Happy 9th Birthday Taylored Expressions!

Hello!  I am trying to get back into coloring, creating cards and blogging. I am trying to plan a few designs for my Christmas cards and came across the sketch challenge and the celebration at Taylored Expressions: https://tayloredexpressions.com/blog/blog/2017/08/31/te-9th-birthday-sketch-challenge/

I used a gorgeous TE angel ( I think she is retired)  and colored her with Copics and then put Crafter's Companion sparkle marker on her dress and wings- which does not show well in the picture. I embossed snowflakes and added distress oxide inks to a panel of watercolor paper.  Oh...the oxides are so fun to play with and the colors are so much more vibrant in real life! A piece of vellum with silver swirls, some sequins, a TE sentiment and I was done! I changed some of the dimensions from the sketch so I could show more of the background paper and the vellum.
Happy birthday to TE and thanks for the challenge...it helped get me back into creating!!
thanks for stopping by,
Diane

I am still around!

Hi!
I am still here but my creating time has been limited lately! I am on a mission to back into card making!  
I do want to share that I won a prize from Justine Hovey's one million You Tube views celebration!
https://www.youtube.com/user/justinehovey/videos   It is a great product- Amaze away.... this removes permanent marker- no matter how old!  I am blown away by how great this works!
https://www.facebook.com/1202744176484018/videos/1239496326142136/

I hope to be back soon with cards and to join in on a few challenges!
Thanks for stopping by,
Diane

Retro Rubber Challenge with Mama Elephant Stamps RRCB46

Welcome,

A new to me challenge blog- Retro Rubber- is based on a great idea--you have to use stamps at least 1 year old!  What a great motivator to bring out some loved but lonely stamps! The current challenge is to create a card with a critter.

http://www.retrorubberchallengeblog.com/my-blog/2016/08/challenge-46-critter-time.html

I used a Mama Elephant stamp- of 2 adorable rabbits. I am not sure of the exact date but I know these are over 2 years old because I used them on a card in March 2014!   http://dianecreateswithpaper.blogspot.com/2014/03/bunnies-bunnies-and-bees.html

I paper pieced sections of the bunnies and colored a few sections with copics. And I just noticed I lost 2 of the Queen and Co rhinestones between creating and photographing....or I just missed putting them on- LOL.

Stop by Retro Rubber-- there are some fabulous cards!

Thanks for visiting,

Diane

Non-traditional Colors With The Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge

I know, it is barely September...but have you started making your Christmas cards? I have a tiny pile- but what I have completed is thanks to the great challenges out there!  I love to make cards but sometimes I need a little push! Challenge #79 at the Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge is to create a card using non traditional colors.    http://hjcchallenge.blogspot.ca/

I used a great stamp set from My Favorite Things and the pink cardstock is also by MFT. And yes, I put Spectrum Noir Sparkle markers on her coat and the fire; it photographs funny...I love it in real life!

Have a wonderful week!

Diane

Frosty Sends Warm Fuzzies!

Hello!
The challenge at http://cardz4guyz.blogspot.co.uk/
this time around is to create a card featuring something with an F. I decided to use this very friendly Frosty snowman who is sending warm fuzzies!  

I paper pieced his hat and scarf and it is hard to see but the snow banks and the fur and pompom on his hat are glistening from Spectrum Noir glitter markers. I love the patterned paper- it looks like the snow is actually moving!

Thanks for stopping by, 

Diane

Combining 2 Challenges

Hello- I found my mojo and finally some time to color and create so this is my second post for today!
Over at Cards in Envy- the theme is wings. 
http://cardsinenvy.blogspot.com/2016/08/wings-card-challenge.html

And Tuesday Morning Sketches has a classic sketch to try, I love when an image can take center stage!
                                                     
http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/2016/08/tuesday-morning-sketches-364.html

I rotated the sketch- but otherwise used it as is-- I love the crispness of the sketch!And the bird stamp by Whipper Snapper Designs is so stinkin cute- and one of my favorites!

Enjoy your day,
Diane

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer- A Challenge of RED!

Welcome,
The current challenge at http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.com/
is to use red- a lots of it!  How could I resist this happy Santa by My Favorite Things- colored with Copics and Spectrum Noir glitter markers on the belt, boots and beard! Oh I wish the shimmer showed in the photo...so shiny and cheerful!The areas that look white are glittery goodness!  I colored white ribbon with 2 shades of red copics for my final touch of red. 

Thanks for stopping by,
Diane

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge

Hello! Every year I want to start my Christmas cards early and enjoy the process and not rush at the end of the year! I want to play along with Christmas challenges all year long so I am participating in a Traditional Colors challenge at the Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge blog.  http://hjcchallenge.blogspot.ca/
I chose red, green and gold for my colors-- and the cute elf's outfit comes across more as a blue/green instead of a true Christmas green. I just tried out a shotbox-- love it- but I think I need to practice more with the lighting! The elf stamp is from My Favorite Things- a wonderful set of stamps!  

I have been absent from blogland for a while. Life got super busy and my mother and father decided it was time to be together again. My mom passed in May after a sad struggle with Alzheimers.  My comfort is knowing they are together again.
I am off to the first tournament softball weekend of the season. The weather should be nice and in between games I plan to do some coloring of Christmas images. I hope to be posting more often.
Enjoy the weekend!
Diane

Male Room Autumn Challenge

Hello-
Happy Fall!  I love the cooler air and the gorgeous colors of the leaves! Living in New England, I am so lucky to experience autumn in it's full glory!
I was happy to play along with the Male Room Challenge Blog this week:
                                 
                                     http://themaleroomchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

I used a Hero Arts stamp set and a bunch of different colors of memento dew drops ink pads. The large leaf in the background is from American Crafts and I just smooshed inks all over it. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your weather is enjoyable!
Diane

Another Ghost Card

Hi! 
I have another shaker Halloween card- and this time the ghost is from the Booyah set by Lawn Fawn-- so stinking cute! There are stamps of hats, wigs and a variety of facial expressions so the ghosts can be dressed up to go Trick or Treating!
I used a ship stamp from Simon Says Stamp and used white embossing powder--my thought was to make it look like a ghost ship....it just looks like a white ship-LOL. I also heat embossed the sentiment. The skull on the pirate hat is colored with a yellow glitter pen- so very cool in person.

Ahoy Matey (in honor of talk like a pirate day!) is the theme for this month's challenge at Words to Scrap By
http://words2scrapby.blogspot.com/2015/09/w2sb-21-ahoy-
matey.html
and Cards 4 Guyz is looking for cards with embossing http://cardz4guyz.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/challenge-88-embossing-heat-or-dry.html.

Thanks for stopping by!
Diane

Finally- a Card!

Hello!
It has been a long time since I created a card--- and where did the summer go? I felt like just yesterday I was packing my last batch of cards for OWH!

Today's card is for http://sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com/. The challenge is to create a fall or Halloween card- but not too scary!   My ghost is a sweet, friendly ghost. The stamps are from CC Designs by Amy Young-- oh how I wish she was still designing stamps!!
I made a shaker card and put the sentiment inside the shaker.
And yes, I kept shaking it...very fun!

 

Thanks for stopping by and I am hoping to get back into my card making groove soon!
Diane

Happy Birthday

Hello!
The challenge at http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.ca/ is anything goes- as long as it is a birthday theme!  Here is my first non- Operation Write Home card and it is for my niece Tessa. The Prima stamp is colored with Copics and I covered the balloon with a clear glaze pen- lots of shine but it dries quickly. And then I used a clear star glitter pen on her shoes, gifts and parts of her party dress (the ruffles do not show the shimmer but it is there!). I put the sentiment inside the card so the image can be the focus- she is a cutie- and quick to color.

Thanks for visiting,
Diane