Handmade Backgrounds

I had a spare moment or 20 and decided to check out what all the hubbub was about making your own backgrounds with alcohol inks. I used some palette paper and squeezed a coupe drops of different colored inks on. After spraying lightly with water, I started pressing some pieces of glossy paper from my stash onto the palette paper.

Look at all the pretty papers I created! I especially like the large piece-so many possibilities there. I took one of the smaller pieces and created a card (shown above) using a freebie from Miss Rach. After coloring with Copics, I fussy-cut this little cutie. Before placing him on the card, I used a white gel pen and helped define some of the coral reef areas. After I set my tortoise to swimming, it was an easy matter to embellish with fibers, lace, charms and a spray of pearls. I think the sentiment is perfect for my card, don't you?

I try and stretch my comfort zone often enough to keep me on my toes. How about you? If you haven't already, I hope you get to try to make your own backgrounds, whether from alcohol inks, photography or other media.

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet challenges - Z is for Zoo Animals 

Through the Purple Haze - Make a Scene

Mod Squad challenges - Animals

The Paper Shelter challenges - Animal Magic

Fan-tastic Tuesday challenges - Anything Goes w a Twist: Animals

Tuesday Throwdown challenges - Create Your Own Background

Crafting When We Can - Use a Digital stamp

Cre8tive Hands Friends challenges - Use a digital image

Fall Into a New Challenge at Craft Your Passion Blog

Everyone loves an Anything Goes challenge, and when it's sponsored by the East Wind, it's a win-win week! I got to play with a gorgeous image called "Maple" for my DT card for Craft Your Passion challenge blog. It was awesome to pull out all my autumn-colored Copics and breathe life into her before fussy-cutting her out and framing her with falling leaves.
Fall is my favorite season of the year, for the sheer beauty of it. The trees shake off their richly emerald-hued summer dresses, leaving crunchy carpets of velvety browns, golden yellows and crimson. I find more wonder during the months of September and October than at any other time of the year.And my kids go crazy because they know Halloween is coming. They have the house decorated already and are planning their costumes--already!! Well, I have planned a trip to our local Goodwill store so that they can find the perfect (inexpensive) costumes for the long-awaited holiday But they want it all NOW! So I made this card and placed it on the kitchen table. Maybe it will keep them a little more patient?? Well, at least I was inspired by all that luscious color out there!
What inspires you? Whatever it is, I love seeing what other crafters share in each week's challenges at Craft Your Passion. I hope to see your card or project there this week! Until then, happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Cards in Envy - Fall Colors 

Playing with Your Food

Today I want to show off a card I made using a House Mouse stamped image.  When it comes to Halloween treats, to each his own, I say.  My hubby likes those nasty, I mean not-tasty-to-me, peanut butter kisses that are wrapped in orange and black paper.  I like the caramels, which he can't stand.
So these little mice are more than happy with their Halloween haul of peanuts!  And let's face it, when we have a treat in front of us, the world is right.  It is the simple pleasyres in life that make it so.
I colored my image with COpics, double-matted it and popped it onto a piece of leftover patterned paper.  I used K&Co Fall-colored borders, threading my fibers through the top border.
Inside I put a "definition" quote sticker about Autumn and a lovely stamped sentiment about friendship.  I am in a House Mouse & Friends Card Swap for September on PaperCraft Planet and this is going out ot my partner with a little treat.