Discovering the Forgotten Fleur Lady - Julia Spiri Digi

 Expect the unexpected.  Life is full of wonderful things just waiting to surprise you.

                                                         

Hey there,

If you have an urge to organize your craft area on a lazy hot summer day, I say go for it!  I've been sorting my stash for a few weeks now, waiting for my eye surgery to heal, and my new HD eyes are spying some surprising abandoned treasures.  While sifting through some long forgotten unfinished projects, I found this Julia Spiri gem called Fleur.  I'm guessing I probably wasn't happy with something about my coloring...the flashy hair maybe?  But you know how that goes...put your unworthy project aside for a while and when you return to it,  the flaws don't look quite so glaring.   

I thoroughly enjoyed putting together this fun quick card with all my time consuming coloring already accomplished.  I created the frame in Cricut Design Space, cut it out on my Maker  and attached it to a  5 1/2 inch square z-fold card base.  I lined the front panel with a gold leafing pen and attached it to my frame with mounting tape.  I found the beautiful pearl studded fabric flower in my stash and added coordinating pearls to the frame  I'll attach a sentiment when I choose my recipient.  I get so excited when I find unexpected surprises in my happy hub!

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and find a treasure in an unexpected place.

Nancy

Playing along with:

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #409

Unicorn Challenge #67

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #64

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #161

Stamping Sensations July Challenge - For a Lady

The Corrosive Challenge #7

Beyond the Blue Challenge #23

Color Crazy Challenge #27

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #7

Classic Design Challenge #7

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Unusual Hair Color

Life is Beautiful - Santoro Gorjuss Z-Fold Card

Let your mind be quiet, realizing the beauty of the world, and the immense, 

the boundless treasures that it holds in store.   Edward Carpenter

Santoro Gorjuss stamp, Spellbinders frame die, copic markers, white gel pen, iridescent gems 

Hey there,

This sweet Gorjuss image reminds me of my darling daughter who has loved the beach since she was a toddler.  She always dreamed of living near the ocean and, as an adult, has fulfilled that dream in her home in Monterey, California.  I created this card for her to remind her of those delightful sunny days at the beaches in Santa Cruz, Carmel and Monterey near San Jose where our family spent many wonderful years.

As you might have noticed,  I like to add faces to faceless stamps. Simple ones are easy to draw and color, and I think they add life and personality to an image. After coloring my adorable bathing beauty with Copics, I fussy cut her and mounted her on a white die cut circle frame that reminded me of a clam shell and waves.  I backed it with a matching aqua circle and glued it the front of a z-fold card.  The panels on the card are designer paper with shells and fish patterns.  The front panel is pale blue ombre to mimic the sky.  

Anyone visiting the magnificent Bir Sur coastline would have to agree that the world around us and life in general are, indeed, amazingly beautiful. 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and take a delightful nature walk...alone for now. 😄

Nancy

Playing along with:

A Gem of a Challenge - March 14

Allsorts Challenge # 563

Challenge Up Your Life - Challenge #121

Crafty Calendar Challenge - More than One Fold

Simply Create Too - Challenge #158

Aud Sentiments Challenge #246

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Challenge #128
Just Add Ink Challenge #496
Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #127

Dreaming Tree and La La Land Collide in a Christmas Snow Scene Rescue

A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight

walking in a winter wonderland.

Dreaming Tree SVG. La La Land stamp, patterned paper,
assorted glitter card stock, copic markers, Tombow Mono glue, pop dots, Scor-Pal for z folds

Hey artsy tribe,

As I mentioned in my last  post,  I ended up with a Christmas z-fold card sans a few key pieces.  I couldn't muster the energy to cut all the missing pieces on my Cricut just for one card.  Then I noticed THIS darling La La Land Molli staring up at me from my desk top  just waiting to be colored and placed in a snowy scene in her stylish winter attire   Even her size was perfect!  I'm super happy with the way this card evolved.  I think kinetic cards are a perfect way to add personality and context to my people images.    

I actually think I like this better than my original card.  I can see other charming images living in a multitude of idyllic settings on this z-fold card.  Another happy accident for the books! 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create a masterpiece from the "Island of Misfit Cards.."

Nancy 

Playing along with:

        Through the Purple Haze Challenge #162      

        Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #252
        Dream Valley Challenge #215
        Papercraft Challenges #53
        Lemon Shortbread Challenge #109
        The Paper Shelters Christmas Break Challenge
        Paper Funday Challenge #12
        Scor-Pal December Challenge
        Sweet Stampers Challenge #39
        Crafts Galore Encore December Challenge

Snow Scene Z-Fold Christmas Card - Dreaming Tree SVG

Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; 

so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.   
Henry David Thoreau

Dreaming Tree Snowed In SVG, Cricut Maker, assorted glitter card stock,
Tombow Mono glue, Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide, silver glossy card stock

Hey artsy friends,

This year's Christmas card for my beloved paper crafting group started out as a fairly simple z-fold Christmas scene.  Many layers and parts later, I realized it was a little more complicated than I had anticipated.  THIS beautiful Dreaming Tree snow scene caught my eye right away when I saw it assembled on You tube.  I admit, I got a little nervous when I cut out all the pieces but actually, the sponging of the snow was the biggest challenge.  All sorts of nooks and crannies!  I didn't plan to do the sponging in the beginning. . . it's usually not my favorite look,  but I realized my snow needed dimension and depth and I'm happy I acquiesced in the end.  

I downloaded the Dreaming Tree SVG to Cricut Design Space and made the intricate cuts on my Maker in a snap.  I  cut a sturdy plain white card base and layered patterned paper on top for the snowy background.  Most of the other layers are glitter card stock with the exception of the moon, which is glossy silver card stock.  I used two different colors of green for the trees to add some depth.  

I made ten of these. . . yeah, I know. . . pretty ambitious.  But my darling friends are worth it!  I always lose a few pieces somehow, so the tenth card was missing a tree and some clouds.  It was a happy mistake, though.  I'll show you the cute card I made in a future blog.

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and enjoy a magical snowy day...in real life or your imagination. (I prefer the latter. 😁)

Nancy

Playing along with:

        Everybody Art Challenge #460

        The Holly and the Ivy Challenge #62

        Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

        Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Christmas is Coming

        A Place to Start December Challenge

        Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #247

        Dream Valley Challenge #215

        Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #202

        Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge - Anything Christmas

        Inkspirational Challenge #202

Autumn Magic - Normal Burnell Autumn's Wish Fairy

They are much to be pitied who have not been given a taste of nature early in life.

Jane Austen - Mansfield Park

Copic markers, Norma Burnell digi image, Elizabeth Crafts butterfly die, green card stock,
copper metallic card stock, black pearl embellishments

Hey there, 

I absolutely love the stunning detail in Norma Burnell images.  When I color them I feel the need  to  slow down and enjoy every beautiful element of  her design.  They never fail to mesmerize me and take me to a tranquil world of my own. This Autumn's Wish fairy image has no grey scale shadows, which I'm finding I prefer. It's more relaxing for me to have the freedom of creating my own shadows as I color.  It's a little trickier and more random, but this is a fairy, and with all that twinkling going on around her, who can say where her light source is. 

I chose bright, vivid colors for my woodland fairy because I love all the magical rich tones of autumn.  I mounted my focal panel on a z-fold card and found the perfect sentiment in my stamp stash for the inside.

I like the way this card stands up for display and exposes the inside panel.  I embellished it with a lacy butterfly for a little added dimension.   The images are mounted on copper matte metallic card stock to compliment the fall hues.

Thanks for visiting,
Go forth and enjoy the exquisite artistry of an autumn landscape. 
Nancy

Playing along with:
        Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #367
        Colour Crazy Challenge #44
        Aud Sentiments Challenge #239
        Crafting with an Attitude Challenge #57
        Through the Purple Haze Challenge #161
        Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #366
        Crafting by Designs November Challenge
        Crafty Creations Challenge #401
        The Card Concept Challenge #123 - Inspired by the beautiful palette (Classy & Elegant)
        Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #246
        Try it on Tuesday Colors of Autumn

Colours of the Rainbow - Try it On Tuesday Guest Designer

Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me.  

Kermit the Frog

Mo Manning digi, fence die, leaf die, flower punch, butterfly die, colored gems, copic markers,
white gel pen, dp paper (background), computer generated sentiment (Pinterest)

Hey friends,

I'm extremely honored and excited to be a Guest Designer for the "Colours of the Rainbow" Challenge at

Try it on Tuesday

They're definitely one of my favorite challenges and this theme is right up my alley,  as a glimpse of my blog will attest. I have been dying to color this darling Mo Manning image of Cinderella's "less attractive" step sisters, and I thought they would be perfect for this card about letting your wacky self shine.  I did have to alter their faces a bit because the original image made them look a little angry.  I wanted them to look more quirky than mean, so I gave them some cute crooked smiles. And, of course, their sassy outfits had to fit their vibrant personalities.

This z-fold card base is one of my favorites because it has so much real estate to play with.  I tried creating it in Cricut Design Space but I just couldn't seem to get the measurements  right for the folds.   I realized it was much easier just to measure and score the folds by hand.  The finished card measures 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 and fits in a standard square envelope.

The sentiment on this card says it all.  As those of us with a creative tilt know, life would certainly be boring without the full spectrum of all things bright and  beautiful, both in nature and in people.  

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something colorful.

Nancy

Playing along with:

        (Pin)spirational Challenge #242

        Always Fun Challenge #118

        Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #237

        Cutie Pie Challenge #137

        Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Rainbows Galore

        Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge #1927

        Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #109

        The Corrosive Challenge #7

        Just Us Girls Challenge #495

        Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #281

My Punny Valentines - Lori Whitlock Pop Up Box Cards

I know I am in love with you because my reality is finally better than my dreams.

Dr. Seuss 

Do you remember how fun Valentine's Day was when you were a child in elementary school? In the "olden days" we used to decorate shoe boxes with stickers, crate paper and construction paper, and  on Valentine's Day everyone excitedly delivered a personalized card to each student's "mail" box. The small cards usually came in packages from the Drug Store and most of them had pictures with silly  puns on them. Some of them even had conversation hearts attached!  I remember spending the evening before our class Valentine party making sure to address each card with the recipient in mind. What fun it was opening the cards and  reading a message from each classmate...even the boys who at the time, I imagined,  had cooties.

I'm so happy Lori Whitlock has carried on the "punny" tradition with her Pop Up Box Card Valentine SVG's. I usually send several Valentines to friends and family because I love telling my favorite people how much I love them and this is the time to shamelessly lay it all out there.  The cute puns on these cards are just silly enough for me to get away with some seriously "mushy" declarations.

My talented crafty girlfriends love to exchange handmade cards for holidays and I always end up with a panoply of gorgeous creations.  When I saw Lori's darling designs, my first thought was to make each one of my friends a different card, but when I realized how many cards I would be making for both friends and family,  I decided to make multiples of three different ones, with a special, more clean and simple one for my sweetie. The others I'll save for next year. I had a blast adding some special personality to them with embellishments and patterned paper. I used the writing feature in Cricut Design Studio to write some personalized messages.  I think Valentines are fast becoming my faves.

I chose this little s'more guy for my hubby because he reminds me of romantic nights around the campfire on our many camping trips.  I left off some of the schmancy embellies to  make it less blingy.   I admit, the pink is a little girly, but it IS Valentine's Day, after all.  Hope you have a happy one!

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy

Playing along with:
     
           Double D Challenge - Hearts
           Ellibelles Crafty Wednesday - February Challenge
           Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Interactive card
           Water Cooler Challenge #207
           Unstampabelles Challenge #86
           Avenue 613 Challenge #218
           Sunday Stamps Challenge #197
           Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #133