Angelic, like me!

This week's challenge at Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is Angels because today is Be An Angel Day! Personally, I think it should Be an Angel like Kathi Day because we know that I'm the angelic sort. *giggle*

Here's some info for you!

"Be an Angel Day encourages us to do acts of kindness, and to help others. This special day has strong religious roots. Jayne Howard Feldman, the creator of this day, says she was inspired by angels to create this day on August 22.

The objective of this day is to be like an angel, and do something good or kind for someone who is in need of help. The type of angelic help you can offer is not defined or limited. It can be physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Be an Angel Day is for both the giver and the receiver. If you are the receiver, make certain to express your appreciation."

 Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges which is now a coloring challenge! You can use alcohol markers, other markers, colored pencils, and any other coloring medium. The only requirement is that you color an open line image!

August's sponsor for the Outlawz Friday's Coloring Challenges is Bombshell Stamps. The winner of this month's challenge will win his or her choice of a digital set of stamps.

You should definitely enter this challenge and should also visit my Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teamies' blogs for inspiration! Carla, Dawn, and Penny are seriously talented!

My card features SCACD's Hannah, one of the lovely stamps from the Mythical Reflections Collection.

Hannah was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. A touch of Gold Spica Glitter pen by Copic was added to her headpiece and wings.

The patterned papers are from the Botanical Tea 6x6 and 8x8 pads by Graphic 45. The image panel, patterned brown cardstock, and gold metallic cardstock were die-cut with Nestabilities dies by Spellbinders. One of the two dies included in SCACD's Classic Corner Die set was used to die-cut gold metallic cardstock. These were placed on the upper corners of the image panel.

A Die-Namics die from one of their Blueprints sets was used to cut the scalloped border. One of the two dies included in SCACD's Classic Corner Die set was used to die-cut gold metallic cardstock. The Delicate Chain die by Poppystamps/Memory Box was used to die-cut gold metallic cardstock and the chain was added to the scalloped border.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Craft Your Passion Challenge #226: At Least Three Patterned Papers
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges: Anything Goes
• My Sheri Crafts Challenges: Be An Angel
• Paper Take Weekly Challenges: To Die For

Flowers and Friends

 It's Kristen's turn to host the Stampotique Designers Challenges and here's what she's got to say about it!

"We may be nearing towards the end of summer, and for most, the flowers are fully bloomed, but for me, some of the best flowers are yet to come.  I love the gigantic sunflowers and the autumn mums, and for that reason, I challenge you to use flowers in your creations this week. Have fun!"

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

Here's my rather large card that features Stampotique's Happy Head Appliances Cube, Cousin Carmine, Angel , and Merry Fairy. The stamp artists for all that I used are Daniel Torrente and Jill Penney.

 

The heads of Cousin Carmine, Angel , and Merry Fairy were stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, die-cut with Nestabilities Circle dies by Spellbinder, colored with Copic markers, and matted with black cardstock scalloped circle die-cuts. These were set aside while I created the "flowers".

The hats from the Happy Head Appliances Cube were stamped onto leftover scraps of sponged, stenciled cardstock, colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then shaped with embossing styli (styluses?). Additional circles were die-cut from white cardstock, covered with adhesive, and the hats were adhered with the points facing inwards, to form flower petals. The colored, matted heads of Cousin Carmine, Angel , and Merry Fairy were adhered to the centers of the flowers.

Washi tapes were adhered to the base of yellow patterned KMA cardstock (from the dark ages) and ribbon was adhered to form the flowers' stems. The yellow cardstock was matted with dark red cardstock, then adhered to the card.

Clear and light blue vellum was die-cut with a Paper Trey Jar and Lid die. The blue vellum was adhered to the clear vellum then the jars were adhered over the ribbon stems. White Wink of Stella pen was used to add detail to the jar. The flower heads were adhered to the ribbon stems, then additional ribbon was formed into loops and adhered to the stems to become leaves.

The sentiment was computer generated and printed onto the same yellow patterned KMA cardstock using a laser printer. This piece was die-cut and adhered over the three jars. Gemstones were added to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:

• My Besties UK Challenge: Anything Goes and Flowers
• Simon Says Monday Challenges: Anything Goes
• Hiding in My Craftroom Challenges: Use Ribbon
• Inkspirational Challenges: Use Red, Orange, and Yellow

The colors of Bliss!

This week is a color challenge at Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges, which is now a coloring challenge! You can use alcohol markers, other markers, colored pencils, and any other coloring medium. The only requirement is that you color an open line image!

August's sponsor for the Outlawz Friday's Coloring Challenges is Bombshell Stamps. The winner of this month's challenge will win his or her choice of a digital set of stamps.

Here's the color palette from Design Seeds:

You should definitely enter this color challenge and should also visit my Outlawz Coloring Challenge Teamies blogs for inspiration! Carla, Dawn, and Penny are seriously talented!

Here's my card, featuring Bliss, one of the four beautiful new fairy stamps in SCACD's Zen Beauties set.

Bliss was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. C00, C0, C1, custom-blended Less than B60, and B60 Copic markers were used to create the cloudy sky behind her. Silver Copic Spica glitter pen was used to add trails of glitter issuing from her fingers and feet, as well as lines of glitter on her wings.

Patterned cardstock from Club Scrap was die-cut with a Decorative Labels Eight Nestabilities die from Spellbinders. This was then die-cut with a Nestabities Labels Eight die to create a frame. The same die  was used to die-cut her image panel, which was adhered inside the decorative frame. This frame was adhered to patterned paper from My Minds Eye, then matted onto silver glitter paper by DCWV. The matted image panel was adhered to the card front made from the same green patterned cardstock from Club Scrap. Gemstones by Kaiser Craft (for sale at 50% off!) were added to finish the card.

Thanks for visiting today! 

I shall enter this in the following challenges:
• Creatalicious Challenge #66: Up in the Sky 
• Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards Challenge #71: Fairies
 

Music Inspiration Challenge!

It's my turn to host the Stampotique Designers Challenges and here's what I've got to say about it!

"I love music and enjoy most genres ranging from liturgical music to rap, from classical to head-bangin' rock! Music fills my soul and moves me emotionally and physically.

Let's see how music inspires you! Use song lyrics, music notation, or words associated with music in your project and share it with us!

Have fun! I can't wait to see what you all create!"

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

I'm sad to say that I have not completed my project for this or any other challenge.

It's been a rather wacky summer and my mojo and energy level are currently located on the construction-congested Staten Island Expressway and/or the Belt Parkway. I've spent ridiculous amount of time this summer in bumper-to-bumper traffic on both of these horrific roadways.

Please visit my team members blogs to see how they've interpreted my challenge!

Bwa ha ha! I'm back with my project, which is a page for a mini-book that I have been planning for quite some time. My musical inspiration is Cheap Sunglasses by ZZ Top.

Here it is!

Smitten Moustache Monsters (Kira Nichols) was stamped twice with Tuxedo Black Memento ink. One set was colored with Copic markers and fussy cut. The moustaches and belly parts were fussy cut, colored with Copic markers, then run through a Xyron machine to apply adhesive to the front of the image. Caramel Latte Fun Flock by Stampendous was applied to the adhesive on the moustaches and beards. ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever was used to adhere the flocked moustaches and beards in place. Clear Gelly Roll Glaze pen was added to the one pair of visible eyes and the horns of two of the monsters.

The sunglasses are metallic charms that I had forever. I cut the temples and the charm loop, bent the glasses slightly, and adhered the sunglasses over the eyes of two of the monsters.

I set my Smitten Moustache Monsters aside and went to work on my background. I cut a piece of 140 lb. Mixed Media cardstock by Strathmore to 6x6. I sponged Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, and Spiced Marmalade Distress ink onto the cardstock using Mini Ink Blending Tools and Mini Ink Blending Tool Replacement Foam. You can't see it now, but I achieved a really nice gradient, which pleased me. Then I messed it up. Water was misted over the piece using an Inkssentials Mini Mister, which added a nice mottled look. The piece was heat set, then more of the same color Distress inks, plus Picked Raspberry and Rusty Hinge Distress inks were sponged over the 50s Clock stencil by The Crafter's Workshop (50% off!). I dampened a sponge with water and sponged over the stencil to remove some of the ink, then I heat set the piece again. I decided more was more, so I sponged Distress inks over the Bubbles Dylusions stencil. This stencil seems to be sold out, but the other Dylusions stencils are on sale, so check 'em out! I still wasn't satisfied, so I sponged more Distress ink over the Flower Frenzy stencil by The Crafter's Workshop. I liked the layers of pattern better, but now it looked too bright, so I sponged Picket Fence Distress Stain over the piece, wiped it off, liked it all better, so I heat set it.

The edges of the piece were distressed with the Heart Attack Distressing tool by WR Memory Keepers. The tattered edges were roughed up a bit more with the edge of a pair of scissors, then sponged with Picked Raspberry and my beloved Black Soot Distress ink.

Black metallic cardstock was die cut with Memory Box's Virtuoso Music die-cut, a Die-Namics Treble Clef die, and old Mini Khaki dies by QuicKutz. The treble clef and music staff die-cuts were adhered to the inked, stenciled page, then the Smitten Moustache Monsters were adhered to the music staff. The sentiment was added, then the piece was adhered to black cardstock!

Here's a bit of the back story. After a year of steady deterioration of my eyesight, I had cataract surgery in January 2014. I got glasses in fourth grade, so it was amazing that my distance vision was corrected to 20/20! It was indescribable how exciting it was to peel my eye open right after the surgery and read the license plate of the car in front of us to my husband! It's awesome to wake up in the morning and not have to fumble for my glasses. I can drive without my glasses! Almost best of all, I can wear cheap sunglasses!

I will admit that I was flat out terrified about the surgery. My vision is central to my life. All the things that I love to do involve my eyesight. Reading, doing artwork, bird watching, watching television, sightseeing, traveling -- all involve eyesight. When I was a stupid teenager, I cut my corneas with contact lenses. The pain was excruciating and I became very phobic about anything touching my eyeballs. The prospect of losing my vision to cataracts was scary, but so was the surgery. I became a total complete basketcase for the month or so leading up to the surgery. The surgeon changed the date on me twice and I almost caved into my fears, but I went through with it, and am glad I did. There have been complications and I still need glasses for computer, reading, and close work, but all in all. It's been a positive experience even though I don't much like seeing all my gray and my wrinkles! I decided that it would be a good thing to document the whole experience in a mini-book and now I've started. Yay!

Smile! It's time for Bows!

My project for It's Jackie's turn to host the Stampotique Designers Challenges! 

Here's what she had to say about her challenge!

"Ribbons have been around since the Middle Ages. Merchants travelled the world, buying and selling ribbon, many of which had gold and silver in the silk. Ribbons were a sign of nobility and worn only by the rich. By the seventh century ribbon was part of the fashion industry and was part of clothing.
Today ribbon has numerous uses and it is a favourite crafting accessory. I have lots of it!

You can make fabulous bows with it to adorn your cards, scrapbook page, tags, journals etc.

So I would like to see you add a bow to your project. If you don't have ribbons, bows can be made out of many mediums such as paper, clay, string to name but a few!

I looking forward to seeing your creations with a bow!"

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

I have a metric tonne of ribbon, which I buy because it's pretty or if I think I might use it some day, which is rather like the rest of my crafting stash. However, my bow tying prowess is woefully poor. In fact, it's absolute rubbish. It's so bad that I bought the Bowdabra, which I can't figure out. I bought the Bow Easy with the same result. I've watched multiple videos and bought a large serving fork, which has become quite useful in the kitchen. So when I saw this challenge, I cringed. Big time.

Here's my project which has a bow. Please note that the tails of the bow are not behaving and the center of the bow is facing the wrong way. All I can say is "please be kind" or "if you can't say anything nice, best say nothing!"

My card features Karin (Daniel Torrente), who was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. She was outlined in yellow and then took a ride through my Big Kick inside a Large Rectangles Nestabilities die by Spellbinders. She was kept inside the die and a Post-It note was placed over the top part of the image, while Milled Lavender, Weathered Wood, and Black Soot Distress inks were sponged over the die and through my Dart Board stencil by The Crafter's Workshop (Currently 50% off!) . The Post-It note was moved to cover the newly stencilled area and Milled Lavender, Weathered Wood, and Black Soot Distress inks were sponged over the edges of the die towards the center of the piece. When I was happy with the coverage, I removed the Post-It note and popped the image panel out of the die. I added a bit more yellow Copic marker around Karin toward the sponged areas.

The patterned papers are from a very old 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye. It's good that I keep hoard my patterned paper pads since I usually find something to match my project. One day I might even get through all my pads. That is if I live to 258 years old. Anyway, I digressed. The patterned papers were die-cut, edged, and layered, then it was time to tie my bow and add ribbon.

I had some fun skullicious ribbon, which was purchased during Halloween. Since Halloween imagery is too good for just one holiday, I tend to collect hoard those supplies as well. I do the same thing with Christmas papercrafting product and I don't even really celebrate the holiday. 

Oops! Digressed again. So, I added a strip of ribbon, tied a bow, stuck a black safety pin through the center of the bow, and dangled a "smile" charm from the bow with Baker's Twine. I thought "smile" was the perfect sentiment for Karin, since she sports a wicked grin.

I should mention that the "smile" charm is at least seven years old. Maybe even older. I *think* that it's by KI, which has been out of business for a while. I love words and I love charms, so guess what I did? Yep. I bought a bunch of word charms and a gazillion other charms (an entire Iris cart drawer full), which I save hoard since I knew I'd need it one day. That  day came, which just goes to show you...something...or another. 

That's about it for now. Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Splitcoast Stampers' Dare to Get Dirty Challenge DTGD14cathymac
• Besties Challenge: Add a Charm or Something that Dangles
• Perfectly Rustics: Bow or a Ruffle

Faith

This is Faith, one of the four beautiful new fairy stamps in SCACD's Zen Beauties set. Faith
was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. Polychromos colored pencils were used to add some detail to her hair. Gold Spica Glitter pen was used to add sparkle to her hair and fairy trails under her feet. Clear Spica Glitter pen was used to add sparkle to her wings.

Post-It notes were used to create a path for the Copic-colored sun rays, then used to cover the rays so the Copic-colored grey sky could be added.

Here's a close-up so that you can see a bit of the glitter!

The stamped scene was matted with gold metallic cardstock. One of the two dies included in SCACD's beautiful Classic Corners die set was used to die-cut gold metallic cardstock three times. The corners were added to the stamped scene.

I wanted the background to be relatively clean so that the stamped scene would be the focal image. The same Post-It notes were recycled to block out an area along the bottom of the card. Golden Glitz Delicata ink was sponged onto green cardstock over my Bubbles Dylusions stencil. This stencil seems to be sold out, but the others are on sale, so check 'em out!

Green cardstock was die-cut with the Flourish Trim die by Spellbinders. While the cardstock was still in the die, it was sponged with Golden Glitz Delicata ink. The die-cut was placed over the stenciled design at the bottom of the card. Green cardstock was die-cut with one of the ribbons dies from a Blueprints set by Die-Namics. The die-cut was edged with Golden Glitz Delicata ink and placed over the top of the Flourish Trim die. The card front was edged with Golden Glitz Delicata ink then adhered to the card.

Thanks for visiting today!

This card shall be added to the following challenges:
• Splitcoast Stampers' Dare to Get Dirty: DTGD14~Fee~ 
• Crafting from the Heart #30: Anything Goes
• Love to Create Challenges: Anything Goes
• The Path of Positivity Challenges: Possibilities
• Come and Get It Challenges: It's All About Dies

Friends...

The challenge this week at Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenges is "Friends"! Outlawz Friday's Coloring Challenges is now a coloring challenge! You can use alcohol markers, other markers, colored pencils, and any other coloring medium. The only requirement is that you color an open line image!

August's sponsor for the Outlawz Friday's Coloring Challenges is Bombshell Stamps. The winner of this month's challenge will win his or her choice of a digital set of stamps.

Here's my card, which features Stamping Bella's Victoria and Juliette (on sale!)

Victoria and Juliette was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. I was not pleased with the blonde's hair, so I used Polychromos colored pencils to try to fix it. A pink chalk pencil was used to add a touch of blush to both girls.   Turquoise Spica glitter pen was used to add earrings and a belt to the blonde. Red Spica glitter pen was used to add earrings to the auburn tressed beauty. Stardust Glitter pen was used to add glitter to both pairs of shoes. Clear Gelly Glaze pen was used to add a clear dimensional shine to their stemware and shoes.

The patterned papers are from the Lucille 6x6 pad by Basic Grey. The die-cuts are Nestabilities by Spellbinders. The silvery accents are foil stickers from my stash. The sentiment was created using stickers from Making Memories (the individual letters) and Chit-Chat by Idea-ology (words). I didn't realize that the whites are a bit different from one brand to another, which is what I get for crafting in the wee hours of the ayem. I think the difference is a bit offputting, but not completely heinous. So, I'm going to let it go and say that it shows the charm of handmade. Yep. That's the ticket.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this card in the following challenges:
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes