Soft Pencil Digital Card

Aside from printing digital images, my skills in anything else digital are very limited and this is my first foray into digital creating ~ so please be gentle on me LOL!  Here is my very first digital card, it definitely could use some improvement, but I guess it is ok for just playing around in Photoshop.

The background was something Elizabeth from Soft Pencil shared awhile back on SCS and I thought it would work well with one of the girls from the "Girls Collection" by Soft Pencil.  The image was colored in photoshop (although I need to practice more so I can try to do some shading).  The sentiment was added and then I "cut" a flower from a picture of one of my other cards and added it onto this one.  I also added a frame to the card to make it a bit more interesting.  I would have loved to add ribbon or something, but I really don't own any digital sets like that, or all the fancy brushes everyone seems to use ~ so plain and simple it was.

I am entering this into Soft Pencil's 4th challenge which was to make a one layer card.

 

Squigglefly Challenge #25

Today's challenge over at Squigglefly is to make a Gatefold card.

For this card I chose Teddy Bear-ing Gifts as my main image ~ another cutie from Chrissy Armstrong.  I wanted to use my scallop punches and have the balloons stick outside of the punch.  The tricky part was trying to maneuver the balloons outside of the punch enough so the scallop came right up to the edge, but I finally did it.  I used ribbon to tie my card shut, but you could overlap your images (tucking one behind the other) add a magnetic clasp or little velcro tab under the main image, or even use a photo turn.

Stop on by and join the Squigglefly challenge this week.  Remember, each week, on lucky participant is chosen to win two free images ~ it could be you.

This card is for the following challenges as well:
Allsorts - Furry Friend
Crazy 4 Challenges - 3 different geometric shapes (Circle, Oval, Rectangle)
One Stop Craft Challenge - Celebrations 

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:   Teddy Bear-ing Gifts (digi image) Squigglefly; Sentiment - Studio G
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (E31, E33, E35, E37, N2, N4, N6, R30, R32, R35, BG000, BG01, BG02, YR12, YR14)
Paper: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - DCWV
Embellishments:  Ribbon (Chocolate)
Tools: Oval and Scallop Oval punches;  Mega and Giga Scallop Circle Punches (Marvy)

A witchy Halloween

Halloween seems to be a popular theme among the challenge blogs these past few days and I think I got 19 24 of them in with this one card!  

I received this witch digi image from Lindsay at Sassy Studio Designs during one of her release parties and had not yet had the chance to use her.  This image is now available for sale over at Modern Sugar Blvd.

I really liked the sketch from The Pink Elephant this week, so to make the image work with the layout, I cut out part of the broom and overlapped it on the side panel.  I had the card all done with the exception of the sentiment, and ended up smudging a bit of ink from my finger onto the top of the colored image panel.  I certainly did not want to color a new image, so I just added the pumpkin to cover it up. 

This card is for the following challenges:
The Pink Elephant - Sketch
Everybody Art Challenge - Halloween
My Time to Craft - Halloween Colors
Creative Inspirations - Halloween
Creative Inspirations - A card with numbers on it
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Things that go bump in the night
Crafty Creations - All Hallow's Eve
Copic Color Challenge - G99, V17, YR68
Gingersnap Creations - GC26 Spicy Supply - Brads
Kaboodle Doodles - Spooky
Stamp Something - Halloween Somethings
Stampin for the Weekend - Halloween
Paper Craft Planet - Cinema Saturday - "Hocus Pocus" - Halloween theme
Paper Cutz - 3 Pattern Papers
Paper Makeup Stamps - Black, White, Orange, Purple
Cupcake Inspiration Challenge - to me, the purple, green and orange colors stood out, thus reminding me of Halloween 
Stamp With Fun - Halloween
Pile it On - Halloween (although I missed the cut off for this one) 
Stamp with Us - 3 pattern papers, 3 colors cardstock, 3 brads, 3 different stamps
Tuesday Taggers - Halloween
Color Chef Challenge - Black, Orange, Purple and Green
Hand Full of Stamps - Layers, layers, layers
Crazy 4 Challenges - 3 geometrical shapes (oval, rectangle, star)
Colour Q - color challenge
ABC Challenge - F is for flying

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:  Be Witchy (digi image) Modern Sugar Blvd; Sentiment - KI Memories
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (E00, E01, E53, E55, E57, E59, V12, V15, V17, YR65. YR68, G94, G99)
Paper: Old Olive, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - Recollections (Halloween Stack)
Embellishments:  Star Brads (unknown)
Tools: Drippy Goo Border Punch (Martha Stewart)

Shy Bear for Fall

Just a quick post before I head off to the kids' school for "Family Fall Fest".


This image is one of Shy Bear ~ isn't he cute.  Insetad of coloring the flowers in pinks or purples, which would have been my "go-to" colors, I decided to make this a fall card and went with orangey-yellow flowers and a terra cotta color planter.  I am quite happy with how it turned out, so I guess it does pay to step outside of your comfort zone.

This card is for the following challenges: 
A Spoonful of Sugar - Sketch (love it and will be using it again)

Creative Belli - Fall or Thanksgiving with a Leaf

Gingersnap Creations - GS27 - Green, Brown, Orange

TCP Tuesday - Inspiration challenge - chose the colors

KL Stampin n' Scrappin - Fall color
Crafty Cardmakers - Autumn
Hand Full of Stamps - Layers, layers, layers
By the Cute and Girly - Autumn Glory

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Autumn (optional extra plants or vegetation)

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Shy Bear - Bouquet Bear - digi image Squigglefly; Sentiment - Trendy Trees
Ink/Coloring: Copics (Y11, Y35, Y38, G21, G24, E13, E15, E17, E19, E53, E55, E57, E40, E41, E42)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - Basic Grey (Mellow)
Embellishments: Brads (Rich Regals)
Tools: Word Window Punch, Little Leaves (Sizzlits)

Pecan Nut Halloween Witch

Over on the Nutshells blog I discovered that they are starting Nutty Nutshells Wednesdays and they will be issuing a challenge twice a month.  For their first challenge, you had to make a Halloween card and use this adorable freebie digi image "Pecan Nut Halloween Witch".
 
I sewed the buttons on the ribbon with DMC floss and the stitching on the two panels is all done by hand with the same DMC floss using a back stitch ~ took a lot more time than I anticipated, but I do like how it looks.  The sewn panels as well as the image are raised on dimensionals.

In addition to the Nutcrafters challenge, this card is also for the following challenges:

ABC - F is for flying

Banana Split Sunday (2 Red Banana's) - Purple, Black and Orange

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - 1 ribbon, 2 buttons, 3 papers

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Buttons and Stitching
Cute Card Thursday - "Spookfest"

Digital Tuesdays - Halloween

Kraftin Kimmie - "Buttons, Buttons"
Mercy's Tuesday Sketch - sketch

One Stop Craft Challenge - Halloween

Paper Play - Use favorite embellishment (ribbon is up there)

Papertake - "The Dark Side" - Halloween

Pile it On - Halloween
TCP Tuesday - Use Buttons

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Pecan Nut Halloween Witch digi image (Nutshells)
Ink/Coloring: Copics (E00, E01, R20, E33, E35, E25, E27, E53, E55, E57, E59, V01, V12, V15, YR12, YR14, T3, T5, T7)
Paper: Basic Black, Perfect Plum; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - Recollections (Halloween Stack)
Embellishments: Ribbon (Eggplant); Buttons (unknown); DMC Floss
Tools: Paper piercer, Needle

Spongebob

My two boys both love Spongebob, so I just had to make him into a card.  Some layers of the eyes were done with circle punches and others were hand cut, the cheeks were cut with circle punches, the collar was cut with a square punch and then cut in half, the knot on the tie was cut with a circle punch.  The mouth, tongue, teeth, eyelashes, nose and main tie part were drawn by me and then cut by hand.  The main yellow piece was trimmed with a decorative scissors.  The dots were stamped with a pencil eraser and a paint brush end.  The red dots on the cheeks were drawn on.  


This card is for the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge "Character Counts".  You had to make a card of a well known character.  If your image was not stamped you did still have to include some stamping (mine is the dots on the yellow - definitely not much stamping, but it is there!) 


This card also qualifies for the following challenges:


Color Create - Red, Yellow, Black and White
Whimsy Stamps - Get Punchy


Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps:   N/A
Ink/Coloring:   Old Olive (stamped off)
Paper:  Basic Black, Bliss Blue (I think), Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Whisper White, Yoyo Yellow
Embellishments: N/A
Tools: Circle Punches, Square Punch, Decorative Scissors, Pencil eraser and paintbrush end

Squigglefly Preview

Welcome to the first day of sneak peeks for Squigglefly's newest images!


Here is a sneak peek of "Dinner Bell". When I saw this image I immediately thought of Christmas. I embossed the white scalloped circle and then colored the raised dots with an Old Olive SU marker. I am still too much of a chicken to sew for real on my cards, so faux stitching it was for the two layered panels. The buttons I found digging through my decorative button stash and they were the "purr-fect" touch to this card.

This month we had two new artists join the Squigglefly team ~ Cheryl Alger and Eline Pelinkhoff (whose image I used for my card). Both of these ladies are extremely talented and we know you're going to love their images as much as we do!

Our other artists have been working hard to bring you images that will certainly spark your creativity too. The images you will be seeing over the next few days will be available for purchase on Saturday, October 17th. Be sure to check out the Design Team's blogs (you can find the links on the right side of my blog) over the next few days to see lots of fantastic sneak peeks using these wonderful new images!

Now are you ready for some fun? Somewhere on Squigglefly's site, there is a button that looks like this:
You will need to find the button and then head on over to Holly's blog and leave her a comment telling where you found it. You will have until Saturday to find the button and leave your comment. On that same day, a FIVE random winners will be chosen out of all the correct entries. Each winner will receive two images of their choice! You can pick one of the fabulous new images, or a favorite that you've been meaning to get. So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Squigglefly and begin your search!

This card is also for the following challenges:
Sweet and Sassy - Sketch
Lili of the Valley - Christmas card for a child (one of mine)
Creative Inspirations - Christmas in October
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Buttons and Stitching
Creative Card Crew - Use Scallops

The Cats Pajamas - Use buttons

Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Dinner Bell digi image (Squigglefly); Sentiment - Best Yet
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (T0, T2, T4, T6, R11, R20, Rs9); Signo White Gel Pen; Marvy Metallic Gel Pen - Silver
Paper: Certainly Celery, Old Olive ; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - DCWV ( Christmas Stack)
Embellishments: Ribbon - American Crafts; DMC Floss; Snowflake Buttons (unknown)
Tools: Oval and Scallop Oval punches; Scallop Border Punch; Marvy Mega and Giga Scallop Circle Punches

Have a wonderful day!

Make A Wish

I've had this Mellie digi image printed out for awhile now and finally got around to using her. Isn't she sweet!?!? I really love the anime line from InStyle Stamps as it is quite different then a lot of images out there. If you like this image ~ head on over to InStyle Stamps as these digi's are all on sale for only $1.00 a piece ~ and you can't beat those prices!


Since Mellie is holding a birthday cake with the candles lit, I thought this sentiment was perfect. The large circle was embossed with the swiss dots folder and then I added stickles to each of the raised dots. I also added stickles to the flowers, the frosting on the cake, her pony tail holder and the entire outside border of the card ~ lots of sparkle here! Mellie was cut out and adhered to the card with dimensionals.

This card qualifies for the following challenges:

ABC Challenge - Embossing
Kraftin Kimmie Stamps - Birthday
One Stop Craft Challenge - Birthday

This morning I installed Photoshop on my computer ~ it looks like it will be a lot of fun to use, but now I just need to find the time to sit down and figure out how it all works. I think my first project will be creating a watermark so I can just paste it onto each of my cards and only use one program for editing the pictures instead of the two I currently use. Well, I created my first watermark. Not sure if I am thrilled with it, but hey, it works.

Now I have a question for all of you that use digi images with water based products and don't have a smearing ink issue ~ what kind of printer do you use?

The reason I am asking is that I bought a HP laser printer to print digi images since the toner is waterproof. I found that I could use stickles, crystal effects, watercolors etc. and actually touch the lines without the black smearing (which my HP photo printer cannot do) ~ perfect! BUT....when I print out my images, I get a fine misting of toner on the entire sheet of paper, so what starts out as white paper, ends up a grayish color ~ not too pretty (and yes, I've tried different brands and weights of paper as well as making adjustments on the printer properties ~ but nothing works, not even really thin printer paper). At first they thought I had a bad printer, so I exchanged the first one for this one, but I am still having the same problems....so I guess it's back to the store to return it since no one seems to know what the problem is or how to fix it......


Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Mellie digi image (InStyle Stamps); Sentiment - A Little Birthday Cheer
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (E00, E01, E11, R20, E21, E25, E27, R81, R83, R85, RV000, RV00, YG01, YG023, Y02, B21, B23)
Paper: Rose Romance; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - Basic Grey (Euphoria)
Embellishments: Ribbon; Brad; Flowers (Prima); Stickles; Self Adhesive Rhinestones (Darice)
Tools: Word Window Punch; CM Cutting System; Martha Stewart Border Punch and Branch Punch; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Have a wonderful day :)

Squigglefly Challenge #23

It's Monday and that means it's time for another challenge over at Squigglefly. Our challenge this week is to make a Halloween card, use paper in black, purple and orange, use at least 1 sheet of DP and include an embellishment of a bat, crow or spider.
Instead of using an image intended for Halloween, I chose to use the one from the Shared Friendship image. On the black cardstock, I rubbed my Palette New Canvas ink pad over it to make it appear to be a night sky. I punched out a circle for the moon and colored it with my E40 copic and then added two bats with their wings bent forward. Yes, I know the paper looks really familiar ~ but it was out, it worked with the card and I like it, so easy choice LOL!

If you would like to play along this week there is a freebie witch image over on the Squigglefly challenge blog that you can use. Also, if you play along this week, after you have linked your card on the challenge, head on over to Holly's blog. and link your card there as well to be entered into a drawing to win a brand new set of Spellbinders Impressabilities!

Check back later in the week as there are more exciting things going on at Squigglefly!



Recipe ~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Shared Friendship digi image (Squigglefly); Sentiment - KI Memories
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Palette - New Canvas; Copics (E35, E37, E53, E55, E57, E40 YR15)
Paper: Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Pumpkin Pie ; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - The Paper Company (Jeepers Creepers)
Embellishments:
Tools: Circle punches; Martha Stewart Border Punch and Bat Punch

This card qualifies for the following challenges:
A Spoonfull of Sugar - Halloween
Simon Says Stamp - Halloween
Allsorts - Halloween

Cute as a Pumpkin

Awhile back Elizabeth from Soft Pencil was giving away this adorable digi image. If you haven't seen her images you definitely want to go check them out ~ they are just too darn cute!

I figured what better way to use her for the first time than to join in Soft Pencil's very first challenge over at PaperCraft Planet. The challenge is to create a card for someone special. I decided to make a Halloween card for one of my daughters.

I recently participated in a game over on Soft Pencils PCP group and Elizabeth was so sweet and gave all of us a surprise. I received the Little Girls Collection of digi images and can't wait to use those ~ I've already got some of them printed out, just waiting for me to get some free time.


This card is for the following challenges:
Soft Pencil - Make a card for someone special
Die Cut Dreams - Sketch and use the colors Black, Purple, Orange and Green
Pile It On - 3-D (can be image or embellishments)
A Spoonful of Sugar - Halloween
Copic Creations- Coloring Pumpkins with Copics
Creative Card Crew - Celebration
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Halloween
Secret Crafter - Celebration
Gingersnap Creations - Use Bling
Creative Belli Blog - Halloween colored bling or glitter (used orange sparkles on embossed panel and on brads)
Simon Says Stamps - Halloween
2 Red Bananas - Here's to Halloween


Card Recipe~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Little Witch digi stamp - Soft Pencil; Sentiment - Studio G
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (E00, E01, R20, E25, E27, YR12, YR14, YR15, YR16, T1, T3, T5, T7, V01, V12, V15, G20, G21, G24)
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery; Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - The Paper Company (Jeepers Creepers Stripe)
Embellishments: Ribbon (Michael's); Self Adhesive Rhinestones (Me and My Big Ideas)
Tools: None

Pink Christmas

Last night I decided to do the Mojo Monday sketch and incorporated a few other challenges into it and ended up with this Pink Christmas Card.

The Pretty In Pink Paper looked so pretty with the Rose Red paper (which is supposed to have a pink tone to it, but for some reason in the picture appears to be Red). I dug through my ribbon and found this wonderful striped ribbon from American Crafts that matched the colors perfectly. I added pink rhinestones to the center of the snowflakes as well as the centers of the poinsettias and the snowflake on the main image. I can't believe I actually used an image that didn't require any coloring (quite a rarity for me lately), but it sure made for a nice and quick card.

This card is for the following challenges:
Mojo Monday - Sketch
Creative Inspirations - Christmas in October
Little Paper Shop - Christmas Card - no red or green
Cute Daisy May - Pink Christmas
Creative Card Crew - Celebration
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - A card for a girl/woman in your life with the color pink
Three Clovers - Think Pink
Secret Crafter - Celebration
Gingersnap Creations - Use Bling

Card Recipe~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Season of Joy
Ink/Coloring: Rose Red
Paper: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White; DP - DCWV (Christmas Stack)
Embellishments: Ribbon (American Crafts); Self Adhesive Rhinestones (Michaels)
Tools: Snowflake Border Punch and Snowflake Punch (EK Success)

3 Quick and Easy Christmas Cards

These cards were super quick and easy to do ~ not to mention they are nice and flat for easy mailing too!
I used the same layout for these, same punches, same set of stamps and same stack of DP, just different patterns.

These cards are for the following challenges:
Stamp TV - Create your own shimmering background paper (the first two cards)
ABC Challenge - Embossing (first card)
Simon Says Stamp - Red and Green
Creative Inspirations - Christmas in October
Secret Crafter - Celebration
Creative Card Crew - Celebration


Card Recipe~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Stamps from Walmart
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Bic Mark Its; Signo White Gel Pen
Paper: Real Red, (and one has Glorious Green as well); Gina K Pure Luxury White; DP - DCWV (Christmas Stack)
Embellishments: Stickles (Stardust)
Tools: Marvy Mega and Giga Scalloped Oval Punches; Scallop Border Punch (on one card); Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Snowflakes - on one card)

I took Trevor in to the Doctor today because yesterday he came home with bumps on his face and upper torso and I immediately thought Chicken pox. Turns out, he does have them, but a very mild case as he has already had both vaccines. He is luckily not contagious as they are not blistering, so he can go back to school tomorrow (although I must admit is was nice having my little buddy home for the day).

Autumn Puppies

I have been missing a lot lately. Unfortunately it was due to my computer (that of course was connected to the internet). I ended up replacing the computer and finally got up and running again over the weekend (although I still haven't got my networking figured out yet and think a call into the Geek Squad will be needed....).

Anyways, what better way to come back than to create a card for multiple challenges!

This image is another one that Crissy Armstrong created for Squigglefly. I just love these adorable puppies! I had printed the image on white paper, and decided I didn't want the stark white of it so I colored it with my E000 copic just to change it a bit.

This card is for the following challenges:
Stamp TV - Create your own shimmering background paper
Roses on Paper - Choose a sketch from a challenge blog and use the colors orange, brown and green
Sketch and Stash - Sketch
Copic Creations - Coloring Pumpkins
Creative Card Crew - Celebration
ABC Challenge - Embossing
Crafty Calendar Challenge - Autumn
One Stop Craft Challenge - Autumn Inspiration
Our Creative Corner - Inspiration Challenge - I used the colors
Secret Crafter - Celebration
Digital Ink Co. - Fall Y'all
My Time to Craft - "Purrfect Pets"
Crafty Creations - Leaves/Autumn
Creative Belli Blog - Halloween colored bling or glitter (used orange sparkles on embossed panel and on brads)
By the Cute and Girly - Autumn
Pile it On - 3 Dimensional ~ the panel is raised on extra thick dimensionals

Card Recipe~ all items SU unless indicated
Stamps: Squigglefly digi image
Ink/Coloring: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics (YR12, YR14, YR16, YR18, E53, E55, E57, E30, E31. E33, E000)
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Gina K Pure Luxury White (colored with E000)
Embellishments: Ribbon (Chocolate); Brads (Making Memories); Sparkles - Orange Peel (PSX)
Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Pumpkin Harvest)