Cooking It Up #60 - Make Mine a Double Green Punch!

It's a new recipe over at my Cooking It Up With Katie challenge blog and this week the ingredients are:

Use Green (a little or a lot)
Add some Punching
Make it a Double (use two of something)

Challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Papercutz - Anything Goes
Moving Along With The Times - Anything Goes
Digi Doodles Shop - Anything Goes
AI Factory - Anything Goes
Friday Mash Up - Punches
Wags N Whiskers - Use a die or punch
Totally Gorjuss - 1, 2, 3 Your choice (I chose 1 image, 2 papers and 3 colors (green, blue and white))
Desert Island Crafts - Pick 3 (I chose No flowers, Words and Punches)
Gingerloft - Under The Sea
Take A Word - Exposed

Card Recipe:
Image - Mermaid by Gingerloft
Medium - Copic Markers
Paper - K and Co Citronella
Border Punch - Twirling Ribbon by Martha Stewart
Sentiment - Creative Imaginations Oceanside
Ribbon - Hobby Lobby

This is such a gorgeous image and the water looking paper and punch I think went really well with her.
It was nice to limit myself to two colors as well and I think it added to the whole "Undersea" feel to the card.
We'd love to see you put on your aprons and join us over at Cooking It Up With Katie this week.
Katie

Digital Delights - Easter Accessories

It's time for more new creations from the team at at Digital Delights!

Challenges:
Stamping Vacation Start Here - Nestabilities
Gingerloft - Dies or Punches
Crafty Emma's - Die Cut Crazy
Creative Cowgirls - Spring or Easter
Creative Craft World - Easter
Fresh Brewed - A Sweet Treat
Die Cut Dreams - Food Themed Digi image
House of Gilli - Ribbon and Pearls
Lexi's - Ribbon (no bows or knots)
The Paper Variety - 1, 2 ,3 (make your own recipe. I did 1 image, 2 flowers and 3 butterflies)
Whimsie Doodles - Punch It Out

Card Recipe:
Image - Easter Accessories
Sentiment - Ticket Sentiment Set
Paper - Sweet Nectar by K and Co
Medium - Copic Markers
Flowers- Martha Stewart
Border Punch - Martha Stewart
Butterfly Punch - Martha Stewart
Pearls - Bridal Dept
Rhinestones - Treasures by Shabby Chic
Die Cut - Spellbinders
Doily - Wilton

I printed out the image 3 times and cut out and popped up a whole basket and then just the bow, an easy technique but I think it adds so much more to the finished piece. I thought the punch looked a little like a cross between a fence and a row of flowers and it's ornate look works well against the simplicity of the image.
A few pearls and rhinestones and I was done!
I hope you like it.
Katie

Cooking It Up #55 - Sparkle, Shine and Shimmer!

It's time for another challenge at my Cooking It Up With Katie card recipe blog!
So here are this weeks ingredients (it's a really easy one!)

Start with Sparkle
Add some Shine
Finish with a Shimmer!!

So we need to see the bling, pearls, mists, metals, anything that sparkles and shines, the more the merrier!


Challenges:
Gingerloft - Punches or Die Cuts
Meljen's - Punches
Stamp Insanity - Punch It Out
Stampin Vacation Start Here = Nestabilities
Crafty Emma'a - Die Cut Crazy
Do You Stack Up? - Shine On
Incy Wincy - Sparkle and Shine
Paper Pretties - Bring on the Bling
Kenny K - Aquamarine
House of Gilli - Ribbon and Pearls
Paper Playtime - Anything Goes Digi
Dutch Dare - Celebrations
Send A Smile 4 Kids - Birthday Girl
Charisma - Birthday for a Teen
Crazy Challenge - Sweet Teens
Digital Tuesday - For The Kids

Card Recipe:
Image - Kitty Katastrophe by Kenny K
Paper - SEI Chick A Doo
Medium - Copic Markers
Ribbon - Hobby Lobby
Rhinestones - Michales $1 spot
Pearls - The Paper Studio
Stickers - SEI Chick a Doo
Border Punch - Martha Stewart

It was so easy to "shine and shimmer" up this little cutie, bling on her boots, silver pen accents, pearls and more.
I really love these images, different from what I usually do but so much fun!
I hope you enjoyed her too and will come along to Cooking It Up With Katie and "Get Your Bling On!"
Katie

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #60 - Sketch and/or Easter

It's Wednesday so it means another challenge over at The Pixie Cottage!
As always we have 2 parts to the challenge and you can choose either or both to play along with.
We have a fabulous sketch and our theme this week is "Easter" so it's time to break out the baskets, bunnies and Easter Eggs!

Remember you can use the sketch or the optional technique or both!

Challenges:
Alys - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Belli Challenge - Animals
Alphabet Challenge - R is For Ribbon
The Crafty Pad - Ribbon
Lexi's - Easter
Catered Crop - Card Inspiration (pastels, Easter, ribbon, scallops)
Incy Wincy - Pastel Colors
Ladybug Crafts - Spring Colors
Gingerloft - Flowers
Cupcake Inspirations - Photo (cupcake with Spring flowers in green, lilac, pink, yellow and white)
Lets Ink It Up - Embossing (must use a rubber stamp)

Card Recipe:
Image - Buffy The Bunny by Alisa Ramirez
Medium - Copic Markers
Paper - Stash
Border Sticker - Martha Stewart
Die Cut - Spellbinders
Small roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
Large Flower - Prima
Embossing Folder - Crafts Too
Sentiment - Studio G

This was the great sketch we started with.

I used sheer dotted ribbon to weave around the die cut, I've seen this done before but this was the first time I tried it, and I really like how it turned out.
I added a little paint and topped it with Glamour Dust on the hair bow for a little extra sparkle.
I hope you'll get "Hopping Along" to The Pixie Cottage and show us your Easter creations too!

A Spoon Full of Sugar - A Little Vintage, A Little Shabby!

It's time for another challenge at A Spoon Full Of Sugar and this week we are giving you a theme challenge!
We want you to get a little inky, take a look back at the past and show us your best Shabby Chic or Vintage creations.

This week we are sponsored by Digital Delights who have offered the winner 3 of their images and I used one from their collection for my card.
It was a little more difficult to turn "cute" into "vintage" than I first thought but I hope you think I achieved it :)

Challenges:
Alys - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Paperplay - Shabby Chic/Vintage
Alphabet Challenge - R is For Ribbon
The Crafty Pad - Ribbon
Totally Papercrafts - Pearls and Lace
Sentimental Sundays - Pearls and Lace
Gingerloft - Flowers
Digi's by Phooka - Photo Inspiration (soft pink, flowing fabric, girly)

Card Recipe:
Image - Digital Delights
Medium - Copic Markers
Paper - Linen and Lace by DCWV
Die Cut - Spellbinders
Ribbon - Hobby Lobby
Lace - Offray
Roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
Sentiment - Karen Foster
Pearls - Bridal Collection by David Tutera

This is such a happy image that it surely must make you smile.
If you are into Shabby Chic or Vintage styles or just want to step out of your comfort zone a little then be sure to go and create and come back and share with us at A Spoon Full Of Sugar this week.
Katie

It's Your Special Day - Another Teddy Bo and Co Card

OK, it's time for a "Just Because" card and this is another Teddy Bo image, if you've been following my blog recently you'll know how much I love these images!
This one is a Valentines image but I think it works just as well for a Birthday Card too.
I love the blue and brown color combination, it lends itself so well towards the Vintage/Shabby Chic style and I'm really enjoying creating in that style at the moment.
Tomorrows project is also in this style so if you like it be sure to come back.
Also maybe now is the time to add yourself as a follower as I have just passed 90000 hits and am approaching 400 followers so it could be time for some blog candy!

Challenges:
Do You Stack Up - Anything Goes (3 entries)
Papertake Weekly - Sketch
Fuzzy Wuzzy - Happy Birthday (must have an animal as the focus)
Going Grey - Happy Birthday
Crafty Ann's - Happy Birthday
Creative Inspirations Paint - Birthday
Craft Your Passion - Girly Girl
Sweet Stampin - Girly
Teddy Bo and Co - Duck Egg Blue and Chocolate
2 Sisters - Teddy Bears
Gingerloft - Furry Friends
Lil Red Wagon - Animals
Wags N Whiskers - Punches
Digital Tuesday - Punches and Digi
I Did It - Punches or Dies
Hand Stamped Sentiments - Use a Die Cut
Tuesday Throwdown - 3D (add dimension with pop dots etc)
Anything Goes - Distressing
CCEE Stampers - Distressing
Corrosive - Distressing
Stampin Sisters in Christ - At least 3 Buttons
Pink Elephant - Buttons, Lace and Ribbon
Fresh Brewed Designs - Ribbons and Bows
Thrilling Thursday - Ribbon
Digi Doodles - Spots/Dots
The Paper Variety - Stitching
Fussy and Fancy - Embossing or Paper Piecing
Shannon's Sentiments - Fussy Cutting

Card Recipe:
Image - Love Letter Teddy Bea
Medium - Copic Markers
Paper - K and Co Wild Saffron
Border Punch - Martha Stewart
Embossing Folder - Sizzix
Ribbon and Lace - Unknown
Buttons - Unknown

I printed and colored 3 copies of the image and decoupaged the finished piece to give lots of definition. I distressed the edges of the mats and added chalk ink to enhance it even more. I even inked the antique style lace to add to the shabby chic style. Although this is a "cute" image I do think that it lends itself to the vintage feel that is so popular right now.
I absolutely love this line of images of can't wait to see all the new ones they keep coming out with.
If you like this card be sure to check back on Wednesday for another Teddy Bo card :)

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #52 - Sketch and/or Coloring

It's time for another challenge over at The Pixie Cottage
As always we have a new sketch for you if you like to use sketches and we have the technique challenge of "Using Your Favorite Coloring Method".
You can choose the sketch, the technique or both!
As the majority of cards have some form of coloring on them I'm sure you'll have no excuse not to play along this week!

Challenges:
Craft Your Days Away - Anything Goes
Let's Ink It Up - Anything Goes (must be rubber stamp)
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Wings
Alys - Wings
Sentimental Sundays - Wings
Auds Sentiments - Two Word Sentiment
Crafty Pad - Happy Birthday
Gingerloft - Celebrations
Charisma - Birthdays or Celebrations
Craft Your Passion - Tie One On (use ribbon)
Shannon's Sentiments - Ribbon
Getting Creative with Ann - Hearts
Woodware USA - Hearts

Card Recipe:
Image - SouthEnd Girls 2 by Andrea T. Seiler
Paper - Fairytale Princess by The Paper Studio
Medium - Copic Markers
Glitter - Stickles in Lavender
Rhinestones - Michaels $1 Spot
Letter Beads - Walmart
Sentiment - Bo Bunny
Bow - Offray
Heart Punch - EK Success
Die Cut - Spellbinders

This is the great sketch we have this week for you to use if you like.

After coloring the image I cut her out and added Stickles to her wings.
Then I matted her on a Spellbinders die cut and then on a different patterned paper.
It's my daughter's 12th birthday on Friday and this may well go to her, I'll just have to see if I can keep it a secret until then! LOL
Katie

Pixie Cottage #47 - Paper Piecing

It's time for another super sketch and challenge at The Pixie Cottage and we'd love to see you give it a try.
It is one of my favorite techniques and that is Paper Piecing!

Challenges:

Charisma Cardz - One for The Girls
Whoopsi Daisy - Girlie
Speedy the Cats Friends - Bows
Gingerloft - Bows
Sweet Stampin - Buttons and Bows
Praire Fairy - Buttons and Bows
Meljens - Buttons and Bows
Paper Play - Stars
Sentimental Sundays - 3 papers, 3 buttons and some ribbon (and a sentiment)
Craft Your Days Away - Texture
Alphabet Challenge - E for Embossing
Lots to Do - Embossing
Sketches in Thyme - Open Sketch week (any card as long as you use a sketch)
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas
Stampin B's - Holiday Card
Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Anything Goes Christmas
Crafty Catz - Christmas
One Stop Craft - Christmas Cuties
Totally Gorjuss - Oh Christmas Tree
Stamp It Crazy - Christmas
Stempeltraeume - Red and Green
Paper Cutz - Anything Goes
Woodware USA - Anything Goes
Paper Cupcakes - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes
I Did It Creations - Surprise Me (open week)
Tuesday Throwdown - Embellish It

Card Recipe:
Image - Hannah with Hearts
Paper - Homemade Christmas by DCWV
Medium - Copic Markers
Die Cut - Spellbinders
Embossing Folder - Basic Grey for Sizzix
Tree - Sizzix
Ribbon - Stash
Rose - Wild Orchid Crafts
Sentiment - Printed in Santa's Sleigh Font
Buttons - Dress It Up

This was the great sketch we got to work with (I turned it to fit the image)

I paper pieced the dress, boots, hearts and hair tie and I just love the extra touch this adds to the image.
This was a sketch that when I first saw I thought I couldn't use but when I turned it on it's side I thought I'd give it a go and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Katie

Cooking It Up #34 - Double Up on Glittery Letters!

It's time for another recipe at Cooking It Up With Katie to get your creative juices flowing!
We are sponsored by the super Stamping Dragon Designs who gave us gorgeous images to work with.

This week the recipe is:

Make Mine a Double (use 2 of something) (I used 2 colors, Pink and Green,and 2 DP's)
Add some Letters
Finish with some Glitter

Challenges:
Christmas Stampin All Year Long - Photo Inspiration
Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch and Sparkle
If The Shoe Fits - Any Holiday
Winter Wonderland - Vintage Christmas
Going Grey - Christmas
Karber Christmas - Use a Digi
The Crafty Pad - Distressed Edges
Gingerloft - Winter (fireplace)
Simple Doodles - Winter Warmers
Stamping With The Dragon - You Got Ink
Craftalicious - Anything Goes
Thoughtful Thursdays - G is for.... Green

Card Recipe:
Image - Christmas Warmth by Dragons Lair
Paper - Peppermint Forest
Medium - Copic Markers
Ink - Chalk Ink Dewdrops
Chipboard letters - Target $1 spot
Glitter - The Art Institute
Rhinestones - Michaels $1 spot

I love this image and can't wait to hang up my stockings and wait for Santa!

Cooking It Up #30 - Ahoy Mateys!

More Cooking It Up with Katie (me!) fun and this week we have a simple recipe that I'm sure you'll all love.

We are sponsored by the fabulous Digital Delights and all had fun creating with Wendy's super images!

This weeks ingredients are:

Ribbon
Metal
Something Sweet

Challenges:

AI Factory - Card for a Boy
CCEE - Pirate Card
Glitterbabe - Anything Goes with Sparkle
Papercutz - Halloween with NO black or Orange
Ann's Creative Nook - Halloween
Gingerloft - Happy Haunting
Raise the Bar - Something Yummy
Secret Crafter - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin - Stitching
Stempeltraeume - Bow
Timbo Scrapmania - Borders



Card Recipe:
Image - Pirate Ahoy Stamp Set
Medium - Copic Markers
Paper - K&Co Spooktacular
Border punch - Martha Stewart Spider Web
Brads - Spare Parts
Skull and Cross Bones - Walmart
Sentiment - Printed





Now this little guy is from an acrylic set that Wendy designed for Clear Dollar Stamps and I wanted to show how versatile he is. I think he works just as well for Halloween as any other boy situation.
The sparkle on the skull and crossbones gives just enough pizazz paired with the silver spiders on the paper and the silver pen used to edge the mats.
I'd love to see you over at my Cooking It Up with Katie challenge so please come over and play!