Last Minute for Ike's Art

Yeah, I know, I haven't been posting.  I seem to have lost the crafting mojo but today I rallied with this adorable polar bear family that was the Progressive Freebie image for December in the Ike's Art Fan FB group.  It also just happens to be part of the cool Inuit set of 6 digis, one of many in Ike's World Tour series.

I printed the family in a light gray and used Copic warm grays to shade the fur.  They're partially fussy cut and then I just extended the base to look like snow drifts.  I have bigger plans, but couldn't find my igloo die, so instead I chose to go CAS with a night sky DP from the DCWV Winter Magic stack.  The sentiment was computer generated, influenced by the look on mama bear's face.  I gotta say I kept singing "And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again," from "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", the whole time I was coloring.  LOL

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World Challenge #115 AG/Christmas Time, the DL.Art December Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG.

Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Day One

Yay!  It's the first day of the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and as usual, I didn't work ahead.  I did, however manage to finish a card with the November progressive image from the Ike's Art FB Fan page, which was due today, and make it coffee themed to combine it with the Hop so I hope you get a kick out of it.  The kitty Isn't in the shop yet, but it is available on Ike's SUYP (kitty challenge) as a freebie until the challenge closes in a couple of days HERE.  I've colored him with Copics.  The "to go" cup is pre colored from Hop Super Sponsor Limited Runs.  Sentiment was computer generated.  Gotta say, that's my expression too when I'm offered decaf. 

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art November Linky Challenge, SUYP Challenge #36 Furrything Goes, Ike's World Challenge #114 AG / color challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Jo's Scrap Shack #262 AG and the Outlawz Monday Greeting Add Something Red.

P.S. SUYP is almost at 200 followers so there's some upcoming Blog Candy when they reach their goal.  If you love kitties sign up to follow.  Check it out HERE.

EEEK! Progressive Challenge from Ike's Art

Sue Eisenhauer of Ike's Art has a number of different challenges to play in and is extremely generous offering fabulous freebies with which to play.  This month on the Ike's Art Fan page on FB she's offered TWO digis for the October Progressive Challenge, just in case Death 2 is too creepy for ya.  I've used both of them for my Halloween trick or treat nightmare.  Bwahahaha!

I removed the backgrounds of Death 2 (currently not in the shop) and KT Trick or Treat (Cute Witch) in Luna Pic and added a digital background in my printing program.  I managed to get over my coloring slump and colored the images with Copics.  The sentiment button is from DL.Art.

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World Challenge #113 AG/Oct-POE-ber, the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Monday Greetings AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Dream in Darkness October AG, Simon Says Wednesday Halloween/Spooky and SOSS #121 S is for Skulls. 

Ay Caramba!

Yeah, I'll say!  Here I am, again nearing the last hour with another Progressive image, this time for the Ike's Art August FB Challenge.  The cute image is called Donkey Hat from Ike's Spain World Tour Series.  He's colored with Copics with hair texture from Prismacolor pencils.  I did the sentiment with Tim Holtz Label Letter stickers so I could use the appropriate beginning upside down exclamation point) loosely translates as "oh dear!"  Inside it will say "Not another birthday!"

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World Challenge #111 Anything Goes (optional Under the Sea), the Outlawz Festive Friday Birthday Theme, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #249, Simon Says Wednesday AG (3/5), .

Ike's World Challenge Christmas in July

Nothing like last minute!  Honestly, the Ike's World Christmas in July Challenge ends in just a few hours and although I've had this cute kitty from the Kitten Kristmas set of 6 at Ike's Art for more than a week, life got in the way (besides the fact I didn't know what I wanted to do with him).

Decided on a shaker just this morning using dies from Precious Marieke, Lawn Fawn, Spellbinders, and Gina Marie and packaging from a tape roll.

Here's a closeup.  He's colored with Copics with fur detail with Prismacolor pencils.  Sorry for the short post.  Hubby is waiting for me and I haven't even taken a shower yet.  Eiyiyi!

I'm also entering him the SUYP#32 challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG,  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #86 AG, Aud Sentiments Christmas in July+Sentiment, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #244 AG, the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Animals Challenge, Crafty Gals Corner #170 Christmas in July.

Sweet Panda from Ike's Art

Next to the last day of the month and here I am trying to finish all I want to get done.  This adorable panda is the June Progressive Freebie on the Ike's Art Fan Page! on FB.  To be honest, I've had him colored for at least a week, but I couldn't decide what to do with him.  I wanted it to be special because I love this guy and took quite awhile coloring him with Copics and doing a little work with a Memento pen.

Here's a closeup.  Ike is so generous with her freebies, also offering one for each challenge on her Ike's World Challenges Blog and SYUP (cats only) Challenge Blog.  Many more fabulous digis in her Ike's Art Zibbet Shop, too.

So I was bummed that I did have a bamboo die or digi or stencil so I Googles panda habitat and there were many pics of just jungles.  Then I remembered my X-Cut Build-a-Scene forest dies and went to town.  There's the side view all popped up.  I also added some vines with my Weeping Willow branches die from Memory Box.  The DP mat is from the DCWV Safari Kids Stack.  The sentiments are Tim Holtz Small Talk stickers.



I'm also adding this to the Ike's World June Challenge #109 AG/optional Inspired by a Song  ("Panda" by Jefferson Airplane), the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends # 84 AG,  The Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, The Outlawz Festive Friday AG, The Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Framed, Simon Says Wednesday AG (4/5), Jo's Scrap Shack FFC#240 AG 2/3, Crafty Gals Corner #168 AG, Scrapy Land Challenge #92 AG w/brands that SL sells,  TTRCD Week of June 26 AG, Morgan's Art World #06 AG, The World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #6, and Simply Papercraft #59 AG.

Anything is Possible with Coffee!

Although I missed posting yesterday for the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Hop (because we finally had some nice weather) but I've got tons in the works, but not completed.  We'll see how that goes... 

I thought it would be fun to created a little scene with the cute Unicorn by Ike's Art that happens to be the May Progressive challenge image (in Ike's FB Group) and tie it in with the Hop.  He's colored with Copics and I added a little cup to his hand that was fussy cut from some old Cosmo Cricket DP.  He came with a rainbow and clouds but I screwed up coloring the rainbow so I die cut a rainbow instead.  The sun was stamped and die cut with sets from Super Sponsor Verve Stamps and the first part of the sentiment is also Verve with "coffee" from a set from a Creative Journey with Melissa.  The cool coffee pot button at the end of the rainbow is from Super Sponsor DL.Art.  The buttons come in all sort of themes and  come regular, flat backed or as pins so you can collect and pin them anywhere you want. 

Gotta run now.  We're going on a picnic.

   

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #82 AG, the Outlawz Saturday Paper Ala Mode Create a Scene, Dragonfly Journeys #119 Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Simon Says Wednesday Use More than One Stamp, 

Use Your Wings

Gosh, I can't believe April is almost over!  I feel like I totally missed it and still need to finish some stuff before May Day.  Only today and tomorrow.  YIKES!  Well, here is "Cute Fairy", from Ike's Art, that is the April Progressive Challenge image for her FB Fan Group.  She's colored with Copics, fussy cut and I've added Stardust Stickles to her wings.  My original plan was to make a little scene some new dies I just got but they proved to be a bit more difficult to deal with than I imagined.  Instead I found this scrap on my desk that had a little vine for her to stand on and some subtle glitter flowers in the background.  WooHoo!  I added a large flower, a "fairy wand" for her to carry (also on the desk, no I don't ever put stuff away) and a sentiment sticker from Tim Holtz's Small Talk pad.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #80 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG (4/5), the Fairy and the Unicorn April, the Southern Girls Triple F challenge (fairies, fantasy and/or flowers), SOS #351 Mythical and Magical and QKR Stampede #293 AG.

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.

Wag the Dog

I knew I forgot something on my doggie card with the Ike's Art FB Progressive Freebie.  There was one more Outlawz challenge I wanted to enter before we left.  Saturday Paper ala Mode asked for an interactive card.  Well, I'd printed the image twice, in case I screwed up so here's another coloring and card and this time he's on an Action Wobble so you can "wag the dog".  HeeHee!  Sorry for the crap coloring.  Started this as 1:30 AM (because travel stresses me out) and my markers were gooky...sigh...  More fun DP from that Pet's Mat stack by DCWV. I tried unsuccessfully to take a video with my phone, or should I say I didn't know how to upload it, but you get the idea, don't you?

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art March Linky Challenge,  Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

It's a Dog's Life!

Just trying to sneak in a few challenges since after today I won't be crafting for a few.  This cutie is the first Progressive Freebie over in the Ike's Art FB Group and is still available until the end of the month if you want to join in.  Fortunately he was easy to color (with Copics) and I found the paper and the sentiment in my stash from the old DCWV pet stack.  WooHoo!  It also worked for the Outlawz Monday Greetings Animal theme this week, so there ya go.

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World Movie Challenge inspired by "Marley & Me", Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #226 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG.

My Dark Valentine Blog Hop Day 2

Darkness reigns again for the 5 Day My Dark Valentine Hop, (and here I was calling it "Bloody", well, maybe that too.  Sorry Leigh), February 12-16 sponsored by LeighSBDesigns.  It works the same way as the Poe Appreciation Hop did and you can read the particulars on how to participate HERE.  I'm giving you a bit of comic relief today by posting a previous project using an image from Ike's Art called Ghoul's Night Out-Rollers with a heart from Tiddly Inks and sentiment from Ginger's House.  You can read the particulars of the project in the original post HERE.  

And if you've not had your coffee yet this morning, got up at 4:00am and are having trouble focusing the sentiment reads "I don't have enough MIDDLE FINGERS to let you know how I feel."  So true, so often...  Gotta Say this is an all time fave.

An InLinkz Link-up

Another Past Project for the Poe Appreciation Hop

Kind of a busy day today, so no new project for the Poe Appreciation Blog Hop but this is one of my all time faves.  I used the gorgeous Annabel Lee 2 from Ike's Art with digi papers and stamps from Smeared Ink (unfortunately no longer trading).  See post HERE for more info and a dimensional shot of the raven, if you like.

There is still time to join in the Poe Appreciation Blog Hop sponsored by Leigh SB Designs. All the info to participate can be found HERE. Be sure to check out the cool new Poe related collection of stamps Leigh's Etsy Shop and there's also a fun Poe Freebie (for a limited time) that Leigh designed especially for the Hop HERE as well.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day 3 Poe Appreciation Blog Hop

It's Day 3 of the Poe Appreciation Blog Hop and I thought I'd share another past make (because I can, thank God! as my crafty time is kind of limited at the mo) using the fabulous Poe Cat from Ike's Art and the raven from Ike's Poe Skull Bust.  I'm afraid I can't link directly to the images but if you check the categories on Ike's Art, there is one for Edgar Allen Poe and you can see them ALL!  This is a fave of Goliath's for obvious reasons.  The actual claw and feather embellies were his contribution to the piece.  You can read more about this HERE, if you like.

There is still time to join in the Poe Appreciation Blog Hop sponsored by Leigh SB Designs. All the info to participate can be found HERE. Be sure to check out the cool new Poe related collection of stamps Leigh's Etsy Shop and there's also a fun Poe Freebie (for a limited time) that Leigh designed especially for the Hop HERE as well.



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An InLinkz Link-up

I'm not Fat, I'm Fluffy!

Gotta say I broke out in a HOOT when I saw the hilarious Freebie from Ike's Art on the January Challenge post at SUYP (Show Us Your Pussies, ahem...CAT'S ONLY) Challenge Blog.  "I'm not fat, I'm FLUFFY!" immediately came to mind (Jezzie tells me that all the time, and how the heck would I know since as soon as my hand goes from her head to her body, she bolts.)  The theme this month is Furrything Goes/Meuw Year and me thinks someone is contemplating a Meuw Year's Resolution...Nah!  I had a riot cutting and pasting various strips of DP and adding a few stickers to the bottom of the card from the Meow pack from Echo Park  and did I ever have fun coloring "Fat Cat" up!

Here's a closeup.  I've been doing a lot of fur practice with my Copics and really, really, REALLY wanted to fluff her out, so I lightened the digi to a fairly light gray in my Printmaster Platinum program and went to town.  LITTLE ball of fur?  Hardly, but she's purrr-fect just the way she is.  Just ask Jezebel.  

I'm also entering this in the January Ike's World AG/New Beginnings challenge, the DL.Art January Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #73 AG, the Outlawz Monday Greetings The Time After Christmas, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday New Beginnings, Your Scrapbook Place January AG, Simon Says Wednesday Use Patterned Paper and Crafty Animals #10 AG.

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 Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #63 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack #201 AG and the C.R.A.F.T AG challenge #428.

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.

Hey, Mew!

Rushed to finish this for the Outlawz Paper ala Mode CAS challenge using an adorable kitty stamp called High 4 from Ike's Art.  This cutie was a freebie from last month's SUYP (cat's only) challenge and if your really hurry, you may still find it HERE.  Ike is so generous with her fabulous images and provides a freebie for both her Ike's World challenges AND SUYP.  I already had this image printed on a very old freebie background from Tiddly Inks to enter in SUYP, but hadn't managed to color him up yet.  I quickly colored him with my Copics, hoping to get a reasonable amount of fur texture and then went hunting for a sentiment stamp since the card was already cut to size.  No luck so I resorted to hand lettering...shudder!  Not great, but not too bad and that made it one layer. Yay, me!  

Oh, and BTW. Just thought I'd mention that Ike's Art is having a 50% off sale for the whole month of July, so you might want to check out her newly revamped store, that now offers instant downloads.  WooHoo!  No waiting.

I'll be adding this to the SYUP (cats only) July Furrything Goes Challenge, the Ike's World AG challenge w/optional twist Relax, Your Scrapbook Place July AG using sponsor image, the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, Crafty Animals July #4 AG, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #4 AG, Craft Rocket #39 AG, Animal Friends #52 One Layer and Tuesday Throwdown #351 One Layer.

Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Day 5

It's day 5 of the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and although I didn't post a card for the hop yesterday, I did 2 on Sunday so I'm feeling pretty good.  There is so much inspiration from the fabulous sponsors and participants it's mind boggling. at last count there were 726 entries and there's still 4 days to go.  WOW!  Today I'm sharing a card assembled digitally from the new I LUV Coffee set from Ike's Art. Not only does it have a 4 lovely cups in both jpg and png form (so you can print them on digitial backgrounds, if you like) but also 6 free digital papers designed by Jane Bradshaw especially for the set.

I used the paper with the cup outlines that could be printed and colored as is, like a coloring page, but instead, I cropped it in sections in my printing program, changed the color of each section and reassembled into a Springy coffee rainbow background for the glorious cup.  I changed the black outline there, too to a light beigey brown and added a drop shadow and digital sentiment on a curve.   After printing, I colored the coffee cup with Copic markers.  I decided the sentiment got a bit lost so I printed it all again and cut out the sentiment following the curve and popped it with foam.

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World Challenge AG (playing without the twist), DL.Art March Linky Challenge,  and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG.

Happy St.Cat-rick's Day

Really, really, REALLY busy day today.  This is my THIRD post.  (Yea, ME!) Please scroll down for the others.

You know I love playing in the (SUYP Cat's Only challenge) and the March theme is AG (with cats, of course) or St.Cat-rick's Day.  Of course I couldn't resist the latter, especially since Ike provided us with this fabulous fur-eebie, complete with sentiments.  WooHoo!  Kind of a simple design with shamrock digi paper from AMBillustrations and a striped piece that was laying on my desk. I added one of Ike's sentiments and some glitter shamrocks because he looks like he's feline lucky.  LOL

Here's a closeup of this handsome guy.  I've been practicing fur and tried to add texture with only my Copics this time.  (Okay, there's a teeny bit of pencil here and there, but the majority of him is marker's only.)  I have a bad habit of putting multiple images on my page before printing and when I went to cut him out with a die, there wasn't room.  GGGrrr!!!  Of course I could fussy cut, but I wasn't up for tackling the whiskers so I decided to color a rug under him.  At first I only had the 3 colors of green and it looked really sucky, but after pulling out the pencils and drawing in what is supposed to be a rag rug design, I thought it wasn't half bad.

Thanks to Ike for her generous gifts of fabulous freebies (you can find more on her Ike's World Challenge, and also on the Ike's Art Fan Page.)  Love, love, LOVE them, especially her KITTIES!

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World AG /optional Over the Rainbow challenge, the Outlawz Festive Fridays St. Patrick's Day theme (close enough, LOL), Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #53 AG, Glitter and Sparkle Use Some Green and Simon Says Wednesday A Bit O'Green.