Penny's challenge #493

 Welcome back and thank you so much for visiting!  With Easter right around the corner, are you ready for all the hoopla?  I get in such a frenzy about getting to church and then coming home to fix our family meal that I don't get to enjoy myself.  I hope that your holiday is very special!

This challenge we have some really wonderful sponsors.  Here they are.

The Paper Shelter
Prize~3 Digi images for the winners choice

Fred She Said Digital Designs
Prize~$10 Store Voucher

Everyone please go and show some love to these fabulous sponsors!

This blog post is going to be rather short.  My image is from The Paper Shelter and is called Warm Feelings.  Since I knew I would be busy with holiday prep I chose to use the pre-colored image and background.  I did spruce it up a touch though!

I printed out the card front and 2 images of
the girl in the circle.  Using pop dots I tried my
hand at decoupaging one image over the other
to create depth. I die cut 2 corner shapes and 
added some gems.  The saying is printed on the 
card stock and die cut.   

Can you see the layers?

I printed and cut out another card front and 
layered it on a piece of pink floral scrap.  I used
sequins to add some bling and the saying is just
something I dreamed up.  

This is the back.  It has a latte I colored and says
"Make it a grande" around the circle it says 
"Pamper Yourself"  

That's it for this fortnight.  My wish for you is to have a very delightful Easter/Spring celebration.  

Stay safe, get your shot and brightest blessings,

Penny's Challenge #492

 Hello wherever you are!  The sun is shining, birds are chirping and my hummers are humming!  Spring is just a few days away!  A hope for a better year is already here.  The state of Oregon has almost reached herd immunity concerning the Covid-19 virus.  Maybe some of the restrictions will be lifted.  Let's get this challenge moving!  But first lets see who our sponsors are.

Paper Nest Dolls Digi Stamps

Prize~ 3 images of the winners choice

https://www.stampersdelights.com

These two sponsors are really big in the challenge world.  Both are extremely generous in donating images and prizes.  So please friends go sprinkle some love to both!

Have you ever had a card that WILL NOT behave nicely?  I had a totally different idea for this card.  It was a slimline card and I was going to use the new dies I got specifically for that card.  NOPE!  I still used a new die but, well you take a look.

Here is the back of the envelope.  I know, funny 
place to start but look at the sticker.  It's a set that
I found thrifting created by Karen Foster.  

Here is a much closer look.  (might need to click
on the image to see it clearly)

So the thick card sticker comes off and here is the
start of my project.

I have used mostly American Crafts 12x12 paper.
The black is fine glitter paper.  Hearts are brads 
from way way back!

NEW die alert.  I love my new die set.  The back-
ground paper is a picture from a google search 
which I then printed out. Then I added more 
stickers from the Karen Foster set.

I love how this turned out.  I colored the image 
with Prismacolor Pencils.  Cut it out with my 24"
Silver Bullet Pro.  Stuck a ruler sticker on and this
project is in the books!  

Here is a larger picture of the image I colored. 
I paper pieced the sheet of paper in the cutter and
then stamped a happy birthday on it.

Alright lesson learned.  If a card has an idea on it's own I follow the card.  Actually I really like the way this card came out.  Bright and cheery.  

I will see you again in a fortnight for another Penny's Challenge.  Oh almost forgot, Happy Saint Patricks Day!

Be safe, stay healthy and brightest blessings,

Penny's Challenge #491 ATG (of course)

 Hello everyone!  I have a new design and creations to share with you this challenge.  Used a couple of new dies and colored a little better (my eyes just keep healing).  First let me share who our fabulous sponsors are.

SheepSki Designs

Prize~3 digi images of the winners choice

Cute As A Button

Prize~3 digi images of the winners choice

Please please please go visit these wonderful fantastic sponsors.  Can't have a challenge without them.  Go show them some love!

My image this fortnight is from SheepSki Designs and called 'Forget me knot'.  I really love working with their designs.  Always something fantastic to be had in their etsy store.  Go have a look.  Here is a card I have created.

This is my attempt at creating a very girlie girl
fancy card.  For the shapes I used Crafters 
Companion Garden of Love (2019), Very very old 
glitter paper and a whole lot of Prismacolor Pencils.
The font used is called 'Brilliant Starlight' (dafont.com).
The laces have been around since dirt.  The flower spray
is brand new and from the last Tuesday Morning Haul.

This paper is from DCWV Journaling (2018)  I used
CC gold embossing powder and heat set it.

This is the back of the card.  I recently found a 
whole lot of retired Stampin Up sets at my local
St. Vinnies thrift store.  This is just one stamp
of many.

Here is a better look.  I may color the flowers.

This is what happens when our new kitty wants 
attention.  He got fixed last week and feels he
needs mommies cuddles all the time.  He is
back to normal and doing zoomies around the
house again!

That's it for another fortnight.  But can we talk...

Many many designers make simply stunning creations.  Lots of flowers, embellishments and their colouring is amazing.  I have been reading a lot from

a group called Kit and Clowder (FB link).  Besides being a wonderful teacher, Alyce is also a mental health specialist using coloring/crafting as her medium.  Her teaching is very very well done.  But what I have gleaned the most is her teaching of mindfulness.  I felt like I would NEVER be good enough to compete, no compete is the wrong word, compare myself to the other designers.  But in my studies I have learned that I am unique in this world.  I should never compare myself with the work of others.  After so many years, I haven't overcome this obstacle.  I can say that by practicing mindfulness and learning more about crafting I can be proud of my work.  

OK now I am done.  See you in a fortnight.

Stay safe, stay healthy and brightest blessings,

Happy St. Patricks Day!