The Outlawz Progressive and Wednesday Sketch Challenges

So here I am all worried about finishing my card for the November Freebie/Progressive Challenge on the Outlawz Forum when I realize the Wednesday Sketch Challenge ends TODAY!  Yikes!  Change of plans, well, not really because I had no design plan for the coloring of the adorable Micemas Post digi from Di's Digi Stamps.  So here's the sketch.

There's was no way I could have made the center image an oval, but it worked out okay.

Here's a closeup of the sweet image from Di's Digis.  Thanks so much, Di!  I've colored with Copics and a gold gel pen and did a tiny bit of shading with my Prismacolor pencils.  I was thrilled to get this image for free by signing up for the Freebie/Progressive Challenge and then if you finish a project within the month, you get the next month's sent to you automatically. Such a deal!

I'm also entering this in the Craft Your Passion ATG Challenge, Critters and Creatures November Linky Party, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends ATG and A Snowflakes Promise Winter. 

The Outlawz Freebie/Progressive Challenge

This is my second month playing in the Outlawz Freebie/Progressive challenge and September's image is this adorable Sunflower Mouse from Di's Digi Stamps. I'm not sure if he was drawn especially for the Outlawz, but you can find tons of adorable mice from Di HERE, in her shop, or quickly join the Progressive Challenge to request this image.  You have 'til the end of the month to finish a project and then you'll get the next month's freebie with which to play.  Usually I don't plan my papers prior to coloring, but this time I did, but then couldn't find the paper I had in mind.  (Big surprise!)  Luckily I came across this Designer Mat Pad from K&Co with a bicycle basket of sunflowers and the perfect place to perch the little mouse.  WooHoo! Hadn't really planned to fussy cut him either, (but hey, ya do what ya gotta do) and popped him right on there and added a little twine bow from DL.Art so I could also enter it in Di's Digi Design Challenge.  I cropped the mat to a square for my card and cut off 2 butterflies from the top so I fussy cut one of them to add as well.

Here's a closeup of Sunflower Mouse.  He's colored with Copics and I've added some shading and fur detail with Prismacolor pencils.  

I'm adding him to the DL.Art September Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday "Fall" challenge (It's actually also a Thank you card.  The inside says "Thanks a bunch!"), and Di's Digi Design Ribbon, Lace and/or Twine challenge.

Back to School with Lacy Sunshine

It's time for a new challenge at Lacy Sunshine and the theme is Back to School.  Where has the summer gone, eh?  There are lots of adorable Back to School stamps at the Lacy Sunshine Shoppe, but Eleanor and Pickles caught my eye.  It was the backpack.  You see, 4 years ago I made a similar backpack for one of my BFF's daughter because she was starting high school and on Wednesday, she, her Mom and I are flying to CO to take her to U of CO Boulder.  OMG!!!!  COLLEGE!  I can't believe it.  (BTW, This is the girl who invented the word "boofy", meaning beautiful, at age 3, and you all know we still use it today.  sniff sniff)  So I thought it would be fun to make her a new backpack and card.   It'll be fun to see if Hayley remembers the first one.

I made the backpack from a tutorial from way back by my dear friend DeeDee. I still had some of the cute apple DP (do you believe that!?) and dragged out my Cricut to cut the apple from the Create a Critter cartridge.  I sized Eleanor and Pickles to fit the opening and colored according to the scheme of the paper.  I also printed the image twice more, once for the card, and again to fussy cut Pickles to peek out the side.  See him up there?  I Hayley's name in Alpha Beads, just like the first one.

 Here's the side view.  It has straps and everything,  Isn't it cute?

The card is simple, as I wanted the image to take center stage.  They're colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped a top an oval cut with Spellbinders. Instead of "Back to School", it says "Off You GO".  We still can't believe it...COLLEGE!

There is tons of inspiration by the rest of the Sunshine Girls, so be sure to stop by the Challenge Blog and for a real treat.  We sure hope you join us for our Back to School Challenge.

I entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG challenge, TTRCD Aug 12-18 ATG, Sparkles Monthly Challenge Back to School (through 9/15),  Crafts for Eternity Something Old (the DP, backpack instructions, and Alpha Beads), Creative Corner Autumn is Coming, CCEE Stampers Saying Goodbye, the Crafter's Cafe Anything but a Card (the backpack), Digi Designs Back to School Challenge and Whimsy Stamps Back to School. 

Papelitos Anyhing but Square

There's a new challenge at The Papelitos Challenge Blog and it's right up my alley; Anything But Square.  As you know, shaped cards are my THING so I had a ball with this one.  I had many ideas, but finally settled on Devil.  Love his devious expression.  Ya know you can't win against the "House".  LOL 

Devil is colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped a top a shaped card made with my Cricut in Design Studio using the Father's Day cart.  The cards are paper pieced.  I was a little surprised that the cuts on Father's Day are mostly  outlines and to make a blackout base, you have to hide all the contours.  (PITA!)  Worth the trouble though, because I love how it came out.

The sentiment is computer generated on a hand cut banner with cool skully brads that add to the dimension.  There are lots of new images at the Papelitos Stamps Etsy Shop, and now until August 15, it's SALE time!  Buy 3 and get the 4th FREE.  Visit often, because there is always something new and Cris's eclectic style means there's something for EVERYONE.  There's tons of inspiration at the Papelitos Challenge Blog so pop on over and take a look.  There are prize winners every week, you don't have to use a Papelitos Stamp to enter (although we love it when you do) and at the end of each month, all those who entered the challenge with a Papelitos Stamp have another chance to WIN!  There's even a Freebie to nab on the Challenge Blog and our Facebook Page.  We currently have a DT call too and the deets are HERE.

I'm also entering this is the Paper Playtime Hot and Spicy with a Diecut or Punch challenge  (oh, come on, ya can't get any hotter than the devil, LOL), Whoopsiedaisy Die cuts and/or Punches, the Alphabet Challenge M is for Men Only, ATC's and Cards with Attitude Anything Goes, Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude Anything Goes, Simply Create Too anything Goes (2nd entry) and Di's Digi Designs No Squares Allowed.