Fairy Mail

Today I am sharing a masculine card made using papers form the extraordinary collection Fairy Mail by We Are 3.

Inside

  

Fall Inspiration

Help usher in Autumn with colors of orange, red, and gold. Fall was my favorite time of year living in Michigan many years ago - I loved seeing leaves drift from tree branches. For today's card, I used paper from the Fall Inspiration collection and sentiment from the Harvest collection - all at We Are 3. Who wouldn't love to receive this card from a friend?

Now it's time for my scrappin' friends to hop on over to We Are 3 and purchase this beautiful digital paper and sentiment because today it's all on sale - 40% Off!

         

Frame Cards with Power Poppy

There is a fun challenge for all you cardmakers out there at Power Poppy - using a frame on your card.  I colored these shamrocks (Wish You Luck - Power Poppy) using Gimp and imported them for a single-layer card with a frame.  I am really happy with my finished card.

For my papers, I used Once Upon a Time from We Are 3.

Have a Merry Christmas

Today I have a fun card to share with you using We Are 3's Dandelion Wishes digital paper collection.  I am so excited to be making several pop-up Christmas cards as a hostess gift for my cousin.

I used 'Tis the Season Pop-Up Cards SVG from Dreaming Tree for the inside and Cute Mittens, Holiday Card Kit, and Independence Borders from Miss Kate Cuttables to embellish the front.

I Do Love Monochromatic!

Today's card uses Whale from Angie's Digital Stamps for Paper Ala Mode's Challenge - Monochromatic.  There's something about monochromatic cards that I adore, and for this one I tried a new technique, so had a lot of fun making it.

For the blue background behind the whale, I wanted to get a stenciled effect - but using Gimp, rather than stencils and inks.  I used Lattice 39 from Monica's Creative Room for my stencil, then used a "watercolor" technique I've been practicing to get the stenciled effect.

Buttons and Lace at SALSA

Today I'm sharing a card for the Mystery Item for our local SALSA swap.  We received some pink crocheted fringe with buttons hanging from it.

I pulled my decorative scissors out to free-cut the background squares, and I popped up die-cut hearts to give my card a little dimension.  I embellished my card with the mystery item - I cut up the piece of crocheted fringe and took off the buttons to glue directly to the front of my card.  I used papers I found from my first attempt at my wedding album.

Blackboard Jungle

Today I am sharing another tag for our local SALSA swap.  

This month's theme is Blackboard Jungle.  

      

Layout with Vintage Carnival

One of my favorite ways to celebrate family is through scrapbook layouts.  Check out this layout using Vintage Carnival from We Are 3.

Summer in the City

I have a fun Featured Stamper card to share with you today.  The image is the Tucson Landscape, an svg file from Vector Digital Shop. 

Vintage Carnival Digital Papers

Vintage Carnival is one of my favorite collections from We Are 3....something that brings back memories of my childhood.....remember all the local amusement parks when we were young?  Well this collection is a throwback to those days....always reminds me of the weathered appearance of carnival rides.  I've been using this collection for my grandson's latest scrapbook - and every time I create a layout, I'm hit with a wave of nostalgia.  You can check out this collection here.

Vintage Carnival Layout

Birthday parties - remember those - so fun! 

             

Pre-K Graduation Layout

Get ready for a new school year!

Power Poppy Inspirations

For today's Creative Confetti Challenge at Power Poppy, we are to "Get that Glow" with the Inspire Me Monday video tutorial.  I combined this challenge with the monthly Power & Spark challenge to showcase one of my favorite spots at home.  

My inspiration for colors comes from some recent landscaping.  For our anniversary in June, my hubby finally planted two Mexican Birds of Paradise for me.  They are healthy growing plants - however, should not be blooming this late in the summer.  We didn't expect any flowers until next year.  One plant is right on schedule.  However, the other has a beautiful bloom - and two more in waiting.  They are calendar plants that start off slow in spring and the flower continues to bloom throughout summer - when the blooms are full, it's time for kiddies to go back to school.  So my flower is making up for lost time and literally looks different just about every hour!

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any Mexican Bird of Paradise image to color (hint, hint, Power Poppy!!!!).  So I used another Arizona favorite - a Palo Verde - and changed its colors to be comparable to the Bird of Paradise (a little cardmaking creativity).  I truly struggle with coloring - particularly blending.  So this was a good way to stretch myself.  Here's Allison's wonderful tutorial.  Of course, I still need practice - but I'm fairly pleased with my "glow" on the larger flower. Fun challenges at Power Poppy this month - Hop on over!

My patterned paper in the background is from We Are 3 - Holiday Letters.

Treats in a Treatbox

Today I have a fun little treat box using some scraps of Dog Love and Sunflowers from We Are 3.  The idea started by finding a cute box from Simply Crafty SVG.  The box ended up being tiny, tiny - but I am just a sucker for tiny things.  This would make a great little treat box for a wedding or baby shower - or as a gift box for a teeny gift.  It is just the cutest little thing!  It is always very fun to sit and create something out of your little scraps.

Dog Lover Gift Bag

Today I want to share with you a gift bag I turned into a gift "box" - created with papers from the new August Release, Dog Love, and a new sentiment collection, Itty Bitty.

I decided I wanted to try something a little bit different with these adorable Dog Love papers!  To make this bag topper, I measured the bottom of the bag and created a template, adding 1-1/4" on each side, as well as a scalloped border.  I scored 1-1/4" on each side and cut to the score line to create tabs to create the box lid.  I then added top bone layers and a dotted scalloped layer.  And remember to cut some slits for the handles! After that, I added a sentiment next to the pooch.  When I cut that layer, I cut around the dog's head to make him stand out.  To finish, I added another layer of bones with a scalloped bottom and some flourishes and gems.  I just love these papers and sentiments can be used in different ways!  I left the handles on, but you could cut off the handles and have more of a gift box rather than gift bag.

Cactus Clipart - Cute and Clever

Power Poppy is having a fun Power & Spark challenge the next couple weeks. You'll love this month's theme - Inspired by Home. At first I passed on this challenge. I love my cozy little home - but since I am no decorator, I can't say I have a favorite corner. I then remembered my terrific view right outside my craft room - the desert.

Cactus Clipart is colored with Gimp, then mounted on so desert-inspired cardstock. The cacti were cut out on my Eclips using Print2Cut. Papers are from my stash.

Summer Challenge

This week's Paper Ala Mode Challenge is Summer, featuring our sponsor, Angie's Digital Stamps.

For my card, I selected Birds Playing in Birdbath.  For some summer colors, I used some pretty Sunny Days digital paper behind (We Are 3).  I add some "splash" using my word-processing program.

Sunny Days digital papers are available here at We Are 3 - frankly, I couldn't live without such fun pretty colors!

Bumblebee Card

Today I want to share with you a bumblebee card I made - created with New August Releases from We Are 3.

To make this card, I first created the background from the Bumble Bee Collection.  I then printed the sentiment from the Bee Buzz Collection.  Next I created border layouts using coordinating papers from the Bumble Bee Collection.  After that I cut layers of the Honey Bee to create a dimensional image to attach to my card base.

          

Quotes - for Creative Confetti

This is a daisy by Power Poppy (Kindness is the Way).  I colored it with Gimp and cut it out with my Eclips.  The quote is from the Quotes collection from We Are 3 matted with layers of papers, including a pattern from Sunflowers - also We Are 3.

I'm posting today for the Creative Confetti Challenge at Power Poppy.  I love any excuse to play with gorgeous digitals from both We Are 3 and Power Poppy!

I chose these colors from the challenge theme - birthstones.  I used lots of green for my August Peridot - accented with some yellow from the Sunflowers collection.  There are so many great products in the We Are 3 shop that make great little projects.  Do some shopping and see for yourself!

              

Autumn Pumpkin Harvest

This is a card I designed for my Sunflowers post at We Are 3.

Sunflowers and pumpkins - an Autumn tradition.  

Home Inspiration for the Power & Spark Challenge

I'm posting this card for the Power & Spark Challenge at Power Poppy.  The theme this month is Inspired by Home - inspiration from your favorite corner or room in your home.  My initial thought was "Forget this - I'll wait for next month's theme."  While I love my home and find it comfy - my decorating skills are much to be desired, as is my pocketbook to place this in the hands of someone else.  But I'm comfy in my functional home that needs replacement of just about everything in it.  I then got to thinking, though - I live in the desert and have all this beauty around me right through my patio doors!  So here is my card - inspired by the view beyond the brick wall at the end of my yard.

If you like inspiration, you definitely need to check out Power Poppy.  The Bloom Brigade is incredible!

Let Them Bloom!

Summertime in the country. How fun it was to create a floral card using We Are 3's Sunflower digital paper collection.

Using SVG Salon's So Very Loved, my sentiment was printed with some Sunflower paper behind.  Using Sheepski Designs Sunflowers, six flowers were cut and layered. A couple of leaves from the digital paper collection were cut and added to the sunflowers.  A ribbon was attached.  I added glitter to the flower centers to add some depth to the flowers.

For You Hippo - for Progressive Freebie

I'm posting today for The Outlawz Progressive Freebie, Splitcoast Stampers Featured Stamper, and We Are 3.  We are 3 has so many papers that can be used in more ways than I have an imagination for.  Today I also want to show you what I did with this month's Progressive Freebie - Sandra Caldwell's Donut Hippo.

I used patterned papers from We Are 3.  It's Sweet Sounds in the background, Birthday Party behind Donut Hippo, and Christmas Tree for the banner - papers from three collections that coordinate beautifully.  Even Donut Hippo is wearing from the We Are 3 Collection - her top and bow are paper pieced using a pattern from the Electronics Collection.  The sentiment is from We Are 3's Itty Bitty Birthday Collection.