Sea You Soon!!

Greetings Oddie Fans!!  It's June 1st and time for another awesome challenge at the Odd Girl Blog!  This month's challenge is one of my very favorites...an inspirational color challenge!  Here is your inspiration:

Seriously gorgeous, right?!?!  Ok well here's my interpretation using the newly released Under The Sea Mae. 

I colored her with my Copics and used the fun "pixelation" coloring that is so trendy right now.  I used papers from Bazzill and MME.  I used one of my favorite summery color combinations turquoise and gold and paired them with a fabulously rich chocolate brown to make everything pop.  I used some classic stitching and fluffy grosgrain ribbon bow. 

I can't wait to see what you create for this month's fun and inspiring challenge!

Thanks so much for coming by!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Some Odd Girl - Thinking Of You

Greetings Oddies!!  Today I'm with you to bring a GORGEOUS color challenge - over at the Some Odd Girl Challenge Blog!!  You can see the colors above but you must head on over to the blog to see the unbelievable samples that the Design Team came up with!  SWOON!

I've used my clear Sweet Thinkin' Mae set which absolutely inks just beautifully!  I used my Momento ink and Copics for color.  

I went really dark on Mae's hair giving her skin a beautiful, warm glow.  I paper pieced her dress and shrug.  I used a sketch from my rapidly growing sketch book.  I used that term very loosely as they are not my sketches.  They are ones that I've collected here, there and everywhere.  I print them off and keep them stacked together.  I use a GIGANTIC and I do me hugemongus binder clip to hold them all together.  I am getting to the point where I'm going to have to either punch holes and use 3-rings or bring them to my local office supply store and have it spiral bound.  (Yes, they can do that!  It's so cool! And very cheap...easily under $4) I'll do a little video on that sometime. 

But I digress, I used all papers from from Authentique, cardstock from Bazzill and Recollections.  My card measures 5.25x5.25 to accommodate the Mae's height plus the two fabulous oval STAX from MFT.  

I used some self adhesive pearls on the corners as well as around my sentiment.  The bubbly oval is also included in this set as is the sentiment.

You know you want to grab this set right up!  It's so crazy cute!! 

Thanks for popping by!! I do hope you'll come join us with this simply beautiful color challenge!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Dilly Beans Challenge - Feeling Blue?

Good morning everyone and Happy Friday!!  Today I'm bringing you another new challenge over at Dilly Beans!  This week's challenge is BLUES!  I have a friend who has been a bit 'blue' lately so I made this just for her!  I printed out image #200 - Cheekie four times.  Once onto my Neena white cardstock, then again on solid blue stock, and two different basic grey patterned papers.  I paper pieced her hair, cheeks and bows.  I colored the rest with my Copics (I colored her first, of course, THEN paper pieced!)

As you can see, I've trimmed her out entirely and popped her up onto foam adhesive.  I used a mish mash of papers from my blue scrap bin.  Some is SU!, some is from an old matte stack and the rest were just scraps.  

I used my MFT Oval Dainty Doily as the focal point for the interior of my card as well as a good place to write my note!

As my muse, I've used the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge right HERE!

I hope you've enjoyed and been inspired to create with us at Dilly Beans!! 

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Dilly Beans - Color Challenge

Greetings!!  I hope that you all had a lovely holiday weekend last week and are looking very forward to a wonderful New Year to come!  I'm here today bringing you a new creation for this week's Dilly Beans Challenge.  We have a color challenge to inspire you today - Red and Black.  And there are SO many amazing stamps in Megan's Store to inspire you!! 

Today I've used #290 Heart Penguin.  I printed him twice - once on cardstock and once on designer paper.  I paper pieced some of his body, coloring the rest with my Copics. I used Glossy Accents on the spots on the hearts, his eyes, beak and feet. 

I did a bit of stitching and anchored my corners with some mini silver brads.  I do hope you've enjoyed my creation today and have been inspired to come along and play with us over at the Dilly Beans Challenge Blog!

Holiday Hugs!
Meredith

xoxo

QKD Color Inspiration Week!!

Hey...

I'm here with you for another awesome QKD hop!! This week we're working with a color challenge using blue, brown and white!

But before I show you my creation for the day, you should have traveled here via the WIS blog and if not I want to remind you that you MUST start HERE in order to see all of this great team's hard and STUNNING work!!!

I rummaged through my scrap drawer and pulled out a variety of papers from my assigned color palette. I then picked my image. I went with Punk Boy designed by the every so talented and amasing Che Gibson.
I stamped him on PTI white cardstock whose edges I'd distresses and proceeded to have THE BEST time coloring him in. Everything is colored with my Copic markers and all of his hardware is colored with my silver gel pen.

I matted him to a dark navy cardstock adding 3 grungy black MM staples to the bottom corner. I matted that panel to a scrap of Basic Grey DP whose edges I'd also distressed.

I then chose SU! creamy caramel cardstock as my base. I used last month's Get Inked kit for the Fleur du Lis and iron gate stamp. I inked these up in Versamagic Night Sky and heat embossed. You'll notice that the iron gate is stamped on a piece of scrap border below.

The last touch is some edgy stitching with white thread from my sewing machine.
I had so much fun working with this image and color challenge!!! Now off you go hopping to the amazing Anita's blog for some seriously cool inspiration!!!

Thanks for hoping along!!

QKD Awesome Color Challenge!!

Hey All!!

Welcome to this week's QKD fantastic color challenge!

GREEN, YELLOW, BLACK, WHITE

My first thought when we were issued our challenges was....high school. As these were my high school colors!!

BUT FIRST - If you came here via the WIS blog then you are on the right track...if not start HERE so you don't miss any of the fun!!!

So naturally I gravitated towards the football field-ish paper in the background, the pin with the beads on them that we used to wear on our sneakers, "baseball jerseys"...usually airbrushed with Cape Cod or Hyannis. Said shirt may even have had fringe cut into it...perhaps with pony beads hanging off of the fringe? Hmmmm?? Anyone??? Anyone?? Bueller???
My card starts off with black cardstock as the base. Followed by mattes of lighter green, ivory, light green DP respectively.I stamped my main image from the QKD Jerseys Set along with the word Vamp from the set to adorn the tshirt. I stamped in Colorbox Olive Green and heat set with clear embossing powder. I then traced over the V in Vamp with my Quickie Glue Pen and coated it with green glitter.

Once dry, I stitched this to the main panel, now tied with green Swiss dot ribbon in a neat bow and adorned with a large safety pin threaded with beads that say 'DAMN!', down using a zig zag stitch.

Before adhering this to the card base I inked up some fray from a sheet of notebook paper and added that at the bottom for extra texture and dimension.
Thanks for visiting today!!!

Off you go to Anita's blog to see what loveliness she's created for us today!!

Check out the HUGE and AWESOME sale that's going on at the Castle!!! 40% off of all sets!!! WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I'm a JADS Girl!!!

Happy Sunday Everyone!! I've been bursting to tell you all this news and have just been waiting for THE right time!! A few weeks ago the fabulous Heather contacted me from Jean's Art Dolls asking if I'd like to join the team!! I immediately said YES!!!

It's different than any other company or group that I work for and/or participate in. JADS is a self-motivated, self-challenging, forum style group that brings together eclectic, sassy, and FAB.U.LOUS artists to share ideas, projects, tips, tricks, tutorials, etc!! I was over the moon that both Jean and Heather considered me to be close to some of these things enough to extend me an invitation to join!! I was SO excited!! YAY!!

At JADS we set our own monthly challenges. This particular challenge that I set was a color challenge. I set it for Turquoise, Poppy and Champagne colors with a mix of any other browns within the creation.

And because I was creating for JADS...I just let totally loose on this piece. It's completely Mixed Media using stamps, rub-ons, ink, staples, markers, labels from clothing that I had in my stash, notebook paper trimmings, and much more!!!

Here is my very first creation for JADS!! I hope you enjoy!!

The base for this creation was purchased at ACM (A.C. Moore). It's an oversized wooden tag that was on the clearance rack from Valentine's Day. I started with my base. I used my kissy lips stamp from The Paper Source to create my background paper. I used both my Champagne and White Brilliance Pearlescent craft ink pads to stamp and then clear embossing powder to heat set the lips for the background. The paper is SU! River Rock textured cardstock. I did the entire sheet of 12x12 cardstock and trimmed it out to fit my tag background. I adhered it to my tag, popping out the holes for my ribbon and brads to be added later.
I then went through my stamps and decided that I wanted to use this "Cheshire-esque" looking cat stamp that I have. (Alice is super hot right now - what with the new movie and all) So I sat back and thought...what else can I add...hmmm...based on the size of the tag, the cat stamp was too small to be the main focal point of the piece.

Then I remembered the photos I had downloaded, of Michelle Pfeiffer as Cat Woman from the second 'original' Batman series (from the 80's and 90's) for something entirely different. I printed one of my favorite photos of her out and decided that THAT would be my focal point.

I went through my stash of DP and pulled out this wild Basic Grey paper. I trimmed out the photo, and just before I attached it to the background I grabbed a slice of my Hambly Acrylic paper with birdcages (those of you who have seen this movie will understand the reference;), and I laid it over the photo. I then attached the 2 pieces to the BG paper which I had edge distressed, and matted on SU! Tempting Turquoise and PTI's Pure Poppy cardstock.

I then added this panel to my main background on the tag. I then looked around my desk and grabbed a piece of notebook fringe edge that I'd used for another project and tucked that right above the main panel. I also added a strip of rhinestones along the bottom.

I used my Love, Elsie rub-ons that I've had for eons for the heart, dots, X's and stars. I then stamped my Cheshire-esque kitty to the mix after stamping, heat setting, coloring and trimming him out. He's mounted atop a scrap of the PTI PP cardstock adorned with colored staples. I added a safety pin and Phillips head screw brads for some added grunge elements.I had a tag from something I'd purchased at my local boutique that I knew I'd use at some point. I trimmed it out, distressed it and backed it with a scrap of the SU! TT cardstock. It's M is emblazoned with gold and then flocked all around. The rivet behind it is also from the tag. I trimmed it out and distressed it as well.
I used my QKD stamp from the March Alice release as my sentiment "All Ways Here Are MY Ways". Love that saying!! Stamped on a piece of the same Basic Grey DP that my main panel is matted with.

I then added my hand-stamped and sewn (by me) ribbon for the tag which I'd used in another project. As a very last touch I added the tiny ballerina girl to the bottom right of the tag. Everything else about the piece is so....opposite of the ballerina girl that I couldn't help but add her to display the obvious juxtaposition of the two! I am honored to be a JADS girl and I hope you have enjoyed my altered art for today!!!

QKD Royal Tuesday Hop!!

Hello from the great state of Maine!!! I am here on vacation with my family spending time in front of fires, reading, relaxing and having a great week. However, that does not mean that I do not have something fun to show you!!!

However, first off, if you came here from the WIS blog then you are on the right track!! If not please start here so that you don't miss one amazing creation from my fellow team members!!

Today we are working with some of my favorite colors!! Pink, Red and White!! Such a fun combo and SUCH a fun challenge!!

I chose to work with The Frozen Dragon stamp that I had YET to ink up even though I've had him/her for a while...this image makes me giggle EVERY time I see it. She/he's so grumpy and pouty that it's too cute not to make you giggle!

I started with red cardstock from The Paper Source followed by several layers of Valentine's Themed paper that I picked up at Target a few years ago and had yet to open!!! I layered and layered and stitched.

I inked up Frozen Dragon in basic black SU! ink and colored with my Copics. I then paper piece the hat, coat and sock on her tail!!

I used my red flock to add some furry accents on the pom pom on the hat and trim on the coat.

I added the sentiment with a variety of letter stickers that I had in my stash, attached to a thought bubble sticker that I backed with some of the scraps from the paper pack that I used to create the card.
As a last touch I added some baker's twine around the base for that extra pepperminty touch! ;)

I hope you enjoyed my creation this week!!!

Now, off you go to the always fabulous Anita to see what loveliness she's got in store for you today!!

Thanks for visting!!

And don't forget:

35% off Queen Kat Designs Stamps
(Excludes seperates and personalized stamps)

XOXO-
Meredith

Robyn's Fetish NEW IMAGE RELEASE Challenge!!!

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome, Welcome, and WELCOME to our weekly challenge!!! But wait...there's more!! It's not only a Challenge week over at Robyn's Fetish but it's also a NEW IMAGE RELEASE HOP!!!

If you came here from Kristyn's blog then you are on the right track!!! If not, please start HERE so that you don't miss one stunning creation!!!

Yes...that's right...LOTS OF NEW IMAGES COMING AT YOU!!!! It's so exciting as we're adding inventory, new images, gorgeous digital stickers, and more!!

But it is a challenge so first...I challenge you to play along!!

Here are the rules!!!

1. This is a color challenge:

• royal blue
• light blue
• black
  
• white
• grey/silver

2. Create any project.

• If you use a Robyn's Fetish Image AND post about it on your blog you will be entered TWICE into the drawing to win 3 of Robyn's Images of your choosing PLUS a special surprise!!!

3. You MUST leave a comment on each team members blogs in order to be eligible to be entered into the challenge.

4. Lastly, in order to be entered into the drawing to win, please let us know of one thing that you would like to see in the Shoppe at Robyn's Fetish.

• Leave this information in the comments section in the challenge blog.

Ok...now that I've put all of THAT out there!!! It's onto my creation!!!
I started - as I've been saying over and over in every post...with my SCRAP drawers and bins. I grabbed a sizable piece of silver cardstock from SU!. I then layered with blue, glittery cardstock and then a thinner layer of silver American Crafts DP. I am using Tattered Angel as my new image!! I love her because she could be an angel OR a super heroine!! (she kind of looks like a superheroine to me!!!!)

I colored her using my Copics and Quickie Glue pen to add the sparkles on her wings and boots.
I stamped the sentiment Sparkle from the SU! set - Warm Words.

And then I sat back and looked. It was super clean, crisp and pretty. But to me it looked...a tad blank-ish. So I grabbed my quickie glue pen and doodled my standard flower/cloud doodle that I do whenever I'm on the phone, making a list, etc..etc. I've been doodling this shape ever since high school!! LOL! In any case...I like the sketchy quality to them that was once translated when glitter was put on.
I hope you enjoy my creation!!! Now...remember the rules...leave some love then off you go to Mia's stunning blog to see what she's created for us today! Don't forget to leave some love!!!!

Thanks for playing along today!! I hope you have fun!!!!!

XOXO-
Meredith

QKD Tuesday Hop - Super Fabulous Color Challenge!!!

Hello!! Welcome to our QKD Royal Tuesday Hop!!! If you came here from the WIS blog then you are on the right track!! If not, start here so that you don't miss one fabulous creation!!! This week's fab hop has us playing with color!!!!

This week's challenge was using the following colors:

Purple, Blue, Lime, Pink, Black and White

At first...I had to really sit and think...and think...and think. And then finally KABOOM...the lightening struck. It's kind of how it works with me. Does it work like that with you? I'm not sure if that's just the way my brain processes creativity or if that's the norm. Eh...either way!!
So I've been DYING to work with Cabaret Fairy . She's snazzy, sassy and full of 'tude!! My kind of girl!! I used a large, black, scalloped square that I folded in half as my card base. The next layer is white, followed by purple, textured cardstock. Stitched to that is this super fun punky paper in lime green and pink foil flowery designs.
Cabaret is stamped on PTI Aqua Mist paper, mounted on black cardstock and stitched with purple thread. She is colored with a variety of Copics, Sakura's and Paint pens.

I tied black PTI 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, in a flat knot bow, with a purple tag that says HOTTIE tied onto the ribbon with a bit of hemp twine.
I hope you enjoy my creation as much as I enjoyed making it!!

Now - off you go to Sara's blog to see what gorgeousness she's got in store for us today!!

Don't forget!! The QUEEN is always having a sale or deal of some kind!!! Check it out!! Especially with all of the fab newness in the shoppe!!!

Thanks for visting!!!

And don't forget there is a sale this month:

Tuesday Twenty
It's gonna be Tuesday for the rest of the month!
Take 20% off everything!
That makes all clearance items 75% off

XOXO-
Meredith

Robyn's Fetish - Weekly Challenge #14 - Color Challenge!!!

Hello Everyone!! Welcome to our Saturday Robyn's Fetish Color Challenge!!! You'll most DEFINITELY want to play along and create with us for a chance to win 6...yes I said 6 Robyn Fetish Images!!!

Today's challenge is a COLOR challenge...red, yellow, blue, black and white. You can use any RF image or really any image at all!! What you'll need to do is add a link to your creation in the comments section of the Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog to be entered into our contest!!! Easy peasy!!!

My creation uses the adorable paw prints image from Robyn. Some of you may have read that recently we lost our older poochie. Simply to old age. I still miss him every day but all of the fond memories are starting to heal the wound and dull the pain.
We also have an almost 5 year old fabulous puppy (I call them puppies forever!) here with us in the present. So...in her honor...this card is dedicated. Our entire family purposefully gives her extra love every day so as to not lose sight of what we still have.

I started with PTI Lemon Tart cardstock as my base. Next I used some MS gorgeous blue to really make the next layer POP!! The next layer being from a Mat Stack that I got on super sale at my local Michael's!! I don't usually groove on the stacks because they tend to be on the "cheezy" side but I have to say...they are coming a long way from where they used to be! This bubbly paper is from DCWV. I bought 2 different stacks from them and am very pleased with both the quality and the selection within the stack!

But I digress! I stitched the bubbly layer to the Martha Stewart blue using my NEW sewing machine!! It has 59 stitches and one is cuter than the next!!
I then added some PTI Lemon Tart ribbon tying it in a flat, neat bow.

The next layer is more of the Martha blue layered with American Crafts DP that has water droplets on them. So cute. I stamped LOVE in red and heat set it with embossing powder. You'll notice that the O in LOVE is a paw print. Tee hee!! I used a straight stitch to outline this layer.

I scaled the paw prints down using MS Paint and printed out a bunch of them on good cardstock. I then punched them out and matted them on the same yellow to make them pop. I then adhered them together in a row and used a cool wavy stitch to hold them tight. I then used my glue pen to trace the letters BOW WOW and covered them in red glitter. They are affixed to the card using pop dots.
Inside the card I wanted something really special and heartwarming so I used The Sun image that's available ON SALE at Robyn's Shoppe!!! (as is EVERYTHING!!!) I printed it out, colored it with my Copics, Prismacolor and Pantone markers. I carefully trimmed it out, sparkled up the center and adhered it with another pop-dot.

I hope you like my creation!! I can't wait to see what you come up with! Don't forget to check out my fellow team members creations as well!!!

• Jeanette
• Leanne
• Michelle
• Wendy

Remember the COLOR challenge...red, yellow, blue, black and white. You can use any RF image or any image at all. Then add a link to your creation in the comments section of the Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog to be entered into our contest!!!

6 FREE images could be yours!!!

Come play!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

XOXO-
Meredith