Monday, February 28, 2011

Dance to the Music - Some Odd Girl Challenge and BLOG CANDY!!!

Hi ya everyone,
  So if you haven't yet - please don't forget to leave a comment under the giveaway post found HERE.  I only have 25 comments so far!  This is your chance to WIN $25 of free product!  So don't forget!!!  
 I was so hoping to squeeze time for this card and I did it!!  I love the challenges at Some Odd Girl.  This week it's make your own embellishments.  So I chose this adorable image called Dancin Mae - you can find her right HERE at Some Odd Girl (OH they are also having a new release tomorrow and I CAN'T WAIT to SHOP!  I colored her in my Copics. 
After I colored the background I went over the blue with my colorless blender for clouds then added a bit of Zig glue and Martha Stewart Crystal fine glitter.  I also took my white gelly role and dotted the cheeks and whitened the ear buds of her mp3.
Since the challenge at SOG is to add your own homemade embellishments I made these little flowers using a small flower punch and some cinnamon colored pearls.  All my papers are from an AMAZING stack called Walk In The Park by Echo Park!!! GORGEOUS!  I also made these little music notes using white pearls and my gelly role pen.
On the maroon Echo Park paper I used my Martha Steward border punch to make a little flower border before adding my matching ribbon.
I layered all my papers and used my oval nestable and oval scalloped nestable for Mae.  This was a quick card because I really wanted to enter it into the challenge this week!
If you get time head over to the Some Odd Girl challenge blog and join the fun!!  Love their design team they are so inspirational!!!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

BFB Award

Hi ya everyone!
  I am so proud to share with you this wonderful blog award that Cricut Couple made and gave out to bloggers who joined in the blog hop All That Glitters and For The Love of Everyone.  Bobby and Jill, the team that make the Cricut Couple, are fabulous designers.  Their cards are nothing short of spectacular.  You must stop by their blog and see how wonderful - CLICK HERE.  The whole group of bloggers that participated in these hops were amazing!  Everyone and I mean everyone, worked around family, Christmas, Valentine's Day, illness, to be a part of this group and I owe each of them a HUGE thank you for their wonderful talent and commitment!!!  We had so much fun!  Now, Bobby and Jill have asked each of us to pass on this award to one blogger that we consider a BFB.  This is pretty difficult for me as I have so many wonderful friends through blogging and honestly, most of those received the awards from Bobby and Jill.  So I'd like to share the love and pass this on to:
Anita of Just A Pigment of My Imagination - I know Anita through her work at the Meljen's Design Team.  Her creations are fantastic.  I love her coloring and her choice of papers to match her images are just too perfect.  Anita ALWAYS has a kind word to say and is very helpful in sharing some of her secrets!  She truly inspires me everyday!  So thanks Anita and don't forget to pass on the love!!!
Hugs!
Also, don't forget to check out my blog candy giveaway!!!  $25 to My Sheri Crafts!!!!  Click on the sidebar gadget for details!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Smile - Tiddly Inks Fabulous Friday

Hi ya everyone!!! It's time for another Fabulous Inky Friday!  I didn't post this on the main blog because there are just too many wonderful creations to share with everyone over there...but you have to check it out by clicking HERE.  I decided to make a fun little card using some new Copics I recently won at our local scrap and stamp place here in Oregon.  I first colored this wonderful image appropriately called Walk The Dogs from Tiddly Inks - ONLY $2 by the way!
I cut the image out with my paper trimmer and then added all the matching dots with my Copics...I love this effect.  I then used my Tim Holtz Black Soot ink and distressed the edges a bit.  Which leads me to entering this card in the challenge for Whimsical Wednesdays at Always Crafting!  Love their challenges and thought it would be fun to enter!
Next, I took a number of paper from one of my favorite DCWV stack Black Current and layered them.  I used a satin black ribbon to run along the bottom.  I then stamped this very cute sentiment "You make me Smile all over my Face" from Inkadinkadoo stamps with my Versafine Black ink.
I added a little satin bow and then a line of black gems.  I got the giggles after finishing this card...I'm not so sure the sentiment actually goes with the image since she doesn't have a smile...but don't pets do that for us - make us smile all over our face!?
Have a great weekend and don't forget about my BLOG GIVEAWAY for reaching 250+ members!
More Challenges:
Aud Sentiments - Trendy sayings
DYSU - Anything Goes


Thursday, February 24, 2011

250 Followers - A Celebration with some CANDY!!! WOO HOO

Hi ya everyone!
  Well I reached 250 followers and am celebrating with some Blog Candy!  I am so thankful to have you all as followers!  Your comments help inspire me to create everyday.  I am so happy to have started this journey and will continue to be thankful for my followers!!  Now on to the CANDY...
The best part of this candy is it's a YOUR CHOICE - I purchased a $25 gift certificate to one of my favorite places to shop for everything crafty - My Sheri CRAFTS.  What does this mean for you - well you get the code for this gift certificate and can go purchase anything you would like.  I was only going to give a $20 one but decided on the $25 to help cover those shipping costs!  So you will get to SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPP - and let's be honest - what crafter doesn't like to SHOP!!!






Sheri has everything you could want too - nestables, Inkadinkadoo clear stamps, an ATG (ONLY $19 - I have this one and LOVE it), and much more.  So head over to her store check out the merchandise and tell me your favorite item in the store under this posts comments.  I WOULD love you to tell your friends about my giveaway too!  So again this is what you have to do:
1) Be a follower - since this IS a prize for my followers
2) Tell me what you'd buy from My Sheri CRAFTS in the comment section of THIS post!
It's that easy!!! Only those who do these two things will be qualified to win!!!  I will do a random drawing one week from today - March 3rd!  Good Luck!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!
***Please NOTE - Sheri can order most products if they are not listed in her store OR if it's out of stock!!!!  So pretty much anything goes!!!!!!! She is AMAZING at customer service - my hubby even contacted her so he could get me a few things and she helped him with everything!!!***

Noah ATC - Meljen's Design

Hi ya everyone!!!
  It's Thursday!  One of my favorite days of the week because it's release day at Meljen's Design!!  This set is so super cute and you will want each one!  Check out this adorable Noah's Ark set:
I'll wait while you head over to Whimsy Stamps to buy the set =) - I'm patient like that!  LOL
I really had a hard time choosing which images to use for our challenge at Meljen's this week - Artist Trading Cards.  But I settled on Little Noah and Noah's Ark (can be found here) for one and will hopefully have time to create more using the other animals because man are they cute!!  ATC's are 2.5 x 3.5 cards that are supposed to highlight your talents as an artist - they are meant to show off your skills!!  Well - I'm not sure what my skills are so I colored Noah in Copics and paper pieced the ark.   I used paper from a Cosmo Cricket Stack.  I also used my nestable to cut an oval for the background.
In the end I wanted to add some little rain drops but found NONE in my stash (*note to self  buy more stuff*)  so I settled on these sweet little rhinestones!  Head over to Meljen's Design Challenge Blog and join the fun - ATC cards!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Don't Worry Bee Happy - Crafty Creations Challenge

Hi ya everyone!
  This week at Crafty Creations we are asking our participants to create a card using the theme "Down at the bottom of my garden lives..."  We have a wonderful sponsor this week - Delicious Doodles.  This image was donated for the DT.  Isn't he just so cute!!??  I colored him with my Copics, added a bit of white gelly pen and computer generated the sentiment.
After printing my image with the circle sentiment I cut the image out with my circle nestables.  I also cut out a scalloped circle in some pink from my Cosmo Cricket paper.  I did a ton of stitching on this card and used a number of floral papers from a Cosmo Cricket 6x6 stack!  I also used my new and GORGEOUS crinkle ribbon from The Prairie Bird Boutique.  I added some stitching to the center of the ribbon too.
I used a cute little flower punch that hubby had picked up for me a while ago to make these cute little flowers.  I added tiny pearls to the center and then a large pearl to the bow.
I love the colors in this card.  It feels so spring - and right now we could all use a bit of warm!!!  So join our Crafty Creations Challenge this week and show us what lives at the bottom of your garden!

Shake It Up Baby - Tiddly Inks Challenge

Hi ya everyone!!!
  This week at the Tiddly Inks Challenge blog we are asking you to make a shaker card that has hearts somewhere on the card.  Meredith has an awesome tutorial on the blog too if you've never made one!  I decided to make mine a bit different and cut out the little cupcake tops to fill with glitter.  First, I printed my image twice - once on white paper (to color) and once on transparency to put behind once I cut out the cupcake tops.  I did this with a straight edge after I colored my Tiddly Ink stamp - Cherry Bugg - in Copics.
Next, I took some Basic Grey paper and cut it out with my Scalloped Circle Nestabilities.  I adhered my transparency to the back of Bugg and then fussy cut her out.  I then glued her to the pink scalloped circle and then carefully re-cut the cupcake tops.
 Next I lined the back with square foam and filled with glitter.  Lastly, I adhered this to the bottom Basic Grey paper, added a bit of white crinkle ribbon and stamped Happy Birthday.
 Since this challenge is to make a shaker and to add hearts, I took a few rub-ons and added a few red and pink hearts around the image!  Head over to Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog and join this week's challenge!  Remember to use a Tiddly image to qualify for prizes - you'll find lots of freebies in the Tiddly Ink shop!
There are some adorable cute images that Christy just posted in the Tiddly Inks shop too - here's a peek!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Forever Love - Masking Technique


Hi ya everyone! - I'm sharing a special little tutorial with you today at She's A Sassy Lady.  Thanks to the ever so sweet and talented Sheila for allowing me to take up her space!  This is really a simple little card but I love the technique of using Masking Fluid to protect certain elements of an image or page to allow some extra dimension.  This is just one way of using Masking Fluid but I'm sure your imagination will run wild with possibilities!
First, I started out with this ever so sweet Tiddly Ink digital image called Valentine Bugg.  I printed her and now I am using my Circle Nestable to cut her out.  Nestables are just wonderful for cutting out images because you can see the image right through the die cut.  I tape the circle around the image, carefully placing her in the middle.
Next, I place my A plate and C plate in the Cuddlebug layered as follows.
I flip the Nestable so the cutting piece is up and my image is face down.  You can no longer see the nestable but the tape is ensuring that the image remains in the middle.
I carefully place a B plate on top and run through the CuddleBug.
Next, I emboss the edges by placing the A plate down and my nestable with the cut out still inside.  I use my rubber embossing mat and three sheets of thick cardstock and TWO B plates.  I run this through my CuddleBug and get a very nice embossed edge.
Next, I take Masking Fluid and a paint brush and cover the entire image with the fluid.  A little goes a long way and you will be able to see what is covered.
After the image is entirely coated I rinse my brush in water.  Do this immediately to save your brush quality.  It rinses very easily if done right away.  Allow your image to dry.  This might take a bit of time - 10 minutes or so depending on the size of your image. 
I chose faded jeans Distress Ink by Tim Holtz and work in a circular pattern starting on my craft mat and working over the edges of my image.
Next, I chose a pink Tim Holtz ink called Worn Lipstick and a q-tip and color in the tiny heart as I did not mask this.
After the inking is dry I slowly peel off my masking fluid.  This can be done with an eraser or simply your finger.  Here you can see the fluid peeling away - be very careful - it can tear your paper.
I then colored my image with my Copic Markers.
I set this aside and used my Gypsy to cut out a heart shaped card.  I used Nifty Fifties for the Love font and you can choose any heart from a cartridge - I used George and Basic Shapes.
You can see that I welded the shadow of Love to the heart.  I also welded the letters in Love together to get one single cut.  I cut an additional heart too for a top layer and the regular letters of the word love.
UH OH - here I made a big mistake.  I wanted my card to fit in a 5x5 envelope.  As you can see my image is too big to fit on the heart.  
So a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do!!!
I cut her out removing all my inking!!  Well not all of it, the blue is still surrounding our sweet little Bugg and it looks as if she's floating in air.  Next, I adhere my heart to the card and I use pop dots to pop the love shadow off of my card.  Then I glue the letters to the popped love sentiment.
Then I run my Tiddly image through the Xyron and adhere her to my card.

I decide the card needs a little extra touch and I add a sentiment of forever using black ink.

Finally, I top my card off with a little doodle here and there and some of my favorite Stardust Stickles!

 And my card was finished!!!
I hope you enjoyed my tutorial on masking today.  Please feel free to ask questions and I always LOVE hearing your wonderful comments.  For more fun projects please visit Sheila's blog - She's A Sassy Lady!