Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Flutter By Wednesday # 107 and other challenges

It is time to Flutter By! The FBW #107 challenge is clean and simple. I had to stop myself, but DID add a little bling! Be certain to use a BUTTERFLY, FAIRY or ANGEL in your creation!


This image is titled Restless Thoughts and is part of the ching-chou kuiks Fantasy Art Collection. I hadn't looked at the artist's colored version in some time, so find it interesting that we both used purple, or perhaps not since purple is my favorite color. I also managed to see her with a bit more skin showing, LOL! That is one of the things I love about stamps- everyone sees them just a bit differently!

Challenges:
FBW #107 - Clean and Simple


This is my second attempt at a Michelle Zindorf style card. There seems to be some interest in what that means and how this is done. I start with a white piece of cardstock and use a brayer to apply the color. I also use sponges for other parts and of course stamps for the images. It is FUN! I have so many ideas rolling around in my head and I want to play, play, play!!!

Challenges:
Macabre Monday #036 - Music Mayehm - Witchy Woman
Stamp-It-Crazy - Full Moon
Color Create Challenge #43 - Burnt Orange, Black & Cream
Darkness Inspiration - Bewitched

Monday, April 26, 2010

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop in the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. If you came here from the QKD Blog you are on the right track. If not, you might want to hop back to the QKD Blog and start at the beginning.

This week we were given an inspiration picture. I had the good fortune of attending some classes taught by Michelle Zindorf this last weekend. After the first one, I grabbed the Willow Shimmer Fairy and created my own magical and flowing picture. I decided to use purples instead of earth tones, cuz that is how I roll :). Hope you like it!




Now hop on over to Whimsical Ink Sorority and then Meredith's blog to continue on your journey. Don't forget to swing by the store as the Queen is currently offering 50% off! Did you hear the news? The Queen is going RED RUBBER May 1!! I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO

Pop Culture Challenge at FHF

Today is the first Pop Culture Challenge brought to you by the Pop Culture Princesses at the Friends Having Fun Blog! The first challenge’s theme is Alice in Wonderland!

The Pixie Dust Studio has some amazing images based on Alice in Wonderland in a collection called Down the Rabbit Hole. The design team was lucky enough to play with two of the images. They are also offering up 2 digi images to a randomly selected winner from this week’s submissions.

I was fortunate enough to work with Touch of Depp. Isn't he fun?

Friday, April 23, 2010

Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaains



This was FUN! Jean at Smeared & Smudged kept making cards with this awesome skull paper. I FINALLY ran across some a couple weeks ago and grabbed it. When I saw the challenge for Macabre Monday was Walking Dead Divas (aka Zombie) I knew it would be perfect! The paper, my Stampotique Prom Queen image and some skull beads. TA DA!

Macabre Monday #35
- Walking Dead Divas

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Flutter By Wednesday

It is time for the Flutter By Wednesday Challenge #106. This week is a wonderful sketch created by Mercy!!

Her is my take on the sketch. The image is from Tiddly Inks and so FUN! I have colored it up in at least 10 different combinations so far!

Remember to include a butterfly, fairy or angel as the focus of your creation and come Flutter with us!

Monday, April 19, 2010

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop in the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. If you came here from Shannon's blog you are on the right track. If not, you might want to hop back to the QKD Blog and start at the beginning.

This week for our Tuesday hop we were challenged to use the colors blue, brown and white.


For this card I used and image by Kelly Kost called Tree Girl. I have loved this image from the moment I saw it. I was attempting to give a 'cameo' feel, but don't believe I succeeded. However, I still like the end result!

Now hop on over to Meredith's blog to continue on your journey. Don't forget to swing by the store as the Queen is currently offering 30% off!

HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SWEET PEA STAMPS!

The winner is Alison- thank you all for entering!


I am so EXCITED to share with you that it is the one year anniversary of the Sweet Pea Stamps company! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I feel very, very blessed to be part of the Design Team and absolutely love the images I get to design with and the store owner and rest of the team I get to work with. Lynette is a wonderful owner and her primary concern is stamp quality and customer satisfaction. She knows what is important - and it is YOU the customers!

On that note, there is a customer BLOG HOP today! Visit the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog and there are links posted for you to visit. You will get the change to see a large variety of ways people are using the images. Please, feel free to join in if you would like! The rules are you must make a birthday or anniversary card using one of Sweet Pea Stamp images as your main focus point. You may use other companies sentiments or print up a sentiment using your computer.

In celebration of the anniversary, I get to do two very FABULOUS things! One is share a celebratory Sweet Pea Stamp with you and the second is give away some BLOG CANDY!

First the image- isn't it gorgeous? This is being released on a 4x6 sheet with some text and sentiments. Do NOT miss this one!



Second the BLOG CANDY! I have TWO images and several sentiments to give away! If you would like to win these, please leave a comment and be SURE I can either email you through your profile or leave me contact information. I have not been able to contact one of my last winners and if makes me sad :( This will close April 30, 2010 and I will post the winner on May 1st.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Grim Gift Boxes

The challenge for Macabre Monday #034 is 'Grim Gift Boxes'.


I designed this in my head instead of falling asleep the other night, but didn't actually get to work on it until today. I was with some friends while working on it and they PROMISED that they will come and bedazzle my coffin for me after I die! -I'm holding you gals to this!-

Another friend has a brother who is discussing a Halloween wedding. The talk was filling these with the bone candy. LOL! Wouldn't that be a HOOT?!?!?!


Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Flutter By Wednesday #105

This week at Flutter By Wednesday is an open challenge. The only requirement is that you use a butterfly, fairy or angel.
There are some changes coming to Flutter By Wednesday- some exciting one! Since change is what butterflies are all about, I decided that this is the perfect week for my butterfly box!





Monday, April 12, 2010

QKD Tuesday BLOG HOP

I hope you are enjoying yourself on the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. This is a NEW RELEASE week and you are in for a TREAT!!! 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!

Today we were challenged to use this sketch





True to form and my inability to leave anything alone, I promptly flipped this one on end- it fits the image better too!




I am so excited that I get to work with the Whimsical Ink Sorority Kit, Tropical Utopia, this month. These kits are just amazing and I love that they come not only with the main image, but also some words/sentiments and fun complimentary images.

The next stop on the hop is the Whimsical Ink Sorority blog followed by Meredith's Blog.

When you finish the shop, be sure you end up at the store so you can pick up all the new releases!!!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Owls anyone?


I just got the Elaine Cox Owls plate 40 in the mail from Sweet Pea Stamps and had to play. Not only that, this image worked perfectly with a couple of challenges I wanted to do.

Challenges:
EIC #83 - This item in the store made me think of camping and being outdoors. Owls in the woods? PERFECT!
C.R.A.F.T. Challenges #45 - buttons
Gingersnap Creations #49 - The Good Earth
and too late for but the sketch I used is- they are a GREAT place for card sketches
CPS Sketches #161 - sketch

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Bat Winged Lolita


I have had the most fun stamps to create with lately and this is absolutely no exception. it is called Bat Winged Lolita by Che Gilson for QKD. I tried to make her wings super 'batty' by using glossy effects, but the picture doesn't show it well. Had the perfect charm around and actually USED it instead of waiting to see if something more perfect would come along, LOL!

Hope to do some more fun creating this weekend that I can share with you!

Challenges:

Macabre Monday #033 - Freaker's Free For All

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Come Flutter with me!!

It is time again for the Flutter By Wednesday challenge #104. This week the challenge is to use a butterfly, fairy or angel and have some sparkle! We also have a sponsor this week! It is Glitterbabe Greetings! There are some really fun digi images in her store- be sure to check it out!



This week for my creation I used the Masked Green Fairy image from Sweet Pea Stamps. I ended up using Kaisercraft pearls for the sparkle portion. I was going to use standard bling, but the pearls worked so much better I had to go with it :)

Monday, April 05, 2010

QKD Tuesday Blog Hop- New Release Hop!!!

I hope you are enjoying yourself on the Tuesday edition of the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. This is NEW RELEASE week and you are in for a TREAT!!! 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!

Today we were challenged to use this sketch


True to form and my inability to leave anything alone, I promptly flipped it on the side!

I am so excited that I get to work with the Whimsical Ink Sorority Kit, Tropical Utopia, this month. These kits are just amazing and I love that they come not only with the main image, but also some words/sentiments and fun complimentary images.

The next stop on the hop is the Whimsical Ink Sorority blog followed by Meredith's Blog.

When you finish the hop, be sure you end up at the store so you can pick up all the new releases!!!

Friends Having Fun- Color Challenge!

For all of you challenge addicts out there (who me?) there is a new kid on the block!! It is Friends Having Fun! and TODAY is the first challenge! This challenge blog has a fun format in that each week of the month is a different type of challenge. This week is a color challenge. The colors are:

china blue, sunshine yellow and white!




Show us what you can do with these colors and enter the challenge! You are encouraged to create ANYTHING! Cards, scrapbook pages, altered projects, sew, knit or crochet something...anything! COOK something and take a photo- or even better, paint and decorate a ROOM! What can YOU create?

Sunday, April 04, 2010

To be, or not to be....

So, it is no secret that I love challenges and that there are a few I particularly enjoy. When I saw that Macabre Monday was to use a Shakespeare quote, I was certain I could do it. Then I got this stamp in the mail from Stamp It Crazy and KNEW there must be a Shakespeare quote I could use with the image.

Then I went to the ETSY Inspired Challenge and found this item in the store for this week. Love the bright color with black and white and the ovals so decided to use that as inspiration. I ended up a little more pink red than orange red like the charm, but close :)

Last, but not least, the PERFECT sketch- ovals and all at Sketch Saturday.



So- what do you think? I am thrilled with how it all came together! The quote I used is "The course of true love never did run smooth" from a Midsummer's Night Dream by William Shakespeare.

Challenges:
Macabre Monday#32 - Somber Shakespeare
ETSY Inspired Challenge #82 - This item
Sketch Saturday #97 - sketch

Saturday, April 03, 2010

BLOG CANDY WINNER!!

We have some winners!!! First, I want to thank all of you that participated in the BLOG CANDY. I really enjoyed reading what everyone selected as their favorite image(s).
Random.org provided me with the following eight numbers/winners:

30 -Betty said...

Hi:)

Dragons set for me!! Betty would be sooooo jealous!!!! Demon Monkeys Rule:)


2 - MomOfAllTrades said... Well, I would have been first, but I had to look through them all AGAIN for the umpteenth time... :)

So, I have to say that my FAVORITE is still the Haitian Relief Stamp, but it is in close competition to Nostalgia.

Happy Birthday to your dad in heaven. (((HUGS))) for you on that day

20 -marilynwillauer said...

I too had to look at them all, there all great, but my very very very favorite is Cupcakes and Presents, on a birthday roll right now!!!


4 -Alison said...

How fun Alex! While I LOVE the new Owls and dragons, I'm going to have to say my favorite is the new Exotic Halloween. It's just gorgeous! Happy Birthday to your Daddy! Make sure you light a Birthday candle for him!


34- maiahs_momma said... I would have to say the "Haiti Relief Stamp", she is so elegant :)!
Thanks for this chance to win some goodies :)!

Inky Hugs,
Catherine

32-jenalih said...

crap, crap, crap...ok, I have to change my favorite...you see, lately I have this thing for butterflies...My very, very, very favorite is Plate 2 with the gorgeous butterflies and awesome sayings (and the incredible card made by you Alex). You can email me at jenalih@yahoo.com when I have won. ;)


19 -tanya904 said...

It wasn't easy to choose just one of my faves but I guess it would be the Elaine Cox "Alice Series" I just love all of the Alice stamps especially the one with Alice and the Cheshire Cat
tanyainjville@yahoo.com


5 -Lisa said...

How cool! I love all those images, but think my fav is "love is gone". They are all so fun to color! I am feeling the itch to add to my collection!

I will attempt to contact the winners for mailing information, but feel free to contact me too!!!

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Smeared and Smudged BLOG Hop

Smeared and Smudged is a forum started by this AMAZING person Terra. It is an absolutely wonderful place filled with the nicest people and such talent. Everyone is encouraging of each other. I just love it! It is also a great place for me to show off a bit of the more macabre stuff I make/like and have people get it!

Last time we had a member blog hop it was a lot of fun so we are doing it again!! I invite you to come join us!

I decided it was time for me to make a Zombie Escape Manual. I made one of these for my son, but everyone must have their own. Remember, the number one rule for escaping the Zombie Attack- run faster than the person you are with!


Front Cover - with requisite bloody finger prints


Back cover with the image from the Smeared Ink set
just as a reminder of what really needs to get done (and who is best able to do so).


Inside pages with escape routes, anatomy reminders,
and lots of places to make notes and plans.





I hope you have enjoyed my creation for today's hop and be certain to check out what everyone else has created. Here is the list of participants. After you visit them all- it is your turn to go CREATE SOMETHING!

Full list

Alison- http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com
Kelli- http://cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com
Meredith- http://www.papercanteen.com
Michelle- http://mylifemydreamsmyscrapping.blogspot.com/
Kathi- http://kathstales.blogspot.com
Kim- http://offthewallcraftiness.blogspot.com
Lisa- http://www.ldfdesign.blogspot.com
Danielle- http://www.scrappy-arts-n-thoughts.blogspot.com
Alex- http://www.paperandstring.blogspot.com
Jean- http://iboard.jeansartdolls.com/index.php?showtopic=11977
Monica- http://giddygreetings.com
Sarah- http://sarahscrazycreations.blogspot.com
Erica- http://www.inkedupandreadytoplay.com/
Black Dragon- http://lynsblogger.blogspot.com/
Kymberly- http://dulcamarasdarkart.blogspot.com
Steph- http://stephscreativechaos.blogspot.com
Lady Brayton- http://ladybrayton71.blogspot.com/
Barb- http://haunteddesignhouse.blogspot.com/
Terra- http://www.moresmearedink.blogspot.com/