Get Your Fairy On!

Fairy Knoll that is!  The challenge this week in Anything Goes.  No excuse to not participate and you just might win a digi image of your choice for doing so.  There are some new ones just released I know you will want!

With Valentine's Day just around the corner and having been in the grove of making love theme cards for OWH, I decided to use Heartstrings, one of the first fairies at Fairy Knoll.  She is one of my favorites!

I am looking forward to seeing what you create to play with us at Fairy Knoll!

Get Inky!

Alex

Cards for Operation Write Home

I make and send as many cards as I can, without losing my mind or neglecting the other stuff I have to do, to Operation Write Home.  The Valentine's Day card deadline is next week.  I tend to make more that are love themed so they can be used anytime.  Here are a few that I made during the Holiday break, in fact, most were made Christmas Eve Day.

First- the frog couples.  I LOVE these images and use them a lot for OWH cards.  I think they work equally well for cards to send to kids in addition to adults.   These are digis from Victoria Case. 

OWH as has a challenge going on right now to create missing you cards for kids.  These are a couple samples of the ones I made.  I figure that there are so many adorable little girl images out there, and many less that are little boy, that since I have several, I would focus on the boys.  Of course, being the mom of only sons it doesn't hurt either.  Both of these cards have received the 'boy' stamp of approval!

This particular image is a digi from Character Cafe.  However, I also have some WONDERFUL boy images that I got from SCACD.  Gone Fishing, Isac with skateboard, Isac with soccer ball, Little Helper, and my personal favorite Spyder.

So, have fun, enjoy the end of 2010 and if you wish....

Get Inky!

Alex

Rising Flame in Blue

Some time ago, Lynette asked the DT at Sweet Pea Stamps to select their favorite of ching chou kuiks images.  I was so very, very torn and there were many amazing ones from which to select, but I eventually settled on Rising Flame.  It is still the top of my list.

I have seen many beautiful color combinations with this image and I loved playing with another.  It is great with the Kaisercraft Tea at Elsie's paper.  The coral with the bright blue is a very eye catching combination of colors.

Get Inky!

Alex

12 Days of Christmas - Day 12

Today is the last day of the 12 Days of Christmas Smeared and Smudged style.  I know that Alex and I have enjoyed ourselves immensely and hope you have as well.  The projects shared by all the Jolly Bloggers have been amazing!!!

For the final project, Alex has created another tag for your viewing enjoyment.  She used Glimmer Mists for the background again.  The gold in the mists is so brilliant in real life, I wish it would photograph better.  Alex then stamped one of the angels and words from the Smeared Ink The Symbology of Angels set.

Alex then used and xacto knife to cut around portions of the image so that she could adhere actual feathers where the wings are on the stamped image.  (my tail is looking a little short right now, just sayin'.....)

I think this is my personal favorite of all of Alex's tags so far.  I feel a bit of a kindred spirit thing going on for some reason.

For those of you concerned, as you can see, the glitter did wash out.  Not easily or painlessly, but next time I will just move faster.

Challenges:
Something Completely Different - tags - Happy Christmas
Kard Krazy: Tag Tuesday - Colors of Christmas , Silver or Gold (gold in the glimmer mist)
Paper Playtime #30 - Anything Christmas


Happy Holidays!
Edgar

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

12 Days of Christmas - Day 11

WHAT!?!?  DAY 11?  Really?   How did we get here and why isn't Alex more prepared for the holiday?  I guess it does explain why she is curled up in the fetal position and rocking while muttering to herself though.  I know, I should be kinder, but HOLY GLITTER BATMAN-- look what she did to me!

 I sure hope this washes off because I am not feeling very manly at the moment.  I told you one day she would get out of hand here.  I just wasn't able to fly out of the way fast enough.  Anyone want to give me a sponge bath? wink, wink, hint, hint, nudge, nudge.

This image is a freebie from Delicious Doodles.  Who doesn't need Thank You cards after the holidays?  Alex figures double bonus, she can use some of the leftover holiday paper she has.  It is perfectly ok to still have Christmas trees on cards if they are Christmas thank you cards, right?  I think she should also use those wrapping paper scraps.  Such variety abounds!  All the glitter added is with the Viva Decor glitter liners.  Alex loves the control those give her for application.

Time to go check on Alex again.  Maybe I can put a paper bag over her head mouth and get her to calm down.

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

How Rockin' a birthday present is this?

Edgar here, look at what Alex got from her boys for her birthday.  I still don't think her hubby can believe they actually bought it or how much Alex actually looooooooooooves it!  I am trying to confiscate it, but she keeps swatting me away.  I know that one time she will make contact and one of us will be very sorry.

 Man it just looks so good on me though.  A perfect fit!

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

12 Days of Christmas - Day 10

Day 10 of 12 Days of Christmas Smeared and Smudged style.  Day 9 was to be a Smeared Ink day, but Alex forgot, so she is declaring Day 10 a Smeared Ink day.  Gotta love a gal that just alters things to how she needs them ;)

Alex grabbed the Zombie set with the amazing zombie alphabet and created a tag for her zombie loving oldest to put on one of the gifts for him under the tree.  Now- if she had named him something shorter, Edgar for example, she could have stamped straight on the tag, but she didn't so angle it is.  That allowed her to put on a rolling skull from the Killer Bo Peep set.  She changed out the string on the tag for a burgundy ribbon that coordinates with the reddish Glimmer Mist.  She also used the graphite Glimmer Mist as well and a well placed finger print or two.  Since there wasn't quite enough creepiness for Alex, she layered up some skull and crossbones ribbon pieces on the side attached with staples.  We hope the zombie lover loves this too!

Joke for the day:

What is a zombie's favorite kind of weather?


When is raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

Love and the holidays

It gets so crazy during this time of year it is easy to forget that we are so busy because we have so many people we love and care about and so many that love and care about US!  When I got this adorable snowman image from Barb at Stamp It Crazy to use for this week's challenge I was impressed with how truly HAPPY he looks and decided to got with that theme! 

Show us your entry to the challenge HERE

12 Days of Christmas - Day 9

Where has the time gone? We are already on day 9! Pretty soon I am going to find myself out of a job, yet again! I certainly hope that Alex decides to continue to feed me anyway.

Fridays are when Fairy Knoll has their new challenges and Alex really enjoys creating with their images and especially loves working with Brandi who draws them.  She is super sweet and really tolerates Alex being crazy well.  That takes a special kind of person.  This week the challenge is CHRISTMAS or WINTER. Alex did a bit of both it being the 12 Days of Christmas and all.

For the background on this tag she smooshed (yep those technical terms again) some distress ink on the craft mat and then sprayed it with water.  The tag was drug through until soaked.  Alex then dried it with the embossing heat gun and then picked up spare drops on the craft mat and dried it again repeating several times. 
Then she grabbed the fabo swirl stamps by Prima and the Viva Decor Precious Metals paint in silver to create snow flurries on the background.

The image was colored with markers except for the body of the snowman that was painted with Shimmerz and then the image was cut out and adhered to the tag.  The Merry Christmas ribbon was glued on last.

Alex and I do hope you are enjoying the 12 Days of Christmas and also visiting the other participants listed on the top right of the blog.  I know Alex is enjoying bringing it to you.  She has more creations in the works as well as I know her brain is just spinning.  I do hope it is with ideas to share with all of you!!

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

Hearth and Home

There are some new images in the From The Vault section available at SCACD.  This is an area where some of the exclusive to SCACD images by artists are released in singles and there are new ones by THREE of the artists right NOW!  I was very fortunate and got to work with Guardian of Hearth and Home by Carmen Medlin.

As I am certain everyone has figured out by now, I loooooooooooooooooooooooove fairies.  This one is no exception.  I really adore the way she has the globe with a home in her hand like she is protecting it.  I decided to turn this image into a frosty winter fairy for Christmas.  Doesn't pink, blue and silver just scream Christmas to you?  Well, winter at least? The image is colored almost completely with Spica pens and the globe is covered with Diamond Glaze to really emphasize the look.  That center of the flower is one of the amazing Prima Flower flower centers.


Challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday #135 - open with fairy, butterfly or angel

Get Inky!

Alex

12 Days of Christmas - Day 8

Surprise, surprise, Alex was a bit behind on her creations.  I know, you are all as shocked as I am.  However, what this means is marginal lighting conditions for taking pictures, so I don't look my absolute best and for that I am truly sorry and embarrassed.  Don't worry, I have had a 'talk' with her.

 This little penguin is from Delicious Doodles and is appropriate for Christmas or Birthday cards, just make certain it isn't both in the same card.  Evidently Alex has an issue with that.  If you don't know what I am referring to, you can see her rant post here.

Be sure that not only do you look at the wonderful images at Delicious Doodles including some FABULOUS raven images, but they have a challenge blog too where you can WIN some of the images.

Joke for the day:

What is a zombie's favorite way to travel?

Traaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiins

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

Is it Birthday season as well?

This is a post I did last year mid- November.   As a December baby (today isn't my actual birthday day though) I would like to take a moment and remind others of the dilemma.  Specifically #4.  I Probably should have made that #1.  As people with our birthdays at this time of year, we have enough to 'deal with' without your added griping.  Please stop.  It really gets old hearing how tough it is on YOU to have to buy for us.  So don't.  It won't be the first or last time our birthday was ignored, forgotten or overlooked.  That is pretty standard for us.  It is also preferable to hearing about how inconvenient our day is.

ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION!!

Right about now is when all the holiday hustle and bustle really starts. I would like to take just a moment to remind you that some people still have birthdays in the next couple of months. I also want to give you a couple of tips with regard to those birthdays.

1- Do not wrap the present in holiday paper. If you don't have anything else, please use the newspaper.
2- A combined gift is fine, if it was requested. If the recipient is under 12 years old, separate gifts are necessary for them not to feel slighted. The cost does not matter, trust me on this.
3- Telling them to pick one from under the tree to open early, NOT a good idea.
4- They did NOT ask to be born during this time of year, do not complain to them. Complain to the parents and if you ARE the parents, well.....

Keep in mind this is only a mini list and there are other items that may apply. I can, however, guarantee that if you keep these four in mind it will be appreciated!

Thank you Lynette!!! - Sweet Pea Stamps blog hop.

As a Christmas gift to Lynette, owner of Sweet Pea Stamps we are throwing this blog hop! We are so glad you have decided to join in the fun - today you will find many beautiful creations made by the Sweet Pea Stamps design team.

I am sharing a card I created with an image drawn by Elaine Cox called Dreamy Sand Castle.  The girl in this image is just so sweet looking and Lynette is one of the sweetest and kindest people I know so it seems very appropriate.

A very, VERY huge thank you to Lynette for having me as part of her Design Team.  She is a joy to work for and brings some absolutely amazing images to Sweet Pea Stamps that I get to work with.

 *********************************************************************************

As our gift to you, our wonderful followers, visiters and Sweet Pea Stamps customers, one lucky person will win the ching chou kuik Fantasy Art collection Red Riding Hood sheet of stamps (Plate #65). Just leave comments along the way.

Each comment you leave will earn you an entry - so the more comments the better the chances! The drawing will take place on 12/20/2010.  Below you will find the list of stops - if you joined us somewhere along the way don't worry as it is a circular hop. Thanks again and Happy Holidays!

Sweet Pea Stamps
Alexandra Lundgren
Angela Sowell
Christine Riley
Connie Piotter
Holley Barnhart
Jennifer Willis
Katarina Maserak
Kym Kreates
Randi Wall
Traci Porter

12 Days of Christmas - Day 7

Thanks for sticking with Alex and I on the 12 Days of Christmas event.  I know that sometimes Alex brings out some odd things, and today is no exception to that, but I do enjoy having the hosting gig.

We are back with a tag made using one of the newer Paper Makeup Stamps.  This one is the Oo La La for Santa set and on a bit different theme than the angel Alex worked with before.

Alex really wanted an aged look to the tag so used walnut ink.  I told her she could just put it out in the grocery store parking lot while she did her shopping and it would be all ready when she came out.  Alex didn't think that was near as good an idea as I did.  The fur trim is created using a liquid applique pen.

Before I go today I want to leave you with a final thought:

Brown chicken

Brown cow!

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

12 Days of Christmas- Day 6

Alex has been holding out on me and I found this tucked in her things.  I knew she made it last weekend, but then I couldn't find it to share.  That girl really needs some help.  She is a bit lot organizationally challenged.
Anyway, this is an ornament she made using a stamp from Sweet Pea Stamps.  She stole, well I guess not stole because she asked permission first, the idea from Alison when she did one before that is here during the 31 Days of Halloween event.

 She stamped the Angel from the Holiday Collage Plate #56 with Staz-On ink on a transparency.  For something that sounds easy enough, she certainly struggled with it, but that is probably just her ;).

 The image was then cut out in a circle the same measurement across as the ornament with a tab left at the top to stick up in the hanger part so it would stay upright and not shift around.    After that Alex added an assortment of beads to the inside of the ornament both front and back of the image.

Using a thin red stain ribbon she tied a hanger on the top of the ornament.  It was a bit difficult for me to photograph because this ornament reflects even the tiniest amount of light, but I hope you can get the idea of how lovely this really is.  I am super glad Alison made her fabulous one in October and so is Alex because this will look fabulous on the tree.


Happy Holidays!
Edgar

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5

Alex has provided us with another tag for our 12 Days of Christmas enjoyment again today.  I have to tell you thought that it wasn't originally the plan.  She had something else in mind and it is sitting started in her craft area abandoned for this tag.

The image is the Angel of Hope from the Elisabeth Bell exclusive for SCACD Fall Sampler Edition.  Alex stamped the image on the tag in brown ink and then stamped it on some lace a couple of times and cut it out and layered it for the dress.

The sparkle on the dress and wings is Viva Decor glitter liner in hologram and the bird is in sapphire.  Amazing bling!  This tag makes even me want to break out in Christmas carols.  Maybe next time I hit the bird bath.

I also want to make certain you know that Susana, the owner of SCACD, is donated $1 for each sale of this stamp to Breast Cancer Research.

I am talking Alex into finishing up her other creation so she can share it with you next week because I know you all want to see it!

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

Gwynth

This is from the newest sheet in the Nikki Burnette collection, Plate #92 and the image is Gwynth.  When coloring, I decided that it was a moon, not a sun in the corner.  Everything is colored with markers except for the moon and jewelry are with Spica glitter markers and the sky is one of my very first attempts at watercolor with dye inks.  I was going to use markers on the sky as well, but it just needed to be less 'solid' for lack of a better descriptive word.  I am pleased with the watercolor look and can see the combination of techniques happening quite often in the future.

Get Inky!

Alex

12 Days of Christmas - Day 4

Wow- we are a third of the way through the 12 Days of Christmas Smudged and Smeared Style and Alex has not gone completely bonkers.....yet.

I am back today with another tag Alex has made.  I wanted to be certain you saw this first picture.  Don't I look good in a Santa hat?  I'm just sayin'.......

Today is another Smeared Ink day for the 12 Days Event.  The Merry Bloggers were challenged to use Smeared Ink Stamps if they have them.  Well, you all know that Alex does and she actually used one of her all time favorites, the Grumpies.

The sentiment says "I'm watching you."  There actually is a wonderful Occassions Grumpies set that has some fun holiday images and sentiments, but Alex doesn't own that set.  Probably just as well because she had a wonderful time creating the hat for the Grumpie (hello!?!?!?!?).  It is cut from cardstock, colored and polar white Flower Soft used for the trim.  There is a tiny green bell on the tip.  The eyes of the Grumpie have been covered with Diamond Glaze to accent them.  I suggested Alex put some google eyes on the image, but silly girl, she actually threw out her google eyes when she hadn't used them in a couple of years.  I do not know what she was thinking, she has lots of other things she hasn't used in years that is still here and it isn't near as important as google eyes!

Ok- joke for the day--
What do vegetarian zombies eat?



Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnsss

CAW, CAW, CAW!!

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

Bringing some sunshine with the rain

That is how this particular image by Samantha Rawlings for Sweet Pea Stamps always makes me feel.  The actual name of the image is Lil' Butterfly Fairy, but I see her peeking out after hiding under the flower during a rain storm. 

She is colored with my marker with some Stickles on her wings and the butterfly.  The paper is from Basic Grey and the glittery flower is one of the Petaloo Velvet Hydrangas.

Here is hoping your day has a lot of sunshine in it without the rain!

Challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday #133- Open with a fairy, butterfly or angel

Get Inky!

Alex

12 Days of Christmas - Day 3

Hellos to all you Christmas Hoppers and everyone else!  I hope you are enjoying what all the Merry Bloggers in the 12 Days of Christmas Smeared & Smudged style event are sharing with you.  The list of participants is posted up at the top right of Alex's blog so they are easy to find.

Today I am sharing a card that Alex made for the Delicious Doodles challenge blog this week.  Their challenge is an easy peasy use a digital image.

Alex used the Delicious Doodles image Poinsettia Fairy.  I love that the big fairy has a little fairy friend.  Alex likes the poinsettia border the best.   Get your entry in for a chance to win some Delicious Doodles images of your choice.  There is such a variety that I promise you can find something you like.  If all else fails there is a fabulous raven available. 

 Sorry to be so short today, but I must run and whip Alex into gear.  She has lots to get completed before this next weekend and, frankly, she isn't getting it done!

Happy Holidays!
Edgar

All That Glitters

I am certain you have probably  noticed that I love the bling.  When I learned the challenge at Fairy Knoll this week was All That Glitters, I knew it was perfect!  I grabbed Josephine, my markers and my Stickles and went to town!!!  I think she ended up looking quite Christmasy as well.

I used this FUN paper from the Kaisercraft Tis the Season paper pack and a bling tree from a strand of them I have in my stash.

I can't wait to see how you make your creation Glitter.  The DT has a large variety of options to share with you so be certain to check them out.  Then enter HERE and show us what YOU made!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 2

Hello and welcome back to day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas Smeared and Smudged style.  I have to warn you, this is NOT what would expect, but since the theme was expanded to include gift items, here we go.

A couple of years ago Alex made a Zombie Escape Plan notebook for her oldest son.  He writes in it occasionally, and has enjoyed having it.  You know teenage boys (throw rocks at them).  Alex decided to make another one, especially since she now has the Zombie stamp set from Smeared Ink.  This set is certainly a fun one with mix and match heads and rotting body parts.

This is the front cover complete with bloody smears.

 The back cover with the bloody hand print included.

 A sampling of the inside pages.  The majority of them are blank so that the owner of the notebook can write the details of their own escape plan.  However, it does include some things Alex thought would be helpful information such as:

Maps

 Diagrams

 Things NOT to said to Zombies (such as How's it hanging?)

 Photos of what you might expect to see during a Zombie attack.

 and of course, how to identify a Zombie.

The pages of the notebook measure 4x 5 inches and the cover is 4.5 x 6 inches.  I hope you enjoy it as much as Alex enjoyed making it.  Hearing her manical giggling Wednesday while creating this was just about more than this bird could take.  Crazy lady.....

Challenges:
Macabre Monday HDH067 - Paper Pandemonium -we are counting the maps and photos as two different patterned papers.

Happy Holidays!
Edgar