Bombshell Stamps Hump Day Hop!

Greetings and welcome to the last stop in February's Hump Day Hop. You should have come here from Glittery Katie's blog, where you most definitely saw something amazing.

The beautiful and talented Alison, Bombshell's Challenge Captain, has set this month's challenge, "Some Like It Hot!"

Since it's been cold and blustery, my mind keeps wandering off to Hawaii, though I've never been there. Now we all know why I'm so absentminded.

My project is in progress, so come back later to take a gander, but not the male goose variety.

1.25 hours late, but here it is! (And it's finished, though it does look as though she's dancing on a cliff. Retrospectively, I should have added the sea, then the night sky, but that'll be another project for another day).


The card is a combination of Bombshell's Hula Girl, Hawaiian Girl, and Tiki Party sets.

The Hula Girl was stamped onto Neenah cardstock, onto Eclipse tape, and onto a Post-It note. I cut out the arm from the Post-It note (doesn't that sound homicidal?) and placed it over the arm on the stamped image. Using my trusty Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, I stamped the Bamboo vertically over her arm, positioned another Post-It note, and stamped the Tiki torch. The other bamboo/tiki torch were stamped the same way. I moved the Post-It note and stamped the flames using Dandelion and Cantaloupe Memento inks.

The next step was to color all the images with Copic markers which I'll list below. When I was done, I fussy cut the Hula Girl that had been stamped onto Eclipse Tape and placed it over the Hula Girl in the scene. I then masked the base of the scene with repositionable Scotch Tape and painted Winsor & Newton Masking Fluid over the bamboo/tiki torch/flame combo. When everything was masked, a night sky was airbrushed using the Copic airbrush system. When I wss pleased with the combination and coverage, I lifted all the masks and added the sandy beach using Copic markers. The flames had gotten kind of blah, so I restamped them using acrylic paints.

I decided to go with a CAS design because it was getting late and because the scene was sort of intensely colored. I had some old, Old, OLD Heidi Swspp Hibiscus tape, so I adhered that to a Kraft Card front, matted the stamped scene in a lighter textured Kraft cardstock, and adhered it over the tape. The sentiment was stamped using Crimson VersaFine ink, die cut, matted, and adhered. The card still needed a little something, so I curvy cut the front using an old curvy Fiskar's ruler, then edged it using Fired Brick Distress ink.

BTW, the color is a bit off, but that's what happens when you take photos at night. I'd take another photo, but it's raining...

Thanks for visiting today!

In case you got lost or want to revisit some of the outstanding artwork, the hop list is below!
Bombshell Blog
Alison
Torrey
Kim
Emily
Rachael
Jodi
Alaine
Glittery Katie

Copic Markers used:
Skin: E00, E11, E50, R20, BV20
Hair: E55, E57, E59
Top: R24, R39, R59
Skirt: YG03, YG05, YG07, YG17, YG95
Lei: YR12, YR15, Y11, Y13
Tiki Torches: E21, E23, E25 W2, T5
Sky: B66, B69, B79, B99
Sand: E41, E42, E43, E44

Spread your wings & Fly!

I got Stampotique's Angel 6093 a while back and have been itching to play with this stamp! I kept picking it up and putting it back, wanting to play, but not knowing what to make.

I caught the Dylusions Spray bug a little while ago. Then came some holiday ca$h, so I got the original colors. I wisely held onto some of that cash because I knew CHA was right around the corner. Smart me. Dyan and Ranger came out with great new colors and The Crafter's Workshop came out with loads of great new stencils. I. Am. A Genius! And. Modest. Too. So when SCACD received both the new Dylusions Spray colors AND the new Crafter's Workshop stencils, I was able to go for it! Yahoo! Then I got some time to get inky.

This is what happened.


I stamped Stampotique's Angel 6093 using Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto text-patterned paper from an old Lost & Found 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye and colored her with Copic markers, which I'll list below.

I grabbed some coordinating papers from various old Lost & Found 6x6 pads. I found a musical notation pattern and a measuring stick/ruler pattern. I got out London Blue, Dirty Martini, and Cut Grass Dylusions sprays and had at it -- spraying the papers, spritzing them with misted water, respraying, rolling the paper towels, until I was happy with the color combination and coverage. Then heat set the inked papers.

When the papers were dry, I grabbed the Mini Kaleidoscope stencil by The Crafter's Workshop and spritzed White Linen Dylusions spray over the stencil to add a muted pattern to the inked papers. This layer of ink was also heat set. The paper was slightly buckled from all the abuse, so I flattened it for a while and had myself a cup o' java. I love being caffeinated.

The next step was to add some more detail by sponging Black Soot Distress ink over the Tiny Circles and Chevron Arrows stencils by The Crafter's Workshop.

The inked papers were torn and the edges were sponged with Black Soot Distress ink, then layered over the stamped colored image.

The sentiments by justjohanna/Odd Bird Stamps and the Ampersand were stamped using Crimson Red VersaFine ink onto another sheet of patterned paper from the same older Lost & Found pads. They were trimmed, edged with the same ink, then some circles were added using the Tiny Circles stencil. I popped the sentiment up onto dimensional foam adhesive.

An old strip of lace was added to the bottom of the panel using Tim Holtz' Tiny Attacher. Red rhinestones from KaiserCraft were added to the two top corners. A small green rhinestones were added to her hair and her dress because I felt like it.

Thanks for visiting today.

Copic markers used:
Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20, BV00
Hair: Y18, E7, E19, E27
Dress: G40, G43, G46
Wings: R00, V00
Sky: B0000, B000
Ground: E41, E43

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• SDC88: Use Text
• Simon Says Challenge: Use an Arrow
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: Stamp You Love, but Don't Use...
• Johanna Sheen Challenges: Layer It Up

Kenny K's Krafty Krew's Challenge #132 -- Layer It Up!

This week it's Kenny K's Krafty Krew's Team B's turn to take the challenge, which is "Layer It Up!".

Our first sponsor is Kenny K's Digital Downloads with a prize gift certificate worth $20.00!


The second sponsor is Bearly Mine Designs with £10 Gift Voucher as the prize.


Here's my card using the brand new Col. Mc Callan, who is one of three new Steampunk digital stamps!


Col. Mc Callan was colored with Copic markers, which I'll list below. The lenses of his goggles and his pendant were coated with Glossy Accents for dimension and shine. The buckles and lock were touched up with Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to add a bit less dimension. A circle Nestabilities die was used to die cut the stamped piece. Red cardstock received a pouncing of Golden Glitz Delicata pigment ink, using my TOLPT (great-odd-looking-pouncy-tool) and then was die cut twice with two different sizes of Pinked Circles Nestabilities dies. The stamped circle was edged with the Golden Glitz Delicata ink.

Then I began to layer patterned paper from the Timepiece 6x6 pad by Bo Bunny. The sheet with the gears was a bit too stark, so I grabbed my Gears stencil by The Crafter's Workshop and sponged Antique Linen Distress ink over it. I tore that sheet and a sheet with pocket watches on the diagonal and sponged the torn edges with Fired Distress ink prior to layering it over the paper with red keys and watch-hands.

Alice's Clock Statement Corner die by SCACD, SCACD's Fancy Key die, and Poppystamps' Delicate Chain die were used to die cut the Golden Glitz Delicata pounced red cardstock.

Fancy Key was cut free from its corner and chains. I then went over both the Fancy Key and the Alice's Clock Statement Corner die cut with a VersaMark marker to deepen the red a tad.

The matted Col. Mc Callan was adhered over the layered papers and Alice's Clock Statement Corner die cut was positioned in the lower left hand corner. The Delicate Chain die cuts were manipulated so that they could be curved and they were layered around the card. I used one of the threads to dangle the Fancy Key on the lower right.

Various metal gears were layered and adhered towards the top using black brads. A gold clock charm was coated with Claudine Helmuth's Black Gesso, left to dry, then the excess was sanded off to reveal some gold highlights. A fancy clock hand was also added to the top of the card and points toward the dog.

In summary, I layered patterned papers, die cuts, and metal elements to fulfill this challenge!

Thanks for visiting today!

Copic markers used:
Dog: E30, E33, E37, E47
Harness/Goggle Straps: R22, R24, R59
Bag: R24, R27, R59
Buckles & Pendant: Y21, Y23, &26, &29
Goggles' Lenses: B90, BG93

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: Metal-ology challenge
• Forever Friends #14: Animals
• Addicted to Stamping Challenge Blog: #6 Vintage
• Crafting by Design: Anything Goes
• Crafts & Me Challenge #121: Charmed I'm Sure

Bombshell's Red & Gold Challenge!

Christine Garner, who is Bombshell's Ms. February, has challenged us to use Red and Gold as the primary color scheme for our cards. Check out Bombshell's Blog to see what the other Bombshell Girls and Pin-ups created for this challenge! You're sure to be inspired -- maybe enough to try out to become one of our next six Guest Designers, aka Pin-Ups!

Anyway, here's what I created for this challenge!


I used Bombshell's Indian Princess set to make this card. I stamped the Indian Princess with Headress using Onyx Black VersaFine ink and heat embossed with Fine Detail Clear embossing powder. She was colored with Copic markers, which I'll list below. Instead of achieving the desired smooth blend, her skin came up a bit mottled, but I decided I kinda liked the slightly vintage look it gave her. Some of the darker C inks from her hair got transferred to her neck and I had to try to fix it by using the Colorless Blender. I didn't do a bang up job on that, but of course, the mishap happened when I was adding last minute corrections and/or shading. I decided that once again, perfection is overrated and let it go.

When I was done coloring her, I sponged Frayed Burlap, Barn Door, and Fired Brick Distress inks around her, then edged with a bit of Golden Glitz Delicata pigment ink. If you're not familiar with this ink, it's a lovely glittery gold, that I just love!!!

I decided to use Kraft cardstock for all the layers. I measured a piece of cardstock, then sponged Barn Door and Fired Brick Distress inks over the wonky zig zag border on the Pattern Strips stencil by The Crafter's Workshop. Then I edged all sides with the same Distress inks and pounced Golden Glitz Delicata pigment ink over the it all with a great-odd-looking-pouncy-tool that I got at a convention. I wish I (a) knew what it was called so I didn't have to call it a great-odd-looking-pouncy-tool and (b) I could get another one! I should take a photo of it and ask all three of my readers if they know its name.

The next step was to randomly stamp two different sized feathers from the Indian Princess set onto Kraft cardstock. I used Barn Door Distress ink for one size and Fired Brick for the other. I don't recall which is which because that was more than thirty minutes ago. BTW, I am aware that I split my infinitive. Too bad, so sad. When I was happy with the feathers, I edged with the same colors of Distress ink and then did the pouncy thing with the great-odd-looking-pouncy-tool and Delicata ink.

My inner non-PC person kept wanting to use the sentiment "How are you doing?", but I controlled myself. I bet you're glad I did.

Anyways, then I put the thing together and called it done.

Thanks for visiting today.

Copic Markers used:
Skin: E30, E3, E33, R21, BV20
Lips: R22, R24
Eyes: Y21, E44, C1
Hair: B41, C4, C6, C7, C8, C10
Jewelery: Y000, Y21, Y23, Y26, Y28 & R24, R27, R59
Feathers: W00, W0, W1, W2, W3 & R24, R27, R59

Introducing "The Thinker"!

The Thinker is one in a million and not only because he's a sparkly purplish dinosaur with a mauvy-pink belly and pink spots. It's because of his personality. It takes a lot of moxie to get away with those kind of looks!

As you know, because I told you yesterday, last week (actually more like a fortnight ago), SCACD's Susana Loves Stamps line had an exciting new release -- two new sets were added to the Oddly Sweet Curiosities Original Collection!

OSC Set 3 contains Dinosaurian (new word) creatures! OSC Set 4 contains whimsical lil' guys and gals! Each character comes with a fun and sassy sentiment stamp! Best of all, the sentiments and Curiosities can be mixed and matched, which makes them even more versatile and fun to use!

Here's a card featuring The Thinker !


As is my wont, I stamped him using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored him with Copic markers, which shall be listed below. I most emphatically was not having bad Barney flashbacks when I was choosing the colors. I chose them to match the patterned papers contained in the gorgeous Isabella 6x6 pad by BoBunny. Can I tell you that I absolutely love, Love, LOVE the color palette and patterns in this pad? Too bad. I just did!

When I was done coloring him, he was die cut using a Nestabilities circle die, left in the die, then sponged with Pumice Stone and Milled Lavender Distress inks. I got a bit exuberant with the inks (translation: I botched it!), so I tried to rescue it with spritzed water and Pearl Perfect Pearls Mist, which gave the whole stamped/inked area a spotchy shimmery look. Not my favorite, but it'll do. Only problem is that the paper got warped, which you can see if you look closely. Oh well. Perfection is overrated, right? I matted this piece onto a Lacey Circles shimmery metallic white die cut.

Talking about sprays, SCACD just got in the new Dylusions sprays and the new Colorations Mists by Art Anthology. I am totally stoked to play with these and even got one of my hubby's old shirts AND non-latex gloves so I don't have to worry about dying my hands all sorts of colors and staining my precious hoodies. :D

But I digress from the task at hand, which is boring you spitless about the creation of my card. I also used my beloved SCACD Classic Corner dies to die cut more of that shimmery white metallic cardstock (Recollections). If you haven't tried SCACD's dies, you're missing out! They're very intricately designs, yet the cut ever so cleanly. I've never, ever had to use the old waxed-paper trick with them or wasted paper when the cardstock wouldn't release. I'm a die-cut ho addict, so when I tell you these are awesome, you can believe me!

So, while I was diecutting, I figured I'd need a border between the stripes and the floral patterns, so I used my Memory Box Delicate Chain die and that same white shimmery metallic cardstock and cut a border. Then I cut a Memory Box Pippi Butterfly from the same cardstock, but I colored it with Copic markers, to be all matchy matchy and shimmery too. I'm cool like that.

The sentiment was stamped with Memento ink, diecut with a Spellbinders name plate, kept in the die, and then airbrushed with the Copic Airbrush system.

I added two Soft Pink Rhinestones by KaiserKraft to the upper corners to finish the card!

Thanks for visiting today!

Copic markers used:
Body: BV20, BV23, BV25, BV29, BV34
Belly: RV91, RV93, RV95, RV99
Spots: Custom Less-than R81, R81, R83
Claws, Eyes, and Ground: E70, E71; C0, C3

I shall enter this in the following challenge(s):
• SCS Lovefest: Die Crazy Love
• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #203: Two's Company
• All Sorts Challenge Blog: #194: Things with Wings - They probably didn't mean flying dinosaurs, but...

Meet "Sew Easy"! Another Oddly Sweet Curiosity!

Last week, SCACD's Susana Loves Stamps line had an exciting new release -- two new sets were added to the Oddly Sweet Curiosities Original Collection!

OSC Set 3 contains Dinosaurian (new word) creatures! OSC Set 4 contains whimsical lil' guys and gals! Each character comes with a fun and sassy sentiment stamp! Best of all, the sentiments and Curiosities can be mixed and matched, which makes them even more versatile and fun to use!

Meet Sew Easy.


Sew Easy is visiting the seamstress. I think he has his eye on the dress form. Anyway, he was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers which I'll list below. He was die cut using a Nestabilities die. The cardstock was sponged with Pumice Stone Distress Ink while it was still in the die.

His button eyes were touched with a bit of Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to make 'em look glassy.

The patterned paper is from the Original 6x6 pad by Authentique and it's currently on sale! Copic markers were used to add some color to the dressform and the overlapping dress pattern on one sheet, as well as the patchwork paper from another sheet. Additionally, I changed the color of the patterned paper I used for the die cuts. Those markers will be listed below.

I used my trusty Fingertip Craft Knife by Fiskar's to cut around the dress form and the dress pattern so that I could slip the stamped die cut into place. I also cut a slit so that the top of the dress pattern would overlap the patchwork paper.

A Spellbinders Fancy Tag and SCACD's Ornate Hinge Die were used for the sentiment.

Copic markers were used to color the Washi Tape that serves to border the card. Threaded buttons finish the card. It took me longer to thread the needle and sew on the buttons than it took to do most of the card. Ha!

Thanks for visiting today!

Copic Markers Used:
Sew Easy:
B32, B34, B37
Y21, Y23, Y35
G43,G46

Dressform:
Custom less-than B21, B45, C3, E21, E23, E25

Pattern:
Custom less-than B21

Patchwork:
G43, Y23, Custom less-than B21, B32, B34

Washi Tape and Die cuts:
Y35, Y38

Kenny K's Krafty Krew Challenge #131

It's Kenny K's Krafty Krew Team A's turn to host this week's challenge -- Going Round and Round.

The sponsor is Kenny K's Digital Downloads, with a prize of five digi stamps!


The second sponsor is Flonz Designs. Their prize is a $20.00 gift certificate to their shop.

February Bombshell Sketch -- Take 2

So, the other card (see below)was "inspired by" the sketch. This one is closer to it.

Here's the sketch again.


Here's my second take on the sketch.


This card (and the last one) show where my head and heart would like to be -- namely on a beach with the hubby, drinking a nice tropical drink. Or six.

This one uses the Tiki Party set by Bombshell Stamps. It's a fun one and very versatile. There are two tiki dudes, a tiki torch, some bamboo, tropical drinks, flames, and some sentiments. I didn't use the sentiment and computer generated my own for Valentine's Day since it's so close and I haven't decided which card to use.

Shockingly, I colored it with Copics, which I will not list below. It's a short list of E4 series for the tiki dudes and torches with some touches of BG1s and some R20s. I did touch up one of the red thingies with a Spica pen. I grabbed some burlap, cut it to size, stapled it to brown cardstock, then added my stamped and edged pieces. Two red heart brads were used to finish it up. Oh yeah. The flames were stamped with Cantaloupe Memento and colored with Copics.

Can you believe how short this post is? I can't. Wow.

So I'll add to it to tell you to use your Bombshell Stamps and the sketch to make a project and submit it to win a free set. If you don't have any Bombshell Stamps, why the heck not? But I'll tell you a secret. You can get some freebie digis by using the secret password "newsletter" here! But you should get the newsletter because it's so brilliantly written and edited. Just sayin'. Is all. (Bay! I miss you!).

I'll also add the little fact that you should apply to become a Bombshell Pin-up and have the chance to work with me. If that's not enough (and it should be), you also will get a free set of stamps and a generous discount during your month's reign. Details are here.

Now that I've made this post longer, I'll bid you adieu. "Adieu!"

Thanks for visiting again today.

February's Bombshell Sketch Challenge!

As you might know, I create the sketches for Bombshell Stamps' monthly sketch challenge. If you have any Bombshell stamps and like this sketch, feel free to use it. Flip it, flop it, make it your own, and then add it to this thread at the Bombshell Stamps Forum and/or share it with us on Bombshell's Blog, using the Inlinkz. Each time you enter, you get one chance to win your choice of a free set of stamps!!!

Here's the sketch:


My first card for this sketch doesn't completely follow the sketch because of poor planning on my part. Math was never one of my strong suits and I calculated wrong. Oh well.

I also will mention that we had a blizzard last week, which left us with a foot of snow, which is still on the ground.

Hence, this card.


Wouldn't you love to be in that hammock, on the beach, with that gorgeous tropical view, sipping a Piña Colada? I know I would.

Our lovely lounging beauty is from Bombshell's Rise & Shine stamp set. She was colored with Copic markers, which I'll list below, fussy cut, and set aside while I stamped the scene. The palm trees are from Bombshell's Hawaiian Girl set and the little volcanic island is from Bombshell's Hula Girl set.

The palm trees were stamped four times -- twice on the scene and twice on scrap cardstock. The little volcanic island was also stamped on the scene. Guess how I colored the palm trees and the little island? I bet you know. I'll list the colors below. Sand was added to the bottom of the scene. I coated the trees and the island with Winsor & Newton Masking Fluid, let it dry, masked a horizon using removable Scotch Tape, and airbrushed the sea with the Copic airbrush system. The tape was moved, the sea was covered, and I airbrushed the sky. When I was done airbrushing, I removed the mask and added little white squigly lines, using a white gel pen, to be sea foam and white caps.

Then I cut the scene apart, matted it on black cardstock, and adhered the hammock girl using dimensional foam adhesive. Some hemp twine was added to provide a realistic touch. I colored the two additional palm tree fronds, fussy cut them, then adhered them over their counterparts so that they were flush with each frond at the top and popped up away from the tree.

I veered from the sketch in that I ran out of room for the sentiment. When I decide who will get it for what occasion, there are lots of places for a very small sentiment. Very small.

No patterned paper was killed for this project!!!

Thanks for visiting. I'll be back later today with a second card using the sketch!

Copic markers used:
Skin: E21, E50, E70, R20
Hair: E4, E8, E18, E19, E59, Y13
Bathing Suit: R22, R24, R37
Palm Trees: E44, E47, E49 for the trunks; E41, E43 for the fuzzy things; YG03, YG05, YG17 for the fronds
Hammock: W0, W1, W2, BG13
Island:G21,G24 G99
Clouds: B60, C0
Ocean: BG13, BG18, BG32, B41, B52
Sky: Custom-blended less than B21

Bombshell Stamps Muse Monday!

During February we're featuring the All My Heart stamp set over at the Bombshell Stamps blog.

Here's a look at the set:


Since I've begun the slippery slide into Mixed Media, here is a canvas I made with this set:


Here's a close-up of the focal image:


Here's a close-up to show the textures and depth of the piece:


Here begins my long-winded and often-times boring dissertation on the creation of the piece. If I were you, I'd skip blithely away from my computer, singing "la la la, talk to my hand!"

If you haven't taken my suggestion, away we go...

It's a 6x6 canvas that I got at AC Moore. I coated it with a layer of Ranger/Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso and adhered sheet music to it. The sheet music was found in my Mom's basement and dates from the days that I played violin very badly. The music had obviously gotten wet since some pages were stuck together. Another layer of gesso was brushed over the music paper and a thesaurus page, containing the word "Love", was adhered. The thesaurus had been Irene-damaged. Another layer of gesso was brushed on and I set the canvas aside to dry.

Once dry, I sprayed the canvas with a mixture of Dylusions Sprays Bubblegum Pink, Tattered Angels Rose, and a home-made spray comprised of Brick Red Distress Re-Inker, Perfect Pearls Interference Red, and water. I sprayed, wiped, dried, and repeated until I was happy with the colors and coverage.

Then I grabbed my Chevron Arrows stencil by The Crafter's Workshop and Picket Fence Distress Stain and stenciled arrows along either side, over the music paper.

When this was dry, I used a credit card (expired) to spread a layer of Dreamweaver Stencil paste over the Chevron Arrows stencil. This was set aside to dry and cure overnight.

Meanwhile, I stamped the Winged Heart from Bombshell Stamps' All My Heart set onto Neenah cardstock using Black Tuxedo Memento Ink, colored it with Copic markers, and fussy cut it. I still thought it needed something, so I added Winsor & Newton Iridescent Medium to the wings.

Then I went to sleep.

By the next morning, the stencil paste was cured, so I placed the winged heart onto it and it got lost. So I went through my stash looking for a chipboard frame. Nada. Then I discovered a batch of Maya chipboard houses on a ballchain and said "Eureeka!". The house was treated the same way as the canvas with gesso, the same papers, and sprays. It was put aside to dry while I returned my focus to the canvas which was lacking a certain "Je ne sais quoi." I said "quoi" and grabbed my Ice Silks Acrylic Glaze and painted the raised arrows so that they'd be shimmery white. Much better. I sponged some of my beloved Black Soot Distress Ink along the sides and added some Ideology Musical Notation Tissue tape around the edges.

I knew my chipboard house needed something, so I die cut black cardstock with SCACD's Garden Corner dies. They were kind of blah, so I rubbed on some Gold Metallic rub-on creme by Craf-T. Dresden Gold trim and gold foil border stickers were painted with a black paint dabber and added the house. I used QuicKutz Snow Angel (appropriate given our blizzard) dies to die cut "love" from black paper, which I also rubbed with the Gold Metallic Rub-ons.

Three wood hearts from a packet of Hearts & Arrows by Studio Calico were gessoed (now a verb) and colored with Prismacolor markers. (I didn't want to chance my beloved Copics). Retrospectively, I should have used Ranger Alcohol ink. It would have been faster...

Everything was adhered and voila -- a finished canvas!

I shall enter this piece into the following challenges:
• Simon Says "Have a Heart"
• Anything but a Card Challenge #12: Share the Love
• Imagination Emporium's Spread the Love challenge!

Kenny K's Krafty Krew: Challenge #130!

Since Valentine's Day is coming up this week, Kenny K's Krafty Krew's Challenge #130 is "To the One I Love!"

The first sponsor is Kenny K's Digital Downloads, with a prize of five digi stamps!


The second sponsor is Marianne Designs. The prize is a fabulous stamp and die set.


Here's my card for the challenge!


I decided that I wanted to use East Side Story for the challenge. It's obviously a riff (pun intended) on West Side Story, which is one of my favorite musicals.

I printed the digital stamp out on Neenah cardstock and colored it with my Copic markers. This was my first time coloring such a detailed scene and I'm quite sure that I messed up the cast shadows and perspective, especially on the fire escape. Oh well. Such is life. I used way too many markers to list, but if you have any questions, I did jot down the ones I used for the characters. I added some Clear Gelly Roll Stardust Pure Glitter pen to the windows on the buildings and subway train. I added some Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to her eyes.

Since the scene is fairly busy, I opted to use a clean design with a minimum of layered patterned papers. I used one sheet from the Love Story 6x6 pad by Echo Park together with some old Origins black/grey paper by Basic Grey. Ribbon from my stash as well as ancient photo corners finished the card.

Thanks for visiting today.

This card shall be entered in the following challenges:

• Digistamps for Joy Challenge #60: Romance is in the Air
• Fab N Funky Challenges #157: Valentines/Hearts
• Simon Says "Have a Heart"
• Stampin' Royalty Challenge #162: Valentines/Love
• Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #98: Valentine card with a ribbon
• Crazy Amigo Challenge Hearts
• Party Time Tuesdays #106: Love & Romance

Susana Loves Stamps -- Release Day!!!

Today SCACD releases the sequel to the oh so popular Oddly Sweet Curiosities collection!!!

Susana Loves Stamps is proud to introduce the fun and fresh Oddly Sweet Curiosities Sets 3 and 4 !!! These sets contain some of the cutest little Curiosities, each with a matching sentiment. These curious creatures will enchant you with their combination of cuteness and humor. So pick up one set or the entire collection so you can mix and match the sentiments and the Curiosities. These are fab and definitely year around fun!!!

Remember that our international friends can order their new Oddly Sweet Curiosities stamps from Quixotic Paperie!

In honor of this fun new release, the SCACD is having a Blog Hop that is sure to inspire you! You should have gotten here from Melanie's blog, where I'm sure she delighted you with some fabulous artwork! If you get lost along the way, stop at SCACD's store blog, Follow Your Heart, for the full roster!

Here's my first card featuring The Spotlight, though I call him Sharky.


Isn't The Spotlight/Sharky terrific? I love him and I love the sentiment that comes with him. It's cute, funny, and the tiniest bit sassy. Whenever I look at Sharky, I think of Michigan J Frog singing "Hello My Baby". So this card became a little theatre scene. Sharky was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers, which I'll list below. He was also stamped onto Eclipse tape, cut out, and masked so that I could airbrush a background. I used removable Scotch Tape to mask the areas for the spotlight, background, and stage.

The curtains are patterned paper from the Lost & Found 3: Ruby 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye. It's on sale now. Sales are good. I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities die to create the side curtains and a Fiskar's border punch to create the top curtain. I wanted to add some glitz to the curtains, so I edged 'em with Golden Glitz Delicata Pigment ink. If you haven't tried this ink and want/need an awesome gold ink pad, you should buy it. Then you can thank me 'cause it's the polite thing to do.

The Ornate Hinge Die by SCACD was used to die cut gold metallic paper, which I used for the curtain's tie backs. This die is very intricate, cuts beautifully, and is incredibly versatile. I loves it. Lots.

The sentiment was stamped with Onyx Black VersaFine ink, which is my ink of choice when stamping small ornate fonts.

I thought I still needed another touch of gold, so I used my new Delicate Chain Die Cut by Memory Box to anchor the sentiment.

Now for my next card that showcases Loves me? from the Oddly Sweet Curiosities Set #3.


Isn't this little monster too cute? I just love his expression and his flower. He was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers, which I'll list below. I die cut the image panel using Spellbinders Nestabilities Wonky Rectangles and kept the cardstock in the die while I added the dotty background. When I was done, I added Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen to his horns and Glossy Accents to his eyes. Then I put it aside to dry while I made some chicken soup for the sick hubby.

Here's a close-up of the colored OSC monster!


The patterned papers are from two different 6x6 pads, but they coordinated really nicely! Gotta love that. The floral, black & white circle, and yellow papers are from the Soho Garden 6x6 pad. The striped paper is from the Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic 6x6 pad. Both pads are by American Crafts, which might be why the colors worked so well together.

The hilarious sentiment that comes with this particular OSC monster was stamped with Onyx Black VersaFine ink onto patterned paper, then die cut with a ribbon-slide die. I used a layered strip of patterned paper as ribbon, which was adhered at either edge and popped up in the middle with dimensional adhesive. The stamped panel was adhered the same way. I used strong adhesive in the four corners of the Wonky Rectangle and used dimensional adhesive in the center.

Heart shaped rhinestones were added to the four corners of the die panel and to the upper left corner.

Thanks for visiting today and be sure to hop along to Mary's Blog. She's a Guest Star and I'm sure she'll wow you with her creations!

Copic markers used:
Sharky's body: T series and BG10, BG70 on his belly
Sharky's mouth: RV95, R99
Sharky's top hat and shoes: N series plus C0, C00
Sharky's bow ties: R24, R37, R59
Sharky's cane and the floor: E21, E23, E25, E27
Spotlight: Y0000, Y000, Y00 (airbrushed)

Loves Me?
Body: BG11, BG23, BG34
Cheeks: RV52
Eyes & Horns: YG21, YG23
Spikes: Y21, Y23, Y26
Flower: RV52, RV63,R66, RV29
Grass: YG11, YG13, YG17
Sky: RV0000, RV000, B0000, B000, Custom Less-than B21

Kenny K's Krafty Krew Challenge #129

It's KKKK Team A's turn to host the challenge this week. Their challenge is Hearts & Flowers!

The first sponsor is:


The prize is the winner's choice of 5 digital stamps!

The second sponsor is:


The prize is one stamp to the value of $10.00