Patriotic Me

I was feeling a little patriotic today.  With the 4th of July coming on Wednesday, I decided to create a couple of Independence Day cards.  Hope you like them!

I used a Simply B Stamp for this first card.  I just love these stamps!  Isn't she adorable with her little skullie skirt?  =D  Papers are from We R Memory Keepers (including the sentiment).  The rose is from Wild Orchids.

Challenges:

The Pink Elephant: Sketch

Crafty Sentiment: Red, White and Blue

Scrap Creations: 4th of July

Top Tip Tuesday: Independence Day or Stars & Stripes

Paper Pretties: Red, White and Blue

Cute Card Thursday: Patriotic

Craft Punked: American Independence Day

Outlawz Friday Copic/Promarker Party Challenge: Where in the World: Where You Live Now

Simply Challenged: Anything Goes with a Simply B Stamp

This second card I made with images from Happileigh Scrappin'.  The papers are, again, from We R Memory Keepers.  Flowers and jewels from my stash.  Colored with Copics, with Stickles added to the stars and hearts.

Challenges:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday: Sketch 

Paper Pretties Monday: Independence Day

Sweet Stamps: Patriotic or Summer

The Sisterhood of Crafters: Seeing Stars

Outlawz Tuesday Color Challenge Party: Colors of Your Country

Thanks so much for stopping by!  See you again soon!

Simply B Stamps Release Day

Hey y'all!  A few months ago I won a challenge over at Simply B Stamps. As my prize, I received a then-unreleased image to play with.  Not only that, but Betty asked if I would use it in a guest design for the official release!  After jumping up and down and squealing with glee for a bit, I recovered enough to tell her of course I would.  Well, that long-awaited day is here!  I am so excited to introduce you to Miss Rio Burton, the lastest in the new Burton Chibi release!

Isn't she just the cutest little thing?!?  I've already colored about 6 different versions of her, and I have been just DYING to show  you!  For this project, I decided to use her for a post-it note/scratch paper holder.  That way I can keep this creation near me as I craft. (I use a lot of scratch paper to plan my cards as I'm working.)  Miss Rio was colored using Copic Markers.  (I know you're just shocked. I NEVER use those. LOL)  My papers are all from various We R Memory Keepers paper packs.  (Actually, I'm not positive about the purple and brown diamond paper.  I think that's We R Memory Keepers, but I'll check later to make sure.) I stamped bats all over the blue paper to create a little more detail and interest.  The bats, skulls and spider stickers are all from my stash.

Well, thank you so very much for stopping by.  Now you should click on over to the Simply B Stamps blog to check out the amazing creations by the DT.  Their work is so incredible, you won't want to miss it!  Have you seen the rest of this fabulous release so far?  Not yet?  You can also find that at the Simply B Stamps Blog.  They're just the most fabulous little things!

Challenges

Beyond the Burtonesque Dolls: Alter It!

Catch the Bug: March Anything Goes

Christmas Cards, Boxes and Tags

**WARNING - Picture Heavy Post**

Hey y'all!  I'm writing a quick post to show off my last few Christmas cards and presents! I swear they were handed out on time, just posted late. LOL

This adorable image is Little Dancer 2 from A Day for Daisies. She was colored with Copics, and Stickles were added to the red trim.  Papers are scrap pieces from DCWV, brads are from my stash. Oval shape is from my Nestabilities, and the strips were punched on each end with a circle to give it the flag look.

Challenges:

A Day for Daisies: Anything Goes

PaperPlay: Christmas

Pollycraft: Punch It

Sketch 'n' Stash: Sketch

The Play Date Cafe: Photo Inspiration

For this card I used Old World Santa from Bugaboo.  Isn't he adorable?!?  He was colored with Copics. Papers are from DCWV, large snowflakes are punches from Martha Stewart; ribbon, gems and little snowflakes from my stash.  Sentiment from Hero Arts.

Challenges:

Cute Card Thursday: Sketch

These boxes were created with my Martha Stewart Scoreboard.  Papers are from Stampin' Up.  Ribbon from Michaels.  The adorable snowman and mouse image is from Spyder's Corner. (Thanks, Diane!!)  I colored the image with Copics. (Also, I forgot to take a picture before signing the boxes!  Whoops!)

Challenges:

My Time to Craft: Winter Pals

These boxes were also created using my Martha Stewart Scoreboard.  Papers from DCWV.  Images from Simply B Stamps, colored with Copics.  Ribbon from my stash.  (I learned from my earlier mistake and took the pictures FIRST.)  The second box was created for a Dude Time Doodles challenge...but I spent to much time relaxing instead of posting and am getting it posted one day past the deadline.  Whoops!

Challenges:

Crafty Catz: Santa's Hat (girl box)

Penny's Paper-Crafty: Holiday Gifts

This tag went on a bottle of wine for my Aunt.  The image and sentiment are from Wendy Made.  The holly on the top I drew myself.  Colored with Copics and Stickles.

Challenges:

CES Challenges: Party, Party, Party

Creatalicious: Purple, Green, Pink and White

Paper Sundaes: Celebrate

Pile it On!: Bling It Up!

Sweet Stampin: Sparkle and Bling

Totally Gorjuss: For Someone Special

This tag was for my Uncle, and went on a bottle of Captain Morgan's.  The sentiment is from one of my favorite Christmas songs by Jimmy Buffet.  The image was colored with Copics and distressed Stickles for the sand.  Paper, holly and ribbon from my stash.

This image is from Dilly Beans, and was created for the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog...but I missed the deadline.  Like I said...too much vacation.  (Or not enough?)  The image was colored with Copics, papers from DCWV, ribbon and gems from my stash and sentiment from Hero Arts.  Here's the sketch that inspired me: 

Challenges:

Charisma Cardz: Anything Goes

Digital Tuesday: Winter Wonderland

Do You Stack Up: Stripes

Scrapbook Sisters: Anything Goes

Paper Playtime: Anything Goes and Include a Sentiment

Bearly Mine: Anything Goes

Phew!  Thanks for sticking around...I'll have more cards to post shortly, and then stick around for something **really** fun! You won't want to miss it!

12 Days of Scary Christmas - Day 7

Hey y'all!  It's time for Day 7 over at Simply B's 12 Days of Scary Christmas.  This theme is...the shape of Christmas.  What does that mean?  A star?  A tree?  Are you kidding??  Of course not!  The team at Simply B want to see.....COFFINS!  That's right, coffins all decked out for Christmas!  (Well, I guess vampires have to celebrate the holidays, too....right?)  Betty even included a link to a fabulous treat box tutorial over at MarthaStewart.com.

Let me tell you...the tutorial was AWESOME!  It worked great, even my very first time!  I will definitely be making more of these....possibly for EVERY holiday. LOL  I usually give treat boxes to my coworkers for the holidays, and this one will be perfect!

I used the fabulous Vampiress Tilly.  I just love her sassy attitude!  I merged her with a great frame I found over at GraphicsFairy.com. The image was colored with Copics and Spica Markers.  Flowers and ribbon are from my stash.  Flowers started out white, then I colored them with my Copic.  the leaves are from a Sizzix die.  Papers from DCWV.

Well, I hope you like it!  If you have a chance, check out the tutorial and come play along!  The prize is a digi from a surprise, not yet released line.  I don't know what it's going to be.....but knowing Betty, I know it's going to be fabulous!  =D

Thanks so much for stopping by.  See you soon!

Challenges:

Simply B Stamps: 12 Days of Scary Christmas - Day 7: Coffins

Cute Card Thursday: Stripes

Top Tip Tuesday: Gift

Fairytale Challenge Blog: Gift/Gift Box

Wags 'n Whiskers: Fancy Folds

The Crazy Challenge: More Than One Fold

A Couple More Cards

Hi again!!  Be warned...this is kind of a long post.  Have patience!  =D

My first project was primarily made for the Simply Betty Stamps 12 Days of Scary Christmas.  These challenges  happen so quick...I ended up missing Day 5.  BUT, today is another day, and I'm ready to play along with Day 6 which is............................Scary Bells!  Now, if you didn't see my Day 4 post from a couple of days ago, you might not know that Betty has been rewriting some classic Christmas carols, turning them into Christmas scarols for inspiration!!  They are hilarious!  At least I think they are, so I'm going to share the words to Scary Bells with you.  Everyone sing along.......

"Crashing through the night,

With a horrid mangling sound,

Clang each heart with fright,

To terrorize the town.

Bells from belfries ring,

Making spirits rise,

The freaky tones like voices moan throughout the midnight skies!

Oh!

Scary bells, scary bells,

Ring your ghostly call,

Oh what fun it is to scream and terrorize us all. Ah!

Scary bells, scary bells,

With your manic sound,

When you toll the spirits roll from six feet underground!

A day or two ago,

I thought I'd take a ride,

To see the mansion sights,

To see what was inside.

My horse began to rear,

The scary bells did clang,

I fell into an open grave to cheer myself I sang...

Scary bells, scary bells,

Ring your ghostly call,

Oh what fun it is to scream and terrorize us all. Ah!

Scary bells, scary bells,

With your manic sound,

When you toll the spirits roll from six feet underground!"

So what do you think?  Inspiring, yes?  Here's my card:

As you can see, I was inspired by quite a few things in the song.  =D  For images I've used Devina Digi from Simply Betty Stamps, Christmas Bells from Bits N Bobs (including the one I superimposed on the brougham), Brougham is from Arthur's Clip Art, and the graveyard scene is from Andy Bauer at The Digi Street.  I wish you could see the bottoms of Devina and the Brougham...I did a TON of fussy cutting, not realizing no one would ever see it. LOL Oh well!  Good practice I suppose.  The images were all colored with Copics.  You can't tell from the picture, but Devina and the graveyard are popped up with pop dots for added dimension.

Papers are from DCWV (trees) and Stampin' Up (red...thanks Jenn!).  The sentiment was created by me, and edged with Momento Ink in London Fog.  (I guess I was in a East Coast frame of mind.  I tried thinking of a sentiment, and all that kept running through my head was "wicked cool".  So....I figured I'd go with it. LOL)  Ghosties are from my stash, part of a blog candy I won ages ago.

Challenges:

Simply Betty Stamps: Day 6 - Scary Bells

Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes

Here's my second card:

This is my first (and unfortunately only) card for the 8th round of the Progressive Challenge over at Crafters Digital Art Center (CDAC).  The theme is....Animals Hold Our Hearts!  They really do hold mine.  Except birds.  I really can't stand birds, but this image by....BAH!  Ok, the image is by Sugar Creek Hollow, and what I was going to say is that birds just creep my out, they always have, but this image was too cute not to use.  As I was going to CDAC to verify the artist, I realized that this is actually an image from the *7th* round.  Whoops!  Guess this card actually ***isn't*** for the CDAC challenge.  That will be coming tomorrow night, after work. LOL  Well, anyway.  I colored the image with Copics.  Papers are from DCWV.  The tag is from Dana's Inspirations.  Ribbon is from my stash, and the stars are from Stampin' Up.

Challenges:

Paper Pretties: Use Ribbon

Craft Your Passion: Tag You're It

Tuesday Throwdown: For Someone Special (my hubby)

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days: Tags

Bee Crafty: Christmas

Ok, that's it for now!  Sorry for the long post...thanks for sticking with me, and thanks for stopping by!  We'll see you tomorrow.  =D

12 Days of Scary Christmas - Day 4

Hey y'all!  If you haven't heard, Simply Betty Stamps is challenging their followers to do the 12 Days of Scary Christmas.  Due to illness and being *super* busy at work, I missed the first three days.  However....I'm ready to play along with day 4!

Betty has a fabulous Christmas Scarol (snort!) to inspire us.  Be prepared...it's a bit long, but it's just too cool not to post the whole thing.

Wreck the Halls
"Wreck the Halls with bones and spiders
Fa la la la la la la la la
'Tis the season for Ghost Riders

Fa la la la la la la la la

Don we now scary apparel

Fa la la la la la la la la

Dress up like Lock, Shock and Barrel

Fa la la la la la la la la

Join the chaos strike the harp

Fa la la la la la la la la

Ouch the wreaths are really sharp

Fa la la la la la la la la

If they eat you it's their pleasure

Fa la la la la la la la la

You'll become their Yule tide treasure

Fa la la la la la la la la

Wreck the halls with rats and roaches

Fa la la la la la la la la

Hurry, Christmas Eve approaches!

Fa la la la la la la la la

Drape them all be dark and thrilling

Fa la la la la la la la la

Look their lovely ooze is dripping

Fa la la la la la la la la

Try a taste of poison toddy

Fa la la la la la la la la

Leave a gift, leave us your body

Fa la la la la la la la la

Dig a grave then dig it deeper

Fa la la la la la la la la

Leave a present for the reaper

Fa la la la la la la la la....la la la la!!!"

How awesome is that?!?  Love it!  Here's my interpretation of "Wreck the Halls"...

I used Betty's image Spider Queen London.  I just love her!  The fireplace image I found on a public domain clip art site.  The stockings on the fireplace I created myself.  I used a blank Christmas stocking and a skull image that I placed all over the stocking.  Both the stocking and skull were also from the public domain clip art site.  Both images were colored with Copics and accented with Stickles.  The papers are from DCWV, the ribbon is from Michael's craft stores, and the little skulls are from a blog candy I won ages ago.  The sentiment on the front of the card is actually part of a bit by one of my favorite comics, Mitch Hedberg. He had a ton of fun one-liners, and this one totally seemed to fit.  The inside sentiment is my own.

I'm actually pretty happy with how this turned out.  I was ecstatic about the stockings...I just love the little skulls!

Ok, I'd chat more, but it's almost 4 am and I'm exhausted. I'll try to catch up more next post.

I am entering this card into the Simply Betty Wreck the Halls challenge, Forever Night's Freaky Friday Skelikinz Christmas challenge, and Dilly Beans Twisted Christmas challenge.  A side note to the Dilly Beaners....I checked the rules, and I didn't see one saying whether or not a Dilly Beans image had to be used.  If you actually do need to use a Dilly Beans image to participate in the challenges, I sincerely apologize.  Please feel free to remove me from the running.  Thanks!!  

Happy Monday!

Wow, it's been a while since I've done a Monday post!  Welcome to the new week!  =D

Well, today I am so excited and honored to tell you that I am a guest designer for the Critter Sketch Challenge Blog!  Woo hoo!  They're such a great challenge blog, and I'm very excited to have the chance to work with them.  

So, this week's challenge is to use three different pattern papers in your project.  This was actually a little hard for me...I generally don't mix a bunch of patterned papers.  However, I'm pretty happy with how this turned out!

The owl in tree image I found over at Public Domain Clipart.  Some of my followers might recognize the girl...it's Pipper, one of Simply Betty's Burton Weenies.  She's definitely one of my favorites!  =D  Both images were colored with Copics.  All three patterned papers are from my stash, so I don't exactly remember where they came from.  (Sorry!!)  The sentiment I created on Word, then colored with Copics to match Pipper's outfit.  The bats are from Martha Stewart.  The ribbon is from Michael's craft stores.

I really hope you'll hop over to the Critter Sketch Challenge Blog and play along!

On a side note...I had some more inspiration for this card.  It's the 12 Days of Halloween over at Simply Betty Stamps!!  Now, y'all know how much I love Halloween, so there's NO WAY I wouldn't be playing along.  This card is for the First Day of Halloween...

On the first day of Halloween my true love gave to me......an owl in a rotten oak tree!

Yep, I had to include an owl and a creepy tree in my card.

I really hope you liked it!  Thanks ever so much for stopping by.  Come back soon to see what's coming up for the rest of the 12 Days of Halloween....   =D

I Do Love That Spotlight...

**Post 2 for the day...To see the Digistamps 4 Joy post please scroll down**

Guess what!  Today I am extremely honored to be featured on Simply Betty Stamps Spotlight on You Wednesday. Squee!  I am just so excited.  =D  I really love Simply Betty Stamps...they are fun and quirky, just like me!  If you've never seen her stuff, please head over to the store and check them out.  There is something for everyone, and you will *definitely* not be disappointed!  

Now, I colored a number of images and was so prepared to create a brand new project for this feature.  Unfortunately....life caught up with me, and I wasn't able to finish in time.  =(  However...that means you get to see some of my favorite past projects, juuust in case you missed them the first go round.  =D

Here's one of my favorites:

I just love this Betty image.  Her adorable net skirt, the cute little skulls and bats on her umbrella..it's so much fun!!

Ok, well thanks so much for stopping by to visit.  If you want to see the rest of my spotlight cards, head on over to the Simpy Betty Stamps blog.  There have been a number of fabulous releases recently, so you'll definitely want to check out the stamps at the store!  Also, there are always fun challenges over at the Simply Betty Stamps Challenge Blog, so you might want to check that out as well.  =D

We'll be seeing you soon!

Go Team!

The Critter Sketch Challenge Blog has a fun sketch this week...

Cute, right?  Well, as soon as I saw it, I thought "cheerleader".  Something about pennants/flags always reminds me of cheerleading.  But, you know me...no cutsie preppy pink cheerleaders for me.  I remembered I had the perfect stamp from Simply Betty Stamps, and this is what I came up with:

Woo hoo!  Go Pirates!!  =D  I had a lot of fun with this.  I even tried to make little pom-poms!  The image was colored with Copics.  For the flags, I printed out the letters (using my Skull and Bones font) on blue cardstock, then punched the flags out using my Marvy Uchida punch.  I lined each flag with black marker, and then again with black Stickles.  The ribbon is from Michael's, the grey paper is from K & Company Elegance stack, and the blue polka dot paper is from We R Memory Keepers Spookville stack.

Well, thanks for stopping by!  I hope you liked it.  We'll see you again soon.

Critter Sketch Challenge Blog: Sketch #80

Simply Betty Challenges: Getting Sketchy With It

Cute Card Thursday: A Pinch & A Punch

Sparkles Forum Challenges: Punch It

Come to the Dark Side...

We have cookies.  =D I've always loved that quote.  Ok, now that I have your attention...

Are you a fan of Simply Betty Stamps?  You should be!  Betty has *fabulous* images in different styles.  Yes, most of what you see from her on my blog are the ones that are both creepy and cute (skulls *everywhere*!!)...'cause those are my favorite...but she also does really sweet images (like Jude and his crew) and some really fun ones (like the recent Christmas release). I promise!  You should go check her out.

You know what else you should do?  (LOL, sorry I'm being so bossy today...)  You should join the new Simply Betty Stamps group at Paper Craft Planet!  Why, you ask?  Well, besides being a group of AWESOME and funny girls, you could get a free image!  That's right...when the group reaches 500 members, Betty will give THIS image as a freebie!

Squee!!  Is she not adorable?!?  Look at her cute little kitty...and her fun little doll..and all the pretty pretty skulls...  LOL 

Ok, so I hope you join the group!  We're going to have a blast, and I'd love to see you there...

Thanks for stopping by, and we'll see you soon!

Happy Halloween! Wait...What Month Is It?

If you know me, you know that I loooove Halloween.  For me it's never too early to start getting ready.  My friends and I are already planning our costumes. =D  Every Halloween and Christmas I like to make little treats for my coworkers.  (There's only 6 of them in my department, so it doesn't take too long. LOL)  I decided to get a head start this year, and now I'm finished with the Halloween ones!  They're just waiting to be filled with candy.  (Mmmm...Halloween candy is the BEST!)

I used a Sizzix box die and my Big Shot (looove it, thanks ma!).  It took a few tries before I figured out the correct way to fold and glue them shut.  I also had a little bit of a paper issue (didn't realize I had to cut one part twice, and I ran out of one of my papers) but figured out a way to make it work, as Tim Gunn would say.  =D  All of the images are from Simply Betty Stamps and were colored with Copics and Glaze pens, then cut out with my craft knife.  I added embellishments from the Basic Grey Eerie collection and gems from Archiver's.  Then I lined all of the fronts with Stickles.

Here's a close up of all six.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look! We'll be seeing you soon.  =D

Challenges:

Simply Betty Challenges: Treat Containers

Simply Betty Challenges: Anything Halloween

Papertake Weekly: Dies to Die For

My Time to Craft: Here Come the Girls (all but the fifth box)

Incy Wincy Designs: Anything but a Card

Aly's Sunday Challenge: Halloween

Crafty Sentiments: No Sentiment (all but the second box)

Christmas in...August?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....well, not really.  But it is in Blogland!!  If you follow me, you know that last week I made a Christmas tag for Simply Betty Challenges, but forgot to do the color part of the challenge (cranberry red, hot cocoa brown, snow white and teal).  Whoops!  Well, now I'm back, and I'm using one of my favorite images from Betty's new Christmas release.

Meet Judy Present!  Isn't she adorable?  She's part of the Sweet Gothic Kids Christmas line, which can be found here.  I colored her with Copics....of course. LOL The flowers I made using a tutorial I found at Tammy's blog here...she did the tutorial for Catch the Bug Wednesday this week.  Aren't they fun?  I was really excited to try it out!  The rest of the papers, gems and ribbon were part of my scrap stash. (The background paper and small flower look a bit green...but they're chocolate brown IRL.)

Well, this tag is a bit different from my last Simply Betty tag.  =D  (I did promise I would make a happy one next. LOL)   I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  We'll see you soon!

Challenges:

Simply Betty Challenges: Tag You're It

PaperPlay Challenges: Christmas in August

Totally Gorjuss: Christmas in July

Digi Doodle Shop's Best: Sketch

Whoops!

Well, I created a tag for the the current scrappy side Simply Betty Challenges.  However, after I had finished, taken my pictures, and started getting the tabs ready for easy linking I realized....I only did HALF of the challenge!!  I created a Christmas tag....but I did NOT use the specific color combo!  Whoops!  Silly me for relying on my memory. Jeez. LOL  At least there are a few other Christmas in July challenges going on that I was going to enter, and I still have another week and a half to create another Simply Betty Tag.  (Plus, then I can use one of my new images from her latest release!  Yay!  Must always look on the bright side.)

Anyway, after that...involved...intro, here is my tag!

Those of you who know me know that I have two very different sides.  There's what I call the bubblegum side...that side LOVES pink, glitter, fluffy bunnies, kittens, puppies, fairies...you get the drift.  The other side, however, loves skulls, black lace, piercings, tattoos, gothic images...well, you know.  Guess which side came out for this challenge?  LOL

I realize the sentiment is a little hard to read in the photo.  It says "Merry Frickin' Christmas".  Hee!  When I printed this image as my little Christmas elf, she just didn't seem like the "holly, jolly Christmas" type, ya know?  =D  This tag is just perfect for a very good friend of mine.  I'll have to save it to use on her present this year.

So, here's a list of what I used to create this card.  DCWV's Christmas Combo stack.  Simply Betty Stamps image: Pipper, colored with Copics.  Presents, ribbon and flowers are from Michael's Craft Stores.  The holly tag is from Miss Cutiepie.  I had added my text, then printed it out on the computer.  Unfortunately...I'm running out of ink, so it printed light purple with streaks.  Another whoops!  Fortunately I was able to save it by coloring it with my Copics.  The white dotted line on the tree paper is part of the dp.  To match it, I drew a white dotted line around the cranberry paper using a white Souffle pen.

Ok, well...thanks for stopping by!  I promise my next Christmas tag will be a happier one. LOL We'll see you again soon!

Challenges:

Pollycraft: Christmas in July

Craft Your Passion: Christmas in July

Stamp Insanity: Going Goth

Love Gently

I got this Simply Betty digi stamp a while ago and printed it out immediately.  Then...it went into a pile of images I've been meaning to color.  When I heard the new Simply Betty Stamps challenge was to use any Simply Betty Stamp with any sketch challenge...I knew it was finally time to bring her out.

Meet Sting You Lola.  Isn't she adorable?  I just love that sly look on her face.  Cupid better watch out...Lola's looking to take his place!  I love the cute little heart tattoos under her eye, and her adorable outfit!  =D  The sentiment is from Tiddly Inks.  I was originally going to use a different sentiment, but as I was cutting it out, I noticed this one printed right above it.  I decided this was the better match.  The flowers were created with a Sizzix die I bought a few weeks ago...yet another new toy to play with.  =D  The papers are from Stampin' Up, part of a now discontinued line.  The black lace (that you can barely see) is from JoAnn Fabrics.  Let me tell you...if you could see it, you would be so jealous. lol  Do you know how long it took me to find black lace that was straight instead of curved!?!  The pink ribbon (that you also can't really see) is from Michael's.

The sketch I used is from Digital Tuesday.

Awesome, no?  I love the wavy bottom of the middle layer.

Well, that's it for tonight...  Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:

Simply Betty Stamps: Any Betty Stamp, Any Sketch Challenge

Digital Tuesday: Sketch

AiFactory Challenge: Layers