New Release at The East Wind

There's a gorgeous new image at The East Wind today called Aurora 'New Year' Kimono.  Did you know that Unky has a new stamp EVERY Monday and Friday and you can see it colored by DT members on TheEastWind FB Group page? She's so beautiful and I was thrilled to finally use my Tattered Lace Oriental fan die.  The gorgeous digi paper is from the Gecko Galz Mori Girl paper pack.  So many beautiful motifs in that pack I had a hard time choosing but went with, what I consider, traditional New Year's colors.

Here's a close up of the gorgeous image.  She's mainly colored with Copics, but I found I had more control using Prismacolor pencils for her hair. I've added a few bead so the flowers in her hair and Asian looking peel off corners.

I'm entering this in the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge, A Little Bit Crafty ATG-but not Christmas, Inspiration Destination ATG, C.R.A.F.T. ATG Challenge, 613 Avenue Create ATG, Papertake Weekly Pick a Fave or ATG. 

Belated Merry Christmas to All

Needed a bit of a break from crafting and blogging so I apologize for being absent for so long.  I have managed an entry into the Fripperies and Butterflies Challenge using the fab free Santa Collage sheet provided for the challenge.

I'm also entering this in the Gecko Galz FB In with the New, Recycle the Old Challenge as it started like this.  Using a safety can opener, I opened the bottom (ate the soup) and cleaned it thoroughly and removed the label.

I printed Gecko Galz digi papers from the Christmas Past pack and covered the can and top and bottom (cutting out and area to slide under the pop top with a small circle punch) and adhered them to the can with Score tape.  I resized the paper and also cut a matching tag, then fussy cut an image for the tag and glued it on.

Here are the other 3 sides of the can, each with a fussy cut Santa from the collage sheet.  Finally I added a bow and bells to the top.  Once filled, you glue the bottom back on with hot glue and the recipient opens the container with the pop top.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and here's wishing you a fabulous New Year.






I'm also entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG Challenge, Eclectic Ellapu Vintage Christmas and Christmas Not a Card, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, Recycle, Re-Purpose and Re-Invent ATG but must Recycle, Crafty Hazelnut's December Patterned Paper Challenge, CHNC ATG As Long As It's Christmas, and CHNC December Christmas Extra Challenge.

All that Glitters

This is my second post of the day, so if you're looking for my East Wind card, please click HERE.

Today a new challenge begins at Aurora Wings with the wonderful theme of All That Glitters.  I've chosen the gorgeous Woman in Strands of Pearls.  Your project need not be holiday themed, we just want to see lots of sparkle and shine.  I've used DP from the very old Luxury Stack from DCWV and matted with textured mat metallic from the Metallic Stack, also DCWV.  The image and DP are trimmed in sparkly holographic and gold peel off borders with two matching corners top and bottom left.  The sentiment is also a peel off from Starform.

She's colored with Copics and I've added Stardust Stickles throughout her hair. Obviously I took the "glitter, sparkle and shine" very seriously, LOL, adding each flat backed pearl and spattering of diamonds individually. Definitely a labor of love though, as I think this image is particularly stunning, don't you? Her eyes and lips shine as well with Glossy Accents (although you can't really see it in the pic).   I wanted a really soft look for her blush so I used a bit of chalk applied with a QTip 

Here's the dimensional shot.  With all that going on, I only popped the image and the gold rose in her hair, which also sparkles with Stickles around the edges.  My DT sisters have amazing projects for your inspiration so be sure to visit the Challenge Blog and feast your eyes.  And don't forget to scroll down to see the Winners Post for Challenge #9.  The Aurora Wings December FB contest, Season's Greetings, is also in full swing, now through December 31st. Hope to see you there. 


I'm adding this to Penny's Paper-Crafty Anything Other Than Christmas Challenge,  Simon Says Monday ATG, Simon Says Wednesday Bling it On, 

Christmas at The East Wind

It's time for a new challenge at The East Wind and our theme is Christmas. There are so many gorgeous new Christmas images in The East Wind Shop  and some old favorites HERE too, that I had a hard time choosing, but I immediately had an idea for Lucy Loo 'Lucy the Grinch' so I just had to go with her.  I thought up the sentiment first, probably because I'm having such a hard time with my own holiday decorating, LOL, and actually bought the Spellbinder's door die just for this card.

Here's a better view of this fun digi.  She's colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils with Frosted lace Stickles details to her Santa Suit.  I've added epoxy stickers to the ornaments and gems to the lights, because I found that it was easier to give more branch detail by coloring right over them (oops!). Another thick layer of Stickles to the star on top and she was good to go.  Please join our holiday spirit and visit The East Wind Challenge Blog for fabulous inspiration by my teamies and be sure to play along.  And there's still time to enter our current Thankful FB Contest, which runs through December 17th.  See you there.

I'm adding this to Simon Says Monday ATG,

Delicious Darkness Final Challenge

With heavy hearts we say good-bye to Delicious Darkness Challenges as the evil European VAT laws for 2015 have forced the closing of both the Delicious Darkness and Delicious Doodles digi shops, as well as many others.  Such a tragedy!   However,  you can still grab them, in the shops, with a fab discount, through the end of the year and they will still be available through Smeared Ink and Card Making Downloads respectively.  

Our final challenge is as always ATG with an optional twist of  Creepy Crimbo. I've used an older image, Skeletal Candle Holder, for my final project.  It's backed by an embossed panel and frame cut from foam with my Spellbinders fancy squares and trimmed out with Creepmas ribbon and bling, including black glitter snowflakes by Prima.  The backing paper is from Crafty Chaos, sadly, also no longer in business.

I printed the image 3 times to fussy cut and add dimension.  The image itself is so nicely shaded that I left it "as is".  We hope you join us for our final challenge.  And while you're at it, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity HERE.

I'm entering this in the Left of Center ATG Dark themed, and Open Minded Crafting Unusual Christmas.

You've got some BALLS!

Hee Hee!  I just couldn't resist that sentiment for this fab image I got for free during the Gecko Galz spectacular October Hop.  Made it especially for the SOSS "V" is for Vintage Challenge.  (okay, maybe it's retro, rather than vintage, but let's not nit pick.  LOL)  I'd already entered a true vintage card, but I just had to stop back with a little snark.  

The image is from the Gecko Galz Retro-spective Collage sheet with papers from the Peppermint Lane Digital Paper Pack which I've distressed with my Distrezz-It-All.  I added some rick rack and felt snowflakes cut from a spool of trim and of course, some snow balls.  LOL  Sentiment was computer generated, cut and popped for dimension.  

Be sure to visit the Gecko Galz Etsy Shop as they have a fabulous Buy One Get One Free Sale going all month long!  They also have a 24 tags of Christmas event on the Gecko Galz Blog where you can receive a free stamp by following the rules each day.   WooHoo!

I'm also entering this in the Unruly Paperarts 12 Days of Christmas Linky Party and the Gecko Galz FB Holiday Cards Challenge. 

Lacy Sunshine Holiday Joy

A new challenge starts today on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog and the theme is Holiday Joy. Any Winter Holiday works for this challenge, so whatever you celebrate, bring it on.  I made a Christmas Joy wall hanging using the adorable new Stardust Enchantress, only one of the many many new fabulous Ethereal Enchantresses flying into the Lacy Sunshine Shoppe  (scroll down to find yours!).  The base is cut with my Spellbinder's Grand Decorative Ovals with Spellbinders Nested Stars as accents.

Here's a closeup of this beauty.  She's colored in Copics and then covered with a Be Creative Tape Sheet and I've added tiny stars and silver beads to the image before sprinkling with Shell White Microfine Transparent Glitter. The glitter does mute the colors and lines somewhat so I used the fine tip of my Memento Dual marker to trace the lines and added a bit more shading to the image with my Copics.  The microfine glitter does not hurt the tips but I find, especially with the Memento pen, that you need to wipe the tip periodically to remove buildup to keep your line fine and avoid a clump of dark glitter ruining your image.

I think this pic better shows how sparkly she is and also my epic save.  LOL  I wasn't thinking before adding the glitter and her eyes were covered as well.  I should have either used Glossy Accents on them first and let it dry before adding the glitter, or fussy cut the eyes from another printed image and sticking them down so the glitter wouldn't cover them, because even with filling in the black pupils, I'd lost the fine detail and they didn't stand out as much as I'd like.  I tried covering them with Glossy Accents after the fact, but she ended up having sort of "Zombie Eyes".  Yikes!  Not what I was going for.  I finally reprinted her and fussy cut the eyes and adhered them over the scary ones and added Glossy Accents on top.  Phew!  Much better!

So here's the dimensional shot of the entire wall hanging.  I really enjoyed putting this all together.  Be sure to check out the Challenge Blog to see the fabulous holiday projects by the rest of the Sunshine Girls.  We can't wait to see what you create.  Also, just a reminder about our Loyalty Program.  If you used a Lacy Sunshine Stamp in the previous challenge you can get this week's Challenge stamp for free, or if you didn't, it's available in the Shoppe for a discount.  (See Blog for details, and don't forget to scroll down to see the winners from the last challenge.)  

I'm adding thhis to the Unruly Paperarts 12 Days of Christmas Linky Party, the Simon Says Wednesday Christmas/Holidays Challenge, the Cheerful Stamp Pad Signs of Christmas, Dies R Us Winter Wonderland and the DLArt December Linky Party.

Gecko Galz Blue and Silver FB Challenge

Had fun playing today with one of my Gecko Galz Collage sheets and made a Christmas card for the December Blue and Silver Color Challenge on their FB page.  The image is not a Christmas one, but cut from the Fairy Frocks sheet I got from the Fripperies and Butterflies Blog for the Gecko Galz July Fairy Merry Challenge.  (There's a great challenge every month there and a Freebie with which to participate.  Check it out!)  I cut a window in my card with my Spellbinders long oval dies and added an acetate window that I stamped with a snow flurry stamp using white StazOn.  I added a gorgeous mirror snowflake that I've been hoarding for years and flat backed gems to some of the stamped snowflakes and trimmed the card with peel offs.

It was sort of hard to photograph so here's a better view of the stamped window.

Inside is a better view of the gorgeous image and more peel offs for the inside sentiment.  I'm really enjoying working with these vintage images and am thrilled how this card came out.

I'm also adding this to the Unruly Paper Arts 12 Days of Christmas Linky Party. (Bummer I missed yesterday, but you needn't play every day to join in.), Craft Hoarders Anonymous Celebrate the Season, Simon Says Monday Holiday Cards,  Simon Says Wednesday Christmas/Holidays, the Frilly and Funky Vintage Holiday Challenge, the SOSS V is for Vintage Challenge and the Eclectic Ellapu Dec Vintage Christmas card Challenge. 

SCACD Holiday Inspiration Day!

Welcome to the SCACD Holiday Inspiration Day!  Members of the DT and Friends are getting together to showcase some of the fabulous stamps available exclusively at SCACD for your holiday projects.  This is not really a Hop, but you're gonna want to see them all, so please visit the SCACD Blog for the entire list of participants.  I am showcasing the adorable Celestial Cat, by Carmen Medlin, just one of the fabby felines available in the Animals, Plants, Holiday, Skellies and All Other Digi Section of the store.  They're colored with Copics to match my last piece of hoarded DP (so old I'm not even sure who it's by any more, Cosmo Cricket, maybe?) fussy cut and popped a top a layered and embossed Christmas Tree. Looks like their feline frolic may be getting a bit out of hand.  LOL

And inside...oh,oh!  I'm sure all the cat owners out there can relate.  The sentiment is computer generated and the broken bauble is a Spellbinders die that met with my mean pair of scissors.  Susanna laughed and seemed a bit puzzled when I told her which stamp I was using, but tell me he doesn't look like a Christmas kitty with that stocking cap on (and a naughty one, at that!). Hee Hee!

Although the inside of the card is flat, here's the dimensional shot.  They're literally leaping off the page and into your heart, well mine, anyway.  I sure do love me some kitties!  Now hurry off to the SCACD Blog for a full list of those posting today.  They're sure to get your holiday mojo going.  

I'm adding this to the Unruly Paper Arts 12 Days of Christmas Linky Party (Day 4), A Song in My He{art} "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"  (probably my all time fave! Inspired by the lyrics "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough".), Crafting by Designs All Things Christmas, Crafting for All Seasons 'Tis the Season, Simon Says Monday Holiday Cards, Simon Says Wednesday Christmas /Holidays,  Eureka Stamps Celebration challenge, Crafty Sentiments ATG, Papertake Weekly ATG, Animal Friends December Challenge ATG with an Animal,  the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG/Christmas Magic and the DLArt December Linky Challenge.

Recycled Ornament for the Gecko Galz FB Contest.

I've been sort of into recycling and decided to make a fun little ornament using one of the adorable reindeer from the Reindeer Games Collage sheet from Gecko Galz.  The retro image brought back childhood memories of the 50's (yeah, I'm THAT OLD!) so I decided to do it up in the sort of kitchy style of the time.  Plastic ruled!  LOL

Here's the raw materials for the wreath.  I cut off the mesh panels of my grapefruit (and potato) bags to save for crafting purposes. Then I cut 2 inch strips and threaded them back and forth down the center of a red pipe cleaner and scrunched them down until I got a full circle.  I tried a number  of different ribbons, but none of them looked quite right so I cut a strip from a green plastic bag and tied it in a bow for the bottom and added a jingle bell.  Perfect!

I printed the adorable deer 3 times so I could fussy cut and add some dimension.  Not so sure it's visible in the pic, but it's there.  I'm adding this to the ornament challenge on the Gecko Galz FB Challenge Group.  Lots of fun challenges there, and also a monthly challenge on the Gecko Galz Blog and the Fripperies and Butterflies Blog, as well.

And exciting news!  I've been chosen for the Gecko Galz Design Team for 2015! I'm so excited to be stretching my creative wings using the fabulous vintage collage sheets and papers from the Gecko Galz Shop.  (P.S. They're having a BOGO sale ALL MONTH LONG!  WooHoo!  Check it out!)

I'm also linking my ornament to the Unruly Paperarts 12 Days of Christmas Party.  Come join in any time!  You needn't post every day.

And also just sneaking in the Simon Says Wednesday ATG Challenge (insomnia has it's advantages), Eclectic Ellapu Vintage Christmas Not a Card, Recycle Re-purpose and Reinvent Dec/Jan ATG challenge, Crafting by Designs All Things Christmas, the Bearly Mine Christmas Decoration Challenge and the Altered Eclectic Countdown to Christmas.

Victorian Christmas Tag for My Artistic Adventures

I'm so excited to be Guest Designing at My Artistic Adventures Challenge Blog today.  The new theme is Christmas/Winter and I was lucky enough to be able to use Heather's gorgeous Vintage White Chic Victorian Christmas Boot (which also happens to come in pink, blue and red) and made a large tag for a special Christmas gift.  I've been hoarding this particular K&Co DP for years since this was my last piece out of 3 pads of Christmas Cheer (from what, 2009?) for just the right project and this was it.   I also added a chipboard tag, gold peel off border and vintage tinsel trim to the top to finish it off.

Here's a closeup of the lovely boot.  It's fussy cut and popped on top of the tag in multiple layers.  I've added some adhesive crocheted lace to the top and gold adhesive beads to the buttons.

Here's the dimensional shot.  Lots and lots of fussy cutting but I love the way it came out.  You can also see the red gems I've added to the holly berries and amber ones to the candle flames on the tree.  We lived in a Victorian House for many years and this brings back special memories of Christmases past.  I'm sort of new to this type of crafting but I find it challenging and all kinds of fun. The DT has pulled out all the stops with amazing creations using Heather's gorgeous vintage collage sheets available in her My Artistic Adventures Etsy Shop.  Be sure to stop by the Challenge Blog and be inspired.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Wed ATG Challenge, Simon Says Monday Holiday cards, Papertake Weekly ATG, the Unruly Paperarts 12 Days of Christmas Link Up Party, the DLArt December ATG Linky Party, DLArt Thankful Thursday Any Winter Holiday, Digitally Sweet ATG, the Outlawz Paper a la Mode ATG Challenge Nov 29-Dec 6, Craft Hoarders Anonymous Celebrate the Season, the CHNC December Extra Challenge, the Bearly Mine Christmas Decoration Challenge and the Eclectic Ellapu Vintage Christmas and Vintage Christmas (not a Card). 

Meowy Christmas!

I can't believe it's December 1st!  Time for a new Challenge at The East Wind with the theme of "Meowy Christmas".  WooHoo!  You know I love me some kitties and the DT is using the adorable new image, La La's Merry Christmas, available free to all who subscribe The East Wind newsletter.  See sidebar of The East Wind Blog.  I've made a snow globe using a stamp from Lacy Sunshine which I colored with Copics and fussy cut to add to an easel card.

Isn't La La the sweetest thing?  She's colored with Copics and I've flocked her scarf and hat in red and used Sparkle Fluff on the fur cuff to match the tinsel pompom.  There are tiny pompoms for holly berries and her eyes and nose shine with Glossy Accents.  I've added an epoxy sticker heart on her chest as well.  The background is embossed with the Cuttlebug Snow Dots folder and there is German glass glitter and mica flake snow inside the globe which is  recycled tape packaging (bummer they now use just a bag now,  I'm running low on these.)

Here's the dimensional shot.  The sentiment is computer generated and cut with my Spellbinders Labels 10.  I've added some epoxy holly stickers and a paw print embellie from Melissa Frances that I've colored with a Bic permanent marker.  Please visit The East Wind Challenge Blog and see the fabulous projects my teamies have made with La La.  And come join in with any Christmas project that features a cat.  Be sure to scroll down for our winner's Post and come visit our Facebook Group and check out our current contest which runs through Dec 17th.

I'm adding this to the Unruly Paperarts 12 Days of Christmas Linky Party, the Recycle, Re-Purpose and Reinvent Dec/Jan ATG challenge, Simon Says Monday Holiday Cards, the Fitztown Red and Green Color Challenge, CNCH December Extra Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Winter Sparkles Challenge, 613 Avenue Create ATG (congrats on their 100th challenge!), the DLArt Thankful Thursday Any Winter Holiday and the Simon Says Wednesday ATG Challenge.