NATURE with Team Lou at the Southern Girls Challenge

It's time for another challenge with us at the Southern Girls.

This fortnight Team Lou have created projects to inspire you for the new challenge

Nature with Team Lou

Our generous sponsors for this challenge are

Krafters Cart


Sasayaki Glitter

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the Image 6 Cute Cactus digital stamp by Sasayaki Glitter,
one of our generous sponsors this fortnight to make two cards.

I printed the image on X-Press It blending card, heat set then coloured with Copic markers.
I die cut the image panel and a series of panels to layer together.  I scored the top of the "back" panel, burnished the fold then adhered it to the front panel to create ornate top folding cards.

The Cute Cactus really is cute and I thought that filling the cards with "hugs" would be a fun twist, combining the sharp thorns of the cactus with words of comfort.  I layered black under the red to give a bit more dimension and contrast.
 

*** INGREDIENTS ***

Sasayaki Glitter - digital stamp - Image 6 Cute Cactus
X-Press It A5 Blending Card

Copic markers - flower pot - E11-13-15-17
Copic markers - cactus - YG01-03-25-67
Copic markers - flowers - RV13-14
Copic markers - butterfly - B21-24-26 + Y18 
American Crafts - 12x12 textured cardstock - white
American Crafts - 12x12 textured cardstock - black
Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - Scarlet
Sizzix Big Shot

Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Labels Forty-One
Spellbinders - Labels 41 Decorative Elements
Kaisercraft - Decorative Dies - Comfort Pack (hugs sentiment)
Helmar Acid Free Professional Glue - to adhere the top fold
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive - to adhere the sentiment

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to Krafters Cart and Sasayaki Glitter for sponsoring our

Nature Challenge with Team Lou with us at the Southern Girls.

I hope I have inspired you to get creative and look forward to seeing your work shared in the challenge gallery.  Remember we are not just a card blog, we love to see scrapbook layouts, artjournal pages and all types of papercraft.

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge - Challenge #62 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft Extra Challenge - February Anything Goes
Colour It!  Create It!  Show It Off! - February 2018 Challenge – Valentine’s Day / Love
my cards are filled with love and hugs, finished off with a little red heart
Crafting By Designs - Challenge Theme - Friendship
Crafty Catz - Challenge #404 - Anything Goes option Use Some Pretty Ribbon
Crafty Friends Challenge Blog – Challenge #77 - Love Is In The Air
my cards are filled with love and hugs, finished off with a little red heart
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - Challenge 142 - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Craft Challenges - Wk 08 – Anything Goes
Love To Scrap Challenge Blog - LTSCB #106 – I Love You
my cards are filled with love and hugs, finished off with a little red heart
Pammie's Inky Pinkies - PIP Challenge 1807 – Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Penny’s Challenge 368 – Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Craft Challenge - Week 7 – 16th Feb – Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #283 – Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Challenge #134 – Anything Goes option Winter
SheepSki Designs Challenge Blog - Challenge #11 – Red / Hearts / Romance / Love
Through The Craft Room Door - TTCRD Anything Goes Challenge for 20th Feb

mid challenge reminder . . .

We're halfway through the month and I thought I would share a little reminder about the current challenge we have on the
My Besties Spanish Challenge Blog

February Challenge #44 - Anything Goes

Remember:  You can participate with ANY project; altered, scrapbooking pages, cards, and anything you can think of.  If you have My Besties images, that would be ideal, but you can use any kind of stamps or digital stamps.  And also remember: You are playing for My Besties digital Stamps!

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I had the pleasure of colouring the super cute Sherri Baldy's My Besties scan0009 digital stamp to make some pretty card panels.

I printed the images on X-Press It blending card, heat set then coloured with Copic markers.

I finished the dresses off with a touch of Stardust Stickles.
It's hard to get a good photo and I wish you could see the dresses in real life,
the sparkle is so delicate and beautiful.

NOW it's YOUR turn!

I hope that I have inspired you to get creative with your

My Besties (or other branded) images and make a project to enter the

My Besties Spanish Challenge Blog

February Challenge #44 - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Sherri Baldy's My Besties - digital stamp - scan0009

~~~ GREY MOUSE ~~~
Copic markers - fur - C00-0-1-3-5
Copic markers - inside ears & cheeks - RV000-00
Copic markers - eye - E21-23-25
Copic marker - nose - 100
Copic markers - dress - RV0000-000-00 + R81-83-85
Copic markers - bows & shoes - R81-83-85
Copic markers - flowers - B91-93-95
Copic markers - leaves - YG61-63

~~~ BROWN MOUSE ~~~
Copic markers - fur - E21-23-25
Copic markers - eye - YG03-17-67
Copic marker - nose - 100
Copic markers - dress - YR0000-000-00-61-65-68
Copic markers - bows & shoes - YR61-35-68
Copic markers - flowers - BV01-02-04
Copic markers - leaves - YG61-63

*****
Stardust Stickles

warm HUGS . . . from this Crafty Gals Corner

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with

Challenge #159 - Add A Heart

Crafty Gals Corner Challenges are bi-weekly.
Each crafter may only submit 3 projects per challenge.

~~~*~~~*~~~

The sponsors for this challenge are:

Scrap N Dipity

Prize: 3 Digital Images

Cute as a Button

Prize: 3 Digital Images

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the Penguin digital stamp from Cute As A Button, one of our generous sponsors this week, to make two cards filled with warm hugs.  I know I should be getting a start on my Christmas cards but this little cutie was ready to bring some good cheer much earlier in the year.

I started by printing the penguins on A5 X-Press It blending card and plain paper.  I heat set the images then started preparing my masks.
To make my "image" masks I adhered X-Press It Mask It over the images on the plain paper then fussy cut them out.  I peeled the mask layer from the paper and carefully aligned it over the image on the blending card.
Next came the "sunburst" masks for the background.  I sized the sunburst cut file (details below) on my cutting Silhouette Cameo cutting mat so that it was slightly larger than my A5 image panel and cut from cardstock.  I used both the inner and outer pieces of the sunburst as masks, which is how I came to have opposite dark/light sun beams on my cards.  The inner piece took a lot more securing in place ... you can see in the photo below, I had to tape each "beam" in place over my masked image.  I used a combination of three distress inks to create the background, blending them with a mini blending tool.

When I coloured the donuts, they didn't really POP, so I added some Distress Stickles to make a tasty glaze.  I added Stardust Stickles to the heart shaped hole edges but they didn't really POP either, so I took white brads, coloured with Stazon ink then secured them in place over the heart shaped holes in the middle of the donuts.

   

   

I adhered the image panels to A5 top folding card bases ... yes, they are single layer cards.

Next came the sentiment and embellishments.

I cut a bundle of snowflakes from both black and white cardstock, so that I could layer them together.  Adding the black underneath gives them more dimension and contrast, which I really like when using them with digital stamps.
I trimmed down some sentiment banners, secured in place and topped with layered snowflakes (two black under each white one).  ... I didn't plan on adding more snowflakes to the card but have to confess that I had a little "oops" moment on one of the cards and "needed" to cover the spot.  A snowflake covered it perfectly but it looked lonely, so I had to add another two ... then it looked a little unbalanced", so I added another two to the other side of the image ... I'm happy that I had an oops, so happy that I added the snowflakes to the second card.

   

I double matted inside each card with black and white cardstock.  Apart from looking nicer for writing a message inside, it adds a nice weight to keep the open card stable.

Here are some more pics ... just click on them to see the detail in full screen.

   

   

~~~*~~~*~~~

NOW it's YOUR turn!

I hope that I have inspired you to get creative
and look forward to seeing your projects fill the gallery for

Challenge #159 - Add A Heart

at the Crafty Gals Corner

Crafty Gals Corner Challenges are bi-weekly.
Each crafter may only submit 3 projects per challenge.

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Cute As A Button - digital stamp - Penguin

X-Press It A5 Blending Card

X-Press It Mask-It
Copic markers - feathers - T3-5-7-9-10
+ Multi Liner - Black - 0.3
Copic markers - eyes - YG03-17-67
Copic markers - beak & mouth - YR23-24-27 + E93
Copic markers - snow - B0000 + C + "0"
Copic markers - scarf - V04 + BG11-13
Copic markers - donut - E30-31-33-35-37
Copic marker - heart edge of donut - R29
Distress Inks - Squeezed Lemonade + Mustard Seed + Spiced Marmalade
Mini Ink Blending Tool + round blending sponges
Stickles - Stardust
Distress Stickles - Tattered Rose
Distress Stickles - Vintage Photo
heart brads - white - coloured with Stazon ink
Stazon - Sunflower Yellow - to colour the white heart brads
American Crafts - 12x12 textured cardstock - white
American Crafts - 12x12 textured cardstock - black
A5 top folding card base

Silhouette Cameo
Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #25149
Sunburst by Hero Arts
Sizzix Big Shot
Kaisercraft - Decorative Dies - Mini Snowflakes
Helmar Acid Free Professional Glue - to adhere the top fold
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive - to adhere the sentiment

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to  Cute As A Button for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #159 - Add A Heart at the Crafty Gals Corner.

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Challenge #11 - Anything (featuring a critter) Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge - Challenge #62 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft Extra Challenge - February Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft - 1st February Challenge #02 - Anything Goes
Aurora Wings Challenge Blog - Challenge #63 - Anything Goes
CCC Digi Creations - Challenge # 89 - It's All About Love
I think that sending warm hugs is a great way to share the love all year long
Colour It!  Create It!  Show It Off! - February 2018 Challenge – Valentine’s Day / Love
my cards are filled with love, warm hugs and warm yellow hearts
Colouring In Scrapland - February Challenge - Love Without Borders
Crafty Catz - Challenge #403 - Anything Goes option LOVE Is In The Air
Crafty Friends Challenge Blog – Challenge #77 - Love Is In The Air
my cards are filled with love, warm hugs and warm yellow hearts
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - Challenge 142 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments Challenge Blog – Challenge #136 – Anything Goes
optional twist National Umbrella Day / World Compliment Day
Digi Choosday Craft Challenges - Wk 07 – Anything Goes
Love To Scrap Challenge Blog - LTSCB #106 – I Love You
my cards are filled with love, warm hugs and warm yellow hearts
Pammie's Inky Pinkies - PIP Challenge 1806 – Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Penny’s Challenge 367 – Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Craft Challenge - Week 6 – 9th Feb – Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #282 – Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Challenge #134 – Anything Goes option Winter
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Add A Die Cut
I have embellished my one layer card with die cut snowflakes
The Paper Girls Challenge - Challenge #145 – 6th Anniversary
- Use 6 items of the same thing - I have used six layered snowflakes
The Paper Shelter - Challenge 326 - Decorate It
I have decorated my one layer card with die cut snowflakes and brads
Through The Craft Room Door - TTCRD Anything Goes Challenge for Feb 13th

We're feeling the LOVE this month . . .

on the My Besties Spanish Challenge Blog!

Yes, it's time for another challenge with us at the
My Besties Spanish Challenge Blog

Our challenge for February is
February Challenge #44 - Anything Goes

Remember:  You can participate with ANY project; altered, scrapbooking pages, cards, and anything you can think of.  If you have My Besties images, that would be ideal, but you can use any kind of stamps or digital stamps.  And also remember: You are playing for My Besties digital Stamps!

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I had the pleasure of colouring and creating with the super cute
Sherri Baldy's My Besties img082 digital stamp to make an A5 birthday card filled with love.



I printed the image on X-Press It blending card, heat set, coloured with Copic markers, trimmed down to size and matted with black cardstock, using my Perfect Layers Ruler to trim it down neatly to a 1/16" border.



I punched a leafy border from black cardstock, then added a patterned paper panel, topping it off with the image panel on a matted an A5 top folding card base.



I punched little leafy branches and tucked them under some paper roses then added a "with love" sentiment.  I die cut two sentiments, one in black, the other in white, which I coloured with the same pink Copic markers as the flower in her hair.

The sentiment doesn't really POP as much as I had hoped, so I think I will be adding some more layers and dimension, maybe even some sparkle too.

... watch this space ... I think a change is coming!

NOW it's YOUR turn!

I hope that I have inspired you to get creative with your

My Besties (or other branded) images and make a project to enter the

My Besties Spanish Challenge Blog

February Challenge #44 - Anything Goes

~~~*~~~*~~~

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Sherri Baldy My Besties - digital stamp - img082

Copic markers - skin - E0000-000-00-02
Copic markers - lips - R81-83
Copic markers - eye - YG03-17-67
Copic markers - hair - E30-31-33-35-37-39
Copic markers - clothes - BG70-72-75-78
Copic markers - flower - RV00 + R81-83-85
Copic markers - sentiment - R83

Sizzix Big Shot
Spellbinders Sentiments Three die set
Kaisercraft - #me collection - Dreams
Fiskars Interchangeable Border Punch - Ivy
Fiskars LE Squeeze Punch - Branching Out
Kaisercraft mini paper blooms - iceberg
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers & flowers
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive - to adhere the sentiment

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge - Challenge #61 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft Extra Challenge - February Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft - 1st February Challenge #02 - Anything Goes
Colour It!  Create It!  Show It Off! - February 2018 Challenge – Valentine’s Day / Love
Crafty Friends Challenge Blog – Challenge #76 – Anything Goes
Creative Moments Challenge Blog – Challenge #135 – Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 515 – Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Craft Challenges - Wk 05 – Anything Goes
Love To Scrap Challenge Blog - LTSCB #106 – I Love You 
My Besties 3D and More Challenge - Challenge #2 - February 2018 – Anything Goes

My Besties Art Espana - Challenge #20 – Anything Goes option Pink Color

My Besties Aussie's Challenge Blog - Anything Goes + My Besties ... Love

My Besties Deutschland - Challenge #49 – Anything Goes with My Besties

My Besties Dutch Girls - Challenge Anything Goes option Love / Valentine

My Besties Francais - Challenge #72 - Anything Goes

My Besties International Challenge Blog - February Challenge - Anything Goes
optional theme – Love Is In The Air

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - PIP Challenge 1804 – Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Penny’s Challenge 365 – Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Craft Challenge - Week 5 – 2nd Feb – Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #281 – Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Challenge #133 – Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Challenge 324 – Birthday Card
Through The Craft Room Door - TTCRD Anything Goes Challenge January 30
Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge #377 – Favorite Color
it goes against everything I was taught as a child, but I do love blue & green together, I even used the same lovely patterned paper from my previous card, the shades of green & blue in it are delightful together

Fabulous fancy folds with the Crafty Gals Corner

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #158 - Anything Goes

The sponsor for this challenge is:

The Paper Shelter

Prize: $15 Gift Certificate

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the PURE Innocence digital stamp from The Paper Shelter, our generous sponsor this week, to make a swing easel card.

The fancy folds give fabulous dimension and fold flat for mailing.

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start...

You may have noticed that I love fancy folds, so I surfed the internet to learn about the swing easel fold.  I sized the image panel to be a comfortable size to colour then sized the layers to suit.  I printed the image on X-Press It blending card, heat set then coloured with Copic markers.  
I added a touch of sparkle to the wings and butterflies using a Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush.

I cut the cardstock and patterned paper panels, then cut and scored the base before adhering everything together.  I finished it off with a cluster of flowers to match the patterned paper and some foliage punched out of black card stock.

Here are some more pics of this fun fancy fold.
Just click on the image if you want to see them in more detail.

   

   

*** INGREDIENTS ***
The Paper Shelter - digital stamp -  PURE Innocence

X-Press It A5 Blending Card

Copic markers - skin - E0000-000-000-02
Copic markers - lips - R81-83
Copic markers - eyes - YG03-17-67
Copic markers - hair - E30-31-33-35-37-39
Copic markers - RV0000-000-00 + Y0000 + YG0000 + E0000
Copic markers - robe - RV00 + R81-83-85-89
Copic markers - rock - E81-84-87-89 + E42
Copic markers - water - BG70-72-75-78
plus Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush sparkle
Copic markers - butterflies - RV00 + R81-83-85 + YG61-63-67
plus Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush sparkle

Sizzix Big Shot
Couture Creations - Intricutz Dies - Script Happy Birthday
Kaisercraft - #me collection - Dreams
Kaisercraft - paper blooms - Iceberg
Kaisercraft - mini paper blooms - Iceberg
Fiskars squeeze punch - Limited Edition - Branching Out
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive - to adhere the sentiment

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to The Paper Shelter for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #158 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge - Challenge #61 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft Extra Challenge - February Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft - 1st February Challenge #02 - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 452 - Old Favourites
since the 1st time I tried them, I have been addicted to Fiskars squeeze punches,
one favourite today is my Branching Out Limited Edition squeeze punch,
the other is the pretty cluster of paper blooms by Kaisercraft
Always Fun Challenges - Challenge 43 - Monsters or Fairies
CCC Digi Creations - Challenge #88 - Anything Goes
Colouring In Scrapland - January Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs - Things With Wings
Crafty Catz Challenge Blog - Challenge #401 – Anything Goes
optional theme Something New - I have used a new fold & new patterned paper
Crafty Friends Challenge Blog - Challenge 76 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments Challenge Blog - Challenge #135 - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Craft Challenges - Wk 05 - Anything Goes
Pammie's Inky Pinkies - PIP Challenge 1804 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge 365 - Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Craft Challenge - Week 3 - 19 Jan - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #280 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge Blog - Challenge #133 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Challenge #324 - Birthday Card
Through The Craft Room Door - TTCRD Anything Goes Challenge January 30
Time Out Challenges - Challenge #101 - Inspired By Words
Our current challenge is to create a project based on the following quote
- using any word or the whole phrase:

Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge #377 - Favorite Color

it goes against everything I was taught as a child, but I do love blue & green together