Merged!

Bitsy's Birthday!

This is a card I made for our granddaughter's eighth birthday on Sunday. She was spending the weekend camping at a state park in New Hampshire's Lakes Region with my husband, her brother, cousins, uncles, and aunts, and two other families. Her mother and father couldn't go because of their animal menagerie, and I don't camp, so her parents and I went up for the day and brought cake, ice cream, party plates, etc. and presents, and she  had her party under the pines. She declared it her 'best birthday ever!"

I merged an image of Mo's and a window from Make It Crafty.

Images: "End of Summer" from Mo's Digital Pencil, "Open Window" from Make it Crafty, Digital ticket sentiment from When the Scrap hits the Fun

Tools: Copics, Mounting tape, Nellie Snellen Embossing Leaf punch set, Dauber

Papers: SU! Taken with Teal, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Neenah smooth white, MME Stlla Rose DP

Embellishments: Satin Ribbon, Flowers, Pearl cabochons

Thanks for visiting!

Elaine

Graduations

Congratulations, Grads!

We have three female graduates in the family this year...one niece graduating form college, one from high school, and a step granddaughter graduating from high school.

May and June are busy months for all kinds of card-giving occasions, and I seem to have lost my mojo! I've made two grad cards so far, and I'm not crazy about either of them ! I'm hoping the third one will be the charm! LOL!

This first card uses Mo's "Glad Grad Girl." A boy is available, too!

I made the gardenia with a McGill punch I just got from Joanns. This was the first flower, and it was quite a little work to make. I'm hoping they'll be easier, the more I do. I think the key will be to find a glue that sets up a bit quicker to eliminate the  problem of the petals  moving out of position.

Images: "Glad Grad Girl" from Mo's Digital Pencil, Digital sentiment from TLC

Tools: Copics,  McGill blossom punch, Nellie Snellen embossing leaf punch, SU! ribbon slot punch

Papers: SU! Brilliant Blue, Neenah smooth white, Basic Grey DP

Embellishments: Key charm, Paper doily, Grosgrain ribbon, Pearl cabochons, Tiny beads

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I like this card a little better, but I had a little trouble with the Prismacolor pencil I used for the sky. I really don't like the splotchy look I got, and nothing seemed to work to even it out. Anyone have any ideas!?

The blue embossed CS and the red CS frame behind it are popped up off the image panel with  mounting tape to give some depth to the card.

Images: "Stars" from Mo's Digital Pencil, Digital sentiment from TLC

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencil, Cuttlebug with Nesties and embossing folder, Circle punches, Mounting tape, Tacky tape

Papers: SU! Ballet Blue and Riding Hood Red, Neenah smooth white

Embellishments: Gingham ribbon, Star brads

I have one more card to finish today! Yay!

Thanks for visiting!

 Elaine

Mo's Challenge #84

Pearls and Flowers

This should be a fun, relaxing challenge for  most....it should be easy and not too taxing!
I mean, who doesn't love pearls and flowers?!

I've used Mo's "Christening" for this card. This was so quick and easy to color that I decided to do something a bit more involved for the background.
I used a 3/4" square punch to punch  scraps of CS and DP, then glued them down on 1/4" graph paper in a quilt pattern. I put it through the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder and trimmed it with ruffled lace adhered with tacky tape. These are such fun to make and much easier now that I have the 3/4" punch! Using a paper cutter was not as precise as it should be for a good fit.

Image: "Christening" from Mo's Digital Pencil

Tools: Copics, White gel pen, Cuttlebug with Embossing folder and Die-namics rolled rose die, 3/4" square punch,  Martha Stewart Leaf punch, Glue dots, Tacky tape, and Mounting tape

Papers: Scraps of SU! and Pirouette Pink CS, Neenah smooth white, Scraps of Basic Grey DP

Embellishments: Pearl cabochons, Ruffled lace, and Rose bud lace trim

Have fun with this challenge! We're looking forward to seeing what you'll do!

Thanks for stopping by!
Elaine

Sympathy Cards

In Sympathy

This has been a terrible year for losses. I can't count the number  of condolence cards I've  had to make so many over the past months!

These two use images from the Digi Doodle Shop. They have a lot of realistic floral and vintage images.

This one uses their "Roses" image. I've been practicing my shading on flowers. I think it turned out okay, but I've got to do a bit more blending next time to get a more realistic look. 

The Copics I used for the roses were R81, R83, R85, and R59. G82, G94, and G99 were used  for the leaves.

This is a close-up that better shows the "dew drops" I made using Crystal Effects.

Images: "Roses" from the Digi Doodle Shop Computer-generated sentiment

Tools: Copics, Cuttlebug with Craft Concepts embossing folder, Nesties label die , and Marianne dies, Circle punches, Mounting tape, Tacky tape, Crystal Effects

Papers: SU! Rose Romance and Mauve Mist (both retired, unfortunately), Neenah smooth white

Embellishments: Satin ribbon

I'm entering this in their Challenge  #59, use embossing.

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Ever make a card where you loved all the elements of the card, but didn't care for the card itself? This is one of those cards for me! I love the image and the way the pump is colored. I love the way  the sentiment looks and the cluster of flowers. I like the colors, but.......the card itself......not so much! LOL!

Images: "Antique Water Pump" from The Digi Doodle Shop, SU! sentiment stamp

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencils, White gel pen, Cuttlebug with Nestie oval dies and Marianne leaf die, Martha Stewart Branch punch, Mounting tape, Dimensional dots

Papers: SU! River Rock, Rich Razzleberry, Lavender Lace, Neenah smooth white, Basic Grey DP

Embellishments: Pearl cabochons, Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts (colored with Copics)

Thanks for looking!
Elaine

Mo's Challenge # 83

I'm Distressed!

Mo's Challenge this week is too use distressing on your card or project. I distressed the edges of the CS very lightly, because I wanted to keep this looking bright and fresh. It went to a customer for her mother's fifty-first birthday. I think this image is a riot! Don't we all know someone just like her who loves a party?!! This girl has a good time wherever she goes!

 The inside says, "51 and fabulous! Happy Birthday!"

Image: "Veronica" from Mo's Digital Pencil, Computer generated sentiment

Tools: Copics, White gel pen, Cuttlebug with DieNamics  spiral rose die, Mounting tape

Papers: SU! Mambo Melon, Tempting Turquoise, Neenah smooth white, K & CO. DP

Embellishments: Drink charm, Satin ribbon,  Acrylic candle stickers


Don't get too distressed, but see what you can do with this theme. We're looking forward to seeing what you create.
Don't forget the Guest Designer spot for next month! If you're interested, don't forget to include "GD" in your upload.

Thanks for dropping in!
Elaine

May Wedding

I Do, I Do!

One of our grand-children's past babysitters got married  last weekend, and they asked me to make a card for the occasion. Of course, I had to use Mo Manning's "Bride and Groom." I love  coloring this image. I'm usually not one for frills, but wedding cards give me a chance to use lace and swirls and pearls and do something very romantic.

Image: "Bride & Groom" from Mo's Digital Pencil

Tools: Copics, Mounting tape, Cuttlebug with Oval Nesties and Marianne Swirl die

Papers: SU! Brocade Blue, Neenah smooth white, K&Co. DP

Embellishments: Satin ribbon, Lace, Heart charm, Pearl hearts and cabochons

Even our (almost) eleven year-old grandson said they had fun at the wedding. They looked so cute all dressed up that the bride had to have the photographer take a picture of them with her for her album.

So glad you stopped by!

Elaine

Mo's Challenge # 82

Here Comes Summer!

(and little girls)

We have a fun challenge this week, "Here Comes Summer!) Mo has so many images that would work for this! 

What could be better than summer berries?! I've done two cards using two of Mo's cute 'berry girls'. I had a third printed up, but didn't get around to coloring the image.

This is "Strawberry Girl", one of the sweetest images ever! I just love strawberry images....they are so cheerful and so much fun to color! 

Strawberry picking in late June was always fun when the kids were young. Some berries would actually survive until we got home! I loved making (and eating) strawberry jam.

Images: "Strawberry Girl" from Mo's Digital Pencil,  Free strawberry digital sentiment from Tiddly Inks

Tools: Copics, White gel pen, Cuttlebug with DieNamics Daisy die, Martha Stewart Leaf punch, Crystal Glaze, Glue dots, Mounting tape, Tacky tape

Papers: SU! Garden Green and Real Red, Neenah smooth white, Red gingham DP

Embellishments: Red satin ribbon, Daisy brad, Mini brads

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My second card uses  "Blueberry Girl." I just had to make her a redhead because of her freckles!

When my husband took our kids camping at White Lake State Park  in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire when they were little, they loved to hike around the lake and pick blueberries along the way. Now he takes our grand-kids, and they love berry-picking, too! 

I don't camp...it was, and is, my 'alone' time. He just bought a hybrid camper complete with shower and toilet, though, so I may have to go along the next time. I will no longer have any excuses not to go!

Images: "Blueberry Girl" from Mo's Digital Pencil Digital sentiment

Tools: Copics, White gel pen, Martha Stewart Border punch

Papers: SU! Marvelous Magenta, Lavender Lace, Neenah smooth white, Gingham DP

Embellishments: Prima daisies, Mini Brads, Satin ribbon

I was going to use "Cherry" for the third card.  I hope to get her done in the next day or two so she can join her little friends and complete the set.

So let's see what summer memories you can conjure up to share with us in Mo's Challenge this week. You might even win an image!

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I have two more little girls to share with you.

This card uses a digital image from Wee Stamps. I love the designs, but she has just a few to choose from. My hopes are that she'll add more.

I used my Crop-a-dile to punch a hole in the center of the blue flower brad so that I could insert the yellow mini brad to make them co-ordinate with the flowers in the image. 

Images: "Sweet Blossom" from Wee Stamps,  SU! sentiment stamp

Tools: Copics, Prismacolor pencils, White gel pen, Cuttlebug with DieNamics Dizzy border die, Spellbinders Parisian  Accents die, Mounting tape, SU! ribbon slot punch

Papers: SU! Cool Caribbean, Soft Sky, Gable Green, Neenah smooth white, My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose DP

Embellishments: Gingham Ribbon, Silver floral button, Flower brads, Mini brads

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My last card uses a free digital image from Ann Bodil. She has several little girls and some cute bears, too.

Images: Digital girl from Ann Bodil

Tools: Copics, White gel pen, Cuttlebug with DieNamics Dizzy die and Nestie ovals, Martha Stewart Hydrangea Punch,  Mounting tape, Glue dots

Papers: SU! Mint Melody, Only Orange, Neenah smooth white, My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose DP

Embellishments: Mini brads, Pearl cabochons

Mo's Challenge # 81

Monochromatic!

For Mo's Challenge this week, our hostess, Sheila, has asked us to make a monochromatic card. The image can have natural flesh tones and hair color, though! I really don't like blue or gray people...Yuck! My customers don't like cards like that either!

This was done for a customer who wanted a birthday card for a man who is turning fifty. 

I love this image! I think I'll be able to use it for a lot of different occasions. 

I'm still working on the pointillism effect as a different way to enhance images. I think I'm getting a little better at it. (I hope!)

I made the 'blue ribbon' by cutting two strips of paper 1" x  6", scoring them at 1/2" intervals on one side then flipping them and scoring at 1/4" between the other scores. The pieces were folded accordion-style,  adhered together with tacky tape and formed into a circle, then a large dimensional dot was stuck to the back to keep the circle in place. 

After adding the streamers and the punched circle number to the front, the dimensional was used to secure the whole thing to the card.

The inside said, "..... For an old man! Happy 50th Birthday!"

Images: "Strongman"   from   Mo's Digital Pencil, Digital Sentiment, Computer-generated '50'

Tools: Copics, ScorPal, Tacky tape, Dimensional dot, Circle Punches

Papers: SU! Bashful Blue, Pacific Point blue, Neenah smooth white, K & Co. DP

Embellishments: Brads (colored with Copics)

Now it's your turn! Get coloring and show your stuff on Mo's Challenge for a chance to win a wonderful image from Mo's Digital Pencil

I love it when you visit!
Elaine