Halloween Challenge on Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog

It is Thursday and that means it is time for a new challenge at the Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog.  This week's challenge is Halloween.  Our wonderful sponsor is LeAnn's World and if you enter you have the chance to win 2 images.

I used the image Kate to create my card.

          

Halloween Card Recipe

This little digi was printed on water color paper.  I found some paper at Hobby Lobby that comes in a pack instead of on a pad and the paper is thinner than a traditional water color paper.  Because it is thin, it will feed through my printer.  I colored the image with Zig Markers and layered it on coordinating card stock.  I added some glitter to the stars and cauldron with a glitter pen.  So effective and I always forget about it.  I think this image is adorable and wanted it to be the focus of the card.

Enter your card in the challenge at Creative Knockouts for a chance to win.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

Sorry for Your Loss

My least favorite cards to make are the most important that I have to make.  I make sympathy cards to share with my friends who have lost someone that I am thinking about them.

Sorry for Your Loss Card Recipe

This is not the original planned design.  I started cutting out a background of butterflies using my Cricut Explore, but that did not turn out.  In the meantime,  I scribbled some yellow Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker down on some watercolor card stock.  I spritzed some water on it so it would blend.  I used a new Taylored Expressions butterfly die set to cut out the small butterflies.  I colored the butterflies with Zig Clean Color Real brush marker in my favorite blue.  I spritzed them with water, too.  The sentiment is from My Favorite Things and was stamped on yellow card stock with Versamark Ink and heat set with white Nuvo Embossing Powder.  The mat is a watercolor yellow from Lawn Fawn.  I hope the card brought some peace to my friend who lost his mother.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in next time for another paper crafting or t-shirt project.  Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

Galatians 1:  7  which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 

With Sympathy

These cards are my least favorite to make because it means that someone has lost a loved one or someone very special.  But I do want them to know that I am thinking about them and understand how they feel.  Until a few months ago I didn't really understand, but now I do.  I also struggle with what colors I should I use.  Today I chose blue and yellow.

With Sympathy Card Recipe

I started with watercolor card stock.  I remembered a butterfly stamp from Lawn Fawn that kind of reminds me of stained glass so I pulled it out.  I stamped it in Versamark Ink along with a sentiment from Avery Elle.  I heat embossed them in a gold from Ranger.  Using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers - I put some color on the image.  I added water by spritzing.  That caused a little splatter, but I wanted more.  I put some color down on my craft mat and spritzed.  Using a brush I flicked more color on the card.  I matted it in yellow and put it on a card base.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in next time for another paper crafting or t-shirt project.  Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

Ruth 4:  8  So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.

Happy Birthday to You

Jennifer McGuire recently did a blog post and video showcasing lots of cards using the rainbow colors.  If you follow me you know I love rainbow colors.  The new Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow card stock was quite inspiring.  Now Jennifer McGuire has inspired me with her beautiful cards. 

Happy Birthday to You

If you look at Jennifer's blog post (link in the first paragraph) and you should;  you will see that she painted a new Altenew Stamp called Mega Succulent using Zig Markers.  I recalled that I had a couple large flower stamps in my stash that I could use to CASE that technique.  Taylored Expressions came out with a large rose stamp a couple releases ago and I used that one first.  Using my MISTI, I stamped the rose using Versamark Ink and heat set with white embossing powder.  I did that twice to get a nice thick white line.  I used Zig Markers to color the rose in rainbow order.  Once I colored the image, I spritzed it with water until the colors blended.  After it dried, I stamped the leaves in the Versamark Ink and heat set in white embossing powder.  Zig markers in green were used to color the leaves.  I brushed the water on the leaves.  Once the leaves were dry, a yellow Zig Marker was used to color the border around the flower.  I added water using a brush.  The flower image was matted in pink and placed on a black card base.  A sentiment from My Favorite Things All About You was stamped in Versamark Ink and heat set in white embossing powder on black card stock.  The inside has the big YOU stamped in black ink.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in next time for another paper crafting or t-shirt project.  Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

Ruth 4:  5  Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”  

Finish the Inside Creative Knockouts Challenge

It is Thursday and that means it is time for another Creative Knockouts Challenge.  This week's challenge is to finish the inside of a card.  Now you know I usually don't do that - unless it is a card for Veletta.  LOL  But here we go.

The sponsor for this week's challenge is Di's Digis and if you enter you have the chance to win a $12 voucher.
I saw a card on a blog that I follow (Just One More Card) that was a CAS card with a sentiment and some watercolor.  Here is my Get Well version.

Get Well CAS Card Recipe

I started with some watercolor cardstock and my Zig Clean Color Clear Brush Markers.  I stamped Hurry and Be Well in Versamark Ink and heat embossed with some Ranger Black embossing powder.  Now here is where it gets really complicated.  I took some water and put it generously over the sentiment.  Then I added color using my Zig Markers.  That's it.  I know!  I did put some color on my non stick mat, added water and created some splatter.  That is all.  I love the look and the simplicity.  Oh yeah - I matted it in lime green cardstock.

The Inside

Consider entering the Creative Knockouts Challenge for a chance to win $12 from Di's Digis.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in next time for another paper crafting or t-shirt project.  Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

Luke 4:  5 - 7  The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.  If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

More Valentine's Cards

I was a card making machine the other night.  I knew I would be watching my granddaughter and I needed to get my class cards done so I could get them up to the shop.  They were actually due on the 15th of December, but that day came and went.  I'm pretty proud of myself for getting them up there before the first of January.  I needed to make 4 cards, but actually ended up making 5.  And I have parts for even more cards.

Here is the next in the Valentine's Series.

I Just Love You Card Recipe

This absolutely adorable hedgehog is from - you guessed it - Penny Black.  I stamped it on watercolor card stock in Versamark and heat set it in black embossing powder from Nuvo.  Zig Clean Color Clean Brush Markers were used along with water to color this sweet image.  The heart cut outs are from Taylored Expressions.  The sentiment is in the set with the hedgehog.  I would link to the set, but I can't find it.  It is adorable though.  I tried to keep it simple so the focus is on the cute critter and the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in next time for another paper crafting or t-shirt project.  Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

Luke 2:  25 - 26  Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 

Quick Shirt Break for a Card

I have a couple classes at Craft Inn this month and I finally finished up the cards for both my classes.  These cards are for my Fur and Snowflakes Class.  My Favorite Things had a great release last month and I am using a stamp set and a die set from that release for these two cards.  This class is eligible for the free class coupon offered in your coupon book for the month of December.  Contact Craft Inn if you're interested.

Fur:

There is one for the dog lovers and one for the cat lovers.  I stamped the images on Bristol card stock in Versamark Ink and heat set with black embossing powder.  Zig Markers were used to color the images.  The paw prints were stamped using Tim Holtz Oxide Ink in Black Soot.

Here is the snowflake card:

Snowflakes were cut out using Silver sparkle card stock and red metallic card stock.  It is hard to get the true beauty of the red card stock in this picture.  The black background was cut out using a stitched die from a My Favorite Things Blueprint set.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in next time for another project.  Have a great day and enjoy the journey and some chocolate.

April

Matthew 2:  3 - 4  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 

Creative Knockouts - Lace/Ribbon/Twine

This week's challenge on Creative Knockouts is to use lace, ribbon or twine.  The sponsor for the challenge is Sami Stamps.  Check out the site - she has some awesome digital stamps.

 

This is my creation for the design team for this challenge.

 

Card Recipe:

I used the Butterfly Flower Digi from Sami Stamps.  As is typical, I pulled it into the Silhouette Designer Studio software.  At that point I used Trace and Detach.  I think I lost some of my image when I did that, but I do still like the way it looks.  I used my Zig Clean Brush markers to color the image.  I added some Art Glitter to the flower and the butterfly to give them some sparkle.  I used a new 'wonky die' from My Favorite Things which is part of their November 2015 release.  I added a 'hugs' sentiment from Paper Smooches.  The twine is from Fun Stampers Journey.

Go check out the challenge and enter one of your creations.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for some Christmas in November.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Psalm 119:32 - 33  Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

Doily Delight

This week's theme at the Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog is Doily Delight.  I am a member of the design team at Creative Knockouts and here is my contribution.

You know the drill - Suzie Snowflake is a digi image from artbymiran.  I pulled her into Silhouette Studio and then used the Trace and Detach feature.  I had not used this feature before - it is soooo cool.  I then added registration marks and used the print and cut feature to get the image printed and cut out.  I used Zig Clean Brush Markers to color her.  I used a doily embossing folder from Lifestyle Crafts on the pink background paper, the shimmery doily is a die from Teresa Collins.  I added stickles to the snowflakes.  I just couldn't come up with the right sentiment - so I thought this can be a card for anytime.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  I hope you check out Creative Knockouts and join in the challenge.

The winner gets 3 digis from artbymiran.  To get the digi I used for my card go here.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Matthew 6:34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Snapshot Image Froze Without a Sound

This week's theme is Freeze Frame.  J. Geils Band.  The 80's.  Gotta love the 80's.
Don't judge me.  ;-)

I had colored these images a while back, but hadn't put them on a card.  This week's theme gave me a good reason to get that done.

This image comes from Flat Friends Boutique.  Check out their shop - they have great digi images.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for another Freeze Frame project.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey.

April

Psalm 16:8  I keep my eyes always on the Lord.  With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Freeze Frame!

I don't know about you, but that phrase makes me think of an 80's tune by the J. Geils Band.  Good times.  Anyhoo - that is this week's theme.  This theme hasn't inspired my design team like last week's Halloween theme did.

Here is my contribution.  I just love Art Impressions Girlfriends stamp sets.  This is one of my faves.

This set is from Art Impressions and it is called Picture Perfect.  I purchased mine from Craft Inn.  If you live in the Louisville KY area - check them out.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for another picture perfect project.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Psalm 119:7  I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.

It's A Pet's Life This Week

This week's theme is 'A Pet's Life'.  I myself have a few pets:  3 dogs (one is my daughter's), 2 cats (one is my daughter's) and a snake (which is my daughter's).  Do you see a pattern here?

Anyhoo, for this week's theme I used a digi stamp from Fred She Says.  And if you check out my blog on a regular basis - you know the drill.  Bring it in to Silhouette Studio Designer Software  -  trace it, add regristration marks and print it.  Color it with - you know - Zig Clean Brush Markers.  Then cut it out using my Silhouette.  It might seem repetitive to you, but I LOVE it!  lol

Here is the card:

I did do something new - glitter on the butterflies.  Since I no longer make cards for OWH - I am delving into the realm of glitter.  :-)

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for a new theme - Halloween.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey.

April

Psalm 139:  13 - 14  For you created my inmost being;  you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;   your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

All About Our Furry Forest Friends

This week's theme is going to be Furry Forest Friends.  I may push the envelope on the forest part of this theme.  :-)   But what is new?

I used two Hero Arts sets to create these cards.  I have more little critters, but wasn't inspired on a layout for the rest.  Never fear - I will figure it out.

I used my ( yeah you know what's comin) Zig Clean Brush Markers to color the little critters.  I used a die from My Favorite Things to cut the stitched hole in the patterned cardstock.  I used enamel dots to add a little embellishment to the cards.  The patterned paper is from my stash.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for some more furry forest critters.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey.

April

Proverbs 4:23  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Pick of the Patch

Dee has been busy in her craft room again and created this cute card to wrap up the fall theme for this week.

The Recipe:

Fall 'Pick of the Patch'

Window with Awning and English Brick Wall background are from My Favorite Things.  The kitty on the pumpkin is a stamp from my stash.  I used Zig Clean Brush Markers to color the images.  The sentiment is from My Pink Stamper.  Spooky Puns, placed on a WeRMemory Keepers die and made into the sign.  A Fiskars punch was used to make the grass which was lightly sanded.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  That wraps up the 'fall' theme this week.  Tune in next week for a new theme.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey.

April

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Send a Smile 4 Kids - Fall Colors for Kids Challenge

Since one of my card entries to the Send a Smile 4 Kid's challenge blog was chosen by the design team, I get to be a guest designer on the blog.  Yay!

This week's challenge is Fall Colors for Kids.  The sponsors and prizes are Lacy Sunshine (3 digis), Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet ($10 gift certificate) and Inspired by Stamping ($20 gift certificate).

Here is my card using a digi image by Lacy Sunshine:

I brought the digi image into my Silhouette Designer software and used the print and cut feature to print and cut her out.  I used (wait for it) my Zig Clean Brush markers to color the image.  The blue background is Ken Oliver Colorburst.  The green was sponged on with Tim Holtz Distress ink in Mowed Lawn.  

Check out the Send a Smile 4 a Kid Challenge Blog and enter a card.  Or better yet - send some cards to the Send a Smile 4 Kids charity.  Send a smile to a sick child today.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in next week for another fun theme.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Romans 10:13  Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Last Minute Butterflies......

Dee has had a CRAZY week, but still managed to make a beautiful butterfly card for this week's theme.  Check it out:

The Recipe:

"Butterflies"
Background is a die cut from Spellbinders. I cut it using watercolor paper and colored with Zig clean brushes. Then took white Perfect Pearls spritzed with water and brushed over entire diecut, wiped some of it back until satisfied with finish. Cut a second die cutting only Butterfly and popping it over die. Cut some flowers using Sizzix by Lori Whitlock, Simple Flowers and placed them over flower parts of the die. Added a few Martha Stewart butterfly stickers. A weRMemory Keepers banner die with a Little Yellow Bicycle sentiment die cut "hello"
Entire die was popped on card stock by Bo Bunny from Jenny of SBN.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  I hope you got some butterfly inspiration this week.

Have a great day and enjoy the journey where ever it may take you.

April

Leviticus 19:18  Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am Lord.

CASEing Nichol Magouirk - Watercolor Stained Glass Butterfly

I absolutely love Nicole's stained glass butterfly with watercolor card.  She makes it look very easy to create this look.  And for a normal crafter it probably is easy.  But alas, I am not a normal crafter.

Here is Nichole's Card on Nicole's Blog.

Here are the different results from my attempts.

The butterfly stamp is from Dare2BArtzy.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Paper Smooches.  Cardstock is from Fun Stampers Journey.


This butterfly is from Hero Arts and includes dies.  I used silver embossing powder from Stampendous.  And of course I used my Zig Clean Brush Markers.

I am very happy with the way my attempts turned out.  I have discovered that not only do I walk hard I paint hard.  My Dad always used to tell me you walk like you're pushing a plow.  Well, I don't look like I'm pushing a plow anymore, but I do still have a heavy walk.  But I digress.  I was too heavy handed with the paint around the image so I decided to paint the background on a different piece of paper.

This week's theme is die cutting.  As you can see I used stitched dies as well as the butterfly die from Hero Arts.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for some more die cutting projects.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Proverbs 3:34  He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Danke - Oh Yeah - Thank You in German

This week is a celebration of gratitude with Thank You cards.  Today it's my turn!

I have three cards to share with you today.  The first two feature digital images from Power Poppy.

This sunflower was great fun to color with my Zig Clean Brush Markers.  The die I used to cut the circle in the middle is from My Favorite Things.

I did a similiar type of card using the digital coneflowers from Power Poppy, too.  I wanted a more pink color, but ended up with a purple using my Zig Clean Brush Markers.  Are there any other markers?  Yes and I used those on the third card.

My next card was a CASE of Kathy's card at the Daily Marker Blog.

I used a butterfly set from Martha Stewart and my Tombow markers to create this card.  I think next time I will be using two coordinating colors instead of two shades of the same color.  I do like how it turned out though.  I am a sucker for butterflies and I had to try to create a card like Kathys.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for another 'thank you' card.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

1 Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Birthday Wrap Up!

Get it?  Birthday theme wrap up - like you wrap up a birthday present?  Well I thought it was clever.

Today I am going to share with you the last of the birthday themed cards for this week.  I've used several different products from several different companies.  I was very pleased with how each of the turned out.

The first card was made using Ken Oliver's Color Burst, a Tim Holtz Stencil, and a stamp set from Stamps of Life.  I used the Color burst and some water to create a fun t-shirt with a Happy Birthday sentimnt.  Then I used stencil with the leftover Color Burst to create the background for the card.  Check out my video:

I used the Dahlia set from Fun Stampers Journey along with the matching dies to create this birthday card.  I used my Zig Clean Brush Markers to color the flowers.  I gave this card to my daughter for her 21st birthday.

And last, but not least I used the Crazy Birds Stamp set from Tim Holtz to create a fun card for Diane who is turning ?? tomorrow.  I also had to add googly eyes because these birds just scream for googly eyes.  I colored the birds with my Zig Clean Brush Markers - you knew I did!  This card was entered into the challenge at Seize the Birthday.

So that wraps up birthday week.  I hope you got some fun ideas.  Tune in next week for a special thank you card from a special girl.  And next week's theme - thank you.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Psalm 103  But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Watercoloring Technique Using Zig Clean Brush Markers

I just love these Zig Clean Brush Markers for watercoloring or just to use as markers.  I am going to share a technique that will be a great way to start watercoloring if you're new to it.  Or a great refresher if you're already a pro.

I was just recently introduced to Dare 2B Artzy stamps and dies.  The set I am going to use in the video is perfect for this watercolor technique - lots of open space.

Check out my video:

The cards:

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  I hope you have the chance to try out this technique with your watercolor markers.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.