August Classic Design Challenge : Fred She Said Designs & Sheepski Designs

 Good morning and welcome back to another fun monthly Classic Challenge! This month we have a fun surprise, because we're featuring TWO digital artists, and as always, our theme is : Anything Goes.

This month, we're featuring samples from both Fred She Said Digital Designs and Sheepski Digital Designs.

I chose to feature Emma in the Strawberry Patch from Fred She Said Designs, and Beach Hut Holiday from Sheepski Designs. Both are equally well drawn, and so fun and easy to color in. Sometimes you just want an image that's easy to color in that makes a big impact, and these two do it for me.

First one up is Emma in the Strawberry Patch, from Fred She Said.

I decidedly chose to keep her simple and followed the same coloring format too, by coloring her with less drama, trying to keep it soft and fresh. The first attempt I made at coloring it in resulted in too much color and drama, and felt it detracted from the cute and over all innocence the image is portraying. So everything was kept light after that.

Next is Beach Hut Holiday by Sheepski.

Isn't this a great image of a beach and boat houses all in a row? I grew up in Northern Minnesota, so I've always loved a lake front beach, and this scene is the best! I can just see myself enjoying a good book, with a tall iced tea, and a popsicle, after I wade in the water looking for neat rocks.

I kept this card clean and simple just to keep the focus on the image. The sentiment is from an old MFT travel stamp set, and the stitched diecut rectangle cutting out the main scene is the only adornment I gave it. 

I am also entering my card in the following challenges :

1. Anything Goes - Word Art Wednesday

2. Water - Addicted to CAS

3. Water - Just Us Girls

4. Summertime Blues - Simon Says Stamp

5. Anything Goes - A Cut Above

I hope you head on over to Fred She Said Designs and Sheepski Designs to check out their images for sale and see what else you may like. And thank you for joining us again this month in our Classic Challenge, as we feature different digital image creators each month to help inspire you in our Anything Goes, monthly challenge. We love and appreciate all your submissions and look forward to seeing the gallery, showing us how you were inspired each month! See you next month!

July Classic Design Challenge : Rachelle Anne Miller

 Hello July Crafty Friends!

This month, the Classic Design Team Challenge is featuring challenge designs from none other than the amazingly talented : Rachelle Anne Miller. Her images is absolutely cuter than a button and just as fabulous to color in! I chose to feature her Unicorn digital stamp, because why not?

I printed off the image and colored it in with a mixture of Copics and Altenew alcohol markers. I used a  diecut to cut out the main image, then, while the image was still in the die, I sponged on Tattered Rose, Shabby Shutters, Salt Water Taffy, and Carved Pumpkin Distress Dioxide inks to give it a light pinky-orange sky and green grass. The sentiment is from Pink Fresh's Hibiscus stamp set, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink. After stamping the sentiment, I matted the main image with Simple Stories Textured Cardstock in Mint, and layered Bazzil's Aqua cardstock cut out with MFT's Stitched Rectangles under it. Then, placed my layered stack over my Brutus Munroe Thick Cardstock in White, just for a tiny white border around the card.

Isn't she the cutest image? Who wouldn't love to color in that image or receive such a whimsical card? It definitely brings a smile to my face when I see it.

Thank you for stopping by and please join the Classic Design team in this month's Anything Goes challenge! We love to see what inspires you and what you upload to submit to the challenge! I know I do! Have a great July and I'll see you in August!

Classic Design Team Challenge : LeAnn's World 101

 Hello crafty Friends! Welcome back to June's Classic Design Team Challenge, and I'm so excited to share with you a new-to-me digital creator. This month we're featuring LeAnn's World 101. I haven't ever used her images, but I am certainly looking forward to using more of her cute images!

I chose to feature Azalea's New Dress as my first image from LeAnn's World.

I printed the image off and colored her in with a combination of Copics, Ohuhu, and Altenew alcohol markers. Then I cut out it out using Pink Main's Stitched Rectangles, then added a neon green cardstock from Bazzil under that, then cut out a pink gingham patterned paper from 49 & Market, using a scalloped rectangle die. I stamped my sentiment in Momento "Bamboo Green" from a sentiment stamp set that I found at a second hand store, long ago, then I added some pearls from Honey Bee Stamps, and left it as clean and simple as I could.

I wanted a vibrant party goer that just popped off the card. Her hair is inspired by my oldest daughter's "Unicorn Hair" that I love. She dyed her hair various muted shades of pinks, mauves, blues, violets, with silvery lavender grays. It truly gets all kinds of second glances, it's so pretty and unique. So I thought this little party goer might have the same kind of vibe and look, too.

I truly enjoyed coloring this image in and as you can see, I used, and was inspired by one of the Color Cube's color cards. Handy for those times when you can't decide what colors work best, or just want some ideas.

Thank you for joining us in this month's challenge. We look forward to seeing what inspired you and to see what you created! 

May Classic Design Challenge : Moondrea Designs

 Hello and welcome back to another Classic Design Challenge! I love this time of the month, when we get to unveil our creations from some really amazing artists! This month the design team gets to feature images from Moondrea Designs. Moondrea has such lovely and unique images to choose from, that I can't ever seem to decide which one I want!

But this month, when I saw the Aquarius Maiden from Moondrea Designs, I just knew I HAD to try to color it in! I couldn't wait to start pulling blue Copics and shading it all in!

After printing off the image, I used many different Copics and colored pencils to shade the maiden in. I wanted her blue color to stand out and not blend into the blue water. I cut out the image with a stitched rectangle and matted it with some blue bamboo paper from American Crafts, then matted that design paper with a lighter blue shade of cardstock from from Recollections. I added some Stickles on the "white caps" and the foam on the waves for some "wet sparkle" and shine.

I really enjoyed creating this card and coloring in this image. Moondrea creates such beautiful images that even if you don't color them in, they're absolutely beautiful and full of so many details!

Thank you for stopping by and joining us for another Classic Challenge. I can't wait to see your submissions this month!

April Classic Design Challenge : Cute Bee Digis

 Hello again crafty friends!! Are you as happy as I am that it's April?! It's time for another Classic Challenge! 

This month we are featuring the prettiest digi stamps from Cute Bee Digis. There are SO MANY cute and pretty digi designs to choose from! But I specifically chose Catherine Holding Tulips because it just looked so spring-like and had a pretty Easter outfit. Catherine looks like she just got back from her Sunday Easter service :)

I printed out the image and colored it in with Copics and cut the image out with Lawn Fawn "Small Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stackables" and then stamped my sentiment from Honey Bee Stamps "He Is Risen" stamp set. I used Mintay Papers Scalloped A2 sized card base, and cut my two design papers using MFT Double and Single Stitched dies to matt my main image. before I added my silk and velvet ribbons, I edged my main image and pink background paper with Spectrum Noir's Blush Metallic paint markers, and added some candy enamel dots.

I love how fresh and springy the card turned out. I really love coloring in digi stamps and finding new ones like the ones Cute Bee Digis offers, to my stamp catalog!! Thank you for visiting my blog and joining the Classic Design Team Monthly Challenge! I'll see you next month! :)

March : You Bake Me Happy

 Happy March, Ya'll!!! Is it spring yet?! Not so much here, but it hasn't been the worst winter, so I can deal.

This month, the Classic Design Team is featuring Dr. Digi's designs again. Dr. Digi has a huge selection of great images to choose from, and at a reasonable price, too. Take a look at the store here : Dr. Digi

I chose to use Bertha's Bread Baking Bonanza image. I chose it because I struggle and look as lost as Bertha, when I make homemade bread!!

I printed off the image and coloring it in with Copics. After coloring the image in, I taped off the edges of the image and sponged Antique Linen and Weathered Wood Distress Inks around the edges. I used Taylored Expressions Easy Edgers die to cut a pinking edge on some soft brown gingham paper from Simple Stories, from their "Gingham" collection. I adhered the gingham paper to a heavy Kraft cardstock, and added a ribbon from Maya Arts to the base. After tying the ribbon on the card, I placed the image over the front of the card base, then stamped my sentiment from Honey Bee stamps, then added three pearls from Honey Bees "Warm Pearls" collection.

I really had a hard time picking an image to color in, but I love how nice Bertha turned out!

I hope you're having a great spring and enjoying the warm weather!! Or I hope it's at least headed your way, soon! :) 

January Classic Design Challenge : Patties Creations

 Happy New Year, Crafting Friends!! Can you believe it's another year down?? I feel like every year just blitzes by even faster than the year before!!

This month we're featuring digi's from Patties Creations. I had so many great images to choose from!! In fact, I bought a few other images along with the one I am featuring today! The image I chose to feature is Flamingo Happy Hour. It's just so happy, vibrant, and quirky that I HAD to play with the image! LOL!

I printed off the image and colored it in with Copic markers, then cut out a border at the bottom of my image with a long since retired Spellbinders borders combinations dies. After cutting out the border and trimmed my image sides, I sponged some Distress Oxide ink lightly around the image in various areas, in Carved Pumpkin. I didn't want it dark, just a highlight around the image. I put popdots under my main image and placed that over Bazzil's "Mint" cardstock. Then I placed the image & polka dot Bazzil cardstock over some A2 card-backs from Mintay Papers. Then, I placed a "Celebrate" rub-on from 49 & Market and some clear enamel candy dots from Bo Bunny.

I had SO Much FUN coloring this image in!! So easy and effortlessly fun! I hope it inspires you to color in a fun and quirky image for a card, even if it's just for the fun of it! :)

Have a great day, and I'll see you next month for another Classic Design Challenge!

Classic Design Challenge : Snowman

 Aaaand, it's December already! How did we get here so fast???! I feel like we just left summer..

Anywho, I'm back with another great Classic Design Team digi. This month, our team is featuring designs from Goha Digi Stamps. I chose a cute snowman, because it reminded me of all those snowmen I made as a kid, back in the day. 

I decided not to feature "Christmasy" colors, but use fun shades with a vintage feel and color palate. 

I printed off my image and colored him in with Copics, then, I decided to outline him in a black Pigma Micron 01 archival ink pen, just to "pop" him off my paper just a bit. Then I diecut my image out with a die I found on Amazon, and sponged a few various shades of Distress Inks around my diecut edge. After sponging, I matted the back of my image with a light Kraft colored cardstock. I found a "dirty" vintage paper from Carta Bella, and adhered my image, matting one last kraft cardstock paper underneath for stiffness. I added a cheap pink lace I bought for less than a buck at a craft store, some blue Maya Arts Ribbon for .50 cents a yard at my local scrapstore, then a small slice of a Gingham paper from Daisy D's, under the ribbon for interest. I added a double bow and a tag stamped "Just for You", on it.

This card turned out so cute! I love that I chose to use different colors, despite the colors in the image. I kind of like that juxtaposition and surprise. It just stands out in that way and I like it.

Thank you for joining me this year with the Classic Design Team, I'm looking forward to Next year and a new round of cards and inspirations with you!

Happy New Year!!

Classic Design Challenge : Santa

 Welcome back again to this month's Classic Design Team Challenge! It's that time of year again where we start thinking about Christmas and making or sending out our Christmas cards. 

I have a great image from Dr. Digi featuring Santa himself, checking the naughty and nice list. Have you checked to see if your name is on his "nice" list? I'm sure it is! Here is a link to his digi store Dr. Digi and here is a link to my Santa image : Naughty or Nice. Dr. Digi has some great quality digi stamps in his store, and I hope you go check them out!

I colored my image in with Copic markers, then used MFT's Double Stitched Rectangles to cut it out with a decorative border around it. I then sponged some Distress Inks around the image to "age" it and tone down the white cardstock, as my design papers and lace panel is off white/cream. After sponging, I matted my image with a red cardstock from Bazzil. I layered a cream lace panel cut from a die by Stampin Up, then matted that under my image, over some design papers from The Paper Studio's "Old World Winter" collection. I completed the matting by adding one more cardstock layer of a reflective gold from Tim Holtz's Metallic Cardstock collection, then I added a few holly diecuts from Tim Holtz's Ideology "Christmas Botanicals" collection. My sentiment is from Fresh Pink's "Foiled Holiday Sentiments".

And there you have it. My take on Dr. Digi's Santa inspired digi stamp. I really love how it turned out. I'm not the greatest at coloring in people, but how can you mess up Santa?! LOL!

Thank you for joining us this month in our Classic Design Challenge! I'll see you here for next month's inspiration! And don't forget! Santa Claus is coming to town .... !

Classic Design Challenge : Fall Dance

 Good day everyone! Welcome back to another Classic Design Challenge! I'm looking forward to this challenge because it features my favorite season : Fall!! I love the colors, smell, feel, the weather and the need to bake!

This month, we're featuring RAM Stamps, by Rachelle Ann Miller, the owner. I have always loved her images for years and years. I have a few of her clear stamps, but didn't know she had a digi shop, too. I'm drooling over all the other images I had no idea she offered.

I chose to feature her "Fall Dance" image, because I absolutely Love, Love, Fall!!

I printed my image off on Gina K's copic paper, and cut out the image with one of AALL & Create's "Quirky Post" dies, then colored everything in with copics. After coloring the image, I sponged on Shabby Shutters Oxide & Rustic Wilderness inks on the bottom of the image, then sponged the sky area with Tumbled Glass Oxide ink. Then I cut out 49 & Market's "Botanical Buzz" matting with another AALL & Create's "Quirky Post" dies.

I kept it all clean and simple so the fun fall colors and whimsy would shine through. I believe that sometimes the simpler the card is, the better you can focus on the image and the handiwork in it.

Thank you for joining us today and enjoying our Design Team samples using the challenge images! We look forward to seeing all of your creations this month! 

Classic Design Challenge : Scottish Lass

 Hello and welcome back to another Classic Design Team Challenge. I missed last month's challenge after an unfortunate two week internet outage, but I'm back with this month's inspiration.

This month we are featuring Moondrea Designs and we had plenty to choose from!! I chose the design I did because I immediately pictured a Scottish princess in contemplation.

I printed off the image, then colored it in with Copics. After coloring it in, I cut the image out with a die I bought from Amazon, which I matted with 49 & Market paper that I die cut with a MFT Scalloped Rectangle. I found some old DP that I used as my background paper, then matted with a co-ordinating cardstock. I layered a leftover piece of lace, swirly pearls, and pieced together flower and leaves. 

I love how it all turned out!! I'm glad I chose the deep green to really contrast with her red hair, it all looks so pretty.

I'm so glad you joined me for another Classic Design Team Challenge. Join us next month for another Classic Challenge! Have a great day!

Classic Design Team Challenge: Surfing Santa

 Welcome back to another fun Classic Design Challenge, I'm glad you're here!

This month, we're featuring digi's from Dr. Digi, himself! Dr. Digi has many fun and quirky designs that appeal to everyone. I chose to keep it simple and use his Surfin' Santa digi. Again, like always, I chose to make it a clean and simple card,  using Christmas reds and keeping the focus on the Santa image.

I don't color Santa's in very often, or that much skin for that matter, but I thought I'd have a little fun with it. Because he's Santa, 

I kept to the Christmas theme as best as I could without being too overt, but also elegant.

I printed off the image onto Gina K paper (it's thicker) and colored it in with Copics. After coloring in the image, I sponged some sand on using Distress Inks Antique Linen and a blue sky with Tumbled Glass. Then I cut out the main image with MFT Stitched Rectangle, then cut out the bottom with another MFT that's been long since retired but I can't remember the name. Then I cut out an A2 rectangle from Spellbinders from Bazzil Ruby Slipper red cardstock, and embossed an edge around it. I finished the card with some black pearls.

I really enjoyed coloring this image in, and if you can tell, I added some subtle pink highlights in some areas to give Santa a "sunburn". I hope Santa enjoyed his vacation. He works so hard all year, so deserved it! :)

Have a great day and I'll see you next month on the next Classic Design Team Challenge! 

Classic Design Team Challenge: The Dancer

 Hi again, Friends! I'm back with another digital stamp challenge with the Classic Design Team!

This month, we are working with SheepSki Designs Digital Images and Art. I had many designs to choose from, but I chose a solo flamenco dancer. The silhouette and the movement just captivated me.

I printed the image out on Gina K paper (with MUCH difficulty, as it's pretty thick), in a 4x6 format.

I chose to color the dancer in pink instead of a red, to give the dancer a real feminine, soft look. My main Copic colors on the dancer were R81, R83, R85, and R89. I cut the main image out with Pinkfresh's Stitched Rectangles, then matted that over some blue 49 & Market paper, just to pop that pink a tad more. I cut a fancy border on the blue design paper with a long since retired MFT die, then matted that on top of popdots over a scalloped backing, cut from Spellbinders Heartfelt Thanks and Scallops die. I did place some white gems from Honey Bee Stamps along the decorative edge for some interest, but otherwise, wanted just the dancer to be the focus of my card.

I really love how it turned out! The pink just sings and I love the simplicity of it all! Until next month, stay Crafty!

Classic Design Team Challenge : Seas the Day

 Hi again, Friends! I am thrilled to announce that I have been accepted onto another monthly design challenge team! I'm so excited!! This Design Team works with various digital stamp creators. I have dabbled once or twice in digi images, but am not very familiar with using them creatively, and it's been an adventure figuring this whole thing out. But as you know, I like a good challenge, and I'm enjoying both the stamps and the process!

This month, we are featuring Angie Blom Digital Designs. Angie a wide assortment of designs to choose from and I couldn't decide which one I wanted to try for a digi card. I decided to start small for my first one.

For my first ever Classic Challenge, I chose Seas the Day, featuring a sea gull, a pillar, and a heart! 

I chose it because as a first foray into digital stamping again, and it's a good place to start. Especially since I don't have a laser printer and need to be careful about how much shading and alcohol ink I use when coloring the image.

I cut out the main image with MFT's Stitched Rectangles, and colored it in with Copics, keeping it simple. I put popdots under the main image just to give it some lift off of the diecut beneath it, for visual interest. I layered my main image over a Penny Black Simple Stackers die cut in Bazzil Navy, then placed popdots under that, over my card base. Again, keeping things Clean and Simple.
 

I think the card turned out pretty good looking for my first digital card attempt in years. Many years ago I received a couple to play with and they were nice, but haven't used them since. So it's like learning it all over again like it's new! 

I hope you check out her designs. She has so many, I'm sure you'll find something you love! 

I'll see you next month for another Classic Design Team Challenge!