Ad Day For Daisies It's a Twine Thing and My Craft Spot 'Sew' Much Fun Challenge

First I need to apologize to my bloggie friends for not visiting regularly this month. To be honest, I'm just totally out of gas. I bit off more than I could chew in August...WAY more and I've been scrambling to complete my DT and guest DT projects as well as a comission (that I can't show you yet), but Thank GOD! it's finished and in the mail. (Just in the nick of time, I might add. Did I mention I'm the world's WORST procrastinator and slowest crafter on earth?) Also, being on a design team means commenting on the challenge participants entries and there have been LOTS!!!!!

I wasn't even sure today if I had it in me to craft. But I WANTED to, so I decided to do a sweet simple card for the A Day For Daisies Twine Challenge. I loved the free image provided for joining the challenge and since there wasn't much coloring... The image was colored with Copics and cut and matted with Nesties. All I needed was to add some twine.

But the My Craft Spot Challenge this week is "Sew" Much Fun. HHmmm...I've been dying to try my Sew Easy Stitch Piercer so I used the Scallop wheel. At first I tried stitching with 2 tone baker's twine but I didn't like how it was turning out, so I dug around in my fiber drawer and found this delicate hemp twine. The neutral color was the inspiration for the kraft paper and fairly monochromatic color scheme. Once I'd done the stitching, it was too late to run it through the computer to add a sentiment and my confidence in my stamping ability is pretty darn low (I would have DIED had I mess this up after all the hand stitching) so I used the Cuttlebug Friends Forever Card-Making Combo. The delicate font was just perfect. I don't do CAS very often, but I LOVE how this turned out!

Tiddly Inks Reading Fun

It's Tiddly Tuesday and rounding out our "Back to School" inspired challenges, our challenge this week is Reading Fun. It can be inspired by a particular book, or just a general reading theme, which is what I chose to do. When I came across Aida-Gonna Miss You I thought of taking a trip in my head. That's what reading is, isn't it? I cut the book and pages from the My Community Cricut cartridge. I wrote a little story about Aida on the left page and the theme of my piece on the right and printed it on the pages.

Aida was printed 3 times, colored with Copics and decoupaged for dimension. The "bookmark" is a Tim Holtz Swivel Clasp with a Philosophy Tag and a key from K&Co to represent "the key to the imagination".

Obviously, it's an easel card and the map DP is from the Tim Holtz Lost and Found paper stack. The small tickets are preprinted Adage Tickets and the large one is a Journaling Ticket (also Tim Holtz) on which I printed "Read" and added a few adhesive beads for emphasis. There are fabulous projects by the rest of the Tiddley Inkers HERE and Christy is previewing some adorable new "Minnie" images that are already available in the "What's New" section HERE and a freebie on her blog HERE. I hope you're inspired to share a reading inspired project with us this week at Tiddly Inks. I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Some Travel(oops! missed that one), the Sentimental Sunday Back to School and Kaboodles Doodles Easel Does It Challenge.

Oh, and BTW, if you haven't commented on my BBTB2 Home Decor project, please scroll down and do so for a chance to win a $40.00 gift certificate to Custom Crops. They've got a fab sale going on and lots of new products, so check it out HERE.

BBTB2 Heritage Tree Challenge and Blog Hop

Welcome to the BBTB2 monthly Blog Hop. If you've come from the mega talented Mona's Blog (I'm asking you, was that eye candy or what!?), you're on the right track. If not, you may want to begin at BBTB2 so you don't miss a thing. I can't believe it's the end of August. Next thing you know, there will be a nip in the air and the leaves will be turning. Ah, glorious Fall! Definitely my favorite season. How fortunate that our sweet and fabulous DT sister Julie chose the curly tree from the Heritage cart for our challenge this week. All I could see when I looked at that tree was the changing seasons so I decided to do a home decor project. It's 10"x10" without the black mat and I hope to frame it. I welded 4 of the trees to represent the 4 seasons. Each is backed by a circle ("and the seasons, they go 'round and 'round" from the song "The Circle Game" kept running through my head) in an appropriate color. I kept them sort of muted to make it neutral and modern looking.

"Seasons" is from DonJuan. The blossoms and leaves I've added to the trees are the off cuts from MS border punches. I'm still in shock that I hand wrote the seasons around each circle, but try as I might, I couldn't manage to figure out a way to do it on the computer and I had no appropriate rub-ons. Unfortunately, it looked too plain without, so...

Not much dimension because I wanted to keep it suitable for framing. I just popped "Seasons" and a few of the flowers and leaves for added interest. Now off you go to Lori's Blog to see what yummy creation she has in store. But before you go, please leave a comment for a chance to win a $40.00 gift certificate from my fabulous sponsor, Custom Crops. They have tons of new products, and a fab Back to School sale going on NOW! Please be sure to stop back on Friday

when the winner will be chosen. Hope to see you join is this week with a new creation, using this gorgeous tree from Heritage, or any similar tree if you haven't that cart, and please don't forget to mention BBTB2 in your post and link it up so others can join in the fun too.

Macabre Monday I Was Framed Sponsored by Dilly Beans

Okay guys, this week we Minions have a super challenge for you for Macabre Monday, sponsored by the most fantastic creepy cute images from Dilly Beans. Our challenge requires you to use a frame because so many of Megan's fantastic digis have a fabulous frame around them. Megan is offering eight (count 'em EIGHT!) digis from her adorable designs, two each to the Gruesome Twosome, and four to the winner (Megan's favorite) of the challenge. Let me tell you, I've got PLENTY more than 8 and she currently has a sale running where you can buy 3 and get one free (through Labor Day)! BTW, although my FAVES are in the creepy cute catagory, there are plenty more that are just plain CUTE so check them out HERE. I've chosen the sort of mournful #205 Hypno Eye Girl. She looks so sad. Who is she missing? There were so many ways I wanted to color her, but I finally decided on my fave Copic combo of red, black and white. I used portions of the MS spider web punch around the page and distressed the mats with my Distrezz-it-All. The fab embellies include a Wonky eyed skull from our own fabulous Creepy Glo Bugg's Etsy store, as well as a flower from Recollections.

I printed the stamp twice so I could add some dimension to her face and added some adhesive beads to balance the design. As usual, the Minions have some fabulous inspiration and don't forget to check back on Wednesday for Glo's take on the challenge at HDH. ALWAYS worth waiting for! We LOVE seeing what you come up with, so grab a frame of some sort and join in. You could be the lucky winner of some FAB stamps from Dilly Beans! I'm also entering this in the Forever Night Too Cute to Spook Challenge. I think she's WAY too cute to spook, don't you?

TOFF Steampunk Challenge and Whimsical Wednesday 3 Times a Charm

This is my second post for today, so if you're looking for my Bah! Humbug! Challenge, please scroll down.

WooHoo! I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer this week at The Octopode Factory Friday Challenge. You KNOW I love me some Octopode! this week's challenge is STEAMPUNK. Way too much fun! I happen to have ALL of Lily's Steampunk images, so choosing which to use was the biggest challenge. I also wanted to play with the Whimsical Wednesday 3 Times a Charm Challenge where you must use 3 colors only and 3 of the same embellishment.

It was Bernie, from the Steampunk Nippers set that gave me the idea for this project. Tell me he isn't the ultimate of paparazzi! I've welded "papa razzi" using letters from the Don Juan cartridge in Design Studio and embossed them with the Tim Holtz Retro Circles embossing folder.

Then I just HAD to use Flo with her built in paparazzi stopping eye. I just bet Lady Gaga is gonna figure out a way to copy her look. They were both printed on kraft card stock and colored with Copics. I've added Tim Holtz Sprockets to each and a Game Spinner to Flo's good eye. (Those are the 3 embellies for WW. Acutally I've used 3 sprockets twice.) The gears were cut with a Tim Holts Alterations Die by Sizzix and inked and embossed with Distress Embossing Powder in Vintage Photo.

The images and letters were popped with foam and the cool Idea-ology Film Strip Ribbon woven through. I kept the whole thing monochromatic to match the cool Steampunk DP from the DCWV Tattered Time Stack so my 3 colors are shades of kraft, gray, and black. Lily's fabulous DT has gorgeous eye candy this week (as always) so be sure to go have a look. Tell me this isn't a fun challenge. I just know you're gonna be playing along. And at Whimsical Wednesdays, there's still time to enter this challenges and there's another fab challenge to get your creative juices going as well.

Bah! Humbug! Here Come the Girls Challenge

I can't believe how time flies! I'm so sad to be leaving Humbug Hall as this is my final post as Guest Designer. I want to thank Ann and Max for inviting me and Tracy for being a Guest teamie with me this month. I'm very excited, to see what the next ladies have in store and to continue to play along with the weekly challenges because, after all, I am a Proud Loyalty Member. This week our challenge is Here Come the Girls. We want to see you girly-est ideas, whatever they my be. No problem there. Can't get much girlier than shopping. And it's even MORE fun at CHRISTMAS! I made the easel card with the next to smallest Labels One Grand Nestisties and my Grand Caliber, then cut the the mat and striped piece with the smallest in the set. This is as easy as doing a regular shaped card with your Nesties. You just place one of the sides of the die just above the fold and run it through. Then score at the center of one of the sides. Cut additional mate to adhere to the folded piece, thad there you go. You don't even have to measure because of the shape of the Labels One die. Easy peasy! The yummy pastel papers are by My Mind's Eye.

I've used the adorable Xmas Shopping from Kenny K. She's colored with Copic and I've added Stickles her fur trim. She's cut out with Nesties Beaded Ovals which I inked with Distress and popped.

The sentiment is computer generated and cut embossed and matted with my Nesties Labels Seventeen. I've used adhesive pearls to hold up the easel, coloring some of them with Copics to match the dots on the paper. Now go have a look at Bah! Humbug! for more fabulous inspiration, and I'm sure you'll love playing along with this challenge. I'm also entering this is the Christmas Cards All Year 'Round August Challenge using ribbon, inking, stripes and a metal embellishment, Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Non-Traditional Colors, Crafty Hazel's Anything Goes (or actually, it could be a Christmas Birthday card), Divas by Design Christmas in August, The Crazy Challenge Christmas Anything Goes for August, and the Charisma Cardz Glitter it Challenge.

Romance with Tiddly Inks

This is a special one, one I've been thinking about for a long time. When Christy came up with the new Tiddly, You and Me, I knew it was time to try it. It was sort of a risk, printing and coloring the image and then using Cricut DS to create a puzzle.

The pieces are from Don Juan. The hard part was moving the pieces close enough to create the puzzle. You can't weld them, they have to be separate. You just have to hope that you've moved them close enough together to cut as one, as each piece is cut separately and then has to be retraced, in part, for the next row of pieces.

I printed and colored my image first. Lots of time invested. On top of the puzzle I placed a heart from George to cut as well.

Then it was just a leap of faith. There was some rough going. It wasn't perfect. I thought after, that I should have just cut out the one piece, but that's not how love is.

Sometimes the going gets rough, but if you can hold it together, everything will be fine...stronger, better than the perfect, easy way out.


I'm sorry, but something in this post is causing all the stuff on my sidebar to go to the bottom. May have to delete it all.

TOFF Birds of a Feather Challenge

This week's TOFF challenge is Birds of a Feather. Actually, this was my original design for last week's Crown or Hat challenge, but I decided to use my Macabre Monday card to enter that one, so this one didn't get made. Still liked the idea, though, and chicks are obviously birds, so... Anyway, I've used Chick Girl for the main image and created my own DP using another little chick from the Easter and Spring Digital Set. I added the "chicks rule" with my Printmaster Platinum computer program. I'm really not too fond of the Copic yellows so the yellow on Chick Girl and the lighter chicks on the DP are painted (rather messily) with Distress Inks. I've drawn the crowns on all the of the small ones and colored them in with a gold gel pen.

I've also painted and sponged the background with Distress inks. The rest of the Chick Girl is colored with Copics. Her crown is a Stampendous Stamp that I heat embossed and cut and popped. I won the stamp on Taylor's blog. She's on the Stampendous DT and does fabulous work and has wonderful giveaways. I've added a feather and also the bow that is part of the Chick Girl image. I really enjoy working with the fun quirky stamps from The Octopode Factory. Check out more inspiration from the fabulous DT HERE.

BBTB2 Meets The Stamping Boutique

Happy Monday everybody! This week at BBTB2 we had the pleasure of working with digital images from The Stamping Boutique. We each got to choose from the fabulous Halloween/Fall collection and pair it with a frame from the Happy Hauntings cartridge. I chose the adorable Halloween Vampire because my FAVE frame cut on the cart is the elaborate coffin. yea, I know I've used it before, but it's just so PERFECT! Because the little vampire is a digi, I was able to stretch him out a bit to fit perfectly. He's colored with Copics with some Stickles for shine. His patent shoes are done with glossy accents. I've added a bit of drippy goo and jewels to the bling up the coffin.

The bats are a Cuttlebug die, cut and embossed twice, and suspended mid air by springs I've made by winding some wire around a wooden skewer. The cut out coffin is popped atop a matte metallic solid version ( had to hide a bazillion contours for that, but it was well worth it.) My DT sisters have many more examples of the adorable digi's available at The Stamping Boutique, HERE. Heather will announce a contest soon where you will be able to win some of these adorable images. In the meantime, grab a frame from Happy Hauntings, or any frame and play long with our current challenge.

Macabre Monday Carnival of Curiousities

This week at Haunted Design House, our challenge is Carnival of Curiousities. Loads of creepy inspiration there, menacing clowns, freaks of nature, gives me the shivers just thinking about it. And how those hawkers lure you in... I've made a shaped card using Cricut Design Studio and the circus tent cut from Carousel. I grunged it us a bit with Black Soot Distress and added a fabby Creepy Cute Wonky Eyed Skull from our own Creepy Glowbugg's Etsy store. "Freak Show" was printed on the computer onto a Tim Holtz ticket and I used my Dymo to make the rest of the sentiment.

The fab images are from The Octopode Factory, the majority of them from the Circus Set, (that I don't seem to see in the store at the moment but if you contact Lily, I'm sure she can get it to you) along with the Dada inspired bearded lady. They're colored with Copics and I merged 3 of them together and fussy cut the lot. Now rush to HDH for more inspiration and I must say we're all thrilled with the increased participation, so we hope to see you again this week.

Bah! Humbug! Something New Challenge

As we settle back down from the summer holidays at Humbug Hall, we are doing a bit of work with our new found crafty items and exploring new techniques. Yes, this week's challenge at Bah!Humbug! is Something New. Those that know me well know, that rubber stamping is not my forte, especially when the medium is not regular ink. Although I've had this lovely Christmas stamp by Stampin' Up for awhile, this is the first time I've used it, and the medium was especially exciting (and challenging). I've used my new Judikins Mica Gloss Metallics Effects ink in green, rose gold and gold, spread it on glossy card stock, mushed it together and stamped it on another piece of black glossy card stock for this effect. There are a number of different techniques using this fabulous ink HERE.

Unfortunately, I did not refresh my memory as to technique before I began experimenting and did get a bit more ink on the delicate stamp than intended. It therefor took much longer to dry than anticipated, and I accidentally smeared it a bit while finishing my card. To hide a particularly messed up area, I use my Heartfelt Creations Limited Edition Regal Poinsettia 2 Precut Stamp and Coordinating Spellbinders Blossom Two Nesties and popped it over the offensive mistake. A metallic gold mat, a few adhesive beads, and a peelie sentiment was all that was needed to complete the card front. As I'm quite timid in diving into new stuff, I thank Ann and Max for this challenge. Undoubtedly, these supplies would have languished for years in my drawers had it not been for them. LOL Please take a look at their new found treasures and techniques HERE and we invite you to join along.

It's a BOY! and Card Candi Winner

I told you I had a little surprise!

How about this sweet baby announcement?

It's a shaped card done in DS using Simply Charmed and Create a Critter.

The sentiment is done with the Cuttlebug Welcome Baby Card Making Combo.

And here's a pic of the new arrival and his proud parents, Clippy and Chloe Koala. Yup, that's what they've been up to. (Ahem) Welcome Clippy Jr! Isn't he cute!?

Too bad Daddy is now on his way to Arizona with Jacob to visit Jennifer at The Country Life. Mommy and Baby are doing fine, but already miss Daddy to bits. Couldn't stand in the way in adventure, though.

Before they left, however, Jacob used Random Org to choose the Card Candi WINNER!

And the winner is #8 JUST YOLIE! who said

Congratulations Yolie! Please choose three colors of Card Candi from the selection HERE at Scrappy Go Lucky USA, and email me at dlmundinger(at)yahoo(dot)com with your selections, along with your snail mail address and I'll arrange for your prize.

Tiddly Inks Inch My Way Along

This week our challenge at the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog is inspired by Inchie Arts, as we created mini cards and projects. How fun! I went the simple route and used the adorable Inky Critters, which are conviently set in their own little frames and a cinch to color. I made my mini cards Using by Labels Twelve Nesties and placing one of the cutting edges right above the fold and running it through my Grand Caliber, then used my Cuttlebug to cut and emboss the snowflakes. Super cute for Christmas tags or mini notes, and as quick as can be! There are many more adorable mini projects to see at The Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog, and Christy has previewed a brand new set and has an adorable freebie you can use as a teacher's gift, so be sure to check out her blog HERE. On a more serious note, please consider joining us in donating a card for our dear Meredith's family friend, Ryan, who was seriously injured recently. You can read Meredith's post HERE, or click on the top sidebar badge to see how this wonderful crafting community is lending their support. I'm also entering this in the CHNC Simply Christmas Challenge and The Crazy Challenge Monthly Christmas Challenge for August.

BBTB2 Baseball Challenge

Another Monday, another BBTB2 challenge, chosen this time by our fab sister, Karen. The baseball cut she suggested is on the Life's a Party cartridge, but I didn't have that one so I used Sports Mania, an oldie I may have used, maybe...once? Remember, you can always substitute a similar cut because we want everyone to have a chance to play along. I made a shaped card using the mitt, also on SM and the "have a Ball" sentiment from Birthday Bash. I chose the colors of the SF Giants, they DID win the World Series last year, after all. I wasn't thrilled with it at first because it looked unbalanced. Thought about putting the SF logo at the top left but it wasn't working. I asked DH and he suggested a pennant. WooHoo! That did the trick. The pennant is also from SM and I welded "Yea" using Plantin Schoolbook RolyPoly font. Thought this could be used for a number of occasions.

The mitt looked best all glued together to show the stitching detail, so I really hadn't planned on this many layers, but as usual, it just grew. Conveniently, I was able to stick the pennant under the baseball and shadow because of the way I'd placed the foam underneath. Then I just added a few adhesive beads from M's. My DT sisters have come up with super creative takes on this challenge, so be sure to stop by BBTB2 and have a look. We'd love to have you play along with a "new" project, and remember, you have 2 weeks to complete it. I'm also entering this in the Cards for Men, Anything Goes Challenge, the 365 Cards Sports Team Color Challenge and Sentimental Sundays Shaped Card Challenge. For some reason, blogger has decided to screw up my Blog so at the moment, all my sidebar stuff is at the bottom of the posts. I'm quite frustrated with it all but afraid to mess with it further, hoping it will come to it's senses and go back the way it was on it's own. When I go into "DESIGN", it still shows my original configuration so I'm hoping it's them, not me. Oh, and if you'd like a chance at some "Card Candi" and would like to see what Jacob has been up to, click HERE.

Macabre Monday Queen of the Damned and TOFF Crown or Hat Challenge

This week for Macabre Monday our challenge is Queen of the Damned. I decided that Marie Antionette, losing her head and all, pretty much fit that bill and used a fab Octopode Factory image. The guillotine clip art is from the web and surprise! I've created and interactive Spinner card so you can relive the beheading again and again. WooHoo!

The whole shebang was colored with Copics. See, there it goes! You have to admit, she was sort of a beotch, with that "Let them eat cake", comment and all. The sentiment is computer generated and cut and backed with Nesties Labels Fifteen.

Obviously, it's not always good to be queen. LOL I've added a metal crown brad and jewel, because her crown didn't quite show up enough and I also planned to enter this in the TOFF Crown and Hat challenge. The rest of the Minions have done awesome work so be sure and check out their fabulous offerings at HDH. And please, have a look at the TOFF challenge too. Lily has plenty of ladies with crowns, as well as a new Mad Hatter image from The Octopode Factory, as well as several others, see the post HERE, the proceeds of which will go to Operation Cup of Tea, directly involved with riot clean up in the UK.

Hot Blog Hop Update and Some Candi!

I spent the day Friday shopping at the Scrap Expo in Santa Clara.

Jacob was not entirely thrilled to see the amount of stuff he

had to put away.

Eiyiyi! Hide the receipts!

After a hard day...wine a bit, you'll feel better!

Now this is more like it! All Jacob has talked about was wine tasting since he got here,

so we spent the evening at the La Luna party at Murietta's Well. Fabulous wine and food pairing.

Taking a little break between courses.

And some tasting of Library Wines. Yeah, I'm pretty much 3 sheets, look at that goofy grin!

At least Jake's still standing. Cheers!

One last job before he and Clippy are on their way. Welcome to COUGAR TOWN!

Barbie may be a little older, but she's worth a FORTUNE! And so are her wheels!

"Hey Big Boy, wanna go for a ride?" "Frankie who?" Where the heck are Clippy and Chloe?

I'll never tell!

So if you've hung in here to the end, you deserve so Candi! Card Candi, that is. Leave me a comment and take a peek at the fabulous assortment HERE from Scrappy Go Lucky, USA. The winner will receive 3 colors of their choice plus the Candi Fix and will be chosen by random org next Wednesday. Be sure and stop back, because there will also be a little SURPRISE. It will be so hard to say good bye to Jacob and Clippy but they're off to Arizona to visit the super talented Jennifer at The Country Life. EEEKKK!!! What happened to my sidebar stuff? It's all on the bottom. Help! Has blogger gone crazy again?

Bah! Humbug! Kiss-mas Challenge

It's my second week as Guest Designer on Bah! Humbug! and this week our challenge is Kiss-mas. We want you to 'pucker up' and send some Christmas kisses to a loved one in your life. I went back and forth on whether to do something romantic, or cheeky, and guess which won out. Bet I don't have to tell you who it's for, either. This sexy Santa is X-mas Hottie from Kenny K. (Guess she does look rather X rated, LOL). She was so much fun to color with my Copics!

I created the shaped card in Cricut Design Studio. The list (which I stretched a bit) is from the Christmas Cheer cartridge, with some added mistletoe from Christmas Solutions.

I cut the list 3 times and cut it apart to give it dimension. It was then inked with Distress ink in Antique Linen. the shading on the mistletoes was done with my Copics. They are a lot easier to use on intricate cuts. The berries are adhesive pearls from M's.

The sentiment, on both the front and inside, were computer generated. It took a bit of trial and error to get it arranged just right. I typed it within a text box and printed it, then used my light table to see if it would line up correctly. Once satisfied, I used temporary tape to tape it to the page and then ran it through my printer again. Although the inside looks quite like the outside, I didn't use any dimensional elements so it would close properly. I did, however, cut the list another 3 times and cut it apart and layered it (flat) to give the back of the card the structure to make it sturdy enough to stand. This is especially important for shaped cards, such as this. Then, instead of adhesive beads and pearls, I just doodled on the list, used a basic hole punch for the berries and added some Glossy Accents for shine. Instead of a real ribbon, I cut the mistletoe in white and cut and colored the bow and glued it on. I was so happy to see the fabulous response last week to the WOW challenge. the cards were just breathtaking and I hope to see my friends join in again this week. Please pop by to see what the Humbuggers have in store for you this week. You'll not be disappointed.