Flamingo Rose Travel Journal

It's new release day for Sandra Caldwell and I'm showcasing the fabulous #1675 Flamingo Rose.  Isn't she gorgeous?  She just screamed TROPICAL VACATION to me so I decided to add her to the cover of a travel journal I picked up at Michaels.  I used Spellbinder's squares to cut vinyl in what I hoped to look like a Polaroid pic to frame her.  I thought the vinyl would stick to the textured vinyl cover a bit better that card stock, but I ended up having to add Scoretape to the edges to really get it to stick.  Then I framed the frame with washi tape, added additional washi tape sentiments and a beachy sticker to the bottom.

Here's a closeup of #1675 Flamingo Rose.  I've colored her with Copics and then fussy cut her.  I added a piece of acetate to the frame before sticking her to the corner which not only protects the image, but left no need to use adhesive behind her.  My first thought was to make a shaker, but the cover is quite stiff and bends at the spine so I was afraid the added dimension might be a problem, especially when using the attached elastic that keeps the book closed.  I still love the way it turned out.  Be sure to check out the rest of the fun new stamps being showcased by my teamies in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp fans FB Group.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art July Linky challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Summer Fun Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #61 AG, Crafty Calendar July AG, TTRCD Week of July 4th AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC#196, the Outlawz Monday Greetings Vacation challenge, Creative Fingers #134 AG, Craft Rocket AG, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #4 July AG w/Animal and Simon Says Stamp Summer Sunshine. 

Anything Goes at Aurora Wings

A new challenge starts today on the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog with the theme of Anything Goes.

Decisions are not my forte when the beautiful options are so many, so I decided to browse a bit on AuroraWings.com and see if I could find something a little lesser known, and maybe a bit challenging, that would allow me to practice some coloring techniques.  The digis are conveniently set up in categories too, so you don't have to scroll down through all of the stamps (and in some cases they're priced a little bit lower.  Shhhh, don't tell!).  Anyway, Desert Rose (Full Version) was just the ticket providing a glorious skirt of folds and a cool open window background to play with.  WooHoo!

Here's a close up of Desert Rose Full version, Available HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy.  I had a ball coloring her up with Copics and used my metallic gel pens for her jewelry and sword and white on the slim crescent moon.  She was fussy cut and added to several layers of K&Co DP cut with my Spellbinders Grand Labels Four which nicely followed the lines of the open window.  The colors were chosen from the Tuesday Color Challenge on the Outlawz Forum and were perfect for the desert sky I'd envisioned when choosing this digi. The texture twist is provided by the metal medallion that conveniently covered an offensive blue rose in the DP that didn't fit my color scheme and mimicked her lovely curls.

If you shy away from backgrounds, this gorgeous dancer is also available without the window HERE on AW.com and HERE on Etsy.

The decision on design came from the Wednesday Sketch Challenge, also on the Outlawz Forum.  I used to shy away from sketches because I felt I had to follow them EXACTLY, but I've gotten over it. See?  LOL

Be sure to stop by the AW Challenge Blog to see the fabulous inspiration from my Stella sisters.  We hope to see you play along.   Stay tuned for a new monthly challenge in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group coming up any day now, too.

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 also entering this in the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #61 AG, TTRCD Week of June 27 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FCC #195 AG, Classic DT Open July #16, World Wide Open DT Challenge #23 June 15, 613 Avenue Create AG, Crafts Galore Encore July AG, Not Just Cards #45 AG, Crafting When We Can #146 Use an Image, Crafty Calendar July AG, and Paper Craft Happy #2 AG with a Girl.

My Fave Sandra Caldwell Digi

There's a little Challenge going on in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group calling for a project with your fave Sandra Caldwell stamp and also to use the gold, silver or bronze.  I made a quickie ATC using #161 Old Lady of Hearts because it's the first stamp I ever saw of Sandra's, one of the first I bought, and I'm a huge Alice in Wonderland fan.  Unfortunately she's not in the shop at the moment, but that's okay for the challenge and there just so happens to be a large number of AIW themed stamps there now, if you also happen to be a fan. Check them out HERE.  I've colored her with Copics, used gold gel pen on her crown and scepter, added tiny gold sticker hearts and bronze metal letters to spell out QUEEN.  The challenge runs through June 6th so come join the group (if you haven't already) and play along.  Details are HERE.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #61 AG, Simon Says Wednesday AG, Not Just Cards #45 AG, Paper Craft Happy #2 AG with a Girl and the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG Challenge.

Sorry You're Dragon

Well, the June Fantasy Progressive challenge is over in the Bloobel Stamps FB group but I'm far from being done with the fab images.  Thought a little get well card would be cute (especially for a male) using Roaring Dragon.   He's colored with Copics and I've stretched out some copyright free clip art flames for his sneeze.  I tore and inked the corner of the page instead of actually trying to burn it and ruining all my hard work (been there, done that) and added a simple sentiment and a few pearls to balance the design.  The DP is from the old DCWV Safari stack.

I'm adding this to the DL.Art July Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Monday Greetings AG, Crafty Friends #61 Man/Boy, The Fairy and the Unicorn #5 AG w/Mythical Creatures, Creative Fingers 133 AG, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC 195 AG, CCC Creations Monochrome, Not Just Cards #45 AG and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

Outlawz Progressive Freebie and Festive Fridays

Nothing like waiting 'til the end of the month to do the Outlawz June Progressive Freebie Challenge with the gorgeous image provided by Sheepski Designs but it's been a busy month and to be honest, I couldn't decide how to color this beautiful girl, called My Fair Lady.  If I could keep myself from checking out all of the other gorgeous entries, perhaps I could make a decision more quickly, but each day I'd have a new fave and the pressure mounted.  Finally, I looked again at the Outlawz Festive Fridays themes, and Wedding Day caught my eye. But of course!  Doesn't she make a beautiful bride?  Besides, I also just got a gorgeous new die from Jeanine's Art that I thought would showcase her perfectly.  She's colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped with foam and I carefully used a craft knife to make a slit under her hat to attach the sparkly tulle veil.  Her single rose bouquet has a bow of sheer organdy ribbon.  The die cut is mounted on an iridescent ecru base and I cut and embossed the center circle with the same shimmery paper and the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  Finally I added pearls to each of the embossed flowers on the die and a delicate sticker sentiment.

I'm also adding this to the SheepSki FB Challenge 13, the SheepSki Girlz Rule Blog challenge #3, the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG, C.R.A.F.T Add Ribbon and Sparkle, Double "D" Challenges Anything Wedding, Die Cuttin' Divas Wedding or Anniversary, TTRCD Week of June 27, {Pin}spirational #193 Wedding, If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #72 Wedding  and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

Blog Challenge

FB challenge

Good Day Sunshine

Yes, here's another for the fabulous Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop using another fun digi from Bloobel Stamps.  No, I'm not on her Design Team, in fact, Lisa doesn't even HAVE a design team.  I just love her quirky digis and there are so many that fit the appropriate theme.  Meet Morning Mom.  You might notice that I tend to color (with Copics) all of these chicks with red hair.  Although I'm not a Mom (except to furbabies), I can relate to these characters on so many levels so what can I say?  I do spend more than a fair share of time in pj's, have hot pink velcro rollers, am less than perky prior to coffee and can't wait 'til wine o'clock.  I've added the stamped and die cut sun and "coffee" die cut from super sponsor Verve to join in the Sunshine theme for the Outlawz Festive Fridays.

I'm gonna be so bummed when this Hop is over.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG, Star Stampz Bright /Sunshine, TTPH Spots and/or Stripes, TTRCD Week of June 27 AG and Simon Says Wednesday AG.

Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Meets Outlawz Wednesday Sketch

I'm finding it's kind of a bitch not to be prepared when something you really want to participate in comes along, but you don't want to ignore your regular challenges either.  So here we go again.  Another for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop using the sketch from the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge. (again, last day for this sketch.  Procrastination is my middle name)  The image again is Bloobel Stamps.  If you look down my blog, you'll see that this is the 4th Bloobel project this week.  What can I say?  I love her fun quirky stamps and they seem to be fitting all my projects at the mo, so there ya go.  This stamp is called Just One Coffee.  She's colored with Copics and I actually had the nerve to stamp the sentiment with some Verve (super sponsor) clear stamps right on the page AFTER I colored.  Yay, ME!  I used the new Distress Oxide ink and I've had some pretty good luck with that.  The banner dies are from La la Land and I've used the same digi paper (this time in the primary colors).  I did finally find where it came from, so if you asked and missed my reply from yesterday, you can find Java Love from Laureling Studios HERE.

Here's the sketch.

Here's the Hop.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Use Patterned Paper and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG.

The Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge Meets the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Wow!  Didn't expect to be back again so soon but realized I needed to do a project IMMEDIATELY if I wanted to play along with this past week's Tuesday Color Challenge on The Outlawz Forum.  The "twist" this week is Anything but a Card which threw me into a bit of a tizzy until I remembered my  Sizzix BigZ 3D Teacup die which would also work for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. WooHoo!

I decided to cut the tea cup in white and add other colors with the embellies.  To add a bit of interest I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.  The sentiment on the tea tag is from Verve Stamps (a super sponsor) stamped with Distress Oxide in Broken China.  Twine is from another Super Sponsor DL.Art.  Flowers and leaf from my stash and I've it filled with green tea with ginger.  Here's the inspiration photo from Tuesday Color.

Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Here's a quickie for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  This fab event happens 4 times a year for coffee, tea and cocoa lovers and the inspiration and sponsors are beyond amazing. However, I've been having so much fun hopping that I haven't posted any cards.  Yikes!  Of course I could have made a head start, but that's not my system.  So here's a quickie using the hilarious Lost Tea digi from Bloobel Stamps.  Obviously from the sentiment, my chick isn't spitting out tea, but that coffee impostor, also known as DECAF!  She's colored with Copics and cut with a Double Stitched Circle die from super sponsor Kat Scrappiness.
*EDITED*  I FOUND the DIGI PAPER! Yay, me!  HERE it is!

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG  and Simon Says Wednesday Use Pattered Paper.

Pigs Might Fly

Here's one for the Bloobel Progressive challenge on FB.  Of course I picked out my free stamp for joining in the previous month, but I also felt compelled to purchase any others that may be used for the challenge.  You can see them all HERE and use the coupon FANTASTIC50 to get 50% off one or all until the end of the month.  I chose this one to do first because I suggested a flying pig way back when and the quirky Pigs Might Fly image was the original result (Lisa said, at the time, she didn't know how to draw a pig.  LOL).  Well, the suggestion was made again for the Progressive challenge, and lo and behold, meet Fairy Pig. Just had to put them together and it gave me a chance to try the clouds and sky background from the August 2016 Monthly Marker class from Kit and Clowder. Yup, all colored with Copics. Way fun!  Yay, me!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG.

Bottoms UP! (for the Sisterhood)

As soon as I saw the current challenge at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers I just knew I had to play along. I did not, however think it would take me until today, with a little less than 6 hours to go (and it's a 2 week challenge) to get this done.  But I finally DID!  Yay, ME!  So here ya go for D is for DRUNK.

I hate to say this is semi autobiographical, but my BFF from college and I sure used to attract the LOSERS when we hit the bars for "girl's night out".  We'd even make bets on which gross dude would ask us to dance first.  Edna would not be amused.  Not necessarily THIS Edna, my MOM Edna.  (But she didn't know shit since I was hundreds of miles away, so there ya go.)

Anyway, my little dive bar scene is comprised of stamps from Bloobel.  What a RIOT, eh?  We've got Barney Beer, One Glass of Wine (One?  Nah, this is a job for a bottle or two at least) and a cropped version of All Shades of Green (flipped because even though she's a thought bubble, actually looking at the dude might cause her to...)  Okay then, I'm done.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #60 AG  and Simon Says Wednesday Use Pattered Paper.

WooHoo!  It's GOOD to be QUEEN!

Last Day for Kat Paws Challenge

All good things must come to an end, and today is the last day for my Kat Paws challenge in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group and the 50% off sale on Etsy.  You can see the 6 kitty stamps chosen for this challenge HERE, but it all ends at midnight PDT.  This final cutie I'm sharing is #1607 Birdy Snack Kat, one of the two brand new kitty stamps Sandra drew for this challenge.  She's colored with Copics and the ancient DP from DCWV did all the rest of the work, except for the computer generated sentiment.  Even the sparkle is part of the paper.  WooHoo!

I'm entering this in the DL.Art June Linky Challenge, SUYP (cats only) Furrything Goes #19, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG, Crafting by Design Animals,and Simon Says Wednesday Use Pattered Paper.