Merry Christmoose

Y'all know I love playing on the Outlawz Forum and here's a card I've done to fit 3 of their current challenges, Wednesday Sketch, Twisted Thursday/Christmas Twist, and the Festive Friday Christmas theme using the sponsor image Bugaboo.  This little guy is called Moose Present, but he's either retired, or not in the new shop yet.  I think he's adorable.  I've colored with Copic and used a white Posca paint pen for the dots and highlights.  This seems to work better than a gel pen when coloring over darker colors.  The Rick Rack is velvet from my stash, sentiment is computer generated and the DP is from Echo Park.

  Here's the sketch.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG, Dream Valley #158 Square Cards Only, Cutie Pie All Creatures Great and Small, Weekly Christmas Card Challenge #15 AG, Happy Little Stampers June Christmas challenge, CHNC #338 AG Christmas, CHNC June Christmas Extra, 12 Months of Christmas Link up AG/ Fur, fluff Feathers, or Fins. 

Under the Sea at Aurora Wings

Our new challenge starts to day at the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog with the theme of

Easy peasy, or maybe not so much, considering all of the gorgeous digis from Aurora Wings.  In the AW digi shop the gorgeous stamps are conveniently catagorized so you can see all the fabulous mermaids in one spot HERE.  I've chosen the beautiful Jellyfish Dance and made an Altered Double Display Card from a tutorial on Beccy's Place Blog.  The gorgeous digi papers on the front and inside sides are Watercolor Batik from We Are 3 in The Stamping Studio. I've also used DP from Carta Bella and Graphic 45 for the die cuts.

Here's a closeup of Jellyfish Dance, currently only available only on AW.com. She's colored with Copics with accents from Perfect Pearls in both White Opal and Platinum Pearl.  The jellyfish sparkle with Stardust Stickles and I've done the background technique using a Q-tip and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol after coloring with my Copics.

On the left, the seaweed die is from Gina Marie with waves from the Big Splash Border from Memory Box.

On the right, a fan coral die from Gina Marie and another wave border.  Both sea life corners on the second tier are also from Memory Box.  Although a bit delicate, this card still does fold flat for mailing.

Be sure to check out the lovely inspiration from my Aurora Teamies for our new Under the Sea challenge and we hope to see you join in.  And there's also still plenty of time to enter our June FB contest, Something Blue, that ends June 30th.

Here's how to keep up with what's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop (newly revamped!)

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG, Pile It On Fancy Folds and/or Birds, Dragonfly Dreams Add Sparkle, the Corrosive Challenge June AG, the Classic Design Team Open June #16 3/3, Crafts Galore Encore June AG, Creatalicious #117 AG/opt. die cuts and punches, Not Just Cards #45 Summer/AG, World wide Open Design Team Challenge #23 (6/15) AG, Your Scrapbook Place June Summer is here, TTRCD AG June 13-19, The Fairy and the Unicorn Challenge #4 AG, Scrapping4Fun Challenges Different Shapes and Folds, Happy Little Stampers June AG with Dies, Sweet Stampers #8 Dies/and or Punches and the Outlawz Tuesday Color Tic Tac Toe Right Column Down.

The Candy Man Can!

It's New Release Day for Sandra Caldwell and I'm showcasing quite the dapper gent.  Meet #1624 Candy Man Hippo.  I wanted to play with a new card design and happened to find fabulous instructions with measurements (in INCHES!) on Beccy's Place blog.  This is my first Bendy card and although I normally would probably change the measurements and play around with it a bit more in the future, the size as is worked for the small amount of the DCWV glitter Sweet Shop DP I had left in my stash.  Hmmm, guess I should have taken a side view of the bends, as the middle bend is not that apparent.  Well, you get the idea. The sentiment was cut from an old Sizzix Halloween die.

Here's a closeup of  #1624 Candy Man Hippo.  He's colored with Copics in candy colors because he's a stylin' guy.  I love his derby, just the kind my grandpa used to wear. (I still have it, although it's not turquoise, LOL)  He's kind of a smooth operator with his winking eye and diamond in his tooth, don'tcha think?
Be sure to check out the design team inspiration from all of the team on the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group. 

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky challenge, Crafting with an Attitude #28 AG, Crafty Girls Creations June AG, Creatalicious #117 AG/opt Die Cuts and Punches and Your Scrapbook Place Summer is Here.

While you're there, take a look at the current Kat Paws challenge (I happen to be hosting), nab a couple of the specially discounted kitties HERE and come join in.  This kitty is my namesake, #1052 The Donna Kitty, drawn by Sandra especially for me.  The challenge runs through June 22nd.  Hope to see you there.

Another for Kat Paws

I'm hosting the monthly challenge, Kat Paws June 8-22, in the Sandra Caldwell Stamps Fans FB Group and I've chosen 4 stamps + two bonus new release stamps Sandra made just for the challenge. They are on sale for only $1.50, now through the duration of the challenge.  You can find them all HERE.

This may be my fave of all of them, a new digi Sandra drew just for the challenge called #1606 Fairy Kat.  I rarely color animals in fantasy colors, but I thought she had to be PINK!  She's colored with Copics with the dots done with white gel pen.  I've used Stardust Stickles on her wings and tiny drops of Nuvo on her antennae.  She's fussy cut and popped atop a mat embossed with an old Cuttlebug folder that looks like dandelion heads (you know, the kind you blow to make a wish) and used clear Glitter Nuvo drops for more sparkle.  I cut the sentiment in two shades of pink (also from Cuttlebug) and dotted the "i" with another Nuvo Drop.  Inside it says I'm your Furry Godmother.  HeeHee!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, SUYP (cats only) June Furrything Goes, Crafty Friends #59 Make it Pink, June Crafty Critter Crazies (3/5), Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #59 AG, Dragonfly Dreams Add Sparkle and Animal Friends June Animals with Wings.

Kat Paws Challenge at Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group

I'm hosting the monthly challenge, Kat Paws June 8-22, in the Sandra Caldwell Stamps Fans FB Group and I've chosen 4 stamps + two bonus new release stamps Sandra made just for the challenge. They are on sale for only $1.50, now through the duration of the challenge.  You can find them all HERE.  This inspiration card features #1078 Cat with no Tail because it reminds me of my Goliath who is a "Pixie Bob" with a naturally bobbed tail.  I couldn't resist the "Jingle Bells" reference and made a Christmas card to enter a number of challenges.  Not sure Goliath loves having teeny bells tied to his tail but I think he looks pretty cute.  Come check out my Kat Paws challenge and play with me.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, SUYP (cats only) June Furrything Goes, Kerst/Christmas June FB challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #59 AG, CHNC 337 Non Traditional Christmas Colors, June 2 Crafty Critter Crazies, 12 Months of Christmas Link up AG/ Fur, fluff Feathers, or Fins 
and Sweet Stampin' Monochrome.

Primrose Sprite 3K Members Celebration Freebie from Aurora Wings

Everyone has had a ball at the 3K Members Celebration in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group and here is the Sprite you've all been waiting for.  Meet the adorable Primrose Sprite, a gift for you, available for 24 hours only, on the special Showcase Premier of this cutie.

Here's a closeup of this sweetie, colored with Copics and a white gel pen.  With so many colors of primroses available, I had a hard time choosing, but these bright sunny colors make me happy just looking at them.  Again, she is available for 24 hours only so click HERE to claim her for yourself.

*edited*  I'm sorry the Freebie offer is no longer available, but Primrose Sprite is now available at a reduced price HERE.

Please treat this digi like any other from AuroraWings - Personal use only, and absolutely no sharing of the uncolored image by posting on the web.  If you'd like your friends to have this digi, simply point them to the Showcase blog post so they can get her themselves.  

Don't forget, this coupon will be available through tomorrow on any of the digital images on both AW Etsy and AW.com and if you haven't seen the gorgeous new drool worthy images yet, be sure to check out yesterday's Showcase Extravaganza.  

My little tag was made using the using the sketch from the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge.  

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #59 AG and Create and Inspire #63 AG/ Optional Tag.

3000 Member Celebration Showcase for Aurora Wings

It's an exciting day at the Stamps by AuroraWings Facebook Group as we're celebrating 3000 members with a party and Special Showcase Extravaganza. The Showcase, Aurora and Stella teams have come together with an amazing assortment of new images you're sure to fall in love with.  What better way to get this party STARTED!

I'm thrilled to be showcasing Rococco Cinderella Full Version available exclusively at AW.com HERE.  This gorgeous image prints beautifully as a full coloring page or can be resized for smaller projects.  I printed mine half size and matted with several design paper patterns from K&Co, making it suitable for framing.

Here's  Rococco Cinderella Full Version uncolored.  What a great scene for practicing your backgrounds and light source.

Here's a closeup.  I know such large expanses of background can seem daunting, but by breaking it down, and working a section at a time, it's not only manageable, but a fun way to relax and get lost in the magic you're making.

I've colored entirely with Copics, including some of the fluorescent to capture the glow of her enchanted carriage.  It would be lovely cropped for a card or done in the Spotlight technique too, don't you think?

I'm entering this in the World Wide Open Design Team 15th May Challenge #22 and the Classic Design Team Open June #16.

And what would a celebration be without some new little Sprites?  I've made a CAS card with the png version of Lupine Sprite, available HERE on Etsy and HERE on AW.com by cropping, resizing, flipping and layering bits of the original image to resemble a lovely natural cluster, perfect for a thank you card.  Before printing, I recolored just the cropped lupine flower head digi lines to a soft gray in my Printmaster Platinum program and colored them lightly with Copic V20 and BV01 to keep Lupine Sprite the star.  It was serendipity that the cluster (with sentiment, no less!) fit perfectly in the center of the Grace's Frame Cuttlebug embossing folder and all I had to do was add a mat and pop it all on a 5x6 1/2" card, et voila!  Don't you love it?

I'm entering this in the Outlawz CAS Fave Technique challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Patriotic (or thank you) and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #59 AG.

Are you excited yet?  Well, this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Click HERE to check out the fabulous inspiration of all SIX of the new images by participating members of ALL the AW teams and a sneaky peek silhouette of the freebie that will be available on the Showcase Blog (for 24 hours) in a separate post after the FB party on Saturday at 6:00pm EDT.

In the meantime, here's the coupon for partygoers, good throughout the weekend at both AW.com and AW Etsy.

Now, shall we all head back to the AW FB Group Celebration to play?  Best of luck and have fun!

New Release from Sandra Caldwell

It's Friday, and that means new release day for Sandra Caldwell.  You can check out the fabulous new digis and inspiration by the team in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group.  I'm showcasing the adorable #1596 Dancing Rose Hippo.  Isn't she the sweetest?  She just called for PINK and the fabulous rose Die cut by Joy Crafts that I layered and inked with Distress.  I've also added a die cut doily from Cheery Lynn and triple picot edge bow to further the delicate feminine theme.

Here's a closeup of this cutie prior to fussy cutting.  She's colored with Copics and I love her to bits.

I'd also like to invite you to the Kat Paws Challenge, hosted by me, in the Sandra Caldwell Stamps Fans FB Group.  6 adorable cat digis are on sale for only $1.50 through June 22.  You can view them all (including the 2 new ones) HERE.  Hope to see you there.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art June Linky AG challenge, Crafty Friends Make it Pink, June 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #59 AG.

Kat Paws Challenge

I'm hosting the monthly challenge, Kat Paws June 8-22, in the Sandra Caldwell Stamps Fans FB Group and I've chosen 4 stamps + two bonus new release stamps Sandra made just for the challenge. They are on sale for only $1.50, now through the duration of the challenge.  You can find them all HERE.  My first inspiration is #770 Beach Ball Kat I'm posting to make the Outlawz Festive Fridays Playful Kittens theme.  I colored him with Copics to match the bright DP I used from the Boardwalk Collection from BoBunny and added sand pail and shovel brads for more fun.  OOPS!  I don't think he'll be playing with that beach ball for very long.  LOL

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, the SUYP (cats only) June Furrything Goes, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends. #59 AG.

Let's Celebrate at Aurora Wings

Our new challenge begins today at Aurora Wings with the theme of Celebration.

There are so many occasions to choose, but I went ahead with a Christmas card because that's one of the biggest celebrations at our house.  I chose the adorable Holiday Wreath Sprite, exclusive to the Christmas Sprites half size coloring book, available HERE on Etsy and made a fairly CAS card using several embossing folders and metallic red card stock.  

Six of the images is this sweet little book are available as digis, but there are also six images you'll only find in the book.  What I've done is scanned those exclusive images and saved them to my computer to use on projects.  Even if you already own some of the Christmas Sprites, the little book is a deal at only $7.00 for 12 images and you can either keep it for yourself, or give it as a gift. Everyone loves coloring Mitzi's Sprites, don'tcha think? (And wouldn't you be the clever one starting your Christmas Shopping early?)

So here's a closeup of Holiday Wreath Sprite.  After scanning, I sized her to fit in the Cuttlebug Wreath embossing folder and printed her several times so I could layer for dimension.  She's colored with Copics, and the fur on her outfit and boots is flocked with Sparkly Fluff.

First I just colored over the entire wreath with a dark green Copic and then I used the Martha Stewart pine branch punch in two shades of green (the darker one I colored myself) and glued them on.  The holly, poinsettia and candy canes were colored and fussy cut from the original image, and I added gold metallic stars and a few more epoxy berries where they belonged on the wreath, but were too small for my eyes and hands to manage cutting.  The silver bell was actually the end of a ball chain pull that hubby asked if I had any use for (I've trained him well) and turned out to be exactly the right size.

Finally, here's the dimensional view. Only the bloomers and boots are flat to the card stock because I embossed over the first printed image.  The coat and sleeves were fussy cut and glued directly over the first image (to disguise the embossing) and additional layers were colored, cut and popped accordingly. Gotta say I'm pretty pleased with how it came out.

Be sure to stop by the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog to see the fabulous inspiration from my Stella teamies and come play along.

And speaking of Celebrations, look what's coming this weekend!  See ya there!

Here's how to keep up with what's happening at Aurora Wings.

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog

Aurora Wings Showcase Blog

Aurora Wings Etsy Shop

Aurora Wings Digi Shop (newly revamped!)

Aurora Wings FB Group

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm entering thhis in the DL.Art June Linky challenge, Simons Says Wednesday AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #59 AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Add Stars, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Christmas Theme, Incy Wincy June AG, Weekly Christmas Card Challenge #14 AG, 613 Avenue Create AG/optional Stamping with and Embossing folder, Allsorts Christmas in June, CHNC #336, CHNC June Christmas Extra, Crafting with Dragonflies #82 AG, Come and Get It AG, A Perfect Time to Craft June Open challenge AG, Crafts Galore Encore June AG, Happy Little Stampers June Christmas, 12 Months of Christmas June Link Up, Merry Christmas Challenge June AG, TTRCD Week of May 30 AG, Classic DT Open Challenge June AG#15 (1/3),  World Wide Open DT Challenge #22 May (3/3) and Kerst /Christmas June FB Challenge.

A Quickie for a Couple of Challenges

I have been crafting but they're for later in the week.  Here's a quickie I did just now for the Tuesday Color challenge and the Festive Friday theme of A Card with String on the Outlawz Forum.  Digital Papers are from the Burlap Beach collection from We Are 3.  the Crab pic is from Gecko Galz and I've used some of my new nautical/beach/sea dies from Spellbinders and Kat Scrappiness that I've inked with Distress.  (And of course there's the string from my stash.  Here's the inspiration pic from the Color challenge with the Twist At the Seaside.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June AG Linky challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Boys/and or Men Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #59 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG  and Dies R Us #74 Masculine.

Cute Sock Monkey Baby Card

Made this cute baby card thinking I still had time for the Miss Daisy Stamps part of the Spring Fling Challenges at Markers! Papers! Digis! FB Group but NOPE. That ended May 27th but I still had time to enter the May AG Challenge in the Miss Daisy Stamps FB Group.  WooHoo!  The cute little monkey is from the Bloomin' Monkey set and comes with a brother too.  I decided to try to make her a sock monkey by paper piecing digi paper from the We Are 3 Toasty Warm Collection and the rest of her was colored with Copics.  The patchwork  DP is from an old Designer Mat Pad from K&Co.  Added a button to the center of the flower and called it done.  Kind of a rush job, but I still think it's cute.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art May Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Paper Ala Mode Paper Piecing Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG and Simon Says Wednesday Furry Friends.