Aurora Wings New Release Memento Mori

There's a gorgeous new stamp premiering today at Aurora Wings called Memento Mori.  Now you know I love me some skulls and this one, lying amonst the gorgeous poppies makes me swoon!  You can find the meaning of "Memento mori", as well as fabulous creations from my teamies using this gorgeous new digi on the AW Showcase Blog HERE.

Here's a closeup view all colored up with Copics.  I chose to do the poppies in red to truly make them POP.  Lots of fussy cutting going on too.

Did you know that Mitzi also has a variety of floral borders and corners that coordinate with her beautiful stamps?  I've used a Poppy corner to balance my design here, but there are many more gorgeous floral stamps available in both sets and individually HERE.  They are perfect to combine with her fantasy stamps or elegant on their own.

I've made a tent card, cutting the window with my Spellbinders Labels 17 and framed it with the largest of the Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles.  I used the second largest of the dies to cut the opening window with my craft knife.  The intricate web, floating through the center, is a Memory Box die.

I'm entering this in the Corrosive Crop it or Cut it Challenge, Left of Center using the LOC theme, Creative Knockouts Die Cuts/Punch Frenzy, the Fitztown Favorite Colors challenge (black, white, red)  and A Step in the Dark ATG.

The East Wind Embossing challenge

It's the first of the month and that means a new challenge at The East Wind.  The DT has all used the adorable Freebie, Aurora Gardening that comes when you sign up for the Newsletter so be sure and check right hand side of the Challenge Blog and sign up to get yours.  This fortnight the challenge is EMBOSSING (wet or dry)!

 

 

Here's a cloose up of this cutie.  She's colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped.  The gardening embossing folder is from the Cuttlebug Cricit Companions to Freshly Picked.  The fun veggie Dp is Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety and I've added multicolored twine from The Twinery. 

 

 

Here you can see I've popped the two matted embossed layers as well. 

I planned this as a thank you card but really couldn't fit my hokey pun on the front so here's the matching inside. My DT sisters have done her up proud so please go visit The East Wind to see their gorgeous creations.

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday ATG, Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Layer it Up Challenge, the Fitztown Thank You Challenge, Chocolate Coffee and Cards Embossing, Craftitude Pop it Up, Jellypark Bold and Bright, and Creative Knockouts Summer's Coming.

 

Lacy Sunshine Anything Goes

 

This is my second post of the day, so please scroll down for my Dilly Beans DT card for the new Challenge.

Here's a little tag I did for the current challenge at the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog.  Although I started it using the freebie I got from the Loyalty Plan (use any LS image for one challenge, get the next Challenge image as a freebie)  from the last challenge but didn't quite get it done, it totally works for Anything Goes this time.  I've made a Spring tag using my Cricut for the garden gate.  It was designed in DS using the Picturesque cartridge with the "Spring" header from Stretch Your Imagination.  The pieces were then embossed with the Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes folder.

The adorable image is Gemma's Spring Gumdrops.  Could she possibly be any cuter?  I've printed her several times in several sizes so I could fussy cut her flower, colored her with Copics and fussy cut and popped her in front of the fence.  The flower on her head is popped as well and there are two more growing beside her on the other side of the gate.

As you can see, the tag is quite dimensional.  The DP behind is from an old DCWV sack and I've added a little punched butterfly and Prima flowers to the top of the gate.

I'm also adding this to the 4 Crafty Chicks Spring Challenge, C.R.A.F.T Challenge What Season Where You Are, Art Impressions "Getting Girly", Outlawz Twisted Thursday Add a Butterfly, Creative Knockouts Texturize it, Cute Card Thursday Floral Delights, Southern Girls Floral Frenzy, Stampavie and More Girly, TTRCD ATG Mar 25th -31, Tuesday Throwdown Digi Dimension, All-Crafts Challenge Anything but a Card, Artistic Inspirations ATG, Created with Love Girly Challenge, 613 Ave Create ATG, Whoopsie Daisy Welcome Spring, Catered Crop Spring Fever, Craft a Scene Let it be Spring, Eclectic Ellapu Flowers and Butterfies, and Robin's Fetish Anything but a Card.

Lacy Sunshine It's a Bling Thing

Still battling my stupid cold which has left me pretty ADD (sounds good to blame it on that, eh?) but I've finally managed to finish a rather giant tag for the Lacy Sunshine It's a Bling Thing Challenge.  I had the hardest time deciding which image to use, especially since there's a holiday sale of Seasonal Digis going on at the shop and I desperately needed some retail therapy.  I finally chose Coco's Holiday Ornament and made a mega tag because I had all kinds of bling I wanted to use.  The fab swirl is from Prima and the gorgeous snowflakes from JoLee's.  When you ask for "BLING", I don't mess around.  The shiny DP is from last year's DCWV Winter magic stack mounted on textured silver card stock from American Crafts.

I've colored Coco with Copics, the ornament with a metallic silver Sharpie and added Stickles to the top, as well as her wings and set diamonds in her wings as well.  I've flocked her boots and cuff and cut a tinsel pom pom in half for her earmuffs.  There are pearls in her hair and diamonds in her eyes.  I think I got the bling covered, don't you?   Of course there are only a couple hours left for the challenge so I better get my rear in gear. 

I'm also entering this in the Crafts 4 Eternity Glitter and Sparkle Challenge, Crafty Catz Tags and Bags, Creative Knockouts Snowflakes, TTRCD ATG Nov 19th-25th, Fab 'n' Funky ATG,  613 Avenue Create ATG, Corrosive Fur and Feathers Challenge, C.R.A.F.T. Challenge Nov. 21st (Inspiration Pic), and Tag Along Ring a Ding Ding, Lots of Bling Challenge.

Dilly Beans Brads or Eyelets Challenge

It's Friday, which means it's time for a new Dilly Beans Challenge.  This week we want to see Brads or Eyelets.  I tried my own version of the "spotlight technique" using both #504 Noah's Winter Hat and #505 Noah's Warm Winter Wishes Framed.   First I printed Noah on white card stock.  Then, in my Printmaster Pro Program I resized the framed verson to fit perfectly over the first digi which gave me a sentiment.  The uncolored version was embossed with an older Cuttlebug folder and I've added brads and some glitter acetate on top of random snowflakes.  The framed "spotlight" was colored with Copics and glittered with Stickles and I found a teeny button brad for his coat.  I used deckle edge sicissors to cut out the frame and popped it for dimension.  Stop by the Dilly Beans Challenge Blog for more inspiration and come play along.

I'm also adding this to the CCEE Stampers embossing and Glitter Challenge, Creative Knockouts Snowflakes, 613 Avenue Create ATG, and Holly Jolly Warm Christmas Challenge and ABC Christmas Challenge W is for Winter Wishes.

Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop

If you are looking for Simply Steampunk, please scroll down.

Hello everyone and welcome to our:
Hola y Bienvenidos a nuestro Blog Hop del

Thank you for joining us in celebrating Day of the Dead/El Dia de los Muertos with us!

We have a super cool line-up for you! Now, if you are here from Monica

then, you are heading in the right direction! But, if you happen to be visiting and want to hop with us make sure you start over with Abby, out blog host!

Muchas gracias por venir a celebrar el Dia de los Muertos con nosotras!
Tenemos unas chicas super talentosas participando con nosotros en este bello blog hop! Si vienes de con Monica vienes por buen camino, si llegaste a visitar y quieres brincar con nosotras entonces comienza en el blog de Abby! La anfitriona de nuestro Blog Hop!

Abby and Gaby started this event back in 2010! That's 4 years ago already!

This is one of Abby's favorite days to celebrate because of the meaning of what Day of the Dead is,

and what can be better than a super cute cartoon to illustrate what Day of the Dead is!
Abby y Gaby comenzaron con estos blog hops desde el 2010! Pueden creer que ya son 4 años!
Este es uno de los dias preferidos para celebrar de Abby porque le encanta el mensaje que tiene, y que mejor manera de explicarlo con una linda caricatura!!

It's all about celebrating LIFE!

El Dia de los Muertos se trata de celebrar la VIDA!!

 
My project is a little banner using the adorable Dulcinea Sugar Skulls Sticky Wings digi (scroll down to find yours) from Lacy Sunshine, and the Mini Calaverita clear stamp set from Dilo en Espanol.  The banners were cut by hand and Dulcinea is mounted on a Nesties Mega Classic Scalloped Oval.

I've printed her out 3 times, colored her with Copics, fussy cut and popped her for dimension. 

Here you can see the dimensional shot.
 

All of the skulls were colored first, them run through my Xyron right side down and glittered with microfine transparent Art Glitter to resemble sugar skulls.  It is so fine that it will not damage your Copic tips, so I recolored after glittering for the vibrant effect.  The two sugar skulls flanking the main image are from the Mini Calaverita set from Dilo en Espanol featured below.

The sentiment is also from the Mini Calaverita set.  It translates to "Here is your little (sugar) skull."  Remember, Dia de los Muertos is a joyous happy occasion celebrating family members who are gone but not forgotten.  Sugar skulls often bear the names of loved ones.  If you would like to revisit my previous posts and learn more about the traditions I follow at my house each year, please click Here for 2010, HERE for 2011, and HERE and HERE for 2012.

 

Dilo En Español has a couple of stamps that are perfect for this event!

Dilo En Español tiene unos sets que van perfecto con esta hermosa fecha!

Mini Calaverita

2x3 stamp set

and 

Mary La Catrina

4x4 stamp set

Please visit Abby's Blog for a list of all the fabulous prizes and rules for qualification. 

 

Next on the hop is:                      

ORLIS

and just in case you get lost!

Here is the line-up:

 

Abby- www.scrapbookaholicbyabby.com

Gaby- www.gabycreates.com

Xochitl- www.cricutcritter.blogspot.com

Michelle- www.scrappinwithmybug.com

Candace- www.papercraftsbycandace.com

Monica- www.monicascreativemadness.com

Donna- www.donnamundinger-popsicletoes.blogspot.com - you are HERE

Orlis- www.bauldeandrea.blogspot.com

Patty- www.cardsbypattytanuz.blogspot.com

Lizeth- www.super-scrapbook.blogspot.mx

 

I'm also entering this in the Lacy Sunshine Anything Goes Challenge, 613 Ave Create Anything Goes, Simon Says Monday Anything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Charisma Cardz Anything But Cards and Creative Knockouts Banners and Pennants.