Bloobel February Progressive Challenge

Cutting it close, but so what else is new?  Finally finished my version of Bake Me A Cake for the February Progressive Challenge at Bloobel Stamps.  Hey, I would have waited until tomorrow, but I have a dentist appointment. (Procrastination is my middle name.)  You know how all that works, don'tcha?  Well, I signed up and participated in January so I got a code to get Bake Me A Cake for FREE.  If you didn't, you can purchase the stamp HERE to join in, but it ends TOMORROW so chop chop.  Part of my hang up was that her plate was empty but she comes with a whole page of cake layers and fun stuff to add and making up my mind was quite a problem.  I'm sure I'll be using her over and over with more of her goodies, though.

Here's the closeup, colored with Copics.  I call this subtly zombified. Only her eyes are that of a crazed psycho killer.  The rest is pretty much standard, don'tcha think?  Okay, there's a little blood spatter on her apron, but who doesn't occasionally have accidents in the kitchen.  So there you have it.  Yea, ME!

P.S. Bloobel Stamps just started a Troo Bloo Monthly Subscription for only $5.00 per month.  Read about it all HERE and see the cool stamps you get for February if you sign up BEFORE the end of the month.  That's TOMORROW!!!!! If you miss it, you'll have to wait 2 months before these cuties land in the store. You also get a coupon for $1.50 off any stamp you choose for the month.  Sign up any time though and cancel any time as well.  (This is totally unsolicited.  I just think it's such a DEAL.  If you love quirky, you can't get any better than this.)

Join the FB Group HERE so you don't miss all the excitement.

I'm adding this to the Outlawz Monday Greeting Anything goes Challenge, the DL.Art February Linky challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #52 AG, and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

(What should have been) a Quickie for the Outlawz CAS

Although this card should have taken 15 minutes TOPS, I couldn't decide on colors.  Really?  It's a frickin' card base, mat and die cut.  What's WRONG with me!?!  The Outlawz CAS challenge calls for a "romantic theme" and I'm sort of Valentine'd out so I used my adorable new Die-versions Lovely Kids die and made a card that could be an anniversary card or just a sweet "I love you".  The embossing folder is an old Quickutz and the sentiment is computer generated.  I originally started with a black silhouette but it seemed too harsh.  I switched to kraft but it didn't look right with the white.  Changed the mat to cream and then couldn't decide on a base until I found some long lost burlap cards so there ya go.  I kind of like the added texture.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art February Linky challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #52 AG.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Busy day for me!  Lots of fabulous new releases so this is my second post of the day.  I'd love it if you checked out my first post HERE, too.

It's Friday, so you know what that means?  Loads of new releases by the amazing Sandra Caldwell.  I'm working with #1306 Glamour Gertrude. I can't really describe the expression on her face, but I guess it sort of looked resigned. That's what we've been in CA with all the rain, but it's kind of funny, as soon as I finished this card, the sun came out.  WooHoo!  I've used papers from the Noah's Ark stack by Debbie Mumm for JoAnn's (an oldie) and added die cut clouds.

Here's a closeup of the adorable #1306 Glamour Gertrude. She's colored with Copics and I've added some flat backed pearls for her earrings.  Gotta say I had a ball coloring her hair and I can imagine a couple more ways to do it too.  I used a craft knife to cut a slot in the waves to insert Gertrude.  Hope she doesn't float away.  Been lots of flooding across the state.  Guess the drought is over.  The extra raindrops were made my cutting a mini heart punch in half.

Be sure to visit the Sandra Caldwell Stamp fans FB page and check out the fab creations from the new release by my DT sisters and Sandra's Etsy Shop (babycakesdnd) to see them all.

I'll be adding this to the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG challenge, the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Crafts Galore Encore Feb AG #3, Crafter's Cafe No Red or Pink, Your Scrapbook Place AG, the Crafty Addicts February AG, TTRCD week of Feb 21st and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #52 AG.

Double Showcase for Aurora Wings

EEEK!  I'm thrilled to be joining the Aurora Wings Showcase Team for a double release of not one, but TWO new Sprites.  We finally got some sunshine and it's beginning to feel like Spring.  What better new Sprites than some of the first Springtime flowers?  First meet the adorable Crocus Sprite available HERE in Etsy and HERE in the revamped AW Digi Shop.

Here's a closeup of Crocus Sprite.  I've used the png version, cropped the crocus clusters from her pigtails, enlarged them for the background, and merged them with the full figure to print and.  I've used Copics to color this cutie and fussy cut the entire grouping to pop on my card.

Here's the dimensional view.  The base is a Spellinders Grand Labels One with a white Decorative Grand Labels One on top.  Next is another lacy white layer from JoyCrafts and finally two cuts of Pine Needles from Gina Marie, colored with Copics to match the greenery of the stamp.  The gorgeous crinkle ribbon is Ghoul Green from Halloween Bundle at DL.Art and I've finished off the rest of the corners with adhesive pearls.

I was also thrilled to see the addition of Hyacinth Sprite, (also available in the AW Shop HERE) so I could add to my Garden Journal I'd originally started in 2015.  You can see all of the other pages and read about the construction HERE.

Here's a closeup of Hyacinth Sprite.  Isn't she gorgeous?  I can really see her on a bridal card too, can't you?  As with all my previous Garden Journal pages, I used the png version of the stamp, (flipped her because it worked best with the page design) printed it directly on the page, and colored according to the journal illustration with Copic markers.  Now my Journal is complete.

Aren't these two new Sprites just the sweetest things, ever?  Be sure to check out the AW Showcase Blog to see the gorgeous creations by the Showcase team.  Thanks to them all for letting me join them today.

And if this isn't enough, here's a weekend Coupon Code usable in both the AW Esty AND the newly revamped AW digi shop.  WooHoo!

And don't forget our challenges on both our Blog and FB Group.

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 the following Challenges:  DL.Art February Linky Challenge(with Crocus), the DL.Art #199 Green Challenge (with Hyacinth), the World Wide Design Team Open Challenge (with Crocus Sprite 3/3), Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #52 AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Crafts Galore Encore February AG #2, Crafter's Cafe No Red or Pink, C.R.A.F.T. Mother's Day/female, Crafting by Designs It's Almost Spring,

Celebrating 7 Years with Holley!

My Sandra Caldwell DT sister Holley is celebrating 7 years of seizure free health after 2 brain surgeries that changed her life.  Fabulous Sandra has drawn an image especially for her, #1347 Holley Brain Power available HERE in Sandra's Etsy Store, and I'm joining the challenge on Holley's Blog.  I've colored her with Copics an added some "positive thoughts" highlighted with chalk.  I've kept the colors pretty and light like the promise of Spring and combined it with my take on the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge where Sandra is sponsoring this month.

You can read Holley's inspiring story HERE and join her celebration of life.  Her sunny attitude and positive thinking expresses the love and gratitude she has for each and every seizure free day.  To share with her friends, she's posting fabulous projects on Holley's Blog each day and there are prizes to be won. Hope you come join the party and celebrate Holley's love of life.  I'm sharing this card and amazing story with the Path of Positivity Challenge #46 An Expression of Love. (Could you please add FT to my name on the Linky?  I was so excited, I forgot.  Thank you!)

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #52 AG, and Creative Fingers AG #125.

Anything Goes at Aurora Wings

It's time for a new challenge at Aurora Wings and it's everyone's favorite, Anything Goes. (Except maybe mine, LOL)  I seem to be having the hardest time making decisions when I have no direction these days.  Must be my age.
However, with a little prodding from some of my teamies, I came up with this!

Grab a cuppa, I'm feeling really chatty now that I'm finally done!

When checking my images I came cross the gorgeous Whisper of the Sea. She's also available HERE in the newly revamped AW Digi Shop. It's been quite awhile since I played with mermaids and I thought she'd be perfect for a non card project.  It just so happened I had a canvas I had covered in ripped pieces of paper toweling I'd used to blot a Brushos experiment.  OOOH!  Perfect colors.

Here's a closeup of Whisper of the Sea. (BTW, she also comes in the no background png version Here and Here, if you'd like to merge the image or use a digital background.)   She's colored with Copics with a little bit of Prismacolor pencil action to add more depth to her hair. I've used seed beads to embellish her hair ornament, earring and hmmm, would you call that clothing?  I held my breath while applying them with Diamond Glaze, hoping not to ruin all the work I'd done coloring, but fate smiled on me.  

There is also a fair amount of Liquid Pearls and some Waterfall Stickles nearer the bottom that I figured were bubbles or sea foam.  I'd planned on using my Nuvo dimensional glitter, but do you think I could find it?  I also wanted more dimension to the shell she is holding so I added a sticker from JoLee's.  The size, however, was not quite as large as the digital one and looked funny just stuck on there so I built it up with a combo of Diamond Glaze and perfect pearls.  Gotta say it wasn't the brightest idea to add all this stuff before fussy cutting, but I managed, PHEW!

Now here's where I DID screw up.  I'd spent several hours coloring, when all of a sudden I realized I'd colored the area beneath her shell bra green like her ruffly sleeves.  EIYIYI!  It looked TERRIBLE!  I couldn't even pass it off as part of her tail, because honestly, have you ever seen a mermaid's tail come all the way up to her boobs?  

HERE'S THE FIX:  I always, ALWAYS print my images at least twice, mostly because if I ever want to fussy cut or layer, I don't have to go back and print it again (and if you do, you better have saved the size or you're toast), but also because sometimes I change my mind on the color scheme mid stream, or need to perform an emergency skin graft (or hair, or whatever else I screwed up) like the area circled above.  Recolor the offending area, fussy cut, carefully go around the cut areas with the side of a brush marker, I use Memento because it doesn't tend to bleed as much a Copic, glue, et VOILA!

Marisol (that's her name, I named her!) is in her little mermaid cove, made from hot gluing some shells together, sitting on her stretched canvas lagoon.  The netting is saved from some produce.  You can also see where I fussy cut and added dimension to her arms to hold her conch shell.

I've used a combo of dimensional sticker (JoLee's) elements and real shells to complete the scene.  The blue and tan cluster is actually an antique brooch I retrieved from one of my Mother-in-law's jewelry boxes after she died.  I'd been waiting for the perfect project to use it on.

Finally, I finished off the canvas with Scor-tape around the bottom edge dipped in sand.  The straight top edge sort of bugs me, but have you ever tried to cut that stuff?  The sentiment is from Graphic 45 and my last touch was some rope I'd dirtied up a bit with Distress Ink.  Hope you enjoyed my project as much as I did making it.  (And if you've made it through this whole post, you deserve a medal, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  xxx)

My AW teamies have all kinds of fabulous inspiration, so I hope you go visit the Challenge Blog and leave them some love.  Hope you join us too.   I mean there's really no excuse when it's Anything Goes, now is there?

You also still have until the end of the month to join in the February Red, White and Pink FB contest.

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 February Linky challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #52 AG, International Art and Soul #2 Recycling, 613 Avenue Create February AG, the Alphabet Challenge "Y" is for You Choose, Creative Artiste #23 AG Mixed Media, the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #19 AG, the February Classic Design Team Open Challenge #11, Crafty Awesomeness February AG, Delicious Doodles Anything BUT a Card, Happy Little Stampers February Mixed Media Challenge Tear or Rip ( ripped pieces of papers towel were applied to the canvas), The Corrosive Challenge February AG, Allsorts Week 403 AG, My Time to Craft Anything but a Card, Creative Fingers #125, Morgan's Art World For the Ladies and the Outawz Saturday Paper a la Mode Great Outdoors Challenge.

Outlawz Sunday CAS

The Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge calls for Brown, Ivory + One Other Color this week and I made the quickest one layer card EVER.  I used my Printmaster Platinum Program to crop a piece of pink checked digi paper from AMBillustrations into a heart and added the adorable Bugheartcats from Bugaboo (only $1.00) on top.  I changed their color from black to brown, added a sentiment and printed on ivory card stock.  Only coloring was their little pink noses and I couldn't resist a tiny twine bow from DL.Art attached with Fabric Fusion.  Done!  WooHoo!

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art February Linky challenge, the SUYP (Cats only) Kitty Love Challenge, the Bugaboo Crafty Challenge, Your Scrapbook Place February AG (using sponsor image) and Country View Challenge 30 Minutes or Under.

New Release from Sandra Caldwell

It's official!  This is my first actual new release post as part time member of the Sandra Caldwell DT and it's a KITTY!  You know I love me some kitties and Sandra's are some of the cutest around.  Say hello to #1340 Scratching Kat. LOVE the expression on his face, don't you?  As soon as I saw him I knew wanted to use my new Claw Slash die by Gina Marie. Scratching Kat is cut with Double Stitched Squares from Kat Scrappiness, popped on a Double Stitched Circle, then matted with a Spellbinders Grand Circle and Scalloped Circle.  The sentiment was computer generated.  I chose the colors and added the little hearts to play in the Outlawz Tuesday Color Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  Middle row across (approximately).

Here's a closeup of #1340 Scratching Kat.  I've colored him as a seal point Siamese like my friend Fiki's kitty named Coffee.  My very first kitty was the same breed.  I've used Copics with some additional fur detail with Prismacolor pencils.  He makes me giggle. 

Be sure to check out all of the new releases in Sandra's Etsy Shop (babcakesdnd) and the fabulous projects by the DT in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group.

I'll be adding this to the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, the SUYP Kitty Love Challenge (see the hearts?), Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #51 AG, the World Wide Open Design Teams Challenge #19 AG (3/12), Craft Rocket AG #33 (3/2) and Crafty Creations #335 AG. 

Vintage Valentine

Here's a sort of vintage looking Valentine I managed to just sneak in the Outlawz Festive Friday Challenge before it closed.  Playing with dies again, some old, some new.  The background was a discarded negative using Spellbinder's Opulent Ovals.  I'd used the largest die just to emboss, then the next smaller for the cut out.  Didn't work for the original project, but I distressed the edges with scissors, inked with Antique Linen and popped it on a mat of gorgeous gilded crinkle pink specialty paper I'd been saving from my friend Smita in India.  I was going for a pink and red combo to enter the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Pink and/or Red Challenge, and the extra detail was just perfect.  The center Winged Heart die by Die Namites is a new one (for me, anyway) and I've cut it twice, fussy cut and colored the flowers and center heart with my Copics, then shabbied it up a bit with Distress, too.  The sweet Cupids are Impression Obsession.  The final details are the filigree stickers that balanced the design and added to the vintage feel.

I'm also entering this in the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #51 AG challenge, Die Cut Divas Use Red or Pink,  Happy Little Stampers AG w/Dies, Let's Create and Craft Love is in the Air, Simon Says Monday Use Your Favorite Tool (Spellbinders Grand Caliber) and Scrap from your Heart Valentines/Mother's Day.

New Release from The East Wind.

Here's a lovely new release from The East Wind called Gumiho, Nine Tailed Fox. This mythical figure is popular in Asian cultures and is known by several names. Unky, the artist behind The East Wind, is Korean and this month she is celebrating her heritage with all Korean inspired designs.  All 4 can be purchased HERE for one low price during the month of February.  I tried to  create a tranquil environment for this lovely stamp using paper from K&Co, Weeping Willow Branches die cut from Poppystamps and butterflies from a Martha Stewart punch.  The gorgeous hand dyed crinkle ribbon, reminiscent of the stream she's sitting beside, is from the Mermaid's Tale Second Edition at DL.Art.  No need for a bow, it just laid so nicely.

Here's a closeup of Gumiho.  She's colored with Copics, but I had a bit of trouble with the blending on her dress because my markers were low on ink.  Wouldn't you know the refills just came in today's mail?  I tried to make the overlay look sheer by coloring over with white Prismacolor pencil so you could still see the suggestion of the color underneath. The sentiment is an ancient rub on and I was pleased that it still worked. I've tried a number of them in my stash recently that I had to toss because they no longer transferred without crumbling.  I thought the image would be lovely for a friendship or thinking of you card.

Although we are no longer having FB challenges, the current blog challenge, Love and Romance, at The East Wind is still open.

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I am entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, As You Like It Ribbon or Lace and Why (I prefer ribbon because it is more versatile and works for both masculine and feminine projects), Crafty Girls February AG, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #51 AG.

Got a Funny Feeling

Hey there.  Happy Valentine's Day!  I've already done my lovey dovey bit so I thought I might make you laugh instead.  The inspiration actually comes from a true story (with names changed to protect the innocent. LOL)  Long, long ago (when dinosaurs roamed the earth. JK! )my BFF from college went for a romantic dinner with her boyfriend when he unexpectedly popped THE QUESTION.   Not sure it was Valentine's Day, but it could have been.  Hate to say, her reaction was also quite unexpected.   Anyway, as soon as I saw All Shades of Green, by Bloobel Stamps it brought back memories. 

Here's the full Z fold opened.  The second image is called Love Sick.  You really can't have one without the other, eh?  Guess this meant the answer was "NO!" (She's gonna kill me when she reads this. HeeHee!)  You'll be happy to know that she did make it to the "ladies' " in time, though.

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge is "O" is for Outrageous, so I just had to join in.  Also the Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode says Make a Funny Card, I'll also be adding this to the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Pink/and or Red Challenge, TTRCD Week of Feb 14 AG and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #51 AG.  

The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge Sponsored by Sandra Caldwell

Okay, so here's my second post of the day, and I'm still neglecting my impending DT duties, while catching up on some challenges I wanted to enter. Another for the Outlawz, this time for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge (and it's only Monday, Yea, me!).  Sandra Caldwell is sponsoring and has even drawn 5 cute images, especially for the Outlawz, and offered at a discount price of only $1.50.  However, I chose #1381 Glamour Betty, also on sale (for a limited time), as one of the Glamour Gals, for the FB contest that ends tomorrow, in the Sandra Caldwell Stamps FB Group.  When you take the weekend off, you just gotta do some double duty.  You can see all the discounted digis HERE, but act fast.  I don't know how long this will last.

I've colored Glamour Betty with Copics, used digi dot paper from AMBillustrations and basic twine from DL.Art.  the heart gems and flower are from my stash.  Although I didn't follow the sketch exactly, I think you still get the idea, don't you?

I'm adding this to the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG, Cupcake Inspirations #394 Carmine, White, Black and If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #62. 

For the Outlawz Progressive and Tuesday Color

Well, I blew off the weekend enjoying our sunny weather (finally) and now trying to catch up on some challenges I want to enter.  The Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge almost threw me for a loop until I came upon this DP from K&Co.

Here's the color palette, all starting with the letter "A".

I decided to use the Freebie from the Outlawz February Progressive Challenge, generously supplied by Bugaboo Stamps.  (For once I'm not last minute.  Yea, ME!)  After coloring with Copics in the approximate colors, I decided that I need to brighten things up a little bit and added a lighter green mat and some beads to the flower centers.  The gorgeous crinkle ribbon is Steel Blue from Blues Bundle at DL.Art.

I'll also be adding this to the DL.Art February Linky challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #51 AG, Your Scrapbook Place Feb AG (using Sponsor image) and 613 Avenue Create AG/optional Sentimental Journey. 

Trollin' for Love

So many fun Valentine images to choose from out there these days, but I really couldn't resist this new one from Sandra Caldwell, #1377 Troll Cupid.  She totally makes me giggle.  Just look at that face!  The Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge is always Anything Goes, but the twist this time is a Heart Shaped Valentine so I dug out my Spellbinders Nested Hearts and and Scalloped Nested Hearts and went to work. Found a small scale heart pattern Dp in my stash from American Crafts and came up with a sentiment I thought was pretty cute. Couldn't resist some conversation hearts from M's and some kissy lips to hold the easel up.  MWAH!

Here's a closeup of #1377 Troll Cupid.  I nearly colored her in Smurf tones, but I wanted to keep the Valentine palette so I went with Copic pinks and reds, with a little lavender thrown in for good measure.

Time is running out for Valentine's Day, so I hope you visit Sandra's Etsy shop, Babycakesdnd and check out all the fab images Sandra has to offer.  New releases every Friday and some surprises here and there so visit often!  There's also a number of sale digis for several challenges, including the current FB contest, Glamour Girls going on now in Sandra's FB Group so check them out HERE and come play along.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Pink and/or Red Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG (2/17), Dies R Us Challenge #66 Hearts (2/14), Crafty Friends AG (2/14), Creative Corner Perfectly Pink (2/15), Making Memories Crafting #2 Use red+Other Valentine color, Simply Create Too February Love,  Aud Sentiments Valentine or Love Sentiment, Simon Says Monday Young at Heart, Simon Says Wednesday Cute, Through the Purple Haze Valentine/Love, LTSCB February Who Loves You Baby, TTRCD AG Week of February 7, House of Cards Love Theme and/or Colors and Use Your Stuff Love is in the Air.

Anything Christmas for the Outlawz Festive Fridays

WooHoo!  This is my second post of the day.  I'd love it if you'd check out my first post HERE, too.

I love playing in the Outlawz Festive Fridays Challenges because there are always 4 themes to chose from.  I'm joining in with the Anything Christmas theme because I've done quite a bit of shopping since the holidays as I love getting the bargains on the merchandise from the season just past.  The new die I've used here is from Die-namites and I think it's just perfect as a centerpiece for a CAS design.  I actually cut this 4 times so I could fussy cut the partridge and pears and layer them on the die cut.  It would have been only 3 but after adding the shiny corner stickers and sentiment, the matte gold I'd originally used for the pears really didn't stand out enough, so I layered again with a brushed gold metallic on the pears without the stems.  Much better!  The embossing folder is Grace's frame and I've layered again with the matte bronze on the white card base which made it 5 x 6 1/2".  I think it turned out to be quite elegant and went together quickly enough to make multiples.

I'm also entering this in the CHNC Challenge #319 AG Christmas/optional ribbon (not this time), the CHNC February Christmas Extra AG, the ABC February Christmas Challenge C is for Creatures, Merry Monday CAS Challenge and the Kerst/Christmas February FB Challenge.