New Challenge at The East Wind

WooHoo!  Today our new challenge starts at The East Wind Challenge Blog. Our new theme is "For the Kiddies" so I couldn't resist the adorable Baby Aurora "Angel", inspired by Kyra's own daughter, Aurora. Tell me she isn't the most precious little thing EVER!  This sweet card was done with Dp's from Graphic 45 and die cuts from Spellbinders.

I've colored Baby Aurora with Copics in the colors of the papers and added some lovely flowers from Recollections and Prima.  I've tried to go a little bolder with my shading and added some pencil work after watching Kyra's fabulous speed coloring videos on YouTube.  What a fascinating opportunity to see an artist at work!  Be sure to visit the Challenge Blog and see the fun inspiration from my teamies and don't forget to scroll down to see the winners of our Beach challenge.  And there's still a few days left in our Just for a Laugh Facebook Contest.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the August Crafty Little Fairies Cute and Cuddly Challenge (entry 2), Hobbybook All About Kids, Fan-tastic Tuesday ATG, the Outlawz Monday Greeting Cards Use Circles, Crafting by Designs Polka Dots, Papertake Weekly Spots and Dots, the Fitztown Challenge Just for Kids, Love to Create inspired by a Book, Song or Movie (Song Brahms Lullaby), and Dragonfly Dreams inspired by a Book you Read as a Child or to a Child (Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Say Goodnight).

Dilly Beans Add Some Metal

There's a new challenge at Dilly Beans today and we want you to Add Some Metal.  I've used one of the adorable new images, #594 Aidynn's Bear Framed. 

I went with fresh Springy colors and a layout inspired by Sketch #42 from Papertake Weekly so I could enter their Sketchy Free for All Challenge.

Aidynn is colored with Copics and instead of paper piecing or flocking, I tried to get a bit of a furry texture using the dotty technique.

My metal is an adorable bear charm I got on clearance from Mike's several years ago.  It has a lobster claw clasp to allow it to be removed and hung on a bracelet.  Cute, eh?  The triple bow was done with my Bow Easy.  Easy?  Hate to say I still have to read the directions every time. Please stop by Dilly Beans to see the fabby creations by my teamies and remember, younow have 2 weeks to play along.

I'm also entering this in the Shopping Our Stash Heavy Metal Challenge, DL Art Thankful Thursday Use an Image of a Girl or Lady, TTRCD ATG Feb 25th - Mar 3, Tuesday Throwdown ATG.

Happy Valentine's Day from Dilly Beans (and Me!)

Happy Valentine's Day to all my friends out there in Blogland.  Hope your day is filled with all the love you could ever imagine (and a few chocolates wouldn't be that awful, either.  LOL)  The Dilly Beaners have made some special Valentines for you all, too.  Our Challenge this fortnight is Hearts (just in case you haven't gotten your fill).  No shortage of Dilly Beans images with hearts so I'm sure we'll see lots of great stuff.  I've tried something new (for me anyway) and done a canvas transfer using Shell's tut in the Mixed Media University Group on the Smeared and Smudged Forum.  The image is the adorable #587 Penny's Heart String.  After carefully rubbing off the paper, I colored her with Copics and added more of my conversation heart stickers.  Love the texture the canvas provides.  The background is dabbed with bubble wrap dipped in Distress Ink.  I've fashioned the the heart with lace tape and added trim, crocheted flowers, pearls  and a little crocheted butterfly, as well.  I've wrapped some velvet ric rac around the edge to finish it off.  Very sweet and girly, don'tcha think?

I'm entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG Challenge (couldn't quite manage the optional Create your Own with this one but still wanted to share.), the Outlawz Twisted Thursday ATG /w optional Add a Flower, TTRCD ATG Feb 11-17, Through the Purple Haze ATG and Papertake Weekly With a Heart.

Dilly Beans Traditional Christmas Colors

Of course this isn't for Creepmas!  Please scroll down.

It's a new challenge day at Dilly Beans and this week we're pulling out the old red and green.  Yup! Traditional Chistmas colors are what we want to see.  I've used 2 different digi's here, the bottom row is #525 Three Penguins, and the other 3 are from #524 Three Penguin Blocks.  I've cropped the top three in my Printmaster program to arrange them accordingly, colored them all with Copics and cut them into sort of a penguin pyramid.  They're popped atop a bingo card I cut with my Cricut (designed in DS, .cut file available HERE) and added some fun buttons and epoxy holly and berries.  Not sure if I'm gonna make this into a card or giant tag.  Please visit my teamies for fab inspiration HERE and come play along.

I'm entering this in the Cut It Up Christmas Challenge, TTRCD ATG Dec 10-16, Delightful Challenges Red and Green, Papertake Weekly Christmas Creatures, the Shabby Tea Room Noel photo inspiration Challenge including buttons and polka dots, and 613 Avenue Create ATG.

Alice Portrait for Simply Steampunk

I'm so excited today to showcase another of the fabulous Alice in Wonderland Steampunk Style digis by Abigail Larson available exclusively at SBS.  Here I have the adorable Alice Portrait.  Isn't she the sweetest?  I can image using her for all sorts of occasions but today I'd say my card could be for ANY occasion.  I decked her out heavily in the Steampunk style using digi paper from the Steampunk Fantasy set from Bearly Mine Designs.  And speaking of HEAVY, all the metal embellies are from Tim Holtz.  There's 15 total, if you count the brads.  Guess this one should be hand delivered eh, but don't they look FAB with the DP?

Here's a closeup of the gorgeous Alice.  Of course she's colored with Copics to match the digi paper.  Remember we have inspiration going all month long at Simply Steampunk so be sure to visit often, and don't forget our current  Party Invitation Challenge that runs through December 5th.  You can use any image as long as it's in the Steampunk Style.  Hope to see you there.

I'm also entering this in the Bearly Mine Anything Goes Challenge, Divas by Design use a Digi, TTRCD Nov 5-11 ATG, Papertake Weekly ATG and 613 Avenue Create ATG.

Showcasing Sagittarius for Simply Steampunk

Today I'm showcasing the lovely Sagittarius for Simply Steampunk, one of the new Steampunk Zodiacs at SBS.  There's something about her bow and arrow that made me make a tag using Fall colors, or maybe it's just the cooler weather we've been having.  I used kraft for the tag and gorgeous K&Co Dp.  The sentiment just sort of came to me while on my morning hike and I printed it on the computer, cut the rectangle and scrunched and distressed and inked and spritzed it with water until it looked weathered enough to make the scroll.  I thought the copper skeleton leaves added to the woodsy feel.

Sagittarius is colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped.  The gorgeous clothing of the Steampunks is so much fun to color.  I've added some fab fibers and some Tim Holtz metal flowers and foliage to the Primas in honor of our current Metal Challenge.  It runs through Sept 5th so I hope to see you there.

I'm also entering this in the Crafting by Designs Celebrate Women challenge, Ruby's Rainbow Vintage Challenge,  Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes, Papertake Weekly Anything Goes w/Optional Vintage, Simply Challenged Heavy on the Embellishments, TTRCD Aug 6-12, and Avenue 613 Create Anything Goes with an Optional Sentiment.

Simply Steampunk Bits of Lace Challenge

WooHoo, it's the first Friday of the month which means it's time for a new Challenge at Simply Steampunk.  This month we're asking for Bits of Lace.  All this month, the DT is showcasing the Original Steampunk Images from Simply B Stamps.  Today I'm working with the beautiful Emma.

I know some of you may be a little intimidated by the fabulous detail of these images.  I'll admit, I collected a ton before I ever got the nerve to color one, but here's a little trick;  I like to print mine out fairly large.  Not only is it easier to see what's what, but they make a beautiful bold statement on your project that way.    Also remember, there is no right or wrong way to color them.  If you need some inspiration, the DT will be providing all kinds of it, starting with our Re-release post from March 25th and continuing through the month of April so visit Simply Steampunk often.

I colored Emma with Copics to match the K&Co DP from the old Blue Awning Stack.  the large embossed flower was fussy cut from another of the pages. The expression on Emma's face makes me think she's contemplating a decision so I chose this glass paper clip from Melody Ross that says "Choose for Yourself".  If only life were that simple.  My bits of lace are adhesive backed "lace tape" from Decollections and I've added a bit of velvet rick rack as well.

The little butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch.  I used a kraft knife to fussy cut the image because I love to pop them for dimension.  Be sure to visit Simply Steampunk to see the fabulously inspirational work by my DT sisters and I'm really looking forward to seeing what you create this month for our Bits of Lace challenge which runs through May 2nd.  You needn't limit yourself to an original Steampunk image.  Just add bits of lace to any of the fabulous Steampunk images HERE. 

I'm also entering this in the Pals Paper Arts Fresh Breeze Color Challenge, the Simon Says Stamp and Show Anything Goes Challenge, Papertake Weekly Anything Goes and Cards and More Add some Metal Challenge (the metal paper clip).

Dilly Beans Owl Challenge with Cricut Artiste

WooHoo!  Our challenge this week at the Dilly Beans Designers and Challenge Blog is OWLS!  Whoooo doesn't LOVE owls, eh?  And Megan has so many cute ones at the SHOP  (along with a fab new Halloween release that you don't want to miss).  I decided I wanted to do something different than a card, so I pulled out my Cricut and CTMH Artiste cartridge and cut the owl treat box on page 77.  I thought this would be perfect with #304 Heart Owl (scroll down the page to find him and his friends).  The tree branch they're sitting on is Dilly Beans #302 Tree Branch #1 (further down the page).

I printed the little guy 3 times and fussy cut his feet heart and body to add some dimension.  There's glossy accents on his eyes along with some adhesive beads to make them POP.  The digis were all colored with Copics and after fussy cutting the branch I colored the back side too since it showed from behind.  I love combining Cricut with digis.  It gives the project a whole different feel.

The box itself only has the scalloped eyes to specifically go with that cut.  However, on page 76 in Artiste, there's another owl with all sorts of layering features so I sized them in DS to give him a little more personality.  His wings and tummy feathers were embossed with my Cuttlebug and the sentiment was computer generated.  Yeah, I know, 3 of my last 4 Cricut projects were from Artiste, but I'm lovin' this cart.  I'd say it'a a "must have" and if you don't, please hop over to my dear friend Susan's CTMH website and have a look around.

My Dilly Beans teamies have some fab owl projects so be sure to check them out HERE and come and join us.  All kinds of projects are welcome, but please do use a stamp of some kind.  It doesn't even have to be Dilly Beans (although we LOVE seeing them), and you just might win some.  WooHoo!

I'm also entering this in My Mum's Craft Shop Anything Goes Challenge,  Papertake Weekly Anything Goes (with the option of not being square), Charizma Cardz Seeing Double and Make it Monday with the Kraft Outlet Shape it Up Challenge (his wings are inked kraft).

Dilly Beans Fabric and Fibers Challenge

Happy Friday!  I'm all screwed up on my days with Wednesday being a holiday and all.  Our brand new Dilly Beans Challenge this week is Fabric and Fibers.  I knew I'd purchased some adhesive fabric card stock some years back in dots and stripes.  Planned on using both for this card but do you think I could find those stripes? NNNNOOOOOO!!!!! (Big surprise, if you saw my craft room.  LOL)  Anyway, I did find the dots and cut a strip and pleated it for that trim above my image.  That sweet girl is #156 Framed Girly (flipped) with the adorable sentiment from #371 Girly Stuff.

I tried something new with her hair this time.  I love paper piecing these images and wondered how it would look if I embossed it after fussy cutting.  This is Coredinations Whitewash and I sanded after embossing to bring out the texture, but had a bit of trouble because I sanded some of the outline away.  OOPS!  Still think it looks kinda cool so I'll be experimenting further.  More fabric with the rolled roses cut from Tim Holtz trim and some fiber in the form of Baker's twine.

I added a little more texture by embossing the mat with a Sizzix folder I think is calle Bow Strings (how apropo).  Girly and her mat was popped over the pleated trim and I've popped the sentiment a bit lower and added adhesive pearls to balance it out.  there are lots of cool ideas for this challenge at The Dilly Beans Challenge Blog so why not pop over there and get some inspiration?  We love it when you play along, and Dilly Beans images are not required, but hey, you may win some.  And speaking of inspiration, there's a brand new Blog called Dilly Beans Inspirations which will chock full of ideas, samples, tutorials and and even a freebie, so go check it out.

I'm also entering this in Ruby's Rainbow Embossing Challenge, Wishcraft Waste Not Wednesday "use your forgotten stuff" Challenge (the image is an older image from Dilly Beans, and the fabric card stock and Coredinations have been in my stash for years), the Frilly and Funky Texture Challenge (including the twist which is fabric), Shelly's Images "What's the Text" challenge, and Papertake Weekly Anything Goes (and I've highlighted the image by popping it and embossing her hair).

Spring is in the Air

This week at the Dilly Beans Designers and Challenge Blog our challenge was to create a Spring card.  Well I must say it's warmed up considerably here and the flowers are coming out in full force.  My garden background is #345 Daisy Border, stretched a bit in my Printmaster program, colored with Copics and added some faux stitching.  The Spring border punch is MS.  The added butterflies are also MS.

The adorable hedgies are #362 Crinkles Daisy Framed and #364 Crinkles hearts Framed, mounted and popped on Nesties Scalloped Squares. The sentiment is from Megan's #374 flowers and love.  There's loads of inspiration from the rest of the DT so be sure to visit the Challenge Blog and have a look.  We so enjoy seeing your take on the challenges as well. 

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:
 Crafter's Cafe Spring with Pastel Colors Challenge
iCopic Spring Colors Challenge #78
Lollipop Crafts Spring Fling Challenge
Papertake Weekly A Stitch in Time Challenge

Macabre Monday Mark of the Beast (Recipe Challenge)

Sorry I've been MIA for several days. The gorgeous weather and lack of creative mojo has kept me away. Hope everyone had a fabulous Mothers Day. After the week of lovely weather, our Sunday was cold and cloudy. How disappointing. But now it's time for another Macabre Monday and we have a different kind of challenge for you all. Our Mark of the Beast challenge is a recipe challenge of sorts, challenging you to use 6 of something, 3 different times. Do you dare? It's sponsored by our own Devious Digital Demon-ess Susan of Crafty Chaos Designs. Look no further for the fabbiest digi papers EVER! I've chosen 6 images from the Pumpkin Carving cartridge cut at 1 1/2 inches and the word Beware (6 letters) from October 31st, and to complete the evil trifecta, I've added 6 orange adhesive beads.

Because the images were quite detailed and were originally designed to be cut larger as template for carving pumpkins, I used the multi cut function at 2 times which gave me clean and concise cuts in the small size.

The mat was also cut on my Cricut using George and Basic Shapes and Design Studio and the frame, images, and letters were all popped for dimension. And to top it off, the card measures 6x6 and has six circle openings in the mat. WooHoo! Be sure to visit Haunted Design House for more devilish inspiration and play along for a chance at the fabulous prize. I'm alsoo entering this in Papertake Weekly's Anything Goes Challenge with the optional use of circles. I think this works.

Hoppy Easter

Although I didn't use Celebrate with a Flourish for my BBTB2 project this week, I did check out alot of the beautiful cuts and couldn't resist doing an Easter card using the sweet bunny and Easter sentiment. I started with an egg shaped card welded in Design Studio using Easter 2010. Then I just cut the layers. Added a bit of texture to the grass layer with Swiss Dots and cut that layer an additional time so I could pop the flowers. I'm thinkin' the Swiss Dots and the striped Egg will qualify for Papertake Weekly's Challenge which is Spots and Stripes. I glittered the bunny but running him through my Xyron face down to match the glittered striped in the DP on the egg. I'm hoping that's enough sparkle to enter this into the ABC Challenge "S" is for Sparkle. You know, some people complain that the adhesive from the Xyron either leaves sort of excess adhesive over the small cut out or leaves gaps on the die cut which isn't that big a deal for just gluing, but if you're glittering or flocking it's a prob. This won't happen if you use a stylis to trace around all of the cut edges (especially the small openings in letters and such) and then really rub the clear side to make sure it comes in contact with the adhesive to help pull it cleanly away and also helps the adhesive adhere firmly to the die cut. It takes a few more minutes, but really makes a difference.

You know I love the layers, and even more if they're popped, so of course, that's what I did. I'm not sure this is what the gals at Cupcake Craft Challenges had in mind but they gave us a pretty wide berth so I'm entering this in their Lots of Layers challenge as well. And speaking of POPPED layers, I'd sure love it if you'd visit Do More With Less and check out my Guest Designer tut and come join my challenge. Yvonne's Blog is packed with super inspiration and I'm giving away a great prize.

The inside sentiment is also from Celebrate with a Flourish. I added a few adhesive pearls to enhance it. Some were colored with my Copics to match. Obviously this is an Easter card so I'm entering it in the Sparkles Forum Challenge which is Easter and also the Whimsical Wednesdays April Showers Bring May Flowers Challenge. See the flowers, Steph? I'll try to do better next time, but I didn't want to miss it. LOL

Hip Hop Hooray!

I wanted to play more with some of my new crafty goodies and decded to use my Spellbinder Grands Creative book pages dies to make a shaped card. The mat is also cut with another of the dies in the from the DCWV Flower Shower Stack. Then I colored up the new Tiddly Inks BunnyQ and colored her with Copics. The cute sentiment comes with this digi stamp too. Now how to embellish? I still had twine left out and thought it might be fun to make some tassels. Then I used a teeny flower punch, punched each flower 6 times and secured them with a tiny brad and ruffled the petals, then added a punched butterfly and a few adhesive pearls and called it done. Don't forget that the referral challenge at The Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog is still running and you and a friend have a chance to win free images. See the details HERE. And because it's Tiddly Tuesday, there is a sneak peek of new images (with a new cute Minnie already available in the shop HERE) and a freebie sentiment I'm sure you'll want to grab HERE. We're gearing up for a Birthday Bash. WooHoo!!

I've popped the circle, image and sentiment. Not much dimension for me, but I'm hoping it's enough to enter in the Papertake Weekly Truly Dimensional challenge. And the colored image qualifies me to enter Guest Designer Tesa's Coloring Challenge on Yvonne's Blog, Do More With Less. Guess who might just be the Guest Designer Next Week? HeeHee!

Bah!Humbug! Across the Miles and PTW 3rd Birthday Celebration

This week's Bah! Humbug! Challenge is Across the Miles. I thought long and hard about this and finally asked myself who covers more miles than Santa? A great opportunity to use my Disney Santa's Coming Cuttlebug die for the very first time. (Check out that clearance price!) You know, I think Mickey's okay, but after this I think I'm a FAN! This went together so fast and I think it's pretty darn cute, don't you? The mat is embossed with the Limited Edition Snowflakes Cuttlebug folder and I used a silver gel pen to enhance the flakes. I cut Santa twice to give him a bit of a shadow effect and have him stand out more from the big ole full moon I cut with my Nesties out of holographic paper. I would have preferred a Merry Christmas sentiment, but I didn't have any silver peelies small enough. Oh well!

Here's a close up to see how the holographic paper sparkles. This morning I also did a fun blog hop for Papertake Weekly's 3rd birthday celebration. To join in and be eligible for the fab prizes you must participate in the challenge this week which is choose ANY of the challenges from the last 3 years. WooHoo! I chose the Dec 8, 2009 challenge which was Red and Green must not be seen. No red or green here. Be sure to check out the challenges on both of these fabulous blogs. There's a whole lot of inspiration going on!

My FIRST Tiddly Inks Card as a Guest Designer and Papertake Weekly Challenge.

WooHoo! I'm over the moon because a dream has come true! You all know I've been doing the Tiddly Inks Challenge since I discovered those ADORABLE digi images. Well here I am, along with my dear friend Nancy, as a Guest Designer. Pinch me (No don't, I'd hate to wake up and find it isn't true.) LOL Well this week the theme is Windows, create a card or project with a window that either opens or you can see the image through. I had a tough time choosing among all of the fabulous images available at the Tiddly Inks Shop. I finally decided on the Happy Couple from the Gothic Cute images (these are definitely some of my FAVES!) They were colored with Copics and cut out with my Nesties Labels Eleven on the inside of the card.

I created a shaped window card in Cricut Design Studio from the Happily Ever After cart. Instead of the "valence" I trimmed a doily but wanted a bit of extra shimmer underneath. Because it was part of the main image cut I used an embossing pen and heat and stick powder just on the area under the valence, heated it up, and sprinkled on some fine MS clear glitter. It was just Serendipity (my new favorite word) that the embossing pen that goes on blue STAYED blue to match my card stock. I wound ribbon through the layer of the open window and attached little doves at the top from an MS punch.

The window is popped as is yet another of the Fanciful Labels from the Cuttlebug Emboss Plus folders. The sentiment is a peelie and of course I used a number of silver adhesive beads from M's to dress it up. I'm also entering this card in the Papertake Weekly Challenge which is Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue. Thanks Nancy for turning me on to this one! (How Serendipidous! :D ) Now hurry on over to the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog to feast your eyes on the fab creations by the Tiddly Inkers. Thank you so much Christy for this wonderful opportunity!