Bridal Couture from the Darkside

The challenge this week at Macabre Monday was to create Bridal Couture from the Darkside.

"You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween page, project or card utilizing bridal gowns... but not in white"

Close-up of the bodice


photo without flash- you can't see the sparkle, but get more of the details


So - what do you think? Did I do it? I have to tell you, this was an absolute BLAST! I have not had this much fun making anything is ages. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy creating, but this, this was just different! I had all these ideas swimming in my head and was able to play and experiment. I love the end result, but now I'm not quite sure what to do with it, LOL!

Sweet Pea Blog Hop- day 2

First- a HUGE thank you to all who visited and left your lovely comments on Tuesday's hop.

Welcome to day two of the Sweet Pea Stamps DT blog hop! If you would like to start at the beginning of the blog hop, please start here at the Sweet Pea Stamps blog.
Today is the last day of the hop and the DT will be featuring more images from Sweet Pea Stamps newest releases, available for purchase today!
Please, be sure to visit all the blogs on today's hop, because you need to leave a comment at EACH DT member's blog to be entered to win a $10 gift card from Sweet Pea Stamps! One winner will be picked from Tuesday's posts, and one winner will be picked from Thursday's post. So be sure to leave a comment on each blog, each day for a chance to win. Comments must be posted by 12am EST. Friday, January 30th. Winners will be announced on the Sweet Pea Stamps blog.

I was very fortunate and got to work with the new Gum Drop Gang sheet. I think these are just a blast! The newest sheet is Spring/Easter themed and I have used the images of Molly and a couple of bunnies. First is an Easter card:

As I was working with the bunnies on the Easter card I kept seeing this card in my head so HAD to make it :)

Complete list of today's blog hop participants:
Randi
Traci
Micki
Jennifer
Holley
Mag
Alex - you are here
NEXT STOP ON THE BLOG HOP: Sweet Pea Stamps - go get these NOW :)

Also, please check out the beautiful Haiti relief stamp available here. Lynette, the owner of Sweet Pea Stamps is graciously donating 50% of the proceeds to Doctors Without Borders.

Flutter By Wednesday #94

Today a new challenge is posted at Flutter By Wednesday. This week it is an open challenge so show us what you create using Butterflies, Fairies and/or Angels. Other winged thins are awesome- but don't count for these challenges :). I hope to be back later this week with a creation of my own to share with you!

If you are looking for the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog Hop it is
HERE

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop

I hope you are enjoying yourself on the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. You should have arrived from Shannon's Blog- but if not, please go back the the QKD Blog to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing! From here you proceed to the Whimsical Ink Sorority Blog.

This week we were to be inspired by this picture:



I realized that the colors are pretty much identical to the January Royal KIT I received so used it to make a birthday card.


If you go shopping right now, not only do you get to take advantage of the sale below- but since the Queen is away for CHA- you also get a FREE stamp for waiting for your order to be shipped!

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

(Good today through 01/31/10)
use coupon code: TT20

Challenges:

Mojo Monday #123 - Sketch

Sweet Pea Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to the very first Sweet Pea Stamps DT blog hop! If you would like to start at the beginning of the blog hop, please start here at the Sweet Pea Stamps blog.
Today and Thursday, the DT will be featuring images from Sweet Pea Stamps newest releases, available for purchase today!
Please, be sure to visit all the blogs on today's hop, because you need to leave a comment at EACH DT member's blog to be entered to win a $10 gift card from Sweet Pea Stamps! One winner will be picked from Tuesday's posts, and one winner will be picked from Thursday's post. So be sure to leave a comment on each blog, each day for a chance to win. Comments must be posted by 12am EST. Friday, January 30th. Winners will be announced on the Sweet Pea Stamps blog.
My card features the *new* images from Cupcakes and Presents




Here is a complete list of today's blog participants:

Mag
Connie
Chrissy
Jennifer
Alexandra - you are here
Micki
Jennifer
Randi
NEXT STOP ON THE BLOG HOP: Micki


Also, please check out the beautiful Haiti relief stamp available here. Lynette, the owner of Sweet Pea Stamps is graciously donating 50% of the proceeds to Doctors Without Borders.
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit the Sweet Pea Stamps blog on Thursday, 29th, for the last half of the Sweet Pea DT blog hop!

I'm a FLUTTER BY!!!

Ok, my BIG NEWS!! I have been asked to be a guest design team member Feb- Apr. for the Flutter By Wednesday Challenge BLOG.

Come join us and create with your Butterflies, Fairies and Angels!!!!

Etc., Etc., Etc.

I am so excited about the blog hops coming up next week and am working on all sorts of things to show you! Can't wait.

In the meantime, I am getting a bit nervous. I have a biodex test on Tuesday. This is a test that basically will measure the strength of the muscles in my leg. The purpose is to see if I can FINALLY be cleared to run, impact, etc. on my knee from my ACL replacement, knee cap collapse, quad muscle shutdown, etc........ from Sept. 2007. Yep- 07. I want to run, NOW!~ I have a feeling that it isn't going to be a whole lot better than the last time we tested it about a year ago, but at this point, it is so much better than before the surgery- doesn't slip out every time I turn around- that I am fine with it. I just want to be able to run! So- first, hope I pass with flying colors and no problems. If not that, then I hope that when the dr. and I talk we can decide that it is ok to let me run as it is and they will just retrain my stride so it will be the proper form for what I need.

Come Softly

This image is from the ©ching-chou kuik fantasy art collection at Sweet Pea Stamps. It is named Come Softly and is from sheet #5.
The artist originally colored this in shades of purple. I really liked the monochromatic look but wanted to try a different color.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Excited

I received an email yesterday that has the BEST news in it. Unfortunately, I can't share it quite yet, but I am SUPER excited and so honored!!! This almost makes up for not getting to go to CHA!

I also attended an Altered Book class last night. I have been studying these and wanting to make one for years-literally. I have just been way too intimidated to jump in. Last night I learned how very silly that was of me and now I am ready to go! I just needed someone to push me over the edge and I am flying! I have so many ideas spinning in my head. I really should put them on paper someplace so they don't float away.

Practice makes perfect

My entry in last week's Macabre Monday was not quite Gruesome Twosome quality. If you take a look at the talent represented in the entries, you will completely understand. I am in AWE with what I see. However, I DID win the random prize drawing so certainly no complaints!! I love this one because not only do I get to see a lot of different styles, but I get to play with some of my favorite stamps year round, just because :)!

I have combined stamps from two different places. The girl is Prom Queen from Stampotique- they have a BUNCH of these I love! and the wings are from the Butterfly Queen set from Bombshell Stamps. I hope you get a better glimpse of the gold Glimmer Mist on the close up.

Challenges:
Macabre Monday #022 - Fallen Angel
Mojo Monday #122 - Sketch
Sketchy Colors #7 - Brown & Turquoise
Creative Inspirations #43 - New- Prom Queen is a new stamp!

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop

I hope you are enjoying yourself on the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. You should have arrived from Shannon's Blog- but if not, please go back the the QKD Blog to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing! From here you proceed to the Whimsical Ink Sorority Blog.

Our challenge this week was a color challenge and we were to use the colors Purple, Blue, Lime, Pink (black and white allowed as well). I decided to use the stamp Inner Beauty designed by Kelly Kost.


If you go shopping right now, not only do you get to take advantage of the sale below- but since the Queen is away for CHA- you also get a FREE stamp for waiting for your order to be shipped!

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

(Good today through 01/31/10)
use coupon code: TT20

In creating this card, not only did I use the color challenge from our hop, but a couple of other challenges as well:
Card Patterns #47 - sketch
ETSY Inspired Challenge #71- this soap- I loved the pattern with the swirls so added swirls to my tabs

Monday Mojo #121

Mojo on a Monday is a push for me- the creation of this card had to wait for Wednesday :). This is done entirely with items from the January 12x12 Kit from Queen Kat Designs. That cute hummingbird is one of several exclusive the the kit stamps and the cardstock, patterned paper and ribbon are all part of the kit as well. Love the colors, it is also available in a pink and brown combination, and the stamps in January's kit. I have a sneak at February's and it is pretty awesome too!!!

Challenges:
Mojo Monday #121- sketch

New Victoria Case Stamps!!!

Victoria Case and Susana's Custom Art and Card Design have another EXCLUSIVE stamp release that will be avilable Jan 15. I am sooooooooooooooooooooo excited! VC is a fabulous designer and both she and Susana are just the sweetest people! It can not go wrong in any way. Plus, they picked the name Aurora for the stamp character. WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - be still my Sleeping Beauty heart!!!!!!
More info on Victoria's Blog and SCACD store blog.

Red Hearts

This is one of the fairy stamps from Sweet Pea Stamps called Red Hearts. Once again, I am the rebel and the hearts are not red! LOL!!

Challenges:
Macabre Monday #21 - Eerie Elegance
Flutter By Wednesday #92 - Open- use fairy, angel or butterfly

Ingredients
stamps- Sweet Pea Stamps
paper- Cosmo Cricket
ink- Momento
other-Prismacolor markers, lace, bling

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome to the Tuesday Blog hop for Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. If you just happened upon this post, be certain you start at the beginning at the QKD BLOG so you don't miss any of the wonderful creations. You want to check out the Monday hop if you didn't before.

This week we were to use a sketch.


Here is my take- although I rotated it a bit to go with Cordelia.

This is the image from the January W.I. Society Kit. This kit is currently sold out! You do NOT want to miss the February kit so email info@katstamps.com to reserve yours today! When you do, sign up to have them auto billed and shipped every month so you will never miss one!

Now off to the WIS BLOG to see something FABULOUS!

Sugar Skulls

This card was an pure joy to make. I struggled just a titch trying to work in the copper from the Macabre Monday challenge, but when I found the copper paper the struggle was gone. I also shifted how I was going to use the multiple squares in the sketch from Bombshell Stamps more times than I care to admit, but am happy with the end result.

Challenges:
Macabre Monday #020 - colors - violet, blue & copper & use a flourish-- in posting this I realize I was also meant to use a ribbon- so this doesn't qualify, however, it was still my guide for this creation :)
Bombshell Stamps December- sketch

Black Haired Lady

The stamp is from a plate with images from ©ching-chou kuik's Fantasy Art Collection at Sweet Pea Stamps! This plate is just as stunning as all the others. I used the image Black Haired Lady from plate #22. Rebel that I am, I decided to not give her black hair.

Pink Gem BLOG Candy

There is a stamp company that is new to me called Pink Gem and they are giving away this fabulous blog candy. There are some super adorable stamps in there!!! The winner will be chosen on Jan 18 so you have time to get over there and enter!!

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome to 2010 and a change for me!!! I am now part of the Tuesday Blog hop for Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. If you just happened upon this post, be certain you start at the beginning at the QKD BLOG so you don't miss any of the wonderful creations. You probably want to also check out the Monday hop if you didn't before. Tomorrow is new release day so be sure and SHOP!


This is my take on our sketch and I am honored to share Cordelia with you. She is the FIRST release of the Whimsical Ink Sorority Kit Club. This is an amazing club and the price includes shipping!!! I have seen a peak at the next couple of months and trust me, you do not want to miss these!!!!
QKD is also having a MAKE YOUR OWN SALE!

Make Your Own Sale
Take 10% off everything!
That makes all clearance items 65% off

(Good today through 01/10/10)
use coupon code: BL10

Now- on to the next stop on the hop which is WIS BLOG. You can see even more of Cordelia!

YOU ROCK!!

I just came back from the Post Office and I mailed 235 cards for Operation Write Home! Thank you ALL so much for your contributions. You made my virtual card collection party a smashing success!!!!

You all are the BEST!!!!

Sleeping Beauty

of a different kind. This stamp is from Faerie Song Art Stamps designed by Jennifer Nilsson

Challenges:
Faerie Song Art Stamps #23 on PCP - sketch
Creative Inspirations #41 - "Thank You"
Colour Create Challenge #35 - Lemon & Lime
Pile It On #30 - Clear