Leaves for Sympathy

Unfortunately, I have made quite a few sympathy cards lately. While it is hard to make these cards at any time, I just cannot make them in advance.  I always make them when I need them.  This is a 6 x 6 square card.  I used my CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge for the frame and leaves. I cut the leaves on white paper and colored them with Spectrum Noir markers. The DPs are from my stash. The butterflies are a Martha Stewart stamp which I fussy cut. The sentiment is a retired CTMH stamp. (Unfortunately, there is a glare on the right side of the card which I didn't realize until just now.)

I stopped entering challenges earlier this year, in May or so.  I also took a break from visiting and commenting on blogs other than for my DT assignments.  I was experiencing some personal issues, some health issues, and some artistic issues. I was generally discouraged and not enthusiastic about my cards. But I'm feeling a somewhat better now, and want to get back to challenges and my blog friends.

So I am entering these challenges:  Craft Your Passion Challenges - Anything Goes; Simon Says Monday Challenge - Stamp & Punch/Die Cut;  Creative Moments - Anything Goes, and Simply Papercraft Challenge - Anything Goes.

The key to life is accepting challenges. Once someone stops doing this, he's dead.” 
― Bette Davis

613 Avenue Create #140-Anything Goes with Option Create Your Own Challenge

Hi, Friends - we have another cool Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create today.  The option is to Create Your Own Challenge with this chart:

Our DT has some great inspiration for you, and, of course, you'll want to see who won last week. Our sponsors this time are A Day for Daisies, The Cutting Cafe and Di's Digi Stamps. Their images are just great. We also have an informative participant tutorial on Copic coloring. Click over to our site - you are sure to have a good time.  

613 Avenue Create #139-Anything Goes-Option Create Your Own Challenge & Free SVG Files

We have a super fun challenge at 613 Avenue Create this week - our option is to Create Your Own Challenge using our chart:

Our sponsor this week is Aurora Wings. Here's my card using The Girl with Poppies image.  It's a square card with a Thinking of You sentiment from CTMH. I created a water color backing using Distress Inks (Crushed Olive, Dusty Concord and Broken China). I added sequins (Pretty Pink Posh) along with two flourishes cut from Die-Namics Formal Florish die. The image was colored with my Spectrum Noir markers, and I cut it out with a Fawn Lawn stitched die.

You'll want to see the cool inspiration from the DT.  And don't forget to check out those free SVG files!!  I hope you have a great week :)

Challenge #138 Anything Goes w/optional Girl's Night Out

Hello fellow crafters! This week's challenge at 613 Avenue Create has the option of Girl's Night Out along with our Anything Goes theme. Now I know you can have fun with that twist :)  Hop over to the site to see who won last week.  The DT has some great inspiration for you, and there's a super participant tutorial you won't want to miss.  Happy Crafting to you!!

Cheerleader Card

Hi, there.  I made a card for my grandniece who will be starting 10th grade at the end of the month. She's a varsity cheerleader again - she made the squad last year as a freshman. She's an amazing young lady who also dances in a competitive dance company, runs track and has excellent grades. Her uncle and I send her a little WAM (Walking Around Money - LOL!) several times throughout the school year.  I happened to see these cheerleader stickers somewhere last year, so I bought them. I thought they looked darling on this center step card.

This was a fun and quick card to make. Her school's mascot is a panther.  I went to the school web site and copied/printed the panther. I had some paw print stickers so I used them also.  Her school colors are red and white, so the sticker set was absolutely perfect. The cheerleader skirt and top are shiny, so there is a bit of a glare that I just couldn't get rid of. Anyhoo, I hope she likes it, and I hope you do too.

613 Avenue Create #137-Anything Goes-No Twist

Good day, friends!  Our latest challenge at 613 Avenue Create has no twist along with our Anything Goes theme. So get crafting and make and share anything you like.  The DT has some great inspiration from our sponsors the All Dressed Up store and the Faery Ink Designs store.  Here's my card using Faery Ink's Snow Love Couple:

I used Spectrum Noir markers.  Everything else is from my stash. I added a bit of sparkle to the image with my clear Wink of Stella - how I love that!  The blue background paper already sparkles. The dies surrounding the cute snow couple are new to me from Spellbinders Nestabilities - Exquisite Circles. I got them at Tuesday Morning months ago at a greatly reduced price.  The sentiment die is also new from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

We hope to see your project soon. Have a wonderful day!

613 Avenue Create #135-Anything Goes-Option Happy Birthday

Hi, friends!  This week's challenge at 613 Avenue Create is Anything Goes with a Happy Birthday option. Our sponsors are the Chubby Mermaid and Melonheadz Illustrations.  I've used the Technology Pack from Melonheadz - the computer is such a cool image, don't you think?!  Here's my card:

I colored the computer with my Spectrum Noirs. It's hard to tell, but it's popped up with foam tape. All papers are from my stash. The stars are leftover die cuts from a previous project. I used a Close to My Heart retired alpha set to create my sentiment and then cut it into a banner shape.