Aurora Wings Marie Nyantoinette

There's a new release at Aurora Wings, Marie Nyantoinette.  You can find her HERE on Etsy, and HERE in the AW Web Shop. (Be sure to stop by the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog for the fabulous explanation of the name and historical background of the image itself)  My Jezebel is over the moon about her. "Look Mommy!  Mitzi drew MEEEE!!!!! and I'm sooo boofy!", she exclaimed.  "You must color me immediately and of course make me PINK."  (Jezzie's a really girly girl, and BTW, in case you don't read my blog regularly, "boofy" means beautiful).

So color I did, with my fave Copics, in all kinds of pink, from the lightest blush to the darkest I had.  I tried all kinds of backgrounds before I finally decided that a dark wine really made the image pop and set about making this wall hanging with my Spellbinders Grand Labels Four.  I considered all kinds of bits and bobs but the frothy dies from the Spellbinders Elegant Labels Four cut in pristine white, a sheer organdy bow and a one word die cut sentiment (from SU) were all I really needed.

I did, however, print the image 3 times so I could fussy cut and add dimension.  Jezebel thinks I should save this for a Valentine for her Daddy from the both of us.  However, it's pure fantasy because Jezzie NEVER let's me pick her up without all kinds of fuss.  LOL  Wish she'd be a friendly to me as she is with her Daddy.

And finally, at her insistance, is Jezebel's closeup.  Boofy she is, even though she's a brat.  Now, the fun of these showcases is seeing the image done in all different colorways by my DT sisters.  Click HERE to see Marie Nyantoinette in all her glory.  And don't forget our current Sprite Delight Challenge running through Saturday August 16th and the current Mermaid Madness Contest on Facebook.

I'm entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG w/Optional Friendship Day Challenge, the DLArt August Linky Challenge, Crafty Little Fairies Cute and Cuddly, In the Pink ATG as Long as it's Pink (Happy 2nd birthday!), the Crafter's Cafe Lots of Layers, Crafting by Designs Vintage/Shabby Chic, Crafting for All Seasons "Feature a Creature", the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card How Do You Pamper Yourself Challenge , TTRCD ATG Aug 5 and Simon Says Monday In the Family.

"L" is for Layer at SOSS

Ok, so I read the "L" is for Layer at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers and think "WOOHOO!  Do I know how to layer!" but uh...no, not layerS, LAYER, meaning ONE (or if you must, because you are worried about f'ing up your card base, 2 at the MOST).   In other words CAS, not my strong suit.

However, if Edna (my Mom's name, which totally cracks me up, however she does look more like my Auntie Lee) can go flat, so can I.  So above you see my one layer card, done in Printmaster Platinum, using eyeglasses from The Graphics Fairy, that went perfectly with the sentiment I saw somewhere on the net and wrote down because I'm sure in a few years that will be me, and also because they look a bit like Edna's.  WOW!  How's that for a run on sentence?  I'm in rare form today, eh? Well, Edna snuck on the corner of my card (my Mom was pushy like that too) but was really pissed when I left her colorless (but Copics would have bled through my CS 'cause I use the cheap stuff).

Visit Sister Lee (aka Violent Kitty) to grab your own Flat Edna.  Mine insisted on some color and posing with the card.  (See, I told you, PUSHY!)  In case you're trying to read it on one of those itty bitty smart phones it says:"God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference."  AMEN!

Since coloring took up the better part of my morning, I skipped my walk, so Edna, always the taskmaster, put me through my paces in the exercise room.  First the elliptical trainer.

 

Then chest, back and shoulders on the weight stack.

And finally, dumbells for biceps and triceps.

 

Phew!  Time for some liquid refreshment.  Red or white?

Red it is!  Tah!

 

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday ATG Challenge and the Simon Says Monday In the Family challenge.

Along Came a Spider

The current challenge (which ends today) at Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog is Show Us Goth and/or Non-traditional Hair.  Couldn't pass up the chance to do both so chose Lenore Muffet, one of the Melancholy Moppets, available in the Lady Heather's Curiousities/Melancholy Moppets section of the Shop.  I used the png version of the stamp and printed her atop some spiderweb digi paper from the Caught in my Web pack from Smeared Ink.  I used Spellbinder's Grand Ovals plain and scalloped and Labels 17 to make my shaped card.

Here's Lenore in all her glory.  I took colors from the digi paper and colored her with Copics, using a white gel pen for a few highlights.  Sentiment is computer generated the the fabulous spider is a Jolee's sticker.

I'm also adding this to the TTRCD ATG Challenge, Simon Says Monday ATG, and Crafting by Designs Favorite Holiday (Halloween).

Aurora Wings No Lines or Color Bingo

Our new Challenge begins today at Aurora Wings and this time you have a choice of No Lines or Color Bingo.

 

 

Obviously I've opted for the Color Bingo, using White/Red/Bue.  Figured my learning curve was WAY too long to try the cool No Lines effect, although we have a wonderful tut on the Challenge Blog by teamie Alyce if you'd like to give it a try.

I've used the Sizzix Accordian Flip Album die for my card and each panel holds a different Sprite.  Each is colored with Copics and mounted on a DP mat cut with my Spellbinder's Labels One.  Here's Strawberry Sprite.

And Blueberry Sprite.  I thought the combo of gingham and bandana patternes looked just like a summer picnic.  The sentiment was done with Alpha Beads.

And finally the adorable Raspberry Sprite.  Aren't they the sweetest EVER?!  All 3 are also available in Mitzi's Digital Stamp Shop on her AW website HERE, as well.  The Lattice corners and side embellies were also Spellbinders.  So let's hear it for the Red, White and Blue!  Be sure to stop by Aurora Wings Challenge Blog to see the fabulous creations by my DT sisters.  You'll be so totally impressed.  And please come play along, with either the No Lines, Color Bingo or BOTH, if you dare.

Also, don't forget our Showcase Blog where we feature new releases as well as gorgeous creations by fans of Aurora Wings.  You can have your projects considered for a Showcase by Posting them HERE on the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group or read more about it HERE.  You'll receive a special Blog Badge and a digi stamp of your choice (up to $4.00 value) if you're chosen.  Our current Clean and Simple FB Contest is running through June 30th, as well.  Lots of prizes all over the place.

I'm entering this in the Open Minded Crafting Things with Wings Challenge, Dragonfly Dreams Anything with Wings, Crafts and Me Add Wings, Simon Says Monday ATG, Stamp and Create June Thank You Challenge and the Live & Love Crafts Summer Garden Challenge.

May Monster Madness for HDH

There's a fun little Blog hop going on today and the Minions of Haunted Design House have decided to take part in MAY MONSTER MADNESS.  Visit the page and click the links to all sorts of Monster inspired stuff.  I've made a little project using the fabulous Pisces from the Horroscope collection at Delicious Darkness.  His snack is one of the heads from the Heads Will Roll digi from the Gross Anatomy set from Smeared Ink.

I cropped and merged the images in my Printmaster Pro program, printed them out, colored with Copics and fussy cut (what a PITA!) them to pop atop the fab background (that reminded me of the swirling waters of the Abyss) which is actually a digi paper from the Honor the Dead pack, also from Smeared Ink.

The cut, embossed and inked scroll is from the Fanciful Labels Cuttlebug folder with a slogan I nabbed from the tv advert for Shark Week.  Seemed fitting, don'tcha think?

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday ATG challenge.

Steampunk Junk Week 2 at HDH

Well, it's our second week of our Steampunk Junk Challenge at HDH and I gotta say the Minions outdid themselves.  My teamies made some fabulously creative projects and I invite you to check them out.  Be sure to go see Week One as well.  I had a bit of a tough time deciding what to do, until hubby mentioned some old goggles he had in the attic. Old googles?  WHAT old goggles?  Fortunately he was able to find them and WHOA...PERFECT!   Thought they'd look great on my Grandpa's bowler and went to work to Steampunk it all up a bit.

All I can say is God bless Tim Holtz, LOL.  I seem to have drawers of his stuff.  Just can't resisit his bits and bobs.  First I used his tattered Clock die to add a metallic piece to the front.  The hands and gear were attached to the goggles  along with metal wings and a turnkey.  I was going for "Time Flies".

 

Then I thought a jaunty plume was in order so I plucked one from my ostrich feather duster (Lord knows I don't ever actually dust with it) and I fashioned a medallion using an Ornate Plate, more gears and brads and a word band that fit the bill.  Not nearly as creative as the imaginative pieces my Minion Sisters came up with but I have to say I do love how it came out.  Only bummer is it doesn't fit.  My Grandpa must have had a pin head because it sit's on the top of my head (and even hubby's) like Stan Laurel's  (of Laurel and Hardy  LOL)

 

I am adding this to Simon Says Monday Winged Things, 613 Avenue Create ATG/Reuse, Recycle, Left of Center ATG, and Altered Eclectics ATG.

My First DT Challenge Card for The East Wind

WOW!  It's April 1st already and that means another FABULOUS challenge at The East Wind. I'm thrilled to be posting my first official DT card.  There are new challenges on the 1st and 15th of every month and on the 1st, the DT always showcases the Freebie you can receive just by signing up for the TEW Newsletter.  Just look for the bright pink box on the right sidebar, enter your email and name, and you'll receive a fabulous Freebie each month. WooHoo!

The Challenge Theme this time is Use a Sentiment and you can use any image at all, but of course we especially love to see what you do with the fab TEW digis. (And you get to enter TWICE, if you do!)  I've made a shaped card that resembles the "panoramic" sugar eggs I had as a child.  It was designed in Design Studio and cut with my Cricut. The sentiment was cut and embossed with my Cuttlebug Emboss Plus Fanciful Labels Folder and the sentiment was computer generated.

Just look at this adorable gal!  Her name is Aurora-Easter Egg Hunt and I'm totally in love with her! She's colored with Copics and her little bunny suit and stuffed bunny have been flocked.  I printed her several times so I could fussy cut and layer her for dimension.  The grass and fence are MS punches.

As you can see there's quite a bit of depth to the card.  Don'tcha just love her little bunny tail?  I've also added a boatload of flat backed pearls to finish it off.

 

AND, I enjoyed making this card so much, I've even finished the inside (GO ME!)  The basket is a Spellbinders die exclusive to Heartfelt Creations with some Prima flower embellies.  Now hop on over to The East Wind Challenge Blog and check out the amazing creations by the rest of the team.  Then come join our challenge.  There ar FREE DIGIS to WIN!  We sure hope to see you there! 

 

P.S. There's loads of fun stuff going on on the TEW FB Group too. 

 

I'm entering in the following Challenges:

 

Artistic Inspirations Easter Colors/ATG

Craft your Passion Shaped Cards

Cutie Pie Cute with Dies and Punches

Lexi's Creations Easter challenge

Simon Says Monday ATG

Outlawz Monday Greeting Card ATG

613 Avenue Create ATG w/ Optional Color Twist (sort of Blue/Pink/White)

Hobbycutz Easter Challenge

DL Art Thankful Thursday Bunnies

Simply Create Too Easter or Use Bunnies

Crafty Boots Easter

Paper Make Up Stamps Digi Makeover Pastel Colors

The Alphabet Challenge, "D" is for Diecuts

Creatalicious Easter Wonderland

 

Lacy Sunshine Violet

Having a play in the Lacy Sunshine Facebook Group with the adorable Violet Flower Pot Pretty.  The current contest ends tomorrow and for once I'm not in at the last minute.  I was excited to find an ancient Colorbok stack by Tracy Porter that had some great coordinating Dp's and used a die from Heartfelt Creations I've had for several years for the very first time.  The peel off sentiment on the front allows me to enter it in the current Use a Sentiment Challenge on the Lacy Sunshine Blog so this card does double duty.  WooHoo!

I really enjoyed coloring her up, especially her curly hair.  Paper pieced the cup with some of the DP from the stack as well.  Used Liquid Pearls for the centers of the violets to add some shine.  Of course, she's fussy cut and popped for dimension.

It's a gate fold card which I don't make very often, and a square to boot.  Took this pic so you could see the pretty DP on the left hand side.

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Monday We Love Stamps Challenge and 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes/Create Your Own Challenge (using image, die cut, liquid pearls, flowers, and lace (hopefully the lacy die cut will count here) .

Jezebel's Valentine for Daddy

As soon as Jezebel saw Valentine Kitty from Aurora Wings, she HAD to have her for Daddy's Valentine.  Of course I agreed she'd be just PURRRFECT.  What a cutie!  I had recently seen the instructions for a Pop-Up Box Card on Splitcoast Stampers and thought that might be a fun one to try.

This is the second time I colored her because the first one just didn't fly with Jezzie.  She fancies herself a white kitty because she thinks they are the boofiest (most beautiful) of all. 

Have to admit, my experimentation at coloring her with a combo of Copics and pencils to approximate her natural markings were not the best, but she was utterly HORRIFIED that I would even consider it.  "I look like a BOY, Mommy", (Yeah, she kinda did), she cried, "give that one to Goliath."  "But Goliath has short hair, Jezzie," I countered.  "Well, he'd be boofier with LONG hair, like me", she said, "And while you're at it, cover over that sentiment because Daddy is MINE!"  Yes, ma'am!  (She's the ultimate "Daddy's Girl" for sure!)

I did a bit of fussy cutting around the hearts a Valentine Kitty's feet in order for her to fit in the box.  Then printed her again, cut just the hearts and attached it to the second cross piece inside the box so more would show from behind her.  Finally, the floating heart is attached with acetate so it sort of flutters in the back, and I flipped, printed the image again and added "Daddy" to one of the hearts for the front flap.

 

The card folds flat but a tiny bit of the kitty shows out the top.  Pretty sure I can still find an envie, though.  All the sweet Dp's are from the 6x6 Fourteen pack by Crate Paper.

Now, if you don't already know, there's a 400 Member Celebration Event going on TODAY on the Aurora Wings Facebook Group with loads of fun and contest questions going on all day long.  Join us for a chance to win some amazing Aurora Wings images.

I'm adding this to the Simon Says Monday Love Notes challenge, the Simon Says Wednesday Have a Heart challenge,  the Digi Galore Valentine Challenge, and the Outlawz Alcohol Markers Valentine/Love Challenge.

Dia de los Muertos Blog Hop

If you are looking for Simply Steampunk, please scroll down.

Hello everyone and welcome to our:
Hola y Bienvenidos a nuestro Blog Hop del

Thank you for joining us in celebrating Day of the Dead/El Dia de los Muertos with us!

We have a super cool line-up for you! Now, if you are here from Monica

then, you are heading in the right direction! But, if you happen to be visiting and want to hop with us make sure you start over with Abby, out blog host!

Muchas gracias por venir a celebrar el Dia de los Muertos con nosotras!
Tenemos unas chicas super talentosas participando con nosotros en este bello blog hop! Si vienes de con Monica vienes por buen camino, si llegaste a visitar y quieres brincar con nosotras entonces comienza en el blog de Abby! La anfitriona de nuestro Blog Hop!

Abby and Gaby started this event back in 2010! That's 4 years ago already!

This is one of Abby's favorite days to celebrate because of the meaning of what Day of the Dead is,

and what can be better than a super cute cartoon to illustrate what Day of the Dead is!
Abby y Gaby comenzaron con estos blog hops desde el 2010! Pueden creer que ya son 4 años!
Este es uno de los dias preferidos para celebrar de Abby porque le encanta el mensaje que tiene, y que mejor manera de explicarlo con una linda caricatura!!

It's all about celebrating LIFE!

El Dia de los Muertos se trata de celebrar la VIDA!!

 
My project is a little banner using the adorable Dulcinea Sugar Skulls Sticky Wings digi (scroll down to find yours) from Lacy Sunshine, and the Mini Calaverita clear stamp set from Dilo en Espanol.  The banners were cut by hand and Dulcinea is mounted on a Nesties Mega Classic Scalloped Oval.

I've printed her out 3 times, colored her with Copics, fussy cut and popped her for dimension. 

Here you can see the dimensional shot.
 

All of the skulls were colored first, them run through my Xyron right side down and glittered with microfine transparent Art Glitter to resemble sugar skulls.  It is so fine that it will not damage your Copic tips, so I recolored after glittering for the vibrant effect.  The two sugar skulls flanking the main image are from the Mini Calaverita set from Dilo en Espanol featured below.

The sentiment is also from the Mini Calaverita set.  It translates to "Here is your little (sugar) skull."  Remember, Dia de los Muertos is a joyous happy occasion celebrating family members who are gone but not forgotten.  Sugar skulls often bear the names of loved ones.  If you would like to revisit my previous posts and learn more about the traditions I follow at my house each year, please click Here for 2010, HERE for 2011, and HERE and HERE for 2012.

 

Dilo En Español has a couple of stamps that are perfect for this event!

Dilo En Español tiene unos sets que van perfecto con esta hermosa fecha!

Mini Calaverita

2x3 stamp set

and 

Mary La Catrina

4x4 stamp set

Please visit Abby's Blog for a list of all the fabulous prizes and rules for qualification. 

 

Next on the hop is:                      

ORLIS

and just in case you get lost!

Here is the line-up:

 

Abby- www.scrapbookaholicbyabby.com

Gaby- www.gabycreates.com

Xochitl- www.cricutcritter.blogspot.com

Michelle- www.scrappinwithmybug.com

Candace- www.papercraftsbycandace.com

Monica- www.monicascreativemadness.com

Donna- www.donnamundinger-popsicletoes.blogspot.com - you are HERE

Orlis- www.bauldeandrea.blogspot.com

Patty- www.cardsbypattytanuz.blogspot.com

Lizeth- www.super-scrapbook.blogspot.mx

 

I'm also entering this in the Lacy Sunshine Anything Goes Challenge, 613 Ave Create Anything Goes, Simon Says Monday Anything Goes, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Charisma Cardz Anything But Cards and Creative Knockouts Banners and Pennants.

HDH Zombies and Creeps Week 2

It's our second week for our Zombies and Creeps Challenge at HDH and the minions have more fabulous inspiration using the images by the same name from Simply B Stamps.  This time I've used the fabulous Mr. Gibbs Zombie Pirate.  I've watercolored the image and made the fab "burnt burlap" background mat using dual tipped watercolor markers from Tombo.  Read about the process here in my 100 Days of Tombow post.  The striped banner DP is from Authentique edged with MS spider web and Drippy Goo punches.  The skully medallions were a gift from my buddie Margie.

Here's a closeup of the fab image, drawn by Abigail Larson.  It's fussy cut and adhered to back CS and fussy cut again and popped.  The sentiment was hand written and the brains are from our own Minion Sister Creepy Glo.  Visit her Etsy shop HERE and check out HDH for her special discount code (scroll down a bit, ya gotta work for it.  LOL).  The metal skull and crossbones are Tim Holtz.  Hope you're enjoying the best month of the year as much as we are.  Keep those Zombies and Classic Creeps coming.

I'm also entering this in the PunkYouGirl Halloween challenge, Simon Says Monday Spooky, Hiding in my Craftroom Color it, Craftitude ATG/Spooky, Creative Corner Let's Go Crazy and Left of Center (using the LOC Theme).