Smeared Ink Monday!!

Good Evening my lovely crafty friends!!!

I'm here with you tonight to post a cutie and simple card that I  made for my Dad for his birthday.  I just received the AWESOME Occasions L'il Grumpies set and I could not WAIT to play!!

 I kept the card very simple and basic as my Dad is a 'no frills' kind of guy.  I stamped my Birthday Grumpie in Black Momento Ink and colored him up with my Copic and Prisma markers.

I used a fun selection of solid cardstock and MM DP.    The ribbon is SU! Early Espresso.  I kept the inside plain yet interesting with large chipboard letters spelling out Dad.  We're giving my Dad a Nook for his birthday.  I sure hope he likes it!!

I hope you've enjoyed and been inspired to create today!

Simply Betty Challenge Friday!!

Please scroll down for OTWC Guest DT Post

Hey All!!  Happy Friday!!

I'm so glad to be here with the newest SBS challenge!!  BLING IT ON!!!  This is a very special challenge for you as this image is for a very special girl. During the SBSC twelve days of Christmas, Betty offered up a special prize.  A custom digital image drawn by our very own Betty. A special young crafter named Emmy was the lucky winner! Her digital image is now ready!!  As you can see all of my fellow Design Team darlings have used the "Emmy" image this week for the "Bling It On" challenge.

So this week, since Emmy LOVES Glitter (and lets be honest, who doesn't?? ) we're challenging you to

Bling It On!

Here is my design for this week!  My card measures at 5.25x4".  Emmy is colored with my Copic and Prismacolor markers.  Her wings are glittered up with my SU! Supernova glitter.  

I used super bright and vibrant colors, paper piecing her sneakers, skirt, skull (on her shirt) and her head band.  I used a fun slice of DP for my background, matching orange cardstock to cut the jumbo polkadots created with my many circle punches.  

I used my white gel pen to faux stitch around the edges of the DP and circles.

I tied some uber trendy bakers twine around the card and added a button for a little "flair".  (those of you who are giggling are getting my random 'Office Space' reference.

I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired!!

Off The Wall Craftiness - OTWC Guest Design Spot

Hello Everyone!!  I am SO excited to be here with you today and to be involved at a Guest Designer at Off The Wall Craftiness!

This weeks challenge is to use Black and White and Cameo figures/silhouettes.  This week's amazing sponsor is Third Coast Stamps. Kim at OTWC has some of THE best sponsors, challenges and designers.  Kim and I used to work together at Smeared Ink.  I miss her immensely but I'm loving her new endeavors and adventures here at OTWC!!  I try to play along whenever I can and am BEYOND honored to have been asked to create as at Guest Designer!!!

My creation today started with my search for Cameos.  I don't own any cameo stamps and was worried that if I ordered one it would not get here in time for my Guest Creation deadline!!  =)  So, I found a stock image on line.  I printed it out and trimmed it up.  I used my Quickie Glue Pen to cover the entire scrolly outline with glue and then coated in MS Crystal Fine Glitter.  I used my Versamark Pen to color the entire Cameo image, coated with clear embossing powder and then heat set.  

I then set that entire panel aside. 

I matted and layered my background papers.  Black for my base at 5x5".  Followed by Bazzill in Glass Slipper (it's a shiny white) that I edged in black ink.  I ran a strip of black Grosgrain ribbon around the entire card, followed by a fringed paper strip and a strip of sparkles.  

I used two different papers - a black DP with white skulls and a creamy, white paisley paper as the mattes to my cameo.  I used four tiny black brads on the top, bottom, left and right of my cameo frame. 

I had a swirly cut out piece from my Cricut that was ivory.  But it didn't stand out too well so I coated it in Lightening Black Brilliance ink, clear embossing powder and heat set it.  It came out a TAD more gold than I had anticipated but I loved the way it brought out the creamy colors in the rest of the papers.  

I anchored it with double sided tape at the bottom and a large, black patent leather brad at the top.  My sentiment 'merci' is from PTI's Mixed Mega Messages. 

I was so inspired by how this was coming out, that I decided to use some of the left over bits to create some beauty on the inside of the card.

 

I want to thank Kim and her amazing team for letting me join in on this week's creating.  I KNOW that I will be creating with Kim's challenges in the future and I hope you do as well!!

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired to do something fabulously creative!!

Smeared and Smudged Hop with Delicious Doodles

Hello All!!  Here with you today for a fantabulous hop with the awesome gals from the Smeared and Smudged Forum!!  We're hopping today using gorgeous images from our latest sponsor Delicious Doodles!  DD has an fantastically wide variety of stamps for all tastes and styles!  Digital images ,at that, (yay!!) so they can be printed and/or resized again and again!!

But before you hop, make sure you have come here from my darling friend's Lady B's beautiful blog -  and if not please start at the beginning of the hop starting here!!

I chose this very DELICIOUS line drawn image of a Water Lily and printed it out twice.  I used my Prismacolor pencils to color and shade my image.   Burt's Bees Apricot Baby Oil was applied to my paper stump to blend my color and smooth everything out.  I chose a few pieces of the flower and greens to cut out, color, run through my Xyron and use my new SU! Super Nova glitter! 

I used the following sketch to go along with this hop!! 

 

 I chose a springy palette of green, orange and bright pink.  I LOVE winter for its snuggly hunker down weather but eventually find myself craving my garden, my gorgeous yard and being outdoors.  So with an impending large snowstorm at our door this evening I figured this would be great to help me think of spring!

I stitched all of my panels and added some pearly, swirly embellishments as well as a gorgeous metal butterfly sticker that I picked up last weekend at Michael's.

I hope you truly enjoy everyone's creations and a big THANK YOU to Teri from Delicious Doodles for hosting us all at Smeared and Smudged!!

Now off you go to Kapree's fabulous site to see what deliciousness she has in store for you!! 

Tiddly Inks Challenge #35 - "Quote Me"

Hello Hello!!!  Welcome to another fun Tiddly Tuesday!!  Today's marvelous challenge (#35) is "Quote Me".  We were to use our favorite quote on our creation. 

I wanted to make a card for a darling Yoga instructor friend of mine.  I started with ever fabulous Sollytude.  She is in a comfortable, cross-legged position, with her hands in prayer at her heart.  Zen at it's finest.  =)  I pulled a nice and clean sketch from SNB as my jumping off point. 

I printed my image twice.  I then colored my image with my Copics and Prismacolor markers - coloring the hair twice.  I trimmed Solly and her bangs out of the second image and popped them up on my main image for some added dimension. 

As you can see, I hand stitched Solly's clothing (top and pants) with very fine needle and light yellow thread. 

The stitching was very calming and helped me focus.  All part of the practice of Yoga.

My colors were kept quiet and light.  Yellows, blues and greens.  For my card base I used PTI Lemon Tart cardstock.  I stamped a large "doily-esque" image in the background with my Versamark ink, coated with clear embossing powder and heat set.  

I created my sentiment border with the stitched perimeter using scraps in the appropriate colors.  I stamped "Embrace Happiness" from PTI's Mixed Mega Messages in SU! Early Espresso ink. 

The interior holds my quote: 

"The Divine In Me Recognizes and Honors The Divine In You"  - basic translation of Namaste. 

I decorated the interior with flowers from a scrap of DP that was laying on my table.  In addition to my card creation - for fun - we were challenged to create an envelope using a tutorial that Melissa put together here. 

It was my first time EVER making my own envelope.  It's a tad off and I had to re-score a few times but I kinda got it.  I definitely need practice!  But I'm happy with how it came out for my first run. 

I hope you've enjoyed and been inspired to come create with us at TI!!!

Smeared Ink Monday!!

Good Monday Morning Everyone!!  I don't know about you but I'm having a slowwwwwwwww start to this week!  But I do have something fun to share with you!!  I've recently received LOTS of newness from Smeared Ink.  There are so many new stamps that you MUST see!! 

I was in an "altering" mood so I used a vintage paperboard canister to create a ribbon holder for my "ribbons of the moment".  Right now focusing on Valentine's Day.  I find that I get overwhelmed when looking at my walls of ribbon so if I pull a few down and highlight them I find that I use less and enjoy what I have more!!

I started by sanding my container lightly.  I chose my new Grunge set to stamp with.  Being as the container is a cylinder I mounted my stamps on their respective cling, then on a block and I inked them up.  I then laid the stamp face up on my table and slowly rolled my cylinder over the large stamp - pressing down evenly the entire way.  I used a combination of TH Vintage Photo Ink and Brilliance Pearlescent Poppy.  I then coated in clear embossing powder and heat set.

I used the same Grunge set to stamp the "washers" where my ribbons are threaded through.  I stamped them in Brilliance white, coated in white embossing powder and heat set.  I used my Crop-o-Dile Big Bite to punch the holes down the side.  I threaded the ribbon through from the inside and then neatly piled it in so that it wouldn't become a huge tangly mess inside.

I stamped a quote from the Nymph set in the same Brilliance Red Poppy onto beautiful and soft flowery paper.  I heat set it and then cut it out with my new Sizzix Big Shot using a label die.  I anchored this layer to the cylinder using phillips head screw brads.  I like the contrast between the softness of the paper vs the industrial feel of the stamps and hardware that I chose.

I punched a circle out of the same soft paper pack and inked up the chain link fence stamp - also from the Urban Decay set.  Same red ink and heat set it.  I think it made a snazzy topper! 

Here is a close up of the sentiment:

"she walks in beauty, like the night

of cloudless climes and starry sides;

and all that's best of dark and bright

meet in her aspect and her eyes"

I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired!!

Simply Betty Challenge Friday!!

It's a fantastically snowy morning here on the East Coast and I'm so excited to wake up to another winter wonderland!!  YAY!  Another snuggly day with  my babies!!!  Lots of creating to do!! 

Today at Simply Betty we have a fabulous challenge for you!!!  Our very own darling Cheri created a beautiful sketch for us to follow! 

I was craving to use one of the stunning Spooky Hallow digis!  I was drawn to Morticia as I wanted to create a non-traditional style "Valentine's Day" card.  She was PERFECT!  

I colored Morticia with my Copic markers (hair) and Prismacolor Pencils - the rest of her.  I sponged half of her background with red craft ink.  I used my Quickie Glue pen to color in some of her petals and the leaves of her flowers.  I coated them in my new SU! Super Nova glitter and set the panel aside to dry.

My cardbase is white, followed by mattes of rusty orange and a few different slices of scrap DP that I had lying around. I used my bird on a wire ribbon as my main accent followed by three tiny strips to match the sketch...roughly  ;)  

I inked, heat embossed, coated with glue and then glittered up a chipboard birdie that I had in my stash.  I loved how it went with the birdie ribbon I had added.

This weeks prize is a collection of papers and chipboard from Bo Bunny's Crazy Love collection!!!!

I hope you enjoy and have been inspired to play along with us at SBC!!!  

Smeared and Smudged Forum Hop!

Hey All!!  Welcome, welcome to another amazing Smeared and Smudged Forum Hop!  I am always amazed at the delightful array of projects that are on display during these fantastic hops!  You won't want to miss one single stop along the way!

Before we get started, you should be coming here from Steph's blog!!  If you happened upon here "just because", I'm so glad to have you here, but you'll want to start at Terra's blog so you get to see everyone's gorgeous works!! 

My creation today is using the brand new "Heart Wings" digital set available at the Smeared Ink shop.  It's a brilliant set with so many possibilities!!! 

My creation today is a thank you card for a darling friend.  My cool blue base measures at 6 x 4.25".  My second layer is a piece of DP from a matte stack that I gave to my daughter.  It was originally bright pink with flowers on it.  She painted the entitre 12x12 sheet with blue sparkly Colorations watercolor paint and gave it back to me to use in one of my creations.  I used bright purple thread and stitched it down using a zig zag stitch. 

My main layer uses the 'baby hearts' image colored with my Prismacolor and Copic markers.  I trimmed the corners using my SU! ticket punch.  I then coated the edges in purple Colorbox ink and stitched the edges with the same purple thread. 

I used the "Gear Heart" as my popped up image in opposing color wheel colors - purple and orange.  I colored the heart, glittered up the wings and heat embossed the center.  I trimmed it out and popped it up on 3-D foam adhesive.  I used two scrapbook stickers, the circle and heart.  The circle has a bump out on each side welcoming embellishments.  I used two purple, sparkly SU! brads to anchor the circle sticker. 

My sentiment is from PTI - Mega Mixed Messages.  It is stamped in the same purple, Colorbox ink and heat embossed.

I do hope you've enjoyed my creation today and have been inspired to create your own. 

Please keep on hopping to my darling friend Alison's blog to see what deliciousness she has in store for you! 

Crafty Hugs!

Meredith