Wednesday, September 29, 2010

It's Owl Good - Crafty Creations Challenge #87

Hi Everyone!!
  This week at Crafty Creations we are asking you to pull out your owls!!  Our sponsor this week is Blackleaf Studios - they provided us with some cute owl images.  I put two of them on the small squares and the other three on the inside.  The large owl was a stamp from studio G - I had to have it mostly for the sentiment!  I thought it was funny...anyhow, I took this fall leaf paper I had and used it for a background.  This is an A2 card - 4.25x5.5.  I cut the small squares at 1.5 inch and placed them on top of the brown squares.  I then cut a few of the leaves out from the background paper and adhered them to the top.  The owl was cut out using my nestables. 

This was a quick and easy!!!  I think it turned out to be a nice fall card!  Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!  Now, get working on your owl card for Crafty Creations Challenge - you could win a Blackleaf Studio gift certificate!
Enjoy!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Skin Deep - Tiddly Inks Sketch Challenge


Hi everyone!
  Well, it's late Friday night and I just finished up my Tiddly Inks card for this week!  Now, I've had a long week.  Lots at work to do - worked a bit of overtime which is rare.  Baby got sick and then hubby got sick!!  So, needless to say - I created a few things here and there but felt a little drained artistically.  I got some very good advice from a friend (wink wink) who told me to rest - I took the advice and was able to come to my craft table tonight and work on this card - I'm so happy I did too!  I love the results - yes, it's a bit different for me - I like cutesy and romantic and I went a bit more dramatic and creepy since Halloween is approaching!  I love the sketch that was provided this week over at Tiddly Inks - check it out and come on join the Tiddly Ink fun!
Now, I'm going to explain a bit about how I put this card together.  First, I started in Power Point on my computer...if you don't have this but use some other design program it should be similar.  I made a 6x6 square and put Gossmere on top to get an idea of the size I wanted her to be.  Next, I made Goss really big and placed her in the background.  I also made another large Goss.  So in all I printed out the normal one to color, I printed out a large Goss on my Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Paper and used this as the background.

 I also printed out one more large Goss and used that to color the sections I wanted to cut out.  I took my Copics and colored those in color.  I took the normal Goss with all her showing and colored her in all cool grey tones.  I then followed the sketch adding more of the Vintage Shabby paper and my Cricut grey paper for a base layer.  I fussy cut Goss out and inked all edges in my black StazOn ink.

 I added some swirly gems and popped the two colored sections after lining them up with Goss in the background.  I computer generated the sentiment!

In the end - I added some Stardust Stickles to her waist scarf, to her crown and her barrettes.  I loved coloring her - more so then I thought - I'm not really a Goth girl - but every now and then - I like to go a little dark!  Thanks for looking and don't forget to check out the Tiddly Inks Challenge this week!! I promise you won't be disappointed!!
Enjoy!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Hi Ya! Paper Cutz Challenge #60

Hi Ya Everyone,
  I'm back with another Paper Cutz Challenge.  This week was a great challenge because Mary gave us a lot of freedom.  The rules are simple use a digital stamp, rubber stamp OR a cricut cut of a critter!!!  That's it, so there is no excuse not to play!! 
 I decided to make a card for my nephews this week.  My youngest nephew used to call his brother HiYa.  Apparently, it started because the oldest used to say Hi ya all the time to him!  So cute right...and I thought this amazingly awesome stamp from Meljen's was just perfect for two little boys...and HEY THIS IS A FREEBIE!!!  Yup, can you believe that this is a freebie???  I'm telling you Meljen's not only has the cutest stamps but they give out amazing freebies!!! Anyhow, on to the card.  I used the cute striped paper I got at a huge scrapbook sale and I'm sorry I always cut off the bottom strip so they all fit nicely together...from now on I'll try to write it down first!  Anyhow, I colored this cutey with my Copics, of course!

I layered them on two different shades of green Bazzill paper.  I have run out of pop dots and just haven't made it back to the craft store or else I would have popped a few of these layers for some dimension.  Instead, I took out my white gelly role pen and doodled ribbit and a few dots around the borders and inked the edges of each layer in Close to Cocoa from Stampin' UP.  I also added this little brad to the front and back so the card could close using a bit of hemp twine. 

On the inside a placed a piece of the striped paper first and added a white piece for the sentiment.  Thanks for looking and I love comments and don't forget to head over to Paper Cutz for the challenge and Meljen's for some cutey cute stamps!!
Enjoy!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Thank You to the Fantabulous Cricut Blog

Hey everyone! 
  I'm so excited to share some happy news with you!  You may remember my apple box that I made using She's A Sassy Lady box tutorial.  I used a Create a Critter apple for one side and a cute Meljen stamp for the other.  I also made a cute apple shaped card with the cricut and a Meljen stamp again!  The Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog was having a contest if you remember with a blog hop and I won the GRAND PRIZE - A Happy Hauntings Cartridge!!! I'm just so happy to have won such a fabulous prize so I wanted to thank the Design Team members at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge for picking my project!  You guys rock and your blog hop was amazing...I look forward to the next.

On another note - I got my Imagine yesterday - love it!  I don't have a lot of time to play right now because work has been extremely busy but I can't wait to use it to make some new awesome projects - check back soon to see what I come up with! Thanks everyone!
Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Fall and Charles - Crafty Creations Challenge 86

Hi Everyone,
  This week at Crafty Creations we are asking everyone to make a project using falling leaves.  Very appropriate for the onset of fall, don't ya think?  I love fall - the stillness, the rain (in Portland anyhow), the cool evening air, football, back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving - I could go on forever!!  Anyhow, I was excited to do this challenge.  I also feel like fall is such a romantic time of year.  I love snuggling up with my hubby and the cool weather and rain is perfect for that!  So, I had to use one of my favorite male digis - Charles's Tulips from Tiddly Inks...ok, don't tell anyone, but I have a small crush on Charles! LOL I'll tell you why - he's tall, dark and handsome, he bares a simple eloquent flower and let's not forget he doesn't have a mouth - so he can't open it and ruin the mystery!!!! LOL Ok, all joking aside he is handsome and somehow always reminds me of Collin Firth. 

This card was simple - I took my falling leave paper - sorry the company escapes me at the moment - and I computer generated fall and autumn a number of times in different fonts.  Once I had the fonts I lightened them with a brown gradient so they wouldn't be so bold on the paper.  I cut this piece down to a 6 3/4 inch x 4 3/4 inch since my card base was a 5x7.  I colored Charles in Copics and fussy cut him. 

I inked the edges of my paper and Charles in Close to Cocoa and stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip - all from Stampin' UP.  I adhered everything flat and sort of let Mr. Tulips and the paper do the work.  I contemplated some ribbon or a leave charm but I felt that this was perfect.  Sometimes, I like the stamp and paper to do the work and Charles certainly stands alone!  On the inside I added a strip of the falling leaves that had been inked to a piece of cream paper that also had been inked with Close to Cocoa.  Thanks for looking and check out Crafty Creations this week for a chance to win our falling leaves challenge!
Enjoy!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Before and After - She's a Sassy Lady Project


Hi Everyone!  I'm really excited to share this project with you for my first time as a She's a Sassy Lady Guest Designer! I really want to thank Sheila for this opportunity! I thought this was an appropriate project since I'm showing you what I've learned in a few short months.  The first photo is a layout I did for my daughter's bathroom shadow box.  The second is it's replacement after learning and practicing a number of new techniques.  Here's the inspiration I used to make both - her shower curtain.

I had just gotten my Cricut when I made her first one and so I cut out images and put them down on a 12 x 12 piece of paper.  My daughter loved it and I thought it was pretty good.  I then opened a few blogs and a few message boards and couldn't believe all the amazing creations and techniques out there!  I started experimenting and learning about texture, depth and dimension!  Soon, I bought my Gypsy and a few more cartridges and here's what I've learned.
First, I pulled out my Gypsy and paper and laid out exactly what I wanted.
Next, I cut out my images and set them to the side.  I took the left over sheets and used them for a stencil. I started with my background which will be sky and grass.  I wanted to add a lot of depth in this project and creating a background with ink was a good option.  I took the stencils from my cut-outs, ink and a make-up sponge and started creating.  I laid the stencil down on the 12x12 sheet of designer paper.  Rolling the make-up sponge took away the harsh edges that I didn't want to see.  I then inked it up and started dabbing in the clouds with a soft blue.  I then added a bit of moonlight white to soften the blue.  I did the same for the grass but in a green.
Once I finished inking with the stencil I started adding some texture and dimension to a few of my objects.  I ran my clouds upside down on my sticker maker. Then I used a putty knife and ran it over the clouds to adhere the glue better.  I pulled them off and sprinkled glitter on them.
I love the texture and shine it adds to the clouds.  Notice I also inked the edge of the clouds before adding the glitter which makes them stand out a bit better.  Next, I started working on the water and adding a bit of interest to the top of the waves.  I took my embossing ink and inked the top edges with the make-up sponge again.  I added some embossing powder in a white and used my heat gun to fix it.


Then I began working with each individual cut-out.  Layered, doodled, and inked then finished by adding some googly eyes.

To finish up my project I decided to add more depth and dimension.  I used pop dots to have some images coming up off the page. (A quick hint about pop dots - they work much better when a bit cold.  So if it's warm in your house - put them in the fridge for a bit and they won't be SO sticky until after adhered to your objects then they start to warm up and stick much better.)  Each layer of the water is popped out from the one behind it.  One of the clouds is popped and the frog has about three layers popped.  I also bent the grass cuts forward a bit only adhering the bottom to the page.  This gives a nice dimension to the layout and some added depth. 


You can see a huge difference in the layout, yet the one with added depth and dimension really makes my project more impressive and more artistic. 


Here is the final layout - it has more depth, texture and dimension and overall looks a bit more professional.  The little touches really do go a long way in all your projects! 

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and project.  Please check out my She's A Sassy Lady for more fun and tutorials!

Enjoy!
Melissa



Sunday, September 19, 2010

Feeling Groovy - Tickled Pink Monthly Sketch #5

Hi Everyone,
  I thought I would try the Tickled Pink Sketch Challenge this month.  I don't typically buy rubber and previously they had all rubber but right now they have a few of their awesome stamps as digi's.  If you don't have any you might want to go grab some!! Love them - might have to get them all! 

  I cut the shapes out of 1.33inch squares using my Gypsy.  I placed the shape - heart (Create a Critter), Flower (George) and peace sign (Give a Hoot) inside the square and cut them in three colors.  Next I layered each cut out on a colored square and then placed the peace sign back into those.  I inked all edges in Close to Cocoa.  I colored 60's Willow in Copics and used my nestables to cut her out. 

I then computer generated the sentiment and cut it out using my circle nestables. 

I added this fun peace ribbon that my 7 year old picked out and topped it off with a little bling, a few extra cut outs and a flower sticker.  I also added the background paper from DCWV the butterfly stack to the inside and put a piece of white paper inked on top and added a few of the left over cut outs. 
Make sure to check out the challenge! Thanks for looking!
Enjoy!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Gift Box for Teacher

Hi everyone!
  My daughter is back to school and in second grade.  She had back to school night but in the rush of getting to her class and such we forgot the card I made using two ever so cute Meljen stamps!  Now, after visiting Sheila's blog today - She's A Sassy Lady.  I decided since the card is going to be late by a day that I would add a cute gift box with some little supplies.  Let me explain, so this morning, like usual, I visit blogs that have been updated.  She's a Sassy Lady actually welcomed me into her home with my hot cup of coffee to teach me how to make a box without using Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  Now, I do have this cartridge but I wanted a bigger box, and one that's a bit different then the ones on there.  So, Sheila posted FOUR videos on how to make a box using your Gypsy.  You could use Design Studio too!  I was a bit sceptical at first but I'm telling you - her tutorial was amazing and simple and let's not forget FREE!!!  So if you want to learn to make a cute box in any size click here

It was perfect timing because I also needed to make my Meljen's project for the week which is a 3,2,1 - three brads, two flowers and one ribbon.  I just love her stamps and was able to incorporate a few of her freebies as well - this cute worm in an apple and the smaller flower, as well as this stitched lotus.  Isn't it cute??? I just love her images and for a teacher box it was perfect!  In addition to all of this Fantabulous Cricut Challenge is having an amazing blog hop!! It's a "Button Up For Back To School" you have to make a school themed project and use a button!  Now, there are some awesome prizes everyone is giving out along the way so be sure to check it out.

Ok, for my box, I created a template on my Gypsy for a box using Sheila's tutorial.  I placed the apple from Create a Critter that matched the card I made and cut that out in one of the panels on the box.  I then colored those cute Meljen stamps I mentioned and added them to the side of the box.

 I also added a little red panel for the apple cut because I like the pop of color.  I added a tiny little button to the apple cut and stickled the leaves.  I then added ribbon to the top of the box and placed another button on top of that.  I'm telling you this was so easy once I had the box template made and cut!

 So here are your instructions for the day (he he) stop by Sheila's website and learn how to make a cute box - then link it so she can tell that she taught well!  After that, stop by Meljen's pick up a few stamps at Whimseys or grab a few freebies and do their 3,2,1 challenge - you could win a prize or get a top three badge!  Finally, finish up with an awesome crawl at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge!!  You won't be disappointed in any of this!! What a great day for blog hopping!

Enjoy!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Not so scary Halloween - Paper Cutz Challenge #59

Hi everyone - this week at Paper Cutz the challenge is OH SO hard.  Make a Halloween card not using black or orange!!! WHHHHHHAAAAAAA????? But what a fun challenge - seriously I had a blast trying to do this.  Earlier this week I posted the Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun Card - remember that - ah ha - no black and orange on that one too!! I've been practicing! LOL  Anyhow, on to this simple card.


I cut the bright yellow moon out with my nestables and stamped trick or treat from my $1 G studio stamps in Chocolate Chip from Stampin Up'.  I also used my handy dandy make-up sponge to dab some eery clouds over the moon in the same color.  I then used a piece of purpley paper (really it's not black) from my Tim Holtz Ideology stack for the background and took my moonlight ink pad and the sponge and inked a halo of moonlight before adhering the moon.  Next, I colored this sweet little girl I got from All That Scraps with my Copics and placed her on this little tree stump I got at the same place.

  I cut her out and glued her down...at this point the card looked a little plain so I tried some bats - they don't look so good if they aren't black - LOL and so I just decided to stamp some little cobwebs in my moonlight stamp ink and stickle them.  I added a bit of stardust stickles to her outfit too, did a bit of stitching with my gelly roll pen and then added this cute little spider button that matched with everything - see no black and orange!!!  Please join us at Paper Cutz this week and challenge yourself - I know you will love the results!
Enjoy!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Never too much Kitty! - Tiddly Ink Challenge Pets

Hey everyone!
  The Tiddly Inks challenge this week is all about pets!  What better way to celebrate my pet a rotten kitty then to make a card full of them!  I couldn't choose just one of Christy's cute kitty digis so I picked them all! LOL  My kitty, Mercury, is well, how do I say this nicely - an ugly tortoise shell kitty.  Ever seen one - not a calico really, but sort of all mixed up in the fur department - she's grey and sort of orange with a little white on her belly. 

Too hard to color on one kitty so I took her colors and made 4!  LOL  I cut each one at 2.5 inch square added a bit of Basic Grey Max & Whiskers stripe to the back and put this cute turquoise paper behind.

 I also added this burlap type ribbon.  The sentiment is so true sometimes - when I was a young girl I remember being upset about something and my dog was always there loving me no matter what - sometimes I think our pets teach us so much about real love!!  So the sentiment is perfect. 

I used my circle nestables to cut it out after computer generating it and then I used the same Basic Grey paper for the background circle!  Make sure to come on over to the Tiddly Inks website and play - you won't be disappointed in Christy's stamps and the DT has some WONDERFUL takes on the pet challenge - so HURRY up!!! Don't WAIT! LOL
Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Locked Things - Crafty Creations 85 Music/Dance

Hi everyone!
  Well if you didn't notice I made a mistake and this posted this morning when it shouldn't have! So sorry!  But now I can finally post it!  I've been really excited about this card!!  This week Christy Croll is sponsoring the Crafty Creations Challenge! WOO HOO!  She's giving the winner a $10 gift certificate so make sure to join in on the fun!  The challenge is to use music and/or dance to make a card, layout or whatever!  So join the fun!!


I made this card using Key to My Heart image from Tiddly Inks.  I was listening to Jack Johnson's song the other day called Losing Keys and I immediately thought of this image...so I knew I had to make this card for the challenge! 

I colored her with Copics and popped her from the background with pop dots. 
The paper in the background is a music note paper from Tim Holtz Ideology stack.  I inked up the edges with Close to Cocoa.  I also computer generated the sentiment.  The inspiration for the color actually came from the swirly bling in the background! 

I love this color and it just fit the whole card.  I also decided to add this cute little key charm I had in my stash to the turquoise ribbon that also matched.  I LOVE the way this card turned out! Thanks so much for stopping by - go to Crafty Creations to join the fun and check out the cards they made using Christy's images from Tiddly Inks!  I am also entering this at Color Me Copic's challenge since I used the tutorial to color her hair.  Make sure to check it out!! It's a wonderful tutorial!
Enjoy!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun - Just for fun!

Hey everyone!
  Wanted to make a quick card with Mini Monsters since I got it and have been so busy with other things I haven't used it!  So, finally I cut two little witches, trees, ghosts and a fence!  I took the fence and applied some embossing powder to give it a rustic look. 

I drew a few lines on the trees.  I cut the moon out of my circle nestables and stamped it with this adorable studio G stamp Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun.  Quick card - thank for looking!
Enjoy

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Back To School - Meljens Challenge

Hey Everyone,
  My daughter went back to school this past week and this Wednesday we have a back to school night.  I saw this challenge at Meljen's and decided that it was perfect for the card I wanted to make for her new teacher!  I got two new stamps for this challenge - the back to school badge and the cute stick girl
I did a few things for this card - let's start with the paper - I chose the paper from the DCWV School Stack.  However, the red paper for the apple is just a plain piece of red that I repeated the badge pattern over and over.

  I also chose a thick brown paper for the card base, a light brown for the first apple, and green for the leaves.  In addition I cut out an apple in white for the sentiment on the inside.  I chose the apple from Create A Critter cartridge - I think it's the cutest apple on any of the Cricut carts - but I'm a sucker for Create A Critter! LOL - I connected two shadows for the card base.  Remember to flip one side when doing this on your DS or Gypsy or else your images won't line correctly.  For the red portion of the apple I used the hide contour feature and got rid of the apples cute face as it was going to be covered up anyhow and popped it up from the bottom layer.  I used my circle nestable for the badge I colored with my Copics and then cut a larger circle with my nestable for the circle shadow and popped this up as well.  On the inside I colored the two stick girls (one being my daughter and one being her new teacher) and nestables those as well.

 I added the ribbon to the stem and added some red and green stickles to the leaves and heart! 
Enjoy!