Polka Dotty Hills - STAMPlorations Sketch Challenge

Today, I've got a card that brings out the bright and fun. This weekend was 67 degrees here in North Dakota, which is practically tropical weather! So I was inspired to do a little summery number on my card stock. 

I'm using the new sketch challenge going on over at STAMPlorations:

One of the things I love to do is to mix and match funky, retro patterns. There's just something about putting two things together that shouldn't work, but do. The way these rolling "hills" light up the foreground of the card makes this girl super happy! 

To go with the funky hills, I have a funky house from The Bee's Knees - Houses STAMPlorations set. I also used the Clouds ARTPlorations stencil and some Salty Ocean Distress Ink to make the bright sky. 

You should totally go play along at STAMPlorations! We've got some great prizes for you to win, including a guest design spot. 

Speaking of,the fiesty and talented Monika Reeck is joining us this week with another version of a funky card with mixed and matched patterns. Stop by and say hello!

I'm sending my card over to:
Craft Stamper Magazine - Take it Make it Challenge
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards - Spring has Sprung
Try it On Tuesdays - 1960s retro
Little Red Wagon - "B"lieve it (my b is for Blue Skies)

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On a more personal note, many of you know that April's been a crazy month for me. It seems like everything I need to do all year long is packed into this one little month. I know I haven't been able to leave as many comments because of this, but I do want you to know that things will be slowing down. I have one trip next week to D.C. for work, but then I'll be able to breathe a little (fingers crossed). 

This weekend was truly spectacular darlings, and I thought I'd share a little bit about what I've been up to. 

This was my Saturday:

  I've been working with my local Young Professionals Chapter to plan and orchestrate a community-wide clothing and necessities drive that would help 7 local nonprofits including our battered women's shelter, homeless shelter, and organizations that help New American Families. We distributed 1000 orange bags door-to-door two weeks ago and on Saturday we went to collect them from people's houses. 

As you can see, we got an amazing response and were able to help out some families who really needed it. 

After that, I did a quick change and got 1920s glam for the evening:

This is my gorgeous cousin, Amber, and myself all decked out. The Dean of the medical school where I work gave me two tickets to a charity ball and I have to tell you it was F-A-N-C-Y. Probably the fanciest thing I've ever been to. You know... one of those awkward situations where you don't know which fork goes with what dish... or whether the utensil you're holding is a fork at all... :) It was a ton of fun, though, and I felt very Daisy-ish with my updo. 

So... yeah! It was a busy weekend. Like I said, I have one more week of running around like a chicken with my head cut off and then I'll be back to the normal Miss-stalk-your-blogs-for-inspiration self. 

Thank you for popping by! 

A Leafy Art Journal Page - STAMPlorations May Challenge

Texture! Color! Technique!

That's what I've got in store for you today, my lovely readers! 

It's the first of the month and time for a new monthly challenge over at STAMPlorations. This month's challenge is:

We like entries done in any style! Have a CAS flower card with leaves? Link it up! Have a mixed media masterpiece with autumnal touches? Link it up! 

I definitely opted for the latter as I was feeling like getting a little bit messy. Many of you know that my big project this year is to put some of my poetry along with corresponding artwork. I've already made one page (you can see it here if you'd like) and have really wanted to be considerate of the design when moving forward, so I'm taking my own sweet time. 

Here's how I created my second page, with my poem called Autumnal Lullaby. 

First, I applied a layer of gesso and, while it was still wet, stuck in bits of crumpled up tissue paper to create a textural base. The gesso allows my next layer to go on the page and blend easier. 

Next, I dobbed on some Distress Paint in Mustard Seed and Fired Brick. If you haven't used Distress Paints before, the thing that makes them unique is that they react with water.

Give 'em a little spritz with a water mister and they start doing happy dances all over the page. 

Depending on which way you twist and turn your page, the paint will drip into itself and start creating unique color combos that just weren't there before. Magic!

The last picture is a combination of three steps, First, I used a crinkled paper towel to dab up some of the paint and to create a sort of leaf veining texture in the background, I also spritzed on some Bronzed Copper Distress Spray Stain and painted on a shimmery border with Perfect Pearls (Forever Red). 

I added my poem and incorporated it into the design by using some of the leaves from the STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves set, along with some stenciling work from the Nested Circles ARTplorations stencil. 

I double stamped the leaves using different Distress Ink colors, but in to make them really pop, I used a Faber Castell artist pen and outlined them, then smudged the outline to create some charcoally (that's a word, right?) shadows. 

I added some wood chippies for more texture. And here you can really see how lovely that tissue paper looks. 

One of the cool elements is this dangly wooden piece. It's actually an old earring. My mom and dad go to a lot of auctions and do junk sales during the summer months. Last time I was home, she had a whole box of mismatched earrings that I heroically saved from the garbage can! Just call me SuperBecca!

Anyway, that's what I have for you fine folks. I totally think you should go get messy now too and link up some awesome projects to our challenge over at STAMPlorations. There's cool prizes for you to win, plus we give you lots of great recognition of your artwork. 

I'm also going to link this up to the following challenges: 

Addicted to Stamps and More - Make your Mark (p.s. I tried to find if I could enter things besides cards here, but it didn't say. Just let me know if I can't.) :) 

Craft Stamper Magazine - Take a Stamp

 

Mixed Media Mojo Bingo: (I went gesso, stencil, chipboard)

Thanks for popping by! Leave me a comment or follow my blog and I'll be sure to head your way, too!

Stripes and/or Polka Dots - Crafty Gals Corner

Hello lovelies! Anybody in the mood for some fantastic polka dots? Well, I'm so glad you asked, because I can deliver! 

This week at Crafty Gals Corner, we're talking on dots and stripes in style. You can choose to use one or the other in your card and share them with us for some Fantabulous prizes.

As for me, I didn't want any second-class premade polka dots... oh no! I set about making my OWN version of polkies.

I stamped a scrawling script on my card stock base and then used a stencil (Wendy Vecchi Polka Dotty) and some texture paste. I let the dots dry, and then sponged over them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. 

I used an image from Bugaboo called Rose Tag and colored it in using some Spectrum Noir Markers (PL2, PL4, PL5) and then I added some die cut leaves. I added stripes around the edges of the tag, too. 

Also - a super important thing: I learned how to tie a triple bow thanks to the help of a very handy dandy bow maker that I got from the fabulous Lisa from A Mermaid's Crafts. She's got a tutorial up at her site if you're interested. 

So head over and link up to Crafty Gals Corner and you could win:

Bugaboo Stamps

Prize: 7 Digital Images

As for me, I'm going to link my card up to the following challenges:
Simon Says Monday Challenge: Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
The Challenge: Polka Dots

On a more personal note: the weekend is over and I'm back from my grandma's estate sale. A big thank you to all of you who left kind comments or sent me happy thoughts. It was... rough... but it's done now. At least I got to go home with her Valentine's Day stamps, which are more than priceless to me. 

I'd say ranges of emotion rolled through me... A momentary panic when I saw some stranger with a stamp set that had a scrawling MM down the side, my gram's signature way to keep track of what was hers. And then the happiness as a lady with a handful of music boxes checked out and explained that she was going to put them in piggy banks that she was making for her grandkids - exactly what my gram had done with them... 

Again, thank you for all the happy thoughts. I'm sending a ton your way, too! I'm glad you stopped by! Please leave me a comment or follow my blog and I'll try to return the favor!

STAMPlorations Blog Hop - Small Birds

Hello sunshines! Today I have for you something very sketchy and grungy and cute all at the same time! It's day five and the final day of the STAMPlorations new release blog hop. 

Five new sets were released this month and I am jumping up and down because I get to show off the new  SMALLBIRDS stamp set, designed by the fabulous Shirley Bampton. 

From the first moment I laid eyes on these sketchy birds I fell in l-o-v-e. They are so artsy and adorable and I can't wait to make oodles and oodles of cards with them.

First I stamped one of the teensy birds from the set, colored it in with a POP of bright ink, and then masked it. 

Next, I busted out the gelatos and made a background in various colors then I used some of the stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set and added some really cool colors prints to the outer edges. Then I added some doodly edges with Faber Castell artist pens. 

Aren't those little guys just the tweetest? Ok. Ok. I know, bad pun. I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not. 

We're giving away tons of prizes for those who come hop along with us! Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

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Stops on the hop:

Darnell - Guest Designer

Becca

Cornelia

Deepti

Maria

Monika

Sari

Shery

Shirley

Vicki

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I'm going to send my creation on over to the following challenges: Mixed Media World - Use Bright Colors; Aud Sentiments - Things with Wings; Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes; and Uniko Studio - Things with Wings

Thank you for stopping by! Just a heads up - I probably won't be around much this weekend. I'm traveling back home to help my parents with my grandma's estate sale. It's going to be a rough time for me, personally, so any good thoughts you can send my way will be MUCH appreciated. 

Girls, Girls, Girls - Crafty Gals Corner

Girls, girls, girls! I'm really sorry for getting a classic rock song stuck in your head, but it's not my fault - really! It's the challenge going on over at Crafty Gals Corner!

This is my second post of the day - be sure to check out what STAMPlorations has going on in my last post because there's a 5-day blog hop with lots of prizes.

Speaking of prizes, this week at Crafty Gals Corner, we've got two of them. Paper Nest Dolls and Lemon Shortbread. 

Our theme is all about girls and I got to use an adorable digi stamp from Lemon Shortbread called Mermaid Shoujo. 

I really love all of the layers, and there's even a super cute mermaid charm that was sent along with a package from my friend Lisa from A Mermaid's Crafts.... so what I'm sayin' is... this is a whole lotta mermaid on one card. 

I also wanted to talk about the way I made the sand because I think it looks kind of cool. I used my Spectrum Noir markers TN3 and TN5 and made little dots everywhere - the same as the fur technique. It gave a lot of cool dimension and makes a flat surface look sort of textural. 

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday for my mermaid card. 

I also made another card that I am soooooooo in love with. Why? Because it's feathers and art deco and fancy - all things I wish I could be. 

I went with the classic art deco color scheme of black and gold. That fantastic lady is from Rick St. Dennis, who has some gorgeous vintage digi stamps. It's called Paris en Plume. 

I'm linking this up to the Color Throwdown challenge:

Because of the style of card, I wanted to keep the image simple, but still give it a little extra oomph. 

I used my Faber Castell artist pen (size M) and colored around the edges. Theses pens are pretty neat because you can smudge the ink as you go and give your image a really cool charcoal-like effect. 

I also added a backing of DCWV black gem paper. It's like a plastic, but it is SO shiny and gives such a sparkly effect. 

I topped it all with some feathers and bits of gold. 

Head on over to Crafty Gals Corner and show us what your Girls are all about! Link up to the challenge and you could win one of two prizes: 

Our sponsors this week are:

The Paper Nest Dolls

Prize: $20 Gift Certificate

AND

Lemon Shortbread

Prize: 3 Digital Images

Thanks for stopping by! 

STAMPlorations Blog Hop - Noteworthy

Well, friends, have I got something AWESOME to show you. Seriously. STAMPlorations has a new stamp release out and I get to hop along in a 5-day blog hop! Today is day 3 of the hop, in which a ton of prizes are being given out faster than jellybeans on Easter. 

Today, we're putting the

Spotlight on NOTEWORTHY

I jumped at the chance (not literally because I wasn't wearing a sports bra and I would be liable to pull my back out) to use these sentiments. I have a lot of happy birthday or thank you sentiments, but these are really unique and I the font just grabs me. 

To showcase the font, I went all purple. 

I shabby chic-ed up the edges and layered and then I layered some more, and then... just for good measure I layered again. The gorgeous morning glories are from the Blossom Overture stamp set. And I have to thank my good friend, Lizzy Hill for the bold striped ribbon. I love it so much that I didn't want to use the only scrap I had, but I think I gave it a good life. :) 

Stops on the hop:

Darnell - Guest Designer

Becca

Cornelia

Deepti

Julie

Maria

Monika

Shery

Shirley

Vicki

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win a $10 gift certificate.
• ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $25 gift certificate
• + surprise prizes 

 

I'm also sending this over to Creative Card Crew - sentiment, Virginia's View - layers and dimension, Pile it On - April showers bring May flowers.

Pony CASEpress and Mum's the Word

Although I grew up on a small hobby farm with all manner of animals, my parents never let me have a horse because they were too expensive and you couldn't eat them. :)

Stay with me.

I'm happy now to be a part of the Pony CASEpress over at Mynn Kitchen's place, because now I sort of have a horse... right? My cards are galloping all over the globe. What is the Pony CASEpress? I'm glad you asked.

If you sign up to participate in the PC, you'll be put in line. When your turn comes, you're given a photo of the card you're to CASE and then you send said card on to the next person on the list. It's a never ending chain of happy mail!

I was CASEing this awesome card from the fantastic Karen Bourke:

Aren't those layers and layers of gorgeousness just amazing?!

While staring at this picture, I was struck with the idea to use some of the vintage music sheets that were given to me by my bloggy friend, Betty Keefe.

Betty, being a girl after my own heart, collects random things to use in her craft-making and when we visited earlier this month, she gave me a pile of vintage papers to use in my craft making.

Here is my resulting creation. I layered up bits of the sheet music and embossed a bird (from a Hampton Art stamp and stencil set) and colored it in with some blue shades of Spectrum Noir Markers.

I'm going to enter it into these great challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG
Addicted to Stamps - Girly but not pink

I almost kept this for myself because I liked it so much, but it went over the pond to Karen and now I get to expectantly await my creation. :) Anyone can sign up for the Pony CASEpress - so feel free to check it out!

I'm going to share a second card with you today because I don't want to miss out on the Curtain Call Challenge. I fell in love with the inspiration image!

My aunt and I were crafting together and she had this great Stamping Up mum set that just reminded me soooo much of the inspiration image. I just had to ink it up!

I've told you all about the oatmeal lids I've been hoarding.. erm... I mean saving. I made a shaker out of them with a winter card, but I decided to do it here, too! I used some Verve sequins and paired some sparkles with the vibrant pinks and oranges. It was hard to get a clear shot through the lid - oh well!

This card is actually going to my admin assistant because tomorrow is National Administrative Assistant's Day here in the U.S.

I'm also sending it over to the following challenges:
Virginia's View - Layers and Dimension
613 Avenue Create - ATG with Diamonds (clear bling)
Just Add Ink - Sequins