Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop

If you are looking for Simply Steampunk, please scroll down.

Hello everyone and welcome to our:
Hola y Bienvenidos a nuestro Blog Hop del

Thank you for joining us in celebrating Day of the Dead/El Dia de los Muertos with us!

We have a super cool line-up for you! Now, if you are here from Monica

then, you are heading in the right direction! But, if you happen to be visiting and want to hop with us make sure you start over with Abby, out blog host!

Muchas gracias por venir a celebrar el Dia de los Muertos con nosotras!
Tenemos unas chicas super talentosas participando con nosotros en este bello blog hop! Si vienes de con Monica vienes por buen camino, si llegaste a visitar y quieres brincar con nosotras entonces comienza en el blog de Abby! La anfitriona de nuestro Blog Hop!

Abby and Gaby started this event back in 2010! That's 4 years ago already!

This is one of Abby's favorite days to celebrate because of the meaning of what Day of the Dead is,

and what can be better than a super cute cartoon to illustrate what Day of the Dead is!
Abby y Gaby comenzaron con estos blog hops desde el 2010! Pueden creer que ya son 4 años!
Este es uno de los dias preferidos para celebrar de Abby porque le encanta el mensaje que tiene, y que mejor manera de explicarlo con una linda caricatura!!

It's all about celebrating LIFE!

El Dia de los Muertos se trata de celebrar la VIDA!!

 
My project is a little banner using the adorable Dulcinea Sugar Skulls Sticky Wings digi (scroll down to find yours) from Lacy Sunshine, and the Mini Calaverita clear stamp set from Dilo en Espanol.  The banners were cut by hand and Dulcinea is mounted on a Nesties Mega Classic Scalloped Oval.

I've printed her out 3 times, colored her with Copics, fussy cut and popped her for dimension. 

Here you can see the dimensional shot.
 

All of the skulls were colored first, them run through my Xyron right side down and glittered with microfine transparent Art Glitter to resemble sugar skulls.  It is so fine that it will not damage your Copic tips, so I recolored after glittering for the vibrant effect.  The two sugar skulls flanking the main image are from the Mini Calaverita set from Dilo en Espanol featured below.

The sentiment is also from the Mini Calaverita set.  It translates to "Here is your little (sugar) skull."  Remember, Dia de los Muertos is a joyous happy occasion celebrating family members who are gone but not forgotten.  Sugar skulls often bear the names of loved ones.  If you would like to revisit my previous posts and learn more about the traditions I follow at my house each year, please click Here for 2010, HERE for 2011, and HERE and HERE for 2012.

 

Dilo En Español has a couple of stamps that are perfect for this event!

Dilo En Español tiene unos sets que van perfecto con esta hermosa fecha!

Mini Calaverita

2x3 stamp set

and 

Mary La Catrina

4x4 stamp set

Please visit Abby's Blog for a list of all the fabulous prizes and rules for qualification. 

 

Next on the hop is:                      

ORLIS

and just in case you get lost!

Here is the line-up:

 

Abby- www.scrapbookaholicbyabby.com

Gaby- www.gabycreates.com

Xochitl- www.cricutcritter.blogspot.com

Michelle- www.scrappinwithmybug.com

Candace- www.papercraftsbycandace.com

Monica- www.monicascreativemadness.com

Donna- www.donnamundinger-popsicletoes.blogspot.com - you are HERE

Orlis- www.bauldeandrea.blogspot.com

Patty- www.cardsbypattytanuz.blogspot.com

Lizeth- www.super-scrapbook.blogspot.mx

 

I'm also entering this in the Lacy Sunshine Anything Goes Challenge, 613 Ave Create Anything Goes, Simon Says Monday Anything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Charisma Cardz Anything But Cards and Creative Knockouts Banners and Pennants.

Dilly Beans-Buttons Challenge!

I'm on a roll today after a dry week.  This is my second post so please scroll down for the monthy Simply Steampunk Challenge.

Button, button, who's got the button?  Dilly Beans, that's who!  Our Friday Weekly Challenge calls for Buttons and the team has outdone themselves.  I was really excited for this one because I sort of hoard buttons and had the perfect embossing folder from Sizzix to boot.  The adorable #553 Penny had ther perfeect hair for the cool vintage buttons by Jenni Bowlin, to which I added flower ones from Making Memories.  The rest of her hair and dress is paper pieced.  All DP is from the DCWV All About Girls mat stack.  Scattered more buttons about and added my sentiment with pastel Alpha Beads and I was done.  WooHoo!  Now it's your turn.  Please keep in mind that we require a Dilly Beans image for our challenges.  There are a couple of specials going on there so it's worth a look.


Although I rarely submit a non LOC card at Left of Center, I'm also entering this for the #13 Girly theme, the Stampin' With the Dragon Buttons and Bows, 613 Ave Create Anything Goes and the DL Art September Linky Party.

Smudgefest Day 3!

WooHoo, I made it through Day 3 of Smudgefest and even better, I WON Day 2!  Bless you, Random org!  LOL  don't know if I'll make it through the end, but with the daily prizes, even if you play for only 1 day it's worth it.  The support, inspiration and comraderie among the Smeared and Smudgies (ok, I just made that label up but it's kinda cute, don't you think?) is super and there's always something fun going on. 

Today we have a color challenge.  They look a little different here than they did on the black background but I tried to get as close as possible.  I decided that Froggie Fae (retired) would be a good candidate and grabbed some Copics.  Too bad my coloring looks so washed out in the pic.  Some K&Co DP looked pretty close and I found Prima flowers in the colors too.  Mine's pretty simple (I'm totally neglecting my DT stuff at the mo) but check out Smudgy Antics for the fab entries each day.  Totally cool!

I'm also adding this to 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with an Optional Sentiment.

Simply Steampunk Metal challenge

It's the first Friday of the Month and that means another fab challenge at Simply Steampunk.  This time we want to see METAL on your project.  The team is showcasing the beautiful new Zodiac Steampunks drawn by the uber talented Abigail Larson, available at SBS. I've made an easel card using the gorgeous Aquarius.

Although these images respresent the signs of the Zodiac, they are not overly literal and lend themselves to many applications.  And because they are digis, they resize easily and can be cropped, as I did here, to give a different affect.

I certainly didn't have any trouble finding metal, did I?  The raindrops  and sentiment are from Colorbok and the fantasy flowers are paperclips I bought at Starbucks eons ago to which I've added some Primas and pearls to soften them up.  No gears this time for me, just delicate feminine beauty.  My DT sisters have done an outstanding job yet again, so be sure to visit Simply Steampunk and give them some love.  We're excited to see your Steampunk projects incorporating some metal and although we welcome anything that fits our challenge, please remember that only those featuring an SBS Steampunk image is eligible for a prize or badge.

I'm also entering this in the C.R.A.F.T. Monochromatic Challenge, the Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge, Lady Anne's Monochrome challenge, 613 Avenue Create anything Goes, the Crafter's Cafe Anything Goes and Tammy's Scrappin' Corner Use a Digi.

ADFD Use a Die Cut

Clearly I had a bit of a struggle getting my creep on this weekend so I came up empty for my HDH project this week.  My mojo seems to have flown the coop so in an attempt to lure it back I decided to just do a challenge I've been wanting to do, but haven't been able to find the time for.  Every fortnight I rush over to the ADFD Blog to see the challenge and even go so far as to plan it all out in my head, but life, or DT obligations, always seem to get in the way.  I have loads of new ADFD digis just begging to be colored, but when I saw the challenge was Use a Die Cut, I knew immediately which one I would choose.  This recently purchased floral wreath is a Memory Box die and I thought it would look beautiful with one of the fab deer from the June Club Kit.  (Of course I belong to the Club, who doesn't love a bargain?)  Anyway, this is Uncle Buck.  He looks so majestic with the butterflies on his antlers, don'tcha think?

The kraft mat is embossed with my new Wicker Cuttlebug folder and the window was cut with Nesties Labels Three.  The buck is colored with Copics with some pencil action defining his fur.  I printed him twice, fussy cut and popped him, along with the mats and wreath and then added another layer of 3 of the butterflies for further dimension.  the sentiment is a peel off, colored black with a Sharpie and black adhesive beads adorn the corners.

I'm also entering this in the One Crazy Stamper July "Kraft" Color Challenge,  OOzak Anything Goes with Texture, 613 Avenue Creative Anything Goes/Optional Birthday, Robyn's Fetish Things with Wings Challenge, the Allsorts Fur and Feathers Challenge, Totally Papercrafts All Aflutter, A.R.T. Masculine Birthday Challenge and Sweet Pea Stampers for Men/Boys Challenge.

So Seriously BUMMED!!!!!!!!!

Don't faint, this is the 2nd post of the day.  Please scroll down for this week's Dilly Beans.

I had grandiose plans for the RSD June Saturday Freebie Contest at Airless Chambers but I totally misread the deadline yesterday.  Yeah, I know we had all month, but we were out of town last weekend the the planning for the trip and the DT obligations totally screwed up the first few weeks and as we really don't travel well, I've been playing "catch up" ever since.  I thought I had all of today to finish and even postponed my morning walk to get a jump on it.  Then I checked the Linky and I had 1 hour and 3 minutes!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Had been fussing yesterday with a part that didn't even make the final  project and abandoned my fab idea just to get it in.  I toyed with giving up, not wanting to dumb things down but I really, really, REALLY wanted to play.  The image wasn't even fully colored and I started to shake during the fussy cutting.  Managed to get it done (minus several fab layers) and then couldn't find DP.  Looked again with 13 minutes to go and as the seconds ticked by, found ok DP, cut 2 (non square bases), printed and cut the sentiment and I thought I was ok.  Threw it down on the floor to photograph and snapped it on the rug.  Uploaded, came here to post (was just gonna throw it on and link and finish the post later) but when I went to Airless Chambers the Linky was CLOSED.  Scared the cat as I screamed obscenities and started to throw things but decided to post anyway.

The sentiment is "Let the Good Times Roll" in French.  He's a party kinda guy. Can't help but think of New Orleans when I think of Voodoo so I colored him in Mardi Gras colors.  His head is on an action wobble and close up, you can see Goliath's contribution in his other hand.  Can you believe I save that s***?  Just knew I'd need a bird leg sometime.  LOL  Well, so much for that.  Maybe when I have time I'll rip it all apart and do what I REALLY planned for this fab image.  Now I think I'll go drink my mid morning snack just to calm down and perhaps stop shaking.

Well, at least I can enter the Left of Center Challenge using the LOC theme, Through the Craftroom Door June 18-24, the DLArt June Linky Party, 613 Ave Create Anything Goes or with a TWIST for a Male and the new PunkYouGirl Anything Goes Challenge (3rd and final entry).