Crafty Cardmakers, Christmas with a Twist Challenge

Super fun challenge this week at Crafty Cardmakers and a couple of great prizes too!  Hope you can join us. We want to see your non traditional Christmas projects.  Anything quirky and unusual, not typically thought of as Christmas.  You can also play along with a traditional project, but we hope to be inspired by your unique designs.

I have chosen this adorable stamp by Mo Manning - Bee Fairy.  I have never seen a Christmas bee, have you?  I believe she is all decked out to spread some Christmas cheer!

This was a fun challenge which really required a little "outside the box" thinking - not my specialty I'm afraid.  But that's what challenges are for, to get those creative juices flowing.  

This card was donated to the Caring Hearts Card Drive.  Hope it will bring a smile to the receiver.  I will be posting the rest of the cards, that I donated in another post.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #270 - Anything Goes

That is all for now.  Merry Christmas to all!

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Anything But A Card

I love the Challenge this week at Crafty Cardmakers - Anything But A Card.

I chose to do a candle.  Stamping on candles is just too much fun and quite addictive.

I used Ornamental Pine by Stampin Up and kept the design very simple.

All it takes is a candle, tissue paper and wax paper to create a fun candle.

There are several tutorials on You Tube.  Basically, you stamp your design on the tissue paper, color if necessary, cut around the design, place it on the candle, wrap with wax paper and use a heat gun and melt the design to the candle.  It takes a little practice to use the right amount of heat, but what the heck, just go for it.  They make great gifts and are so pretty.

Have a happy week!

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Embossing

Happy Monday!  The Challenge this week at Crafty Cardmakers is embossing.  It can be wet or dry.

I happen to love embossing.  It just adds so much pretty to any card.

For this challenge I used a Snowflake embossing folder by Darice.

I embossed white cardstock then added color with 3 different colors of Distress Ink pads.

The tree is from Stampin Up, Lovely as a Tree.  I added Wink of Stella to the tree and a little bow at the top.  A few sequins, a nice sentiment by Just Rite Designs and this card is finished.

This card will be donated to the Caring Hearts Card Drive as well as the one below.  I was hoping to make 50 cards this year, but I will be happy to get to 25.  I am just not a fast card maker. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Have a great week!  Hope you will take part in our challenge.

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Explosion of Color Challenge

This weeks challenge is Explosion of Color.  Lots of color, if you please.

This little mermaid is by Conie Fong and is colored with copics.  I also used copics for the background.  The seashells were hand picked at the beach by my granddaughter and me.  This card was for her 12th birthday.

Please come join our challenge.  We would love to have you!

Have a wonderful week.

:) Pam

Halloween Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

Hello and happy Monday!  Our Challenge this time at Crafty Cardmakers is Things That Go Bump In The Night!  Well, I am somewhat of a chicken and if anything is going to go bump in the night, I am hoping that it is cute and friendly.  So that is what I went with for this Challenge.

This treat bag was made with a Lawn Fawn Die.  I have used this die many times.  It is so much fun to decorate these cute bags.  I colored this image from 2 Cute Ink and the background with copic markers.  The pumpkin is a Martha Stewart Punch.  The letter dies are also from Lawn Fawn.  Pinking Shears added some interest to the bottom layer.  A couple of sequins for fun and all done.

I hope you will join us for this fun challenge.  We have a wonderful sponsor this time. 

 

I am looking forward to all your creative designs.

Have a fantastic week!

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmaker's Challenge - Birthdays

A fun and simple challenge this time at Crafty Cardmaker's - Birthdays.  We all have them and they are so nice to celebrate.  I am the host for this fun challenge. I am so looking forward to seeing your wonderful designs.

I chose to use a CAS card design.  I made this card for my sister, Janice's October birthday.

The image is from Mo Manning and is called Baby Fairy with Ladybug.  I added a little shirt with ruffles and colored her and the background with copics.  Since all fairies need a little sparkle, I used Stardust Stickles for her wings and beneath her.

I hope that you will join our challenge this time.

Have a fantastic week!

:) Pam

Autumn Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

I am so ready for Fall.  The heat and humidity in NC has been going on way too long.  I am looking forward to cooler days and hiking in the woods.  Bring on the cooler weather!  If we can't have that, at least we can have some fun with our newest Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers - Autumn.  This could be Autumn colors or an Autumn theme such as Harvest or falling leaves.  I am anxious to see your beautiful creations!

This lovely image is Fall Angel by Mayumi Ogihara.  I colored her with copics following along with the artist's rendition.  I am fairly pleased how she turned out.  I used a die to emboss the front of the card.  The banner and leaves were in my crafty junk drawer.  You know the place - elements and things that were not used on other projects.  I am afraid I have quite a bit in it!

Welcome Fall!  Come and play with us this Challenge!

Have a beautiful week!

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Layer it Up Challenge

This week at Crafty Cardmakers we would like to see lots and lots of layers.

I used my circle dies and cut out several circles and layered them around the card.  The little frog and the sentiment are from Jane's Doodles. He was colored with copics and googly eyes were added for a bit of fun.   I hope this card will bring joy to a little one on their birthday.  It will be donated to the "Birthday Card Project".  I think it is quite cheery, with all the bright colors.  Not necessarily my style, but that's what challenges are all about, the chance to step out and try something new.  Come join us!

Here's to a beautiful and happy week. 

:) Pam

By or Under the Sea Challenge

We have a super fun challenge this week at Crafty Cardmakers - By or Under the Sea.  We are looking for your awesome designs featuring an underwater, coastal or beach scene.  

We have a wonderful sponsor this time,  Woodware Craft Collection.  I can't wait to see what you create!

I decided to use this sweet Phyllis Harris stamp, Best Day Includes You.

  

I used watercolors and framed this for my craft room.  This stamp reminded me of my little brother, Scott and me.  He was eight years younger than me.  Poor kid had to put up with 4 older sisters.  He passed away 2 years ago.  I miss him every day.

Please join in the fun.

Have a wonderful week!

Pam

"Time" Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

Our new challenge at Crafty Cardmakers is "time".  Please interpret this as you wish, just let us know how it relates to time if not obvious.  

I struggled with this one.  I didn't really want to use a clock or watch and there are so many great quotes on time, I found myself at a loss of what to do.  Funny, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to do with this challenge and none that I was pleased with.  I had something in mind for quite a while and just couldn't make it work to my liking.  I found myself running low on "time" so I went through my stash of stuff and came up with this CAS card. 

This image is from Sassy Cheryl and just makes me smile.  I used an embossing folder on vellum to create the background and Hero Arts Snippets for the sentiment.  Last minute and not my favorite, but a wonderful reminder to us all to play more and enjoy our lives.  What a great way to spend our "time".

Have a lovely week!

:) Pam

Summer Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

This week's Crafty Cardmakers Challenge is Summer.  Please feel free to interpret this how you like, coastal scene, summer activities, vacation, as long as it relates to summer.  I am looking forward to seeing all of your creative cards and projects for this challenge.  

I decided to use the cute image from My Favorite Things.  I am a huge fan of Heather Ellis's Pure Innocence stamps.  They always make me smile.

Card Design

Pure Innocence Fun in the Sun Stamp and Die

Concord and 9th Beautiful Words Stamp and Beautiful You Die

Copic Markers

Glossy Accents

Spellbinders Dies

Paper Pieced her swimsuit

I am entering the following challenges:
Glitter N Sparkle Challenge 198 - Summer Sunshine 
Robin's Fetish Challenge Blog - At the Beach

Eclectic Ellapu Challenge - Life's A Beach

Hope you can join us!  Have a beautiful week.

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Bling it Up

I thought the Bling it Up Challenge this week would be an easy one.  Well, you couldn't tell it by my craft room.  I had everything out and the only work space I had was the floor!  I really wanted to do a mixed media mermaid canvas, but ran short of time.  I thought I could add bling to some cards that I already had in the works, but it just didn't seem to fit.  I spotted these Ikea containers in my craft closet.  They were collecting dust and really were on their way out.  Hmm....this could be fun.  This is the end result.

 I had a terrible time trying to get a good photo.  I finally had to stop trying for a good photo as it was taking longer than it actually took to do the project.

I attached the lace and Prisma flower with Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue.  I have used this for years and love it.  It held quite well.  The rhinestones on the second container were connected.  I cut to the circumference of the container and ran it through my Zyron.  Amazing!  It seems to be holding well.  I also used the same method to attach the rhinestones to the shell.  These are so shiny and sparkly.  Love them!  They are a great addition to my craft room.

 

Please join us for this fun challenge.  Bling is always a good thing!

Have a wonderful week!

:) Pam

Shabby Chic Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers

The challenge this time at Crafty Cardmakers is shabby chic/distressed creations.  We have a wonderful sponsor, Woodware Craft Collection for this challenge.  They are a Yorkshire based family owned business.  Check them out here.  They have an awesome range of crafty goodness.  A big thank you to them for sponsoring this fun challenge.

I decided to alter a bottle.  I did a sisters bottle a couple of years ago.  I thought this one would go nicely with it.

This is a picture of my Grandma, Edith May Demmon when she was a young girl.  She was born in 1891 and lived to be 94 years old.  She was the only grandparent that I was blessed to know, as my other grandparents passed away before I was born.

I have wonderful memories of my Grandma.  She was an awesome lady.  She taught me to knit when I was five and spend hours playing games with me, teaching me Bible verses and poetry.    

I hope that you will join us for this challenge and please check out our fabulous Design Team creations.  Have a wonderful week!

:) Pam

For A Special Man Challenge

In honor of upcoming Father's Day, the challenge at Crafty Cardmakers this time is "For A Special Man".  

This stamp is Fiddlin' Frog from Heartfelt Creations.  It was quite the challenge to color as there is so much going on.  I wanted to create the look of moonlight behind the frog. It wasn't turning out how I expected, so it ended up in the trash bin.  The next day, I decided to rescue him and do my best to create a nice card and the result is above.  

Please join our challenge in honoring a special man in your life.

To those that are father's, Happy Father's Day!

:) Pam

Monochrome Challenge

A new challenge at Crafty Cardmakers - Monochrome.  My team mates made some awesome cards.  You can get inspired here.

This is my contribution for the Monochrome Challenge.

The stamp is a Phyllis Harris Design from Unity Stamps.  It is called Head Up, Heart Strong.  I stamped her with Stazon on vellum, then colored the opposite side with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens, then attached it to my card using my Zyron.  I love the way the Zyron adhesive is easy to use with vellum, but it does take away a little from the special look of the vellum.  The sentiment is also from Phyllis Harris.

This card will be going to my sister Janice who just celebrated 5 years cancer free!

I would love to see your creations.  Come join us!
Have a beautiful week!
:) Pam

Stitching Challenge - Faux or Real

This week's challenge at Crafty Cardmakers is stitching - faux or real.  I really wanted to do real stitching for this challenge.  I have a small sewing machine that I bought at least 4 years ago that hasn't found its way out of the box!  I didn't have enough time to learn how to use it, so I decided to try to hand stitch a project.  This is the result.

I used a light weight card stock, wrote the sentiment in pencil, then used my paper piercer to add the holes for stitching.  A little embroidery floss and a pearl and my sentiment was finished.  

I will have to admit, the back is quite the mess.  I used a circle punch to cut the sentiment out.  Well, that punch no longer works because it has thread and tape stuck to it and will no longer open.  Yikes!  Next time I try this technique, I will cut out the shape BEFORE I begin the embroidery.  I will probably use cloth or felt.  I could not this time because my needles were not sharp enough to go through the fabric, so paper it was!  :)

The background is embossed vellum.  I attached it to my card using my Xyron machine.  It works great with vellum, just peel it off the sheet very carefully.  The sentiment and die are Simon Says Stamp.

I hope you enjoyed my little 4 x 4 card and will give this challenge a try.  We would love to have you join us.  

Have a lovely week!

:) Pam

Online Card Classes - More with Vellum

This is another technique that I learned in the Clear and Sheer Class that I am taking at Online Card Classes.  This technique is using your embossing folders with vellum or acetate.  I used a butterfly embossing folder by Darice and mounted the vellum on my card front using zyron adhesive.  I found this worked very well and does not show through.  I went a little crazy and used almost all of my embossing folders.  I love the soft look that vellum adds to cards and the added texture from the embossing really adds a little something special to a card.

Card Design:

Vellum

Cardstock

Darice Embossing Folder

Paper Trey Ink Mason Jar Stamp and Die

Paper Smooches Sentiment

Spellbinders Corners

Seam Binding Ribbon

Lawn Fawn Scallop Die

DRS Designs Shamrock

Spellbinders Label Die

Avery Elle Dotted Border Die

Cuttlebug

Thanks for looking. 

Have a great day!

Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Pearls or Gems

An easy challenge this time at Crafty Cardmakers - use pearl or gems on your creation.  I wanted to try something different this time, so I made this cute little purse.  It really is a decent size for small gifts.  I used two tutorials for this.  One for the purse and one for the straps.  The purse was made using one piece of 12 x 12 cardstock, a scoreboard and scissors!  The straps and clasp were made from an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock and striped washi tape was added for the trim.

The tutorial for the purse can be found here.  I suggest watching it from start to finish first, then craft away.  Before you know it, you will have made several!  They are fast and fun to do.  MayMay is an awesome teacher and also has her own line of stamps.

Design:
Pearls
Washi Tape
Cardstock
Embossing Folder
Fiskars Tag Punch
Sentiment - Impression Obsession
Magnet for clasp

I hope you will join us for this challenge.
Have a beautiful week!
:) Pam

Online Card Classes - Clear and Sheer

It has been a busy week, so I haven't had much time to play with the new techniques that I am learning at Online Card Classes.  It's all about creative uses and techniques with vellum and acetate.

Jennifer McGuire taught the  technique that I used on the card above - coloring vellum.  Fun and easy.  I used Somebunny stamps and dies by My Favorite Things and the sentiment and die is from Simon Says Stamp.

There are many choices of Online Card Classes with awesome teachers, reasonable prices and lifetime access.  I encourage you to take a class.  You will not be disappointed.

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers 1, 2, 3 Challenge

The Challenge this week at Crafty Cardmakers is to use 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellishments.  I hope you will come and play with us.  Woodware Craft Collection is our Sponsor!

 

This is my card for this week's challenge:

1 Magnolia Stamp

2 Papers from Lawn Fawn

3 Embellishments - Ribbon, Lace and Rhinestones

I was short on time and am not overly thrilled with this card.  I don't use a lot of embellishments on my cards or designer papers, so using them were very challenging.  But, that is the whole point of challenges, isn't it?  We learn and grow as we go!

Come and give it a try, won't you?

Have a beautiful week.

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Shaped Card Challenge

Happy Monday!  A new, fun challenge starts today at Crafty Cardmakers.  We would love to see your shaped cards. Please no rectangles or squares and this time it does have to be a card!

I used Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Labels Four and a pierced circle die to create my shaped card.

I scored the diecut shape at the halfway point.  I was so happy the way that it turned out - until I tried to stand the card up and it kept falling over.  Uh oh!  I tried several things, to no avail.  Finally, I asked my husband, who is quite the "out of the box" thinker to help me out.  He suggested I cut the bottom off the card in the back.  I used some old cardstock to test the theory and voila!  Success!

I am definitely going to use this shaped card again, either this way or to open at the side, then there will be no need to cut the back.

This is another challenge that brought me out of my comfort zone and opened up new techniques for me to use on future cards.  I hope you will join us for this fun challenge.   

 Card Design

Sugar Nellie Fairy, A Little Bit of Gossip

Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Labels Four

Pierced Circle Die

Copic Markers

Stardust Stickles

Have a beautiful week!

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Easter

A brand new challenge starting today at Crafty Cardmakers.  We would like to see your Easter inspired cards or projects.  Please join in the fun and check out the beautiful designs from our Design Team.  

This is my first attempt at a one layer card.  I used 120 lb cardstock from Simon Says Stamp.  It can take the coloring from Copics without bleeding through to the back.  I actually retrieved this card from the trash.  You know when you try something and it isn't working and you keep trying new things and it just keeps getting worse?  Well the little hill below the bunny was a disaster. The more I tried to save it the worse it got, so I ended up throwing it away.  I finally just cut off the bottom of the card and added the green hill to the inside which now shows through to the front.  Card saved!

Inside of Card

Card Design:

MFT BB Somebunny Stamps

Copics

Wink of Stella
Lawn Fawn Dies

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have a Blessed Easter.
:) Pam

Crafty Cardmaker's "Go Green" Challenge for St. Patrick's Day

Hello all!  The challenge at Crafty Cardmakers this time is to create something green in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  I chose this cute little Pure Innocence image from Heather Ellis.

 I have fond memories of St. Patrick's Day.  My mom made fantastic corned beef and cabbage and I love Irish music.  My great great grandfather was born in Ireland in 1846 and came to the USA in 1860.  I haven't had any luck tracing the family history in Ireland in this line as yet.  

It's funny, we thought our little bit of Irish Heritage came from my dad's side, but all the history on my dad's side is in the USA back to the 1600's.  Anyway, we enjoy the little bit we do have and I always buy something Irish for my 3 sisters, my niece and my daughter each Christmas.

Enough of family history!  On to the challenge - I hope you will join us this time.  Our design team has created some lovely "green" cards.  It will be fun.  Come on over.  

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Double D Challenges - Feeling Green

May God keep you

in the

hollow of His hand

 Happy St. Patrick’s Day

 :) Pam

Crafty Cardmaker's Challenge - For a Special Woman

This week's challenge at Crafty Cardmaker's is "For a Special Woman".  A wonderful challenge to honor a special woman in your life - mother, daughter, aunt, grandmother, friend, niece, sister - any woman who is special to you will work for this challenge.  The Design Team has outdone themselves for this challenge.  Pop on over to check out their beautiful creations. 

I made this card for my wonderful niece.  She is one of the kindest, sweetest women I know. This is for her birthday.  I feel Blessed to have her in my life.  We almost lost her to a brain bleed less than two years ago.

 

Card with envelope

 

 

Card Design:

Polka Dot Bella (sketchy) - Sassy Cheryl

Copics

Stampabilities XOXO stamp

Hugs - Fred She Said

MFT Stitched Square Die

Sizzix Framelits Heart Die

 

Envelope:

Lawn Fawn Claire's ABC stamps

Flower Punch

Circle Die

Shamrock Die 

We R Memory Keepers 123 Punch Board

Have a wonderful and happy week and maybe give an extra hug to those special women in your life.

:) Pam

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Love, Love, Love

The challenge this week at Crafty Cardmakers is Love, Love, Love!
Come join in the fun and please visit my other team mates beautiful creations for some fun and inspiration.
I made this card for my extra special hubby. 

Card Design

"Summer Love" by Mo Manning

Spellbinders Dies

Copics

Sizzix Framelits Heart Dies

Paper Studio Heart Embossing Folder

XOXO Stamp - Stampabilities

To My Husband Sentiment -  Word Express by Penny Black

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge - Anything Goes

Thank you for sharing this time with me.

Have a beautiful day!

:) Pam

Cards From the Heart Card Drive

All the cards below were made for this card drive.  Boy, I wish I had known about this card drive earlier.  As it was, I was only able to make five cards, but hopefully this will bring a smile to five kiddos who are hurting.  The drive covers several hospitals and two orphanages.  This is the drive's seventh year.  I plan to make cards through this year so that I will be ready next year. 

This cute doggy is from the stamp set

"Mimi in Paris"

by Penny Black

All the cards below were made from the stamp set

"Skater Kids"

Mama Elephant and Simon Says Stamp 

This one is my fav.  Is this little pup not too cute?

Card Designs:
Copic Markers
Darice Embossing Folder
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
Anna Griffin Embossing Folders
Wink of Stella
Sizzix Framelits Heart Dies

Thank you for visiting.  Have a beautiful and happy week!
:) Pam