Friday, April 28, 2017

A little quickie for the Outlawz



I had a lovely birthday yesterday, but it didn't leave much time for crafting. Wanted to sneak in one for the Outlawz Saturday PAM Sparkle and Shine challenge and made this little card with an image I'd already colored called Kitty Fae from Faery Ink. I tried to do a rainbow coloring and added Stardust Stickles to her wings and a faceted crown and heart to her collar.  The die cuts were already laying on my desk, except for the heart because I actually STAMPED the sentiment using my Misti with a clear stamp from Stampendous. Yea, me!

I'm also entering this in the SUYP April Furrything Goes challenge, the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #56 AG, Cupcake Inspirations #404 Animals, Simon Says Wednesday AG and Aud Sentiments #178 Use a Stamp for Your Sentiment.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Bloobel Stamps Meets the Outlawz Sketch


This month the Outlawz Sketch Challenge is being sponsored by Bloobel Stamps so I've tried to enter each week.  This is 3 for 3, yea ME!  This adorable little guy is from Bloobel called Party Gineau Pig (not my spelling, LOL  maybe it's French?) and I thought he'd work well with this week's sketch (which of course ends today).  He's colored with Copics and I took the colors from the digital zig zag paper from AMBillustrations.  The heart banners are by LaLa Land but I'm not so sure whose clouds those are.  The twine is from DL.Art.  




Here's the sketch.  I'm finally getting a little more comfortable with tweaking them sketch and I'm pretty happy with the outcome.  Obviously I turned it vertically and played with the embellies but I think it's still visible.  What do you think?

I'm adding this to the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, a second entry for the Outlawz Twisted Thursday Look Alike Challenge (2 banners, or hearts, or clouds), Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #56 AG, Cupcake Inspirations #404 Animals and Cute Card Thursday Birthday

Friday, April 21, 2017

What the Cluck?



It's Friday and that means a new release from Sandra Caldwell.  This cutie is #1511 Chicken Little.  I love the distressed look on her face, like she's really upset the sky is falling (if you remember the children's story). That's what prompted me to use my new sun ray die from Gina Marie but when I got it assembled I decided it would make a cute birthday card and the pun came to mind.  I printed it on a stitched circle from Kat Scrappiness and framed the whole thing with a double stitched frame.  The grass is also from Gina Marie.



Here's a closeup of #1511 Chicken Little.  She's colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped on an action wobble.  Inside the card reads "Another birthday and you're still a Spring chicken!"  Yes, I stink at videos, and now realize that this one doesn't play.  Hmmmm....well, I hope you get the idea.  Okay, not there we go.  Kinda weak, but...





Sandra's Etsy Shop (babycakesdnd) is filled with new releases today and be sure and check out the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group for more inspiration from the DT.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG, the Outlawz Paper a la Mode Celebrations Challenge, TTRCD AG for week of April 18th, Creative Knockouts Lots of Layers, Cute Card Thursdays #474 Birthdays, Moving Along with the Times Birds and Feathers, the Cutie Pie Challenge Bunnies or Chicks, the Corrosive Challenge April AG, Crafty Girls Creations April AG, and Pile it On Interactive and/or Birthday.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Christmas: It ain't over 'til it's over.


You'd think with 3 of the 4 themes on the Outlawz Festive Fridays challenge being Easter related I could come up with SOMETHING.  Yet here I am with the 4th theme, Christmas Lights, and those who really know me, know exactly why I named the post as I did.  That, of course, shall remain our little secret, eh? The fabulous image is #747 Christmas Evie by Sandra Caldwell.  She's colored with Copics and set askew on a Bingo card I designed in Cricut Design Studio a bazillion years ago.  I wound some additional Christmas lights around from Recollections and added a sticker sentiment by Echo Park.  Hmmm, she seems a bit tired of Christmas, don'tcha think?

I'm adding this to the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #56 AG, CHNC #329 AG Christmas, CHNC April Christmas Extra AG, The Holly and the Ivy AG Christmas, Seasons Greetings AG Christmas (without twist) and Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Christmas AG.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

You've got the MOVES!



It's the next to the last day for the current Old Folks Challenge in the Sandra Caldwell Stamp Fans FB Group and also the last day for the current Outlawz Wednesday Sketch challenge so I decided to do double duty.  I've #1373 Old Man Dancing, one of the 5 stamps chosen for the challenge that are only $1.50 through tomorrow, so if you'd like to nab some bargains, hop to it.  P.S. there are also a few cute Easter stamps on sale too.  You can see them all HERE.


I've colored him with Copics in the colors from the retro DP I chose from the Authentique 6x6 Dapper collection.  The design is the sketch (obviously) and I used music note stickers in the corners to to further the dancing theme.  the sentiment is computer generated.  I'm planning on using it as a birthday card, but think it would make a fun Father's Day card as well, don't you?

I'm entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #56 AG, Crafty Sentiments Men/Boy challenge,  Dragonfly Journeys It's Hip to be Square, Crafty Hazelnut's April Patterned Paper Challenge and Seize the Birthday AG Birthday.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Anything Goes at Aurora Wings


I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and aren't too full of chocolate bunnies and filled eggs to check out the new challenge at Aurora Wings.  We've made it easy for you with an Anything Goes theme, so there's no excuse not to join us. The sweet smells inspired me to use the gorgeous Honeysuckle Fairy,  available HERE on Etsy and HERE on AW.com.  I've layered 2 sizes of Spellbinders Labels Seventeen with a lacy Luscious Labels One in between.  I've been hoarding that scrap of ribbon for quite awhile now and the vine motif seemed perfect for this card.


Here's a closeup of Honeysuckle Fairy.  She's colored with Copics with a tiny bit of white gel pen on the tips of the stamens.  To be honest, I thought honeysuckle flowers were mostly yellow but found a huge array of pictures on Yahoo (my go to place for photo inspiration) and was surprised at the variety.  I couldn't resist adding a little dragonfly and hummingbird to the glorious blooms. These tiny detailed stickers are from Little B and I find them so lifelike and charming.



Here's the dimensional shot.  Just a couple of pops, but I find it still adds a lot
to the overall feel.  The gorgeous background paper is from K&Co.  It's my favorite DP to use with AW images.  The sentiment is computer generated and I thought the "sweet" sentiment evoked the aroma of honeysuckle blooms. I hope you come visit the Challenge Blog for fabulous inspiration from my Aurora Teamies and please come play along.

And don't forget the new April 2017 FB contest in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group.  Check it out HERE.  Did you know that you can enter the FB contests with coloring only, or even previous projects that fit the current theme?  Hope to see you there.


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

Aurora Wings Digi Shop (newly revamped!)

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Masculine for Outlawz Sunday CAS



Today I'm joining the gals at the Outlawz Sunday CAS challenge as Guest Designer for their masculine theme.  I suppose I could have thought about what day it was and done a masculine Easter card (which I did yesterday, as a matter of fact, but that stamp wasn't released yet. LOL)  Instead I went with a golf theme using Golf Stuff from Digistamps4Joy.  I imagine, if the weather is decent, there ought to be at least a few guys on the course today.  I've colored the stamp with Copics, Prismacolor pencils and gel pens, fussy cut and glued it to a die cut green of digital grass paper. I used the debossed side of the Cuttlebug Polka Dots folder to make the mat look like a golf ball.  The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, DS4J #135 AG, Creative Fingers #128 AG and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Steampunk Easter Bunny and Grand Opening of LeighSBDesigns


I'm so thrilled for my friend Leigh Snaith-Brunton, artist extraordinaire, who just launched her own Etsy shop of exclusive stamps yesterday and is celebrating with a Grand Opening.   I rushed to her Shop and immediately purchased her first stamp, Whimsical Steampunk Easter Bunny, at an introductory price through April 16th.  Every 3 days or so, Leigh will be adding her designs one at a time for the special price until her shop is complete.  WooHoo!  I've colored Stampunk Easter Bunny with Copics and metallic gel pens, cut him out with a Spellbinders Labels Seventeen and inked it with Distress whaile he was still in the die.  The Steampunk digi papers are from Bearly Mine which closed in Jan 2015 because of the EU VAT laws.  So sad.



Now did I mention a Grand Opening?  You betcha, and there are Freebies to be had.  You can read all about it HERE, on the LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog. Join her new FB Fan Group and come join the fun.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, the Outlawz Monday Greetings Easter Celebration,  Crafty Catz #366 AG/Animals (2/3), Simply Papercraft AG, Creative Moments #115 AG/Easter, Inspiration Destination #126 AG, Cards 4 Guys Animal Antics, Creative Fingers #128, Simon Says Wednesday Color Inspiration and 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #1 (5/5). 

Friday, April 14, 2017

Lovely Cat a rina



It's Friday and that means it's new release day for Sandra Caldwell and there's a new kitty in town.  Lovely #1325 Cat a rina is a dancing queen and twirls and twirls on her pretty pink stage.  I've made a spinner tent card with apertures cut with Spellbinders Labels 17.  The pretty paper is MAMBI and the computer generated sentiment was cut with on of the Spellbinders Fancy Labels.  the gorgeous crinkle ribbon is from DL.Art, as is the pink and white twine she spins on.  Her bouquet of white roses is from my stash.



Here's a closeup of #1325 Cat a rina.  She's colored with Copics with some Cotton Candy Stickles on her tutu.  I've carefully fussy cut her and attached her
to the twine and looky here.



She's got a back version, #1519 Back of Cat a rina that Sandra drew especially for me so I could make this card.  In order to get these kitties to match up, I first had to remove the background and import them to my printing program. Then I put one on top of the other until they matched up size wise.  They were printed and colored separately, fussy cut and then carefully glued together with the twine in between.



Here's a side view of the card.  In order for there to be enough room for Cat a rina to spin, I have a 1/2" shelf on the top and the  bottom accordion fold had to be quite a bit wider.  Hole were poked in the top and middle fold for the twine. Be sure there's ample twine to adjust on both ends.  It still folds flat...sort of.  

I tried so hard to get a video of her spinning, but to no avail.  You'll just have to take my word for it.  Haven't quite figured out the smart phone yet.

I'm entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, SUYP (cats only) April Furrything Goes, the Outlawz PAM Animals Challenge, Crafty Catz #366 AG/Animals, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, Crafty Critter Crazies AG, In the Pink Pearls (on either side of the sentiment), RRR #161 Flowers (with ribbon/trim)Crafty Gals Corner Pastels and Crafty Friends Animals or Birds.


Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Walking in the Rain


Well, Governor Brown has officially declared the drought to be over in CA (DUH!) and today is another dreary drizzly day.  Not that I'm particularly complaining, since we lost a lot of our landscaping the last few years, but I was up for a little sunshine.  Guess it's a great day to join in the Outlawz Festive Fridays with their Walking in the Rain theme using the adorable #1444 Wet Kitty by Sandra Caldwell.  He's colored with Copics and I've added some translucent light blue Nuvo Drops to the puddle on his umbrella, ground, and raindrops but I'm bummed that it cracked a bit.  I've not had that problem with the other colors I've used.  The raindrop digi paper is from AMBillustrations and I added a yellow partial mat to further brighten up the poor kitty's day.  When it rain, my Goliath runs from door to door thinking the weather will be different if he just finds the right one to go out.  LOL  Not happening.

I'm adding this to the SUYP (cats only) April Furrything Goes, CCC Creations Include an Animal, Crafty Animals AG, Crafting When We Can #141 Animals, Crafty Animals #1 AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, Crafty Friends Animals or Birds and DL.Art April Linky Challenge.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Cute Bunny Chick


I'm loving all the cute Easter Stamps by Sandra Caldwell and decided to use #504 Bunny Chick to enter in two of the Outlawz challenges this week.  I'm just under the wire for the Tuesday Color challenge and then thought, since I've got a busy week, I'd make it fit the Twisted Thursday challenge using the twist "Eggstatic Ovals".  My shaped card was done with Spellbinders Nested Eggs with some grass from Gina Marie.  Bunny Chick was colored with Copics and I've added a tiny rub on to his bunny ears and also to the eggs on either side. The flower, ribbon and pearl center are from my stash.



I'm also adding this to the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, the DL.Art Thankful Thursday Bunnie or Ducks challengeCutie Pie April Cute + Bunnies and Chicks, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, Simon Says Monday Hip Hop, Crafty Critter Crazies April AG and Crafty Friends #55 Animals or Birds.


Sunday, April 9, 2017

Guest Designing for the Outlawz CAS


I'm thrilled to be joining the Outlawz CAS challenge for the next two weeks as Guest Designer.  Our theme this week is Milestone Birthday and I was so happy to have recently purchased this Die-Versions retro car die that reminds me of a '57 Chevy.  Since it's 2017, it's perfect for a 60th birthday (although I can't think of anyone young enough to send it to at the mo.  LOL)  Anyway, I managed to get it cut out of some glittery specialty card stock that has sort of a smooth shiny plastic finish by using a shim and running it through my machine several times.  I colored the wheels with a Sharpie and did the sentiment in my Printmaster Platinum program.  Added some black sticker lines and matted with more of the red and called it done.  I kind of love it.

If you're not a member of the Outlawz Forum, just ask to join.  It's a fun supportive Group with loads of inspiration and there are 7 new challenges a week plus a monthly Freebie/Progressive challenge with prizes to be won on a monthly basis.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday Happy Birthday, Aud Sentiments 7th Birthday challenge Use Birthday Sentiment or #7 on your card or project, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, and the DL.Art April Linky Challenge.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Bloobel Progressive Meets Outlawz Sketch


Well, WOOHOO!  I decided not to be last minute for this month's Bloobel Progressive challenge in the Bloobel Stamps FB Group.  For a second month in a row, Lisa has given our choice of free stamp for participation in the previous month's challenge and added others in the series to purchase with a discount for a limited time.  You can see them all HERE.  If you're not already a member, I suggest you hurry and join the FB Group to nab the discount code because it ends MONDAY.  (Honestly, this is totally unsolicited, I just love the quirky Bloobel stamps)



I love to combine Lisa's images so I used the dancing Flower along with some quirky Tottie Tulips.  It just so happens, Bloobel Stamps is sponsoring the Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge this month so I checked out this week's sketch and used it for my card.  Instead of buttons, I sized printed and fussy cut the head of Camomile Flower.  Kind of a challenge because of the size, but aren't they cute?  I had some pretty trim in my stash and used that instead of rick rack.



Here's a closeup of Flower and Tottie Tulip.  I had a ball coloring them up with my Copics.  If you like fun and unique digis, be sure to check out Bloobel Stamps.  

Oh, and BTW, Lisa has a monthly Troo Bloo membership for only $5.00 a month which gets you 2 exclusive stamps that are only available to subscribers for three 3 months after they're issued plus a $1.50 discount once a month to purchase any other stamp of your choice.  Super deal.  Don'tcha think?

I'm entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, TTRCD Week of April 4th AG, Crafty Calendar April Showers/Spring, Crafting with an Attitude AG, Really Reasonable Ribbon Flowers with ribbon or trim, Crafty Gals Corner 3+ Layers, and Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "S" is for Silly.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Wild Roses from Sheepski Designs


This gorgeous Wild Roses image from SheepSki Designs was available for a very short time on the Through the Craft Room Door FB page and I was lucky enough to nab it to join in their March challenge, which thankfully has been extended, and the image is still on sale if you'd like to join in (but hurry!). I've seen so many gorgeous color combos using this image that I'm sure I will be coloring it over and over, but this time I've gone with a Springy peach and yellow combo using my Copics and Prismacolor pencils.  I've cut with a Spellbinders Labels One die and matted with the lacy Lucious Labels One cut out of patterned DP from Graphic 45.  The mint gingham is digital paper from AMBillustrations and I've added some flocked tulle tied with Primrose crinkle ribbon from the DL.Art Spring Bundle One.  The sentiment is a delicate gold sticker.  

I'll also be adding this to the SheepSki Designs FB Challenge 10 and the very first SheepSki Designs April Blog Challenge AG, TTRCD Week of April 4th AG, the Outlawz Monday Greetings Spring Colors challenge, the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday Happy Birthday, Die Cut Divas April Birthdays , RRR #161 Flowers (w/ribbon or trim) and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG .

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Happy Spring Training!



Okay, so I'm a little late.  Baseball season is in full swing, LOL, but I chose the sentiment for a reason.  The Outlawz Festive Fridays has 4 fun themes a week and this week one of them is Let's Play Ball.  I recently won a prize on the Miss Daisy Stamps FB page and chose this adorable Owl-Ways Baseball as one of my selections, specifically to join in (and because I LOVE the adorable owls you can see HERE).  She's colored with Copics with a little feather pencil detail.  The large baseball behind her is part of the free sentiment page included with the stamp and I also purchased the We R 3 Digital Baseball papers (also from Miss Daisy Stamps) that come in both pink and blue.  I decided to use the bonus sentiment that comes with the Happy Spring stamp, instead of the cute baseball ones, because of the flower.  I also printed the sentiment a little larger and fussy cut the flower to add her baseball cap so I could enter the current Miss Daisy April "Add a Flower" FB contest.  WooHoo!  I added the "training" part of the sentiment because it sounded cute to me.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, 2 Crafty Critter Crazies April AG (with critter), and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Santa's Reindeer for the Outlawz



I love playing on the Outlawz Forum and this week, on Festive Fridays, one of the 4 themes is Santa's Reindeer.  I couldn't resist using the adorable #23 Lil Rudy by Sandra Caldwell who seems to be taking a Spring Break from the shop or has retired altogether.  Well, I still love him (and not only because my grandpa's name was Rudy. LOL)  He's colored with Copics, matted and mounted on some reindeer paper from the Holly Jolly 6x6 paper pad by Pebbles. I kept it pretty CAS but just had to add some fun reindeer buttons with the shanks cut off.  Pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.

I'm also adding this to the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Season's Greetings Challenge #4 AG,  Simon Says Wednesday AG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #55 AG, CHNC #327 AG, and CHNC Extra for April AG

Monday, April 3, 2017

Easter Pastels for Aurora Wings


Our new challenge starts today at Aurora Wings with the theme of



I've made an Easter decoration using the adorable Mama, It's So Fluffy available HERE on Etsy and HERE in the AW shop and Easter Chick 2-pack available HERE and HERE.  I like to call it "Hanging with my Peeps".  I've had the paper mache egg shell with wire chicken feet for years and used to line the inside with plastic and fill it with wheat grass (I actually have 3 of them in different heights) for the Easter table.  We now go out for Easter dinner so I was thrilled to find a cute new use for this fun little receptacle.



Here's a closeup of the sweet kitty and all his "peeps".  I've colored with Copics with additional fur detail from Prismacolor pencils.  Mama, It's So Fluffy comes in jpg form only, but I've used the png version of Easter Chicks to merge two of them directly in my printing program.  I also flipped and printed some additional chicks to add to the scene.  They've all been fussy cut and I find when cutting fluffy animals, it's easier to use my curved manicure scissors rather than my craft knife, although I did use the knife to cut the small areas between their legs first.  For the really fluffy guys I snip into the fur to get the definition, while I just sort of rocked the scissors around the edges of the less fluffy guys which suggests texture rather than just cutting a harsh straight line .



All of the elements are stuck into some natural fiber "Easter grass" that fills the egg.  The woven basket is a new die from Gina Marie, as are the candy "Peeps" that I've run through my Xyron face down and dusted with glitter.  The lovely doily is from Heartfelt Creations.  I cut all of these element twice so I could sandwich a toothpick between them for stability.



Here's how the back of the basket looks.  I've cut it from digital paper from KJ Arting that actually is a basket weave.  The pattern is quite subtle because I reduced it to the size of the die cut.  However, the colors available were too dark for my pastel theme, so I experimented with changing the color in my Printmaster Platinum Program until I'd softened it enough. This doesn't work with all digital papers but it's always worth a try.  You can come up with some surprising results.

I wanted the decoration to be decent looking from all angles.  The gorgeous pastel crinkle ribbon is from DL.Art, the pink poufy things and mint green dealy bobs have been in my stash forever and helped fill in some space.



Even from the back the view is acceptable.  WooHoo!  I really had fun with this project.  Now run along and check out the gorgeous inspiration from my Stella Teamies and please come and play along, but not before you check out the fabulous Coupon that runs through Tuesday April 4th, good on both AW Etsy and AW.com.



Oh, and BTW, the new April 2017 FB contest just started in the Stamps by Aurora Wings FB Group.  Check it out HERE.  Did you know that you can enter the FB contests with coloring only, or even previous projects that fit the current theme?


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

Aurora Wings Digi Shop (newly revamped!)

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Ribbon and Flowers for Delicious Doodles



As the winner of last month's challenge at Delicious Doodles, I'm thrilled to be Guest Designing this month for their new Ribbon and Flowers Challenge. Although my first thought was to use one of Teri's dark images from her fabulous Dead Skulls Designs, since we met many years ago as DT sisters at Haunted Design House and I was also a DT member for her Delicious Darkness challenge (both sadly closed, sniff sniff), I decided instead to go light and Springy with the gorgeous Beautiful Blossom.  She's cut and matted with Spellbinder's Grand Labels Four with peach pearls from Want 2 Scrap and gorgeous hand dyed crinkle ribbon from the Mermaid's Tale First and Third Addition at DL.Art.



Here's a closeup of the stunning Beautiful Blossom image.  She's colored with Copics and I've added a bit of detail to the blooms with my Prismacolor pencils. I printed the image twice (in case I boobooed, but also) because I wanted to fussy cut and add dimension to 3 of the flowers and the gorgeous butterfly.

Thank you so much to Teri and the DT gals for letting me join them this month. Be sure to stop by the Delicious Doodles Challenge to see their gorgeous inspiration and come play along.

P.S. Delicious Doodles is also having a DT call so if you're interested in working with Teri's beautiful images, you can read all about applying in THIS POST.

I'm also entering this in the DL.Art April Linky Challenge, Simon Says Wednesday AG, TTRCD Week of March 28 AG, Creative Fingers #127 AG, the Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG, Crafts and Me April Things with Wings, and Creative Knockouts AG.