Life is like a Butterfly...

Hello.  Happy Tuesday!

We're midway in our current challenge at the Magnolia-licious and Wee Stamps Challenge Blog.  It's all about BUTTERFLIES--your card/project needs to have butterflies (dragonflies qualify also).  You have one more week to join the challenge. This week is Magnolia-licious Team B's turn to show our inspirational cards/projects--last week was Team A's.

I was already working on a new card for this butterfly challenge when during a rare cleaning spree...LOL...I came upon this card.  It's a double display card that I made a while back--for a magazine submission, I think.  However, it never made it into publication...sigh.  I had put the card aside and simply forgot about it.  So I've decided to use this card now as it's never been posted...and woo-hoo...it fits the theme of the challenge!

This was also one of occasions when I play around with my coloured pencils.  My pencil collection is a mishmash of different brands--Faber-Castell Polychromos and Artgrips, Derwent Softcolours and Prismacolor Premiers.  And when I colour I mix and match whatever will give me the shades that I want. 

The three Magnolia images here are all from the Butterfly Dreams Collection 2012--I luvvv that collection.

These two adorable images are Hello Little Butterfly and Tilda with Straw Hat

 

and this one is Edwin with Butterfly.

 

Check out Diana's on-line store, Magnolia-licious--an excellent source for your Magnolia stamps, both full-size and mini stamps. If you don't see the particular one you are looking for in the store, ask Diana if she can bring it in for you.

And newly released from Magnolia is the Special Moments Collection 2013.  Check it out HERE.  The images are oh-so-adorable!

The sentiments on the two panels read as follows... 

They are from a Whimsy Stamps stamp set that I have, but the writings are way too small so I rewrote them on my computer.  You can also find this little poem on the internet--it says author unknown. 

 

I made a point of not adding any embellishments that are 3-dimensional to the card, because I wanted to make a slip cover/sleeve for the card to keep it neatly folded for easier mailing...and storage.  Any 3-D embellishment would make it impossible for the card to slip through the sleeve opening.

Challenges I am entering with this card:
ABC Challenges for June - O is for Open (anything goes)
Marianne's Design Divas - Get Your Dies Out!
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #47 - Make Your Mark! (2nd entry, this time pencils)
Flutter By Wednesday #242 - recipe: flowers, at least 1 butterfly and diecut/punch
As You Like It Challenge #3 - Favorite Stamp (My favorite stamps are from Magnolia and as I love butterflies, their Butterfly Dreams Collection is a fave of mine, especially Tilda with Straw Hat.)
Allsorts Challenge Week 209 - Here come the girls
Card Makin' Mamas CMM70 - Rubber Stamps
Joanna Sheen Challenge - Spot and/or Stripes
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #55 - Anything Goes

That's all for today.  I'll be back tomorrow as it's another Wee Wednesday at the Magnolia-licious and Wee Stamps Challenge Blog and I'll be participating in that one.

Thanks so much for dropping by.  Appreciate the visit.  Have a wonderful day! 

Edited--I've drawn up the templates for the card and sleeve and you can find them HERE.

 

Materials and Tools Used:
Sentiment and other stamps: JustRite Butterfly Garden Set; Great Impressions trio of flowers
DP's:  Recollections Graceful paper pad
Dies:  Marianne Design Creatable Designer Doily LR0130; Spellbinders Labels Fourteen; Memory Box Butterfly Vine Border
Punches:  EK Success medium Retro Flower and Leaves; Martha Stewart Pine Branch and Butterfly edge punch; McGill Baby Blooms; Carla Craft small Cosmos for the flower centre
Miscellaneous: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink stamp pad Walnut Stain; pearls from my stash
Colouring Medium:  Coloured pencils-- Faber-Castell Polychromos and Artgrips, Derwent Softcolours and Prismacolor Premiers

Spring Cleaning

Hello!

It's a new challenge at the Magnolia-licious and Wee Stamps Challenge Blog.  The theme for our challenge is Spring is in the Air.

Beside daffodils, tulips, new shoots poking out of the ground and buds forming on the trees, spring also means...spring cleaning!!! LOL

I found a quote on the internet that gave me a chuckle and I thought it's just perfect for my card.  I can so relate to it...LOL.
Here's more of a side view of the card to show it's structure.

And I've also decorated the inside of my card.

I've coloured the 2 images with my coloured pencils. 

The stamps for these images are from Magnolia of course.  Magnolia stamps (full-size and mini) are available from Diana's on-line store, Magnolia-licious.  If you don't see the particular one you are looking for in the store, ask Diana if she can bring it in for you.  And newly available at Magnolia-licious are those wonderful Wee Stamps by Sylvia Zet.
Prices are discounted prices, you get excellent service and you also earn 2% in-store credit with every purchase!
Check out also the selections of cutting dies from Magnolia, Memory Box, PoppyStamps, Marianne Design, Cheery Lynn Designs and Joy! Crafts.

This image is of Tvi Tvi Ti Tilda from the Little Easter Collection 2013.

This is Tilda Watering from the same Little Easter Collection 2013.

I hope you'll play along with our challenge.  More details on the challenge and how to join in the fun can be found at the Magnolia-licious and Wee Stamps Challenge Blog.  While you're there, check out the fabulous cards of my DT teammates for inspirations.

Challenges I am entering with this card:
Charisma Cardz Challenge #11 - Die cuts
Card Makin' Mamas Challenge - Spring Colours
Chocolate Coffee & Cards Challenge #35 - Bring On Spring!
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Lots of Layers
A Gem of A Challenge #72 - On the Move
You, Me and Magnolia Challenge #10 - Springtime

That's all for now.  Thanks for dropping by.  I'm always appreciative of your visits and comments.  Have a fabulous week!


Materials and Tools Used:
DP's:  DCVW Cotton Bloom Stack; Recollections Garden Floral paper pad and Green Gingham
Dies:  Spellbinders Labels One; Memory Box Delicate Vine and Tessatina Border
Punches: Martha Stewart Garden Trellis deep edge; EK Success small Retro Flower; Fiskars 3-in-1 Celestial corner punch; Michaels tiny sun
Miscellaneous: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink stamp pad Walnut Stain and Frayed Burlap; pearls and small pompoms from my stash
Colouring Medium:  coloured pencils--Prismacolour Premiers, Faber-Castell Polychromos and Art Grips; Derwent Coloursofts.  Markers for the dotted background

Hello Spring! - FFFC #84

Hello!
Woo-hoo...it's Friday!  Weekend coming up and it's also time for a new challenge at Fancy and Fussy Friday Challenge Blog.  Beate is our hostess for this Challenge #84 and she has chosen the theme Flowers.

I was in the mood to use my coloured pencils, so that's what I've done here. When I do colour with pencils, I don't bother taking notes of what colours I used--too much trouble!!! LOL.  My coloured pencil collection is a mixture of colours from Prismacolor Premiers, Faber-Castell Polychromos and Art Grips, Derwent Coloursofts and Cretacolor Marinos.

Oh, I did use a couple of alcohol-ink based markers to dot the background though--discontinued Letraset Pantone Tria very light blue markers.

This adorable Magnolia image is of Tilda With Big Tulips from the With Love Collection 2013.

And I've decorated the inside of my card this way...with another cutie. 

This is an older Magnolia image called Tilda With Pony Tail and she is from the Sweet Rainbow Collection 2011.

Both of these images are available from Magnolia-licious, Diana's on-line store.  Diana has a vast collection of other Magnolia stamps as well--both full-size and mini ones.  If you don't see the particular one you are looking for in the store, contact Diana and ask her if she can bring it in for you.
And newly available at Magnolia-licious are those wonderful Wee Stamps by Sylvia Zet.
Not only are you being offered discounted prices and excellent services, you also get to earn 2% in-store credit with every purchase! Cool.
Don't overlook the selections of cutting dies from Magnolia, Memory Box, PoppyStamps, Marianne Design, Cheery Lynn Designs and Joy! Crafts.

Challenges I am entering with this card:
Sketch Saturday Week #248 - Leslie's Sketch
Heck of a Challenge - Spring/Butterflies and Pearls
Natalie and Amy's Challenge #7 - Diecuts
Forever Friends March Challenge - Lots of Flowers
Paper Playtime Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Week 196 - For a Lady
The Paper Shelter Challenge #102 - Punches and Dies
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #51 - Bring on Spring (lots of flowers)

Thanks for stopping by. Your visit is always very much appreciated.  Enjoy your day and have a fabulous weekend!


Materials and Tools Used:
Sentiments:  Computer generated
DP's:  Chatterbox Sky Rodeo Paisley and Rodeo Paisley; DCWV the Nantucket Stack
Dies:  Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Three; CC Design Olive Branch; Memory Box Cherry Blossom (flower centres)
Punches:  EK Success medium Retro Flower; Nellie Snellen Floral Punches Large Rose Leaf Set
Miscellaneous:  Ranger Tim Holtz distress ink stamp pad Walnute Stain, Aged Mahogany and Faded Jeans; pearls from my stash
Colouring Medium:  Coloured pencils

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Bubbling Tilda - Magnolia-licious August Inspiration Challenge

Hello.

It's time for a new challenge at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog.  Here's my DT card...

It's our inspiration challenge for the month of August and the ever-so-talented Jane, who is this month's hostess, has chosen this picture for your inspiration.  

As soon a I saw the picture, the butterfly there brought this image of Bubbling Tilda to my mind and I knew I wanted to use her for my card. Then I just used the colours from the picture to choose my papers and to colour the image.

I used my coloured pencils instead of markers on this card--my collection of Faber-Castell Polychromos, Derwent Coloursofts and Prismacolor Premiers.

Bubbling Tilda--so beautiful and adorable and one of my faves--is from Magnolia's Fairytale Collection 2010.  

Check out Diana's on-line store Magnolia-licious for a vast selection of Magnolia stamps both full-size and mini.  Take a look also at the dies available there--from Memory Box, PoppyStamps, Magnolia, Marianne Design and Cheery Lynn.  The items are discounted and as a bonus, you earn 2% store credits to be used on future purchases. 

This is the inside of my card...     

This second Tilda image is of Hello Little Butterfly from the Butterfly Dreams Collection 2011. 

I hope you will be able to play along with our inspiration challenge.  To further inspire you, hop over to the challenge blog HERE and have a look at the fabulous card of my DT teammates.

Challenges for this card:
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #113 - Colour Crazy (bold or rarely used)
Magnolia Mania Challenge #54 - Favorite Magnolia Rubber Stamp
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge #43 - Anything Goes (used DL112 butterfly mini)
Basic Grey Challenge #75 - Anything Goes (used BG Cappella papers)
Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge #16 - Pearls and Swirls
Everybody-Art-Challenge #202 - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge #33 - Things With Wings

By the way, this is my last as a Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog DT member.  I am moving to the Magnolia-licious Highlites DT as of September.  I'm so excited about that!

Thanks so much for dropping by.  I'm very appreciative of your visit and your comments--luv reading them!  Have a wonderful week!


Materials and Tools Used:
Sentiment Stamp:  MSE 'Sending You Happy Thoughts' clear stamp; Hero Arts 'Take Time to Enjoy...'
DP's:  from Basic Grey Cappella paper pad; Echo Park Paper Co. Garden Gate
Dies:  Magnolia Leaf and Swirl; Crealis Creative Flowers No. 02; Cheery Lynn Exotic Butterfly Mini DL112; Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Five and Mega Ovals
Punches:  EK Success Retro Flower medium and small
Miscellaneous:  Tim Holtz distress ink stamp pad Walnut Stain; pearls from my stash

One Smile - Magnolia-licious Colour Challenge #12

Hello!

It's the 2nd week of October, so it's time for a new challenge at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog. Here's my DT card.



It's a Colour Challenge and Candy, who is our hostess for the month of October, has chosen the colours blue, green and clear/white.




I have used Magnolia's Tilda With Straw Hat for the front of my card--she's becoming a favorite of mine--from the Butterfly Dreams Collection 2011. Isn't she sweet? She's available from Magnolia-licious, an on-line store for anything and everything Magnolia. This image is also available in the Mini Version.




I've used the Magnolia doohickey cutting die called Old Swedish Lace to border the oval die cut. (See my tutorial on how to do this if you don't already know how.)


And here's how I decorated the inside of my card. This other sweet gal is called Tilda with Pony Tail. She is from the Sweet Rainbow Collection 2011.

I've coloured both the Tilda images with my coloured pencils.



I hope you will come and join us in our challenge. Diana has offer a prize of a $25.00 Gift Certificate for your shopping pleasure at Magnolia-licious. And to further inspire you, have a look at fabulous cards and projects that the other DT gals have created HERE!


Now for me..LOL, here are a few challenges that I am entering with this card:
Crafting Life’s Pieces - Challenge #41 - October sketch
Bunny Zoe’s Crafts - Challenge 17 – Lace it up!
TOMIC – Challenge #19 – Magnolia Forever (use a sitting Tilda/Edwin and at least one doohickey die cut). My sitting Tilda is in the inside of my card as I consider the insides very much a part of my cards.
ABC Challenges - A for Anything Goes
Flutter By Wednesday – Challenge #174 – Open
Just Magnolia hAnglar & sTanglar - Week 127 – Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Get in Shape


Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm always appreciative of your visit and I very much enjoy reading your sweet comments. Have a wonderful week!




Materials and Tools Used:

Stamps, other than mentioned above: Just Rite Smile Set (the sentiment in the inside is actually included in the set also, but it was too small and I wanted it bigger, so I computer-generated it)

DP's: Recollections Blue and Green Plaid; 2 sheets from DCWV the Blossom Song stack paper pad

Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Ovals and Labels Twenty-One; Magnolia Leaf, Swirls and Old Swedish Lace doohickeys; Cheery Lynn Designs Exotic Butterfly Small

Punches: EK Success large, medium and small retro flowers; Carla Craft small flower for the flower centres

Miscellaneous: Tim Holtz distress ink stamp pad Tea Dye, lace and pearls from my stash

Medium: Coloured Pencils - Faber-Castell Polychromos, Derwent Coloursofts and Prismacolour Premiers

Happy Halloween

Hello and a Happy Tuesday!

Can you believe it's almost the end of September already? Which reminds...yikes, I'm not doing very well with my must-do-at-least-one-Christmas-card-per month. I have some serious catching up to do!

Anyway, back to my current card. It's time for our September Inspiration Challenge at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog.




Our hostess for the month of September is Tracy and she has provided this picture for your inspiration.



I hope you will come and play along with us in our challenge. There's is a prize of a $25.00 Gift Certificate for your shopping pleasure at Magnolia-licious. And to further inspire you, have a look at fabulous cards and projects that the other DT gals have created HERE!


As for my card, I have made a front-panel side step card, with the front panel being shifted to the side instead of centered.




This adorable witch is called Sitting Witch Tilda from the So Spooky Collection 2009 from Magnolia. And she is sitting on Pumpkin & Leaves from the same collection.

As you can tell...LOL...colouring in black is very much a challenge for me. I suck at it! One day I may just get it right--the operative word being 'may'...LOL.

I used my coloured pencils to do the colouring of my images. For her dress, hat and boots, I thought I was using black, but as it turned out I was using the darkest warm grey pencil. It did look black when I was colouring on the white paper, but compare to my self-made black spider (cute eh?) poor Tilda's outfit looks quite washed out...LOL. Oh well...I'll do better next time.

Normally, I would have stamp these 2 images separately and colour them. Then I would cut out the Tilda image, put pieces of foam tape/dimensionals onthe back and put her on the pumpkin for a more 3-D look. But this time, I had decided to do masking.


Here are some challenges I am entering with this card:

Simon Says Stamps - Dies to Die For
Magnolia Down Under - Challenge #115 - Fancy Folds
Paper Sundaes - Challenge #88 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Creature Comforts. I figure my itty bitty spider qualifies as 'any little critter'.


This is the view of the inside of the card.


That's all for now. So glad that you manage to drop by. Thanks so much for your visit--always much appreciated. Enjoy you day.


Materials and Tools Used:

Other stamp: Inkadinkadoo All Hallow's Eve clear stamp set

DP's: Basic Grey Eerie/Jack-o-Lantern, Making Memories (note) Worthy Delaney Ledger Circles

Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Nineteen

Punches: Martha Stewart Scary Fence Edge Punch, EK Success Retro Flower medium and small, MCGill Pine

Miscellaneous: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Stamp Pad Black Soot

Medium: Coloured Pencils - Faber-Castell Polychromos, Derwent Coloursofts and Prismacolour Premiers; Letraset Promarkers for the face and skin

feeling so blue - Magnolia-licious Colour Challenge #10

Hello!

Happy Happy Tuesday! It's the 2nd Tuesday of August, so it's time for a new colour challenge at Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog. It's Maria's turn to be the hostess this month and she's chosen Black & White and/or Monochrome for the colour challenge. Here's my DT card.



This actually would have been a good time for me to practice colouring in Black & White and challenge myself, because I suck at it...LOL. But I already had in mind to create a card for a co-worker who is retiring in November, an all-blue retirement card to match the sentiment. Good excuse, don't you think...LOL?



I've made this into a front-panel side step card. This is becoming a favorite card style for me. (If you're interested in the measurements that I used for this card, I've included a template in a previous posting HERE)


This Magnolia image is Farewell Tilda from the Bon Voyage Collection 2010. She is usually available for your purchase from Magnolia-licious on-line store, however I just checked and she is currently out of stock. If you're interested let Diana know.
The mini stamp version of Farewell Tilda, however, is in stock.


I've used my coloured pencils to colour the images for this card.


A few challenges I am using this card as my entry to:

Crafts and Me - Challenge 46 - Anything Goes
Just Magnolia hAnglar & sTanglar - Week 118 - Anything Goes with the option of adding glitter
My Mum's Craft Shop - Challenge 17 - Monochromatic
Papertake Weekly - Grow Your Own (flowers)


Here's how I've decorated the inside of my card.



Oh by the way, the sentiments on the front and in the inside of my card are computer generated.




The Tilda image that I've used here is called Dancing Party Tilda. She is from Magnolia's You Are So Special Collection 2011. You can also get this image from Diana at Magnolia-licious.




I hope you'll come and play with us in our August colour challenge at Magnolia-licous Challenge Blog. And to inspire you further, have a look at all the fabulous cards that my fellow teamates have created for this challenge--HERE.

Thanks so much for taking the time to drop by. As always your visit is very much appreciated. Have a wonderful week!



Materials and tools used:

DP's: Creative Imaginations Sonnets Harlequin in Blue, one sheet from DCWV Holiday Stack paper pad.

Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Fourteen and Shapeabilities Parisian Accents dies; EK Success retro flower punches medium and small; Punch Bunch small daisy flower and ash leaf punches; Martha Stewart branch and Martha Stewart Daisy Dot Edge punch (used the small flowers for the flower centre); Michaels tiny daisy punch.

Misc: Recollections pearls, Tim Holtz distress ink stamp pads Faded Jean and Weathered Wood.

Medium: coloured pencils--Prismacolor Premiers, Faber-Castell Polychromos and Derwent Coloursofts.

Christmas Ornaments

Hello.

Just a short posting here to show you a couple Christmas ornaments that I made.

I don't have my Christmas tree up yet...LOL...so I just draped a piece of white fabric on the back of a chair, stick a push-pin on it and hung the ornaments on the push-pin for picture taking.



Here are the close-ups of the 2 ornaments.





These two images are from Magnolia's A Merry Little Christmas Collection 2010. The first one is Tilda with Hanging Star and the second one is...what else...Tilda with Hanging Heart. Stamps for these images are available for your purchase at the Magnolia-licious on-line store HERE. These images are also available in the mini version.

I've coloured these images with my coloured pencils. I've added some cool-highlight glitter on the wings, the hanging star and hanging heart and some gold glitter to border the background circles.

The round paper border I made using die cuts from the Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Border die.




Challenges I am entering with these Christmas ornaments:
Simon Says Stamps - Shaped Cards/Creations
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Week 42 - Christmas in July
Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 91 - Christmas in July
Sir Stampalot - August Challenge - Whatever You Fancy


That's all for now. Thanks so much for taking the time to drop by. Your visit is very much appreciated. Enjoy your week!