Cute Sock Monkey Baby Card

Made this cute baby card thinking I still had time for the Miss Daisy Stamps part of the Spring Fling Challenges at Markers! Papers! Digis! FB Group but NOPE. That ended May 27th but I still had time to enter the May AG Challenge in the Miss Daisy Stamps FB Group.  WooHoo!  The cute little monkey is from the Bloomin' Monkey set and comes with a brother too.  I decided to try to make her a sock monkey by paper piecing digi paper from the We Are 3 Toasty Warm Collection and the rest of her was colored with Copics.  The patchwork  DP is from an old Designer Mat Pad from K&Co.  Added a button to the center of the flower and called it done.  Kind of a rush job, but I still think it's cute.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Paper Ala Mode Paper Piecing Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG and Simon Says Wednesday Furry Friends.

Magic Tea Garden Event at Markers! Papers! Digis

There's a Spring Fling Event going on in the Markers! Papers! Digis! FB Group through the end of the month.  Several of the sponsors have challenges and this is the first I'm entering for Sandra Caldwell's Magic Tea Garden.  You know I love me ANYTHING that has to do with Alice in Wonderland, so I had a ball with Sandra's digi, that you can find HERE.  I've colored with Copics and used digital paper from the Gecko Galz Ask Alice pack.  I was surprised today with a birthday card and goodies from my friend Diana Larson, of DL.Art, including some flowers in the perfect colors for my project.  Thanks, Diana!  I used Nuvo Drops for the centers of the small and a resin teapot for the larger and spelled out the sentiment in square Alpha Beads.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #58 AG. 

Another for Sandra Caldwell and the Outlawz

Right now Sandra Caldwell has 25 of her Patriot and Americana stamps at a 50% discount through May 25th  (see them all HERE) and launched a challenge on her FB Group page to use any of the stamps in a project but no red, white or blue.  This time I've colored #26 Big Drummer Hippo with Copics and a gold metallic gel pen.  Come on over and join the fun.  Contest runs through May 25th.  I'm again doing "double duty" by using the fab sketch from the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  Old glitter DP from DCWV. Trim, music notes and metallic buttons from my stash.

  
I'm also entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #58 AG and Simon Says Wednesday A Bit of Sparkle.

Outlawz Tuesday Color +

It's getting harder and harder for me to keep up with all of the events and challenges out there on FB, Blogs and other forums so I find myself trying hard to do "double duty" so I can fit them all in.  Right now Sandra Caldwell has 25 of her Patriot and Americana stamps at a 50% discount through May 25th  (see them all HERE) and launched a challenge on her FB Group page to use any of the stamps in a project but no red, white or blue.  Eiyiyi!  I started out with #1095 Raggedy Cats Americana and realized that today was the last day for the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge with this lovely inspiration pic.

That helped a lot, since choosing colors often takes me days and I also remembered this weathered wood background DP and color coordinating striped glitter paper that reminded me of the ties.  The kitties are colored with Copics and cut and matted with Spellbinders Labels 12.  I added the musical notes (from Jolee's) because they look like they're singing "Happy Birthday" to join in the May SUYP Furrything Goes/Birthday Challenge.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday A Bit of Sparkle (the striped DP is glittered, you just can't see it in the pic), Pile it On #130 Animals, Simon Says Monday Little Critters and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #58 AG.

Millie Mermaid

It's a new release day for Sandra Caldwell and I'm showcasing about the cutest little mermaid you ever did see.  Meet #1570 Millie Mermaid and I gotta say I fell in love with her the minute I saw that precious face.  I wanted her to have special treatment so I actually used the background technique from the May Kit and Clowder Monthly Markers Class and I'm absolutely thrilled with how she came out.  This is the first time EVER I've used a class on one of my projects (yeah, my BAD) but it won't be the last, for sure.

Here's a closeup of #1570 Millie Mermaid.  She's colored entirely with Copics with a bit of white gel pen on the bubbles.  Isn't she just the cutest ever?

The actual project is a center step using my Spellbinders Grand Labels One which was a bit of an afterthought. I'd played around with this design and this base was sitting on my table.  That's why you can't really tell from the front because the front mat is so large it obscures the steps but I still love the way it turned out.  The bubble paper is digital from La Isla Bonita from Gecko Galz. The sentiment and shell borders are from Graphic 45.  I've also added a Magnolia die cut, fishy stickers from Little B, a starfish and crab from JoLee's and some netting recycled from a produce bag.  Can you tell I really had a ball with this one?  Every Friday is new release day for Sandra Caldwell so be sure to check out all of the new designs.  Inspiration can be found by my teamies in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group.

P.S.  Sandra is having a fabulous 50% off Memorial Day Sale through May 31 that you must check out HERE.  Patriotic and Americana stamps included are already discounted. Not only that, but if you buy 6 or more (at ANY price) you get 2 FREE (at ANY price!). WooHoo!  Message Sandra Caldwell on FB with # and Name of digis you choose.  Join the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group  to keep up with all that's happening.  Steampunk Silly Contest ends TODAY!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG/By the Sea, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Card with Gold Fish,  TTRCD May 16th AG, the May Classic Design Team Open challenge #14 (3/3), Inspiration Destination AG, May World Wide Design Team Open Challenge AG (2/3), Aud Sentiments AG/w Sentiment, Craft Rocket #37 Fantasy, TTPH #125 AG, Crafts Galore Encore AG, Fab 'n' Funky Create a Background, the Corrosive Challenge May AG and Creative Moments #118 AG. 

Steampunk Silly

I'm a bit behind in playing in some challenges due to some (semi) surprise house guests and am trying to catch up by doing a bit of combining.  First of all, the Steampunk Silly contest runs through May 19th on the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group with 6 Steampunk images currently discounted in Sandra's Etsy Shop HERE.  Although I hope to do more, my first entry is with #1541 Steampunk Kitty Max , not only because I love kitties, but also because I had a kitty named Max who has crossed over the rainbow bridge.  He's colored with Copics with some gold and silver gel pen.  The fab hardware is Tim Holtz. Thought maybe a 12 year old boy might think this was a cool birthday card and the numbers worked well for the sketch detail.

I've used the sketch from this past week's Outlawz Sketch challenge (which ends today) and also made it masculine (sort of goes without saying in this case, eh?) for the Outlawz Saturday Paper Ala Mode and a birthday card for the MAY SUYP (cat's only) Furrything Goes/Birthday challenge.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies May AG/with animals, Crafty Hazelnut's May Patterned Paper Challenge, Pile it On #130 Animals, Crafty Animals AG, and My Time to Craft Masculine.

My Secret Garden for Aurora Wings

I can hardly believe it's our 50th challenge at Aurora Wings and I've been there since the beginning.  Well, time certainly flies when you're having fun and I have enjoyed every minute.  Our new theme is My Secret Garden and I've made a (rather large) wall hanging using the gorgeous new(ish) Lady Blossom available HERE on Etsy and HERE on AW.com.  Believe it or not, I actually chose my Copic colors prior to choosing my DP.  Gotta love that K&Company.  The gorgeous hand dyed crinkle ribbon is from DL.Art.

I was particularly thrilled with the theme of My Secret Garden.  It brought me back to my childhood where I lived across the street from my grade school and part of the playground was an incline wooded area left to nature.  I loved to play there, especially during school breaks, imagining fairies, elves and trolls living among the plants and in tree hollows.  I was particularly fond of the wild Jack in The Pulpit plants, thinking they were great places for magical creatures to live and hide and even dug some up to replant in my own Secret Garden behind my playhouse.  I still remember a little song about them, suggesting that they were actually little men themselves.  OMG, I can't believe I found it.  You can actually listen to it HERE, but I digress...

  
What I'm really getting at here is my Secret Garden lived (and still lives) in my imagination.  In the closeup of my project you can get a better peek at some of the magical creatures who live among the gorgeous flowers of the mind.  All are colored with Copics.

The garden gates are die cuts by Heartfelt Creations that I've used over and over.  The lock is a resin embellie from Melissa Frances.  Of course the garden is enchanted.  How sad if it were not.

Tucked among the flowers is Hydrangea Fairy 2, available HERE on Etsy and HERE on AW.com.  I printed a portion of Lady Blossom's floral crown to color and fussy cut to make a pocket for her.  She's also colored with Copics, but in slightly less vibrant shades so she could blend into her surroundings.

Finally, whispering in Lady Blossom's ear is a Pixie, available HERE on Etsy and HERE on AW.com.  She's fussy cut and popped because at only 1 1/2 inches tall, she really got lost in her surroundings.  She holds the key to the Secret Garden and reminds Lady Blossom she can unlock the gate wherever and whenever she wants to.  The more often the better, I'd say.

Well, I sort of got a bit carried away here, but it's easy when entering the magical fantasy world of Aurora Wings.  Be sure to scoot off to the Challenge Blog to see the lovely inspiration from my Aurora Teamies.  Hope to see you join us in My Secret Garden and also on the FB Group page where the May Contest is in full swing.  If you're not already a member of the Group, please ask to join.  (I happen to know there might be a party coming up very soon... shhh!!)

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

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop (newly revamped!)

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art May Linky challenge, Crafts Galore Encore May AG, Classic Design Team Open May #14, TTRCD May 9-15 AG, Craft-Dee BowZ May AG w/Handmade Bow, Create and Inspire #62 AG/optional Flowers, Crafty Calendar May Flowers, World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #22 AG, the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge(choose 3 of the 5, blue, purple and pink), the Corrosive Challenge May AG, Allsorts Week 415 Ring a ring O'Roses, Crafting-With-Friends #43 AG, Morgan's Art World#9 AG, A Perfect Time to Craft May AG, Crafts and Me May AG, Your Scrapbook Place May AG, Crafty Purple Frog May Fabulously Floral, Creatalicious AG, Crafting With Dragonflies #80 Lots of Flowers and/or Mother's Day, the Corrosive Challenge 5 May AG and Fussy and Fancy Friday #187 Pink Pearls and Posies. 

New Release from Sandra Caldwell

It's Friday, and you know what that means.  New release day for Sandra Caldwell (babycakednd) on Etsy.  The patriotic holidays are coming up and I'm thrilled to be showcasing #1571 Americana Kitty.  I colored this cutie with Copics and added a dimensional star to his hat.  I used my new larger Sizzix banner dies for the background and papers from Bo Bunny's Anthem pad.  The sentiment is computer generated.  Added a couple more dimensional stars and called it done.

You can check out DT inspiration for all the new release  stamps on the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group page, but also take a peek at her Etsy Shop because Sandra always sneaks in a couple extras.  Also the Steampunk contest runs through May 19th and you can find the 6 stamps to be used in the contest (or not, for that matter) on sale HERE.  Sandra is also a sponsor at Markers! Papers! Digis! and there's a huge Spring Fling event going on there through May 27th.  WOW!  Lots of fun to be had.  Hope to see you there. 

Been sort of a lean week for crafting because of a fun sort of surprise visit from one of my nieces and her friend from Florida.  Gotta say I was pretty impressed that at age 19 they planned a 3 week cross country road trip from Florida and are checking out lots of state parks and attractions along the way.  We spent a fun day in San Francisco touring Alcatraz and seeing the sights but now they're 
off to their next destination.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, SUYP (cats only) May Furrything Goes/Birthday challenge, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies May AG/with animals, Crafty Hazelnut's May Patterned Paper Challenge, TTRCD AG May 9-15, Creative Craft Cottage 3 of a Kind (stars), the Corrosive Challenge May AG, Pile it On May #130 Animal, Crafty Animals AG and Crafts Galore Encore May AG.

Take Time to Smell the Flowers

I'm joining in the Outlawz Color Challenge with this fun quirky image called Whimsical Miss Oddleigh Flower by LeighSBDesigns.  Although I do love all kinds of stamps, I really get a kick out of the unusual, quirky and imaginative ones, so I had a ball with her.  She comes holding a flower but separate garden is included in both jpg and png form so I was able to size and merge the images. I couldn't resist the sentiment, considering her rather regal nose.  LOL  She's colored with Copics using a variety of oranges and my two other colors for the challenge are yellow and green.  The twist I chose is add butterflies that I trimmed from a punched border that just happened to be on my desk (in ORANGE, no less!) Here's the inspiration photo from the Outlawz. 

I'd also like to mention that Leigh is still celebrating the Grand Opening of her Etsy Shop and there are freebies to be had by joining her FB Fan Group.  If quirky doesn't float your boat, be sure to check out her gorgeous and exotic kitties.  There is something for everyone.  You can read more about it HERE.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Crafty Calender May Flowers, Creative Fingers #129 AG, That's Crafty! Bright, Simply Create Too #127  Must Use a Digi, Aud Sentiments #129 Flowers + Sentiment, Cute Card Thursday AG, Southern Girls Retro Challenge Use an Actual Punch and Crafting With an Attitude #27 AG.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Okay, so last year California was praying for rain, this year not so much, as we've now surpassed the wettest year since 1922.  We should be able to have lots of flowers now that the drought is over though, but my hope is that we won't be splashing in puddles again anytime soon.  I've made a card to commemorate this record wet year using the adorable #1450 Rainy Day Gal by Sandra Caldwell (and to add to the Outlawz Festive Fridays splashing in puddles and umbrella challenge).  I've used the sketch from the current (yea, me!) Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge with digital paper from AMBillustrations, and scraps on my desk from DCWV and Debbie Mumm for JoAnn Fabrics.

Here's a closeup of #1450 Rainy Day Gal where you can hopefully see the Diamond Glaze I applied to her slicker and boots after coloring with my Copics. I've used translucent blue Nuvo Drops for the puddle and raindrops too.  It's also entered in the Outlawz Name that Letter challenge where you use as many things you can think of with the first letter of your name.  Can you count the "D"'s?  (There are 8)

I'm adding this to the DL.Art May Linky challenge, Jo's Scrap Shack #187 AG, Crafting-With-Friends #42 AG, Creative Ladybirds May AG and Crafty Hazelnuts May Patterned Paper Challenge .

Bloobel Progressive Meets Outlawz Wednesday Sketch.

Well WooHoo!  The new Progressive challenge has begun on the Bloobel Stamps FB page and this fab guy, Bored at Work, is a freebie if you played in the last challenge.  If not, you can purchase him at Bloobel Stamps, join in this month and next month you too will get a freebie.  I tried to keep him pretty monochromatic (read bored), using my Copics of course.  The design is from last week's Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge (turned 45 degrees).

Capitalizing on the "counting the seconds" theme, I found some clock DP and a cool clock in my stash.  The "pearls" sort of threw me until I found some appropriate washi tape and there ya go.  Am I the only person finding it hard to keep up with coloring, creating, challenges, blogging, and social media? Eiyiyi!

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art May Linky challenge, Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge and Inspiration Destination AG/Masculine Twist.

Bloobel Baby Tag

I seem to have a problem getting things posted these days.  Kind of hot and our upstairs air has been out due to a rerouting of the air ducts in the attic project that hubby seemed to have forgotten all about...ahem.  A few sleepless nights did the trick, along with a massive cool down so here we go.  Adorable tag with this sweet Baby Giraffe image (only 1.50!  You need him!) from Bloobel Stamps with gorgeous hand dyed crinkle ribbon from Mermaid's Tale Third Edition from DL.Art.  Argyle DP from the ancient DCWV Nana's Nursery Boy's Stack. Gingham on my desk from another project?  (Hey, could have been years ago) Colors and "not a card" for the Outlawz Tuesday Color challenge.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art May Linky challenge, TTRCD May2-9 AG, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (AG with Animals), Craft Dee BowZ May AG w/handmade bow, Crafty Animals May AG, Cute Card Thursday AG, 613 Avenue Create April AG , Animal Friends Anything but a Card and Crafty Hazelnut's May Patterned Paper challenge.

Frame It for Aurora Wings

A new challenge begins today at Aurora Wings with the theme of "Frame It". 

Instead of literally framing an image, I tried to come up with a creative interpretation using Mitzi's gorgeous Pansy, available HERE on Etsy and HERE on AW.com.

My immediate thought was to use the "Spotlight technique" where a die cut portion of the image is colored and placed atop the rest of the uncolored image. However, I wanted the colored portion of Pansy framed, so I chose a Spellbinders Labels One die that fit a number of fancy frames and printed her out twice, in an appropriate size.  I positioned the die on one of the images, cut, embossed and then colored her with Copics.  I added some Diamond Glaze to her eyes and lips and flat back pearl earrings.

However, when I placed her on the completely uncolored version, the contrast was too harsh, so I colored the background version with the Copic Warm Gray range, and added Nuvo Jewel Drops in translucent Sea Breeze to the dew drops. Then I chalked around the image subtly. When finished, I die cut with a Spellbinders Grand Stately Circles and popped it atop a (barely visible) Grand Scalloped circle in the same very light blue for stability and also to enhance the lacy border.

I tried 4 different die cuts before finally choosing one to frame the colored portion of Pansy.  The ornate white version covered up too much of the gray scale image, but because that was my original choice, I also tried it in vellum which just muddied it up.  Since the vellum was out, I tried the smaller, simpler Scalloped Labels One but I didn't get the "Frame" effect I was going for.

However, the solid white version did the trick, especially after cropping and printing the orange pansy and butterfly 3 times and coloring and fussy cutting them to extend beyond the frame and add additional dimension.

Here's the full dimensional shot.  The "Bloom" die cut sentiment from Echo Park was cut 6 times and glued together for a chipboard effect and colored in a gradient with Copics.  To balance the design I added gorgeous crinkle ribbon bow from DL.Art and some punched butterflies from Martha Stewart.  Again, I colored with a gradient and added black centers to anchor them to the design.   Popping all of the layers added to the "framed" affect and I'm really pleased at how it all came out.  Be sure to visit the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog to see the gorgeous inspiration from my Stella Teammates.  We hope you'll come play along.

The new AW FB contest will begin shortly, but in the meantime, 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 (newly revamped!)

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Color Inspiration Monday #21 AG, Crafting from the Heart AG, 613 Avenue Create AG/Spring, Make my Monday May Flowers,  the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Crafty Friends #56 AG, the Alphabet Challenge "D" is for Decoupage, Crafting-With-Friends #42 AG, Creative Fingers #129 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC#186 AG, Morgan's Art World #8 AG, TTRCD week of April 25th AG, Craft-Dee Bowz AG/w handmade bow, Classic Design Team Open Challenge May #14, Crafty Creations AG, A Perfect Time to Craft Open May AG, Craftaholics R Us May Spring Colors or Flowers and Really Reasonable Ribbon Put a Bow on it.