Friday, April 30, 2010

Hogs and Sketches #8

Well, it's that time of the month again.
No, silly!
Time for the Hambo Hogs and Sketches challenge!
We have here, a loverly sketch provided by the fabulously
talented, Midnight Scramper herself,
MacKenzie!!!
Here is what I did.
I really am getting some use out of this owl image.
Lately my son has been having some issues in school (and at home),
and sometimes he needs a little pick me up.
I always tell him that I will always love him, but I don't have to always like him,
or the shenanigans he pulls sometimes. 
So, on the inside I wrote:
"Everyone makes mistakes.
As long as we learn and grow from them,
we'll be less likely to repeat them."
I'm giving him this card today after school,
with a coupon good for a ride to the local
comic book store tomorrow, for FREE Comic Book Day.

Hope you are inspired to play along.
There are prizes to be won people!
What kind of prizes?!
Well, Timbo, the artist behind Hambo, is offering
a one of a kind digital image, free to everyone who participates!
That's right. An original digital image just for you! Just for playing!
Now get busy!!!!!!   

Friday, April 23, 2010

Potty Humor


Every Thursday, over at Hambo's Talk to the Ham blog, they have what is known as a "One and Done" auction.
Tim draws a one of a kind image that they auction off throughout the day.
At 10PM CST, they close the bidding, and the high bidder comes away with a fabulous image all to themselves.
This was last week's image.
I took one look at this little guy and dropped a ridiculous bid right off the bat.
I talked some serious smack and scared everyone away! Ha!
I told everyone he would be mine.
Is this the best sentiment in the world for this image or what?!
I am sure this was not it's intended purpose, but man, that's funny.
 
I had the most fun coming up with the actual "turd-like" texture for the poo ball.
After trial and error with bronze glitter, and brown flocking, I had the bright idea to use Liquid Applique for just the right, chunky, texture.
I only have white LA, so I used my trusty Copics to add the right shades of brown to the perfectly textured ball.   
You can't get this image from Hambo, but stop by next Thursday and bid on your own, one of a kind image. The sentiment is available though, along with tons of other great rubber and digi images. Plus they are carrying the May Arts ribbons now, and even offer a ribbon sampler for those of you indecisive folks. 
   

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Manatee, Manatoo

I know I have mentioned in the past that I am not going into my forties with my head held high, but rather with my head in the sand.
Just pretend it's not happening, and it will go away.
I know that really doesn't work, but sometimes it's the only way I can cope in the moment.

Which brings me to my card for Hambo stamps.
I have used their manatee image (who doesn't need a manatee stamp?!) and
paired it with a cute little quip about wrinkles and being gray.
Yeah!
Who the hell thought it was a good idea to sell 10X magnifying mirrors to women over 35?!

I digress,....
  
Here, I have used these purty fleurs that I found on clearance at Mike's.
$2.99 for a Calypso tin of Primas! Really?! I'll take two!
I used the great May Arts ribbon that I also got from Hambo, as a leaf accent for
my purty fleurs.

Cute card.
Nice and spring-like.
Now, where is that sun?!@

Monday, April 12, 2010

Stamp It Crazy - Skull and sentiment challenge

The latest challenge over at Stampitcrazy is to use a skull,
and one of your favorite sentiments.
I have a ton of skull/skeleton stamps, and quite few witty little
sentiment stamps as well.
But, I was so overwhelmed, that I chose to go the route
of the Torrente stamp (can't ever lose with these stamps!) and just see where it was going to take me.
I like where I have arrived with this one.
I finally go to use my new 'Heads' background stamp from Stampotique.
I used a faux bleach technique, just using Versamark and clear embossing powder.
On the tutorial I saw, they used glimmer mists to color the background, but I only have a silver mist, and that was not conducive to my color palette, so I used my new favorite ink (Tim Holtz Distressed Ink in crushed olive) to color the heads using a sponge dauber.
For my sentiment, I chose one of my favorite quotes from the brilliantly witty, Dorothy Parker.
This is the only one I actually have in rubber,  but it is one of her best quotes ever!
I have watched the film, "Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table" with Jennifer Jason Leigh, at least ten times.
There is just something about the wit and candor from that era (the 1920's) that I just find so endearing and intriguing.
And I am rather drawn to the art nouveau and the artistic style from that era as well.
Here is my skull.
It's a cute little puffy sticker that I have adhered to the inside of the flower.
After I chose to use the 'Kolosall' stamp from Stampotique, I figured she was creepy enough that I could get away with using a cute skull.
I love this card, and am still deciding whether to use it as a get well or a birthday card.
It could go either way.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Home Sweet Home

I have been planning this card since I saw the release of this digi image
over at Hambo Stamps.
I just knew I was going to creep it out a bit, but my first attempt was to
paper piece it with Halloween papers. I am not a real labor intensive kinda crafter, so that was over before it really got too involved.
I was left with a partially colored image that didn't look half bad on it's own, so I finished coloring it in, and used it as the whole card, basically.
     
Not bad coloring for a non certified Copic user, 'eh?
I would love to attend a Copics class, but they are a bit expensive.
I would much rather have new pens, than a piece of paper
that tells me I know how to color.
There is a class being held within walking distance from my house,
but the lady that owns the shop is a stuck up prude, who is always less than helpful whenever I go to her store. Maybe it's the tattoos and the black tshirts with zombies on them that she doesn't care for, I dunno.
Too bad for her. I buy a TON of stuff all the time, just not at her store.
   
I like the door.
I want to paint my front door this color.
Don't think the husband will go for it though.
Oh! This is my entry for this week's Macabre Monday challenge which was
"Freaker's Free for all", or anything goes.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Violet! You're turning violet, Violet!

This is my entry for the challenge over at
I found out about the shades of purple challenge on my friend, MacKenzie's blog
Check out her blog for all the details.
I love purple.
I painted my old bedroom purple while I was nesting, right before having my son.
I have quite a bit of amethyst jewelry as well. 
I don't wear purple as a clothing option as it makes me appear, "plum-ish".
May have something to do with my overall, rounded shape, and not so much the color.
Anyhoo, I digress...   
 
I used a digital image of Ava, and went to town with almost every
shade of purple I could find! 
I really went all out with the embellishments and even threw up in my mouth a little, but it's all okay. It's just a challenge.
This one really took me out of my comfort zone.
Too much cutesy, not any creepy.
   
"In my world, everyone is a pony, who eats rainbows and poops butterflies".
-'Katie' from "Horton Hears a Who" the movie  

Callie with a hat

This is 'Callie', from Eat Cake Graphics.
She is adorable and when you put animal in a hat (or any type of 
costume for that matter), I find it so cute, I just wanna pee on it!
Really, I know it borders on animal cruelty, but costumed, domesticated pets, are 
too comical, and I will laugh every time!
   
Back to Callie.
Cute right?
I colored her in with Copics, embellished a bit with Stickles and some brads.
I embossed the sentiment on vellum and then I added this
delicious looking cupcake...
 
Nothing says, "Yum", like a black cupcake on fire! 

Thursday, April 8, 2010

How embarrassing!

 Okay, maybe this has happened to someone else out there.
I was so excited to participate in the Stampotique Challenge this week, and I was instantly inspired so I got right to work putting ears on 'Bowtie'. 
I never bothered to even look at the other ladies' creations ('cept for Barb's 'cause she posted it on her blog) and today, as I am reading the chosen winners of the challenge and checking their entries, I see that someone has masterfully created a 'Karin' image using bunny ears! She was like the second entry!
My entry was like #16.
What a dork.
Now I have to come up with something creative and unique for the next challenge to redeem myself somehow.
Lesson learned: ALWAYS check the other entries of a challenge BEFORE you create your entry.
Lesson learned.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Little Chickadees

Tim, from Hambo, creates some of the cutest images ever.
I really like this sweet image, and once it's paired with the matching sentiment,
it's like 'insta-card'!
Not much room for error with this combo.
  
Oh, and check out this delicious ribbon also from Hambo.
Next thing you know, they'll be dropping by to put the card together for you! 

Check out all the new goodies over at Hambo.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Don't touch his eggs!

This is my submission for this week's Designer's Challenge
I have been wanting to participate for some time now, 
but life keeps getting in the way.
I was instantly inspired to play this week once the image of 'Bowtie'
wearing bunny ears popped into my head.
   
The colors I chose are bordering on heinous, but I like 'em.
I also had a fun time drawing the bunny ears and am quite pleased with the overall look.
I don't usually re-work a card, but the first version of this card was a bit off.
I didn't want to take a chance dismantling the card and ruining the image, so I just pulled of the offending ribbon and added Primas.
I think it was an improvement.