Photo Bomb ATC Swap!

Nikki Woodward, a very talented and organized lady, has been running ATC swaps over at the Stampotique Facebook page for a while. The latest ATC swap's theme is "Photo Bomb". I've been wanting to play along so I signed up and created an ATC and a card for each of my partners. One of the my partners, received hers, so I decided to share it on my blog.

Here it is with Stampotique's Smitten Mustache Monsters (Kira Nichols), Birdy Up (Kira Nichols), and NY NY (Janet Klein).

All three stamps, Smitten Mustache Monsters, Birdy Up, and NY NY, were stamped onto Neenah cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. Smitten Mustache Monsters and  were fussy cut, edged with black marker, and set aside. One of the monsters from the three Smitten Mustache Monsters and three of the birds from Birdy Up were set aside for another day and project.

The blue sky was added to NY NY and the cardstock was trimmed. Two of the Smitten Mustache Monsters were adhered in front of the NY NY to look as though they were posing with the city as their backdrop. The Birdy Up bird was adhered at a diagonal and then trimmed, which didn't hurt him much until I bruised his feelings by tossing the bottom part of his body into the bin. The edges were sponged with Black Soot Distress ink and then set aside.

A piece of scrap cardstock was covered entirely with Commute Idea-ology Tissue Tape, which consists of New York street names, trimmed to ATC size, then sponged with Black Soot Distress ink. The image panel was added to the front and a panel with the ATC info was added to the reverse.

I also created this card, with the same bird from Birdy Up plus Banner, (France Papillon) to accompany my ATC on its trip across the pond.

Both were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, edged with black marker, and set aside, while I created the background from scraps of patterned paper and die-cuts by Memory Box and Little B. The card was assembled, I packed up the puffy envelope with the ATC, the card, and some goodies, and hied to the post office to send it on its way. I did learn not to use puffy envelopes to protect the envelope contents because (a) I had to complete a customs form, (b) it cost more, and (c) it took longer to arrive at its destination. :(

The second ATC, card, and goodies has not yet arrived at its destination, so I might have to recreate the project. Oh well.

Thanks for visiting today!

That Dotty Queen of Everything

Samantha Read is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Polka Dots". Here's what she had to say about this challenge.

"I included polka dots in a previous challenge and everyone who took part seemed to have such fun, I thought we could revisit them :) Have fun!"

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!

Here's my card with Stampotique's Queen of Everything with Words on the Side (Kate Crane).

The Queen of Everything was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto white cardstock and also onto the dot patterned sheet from the White Basics 6x6 pad (Basic Grey). The Queen of Everything's head, body, and wings were colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then edged with black marker, and set aside while I created a very dotty background for her.

The first step was to sponge Squeezed Lemonade and Wild Honey Distress inks over the Dot Burst stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore). The stencil was lifted and clear embossing powder was heat set.

A few drops each of Translucent White, Primary Cyan, and Pthalo Blue Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt) were added to the embossed panel, spread with a brush, and heat set. Cobalt Blue Hue, Translucent White, and Cerulean Blue MFA paints were sponged over the Dots All Around (The Crafters Workshop), Polka Dotty stencil (Wendy Vecchi) and the Dot Fade Layering stencil (Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous), then wiped back with a baby wipe. This was done repeatedly until I was happy with the layering, coverage, and patterns. The edge of an old credit card was used to add lines of Tranlucent White and Cobalt Blue Hue MFA to the piece.

The painted cardstock was run through my Big Kick inside the largest Card Creator 5x7 Nestabilities die (Spellbinders) then edged with Translucent White MFA paint. The leftover painted cardstock was die-cut with the Double Scallop Border die (Die-namics) and edged with Translucent White MFA paint.

The Words on the Side from the Queen of Everything with Words on the Side stamp was stamped onto yellow polka dot cardstock (Bo-Bunny), then die-cut with one of the dies from the Fancy Framed Tags die set (Spellbinders).

Due to my mad math skillz and bad measurements, the border and the sentiment only fit along the bottom of the card front, so they were adhered there. Blue rhinestones were added to the sentiment die-cut to make it more regal.

The Queen of Everything was put back together with the sentiment grounding her dress and her crowned head in the dot burst. Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was added to the buttons on her dress. Clear Stardust Glitter pen (Sakura) was added to the blue dots in her crown, then Clear Gelly Glaze pen was added over the glitter to make the blue dots dimensional, glittery, and glossy. The Queen of Everything's wings were coated with Clear Wink of Stella glitter pen (Zig/EK Success). The final step was to add the card front to a 5x7 white card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Craft Cardmakers and More Challenges: Dots
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: Anything Goes
• Stamps and Stencils Challenges: Anything Goes 
• Frilly and Funkie Challenges: Stencil Mania 

Springs

Valerie Wilson is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Springs".  

Here's what she had to say about this challenge.

"In my town, there is still snow on the ground, but I'm hoping that if we keep thinking "Spring" really hard, that Spring will arrive! To encourage the arrival of Spring, I'd like to see you actually use springs or something that makes things spring up off your project!"

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!

Here's my card with Twinkie (Daniel Torrente), Hat Cube (Daniel Torrente), NY, NY (Janet Klein), Taxi! (Janet Klein), Barcode Text (France Papillon), and Super Hero Text (Linda Peterson).

I must admit that I was a bit stymied at first by this challenge, but then serendipity struck. My husband has an old Cross pen and it needed a refill. I unscrewed it to take the innards with me to Staples to be sure I got the correct refill. Lo and Behold! There was a tiny spring inside the pen! I didn't pirate that one, but we periodically get free retractable nib/ball point pens in charity mailings, though in all honesty I wish they'd keep the postage and their stuff instead of inundating us with unrequested things. Anyway, these pens work for about five minutes then run out of ink, so I tested the pens in our desk drawer. The pens that still worked went back into the desk. The pens that were inkless got stripped of their springs, which went up to the craft room to be used in this card and other future Steampunk-style projects.

Twinkie and one of the hats from the Hat Cube were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then edged with black marker. 

While cleaning my craft room recently, I came across an old 8x8 pad, called Get Happy (Cosmo Cricket), which features painty-looking patterned papers in primary colors. I thought these papers would work really well with the way I had colored Twinkie and his hat. I started to layer the papers to create a scene, then decided that I wanted Twinkie to be flying over a cityscape after launching into the air by his springs.

Out came NY, NY, which was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto one of the patterned papers from the White Basics 6x6 pad (Basic Grey), fussy-cut, then edged with black marker. A strip of green patterned Get Happy paper was cut, edged with black marker, then layered onto a sheet of blue patterned Get Happy paper. I decided that the Road washi tape would be perfect, so I added that between the blue and green patterned papers. NY, NY was adhered over the washi tape. Then I decided that a taxi would look really cute. So out came the Taxi! stamp, which was stamped onto Neenah cardstock, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, edged with black marker, and adhered to the Road washi tape.

The blue Get Happy patterned paper had type on the left side so it needed some type on the right side to balance it. "Proof of Fun" from the Barcode Text set was stamped with London Fog Memento ink. 

Some clouds were needed in the sky, so white cardstock was cut with the Clouds trio of dies (Memory Box), detailed with grey markers, and adhered to the blue Get Happy patterned paper.

It was time for Twinkie to spring up into the air and fly over the city, but first his head got a bit of a trim and then his hat was adhered. A triangle cut from red canvas-textured specialty paper was hand detailed then adhered to Twinkie's back to be a super-hero cape. Foam tape (3M) was added to Twinkie's back and he was adhered in position over the cloudy blue sky. 

Super Hero Text was stamped with Jet Black Archival ink onto the striped Be Happy patterned paper, fussy-cut, edged with a black marker, and a 1/16" eyelet was added. Silver thread was used to connect the sentiment banner with Twinkie's hand and the sentiment was popped up with dimensional foam adhesive. Gold thread was used to add a gold metal spring (these pens only had gold-colored springs!) under each of Twinkie's boots.


The blue scene was edged with Black Soot Distress ink, then mounted onto diagonally striped Be Happy patterned paper. This was adhered to a 5x7 white card and the card told me it was finally done! 

BTW, I tried but couldn't get rid of the shadows caused by everything being popped up and dimensional. Oh well.

Thanks for visiting today!

A Fairy Merry Christmas card

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is "Anything Goes with an Optional Christmas Twist".  My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Laine, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any color medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our April sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner four digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us using the palette below for your chance to win!

I've opted to do the twist, so here's my card with ching chou kuik's Holly Fairy.

 

 

Holly Fairy was resized in PhotoElements, printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. Chalk pencil was used to add shading to her face and blush to her cheeks. White gel pen was used to accent the shiny bits on the holly berries.

The patterned paper, from an old My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad, was layered according to Sketch 297 from Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge blog. All edges were sponged with Bundled Sage Distress ink. My Celtic Band die (Cherry Lynn Designs) was used to die-cut red cardstock.

Here's the sketch so you can see how I did with it, though you'll note that I flipped it 90° to work with Holly Fairy.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Crafting with an Attitude: Freestyle/Fantasy
• Die Cuttin' Divas Challenges: Garden Month
• The Christmas Challenge #57: Use a Digi

Spring Scene

Due to the late arrival of spring temperatures, the trees, shrubs, and spring flowers are finally blooming, so I decided to celebrate by creating a spring scene thank you card.

I started the scene by stamping the barn from the Nature stamp set (Andy Skinner/Stampendous) with London Fog Memento ink onto both Neenah cardstock and Eclipse Tape. The tree from the Nature stamp set was stamped on the right of the barn with a few branches slightly over the barn's roof. The Eclipse Tape version of the barn was fussy-cut and placed over its counterpart and the tree on the left was stamped.

The mask was kept in place and a cast-off curved piece of cardstock was placed over the base of the trees and the barn. The sky was then airbrushed using a B21 Copic marker, the Copic Airbrush System, and a torn piece of cardstock. The spray was directed over the torn top of the cardstock, which was then moved downwards, sprayed again, and so forth.

The curved piece of cardstock was flipped, positioned to cover the sky, and the grass was airbrushed using a YG13 Copic marker.

All masks were lifted and the barn and tree trunks were colored with Copic markers. Since the tree stamp from the Nature stamp set is a bare winter tree, a variety of YG Copic markers were used to add dots around the branches to look like leaves. Some tufts of grass were added here and there too. When I was happy with the spring scene, it was set aside for a bit.

Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna,  Quinacridone Red, and Titan Buff Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt) were painted onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) and allowed to dry. A layer of Media Matte Medium (DecoArt) was sponged over the painted cardstock and allowed to dry. White Media Crackle Paint (DecoArt) was unevenly brushed over the painted cardstock and allowed to dry. The unevenness (Is that a even a word?) of the Crackle Paint application resulted in a variety of crackling. The edges of the cardstock were lightly sanded to reveal even more of the painted cardstock. Some Frayed Burlap Distress and Aged Mahagony Distress inks were sponged over the crackled painted cardstock to add more visual interest.

A Vintage Lace Alterations Decorative Strip die (Sizzix) was used to die-cut brown cardstock. Dies from he Fancy Framed Tags 2 set (Spellbinders) were used to die-cut the brown and crackled painted cardstock. The Thanks die (Elizabeth Craft Designs) was used to die-cut brown cardstock.

The components of the card were assembled and that's all she wrote. 

Thanks for visiting today! 

I shall enter this card into the following challenges: 
• Artistic Inspirations Challenges: Anything Goes with a Twist of Spring
• A Gem of a Challenge: Spring is in the Air
• Crafts 4 Eternity Challenges: Spring

Color and/or Photo Challenge

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is a color challenge, using a palette from Design Seeds.  My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Laine, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any color medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our April sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner four digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us using the palette below for your chance to win!

Here's the color palette or the photo inspiration.

 

Here's my card using Sweet Pea/Meredith Dillman's Fuschia Fairy.

Fuschia Fairy was resized in PhotoElements, printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. Chalk pencil was used to add shading to her face and blush to her cheeks.

When I was done coloring, the image panel took a ride through my Big Kick to be die-cut with one of the dies from the Card Creators A2 die set (Spellbinders). While it was still in the die, I airbrushed the background with C0, C01, and C02 Copic markers over a torn piece of scrap cardstock. I'd spray along the torn edge, move it over or down, and spray again. This was repeated until I had a cloudy grey sky behind the Fuschia Fairy. Silver Spica glitter pen was used to add some glittery dots for Fuschia Fairy's flight path.

The patterned papers are from scraps of hoarded 12x12 patterned paper from the Origins collection (Basic Grey). I was lucky to have big enough scraps that I was able to use the Card Creator die, the Scalloped Border die (Lifestyle Crafts), and the Scalloped Corner die (Spellbinders). All edges of the patterned paper were sponged with Gathered Twigs Distress ink. The card was finished with a gingham ribbon and bow.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: In the Middle 
• Crafty Cardmaker Challenges: Wings
• Deep Ocean Challenges: Things with Wings 
• Crafting With An Attitude Challenges: Fantasy
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Make Your Own Background

Going Round in Circles!

Magda Polakow is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Circles".  

Here's what she had to say about this challenge.

"I like using shapes in my projects especially circles. They can give interesting effects on projects depends in what way they are used. I would love to see circles on your creations. How you will use them, depends on your imagination. " 

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!! 

Here's my card with Stampotique's Yum Yum (Kira Nichols), Barcode Text (France Papillon), and Splatter Circle (Janet Klein).

By the way, there are some wonky shadows from the popped up center circle and from the photo corners.

We're finally getting spring-like weather here in the Northeastern U.S. and the wildlife is slowly returning to my back garden. I recently saw that our resident chipmunk had emerged from his burrow so I decided to honor him (or her) by using Yum Yum in this circle challenge!

Yum Yum was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. I am aware that chipmunks don't have turquoise eyes, but I love the combination of brown and turquoise and so does Yum Yum!

When I was done coloring, the image panel took a ride through my Big Kick inside one of the Circles Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders) and was die-cut. The background was then added with my Copics. The circle was set aside while I created a circle-heavy background.

Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, and Titan Buff Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paints (DecoArt)
were sponged onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore). When the paint was dry, the same paints were sponged through my Polka Dotty stencil (Wendy Vecchi). While the paint was drying on this sheet, Cobalt Turquoise Hue MFA was mixed with Translucent White MFA and sponged onto another sheet of Mixed Media cardstock. 

The stenciled, painted sheet of cardstock was die-cut with one of the dies from the 5x7 Card Creator die sets (Spellbinders) and a circle from the Circles Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders). Cobalt Turquoise Hue MFA was mixed with Translucent White MFA again and sponged over the Mini Layered Beads stencil (The Crafters Workshop). When the paint dried, the color was different from the other sheet that had been painted with Cobalt Turquoise Hue MFA was mixed with Translucent White MFA, so I touched up the circles with Cobalt Turquoise Hue MFA using a tiny foam brush (note to self: need more!). Much better.

The turquoise cardstock was die-cut with two of the circles from the Circles Nestabilities die set (Spellbinders), the circle border die from the Western Star Border Duo set (Die-namics), a nameplate die (Spellbinders), and an old photo corner die (QuicKutz).

 Splatter Circle (Janet Klein) was stamped onto the larger circle with Potting Soil Archival ink (Ranger), then both circles were edged with the Potting Soil Archival ink. The stamped circle was adhered to the stamped circle, which was then adhered to the brown painted circle. Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to add dimension and shine to Yum Yum's eyes, nose, teeth, and the nut s/he's gripping so tightly.

Here's a tilted close-up of so you can see the shine and dimension created with the Clear Gelly Glaze pen.

"Handle with care", from the Barcode Text set, was the perfect sentiment for the card due to the way Yum Yum is holding that nut and was stamped onto one of the painted die-cut nameplates with Potting Soil ink. 

The matted image circle, border die-cut, and sentiment were adhered to the stenciled and painted card front. The card front was edged with Potting Soil Archival ink and matted onto dark brown cardstock. The two photo corner die-cuts were adhered to the upper corners to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting. I think I'll leave you with a song plant , Will It Go Round In Circles?, by Billy Preston. Enjoy! 

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: In the Middle 
• Loves to Scrap Challenges: Stripes or Dots 
• CCEE Stampers Challenges: Stencils
• Stamps and Stencils Challenges: Anything Goes 

April Showers

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is "April Showers."  My Outlawz Coloring Challenge teammates, Carla, Penny, Laine, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any color medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our April sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner four digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's my card using Sweet Pea/Lisa Victoria's Rain Dragon. 

 

Rain Dragon was resized in PhotoElements, printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer, then colored with Copic markers. When I was done coloring, the image panel took a ride through my Big Kick to be die-cut with one of the dies from the Card Creators A2 die set (Spellbinders). While it was still in the die, I colored the background with a custom-blended less than TO Copic marker. 

The patterned paper is from the seriously old, almost used up My Mind's Eye 6x6 patterned paper pad, Quite Contrary. and were layered according to Sweet Sunday's Sketch #263, which is below so you can see how I did.

All edges were sponged with Antique Linen Distress ink (Ranger). Three yellow rhinestones were added to finish the card.

Here's the sketch so you can see how I did!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
•  Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #263
• 7 Kids Challenges: Anything Goes with a Twist of Spring Colors
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: April Showers and/or Spring Flowers

In Stitches!

Coby van Willigenburg is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Stitches". This is what she had to say about her challenge.

"I love stitches in my creations, sometimes stamped, sometimes made with the hand, and sometimes with the sewing machine. I challenge you to use stitches in your creations...."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!

Here's my card with Stampotique's Penelope (Daniel Torrente and Jill Penney), Bark Cube (Daniel Torrente and Jill Penney), Skully (Arwen McCullen), Folded Tags (Josie Cirincione) , and Barcode Text #2 (France Papillon).

I will preface this dissertation with the bold statement, "I do not sew!" Having said that, I did, in fact, hand sew on this project and only drew blood once! Best of all, I did NOT bleed on my project.

Since my whole idea for this card hinged upon the premise that I'd be able to turn Arwen's Skully into a canvas garland. I was delighted to discover that I was mostly able to stamp a joined row of
Skullies onto canvas with the help of my Stamp-a-ma-jig stamp positioner. The Skully garland was then painted with Translucent White Media Fluid Acrylic paint (DecoArt), which gave the skulls n' bones an aged look. A Pitt pen was used to go over the lines that had been touched with the paint and to darken the black here and there. A Copic marker was used to add grey to the eyeholes.  When done, the Skully garland was fussy-cut using scissors and an exacto knife. 

I have a motherlode of patterned paper scraps and like to use them.  Folded Tags was stamped onto three green matching-ish patterned paper scraps with Leaf Green Archival ink (Ranger). All three were fussy-cut, edged with Leaf Green Archival ink, positioned slightly offset, and adhered to one another. This border was then adhered to a large scrap of blue patterned paper. Using Tim's ruler, I poked holes along the bottom and sides of the Folded Tags, then sewed xxxxx along the bottom and ran a straightish stitch up either side. The hole-poking, needle-threading, stitching, bandaiding, and such took an inordinate amount of time, probably more than the rest of the project combined. I am not a seamstress. Sad, but true.

But I digressed, which is shocking. Or not.

Penelope and one of the dogs from Bark Cube were stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts), colored with Copic markers, edged with a Pitt pen, and fussy-cut. Clear Gelly Glaze pen was used to add dimension to the scissors and to the dog's nose. White Gelly Glaze pen was used to add white shiny dimension to his teeth. My Exacto blade was used to cut a slit in the corner of the dog's mouth. Green thread was tied around Penelope pigtails and some pink chalk was added to her cheeks for that healthy glow. Penelope and the dog from the  Bark Cube were adhered to the background. The Skully garland was added with the garland being positioned to look as though it had been cut by Penelope's scissors. A bone from a slightly tattered canvas Skully was inserted into the slit in the dog's mouth.

"Shenanigans" from Barcode Text #2 was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto blue patterned paper, then die-cut with one of the dies from the Stitched Speech Bubble die set(Spellbinders), which was then dutifully stitched with blue thread to be all matchy-matchy. I'm cool like that. It was added to the card front and I called the card done.

Thanks for visiting today.

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Fashionable Stamping Challenges: Sew What
• Through The Purple Haze Challenges: Anything Goes
• Inky Chicks Challenges: Stitching

Steampunk Hummingbirds

Good news! SCACD's Steampunk Hummingbird from the Eclectic Steampunk Collection is now available in digital format!

I knew I wanted to create a scene with the trumpet vine from the  Hummingbirds stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), but I wasn't sure how big to make the Steampunk Hummingbirds. I had a rare "Eureeka!" moment and quickly sponged some ink over the trumpet vine, scanned it, imported it into my PhotoElements program. I was then able to figure out the size and placement of the Steampunk Hummingbirds. You'll notice that one of the Steampunk Hummingbirds was flipped horizontally. All three of them were rotated to make them look as though they are approaching, feeding, or flying away from the trumpet vine.

Once I figured that out, I deleted the vine, and printed the hummingbirds onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer.

The Hummingbirds stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) was taped over the Steampunk Hummingbirds cardstock and Bamboo Leaves, Dandelion, Canteloupe, and Tangelo Memento ink was sponged over the stencil. When I was happy with the coverage, shading and detail were added with Copic markers. Then the Steampunk Hummingbirds were colored with Copics.

Summer Sky Memento ink was carefully sponged around the trumpet vine and the Steampunk Hummingbirds. Then I grabbed the Gears stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) and sponged Summer Sky Memento ink over the stencil repeatedly building layers of gears.

Since the scene was sort of busy, I slapped the scene onto a gray card and called it done.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Crafty Cardmakers and More Challenges: Wings
• Through The Purple Haze Challenges: Anything Goes
• Kenny K's Krafty Krew Challenges: Steampunk

Fairies!

This week's challenge at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is "Fairies"  My Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teammates, Carla, Penny, Laine, and I challenge you to use create a project for this challenge. You can use any color medium you like, just as long as you color! 

Our April sponsor at The Outlawz Coloring Challenges is Sweet Pea Stamps, who is offering our lucky winner four digis of his/her choice from the Sweet Pea Digi Stamp Store.  Play along with us for your chance to win!

Here's my card with Sweet Pea/Teresa Sherman Fern the Forest Fairy.

Fern the Forest Fairy was resized in Photo Elements and printed out onto Neenah cardstock using my laser printer. After checking Google Images to learn about the colors of trumpet flowersspring oak leaves, and spring acorns, the scene was colored with Copic markers. The bird's eyes, beak, and talons were coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add dimension and shine. White Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to add white to the dots on the mushrooms.

Since the Fern the Forest Fairy scene was very colorful, I opted to use kraft cardstock  to create a neutral background. However, I wanted it to have visual interest, so I put my Big Kick to work! The Fern the Forest Fairy scene and two mat layers were die-cut with dies from my Card Creator die set (Spellbinders).  The kraft  rectangles were edged with Frayed Burlap Distress ink (Ranger). One of the two dies in SCACD's Classic Corner die set was used to cut four corner die-cuts, which were sponged with Frayed Burlap Distress ink.

The card front layer was run through my Big Kick inside a Couture Creations 5x7 embossing folder, then the edges were sponged with Frayed Burlap Distress ink.

The Flower Chain Border die (Cherry Lynn Designs), Ribbon Tags Trio One (Spellbinders),  "hello" from the Handwritten sentiment die set (Little B), and the Autumn Gatherings Alterations Decorative Strip die (Sizzix) were used to die-cut kraft cardstock. Frayed Burlap Distress ink was used to sponge the inside of the tag die, the larger oak leaves, and the acorn. Frayed Burlap Distress marker was used to add some detailing to the oak leaves. Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) was used to make the acorn shiny.

All the elements were layered and adhered, the sentiment tag was popped up on foam adhesive, then the card front was added to a kraft card and I called it done!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Scrapy Land Challenge #15: Anything Goes
• Country View Challenges: Use Kraft Card
• Die Cut Divas: In the Garden

Watch this!

Arwen McCullen is our hostess this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog. Her challenge is "Unusual Cards". This is what she had to say about her challenge.

"Anyone can do a square card. I like unusual creations and would like to see other card types this week. Enjoy the implementation and I'm curious about your art works."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!!  

Here's my pocketwatch card with Stampotique's Owl with Wings (Jo Capper-Sandon).

 Here's it open!

Owl with Wings was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, then fussy cut. His eyes, beak, and talon were coated with several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add dimension and shine. He was set aside while I worked on his background.

Two sheets 6" x 8" sheets of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore) were painted with Carbon Black Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paint (DecoArt).  Using a piece of Cut n'-Dry Foam (Ranger) , Metallic Gold MFA paint was pounced onto the cardstock until the black was mostly covered. When that layer was dry, Quinacridone Gold MFA paint was dabbed, swooshed, and swirled onto it using a wire-coiley brushy tool (Art-C). This step was repeated using Interference Gold MFA. The combinations of colors and applications resulted in a very cool (if I might say that) tarnished gold look.

One sheet of the gold-painted cardstock was scored. The fold was placed slightly to the right of the cutting blade of my Pocketwatch Frame Alterations die (Sizzix) then run through my Big Kick, which yielded a Pocket Watch shaped card.

The gold cardstock was also die-cut with a two dies from my Nesting Rings die set (Lifestyle Crafts), the Chained die (Sizzix), the Ivy set (Spellbinders), the hands from the Clock and Gears die set (Elizabeth Craft Designs),  and the A Hint of Lime font die (Die-Versions).

Ultramarine Blue was mixed with Pthalo Blue MFA then sponged over a printed clock face from my stash. Circle Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders) were used to cut out the center and outside bits of the watch face.

Ultramarine Blue and Pthalo Blue MFA were sponged onto 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock (Strathmore), then die-cut with a Circle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders). Dioxazine Purple MFA was sponged over my Tornado stencil (Tando Creative) onto the circle, allowed to dry, then Titanium White MFA was sponged over my Starry Nights stencil (The Memory Box).

The stenciled painted circle was adhered to the center of the front of the card. The painted-clockface was adhered over it, then the rings were added to the outside of the clockface and around the starry-tornadoey center.

Owl with Wings was adhered to the minute hand and then adhered to the center of the card. The chain was adhered to the back watch fob, the ivy leaves, whose edges were lightly sponged with Jet Black Archival ink (Ranger), were added to the watch as ornamentation, and "Woo-hoo" was added to the watch itself.

I will likely go back and add a graduation cap to the owl and then use the card as a graduation card since both of my nephews are graduating this year!

If you made it through all the above, kudos!

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
• Die-Cuttin' Divas Challenges: Anything Goes
• Sweet 7 Designs Challenges: Lucky Gold 
• Get Creative Challenges: Must Use a Die-cut 
• Scrapy Land Challenge #15: Anything Goes