Friday, September 28, 2012

Winter Wonderland



I have to tell you right off the bat that I really like how this card turned out and that it was a happy accident :-).  And, no matter how many times I tried to duplicate it (and I tried quite a few times), I just couldn't.  What I was trying to duplicate is how the edges of the vintage book page tore off right around the image.  So this is definitely a one of a kind!

I created this card by stamping the church image (from Rubber Cottage) with Distress Ink (denim) and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder onto a very old, and somewhat fragile, book page.  Then I did the same thing with the sentiment, which is from Serendipity Stamps.  I had to mask this stamp to get it to stamp on two lines, as the rubber stamp is all on a single line.  I layered this book page onto dark navy cardstock, which is then layered onto another piece of a page from a different vintage book.  A bit of lace has been added between these two layers.

Once I had completed the card, I thought it might look better if I had used VersaMark and heat embossed with blue embossing powder.  So I decided to try and pry off this first book layer.  The edges tore perfectly around the image, and that was it.  It wouldn't budge.  Now I really liked it, but I still wanted to try my other idea.  It did look good with the darker image, but I could never get the edges to tear off so nicely (usually, it also tore into the image itself).  So I took some advice that I'm always giving my husband: be happy with what you've got.  And I am.

This card was also showcased on Rubber Stamp Madness' Facebook page this past Wednesday.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Twyla Twlight



It's the end of the month and you know what that means - the Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop.  Yea!!  I've chosen Twyla Twilight as the guest of honor for my post.  She's one of four new images this month.

She's colored with Copics and fussy cut out.  For the background, I used the faux leather technique that I discovered on Vicky's blog (thanks!).  I thought it would make a fun looking dungeon type wall.  (We all know that vampires can't have sunlight streaming through the place.)  I used Distress Inks (Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans) to ink up my "wall".  I added some jelly dots from The Rubber Cafe and Washi tape to complete Twyla's home decorating decor (less is best as far as she's concerned). On the inside, I added the Count Vladimir sentiment "I'm counting the days until I see see you again!"

For those that are new to the Dude Time Doodles blog hop, it's circular with no specific beginning or ending.  Just keep going until you've hit all the Dude/Dudettes.  Be sure to leave a comment with each of us as one of us is the Mystery Host.  The winner of a DTD image will be chosen from that person's comments.

You next stop should be Sharon.  In case you get lost along the way, here's the complete list for the New Release Blog Hop:

Leah Ann (guest designer)

Have fun hopping.  All the new images will be available by 10am EST.  So go by and pick up a few.

Giving Thanks


Giving Thanks Whisper die from Die-Versions practically makes the card for you.  Can't get much easier than that.

Did you know you can emboss with these dies too?  Well, you can.  I have the Grand Calibur and the sandwich is really simple - the base plate, the die (blade side up), cardstock, the embossing pad, and then the embossing plate.  (You'll have to experiment with your machine to see which sandwich works best.)

I ran my die through and embossed on this shimmery cryogen cardstock then I cut the die out of text weight (thin) white cryogen paper.  I inked it up with Distress Stains (Rusty Hinge) and placed it on top of the embossed piece.  It fits like a glove, giving you a quilted look.  Here's a bit better angle so you can see what I'm talking about.

I also dyed my twill and satin ribbon with the same Rusty Hinge Distress Stain.  I love how it has different tones, depending on the type of material you apply it too.  On the twill ribbon, it's quite a bit darker than the satin ribbon and it's lightest on the paper.

Head on over to the Die-Versions blog to see what the rest of the team has created using this month's new release.

It's always a good time of the year to be thankful for all your blessings.  Don't just wait till Thanksgiving time.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Calgon, take me away!



This week's theme from Paper Makeup Stamps' Digi Makeover Challenge is Anything Goes.  What better way to relax than in a bubble bath?  That's exactly what Caliope thought too.


My tag was embossed with a M-Bossabilities (Flower Fun) embossing folder and inked with KI Memories ink.  I used a Lifestyles Crafts die behind the image for a fun addition.  The water/bubbles have Stickles (waterfall) all over them for lots of sparkle and the image is colored with Copics.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp by Unity Stamps that I've had for ages.

I'm sad to say that this is my last post as a Digi Makeup Artist.  I can't believe that a year has already gone by - it went so fast.  I wish the rest of the team the best of luck and will be visiting them often.

Be sure to check out the other creations by the team. Also, give a big welcome to Donna, this week's guest designer.  You'll have one week to upload your digi masterpiece to the Digi Makeup Challenge blog.


Copics used: FBG2, BG05   Y08, Y35, Y11, Y02, Y06,    YR01, YR04, YR18,    G20, YG21, Y28


Friday, September 21, 2012

Jungle Eyes


It's time for Pattie's Creations newest challenge and it's an easy one - Anything Goes.  As soon as I saw this new image, Jungle Eyes, from Pattie, I had to have it!  This is such a stand alone image that I didn't think he needed any additional embellishments at all.  Copics were used to color him and glossy accents were added to the eyes.  I definitely want to color him again sometime in the future, but this time I want to try and make a white tiger - should be challenging and fun (at least I thing so :-P).

You have two weeks to upload your project to the challenge blog.  Just remember you must use either a stamped or digital image.  Super easy to do and super easy theme.  Don't forget to check out what the rest of the design team has created for you!

Copics used: Y26, Y28   E93, R11, R21, R22, R24, RV11, R37, RV69    E50, YR21, YR23, YR24, YR27, T5, T6, T7, T8, C1, E000

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Blue Girl


Hair always seems to be my nemesis.  So when I heard about a new e-book that helps you color long hair, I decided to try it.  You can purchase it from Make It Crafty and it includes this digi by Saturated Canary.

This was my first attempt at coloring this image (and all that hair) and I'm pretty happy with the results.  What do you think about it?  The book gives you step by step instructions as well as photos.  Zoe definitely makes it look easy.  Now if I could color any type of hair like this, I would be a very happy girl :-P.

Must keep practicing though!



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Have You Picked a Minor?



The theme for this week's Dude Time Doodles Inspiration Challenge is Greetings/Sentiments.  How easy is that?


I decided to use parts of the Coal Miner set from Bonibleaux Designs.  College is in full swing around here and I thought this would be a perfect sentiment for any college kid.  The images are colored with Copic markers and fussy cut out.  I created what I thought a coal mining tunnel might look like by free handing the opening supports.  The black background is actually a piece of a used plastic spiral notebook left over from my son's high school days.  I cut it out, rounded the top and adhered the coal cart to it and pop dotted the Coal Miner, since he's coming out for lunch.

The support was embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder (woodgrain) and inked with Distress Inks (Weathered Wood and Black Soot).  It was also pop dotted for more depth.  The sentiment is a Spellbinders die (grommet tag) and positioned above the tunnel opening (just like I've seen in old movies, with the name of that specific tunnel).  The card base is by Core'dinations.  I used the cut out portion from the supports for the inside to write a message and distressed it with Black Soot.

The sponsor for today's Dude Time Doodles Challenge is Create with TLC and the winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to the store.  You have one week to upload your Dude project that includes a greeting or sentiment.  You don't have to use a Dude Time Doodles image, but we all love it when you do.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Where in the World Are We?




This is the Sweet Petite Sailing Ship from Die-Version's September New Release.  I cut the shape out twice so I could change the color of the ship's sails and I also ran the ship through my Sizzix Woodgrain embossing folder.  Added a touch of Distress Ink and we're all set to set sail.

The background is actually from an old text book that was laying around.  It had lots of great maps in it.  The sentiment is a clear stamp by Stampendous that I heat embossed.



 Here's another idea for these cute dies - make cupcake toppers!  I used the same idea of cutting the shape twice so I could have different colored sails.  (I added a touch of Copic marker for shadows on the sails.)  After assembling the ship, I attached a toothpick on the back and stuck it into my cupcakes.  The ideas are endless.


Check out the new Die-Versions blog to see more great ideas from our design team and get ideas of other materials these dies will cut (think fun foam, thin cork paper, shrinky dinks.....)

Monday, September 17, 2012

Leif Monster


We're starting to get a bit cooler at night - a sure sign that fall will be here soon.   Leif Monster from Paper Makeup Stamps is the perfect digi to help us welcome fall.  And Welcome Autumn is this week's challenge from Digi Makeover Challenge.


Copics were used to color the image.  The leaves are from an old Creative Memories punch that I glittered and pop dotted around the image (like falling leaves).  Glossy Accents was added to his eyes to make them more googly.  The ribbon and papers have been in my stash for quite a while too.  (I don't think I throw anything away :-P ).

Don't forget to see what the rest of the team has created to help you welcome fall.  You have one week to upload your fall creations.  Just be sure to use a digi and follow the theme.  If you use a Paper Makeup Stamps digi and are selected as the lucky winner, your prize will be bigger.  Please give a warm welcome to Tina Keller, this week's guest designer.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

My Sweet Girl


A quick and easy card to put together.

Die-Versions dies: My Sweet Girl, corner adornments are negative pieces from the Cut the Cake die.
papers: Doodlebug Design, Fancy Pants, Bazzill
rubber stamp: 100 Proof Press
gems: The Rubber Cafe

Copics used: YR14, YR18, E09    E50, E51, E53, R20   T7, T10   YR31, YR21, YR23, YR24

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Wanda Witch


 Have you ever wanted to be a guest designer?  Wanda Witch certainly does and she's flying as fast as she can to the Dude Time Doodles Challenge Blog to get her chance!  For your chance, rush on over to the challenge blog, pick up Wanda for free this week, create something with her, and upload it before next Tuesday evening (9/18) for your chance to be the next Dude Time Doodles guest designer.

Wanda got all dolled up just for the occasion.  She put sparkles in her hair (Sparkle N Sprinkle's Blue Raven glitter) and spruced up her broom stick too with Evening Glow glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  The moon was also covered with Evening Glow glitter.  This is a semi-transparent glitter, so if you color the underside of what's being glittered, it will have a slightly different look than if you left the underside white.  That's why the broom looks more orange than the moon because I had colored it with oranges and yellows before adding the glitter.  Wanda is pop dotted in front of the moon and the background was a piece of glitter paper that I had in my stash for ages.  The clouds are from MFT and outlined with NuPastel pastel color sticks.

Head on over to Dude Time Doodles for this week's Freebie/Guest Designer Challenge and pick up Wanda Witch right away.  Be sure to check out the rest of the Dude/Dudette projects with Wanda too.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

A Little Hello

I have two posts today.  Please scroll down to see the other one.



Here's a quick and fun card that I made using fun foam and the new Sweet Petites Leaf die from Die-Versions.  These dies cut all sorts of material besides paper, so start experimenting and have fun.  The first think you need to do is cut out the shape you want in fun foam and then temporarily attach it to an acrylic block.  I used double sided tape for this.  Remember, if you are using letters, they need to be reversed.

I inked up my newly created stamp with chalk inks (any kind will do) and started stamping onto white cardstock to create my background.  I stamped second and third generations before re-inking in the different colors.  Now I have created a one of a kind background.  After I was happy with the results, I took off the fun foam leaf and permanently attached it to my card as my focal point.   I stamped a greeting, added hand stitching along the edges, and a bit of ribbon.

So think outside the box and create your own "stamps" using your dies.  Experiment and have lots of fun!  Be sure to visit the Die-Versions blog to see what other great materials (besides paper) these dies can cut.  Over the next week or so, the Dynamos will be showing off some projects using different die cut mediums that you won't want to miss.

Breast Cancer Awareness Girl

I have two posts today.  Please scroll up for the other one.


Dawn, one of my team mates at Dude Time Doodles, is having an extra special challenge blog that began on Sept 4th.  There are updates on 9/11, 9/18, 9/25 with the challenge ending on 9/29.  In honor of her mom battling breast cancer and loosing her hair from all the chemo, Dawn is shaving her hair to raise money to help find a cure for this disease.  There are lots of sponsors and prizes and you can find all the details on her blog, Dawn's Crafting.

The charity Dawn and her mom have chosen is Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  You can read Dawn's story and find out how to donate through the Just Giving Page Dawn has set up for this.

I've colored up Breast Cancer Awareness Girl, a Bonibleaux Designs image, with Copics and die cut the image using Spellbinders Labels Ten.  The hearts along the side are the negative portions from the Hearts Delight border die from Memory Box.

Head on over to Dawn's blog and help with this worthy cause.

Copics used: E000, E21, E11, R20    R32, RV29    B16, B18, B39, B63    E51, E35, E37, E47, E49    RV10, RV11, RV13, RV14, RV17, RV19, RV69, RV99

Monday, September 10, 2012

Me and Pops


Challenge #53 for Paper Makeup Stamps' Digi Makeover Challenge is to use monsters.  This was a really easy and fun challenge for me because the monsters are some of my favorite images to color from PMS.  They almost color themselves.



I've used Me and Pops and they are colored with Copic markers and then fussy cut out so I could spotlight them with a wonky circle shape from Lifestyle Crafts (it's really their Nesting Flower Die), but I love using the uneven circles in this set.  The card base is from Core'dinations and a bit of twine completes the look.  I also added a white square on the inside so it would be easier to write the sentiment and added a touch of twine inside as well.

You'll have one week to upload your monsters to the Digi Makeover Challenge blog.  Don't forget, you must use a digi.  Be sure to visit the rest of the team to see which monsters came out of their closets. Also give a warm welcome to Olivia, this week's guest designer and to Emily, our newest dt member.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Dragonflies


Today's challenge from Pattie's Creations is embossing - either wet or dry.  I've used this beautiful Dragonfly Stained Glass image and colored it with Copic markers.   The next step, since I really wanted it to look like stained glass was to cover the entire piece with Versamark and heat emboss clear embossing powder all over it.  This made the colors even more vibrant and it does look like stained glass with the sun streaming behind in in person.

Here's another photo so you can see a bit of the shine from the embossing powder.  Now it's your turn to use some embossing on your projects.  Don't forget to check out the rest of the design team's projects for even more inspiration.

Finally, be sure to visit Pattie's Esty store as there is a sale going on now, but hurry as it ends tomorrow, Sept 8.







Winner - Jen's Sunshine Charity Hop


Congratulations to Elizabeth Hart, my winner of the $15 Paper Makeup Stamps gift certificate from the Jennifer Scull Charity Blog Hop.  
To see all the winners, head on over to the Paper Makeup Stamps' blog or Party Time Tuesdays Challenge blog.


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Our Lady of Guadalupe


I'm so excited to share the news that I was chosen to be one of the new Sparkle N Sprinkle designers.  I discovered SNS this summer when I went to the Atlanta Scrapbooking Expo and bought a couple pots of glitter.  When I got home and used them, I loved them.  So I went online to see about purchasing more and discovered that a design team call was in progress.  I just knew I had to enter - and as they say, the rest is history.  

After making it to the semi-finals, we had to choose a digital image from the SNS store and submit it.  I chose Our Lady of Guadalupe by Michelle Perkett and colored her with Copics and added touches of glitter to the shining rays, the edge of the shawl and the stars on her shawl.  The background was created using gold cryogen cardstock and Cheery Lynn Designs (French Lattice large frame).  I added the negative pieces back to parts of the frame, exposing parts of the lattice work to the red background.  Liquid Pearls (gold) was added to her necklace for a more dimensional look.

Here is the link to the Sparkle N Sprinkle store and one to the SNS blog.  You can see the rest of the design team by clicking on the website's Info/Links button or click on my design team page on the top right corner of my blog.


Copics used: E00, E01, E11, E13, BV20, R11, R20    E50, E57, E77, E49    BG0000, BG01, BG05   Y000, Y00, Y02    Y06, Y28    R35, R37, E81, Y28    B23, B24, B26, B39
glitter: Sparkle N Sprinkle glitter (Evening Glow); PK Glitz glitter (honey)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Cool Blue




The First Wednesday Challenge from Dude Time Doodles is to use at least two shades of blue.  Pretty easy since blue is the color most associated with guys!

Zeke Zoro wanted to let you know he was up for the task of being blue.  He's colored with Copic markers and fussy cut out.  Then I used lots of coordinating shades of blue.

You have one week to upload your blue project using the InLinz button.  Don't forget to check out the rest of the Dude/Dudette projects or you'll be singin' the blues.


Copics used: G05, G16, G28      B34, B37, BG78   B24, B26, B28    E00, E21, E11   T6, T7   N4, N5, N6, N9

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Let's Talk Turkey


The September new release from Die-Versions is out and there are some great new fall dies.  The new Die-Versions blog is up and running too.  Be sure to go check out all the fabulous creations by the design team and see the rest of the dies and projects from this release.  So much creativity there!!  Plus you can see the videos on each die and Susan gives suggestions about each one too.

This is Tom Turkey and he is such a delight to cut out.  I cut him out three times with different colored cardstock and used the negative pieces to fill him in.  The sentiment is from Art Impressions and the grass is a MFT die.  The card base is by Core'dinations that I sanded down to reveal the core and design underneath.


Monday, September 3, 2012

Holly Fairy






Today's challenge from the Digi Makeover Challenge is to use buttons.  Fun and easy.  


The snow flakes are my buttons (I cut off the shanks so they would lie flat) and I used Holly Fairy for my image (although she's not in the digi section yet, I'm sure she will be soon).  She's colored with Copic markers and fussy cut out.  I added Distress Stickles to her wings and Diamond Dust to the fur color and the top of the boots.   The snowflake border is from Memory Box (Frosty Border) and Rubber Cafe gems were added to the centers of the snowflakes for added sparkle.

Be sure to visit the rest of the team and see their wonderful creations.  You'll have one week to upload your project using buttons.  If you use a Paper Makeup Stamps image, your prize will be larger.  Check the blog for a complete listl the rules.

Copics used: E00, E02, E13, R20   B12, B14, B16, B18   RV000   G17, G28, R14, R27   RV19, E49,   YG11, YG06, YG13, YG17