Dilly Beans For the Boys Challenge

This week at Dilly Beans we're asking for anything boyish.  Megan has some adorable new images in the SHOP that make it easy to do those often challenging cards for boys.  I've chosen #499 Noah.  My card inspired by a young man who tragically lost his life.  His name was Forest and he had a big heart.  He suffered pain and abuse until he was welcomed into the home of a loving family but when he left those loving arms to return to his original home, his life was taken, way too soon.  We can only pray he has found eternal peace.

Please join us at Dilly Beans this week and make a card or project for a special boy.
I'm also entering this in the Sparkle and Glitter with Rick St Dennis Rememberance Challenge, the DYSU Leaves and Trees challenge, Cards for Men Anything Goes and the LEJ Designs Die Cuts or Punches Challenge.

Dilly Beans Sewing

EIYIYI!  The day got away from me and I've neglected to post this week's Dilly Beans challenge card.  Megan still has limited computer access so we're not up to speed on the Challenge Blog but if you'd like to get started, the theme this week is sewing.  This is open to interpretation, stitching real or faux, sewing notions or patterns, anything related to sewing, so be creative with it.  I'd recently purchased the Sizzix button folders so I immediately thought of Megan's Ragdoll Ruby with her cute button eyes.  I wasn't quite sure how I was going to use her, so I printed not only the whole Ruby, but also Ragdoll Ruby Face because I wan't sure which to use for my design.  I colored just the Face stamp first and added cute flower buttons to her eyes but after compiling my card, the face alone didn't balance the design so I colored the smaller body and fussy cut it without the proportional head et voila!  I kinda like her with the big head, don't you?  LOL

The pretty papers are from Making Memories Chloe's Closet which is old as the hills but still a fave of mine.  I sanded the embossing to bring out the buttons and added a scattering of real ones.  The sentiment button was printed on the computer and glued to the back of a Stampin'Up clear button and I sewed them all to the mat and left the needle right on the card.  The fab spool is from the new Close to My Heart Artiste Cricut cartridge which is now available to order HERE from my good friend Susan. It arrived just in time, (fab shipping Woohoo!)   I popped Ruby's Face a bit higher than her body to give a little more dimension.  I hope you have as much fun with this challenge as I did.  Click on the individual designer's name on the sidebar of The Dilly Beans Challenge Blog to get more inspiration until Megan is back online.

I'm also entering this in the Simply Create Too Anything Goes Challenge, DYSU Polka Dots challenge, My Heart Pieces Use Designer Paper Challenge, Paper Play Layer it Up Challenge and Digi Stamps 4 Joy Polka Dots and Stripes challenge.

Dilly Beans Glitter Challenge

OOOh we've got a fun one for the girly girls over at the Dilly Beans Designers and Challenge Blog this week. Glitter! It's been awhile since I've glitzed things up so this was especially fun. I used the gorgeous #223 Ladybug Fairy and tried something new. After coloring her with Copics, I used a Zig Embossing pen and Stampin' Up heat and stick powder to fill in the areas I wanted to glitter and heated them up and sprinkled it on. You have to do it one color at a time and be careful not to heat the already glittered areas as you progress or you'll melt it and lose some of the sparkle.On the wings, I used a fine point pen to try to draw in the details that were covered over by the gold glitter and the ladybug's antennae which worked ok. But in general, I'm really pleased how this turned out and you don't have to sait for it to dry like you do with Stickles. (I'm the really impatient type.) The green circle mat was cut with my Nesties out of Glitter paper and the flowers are Prima. I cut the glitter leaves out of a much larger home decor glitter leaf from Michaels. The DP is K &Co which has a bit of foil detail so I matted the entire card in green foil card stock for some contrast to all the glitter. In the end I did have to wait for some Glossy Accents to dry on the bug, lips and eyes but by then the card was done. WooHoo! Be sure to stop over to The Dilly Beans Challenge Blog for more fab inspiration, and also to the Dilly Beans Shop for a super deal on retiring images.

Other Challenges:
Whimsicle Wednesdays Going Green

Art Impressions Sparkle & Bling

DYSU Go Green
Shelly's Images Green and Gold

Crafts and Me Things with Wings

Dilly Beans Seeing Red

Well, I'm finally back in business after our relaxing spa visit. The new challenge at The Dilly Beans Designers and Challenge Blog is Seeing Red. It's no secret that red is my FAVORITE color, but this also posed a bit of a problem as many of my Copic reds are running pretty dry. I had already chosen one of Megan's new images, Frida's Roses and decided to paper piece nearly the entire design using old retired Stampin' Up DP I've had for at least 3 years. The only parts of the design that are colored are the eyes, lips and leaves, with a bit of chalk blush on her face.



I printed the image twice in white for the background and leaves, once in cream for the face, once in polka dot for the hair, and twice for the stripes and layered roses which I popped for dimension. The bolder lines on this image is quite forgiving, but the real secret to "seamless" paper piecing is to go around all of the edges of the cuts with black marker so the white cut rim doesn't show. I used the side of the brush tip of a Memento Dual Marker because it doesn't bleed into your paper like a Copic can. It was a bit time consuming but I really love how it came out. My fabulously talented sisters have lots for you to OOOh and Ahhh over so be sure to visit the Challenge Blog and play along. I am also entering this in the Desert Island Crafters Challenge #25 using 2 or more patterned papers, green (barely), and polka dots, The DYSU #59 Layers Challenge, and te Digital Tuesday Challenge #147, Use Your Stash.

Three Black Cats

I recently bought some of the cool Silhouette digis from Bugaboo. I LOVE them! Of course I love their cutesy stuff too, but this is a whole new ball game. The current challenge at Bugaboo Stamps Catch the Bug Challenge Blog is Animal Antics so I decided to use the Happy Halloween Cat and do some cropping and pasting to add two more to enter Day 3 of the 12 Days of Halloween at Simply Betty. I also wanted it to be really bold and graphic so instead of coloring, I printed the image twice, once on orange and once on yellow and used my Nesties paper piece the moon. ( I just lucked out on the size, here) Pretty cool, eh? Since all three kitties didn't fit that well within the circle, I added a punched fence from Martha. Then, to balance the design, some pumpkins trimmed from a border punch and photocorners from EK Success, a few adhesive beads (which I hope will count as "bling" for the Fussy and Fancy Fridays "3 B's" challenge) and there ya go! I'm also entering this in the DYSU Trees challenge. Just so ya know, you don't have to enter all 12 Days of Halloween to win a prize at SBS, and this year you have until October 30th to link up any (or ALL) of them.