A Challenge complete....

I'm having SO much fun playing with paper lately.....I'm actually ahead of the game for a change and it feels so awesome!!!! This card is for a "Challenge" in my group ARTHavenCreations&Friendships that Mary is hosting.....The purpose of the challenge is to create a card using the least amount of tools possible........Whew it was indeed a challenge for me....




I only used an image from my computer.......cardstock, embellishment, ribbon, Pearlex Spritzer, Tim Holtz Distress Inks (2), scissors, exacto knife and foam dots.......

I am happy with the way it came out but it was difficult not wanting to use alot of other tools...so I did indeed enjoy this challenge...Thanks Mary!!!!!

Ok, must get sleep!!! LOL I hope you all have enjoyed your Tuesday!!!! I want to THANK YOU once more for stopping by to visit with me!!! Have a very blessed Wednesday!!!

Ok....Another one complete....

It feels SO good to be creative again!!!! Four cards in three days!! Yahoooooo, I'm on a roll and loving it!!!! This completes my last "behind" cards I had to complete......I do have one that is just now due I will be working on next.....but these cards as well as the past three I'm ashamed to admit I've owned since May 5th......So anyway...Here's my creation for the "Sketch Swap" I was signed up for in one of the groups I belong to......I certainly hope the recipient likes it.....


I created the background paper....I printed the image off in black and white onto watercolor paper and colored with my watercolor pencils.....really like how it turned out.....Then I created the friendship phrase in Inkscape and cutout then used some Tim Holtz Distress Embossing powder in Vintage Photo......Love the rusty look it gives to the word......and to think it's actually cardstock!! :)

Ok, then the frame I printed off, then created a cut file in Inkscape and cut the frame then sprayed with hairspray so the colors would not bleed when I covered with versamark ink then embossed with clear embossing powder........lined the back with acetate and used raised foam on the back to make it seem as if the watercolor image I did was really framed........Then I used some pretty ribbon and wrapped and tied in a bow and added the charms....


I then printed off the background paper on to 12x12 paper and created an envelope template to work with this card........and cut it out.....folded and then whola!!! All done!!!!! Oh yeah...I also kissed the edges of the background layer with Tim Holtz distress inks......

As always I'm attaching all the files I created to create this card if anyone is interested in them, please feel free to help yourself!!! I hope you find something that may work for you!!!!!

Download: HERE


Download: HERE


Download: HERE


Download: HERE


Download: HERE


Download: HERE

Ok, guess that does it for this card!!! I as always want to THANK YOU for stopping by to visit with me....it means more than you know!!! All the comments that are left are truly treasured by me!!! I do hope you will come by again.....Have a very blessed day everyone....until next time....

I'm having FUN.....

Playing with paper this weekend!!!! And I feel it's been rather productive so far!!! I've created another card for a swap I owe in one of the groups I belong to.......This was for an "Image" swap.....

I love the look of the nestibilities but I'm just not willing to pay the $$$ they want for them......especially when I have a Cricut Expression....I feel like I can create my own.....so that's what I've done.......plus the bonus is I can make them whatever size I want them to be!!! I I created 3 ovals......each one smaller than the other so I could "nest" them ........I stippled the edges with some of my favorite inks...Tim Holtz Distress Inks.......but before the top layer was stippled I needed to put the image on it......Thought I would share with you how I did this.....

First I cut my scalloped oval out......the I went to my PSP program and decided what size I wanted the image to print out....so I measured the size of the oval and made my document in PSP the same size.....I then imported the above image and resized to my liking within that dimension I had previously decided on.....the I printed this image out just on a regular piece of printer paper....

Once finished printing I would then take my scalloped oval and position it OVER the image that had JUST printed on the printer paper......making sure the oval covered the image area like I would want it to be printed when completed.....once it's positioned the way I wanted it then I take some painters tape and gently but securly taped the very edges of the oval to the printer paper........so that it will be able to be fed back into the printer.........I then place the paper back into the printer and then print the image again...it will now print on the oval in accordance to where you positioned the oval on the page......

Once it printed I then GENTLY took off the painter's tape so as not to damage the edges of the oval.......I then was able to stipple my edges the way I wanted them......I then used raised dots on the back of each layer of the ovals to bring them up of the page....

The background layer is vellum that I ran through my cuttlebut dot sleeve.....A trick I did...the paper I needed to emboss was actually bigger than the sleeve....so I had to slice the paper in two parts......being sure to slice in an area that I knew I wanted to place my ribbon so the tape when I taped it back together would not show as it would be hidden by the ribbon.....so that's what I did here......I also then rubbed the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink pads.....I wrapped my ribbons around the vellum layer and just taped to the back......sliding one of my HOPE sliders onto the ribbon before I adhered to the back......then I used my tape runner to attach the vellum layer to the card base......

I then decided I wanted something on the corners so I decided on my pearl dots....WHOLA!!! Finished and I'm quite happy with the results.....I then went back into Inkscape and created an envelope to be the exact size I needed for this card.......

As always I'm attaching the files I created to make this card/envelope set.....Please, if you like them, feel free to download...you know the deal!!

Download: HERE


Download: HERE





Download: HERE

Ok.....guess that about does it for this card!!!! I'm getting closer to the end of the cards I'm late on for swaps....I'll feel so much better once I get all these caught up........Got to get my mojo going again....As always you know I'm TOTALLY thankful for you stopping by to visit with me.....Please do come again......Have a very blessed day...until next time...

I'm still around.....

I had SO many things I need to work on and get completed as today is technically the deadline to get my swaps for the WONDERFUL group Crafty Card Creators with Yahoo that I belong to and I just could not get my muse going!!! I MADE myself stay in my ART Room until I could complete all of these fun swaps!!!!


I'm glad I did because once I got my mojo going I was on a roll!!! LOL......So here we go...I'm excited to share each of these with you.......The first swap is our monthly "Image Swap" we do.....the image this time was a seed packet image so I thought hummmmmm, what better thing to make....Soooooooooooooooo......I needed a template....didn't have one so what to do.....YEP, you guessed it.....I designed one in my Inkscape program and cut one myself.....You know me...can't stand to not use my cricut....LOL



After I cut my seed packet with my cricut I then distressed it a bit with some of my Tim Holtz distress inks.......also distressed the image I had printed off......adhered it to the front...then on the back I had some fun too....




You know how the back of every seed packet gives details on the item....LOL...I decided to
do the same type of thing.....kinda fun I thought!!! :)




I wanted to share the template with you I made in case some of you are interested in this.....below is an image of what it looks like......

If you would like this please either click here or on the image above and have fun with it!!!

Ok.....the next swap was "Home Sweet Home".....of course country life immediately came to mind.....what's more relaxing and reminds you of home more than an old country swing on a tree???? So I found some images I liked and printed them.....gave them a 3D look on the card....used string as the ropes to hold the swing on the tree.....then the background I created with stipple brushes, distress inks and then I rubber stamped images to create the look I was wanting...

I colored the wheel barrel of flowers with sharpies....they work great!!!!

Kinda think this says "Home Sweet Home" don't you???

Now the next swap is "Sketch Challenge"........Having a guide line to go by really opens ideas in your mind doesn't it....which I believe is the reason these challenges were created huh......

So the layers I printed off and then distressed the edges with a tool I have and used my Tim Holtz distress soot inkpad....Added a couple layers of ribbon and some silk leaves with a metal flower.......Has a bit of a rustic look......I'm happy with the way it turned out....

Ok....Now this next one may indeed be my most favorite one!!!! This is the "Vintage Tag and Card" Swap.....I wanted a lace type of edge for this card...I found the image I wanted to use first and then built the card around that......I didn't have a lace border I wanted so I created one....

Where you ask?....hummmmmmmmmmm...YEP...Inkscape...LOL.....I created the background and then went from the background and created the lace card......I was really tickled with the way the layers all worked out...

I wanted to put ribbon on the card so I decided to weave it in and out of the lace holes........worked rather well don't you think.......

I thought I would share each of the files I created in case anyone would like them......as always you may either click on the image to download or the indicated area......

Download Bookmark Lace: here

Download Lace Border Frame: here

Download Lace Card: here

Whew....That was alot wasn't it!!! It feels so good to have them completed....I'm tickled with the way they all turned out........I hope you find something here you enjoy!!!! As always I want to THANK YOU for stopping by to visit with me....it truly makes my day!!!! Please come by again soon...until then....

Oh what fun I've been having.....

Why do I always do it to myself....I always seem to wait til the last minute to create swaps I've commited myself to....You'd think I would learn my lesson but I think I've realized I just enjoy the pressure I put on myself....NOT..... :) Anyway, I was determined to get 6 pieces of ART created today that I had commited to doing and just wanted to share with you what I came up with.......

This first one is for the ATC Swap with CraftyCardCreators @ Yahoo Groups.......It's a choose your own theme swap.....so I decided to personalize the ATC for the recipient.....I did design my layout in Inkscape and cut with my Cricut Expression.......as well as rubberstamped, stippled and layered......I think it is a very cheery ATC!!!!

This next swap is entitled "Butterfly Crossing" doesn't that sound like such a pretty pretty theme!!! Well I again designed my layout in Inkscape and cut with my Cricut Expression....this card had ALOT of cutting in it and I am totally thrilled with the outcome..It is a shaker card which is my new favorite card to make!!! The possibilities are so out there with this type design!!! I love EVERYTHING about this card!!!

Ok......now the next one....the theme for this card was "Country Days".......I wanted to do something that shouted Country.....I do believe I achieved that!!! Can you believe I didn't use my Cricut on this card...LOL.....boy was it tough to hold myself back!!! hehehe.....but I do still indeed like the outcome of this card!!!! It has a nice warmth to it and I love the addition of the buttons to it!!!!

Now the next theme was "Happy Birthday".....I tried to think a little outside the box on this one...perhaps I didn't achieve that goal but I do like what I came up with!!!! I again used my Cricut for parts on this card....embossing sleeve and I cleverly (at least to me anyway) cut a circle with my Cricut (NO that's not the clever part!!!) :) but then I placed it perfectly on my paper and ran through my printer and printed happy birthday in different fonts on the circle....I really like this technique and know I will use it more in the future!!!!

Ok....This next one is the "Sketch Swap".......I wanted something extremely cheerful and I think I achieved that!!!! I love the colors yellow and green together.......I used my Cricut Expression on the words but the rest was the good old fashion way of cutting!!!!

And then finally....there's the "Image Swap".......I don't like just making a card each month with the different images which are chosen to use so I always try to create something different....This time I came up with the idea of a Pin........I used the Cricut Expression to cut several Ovals that I then layered together....I then ran one of the ovals through my printer and printed the image I prepared.......rubbed the edges and sides with some green distress ink....punched some holes at the bottom then put several layers of modge podge over the piece to seal and coat.....once dried I placed the beads to the pin then glued the pin back to the back.......I really like the vintagy look of this and to think....it's made with cardstock.......

I felt I was on a roll today and certainly had fun......however I wish I would handle my creative time better......It's not like I don't have alot of me time!!! :) Thank you SO much for stopping by to visit with me and allowing me to share my ART with you!!! I hope you enjoyed what I've created and perhaps gain a few ideas!!! Please come by again....until then....