Warm and Fuzzy Easter Wishes

There's something about Spring with Easter and all the cute baby animals that get me all warm and fuzzy.  Seems I just can't stop flocking these days.  LOL  Here's a sweet one that Jezzie insisted I make.  The adorable image is Chick and Kitten-Mama it's So Fluffy.  With a name like that, how could I not flock?  Got a chance to try out my new Spellbingers Grand Decorative Labels One to make this lacy shaped card.  I cut a cut a Spellbinger's nested Egg twice and cut it to look like the chick had just hatched. and added some time punched flowers and a little bow.

Here's a closeup of the image.  TOOO cute!    The kitty was flocked with white, the chick, printed again on yellow, fussy cut and flocked with yellow.  As you can see, the shading I've done on the images with my Copics still shows through. 

Today is a special day for the Aurora Wings FB group.  We're celebrating 800+ members so hope you can stop by and play along with the contests to win fabulous images that will be going on all day HERE.  And there's still time to join in our very first Blog challenge HERE.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Sparkle and Sprinkle April Challenge, DLArt Thankful Thursday Easter, Milk Coffee Easter, Sparkles Monthly Challenge Easter Parade, Crafting For All Seasons Dies and Punches, Crafting With Dragonflies Easter, Divas By Design Easter/Spring, Simon Says Wednesday Happy Easter, Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode Animals, Cuttin' and Stampin' Rainbows/Easter, 613 Avenue Create Sights/Sounds/Smells/Tastes of Spring, Crafty Cardmakers You've Been Framed and the Just For Fun Easter Challenge.

Alice Portrait for Simply Steampunk

I'm so excited today to showcase another of the fabulous Alice in Wonderland Steampunk Style digis by Abigail Larson available exclusively at SBS.  Here I have the adorable Alice Portrait.  Isn't she the sweetest?  I can image using her for all sorts of occasions but today I'd say my card could be for ANY occasion.  I decked her out heavily in the Steampunk style using digi paper from the Steampunk Fantasy set from Bearly Mine Designs.  And speaking of HEAVY, all the metal embellies are from Tim Holtz.  There's 15 total, if you count the brads.  Guess this one should be hand delivered eh, but don't they look FAB with the DP?

Here's a closeup of the gorgeous Alice.  Of course she's colored with Copics to match the digi paper.  Remember we have inspiration going all month long at Simply Steampunk so be sure to visit often, and don't forget our current  Party Invitation Challenge that runs through December 5th.  You can use any image as long as it's in the Steampunk Style.  Hope to see you there.

I'm also entering this in the Bearly Mine Anything Goes Challenge, Divas by Design use a Digi, TTRCD Nov 5-11 ATG, Papertake Weekly ATG and 613 Avenue Create ATG.

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 Robots with CTMH Artiste

Well our challenge this week at Dilly Beans is Robots, and it seems I just can't get enough.  I had this ancient Scenic Route DP I'd been hoarding and thought it would make an adorable party invitation for a boy.  I used #436 Gear Robot, #435 Sparks Robot, and removed the frame from #437 Bolt Robot Framed so they would all look alike.  They are colored with Copics and the sentiment is computer generated.  The invitation pocket and invitation itself were cut on the Cricut with my CTMH Artiste cartridge.  (Can't seem to get enough of that either.  LOL)

Here's the shaped invitation pulled out of the pocket (also cut with Artiste). That happy guy is #439 Wired Robot Framed.  Doesn't he look excited!  I used DS to fit a gear from Artiste to fit over the mat.  The bolts were punched from a piece of mat metallic card stock that was embossed with one of the Cricut Companion Robotz set.  I stacked the embossed punches with plain ones to give them dimension since I didn't have appropriate brads both here and on the front corners of the mat.  Kinda loved how that turned out and cheap, too.

The back side of the invitation has the room for the pertinent information as well as some cool gears, also cut from Artiste.  Like I've been saying all along, there's something for everyone on this cartridge. (Steampunk, anyone?)  I finished the back side of the pocket envie with the embossed cut out from the Cuttlebug Cogs and Wheels Embossing Plus folder.  Be sure to stop by Dilly Beans Challenge Blog to see the rest of the DT's fab creations and the Shop to see all of the new Halloween stamps and MORE Robots.  And if I haven't convinced you with my projects, please visit my dear friend and DT sister Susan's Blog to see more great example of the fabulous things you can do with this cart.  View more cool CTMH stuff HERE on her website.

Although this isn't as elaborate as most of my shaped cards, I'm also entering this in Charisma Cardz Shaped Card challenge (and thank them very much for choosing me among the Top 3 last week), Divas by Design for a Child, Celebrate the Occasion Getting in Shape, Use it Tuesday Anything Goes (my beloved Scenic Route DP which I still shudder thinking that I actually CUT into it!), and Hooked on Crafts Cards for Men (I'm assuming boys are ok since the DT had boy cards, too).

It's a Girl with CTMH Artiste

I've been playing with my new CMTH Artiste cart and was excited to use the sweet baby shoes on page 63.  Our nephew's wife is expecting and although we don't know the sex yet, I figured I had a 50/50 chance.  I cut them at 4" in the sweetest flocked DP from Me&My Big Ideas and then set out to find something to do with them.  I loved the cool box on page 74 and used DS to determine how large I wanted the top to fit the shoes with room to spare.  I was surprised to find out it was 2".  Must be measuring from the height of the box.  At this size, you need a 12x24" mat and you still can't fit the top, bottom and side cuts on one piece of 12x24" card stock but the box was then a substantial size, with the interior being approximately 5" square.  I chose to do the top and bottom cuts out of white, instead.  The assembly instructions tell you to glue the shoe upper flaps to the top of the soles, but I wanted a more finished look inside so I cut the soles again at 3 7/8" and glued the flaps under the smaller soles and then glued the 4" soles on the bottom.  This was a bit tricky and I ended up doing a teeny bit of trimming, but I preferred the clean look both inside and out.

I made a second layer for the top, again using DS so I could add another layer of DP.  The sweet bows on the toes are another cut from Artiste, (page 56) which I embossed (along with the shoe straps) with Swiss Dots.  They started at 1" but I shrunk them down to fit with DS.  "It's a Girl" is another fab cut (on page 64 at 2 1/2") and I cut it twice, embossed the top layer and offset them slightly and popped them for a little more dimension. 

I have to say my fave cut of all on this is actually the bow.  Couldn't help but use it again cut at 1", and embossed with the Cuttlebug Polka Dots folder. This is cut in a single piece with holes cut with your Cricut for a brad for easy assembly.  Too cute!

For a finishing touch I lined the top and bottom sections of the box with DP.  I just cut a square at 5" and attached inside which not only added strength, but also hid the flaps used for assembly.  I'm really loving CTMH Artiste because it really has fabulous 3D projects  and cuts for all holidays and occasions as well as coordinating chipboard and stamps.  If you haven't already purchased it, please visit my fab friend, DT sister and CTMH consultant Susan HERE.  Also be sure to visit her personal blog HERE for many more inspirational projects from this versatile cartridge.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show No Rules Challenge, the Allsorts It's a Gift Challenge, and the Divas by Design Anything Goes challenge.

Dilly Beans Texture Challenge

 This week at Dilly Beans we were asked to use texture.  I made a tag using the smallest of my Nesties Grand Labels Four and cutting it out of glitter CS from Me&My Big Ideas.  The smaller mat behind is the largest of the regular Labels Four, embossed with the Tim Holtz sheet music folder.  The adorable Dilly Beans image is Amalia Ballerina.  Isn't she just precious?

She's colored with Copics, and then I challenged myself to see how many more textures I could come up with.  First I wanted to flock her hair.  I'd printed her several times in case I wanted to decoupage parts of her, so I fussy cut only her hair and ran it right side up through my Xyron, poured on the flock and glued it to the image.  Then I added the flowers with another fussy cut layer (so you could see the leaves) and finally the hand cut rolled felt flowers.  I messed around with several ideas for her tutu, including trying loopy stitches with embroidery floss, but finally decided tulle was the ticket.  A gingham bow hides the gathering.  A fluffy feather was the final touch.  tickle, tickle!  :D

The dance stamp is from an ancient set called Rubber Stamp Poet by All Night Media.  I bought it as a gift for someone way before I ever started paper crafting and picked up one for myself as well.  ust have had a premonition.  LOL  I think dance is the only word I've ever used from it though.  It's cut and backed by Nesties as well.  Lots of dimension going on here and isn't it all sweet and girly?    And lots and lots of PINK so I'm adding it to the Divas By Design and Stampavie and More Challenges who both ask for Monochromatic and the Charisma Cardz Pink and Black challenge because although there's not a ton, her hair couldn't get any blacker than that. (do ya think?) 

There's tons more inspiration from my Dilly Beans sisters at the Challenge and Designers blog so we'd love to see you and what you come up with for our touchy feely challenge.  And for once, I'm not last minute on any of the other challenges I'm entering so be sure to stop over and see them too.

Fabulous Inky Friday

It's Fabulous Inky Friday at the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog when we announce our winner, highlight cards by our fans and post some more inspiration from the Tiddly Inkers. I chose to use the brand new image Danny's Duck. Is he about the sweetest thing on earth? He just begged to be paper pieced so that's what I did, and I used Deconstructed Sketch #23 for the layout. The DP's are Nana's Nursery. I used Nesties Scalloped squared instead of border punche because for the life of me I just couldn't punch right today. LOL Don't forget our current challenge, Boys will be Boys, and be sure to stop by the SHOP and check out what's new. I'm also entering this in the Divas by Design Button Up challenge and Ruby's Rainbow Cute and Cuddly challenge.

Bah! Humbug! Here Come the Girls Challenge

I can't believe how time flies! I'm so sad to be leaving Humbug Hall as this is my final post as Guest Designer. I want to thank Ann and Max for inviting me and Tracy for being a Guest teamie with me this month. I'm very excited, to see what the next ladies have in store and to continue to play along with the weekly challenges because, after all, I am a Proud Loyalty Member. This week our challenge is Here Come the Girls. We want to see you girly-est ideas, whatever they my be. No problem there. Can't get much girlier than shopping. And it's even MORE fun at CHRISTMAS! I made the easel card with the next to smallest Labels One Grand Nestisties and my Grand Caliber, then cut the the mat and striped piece with the smallest in the set. This is as easy as doing a regular shaped card with your Nesties. You just place one of the sides of the die just above the fold and run it through. Then score at the center of one of the sides. Cut additional mate to adhere to the folded piece, thad there you go. You don't even have to measure because of the shape of the Labels One die. Easy peasy! The yummy pastel papers are by My Mind's Eye.

I've used the adorable Xmas Shopping from Kenny K. She's colored with Copic and I've added Stickles her fur trim. She's cut out with Nesties Beaded Ovals which I inked with Distress and popped.

The sentiment is computer generated and cut embossed and matted with my Nesties Labels Seventeen. I've used adhesive pearls to hold up the easel, coloring some of them with Copics to match the dots on the paper. Now go have a look at Bah! Humbug! for more fabulous inspiration, and I'm sure you'll love playing along with this challenge. I'm also entering this is the Christmas Cards All Year 'Round August Challenge using ribbon, inking, stripes and a metal embellishment, Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Non-Traditional Colors, Crafty Hazel's Anything Goes (or actually, it could be a Christmas Birthday card), Divas by Design Christmas in August, The Crazy Challenge Christmas Anything Goes for August, and the Charisma Cardz Glitter it Challenge.