It's MY Box!

Okay , do you believe it's the last day of May?  Gotta say, I'm still recovering from the holiday weekend so I'm a bit late in posting this new release from The East Wind called It's MY box.  Can't help but giggle at that pout (and the fact that I never had kids).  Wonder why?  LOL  Sorry it's been a bit quiet around here.  I've finally started to attempt organization in my craft room and it's not exactly moving right along so I'm struggling, even with DT work.  This one is pretty CAS with just some lovely hand dyed pink seam binding from DL.Art Supplies and a little teddy charm.

But she really does steal the show, don'tcha think?  Here's the closeup.  Colored with Copics with a little shading help from Prismacolor pencils.  I've doodled along the top of the box to make it look like the raw edge of corrugated cardboard.  The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Our Crafty Corner ATG, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, Left of Center Stripes/and or Dots and the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG challenge.

HDH Minions Reunion, The Evil Returns

The Haunted Design House Minions (most of us, anyway) are back for a little reunion.  We've opened the dungeon doors for a little fresh(?) air and to refresh our fondness for the dark and weird.  And hell, we just missed each other and YOU, our faithful followers.   So here we go with a little creepiness to let you know the Evil will ALWAYS return.

Gotta say I'm a little off my game, but I stumbled (literally) upon some of my new(ish) (and virgin) Tim Holtz dies from last Halloween and chose Dracula.  I had a bit of fun with the textures, using iridescent CS for his face, shiny black CS for his (slicked back) 'do, velvet for is cape and matte metallic (which I thought resembled satin) for the lining.  Of course none of this shows in the pic, so you'll have to take my word for it. 

Where else should he be, but on a coffin and here you can see a bit of the dimension.  Couldn't resist adding some googly eyes and a die cut from the Happy Hauntings Cricut cartridge.  Hey, my original Minion name was Creepy Cricut Cween, so I'm just channeling my roots.  Love how the die gave him a fancier collar and fab pointy ears, don't you?

So I'm hoping you all are inspired to revisit your dark side, especially when you see the gloriously dark and decrepit makes from the rest of the Minions HERE. Happy Macrabre Monday.   And as our Cadaverous Concoctor of Chaos always says, "Keep it creepy".  xxx

I'm entering this in Dream in Darkness ATG, Dark 'n' Daring ATG, Left of Center using the LOC theme, DL.Art May Linky Challenge, and the Dark Attic ATG.

Because He Loooves Me!

The new FB Contest begins on The East Wind Group FB page with the theme of "Crop it".  I'll admit I kind of cheated here because we were supposed to take an image and crop it to just show the face on your project but Lucy Loo 'bobbed' is already just a head shot.  Oops, my bad!  But there was a reason I chose the image.  It sort of looks like me (well, perhaps a 30 years younger version of me, but the hair is pretty close). I got all "artsy" with the background for a change using Dylusions Sprays through a mesh potato sack, the image and sentiment were cut with a Spellbinders Deckle rectangle and oval and inked with Distress, and finally, the piece de resistance (sorry, I can't put the appropriate accents on here, but pronounce it in French, please) I actually used an Indigo Blu RUBBER stamp and stamped the heart on top.  Yea, ME!

Anyway, It all started with the sentiment I found on Ginger's House. She generously gives away the most amazing sentiments EVER and when I saw this one I got all misty.  Gotta say my emotions have been all over the map lately and I'll be the first to admit I can be a "handfull" (at best).  Yet my man takes it all in stride, makes me laugh, lightens my load, and never, and I mean NEVER, forgets to tell me I'm beautiful (even with no makeup, glasses, ratty pajamas and Uggs) because he looooves me, unconditionally.  xxxxxxx  Thank you, my love.  I'm smiling, are you? 

Yikes!  Got a little more personal than I've been in awhile.  Not all that worried about it though, I'm guessing 99% of my viewers don't make it through the first paragraph.  Anyway, Here's a closeup of Lucy Loo 'bobbed'.  I spent almost as much time coloring her with Copics as my stylist spends on my own hair.  LOL Hey Debbie, do you think I should grow out my bangs?

Okay then.  That's more than enough from me today, but please go check out the fabulous projects from my teamies HERE and come play along.  If you're not a member of The East Wind FB Group what the heck are you waiting for?  Ask to join, already.

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Show Room Blog

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG Challenge, Crafting With Friends ATG, A Beautiful Mess ATG, Simply Papercraft ATG, Jade's Sparking Butterflies ATG, Crafting From the Heart ATG, Crafting With and Attitude ATG, Inspiration Destination ATG, Aud Sentiments ATG +Sentiment, Creative Fingers ATG and the DL.Art May Linky challenge.

Clean and Simple for Aurora Wings

A new challenge begins today on the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog, hosted by the Aurora Team.  The theme is CAS (Clean and Simple).  Not a natural one for someone who subscribes to the "more is never enough" theory, but hey, isn't that sort of the definition of challenge?  The good news is I didn't have to spend hours choosing DP or embellies, the bad news is that pretty much every one of Mitzi's gorgeous digis stands up beautifully on it's own, so the image choice was not a simple one at all.  I did, however, have one that I was dying to color up and since I've been a bit melancholy lately, he was perfect therapy. This sweet little guy is Pierrot Sprite.  Doesn't he just tug at your heartstrings?

Here's a closer look at Pierrot Sprite.  He's available in jpg HERE and also in no background PNG form HERE, in case you'd like to use him with digi paper and avoid fussy cutting and the like, in the AuroraWings Etsy Shop. He's colored with Copics, in traditional black and white of the French pantomime with just a bit of red in his fading rose and single tear.  So happy to not have to agonize over color choices and my absolute fave anyway.  

I always associate harlequin pattern with clowns (no matter how sad) and used one of the small dies from the Tim Holtz thinlits 4 pack to provide the texture. Originally I planned to use a mat with the pattern cut out, but even if I fussy cut little Pierrot Sprite, I wasn't pleased with the design, so instead, I glued each of the (slightly distressed looking) diamonds off cuts individually around the image, which was more to my liking and perhaps even more in keeping with the CAS style. The sentiment is tiny, and hand written, which I almost never do, but this card was meant to be personal, so there ya go.

Please visit the AW Challenge Blog to see the gorgeous examples by my teamies and don't forget to check out the winners from the previous challenge one post down.  Hope to see you join in our CAS challenge and also the current May "Elements" challenge on the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group page.

Here's how to keep up with all that's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG challenge, the DL.Art May Linky challenge, Creative Fingers ATG and the Crafting When We Can CAS Challenge.

Lucy Loo 'Wicked Queen'

WooHoo!  It's Friday which means another new release from The East Wind. Been in a bit of a crafting funk after struggling so hard with my previous card and post, but Unky's fab new image, Lucy Loo 'Wicked Queen' Got me all jazzed to venture down the dark path and join in some of my fave "dark" Blog Challenges. I was particularly intrigued by the offerings at Dream in Darkness for their "Lucky" 13th challenge.  Although the theme is always ATG (as long as it's dark) the DT pulled out all the stops and made the coolest paper dolls.  I immediately wanted to play.  Lucy Loo 'Wicked Queen' is only her head, hair and crown so I thought she'd be perfect for a paper doll.  I had a sheet of Birdie Paper Dolls from Artchix Studios so Lucy Loo 'Wicked Queen' became Lucy Loo 'Wicked RAVEN Queen'.

Here's how the image comes in the shop.

I colored her with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and fussy cut her out.  I had to improvise a neck so I could pop her appropriately on the dress body.

At first, I assembled her with only wings but decided some arms were in order so she could better hold her Alpha Bead banner.  I cut parts from an old skeleton die from Sizzix, colored them with Copics and attached them with tiny brads between the dress and the wings.  Much better.  If you notice, her crown has a raven skull in the center, so I gave her a skull necklace as well.  I thought the black lace over skirt sort of looked like the feathers in her crown.

Used Alpha Beads for her "Nevermore" banner and strung them on covered wire which helped keep her arms out.  Her wings still move independently so she can take flight at any time.  The birdie feet just made me giggle.  Haven't had this much fun in a long time.

I'm also entering this in Create and Inspire ATG, Dark 'n' Daring ATG, the DL.Art May Linky challenge, The Dark Attic ATG, Craft Your Passion ATG, Creative Fingers ATG, Jade's Sparkling Butterflies ATG, 613 Avenue Create ATG, Crafting from the Heart ATG and Left of Center Witches (or just LOC if you think not).

Thinking of You (in Memory of Lillie Charleston)

Yesterday I said a final goodbye to my dear friend, Lillie Charleston.  I got to know Lillie on the Cricut Message Board back in 2008 and was honored to serve on several design teams with her throughout the years.  She was a strong woman, a wonderful mother, a talented crafter, and a true and loyal friend.  She made me laugh...a lot, and I still can't believe I'll never pick up the phone again and hear her say, "Hey there girlfriend, whatcha doin'?"  

Gotta say I struggled with this card for her family.  Lillie made the most beautiful sympathy cards.  We used to laugh and say they were her specialty. They were always very elaborate, but beautifully done and I'm afraid I got a bit carried away with the die cuts trying to make something special in her memory.

The beautiful image is Angel of Sympathy by Aurora Wings.  There was no question in my mind which image I wanted to use.  She's colored with Copics with glittered wings and fussy cut and popped on multiple layers of iridescent card stock cut with Spellbinders Elegant Labels Four.

I found the inside verse on the net.  It said:

Tenderly

May time ease your sorrow

Gently

May friends ease your pain

Softy

May peace replace heartache

And may only warmest

memories remain

It was a beautiful service.

R.I.P. Lillie

Doin' the "Happy Dance"!

Remind me next time I do a card specifically with a number of challenges in mind how long it takes.  I'm a slow crafter anyway, and fitting in two themes AND a sketch about did me in.  But YEA me!  I (HOPE!) I managed to sneak this in the Outlawz Festive Fridays for International Dance Day using the sketch from the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge and used a KITTY with a friend (oh, crap, he's not furry, he's feathery, but it's Ike's Birthday so I'm sure she'll let it slide.) for the SUYP (cat's only) May Furry Friends Challenge.  Phew!

Here's the sketch.  Normally I get all caught up with following it EXACTLY which is why I usually avoid them.  Actually, I almost gave up on it because the circle was pretty darn big, but I summoned up the cajones to turn the whole thing counter clockwise a notch, so there ya go.

The Kitty is a new image from BlooFOU which is the even quirkier (is that even possible?..YUP!) new range by BloobelStamps.  Right now he's in a 3 stamp group called Cat Pack 1 on Etsy.  He's colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils.

His birdie friend is actually a rubber stamp (don't faint, I actually used one of my rubber stamps instead of just sniffing it) by Bloobel sold exclusively through Joggles.  These are equally hilarious and I was thrilled I managed to stamp it (with Memento Ink) cleanly on the very first try.  WooHoo!  He's also colored with Copics with a bit of shading from pencils, as well.

So here's the card in action.  Too bad I can't figure out how to upload a video with my camera, and no, I still don't have a "smart phone" so this is the best I could do.  The critters are mounted on an Action Wobble so they really do the "Happy Dance".  Now I'm doin' the "Happy Dance" 'cause I'm finally done and it's Wine o'clock.  Ta!

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Inspiration Destination ATG, AI Creative Critters and the Aud Sentiments Animals + a Sentiment.

Fruits or Veggies for Wicked Wednesday ATC

The new challenge at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge started today with the theme of Fruits and Veggies.  Their fabulous sponsor is A Day for Daisies and I just had to play along.  The adorable ADFD image is Strawberries in Milk Fairy. It's definitely strawberry season in CA.  Was thrilled to see that the current ADFD challenge is Anything but a Card and I think an ATC qualifies so I'm so happy to enter it there, as well.  The strawberry digi paper is AMBillistrations and I've added a corner of a mini doily, some gingham ribbon, heart shaped Alpha Beads and a mini silver spoon.

I've colored with Copics and in this pic you can better see the Stickled Wings and Diamond Glaze on the luscious strawberries.  YUM, is right!

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge and Inspiration Destination ATG.

New Release at The East Wind

It's Tuesday, so there just must be a new release at The East Wind.  Gotta say I'm LOVIN' this one called "What's in that drink?"  Hmm... judging from her expression and rather "off" skin tone, maybe nothing good, eh?  I chose the macabre route for this one using Dp's from the Hallow's Eve 6x6 pack from Creative imaginations and some stickers from Recollections.  Gotta say it's been awhile since I've done anything a bit dark and I'm missing it BIG TIME.

Here's a closeup of "What's in that drink?"  She's colored with Copics with some Prismacolor pencil shading and there's a bit of lime green Stickles coming off her questionable cocktail.  Not sure if the raven has another olive in his mouth, or something more sinister.  

Still some time left in our "Rainbow" FB challenge which runs through the 17th of May and our current Blog Challenge, "Mail Art" runs through the 10th.  Come join us!

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Show Room Blog

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in The Dark Attic ATG challenge, Left of Center using the LOC theme, Dream in Darkness ATG, DL.Art May Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode ATG challenge, Crafting from the Heart ATG, TTRCD May 3-9 ATG, Our Crafty Corner ATG, the very FIRST challenge at Dark 'n' Daring (ATG) and Simon Says Wednesday ATG.

New Challenge at Aurora Wings

I'm joining the Stella Team this time for the new challenge at Aurora Wings. The theme is Vintage but perhaps I've gone a bit too far back in time (says my hubby who claims "vintage" should only go back a century or so).  Of course all of the challenge themes are open to a bit of personal interpretation and that's the fun of it.  I went for really "old world" and used the gorgeous Marie Nyantoinette but cropped her closely to give the image more of a cameo feel.

Here's the full image as she appears in the AW Etsy Shop.  It was a real tough decision to crop the adorable kitty out this time, but if you'd like to see a project using the entire image click HERE.

Here's the closeup of Marie, colored in a full array of Warm Gray Copic colors.  She was cut with a Spellbinder's Grand Oval over a Grand Decorative Oval base in a textured matte metallic. I've added a tiny pearl earring and her eyes and lips shine with Diamond Glaze.

The DP is from the Luxury Stack by DCWV.  I covered it with some vintage lace netting and added flowers (actually "bridal confetti") that match the tiny stephanotis blooms in her hair.  They actually remind me of my own bridal bouquet which also featured the phalaenopsis orchids adorning her elaborate coiffure.   The centers were done with Liquid Pearls, as was her earring (gotta say I held my breath on the earring, those Liquid Pearls sometimes have a mind of their own, but luck was with me.)

The gorgeous bow came right off one of my birthday 'prises and here you can see a bit more of the pattern of the iridescent DP, softened by the lacy netting. Perhaps I should have done a bit of distressing to give it more of an antique feel, but let's just pretend it's been carefully preserved in an attic or museum somewhere, okay?  The Stella team has done a fabulous job with our new theme, so be sure to visit the AW Challenge Blog and leave them some love.

Here's how to keep up with all that's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art May Linky challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG challenge, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, Little Patch of Crafty Friends, ATG, the Ribbon Girls May ATG, One Stitch at a Time Vintage, Crafty Boots Monochrome, the Craft-Dee BowZ May Challenge, Crafting from the Heart ATG, Eureka Stamps Feminine Cards/Mother's Day, Creative Fingers ATG,  and Crafting With Dragonflies Vintage/Shabby Chic.

Hang in There!

I spend quite a bit of time in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group and the 2nd round of the Progressive challenge just ended.  The theme was "Circle or Square with a Ribbon and Tear."  Isn't that cute?  I had loads of ideas for this one and hoped I could enter more than once, but my Birthday Week sort of crimped my crafting (not that I mind, of course) so this is the only one that got made.

Here's a closeup of Hanging Around Monkey.  To tell you the truth, monkeys have never been in my Top 10 animal faves, but this little guy totally stole my heart.  He's colored with Copics in regular monkey colors, but I can't wait to try him in girly fantasy colors.  Wouldn't that be cute?

I think it's hard to see the tears in that first pic, so here's the side view.  The DP's are from the ancient DCWV Safari Kids Stack and are not double sided, so I cut a circle with my Spellbinders in the (approximate, LOL) center, tore it into 6 pieces, and attached them from the back after inking with Distress and curling them a bit.  I was going for a more masculine look so the cool May Arts ribbon was just attached at the sides and I've added 3 corduroy button brads to the corners and a computer generated sentiment.

Be sure to check out Sandra's FB Group.  There's new releases to her Etsy Shop every Monday and "sneaky Sandra" comes up with all kinds of fun games and contests, many that don't even include crafting (like suggesting names for new digis or offering suggestions for what you'd love to see in her shop).  It's a fun and supportive group for those who love Sandra's quirky images.  Hope to see you there.  

I'm entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, 613 Avenue Create ATG challenge, the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #33 ATG, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, the Outlawz Monday Greeting Cards ATG Challenge, The Ribbon Girl ATG, A Beautiful Mess ATG, Creative Fingers ATG, Art Impressions Creative Critters, TTRCD April 26-May 2 ATG, Jade's Sparkling Butterflies Add a Sentiment  and Aud Sentiments Animal + Sentiment.