Sunday, August 31, 2014

New Lacy Sunshine Challenge-Include a Window


The new challenge at Lacy Sunshine starts today and the theme is Include a Window.  

I've used the adorable Georgia's A Lil Magic Secret Window and borrowed a witch's hat from Eleanor Trick or Treat Flight.  Never too early for Halloween, eh?  It was the "Magic" that made me do it.  LOL  The DP's are all from last year's Graphic 45 Steampunk Halloween.  I just love the rich, saturated colors, don't you?

And here's the beautiful Georgia, colored with Copics in the same vibrant hues.  Click HERE to see how she comes without the hat.  That addition was made by fussy cutting Eleanor's hat HERE, and making some small slits in Georgia's hair to fit the hat in.   I've added Glossy Accents to Georgia's eyes, lips and the tinted window panes and glued on mica flakes enhanced with Waterfall Stickles for the "magic" floating from her bowl.



Here's the dimensional shot.  I've fussy cut the background away inside the window and popped it all up from the black matting.  The sentiment is done with punch out typewriter keys (also Graphic 45) covered with adhesive acrylic domes and the rest is computer generated.  Be sure to check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Sunshine Girls HERE.  We are all showcasing the Secret Window Collection.  Hope that you can join us.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday ATG Challenge, TTRCD ATGCute Card Thursday ATG, Aud Sentiments Anything Other Than Birthday, Little Red Wagon Girl Power,  Inky Impressions ATG, Tuesday Throwdown ATG, Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge ATG, and Fan-tastic Tuesday ATG.

Monday, August 25, 2014

New Aurora Crown from The East Wind

Hi guys, I'm home and thrilled to be blogging again after a wonderful trip to CO to take the daughter of one of my BFF's to college.  There's a gorgeous new image at The East Wind today.  Here is Lucy Loo 'crown'.  Besides being totally fabulous in her own right, in addition to the normal jpg, png, no back ground png and light lines for no lines coloring, this digi also comes with a BLACK background.  I'm all over that!  How dramatic, and no fussy cutting, eh?  Well, while in my Printmaster Pro program I also did a bit of playing with other colors, turning the entire digi royal blue, teal, and deep red.  Here's the result. How cool is that?
To start, I decided on the deep red background.  Thought it would be fun to do something totally monochromatic.  So here's my coloring.  Believe it or not, I only used TWO colors of Copics.  TWO!  That's it!
E04 and R000 that's all it took, and here's the finished card.  Awesome, eh?  Imagine the possibilities.  Unfortunately, because of my trip, I was unable to  color more before I went, but I plan to make a whole set of these as well as coloring her up brightly using the fab black background.  Love this new option for this image, don't you?

My DT sisters have their own renditions of Lucy Loo 'crown' that you can see on The East Wind FB page as well as The East Wind Group page where a new FB contest started while I was gone and the theme is AAARgh...Pirates. And stay tuned for our next Blog Challenge which starts Sept 1.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Aurora Wings Challenge #6 Under the Sea


A new challenge at the Aurora Wings Challenge Blog starts today and the theme is Under the Sea.  I got a little carried away with my project, a tunnel book,and have gobs of pix, so sit back, relax, and hopefully enjoy.  And yes, I suggest you DO grab a cuppa, because even if you don't read all this, there is still LOTS to look at so...  As soon as Mitzi release the adorable Mer-tots, I knew I wanted to make some kind of book, and although I thought I understood the basic idea of a tunnel book, I'd never made one so I Googled it and found a fabulous 3 part tutorial on YouTube by Craft Knife Chronicles that helped me out with my construction.  Hers, however was all done with Graphic 45 papers so no coloring was involved.  This is my book standing open.  I wanted to give you the money shot right up front so hopefully you'd come see what it all was about.  LOL

But let's back track and take a look at the book closed.  Here's the front cover featuring Sea Turtle Kiss, the newest in the Mer-tot line.  The bold graphic DP is from the Gecko Galz Beachy Keen digital paper pack.  The book opens as a gate fold and the framed panel has hidden magnets that attach to the right side to keep it closed.  I've added 3 blue fish from JoLee's boutique to balance the design a bit.  The flexible sides are corrugated card stock.



Here's that Sweet Sea Turtle Kiss.  Isn't she adorable?  She also is available in the original version with 3 other turtles swimming around her if you prefer. I've colored her with Copics and given her a dotty background that reminds me of bubbles.

When you open the book, you can see the accordion structure that makes the tunnel for the scene.  DP for the accordion is Gecko Galz again, this time from the La Isla Bonita digi paper pack.  The inside cover DP is Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue 8x8.  There are 3 layers plus the back and are a bit bowed when looking from the top, because it's difficult to cut everything exactly the same, but it doesn't really affect the dimension from the front.



So here we are head on again.  Each 8x8" frame was cut with Spellbinders Grands Labels in both solid card stock and more Gecko Galz DP.  The sand is actual sand paper that I've torn and attached from behind.  The scene features Aurora Wings Mer-Baby, The Gift, and The Secret, as well as Fancy Goldfish.

Here's Mer-Baby.  Just look at this little guy sucking his thumb!  Don't you just want to take a bite out if him, he's so yummy!?  He's popped from the front panel and I've snuck a little shell under the anemone.

In this corner we have The Gift.  I just realized after posting this picture that I forgot to add a pearl to his oyster.  Fixed now, but I'm too tired to take another.  This couple was the most difficult to anchor to the frame.  At first they were only attached by her hair and tail.  Some Magnolia die cuts, that I've also colored with Copics, helped stabilize them.  On the front panel is another die and more shells by JoLee's Boutique.



And finally, The Secret completes the scene.  Looks like they're whispering about the two lovebirds, doesn't it?  these gals are attached to a transparent panel that was printed with the same digi paper as the back, inverted and taped between the frames.  The fish you see in the background here, and in the previous pic, are actually on the back wall.  If you'll notice, I kept the color scheme fairly tight.  Both redheads have the same color tails as do the boys, and the Blonde girl matches the tail of the mermaid on the front.  

Even the fish are colored in the same hues.  I used Fancy Goldfish both in the background of the scene and on the inside panels.



Since I was taking these late at night (or should I say the wee hours of the morning) I had to used my light box and for some reason the colors of the fish only came out good at these angles.  Weird, huh?

Well, we're almost there.  Finally around to the back with more Gecko Galz digi paper and Whimsical Seahorse with Wings.  Originally I planned to use a tiny version of him in the inside scene, but I ran out of room.  LOL



Have to say, I almost left him off, but now I'm so glad I kept at it.  Isn't he magical?  Not the easiest to fussy cut, though.  LOL (but totally worth it!)

Well, thanks to all (any?) of you who made it though this mega post.  It took me almost as much time to write it as it did to make the project.  (Not hardly!)  I'm really pleased with it, though.  The whole team really brought their A Game this week so be sure to visit the Challenge Blog to see why we've been burning the midnight oil. Hope to see you join in, and if you finish your project before the end of the month, you can add it to the current Aurora Wings Mermaid Madness FB contest as well.  Don'tcha just LOVE a two-fer?

I'm adding this to the 613 Avenue Create ATG/no optional Twist, Come and Get It Fish or Fishing, TTRCD ATG Aug 12-18thDragonfly Dreams Inspired by a Book you Read as a Child or to a Child (The Little Mermaid), Color Me Scrappy (color challenge plus Ode to Summer and Eclectic Ellapu Seaside or Nautical

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Back to School with Lacy Sunshine


It's time for a new challenge at Lacy Sunshine and the theme is Back to School.  Where has the summer gone, eh?  There are lots of adorable Back to School stamps at the Lacy Sunshine Shoppe, but Eleanor and Pickles caught my eye.  It was the backpack.  You see, 4 years ago I made a similar backpack for one of my BFF's daughter because she was starting high school and on Wednesday, she, her Mom and I are flying to CO to take her to U of CO Boulder.  OMG!!!!  COLLEGE!  I can't believe it.  (BTW, This is the girl who invented the word "boofy", meaning beautiful, at age 3, and you all know we still use it today.  sniff sniff)  So I thought it would be fun to make her a new backpack and card.   It'll be fun to see if Hayley remembers the first one.



I made the backpack from a tutorial from way back by my dear friend DeeDee. I still had some of the cute apple DP (do you believe that!?) and dragged out my Cricut to cut the apple from the Create a Critter cartridge.  I sized Eleanor and Pickles to fit the opening and colored according to the scheme of the paper.  I also printed the image twice more, once for the card, and again to fussy cut Pickles to peek out the side.  See him up there?  I Hayley's name in Alpha Beads, just like the first one.


 Here's the side view.  It has straps and everything,  Isn't it cute?


The card is simple, as I wanted the image to take center stage.  They're colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped a top an oval cut with Spellbinders. Instead of "Back to School", it says "Off You GO".  We still can't believe it...COLLEGE!

There is tons of inspiration by the rest of the Sunshine Girls, so be sure to stop by the Challenge Blog and for a real treat.  We sure hope you join us for our Back to School Challenge.

















Friday, August 15, 2014

New Challenge at The East Wind


WooHoo!  Today our new challenge starts at The East Wind Challenge Blog. Our new theme is "For the Kiddies" so I couldn't resist the adorable Baby Aurora "Angel", inspired by Kyra's own daughter, Aurora. Tell me she isn't the most precious little thing EVER!  This sweet card was done with Dp's from Graphic 45 and die cuts from Spellbinders.



I've colored Baby Aurora with Copics in the colors of the papers and added some lovely flowers from Recollections and Prima.  I've tried to go a little bolder with my shading and added some pencil work after watching Kyra's fabulous speed coloring videos on YouTube.  What a fascinating opportunity to see an artist at work!  Be sure to visit the Challenge Blog and see the fun inspiration from my teamies and don't forget to scroll down to see the winners of our Beach challenge.  And there's still a few days left in our Just for a Laugh Facebook Contest.  Hope to see you there.

I'm entering this in the August Crafty Little Fairies Cute and Cuddly Challenge (entry 2), Hobbybook All About Kids, Fan-tastic Tuesday ATG, the Outlawz Monday Greeting Cards Use Circles, Crafting by Designs Polka DotsPapertake Weekly Spots and Dots, the Fitztown Challenge Just for Kids, Love to Create inspired by a Book, Song or Movie (Song Brahms Lullaby), and Dragonfly Dreams inspired by a Book you Read as a Child or to a Child (Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Say Goodnight).

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

New Delicious Darkness Challenge #1!


I'm very excited to announce that the very first Challenge at The Delicious Darkness Challenge Blog is now LIVE and I am on the team!!!  Our first theme is ATG, (as long as it's DARK or alternative) and you needn't even use a Delicious Darkness stamp. It runs from the 13th of every month to the 10th of the next so there's plenty of time to play.  I've created a wall hanging which started out as a fairly simple project but just grew and grew.  And so did this post, so grab a cuppa, you're gonna be here awhile.



This inspiration came first from one of Teri's newer stamps, Disturbia, with it's giant pile of creepy characters.  A good portion of the DD team also resides in the dungeon with me at HDH (imagine that!) so this reminded me of them.  xx I printed this stamp 5 times so I could fussy cut the crew and add the dimension I so love. (Better pic of that later.) Fortunately, there was minimal coloring to do, just my usual fave combo of WG! and G21 for Zombie flesh, some more warm grays for shadowing, and a couple of other greens for the lovely snakes slithering about.  After distressing the edges, I chose one of the digi papers from the Beastly Paper Pack (a total "must have").



When I saw this sentiment from Ginger's House I couldn't believe the luck! We're a tight knit bunch and this really fit the bill.  Cut and matted with Spellbinders Labels One and inked with Distress.  OOOH, notice the google eye?  They're splattered throughout.



However, the hanging was a bit lob sided now with that large sentiment, so I looked to the papers of balance it out a bit.  Ah yes, Teri's Pentagram did quite nicely.

This weekend, I went to the Scrapbook Expo in Santa Clara hoping to score, among other things, some more of the Melissa Frances hangers I so love.  However, much to my dismay, they no longer make them in black.  Bummer!  Not that I can't paint the, but...  Anyway, I bought a number of them and tried a few and this, a new style for me, looked the coolest.  However, it needed something to darken it up a bit (besides a bit of Distress Ink).  So on with the Ram's Skully (also from the DP).  WooHoo!



But, of course, I just could leave it flat.  Printed 5 times and fussy cut, here's the dimensional shot.  By the end of this project my hand was in spasms!



And finally, the dimensional shot of my bunch of crazies.  I considered naming them but didn't want to cause any more chaos. (But I'm the one middle left with her mouth open, big surprise.)  Thanks for hanging in there with my longer than long post, but, as you can tell, I really, really, REALLY love this project.

So, if you haven't visited the new Delicious Darkness Challenge Blog, you're in for a treat.  Go meet the team and check out the fabby makes and by all means, come play along.

I'll be adding it to the following dark themed blogs:  Left of Center ATGPYG August ATG Challenge, A Step in the Dark ATG.  And the mainstream Oldie but Goodie Black and White Plus One (Green and my oldies are the google eye's that are so old, some of them have turned a bit cloudy.), All Crafts Anything but a Card Aug/Sept, and Anything But a Card Repeating Motifs

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Showcasing the New Lucy Loo 'Cat on the Head


Today I'm showcasing the newest digi from The East Wind called Lucy Loo 'Cat on the Head' over on The East Wind Show Room.  Gotta say she cracks me up, so I thought she'd be a great reminder of the "Just for a Laugh" FB contest going on now through August 17th.  Since it was all about the hair, I used bobby pin DP from the DCWV All About Girls mat stack and framed her with my Spellbinders Labels Twenty Eight.  My BFF Lisa helped me come up the the sentiment and I couldn't resist adding a mousey border done with my MS punch.

Lucy Loo was so much fun to color with my Copics and I just can't stop giggling about that cat on her head.  You can always count on Lucy Loo to inspire a humorous sentiment with that attitude of hers (or in this case, should I say "catitude"?  LOL)  Come on, join our FB contest and make us laugh!
I'm entering this in the Going Grey with Scrap-Creations Animals Challenge, 2 Cute Ink Animals,  Through the Purple Haze ATG/Femme Fatale Twist, Fan-Tastic Tuesday ATG and SOSS "Z" is for Zoo (or any other animal or animal print, man, those chicks are easy).  Hope to make one with an actual Zoo animal but might not make it due to a crazy couple of weeks, but I thought you might get a kick out of this.xxx


Friday, August 8, 2014

Aurora Wings Marie Nyantoinette


There's a new release at Aurora Wings, Marie Nyantoinette.  You can find her HERE on Etsy, and HERE in the AW Web Shop. (Be sure to stop by the Aurora Wings Showcase Blog for the fabulous explanation of the name and historical background of the image itself)  My Jezebel is over the moon about her. "Look Mommy!  Mitzi drew MEEEE!!!!! and I'm sooo boofy!", she exclaimed.  "You must color me immediately and of course make me PINK."  (Jezzie's a really girly girl, and BTW, in case you don't read my blog regularly, "boofy" means beautiful).


So color I did, with my fave Copics, in all kinds of pink, from the lightest blush to the darkest I had.  I tried all kinds of backgrounds before I finally decided that a dark wine really made the image pop and set about making this wall hanging with my Spellbinders Grand Labels Four.  I considered all kinds of bits and bobs but the frothy dies from the Spellbinders Elegant Labels Four cut in pristine white, a sheer organdy bow and a one word die cut sentiment (from SU) were all I really needed.


I did, however, print the image 3 times so I could fussy cut and add dimension.  Jezebel thinks I should save this for a Valentine for her Daddy from the both of us.  However, it's pure fantasy because Jezzie NEVER let's me pick her up without all kinds of fuss.  LOL  Wish she'd be a friendly to me as she is with her Daddy.


And finally, at her insistance, is Jezebel's closeup.  Boofy she is, even though she's a brat.  Now, the fun of these showcases is seeing the image done in all different colorways by my DT sisters.  Click HERE to see Marie Nyantoinette in all her glory.  And don't forget our current Sprite Delight Challenge running through Saturday August 16th and the current Mermaid Madness Contest on Facebook.

I'm entering this in the 613 Avenue Create ATG w/Optional Friendship Day Challenge, the DLArt August Linky Challenge, Crafty Little Fairies Cute and Cuddly, In the Pink ATG as Long as it's Pink (Happy 2nd birthday!), the Crafter's Cafe Lots of Layers, Crafting by Designs Vintage/Shabby Chic, Crafting for All Seasons "Feature a Creature", the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card How Do You Pamper Yourself Challenge , TTRCD ATG Aug 5 and Simon Says Monday In the Family.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Another One Layer

Don't faint!  It's another CAS one layer card from me.  Yeah, I know, who am I and what have I done with Donna, eh?  Well, besides the SOSS, I was hanging out with the Outlawz and their Sunday CAS challenge this week is watermelons.  Ummm...ok.  Well, it just so happens I have the most adorable image from A Day for Daisies called A Big Slice, so I just had to sneak this one in too, in between my exhaustive (but totally worth it) efforts I'll be posting tomorrow.  Same cheapy CS, but this one I managed to color...with PENCILS!  I have to admit this isn't the suckiest job I've ever done with pencils and there's no bleed through, even after blending (sort of) with Mineral spirits.  WooHoo!

I am actually gonna enter this also at the SOSS "L" is for Layer Challenge even though it isn't snarky.  They keep reminding me it doesn't HAVE to be snarky, (but really, what's the fun in that?  LOL)  But if you look at the sentiment and the bite out of the bottom of that card and look at the kid doing the biting, it would be more likely at his age to be gumming it to death.  Perhaps not snarky, but at least worth a chuckle.  (And look Donna, I managed to snap the pic before Edna had a chance to card or photo bomb it.)

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

"L" is for Layer at SOSS


Ok, so I read the "L" is for Layer at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers and think "WOOHOO!  Do I know how to layer!" but uh...no, not layerS, LAYER, meaning ONE (or if you must, because you are worried about f'ing up your card base, 2 at the MOST).   In other words CAS, not my strong suit.


However, if Edna (my Mom's name, which totally cracks me up, however she does look more like my Auntie Lee) can go flat, so can I.  So above you see my one layer card, done in Printmaster Platinum, using eyeglasses from The Graphics Fairy, that went perfectly with the sentiment I saw somewhere on the net and wrote down because I'm sure in a few years that will be me, and also because they look a bit like Edna's.  WOW!  How's that for a run on sentence?  I'm in rare form today, eh? Well, Edna snuck on the corner of my card (my Mom was pushy like that too) but was really pissed when I left her colorless (but Copics would have bled through my CS 'cause I use the cheap stuff).


Visit Sister Lee (aka Violent Kitty) to grab your own Flat Edna.  Mine insisted on some color and posing with the card.  (See, I told you, PUSHY!)  In case you're trying to read it on one of those itty bitty smart phones it says:"God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference."  AMEN!


Since coloring took up the better part of my morning, I skipped my walk, so Edna, always the taskmaster, put me through my paces in the exercise room.  First the elliptical trainer.
 
Then chest, back and shoulders on the weight stack.


And finally, dumbells for biceps and triceps.
 

Phew!  Time for some liquid refreshment.  Red or white?


Red it is!  Tah!
 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Macabre Monday Deja-Vu Doo Week Deux


Ok, Halloween fans, it's week two of our Deja-Vu Doo Challenge at HDH and we only have a few brave souls who have taken the challenge so I'll spell it out for you again.

The idea for this theme is to reuse a previous image, technique, paper, etc...that you have used recently, but in a new wayIt will be necessary to explain your reused object or idea, in your blog post.

I've used a MS paper mache skull half and covered it with metal tape that I embossed with the TH Riveted Metal folder, then antiqued it with some Spanish Copper Rub'n Buff.  It's mounted on black card stock embossed with the Cuttlebug Gears folder, also enhance with Rub'nBuff, this time Silver Leaf.  The little metal plaque plaque (TH) says "possibility begins with the imagination" and is bordered by cogs to further enhance the Steampunk feel (BTW, I used this same one when transforming my Grandpa's bowler).  I've stuck the whole concoction on a soon to be Art Journal before realizing how terribly inconvenient a big honkin' skull will be on the cover when I go to actually use it.  Oh well, you all know how often I do AJ pages, eh?


Previous project made with MS paper mache skull halves using a technique from Andy Skinner's Book of Ruination class.  Not so hard...SEE?  More deets on this one HERE (in case you missed it.)  Be sure to stop by HDH to see the rest of the Minions inspired makes (scroll down to see Week 1) and and put on your thinking caps and some play with us!

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday ATG Challenge, and the Punk You Girl August ATG.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

New Challenge at Lacy Sunshine!


I'm thrilled to announce that I have moved from the Lacy Sunshine Creative Team to the Sunshine Girl Challenge Team and today is my first posting there.  Our new Challenge is Summer and my DT sisters and I are showcasing images from the adorable Sticky Wings Collection.  I have used Honey Sticky Wings (scroll down to find yours) and her Beehive Snowglobe, available in the Digi Bits Section of the Shop.


Isn't Honey the cutest ever?!  I've colored her with Copics, fussy cut and popped her in front of the hive.  There are Stickles on her wings and Liquid Pearls added to the honeycomb on her head.

It just so happens that Honey is the Loyalty Program digi which means if you've enered the last challenge with a Lacy Sunshine image, you get her for FREE!  If not, she is available for the discounted price of $2.00 during Challenge 39.  WooHoo!


It's an easel card and I printed the snowglobe several times and to add depth and layers.  I cut a hole in the globe to accomodate the recycled packaging I used and embossed the background with my Honeycomb Cuttlebug folder.  Liquid Pearls were added inside for honey and bee brads are buzzing all around.


I used Spellbinders to cut the computer generated sentiment and embossed that with the honeycomb folder as well.  I reversed one of the digi flowers in my Printmaster Program and fussy cut and popped it on the base too.


Although easel cards are supposed to fold flat, you can see that with all the layers, this one is going to need a box.  LOL  I sure had fun making it, though.  Be sure to visit the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog and grab some inspiration from my extremely talented teammates.  Now start thinking Summer and please join in. I can't wait to see what you create.

I'm entering this in the Simon Says Wednesday ATG Challenge, the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card ATG, the Allsorts Favorite Things Challenge (Lacy Sunshine stamps, shaped cards, fussy cutting, dimension), the Crafty Calendar August ATG, Digi Galore ATG, My Sheri Crafts Shaped Cards, Wags 'n Whiskers Polka Dots, The Stamping Boutique Fancy Folds and Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Polka Dots.