Outlawz Sunday CAS Angel Challenge

You can breathe a sigh of relief today. Here's a short, sweet respite from Creepmas.  This week's Outlawz Sunday CAS Challenge is Angels.  See, I do play along with the challenge, even when I'm not GDT.  LOL  Best thing about CAS is they go together quickly (providing you have an idea).  I planned to make this a one layer card using digi's from the AFD's December 2012 Club kit. (The club is no longer operating and I can't seem to find the images in the shop, oh well) Even colored the image minimally with Copics to avoid bleed through ('cause I use cheap card stock) but finally decided it need a border to look more finished.  I arranged my digi's and sentiment in my Printmaster Platinum Program and used different shades of blue to print.  Then I embossed the card blank with a my Cuttlebug (don't remember the name of the folder and can't find it on my messy desk (big surprise).  By saving the file I can easily print multiples and it's flat with no embellies and A2 size so they'd be inexpensive to mail.   Now if I could only get over my postal phobia...

I'm also adding this to the Addicted to Stamps and more CAS Challenge, Crafty Cardmakers CAS, and Flutter by Wednesdays Any Winged Creature.

Showcasing Christian Count Drac for Simply Steampunk

It's my pleasure today to introduce the irresistible Christian Count Drac from the fabulous Steampunk A Robert's Halloween release by artist Abigail Larson, available only at SBS.  I've done a Halloween wall hanging in the Steampunk Style using a number of dies from Spellbinders and Tim Holtz for Sizzix.  the DP's come from the Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells 8x8 pad. 

This handsome guy was colored with Copics in traditional Halloween colors.  I know some of you find these detailed images intimidating (trust me, I know, I collected them for a year before ever taking the plunge) but once you start, they become addictive and so very much fun!  I've rubbed the clock face (Sizzix) and wings (from a Cuttlebug Emboss Plus folder) with several colors of Gilder's paste to highlight the embossing and give a metallic sheen.

The sentiment was computer generated, cut with Nesties and inked with Distress.  I wanted to crush the clock face a bit with a hammer, but it wouldn't crack so I cut the surface with my craft knife and rubbed on black paste (and buffed the surface) to bring out the cracks.  The tiny black border is done with peel offs and I couldn't help but add more of the Tim Holtz mini gears.

The layers are popped for dimension which not only adds interest, but also strength to the hanging.  And speaking of Layers, that's the current challenge on the Simply Steampunk Blog, running through October 3rd.  SBS stamps are no longer required to win, but do keep your project in the Steampunk style.

I'm also entering this at Left of Center using the LOC theme, Tuesday Throwdown #165 Things with Wings, the All Crafts Aug/Sept Anything but a Card Challenge, Artistic Inspirations Anything Goes or Frame It,  Crafty Cardmakerss Winged Things, Lady Anne's Must Have Wings Challenge, and Desert Island Crafter's using #1,4,5 and 7.

Mrs. Roberts Showcase for Simply Steampunk

Today I'm showcasing the lovely Mrs. Roberts for the Roberts Family Portraits Release at SBS.  I have to say the DP did most of the work here.  The fab clock is from the Black Widow paper pad by We R Memory Keepers which conveniently fits the theme of our current challenge at Simply Steampunk which is Clocks/Timepieces and runs through July 4th.  Lots of time to still join in so I hope to see you there.

Here's a close up.   Each of the digis come framed with a bit of a spooky background and are fun and easy to color. (Wish I had her hair!)  The flowers are Prima and I couldn't resist adding Steampunk centers.  Those Tim Holtz mini metal gears are my FAVE! 

I'm entering this in the Crafty Cardmaker's Steampunk Challenge, The Squirrel and the Fox Use Something Metal, and Sparkles Monthy Challenge Steampunk or Vintage.

BBTB2 All Shaped Up

Happy Labor Day!  Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend. Perhaps you'll have a little extra crafting time and can join in our new challenge All Shaped Up at BBTB2, chosen by our sweet and talented Stephanie.  Stephanie is asking for shaped cards.  Well, right up my alley, eh?  I live to do shaped cards with Design Studio, but I want you all to remember that many of the Cricut cartridges have shaped card options that do not require any welding at all so check your manuals.  You may be surprised.  Usually when doing shaped cards I use a number of different cartridges to pull it all together but there are so many cuts on my new CTMH Artiste cart that I was dying to try, that this one came together completely from that cartridge.  It started with the wings.  Beautiful, eh?  Although there actually is a heart shaped card option on page 72 of the manual, I welded 2 regular hearts together (with the wings on the back side only)because I wanted mine to open that at the top instead of the side.  Here's another of the fab bow options, embossed with the Cuttlebug brocade folder and this is the first time I've actually made a Cricut cut rolled flower.  WooHoo!  There's a bunch of them on this cart (page 54).  Can't wait to try more.

Although I'm really pleased with the front of this card, it's the inside I'm really excited about.  On page 51 there are a couple of these pop up words easily cut with Artiste and ready to add that extra surprise inside.  Although I've actually done some from scratch, they're a royal PITA to do manually in DS and here on Artiste was the perfect word.  After cutting and prefolding, I inserted the cut in my welded card, traced around the edges to get the right shape and trimmed it to fit manually.  It's embossed with Swiss Dots and the sentiment is complete with the "u" from the full font, also available on Artiste.  I highly recommend this cartridge for the huge variety of motifs, sentiments, cards, and 3D items included for every occasion along with fab extras like chipboard and coordinating acrylic stamps.  My dear friend and DT sister Susan is a CTMH consultant and has tons of inspiration on her Blog using this cart so be sure to check out her CTMH website for the specials running this month.  Now hurry to BBTB2 to see the fab projects by my teamies and come play with us this week.  We love to see your creations, just play by the rules, ok?

I'm also entering this in The Crafty Cardmaker's Winged Things challenge, The Catered Crop In the Pink Recipe Swap, Allsorts Anything but Square, the In the Pink Winged Things Challenge and the C.R.A.F.T. Shaped Card Challenge.