Happy St.Cat-rick's Day

Really, really, REALLY busy day today.  This is my THIRD post.  (Yea, ME!) Please scroll down for the others.

You know I love playing in the (SUYP Cat's Only challenge) and the March theme is AG (with cats, of course) or St.Cat-rick's Day.  Of course I couldn't resist the latter, especially since Ike provided us with this fabulous fur-eebie, complete with sentiments.  WooHoo!  Kind of a simple design with shamrock digi paper from AMBillustrations and a striped piece that was laying on my desk. I added one of Ike's sentiments and some glitter shamrocks because he looks like he's feline lucky.  LOL

Here's a closeup of this handsome guy.  I've been practicing fur and tried to add texture with only my Copics this time.  (Okay, there's a teeny bit of pencil here and there, but the majority of him is marker's only.)  I have a bad habit of putting multiple images on my page before printing and when I went to cut him out with a die, there wasn't room.  GGGrrr!!!  Of course I could fussy cut, but I wasn't up for tackling the whiskers so I decided to color a rug under him.  At first I only had the 3 colors of green and it looked really sucky, but after pulling out the pencils and drawing in what is supposed to be a rag rug design, I thought it wasn't half bad.

Thanks to Ike for her generous gifts of fabulous freebies (you can find more on her Ike's World Challenge, and also on the Ike's Art Fan Page.)  Love, love, LOVE them, especially her KITTIES!

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World AG /optional Over the Rainbow challenge, the Outlawz Festive Fridays St. Patrick's Day theme (close enough, LOL), Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, Glitter and Sparkle Use Some Green and Simon Says Wednesday A Bit O'Green. 

An Irish Blessing

Busy Thursday.  This is my second post of the day.  I'd also love it if you'd visit my GDT post for the C.R.A.F.T. challenge HERE.

Since St. Patrick's day is TOMORROW, I thought I ought to hurry and use the fabulous Lucky Day Freebie set (until St. Patrick's Day) from the Verve Store and enter their Lucky Day challenge.  I changed the color of one of the Irish coffee mugs from black to brown in my Printmaster Pro Program and sort of digitally free handed some whipped cream on top.  My own Irish Coffee mugs are clear glass with etched shamrocks, so that was the look I was going for. The digital paper is from AMBillistrations and I also used one of the other colorations in the set to fashion a saucer.  The Irish Blessings sentiment is also from the Verve Lucky Day set that I expanded upon slightly.  After printing I did a bit of shading with Copics, pencils and pens and there ya go.  

I'm also entering this is the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge, the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, SOSS #79 G is for Green with Envy and Simon Says Wednesday A Bit O'Green.

Guest Designing for C.R.A.F.T. Challenge

I'm thrilled today to be joining the C.R.A.F.T. challenge as Guest Designer.  The theme this week is Christmas and there are 2 fabulous Sponsors, 

Star Stampz

and Digital Paper Craft

I have the pleasure of working with two adorable Snowmen from Digital Paper Craft.

I've colored them with Copics and added them to a pop-up scene I made with the snow drift die, stitched snowflakes and paper from Lawn Fawn, and sentiment die from Kat Scrappiness.  Thank you so much to Jo and the team for allowing me to join you this week.  Be sure to visit the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge blog to see the fabulous creations and we hope you come and play along.

I'm entering this in the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, Kerst Christmas March FB Anything Christmas, 12 Months of Christmas Link up AG, the Holly and the Ivy Christmas challenge AG, Season's Greeting Christmas Challenge AG, CHNC Challenge #324 AG, CHNC Extra  for March AG, Crimbo Crackers #128 Die Cuts, and A Snowflake's Promise March Challenge #38 AG.

It's a Girl!

I've had this adorable little Love Bear from Scrap N' Dipity paper pieced (with did paper from AMBillistrations) for awhile and finally figured out what to do with him...or should I say her?  The Scrap N' Dipity Blog challenge calls for hearts, but it's a little late for a Valentine's theme, so as I poked around in my stash, I came across these little hot pink doilies.  Positioned behind the little bear's head, it looked just like a baby bonnet so I added a bow under her chin, et voila, a baby girl teddy!  

To further the Heart theme I also added a heart shaped doily behind her and a small epoxy heart under the sentiment cut from a Cuttlebug die.  To further the pinky goodness I added a scrap strip in a darker pink and ruffled some Baby Pink crinkle ribbon from the Baby Bundle at DL.Art on some Scor-Tape and 3 "skittles" that just happened to be stuck to my desk with glue dots and called it done.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art March Linky challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG and the Outlawz Festive Fridays for their Something Pink theme. 

But I'm not tired yet!

It's the last day for the Limited Runs Stamps February/March FB Progressive Challenge and as usual I'm just under the wire. You can read about it HERE.  Little Boy is in the shop at regular price now, but you can preview or purchase the digi for March/April if you did not participate in this last month's round.  

I made a tag using DP from K&Co Itsy Bitsy 8x8 stack and colored Little Boy with Copics accordingly.  I couldn't help but add some googly eyes.  HeeHee!  I purchased the Die-versions Moon and Cloud die specifically to use with this stamp and had planned to use the sentiment "Goodnight, moon" until yesterday when we changed to Daylight Savings and lost an hour. I don't know about you, but it takes me FOREVER to adjust to a time change. 

I cut the Moon and cloud 3 times to layer and embossed the cloud with a Cuttlebug folder. Then added a little teddy charm tied with twine from DL.Art and some crinkle ribbon from the Spring Bundle 1 and Baby Bundle.  The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, the Cutie Pie Challenge Dies and Digis, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, and Happy Little Stampers March AG with Dies.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Well, I should be outside enjoying the gorgeous 70+ weather and doing some catch up yard work, but since I already had green Copics on my desk, I decided to do a quicky for the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge asking for some GREEN. Instead of a St. Pat's theme I thought it would be fun to color up #1415 Turtle Soup by Sandra Caldwell.  He's colored with Copics with a computer generated sentiment and I've added some punched corners and matted him with scraps from my stash.  Easy peasy!

I'm also entering this in the Your Scrapbook Place March AG challenge (using a sponsor's image, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, Di's Digis Lots of Green, the ABC Challenge "Z" is for zero embellishments, Simply Create Too March Lots of Green (2/3), Creative Knockouts Lots of Green, and Star Stampz Make it Monochrome.

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.

Spring has Sprung!

Wow, has it ever, at least here in California, so I decided to play with some of the new Watercolor Collection digi papers I got from We Are 3, available at Miss Daisy Stamps to make a Spring card.  The sentiment is also available at Miss Daisy Stamps HERE, but comes as a bonus with this sweet little bunny. So why didn't I use him?  Well, the March challenge in the Miss Daisy Stamps FB Group is asking for a sentiment only, so a sentiment it is.  I changed the color of the Spring sentiment in my Printmaster Platinum program and cropped out the digital butterfly so I could add a punched one.  All three butterflies are from Martha Stewart punches.  I used a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two and Petite Ovals to cut the sentiment and strung a piece of DL.Art Pink Champagne crinkle ribbon from the Vintage Vineyard Bundle. 

BTW, Miss Daisy is also offering a gorgeous FREE sentiment, for a limited time, to use if you'd like to join in the challenge.  You can find the link by joining the Miss Daisy Stamps FB Group.  I didn't use it here because I didn't want to cover up too much of the beautiful paper but I hope to do another soon.

The flowers are hand made using a tutorial from Lisa, at A Mermaid's Crafts, with the same Watercolor digital paper. Although I couldn't even begin to do such lovely work, I did have fun with the flowers and used Spellbinders Blossoms Three instead of the dies Lisa used.  I snipped the petals towards the center before proceeding as she does and added centers from my stash and crinkle ribbon leaves from the DL.Art Spring Bundle #2. 

I'm also entering this in the Outlawz Festive Fridays Spring is Coming challenge (sorry, I finished this late and was too tired to blog yesterday so they have new themes today), the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, the DL.Art 200th (WooHoo!) Thankful Thursday Flowers Challenge , Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, (and more after breakfast).

Sprite Delight IV at Aurora Wings

A new challenge begins today at Aurora Wings and do we have a surprise for you!  Not only is our theme the popular Sprite Delight (IV), but we have an adorable freebie, Pansy Sprite, available to download on the Challenge Blog to use in the challenge (or not) but please be advised, that for this challenge only, you must use an Aurora Wings Sprite (other than the Big Eyed Doll faced images with Sprite in the title) to enter the challenge. 

I've made a wall hanging using Graphic 45 papers from the once Upon a Springtime pack and die cuts from Heartfelt Creations.  It was difficult to choose colors, since there are so many color combos for pansies, but the gorgeous ribbon from the new DL.Art Intimate Bundle, matched perfectly to one of my favorites.

Here's a closeup for the sweet new freebie, Pansy Sprite, all colored up.  You can download this cutie on the AW Challenge Blog HERE.  She's colored with Copics from a pic I found on Yahoo.  To be honest, I find it easiest to find a huge selection of pictures for reference just typing in "pansy", for example, and doing a web search on Yahoo and clicking on the "Image Results" like THESE, rather than Google.

I've also added Pansy Border also available as a 3 Pack HERE to complete my Spring Garden theme.

Here's the dimensional shot of my wall hanging.  I cut the center of the Graphic 45 image with a craft knife and glued it to more Graphic 45 DP, then popped the rest of the image frame with foam before adding the die cuts and fussy cut AW images.  The Pansy border was just attached with Glue Dots at the very edges and Pansy Sprite was popped with foam on top. The Heartfelt Creations gate was attached with 1/8th " Score tape just at the outer edges and the pediment was bowed and attached with Glue dots and adhesive pearls.

Be sure to visit the AW Challenge Blog to download your free Pansy Sprite and see the gorgeous inspiration from my DT sisters.  As always, you may enter up to 3 times with an AW Image and for this challenge only, you must use an Aurora Wings Sprite to enter.  Be sure to check out the newly remodeled Aurora Wings Digi Shop for lower prices and easier navigation, too.  Can't wait to see what you create.

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

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop (newly revamped!)

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art March Linky challenge,  TTRCD week of Feb 28-March 6 AG, the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Spring challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, the Corrosive Challenge March AG, Allsorts Spring Inspiration,  A Perfect Time to Craft Open challenge March, Classic DT Open March, Crafts Galore Encore March AG, Artistic Inspirations #174 AG, Crafting from the Heart #149 AG, Dream Valley Lots of Layers, Crafty Awesomeness March AG, LTSCB #95 AG, Not Just Cards #41 Spring, 

A Glass of Wine for Outlawz Festive Fridays

I've had a crap week that I hope will get better today with some retail therapy at the Scrapbook Expo in Pleasanton.  Will be meeting up with pals Diana Larson and Katie O and we plan to do some serious damage.  In the meantime I managed a quicky card for last week's Outlawz Festive Fridays theme of A Glass of Wine.  There are new themes today.  Finished it so late I didn't blog it, since it WAS Wine o'clock, so here it is.  Couldn't resist the little kitties from LePetiteMarket.  I actually colored over the wine in the glass (which was more purple) to match the wine glass digi paper from Bugaboo Stamps.  Sentiment was computer generated.

I'm also adding this to the SUYP Kitty Love challenge because these kitties obviously LOVE their wine (just like their mama!) and the DL.Art March Linky Challenge.  

Bloobel February Progressive Challenge

Cutting it close, but so what else is new?  Finally finished my version of Bake Me A Cake for the February Progressive Challenge at Bloobel Stamps.  Hey, I would have waited until tomorrow, but I have a dentist appointment. (Procrastination is my middle name.)  You know how all that works, don'tcha?  Well, I signed up and participated in January so I got a code to get Bake Me A Cake for FREE.  If you didn't, you can purchase the stamp HERE to join in, but it ends TOMORROW so chop chop.  Part of my hang up was that her plate was empty but she comes with a whole page of cake layers and fun stuff to add and making up my mind was quite a problem.  I'm sure I'll be using her over and over with more of her goodies, though.

Here's the closeup, colored with Copics.  I call this subtly zombified. Only her eyes are that of a crazed psycho killer.  The rest is pretty much standard, don'tcha think?  Okay, there's a little blood spatter on her apron, but who doesn't occasionally have accidents in the kitchen.  So there you have it.  Yea, ME!

P.S. Bloobel Stamps just started a Troo Bloo Monthly Subscription for only $5.00 per month.  Read about it all HERE and see the cool stamps you get for February if you sign up BEFORE the end of the month.  That's TOMORROW!!!!! If you miss it, you'll have to wait 2 months before these cuties land in the store. You also get a coupon for $1.50 off any stamp you choose for the month.  Sign up any time though and cancel any time as well.  (This is totally unsolicited.  I just think it's such a DEAL.  If you love quirky, you can't get any better than this.)

Join the FB Group HERE so you don't miss all the excitement.

I'm adding this to the Outlawz Monday Greeting Anything goes Challenge, the DL.Art February Linky challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #52 AG, and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

(What should have been) a Quickie for the Outlawz CAS

Although this card should have taken 15 minutes TOPS, I couldn't decide on colors.  Really?  It's a frickin' card base, mat and die cut.  What's WRONG with me!?!  The Outlawz CAS challenge calls for a "romantic theme" and I'm sort of Valentine'd out so I used my adorable new Die-versions Lovely Kids die and made a card that could be an anniversary card or just a sweet "I love you".  The embossing folder is an old Quickutz and the sentiment is computer generated.  I originally started with a black silhouette but it seemed too harsh.  I switched to kraft but it didn't look right with the white.  Changed the mat to cream and then couldn't decide on a base until I found some long lost burlap cards so there ya go.  I kind of like the added texture.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art February Linky challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #52 AG.