Yipes, STRIPES! at Dilly Beans

TGIF!  this week sure went fast with the holiday, eh?  Well, we ALL love Fridays, especially at the Dilly Beans Designers and Challenge Blog because it's new challenge day.  WOoHoo!  This week it's Stripes and I've chosen Megan's new #406 Worried Skellie.  Looks like he's missing someone BIG TIME, don'tcha think?  He's so chock full of stripes that I really didn't need to add any more but of course I did, and even embossed the mat with Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes folder.  How fitting.  The sentiment is from the #370 Thoughtful collection with 9 separate sentiments, including quotes of Love and Thanks.  Lots of fun new images of all kinds at Dilly Beans Shop and the SALE of buy 10 and get 10 free is going on through June 8th.  There's loads of stripey inspiration at the Challenge Blog so be sure and pop by and we sure do love it when you play along.  I'm also entering this in Shelly's Images You Pick Two Challenge using a digi and a monochromatic color scheme and the Oldie But A Goodie Anything Goes Challenge using my Distressed Stripes Cuttlebug Folder.

Wicked Wednesday Mexican Folk Art

I was so excited about the Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge theme of Mexican Folk Art I was beside myself!  You all know about my Dia de los Muertos obsession and I've amassed a bazillion images and stamps in the theme, however, narrowing it down to what I actually wanted to USE was a BIG PROBLEM! Well, I finally made a decision and went a bit more generic choosing the Viva la Vida clear stamp set by Danita from Crescendoh.com, celebrating the Mexican folk artist Frida Kahlo.  I stamped (actually STAMPED, I'm so proud of myself, LOL) the background using the flower stamp from the set as well as her name and colored with Copics.  She is famous for her self portraits (and her unibrow) so I used the face stamp, colored, fussy cut and popped her.  Easy peasy, eh? I wish I'd started this 5 days or so ago, 'cause then I could have made MORE!  At least I snuck one in.  I'm also entering this in the ATC's and Cards with Attitude Anything Goes Challenge #14. 

BBTB2 Garden Challenge

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!  This day always feels like the kick-off to summer fun, but we sure haven't been having the weather here, as of yet.  I see some sunshine this morning, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  Is everyone firing up the grill?  At BBTB2 we continue with our "theme" challenge from our fabulous Julia, and this time it's The Garden.  You may choose anything found in the garden, as long as it's cut with your Cricut, and don't forget to mention us (and link back) and let us know what cartridge you used.  We're really enjoying your creativity.  My original project conspired against me.  I planned on using a cart I'd bought in maybe November, but hadn't had the chance to use.  Imagine my surprise when I went to cut and my Cricut didn't budge.  HHHmmm....  If that wasn't bad enough, it was already 1:00 pm yesterday so I had to scramble to design something completely different so that's what you get.

I've made a little garden hanging using the phrase from Give a Hoot.  The tomato is on From My Kitchen and the rest of the veggies from Country Life.  The shadows were welded in DS.  Then, instead of searching for appropriate colored card stock, I cut them all in white and used my Copics to color.  I left the cuts right on the mat to do this and there was minimal bleed through and I didn't run the risk of losing small bits (like the peas).  Then I glued the layers.

By this time I was sort of running out of gas, so my dimension is minimal.  I've popped the mat from the base (from Lacy Labels), the shadow layer and the phrase.  The adorable metal garden tools are from J's and I've had them in my stash forever (teeny buttons too).  So, how does your garden grow?  We'd love to see it.  My DT sisters have some fabulous inspiration for you at BBTB2 so don't forget to leave them some love.

I'm also entering this in My Sheri Crafts Summer Lovin' Challenge as there's nothing I love more than home grown veggies fresh from the garden.  No, I don't grow my own, but that's what Farmer's Markets are for.  LOL

Macabre Monday Pass the Distressing, Please

It's another Macabre Monday at Haunted Design House and this week our challenge is Pass the Distressing, create a dark, Gothic or Halloween based project that's smeared, smudged and distressed in some way in honor of our fabulous sponsor, Smeared Ink.  Is there anything more distressing than going to the doctor?  Worse yet, for surgery?  I say "NOOOOO"!!!!! so I've used the super sadistic Dr. Doctor.  He's colored with Copics and has just removed his blood smeared glove.  His incision was less than pristine, I'd say.  Looks more ripped apart (yeah, that would be it) and his suturing...eiyiyi!  And just where DID he leave that scalpel (or should I say saw)?  This was a fun one, and the Minions had a ball with the fabulous digi's from Smeared Ink.  Be sure to check out their fab inspiration HERE and don't forget to visit again on Wretched Wednesday, when Creepy Glo and whoever else slacked off over the weekend display their creeptastic offerings.  And for all you interested in some skulduggery, June 4th is again Skull Appreciation Day.  To participate in the fabulous hop, or to just follow along, click the badge on my sidebar.  Hope to see you there.

I'm also entering this in the Dream Valley Humor Challenge, The Order of Opus Gluei Sew What challenge, and Art Impressions Anything Medical Challenge.

Dilly Beans Friendship Challenge

This week at the Dilly Beans Challenge Blog it's all about Friendship.  What would we do without our friends, eh?  I started with thinking about friendship quotes, decided on one of my favorites and printed it on my mat.  I've done a bit of manipulating with images again here.  I guess I didn't get enough of flowers last week. 

The precious little girls are Amalia and Laylah and come together in this adorable digi.

I cropped the images in my Printmaster pro program and merged them with two of the flower images from Dilly Beans Daisy Squares, then colored  them with Copics.

I tried to keep this one pretty CAS so I popped the squares and added a little embossing on both sides with a Cuttlebug border folder and called it done.  We have a fabulous friendship blooming at The Dilly Beans Designers and Challenge Blog so how about joining us this week?


I'm also entering this in the Paper Playtime Say it With Sentiments Friendship Challenge.

A Day for Daisies Vintage and Add Polka Dots

I'm just under the wire for the current A Day for Daisies Challenge which is Vintage plus Dots. I've paper pieced the lovely Scent of a Vintage Rose and colored the rest with Copics.  The dotty papers are from my stash.  I've been saving this gorgeous lace for something special and I love how it echos the rose in her hand.  To me it just screams Vintage.  She's mounted on a Nesties Lacy Circle and I've added picot edge ribbon as well.  I really love how it turned out.  Hope you do too.

I'm also entering this in The City Crafter A Rose is a Rose Challenge, The Sisterhood of Crafters Good Old Days Challenge and the Whimsy Stamps Vintage and Shabby Chic Challenge.

BBTB2 Kitchen Challenge

We're continuing this week with our "theme challenges" at BBTB2 and our fabulous Julia has chosen "things found in the kitchen".  I'm really enjoying the freedom of creativity and variety of inspiration the team is coming up with for these themed challenges.  How about you?  I've actually done a toaster card before using From My Kitchen (click HERE ) but this time I used the toaster on Nifty Fifties along with the hot mit from From my Kitchen to create a pocket card.

I had to do a little messing around in DS to make a shadow for my toaster and also to extend the toast into a whole slice so I manipulated and welded shapes from George to do just that.  You lift out the toast to reveal the computer generated sentiment.

I cut the mit twice (once flipped) and glued them together but seem to have forgotten to do that for the toast.  Guess this was the heel of the loaf.  LOL  You can still write a personalized greeting here though, don'tcha think?

In some cases I did some trimming to get a little more dimension to the card, like the legs and knob as well as the toast from the top base cut.  My foam is placed strategically to capture the toast without much "play" and I made sure the foam on the other layers didn't allow for it to slip in the wrong place.  The retro paper is from DCWV Nana's Kitchen and I couldn't resist blinging it up a bit with adhesive beads.  I think this would be cute for a bridal shower, or even an anniversary.  However, it doesn't stand up, so I might add an easel back before sending it to someone.  If you're interested in free .cut files and directions for some of my other "kitchen themed" cards click HERE for the Mixer, HERE for the Pot, and HERE for the Coffee Pot.  And wait 
'til you see the fab offerings by the BBTB2 team!  Loads of inspiration and lots of fun going on at BBTB2.  Can't wait to see what you come up with. 

Macabre Monday Long in the Tooth Challenge

This week at Haunted Design House our challenge is Long in the Tooth, which means create a dark, Gothic or Halloween based art piece using teeth, fangs, dentures, etc.  There a a few challenges I try week after week to enter but can never manage to finish my DT obligations in time to do any, so this week I planned ahead.  I knew immediately that I would use Wolfman from The Octopode Factory for my toothsome star.  How fabulous that this week's Octopode Factory Friday Challenge is Animals.  My dear Minion Sister Andrea also has a new challenge blog, Smudger Challenges and the current challenge is You're It, meaning tags.  Although you may use any image and be eligible to win one of Andrea's fabulous digis, if you use an image from Smudgetastic Digis you are eligible to win one of her handmade creations.  Little Red is the very first of Andrea's digi's I fell in love with.  Both are colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped atop a tag made with Nesties Labels Twenty Five.

The background is masked and colored with Distress and I've added trees cut with the Tim Holtz for Sizzix Pine Tree die to create my forboding forest.  the sentiment is spelled out in epoxy letters from J's.  Please check out HDH to see the fabulous inspiration for our Long in the Tooth Challenge as well as the other fabulous challenges mentioned here.  And for once, there's plenty of time to join in, so I hope to see you there. 

The Alertered Alice Week Three, Chapter 15 Any Way You Go Will Get You Somewhere

`Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
`I don't much care where--' said Alice.
`Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.
`--so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation.

`Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, `if you only walk long enough.'

-- Chapter 6, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Any way you go will get you somewhere, so this month's challenge at The Altered Alice is ANYTHING GOES! It's all up to you, and we can't wait to see what road you will take with YOUR project. Wonderland entries are encouraged; you will be rewarded with two chances at the draw instead of one. Multiple entries are fine as long as each is on a separate post. You have until May 25 to enter!

ALL ALICE ON SALE!!!
Alice in Wonderland
on sale May 6-26, 2012

Our sponsor this month is the amazing Alpha Stamps [Store /Blog], and Alice fans are in for a real treat when they shop in this magical store! Alpha Stamps features exclusive rubber stamps, collage sheets, paper dolls, kits and collage supplies of all kinds. Their Alice in Wonderland selection is HUGE! Other shopping themes include Steampunk, Birds, French Vintage, Circus, and many more. I love it that you can shop by theme or product type. Be sure to enroll in their newsletter, as the supplies used in the latest artwork from their talented design team are often on sale! They also have fun challenges that are hosted on their Facebook page. The winners are chosen by the number of "likes" each project receives!

The Prize - Anything Goes and Everyone Wins!

The Altered Alice design team will be working with this newly released exclusive "Alice's Adventures" stamp set from Alpha Stamps, plus some Alpha Stamps exclusive collage sheets and other collage supply goodies!

ONE randomly drawn winner will receive the same "Alice's Adventures" unmounted rubber sheet that the design team is using!

EVERYONE who participates in the challenge will win a brand new digital White Rabbit ATC Collage Sheet, emailed at the end of the challenge! SO DON'T BE LATE - enter by May 25 (Eastern daylight time zone)!

And if you just can't play along, you can still enjoy ALL ALICE ON SALE at Alpha Stamps, now until May 26, 2012. So get going and let's see where you go with this fabulous Alpha Stamps challenge!

Ok, I don't know what's going on here.  I'm having a heck of a time with this new blogger so now my text is aligned differently and in BOLD but I can't figure out how to change it despite numerous attempts (and mostly I don't get the whole "HTML" thing) so I'm gonna have to go with it or this post will never get published.  I've also noticed that all the linking I've done from here down doesn't seem to show up but possibly will link if you run your cursor over the products.  I give up! 

My project includes 3 of the Alice in Wonderland Paper Dolls, now available in digital download form at Alpha Stamps.  Here is Alice & Flamingo and The Duchess on the croquet court (bird cage from M's).

I've died a tinsel pompom for the hedgie ball and used small cut outs for the Queen of Hearts Collage sheet #3 to make the wicket.

These paper dolls were included in women's magazines during WWI.  By printing out each character a number of times, and fussy cutting portions of the images, I was able to add multiple layers and give them much more dimension.

The Queen of Hearts is about to enter the field, but she's noticed that one of the roses lining the gate is white and she's VERY upset.

I've assembled her too, using multiple layers and lined her cape with retired card suit DP from Stampin' Up.

Keeping track of time is so important in Wonderland.  This "Play time" Pocket watch has Game Spinner hands and the face was cut from  one of the scenes included with The Dutchess Paper Doll Collage Sheet. 

The watch fob has a Tim Holtz Crown charm and  a 1x3" Memory frame in which I've stamped one of the flamingos from the Alice's Adventures rubber stamp set.  The frame has a Memory capsule front so I was able to include a piece of turf and another tiny hedgie ball.  The text is cut from the story page where the Cheshire Cat appears to Alice during the game.  He is also from the rubber stamp set and Goliath insisted I color him to look like him because his smile looks just like the Cheshire's.  So don't be late!  You have until may 25th (EDT) to enter this fabulous challenge for a chance to win this wonderful Alice's Adventures stamp set, and don't forget ALL participants will receive the new white Rabbit Digital collage Sheet pictured above.  And don't miss out on the fabulous sale of ALL Alice in Wonderland themed products still going on through May 26th at Alpha Stamps.

Flowers From Dilly Beans

This week our Dilly Beans challenge is Flowers.  What a ball I had with this one.  The first image I chose was #184 Flower Girl.  This stamp actually has a flower in her hair, but by doing some cropping and merging in my Printmaster program I was able to size and add #166 Eyeball flower for one of her eyes.  All is colored with Copics.  The mat behind is a Nesties Beaded Oval. The sentiment is one of 9 from the #375 Cute and Dark collection.  And finally, to finish it off, I fussy cut #397 Daisy Border and popped it atop the lattice punch from MS.

I printed the eyeball flower twice to pop it up, but first used my kraft knife to cut out the eyeball part so that the lid could be over the iris, to which I'd added a Rain Dot.  This worked better for me than Glossy accents, because it was perfectly round and stayed that way.  Besides, I have minimal tolerance for waiting for things to dry.  LOL  They worked well for the flower centers on the Daisy Border, too.  The Dilly Beans Designers and Friday Challenge Blog is just blooiming, so be sure to check out the fabulous inspiration by my DT sisters.  And pop over to the Shop too, where Megan has added some fabulous new designs.  She's has even extended the "Buy 10 get 10 Free" offer through midnight TONIGHT (PDT), so HURRY!

I'm entering this card in the Scrap it with a Song challenge, as the song this week is "In My Life" by the Beatles.   It is dedicated to my love, my life  I love you Sweetheart, more than life itself, yesterday, today, and all my tomorrows. 

I'm also entering it in The Sisterhood of Crafters May Flowers Challenge, the I Brake For Florals Challenge, and the Die Cuttin' Divas #65 Flowers Challenge.

BBTB2 "Bakery" Challenge

The next three weeks we're trying something a little bit new at BBTB2.  The fabulous idea from our lovely and talented Julia was to give a wider berth to creativity and not name a specific cut, but let our imaginations run wild with a theme challenge.  This week, it's the bakery.  Just imagine the possiblilities here, breads, cakes, pies, donuts, you name it.  I, myself am a cookie gal so cookies it is, from the Sesame Street Friends cart.  I imagine this  tag atop a care package filled with luscious chocolate chip cookies, the giant ones, 'cause this is one honkin' tag!  LOL  I welded the shadows of the cookies (alternating 4" and 3 3/4") in DS with the shadow of the welded word YUM from Nifty Fifties.  When I started stacking them they sort of looked like they were smiling, all in the same direction which looked weird to me. (Didn't think to flip them in DS when I was designing). I was in a bit of a hurry, so I turned over the 2 4" top layers without even changing the darker layers and it still worked (WooHoo!).  They are embossed with the Cuttlebug Seeing Spots folder and inked a tad wth Distress.

Not so obvious from the front view, but there is quite a bit of dimension.  The whole stack was tied together with red and white gingham ribbon.  The regular letter cuts were doodled a bit with gel pen and embossed with Swiss Dots and that was it.  There are much more fabulously elaborate bakery treats from my DT sisters, so be sure to visit BBTB2, but don't go on an empty stomach or you'll be sorry.  YUM! 

I'm hoping everyone had a fabulous Mother's Day.  Scroll down (if you dare) in my Macabre Monday post to see Goliath's little surprise for me.  Cats, gotta love 'em!  He was quite proud of himself.  LOL

Macabre Monday Hot as Hell

This week at Haunted Design House it's Hot as Hell in here.  Use flames or something that requires heat, burning, scorching or wet embossing to create a dark, Gothic or Halloween based art piece.  WooHoo!  Bring out the blow torch for something other than creme brulee.  Ummm...harder than I thought.

I used a flames image from the net and printed it many times (thank GOD!).  I left one in tact for a background, and then burned another (and another and...)to create the raised frame.  First used a Nestie to create an opening, then my handy blow torch to singe the edges.  CAUTION!  Do not do this indoors.  First failed attempt.  Yowzers!  My sneaks are still smoldering stomping that puppy out.  I'm not gonna tell ya how many tries this took.  LOL

The fab image is a freebie from Sister Minion Ike.  I've colored with Copics and scanned the image and fussy cut parts to add dimension.  Wonder how I did the flames?

This image is not a png and I haven't the foggiest how to make it one.  I wanted the flames behind to be paper pieced with the flames image so I flipped Ike's image and printed it on the backside of another printed flames image and fussy cut that.  Then I turned it over and pasted just the colored Grim Reaper image atop the flames et voila!

Here you can see the number of layers I used on the image.  "Burn" is hand printed because I was too tired  to try and print it on the computer.  That chalky substance on the frame is real ash...seriously.  The Minions knocked this one out of the park so be sure to visit HDH to view the fabulous inspiration and don't forget Wretched Wednesday for last week's Winner and Gruesome Twosome.  Hope to see you in Hell, later this week.  I'm also entering this in the Forever Night Anything Goes How Dark Can You Go Challenge, the Crafty Bloggers Network Decoupage Challenge, and the Rainbow Lady's "Age" as in decoupage, etc. Challenge.

Oh, and hope you all had a fabulous Mother's Day.  This was Goliath's attempt at breakfast in bed for me.  Obviously he had to take a little taste to make sure is was up to par.  Fortunately the cat door was locked and besides, I didn't want to break the news that I was sort of craving rat this morning.  Jezzie's gift was still breathing (a lizard) and is now living somewhere under the bathroom cabinet.  Nice.  She was so upset that I didn't get to play with it that she said she might let me pet her later. Still waiting. I'm not holding my breath.

So where's BBTB2?  I'll be posting a little late.  After my pyro adventures here and my Altered Alice project, I sort of ran out of gas.  I'm not exactly thrilled with my BBTB2 tag anyway, but I'll get it up eventually.  I'm in a bit of a rush this morning.  Obviously, my blog is not for wimps.  Hope you don't toss your cookies (a little BBTB2 humor there) at the site of my Mother's Day 'prise from Goliath.  I do wish more people would take a look at my Altered Alice banner though.  It's the kind of thing I'd love to do more of.