Dilly Beans Add Some Metal

There's a new challenge at Dilly Beans today and we want you to Add Some Metal.  I've used one of the adorable new images, #594 Aidynn's Bear Framed. 

I went with fresh Springy colors and a layout inspired by Sketch #42 from Papertake Weekly so I could enter their Sketchy Free for All Challenge.

Aidynn is colored with Copics and instead of paper piecing or flocking, I tried to get a bit of a furry texture using the dotty technique.

My metal is an adorable bear charm I got on clearance from Mike's several years ago.  It has a lobster claw clasp to allow it to be removed and hung on a bracelet.  Cute, eh?  The triple bow was done with my Bow Easy.  Easy?  Hate to say I still have to read the directions every time. Please stop by Dilly Beans to see the fabby creations by my teamies and remember, younow have 2 weeks to play along.

I'm also entering this in the Shopping Our Stash Heavy Metal Challenge, DL Art Thankful Thursday Use an Image of a Girl or Lady, TTRCD ATG Feb 25th - Mar 3, Tuesday Throwdown ATG.

Demon Lovers for Left of Center

Thought I'd sneak this in for the Demon Lovers Challenge at LOC.  Since the challenge is being sponsored by the fabulous Rick St. Dennis, I thought I'd use one of his images, this one being Zombie Love.  The fabulous sentiment is from Ginger's House, printed twice in two different sizes and cut apart. "What if the one that got away came back"?  Perfect, eh?  The fab doily DP is from the Hallow's Eve 6x6 pad from Creative Imaginations and embellies include a tattered flower from Petaloo, Skellie key from Jolee's and a fab handmade brain from HDH Minion Sis Creepy Glowbugg's Etsy shop.

 

Gotta say I love coloring rotting flesh!

My Melancholy Moppet for Lacy Sunshine

There's a contest going on (through Friday) in the Lacy Sunshine Facebook Group and I had to play along.  You were to use any of the Melancholy Moppets and they are some of my FAVES.  I've chosen Anastasia (scroll down to get yours).  What started out to be a card expanded into a wall hanging.  I'd printed Anastasia a little more than 5.5 " tall and wanted to add Lots of Layers to enter her in the current Lacy Sunshine Blog challenge as well, soo...  I've used my Spellbinders Grand Caliber Creative Book pages for several of the layers and K&Co DP which had the shabby look I was going for.  The gorgeous lace die is from Heartfelt Creations and the lacy frame behind Anastasia is Spellbinders Fleur Di Lis Squares.

Anastasia was so much fun to color with my Copics.  Not exactly Springy colors, but I thought they suited her.  Delved into my stash for the perfect flowers and seam binding to finish it off.  Kinda love how this turned out.

I'm also entering this in the TTRCD ATG Challenge Feb 25-Mar 3, Digi Stamps4Joy Use Dies or Punches, Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG with the Triple Play Twist (Use 3 of something-3 flowers).

Wicked Wednesday ATC Anti-Valentine

Been missing playing along over Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge and this week it's Anti-Valentine's Day.  Couldn't miss the chance to use the adorable Anti-Valentine image from Aurora Wings one more time so here she is, this time in red and black.  For some reason my printer won't calibrate and is printing my images with a shadow but c'est la vie.  She's colored with Copics and mounted on thick textured paper by Sizzix.  My cutter wouldn't cut it through so I ended up tearing the edges.  Liked the distressed look so I used my Distrezz-it-All to distress the red mat as well and used my tiny attacher to put them together.  The arrow tip is a heart shaped Alpha Bead and the sentiment is computer generated.  Sorry for the crap picture but it's late, the artificial light in my laundry room is doing it no favors and the double image is making it look blurry.  Not my night. 

I'm also entering this in the Kenny K's Krafting Krew Distressed Edges Challenge.

The East Wind Love Challenge

Been spending the week practicing my coloring and found some fabulous new digis at The East Wind.  This amazing gal is 'Lucy Loo' Bookaholic and I've got to say I've never had so much fun coloring hair.  (Well, of COURSE it's red.  LOL)  The very first Challenge at The East Wind Blog is LOVE so I've decided to make a "Love to Read" bookmark.

Lucy Loo is colored with Copics and fussy cut.  I decided not to pop any of the elements so as not to interfere with closing the book.  I've used Spellbinders Labels Seven to cut out the 2 small books that back the sentiment. The punched letters spelling "Read" are from Graphic 45, the text DP is from Stampin'Up.  Thanks to Vicki from the DT for turning me on to these stamps and the Facebook Group where there is lots of fun stuff going on too.  Hope to see you there.

Another Anti-Valentine

Yeah, I know.  It's past the day but I'm still having fun.  Especially when there's some snark and sarcasm involved.  Not at all the way I feel about love, but there have been times...  Anyway, I made this specifically for a number of challenges, the first being the brand new Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, first challenge being A is for Anti-Valentine.  Ohhh, I'm gonna have fun playing there, for sure.  The second, the current  PunkYouGirl Hearts and Harlequins Challenge.  The heart is from Tiddly Inks (retired, I guess) and I've embossed the background with a harlequin pattern Cuttlebug Folder.

I get the biggest kick out of this main image, Rollers by Smeared Ink.  Love her snarky expression and I didn't want you to missed her rollers.  I paper pieced her jammies with a harlequin pattern as well.  WooHoo!  The rest is colored with Copics.

So here's the sentiment fom Ginger's House.  She cracks me right up on a regular basis.  Sorry my printer is being a bit off but I think you get the gist of it.  I'm also adding this one to the new Naughty or Nice Love challenge, as well. 

Macabre Monday Frightening Fairies Week 2

It's Week 2 of our Frightening Fairies Challenge at Haunted Design House and it seems to be stumping a lot of people, including me.  However, I managed to rally and came up with this little woodland scene.  The fab Creepy Mushrooms is from ADFD,  the fairy is actually Banshee by RSD with some vellum wings from Rocking Horsefly from Sami Stamps (which I can't seem to find at the mo).

The images were printed on Kraft card stock from the Paper Temptress and colored with Copics.    Banshee was fussy cut and popped.  The whole shebang was cut with my Spellbinders Grand Labels 1, inked and matted.  "Believe" is an ancient rub-on from Heidi Grace.  Pehaps it shoud have said "Beware", eh?  There's lots more inspiration on the HDH Blog, so come take a look and join us.

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday Get Krafty Challenge and Left of Center using the LOC theme.

A Little Quickie

I'm sooo not done with Valentine's and I'm happy to see there are challenges I can still enter.  Got a real kick out of this sentiment and thought it would be perfect with the sweet vintage image from ADFD called Mr. Right.  I'd love to show you the the inside but it's a bit of a private joke (ahem) so...  Anyway, I think it would fit right in with the first LOVE challenge at the new Naughty or Nice Challenge Blog as well as the the Simon Says Wednesday Get Krafty challenge.  WOW!  this must be the shortest post in the history of my blog but it's past Wine o'clock...See ya!

Happy Valentine's Day from Dilly Beans (and Me!)

Happy Valentine's Day to all my friends out there in Blogland.  Hope your day is filled with all the love you could ever imagine (and a few chocolates wouldn't be that awful, either.  LOL)  The Dilly Beaners have made some special Valentines for you all, too.  Our Challenge this fortnight is Hearts (just in case you haven't gotten your fill).  No shortage of Dilly Beans images with hearts so I'm sure we'll see lots of great stuff.  I've tried something new (for me anyway) and done a canvas transfer using Shell's tut in the Mixed Media University Group on the Smeared and Smudged Forum.  The image is the adorable #587 Penny's Heart String.  After carefully rubbing off the paper, I colored her with Copics and added more of my conversation heart stickers.  Love the texture the canvas provides.  The background is dabbed with bubble wrap dipped in Distress Ink.  I've fashioned the the heart with lace tape and added trim, crocheted flowers, pearls  and a little crocheted butterfly, as well.  I've wrapped some velvet ric rac around the edge to finish it off.  Very sweet and girly, don'tcha think?

I'm entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG Challenge (couldn't quite manage the optional Create your Own with this one but still wanted to share.), the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG /w optional Add a Flower, TTRCD ATG Feb 11-17, Through the Purple Haze ATG and Papertake Weekly With a Heart.

A Valentine for my Man

As soon as I saw Veronica Vamp by Kenny K, I knew she was gonna be on this year's Valentine for my man.  Had to say I kept it kinda simple ('cause he likes it that way), using two different doilies, a touch of embossing and a sentiment from Ginger's House.  Couldn't forget the lips though.  His kiss?  MMMMmm...!!!  (Oh oh, TMI?)

Now tell me you're surprised she's a redhead.  LOL  Really fun to color, too.

And inside...well...  Wishing you all the love of your dreams.  Happy Valentine's Day.

I'm entering this in the KennyK's Krafty Krew's Love Challenge, Digi Stamps 4Joy Hearts, the Outlawz Paper a la Mode Valentine's Challenge, TTRCD ATG Feb 11th -17th, Sassy Studios DTBST It's Valentine's Day Challenge, the Fan-Tastic Tuesday  Romance challenge, the Corrosive Feel the Love Challenge, the Crafter's Cafe Must Have Hearts and the very first Naughty or Nice Love challenge (the image is a bit naughty but the sentiment is nice). 

Lacy Sunshine Violet

Having a play in the Lacy Sunshine Facebook Group with the adorable Violet Flower Pot Pretty.  The current contest ends tomorrow and for once I'm not in at the last minute.  I was excited to find an ancient Colorbok stack by Tracy Porter that had some great coordinating Dp's and used a die from Heartfelt Creations I've had for several years for the very first time.  The peel off sentiment on the front allows me to enter it in the current Use a Sentiment Challenge on the Lacy Sunshine Blog so this card does double duty.  WooHoo!

I really enjoyed coloring her up, especially her curly hair.  Paper pieced the cup with some of the DP from the stack as well.  Used Liquid Pearls for the centers of the violets to add some shine.  Of course, she's fussy cut and popped for dimension.

It's a gate fold card which I don't make very often, and a square to boot.  Took this pic so you could see the pretty DP on the left hand side.

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Monday We Love Stamps Challenge and 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes/Create Your Own Challenge (using image, die cut, liquid pearls, flowers, and lace (hopefully the lacy die cut will count here) .

Jezebel's Valentine for Daddy

As soon as Jezebel saw Valentine Kitty from Aurora Wings, she HAD to have her for Daddy's Valentine.  Of course I agreed she'd be just PURRRFECT.  What a cutie!  I had recently seen the instructions for a Pop-Up Box Card on Splitcoast Stampers and thought that might be a fun one to try.

This is the second time I colored her because the first one just didn't fly with Jezzie.  She fancies herself a white kitty because she thinks they are the boofiest (most beautiful) of all. 

Have to admit, my experimentation at coloring her with a combo of Copics and pencils to approximate her natural markings were not the best, but she was utterly HORRIFIED that I would even consider it.  "I look like a BOY, Mommy", (Yeah, she kinda did), she cried, "give that one to Goliath."  "But Goliath has short hair, Jezzie," I countered.  "Well, he'd be boofier with LONG hair, like me", she said, "And while you're at it, cover over that sentiment because Daddy is MINE!"  Yes, ma'am!  (She's the ultimate "Daddy's Girl" for sure!)

I did a bit of fussy cutting around the hearts a Valentine Kitty's feet in order for her to fit in the box.  Then printed her again, cut just the hearts and attached it to the second cross piece inside the box so more would show from behind her.  Finally, the floating heart is attached with acetate so it sort of flutters in the back, and I flipped, printed the image again and added "Daddy" to one of the hearts for the front flap.

 

The card folds flat but a tiny bit of the kitty shows out the top.  Pretty sure I can still find an envie, though.  All the sweet Dp's are from the 6x6 Fourteen pack by Crate Paper.

Now, if you don't already know, there's a 400 Member Celebration Event going on TODAY on the Aurora Wings Facebook Group with loads of fun and contest questions going on all day long.  Join us for a chance to win some amazing Aurora Wings images.

I'm adding this to the Simon Says Monday Love Notes challenge, the Simon Says Wednesday Have a Heart challenge,  the Digi Galore Valentine Challenge, and the Outlawz Alcohol Markers Valentine/Love Challenge.

Aurora Wings Anti-Valentine for Left of Center

Just couldn't resist this cutie from Aurora Wings and thought she'd be perfect for the current Left of Center Cute/and or Creepy challenge. This adorable little Anti-Valentine Girl looks like she's through with love, at least for now.  Can't imagine anyone wanting to break her heart though, can you?  Wanted to do something a bit different so I made a "Spring" card, modifying it somewhat to suit my needs.

I took my colors from an old DCWV stack.  Had a ball coloring her edgy hair, well actually all of her, with my Copics.  EEEK!  Love her little kitty ears.  The fab sentiment is from Ginger's House and the adorable little Glo Skull is from Creepy Glowbugg's Etsy Shop.

I've used Nesties dies for the hearts and cut one jaggedly for either side of the base.  It helps stablize the pop up center because as usual, I've fussy cut and popped the image which made it a bit wonky.

I'm also entering this in the Corrosive Blog Feel the Love Challenge, Simon Says Monday Love Notes, Digi Stamps 4 Joy Hearts, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG w/optional twist Valentines/hearts, and the Crafty Little Fairies Love challenge . 

And now for some exciting news (in case you missed the new badges on my sidebar).  Mitzi Sato-Wiuff of Aurora Wings has opened a new monthly Challenge Blog and has asked me to join the Design Team.  Although the challenges do not start until March 17th, there will be weekly interviews of us gals until then.  Be sure to stop by and follow the blog, because Mitzi has generously offered up a Freebie and coupon code (under the "Offers" tab at the top).  Also, if you just can't wait, there is a contest, more freebies and all sorts of good stuff going on on the Facebook Group.  Hope to see you there.

Wicked Wednesday ATC Zombies Need Love Too

Finally got to play at the Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge again.  I'm telling you, 2 week long challenges, back to back, almost did me in.  This week the challenge is Zombies Need Love Too, sponsored by Rick St. Dennis so I thought I'd play along using his Singing Zombie digi.  He was a freebie at one time, and then in the shop, but I don't see him anywhere now.

Anyway, he's colored with Copics, with Glossy Accents on the eyeballs and teeth.   The sentiment was done with my Dymo and the fab brain is from my Minion sister Creepy Glo's Etsy Shoppe.  Would you kiss him?  Not me.  Pretty sure brain breath stinks, don'tcha think?

Macabre Monday Rotten Romance - Week 2

WOW, yesterday was a creative marathon for me. Loved participating in the week long Kickstart Your Art Challenge at Smeared and Smudged and I definitely plan to continue my Art Journal work more regularly from now on.  But I'm most proud of my piece for Haunted Design House Week Two-Rotten Romance, sponsored by our very own Minion Sis Teri, of the Fabulous Delicious Doodles.  Or should I say Delicious Darkness?  That's right, Teri's creepier images have a fab new home HERE, as well, if you don't want to sort pass any gorgeousness and fluff at Delicious Doodles while searching for the perfect dark image. 

As soon as I saw the challenge, I knew I'd be using her Horrorscope version of Virgo.  Looks like she doesn't plan on staying that way for long.  LOL  These images are so beautifully done in shades of gray that I only colored a few red bits here and there.  WooHoo!  She seems to have her sights set on...

 

HUNGREEEEEE!  Oh yeah, he's hungry alright, just not for her.  He's clawing his way outta there but she's hot on his trail.  Yikes!  (BTW, I found him on the Delicious Doodles Shop, as Teri hasn't quite had time to move all of her darker images to their new home, so shop around.)

 

Now, I was gonna quit there, but then Teri introduced a brand new image, Grotesque Cupid, especially for this challenge.  EEEK!, isn't he FABULOUS!?!

Well, he was a must for my little scenario and was the inspiration to do a side step card so he could appropriately take aim.  My thought was to add a word bubble that said "Shoot him, before he gets away", but I thought the whole idea was pretty obvious at this point.

The images were printed a bazillion times so I could fussy cut them and add dimension.

Even on the little guy.  HeeHee!  Isn't he the cutest?

 

The backdrop is done with my Nesties Gothic arches and hearts and I've used a Memory box spiderweb die as an overlay.  Conveniently, the current Delicious Doodles Challenge is Use Die Cuts/and or Punches so I'll be adding this to that challenge as well.  Be sure to pop over to HDH and see the fab makes by the rest of the team (don't forget to scroll down for week one's offerings) and come play along, as each of the Gruesome Twosome will receive 3 images of choice. 

 

I'm also entering this in the Left of Center Cute/Creepy Challenge using the LOC theme (although I do think that Cupid is all kinds of cute.  LOL), and the Corrosive Feel the Love Challenge.

Kickstart Your Art- the 7th and Final Day!

Well, it's been a fabulous week at Smeared and Smudged.  The Kickstart Your Art 7 Day Art journal Challenge is coming to a close and I've managed to make it through the entire week.  WooHoo!  I've learned a lot and had all kinds of fun, but today was a real challenge as I had 3 projects to complete.  Today's prompt was an Easy Water Blotting Background with a fabulous tut, again by LauraB.  I have to say the whole self made background thing is new to me and I've learned so much. This one was particularly fun, kinda like magic, and none too difficult, thank God!, since it was the 3rd thing I did today.

Started with Distress Inks and blending tool and then just swiped the pad on the page to get more depth of color. Spritzed with a Mini Mister and water to blend colors and blotted.

More supplies collected.  Sprayed with Dylusions, then did the water blotting with that dart thingy for the dots, the Dylusions spray cap for the open circles ana a brush for the wavy lines (I was going for an underwater look).

Had planned on a mermaid or something and then remembered the fab image from the Steampunk Misses from Octopode.  Just how I felt.  Even too tired to say more.  The page says it all.

Lil Frolic for the Lacy Sunshine Facebook Fan Page

There's a contest going on on the Lacy Sunshine Facebook Group and I'm cutting it close (as usual).  We emailed Heather to receive the adorable Lil Frolic Where's the Buttons Digi (available now in the "New" Section).  I knew exactly what I wanted to do with her, but hadn't counted on being so involved in the week long Kickstart Your Art challenges, stay tuned for that. The cool buttons embossing folder is Sizzix and I've used a combination of real, embossed and colored and glossed buttons to embellish.

I colored this cutie with Copics and fussy cut and popped her for dimension.  WOW!  Buttons, buttons EVERYWHERE!

Here's the dimensional shot.  See, I even managed to fussy cut her hands so that she is actually holding the button.  The sentiment is computer generated with an embossed button to complete the thought.  I will also be entering this in the new Lacy Sunshine Use a Sentiment Challenge on the Challenge Blog.