Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Vinny Flytrap



 Can you believe it's already time for another Dude Time Doodles New Release?  My how time flies.  And speaking of flies.....meet Vinny Flytrap, one of our new Dudes.  He'll be available in the store by 10am EST.  He's at his wits end because his wife (whom he calls Ma) goes overboard with the Miracle Grow.  She thinks you can never add too much.

Vinny is colored with Copic markers and cut out using the Scrap-mart Labels 1 die by Spellbinders. I added Stampendous' pearlized mica fragments for the dirt mound to give it a bit of bling.  The mat was cut with Spellbinders and then embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder.

You should have come from CG, but no worries if you didn't.  The blog hop is a circular blog hop, meaning there is no correct beginning.  Just keep going around until you have visited all of the Dude/Dudettes.  Be sure to leave a comment with each of us, as one of us is the Mystery Host.  The winner will be chosen from comments left with that Mystery Host.   Your next stop will be Rachel.  Here's the list of everyone playing along, just in case:

Anne (that's me)
Rachel, guest dt


I'm also entering this in the following challenges: Lexi's Creations (men/boys in your life); Here Come the Boys (anything goes); 2 Sisters Challenge (bring on the boys); Squigglefly (CAS, no patterned paper); Dream Valley Challenges (humor); Simon Says (one for the boys).

Copics used: R81, R83, R85    YG25, YG63, YG67, YG97    B91, B93, B95    E31, E35,E37, E79    W5, W6    G17, G28, G82    E000    E50, E57    E08, E19

Monday, May 28, 2012

Madeline



The challenge this week from the Digi Makeover Challenge is Black/White plus One Color.



I've combined two different images from Paper Makeup Stamps to create my card: Madeline (she's not in the digi section yet, but she should be soon) and Word Art.  The image is cut using Spellbinders Lacey Square (#5) and the top layer is pop dotted from the second layer.

I can't wait to see what color you choose to combine with black and white.  Don't forget to see what the rest of the team made to inspire you too.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Dream



Wee Henrietta Bookworm is a digital image from Hambo Stamps that I had a bit of free time to play with today.  It's been a while since I was able to participate in the Hambo Hoedown (Hambo's weekly challenge), but this week was the week.  The challenge this week is paper piercing.  Not only did I paper pierce the four corners and the flower centers in the "wallpaper", I also paper pierced the sentiment "Dream".

Henrietta is colored with Copics and fussy cut out.  Creative Inspiration paints (gold, pink highlights) were added to the chair and her shoe strings.  The M-Bossibilities embossing folder (Mystic) reminded me of wallpaper, so I created a reading nook for her to read in her big, comfy chair.  The rug is a Lifestyles Crafts die and the wood floor is actually a piece of thin wood veneer that came in a cigar box.

Copics used: YG06, YG07, YG17, G48    B21, B23, B26, B60    BV00, BV02, BV04    E00, E01, E11, E13    E41, E43    R37, R39, RV99, FV1, FY1, FYR1, B32, B34, BG34, BG13, BV01, BV04, BV07    E08, E19, E29

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Hats Off to You




I had a little time this week to make a couple of projects just for fun.  This is one of them and I used an older Dreamweaver's stencil (LM232).  Since their challenge this month was to use black/white and a pop of color, my color choice had to be red as that's my favorite color.  This is a pretty simple project to make.  I embossed the stencil using my Grand Calibur two different times and then I paper pieced the bow and pop dotted it for added dimension.  Although it's hard to tell in the photo, the hat itself is also pop dotted. The mats were cut using Spellbinders Labels Sixteen (#5, #6).  Now I have a card all ready for a quick thank you or a just because.  You can never have too many ready made cards in your stash (can you?).

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Dreamweaver (black/white/one color); Creative Card Crew (dimension); Sweet Stamps (anything goes).


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Please help

Liz, one of my design team mates from Pattie's Creations, is fighting for her life.  Here she is, along with her sister.



Here is a post from Liz:

Hello everyone.  About a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with Bi-phenotypic Leukemia.  It is a rare form of Leukemia because as many people battleing Leukemia, they are only battling one.  With Bi-phenotypic Leukemia, it leaves me battling two AML and ALL.  I have been fighting strong but now I need your help more that ever.  I was seen in many hospitals in Florida and they all have told me there is nothing they can do for me.  But you see my will and drive to LIVE is far greater than any CANCER, therefore, I have chosen to continue fighting and doing whatever it is I must to stay ALIVE.  At 29 years old, and full of fight and drive I refuse to surrender to this MONSTER....In order to get an appointment with the best hospital in the country which is MD Anderson, they are charging me 100k just for a consultation deposit.  I need all of your help and support!!!  Please help me and my family through these trying times.


With Love, 
Elizabeth Quesada



Please click on this link to donate to help Liz with her fight for Life.  Any donation will help.  Please do whatever you can to spread the word: re-post this on your blog, on Facebook, anywhere you can.

Liz's cause strikes very close to home for me.  As some of you may know, my husband is in the fight too.  He's been battling a type of Lymphoma cancer since 2009.  We haven't found the right treatment to knock his cancer on it's butt yet, but we keep trying.

So please, donate whatever you can to Liz's cause.  If you don't feel comfortable with that, think about donating to a specific cancer society or the American Cancer Society to help find cures.


Monday, May 21, 2012

Bubbles


The Digi Makeover Challenge team has a fun challenge for this week - it's to recycle something and put it on your card.  Be sure to let us know what it is.


Bubbles the Duck, a Paper Makeup Stamps digital image, was my inspiration for this challenge.  He's blowing homemade bubble solution and is embracing the magic (sentiment by Create with TLC).  I have a couple of items that were recycled on this card.  Can you figure out what they are?  The first one is a bottle cap that I converted to the sunshine and the other items are the clouds and the grass.  They were die cut (MFT dies) from a Starbuck's cardboard coffee sleeve.  I used a bit of gesso to paint the clouds and Paper Soft Color for the grass.

Now it's your turn to help the environment by recycling something on your project.  Remember, you need to use a digi image for our challenges.  You have one week to upload your creation to the Digi Makeover Challenge blog.  Be sure to see what the rest of the Digi Artists recycled while you're there.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Nap Time



TGIF!  and since it's Friday, that means it's time for a new challenge from Pattie's Creations.  Today's challenge is a Recipe.  Use 3 or more of the following: buttons, ribbon, flowers, glitter, charm, sentiment, gems or pearls.

I decided to use Nap Time from Pattie's Esty store for this challenge because the image is so darn cute!  Well, I was able to incorporate four of the ingredients into my card - glitter, ribbon, pearls, sentiment.  The image was printed three times and colored with Copic markers.  As you can see by the photo on the right, I have a base, then I cut out the kitten and the lip of the pot to pop dot, and finally I have pop dotted just the kitten.  Lots of fun dimension going on.

For the background behind the image, I stamped Hero Arts/Basic Grey rubber stamps (Picadilly collection) with glue and then sprinkled glitter all over.  Various Spellbinder dies were used to cut out the circle, the scalloped circle, and the scalloped oval.   I applied a Pearl Pen (Ice White) around each scallop for my pearls.  Originally, my base for the glittered background was white, but I didn't like it.  So I spritzed Walnut Ink (Terra Cotta) on it, which brought out the silver glitter better and coordinated with the terra cotta pot.  I also sprited the card base with this Walnut Ink as well.  My sentiment is a rubber stamp from Stampabilities that I've had for a while.  It says "a little Hello", but the hello is not as clear in the photo because I also highlighted that word with a glitter pen and it's reflecting.

Here is a close up of the image, and you can see the dimension a bit better as well. From head on, you really don't see three sets of paws (it was the upward angle of my shot).

Now it's your turn to stir up a scrumptious   project using at least three of the ingredients listed above.  You'll have two weeks to upload it to Pattie's Creations challenge blog.  Be sure to visit the rest of the team and see which ingredients they used for their projects.

Copics used: E07, E08, E09, E19, E77    R20, T3, T5, T6, N5, N6


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

You Ol' Rooster




Can you believe it's already the third Wednesday of May?  Well, it is and that means it's time for the Inspirational Challenge from Dude Time Doodles.  It's an easy one - birthdays.  Who doesn't need a few extra birthday cards on hand?


Chick Saunders, a Bonibleaux Designs image, was the inspiration for my birthday card.  He definitely reminds me of "the Colonel" from Kentucky way, so his drink of choice on his birthday (and pretty much any other time) is Kentucky bourbon.

I've used the Emboss Resist technique for the chicken wire, a rubber stamp from Art Impressions.  After heat embossing the image, I stippled Distress Inks to create my background.  Chick is colored with Copic markers (a very pale violet for shadows mainly) and fussy cut out.  After I put all the pieces together, I thought it was still missing something.  So I got out one of my chicken rubber stamps from Hambo Stamps, and used a second generation impression (stamp on scratch paper first to get off most of the ink and then stamp it where you want it for a lighter outline) to go behind the chicken wire and colored with Copics.  The beauty of the embossing is that the outline of the chicken rubbed off on the embossed portion.  I printed to sentiment on my computer, printed it out, cut it out with the Sizzix Tattered Banners, and distressed it with Brushed Corduroy.

Now, it's your turn to get those birthday cards ready to go.  You can enter as many times as you wish, but no back linking, and remember it must be for a DUDE.  Pretty easy, don't ya' think?  Head on over to the Dude Time Doodles challenge blog and link up your creations with the InLinkz button.  While you're there, be sure to check out what the rest of the Dude and Dudettes have come up with for some pretty fun (and funny) birthday inspiration.

I'm also entering this in the following challenges: Blockhead's (emboss resist); Crafty Catz (birthday); Little Claire's Designs (male theme).

Monday, May 14, 2012

Couple of Moodies


Time for the latest challenge from the Digi Makeover Challenge team.  This week's challenge is a photo inspiration.



I've chose a Couple of Moodies (although it isn't in the digi section yet, I'm sure it will be soon), from Paper Makeup Stamps, and created a platform card.  This is a paper folding technique I've learned from Julie Embersole's class.  It's actually very easy to do and easy to change your dimensions as needed.  I based my Copic colors on the quilt photo and fussy cut out the top portion of the image.  Another great thing about this card other than it's fun to make and stands on it's own, is that it closes flat, so you can mail it in a regular envelope.

card closed - ready to mail







Now it's your turn to use the inspiration photo to create something lovely.  You'll have one week to upload it to the Digi Makeover Challege post.  Be sure to check out the rest of the team's inspirations too.

I'm entering this in the following challenge: Simon Says (anything goes).

Friday, May 11, 2012

Ready to go Jogging?




Here's another fun image from Mayzy Arts that was a freebie.  Her images are really fun to color and almost put themselves together.  This cute jogger is colored with Copic markers and the image and mat are die cut using Spellbinder's Curved Rectangles (#4, #5).  I added a bit of depth to the mat by adding Distress Inks (Stormy Sky) onto the surface with a blending tool.

She's then layered with Core'dinations paper, Kraft paper, and then the card base.  I added some ribbon and a few gems (her motivation for running) and she's all set to cross the finish line.

Copics used: V93, V95, RV99, W7, E43    YR30, E50, E70, BV20 YG03, YG25, YG17    Y13, Y15, Y35, Y38, B04, B05, B06    Y11, Y26, Y28    B52, B12, B14

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Heads Up People!



I'm here to give you a "Heads Up" on how you can become a guest designer for Dude Time Doodles and get a free image in the process!  Head on over to the DTD challenge blog, pick up Mo Stooge, get those creative juices flowing, and then link it up at the DTD challenge blog.  You have until May 15th, so get started.  (If for some unfathomable reason, you don't make it over to the DTD challenge blog to pick up Mo, he's available at the Dude Time Doodles store.

I created my sentiment on the computer and colored both it and Mo with Copics.  I also fussy cut out the image so I could pop dot it in the circle.  I sprayed Goosebumps Texture Spray on the side piece for a fun look.  The photo on the right catches the light enough that you can see it.  Although I've had this product for quite a while (at least a year), I've never used it.  It's quite fun and I want to see what other ideas/uses I can come up with for this product.

So, now that you've been given a 'Heads Up", go get started.  I can't wait to see what you create with Mo.  Be sure to visit the rest of the Dude and Dudettes - they've got some great ideas too!

One more fun note, since this is the guest designer challenge.  I want to welcome three new Dudettes to our team - Sharon, Mags, and Charlene.  All three were guest designers first.  So don't hesitate to pick up Mo and enter our challenge.  You never know where it will lead.......  Just sayin'.


Monday, May 7, 2012

May Flowers


Good morning everyone.  We are celebrating May Flowers at Paper Makeup Stamps' Digi Makeover Challenge this week.  And what better way to celebrate than with a blog hop with both the Digi Makeover Artists and the Paper Makeup Artists?  We will be giving away the new digis to one lucky commentor from the hop.  Plus, we will also be giving away a prize to someone who participates in the Digi Makeover Challenge.  That means everyone has two chances to win.  As you hop around, you'll see more of the new releases.



I've paired one of the new flower images, Paper Makeup Stamps' Line Flower with one of the existing word art, Where Flowers Bloom.  I printed both the image and the sentiment on glossy paper and stippled Distress Inks for the color.  A simple technique for a clean and simple image.  I must say, I really like how this turned out.  It's very bright and cheerful in person.  I also rounded the sentiment for a more dimensional look.

Here's the list of participants in the blog hop:

PMS blog to start
Katie Cotton
Michelle Van Patten
Tangii Crain
Anne Temple (you're here)
Lisa McKinney
Britt Bass
Jackie Rakoski
Eret
Melissa Shultz

You should be heading to Lisa next.  Don't forget to leave a comment with all of us.  You could be the luckly winner.  Plus, link up your May Flowers creation to the Digi Makeover Challenge blog for another chance to win.

One final note, Paper Makeup Stamps is still liquidating their rubber stamp inventory and are in the final quantities.  They are marked 75% off (no further markdown will be taken).  So go get yours before they are gone for good (at least the rubber ones).  Most of them are/will be available in digital format.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Tulips for Mom

card closed (front)
pop up card opened (inside)




Mother's Day is a little over a week away.  And Pattie's Creations has the perfect challenge for you: a Mother's Day card.

For this challenge, I decided to make a pop up card using Pattie's Tulip in aVase image from her Esty store.  I printed the image twice as I also wanted to add dimension to a few of the tulip heads.  The pop up base is a die from Sizzix that I adhered the Copic marker colored image.  I added a rub-on or two, and the inside was complete.

Next I had to decide how to decorate the front panel.  After playing around a bit, I decided to used a VLVS rubber stamp for my sentiment.  I stamped this in the center of a Spellbinder's Lacey Oval die cut (#4) and wove twine around the outside of the die cut as well as the first layer of the front.  I must confess that this color twine was a happy accident.  I had sprayed the quilled strips of paper with Smooch Spritz (Electric Blue) and some of it had gotten on my fingers.  I was moving one of the twine bobbins out of the way and some of the ink got on parts of the twine.  Instead of throwing it away, I decided that it was worth a try to see if I could dye it like you can ribbon.  I retrieved a plastic bag, put the cantaloupe striped twine in the bag and spritzed more Smooch Spritz inside the bag and just swooshed  it around.  Needless to say, I was very happy with the results.  Parts of the twine didn't get dyed, but other parts became different colors.

I pop dotted the sentiment and completed the card with my quilled pieces.  Now it's your turn to show us your Mother's Day creation at Pattie's Creations Challenge Blog.  You'll have two weeks, and remember, you must use an image (either digi or rubber) for our challenges.

I'm entering this in the following challenges: Shopping Our Stash (Mothers' Day or girly); Sweet Stamps (for mom); Whoopsi Daisy (flowers); Creative Inspirations paints (flowers).


Copics used: R21, R32, R43, YR09    G12, G14, G07, G17    B0000    Y00

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Sun and Surf



It's the first Wednesday of the month, so that means it's time for a new challenge from Dude Time Doodles.  This week's challenge is all about sports.


Living in the South, most everyone lives for football.  Other sports (basketball, baseball) are fillers until college ball begins again.  Since I lived in California for many years, I immediately thought Waylon Waves  would be a fun image to use for sports day.

After coloring with Copic markers and fussy cutting,  I pop dotted Waylon onto Creative Memories paper cut with Spellbinders Labels Ten.  As I was trying to decide how to make the card base, I found this piece of Echo Park paper (Splash collection) in my stash and it started screaming to be made into a layout.  I used to do layouts all the time, but not so much anymore.  There are probably less than five posts on my blog with layouts.  But it's fun to do something different for a change.  I kept going through my stash and adding layers that coordinated.  I even have a pocket tag for journaling (or another photo).  On the Bazzill cardstock base, I randomly painted watered down gesso for a fun look.  The border on the side is from Lifestyle Crafts.  Nothing fancy or formal, but low key - just like a dude ridin' the waves.

One final note, for those of you afraid to use glitter on your guy creations, don't be.  If you look closely, I've added PK Glitz glitter to the white cap and parts of the water.  Gives a very shimmery look to the layout.

You have one week to upload your Sports themed project to the Dude Time Doodles challenge blog.  Remember, it needs to be for a Dude.  Can't wait to see what sport you use.

I'm entering this in the following challenges: That Craft Place (one for the boys); The Crazy Challenge (summer/beach); Ooh La La (make it manly).


Copics used: E01, E11, E13, BV20    YG91, YG93, YG97    YR12, YR15, YR18, FVG2    Y23, E51, Y38, E55    E51, E53, E55, YR14
PK Glitz: White Pearl, Tanzanite, Aquamarine

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Belly Up to the Bar....


Father Flanagan and Guinness Gwen have bellied up to the bar to discuss the latest news - some sad, some happy.  Both are images from Bonibleaux Designs that I've combined into one card.  The sad news is that one of the founding Dudettes for Dude Time Doodles, Cleota, is stepping down as Sr. DT Coordinator and Sponsor Coordinator.  The good news (at least I'm really happy about it) is that I'm taking over her responsibilities.   We'll miss having Cleota around all the time, but know she'll pop in from time to time.  So let's raise our glasses and give a toast.