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 Leo for Simply Steampunk

This month the Simply Steampunk team is working with the second half of the beautiful Steampunk Zodiac images drawn by Abigail Larson for SBS.  Today I bring you Leo.  I think the fabulous images are just perfect for birthday cards so that's what I've done here.  The Steampunk Digi papers are from Bearly Mine Designs. 

I've colored lovely Leo with Copics, fussy cut and popped her with foam.  The Zodiac references are quite subtle, which give them versatility.  I'd say the tail is sort of a giveaway here, though.  LOL

I enjoy adding Steampunk elements such as Tim Holtz tiny gears to the Prima flower centers as well as the die cut gears and a sort of tattered and distressed doily which are also Tim Holtz for Sizzix. 

To balance the design I added 3 faux screws that I made from Card Candi by scoring the centers and wiping with Guilder's Paste.  Finnally, the edges of the DP were distressed with my Zutter Distrezz It All.  All month long the DT showcases the newest featured Steampunk digi set, so please visit Simply Steampunk Challenges often. There's loads of inspiration.  Also remember our October Challenge, Monochromatic Colors runs through October 31st.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the Divas by Design 3 or More Layers, Frilly and Funky Colors of Autumn, Rhedd and Rosie's Colors of Autumn, Die Cuttin' Divas Use Brown, Inky Chicks Use 2 Different Die Cuts, TTRCD Anything Goes, Twisted Tuesdays Lots of Layers and Use Metal, Craftin' Desert Divas Anything With a Sentiment,  and Craft Your Passion, Heavy Metal.

Dilly Beans Pastels Challenge

This week at Dilly Beans it's all about soft pastel colors.  I was inspired by the DP from Heidi Grace and the sweet image #555 Paige.  A friend's niece recently dyed her hair lavender so I thought that might look nice on Paige, too.  Love it!  I have a banner die but couldn't find it so the flags were cut by hand and attached to mini pom pom trim.  The mat is Spellbinders.  Sorry about the Alpha Beads AGAIN, but what can I say?  The DT came up with some beauties this week so be sure and check them out HERE and come play along.

I'm also entering this in the Fab 'n' Funky Spring Colors Challenge, the Stamping Chef Girly Girl Challenge, and Die Cuttin' Divas Pastels Challenge.

Flowers From Dilly Beans

This week our Dilly Beans challenge is Flowers.  What a ball I had with this one.  The first image I chose was #184 Flower Girl.  This stamp actually has a flower in her hair, but by doing some cropping and merging in my Printmaster program I was able to size and add #166 Eyeball flower for one of her eyes.  All is colored with Copics.  The mat behind is a Nesties Beaded Oval. The sentiment is one of 9 from the #375 Cute and Dark collection.  And finally, to finish it off, I fussy cut #397 Daisy Border and popped it atop the lattice punch from MS.

I printed the eyeball flower twice to pop it up, but first used my kraft knife to cut out the eyeball part so that the lid could be over the iris, to which I'd added a Rain Dot.  This worked better for me than Glossy accents, because it was perfectly round and stayed that way.  Besides, I have minimal tolerance for waiting for things to dry.  LOL  They worked well for the flower centers on the Daisy Border, too.  The Dilly Beans Designers and Friday Challenge Blog is just blooiming, so be sure to check out the fabulous inspiration by my DT sisters.  And pop over to the Shop too, where Megan has added some fabulous new designs.  She's has even extended the "Buy 10 get 10 Free" offer through midnight TONIGHT (PDT), so HURRY!

I'm entering this card in the Scrap it with a Song challenge, as the song this week is "In My Life" by the Beatles.   It is dedicated to my love, my life  I love you Sweetheart, more than life itself, yesterday, today, and all my tomorrows. 

I'm also entering it in The Sisterhood of Crafters May Flowers Challenge, the I Brake For Florals Challenge, and the Die Cuttin' Divas #65 Flowers Challenge.