Monster Hugs!!

I paired Monster Hugs from the Oddly Sweet Curiosities collection with paper from Kaisercraft and the sketch challenge from Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  This all just came together perfectly.  I just love working with sketches that are so user friendly!!! 

Get Inky!

Alex

Feel Up Your Bombshell

Hello Bombshells!!! I can hardly believe my Pin Up month is actually HERE! Super excited!  The challenge for March with be to 'Feel Up Your Bombshell' I just knew you all would appreciate that
Basically, I want you to add texture to your Bombshell creations. Use embossing, elements, pastes, fabrics, lace/ribbon, flock, textured papers, anything you want to make your creations beg to be touched.

I used Angel Bombshell, a leopard embossing folder with ink rubbed over the raised portion to emphasize it.  Paper from Bo Bunny the for the background and paper piecing.

Come play along with us for the March Challenge.  You can link your entry directly to the BLOG post HERE if you would like or in the forum.

Can hardly wait to see the FABULOUSNESS you all create!!!

Get Inky!
Alex

It is the beginning of a new year

I figured that just in case you missed the news, haven't turned on your TV or been on the internet, or even just forgot to turn your calendar page and see there was nothing left that I would inform you.

For the first challenge of the new year at Stamp It Crazy we got a fabulous New Year image to work with and you can WIN it!  All you have to do for a chance is play along with us.

Isn't she lovely?  She is also a joy to color.  Barb at Stamp It Crazy is looking for suggestions for her name.  My idea was Holly Day, but no one else thinks it is near as clever as I do.

I went a bit stickles crazy, but how could I not.  New Year is all about bling.  I mean really, they do drop a huge glowing ball at midnight!

So, how do you play along?
1. To Make a New Card, Project, page.
2. Must have Happy New Year On it.
3. Entries must be in by Saturday 8th, at 5:00 pm central time.
4. Winner will win Miss New Years DIGI

Enter HERE.


I want to share with you how I spent my New Year's Eve and Day, well in addition to taking down the Christmas tree.

These are cards headed to Operation Write Home.  There are a few more now, but I wasn't going to take another photo.  You get the idea.  It was a lot of fun crafty time here.

Get Inky!

Alex

When inspired

I took a moment to finally watch the music video that is this month's inspiration for the Rock N' Rolla Inspiration Challenge at Smeared and Smudged.  The minute it started and idea began to form in my brain and just kept going.  It wasn't long before I had to head out to the garage and go digging through my stamps to find THE one, only found this one too and it was even MORE what I wanted than I had originally thought.  Once the stamp was in hand, it was done, I was busy creating and nothing else was on my brain, but this project.

  I am thrilled with the end result and hope you enjoy it as well.  This is a single ATC and pretty sure it is going to stay in my box rather than be traded.  I might even make up more for a series of them in a variety of colors.

I wish the vibrancy of the colors would show better on the computer, but I still love it!

Challenges:
Smeared and Smudged - Rock N Rolla Inspiration
ETSY Insp Challenge #119 Ling Glass- This piece the fabulous colors!
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Get Inky!

Alex

Girly Girl- Challenge #5 at SIC

The challenge at Stamp It Crazy this week is to go "Girly Girl". Now, I'll be honest, when I first applied for the Challenge DT, I was thinking I was going to get to use all of the lovely Gothic and Halloween images available at Stamp It Crazy. I was not planning on doing a challenge with this sweet image and the theme of "Girly Girl'. However, it is FUN and she is ADORABLE so no complaints here!!! Just goes to show that Stamp It Crazy has something for everyone!!!

Be sure to enter this week's challenge to win the image the DT used and a SURPRISE image as well! Link your entry HERE. Looking forward to seeing what you create!!!

A little sparkle for your day

This sweetie is Jewel from Wink Wink Ink. Don't you just love that gorgeous gem? Today, it is a diamond!

Stickles create the sparkle on the diamond. I used Viva Decor glitter liner in holograph to make the gems around the edge. I love this stuff!!!

The flowers are by Petaloo and I used my markers to make them the same color as Jewel. It is so freeing to be able to customize my embellishments, not just hope they are close enough!


Challenges I would like to enter:
Wink Wink Ink - Metal
If the Shoe Fits #44 - Metal
The Pink Elephant #81 - sketch
Magical Monday #3 - Flowers
Stamp & Create #4 - Flowers
Papertake Weekly - 3-2-1 / 3 flowers, 2 brads, 1 patterned paper

Girl With Attitude!

No- not me :) StampItCrazy challenge this week is themed 'girl with attitude' and you can win THIS image that the DT used. Her name is Savanna and she was a lot of fun!


So here are the challenge guidelines:

1.First of all you can use any Image you like, this challenge doesn't require the use of SIC Images.

2. You can make this a card, tag, project.
3. Must contain a Girl,ribbon,Retro flower,sentiment.

4. Please have your entry in by August 28st 5:oo p.m. Central Time.
5. Winner will receive Main SIC Image used.

Link your entry at the main challenge post, you will also get to see the rest of the DT's FABULOUS creations!


Ingredients:
image: Savanna by StampItCrazy
patterned paper: Kaisercraft, Hippy Girl
other: Maya Road mini chipboard tags, ribbon, Momento Ink, Copic and Prismacolor markers

Snow Friends at Fairy Knoll

This week at Fairy Knoll Brandi has released some fabulous new images. I LOVE this one, Snow Friends. I keep thinking I need to scrapbook it since it is so 'photo like', LOL! It was fun to color and could be done in so many different color combinations. I am planning to make several winter cards for OWH with this image!

The Fairy Knoll Challenge #12 is a FABULOUS sketch! I hope you join us and show what YOU make with it. The challenge is now open to any images, but you can grab some Fairy Knoll FREEBIES here if you don't have any of these wonderful images so why wouldn't you use one of them?


Get busy creating and show us what YOU make with this sketch.

Ingredients:
image: Fairy Knoll
paper: Pink Paislee 365 Degrees
other: Bella Baubles string of pearls, Bazzill just the edge,

QKD - Tuesday BLOG HOP with Victoria

Welcome to the Queen Kat Designs Stamp Co. Blog Hop. You should have arrived from my other creation at the Dark Ink Sorority Blog. If not, thank you so much for stopping by my blog on your own! If you would like to see the entire hop it begins at the Queen Kat Designs Royal Blog.

This week we are challenged to use the sketch that you can see on the Queen Kat Designs Royal Blog at the beginning. With Halloween on the way, I decided to pull out Victoria Mermaid Stamp by Maigan Lynn. She has a bit of sass and touch of mystery. One of my very favorite Maigan Lynn stamps. So much one of my favorites, that I actually have the ORIGINAL of her that Maigan drew. I know, I am sooooooooooooooo lucky!!! If you don't have the Victoria Mermaid Stamp, be certain you stop by the store after the hop and grab her!

Anyway, after stamping Victoria and coloring her, I paired her with Basic Grey Oliver paper that a sweet friend gave me. Thank you Lynn! I used Viva Decor Pearl Pen in black to create the pearls down the side and tied a ribbon on the side of the image.

I have also entered in some challenges with Victoria!:
The Burtonesque Dolls #14 - Burtonesque girls victorian style
Macabre Monday #51 - Netherworld Nymphs
Basic Grey #26- Pearls plus Basic Grey

Your next stop on the hop is Anita's BLOG. Check it out, and leave her some love!

Silk Dance

I decided to combine two challenges for the card I made using the image Silk Dance from Sweet Pea Stamps. It is sketch from the Sketch Saturday challenge #111 and the Caardvarks July challenge of a Birthday Card. The background paper is Basic Grey Marrakech.

Fairy Knoll

It is time for the Fairy Knoll challenge again! This is week #6!!! WOW! This has gone FAST! Brandi gave us a fabulous sketch again this week. I modified it just a bit (it is ME after all) and used Heartstrings.


I decided not to use any stickles or glitter this week because I think this will be a fabulous card to forward to Operation Write Home. In fact, I printed out Heartstrings a bunch of times, and am going to make many more cards with her for OWH. I used the Basic Grey Sugar Rush paper. The banner saying I cut out of the patterned paper and has a 'forever' above the You + Me.


Grab a Fairy Knoll image and play along with us!!! If you put your card in any public galleries- please tag with FK6.

Marvelous Monday!

I am excited to share not one, but TWO different challenges with you today! If you are looking for Wink Wink Ink, scroll down, but I would LOVE for you to check them both out!

First up is the Friends Having Fun color challenge. The colors for this week are vintage red, white and blue.



This is Carousel Dreams from the Elisabeth Bell Sampler Edition #5 exclusively for SCACD. This is not a very ornate card, but the image is so detailed and stunning, I really wanted to keep it as the focus.

Join us in the color challenge so I can see what YOU create. Also, while you are there, a DT call for the Recipe Challenge team is going on. Check it out!~


Next up, I am VERY excited and honored to tell you I am the Guest Designer for the Wink, Wink, Ink challenge this week! WOW! How cool is that? I was pretty stunned myself when I got the email :)

Wink, Wink, Ink is a digital stamp company with a fabulous variety of images. They have a forum on CDAC asking for challenge ideas. If your idea is selected, you win a free image and the opportunity to be a guest designer for your challenge. FUN!

So- your challenge for this week is to include a 'handmade embellishment- made by you of course"!



I created a joyfold card using one of my very, very favorite Wink, Wink, Ink images, Falling Apart. This one just is so sweet and softens my heart every time I see it.

My handmade embellishment is the flower used to hold the flap on the joyfold closed. The flower is made by cutting different circles from patterned paper. I spritzed them with water and crumpled them up. I will admit that the first batch, I got too wet and it was a mess. However, batch two, just right. After I uncrumpled them, I rubbed them with brown ink and used a mini stapler to hold them all together. A button in the middle finished it off. After putting it on the card, it felt a bit lacking. I grabbed the remaining green scrap and cut a couple of leaves and repeated the process. THAT was just what it needed :)



I used Basic Grey June Bug for the main body of the card and the flower was a combination of different papers.

I hope to see something YOU make in one, or both of these challenges!

Fairy Knoll Challenge #5

This week is a super fun sketch at Fairy Knoll challenges. I flipped it on the side and love the result.



I decided to use Samantha this week. She is one of my favorites! I added stickles to both her dress and her wings and love the shimmer. I tried some new colors on her hair, and will have to try these again. Now- trying to decide who I should pop this card in the mail to. It needs to brighten someone's day!

Grab a Fairy Knoll image and play along with us!!! I can't wait to see what YOU come up with!

Friends Having Fun - theme challenge - Eclipse!

This week at Friends Having Fun we are having a theme challenge. In honor of the upcoming release, the theme is Eclipse. Now- I have to admit that I have not read or watched any of the Twilight books or movies. GASP- I can hear you! I hear they are excellent. However, I will adhere to my belief that in the sunlight, vampires burn up. I'm just sayin'.

I had a BLAST working with this Sultry Vampyress image by Teri of Delicious Doodles.

I am very pleased with how the background behind the image turned out. It is done dabbing (that is the technical word, BTW) two different red and a charcoal ink. The patterned paper is from Pink Paislee. The purple highlights in her hair are just because I think you have to be so super sexy to carry that off with class and she does!



Aren't her bracelets fun? I want a pair! I added stickles in black to her skirt for the ultimate glam.

Now- I leave you will one final thought

Challenges:
Friends Having Fun- Eclipse Inspired
Oh Alice - Twinkle Twinkle
Crafty Creations #73- Shine
Pile It On #25 - Do something different with it paper - I cut around a part of the image and thread it through-new for me!.
Fresh Brewed #8 - Anything Goes
Crafty Ann #17 - Embossing
Allsorts Challenge #58 - Embossing

Fairy Knoll #4 and ETSY Inspired #94 Challenges

Today you get two, two challenges in one! Sorry, I am having Doublemint commercial flashbacks here :)

The ETSY Inspired Challenge #94 was to be inspired by something at Sand Box Studio. There is a LOT there to be inspired by. Be sure you check out the reusable gift bags for sale! I selected this adorable gift card holder as my inspiration. I REALLY wanted to make those flowers, but first time was NOT the charm. I used the blue and green against the more neutral/earthy background of the burlap.

After deciding that, I grabbed the sketch from the Fairy Knoll Challenge #4. Using the color inspiration and the sketch with Bianca and it all just came together.



I really want to show off the swirl of pearls. I did that! Not just take it out of the package and put it on the card did that, but actually drew the swirl and created the pearls with Viva Decor. Isn't that AWESOME? I could make the swirl go whatever direction I wanted and a big or small as I wanted. THAT is freedom!!!


Now go play! Be sure to find an inspiration piece and link to it when playing with ETSY Inspired. You have a two chances to win!

Sand Box Studio
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SandBoxStudio
Give away - one of her market bags!

Tyggereye Art
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tyggereye
http://tyggereye.blogspot.com/
Give Away - $25 credit to use in her shop!

The Fairy Knoll Challenge you have the chance to win a FREE digi image!

Fairy Knoll Challenge #3

This week is a super fun sketch at Fairy Knoll challenges. I really modified some of the elements, but it was a great composition to start with.

Sketch:

I decided to use Aislan this week. I love her eyes and smile. Doesn't she just look friendly? A great image to color and she just fit this more Victorian color and embellishments so wonderfully. That great paper is from Kaisercraft the Tea at Elsie's collection. It really has some stunning prints in it.


So- grab a Fairy Knoll image and play along with us!!! I can't wait to see what YOU come up with!

Fairy Knoll - Sketch with Becks

There is a new challenge blog in town from FAIRY KNOLL!!! What is Fairy Knoll you ask? Fairy Knoll is a new digi stamp store that has some adorable fairies and other images. It is one of my favorite kind of challenges - a sketch challenge. This is only our second challenge and we are SUPER excited to have you join us. Enter by making something using the sketch and a Fairy Knoll image -there are some freebies available if you don't have an image- and you might just WIN a FREE image of your choice!!!

Here is the wonderful sketch for this week

I decided to use the super cute Becks this week. I love her lace edge wings and the bows on her ankles!!!

Friends Having Fun - Color Challenge

This week the Friends Having Fun has another color challenge. It is to use:

So I can hear you all- it is an 80's flashback- well if you are as old as I am anyway. You CAN do this, get busy, and get BRIGHT!!!!

I made a card with Alexa. I just adore her and enjoy making the flowers whatever combination my heart desires. The Basic Grey Green At Heart line is perfect for this challenge. Plenty of hot pink, purple and green :). The glitter Petaloos in bright green with hot pink centers matched perfectly.


I decided to give this card just a bit 'more'. I wanted it to really sparkle. Once it was finished and all put together, I sprayed the entire surface with Smooch Spritz in silver. Can you see the nice sheen it put on everything. Very subtle, but it just sparkles! This Smooch Spritz dries FAST too! I like that. I get really frustrated when I am all finished making something but need to wait for it to dry.

I hope you play along with the Kaleidoscope Krew this week. We would LOVE to see what you make. I have my sunglasses all ready!

Fairy Knoll Challenge Blog-BRAND NEW

There is a brand new challenge blog in town from FAIRY KNOLL!!! What is Fairy Knoll you ask? Fairy Knoll is a new digi stamp store that has some adorable fairies and other images. There challenge blog is beginning with the FIRST CHALLENGE right NOW! It is one of my favorite kind of challenges - a sketch challenge. Enter by making something using the sketch and a Fairy Knoll image -there are some freebies available if you don't have an image- and you might just WIN a FREE image of your choice!!!


I used Samantha from Fairy Knoll. There are so many adorable images, it was difficult to decide, but don't you just love her spunk? She has that 'catch me if you can' look to her.


I used the Pink Paisley Bayberry Cottage paper. Such a fun and fresh color combination is used in this collection. This might be one I actually use up! I used the Viva Decor glitter liner in peridot and it is the EXACT match to the green in this paper. I am just LOVING these pens! The Viva Decor pens stay elevated when they are dry. They have glitter, pearl, gloss, and others for all kinds of effects and are so FUN to play with!!! You will be seeing more of these on my blog. This glitter does NOT rub off so I am comfortable using these on my Operation Write Home cards. YAY! Sending some bling :)

Bubble Fairy

When I saw Bubble Fairy drawn by Lisa Victoria for Sweet Pea Stamps I instantly fell in love! A fairy taking a bubble bath in a teacup- PERFECT! Such a sweet fairy and such a dainty teacup.


I first stamped the image with Memento Ink so that I could color it with my markers and not have to worry about it running. The flowers on the teacup made me think of Forget-Me-Knots. If you have never had the opportunity to see Forget-Me-Knots in real life, not only are they blue, but they have a really pretty pinkish/purplish center to them. I tried to capture that in my coloring.



After I finished coloring the image I put Pixie Dust Shimmerz on the wings for the proper 'fairy look'. The pink velvet ribbon, Petaloo jeweled center Color Me Crazy florettes (my go to flower right now!) with inked edges and Basic Grey Koshi paper finished it all off.

Challenges:

C.R.A.F.T. #52 - Blue & Green
Card Patterns #66 - Sketch
If The Shoe Fits #36 - Add Inspired