#2939 Kitty Wizard from Sandra Caldwell

Today is the second new release of the month from Sandra Caldwell where I'm happily joining in as Guest Designer.  This cute little guy is called #2939 Kitty Wizard, although I can image him making another appearance in different colors as a witch for Halloween.  I removed the background from this jpg image so I could use some magical digital paper and colored him accordingly with Copic markers.  I glued on a toothpick wand colored silver with a Sharpie so he could grant some birthday wishes.  The sentiment die is from Tim Holtz, cut 3 times for depth and adorned with tiny purple pearls.  You can see more inspiration from the DT in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group and find all of Sandra's adorable images in her Etsy Shop, babycakesdnd.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #112 ATG, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies August, Crafty Animals August #29,
Show Us Your Pussycats August Challenge #45,  Ike's World challenge #123 "H" is for hats/ATG, the Outlawz Thursday Twist favorite embellishment and why. 

Guest Designing for Sandra Caldwell

I'm excited to be Guest Designer this month for Sandra Caldwell.  My choice for the new release is #2968 Detangled Hippo, just one of the fun new stamps available in her Etsy Shop, babycakesdnd.  Sandra's hippos are some of my favorites, along with her cats, old ladies...well all of them.  As soon as I saw her I knew I'd be using DP from the All About Girls Mat stack by DCWV.  It took me awhile to find it (ahem) but the bobby pin and other girly stuff was just perfect, don'tcha think?

Here's a closeup of #2968 Detangled Hippo.  She's colored with Copics and fussy cut.  Her hair was especially fun to color and I couldn't resist making it red.  Come join the fun and check out the beautiful work by Sandra's Design team in her FB Group Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans.

I'm entering this in the August 2 Crafty Critter Crazies ATG with Critter Challenge, Crafty Animals #29 August AG, Cute Card Thursday Add a Quote, DL.Art August Challenge ATG, the Outlawz Festive Fridays ATG.

'Tis the Season (Final project for the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Hop)

It's the last day of the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and I'd planned to do better, but I did mange a final ATC using the fun image by Sandra Caldwell called #2416 Coffee Collector.  She's colored with Copics with some gel pen accents and I've fussy cut her and popped her on a mini action wobble from Hop Sponsor Art Impressions.

See her in action here.

Thank you so much, Amy Tsuruta and Chaitali Narla for all of your hard work putting this Hop together and to all of the fabulous sponsors.  I've had a ball.

Wait Your Turn!

So this is the second leg of the Holiday Challenge on the Sandra Caldwell Stamps Fans FB Group and I've made an 8x8" fat page.  I've cut up some glitter DP from an old Debbie Mumm Stack from JoAnn's and added it to and 8x8" page from Graphic 45.  I've used #1955 Turkey Hunter (not in shop at the mo) and #1978 Santa Claus is Here.  I thought the sentiment was hilarious, as the Christmas season seems to begin earlier and earlier every year.

Here's a closeup of #1955 Turkey Hunter.  I've colored with Copics and added real feathers to his wings.  He's cut with a Penny Black Antique Frame and inked with Distress.

And here's #1978 Santa Claus is Here.  He looks a bit startled, don'tcha think?  I've also colored him with Copics with some details in metallic gel pens and a white Posca paint pen.  Gotta say, I had a ball with this one.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art Thankful September Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday #235 Always Thankful, The Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG (without the pearl twist),  Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #251 AG (3/3), Crafting by Designs Sept AG (2/3) and If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #102 4th Anniversary challenge AG (5/5).

Sandra Caldwell Holiday Halloween Challenge

Sandra Caldwell is having a 3 part Holiday challenge in her Stamp Fans FB Group and this is for the Halloween leg that ends the 10th.  I've used #390 Eddie Cutz (one of my all time faves!) and the new #2381 Rose Bee Witch.  They're colored with Copics with silver gel pen on Eddie's scissor hand and buckles and I've added an iridescent epoxy sticker to the wart on Rose's nose.  The sentiment was computer generated and I've added 3 large faceted Halloween gems to embellish.

I.m also entering this in the DL.Art September Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday 3 of one item, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #89 AG (3/3), Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #250 AG (1/3), The Crafter's Cafe 3 of something (2/3), If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #102 4th Anniversary challenge AG, ...

Donut Hippo for the Outlawz

True to form, it's the last day for some Progressive challenges and here I am.  Sometimes I think I should call them "Procrastination challenges" (although that's pretty much the way I roll with all challenges). This cutie is for the Outlawz August Progressive challenge called #2248 Donut Hippo by Sandra Caldwell.  There are so many cute sentiments for this digi that I'm sure I'll be using her over and over, but I saw this hilarious one in the Snarky Small Talk stickers by Tim Holtz that I just couldn't resist.  In case you're on your phone and can't read it, it says "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a salad, asking for it to be a donut."  Had the perfect paper from the old Garden Variety stack by Cosmo Cricket and added some May arts ribbon because it sorta looked like lettuce (or my current fave baby arugula) and allowed me to enter it in the Outawz Monday Greetings challenge as well (sentiment + ribbon)  Yay, me!

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC#249, Simon Says Wednesday AG (2/5)

A "Rare Oddity" by Sandra Caldwell

Today is another new release day for Sandra Caldwell and as Guest Designer was thrilled to work with #1943 Egg Old Lady Zombie.  She combines two of Sandra character themes, her "Old Ladies" and her "Egg characters" into one fun and creative image.  I thought she worked perfectly with papers from Graphic 45, as she really is a "Rare Oddity" indeed.

Here's a Closeup of #1943 Egg Old Lady Zombie.  She's colored with Copics in my fave zombie and Halloween colors (never too early for Halloween!) and a few highlights with gel pen.  You cand check out all of the new releases in Sandra's Etsy Shop babycakesdnd and be sure to check out the DT inspiration in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group. 

I'm entering this in the DL.Art August Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, and Festive Friday Anything Goes theme, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #248 AG, Aud Sentiments #210 AG/w Sentiment (3/5), Crafting with an Attitude #42 AG (2/3), and Crafty Creations #373 AG (2/2).

#2369 Good Nite Kitty

I'm thrilled to be Guest Designing for Sandra Caldwell during the Month of August and even more thrilled to be introducing #2369 Good Nite Kitty.  You know I love me some kitties and Sandra's are always so much fun to play with.  Awhile ago I'd been experimenting with sprays and found this scrap buried under a pile as I was cleaning my craft table.  It looked like a night sky so I used my new  "Starry" die from Penny Black and backed it with glitter paper.  The moon was die cut and embossed with an old Cuttlebug combo die and the sentiment was done with dies from Memory Box (dream) and Recollections (sweet and the "S" added to dream) colored with a gold Posca Paint pen.  Ooh!  Look at me being all mixed media and artsy.  LOL

Here's a closeup of #2369 Good Nite Kitty.  He was colored with Copics and fussy cut to add to the scene.  BE sure to check out the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group to see more of today's new release from her fabulous DT.  Lots of cute stuff in Sandra's Etsy Shop HERE.

I'm entering this in the  DL.Art August Linky Challenge, SUYP (cats only) Furrything Goes Challenge #33, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #87 AG (2/3), Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #246 AG,  the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, the Colour Crazy Craft Challenge wk 32 AG, Scrapy Land Challenge #95 AG with dies Scrapy Land sells, Two Crafty Critter Crazies August #17 AG w/critter, Quick Quotes Aug Friday Challeng #90...

Paper Piecing at the Outlawz

The Outlawz Twisted Thursday calls for paper piecing with Sandra Caldwell as the sponsor this month so of course I used one of Sandra's new stamps called #2309 Cat on the Moon.  I really love to paper piece and chose a digi paper from the Outlawz sitewide sponsor We Are 3 from the Warm Sand Collection to give visual texture for the moon.  I shrunk the size and printed the digi paper on regular copy paper and then positioned the stamp on top and printed it again to fussy cut.  

I printed Cat on the Moon twice on Copic paper so I could fussy cut the moon's eye to glue on top. I colored with Copics using the resist technique for the background.  This just involves coloring the background with a number of shades and using a Q-tip dipped in Blending solution (or 91% Alcohol which is way cheaper) and dotting the paper.  The only trick is to let the alcohol dry before adding another dot of alcohol or it all blends in to make a big mess.  The image was cut with a Spellbinders large oval and popped with foam.  Just added some sticker stars and corners and a mat of glitter paper.

I'm adding this to the SUYP (cats only) #31 June challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends#84 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #239 AG (3/3), Simply Papercraft #58 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG ... 

Be Original

Playing on the Outlawz Forum with this card for Tuesday Color.  The adorable image is # 2305 Meow Mermaid.  She's colored with Copics  in the inspiration colors and popped with foam.  

I saw a die on a card used as a wave and found out that it was unbranded but could be ordered only through a Canadian FB group, so my buddy Susan surprised me and sent it to me.  Thanks so much, Susan!  Doesn't it look cute as a wave?  Anyway, the Color Challenge also had a twist to "add circles" so behind her is a Spellbinders Grand Circle and Stately Grand Circle with some Large Ringlets by Memory Box (bubbles, if you ask me) thrown in for good measure.  The net was cut from a produce bad and the rest of the embellies are by JoLees Boutique.  The sentiment sticker is Tim Holtz Small Talk.

Here's the inspiration pic for the Outlawz Tuesday Color.  I chose green and purple (plus a little hot pink) for my additional colors with the twist explained above.

I'm entering this in the  DL.Art June Linky Challenge, SUYP #31 (Cat's Only) Furrything Goes, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #84 AG, Simon Says Wednesday Bright and Cheerful, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #239 AG, Simply Papercraft #58 AG, Always Fun Challenges #64 Fun at the Beach, Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #449 Under the Sea, the Corrosive Challenge June#6 AG 3/3, CCK June Cats or Dogs and Crafting With Friends #70 AG.

Great Ideas

It's the final day of the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and I still have loads of ideas.  This one I got from a coffee meme featuring Albert Einstein which reminded me of the fabulous #2102 Einstein digi by Sandra Caldwell .  I found a copyright free backboard image with mathematical stuff on the net and added the coffee equations in white with my Printmaster Platinum Program.  I colored Einstein and a stamped coffee cup from Verve stamps with Copics and stamped a Verve sentiment (both from the Coffee set).  So sad to see that Verve Stamps is closing it's doors.  Funky DP is from my stash.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #82 AG, Simon Says Monday Masculine (4/5), Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #236 AG, Crafting by Designs For the Boys, Simply Papercraft #58 AG, the Outlawz Festive Fridays AG theme, Crafting With Friends #68 AG (1/3), Color Crazy Challenge Wk 21 AG, the Creative Crafters #4 AG, 

OOOh La La

I'm playing with the Outlawz again and used an adorable image by Sandra Caldwell called #2214 Frenchie.  She's colored with Copics in the colors of the Tuesday Color Challenge inspiration photo.  Added some highlights to her hair with a white gel pen.  The Twist was "add texture" so I embossed the back panel with the Cuttlebug Fleur de Lys embossing folder and added die cuts (that were also embossed, but hard to see) from the Spellbinders French Frills set.  The sentiment was computer generated.  Twisted Thursday called for "double embossing" (wet or dry) so I also added it there.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #82 AG, and  Simply Papercraft AG.

Feeling Blue Without You

It's the final day of the Feeling Blue Challenge in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group and now I'm in a pinch after several days of partying for my birthday.  This beautiful image is #2073 Puzzled Heart.  Colored with Copics and I fussy cut the center puzzle piece out and popped it aside.  Really love how it turned out.  New die from Joy Crafts, too.  WooHoo!

I'm entering this in the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #80 AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG,  Simon Says Wednesday AG (5/5) and Jo's Scrap Shack #231 AG.

Sick and Tired

Here's another for the Feeling Blue Challenge over in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group that I should have finished a few days ago, but I lost the sentiment on my desk somewhere and kept thinking I would find it.  Didn't have time the last two days to reprint so... Ummm...  Don'tcha just HATE it when that happens?  Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good now and it's my birthday and I had a few minutes before I have to get "boofy" before going out so I managed to finish this up.  The stamp is called #2108 Dang Flu Soup (obviously by Sandra Caldwell) and I never in a million years thought it would pertain to me when I bought it.  She's colored with Copics and I've ripped a paper towel for the "Kleenex".  Glad this chapter is over.

I'm also adding this to  the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #80 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG/AG, and Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #231 AG.

New Puppy

One of the four themes this week for Festive Fridays on the Outlawz Forum is new puppy. Couldn't resist this cutie from Sandra Caldwell called #1440 Naughty Puppy.  He's colored with Copics and the DP is from the old DCWV Pet Mat Stack.  In a bit of a hurry today.  Making up for lost time and having lunch with a girlfriend.  WooHoo!

I'm also adding this to  the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #80 AG, the CCC Digi Creations Challenge #91 Include an Animal, Inspiration Destination #149 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG and the Crafty Animals Challenge #13.

Feeling Blue

There's a fun new challenge going on on the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB page called "Feeling Blue", partly because we're all missing Sandra, as she has just undergone surgery on her hand and will be out of commission for awhile, but also to cheer her up, since blue is her favorite color.  The challenge calls for coloring any of her images in ALL BLUE shades (including faces, peeps) and making an all blue project.  LOVE it!

I've printed out a bunch and my first is using #390 Eddie Cutz.  A perfect likeness, don'tcha think?  Thought the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch would be perfect and also works for the Outlawz Monday Greetings Boys are Special Challenge.  

The paper and little tickets are from the Graphic 45 World's Fair stack and the chain was punched and colored silver with a Sharpie (one of the neutrals allowed, but only blue on the image) and I've embellished with metal screws and a light bulb, both from Junkyard Findings by Prima.  The strip of blue is smbossed with a Sizzix folder by Tim Holtz.

Here's a closeup of #390 Eddie Cutz.  He's colored with Copics using B91-B99, but pretty much any shades of blue will do.  I've used some clear Wink of Stella on his "hand".  Hope you can come join the fun.  The challenge runs through April 30th.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #80 AG,  Crafts Galore Encore April AG, and the Corrosive Challenge #4 AG 

It's Wine Time!

Couldn't miss another of the fab themes for Festive Fridays on the Outlawz Forum this week as it's all about WINE.  Oh, yeah!  I'd actually planned this card for awhile using fun images from Sandra Caldwell.  Love the Sizzix die I used, but it's a bit fiddly to put together (and to photograph).

The first section uses #478 Dozen Roses and #411 Wine Me Up.  The images were colored with Copics and cut and matted with Spellbinders Labels One and Scalloped Labels One.

The sentiment was computer generated and the final image is #141 Too Tipsy.  I'd personally say he's saving the day.  Little speech bubble die is also from Spellbinders.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, TTRCD Week of March 27th, A Bit More Time to Craft #64 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG and Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #226 AG. 

A Three-fer for the Outlawz Challenges

I've been a busy gal with DT responsibilities but I did have some spare moments to do a few for Challenges on the Outlawz Forum.  Monday Greetings called for St. Patrick's Day, Twisted Thursday has a Bingo board and I went for the right row down (Wet or dry embossing, Any shade of Green and Polka Dots) and finally one of the Festive Friday themes was also St. Patrick's day so there ya go. This cutie, called #1378 Leprechaun Kitty, is by Sandra Caldwell.  He's colored with Copics and cut with a Spellbinders Labels Four die.  The shamrock behind him was fashioned from 3 Spellbinders hearts and a stem cut with a circle and trimmed, then embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots.  

The sentiment idea originally came with last year's March freebie on SUYP from Ike's Art but unfortunately my digi files still aren't accessible since my computer croaked so I had to make my own. (Of course I was in a hurry and having a Sr. moment and didn't think to look at the Fabulous freebies Ike generously provides to enter at SUYP and now I see, there it is!)

I'm entering this in the SUYP March Furrything Goes challenge, the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday #224 Green, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #78 AG, Always Fun Challenges Dogs or Cats, Crafty Cardmaker's #207 Go Green, Incy Wincy No More than 3 colors(excluding black and white), Di's Digi Challenge Lots of Green, Crafty Gals Corner #161 Make it Green and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies March AG w/critter.

Katurday Night Fever!

It's Janis's Birthday month and she's got a fun celebration going on at Her Peaceful Garden until March 3rd.  I'm kind of late to the game, but finally managed my second ATC for the Week One All Those Cats Challenge.  Of course there are other themes, but you know I love me some KITTIES, to there ya go. Besides, this fits a few more challenges I wanted to participate in and today is the last day for the Outlawz Festive Fridays Card with Numbers theme and the new Twisted Thursdays Metallics theme.  See that groovy disco ball?

The hilarious image is #2045 Katurday Night Fever by Sandra Caldwell, colored with Copics with a fair amount of Stickles on his suit and shirt.  The numbers are from the Winnie White Christmas Big Kahuna Download kit from Polkadoodles.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art March Linky Challenge, SUYP February AG/Kitty Love, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #76 AG,  2 Crafty Critter Crazies March AG w/critter, Simon Says Wednesday AG, 

Ballerina Hippo 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.  Holley is a very special and talented lady and shares her blessings with friends, family and all who know her.

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.  This time I'm using #1592 Ballerina Hippo. I've colored this cutie with Copics, cut her with a Spellbinders Scalloped Labels One die (inked with Spun Sugar Distress while still in the die) and popped her on top of another Spellbinders die, Luscious Labels One.

I've followed the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch, using my "go to" ballerina papers from MAMBI, actually called  "Baby Girl".  Yummy pinks, for sure.  I've matted each print with a darker solid and strung tulle through the lacy die.  More tulle as a base for the rose all tied up with ribbon.  Don't you agree she is "tutu"cute?

I'm also entering this in the Outlawz Saturday Paper ala Mode Lots of Layers,  DL.Art Thankful Thursday #222 Pink or Red Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #76 AG, Your Scrapbook Place February AG, Simon Says Wednesday Add a Die Cut, the Classic Design Team Open Feb 1st Challenge #222,  Jo's Scrap Shack FFC#221 AG, and Two Crafty Critter Crazies Feb AG/w Critter (4/5), and Crafty Animals AG/w animal.