Inspired By Challenge

I must admit that I wasn't going to participate in Laurel's challenge this week mainly due to the fact that the predominate color in her inspiration is purple.  I despise purple.  Seriously.  Can't wear it.  Don't decorate with it.  Don't make cards with it unless challenged. 

Here is her photo inspiration for the week....

Pretty photo but again...that purple.  *sigh*  My OCD "gotta do it all" mentality kicked in last night however and I came up with this....

I used two stamp sets from Ellen Hutson's Essentials by Ellen collection to create this bear holding a purple ice cream cone.  (Sentiments from the same sets.)  I grounded the image with white card stock that I colored with the same shades of Copic markers.  I purposely made it a bit more magenta than purple.  *wink*  The grass and flowers are from a recently released die set from Penny Black.

I have to admit that I adore this card.  Once again this is the perfect example of why crafters should play along with different online challenges.  I would never have made this card (in a gazillion years, never) without my obsession with challenges. 


Thanks for stopping by!  Always appreciated.

See you on the crafty side....

Jules

Twofer Card Challenge

I discovered this challenge at my friend Michele's blog over at I Card Everyone.  She recently posted a pair of cards for the Twofer Card Challenge.  The idea is that you take a single stamp/die/stencil and create two completely different cards...both in design and sentiment/occasion. 

They announce a theme for each challenge, the current one being nautical.  

I created my first card with a girlfriend in mind.  She has a birthday coming up and she is a very devout environmentalist, her main passion being sea turtles.  (Sure hoping they count as nautical!)

I thought this sea turtle from SimonSaysStamp holding a balloon would make a cute card to go along with a Skip a Straw/Save a Turtle T shirt I purchased for her.  

Card number two is an encouragement card featuring the same turtle die but this time he has a couple of  friends to tag along with him.  

  

The wavy lines and cardstock are both from HeroArts.  I created two identical heat embossed panels and trimmed one along the curved lines to create some dimension. I wanted them to look like they're heading out for a great adventure into the big blue yonder off our Atlantic Coast.  

Here's one last photo featuring both cards side by side.  Same die.  Totally different cards.  I love this concept!

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope to see you all on the crafty side.....

Jules

I'm Here for You

...except when I'm not.  *blush*

It's been crazy here the past ten days.  I had to prepare my house for a big family gathering which took place over last week and into this week.  It was a marvelous several days.  Everyone has now gone home and I've spent the last couple of days recuperating and cleaning up.  On top of that, my daughter starts college on Monday so we're in college stress prep mode here as well.  All that to say....there hasn't been much crafting here lately.

Today's card was actually made a couple of weeks ago during my Shark Week frenzy.  The cute mantas seen below are from the same set as the darling little hammerhead that I featured awhile back.  

And the sentiment?  So adorable!  I added the first section onto the card front and stamped the second half on the inside. 

Additional supplies....

The stitched rectangle die is also from Avery Elle.  The circle die is from PoppyStamps however I'm not sure it's still available.  The little white clay hearts are from KatScrappiness and that luscious blue/teal cardstock is from HeroArts.  If you haven't tried their new cardstock, you really should.  It's so thick and beautiful.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I really appreciate it. 


I'll see you on the crafty side (soon, I hope) -


Jules

Seize the Birthday Challenge

Today's card was created with the current Seize the Birthday challenge.  The optional topping theme this time around is flowers. 

I recently purchased the Macra made for you die set from The Greetery and paired it with stamps from one of my favorite sets from WPlus9.  This was the result...

The sentiment is from a really old WPlus9 set that I still use quite often.  I added some shading to the dies and colored the flowers in with copics.  The background was created with Distress Oxides and some water splashes.  

I love mixing stamps and dies from various manufacturers and these two were made for each other.

See you on the crafty side...

Jules

The Library Challenge

The book chosen as the current inspiration at The Library Craft Challenge Blog is a children's book written and illustrated by Judith Kerr.  It's title is The Tiger Who Came to Tea and here is a peek at the cover.

It's a darling illustration of just that...a tiger having a tea party with two children.  I knew without even looking that I did not have a tiger stamp in my collection (the horror!) but I did remember these cute little people from Waffle Flower.  Included in the stamp set are two little kitties who will be playing the part of the tiger.  This is my card...

I based my colors off those used in the original illustration for a bright fun look and set the kids in a giant tea cup from WPlus9.  I do think they're having a great time.

As I finish writing this I am already mulling over what challenge to tackle next.  Any suggestions?


See you on the crafty side....

Jules

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge

Today I'm playing along with the folks at the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge Blog.  This is the current inspirational prompt and photo....

The theme is deserts (aren't those cupcakes amazing?!) and I happen to have the perfect stamp set from GinaK Designs called Stuck on You and I paired it with another GinaK set called Grand Greetings.

A little bit of Copic coloring and some Nuvo jewel drops and this one was done.  What are you working on today?

See you on the crafty side.....

Jules

Inspired By Laurel

I am back in challenge mode this week.  Up first is one of my favorite challenge blogs...Inspired By Laurel.  Here is this week's inspiration photo....

As you will see, I took this inspiration piece quite literally and created a card with very similar elements.  Again, it's nice to have a large stash.  (Like how I'm justifying my craft room?  LOL!)

The mason jar die as well as the twine are both extremely old products from American Crafts.  The sentiment and twigs are from Altenew.  The sand dollar is from Reverse Confetti.  The rustic cream cardstock is from PaperTrey Ink and has long been a favorite of mine.  

I am looking forward to more challenges this week.

See you on the crafty side....

Jules