Full of Possibilities

Playing along with two challenges on the Outlawz Forum using the gorgeous Aurora Floral Kiss from TheEastWind. To be honest, I'd colored her awhile ago with Copics but had never put her on a card.  I thought she'd be perfect for the themes.  The new format for Sunday challenges is Songs and Rhymes and this week's Song is "An English Country Garden" (video link HERE).  I'm getting this in just under the wire because I was waiting for my Graphic 45 Floral Shoppe pad and it made it just in time.  

What gorgeous pages of flowers!  WOW!  I chose the one that looked best with my coloring and added mats of green to both the image and the floral DP.  Monday Greetings called for Spring Flowers and specified that it must have something green, so there ya go.  I also did a floral die cut from some K&Co Dp and added it under the image for even more flowery goodness.  For some reason the die was just sitting in my box with no packaging and although this was the first time I've actually used it, I have no idea who it is by.  Don'tcha hate when that happens?  The little butterfly and hummingbird are Little B stickers, the sentiment is Tim Holtz Small Talk and the gorgeous triple crinkle ribbon bow is from DL.Art.  I kinda love the way it turned out.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #81 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #233 AG, the Colour Crazy Challenge Week 18 AG/w hand colored image, Create and Inspire #74 AG/Springtime, CCC Digi Creations May #92 Flower Power and Your Scrapbook Place May AG.

Another for the Cat Lovers Hop

It's the last day to link up for the Cat Lovers Hop at Her Peaceful Garden and I still have so many ideas!  Again I will say "So many cats, so little time!)  Well, we'll see how it goes, eh?

This adorable image is from THE EAST WIND called Super Chunky.  Isn't she the cutest kitty EVEH!?!?  I'd colored it previously with Copics and pencils (for fur detail) but it never made it onto a project.  I'd used the png version and placed it on some digital knit paper cropped in a heart in my printing program and then fussy cut.  I need a baby card and thought now was the time to pull it out.  The DP is from the old MAMBI Baby Girl stack.  The pinks don't match exactly, which was my trouble the other day, but I finally inked around the heart with a number of Distress pinks and Hickory Smoke and finally decided it would have to do.  Those metal words from Colorbok are coming in handy these days, eh?

I'm also adding this to the SUYP October Furrything Goes, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies October AG/w critter and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

New Release from The East Wind.

Here's a lovely new release from The East Wind called Gumiho, Nine Tailed Fox. This mythical figure is popular in Asian cultures and is known by several names. Unky, the artist behind The East Wind, is Korean and this month she is celebrating her heritage with all Korean inspired designs.  All 4 can be purchased HERE for one low price during the month of February.  I tried to  create a tranquil environment for this lovely stamp using paper from K&Co, Weeping Willow Branches die cut from Poppystamps and butterflies from a Martha Stewart punch.  The gorgeous hand dyed crinkle ribbon, reminiscent of the stream she's sitting beside, is from the Mermaid's Tale Second Edition at DL.Art.  No need for a bow, it just laid so nicely.

Here's a closeup of Gumiho.  She's colored with Copics, but I had a bit of trouble with the blending on her dress because my markers were low on ink.  Wouldn't you know the refills just came in today's mail?  I tried to make the overlay look sheer by coloring over with white Prismacolor pencil so you could still see the suggestion of the color underneath. The sentiment is an ancient rub on and I was pleased that it still worked. I've tried a number of them in my stash recently that I had to toss because they no longer transferred without crumbling.  I thought the image would be lovely for a friendship or thinking of you card.

Although we are no longer having FB challenges, the current blog challenge, Love and Romance, at The East Wind is still open.

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I am entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, As You Like It Ribbon or Lace and Why (I prefer ribbon because it is more versatile and works for both masculine and feminine projects), Crafty Girls February AG, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #51 AG.

Love and Romance from The East Wind

Welcome to the first Blog challenge of 2017 at The East Wind.  Our theme this time is Love and Romance, how perfect for Valentine's Day.  Bet you can't guess who this is for, (wink wink) and for once I'm ahead of the game.  As soon as I saw the gorgeous Aurora 'be my Valentine' I knew she'd be THE ONE for MY ONE and our perfect Love Story.  (P.S. She's on sale for just $2.00 for Valentine's Day)  I'm thrilled to be using my new Santa's Book dies from Precious Marieke, (so much more versatile than just for Christmas, don'tcha think?) to make a book shaped card.  I've added a heart shaped doily, some epoxy hearts and I little bow I've cut from trim.  My original thought was to make it a lot more frilly, but then decided he'd prefer it this way.

Here's a closeup of the gorgeous Aurora 'be my Valentine'.  She's colored with Copics with some epoxy hearts over the center one in her hands and the little one to the left in her hair.  Big surprise it's red, eh?  And although it took me quite a bit of time, it was really fun to color.  Unky draws such gorgeous hair and her eyes are so expressive and full of love.  I hope he can see that when he looks into my eyes, even after all this time.

The sentiment, both inside and out was computer generated using the Storybook Font.  More epoxy hearts and a satin heart bookmark so he can always find my loving words and remember our very special Love Story.  I hope you feel the same about the love of your life.

My DT sisters have more gorgeous inspiration and we hope you join in our new Love and Romance Challenge at The East Wind.

New releases now come out each Wednesday and there is a special limited time "package deal" for all of the February releases at one low price (and before they all are available individually) HERE. 

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Craft Rocket It's a Love Thing (2/14), Come and Get It 3 or More Layers, February Classic Design Team Open ATG, CCC Digi Creations #66 Add a Heart (2/13), LTSCB February #94 Who Loves You, Baby!, House of Cards Feb. Love Theme and/or Colors, Crafty Friends #50 Girly (2/09), Creatilicious ATG/optional Add Some Hearts (2/14), Simon Says Wednesday Color of Love, Crafting from the Heart ATG (2/5), Tuesday Throwdown #328 Love Notes(2/6), the Outlawz Monday Greetings Everything is Love challenge, TTRCD ATG Week of January 30th, Digistamps4Joy ATG/optional Red for V-day, Dies R Us Challenge #66 Hearts (2/13)  and the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Tic Tac Toe (using top row, Red, Punch or Dies and Heart).

New Release from The East Wind

There's a gorgeous new release today from The East Wind celebrating the lunar new year called Happy 2017 the Year of the Rooster.  I've used the no background PNG version (one of several versions included with the stamp) so I could add her to a digital background from Gecko Galz.  I've also used another digital paper from the Mori Girl pack.  The lovely lantern die is from Die-Versions.

Here's a closeup of Happy 2017 Year of the Rooster. The words in the moon behind her are stickers, and to be honest, it took me awhile to actually see that there is a rooster behind her, making this image more versatile than you'd think.  I've colored her with Copics in the colors of the background papers.  Her outfit is called a hanbok which is traditional Korean dress.  I think it's just beautiful, don't you?  

Unky is also offering the entire new release for the month of February for one low price.  You get all 4 new digis before they are available individually for just $12.00 (for a limited time).  

Grab them HERE.

Stay tuned for a new challenge coming to the Challenge Blog this Friday. 

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Challenge, Crafting by Designs February ATG, Crafty Creations ATG, Inspiration Destination ATG, Scrapy Land ATG/w brand of dies sold there #59, the Crafty Addicts Feb ATG/use a sentiment, the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode ATG, TTRCD ATG week starting January 31, World Wide Open Design Team #18, Crafting From the Heart ATG, 613 Avenue Create ATG and Come and Get It 3 or More Layers.

A Beautiful Sight

I'm finally getting back into the swing of crafting and what better way to do that than to work with a brand new digi from The East Wind called Lucy Loo 'Winter Birch Forest'.  I just realized that the last 3 East wind cards I made were in blues, but at last this time I added some kraft after finding the DP from the Winter in the Woods stack from DCWV.  I love the subtle snowflake pattern and it reinforced the rustic feel I was going for (and helped me choose a color for Lucy's jacket).  Yea!

Here's a closeup of Lucy Loo 'Winter Birch Forest'.  Unky's images come in several formats, all for one price on Etsy and I most often choose to work with the nb png so I can print and color them on a digi paper background.  One of these days I'll get to actually doing the background classes I've signed up for, but today was not the day.  The light blue and white digi paper background is from the Gecko Galz.  Lucy is colored with Copics with some shading with Prismacolor pencils.  I've done the texture on her jacket and jeans by dipping a terry cloth washcloth in some 91% isopropyl alcohol and quickly dabbing the surface after coloring.

I cut the sentiment from a page in 6x6 Ice Crystals paper pack by Recollections and attached it with a cute stag's head closepin.  That gave me the idea of adding my new sweet deer dies from Joy Crafts at the bottom.  Thought they fit with the sentiment, too.  Wouldn't they be a beautiful sight while walking through the woods?

Finally here's the dimensional view.  Gotta say this one would be a bite to mail with that closepin, eh?   I've also used a snowflake border die from Joy Crafts and the swirl at the bottom is from Taylored Expressions.

There's also an exciting new "package deal" for January  in the shop where you can get all for of the coming January releases  for $12.00.  That's a 25% savings and you will received ALL of the January stamps before the rest are released individually.  WooHoo!  Here's a peek at what you'll receive.

Our Non-traditional Christmas Colors contest is still going strong in the East Wind FB Group so we'd love to have you join us.

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the DL.Art January Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Ring in the New (brand new digi stamp and new to me deer dies), Simon Says Monday Start Afresh (new dies), the Simon Says Wednesday New Something (digi and dies), 613 Avenue Create ATG, TTRCD ATG week of Jan 3rd, Crafting by Designs January ATG, Inspiration Destination ATG, Dies R Us ATG w/Dies, CHNC #314 ATG (as long as it's Christmas), Your Scrapbook Place January ATG, the January Classic Design Team Open challenge and CHNC January Christmas Extra. 

Non Traditional Christmas Colors for The East Wind FB Group

There's a new FB contest in The East Wind Group with the theme of Non- Traditional Christmas Colors, meaning NO red or green.  This was a no brainer for me since I LOVE creating with icy blues and I just HAD to use the gorgeous new Aurora Red Heart Nose and my new frosty ice border embossing folder by Sheena Douglas.  I've sort of fallen in love with embossing vellum and this time fussy cut the frame to reveal the lovely digi.  the added snowflakes are from JoLee's and the silver borders and sentiment are stickers.

Here's a closeup of Aurora Red Heart Nose.  She's colored with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and I've Stickled the snowy patches on her head, trees and hillsides.  I've used the no background png version and printed her on a background from Gecko Galz.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Any Winter Holiday Challenge, the Outlawz Paper a la Mode Anything Goes, A Snowflakes Promise Winter #35, and lots more when I have more time. 

I can See Clearly Now for The East Wind Facebook Contest

Yup, it's time for a new FB contest at The East Wind with the theme of "I Can See Clearly Now."  Huh?  Not so hard, unless you have glasses like mine,  LOL. No really, we just want to see something clear or transparent on your project. Could be acetate, vellum, Glossy Accents, you get the picture.  Anyway, I made a little winter scene using the adorable Aurora 'Kitty Trand'.  

I've made a shaped card using Spellbinders Grand Regular and Decorative Labels One.  The frosty window she's looking out of is vellum I've embossed with a Darice folder under acetate with the "frostless" area cut with a Spellbinders Deckle Oval.  The little kitty sitting on the sill is an Impression Obsession die.  The sentiment is one of Tim Holtz's new little Christmas Sticker sayings.  (LOVE!)

Here's a closeup of Aurora 'Kitty Trand'.  (No, I have no idea what that name means.  Is it because I'm old?  No matter, I think she's just adorable, don't you?)  I used the no background png version atop digital paper from Gecko Galz and colored her entirely with Copics with no dramatic shading.  I just wanted a soft sweet image.  

Here's the dimensional view.  I considered making this a shaker, but I would have had to add another layer of acetate since the frost was supposed to be on the inside of the window and I was running out of time.  I also would have run the risk of having whatever I put in to shake having a bunch of static and clouding the image so I blew off that idea.  I actually cut the turquoise fun foam that's between the layers with my dies in so it made a lovely clean edge.  Got some more clear or sheer stuff going on with the acrylic icicles, combo vellum and clear glitter snowflakes and some sheer organdy ribbon.  Guess I got it covered.

Hope you come join us in the TEW FB Group for this fun new challenge which runs through December 17th and don't forget our current Blog Challenge which runs though November 25th.  

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I am entering this in the Crafty Cardmakers Embossing Challenge, 613 Avenue Create November ATG, LTSCB#90 ATG, The Outlawz Twisted Thursday Christmas Magic Challenge, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Winter is on the Way, the Ribbon Girl November Use Any Image challenge, Creatalicious ATG w optional sentiment, Left of Center Christmas/Creepmas, CHNC #308 Cute or Anything Christmas, CHNC Christmas Challenge Extra, Crafting With Friends #32 ATG, and Winter Wonderland Poinsettias or Snow is Falling.

Aurora 'Flower Fairy'

Today I'm showcasing the new release from The East Wind today called Aurora 'Flower Fairy'.  Isn't she beautiful?  As soon as I saw her I remembered some DP I'd been hoarding from the Kioshi Collection by Basic Gray and I managed to actually find it.  WooHoo!  While looking for matting, I found a Spellbinder's Oval, already cut, which worked with the colors.  I knew I wanted to add even more butterflies and found the perfect ones from Memory Box which I cut apart to spread the design and a lonely blue flower lying on the craft room floor that finished my design off perfectly.  What serendipity!  It's gonna be a good day.

Here's a closeup of Aurora 'Flower Fairy'.  I used the no background png version and printed her on digi paper from Gecko Galz.  She's colored with Copics with just a tinge of shading from Prismacolor pencils.  I didn't put a sentiment on my card, because I think she could be used for a number of different occasion.  You can see more inspiration from my teamies on the TEW Group page.  Don't forget, our Current FB contest, Come over to the Dark Side, runs through November 17th and you have 2 more days to enter the Blog Challenge, Thanks for the Memories, in honor of Alzheimer's Awareness.  Hope to see you there.

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the TTRCD ATG challenge(Nov 8th), the Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode Things with Wings, the DL.Art November Linky Challenge, Deep Ocean Use Die Cuts or Punches, House of Cards Lots of Layers and/or Colors, Just Keep on Creating ATG Link Up, Dies R Us Thankful for Nature, Scrapy Land Challenge #53 ATG. 

Today's Mood...

A new Contest on the TEW FB Group page starts today with the theme of Come Over to the Dark Side.  Hey, no problem there.  I've been a bit stressed lately so I thought a warning sign using my new Tim Holtz Flip frame might be just the ticket to avoid unnecessary confrontations.  I've cropped the NB png version of Lucy Loo 'Glamzombie' and combined her with one of the digi papers from the Gecko Galz Arsenic and Lace craft kit.  I've added a Halloween Rosette and banner by Recollections, a sparkly spider to the flower in her hair.  The gorgeous crinkle ribbon at the base is from DL.Art.

Here's a closeup of Lucy Loo 'Glamzombie'.  Gotta say I spent quite a bit of time on her hair, beginning with the Copic Warm Grays and then adding detail with my Prismacolor pencils.  I kinda love it!  

The sentiment is from Ginger's house framed with another paper from GG.  Now come over to the DARK SIDE and play with us!

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in Left of Center Halloween, the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, Scrapping4Fun ATG, Come and Get It Make 'Um Laugh, Robin's Fetish Anything but a Card for Halloween, Crafting with Friends #30 ATG, Morgan's Art World Frame It, Aud Sentiments Vintage + a Sentiment, Dark 'n' Daring ATG, Deep Ocean Halloween and TTRCD ATG (week of Oct 18th).

New from The East Wind, and only $1!

As a sponsor for the FB Group Markers!Papers! Digis!, The East Wind has joined their Halloween Blog Hop and contest and is offering this fabulous digi, Thorns and Roses, for just $1.  I made a wall hanging using papers from MME and Authentique.

Here's a closeup of Thorns and Roses.  She's colored with Copics and there are about a bazillion ways to color her hair.  I went with a monochromatic and pretty stylized approach which was loads of fun.  One of my DT sisters said it looked like a geode.  LOL  She's fussy cut and pasted to a witch's body that was part of the DP.  I'd printed the image before I ever found the DP so the head is a bit oversized, but I think it adds to the creepiness, don't you?

I'll be adding this to the DL.Art October Linky Party, DL.Art Thankful Thursday Halloween, Little Red Wagon Best Witches, Left of Center Halloween, Let's Craft and Create Halloween/Autumn, Paper Creator Anything Spooky, Dark 'n' Daring ATG, A Vintage Journey, Daring Cardmakers Seriously Monochromatic, Aud Sentiments Vintage + Sentiment, Try it on Tuesday Scary and Spooky and Your Scrapbook Place ATG.

Flash Sale from the East Wind

Okay, I don't usually post just coloring and I fully intend to make this into a project to enter in challenges ASAP, but because Unky just offered this detailed new stamp to the DT YESTERDAY, she decided to put it on sale for $1.00(!) for two days only.  (She thought I wouldn't get it colored.)  HeeHee!  It's gonna be $4.50 so RUN! to get your Aurora 'Kingdom of Cats'.

Here's a closeup of the "Kingdom".  ADORBS!

Celebrating the 150th Challenge at Left of Center

A huge congrats to the Left of Center Challenge Blog as they celebrate their 150th Challenge which starts TODAY!  WooHoo!  How apropo that this auspicious occasion falls on the 1st of October with the theme of Left of Center. I love that LOC has stayed true to it's roots and has always allowed those dark themed and "alternative" projects a place on their stage and I enjoy playing in their challenges as often as I can.  The East Wind is sponsoring this time and TEW DT members were invited to be their Guests. How could I refuse?  I made a simple easel card using my favorite "hell fire" image from my stash and the gorgeous Lucy Loo Devil.  Tell me she's not HOT!

Here's a closeup of Lucy Loo.  I kinda wanna BE her for Halloween.  Don't you? I used the NB png version of the image (did you know that many, if not most, of the TEW images come in several versions for one low price?) and printed her directly on the digital background so she'd look engulfed in flames.  Then I colored her with Copics with a bit of shading with my Prismacolor pencils.  The sentiment is computer generated and cut and pasted on the background and I did a bit of distressing with my scissors around the edges of hell.  I really wanted to burn it, but was afraid my work might just go up in smoke.

I printed more flames for the base of the easel and again finished the sentiment off on my computer.  It was die cut with Spellbinders Labels Five.  Two bat medallions from Recollections hold up the easel.  Yeah, I'll bet she knows a shortcut.  Wait for me!

Thanks so much to Left of Center for this fun opportunity to join you and here's to the next 150 fab, fun challenges.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, Simon Says Stamp ATG, Ching-Chou Kuik October Halloween or Something Spooky, Copic Spain Challenge Halloween, Country View Challenges October All Things Spooky, CCC Digi Creations ATG, Inspiration Destination ATG and Dream in Darkness ATG.

"Leaf Me Alone" for The East Wind

It's time for a new FB contest at The East Wind, and our fitting theme this month is "Leaf Me Alone", so we want to see leaves, either in the image, the DP, or embellishments.  Since tomorrow is the first day of Autumn in the northern hemisphere, I chose the gorgeous Aurora 'Maple' for my project.  I can't wait until the leaves start to turn.  It's truly my favorite time of year.  I pulled a number of seasonal colored papers from my stash and added a Prima flower, silk leaf and die cut twig wreath.  The sentiment is a sticker from???

Here's a closeup of the beautiful Aurora 'Maple'. She's colored with Copics with just a touch of shading from Prismacolor Pencils and I've used a Spellbinders Grand Oval to cut her out.  Be sure to visit The East Wind FB Group to view my teamies' inspirations and please come play along.  This contest runs through October 17th and don't forget, a new digi is released every Tuesday and Friday in the Group as well.  Our current Blog challenge, I Like to Move it, Move it!  is so fun and creative so be sure to stop by there as well.  

Here are of all the important links you need.

Challenge Blog

Unky's Coloring Therapy

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the DL.Art September Linky Challenge, 613 Avenue Create ATG/Colors of Fall, Creative Moments ATG/Fall Colors, Inspiration Destination #104, Moo-Mania and More Fall Foliage, Stampavie and More Autumn Colors, A Snowflakes Promise Seasons Challenge,  TTRCD ATG week of Sept 20, Artistic Inspirations #163, Crafting From the Heart #128, Craft Your Passion #330, and LTSCB #86 ATG.