Fabulous Inky Friday at Tiddly Inks

TGIF! Really! Not that the weekend is gonna be all that great either but... Obviously I'm still in a bit of a funk. Sorry, guys. I did manage a card though, for my Sweetie who does so much for me, even when I'm a crab cake. LOL The lovely image is Will You? from Tiddly Inks Victorian Gothic/Steampunk Release. Sooo romantic, no? I've colored them up with Copics in shades of brown for a vintage feel (except for the red hair, but I just HAD to make her red).

My original plan was to use one of the ADORABLE NEW SUGAR AND SPICE GIRLS but this sentiment was very timely this week so those cuties will be for another day. OOhh, I'm getting sort of misty here. Lotsa love goin' around.

The gorgeous papers are from DCWV Tattered Time stack and Tim Holtz Lost and Found. The mats are cut with Nesties Labels Seventeen and popped for dimension. The pearls are Recollections. Now pop on over to the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog to see Some fab inspiration by our Tiddly fans and more of the Tiddly Inkers. If you're featured, you may grab bragging rights and a fab badge for your blog. Also, our current Acrylic Challenge is still going on and the projects there are AMAZING. And if you'd like to see a whle bunch of inspiration for the fab Sugar 'n Spice gals take a look at Christy's blog HERE. I'm also adding this to the Whimsical Wednesdays Anything Goes Challenge, the Delightful Pearls and Swirls Challenge and the For Fun Warmth Challenge. That's all for now.

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.

Look What's New at Tiddly Inks

As soon as I saw Forever, I dropped everything and had to play. Tell me they aren't the most ROMANTIC vampire couple EVER! I merged them with the moon and coffin from The Vampire Extra Pack, which is simple to do in just about any computer program using the "layer" feature (I use Printmaster Platinum from , since the images now come in both jpeg and png format, and colored the whole shebang with Copics. The shaped card was quickly made using my Grand Caliber and Grand Circle Nesties. The sentiment is done with glitter sticker letters that seem to have lost their packaging in my Halloween stash. The gem swirl and tiny stars are by Recollections form M's, and the fabby ribbon is May Arts.

Ya know the teeth here are kinda subtle. I'm thinkin' it might just be nice for an anniversary card. The coffin...well, maybe not, but ahhhhh....immortal love...sounds good to me. And who doesn't love a little love bite, now and again? Be sure to check out all of the fab images in the What's New section of the Tiddly Inks Store. There's one more gorgeous Vamp Me digi, along with a new Wizard to go with that adorable Wizardette, and the sweetest little gal from the 20's, Aida, along with a dashing new beau, Aiden, who all the Victorian Gothic/Steampunk ladies have their eye on. And don't forget the current Thank You Teacher challenge, now going on on the Challenge Blog and the new Wow Ya Wednesday, where we feature artists from all around Blogland. To round out your Tiddly week, tomorrow is Fabulous Inky Friday where we announce our winners and highlight gorgeous examples from the DT and YOU! There's a special badge for those of you who are featured so be sure and take a peek. I'm also entering this in the Get Edgey with Jessica Dietrich Challenge over at The Ribbon Carousel.

Wanna Know a Secret? and BBTB2 Blog Hop Winner

I woke up in sort of a lovey dovey mood this morning and wanted to make a card "just because". I've got plenty of DT stuff to get done, but I just wasn't sure I could get going on that until I did a little "quickie". It just so happened I'd printed out the Sexy Ladies #1 cut outs sheet from Peggy Loves Vintage recently, and this little flirtatious cutie caught my eye. Perfect! I used the fun retro dot DP from Cosmo Cricket Early Bird line and cut a window straight through the mat layers with my Nestie hearts. I then used the scalloped hearts on the dotty mat to make a frame. I printed the sentiment on a smaller heart and added a gorgeous silk bow.

I decided to fussy cut her out so I could use the off cuts of my hearts behind her. HeeHee, she's a cheeky one! I had a ball making this for my Sweetie. Hope he loves it! Peggy's images couldn't be cuter, so I hope you'll take a look at the huge variety of vintage images Peggy has on her store. There really is something for any occasion, and for no occasion at all. LOL

And now the moment you've all been waiting for (for 2 whole days because I've been a terrible SLUG!)...The Winner of the $40.00 Gift Certificate to CUSTOM CROPS is.........NO. 32!!!!!

Paula Bee who said...

WooHoo, Paula! Please email me at dlmundinger(at)yahoo(dot)com to arrange for your prize!

Tiddly Inks Simplify, One Layer Card

Oh what a challenge from the Tiddly Inkers today! Simplify and make a one layer card. What? Eiyiyi! As you know clean and simple is hard enough for me, but ONE LAYER!? Fortunately I'd been blog hopping and came across a beautiful card that StampinAngelJenn had made for her hubby's birthday HERE. The sentiment just spoke to me so I "borrowed" it and used Love Hurts to create a one layer card. Jenn informed me that the sentiment is actually part of the gorgeous image she used by Michelle Perkett Studio. I sized and colored each heart individually on my Pagemaker Pro computer program, added the computer generated sentiment and used my Cuttlebug border to emboss above and below.

I also made some quick note cards using one of Christy's Colored Art images. Her beautiful Flower Blooms is perfect for any occasion and would make a lovely card gift set in the blink of an eye. The image has a soft yellow background so I sized it to fit the inside of a Nesties Classic Scalloped rectangle and I embossed the frame (instead of cut it) using my Grand Caliber. This would work with your Cuttlebug or Big Shot as well. I'm also entering this card in the Less is More One Layer Frame it Challenge.

Simply print your image and tape your Nestie to the card front using removeable tape.

Turn your card cut side up on the base plate, but instead of using the cutting plate, use the embossing mat and plate as your sandwich and run it through your machine.

Here's how it looks on the inside after I punched tiny holes and threaded Peapod twine from The Twinery through to dress up the front. Easy peasy! Christy has loads of fabulous colored images in the Colored Art Section of the SHOP that makes cardmaking a breeze! Christy also has a fabulous Freebie Template and tut on her blog HERE. There is some exciting news about the new shop with new features and for less than a day, today, there's a special freebie printable notecard set available when you register for the new shop so hurry! Be sure to visit Christy's Blog to find out the deets and exciting new coming attractions. Now check out the rest of the Tiddly Inkers inspirational one layer cards and we hope you decide to simplify with us this week.

BBTB2 Forever Young Sunglasses Challenge

Time for another BBTB2 challenge and this week our dear and terrifically talented Heather has chosen the sunglasses from Forever Young. Sure wish I needed sunglasses the last few days, but it's been chilly and dark with sporadic rain. Not May CA weather at all. I redesigned my glasses a bit into "love goggles", you know, those wonderful things that you see your Sweetie through when you are head over heels in love that permanently erase anything but youth and beauty in your eyes. I used Cricut DS to make a shaped card using the shadow cuts of the sunglasses and welded the hearts from Cake Basics to them. A teeny amount of hand trimming was required near the nose bridge. The sparkly DP is from K&Co Portobello Road. "Hot" is also from Forever Young and is just how I see my man, even after all these years. (I'm kinda counting on him wearing them too, if YKWIM. LOL) I cut it 3 times each, glued them slightly offset, added some gems and popped them up. The cool holographic striped paper is from my LSS. I have no idea why I bought the stuff, but could it have been any cooler for this project?

I actually was gonna quit there, but the glasses looked too plain so I searched for a tropical flower and found several. I was thinkin' that it would be tucked behind my ear as we frolicked in the sand. The one I chose was from Car Decals because it had a shadow (and the ones from Life's a Beach did not). Normally I would have welded the shadow of the flower to the whole thing as well, but it was an afterthought. Thankfully I was able to peel some of the assembled layers away to insert the shadow where I wanted it and build from there. The DP is also K&Co, this time from Que Sera Sera. I love the fabulous prints and saturated colors of those lines. The stamen is actually from on of the hibiscuses from Life's a Beach because it was in one piece instead of a bunch of little circles near the end so I tweaked it in DS to make it fit and added adhesive gems and Stickles to bling it up a bit.

Here's the dimensional shot. My DT sisters HERE have done fabulous work with the cut, as always, and if you'd like to play along, remember, you can use any sunglasses from any cart if you don't have Forever Young. I'm also entering this in the current Whimsical Wednesday Take Shape Challenge which is to make a shaped card. So sorry Steph, that this is combined, but the chances of me making 2 shaped cards in a week are pretty slim and I so wanted to play along. Be sure to stop over to Whimsical Wednesday Challenges too, and prepare to be amazed. So there you have it. I'm smiling big time, still thoroughly lost in my little island fantasy and longing for the day we can run away, smash the mirrors, and see ourselves only through love's reflection. MMMmmm....perfect!

Cards for Men "Someone Special" Challenge

Neither my man, nor I, are feeling particularly fit at the moment. Overindulgence and crafting (for me at least) has pretty much taken it's toll. We each complain about various body parts, yet to each other, we still look pretty darn hot. (Keepin' those love goggles on, right Baby?) The nice weather is at least getting us moving again. He's working hard outside and I'm back to my walks and workouts. So here's a card for my big strong man. The image is from the Smitten digi set from Smeared Ink. The DP is from the La Crema 8x8 stack by DVWV. The image is enhanced by Copics in the W range and inked with Frayed Burlap Distress. It's cut with Nesties Labels Eleven. The sentiment is computer generated , inked and cut with Nesties Labels Ten. The gorgeous tassel trim was a gift from Kellie Winnell, of Tickled Pink Stamps, when I was a Guest Designer. (Thanks so much, Kellie!) I've been hoarding it because Kellie only ships stamps outside of Australia so I can't order more. I'm entering it in the Cards for Men Someone Special Challenge, because no one is more special than my man. LOVE YOU, Sweetheart! xxxxxxxxx

New Tiddly Inks Gothic Pin-Ups Release

WooHoo! Christy has released her new Gothic Pin-Ups and the Tiddly Inkers got to play! I chose Made For You. Isn't she a DOLL!? And she's just one of 6 new gals, 3 new paper sets and a sentiments to match, available now at the Tiddly Inks STORE. WOOHOO! I chose to go a little Goth with my skully DP from DCWV Madly in Love Stack, the exposed zipper, with my EK Success punch, and the safety pin holding the "Made for You" sentiment. I added the "I was" using my Printmaster Pro software because the inside says "and you were made for me." Don'tcha feel that way about someone? The Tiddly Inkers rocked the new images and just go to show you that they don't have to go Goth. They're very versatile and loads of fun to color. Go take a look at them all HERE. Happy Saturday! (It's a great day for shopping!)

A Cutie Couple From Peggy Loves Vintage

I've been dying to use this sweet little Dutch boy and girl from Peggy Loves Vintage Cutie Couples 3 cut outs but just couldn't decide on DP. I was drawn to the dark background and thought my new tulip border folder from Stampin' UP (thanks, Lillie!) was just perfect, but where would I go from there? I kept thinking tulips and Spring, but none of my pastels looked quite right so I leafed through my DCWV La Crema 8x8 stack and found this flocked DP that looked to me just like tulips. I lightened it up with a bit of lace and added some flowers from Making Memories Vintage Findings et Voila! it all came together perfectly. That's what I love about the Peggy Loves Vintage images, you can make a unique, professional looking card in no time at all. WooHoo! I left the sentiment off because I think it's pretty versatile and I love it so much I'm considering framing it.

Peggy has CD's and cut outs for every occasion so be sure to check out her Etsy, Ebay, or Web Store, and if you pop over to her BLOG, you just might find a freebie. She's such a sweetie that way!

Tiddly Inks Color Me Challenge

It's Tuesday, and time for another fun challenge sure to brighten your day at the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog. We Tiddly Inkers are banishing the winter blahs with a serious dose of color! Our Color Me Challenge encourages you to use as many colors as possible and the Sassafras rainbow paper was perfect to pair with Catch My Heart. She's colored with Copics and cut out with a Labels Nine Nestie. The sun peeking out behind her are Nesties Pinking Circles and the checkered scalloped border are from the same Sassafras DP. The sentiment is computer generated and cut with a Nesties Deckle Rectangle. Doesn't all this glorious color chase your blues away? For more inspiration be sure to check out the gorgeous projects by my DT sisters and come join us in this super fun challenge.

Tiddly Inks Monochromatic Challenge

It's another Tiddly Tuesday and this week our challenge is Monochromatic at the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog. I'm obviously still in the mood for love, using As You Wish behind my Nestie Heart window. This is one of Christy's most romantic images which always brings to mind the quote, from a poem by Anne (Dudley) Bradstreet. It says, (in case you can't read it through the yummy paper) "If ever two were one, then surely we". I'm pretty sure I first heard this in the early 70's when I was learning about life and true love and it has stayed with me all these years. MMMMmmm....perfect love. It truly warms my heart.

The couple and roses on the front are colored with Copics and the lovely corner flourish is a Spellbinder's die from Heartfelt Creations. There are gorgeous example of monochromatic designs by the Tiddly Inkers so be sure to check out their lovely work HERE and pop by Christy's blog for a peek at what's new and a fab freebie sentiment. Remember, we welcome all images in our challenges, but you are only eligible to win a prize if you use a Tiddly Inks image. You can find some each Tuesday on Christy's blog, The Tiddly Inks PCP Group (just ask to join if you're not already a member), and some permanent ones in the Shop. Hope to see you soon!

Macabre Monday Love Bites (Romance is Dead) Challenge

This week the Macabre Monday Challenge at Haunted Design House is Love Bites; the End of Romance. Certainly love can hurt and for those who have been wronged, Valentine's Day is a painful reminder. I hope that's not the case for you. I used the Cricut Love Struck Cartridge to design a shaped card using Design Studio. I've done a bit of trimming to accomodate the fabulous Corset Heart Stamp from Strange Skin, this week's sponsor.

Inside is a computer generated sentiment cut with my Nesties Labels Seventeen. A crime of passion or self inflicted? Stop by Haunted Design House to see how the rest of the Minions celebrate VD. YIKES!

The Cuttlebug Spot Inspired by a Song

This week at The Cuttlebug Spot we're taking our inspiration from a song. I immediately knew the artist, Eva Cassidy, but as she's my fave, the decision of which song was pretty daunting. Eva has the voice of an angel and unfortunately she's with the angels now, having passed away at a young age from melanoma. She did not sing original songs, but was a genius at arranging the songs of others. Keeping the Cuttlebug in mind, I finally chose "Fields of Gold" which is fitting because it was the first song I ever heard her sing over the radio and I actually went online to the radio program listing to find the artist, it touched me so. I'd never particularly liked Sting's version but Eva's is magical. Her voice takes me away to a special place I hold in my heart. Please have a listen.

I made a shaped card using the frame from Accent Essentials, hiding the inside contours and welding them together. Usually I try to do my Cuttlebug Spot card with only the Cuttlebug, but I noticed on the Bontanicals Lite cart there was a sheaf of grain that I wanted to incorporate, so I used the frame again and welded that shadow of the grain to it. I thought this made a lovely foreground. My fields of gold are embossed with the Bird Call Cuttlebug folder that I fussy cut and popped. (I also cut off the bird) I used the Sizzix Tim Holtz Rays folder for the jealous sky and a Nestie Inverted Scalloped Circle for the sun.

To add a bit of texture to the sheaf I used the small dots from the butterfly cut and emboss combo set just at the tips.

I did quite a bit of popping to get the the amount of depth I wanted and inked everything in warm tones of Distress Ink to help enhance the embossing. The sentiment, of course, are words from the song, computer genterated and cut with Nesties Label One. The inside sentiment is also lyrics from the song that I need not share. You know...

I have no music on my blog but if I did, it would probably all be Eva. I hope you listened while reading about my card, and if you have a chance, find more of her music to enjoy. Now pop on over to The Cuttlebug Spot to see what inspires my fellow teamies. I'm anxious to find out myself. (I usually wait until the new challenge is up to post but I was anxious to share this one. Sorry if I jumped the gun.)

Just One More

Are you ready? I'm not, but you know some things just aren't gonna get done this year. Some things are just more important. (Who is this girl and what have you done with Donna? LOL) No really, I will breathe deep and let it go. One more card for my love. Couldn't pass up The Christmas Present, another of the images I won from Sassy Studio Designs. Don't think he'll be able to pass her up either. Colored with Copics with some Spica shimmer, DP is SEI Wintersong (some of my fave!) Chipboard tag is K&Co.

It took me awhile to figure out what was hair, what was ribbon, and what was skin on this image, especially since I started it at 3:30 am. LOL I cut her out using my Nesties Beaded Ovals and used Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass for highlights. I thought of quite a few sentiments, but I think the one I finally chose is the right one.

The mat is popped to give it some dimension and take a look at that gorgeous ribbon. I usually don't write on my cards as part of the design, but besides the fact I couldn't figure out how to use the computer to print on a dimensional tag, I think it's more personal in this case...VERY personal. : )

As you can see, the window goes through all of the layers. I'm surprised I managed to get it lined up. Truly a labor of love, especially this late in the game. Merry Christmas, Darling xx All I want for Christmas is you!

Butterfly Kisses

So do you believe it, a non Halloween, Thanksgiving OR Christmas card? LOL I planned to enter this in a challenge for Some Odd Girl Digi Day but I was too late. I used Kissy Mae who's blowing lots of butterfly kisses to her Sweetie. Isn't she adorable? She's colored with Copics and fussy cut and popped. The butterflies are punched with various MS punches and the paper is Me&My Big Ideas. I do think it's "girly girl" enough to enter in the Stampotique Designers Challenge and although I prefer to use my Stampotique stamps for those, it's not required this time. (Hopefully I can do another using them later).

The mat is cut with my Nesties Mega Ovals Large and popped. The sentiment is computer generated and cut with Labels One. Flowers are prima. xx

Tiddly Inks Fall Princess (and Princes) Challenge

This is my second post of the day, so scroll down to see my Cuttlebug Spot project for this week.

We're celebrating glorious Fall this week at Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog with a challenge that will run for 2 weeks. We've brought out our Princes and Princesses and decked them in Fall colors, and if that isn't enough, we've added backgrounds as well. I have used the romantic As You Wish (tell me that phrase doesn't give you tingles!) along with Gothic Window. The loving couple was colored with Copics. I couldn't quite imagine coloring the window background, so instead I printed it out 3 times in coordinating DP's and fussy cut the individual stones. Through the open window (again, cut out by me) you can see their Castle in the Sky. Can't you just tell this fairytale will have a happy ending?




I've made the scene dimensional with foam and strewn some autumn leaves about, cut and embossed with the Disney Halloween Cuttlebug combo. The sentiment label is from the Cuttlebug Fancy Labels Embossing Plus folders.

The sentiment itself is a Tim Holtz stamp; "A dream is a wish your heart makes". I believe in dreams and that if you wish hard enough, they're bound to come true, don't you? xx

There is also a new blog called the Fairy Tale Challenge Blog and I'm also entering this in their very first challenge which is Anything Goes.

Now take a moment to see the glorious projects the rest of the Tiddly Inkers have made, and lucky you, you have 2 weeks to complete this challenge, so upload your entries by November 23 for a chance to win.

Reality Bites!

Believe it or not I did a card "just because". No DT, no challenge, just because I wanted to. Meet Lilith, one of the Devil Dolls digis (say THAT 3 times fast! LOL) from StampInsanity. Lilith is feeling a little blue. Perhaps she has not come to terms with her "reality" and longs for the life that is just a sweet distant memory. Certainly she needs to improve her feeding habits. What a mess! Obviously the poor thing is starving! (for love?) Lilith is colored with Copics with a little Spica pen enhancement that doesn't show up. The bloody background are two digis from Tiddly Inks (do you believe that?! Probably not what Christy had in mind LOL) The drips are a freebie HERE and the splatter is actually from the new Love Hurts set. I changed the color of each in my Printmaster Pro program, printed them on color laser printer transparency film and layered them over DP from the DCWV La Crema stack.

The frame is cut with my Nesties Mega Curved Rectangles as is the computer generated sentiment. I did a bit of popping for dimension and added a little bat brad, adhesive gems and a webby bow that looks like a bat to me. Hope you like! xx

Macabre Monday Dastardy Delicious Digis

It's our favorite month at Haunted Design House and our Macabre Monday challenge this week is Dastardly Delicious Digis sponsored by Delicious Doodles. I've already told you how I'm IN LOVE with the fabulous Loves Faded Memory Digi Stamp that has inspired me in previous challenges so here it is in all it's glory. I've printed it 4 times and fussy cut the image over and over to create the dimension I crave. (No hon, that skull is mine, notice all the teeth?) It's so beautifully rendered that the only color I added was to the beautiful rose ( with Copics).

I hadn't the foresight to add a computer sentiment so I managed to cut "Forever" with the Sweethearts cartridge on my Cricut. Sooooo delicate... Matted with the MS Gothic Arch Punch Around the Page. The DP is DCWV La Crema stack with gorgeous flocking. Then laced with ribbon and an added charm. (Reminds me of some lingerie) Romantic...no?

Please visit Haunted Design House for more visual stimulation and check out Delicious Doodles for even more inspiration ( they're not ALL Macabre). There's also a fabulous gargoyle that's TOO DIE FOR! (It was a toss up for me, but true love won out.) xx

BBTB2 Oct 31st Candle Challenge- Love Never Dies

No, you're not seeing things. This isn't my Macabre Monday post. Scroll down for that. HeeHee! Thanks to our fabulously talented DT sister Sandi, I got to do TWO Halloweenish projects in a row (and you all know how I LOVE Halloween!) This week at BBTB2 we were to use the dripping candle from the Oct 31st cartridge. The inspiration for my card came from 2 places. One is the Halloween tableau I do around my front door each year (yes, I made those dripping candles on the skully head and there's a single one too on the other side that didn't quite make it in the pic) and the second is a beautiful digi stamp from Delicious Doodles called "Loves Faded Memory".

I made a shaped card using Design Studio combining images from Indy Art, Oct 31 (duh!) and Sweethearts (Love).

No shadows on the Oct 31st cart so I hid contours on the candle and did the slightly offsetting technique to approximate one. I'm not really sure if you can see in the pic, but I used glossy accents to give true dimension to the drips. (Much like I used hot glue on the candles on my porch). I find that with this much Glossy Accents the paper tends to curl, so I cut the candle in white 3 times and glued them together for thickness...problem solved!

The heart is embossed with the Script Cuttlebug Folder and inked a bit with Aged Mahogany Distress. I like to think of it as memories of love letters etched deep into the heart (tell me you didn't keep some of those). The top layer of the rose is done in velvet paper enhances with a little bling.

Oh yeah, lots of dimension. You know that's my favorite part!

And Looky! I even finished the inside! A word on that. There is NO WAY you can made a card like this and not have an inside mat. It simply won't stand up, so plan for it when you're doing the design. I added a bit of drippy goo to mimic the candle wax. the sentiment is computer generated and I went AGAIN to my Fanciful Labels Embossing Plus folder. Sorry for the long post, I kinda liked this project. Hope you aren't all too creeped out. Now go and see the fabulous inspiration from my DT sisters on BBTB2. And you don't need the Oct 31st cartridge to play along, any candle will do.