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