Whimsy DT application: Some call it "determined"...

...I call it like it really is: I'm stubborn. I rode a mule named Willow back in September, while visiting the Grand Canyon. They warned me that she was stubborn. I told them she'd met her match and away we went. Well, sometimes, like recognizes like. Willow and I got along fabulously.

I'm digressing again. This post is yet another attempt to make it as a guest DT member at Whimsy. One of these days, it will happen. Maybe not last month (okay, definitely not last month), maybe not this month, but at some point, maybe. Hopefully. I am stubborn, so they're not getting rid of me with one little no.

Not only is their customer service phenomenal, but I love the stamps and have quite a few already. They're so much fun to color and always inspire me to create. Who wouldn't want to design for a company that makes you feel that way? Plus, their DT does some pretty amazing work. So, even if I don't make the GDT spot, I'm still inspired. That's always a good thing.

On Sunday, I took a class on never-ending cards. Now I am hooked and have begun several that are only awaiting embellishments. That's the hard part for me, because the embellies need to stay kind of flat and I like those big, fat, dimensional kind. After staring at this card for a while, I finally remembered that I had a hole punch and a signo pen to make some tiny circles, plus some cool punches, tiny little Jolee's flowers, and even a flat sticker or two that came in the paper pack. Voila, here it is:

The front. Sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly. That cute little kitten is from the Playful Kittens set at Whimsy.

Open it up to this view, where you can write a little note to the recipient.

Then this one, where you get another cute kitten.

And finally, this one. Yep, it's another cute kitty!

All kittens were colored with the C's, mainly C3, 1, and 0. Cheeks, paw prints, and ears are R20 and R000. Flowers, butterflies, and hearts are RVs. Papers are Echo Park "Happy Easter" collection.

 

This post is already picture heavy, so rather than adding more cards to show some variety, I'll just link back to my last DT application. Here you go!

 

Ok, now I'm anxiously awaiting an answer. Oh, I guess I didn't mention that I'm stubborn and impatient!!!

 

By the way, can I at least get some kudos because I finally managed to make a fancy fold card without messing it up?!? I am fancy fold challenged. 

 

Sometimes, you've only got time for a quickie.

And some titles make my friends minds go right into the gutter. You know who you are. Back on up out of that gutter now, darlings. Come along now.

It was 12:30 at night, my cousin was in the hospital following a particularly nasty surgery, and I needed a quick card to put in the mail first thing in the morning. Luckily for me, I'd had some time to color recently, so I had a few images ready to go. Mojo Monday's sketch 279 made the decision for me. I only had two images that went with the shape of the sketch, and I really, really liked this sketch and wanted to use it.

This is the card I put together. Notice that I finally used one of my non-Elisabeth Bell Whimsy images like I promised I'd do over a week ago. Better late than never!

This little cutie is from the Playful Kittens set at Whimsy stamps. My cousin loves cats, and I love her, so a cat with a heart is perfect. Papers are Crate Paper. Image border cut with a Spellbinders Nestie. I'm going to enter this card in the Whimsy Inspirations challenge to use fancy edges. Anyway, cardstock is Bazzill, buttons and twine are from my stash, and the little grommets are actually stickers from Rain Dots. And, of course, the image was colored with copics.

Please pray for my cousin's speedy recovery. And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Valentine's Wishes

Here's another card with an image I colored while visiting family this weekend. I have loved Ching Chou Kiuk's images ever since I first saw them. I have quite a few, but tend to add more to my collection on a regular basis. I just can't help it; they are so pretty and ethereal. This was one of the easier ones to color, as it doesn't have as much background details as some others.

I based the design after Cardabilities sketch #68. The sketch calls for a rectangular card and I probably should have stuck with that shape instead of square. I feel like there's too much negative space on the sides, but it's a little late now! I was afraid to cut the background paper too much, because I was worried I'd end up covering up the butterfly.

I colored the image with copics, added glitter with a spica pen, liquid pearls in her hair, and chalked a sky background. Papers are Creative Imaginations. I used my spellbinders nesties to cut her into a circle and make the heart border. Since my husband's passing, I don't really have anyone for whom I make Valentine's cards, so I am hopeful that having all of the hearts around the image gives her a romantic enough feel to qualify for the challenge at Sweet Pea, as well.

As always, thanks for visiting!

A little sassy, A lot sweet

My friend Danni's birthday is coming up later this month. Danni is a bit of a sassy chick, with a wicked sense of humor and brutal honesty just when you need it, all wrapped up in sweetness. She's a wonderful friend to have who is always quick to help when needed and jump to my defense even when I'm too oblivious to recognize that I need a defender. I was visiting at my aunt's this weekend, where I got the chance to not only see my family but also to color some images while my aunt scrapbooked. I colored this adorable image with Danni in mind, illustrated by Krista Smith for Sugar Nellie as part of the "Simply Sassy" line. I've had this stamp for ages; it was about time I pulled her out again.

As usual, I used copics. Unfortunately, I didn't note down the colors. Sorry about that! I chose the colors based on Saturated Canary's color challenge here.

The sentiment is kind of hidden at this angle, but it says, "May all your dreams come true." Seemed pretty fitting for a birthday card, as well as this cutie sitting in her pillows. The cream colored flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts and the pink ones are from my stash. I think I got them at AC Moore in the wedding section. The big flower is actually a hair piece where I removed the bobby pin used to hold it. Papers are Bazzill (cardstock) and Neopolitan by Recollections (Michael's). Pearls are from Michael's, as well. The felt corner is Heidi Swapp and I think long since retired. I'm working through my stash of them.  I guess that's about it!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Saturated Canary - color challenge
Sugar Bowl - anything goes with Sugar Nellie image
Oozak - anything goes with your fave color(s) - pink is my fave
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - sketch #141

Now to figure out the perfect gift to get for a friend who is both sassy and sweet!

FYI, it's my friend Tracy's birthday today (you can see her card a few posts below). Tracy has been with me through a lot of hard times and has always been supportive and compassionate. She makes me laugh, which is always a great quality to have in a friend. Please visit her blog and wish her a happy birthday.

Things are lookin' a little funny at Guylou's

It's time for another challenge at Guylou's Inimitability. I've got to admit that it was a hard one for me, but I lucked out. Once I figured out how I wanted to incorporate the orange, it all came together. Oh, wait. You actually want to hear what the challenge IS, don't you? Well, it's Chana's turn to play hostess and she has decided that we need to be a little off color. I don't think she means overtly inappropriate jokes, although the challenge does call for a funny sentiment, so who knows? I'm scared to ask. LOL. In addition to a funny sentiment, your card should be blue, grey, and orange. That was the hard part for me. I have never used this color combo before. It took me a little time to figure out what I wanted to do. Like I said, though, once the idea finally came to me, this card just came together.

Luckily for me, I had a paper pad with lots of blue and grey. Papers are My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Portabello Road. I added some pearls from my stash and used a punch for the photo corner. Sentiment is one I found online and just typed into Word and printed out. I figure it will make a fun "congrats on your wedding" card or even anniversary card.

The image was colored with copics. Blues on the jeans and folded clothes are B95, 93, 91. Orange is YG65, 61, 000. Greys are C3 and C1. I drew in a little hardwood floor, too. My original intention was to make this card pretty embellie-happy. However, it doesn't feel like it needs it to me. I've been asked several times how I know when to stop with the tossing of embellishments at a card and I can never answer, except to say "I just stop when it looks right." I decided this card looked right as-is, so here you go!

 

Please consider joining us for Chana's off color challenge. The challenge ends on February 14th, so you've got some time. You could win the chance to be a guest designer on a future challenge, as well as a gift card to the store. What are you waiting for?