Friday, September 25, 2020

COLLECTED CRAFTY COLLABS -- SEPTEMBER EDITION -- HALLOWEEN/FALL & SEQUINS

 Hello friends!  Welcome back to my blog for the September edition of Collected Crafty Collabs!  If you're hopping along, you should have arrived here from Bory's YouTube video.  If you're not, I will tell you at the end of this post where to go to keep hopping along with us!  😀👍

As you can see from the graphic, we want you to use some of those squirreled away Halloween/Fall crafty supplies, and incorporate some sequins if you can.  That should be pretty easy, right?  And then, of course, I have my own PERSONAL CHALLENGE to make every card into a Christmas card.  Let me know if you think I succeeded this month with my card:

My image is from Bugaboo (of course!), and is called Autumn Critter Stack 01I was bouncing ideas off my Squirrel Sisters about how I could continue with my Christmas card tradition for our challenge, and sweet V suggested a deer image with a pile of leaves.  That made me immediately think of this image that's been in my Bugaboo collection for awhile.  Isn't the look on that deer's face just funny?  Like he is caught in the headlights...hopefully not in front of my car on the way to work though!  The idea of this image being used for Christmas inspired the creation of the sentiment to go with it.  The font I used is called "The Things We Said," and I just thought it looked perfectly whimsical!  If you have trouble reading it though, it says, "The day Rudolph got caught hanging out with his forest friends instead of helping to get ready for Christmas..."  😆  I just think this is so funny!  All those critters look like they are guilty as heck!

So anyhow, this card is pretty simple...I colored these guys with alcohol markers, cut my panel and patterned paper with Spellbinders Card Creator dies, and glued on 3 sequins.  Incidentally, the patterned paper comes from the Clucker Clackers set from Digi Doodle Studios.  And I did cover the Recollections 110lb. white card base with Recollections 65lb. red card stock that matches the red stripes in the plaid paper.

Another angle

Image close up

--CHALLENGES--

Merry Little Christmas #26:  ATG Christmas (3/5)
CHN Patterned Paper:  ATG using patterned paper
613 Avenue Create:  ATG (5/5)
Crafty Gals Corner #211: Fall Colors (1/3)
Crafty Animals:  ATG using animals
Crimbo Crackers #216:  ATG Christmas (1/2)
Crafty Friends #145:  Fall Colors (1/3)
Simon Says Wednesday:  Animal Antics (1/5)
Polkadoodles #39:  ATG (1/2)
Digi Choosday #38:  ATG (1/2)
Aud Sentiments:  ATG with a sentiment
Not Just Cards:  ATG (1/5)


That's it from me for this hop; your next stop is Lisa at Ink Paper Scissors Fun.  If you get lost, or a link isn't working correctly, you can head back to one of my sweet Squirrel Sisters, Karen at Misplaced Mojo, who has the full hop list.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the rest of our hop!  Oh, don't forget to let me know if you think my card works for Christmas!  Until next time, 
Stay Healthy, Take Care, and God Bless!

~Marie~







Monday, September 21, 2020

BUGABOO ANYTHING BUT A CARD MONDAY -- SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

Hey there friends!  Welcome back to my blog!  I hope you are all doing well during these strange times, and will continue to do so!   I'm here today to share with you what I have made for this week's Anything But a Card Monday:


I decided to make ornaments this time, using Snowman Trio Blocks Ain't they sweet?  I colored them using Copics, and added some accents with Star Dust Stickles.  I used Spellbinders Classic Squares to cut each panel; then each is mounted on a red card stock Spellbinders Lacey Square; and then I threaded white satin ribbon through the very last loops to make a hanger.  Looking at them now though, I may flip that ribbon around to the back side in the near future.

--CHALLENGES--

CHNC #508:  ATG Christmas 
Winter Wonderland:  Snowmen and snow
Love to Craft #50:  ATG (5/5)
Mix it Up #41:  ATG (5/5)
613 Avenue Create:  ATG (4/5)
Jan's Digi Stamps:  ATG (5/5)
ABC Christmas:  "S" for Snowy, "T" for Tinsel (obviously snowy)
Crimbo Crackers:  ATG (2/2)
Cuttlebug Mania:  ATG (used my Cuttlebug to cut the Classic and Lacey Squares from Spellbinders)
Polkadoodles #38:  ATG (2/2)
Digi Choosday #37:  ATG (2/2)
Crafty Calendar:  ATG (3/3)



close ups of each ornament


That's all there is for these cute ornaments, folks!  Make sure you swing by the Catch the Bug blog if you haven't already to see what else the DT has made to inspire you!
Thanks for stopping by, and until next time...

Stay Healthy, Take Care, and God Bless!

~Marie~

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Friday, September 18, 2020

COLOUR CRAZY, JOINING IN WITH TEAM A -- SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

Hey there friends!  Welcome back to my blog!  Today I am joining in with Colour Crazy Team A, because I simply HAD to color this adorable Sammi Skater Bear from this week's sponsor, Digi Doodle Studios.



I honestly just LOVE Digi Doodle images; they are all so happy and downright CUTE!

Sammi got colored up with alcohol markers to match the plaid paper, which comes from the Digi Doodle Studios Winter Plaids and Patterns 6x6 digital paper pack.  That was something else I just HAD to have when I saw it, LOL!  I found a card stock in my stash that was a good match to the blue in the plaid, and used that to mat the plaid paper, and the image panel.  Spellbinders Classic Squares  were used to die cut the image panel, and Lacey Squares for the mat.  For the sentiment, I decided to beef it up a bit, and used layers of the blue card stock and the plaid.  "Sending Bundles of Hugs" comes from the MFT Snow Buddies set, and I heat embossed it in detail Snow embossing powder from Recollections.  My card is 5.5" square.

--CHALLENGES--

Merry Little Christmas #26:  ATG Christmas (1/5)
CHNC #508:  ATG Christmas
CHN Patterned Paper:  ATG using patterned paper
Love to Craft #50:  ATG (4/5)
Mix it Up #41:  ATG (4/5)
Color it, Create It, Show it Off:  ATG with coloring (3/3)
613 Avenue Create:  ATG (3/5)
Jan's Digi Stamps:  ATG (4/5)
Crimbo Crackers:  ATG (1/2)
Cuttlebug Mania:  ATG (I used my Cuttlebug with the Spellbinders dies)
Polkadoodles #38:  ATG (1/2)
Digi Choosday #37:  ATG (1/2)
Crafty Calendar:  ATG (2/3) 

Sammi's close up

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoyed your visit, and if you didn't already stop by the Colour Crazy Challenge blog, GO NOW!  😄

Until next time, 
Stay Healthy, Take Care and God Bless!

~Marie~


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Thursday, September 17, 2020

C.R.A.F.T. CHALLENGE GDT. SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 --WEDDING/ANNIVERSARY

Hey friends; welcome back to my blog!  I hope you are doing well and staying healthy.  For today's post, I am sharing the card I made as a Design Team Guest for the C.R.A.F.T. challenge.  The theme this time is Wedding/Anniversary, and the sponsor is All Dressed Up. The prize up for grabs is 2 digis of the winner's choice.  Here is my card:


The DT was given the choice of 2 images to work with, and I chose these adorable Love BirdsAren't they just so sweet?  In keeping with the wedding/anniversary theme, I went all white on this card.  In the beginning planning stages, this card was not going to be a shaker.  I was just going to print out the birdies and cut them with the Spellbinders Heart Circles die.  But as I was cutting out the die, all those tiny hearts got me thinking that they would be great shaker bits...so why not go for it?  I ended up cutting 5 of those Heart Circle dies out of 110lb Recollections white card stock to make the dimension for the shaker...Lord knows I did NOT want to be cutting itty bitty pieces of foam tape for behind that die cut!  My Squirrel Sisters helped me decide on which shimmer card stock to use for the top layer -- Recollections white gold for the win!  My next pic will show that off better:

The shimmer paper was also used for the 3 strips on the card base, which were embossed with the Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder.  It's almost like the folder and image were made for each other!  😀  Here's a close up shot of the image:

I chose to color the birds just the slightest bit using Prismacolor Warm Grays in 40% and 20% on the wings and bellies, and 20% and 10% on the bodies.  So, I glued all my die cuts together using Tombow Mono Multi, and sandwiched the acetate piece between the top two layers.  I used some anti static powder on a cotton swab around the inside edges of the shaker well to get rid of any stickiness from glue ooze.  I glued a couple of the shimmer paper hearts onto the panel, so it wouldn't be completely bare when all the shaker bits were at the bottom. Then I added a boatload of the hearts and matching sequins from my stash into the shaker well until I thought there were enough.  I added some Tombow glue around the edge of the image circle, and placed it onto the back of my shaker.  I made sure to press it down really well before flipping it over and giving it a shake!  I also added some sequins to the embossed strips, and added Star Dust Stickles to the centers.

--CHALLENGES--

Love to Craft #50:  ATG (3/5)
Mix it Up #41:  ATG (3/5)
613 Avenue Create:  ATG (2/5)
Crafty Animals #42:  ATG using animals
2 Crafty Critter Crazies #42:  ATG using critters (1/5)
Paper Funday #21:  ATG (3/4)
Jan's Digi Stamps:  ATG (3/5)
Pink Gem #19:  ATG (1/2)



Thanks for stopping by today!  Please check out the C.R.A.F.T challenge blog for the DT makes, and to join in!  Until next time,

Stay safe, Take Care and God Bless!

~Marie~


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Friday, September 11, 2020

BUGABOO FREEBIE FRIDAY -- CRABBY CATHY -- SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

Hey there friends!  How are you all?  I hope you are all staying safe and not going too stir crazy!  Today is Friday (YAY!), which means that it's Freebie Friday at Bugaboo Stamps!  This week, we are working with this Crabby Cathy cutie:


In the store, this image is called Crabby Cathy Door 2, and I think she speaks for a lot of us when our jobs get frustrating!  We just have to remember that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence, even though it may seem to be.  😀  I used an old Papertake Weekly sketch for my card layout.  The patterned paper and green textured card stock were just some pieces I had lying around, so I thought I would show them some love by using them.  Cathy and her little office space were colored with alcohol markers, and I added a few white gel pen details.  I also took a .03 Micron pen and scribbled some "words" on the paper on her desk.  The sequins are from the Sparkle Blends Birthstone Collection; May:  Emerald, from Doodles Paper Playground.  This mix was sent to me as a gift from a sweet friend, and is no longer available, BUT there are always different mixes being made!  You should check out the Sparkle Blends Etsy shop if you're interested in unique sequin mixes!

--CHALLENGES--

CHN Patterned Paper:  ATG using patterned paper
Love to Craft #50:  ATG (2/5)
Mix it Up #41:  ATG (2/5)
Color it, Create it, Show it Off:  ATG with coloring (2/3)
613 Avenue Create:  ATG (1/5)
Paper Funday #21:  ATG (2/4)
Jan's Digi Stamps:  ATG (1/5)
Simon Says Wednesday:  Humorous/Fun card
Polkadoodles #37:  ATG (1/2)
Digi Choosday #36:  ATG (1/2)
Crafty Calendar:  ATG (1/3)

image close up

Thanks for stopping by...if you didn't come here from the
Catch the Bug blog, then I encourage you to pop over there to see what other DT makes await you!  Until next time, my friends,

Stay safe, Take Care, and God Bless!

~Marie~

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COLOUR CRAZY DT -- POLKADOODLES -- SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

Hey there friends!  How are you?  Here we are finished with the second week of September already, and today is my older daughter's 22nd birthday!!  It also would have been my Dad's 76th birthday, if he were still alive.  Happy birthday Laurena, and happy heavenly birthday Dad!  I needed a birthday card to send to Rena, so I used my DT card for the Colour Crazy Challenge to fit the bill.  Man, I find it so strange to add that "u" in the word "colour."  My computer finds it odd as well, LOL!  ANYWAY, here is my card:


Our sponsor for Team D this month is Polkadoodles:

I chose to use this cutie Winston Bear Etty ShyI colored the image with alcohol markers, and cut it out using the largest Spellbinders Classic Oval.  The papers are from the Doodlebug Hello Sunshine 6x6 paper pad.  I used dies in the Spellbinders Card Creator sets A and B to cut all the papers, and then cut flag ends on the banners with a small pair of scissors.  The Happy Birthday sentiment was stamped in VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink, and comes from the Fiskars set called Put on Your Party Hat.  I stamped using my MISTI to ensure that I got a nice, clear sentiment.  All the papers were adhered using Tombow Mono Multi glue, and the image oval was popped up on some miscellaneous foam adhesive.  I chose to just do a simple layout, and let this little guy be the star of the card, as he should be! 

--CHALLENGES--
CHN Patterned Paper:  ATG using patterned paper
Love to Craft #50:  ATG (3/5)
Mix it Up #41:  ATG (3/5)
613 Avenue Create:  ATG (2/5)
Paper Funday #21:  ATG (1/4)
Jan's Digi Stamps:  ATG (2/5)
Polkadoodles #37:  ATG (2/2)
Digi Choosday #36:  ATG (2/2)
Crafty Calendar:  ATG (2/3)
Seize the Birthday #199:  ATG birthday (1/3)


Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  If you haven't already, make sure you pop over to the Colour Crazy Challenge to see what the rest of Team D has in store for you!  Until next time,

Stay safe, Take Care, and God Bless!

~Marie~


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Tuesday, September 1, 2020

CCAYR SEPTEMBER 2020 -- AT LEAST 2 THINGS THAT BEGIN WITH "S"

Hey friends!  Happy September 1st!  I honestly cannot believe we have made it this far through the year already.  Before we know it, the Christmas season will be upon us, and it will be time to send out those Christmas cards to friends and family.  How's your stash looking, my friends?  I haven't counted lately, but I'm pretty sure I'm not where I want to be as far as the numbers go.  Good thing for me I am on the Christmas Crafts All Year Round DT, or my stash would be way worse!  Our theme this month is "At least 2 things that begin with "S."  So, let me share with you my most recent card for the ole stash-a-roonie:

I fell in love with this image as soon as I saw it!  I found it on Etsy, while looking for something else.  It is from RivusArt, and can be found hereIsn't this just perfect for a couple's Christmas card?  This is what my hubby is getting for Christmas this year!  That way I never have to part with it!  😂  I colored the image with alcohol markers; mostly Copics this time, which is indeed rare for me.  The papers come from the Recollections Northern Lights 12x12 paper pad.  Evidently it's my favorite, as I seem to keep using it, LOL!  I wanted the bottom purple piece to represent snow, so I die cut it using Lawn Fawn's Stitched Hillside Borders.  Not that you really see too much of that, due to the size of my image panel, which was die cut with the largest Spellbinders Labels Two die.  I don't use this set often enough, so I thought I would give it some love for once.  I added some sparkle to the white areas of the snowlady's hat, the falling snow, and the snow on the ground with Star Dust Stickles.  To add some interest to the patterned papers, I went around the edges of both of them.  The purple paper got treated with Shaded Lilac Oxide ink, and the tree paper was inked with Broken China Oxide ink.
That's all there is to this card!

--CHALLENGES--
CHNC #505:  ATG Christmas
Merry Little Christmas #26:  ATG Christmas (1/5)
CHN Patterned Paper:  ATG using patterned paper
Love to Craft #50:  ATG (1/5)
Mix it Up #41:  ATG (1/5)
Cutie Pie #150:  Hip to be Square
Besties International:  ATG (1/3)
Moving Along with the Times #122:  Make a scene (1/3)
Color it, Create it, Show it Off:  ATG with coloring (1/3)
Crafts Galore Encore #79:  ATG (1/3)
Classic Design #9:  ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft #9:  ATG
A Bit More Time to Craft:  ATG
Gem of a Challenge #18:  ATG (1/2)
Crimbo Crackers #214:  ATG (1/2)
Word Art Wednesday #454 - #455:  ATG (1/5)
Simon Says Wednesday:  ATG (1/5)
Polkadoodles #35:  ATG (1/2)
Digi Choosday #35:  ATG (1/2)
Crafting Happiness #64:  ATG
The Outlawz Festive Fridays:  Christmas


image close up

Thanks for stopping by today!  If you haven't already, stop by the CCAYR blog to see what my teamies have created for this month's challenge.  You will not be disappointed!  Until next time,
Take Care, and God Bless!

~Marie~

PS:  My "S's" are snowmen, snow, sparkle, smiles, and scarves!


LAST-MINUTE INSPIRATION FROM THE NOVEMBER 2024 RELEASE AT A COLORFUL LIFE DESIGNS -- NOV 30, 2024

 Hello, crafty friends!  I'm back on the blog today to share my last 2 cards for the November 2024 release at A Colorful Life Designs.  ...