Swingin' Santa - DTD Special Release Party

Couple of things to share with you today.  One is the Holiday Special Release where YOU can win the gifts and the second thing is a sale.  So be sure to read all the way to the end to find out all the details.

Dude Time Doodles, in conjunction with Bonibleaux Designs, is having a Holiday Special Release Party today,  just in time for you to make your Christmas cards (of course, I'm assuming you're behind, just like I am :) ).  When Dude Time Doodles reaches 100 followers today, one VERY LUCKY follower will win the complete set of these special releases.  There is also a second chance to win:  when BBD's group over at Crafters Digital Art Center reaches 100 members, one of the members gets a chance to win the complete set as well.


Today, I made a swingin' Santa card and used two of the new Christmas releases.  The front panel has St. Nick (I fattened him up a bit - one of the benefits of digital images) checking the "All I Want for Christmas" list of good dudes.  I colored him with Copic makers and used Flower Soft on his hat and boot tops.


When you open the card, it swings and.....

....Santa shows you what he wants for Christmas!  A vacation!!!!!  Santi Beaches is sitting on some tropical beach sipping a wonderful pink concoction (and only he knows the recipe!).  Of course, Santi has to keep his hat on his head, but I think he forgot sunscreen everywhere else.

Copics used:E000,E00,E11,R20   FRV1   T0,T2,T7   R83,R85,B000   E33,E55,E97,E37   YR00,YR07,YR09,FY1,FYG1,FRV1   R43,R46,R37,R89   E15,E15,B24,W7,WOO,W5    R46,R9,C1,C2   E07,E09   B16   E55,E59

Now, for the second part of the post:  a 50% off sale at Bonibleaux Designs!  For the next 3 days, BBD is having a sale to retire all the Halloween images released last month.  Go check it out.

And last, but not least, there's still a little time to submit your project using Hippy Rocker (a free download) to be a Guest Design Team member.  How cool is that!  Look here for all the details.  Winner will be announced on the 17th, so hurry!!!

Operation Write Home Valentine Blog Hop

Operation Write Home is having a Valentine's Blog Hop.  It's a privilege for me and Dude Time Doodles to be participating in this wonderful cause. OWH is a wonderful organization that collects hand-made cards and distributes them so our soldiers will have cards to mail to their loved ones.  There are a few basic rules (check OWH's site) for making cards  for our soldiers.  The big NO-NO is glitter.  It can flake off and be seen in night vision goggles, putting our heroes at risk.  Also, they don't need any Christmas cards at this time - it's too late to get them to our soldiers.

I designed a couple of cards for the OWH Valentine Blog Hop, both using images from Bonibleaux Designs.  The first is Hippy Rocker, and he can be found under the Manly Men category.  Copic markers were used to color him in.  I distressed his head band and jeans using an old rag and colorless blender.  


Then I fussy cut him out so I could pop dot him onto the alcohol ink background I made. This is a pretty easy technique.  Start off by using glossy cardstock and then squeeze a drop or two of alcohol ink onto the paper and move the splotch around with air.  I used my air compressor, but blowing into a straw would work too.  Keep doing this until you are happy with the results.  I was going for the tie-dyed look.


Scrap-Mart Label 1 dies, made by Spellbinders, were used to cut out the layers.  I stamped my sentiment, by Unity Stamps, on a separate piece of the tie-dyed background and adhered it to the base layer.


Copics used: R27,39   YR16, Y15, E30, E31, E33   B91,B93, B95   B21   YR21, YR23, YR24,   E000,E00,E11,R20   Y28   B26, B28, B29    YR07,YR09, YR18   colorless blender  

My next guy is Gary Giftbearer (he's also under Manly Men) and he reminded me of Forrest Gump (or maybe Gomer Pyle).   Copics were also used to color in Gary, as were the Label 1 dies from Scrap-Mart.  I used the "out of the box" technique to die cut Gary out.  The hearts are a couple of rub-ons from my stash.  The pink base cardstock was airbrushed with Copic markers to coordinate better with the patterned paper.  I used Distressed inks to ink up my edges.


Copics used: E25, E29   Y04, Y08, YR04   EOOO, EOO, E11, R20   B91, B93, B95   397, E99, E39, E47   T2, T3, T5, B28, B29   YR02, YR04, YR07, Y04, B93, B95, B97   YG17, YG23, YG67   B000    colorless blender


Be sure to visit Cleota, Hetty, Tammy, and Theresa  from the DTD design team and see their projects as well.  Once you'e visited all of us, head back to Dude Time Doodles to find your next hop!  Have fun and I hope everyone is inspired to make Valentine cards for our heroes!!

Gingerbread houses

I worked on several projects this past weekend, including these gingerbread houses.  Everything is completely edible, so after you make them, you can eat them.

This is a close up of the side of the larger house, complete with a little boy playing in the snow:

These are kits with complete instructions and different ideas on how you can decorate them.  All of the Wilton kits come with icing, pastry bags, tips, and candy.  Go have some fun making your own gingerbread houses - you could make a whole neighborhood!

Guest Designer Spot at DTD

Did you ever want to be a guest designer on a design team?  Well, TODAY is your lucky day!  Head on over to Dude Time Doodles to find out all the info.  You'll be able to download a FREEBIE stamp and then see what you come up with.  (Hint:  you'll be able to see what I did with him on Saturday - so be sure to stop back here).  I can't wait to see what you come up with (and I will be checking : )  )


Mark your calendars for the upcoming events at Dude Time Doodles:
     Saturday, 11/13: Operation Write Home Blog Spot  (I'll have something here too!)
     Monday, 11/15: 50% off sale at Bonibleaux Designs
     Saturday, 11/20: Inspiration Challenge
     Mon/Tue 11/29 & 30: New Release Blog Hop


I'll keep a schedule posted on my side bar too, so you'll never have to miss an event! 

Ms. Fluzzie - Sex Goddess

Ms. Fluzzie (also known as the Sex Goddess), as I affectionately dubbed her, is a rubber stamp image from I Brake For Stamps and she's located in the humorous seniors section.  I used a sample of the new Copic XpressIt blending paper and loved working with it!!  (It even cuts like a dream too.)  I'll definitely have to go buy some.

  As usual, I chose Copic markers to color her in.  I decided she has a very pale complexion, since she entertains inside most of the time.  It's hard to tell in the photo, but I used E000 and R20 for her skin tones, using E000 multiple times and letting the ink dry each time, thereby giving it a little darker look each time.  The other colors I chose are listed below.  I also highlighted the feathers with a Pink Star Gelly Roll pen by Sakura.

I was a bit trigger happy with my Smooch Spritz too.  Both the base card, which was cut using the new Grand Scallop Circle (#2 - assuming #1 is the smallest) by Spellbinders, and the intricately cut paper lace (from the new Cricut cartridge called Paper Lace) was sprayed with Pink Sprinkles Smooch Spritz.  The background for the paper lace was sprayed with Gingersnap Smooch Spritz.  

On the inside of the card, I stamped my sentiment with Rocket Red Gold, a very shimmery, shiny pigment ink by Brilliance.

All in all, a VERY glittery sparkly card - sort of like I would image Ms. Fluzzie's personality to be.

Dude Time Doodles October Blog Hop Winners!!

Hi everyone,

Head on over to Dude Time Doodles to see who all the WINNERS are from our very first New Release Blog Hop.  Just to give you a teaser, the person who won "Pete the Plumber" from Anne-Made said:

"Love the sentiment. How cute! And the glitter!!"  


The DTD sketch challenge is going on now; you can check out my project here and you can see all the great projects created by our fabulous design team while visiting DTD.


While there, be sure to check on the left hand side for all the events coming up.  If you would like a chance to be a Guest Designer, you'll have a chance on the 10th (plus you get a FREEBEE).  How cool is that!


Thanks to everyone who participated and left comments (I LOVE comments).  They were so much fun to read!  Congrats to all the winners!  Now go make some projects and enter the DTD Sketch Challenge! 

Tom Turkey's Deadline

Tom Turkey's a little stressed out!  He doesn't want you to miss the first sketch challenge over at Dude Time Doodles!! This dude is a new release digital stamp by Bonibleaux Designs and I printed him out twice so I could pop dot the body.  Here's a close up:

Copic markers were used to give him life and color.  I also used the new Grand Calibur machine and Grand Labels Four Nestabilities by Spellbinders to cut the base of the card.  These new larger size dies are perfect for creating uniquely shaped card bases (plus lots more).  Labels Four (the regular size) was also used to die cut the background paper behind Tom.  It's really hard to see in the photo, but I did a bit of resist embossing and used Distress inks and a spritz of Glimmer Mist to make this.  I completed my card by adding a bit of paper floss, my sentiment, and a cute button.

Copics: R37, R39,YR04   B95, B99   E08, E09   Y17, Y19   YR20, E00, E01   I left them in the grouping that I used them to color different sections.

Now it's your turn and here is your sketch.  Twist it, flip it, use as is to create your artwork  You are not required to use BDD images although it would make all of us on the Design Team really, really happy and giggle a lot if you did!   The card MUST be a masculine themed card; you can use humor, innuendo, be a little naughty, sarcastic, but it has got to be for a DUDE!  And last, but not least, be sure to use the InLinkz button to submit your wonderful creation.

Glitterbabe's Greetings is graciously sponsoring our very first challenge with a special prize package of FOUR digis of your choice from her Store for one RANDOM winner.

So be sure to head on over to Dude Time Doodles  and link up your projects with the InLinkz button.  The Top Blog winner and Top Three winners will be announced on Dude Time Doodles Challenge Blog.   You have until the 19th to strut your stuff (that's what Tom Turkey is going to be doing on Nov 26).

While you're already there submitting your project, be sure to check out the left-hand side and see all the up-coming events.  Put'um on your calendar; that way you won't miss a single exciting thing.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Fall Splendor

Edited: Fall Spendor was published in the February, 2011 edition of Scrapbook News and review Magazine.

For a change of pace, I decided to share a layout I made for the Stash Challenge over at Challenge Masters.  You had to use die cuts that were already in your stash (you couldn't cut them specifically for this project). 

The photo is a cluster of trees in my yard taken last fall (it's been too hot and dry this year for any great changes of color).  I hand-stitched concentric circles, using both paper floss and embrodery floss.  Then I added the photo and my die cut leaves.  The title in the bottom left says "joys of the season".  I love to see the changing leaves every fall.  Granted we don't get nearly the degree of color in the South as they do in Vermont, but it's still gorgeous here.

Here is a close up: