New Macabre Monday Challenge- Wayward Words

Surprise, surprise! Much to my delight I am now one of the Macabre Minions at the Haunted Design House. I'm so happy and proud to be part of the Sisterhood of the Sinister. (Don't faint now, Sandy! LOL) Anyway, the new Macabre Monday challenge starting today is Wayward Words, focussing on text (preferably spooky). Some of you may have seen this card before. It so perfectly fit the challenge (and as you can see I was just under the wire from LAST week) that I thought it would be appropriate to bring it up again.

The card was inspired by an old root I found on a walk. It reminded me of the scary tree in Seepy Hollow so I took it home and made this card. The background paper is actually text from the book which I distressed and highlighted some of the words. The full moon is cut twice and popped using Accent Essentials. I used Storybook to cut the window for the diorama and sprayed the card stock with black gold glimmer mist. The side panels were embossed with the Distressed Stripes Cuttlebug folder to make it look like bark and the antique gold metallic letters are from M's. I added a scary pumpkin brad and the off cuts from the Martha Stewart bat border punch.

Because they were too small to pop, I fashioned a wire in a sort of flight pattern and adhered them back to back. Be sure to bop on over to Haunted Design House to see what else is brewing and come on and play along. Barb will be introducing us this week and the bios should be fun! Remember, it's NEVER to early for Halloween!

Macabre Monday Freakers Free for All

I'm late again for Macabre Monday at Haunted Design House. I'll be back! As usual, just under the wire. This week the challenge is Freaker's Free for All...meaning do whatever you want. Hey, sometimes that's even harder, don'tcha think? I ended up doing another card using the new Oct 31st cart. This time it's shaped. LOVE it and can't wait 'til the new Happy HAuntings is out! I had to improvise the shadows but it turned out alright. Cranked it out in record time. The tombstone is embossed with a new Stampin'Up folder (who's name escapes me at the moment) and everything is inked with Distress in Forest Moss, Brushed Corduroy, and Dusty Concord (on the arm). The grass is Zooballoo.

A bit of popping and called it done. Would have loved to do a bit more detailing but time did not permit. Still deciding on a sentiment. How about "Hi there" ? LOL

The Burtonesque Dolls "Ed Wood" challenge

I've been dying to play along with the Burtonesque Dolls again but somehow my schedule hasn't allowed it. I even have ideas every week but they're often a bit difficult to execute so they don't get done. Well this week I made it! (with several days to spare, Woohoo!) The challenge is inspired by the movie "Ed Wood" so the creations are to be in black and white.

On top of that, Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring with the opportunity to win 20's Evie here and 30's Lylah. I couldn't wait to use 20's Evie again. She's such a doll! She's colored with a mix of the cool and warm gray Copics to match the DP from DCWV la Crema Stack. The graphic at the bottom is from First Floor Flat Freebies. I just got my new Cuttlebug folder, Grace's Frame and had to use it. I cut out the center with my Nesties Labels Four. The film strip is also from Spellbinder's. The metal "dream" is from M's and the flower is Prima.

The mats are popped and of course I had to add at least a few adhesive beads. This was a fun challenge. I love the idea of Evie dreaming of becoming a star! You've still got time to play at The Burtonesque Dolls to win your very own Lil Lolitas so what are you waiting for?

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!

Bah! Humbug! - A Special Card for a Special Friend

This week at Bah! Humbug! the challenge was to do a special card for a special friend. Well, sort of. Cut me some slack people, I was on crafting overload this weekend so I need a little break from anything too complicated. I really do love this card though, even if it is really simple. The cute picture of the friends hugging is from Lettering Delights. It's already colored so all I had to do was print it out. I've been dying to use it. I don't know why it took me so long. I cut it with Fiskars Deckle Edge Scissors becasue my Nesties weren't quite the right shape and cut a mat. The white panel is embossed with the Limited Edition Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder available at Custom Crops ( BTW it's on sale!). All of the paper is from the SEI Winter Song pad. Then I added a sheer ribbon, adhesive beads and a snowflake charm. That's it! I still think it captures special friendship.

The Cuttlebug Spot Sketch and Caardvarks Birthday Challenge

This week at The Cuttlebug Spot we are using a sketch designed by our own Aymee and it's our choice of theme. I changed it up a bit (I'm so proud of myself because I'm usually too intimidated to switch anything out, LOL) I used the birthday candles folder from the Cuttlebug Birthday Greeting Card Making Combo and the large dots are a Quickutz folder. The adorable birthday girl is a Pure Innocence digi image from Heather Ellis. She's colored with Copics and cut out with Nesties and popped. The sentiment is computer generated. The border punch is Martha Stewart and love how it embosses as well. Be sure to pop over to The Cuttlebug Spot and take a look at the rest of the Design Team's interprtation of this fabulous sketch and why not have a go of it?

I'm also entering this card in the Caardvarks Birthday Challenge. They are helping My Favorite Things celebrate their 4th birthday. WooHoo! I recently became a real fan of MFT after winning a challenge at Oh Alice! They have fabulous stamps (among other things) and Pure Innocence is one of their lines. Happy birthday MFT and here's wishing you many, MANY more!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!

BBTB2 Storybook Owl

This week at BBTB2 the fabulous Karen chose the owl from the Storybook Cartridge. You can blame Marlene for this one. She did a pretty hilarious owl card last week and that's where my mind went. I just couldn't help myself. LOL I welded 3 of the cuties together in DS and added a base from George. I was gonna try to just put bras on them but they sort of ended up looking like big fat bows on their chest so I cut the bikinis from Life's a Beach using the Colored Mini Dots digi backgrounds from The Cutting Cafe. Owls on the beach? Well...

I did a bit of popping and spelled out the sentiment in Alpha Beads and the Curls and Swirls Cuttlebug font set. Not quite sure WHOOOO you'd send a card like this to. Somebody with a new boob job? Anyway, my DT sisters came up with loads of fun stuff so click HERE to go see and be sure to play along. If you don't have Storybook you can use one of the bazillion other owls available.

Happy 60th Hank!

Don't you just HATE it when you think you have a card for someone and then decide at the last minute it really just isn't right? Well, that's what happened to me yestderday. Our friend Hank turned 60 and he's a real fun loving guy who plays a mean game of poker and loves the casinos. His party was last night. I had made a card a (long) while back and even thought of him when I designed it, but when I dragged it out my husband said "Well, it's nice, but it's not all that personal." Hmmm...yeah, okay, it didn't say anything about being 60 (would YOU want to be reminded?) and didn't say "Show me the money" (a fave phrase of his) so I guess no, it wasn't ALL that personal, so I went to work and this it what I came up with. Fortunately I had a tri shutter card base already cut in red which matched the Stampin'Up DP I planned to use.

We had a great picture of Hank with in a mask and derby from a Mardi Gras party we threw several years ago. I printed it out in 2 sizes and measured a dollar bill which is approximately 6" x 2 1/2". and used a Nesties classic oval to make the cut out. I used Cricut DS to weld and tweak the $ sign and 60 and cut them twice. The "Lucky U" is DonJuan. I inked it with Old Paper Distress Ink and used my Greeting card Factory Deluxe program to print the words around the opening. (It took awhile because there is no oval shape to automatically put your words into, just two curves. I lucked out that it JUST fit.

The middle sentiment is from the Birthday Cuttlebug Card Making Combo. And look Lillie, I finally used my Stampin'Up card stamps! I printed a bunch of little Hanks in mini size and cut them out and glued them to the cards. (LOVE the joker, that's SOOOO Hank!)

I also stamped 4 King cards in red and black and glued Hank's face to those as well. I used the off cuts from an EK Success border punch to change the suits to clubs, hearts and spades. The Dice are cut from Indy Art using glossy cardstock and the little "Happy B*Day is also from the Cuttlebug Combo. Done?

NOOOOO, of course the darn thing didn't fit in any envie so I made an envelobox by tweaking some measurements using my Crafter's Companion. Spelled out "Hank" in Don Juan and backed it with a scrap (YEA!) Labels (heck, I don't know, I said it was a scrap!) Nestie cut. Fortunately I'd made another set of dice (Yeah, I found it Lillie, on the floor) and an extra Joker because I really didn't know what I was doing when I started this card. Pretty funny, if I do say so myself, and he LOVED it! Now I better get off this computer and get started on the TWO Design Team cards that are due for tomorrow morning. YIKES!

Macabre Monday Wacko Jacko Challenge

I've been missing my Cricky! Soo many cartridges, so little time! YIKES! Conveniently, this week's Macabre Monday over at The Haunted Design House has a Wacko Jacko's theme (No, not Michael Jackson, LOL) and my new Oct 31st cartridge fit right in. BTW, I also got Pumpkin Carving, but I didn't think the images were scary enoughfor this. No shadows on this cart which really chaps my behind, but I did manage to deal. I welded the scary jack-0-lantern (with the features hidden using DS) to the scarecrow body. Then made a slightly larger version and cut it in orange and again hid selected contours. To set the scene I welded cornsalks from Just Because Cards (ANOTHER cart I hadn't used yet!) The bats and crow are also from Oct 31st.

The carved pumpkin head was covered in Rock Candy Crackle paint which made it look a bit like it was rotting and made the menacing teeth curl up in a very sinister way. (WooHoo!) I drew highlights on the body and corn stalks with an embossing pen and heat embossed with clear powder. The crow and bats were heat embossed as well.

There's a bit of popping here and there for dimension. The background is done with Distress Inks by swiping, spraying , smudging, masking, etc. and the edges were ground up a bit with my Distrezz-it-All. It is mounted on a sort of raffia fringe I cut off a stitched bag from my stash.

Another optional part of the challenge was to post a pic of your own (or someone elses) jack-o-lantern. Well, this is the only pic I have of one I've carved. (The one near my hands on the gnarly grape vine stand) It's the one of those fake ones and I sort of copied a pic from a vintage illustration where there were all sorts of lines coming from the features of the face so it's does glow pretty cool when lit. (however, I don't think it really show here) Not particularly scary though (except perhaps me in my witchy wardrobe, LOL)

I also want to thank GiNA for sending me that FAB card from the masking challenge. I SOOOO LOVE it and it will hold a place of honor in my craft room. (And congrats on the Gruesome Twosome honor for that. Want it back?...NO WAY! LOL)

Oh and hey, De, if you're out there. I AM a follower of your blog and it STILL won't let me post a comment. Looks like you're getting the same kind of (chinese?) spam junk as I am, but I just delete it. LOVE your can!

Okay, so much for insomnia. I'm going back to bed! Night night!

Oh Alice! In My Country... (red, white and blue) Challenge and Whimsical Wednesdays

I'm always sad when I miss an Oh Alice! Challenge but I'm very happy this week. The challenge is Red, White and Blue! Of course I immediately thought of mushrooms and dear Alice herself in her little blue frock. Those images are the Wonderland digis from The Greeting Farm. The adorable Caterpillar is from Busy Beauties Boutique. They are colored with Copics and cut out and popped on a stair step base. The sentiment is computer generated.

A few MS punches came out to play and the DP's are Stampin'Up and (oh, crap!) I never did find the maker of that fabby cloud paper but it's about gone now so I won't be teasing you with is any more. LOL I'm also entering this in the Whimsical Wednesday's Diedrich Dare FINAL Challenge which is an ispiration photo of a red, white and blue cupcake. Beyond the obvious color scheme, I do sort of think these mushrooms look a bit like cupcakes. (Don'tcha think?)

New July Monthly Challenge at Tickled Pink Stamps and Challenge 100 at Color Throwdown!

I've so enjoyed being one of the July Guest designers for Tickled Pink Stamps. Being able to help introduce the NEW Lil Lolitas (now available to order!) has been a dream come true! Thank you sooo much Kellie! And now for the July Monthly Challenge which involves a sketch by Kellie herself. On top of that, Tickled Pink Stamps is offering a prize at the Color Throwdown 100th challenge so I just HAD to play along! It's a pretty challenging color combo this time, but I was lucky enough to find some Basic Grey Euphoria paper that had the appropriate colors and decided that 60's Mod Ivy was the best fit.

Isn't she just a doll? She's colored with Copics and the sentiment is made up of epoxy stickers by K&Co. The flowers are Prima and the center band is embossed with a Cuttlebug Border Folder.

I tried to do things a little differently by making a gatefold card but still follow the sketch. I'm usually so paranoid about changing anything that my creativity flies the coop. Anyway, certainly check out the Tickled Pink Monthly Challenge because you may use any stamps that Kellie carries in her store (and you need not have purchased them there). And WooHoo! you have a whole MONTH to participate. Also, the celebration at Color Throwdown is a HUGE one with a blog hop and prizes GALORE so check out the details HERE.