Speak Your Mind

I have been venturing, again, into art journaling.  It is something I LOVE to look at and admire, but I am intimidated to actually DO.  Why?  Well, I can give you a bazillion reasons, none of which are good :).  So, here I go, just going, and playing, and enjoying the process, because THAT is what art journaling is.

The other morning, on the way to work, I saw a bumper sticker and it spoke to me.  So much so, I got to work and emailed what it said to myself.  I wanted to be certain I didn't forget.  I decided it was perfect motivation for a page.

I had a total blast creating the background with Dylusions sprays.  After it dried I used glaze to put on the ransom words.  The flames at the bottom were created using mica powders mixed with glaze and applied through the Crafters Workshop Flames stencil.  The leftover mixed up glaze I applied lightly over and around the ransom words.  I added some gesso to the page edges and created a sun and heart with them as well.

 I used my sharpie to outline the flames and draw the shapes more clearly that I created with the gesso.

 I stamped the Victoria Bonita image on the right and wrote some words around her that are reminders to me of attributes I need to embrace and not be afraid of.  I then highlighted it with the silks ice.   I wasn't able to capture the shimmer and the image in the same photo, but know it is GORGEOUS!

Have you ever had something just speak loudly to you?  What was it?  Did you honor the feelings and the process?  That is what I am attempting to do.  I am also trying to learn the lesson and not forget.

Get Inky!

Alex

If The Shoe Fits...

Buy it in every color!  Isn't that the saying?  This adorable fairy from the new Fairylicious Collection drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD. 

I love the look of pure joy on her face for these shoes!  I used paper from the Basic Grey Little Black Dress collection for the background.  The wings and shoes are both covered with Stickles for the bling factor.

While you are shopping at SCACD, I want to be sure you know about some of the new things in the store.

  

New Bo Bunny papers

 FABULOUS Crafters' Workshop Templates

Embossing Folders to go CRAZY for!

Get Inky!

Alex

Crystal Rose

I hope you saw the fabulous New Releases at SCACD.  One of the two New Releases is the Fairylicious Collection drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.  I grabbed Crystal Rose and got all busy creating.

I used a 4x4 canvas as my starting point.  I love creating outside the realm of cards.  It lets me just do so many different things.  The background is created using the Crafters Workshop Templates, specifically Ferns and Punchinella.and sponging inks.

I stamped and colored Crystal Rose then fussy cut it out. I knew that there had to be sparkle on the wings and some extra fabulous bling in her hair made her a real fairy.  Stickles made both of those possible.  I used two coats to get the look in her hair.

Added a couple layers of lace to make a frame and VIOLA!  This is one of my favorite things I have made lately.  Probably because I just grabbed supplies and started to PLAY!

Get Inky!

Alex

SCACD New Release

I am soooooooooooooooo excited to share the the TWO New Releases today at SCACD.  They are AMAZING!!!   I hope that you have been hopping along checking out the wonderful creations with these releases and have come from Lorraine's BLOG.  If not, you can begin at Danni's BLOG to catch them all.

Polished Beauty

From the set Fairylicious by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.  The background paper and embellishments I made are from the Basic Grey Picadilly Collection.

Give Peace a Chance

From the set New Adventures of Loli and Poppy by Sylvia Zet exclusively for SCACD.  The background paper is from the Basic Grey Indie Bloom Collection.

Your next stop is Kim's BLOG, be certain and leave her some love while you are there.

Our International Friends can purchase these stamps at Quixotic Paperie

Enjoy the rest of the creations then be certain to head over to SCACD for the New Releases and the fabulous new products available!

Get Inky!

Alex

Fairy Hollow

A few weeks ago, one of the new releases from SCACD was a wonderful set called Street Views drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.  I love every single image in this release!  This image is called Fairy Hollow.  I edged the the image with Viva Decor glitter liner in Sapphire.

Get Inky!

Alex

Ready for the Holidays

Most of you that visit my blog very often know that Spyder, from the Little Acorns Set, is one of my favorite images.  I decided to dress him up for Christmas so you can see how he can be used year round!

After coloring him in Christmas colors, I used Polar White Flowersoft to put a fur edging on his hat.  The spider is replaced with a snowflake.  Now he is one of Santa's Elves!  I also used the Polar White Flowersoft and snowflake punches on the swirls as decoration and to continue the snowy feel.

Tip- the swirls weren't exactly the shapes I wanted, so I did some trimming and piecing to them until I felt they were just right.  Don't be afraid to change things up and make them work for you.

As an added bonus, the Little Acorns Set and stamps are currently 25% off at SCACD


Challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday #138 - Punch It
Rouge Red Head Designs - 1 designer paper
Totally Gorjuss #106 - Christmas Traditions
Wags & Whiskers #67 - Christmas Themed
Craft Your Passion #84 - Let It Snow
Delightful Challenges - Snowflakes
Tip Top Tuesday #59 - Anything Goes Christmas
Pile It On #46 - Traditional Christmas

Get Inky!

Alex

Happy Town

SCACD is open again and ready for you to shop your heart out!  I know Susana has all kinds of FABULOUS things for you to purchase when you shop. 

This image is Happy Town from the newly released Street Views drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.  This set is absolutely fun and fabulous!  I used the Bo Bunny Blitzen paper pad and a friend's fabulous handwritting to turn it into a Holiday Greeting Card.

I want to take just a minute and say THANK YOU to Susana, the owner of SCACD.  She is an absolutely amazing lady.  A blast to work for and the customer service I have experienced shopping at her store, long before being part of the DT, is amazing.  I hope you have all had the chance to experience what I mean.  I promise, if she has something you want, buy it and love the service you get, as well as the products. 

Get Inky!

Alex

Sass and Swagger

Yep- just a teeny, tiny touch of Sass and Swagger.  Ok, a LOT of Sass and Swagger.  This image is one of the Classic Retro Crew from the new release drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.  Her name is, yep you guessed it, Sass and Swagger.

I couldn't resist completely glamming her up.  Her earrings, blouse and shoes are all done using Tonertex and the gold foil.  The design on the strip is also done using the gold foil, but with the Clearsnap Double-Sided Adhesive.  I just love playing with this stuff.

The card was created using this week's sketch from Cute Card Thursday. 

Challenges:
Cute Card Thursday #188 - Sketch
Kaboodle Doodles #91 - Sassy Girls

Get Inky!

Alex

31 Days of Halloween - Day 28 - SCACD NEW RELEASE!!!

TODAY is THE DAY! What day you ask? Well it is the day of the SCACD New Release! I am super excited to share these with you. At first I was a bit nervous when I heard Alex cackling giggling while creating.    Now I have seen them, however, I understand why.

If you have been hopping along for the release, you should have come from Elaine's BLOG.  If you are here for the 31 Days of Halloween, trust me, this IS the post you are looking for (you caught the Star Wars reference right?).  You might want to join the SCACD release hop too to see some more amazing creations.  The full list can be found on the store blog here.

First  up is a card created using the one of the new Street View stamps.  This one is called Couture Avenue.  Obviously, Alex is not the most refined person you will ever meet.  She actually had to look up Couture in the dictionary.  Not that it did her much good because all she could see when she looked at this image was the stamp store.  Talk about art imitating life....

Yes- that is Viva Decor Pearl Pen in yellow in the flower centers and around the edge.  The Viva Decor Glitter Liner in Hologram was used to make the lamp lights glow.  We wouldn't want anyone getting lost on the way to the stamp store.

Next is Witchy Woman from the Classic Retro Crew.  (told you 31 Day people it was the right place!)

 Such a fun, happy and welcoming image that a 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' card just seemed perfect.  The background paper is from the Best Creations Happy Haunting paper pack.  A fabulous pack BTW.

Next thing you know, the cackling started.  Alex decided to decorate the inside of the card as well.  Just to be certain she got her point across.  So much for fun, happy and welcoming.....

Poor Victoria Case who drew these images exclusively for SCACD is probably horrified.  I hope she forgives Alex.  If not, it wasn't my idea so don't hate the messenger.

Now- hop along to Kim's BLOG to see what amazing thing she has created with this release.

Just a reminder to all our international friends can purchase these fab stamps at Quixotic Paperie

Happy Halloween!
Edgar

31 Days of Halloween - Day 20

More BLOG CANDY - Caw Caw!!  Yes, really, I have one more BLOG CANDY and today is the day!!  First, the creation for today.

This little guy is one of my favorite images and one of Alex's as well. His name is Spyder and he is drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.

He is such a cute little goth boy.  The papers are from the Teresa Collins Haunted Hallows paper collection.  Love the fun words on the paper.

Speaking of FABULOUS paper, look what I get to give away!!!

This paper pack is donated by Susana at SCACD and you can get some wonderful holiday papers right now at SCACD ON SALE! 

Ok- so now you are saying to yourself  "Edgar, tell us how to win!"  You got it!   I will pick a random comment from the blog, but there is a bit of catch.  For your comment to count in the draw,  you need to also put what your FAVORITE stamp from the SCACD exclusive lines is.  Any of the ones you fine HERE.  Alex's is Spyder, which one is yours?

Challenges:
Clean and Simple #162 - Sketch

Happy Halloween!
Edgar

Femme Fatale

This lovely lady is called Femme Fatale and is from the Sweet Meets Sassy 2 Collection by Victoria Case for SCACD.

I felt she desperately needed to have a paper pieced dress and when I saw this paper by Bo Bunny in their Zoology pack.  Perfection!  It was also a fabulous time to use the Cuttlebug Embossing folder that is like leopard skin.  It is part of a four pack currently on sale at SCACD!

Get Inky!

Alex

Thinking of You

The recently releases Sweet Meets Sassy 2 Collection drawn by Victoria Case for SCACD has this great image Thinking of You as part of it.   I create a lot of cards for Operation Write Home (OWH) and this image is  ideal!

I also got to play with some fabulous products when I made this card.  The background paper is from the Bo Bunny Timepiece collection.  The flowers were a lot of fun to make.  Yep- make!  They are punched from some crumpled Tim Holtz Glassine paper available at SCACD.  This stuff is really cool.  I kind of reminds me of dark wax paper, but it is absorbent.  The colored ones were spritzed with 2 different colors of the Smooch Spritz, wine and log cabin. 

Now, here is the fun part, see that key?  It was made from the Viva Decor Crystal Gel.  Yep- still LOOOOOOOOOOVE this stuff.

I have a silicon mold that is the key.  My jar of Viva Decor Crystal Gel is actually a gorgeous orange gold color.  However, that color didn't work with this card so what is a girl to do?  PAINT IT of course!

Orange key with brown and burgundy acrylic paint ready to go.

Painted

 Added metallic rubon from SCACD after it was dry to 'age' it.

Looks pretty fabulous doesn't it?

Get Inky!

Alex

JUST FOR FUN!

Susana was having a "Just Because" moment and decided that 2 amazing Perfume Bottles designed by Victoria Case and 2 Flower Children designed by Elisabeth Bell could not wait to be shown!!!   

First, I am WAY excited about Flora by Victoria Case.

 I had so much fun with this image!!  I stamped and embossed it in gold on the patterned red paper from EP For the Record. The polka dot paper is from the same pack as well.  After paper piecing the red on, I covered it with Diamond Glaze to look like glass.  The flower and leaves are both by Petaloo and I am loving the red, gold and black all together.

Second is Daisy Doll  designed by Elisabeth Bell exclusively for SCACD.  

After stamping and coloring Daisy Doll, I felt she needed just a bit 'more'.  I grabbed the Flower Soft Spring Mix and decorated her up!  Love it so much more.  The papers are from the Memory Box Brioche pack.  I grabbed a couple of white flowers, Bazzill for the larger one and Kaisercraft for the smaller one, and painted them with Smooch to match the papers.  I used Ocean Soul and Frosted Aqua.  The pearls are Bellas Baubles.

Make certain you hit the Store Blog so you can find all the previews by more of the Design Team and learn about all the NEW things in at SCACD!!!

Additionally, there are some fabulous sales going on at SCACD.  You can get the papers I used on SALE!   All NOT on sale already 6x6 Paper pads are 15% off.  AND all 6x6 Paper pads already on sale are ANOTHER 15% off.  I am telling you, you need to RUN over there and shop these sales!

 

For those of you in the UK- you can find these fabulous new stamps at Quixotic Paperie!

Get Inky - and Get Shopping!

Alex

Lola

Ok, so the song by Barry Manilow runs through my brain everytime I think of this sweeties name.  She certainly doesn't look like a washed up show girl by any means.  Lola is just as wonderful as can be.  I especially love the flowers on her capris.

Lola is part of the new release Sweet Meets Sassy #2 drawn by Victoria Case for SCACD.  I also use the My Minds Eye Lime Twist paper pack to give it a great summer color combination.

Challenges:
Tuesday Trio #73 - Sketch
Crazy Challenges #73 - Beautiful Women

Get Inky!

Alex

THEY'RE HERE!!!

Want this badge?

This is a fabulous  release of the Sweet Meets Sassy Collection #2 drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD!  You want them all, and you want the sentiments that come with getting them all!!!


Here is Rosie!  Isn't she a gem?  I love her retro look and couldn't help but go with the pink accessories and shoes.

I used paper from Prima's Madeline collection.  The sentiment "Live Love Laugh" is one of the other sentiment stamps that are part of this release.  They are only available if you purchase sets, so be certain you read the details so you can get them! 

I really wanted to include a paper rose with Rosie, but didn't have any that coordinated. What is that you say? Time to play? But of course!!!  This rose is actually on of the Kaisercraft flowers in Buttercream.  I sprayed it and then grabbed my Smooch Ink for the glimmer, shimmer and shine!


The new exclusive "Sweet Meets Sassy Collection #2" by artist Victoria Case is NOW available for purchase  at SCACD...and at Quixotic Paperie for our crafty friends in the UK.
Remember to check in at Follow Your Heart for the other stamps that you haven't yet seen this week!  Also, some of my other DT sisters have creations with the new set if you want to take a look.

Get Inky & Get Shopping!!!

Alex

Get your stars on!

The challenge at SCACD Friends With Heart Challenges is to use an SCACD image and STARS.  I started with with a plan, and then ended up going an entirely different direction (not unusual for me) to get this fun birthday card.

I used the CELEBRATE image drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.    After coloring I added Diamond Glaze to the entire image thinking it would give it not only some shine, but more of the fondant type look.  I used the Viva Decor glitter line in Peridot for the pearls around the bottom layer.  The patterned paper is from the Kaisercraft  Konstruct paper which has wonderful colors.


Challenges:
Midnight Madness # 106- sketch
SCACD Friends With Heart #9 - Stars

Get Inky!

Alex

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day is just around the corner.  What better image for a Mother's Day card than Mrs. Cleaver from the Sassy Meets Sweet Collection. 

I used the wonderful Bo Bunny paper in the Gabrielle collection for the dress, strip and background.  Those fun flourishes are done with the free stamp that is included with entire Sassy Meet Sweet Collection or the Bonita's Collection.  You want this flourish, trust me.  Just do it, get the entire collection, it is sooooooooooo much easier than making decisions of which ones to try and live without.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Challenges - Paper Piecing
For Fun Challenges - For Mom or flowers
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Claudia & Company #81 - Butterflies
Flutter By Wednesdays #153 - Open- butterfly, fairy or angel
Party Time Tuesday #14 - Mother's Day
Make It Monday #35 - Open
Card Cupids - Mother's Day
Scrappy Frogs - Anything Goes
Sparkles Forum - Anything Goes

Get Inky!

Alex

Forest Fairy

I hope you saw early this last week that there were two new images released at SCACD drawn by Victoria Case.  Spa Time Fairy and this one, Forest Fairy.

I was a bit intimidated by the idea of coloring the fawn at first.  I don't feel that I usually do a very good job when it comes to coloring animals.  However, I have to admit that I am quite pleased with how it turned out and it wasn't difficult at all!
I paired the image with paper from the Prima Madeline pack and the sentiment is from the same pack.  The flower is one of the fabulous velvet hydrangeas -currently on sale!

The SCACD Challenge BLOG's challenge right now is to use Blue & Flowers.  I had no problem doing both of those!

Challenges:
SCACD #4 - Blue & Flowers
Stamp Something - Things With Wings

Get Inky!

Alex

Hey there Hot Stuff!

Here is another of the super fun images from the latest release at SCACD. I am just having a blast playing with every single image from this release.  This is Hot Stuff and boy, isn't she? 

I just love how confident and collected she looks. The background and accent paper is from the Kaisercraft Seaside collection.  The stitches are created with the Sew Easy.  Once again I have to say that I am a bit shocked at my reaction to this particular tool.  I thought it was a cool idea and that maybe I would use it to create piercing for fauz stitching.  Do you see?  That is not faux stitching on this card.  I am having a blast using this tool and doing real stitching!

The flower is also from Kaisercraft.  Their Paper Blooms are fabulous.  SCACD has them in a ton of different colors and then you can spray them with mists to change them up if you want too!  I didn't understand how fabulous these flowers are and how they are different than what you already have until I saw them up close.  Each flower on the card is different and so detailed.  There are veins in the leaves!  I tried to get a couple of shots to help you see.

YUMMY!!

Now hurry over to SCACD and get shopping for some goodies.  Susana is just back from a vacation and she added a ton of great new things to the store.  Including some super fabulous chipboard that is different from what you are expecting to find.  There are clockhands, teacups, fairies and these:

Aren't they amazing!? I can not wait to play with them!!  Go have fun trying to decide what to get and remember, free shipping at $100 so why not just get them all?

Challenges:
Crafty Creations #111- In Stitches

Get Inky!

Alex

Just Chillin'

Wednesday I watched huge honkin' snow flakes falling while at work.  I then watched them accumulate into a snowing wet nasty mess on my car.  I then came home and made this card.  I am sooooooooooooooo ready for some warmer weather!!!

This is Just Chillin' in the Retro collection drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD.  I may never look quite as fabulous as her, but I would love to be warm enough right now to give it a shot!
The fun beach hut and chairs background paper is from the Kaisercraft Seaside paper pack.  The solid paper and the fun tag are also part of the pack.  I used Viva Decor Bronze Pearl Pen in place of brads and the Sew Easy to create the decorative stitching.  A second touch of Diamond Glaze on the glass of lemonade (because the first one doesn't work so well after putting my finger in it) and she is ready to go!

Get Inky!

Alex