Hoppy Easter!

Yeah, I know I'm a little late for Easter, but there were some challenges I wanted to enter with this adorable bunny in a basket image from Ike's Art. It is one of the exclusive new images Ike offers as a freebie in the March/April online issue of TTRCD Magazine.  It's been awhile since I subscribed and when I found out Ike was the featured artist I renewed my subscription. I'm so glad I did.  All sorts of good stuff in there, for sure.

Here's a closeup.  I just LOVE him! I've colored with Copics.  The dies I've used are all Spellbinders with the exception of the little flowers I added to the branches.  They came from a Martha Stewart punch.

Since I've been a bit behind in crafting since our trip and have caught a nasty cold, I wanted to try and cover a few bases for the Outlawz Challenges.  This is my second one for Twisted Thursday which was AG/AG, Saturday Paper ala Mode is Bunnies and Chicks, and I used the new sketch from yesterday's Sketch challenge so WooHoo!

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World April Challenge #107 AG/Photo Inspiration.  Guess I should have put this one first, eh?  Please forgive.

Also, the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #79 AG, TTRCD April 3-10, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies April AG w/critter, Creatalicious #136 AG with opt. friendship, Inspiration Destination #147 AG, the Crafty Addicts #47 AG/optional April Showers, CCC Digi Creations Include an Animal and Pause Dream Enjoy #14 Color It.

Egg Decorating with Bloobel

There's a fun contest going on over at the Bloobel Stamps Create and Share FB Group page that I just couldn't pass up.  Lisa has a full page of Egg Decorating goodies available for FREE HERE to join in.  Well, you know I love me some Bloobel so I had to join in, but instead of the free egg I decorated the one (using the stuff from the decorating kit) from Easter Chicken because her expression just "cracks me up", (pun intended).

  
Here's a little better pic of Easter Chicken.  I figured that that huge egg might be a little worse for wear after being laid by such a little chicken so I used the paint splats, patches and Band-aids from the FREE Easter Egg Painting stamps to decorate it.  I colored with Copics and added some cracks, as well.  My original plan was just to color it so I printed it HUGE. as well, then realized it looked so bare I wanted to make a card with it.  Instead of fussy cutting (because it would have been a GINORMOUS card) I took a pic of my coloring and resized and removed the background so I could add this cute retro Easter Bunnygram from Gecko Galz behind it. Turned out pretty cute, eh?

I'm also adding this to the Outlawz Festive Fridays Here Comes Spring theme, the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, TTRCD Week of March 27th, Make My Monday Easter Fun, A Bit More Time to Craft #64 AG and Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #226 AG. 

EEEK! New Sprites on the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog!

I'm so excited to be joining the Showcase Team again today to introduce THREE! new Sprites on the AW Showcase Blog.  Who could resist Easter Bunny Sprite, busy at work painting his eggs?  I've made a (sort of) egg shaped easel using Spellbinders Grand ovals and (ancient) pastel papers from Heidi Grace.

Here's a closeup of Easter Bunny Sprite. My first thought was to flock him, but Mitzi added fabulous furry, fluffy detail I didn't want to lose, so I colored him with Copics instead.  Gotta say, I LOVE coloring fur!  You can find Easter Bunny Sprite below on both AW.com and AW on Etsy.

JPG at AuroraWings.com     PNG at AuroraWings.com

JPG at AW on Etsy     PNG at AW on Etsy

You can also see the tag that pulls from the egg shape behind with an additional message.  The DP I used for the large egg is actually only a border of a 12x12 sheet, so I cut the oval at the corner and then cut the white center out to leave a pocket for a tag.  The lace border to finish it off is a die from Whimsy Stamps.  The stitched tag and grass dies are from Gina Marie.

I'm adding this to Fab 'n' Funky Anything but Square, Addicted to Stamps and More #283 Holiday,  the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Tic Tac Toe using Die Cuts/ FREE/ Any shade of Green, Simon Says Monday Easter/Spring, Simon Says Wednesday Easter Inspired, Crafty Sentiments Designs Easter, Do Al(l) Kreatives #15 Spring/Easter, Classic Design Team Open March AG, MAWTT Easter, Brown Sugar Spring/Easter.

OOOhhh!  And isn't this a magical new Sprite?  This beloved fantasy creature conjures up rainbows, sparkle and shine and that's just what I gave Unicorn Sprite.  I've used a variety of dies from Gina Marie, Mama Elephant, and Echo Park to create this scene and a fair amount of glitter paper, as well.

Here's a closeup of Unicorn Sprite.  I flipped and colored her in soft pastel Copics with a rainbow mane and tail.  I hope you can see the Stardust Stickles I've added to make her all sparkly.  I mean don't ALL unicorns sparkle and shine?  You can find Unicorn Sprite below. 

JPG at AuroraWings.com     JPG at AW on Etsy

PNG at AuroraWings.com     PNG at AW on Etsy

I also used Copics to color the die cut rainbow that tucked neatly behind her and into the embossed cloud border.  It shines too, due to an unmentionable mistake with my Xyron.  See?  Guess in the long run it was serendipity.  LOL 

I'm adding this to Crafty Creations #362 AG, the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Fantasy, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Use a Die Cut, Word Art Wednesday #326/327 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack #224 AG, 

And finally, the new Anemone Sprite which just may be one of my faves EVER!  I took the liberty of flipping and cropping her to be able to bring a bit more detail to her gorgeous floral crown.  She's colored with Copics with some Black Nuvo Drops in the flower centers.  The hardest part of this one was deciding on which colors to  use.  Anemones come in such a vast array that I know I'll be coloring her again and again.  She's so perfect for just about any occasion, don'tcha think?

Here's what Anemone Sprite looks like in her entirety.  One of my favorite things about Mitzi's images is the resolution is unsurpassed among digi artists, allowing great freedom in sizing.  Mitzi is also open to creative cropping, flipping, merging and coloring, which is loads of fun for any colorist. You can find Anemone Sprite below.

 JPG at AuroraWings.com     PNG at AuroraWings.com

JPG at AW on Etsy     PNG at AW on Etsy

I'm entering this in the the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, That's Crafty! Spring into Action, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #77 AG, Creatalicious #135 AG/optional birthday, Digi Choosday Wk 11 AG, TTRCD week of March 13 AG, the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge, 613 Avenue Create March AG, the Crafty Addicts AG/opt All About Mums

And what is a Showcase without a Coupon? (Besides loads of amazing inspiration, of course.)  Looky here!  WooHoo!

Now if you haven't already, I suggest you go check out the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog and see what other members of the teams have done with these cuties.  Such inspiration and talent there.  I'm so honored to be a part of the Aurora Wings family.

A final Entry for Holley's Celebration

Holley Tondre Barnhart is celebrating her 8th year of seizure free health with a month long event on her blog.  You can get the details HERE and read about her amazing journey to health HERE.  Read it and be truly inspired!

In honor of this anniversary, Sandra Caldwell is offering 4 stamps for only $1.50, to participate in a contest with prizes.  You can find the details for the Hip Hip Hippo celebration HERE. My final card, which may or may not count because I don't see the Linky any more, features #2036 Bunni Hippo.  I've colored him with Copics and added Flower Soft to his tail.

I've used a number of dies from Gina Marie and Lawn Fawn plus some cute shaker Easter eggs I found at Target yesterday to make a dimensional card I'm also entering in the Outlawz Festive Fridays 3D Card theme.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art February Linky Party, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #76 AG, Two Crafty Critter Crazies Feb AG/w Critter (5/5), and Crafty Animals AG/w animal and Pile it on #139 3D Embellishments.

Steampunk Easter Bunny and Grand Opening of LeighSBDesigns

I'm so thrilled for my friend Leigh Snaith-Brunton, artist extraordinaire, who just launched her own Etsy shop of exclusive stamps yesterday and is celebrating with a Grand Opening.   I rushed to her Shop and immediately purchased her first stamp, Whimsical Steampunk Easter Bunny, at an introductory price through April 16th.  Every 3 days or so, Leigh will be adding her designs one at a time for the special price until her shop is complete.  WooHoo!  I've colored Stampunk Easter Bunny with Copics and metallic gel pens, cut him out with a Spellbinders Labels Seventeen and inked it with Distress whaile he was still in the die.  The Steampunk digi papers are from Bearly Mine which closed in Jan 2015 because of the EU VAT laws.  So sad.

Now did I mention a Grand Opening?  You betcha, and there are Freebies to be had.  You can read all about it HERE, on the LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog. Join her new FB Fan Group and come join the fun.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Monday Greetings Easter Celebration,  Crafty Catz #366 AG/Animals (2/3), Simply Papercraft AG, Creative Moments #115 AG/Easter, Inspiration Destination #126 AG, Cards 4 Guys Animal Antics, Creative Fingers #128, Simon Says Wednesday Color Inspiration and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #1 (5/5). 

Cute Bunny Chick

I'm loving all the cute Easter Stamps by Sandra Caldwell and decided to use #504 Bunny Chick to enter in two of the Outlawz challenges this week.  I'm just under the wire for the Tuesday Color challenge and then thought, since I've got a busy week, I'd make it fit the Twisted Thursday challenge using the twist "Eggstatic Ovals".  My shaped card was done with Spellbinders Nested Eggs with some grass from Gina Marie.  Bunny Chick was colored with Copics and I've added a tiny rub on to his bunny ears and also to the eggs on either side. The flower, ribbon and pearl center are from my stash.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Bunnie or Ducks challenge, Cutie Pie April Cute + Bunnies and Chicks, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, Simon Says Monday Hip Hop, Crafty Critter Crazies April AG and Crafty Friends #55 Animals or Birds.

Easter Pastels for Aurora Wings

Our new challenge starts today at Aurora Wings with the theme of

I've made an Easter decoration using the adorable Mama, It's So Fluffy available HERE on Etsy and HERE in the AW shop and Easter Chick 2-pack available HERE and HERE.  I like to call it "Hanging with my Peeps".  I've had the paper mache egg shell with wire chicken feet for years and used to line the inside with plastic and fill it with wheat grass (I actually have 3 of them in different heights) for the Easter table.  We now go out for Easter dinner so I was thrilled to find a cute new use for this fun little receptacle.

Here's a closeup of the sweet kitty and all his "peeps".  I've colored with Copics with additional fur detail from Prismacolor pencils.  Mama, It's So Fluffy comes in jpg form only, but I've used the png version of Easter Chicks to merge two of them directly in my printing program.  I also flipped and printed some additional chicks to add to the scene.  They've all been fussy cut and I find when cutting fluffy animals, it's easier to use my curved manicure scissors rather than my craft knife, although I did use the knife to cut the small areas between their legs first.  For the really fluffy guys I snip into the fur to get the definition, while I just sort of rocked the scissors around the edges of the less fluffy guys which suggests texture rather than just cutting a harsh straight line .

All of the elements are stuck into some natural fiber "Easter grass" that fills the egg.  The woven basket is a new die from Gina Marie, as are the candy "Peeps" that I've run through my Xyron face down and dusted with glitter.  The lovely doily is from Heartfelt Creations.  I cut all of these element twice so I could sandwich a toothpick between them for stability.

Here's how the back of the basket looks.  I've cut it from digital paper from KJ Arting that actually is a basket weave.  The pattern is quite subtle because I reduced it to the size of the die cut.  However, the colors available were too dark for my pastel theme, so I experimented with changing the color in my Printmaster Platinum Program until I'd softened it enough. This doesn't work with all digital papers but it's always worth a try.  You can come up with some surprising results.

I wanted the decoration to be decent looking from all angles.  The gorgeous pastel crinkle ribbon is from DL.Art, the pink poufy things and mint green dealy bobs have been in my stash forever and helped fill in some space.

Even from the back the view is acceptable.  WooHoo!  I really had fun with this project.  Now run along and check out the gorgeous inspiration from my Stella Teamies and please come and play along, but not before you check out the fabulous Coupon that runs through Tuesday April 4th, good on both AW Etsy and AW.com.

Oh, and BTW, the new April 2017 FB contest just started in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group.  Check it out HERE.  Did you know that you can enter the FB contests with coloring only, or even previous projects that fit the current theme?

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

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop (newly revamped!)

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, SUYP (Cats Only) March Furrything Goes, the Outlawz Saturday Paper Ala Mode AG, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies April #1, Simon Says Wednesday AG, 613 Avenue Create Spring has Sprung, Come and Get it Easter, Crafting When We Can #141 Animals, Dragonfly Dreams April AG, Dragonfly Journeys How Eggciting, Glitter and Sparkle #233 Use Pastels, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, April Classic Design Team Open Challenge #13 AG,  Crafty Animals April #1 AG, CCC Digi Creations #70 Include An Animal, and Crafts Galore Encore AG. 

Happy Easter!

Wishing you all a happy and blessed Easter.  Here's a little project I did for the Hippity Hop (Bunny) Challenge on the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB page.

The adorable image is called My Easter Bunny available in Sandra Caldwell's Etsy Shop (babycakesdnd) and I printed her a jillion times on both white and lavender card stock so I could color, fussy cut and flock within an inch of her life.  LOL  The coloring was done with Copics, the flocking with purple flock from Doodlebug and Sparkly Fluff from Craft Lounge.  I've added Diamond Glaze to the eyes, bunny teeth and pink patent shoes and a cute little pompom nose.

Here's the dimensional shot.  Gotta say, it took me awhile to assemble her but I love how she tuned out.  I always got a stuffed animal in my Easter basket that I was allowed to bring to church with me on Easter morning.

Okay, not the greatest pic, but I hope you get a better idea of the Origami basket I attached her to. It was made from one 12 x 12" double sided piece of DP.  I've decorated the outside with some pretty ribbon/trim from my stash. Here's a LINK to the video by JenLowe.

More little fun details that I added to the little girl's Easter basket.  That little egg is plastic.  I cut it in half with scissors, painted it first with gesso and when dry, colored it with Copics, then added some shine with Diamond glaze.  The "Easter grass" is some sort of textured ribbon (that actually reminded me of Easter grass but wasn't green) that I also colored with Copics and then added a bow to the handle.  The "grass" at the bottom is actually an "icicle" border punch by Martha Stewart.  WooHoo, goes both ways!  I really had fun with this one.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Use Ribbon, Crafting in a Beautiful Mess (hey, I can relate) FIRST CHALLENGE!  ATG, Crafter's Cafe Easter, TTRCD ATG March 22-28,  Digi Stamps 4 Joy ATG/with optional Twist Add an Animal, Brown Sugar Easter, Creative Corner Anything but a Card, Jo's Scrap Shack ATG, the Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode Run for the Border Challenge, Hanna and Friends Easter, If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Bunnies, Crafting by Designs 3 or More Layers, Decorate to Celebrate ATG, the Paper Shelter Easter Time, and Whimsy Stamps Spring Colors or Easter.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!  Hope your weather is better than ours today.  After weeks of sunshine and very warm temps we expect a high of 59 degrees and rain. Bummer! Will be off to our annual Easter dinner at Auberge du Soleil. Guess no sitting on the balcony today.  Thought I'd share some cute Easter crackers I made with TP rolls and adorable images from the Gecko Galz Easter Circles and 1x2" collage set.  Another easy recycling project but pretty fun little favors, if I do say so myself.  Covered the tubes with paper (not card stock, it's easier to stay stuck) and resized the 1x2's in my printing program to fit the tubes.  Wish I'd printed them on copy paper instead of card stock as you really need some strong adhesive to keep them on there.  (It helps to sort of roll the images a bit, but still!)  I cut them out (3 per roll), inked the edges and added pom pom trim.  Rolled up goodies in tissue paper, stuffed the tubes and tied with ribbon on each end.  Added some Melissa Frances embellies to the top and there ya go. Have a wonderful day.


I'm entering these in the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Easter or Spring challenge, and Decorate to Celebrate ATG Challenge.

New April Customer Challenge at Gecko Galz.

Our new Customer Challenge begins today at Gecko Galz with an Easter Time theme.  

I made a basket using the corrugated inserts that reinforce the tuna in a pouch display boxes at the grocery store.  Yup, I each a lot of tuna.  It makes me popular with my cats.  LOL

I took 2 of them and glued the center sections together, punched holes at the corners, tied some bows and VOILA!  A basket! Used my threading water punch to trim the top 

Each side is decorated with one of the circles from the Easter Circles and 1x2" collage set, enlarged in my printing program and cut and matted with my Nesties.  Here are the rest of the sides.

I've twisted wrapped wire, raffia and buds from a Spring wreath I got at J's and disassembled to make the handle.  I punched holes at either side and twisted the wire into a know with pliers to secure it on each side. 

I also used the wired buds from the wreath to trim each image and attached moss to the bottom corners with hot glue.  My GG teamies have made gorgeous Easter creations so be sure to stop by the Gecko Galz Challenge Blog and find further inspiration.  There's a $25 gift certificate to be had and all you need is a single GG product on your submission. It can even be a freebie which you can get for signing up for the monthly GG newsletter (sign up on the left side of the GG Blog) or grabbing them from the GG Board on Pinterest.  Can't wait to see what you create.  and don't forget our GG Papercrafting FB Group with fun challenges every month.  Hope to see you there.

Warm and Fuzzy Easter Wishes

There's something about Spring with Easter and all the cute baby animals that get me all warm and fuzzy.  Seems I just can't stop flocking these days.  LOL  Here's a sweet one that Jezzie insisted I make.  The adorable image is Chick and Kitten-Mama it's So Fluffy.  With a name like that, how could I not flock?  Got a chance to try out my new Spellbingers Grand Decorative Labels One to make this lacy shaped card.  I cut a cut a Spellbinger's nested Egg twice and cut it to look like the chick had just hatched. and added some time punched flowers and a little bow.

Here's a closeup of the image.  TOOO cute!    The kitty was flocked with white, the chick, printed again on yellow, fussy cut and flocked with yellow.  As you can see, the shading I've done on the images with my Copics still shows through. 

Today is a special day for the Aurora Wings FB group.  We're celebrating 800+ members so hope you can stop by and play along with the contests to win fabulous images that will be going on all day HERE.  And there's still time to join in our very first Blog challenge HERE.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Sparkle and Sprinkle April Challenge, DLArt Thankful Thursday Easter, Milk Coffee Easter, Sparkles Monthly Challenge Easter Parade, Crafting For All Seasons Dies and Punches, Crafting With Dragonflies Easter, Divas By Design Easter/Spring, Simon Says Wednesday Happy Easter, Outlawz Saturday Paper a la Mode Animals, Cuttin' and Stampin' Rainbows/Easter, 613 Avenue Create Sights/Sounds/Smells/Tastes of Spring, Crafty Cardmakers You've Been Framed and the Just For Fun Easter Challenge.

My First DT Challenge Card for The East Wind

WOW!  It's April 1st already and that means another FABULOUS challenge at The East Wind. I'm thrilled to be posting my first official DT card.  There are new challenges on the 1st and 15th of every month and on the 1st, the DT always showcases the Freebie you can receive just by signing up for the TEW Newsletter.  Just look for the bright pink box on the right sidebar, enter your email and name, and you'll receive a fabulous Freebie each month. WooHoo!

The Challenge Theme this time is Use a Sentiment and you can use any image at all, but of course we especially love to see what you do with the fab TEW digis. (And you get to enter TWICE, if you do!)  I've made a shaped card that resembles the "panoramic" sugar eggs I had as a child.  It was designed in Design Studio and cut with my Cricut. The sentiment was cut and embossed with my Cuttlebug Emboss Plus Fanciful Labels Folder and the sentiment was computer generated.

Just look at this adorable gal!  Her name is Aurora-Easter Egg Hunt and I'm totally in love with her! She's colored with Copics and her little bunny suit and stuffed bunny have been flocked.  I printed her several times so I could fussy cut and layer her for dimension.  The grass and fence are MS punches.

As you can see there's quite a bit of depth to the card.  Don'tcha just love her little bunny tail?  I've also added a boatload of flat backed pearls to finish it off.

 

AND, I enjoyed making this card so much, I've even finished the inside (GO ME!)  The basket is a Spellbinders die exclusive to Heartfelt Creations with some Prima flower embellies.  Now hop on over to The East Wind Challenge Blog and check out the amazing creations by the rest of the team.  Then come join our challenge.  There ar FREE DIGIS to WIN!  We sure hope to see you there! 

 

P.S. There's loads of fun stuff going on on the TEW FB Group too. 

 

I'm entering in the following Challenges:

 

Artistic Inspirations Easter Colors/ATG

Craft your Passion Shaped Cards

Cutie Pie Cute with Dies and Punches

Lexi's Creations Easter challenge

Simon Says Monday ATG

Outlawz Monday Greeting Card ATG

613 Avenue Create ATG w/ Optional Color Twist (sort of Blue/Pink/White)

Hobbycutz Easter Challenge

DL Art Thankful Thursday Bunnies

Simply Create Too Easter or Use Bunnies

Crafty Boots Easter

Paper Make Up Stamps Digi Makeover Pastel Colors

The Alphabet Challenge, "D" is for Diecuts

Creatalicious Easter Wonderland