Summer Fun for The Outlawz Color Challenge

I blew off crafting this weekend, partly because it was deathly hot and also because my forearm and hand is sort of bothering me.  I'm not usually a hypochondriac, but ever since my friend described her symptoms of carpal tunnel, I've wondered whether my twinges could be leading in that direction.  I certainly hope not!  Anyway, now it's Monday and I realized I hadn't done a card for the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge yet (and I do love playing there) so I grabbed the new Avery Elle waves die I'd been waiting for and colored up a cutie from Bloobel Stamps called Floating with my Copics.  The sun die is from Verve and I've cut the sentiment from the back cover of a 6x6 paper pack by Carta Bella (of the same name).  Here's the inspiration pic.  I wish I were there.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #62 AG, Glitter 'n' Sparkle #249 Summer Sunshine, Scrapping4Fun Bon Voyage/Vacation and Craft Rocket #39 AG.

It's Getting Hot at The East Wind.

It's the 15th of the month and that means a new challenge at The East Wind Challenge Blog.  This fortnight the theme is "It's Getting Hot".  Indeed it is.  Our air has been on since early this morning and I don't see much relief in sight.  Sure wish I were at the beach like the Ghetto Fabulous Ashley 'I Love my Life'. 
The East Wind Ashley line is particularly special to Unky, as it is inspired by her friend Ashley who is currently battling cancer.  This girl's got some 'tude and 50% of the proceeds from the sale of these stamps go to help Ashley pay some of her medical bills.

Just look at this sassy gal!  Fabulous she is!  She was so much fun to color with my Copics and I've added some Glossy Accents to her shades.

She's fussy cut and popped atop some really ancient DP from the DCWV Summer Stack.  Been hoarding these prints for just such an occasion.  The sun was done with two layers of Spellbinders Pinking Circles and the sentiment uses colored Alpha Beads with a computer generated translation.  Hope you go visit the Challenge Blog to see the hot makes by my DT sisters and are inspired to play along.  Be sure to scroll down to see the Winners from Our Use Ribbon Challenge, as well.  See you there!  P.S.  Our Wedding Bliss FB contest runs through July 17th.  Check out the Group HERE.

I'm entering this in Artistic Inspirations 100th Challenge (WooHoo!) ATG, Craftin' Desert Divas Summer Linky Party, Digi Makeover Girly Girl, Fairytale Stampers Summer, Crafty Calendar July Summertime Fun, the Outlawz Friday Coloring Challenge At the Beach or Pool, and The Stamping Boutique Fussy Cut Something on Your Card or Project.

You're in my Sun

Happy 4th of July!  It's a weird one for me as we're not doing our annual party this year, but it's kind of nice to be able to relax and enjoy someone else's efforts today instead.  I'm showcasing a new TEW stamp premiering today: Lucy Loo "It's Hot Outside".  I've used the png transparent background format of the stamp, which is new for TEW.  That means I was able to nab a photo from the net and print the stamp right over it.  No fussy cutting necessary.  It works for digital papers as well.  Since today is the 4th of July, I used patriotic colors and kept the card pretty CAS.  The embossing is the Rays folder by Tim Hotz for Sizzix and I love the little stars on the Card Candi  (had them for years and forgot about them until now).  Sentiment is computer generated.

Lucy is colored with Copics and I've tried to give her a little tan using more of the E11.  Love that her bikini is patriotic as well.  I've added Glossy accents to her lips, nails and drink.  If you'd like to see more fabulous creations with this new stamp, come Like The East Wind FB page and join our FB Group for lots of fun stuff.  Don't miss the FB Wedded Bliss Contest and visit the Challenge Blog for our current "Use Ribbon" Blog Challenge.  Beautiful creations on our Show Room Blog too.

I'm entering this in the Crafty Little Fairies July Summer Fun challenge, the Time Out Fun in the Sun challenge, Crafter's Cafe Red, White and Blue, Crafting for All Seasons Whatever the Weather, Inky Impressions Patriotic or Red, White and Blue, CCC Creations Digi/Embossing Wet or Dry, One Sweet Challenge Red, White and Blue, City Crafter Let's Go to the Beach, Shopping Our Stash Red, White and Blue, and Twisted Tuesday Red, White and Blue with Stars 2nd entry (on her suit and Card Candi)

BBTB2 Here Comes the Sun

WOW, it's another new month of fabulous challenges at BBTB2 and this week is the first challenge pick from our wonderfully talented Suzanne.  She has chosen the theme "Here Comes the Sun", so besides following our simple rules, the sun on your project should be a Cricut cut.  I was bound and determined to find a sun on a cart I rarely use and lo and behold, there was on on Tinkerbell and Friends and it's a purty one too.  WOOHOO!  Obviously it's a fully shaped card welded in DS from the shadow of the cut along with the sentiment "Shine" from Calligraphy Collection, another sadly neglected cart in my stash.  When I first cut all of the sun layers I thought there wasn't enough contrast.  When I checked the book, I realized the blackout cut was usually cut in black which left a border around all of the other cuts.  Ok, tried that too, but it was too harsh with the sky blue I'd chosen for the base and I wasn't gonna do that over.

First thing I did was line all the cuts with Copics (instead of inking).  It adds some depth, goes fast, easy to do, doesn't rip your cuts and there are lots of colors to choose from.  Better, but not good enough.  Pulled out the trusty Cuttlebug and added some embossing with the old stand bys, Swiss Dots and D'Vine Swirls.  Better yet, but still not there.  Looked in my adhesive pearl drawer but I didn't have enough yellow in the right size and then remembered I'd bought some liquid pearls.  WOOHOO!  That was the ticket and although I haven't quite gotten the hang of them, partly because I wear multifocal contacts or glasses (it's the shits getting old) I think it turned out alright.  In hindsite, I'd wished I'd cut one extra later of the center pieces of the sun to pop it further, but it is what it is.  Now wail 'til you see all of the sunny projects by my teamies at BBTB2.  Gorgeous inspiration there, so you've no excuse not to join in.  We so love seeing your fabulously creative work.  I'm hoping this challenge might coax a little sunshine out of our cloudy sky this week.  It's JULY, after all.  Sheesh!

BBTB2 "Water" Challenge

This has been one hectic weekend and I must say I've crafted my little fingers to the bone.  Lots of posts today so if you're looking for the Smeared and Smudged Skull Appreciation Day Blog Hop click HERE (long hop, but loads of prizes, just sayin'), Haunted Design House click HERE, or you missed The Altered Alice on Sunday, click HERE.  Our hostess this week for BBTB2 is my dear friend and talented artist, Sandi Kelly and she's chosen a Water theme for this week's challenge.  I was excited to use my poor neglected Life's a Beach cart for almost everything.

Yup, it's a shaped front card using the Title Words to which I've added a bottom border (2 of the waves, welded and stretched to fit) and the happy shark frolicking above.  All this was welded to my fave rounded rectangle from George.

I was not, however, paying attention when I designed this and failed to notice just how weak the connection was between the already prewelded words in the Title.  (I was almost crafted out when I began this one on Sunday afternoon and this almost fatal design flaw nearly did me in.)  The front of the card was too flimsy to stand up, even with the full mat with the shark glued on and I was almost ready to throw in the towel but...WooHoo!  Instead of gluing the front and first mat together directly, I slipped a piece of acetate in between the layers and with a little trimming, problem SOLVED!

After all this I was this close to blowing off the layering, but who am I to disappoint?  Did a little bit of embossing with D'Vine Swirls and Swiss dots, and even managed to remember my little fishy brads and crabby eyelets before putting it all together.  There's load of fabulous water inspiration from the DT at BBTB2 so go have a look, leave some love, and play along.  We love it when you do.

TOFF Summertime Challenge

This week the Octopode Factory Friday challenge is Summertime. Lily has so many adorable images that evoke summer in my garden, that I set about playing with my computer to merge a bunch of them together in a little scene. I've used The Sun is Shining, Flowers and Bees, Whimsical Fence and Grass, and another flower and ladybug from the Easter and Spring set (the economical way to go. LOL) Once it was all done, it looked like a coloring book page to me so I colored up a storm with my Copics, using whatever colors caught my eye. Although it's flat (with the exception of the metal "Smile" sentiment that I colored black with a Sharpie) I love how it came out. Just added a little doodling for the sun's rays and the bee's flight and sponged on some sunshine using Distress Ink. Cute, or quirky, Lily's images just make me smile. She is one talented girl!

Better Late Than Never BBTB2

So how many people totally freaked that I didn't have a BBTB2 project on Monday? Yeah sure, fess up. It wasn't intentional. I had my card design in DS and then IT WOULDN'T CUT! My dear friend and fabulously talented DT sister Susan chose the Sunny Days cut from Celebrate with Flourish. I'll admit my Macabre Monday project took WAY longer than expected, and I'm sorry to those of you who don't appreciate my "creep factor," but sometimes just the process of doing something new becomes really exhilarating so... Anyway I started to cut my BBTB2 card and it wouldn't cut in DS. I was really late so I emailed my DT sisters and Susan came to the rescue telling me that Celebrate with Flourish was listed twice in DS, once as Celebrate With Flourish and once as Celebrate With Flouris which was a correction for the screwed up first one. Yup, this one I'd done with the wrong one so it wouldn't work and as it was late in the game, I just couldn't redesign it with the right one. Monday I had stuff to do and this morning I had a dentist's appt. I was gonna blow it off (because technically we're only required to do 2 projects a month) but I take this DT position VERY seriously and I've only missed two weeks in the several years I've been on this team (and those were when I didn't have the required cut and there were no substitutions.) So here it is. Not exactly how I envisioned but... Shaped card, no surprise.

Not as much dimension as I'd hoped but it's okay. The colors were inspired my the Whimsical Wednesday Color Challenge as I'm entering this in that challenge as well. I'm hoping the pix speak for themselves because I'm really tired. Getting up at around 4:00 am every morning takes it's toll and tomorrow I have yet ANOTHER eye appt. Anybody know a good seeing eye dog? We have great inspiration on BBTB2 this week (well, when don't we?) and remember the challenge runs for 2 weeks. If you don't have the cart, you may substitute and do the phrase from another cart. Please remember we'd like new projects only, not back dates and be sure to link your challenge to BBTB2.

Tiddly Inks Challenge 13- Match It Up and Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge 2

How about that? I finished this week's Tiddly Inks challenge before the last day! WooHoo! This week is Match it Up; your colors with the papers, your image's clothing or accessory with the papers. I think there's a broad interpretation here. So here is Bathing Beauty. I LOVE her vintage charm! Bathing Beauty has no idea the stir she's causing at the beach. LOL She's just enjoying her vacation.

I tried a little water coloring with Distress Inks but definitely need some more practice. (Back to the Copics, LOL) Her suit and inner tube are paper pieced using papers from the Graphic 45 8x8 On the Boardwalk pad. In fact all of the cool stuff is from that pack. This is another side step card by just realized I didn't take a side view pic. OOPS!

The sentiment letters are from Making Memories and the cool charms are Blue Moon. That weird little embellie is made from netting from some produce bag tied with hemp twine. (I thought it looked "beachy". Sure wish I were at the beach, it's gonna be over 100 for the next 4 days.

I'm also entering this card in the Bunny Zoe's Crafts monthly challenge which is Summer Days. I just LOVE finding new challenges!

Tiddly Inks Challenge 12

Here I am getting in at the wire again. I ALWAYS look immediately at the new Tiddly Inks Challenge, have loads of ideas, and then end up posting at the last minute. This week the challenge is Summer Fun with Water, Sand and Toys. The problem with waiting is someone always manages to do something similar to what you had in mind and then it's back to the drawing board. LOL No worries though, I have loads of Tiddly Inks images that fit the theme so I went with plan B (well, actually C).

Here I used Sandy Memories and decided the boys would like a big, BIG sand castle, so after printing the image several times and paper piecing the castle using "sand" paper I cut a sand castle with my Cricut using the Life's a Beach cartridge. The boys are colored with Copics and popped in front of the larger castle. I cut off the shovels in their hands and replaced them with brads. I used a pail brad as a stopper for the easel too.

The majority of paper is from the DCWV Summer glitter stack from a few summers ago. I fussy cut the waves, cut a strip with beach balls and a section with summery words. That fab "sand" paper is from that stack too. The cloud mat behind is from K & Co. I just love how easel cards allow you to build a little scene. Now I don't know if I can contain myself because on the 19th, Tiddly Inks is releasing new images. There have been sneak peeks and I thought I saw some "Alice" images (you KNOW how I love Alice!) AND just in time for a "Halloween in July Blog Hop" Christy also will have some all new Halloween digi stamps!!!!!! (Be STILL my HEART!!!) Details of the blog hop are HERE and it is CUSTOMER PARTICIPATION with prizes galore. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiddly Inks Challenge #11, Red, White and Blue

Well I have to say it's been a tough day recovering from yesterday's festivities. LOL I really wanted to craft but I could hardly make any decisions and my eyes for some reason have been burning all day. I did manage to sneak in a Tiddly Inks Challenge using the adorable Going Swimming. She's colored with Copics and cut with Nesties. I tried to make her look like she has a bit of a sunburn. Her goggles have clear epoxy stickers to make them shine. I did sort of a modified tent topped card with the Nesties Pinking Circles behind the image.

The image is popped and the sentiment is spelled out in Alpha Beads. The DP is DCWV from a Summer Glitter Stack from a year or two ago. And I finally got a chance to use that pretty grosgrain ribbon. Better be quick and post so I don't miss this one.

BBTB2 Doodlecharms Sun cut and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

This week at BBTB2 we have a fabulous new sponsor, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and the Design Team was given a choice of a number of their adorable digi stamps to use in conjunction with the sun from Doodlecharms. I chose to use the sun as a frame for Milton Reading and did a shaped card. Isn't he cute? He's colored with Copics and I printed the image twice so I could cut the top petals of the flower and the leaf and add them for more dimension. The sentiment is done with tiny clear acrylic letters I got a J's and I added a few Primas for good measure.

Here you can see that the regular sun cut is popped and a little doodling is done for detail. You can also see how the petals and leaf are curled a bit. I really love how just that little extra step made the image pop.

I used the cut out from the front to mat the inside and added a happy sentiment because the weekend weather has been just GORGEOUS! I thought this would make a fun little thinking of you kind of card. Be sure to stop by BBTB2 to view the other fabulous creations from my DT sisters and keep checking back because there will be a new contest starting soon involving Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. WooHoo!

I also found a new (to me) challenge blog, Stamp Something and this week it's a Digi challenge so WooHoo again! I'm sooo there.

BBTB2 and Peggy Loves Vintage

This week at BBTB2 the Design Team had beautifully nostalgic images from Peggy Loves Vintage to work in tandem with any of the first row tags from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More. I'm a big fan of Peggy Loves Vintage (and am honored to be on her Design Team) so this was an especially fun challenge for me. I love to combine Peggy's vintage images with punched borders, Cutting Cafe sentiments, Cricut cuts... well, they're so versatile, they work with anything! I chose the little girl and little boy at the beach images. They came separately or together but since I wanted to fussy cut the images I chose to print them separately. I printed the little girl twice and the boy once and used the scalloped top tag (page 91 or last one on the left of the top row) and the window cut to make my little vignette. And what a better way to showcase it than to make an easel card.

The frame and the images are popped and I tied a little hemp around the frame for detail. the designer papers are from the DCWV Linen Closet stack. Don't they have a sweet summery feel?

The "sand" paper is from the 2008 DCWV Summer glitter mat stack. "Summer" was cut twice from the Lyrical Letters cartridge with Alpha Beads strung on more hemp to complete the sentiment. The popped label is Spellbinder's Labels Eleven and I added a small shell for detail. Finally, I used "Skittles" to hold up the easel. I thought they sort of looked like sea glass. Be sure to stop by BBTB2 and check out how my Design Team sisters used more of Peggy's fun images and stop by Peggy Loves Vintage to browse the delightful images she has in store. Hey, and be sure to scroll down to see my Everyday Cricut post (I'm Ms. May!) and my Cutting Cafe giveaway.

Too HOT at The Cuttlebug Spot and The Cutting Cafe

When Nilda asked us to use the word HOT this week for our Cuttlebug Spot Challenge I immediately thought of this downloadable stamp from the Summer Word Circles set from The Cutting Cafe. Around here August and September can be the hottest months of the year so there's still plenty of summer left. I also was able to use flip flop photo frame from the Life's a Beach Cricut Cartridge This is ANOTHER cart I HAD to have immediately when it came out and this is the first cut I've done on it. I used a piece of printed acetate in the frame opening and added a piece to the bottom that I cut with my EKSuccess sand castle border punch (also a first time use) embossed with the D'Vine Swirls Cuttlebug folder. The sand paper is from last year's DCWV Summer Glitter Stack. A sand pail and shovel brads were added and the strip was popped on the bottom along witha pretty felt flower.

I printed my Cutting Cafe stamp on bright yellow for the center of the sun and cut multiple pinking circles using my Nesties. Then I cut strips for the rays and embossed them with two different border folders. Be sure to visit The Cutting Cafe to see all of the great downloadable stamps Regina has to offer. She's been hard at work with dozens of new offerings so click HERE for your browsing pleasure. You're also in for a treat at The Cuttlebug Spot. My DT sisters came up with all sorts of different ways to add HOT to their projects, and if you play along you just may be the winner of a $20 gift certificate to Custom Crops.

The Cuttlebug Spot School's Out /Celebrate Summer Challenge

This week at The Cuttlebug Spot we're celebrating the end of school and beginning of summer. With some finally great weather my company and I have been having lots of fun but I did manage to complete the challenge. I used an EK Success punch to make the blackboard and cuttled black magic paper with the Numbers folder and sanded it, used Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge for the "no" symbol and my new pinking circles for the "sun" behind it all. The background paper is from last year's DCWV Summer Glitter Stack cuttled with Swiss Dots.

The corner papers are also from that stack and I used the Forest Branches for the texture on the "sand". School's Out was welded in Design Studio using Mickey Font (and I forgot to add the apostrophe and exclamation point before I took the pic, OOPS) and the little flip flops are also a punch from EK Success.

I did do a little popping with dimensionals as well. Be sure to stop by The Cuttlebug Spot to see all of the fabulous things my Design Team sisters have come up with and come and play along.

I case you wonder why I haven't been crafting here's my BFF's sister Allison, my BFF Becky, myself, and Allison's daughter Leslie (who will be studying with the San Francisco Ballet this summer) shopping on Union Square. She's all moved into her dorm and all my company will be gone tomorrow. I don't know what I'll do with a quiet house. LOL (Hopefully do LOTS of crafting) but I sure will miss them. We've had so much fun staying up late, eating and drinking WAY too much, and doing all sorts of girly things for the past 5 days.