SOSS "F" is for Fantasy

Okay, here's a quickie just under the wire for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "F" is for Fantasy Challenge that ends in a few hours.  Since Fantasy is also my second favorite "F" word (just like Edna), I just couldn't resist.

I've had this idea in my mind for several years and just never got it together.  So sorry that Lisa, of Bloobel Stamps, is no longer in business, because her quirky images are some of my faves.

Here's a closeup since I'm not sure the "sparkle" is all that visible.  Images are colored (rather quickly) with Copics and the "sparkle" is from Stardust Stickles.  
(So THAT's where that stuff comes from.  Who knew?)

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art November Linky Challenge, Jo's Scrap Shack #260 AG, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies AG w/animal, Crafting From the Heart #228 AG, and the Outlawz Monday Greetings Fantasy Challenge.

Last one for the Hop (I think)

Couldn't finish my coffee cards for the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop until I did one with a digi from Bloobel Stamps.  These fun quirky stamps are some of my faves and I'm crushed to see that she's closing up shop on June 18th.  The good news is that all stamps are now $1.50 with and additional 30% discount on the top of the store page, if you purchase $5.00 or more.  This digi is called Scared of Mice.  No, she seems to be scared of decaf.  Click HERE if you'd like to see the Bloobel Coffee Themed digis.  I've used a few of them in past Hops.  Like this one,

  
and this one (clearly I have an issue with decaf)

  

and this one.

So I hope you go and take a look around Bloobel stamps.  The first page of digital stamps has two cute freebies.

The cup and steam on today's card were done with stamps from Super Sponsor Verve Stamps.  EEEK!  They are also closing up shop and have a 55% discount store wide (except the two new limited edition sets).  I've already placed my order and stuff is selling out fast. 

I'm kind of sad now, not only because of the store closings, but because the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Hop is almost over.  Thanks so much to Amy, the Super Sponsors and all involved with making this such a fun and inspiring event.  Looking forward to the next one already.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #82 AG, Simply Papercraft #58 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #236 AG (2/3), Crafting With Friends #68 (2/3), ...

Always be Yourself

When I saw the Outlawz Festive Fridays theme of Ice Cream Treats I knew I would be using some of the hilarious images from Bloobel Stamps and I found these guys in my "unfinished coloring" stack and thought they would be perfect.  I think my problem had been I couldn't decide on flavors, which is often my problem in real life when faced with ice cream choices, so there ya go.  It is, however, with a heavy heart I'm writing this post because I've just found out that Bloobel Stamps is closing it's doors at the end of this month.  Lisa is one of my favorite digi artists and I'll miss her quirky style tremendously.  Here I've used Ice Cream Unicorn and Ice Cream Bleurk.  I've merged the two images in my Printmaster Platinum program and added a computer generated sentiment.  The DP is from the DCWV Sweet Stack.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #80 AG, the Fairy and the Unicorn April AG w/magical creatures, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies May AG w/Critter, Simon Says Wednesday Animal Magic, Creatalicious AG/opt add a sentiment, Tuesday Throwdown Critter Crazy and TTRCD starting May 1.

Egg Decorating with Bloobel

There's a fun contest going on over at the Bloobel Stamps Create and Share FB Group page that I just couldn't pass up.  Lisa has a full page of Egg Decorating goodies available for FREE HERE to join in.  Well, you know I love me some Bloobel so I had to join in, but instead of the free egg I decorated the one (using the stuff from the decorating kit) from Easter Chicken because her expression just "cracks me up", (pun intended).

  
Here's a little better pic of Easter Chicken.  I figured that that huge egg might be a little worse for wear after being laid by such a little chicken so I used the paint splats, patches and Band-aids from the FREE Easter Egg Painting stamps to decorate it.  I colored with Copics and added some cracks, as well.  My original plan was just to color it so I printed it HUGE. as well, then realized it looked so bare I wanted to make a card with it.  Instead of fussy cutting (because it would have been a GINORMOUS card) I took a pic of my coloring and resized and removed the background so I could add this cute retro Easter Bunnygram from Gecko Galz behind it. Turned out pretty cute, eh?

I'm also adding this to the Outlawz Festive Fridays Here Comes Spring theme, the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, TTRCD Week of March 27th, Make My Monday Easter Fun, A Bit More Time to Craft #64 AG and Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #226 AG. 

You Don't Look 60

It's Janis's Birthday month and she's got a fun celebration going on at Her Peaceful Garden until March 3rd.  It's nearing the end of her celebration but I've got yet ANOTHER kitty ATC for the Week One All Those Cats Challenge.  Of course there are other themes, but you know I love me some KITTIES, so there ya go.  

Besides, I just HAD to color up this cute new kitty from Bloobel called Hunting Felix Cat.  He actually comes as just the  kitty, but I thought it would be fun to have him peeking out of a birthday present so I pasted him over the little kiddle in Bloobel's Peekaboo Present my Printmaster Platinum Program and colored him up with my Copics.  I just couldn't resist some googly eyes to emphasize the computer generated sentiment.

So I was up pretty early today (3:00 am) considering going to the Scrapbook Expo in Pleasanton, hoping to score some goodies.  We'll see about that.  In the meantime, I'm also adding this to DL.Art March Linky Challenge, SUYP February AG/Kitty Love, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #76 AG,  2 Crafty Critter Crazies March AG w/critter, and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

Fun in the Snow with Bloobel

Here's another for the Outlawz Festive Friday Challenge, this one for the theme "Fun in the Snow".  The adorable stamp is from Bloobel called "Kitty Snowman".  How could I resist?  I've had a heck of a time making decisions about colors and papers lately and finally found this ancient piece from the Sassafrass Lass Life is Beautiful collection in my stash that suited the cute a quirky image perfectly.  My Tim Holtz On the Edge Snowflake die with it's funky snowflakes rounded out the design.

Here's a closeup of Kitty Snowman.  I've colored with Copics with colors from the DP and even tried to do a bit of subtle crosshatching over the blue in the sky using a very light touch with my E42 in the background, like that on the DP.  The snowflakes are done with a white Posca Paint pen.  The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art January Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Winter challenge, the SUYP Jan (cat's only, hoping that a "Kitty Snowman" still fills the bill) Furrything Goes/Meuw Year challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #73 AG, Simon Says Winter Blues, Simon Says Use Patterned Paper, Star Stampz Winter, the Colour Crazy Challenge Week 1 and TTRCD Week of Jan 9th AG.

Goliath's Christmas Card for Daddy (again, for NEXT year)

Well, I totally dropped the ball again.  After a dismal crafting showing in December, I started off 2018 with a bang with 4 posts in a row and now here it is the 9th, with nothing in between.  In my defense, Ou BFF's spend the holidays away so this Saturday was our "Christmas Dinner".  So Thursday was spent grocery shopping, Friday was spent cooking, and all day Saturday was spent "de-catting" the house because Lisa is allergic.  Sunday I spent binge watching "Scandal" and recovering while trying to dodge a cold (so far so good) and yesterday Goliath got on my case because I'd done a Christmas card for Jezebel to give Daddy next year, but none for him.

Okay then!  This image was a no brainer.  The quirky stamps from Bloobel are some of my faves and Christmas Present Cat had "Goliath" written all over it.

Here's a closeup of Christmas Present Cat.  He's colored with Copics in appropriate "Goliath " colors ( E41-47) and I've colored the bird as the California Jay that used to swoop down for Jezebel's food this summer while she camps in the backyard.  Unfortunately, Goliath usually goes for the smaller more tender species, but one can always hope.  Goliath is thrilled so now I guess I'll go put his away with Jezzie's card for Daddy for next year and hope I can find them when the time comes.

I'm entering this in the SUYP #26 January Furrything Goes/Meuw Year Challenge, the DL.Art January Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #73 AG, the Outlawz Festive Friday Christmas theme, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #10 Jan AG/w critter (4/5), Crafty Animals #10 AG/ animal, ...

Smile for the Cat Lovers Hop

Okay, then.  Here's another for the Cat Lover's Hop at Her Peaceful Garden.  At least now I've got 4 projects in 4 days, and considering the fact that any deadlines have recently sent me into a tailspin, I'm doin' good.  (Is it wine o'clock yet?)  Silly me, it's wine o'clock somewhere, eh?  

So as soon as I saw this image, called Smiley Cat from Bloobel Stamps I thought of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland and the wheels started turning.  I remembered an embossing folder I had from Crafts Too and pictured Smiley Cat in the tree, but I didn't want him to be all embossed too, so I cut a hole in the tree after embossing from which he could peek out.  A rectangular card seemed a bit boring and since the majority of it would be white, I decided to cut the top of the tree in a circle (with Spellbinders Grands) and back it with a Scalloped Circle to add some color.  I embossed the tree again, trimmed it to fit and added the trunk and ground to a square card base and lined it up.

Here's a closeup of Smiley Cat. He's colored with Copics in the colors of the more recent Alice in Wonderland movie.  Because he's a digi, I was able to resize him to fit in the hole I'd cut purrfectly.  The sentiment is an old metal sticker from Colorbok.  I'm making this sort of a Thinking of You card so inside it will say "It makes people wonder what you're up to."  Cheers!  

I'm also entering this in the SUYP October Furrything Goes challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG and the Outlawz Festive Fridays for the theme Thinking of You.

Have a COOL Yule!

Still having fun with the Bloobel Stamps Ice Cream collection, this month's Progressive Challenge in the Bloobel Stamps FB Group.  I've used Ice Cream Santa, this time, and you can find the rest of the Ice Cream Stamps in the August Collection HERE.  After joining the Bloobel FB Group there is a link to join the Progressive challenges in the Progressive album and you will receive a code to choose one of the stamps for free and also a discount code for 50% off any other choices in the Progressive challenge collection as long as you participate in the previous one.  WooHoo!

I've colored Ice Cream Santa with Copics with some Nuvo Dot sprinkles and Diamond Glaze on the hot fudge sauce.  His face is peppermint and beard French vanilla.  Yumbo, eh?  I took this shot hoping the shine would show up better.  Well...?  The edges were distressed, edged in glue and sprinkled with the coarser Doodlebug Sugar Coating glitter.  The sentiment was computer generated, matted and popped.

I'm adding this to the Outlawz Festive Fridays under the Christmas theme, Kerst/Christmas August FB Group challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Add a Sentiment, the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #64 AG, C.R.A.F.T. #429 Christmas, The Holly and the Ivy AG Christmas, Scrapping4Fun #97 AG, TTRCD 8/22-8/29 and the August CHNC challenge Extra.

You Are What you Eat

The August Progressive challenge is in full swing in the Bloobel FB Group and this month's theme is all about ice cream.  Lisa has a choice of SEVEN quirky ice cream cone digis for this challenge and if you played last month you get your choice FREE.  She also has a coupon code for 50% off all the rest of the images which runs though the end of the month.  That code is also available in the Bloobel FB Group so if you haven't joined, why the heck not?  You can see them all HERE.  So how could I resist a bargain like that?  I didn't, of course, and bought them all and decided for my first project to use Ice Cream Moustache because I love combing Bloobel images and thought it was hilarious with a Heart Moustache.  They're colored with Copics and I've used Nuvo Crystal Drops on the ice cream (and his goatee and moustache) for sparkle and shine. I also wanted to play in the Outlawz Twisted Thursday this week and although using the "twist" isn't mandatory, I chose DP with faux stitching and a stitched die cut frame as well.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art August Linky challenge,  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #63 AG, TTRCD week beginning 8/08 AG, Your Scrapbook Place August AG,  Jo's Scrap Shack #200 AG and Dream Valley Challenge #160 AG.

Bloobel Progressive (I Scream... You Scream...)

Nothing like waiting until the last day to get a Progressive challenge posted, eh? In my defense, I have been working on it for a couple of weeks but have been very ADD and indecisive about almost every aspect of this card.   I adore Bloobel Stamps and do especially love to use multiple images together to tell a story.  The prescribed Progressive image is Swimming Diver that I received for free by signing up on the Bloobel FB Group Page to participate and creating each month.  In some cases Lisa also has some coordinating images that you may purchase with a discount code (included in your Progressive challenge email) while the challenge is still going on, in this case Angry Shark and Scaredy Crab, but I couldn't resist also adding Ice Cream Octopus for a fun summer twist on the underwater theme.

They're all colored with Copics and fussy cut and I added ice cream cones to the Diver's hand and Crab's claw by printing an additional Octopus and cutting from there.  My original plan was to do a stop card but it wasn't working for me so I again used my new Waves Die from Avery Elle and added a circle embossed with a Waves folder by Darice to the top backed by a Double Stitched Circle die from Kat Scrappiness.  The additional fish was added to balance the colors a bit and the sand to ground it all.  Both are stickers from JoLee's.  Sentiment was computer generated.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #62 AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Dream Valley #60 AG, Cupcake Inspirations #416 Beachy, and C.R.A.FT. #426 Summer.

Summer Fun for The Outlawz Color Challenge

I blew off crafting this weekend, partly because it was deathly hot and also because my forearm and hand is sort of bothering me.  I'm not usually a hypochondriac, but ever since my friend described her symptoms of carpal tunnel, I've wondered whether my twinges could be leading in that direction.  I certainly hope not!  Anyway, now it's Monday and I realized I hadn't done a card for the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge yet (and I do love playing there) so I grabbed the new Avery Elle waves die I'd been waiting for and colored up a cutie from Bloobel Stamps called Floating with my Copics.  The sun die is from Verve and I've cut the sentiment from the back cover of a 6x6 paper pack by Carta Bella (of the same name).  Here's the inspiration pic.  I wish I were there.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #62 AG, Glitter 'n' Sparkle #249 Summer Sunshine, Scrapping4Fun Bon Voyage/Vacation and Craft Rocket #39 AG.

K is for Kids-Guest Designing for the Sisterhood

Hot off my win and shiny crown for D is for Drunk, I'm thrilled to be Guest designing for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #88 K is for Kids. Gotta say I laughed out loud when I saw the theme, since pretty much all my thoughts about kids are basically snarky, which is why I don't have any.  Lucky me?  Lucky them?  I'd say we all came out ahead.

So how could I resist again composing a scene with Bloobel stamps?  They're so quirky and fun they're always my "go to" for humor and snark.

So here's a closeup of the happy family, all colored with Copics.  We have calm mama Zen, big brother Hugh Nose, little sister Bunny Ears (although to me she looks like she's saying "Na na, na na, na, na", the little brat) and finally Cry Baby.  I couldn't resist pulling out another "thought bubble" for Mom's real feelings using a cropped version of Zodiac Leo.  I'm not quite sure what Zen mama is on, but in case you can't read it, the sentiment says "I may look calm, but I've already killed them in my mind 1000 times today."  Pretty sure I couldn't exhibit the same amount of self control.  Be sure to visit the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers for more fabulous snark and come play along.  Childrens' lives just may hang in the balance.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #61 AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Paper Craft Happy #2 AG with a Girl, Creative Fingers #134 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FCC#196 AG, Simply Papercraft #48 AG, and Craft Rocket AG.

Sorry You're Dragon

Well, the June Fantasy Progressive challenge is over in the Bloobel Stamps FB group but I'm far from being done with the fab images.  Thought a little get well card would be cute (especially for a male) using Roaring Dragon.   He's colored with Copics and I've stretched out some copyright free clip art flames for his sneeze.  I tore and inked the corner of the page instead of actually trying to burn it and ruining all my hard work (been there, done that) and added a simple sentiment and a few pearls to balance the design.  The DP is from the old DCWV Safari stack.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Monday Greetings AG, Crafty Friends #61 Man/Boy, The Fairy and the Unicorn #5 AG w/Mythical Creatures, Creative Fingers 133 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC 195 AG, CCC Creations Monochrome, Not Just Cards #45 AG and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

Good Day Sunshine

Yes, here's another for the fabulous Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop using another fun digi from Bloobel Stamps.  No, I'm not on her Design Team, in fact, Lisa doesn't even HAVE a design team.  I just love her quirky digis and there are so many that fit the appropriate theme.  Meet Morning Mom.  You might notice that I tend to color (with Copics) all of these chicks with red hair.  Although I'm not a Mom (except to furbabies), I can relate to these characters on so many levels so what can I say?  I do spend more than a fair share of time in pj's, have hot pink velcro rollers, am less than perky prior to coffee and can't wait 'til wine o'clock.  I've added the stamped and die cut sun and "coffee" die cut from super sponsor Verve to join in the Sunshine theme for the Outlawz Festive Fridays.

I'm gonna be so bummed when this Hop is over.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG, Star Stampz Bright /Sunshine, TTPH Spots and/or Stripes, TTRCD Week of June 27 AG and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Here's a quickie for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  This fab event happens 4 times a year for coffee, tea and cocoa lovers and the inspiration and sponsors are beyond amazing. However, I've been having so much fun hopping that I haven't posted any cards.  Yikes!  Of course I could have made a head start, but that's not my system.  So here's a quickie using the hilarious Lost Tea digi from Bloobel Stamps.  Obviously from the sentiment, my chick isn't spitting out tea, but that coffee impostor, also known as DECAF!  She's colored with Copics and cut with a Double Stitched Circle die from super sponsor Kat Scrappiness.
*EDITED*  I FOUND the DIGI PAPER! Yay, me!  HERE it is!

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG  and Simon Says Wednesday Use Pattered Paper.

Pigs Might Fly

Here's one for the Bloobel Progressive challenge on FB.  Of course I picked out my free stamp for joining in the previous month, but I also felt compelled to purchase any others that may be used for the challenge.  You can see them all HERE and use the coupon FANTASTIC50 to get 50% off one or all until the end of the month.  I chose this one to do first because I suggested a flying pig way back when and the quirky Pigs Might Fly image was the original result (Lisa said, at the time, she didn't know how to draw a pig.  LOL).  Well, the suggestion was made again for the Progressive challenge, and lo and behold, meet Fairy Pig. Just had to put them together and it gave me a chance to try the clouds and sky background from the August 2016 Monthly Marker class from Kit and Clowder. Yup, all colored with Copics. Way fun!  Yay, me!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG.

Bottoms UP! (for the Sisterhood)

As soon as I saw the current challenge at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers I just knew I had to play along. I did not, however think it would take me until today, with a little less than 6 hours to go (and it's a 2 week challenge) to get this done.  But I finally DID!  Yay, ME!  So here ya go for D is for DRUNK.

I hate to say this is semi autobiographical, but my BFF from college and I sure used to attract the LOSERS when we hit the bars for "girl's night out".  We'd even make bets on which gross dude would ask us to dance first.  Edna would not be amused.  Not necessarily THIS Edna, my MOM Edna.  (But she didn't know shit since I was hundreds of miles away, so there ya go.)

Anyway, my little dive bar scene is comprised of stamps from Bloobel.  What a RIOT, eh?  We've got Barney Beer, One Glass of Wine (One?  Nah, this is a job for a bottle or two at least) and a cropped version of All Shades of Green (flipped because even though she's a thought bubble, actually looking at the dude might cause her to...)  Okay then, I'm done.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG  and Simon Says Wednesday Use Pattered Paper.

WooHoo!  It's GOOD to be QUEEN!

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.