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.

Dilly Beans Halloween Challenge 4

It's our 4th and final Halloween challenge at Dilly Beans. Hasn't this been a fun month?  Instead of a traditional Halloween image, this time I've used #540 Owl Always Love You and added the hat from #487 Mimi's Witch Costume Framed. Then I cropped out the sentiment in my Printmaster Program and added my own.  Instant Owloween!  I've colored with Copics and all the rest of the design was done with scraps that were laying on my desk.  WooHoo!  Be sure to visit Dilly Beans to see what the rest of my teamies have to inspire you and join us again this week for more Halloween fun.

I'm also entering this in the Delightful Challenges Winged Things, Simon Says Wednesday Halloween/Halloween Colors, Papercraft Star #167 (photo inspiration), Clear it Out Halloween + anything Orange (besides the huge moon, orange adhesive beads and star from my stash), and Shopping Our Stash Halloween OR Orange and Black.

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.

Halloweenie 5 for Simply Steampunk

This little guy just melts my heart.  He's Halloweenie 5 from the Classic Collection Steampunks, my second showcase piece for Simply Steampunk.  The buggy Dp is from an MS 8x8 stack and I've used Glossy Accents on the giant beetle.  The web frame is also MS from a Punch Around the Page set and if you look closely, there's a bejeweled spider climbing up the flourish (read piece of scrap left on my messy table from????)  WooHoo, I recycled!  It was actually the sentiment (done with my Dymo) that made me go in this direction.  Didn't want anything too sissy and what little boy doesn't love bugs?

He's colored with Copics and I've fussy cut the frame and popped it for dimension.  His sweet, shy expression is what really gets to me.  Wouldn't he make a fab Father's Day or birthday card for your fave little man?  Or perhaps an "I'm sorry" or "Missing you" card?  In any case, he's hard to resist.  Please visit Simply Steampunk for more inspiration throughout the month and don't forget our Frame It Challenge runs through June 6th.  I'm entering this in the Left of Center Challenge (LOC theme), Shopping Our Stash Tool Shed Challenge (MS punch around the page set), the Artistic Inspirations Cards for Men Challenge, and That Craft Place Makes for Men Challenge.

Dilly Beans Green and Black

Love, love, love, love, LOVE Megan's new images over at Dilly Beans! And since I'm always a last minute kind of gal, I was able to choose some of my new FAVES to do this week's color challenge at the Designer's and Challenge Blog: Green and Black. Normally this color scheme would throw me for a loop, but the fab Madly in Love Stack from DCWV was just the ticket. I've used #376 Martin (flipped) and #378 Cordillia. Aren't they just MFEO? I decided to stay really monochromatic and color them with Copics in shades of green only. The layout is loosely based on Deconstructed Sketch #41 and I'm hoping it's close enough to enter there.
The sentiment is from the new #375 Cute and Dark quote set. I've popped every other word for emphasis as well as Martin and Cordillia. Too funny that I just had a conversation about this with my Sweetie and I've come to the conclusion that if a guy ain't lookin' at other women, he's dead. LOL (So I guess you have to take this sentiment with a grain of salt) There's loads of inspiration at the Dilly Beans Challenge Blog so be sure to hop over there and take a look. We're so thrilled when you play along. I'm also sneaking this in to the I Break For Love Challenge, the Dare to be Sassy Thursday Seeing Green Challenge at Sassy Studio Designs, the Everybody-Art-Monochrome Challenge and the Shopping Our Stash Sentiments Required Challenge.

Dilly Beans Shades of Black and Red

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a week since I blogged. I'm really having a guilt thing going on here. So sorry, but hubby was pretty ecstatic about the whole thing, LOL. The holidays are winding down now though, so I hope things will be back to normal soon. I am pleased to have a fabulous new Dilly Beans Challenge for your viewing pleasure today. Those who visit frequently know that one of my favorite color combos is black and red so you can imagine how excited I was for this challenge. I chose the adorable #184 Flower Girl. Love her hair! (Thinkin' about cutting mine. Whaddaya think?) And don't her beautiful grey eyes just make you wanna melt? She looks like she could use a little sun (as do the leaves, for that matter), but I really took this challenge seriously and only allowed myself black, red and white (that's just me) and I love how it turned out.

I printed her 3 times so I could do some fussy cutting and popping and don'tcha just love the flower button I added to the flower in her hair? I couldn't believe how perfectly it matched the background paper I used which is from an old pack from Target. I used my Nesties Blossom and Circle behind Flower Girl and added some bold polka dot ribbon to the black stripe and called it done. No sentiment because I think it could be used for a variety of occasions. My DT sisters have all done a fabulous job with this challenge, so be sure to check out the Challenge Blog and take a peek. We can't wait to see what you come up with. I'm also entering this in The City Crafter Make the Cut Challenge, the Shopping Our Stash Tie it Up Challenge, The Colour Q Challenge (see pic below), and Simon Says Stamp anything Goes.

Tiddly Inks New Release and SALE!

I've been missing my Tiddly Inks and Inkers so much since retiring from the team the end of October and was thrilled to see the fabulous new release Christy cooked up (or should I say sketched up) after spending time with her adorable niece the past weekend. I had such a hard time choosing which of these darling "Little Somethings" to use first, but this "Little So and So" really stole my heart. I had a fun time paper piecing him and shading him with Copics and I finally got to use some of my DCWV Safari Kids Stack. You can view the rest of the group and fabby samples on Christy's Blog HERE. And WOOHOO! Check out the Cyber Thursday code (SOMETHING) for a whopping 30%off any order at the Tiddly Inks Shop.

I was excited to use Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch #145 for my card for this is the first time playing along with this challenge. And I'm also entering it in the Shopping Our Stash Digi Images and/or Sentiments Challenge. (BTW, that cute little digi saying is TI too) Happy shopping!

Macabre Monday Lurid Landscapes

This week at Haunted Design House our challenge is Lurid Landscapes. I scoured the net in search of someting spooky, but most of the stuff either easn't that scary or had a copyright thingy soo I was in a bit of a tizzy then I remembered my fab Holy City stamps from Smeared Ink. Hey yeah, graveyards are landscapes. WooHoo! I live near San Francisco, and those who travel frequently or live near tourist destinations are certainly familiar with the sort of fold out postcard books available. That was my inspiration.

It all folds up and this is the cover of the project. The skellie is from a Tim Holtz Halloween set and the words are computer generated. I might add that these are RUBBER STAMPS, no digis! Do you believe it?

Again, only the words are computer generated.

All from the same set from Smeared Ink.

In fact, there were only two in the set I didn't use. That a lot of stamps!

I was so excited that I didn't mess up that I had to give you closeups of ALL of it. LOVE how well these fab stamps work.

I thought this was a cute ending. I added the little raven to the skellie's arm. Looks like he wrote the sentiment. Wonder who he's sending it to? Be sure to check out the fab work by the rest of the Minions and check out our fab HDH Blog Candy for our soon to reach goal of 500 Followers, offered by our own Creepy Glowbugg and also check out the fab candy she is offering on her personal blog. (She's doing penance for her last week's DT project. LOL) I'm also entering this in the Forever Night Black and Creepy Challenge, Simply Create Shades of Black, Shopping Our Stash Spooky and/or Orange and Black and the Simon Says Stamp Halloween/Goth Challenge..

Bah! Humbug! Flourishes/Swirls Challenge

This week the Bah! Humbug! challenge is Flourishes and Swirls and because I skipped out on BBTB2 this week, I thought I'd better do a Cricut card. Happier now? My very first thought was the Trim a Tree cartridge with the intricate swirling images. I chose the ice skate this time because I was a figure skater as a kid and also because it was a natural to add a flourish to. Ever go to MyCutSearch.com and type in flourish? HA! There are so many carts with flourishes these days that I got an error message. Left to my own devices I decided to use another of those carts I just "had to have" and have hardly used, Picturesque. (Phonetic spelling pik-che-'resk, according to Merriam-Webster, except the "e" in che is upside down in their phonetic spelling and I can't figure out how to do that. LOL But honestly, I've heard this cart called some very hilarious things, even in a VIDEO!)

Fortunately, I didn't have to look very far to find a suitable flourish, so I welded the skate and shadow of the flourish to a rounded rectangle from George to make a shaped front card. I'm hoping this counts as a shaped card for the ABC Christmas Challenge this week which also requires Swirls, Spots or Stripes. I chose the gray glitter DP from M&MBI to join in on the CHNC Glitter Challenge and added glitter snowflakes from JoLee's as well.

The swirly top skate is done in matte metallic with the regular flourish in mirri which is why the pix are so bad, sorry. It really is prettier IRL. There's a bit of dimension and a few silver adhesive beads and a peelie sentiment and there ya go. The Shopping Our Stash challenge this week is No Coloring Allowed so I'm popping it in there as well. For once I'm a bit ahead for all of these challenges so go have a look. There's still time to play long and the DT examples are lovely.

Macabre Monday Apalling Apothecary

What's in YOUR medicine cabinet? Okay, Margie, you don't have to answer that. LOL but you ladies who take the challenge at Haunted Design House must...do you dare? My nifty little bottle of poison started as a bottle of premium scotch that hubby had to have. LOVE the shape of the bottle and just KNEW it would come in handy.WooHoo! I finally got to use my Tim Holtz Poison Label embossing folder which I tore around and inked with Distress.

The "cobwebs" are a ripped up dryer sheet. That seems to be one of my favorite recyclable items. A few plastic spiders and some interesting looking fibers and I was good to go.

And how about my cool skeleton fingers gripping that bottle? I used a mold meant for making chocolate covered pretzels and filled it with Paperclay (no baking required). After filling each finger, I carefully removed them and molded them around the bottle. Once dry, I painted them with Distress. The bottle is filled with some bile colored liquid and some dish soap so it bubbles. Couldn't really get a pic of that. And I've used some Distress Embossing Powder around the wood cork stopper which looks like some lovely corrosion. The top said Est. 1897 and I thought that was just too cool to cover up. I really enjoyed doing an "altered project" for a change and I hope you enjoy it too. I'm afraid there won't be a BBTB2 post this week. Sorry about that, but not only did I not have the cart, I had a fleeting (I hope) lack of mojo in that arena. Be sure to check out the rest of the Minions take on this challenge HERE (and again on Wednesday for Creepy Glo's submission) and in a few hours stop by BBTB2 and give my sisters there some love. I'm also entering this in the Allsorts Recycle/Alter something challenge, the Shopping Our Stash Vintage, Distressed or Shabby Chic Challenge, and the Quirky Crafts Anything but a Card Challenge.

Macabre Monday Menacing Mermaids

This week at Haunted Design House our challenge is Menacing Mermaids. OOOHHH, did we have fun with this one! Forget Ariel! Mermaids have always had the reputation of causing shipwrecks and luring sailors to their deaths (conveniently forgetting that humans can't breathe under water, yeah right!) with their irresistible songs. They are often portrayed as beautiful creatures, but in the dark gloomy depths of the sea they revert to the the horrific creature they REALLY are. BWAHAHAHA!



So there ya go. It's been awhile since I've gotten my full creep on and I was afraid the Minions might just drum me out of the corps. Never fear! I was REALLY inspired by this challenge! It started with the digi skull head I received for FREE by participating in the Skull Appreciation Day Blog Hop with Smeared Ink. The rest of the skelly was cut and pasted from the Muertos Doll digi from Bombshell Stamps. They were shaded a bit with Copics, then fussy cut and glittered. Her tail was cut from the Dreams Come True (yikes, with dreams like this, who needs nightmares?) Cricut cartridge, again shaded with Copics and embossed with the Cuttlebug.

Her hair is a ripped up used dryer sheet, inked with Distress Inks, dabbed with silver acrylic paint and glittered. the background was done with Distress Inks in the smear, spritz and swipe manner on a craft sheet, dried, ironed and distressed with my Distrezz-it-All, and overstamped with Perfect Medium and brushed with Perfect Pearls. It turned out too big for a card once the mermaid was popped on there so I used my Grand Caliber and the 3 largest Spellbinders Grand Labels Four to cut and emboss a base. This was also stamped with Perfect Medium and brushed with Perfect Pearls. The stamp is the Large Elegant Words background stamp from Heartfelt Creations.

"Siren Song" was computer generated and printed on a Fanciful Label from the Cuttlebug Embossing Plus folder. It was inked and glittered as well. For additional texture I added a woven piece that was cut from a pouch that came with some silverware. It was inked with Distress, dabbed with acrylics and glittered too. This was the closest I've ever gotten to mixed media and I have the blue fingers to prove it. LOL

All that was need was a hanger and some fibers and ribbon to trail from the bottom and a Recollections brad to dress it up a bit. Now, if you dare, check out the rest of the Minions fabulous creations at HDH. I'm sure you'll be inspired to play along. I'm also entering this in my DT Sis Susan's Guest DT Monochromatic Challenge over on the Smeared and Smudged Forum. I'm thinkin' it's close enough, eh Susan? And I'm also entering it in the Cardmadfairy's Under the Sea Challenge and the Shopping Our Stash SOS Challenge using Spellbinders, Smeared Ink, Ocean theme, skull, sparkle, stamping, Siren's Song.

And WooHoo! Look at this!

and this! I love it when people appreciate my "dark side". LOL