Beach Birthday Party

Some people think that when you live in Chicago, a beach party is impossible.  But Chicago lies on one of the Great Lakes, Lake Michigan, and our beaches are elbow-to-elbow packed with families, jocks and swim bunnies.  So I had to come up with an appropriate package for my birthday present for an upcoming party at the beach.

For this project I used a Maigan Lynn digi image called Mermaid Braids.  I colored her with Copics and framed her with coordinating cardstock.  I have had a couple wooden boxes/containers in my craft room forever, so I grabbed one and Mod Podged some hound's tooth-patterned tissue paper to cover it.

After adhering Maigan's image onto the front, I had my way with the embellishments!  I'll be dropping a gift card to Bubba Gump's Restaurant into this handmade box.  I know she'll like it!

Check out all of the July releases from the Queen over at the Shop today!!  For more inspiration, check out our Facebook Fan Page.

And as always, keep crafting!!

Who's the (em)Boss?

This week brings a new challenge from Squigglefly:

"Add something embossed to your card, it can be any of the wonderful backgrounds that have embossing in them, any of the spellbinders that have embossing, any brass stencils that use dry embossing, or add a great embellishment or cardstock that already comes embossed"

In addition to the new theme, if you use a Squigglefly digi, you will be in the running for a free digi!!  Don't have a Squigglefly image yet? Check out the FREEBIES at their store.

My card front features embossed white core cardstock, which I love to distress to get that textured feeling.  The card showcases a July new release from Squigglefly called "It's a Jump Rope Kind of Day", designed by artist Cheryl Grant Alger.  I colored him with Copics, then used a Sakura gel pen for a shimmery look on the jump rope.

I embellished my card with an adhesive-backed chain of crocheting (not handmade) and an earring whose "ring" and mate I lost.  Which proves I am a crafter-I never throw away something that maybe might have the possibility of a use in my crafts).

I hope you like my card, and it has inspired you to try a little embossing in your crafting.  For more inspiration, check out Squigglefly's blog and their Facebook page!!

Squiglefly Shy Bear Blog Hop-A Day Late and A Dollar Short

Hello everyone!
Welcome to the Squigglefly Shy Bear blog hop.

This hop is dedicated to Melissa Chettle and her son Justin. She was a friend of Design Team member Charlene and she passed away unexpectedly this June at just 43 years young.  Melissa was an avid crafter and a HUGE fan of the Shy Bear images. She had even commissioned Charlene to design many Shy Bear cards for her. Unfortunately she never saw them. So we are having this wonderful Blog Hop in her honor, using all Shy Bear cards. 
My card uses Shy Bear Hi Bella, which is a Squigglefly freebie image   There are loads of Shy Bears to choose from, plus many others.  Please go check them out at the Squigglefly Store today, then post a comment on the Squigglefly Challenge Blog for a chance to win some goodies!!

Under the Sea with A Maigan Lynn Mermaid

I am just loving the new July releases from Queen Kat Designs.  Here's another one I got to play with and want to show off.  It is called Mermaid Braids by the very talented Maigan Lynn.

I made a mixed media card using patterned papers, lace, ribbon, wired jewels and Stickles.  I colored my mermaid with Copics and placed her in a tropical setting using those patterned papers.  I adhered her with dimensional tape.

The wired jewels came off a frame or basket (that was butt ugly).  Its only saving grace was the wired jewels, which I of course threw into my crafting stash, throwing away the basket (frame?).

Maigan is one of the many artists at QKD whose images I love to play with.  And this one is a new DIGI!!  Digi's are very versatile, because you can print oin any type of paper, resize the image and even flip it to face the other way.

Go check out the QKD blog for loads of inspiration this month using the new releases!! Our design team, which we refer to as the Royal Stamping Maidens, has been super busy showing off their creativity.

A Special Thank You

Today starts a new challenge over at Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  The theme is a "Special Thank You."  Who doesn't need a handful of thank you cards in their life, right?
Well, there is also a special surprise to this challenge--for the owner of Squigglefly Designs!  Unbeknownst to her, both teams got together to show her how much we love and appreciate her.  Every "Thank You" card that BOTH design teams have made are FOR HER.  (Yes, she is THAT awesome)

My thank you card features a new July release called Quilted Frame by artist Pammie Lehto.  I chose to cut it out and frame another amazing digi inside hers.  The hands shaping a heart is from artist Lynne Stansbery, another one of my favorite artist in the Squigglefly lineup. There are over fifty talented artists working with Squigglefly to give you the best of their creativity.
Now let me finish this post with a personal message for our dear leader, Holly:
  I am so lucky and blessed to be able to play with the lovely new Squigglefly images that come out every month.  The challenges have really stretched my creativity and imagination.  While a Design Team member, I have learned so much, met so many talented and friendly artists, and had so much FUN!!  You are a wonderful and generous "boss" to work for, and a true friend.
  So Thank you, Holly!!

Don't forget to play in this week's challenge with your own Anything Goes Thank you card--use a Squigglefly image for your chance to win!

Make a Wish!

Tomorrow the Queen releases new images, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek of one of them.

The digi image is called "Swirl Deer" and due to its fabulous antlers, I decided to use it for a birthday card.

My card showcases the image with patterned paper, fiber, a ribbon bow, inked edges and an embellishment I found on clearance in the wedding aisle of Hobby Lobby.

I like to cruise through Hobby Lobby without a specific item in mind, so that I am open to discovery.  Most times when I have an objective in mind, like replacing my adhesive, or a certain color of card stock, I miss out on little surprises.

That's why I also like to cruise through the rubber stamps and digi images at the QKD store.  If I keep myself open to surprises I find an image that I might have missed previously, and fall in love with it!

Whatever your "plan of attack" is when it comes to craft shopping, I hope you find something that inspires you.  Speaking of inspiration, check out the QKD Facebook page!!

A Passion for Purple

Do you have a passion for purple?  If you do, it's your lucky week!  The new Squigglefly Challenge this week is to use purple passionately, along with a Squigglefly digi.!!

I colored this cutie-pie of a digi image with my purple Copics.  The image is called Baby Upside Down by the very talented Fawn Palmer.

After coloring the image, I fussy-cut it and popped it onto a diecut lacy circle, cleverly inked with a coordinating purple.  the box, which will hold treats and serve as a favor for a baby shower,is from a leftover die cut.  It stands about 4 inches tall.

I inked all the edges with Tim Holtz Distress ink and adhered a border of lace on the top.  I wanted my image to pop, so the only embellishment I use on the front was a line of adhesive jewels.

The top of the favor box, however, is a different story!  I went all out with lots of purple flowers, since everyone will see the top while the favors are sitting on the table.

Here's a shot of my finished box.  I like this one, so I know that a table full of twenty or so of these favors, all sporting Fawn's digi image, will look fabulous!

You'll find all kinds of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing over at Squigglefly Challenge blog.  One random winner will get a free digi of her choice, so have fun with the color purple, and happy crafting!!