sentiment with wet cement mid-tone ink.  Next, I masked the label and stamped the Classic Fabric Design background using wet cement again.  Finally, I rounded the corners, and done!  A quick and simple one-layer card...my favorite kind.

On a personal note, I am happy to report that I am officially done work for the summer, and the kids are done school.  However, we are still busier than I expected and I actually do have to work a bit this summer even though I am "off."  A good friend and co-worker recently retired and I am taking over some of her duties, which will require some summer hours.  In addition, even though the spring sports have ended, somehow the kids are now on tournament teams and attending sports camps of all sorts (baseball, soccer, field hockey, etc.).  I also help out with the digital yearbook pages for my kids' school yearbook, and my pages are due soon.  AGGHH!  Oh well, at least there is no homework! 

I'll leave you with pictures from our recent vacation Cooperstown, NY (where we visited the Baseball Hall of Fame) and then Niagara Fall, Canada.  We missed the guy crossing the Falls on a tight rope by one week...darn!

This is from Babe Ruth's locker...cool! 

See that boat heading for the Falls?  We went on that (the Maid of the Mist) and got very wet. 

Here are the Niagara Falls lit up at night.  Very cool!

 
Thanks for stopping by...I hope to visit you soon, too!
Judy