March Bombshell FABULOUS Blog Hop!!!

Hey All you Fab Bombshell Followers!! Welcome to another FANTASTIC monthly hop!!

Here was this month's AWESOME challenge:

The them for March's Bloghop is METAL -
Try using metals in your project : Make something on metal, metal accents, metal embellishments, or even "Metal" music...Your choice just tell us how it fits with the theme.

I've chosen to do a piece using one of my all time favorite actors, James Dean as my MUSE. I scanned in the image from the cover of one of the "coffee-esque table" books I have on him. I then played around with the image in my photo editor and zinged up the color. I colored in his belt buckle with my silver paint pen to start off the metal theme!

I then stitched that image to a piece of Kraft cardstock. The overlay is acrylic cardstock that I trimmed out perfectly so that the gorgeous flourish would show and would cover my background image JUST enough so that my Bombshell could really SHINE!!!
I used the Man's Ruin Set (I've stopped staying this one is my favorite or that one is my favorite because...quite frankly...they are ALL my favorite!!)

I inked her up, heat embossed and colored with my Copics. I then went over her dress with a Sakura gel pen to "metalize" her dress. You'll notice that the rim of the glass on top and the bottom of the stem are glittered up and that the fabu skully on the bottom has a metal bead on his eye. The entire image is sewn around the edges with red thread to make it pop and matted with black cardstock. It is adhered with 3-D foam adhesive. The bubbles surrounding her are affixed with Diamond Glaze which makes them look SO real!!!
The metal rimmed tag could not have fit more perfectly!! I stamped it in Colorbox Cerulean Blue and heat set it. I then attached it to my piece with a metal star brad.

My 5 year old was meticulously watching me create this piece and stopped me, came running in with the black feather she'd found in her dress up trunk and insisted I add it. It worked PERFECTLY!! I love that at the age of 5 she's already got a great eye!! ;)I then added some more "metal" with my Silver Stickles and Silver glitter on top - in the center of the flourish. I added 2 metal brads to the top left hand side of the piece for a bit of balance.

Thanks SO much for hopping with us today!!! Please continue on to Cynthia's Blog to see what eye candy she's got in store for you today!!

Happy Hopping!!!

Mo's Digital Challenge!

Hi All!!

Today I am playing along for the very first time over at Mo's Digital Pencil!! My darling friend Kristyn found this site and I've been hooked on Mo's work ever since!! It's just stunning, original, sweet and delicious and just all around beautiful art.

I've been dying to play along on Mo's site for a while and today I had a teensy bit of time to create so here goes!!

Here is the sketch challenge that was issued:

So fun!!

I've been dying to work with a fairy for another site I'm involved with so this worked out perfectly!!! Two creations with one stone! ;)

I chose the GORGEOUS fairy from Mo's "real women" collection. I LOVE HER!!!!

I followed the sketch using textured cardstock measuring at 9"x 9" as my background. My stripes are ribbon, layered with heart punches and stitched on using green thread using a zig zag stitch.
I colored the Fairy with my Copics, Sakura Gel pens and used a touch of glitter adding it on with my Quickie Glue pen. The circle main panel is stitched to gorgeous DP which is also stitched around the border in blue.
The entire piece is stitched around in black to create a nice border to tie it all together. My sentiment LOVE is stamped in Versacolor Ultimate Pigment Ink in Boysenberry, sprinkled with clear embossing powder and heat set. It is punched out with my 1 3/4" circle punch and adhered with 3-D foam adhesive.

I hope you enjoy my impromptu creation this afternoon!!

QKD Special Tuesday Blog Hop!! Nifty Gifty!!!

I love when the months are long and have that extra week for HOPPING!!! That's when we get to do super cool and special projects!!!!

If you came here from the WIS blog then you are absolutely on the right track! If not please start HERE so you don't miss anything fab!!

Today I've made a set of 6 - 3x3 notecards, complete with handmade, stamped Jute bag.

Each notecard is stamped with a different QKD set and either colored or glittered depending on the image. I was trying to go with a spring theme so I chose to use yellow as my accent in stitching and glitter where applicable. I also used yellow thread to finish off the bottom of my gift bag and a melange of ribbon in different shapes, patterns and shades of yellow.

I hope you are inspired to create today!!

Chandelier Stamp

Mini Sweets Set

Hip Aliens

Fantasy Sea Tree

Happy Skullz Stamp Set

Speedometer

February WIS Kit (Retired)

Now off you go to the gorgeous Anita's blog to see what deliciousness she's created today!!

Thanks for hopping with us!!!

JADS Challenge - Soothing Rain

Hey Y'all! I have been holding this post for JUST the right time and I'm ready to put it out there!!! I found something similar to this somewhere while blurfing my way around when I like to zone out. I looked up a tutorial and voila. I WANTED ONE!
For the past few weeks here in NE it's been rainy...which is my favorite weather. It's not that I don't like being outside, but I like to have an EXCUSE to remain cozy and snuggled inside. When I was a child we were all kicked outside the second the weather turned nice! Heck...even in the winter we were kicked outside!! So it's ingrained within me that when it's nice you belong outside!Anyway - I took FULL advantage of my snuggly rainy days and I created this Literary Wreath. Now...I know what you're all thinking...I ripped up a book. Yes...I did. But honestly...it was a snore (I promise, I tried to read it)...and I feel good that at least it's not like it got chucked into the trash or recycling bin. I'm actually REALLY re-using this!

I started by grabbing my Tim Holtz distressing ink pad and smothered the edges (this would look wicked if the edges were deckled!!) with the ink. I let it dry and then started methodically tearing out pages one by one to create uniformity.

I was supposed to use a foam wreath but I didn't have one so I fashioned a "wreath form" out of an empty wrapping paper tube. I fed one end of the cardboard tube into the other and stapled them together. Then armed with lots of hot glue, a couple of great kids movies (The Princess and The Frog and Curious George 2) my children were VERY curious as to what I was up to so they hovered close while creating their own things, all of us on the living room floor, lots of patience, and creative ways for folding paper, I was ready to go.
After I finished I sat back astonished. And I really don't mean to toot my own horn but...I'm in total love with this piece. It has a very prominent place on my kitchen wall exactly where you come in from the door. I have a variety of tissue paper flowers that I have made that I can slide into the center for a pop of color and whimsy as shown here or take out for a more crisp, clean look.I created this over a couple of rainy days and ended up with a piece that makes me smile and think about my favorite weather every time I come into my home.

I hope you enjoy!!

Tempting Lorali Thursday Featuring Hookah

Hi Everyone!! Happy Thursday!! For some reason it doesn't even feel like Thursday to me!! It's one of those weeks where I'm off by a day or two.

Anyhoo - I was in a relatively 'simple' mood today. I wanted to focus on my main image and colors. I pulled out Hookah Smoking Mermaid for my image today. I have LOVED her since the day she was assigned to me back at the beginning of the winter!!
Before I go into the details I MUST let you know that just about everything at the store is 40% off right now!!! You can't beat that!!! Run...run...run!!! There are so many gorgeous and new stamps available!!
My card base is a rich orange, layered with navy blue. Hookah is inked in Colorbox Cerulean Blue and heat set. I colored her with my Copics and stitched around the outside border.
I embellished her with metallic beads and clear bubble-like stickers.

I love how simple and beautiful she came out. I hope you do as well!!

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to shop, shop, shop at the CASTLE!!!

XOXO-
Meredith

QKD Inspirational Hop Tuesday!!!

Hi All!!!

First and Foremost - If you came here via the WIS blog then you are on the right track...if not start HERE so you don't miss any of the fun!!!

Here is the inspiring photo that the Tuesday Team was given to work with. I took it, figuratively and literally took it and ran with it!
I created a St. Patrick's Day block set for one of the favorite babies in our lives. Chubba Bubba...as he's most affectionately know. I loved the idea of a small set of symbolic blocks for him to play with and then later in life have in his room as a keepsake. I altered a box that I had in my studio with greens, browns, and golds. I then painted and distressed blocks that I had as a beautiful base to stamp on.

I used the March Get Inked! Kit by: Roni Johnson!! It's so serene, delicate and symbolic. I used the 3 symbols - one on each block with the baby's initials in velvet flocked stickers on the back. And I used the sentiment "May The Strength Of Three Always Be With You".
Simply a divine saying.

Thanks for visiting today!!!

Off you go to Anita's blog to see what loveliness she's created for us today!!

Check out the HUGE and AWESOME sale that's going on at the Castle!!! 40% off of all sets!!! WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!

SUPER HUGE NEWS!!!

Yep!!! That says what you think it says! ;) SMEARED AND SMUDGED DESIGN TEAM!!!!!

ME!!! EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!! I'm still reeling....So exciting!! I sent in my application last month and held my breath....DEEPLY!! =) I have loved the S&S forum ever since I stumbled upon it months ago!! I love to see everyone's art in such a variety of styles, open and raw in a form that is so tangible.

I never in a MILLION years thought I'd be picked! I am elated, honored and over the moon excited!!

Here is a bit about Terra and Tori - owners of Smeared Ink.

Smeared Ink is a small home business owned by Terra Serrano and Tori Searcey, two sisters who bring various experience to the venture.

Tori has an Associates of Applied Arts from the Art Institute of Dallas and has over six years experience as a Graphic Designer, working with various companies. She enjoys photography, the art of Tattoo, illustration, needlework and the mysteries of life and nature.

Terra has over ten years experience as a rubber stamp artist, including demonstrating and designing samples for various rubber stamp companies, and teaching classes and workshops. Her interests include bellydancing, writing, illustration, mixed media art, and creating using power tools and found objects.

Together, these sisters offer their unique perspective to the rubber stamping world.

Here is what the company is TRULY about:

We are dedicated to bringing you high quality unmounted rubber stamps that offer you new and interesting avenues of expression. Our design style is edgy, wild, distinct, and fun. We embrace the unusual, and offer you a unique perspective when it comes to rubber art stamps.

These are MY kind of gals!!

Here are a couple of samples that I have made for S&S:

January 2010 - ATC Swap

February 2010 - Blog Hop

I can't wait to start creating with everyone in April!! Until then you can see all of the current designers and newbies creations on the S&S Forum!! We have ridiculous amounts of fun so please come join!!

Thank you Terra and Tori for inviting me to be a member of your team!!