Betty Witch

This is for the 8th day of Halloween where the challenge is to create a card or project based using Zombies or Witch Cauldrons. So I made this card using Betty Witch from Simply Betty Stamps. I almost didn't make this challenge but after this there are only 4 more Days of Halloween left! :D


Challenge: Simply Betty Stamps - 12 Days of Halloween
Main Stamp: Betty Witch (SBS)
Patterned Paper: Toil & Trouble (The Girls' Paperie) and unknown (Heidi Grace Designs)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Inverted Scalloped Circles
Copic Colors:
-skin: 0, YG91
-hair: YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99
-clothes: R24, R29, W4, W6, W8, YR12, YR14
-other: V12, V15, V17, R24, W4, W6, W8, YR12

Did you know? Père Noël is a legendary gift-giver during Christmas in France and French-speaking areas, identified with Father Christmas or Santa Claus in English speaking territories. According to tradition, on Christmas Eve children leave their shoes by the fireplace filled with carrots and treats for Père Noël's donkey, Gui (French for "Mistletoe") before they go to bed. Père Noël takes the offerings and, if the child has been good, leaves presents in their place.
[Père Noël, Wikipedia.org]


"On the 8th day of Halloween my ghoul love gave to me... 8 Waltzing Zombies, dancing around a Witches Cauldron!"
Update: I made the top five at Simply Betty Stamps for this challenge!

Susie with Pie

I made this card using Susie with Pie from The Stamping Bazaar drawn by Marina Neira and placed her against the Wacky House from Make it Crafty. Both images had a country feel and I thought it would be a fun match.


There is also some exciting news from each of these companies! From The Stamping Bazaar... don't miss out on the Little Elf with Present Digi Giveaway which is going on until tomorrow night! Plus keep an eye on the Make it Crafty blog this weekend for a big announcement!

Sometimes coloring the empty sky is the funnest part - on this one I had drawn swirly clouds on a separate sheet of paper and traced them on the main image with the blue marker.


I entered this card into the Fuzzy Wuzzy challenge which was to use multiple images. Now on to the fun announcement of Blog Candy! The random WINNER of the InStyle Stamps BLOG CANDY is...

Nikki --- CONGRATULATIONS!

Just email me with your contact information and I'll send your loot over in the mail!

Challenge: The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges - October
Main Stamp: Susie with Pie (TSB) and Make it Crafty (MiC)
Patterned Paper: unknown scraps
Copic Colors:
-susie: E2, E43, E44, E47, E49, E04
-pie: E53, E55, C3, R20, R21, R22, R24, R27, R29
-house: YR12, YR14, YR20, YR21, YR23, N1, R20, R21, R22, R24, R27, R29
-landscape: G20, G21, G24, G28, E53, E55, E57, E59, YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99, Y32, Y35, 0, B91

Did you know? The Hexabranchus Sanguiseus was given the common name "Spanish dancer" because the whirling swimming movement, and the red color of the mantle, are reminiscent of the skirt movements of a flamenco dancer.
[Spanish Dancer, Wikipedia.org]Update: I was a winner at Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges for October's monthly challenge!

Zoe and Gemma's Snow Fun

Welcome to another challenge for Wags 'n Whiskers! This week, the challenge is to create a card or project based on the theme Merry & Bright. I made this card using Zoe and Gemma's Snow Fun from Wags 'n Whiskers and paired it with a bright red and green combination.


Challenge: Wags 'n Whiskers - Challenge #36
Main Stamp: Zoe and Gemma's Snow Fun (WnW)
Patterned Paper: Merry Moments Designer Series (SU)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One
Copic Colors:
-skin/eyes: E00, E11, R20, R22, E44
-hair: E50, E51, E53
-clothes: C00, C1, C3, YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, E41, E43, E44, E47, E49, R20, R22, R24, R27, R29
-other: B000, B0000, YR12, YR14, E55, E57, C1

Did you know? There are eight muscles of the human tongue, four change the shape of the tongue, and are not attached to any bone and four change the position the tongue, and are anchored to bone. The average length of the human tongue from the oropharynx to the tip is 10 cm (4 in).
[Tongue, Wikipedia.org]

Breast Cancer Hot Air Balloon

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and InStyle Stamps is giving away free images to spread the word! You also have the option to buy the stamps and the proceeds will got to a cancer charity - check out the InStyle Stamps Blog for all the details. The images will be available for free until October 31st.


I made this card using the main part of the Breast Cancer Hot Air Balloon by InStyle Stamps. The blue organdy ribbon is curled on the background to represent wind. Below is a better picture showing all the curls.


Theme: InStyle Stamps - Breast Cancer Awareness
Main Stamp: Breast Cancer Hot Air Balloon (ISS)
Patterned Paper: Sweet (CDWV)
Copic Colors:
YR20, YR21, R11, R12, W3, RV23, RV25, E55

Did you know? Since its inception in 1982, Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation has invested over $1.5 billion for research, education and health services, making it the largest breast cancer charity in the world.
[Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Wikipedia.org]

Sylvester

This week we are previewing all the new releases from InStyle Stamps and today Sylvester is being featured and this cute image will be available later this month! Check out the InStyle Stamp Blog for more creations featuring Sylvester.


I decorated this button jar above but and added felt flowers around the fence line. I found this sentiment which is perfect for a sheep and I had to use it - so I created this matching card to go with it.


Theme: InStyle Stamps Preview
Main Stamp: Sylvester (ISS)
Patterned Paper: Rockstar (DCWV)
Copic Colors:
W00, W1, W2, W3, R20

Did you know? Shaun the Sheep is a British stop-motion animated children's television series produced by Aardman Animations featuring Shaun. He first appeared in the 1995 Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit short film A Close Shave. Sucked into Wallace's Knit-o-matic contraption, the sheep is accidentally shorn, so Wallace names him "Shaun".
[Shaun the Sheep, Wikipedia.org]

Skating Bear

I made this card using Skating Bear from Elizabeth O. Dulemba's Coloring Page Tuesdays. This week I'm hosting the challenge at Lollipop Crafts and the theme is Winter Play. I hope you get a chance to play along!


Challenge: Lollipop Crafts - Challenge #11
Main Stamp: Skating Bear (EOD)
Patterned Paper: Signature Christmas (MME)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Octagons
Copic Colors:
-bear: E40, E41, C3, C7
-clothes: C1, C3, C5, C7, V93, V95, V99, R20, R22, Bg10, BG72, BG18
-snow/ice: C00, B0000

Did you know? Sirenia (commonly referred to as sea cows) is an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals. They are also referred to as sirens, deriving from the sirens of Greek mythology and a legend about their discovery, involving lonely sailors mistaking them for mermaids.
[Sirenia, Wikipedia.org]

Tips, Tricks & Techniques 0x01C

Sometimes it can be difficult to find a finished look in a project especially if it's been on the project table for a while. Spotting areas in need or finding the right embellishments to balance out the project can be be difficult, however, an easy way I have found is to take a picture of it. Doing this provides me with a 2D look at the project and makes it easier to find those troubled areas!

Old Oak Tree

I made this card using several images, the main one being Old Oak Tree from Make it Crafty. This one is for the 7th day of Halloween challenge which was to create a card or project using Jack Skellington (or any skeleton). I'm getting this one in at last minute! :D


The entire background is colored with Copic markers on printer printer paper and the tombstones added were from the Haunted Halloween House (MiC). The chibi-style Jack Skellington and Zero are drawing tutorials from DragoArt.com.


I colored the sky using lines instead of blending because I wanted a Nightmare Before Christmas feel even though I was using brighter fall colors. I think it worked out well because of how the moon shows up (which is the only non-colored spot on the card).

Challenge: Simply Betty Stamps - 7th Day of Halloween
Main Stamp: Old Oak Tree and [portions of] Haunted Halloween House (MiC)
Dry Embossing: Fiskars Texture Plates Carpet
Copic Colors:
-tree: E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, E49, YR15, YR16, YR18, E08, E19
-sky: YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99
-other: 0, C01, W00, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9, YR21, YR15, YR18

Did you know? Chibi is a Japanese word meaning "short person" or "small child". In English-speaking anime and manga fandom, the term chibi has mostly been conflated with the term super deformed or it can be used to describe child versions of characters.
[Chibi (term), Wikipedia.org]

"On the 7th Day of Halloween... My ghoul love gave to me 7 Skelington Heads!"
Update: I made the top six at Simply Betty Stamps for this challenge!

Blog Candy - InStyle Stamps

Whoo hoo! I've reached 100 followers and to celebrate I'm offing some wonderful BLOG CANDY! Thanks to Virginia from InStyle Stamps she has sent over this versitle Label 1 rubber stamp and several 6"x6" sheets of paper! I've also added a few flowers from my stash plus this great notebook project using Tracy digi.


InStyle Stamps is releasing their October images this Friday so be sure to drop by and participate in the blog hop!

Here's what you have to do: Just leave a comment on this post... that's it! The blog candy closes on Friday, October 22 CST and a random winner will be announced on Saturday, October 23. If you want to leave feedback, I would love to hear about your favorite thing or what keeps you coming back. ;D

Tilly

I made this card using Tilly from InStyle Stamps which will be released later this month. The InSpirational Challenge this month is to create a card or project based on the inspirational photo provided. I chose to pick out the yellow and oranges of the image and came up with this cheery card.


Challenge: InStyle Stamps - InSpirational Challenge
Main Stamp: Tilly (ISS)
Patterned Paper: Mango Frost (DCWV)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One
Copic Colors:
-skin: E11, E13, E17
-hair: W7
-clothes: Y32, Y35, YR65, YR68
-other: YG91, YG93, YG95, Y32, Y35, YR65, YR68, E55, BG0000, BG000

Did you know? The mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines and in several cultures, its fruit and leaves are ritually used as floral decorations at weddings, public celebrations and religious ceremonies. In Hinduism, the perfectly ripe mango is often held by Lord Ganesha as a symbol of attainment, regarding the devotees potential perfection.[Mango, Wikipedia.org]

Lil Fashionette 30's Lylah

I made this card using Lil Fashionette 30's Lylah from Tickled Pink Stamps. The challenge this week at Lil Lolita Boutique is to create a card or project based on the sketch provided. This one was a simple sketch and so I thought to pair up printed word with clouds which reminds me of a relaxed sunny day with a good book to read!



Challenge: Lil Lolita Boutique - Challenge #20
Main Stamp: Lil Fashionette - 30's Lylah (LL&L)
Patterned Paper: Jabberwooky (Graphics 45)
Metal Die: My Favorite Things Die-namics Cloud Trio
Copic Colors:
-skin/eyes: E00, E11, R20, R22, E41, E42, E43, E44
-hair: E08, E19, E18
-clothes: YG91, YG93, YG95, YG99, E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, E49, W3

Did you know? "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn written by English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725–1807), published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, "Amazing Grace" is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world.
[Amazing Grace, Wikipedia.org]

Mikey

I made this card using Mikey from The Stamping Bazaar designed by Marina Neira. This little fox just earned his wings and they're all sparkly too!


Main Stamp: Mikey (TSB)
Patterned Paper: Togetherness (CC)
Copic Colors:
-fox: YR61, YR65, R20, G21, G24
-other: B0000, 0

Did you know? Israel "IZ" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, a Hawaiian musician, became famous outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993. His medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World" has been subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and commercials.
[Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, Wikipedia.org]

Christmas Millie

I'm hosting this week's challenge over at Lollipop Crafts and the theme is Winter Play! Check it out and I hope you can play along this week! The challenge is to create a card or project using a snow or winter theme... so turn on the air conditioner and pull out those winter stamps!

I made this card using Christmas Millie from Karber Digital Images. The snowman's hat is actually cut out a hat from the decorative paper used in the background and it fit perfectly.


Challenge: Lollipop Crafts - Challenge #11
Main Stamp: Christmas Millie (Karber Digital Images)
Patterned Paper: Winter Pretties (WoJ)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Large Scalloped Rectangle and Cuttlebug Card Combo Persia
Copic Colors:
-skin: E11, E13, E17, E04
-hair: T3, T5, T7, T9
-clothes: G40, G82, Y23, Y26, V15, V12
-other: BG0000, E57, C0, C1

Did you know? The standard gauge (also named the Stephenson gauge after George Stephenson, or Normal gauge) is a widely-used rail gauge. Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge.
[Standard Gauge, Wikipedia.org]

London Back to School

I made this card using London Back to School from Simply Betty Stamps. This is for the 6th day of Halloween Challenge which as to create a card or project project using Jack-O-Lanterns. I took two images and combined theme, the other image is a coloring page from Elizabeth O. Dulemba. The original ghost was cut out and replaced with London, the new ghost, with her trusty sidekick ready for spooky action.


Challenge: Simply Betty - 6th Day of Halloween
Challenge: Stamp Something - Halloween
Main Stamp: London Back to School (SBS) and Pumpkiny Ghost (EOD)
Patterned Paper: Toil & Trouble Ghost Story (The Girls' Paperie)
Copic Colors:
-london: 0, W00, W1, W2, W3, W5, W7, W8
-other: YG91, YG95, Y32, Y32, YR12, YR16, YR18

Did you know? Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand and is it's national symbol indeed, the association is so strong that the term Kiwi is used, all over the world, as the colloquial demonym for New Zealanders.
[Kiwi, Wikipedia.org]"On the 6th day of Halloween my ghoul gave to me, six grinning Jack-O-Lanters with smiles just for me"
Update: I made the top seven at Simply Betty Stamps for this challenge!

Cupcake Ruby

I made this card using Cupcake Ruby from Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps. The challenge is to create a card or project keeping it clean and simple. I made another white card but this time in a winter theme with soft colors.


Challenge: Sparkle Creations - Challenge #14
Main Stamp: Cupcake Ruby (SCRS)
Dry Embossing: Sizzix Basic Gray Embossing Folders Plaid & Snowflakes Set
Metal Die: Cuttlebug Card Combo Persia
Copic Colors:
-skin: E0000, E000, E00, R20
-hair: R20, R21, R22
-clothes: B0000, B000, B00
-other: C0, C1, R20, R21, R22, V91, V93, V95, E31, E34, Y32, Y35, YR12, YR14

Did you know? A cat’s whisker detector is an antique electronic component used in early crystal radios. The operator would tune the radio to a strong local station, and then adjust the cat's whisker until the station was heard in the radio's earphones. This required some skill and a great deal of patience; even then a good contact could easily be lost by the slightest vibration.
[Cat's-Wisker Detector, Wikipedia.org]