Project 365 Challenge/Days 49-51 What’s Swirly, Sweet & Lovely?

What’s Swirly? Day 49 brings swirly flourishes. This is a collection that I have been working on of flourish brushes and svg files. It always seems that I can never find the right flourish element when creating a card or scrapbook page, so why not create a set of my own where I can have lots of fun ones to choose from. I can’t wait to use these large scale diecut elements on layouts and smaller size on cards. I already have plans to use them on my Glue Arts design team project later this week so be sure to keep an eye on their blog.

The end result of my designing is one of my latest releases on www.mygrafico.com called Swirly QZ’s. Just imagine pairing the svg files with patterned papers, digital or traditional or using the brush art to create flourishes of any color, texture or pattern. Pair these with florals, buttons, brads and more to create your own fun card and page embellishments!

What is Sweet? On Day 50 I paired hand-cut flowers from Crate Paper’s Restoration collection CS along with one of their coordinating chipboard designs and Stampin’ Up’s 5 petal flower punch for leaves to create this Sweet Cup of Friendship card. I chose to use this background patterned paper from Stampin’ Up’s Springtime Vintage collection to compliment the florals and add a soft vintage look to this card. I distressed the edges and dragged old olive ink over them. The verse is an old favorite of mine from a retired SU set. I stamped it in the same color ink, tore the soft vanilla CS and layered over Pear Pizazz seam binding with thin pink ribbon tied over the bow. I used a small chipboard flower over top of the verse and ribbon and finished off this card with a little rhinestone bling added to some of the flowers. I used my Glue Glider Pro with high tac adhesive for adhering most of the layers and used raise 'ns to pop up and add dimension to some of the flower bouquet.



What is lovely? On day 51, I created this Whole Lotta Love Card using paper leftovers from my keepsake box project featuring Fancy Pants Designs Love Birds cardstock. I used some diecut circle leftovers to create the layered paper flower with button. You may recognize the twine I threaded though the button on top of this card. It is from the Twinery. I tied a bow, then snipped the loops and trimmed the ends to create this feathery, bow. For fast card creations, you can use patterned papers like this one to cut out verses, phrases or to use as an overall background. Easy to create in a few minutes and perfect for any occasion you want to send someone you love a card.

Celebrate Life...here and gone

Today is a bittersweet kind of day. It was my Aunt Floss’s birthday, and is now her granddaughter, Brooke’s. I feel a bit of sadness being reminded that my wonderful aunt isn’t here with us, but her spirit and memory lives in my heart. And the joy of the day is that Brooke celebrates her very first birthday. You may have remembered me working on her birthday invitations. Well now that they are all mailed out and her party is this weekend, I can finally share with you the labors of love put in to creating these cards. The final version includes an embossed CS layer, many punched items, rhinestone flames on the candle with glitter glue sprinkles on top of the cupcake. If you scroll down you can see how I coordinated the invitations and envelopes to go with the party goods that Kelly selected.

Happy 1st Birthday, beautiful Brooke!

Project 365 Challenge/Day 48 - A Berry Sweet 16 Card

With so many of my daughters’ friends turning 16, I was inspired to create a slightly different sweet 16 card, concentrating on the "sweet concept". The background paper is from the Citrus specialty cardstock paper pack from K&Company. For this challenge I worked to combine bright colors with bold black as an accent. I used one of my Mod Monogram designs and added the numbers one and six for the focal point of this card. I colorized prior to printing it out. I used a textured green CS from Core'dinations to matt the digi layer on top of the cute bingo card digi element from Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff, another shop on http://www.mygrafico.com.

You can check out the b&w artwork from my monogram set, 

re-colorized & used in the card above:

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.

Project 365 Challenge/Days 40 & 41 - Think Storage!

The theme for these past two days of projects is storage minded. Another common theme is repurposing...making a container into something completely different than it was.

Day 40 - Love Birds Keepsake Box

The focus of this project is on Fancy Pants Designs’ completely adorable Love Birds Collection combined with Glue Arts Adhesives, of course! For Valentine’s day, I wanted to make my daughter a box where she could keep all her memorabilia from her relationship with her beau. She is very creative so I knew that she would appreciate having a nice place to keep photos, ticket stubs, letters and other memories. I used papers and stickers form the Love Birds Kit and paired it with some other yummy stickers and chipboard from Little Yellow Bicycle’s Cupcake Love Collection...along with flowers and other bling, of course you know I couldn’t make anything plain. hehehe!  This project will be featured as my design team project on Glue Arts’ blog. So keep checking in there for it and be sure to leave a comment. Who know's you may just win something on their blog for doing it! Here are a few photos. You can check out my gallery for more showing the steps in making this. Big thanks to J.B. & K.W. for being good sports and letting me use their photos and allowing me to post on the internet. ;D

Day 41 - Sweet on You Container

In an effort to be more eco-friendly and eco-minded, I decided recently to turn the packaging from some Glue Arts’ refills into some fun Valentine’s containers. I shared the first one with you just the other day, Day 39’s May Arts Gift container, and now here is one I made for my sweet niece for Valentine’s Day.

A peek inside the lid!

Here is what it looks like filled with some goodies!

Project 365 Challenge/Days 37 - 39 A Whole Lotta Lovin’

Day 37—Love Birds Pink Dot Card

I recently shared with you one of my new digi  sets, The Loving Tree Collection.

 I used that set and Adobe Photoshop to create this digital card. 

Here is a preview of that set:

Day 38 — A Little Love Digi Card Freebie

Just in time for Valentine's Day this next digi card can be downloaded at:

http://www.mygrafico.com/freebies/a-little-love-square-card-freebie/prod_4426.html

Day 39 — Repurposed Packaging made into this Sweet Valentine’s Container 

featuring Glue Arts Adhesives, May Arts Ribbons and Little Yellow Bicycle collection.
Keep an eye on Glue Arts’ blog for complete list of supplies and instructions for this
eco-friendly, easy-to-make project idea.

Did you spot these project at Winter CHA 2011?

If you just returned home from CHA, you may 

have spotted these projects for Glue Arts that were on display at the show. 

This fun apron was crafted from a white ribbon purchased at Michaels Arts & Crafts store

and transformed using amazing ribbons from May Arts, the Glue Glider Pro with fabric bond

adhesive cartridge, some buttons and extreme adhesive squares.

Or maybe this coordinated set made with Glue Arts adhesives 

Hero Arts Stamps and beautiful papers from The Girls Paperie.

If you haven't checked out Glue Arts Blog or facebook page, be sure to make some time this week to check it out. And if you are a fan of digital artwork that can be used to create digital scrapbook pages, used for embroidery, used for creating web banners, hybrid cards, t-shirts and more... then be sure to check out mygrafico's monthly giveaways. This month’s giveway is a sweeeeet deal!

Project 365/ Days 35 & 36 - Digi Art & A Hybrid Card

What do you get when you combine a digi design with traditional cardmaking techniques? In this case, you get two days of creativity and one hybrid card! What I didn’t mention is that this Sweetie Gumball card uses a different digi stamp from the one I designed on day 35.

Some of you who are my facebook friends know that it is has been a rough month of January searching for answers to some health issues my daughter has been battling. They say that art can be healing, and for me, it has kept my mind focused on things other than being a worrying mother. After a rough night on Thursday and wondering which direction to turn next for answers, I woke up with a cheery little image in my mind of a bug peeking through some flowers. I know that God put that image there to help Kylie and I get through the day ahead. It was a long day at the doctors followed by barium shakes, a CT scan and some blood work. I told her I was so proud of her acing that test, as we got some fairly good news. Now we just sit back and wait on the labwork results to see if we will have more clues before going on to the next specialist. So as you view this snippet of the digi art (can't show the whole image just yet!), if you will please send up a prayer for answers and healing. We would greatly appreciate it. I spent the rest of Friday evening working late to turn my sketch into a new digi stamp. Hope you like this sneak peek.

Day 36’s project uses a couple paper and a cardstock sticker from Little Yellow Bicycle. I can't get enough of their fun collection of sweet papers and embellishments filled with hearts, cupcakes and yummylicious colors!

To create this card, I scaled the gumball machine to size I wanted to use on this standard size card. I colorized the heart in red with the I Luv You verse in black, then printed these out with some other images from the Sweetness Collection, one of my current digital collections on www.mygrafico.com. I love working with blender pens and markers which is how I colorized the heart gumball machine. Afterwards, I used some 2-way glue on top of the hearts with some iridescent glitter to sugarize them and add some sparkle. I also added some shiny framing around the heart and sweetie sticker by re-using some silver mylar cardstock that I saved from some perfume packaging. It made these two items stand out a little more. On my next card, I plan to do some silver embossing on the digi stamp to make the gumball machine extra metallic.