Ad Day For Daisies It's a Twine Thing and My Craft Spot 'Sew' Much Fun Challenge

First I need to apologize to my bloggie friends for not visiting regularly this month. To be honest, I'm just totally out of gas. I bit off more than I could chew in August...WAY more and I've been scrambling to complete my DT and guest DT projects as well as a comission (that I can't show you yet), but Thank GOD! it's finished and in the mail. (Just in the nick of time, I might add. Did I mention I'm the world's WORST procrastinator and slowest crafter on earth?) Also, being on a design team means commenting on the challenge participants entries and there have been LOTS!!!!!

I wasn't even sure today if I had it in me to craft. But I WANTED to, so I decided to do a sweet simple card for the A Day For Daisies Twine Challenge. I loved the free image provided for joining the challenge and since there wasn't much coloring... The image was colored with Copics and cut and matted with Nesties. All I needed was to add some twine.

But the My Craft Spot Challenge this week is "Sew" Much Fun. HHmmm...I've been dying to try my Sew Easy Stitch Piercer so I used the Scallop wheel. At first I tried stitching with 2 tone baker's twine but I didn't like how it was turning out, so I dug around in my fiber drawer and found this delicate hemp twine. The neutral color was the inspiration for the kraft paper and fairly monochromatic color scheme. Once I'd done the stitching, it was too late to run it through the computer to add a sentiment and my confidence in my stamping ability is pretty darn low (I would have DIED had I mess this up after all the hand stitching) so I used the Cuttlebug Friends Forever Card-Making Combo. The delicate font was just perfect. I don't do CAS very often, but I LOVE how this turned out!

Our Issue #4 is on it's way.

THNKS FOR WAITING, ITS DAMN GOOD.

It's been ages, but well worth the time we (and you!) graciously spent.

A few preview images.....

Matthew McFarlane for Carhartt Heritage | © Sanna Charles

Bless | © Joanna Kawecki

Phil Frost | © Sampson Contompasis

<<< ∆C >>>

Tiddly Inks Reading Fun

It's Tiddly Tuesday and rounding out our "Back to School" inspired challenges, our challenge this week is Reading Fun. It can be inspired by a particular book, or just a general reading theme, which is what I chose to do. When I came across Aida-Gonna Miss You I thought of taking a trip in my head. That's what reading is, isn't it? I cut the book and pages from the My Community Cricut cartridge. I wrote a little story about Aida on the left page and the theme of my piece on the right and printed it on the pages.

Aida was printed 3 times, colored with Copics and decoupaged for dimension. The "bookmark" is a Tim Holtz Swivel Clasp with a Philosophy Tag and a key from K&Co to represent "the key to the imagination".

Obviously, it's an easel card and the map DP is from the Tim Holtz Lost and Found paper stack. The small tickets are preprinted Adage Tickets and the large one is a Journaling Ticket (also Tim Holtz) on which I printed "Read" and added a few adhesive beads for emphasis. There are fabulous projects by the rest of the Tiddley Inkers HERE and Christy is previewing some adorable new "Minnie" images that are already available in the "What's New" section HERE and a freebie on her blog HERE. I hope you're inspired to share a reading inspired project with us this week at Tiddly Inks. I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Some Travel(oops! missed that one), the Sentimental Sunday Back to School and Kaboodles Doodles Easel Does It Challenge.

Oh, and BTW, if you haven't commented on my BBTB2 Home Decor project, please scroll down and do so for a chance to win a $40.00 gift certificate to Custom Crops. They've got a fab sale going on and lots of new products, so check it out HERE.

Elena Rendina for POP Magazine no.

Ofcourse we like other magazines. Scrap that, I mean love other mags. It comes hand in hand with the obsession of print.

Always fans of POP Magazine out of London, this issue features photographer Elena Rendina. 

The images are brilliant - see for yourself.

Not only a photographer, Elena is photographer / stylist / designer / art director. Everything! Who is doing this these days? Hardly anyone. Who is doing it and doing it well? Elena Rendina.com

       

 

 

BBTB2 Heritage Tree Challenge and Blog Hop

Welcome to the BBTB2 monthly Blog Hop. If you've come from the mega talented Mona's Blog (I'm asking you, was that eye candy or what!?), you're on the right track. If not, you may want to begin at BBTB2 so you don't miss a thing. I can't believe it's the end of August. Next thing you know, there will be a nip in the air and the leaves will be turning. Ah, glorious Fall! Definitely my favorite season. How fortunate that our sweet and fabulous DT sister Julie chose the curly tree from the Heritage cart for our challenge this week. All I could see when I looked at that tree was the changing seasons so I decided to do a home decor project. It's 10"x10" without the black mat and I hope to frame it. I welded 4 of the trees to represent the 4 seasons. Each is backed by a circle ("and the seasons, they go 'round and 'round" from the song "The Circle Game" kept running through my head) in an appropriate color. I kept them sort of muted to make it neutral and modern looking.

"Seasons" is from DonJuan. The blossoms and leaves I've added to the trees are the off cuts from MS border punches. I'm still in shock that I hand wrote the seasons around each circle, but try as I might, I couldn't manage to figure out a way to do it on the computer and I had no appropriate rub-ons. Unfortunately, it looked too plain without, so...

Not much dimension because I wanted to keep it suitable for framing. I just popped "Seasons" and a few of the flowers and leaves for added interest. Now off you go to Lori's Blog to see what yummy creation she has in store. But before you go, please leave a comment for a chance to win a $40.00 gift certificate from my fabulous sponsor, Custom Crops. They have tons of new products, and a fab Back to School sale going on NOW! Please be sure to stop back on Friday

when the winner will be chosen. Hope to see you join is this week with a new creation, using this gorgeous tree from Heritage, or any similar tree if you haven't that cart, and please don't forget to mention BBTB2 in your post and link it up so others can join in the fun too.

♥♥♥

Hollie Martin

is an elegantly colourful illustrator from Sydney. She was involved in our 2011 Bright, Berlin exhibition showcasing her beautifully hypnotic work.

She has an upcoming exhibition at the equally awesome China Heights Gallery.

Do not miss this one! Here's a little video for the show to get you on it...

♥♥♥

BITTEN BY THE BUG 2 BLOG HOP

WOHOO!

another blog hop to enjoy. this time the hostess blog is 

Bitten by the Bug 2

from the Heritage Cartridge we are using image #1---the cute "curly tree"

in any case, just hop to the Bitten by the Bug 2 blog and start from there and follow the instructions.

Autumn

8.5" x 4

long card

A10 size-i believe

the trees were cut at 3.5" and 3" using the shadow feature too.

this is the inside---just a piece of distressed paper to write your sentiment.

the border was made with a MS paper punch called "city escape" and the maple leaves are punched from a tiny punch from my stash.

here you can see how i used the border--

playing with saturation here---it almost look like art :)

have fun with the hop, enjoy it and enjoy the challenge. if you do not have this heritage cart, you can use any other tree.

i hope all of you are safe and no damage from Irene, the hurricane.

hugs to all and wish my boy the best in college. 

love you all!

you can also click on the banner below to go to the start of the hop.

I will have a small giveaway for the  "FIRST" follower/visitor who tells me what else i added to this border, besides the leaves and the word autumn, there is something i added to have a bit of fun here.

you can always click on the pics to zoom in.

(*_*)

BLOG HOP LINE UP

Carole

----------------------Agnes----------------------

next go to Mona's blog

Donna

Lori

Jerri

Carri

Marie

Julie

Penny

Susan

Macabre Monday I Was Framed Sponsored by Dilly Beans

Okay guys, this week we Minions have a super challenge for you for Macabre Monday, sponsored by the most fantastic creepy cute images from Dilly Beans. Our challenge requires you to use a frame because so many of Megan's fantastic digis have a fabulous frame around them. Megan is offering eight (count 'em EIGHT!) digis from her adorable designs, two each to the Gruesome Twosome, and four to the winner (Megan's favorite) of the challenge. Let me tell you, I've got PLENTY more than 8 and she currently has a sale running where you can buy 3 and get one free (through Labor Day)! BTW, although my FAVES are in the creepy cute catagory, there are plenty more that are just plain CUTE so check them out HERE. I've chosen the sort of mournful #205 Hypno Eye Girl. She looks so sad. Who is she missing? There were so many ways I wanted to color her, but I finally decided on my fave Copic combo of red, black and white. I used portions of the MS spider web punch around the page and distressed the mats with my Distrezz-it-All. The fab embellies include a Wonky eyed skull from our own fabulous Creepy Glo Bugg's Etsy store, as well as a flower from Recollections.

I printed the stamp twice so I could add some dimension to her face and added some adhesive beads to balance the design. As usual, the Minions have some fabulous inspiration and don't forget to check back on Wednesday for Glo's take on the challenge at HDH. ALWAYS worth waiting for! We LOVE seeing what you come up with, so grab a frame of some sort and join in. You could be the lucky winner of some FAB stamps from Dilly Beans! I'm also entering this in the Forever Night Too Cute to Spook Challenge. I think she's WAY too cute to spook, don't you?

TOFF Steampunk Challenge and Whimsical Wednesday 3 Times a Charm

This is my second post for today, so if you're looking for my Bah! Humbug! Challenge, please scroll down.

WooHoo! I'm so excited to be a Guest Designer this week at The Octopode Factory Friday Challenge. You KNOW I love me some Octopode! this week's challenge is STEAMPUNK. Way too much fun! I happen to have ALL of Lily's Steampunk images, so choosing which to use was the biggest challenge. I also wanted to play with the Whimsical Wednesday 3 Times a Charm Challenge where you must use 3 colors only and 3 of the same embellishment.

It was Bernie, from the Steampunk Nippers set that gave me the idea for this project. Tell me he isn't the ultimate of paparazzi! I've welded "papa razzi" using letters from the Don Juan cartridge in Design Studio and embossed them with the Tim Holtz Retro Circles embossing folder.

Then I just HAD to use Flo with her built in paparazzi stopping eye. I just bet Lady Gaga is gonna figure out a way to copy her look. They were both printed on kraft card stock and colored with Copics. I've added Tim Holtz Sprockets to each and a Game Spinner to Flo's good eye. (Those are the 3 embellies for WW. Acutally I've used 3 sprockets twice.) The gears were cut with a Tim Holts Alterations Die by Sizzix and inked and embossed with Distress Embossing Powder in Vintage Photo.

The images and letters were popped with foam and the cool Idea-ology Film Strip Ribbon woven through. I kept the whole thing monochromatic to match the cool Steampunk DP from the DCWV Tattered Time Stack so my 3 colors are shades of kraft, gray, and black. Lily's fabulous DT has gorgeous eye candy this week (as always) so be sure to go have a look. Tell me this isn't a fun challenge. I just know you're gonna be playing along. And at Whimsical Wednesdays, there's still time to enter this challenges and there's another fab challenge to get your creative juices going as well.

Bah! Humbug! Here Come the Girls Challenge

I can't believe how time flies! I'm so sad to be leaving Humbug Hall as this is my final post as Guest Designer. I want to thank Ann and Max for inviting me and Tracy for being a Guest teamie with me this month. I'm very excited, to see what the next ladies have in store and to continue to play along with the weekly challenges because, after all, I am a Proud Loyalty Member. This week our challenge is Here Come the Girls. We want to see you girly-est ideas, whatever they my be. No problem there. Can't get much girlier than shopping. And it's even MORE fun at CHRISTMAS! I made the easel card with the next to smallest Labels One Grand Nestisties and my Grand Caliber, then cut the the mat and striped piece with the smallest in the set. This is as easy as doing a regular shaped card with your Nesties. You just place one of the sides of the die just above the fold and run it through. Then score at the center of one of the sides. Cut additional mate to adhere to the folded piece, thad there you go. You don't even have to measure because of the shape of the Labels One die. Easy peasy! The yummy pastel papers are by My Mind's Eye.

I've used the adorable Xmas Shopping from Kenny K. She's colored with Copic and I've added Stickles her fur trim. She's cut out with Nesties Beaded Ovals which I inked with Distress and popped.

The sentiment is computer generated and cut embossed and matted with my Nesties Labels Seventeen. I've used adhesive pearls to hold up the easel, coloring some of them with Copics to match the dots on the paper. Now go have a look at Bah! Humbug! for more fabulous inspiration, and I'm sure you'll love playing along with this challenge. I'm also entering this is the Christmas Cards All Year 'Round August Challenge using ribbon, inking, stripes and a metal embellishment, Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Non-Traditional Colors, Crafty Hazel's Anything Goes (or actually, it could be a Christmas Birthday card), Divas by Design Christmas in August, The Crazy Challenge Christmas Anything Goes for August, and the Charisma Cardz Glitter it Challenge.

Romance with Tiddly Inks

This is a special one, one I've been thinking about for a long time. When Christy came up with the new Tiddly, You and Me, I knew it was time to try it. It was sort of a risk, printing and coloring the image and then using Cricut DS to create a puzzle.



The pieces are from Don Juan. The hard part was moving the pieces close enough to create the puzzle. You can't weld them, they have to be separate. You just have to hope that you've moved them close enough together to cut as one, as each piece is cut separately and then has to be retraced, in part, for the next row of pieces.



I printed and colored my image first. Lots of time invested. On top of the puzzle I placed a heart from George to cut as well.



Then it was just a leap of faith. There was some rough going. It wasn't perfect. I thought after, that I should have just cut out the one piece, but that's not how love is.



Sometimes the going gets rough, but if you can hold it together, everything will be fine...stronger, better than the perfect, easy way out.





I'm sorry, but something in this post is causing all the stuff on my sidebar to go to the bottom. May have to delete it all.

Jaybo Monk, Berlin

Champ visited Jaybo at his incredible work space in Berlin, just as he was working on some upcoming pieces for two Australian shows next month.

Keep an eye out for the full visit on our website.

TOFF Birds of a Feather Challenge

This week's TOFF challenge is Birds of a Feather. Actually, this was my original design for last week's Crown or Hat challenge, but I decided to use my Macabre Monday card to enter that one, so this one didn't get made. Still liked the idea, though, and chicks are obviously birds, so... Anyway, I've used Chick Girl for the main image and created my own DP using another little chick from the Easter and Spring Digital Set. I added the "chicks rule" with my Printmaster Platinum computer program. I'm really not too fond of the Copic yellows so the yellow on Chick Girl and the lighter chicks on the DP are painted (rather messily) with Distress Inks. I've drawn the crowns on all the of the small ones and colored them in with a gold gel pen.

I've also painted and sponged the background with Distress inks. The rest of the Chick Girl is colored with Copics. Her crown is a Stampendous Stamp that I heat embossed and cut and popped. I won the stamp on Taylor's blog. She's on the Stampendous DT and does fabulous work and has wonderful giveaways. I've added a feather and also the bow that is part of the Chick Girl image. I really enjoy working with the fun quirky stamps from The Octopode Factory. Check out more inspiration from the fabulous DT HERE.

MY PINK STAMPER DESIGN TEAM MONTHLY PROJECT

 today is our monthly design team project for 

my pink stamper. we are using a stamp from the latest release. you can see them all HERE. they are worth the click, trust me!

i decided to use the yummy-licious one for my project.

Welcome

it is a tag

(we are getting a new neighbor on our street and this gorgeous tag will go along some yummy cookies)

i keep using some of the papers i found in my stash. they are so beautiful!

the house is from kate's abc's, image #26 on the overlay and cut at 1.96 x 2.92". i had to manipulated a bit to fit on my skinny tag. i cut it multiple times to get that thickness i am trying to get you to try. :P i am liking it a lot. 

the tree is from every day pop up cards: image #14 on the overlay and adjusted again to fit my tag. the tree dimensions are: 1.5 x 4".

i inked everything of course, lol and attached that twine with a tiny jewelry finding i smashed a bit to fit ;P

the flowers below the house windows are from the first stamp set  i received from my pink stamper: the awesome "simply sweet occasions".  when i lost the "hi" one from this set and i was devastated, :(

anyway, i stamped the flowers on a mat border i cut from paper doll dress up. the image/mat i used for the  "welcome" 

is from gypsy wanderings.

please stop at robyn's blog (My Pink Stamper) to see what my darling team mates have made with their stamps. i bet you you will be having a feast.

thanks you so much for stopping!

MOTTO, Berlin

Skalitzer Strasse 68,

10997 Berlin

------------------

Champ stockist #20

We choose our stockists carefully, this depends on their proximity to a good bar and/or cafe and ofcourse their premium selection of goods inside!

At MOTTO, Berlin, you're a short stroll from BurgerMeister and Keirin bikes. Perfect combo.

Their location is uniquely tucked away off main Skalitzer Strasse in a petite residential courtyard. You'll see Issue #3 of Champ amongst fellow Australian Condiment, Korea's Graphic , and NYC The Journal.

BEWARE--- A BITTEN BY THE BUG 2 CHALLENGE

 hello 

i hope you all had a great weekend.

this week at the Bitten by the Bug 2 we have a sponsor:

The Stamping Boutique

click here for the link if you want to check them out.

i tried my best with this project and my apologies to those who have mastered the art which i just mutilated with my inexpertise.

Beware

4x6"

(photo heavy) 
:(

 this was my first try but i decided to add some grass or something 

below the fence.

i used a MS punch and border to add these details.

much better here right? :)

i then added a frame, but the wrong one. :( for this challenge i had to use a frame from "happy hauntings", ooops! --sorry heather.

and the beware sentiment is from My Pink Stamper latest release
"spook-alicious".

here is my scarecrow in all its glory, :)

now, if i tried, you can too.
go ahead and participate in the challenge.
you can see now you do not have to be a pro. just have to be brave and try something new. and then publish it for the wide world to see, hehe

notes... i do not own any fancy markers and all i had was a crayola watercolors set and that is what i used to color this image. i also used watercolor paper i had in my stash.

click on this logo above and it will take you to the site so you can participate in the challenge and have fun with us too.

and...if you leave me a link to your project i will then select one for a little surprise from me to you.

thanks for stopping by.

love you all!