Hearts and Love at Dilly Beans

I had taken a bit of a break with Dilly Beans, but I'm back!

I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to create with 

Megan's wonderfully quirky images. They lend themselves to

so many occasions, color schemes, and level of crafter. 

The theme for the start of this (now) bi-weekly challenge is

LOVE AND HEARTS.

Now, you know I don't go in the for the really lovey-dovey schtuff,

so I created a sweet tag using #579 Frankie and his Bride.

I thought it depicted true love, no matter the state of decay.

How sweet. Makes my black heart tremble, ever so slightly.  

Ahhh, the sweet couple!

I colored them up with Copics, and embellished their eyes with

Glossy Accents. I used my tiny attacher to attach the eyeball ribbon to

the side of the tag. I am so glad I have that handy attacher/stapler.  

I stamped a sentiment from Paper Make-up Stamps, 

and a cling eyeball stamp from parts unknown.  

I also used my Goosebumps for the first time. It gives a cool,

almost toad-like texture to the project. Nice! I'll be using it

again very soon! Me likey. 

Lastly, I ran some neat, purple ribbon through the tag.

I can't believe I've never used it before, it's so nice to

work with.

That's it for me today.

If you want to see more Dilly Bean creations, please drop by

the challenge blog here. And did you know that Dilly Beans has

a face book page? Check it out here. 

Keep it creepy!

Happy Birthday, Jenn!!!

Since entering this blogging world , full of creative and supportive folks,

I haven't met anyone quite as nice, and caring, and genuine, as Jenn Borjeson.

Don't get me wrong, I've met tons of super friendly and uber creative people here, 

but Jenn is so sweet, she'll make your freakin' teeth hurt! 

She runs the Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge and she also

manages to create for multiple DTs, and she even finds time to make cool stuff

just for herself. Which she then sends to her friends to brighten their day. 

Today is Jenn's birthday, and I just wanted to say, 

"Thank you for being such a wicked pissah of a friend!!!!"

Love you, Jenn!!!

Valentine's Day quickie

Just a quick post from me to say,

Happy V Day!!

Cute little card for my son, using an adorable trio of monsters from,

Torico at Birdie Brown, called Catch my Heart.

Have a wonderful day!

My Valentine is off work today, so we are going out to a

seafood lunch and a walk around old Sacramento 

and the Sacramento River. Nice.

Wicked Wednesday Valentine

This week, Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge has set the theme of 

Valentine/Love.

Now who doesn't need to work up a cute V Day card or lovey dovey

project this month? You can whip up an ATC in no time! And it's a great way

to use up those paper scraps, too!  

We are sponsored by Redonkulous Designs, and I have used the 

Friends Forever image. 

There are loads of cute, well drawn images to choose from, and if you 

play along in this week's WW challenge, you may win a free image of your

very own!   

More art journaling

Lately, it seems that when I am faced with a challenge theme, my first

instinct is to grab for my art journal. I really like the idea of having an entire book filled with my creations at my fingertips. And it's so therapeutic! 

The new challenge released Friday at Dilly Beans is 

Love Gives Me Wings.

I used one of my favorite (out of many) Dilly Bean images,

#274 Heart Monster. He is perfect for so many uses!

This time he got wings and gets to flit about in the clouds.

I used some Dylusions sprays and  a Tattered Angels stencil for the background treatment. I really like the way it came out.

I used some cloud die cuts from MFT, and I used my favorite

stamps from (so long ago) to stamp the single words, 

wings, love, and heart, in white ink and embossing powder.

Terr derr!

Here he is, all gussied up and ready for some lovin'!!

Check out the Dilly Beans challenge blog and see what the DTs created for this fun challenge! 

Steampunk Romance SBS blog hop

Welcome to my stop along the way

on this Romantic Steampunk Simply Betty blog hop.

You should have arrived here from the insanely talented
Cheri's blog ,

but if not and you'd like to join in from the beginning, go here.

I often think of how lucky I am to be on the Simply Betty DT,

and how fortunate I am to get to play and create with so many
unique and stunning and fun lines. The Steampunk line is one of my
most favorite to work with, and the new,
"Romance"  line is no exception.

Gwendolyn is a favorite of mine as well.

I decided to go with a vintage feel and kept the colors

fairly muted and subtle. For me anyway.

I went to town coloring the fleurs with my Copics.

I added color to the tips of the roses and then I dipped

them in alcohol and let them dry to a nice, blended,

realistic effect.

I had some large, brown glittered brads that really anchored

the ivory webbed ribbon down nicely.  

I colored Gwen in with Copics and

aged the edges of the panel with my scissors and

some Tim Holtz distress inks.

My second project is also my first altered journal.

I picked up this journal at Mike's with the intention of

using it in this hop somehow. I am quite a novice when it

comes to altering items. Maybe just a creature of habit, but

I finally stepped out of my comfort zone (again?!) and am

quite pleased with the outcome.

I cut out both Mercius and Grace images with my new

Heart nesties and colored them with Copics.

I added some Sizzix fluorishes. Some that I shaded

with pink SU inks for a bit of dimension.

I added more Copic and (dryed) alcohol soaked roses

in matching shades of pink. Popped on some

pearl sprays and a polymer clay heart that I had left over

from another project, added a compass and gear brad

to Mercius' side to give it a masculine element.

Plus some Stickles for that romantic sparkle.

I'll be listing this journal in my Etsy shoppe if anyone is

interested in purchasing it.

Thanks for sticking with me this long.
Next stop on the Steampunk hop is
the loverly, the talented,

Lady B. 

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!!!!!!