Simply Betty Stamps - On The Third Day Of Christmas...

My Betty gave to me...a twisted crooked tree!!!  Our assignment was to create a card that utilized a twisted tree.  So I mixed and matched my trees for just the look I needed. 

I used the twisted tree image from Tiddly Inks as well as an old SU! hostess set to create my trees.  I kept my colors a bit muted so that the main tree would really stand out.  

I added another panel on the right hand side with a scrap of dictionary paper that seriously just happened to have the area that uses the reference to "bark" up the wrong tree!!  Totally not on purpose!  LOL!! 

I edge distressed most of the panels with Tim Holtz Tea Dye ink.  I added a strip of ribbon and three brads and popped it up on foam adhesive as I did the big tree. 

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired.  Please come play along at the SBSC blog!!!  

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Smeared Ink Monday!!

Good Morning everyone!!

I'm here with you today to share another Smeared Ink Creation!!  I'm so excited to be using one of the newest SI stamp collections...Inky Dreams!! 

I love this set as it has SOOOOOOOOOOO many possibilities in terms of being used for cards, altered items, CLOTHING, etc!! 

Today I have a card for you but I will be using this to alter a number of items that have been waiting patiently!!  =)

I found a cool image online as an addition to my Inky Dreams splotches, splatters and dots.  I colored it up with my Copics and Prismacolor markers, trimmed it out and set it aside. 

I then created my background from a really pretty, creamy ivory cardstock.  I used my large Inky Dreams background inked in black on white cardstock.  I then used my Copic color Champagne to edge the ink splotches. I then heavily inked the edges with Tim Holtz distressing ink in Tea Dye. 

I created a little ribbon melange in the bottom left hand corner (I've been huge into mixed media on my creations lately).  I inked up my Inky Dreams sentiment and also distressed the edges.  I inked the big SPLOTCH of paint, colored the edges in Copic - Antwerp Blue, punched it out and added it as part of my sentiment.

I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired!!!

Please check out our fabulous forum!!  There are amazing challenges, chats and lots of fun!!  

Crafty Hugs!

Meredith

Simply Betty Stamps - On The Second Day Of Christmas...

Our Darling Betty Gave to us...The Grinch!!!  Our assignment was to create a very Grinchy Christmas scene using one of the always gorgeous Emos!!

I used Candy Cane London and stuck with the most grinchy green that I had!  ;)  I LOVED the challenge for myself of working with all one color.  Totally not my standard!!

Betty is colored with my Copic and Prismacolor markers.  I backed her with Basic Grey paper in a cool green houndstooth pattern.

My card base is SU! Wild Wasabi followed by a slice of Love, Elsie 'Noel' DP.  I used some cozy green fiber to wrap around the card a few times followed by some vintage postage stamps as some funky embellishments.

London's eye lashes are twinkled up with rhinestones placed 'just so'.  =)

I added a strip of green polka dotted ribbon behind my main layer and as my final touches added a tiny green tag with a green brad through the top adorned with one rhinestone.  And lastly her green skully friend that was sent to me in a care package long ago by a fellow DT member.

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired!!! 

Please come play over at the SBSC blog for an awesome chance to win any two SBS Rubber stamps!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Bombshell Monthly Challenge - Black Friday!!!

Greetings everyone and happy Black Friday!!!  Today's Bombshell challenge was issued by the VERY talented Ms. November - Mary Harmon!


Here is Mary's fabulous challenge:

"Woo Hoo! November, my favorite month of the year and I get to choose the challenge. What could be better?  This month's challenge is ...... Black Friday. This could be interpreted in several different ways; shopping , the color black (my favorite), or a truly bad day at the stock market."

Here is your prize package!!

I decided to go with my favorite...Bombshell Angel.  I dressed her up in a gorgeous black bustier and hand drawn fish-net stockings.  I used black cardstock along with one of my favorite pieces of Basic Grey paper.

I added black and white polka dotted ribbon with some beautiful brads that my darling friend Angie sent me.

My very favorite part was adding the gorgeous black pearl and "diamond" necklace and bracelet on Angel along with the paper fringe trim to the right of her image.

My hubby helped me come up with the phrase (he's so great to craft with!!!) "black friday never looked so good!"

I printed this out using MS Paint, trimmed it out, matted it and added as my final touch.

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired!!  Please come play along with us at the forum!!

Crafty Hugs!!

Meredith

Simply Betty Stamps - On The First Day Of Christmas...

Ok so NOW that I realize it, the challenge for the first day of our Simply Betty Stamps 12 Days of Christmas was supposed to include a HALLOWEEN character....I will clearly be hitting the craft table again in the am to add that to my stash...and to the challenge blog!  But OOPS for now I'll chalk it up to too much insanity going on (what else is new?) and show you what I did make!!

My first day of Betty Christmas uses the Christmas Margo image from the awesome Punky Teens line!  I first printed and colored Margo with  mostly my Prismacolor pencils and one or two Prisma markers.

My card base is chocolate brown measuring at 6.5 x 4.  I used a slice of the gorgeous Eco Park paper as my one DP in the background.  I then used a large selection of tiny ribbon scraps that I had.  I distressed them all...some by inking them up, some by tugging at their edges, and others just left as they were.  But I wanted a super textured vibe and really grungy feel.  I used my QKD acrylic stamp wings in a Brilliance blue that were heat set and trimmed out and added behind Margo.

I just think she looks so sweet that she needed some wings.  I used silver pipe cleaners and a scrap of brown gingham ribbon to create a tiny little flower patch in the upper left hand corner balanced out with a few individually placed rhinestones next to them.

My sentiment was added using Making Memories puffy scrapbook stickers.  I kept it simple and to one word...cheer.  A perfect sentiment for this time of year...no matter what you celebrate!!

I used the same blue DP from the outside to decorate the interior of the card.  I chose a piece of taupe, velvet ribbon (same as on the front), tattered it a bit and then ran it vertically on the interior of the card and added 3 ... using the same puffy letters.

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired!!

Here are the deets for the entire 12 days!!

These 12 days are going to be a bit different!  For starters, one winner will be chosen on the next challenge, the prize will be given out right away! 

Enter all challenges for a chance to win a Guest DT Spot for January 2011!  That one person will be chosen by popular votes and as mentioned as long as all challenges have been entered by this person!

Well, what do you say we get this Christmas party started?!  Using any Simply Betty Stamps Halloween image, create a Christmas card... anything goes, but it must be a SBS Halloween image!  Not too hard eh? For today's prize one lucky winner will receive a choice of any 2 Digi stamps!

You will have until Satruday November 27th at 11:00 PM PST to upload your card for voting consideration.


Please check out the rest of the creations from the fabulous SBSC team and come play along!!!  Make sure to leave lots of love!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Simply Betty New Release!!!

Good Morning!!!  I am SO excited to be here with you to introduce the newest and super fabulous line at Simply Betty Stamps!!  Sweet World Gothic Kids!!  You are going to love each and every one of these!

Today I worked with the very sweet Sally.  My focus on this project was the coloring.   I made this little gifty as a hostess gift for when I'm in need for the upcoming holidays!! 

This amazing new line of stamps is created by Artist Claudia Patron Perez who agreed to do these cuties for SBS! Claudia is a freelance artist, a Mexico native and wow is she absolutely amazing! You have to check out her Deviant Art Gallery here! She is wonderful you will see. Claudia has to my excitement agreed on continuing her commissions with our darling Betty. She is open for other commissions as well, but ya can't have these cuties they are for Simply Betty Stamps ha! Good news is you can now purchase them at Simply Betty Stamps.com! Woot woot!

I colored Sally with my Copics and Prismacolor markers.  I had the best time playing with her makeup!  =)  I used my Basic Grey letters to spell Thank U and matted the image with SU! DP (more mustard) and a slice of DP behind that.  I kept my colors simple yet added some holiday-ishness to them. 

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired!! 

Please check out my fellow DT sisters at the challenge blog.  They really blew this one out of the park!!!

Stunning work!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Tiddly Inks Challenge #30 - Christmas Time Is Here!!

Good Tuesday Morning Everyone!!!  I'm so excited to be here with you today to show off my first TI holiday card along with a brandy new image from the fabulous Christy!!! 

Because this image is SO me...always feeling like time is flying and slipping through my fingers, I thought it appropriate =)  It's called Time Will Tell. 

I started by coloring my image with my Copic and Prismacolor markers.  I then decided that I wanted to soften my card a bit by rounding the edges.

After I rounded the corners I then used my Brilliance Pearlescent Gold ink pad to make the edges pop.  As I did with the card base, the turquoise layer and the Noel Strip.

All cardstock is SU! with the exception of the white which is PTI and the DP is Love, Elsie. 

I rounded all of my layers and adhered them together.  I then added my Noel strip along with some bling for a pop and the word NOEL using Basic Grey stickers. 

Lastly, I added beautiful, sparkly turquoise flowers with bling in the center to pull it all together!!

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired!!  Please come play along at the Challenge Blog!!! 

Please go check out the rest of the fabulous team members designs and be sure to leave lots of love!!.

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Smeared Ink Monday- SI Design Team - Kenny K Blog Hop!!!

Happy Monday Everyone!!!

You should be arriving here from my darling friend Lady B's scrumptious blog.  If not please start HERE so that you don't miss any of our team's amazing creations!!

I'm so excited to be here with you and my fellow Smeared Ink sisters having a blast with our amazing hop sponsor Kenny K!!!

I had the great pleasure of working with Kenny's Alice Chains stamp.   I first colored her with my Copics and Prismacolor markers.  I then hit her flowy skirt with a thick coat of Crystal Glaze and let the entire piece dry for a couple of days.

When completely hardened, I trimmed the image out very carefully with my craft snips.  I was so excited with how vibrant her colors came out.  I primarily used oranges and purples to really make her super sassy.

My card base is SU! cardstock in Tangerine Tango.  My next layer is a light purplish, textured wallpaper from Gauche Alchemy.  The next 2 layers are a variety of purple DP that I pulled from my ginormous scrap stash.  Alice is backed with ouchless cardboard, also from Gauche Alchemy.  My embellishments on the side include a cool, purple scroll that was cut using my Cricut.  This is topped with a crocheted flower sent from one of my fab DT gals from SI, centered with a faux vintage "pleather" brad.

I added Alice using 3-D foam adhesive and as a lasting touch used old school Mrs. Grossman's (all of you children of the 70's and 80's will know what I'm talkin' about) star stickers to maker our star hottie just twinkle!!!

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired!!

Next stop for you is off to the ever fabulous Kapree!!! 

If you get lost along the way the entire hop list is down below!!

Terra

Tori

Alison

Kelli

Black Dragon

Lady Brayton

Meredith

Kapree

Lisa

Thanks SO much to Kenny K for being SUCH a fantastic sponsor this month!!!

Crafty Hugs!!

Meredith

Simply Betty Recipe Swap!

Pumpkin Crunch

A crunchy bar that is made with pumpkin, yellow cake mix, and chopped nuts.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Yellow Cake mix
• 1 lg can (28oz) pumpkin
• 1 lg can (10-12 oz) evaporated milk
• 3 eggs
• 2 sticks butter/margarine
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 c. chopped nuts

 

Method Melt butter. In a separate bowl, mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and cinnamon. Line 13x9 pan w/ tin foil, spray w/ cooking spray. Pour pumpkin mix into pan. Sprinkle cake mix (dry) over mixture. Pat down w/ spoon. Sprinkle nuts, Drizzle butter. Bake 1 hr at 350 F. Let stand at least 2 hrs or refrigerate to speed cooking. Turn cake over, peel off foil, slice and serve w/ cool whip or ice cream.

 

Notes:

 

Number of Servings: 12

Simply Betty Sale!!!!!

Why wait till Black Friday when you get only one day of sales right? Let's get the SALE party started!

Digis @ $2.75
ALL EMOS!
Steampunk Gang
All Victorian Beauties
All Punky Teens
All Jude and his Shenanigan Crew
Spooky Hallow

All Papers @ .40¢

Rubber only $4.00!!
Emo Halloweenies
Everyday Emos
Sorry Christmas Emos still out of stock!

Well what are you waiting for!? Get going before all the papers are gone! This sale will end at Midnight on Saturday Nov. 27th. Hope you all grab yourselves some goodies! It will be the last sale of the year!

Simply Betty Challenge #7!!

Welcome SBS friends! Is everyone getting geared up for Turkey feasting, football, and family? Hope everyone is having a great November so far.

We will be having lots going on starting next week! A special "Surprise" release, followed by another and another and so on. Also we have the 12 days of Christmas starting Nov. 26th on Black Friday! Woop woop! Of course there will be wheels and deals!

Now onto this week's Challenge!

This week we are challenging you to pull out some rubber and combine it with one of our Digis! Use a rubber background somewhere, or just behind the digi, mask it, emboss it do what you will with it! Just use a digi and an old rubber stamp you have been neglecting for a while!

This week's winner will get a choice of any one digi!  

 My card this week is featuring Emo Christian.  Super cute and I love his little dragon buddy.  This card is for my darling 4 year old son.  He's madly loving the movie How To Train Your Dragon so I knew this card and image would be right up his alley!!

I used a bright orange pocket watch stamp from the $ bin at Michael's and SU! Only Orange ink.  My cardbase is SU! Only Orange and the rest of the DP is from Basic Grey.

Christian is colored with my Copics and then trimmed out as is his dragon buddy.  I love how the number 4 stands out directly to Christian's left!  

I can't wait to give this to my son tomorrow morning tell him how much I love him!

Can't wait to see what you all create!!!

Crafty Hugs!

Meredith

Simply Betty Challenge #6!!

Hey Y'all!!

Don't forget!!  You have two more days to create a unique placecard for your Thanksgiving table and show your stuff off at the Simply Betty Challenge Blog!!

Come and play along!!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Simply Betty Challenge #6 - Thanksgiving Placecards!

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving this week's challenge is Thanksgiving Place Cards.  Super easy right?  The only thing you need to know is if you decide to take part in the challenge, in order to win the prizes up for grabs you must use a Simply Betty Stamp.

The prize this week is 3 Punky Teen Christmas Images.

I decided to go totally non-traditional this year and I made "placecards" persay however, they are more like greeting cards in nature.  Except for their interior which holds a piece of legal paper stamped with the words "give thanks".  Each member of my family (my hubby, myself and our two children) will have a cool skull and crossbones pencil at their place along with their respective card.  Before we eat, we will discuss and write down what we are thankful for.  Clearly this will go into the scrapbook!!  =)

They are all different, yet the "structure" if you will is the same.  Each card has 2 large scallop sections on the right hand side, two fern skeletons on the left, and some kind of specific embellishment to represent or coordinate for each person.

I used a different image for each family member from different lines that SBS offers. 

I used the following:

• Punky Teen Halloween Angelica
• Thanksgiving Peter
• Steampunk Gwendolyn
• Victorian Beauty Mina

My first card was done for my daughter, Kendall.  She is a TRUE artist...I can already see it in her.  She is a free spirit already at the tiny age of 6.  I just ran with what my artistic voice told me for each member of my family.  Here is my creation for Kendall. 

My darling four year old son, is just a CONSTANT giggly, dancing, pirate and dinosaur-loving, exuberant ray of sunshine.  Snuggly and sweet and lovey beyond words.  Here is my creation for him:

My husband...who could not be more supportive, nurturing and loving.  I need not say any more.  This is my creation for him:

And for me...

I was sent that AWESOME skully paper umbrella from one of the fab girlies that I'm on the DT with over at Smeared Ink and I've just been WAITING to use it!!!!  

This was a FABULOUS exercise in creating specifically for my loved ones for a most special holiday that we celebrate together JUST the four of us.  

I hope you have enjoyed and been inpsired!!

Please come play along at the SBS Challenge Blog!!!  

Crafty Hugs!

Meredith