Just Ducky!

This adorable little gal is called Just Ducky and is one of the Animapeeps from set drawn by Elisabeth Bell exclusively for SCACD.  I had seen Suzanne use the Tonertex Foils on the dots on the umbrella with this image and loved it.  When I saw the copper foil in my papers from the Kaisercraft Secret bird paper pack I considered it the perfect chance to try using the copper Tonertex Foils myself.

Speaking of SCACD- they will be back open again this week, January 31, as soon as Susana returns from CHA.  She has LOTS of cool new things up in the store in addition to all the fabulous things she always makes available.  I can't wait to see what she found!!!


Challenges:
Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes
Creative Craft World - Cute and Cuddly 
Mojo Monday #175 - Sketch
Stamps R Us #13- Animals
Critter Sketch #49 - Distressing & a Circle
Craft Your Passion #42 - Two Patterned Papers
Simon Says - Animal Antics
Tuesday Throwdown #33 - Distressing
Fuzzy Wuzzy #5 - Animal and anything goes

Get Inky!

Alex

Alex - the Valentine's Day gal

If you remember, Stamp It Crazy introduced a wonderful gal for New Years and I was hoping that it would become a series because it was so lovely.  Well, Barb, decided to do just that and today I get to share the Valentine's Day gal.  Introducing Alex!  I know!  Pretty awesome right?

So, for your chance to win this image for your very own, enter the challenge this week on the Stamp It Crazy Blog!

Challenges:
Stamp It Crazy -  Colors to USE:  RED, PINK, BLACK & Ribbon
Cupcake Inspiration #95- Cupcake here
Zoe's Craft #8 - Love is in the air
Scrap Creations- Red, White, Black
Stampavie #126- Love

Get Inky!

Alex

Happy Birthday Lynette

Lynette is the amazing, kind, creative, and just plain fabulous owner of Sweet Pea Stamps.  In honor of her birthday, she has decided to give everyone else the presents!!!  Can you believe it?

1- What a deal!-

Through January 28th, place any size order and you can purchase 'It's My Birthday' for only $1.

One per person. Details on website.

2-  Lynette has sent the DT all a bunch of images to give away as blog candy!!

So- first visit the various DT blogs and see what they have to give and enter their's.  Then, link here below for your chance to win one of mine!

Angela Sowell
Christine Riley
Connie Piotter
Holley Barnhart
Jennifer Willis
Karina Lange
Katarina Maserak
Kym Kreates
Lisa Cook
Micki Harper
Randi Wall

I am giving away 5 different packages with 4 images in each.  These are assorted images, but trust me, they are ALL yummy!  If you don't have a blog to link to, email me, and I will add you in to win!

The random draw for winners will be held on February 6th!

Get Inky!

Alex

Got Flowers?

Is it possible to have too many flowers?  I do not think so!!!  I have found that with a bit of creativity, flowers can be used on pretty much any project.  However, that level of creativity is not required for me this week.  The challenge at Fairy Knoll Challenges is Flowers.  I used Flora which makes it super simple since she is holding flowers.  I also added some flowers to the card front and a sentiment in the top corner.  Looking forward to seeing what you create this week!!

Challenges:
Fairy Knoll - Flowers
Oh Alice  / The Altered Alice - Hello or Goodbye
Do You Stack Up #4- Patterned Paper
Die Cut Deams #81- Use a Digi & Rubber Stamp Together
Tip Top Tuesday #19 - Fabulous Flowers

Get Inky!

Alex

Delicious Doodles Blog Hop

I am so excited today to get to participate in this FABULOUS hop.  I really hope that you are checking out the amazing creations being shared.  For a special treat, the Delicious Doodles images are being shown off by the Smeared & Smudged DT.  I think it is so fun to see different company DTs work with each others images!!

I used the image Zebras of the mom and baby.   I love this image, it just makes my heart go 'awwwwwwwwwwwwww'.

I know, it isn't quite what you have come to expect from the Smeared & Smudged style, but I was in an 'awwwwwwwwwww' kind of mood.  The great thing about Delicious Doodles, there is so much variety, it matches ANY mood!

Don't forget to participate in their challenges for a chance to win some of the Delicious Doodles images.


Here is the list of hop participants.  Make certain you check ALL of them out and then, go shopping at Delicious Doodles!

Teri
Kelli
Terra
Tori
Alison
Black Dragon
Lady Brayton
Meredith
Kapree
Lisa

Alex

Get Inky!

Alex

Being Still

There are times when I find I have to just STOP and be still for a moment.  Things are so busy that I sometimes forget to see what is around me and enjoy it.  Peachy Pink Fairy by ching chou kuik reminds me of that.  To be still and enjoy.

She looks just so relaxed and peaceful.  Maybe even a daydream or two is happening.  Or perhaps she is watching some ladybugs playing or a hummingbird feeding on a flower across the way.

Like any good fairy though, she does have beautiful shimmery wings of her own and is a stunning beauty.

What do you think she is doing?

Challenges:
Magical Monday #14 - Flowers
Gingerloft #10 - Things that fly
Lets Ink It Up #8 - no digi &  anything goes
Quirky Crafts #2- Spring Garden, have pink, green & image
CES #20 - Angels & Fairies
Totally Gorjuss #64 - Hot colors

Get Inky!

Alex

Delicious Doodles Fairy

Delicious Doodles has a huge variety of images.  I can hardly imagine that there isn't truly something for everyone.  I, especially love the fairy and dragon images, but there are lots of others I love as well.  However, when asked to make a get well or cheer up type card, I immediately grabbed the Fairy image because fairies make me happy.

Do you see all the sparkle?  It is more difficult to capture in a picture than you would think.  I just knew I needed to find a way though because sparkle makes me smile too!!  I love how easy this image is to color.  Plenty of detail without lots of teeny tiny elements.

The background paper is from Dovecraft and some I have been hoarding saving for something special.  If you would like to WIN an image from Delicious Doodles, you have a chance every week by participating in their challenge blog.  The winner is selected randomly so everyone has a chance.  Play along!

Get Inky!

Alex

A little bit of chocolate

This week at Fairy Knoll the challenge is CHOCOLATE. What is more chocolate the yummy chocolate browns and the Bittersweet pattern paper?

This is one of the new release Fairy Knoll images called Love Dust Fairy.  Don't you love her styling boots?

Challenges:
Do You Stack Up #3 - Pink
Basic Grey Challenges #35 - Dots and Spots
Freshly Brewed #31 - Spread some love
Stampin' Royalty #55 - Anything with wings
Tuesday Throwdown #32 - Valentine

Gone Fishing

I am the mom of two sons, no daughters.  I find that there are many adorable little girls as stamp images, but many less cute boys.  This one, is one I really love though.  It is called Gone Fishing and is drawn by Elisabeth Bell exclusively for SCACD.  It is part of the Sampler Edition 5 set.

I first stamped the image on some of the solid paper in the Pink Paislee Queen Bee paper pack (currently on sale!).  I then shaded/colored it with my warm grey markers.  The striped, polka dot and solid dark grey paper are all from the Pink Paislee Queen Bee paper pack as well.  These paper packs make is super easy to coordinate papers and I LOVE that!!  No digging around looking for something that matches, getting it all made up and then seeing it natural light and realizing it doesn't really match.

So- think spring for some fishing opportunities and if you are looking for some fabulous boy stamp images, Susana at SCACD has several!

There are also some wonderful new products in the store to check out.  Like this, this and THIS!

Get Inky!

Alex

Smeared Ink - NEW RELEASE HOP!!!

Smeared Ink is having a fabulous release of several digi sets in plenty of time for Valentine's Day creations, Smeared Ink Style.  I am thrilled to get to be part of the hop to introduce these images to you.  I got to play with on of the Grumpies!

So- is there anything about a Grumpie that screams all butterflies and rainbows to you?  Me either.  That is why this is so perfect!  This Grumpie certainly looks less than thrilled to be playing Cupid and I felt it only fitting to put him in the appropriate 'atmosphere'.  It just makes me giggle.

I used some blue Flower Soft for his fuzzy eyebrows and wings.  He was in need of some texture to help his mood.  I'm sure that once he finishes up he will feel better.

Now, be certain to check out all the wonderful creations by the Smeared Ink Design Team with these new releases.  Once you have your head full of wonderful ways to use them all, hop on over to Smeared Ink and pick them up!

Terra
Tori
Alison
Black Dragon
Lady Brayton
Meredith
Kapree
Lisa
Alex

Get Inky!

Alex

Thank you

This is the week for a "Thank You" themed  Fun at Fairy Knoll Challenge.  There are some wonderful new images again this week that you simply must see.  I decided to use one of them, Have a Heart, and turn my thank you card into a Valentine's Day, or any day, card.

I hope you decide to play with us this week at Fairy Knoll and link your entry HERE.  Be certain to check out the inspiration from the rest of the DT as well.  There is some pretty fantastic stuff for you to see!

Challenge Blog

Alex- me

Audrey

Brandi

Claire

Georgia

Shelley

Tammylee this is her last week with us :(

Get Inky!
Alex

Little Acorn

This is a cutie called Little Acorn drawn by Victoria Case exclusively for SCACD. 

.

After coloring her, I went looking for some paper to match and found this fabulous Basic Grey in my stash just begging to be used.  I grabbed the sketch from Friday Sketchers this week and set to work.

The fun flower actually started out as a plain white one.  Nothing a little Smooch in Pink Sparkle followed by some Shimmerz in Silver to tone it down can't fix.  Give it a shot!  Nothing says fun like customizing your embellishments.  I promise!!

Get Inky!

Alex

Merdragon

Previously I got to share an image from Sweet Pea Stamps that combined my love of fairies and dragons.  Today I get to share a MERDRAGON!  How awesome is that?

Isn't he just the sweetest?  It looks to me like he wants nothing more than to play with those fish, but is hiding because they will run away scared.  If you are a dragon lover, you really need to check out all of the ones drawn by Lisa Victoria for Sweet Pea Stamps.  She has a talent for making them very expressive and I just adore her images!

Get Inky!

Alex

Introducing Tinker

Last week, much to my hubby's disappointment, we added a new member to our family.  This is Tinker.

Tinker was a resident at our local Humane Society.  She is two years old and an even deeper ginger than she looks in this photo.  The first couple of days were a bit difficult.  She was very loving and all, but LOUD!  Hubby pointed out that he thought she was in heat.  WAIT, all the paperwork and the longstanding policy at the Humane Society said spayed.  So, I took Tinker back on Saturday terrified that it was a botched job and we were going to have to get a different cat.  Well, the bad news was that yep, our spayed cat was definitely in heat.  Good news, our spayed cat was not spayed!  They kept Tinker and 'fixed' that little problem.  I picked her up again yesterday, a bit out of it and less than thrilled with the world, but ready to live with us always.

So what do you think?  Is she just strange enough to fit perfectly into this family?  

For those of you concerned about Edgar, he is fine and right now Tinker is so out of it that it is a great opportunity for him to show her 'who is boss'.  That is what he is telling me anyway.  He also asked me to make certain he didn't get weighed down with glitter again, 'just to be safe'.

Get Inky!

Alex

How are your 10 minutes a day?

How are you doing with spending 10 minutes a day in your Art Journal?  Remember this?

How am I doing?  Actually pretty well.  The main thing was reminding myself it was about doing something every day, not finishing something every day and giving myself permission to jump around as part of the process.  I am also learning that there is a pretty good chance I will not share the majority of my completed pages.  Some I will though.  Here is one from last week that I finished.

Pretty basic, but exactly what I needed and wanted on that day.

Get Inky!

Alex

All that glitters...

is gorgeous!  Actually, All That Glitters is the challenge for the 32nd - WAIT 32?!?!?!? - Fun at Fairy Knoll Challenge.  There are some wonderful new images again this week that you simply must see.  Blowing Kisses is perfect for Valentine's Day.  As is the image I used today and she is a FREEBIE!

There is glitter on her wings and heart and that fun and funky background paper from the Kaisercraft Hippy Girl collection has glitter in it too!

I hope you decide to play with us this week at Fairy Knoll and link your entry HERE.  Be certain to check out the inspiration from the rest of the DT as well.  There is some pretty fantastic stuff for you to see!

Challenge Blog

Alex- me

Audrey

Brandi

Claire

Danielle

Georgia

Shelley

Tammylee

 

Get Inky!
Alex

Rose Petal

Is this not one of the most precious baby images you have ever seen?  So sweet and adorable.  It is called Rose Petal and she is one of the exclusive to SCACD images drawn by Elisabeth Bell.  She is in the Fall Sampler Edition.

I stamped her with Momento Ink and then colored her in with markers.  The butterfly is from Petaloo and I used the Viva Decor hologram glitter liner on the edge and on the rose.  The leaves are Viva Decor peridot glitter liner.  I used Bella Baubles string of pearls for the finishing touch.

So- crafty tip for the day...
LET THINGS DRY BEFORE YOU TOUCH/MOVE THEM!!!

Oh well, I still think it is a beautiful image and still love the end result.

Hope your crafting today is filled with fast drying elements!

Get Inky!

Alex

Fairies Little Companion

A fairy AND a dragon in one image?  Impossible to go wrong with this one!!!  It is drawn by ching chou kuik and called Fairie's Little Companion.  I fell in love with it immediately and now I have colored and created with it I love it even more.

After coloring I added plenty of stickles for the scales on the dragon and wings on the fairy and jewel in her headband and on her dress.  That perfect for this card gold ribbon was tied to something at Christmas and I knew it shouldn't be thrown away.  - See Edgar- I have learned since the google eyes!

Challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday #136 - open with a fairy, butterfly or angel
My Time to Craft #122- Up in the Air
Craft You Passion #39 - Anything Goes
Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

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

Art Journal EVERY DAY!!

I was linked up to this by Nicole and I am sooooooooooooo signed up.  10 minutes a day?  I can do that.  And if one day I don't, that is OK.  I will do it the next day.  I just know that if I do something crafty every single day, I tend to get more crafty and have better mojo.  No pressure to actually finish it each day, just work on it.  YES!!  I did my work today even.  Just because I missed yesterday doesn't mean I miss today.

Join me!

Get Inky!

Alex

100 Things....

Several years ago, long before The Bucket List, I read a fascinating article about a lady who had retired and was wondering 'what now?'.  Her solution was to create a list of 100 things she wanted to do before she died.  This list included big things like learning Latin. and little things like planting a cutting flower garden in her backyard.  At the time of the article, 20 years after she made the list, she had completed some outrageous number, like 83, of them.


I LOVED the idea and often tell people 'that is on my 100 things list' during discussions.  However, I don't really have an actual list.  I decided it was time to do so and have created this book to do so. 

 

I know, it isn't fancy, but it is very 'me' and I LOVE it!!!  I started by cutting a bunch of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock into quarter sheets.  I then trimmed some cardboard to a 1/4 inch larger on all sides.  Yep, plain old off the side of a box cardboard.  Then I did a messy/grunge type paint job with this AMAZING new Glamour Dust Ultra Fine Glitter Paint. I got my hands on from SCACD.  Yes, there is glitter IN THE PAINT!  Also, it goes on more like a glaze in the color and the thicker you put it on the deeper the color.  

Then I worked on deciding how I wanted to put the -what this is- title on the book.  You can see that I did not have the appropriate chipboard numbers and letters needed.  Of course, that didn't stop me.  Have Xacto knife, will alter.  I then painted the chipboard a light pink. 

Here is a better picture to see the glimmer from the paint.  You can also see where I used the Prima swirl stamps and the Viva Decor precious metal paint in silver to stamp the cover and the chipboard.

The inside of the cover has one of the quarter sheets of cardstock glued to it that I first painted with the pink and also stamped with the Prima swirl stamps and the Viva Decor precious metal paint in silver that I used on the front.  Everything is held together with a 2 inch binder ring.  My plan is to list one thing per page.  After I have completed the item I will write about the experience and the date completed on the back of the page.


So- what are some of your-----

Get Inky!

Alex

Smeared and Smudged Book It Challenge

The Smeared and Smudged forum has several challenges available to participate in each month.  This month I got to create one of them!  I decided that the challenge would be to create a book.  Any kind of book, accordion fold, star, bound, ANYTHING!  The only rule is that it must have stamping included someplace.

For my book I decided to make one to hold all of my 'to do' items that never seem to make the daily to do list.  Things like when I tell someone I will send them the pack of rub ons I'll never use, or when I want to drop someone a note because I haven't talked to them in a while, or even when I need to make an appt. to have 'the girls' checked.  Those are the things that tend to slip through the cracks, but to me they are often the things that are most important.

Here is what I ended up with!

I used the Grumpie with the cape (because sometimes I think I am superwoman and can do it all) from the Creepy Li'l Grumpies set by Smeared Ink and the word stamps "suck it up" and "so excuses" from the original Li'l Grumpies set.  Purple is my favorite color so I used my purple inks.

I used some glimmer mists on the lace, but it didn't take quite like I had hoped so I also grabbed the stickles and added some to the flower parts of the lace.

It is filled with 4x6 index cards.  I couldn't find unlined so I put the lined ones in backwards because I prefer to write on unlined surfaces for things like this (so no, the picture is not upside down). It is bound with binder rings and I used cardboard for the cover.  I know it isn't fancy, but actually, that is what I like about it.  It is something I can USE and not worry about ruining it.

I also would love for you to check out the Li'l Book of Creepies made by Tori.  It is an accordion book and I loooooooooooooove it!

I hope you will join us for the challenge this month.  I am really looking forward to the variety of things people make and I know I will be creating more this month as well.

Get Inky!

Alex