A Lovely Farewell...

Greetings my dear friends!!!  I'm here today with a bit of explaining, some fun and a few creations to bid you a bloggy farewell for a short while while I embark upon a new adventure, of sorts! 

My darling friends and teammates at DYSU have organized an amazing blog hop as way to say adieu as I am stepping down from the team.  (sniff, sniff)  I first and foremost want to thank them for this amazing send off as well as my wonderful time that I spent with them on the team.  It was one of the most organized, well thought out, kind, compassionate and caring group of women that I've ever had the pleasure of creating with.  I will miss you all GREATLY but as time goes on I promise to come back and create with y'all when I can!!  Hugs my friends and many, many thank yous to you all!!!

As some of my crafty friends have noticed...my blog has been VERY quiet and getting increasingly more so as the weeks have gone on.  I have resigned (albeit tearfully) from all of the fabulous teams that I was on.  While I cannot share the news ~ just yet (wink) ~ I will say that it has to do in a way with my health (I am TOTALLY fine) but require more time to spend with my darling husband and two amazing kiddies as well as time to care for myself.  With school starting less than two weeks away, I want to spend every single moment with my babies before my daughter heads off to second grade and my son to Kindergarten.  The time is precious and few. 

I am sure that once everyone is settled in school, I will have a little time to dabble creatively here and there but will be more focused on some mini albums for my kids as well as catching up on some scrappy projects that have been waiting for me very patiently.  I will post every now and again so please don't forget about me as I surely will not forget about you all.  I will definitely come by and visit and comment when I can and will for sure get back into the crafty world when it's my time.  But for now...it's farewell to my daily creating and blogging.  Be sure to keep me posted on anything fun and I will come by and say "hello!!" 

And so, without further ado, I am going to leave you with some of my favorite projects that I created while on the DYSU team. 

Thank you my friends for everything!!  See you soon!!

With Many Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Four Legged Friends

DYSU WK 84

Birdie Brown

* Winner's Choice of 3 Digital Stamps

The Paper Shelter

* $20 Gift Certificate

Bugaboo Stamps

* Winner's Choice of 7 Digis

 

Greetings DYSU friends!  Today we're hosting a super cute challenge at the DYSU challenge blog called Four Legged Friends.  Yep, that's right!  We want you to bust out all of your super cute animal images and share them with us!!

Today I've used the super sweet porcupine image from Bugaboo stamps.  I printed him onto Copic Xpress paper and colored him with my Copics.  I did this twice coloring and trimming out his adorable face so that I could pop it up on foam adhesive to give him added dimension.

I used lots of scraps including some from Bazzill, Basic Grey and SU!.  I used a sentiment from Loves Rubberstamps.  I added quite a bit of embellishments to create a fun little grouping using wooden buttons, twine and twill tape.  I also added some stitching and a tiny clothespin attached to the main image panel.

I hope you come play along with us at the DYSU challenge blog!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

DYSU Week #81 FOOD

Meljen's Designs

* Winner's Choice of 4 Images

Wonderstrange Arts

* 5 Digital Stamps (not from sets)

Rhoda Design Studio

* $15 Gift Certificate

Greetings DYSU friends!!  Today brings another challenge over at the DYSU challenge blog!  This week's  theme is Food!  Yep, that's right!  A super easy one!  We have some great sponsors this week, as always, and I'm using a simple and sweet image from Rhoda Design Studio. 

I printed my image twice.  Once onto vanilla cardstock and again onto patterned paper - SU! or PTI (I can't remember).  I then paper pieced some of my image after I did just a quick bit of shading to give the cup a bit more depth.

I created my background using a coffee ring stamp from Skipping Stone Designs.  I inked it with Versamark and heat set it with clear embossing powder.  I kept the overall look simple and clean so the cup and background would stand out.  I used my MFT Tab Die-namics to house the sentiment - also from SSD.  The mix and match flags are also from MFT - Fishtail Flag STAX.

Thanks for coming by today!!  I do hope you come join us at the DYSU Challenge Blog!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

DYSU Challenge #80 - Color Challenge

The Stamping Boutique

* Winner's Choice of 3 Digis

Copic Maker Scrapbooking

* 6 copic ciao marker (North/South America), Martha Stewart punch (rest of the world)

Scrapper's Delight

* $5 Gift Certificate

Greetings DYSU Friends and Fans!  Today starts another new challenge over at the DYSU Challenge Blog!! 

This week's challenge is the color theme that you see at the beginning of this post.  Today I'm not using a sponsored image but an image that I totally love from the Pure Innocence line called Cute-A-Tude from MFT.  I also used last week's MFT sketch as my muse. 

I inked the sweet Pure Innocence sweetie in Momento ink and colored her with my Copics.  I then paper pieced her dress.  I used papers from my scrap bin.  (yes...my scrap bin is large and bottomless!!) 

I used my MFT Flag STAX, Beautiful Botanical and Fringed Perennial dies to accent my project.  I will tell you that I did snip apart (gasp!!) the acrylic sentiment to make it fit my space better!  I love doing this as it makes any set so much more versatile!

I can't see what you create for us over at the DYSU Challenge Blog!!

Thanks so much for coming by today!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Happy Day

The Ribbon Reel -
http://www.theribbonreel.co.uk/

* £10 Gift Certificate

Paper Pretties -
http://paperpretties.net/

* Winner’s Choice of 6 Images

Inspired Stamps -
www.inspiredstamps.com

$15 Store Credit

 

Greetings!!  Thanks for coming by today as I share my design sample for this week's new DYSU challenge!  The challenge is to use red in your project.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

There are so many great sponsors (see above!) this week.  My creation features a sweet image from Paper Pretties. 

 

I've been trying very hard to a 'use what I have' mentality so my first stop before I delve into new paper packs is to dive into my scrap bin for my most recent discards.  I usually have great luck and only have to pull cardstock when necessary.  It definitely keeps my DP stash high and infrequently used which is great in the long run!!  I love diving into a paper pack 3 months after purchase and think "I didn't know I had that!".  It's like buying it all over again for free!  (sort of! *wink*)

I grabbed these three red papers, kept my background SO simple as I just wanted the image to really stand out.  As you can see, I paper pieced the car and colored it's accents with my Copics.  I glazed up the window and headlight with Glossy Accents and blinged up the hub caps, bumper and tin cans with a light sprinkling of finely ground glass glitter. 

I did a crazy stitch at the rear end of the panel for added texture. 

I hope you enjoy my creation and come along and play with us at the DYSU Challenge Blog!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

A Touch Of Vintage

Crafty Sentiments -
http://craftysentimentsdesigns.co.uk/

* Winner's Choice of 4 Images

The Paper Shelter -
http://www.thepapershelter.com/

* $20 Gift Certificate

Gecko Galz -
http://www.geckogalz.com/

*

Entire July Collection (The
Digital Paper Pack "Great Adventures", 6 different collage sets
including Vintage Travels & Wild West dominos, and a digital stamp
set "Mermaids Garden" a prize pack worth $30)

Hi DYSU Fans!!  It's another fun and fabulous week over at the DYSU challenge blog!  Lots up our sleeves today!  (or if you're in the Northeast you'd be in NO sleeves today as it's almost 100 degrees out!)  There are super fabulous sponsors today and a wonderful challenge set up.  This week's challenge theme is 'Blue Skies and Clouds'.  Pretty simple, right?  And always open to interpretation!  I'm using a vintage image from Gecko Galz - one of our great sponsors to create a gift tag.

I printed the image sheet out onto good quality cardstock.  I then used my Versamark pad to heavily coat over the image.  I then coated the image with UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) and heat set it.  I did this five times.  I then put the image in my freezer for a few minutes.  Once I took it out I gently moved it around back and forth to cause the cracking.  I worked the paper gently as I did not want to tear my image or rip the paper entirely.  To create the vintage patina, I took my Brushed Corduroy Distress Stain and rubbed it directly over the glossy surface getting it very inky.  I then worked the wet ink into the cracks allowing it to leak onto the surface below.  I did the same with the edges and repeated this process a few times until I achieved the exact look I wanted.

I backed my completed image with chocolate cardstock and set it aside. I used a manila tag, sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and pearlized water, as my base.  I took a white paper doily and coated it with Broken China Distress Ink, spritzed it with pearlized water and zapped it with my heat gun.  I loved the scalloped edging on the doily as it reminded me of puffy clouds.  (see my interpretation here? ;)

I used a sparkly, birdcage, chipboard sticker, my MFT Fishtail Flag STAX and some vintage inspired ephemera stickers from Basic Grey as my embellishments.  I added a bit of zig zag stitching down the left hand side of my tag and removed the original string tie and replaced it with some scrumptious May Arts Chevron ribbon tied with a Basic Grey wooden button and baker's twine combination.

I can't wait to see what you create for our Blue Skies & Clouds challenge!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

DYSU {Super Spies...}

Hi All!!  I hope you're keeping cool wherever you are!  Here in the North East USA we are experiencing a sweltering heatwave!!  But, alas, Summer is upon us and I really have nothing to complain about as I get to hang with my babies, swim, play outside, craft and just "be".  Life is good. 

And there's a fabulous new challenge starting today at the DYSU challenge blog!  This week's theme is for you to create a project based on a movie!  Our weekly sponsors rock, of course, and there's one this week that is especially near and dear to my heart - Tiddly Inks.  I am a past designer for TI and continue to play when I can and swoon over all of Christy's amazing designs.  So, naturally, this week I chose to use one of the new Wryn Images - Super Spy.  I mean, really?  Does she get any cuter!?!?  The inspiration for my card came from the classic mid-1980's film 'Spies Like Us'.  Hysterical, slapstick, Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd at their funniest.

Here's my project:

I printed Wryn and colored her with my Copics.  I used Glossy Accents for her glasses and set her aside to dry.  My papers are from Basic Grey and Recollections. 

I used a fantastic canvas label sticker and buttons - both from Basic Grey to embellish.  I added some basic stitching on the perimeter and some zig zag down the center but switched out my neutral thread for bright red on my sewing machine.  The center layers are cut using my MFT Fishtail Flag STAX. 

Once everything was assembled, I added a few metallic sticky back pearls scattered throughout my project for a bit more texture. 

I do so hope you come join us over at the DYSU Challenge blog and share your movie inspired projects!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

I Am A Robot...

Good Morning DYSU friends and fans!!  I'm SO excited to be posting my first post as a DYSU Challenge Blog Team member!!  We'll be bringing you fun and exciting challenge each and every week at the DYSU Challenge Blog so please be sure to come by and check us out!!

My project today features a super cute and funky image from Wonderstrange Arts.  I printed my image onto X-press paper and colored it with Copics.

I cut my image out with my Spellbinders Circles and then matted it with Bazzill Licorice cardstock.  I used my MFT Fishtail Flag STAX to cut out the flag element on the bottom and used a whole bunch of metallic pearls scattered here and there. 

I added some stitching, a binder clip tied with a twine bow and a few torn bits of red and white polkadotted Washi tape.  

I wanted to add more layers, more...something but I truly loved it as CAS as it is!  So I went with my gut and called it finished!  =)

I do hope you come over to the DYSU Challenge Blog and play along for some great prizes!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith