It has been busy with our family these past two weeks, so I missed one challenge at DU2DS. Today is a bit better, so I was able to make the card above, in line with the lilac and lemon theme at DU2DS. The paper piercing was done simply with a push pin and one of my digital paper piercing patterns, Oval Frames, that was recently released at my site.  By the way, I’m plugging the Gem’s Cottage  Paper Piercing Card Challenge  that started last May 15.  To participate, just create a card using any of Gem’s Cottage paper-piercing patterns (freebies included). You can use digital art, stamped art, patterned/specialty papers from any company (as long as it does not infringe on any copyrights, please!), to complete your card project. Take photos or scan your card, then e-mail it to us at admin@gemscottage.com. All entries should be received by 11:59 pm PST on May 29, 2009. The cards will be posted in our gallery for everyone to see. This challenge is open to all US and international crafters – I hope you join us! 

There will be two prizes for this challenge – one will be the Designer’s Choice Award: this will be chosen by a popular and respected designer (we will reveal her name after the contest!). A cash prize of US $20 will be awarded to the winner (via Paypal), plus a choice of one downloadable set from Gem’s Cottage. A second winner will be randomly chosen from all the entries and will be awarded a cash prize of US $15 (via Paypal) plus a choice of one downloadable set from Gem’s Cottage. If you want to see some more cards with paper piercing, check out the Projects section of Gem’s Cottage, there are several under New Projects.

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, the card above, LOL! This project was created using the line art from PcCrafter’s Simple Pleasures by Carolee Jones,  colored with Prismacolor pencils, then blended with baby oil. The paper piercing pattern used was Frame 6 – dots and scallops from Oval Frames - I didn’t do the part for the sentiment because this was covered by the yellow ribbon from MS.  Violet cardstock came from The Paper Company.

After being almost late for last week’s DU2DS Challenge, I’m kind of early this week, LOL! Well, that’s because my mind is still on teapots (check my April 30th post), and how to decorate them. The sketch provided at DU2DS put me in high gear right away, and I’m pretty happy with how this project turned out.  We (that means DH and I) haven’t released this template on Gem’s Cottage yet, as we had some setbacks. Hopefully, it will be up by Monday. Sooo, back to this project, I used Squareweave Chocolate from The Paper Company for the teapot base, Truffle cardstock from Bazzil (medium brown), cream dotted paper and ribbon from my stash. The coffee cup image is one I made myself (if you are interested to have it, ask and it shall be given ,  post a comment  and I will e-mail it to you), colored with Prismas and blended with… baby oil! “Coffee break” is printed using the font BlizzardD. I’m planning to fill up this pot with several single-serve coffee packets, sugar and creamer for my DD’s teacher(s). For those who don’t drink coffee, I’ll fill the teapot (decorated like the pink one in my previous blog entry) with tea and honey instead.