LOVE . . . My Besties style + exciting news!

I have been invited to be Guest Designer on the

My Besties Dutch Girls Blog

   

for the February challenge.

The challenge is Anything Goes with optional theme of  Love/ Valentine

Today I have used the Steampunk Bestie by Sherri Baldy.

It has been a creative adventure making this card,

using a combination of

printing a digital stamp,

electronic and manual die cutting,

masking and ink blending,

Copic marker and Gel Pen colouring,

punching and lots of fun.

My top hat shaped card stands 6" tall and 8 1/4" wide.

   

I imported the digital stamp on to my Silhouette Cameo mat, placed it on to the top hat cut file and printed it on X-Press It Blending Card then cut it out using my Cameo.
I also used the hat cut file to make a top folding card base.

I printed another copy on photocopy paper and glued it to a panel of X-Press It Mask It.  I slowly fussy cut out the image to make my very own My Besties Steampunk mask.

I carefully applied the mask over the image on the cut panel.
Then the inky fun began.  I blended Walnut Stain Distress Ink over the entire background, the mask around the image worked a treat.  Note to self - next time I need to cut the image into the outline, so that it doesn't leave any white edges around the image.

I decided that the top hat needed some more blending to give it some dimension, so I carefully applied the mask over the image again, then took some strips of Mask It to mask the middle "hat band" section of the hat and blended with Gathered Twigs.

I removed that mask then took the "negative" from the rim that comes with the cut file to mask off that section and make it ready for some more blending.  I only have a few Distress Ink mini pads and markers, so I took my Black Soot Distress Marker, scribbled it on to some scrap from the Mask It (the section that is peeled off to expose the adhesive side of mask) then loaded up my blending tool sponge.  It took quite a few times of scribbling and blending before the section was fully covered but well worth the effort, I really was impressed with the result.  I should have taken a photo before I started colouring and embellishing ... another thing to remember for next time.

I coloured most of the image with Copic markers, the metallic cogs and accents were coloured with Kaisercraft metallic gel pens, using my piercing tool to get in to all the fine points.  I used a black Copic Multi Liner to darken any smudged edges.

Glossy Accents were added to the glass of the monocle and goggles.

There are leafy strands flowing from the hat on this image but they kind of disappeared in to the dark background, so I thought that a little dimension would balance with the other side of the card.

I'm thrilled with the monocle on the octopus, the Glossy Accents make it look so real.

I added some black and dark brown to the sparkling "love", it was a little too sparkly.
The velvet heart brad was a little bright too, so I coloured it with R46 to tone it down.

The feathers were die cut from X-Press It blending card and coloured with Copic markers in the same shades as her dress.  I used a variety of punches to cut the flowers, colouring them with matching markers too.

The cogs / gears were cut using the Silhouette Cameo, some came with the Steampunk Top Hat image, the others were from a separate set (details below).  I coloured some with the metallic gel pens to add some contrast to the layers.

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Sherri Baldy My Besties - digital stamp - Steampunk Bestie IMG133
X-Press It - A4 blending card
X-Press It - Mask It (masking film)
Silhouette Design Store - Steampunk Top Hat by Suzanne Cannon - Design ID #135482 
Silhouette Design Store - 6 GEARS by Lori Whitlock - Design ID #30449
Copic markers - skin - E0000 E000 E00 E01E02
Copic markers - lips - R21 R22
Copic markers - hair - YR20 YR21 YR23 YR24 YR27
Copic markers - eyes - B21 B23 B26 B28
Copic markers - clothes - R21 R22 R24 R27 R29 R46
Copic markers - belts / straps - E19 E18
Copic markers - goggles - C0 C4
Copic markers - octopus - B21 B23 B26 B28 B29
Copic markers - behind the edge of the octopus goggles - E42 E43
Glossy Accents
Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs, Black Soot
Round Ink Blending Tool and Sponges
Kaisercraft - metallic - Gel Pens
Kaisercraft Decorative Dies – Feather Die
Paper Smooches – Feathers Dies
Ultimate Crafts – Jadene: Careless And Free Dies 
Fiskars – small Burst Lever Punch
Fiskars - small Flower Lever Punch
Fiskars - Flowers Border Punch
Sizzix – “love” - Regal Stand Ups Framelits byStephanie Barnard

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Sending a big Thank You to Dorothy and the My Besties Dutch Girls for having me as their Guest Designer.

I hope that you have been inspired and create a My Besties project for their challenge.

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I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

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CCC Digi Creations
Challenge #66 - Add A Heart

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Color It!  Create It!  Show It Off!
February Challenge – Anything Goes

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Come and Get It Challenges
Valentine's Day Cards

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My Besties Aussies Challenge Blog
Challenge #2 – Hearts + Red

I have added a velvet heart and there are several hearts in the image

   

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My Besties Brazil
Challenge #19 – Flowers, Die Cuts and My Besties

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 My Besties France
Challenge #60 – Anything Goes

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My Besties International Challenge Blog

February Challenge – Valentines / Reds and Pinks

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My Besties Spain

Challenge #9 – Anything Goes + Option “UsePostage Stamps Of Your Country”

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QKR Stampede

Challenge #229 – Valentine Cards

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Scrapbook Stamp Society

Challenge #109 – Anything Goes + Option “Use TheColour Red”

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Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog
Simon Says: Young At Heart

   

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Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog
Simon Says: The Color Of Love
   
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Through The Craft Room Door
TTCRD Challenge January 31

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Crafty Gals Corner - Challenge #108 - Add Some Sparkle

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #108 - Add Some Sparkle

The sponsors for this challenge are:

Faery Ink

   

prize: 3 Digital Images

Star Stampz

   

prize: 3 Digital Images

Today I have used the Belle Chibi digital stamp from Star Stampz, one of our generous sponsors this week.

Our challenge this week is to "add some sparkle" and I think I went a bit crazy with the sparkle, from layers of sparkling glitter papers to rhinestones and lots of Wink Of Stella.

I coloured the image with Copic markers (details below).
Once dry, I added Clear Wink Of Stella to her dress ... then I thought she would like a sparkling background, so I went around the background with the Wink Of Stella too.
She is wearing sparkling diamond earings and her dress is adorned with sparkling jewels too.

I used a die to cut the sparkling layers framing the image.

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Star Stampz - digital stamp - Belle Chibi
X-Press It - A4 blending card
Copic markers - skin - E0000 E000 E00 E01
Copic markers - cheeks - R01 R20R21
Copic markers - hair - E30E31 E33 E35 E37 E39
Copic markers - eyes - E30 E31 E35 E39
Copic markers - dress - R20 R21 R22 R24
Copic markers - flowers - R20 R21 R22 R24 R27 R29
Copic markers - leaves - YG25 YG17 YG67
Copic markers - book - B00 B01 B02 W0 W1 W3 W5
Copic markers - tea pot (hidden by the roses) - B0000 B000 B00 B01 B02
Copic marker - the ever-so-handy "0" colourless blender
Spellbinders Designer Series - Botanical Bliss - Botanical Medallion
Kaisercraft - Paper Blooms - Fire Red
Kaisercraft - Mini Paper Blooms - Fire Red
Sparkling clear rhinestones
Wink Of Stella - Clear
Helmar 450 Quick Dry - to adhere the flowers
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive - to adhere the layers

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Sending a big Thank You to Star Stampz for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #108 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.

    

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I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

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Addicted To Stamps And More
Challenge #227 - Make Your Mark

   

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As You Like It Challenge
Your Favourite Flower (AND WHY)
My favourite flower is the rose.
It's such a beautiful flower, long lasting blooms and usually a delightful scent.
More importantly, they are such a hardy plant that survive in rugged conditions,
need little care and repeatedly reward with wonderful blooms, year after year.

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Color It!  Create It!  Show It Off!
Anything Goes

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Come And Get It Challenges
3 or More Layers

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Creative Moments
Challenge #110 - Anything Goes + optional twist "Keep It Feminine"

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QKR Stampede
Challenge #228 - Anything Goes

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Scrapbook Stamp Society
Challenge #109 - Anything Goes + option Use The Colour Red

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Simon Says Says Wednesday Challenge
Simon Says: The Color of Love

   

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Star Stampz
Birthdays Challenge

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Through The Craft Room Door

TTCRD Challenge January 31

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head on over to the Paper Smooches Blog for . . .

the February 2017 release PS DT Blog Hop!

It's Pep Rally Week on the Paper Smooches Blog.

Kim and the DT are sharing fun and fabulous projects using the

one new stamp set and five new dies from the February 2017 release,
 

CREATIVE INSPIRATION

CRAFTY TEMPTATION

AND

the chance to WIN one of FOUR $25 Paper Smooches gift certificates too!!!

AWESOME!!!

Head on over to the
Paper Smooches Blog

and get hopping now,
GOOD LUCK :)

Here are some links to their store if you want to check out all the crafty delights they have to tempt and inspire.  The new releases will be available to purchase 8pm PT 31st January 2017.

    

Welcome to my first project for . . .

the

Yes, it's true!

I'm super excited to be joining Team Lou at the Southern Girls challenge blog and share my first project with you today.

In 2017 the Southern Girls are trying something a little different, every so often we will be having a RETRO challenge.

These challenges are designed to have you dig into your stash and get rid of some of those older supplies that might be hanging around unloved.

For this fortnights challenge we would love to see you
use some Buttons and/or Brads on your projects for
Team Lou Retro Challenge - Smash That Stash - Use Buttons and/or Brads
Remember we are not just a card blog, we love to see scrapbook layouts, artjournal pages and all types of papercraft.

Thanks to our 2 amazing sponsors for this challenge.....

Today I am using the My Portret digital stamp from Ppinkydolls,
one of our generous sponsors for this challenge.

I printed the image on X-Press It blending card, heat set using my heat tool then coloured with Copic markers.  I fussy cut the middle of the image panel and went around the edge with a Memento Tuxedo Black dual tip marker.

For the base and layers of my card, I started with a free cut file from Monica's Creative Room (details below) and adjusted the file in my Silhouette Cameo to cut an easel card base and decorative layers.

I wove ribbon through the top layer, adhered the top layer to a white panel, pierced the middle of each flower and secured a brad in each hole, ensuring that they were pushed flat at the back.  Then I adhered another white panel to the back to securely hide the back of the brads.  The image panel was adhered in the middle of the decorative panel.

I scored the card base along the middle then across middle of the top layer to make the section where the top decorative panel gets attached.  I applied liquid adhesive to the bottom flap on the top of the card, aligning and securing the top decorative layer in place.

Although the card base is white, I thought I would add a little contrast inside, so I matted it with an olive panel then a smaller white panel.  I trimmed the top of these panels so that they fitted inside the top fold of the card.

I die cut the birthday sentiment six times, layered them together then adhered it in place so that the "b" of the birthday can be used to stand the front decorative panel of this easel card.  I used a strong bookbinding glue, so that the sentiment stays securely in place, even with the weight of the card front being wedged against.

*** INGREDIENTS ***

Ppinkydolls - digital stamp - My Portret

X-Press It - A4 blending card

American Crafts - 12x12 textured cardstock - 100 sheet value pack

Copic markers - skin - E0000 E000 E00

Copic markers - hair - E30 E31 E33

Copic markers - dress - R81 R83 R85

Copic markers - flowers - Y21 Y23 Y26

Memento Tuxedo Black dual tip marker

brads - lots of little yellow brads

May Arts ribbon - 3/8" - white knotted edge satin ribbon

Monica's Creative Room - FREE cut file - Framed Toppers 9c

Spellbinders - Die D-Lites - Sentiments Three

Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive (to adhere layers)

Helmar Professional Acid Free Glue (to adhere the sentiment in place)

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue (to adhere the sentiment layers)

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Sending a big Thank You to Ppinkydolls for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor of the Team Lou Retro Challenge - Smash That Stash - Use Buttons and/or Brads with us at the Southern Girls.

    

I hope I have inspired you to create something with buttons or brads and look forward to seeing your project shared in the challenge gallery.

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I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

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Addicted to Stamps and More

Challenge #226 - Anything Goes

   

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CCC Digi Creations

Challenge #65 - Use Die Cuts and/or Punches

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Colour It!  Create It!  Show It Off!

January Challenge - Anything Goes

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Morgan's ArtWorld

Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

    

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Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog

Pennys Challenge #313 - Anything Goes

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Scrapbook Stamp Society

Challenge #108 - Anything Goes with option Ribbon or Lace or Pearls

I woven ribbon through the decorative panel framing the image

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Star Stampz

Birthdays Challenge

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Through The Craft Room Door

TTCRD challenge for Jan 24th - 30th 2017 - Anything Goes

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