Diane's Country Cards & Crafts

Bean Bag Chair for Lucas, Finally !

I bought the fabric for this chair at least nine months ago. It's looks very shiny in the photo. It is actually a faux suede. I planned on making it on Christmas break...didn't. Then I planned on Spring break, didn't again. So I figured with six weeks off for summer break I'd have lots of time. Ha! I now have four days left, but I started the chair last night and finished it this morning. I had to make sure I did it this time. Tom bet me I wouldn't be able to get it done. I didn't want to lose the bet! I had to laugh. He kept telling me Lucas wants his beanbag chair! Lucas is only 22 months old. He doesn't know what a beanbag chair is. Well he has one now. Fortunately, I have lots of peanuts left for refills.

Cardz 4 Guyz - At the Beach

The challenge this week at Cardz 4 Guyz is At the Beach. I used this adorable image from Mo's Digital Pencil, Kai in the Sand. It's available in either a male or female version. The digital papers are from Arizona Redhead. I purchased them on Etsy from AZRedHead.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

2 Cute Ink Kids

Cutie Pie Challenge Cute Digi

Love to Scrap Anything Goes

Shabby Tea Room Fun in the Sun

Di's Digi Designs Summer Fum

Mo's Digital Challenge Birthday for a Boy
Creative Card Crew Sea/Beach
Artistic Inspirations Anything Goes

QKR - Paper Piecing

This week's challenge at QKR Stampede is Paper Piecing. I chose this cute image Clown 13602, available here. I used digital papers from Carta Bella. I resized the paper so the print for his clothing would be smaller. I colored the image with Copics. The greeting is from Stampin' Up.

Cardz 4 Guyz DIY

Today's challenge at Cardz 4 Guys is "DIY." I chose this image from Dr. Digi's House of Stamps. It's called Man about the House. I selected it because as soon as I saw it, it reminded me a lot of someone I had met when I worked in NYC years ago. Forty one years to be exact. Although, he was a security guard, not a fix-it man at the Federal Reserve Bank. I remember him being such a sweet, gentle man and he always had a story to tell.

I colored this with Copics, I think the letters were from Tim Holtz, but I'm not sure. I used a corrugated paper for the background

I am entering this card in the following challenges:.

Scribble and Scrap Anything Goes
Crafting at the Weekend Anything Goes
Paper Creator's Crafts Anything Goes

Fitztown German Shepherd

Here is my animal fix for the week! I just couldn't resist this German Shepherd image by Morgan Fitzsimons. It is not available at the Fitztown shop yet, but if you email: sales@fitztown.com and supply a link to this post they should be able to provide the image.

I colored him with Copic markers and the paper is from October Afternoon. It's one of my favorites so I bought lots. Can't afford to run out! Chalks were used around the edge of the image for distressing.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Great Impressions Animal Friends
Robyn's Fetish Animals
A Gem of a Challenge Animals Any
Animal Friends Challenge Must have an Animal

Chalk-Ah-Lot Cafe Anything Goes with Chalk
Digi Galore Anything Goes
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew Masculine
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Anything Goes
Through the Craftroom Door Anything Goes
House that Stamps Built Fur or Winged Things

As You Like It Challenge Do you prefer images of people or animals, and why? I definitely prefer animal images. I have always loved animals and it gives me great joy to bring them to life on paper.

Fitztown - Angel and Duckling

This is another beautiful image by Morgan Fitzsimons. I have used several recently. Please, visit the Fitztown Store to check the selection of gorgeous digital images. If you want to buy an image and can't find it in the shop, please send an email to this address: sales@fitztown.com with the link to the image (posting) you would like. They are stocking the store and the all images may not be there yet.

I colored this image with Copic markers. I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter from Stampin' Up to the wings. The corner pieces were cut with thw Silhouette. The digital papers are from Echo Park.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine Let's Go Digital

Cards Galore Encore Stamp or Digi

CMD Challenge Animal

Crafts and Me Challenge Add Wings

Imagination Crafts Anything Goes

Just for Fun Anything Goes

Sisters of Craft Anything goes

Eureka Stamps   Farm Animals
Crafty Creations   Things with Wings
Creative Moments Anything Goes
Crafting by Design   Anything Goes
House that Stamps Built Winged Things

Cardz 4 Guyz - Baby Boy

Cardz 4 Guyz challenge this week is "Baby Boy." I don't recall where I got this image. It was in my folder marked Freebies and I know I got it about four years ago because I used some of these animal images in some of my first cards. It is very well suited for a baby's card. The image is colored with Copic markers. The digital paper is from Carina Gardner.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Digi Sketch Challenge Shades of Blue
Love to Create 3 or More Design Papers
Melonheadz Friends For Kids
Addicted to Stamps Polka Dots
Come and Get It Animals
Glitter 'n Sparkle Babies
Robyn's Fetish Stripes or Dots
A Gem of a Challenge Child/Baby

Fitztown - Anything Goes

I made this card for Fitztown Challenge # 42 Anything Goes. My favorite kind of challenge! I used this gorgeous image by Morgan Fitzsimons, Fae 21, available here. I colored her with Copic markers. I had so many markers out while I was working on this; I could barely see the desktop in all the mess! I am pretty pleased with the results, though. The paper is from K & Company. It's been in my stash for years. I wasn't sure about the intense color, but it's growing on me. The flowers are from Live and Love Crafts and Wild Orchid Crafts. I cut the swirls with the Silhouette.

Copics: B41, B45, BG0000, BG000, BG10, BG15, BG23, C2, C4, C7,

E0000, E000, E00, E01, E11, E21, E30, E31, E33, E39, E42, E50, E99,

G20, G21, G24, G29, R01, R11, R20, R21, R22, V000, V01, V04, V06, V12,

Y11, Y13, Y17, Y38, YR12, YR15, YR16, YR18

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Just Inspirational Challenges Anything Goes
Through the Craftroom Door Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday Anything Goes
PDE Linky Party Many Layers
Crafty Creations Things with wings
Divas by Design Favorite Stamp
Rhedd & Rosie's Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams Things with Wings
7 Kids College Fund Anything Goes
Artbymiran Challenge Anything Goes
Craft for the Craic Something Summery or with Flowers
Sister Act Card Challenge Anything Goes
Graph It Colour Challenge Anything Goes/Alcohol Marker

and also in these challenges:

Crafty Calendar Prtals and Pearls
Kraftyhands Floral Fancy
Crafty Catz Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create   Anything Goes
4 Crafty Girls Anything Goes
Paper Makeup   Butterflies
Stamps+Fun= Creativity Flowers &Pearls
Pink Elephant   Anything Goes
Without Words Femme Fatale
Vintage Stamping Summer Blooms
Make My Monday Fairies/Mystical
Corrosive Challenge   Color Me Happy

Congratulations Tim

This card is for my son, Tim. He graduated Arizona State University in May with a degree in Film. He would like to pursue a masters degree in writing for movies and television.

I had purchased these images from A Day for Daisies long ago with the intent of making

a card for him. I finally got it done!

I have been trying to figure out the names of all these silent movie actors. So far, I have got Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, Ben Turpin and Charlie Chaplin. I can't figure out who the one on the bottom left is. If anyone knows please tell me.

The card is colored with Copics. The film strip is from Tim Holtz.

I absolutely love that embellishment.

I am entering this card in the following challenge:

Moo Mania Cinema and Movies
(What are the odds that I would find that challenge?)
Crafting at the Weekend Anything Goes
Digi Designs Lots of Layers

QKR Challenge - Include a Dog or Cat

This was a fun card to make. The calico cat looks like my Ella. My other is a gray tabby, but I decided to go with yellow. The image and sentiment is available at QKR Stampede.

I colored this image with copics. The paper is from my stash.

While I was making this card I heard some noise under my desk. I knew it was a cat so I just ignored it. Well, I shouldn't have. I have a large stack of drawers under the desk. Lucy learned how to open them and pull out the ribbon I had neatly organized by color in several of the drawers. She just sat there proud as can be with her achievement!

Interesting note. I learned a few days ago that calico cats are only female because the color combo is carried on the female X genes. Males with only one X gene cannot have that color combo. Interesting.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts Make it Masculine

Creative Moments Anything Goes/For the Boys

Little Red Wagon Animal Antics

Fitztown New Release

This is a new release drawn by Morgan Fitzsimmons. It's available on Etsy in Morgan's FaeWorld. The image also comes with several smaller images that you can use to accessorize. There are several new releases, be sure to stop by and check them out. I decided to color her in blue violet. I am the first to admit that I don't normally like purples, but it felt right here. The paper is from Stampin' Up. I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities Timeless Rectangles die. The image is colored with Copics.

Copics: BV0000, BV000, BV00, BV01, BV02, BV04,

COO, CO, C1, E00, E31, E35, E37, E50, E51, E53, G21, G24,

R01, R11, R12, Y11, Y28, YR20, YR21, YR24

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Digi Choosday Challenge Anything but Square

Fan-Tastic Tuesday Anything Goes

Ladybug Crafts Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesday Anything Goes

PDE Linky Party Many Layers
Without Words Femme Fatale
Glitter 'n Sparkle Include Some Yellow
CCC Digi Creations Digi/Flowers
The Cupboard Trilogy Use Yellow

This is another new release available at the above link.

Fitztown Masculine Challenge

I created this card for the Fitztown Challenge # 40-Masculine. This was actually an image that I was assigned and I couldn't be more thrilled. He is wonderful! As most of you know my passion is coloring animals. I just can't get enough. I am trying to build up my stock of Fitztown animal digis so you will definitely see more coming. This wonderful basset hound is available here.

The digital papers are from Echo Park. He is colored with Copic markers. Which by they way are all cleaned and filled. All 280 of them! That was a job I don't care to repeat very soon. I bought a container of alcohol wipes so I can clean them periodically so they don't get so bad. I saw a post on Pinterest on how to fill by weight. It works amazingly well and it's very accurate.
No over-filling at all!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

2 Cute Ink Birthday

Craft Your Passion 3 or More embellishments

Glitter n Sparkle Male

Opus-Gluei Animals

Stamping Sensations Animal Antics

Createlicious Challenge Happy Birthday
Try it on Tuesday One for the boys
Tuesday Throwdown Birthday
Through the Craftroom Door Anything Goes
Ladynug Crafts For Him
Aud Sentiments Two Word Sentiment
Paper Crafting Journey Anything Goes

Natalie and Amy Four Legged Friends

and also in these challenges:

Crafting at the Weekend Anything Goes
Pumpkin Spice Masculine
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes
Country View Challenges For Men Only
One Stitch at a Time   Anything Goes
Doodle Pantry Make it Manly
Fairytale Stampers Brown
Corrosive Challenge   Favorite Coloring Medium
Seema Crafts Make it Cute
CMC Challenge   Anything Goes

QKR Challenge - Sports

The challenge this week at QKR is "Sports." I used the image Touchdown, available here. I colored him with Copics. The lettering was cut with the Silhouette. I just used a green cardstock, glued on thin pieces of white for the 10 yard lines and drew the yard markers with a white pen.

This had to be a quickie! Time to disassemble my computer. I transferred all my important stuff to an external drive (at least I hope it's all there). My new computer arrives today! I don't know if I'm happy or stressed about that. I'll be working with a lot of newer programs. This should make life interesting for a while. Be prepared for some colorful language in our house today! It's inevitable.

Cardz 4 Guyz-Happy Anniversary

This is the first card I have actually stamped in about two years. The stamp, sentiment, brad and paper is from Stampin' Up. I gave up stamping in favor of digis because I am a total slob when it comes to working with stamp pads. I always, always get ink on my project in areas it is not supposed to be. True to myself, I got some ink on the front of this card. It was minimal and I was able to remove some with an eraser.

This card is for Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge #23-Happy Anniversary.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Layers

Ooh LaLa Creations For a Man

Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes

That Craft Place Men

QKR-Anything Goes

The challenge this week at QKR Stampede is everybody's favorite, Anything Goes. I chose this adorable digi, Angel Dancing, available here. I was in the mood for a very girly card today. I used a few new items that I got from Live and Love Crafts. I bought the ruffling and had no idea what I was going to do with it. I really like it here. I cut up a fairly large pearl spray and just used part of it.. I colored the image with Copics. The digital papers are from Carta Bella. I kind of messed up the back of the card by detaching the inside that I had put on crooked. It wrinkled up the back of the card some. I fixed the problem by printing off another pink and white stripe page and covered the back of the card. I absolutely love how it looks. It gives the back such a finished look. I think I will do that a lot more often.

I have been working on cleaning my Copics. I have 128 done and about 160 more to go. I haven't cleaned them in a few years and they were very gunked up. I kind of hate to use the ones I cleaned. I have to laugh. Every night I go to bed with a different color stain on my hands. When I got up yesterday I reached out to open the fridge and got a good look at my right hand. It had a bluish tint to it. I looked like a corpse! Tonight it's red. I just can't seem to get all the ink off. Oh well, it wears off pretty quickly,

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create Anything Goes/Best Friends

Dragonfly Dreams Anything with Wings

Fairytale Stampers Flowers

Glitter n Sparkle Use a Digi

One Stitch at a Time Use a Digi

Pile It On Patterned Paper

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Layers

Lexi;s Creations For a Friend

Without Words Birthday Card for Female

Digi Choosday Use Two Papers

Fan-Tastic Tuesday Anything Goes