Just Us Girls challenge # 5 card

This is my entry for the 5th Just Us Girls Challenge.  This week they have challenged us to create a holiday card designed to present a photo.  This is a special Wild Card Challenge with a little something for everyone who plays.  You will have to go to their site to check it out!  I used clear polyester to make this card which is 5 x 7.  I used metallic blue card stock to cut the word Joy with my Cricut Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  The holly leaves were cut on green and red metallic card stock with Cricut Stretch Your Imagination.  I found Rachael Ray in a magazine.  I hope you can see it well enough.  The J and 2 cut outs of holly are on the front, the OY is on the inside and I put a large holly leaf next to the Y for a signature.  Hope you enjoy, thanks for looking.  ~Diane 

Thank you Aletha for the Beautiful Mandala.

I won this beautiful mandala in a giveaway hosted on our Etsy Greetings Team Blog.  The Etsy Greetings Team is a membership group I proudly belong to.  Our profile: We are a dynamic team of greeting card artists who collaborate to promote our artisan-ship through Etsy.com.

Our goal is to become the number one resource for buyers seeking quality handmade cards.

About The Artist: Her name is Aletha and she lives in Tulsa, OK, better known as “tornado alley.” She is a self-taught artist and says she is still in the process of learning. She loves rubber stamps, mixed media, and collage.  She started with rubber stamp art around 10 years ago after working at Hobby Lobby as assistant manager. Rubber stamps, watercolors, paints, inks, paper, etc., are all a part of her. What comes out of that are collages, mini wall art, frameable art cards, greeting cards, note cards, handbound journals, bookmarks, mandalas, and seasonal items. If she can stamp it, paint it, cut it, tear it, glue it, varnish it, she will do it.  And the results are breathtaking.  Aletha's shops are  named AJ's Designs.  She has an Etsy shop along with an ArtFire and 1000 Markets locations.   Aletha also does spotlight interviews on her blog featuring fellow Etsy artists.  She is always thinking of others.  Her work is beautiful as you can see.  She not only sent me the lovely mandala of my choice (eggplant and teal) I also received one of her beautiful handmade cards and bookmarks, which are equally beautiful.   So what is a mandala? Mandala means "circle."  The design is concentric and based on circular composition.  The mandala can represent any stage of life, past, present and future.   I have decided to display my mandala in my craft room where it will bring harmony to my creativity and also remind me of my wonderful friend who gave it to me.  Thank you again Aletha, for all of your kindness.  ~Diane

Challenge Card for Just Us Girls

I made this card for a new challenge blog I recently found through Mona at Cupcake Creations. I even like the name of it "Just Us Girls" challenge. This weeks challenge is to add a 3D flower to your project. This is a card my friend Michelle asked me to make for her (multitasking) ha ha. I made my flower out of vellum on my Cricut. I get these amazing vellum colors from PaperandMore. I put seed beads in the center. I used Apricot Appeal, and the patterned paper is from Memory Boutique. I used the Martha Stewart lace punch on the bottom, and this is a
5 x 7 card. And I found the velvet ribbon on sale at JoAnns. I hope you like it
and thanks for looking. ~Diane

Play Date Cafe

This is my entry for the Play Date Cafe color challenge. It reminds me of what Autumn in Michigan sometimes looks like. I had a tough time photographing this. I am working on a greatly needed new set up for photography. I don't know if you can see it, I used the Crystal Effects to layer the leaves for a more dimensional look. I used Core'dinations on the brown tree and leaves and Cuttlebug folder Snowflakes and Swiss Dots. I cut the tree, pumpkin and leaves from Cricut Stretch Your Imagination. I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the snowflakes. Not sure if you can see it, I used a flourish Clear stamp with Stazon white opaque ink to add just a hint of wind to the picture. I must say this was a lot fun to make and the colors really challenged my imagination. Stop over to the Play Date Cafe and see what the designers made.Below is the color challenge. Thanks for looking. ~Diane