Sandra Caldwell's "Mr Santa"...

Mr. Santa Digi by Sandra Caldwell

A simple Z fold can add a lot interest to a card.  The Kraft paper with an intricate gold design imprinted on it adds elegance & sparkle while the heavily textured cord provides the design with a warm earthiness.  The image has been colored with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils.  Santa's hand and beard have been cut out of the frame and allowed to 'rest' on a single, deeply etched score line - it looks like a window sill.  When opened the sentiment is revealed along with plenty of room to write a message.

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:
Art by MiRan Challenge #73 – ATG
Pile it On #123 – Any Celebration
OSAAT #277 – ATG w/ Lots of Sparkle
Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always
Crafting From the Heart -#140 – ATG Always
Simon Says Wed – Make it Sparkle
Inspiration Destination #116 – ATG
Crafty Girls Creations – #31 ATG Always
Winter Wonderland – For Someone Special - [Husband]

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge – Always ATG + DP

Penny's Challenge #309 – ATG

Oddball Art – Christmas Time

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Assembly line...

 This is the group of cards I chose to 'assembly line' for Christmas.  I don't usually repeat a design, but I must admit that at Christmas, I am always short on time.  This die cut from Elizabeth Craft Designs made it fabulously easy.
The top of each tier is glued flat to the background panel [recycled CS cuts that varied in size]  and the bottom of each is elevated with foam tape.  All the edges of the panels are distressed with the Tim Holtz distressing tool and then mounted on the card base with a large rectangle of fun foam from the dollar store.  For just a touch of glitter I added a dot of gold glitter glue at the very top rather than a gem... gems on an elevated card front like this will poke a hole thru the envelope in mailing.  This saved me having to add thickness with a buffer and saved on postage.  I was able to whip out close to 40 in a reasonable time and will show you each of them here - [kidding!]

You can see some of the combinations of DP I used.  That, I think, is how I kept myself from going crazy with the repitition of the design!

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:
Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always
Crafting From the Heart -#140 – ATG Always
Addicted to Stamps & More - #224 – CAS
Tuesday Throwdown #323 – ATG
Crafty Sentiments – ATG
Inspiration Destination #116 – ATG
Fab & Funky #331 – Glitter & Sparkle
Penny's Challenge #308 – Christmas
Crafty Ribbons #180 – Christmas w/ Ribbons or Lace - NOT eligible
Pile it On #123 – Any Celebration
As You Like It – Favorite Christmas Song & Why [Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree / Brenda Lee - like it cuz I'm old & it brings back memories - LOL!]
Sweet Stampin' – Christmas Tree
Crafty Girls Creations – #31 ATG Always
Fussy & Fancy  #179 – Winter/
Oddball Art – Christmas
Sweet Stampin' – Christmas Tree

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Christmas couple...

'Snow Ornies' Digi by Sandra Caldwell 

About three months ago I printed out a whole bunch of Christmas images that I could color at the bedside of a friend while she dozed.  There were about six different images on each page and I just colored with which ever Copics I had with me that day.  That led to some adventuresome combinations - but in this case, fortuitous!  I really like the Blue-green with the red.  Adding the gold to the hanger, the orange to the carrots and the warm browns to the twigs and fur of his hat was just enough to warm up the image a titch.  Sometimes a 'titch' is all I need to make something likeable to me!  LOL!

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:
Inspiration Destination #115 – ATG
Crafty Ribbons #179 – Christmas w/ Ribbons or Lace
Really Reasonable Ribbon  #154 – Winter Holiday w/ ribbon or trim
Oddball Art – Fantasy Element
Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always

Crafting From the Heart -#140 – ATG Always [DT favorite]
Tuesday Throwdown #323 – ATG
Crafty Sentiments – ATG
Art by MiRan Challenge #73 – ATG
Pile it On #123 – Any Celebration
OSAAT #277 – ATG w/ Lots of Sparkle
A Day for Daisies #157 – Add Sparkle
Addicted to Stamps & More - #224 – CAS

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Holiday Happiness...

613 Ave C's December challenge starting today is  

"Holiday Happiness" .  

The amazing 613 Team has provided some ideas for you to spark your mojo - and all the details you need to enter the challenge can be found at the link above for 613.  There are several prizes available this go around - so come on - join the fun!

This image is called "Billie Jo" and was provided by Rick St. dennis for my use for this challenge.  I used Paper Sculpting techniques to achieve the focal image.  There are five copies of the image, each colored, fussy cut for the appropriate layer, sculpted and adhered with glue and/or foam tape to achieve the dimensional look.  You can see the layers better in these images... 

 

The sentiment is Rubbernecker - 

The Die-cuts of the two different Evergreens and the Holly are both Tim Holtz.  The embellishment of the tree in the foreground has been done with Liquid Pearls.
I did my coloring with Copics:

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:
Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always

Addicted to Stamps & More - #222 – Make Your Mark
Simon Says Wed – ATG
Inspiration Destination #114 – ATG
Fab & Funky #329 – Christmas
Penny's Challenge #306 – ATG
Art by MiRan Challenge #72 – ATG
Robyn's Fetish #345 – Square or Rectangle Card
52 Card Throwdown L:10 – Use Prev. Challenge [Tech.#50 dies]
Open Minded Crafting - #11- Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon  #154 – Winter Holiday w/ ribbon or trim
Work it Wed. / Simon Says Stamp – Use a Die
Get Creative Challenges - #53 – ATG

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Santa's List

"Santa's List" provided by QKR Stampede 
613 Ave C's latest challenge is ATG .  The amazing 613 Team has provided some ideas for you to spark your mojo - and all the details you need to enter the challenge can be found at the link above for 613.  There are FIVE prizes available this go around!
Come on- join the fun!  
This image provokes * a fond memory from my childhood of reading the famous letter to the editor titled: "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus".  Since my name is Virgina, I thought for years it had been written to me.  If you have not read it, it is worth the google.  

The focal image was colored with Copics & the panel's edges have been pressed into embossing ink & heat embossed used  Black & Gold 
EP Specialty Enamel: "Fleur De Lis".





Matted on black with a red, green & gold ribbon with a fish tail cut at the bottom.








Challenges
Through the Craftroom Door – ATG
Crafting From the Heart -#134 – ATG
Crafty Sentiments – ATG
Addicted to Stamps & More - #218 – Holiday
Penny's Challenge #302 – ATG
Inspiration Destination #110 – ATG
Crafty Ribbons #174 – ATG w/ Ribbons or Lace
AI Challenge #196 – Prep for X-mas
The East Wind – #66  Fond Memory of Christmas [*See above]
Art by MiRan Challenge #70 – ATG
Pile it On #120 – Scraps
OSAAT #274 – ATG w/ Recycling
Get Creative Challenges - #51 – ATG
Oddball Art – ATG
Crafty Girls Creations – #29 ATG
Winter Wonderland – Use Ribbon or Lace
Scrapper's Delight #61 – ATG Always

Create wildly and color with abandon!  

~ginny

Torch Singer...

Mo Manning image...

This image and sentiment is a Mo Manning digi duo that felt so right for a couple of my female friends.  I used a wonderful DP called 'Vintage Glam' from Recollections Craft It.  I like the Kraft with shiny gold dots and the pop of rich blue.  The ribbon has gold and copper colored threads sewn in stripes thru the base.

I gently inked the edges of the image panel to pick up the shade of brown in the DP and elevated the panel on foam tape.

Here you can see my addition of gold on her necklace and earrings using Duo Glue and Designer Foils.  Copics were used on the image:








The inside is not decorated other than the sentiment which reads: "Happy [repeated five times in different fonts] Birthday."   This is a rubber stamp by Penny Black.

Challenges:

Fab & Funky #322 – Lots of Sparkle

Penny's Challenge #299 – ATG

Inspiration Destination #107 – ATG

Crafty Girls Creations – #27 ATG Always

Sweet Stampin' – Spots &/ Stripes

Crafting From the Heart -#132 – ATG Always

Art by MiRan Challenge #69 – ATG

DP2 -Mo's Challenge Blog #268 - ATG + Mo Image

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge – Always ATG + DP

Scrapper's Delight #60 – ATG Always

Aurora Wings #38 – ATG

Create wildly and color with abandon!  

~ginny

Eve says...Card & envelope

Card & Envelope
using "Eve has something to say..."
by Oddball Art

613 Ave C's 

latest challenge is ATG / Optional twist of using Green & Gold in Your Design.  

Oddball Art is one of EIGHT sponsors - each providing a prize.  The amazing 613 Team has provided some ideas for you to spark your mojo - and all the details you need to enter the challenge can be found at the link above for 613.  

Come on- join the fun! 

This image is  fun - the thought cloud comes empty, and if your writing is small enough you could add all kinds of messages.  "Hello" happened to be the smallest sentiment I have that is generic for whatever message I ultimately use inside.  
Could be "Sorry I missed your birthday", "Sorry you are sick", "Miss you" or maybe "Thinking About You".
The image was printed on Neenah & colored with Copics.










The DP is My Minds Eye - Ooh LaLa "Just Lovely".  The ribbon is a stash item and the circles on the image panel and on the envelope are punched with different sized circle punches.

CHALLENGES:
Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always
Crafting From the Heart -#129 – ATG Always
MarkerPOP L:10 – #104 – for the Girls
Inspiration Destination #105 – ATG
Crafty Ribbons #169 – Ribbon or Lace
Crafty Girls Creations – #26 ATG Always
As You Like It - Your Favorite... Color Combo & Why [yellow & green - bright, cheerful, Irish!]
Fussy & Fancy  #173 – My Favorite Things [Copics]
Aud Sentiments #165– ATG + Sent
Oddball Art – Circles 

Create wildly and color with abandon!  

~ginny

Got my Woman's Card...

Freebie from Dearie Dolls - "Hillary Fan"

I made this for my good friend Shani in France... who is an avid supporter of "Her".  Could not pass up this "Freebie" from Dearie Dolls [there is a "Trump Fan" available too].  If you have not seen the frequent Freebies offered by Mary Ellen Smith - go check her out!  She even responds to requests!
I created a white and blue card front and added a wrap with a red, white and blue ribbon, matted the image with red CS and elevated that panel on foam tape.









The inside uses left over CS from the front and left plenty of space for a note to my friend.

The image was printed on Neenah - Solar White, 80# Super Smooth CS and colored with my Copics:





I am submitting this to the following Challenges:
Simon Says Wed – ATG
Penny's Challenge #293 – ATG
Inspiration Destination #101 – ATG
Crafty Ribbons #165 – ATG w/ ribbon
Crafting From the Heart -#125 – ATG Always
Sisterhood of Crafters – Use Ribbon
Aud Sentiments #163 – ATG + Sent
ABC Challenge L:10 – O is for Open [ATG]
Oddball Art – Use Blue
Art by MiRan Challenge #66 – ATG

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Creative Hand...

613 Ave C's latest challenge is ATG / Optional twist of using Fall Colors. Chana and Kathi have arranged for  SEVEN  sponsors for this month's challenge and each is providing prizes.  The amazing 613 Team has provided some ideas for you to spark your mojo - and all the details you need to enter the challenge can be found at the link above for 613.  Come on- join the fun!

I am doing a card for two of the sponsors this month - this is for KreativeHinderDigis and the 2nd is a separate post for Alicia Bel.  Scroll up to see that one.

PROCESS INVENTORY

IMAGES:         

• These are two separate images that were provided by the artist Gitte Garvik at her Kreative Hinder Digis site for the use of the DT for this challenge.
• Both images were fussy cut and the tie image was dry embossed from the back to give it dimension. Both images were colored with Copics.  The layers were both glued in some places & elevated in others with foam tape to achieve the desired dimension.

PAPER:  

• Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt. used for the image.
• Base card is Recollections, 110# in white.  
• Pumpkin mat is from stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

• SU "Word punch" used for the "Happy" - a self inking stamp.
• The Happy Birthday sentiment is from a Martha Stewart punch and has been elevated on foam tape.

INKS:

• Images were printed on an Epson WF-3520 printer 
• Hand colored with Copics.
• "Tea Dye" Distress Inks used to ink the edges of both images.

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always

Crafting From the Heart -#125 – ATG Always

Addicted to Stamps & More - #209 – CAS

Tuesday Throwdown #309 – CAS

Simon Says Wed – ATG

Fab & Funky #316 – ATG

Penny's Challenge #293 – ATG

Paper Shelter – #262 – Make It Digital

Inspiration Destination #101 – ATG

As You Like It - #87  Your Favorite... Shape of Card & Why [A2 - plain rectangle - it is easy to mail & their is no extra postage]

Aud Sentiments #163 – ATG + Sent

Art by MiRan Challenge #66 – ATG

Scrapper's Delight #59 – ATG Always

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Accomplice...

613 Ave C's latest challenge is ATG / Optional twist of using Fall Colors. Chana and Kathi have arranged for SEVEN sponsors for this month's challenge and each is providing prizes.  The amazing 613 Team has provided some ideas for you to spark your mojo - and all the details you need to enter the challenge can be found at the link above for 613.  Come on- join the fun!
I am doing a card for two of the sponsors this month - this is the first for Alicia Bel and the 2nd will be a separate post for Creative Hand.  Scroll down to see that one.

PROCESS INVENTORY

IMAGES: 

• ALICIA BEL provided this image, "Anita and her Unicorn"  for my use for this challenge.
• The sentiment is a freebie from TLC Creations.

PAPER:  

• Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt. used for the image.
• Red base card CS and the blue CS used for the mat are both from stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS:

• Grosgrain ribbon, the ivory, waxed linen bookbinding thread and the buttons are all from stash.
• Wink of Stella used on the Unicorn's horn.

INKS:

• Images were printed on an Epson WF-3520 printer 
• Hand colored with Copics:
  

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Crafting From the Heart -#125 – ATG Always

Crafty Sentiments – Lots of Layers

Simon Says Wed – ATG

Penny's Challenge #293 – ATG

Paper Shelter – #262 – Make It Digital

Inspiration Destination #101 – ATG

As You Like It - #87  Your Favorite... Shape of Card & Why [A2 - plain rectangle - it is easy to mail & their is no extra postage]
Crafty Ribbons #165 – ATG w/ ribbon
Sisterhood of Crafters – Use Ribbon

Aud Sentiments #163 – ATG + Sent

Oddball Art - Use Blue

Art by MiRan Challenge #66 – ATG

Scrapper's Delight #59 – ATG Always

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

With Sympathy...

This is the fifth sympathy card I have needed in the last couple of months... five too many, if you know what I mean.  I know that there are others faced with making sympathy cards - where there is no expectation of happiness, stress relief or the joy of sending something that will make the recipient smile.
What I can do is share an idea, a design, technique or tool that might make this process a little easier for someone else out there.

PROCESS INVENTORY

IMAGES: 

• The sentiment die is by IO Dies.

PAPER:  

• Recollections - "White", 110# Wt. from Michaels used for the base card & the image panel.  

EMBELLISHMENTS:

• For the flowers I used Paper Tole Technique to give the punched shapes dimension.  The flower petals are from a "Carla Craft" punch, the center is a "Punch Bunch" and the fern is with a "McGill."
• The image panel is elevated on fun foam to keep that layer as pristine as possible during mailing.

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always

Crafting From the Heart -#124 – ATG Always

Crafty Sentiments – ATG

Fab & Funky #316 – ATG

Penny's Challenge #292 – ATG

Inspiration Destination #100 – ATG TOP PICK

Sweet Stampin' – NO DP

Pile it On #115 – Die Cut Embellishments

Incy Wincy Designs – Get Well /Sympathy

As You Like It - #87  Your Favorite... Shape of Card & Why [I spend so much time doing Paper Tole on most of my cards that I often don't wander from the A2 basic card shape.]

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny

Smartly Dressed...

Image provided for my use by sponsor
SLS Lines

613 Ave C's latest challenge is ATG / No Optional Twist  This is 613's big switch over to a Monthly schedule!  We will start a new challenge on the first Sunday of each month and you will have the opportunity to submit up to 8 projects over the month.  There are  SEVEN sponsors this month -and each is providing a prize.  This will be a huge opportunity to win something - so get your thinking cap on and get crackin'!  The amazing 613 Team has provided some ideas for you to spark your mojo - and all the details you need to enter the challenge can be found at the link above for 613.  Come on- join the fun!

PROCESS INVENTORY

IMAGES: 

• I used an image from SLS Lines called "Smartly Dressed Owl"
• For the focal image I used Paper Tole Technique to give him dimension. Printed 3 copies, colored them with Copics, fussy cut and 'paper sculpted' the images.  The layers were both glued in some places & elevated in others with foam tape to achieve the desired dimension.

PAPER:  

• Neenah "Classic Crest Solar White" 80# Cover Wt. used for the image.
• DP used for the background, ferns and the 'tree' are all from Paper House: The Great Outdoors collection.
• Dark Brown base CS from stash.
• Inside created with left over papers from the front: 

EMBELLISHMENTS: 

• Punch Bunch used for the ferns.

INKS:

• Images were printed on an Epson WF-3520 printer 
• Hand colored with Copics:

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Penny's Challenge #289 – ATG

Inspiration Destination #97 – ATG

As You Like It - #84  Your Favorite... Papers & WHY [Paper House: The Great Outdoors Collection - so realistic!  Look at that bark paper I cut down into a tree!]

Fussy & Fancy  #169 – A Walk in the Garden

Incy Wincy Designs – ATG

Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always

Art by MiRan Challenge #64 – ATG

MarkerPOP L:10 – #101 – Embossing [image is dry embossed to sculpt it]

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge – Always ATG + DP

Scrapper's Delight #58 – ATG Always

Create wildly and color with abandon!  ~ginny