Dilly Beans Fall Challenge

This week at Dilly Beans, we're still celebrating the Fall season.  I love the changing leaves and the way the crisp breeze makes them dance through the air.  I've used an older image, #154 Hanging Heart Girl and removed her heart.  I love the way it looks like her hair is blowing in the wind.

She's colored with Copics and Spica Pens and I added a shaped computer generated sentiment.  The background is embossed with the Tim Holtz Swirls folder and the dancing leaves are metallic brads.  A leaf border was punched in copper foil card stock with an EK Success punch.

Be sure to check out the fabulous work from my teamies at the Challenge Blog and just wait 'til you see the fab new stamps Megan has added to the STORE.  Besides a whole slew of new Halloween stamps, Megan has some adorable new turtles.

Aren't they the cutest EVER?  I apologize in advance for a lean week this week.  I'm currently in Chicago area for my 40th high school reunion and didn't get much crafting time in before and won't be around much this weekend.  See you next week.

Little Boy Blue at BBTB2 using CTMH Artiste

Happy Monday!  This week at BBTB2, our wonderfully talented Suzanne has chosen the theme with her soon to be born, first grandson in mind.  After 2 wonderful daughters and 3 lovely granddaughters, she is excited to start scrapping in blue so our theme this week is "Little Boy Blue".  Although the projects do not need to be for a baby, they are to be for a boy using the color blue.  I opted for a baby theme anyway because there was another cut on my fabulous CTMH Artiste cartridge I was dying to try.  My little favor is actually the diaper envelope (shift on the card feature) on page 64  of the cart.  For some reason, I thought is was 3D but actually, with a teeny bit of modification it easily adapted to what I had in mind.

I stretched the length of the envelope slightly in Design Studio and instead of scoring at the score lines, I scored 1/4" out from of it and after the first scallop at the back leg opening.  This made a little flat base on which to stand.  At the sides I didn't score at all, just tucked the flaps throught the slits and secured with glue dots inside.  To gain stability, I cut the scalloped card portion of this cut (twice) large enough to make a base and taped the diaper to it.

The little diaper pin AND "It's a Boy" are also all on page 64 of the Artiste booklet.  The diaper pin and pin head are separate cuts, but I cut the sentiment twice and trimmed for the two layers there. Don'tcha just love it when you can do a project with only one cartridge?  I ran out of time, but thought that matching invitations using the card and envie as intended would sure be the beginnings of great shower decor. If you haven't purchased CTMH Artiste yet, I strongly urge you to visit my dear friend and DT sister Susan's site and check out the fabulous deal.

Now please take a look at the fabulous projects from the rest of the BBTB2 team and we invite you to play along.  Just make sure you follow the rules posted at the top of the blog and have fun!

I'm also entering this in the Come and Get It Anything Other Than a Card Challenge, the Squirrel and the Fox Celebrate the Occasion (new baby) Challenge, and the Cute And Girly September Boys/Men challenge (can't help it, this makes me giggle).

Macabre Monday Chain me up, Chain me down

This week's Macabre Monday calls for chains, bondage, you get my drift.  I always revert to my fave bondage stamps (YIKES, I can't quite believe I HAVE fave bondage stamps!) from Smeared Ink.  Used a couple of fun lovin' gals from the Femdom set and censored their naughty bits (also in the set) so as not to offend.  Embossed dungeon background courtesy of the Tim Holtz Bricked folder and fab chain punch from EK Sucess.  Done!  Check out the rest of the Minions HERE and don't forget our mid week inspiration on Wretched Wednesday.  I'm hoping this scares our little sickie to the road to Wellsville.

Dilly Beans Autumn Colors

Oh how I love the Fall!  the nip in the air, the leaves turning colors, it's my favorite season.  This week our Dilly Beans challenge is to use Fall colors.  The inspiration for my project came from a tag included in my Anthropologie catalog (yea! recycling!)  and the sentiment got me thinking.  I cut a slot in the tag, mounted it on corrugated card stock, popped it so there would be room for the dime (a penny was too big, this is an EXPENSIVE tag, LOL) and foam sandwich to fit and added the sweet little Dilly Beans Heart Owl.  I know I just used him, but he's a FAVE!

So it's a spinner tag!  (Directions are on SplitcoastStampers.)  WooHoo!  (That's what HE said)  there he goes.  He's colored with  Copics and has lidded google eyes (Darice in the child's crafts section of J's).  I've tied it up with a little twine.

Wish I could have done a video so you could see how he spins.  The pretty leafy corners were a freebie from Dilly Beans but are unfortunately no longer available.

Still going...   "woohoo" was cut on my Cuttlebug using the discontinued Typewriter Alphabet dies.
My DT sisters have outdone themselves this week with fabulously beautiful creations so be sure and stop the by Challenge Blog to ooooh and ahhhhh.  We're excited to see your projects as well.  Just be sure to include a stamp, be it rubber, clear, or digi.

I'm also entering this in the 4 Crafty Chicks Beauty of Leaves Challenge, Kraft Outlet Lavish Layers, Charisma Cardz Things with Wings, DLArt Thankful Thursday, Halloween, Fall Colors,and/or Owls, Digi Stamps 4 Joy Leaves, the Recycle, Re-purpose and Reinvent Sept Challenge, the Smudger Reduce, Re-Use RecycleChallenge, and the Anything But a Card Texture Challenge.

Haunted Design House "I'm Melting"

I was a little strapped for time this past weekend so my Macabre Monday project is posted today, with the mid-week inspiration.  Our theme is "I'm melting", the challenge is to create a creepy, gothic or Halloween based piece using a melted medium or image such as candles, witches, melted flesh, you get the idea here, don'tcha?  I pulled out my boney finger candy mold (meant for candy covered pretzels) and fashioned a candle.  Not too tough except I burned my own little pinkies stopping up the hole where the pretzel is supposed to rest.  The mold only does one side so after they set, I added the wick and stuck them together with more hot wax.  I did a little shading with Copics and it was good to go.  Perfect for my Dia de los Muertos candle holder.  WooHoo!  Please visit HDH for additional inspiration and come play along, if you dare.

BBTB2 Things that Fly in Nature

Happy Monday!  It's time for another challenge at BBTB2.   This week my dear friend and fabulous artist, Sandi Kelly has chosen the theme "things that fly in nature".  In our garden, my favorite winged things are the gorgeous red dragonflies that flit here and there so I found a beautiful one on the Home Decor cartridge.

It's a shaped card welded in DS using the shadows of the dragonfly with clusters of flowers and the single bloom behind.  The flowers and dragonfy body were cut in white and then colored with Copics.  The dragonfly wings are red vellum.

In some cases I needed to do a bit of hand trimming to get the layers I wanted for dimension.  Then I added punched flower centers and some embossing or doodling for interest.  The dragonfly flies above on a spring from an old ballpoint pen that had dried up.  (WooHoo!  Recycling!)

The inside flower is cut from DP by K&Co.  The sentiment was Cut with my Cuttlebug Cardmaking Combo.  It's a fairly small card  (the cuts are at 3 3/4") but hopefully it conveys a big message.  I want to say thank you to my dear DT sisters who are moving on this week.  Your friendship and creativity has meant the world to me over the years.  Best of luck in everything you do and big hugs!  xx

Now please take a look at the fabulous inspiration at BBTB2 and come play along.

The Altered Alice Week 3, Chapter 19: Lovely Garden, Bright Flowers

"...she tried the little golden key in the lock, and to her great delight it fitted! Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but she could not even get her head though the doorway; `and even if my head would go through,' thought poor Alice, `it would be of very little use without my shoulders."-- Chapter 1, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Our challenge this month at The Altered Alice is garden or flowers.  My project is a Wonderland garden telescoping box using empty recycled ribbon and tape spools for the base.  Grab a cuppa (tea would be fitting) 'cause this is a LONG one!

Our sponsor this month is the fabulous Stamping Boutique. Tracey Malnoski is the owner and illustrator, and she has previously designed stamps for Unity, InStyle, Squigglefly, and The Digi Shack. Her Stamping Boutique has it all: digital images, red rubber stamps, and themes that include fairytale, whimsy, sentimental, and candy.  We are showcasing her wonderful Alice in Wonderland line. Please visit her Store and Challenge Blog.

Enter your Flower/Garden creations by Friday, Sept 28 for a chance to win 3 images of your choice.  Multiple entries are allowed, but to count as a separate entry, each must be on its own blog post. All entries are welcome, but projects that feature Wonderland will have two chances at the drawing instead of one.

The top of my creation has Alice peeking through the keyhole into the beautiful garden beyond.  I've replace the key featured on the stamp with a chopboard one that was wet embossed with Pirate Gold embossing powder.  Use the Hitch Fastener to slide open the door.

Next Alice has entered the garden.  See, she has already plucked flowers for her hair.  The images were colored with Copics and the layered tops and images were cut with Nesties.

Deeper into the garden she goes.  The day is warm and wonderful, the sky covered with fluffy white clouds.

Looks like she's happened upon the Mad Hatter's tea party.  See his hat?  I printed the images several times to allow for the dimension (which unfortunately doesn't show too well in the pic).  The mushroom tops, teacup, grass and hat are all fussy cut and popped.  Prima flowers and adhesive beads complete the scene.

Here you can see Alice's complete journey.  The layers are held together with brads through the lovely flowers.

                         And there are loads of flowers in Wonderland.

In fact they're hiding everywhere.  So I hope you have enjoyed this little journey and are inspired to create a project of your own.  My DT sisters have gorgeous examples of the Wonderland garden, thanks to The Stamping Boutique, so please visit The Altered Alice and be sure to scroll all the way down to Week 1 so you don't miss a thing.

 

I'm also entering this in the Smudger Reduce, Reuse, Recyle Challenge, the Recyle, Re-Purpose and Re-Invent Anything Goes Challenge, the Challenge Up Your Life Fantasy Challenge, Inspire me Fridays Anything Goes, Delightful Challenges Anything But a Card, and the Anything But a Card Texture Challenge.

Dilly Beans Robots with CTMH Artiste

Well our challenge this week at Dilly Beans is Robots, and it seems I just can't get enough.  I had this ancient Scenic Route DP I'd been hoarding and thought it would make an adorable party invitation for a boy.  I used #436 Gear Robot, #435 Sparks Robot, and removed the frame from #437 Bolt Robot Framed so they would all look alike.  They are colored with Copics and the sentiment is computer generated.  The invitation pocket and invitation itself were cut on the Cricut with my CTMH Artiste cartridge.  (Can't seem to get enough of that either.  LOL)

Here's the shaped invitation pulled out of the pocket (also cut with Artiste). That happy guy is #439 Wired Robot Framed.  Doesn't he look excited!  I used DS to fit a gear from Artiste to fit over the mat.  The bolts were punched from a piece of mat metallic card stock that was embossed with one of the Cricut Companion Robotz set.  I stacked the embossed punches with plain ones to give them dimension since I didn't have appropriate brads both here and on the front corners of the mat.  Kinda loved how that turned out and cheap, too.

The back side of the invitation has the room for the pertinent information as well as some cool gears, also cut from Artiste.  Like I've been saying all along, there's something for everyone on this cartridge. (Steampunk, anyone?)  I finished the back side of the pocket envie with the embossed cut out from the Cuttlebug Cogs and Wheels Embossing Plus folder.  Be sure to stop by Dilly Beans Challenge Blog to see the rest of the DT's fab creations and the Shop to see all of the new Halloween stamps and MORE Robots.  And if I haven't convinced you with my projects, please visit my dear friend and DT sister Susan's Blog to see more great example of the fabulous things you can do with this cart.  View more cool CTMH stuff HERE on her website.

Although this isn't as elaborate as most of my shaped cards, I'm also entering this in Charisma Cardz Shaped Card challenge (and thank them very much for choosing me among the Top 3 last week), Divas by Design for a Child, Celebrate the Occasion Getting in Shape, Use it Tuesday Anything Goes (my beloved Scenic Route DP which I still shudder thinking that I actually CUT into it!), and Hooked on Crafts Cards for Men (I'm assuming boys are ok since the DT had boy cards, too).

Wicked Wednesday ATC, Love to Learn/Geeks and Nerds

One of the first things I do every Wednesday is pop by the Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge to see what's up.  Sometimes I get to play, sometimes not, but there's always great eye candy and fab prizes.  Their challenge this week made me drop everything.  They had me at Nerd!  LOL  Back in sorority days I got my share of ribbing dating a Phd candidate in physics.  My sweet sisters even pitched in to buy me an "Are you a Nerd" poster and hung it in my room.  I searched the web and found the poster but when I shrunk it down to ATC size you couldn't read it (in fact, you could barely SEE it).  Bummer...on to plan B.

One of my fave Tiddly Inks images is still Schoolgirl.  Love the way she's buried in books and I just had to nerd her up with  some glasses (brads from Eyelet Outlet, you're welcome, De!).  I apologize to all you glasses wearers (including myself, although I seldom, if ever, wear them out of the house) but the quote sort of stuck in my head and this seemed to be the perfect place to use it.  I changed it from men to boys, because certainly grown men aren't that shallow. (cough, cough)  Besides, with all the fashion frames out there, this doesn't even ring true any more  (and I have it on highest authority that flannel jammies, Uggs and glasses are the ultimate turn on.  So WHO'S the Nerd? ;D) 'nuff said.  xx

I'm also entering the in the very first challenge (Anything Goes) at the new Anything But a Card Challenge Blog, Stamptacular Sunday Anything But a Card, QKR Stampede Back to School Challenge and Jellypark Friends All About Children.

BBTB2 In Honor Challenge

If you're looking for Haunted Design House, please scroll down.  In fact, please scroll down anyway because I had a horrendous week, and that project (which isn't at all creepy) took me FOREVER to do and I think it's cool, so please leave me some love!  I need it...BADLY!

This week at BBTB2, Our dear DT sister Brenda has chosen the theme, In Honor, remembering the 11th anniversary of Sept 11 event that has so impacted our lives.  Our projects reflect our appreciation for the emergency and military personnel who risk their lives on a daily basis to keep us safe.  My wall hanging if from Stand and Salute, with a gorgeous banner from Artiste.  I've trimmed the word "Home" from the latter part of the sentiment and added "Because" to the banner with my computer.

Here's the dimension shot which also gives you a better view of the embossed layer of the map.  Please visit BBTB2 to view our tribute and join us this week in honor of the brave men and women who serve our country and are so deserving of our heartfelt thanks.

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Hero Challenge.

Macabre Monday "Oh my Gourd!"

Okay, macabre fans... your challenge this week:

HDH150
"Oh My Gourd!!!"

You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece

that utilizes, mimics, infers, or is otherwise obviously

gourd or pumpkin inspired.

We have a wonderfully creative and timely sponsor this week!!

Funworld's Floating Pumpkin Hangers

These are called Floating Pumpkin Hanger kits.

Very cool concept and pretty simple to put together.

These look awesome in a grouping and the website has lots of

photos and design ideas. They are available through Spirit,

Amazon, and possibly other online retailers. A simple Google search

should help you locate them in your area. They even have a Face Book page.

I couldn't find a real pumpkin for this challenge but fortunately had a fab black faux one to carve.  I tried origianlly to use my Cricut and vinyl to cut a creepy stencil to follow, but the vinyl wouldn't lay flat and I immediatly knew the cuts would be too intricate after cutting the lid with the knife included with my kit.  This baby was tough to cut!  Not the knife's fault, it was WAY harder than a real pumpkin or any of the faux ones I've carved in the past.  So instead of the creepy, I went with the magical and drew my design with a white water soluble crayon.

It was also tough to get a decent pic, but here's my "boofed" up pumpkin hanging in the living room.  I wanted to keep the black/white thing going as that's how I decorate in that room for Halloween.  After the "rough cut" with the knife I cleaned up the edges with a really sharp garnishing knife (Martha ain't got nothin' on me!), then sandpaper, and finally my diamond nail file.  I added some tulle, ribbon, ad white skeleton leaves and there you have it.  Looks kinda elegant and magical hanging mid air, don'tcha think?

and the piece de resistance...WAY cool hanging from the trellis, in front of the gate to the backyard.  I've got to get me some more of these hangers.  To join in our challenge, please check out the fab inspiration by the Minions at HDH and see that you don't necessarily have to carve something to be elegible for a prize.  Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Wicked Wednesday ATC and Simon Says Stamp

Needed a little break from DT work and wanted to play along with Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge which this week is Black, White and One Other Color.  Easy Peasy.  Then, at Simon Says Stamp Challenge and Blog, they're celebrating STAMPtember with a fab blog hop and a month of inspiration and tuts featuring rubber stamping which is where the Simon Says Stamp Store got it's start.  Their challenge is Put a Stamp on it (meaning RUBBER) with the option of using washi tape which is featured in the blog hop by the ridiculously talented DT.  Happy to oblige.  Have to say I prefer digis because of the sizing issue and the fact you can't really mess up, but have a ton of rubber and recently came across this adorable Pumpkin Girl I'd bought last year from Crackerbox Palace (too cute, eh?).  I'd already decided my colors for WW would be black, white, and orange so WooHoo!  Colored her up with Copics, cut her out with Nesties Deckle Rectangles, jazzed her up a bit with adhesive beads, slapped on a piece of Halloween washi from Tim Holtz, some epoxy stickerss, popped her on my ATC base and that's all she wrote. 

I'm also feeling a bit guilty not mentioning our 37th anniversary which was Thursday (probably because it makes us sound so OLD, which we are but...)

Dilly Beans Owl Challenge with Cricut Artiste

WooHoo!  Our challenge this week at the Dilly Beans Designers and Challenge Blog is OWLS!  Whoooo doesn't LOVE owls, eh?  And Megan has so many cute ones at the SHOP  (along with a fab new Halloween release that you don't want to miss).  I decided I wanted to do something different than a card, so I pulled out my Cricut and CTMH Artiste cartridge and cut the owl treat box on page 77.  I thought this would be perfect with #304 Heart Owl (scroll down the page to find him and his friends).  The tree branch they're sitting on is Dilly Beans #302 Tree Branch #1 (further down the page).

I printed the little guy 3 times and fussy cut his feet heart and body to add some dimension.  There's glossy accents on his eyes along with some adhesive beads to make them POP.  The digis were all colored with Copics and after fussy cutting the branch I colored the back side too since it showed from behind.  I love combining Cricut with digis.  It gives the project a whole different feel.

The box itself only has the scalloped eyes to specifically go with that cut.  However, on page 76 in Artiste, there's another owl with all sorts of layering features so I sized them in DS to give him a little more personality.  His wings and tummy feathers were embossed with my Cuttlebug and the sentiment was computer generated.  Yeah, I know, 3 of my last 4 Cricut projects were from Artiste, but I'm lovin' this cart.  I'd say it'a a "must have" and if you don't, please hop over to my dear friend Susan's CTMH website and have a look around.

My Dilly Beans teamies have some fab owl projects so be sure to check them out HERE and come and join us.  All kinds of projects are welcome, but please do use a stamp of some kind.  It doesn't even have to be Dilly Beans (although we LOVE seeing them), and you just might win some.  WooHoo!

I'm also entering this in My Mum's Craft Shop Anything Goes Challenge,  Papertake Weekly Anything Goes (with the option of not being square), Charizma Cardz Seeing Double and Make it Monday with the Kraft Outlet Shape it Up Challenge (his wings are inked kraft).

BBTB2 All Shaped Up

Happy Labor Day!  Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend. Perhaps you'll have a little extra crafting time and can join in our new challenge All Shaped Up at BBTB2, chosen by our sweet and talented Stephanie.  Stephanie is asking for shaped cards.  Well, right up my alley, eh?  I live to do shaped cards with Design Studio, but I want you all to remember that many of the Cricut cartridges have shaped card options that do not require any welding at all so check your manuals.  You may be surprised.  Usually when doing shaped cards I use a number of different cartridges to pull it all together but there are so many cuts on my new CTMH Artiste cart that I was dying to try, that this one came together completely from that cartridge.  It started with the wings.  Beautiful, eh?  Although there actually is a heart shaped card option on page 72 of the manual, I welded 2 regular hearts together (with the wings on the back side only)because I wanted mine to open that at the top instead of the side.  Here's another of the fab bow options, embossed with the Cuttlebug brocade folder and this is the first time I've actually made a Cricut cut rolled flower.  WooHoo!  There's a bunch of them on this cart (page 54).  Can't wait to try more.

Although I'm really pleased with the front of this card, it's the inside I'm really excited about.  On page 51 there are a couple of these pop up words easily cut with Artiste and ready to add that extra surprise inside.  Although I've actually done some from scratch, they're a royal PITA to do manually in DS and here on Artiste was the perfect word.  After cutting and prefolding, I inserted the cut in my welded card, traced around the edges to get the right shape and trimmed it to fit manually.  It's embossed with Swiss Dots and the sentiment is complete with the "u" from the full font, also available on Artiste.  I highly recommend this cartridge for the huge variety of motifs, sentiments, cards, and 3D items included for every occasion along with fab extras like chipboard and coordinating acrylic stamps.  My dear friend and DT sister Susan is a CTMH consultant and has tons of inspiration on her Blog using this cart so be sure to check out her CTMH website for the specials running this month.  Now hurry to BBTB2 to see the fab projects by my teamies and come play with us this week.  We love to see your creations, just play by the rules, ok?

I'm also entering this in The Crafty Cardmaker's Winged Things challenge, The Catered Crop In the Pink Recipe Swap, Allsorts Anything but Square, the In the Pink Winged Things Challenge and the C.R.A.F.T. Shaped Card Challenge.

Macabre Monday Bare Bones

This week at Haunted Design House our challenge is to create a dark, Gothic or Halloween themed "bare bones" project meaning CAS with no dimensional embellishments.  Guess I took that pretty literally.  LOL   Normally I have a problem with CAS, but I immediately thought of fellow Minion Ike's fabby Skellie Gossip and the card practically made itself.  In my Printmaster Platinum program I added a frame and sentiment, plunked it on the card and called it done.

Oh, not quite.  I did add a few shadows to the skellies with my Copics, but could this be any easier?  Woohoo!  Be sure to check out the rest of the Minion's fab examples at HDH and don't forget Wretched Wednesday for mid week inspiration and our winners from last week.  Hope to see you back again to join our challenge.  I'm telling you, you guys just keep getting better and better!

I'm also entering this in the That Craft Place Black and White Challenge, The Alphabet Challenge O for Only One Color Plus White, and Charisma Cardz No Embellishments.