Happy Horrors Meets Wednesday Sketch

I'm trying to sneak in a few challenges before October ends and I'm doing double duty here with an adorable newsletter Freebie from Oddball Art Stamps for their October Happy Horrors Challenge and the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge, both of which end today.  I've colored the cute kitty in the pumpkin with Copics and added a black doily and die cut web.  Ribbon is from Mike's, Flower from Prima and little spider from Fabulous Findings.

Here's the Sketch.

I'm entering this in Simon Says Wednesday Halloween/Spooky 

EEEK! Progressive Challenge from Ike's Art

Sue Eisenhauer of Ike's Art has a number of different challenges to play in and is extremely generous offering fabulous freebies with which to play.  This month on the Ike's Art Fan page on FB she's offered TWO digis for the October Progressive Challenge, just in case Death 2 is too creepy for ya.  I've used both of them for my Halloween trick or treat nightmare.  Bwahahaha!

I removed the backgrounds of Death 2 (currently not in the shop) and KT Trick or Treat (Cute Witch) in Luna Pic and added a digital background in my printing program.  I managed to get over my coloring slump and colored the images with Copics.  The sentiment button is from DL.Art.

I'm also entering this in the Ike's World Challenge #113 AG/Oct-POE-ber, the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Monday Greetings AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Dream in Darkness October AG, Simon Says Wednesday Halloween/Spooky and SOSS #121 S is for Skulls. 

2018 Cat Lovers Hop Day 6

Well I'm sorry to say it's the final day for linking up projects in the 2018 Cat Lovers Hop at Her Peaceful Garden.  I wish I'd planned in advance and had more projects to share but that's the way it goes.  Thanks so much to Janis for the incredible amount of work that goes into the Hop and the fabulous sponsors and others offering prizes on their blogs.  Gotta say I've had a ball seeing everyone's projects but glad we have another day to comment, since there's always a flurry of activity at the end.

My final project is again real stamping.  I apologize to all my digi artist friends for not managing to color any of your gorgeous images but I'm in desperate need of new glasses and the eye strain is taking it's toll.  Those who know me know that coloring is generally my "thing" so I'm really bummed I couldn't manage any during the Hop.

This cutie is Tabby Cat from Carmen's Veranda and I've stamped him with Faded Jeans Distress Ink. The card is in monochromatic blues to enter the Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge. Not quite the same, but as close as I could get.

I tried to do an "artsy" background with a number of different mediums but they didn't work out so when hubby was on his way to Home Depot I asked him to nab me some paint swatches.  Trimmed and matted them several times,  fussy cut the image and added a die cut sentiment and there ya go.

Of course I'm also adding this to the Lost Coast/Carmen's Veranda Cats and Dogs Challenge, SUYP Furrything Goes/Meowloween Challenge,  the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, ...

Another for the 2018 Cat Lovers Blog Hop

I'm really enjoying all the the fabulous cat projects being linked up to the 2018 Cat Lovers Blog Hop at Her Peaceful Garden and crawling a bit out of my comfort zone and trying things I don't do often (enough) like real stamping.  Yesterday was my day to stamp but I'm just getting some of the projects finished and blogged today.  Here's a tag, or bookmark, using the beautiful Star Cat rubber stamp by Lost Coast Designs, a sponsor of the Hop.  I stamped on a small scrap of digital paper from another project.  The celestial background seemed purr-fect for this kitty.  I left off any sentiment because although he looks like he's on his way to kitty heaven, I'd prefer to think he's just star gazing.

I'm also entering this in the Lost Coast/Carmen's Veranda Cats and Dogs Challenge, SUYP Furrything Goes/Meowloween Challenge,  Crafty Animals #19 AG w/Animals, the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Festive Friday AG...

Cat Lovers Hop 2018 Day 5 Halloween Pinwheel

It's Day 5 of the Cat Lovers Blog Hop at Her Peaceful Garden and I'm hanging in there.  And looky, looky, it's another project that involves REAL stamping from one of the sponsors of the Hop, Stampendous. WooHoo! I've made a Halloween pinwheel using a discarded piece that I found on one of our walks last year around this time.  Of course it's been laying on my table since then.  I used the kitty face stamp and die from a set by Fran from 2015, sadly no longer in the shop.  I glued a Halloween straw into the pinwheel where, I assume, the original had gone.  One of my artist made felted kitties looks pretty excited to be holding it while I tried to blow on it to take a video, but try as I might, I couldn't manage that to work so you've got to take my word for it that it spins.

Here's a closeup of the pinwheel with the stamped and cut out kitty face from the set and the bow.  I stamped with Memento, colored with Copics, added googly eyes and a little witch hat sticker from JoLee's.  The bow was stamped on patterned paper and cut using the coordinating die.

Thank you Stampendous for sponsoring the 2018 Cat lover's Blog Hop at Her Peaceful Garden!  There's still another day to hop and you can comment through Sunday to win! FAQ HERE and sign in HERE.

I'm also entering this in the  SUYP Furrything Goes/Meowloween Challenge, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies AG/w Critter (5/5), Crafty Animals #19 AG w/Animals, the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, The Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Simon Says Monday Halloween/Spooky, Simon Says Wednesday Halloween/Spooky,

2018 Cat Lovers Hop Day 4

It's Day 4 of the 2018 Cat Lover's Hop over at Her Peaceful Garden and I decided to go out of my comfort zone and do a bit of REAL stamping.  There are so many fabulous stamp companies sponsoring this Hop that I think it would be fitting to show them that although I mostly use digis, I've actually got a TON of rubber and clear stamps and it's about time I start using them, eh?  Practice makes PURR-fect, after all.

So here's a mini Happy Birthday gift bag using one of the Party Cat Set from Lost Coast Designs.  I'm getting a little more comfortable using real stamps since getting a Misti, but this gorgeously detailed cat stamped purrfectly first time.  YAY!  kept the color scheme sort of gender neutral and the black and white seems to suit the majority of my friends, considering our age.  LOL  The small bags (from Mike's) work well for a number of things, including gift cards.  The Happy Birthday die is from Simon Says Stamp and I punched the paw print in a Pin Point Balloon die cut from Poppystamps.

I'm also entering this in the Lost Coast/Carmen's Veranda Cats and Dogs Challenge, SUYP Furrything Goes/Meowloween Challenge, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies AG/w Critter (4/5), Crafty Animals #19 AG w/Animals, the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, The Outlawz Festive Fridays Birthday theme...

Halloween Treat Box for Day 3

Well, I'm 3 for 3 so far on the fabulous 2018 Cat Lovers Blog Hop at Her Peaceful Garden and this time I'm sharing a cute Halloween treat box I made with a gable box die from Momenta decorated with a sweet kitty die from my dear friend Fikreta Posavec, of Bad Kitty's Craft Room who is a sponsor of the Hop.  Thanks so much, Fiki!  Added some fun googly eyes to the kitty and a jeweled belly button (all sorts of places those jewels end up, eh?  LOL)  The candy clip is from Target, the Trick or Treat Bag from JoLee's and snippet of crinkle ribbon from DL.Art.  The glitter DP is ancient from my stash, but purr-fect for my project.

All the info for the 2018 Cat Lovers Hop can be found HERE.

I'm also entering this in the SUYP Furrything Goes/Meowloween Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Sweet Treats Challenge, the Outlawz Saturday PAM Halloween/Fantasy, Simon Says Monday Halloween/Spooky, Simon Says Wednesday Halloween/Spooky,  2 Crafty Critter Crazies AG/w Critter (3/5), Crafty Animals #19 AG w/Animals, the DL.Art October Linky Challenge...

Furry Friends

It's Day two of the Cat Lover's Blog Hop, at Her Peaceful Garden and of course I'm running late again.  (Not that you have to link something daily, but I was planning on doing something for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge on the Outlawz Forum so why not make it double duty, eh?) 

So, you can find out about the hop HERE and be sure to sign in HERE to be eligible for prizes, even if you don't want to craft, because there are prizes for just commenting, too.  OOOOH!  And daily prizes for answering questions.  Thank you Janis for putting this all together.

My card features two digis from Createful Heart Design, Yarn Playing Kitty and Chloe Playing With Yarn.  I just happened to find them already printed in a stack of stuff so I colored them up quickly with Copics and tried to follow the Sketch.

How did I do?  I think it's vaguely recognizable.  The DP from the Meow stack by Echo Park did most of the work, but hey!

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Animal Antics, Crafty Animals #19 AG w/animals, SUYP October #35 Furrything Goes/Meowloween, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #19 October AG/w critter,  and Createful Heart Designs #2 Add a Sentiment. 

2018 Cat Lovers Hop Day 1!!!

Eiyiyi, I almost missed it.  Today the Cat Lovers Hop begins at Her Peaceful Garden and I just by chance saw a post by one of the fabulous sponsors this morning.  I've had a hard time crafting and blogging (other than DT work) the past couple of weeks and trying to balance my life a bit by staying off FB and doing other things (like the cleaning I prefer to neglect) but I do feel guilty when I'm not supporting my artist friends, and commenting on all of the work, now posted EVERYWHERE, and joining in challenges, and, and, and...  So we'll see how I do here and I apologize for flaking on some of the things I really, REALLY wanted to join in on (you know who you are, sooo sorry!  xxx) but...

So, you can find out about the hop HERE and be sure to sign in HERE to be eligible for prizes, even if you don't want to craft, because there are prizes for just commenting, too.  OOOOH!  And daily prizes for answering questions.  Thank you Janis for putting this all together.

So I thought I might just Hop today for Cat Lovers because I did want to join in the Outlawz Color Challenge which ends TODAY, but I managed to follow their Tic Tac Toe board with a cute Kitty Cat die, from Simon Says Stamp, I've been dying to use, so WooHoo!  I couldn't resist having the kitties both coming and going...ahem ... and added the sentiment because it reminds me of how Jezebel always greets her brother.  No wonder he generally hisses at her when she comes near. 

Here's the board.  Fortunately you don't have to use BOTH the color AND the element, so I've chosen diagonal bottom left to top right, yellow, black, and lace.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Animal Antics, SUYP October #35 Furrything Goes/Meowloween, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #19 October AG/w critter and Crafty Animals #19 AG w/Animals. 

Three New Sprites from Aurora Wings!

EEEK!  Three new Sprites are being debuting today on the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog and I'm thrilled to be joining the incredible Showcase Team again to introduce them.  First up is Maple Sprite.  Don't you just love the gorgeous colors maple trees produce in the Fall?  Not to mention the fabulous maple syrup that is yummy on just about EVERYTHING! Try Googling Maple leaves and you'll be amazed at the color variation.  I've colored with Copics and know I will be coloring this Sprite again and again in different combos.  I've colored with Copics and tried to capture the different stages the leaves go through as they turn.  Plaid always says "Autumn" to me, my favorite season by far!  The sentiment was cut from some Graphic 45 DP and I've added the little maple leaf buttons to join in the Outlawz Saturday Paper Ala Mode challenge which calls for pattered paper and add a button.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Fall Colors, W2CB #58 Autumn Leaves, the Unicorn Challenge #37 Autumn or Halloween, Crafts Galore Encore October AG (2/3), the Daisy Chain Challenge #24 Autumn/Fall, LTSCB #117 Fall Back,  ...

JPG at AuroraWings.com     PNG at AuroraWings.com

JPG at AW on Etsy     PNG at AW on Etsy

And now here's Chrysanthemum Sprite.  Be sure to check out the pic on the AW Showcase Blog to see the huge blooms and how they are cultivated.  Waaay back when I was in high school, it was customary for guys to buy their gals corsages of a single BIG chrysanthemum with ribbons of school colors to wear to the Homecoming football game.  It was tough not to do this cutie in red and white, (go Hinsdale Red Devils!) but I opted for black and yellows and a more Asian vibe, since this cutie is wearing a kimono and brings to mind the Chrysanthemum Festival (albeit a little late) using die cuts from Die-Namics (screen), Spellbinders (circle) and Tattered Lace (Oriental Chrysanthemum) dies.  Again, she's colored with Copics with a white gel pen adding shine to her hair.  Mums always say Fall to me.  So happy they still bloom in the garden, as well.

JPG at AuroraWings.com     PNG at AuroraWings.com

JPG at AW on Etsy     PNG at AW on Etsy

I'm entering this in Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #91 AG (2/3), the Outlawz Festive Fridays AG, Papercraft Challenge #22 Die cuts/punches,  TTRCD Week of Oct 16th, the Classic Design Team Open October#10 AG (3/3), Jo's Scrap Shack #255 AG (2/3), Die Cut Divas October Autumn or Halloween, The World Wide Design Team Open #10 (Oct 15th)...

Finally we have Harvest Sprite full of nature's bounty.  I thought she would be perfect for a little Thanksgiving treat box that I've cut with the Gable Box Die from Tonic Studios.  I've added a gorgeous bow with crinkle ribbon from the DL.Art Fall Bundle, held with a mini clothes pin so you don't have to untie it to get the treats inside.  (Perhaps spiced nuts like candied pecans?) It would also be fun to use her for place cards for the females in the family and perhaps Happy Thanksgiving (Turkey Sprite) for the guys.  Don'tcha think?  LOL

JPG at AuroraWings.com     PNG at AuroraWings.com

JPG at AW on Etsy     PNG at AW on Etsy

I'm adding this to the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG/Something Sweet, Fab 'n' Funky # 412 Embellished with Ribbon or Lace, Everybody-Art #434 Bags and Boxes, ...

Of course Mitzi wouldn't forget a fab coupon with this wonderful new release, but first I'd like to remind you of the Coloring contest going on RIGHT NOW in the FB Group with a freebie, to boot.  No need to even make a project, but if you do, there's a special prize drawing, as well.  Not a member?  Just ask to join.

And don't forget the new Blog Challenge.  Sweet or sinister.  You choose.

Okay, so you've made it this far.  Come and get 'em! 

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 

Aurora Wings FB Group 

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

New Challenge at Aurora Wings

A new challenge starts to day on the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog with the fabulous new theme...

Take a wild guess which one I chose. I've combined the gorgeous Remembrance with the skull cropped from Memento Mori.  The design idea is sort of a personal one, as I've not been sleeping all that well lately and hope that creating this will be a bit cathartic.  Don't worry, I won't bore you with details, you can use your imagination and come up with nightmares of your own.  LOL  The DP is from the BoBunny Serenade collection and I've used the Sleepy Hollow Oval Frame die, from Memory Box, to nestle the skull and poppies as if they were resting among the roots of a tree.  The Skeleton Hand die is also from Memory Box and the clock embellishment up top is from Recollections.

Here's a closeup, all colored with Copics with the addition of the Colorless Blender and cotton swab technique to blur and texture parts of the background.  I so enjoy combining portions of Mitzi's images to create a totally different vision and thrilled that Mitzi encourages people to be creative and have fun like this with her images.  The skull from Memento Mori, available HERE on AuroraWings.com and HERE on Etsy is not only cradled by the poppies from Remembrance, but also appears in the background.  When printing this page I lightened this skull to a pale gray give it the dreamlike effect.

Here is Remembrance, available HERE on AuroraWings.com and HERE on Etsy, as it appears for sale.  As you can see this image would be beautiful for any occasion.  I'd hate for you to discount the image, just because I've creeped it up a bit with skulls and such.

And finally, here's the sentiment from Tim Holtz.  I search and searched for something that was appropriate and almost gave up.  Then I found this.  Perhaps I'll rest easier tonight.

Please be sure to visit the Challenge Blog to see the fabulous inspiration from my Stella team mates.  I promise there are some sweet dreams, as well.

Also, there is an exciting coloring contest in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group with an adorable freebie available to participate.  Coloring only or full project with fabulous prizes!  Not a member?  Just ask to join.

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 

Aurora Wings FB Group 

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm adding this to the DL.Art October Linky Challenge, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #255 AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG/opt Fall holiday,  Dream in Darkness October AG dark, A Perfect Time to Craft Oct #10 AG, the Classic Design Team Challenge Oct (2/3), Crafts Galore Encore #56 Oct AG, Die Cut Divas Autumn or Halloween, ... and more in a few

Aurora Wings Freebie and Coloring Contest

So excited to be the first to color up this adorable Day of the Dead Sprite Couple that is currently offered FREE to members of the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group.  This is NOT a gift with purchase.  Mitzi is offering this image for the exciting Coloring Contest that runs today through November 1st.  The image will be available in the FB Group through October 28th so join the Group (if you haven't already), grab the freebie and enter the contest.  LOTS of prizes for both coloring only AND full project entries.  Full list of prizes in the Challenge Album in the FB Group.

Personally, I think this adorable couple could work for a wedding or anniversary.  The sentiment says "Together Forever" in Spanish.  The fun DP on the side panels is Bo Bunny and made for fabulous "wedding guests".  The arch was cut with a Spellbinders Gothic Arch and I've used one of Spellbinders Delicate Doilies as a stained Glass rosette behind.  The flowers on either side are the traditional Day of the Dead marigolds (actually Prima flowers that I've wet, smooshed and layered) and I've colored the bridal crown in the traditional colors, as well.

I've used inspiration from several of the challenges on the Outlawz forum to color and complete my card. Here's the current inspiration board for the Outlawz Tuesday Color. 

And I've also tweaked the sketch from the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge for my design.  (Finally learning to use a sketch for inspiration rather than following it to the letter.  Yay, ME!)

If you think perhaps a skully couple isn't romantic, I beg to differ.  Here's an anniversary gift from hubby for our 40th.  He certainly knows the way to this girl's heart!

  

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 

Aurora Wings FB Group 

Aurora Wings FB Fan Page

I'm also adding this to the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG/opt. any Fall Holiday, the Outlawz Festive Fridays Wedding/Anniversary,  the DL.Art October Linky challenge, Jo's Scrap Shack FFC #255 AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #91 AG, Dream in Darkness October AG dark, Colouring in Scrapland Oct. AG/opt Halloween, LTSCB #114 Fall Back (anything Fall), ...