Monday, January 31, 2011

Tangled Jude


Jude is all tangled up in Valentine lights and doesn't know where the beginning is.  Poor kid; hope he gets them untangled by Valentine's Day.  Tangled Jude is a digital image from Simply Betty Stamps.  (Here's a secret: he was originally trying to untangle Christmas lights, but I changed them to hearts.)    As usual, I used my Copic markers to color in the image and chalked the background with pearlized chalks.  Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Ovals Large (#6) was used to cut out the image using the "out of the box" technique (you can see the cord's end dangling off the left side).

The tickets are two rubber stamps from Tim Holtz's 100th collection - Odds n Ends stamps by Stampers Anonymous.  Unfortunately, I don't have the ticket strip from Sizzix that die cuts the strip of tickets, but a friend does (thanks Donna).  So I borrowed hers and made about a 100 strips of tickets!  (Still need to get my own though.)  I used a bit of Smooch pearlscent ink (Pool) to highlight parts of the background paper.  I also used Copic's BG10 to slightly change the entire color of this patterned paper.

Copics used: YR12, YR18, E97    RV29, R29, E40, E50    B95, B97, B99    Y000, Y11, Y13    N1    BG10
Other ingredients: inks: chalk,  Memento ink; Mrs. Grossman's stickers; papers: DCWV and Tinkering Ink

Friday, January 28, 2011

I {heart} You - CM Valentine Blog Hop


Love is in the air and the Challenge Master Divas are celebrating by having a blog hop!  The hop is going to run from Friday, January 28th until Sunday, January 30th.  We have lots of prizes, fun, and inspiration for you this weekend.  If you have arrived from Colette's blog, you are on the right track.  If you just got here, then you need to head over to our Stash/Tag Diva Tammy's blog to get started.



All of the Divas have created love inspired projects for you to enjoy.  Also each of us have a word to create a secret phrase.  You need to stop by each blog, collect the words (they are all jumbled so you will need to visit each one) and once you have unscrambled them, send the unscrambled phrase to tealeaf@shaw.ca to be entered to win one of the two grand prizes.    Make sure to leave some love at each of your blog stops, you never know what you'll win.

Another way to win is to create your own love inspired project (it can be anything you love - a person, a place, a thing, a hobby...whatever "love" means to you) and upload it to the Challenge Master’s Gallery in the forum.  You'll need to register, but it's free. 

You will have until Sunday, February 13th to enter your projects and then, after careful deliberation, a winner will be announced on Challenge Master's challenge blog.  The grand prize winner will receive a great prize pack donated by our Stash & Tag Diva Tammy!  You don’t want to miss out - so start creating!  You can enter as many times as you wish as long as you create a new project each time.

And, now for my project....


I used the Spellbinder's Nested Hearts, fabric, and Copic markers.   My first step was to adhere a piece of fabric to cardstock for added stability and then I cut out all three of the nested hearts.  Since I wanted to base shape to be a heart as well, I left a small portion of the top of the largest die above my fabric, so it wouldn't cut all the way through - instant shaped card.  Next, I left the die in place on the largest and the smallest hearts and airbrushed Copic markers to get the stencilling details from the dies.  Finally, I layered the three shapes, pop dotting the middle heart for added dimension.







The word you are looking for from me is: "THE".   Now you are ready to hop on over Milie's blog for some more creative love.  Don't forget to leave comments everywhere you hop.  Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Stamping Dragon Design Grand Re-Opening






Stamping Dragon has gone off on their own and as a result, there is one heck of a Grand Re-opening.  What better way to kick off the celebration but to offer everyone a free image?  You can find it here but, remember it will only be available for this week.  So, hurry up and get it before it’s gone.  
In addition to the free image, you will get a chance to win a $5 gift certificate if you spend over $5 in the store


And finally, we're having a special blog hop for you.  Just hop from one Design Team member’s blog to the next.  Write down the question that you will see, hop onto the next blog and do the same, until you have hopped to all the blogs.  (HINT: all the answers will be found on our store website.)  When you have all the answers to the 8 questions, please email your answers, along with your name and email address to scrappy0126@gmail.com.  A winner will be announced on our Challenge blog on Feb 4.  If you want to leave a little love along the way (comments), they are definitely appreciated.  Also, keep your eyes on the lookout because you never know who will be offering candy on their blogs.  YEP….more good stuff!!! 
I'm excited to share my Teen Make-Up card. I printed the image twice so I could pop dot the eye shadow case and the flower zipper pull.  Most of the image is colored with Copic markers with a couple of exceptions.  The spilt fingernail polish and the end of the lipstick tube are colored with Smooch Pearlized Ink (Taffy).  The other thing I did was go over the eye shadows with a pearlized chalk for a sparkly effect (after coloring with Copics).  Spellbinders were used to cut the different layers (Grand Scallop Squares #3, Grand Squares #1, #4).  The final step was adding pearls with the Viva Decor Pearl Pen around the scallops.

Copics used: R81, R83    V12, V06    RV93, RV95    V15, V17    RV21, RV23    BV01, BV02    V91, V95    RV13, RV14    E31, E33    E25, E27    E000, E00    Y11, Y13, Y15, RV21, B000, C00    C1, C2    RV21, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y28
papers: Bazzill, Basic GreyIf you didn’t start from the beginning of the hop then please go to Janette’s blog for question #1.  (You should have arrived here from Tammy's blog.)



My question for you is "How many animal packs are there?"  
 Here's the line-up of questions and the order you need to hop:

Question 1: Janette http://stampingdragondesigns.blogspot.com/
Question 2: Beth 
http://inspiredbyfriends.blogspot.com/
Question 3: Nat 
http://lovecraftsforever.blogspot.com/
Question 4: Tammy 
http://tammy-tammyspot.blogspot.com/
Question 5: Anne 
http://annemade-anne.blogspot.com/ 
Question 6: Kate 
http://downrightcrafty.blogspot.com/
Question 7: Carolynne 
http://carolynnesblog.blogspot.com/ 
Question 8: Molly 
http://missmollycreations.blogspot.com/

Your next stop is Kate's blog for Question 6.



There you have it.  Have fun and good luck.  Remember to join us on Feb 4th, when SDD kicks off the month with a Special Challenge for you on our Challenge Blog

Guest Designer for AiFactory

 


I am thrilled to be a guest designer for AiFactory today!  The challenge theme is For The Boys, so your project should have a masculine feel to it.  That's easy for me since I live in a house full of guys (including all the animals).

I incorporated parts of three different images for my project today, plus I added a few things made with my Cricut machine and the Old West cartridge.  This cartridge had so many different icons that could have easily gone with my project, but I chose the Wanted Poster and the Lil' Cowpoke images.  For the poster, I distressed it with Antique Linen and Old Paper Distress inks.  I cut out the part of the saying I wanted and used Stickles to highlight the letters.

This handsome cowpoke (which is pop dotted for added dimension), the "wanted", and the cactus are all colored with Copic markers.  I fussy cut each piece out so I could make my own WANTED poster.  Here is a close-up so you can see some of the details. 


Head on over to AiFactory and see all the other wonderful creations made by the design team and then link up your own creation.  Thanks for visiting!

Copics used: E00, E01, E11, R20    E35, E37, E59    E43, E29    YR21, YR12    R14, R24, R29, R89    B93, B95,      YG 01, YG06, YG03, E11, E21    spica glitter pen

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

DTD February New Release Blog Hop

 I'm so pleased to bring you Hammock Harold today from Dude Time Doodles New Releases.  What a great guy and so many sentiments easily fit this image.  I chose one by Create with TLC

Poor Harold, his hammock has definitely seen better days; it's all frayed and wearing out but he can't find another red one!  I used Copic markers to color this image and Distress inks (Broken China, Tumbled Glass, Brushed Corduroy, Forest Moss, Bundled Sage) to create my sponged background.  For added depth, I pop dotted the top of the image and left the bottom flush along the background. 

Here is a close up, so you can see the netting I used for the hammock and how I pop dotted part of it.  The sentiment is attached with a brad, so you can move it around some if you want.


Copics used: E50, E51, E53, R20    G17    C3, C5    R35, R37, R39, RV99    YR16, YR12, YR00, R11    B24, B26, TY16    B0000, B23, B24, B26    E57, E59    Y13, Y15
Other ingredients: eyelets, netting, brad, pop dots


This Blog Hop does not have a starting or an ending point; so no matter where you HOP, you're at the right place.  Just keep going until you've HOPPED to each of us.

While HOPPING, don't forget to leave some love everywhere you land, including here!  One Design Team member will be secretly chosen as the "Mystery Hostess" and one lucky person who leaves a comment on the Mystery Hostess's blog will receive an image of their choice!  Once you have gone full circle, you have completed the Hop.  All the New Release images will be available in the store at 10 am EST.

Hop on over to Miss Cleota next!  We all hope you enjoy what you see along the way because we all have a blast putting it together for you.

These are all the places you will want to Hop to (in case you get distracted by all the art along the way): Ginny     Nancy     Tammy     Theresa     Fink    Anne     Cleota     Ruth     Hetty     Boni     Lynn     Shelly     Chrissy D     Dude Time Doodles

Thanks for joining us this month for the Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop!





Monday, January 24, 2011

SO last year


These cute bouncing bunnies are digital images from Hambo Stamps and they are so fun.  I didn't want the sentiment to be what you typically think of when you see this image - so I enlisted the help of my family.  My son came up with "Pogo sticks are SO last season" and I thought it was perfect and so unexpected!

The image was printed several times, using different sizes, and colored all with (lots of) Copic markers and fussy cut out.  I also applied Spun Sugar Distress Stickles to all the ears and noses.

I designed a mini stadium type base so the bunnies would be at different heights on the card.  I used my Scor-Pal to score this 12" x  5 1/4" cardstock and I scored the paper (going from left to right) at 3/4", 1 1/2", 2 1/2", 3 1/2" 4 3/4", 5 1/2", and 8 1/2" to make my stadium.  The cardstock is by My Mind's Eye and the final touch was the pearl dots using a Viva Decor Pearl Pen. 

Here's a closer look at the details:

This was such a fun card to make and there are so many sentiments that will go with this image.  I have another really fun Hambo Stamps image to share with you soon.

Copics used: RV00, RV02    W1, W3, W5, E40, RV0000    E00, E97, E77, E79, E0000    N9, N10, YR0000, RV000    E41, E31, E13, E51, E0000    V0000, V01, V12, B02, B06    BG11, BG13, BG32, RV11, RV19    Y04, Y06, Y08, Y15, YR07, YR09    R83, R85, E13, E15    E25, E27, R05, R08    C2, C4, BV00, BV01, E0000    G03, G05, FYG2, FV2, B79    spica glitter pens

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Fabulous


Dude Time Doodles is sponsoring Aly's Sunday Challenge this week and the theme is "For the Guys".  I decided Ken could represent the DTD dudes today.

Ken, from Bonibleaux Designs Digis, is one of those guys that looks in every mirror and reflection he sees.  Today is no exception.  He's looking in a mirror to make sure every hair on his head is just right!  But ya gotta love him anyway! 

The "mirror" was made using the Spellbinder's Beaded Ovals #4; I used heavy duty aluminum foil and then layered it onto patterned paper.  I added Viva Decor Pearl Pen (ice white) to the outside edges and highlighted them with a silver pen.

Ken is colored with Copic markers (YR20, YR 31, YR23, E50, E51, E53, R20) and then fussy cut (to better see himself).  The card base is cut using Spellbinder's Grand Ovals #4.  I left a small section of the die cut line above my card fold in order to make this into an actual card (and not a front panel).  The sentiment, which fits Ken to a tee, is from Create with TLC.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Happy news!

I've got a couple bits of news I'm very excited about and want to share. First of all, I am very happy to announce that I was accepted to be on the Stamping Dragons Design team.  (You can see my entry here).



And the second bit of news is that three of my projects (Chef Burly Becky,  Fall Splendor, and Altered Fabric tin) are going to be published in the February 2011 issue of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.  Both photos had to be removed for 30 days.  The February issue comes out on the 13th, so you'll need to head on over and check it all out.


More new projects coming shortly.  Thanks for letting me share my very exciting, jumping up and down for joy (to me) news with you!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Fabric Iris Fold


This is my first attempt at the Iris Folding technique.  This site has a good description of this technique and some patterns so you can try it too.  As usual, I don't do things the easy way.  Instead of using paper, as recommended, I decided to use scraps of fabric.  I really like this color combo and thought it would be perfect for a Valentine's card. 

I cut out my frame with a Deckled Rectangles Spellbinder's die and dry embossed it.  I followed the easy instructions and a basic pattern, layered the fabric in the correct order, and embellished the center with a button.  I'm really happy with the way this turned out and plan on making more soon.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Groovy - DTD Inspiration Challenge


Anything But A Card - that's the Inspirational Challenge going on at Dude Time Doodles today.  Trust me, you definitely want to visit all the Dudettes today (see side bar for a list of DTD design team blogs and visit our guest designer: Chris at her blog too) to see what they've come up with too.  You'll have one week to be inspired and to inspire us. 

My hubby saw the altered tin I made a few weeks ago (here's that post) and commented that he needed something like that to hold all of his guitar picks.  I'm such an organizing freak that I jumped at the chance to get all those things in one place.

I used parts of the Hippy Rocker set (guitar and sentiments) as my embellishments for this tin.  The guitar was die cut with Spellbinder's Deckled Mega Rectangles, Large (#2) and then colored with Copic markers (R35, R37, R39, RV99, E37, E57, E55) and Distress inked on the edges and background.

The background is cut from patterned music paper I had in my stash with Scrap-Mart's Label One dies made by Spellbinders.  Distress inks were used to ink these edges too.  (Love that stuff!)

For the words, I tried something a bit different and I really like the way it turned out.  First, I hand cut the words out and then covered them with Glossy Accents (love this look).  When it was almost dry, but not completely, I bent the sentiments and it gave it a wonderful cracked look; like it was really old.  Here's a close up of one of the words. (I also used glossy accents to adhere the ends of "Outtasight" and left the middle arched up, like a bridge.)




For the inside, I used the same music paper, inked the edges and covered both the top and bottom of my tin.  And as you can see, the guitar picks fit beautifully in this tin - now if he'll just keep them in there!   

THE RULES

1. It can be Anything But a Card. 

2. You are not required to use BDD images although it would make us really really happy and giggle a lot if you did!

3. MUST be a masculine themed card, you can use humor, innuendo, be a little naughty, sarcastic, but it has got to be for a DUDE!

4. Be sure to use the InLinkz  to submit your creation.

You have until January 25th (one week) to link up your projects.  We will chose our Top Three Winners and Top Blog Winner and announce them at Dude Time Doodles!  Good luck and I'm looking forward to see what you come up with.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Chef Burly Becky



Edited:  Chef Burly Becky was published in the February 2011 issue of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine. 


Today is the Stamping Challenge reveal at Challenge Masters and my challenge, as the Stamping Diva, is to paper piece part(s) of your image.  Registration is free and you have an entire month to complete all the challenges. 

This handsome dude is a Bonibleaux Designs creation named Chef Burly Becky.  (How would you like to have that name you were a guy?)  Since this is a digital image, I printed him out twice - once on plain cardstock and once on patterned paper.  I cut out the portions I wanted to paper piece and adhered them to the cardstock image.  I layered this image onto black cardstock and used one of the classic scalloped oval dies from Spellbinders for my backdrop.  All of the little black dots are enamel accents by Ranger (a very cool product).  The rest of Becky is colored with Copic markers.   All the papers are from the Domestic Goddess line by Graphic 45.

Copics used: E50, E51, E53, R20    B12, B14, B37    N1, N3     N4, N6, N8, 110    T4, T6    E17, E15    E07, E09  

Mark your calendars - the Challenge Masters Valentine/Love Blog hop is coming on Jan 28!  Lots of great inspiration and prizes along the way.  More details soon.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Stamping Dragon DT call

 Stamping Dragon Designs is having a design team call until Monday, January 17 and this is my submission.  You'll need to download this cute image and go from there.

I printed the image twice so I could cut out the fairy and pop dot her for more dimension.  I only pop dotted her head because I wanted her feet firmly on the dragon's hand.  It's a little difficult to see (since fairies are so small), but she has pink highlights in her hair to match her outfit today. She's very fashion forward.  Everything is colored with Copic markers, except for the background and I used pearlescent chalks for that.  The fairy's wings and her outfit are colored with Spica glitter pens.  I also added Distress Stickles (crushed olive and peeled paint) to the dragon's wings and horns. 

Here's a close up so you can see some of the detail a bit better.  Grand Labels One (#1)  by Spellbinders was used for the backdrop.  Both the striped paper (by October Afternoon) and the pink paper (manufacturer unknown) have been in my stash for a while.

Good luck to all those who apply.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Driftin' Denton

Today is the day for the Guest Designer challenge at DTD.  Keep reading for more info about this.


Driftin' Denton is a dude by Bonibleaux Designs and he has no worries; he's doing his best to simplify his life - by going to his favorite fishing hole!  Little does he know it, but Sashimi and Sushi II are watching him sleep.  (Both of these cuties can be found in the Digi sets at the DTD store.) 

I colored everything with Copic markers and then came back with LuminArte's Twinkling H2Os for the sky, boat, water, and the fish.  They really shimmer in person!  I cut out and pop dotted Sashimi and Sushi II (he looks really bored) for added dimension.  Here's a better look at all that sparkle and shimmer.
 How cool is that? 

The paper and stickers are from Creative Memories and I've had them in my stash for quite a while.  I also pop dotted the stickers so they looked more realistic as well.  The philosophy tag, "simplify" is by Tim Holtz.   I added a little Smooch Moonlight ink to the tag to make the letters stand out better.

Copics used: E07, R89    YR20, YR12, YR23, YR21    B91, B93, B97   yg93, YG97, C3, N5    E00, E01, E11, R20    R17, R29, W1    BG15, BG45, BG18

Now, there's a lot going on over at Dude Time Doodles!  It's even easier to remember what's going on (you can always look at my side bar to see the events calendar too) - all the challenges will be weekly and are on Wednesdays. 

DTD Calendar of Events

Monthly Challenges

1st Wednesday -
Sketch Challenge

2nd Wednesday -
GDT Challenge

3rd Wednesday -
Inspiration Challenge

LAST Wednesday -
NEW Release Blog Hop



Since today is the 2nd Wednesday of the month, that means it's time for you to head on over to DTD and submit your project to be our Guest Designer for next month!  You get to see all the inner workings of this fun group of Dudettes! 

Monday, January 10, 2011

Acetate Cross Bookmark

I created this bookmark by cutting a piece of acetate with the Large Deckled Mega Rectangles from Spellbinders.  I had to run it through my machine a couple of times for a nice, clean cut.    Next I took some Copic marker Various ink refills (B12, B14, B16), a Ranger blending tool and used these alcohol inks to make my background, using the pouncing technique.
I stamped my sentiment, a rubber stamp from I Brake For Stamps, with Staz-On ink on the back side of the acetate and  I adhered my crosses from Spellbinders



Sunday, January 9, 2011

My Baby - 1985 Fiero


Let's start off by saying this layout was made for my hubby!  This was the first new car he ever purchased, right out of grad school.  He was SO proud!

In addition to being the Stamping Diva, I'm excited to also be the new Hybrid Diva for the next several months at Challenge Masters.  We have 7-8 new challenges per week and you have all month to submit your projects - and it's free to join.  So, what are you waiting for?  This is the week for the Hybrid Scrapbooking Challenge.

Since I'm fairly new to hybrid scrapbooking, I did a little research and found this great website, Digital Scrapbook Experts, where you can download scrapbooking elements daily, for free.  My challenge to everyone is to incorporate a minimum of two elements from the current month's theme from this site into your layout.  I used three different elements from the first seven days - two sheets of paper and the theme title (which I cut up and used certain portions of).  I made my own double-sided paper by printing one sheet on one side of cardstock and flipping it over to print the other side.

 I also added a couple of other elements to my layout: hand died seam binding ribbon (spritzed with Glimmer Mist until I was happy with the color) and the paper flowers.  I really wish I remembered where I saw this great idea so I could give that person credit.  They are really fun and easy to make.  For the centers of the flowers, I used the Epiphany Crafts round Shape Tool.  That way I could coordinate the centers of my flowers with the papers I used in my layout.

Here's a close up of one of the flowers.


So, head on over to Challenge Masters, sign up, and join in on all the fun.  It's not just for scrapbookers; there are enough challenges for everyone to feel right at home.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Sleep Alone


When I saw these two digital images by Create with TLC, I just knew they belonged together!  I loved the simplicity of the vintage woman and decided to use pearlized chalks to give a soft, faint amount of coloring.  Although it was really difficult to photograph these light pastel colors, you can envision it (or come see the card in person).  Her dress is a soft green and the sheets are a light blue, all of which matches the faded yellow stripes of her wallpaper.  She's sleeping alone (again!) because she snores!

Here's a close up, so you can see a little more of the details.


Enjoy!

Friday, January 7, 2011

My Top Ten List

I recently celebrated my first blog-aversary in December.   December was so hectic with the holidays that I really didn't think too much about this mini milestone.  Then I saw this idea on E.T's blog (thanks again!) and thought it would be a perfect way for me to celebrate my little milestone.  So, I've chosen ten of my favorite projects from the past year.  It was still hard to narrow it down to just ten.  These are ones that I liked the best (of course, I have the benefit of seeing them in person and sometimes, that makes a huge difference) and they aren't in any particular order.

1. Lazy Summer Days

2. Looking Ahead

3. Posy Patch purse
4. First Kiss

5. Bon Voyage 

6. Little Boy Blue

7. Waylon Waves

8. Give Thanks

9. Sammy Scarecrow

10. Holly Branch

Thanks to all of you who have checked out my blog this past year, and especially to those who have left all those kind and funny comments.  Here's hoping for many more years of Top Ten Picks to celebrate my blog-aversary!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

DTD Jan Sketch Challenge


Guess what?  It's time for the Dude Time Doodles sketch challenge!  I've combined Ride Like The Wind Rocky and Putt Putt Hearts from Bonibleaux Designs.  As you can see by Rocky's tat, he loves his mom (what a good boy)!

To create Rocky, I printed him twice, so I could add dimension to his arm and leg.  It's a little hard to see in the photo, but I pop dotted his hand, his knee, and his foot.   (His shoulder and hip are flush with the body.)   He really does look like he's riding his Hog in real life!  I used Copic markers for all my coloring.  The background and the sunburst (a rubber stamp from 100 Proof Press) are airbrushed with Copics.  (I love how you can turn the marker one way and get a smooth result and turn it the other way and get speckles.  I'm partial to the speckles - as you can tell!).

I wanted the putt putt heart exhaust coming from the pipes to be more like puffs of smoke, so I used Liquid Applique on each one and then outlined them in black so they stood out better.  I also used a silver metallic rub on for all the chrome on Rocky's bike.  The sentiment is a play on words from the song "Born to Wild" by Steppenwolf :
Get your motor running 
Head out on the highway 
Looking for adventure 
In whatever comes our way

Do you have the song running through your head now?  At least it's a cool tune!   Now it's YOUR turn to play (Valentine's Day IS just around the corner). 





Here's the sketch and the rules.  
  1. You will have one week to flip the Sketch, twist the Sketch, work the Sketch and submit the Sketch.
  2. You are not required to use Bonibleaux Designs, although it would make us really really happy and giggle a lot if you did!
  3. MUST be a masculine themed card, you can use humor, innuendo, be a little naughty, sarcastic, but it has got to be for a DUDE!
  4. Be sure to use the InLinkz button at Dude Time Doodles to submit your creation. 
Designer ‘Rain Drop Echo’ (also known as Ann) is our wonderful sponsor this month.  Ann creates sentiment and digital word art files and watermarks/custom watermarks which are available for purchase at Whimsy Stamps.  She also coordinates the Challenge Blog Sentimental Sundays.  Check out Ann’s blog to see her amazing projects.  Then head over to Dude Time Doodles to check out what Ann has graciously donated to the winner this month.  


The Top Three and Top Blog winners will be announced on Tuesday,  Jan 11 at Dude Time Doodles.  So be sure to check back to see if you won!

Copics used (in group order): E50, E51 ,E53, R20    R17, RV14, R27    B21, B26    N4, N5, N6, N7, T5, T6, T7    R46, R27, RV09      E49    W000, W00, WO     T5, T6, T7     B00, B24, W6, W7    FY1, R08,W00