Sunday, March 29, 2015

FIVE is the #Cre8time Number... Anything But a Card Challenges Fifth Sunday Challenge March 2015

Good Morning Everyone! It's the last weekend in March... and also our first FIFTH SUNDAY of 2015. We hope you enjoyed getting to know Neva with her Spotlight + Mini Challenge last Sunday. If you missed it please CLICK HERE to jump over and be inspired by her Mini Book Mini Challenge and those who played along.

The moon and stars have aligned to give us an EXTRA Sunday this month which messes up our 3 +1 system of challenges. Today is another FIFTH SUNDAY! This is an oddity in the calendar that is happening several times in 2015 {March, May, August and November}... SO we have added this fun MINI-Challenge today here at Anything But a Card Challenges!!! Are you ready to play and have some fun??!


The Fifth Sunday Challenge... "USE FIVE"!! Use the number 5 or five items, five colors, five words... what ever FIVE represents to you. For those who want to go a little more literal - here's the definition, too! Loads of inspiration could be had over at Wikipedia's page for 5 (number).

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five (faɪv)
n.
1. a cardinal number, four plus one.
2. a symbol for this number, as 5 or V.
3. a set of this many persons or things.
4. a five-dollar bill.
adj.
5. amounting to five in number.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English fīf; c. Old Frisian, Old Saxon fīf, Old High German fimf, finf, Old Norse fimm, Gothic fimf, Latin quīnque, Greek pénte, Skt pancha]

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Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. Please mention and LINK BACK to this challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Mini-Challenge will go through midnight April 4th giving you 7 days to play along and ENJOY the creative process! Next Sunday will start a brand new 3 week challenge.

Let's see what our DT has created!!

Please click on the designers' name to visit their blog. We hope you’ll take a minute to go see their work up close... and as long as you’re there – please leave them a little love!



Have fun in the miniature world! My contribution to the Challenge of 5's on this fifth Sunday in March is an Artist Trading Card for a Birthday Swap. It is decorated with 5 mini felt flowers to help celebrate a spring time birthday. Come check out my BLOG to see how I created these little beauties!


My 5 is the five flowers I made for my scrapbook page.
Please visit my BLOG for more details.




My layout features five photos, shaped using a self-designed template. To complete the page, I've heat embossed stamped leaves and added a frame and additional leaves with gold and black Sharpies. For more details please visit my BLOG.


I've created a canvas – using modelling paste, Dylusion sprays, Luminarte primary elements and Inka Gold. Five birds, five tiny flowers and 5 larger flowersPlease visit my BLOG for more details!


Happy Springtime everyone! For our 5th Sunday in March challenge I have created a triangle fold box to hold a FIVE page mini album with photos from my vegetable garden. Hope you are inspired. Hope you stop by and visit my blog HERE to view more pictures of my project... Creatively yours, Toni



I know I've done little houses before but when I realized that there were exactly 5 cute little houses on my fabulous new stamp it seemed rude not to use them. Find out the details by buzzing over to my BLOG.


Today, I decided to create for the 5th Week Challenge a jointed paperdoll using 5 of a few things. Guess you will have to stop by my blog, Her Craftiness to see if you can find all of the items that I used 5 of each to create her. Granted, she's not a Betsy McCall but she sure was a lot of fun to create!!!!



Here is my challenge for the 5th Sunday – an art journal spread. MY 5 in 5 are based on the journal by 5's that Sharon Green started on YouTube. Just not timed. :/  Please visit my BLOG for more details.

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We hope our designers have you INSPIRED to take some time to be creative!! We can't wait to see your creations and we hope that you will join in and share them with us! Stop back next Sunday to for a brand new Challenge No. 46.


Featured Artists for Challenge No. 44 "Friendship"

Good Morning!!! Thanks to everyone who joined us for our "GREEN with ENVY" Challenge #45... a creative celebration of all things Green! If you missed out on seeing all of the amazing submissions... please CLICK HERE to view week number one; HERE for week 2 and HERE for week 3 of our Design Team inspiration. All of the submissions are AMAZING so you don't want to miss out on all the amazing creations!


Presenting the Featured Artists
for Challenge No. 44
"Friendship" 

Please pop on over and give these ladies some kudos!
Congratulations! 
Feel free to snag our badge for your blog!

We hope you join us later today for a FIFTH SUNDAY challenge. Have a fabulous Sunday! :)

Sunday, March 22, 2015

In the Spotlight + Mini Challenge... Neva Cole

Here we are in the month of March and it is my turn for a spotlight and mini challenge. My name is Neva and I live in Central Oregon. I’ve been a West Coast girl almost all my life moving between Southern California, Alaska, and Oregon. I spent a year as an exchange student to Japan while still in high school. I will also admit to a short stint in Texas, but made a beeline back to the Northwest after my year teaching in a private school. By training I am a High School Science teacher, mostly Chemistry with a little Biology and Biotechnology mixed in. I married later in life at 45 because I waited for Mr. Right! 


Crossroad Layout Created in 2009 for my All About Me Album

When I married just over ten years ago I left full-time employment to substitute teach, do all the paperwork for running a small business, and raise our children. My husband has a daughter who is now away for her freshman year in college. We adopted two boys from Russia 5 1/2 years ago, and have enjoyed the journey of raising our boys. 



Created in 2012 for each of the boys' albums

Our older son is now 15, a freshman in high school and active in sports. We are very proud of the progress he has made academically; and watch him play soccer, wrestle, and high jump/long jump/run track. Our younger son is in third grade as a 9-year-old and is working very hard to overcome some of the speech and language delays. We are thankful for his great team and he is progressing at a rapid pace. He enjoys his riding his bike, doing flips on the trampoline, wrestling, and Cub Scout activities.

As my blog mentions I find Snippets of Time to Craft in between the entire goings on of life, raising kids, running a business, and caring for our home and property. We are fortunate to live on six acres and raise two steer each summer, usually 15-18 or so chickens, a couple of turkeys and one noisy duck. The grandparents help us with a garden; although it is challenging to raise veggies with our short growing season here in the high desert. It is lovely to have fresh eggs, produce, and organic beef from our little farm. We also raise German Shepherds and have a litter or two of pups each year. Right now we have 8 wonderful puppies, you can learn more about them on our Facebook page, vom Kaskadenberge


Can you believe I still have this! 

I was raised by a crafter, and have many memories of crafting, sewing, ceramics, and other assorted hobbies. I can trace my first red rubber stamp purchase along with clear embossing powder to 1983... even have the sales slip! I started paper crafting in earnest in 1995, as part of my two year-long healing therapy following a car accident and closed head brain injury. I was intrigued with paper engineering and created a pop-up resume for a job application at our Museum of Science and Industry. Fortunately there was a small local stamp shop within a few blocks of my home and I became a regular shopper and took a few classes. This started me down the path of my paper and ink addiction. In 1997 my sister and a Creative Memories workshop introduced me to archival scrapbooking. It is hard to believe that I have been at this wonderful pastime for 20 years!

I am blessed to have a huge room in our home dedicated to my crafting endeavors. I have many collections to indulge in from paper, inks, dies, stamps, stickers, specialty paper, paints, alcohol inks, ribbon, embellishments, glitter, fibers, chipboard, and so on. Over the years I have learned so much from online forums, classes at local stamp and scrapbook stores, and at conventions. Last fall I dove into blogging regularly and entering challenges. I applied to a few design teams and fortunately was selected for Anything But a Card and Retro Rubber Challenge Blog. 

I would describe my style as fairly eclectic and sometimes elegant. I am not much into grunge or shabby chic, but just about everything else is game. I would like to learn play more with different media forms, but know I already have plenty to keep my occupied for a long time!

My favorite thing to create is probably mini-albums. I like to have little albums that commemorate an event or trip. I have been known to make albums as gifts, especially for the crew of my husband’s sailing adventures! I like little books, and have a few that I’ve created over the years in many different styles. Here are a just a few!


Just a few of the mini books and albums I've created in 20 years. 


Created in 1999 as a gift for my Grandparents, it has since been returned to me.


Created in 2006, one for my DH and one for his crew on the sailboat.


Created in 2007 – two copies : )


Created for my daughter in 2007. Lots of pockets and flaps.


Gift album created in 2009 for a friend who coordinated a forum. 


My interior contribution and the back of the album. 


Part of a birthday album created for DSD in 2010.


Started as a kit from the Button Farm, but grew
into a much larger acrylic mini album in 2013.

My most recent acrylic mini album is one I created of our trip to Colorado for the Buccaneer North American Championships, which can be viewed in this post on my blog. If you just want to look at the photos and not read all the instructions, click on the first photo and go through them slide show style! 


Created in 2015, actual size is 3" x 3".

My challenge for this week is to make
a mini-album or mini book of any style.

My sample made for the challenge commemorates the year 2014 in photos and is done in with a Meander Album like the one created here in the Split Coast Stampers Tutorial. Come check my full blog post over at Snippets of Time to Craft on how I created this little gem! Dear Husband likes the album, but the photos are too small for him... however he wants me to digitize the album so he can share it as well.


Sunday, March 15, 2015

Sprouting Week 3 of "GREEN with ENVY" Challenge No. 45 at Anything But a Card Challenges

Good Morning Everyone! We hope you are enjoying the monthly theme paired with the Challenges... this one being dedicated to ALL THINGS GREEN. Welcome to week 3 of Challenge No. 45 – "GREEN with ENVY" here at Anything But a Card Challenges! CLICK HERE if you missed the fabulous creations by our week one team of designers and CLICK HERE for week 2 inspiration!



The current Challenge... GREEN with ENVY – is perfect for the change of season that for most is right around the corner... "Green with Envy". For Anything But a Card Challenges No. 45 use the color green as your inspiration or our prompt of "Green with Envy" to challenge your muse. Now it's time to gather all of your creative goodies to come out and play.

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Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. To be eligible for TOP 3 selection -- Please do us the favor to mention and LINK BACK to this challenge using this permalink provided so that your readers may find us and play along { http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2015/03/cre8time-sprouts-in-color-green-for.html }. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight March 21st giving you 1 more week to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations each Sunday to keep you inspired.

Let's see what part of our DT has created!!

Please click on the designers' name to visit their blog. We hope you’ll take a minute to go see their work up close... and as long as you’re there – please leave them a little love!

I have been experimenting with Black Gesso and this created a wonderful foil for some fabulous green and turquoise Luminarte Silk paints. There is a step by step on my BLOG if you want to know how I created all these layers.



Lots of stamping, fussy cutting, punching and some spraying with Perfect Pearls helped create this layout. The composition of the photo naturally led me to the 'Green' of our 'green with envy' theme.Pop on over to my blog to see where this gorgeous spot is and what else I did with the layout. Pop on over to my BLOG for more details.




My post was inspired by a necklace I made a few years ago, just altering it a bit. Create your own Lucky Horseshoe! Please hop on over to my BLOG for more details.



I found inspiration from a stained glass piece to create my green scrapbook page. This was also a bit of a 'green' project in that I used up a lot of my scraps! Please visit my BLOG for more details.




March is all about green - green grass, green shamrocks, spring green, well, how about envious green? This months challenge at Anything But a Card is just that - and when I heard the challenge topic (way back in, I think it was, November?) I knew right away what I'd be using for this project. Visit my BLOG for more details. 

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We hope our designers have you INSPIRED to take some time to be creative!! We can't wait to see your creations and we hope that you will join in and share them with us! Stop back next Sunday for a new Spotlight + Mini Challenge to wrap up the month.


Sunday, March 8, 2015

#Cre8time is GREEN with ENVY for Week 2 of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 45

Good Morning Everyone! Last Sunday we launched a BRAND NEW Challenge No. 45 and we're "GREEN with Envy" here at Anything But a Card Challenges! CLICK HERE if you missed the fabulous creations by our week one team of designers!


The current Challenge... GREEN with ENVY – is perfect for the change of season that for most is right around the corner... "Green with Envy". For Anything But a Card Challenges No. 45 use the color green as your inspiration or our prompt of "Green with Envy" to challenge your muse. Now it's time to gather all of your creative goodies to come out and play.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. To be eligible for TOP 3 selection -- Please do us the favor to mention and LINK BACK to this challenge using this permalink provided so that your readers may find us and play along { http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2015/03/cre8time-sprouts-in-color-green-for.html }. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight March 21st giving you 2 weeks to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations each Sunday to keep you inspired.

Let's see what part of our DT has created!!

Please click on the designers' name to visit their blog. We hope you’ll take a minute to go see their work up close... and as long as you’re there – please leave them a little love!



Green is my Favorite color and I had a blast giving this empty glass jar a makeover! There can never be too much of green, right? The soft glow inside the jar brightens as the sun goes down. For a full reveal, do visit my BLOG. Thanks!


    

Here I have altered a small paste jar using hessian, some dyed using various green mediums and some left natural. A couple of mulberry flowers and leaf appliques for the front and hessian flowers I put together circling the jar. Please visit my BLOG to see more details.


Hi everyone... Toni here with my "Green With Envy" inspiration. Using some unconventional items, I created this mini shadowbox. Drop by my blog HERE for more pictures and a SNAPGUIDE tutorial. Creatively yours, Toni


Today I'm sharing a fun little project I have made for a St. Patrick's ATC Swap with this adorable Irish Lass. Stop by my BLOG Her Craftiness for all the information on my 6 little ATC's!



Any one would be Green with Envy to receive this beautiful little gift box! I had some fun stamping on velvet and using a die cuts to embellish a box made with the We R Memory Keepers Gift Box Punch Board. What a stunning way to offer a little present to a friend! Check out my BLOG for hints and tips. 



Rita Marie
This sweet little lass looks like she's dreaming of Springtime, and her true love. Let's hope she's truly lucky and she meets him one day soon. She was done on water color paper with acrylics and water color pencils. This was a fun challenge.  If you would like to learn more about me and my sketches please check out my BLOGThank you! xo



For my project this month, I went for a super quick altered project. Stamping, heat embossing and then painting with acrylic glazes and my project was done. Please visit my BLOG for more details.

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We hope our designers have you INSPIRED to take some time to be creative!! We can't wait to see your creations and we hope that you will join in and share them with us! Stop back next Sunday to see more of our Design Team creations!


Sunday, March 1, 2015

#Cre8time Sprouts in the Color GREEN for week 1 of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 45

Good Morning Everyone! It's a brand new month and time for a brand new ABAC Challenge to excite your creative muse. Last Sunday we featured Pallavi and she hosted a Black and Metallic Mini Challenge - CLICK HERE to catch up and see all the lovely makes.

Now we get down to business... it's time for a new challenge today here at Anything But a Card Challenges... let's get ready to play and have some fun! Thanks to everyone who joined us for our "Friendship" Challenge #44! If you missed out on seeing all of the amazing submissions... please CLICK HERE to view week number oneHERE for week 2 and HERE for week 3 – you don't want to miss out on all the fabulous creations shared!


The new Challenge... is perfect for the change of season that for most is right around the corner... "Green with Envy". For Anything But a Card Challenges No. 45 use the color green as your inspiration or our prompt of "Green with Envy" to challenge your muse. Now it's time to gather all of your creative goodies to come out and play.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. To be eligible for TOP 3 selection -- Please do us the favor to mention and LINK BACK to this challenge using this permalink provided so that your readers may find us and play along { http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2015/03/cre8time-sprouts-in-color-green-for.html }. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight March 21st giving you 3 weeks to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations each Sunday to keep you inspired.

Let's see what part of our DT has created!!

Please click on the designers' name to visit their blog. We hope you’ll take a minute to go see their work up close... and as long as you’re there – please leave them a little love!


My little shadow box shrine is a nod towards the saying "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence". Buzz over to my BLOG to find out all the details.



This pair of green birds bring an inspiring message. Stop by Diana's BLOG for more information and to also wish her a happy birthday... and maybe even win a present for yourself!


Green is not my favorite color, so this was a challenge for me. I made two postcards and an ATC for this challenge. Please visit my BLOG for more details!


I was inspired by the recent fires which have devastated large areas of Australia. The red flames seemingly destroyed thousands of hectares. All is then black and brown. Until slowly, tiny buds release the fresh green leaves of the Australian bush. Many species need the fire to germinate seed which can in a few months produce verdant green growth again. See what I did over on my BLOG.


Green, isn't that the most beautiful colour of the spring. After the long winter that we could see only white, or grey it is a great pleasure to the eye to discover some other shades. Nature is dressing in different tints of greens, exactly like trees, flowers and the grass would envy the colour from each other. So for a warm welcome of the spring I created this home decor piece. Come and check it on my BLOG.


My project is a mat that I hand cut then painted a Patina finish on to frame an Irish Blessing. The blessing was created on my computer. There is a paper punch four leaf clover at the top for a fun dimensional touch. My Green With Envy project is also a sort of Go Green project by repurposing old items, too: matboard, frame, card stock scraps. Stop by my BLOG for more details.

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We hope our designers have you INSPIRED to take some time to be creative!! We can't wait to see your "GREEN with ENVY" creations and we hope that you will join in and share them with us! Stop back next Sunday to see more of our Design Team creations!