CDS Guest Designer Challenge

This is for the July Clear Dollar Stamps Guest Designer Challenge here: CDS JULY GUEST CHALLENGE This month was a sketch challenge.














First, may I just shout: I LOVE MY CRAFT ROOM! I actually got to stamp, emboss, color, sew, glue, assemble, cut, photograph, and ENJOY making cards ALL IN ONE ROOM! AND I don't have to clean it all up so we can have a place to eat! PRAISE GOD!!!! My dh Phil told me I'm already spoiled. He's right!

Okay, on to business. I've been MIA from crafting for a few months due to our move to this house. I've missed being able to participate in the CDS challenge. In case I haven't said it enough, I LOVE Clear Dollar Stamps. Here's their store site: http://www.newcleardollarstamps.com/servlet/StoreFront As usual, when I saw the challenge, my ADHD mind went in 10 different directions & my OCD mind made me make 3 cards, with a 4th waiting to be assembled. It will have to wait longer.

First, this is in honor of my Dork Sisters. Pigs are our "mascot." Each Dork is unique, even though we are all dorks. I used Patchpal Piggy and Critter Messages. I HAD to make this a patchwork card. I did some paper piecing on the special piggy using paper from the DCWV stack with fruits (dork brain can't think of the name). I sewed around it with a zigzag stitch for that patchwork effect. I added some sparklies for fun. I thought this piggy needed rhinestone nostrils! SNORT!




Next, I used the June Flower of the Month set (Rose). I stamped the flower image with Encore Gold, then embossed in gold on watercolor paper. I used markers and an aquabrush to watercolor the roses to match the DP. Am I the only one that picks out my dp then colors my image to match it? I have 3 different rose pattern papers and had to choose just one to use. I LOVE these papers and the rose stamp was a PERFECT match! The birthstone for June is pearl, so I incorporated that, too. I used my CM oval cutters and Nesties scalloped ovals. The words are in the same set and tell about Roses as the June Birth Flower. I also sewed this one around the outer edges.

Finally is a tribute to San Antonio using the Texas on my Mind set by Laurie Wilson. Remember the Alamo? Side note: my parents asked my girls once if they'd been to the Alamo. They said, "We've been to the Alamo Cafe." It's a GREAT Mexican restaurant in SA. Sadly, this homeschool mom has never taken her kids 15 minutes away to see this historic landmark. If YOU'VE never been to the Alamo, it really looks just like this stamp, just like the movies, just like the pictures. The difference is that now it is surrounded by skyscrapers, hotels and tourists! I decided that the Alamo was one living legend from SA, but when I saw the chili pepper and the word HOT, I knew I had to use this. We DO have hot Mexican food (at the Alamo Cafe---LOL!), but right now, everyone in SA has one word on their mind: HOT. We've been near, at or over 100 all of June. We all dread August because we're having typical August weather in June. Of course, no Texas card would be complete without TEXAS! I love that this stamp set allows you to stamp the blue and red sections separately. Notice the one star. Our motto is the "Lone Star State," and the colors on Texas mimick our state flag. The paper was from a patriotic set, but lended itself perfectly to a Texas card. Hemp cord seemed fitting for an old, distressed looking Texas card. The star was punched out with a Creative Memories punch, then I used my Scor-Pal (which I bought with from CDS with a coupon a few months ago--I love CDS!) to score the star so it would be 3-D. This is a gate fold card.

I cannot tell you how THRILLED I was to create something on a table in one room. I know I said it already but this is just GREAT. I don't know if I'll get chosen to be a guest designer, but I really am thankful for the challenge and the perfect timing. It made me stretch and it made me finish getting things into my craft room fast!

Thanks for looking!