I've Been Published - a hybrid card in S&SA April 2011 issue

If you aren’t a regular subscriber of Scrap & Stamp Arts magazine, you will have to head to Barnes & Noble to pick up the April 2011 issue. Although I have taken a hiatus from writing due to being a bit swamped right now, one of my teal & black cards was included in a challenge section. This is a hybrid card which means it contains digital graphics combined with traditional cardmaking techniques and supplies. One really cool thing I did with one of the designs was to reverse part of it out repeatedly on a block of black. I printed it out and punched a decorative border punch down the side of it and added it to my card front...just one of the many fun ways to used digi designs and brushes. The main floral design is outlined b&w art in that set. I added the light grey shading on computer before printing it out so I didn't have to color within the lines. The pinstripe paper is from Doodlebug Designs and the verse is from a retired Stampin’ Up!® set.

Here is what fun items are included in the Hip & Happy set:

This still remains one of the favorite sets that I have designed because it is lighthearted

 and fun. I would love to see what you can create with this set of digi stamps. 

Also, check out these two companion sets, 

Hip & Happy Frames Brushes and Hip & Happy Frames

  

Project 365 Challenge/Days 45-47 Photos & Flowery Sympathy

Some more daily doses of inspiration... I am getting caught up on photographing and posting some of my daily project challenges. Day 45 was a struggle in trying to get good digital photos at a volleyball tournament with very low lighting and no tripod or use of my flash. I just eye spied in a magazine a new gizmo...a tripod that fits onto a water bottle. That may just be an investment for an upcoming tournament. So, as it sometimes goes...you take a whole lotta shots just to get a couple good ones. In this case, this was my only real favorite from the bunch...of one of my daughter's friends (aka, one of my adopted daughters) right before she was ready to serve.

Day 46 - Flowery Sympathy Card

It is funny  how in life God brings you different people and different experiences that forever change your life. We have been going to the same Life Teen mass for several years and have shared the same pew with this sweet elderly couple. As time passed we got to know them a little better. Ginny was suffering for throat cancer and has been gradually losing her battle for the past year. They are a couple who remind Dan and I of one another in height and stature. Walter is real tall and slim and Virginia is short like me and petite. They don’t have any children or local family so we bring them soup and other meals when I make them up. We also invited them for Christmas dinner, but they both came down sick and weren't able to attend. Well sadly, the day after Valentine’s Day, Ginny slipped away from Walter’s caring hands in to those of the Lord. Our hearts are saddened however we know she is at peace now. I made this card to send to Walter to let him know that we are here for him and our friendship will continue. Her services are being held in Indiana so we have no way to formally say our goodbyes. Making this card with Ginny in mind made me feel just a little better, as creating always does!

inside view...

Day 47/ Sweet Floral Sympathy

It seems that death comes in pairs or trios. Just as I finished making one sympathy card, I found the need to make one to comfort another friend who was dealing with the surprising loss of her stepdad, Jim. 

I really liked the color combinations I used on the other card, so I introduced a deeper linen CS with embossing to make this card for her. Check out my Picasa gallery for supplies.

inside view...

Although I don't have formal sketches for these cards, you can use these basic layouts 

mixed with your favorite ribbons, CS, papers, stamps and embellishments to create

lots and lots of cards for any occasion. Hope this weekend, you live life creatively!

Project 365 Challenge/ Day 44 - Valentine Love Folio

At first when I spied these folios in Staples, I thought about making a jumbo size card to put 

inside, but then I had a different plan in mind for my husband’s Valentine’s Day Gift. 

I still have an IOU out on that gift so I can’t share right now what I planned to put inside, 

but he is going to use it to store some assorted prints he has of the girls.  

The collage at the bottom is made up of some of the things he loves...cycling (chipboard 

from Crate Paper’s Restoration collection), Family (this stamp image and the love one 

are from K&Company Que Sera, Sera clear stamps) and the beach (a retired shell stamp, 

blender pens and markers from Stampin’ Up!® - also the embossed heart die used 

on two hearts is from SU!). I decorated the folio further using border stickers, 

CS matts and cut outs (like the pretty flower) from the beautiful papers in Crate 

Paper’s Restorations collection. For adhesive, I used my Glue Glider Pro with 

high tac adhesive along with some micro extreme adhesive squares for 

the buttons and some U Cut It foam to raise up the white heart die cut.

A closer view of the bottom stamping, die cuts, etc.

Just think of ways that you can use this same folio concept to create great gifts for 

other occasions. It would make a great teacher appreciation gift with cards or 

drawings inside from the class or it also would make for a fun way of 

presenting a gift certificate to a boss or co-worker! 

My challenge to you today is to find an ordinary office supply 

and turn it into something creative!

Live Life Creatively!

Project 365/ Days 42 & 43 - Twice the Love

We were away this weekend at my daughter's volleyball tournament, but I managed to get these two card projects created along with a Valentine's Day Love folio that I will share with you tomorrow. If you are still needing to whip up one or two more Valentine's Day cards, here are some cards for inspiration. Both use elements printed out and colored with markers and blender pens using designs from my Sweetness Collection.

Day 42 - Pure Sweetness Hybrid Card

using Epoxy Hearts and papers from LYB's Cupcake Love Collection 

and digi verse and gumball heart machine graphic from my Sweetness collection.

 

Day 43/ Country Charm Cuckoo Hybrid Card

featuring cuckoo clock graphic and button heart art

from my Sweetness Collection along with buttons

from Stampin’ Up!® and papers from Little Yellow 

Bicycle’s Cupcake Love collection.

This is a view of the inside of the card with cute

colored in verse.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Want to win some crafting supplies from Glue Arts? Here are the details of what you need to do...

Happy Valentine's Day Glue Arts Fans!! We would ♥ to see you change your Facebook picture to our new image. We'll enter you to win this amazing prize package + a Glue Glider Pro. Simply copy our picture, paste to your Facebook wall & then come here and leave us a comment. We'll give you all day today and pick a random winner tomorrow morning! ♥

Sweet Deal - 40% off Today Only on Cheri Wenger Digital Designs at MyGrafico.com

It's the perfect time to treat yourself to some crafty goodness. 40% off on everything in the MyGrafico shop today only until midnight! You can stock up on some basic brushes or svg cutting files, get a jumpstart on Spring crafts and scrapbooking or take advantage of the sale by purchasing some of my sets that have Love/Valentine's related images, such as Love is Plentiful Scrapbooking Kit, The Loving Tree color clip art, my new Sweetness Collection,  Forever in Love Flourishes, Forever in Love Style Collection, Forever in Love Frames, Fluidity brushes or Fluidity Color Clip art, Hip and Happy, Lovey Dovey clip art and brushes. You can click here to view my entire shop.

Need a fast E-Valentine or clip art to make a last minute card? Download this Cheri Wenger A Little Love digital card freebie today! Enjoy and have a happy Valentine’s Day! I will post some additional Valentine's day Project 365 creations later.