On the subject of Zoe's birthday again...

...and with huge apologies for being late - I meant to be late just one day but fell asleep last night and never got to the 'puter.
Here's Zoe All Excited, probably because it's her birthday! Or was her birthday. Or she is excited because it was her birthday two days ago.
That doesn't make sense and now my head hurts :D

Oh, and I had a lovely plan for a sentiment too, that's before I discovered that my inkjet was parched dry.All-in-all it's the usual uber-organized me.

The background paper and pink matting paper are from Basic Grey, made the flowers myself and pleated loads of sheer ribbon to trim the image.

Don't forget Make It Crafty blog hop is still going strong and check out my candy too!! :)

Challenges:
Penny's Paper-Crafty - 2W - #63 anything goes
Stampin' Royalty - 3C -  #91 keep it simple

Celebrate the Occasion - 1E - Any Occasion- Must Use Ribbon
Deep Ocean Challenge - 2W - Happy Birthday
Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - 2E - It's A Girl Thing
Crafters`s Cafe Progressive Challenge - Happy Birthday PLUS "Terrible Twos"


Hugs

Happy Birthday, Zoe - Make It Crafty hop and CANDY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZOE!!!!

To commemorate this joyous occasion, we're so excited to bring you a Birthday Blog Hop disguised as a Christmas Blog Hop!! We wanted to celebrate Zoe's Birthday in style so there are lots of inspiration, prizes, freebies and even a gallery album for you to express your own birthday greetings. ;D This is one hop you don't want to miss and it only goes from now until October 12th!

The general theme for this hop is Christmas and what fun would a hop be without some new images?! Zoe has released some fabulous new holiday themed images and they are a must on anyone's holiday list - but the best part is you get 15% off ALL the Christmas digis from now until Sunday, October 2nd.  Click on this link HERE to see them all.) Be warned, the coupon code is only for this week even thought the blog hop is for two weeks - so make sure to grab them at this sale price while you can!

Before we get to the hop, there's more details and a surprise in order... Everyone in this blog hop is giving away Blog Candy!!  Whoohoo!! You'll have two weeks, until October 12th, to visit each member in the hop below and winners will be announced on Friday, October 14th on their individual blogs.  Feel free to grab the badge below and display it on your sidebar to spread the word about Zoe's Birthday and Blog Hop!

I'd ask if you're ready for some inspiration yet, but wait... we've got yet another surprise for you!! We contacted one of Zoe's artists (S.H.) who also wanted to participate and drew us this gorgeous party girl for the occasion. Thank you!!

This is "Party Girl Zoe" and isn't she ca-ute! We wanted to make sure everyone was included in our celebration so we're giving away Part Girl Zoe as a freebie to everyone who wants to join in and spread some birthday cheer!! All you need to do is create a new project using a Make it Crafty image or chippies and upload it into the gallery HERE by October 12th. Then email Barbara at ForgottenScraps@gmail.com with a link to your project to claim her!

You should have arrived here from Angela's blog - if not, I would suggest you jump straight to Make It Colourful blog and start the hop from the beginning. Believe me, you don't want to miss a thing!

Aren't the new images just freakin' AWESOME!!! There is a lot of variety in new release but I chose to practice with these cute manga adorables - Angel and Cherub together. They are also available separately but I couldn't possibly bear to keep them apart.

I am still learning how to colour that style of an image and having great fun with it! I did go a bit overboard with angels robe and shading around her eyes and as a result she looks slightly grubby and suffering with sleep deprivation. Just like me, really.

I also used some cute snowflakes and flourishes from Make It Crafty chipboard range, just dabbed them with white pigment ink.

The papers are from Prima new North County Christmas pad, which is delightfully vintage and different. The sentiment is a digi by Raindrop Echo Designs.

 And now to the candy - I have all this lot to give away to one lucky commenter!  Just pop your name onto the linky list!

 Now it's time to hop on - your next stop is Delphine's amazing blog!
 


The challenges:
Crafty Boots - 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Wings
My Mum's Craft Shop - #24 Boys and Girls
Top Tip Tuesday - 3E -2 Or More, Ribbon, Twine, Lace, Fabric
Aly's Sunday Challenge - 1E, 2W - (temporarily monthly) Bows 
Kenny K Krafty Girlz - 1E, SIO - Christmas Card
2 Sisters - #58 Gingham or Plaid
Marks Finest Papers -#74  Things with Wings
Raise The Bar - things with wings 
Hanna And Friends - #112 Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes - #88 Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Let's Celebrate
Magical Mondays - 2W, mystical/fantasy image - (2nd week) Christmas in September
My Craft Spot - 1E - Ribbon
Paper Creations Ink - 2W - (2nd week) Buttons or Bows

Hugs to all!

White mist

Last Saturday's challenge at Make It Colourful was (and still is) creating white mist. I really wanted to play but was colouring very last minute and top of this bit a lot more than I could chew - I decided to do a no-black-lines version of ZOE ALL EXCITED. Which was a bit of a madness, considering how detailed the image was and how small I printed it out.

It took me about triple the usual time to colour that image and I'm slow to start with!! Never mind the fact that I botched it up anyway. And now that I'm looking at her again I notice that I didn't finish off her eyes - properly - *headdesk*

I tried to publish it yesterday but Blogger was NOT playing ball and wouldn't let me into my posting area at all.

I used Maritime Abode from Steampunk release behind her, printed out as light as possible. Background was created with BV20/23/25. I then lifted out some lighter areas with colourless blender and went at it with white pigment ink to enhance the "mistiness". One of the main reasons for that exercise was to show that you don't always have to use your background stamp as detailed images, rather like silhouettes. It gives a cool feel of distance.

I haven't got a chance to make a card with that image yet but  I will this week, just wanted to show you the results of my playtime and maybe encourage you to create some white mist too! Would love to see your results!! See you at Make It Colourful!! :)

Oh, and stay tuned for Make It Crafty Christmas release hop tomorrow - you're gonna be wiped off your feel with the amount of pure talent out team sports!!

Hugs

A card and TWO tutorials - I know, I'm MAD :D

Just as I had accepted that autumn is here to stay the weather man has promised hottest weather for whole of this year for next week! Great. Just after I had put all the summer clothes away, never mind that kids have grown out of their light clothes and therefore don't have any.

All that aside, here's a very autumnal-looking card for you!! That little (breathtakingly CUTE) fairy by Crissy Armstrong is called Pum Kinnie Fairy and she is available from Whimsy Stamps. The sentiment is from Steampunk Travels set.

 The image was coloured with Prismas on kraft card and I recorded two tutorials - how to colour a pumpkin and leaves. You can watch them if you scroll down.

The papers are from Prima Romantique pad (freakin' LUSH), all edged with different flourishes from Lavish Flourishes stamp set. I made the pins myself using various spacers and pearls. The bling fourishes I just eyeballed, only tools being a bottle of glue and pile of loose flat-back gems. The flowers were also stamped with flourishes, then layered and I created centers with some link charms, flat back gems, big flat back pearls and generous blobs of Viva Pearl pens used as an adhesive.

Now, and here's the promised videos:

How to colour a pumpkin with Prismacolor pencils on kraft card

How to colour leaves (especially the lighter veins, really easy trick)

Hope you found something useful!

The challenges:
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge - 3E - Autumn Days
Crafty Catz - 1E - Autumn
Lily Pad - 2W - bling
Our Craft Lounge - SIO - patterned papers
Raise The Bar - things with wings
Stampin For The Weekend - 2W, 1E - what a cutie
Paperworks - photo inspire*
4 Crafty Chicks -Fall/Autumn
Art Impressions Stamps Challenge - 1E, SIO - For the Girls
Delightful Challenges - 1E, SIO - Happy Fall Y'all!
Little Miss Muffet Challenges - 2W, 1E, SIO - Second week; Things With Wings
Paper Play - 2E – Autumn Leaves
Play Date Cafe - Color Challenge: Picture Inspiration
Crafting for all Seasons - 2W - #10 fall colors
Crafty Creations - #136 fairies
I Brake For Challenges -2W, SIO - Fall
Paper Pretties - SIO -PPC172 fall
Scrapbook Sisters - #53 autumn colors
Tuesday Throwdown -#67 Fall
Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - must include Kraft cardstock - Fall/Autumn
My Craft Spot - 1E - Fall Leaves 
Pile It On - Colours of Fall/Autumn


 
Thanks for popping by!
Hugs

Whimsy mini hop - Kenny K

Hello and welcome to Day 6 of our September Rubber Die Release Showcase!

On Wednesday (Sept 14th), Whimsy Stamps released our September rubber designs and new shapeology die! From then until September 21st, the Whimsy Stamps DT will be showcasing these fabulous new stamps and shapeology die with a daily mini blog hop.

Each mini blog hop will have a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you will have 24hrs to enter each prize draw.

To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 9.00am EST tomorrow morning. All winners will be announced  on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12noon on September 21st.

Today we are showcasing the new Kenny K stamps and Raindrop Echo Designs sentiment stamps. To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations by the Design Team, please click on the links below...

Annika Ryan
Debbie Eastman
Mariska van der Veer {Special Guest}
Sylvia Blum
Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Zoe McGrath {Special Guest}

On to my card - I used Teen Idol image stamp and sentiment from Fun Life Ticket set.

The image was coloured with Whispers water-soluble markers using no-black-lines approach. It was kind of a challenge to myself because Kenny K images have such strong striking lines and not depending on those while colouring is a wee bit tricky to put it mildly.

Please promise me you will ignore couple of bad smudges where I went in shading and discovered that image wasn't completely dry yet!!!

The papers are from Basic Grey Oliver and Wander pads. I used Whimsy Music Note background to stamp on white twill ribbon.

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites.  Whimsy Stamps is also offering a fabulous 10% discount on all new release stamps and die. There is no need to enter any code when checking out as the 10% discount has already been applied. (Please note that this special discount is valid for one week only and until stocks last, and expires at midnight EST on Wednesday 21 September 2011.)

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a candy!

A mini hop

To be entered into today's Whimsy Stamps mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 9.00am EST tomorrow morning. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12noon on September 21st.

Today we are showcasing the new Meljen's Designs stamps along with the new Raindrop Echo Designs Sentiment stamps.

I am showing you a cute Acorn Mouse. The image was coloured with Whispers markers.

It's a double diamond fold card - here's some more angles:

The pretty flourishes on the card are Whimsy Flourishes dies.
The papers are all from my scraps bag - I think there some October Afternoon there and some Crate paper.

To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations by the Design Team, please click on the links below...

Alberto Gava {Special Guest}
Ann Vento
Annika Ryan (you are here)
Debbie Eastman
Erin Bailey
Mariska van der Veer {Special Guest}
Sylvia Blum

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites.

Challenges:

Card Makin' Mamas - 2W, 2E, cards only - punches

Crafty Ann's - 2W, SIO - something outside comfort zone (fancy fold.makes my hands shake, that)

Fabulous Friday - punches

Stempelsonnen Challenge - 2W, 3E, must have stamp as main focus - brown, orange, green

Our Craft Lounge - SIO - color photo inspire

Always Something Creative - Challenge#14 Autumn 

Heidi's Hobbystuggu - M, 1E, cards only - Fall Colours

Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - 2E - Unique Fold   

Forever Friends - 2W, SIO, must include animal - (2nd week) Use your Dies 

Happileigh Scrappin - SIO - Anything about Autumn /Fall (Colours, Holidays, Leaves...etc

Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Animals

Thanks for popping in!

Whimsy - A Smokin' September Release Is HERE!!

Welcome to Whimsy Stamps September rubber stamp and die RELEASE DAY!

Whimsy Stamps have released 15 fabulous new rubber stamps and one wonderful new Shapeology die today.   These new goodies are available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites.

From today until September 20th, the Whimsy DT and Whimsy Special Guests will be showcasing these fabulous new stamps and shapeology die with a daily mini blog hop. Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you will have 24hrs to enter each prize draw by ensuring you leave a comment on every blog listed for that day.

To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 11.00am EST tomorrow morning. All winners will be announced here on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12noon on September 21st.

To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations by the Design Team, please click on the links below...

Ann Vento
Annika Ryan (me-me-meee-eeee!!!)
Debbie Eastman
Ellie Stover
Erin Bailey
Mariska van der Veer {Special Guest}
Stephanne Maraver

Here is a full list of the wonderful new rubber stamps and die released today:

3 Crissy Armstrong rubber stamps
Football Bart ~ Ock Toe Bur Fairy ~ Pum Kinnie Fairy




4 Kenny K rubber stamps
Golfer ~ Scarlett West ~ Teen Idol ~ Wasn't Me




4 Meljen's Designs rubber stamps
Acorn Mouse ~ Cat O Lantern ~ Fall Wreath ~ Little Bunny Witch




4 Raindrop Echo Designs rubber stamp sets
Autumn Letter Seals ~ Lavish Flourishes ~ Steampunk Travels ~ The Fun Life Ticket Sentiments




Raindrop Echo Designs Shapeology die

Whimsy Stamps is also offering a fabulous 10% discount on all new release stamps to all our wonderful Whimsy customers! There is no need to enter any code when checking out as the 10% discount has already been applied. (Please note that this special discount is valid for one week only and until stocks last, and expires at midnight EST on Wednesday 21 September 2011.)

And now to my card. The stamps I used were: Lavish Flourishes (stamped on twill tape), Ock Toe Bur Fairy (the main image) , The Fun Life Tickets(stamped with Stazon on acetate).

I stamped the image with London Fog Memento ink and coloured with various coloured pencils.

The paper are from Basic Grey Pyrus pad and the laser cut chipboard from Make It Crafty.

Don't forget to visit today's DT and leave a comment on their blog posts to be entered into the draw to win a new release stamp, then pop by tomorrow for the next list of showcase posts!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy our new release!

A wee hop

Today is the day we've been waiting for - the gorgeous new Sylvia Zet images are being released by SCACD Stamps! There are EIGHT fantastic and utterly adorable images, all exclusive to SCACD Stamps in yummy red rubber, and they are all available now.

The stamps are all now available, and if you just have to have them all, you can grab them in discounted sets!

US/Canada: You will find the stamps in the Sylvia Zet section at Susana's Custom Art & Card Design HERE.

UK/Europe: You will find the stamps in the Sylvia Zet section at Quixotic Paperie HERE.

To celebrate, we've got a hop for you today, filled with inspiration from the SCACD and Quixotic Paperie design teams PLUS some special guests! We hope you will hop along with us as we introduce you to Loli & Shellie, Poppy and the rest of their friends!

You should have hopped here from Mary Johnson's blog. If you're just joining us and would like to start the hop at the beginning, then pop back to the start over at ELAINE HUGHES' BLOG.

A complete hop list can be found over on the SCACD Store Blog.

I got a beautiful stamped called Hope to play with. And play I did - it was my first time to attempt pencil layering on hot-pressed white watercolour paper.

 I used a mixture of different pencils - Derwent Drawing Pencils, Derwent Coloursoft (have about  of those, lol), Prismacolor & Faber-Castell Polychromos (good for details). I stamped image with Memento London Fog but now wish I had chosen something lighter, the stamp lines are still a bit too strong. PLEASE don't look for the light source on that one - I must have got a bit confused halfway through, now that I look at it.

 I didn't want to overpower the image and kept the layout very simple. The papers are from Cosmo Cricket Odds & Ends pad.

Your next stop on the hop is Suzanne Dean's blog. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy hopping with us today!

Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. -  Children
Crafts and Me - #51 buttons and bows
Flutterby Wednesdays -  anything goes (all month)
Kelley Kid's - 1E, SIO - girly girl
Little Red Wagon - #97 diecut
Paper Creations Ink -  Vintage or Distressed Look
The Hybrid Chick Card Caravan - 2W - Use Twine
2 Sisters - #55 Friends
ECP Challenges -  Yellow
  

Happy hugs!

Steamin' hot-hot-hot

Hi my friends! Long time, no see - I know. Been trying to juggle full-time work and the not-so-lethal-but-incredibly-draining plague that has bestowed it's not-so-gracious attentions upon me. And my son.

So, before it gets really cold and damp I would like to show you a really warm and summery card. It was first published in Whimsy Magazine along with loads of inspiration and tips from the rest of Whimsy DT so click on this link and get yourself a nice cup of coffee. You'll be there for a while!

I used Bathing Beauty from Whimsy Stamps and combined it with The Beach digi stamp from Make It Crafty. I stamped Good Life Tickets on acetate in white and black Stazon, cut them out and layered slightly askew so it looks like white letters have a shadow. More readable that way. I also used bits from Vintage Bottle Labels Background behind the image.

The image was coloured with a combination of different things: Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils and Caran 'Dache Swisscolour Water Soluble Pencils (30-tin). I used soft pastels to do the sky - don't know the brand as I got the box from discount store, works totally fine for my needs. I laid down the yellow first, rubbed with paper towel and then added orange, violet and red, blending them all with paper towel again.for a last thing I added some white on horizon, to indicate the sharp last light of setting sun.

I used Faber-Castell and Caran D'Ache pencils for the girl because they allow more detail and obscure the outlines less.

There is also a lot of Make It Crafty chipboard on this card - Butterfly Leaves, Filigree Borders, Swirly Corners, Mix n Match centres.

The papers are from Basic Grey Hello Luscious pad. I guess it is very much my sort of a card because it gave me chance to get happily mucky with all sorts of paints and sprays. Because it was originally for the magazine I actually have a list, you can giggle if you want to thinking of all that going on one card!
Winsor and Newton acrylic paints in White, Yellow Ochre, Permanent Sap Green and Gold
Tattered Angels glimmer Mists in Cinnamon, Coffee and Gold

It was a real fun card to make and I hope it was a fun card to look at too!!

Challenges I'm entering  
Gingerloft -  (1st week) Create a Sky 
I Did It Creations - Girly Girls 
Kenny K Krafty Girlz  Vintage/Grunge 
One Stitch At A Time - Use a Digi

Opus Gluei - (2nd week) Roses or Rosettes
Stamptacular Sunday - Must use a stamp - Anything Goes (It's my first time doing a sunset that way)
Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration*
Drunken Stampers - Fruity Summer Day Cocktails
Ellephantastic - September Here come the girls    
Sweet Stampin -  Anything but Birthday
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge - add flowers  
Kelley Kid's -  hot Summer/bright colors 
Flutterby Wednesdays -  #169 celebrate

Big hugs!