A Spring in Her Step

It's time for a new challenge at The East Wind with the theme A Spring In Her Step.  The days are getting warmer, the flowers are beginning to bloom and we want to see your Spring projects.  I've chosen the beautiful Lucy Loo 'Scent of Spring'.  Can't you just smell the new blossoms?  Spring is in the air.  She's cut and matted with Spellbinders Labels Seventeen and popped atop DP from the DCVW Spring Stack.  I've used my sewing machine to pierce the holes between the quilt squares of the print and my gel pen to connect the dots for the faux stitching detail.  The coordinating ribbon is a snippet from my stash.

Lucy is colored with Copics with a bit of extra shading from Prismacolor pencils. Talk about a fun image to practice hair coloring on.  WOW!  The sentiment was computer generated, popped and matted.  Quite a breath of fresh air, don'tcha think?  Please visit the TEW Challenge Blog for more fab inspiration and don't forget our current FB contest running through March 17th. Time to lose those Winter blues.  Can't wait to see what you create.

Here's the important stuff:

Challenge Blog

Show Room Blog

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the Catch the Bug Spring into Spring challenge, Inkspirational She Art or Image of a Woman, Little Claire's Monthly Springtime challenge, My Time to Craft for a Special Lady,  Graph It Coloring Challenge Spring Colors, Card Mania March Spring challenge, Wags 'n Whiskers Ready for Spring, Inspiration Destination ATG, DL.Art Thankful Thursday ATG, QKR Stampede Stitching Real or Faux, Crafting for All Seasons Girly Girls, Show Your Digi Love TEW and the Paper Shelter Girly Challenge.

New Release at The East Wind

There's a new release at The East Wind today and this Lucy has plenty of 'tude. Meet Lucy Loo 'Tainted Love' and I gotta say, she's one of my faves ever!  Her fab hair just screamed pink and black to me, and her expression begged for sarcasm, dont'cha think?  I went with sort of a wonky design using ancient skully and heart DP from DCWV, a strip of tattered looking webbing ribbon from May Arts (from Really Reasonable Ribbon), fabulous polymer clay skulls from Creepy Glowbugg's Etsy shop and a capsule I ripped off from the hubs.

Lucy is colored with a combo of Copics and pencils and I drew in her fishnets. Just wished I'd thought to put a rip in them, as well.  The sentiment is computer generated using the "Catchup" font and makes me giggle.  Come on, tell me you wouldn't like to say that to at least one person you know.

Be sure to check out our FB Group every Tuesday and Friday for the new release from The East Wind and join in our current FB Challenge which runs through March 17th.  A new challenge begins on the Challenge Blog March 15th. Winners from last fortnight's Doodle Doodle Doo challenge will be announced shorty.  Come join us.

I'm entering this in the DLArt Thankful Thursday ATG Challenge, Create and Inspire Challenge 17, TTRCD ATG March 10-16, Whimsy Stamps Use a Sentiment, the Digitally Sweet Font Talk challenge, Show Your Digi Love TEW and Left of Center using the LOC theme (or perhaps "bad luck"  LOL).

Artbymiran FB Progressive Challenge

Okay, here's one just under the wire.  It's for the February FB Progessive Challenge at Artbymiran.  The beautiful image is called Gem and I received her for free because I played in January's challenge.  You can join in the challenge at anytime by purchasing the "Reserve Listing" in the artbymiran Etsy shop (at 50% off), but after that, as long as you enter the challenge, your next month's digi is for free. Cool!  I had a hard time deciding what colors to choose, but eventually went with blue.  She's colored with Copics with some Stickles on her diamond and matted with holographic and glitter paper for extra sparkle.  To add further shine I added gems by Jolee's Boutique and metallic swirls from Colorbok.

I didn't mean to wait 'til the last day.  Her hair and skin were colored for weeks but I gotta say, the dress intimidated me a bit.  Great practice and all in all, I'm pretty pleased with how it came out.

I'm also entering this in the Artbymiran ATG challenge, the Scrapbooker PhD Bling Challenge, the Simon Says Monday "B" is for (bling) challenge, Digi Galore It's All About Her, Fab 'n' Funky Focus on the Image, Crafting for All Seasons Girly Girls, 613 Avenue Create ATG/w optional Use Aquamarine and Eureka Stamps ATG.

CAS + Texture

Sorry I've been a bit remiss in posting.  First I had to take some time to shovel off my tables as the available space had gotten so tiny there was no place to actually color or assemble anything any more.  And after that was at least manageable I decided to try and work ahead a bit on my DT projects, instead of waiting 'til the last minute, but that meant I had nothing to post until the appropriate date.  However, I did check out the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge which is Add Some Texture and one of the Gecko Galz March FB Challenges which is the Birds and Bees and came up with this.  "Unique" is cropped from the Gecko Galz Just Words Stamp set, the hive from the In My Garden Stamp set, and the bee cropped from the Nature's Bliss collage sheet.  I changed the color of the stamps to gold and brown and all images were assembled and printed with my Printmaster Platinum program.  I embossed a paper strip with the Honeycomb Cuttlebug folder, tore off the corners and inked it with Distress and added yellow Liquid Pearls for even more texture.  Finished it off with some adhesive pearls and called it done.  Yea, for CAS or you'd have to be waiting until Friday. 

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Monday "B" is for (Bee) challenge, the Digitally Sweet Font Talk Challenge and Simon Says Wednesday Things That Fly. 

Gecko Galz In the Garden

Busy day today.  Click HERE for The East Wind.

                         Click HERE for Lacy Sunshine.  

It's the first of the month so that also means a new Challenge at Gecko Galz. Our new theme is In the Garden.  

I've made a card using the "pyramage technique".  First I chose a paper from the Victorian Garden Papers (from the March Victorian Spring Club Kit, sized at 4 1/2" x 6" ), an image from the In the Garden Collage set and a floral frame from the Victorian Spring Icons (also from the Club Kit) and sized, layered and printed them using my Printmaster Platinum program.  The layered card front was cut out and inked around the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and adhered to a  5" x 6 1/2" card base.

I also printed the collage image separately 4 more times and the floral frame once more as well. To do the "pyramage technique", using my Spellbinders Classic ovals, I cut concentric ovals from the 4 unlayered collage images, starting with the largest one first.  I then used the image with the cut out to place the next smaller oval die on the next image, carefully taping with removable tape, and so on, so that when the die cut ovals are layered and popped with adhesive foam, they form the complete picture. (P.S. You can use the images with the cut outs to do a second card in the reverse, if you wish)

The extra frame was fussy cut and I went around the edges both inside and out with the side of a yellow green Copic marker because it was too difficult to ink but I wanted the raw edges colored. The card was finished off with a triple bow from died seam binding and a crocheted butterfly from my stash.  Be sure to visit the Challenge blog and drool over the vintage goodness from my teamies. Come play along with us, you have all month to join in.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday ATG Challenge, My Sheri Crafts Welcome Spring, The Stamping Boutique More Than One Layer, Creative Knockouts Lots of Layers, Southern Girls Get Your Girly On, the Crafter's Cafe Lots of Layers, Crafting for All Seasons Dies and/or Punches and Simon Says Wednesday ATG.

Lacy Sunshine a Passion for Fashion

If you are looking for my East Wind card, please click HERE.

A fun new challenge starts today on the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog with the theme of "A Passion for Fashion"  (Use a digi with a fancy dress or do a shopping theme.) WooHoo!  Right up my alley.  Tough choice for me, there are so many beauties from Lacy Sunshine, but I finally decided on Nicolosia Venice City Girl. I've made a twisted easel using variations on the Spellbinders Labels One die and my new fave Noor design Lacy Square die.

Nicolosia is colored with Copics in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of green purple and gold. She's fussy cut and popped for dimension and I've added some adhesive beds and gems to her necklace and mask.  I think she'd be stunning in other colors for a New Year's or Halloween Masquerade Ball as well, don't you?

Here's a side view of the twisted easel.  The mask die is also from Spellbinders which I've cut twice, trimmed and layered.  The sentiment is peel off stickers from Starform.  My DT sisters obviously enjoyed this challenge as much as I did, so be sure and visit the Challenge Blog and leave them some love.  You'll also see the winners from challenge 52, as well as the new Loyalty Program digi that those of you who entered the last challenge with a Lacy Sunshine image can get for free and those who did not, may purchase at 50% off for the duration of this challenge.  We also have a new "colored image only" category, so you may link up your unfinished, but hand colored, Lacy Sunshine images as well for a chance to win an image of your choice.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday ATG challenge, the Di's Digi Designs Birthday challenge, Digi Galore It's All About Her, the Outlawz Friday Coloring challenge ATG, Creative Knockouts Lots of Layers, Pile It On Use Adhesive Embellishments (beads, gems and sentiment), Simon Says Wednesday ATG, the Crafter's Cafe Lots of Layers, and Crafting for All Seasons Dies and/or Punches.

New Challenge at The East Wind

Time for a new challenge at The East Wind with the theme of Doodle Doodle Doo.  (Add some doodling or faux stitching).  Gotta say I almost missed the actual challenge part, thinking that the cute Unkytoon freebie from the newsletter this month WAS the doodling.  OOPS!  Fortunately, my layout conveniently lent itself to faux stitching, so I after a minor adjustment, I was good to go.

I colored the little witch Unky with Copics and Prismacolor pencils and cut her out with a Spellbinders Labels Eighteen.  I inked it while still in the die with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  The cute web banner and spider dies are from La-La Land, the kitty is Obsession Impression and the word stickers are from Authentique.  Be sure to visit the Challenge Blog to see my DT Sisters' creative take on this month's newsletter freebie. (Sign up top right of the Challenge Blog to get yours each month)  We can't wait to see what you create.  Any digi is welcome, but your first entry with an East Wind stamp counts twice.  Be sure to link up once to your post, and then a second time to your blog.  

Here's the important stuff:

Challenge Blog

Show Room Blog

FB Group

FB Fan Page

Etsy Shop

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday ATG challenge, Left of Center Spiders, Pile it On use Adhesive Embellishments (sentiment stickers, adhesive Beads, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, the Stamping Boutique More Than One Layer,  the Crafter's Cafe Lots of Layers, Crafting for All Seasons Dies and/or Punches, and Addicted to Stamps and More Any Holiday (Halloween). 

J'adore Paris

Here's a wall hanging I did as inspiration for Gecko Galz with a Paris theme. First I covered an paper mache heart with digi paper from the Parisian Dreams paper pack and added pleated black organdy trim to the edge.  Then I cut and both the shadow and regular Eiffel tower with my Cricut and embossed them with Cuttlebug embossing folders and popped them with foam at an angle.

I cropped and collaged 5 different digi stamps from the French Connections stamp set, colored them minimally with Copics and added some Frantage for the main event.  The J'Adore Paris banner was fussy cut from another of the stamps in the set and popped near the top.

Here's the dimensional view.  I've used tulle as a hanger, strung through the holes in the heart and finished off with some jet adhesive flat back gems.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday No Rules (ATG) challenge, Simon Says Wednesday ATG, the As You Like It Favorite Anything but a Card Project (mine are wall hangings because they can be hung anywhere to brighten up a room or door), Frilly and Funky It's Time for a Vacation (I'll say!)  and the Outlawz Monday Greetings ATG Challenge.

And here's one more 100% digital inspirational piece using the Icons from the Gecko Galz February Coquette Digital Club Kit available HERE, individually and HERE as part of a subscription.  The girl, rose frame, additional roses at the bottom, eyelet lace and polka dot tag are all included in the kit (along with many more) in png form so they were easy to layer in the printing program of choice (mine was Printmaster Platinum).  All I added was the rectangular frame, drop shadows and computer generated sentiment.  I rarely do all digital projects, but this was easy, fun and I think, really pretty, using the Club Kit Icons.   I'll be playing more with these for sure.

I'm entering this in the Digitally Sweet ATG Challenge #129.

SCACD Brave Hearts and Eclectic 2 Rubber Stamp Release Blog Hop

Today SCACD celebrates 2 NEW recently released exclusive rubber stamp sets. They are the Brave Hearts (a group of 4 empowered gals) and Eclectic 2 (a combo of 6 steampunk and ethereal stamps).  With the Eclectic 2 collection, if you buy the entire set, you get 4 FREE date stamp words.  SCACD artist, Carmen Medlin, and Susana collaborated on these images and we're so happy to be showcasing them to you now. :D

They're available for purchase in the USA HERE. (for the Brave hearts and Eclectic 2 sets).

Our international friends can purchase them from Quixotic Paperie HERE.

SCACD digital stamps for both USA and International can always be found HERE.

My project is an art journal page (that I liked so much I tore it out and matted it) using the fabulous new Steampunk Sea Turtle Pair from the Eclectic Collection 2 (also available individually).  They were stamped with Memento Ink, colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped atop a watercolor paper background created by mopping up sprays from my craft mat.  The metal swirls are supposed to be steampunky bubbles.  LOL

I used the Kelp Forest stencil (also designed by Carmen Medlin) and Modeling Paste to further build the scene.  Once the paste was dry, I replaced the stencil and sponged Distress Ink in Peeled Paint over the raised areas for color.  I've finished off with some die cut gears from Tim Holtz and Memory Box that I enhanced with Rub 'n Buff and Frantage.

Your next stop should be Nikki and if you get lost along the way, head back to the SCACD Store Blog HERE.  Happy hopping.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday No Rules(ATG) Challenge and the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG challenge.

Gecko Galz Inspiration

Today I'm featured on the Gecko Galz Blog with my projects for the month (and apparently some of last's month's snuck in again over there again, too  LOL).   This project was a first time try and I learned quite a bit from it.  It was loads of fun and I'll definitely be trying it with more of the fab images from Gecko Galz.

PRETTY GIRLS COASTERS

Gecko Galz Coquette Collage sheet from the Feb Coquette Digital Crafting Kit (only available with the subscription) 

Other: Printing Program (I use Printmaster Platinum), 4x4" travertine tiles (available at home improvement stores), tissue paper, temporary adhesive (spray or tape), brush, Matte Mod Podge, water, 600 grit sand paper, felt (for back of coasters)  and matte acrylic sealer and hangers if using for wall tiles.

Choose and size Coquettes from Collage Sheet to 3 1/2" square (you may have to stretch some in one direction or the other)  Add text box sentiments, making the background of text white, rather than transparent.  Print on inexpensive regular white smooth card stock.  (I have a laser printer, I'm not sure how Mod Podge reacts with Inkjet printers.  Best to test to see if it bleeds)   Cut smooth white tissue into squares and use removable spray or tape to adhere them to the card stock (If using tape, be sure it does not cover the image anywhere).  Print again.  Trim images.

Cover tile with a medium coat of matte Mod Podge and carefully add image, smoothing any wrinkles or bubbles as best you can.  Let dry.  Add at least 3 coats of  Mod Podge to top, letting each coat dry before adding the next.  Wet sand with 600 grit sandpaper to remove any brush strokes, wiping off the milky residue with a wet paper towel.  Make sure you do not sand too deeply or you will remove any portion of the image that may have bubbled or wrinkled   Your image will appear cloudy, but will eventually dry clear.  Add more coats as needed and sand until smooth.  If using as coasters, seal with acrylic sealer.  Glue felt to the back to protect your table from scratches.  Not need to seal if just hanging as wall decoration.  Glue hanger to back of these.

Note:  I used tissue because I wanted it to appear as if the images were part of the tile.  You can see the variations of color through the images.  You may use regular copy paper which will be more opaque (and easier to smooth out without tearing) but more coats may be required.  Alternatively, use Gloss Mod Podge and sealer if desired.

Here's some close ups of the individual tiles.  Aren't they a sassy bunch?  Not quite sure why the lighting was funky when I took the individual pix.  They look like the group pic up top.  Somebody always wants to stand out in a crowd, I guess

I've got some more projects on the Gecko Galz Blog if you'd like to check them out, but I think I'll save some of those for another day.  And don't forget our Vintage Ladies Challenge going on now through the end of the month with a fab prize of a $25 GC to Gecko Galz.  All you need to have is at least one Gecko Galz product.  Can be papers, or an image, or a digi stamp, or even Freebies count so check us out on Pinterest where monthly freebies are posted and sign up for our newsletter (top left of Blog) to receive a free collage sheet every month.  There are monthly Challenges on the Gecko Galz Papercrafting FB page as well, so come check us out.

I entering these in the Recycle, Re-Purpose and Re-Invent Feb 15-28 ATG Challenge.

Wicked Wednesday ATC Fairy Happy Birthday

Here's my creation for the latest Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge.  I'm enjoying creating in miniature again.  The coloring is quite a challenge and it's fun to see what all you can pack in a 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch space.  The theme this time is a Fairy Happy Birthday.  The hardest part was choosing an image from the bazillion fairy images I own.  This cutie caught my eye because it reminded me of how little ones get so excited when their birthday rolls around that they wear themselves out before it's time for the cake.  The image is from Milk Coffee and is called Soya Takes a Nap.  She's colored with Copics with a bit of Stickles sparkle on her wings.  I couldn't resist adding a birthday crown and one of my hoarded inchworm (Queen &Co) brads.  The cool mushroom boarder is a Joycrafts (Noor design) die that I've colored and popped.  The tiny butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch, the sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering this in the ABC Challenge D is for Die Cuts, the City Crafter Love Metal (crown and inchworm brad), Fan-Tastic Tuesday ATG/Use a die, the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge (blue, red, green /with a twist add brads), Sweet Stamps Happy Birthday, Papertake Weekly  Bingo (using Die Cut, Free, Glitter), TTRCD ATG, Tuesday Throwdown Use Metal, and the Corrosive Challenge Things with Wings.

New Challenge at Aurora Wings

Our new challenge starts today at Aurora Wings.  The theme is My Lucky Colors. Well I don't know about lucky, but my favorite color has always been red.  Pair it with black and white and I'm good to go.  It's striking and dramatic and really makes the red POP!

Mitzi has a number of gorgeous images in the Shop that lend themselves to the color red, but this time I chose the gorgeous Girl With Poppies.  She's colored with Copics with white gel pen for highlights and I just love how she came out.

I'm not exactly sure what this card fold is called nor where I first saw it.  I do know I had a hard time taking decent pix.  The die cuts are Spellbinders Enchanted Labels 28 and I've used Starform peel off stickers for the sentiment and added trim.  The focal image really needed no other embellishments.  There is gorgeous colorful inspiration by my DT sisters on the Challenge Blog so be sure hop on over and have a look.  And don't forget to scroll down for our Winner's Post, as well.  On Facebook, our February challenge is Everything's Coming Up Roses, so we hope you join us there, as well.

I'm entering this in the Come and Get It Birthdays Challenge, 613 Avenue Create ATG/optional RAK Day, Digi Galore ATG, Kitty Bee Favorite Color Combo (red, black, white), Outlawz Paper a la Mode Fantasy, Craft for the Craig  Birthday, Dream Valley Favorite Color Combo (red, black, white)and Quick Quotes Red and White.