Saturday, June 28, 2014

Card Design: Imagine That...Progressive Challenge for June

http://imaginethatdigistamp.blogspot.ca/
It is time to upload my creation for the Imagine That Progressive Challenge.  I continue to be so grateful that I am part of this wonderful progressive challenge.  I really love Kris' work and am thrilled to get the opportunity to earn a fabulous new set each month by linking up.  I'm cutting it a bit close this month with my creation but I have finally managed to get it done!
This month the image that everyone who is part of the progressive challenge gets to play with, is the whole set, Poolside Penguins...
http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/store/p227/Poolside_Penguins.html
OMG!  These guys are just too stinkin' cute.  I've always been a big fan of penguins (in fact, our main floor bathroom is decorated with them), so I had an absolute blast with this month's kit.  This time around you get the option of three different images, not just one, and as always, you can work with either one of the colour images, one of the line art images or maybe even one of each!  This particular set also comes with an amazing twelve different sentiments providing you with incredible variety!  If you missed out, you can still play along by either purchasing this set in the store (click on the image name or watermark above), OR if you spend $10 (in one order) in the month of June, you can let Kris know in the "Note to Seller" part when checking out, that you'd like the Poolside Penguins set and she'll email it to you.  Of course, you better get moving if you are interested because there are only a couple days left to the month!

Here are my card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything... 

General Comments:
 
  • This month I opted to work with the pre-coloured version of the stamp.  As much as I REALLY wanted to colour in the image by hand, I just couldn't find the extra time needed to do so.  It has been a whirlwind of a week trying to catch up from being out of town the previous one.  I'm almost caught up with all my projects thank goodness! Being able to work with the pre-coloured image saved me some valuable time.  Thanks Kris for that option always being available!
  • This card has also been designed 100% digitally and then printed out and assembled as a physical card. 
  • Now that I look back on my card, I could have used all three images.  I could have put a different one on top of the sentiment and the third on the left hand side of the inside.  Of course, hindsight is always twenty-twenty.
  • For the front of my card, I used an old sketch from From the Heart Stamps, just adding a couple elements.  I just love their sketches!

 FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Poolside Penguins: Details for how to get a hold of it are included underneath the set preview in the above section.
  • As I mentioned above, I used one of the pre-coloured images.
Digital Embellishments: 
  • I added some shapes to the front and used a layer style from Star Sunflower Studio.  I also created a circular shape to serve as matting.  Bevels were added to all.    
Embellishments:
  • I added two black buttons from a container picked up at Giant Tiger.
INSIDE
Digital Image Details: 
  • I repeated the same image on the inside.  I just thought it added a little extra something.
Digital Sentiment Details: 
 
OVERALL
Paper Products:
 
  • Card base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white
Digital Paper: 
  • The background paper (front and inside) is from the California Cool kit designed by Valerie Foster from ComputerScrapbook.com.   I adjusted the colour slightly to better match the colours within the image.
Challenges I am hoping to enter... 
 http://www.imaginethatdigistamp.com/index.html
I encourage you to go and check out the digis that Kris offers along with the Progressive Free Digi Challenge.  It is another fun place to shop and play. 

Well guys, one more card and post done. Now I've got some DT work and bunches of other stuff that need attending too so I will say adieu to you all for now.  Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!

Until next time,

Friday, June 27, 2014

Card Design: Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge...June

http://gerdasteinerdesigns.com
It is time to post my creation for the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge.  Her images are absolutely adorable!  Check out the image we got to work with this month...

http://gerdasteinerdesigns.com/new-products/best-friends-forever-cat-and-dog-best-friends-digital-stamp
Check out these pals.  While I've decided to make a thank you card, this image would be perfect for a friendship card and would also work for a birthday or thinking of you card too.  This image is currently available in the shop for purchase.  Click HERE or on the watermark above to go and check it out.

Here are my card and details, hopefully I haven't forgotten anything...

FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Best Friends Forever-Cat and Dog:  You can find this image in the store.  Details above.  This image was coloured in and grounded with Copic Markers. 
Embellishments:
  • The half pearls are Crafts brand purchased at Dollarama.
INSIDE 
Digital Sentiment Details:
  • This time around I've taken two of Paulette's fabulous sentiments and combined them to share my message of thanks. Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store.  Oh and if you have a moment and haven't already, please go and leave some love on Paulette's blog.  I've been so far behind in my visits to Create with TLC, that I never knew until yesterday that Paulette had a serious fall and ended up having to have surgery and then go into a rehab facility afterwards.  My thoughts and prayers are with her and I'm sure all the well wishes she receives will help speed in her recovery.
OVERALL
Paper Products: 
  • Card base and matting: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, South Beach collection.
  • Designer papers: This paper comes from my stash of partially used papers. I believe it is from the very first pad of paper I ever bought -- Ki Fancy Free paper pad.
Challenges I am entering:
 Other challenges I hope to enter... 
Now just before I go, I wanted to tell you that Gerda Steiner Designs currently has the sweetest image in the store as a freebie.  See the occasional bonuses you get for actually reading all the way down to the bottom of some of my posts? ;)  Check it out...
http://gerdasteinerdesigns.com/birthday/
Right now you can find this cutie pie in the Birthday section of the store.  Click HERE or on the watermark above to go and check out that section.  If you do go over and grab it be sure to leave Gerda some love by going HERE.

Well guys, one more post complete.  I've got one more to do for the final progressive challenge I am part of and then of course I've got tons of other work to complete.  I hope that you all have a great start to the weekend.  Hopefully, if I get my card completed tonight, I'll be back sometime tomorrow to show it to you.

Until that time,

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Card Design: From the Heart Stamps June Challenge

http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/blog/
It is time to post my project for the June, From the Heart Stamps progressive stamp of the month challenge.  In order to enter the progressive challenge, you must either have received the latest image by having participated in the previous month or you can buy the stamp for the current month's challenge.  Everyone who enters and follows the rules is a winner because you automatically get the stamp for the next month's challenge.  Stop by the site and check out the rules for yourself.  While you are there, have a look around.  They have some really great images.

Here are my card and details.  I hope I haven't forgotten anything important...

General Information:
  • I've gone super CAS with this card but I think that the shape helps to give it some flair. 
 
FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • The image on the front, Super Birdbrain, is available for purchase over at From the Heart Stamps.  Click HERE or on the watermarks below to go to its location in the store. It was coloured in with Copic Markers.
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/shop/birdbrain-chick/148-super-birdbrain.html
Digital Sentiment:
  • This great sentiment is from MM Designs: Scrap-a-Licious-Times.  I've linked the blog name to head to her circle collection where this sentiment comes from but there are several more freebie categories to choose from. 

INSIDE 
Digital Sentiment:
  • One of the sentiments available in the Super Birdbrain set.  I added faux stitching to the box before printing it out to match the stitching on the circle sentiment from the front.

OVERALL
Paper Products:

  • Card base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, Soda Pop collection.
Cricut Cartridge:
  • The circular card base was cut using the Birthday Bash cartridge.
Challenges I am hoping to enter:
Others I might get it into...  
 
Thanks for popping by everyone!  I hope you enjoyed my card and post.  While I would have liked to have been able to get another post done tonight, I think I better go and get my Creative Bug on the Loose Saturday Sneak Peek created and maybe start the DT Delight post for The Path of Positivity which comes out on Sunday.  Best not to leave them until the last minute.  So, if everything goes according to plan, I'll be back tomorrow with my Gerda Steiner progressive challenge card.  
 
Until then,


Card Design: DS4J Progressive Christmas Card Challenge...June

http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.ca/2014/01/monthly-christmas-challenge-january-2014.html
Right now, it is time to submit my card for this month's Progressive Christmas Challenge taking place over at DigiStamps4Joy.  One more card to add to the Christmas Card Pot to help me avoid the yearly Christmas Card Panic, and thankfully this month, it looks like I'm going to achieve my goal of adding two cards.  In fact, if I've counted correctly, this is number three.  It helps to make up for the lack in previous months.
Christmas Card Count to date: 13

Here is the DS4J image we get to use this month:
http://digistamps4joy.co.za/eshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1102
...and here is my card, I hope that I haven't forgotten any important details: 

FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Santa's Letter:  If you aren't part of the progressive challenge and would like to purchase it so that you can join in, click HERE or on the watermark above to find it in the DS4J store.
    • This image has been coloured in with Copic Markers. Once again in hindsight, I really shouldn't have coloured the base of the snowglobe red.  I forgot I was going to fussy cut the image.  I keep doing this for some reason.
Digital Sentiment: 
  • The great sentiment on the front is from the fabulous Create With TLC.    Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store. 
Embellishments: 
  • The red ribbon is a snippet from my stash.  Probably Osprey brand.
Embossing Folder:
  • The small dots on the white cardstock were created with a Goosebumpz embossing folder using my wonderful Big Shot machine.

INSIDE
Digital Sentiment: 
  • One I whipped up.  Sorry it is a bit blurry.  Not one of the six pictures I took, had the writing in focus.

OVERALL
Paper Products: 
  • Card base: Michael's Recollection's cardstock, red.
  • Image and sentiment bases, along with embossed strips: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
  • Designer Paper:  Recollection's Bright Christmas paper pad. 
Challenges I hope to enter...

If you are interested in joining the DS4J progressive Christmas card challenge you will need to contact Desíre (her details are at the bottom of the post).  I've linked the badge above to take you to that post. 

Well, one more card is finally done. Soon it will be time to reveal the list of people who earned the paper for June in the 12 Months of Christmas link up. My goodness, how time flies!  Don't forget you can jump in and add your own holiday cards to it as well. Click HERE for all the details. You still have a little over four days to link up your two cards for June in order to get your free paper for the month.

Well, it is time to move on.  Three more progressive challenges and a DT post or two to get done by the end of the month!  Hopefully, I'll get at least one more in later today.  Then there is the DT Delight post this Sunday over at the Path of Positivity and of course the latest sneak peek over at Creative Bug on the Loose on Saturday.  Plus, I need to be working on putting together a kit for an upcoming challenge I am sponsoring, plus, plus, plus...hey wait a second, this is sounding a lot like the end of last month's DS4J post.  I sense a pattern to my life developing.  Hmmmm.....

Until next time,

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Card Design: Flowers Bring Smiles Once Again from Nicecrane Designs

http://nicecranedesigns.com/
Happy Hump Day to you all.  It is going to be a busy week as I only have five more days to get all my progressive cards finished and posted about, along with a couple DT posts like this one here.  Today I am going to show you the second thank you card out of over eight that I need to somehow get made, and soon!  I love the Flowers Bring Smiles II collage sheet from Nicecrane Designs sooooooo much that I just had to use one more of the images on it for this particular card.  I've now managed to use three images from this set and I may yet use the rest! 

So I'm not sure who in the hubs' family this one is meant for but I'll figure it out once they are all made.   
  
FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Flowers Bring Smiles II:  For this card I used the image you see on the bottom right hand side of the preview below.  All of these floral images are just so gorgeous and would be perfect for so many different types of cards.  Click on the name or the watermark below to take you to its location in the store.
http://nicecranedesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=1261
Embellishments:
  • The little pink half pearls are Crafts brand and were purchased at Dollarama.
Embossing Folder:
  • The card base was embossed using the one of the folders from the Cricut, Paper Lace II set. 

 INSIDE
Digital Sentiment:
  • This fabulous sentiment was created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  Once again, it is absolutely perfect for these cards since the hubs' siblings are all French.  Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store.

OVERALL
Paper Products:
 
  • Card base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, Pink Buttons collection.
  • Image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
  • The pink cardstock that I used as matting (front & inside) is Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.  
 Challenges I am hoping to enter...
Before I go...
There are always so many wonderful images available at Nicecrane's Designs that I can't leave without sharing some of the others with you.  Sticking with the flower theme, I bring you some Grunge Flowers.  Aren't they neat?  They'd make great backgrounds.  This set contains eight interesting images perfect for card and ATC design.  Be sure to go and check them out while you are at the store (c
lick on image below to head to its location).
http://nicecranedesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=146

Another great set is the Stunning Nature collection.  These images would also make great backgrounds (click on image below to head to its location.)
http://nicecranedesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=145

Don't forget, to stay current on ALL the latest releases and to check out the fabulous inspiration from my fellow DT members, be sure to head over to the Nicecrane Designs blog.

Well, there is still lots to do this evening so I'll bid you all adieu!  Have a great one!

Until next time,