BBTB2 Joys of the Season Mittens Challenge

This week at BBTB2, our dear sister Penny thought we all needed a bit of relief from the summer heat and turn our thoughts to WINTER by choosing the mittens from Jots for our challenge. Unfortunately, I'd just done a mittens card that I really liked a few weeks ago so I had a really tough time. I finally came up with an idea, which I actually love, but my execution leaves alot to be desired. I should have chosen a face other than Santa from Doodlecharms. I made a shaped card of him way back in 2008, so that didn't thrill me either, but then again, I'd just used that funny baby face (my original dea) for a BBTB2 card just two weeks ago, so... Next prob, I decided to flock and glitter so that stuff is all over my craft room bathroom and after screwing up the beard several times because my hands were wet, I guess, I resorted to cheap glitter paper from Walmart so my mat is now full of it too. But the WORST idea of all was to use marabou for the cuffs and hat. Sticking that stuff to anything is a real PITA and the feathers were too long so I tried a little trim job. Besides the fact that it now looks like it has the mange, that stuff is flying all over the place and is stuck to every pair of scissors I own (because I never clean them off after cutting my adhesive foam.) I got pretty much disgusted with the whole thing so I didn't even finish the card. That's why there is only one pic. When you fold out the mittens it's gonna say "No peeking", and when you open the card it'll say "It's Christmas". That is a cute idea, right? Seriously, at least I did one. It's a great challenge, Penny, it's just that my mojo flew the coop. Anyway, my DT sisters came up with ADORABLE mittens this week so be sure to check out the fab creations at BBTB2 and come play along with a NEW mittens card. You have two weeks to complete the challenge and if you don't have JOTS, any mittens from any cart will do.

Macabre Monday Loathesome Lotharios

Oh, the Minions were in full force as the topic of this week's challenge at HDH is Loathsome Lotharios. You'd think we'd all been burned at some point or another, eh? So pull out your rakes, libertines, scoundrels or seducers and come play along. I'm sure you've got some ideas. I used the fabulous Sparkling Cyanide from Delicious Doodles. He actually is colored with Copics ( grayish purples and of course some chartruese for the little drinky) although he's just gorgeous without inky enhancement as well. You know the type. He'll ply you with alcohol and have his way with you. I'm not sure whether you should be more worried about what's in the drink or that seriously sharp ice pick (okay, I guess it's a hypodermic needle but for my purposes, it's an ice pick). I doubt that's an Appletini in that bottle, that I stickled a bit. And a skully brad was added in case you weren't worried enough. Cool paper from Cloud 9 (been dying to use it). Webby flower from Recollections and the sentiment done with my Dymo. Now go check out the rest of the Minions fab creations. We had a ball with this one. Bet you will too!

The Octopode Factory First Ever Challenge!

WOW, I was so excited when Lily, from The Octopode Factory, announced she was starting a Friday Challenge Blog, but the starting date was a toughy for me, with the holiday and guests and all. However, not only do I love me some Octopode (scroll down for yesterday's post, too), but the very first challenge is ALICE! So, despite the fact that I've got some pretty pressing things to get done today, I just HAD to play along. Gosh, hope I'm not too late with the time difference and all.

Anyway, I used Ashlyn's Alphabet to weld together "Alice" on my Cricut. DH couldn't read it so here's a close up. Honestly it's easier IRL. The gingham was stamped with a Background Stamp from Darkroom Door. The whimsicle flowers are Octopode Factory from the Alice Elements and can be bought separately or as a huge set HERE.

This particular Alice is from the set of 4 HERE and is appropriately named "A" is for Alice. She's colored with Copics in trad Alice colors, cut out and I then shadowed with a free hand cut. Couldn't resist blinging up her "A".

Added my usual dimension and adhesive beads. This time I colored the beads with my Copics because I didn't have yellow. Not quite sure what I'm gonna do with this, but I'm thinking a frame is in order. Now I better hurry and get this posted. Tomorrow starts a new challenge at TOFF and I can hardly wait. You may play along with any images, but if you use Octopode Factory, you're in the running for a monthly prize! WooHoo! (Gosh, are there any I don't own yet?) Must be, Lily is adding new and exciting things all the time. And for those of you who don't do digis, some are now available in RUBBAH, too!

Bah! Humbug! Acetate Challenge

This week at Bah! Humbug! it is the dreaded Acetate Challenge. Eiyiyi! Because of preparations for our July 4th party, (yes, we had a blast, ate and drank WAY too much, stayed up late and we're still recovering) I had no time to really think about this and the magnitude of the challenge until today. Secretly, I think those Humbuggers were exacting revenge on us Yanks for the whole Independence thing, but that could just be me. Worse yet, I decided to try something new and take on a "Magic" card from SplitcoastStampers , which just about did me in. Even when I'm feeling 100%, measuring is not my forte, so this proved to be more than a little daunting. Since I stink at stamping, and stamping on acetate is a particular bite, I decided to use a digi stamp and let the computer do that work for me. I used the quirky little Prezzie Elf, part of Santa's Grotto from The Octopode Factory.

I chose non traditional colors from the Happy Holidays collection by Fancy Pants because of the whimsical image. As you pull on the bow, the magic starts to happen.

I used the method shown on the video for this type of card because I used my Nesties to cut the window.

As you can see, once fully extended, a fully colored image appears just like magic! WooHoo! He's colored with Copics with some Distress inking in the background. The sentiment is also computer generated. I think it turned out pretty darn cute, despite my troubles in creating it. Hopefully next time will go better (if there ever IS a next time). Is it "Happy Hour" yet? Oh yeah!

Tiddly Tuesday "Get an Attitude" Challenge

Well we're back at the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog and this week our theme is "Get an Attitude" (as in "Bad to the Bone"). Tell me that's not a fun one!

Wicked Fun is one of my FAVE images from the Gothic Pin-Ups so of course I just HAD to use her. She's colored with Copics and has loads of Stickles in her hair. I created a shaped "flames" card using Cricut Design Studio and the Car Decals cartridge.

The flames are cut from cool holographic paper and the computer generated sentiment is from a Rihanna song. It's cut and backed with Nesties and inked a bit. The Tiddly Inkers have done a fabulous job with this challenge (as always) so be sure to check out the rest of the team HERE. Christy has previewed another new image that is as cute as can be, and is offering FREE sentiments HERE. The new SHOP is up and running with great new features so be sure and check it out. And in the new Tiddly Inks Basement, for this week only, you can still receive 20% off orders of $15.00 or more. What a great time to stock up on some older favorites!

And last, but certainly not least, we're soooo excited about the collaboration between our Christy and Zoe from Make it Crafty. They've both been hard at work to bring the most fantabulous Steampunk release EVER! It's coming on July 14 and you can check out the details HERE. Check back often for some sneaks and maybe even a freebie or two. There's even a link to info on how to win 5 of the new Tiddly Inks images from the release but you're gonna have to check that out yourself. LOL In any case, prepare to SWOON!

Have a Crab-u-lous Fourth! (BBTB2 Starfish Challenge)

Well, it's finally here! The Fourth of July is a big deal at our house so I took the opportunity to do one last patriotic project. When our fabulous team leader Heather chose the starfish from Life's a Beach for this week's BBTB2 challenge, all I could see was more red, white and blue. My red is the addition of the adorable crab from Create a Critter. Because all 3 starfish are one cut, I had to use alot of hiding contours in DS to get them positioned to weld, and of course they didn't include shadows on Life's a Beach (Grrrr!!!) so I did a little manipulating there as well. The starfish and crab are done with Bo Bunny card stock and the inside mat is a really old DCWV Summer stack.

Yes, it's a shaped front card and I couldn't resist adding a little toothpick flag in his little claw.

I had planned to make this really simple because of all the stuff I had to get done for our party this week, but in the end it did get pretty dimensional. Woohoo! Now grab some inspiration from the rest of my DT sisters and come and play along. Remember, you have two weeks to complete the challenge and new projects only, please. and be sure to mention and link to BBTB2 so others can join in the fun. Have a Crab-u-lous 4th and stay safe! I'm also entering this in the Fantabulous Cricut Pool Time (or Water-Themed) Challenge this week.

Macabre Monday Xtremely Xhaustive

Or should I say Xtremely Xhausted! Still gearing up for my July 4th party, but of course I couldn't miss Macabre Monday at Haunted Design House. This week your project must be LONG with some type of long embellie, like string, or ribbon, or twine; a noose, perhaps? Anyway, I've made a birthday card with Batboy by Torrente/Penney for Stampotique. Note the party hat? He's colored with Copics, and standing on a chair cut with the French Manor Cricut cartridge. The DP is K&Co and the letter stickers are??? Sorry , too tired to look them up.

More of the no name sticker letters for the sentiment on a die cut using Nesties Labels Seventeen. DH didn't get it. (Okay, the "jJs" are kinda hard to read, but still...) I think it's fairly amusing, but what do I know? LOL Check out the fab projects by the rest of the Minions and hope to see you play along.

Happy Fourth Using the New Word Collage Cart

Okay, so I said I wouldn't be crafting. And I'm really not. I'm cleaning my craft room. Normally I wouldn't bother (LOL), but the door to my craft room is right across the hall from our guest room and although I'm inclined to just close the door, don't you secretly wonder, when you visit someone, WHAT exactly they could be hiding behind closed doors? (Unless it's a teenager's bedroom, of course), but really, aren't you curious? Oh, come on, fess up. There will be no secrets here, so while I'm organizing (meaning throwing crap in any box available to be shoved in a closet until they leave), I let my Cricut do some work cutting the Fourth of July Word Collage. It's a really simple one. I didn't even bother to open DS (OMG!). It did, however, take me about 10 minutes to figure out how to change the size of the cut using just the machine. LOL Isn't that pitiful? Seriously how embarrassing!

I did find that these cuts take awhile and it's best to turn down your pressure (to 3) and do a multi-cut, but I'm fairly pleased with the way it turned out. It's a bite to get off the mat, however, and for most of the insides of the letters I just didn't bother, especially because I intended to pop it. Now what? While visiting my friend Joy's blog, I saw her sweet vintage God Bless America card and was reminded of the silhouettes from A Child's Year. I loved the cuts she used so that's what I did too.

I glued strips of blue behind some of the words and popped the mat, then popped the kids on top, doodled a teeny bit, and stuck on a star and a few gems at the bottom. DONE! I'm entering this in the Craft Us Crazy Red, White and Blue (or Summertime) Challenge. But I'm not done shoveling this mess out or about a zillion other things so...later!

Blog Hop Winner and Tons of Announcements

TGIF, everyone! I dare say I wish it were still earlier in the week as I've still got tons of things to do to get ready for the 4th. However, it's a very exciting day for me because I've been PUBLISHED in the July issue of GingerScrapStreet Digital Magazine. Click HERE for the Table of Contents and HERE for the Alice in Wonderland Article. WooHoo! Thank you so much Jess for including me in this fab publication. I'm honored to be featured among such fabulously talented designers.

And BTW, Jess has a little incentive to view the article. She has a little game going for some fab Blog Candy so Click HERE to see what that's all about.

Just so happens that most of the images from my published card came from The Octopode Factory. It is also the day that The Octopode Factory Friday challenges begin and you KNOW I'm excited about that! I can't wait to participate in the challenges. You needn't use Octopode images to join the challenges but you do need to use them to WIN so I'm sure you want to shop HERE.

Then, on July 14th there will be a fabulous joint venture between Tiddly Inks and Make it Crafty. Read all about this exciting collaboration HERE! Just wait 'til you see the gorgeous new mix and match stamps from both stores.

Now I'm hopin' you guys didn't just skip to this part 'cause there was lots of cool info about upcoming events (as well as a little horn tooting of my own, but) FINALLY, the winner of the BBTB2 Blog Hop prize, a $40 gift certificate from CUSTOM CROPS is......

#35, Cathy!!!!! who wrote:

Congratulations Cathy!

please email me at dlmundinger(at)yahoo(dot)com to arrange for your prize.

Bah! Humbug! Penguin Challenge

This may be a really lean week of crafting for me so I'm gonna apologize in advance. Besides several appointments (just got back from the dentist, YUCK!) I've got tons to do for our annual 4th of July party and houseguests, so I'm scramblin' to complete NEXT week's DT cards. Or Tiddly Inks challenge has been postponed for a week (which is why you didn't see a Tiddly Tuesday card yesterday) but don't forget to comment on my BBTB2 Blog Hop card HERE for a chance to win a $40 gift certificate to Custom Crops. I have, however, managed to do my Bah!Humbug! card for the week and the challenge is penguins. Since I've done a few penguin cards in my time, I was looking for something new. This cutie from Winter Frolic fit the bill. (I'm actually starting to like that cart now, who knew?) Anyway, I made a shaped card in DS and flocked his little bod. I embossed the hat and added a pompom and Flower Soft to the rim. Initially I just used Glossy Accents on the lolly pop, but it just wasn't enough so I cut off the stick used more Glossy Accents to adhere it to the back of a Tim Holtz Fragment. Then I added a colored toothpick and bow.

The Snowflake is from a Cuttlebug cut and emboss combo that was lying on my work table from??? The little guy looked a little plain (and actually there was a smudge of black flock at the bottom of his tummy from my grubby fingerprint to hide) so I stuck it on there and added a Jolee sticker to the center. Kinda weird but not so totally out there, do ya think? Anyway, not much dimension but I needed this to be quick so there he is. I'm also adding this as my 5th card to the June Anything Goes challenge at Christmas Cards All Year 'Round.

The Burtonesque Dolls Put Me in a Burton Movie Challenge

This is my second post of the day, only because I'm scrambling to join this challenge. If you're looking for the BBTB2 Blog Hop, please scroll down. The Burtonesque Dolls are back in business and I've been trying to play along. This week in particular the prize is something I covet: your choice of 3 of the new Burton-weenies stamps from Simply Betty! The challenge is put an image, any image, in a Burton movie. I had tons of ideas for this one but I just couldn't pull it together. Then finally, when rifling through my Stampotique Stamps, I came across '3 in a Round'. Aren't they cute? Kinda like ET and friends. So anyway, I thought they looked like they might just be peeking out of the scary tree in Sleepy Hollow. So I found a tree on Oct 31st cartridge and stretched it in DS until there was enough room on the trunk to cut a hole for the little guys to peek out of. Then I cut the Headless Horseman from Happy Hauntings. The background is done with Distress Inks. Added some Rain Dot bats and a jack-o-lantern epoxy sticker and there ya go. I got a little slap happy because I'm tired, so I hope you find the computer generated sentiment amusing. Don't they look apprehensive? And wouldn't you be?

BBTB2 Watermelon Challenge and Blog Hop!

WooHoo! It's the last Monday of the month and you know what that means, don't you? It's Blog Hop time at BBTB2. I'm kicking off this blog hop, but if you get lost along the way, check back at BBTB2 for the full list of participants. This week our fabulous fearless leader, Heather, as gone "old school" and chosen the watermelon from one of the "oldies but goodies" cartridges, Stretch Your Imagination. Of course, if you don't own that one, any watermelon will do but please make it a "new" creation. My first thought was to have a little kid taking a bite so I welded the shadow of the face from another oldie, Doodlecharms, to the shadow of the watermelon. I was gonna stop there, but then thought of the coming holiday and decided to go all patriotic, adding the fireworks and flag from Stand and Salute. There was method to my madness, because I really wanted to join the Whimsicle Wednesday Let's Get Patriotic Challenge and didn't think I could get to it unless I combined. (Sorry Steph, one of these days...) I glittered the fireworks and added gems and a glittered foam star (from M's) and embossed the flag and added tiny adhesive stars by Recollections. The little dude looked mighty bald so I added a curly paperclip for hair, much better!

Only the watermelon portion of this card opens because of the weird design, but it was fun to do something a bit different for a change. The bite was done with a simple hole punch. The rub-on sentiment is from Melissa Frances. There's not a ton of dimension, but I got a kick out of popping his mouth open so he looks like he's taking a giant bite. Now hop along to my sweet and beautiful DT sis Krista has in store for you. I'm sure it's just yummy! But don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a $40.00 gift certificate from Custom Crops. They have some cool new products that I have't seen elsewhere, so be sure to check it out. I'll be drawing the winner using Random Org on Friday, July 1.