Amazing Butterflies - STAMPlorations Sketch Challenge

Spring is in the air! Do you know how I know that? Because it hasn't stopped raining for three solid days. For me, that's nothing to complain about. There is absolutely nothing better that curling up in an easy chair with the steady sounds of drip, drip, dripping rivulets while I sip a warm mug of vanilla coffee. 

It's also given me an amazing excuse to hole up in my craft room and focus on using some new products that I haven't gotten to try out.

Today marks the first day of the new STAMPlorations sketch challenge and I pulled out some brand spankin' new Bo Bunny papers and started tearing. Because that's what you do with new things, right? :)

To go along with my torn papers, I used the STAMPlorations Mixed Media Grunge set to create an easy, distressed looking background. 

After stamping, I sponged the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink to create a vignette and added my torn papers. I stamped and fussy cut some some butterflies from the Trendy Butterflies set. 

After adding some twine, and a metal brad from Bo Bunny, I also stamped a sentiment from the Hashtag Authentic set. And voila! Finished! Easy peasy, rice and cheesy.

We've got some pretty cool prizes to give away at STAMPlorations so you should totally go check it out!

I'm going to link up to the following challenges:
Pile it On - Not Cute
Allsorts - No Squares Allowed
Creative Corner Challenges - Spring is in the Air
Time Out Challenges - Grunge with optional twist of embossing
Mixed Media Card Challenges - Things with Wings (Foil optional) plus a design team call 

Thanks for popping by!

May Flowers - Crafty Gals Challenge

Spring has finally hit North Dakota in the form of torrential rainstorms. Woohoo! Unlike most people, I prefer a good drizzly, overcast day to a bright, sun-filled one. It makes me less guilty about wanting to hole up in my craft room, getting my fingers all inky. 

Over at Crafty Gals Corner, we're celebrating spring, too! May Flowers is our current challenge and I decided to go a little vintagey with my design. 

I used some digital paper from Graciellie Designs Floral Frame paper pack and a digital image from QKR Stamped called Girl Reading.

 

I just colored in bits of her dress by watercoloring with gelatos do give that old photo feel. I wasn't really sure what sentiment to put on the card and have playing around with hand-lettering lately so I wrote my own sentiment to match. 

So if you're thinking about getting all floral-y this week, let me give you a little nudge for why you should duck over to Crafty Gals Corner and link up. 

We've got >>3<< Sponsors this week!

Our sponsors this week are:

My Besties

Etsy /  Scrapbook Stamp Society

Prize: 3 of the Digital Images the DT used

QKR Stampede

Prize: 3 Digital Images

Graciellie Designs

Prize: Floral Frame Digital Paper Pack

So lots of prizes to be won!

I'm also going to link my card up to the following challenges:

Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes 

Creative Inspirations - Shabby Chic

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On a more personal note: If you guys would join me in welcoming my little sister, Allie Kreft, to the bloggy world, I'd be forever grateful! She just started a blog called Crafting Crazy (because she is) and made her very first blog post today. I know it would mean the world to her to get a kind comment or two. :)  

Thanks for popping by!

A Little Geometric Funk

I just got out of my craft room and I am feeling:

That, my friends, is not any normal happy! That is a

 multi-colored raised up happy surrounded by sparkles! 

And that's exactly what kind of mood I'm in.

I'm finally winding down from a month-long whirlwind of busy-ness. Wonderful busy-ness, but I have barely had time to play in any extra-curricular challenges.

So getting back into my craft room today, I couldn't wait to bust a few moves. While trolling for challenges, I came across this graphic, bright inspiration board from the Winnie & Walter Gossip Column challenge. 

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Ummmm... psychedelic much? It reminds me of all prints back in the 90s with oversized sweaters when I thought I was so cool with my side ponytail and fashion-loving barbie dolls. 

I have the Winnie & Walter Scenery: Stripes set and used it to create a wickedly graphic and angled background using Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, and Mustard Seed along with some straight up black. 

I layered a wide stripe and then added accents from the four stripes stamp. That one sort of reminds me of the picks people used to put in their hair, too!

I created the top panel with the Winnie & Walter Essentials Cutaways: Katherine dies and used the In a Word: Happy die and stamped it with the stripes again in multiple colors. The birthday stamp is from STAMPlorations Blossom Overture.

This card is not my usual style, but I think it's totally rad and I had a ton of fun experimenting! So thanks for the challenge W&W!

I'm also going to link this up to:
Happy Little Stampers - Die Cuts/Punches
Seize the Birthday - ATG Birthday w/optional negative image topping

Thanks for popping on by! 

Featured Friday - Betty Keefe!!

It's the second Friday of the month and that means it's that magical time of the month when I get to share one of my favorite bloggers with you in a segment I like to call "Featured Friday".

So please join me in welcoming this month's guest:

Betty Keefe of Created By BJK!!!

Betty hails from Nebraska, but her daughter lives in Fargo and so I actually got the pleasure to meet her when she came for a visit earlier this year. Not only does Betty have the kind of kindness and humor that I hope to have when I grow up, she's a wizard with die cuts and clean lines. 

Hey... just because I can't do clean lines, doesn't mean I don't admire them!

Like me, Betty just started blogging last year but her cards have made a huge splash and are some of my favorites on the web. Just look at some of these stunners:

 

 

But why let me blather on about how amazing Betty is, when she has so many more interesting things she could say about herself. Here's 7 things you should know about Betty:

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging in January 2014 so that I could enter challenges more easily and become a little more active in the card making/stamping world – before I had my blog I just had a Flickr photostream.

2. What inspires your designs?

A lot of my inspiration comes from roaming around on Pinterest and I follow many blogs through Bloglovin’. Sometimes it’s just a color combination, a technique or a layout that will catch my fancy and I’ll go from there.

3. If you could have a lifetime supply of one stamping product, what would it be?

This is so difficult but at the present, it would dies – there are so many wonderful techniques for using them. Dies give dimension, texture and a completeness to cards which for my style works very well.

4. How do you keep you card-making mojo going?

I don’t seem to have much trouble in that department – every morning I check out other blogs and Pinterest (I get up very early and am retired so have the time) – always manage to see something that trips my trigger. I also sell my cards in a gift shop and to many friends – rarely make the same card twice.

5. What are your favorite card challenges?

I am pretty bad about entering challenges – I follow quite a few but then never seem to get around to entering them. The challenge also has to have something I like to create – if I have to use an animal forget it!! Rarely enter sketch challenges as they are usually more layered and detailed than I like. In the fall, I start entering Merry Monday and few other Christmas challenges. I favor challenges that use clean and simple like The Card Concept and Addicted to CAS.

6. Do you do any other types of crafts?

In my past I have done macramé, counted cross-stitch, jewelry, woodcrafts – I sew, knit and crochet (not very well in any of those) – and used to scour garage and estate sales for neat stuff to upcycle into something useful. Have been stamping and making cards since about 1998 – but in 2008 had some foot surgery and had to sit around a lot – watched Jennifer Mcguire videos on using inks and it’s been cards just about exclusively since then.

7. What is your best piece of advice to new bloggers?

I consider myself a new blogger so this is another difficult question. I guess it would be "do what pleases you”.

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Pinterest and Bloglovin' - that's where you can find both Betty and I when we're not huddled in our craft rooms!

For my Featured Friday posts, I always choose a card to CASE. After scrolling through Betty's Pinterest feed, I landed on this one. 

The Original

This card has it all!  Polka dots, a splash of color, and the dies Betty loves so much. It's bright, it's clean, and it's fun!

Betty and I both took another crack at her card and CASED it. 

Betty's CASE

Gorgeousness! Isn't it? Betty knows how to knock out elegant, stunning creations. 

My CASE

I stuck with the bright, fun burst of flowers and added some sparkles to the center. I just changed a few minor things here and there, but the spirit of Betty's card is definitely smack dab in your face. 

I used the Simon Says Stamp "Thinking of You" stamp set. 

Speaking of Simon Says Stamp, I'm going to hook this card up with the SSS Wednesday Challenge - Sentimental and Shopping Our Stash - Big, Bold and Beautiful, and 613 Avenue Create - ATG/with feminine option. 

Thanks for popping by and would you pretty please pop by Betty's blog and give her some extra special bloggy love today? 

Mother's Day Card and A Sketch Challenge - Crafty Gals Corner

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I realized that if I wanted to once again be my mom's favorite child this year, I had better get working on a card!

I am a member of a family of four children and though my siblings may strongly disagree, my mom loves me best of all. Just kidding. That title goes to my brother. *Cough* I mean... my mom loves all of us equally. *Cough*

It wouldn't be Mother's Day without showing a crazy picture first, though.

So this card is for my crazy, zany cooky mother... who loves me and whom I am growing to be more and more like as I get older... Yes. I admit it.

 I started with the latest sketch challenge from Crafty Gals Corner: 

I made some gorgeous flowers from the Stamping Boutique - an image called Poppies. I colored them with Spectrum Noir Markers (DR2, DR4, DR5, DR7).

Then, due to my penchant for coloring outside the lines, I realized my green stems were filled in with red. GRRR!!! What was I to do but to bust out the Perfect Pearls and paint in some shimmer. Problem solved!

I added some sparkly bits to the dots and drawn shimmer stars along the edges as well. And then I paired it with some pearls and some striped paper.

So now my mom will know that she's the best mom, and I will once again be in her good graces.

So head on over to Crafty Gals Corner and play along with our sketch this week! We've got some cool prizes for those of you who do. 

Our sponsors this week are:

Di's Digi's

Prize: $12 Gift Certificate 

STAMPlorations

Prize: $10 Gift Certificate

The Stamping Boutique

Prize: 2 Digital Images / 3 Digital Images if you use a TSB image

That's right! >>>3 sponsors<<<!!!

Anywho, I'm off now to go gloat over the fact that I'm actually going to manage to send out a card on time. Thanks for popping by!

Polka Dotty Hills - STAMPlorations Sketch Challenge

Today, I've got a card that brings out the bright and fun. This weekend was 67 degrees here in North Dakota, which is practically tropical weather! So I was inspired to do a little summery number on my card stock. 

I'm using the new sketch challenge going on over at STAMPlorations:

One of the things I love to do is to mix and match funky, retro patterns. There's just something about putting two things together that shouldn't work, but do. The way these rolling "hills" light up the foreground of the card makes this girl super happy! 

To go with the funky hills, I have a funky house from The Bee's Knees - Houses STAMPlorations set. I also used the Clouds ARTPlorations stencil and some Salty Ocean Distress Ink to make the bright sky. 

You should totally go play along at STAMPlorations! We've got some great prizes for you to win, including a guest design spot. 

Speaking of,the fiesty and talented Monika Reeck is joining us this week with another version of a funky card with mixed and matched patterns. Stop by and say hello!

I'm sending my card over to:
Craft Stamper Magazine - Take it Make it Challenge
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards - Spring has Sprung
Try it On Tuesdays - 1960s retro
Little Red Wagon - "B"lieve it (my b is for Blue Skies)

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On a more personal note, many of you know that April's been a crazy month for me. It seems like everything I need to do all year long is packed into this one little month. I know I haven't been able to leave as many comments because of this, but I do want you to know that things will be slowing down. I have one trip next week to D.C. for work, but then I'll be able to breathe a little (fingers crossed). 

This weekend was truly spectacular darlings, and I thought I'd share a little bit about what I've been up to. 

This was my Saturday:

  I've been working with my local Young Professionals Chapter to plan and orchestrate a community-wide clothing and necessities drive that would help 7 local nonprofits including our battered women's shelter, homeless shelter, and organizations that help New American Families. We distributed 1000 orange bags door-to-door two weeks ago and on Saturday we went to collect them from people's houses. 

As you can see, we got an amazing response and were able to help out some families who really needed it. 

After that, I did a quick change and got 1920s glam for the evening:

This is my gorgeous cousin, Amber, and myself all decked out. The Dean of the medical school where I work gave me two tickets to a charity ball and I have to tell you it was F-A-N-C-Y. Probably the fanciest thing I've ever been to. You know... one of those awkward situations where you don't know which fork goes with what dish... or whether the utensil you're holding is a fork at all... :) It was a ton of fun, though, and I felt very Daisy-ish with my updo. 

So... yeah! It was a busy weekend. Like I said, I have one more week of running around like a chicken with my head cut off and then I'll be back to the normal Miss-stalk-your-blogs-for-inspiration self. 

Thank you for popping by! 

A Leafy Art Journal Page - STAMPlorations May Challenge

Texture! Color! Technique!

That's what I've got in store for you today, my lovely readers! 

It's the first of the month and time for a new monthly challenge over at STAMPlorations. This month's challenge is:

We like entries done in any style! Have a CAS flower card with leaves? Link it up! Have a mixed media masterpiece with autumnal touches? Link it up! 

I definitely opted for the latter as I was feeling like getting a little bit messy. Many of you know that my big project this year is to put some of my poetry along with corresponding artwork. I've already made one page (you can see it here if you'd like) and have really wanted to be considerate of the design when moving forward, so I'm taking my own sweet time. 

Here's how I created my second page, with my poem called Autumnal Lullaby. 

First, I applied a layer of gesso and, while it was still wet, stuck in bits of crumpled up tissue paper to create a textural base. The gesso allows my next layer to go on the page and blend easier. 

Next, I dobbed on some Distress Paint in Mustard Seed and Fired Brick. If you haven't used Distress Paints before, the thing that makes them unique is that they react with water.

Give 'em a little spritz with a water mister and they start doing happy dances all over the page. 

Depending on which way you twist and turn your page, the paint will drip into itself and start creating unique color combos that just weren't there before. Magic!

The last picture is a combination of three steps, First, I used a crinkled paper towel to dab up some of the paint and to create a sort of leaf veining texture in the background, I also spritzed on some Bronzed Copper Distress Spray Stain and painted on a shimmery border with Perfect Pearls (Forever Red). 

I added my poem and incorporated it into the design by using some of the leaves from the STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves set, along with some stenciling work from the Nested Circles ARTplorations stencil. 

I double stamped the leaves using different Distress Ink colors, but in to make them really pop, I used a Faber Castell artist pen and outlined them, then smudged the outline to create some charcoally (that's a word, right?) shadows. 

I added some wood chippies for more texture. And here you can really see how lovely that tissue paper looks. 

One of the cool elements is this dangly wooden piece. It's actually an old earring. My mom and dad go to a lot of auctions and do junk sales during the summer months. Last time I was home, she had a whole box of mismatched earrings that I heroically saved from the garbage can! Just call me SuperBecca!

Anyway, that's what I have for you fine folks. I totally think you should go get messy now too and link up some awesome projects to our challenge over at STAMPlorations. There's cool prizes for you to win, plus we give you lots of great recognition of your artwork. 

I'm also going to link this up to the following challenges: 

Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your Mark (p.s. I tried to find if I could enter things besides cards here, but it didn't say. Just let me know if I can't.) :) 

Craft Stamper Magazine - Take a Stamp

 

Mixed Media Mojo Bingo: (I went gesso, stencil, chipboard)

Thanks for popping by! Leave me a comment or follow my blog and I'll be sure to head your way, too!