Outlawz Friday Challenge

The Outlawz has a great challenge this week in their Friday's Alcohol Markers group:
"create an ‘Anything Goes’ project AND add a Christmas twist!"
I made a Christmas card using Squigglefly's digi image "Unconventional Christmas Tree" by artist Mark Hicks.  I printed the digi three times, coloring them all with my trusty Copics.  I fussy-cut the bottom two rows from one image and the bottom row from the other, adhering them onto the full image, for a little dimension.

I added a few punched stars so that Santa seems to be juggling them.  I added a few buttons and some Stickling to the patterned paper for embellishment.  It's not too "lumpy" because I'm starting my collection of Christmas cards for the Troops.  Just finished a few mailings of Halloween cards!

The Outlawz Group has different daily challenges every week, so there's a little something for every crafter!  Check them out and come play!

Spider Fairy by Leanne Wilson

Today I have another Halloween card using another image from QKD artist Leanne Wilson called "Spider Fairy."

After coloring her with Copics, I used my Nestabilities die to cut her out and pop her onto this cool patterned paper from DCWV.  The flowers are handmade by Shannon Leffew, and I added a few jewels and spiders for embellishments.

You can find loads of digi images as well as rubber in the QKD Shoppe.  Need a little inspiration?  Check out the Facebook page!!

And have a crafty day!

Get in Shape with a New Squigglefly Challenge

Today I made a card for Squigglefly's new challenge: Use at least three different shapes somewhere on your card somehow;  For example, enclose your image in an oval, your sentiment in a decorative rectangle, and have a star shaped embellishment....get the idea?

So I printed out an August new release called "Grip It & Rip It" by the fabulous Cheryl Grant Alger.  First, can you spot the three plus shapes I used in my card?  The circle and triangle are pretty easy, and if you count clouds as shapes, but I also used a rectangular front for my card.

Once I pieced together my "scene" I colored Cheryl's image with my Copics and then fussy-cut her out.  She's headed straight down the triangle to who-knows-where, but you know what they say, "Make Life a Wild Ride."

If you like Cheryl's "Grip It & Rip It digi image, you can find her in the Squigglefly Store.  Now, why don't you hop on with me and take a ride to the Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  Show off your creation using a Squigglefly image and at least three different shapes for a chance to win free digi's.

See you there!

Spider Queen

I love Halloween, don't you?  It's never too early to start making Halloween cards in my book, so I used a QKD digi image from artist Leanne Wilson called
Spider Queen.

I threw a bunch of techniques-image colored with Copics, fussy-cut my image, distressed the patterned papers.  She looked a little steam-punky so I added gears in with the spider webs, added some netting and lace, and then surrounded her with her little babies.

Check out the new Halloween images, both in rubber and digi, at the QKD Shoppe today!

Blessing Tree by Judith Hart

Squigglefly has released some awesome digi images this month!  One of them  is called "Blessing Tree" by new Squigglefly artist Judith Hart.

I used Judith's new image on my card today.  It meets the guidelines of Squigglefly's new challenge this week:  Use twine, ribbon or floss.

I used several pieces of leftover patterned papers to form a frame for my Copic-colored image.  The only embellishment on it is the leaf peeking from behind the image.

Of course, on the remainder of the card, I tied my baker's twine.  I have a lot of twine but have never really used it much-just don't know what to do with it.  So I think I'll go over to the Squigglefly Challenge Blog to get some inspiration.  Maybe I'll soon be running short on twine!!

Use your twine while you have some, along with a Squigglefly digi image, like Judith's Blessing Tree, and join the challenge--you could win free digis this week!

A Little Beach Magic

Finally got some time to craft, and wanted to use up one of snags I made at my local Goodwill store, thinking how nice it would be to alter it.  The most difficult part was deciding what the theme would be--should I dig deep into my steam punkiness, or would a dark Halloween theme be better?

But it's summer, and the waves are calling me, so a Beach fantasy scene it is.  I started with a raw wood window frame with a flower shelf (a garden scene did tempt me, but I'm allergic to flowers, subconsciously allergic to fake flowers) that I picked up for $2.

I used acrylic paints until I got the frame the colors I wanted, then used the following mermaids for each window.  From top left to bottom right, they are:
Sweet Pea's "On the Shore" by Terra Bidlespacher, QKD's Porcelain Mermaid, again by Terra, and my newest purchase,  another Sweet Pea digi called "Wait for You" by artist Ching Chou Kuik.  I also used a stamped image from High Hopes of two friendly jelly fish.

I colored them all with my trusty Copics, and with my signature technique, fussy-cut them to put into my handmade scenes.

I love mixed media, which has to be my newest most favorite technique, so each "scene" has bits of surprises in each.

"On the Shore" features torn paper background, Stickled sandy beach, glitter button sun and a stray pearl or two.

A few tiny seashells are scattered along the wood frame as well.

In the "Porcelain Mermaid" scene, I actually used four pieces of dimensional tape so that my mermaid looks like she's sitting on the seashell I adhered to the wood frame.

I added some Liquid Glass bubbles, some Stickled shimmer, some pearl stems, seashells and fibers for misc. ocean stuff.

I had this gorgeous but large white starfish that I wanted to incorporate in my project, but no matter where I placed it, it blocked too much of one of the "windows.'  So I created a background from shimmery ribbon and cardstock and adhered a beach-themed ATC to it.

My next window features "Wait for Me", which I printed twice so that I could use dimensional tape so that the moon is "behind" her.  An adhesive accident with the moon caused me to apply a liberal dose of Stickles to cover it up.
I like to use feathers in my work, so her tail features one.  I hand-stamped the background patterned paper, and hung a seashell from the tip of the moon.  More seashells decorate the bottom of the window.

To finish off my project, I used some miniature scrabble tiles to spell out Beach Magic along the "ledge" and stuffed the ledge with raffia and seashells.

It took about two days to finish my project, and now it's in its new home.  I gave it to my son and daughter-in-law within one hour of the glue drying for their first anniversary.  Their wedding theme was tropical, and hubby and I hosted the reception in our backyard, going all out with tropical decorations and menu to boot.  It was a lot of work but worth it.

I'm entering my project in the One Sweet Challenge blog August challenge, which asks participants to use their favorite technique.  Mixed media and fussy-cutting are my faves--for the moment. LOL

Home Sweet Home

I got a chance to fill up another page in my art journal.  I found a great quote on Pinterest that just about sums up the way I feel after a long day at work, a harried trip to the store, even after a relaxing vacation.  It reads:  In my home Let love Abide, and Bless all those who Step inside."

So I ran with it and using mixed media, made my page.  If you don't recognize me, I'm the one in the skirt walking toward my lovely home, filled with the people I love and the comforts that soothe me.

I painted, ModPodged, stamped, collaged, and hand-lettered on my page.  I even used embossing powder and distress paint to change a bright and shiny brass key to the old and flaky thing with wings on my page.

I found this very cool blog today called path of positivity.  They spread positive thoughts, ideas and motivation, which I think is fantastic.  They also offer monthly challenges, this month's theme being "optimism."  I'm entering my art journal page in the challenge with a short description of why this page offers optimism to me:  When I step into my home, I feel a surge of optimism that my day will finish off on a good note.  I know that the night will not be full of roses and fairy tale goodness, but it's MY home and MY family and there is love.  And wherever there is love, there is hope, a beacon of optimistic light piercing whatever dark thoughts I picked up throughout my day.

I'm optimistic about my art, too, which is why I'm working on my art journal.

Three Cheers for Reading

I love to read!  So does my family, which means there would be a lot of books lying open on couches and tables and desks, their spines slowly tearing, if it weren't for my love for making bookmarks!!

Here's the latest bookmark I made using a Bugaboo digi image called Cheerleader Girl.  She reminds me of my granddaughter Christina, who has been in competitive cheer for a couple years.

So this one will probably find a home in one of her books in the next week or two when I see her again.  Now that I have five grandchildren, I think I'll be pretty busy making a few more bookmarks!  Then again, both my granddaughters love to craft--maybe they can help.

p.s.  The book pictured is a Lucy Stone Mystery called Tea Party Murder by author Leslie Meier.  So, where is your bookmark hiding out?

Today I'm Thinking of You

Especially when Squigglefly offers us a new challenge this week!  The theme is ANYTHING GOES with 2 guides:  use a Squigglefly image and the sentiment is "Thinking of You."

My card today features a digi image from artist Diana Garrison.  It is an August new release, along with so many other fabulous images.

I was continuing my ruthless clean-out of my craft room, and when I reached into a photo box labeled "paper" I pulled out this gorgeous  double-sided black and white patterned paper.  Using a Nestabilities die, I framed my Copic-colored image onto black cardstock.  The result?  PLAIN!

So I fussy-cut from the other side of my pp a coordinating border, but the card still missed its mark.  Adding a row of pearls and a stick pin for embellishment helped, but it wasn't until I used my white gel pen to hand draw patterns onto the background that it came together.

I added a charm to the image's bud vase, as well as a tiny bit of Stickles, to finish off my card.

So how about you finish off a card using a Squigglefly image and enter it into the Squigglefly Challenge blog for a chance to win a free digi! Go check out the Squigglefly Facebook page for some inspiration, too!

Feeling Lazy Today

Sometimes I want to create a card but I just don't feel like dragging out all my Copics and choosing all the colors that are needed to coordinate with my patterned paper.  That's when I'm glad Queen Kat Designs offers...
...wait for it...
...silhouette stamps!

I had a leftover piece of DCWV Once Upon a Time patterned paper that I was inspired to use with this QKD stamp called Brigitte so I stamped and embossed it onto the patterned paper, which I had already stamped with a collage of clocks.

I inked the edges, framed it with black cardstock, and embellished with silver and black.  There's a clasp with a chain on it that I attached to the first part of my card's sentiment "I used to have a handle on my life..."

Inside, the sentiment finishes with "...but it broke."  I think that about sums up my life as it stands today! LOL  But things are always changing, and I hope to have the "repairman" in to fix it soon!

Meanwhile, do you always color your stamped images?  If you do, try stepping out of your comfort zone with a QKD stamp today!!  And for more inspiration, check out the QKD Facebook page.

Happy crafting!!

Hey Big Boy, I Got a Card for You

Our wedding anniversary is coming up in September-37 years!!  I can't believe we've made it this far.  I can't believe we haven't called it off, nor that we haven't killed each other.  So many of our friends are divorced.  Luckily, none of them have resorted to murder.

We've been through good times and bad; five moves throughout three states; arguments over home renovations, bringing up the kids and money; weddings, funerals, Baptisms, graduations, and loads of birthdays--together.

Our first date was at the Santa Cruz Beach and Amusement Park.  As far as I was concerned, the sun and sand weren't the only things HOT that day. This memory was the inspiration for my card featuring an August new release from Squigglefly.

Fawn Palmer is the talented artist of 50's Sunbather digi image, which comes with a sentiment that I didn't use on my card.  I used leftover papers from my stash, a pattern for the background, and some fussy-cutting for the border and sentiment frames.

I colored Fawn's image with my Copics, then fussy-cut her out and used dimensional tape to attach her to my card front.  I printed my own sentiment (to my hubby) from my computer onto transparency paper and cut and attached it all onto the flip flops.  I embellished with a few colored and shaped paper clips.

I'm hoping that this card will bring back that beach memory to my hubby, but I won't hold my breath.  He's not famous for his memory of dates, but then again, that's not why I married him.  And evidently, the reasons I did marry him are good enough, at least for the last 37 years!

I'm also hoping that my card inspires you to join in the Squigglefly Challenge.  This week's theme is Masculine card using a Squigglefly image.  Check out the inspiration at the blog, then go create your card for a chance to win free digis!!

Believe

For the longest time, I stayed away from acrylic paints.  I was more than happy with making cards and scrapbooking memories, stamping and coloring and stickering, etc.  But after seeing some amazing canvas, mixed media and art journaling, I really wanted to stretch my wings and, well, not fly, but certainly paint!

I took to it like a duck does to water--well, not really, it has been a challenge, but I am liking the things I do now, including what I'm showing you today.  I finally have a chance to show off the last canvas I created.  I made it for my baby's graduation--from high school!

After covering the canvas with paint and some tie-dye designer napkins, I printed some monogram letters from the internet to spell out the word BELIEVE.  I adhered some of those letters to squares of foam board for a little dimension, and colored, embellished and/or distressed each letter before attaching them to my canvas.

Then the fun began.  I wanted a quote that was a personal message from me to her, and found part of one in a poem.  I painted that quote, as well as painting/writing special, tiny messages from each letter.

Like for the letter B I wrote "Be confident" and "Be calm."  And for the letter E I wrote "Enjoy life."

After the personal messages, I focused on the embellishments.  She likes tea and flowers, loves music and uses her time creatively.  Once all the little pieces were attached, it all kind of came together.

I gave it to her after her graduation ceremony, and it's been hanging on her bedroom wall ever since.  I think she likes it!

You never know what you can accomplish unless you try.  You might just discover a passion for something, or at the very least a new hobby!  So, what are you waiting for?  Go have some fun and craft!!

You Color My World

Now that my son's wedding is past and the road trip to visit my mother-in-law has come to an end, and I have recovered from a sinus infection, I can breathe a sigh of relief and get back to crafting for pleasure!!  Not that it wasn't fun to hand-make so many things for the wedding, but it's nice to sit down to Pinterest or a crafting magazine and think, 'this looks cool, I think I want to try it', and actually have the time to do so!

I did look online at my favorite sites and blogs, and found inspiration in Hambo's newest challenge.  So I got out my trusty Copics and printed up a favorite Hambo digi image and went to play.

The image I used is called Pig Artist and comes with three sentiments!  I used the "You Color My World" sentiment on the inside of my tri-fold card.

I cut a 12x5 inch strip of cardstock and scored it at 4" and 8".  Then I cut a straight line from the first 4 " fold to a point 2 inches from the end on each side to make the diagonal shape of the card.  The point didn't work for me so I cut about 1/2" off.

Then I had fun using my stash of leftover patterned papers and covered each flap of my card.  I had to make sure to attach two eyelets and two snaps (I thought they were eyelets) before adhering the pp.

My Pig Artist image looked lost on all the colorful papers, so I cut out a circle with which to frame him. Here is my card in its open position.

I would have put a little more embellishment on the card front, but  I wanted to include it in my growing pile of cards for the Troops, which has some very specific guidelines for what you can put on your cards.

So here is my Pig-casso in all his colorful glory!  Check out the Hambo Hoedown for more inspiration on using your eyelets and Hambo images on your cards.  Each player is a winner, getting a digi image just by entering!!

And as always, crafters, have fun!!