Little Red Wagon #278 - Beachy Keen!

Is it even possible to think warm, summery thoughts when it is one of the coldest winters on record?  Well, that is what Heather at Little Red Wagon wants us to do.  She wants to see some summer-themed projects this week.  Maybe if we all think summer it will come?

I had fun with this challenge.  I started by creating a water color background using water color paper, distress ink and a water brush.

Then it was all about the flip-flops!  I found this adorable file on the Silhouette store and thought it was perfect for a summer card.

The clothes line actually had bows at the end, but I decided to replace them with little clouds.  Then three pairs of flip flops and a fun sentiment finished off my design.  Yes, I feel warmer already!

Now we want you to think summer!  Create something summer-themed and then link it up at Little Red Wagon.  We all need some warm thoughts to get us through this winter :) 

Little Red Wagon #277 - Round & Round We Go!

Welcome to Wednesday and another great challenge from Little Red Wagon!  Collette is up this week and she wants to see a card that does not have any sharp corners.

I went with a round card for this challenge.

I began with a sweet image that I stamped onto a circle cut with a stitched circle die.  Then out came my Copic markers and some matching embellishments.

Be sure to stop by each of the DT Girlfriend's blogs to see what they created for this challenge.  Then link up your own creation for us to see! We will be sure to visit your blog :)

Inspiration Elevator - February 2015

Inspiration Elevator has issued their very last challenge this month.  They will be retiring and it is sad to say good-bye to such an awesome and talented group of scrapbookers.  I am honored to have been a part of the Inspiration Elevator team and I will miss the creativity that the challenges inspired in me.

Here is our last challenge in Ann's words:  

"After some thought and consideration, the time has come to retire Inspiration Elevator. But before we go, we need to hold a big retirement party, so we've invited everyone who's been involved with Inspiration Elevator back for one last reveal. This month's challenge is simple, but I hope, challenging, as well.

Here's the challenge: Inspiration Elevator launched on May 15, 2012, and at that time, we explained our purpose as, "Welcome to Inspiration Elevator! What a thrilling day! Today is the launch of Inspiration Elevator (IE), a challenge blog created by my dear friend Christa Uttley and me. We chose the name Inspiration Elevator because it is our intent to raise our creativity to heights through challenges issued every month. We want to raise our designs from the ordinary to the extraordinary. We hope you'll join us on our journey!

IE is a group of like minded scrappy friends who want to raise the bar in their own creative process through unique challenges that we issue to each other once a month. These won't be run of the mill challenges and we hope you'll join us each month and be inspired by the creative designs we've created."

That vision has remained unchanged over the last (almost) 3 years. The challenge this month is to just create - no holds barred. Take some time, or challenge yourself to do it in 1/2 hour if time is tight, but think about what you'd like to create if there were no agenda, no design team requirement. In other words, create for you, and enjoy the process!"

What a wonderful way to celebrate the retirement of this challenge group - just to create a page totally for ourselves with no expectations or requirements!

Considering that I just picked up some new paper from the KaiserCraft Sandy Toes collection and that I had a favorite photo of my sisters and myself ready to go, I decided to combine the two onto a single-page layout.  I enjoyed using some of my go-to techniques and embellies, including stitching, layering, misting, inking, sequins, and twine.

I started by misting a couple of different colored inks onto my background cardstock and letting them drip down.  Then I also splattered some ink onto the background to get the look I wanted.  I always think of Ann when I get a bit messy on my pages.  Ann has taught me by example that it is good to just let go and be creative in any way I feel.  I admire her beautiful art journal pages and creative layouts and how she has explored her 'artist within'.  Thank you Ann!

Next I layered a few coordinating papers and added my photo and a quote. 

In my stash, I found an Amy Tangerine foam word - cherish - that worked perfectly with my page! That one word describes how I feel about my sisters better than anything!  That is why I did not feel the need to add any other journaling to my layout, aside from the date that the picture was taken.

When the papers, photo and title were in place, I just had fun with some embellies.  I added some random, messy stitching to my page (something that I have always admired on Christa's pages), a sunshine clip and clothespin, a couple of white rub-ons and some bling!  Just a few of my favorite things :)

Thank you Ann, Christa and all of the wonderful designers that I have had the privilege of working with on this team.  You have inspired me to dig deeper and reach higher in my creative process.  It has been a wonderful ride and I will miss you!

Please visit all of the designers that are participating in our last challenge. 

Audrey Yeager

Christy Riopel

Denise Morrison

Jodi Wilton

Laura Whitaker

Laurel Seabrook

Shelby Dwyer

Jayne Morgan

Joanne Burton

Katherine Sutton

Lisa Moen

Lisa Spiegel

Michelle Hernandez

Wendi Robinson

Christa Uttley

Ann Jobes

May your creativity continue to take you places that you have dared not go before ♥

Little Red Wagon #276 - Winter Washi Land

We have another great challenge this week at Little Red Wagon.  Susie wants to see washi tape on our project.  I love washi tape and I have used it many times, so I wanted to do something totally different for this challenge.

I found an idea similar to this on Pinterest and thought it was so adorable that I had to give it a try.

I started with digi images that I cropped to allow only the head of the image to print. Then I colored away using my Copic markers and added some washi tape as scarves to them! lol

For some reason I laugh out loud at these silly little cards every time I look at them!  I created the frame using a new Lawn Fawn die set and I really had to resist the urge to add more to the cards! No ribbon, buttons, sequins, glitter... just a silly little floating head!

Now what can you do with washi tape?  Create something fabulous and link it up at Little Red Wagon.  We will be sure to visit your blog :)

Little Red Wagon #275 - Peek-a-Boo!

Carolyn has issued a really fun challenge at Little Red Wagon this week!  We are supposed to create a card with a window in it!

I created a card that has a window tag on it and I made it into a shaker card!

Everything was cut with my Silhouette - of course - and the shaker element was filled with pretty sequins and glass beads.

Such a fun and happy card! Now it is your turn to show us your window card.  For more inspiration, be sure to visit all the DT Girlfriend's blogs.  It will be fun to see how each of them interpreted the challenge.  Then be sure to link up your own creation at Little Red Wagon.  See you there :)