Rose and Teal

I do not often use contrasting colors for mats - what do you think?  The image is a favorite Hampton Art daisy, and "Sister" is a Dazzle sticker by Hot Off the Press.  I used two different embossing folders, some sheer ribbon and a Recollections gem in shades of teal.  The coloring is Twinkling H20 (African Jade and Playful Peony).  Classy Cards 'n Such has a lot of cardmaking supplies, including the Spellbinder Ovals, and many sets of H20 colors.  The pale teal embossed layer is reminiscent of the inspiration at Classy Cards.
Sketch:  http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Vintage Dahlia inspiration, with colors (Rose, teal, pearl grey):  http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/
Bling:  http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Embossed sympathy

Stamps by Verve, Cuttlebug embossing and dies, misc cs and ribbon.  The ink is grey and black - I just used a mask to remove most of the ink from the stamp to create a faint bg for the sentiment.  I have recently seen a number of cards with a sentiment stamped over the image, and I want to experiment with this look.
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Ribbon:   http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/
Embossing:  http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
                   http://thecraftingcafe.blogspot.co.uk/
Not square:   http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.com/
Monochrome:  http://open-mindedcraftingfun.blogspot.ca/
Bow:  http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-challenge.html

Best Birthday

I just got this High Hopes stamp - a prize for a recent challenge.  I really like this way to display a variety of wishes!
Technique - I used chalk pencils for the soft shading of the sign.  For highlighting the embossing, I tried a variation of techniques I have used before.  I had just a tiny broken piece of the teal chalk I wanted - so I applied it directly to the previously embossed layer - then used a sponge to remove excess - leaving just enough color to highlight the embossing.  Oh, yes, I adhered the dotted layer to the stripes, then embossed.  I am happy with this result - to me it is better IRL than on the screen, however.  The Spellbinder dies are new to me - Labels 5.  I colored with shiny metallic Spica pens as well as chalk pencils, added ribbon, a tiny star charm and equally tiny butterfly punches.
Sketch:  http://sweetsketchwednesday2.blogspot.com/
Embossing: http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Spots and Stripes:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Birthday, with High Hopes stamp:  http://highhopesstamps.blogspot.com/:  
Any, with chalk:  http://chalknstock.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/

Power Napper

This is another Art Impressions girl friend - the Power Napper.  My friends love this series!  I colored with Prismas, and used a shiny metallic gel pen for her shoes. 
Sketch:  http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/
 3 papers, 2 embellishments (flower, Basic Grey paper tape), 1 image:  http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/
Any:  http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/
Colors (raspberry, pink, lilac):  http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/
Stripes:  http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Summer is here

Birds and flowers - sure signs of summer!  The sentiment and image (Country Garden) are High Hopes, colored with Prismas.  The DP and cs are from my stash.
Sketch:  http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
Summer:  http://highhopesstamps.blogspot.com/
Summer:  http://livelaughstamp.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/wordplaysaturday
Inspiration:  http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/
The great outdoors:  http://drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/challenge-75-great-outdoors.html

Springtime Glitter and Shine

Flowers by

Whew!  I am running a bit late - too many interruptions! This image is Penny Black (Cheesecake) - thanks to their website for some coloring inspiration.  I used a chalk pencil to color the mice, and kind of smudged with my finger to blend and reduce the amount of color.   The icing is shiny white enamel accent paint with glitter glue sparkles.  I used prismas for some of the other color. Other items: flowers by Petaloo; rhinestones;  DCWV Spring Stack dp, DCWV coral cs; glitter (along edge); Arrow by Basic Grey.
 Sketch:  http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
Cute:  http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Spring:   http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/
Cute:  http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Sparkle and shine: http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
"A" - arrow: http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-04-02T01:15:00-04:00&max-results=3
Girly:  http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Pink, red, white and hearts

I will be needing several valentines, and it is nice to have them done a bit ahead of time!  It is nice to know that our grandkids appreciate my cards!  I used the hand made paper (hearts), "love" DP, and dark rose bg from my stash.  The gingham and twine are part of a previous prize from Amusing challenges, and the image is also a prize from Sassy Cheryl.  I used a CB border die that I have had a long time - and seldom use.  The butterfly is part of ODB birthday set, stamped on pink cs and scissors cut.  The coloring is with gel pens and water color pencils.
I do want to thank blog owners and sponsors, and certainly DT members for all of these great ongoing challenges - a special thanks to those who visit our blogs and give encouraging comments.
Sketch:  http://stampedblessings.com/category/amusing-challenges/
Hearts:  http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
Pink:  http://sassycherylschallenge.blogspot.com/
Circles and stash (see above):   http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
Pink, red, white:  http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Christmas

The card a day blog group (SCS) has a challenge to do 20 Christmas cards in 20 days (if I recall correctly) - I need that!  Here is #1 for that mini challenge.  This is the stamp I will use for most of our cards, and I have forgotten where I got this unmounted stamp.  For some reason, it is very difficult to get a solid image.  I added reinker to the Memento pad.  I have decided some of this will have to look like shading or light reflection on the silhouette!
The DP is from a stack called Faith, by the Paper Studio.
Sketch:  http://willowsketchiechallenge.blogspot.com/
Christmas:  http://christmasstampin.blogspot.com/
Favorite Christmas stamp (well, it is my fave this year!):  http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

A sketchy horse

I like this image, but am SO afraid of totally destroying it with my coloring, so I decided to highlight the BG and leave the image uncolored.  For the farm yard look I added some punched birds.
Using a sentiment:  http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/
The sketch and farm yard theme:  http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Masculine again!

 Here is another masculine card - birthday this time.  Once more, Art Impressions, Prismas, and various papers from my stash.  The die cut is a Cuttlebug border.  I added some impressions from a stamp in the Attic collection to add some nostalgia.

The sketch:  http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Masculine/father's Day:  http://phindysplacechallenge.blogspot.com/
Blue, teal and peach:  http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/