Open-Minded Crafting Fun is Back!!

     OK, we've all been waiting for the return of Open-Minded Crafting Fun which has been on a 4 month break.  They've added some new DT members, taken back a few who were on the team once before (me! Bless their hearts), and several of the ladies who were on the team when they started the long break have stayed on.  Changes include becoming a monthly challenge which will begin on the 10th of each month.

     Today starts our first challenge in 2016 and our theme is "Try Something New."  That might be a new technique, a new product, a new card style...  we just need to know what you used that's new.  We have multiple sponsors for this challenge:  Doodle Pantry ($10 GC);  Imagine That ($10 GC);  Polkadoodles (7.50 Euro GC); and finally Smeared Ink ($25 of digis).  Unfortunately, Smeared Ink closed in December and, while they still will be sponsoring us, I can't link to their store anymore.

     Each of these sponsors provided images for the DT to use and my image came from Imagine That.  It's called "Polar Love" and I think it's just the sweetest thing for a Valentine card.

     My design is pretty CAS but I do have lots of 'new' on it.  First, I used new CS to make the card base and the mat for the image.  Next, the little heart buttons are cut with one of my new punches (Fiskars).  The larger hearts are cut with a new die (Spellbinders).  On the other hand, the corners are rounded with my oldest corner punch and the bow is one of those I make by the dozens and toss into my stash to use in the future.  So, there's a nice blend of old and new.  :-D

     Challenges:
A Snowflakes Promise
As You Like It
Craft-Dee BowZ
Craft Rocket
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Boots
Creative Moments
Lemon Shortbread
Not Just Cards
Our Crafty Corner
Outlawz PAM
Paper Shelter
Scrapy Land
Simon Says Stamp
Star Stampz
WordArt Wednesday

     I hope you'll come play with us in the new monthly challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun.  You have all the rest of January to enter and you just need to show us something new.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Red Roses for Love

     It's said that in the language of roses, red ones stand for love.  If that's true, then today's card is just filled with love.  I was visiting favorite blogs last week and ran across this post on Crafting Vicky's blog and thereby discovered a new progressive challenge blog.   The images that have to be used are from Imagine That and each challenge requires you to use the latest free digital image.  Since they were already into the challenge, I had to purchase the rose digi but it's so gorgeous, who could resist.  From now on, as long as I enter the challenge with each new image, I'll get the next one as a freebie.

I used a sketch from Operation Write Home, one of my favorite groups.  You can find out more about them by clicking on their badge on my right sidebar.

I took the colors from Dynamic Duos.

  

     Coloring the image with Promarkers took some effort because I used only my lightest "red" marker.  I just added more color in layers (let it dry between covering strokes) to darken the shaded places.  The darker the red, the more it tends to 'bleed' over so I was very careful to darken it slowly and gently with light strokes.

     I also added touches of white to the rose, and covered the leaves with white after I had used a very light pastel green on them.  I really didn't want any color other than the red to go with the black and white, which was the reason for the white overlay on the leaves.

     The punched black butterfly idea came from Benzi Stampz and I already warned her that I was stealing -- CASEing it today!  I've never punched a butterfly from black CS before but I know I'll do it more often now.  Isn't it striking?  Thanks, Brenda. :-D

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge -- Things w/ wings
Charisma Cardz -- Black & White + 1 color
Color Me Creative -- Anything goes
Flutterby Weds. -- Open, Anything goes
Fresh Brewed Designs -- Flowers
Paper Shelter -- Love
Simon Says Stamp -- Things w/ wings

     Well, I had a marvelously restful and fun Mother's Day weekend with my daughter and grandkids.  I promise to post some photos of the beach house where we stayed, and some of the incredible scenery within either walking or driving distance.  But for now, I want to get this posted so I can get it entered into the Imagine That progressive challenge before it closes tomorrow.  Thanks for visiting.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie