I didn't think it was possible...

Today I have a very CAS card design for your viewing pleasure.

These sweeties are a new image from Aurora Wings called,

'Primrose Elf'. 

I love color, so it was kind of hard for me to choose just one, 

or even a couple of favorites for this elf and her kitty. 

I didn't think it was possible, but I found that after I had chosen

to use most of my favorite colors, I was unable to find any papers

to go along with the colored image. 

I had colored myself into a corner with this one. 

After pushing papers around for more hours than I care to admit to,

I just went with a very CAS layout with a simple sentiment stamped

directly onto the card.

I'm sure it may have been easier had I just went with a normal flesh tone

for the elf, but the fantasy in me always wants to color fae in fantastical

tones. I mean, why not? How often do you get to color someone with blue green

or purple skin? I love how she turned out, and probably would choose

all the same shades if I colored her over again. 

And I did consider it for a moment...

This card is for the new challenge at Aurora Wings challenge blog

where the theme is Lucky Color(s).  

It's a Love/Hate Thing

To say that I don't like angels or cherubs would be a bit of a misnomer.

While I am not a fan of the angelics in the classical sense, I do enjoy them

once they are adequately "repurposed".

I was out thrifting with a friend a few weeks ago and she spotted this

delicious assortment of ceramic angel ornaments.

$2.00 for the entire lot of 10. Super sweet deal!

I knew immediately what I was going to do to each and every one of those

little fellas. I was gonna "fix 'em". And fix 'em good!

I started off with a nice coat of gesso to get everything ready for

what was to come... 

See?

All better!

I got out the polymer clay and began to sculpt a fleshy

heart over the existing one. I made sure it was beefy enough

to accommodate a big ol' chunk being gnawed out of it.

I also gave him a head wound. Might as well, huh? 

I made over his wings with a bit more clay. I ended them in points,

more like bat wings. I like them better that way.

  

Then he got the standard coats of Hauser Light Green

acrylic paint for his skin, and various shades of acrylics

for his remaining colored parts. I added some glittery pink

paint on the heart to make it purty. Same goes for the purty

red paint, too.     

Lastly, the whole caboodle got a wash of black paint

to help bring out all of the details, and a layer of 

Inka Gold in purple was added to the wings for one last

dose of dark angel glam.

This was made specifically for the current challenge going   

on this month at Haunted Design House. The theme is

It's a Love/Hate Thing.

Interpret that any which way you'd like. Drop by HDH for

some killer inspiration.  

Valentine's Day Sweetie

In an ongoing attempt to use images in my collection

that I haven't used before, here is a beautiful image from

Sweet Pea Stamps drawn by Enys Guerrero.

She's called, Magical Steam Girl.

And I do think she turned out quite magical.

She's been in my stash of digis for far too long.

I backed her on to a distressed dark mahogany stock.

I thought it really made the pinks pop. I used a favorite paper

from MME Lost and Found paper pad.  

When I ordered this die I didn't realize it had hearts

in the design of the cogs. I don't "do" hearts as a rule

so this die sat stagnant for a while. It goes really sweetly 

with this image. 

More hearts. I heat embossed the gear diecut with 

bronze and gold embossing powders. I like the addition

of the gumdrop hearts and dewdrops. They add a nice

dimension and texture.

Adding the heart banner die cuts really topped it all off.

I needed something at the top of the card and they were perfect!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - Valentines

Cute Card Thursday - Perfectly Pink

Creative Moments - ATG/Love 

Jo's Scrap Shack - Valentine's Day

Left of Center - Lost Love

Just Add Ink - #250 Inspiration

Sweet Pea Stamps fb - Progressive challenge

Happy Valentine's Day!!

For my King

Now just because I have pretty much denounced 

Valentine's Day as a whole, doesn't mean that I don't make

a card for my husband every year. He deserves it.

But like most things, I can't be serious.

I have no problem with being heartfelt, but it's gotta

make ya smile, too.

I just got some new Stampotique stamps, and since one of them

was the Daniel's Hearts stamp I thought it only fitting to use it

as a background for my V Day cards.

After stamping the hearts in a varied pattern, I used a

waterbrush and Distress Inks to paint them. I also added

splatters of white and black Dylusions ink to lend to the messy

watercolor painting.

Wolfie King kinda spoke to me and convinced me

he was perfect for my husband's kooky card.

I think he was right. Especially after coloring him

with Copics, adding Stickles to his star belt buckle, and 

topping off his crown with rhinestones. 

He is quite the stunner.   

I used my Dymo maker to make the sentiment, which is

a little inside joke. If you know me at all, you know I don't

suffer fools or weak men easily or at all. Nor am I one

to bow down to anyone, so this sentiment is completely dripping

in sarcasm. That being said, my husband is the closest thing ever to

a governing force of my fantastical realm. He pays the bills.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Stampotique Designer's Challenge - It's all Love and Hearts 

Creative Moments - Anything Goes/Love

The Male Room challenge blog - Valentine

Loves Rubber Stamps - Show Me Some Red

Who are you calling, "Pugly"?

My son likes Pugs. 

So when I saw this Kira Nichols stamp at Stampotique, 

I knew I could use it in many different ways just for him. 

I thought that this sentiment from Ginger's House was perfect for

our sweet little Pug friend. Made me chuckle...

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Stampotique Designer's Challenge - SDC179 Funny or Punny

That Craft Place - Anything Goes

Open-Minded Crafting - No red or pink

On a side note, I received a free 2015 calendar from the ASPCA.

I decided to just use the freebie as opposed to giving it to my son,

and then buying myself a ridiculously priced character calendar like usual.

Knowing that it's an animal shelter calendar I knew to expect some

sad stories and even some sad photos, but damn! 

Poor, sweet Ollie has no eyes. I had a cat with one eye years ago.

She was the softest, sweetest, kitty ever. I miss Nicki (Na-Na).

BUT, I just couldn't bare to see poor eyeless Ollie all month, 

so I fixed him!

Wonky googly eyes are better than  no eyes, right?

Now Ollie makes me smile everytime I see him.

Thanks for stopping by and tolerating me.