Dragon care

 Today I got inspired by colors, quirky characters and the call for distressed paper (but make it cute). Let's see...

This is what I pulled out. I haven't used this dragon mama for ages (if ever?) I bought it in a charity shop last year and have no idea of the maker, sorry. I also selected the pencils to match the color inspiration. That picture (see below) has also waves, and this inspired me to grab a piece of corrugated cardboard, as this would also answer to the call for distressed paper. The die cuts from my ready stash are lined up, too, as is my sentiment stamp collection. Not shown is the roll of lace paper which I grabbed later.

 

I started by stamping and coloring the dragon mama and her baby, then I fussy cut it. (I love my Cutter bee scissors for that, they go snip-snap and the cut is ready in no time.) I then glued the piece of corrugated cardboard in place and flicked some color around the card (Abandoned coral). 

Then I placed a piece of paper lace onto it, twirled a bit of linen thread and placed the dragon on top. I selected two die cuts, and placed the sentiment between the die cuts and the dragon's head. It reads: I will always be there for you.

Entering this in these inspiring challenges:

Pinspirational: #340 Jade and peach

 

Conjurer of Dreams: #23 Quirky characters & Anything goes - I'd like to think this dragon is quirky!

Let's Craft and Create: #234 AG+ Distressed paper

Creative Moments: #285 Make it cute 

Daisy Chain Challenge: #110 Animals

Kleuren met potloden: Augustus alles mag /AG August

Critter Crazy: #113 AG with featured critter(s) 

Catching butterflies

Several challenges caught my attention today. It all started with a color palette and the word prompts gave me all the ideas.

This is what I pulled out: a critter stamp, a butterfly stamp, a watercolored background that was left over from a project long ago and my GT watercolors. I really like to use watercolors, as they can be used opaque or transparent.

 

I cut the background to size, then, instaed of matting it just edged it with black ink. I stamped the butterflies, colored a few of them in and fussy cut them. Then I stamped the critter and the net and colored them in, too. I mounted the critter with a foam strip and arranged the butterflies around him. The sentiment reads: Hi, how are you doing?

 

Entering this in these wonderful challenges:

Color Dare: #715 palette - for neutrals I used black and brown

 

Simon Says Wednesday: Summertime blues

As You Like It: Favorite coloring medium - and why Mine is GT watercolors, they go on from transparent to opaque

Avenue 613: AG/ optional twist Playtime - I am playing with this option

 

Creative Friday: #418 Querformat / Landscape format

Critter Crazy: #113 AG

Daisy Chain Challenge: #110 Animals

PIP: #2632 AG 

From all of us

 Today's inspiration came from color challenges asking for red-white-blue. This is not my usual comfort zone so working with these colors gave me an extra challenge.

I started by pulling out my supplies: a floral die set, colors and a background stamp and a sentiment stamp.

 

I stamped the background with Versafine light blue directly to the card base. Then I die cut and assembled the flower and painted it. The sentiment reads " Best Wishes from all of us".

 

I am entering this in these inspiring challenges:

Daisy Chain: #109 Birthday  

Give a Crafter a Cookie: GCC#218 Yummy red, white and blue 

 

Colorful Options: July challenge

 

Pinspirational: July red, white and blue 

 

  

Roses for birthday

 Today's inspirations lead me towards a birthday card. Always seem to be needing those!

The main supplies were a stamp of a layered rose and a die set for decorative lanterns. I have had both for years, but have seldom found use for them. The auxiliary supplies were designer paper, a pad of ready cut lattice designs and inks. I toyed with the idea of adding an arch via Spellbinders oval dies, but in the end didn't find it necessary.

 

I adhered the lattice on top of the designer paper, cut two lanterns out of the other two, stamped and fussy cut two roses and stamped the sentiment ('Happy birthday') and assembled the card.

 

I am entering this into these challenges that were my guiding light today:

Altenew: July 2026 inspiration challenge 

 

Daisy Chain: #109 Birthday 

GCFAOS: #23 Gebruik designpapier (Use designer paper)

The Neglected Stuff: July challenge 

 

Dahlia in the round

This dahlia flower die has been waiting very long to be used. It must have been sitting over two years - gasp. But today I got inspired by several challenges that felt just right together. 

 

This card may look simple, but the image has three layers on top of the background (on top of the card front).

 

 

Entering in these lovely challenges:

Art Impressions: # 428 Yellow 

MMM: #278 Say it with Flowers

Cards 4 Galz: #276 Circle Card 

Daisy Chain Challenges: #107 Layer it up 

Lemon poppies

Poppies are wonderful one day affairs - here today, gone tomorrow. Now lemony citrusy poppies might be a botanical anomaly, but I took the liberty. I was challenged by a blog to use yellow (and combine it with green) and I must say I love the outcome.

Several things make me happy: I was able to use the green background that I originally created for the purple flower card.

Secondly, that citrus yellow thread was just a short length, but it was enough to sew the edging with. And thirdly, that ladybug was a happy accident. The second letter N had created an ink spot that needed covering.

 

Entering this into challenge that inspired it's creation:

The Color Hues Challenge: #TCH #66

Daisy Chain Challenge: No design paper

Creative Inspiration Challenges: #3 AG

Girlz Creative Crafts: #38 Bloemen / Flowers

Through the Purple Haze: #205 Flowers and/or buttons. - I used flowers only.

Thank you for your visit!

Pastel or bright?

 That's always the question I pose when starting out - will the card have soft or strong colors? I don't have an absolute preference, it varies. The colors I own are no help, either - I have both brights and pastels.

Today I preferred pastel. It was the mood of the silhouetted flowers and the fact I felt drawn to shades of peach (there is a lovely challenge!) that decided it for me.

The background has been stenciled and the flowers as well. It's a birthday card, the sentiment says: Life is wonderful (the congrats will be written inside).

 

Entering in:

Colorful Options: Peach

As You Like It Challenge: Pastels or brights - and why?  I have no clear preference, today I went with pastels because they befitted my mood and the theme.

Daisy Chain Challenge: #75 No design paper - indeed none, I made my own background!

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes

Use Your Stuff: #485 Anything goes

Oh crap! it's Christmas - again!

 Today I was inspired by several challenges that collided nicely. Enter die cuts, critters,  Christmas, coloring pencils and 'juvenile'...

I started by stamping a crocodile and then coloring it in, Christmas-like. It is an old stamp, but new to me, this was its first outing so to speak.

I then die cut a garland and some Christmas baubles and a snowflake.

I couldn't resist an irreverend speech bubble: Oh crap! It's Christmas - again!

Entering it in:

Critter Crazy Challenges: #68 AG with a critter

Crafty Animals: #67 AG with a critter 

SoSS: 222 J is for Juvenile 

Crafters' Challenge: #291 Dies or punches 

HLS: November AG with dies 

Daisy Chain Challenges: #69 Christmas is coming

Kleuren met potlooden: November alles mag (AG) 

Mix It Up: #62 AG+optional open technique  I like water color pencils, they give such a great coverage.

And since e verything I used today was new to me and used the very first time, I need to link this with NBUS again.

 

Pink and Gold

It all started with a stencil and spray paints. I used several shades through the same stencil. In the middle the colors mixed, but you can see the yummy splattering of small colored droplets in the corner here.

As is my habit, I like to use printed paper, I find the text doesn't distract but gives a nice texture to the finished piece. I then added a golden die cut, stamped and hand colored butterflies and a new-to-me sentiment by Creativ-Depot. 

This is the finished card. I colored in the matting with one of the spray colors so it would match. Also the matting for the sentiment.

 

Entering this in:

Make My Monday: #171 Use a stencil

Stamplorations: April Stencil Challenge 

Challenge up your life: #172 Kleckse / Splatters

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Happy Birthday

Daisy Chain Challenge: #62 Birthday