Farewell my Prince....

My post for today ends another chapter as this is my last post with the MyGrafico Challenges Team. I have enjoyed my time working with these girls and am sad to be leaving but other opportunities have come along and I need to change things up from time to time. So I hope you will play along with my last sketch as Team leader - it's a simple one and the set we are working with is "fairy" cute:

And here's our sketch and my card:

I love frogs so I couldn't resist using this princely guy for this week's challenge. I changed the sketch a teeny bit and left off the band across the middle (seen in blue on the sketch). Truthfully, I simply forgot it! But I think there is enough going on with this card that it really wasn't needed.

Instead of adding a circular image and mat to the front of the card, I cut a circle out of the card front to create a window and placed my frog on the inside. To create the frame around the window, I placed 2 Nestabilities dies together - the larger scalloped circle and a little smaller plain circle and cut the piece with both dies in place at the same time.

My frog was colored with Copics and adorned with bling from Prima. All paper is from the new Green at Heart line by Basic Grey. Here's a picture of the inside of the card too:

Not sure what my sentiment will be on it yet so I have left it blank for now. If you look at the photo closer, you will see the frog's eyes are added on foam tape for a little more dimension.

If you would like to play along, just follow the sketch and be sure to use an image from MyGrafico (they have a freebie section so be sure to check it out!) Then hook up at the challenge blog and you might win this adorable digi set!

My thanks again to the MyGrafico Challenge team - it has been a really fun experience! Keep up the great artwork!

The 40th MyGrafico Challenge!

It's a milestone - this week MyGrafico Challenges is celebrating it's 40th challenge!!!
You have made MyGrafico successful and we are thrilled to have participants that keep coming back each week.

In the next few weeks there will be some changes to the challenges and the 1st one is being announced this week.
As we look at our 40th challenge, we see that we have given away so many wonderful sets and we would love to see you use those sets. So starting today, all challenges will require MyGrafico images to play along.

You might say I don't have any MyGrafico images - well you're in luck because the FREEBIE SECTION has lots and lots of images to chose from.

And now for the best news for our 40th celebration!
The winner of this week's challenge will have an opportunity to be a Guest DT for MyGrafico Challenges for the month of April. Would you want to be a guest DT??? I know you would!

How to apply? Simply play along with this week's challenge. Remember, we have a challenge that was posted on Monday and a sketch challenge today, so you have more chances to play along.

This week we are playing with Vintage Chic Elements and this sketch:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And I have to say, since I created a completely digital card once before, I am so hooked on this idea that I created another one for this week:

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I just can't resist using some of the awesome digital items I have collected like these papers from Gina K Designs, the lace and pins from Gunhild Storeide and the button from Shabby Princess. The texture on the mannequin and all of the hat are various patterns I have in my Photoshop program. Doesn't it look 3D? I just love the look!
 
So I hope you'll play along with us this week and stay tuned for more changes being announced next week. Don't forget - to play along, be sure to use images from MyGrafico and link up over at the Challenge blog - I can't wait to see what you create!
 
I'll be back with more artwork soon (I have some new stamps that are waiting to be inked up)! Meanwhile, you can come see what's new over at Ridiculous Lab. Have a great day!

Time for a Blooming sketch!

This week at MyGrafico Challenges we are working with a blooming cute digi set - Blooming Friendship:

And here's our sketch:

I don't know about you, but I need to make some summery, flowery cards so I can look forward to those warmer, sunnier days and forget about the cold! So here is mine for this week's sketch:

I kept it simple but there's nothing wrong with simple! My image was colored to match the colors in the Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety mini deck and I did eliminate one horizontal element shown in the sketch and just added the crocheted trim across the bottom portion. A little bling and this card is good to go!

Next week is a very special MyGrafico Challenges week - we will be celebrating our 40th challenge! My, how time flies! So watch for some fun next week and don't forget to try this week's sketch - you might just win a Blooming Friendship set for yourself!

Time for Tea- and a sketch!

Good morning! It's time for another MyGrafico Challenge! We are working with an adorable set today and we would love to have you play along!

I am not a coffee drinker but I do enjoy a cup of tea! Nothing fancy - just some Lipton with a little Splenda. And I have always been attracted to teapots - I would have a collection of them, if I had the space to display them. But I will stick to the 2 apple themed ones I currently have in my kitchen (although I am on the lookout for a 3rd).

So we are working with this cutie-pie teapot set from Black Leaf. Here's the sketch:

And my card:

I love the vintage-y papers from Graphic 45 and I choose Copic markers to match the colors in the papers. I stuck to the sketch pretty closely and didn't add many embellishments as 1) I thought there was enough going on with the busy papers and 2) I want to tuck a couple of tea bags in the card when I send it and I didn't want to add any more bulk to it.

So are you up to the challenge this week? All you have to do is create something based on the sketch and then link it up at MyGrafico Challenges. And have you joined the MyGrafico ning site yet?? Stop by and check it out - always something new and fun going on and lots of artwork to drool over!

Hope you'll hop around and see what else Team B created with the sketch this week - what a talented group!

I am off to conquer the day (why does my to-do list never seem to get any shorter??) Have a good day!

Ahoy Mateys!

It's time for another MyGrafico Challenges sketch! Are you ready to play along? Well get your pirate speak on 'cause we're creating with this adorable pirate set by Black Leaf Designs:

Here's the sketch and my card:

I stuck pretty closely to the sketch except the right side of the background is wider than the left and in the sketch it's switched. But hey, no worries! That's what makes sketches fun! It's like American Idol - take a sketch and make it your own! (as Simon is always telling the contestants about their songs) 

I distressed the heck out of these images after coloring them with Copic markers. I crinkled and wrinkled, scissored and inked as I wanted the pieces to look a little old and to match the distress-y look of the background DP.

So would you like to play along? Use the sketch as a base for your creation and then uploaded to your blog or other online gallery. Please use keyword MG37 at any public galleries. Then head over to the Challenge blog and leave us a link so we can check out what you created! We would love to stop by and give you an ARRGGG (that's pirate talk for "good job"!) Oh, be sure to check out me mateys (the rest of the Team B DT) as they have more piratey goodness to share with ya scurvy dogs.

Ok, I think that's enough of that! Have a great day and I will see you again soon!

Digi card for MyGrafico sketch

This week, I decided to try something new to me for the sketch challenge from MyGrafico Challenges.
Since we work with a digi set of stamps each week, I thought I would create a complete digi card. I haven't printed it out yet but I think I will be creating more of these to have on hand in case I need to either print up a quick card or email a greeting.

Here is the set we are working with this week:

And here's our sketch:

And my card:

Isn't that just too cute?? The bear was colored in Photoshop and then I simply added a variety of elements - the digital papers are from Jady Day Studio and the staples on the sentiment piece are from Gunhild Storeide. Now I did make one change and didn't put my focal image in a circle mat but that's ok - a sketch is just meant to be a starting point.

I'm excited about the possibilities of creating digi cards...wouldn't you love to get this in your email instead of another bad office joke??  LOL

Want to play along with us at MyGrafico Challenges? All you have to do is create a card based on the sketch and then leave a link to your artwork at the MG blog. We would love to see what you create! And be sure to check out what the rest of Team B has posted on their blogs - always a delight for the eyes!

I got some new stamps in the mail today so I will have more goodies for you to see soon! Have a creative day!

MyGrafico - Key to My Heart

It's Wednesday so that means it's time for another MyGrafico sketch Challenge!

And the digi set we are working with is:

Perfect for a last minute Valentine card! You can find it at the MyGrafico store here.

And when I put them together, I came up with this:

I decided to paper piece the key so I printed it a couple of times on to two different papers - one from My Mind's Eye and the other from Pink Paislee. Then I cut out the pieces I wanted and adhered everything back together. If you click the picture, you'll get a larger image so you can see the detail. I added some Ivory ribbon from PTI and stamped my sentiment (from Close To My Heart) with Tulip ink, also from CTMH.

If you would like to have a chance to win this set, all you have to do is play along with today's sketch! You can see more inspiration on the rest of Team B's blogs - you can find links to all of them in the column to the right. Then create your artwork and link it to the Challenge blog here. Can't wait to see what you come up with!!

A Dog's Day sketch

This week, Team B (the sketch team) for MyGrafico Challenges, is working with the following sketch and digi stamp set:

I've been wanting to work with a dog related set and this one has a little bit of everything for the dog lover!
I decided to keep my card simple and let my puppy act as a supporting actor .... I guess I have Oscar nominations on the brain!

I recolored the pup with gray instead of black lines. This is easily done in a graphics program like Photoshop. All you do is choose the new color you want to work with and the paint bucket and by aiming carefully, you can drop the paint on the outline, giving it a new color.

I then typed some black text over the image, printed it and cut it out with a circle nestabilities die. I layered my paper on - 2 strips of black cardstock and the heart printed digi paper that I also recolored in Photoshop. This is one of the new digi papers from My Time Made Easy. A little red ribbon and a couple of colored hearts finish the card off, following the sketch perfectly!

Want to play along? This adorable A Dog's Day digi set can be yours! Just follow the sketch and upload your creation to your blog or other online gallery (use keyword MG34). Then link up over at the MyGrafico Challenges blog for a chance to win! And be sure to see what else the talented Team B members created as well as checking out Monday's posts from Team A.

I am off to rest up and try to get over a lousy cold I came down with. Have a great day!

MyGrafico Challenge - Damask Background

I am really excited about today's challenge because, not only do we have a fun sketch to work with, but also because we are working with a digi-background rather than a digi stamp. The set is Happy New Year Damask Patterns and it is a set of 4 seamless patterns you can use in so many ways! And wait till you see what the rest of Team B did with this set!!! (as well as Team A - be sure to check them out too!)

I used one of the patterns and added some color to it before printing, then instead of using it as the background of my card, I used it for the accent piece -

The original pattern is black and white and I replaced the white with this gorgeous salmon color. Then I printed the piece and cut it to the size I needed and layered it onto a patterned paper I had in my stash that is almost exactly the same peachy color. I added some black accents (the sentiment, the mat, the bow...) and a little sparkly pen detailing on the border punched piece as well as in the damask itself. Unfortunately, the photo didn't capture the sparkle very well at all but I'm sure you get the idea!

So why not play along with us? Here is this week's sketch:

Interpret it any way you like and post your finished card to your blog or other online gallery (use keyword MG32). Then head over to the MyGrafico Challenge blog and leave a link with your artwork and you just might win the entire damask digi pattern set!! And be sure to visit the other DT members - links are in the side column.

I am spending my day off today working on that order of 150 notecards....I am not even half way done and they are due this weekend - and I am out of adhesive!!!!! Doesn't that just figure! And as much as I am not trying to wish my hubby back to work too soon after his surgery, having him here just doesn't make it as easy to spend the much needed time in the stamping room as I would spend without him here. Not that he puts any demands on me but I feel guilty not spending at least a little time with him. Oh well, soon enough he'll be good as new and back to work.

However you spend your Wednesday, I hope it's a creative one!

Happy Birthday MyGrafico!!

MYGRAFICO STORE IS 25% OFF TILL 15TH JANUARY MIDNIGHT (GMT)

Starry, starry sketch

Before I get started, I wanted to announce that I was the mystery blog last week for the Wed. MyGrafico Challenges blog hop so I had the honor of choosing a winner of the Circus set we worked with. So, using Random.org, the winner chosen was #14:

Lauren Hatwell said...

This is such a great sketch and I love your card. Fab idea to layer the buttons. They look amazing. This is my first MyGrafico bloghop but I'll be back for more now I know where you are. Lauren x

CONGRATULATIONS Lauren! Please email Martha at creatingisfun@live.com so she can send you that digi set!

This week on MyGrafico Challenges, we are working with a digi stamp set full of stars called, aptly enough, Stars Stamp set.

I created a sketch for Team B that included a star as the focal point but then went a different way with my card- take a look:

I decided not to create the obvious with the star in the middle. Instead, I used the stars to create my own patterned paper:

I colored the stars and then cut the piece to fit the card and ink distressed the edges and a little across the whole piece so it wasn't quite so white. Then I added it to the card base along with this colorful striped DP and for my focal point, I stamped a sentiment and added a circle window charm over it for some "pop".

That's one of the great things about digi stamps - how many different ways you can manipulate them!

I hope you'll play along with today's sketch. Check out the rest of the inspiration from Team B and then create your own card - post to your blog or other online gallery (use keyword MG 31) and then leave a link to it at the MyGrafico Challenges blog. We'd love to see what you create! And for even more inspiration and digi goodness, be sure to stop by the MyGrafico community page. MyGrafico will be celebrating their 1 year anniversary this Friday and there are sure to be some exciting things going on!!! Don't miss the fun!

Until next time - have a creative day!

We're goin' Hoppin', We're goin' Hoppin' today....

Remember that tune from "American Bandstand"? Well, today, we're hoppin' with MyGrafico Team B! (if you missed the Team A hop, be sure to check it out - see the list of DT members over in the right column and check it out!)

Both teams are welcoming new Design Team members this week - woohoo and welcome gals! I am staying on from the last DT round as the coordinator of Team B and I am loving it because I am addicted to sketches! And we have a great one to share with you today but before I get into that, let me tell you what's in store for today's hop!

If you started here you want to head to Martha's blog first- she's the start of the hop. After you come back here then the next stop on the hop will be Angelica. Then keep on going from there. But that's not all! Be sure to leave a comment on every stop along the way because one Design Team member from Team B will be randomly choosing a winner to receive the set we are working with this week: Zenware Designs Circus!! It's a mystery which one will be choosing the winner so be sure to leave comments on all of the blogs you visit!

AND there's even more ways to win! Try your hand at either of this week's challenges (or both!) and you'll be entered to win this set also! Details on entering the challenges can be found at the MyGrafico Challenge blog. So on to today's card and sketch!

I wanted something with some fun elements to go along with these great images so I created a sketch featuring some circles that could be used for embellishments, smaller images, sentiments - whatever!

And here's my card featuring the super cute tent!

I colored the tent with Copics that matched the pretty striped paper and then added a punched border and three button embellies to finish it off. The buttons are actually two stacked on each other - a plain white button and a flowery button on top. I think this would be the perfect party invitation for a little girl with the inside saying "Come One, Come All"  .....

So enjoy the hop and give our challenges a try - you might just win a fabulous digi-set to start off your New Year right! Oh and be sure to welcome the new DT members along the way - we're thrilled to have them on the teams! Your next stop is Angelica -  -  see you again soon!

Baby

** To find my Holiday Tour of Homes post, please scroll past this one.

Welcome to another great weekly sketch from MyGrafico Challenges! This is the last chance this year to play along and win a fabulous digi stamp set! And what a cutie it is this week! Take a look:

You can find this set in the MyGrafico site HERE. How adorable is that??

This is the sketch we are working with this week -

And finally, here is my card:

I flipped the sketch to accomodate the image and replaced the scalloped border with a band of ribbon. The circle on the sketch became a cloud and my sentiment was moved (because it wouldn't have looked right where it is positioned in the sketch).

I colored my image with Copics (what did I ever do without them??) and added some buttons for embellishments. The alphabet used to stamp Baby is from Close To My Heart.

So I hope you will take a little break from the holiday hustle and bustle and come play with us! When we have our next challenge after the 1st of the year, you'll be meeting a whole new Design Team with MyGrafico! I will be staying on for an additional term as the Team B coordinator and I can't wait to share more wonderful artwork with you in 2010.

Have a great day - I am off to get some housework done, enjoy lunch out with a friend and hopefully get my Christmas cards finished and ready for the mail! Until next time -

MyGrafico recipe card images - with a twist

This is my second post for the day so be sure to scroll down for the Sherrod Studio sneak peek!!

Normally on Wednesdays, the B team from MyGrafico Challenges works with a sketch but this week we departed a little from the routine. We are working with a recipe digi set and we had free reign to create whatever we were inspired to with it.

Here's the set:

And here is what I came up with:

Let me tell you a bit about my project. I started with 2 of the recipe card images from the set - one that is the circle that says "from my heart - from my kitchen" and the other says "arts and crafts". Now I did a little manipulating in Photoshop but I got both images combined into one and I changed the word kitchen into the word heart so it worked with my idea.

I then used a 7" plain pizza box and altered it by covering the top and sides with patterned paper. I trimmed the edges on the top with punched border pieces and inked the edges that were not covered by paper. My image was then colored and mounted to a scalloped mat and added to the box along with a piece of pink ribbon to tie in with the heart image. I also added a couple of buttons to the corners of the box to tie in with the buttons on the image.

So here's what I am doing with the box - every year at Christmas time, my family donates an item to a children's home (for disabled children) and it is always scrapbooking things (as I need to "clean out" every once in awhile!) So this year, I packaged up some goodies in this cute box! It is full of 6x6 papers, bunches of stickers, ribbon and fibers and even a small acrylic stamp set. We'll drop it off at the center and it will become either a gift for one resident there or it will be used by the center for craft projects for all the residents. I know they will love it and the box just makes it a little more special.

So how about playing along with us over at MyGrafico Challenges? See what the rest of the team has created with this set and then show us your best take using a recipe based image.

Be sure to check out my earlier post from today below. I am off to get my son ready for school (only 3 more exams to go before break - yeah!) and then clean the house for my Tastefully Simple party tonight. Hopefully the weather won't get too bad - right now they are calling for rain/snow/wind.....just my luck! Have a good day!