Showcasing Leo for Simply Steampunk

This month the Simply Steampunk team is working with the second half of the beautiful Steampunk Zodiac images drawn by Abigail Larson for SBS.  Today I bring you Leo.  I think the fabulous images are just perfect for birthday cards so that's what I've done here.  The Steampunk Digi papers are from Bearly Mine Designs. 

I've colored lovely Leo with Copics, fussy cut and popped her with foam.  The Zodiac references are quite subtle, which give them versatility.  I'd say the tail is sort of a giveaway here, though.  LOL

I enjoy adding Steampunk elements such as Tim Holtz tiny gears to the Prima flower centers as well as the die cut gears and a sort of tattered and distressed doily which are also Tim Holtz for Sizzix. 

To balance the design I added 3 faux screws that I made from Card Candi by scoring the centers and wiping with Guilder's Paste.  Finnally, the edges of the DP were distressed with my Zutter Distrezz It All.  All month long the DT showcases the newest featured Steampunk digi set, so please visit Simply Steampunk Challenges often. There's loads of inspiration.  Also remember our October Challenge, Monochromatic Colors runs through October 31st.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the Divas by Design 3 or More Layers, Frilly and Funky Colors of Autumn, Rhedd and Rosie's Colors of Autumn, Die Cuttin' Divas Use Brown, Inky Chicks Use 2 Different Die Cuts, TTRCD Anything Goes, Twisted Tuesdays Lots of Layers and Use Metal, Craftin' Desert Divas Anything With a Sentiment,  and Craft Your Passion, Heavy Metal.

Monochromatic at Simply Steampunk

Our new Monochomatic Challenge begins TODAY at Simply Steampunk.   The team is showcasing the second set of Steampunk Zodiacs and I have the pleasure of working with Gemini.  This fun girly image screamed PINK to me and so it is.  The color scheme seemed fitting as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so I'm thinking this may be the very first Steampunk Breast Cancer Awareness wall hanging in the world. (Didn't have an appropriate dowel to hang this from so it's lying flat at the moment.)

I've colored the twins with Copics using mainly R81-89.  They were printed right on the Printed DP from the Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Stack and cut with Nesties Labels Twenty Five.

The dress form was cut from white card stock on my Cricut from the French Manor Cartridge and colored with Copics as well.  The wings are from the Cuttlebug Vintage Collage Emboss Plus folder and the (PINK!) gears with a Tim Holtx for Sizzix Die from textured metallic card stock.  The Pink Awareness Ribbon and heart are from JoAnn's.

It was fun trying to incorporate girly Steampunk details.  The final one, another gear topped with a flower and "hope" done in wire with beads (also from JoAnn's a bazillion years ago).  My teamies have done a wonderful job with the Monochromatic theme (ours was harder than most since were were told that skin and hair must also be monochromatic) so be sure to stop by Simply Steampunk and be inspired.

I'm also entering this in the Link Up for Pink 3rd Annual BCA Linky Party, As You Like It Favorite Not a Card Project and Why(Wall hangings because they give you more room to play and it's fun changeable decor), DLArt Thankful Thursday BCA Linky Party, Crafty Creations Winged Things,  The Paper Shelter Shabby Chic, Whimsy Stamps Shabby Chic/Vintage, Inky Chicks 2 Different Die Cuts, and Shopping Our Stash Pink or BCA.

Chapter 24 Romance in Wonderland

...next [came] the ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the soldiers did. After these came the royal children; there were ten of them, and the little dears came jumping merrily along hand in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Next came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens...

The theme of this quote is couples, and that's what we celebrate in February with Valentine's Day. For the month of February, we are celebrating Romance in Wonderland! As always, you may enter any project that fits the challenge theme, but those that feature Wonderland will have two chances at the prize instead of one. Multiple entries are encouraged but each must be on a separate post; enter by Feb. 23.  One lucky winner will receive a $15 store credit to Simply Betty Stamps.

We are using the fabulous Steampunk Romance images by Simply Betty Stamps [ Store | Blog,  Challenge Blog, and new Steampunk Challenge Blog ]. The people pictured in this stamp line resemble grown-up characters in Wonderland, don't you think?

You should also check out the whimsical Alice in Wonderland collection. Here is what the oh, so talented Betty has to say:

Simply Betty Stamps started in 2010, when I was forced to close my little scrapbook store due to my last baby coming early. I was home, with a preemie couldn't do much but draw, craft, and had just discovered blogging! I started to nose around about digis, how could I do this, how could I do that? Slowly but surely Simply Betty Stamps was born! I have a quirky sense of humor and I believe it shows in my images. I have immortalized my kids in my images as it is what I love creating with, their everyday shenanigans and goofy ways. I love sharing my creativity, I can't tell you how awesome it is to see others creating with SBS images! I look forward to continuing to bring in the quirkiness to crafters across the globe and look forward to many years of fun images.

Today's project for The Altered Alice features the gorgeous Romance Emma.  Doesn't she just make the perfect Alice?  Alice has just found a love letter in her Wonderland mailbox.  I wonder who it's from.  A secret admirer?

I love the expression on her face, so touched by the loving words. The man who can truly express his feelings in writing is a rare one.  He obviously holds the key to her heart (and mine).  I've colored her with Copics in the traditional Alice blue and added a key ring charm.  The heart doily behind her is a Cottage Cutz Die.

The mailbox is a $1 one from Target.  Alice's name is done with the Cuttlebug Embossing Plus Postage Alphabet.

 

The heart border is an MS punch to which I've added tea party charms and pearls.  A blue and white gingham bow and trim seemed fitting.

Finally, on the back is the addy.  14 Love Lane, Wonderland.  Please visit The Altered Alice to see more Romance in Wonderland projects (a bit later since we all run a bit late in Wonderland) and check out the winner of last month's challenge (up NOW!) The new linky will be up with the Romance post so hurry and get started for a chance to win the $15 voucher and choose some gorgeous Simply Betty Stamps of your own.  Remember, Wonderland related projects are not a requirement, but we love to see them and they're counted TWICE!

I'm also adding this to  the Simply Challenged Anything Goes Challenge, The Simply Steampunk Anything Goes Challenge  first ever!  WooHoo!, A Gem of a Challenge Gingham or Checks, Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes, Moving Along With the Times Punch it Out Challenge, The Inky Chicks Bingo Challenge (using Ribbon, Image and Pearls), the Desert Islands Crafter's Challenge #47 using #1,2,3 and 5 (thinkin' the die cut doily is lacy) and the Outlawz Paper a la Mode Love Challenge (a new group for me, go check them out)