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.

Down the Rabbit Hole for Simply Steampunk

Here's the last of my showcase pieces this month for Simply Steampunk using the fabulous Down the Rabbit Hole digi from the Alice in Wonderland Steampunk Style release, available only at SBS.  I knew from the get go that I wanted to do this one in a dimensional style to give the impression that Alice is truly looking down the rabbit hole so I printed the image once on white cardstock to color and then resized it and printed it on kraft to fussy cut and pop the roots.

Here's a better look at the fab digi.  I've colored with Copics and cut around the hole and glued to DP by Tim Holtz.

The fussy cut roots were popped using 2 layers of foam to give more dimension.  This made the edges  fairly unattractive so I used Washi tape around the entire thing to neaten it up.  The Alice sentiments were in my stash and of course I've added a pocket watch and gears 'cause I just can't get enough of them.  LOL

It really was too thick for a card that opened, so I decided to add an easel back, cut from a Tim Holz die, to make it a standing frame.  It folds flat for storage, but for now I'm enjoying having it sit on my desk.  (Fortunately it doesn't take up too much room.  LOL)  Be sure to visit Simply Steampunk for loads of inspiration using the Alice in Wonderland Steampunk collection all month long.  And don't forget our current Party Invitation challenge that runs through December 5th.  It can be any type of party, as long as it's in the Steampunk style so I hope you can join us.

I'm also entering thhis in the Left of Center Washi Tape or Twine Challenge (I've used Washi around the edges), Fab 'n' Funky Anything Goes, Simon Says Monday It's a Mystery (What's down that Rabbit Hole?), The Outlawz Monday Greeting Card No rubber Stamps (only digi's) Challenge, 613 Avenue Creates ATG, and TTRCD Nov 19th-25th ATG.

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.

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.

Bermuda Bag Using the New CTMH Artiste Cartridge

Here I am with 3 DT projects due by Monday and I'm messing with my new Close to My Heart Artiste Cartridge but I just couldn't help myself.  The whole package of goodies is a crafter's paradise filled with chipboard pieces and coordinating stamps as well as the Cartridge, but while flipping through the book, one little bag in particular caught my eye and sent me on a trip down Memory Lane.  My first love in high school had a sister whose hubby was in the Navy and they were stationed in Bermuda.  On one of her trips to visit them, his Mom came back with the most adorable handbag for me as a gift.  It had wooden handles and was made of white embroidered linen which buttoned to the frame so you could actually switch out different fabrics.  I adored that bag and when came to page 32 of the handbook, I had to recreate it.  I chose to make it white on white becasue that's what my bag was, but I also cut it in a light brown and trimmed it for the handle and embossed it with the Tim Holtz Woodgrain folder.

To add interest, I used two different textures of white card stock and cut the bag a second time, slightly smaller for a second layer and trimmed and embossed it with Swiss Dots.  The beautiful motif on the front is also from Artiste (Accent 3, page 44).  The shadow was cut with the base texture, the top layer with the other.  To add more dimension, I popped the motifs.  Then I added buttons along the top, just like my bag had.  I'm really thrilled with how it came out.  Now I can't stop thinking about island breezes, gorgeous sunsets and the pink sand of Bermuda, as I was lucky enough to visit with his family the next summer. 

Hope you like my little bag and my little story.  There are tons of fab 3D projects on Artiste and really something for every holiday or special event.  I can't wait to play with it some more.  My dear friend and DT sister Susan is my CTMH consultant so please stop by her blog to see some amazing projects using this cart.  She has info about the special CTMH deals this month that I'm sure you won't want to miss.

I'm entering this in the Sugar Creek Hollow something Old (the embossing folders), Something New (my Cricut Artiste cartridge) Challenge, Dutch Dare Anything but a Card Challenge, Fab 'N Funky Anything but a Card Challenge, Anything Goes Let's Not be Square Challenge, and Ruby's Rainbow anything but a Card Challenge.

Dilly Beans DOTS

Gee, as if you couldn't tell.  LOL  Our Dilly Beans challenge this week is DOTS!  Perhaps I took that a bit tooo seriously.  Lots of the adorable framed images at the Dilly Beans Shop have fun dotty backgrounds.  This time I chose #354 Amalia Framed (and flipped her).  She's easy to paper piece and I took my color scheme from the Sabrina 8x8 paper pack from Making Memories.  Just added a dotty bow and called it done.  Come on over to the Dilly Beans Challenge blog and go dotty!  Loads of inspiration and be sure to check out the SHOP where there's loads of new stamps.  WooHoo! 

I'm also entering this in the Fab 'n Funky Polka Dots Challenge, Ruby's Rainbow Black White and One Other Color challenge, Shelly's Images Anything Goes, and Nutcrafters Spots/and or Stripes.

Macabre Monday Dastardly Divas

This week at Haunted Design House we're focusing on Dastardly divas. You know, those who still manage to look ravishing while performing acts so vile and vicious they would make Dracula blush. Well take a look at Ivy by our fabulous sponsor this week Barbara Jensen. Eiyiyi! I call her Poison Ivy so don't let those looks fool you. She'll give you an itch NO ONE can scratch. (Well, maybe...LOL) She's colored with Copics and cut with my Nesties Labels Seventeen which I then inked with Crushed Olive, Shabby Shutters, and Forest Moss Distress Inks. The sentiment was computer generated and cut with Labels Fifteen. I used my MS Laurel Leaf border punch and colored just the leaves with my Copics and did the same for the sentiment mat which started out the same color as the Bazzill card base. The DP is K & Co but I don't know which stack because the cover is ripped off. The cool beads are K & Co as well.For more fabulous inspiration visit the Minions this Macabre Monday and be sure to check out Barbara Jensen's fabulous images to see what you could win if you play along.

I'm also entering this into some new challenges for me: the Cardmadfairy's Back to Nature Challenge, the Fab 'n' Funky Challenge "All Things Green", and the Creative Card Crew Challenge Show us some green. Thanks Teri for the links!