Christmas cards

So confession time.. I made over 100 Christmas Cards in 2016 and I sent a total of ZERO.  I work in aged care and planned on making enough cards for all the residents.   Needless to say I'm well ahead for 2017.   I think I'll use up what I have for staff too.   So here is the first of the "new" cards for next year.    I saw this image on the inspiration blog for All dressed Up and just had to have it.   Its a lovely image and such a joy to colour..  I'm sure I will be using it again and again through the year.


Im playing in the ADU anything goes challenge with this card and also a few others.

Challenges
Christmas Sweet Stampin - Inspired by a song 
( Rudolph the red nosed reindeer comes to mind)

Thank you to the Creative Fingers Sponsors for 2016


All of the team members at Creative Fingers would like to put out a big thank you for all over the wonderful sponsors for 2016, without them we wouldn't have a challenge blog or images to use.
As part of our thank you post we are all linking up projects using the sponsors images so please head to all of the teams blogs and send some love to the generous sponsor's who donate to us so we can share with you.  I am using an image from OddBall Art Co - Zeddy dressed as Santa.    Lately I have decided to keep my projects clean and simple which actually means I finish cards instead of procrastinating.  I hope you like what I have created.


Please head on over to the challenge blog and visit the rest of the team, we love reading your comments.

Christmas is coming

I made this card up many months ago and forgot to share it.   As any of my regular blog visitors know, I love snowmen, there is just something fun and cheery about them.  Perhaps its simply my love of snow that draws me to colour them in.


This is an All Dressed Up image - Its Snowing

Challenges



Thanks for visiting today

Teddybo has come to play


Gayle the wonderful artist and inspiration behind Teddybo has been drawing again and I used my Zig Real Clean colour real brush markers on Bristol Smooth to colour up this bear a few weeks ago, and then I promptly forgot the place it on the card.  If you havent tried water markers on Bristol then please give it a go.  The blend is amazing and more importantly forgiving.




Challenges
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - UFO's


OddBallArt Facebook Challenge

Its the first of the month and that means Facebook Challenge time.  This is a challenge I encourage you to enter, you could win 3 free digi's as a thanks for playing prize!   
I loved colouring this image Spooky B-Cute Creeps ~ Gloomy Guss Image No. 222 for the challenge inspiration.   Im not sure who I will ever give this card to, but thats not the point, it was all about creating and colouring for me.    I used some texture paste with a stencil for the little triangles on the background piece and Copics for the main colouring on the image.   The sentiment is from a Dylusions set and I think its fitting!  


Please head on over to the store to check out everything it has to offer and please enter the challenge, we very much want to see what you create.   Facebook challenge can be found HERE each month.  Look for the album that is called Facebook challenge for the month your entering (ie. for this month look for the December Album).




Thanks for visiting today

Its OddBallArt New release time

So I finally found time to play with some new images from Lizzy at OddBall Art and for my first project using the adorable Kawaii Big Eye Unicorn - Twinkles.  This image comes with and without ornaments.     I have another project on the way using the same image but coloured up.  But for this project I wanted to use foil and glitter.


I just replaced my Mini Minc after my middle daughter accidentally broke the big Minc.   Have to say I love the mini, so dearest daughter is off the hook.   I created a background in my Sil software and played around with some wording and layout, printed on my laser printer and then foiled in a deep purple.  I added glitter behind the foiled layer and wallah, a simple but effective card.  

I often think we forget that digital images can be used in so many varied ways.  So I hope this gives you a new idea to play with.


I have some discount codes to share with you.. head on over to the shop to get some discounts!

DTPENNY10 will give you 10% off digital image purchases.

or

See below for Lizzy's special codes for limited time sales!

for cyber monday today .....CYBERMONDAY = 40% OFF anything in shop
or CYBERMONDAYFREE = FREE SHIPPING on anything in shop

Challenges


Elliebelles Creative Moments
Thanks for visiting today

Creative Fingers - Rick St Dennis



I made this card month ago, and had the recipient in mind from the start.   She detests clowns, so as soon as I saw a clown zombie I knew I had to use that image just for her... horrible I know the thought of making her a card she would hate.. not the image!



Looking forward to seeing what you all create for this fortnights challenge with us at Creative fingers?

Head on over to the challenge blog and link up your anything goes creations!

Thanks for visiting today

Creative Fingers Challenge Time

Its another week of challenges at Creative Fingers, I got given this image from Bugaboo that I tried to get adventurous with, but the adventure went a bit haywire.  I will try again with less embossing powder next time.  I was trying to make a flower tile type effect.... take two needed?

I do hope to see you playing along the the challenge too and be sure to visit the sponsor Bugaboo


Creative Fingers


This week we are happily sponsored by Elvenstar Art

 
and I used the very strong looking SKY for my project.  I thought I would struggle with this image but once I made the background the whole thing came together.  A bit different from my normal style.



What will you create in our anything goes challenge at Creative Fingers? Head on over to the challenge blog and link on up so we can comment on your brilliance.



Thanks for visiting today.

Challenge type of evening!

Im in a crafting mood but not wanting to colour with Copics.  I popped over to the MFT site and decided to play with both the colour and the sketch challenge in one card. 
   


I used Canson Watercolour paper and Gansia Tambi watercolours to great a background and once it let is air dry.. (yes I had patience) I flicked some copic white over it.. I must practice this more, I then trimmed up the piece using a simple single lined heart die with a MFT sentiment and banner die using remnants of the watercolour piece.  I struggle with clean and simple much of the time and at other times I love it.  Today was a love it and walk away type of day.







Thanks for visiting today





OddballArt New Release Image

I was so happy to get the chance to use this new image from OddballART by Lizzy Love.



 Whimsical Mouse and crying babies image 330

dont forget to head over to the store and use my code for a 10% discount on images - DTPENNY10  

Please dont forget to visit the Facebook challenges  where we are anything goes using OddballArt but also the OddballArt challenge page where you can link up your themed cards.

Challenges
A bit more time to craft - Anything Goes
Creative with stamps - Sentiment
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge


Thanks for visiting today

OddballArt Challenge


There is a new OddBall Art challenge over on Facebook for October and my project this month is clean and simple for a friends first xmas card (for her baby girl)

Hanging around the Holidays No.277


The image has lots of baby animals just hanging around the tree, but I just wanted to use the elephant so I got permission to edit the image a little.  The other part of the image that comes with this hanging elephant will be in my next post...if i can't find where i safely stored it!

Please not only visit the Facebook challenges  where we are anything goes using OddballArt but also the OddballArt challenge page where you can link up your themed cards.








Thanks for visiting today

Creative Fingers Challenge Time

 I am using an OddballArtCo image

Something about this image just makes me smile.  I originally copic coloured him up but then went back in with my pencils to add some more detail.  I will definitely be doing this more often, its nice to  mix colour mediums.


I had put a sentiment on this card that said "you're how old?" but it just didnt work.  So I dug into my Delusion stamps and finally used one.  I have about four sets of these funny sentiments but often the card isn't appropriate.   I can't help myself but to buy them though, they are hilarious if not sometimes rude.

I also volunteered to use an image from Crafts and Me - Ainia for this challenge.  I wanted to play with texture and a stencil I created on my brand new Cameo 3 (stencil with made with mylar.. and I am now thinking.. how did i not know about this before - I can't see myself buying another stencil again)

Now that I'm uploading this image, I have remembered that I have to go and refill all of my skin coloured Copics.    Its a long weekend here, so I may add that to my list of things to do as i clean up the craft room (again)



What will you create in our anything goes challenge at Creative Fingers? Head on over to the challenge blog and link on up so we can comment on your brilliance.

Im playing with some other Anything Goes Challenges

Thanks for visiting today.

Scrap n Dipity


I had some fun today creating with Frog Pile up from Scrap n'dipity, I originally printed this quite large coloured it and then started all over again with it smaller.  I much prefer the second attempt.  Sometimes its about proportions.   I remembered some background dies that I had not used in ages, I lined up the circles to create a whole page of background dots.   I then used the stamp dies with an embossing mat to create the green postage stamp background.




What will you create in our anything goes challenge at Creative Fingers? Head on over to the challenge blog and link on up so we can comment on your brilliance.


                                                            Thanks for visiting today

OddBall Art


Please not only visit the Facebook challenges  where we are anything goes using OddballArt but also the OddballArt challenge page where you can link up your themed cards.

For the Facebook September mid month challenge reminder  I have used Mr Sweets the fox, some simple embossing folder backgrounds and copic colouring.   The background paper and the sentiments were from an older paper pack in my stash.


Its been nice rummaging through what I own and creating clean and simple but cute cards lately.  My Christmas card stash is slowly building up, now the challenge is to actually send the cards out.






Thanks for visiting today

Creative Fingers with Bubagoo


I was lucky enough to use a new Bugaboo image - Funky Flower Blocks to create a simple bookmark for myself in anticipation of reading a "real book" that is.
A very clean and simple project with all the focus on the artwork.  Ive not really worked with Zetangle type images before, I think it would be relaxing just to sit and colour these sort of images for hours, as really there doesnt need to be rules so to speak.


Looking forward to seeing what you create when you link up on the Creative Fingers Challenge blog.

Challenges I'm playing in


Thanks for visiting today

OddBallArt Co Challenge time

So in breaking news OddballArtCo had a design team call recently and I was thrilled to be asked to be on the Facebook team.    Ill be posting my cards or projects in Facebook but will add them here too.   Ive been having loads of fun colouring lately and my cards are just simply making me happy.  

Please not only visit the Facebook challenges  where we are anything goes using OddballArt but also the OddballArt challenge page where you can link up your themed cards.

For the Facebook September 1 challenge I have used Sid the Silly Seahorse Image No.323  I even pulled out my compressor to get this coloured as I wanted him to be in a bright vibrant ocean (background).   Again with keeping it simple, I used MFT dies for the border and a Simon Says die for the YOU sentiment.





Thanks for visiting today

I'm playing inWorkd wide open design team monthly challenge

Creative Fingers

I was so excited to get to choose an image from Fabrika Fantasy and after picking and choosing I found the amazingly cute Happy Mouse.

I had a heap of fun creating the card for this challenge, playing around with embellishments and colours that I don't normally use.   


I printed the image on Copic Cardstock using up lots of space as i wanted the image to be quite big.   I then had the dilemma of huge image and wanting a normal sized card... sometimes the best cards are made with poor planning,  as i ended up with an offset image and enough room to embellish to boot.  The big die is from Kaiser and the smaller are MFT.  I even dragged out spellbinder ovals and scallops!

So now its your turn, what will you create in our anything goes challenge at Creative Fingers?  

                                                               Thanks for visiting today

A little bit of Inspiration

I appear to have found a touch of crafting mojo of late and am actually wanting to find time to craft, even if its taking me a week to create a card vs an hour, its nice to be back in the craft room and looking at peoples creations again,  and using all my supplies 
(well not all of them... lets not get silly here).

I saw that Oddball Art Stamps by Lizzy Love was having a DT CALL and got a tickle of excitement, I have always  loved her work.  I was lucky enough to win several of her images a few years back in Facebook challenges.   The images can range from cute to dark depending on how you pay with them.     There is a particular sheep image I own that I am yet to colour.. he is next on my list of to do's.

Yesterday I coloured up this beauty and then put it inside a box card, this type of card is new to me, but I love it.   Clean, simple but effective.  I can see it being a go to type card for me and the focus is in the image which is an added bonus.


It was nice to get back into my stash, use some new techniques and simply create something. 

I used a file from the Silhouette store for the card base, and a SSS die for the You sentiment and MFT banner.   The you die was originally in black but it was lost on the card, I like how it pops now in white.

I have some older cards that I have created with OddBall images below. 



You can find all of these images over at the shop and more information on the DT CALL on the blog as well of lots of arty inspiration from the existing team.





Thanks for visiting today

Lemon Shortbread for Creative Fingers

Its a mixed batch of sponsors for Creative Fingers this month and I was lucky enough to choose from the Lemon Shortbread line of digital images.   I am hanging my head in shame and putting it out there saying.. I am so behind the times lately with who is who in the digital world and I was so happy with what I found at Lemon Shortbread, Go and check them out.... 

I used Autumn Fox



I added a few sizes of the image to A6 copic card stock prior to printing, and then I cut them on myBrother scan and cut as for some reason my Cameo isn't registering on print and cut.   Win Win though as I can fit more on the page.   This leads to.. what to do with the spare image?  Well add it to the inside of the card of course!

I starting playing with ink and splatters... the top of my bench and my work pants may or may not now be covered in black and white specks :)


So now its your turn, what will you create in our anything goes challenge at Creative Fingers?  

Im going to play in the following challenges

Looking forward to seeing what you create.






Finally Back


Really happy to be back crafting and to be welcomed back to the Creative Fingers DT.   Its so nice to have some mojo back for crafting, and I'm really looking forward to getting some new techniques happening.  


My first project is clean and simple and using the wonderful Clyde from Bugaboo.

I used MFT dies to create the mats and elements, I have to say I love the messy stitched edge die.

Thanks for visiting today and be sure to head over to the challenge blog to link up your creations.

Im going to play along in the following challenges with this card
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Dragons Lair - One for the Boys
Simply Papercraft  - Anything Goes



 



Teddybo time

This week things are a little different and I used an image that was a little out of my comfort zone.  I actually had fun with this and even used scissors to fussy cut.  Those that know me will know that this is a big deal.. scissors and I have a love hate relationship.


I printed my image onto copic quality yardstick  cardstock :) and then printed onto pattern paper.    Paper piecing the skirt into place and then adding some grey copic shading to the paper wasn't just flat on the page and wallah.  Some little accents and i was done.   The image was really fun to work with and the clean lines made my challenge to use scissors a little easier ;)

Please head on over to Teddybo and check out the new images and dont forget to visit the dt aswell.

Challenges
ABC - B is for "bodice"
Craft and Smash - Vintage
2 Creative Chicks - Feb challenge - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting today

Cute little Penguins from Teddybo

Another card from the recent Teddy Bo Release from me today with some simple card elements and some copics this card came together really quickly.  Not sure what it is about these images but they just make me smile.  Have some fun and try different shades of grey or even a pop of colour and get creating.   This little guy can be found over at the Teddybo shop which has a new look.


 

Thanks for visiting today

TeddyBo New Release

The delightful new release from TeddyBo certainly inspired me to create.  




I just loved making the card, I used the MFT blueprints and simple copic colouring and it all just came together so easily.   I'd definitely use a similar layout again

Id like to play in the following challenges


Don't forget to head on over to TeddyBo and the DT Showcase

Thanks for visiting today

Teddybo is BACK




I was so pleased when I got word that TeddyBo was back and why wouldn't I be when I am privileged to use such stunning images that lend themselves to any colouring medium.  Its like the images make you a better card maker.   I am trying to lean out of my comfort zone and use watercolours, I have found that a good quality paper makes a load of difference.



Its release day and time to head over to Teddybo to check out the new release and also the redrawn images from Bo and Bea of past.  They had some time away and got a facelift so to speak.  Gayle is such a great artist and is revamping some images so if you have your eye on some of the older images it may be worth emailing her to see if they are on the "new look" list prior to purchasing.


 

As you can see my blog has been inactive for a while, I'm hoping to change that now that Im somewhat settled in to my new job (7months in now).   Working full time certainly makes you value your free time more and its no surprise that I value time in my craft room.   To the point I have spent a long time sorting and arranging so I can craft instead of search for things!

Id like to play in the following challenges.
Brown Sugar - Movie Madness Alice in Wonderland (down the rabbit hole)


Please support the Challenge blog and the DT now we are back.  You will not only see us in the challenge blog on release day but also with an inspiration post midweek.
We also are over at Facebook and Teddybo is even instagram famous now (or trying to be). So follow, like and join on in.

Thanks for popping in xx