ATC! What's that??

Have you ever started an online search on a topic, and hours later

 realized you've gone down a rabbit hole and have no idea how you got there?? 

Well, I do it all the time lol! And this time, I love where I landed:

Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge

What's an ATC you ask? Artist Trading Card

It's a 2 ½" x 3 ½" piece of art.

Yep, that's all the real estate you get to create your masterpiece.

This challenge blog is for mixed media ATCs; the chance to really showcase

the "art" in Artist Trading Card.

This week's them is: Make It Sparkle

Here's my ATC:

I got this fairy from Vera Lane Studio. I've been dying to find a great reason

CASology 180: Open

This week at the CASology challenge blog, we're hoping to spark some interest 

with the cue card: OPEN. What a...well...open concept :)

I knew I wanted to stamp into the open space, but how to add interest was the challenge. 

I took my swivel tip X-Acto blade (this tool is in regular rotation for me) 

and cut the heart out...eek, that doesn't sound nice lol. 

I popped up the entire card front and stamped the sentiment 

on some red cardstock to layer behind the open heart. 

I really like the depth it created on this CAS design.

If you've followed my cards, then the dotted coloring technique 

on this cow should look familiar :) The body of the cow is colored

using W1 and I used a few Es to color the spots. I love how the dots 

give some texture that's a bit against the grain of regular coloring. 

R-colored hearts finished with some Star Dust Stickles (another fave) 

and you have a cutie patootie CAS card. 

Check out the other CASology Design Team members' blogs and their inspirations
and see what our Guest Designer created this week:

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne (already here)
Hannelie Bester
Hazel Hodgkins
Jacquie Southas
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
Kymona Tracey
Melissa Chipperfield
Sherrie Mannion
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Rachel (Rachel's Card Corner)

I'm also playing along at the CAS(E) this Sketch! blog :) This week's sketch 

inspired my layout :)

Thanks for stopping by and get working on your "open" card :)

Deidre

Butterfly Happy Birthday: A Mixed Media Card

What fun to sit down and make a mixed media card! 

I was contacted by a friend to make a birthday card for her older sister. 

She wanted a loving card that showcased her sister's love 

of butterflies and fun personality. I love a challenge...

especially one where the limits are almost boundless. The result:

I used a ton of supplies on this card....as is typical with mixed media :)

The three die cut butterflies are from one of my favorite oldie-but-goodie
stamp & die cut sets from Sizzix and Hero Arts. For color, I used
Dina Wakley heavy body acrylics, gelatos, and Pitt big brush pens. 

I would love to receive a created like this, so I really hope she enjoys it.
I can't wait to her the reaction! Thanks for stopping by and have a restful day. 

Deidre :)

Mini Album Create and Crop!

It's hard to believe that it's been an entire year since I've hosted a class or crop. I know that this is short notice, but hopefully some of you will be able to meet up and just unwind creating :)

We'll be making a throwback in the crafting world, a Mini Album made from paper bags...yes, regular small lunch bags. This album is so customizable, inexpensive to create, and gives you lots of space for pictures, journaling, knick knacks, the works. Not to mention, you'll get a few hours to relax, spend time with some craft buddies, and play with products you may not have at home  :)

Details:
Date:  Saturday, January 16, 2016
Time:  6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location:  Hampton, VA (my home, address will be revealed to participants)
Cost: $10 (covers all other supplies, embellishments, inks, paints, brushes, etc and snacks)
Supplies to bring: scissors, ruler, glue stick or adhesive runner, **decorative paper pad, any photos or special embellishments you wish to bring
**If you would like for me to supply a decorative paper pad for you, please add $5**

  

Below you'll see pictures of my version of the album, but everyone's album will be a little bit different depending on your style, papers, embellishments, etc. 

This album will be your creation!

Graffiti for CTS 153

A last minute entry to play along at CAS(E) this Sketch!... my brain had to work this out lol. I knew I wanted to do graffiti on a brick wall, but I had to find the perfect sentiment. As I was flipping through my stamps, bingo! Everyone who knows me, gets my political rants and tolerates listening to a little bit of NPR and CNN on XM in my car :) In today's political environment, I think this sentiment says it all.

I embossed the card using a Tim Holtz embossing folder from Sizzix and sponged on a combo of Fired Brick and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to make the texture pop. I used the Distress Marker Spritzer Tool to make the sprays of Black Soot ink and finished it off by using tiny drops of India ink blown with the spritzer tool to mimic the drips that you get with graffiti being sprayed on a wall.

So let's just kiss :) Have a great day!

Deidre :)

Big news!! And a huge thank you!

Whaaaatttt??! Less than a week into the new year, and a resolution 

(more of a wish actually) is already checked off my list.

Mind. Blown.

I'm super excited to announce that I'm joining the CASology Design Team! 

This host of amazingly talented card artists have inspired me with their

weekly contributions to the awesome CASology challenge blog...

where you should totally pop in and play along :)

I hope that I can create some sparks of creativity for all the players,

so let's get started!

This week's cue card is: SIMPLE

Talk about a CAS (clean & simple) card, huh? 

One layer, 3 colors, and all stamps from the same stamp set.

I love the combo of yellow, gray, and black. That pop of brightness...yum :)

The  stamp set is "Time to Say Thanks" from Create a Smile;

it's a great set with graphic floral images and sentiments.

So, from my whole heart,

danke, gracias, merci, and THANKS for stopping by,

supporting my crafting, and your kind comments!

Check out the other CASology Design Team member blogs and their inspirations:

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne (already here)
Hannelie Bester
Hazel Hodgkins
Jacquie Southas
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
Kymona Tracey
Melissa Chipperfield
Sherrie Mannion
Tracey McNeely

Can't wait to see what you create!

And by the way, there's a great prize for this week's winner :)

Deidre :)

Merry Merry Merry

Here's one last holiday card for the road :) The CASology challenge blog wrapped up 2015 with the cue card: MERRY. As much as I wanted to do the "Deidre thing" and use a play on the word, I figured I'll have plenty of time for that with Feb 14th around the corner lol. Here's a fun way to end the holiday season:

Ok, so snowmen are my favorite winter icon and when I saw this guy, I got totally excited. This was a free digi stamp (hugs for that) from Free Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps. 

Tag You're It! Clear Tags

It's been a great Christmas break, but back to the daily grind...and dusting the cobwebs off the creative centers in my brain :) I'm jumping in on the Tag You're It! challenge that provided a beautiful clear tag as inspiration. 

Here's my tag:

The flower and diagonal lines of the layout on the inspiration tag really caught my attention.

Christmas Countdown

Don't you just love the "___ Days Before Christmas" countdowns?? For most people, they're thinking about shopping days left...I'm thinking cardmaking/mailing days left :)

Just thought I'd pop in and show some of the cards I've been crafting to fulfill orders for some of my supporters. I love when I get asked to make cards and I'm given carte blanche. I get to incorporate their personality and just create.  Take a look.

Whew! Busy, busy, busy. Hopefully, your crafting and Christmas shopping is going well :) Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Deidre :)

Twice is Nice at CASology!

Wowsers! Who would have guessed that my cards would win in back-to-back weeks over at that the Casology challenge blog?? There are lots of fabulous cards and talent playing along each week. Can anyone say "cloud nine" :) 

With that said, I get to guest design again this week (woo hoo!). This week's cue card: TOY. My take on it:

Design defined:
Plenty of white space and some masking help to frame your focal image.

*DISCLAIMER: Long post ahead, but lot of details lol :)