Happy Easter -- For All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello, fellow crafters, and happy March!  That means it's time for another challenge in the Facebook group of All Dressed Up Stamps. The theme this month is ''For the Girls'.  Now, no one does girl images like Wendy Burns, so this is a great one!  Pick out a favorite from the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop and join us for the ADU FB Challenge.  You have all month! 

I found a girl that also celebrates Easter, or spring!  Perfect for March, I figured!  Here's Happy Easter:

I colored Happy Easter using only Olo markers.  I was determined to try and get to know the colors that I own better.  I was a challenge.  The skin tones went OK.  Her hair was initially a disaster, but after blending a bunch a shades, I achieved something I was satisfied with.  Her dress chose to be another challenge, and I almost gave up at this point, but again, mixed enough shades until I could live with it. The bunny is very light, but those were the only grays I had.  Oh well, It's my Olo colored project.   The beautiful background plate is from Pinkfresh Studio, as is the nesting dies I cut and backed the image with.  The sentiment is meant to be foiled, but I left it as is, and the dewdrops are from my stash.

I hope you can join us this month for our 'For the Girls' Challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

Let's Get Cozy -- New Release Day for All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello, fellow crafters!  Thanks for visiting my blog today.  There are new releases in the All All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop, and I am featuring one of them today.  I had a really fun time with this one!  

This is one of the fun fashionistas from Winter Walks. There are 3 gals in the set.  I wanted to combine one of them with one of the dogs from Winter Pups, an older set that I cherish.  Wendy was kind enough to combine the images for me so I could color them and have fun.  Thank you, Wendy!

I colored Winter Walks and Winter Pup with Copic markers and a few Olo markers.  I really, really need to refill my Copics.  I found a pad of wintery paper from Scrapbook.com and used that to mount my image, and created a mini slim card.  It measures 3.5 x 6.  The sentiment is an old stamp set from Spellbinders.  I finished the card off with 3 acrylic hearts from Concord & 9th. 

There is another new release this month, plus lots of other great images in the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop.  Check out the shop, the Facebook group, and the blog for more inspiration! 

Rooster Serenade -- for Di's Digistamps

  Greetings, friends!  I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day!  We have had a beautiful stretch of weather, with Spring really teasing us, but more snow is supposed to arrive tomorrow.  It's too early for spring, but it sure was nice while it was here!

I'm posting today for Di's Digistamps.  She has some wonderful new Springtime images in her Etsy Shop. I colored up Rooster Serenade for this card: 

I chose the Black & White version of Rooster Serenade, but you'll also find a pre-colored version in the shop.  I colored Rooster Serenade with Copic and Olo markers. Next, I stamped a very old background stamp from my stash from a company loooong defunct.  The pattern was called 'beehive', but I thought it looked liked chicken wire, especially stamped tone-on-tone. I used square dies from my stash to cut out the image and add a bit off accent color to the design. The sentiment is from a set I bought long ago also and no longer in business. Some blue topaz gems from Altenew finished off the card.

I hope you enjoyed this card and will check out all the wonderful digis at Di's Digistamps Etsy Shop!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenge:

Promarker Challenge - Shop Your Stash (old background stamp, old sentiment stamp, old square dies, and gems from my stash)

Tiny Tulip Mouse -- for Di's Digistamps

 Hello, and happy February!  I don't know about you, but January felt like it had about 486 days this years.  It was so cold!!! I am ready for a little warmth. 

I'm posting a card I made today using a Di's Digistamp image.  It is one of the newest ones in Di's Etsy Shop, and it is so very cute!  It comes in a black & white image, but also a colored image, if you don't like to color, or if you are short on time. 

This little darling image is the black and white version of Tiny Tulip Mouse: 

 I colored  Tiny Tulip Mouse with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  The pink floral background paper is by  Crafter's Companion.  The scalloped cutting die is from is by Taylored Expressions, as is the stamped sentiment. The die cut flower is by Altenew.  It is my new favorite, as it goes together very easily, and is such a nice size for cards. 

I'm off to look for some challenges to enter this sweet TinyTulip Mouse card in.  Happy crafting everyone! 

Pretty Lashes -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 Hello. crafty friends, and happy February!  It's the month of love, and after a short break, All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group is starting their first challenge of the year with the month-long theme of Hearts &/or Flowers.  I think that's a great one for Valentine's or Galentine's Day. The challenge starts today and runs all month.  You'll find a folder in the Facebook group for your entries. 

I used an image a beautiful image with flowers on it, then added a heart to fit this month's Hearts &/or Flowers theme.  This is Pretty Lashes: 

I colored Pretty Lashes with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then fussy cut her out.  The background paper is digital.  I found it from scouring through long ago design team companies that have long since gone out of business. I thought the colors went well with my image and large die cut heart.  The hearts were cut out withdies from Taylored Expresseions.  The sentiment is also from them.  

I hope you like Pretty Lashes and feel inspired to enter the challenge yourself! I'd love to see your creations!

Charlotte Pixie -- for Di's Digistamps

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamp Challenges.  Although Di has hundreds of beautiful colored images in her Etsy shop, the challenge this week is to hand color an image.  The challenge will last for 2 weeks, and we'd really like to see you use a Di's Digistamp image, but it's not required. 

I used one of the newer images in Di's Digistamps shop for the challenge today. This is Charlotte Pixie: 

I colored Charlotte Pixie with Olo markers.  The thin frame is a new die and a new company for me.  It is by Kristin Warner.  I like the delicate, simple line of it. The sentiment and the die that cuts it out are by Pinkfresh Studios.  Isn't that sentiment perfect for this image?  I was so pleased when I remembered I had it!  

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our 'hand colored image' challenge at Di's Digistamps challenges.  I'd love to see your creations. 

Fall and You are My Favorites -- for Di's Digistamps

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps' Challenges. The challenge will run for the next 2 weeks.  The theme this time is 'Button Up' (use buttons somewhere on your project).  You don't have to use a Di's Digistamps image, but the prize is greater if you win!

For this Button Up challenge, I used one of Di's new Fall images, Maple Paws.

Maple Paws is available in both a black & white and a pre colored version.  I used the black and white version and colored it with Olo markers.

I used papers from Pink & Main that I thought looked kind of sweater stitched for the card background. The background is also from Pink & Main. 

The buttons are from my stash. 

I hope you can join us these next two weeks for our Button Up Challenge.  I'd love to see your creations! 

Beary Butterfly -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Happy Saturday!  Saturday is a good day because a new challenge starts on the Di's Digistamp Challenge Blog.  The challenges run for 2 weeks.  The theme for the next 2 weeks is 'Use die cuts &/or Punches'. We love to see Di's images being used, but it's not a requirement.

Di has some new bear images in her shop, and I colored up one of those for today's challenge.  Isn't he Beary sweet? 

This is Beary Butterfly, colored with a combination of Copic and Olo markers. There is a pre-colored version of Beary Butterfly available also. 

After I finished coloring Beary Butterfly, I got to work using die cuts on my card.  I don't have many punches anymore.  I used to have a lot of them, but they took up so much room that I got rid of most all of them.  I cut and backed the Beary Butterfly  image with some old Spellbinders scalloped dies.  The 'Sending Cheer' sentiment is from Pink & Main, and so is the flag backer.  The lacy butterfly was one of the first dies I ever bought.  It is by Cheery Lynn and it's still my favorite of all the butterfly dies I own.   To finish the card off, I stamped an all over dot pattern by Taylored Expressions on the base of the card.

That's it for today's 'Use Die cuts or punches' card.  I hope you can join our challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Passion for Markers -- for a child

Craft Rocket Challenge -- Animals

Creative Inspirations Challenge -- ATG

Elliebelle's Garden Party -- Anything in or from a garden

Mouse Ahoy! for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The challenge runs for the next 2 weeks.  The theme of the challenge is Summer Fun (include a sun or water or both on your project).  You don't have to use a Di's Digistamps image, but we sure do like to see them when you do. 

I used both a sun and water on my challenge card, and an absolutely darling Di's Digistamps image called Dreamboat Mice.  This is the black & white version.  There is also a pre-colored version. 

I colored Dreamboat Mice with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then fussy cut the image.  The water was created using 2 dies.  One was part of a rainbow die from Taylored Expressions.  The other was a die from Close To My Heart (retired).  The sun die is from Spellbinders Paper Arts.  The sentiment is from Colorado Stamp Company. 

I hope you can join us these next two weeks for our Summer Fun challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges. I'd love to see what you create!

Little Ladybird -- for All Dressed Up Stamps

 July -- a new month, and a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group.  The theme this month is "We Have Wings". The challenge starts today and goes all month.  Enter as many times as you'd like, as long as you use an All Dressed Up Stamps image. 

I have colored up a lot of All Dressed Up Stamps images through the years.  When I can, I try to find something new to challenge myself with.  I found this darling Little Ladybird image and thought, why haven't I ever colored this before? It's been around so long, I had to have Wendy put it back in the shop. But, it sure is sweet!

I colored Little Ladybird with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  I used some oblong oval dies from Taylored Expressions tout out the Little Ladybird image, back her, and create the shaped card base. Everything else I used to create the card is from Pink & Main:  the cute designer daisy and ladybug paper, the ladybug die cut, the sentiment and the banner it's stamped on, and the little clay ladybugs I glued on here and there on the image and sentiment.

I hope you join us this month for our All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook challenge.  There's also another challenge on the ADU Challenge Blog.  I'd love to see your creations!  

Little Captain -- A New Release at All Dressed Up Stamps

 It's never too early to start teaching children respect, right?  That's what I thought of when I saw this new image from Wendy Burns at All Dressed Up Stamps.  It's one of 3 new releases this month, available in the All Dressed Up Stamps Etsy Shop. 

Here's my take on Little Captain: 

I think this would be a darling "Just like Dad" image for Father's Day, too.

I colored Little Captain with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  I desperately need to spend a day refilling my Copics, so I fill in with Olo markers where I need to.  

The designer papers are old, old, old.  I remembered I had some patriotic papers from long ago.  The company is Authentique.  Are they still around?  They are from my scrapbooking days.   I cut them out with some stitched dies from Taylored Expressions. The stitched star dies are from Pink & Main. 

You can see more great inspiration from all three cute releases in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group and on the All Dressed Up Challenge blog.  Check it out.  You'll be glad you did! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

A Perfect Time to Craft -- ATG

Crafter's Cafe -- Masculine

Send a Smile For Kids --Summer Fun cards 4 Kids

Avenue 613 -- For the Guys

Prickly Friend -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Hello, and happy Saturday!  It's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps challenges. The theme for the next 2 weeks is, Show Us Something New (anything new to you). Di has the cutest digis, and although you can enter the challenge without using one of her images, why not look around the store and choose something to treat yourself?  She has both black & white and pre-colored images. 

For the current Show Us Something New challenge, I used the Daisy Hedgy B & W image. 

I colored Daisy Hedgy using mostly Copics, and just a couple Olos on the flower petal. Then, I fussy cut the image out.

To try something new, I placed some stripes of double sided sticky tape on my card panel.  The, I applied foil and ran it through my Mini Minc using no heat.  Just the pressure allowed it to stick to the tape.  I didn't think it would work, but it did!  Woot, woot! 

The sentiment is from a clear sentiment set I often reach for.  It is from Tailored Expressions.  It has dies to cut them out, but this time, I just stamped directly on the card base.  I then attached the base to a mini slim card front that I created. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our Show Us Something New challenge.  I'd love to see what you are trying new.  We can learn from each other.

 I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Passion for Markers -- Animals

Creative Fingers -- ATG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG

Wishing You a Day of Calm -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Wake up. Take bath.  Read a book.  Stay calm.  Now, that's my idea of the perfect day!  I cannot remember the last time I did it, but I can always dream!  

A new challenge starts today at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The challenge will run for two weeks, and the theme is 'Animals acting like humans'. Many of us have stamps that fit that category, and Di has a store full of darling images of animals doing human-like things!  Take a look, pick something out, color it up, (or buy pre-colored) and join the challenge. I used Teacup Mouse for my challenge card:

I colored Teacup Mouse using both Olo and Copic markers.  That scene is so sweet, it makes me giggle! I found the sentiment in a set of Spellbinders clear stamps.  Lucky for me it had a backer to cut it out.  The paper behind the sentiment and the scalloped paper are from Pink & Main.  All the other card stock is from Taylored Expressions.  The bubble-like gems are from Concord & 9th. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks.  I would love to see your take on 'Animals acting like humans"!

Wake Up. Hug Dog. Have a Good Day. For All Dressed Up Stamps

 Happy June, blog readers!  Thanks for stopping by!  It's the first of the month, so it's time for a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook group. The theme for the month of June is 'My Favorite Things'.  You don't have to know me too well to know that my card will have something to do with dogs.  They will always be among my most favorite things!  Paws down!

Using one of the images in the Dogs in Shades set, I created my card for this month's challenge: 

There is is!  One of the Dogs in Shades images, blown up quite large, colored with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then fussy cut. 

I don't know where I got this paws stencil, but I love it and use it often.  What could be better than a rainbow of paw prints dancing across the page?  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions, and is part of a whole set of fun dog expressions.  You can never have too many dog sentiments when most of your friends are as dog obsessed as you are. 

Here's the reason I'm so dog obsessed.  This is my sweet boy, Winter.  He will be 7 soon, and is the best boy, ever! I am with him most of my waking moments.  He is truly my favorite thing!

I hope you can join our Favorite Things challenge at All Dressed Up Facebook Challenges this month. I'd love to see what your favorite things are!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Passion for Markers -- 4-Legged Friends

Allsorts Birthday Challenge (Congrats!) -- ATG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG

We Love To Create -- AT Mixed Media Goes 

Hold On! for The Paper Shelter

 Hold on!  It's almost the end of May, can you believe it?!? The month's are marching by!

A new challenge starts today at The Paper Shelter.  Challenges start every Wednesday, running for a week.  Each week, there is an optional theme.  This week, the optional theme is Enjoy the Outdoors. There is no place I'd rather be than outdoors with my husband and my dog, so this was an easy theme for me! You can always choose to enter our challenges with an anything goes theme.  Your choice!

I found a darling image that I thought would be great for spring.  It was a super windy day the day I colored the image and created the card, and I thought the sentiment was perfect for a "hold on to your hats" kind of spring day:

The image is called Ducklings.  I colored Ducklings with a combination of Copic and Olo markers, then proceeded to make it into a mini slim card (3.5x6).  The sentiment is by Colorado Stamp Company.  The clouds and sun are from Spellbinders, and the mini slim die was from Taylored Expressions. 

Here's a graphic of our prizes for the challenge.  Use one of our images  You could win big!

I hope you can join us this week for our Great Outdoors  or anything goes challenge.  I'd love to see what you create!

Small Things, Great Love -- For Di's Digistamps

 Hi, and thanks for stopping by!  It's Saturday, and time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges. The challenge runs for 2 weeks with the theme of Sentimentally Yours (use a sentiment).  Now, that's an easy theme!  Use a Di's Digistamps image and increase your odds of winning a great prize.  She has such great ones in her Etsy shop and she's always adding new ones, too. Plus, they are often on sale!

For this Sentimentally Yours challenge, I used the darling Daisy Mouse image:

I colored Daisy Mouse with a combination of Copic and Olo markers.  I am smitten with how sweet this image is!  I used arched nesting dies by Hero Arts to cut out the image and back it.  The backing paper and the dotted background paper are both by Pink & Main.  The sentiment and die used to cut it out are by Taylored Expressions.  The sequins I used to finish off the card are by Nuvo. 

I hope you can join us these next two weeks at Di's Digistamps challenges for our Sentimentally Yours challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

CRAFT challenge -- ATG

Craft Rocket Challenge -- Flowers

Elliebelle's Garden Party -- Anything in or around the garden

Crafty Catz -- ATG

Cut it Up -- At least one die cut (has 3)

Passion for Markers -- ATG (special anniversary challenge)

Have a Sweet Birthday -- for Di's Digistamps

 It's Saturday, and it's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps Challenges.  The challenge will run for 2 weeks, and the theme is 'Birthdays'.  You are not required to use a Di's image, but the prize is greater if you do.

Di has fantastic creatures doing all kinds of human-like things, but this time, I decided to use one of her cute humans.  Here's the black & white version of Wendy's Cupcakes.  There's also a pre-colored version for making for quick and easy cards!

I colored Wendy and her outfit with Copic markers.  For the cupcakes, I switched to Olo markers.  I liked the bright colors I found.   The hexagon die and die that cut the hatchings is and both from Taylored Expressions. The sentiment is also from there.  The papers are old ones from Crafter's Companion.  The flat backed sequins are from my stash. 

I hope you can join us this next 2 weeks for our birthday challenge.  We always need birthday cards!  Here's your chance! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar Challenge -- Feminine

Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers -- ATG with Patterned Paper

Polkadoodles -- ATG

Creative Knockouts -- 2 or More Patterned Papers

Thanks a Bunch -- For All Dressed Up Stamps

A new month, a new challenge!  It's April, and time for a new challenge in the All Dressed Up Stamps Facebook Group.  The challenge starts today and runs the whole month of April.  The theme is 'We love flowers'. An All Dressed Up Stamps image is required. 

For my DT inspiration using flowers, I colored up the lovely Thanks a Bunch image: 

I colored Thanks a Bunch with Olo markers.  I inked the edges of the stitched panel with a soft blue ink. I cut out the postage stamp panel with a die from my stash.  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions. 

I hope you can join us this month for our 'We love flowers' challenge.  I'd love to see what you create!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Passion for Markers -- Anything but birthdays

A Perfect Time to Craft -- ATG

With Love -- for The Paper Shelter

Greetings, and thanks for visiting my blog today!   It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Shelter.  New challenges start each Wednesday, and run for a month. The theme this week is 'With Love'.

I thought one of the coloring books from The Paper Shelter would have a perfect loved theme image, and the Flowers Coloring Book had many images that fit the theme. I used this image from page 6 of the book: 

I colored this Flowers image with a combination of Olo and Copic markers.  I used a clear stamp from Waffle Flower for the sentiment, and cut and backed the image with dies from Spellbinders. A few gems from my stash finish the card.

The graphic below explains the prizes you could win from The Paper Shelter:

I hope you can join us this week at The Paper Shelter challenge for our 'With Love' challenge.  I'd love to see what you create! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Passion for Markers -- use gems

AUD Sentiments -- Love

Word Art Wednesday -- ATG

Have a Mice Birthday -- for Di's Digistamps Challenges

 Hello!  Thanks for visiting my blog today.  I hope you had a great Valentine's Day yesterday.  Nothing too elaborate here:  just a day with my sweetheart husband and my sweetheart dog.

It's time for a new challenge at Di's Digistamps challenges. The challenge that starts today will run for 2 weeks.  The theme is 'Circles Everywhere'.  We'd love to see you use a Di's image, but it's not a requirement.  

I used the darling image.'Have a Mice Day' for the circles challenge: 

I might have gotten a bit carried away with the 'circles' theme, lol!

I colored Have a Mice Day with a combination of Copic and Olo markers. I used cutting dies from Hero Arts to cut out and back the image.  I also used the set on the sentiment (computer generated).  The circles paper was found at Digital Scrapbook.  I made this into a 5x7 card, inking the edges of the digital paper with black ink to draw the eye inward. 

I hope you will join us this week at Di's Digistamps Challenges. I'd love to see your take on the 'Circles' challenge.  You have 2 weeks to join us!

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Passion for markers -- use red &/or pink

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends -- ATG

Digichoosday -- ATG

I Spy with my Little Eye -- something with feathers or fur