Blog Candy at Mema's Crafts

Congratulations to my fellow JDE Design Teamie, Mema, who has just reached her goal of 300 followers and has some great blog candy up for grabs. Mema (Lesia) is a wonderful artist. Her creations are always so beautiful. The inside of each card is as gorgeous as the outside. If you're not already a follower, you should become one.  Click on the link and check out the candy she's offering. And believe me, she will amaze you with her creativity.

Sketch Time & Birthday Celebration at JDE

Today we have another Anything Goes Challenge with an optional Sketch twist at Jackson's Digital Expressions. We have two sponsors this week,  The Cutting Cafe and Bugaboo Stamps.  Check JDE to see the DT's inspiration and find out our winners from last week. Here's the optional sketch:

My first card is a Robert Jackson image:  Just Purses 2.  I entered into the challenge at Make it Monday.

Supplies:  Image: RJ's Just Purses 2; Cardstock & DP, my stash; Ink:  CTMH Tulip; Nestabilities Oval Die; Stamp: CTMH Birthday Script.

Then I made another card - this one to celebrate Robert's Birthday - August 29.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROBERT!!! Robert shares his birthday with a twin sister Kezia. To celebrate, there will be Surprise Gifts throughout the week.  And, if you want a Big Shot, go to the JDE site and leave a comment which includes the phrase "I am an Expressions Big Shot."  Your name will be entered into a special drawing!!

I entered this card in the Whoopsiedaisy Challenge. I used the same sketch, but changed it up a bit. My image is from the It's About That Time Printable Stamp Set at The Cutting Cafe. I think the clock is a nice masculine touch in this case. It doesn't really show in the picture, but I brushed all the cut edges and cardstock with distress ink. I hope Robert likes it!  And Happy Birthday to Kezia, too!!

Be sure to join the celebration at JDE!!!

Supplies:  Cardstock & DP: My stash; dies: CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge; Ink: Tea Dye Distress Ink; Stamp: CTMH Celebrate the Everyday (promotional stamp set); Bic Mark-Its.

Happy Birthday for a Friend

Today's card is one I made for a friend celebrating her 50th birthday last week.  My friend liked it, I'm happy to say.  I've entered it in Mema's challenge, my third and final entry.  Since I used kraft cardstock, the ink colors are muted, but they are red and blue. I rather like the muted look. Again, I photographed it outside - the light is so nice.

Supplies:  Stamps: CTMH Stamp of the Month (sometime in 2011), Friendship Alphabet; Inks: CTMH Tulip and Dutch Blue; Cardstock and Bling: My Stash

An Old Card

This is a card that I made before I had my own blog.  At the time, I actually posted it on two other blogs - a challenge blog with a link to my card on a community blog. That's how I got my feet wet with regard to challenges and blogging in general. (How many times have I used "blog" or a variation?!)  I don't remember details of the card, but I can tell you that all products are Close to My Heart, with the exception of the raffia. Since it's not new, I'm not entering it in any challenges. I hope you like it!  (BTW, I have a new more cards that I posted on community blogs as I did this one. I'll post them here from time to time.)

Supplies:  CTMH

JDE Anything Goes Challenge #19

Good Morning!  I hope you've had a chance to visite JDE to see the new challenge and the winners of the last week's challenge.  The new challenge is STRUT YOUR STUFF - use you favorite coloring medium to create something.  There aren't any optional twists this week. We do have a new sponsor, The Cutting Cafe. This week the DT is using the It's About That Time set from our sponsor along with Robert's images. As always, there are some amazing projects on display.

Another Card for Mema's Crafts

This is my second post for today - that's something new for me :)  I wanted to post another card for Mema's Challenge - Anything Goes with a Twist of Red.  I made this card long before I ever thought of having a blog. I may not have even known about blogs when I made it.  The stamp belonged to a friend so, again, I don't know the name.  But I love the image.  All the papers are from my stash.  I used a Fiskars corner punch that also embossed.  And I added Stickles to her ankle bracelet and earrings. I took the photo outside on the deck.

I've made mention that I line dance, but I also perform African dance, which is why this image is so special to me. (I could go on and on about my passion for dance, but I'll not do it now.) There are people I could have given this card to, but somehow I haven't been able to part with it ... yet.  You will notice that there is no shading on this image.  I used Bic Mark-Its, and I DIDN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT SHADING!!!  There, I've come clean and admitted it. I colored an image and was totally ignorant about shading and light and blending and so on.  It wasn't until I discovered card making blogs that I found out about the artistry of coloring. My dancer looks as if a child colored her, and I know she'd look prettier if she were properly colored, but I love her so much that I just don't care. I hope the lack of artistic flair doesn't bother you.

By the way, I'm sure it's obvious that even though I now know a bit more about coloring as an art form, I don't do much better, but at least I try!

Supplies:  Bic Mark-Its, Fiskars Corner Punch, Stickles, My Stash

JDE Color Challenge

It's Tuesday, so it's Challenge Time at Jackson's Digital Expressions.  Our Anything Goes Challenge Twist is a color challenge:  Lavender, Green, Tan and White.  I like this kind of challenge because I often struggle with color - this eliminates some of the stress. How do you feel about color challenges?

Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps - they have so many fun images.  The DT has some wonderful art for you.  And hopefully, you won a prize in last week's challenge! Check things out.

Mema's Anything Goes Challenge

Hi, All, I decided to enter Mema's Challege - Anything Goes with a Twist of Red.  I actually made this card a while ago while at a friend's house.  I used her dress stamp, so I don't know its name.  I stamped the image with CTMH Tulip Ink and then popped it up.  The card base is white and so is the background paper on which the dress rests.  I stamped it using Stampabilities Cling Rubber Stamp called Fleur De Lis. I used CTMH Black Ink, and I added some Stickles for a bit of sparkle.  All papers are from my stash. I took the picture outside - great light! This will probably end up going to one of my nieces.

Be sure to check out Mema's Blog - she has great challenges and fun prizes. I hope to enter this card in a few more challenges a bit later in the week.

Supplies:  CTMH Black Ink, CTMH Tulip Ink, Stampabilities, Stickles, Mema's Crafts

JDE Anything Goes Challenge #17

Tuesday means it's time for another challenge at Jackson's Digital Expressions.  Our Anything Goes Challenge twist is to use Brads and/or Eyelets, and it features our CAS Team.  The DT has some wonderful projects to share, so click over and visit. We have a brand new sponsor this week:  My Heart Pieces, where you will find some lovely digi stamps.

And don't forget that our month long challenge and Release Party is over so all the prize winners are listed!  We want to thank everyone who participated in our challenge. We had so very many wonderful entries. It was a treat to visit all the sites. We also reached 200 followers - yea!!!

Butterfly Card for my Friend

A dear friend is having a bit of a struggle lately.  She's a wonderful, thoughtful and kind person, and she's one of my line dance instructors.  So I made a card that all of us in her class can sign and give to her. I really hope it brightens her day.

And here's a closeup of the sentiment:

I'm entering this card in the following challenges: Make It Monday (Anything Goes), Paper Crafting Journey (Anything Goes), and Scrapbook Sisters (Things with Wings).

Supplies:  Stamps: CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy Bundle, Card Chatter - Sympathy; Cardstock: Recollections; DP: Colorbok; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; Ink: CTMH Blush; Pearls: Recollections.