RUNNING A BIT BEHIND!

Well my friends, I was already a little behind in my posting this week due to a day of a migraine and just some other “life” issues, and then yesterday, my internet was out almost ALL DAY – ugh!  So, I have a bunch of new stuff to share with you today and probably spilling into tomorrow as well. 

First up is our NEW CHALLENGE at THE POODLES PARLOUR and this week we are THRILLED to be sponsored by WHOOPSI DAISY SHOP.  Our challenge this week is “GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES,” so let’s see those circles!!

Btw, there is also a DT call going on and you can check that out over at THE POODLES PARLOUR.

I have used an image from Sheet #342, which you can find at WHOOPSI DAISY SHOP.  I have colored her with Copics and cut using Nesties and a Taylored Expressions die.  I added lace from Hobby Lobby, ribbon from my stash, Baker’s Twine from Doodlebug Design, pearls and bling from Prima, sentiment from MFT, which is cut with Nestie.  Paper is Basic Grey DP and SU CS.  I hope you like it and will come play along.

Additional challenges entered:
PAPER SUNDAES – anything goes
ROBYN’S FETISH – spring image cards
SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS – frame it
STAMPTACULAR SUNDAY – anything goes
THE HYBRID CHICK – spring
BASIC GREY CHALLENGES – spring colors plus Basic Grey item (DP)
LITTLE CLAIRES DESIGNS – doing the rounds (lots of circles)
ONE STOP CRAFT – 3 circles
STAMP, SCRAP and DOODLE – pastels
INSPIRED BY STAMPING – sketch

CANDY WINNERS

Well, I never meant to wait this long to choose my winners, but life got much busier and more hectic than I had imagined, so it has taken me til now.  Thanks so much for everyone who played along.


Before I announce my CANDY WINNERS for Spring Candy, just a note that I will have NEW CANDY very soon, so if you didn't win this time, stay tuned...

SPRING CANDY WINNER

#16 DAWN LL

Bonus winners

#97 GERMANA

#87 DECIBELUSHKA

Please contact me before next Fri., April 20 or I will REDRAW

NEW CHALLENGE AT MILKCOFFEE–BOLD AND BRIGHT COLORS!!

Hello everyone and time for another NEW CHALLENGE at MILKCOFFEE CHALLENGE and this week, it’s to use BOLD AND BRIGHT COLORS in your creation.  I am a huge fan of bold and bright colors – I definitely use them more than any others on the color spectrum.

Our challenge runs 2 weeks, so you have until Wednesday, April 25 at 8pm EST to enter.  Remember, you do not need to use a MILKCOFFEE SHOP image in your creation, but we’d sure love to see one!! 

For my creation today, I have used MILKCOFFEE SHOP image “Birthday Girl with Bunny Ears.”  I love this wonderful Manga style image, especially the eyes and the hair and it was SUPER fun to color with my Copics.  She is cut out with Lifestyle Craft dies.  Sentiment is from MFT, and is obviously PERFECT for the image, and cut with Verve die.  Pearls from Prima, ribbon is Offray, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and papers from Bazzill, American Crafts, SU and Three Bugs in a Rug.  Hope you like it and will come play along.

Additional challenges:
DIGITAL TUESDAY – Birthday plus digital element
SASSY CHERYL'S – anything goes
CRAFTS AND ME – go 3D with embellies, etc.
CRAFTY CREATIONS – flower power
BELLI CHALLENGE – children
SCRAPBOOK SISTERS – anything goes
PAPER PRETTIES – 2 or more Designer papers
SIMON SAYS STAMPS CHALLENGE – April showers and/or spring flowers
LOVE TO CREATE – birthday
STAMP WITH FUN – sketch

MY FIRST TUTORIAL IN A WHILE!

Hello everyone!  Today is my first tutorial, in what I hope to be a long series of tutorials over at CARD CRAFTER'S CIRCLE.  

I just want to do a little coloring tutorial for you today.  Mind you, it's very basic and would have been much better if I knew how to record it, but alas, I do not, so hopefully my pictures will provide a good enough description of what I am trying to demonstrate.

Have you ever colored an image and what you see looking back at you on the page appears incredibly flat, lifeless and dull?  This can happen no matter how cute or detailed the image is because in order to give a realistic looking appearance, the image needs more than one dimension.

Here you see my image, the adorable "Babysaurus" from DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS.  I have added one layer of color - I have listed my colors to the side.


I love this image, but notice how it is so 1 dimensional and just looks flat.  So, my next step is to come in and add a darker color is certain areas, to give some dimension.  I am not really worrying about where my light is coming at this point, but you will notice, especially on the face, I will do one side darker than the other.



I haven't done much blending here because I want to show a little bit where the 2nd color is coming in.  I try and keep the colors relatively close in terms of color family, value and saturation, leaving the face as the area with the most dramatic contrast at the moment.  Colors added were E11, E57, YG63, Y38, BO4 and a bit of E21.



Finally, I'm going to come in and blend the unblended areas and then I'm going to add some darker colors, shadows, etc.  I realize I should have take more pictures for this last step, so I will try and give a bit more explaination here.  I blended the colors on the face and then added a bit of E13 and BV00
so you can see the roundness of the face.  I added YG67 to the outer edges of the dinosaur and then went back over with YG61 to create more contrast through the middle.  .  I also added a third color to the very bottom of the hair E59, some R21 for the cheeks and inside of ears.  I added a darker color at the bottom of the dinosaurs spots and then made them stand out more by using YG67 on the tops of each spot, again, adding dimension.

Don't be afraid to experiemnt with different color families or jumping up 10 or more numbers.  For example, I added YR04 to the outer edge and parts of ring on the pacifier.  I used B06 and B16 for some more dimension on the baby's onesie and then I did remove some color with my Copic blender pen.  Last, I added some color underneath so that the baby looks to be sitting somewhere and not suspended in mid air - I believe it's BV04 and BV02.  I also added some grey highlights using N2, again just to show more of the additional dimension of the image.  I hope I have provided some helpful hints today and that you have enjoyed my tutorial.  Hugs!!

NEW CHALLENGE AT THE PIXIE COTTAGE–PAPER PIECING and/or SKETCH

Well, where to start?!?  I only got about 1/2 of what I wanted to do yesterday due to a couple horrid migraines – change in weather (?!?) and both my laptop and our desktop computer have been moving at tortoise speed, so that is super frustrating.  But, at least the sun was shining most of yesterday and hopefully today YAY!

We have a NEW CHALLENGE at THE PIXIE COTTAGE today and it’s PAPER PIECING and/or SKETCH.  As always, Katie has provided a FABULOUS sketch for us. 

You have until 11:59pm CST on Tuesday, Arpil 17 to come join our challenge.  Although we’d LOVE to see you use an image from MICHELLE'S  SCRAPBOOKING and MORE, it is not required to play along.  Remember, creations must be new.  As always, the DT have done some amazing work, so please check it out at THE PIXIE COTTAGE blog and if you have time, I’m sure they’d love a visit to their personal blogs.

For my creation this week, I used South End Girls 1 by Andrea T. Seiler.  I love this line of stamps (wish there were more)  I have colored her with Copics and paper pieced her dress with SU DP from a Simply Scrappin kit.  All papers on card are from same SU kit.  I added a flower from Prima, butterfly from K and Co., Offray ribbon and bling-y flowers from Darice.  Sentiment is from MFT clear stamps and cut with Nesties.  The image of the wall, tree and rolling hills is a digi from DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS called “Background Country Wall.”  Triangle piece is cut with Lifestyle Crafts die.  Hope you like it and will come play along!!

Additional Challenges:


CELEBRATE THE OCCASION – just because and use pink
EVERYBODY ART CHALLENGE – spring
SCRAP-CREATIONS – spring
JACKSON’S DIGITAL EXPRESSIONS – anything goes
LADYBUG'S CRAFTS INK - shapes
SASSY CHERYL'S – anything goes
TOP TIP TUESDAY – spotty/dotty
USE IT TUESDAY – anything goes plus hoarded supplies (flowers, bling)
CUPCAKE CRAFT – spring is in the air
DIGI MAKEOVER CHALLENGE – bright colors (plus digi – background image)

DISTRESS IT AT THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE CHALLENGE!

Happy Tuesday everyone!  We have a NEW CHALLENGE for you today over at THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE CHALLENGE and it is to USE DISTRESSING on your creation – so rip it, tear it, crumple it, sand it, use distress ink, fray it, etc.  You know what to do!

You have until Monday, April 16 at 11am EST to enter your creation at THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE CHALLENGE.  While we would LOVE to see you use an image from THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE, it is not required to enter our challenge.  However, if you do use one, you will get 2 entries per project for purposes of our random.org winner’s draw.  You also get 2 entries for each layout entered.

Close up of distressed flowers

For my card today, I used “Goth Girl on a Wall” from THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE.  I had such fun coloring this fabulous image with my Copics and Fiskars glitter gel pens.  I cut the image with Nesties as well as background DP from Kaisercraft, which I also distressed with my Distress It electric tool.  I used Coredinations papers for the 2 half pieces that I embossed with Cuttlebug and Sizzix folders and then I sanded them with my sanding wedge.  Sentiment is from Verve and I have cut it with Nesties and then distressed by daubing with Tim Holtz distress ink.  Ribbon is from SU, rest of CS is Bazzill, heart pin is from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Flowers are from Prima and have been distressed by adding black Memento ink to leaves and flower.  I hope you like it and come play along.

Additional Challenges:
HOUSE OF GILLI – flowers
MAKE IT MONDAY – anything goes
PAPER PRETTIES – lots of layers (8)
SMUDGY ANTICS – anything goes (no cute)
TAMMY SCRAPIN CORNER – anything goes plus embossing
THE PINK ELEPHANT – flowers
TOTALLY STAMPALICIOUS – friendship

ONE STITCH AT A TIME – use a digi
ROBYN'S FETISH – anything goes
GRAPHICAT – sketch

EASTER CHALLENGE AT DI’S DIGI DESIGNS

Happy Saturday everyone and welcome to a NEW CHALLENGE at DI'S DIGI DESIGNS and this week it’s EASTER (can also be spring).  You have until Friday, April 20 at 11:59pm EST to come play along with us.  We have another AWESOME sponsor, MICHELLE'S SCRAPBOOKING and MORE and she is offering a $10 voucher to our winner!!

While it is not necessary to use an image from DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS to play in our challenge, using one will give you a chance to win 2 images from DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS in addition to the random.org drawn sponsor prize!

For today’s creation, I have used “Easter Egg Bunny” from DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS.   What a perfect image for Easter!  I have colored him with Copics and cut using Nesties.  Papers are Bazzill and First Edition.  I used a Lifestyle Crafts EF on pink piece, ribbon from my stash, flowers from Cloud 9 Design, sentiment from MFT which is cut with Verve die.  Sure hope you like it and will come play along!!

Additional challenges:
ATCs AND CARDS WITH ATTITUDE – anything goes
CARD MAKIN’ MAMAS – Easter
CRAFTS 4 ETERNITY – bunnies or chicks
DELICIOUS DOODLES – textures
FAIRY FUN FRIDAYS – anything goes  
FAIRY TALE CHALLENGE – everything goes + blog hop
GLITTER GEEKS – Easter
PATTIE’S CREATIONS – Easter
SIMPLY CREATE TOO – Eggs and/or bunnies

THE HYBRID CHICK – sketch

NEW RELEASES AT DIGITAL DELIGHTS!!

It’s Thursday and the last day of school for the kids this week as we head into 4 day long Easter weekend.  I love kids not having school because I get to sleep past 6am and I love my kids and they mostly are a great joy, but sometimes, they are very needy and fight a lot when they are home on a what would normally be a typical school day.  Oh well, like everything in life, you take the good with the slightly irritating

Guess what?!?  It’s the first Thursday of the month and you know what that means – NEW RELEASES at DIGITAL DELIGHTS SHOP!!  You are going to LOVE this month’s release – DELIGHTFUL OZ.  If you get a chance, take the yellow brick road on over to DIGITAL DELIGHTS BLOG and check out the FABULOUS creations from the DT.  I’m sure the gals would love a visit to their personal blogs if you have time

This week, I am working with DIPLOMA HAYSATACKS and I have added him to Tree Stump image.  I have colored the images with Copics and cut using Nesties.  I have added other Nesties cut pieces using Bazzill and First Edition (DP) papers.  Ribbon is from SU, sentiment, which is cut with Memory Box die, is from TPC and embroidery floss is from JoAnn.  Flower is from my stash.  I sure hope you like it!

Also, we have a NEW CHALLENGE this week at DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES and our sponsor prize this week is AMAZING, so you are definitely going to want to check that out and come play along!!

Additional challenges:
PAPERCRAFT STAR – anything goes
SIMONS SAYS STAMPS CHALLENGE – use your favorite tool (Big shot and Nesties)
WHIMSY INSPIRATION – use ribbon on your card
BY THE CUTE AND GIRLY – Once Upon a Time (Wizard of Oz)
DESERT ISLAND CRAFTS CHALLENGE – Using – 1. suitable for a child under 10, 2. masculine, 3. no glitter, 4.  2 or more patterned papers, 5. brown
JOANNA SHEEN CHALLENGE – creation for male
JUST KEEP ON CREATING – anything goes
OOZAK CHALLENGE – anything goes
PRETTY LITTLE RIBBON SHOP – must use ribbon plus die cuts
SEEMS A LITTLE SKETCHY – sketch

MILKCOFFEE SHOWCASE THIS WEEK–TIFFANY IMAGES and BLING!

Back again today before I head off to bed and boy do I need it!  It has been great having family visiting, but with this being the week after vacation and back on kids’ school schedule, it has all been quite exhausting.   Luckily, we have a 4 day weekend surrounding Easter, so I am hoping to catch up on some sleeping!

This week the showcase DT at MILKCOFFEE BLOG and we are showing off the Gorgeous series of TIFFANY images and adding some bling.  Tiffany is very glamorous indeed, hence the image name “Glamorous Tiffany,” which you can find at MILKCOFFEE SHOP.  I have colored her with Copics and cut her out with scissors.  She is mounted on a Nesties cut up that is embossed with Sizzix folder.  Papers are from Bazzill (CS) and Basic Grey (DP), bling is from Prima, bling-y flowers from Jolee’s Boutique and sentiment from a clear stamp set and cut with Nestie.  I sure hope you like my creation, I really enjoyed coloring her!

Also, remember our THROW ON THE FLOWERS CHALLENGE at MILKCOFFEE CHALLENGE is still going on for one more week, so come on and play along!!

Additional Challenges:

DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY – glitter and bling
DIVAS BY DESIGN – anything goes
FAB N FUNKY – embossing
JUST KEEP ON CREATING – anything goes
OOZAK – anything goes
FASHIONISTA CHALLENGE – anything goes for girls
SPARKLES FORUM – Mother’s Day or Spring
PARTY TIME TUESDAY – flowers
CRAFT YOUR PASSION – dots and stripes
SKETCH AND STASH – sketch plus flowers

WEDNESDAY WITH JUST SOME LINES:)

Hey everyone and happy Wednesday!  Hope you are having a great week.  I haven’t posted much about my life recently, but wanted to share some of  my week, which started off a wee bit crazy.  After being gone last week for 5 days on vacation with my family, we came home to a busy weekend of soccer and play dates for my kids and then my brother and his 2 children came in on Sunday and will be here til Friday morning.  My kids barely see this set of cousins - once a year or less, so they have really enjoyed their time together.
Additionally, my dogs got into a major fight Sunday late afternoon - have no idea why - and my shar-pei had to stay overnight at the Vet ER.  It was very upsetting and the poor boy still looks awful.

But enough of that, today I want to share my creation made using GABRIELA GIRL 1, which you can find at JUST SOME LINES SHOP.

I have colored this sweet image using Copics and cut with Nesties.  All shapes and border are cut with Nesties.  Ribbon from Michael's, papers are Bazzill CS and Best Creations DP.  Bling from My Mind's Eye and sentiment is from a clear stamp set from my stash.  Hope you like it!  Hugs:)

Additional challenges:

JUST KEEP ON CREATING – anything goes
PRETTY LITTLE RIBBON SHOP – use die cuts plus ribbon
FASHIONISTA CHALLENGE – anything goes for girls
THE RIBBON CAROUSEL – spooled item and Spring
CRAFTY CREATIONS – spring
BELLI CHALLENGE – 3 shapes
DIVAS BY DESIGN – anything goes
STARS AND STAMPS – thinking of you
WHIMSY INSPIRATION – use ribbon

NEW CHALLENGE–SWEET TREATS and/or SKETCH AT THE PIXIE COTTAGE

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Hope you are having a fabulous week.  The weather has been very nice here, although last night there was a pretty bad storm.  Anyhow, we have a NEW CHALLENGE for you at THE PIXIE COTTAGE and this week it’s SWEET TREATS and/or Katie’s fabulous sketch.  I have chosen to use both

Our challenge runs until Tues., April 10 at 11:59pm CST, so get those entries in prior to then.  Although we’d love to see you use an image from MICHELLE'S SCRAPBOOKING and MORE, it is not required to play along in our challenge.

I have used the image LITTLE CUPCAKE by Tina Akonom from MICHELLE'S SCRAPBOOKING and MORE.  Image is colored with Copics and cut with Nesties.  I used my new Pearl Pen for cupcake frosting.  Papers are from Three Bugs in A Rug, K and Co. and Bazzill (CS), buttons from my stash.  Sentiment comes with the image and is cut with Nesties and Prima pearls added.  Sure hope you like it and will come join the challenge!

Additional Challenges:
CELEBRATE THE OCCASION – child’s birthday
FLOURISHES TIMELESS TUESDAY – Birthday
SCRAP-CREATIONS – Birthday
TOP TIP TUESDAY – Easter or animals
USE IT TUESDAY – uninked stamp (first time I have used this stamp)
CRAFT YOUR PASSION – dots and stripes
I COPIC CHALLENGES – for a child
MY MUM'S CRAFT SHOP – Easter or animals
ALOTA RUBBER STAMPS – birthday
SUNDAYS WITH CHRISSY – favorite color combo (purple and pink)

TUESDAY SHOWCASE AT SOFTPENCIL STUDIOS

So by now I hope you know that SOFTPENCIL STUDIOS BLOG and DT are back in full force and we will be celebrating our 4th Anniversary with a HUGE BLOG HOP that will actually take place over the coarse of 3 weeks beginning next Tuesday, April 10.  We have customers and DT members taking part in the hop – woo hoo!!

Make sure you check out the amazing EASTER COLLECTION SOFTPENCIL SHOP which you can find by clicking HERE.  Elizabeth’s images are always so cute!!

This week, we got to play with the image “Easter Chick” – I just love this cute little chick in its’ egg.  I have colored the image with Copics and cut using scissors.  I have mounted on a Cheery Lynn die.  I added DP from We R Memory Keepers, Bazzill CS, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, sentiment from Clear Dollar Stamps, pearls from Prima.  I have cut sentiment out using Nesties.  I sure hope you like it!!

Additional Challenges:

SKIPPING STONE DESIGNS – sketch
LITTLE DARLINGS – outside
PENNY'S PAPER-CRAFTY CHALLENGES – Easter
RUBY'S RAINBOW – Easter
THE SISTERHOOD OF CRAFTERS – Easter
DESERT ISLAND CRAFTS CHALLENGE – 1. Suitable for a child under 10, 2. die cut as embellie (doily), 3. 2 or more patterned papers, 4. no glitter, 5. pearls
SPARKLES FORUM CHALLENGES – Mother’s Day or spring
THE CRAFTER’S CAFÉ – spring with pastel colors
PARTYTIME TUESDAYS – flowers
DIGITAL TUESDAY – Easter plus digital element

NEW CHALLENGE AT THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE–PASTELS

Woo hoo, we have a NEW CHALLENGE at THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE CHALLENGE and it is PASTELS!  As anyone who follows my blog know, I am not the biggest fan of pastels, but I am super happy with how my creation came out. 

I chose to work with The Fairy Serenity from THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE and I chose to stick with all pink shades of my Copics.  I added Creative Inpsirations Paint on the doves and the twinkles and cut with die from Cheery Lynn Designs.  Sentiment is from Clear and Simple Stamps and cut with Nesties.  Papers are from First Edition and Bazzill.  Flowers and bling are from Wild Orchid Crafts, butterfly is from new stash.  Sure hope you like it and will come play along!!!

Submit your entries at THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE CHALLENGE.  Entries do not have to use images from THE STAMPING BOUTIQUE, but if you do, you will get two entries per project for purposes of random.org winner’s draw.  You will also get 2 entries per layout submitted.

Additional challenges entered:
ANYTHING GOES CHALLENGE – anything goes
CRAZY AMIGO CHALLENGE – anything goes
CREATIVE CARD CREW – spring
LADYBUG'S CRAFTS INK – spots and stripes
PAPERS AND SUCH – spring or Easter
PAPERTAKE WEEKLY – anything goes
PARTY TIME TUESDAYS – flowers
SASSY CHERYL'S – pastels  
TUESDAY THROWDOWN – pastels
HANNA AND FRIENDS – Easter/spring

IT’S A SKETCH CHALLENGE AT WHOOPSI DAISY!!

Hello and welcome to a NEW CHALLENGE at WHOOPSI DAISY CHALLENGE and this week, our awesome DT member Sande has provided another FABULOUS sketch for us all!  Thanks Sande! 

Our challenge this time will run 2 weeks so the DT can enjoy some family time for Easter next weekend, so you will have until 12noon EST on Sunday, April 15 to come play along.  You do not need to use an image from WHOOPSI DAISY SHOP to play along, but Linnie has so many WONDERFUL images, why not pick up a sheet and use them to play along!

For my creation, I have chosen Sheet 280 from WHOOPSI DAISY SHOP.  I have colored her with Copics and paint from Creative Inspirations paints, cut using Nesties.   Sentiment is from Just Rite Stampers and cut with Lifestyle Crafts die.  CS is Bazzill and DP is First Edition.  Ribbon is from my stash, buttons and flower button are Sassafras Lass.  I sure hope you like it  Also hope you will come play along!!

Additional Challenges:

CUPCAKE CRAFTROOM – wings n things
OOZAK – anything goes
PRETTY LITTLE RIBBON SHOP – use die cuts plus ribbon
FASHIONISTA CHALLENGE – anything goes for girls
SPARKLES FORUM – Mother’s Day or Spring
TOP TIP TUESDAY – Easter or animals
CHEERFUL STAMP PAD – anything goes
CRAFTY CARDMAKERS – Easter
DIGI MAKEOVER CHALLENGE – Tic Tac Toe (Fairy, Sparkle, Flowers) plus digi
INCY WINCY DESIGNS – Easter or pastels