Mustache Knows Best

Here's a shaker card using a set of Mustache stamps by husband picked out for me:

I stamped the 'stache in rows, using different colors and various amounts of blue inks to create a "wavy" pattern. I've got to do this again! I used the same stamp to create a border on the inside. I cut out another and covered it with blue Sparkly Fluff (top right corner). I hand-cut the frame from a Pebbles DP, cut the bottom with the Die-namics Notebook Edge die by MFT, and heat-embossed the sentiment (Fiskars) in shiny blue (Stampendous).

I couldn't resist making this a shaker card. I enclosed it with some scrap plastic (from old packaging), and mounted it with a double layer of 3M foam tape onto a DP by Little Yellow Bicycle. It's filled with glass microbeads (Martha Stewart). I finished the card with some Denim baker's twine from The Twinery (bought at CYDI?).

It certainly has character, like the best dads I know!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Can You Digi It #34: Sketch
Lollipop Ladies #67: Mustaches/Facial Hair



Thank you for visiting,

Cinco de Mayo

Growing up with the ridiculous Mexican stereotypes that dominated kitschy culture in Arizona, I tend to shy away from themes that might remind me of them, but I couldn't resist using this silly "Tequila Worm" by KennyK to make a Cinco de Mayo card featuring lyrics from the classic jam by War:

Cinco de Mayo has definitely become an American holiday, and I've been known to take a bit of tequila in celebration! I put the worm on Wobbles, lining it up with the background. The lyrics are set in the font Chalkduster.

The background, patterned paper is from Reminiscence's Celebration series; the multi-colored pattern at the bottom is actually part of the "cut-off" strip. I cut some swirls out of a DP from my stash, using a Sizzix die.

I can't remember the last time I had Aguila beer, but this bottlecap was in my stash! I flattened it in my Big Shot (using this YouTube tutorial) and decorated it with some tiny pearls. The pearls and bottle cap are glued on with Glossy Accents, but I used ZipDry for everything else.

The image is colored with Copics, except for the gold on the sombrero (Sakura metallic pen). I added blue Sparkly Fluff to the hat as well.

The white background is trimmed with deckle scissors & ink-distressed with SU! Wild Wasabi. I finished the card with some red Raffia ribbon.

Challenges/Inspiration:
Cuttin and Stampin Challenge #16: Cinco de Mayo
Jellypark Challenges: Humor
Kenny K's Krafty Krew: Tic Tac Toe / 3rd row: Swirls, Digi, Ribbon, Die Cuts (plus pearls for good measure!)
613 Avenue Create Challenge #17: Photo Inspiration/Cinco de Mayo


Update: This made the Top 3 for 613 Avenue Create Challenge #17!

Here's the song "Cinco de Mayo" by War (I wanted to find a live version, but oh well):

Thank you for visiting,

Wonderella Cross Stitch

My husband introduced me to the web comic The Non-Adventures of Wonderella, so I just had to make this cross stitch character created by Robert Bolyard (scroll down to "Double-cross / May 20" for links to the pattern):

I framed it with a plastic hoop set Mom sent me, and it had a little hook on the back so it was easy to add the baker's twine. I colored the visible edge of the hoop with a gold Sharpie, and used an adhesive ribbon for the outer border.

Thank you for visiting,

April Showers bring May Flowers

This week at Pile It On we're working off of the theme "April Showers bring May Flowers", which certain has been the weather's theme here! We have plenty of April flowers already, the yard is speckled with purple and yellow. 

Our challenge is sponsored by Gingerloft, so I used her Flower Field digi stamp:

The current Gingerloft Challenge is Torn & Distressed, so I made a grassy border with torn strips of Core'Dinations cardstock. I sanded it, and ink-distressed it with Wild Wasabi (SU!).

The top rainy border is made up of the negative parts from the Die-namics Notebook Edge die by MFT. I cut it on several blue papers (Core'Dinations again), and sanded and inked the pieces with Faded Jeans distress ink by Ranger.

I colored the image with Copics and Sakura glaze pens. I added a little Barely Banana SU! ink to the edges of the white background and the cloud die cut (Impression Obsession). The sentiment is from the Let It Shine set by Verve Stamps, and I stamped it in blue Brilliance ink.

The butterfly and flower and wood embellishments by Prima, colored with matching Copics and Sakura glaze pens. Love these!

This card was inspired by many fun challenges (see below), including the Support Your Favorite Charity challenge Sweet Pea Stampers; I chose to support the Sunshine Mail Foundation by sending in this card. Here's the inside, all signed and ready to go:

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. Art Impressions Stamps Challenge #107: Layer it Up
2. Crafty Calendar: Sunshine & Showers
3. Cute Card Thursday #266: Can't Stop the Rain
4. Die Cuttin' Divas #112: Flowers + Die Cut
5. Gingerloft Challenge: Torn and distressed
6. Papertake Weekly: Weather
7. QKR Stampede: Favorite Things ("droplet" die cut, wood embellishments, sentiment, leaf ribbon)
8. Stampin' For The Weekend: Die Cuts/Punches
9. Stampin With The Dragon: Spring Has Sprung
10. Sweet Pea Stampers: Support Your Favorite Charity (Sunshine Mail)

Thank you for visiting and hope you'll join us this week at Pile It On,

Roy Lichtenstein-esque

I just had to try a "pointillist" technique on these fabulous digi stamps by KennyK Downloads: 

The sentiment stamp is from Rogue Redhead Designs' Just Sayin' set. I've been saving this last bit of this "hello bubble" ribbon in my stash for so long... need to find more!I added some microbeads with Glossy Accents.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More #42: Markers (images colored with Copics)
Card Crafter's Circle #72: Boys to Men (Masculine Cards)
Crafty Ribbons #44: Anything Goes with Ribbon
Charisma Cardz #16: Polkadots
Kenny K's Krafty Krew: Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Paper Playtime: More than 1 Fold


In a fairly hilarious coincidence, I got this flyer in the mail while working on this card:

Judging by the clutter on my table, looks like I could use a cleaning break! Oh, but there's so much crafting to do...!

Thank you for visiting,

Recycled Plastic Bag Bows

One of my favorite stories growing up was Little Egret and Toro by Robert Vavra, with illustrations by John Fulton, the "American Matador." Basically, egrets save a bull from death in the bullring by mimicking the tradition of waving white handkerchiefs to pardon a particularly brave bull. I've met John Fulton a few times, when I was a child living in Spain... interestingly, he also spent quite a bit of time in my husband's family's hometown in Mexico. Small world!

So when I won some digi stamps by KennyK Downloads via Party Time Tuesday, I just had to grab his Cute Bull. All of his images have attitude, even the animals!

I colored Toro with Copics, added some black Sparkly Fluff, and attached it to the card with a Wobble.

The bows are made with plastic bags! I used the part at the top of the handles; I just tied a bit of ribbon around it (just like using raffia ribbon. I glued them onto the card with Glossy Accents.

The "bullring" colors are fairly traditional, and are very much inspired by Sevilla's Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería. I cut the circles & scalloped circle with Spellbinders dies.

I generated the sentiment in Chinchilla, printed it on a shiny white paper, and mounted it onto a gold paper (both by Recollections). I added some Onyx Liquid Pearls.

The clouded background is an embossed, two-toned Core'Dinations cardstock; I sanded the clouds to bring out the lighter blue. The white base is actually embossed with polka dots.

Inspiration/Challenges:
ABC Challenges: Recycle
Crafty Boots: Recycle
Digi Darla Challenge: Earth Day (use a recycled item)
Eureka Stamps: Animal Catwalk
Going Grey With Scrap-Creations: Insects Or Animals
Joanna Sheen Challenge: Recycle
Kenny K's Krafty Krew: Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting and do let me know if you try making your own plastic bag bows,

Pilin' On the Color Inspiration

This week at Pile It On, we're challenging you to use this beautiful color combo that I found on Design Seeds.

Pile It On #16

Our sponsor is Dilly Beans Stamps,  so I used her Daisy Girl Framed digi stamp to make this floral easel card:

Here's the message section, on the back:

I'm entering this card into the following fabulous challenges:

1. Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge: April Showers Bring Spring Flowers (lots of flowers)
2. Crafty Ribbons #43: Green and Pink
3. Digi Galore: One for the Girls
4. Digistamps 4 Joy #65: Easel Shaped Card + Bling
5. Dilly Beans: Flowers + image (10 challenges only)
6. Scrappy Frogs April Challenge: Think Spring
7. Scribbles Designs Challenge: Shaped or easel card
8. Shelly's Images: April Showers Bring May Flowers...must have a flower
9. Stempelsonnen Challenge: Easel Card
10. Wags 'n Whiskers: May Flowers

Thank you for visiting,

Time for a new challenge at OSAAT!

It's time for a new "Use a Digi" challenge at One Stitch at a Time, the DT/Challenge blog for StitchyBear's Digi Outlet. Wow, can you believe I've been on the OSAAT team for over two years‽ From my first project to this one, I've had tons of creative fun. Also, there have been some changes to the StitchyBear sites, including a groovy new site design and an updated Design Team page.

This week I got to choose the image for myself as well as my teamies Vicky & Jennie, so we're using Leaving the Nest by Reece's Scrap Pieces: 

The sentiment stamp is from a CTMH set. The wooden clock face & bird are from Prima; I colored the bird with a blue glaze pen (Sakura). The metal clock face behind the star is from the Paper Studio.

I'm entering this card into the following fabulous challenges:

1. ABC Challenges: Use 1-2-3 of something
• 1 ribbon
• 2 blue embellishments (gem star, and wooden bird colored with glaze pen)
• 3 clock faces
2. Cards in Envy: Things with Wings (this has several layers, but it's still relatively light and definitely under the required thickness)
3. Crafty Bloggers Network: Anything Goes 
4. Pattie's Creations: Make It Sparkle + Image (There's lots of sparkle on this...the image also has gold and glitter ink on it)
5. Sparkle N Sprinkle: Use a Digital Image
6. Stamp n Doodle: Anything Goes
7. There She Goes: Just Because

Hope you'll join the Use a Digi challenge at One Stitch at a Time this week (and be sure to check out my teamies' fabulous projects). For entries using a StitchyBear Store product (be sure to add a # after your name when entering), you'll be eligible for our main prize. You're welcome to enter the challenge using different products, but instead you'll be entered into the draw to win a $3 coupon to StitchyBear's Digi Outlet. Can't wait to see what you create!

Thank you for visiting,

Okay, so he's a little heavy...

With Earth Day coming up on Monday, April 22, and I couldn't resist using Worldly Turtle by QKR Stampede that I won recently from Top Tip Tuesday. And I especially couldn't resist using the title of the classic song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" as the sentiment. Poor guy looks like he's struggling a bit, but don't we all from time to time!

The yellow, plastic netting on the top left-hand corner is from a bag of potatoes. Fingerlings, if I remember correctly (but I've had it in my stash for quite some time).

I paper-pieced the globe with Graphic 45 papers. I added embossed polka-dots to the green portions with an embossing folder, and inked it with Pear Tart to bring out the texture. The turtle is colored with Copics.

For the banner-border, I covered white cardstock with Washi Tape and cut them with a banner die from a•muse studio.

The die-cut flower was inspired by the Maryland State Flower, the Black-eyed Susan, since the Diamond-backed Terrapin is our State Reptile. I used a Spellbinders die for the flower pieces, and covered the middle circle with Onyx Liquid Pearls. The leaf was cut from a Sprite can with a Sizzix die.

Inspiration/Challenges:
Anything Goes Challenge #90: Heavy Metal  
Three Scrappy Gals: Earth/Nature/Recycling (netting, aluminum can)
Use Your Stuff: Song Title or Lyrics ("He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" song & lyric) + Stash (netting, paper scraps)


Here's the song, as recorded by The Hollies:

Thank you for visiting and Love Your Mother!

In the Garden with Sunshine Mail

It's time for a new Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge (April 15 - May 1). Our theme is "In My Garden" and the only real rule is that you send in at least one card (Donation guidelines here).

I'd also like to invite you to join our April Card Drive; Just enter either of our April challenges and send in at least one signed card (just write a nice little message inside and sign it with your first name) to be entered to win a bunch of awesome prizes! All the info is here.
 
Our sponsor for this challenge is Oak Pond Creations (OPC), and they are having a Birthday Bash on the OPC Challenge Blog throughout the month of April.

I used Snail by Oak Pond Creations and digital papers from Mel Stampz to make this:

The buttons are just white plastic, but I heat-embossed them with green embossing powder. I strung them onto some baker's twine to resemble tomatoes growing. The sentiment stamp is heat-embossed as well. I put Glossy Accents on the eyes to make them "pop" even more!

Inspiration/Challenges:
Digistamps 4 Joy #64: Anything Goes
Glitter n Sparkle: Stitching real or not
OPC's Birthday Bash Challenge: Anything goes with an Oak Pond Creations image
Paper Creator's Crafts #7: All About Spots
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #253: Buttons
That Craft Place: For a Child
Whimsical Designs: Embossing

Thank you for visiting & hope you'll join us for the Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge,

More Flowery Wishes with Sunshine Mail

There's still time to enter the Flowers Challenge at the Sunshine Mail Foundation (deadline April 15). The only real rule is that you send in at least one card (Donation guidelines here).

I'd also like to invite you to join our April Card Drive; Just enter either of our April challenges and send in at least one signed card (just write a nice little message inside and sign it with your first name) to be entered to win a bunch of awesome prizes! All the info is here.

I used Flowers by our sponsor, Hope Jacare Doodles, and digital papers by Mel Stampz to make this dotty card:

And the inside (notice how I've signed it, for Sunshine Mail):

Inspiration/Challenges:
Crafting By Design: Spring Flowers
Crafting for all Seasons #49: Floral Delight
Cupcake Inspirations #205: Photo Inspiration/Polka Dots

MilkCoffee Challenge: Welcome Spring
Seems a Little Sketchy: Sketch #36

Thank you for visiting & hope you'll join us for the Sunshine Mail Foundation Challenge,

CAS-ual Chevrons

Fun with chevrons! 

The folded paper pieces are modified from SEI's Patchwork Chevron Technique on Creating Keepsakes.

Inspiration/Challenges:
CAS-ual Fridays: Chevrons + Flowers
Dynamic Duos #47: Light Aqua & Cherry Red

Thank you for visiting,

Wooden you like to join us and Pile It On?

How can you tell if there's a dog on your boat? Just look for the poop deck!

Yes, I must still have "the puns" from April Fool's Day... I'm not much for practical jokes, but I love a bad pun. Which is why I'm kinda regretting choosing the theme of "Wood" for this week's Pile It On Challenge...! We're sponsored by Jellypark, so I used her cute Pirate & Dog on Boat digi and my punniest sentiment, from TLC Creations: "To err is human; To arrrr is pirate." (It's also available as part of the Pirate Party set.)

I've actually used this sentiment with a Jellypark image before, and it was even for Pile It On, oops! But the cards are very different. I'm thinking I'm going have to send out Talk Like a Pirate Day cards this year!

I couldn't help myself from making a little Doggie Jolly Roger with a Prima wood embellishment. I drew the bones and colored them & the dog with a white glaze pen.

I cut the little boat from some cork I have in my stash. I added the details, and attached the sentiment sail with a small stick that I just happened to have. Okay, I admit that I collect natural items for crafting purposes...sticks, leaves, even bark. I put them in a plastic in the freezer to "treat" them, and try to use them as fast as I collect them...which I never do!

Which is why I was really happy to find a use for the bark I collected last year. I soaked some pieces in a bowl of water overnight, and then ran them through my SU! Sweet Buttons Embosslit Die to make little buttons. I punctured the holes with my awl, dried the piece with my heat tool, and sewed on some blue floss.
 
The image is colored with Copics. I added texture to the boat using Blender Solution and a piece of cork.

As you can tell, I had lots of fun making this! Hope you'll gather your favorite challenges and Pile It On with us this week.

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. Aud Sentiments Challenge: Card or Project with a Sentiment for a Child
2. Cards For Men: Humorous cards
3. Crafty Cardmakers: Humour
4. Card Makin' Mamas: No patterned papers
5. Inklings and Yarns: Always Anything Goes
6. Inky Impressions: For a child 
7. Oldie but a Goodie: Transport (I've had the cork for over a year and a half, and the stick & bark were collected last spring)
8. Paper Playtime: Use a Pun
9. Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes
10. Stuck on U Diecut Challenge: Rrrrrrr Ye Sea Worthy (buttons are cut with a die)

Update: This was chosen as one of the Top 3 for the Stuck on U Diecut Challenge. Thank you!

Thank you for visiting,

Dandelions & Lace

It's time for another fun Anything Goes challenge at One Stitch at a Time! I used Dandelion Love Vase 2 by Hope Jacare Doodles.

Inspiration/Challenges:

1. 2 Sisters #138: Anything Goes
2. Catch The Bug: Anything Goes
3. Crafts and Me #127: Spring Flowers
4. Crafty Ribbons #41: Anything Goes with Ribbon
5. Di's Digis Designs: Flower Frenzy
6. Happy Campers: Flower Power
7. Little Miss Muffet Challenge #58: Anything Goes
8. Party Time Tuesdays #114: Ribbons & Blooms
9. Stampavie and More: Pink
10. Stamp n Doodle: Pink

Update: Whoop, I was a prize winner for Party Time Tuesdays #114!

Hope you'll join the Anything Goes challenge at One Stitch at a Time this week (and be sure to check out my teamies' fabulous projects). For entries using a StitchyBear Store product (be sure to add a # after your name when entering), you'll be eligible for our main prize. You're welcome to enter the challenge using different products, but instead you'll be entered into the draw to win a $3 coupon to StitchyBear Digital Stamps. Can't wait to see what you create!

Thank you for visiting,