Recycled Cards - Child's Play?

I was helping a friend this week with ideas for her once a month craft group at a local nursing home and she told me that one of the ladies had "heckled" her several times saying that what they were doing was "child's play". After the third or fourth time of getting the business from this lady, she told the lady that she was starting to get a complex and then the lady changed her tone and made a joke of it, joined in on the craft time and has been having a wonderful time reconnecting with her "inner child"! So...
I thought since this was on my mind and Lindsay had challenged us this week to create a project using something recycled, I would make my card recycled AND child-like. If you remember (as I did) our first art projects were created using scraps, bits and pieces or something we had rescued from the recycle bin, etc.
I started with a purple Bazzil card stock base and a piece of an oatmeal box, and of course, since it's Thursday, a couple of digi stamps from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I used her EMBOSSED MATS set and this cute image from her new stamp set LOVE GROWS HERE. I used Print Shop to create a two colored background and layered the embossed mat and bird image on top of that. I painted the image with water colors and let the colors and ink smudge (think child-like here). Next, I used my corner rounder on the corners and my cool new Tim Holtz mini stapler to staple a loop of scrap ribbon to each side. As I was trying out my new border punch, I realized the scrolled scraps from that were very pretty and glued a couple in opposite corners of the panel. I found a couple of metal letter brads for the X and O in the lower corner. I ran the panel of my oatmeal box through a paper crimper, tore the front layer off, crumpled the edges a bit and adhered the digi panel to that, then attached that panel to the card stock. I border punched a scrap of vellum and used a rub on for the sentiment and glued that to the inside of the card. This was such a fun card to make. Thanks for the challenge, Lindsay!
To find out how you can enter her challenge, go to her blog, THE FRUGALCRAFTER'S WEBLOG - but hurry - today's the last day to enter, so get busy and see what treasures you can find in your recycle bin and enter her challenge! While you are there, don't forget to see what the rest of the Design Team has created this week. We all love to hear from you. Until next time, Happy Digi Stamping!

Cold weather is here...

YIKES! I had to turn the heat on!!! Since it's so cold here today, (and some parts of Maine may see snow fall today) I decided to post some Christmas Cards that I have made. I was such a lazy card maker last year, and only made a couple of cards, so this year I decided to get started early. Sherri at the Stamp Shack hosted a challenge to make 5 each month. Although I have not quite kept up with that, I am about 18 cards ahead of last year! These images were all RAK'd to me last year for my birthday. I just love Fluffles!!! He's my kind of cat...The images are all colored with my watercolor pencils, some have stickles added for a little bling. The patterned papers are from a mat stack that I've had for a while too! The flowers are Primas. I have other Christmas cards that are "in the works" and will post them as I finish them. I am off to work on some ATCs for a swap I am in. But first, I think I'll make a cup of hot chocolate...

Love Grows Here

Just a quickie post today - it's kinda crazy around here! Mr. Fence has me helping out at the office this week, so I've been a little limited in my stamping time. I made this cute card for my sweet friend, Joy, who made me a soft, pretty and warm blanket last week!

I used the doodle daisy stamp from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, along with the prim bird stamp. She is still running her special through the rest of the month of June - spend $10 and get a free card kit. Hop on over to her blog, and you may find more freebies!


I printed the doodle daisy stamp on an old book page and colored it with my water color markers and cut it out. I printed the primative bird and cut it out and saved the flower part of that stamp for another card. I painted the bird with my fun, new pearl paints. I cut a piece of pink basic grey paper and adhered that to a cream card base. Next, I adhered two photo corners (leftovers from one of Lindsay's card kits) and inked around the edges with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. Using a glue stick, I adhered the flower to the card, except for the outer layer of petals. I left that layer unattached and "smooshed" that layer of petals to give them a distressed look. I used the glue stick to attach the bird, drew the legs and stamped "Love Grows Here" by studio g.

Don't forget, one of our lucky Design Team Members has a free digital stamp to download this week. Hop through the blogs below and find out who it is this week! Until next time, Happy Stamping!

Cindi - Guest Designer for June!
Melissa
Janet
Mitzi
Kim
Lisa
Margie
Katt
Tamara
Michelle
Row
Olena
Lindsay

Prim Bird Gift Bag and Card Set

My very best friend, Cindi needed some cheering up today, so I made her this gift bag and card set to hold a little magnetic beaded bracelet.

I made the card first, using some scraps of paper from a previous card (you can see it HERE), a studio g stamp and my cuttlebug. I die cut the daisy from a page from an old dictionary and painted it with my new pearl paints. They are so much fun!


The bag was also fun to make. I found a small brown bag in my recycle bin and started by wrapping different fibers around the handles. I secured the ends with knots and left some to hang. I used another piece of the friends paper as my bag front. I printed out the Primative Bird on a Sunflower stamp from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and painted it with my pearl paints. Once it dried, I used brown Stickles for the sunflower seeds and black Stickles for the bird's eye and wing. I cut out the stamp and adhered it to the bag front with double stick tape. I punched three holes along the left side with my crop-a-dile for three blue brads. I glued two of my new Prima leaves and a prima flower in the upper left hand corner. That's it. Pretty simple, but I think it's adorable. Cindi liked it too! I hope you are feeling better soon, friend!!!!

Remember that Lindsay is offering a free card kit with every $10 purchase this month, and she may have a freebie tomorrow on her blog besides!

Don't forget that Lindsay is designing a special stamp for each of us on the design team. On Thursdays, one lucky DT member will have her special stamp available to download free for a whole week. Click on the links below to check out the cool Design Team Blogs and see who has the free stamp this week! Last week Row had a freebie Tree Stamp, which is now available in the shop. Who will be the lucky girl this week?

Melissa

Janet

Mitzi

Kim

Lisa

Margie

Katt

Tamara

Michelle

Row

Olena

Lindsay

Whooo loves Digi Stamps? I do!

I am just having too much fun with Lindsay's digi stamps! I made up this quick and easy card while watching tv with my ds. I printed the owl on a branch image on cream cardstock and used my watercolor pencils to color it. To make the card, I cut a 5x10 panel of cream cardstock and folded it in half. I cut a piece of patterned paper and two different greens for the front. I inked up the edges of all the pieces (including the owl panel) with gold ink. The patterned paper has a lot of gold and silver bling, but I couldn't get it to show up very well in the photo. I attached silver brads in the corners of the owl panel and glued it all together. As Sherri would say, "Easy Peasy!" Just click here to visit Lindsay's online digi stamp store to check out all her great designs! Happy Stamping!