Joanne B's Blogaversary Challenge!

I've had this DARLING...gasp...in  my stash for at LEAST a month or two and haven't inked her up yet!!  May I introduce, Emma and Her Backpack.  Adorable deliciousness from Heather Ellis for MFT.  

I have wanted and wanted and WANTED to ink her up but the mojo has not struck...until today!  My darling IRL girlfriend, Joanne B, is having a super celebration for her fourth blogaversary!!  (yay!!! Congrats Jo!)

Jo has presented a FANTABULOUS challenge to anyone who would like to play along!  Here are the deets!

Choose any three of the following and create!!

• Kraft Paper - yes, I'm still obsessed with it....  (CHECK!)
• Pink, Ivory and Orange as your color combination - I'm needing a little springy fix.... (CHECK!)
• Twine - I do *love* me some twine! (CHECK!)
• Mixed Stitching - I've got straight, zig zag and "crazy" stitching on mine (CHECK!)
• Ledger, Alpha or number paper - I've got this fun number grid..... (CHECK!)

In true Joanne B. fashion, I added a giant flourish of bling to the front of my card and have finished off the interior as well.  Joanne always amazes me with how uber creative she is.  Talented, inspiring and always always the best friend ever.   Thank you Jo for always inspiring me, always being there for me and always "getting me".  ;)

I'm going to tuck this card into my darling daughter's lunch box for school tomorrow!!  I know she'll LOVE it!!!

Just for the fun of it I'm also entering this card into challenges at the following blogs:

Pixie Dust Studio
The Spotted Chick

I hope you have enjoyed and been as inspired by Joanne as I am!!!

Baby Bud Challenge - Ribbons and Bows

Good Wednesday Morning All!!  It's so fabulously rainy and grey here in the North East.  A PERFECT day for creating.  I've been trying to give myself permission to create "just because".  I LOVE the design work that I'm blessed enough to be able to do.  I love the teams and the companies and the women I work with.  But sometimes it's so fun to just be able to participate...simply because.

I recently stumbled upon Baby Bud Designs and instantly fell in love.  Super cute, super squiggly and super adorable!  Their recent challenge 'Ribbons and Bows' was so inviting that I had to play along!!

I'm using Baby Bouquet - newly released in their Etsy Shoppe.  If you use this image or Oliver, in your creation for this challenge, the generous gals at Baby Bud Designs will give you one free, never before released digital image (YAY!)!  So fun!!

So I set to coloring Baby Bouquet with my Copics.  I then decided to, rather than color, I would paper piece her outfit.  I printed her twice on white cardstock, and again on two different pink designer papers...so four times total.

I trimmed out her dress from my SU! pink polka dot paper, her sleeves from a DCVW mat stack, her bouquet was colored on white stock and then carefully trimmed out (teeny tiny!!).

I carefully adhered everything down.  I matted her on the same polka dot paper, then on the reverse side of the paper that her sleeves are made out of (it has a garden-esque whimsy to it), then stitched all three panels together.

I ran my green card base through my Big Shot using my Swiss dot embossing folder to accompany the rest of the polka dots in my creation. 

I added a beautiful orange satin bow along the bottom, two springs of purple bling and a PTI sentiment 'Smooches' from the Handwritten Notes set.

I hope you've enjoyed my creation and have been inspired to go play!!!

Tiddly Tuesday! Challenge # 42 - Lucky Me

Good Morning Everyone!!!  I'm so glad to be here with you on another fabulous Tiddly Tuesday!!  Today's challenge is Lucky Me or Go Green - depending on your mood =)  This weeks challenge is to incorporate either a St. Patrick's Day or Love The Earth theme into your creation.

This week I created with Lucky Irish.  Isn't she BEAUTIFUL?  Christy never ceases to amaze me...truly. 

I colored my image with my Copics.  As you can see I paper pieced her lucky clover - twice.  Once for the background and again for the 3-D effect.  I colored and glittered up the clovers in her hair with SU! Supernova glitter.

I layered and stitched my background paper.  Added a bubbly row of scalloping and two sides of chunky bling.  I scooped up my sentiment stamp from the $ bin at ACM a few years ago.  

I do hope you come and join us on the Tiddly Inks challenge blog this week!!  I can't wait to see what you create!!

Just for fun I'm entering this into the following challenges!

Sentimental Sundays - Going Green
Cupcake Inspiration Challenge #102 - Shamrocks
Colour Create - Colour Challenge #66

Bugaboo Scallop Challenge!

We're all so busy.  Jobs, Kids, Errands, Life...it's just busy.  So when the opportunity comes along to create "just because", I grab hold of it!

Yesterday and today I've been working on this cutie pie Bugaboo Image 'Ava Easter' from the Ava and Deacon line.  

I printed Ava onto white cardstock and colored her with my Copics, my white gel pen and embellished her jumbo Easter egg with my Doodlebug glitter in Bumblebee.  I layered my main image with Fancy Pants DP and Navy Blue cardstock.  The pink polkadot paper is the reverse side of the light blue Fancy Pants DP that I've used for my background which I also backed with the Navy Blue cardstock.  

The challenge at Bugaboo is 'Scallops' so using my little half-moon/slit punch I created three scallop edges out of the Navy cardstock and front and back of the Fancy Pants paper.  I adhered them all together and using bright blue thread zipped that panel as well as my main and back panel through my sewing machine for a super fun finished touches.

I added PTI's - Lemon Tart 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon in a super yummy and bright bow on the left hand side.  

I LOVE how this came out and I can't wait for the next Bugaboo challenge!!  Oh and the gorgeous purple carnations?  Those are from my darling hubby =)  I thought they looked super cute in the photo!

I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired!!

Smeared Ink Monday - Got Eggs?

Greetings Everyone!!!  I'm here with you on another awesome Smeared Ink Monday!!  I'm feeling SO in the mood for spring that I had to bust out the grumpie lil' bunny from the Occasions Lil' Grumpies set.  Isn't she the cutest??  I laugh every time I see her!!

My bunny is inked with Momento Ink in Tuxedo Black and colored in with my Copics.  I paired my image with pinks and greens for spring along with sparkly bling and stitched ribbon.  I, of course, added some lime green stitching to my two main panels.

I am entering this creation into the pastel challenge at Stamping, Scrapping Challenge Central!  Wish me luck! =)

I hope you've enjoyed my simply cute creation today!!

Tiddly Gothic Goodness!

Is there ANY better way to spend a Saturday than with new gorgeous images from Tiddly Inks???  I think not!!
Christy has been seriously hard at work to bring you six new Gothic Divas, sentiments and designer papers!! 

You must hit the Tiddly Inks blog to see the ridiculous gorgeousness that my fellow Design Team gals whipped up for you for super inspiration!!

My first creation uses Heartbroke Happy.  Isn't she BEAUTIFUL?? 

 

 My second creation showcases Made For You.   Isn't she a doll?  (hehe)  

You can pick up all of the newness at the shop!! 

I'm off to create!  Have a fabulous Saturday All!!  

Smeared Ink Blog Hop!

Greetings All!!  Welcome to another amazing Smeared and Smudged Forum Blog Hop!!  First off, you should be coming here by way of  my friend Jane's blog.  If not please start here so you get to see all of the gorgeousness!!

Today's theme was to use a color palette of greens and browns.  I dove immediately into my paper stash and pulled out some super favorites.  My "most darlingist" friend Joanne is a constant source of inspiration for me and I couldn't help but be entirely motivated to make this fun and funky piece to hang over my newest craft space on the first floor of my house based on the gorgeous home decor she's been busting out lately. 

I went immediately towards the Inky Dreams set from Smeared Ink.  It's now a constant go to for me for focal points and backgrounds alike.

Using SU! Early Espresso, Tim Holtz - Peeled Paint, Ranger - Adirondack Earthtones - Lettuce and PTI's palette hybrid ink - Chartruse I was able to create super funky greens by mixing and layering my color.

I used my nesties to pull out my main focal images as well as my splotchy blops, inked on yellow polkadot paper (for a burst of color) then punched out with my circle punches and a giant, blingy flourish in the center for a super delicate touch.

I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired to create today!!

Please keep on hopping to Diane's blog!!!

Tiddly Tuesday!! Challenge #41 - Kraft With Me

Good Morning Everyone!!  Today's Tiddly Card is one of the most special cards I've made this year.  Today is my sweetie, darling, lovey and huggy son Tyler's 5th birthday.  Astounding, really.  He's just everything and more than we could ever expect him to be.  Sigh...he's just awesome.

So!  With that, I've made a very special card, using a very special image drawn by Christy per my request to have a tap dancing boy - this image is Ty The Tap Dancer.  My son LOVES to dance, takes dance lessons and is excelling at an incredible rate.  (not that I like to brag or anything ;) hehee...what Mom doesn't?  LOL!

This week's Challenge #41 is called Kraft With Me.  I kept my card super basic as I really wanted to focus on the image.  Plus, I wanted my son to be able to keep it on his nightstand (where he keeps special things) and to be able to hold it without a lot of "fussyness" all over it.

I printed Ty out and colored him with all of my newest Copic colors!  I stitched around the edge and using a Doodlebug acrylic stamp set, stamped the first part of my sentiment 'happy' in SU!'s Marina Mist ink.

I added two layers behind my main image - SU! Bashful Blue and a strip of vintage looking chart paper (can't remember whose it is).  I stitched both to make them pop and layered them behind Ty.  I then adhered everything down and tied a simple knot with blue and white gingham ribbon.

I decorated the interior using lots of scraps from one of my many scrap boxes.  I inked the rest of the Doodlebug sentiment and using the same SU! ink stamped on Kraft to make it coordinate with the rest of the card.  

One last shot of my creation along side my son's medal from his first ever dance recital.  He was so proud!!!  Happy Birthday Darling 5 Year Old Boy!!!

Please don't forget to come join us at the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog to enter your Kraft Creation!!!  I can't wait to see you over there!!!

A Snuggly Smeared Ink Monday

Good Monday Morning!!

I'm here with you today with an sample from the altered photography class that I "taught" (posted) on the Smeared Ink Forum yesterday!!  I provide many techniques for altering the surface of a photograph.  Whether you are into scrapbooking, altered art, altered art journaling, photography, stamping, etc these techniques are super fun and force you to look at your photographs in a completely different light!

These techniques are also so fun for children to use on any photographs that are duplicates, fuzzy, etc to help teach them that art isn't just about paper and pencils, poster board, canvas, etc.  It really helps push their imaginations outside of the box!  (I wouldn't recommend the burning techniques with little ones - for obvious safety reasons) 

Please come check out my class on the Smeared Ink Forum! 

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired to try something totally new!!!

Simply Betty New Release and Blog Hop!!

Greetings everyone!!  Welcome to an amazingly fabulous and fun NEW IMAGE RELEASE Hop from Simply Betty Stamps!! 

May I introduce Victoria and her Gang!  SBS has a wonderful new artist.  Alicia Bel has created these fun and super sassy cuties for Simply Betty Stamps!!! (insert collective applauding and cheering here!! =)

First, if you came here via Linda's fabulous blog then you are on the right track!!!  If not, please start here!!  

I chose to work with Mary Jane today.  She jumped out at me when I first saw this new collection.  There's something just so cheeky yet sweet about her!!  I love her pigtails (I wear the same hairdo 85% of the time!).  Her dress is just too frilly and adorable and I love her makeup compact and brush!!!

 

I colored Mary Jane with my Copics.  Using my Nesties - Label 1 - I cut her out and backed her with light pink (the same pink I've used for my card base)

I used SU! Kraft cardstock followed by two American Girl designer papers.  Yes, they are my six year old daughters from a HUGE American Girl Mat Stack that I got her!  I figured I could snag a few ;)  I stitched around the edges of these layers with light pink thread.

I wanted 'something' in between my main layer and my background.  An elegant swirl was JUST the thing.  Problem was...I didn't have one!!  And it's pouring and icing rain here in the NE so I wasn't about to go zinging up to the store to grab one soooooooooo I improvised!!  I free hand drew my swirl and covered it with individual self-adhesive stones.  A lot of work but totally worth it!!

Based on how I'd drawn the swirl, left me with a round space in the lower left hand corner, which I promptly filled with a 1 1/4" punch using PTI's sentiment "love is all you need".  I added a button in the middle threaded with beautiful, vintage looking crocheted ribbon.

I LOVE how this cluster totally balances, compliments and completes the card.

Make sure you keep hopping along to Suzi's gorgeous blog so that you get to see everyone's amazing creations plus all of the awesome new images!!

Tiddly Inks Challenge #40 - Color Me

Good Morning Everyone!!!  I'm SO beyond excited to be bringing you another month of amazing challenges from Tiddly Inks!!! 

Today's challenge, #40, was SO fun for me!!!  The theme is "Color Me".  I started by choosing my image.  That's how I always work when using Digital Images.  

This week I chose to create with Everyday Princess.  Seriously?  Could she be ANY cuter???  I printed her out four times.  Once on good, white cardstock and then again on three different patterned papers - all from my six year old daughter's American Girl Doll paper pack collection!  It's so fun to share all of my crafting stuff with her and she gets SO excited when I come to her for stuff! 

 

I colored Princess with my Copics and then proceeded to paper piece her entire skirt all out of the three different patterned papers.  My darling husband sat and watched as I meticulously, using craft tweezers, trimmed and adhered each tiny piece of her skirt.  

Close up of her paper pieced skirt!

I stitched around my main image, added my PTI sentiment and two, blue, metallic rub-on birdies.  I glittered up her Princess Staff and set her aside to dry.

I kept my papers the same in the background as were used on her skirt.  I used a strip of yellow polkadotted paper that I created into a scallop to accent the left side of my main image.  I used super raspberry colored satin ribbon - intentionally frayed at the ends by me - to balance out the scalloping on the left. 

I do hope you've enjoyed and have been inspired by my creation today!!  Please come join us at the Tiddly Inks Challenge blog!!!  We can't wait to see what you create!!