August 29th Stay Crafty @Home Blog Hop by LeighSBDesigns!

 

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!  Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉  I have been watching tons of Youtube videos and blog hopping and seeing some awesome techniques with die cuts and embossing folders.  Which led to me wanting to buy a TON of die cuts...well, you get the picture!  But I decided to make do with what I already have and experiment a bit.  Here is my first experiment using one square die to copy a look  I saw on a video.

I used Ike's Art's adorable Cubimals on this festive Christmas card!  I actually used two of the die cuts: one to make the windows and added another to that one for the frame.  I colored up the cuties with Spectrum Noir markers and added some shine with Golden high gloss medium and some shimmer with a Nuvo pen.  Never one to waste anything (classic definition of a hoarder I do believe!) I put some gold foil alphabet stickers on the panels left from the frames.  The patterned paper is from a pad I ordered from Hobby Lobby.  That went on some white cardstock and Ho Ho Ho it was done!  I hope everyone is enjoying the blog hop with Leigh as much as I am!  Tell a friend or two or three and come play!

August 28th Outlawz Progressive/Freebie Challenge

This month at the Outlaws Progressive/Freebie Challenge we are using a fabulous image, It's Tea Time!" from the Paper Shelter! Thanks so much for the wonderful image!

I colored her up in my favorite steampunkish color scheme with Prisma colored pencils adding some Golden glossy medium for some shine.  I ran some little foam leaves through an embossing folder to add some gears with Distress Ink before adding for some dimension.  I layered everything up and it is time for tea!   Sweet, iced tea of course....it is still really hot here!  Check out the Outlawz Challenges for this month and be ready to participate in the Progressive/Freebie challenge for September!

I am also playing in the fantastic Stay Crafty @Home Blog Hop presented by LeighSBDesigns so this will be entered there as well.

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!  Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉 

August 25th Stay Crafty @Home Blog Hop hosted by LeighSBDesigns!

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉 

 I wasn't going to post tonight because of the storm situation but the tropical storm that passed through today was very mild and I am very thankful!  We are still watching Hurricane Lara and it is looking as if it will go to the west of us.  Of course, down here when we breathe a little sigh of relief we know that means others will be in for such trouble.  I just pray Lara doesn't strengthen as they predict she will over the hot Gulf water and will loose much of her punch before she goes ashore.  So between battening down our hatches and trying to do a quick patch on the roof from a rogue thunderstorm this weekend, I worked with the wonderful image "Spread Love Heart Wreath" that comes with 14 sentiments by the awesome sauce LeighSBDesigns!

I colored with Prisma colored pencils and a spot of Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut the lovely image and heart wreath out.  I popped the two larger flowers on foam dots and the sentiment, too.  I added some stain glass type paint I had over the sentiment after inking with wilted violets Distress Ink but it did NOT photograph well!  I inked the papers with the same ink and did a little white gel pen doodle around the edges of the card.  This fabulous image was awarded to those of us who played in the Christmas in July Blog Hop hosted by Leigh last month!  Thanks again, Leigh!

August 23rd Stay Crafty@Home Blog Hop by LeighSBDesigns

  

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉  Simple fall card tonight!

 This is a Bugaboo Stamps image, "Pumpkin Crow" and the sentiment is from Mrs. Sparkle and Co.  Paper, Spectrum Noir markers, Distress Inks and some glue and a white gel pen!  That's it from start to finish!  Have a great day!

August 22nd Stay Crafty@Home Blog Hop by LeighSBDesigns

  

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉  I totally love Leigh's Winter Solstice Fairy and I love coloring her for winter and snow but I decided to try and hurry fall up a bit!  So here is my wish upon an autumn fairy!

I used Prisma colored pencils, spice marmalade Distress Oxide Spray and the Nuvo shimmer pen to color her up.  I layered her on a snowflake die cut but to keep her in the fall theme used a fall paper.  The orange paper is from a Halloween pack from ages ago and I used some found burlap ribbon to go across the bottom.  The sentiment is stamped with carved pumpkin Distress ink and is from Mrs. Sparkle & Co.   I layered it all atop some kraft colored paper and stamped the sentiment on the same paper.  Hope everyone is safe from all of the storms and fires! 

August 19th Stay Crafty @Home Blog Hop by LeighSBDesigns

  

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉  I have been on a stay-cation at home with my kiddos watching movies and playing a ton of video games!  Not much crafting just bits and pieces so here are two bits!

 These stamps were freebies in a magazine from a looong time ago.  The little notecards came with the hearts cut into them so I just layered up some paint doodled canvas paper behind them.  I colored the adorable hedgehog with Arteza watercolors and the butterfly, too.  I added a shimmer Gelato to the wings of the butterfly.  I used a Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Opal Quarts pen from the Oozak store on the hearts to shimmer them up.  I used Distress Inks to match the colors on the hearts to stencil the envelopes with my Stamplorations mini stencil "Oh My Stars". This was really just playing with some "new/old" stuff! 😋 I will see you at your blogs soon!

August Ike's World Challenges T is for Three/Anything Goes!

 Time for our midway post at Ike's World Challenges #135 T is for Three/Anything Goes!  You decide which you want to do!  Everything is easy as pie with Ike!  I made a card using an image from the Japan World Tour Series by Ike's Art!  I printed out three different sizes to make my flying decorations!  These are koinobori or "carp streamer" and are used to decorate for Children's Day in May.  The last time we were in Japan they were everywhere and I loved seeing them flying! 

I colored them with Spectrum Noir markers and fussy cut.  The paper is mixed media paper that I had played around with some stencils and color sprays on.  I glued the koinobori on that and layered on some patterned paper then I glued it all onto a page from my journal that I painted with watercolors.  I splattered some yellow acrylic paint onto the wet watercolors and got a wonderful soft bloom.  The sentiment is stamped on the same mixed media paper.  We hope to see you this month for Ike's World Challenges!

I will be entering this at the blog hop below!

   

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog! 

August 13th SC@H Blog Hop!

   

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉 This happy fella is from Carmen's Veranda and is appropriately named, Happy Skeleton!

My background is cut from a page in my mixed media pad.  I was working on a fabulous tutorial by the Art Sherpa on Youtube but my hearts got real wonky, real fast! Definitely not the Sherpa's fault, I just kept wanting to even out each side!  But never fear it has been reborn to pair with a happy skeleton!  I used a 6 x 6 patterned paper and cut little slashes for the skelly panel to slip into.  I used my Arteza watercolors (still sooo loving these!) to color up the dapper guy and fussy cut before sliding the panel in the slots. .  I stenciled some hearts from the Stamplorations "Hearts All Over" mini stencil ....well, all over! with some fired brick Distress Ink on the patterned paper.  I wrote the sentiment with a white gel pen onto a section of the bokeh hearts from the mixed media pad and popped it up on the fat page.  Join us HERE for to play!

August 12th SC@H Blog Hop!

  

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉 More fun with Oddball Art's Exclusive for Members August Collection!

This was hilarious to me!  This friend? is just checking! 😋  I printed the image on cardstock and colored with my Arteza watercolors.  I am loving the vibrant, non-chalky colors...all 60 of them!  I used a reverse mask to splatter the "box" with blue watercolor and white acrylic paint.  I added some highlights with a white gel pen.  I cut the inside of the box out of a piece of watercolor paper that I had played around with ages ago and added a bit of Distress Oxide wilted violet spray.  The background patterned paper I stenciled a bit with Distress Ink in the same color and I used the Stamplorations "Oh My Stars" mini stencil around the image. I used the spray on my matt to color around the question and fussy cut it out.  I folded a narrow piece of cereal box accordion style to make a simple jiggly base for the sentiment.  So much fun and inky goodness!  I look forward to visiting your blog soon on this fabulous Stay Crafty@Home Blog Hop hosted by LeighSBDesigns!  

I am entering this at Ike's Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge #57 

August 11th Stay Crafty @Home Blog Hop!

                                    

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉  Today, a tiny kitty ready for Trick or Treat fun!           

I found these two little stamps sold together at Michael's still in the store wrapper!  So I made a watercolor paper background about the size of an ATC and used some Lindy's Stamp Gang Mystic Malachite spray,  salty ocean Distress Oxide Spray, and some mopped up watercolor from my craft mat.  I stamped the kitty and sentiment on a manila folder and used some watercolor markers to color them up.  I fussy cut the kitty and glued on the ATC adding a little hill for him to sit on! 😸  I just opened my package of Arteza premium watercolors when they arrived at noon so I added the super bright colors to the kitty to spruce him up.  The sentiment is Distress Oxide spray, too.  I popped everything on a piece of black cardstock and added the paper clippy thing to finish!  Please take the time for yourself to craft, read, or do whatever you enjoy!  It is important for our health and well being during stressful times! See ya tomorrow!

I am adding this to Ike's Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge Blog #57 (Check out the wonderful freebie and leave a comment!)

August 10th Stay Crafty@Home Blog Hop

 

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉

This one hits close to home!  Bats in the Belfry!

The wonderful bat cage and swooping bat are from the Member Exclusive set for August by Oddball Art!  The little haunted house is stamped onto a piece of clay stamped with a stamp by Smeared Ink.  I found so many goodies while sorting out my work space!  The clay was gold and I put another coat of gold shimmer on top to freshen it up before stamping. I used Gelatos in greens to go over the bat cage then went over the bats with a Pitt black brush pen.  I used white acrylics for highlights on all of the bats.  I cut out the cage and glued to the designer paper and glued that to a cardboard fat page.  I fussy cut our the bat from the set and after highlighting I coated the image with Mod Podge.  The bat went on with foam dots and I attached the clay piece with some strong double sided tape.  I wrote the sentiment with a gold gel pen, added some white and gold dots and Mod Podged it when it was dry!  Stuck it on and was done!  See you tomorrow!

August 9th Stay Crafty@Home Blog Hop

                                   

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉

From Christmas to Halloween!  Yup, that's me!

This is a stamp that was given to me by Tracey years ago and I have lost track of my notes as to the brand.  I embossed the image on some foam board but the details were lost.  So I stamped on a piece of cardstock and painted the edges of the foam board with the same golden, white, all mixed up texture paint as the background.  Then I glued the stamped cardstock on top with Mod Podge and put two layers of the Mod Podge to shine it up.  I layered this up onto the painted background and a piece of black cardstock.  I stamped Hello? and popped it up on some tiny square beads.  Should we answer him?  I am not too sure about that!  I hope everyone is staying safe and wearing masks!  People are having problems with the face mask subject around here.  One good way to  stay in and safe is to craft away with us!

Repeat Notice and Stay Crafty @ Home Blog Hop August 8th

 

This is a 2 month long "Anything Goes" hop that ends September 25th at 11:55pm pacific!

Leigh's blog hops are stress free...you play when you want and how much you want!  All the details are HERE at LeighSBDesigns Inspiration Blog!  The linky party is there, too! 😉

I am dealing with the new Blogger so bear with me or laugh with me cause I don't know what to do!  I am reblogging my little kitty Christmas ornament that I didn't get posted in time for Christmas in July with Leigh!  Lyneen came by and saw it so it will be a repeat for her! 

This is one of Leigh's and I love it!  Meowy Christmas ATCoin comes with a free ATCoin swap label and he is adorable!  I basically used the little Crayola glitter paint set and die cut the two circles.  I printed Meowy Christmas kitty on the top circle and painted it all up.  Then I colored and fussy cut another kitty and glued on to the top circle.  I used a white gel pen and white acrylic paint to texturize the hat, sparkle the eyes and nose, and accent the sentiment.  I attached the finished pieces to a cereal box circle and slipped in the lace for a hanger before gluing it all down.  I am finally getting set up downstairs again.  My back doesn't like the stairs and it has been very slow going!  So here's hoping my back holds out for this fabulous blog hop!  Thanks for hosting and sponsoring another hop for our sanity, Leigh!