July Creative Inspiration Challenges!

Happy Birthday, America!🇺🇸 

Our sponsor this month is All Dressed Up Stamps at Etsy!   A big thanks to this awesome shop!  I love her designs and here are two that I had a chance to play with:  Bunny Love and Two Little Mice ❤️

I colored the cuties up with colored pencils and then my plans for them took a nose dive!   A couple of doctor visits for me and my precious little Yoshi pup had a vet visit because he got sick and some kind of stomach/flu bug that I caught while at the doctor and 😳 there went my crafting time!   Thankfully I was able to go digital and get these completed.  I just used some digital papers I had created in Procreate and some sentiments I had in Procreate.  But digitally or on cardstock, these perfect little creatures will make anything you make shine!

Of course we want to see what you make for our Creative Inspiration Challenges this month where our theme is always Anything Goes!

Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone for June

I rediscovered a charming shop at Etsy last week!  Vectoria Designs has a YouTube channel, too, that offers free printables with full tutorials that are great!  Also available in their shop are templates for lots of cool projects if you want to use your own patterned paper and stamps or images!

This is a totally sweet collapsible envelope that opens into a box compartment that your recipient can put ATC’s, a necklace, gift card, whatever the imagination comes up with!

These paper kits come with background papers to print the designs on but you know me 😔 I rushed in without listening carefully to the tutorial and did not do that!  Still came out beautifully but with more work and measuring and some added bulk as I layered the inside!   Tinne at Vectoria Designs explains how to do it correctly and the kit provides all the papers needed for you to print out.  I am working on another totally free kit now and no special secret knowledge is needed to print these if you follow the directions.  I inked everything with walnut stain Distress Ink and made a simple flower closure and failing to find my circle punch I used a flower punch.  Tinne shows how to make the closures in her tutorials with some added bits of info I hadn’t thought about!  

Now come on and show us your Anything Goes themed for this month and Anything Goes project and remember no cards!  See ya at the Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone!

  

Creative Inspiration Challenges with Sheepski Designs!

Hi, all you crafty people!  June is popping off and as always our theme at Creative Inspiration Challenges is Anything Goes!  Our wonderful sponsor is Sheepski Designs and a big thank you to them!  I have a calendar using this gorgeous fuchsia image that I colored with alcohol markers and fussy cut before gluing to a calendar (made in Procreate using some freebie brush stamps then printed).  All my patterned papers were created in Procreate.

Next is my little album with some goodies using this beautiful strawberry plant!

Some happy little note papers with the strawberry image are tucked into the right side in front of a tag.

The left hand tag has a secret flip out booklet hidden behind it!  These adorable stickers were a thank you gift for supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  The artwork is by St. Jude patients Ty and Madison.  My parents always supported St. Jude and it has a special place in my heart, too.  No family ever receives a bill for any of the stay or travel expenses from St. Jude.  

So lots of room for goodies and such in a smallish package!  Perfect for summertime weekends and Memorial Day picnics!  Come on over to Creative Inspiration Challenges and show us what you’re working on this month!  We can’t wait to see them!

June 2nd Monday Greetings with Fred She Said Designs

 A huge thank you to Fred She Said Designs for sponsoring us over at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge!  Our required greeting is Floral Greetings with an optional twist to add some polka dots!

I had so much fun coloring up the Happy Flowers Digi Set by Fred She Said Designs and creating a joy fold card following YouTube tutorial by Sam Calcott, UK.  I used a happy yellow cardstock for the base parts of my card and made some happy clouds floating across the sky patterned paper in Procreate.  

Lift the flap and this is what you have.  I used a sentiment from Fred She Said Designs.

The card opens up to more happy flowers and a Bible verse, also Fred She Said Designs.   A thoroughly happy card in so many ways!  I love this set!  Come join us at the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge in June for your chance to win a prize from Fred She Said Designs guaranteed to make you smile!

The Outlawz Progressive/Freebie Challenge June 🎈🐰

It’s summertime the way I see it where I live!  The mosquitoes are on an extended spring break and being very rowdy and disruptive to no end!  That means lots of indoor crafting and this month we are using my little humble bunny to wish everyone Happy Birthday!

I colored him up in Procreate before printing him out.  While I was in Procreate I created two patterned digital papers to use in my project.  You can download them below if you’re interested.  I made a card with pockets on the inside for tags ( I used leftover paper and a flower punch to make some) or gift cards will fit also!  I used the different papers so even if not using tags you can see both papers.  I love bright colors even when they are my own wonky drawn balloons!   Of course I fussy cut the bunny leaving a border before gluing to the front.  I added some messy dots of Naples yellow acrylic paint for fun and some centers for my flowers.   Now I turn it over to you to get messy and crafty and show your work!  Much more fun than showing your work in math problems, right?   See you at the Outlawz Progressive/Freebie Challenge in June!

I printed these out 7x10 and have no clue yet how to size digital paper correctly 😋

Mermaids, Half-o-Ween or Anything Goes at LeighSBDesigns n May!

I made a  magnificent mermaid folio album using LeighSBDesigns Blue Lagoon Decorative Digital Paper pack and images following a tutorial and PDF with measurements by Vectoria Designs YouTube. 

The front flap with the lovely Pearl Balleigh Mermonster by LeighSBDesigns!

This sentie is from the FantaSeascape & Sentie Set!   This flap is a pocket for a tag.

I started adding some greenery from the FantaSeascape Set.  I made a tag and added the circle tab to put in the flap pocket.  Forgot to take a pic!

The middle section can hold a booklet!

I made a pocket on the back.  I added some mermaid scales in Procreate and layered up making a small shallow pocket.  I want to add the Mermaid Scales Horizontal Slimline Card in this album but the Cricut was not set up.  I wanted to use some ribbon I have that matches this paper so well but it remained hidden so the embroidery thread which tangles a bit too much!   I plan on adding Coral, Neptune, Poseidon, Anubis the Dogfish, Basket the Catfish and Cleopatra Oddleigh Mermaid all from the FantaSea 2022 MerMay Collection from LeighSBDesigns.  Time just swam right away from me!  I am entering this at the LeighSBDesigns Challenge #41 Mermaids or Halloween in May or Anything Goes!

LeighSBDesigns Challenge #41 👻🧜‍♀️🤪

The theme at LeighSBDesigns this month is Mermaids, Half-o-ween or Anything Goes!  Something for everyone and fun for all!  This post is heavy in photos so I will be short on words!   Haunted Secrets Booklet by Vectoria Designs, Etsy.  Full tutorial and link to free printables at VectoriaDesigns YouTube.

Booklet closed

First page each right hand page is open on the right to slide in tags

The left hand cover page opens to a little area for cards and bits and bobs.

That will be another post as I finish a little book and add some things.

Each right hand page opens out

Next page

Open

Next page

Open

Next page

Open

Last page back of book with little enclosure with string

Last envelope open with portrait card inside. 

Back cover will be on the next post as I forgot to get a photo!

This was so much fun and Tinne walks you through every step from printing on both sides of paper to getting it all put together in the tutorial!  I can see all sorts of Halloween goodies getting stuck in all the pockets of this gorgeous Haunted Secrets booklet!  Now it goes to LeighSBDesigns Challenge #41!  Happy Half-o-Ween 🎃👻 

Monday Greetings with Kate Hadfield Designs!

I’ve had the best time crafting away with Kate Hadfield Designs this month!   From a knight and his kingdom for Creative Inspiration Challenges to this monster-rific exploding card for the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge where we are being sponsored by Kate!  

The card all folded back into its little envelope with magnetic closure!

Beware opening this deceptively innocent little card because it is filled with some hungry, happy little monsters who are celebrating cutie pie blue monster’s birthday!  I followed a YouTube tutorial by Sam Calcott UK to make this lovely explosion of folds to highlight these totally terrific little monsters!  The set is Party Monster Stamps and I colored them all up in Procreate before printing out.  If you haven’t visited Kate Hadfield Designs …..well, run along and see all the freebies and blog inspirations and you can thank me later!  🥳.  Thank you so much, Kate, for sponsoring us at Monday Greetings for May!  We are celebrating you this month!💕.  I hope to see all of our players this month at  the Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge!

Creative Inspiration Challenges with Kate Hadfield Designs!

 March is screaming through most of the United States causing blizzards for the northern states and tornadoes, rain, high winds and lots of thunderstorms in my area!  I got lost in craft world playing with When Knights Were Bold Stamps by Kate Hadfield Designs!  Kate is such a fantastic sponsor for our challenge and we adore her and her awesome designs!  Thank, Kate! ❤️

I created a blue background cardstock by matching the blue stripes from the freebie set Winter Wishes found in the VIP Doddle Den at Kate Hadfield Designs that I wanted to use.  I used the bugle, and two of the shields from the set, coloring them then adding them to my solid blue cardstock in Procreate.   The castle and darling knight and horse were colored in Procreate, printed out and fussy cut before attaching to my background.  I used the Old Type Alpha Set (also a freebie at the VIP Doodle Den) assembling the letters in Procreate the printing and fussy cutting to make my sentiment.  This cute set could be used to make some awesome play sets for children, wonderful scrapbook pages either physical pages or digital and tons of cute cards for the special little knight in your life!

We really look forward to seeing you at Creative Inspiration Challenges #24 this month!  It’s always Anything Goes and always inspirational and fun!

LeighSBDesigns April Challenge!

Here I am sliding into another challenge at LeighSBDesigns and actually making it….I think?  I hope!  It’s the 8th birthday celebration for LeighSBDesigns but of course you could play Anything Goes!  I went with both themes kinda….it’s a Happy UnBirthday tea party with who else but that crazy, mad adorable Cheshire Kitty from the Loveleigh Kitties in Wonderland Collection by Leigh!

I colored that kooky kitty up in Procreate, printed and cut out leaving a small white totally wonky line.  Not for artistic purposes or effects but because that is just what happens when scissors and my hands meet!  The background paper is from a set I got on Etsy by Bum Fuzzie Boutique.  I trimmed it down to make a bookmark because I am totally wild about bookmark making here lately.  I backed everything with some kraft card stock inking with Distress Ink salty ocean.  I fussy cut part of a teapot and parts of a cup from the part of the paper I wasn’t using and glued them for an unexpected pour from Cheshire Kitty!  The sentie is from the  Wonderland Senties Set released with the collection and is probably my favorite!  I used some treasured embroidery threads from my Mama’s sewing basket  💖   Again, Happy Birthday LeighSBDesigns!

 

Happy Birthday LeighSBDesigns 🎈🎂🥳

 It’s been eight years of never ending excitement with LeighSBDesigns!  So many characters and iconic designs have been introduced to us since Leigh opened up her shop!  To list them all or even my favorites would take many blogs and who can list favorites when every new release quickly becomes a top favorite! 🤩.  My first digital present for LeighSBDesigns is a card created in Procreate following a YouTube tutorial by Art with Flo!  I am determined to not brush up on my Procreate skills but simply learn some/any kind/one!! skills!

This was so fun to do even with my notorious shaky hand!  A little jiggle never hurt a birthday cake, right?😉.   So here’s to all the wonderful images to come from our clever, clever girl, Leigh!  Happy Birthday LeighSBDesigns and a big thank you to Leigh and Val for all the fun blog hops and challenges they work so hard to give us!

Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone Outlawz Challenge

 A super easy and quick craft that I always forget about is making envelopes!  A great way to use those patterned paper packs that most of us have!  I found a great free template pattern at Gathering Beauty Crafts and Printables.  This is a great blog with tons of free craft printables and fabulous inspiration!

I used the blank template to make my two envelopes gluing a strip of cardstock for the address area.  In the download at Gathering Beauty there are three other options to print out on cardstock decorated with spots, confetti and paint marks.  I used some random stamps that were in my stamp basket to stamp and decorate these cute envelopes.  I wouldn’t mail these because I just glued the address label on that could be easily fixed with some self adhesive labels I think 🤔?  This month at the Outlawz Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone you can create anything you want just not any cards! 😉.  Come play with us and get crafty!