A Three-fer for the Outlawz Challenges

I've been a busy gal with DT responsibilities but I did have some spare moments to do a few for Challenges on the Outlawz Forum.  Monday Greetings called for St. Patrick's Day, Twisted Thursday has a Bingo board and I went for the right row down (Wet or dry embossing, Any shade of Green and Polka Dots) and finally one of the Festive Friday themes was also St. Patrick's day so there ya go. This cutie, called #1378 Leprechaun Kitty, is by Sandra Caldwell.  He's colored with Copics and cut with a Spellbinders Labels Four die.  The shamrock behind him was fashioned from 3 Spellbinders hearts and a stem cut with a circle and trimmed, then embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots.  

The sentiment idea originally came with last year's March freebie on SUYP from Ike's Art but unfortunately my digi files still aren't accessible since my computer croaked so I had to make my own. (Of course I was in a hurry and having a Sr. moment and didn't think to look at the Fabulous freebies Ike generously provides to enter at SUYP and now I see, there it is!)

I'm entering this in the SUYP March Furrything Goes challenge, the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday #224 Green, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, Always Fun Challenges Dogs or Cats, Crafty Cardmaker's #207 Go Green, Incy Wincy No More than 3 colors(excluding black and white), Di's Digi Challenge Lots of Green, Crafty Gals Corner #161 Make it Green and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies March AG w/critter.

Lucky Me!

EEEK!  I just could wait to get this cutie on a card and enter a few challenges with her.  It's the last day to get this adorable Shamrock Sprite as a Gift w/Purchase at Aurora Wings.com or AuroraWings Etsy with only a $5.00 purchase AFTER a Coupon code which also expires at midnight tonight.  Thursday's Showcase features some gorgeous new images so if you haven't checked them out, be sure you do that too.  My card is pretty simple, using Spellbinders Grand Circles and Fancy Circle dies, some peel off stickers for the sentiment, hearts, corners and borders, a few gems and a bow.

The fun part was coloring.  Here's a closeup of Shamrock Sprite.  I've colored her with Copics in rather non traditional shamrock colors but I did take a peek of images on Yahoo and found that they some in a variety of shades, not all of them being green.  Of course she's perfect for St.Patrick's Day, but she's cute for really any time you want to wish someone luck or are feeling lucky, don'tcha think? 

So in case you missed the Coupons, here they are.  Mitzi will email you a copy of Shamrock Sprite within 24 hours of purchase and in the meantime you can have fun with what you bought to get her for free.  WooHoo!

You might want to check out our current Bingo Challenge and see if you might want to enter that too.

Here's how to keep up with all that's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog (current challenge runs through March 17th)

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop 

Aurora Wings FB Group 

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'll be entering the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #76 AG, QKR Stampede #284 AG, and the Colour Crazy Craft Challenge Wk 8 AG, the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Lucky Green, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, TTRCD week of Feb 20 AG, Crafty Gals Corner #159 Add a heart (they're small, but they're there), Jo's Scrap Shack FFC#222 AG, Pile it On #139 Stickers or Washi tape, 613 Avenue Create AG, the Corrosive Challenge AG, ...

Kiss Me I'm Irish

I totally missed coloring this cute #1324 Smoochies, by Sandra Caldwell, for Valentine's Day and then, while checking out the challenge themes on the Outlawz Forum, I thought why not use him for St. Patrick's Day?   Festive Fridays calls for St. Paddy's, but I haven't played the last 2 weeks in the Wednesday Sketch challenge so I used this week's sketch for my card (How about that?  Not even the last day to play. Yea, ME!)

I turned the sketch and added an extra mat.  Papers are Graphic 45 with some glitter foam shamrocks from my stash and an Alpha Bead Sentiment.  The cute "Kiss me" sentiment I printed with the image is one of the Freebie sentiments Ike so generously included with her new Fur-eebie for the St. Cat-rick's Day challenge on the SUYP (cat's only) blog.  Can't wait to color him, too.

Here's a closeup of #1324 Smoochies.  Isn't he a cutie?  I've colored him with Copics in St. Paddy's Day colors and added some pencil detail to his hair.  Then I cut him out with a Spellbinder's Deckle Rectangle.  It's a better pic of Ike's cool sentiment, too.

Sandra's got loads of fun St. Patrick's Day images in her Etsy store, along with many new Spring images.  New arrivals every Friday with DT inspiration in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group.  The March contest, "Bee Silly"  runs through the 26th so there's plenty of time to play using all or any of the specially discounted stamps for the challenge.  That's right 4 adorable "bee" images are only $1.50 for the duration of the challenge.  You can find them HERE.

I'm also entering this in the Your Scrapbook Place March AG (using sponsor image), DL.Art March Linky challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, Di's Digis Lots of Green, Craft for the Craig Green and Glittery, Simply Create too March Lots of Green (1/3), Star Stamps Make it Monochrome, Dare2BeArtzy March Lots of Layers, SOSS #79 G is for Green with Envy and Crafty Cardmakers Go Green.

Kick Up Your Heels!

Only five more day to St. Paddy's so I thought I'd share this little sweetie from Sandra Caldwell called Shamrock Angel #331.  My color scheme is from the Outlawz Tuesday Colour Challenge Tic Tac Toe Board this week using the middle row across of Green, White and Orange. The background was done with Brushos in Leaf and Lime Green on watercolor paper and spritzed with water.

Shamrock Angel was colored with Copics with Prismacolor pencil detail on her hair and gold and Stardust Stickles on her halo and wings. Gotta say I'm pretty chuffed that Sandra liked my coloring enough to use it as a sample in her Etsy shop.  WooHoo!

To me she looks like she's kicking up her heels and dancing the jig, so after fussy cutting, I mounted her on an Action Wobble so she could DANCE!  Sorry for the still.  I know I'm the only person alive without a smart phone and although I managed to take a short video with my camera, I couldn't figure out how to upload it.  Technology is obviously not my strong suit.  Hope you like anyway.

I'm also entering this is the Outlawz Monday Greeting Cards Amazing Green challenge, the DL.Art March Linky Party, the Let's Color Saturday Linky Party, Simon Says Wednesday A Bit O' Green,  Scrappers Delights ATG, Simon Says Monday Make Your Own Background, Open Minded Crafting Luck/St. Patrick' Day and Craft for the Craic Luck O' the Irish.

Kiss Me, I'm Irish

I've been playing in the current Progressive Challenge in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans Group on FB and today is the last day.  Nothin' like cutting it close, eh?  Well, I did have an idea, and then changed my mind, remembering a fun card I did back in 2014 using a tutorial from SplitcoastStampers.  The cute potted shamrock image, called Love the Irish #213, was free for those who played in round 2 of the Progressive challenge and is currently available at half price if you want to join in.  You better hurry, though.  Today is the LAST day!

My camera battery bit the big one, so I don't have a pic of what I did to make the stamp stand up, but if you're interested, click HERE to check out the previous card I did in this style.

Here's the card lying flat, though.  Love the Irish was printed 3 times, colored with Copics and fussy cut.  The shamrock and heart were edged with Stickles and popped and layered 3 times, the little ladybug's hat, pot rim and label, twice.  The gold coins were cut and embossed with the smallest of the Nesties circles and I've added some epoxy shamrocks (one even with another  ladybug) and a pair of lips for embellies.

The cool thing is that it all folds up (reasonably) flat to fit in an envy for mailing.  WooHoo!

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art Frogs and/or Use the Color Green Challenge , the DL.Art February Linky Challenge and Simon Says Wednesday ATG.

SOSS "P" is for Paddy

WooHoo!  As a perk for being crowned Queen for Snark for the very first Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers challenge I was asked to be Guest Designer.  Oh YEAH, Baby!  You BETCHA!  So here we go for Challenge #3 in honor of St. Paddy's Day.

Hope you all find this amusing and not offensive. (Well, ask me if I REALLY give a flyin'...  OOOpS!  That just slipped out.)  Anyway, here's my card.  Loads of thanks to a friend, with a kindred sense of humor, for suggesting the sentiment.  Die cuts are all Spellbinders with some glitter foam shamrocks, ribbon and gems from Mike's.

The fab image is Clover from Sassy Studio Designs.  She's colored with Copics and of COURSE she has red hair, she's Irish! (Duh!)  So whadda ya think?  Snarky enough?  Well, in any case, I want to thank the Sisterhood for inviting me along this week and you can view their fabulous creations HERE. Now ya gotta come play along.  Honestly, it's sooo therapeutic and a chance to say publicly what you've really been thinking all along.  And people even applaud you for it!  Woohoo!  Besides, who could resist that badge?  See ya there.

I'm also entering this in the Craftitude ATG or Add a Little Green.  (Figure those ladies can handle the sentiment without being too offended.  LOL)

Cute Little Leprechan for Aurora Wings and a Mini Tut

Found a fun and fabulous tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers by Bibiana Martinez-Zeigler to make this 4 leaf clover (shamrock) card and thought it would be the perfect backdrop for Mitzi's Whimsical Little Leprechan from Aurora Wings.  The catch was, the card folds flat for mailing so I needed a way to attach the image without interfering with that.

I followed the tut using my Spellbinders heart dies.  Then I cut a 1" x 4 3/4" strip and scored it at 3/4" 1 1/2", 3 1/4" and 4". and folded it as shown.

I slipped the two end flaps through the bottom of the top two hearts and folded the top two hearts down over the bottom two, applied adhesive to the flaps and made sure they were straight before pressing them down.  It's ok for them to be glued right over the diagonal ribbon that laces the card, just make sure you've got it tied in a way that both allows you to stand the card up, as well as fold it flat.  If there is a teeny bit of excess along the bottom, just trim that flush with your hearts so they will stand straight. 

Now, open your card again, place it in the standing position, and put adhesive on the front of your strip.  This is where the image will go.

Here's this cutie's close up.  He's colored with Copics and I've added some glitter foam shamrocks and adhesive gems to gussy him up.  Carefull apply him to the pop out so he will be straight when the card is in the standing position.

I used a Cuttlebug Emboss Plus Fancy Label with a computer sentiment.  Tip here if you're using this particular type of folder, cut the label first, print your sentiment on copy paper and then use removeable tape for placement.  Then run it through your printer again.  Had I used Spellbinders, I would have printed first, but it's nearly impossible with this Cuttlebug folder because the only part that's open is the embossed portion.  OOPs, that was a little side track.  The point of this pic was to say that to adhere your sentiment, again leave the card in the open postion and only adhere the right portion to the bottom right leaf, making sure it's centered as you wish when the card is open.

When the card is flattened completely, the sentiment will be a bit sideways, but that's ok.  You want it to stand anyway, don't you?  The flap that the image is attached to will flatten to the left as well.

So, to fold it flat for mailing, take the two left hearts and fold them behind.

Then fold the bottom two up and there ya go.  there's plenty of room in an envie made for a 5x61/2" card.  Oh look, you can see my little "Good Luck" peelie in this pic.

I'm entering this in the Creative Corner Green challenge, Creative Fingers ATG(sponsored by Aurora Wings), QKR Stampede Anything But a Square Card, Savvy Handmade Cards Going Green challenge, Digi Stamps4Joy Use Dies or Punches, Sassy Studios Flip it or Fold it,the Outlawz Monday Greeting Cards ATG, Just Inspirational Hearts and Ribbon, Party Time Tuesdays ATG, and 613 Avenue Create ATG.

Dilly Beans "Green" Challenge

Our challenge this week at Dilly Beans is "Green".  I wasn't exactly sure what to do for this until I came across a shamrock I'd cut with my Cricut LAST YEAR around this time (think I need to clean off my table?  LOL) and decided that the cute Adrianna (#484) would make an adorable leprechan.  I found her hat on #329 Top Hat Snowman, paper pieced the lot and added an epoxy sticker.  the embossing was done right on the card blank using one of my Cuttlebug border folders which I trimmed out with black peel-offs.  Conveniently, I was able to find every other Alpha Bead letter in my sentiment in green.  WooHoo!  Please visit Dilly Beans a little later today to see the fab work by my teamies and "Go Green" this week to play along.

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:

One Stitch at a Time: Green

Twisted Tuesday: Spring into Green

Sweet Stamps: Green

Simon Says Stamp: A Bit O' Green

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations: Go Green

Celebrate the Occasion: Luck of the Irish

Inky Impressions: St. Pat's or Green

Crafty Creations: Green

BBTB2 Shamrock Challenge

We're celebrating St Patrick's Day (or at least the luck o' the Irish) this week at BBTB2, with our lovely Lori choosing a shamrock from any cartridge. There are plenty to choose from, which Lori has listed in her post on BBTB2. I chose the one from Give a Hoot, with the Lucky Girl silhouette from A Child's Year to make a shaped card. The sentiment is from Once Upon a Princess. I welded the shadows of both the girl and the shamrock and copied, flipped and turned them 180 in DS to make the card base. The regular cuts were embossed with my Cuttlebug using the old standbys: Swiss Dots and D'Vine Swirls. The glitter shamrocks are actually foam from an old pack from Michaels.

In some cases I used them behind my sentiment as dimensionals. Because the sentiment was a bit delicate, I cut it several times and glued it together to give it a bit more strength before popping it and added some gold gems for some bling. We have a fabulously inspirational turnout at BBTB2 this week to get you started so please follow the rules and link up to Mr. Linky. We love to see your creations. There's still some time left in our Monogram Challenge as well. I'm also entering this in the Fantabulous Cricut Luck of the Irish Challenge, the Paper Sundaes Green or Good Luck Challenge, the Card Caravan Lucky Green Challenge, and the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge.

Happy St. Patty's Day

I'm feelin' bad because I didn't make a single St. Patrick's Day card this year so I decided to show you a fave oldie of mine. Wow, this one is from way back in 2009 from the original BBTB DT Challenges. I'm thinkin' it might be new to most of you though and I'm busy working away on something special for tomorrow so this will have to do. You can read the original post HERE. Enjoy your corned beef and cabbage. I'll be wearin' my GREEN tonight for the MSU/UCLA basketball game. GO SPARTANS!

Think GREEN at The Cuttlebug Spot

This week at The Cuttlebug Spot we're going green. We're honoring the Irish, and although our cards didn't need to be for St. Patty's Day, I thought it would be great to finally break out my Celtic Knot folder. I cut a square out of the center with my Nesties and made a scalloped frame for the adorable little image I found at Living Locurto.com. I'm still practicing with my MS punch around the page punches (this one only took me 2 tries, WOOHOO!) and I embossed this pretty mat with none other than Swiss Dots. Pretty simple, I just added a fluffy bow and a glitter foam shamrock from M's that I got when shopping with my dear friend Lillie. BTW, Lillie now has her Cricut and Cuttlebug covers available for sale on her fabulous STORE (along with her gorgeous cards) so go check it out! Also be sure to stop by The Cuttlebug Spot to see the FABULOUS cards by my DT sisters. They pulled out all the stops this week! AND, if you leave a comment you may win a gift certificate from Custom Crops.

Pinch Proof and I've Been Tagged!

I remember when I worked on St. Pat's Day I had a struggle getting dressed because without something green on some people really couldn't resist the opportunity to pinch. One of my BFF's is a teacher so I decided to make her something that would assure she would be "pinch proof" for the day. I used the St. Patrick's Day printable stamp set from The Cutting Cafe for the center of the little pin I fashioned by making a rosette from ribbon and glued it atop a Nestie scalloped circle. It was the perfect size to punch using my 1 1/2" circle punch and I colored in the little shamrock with a Bic marker and added some Crystal Effects and an adhesive bead. I glued a pin to the back of the rosette so no matter what she wore she'd still have a little green.

The accompanying card has a base cut with my Cricut using the Wildcard cartridge and DCWV's Green Stack. The March Calendar is from the 2009 Calendar set from The Cutting Cafe. I know I'll be using this set alot because each month is offered in several sizes in both a circle and square design. The shamrock and "pinch proof" also came from the St. Patrick's Day set and I was really proud that I managed to resize the shamrock all by myself using the instructions Regina has on The Cutting Cafe site. I have to say I'm really pleased that these downloadable stamps are so easy to use because the my computer skills leave alot to be desired. LOL

Are you wondering about the 5th pic? Well DeeDee, my sweet friend and DT sister for both BBTB and The Cutting Cafe has tagged me. I was to find the 4th pic in one of my files and explain it. This is my adorable Jezebel asleep on the dining room chair. I couldn't resist snapping her snoozing because that's about the only time I can capture her on film she's such a wild girl. since this is my first post as a DT member of The Cutting Cafe I'm going to tag Teri, Tracy, Enfys, and Nikki, a few or my fellow designers. Please click on the names of each of these ladies to view their fabulous blogs. And be sure not to forget DeeDee!

Life is Good BBTB Challenge

Happy Monday! Yea! That means a new BBTB challenge. This week Regina chose the "Life is Good" cut from Graphically Speaking. I kept thinking "lucky " so I went with a bit of a St. Paddy's theme and kept the color palette green. I welded a horseshoe from Paper Doll Dress UP to a rounded square from George using Cricut Design Studio. The 4 leaf clover (both shadow and regular) was made from George with an Opposites Attract stem. For the top layer I cut each heart individually, cuttled each petal, scored it down the middle and attached each heart on one side only for dimension. The pot of gold from PDDU is at the end of a Hello Kitty rainbow. "Life is Good" is cut 3 times for emphasis and embellished with gold adhesive beads. The green flower and butterfly are from J's. Be sure to stop by Bitten by the Bug to see all of the fabulous contributions by the other design team members and please come play along.