DYSU Challenge #50 - Winter

Hi all! Welcome back for a new challenge at Do You Stack Up?! As the chilly weather moves in, we want you to show us your Winter projects!

This week's Sponsors:

Crafty Emma £10 Gift Voucher (exc p&p)

Digi Darla Digital Stamp Club One Month’s Membership

Inky Impressions
$10 Gift Certificate


Brrr....it's been unseasonably cold here in Colorado for the past few weeks. We're not used to such constant frigid temperatures before winter has officially started. Needless to say, there has been a lot of inspiration for wintery cards.

I chose to make one last Christmas card. I used the Village Chapel A Muse stamp, some flocked We R Memory Keepers paper from my stash, Stickles and Liquid Pearls.

Come on over to Do You Stack Up and link us up to your wintery creation for a chance to win a prize from one of our awesome sponsors!

The 409 Technique

What to do when a challenge is to use a misting technique and you have no misting products, no misting bottles, no straws and your kid's Blo-Pens have all run dry? You take an empty 409 bottle, rinse it out, add a bit of water and re-inker and give it a spray. I didn't give much thought to the difference between misting and spraying...until with one squeeze of the trigger my paper was saturated and there was no misting effect in sight. I had even held the bottle at least a foot and a half away from the paper. Sadly, I chose to by-pass a practice run and went for it with my stamped and fussy cut images. Sigh...

At first glance it would seem my entry doesn't  meet the criteria for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge to use a misting technique. Although I can't in all honesty recommend this technique, I've decided to enter it in the hopes that you might get a chuckle out of my story.

If you want to see what a quality misting technique looks like, head on over to CAS-ual Fridays. I hope I have better luck with next weeks challenge. lol

Stay Cool

The challenge over at Less Is More this week is "Let It Snow". We've had snow and extremely cold temps around here for the last few weeks and I'm pretty darned tired of it. As I have already made over 100 wintery cards in the last month, I debated with myself over doing just one more. Maybe that's why they're called challenges? I decided to play with a new PTI set that hadn't been taken out of the package yet. This penguin is just so darned cute! How could I not like playing with him?

Hop on over to Less Is More to give this challenge a shot or to get some inspiration. There are some gorgeous snowy creations this week. I will be revisiting this challenge next summer when I'm sick of the heat. lol

Merry Christmustache

Just cracking myself up.

I'm entering this in the Random fun challenge over at Moxie Fab World to create a card using a mustache.

Green

How could I miss a Less Is More challenge?? Well...I guess I didn't but I am cutting it close. This time of the year is chaotic. I know I'm not the only one trying to squeeze some crafting time in. Hmmm....laundry, housework, choir performance, fundraisers, carpools or crafting? Decisions, decisions, decisions. lol

The color challenge at LIM this week is GREEN. I bought this willow stamp and die from PTI last month and have really wanted to use it. When I was growing up we had 2 huge weeping willow trees in our front yard. My dad would trim them a couple of times a year and my brothers and sister and I loved to grab the cut branches and have sword fights with them. Or maybe they were whip fights as those branches were very flexible. Whatever you call it, it was always a fun time. Any excuse to beat up on each other I guess. lol

I used the dies to cut an opening in the green paper and stamped the image on the white paper underneath.

Go take a look at some of the gorgeous creations made with green over at Less Is More this week. You won't be disappointed!

DYSU Challenge #49 - Something Old

So glad you could join us once again for a new challenge at Do You Stack Up?! This week we want to see Something Old! It could truly be something old, or just a vintage style or image.

This week's Sponsors:

Saturated Canary Digis Winner’s Choice of 2 Digis

Gecko Galz Prize Package: Pack of paper of the winners choice, 4 collage sets of the winners choice, a stamp set of the winners choice, and vintage pearl button pack, vintage lace, and Gecko Galz fibers

Wow, our wonderful Gecko Galz sponsor provided me with a set of vintage images that made it hard to know where to begin! I thought this image was so cute with the kids seeming to be having some good old fashioned snow fun. I fussy cut the entire image then popped it up for dimension. Vintage is not my normal style, but it was fun to try it and these images were fabulous to play with.

The next image was fun and unique to work with. I used a dingbat font for the greeting on the sign she's holding. I found this patterned paper in my scrap box and knew I had nothing better to go with this image. Sometimes you get lucky.

Hope you get a chance to come over to Do You Stack Up and join us in this challenge! I know I'm going to be seeing some amazing vintage style cards this week and I can't wait!!

Tic Tac Toe

That's the challenge over at Casual Fridays this week. I chose the column that included pink, chevron and aqua. I have never inked up these PTI chevron stamps even though I just HAD to have them. lol There are tons of options and fab creations from this challenge. Hop on over to Casual Fridays to check it out!

A Bit Of Bling

My daughter's Color Guard team has an opportunity to have a table to fund raise at a community Christmas event this weekend. The girls put together crafts, sweets and treats to sell so they will have money for new flags next season. I volunteered to make and donate cards for them to sell. I've made about 90 cards and am going to have to call it good. If they don't sell, I can always use them as I was planning to use photo cards this year and hadn't made many of the 80 or so cards I normally send off. This is one of the cards I made for them. Fingers crossed for a great day of fundraising!!

I did have the Less Is More "A Bit of Bling" challenge in mind while working on this project. This was my fave card with bling. There is just something I love about the blue and silver combo, especially for holiday cards. I know I'm submitting at the tail end of the challenge, but you can still hop on over to Less Is More for some gorgeous bling inspiration.

DYSU challenge #48-Ribbon

So glad to have you back for a new challenge at Do You Stack Up?! This week we have an easy on for you. We want you to use Ribbon (or anything that ties)!

This week's Sponsors:

Stamp Fairy Winner’s Choice of 3 Digis

Copic Marker Scrapbooking 6 Copic Ciao Markers (North/South America), Martha Stewart punch (rest of the world)

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Charlotte with a Rose and Scooter Chloe Rubber Stamps

I used this adorable Santa image from Stamp Fairy for this week's challenge. I did most of the coloring on the computer prior to printing the image. For the first card, I fussy cut Santa, added beads to all the uncolored areas, a bit of glitter to the belt buckle and Glossy Accents to the lights. I'm sure the tree will look much more festive when the lights are added. I used a bit of baker's twine to the top of the tree as the "anything that ties".

I printed the image within a circular Christmas sentiment for my next card. I used a warm grey Copic to color the background of the circle so the white in the image would stand out.  Again, I added Glossy Accents to the lights. I used  a strip of pleated ribbon along the bottom of the image. Same image, two different looks. This Santa was a blast to work with!

DYSU challenge-Grass

Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to a new challenge at Do You Stack Up?! We're so glad you've joined us! This week we want to see Grass somewhere on your project!

This week's Sponsors:

Dearie Dolls Winner’s Choice of 4 Digis

Love to Stamp Winner’s Choice of 1 Little Darlings Rubber Stamp

Stitchy Bear Designs $10 Gift Voucher

I chose to use some colored jute for the grass on this card. I placed a piece of Score tape along the bottom edge of the card then lined up the snips of jute. I sewed across them to make sure they stayed on.

Come on over to Do You Stack Up?!, check out all the fun creations from our talented design team, and see what you'll be inspired to create. Be sure to link us up for a chance to win!

Volleyball LO

I made this LO for a sketch article over at Scrapjazz.com. I love working with sketches for 2 page LOs. I have a heck of a time getting decent action pictures indoors. I still want to document the kid's athletic endeavors so it's best to use smaller prints to minimize my poor photography skills. lol 2 pagers are great for getting enough pix to tell a good story. One of my favorite things about scrapping  12x12 is the ability to use large photos and 2 pagers give you room for many combinations.

Roosters Crow

I decided to combine a couple of challenges this week. I don't do that very often but for some reason they just seemed to be perfect together for what I had in mind. I wanted to use red instead of orange for the trim, but I wanted to use a gingham ribbon with this image and I only had gingham in orange. I combined the sketch from the CAS-ual Fridays challenge with the Less Is More challenge to use silhouettes. With the cute sentiment, I think this will make a perfect thank you/friendship card for my friend that lives and works on a farm. She will love it as she raises chickens.

I used this Barn Top digital stamp from Stitchy Bear and finished off the rooster with some Glossy Accents.

Go check out both challenges and see what you can come up with!

CAS-ual Fridays
Less Is More

The inside.

DYSU challenge #46-Splash Of Blue

There's a new challenge at Do You Stack Up?! This week we want to see a Splash of Blue on your project!

This week's Sponsors:

Robyn’s Fetish Winner’s Choice of EITHER 5 Digital Stamps OR 4 Digital Stamps and 1 Paper Pack

Mami Doodles 4 Digital Images

Raindrop Echo Designs 

I had the pleasure of working with a couple of digital sentiment sets from Raindrop Echo Designs, one of our wonderful sponsors this week. For my first card I used the tricycle and sentiment from the Childhood Travels Sentiments set. I love this set with the cute images and unique sentiments! I thought this could be a cute graduation card.

I used a sentiment from the Hang In There Sentiment set for my next card. Isn't it just perfect with hot air balloons? These sentiment sets are so fun and easy to work with! Thanks Ann!

Hope you will join us in the Splash of Blue Challenge at DYSU!

Leaves

Tis the season for leaf raking. Between the foot of snow and the high winds we've had in the past couple of weeks, there aren't any leaves to rake around here. Not that we ever rake. lol The challenge over at Less Is More this week is to make a one layer card with leaves. I've had this Kaiser Craft stamp for quite a while and decided to use it for this challenge. I love the fun details in the leaves. Quick and simple card. Hop on over to Less Is More and see all the beautiful cards featuring leaves this week.

Tag You're It

I'm not much of a tag maker. It seems like such a shame to spend time on projects that barely get glanced at. Yes, I do ooh and aah over all the people out there that make coordinating tags, wrappings, bags and other creative craftings to enhance their gift giving...I'm just not one of them. I'm the one who stocks up on Christmas paper and gift bags at the after Christmas sales that can be used for all occasions throughout the year. My friends and family are lucky to get a bow on their gifts. No one has complained so far. lol

But tags are the challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays this week, so tags I've made. It was actually fun. They are quick to make and a good use of scraps. If you like to make tags head on over to CAS-ual Fridays.

A Christmas tag using one of my favorite Christmas stamps from Hero Arts. Such a cute set!

And an all-purpose tag with a favorite PTI image.

Reverse Applique

The Make It Monday challenge at PTI this week is to use a reverse applique technique. I RARELY stitch on my cards. I am a pretty darned good seamstress but sewing on paper is always frustrating to me. My stitches are always uneven,  and it always gums up my needles. Kind of a pain to get the machine out and set up then not be happy with the results. I actually do like the card I made, but think I might like it even better without the stitching. Yes, you can call me picky, a perfectionist, or anal....take your pick. lol

Head on over to the PTI Reverse Applique challenge to see how this technique is done.

DYSU challenge #45-Inspired By Song

Hi everyone! We have a new challenge up at Do You Stack Up?! This week, we want your projects to be Inspired by a Song! Please be sure to let us know in your post what your song is. ;)

This week's Sponsors:

JLJ Designs $10 Gift Certificate

Di’s Digi Downloads Winner’s Choice of 5 Digis

In my younger days I was a huge fan of Southern rock. Whenever I hear it, I'm reminded of a very fun and carefree time of life. I chose a Charlie Daniels song, Long Haired Country Boy, for my inspiration. I've seen him in concert several times and he's great! I found the perfect digital images for this song too. Uncle Charlie  and his faithful companion Old Mac. Both are from the Body Tot collection at the Digi Doodle Shop. I used a line from the song as the sentiment, just changing it up a bit on the inside of the card. This card is definitely for my brother. He will lol when he gets it.

Come on over to Do You Stack Up and link us up to your project that is inspired by a song!

Eskimo Kisses

I adore this Mo Manning digital stamp! I was looking through my digi files yesterday and decided to print and color one. I always print an extra when using digi stamps so when I mess up I have a back up. No challenges were involved in the making of this card. lol

However....I decided to see if I could do something completely different with my spare image. My bright red and orange Copics were still hanging out on my work space from an earlier challenge, so I grabbed them and started coloring. To make it even less traditional, I made a Christmas card with the finished image. Love how it came out! So my thanks must be given to Chrissie and Mandi over at Less Is More for the red and orange challenge. This might have been one of my favorite challenges ever!

You should hop on over to Less Is More and see all the FABULOUS cards that have been created with this combo!!

Photo Shoot

My daughter's BFF moved to another state 3 years ago. To help with that heartbreak, we promised the girls that they could visit each other every summer. I always take them to one of those package portrait deals when her friend is here. Last summer they had such a fun photographer-she really got them laughing and having a good time. These were a few of the proofs.

I made this LO for the Scrap Whispers color challenge to use blue, white and purple. I really had to scrounge through my stash to find purple papers as it is a color I DREAD working with!! If you like working with these colors or want to challenge yourself head on over to Scrap Whispers and give it a try.

Owl Be There

I couldn't resist making another card using this fun color combo. I used the Hero Arts "Feeling Wise" digital kit for this. I recolored the tree and owl from greens and browns to reds and oranges. Wow, it's amazing how color can change the overall look and feel of an image. I used the Martha Stewart fence edger punch and perched the owl on top of the fence, then added Glossy Accents to the tree branches. Come on over and play with red and orange!

Less Is More Red and Orange

One of a Kind Friend

Red and orange! What fun, vibrant colors to pair together. That is the color challenge over at Less Is More this week. You can't go wrong working with this color combo.  For this card I used the PTI Chair-ished stamp set. Hop on over to see all the fabulous orange and red creations-

Less Is More Red and Orange Challenge

Another Christmas card

A very CAS card for the CAS-ual Friday "Over the Edge" challenge. All the elements were made with PTI dies, embossing plate and stamps. The papers look much better IRL-they are pretty and shimmery.

Snowman

We've had a lot of snow in the last couple of weeks and this guy has been patiently waiting for me to use him. He had to wait until my husband hauled off all the tree branches we lost before I was in any mood to appreciate snow. These early wet heavy snows are gorgeous but can cause so much damage. Our town has a collection area for people to drop off their branches but it got so full they had to shut it down. It's sad to see all the branches lining the roads in our town and the surrounding areas.

I made this card for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge "Over the Edge". I don't typically make cards with elements that extend beyond the edges of the card because I find them hard to mail. But Christmas is an exception because I give a few cards personally instead of mailing them. I used a PTI die and stamp set for the snowman. The die can make the snowman a card by himself but I chose to use him on a standard A2 card. Either way, he is too cute!

Head on over to CAS-ual Fridays to play in this fun challenge.