Crafting by Designs Guest Designer

I'm thrilled to be joining the talented team of Crafting by Designs as a GDT for their brand new challenge of Just One Layer.  This type of card is always a challenge for me, but I decided to go the easiest route and do the entire card digitally in my Printmaster Platinum Program.

I've designed a Baby Announcement using vintage images from some of the new Gecko Galz releases for May.  The lovely frame is one of the icons from the Free Birds Digital Craft Kit and the adorable new arrival is from the Sweet Babies Digital Collage set.  The pink borders and sentiment were added in my computer program and the card is an A2 size, meaning you could print two of them per sheet of card stock, making a quick and economical batch of announcements in no time flat.  Perhaps William and Kate would like a few (thousand) to send out announcing the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.  Ya think?  Yeah, me neither.  Where's the tiara?  In any case, I still think it's pretty cute and I want to thank the folks at Crafting by Designs for letting me join them this week.  Be sure to visit the blog and see the wonderful creations by the team and come and play along.

New Challenge at The East Wind

WooHoo!  Today our new challenge starts at The East Wind Challenge Blog. Our new theme is "For the Kiddies" so I couldn't resist the adorable Baby Aurora "Angel", inspired by Kyra's own daughter, Aurora. Tell me she isn't the most precious little thing EVER!  This sweet card was done with Dp's from Graphic 45 and die cuts from Spellbinders.

I've colored Baby Aurora with Copics in the colors of the papers and added some lovely flowers from Recollections and Prima.  I've tried to go a little bolder with my shading and added some pencil work after watching Kyra's fabulous speed coloring videos on YouTube.  What a fascinating opportunity to see an artist at work!  Be sure to visit the Challenge Blog and see the fun inspiration from my teamies and don't forget to scroll down to see the winners of our Beach challenge.  And there's still a few days left in our Just for a Laugh Facebook Contest.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the August Crafty Little Fairies Cute and Cuddly Challenge (entry 2), Hobbybook All About Kids, Fan-tastic Tuesday ATG, the Outlawz Monday Greeting Cards Use Circles, Crafting by Designs Polka Dots, Papertake Weekly Spots and Dots, the Fitztown Challenge Just for Kids, Love to Create inspired by a Book, Song or Movie (Song Brahms Lullaby), and Dragonfly Dreams inspired by a Book you Read as a Child or to a Child (Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Say Goodnight).

Professor Loo from The East Wind

This is for all my friends who teach.  Admirable job.  Couldn't do it myself.  So this latest make from the new release from The East Wind, Lucy Loo 'Professor Loo' is dedicated to you.  I used the png transparent background again to  merge her with the blackboard (retired from Tiddly Inks) then fussy cut around her skirt to add it to the background that was embossed at the bottom with the Tim Holtz Bricked folder.

Here she is!  I've been practicing my coloring and had so much fun with brown hair (for a change) and the folds of her top.  The East Wind artist Unky has done her first video on coloring hazel eyes (watch it HERE) and I even tried that, although it's hard to see on such a small scale, and added Glossy Accents to her glasses and lips.

AND, because I so wanted to enter the current Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "B" is for Brads or Buttons Challenge,  I risked my HOURS of coloring to punch a hole in Lucy's badge and add my VERY LAST little skully brad to her jacket and a couple more to the corner of the card.  See ladies, ya know I luv ya!  (I'll take the one on the left.)

Even think my computer generated sentiment has just the right amount of snark.  Do kids actually speak to each other any more?  Or hand write ANYTHING?  Don't get me started on this.  As if teaching kids isn't hard enough...shudder!

You can see more fabulous makes with 'Professor Loo' on THE East Wind FB Group page where you'll see new releases every Monday and Friday.  Stay tuned for the winners of our FB Contest and the new one starting soon.  And don't forget our "It's Getting Hot" Challenge (open to interpretation,  LOL) on the East Wind Challenge Blog running through July 25th.  Hope to see you soon.

I'm also entering this in the Fan-tastic Tuesday #44 (must be square or rectangular) ATG Challenge, Bearly Mine Let's Go Digital, Crafting by Designs Use a Sentiment, Digi Galore ATG and Paper Pretties Red, Black and White.

Along Came a Spider

The current challenge (which ends today) at Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog is Show Us Goth and/or Non-traditional Hair.  Couldn't pass up the chance to do both so chose Lenore Muffet, one of the Melancholy Moppets, available in the Lady Heather's Curiousities/Melancholy Moppets section of the Shop.  I used the png version of the stamp and printed her atop some spiderweb digi paper from the Caught in my Web pack from Smeared Ink.  I used Spellbinder's Grand Ovals plain and scalloped and Labels 17 to make my shaped card.

Here's Lenore in all her glory.  I took colors from the digi paper and colored her with Copics, using a white gel pen for a few highlights.  Sentiment is computer generated the the fabulous spider is a Jolee's sticker.

I'm also adding this to the TTRCD ATG Challenge, Simon Says Monday ATG, and Crafting by Designs Favorite Holiday (Halloween).

Lucy Loo 'Vampire Queen'

It's FRIDAY and that means another FABULOUS release from The East Wind.  Our fave Lucy Loo is vamping it up.  Isn't she just gorgeous (and yeah, a little frightening, I guess)?  Meet 'Lucy Loo' Vampire Queen.  I've made a simple shaped card using my Spellbinders Grand Labels One.  My "go to" lovely blood drips behind are from Tiddly Inks and are actually supposed to be ink but they work so well for me in red.  Don'tcha think?

I've colored Lucy with Copics and a gel pen for her ornament and added a lovely skelly cameo to her flower. 
 

The sentiment is from the net and I thought it had wonderfully haunting quality and just the right amount of "creep factor".  It's cut with Labels Four, inked and surrounded with Drippy Goo. My teamies have done Vampire Queen proud.  Take a look HERE. 

I planned to enter this in the Left of Center At the Movies Challenge, but I missed the boat  (Apparantly this was not the day to sleep in.  BooHoo!) 

I WILL enter it in A Step in the Dark ATG or Zombies  (I'll be back there with a Zombie, for sure so stay tuned) and Crafting by Designs Favorite Holiday (Halloween).

Guest Design Spot for Crafting by Designs.

I'm so excited that today I am Guesting at Crafting by Designs.  The new Challenge is Lace/Doilies, sponsored by the fabulous Lunagirl vintage images, digital collage sheets and Cd's, also available on Etsy.  I've made a vintage tag using a beautiful Lunagirl image.  Spring always makes me think of tea parties and tea parties make me think of doilies an lace.  I've used Spellbinders Labels Five to mat the image as well as to cut the top of the tag.  The beautiful doily is also a Spellbinders, exclusive to Heartfelt Creations from the Raindrops on Roses collection.  The vintage DP is Graphic 45 and the lovely pink crocheted lace is Melissa Frances.

The teapot is a QuicKutz die.  The "T's" in Tea time are from an old Stampin'Up Alphabet set, stamped in Aged Mahogany Distress ink and cut with a smaller Labels 5 die.  The remaining letters in "Tea Time" are Nostalgiques stickers by Sticko (which remind me of the tags on a tea bag) and everything has been "shabbied" up a bit using Distress Inks.  Finally, I've added an unusually packaged tea bag that I brought home from a trip.  Not my usual style but I love how it all came out.  Thanks so much to Crafting by Designs for having me.

I'm also entering this in the Lunagirl Moonbeams Victorian Spring Challenge and the Digitally 'Sweet' Challenge Anything but a Card.

I'm so Excited to be Part of the Lacy Sunshine Creative Team

Happy Saturday.  I'm excited to announce I've been invited to join the Lacy Sunshine Creative Team posting once a month on the Lacy Sunshine Blog.  WooHoo!  I just love working with Heather's adorable stamps and today I'm showcasing that busy gal Mayde, the resident Lacy Sunshine housekeeper.  Hope some of her habits run off on me.  LOL

I've made a little inspirational chore chart with note pad.  It's bound together on top with my Bind-It-All and attached to an easel card.  Each day you can flip the pages for a new chore and picture that features Mayde hard at work and all 6 are available in the NEW section of the Lacy Sunshine Shop. 

Monday features Mayde Laundry Day.

Tuesday, Mayde Pressing Matters.

Wednesday, Mayde Spring Cleaning Dust Bunnies

(in our house we call them dust kitties)

 Thursday, Mayde's Electric Broom

 

 

Friday, Mayde Scrub, Scrub, Scrub

and finally Mayde's Puppy Bathtime.

 

On Sunday, Mayde deserves a rest, don'tcha think?  Gotta say I had more fun coloring up these gals wih my Copics than I'll ever have doing chores.  Even Stickled the suds and put Glossy Accents on the bubbles. But I do think that just looking at this cutie will improve my attitude about the whole housework thing. 

Finally, I added a little Sticky Note pad and attached a pen to the binding with some ribbon I curled.  Hope you enjoyed my project as much as I did making it and will visit the Lacy Sunshine Blog regularly to see what's new.

 

I'm also entering this in the Outawz Friday Alcohol Markers Spring has Sprung Challenge, Crafts 4 Eternity Anything but a Card, Crafting by Designs ATG, and TTRCD April 1-8 ATG.

Dilly Beans Challenge- Shaped Cards

There's a new challenge at Dilly Beans: Shaped Cards.  No squares or rectangles, ya hear?  Megan also has a fabulous assortment of adorable new digi gals at the Dilly Beans Shop and I've used one of my faves, #592 Aidynn's Winter Hat Framed. EEEK!  Isn't her hat the cutest?  I'm sort of embarrased not too have used my Cricut here, but I've had sort of a block lately,after years and years of doing elaborate shaped cards.  Instead I pulled out my Nesties Grands and my cool Stampin' Up Festive Flurry stamp and die cut set and went to town.  That beautiful jewel is Stampin' Up, too.  The wire ribbon is from my stash and I'll tell you a little tip if you want to use ribbon for a sentiment as I did here.  Tape your ribbon to a strip of card stock before cutting the ends to length and it will be easier to cut, you'll avoid fraying, and it will be easier to adhere with tape or foam to whatever project you choose.

We've had an unseasonably warm and dry Winter here in CA, but I know many of you have been bombarded by snow and frigid temps.  That was my inspiration this week and I even finished the inside of my card, just for you.  HUGS!

Oh, and one last thing.  Be sure to stop by the Challenge Blog to see some of the newest Dilly Beans in action...sooo stinkin' CUTE!!!!!  And if you act fast (like I mean TODAY!) you can get them 2 for one.  Hurry!  Don't miss it!

I'm also entering this in the Crafting by Designs Think Warms Thoughts Challenge, Creative Moments Anything Goes, Add Some Sparkle, Digi Stamps 4 Joy Add REAL Ribbon, TTRCD ATG Jan 27th-Feb 4th, Die Cuttin' Divas Winter Fun and The Sisterhood of Crafters Winter's Snowflakes, Stampin' with the Dragon Winter Blues and the Creatalicious Turquoise Winter Challenge.

Showcasing Sagittarius for Simply Steampunk

Today I'm showcasing the lovely Sagittarius for Simply Steampunk, one of the new Steampunk Zodiacs at SBS.  There's something about her bow and arrow that made me make a tag using Fall colors, or maybe it's just the cooler weather we've been having.  I used kraft for the tag and gorgeous K&Co Dp.  The sentiment just sort of came to me while on my morning hike and I printed it on the computer, cut the rectangle and scrunched and distressed and inked and spritzed it with water until it looked weathered enough to make the scroll.  I thought the copper skeleton leaves added to the woodsy feel.

Sagittarius is colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped.  The gorgeous clothing of the Steampunks is so much fun to color.  I've added some fab fibers and some Tim Holtz metal flowers and foliage to the Primas in honor of our current Metal Challenge.  It runs through Sept 5th so I hope to see you there.

I'm also entering this in the Crafting by Designs Celebrate Women challenge, Ruby's Rainbow Vintage Challenge,  Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes, Papertake Weekly Anything Goes w/Optional Vintage, Simply Challenged Heavy on the Embellishments, TTRCD Aug 6-12, and Avenue 613 Create Anything Goes with an Optional Sentiment.

Dilly Beans Summertime

Don't faint, this is my second post of the day.  If you're looking for Simply Steampunk, please scroll down.

It's Friday and you know what that means.  It's another new Challenge at Dilly Beans.  We're celebrating Summertime and it could be a more perfect day for it.  The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and it's gonna be HOT!   Perfect flip flop weather if you ask me and I'm dreamin' of the beach.  I've used the adorable #184 Flower Girl (scroll down to find her).  She is still one of my all time faves.  I've paper pieced her hair, added a fun felt flower and used adhesive lace for her dress.  The cool embossing is the new Cuttlebug Wicker folder.  There's lots more summer inspiration at the Challenge Blog and we can't wait to see what you come up with.  But remember, you must used a Dilly Beans image to join in.

I'm also adding this to the Through the Craftroom Door Anything Goes Challenge 6/4-6/10, Delightful Challenges Here Comes the Sun, Dutch Dare Paper Shelter Summer's Coming Challenge, Creative Creations Paper Piecing Challenge and Crafting by Designs Summer Fun.

Dilly Beans Winter Fun Challenge

It's Friday and that means there's another fun challenge at The Dilly Beans Challenge Blog...literally.  Our challenge this week is Winter Fun.  No snow here were I live in CA but I have loads of fond memories as a kid of building igloos and snowmen, sledding, and skating outdoors on the rink my Dad used to build in the backyard.  I kinda miss that white stuff, except scraping my windshield and driving in it.  For my project I've chosen #515 Amalia Making a Snowman.  I colored the image with Copics to match the cute DP from MME.  The snow was torn from a corrugated sheet and I've added a few pom pom snow balls and glitter snowflakes.  The large flake at the bottom is Cuttlebug, the smaller, MS and the sentiment is computer generated.  Hope you like.  Now go get your chilly thrills and see the fab inspiration by my teamies HERE.  Can't wait to see what you create.

I'm also entering this in the Sweet Stampin' Christmas Cold and Frosty Challenge, The Crafting by Designs Getting Ready for Christmas Use a Snowman Challenge, the Fab 'n' Funky Winter Challenge, the Creative Card Crew Snow and Ice Challenge and The Perfect Sentiment Winter Wonderland Challenge.