Thursday, March 31, 2011

More "Be a Sport"

DT member Michele here with a bit more inspiration for you in the last few days of the "Be a Sport" challenge.  I obtained this cool digi from our wonderful sponsor Dude Time Doodles.  It is called "ride like the wind" and it reminds me of some of the great motorcycle trips I've had with my DH.  I've never used a digi before so I just printed it on some brown paper bag paper, cut it out and put it on a background on which I'd used the Technique Junkies chalk line technique.  The lines created by the technique made me think of the open road.  I used my Route 66 stamp from Inkadinkado and also a Harley Davidson sticker and some star stickers.  I hope you enjoy it.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Shrine ATC

This is mty first attempt at making a Shrine ATC.  First, I made the background using silk fabric that was the same color as the color in the cardstock.  The material was a little hard to handle in such a small area.   Inside the shrine I placed a lady with a long flowing dress sitting in a chair.  Her skirt was so large that I had to fold the skirt so it would fit into the shrine.  Even then, some of it flows to the outside of the opening.  This gave the image a great 3D effect.

To decorate the outside of the ATC I used some gold fillagree stickers.  These are very difficult to handle, but I thought they would give the shrine an appearance of ellegance.   The title of the ATC is "Enchanting".   I made this for a Oh La La swap.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Additional Inspiration for the "Be a Sport" Challenge

Here are some additonal creations done by my DT to give you inspiration for entering the challenge "Be a Sport"..
Barbara
This card came about because I needed a boy's birthday card. Since he is a good soccer player, I used this soccer ball. It's part of a Cuttlebug die and four embossing folder set. I bought it a few years ago since I just had to have it. This was the first time I used it. The ribbon at the bottom was a part of a ribbon grab bag. When I got it, I just knew I would never use the sports ribbon. I was so happy that I had it when I was making this card. Using green cardstock to represent the soccer field and a birthday sentiment, I had the perfect sports birthday card.
Krisha
"Leif Blower" is the CHAMP when it comes to keeping things neat and tidy. He is a great image from Dude Time Doodles. I colored him with pencil and mounted him on dark green cs and then onto a hand made green. Thanks Boni for sending me Leif, I enjoyed using him in this challenge.
Petra
Dude Time Doodles has a great range of real fun digi images. And Wayne Waves is no exception. He has great fun surfing the waves after I cut him out and coloured him with Copics and Koh-i-noors. Unfortunately he lost his amulet because of the wild ride (lol). The background paper is October Afternoon and an image from Graphics Design Travel Ephemera. The sentiment is printed, the little birds in the sky stamped with Elzybells stamps and ink.
Vicki
Here is another cute digital from Dude Time Doodles.  Skip the skateboarder makes the perfect birthday card for a teen.  He is grinning ear to ear because he is master of the board.   The image is on a mat using Double Bugging, a Technique Junkies technique.  The nice thing about using double bugging is that you can take two embossing folders and make an entirely different design.  In this case I used the stars and dotted swiss folders.

You have one week left to enter the "Be a Sport" challenge.  Let's see your take on this theme.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Final Coaster - for now

Here is a coaster I made for the Gingersnap Creations heart coaster swap.  This is the last of four coasters I have made for the swap. 

Since this is a heart coast swap, I put a tiny heart on it.  Can you find it?  This is a collage of vintage pictures from various sources.  It also is being entered into their Random Redhead Challenge No. 95 Typewriters.


Also I am entering this piece in Simon's Stamp and  Show Word challenge.  I did a little gesso experimentaling with the background on this piece.  Also I used a scrap from Gecko Galz to give the background a little color.  The four letters are dimensional and brings the images together as both the pen and mechnical writer are tools of the past to make the written word.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

A Winner and Another Coaster

Congratulation to Gemma Atchia for winning Challenge # 13. She was No. 88, the magic number picked by a random generator.  She will be receiving a terrific package provided Alpha Stamps.

Here is the third of four coasters that I am making for Gingersnap Creations' heart coaster swap.  I have made a point of not having the heart as the center image of my collages.  I have had a great time making these collages and can't wait to received the ones being sent to me as I know they will be outstanding works of art.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Thank You; Thank You

I am sending multiple "thank yous" to everyone who entered my challenge "Is It Spring Yet?'  I was so thrilled to have so many entries this time   The winner?  Well, I haven't used the random generator yet to pick the winner.  That will be done later today.  By the way, I'm a little different from most bloggers--- I NOTIFY THE WINNER either through her e-mail or comment section on her blog.   I feel that if you take time to create something for my challenges and do all the linking and following, I can take the time to notify you..  Also I post the winner's entry at the top of my sidebar.

Again, thank you  for being a follower and entering my challenges.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Challenge #13 - Is It Spring Yet?

I know by now everyone is asking "Is It Spring Yet?"  Well the answer is "yes".  At least it is in blogland.  This is the theme of our challenge the next two weeks.  Anything and everything "Springy"  is acceptable.  How about some flowers, sunshine, raindrops, and of course we can't forget the birds and bees.   

I  have a wonderful sponsor for this challenge.  It is Alpha Stamps.  They carry an extensive  supply of collage supplies, rubber stamps, stickers, and charms as well as brads, eyelets and tags.  You will have to check them out.  Just click on their name above to visit their site.

Now, almost anything you create will probably qualify.  The rules are short and easy.
1.  Be a follower on my blog.
2.  Post my challenge on your site.
3.  Link directly to your entry and not to your entire blog.

Ok, let's get crafting some feelings of Spring.

Below are some inspirational pieces.

Krisha
Alpha Stamps provided the picture that inspired this card. Having studied art history (many, many moons ago)I loved all that were on the sheet, but this one was my favorite one. I did stamp over the picture as some people are apposed to nudity, myself I consider it art and has been art for centuries. The picture was trimmed and layered onto a very dark blue cs, then onto a mullberry that has gold run through it. (LOVE, LOVE this stuff). The collumn is from TPC stamps, the sentiment and flowers are from Inkadinkado. Is it spring yet? cause Girls just wanta have fun.

Micihele
My creation is all about traditional spring themes: flowers and bunnies. what can I say? I love them. first of all I'm obsessed with the millefiori technique from technique junkies. it is the springiest technique I've ever tried! and bunnies give you an awfully cuddly feeling. this card is on designer paper by basicgrey, with bunnies cut out from a twisted papers vintage image. the "joy" letter stamps came from pixie press, the flower from hero arts and the spiral is by connor's collectibles. I hope you are feeling springy too. If not, this challenge will surely help get you in the mood!
Barbara
I am so looking forward to spring. For my card this challenge I used an image from a collage sheet provided by our sponsor, Alpha Stamps. I thought the beautiful woman looked so lovely and springlike there among the foliage and flowers. To accentuate the feeling of spring, I added one of my favorite butterflies from Heartfelt Creations and used various shades of purple or lilac, such a wonderful spring color. The border die cut is a Spellbinders die. The background stained glass stamp is also from Heartfelt Creations. I think that the sentiment, from Club Scrap, is really uplifting and hopeful.
Vicki
I don't know how many of you are old enough to remember Tiny Tim who use to play the Uke and sang "Tiptoe Through the Tulips", but I thought about it the whole time I was working on this card.  However, I am not using tulip; I am using pansies.  My card has a top layer of cardstock on which I used the Faux Barnwood technique.  The main images (the dancer and the group of pansiers) are from my sponsor, Alpha Stamps.  The saying is from Moonlight Journey.  The ring the girl is dancing through was made using two scalloped ovals from Spellbinders.  The oval frame itself was made from a background on an old calendar.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Coasters

 Here are two coaster I havce made for the Gingershanp Creations art swap due next month.  We are suppose to have  different design on the 4 coasters.;  I only have two completed now, but am working on the other two now.  I hope to upload them this weekend.  These are Spring-looking ones in line with the theme of my present challenge.  The first coaster has an image from Alpha Stamps, my sponsor at this time.  I am showing a couple of close-ups so you can see the detail.



Saturday, March 12, 2011

Collage Card

I spent a couple of days playing with this collage card.  I am fairly pleased with it.  I also tried my hand at Faux Stitching.  I really need to work at this as I'm afraid this first try is a little sloppy.  Better still I may dig out the sewing machine next time and actually stitch on the card.

I am also entering this in Studio L3's CCC challenge Design Details..

Friday, March 11, 2011

Another Winner and a New DT Member

 If you noticed earlier this week I posted the winner of "Anything But a Card" onto my sidebar at the top.  She is Davi Reid.  Congratulations Davi; who were chosen by my trusted random generator

New Design Team Member

I am so happy to annoucne that Petra Berendsen is the newest member of my team.  Please give her a warm welcome.

Below Petra tells us a little about herself:
Being a bit of a craft addict I immensely enjoy anything to do with crafting - especially papercrafting, crocheting and sewing. My creations range from ATCs and cards to full 3D projects whereby I always try to incorporate some stamping, paint and paper-piecing.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Challenge #12 - Anything But a Card

Here is a chance for you to get really creative.  Use a template, decorate a box, alter a frame, mae4 a coaster.  These are only suggestions to get you going.  The design team have taken a couple of the diecuts from Creative Cuts and More and made a couple of inspirational samples.
Vicki
This diecut from  Creative Cuts and More is actually a  peek-a-boo cupcake holder.  It is made of three pieces.  The top and bottom are basically the same with the third piece being a scored piece of acrylic.  Since  you can see through the middle I decided to make the box a jelly bean holder.  The colors of the jelly beans spelled "spring: to me so I created a springy bottom with a fence and flowers.  Some of flowers have a glittery stone on them.   To complete the scene I made the top to look like the sky with clouds which were punch and distressed around the edges.

Wouldn't this make a cute birthday gift for a child or something special to put on one's desk to hold those favorite candies?

Krisha
Die cut box is from Creative Cuts and More, stamps used were from Stamping Up, Inkadinkado, and PSX . Box was wrapped in a vintage print then stamped with hearts and sentiment. Lace topped the edge and die cuts from 7 Gypsies were added.


Barbara
My first box is the trapezoid box with layers. I decided to try and create a box appropriate for a man. I covered the box with paper from a Tim Holtz paper stack. The leaves were die cut from dictionary pages and colored with distress inks. I placed leaves on all four sides and the top. I used raffia to add a tie around the box. At the top is a tag which is stamped, "beLeaf in yourself".
I am pleased to announce that Creative Cuts and More has graciouly offered to give away their Little Boy Card Kit as the prize for this challenge.  A visit to their site will reveal numerous diecuts for all occasions.   You may want to visit the site for ideas of what you  can make.

How to win this great challenge candy?  First,   please become a follower.  Post this challenge on your blog, and lastely link directly to your entry and not your blog.  The challenge is open for two weeks.  Have fun and let's see what you create.  Remember, it can be anything as long it is not a card.


Saturday, March 5, 2011

A Collage Tag

Here is a tag I put together using a charm.  I have very few charms, but I did find this shoe and I thought it appropriate for this victorian lady.  Images are by Green Paper.   After I pieced a couple of different design paers on the tag, I covered the entire tag with lace.  This is being entered into Gngersnap Creations' challenge using using charms.

I also have entered this in Simon's Stamp and Show's  "Ephemera" challenge and Studio L3's Dimensional Collage Fragments.

Friday, March 4, 2011

A Warm Welcome

Thanks to everyone who has been entering my challenges.  It is because of you, my followers and visitors, that I am adding to my Design Team.  Please give a warm welcome to Michele Storms as she is joining my group.  I know we will have a great time blogging together.  In case you are wondering who Michele is, her e-mail say Michele Jones.   Below is a little bio. about her.
Michele Storms
I’m excited to join the design team at the Cheerful StampPad. I started stamping “lite” long ago when I bought some stamps for a project my son was doing for school.  Slowly over the years I acquired stamps because they were so lovely to look at and play with though I wasn’t really creating anything much – just decorating envelopes and such. I subscribed to Rubber Stamp Madness but I was just a reader. About five years ago or so the urge to create became sufficiently strong that I decided to stop reading about stamping and really get busy doing it.

I started making my own cards and then I started acquiring ever more papers and stickers and all kinds of goodies and now I’ve got cabinets full of “stash” and can’t wait for those precious moments when I have extended time to pull out my tools and get to making art. Much time has passed since that first stamp. My son is now a junior in college.

I’ve been blogging for almost a year and this is my first DT gig.  I have a wonderful husband and through marriage a fabulous grown stepdaughter, son in law and a beautiful little granddaughter. I believe we all have wells of creativity within us and I’m grateful that stamping/cards/collage, etc. is one of the outlets I’ve found to express my own creativity. I hope I can share a few things I’ve learned with all of you as I continue on my own artful journey.