I let the paper be my Muse

Hi guys! Long time no see!  I have been super crazy busy at work, and this was the FIRST weekend that I have been able to be crafty. And, well... my crafty was a tad one note - I had a thing for chalkboard look.  I painted a ton of "labels" on mason jars to make new spice jars. After I was done, I thought - oh yeah... I have a Muse Monday card to make. So I gravitated to the Chalk Studio from MME paper. I found this page, and thought it works so well with the stamp set of the month - Speed Shop!

I used R22, 24, 29, 39 for the reds, and then N0, N2 for the "silvery areas. Once done, I went over the silver areas with the stardust glitter pen. I love the pairing of the sentiment on the paper with the image. Then BLING was added to make it happy! LOL.

Oh and here are my mason jar Spice jars. FUN.

OK... It is almost that time  - - 4 more work days - and then GUESS WHAT!!!!! Time to be all crafty! Hope to post a bunch more in the next few weeks.

Water Water Everywhere... and

Some is even frozen! This is just not right.... But it fits right in with the theme of this months Bombshell Hump Day Hop which is Water Water Everywhere.  I decided to use the Lotus Garden fish and not color but use color.

I used Versamark and stamped the koi fish out. Then I used clear embossing powder to heat set the fish. Once done, I used Distress inks and stamped several out on a silicone mat. Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn, and Tumbled Glass were the colors I used. Then I spritzed them and then basically wiped the embossed paper over it. Once done I added more of the Peacock feathers on with circular wipes of a sponge.  At the end, I cut out random circles and then randomly placed them all over so it looks like bubbles of fish.

Ok, so you should have arrived from Kim's page! If not, you should go start from the beginning at the Bombshell page.  Next up is Leslie!!!! If you get lost, the hop list is below!

http://bombshellstamps.blogspot.com/
Alison: http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/
Kim: http://www.craftypinkanchor.blogspot.com
Alaine: http://missalaineousmosaics.blogspot.com/
Leslie: http://leslieturner58.blogspot.com
Glittery Katie: http://ferrishyn-frontier.blogspot.com
Kas: http://www.artloveschaos.blogspot.com
Stempelientje: http://stempelientje.blogspot.com
Marnie: http://www.papertivity.blogspot.com
Kelli: http://www.cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com/
Kathi: http://kathstales.blogspot.com

Simple Christmas Masquerade

I have to say that this is one of the favorite coloring projects I have done lately. I truly TRULY loved coloring Christmas Masquerade and all the details involved!  I used standard Christmas colors, and gold and glitter!

E71, 74, 77, 79 for her hair
R56, 59, 89 are the reds
G40, 82, 94, 99 are the greens
Skin is YR000,00, E11, R20
Copic White - on her fan
Gold pen - on her belt, earrings, mask, fan, bracelet
Glitter on her wings after I colored them.

The paper is the Farmhouse Norland Paper pack. I finished this off with a simple gold ribbon. I didn't do too much to it because it is going to be framed and displayed during Christmas.

I hope this provided you a little inspiration on what you can do with the really beautiful Susana Loves Stamps Digital Images.

-Alaine

Muse Monday - Fit for an Indian Princess

This month, Bombshell is focusing on the Indian Princess set for our inspirational Muse Monday posts.  And because I am so far behind at work, I didn't get my card done in time for the sketch challenge for this months post, so I decided to combine them and get a two-fer.

I used the following colors to create this card:

E51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 79
BG90, 93
B91, 93, 95
R20

Actually not a heck of a lot of colors. Once done I used a lot of pearls - both black and white to embellish. The paper is K&Company, and one I have had in my stash for a while.  I really like the soft way this turned out.

I hope that you check out our inspiration over on the blog, and also join in our sketch challenge for a chance to win free goodies!

You're a Hoot!!!!

Give a Hoot - Don't Pollute!!! Ok, that has nothing to do with this post, but I couldn't help it! I was looking up all sorts of Owl sayings and that one will not leave my mind.  I digress!!!! I am here today to share my first card with Steampunk Owl with all of you.  I say my first, because I WILL Be making more. I loved loved loved coloring this owl.

Isn't he delightful???? Once completed, I cut him out and mounted him on some blue bazill paper, and then used the Reflections by Echo Park Paper pad with the gorgeous clockfaces in the background. The edging at the bottom of the image is a set of gears.

Colors Used:
Blues: B32, 34, 37, 39
Browns: E40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 47, 49
Golds: Y11, 23, 26, E04

I think this would be a great image for a Steampunky Christmas Card too - it has such a vintage feel!!!!

I am entering this into the following:

Sketch Saturday

Have a great week out there!!!!

Alaine

Designed to Color - with Penny Black!

The Designed to Color Challenge this month is with PENNY BLACK. Eeeek... Love these new Christmas Stamps. I decided to make two different cards:

Image: Song of Joy (Penny Black Stamps)Medium: CopicBird: E81, E84, E87, E99, R22, R27, E07 Leaves: G82, G85, G28, YG61, YG63, YG67, YG99, White Gelly Star: Y32, Y35, Y38 - Stardust Gelly Berries: R22, R24, R27, R39Image: Song of Joy - Penny Black StampsPaper: Hammermill Color Copy Cover
Elements: Bling from Stash, AC Christmas Glitter Paper, Teresa Collins' Santa's List Paper 

Image: Antique Noel (Penny Black Stamps) Medium: CopicLeaves: YG61, YG63, YG67, YG99, White Gelly Noel: Y11, Y32, Y35, Y38 - Stardust Gelly Flowers and Berries: R22, R24, R27, R39 
Paper: Hammermill Color Copy CoverElements: Bazzill paper, Crystal Elements for the green in the middle of the letters, Spellbinders die




The sponsor for this challenge - being Penny Black - Seriously You should really go try to do this one!!!! I mean you are already making all sorts of Holiday cards already which fits the CHRISTMAS/WINTERchallenge!! Remember that all entries MUST have a colored image somewhere and follow the challenge requirements. 

Also, please make sure we have a direct link to your creation. All generic links will be deleted. You can combine this with as many challenges as you want, but make sure that DESIGNED TO COLOR is listed.

You have until November 30th, 2013 at 12pm MST to enter!

Let's take a ride!!!!

It is the first Wednesday of the month - that means the pin-up's challenge time. And this month, Ms. Kas Mello - the stupendous Ms. November has challenged us to "Rough Chicks, Bikes and Leather".

There are so many different stamps, but I needed to play paper dolls with my Bombshell!!! I used 3 different sets here. Harley Bikes, Bombshell Angel and Biker Bombshell digi stamps. This worked well with this side-step card. And I found some paper in the DCWV Rockstar Matstack that I used. I cut out the edge of the guitar to give it some interest, and then added the bike so it sticks out a little. I also made sure she was safe and had her helmet with her. :-)

Colors used are:
Chrome: N2, N4, N6, N8
Green on the scarf and bike: YG03, YG17. G28
Leather jacket, boots, seat: E33, E35, E37, E39
Blue Jeans: B91, B93, B95, B97
Skin: YR000, YR00, E11, R20
Hair: RV21, RV23, RV25, RV29

I hope you join us over at Bombshell Stamps for this challenge. If you enter with a Bombshell stamp you have a chance to win a prize! So check it out, and have a great week!

Here's Skully - where is Mulder?

I know... My daughters tell me all the time that I am a dorkfish... But I can't help but think of X-files when I am coloring up a skull. For various reasons. And she had so many pretty flowers on her that she had to be Skully (and yes - I do know it is Scully :-) but that doesn't work as well for this now does it? ).

This is from the Susana Loves Stamps September Release and part of the Skellies in the Closet Set. I really wanted to go with a floral themed background paper for this, and knew I needed to keep the DP small or it would just cut off all of the flowers. I found this paper by My Minds Eye, and thought it would be perfect as the background. So I tried to match my colors to it.

The Skull itself is W00, W1 and W3. The leaves are BG70, 72, 75, 78 and the swirls are G24 (kind of reverse of what the paper is. The flowers are a combination of Y32, 35 and E04, E07 and R59.

The sentiment was stamped with white ink, and then embossed with superfine detail white embossing powder.

I am entering Skully into the Sketch Saturday Challenge this week.

Thank you so much for visiting me today. Hope to see you back again soon!

Happy Birthday Shannon!!!!!!!!!!!

It is November 1, and that means that someone has a very special day. Shannon, the owner of Bombshell Stamps, is celebrating a birthday today! A few of us current and past Bombshells have decided to get together and celebrate with a HOP!

For Shannon's card I wanted her to celebrate all year long, so this card is wishing her a VERY LUCKY YEAR! I used Lady Luck (for the first time for me). I used three of the smaller icon stamps and the main image to create this CAS card. To top it off I have been waiting for the perfect time to use this new paper pad from Carta Bella called Well Played. And they worked well together. 

Happy Birthday Shannon!!!! I hope you have a really Lucky year!

Now I was the lucky first stop which means you are in for a treat as you hop along the rest of the way... Next on your stop is Alison - the absolutely incredible amazingly talented and AWESOME Alison! 

If you get lost on the way here is the entire hop list!!!

http://bombshellstamps.blogspot.com/">Bombshell's Blog

http://missalaineousmosaics.blogspot.com/">Alaine

http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/">Alison 

http://ferrishyn-frontier.blogspot.com/">Katie

http://cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com/">Kelli

http://craftypinkanchor.blogspot.com/">Kim

http://www.papertivity.blogspot.com/">Marnie

http://stempelientje.blogspot.com/">Stempelientje 

http://whiteribboncards.blogspot.com/">Susie

http://sharonshowcase.blogspot.com/">Sharon

http://artloveschaos.blogspot.com/">Kas

http://holleybarnhartsblog.blogspot.com/">Holley

http://leslieturner58.blogspot.com/">Leslie

http://critterlyss.blogspot.com/">Alyssa

http://madebynicole.blogspot.com/">Nicole

http://inktrap.blogspot.com/">Cheryl

http://milolilja.net/">Milo

http://www.paperandstring.blogspot.com/">Alex

http://thetamarisk.blogspot.com/">Teresa

http://stampinangeljenn.blogspot.com/">Jenn

http://kathstales.blogspot.com/">Kathi

Witch way to HOP

It's HUMP dayyyyyyyyyyy.... And with it being the last Wednesday of the month that means HOP Dayyyyyyyyyy over at Bombshell Stamps. And Alison had an interesting hop theme for us this month. Alison LUVS Halloween, so this is her month to be all happy and challenge the hop participants to take part in the Witching Hour. For those that don't know - the witching hour is the time of night when witches, ghosts and other supernatural creatures are said to appear. So she challenged us to make a project about those that may be lurking during the witching hour.

Well, this lovely lady just wanted to come out and play!

Just because someone ate off her face is no reason for a lady not to dress in style! I used a combination of Bombshell Angel, Halloween Costume and Calaveras Fiesta.

I hope you all keep on hopping!

The complete list is below!!!!

http://bombshellstamps.blogspot.com
Alison: http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com
Glittery Katie: http://ferrishyn-frontier.blogspot.com
Stempelientje: http://stempelientje.blogspot.com
Marnie: http://www.papertivity.blogspot.com
Kim: http://www.craftypinkanchor.blogspot.com
Alaine: http://missalaineousmosaics.blogspot.com
Leslie: http://leslieturner58.blogspot.com
Monika: http://paperchrome.blogspot.com
Kelli: http://www.cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com
Kathi: http://kathstales.blogspot.com/

Christmas Craftiness Cards

Hey there.... It got cold this week where I am at, and I got All excited about the cold and being inside and crafting as opposed to being outside actually IN the cold. Plus it makes me think all about Christmas time!!!! So I decided to start making some new Christmas Cards. YAY!

This first card is using the absolutely adorable Holiday Owl. My sister in law Michelle loves owls, and I already had the Owl Nestie, and it went so well with this cutie. I wanted to go with traditional colors, although the owl having green wings would probably not be considered traditional... so I used the R32, 35, 37, 39 for the reds, YG61, 63, 67 for the greens with a bit of YG99 to darken it a bit. The browns are the E4x series. Once done I colored the inner ornament with C1, 3, 5 and then went over it and the ornaments at the bottom with the stardust gel pen. The green cardstock is popped up  and then the image is layered on the white with another thin edge of the green as the card. 

I used the same colors to color Happy Holidays. On this one, I went with a very simple layout, and mounted it on the design paper chosen to mimic the round ball ornaments. Sometimes you just want to be a little out of the box... and so I turned the sentiment sideways, although it is still in the box. :-)

So hop on over to the store and check out all the new digi and rubbery goodness, and start getting your Craftiness on!

I have several cards coming your way this week... Yes -- I have been very crafty lately. So I hope you come back and check out what else I have going on coming up. :-)

Cruise On - and don't get stung...

I booked a cruise the other day, and to celebrate I colored up a ship in a bubble... Not a bottle - but a bubble... jellyfish bubble that is.

I used the adorable Jellyfish Dreams from Susana Loves Stamps. I stamped it with Memento on Hammermill Paper. Once done I used B60. 63. 66  for the water and sky and e4x for the various browns and then YR61, 65, 68 for the Jellyfish tentacles and bubble. Once done, I added lots of champagne stickles and a little stardust pen to give it some glimmer.

The Contempo Compass Statement die was used for the two corners, and I layered that over white paper with more of the champagne stickles in some of the spaces.

I love all the pretty on this one... the tentacles with the beautiful detail. And I haven't used my stickles this much in a while. Great fun!!!!

 Have a great weekend! TTYSoon!

You PUNK

It is another Wacky Holiday celebration at Bombshell Stamps. And today we are celebrating "Be a Punbk for a Day Day"... Hmmmmm... So here is my interpretation of PUNK - a tad out of my comfort zone for crafting.

This is the biggest puzzle pieced pieces...  Bombshell Angel, Fun and Flirty, Biker Bombshell and Halloween Costume.  I then added some tattoos, eyeliner, necklaces, a skull on her shirt... etc...Add that with some rocker plaid, a little chain and some lace and we have my version of punk.

Hope you guys get your Punk on!!!! Have a great weekend.

Muse-ic of the Night

It is another Muse Monday at Bombshell stamps and this month we are celebrating the beauty that is Alter Skulls. Isn't this perfect for the upcoming Halloween and Day of the Dead?

I used the main image here and colored him in shades of deep purple and burnt sienna. The background is a black square and used a corner punch to get the detail. I like how you can go all colorful which is typical of Sugar Skulls or moody like this. For some reason this piece always has me singing from Phantom of the Opera. :-)

No go let the mus hit you and see what you can come up with !

TTFN!

Unexpected

I love Steampunk, and I love Elizabeth Bell Images. So you mix them together and BOOM you have this gorgeous Steampunk Fairy! Time Flies is an adorable rubber stamp image from Susana Loves Stamps. I colored her in shades of blue and brown - why - I HAVE NO IDEA! LOL. I just thought she looked good that way. HAHAHAHA.

I mixed her with a sentiment that I typed up from Harry Potter's own little blond fairy type girl Luna Lovegood. For some reason I definitely see Luna in the fairy.

I used the DCWV Tradewinds matstack for the background. I colored the image and then used a modified out of the box technique. I cut the four different edges up to the wings. And then cut out the wings separately. Once done, the background around the image was a little too white'ish. So I used the E40 and colored the paper, being a little darker in the corners. I did the same thing with the sentiment.

What has me so excited is very very silly... I did the layout the other day and then made a card using it. HEE HEE... I actually drew out a sketch, with the distinct intention of using it with one of the fairy images. Planning  - That NEVER happens with me. LOL.

OK. So here are the colors that I used for her:

B91, 93, 95, 97, 99
E 33, 35, 37, 39
Y11, 23, 26, E15
YR000,00, E11, R20

I hope you all have a very crafty weekend - I plan on it. And GO AGGIES, GO DUKE!!!!!

Talk to you soon!

SCACD Digi Day

Hey there guys! Today a few of us over at Susanna Loves Stamps design team are sharing creations with some of the SCACD Digital images. I love rubber, but use a LOT of digital as well. You can flip them, resize them, etc... So I can make the project whatever size I want. This makes them wonderfully versatile.

It is my good fortune to show off Good Fortune today! This little guy has so many little wonderful elements to it that it makes it such a fun image!

I used all sorts of colors for this, but the RV10, 11, 13, 17 is the primary Pink that I usually have a lot of trouble with. So I was super duper happy with how it turned out. Once I had completed coloring the image, I worked for a while and fussy cut the image out. Whew... it was tough... But I like how it places on the die cut white center. The sentiment... it was fun and I tried to do an out of the box technique without the die. I cut the straight edges up to the butterfly with a trimmer... and then cut out by hand the butterfly.

I then found some bobbles and trinkets to add to the card to finish the picture.

I am really excited that SCACD now has a digital stamp line. There are so many adorable images that you have a choice of rubber or digital, and there are also a bunch of new images that are only available in digital. These range from cute and whimsical to steampunk to other images like holiday! There are new ones being added often, so be certain to check them out here!!! Also, check out what the rest of the Design Team has in store for you on Digi-Day!

Sketch Time!

It is sketch challenge time at the old Bombshell Homestead. And Kathi as always has an awesome sketch for us this month.

I haven't colored Mermaid Anchor in a while, so I decided it was time she came out to play. I then found the paper. SIGH. I need to really start picking out my paper before I color my image. It would make it so much easier. LOL.

I hope that you will join us this month in our challenge. You can switch it, twist it, mirror it, etc... Just use it as inspiration and you have a chance to win some stuff. And what is better than stuff? FREE STUFF!!!!!!

OK. I am taking off for the night. Hope to see you back here soon!

OWH Challenge with a Retro feel

This is the new Rosie the Riveter stamp from Bombshell. I was so disappointed to be traveling when this image was released, so I haven't had a chance to color her yet. The first time out I wanted to go with the typical standard colors, and this is what I ended up with. The paper is Farmhouse Fair Skies. The trinket on the bottom is a BoBunny trinket and goes wonderfully well with the image and the paper.

But what is even better was when I went looking for inspiration, I found this gorgeous sketch out on Operation Write Home, and it was perfection!

The colors used include the following:
Blues - B32, 34, 37, 39
Reds - R35, 37, 39
Hair - E38
Skin - YR000,00, E11

Designed To Color World Card Making Day Blog Hop!!!!!

Today, October 5^th, is officially World Card Making Day! This holiday is an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of handmade cards and the personal connection that they create between friends and family. It's a day to connect with fellow card makers both near and far, to applaud the creativity that powers the craft, and to provide an opportunity for card makers to connect and find resources that will empower, inspire, and encourage them in their card making. It’s also a time to get a jump-start on the holiday card-making season!

At Designed To Color, we’ve decided to celebrate this special day with an awesome Blog Hop!! Our Design Team and special guests have made some amazing cards! Several of us will also be sharing some card-making tips along the way. Please leave a comment on each designer’s blog and then a comment at Designed To Color to let us know you have completed the hop. We will pick 1 random winner for a prize package consisting of goodies from various sponsors including: 

Crafter’s Companion

Yumi and Fumi Handmade

The Stamp Doctor (TSD)

…..just to name a few!

You have until Monday, October 7^th, at 11:59pm MST to leave a comment on each blog. We will announce the winner on Wednesday, October 9^th. GOOD LUCK!

You should have arrived from Rosie's house. If not, hop on over to the beginning and start there!

For my card I decided to use one of the new Mechanimals 2 (Eye on the Prize) stamps from Susana Loves Stamps. I am all about the Steampunk right now, but sometimes Steampunk is kind of monotone. So my tip of the day is to use pops of unexpected colors for images to add interest. 

For example, I started out with the green here - circuit boards are green - Praying mantis and Grasshoppers are green... but then after picking out my paper (Farmhouse 302 Paper Pack) I needed to add some turquoise. I struggled with it, but then thought what the heck. So I made some of the wing, and some of the other elements the BG1x series. And it works so well. So go out there - try to make some flowers in odd colors, and add different color hair to your ladies. Do something unexpected, and see if you like how it turns out. I did on this one!!!

Here is the blog hop order:

Designed To Color

Carisa

Susie

Laura

Rosie

Alaine <-- are="" here="" span="" you="">

Rebecca

Chitra

Lisa

Lyn

Leah l’Orange

GUESTS from TSD:

Lizzie

Cassandra

We hope you are inspired to create something special for World Card Making Day. If you do make a card please stop by the Designed To Color Facebook Page to share your creations. We would love to see them!!

Have a great weekend!

Ms. October's Pin Up Challenge

Sharon Rogers, Bombshell's Ms. October, has set this month's challenge to create a Halloween project using black, orange, purple, and lime green. This project started out with one idea and ended up SO COMPLETELY different than I though - but I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it turned out.

The stamp images are Dead Necessities. I stamped the two side images - the spider webs onto a piece of White Hammermill Color Copy Cover. I then used different shades of grey (C1, W1 and W3) and airbrushed the background. Once done I stamped the Roses onto another piece of paper three times. I colored in layers, so the first layer is the bottom two roses, the second layer cut those out and had just the center and leaves, and then the third had just the center rose. I colored with V20, 22, 25, 28 the roses. The leaves were YG21, 23, 25, 17, G 28. 

OK. Now - go forth and create! Join us at Bombshell. Have a great time. 

HEE HEE - I am OUT of control!!!!

So I have been dying to color this SCACD Digital image since I got it a few weeks ago. With travel, and everything else going on, I haven't had time, but I decided I HAD to make the time because it just makes me giggle so much. I tried to copy the Venus Flytrap images I found online, and then I realized that they MUST be related in some way to the Watermelon because they look alike. :-) The sentiment is a Dylusions stamp. The quirky statements just crack me up!!!!

I used G12, 14, YG17, G19 for the greens, and RV11, 14 and 19 for the pinks. The clay pot is E04, 07, 09, and then yellows of the fly, bee and butterfly are Y00,02, 08. The blue wings and Venus' eyes are BG000, 01, 02.

I used the oval Nesties to cut both the image and the background green oval. Then I folded a piece of white cardstock and cut the oval out of the folded image to make the card backing.

OK. I hope to see you all back again soon;