Card Design: Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge...March

 

Hello and happy Tuesday!  It is time to share my entry into the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge. 

This month we got to work with the following cute image...

Another sweet bunny!  Everyone who played along in last month's challenge received Carrot Bunny for free. If you decide to hop on and play along in the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge, then you can purchase this digital by clicking HERE (or on the watermark above to head to its location in the store). This way you'll receive next month's digital stamp for free.

Here are my card and details...

General Info: 

• I chose to use one of the older sketches from From the Hearts Stamps Sketch.  

 
FRONT

Digital Image Details: 

• Carrot Bunny:  You can find this image in the store.  Details above.  
• This image was coloured partially digitally and partially with patterns and with paper piecing.   
• Credits:  
• Sky & Clouds pattern courtesy of Webtreats, Etc.
• Fur was paper pieced with a texture from Salic33 (Deviant Art Artist)
• I used an image from Stockvault to paper piece the carrot and another picked up for the greens.
• Grass was added with a basic filter.
     

Digital Embellishments: 

• The rectangular shape was a basic shape created in Photoshop Elements and then altered using a layer style from HG Graphics.
• The eggs and chicks are elements purchased from Pixel Scrapper.  

 INSIDE

Digital Sentiment Details: 

• The sentiment was created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  For great freebies and inspiration be sure to click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for awesome sets for purchase, click HERE to go to the home page of the new store.

OVERALL
Paper Products: 

• Card base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.

Pattern: 

• The pattern I used for the  background and also in the kerchief is also from HG Graphics.

Challenges I am entering: 

• Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge

 
Other challenges I hope to enter... 

***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button***  

• http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ -- Always Anything Goes
• http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.ca/ -- Wonderful Wednesdays: Always Anything Goes
• http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/ (UL) -- Always Anything Goes
• http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.ca/  -- Anything Goes (hand coloured)
• http://crafting-with-friends.blogspot.co.uk/ -- (3E) -- Always Anything Goes
• http://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ -- (papercraft only) -- Anything Goes

Well guys, that is it for this one.

Until next time,

Happy Easter!!!

To those of you who celebrate, Happy Easter!

I will leave it up to the Easter bunny to bring you some chocolates or flowers.  My gift to you is this digital paper in honour of today...

This digital paper is 3600 x 3600 pixels, in jpg format and published at 300 dpi. I've used resources from Pixel Scrapper, and Heather Green, HG Designs.  To grab it, click the download button to be taken to a download location.  In the zip folder you will find a copy of the paper, its preview sheet, the credit information and my terms of use which are standard to all my folders. 

I hope you all have a wonderful day.  Even though it means I'm going to get myself more behind, I plan on spending the afternoon with my hubby--the best present I could hope for.

Until next time,

Tag Design: Animals Around Us from Nicecrane Designs

It is time for the pitter patter of tiny footsteps 

rustling through the meadows to begin!  

Yes!  It is time for all the little spring animals to come out 

of their long slumber and join the world once again!

I'm popping in to share with you a design I created for some name tags a few weeks back, using an image from Nicecrane Designs.  Now while I used these particular images for Easter, they certainly can be used for so many other kinds of creations.

The hubs wanted to give out some Easter treats to his co-workers.  There were two special ones, his supervisor and a co-worker he works all year long with, that received bigger packages and then eight others received smaller ones.  We had picked up some small little paper boxes for the smaller ones but didn't have anything proper for the bigger ones.  Then I thought of decorating a couple brown paper bags which did the trick.  Of course, we needed to keep everyone's separate so I decided to create some name tags using one of the awesome images from the wonderful Animals Around Us Digital Stamp Sheet.  There was one image in this set in particular, that leant itself great for my purposes.

Here is an overall view of the bigger bags and half of the small ones...

Digital Image Details: 

• Animals Around Us 1:  Check out this image.  Those bunnies are simply adorable.  And, check out the rest of the images in this set.  Perfect for so many different kinds of cards.

•  This image was coloured in completely digitally.  Digital credits include:
• Clouds pattern: Webtreats, Etc.
• Dirt was a fill pattern already part of Photoshop Elements.

Closer view...

Embellishments:

• The doily on the top of the bag came from a care package that my good friend Naomi sent me quite a while back.
• The pink and gold ribbon is from a stash I got from my momma.
• The little flowers are Crafts brand are were purchased at Dollarama.
• Brown paper bags from stash.
• Punch for top to wind the ribbon through is also Crafts brand from Dollarama.

OVERALL

Die Cut: 

• Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Twenty-Two was used to create all the name tag shape.

Paper Products:

• Base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.

 Challenges I am hoping to enter...

• http://scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://www.sparklingblackrose-craftmylife.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/all-crafts-challenge-aprilmay.html -- Anything BUT a Card
• http://notrealstamps.blogspot.co.uk/ (Max 10)-- Anything BUT a Card
• http://www.vostamps.blogspot.ca/  - Easter
• http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.ca/2014/05/challenge-136-mothers-day-or-spring.html --Mother's Day or Spring (while I did this for Easter it definitely is spring like)
• http://timbroscrapmania.blogspot.it/ -- Spring is in the Air (while I did this for Easter it definitely is spring like)
• http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Spring Colous
• http://leftofcenterchallenges.blogspot.ca/-- Spring Fling

Before I go...
There are always so many wonderful images available at Nicecrane's Designs that I can't leave without sharing some of the others with you.  If you love rabbits then the About Bunnies collection may be perfect for you.  This collage sheet contains eight beautiful images originally illustrated by F.Y. Cory.  Be sure to go and check them out while you are at the store (click on image below to head to its location).

Also, just in time for spring, Ignacio has released this beautiful Spring Love Collage Sheet.  I definitely have plans for this one.  Think of all the adorable anniversary cards you create.  These images would lend themselves really well to candles too, if you have a reliable printer.  Unfortunately, I'm so afraid of breaking another printer that I can't dare try and print on tissue paper.  However, for those of you who do, wouldn't a candle with one of these images make the perfect anniversary gift?  Just sayin'.  (Click on image below to head to its location.)

Don't forget, to stay current on ALL the latest releases and to check out the fabulous inspiration from my fellow DT members, be sure to head over to the Nicecrane Designs blog.

Well, I need to get moving and get some of the papers mailed out to people for April for the 12 Months of Christmas Link up. See you all again very soon!

I hope you have a fantastic evening!

Until next time,

Card Design: Delightful Inspiration February Challenge

It is time for me to post my card for the Delightful Inspiration, formerly known as Designed 2 Delight, progressive stamp of the month challenge.  In order to enter this challenge, you must either have received the latest image by having participated in the previous month or you can buy the stamp for the current month's challenge.  Everyone who enters and follows the rules is a winner because you automatically get the stamp for the next month's challenge.  Stop by the site and check out the rules for yourself.  While you are there, have a look around.  They have some really great images.  This is the card I'm entering for the February challenge.

I had someone tell me that it seems to take forever for my blog to load and I don't know if it is because the pictures are too large or if she just has a slow computer.  I never seem to have a problem myself; for me it always loads extremely fast.  Is there anyone else out there who consistently finds my blog really slow in loading compared to others of a similar nature????  So for a couple of posts I'm going to reduce the size of the images within the post and see if that makes any difference for her.  You can always click on each image to see them in much better detail if you find the size too small here.

Front of the card...

 A closer look at the front...

 

Here is the inside of the card...

Here are the card details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

General Notes:

• This card is making a trip to a different country so I hope it holds up well!

Digital Image:

• Don't these images look they belong together?  Well, actually they are two separate images.  The spring flower basket is the wonderful image that I got to play with this month from Delightful Inspiration.  The other image you may recognize from all the promoting I did for Fresh Brewed Design's new line up of spring images.  This is Sweet Bunny which you can find in the store HERE in the Spring collection.  To me it actually looks like Sweet Bunny is picking her flower from the spring flower basket.  I love that Spring Bunny is versatile enough that you can use her on a wide range of cards and not just for Easter.
• Spring Basket--Basket:  Y32, Y35.  Bow:  B00, B02.  Leaves:  YG63, YG67.  Flowers:  RV00, RV02, BV000, BV00, Y11, B00.  Butterflies:  BG10, BG15, BV00, BV02.
• Sweet Bunny:  Y11, Y13, Y15, G20, G24 (tulip); (dress & shoes); E000, E00, E02 (fur); R20 (cheeks); R20, R22 (ears & nose); B00 (eyes).
• Now, I'd love to take credit for the sky but I can't.  I'm tired of having my skies look so pathetic and until I learn how to do them properly, that is just how they are going to look.  So, this week I decided that I was going to see if there was a free digital paper out there that had a sky with some clouds.  I found a few that didn't really do what I wanted them to, and then I came across this awesome free pack of four beach scenes from Sky's the Limit Scraps.  She has some amazing freebies but it looks like she is no longer active on her blog since her last post is from 2011.  It is too bad because I would have loved to have put her in one of the showcases.  Anyways, I took one of the papers and cropped out everything but the sky.  Then I opened up the basket and used the magic lasso tool to cut it out of the white background and then did the same thing with Sweet Bunny.  I brought both of them over and placed them on the sky background.  Now there must be an easier way to change the transparency around an image.  I've a call into one of my readers who just talked about making the background of her image transparent so I'm hoping it will be easy enough that she can find the time to quickly guide me through it.
• I also tried a new technique with my colouring today.  Since there is such a difference between B00 and B02 and between RV00 and RV02, I find that sometimes it just is too bold going from one to the other.  Now I don't have a wide selection of markers to buy from up here in the great white north.  Okay, maybe I'm not that far up, poor Jennifer from My Cubby Crafts is a heck of a lot farther north in the Yukon than I am in northern Ontario BUT there is only one store up here that sells Copics and the colour choice is limited.  All that to say that I have to make do with what I've got so I need to blend better. This week I learned the palette transfer technique and it made such a difference. You can see how much more subtle the blending of the pinks and blues are in this card. It is all about learning in baby steps right?
• The grass was added in using a blend of watercolour pencils.

Digital Sentiment:

• Friends Make Life Blossom:  I just love this free sentiment I picked up awhile back from TLC Creations.  Actually, I have plans to use it on another card real soon.  It is a perfect fit to accompany this image.

Paper Products:

•  If you've been following along this week you'll recogonize all but one of these papers.  I used the same ones in my Digi Darla Challenge card on Monday.  If you want to know what they are click HERE and scroll down to 'Paper Products'.
• The only other papers used were the multi-hued creamy yellow cardstock and the white shimmery cardstock used as a shadow on the front.  Both are open stock from Michael's.

Ribbon:

• Craft brand white ribbon--from Dollarama.

Embellishments:

•  Buttons from our stash.
  

Including Delightful Inspirations (link up top), these are the other challenges I hope to enter:

• Crafter's Digital Art Centre --  Anything Goes 
• Pin & Tack--Spark Your Creativity Now Challenge -- Challenge #7:  Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday -- Challenge #72:  Anything Goes
• 613 Avenue Create -- Anything Goes/Optional Twist
• QKR Stampede -- Challenge #30:  Dreaming of Spring
• Eureka Stamps  -- Challenge #31: What is in your Easter basket?
• {Pin}spirational Challenges -- Challenge #49
• Digi Haven -- Easter Challenge

Thank you so much for stopping by.  As I've now added to my comment section, whether you are a regular, here for the first time or popping over in your official capacity as a DT member, please know how much I appreciate the words that you leave behind.  Your encouragement helps me to become a better designer.   I try my best to reply to your comments (when an email address is available) but that is getting more and more difficult as my plate fills up with new responsibilities, new roles, and new obligations.  If I don't get the opportunity to thank you personally, know that I don't take a single comment for granted. Thank you for your understanding.

Until next time,

  

Bit by the Bug Beginnings: Another Bug is Born

You are going to want to go and visit Creative Bug on the Loose today because a new Bug has been born.  Naomi is sharing with the world her newest release:

Bellina MacBunny

This week I'd like you to meet Bellina MacBunny.  She is perfect for an Easter card plus you can use her on other girly cards you need to create too. 

Now, how would you like the opportunity to win a copy of this cute little bunny? 

Naomi is having a draw to win this bunny.  To find out what you need to do, make sure you head over there and follow the directions she has laid out.  There will be two tasks.  For each task you complete, your name will be entered into a draw.  Complete both tasks, earn two entries.

So, don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity.  Head over to Creative Bug on the Loose.

I've caught the bug,

have you?

Until next time,

Note: I apologize if there are any formatting issues.  This is a scheduled post and we all know Blogger has a mind of it's own.  If it turns out that something looks wonky, i.e.--part of the sentence a different size or font than the rest, I'll fix it as soon as I'm able to.