Thursday, August 31, 2017

Outlawz Festive Fridays Cats or Dogs?



Seriously?  You're asking ME that?  No contest, I'm a crazy cat lady all the way. Decided to use this adorable Image from Sandra Caldwell called #1624 Miss Kitty. She's colored with Copics, cut and matted with Spellbinders, DP is Graphic 45, and gorgeous black lace is from the Intimate Bundle from DL.Art.

Inside it will say "Hey there, Glamour Puss".  My mom used to call me that when she thought I had too much makeup on or was dressing up for some event.  Do people still use that phrase?

I'm also adding this to Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #64 AG, SUYP (cats only) August Furrything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday AG... 

The Outlawz Freebie Progressive Challenge


Leave it to me to be finishing the Outlawz August Freebie/Progressive Challenge on the last day.  Not particularly surprising, you say?  Well, I'll give you that, but I've been busy trying to get a jump on my September DT projects because September (eek! tomorrow) is going to be a busy month and I'm already stressing about it BIG TIME.  Outlawz DT member Jean Chaney has provided tow fabulous fish called Swish, the Angelfish and Swish Tangled (did you know Jean was a certified Zentangle instructor?  Me neither, how cool, check out her Tangle Street Studio HERE.  

I added multiple Swishes (heehee) to Swish Tangled with the background and colored it all with Copics.  I'm not too pleased with the photograph as the fluorescent colors aren't as bright and seem to blend together.  I've actually used 7 different ones, although you can't tell in the middle section...sigh...  The background DP is digital from Gecko Galz.  The sentiment is computer generated and thought was quite fitting for fancy Swish Tangled.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #64 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG,...

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Twins ROCK!


Today is the last day for the Hungry Hungry Hippos challenge on the Sandra Caldwell FB Group page and I couldn't resist doing a cute twins baby card using the new 1698 Pebbles Hippo and 1699 Bam Bam Hippo made especially for this challenge.  They are currently on sale at the mo, but you need to hurry.  You can see all the sale digis for this challenge HERE.  (They go up tomorrow!)  I was a huge fan of the Flintstones as a kid and thought the sentiment "Twins Rock" was appropriate with the images.  The Alpha Beads sort of even looked like pebbles, don'tcha think?  I modified the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch a bit by offsetting the Spellbinders Doily a bit and using a Martha Stewart punch for the center.

There were 2 sketches this time and I chose the first with a few modifications.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art August Linky Challenge and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #64 AG

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Vintage Angel


This beautiful Vintage Angel is a new digi at Createful Heart  and I just couldn't resist using my Nesties to make a large scalloped tag to enter in the Outlawz Twisted Thursday challenge.  (The "twist" was use a scalloped border".) I popped it on the tag base with marabou trim in between the layers.  The gorgeous hand dyed crinkle ribbon is from the Mermaids Tale Second Edition from DL.Art.



Here's a closeup of Vintage Angel.  The gorgeous image was colored with Copics and I chose to keep the project light and monochromatic.  Isn't the detail in her dress and wings fabulous?  So fun to color.  I'm entering my tag in the very FIRST Createful Heart Blog challenge.  It is a monthly challenge beginning on the 15th of each month and ending on the 14th of the next.  The theme is Anything Goes and you may enter with any image but I have a number of Createful Heart digis just begging to be colored so I hope to return shortly with another.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #64 AG, Scrapping4Fun #97 AG (4/4), Crafts Galore Encore August AG, Craft-Dee Bowz August AG w/handmade bow and Always Fun Challenge Tags

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

I Hope You Dance!


Fun challenge going on in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group called Hungry Hungry Hippo.  As in the previous challenges, the hostess chose 4 of her fave stamps and Sandra added 2 new ones and they're ALL on sale for only $1.50 for the duration of the challenge.  WooHoo!  Here I have #1593 Dancing Rose Hippo and you can see all the the sale hippos HERE.  She's colored with Copics with colors from the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge.  The "twist" was to add lace, so I've added some to my tag and colored the center of it with my Copics to match the yellow in her dress.  The stitched tags are Gina Marie dies and I've added a sentiment that I actually hand stamped (YAY, me!) and popped with a little jewel butterfly accent.  Dancing Rose Hippo herself, is on a mini action wobble (available at Ai HERE).  I tried to take a video, but they've moved my movie thingie on my phone and can't seem to find it.  PITA! Anyway, she does indeed dance.

I'm also adding this to the Get Creative Fave Song/Music Challenge #61 ("I Hope You Dance", by Lee Ann Womack), the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #64 AGCraft Rocket #40 Animal Kingdom, Scrapping4Fun Challenge #97 AG, TTRCD Week 8/22-8/29 AG, Crafty Animals #% AG w/animals and Always Fun challenges #20 Tags.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Have a COOL Yule!


Still having fun with the Bloobel Stamps Ice Cream collection, this month's Progressive Challenge in the Bloobel Stamps FB Group.  I've used Ice Cream Santa, this time, and you can find the rest of the Ice Cream Stamps in the August Collection HERE.  After joining the Bloobel FB Group there is a link to join the Progressive challenges in the Progressive album and you will receive a code to choose one of the stamps for free and also a discount code for 50% off any other choices in the Progressive challenge collection as long as you participate in the previous one.  WooHoo!



I've colored Ice Cream Santa with Copics with some Nuvo Dot sprinkles and Diamond Glaze on the hot fudge sauce.  His face is peppermint and beard French vanilla.  Yumbo, eh?  I took this shot hoping the shine would show up better.  Well...?  The edges were distressed, edged in glue and sprinkled with the coarser Doodlebug Sugar Coating glitter.  The sentiment was computer generated, matted and popped.

I'm adding this to the Outlawz Festive Fridays under the Christmas theme, Kerst/Christmas August FB Group challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Add a Sentiment, the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #64 AG, C.R.A.F.T. #429 Christmas, The Holly and the Ivy AG Christmas, Scrapping4Fun #97 AG, TTRCD 8/22-8/29 and the August CHNC challenge Extra.

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Just Breathe...


Wow, second post in a row using a SheepSki Designs image.  Funny how that happens, but I've got a number of different challenges I wanted to add this to, including the Sheepski Designs FB challenge, that ends TODAY, and also the SheepSki Flower Power Blog challenge that runs through the end of the month.

The gorgeous image is Lilly (image 27) and I've had her for quite awhile.  She's colored with Copics and I've cut and framed her with Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Ovals to enter the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge (the "twist" being a scalloped border).  She's popped on another of my new dies from Jeanine's Art (are you tempted, Darcy?)  The triple bow is all 3 colors of the Gold Bundle from DL.Art and the patterned DP is by K&Co.

SheepSki Designs also just happens to be sponsoring the Get Creative Challenge #61 with the theme of Favorite Song, Music, etc.  To be honest, I've had all kinds of anxiety lately with all that's going on these days, and my hubby's way of dealing with stress is deep measured breathing.  Well, this image does make me think of one of my favorite songs, "Breathe", by Faith Hill (check out lyrics and song HERE) and if you ask me, it's an even better way to relieve tension. (wink, wink)  Okay, then...

I'll also be entering this in the Outlawz Paper Ala Mode Challenge which is "spa day" or inspiring relaxation, the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Scrapping4fun #97 AG (using sponsor image), Simon Says Wednesday Add a Sentiment, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #64 AGCrafts Galore Encore August AG, Craft-Dee Bowz AG with a Handmade Bow and Crafty Friends #64 AG 3/3.

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Snowman Selfie for Some Challenges


I've been wanting to play with this adorable Christmas/Winter image from SheepSki Designs called Snowman Selfie for awhile now and decided that with just a few days left in the SheepSki FB July/August challenge I 'd better get my rear in gear.  There's also a July/August Paper Piecing Challenge at TTRCD and thought a number of the snowmen's hats would work well for that so I checked out my digi paper and went with a number of the colors from the Toasty Warm (knit) collection and Toasty Warm Neutral Collection from WR3 at the Stamping Studio.  I like using digi paper for paper piecing because you can change the scale of the pattern to suit your image, and as you can see, I've also used a larger version of the Toasty Warm Snowflake in Blue for the card background, as well.   The rest I've colored with Copics, even adding a bit of shading to the paper pieced areas.  The stitched mat die is from Gina Marie.  I've used the sketch from the current Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge and will also be adding this to the Outlawz Festive Fridays under the Christmas theme.


Here's the sketch. (It was all could do not to add embellies.  LOL)

I'll be back to add this to more challenges, but I've got to get cleaned up for a wine event tonight.  WooHoo!

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, C.R.A.F.T #429 Christmas, Crafting with an Attitude #30 AG, Christmas at Sweet Stampin' August AG Christmas, The Holly and the Ivy #12 AG Christmas, Crafting From the Heart #114 AG, and Kerst/Christmas August FB challenge.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Birthday Hippo!


We're still playing catch up with all the fabulous new releases from Sandra Caldwell and today I'm showcasing #1752 Birthday Hippo.  That is one huge cupcake, I'd say.  I found fun candy striped digi paper from Ambillustrations and punched additional cupcakes from a large Martha Stewart border punch.  Whoa! Tough going.  I actually had to STAND on the punch to get it to go and did it 3 times to fill in the frosting with different colors.  I added mini buttons to the tops to play in the Outlawz Saturday Paper Ala Mode challenge and used my new stitched tag dies from Gina Marie to cut Birthday Hippo and layered and popped for the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Layers and Dimension challenge. WooHoo!



Here's a closeup of #1752 Birthday Hippo.  She's colored with Copics and I tried to get the piped feel of the frosting. (may have to work on that)  there's a bit of glitter on the candle flames and some Nuvo drops on the balloon and sprinkles.

Just thought I'd mention that if you love hippos, there's a new challenge just starting in the Sandra Caldwell Stamps fans FB Group HERE.  Sandra has reduced the price of 4 of her fun hippos and added two new ones for only $1.50 for the duration of the challenge.  Check out the SALE digis HERE and come join the fun.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday #210 Circles and StripesCrafting with an Attitude #30 AG, the Paper Shelter #305 Punches and Dies, Crafting by Designs August AG, Simon Says Stamp Add a Sentiment (small, but there), TTRCD Aug 14-22 AG, Craft Rocket #40 Animal Kingdom, Crafty Friends #64 AG and Crafting from the Heart #172 AG...

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Kitty Pumpkin Basket


There was a flurry of activity from Sandra Caldwell immediately prior to her 2 week birthday vacation and now that she's back, there are loads of new digis being released in her Etsy Shop (babycakesdnd) this week.  Today I'm showcasing #1753 Pumpkin Kitty Basket, purrfect for Halloween, Fall or Thanksgiving, don'tcha think?   Well, because I'm partial to Halloween, I made a mildly spooky (note the bats) Halloween card using the sketch from the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  I've added some texture with burlap and a pretty sunflower sticker from JoLee's at the base of the Pumpkin Patch sign (dies from Cottage Cutz.  The picket fence is a Martha Stewart punch (my spooky one gave up the ghost, so to speak, BOO HOO!)



Here's a closeup of #1753 Pumpkin Kitty Basket.  I've colored with Copics, used a Spellbinders Deckle Oval to cut them out and inked it lightly with Frayed Burlap Distress while they were still in the die.





And here's the sketch.

Congrats on a Sporting Achievement for Sunday CAS


I'm Guest Designing again this week for the Outlawz CAS challenge and our theme is Congrats on a Sporting Achievement.  Although I think this may be a bit of a difficult theme, I was thrilled because I had the perfect stamp from Ike's Art called Winner, originally drawn for one of the Outlawz Designers, Holley (Tondre) Barnhardt.  I've colored her with Copics and added a number on her shirt in my Printmaster Program as if she's just won the marathon.  The sentiment is also computer generated.

I'm entering this in the Ike's World Challenge #64 AG (no twist this time), the DL.Art August Linky ChallengeLil Patch of Crafty Friends #63 AGJo's Scrap Shack #201 AG and the C.R.A.F.T AG challenge #428.




Friday, August 11, 2017

Stylish 1920's Woman


I'm playing in the mini challenge in the new Createful Heart Digis and Designs FB Group using the Stylish 1920's Woman I received as a freebie to participate.  My original thought was to also enter the Outlawz Color Challenge which required 3 of 5 colors in an inspiration photo and make it vintage, but after I'd colored her, I couldn't find appropriate DP that would incorporate the 3rd color.  Right from the get go this modern gal reminded me of my great Aunt Bob (Barbara), who was quite independent woman of the 20's, never married and traveled the world, so I went a different route using cool paper from the Cityscapes Collection from Graphic 45.  



I still wanted to join in at the Outlawz, and Twisted Thursday, although always AG, called for a twist of layers and dimension so here's that shot.   I've lightened up the photo a bit to show the writing on the token, too.

Although the Mini Challenge on the Createful Heart FB Group ends today, the very first Createful Heart Blog challenge starts August 15th.  Be sure to follow and join in the fun.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #63 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack #201 AG and the C.R.A.F.T AG challenge #428.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Cross Stitched Roses



One of the themes for the Outlawz Festive Fridays is roses and while checking my images I came across this digi from Ike's Art called Rose Stitch.  I used to do loads of cross stitch back in the 80's and this image brought back happy memories, so I played with it in my Printmaster Platinum program, cropping each section, recoloring and reassembling them into a colored version and here's the result.  I sized the image to fit in the Cuttlebug Grace's Frame embossing folder to fit in with the "optional twist" for the current Ike's World Challenge and matted it with a vintage rose print.  

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends#63 AG.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

You Are What you Eat


The August Progressive challenge is in full swing in the Bloobel FB Group and this month's theme is all about ice cream.  Lisa has a choice of SEVEN quirky ice cream cone digis for this challenge and if you played last month you get your choice FREE.  She also has a coupon code for 50% off all the rest of the images which runs though the end of the month.  That code is also available in the Bloobel FB Group so if you haven't joined, why the heck not?  You can see them all HERE.  So how could I resist a bargain like that?  I didn't, of course, and bought them all and decided for my first project to use Ice Cream Moustache because I love combing Bloobel images and thought it was hilarious with a Heart Moustache.  They're colored with Copics and I've used Nuvo Crystal Drops on the ice cream (and his goatee and moustache) for sparkle and shine. I also wanted to play in the Outlawz Twisted Thursday this week and although using the "twist" isn't mandatory, I chose DP with faux stitching and a stitched die cut frame as well.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art August Linky challenge,  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #63 AG, TTRCD week beginning 8/08 AG, Your Scrapbook Place August AG,  Jo's Scrap Shack #200 AG and Dream Valley Challenge #160 AG.

Monday, August 7, 2017

The Elements for Aurora Wings


The new challenge for Aurora Wings has begun and this one will last all month long.  The theme is The Elements.  We want to see projects inspired by Air, Fire, Water or Earth.



I've been wanting to do a project with the beautiful Sakura Fubuki Urei available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy and thought this would be the perfect time.  I also had the perfect cherry blossom paper from the Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime collection.



Here's a closeup of Sakura Fubuki Urei.  I've colored her with Copics and cut and matted her with a die from Yvonne Creations.  The added cherry blossoms and petals from Recollections and wispy cheesecloth to enhance to the feeling of the gentle breeze in the image.  I've attached the image at the bottom and sides to create a pocket for a journaling card.
  

In Japan, the cherry blossom (sakura) is a symbol of the brilliance, fragility and fleeting nature of life. Each Spring they burst forth with an explosion of beauty, a glorious renewal, a symbol of rebirth, yet their splendor is tragically short lived.   Tied to the Buddhist themes of mortality, mindfulness and living in the present, the cherry blossom is a visual reminder to pay attention and celebrate life while you have it.  

This blizzard (fubuki) of petals in the wind is the end of their very short, but sweet life and the woman's wistful, melancholy or perhaps mournful (urei) expression evokes reflection, perhaps upon a life lost.  My thought was that this could be sent in sympathy, with the journaling card as a place to write fond memories by either the sender or recipient.  

Carpe diem.

My DT sisters have done amazing work for this new challenge so I hope you visit the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog, leave them some love, and come play along. We have a fun new FB Challenge on our Group page, too.  Check it out HERE.

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

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Still Smokin' HOT!


Doing a quickie post for a card I just finished for a 70th birthday celebration tomorrow.  Yup, on a Monday...it's good to be retired.  LOL  Cute image is called Flamin' Dragon, from EricraftShop, that I bought specifically for this card because the recipients last name is DRAGON!  She's colored with Copics and I've added a birthday crown to her head and die cut and embossed balloon from an old Cuttlebug set.  I tried to keep is primarily monochromatic to enter in the Outlawz Tuesday Color challenge since I won't have time to do another. Hope it's okay and I don't think the inside counts, to you?






All Brights CAS for The Outlawz



As a winner of a previous challenge, I'm guesting for Sunday CAS  on the Outlawz Forum.  Our mission was to use only bright colors.  I checked my stash and found some forgotten papers from DCWV that definitely fit the bill. Although I actually planned to use some new dies and a die cut background, I thought I was pushing the CAS theme a bit too far and started subtracting until I came up with this.  The die cut sentiment here is from an old Cuttlebug set. Pretty simple and quick, but that's the point.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art Thankful Thursday (Birthday or Thank you), Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #63 AG, CAS on Friday Exotic, Little C's Aloha Friday Yellow Flowers... 

Friday, August 4, 2017

EEEK! Is that Santa Paws?


Gonna be a quicky post to enter some challenges using just ONE of the fab selection of Christmas stamps Sandra Caldwell has on sale through August 10th. Here we have #1228 Hide and Jingle Kitty. Is he really hiding, or did those mice get the better of him?  In any case he's colored with Copics with silver gel pen on his bell.  I've just finished this for the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Christmas in July challenge tweaking the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch for the design.  Yay, me!  The mice are from a Martha Stewart punch and DP from the DCWV Christmas & Winter combo mat stack.  Check out all the Sandra's sale Christmas digis HERE.


Here's the Sketch.  Tweaked quite a bit, but still recognizable, I think.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Outlawz Wednesday Sketch


Took some more time off from coloring to play with the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch.  Had a fun time with kitty dies from The Frantic Stamper and Spellbinders Wonky Squares.  Scored my background (unfortunately not very visible in the pic) and added paw print ribbon and Prima flowers and called it done.  Yay, me!

Here's the sketch.

I'm also adding this to the SUYP (Cats Only) #21 August Furrything Goes, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies August #5, Simon Says Wednesday AG, the DL.Art August Linky Challenge and Crafty Animals #5 AG.