A Quick and Simple Card

Hey, all!  Just popping in with a quick and simple card I made for my sister-in-law to give to a couple as a wedding card.  I know...it's far from traditional, but I'm hoping this couple is far from traditional, as well.  She sort of gave me free reign, which is a dangerous thing to do...lol!  

I like this card because I used a reverse embossing technique.  I've used it before, but I'm working on a tutorial so you can really see it in action.  Basically, you emboss with clear powder on white card stock.  Apply your choice of Distress Ink.  Then iron off the embossed layer using a craft iron and a sheet of blank newsprint.  The newsprint lifts the embossed layer right off and leaves a relatively smooth surface ready for more stamping.  I chose to add an elegant Penny Black Brush Stroke flower.  I adore this line of PB images!  So fabulous and so perfect for a myriad of uses.  

Okay, I promised myself I would be in bed before midnight tonight, so I better scoot.  The Sandman is singing my song and I can't resist his powerful lullaby ;D  Until next time, stay crafty!    

Monthly Bombshell Blog Hop!

Well, hello!  You're just in time!  The Monthly Bombshell Blog Hop is underway.   Put your party hats on and prepare to have some fun!  You should have arrived here from Kapree's blog where I'm sure you were met with something fabulous and fun.  My blog is the last one on the hop, so if you're just now getting started, you'll want to backtrack to the Bombshell Stamps Blog so you don't miss anything.  

This month,  Blog Hop Mistress, Alison, has cooked up a little color challenge for us.   I have interpreted it pretty loosely and opted for more of a pastel version of the palette.  I also went a little frilly this time.  You might recognize my main image from my Copic Marker Tutorial.  I decided she needed a home, so I plopped her down amidst some lace and a row of ribbon roses.  She looks pretty happy here ;D  You can find Bombshell Angel in the Bombshell Stamps shop.  It is one of the first sets I purchased and still one of my favorites.

If you missed any of the blogs, here's the hop list to get you back on track.  There's still a few days left to join the challenges this month.  If you do, you could be randomly selected to win your choice of one Bombshell Stamp set.  That is some serious swag! 

Bombshell Stamps

Alison

Alaine

Jennie

Kelli 

Terra 

Laura

Meredith

Fiona

Ike

Kapree

Cheryl<---hola!

A New Challenge At The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes!

Welcome back!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Shelter and alas, this will be my last with them.  It's been a fun ride, but it's time to let some new folks take the wheel ;D  Never fret, you'll continue to see many familiar faces on the design team, but you'll also see many new artists, as well, full of ideas that are sure to inspire.

This week's challenge is your favorite...Anything Goes.  You pick the theme, the colors, the sketch...you name it....you're in control ;D  I've used Gothic Girl for my card.  She is my favorite TPS image and I think I have used her more than any of the others.  I just love her sassy attitude ;D

Visit the TPS Challenge Blog to take a gander at all of the DT's cards.  Once again, they are fabulous! 

If you enter the challenge and you used a Paper Shelter image, and you are randomly selected in the drawing, you could win a $15.00 gift certificate to The Paper Shelter shop.  If your creation is randomly selected, but you did not use a Paper Shelter image, you could still win your choice of one digi image from The Paper Shelter shop!  Isn't that great!?  That means that everyone can play!

   

Guest Designer at The Octopode!

Hey everybody!  I'm back today with something completely different.  I'm guest designer for this week's challenge at The Octopode Factory Challenge Blog and needless to say, I am BEYOND thrilled!  If you're not familiar with these images, I suggest you get familiar immediately by heading to Lily Chilver's blog and taking a long look around.  These designs are the real deal and have everything you are looking for...Lily combines a smidge of whimsy, a dollop of edgy, and a heaping scoop of quirk to come up with some of the most unique designs I have seen in a very long time.  I just love them!  Even my mom has caught Octopode Fever and has her eye on some of these fab digi sets.   

Lily designs these images herself and really blows me away with her imaginative interpretations of popular and not-so-popular characters.  When was the last time you tripped across a set of images devoted to David Bowie or Charlie Chaplin?  I rest my case.  

Today I chose to work with images from the Edgar Allen Poe set.  Just look at that Tell Tale Heart!  It begs to be used in a project!  I combined it with Annabel Lee and Edgar, himself.  The whole set is amazing and I have already starting coloring up some of the other images to use on another card.  Visit Lily's Etsy store to view all of the wonderful designs available.  I can tell that my credit card and I are going to be hanging out there quite often...lol!

This week's challenge at The Octopode Factory Challenge Blog is Spots and Dots, so put your dotty thinking cap on and get cracking on those spotty projects and join the fun.  We can't wait to see what you create!  

Make a Scene With Your Copics

Just a quick post.  I'm teaching a class next weekend on how to make a scene with your Copics.  It's fun to start with a simple image and then add a few quick and easy elements to make it a complete picture.

Many times I'll color an image, then trim it out and mount it to my card, but this time I decided to depart from that a bit and build a foundation and backdrop using some simple techniques I've seen floating around the Internet.  I borrowed the sky technique from the uber-talented Annika.  She has an amazing sample and a wonderful video tutorial HERE, and makes it look soooo easy...LOL!  I'm going to keep practicing and maybe when I grow up, I'll be able to color like Annika one day ;D  A girl can dream, right?  Anyway, I've watched this video probably a dozen times and will most likely watch it a dozen more.  Bookmark it, folks.  You will want to do the same.

I've also added a bit of ground and a few blades of greenery poking up.  It's a pretty fair representation of the desert landscape here in New Mexico ;D  This was quick and easy to complete and gives my Penny Black kitty a place to call home instead of the usual white space I would normally be inclined to sit him in.  In the class, we'll make this card, but we'll also play with adding a halo around images and creating a fun dotty background.  We won't focus so much on the coloring of the images as we will on creating what is happening around the images.  Join me.  Let's make a "scene" together ;D    

A New Challenge At The Paper Shelter - The Color Green!

Hey, all!  I'm back today with a new challenge from The Paper Shelter.  This week we're challenging you to create cards using the color green.  Easy peasy!  Take inspiration from Summer and let the vibrant greens of the outdoors fill your senses.  Nothing like Mother Nature to give you swift kick in the creative  keister...lol!

Visit the TPS blog to see all of the fab emerald beauties the DT dreamed up.  Also find details regarding prizes.  I think I'll keep this one short for a change and give you a break from my verbose nonsensical stories and observations.  You're welcome... hahaha!

Tomorrow *wait for it* I will again have something NEW!  Holy Cannoli, Batman, say it isn't so!  Yep, I have a bunch of stuff lined up to share with you over the next week or so.  Until manana, stay crafty!

A New Challenge at Tiddly Inks: Nature Movie Inspired!

Hello, gang!  Welcome back!  I hope your weekend was chock-full of fun stuff.  I know mine was!  We spent Saturday with Team Albukirky competing in the 3rd Annual Disc-it Round Up.  This was the first cooking competition we've ever participated in, so we had no idea what to expect.  There were 58 teams competing and we placed a respectable 5th overall.  Not too shabby!  

Kirk cooked Pecan Crusted Chicken Nuggets served alongside his signature Alburkirky Seasoning barbecue sauce for dipping.  They were delicious and a huge hit!  Unfortunately, we drastically underestimated the amount of food to prepare and had to shut down for approximately an hour while my sister's boyfriend, Sean, made an emergency run to Albertson's for more chicken.  We went through 31 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts and could have easily served up an additional 10-15 lbs more if we had had it around.  On the other hand, Kirk used a restaurant supplier to acquire the Panko bread crumbs and the smallest bag he was able to get was 25lbs.  He used roughly 6 lbs.  Needless to say, we have enough Panko bread crumbs to take us through our next lifetime.  In fact, I think I will start using it in some of my paper crafting in lieu of glitter...lol!  All in all, we had an amazing day and I want to say a special "thank you" to Team Albukirky (Patricia Valadez, Sean Sorlie, and Debbie Williams) for all their hard work in making the event that much more exciting.  I also want to say "thank you" to all of our friends who attended the event.  It was great seeing some familiar, friendly faces among the hungry and impatient masses...LOL!  Approximately $70,000.00 was raised to benefit UNM's Children's Miracle Network and in that respect, everybody was a winner :)

Now on to my card ;D  This week at Tiddly Inks, the challenge is to create a card that is Nature Movie Inspired.  I have wanted to play with this image, You and Me, for a while.  I love the soft lines of the couple and how they really seem to be emotionally connected.  It's not too whimisical and not too serious.  When I think about movies and look at this image, the first film that comes to mind is The Princess Bride.  I adore this flick!  It is funny, sweet, and just plain entertaining.  It is certainly a classic or soon to be one.  Not what you might think of in traditional nature movie fare, but much of the film takes place outdoors while Wesley is searching for Buttercup.  If memory serves me correctly, Billy Crystal's character, Miracle Max, even resides in the trunk of a tree.  Sounds like a couple of nods to nature to me ;D  

I colored up the image with my Copics and also played around with adding some shaded folds to the dress.  I know.  I need some practice with this technique.  Sometimes I look at it and think it looks okay; other times, not so much.  Please swing by the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog and check out all of the fabulous DT designs and don't forget Christy's blog, as well.  She always has lots of inspiring surprises waiting to get your creative juices percolating.  

That's it for now.  See you tomorrow with something new!  Until then, stay crafty ;D            

Steampunk Release with Tiddly Inks and Make It Crafty!

Hello!  I am beyond excited today!  Why?  Steampunk, baby...Steampunk!  Yes, it's quite popular right now and it's no wonder.  Traditional steampunk imagery combines anachronistic inventions set in a Victorian time period, some of which are powered by...you guessed it...steam.  What's not to love about that?!  Beautiful damsels adorned in their Victorian finery...frilly hoop skirts covered in lush textiles, hats embellished with lavish plumage, set against industrial backdrops featuring cogs, gears, and other hard edged representations of technology.  A delightful juxtaposition of feminine and pretty versus masculine and mechanical.  

The creators of Tiddly Inks and Make It Crafty recognize the intrigue of unique Steampunk stylings and have mysteriously been working together for months to design characters, scenery, and papers that blend together beautifully to create Steampunk vignettes.  Visit the Tiddly Inks and Make It Crafty websites to see the full extent of images available and to glimpse gorgeous samples created by both design teams that will no doubt have your crafty side hankering to play with these fabulous designs.  Also, visit a special site established just for this release where you will find more information regarding the Steampunk images and you'll have a chance to participate in a fun little game of "I Spy".  You might even find a special code good for 15% off these new images for a week!  I wont give away any details.  Just head over to the site and check it out for yourself ;D

You've been under a lot of stress lately, so do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a little Steampunk R and R.  You know you want to ;D     

  

New Challenge at The Paper Shelter - For the Birds!

Hey all!  Did you think I got lost on the way to my blog?  Next time I'll leave a trail of breadcrumbs so I can be sure and find my way back every once in a while ;D

Let me begin by thanking the lovely ladies who turned out for my Bombshell Mermaid class at China Phoenix 2 last Saturday.  Your projects were beautiful and you really rocked those Copics!

Kirk and I have been prepping for the Disk-it Cook Off that Team Albukirky will be competing in this coming Saturday.  Kirk is fixing Pecan Crusted Chicken Tenders and pairing them with his signature BBQ  sauce for dipping.  Truly scrumptious, folks!  I think we have a winner ;D  We recruited my sister, her boyfriend, and my friend Debbie to help us out in our booth.  What that really means is, if we recruit you for our team, then not only do we get to boss you around and make you our minions, but we also get to borrow all of your stuff and you're not allowed to say "no"...LOL!  Seriously, we have borrowed folding tables, ice chests, water jugs etc.  Our garage looks like the hand-me-down REI version of Hoarders!  Scary ;D

Anyway, if you are in the Albuquerque area this Saturday (July 16th) between 12 - 5, stop by the Hard Rock Casino.  Tickets are only $10 and you get to sample dishes for all 50+ cooks in the competition and then vote on your favorites.  Children 12 and under get in free with a paying parent.  All proceeds benefit the UNM Children's Miracle Network, which means all of the funds raised will stay in Albuquerque.  Very cool!

Okay, on to my card...there's a brand spanking new challenge over at The Paper Shelter and the theme is For the Birds.  The DT is asking you to create projects using birds or winged things as the main focus.  Not into birds, then feel free to add wings to images or use other winged creatures.  Heck, an airplane even qualifies for this one ;D

If you enter the challenge and you used a Paper Shelter image, and you are randomly selected in the drawing, you could win a $15.00 gift certificate to The Paper Shelter shop.  If your creation is randomly selected, but you did not use a Paper Shelter image, you could still win your choice of one digi image from The Paper Shelter shop!  

Okay, that's it for me!  Time for bed ;D  Catch you tomorrow with something new.  Until then, stay crafty!

 

A New Challenge at Tiddly Inks - Cards with Attitude!

Hey, all!  How was your weekend?  Did you have a good Fourth?  We sure did.  We stayed super busy all weekend and barely had a chance to chillax, but it kept us out of trouble and for that we are grateful ;D  This week is going to prove even busier for us, but we're up for the task and welcome it with open arms...bring it on!  

We're back on track with the challenges at Tiddly Inks.  This week Team B is hosting and we're challenging you to create cards with attitude.  You can achieve this by adding skulls, or anything else that might give off that "bad to the bone" vibe.  I've used UggaBugga and she is part of the Cave Couple.  Looks like she got tired of one of her boyfriends and turned his head into a lovely hand bag.  How resourceful...LOL! 

Head over (hahaha...me make pun!) to the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog to see what the fabulous DT has been up to and to find out how you can play along with this awesome challenge!  I can't wait to see how you interpret it! 

Also, I just announced June's Random Winner on the Bombshell Stamps Blog.  Be sure to check out the winning entries and to find out how you could win a free Bombshell Stamps set.  Okay, that's it for now.  Stay crafty!     

Bombshell Mermaid Class at China Phoenix 2 Next Saturday

How are things at your end of the keyboard?  Here in New Mexico, we're feeling the heat.  Not only because the temps have been high, but also because the whole state is pretty much on fire.  Combined with the fact that we haven't had any rain in what seems like an eternity, I would not be surprised if we just spontaneously combusted one day and disappeared from the map.  Until then, I've fixated on mermaids.  It must be their connection to water that intrigues me at the moment.  

I was never a big mermaid fan until I discovered the quirky dark creatures that Stampotique came out with recently.  Now I just can't get enough of the fishy femme fatales.  My latest mermaid infatuation is for the sultry sirens available at Bombshell Stamps.  They are gorgeous and take to the Copics, like...well...fish to water...lol!  Clearly inspired by tattoo art, they beckon for rich, deep color.  I had a good time making these cards :)

I'm teaching these 2 cards in my next card class at China Phoenix 2 on Saturday, July 9th at 1:00pm.  The class will primarily focus on coloring, as the construction of these cards is really quite basic.  If you are in Albuquerque or the surrounding areas and think you might want to attend, stop by the CP2 Blog and I'll have more details up next week.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!  And if you're in NM just say "no" to fireworks!  Take care and stay crafty!       

A New Challenge at Copic Creations! White Clothing!

Hey, everybody!  Welcome to July!  Is it just me or is this year zooming along really fast?  One minute I'm watching 'em countdown the dropping of the ball in Times Square on TV (yes, we are that boring) and the next we're whipping out the red, white, and blue, and cranking up the BBQ grills (yes, we have more than one).  We are literally half-way through the year.  At this rate, Christmas will be peeking around the corner at me, with it's blood-shot eyes (my version of Christmas is exhausted!) waiting to get some attention.  UGH!  Why do I already feel like I'm behind?  

Well, now that I've thoroughly depressed everyone...LOL...let's move on to the new challenge at Copic Creations.  This week's sponsor is La La land Crafts and they are near and dear to my heart ;D  For this week's challenge we are asking that you use your Copics to create a white piece of clothing.  

I love creating the illusion of white.  If you leave an item devoid of color, it just looks flat, but the addition of gray to mimic shadows, and the addition of a very pale color to capture light really gives white objects dimension and life.  For my card I colored Jesalyn and opted to leave her dress and shoes white.  I added C3, C1, and C0 to give areas of her dress shadows and I added BG10 to add glints of light.  The BG10 gets lost in the photos, but trust me, it's there.  I hope you'll join the challenge this week at Copic Creations and show us what you can do with white.  

Please swing by the blog and check out what the DT has been up to.  They have really worked their magic with this challenge and the cards are AMAZING!  You won't want to miss them ;D 

Join me tomorrow and I'll share another Bombshell mermaid card with you.  Until then, stay crafty!