Hey there

     Some cards are pretty specific, like this one, which was created for Teapot Tuesday at SCS. The challenge was "bridges." Since I don't have any bridge images, I made a bridge-style card with the theme of "bridging the distance," represented by a couple cute critters and their tin-can phone systems. (High concept, eh?)
     The critters and sentiment are from a Simon Says Stamp set. The cat and monkey were stamped on a white snippet, colored with pencils, and fussy cut. I decided not to get too "fussy" on the cutting and left a few areas of white to add strength because at least one animal wasn't going to have backing on part of it.
     After cutting and scoring the base card (I think that's SU River Rock card stock), I used a large bamboo stamp (Inkadinkadoo, maybe?) to create a "tree" for the monkey to be climbing in. The bamboo extends over the fold for a little more 3D feeling. The bridge piece (a blue snippet) was stamped with the same tree.  I also added hand-draw grass and some stamped greenery.
     The cans (from the SSS set) were decorated with some silver gel pen, and there's baker's twine for the string linking the tin-can phones.
     Another blue snippet and snippets of a leafy print finish off the card.
     Trying to make this scene the way I envisioned it gave me even more respect for those of you who create intricate scenes!

This card is for these challenges:
Pixie's Snippet Playground #342
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday # 366  -- anything goes

    

Sparkly ornaments

     The newest Pinspirational Challenge is up, and it's a rare anything-goes week, so find your inspiration wherever you want. The challenge is sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy, and the winner of a random draw will win three digis. Link up any creation you desire at the challenge blog.
      For my card, I went with one of my favorite things about Christmas -- sparkly ornaments on a tree. The ornament is die-cut (Prickly Pear die) from junk mail -- that was the envelope that a credit card offer came in. (I actually made 6 of this design and used the red envelope to make two of them and a similar blue envelope to make two more. The rest of the envelope had too much print on it to be able to fit the die anymore. Too bad, because I really like how it came out.) 
     The pine bough is from the same Prickly Pear set, and the sentiment is from Stamp Simply. Aside from the foil paper, the only embellishment is a little gold cording bow.
     The PINspirational Challenge will be taking a break after this challenge is complete. Look for the challenges to return in March.

My card is entered in these challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- Christmas
Winter Wonderland -- anything Christmas
CRAFT #495-- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #416 -- anything Christmas
Christmas Crafts All Year Round -- anything goes
ABC Christmas -- Y is for Your Favorite Thing About Christmas
Word Art Wednesday #364 -- anything goes

BRRRR, it's cold

     I don't know what it's like where you are, but the new PINspirational Challenge captures the feeling in the air here (minus the snow, thank goodness, but it feels cold enough for snow). So, are you ready to bundle up?
     This challenge is sponsored by Lemon Shortbread, which is offering three free digis to the winner of a random draw. To get in the drawing, just make a project inspired by the Pin and link it up at the PINspirational Challenge post.
     My card features a Lemon Shortbread image, which is colored in pencils. It is mounted on a piece of navy cardstock, which is wrapped with a snowflake-patterned ribbon. That's mounted onto a piece of my all-time favorite snowflake patterned paper. The sentiment, from Hampton Arts, is white embossed on navy and die-cut with a Whimsy die. The base card is white.
This card is entered in these challenges:
Winter Wonderland -- people
Simon Says Stamp Monday -- B is for? (I'm going with blue and brrrrr...)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes
Christmas Crafts All Year Round-- anything Christmas
The Ribbon Girl -- anything goes
Dies R Us -- snowflake
Die-cut Divas -- winter
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #414 -- anything Christmas
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday# 363 -- anything goes
Catch the Bug Awkward Holiday Chaos Day 1 -- snow

Reindeer

     A fresh Pinspirational Challenge has been posted, and look at the sweet inspiration this time, to the right. (Don't know about you, but I need all the inspiration I can get at this time of year.) The prize for this challenge is two digi images from All Dressed Up, so make a project inspired by the image and link up to the challenge at the Pinspiratoinal Challenge blog for a chance to win.
     For my card, I used a sweet reindeer image from All Dressed Up, which I colored in pencil, with Nuvo drops to highlight the flowers. I also ran a pad of red ink around the edge of the panel for a little distressed look. The deer panel is matted on a mistle-tone patterned paper, which is on a brown card. There's a strip of burlap ribbon under the red ribbon and bow, with a few additional snowflakes as a highlight.

This card is for these challenges:
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #412 -- anything Christmas
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge-- use patterned paper
Scribbles Designs #71 -- Reindeer Games
Simon Says Stamp Monday -- Let it snow
Word Art Wednesday #360  -- anything goes

Rustic tag

 
   I was inspired to make another tag for Tracey McNeely's 25 Days of Christmas Tags. This one was inspired by one of Tracey's own tags, her pine cone tag published on Day 8. (right)
     I started with a manila tag that was sprayed with walnut stain. It has been hanging around my stash for years and I decided it needed to come to life.
     The pine bough was stamped in Garden Green ink.  The pine cone was stamped in Versamark, then covered with a glittery gold EP and embossed.
     The sentiment was stamped in a red pigment ink and embossed with clear EP.
     I found snippets of gingham ribbon and raffia and created the top treatment.

The tag is entered in this challenges:
25 Days of Christmas Tags
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- all that glitters is gold
The Paper Shelter #362 -- Christmas is Coming

Really retro

    The newest challenge at Pinspirational Challenge harkens back to a time most of us can't remember, except for having seen it in movies. It's time to dig out the poodle skirts and bobby sox.... If this retro scene inspires you, create a project and link it up. You'll be in a random draw for two digi stamps from Cute as a Button.
     My card features a retro image from Cute as a Button, a waitress on roller skates. I took the color cues from a retro-looking bit of patterned paper I had in my stash, so this card is all about the pinks and blues. The image is colored in pencils, with a few highlights in silver gel pen, along with silver dots around the edge of the image.
      The sentiment picks up the circles from the patterned paper, and to add to the circle theme, it's die-cut and mounted on circles.

My card is entered in these challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday #359 -- anything goes
Crafty Sentiments -- anything goes
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1844 -- anything goes
 

Tags

     I've been in a creative slump recently, so I'm so happy that the 25 Days of Christmas Tags has started on Tracey McNeely's blog. This event always features an amazing array of inspiration, and I hope to find the time to play along a lot this month.
     I jumped right into it by creating a tag inspired by Day 1, which featured the design team from Simon Says Stamp. specifically was inspired by this tag (right) by Kim Hamilton. Lots to like there, with the rich reds and the unexpected shape.
     For my tag, I used mistletoe instead of a poinsettia but retained the round shape and the second red tag behind the white tag. The berries have Nuovo drops on them for a bit of dimension and sparkle.
Source of mistletoe stamp is unknown. The sentiment is from Whimsey Stamps.

Entering this tag in:
25 Days of Christmas Tags
Catch the Bug -- Anything goes challenge

Spooky scene

     It's time for another PINspirational Challenge. Today we have a seasonal challenge, so bring out the ghosts and goblins.The sponsor for this challenge is The Cutting Cafe. To enter the random draw for a prize from Cutting Cafe, just make a project inspired by the inspiration photo (to the right, here.)

     For my card, I chose this amazing image by Impression-Obsession. I mean, it's a cat-mummy-witch flying by a full moon -- what else could you ask for on Halloween? The image is covered in pencils and fussy cut. It's on a piece of sparkly dark blue paper on which I splattered some clear Wink of Stella for more starry action.  There's also Wink of Stella on the stars. The adhesive bat was already glittery, I didn't have to amp that up at all.
     The stentiment is a sticker, which has been in my stash for a while. It has quite a realistic look of twill and eyelets.

Leaf time

      At last.  It's almost the middle of October, and finally, it looks like fall is going to sneak into the Southeast. I can't wait.
       Luckily, this new challenge at PINspirational Challenge has a fall theme, so I could at least dream about fall while making a card.  This challenge is being sponsored by the ever-popular My Besties shop, which will provide three free digis to the winner.  To enter the random draw, all you need to do is make a card inspired by the image and link it up at the challenge blog.
       My card features a gorgeous die-cut leaf. (Does anyone know who makes that die? The die-cut was sent to me and I couldn't find anything online showing who made the die). The sentiment is from Purple Onion, stamped in Amber Clay chalk ink. The ribbon is two-sided and perfect for fall.

This card is entered into these challenges:
Creative Inspirations -- Autumn Glow
Ribbon Girl -- anything goes
Cookie Challenge #104 -- fall
Catch the Bug -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday # 354 -- anything goes

Christmas cardinal

Here's another Christmas card, and as we near the end of September, holiday cards are becoming more urgent. The image is a Spellbinder's stamp (I honestly didn't know they made stamps until I saw this at a stamp show) which is supposed to give a 3D effect with one stamp. I think that might be an exaggeration. The image is stamped in black with color added via colored pencils. The sentiment on the bottom is a different stamp added to the panel.

The top right corner is embellished with a ribbon tab and some piercing. The papers are from a Vintage themed Christmas stack I got at Michael's last year (or possibly the year before).

This card is entered into these challenges:
Winter Wonderland -- use ribbon
Crafting By Design -- getting ready for Christmas
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Card Challenge #404 -- use patterned paper
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge  -- use patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday #354 -- anything goes

New challenge, new fold

There's a new challenge today at PINspirational Challenge -- the challenge is to try something different. This challenge is sponsored by SheepSki Designs, so try something different and link it up, and you'll be in a random draw for a gift certificate to the SheepSki store.

For my "something different," I tried a new fold I saw on SCS.  It's called a Double Triangle fold and I like this fold for two reasons. 1) it's so easy, I can remember the steps without referring back to the tutorial, and 2) when you cut the papers on the diagonal, your leftovers are perfect to make a second card.

The directions are simple -- take a full piece of cardstock. Score in half vertically, horizontally and on the diagonal. Cut on the diagonal (it probably won't fit in your paper cutter on the diagonal, so just use scissors and follow the scoring). The result is sort of a diagonal gatefold.

To decorate my card, I used some patterned paper from a very old DCWV mat stack that has a safari theme. I die-cut a glittery lion off one of the shets to create my center image.  I also used a snippet of the cardstock to decorate the inside.

This card is for these challenges:
Crafting By Designs -- You're the man (masculine)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- Bling it up
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1838 -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Crafty Sentiments -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #352 -- anything goes

Snowy Strips

     Here's another snowy card featuring the current Stella Sketch at Catch the Bug.  It was the perfect opportunity to use up some strips of snowflake paper that I'm running out of. (None of these snippets was long enough to stretch across the page. I had to cut each piece in two and line them up on the edges of the card, covering the bare space in the middle with the image.)
     The snowman image is from Paper Cupcakes, colored with pencils and some Wink of Stella. The sentiment is a Purple Onion Design. 

This card is for these challenges:
Catch the Bug-- Stella Sketch 614
ABC Christmas -- S is for Snow
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #402 -- include "Joy"
Pixie's Snippet Playground #334-- use snippets
CRAFT #482 -- Christmas
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #352 -- anything goes

I like big books

     It's time for another PINspirational Challenge. The sponsor this time is Elisabeth Bell Designs, who is offering two digital designs of your choice from their store. All you have to do to enter the random draw is create a project inspired by the PIN (at right) and link up at the challenge blog.
      For my project I was inspired by the pile of books, so I made a card featuring this fun image and sentiment from Bugaboo. (And yes, I do like big books.)  The image is colored with pencils, with colors taken from the patterned paper.  There's a gel dot on the sentiment oval, which is matted on a scalloped oval.

The card is entered in these challenges
Catch the Bug -- Make Me Smile
Crafty Sentiments -- use a punch or die
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #102-- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #351 -- anything goes
Creative Inspiration -- anything goes
Pammie's Inky Pinkies -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper

Snow trio

     The patterned paper (a lovely snippet) reads 'Tis the Season, and seriously, it won't be long now before the stores put up Christmas decorations. (true story: we were at Costco this week and asked about the Gatorade mix they usually carry. The cashier told us they'd sold out what they had, and now that it's August they'll be stocking hot chocolate "because that's what people around here drink in August" -- said in a sarcastic tone with an eye roll, as it was 90 degrees that day.)
     But I digress... Here's a Christmas card using the current Stella Sketch from Catch the Bug blog. I'm not sure who designed the digi stamped because I printed it out a while ago and it's just been waiting for me to do something with it. (I checked several files, and I can tell you with certainty several companies that did not produce it.)
     The image is colored with pencils, with clear Wink of Stella adding a sparkle. I used a scallop-edge scissors (remember them? Sometimes it's just easier to use a scissors on a small piece rather than digging out the die and die-cutting it). Red ribbon and gems added as embellishments.

This card is entered into these challenges:
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenges #400 -- anything Christmas
Catch the Bug -- Stella Says Sketch #613
Rudolph Days for August -- anything Christmas
Crafty Sentiments -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #350 -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Pixie's Snippet Playground #333 -- use snippets (all the papers are snippets)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes

Head out on the highway

     It's time for another challenge from PINspirational Challenge. There are a lot of ways the inspiration Pin (there on the right) could be interpreted, but to me, it read "masculine." What kind of inspiration are you getting from it?  Create a project based on the Pin, link it up at the PINspirational Challenge blog, and you will be in the random draw for a gift certificate from Fred She Said.
     My card features a pre-colored image from Fred She Said (you can choose from several different colors for the motorcycle, or get it as line art and color it yourself). Since I was going with a manly card, I stuck to a simple color scheme of blue, black, and white. The black layer is embossed with a diamond pattern, which was as close as I have to the classic non-skid pattern. For embellishments, I went with three simple grommets.
      For a sentiment, I computer-generated a line from the classic motorcycle song, Born to Be Wild.

This card is entered into these challenges:
The Paper Shelter #350 -- Digital image
Crafty Sentiments -- anything goes
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1834 -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #348 -- anything goes

Tea for 222

A new challenge, #222, is live at PINspirational Challenges, sponsored by Little Blue Button Digital Stamps. To get into the random draw for a $10 gift voucher, just make a project inspired by the photo Deanne found on Pinterest.

For my card, I used a stacked teapot image from Scribbles Designs, which lent itself to some fun paper piecing.  I found a bunch of old coordinating papers and created a fun set of china that I would personally be happy to have in my kitchen. The handles are simply colored with pencils.

The sentiment is of unknown origin, but it seemed to fit the image. I added some pinkish gems to the sentiment after cutting and matting it.

This card is for these challenges:
Time Out Challenge #115-- food and drink
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1832 -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #346 -- anything goes
http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com/2018/08/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper-august.htmlCraftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper

Sweet Christmas birds

     Some things are just too darn cute to pass up. That's how I felt about this image from Crafty Sentiments. I think they are supposed to be European robins -- European robins are tiny and cute, unlike North American robins, so I tried to color them as such (with my good friend Google images offering guidance in the way of many gorgeous photos).
     The layout for this card comes from SCS, this is the sketch challenge of the week. It even called for the little banners, where I used printed ribbon to include a sentiment. The snippet of plaid paper is ages old; I think it was from the first or second year I made Christmas cards (which translates to sometime in the previous century.)

This card is entering these challenges:
ABC Christmas -- R is for Robin
Crafty Sentiments -- anything goes
CRAFT #479 -- Christmas
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Card Challenge #397 -- anything Christmas
Pixie's Snippet Playground #332 -- use snippets
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
HLS Christmas Challenge -- anything Christmas
Creative Inspiration -- holidays
Word Art Wednesday #346 -- anything goes

Santa bearing gifts

I'm slowly compiling Christmas cards, thanks in part to all the wonderful people who sponsor Christmas challenges all year 'round. This one features a tiny stamp I've had for a long time, and I don't think I've ever used it before. It's a simple, silly image, but I think it works well with the patterned papers I matched it with. Santa is colored with pencils, with silver gel pen giving some details on the gifts. White gel pen dots highlight the red frame around Santa. The fishtail flag is made from a nice piece of ribbon that has a holly leaf pattern woven in it.  I especially like using this ribbon on cards because it doesn't fray.

This card is for these challenges:
July Rudolph Days -- anything Christmas
Winter Wonderland -- Christmas gifts
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Card Challenge #396  -- for man or boy
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned papers
Word Art Wednesday #346 -- anything goes

Let's go for a ride

     It's time for a new PINspirational Challenge #221, and this looks like a fun one because it features one of my favorite sunny day activities, biking. All you need to do to participate is create a project based on the challenge image and link it up. all entries are entered into a draw for two digs from All Dressed Up. 

     My card features an image from All Dressed up, which I colored with pencils. There's also a little shiny silver gel pen action on the metallic parts of the bike. The sentiment comes from I-O, embellished with a  Pima flower with a Nuvo dot center.

The card is entered in these challenges:
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1830 -- a sunny day
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes
Crafty Sentiments -- anything goes
The Paper Shelter -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #345 -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper

Bookmark

     I love reading, but I go through slumps where I read very little, although I always have at least one book started. Thankfully, my reading mojo seems to be back, and I've flown through the last few books I've picked up.
       Along the way, I noticed my bookmarks are wearing out, so I decided to make a new one. My prime rule of bookmarks is that they be flat because I think bulky embellishments are not good for the pages of a book. Die-cut flowers are flat, so they fit the specs.
       For this project, I used a large tag and the MFT Stitched Bloom Set. I used a variety of snippets to create the flowers and leaves, then arranged them around a sentiment (pretty sure it's from I-O).

Entering this project in
Happy Little Stampers July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge
Die Cut Divas -- anything but a card

Baby It's Cold Outside

     Hi everyone. Just wanted to remind you that there's still a week left to enter the current PINsperational Challenge, which has a Christmas theme. For my card, I used a cute snowglobe image from Pattie's Creations, sponsor of the current challenge. Enter a project and you may win the random draw for some Pattie's images of your choice.
     I colored the image with pencils and added some Tim Holtz glitter in the snow spots. The image was fussy-cut and placed on a square of patterned paper (it's from a vintage-looking mat set from Michael's) Twine and ribbon add to the festive feel.

This card is entered in these challenges
Catch the Bug -- Baby It's Cold Outside, Christmas in July day 1
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #395 -- red
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
CRAFT #477 -- Christmas
The Paper Shelter #348 -- ribbon or twine
Word Art Wednesday #344 -- anything goes

Bikini time

Here's a summertime card featuring some fun images from Scribbles Designs. One thing I like about Scribbles is that so many of the images are perfect for paper-piecing, like this bikini.
I used the current Sketch Saturday layout, substituting one beach ball and one bottle of sunscreen for the multiples on the sketch.
This card is entered into these challenges:
Sketch Saturday #522
Scribbles Designs #67 -- Fun in the Sun
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Crafting By Designs -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #344 -- anything goes

To infinity, and beyond

Here's a quick, fun card using an image from Bugaboo. I added a fitting sentiment on the bottom of the panel. The image is colored in pencils, with Wink of Stella adding sparkle to the stars.  I also used Wink of Stella on the wooden star embellishment -- worked like a charm and basically dried instantly. For the background, I found some space-themed patterned paper (that's Saturn in the upper right corner). The layout here is the current Stella Sketch from Bugaboo.

This card is for these challenges:
Catch the Bug -- use patriotic colors
Stella Says Sketch #612 -- used layout
Simon Says Stamp Monday -- add some sparkle
Crafty Sentiments -- add a sentiment
Word Art Wednesday #344 -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1828 -- anything goes

Christmas in July

This snowman would surely melt outside right now, but it's Christmas in July at the PINspirational Challenge #220. That a look at this inspiration photo, then cool down by making a Christmas card or two. You'll be glad come December, and you will be entered in a draw from a gift certificate to Pattie's Creations digi stamps.
I used a snowman from Pattie's Creations for my card. The image is colored in pencils, with sparkle added to the snowy elements with white Wink of Stella. The embellies include itty-bitty buttons and Glossy Accents on the tiny heart.

I am entering this card in these challenges:

Shopping our Stash #362 - Christmas in July
Simon Says Stamp Monday -- Add a little sparkle
Crafty Sentiments -- include a sentiment
Winter Wonderland -- Simply Snowmen
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #394 --  anything Christmas
Crafting Fron the Heart #215-- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #342 -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper

Butterfly jar

     It is way too hot to think about running around chasing butterflies, but this image from Scribbles Designs makes it look like fun (as long as you let the butterflies back out, of course).
     This card uses the Stella Says Sketch layout from Bugaboo, and is also based on the current Buttterfly Wheel at The Butterfly Challenge.  The wheel is based on W this go-round, and I chose the color wisteria and washi tape for my card.
      I've had ths set of butterfly-themed washi tape for ages, and I used it to the max here, including the sentiment strip and the little flags on the side of the image. (I actually folded the tape over to make tabs, which added a little dimension that cuase that awful reflection in the photo.)  The image is colored with pencils.

This card is being entered in these challenges:
Butterfly Challenge #103 -- wisteria and washi
Catch the Bug -- Stella Says Sketch#612
Catch the Bug -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #342 -- anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday -- Summer Fun
Scribbles Designs -- anything goes
Crafting By Designs -- anything goes
Pamme's Inky Pinkies #1827 -- anything goes

Ornamental

     I have really fallen behind on my Christmas card goal, but this week I finally made one. This features a technique I saw on SCS recently. Basically, you die-cut an item and cut the negative into a strip to create a column of color.  I think you can probably figure out what I did easier than I could explain it.
     The die I used is a Sizzix tag tie that looks like an ornament to me.  I used snippets of red and green and added a line of sequins along the center of each ornament. However, my red sequins are flat and the green ones are not, so the look is a little inconsistent. 
      This is a fairly quick and easy technique that I might use to make more cards. However, I think the strip looks a little wide so I may do some adjustments.

This card is for these challenges:
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #393 -- anything Christmas
Crafty Sentiments -- Christmas in July
Pixie's Snippet Playground #330 -- use snippets
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1827 -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #342 -- anything goes

Wish I were there

     The new PINspirational Challenge is taking us to the beach. The prize is offered by Elisabeth Bell, who created the sweet image used on my card. To get into the random draw for a gift certifcate to her shop, all you have to do is create a project (doesn't have to be a card) inspired by the photo.

     Because the image is so cute, I wanted to highlight it and keep the rest of the card CAS.  The image is watercolored with Distress Inks (with the skin tones in pencil). For the background, I just did a quick watercolor wash.

This card is for these challenges
The Paper Shelter #345 -- use a digi image
Happy Little Stampers Watercolour challenge -- July
Word Art Wednesday #340 -- anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations -- anything goes
Crafts Galore -- anything goes

Dance in the Rain

     I  finally put ink to this lovely stamp I picked up on clearance so many months ago I don't really remember when. The inspiration for this activity was the current Butterfly challenge. The current "wheel of choices" all start with the letter V.  I went with violet and vintage. The image already had a vintage feel, which I highlight with some crocheted lace and silver butterfly charm that looks sort of antique.
This card is for these challenges:
Butterfly #102 -- vintage and violet
Crafting From the Heart #213 -- anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #340 -- anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations #49 -- anything goes

Wedding card

     Here's a wedding card that uses really old stamps. The cake and glasses are a from a cube stamp (with images on fives sides, cool idea that never took off, I guess); I'm pretty sure that's from All Night Media. The congrats is an old Stampin' Up set. All images are white embossed, with pearl accents on the congrats panel.
     The color in the photo is a little deceiving... the brown is lighter in person, more of a pinkish beige, and there's a pink tint to the patterned paper as well. This card was inspired by the mood board at Sum More Fun, which features weddings and a color similar to what I used.

This card is for these challenges:
Sum More Fun #31 -- weddings
Simon Says Stamp Monday -- food and drink
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday -- anything goes
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday #340 -- anything goes
Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1825 -- anything goes

Hinged card

     This card design was featured at SCS several weeks ago, and I finally finished a card based on their tutorial. I don't recall ever seeing this tilting card style before, although it was listed as an "everything that's old is new again" idea. The tilt is a fun surprise for the  recipient.
     The instructions on the tutorial are quite clear, so there's no need to repeat them here. The card features a die-cut reindeer from Whimsy and die-cut holly leaves from a Spellbinders set called Little Leaf Sets, and of course those are Nestability ovals. Those are red sequins posing as holly berries. The decorative border was made with a Recollections punch.
     All the printed papers are papers are from a mat stack from Michael's, The Paper Studio line.

This card is being entered in these challenges:
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Card Challenge #391 -- anything Christmas
Rudolph Days for June -- Christmas
Die-Cut Divas -- animals
The Holly and the Ivy #32 -- anything Christmas
Crafting By Designs -- getting ready for Christmas
Pixie's Snippet Playground #329 -- use snippets (All die-cut items are snippets, as is the "tis the season" layer)
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge -- use patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday #340 -- anything goes
Crafty Sentiments -- anything goes