EIC 45 - a bizzy little bee

It's been awhile since i've been able to participate in the EtsyInspired Challenges.  I really felt like it was time to remedy that!  So i decided to check out this week's Etsy shop, The Daily Pincushion, and my wheels began to turn immediately!!!!  There are so many ADORABLE pin cushions!  I mean, seriously?!  I dont really sew that much, (ok, at all) but these pin cushions MAKE me want to sew!  Although i'd have a hard time poking anything into one of them!  hahaha.

Here is the pincushion i decided to use as my inspiration...

Now, admittedly, i take inspiration challenges VERY literally! I think it's fun to try to take something NON card, and turn it into a card. And i usually try to do it in a manner that really turns that object INTO a card. So it's a little more of a copy than just an inspiration, but that extra challenge to really do that, is fun to me. :)

Here's the card i came up with...

Pretty close, huh?  I did have a lot of fun with it!  I took a scrap of Tangerine Tango cardstock and ran it thru the cuttlebug to emboss (swirls folder).  Then i used an EK success punch to punch out the flower.  The vine/stem of the flower used my new quickcutz flourish die (that i HAD to get because my girl Dawn always uses swirls to embellish her cards and i LOVE them).

I stamped the bee from Buggy Sayings (PMS) onto solar white cardstock by Neenah and cut him out.  I also stamped him directly onto the cardstock base i'd be putting him on so i wouldnt have to cut out his legs!  :)  He was colored in with copics.

The bee trail was just doodled on with a pen.  Here's a couple of extra views... sorry the close up of the bee is so dark!  I was trying to get the sparkles!

and now...


Stamps:
Buggy Sayings from Paper Makeup Stamps

Coloring/Copics
Bee: Y13, Y15, Y18, N4, N6

Paper:
Tangerine Tango, Blue Bazzill (already textured with the dots) not positive on the name of the color, sorry, Sunflower CTMH, Solar White Neenah

Tools and Accessories
Cuttlebug Swirls Embossing Folder
Black CTMH marker for doodling
Creative Memories Custom Cutting System circle template

Quickcutz Flourishes die

Creative Cafe Glitter Glue in Spirit White

Green Button from Creative Cafe

Yellow DMC floss

Thanks for dropping by today!!!!  Feel free to leave some love.  hehe.

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More with the swirly tree!

I told you i've been playing with the Swirlie Tree this week! Well, i had already been playing with the tree because i felt like i wasnt giving it enough love (i have entirely too many stamps that need love!) but then i saw THIS CHALLENGE from the Etsy Inspired Challenges blog. Now those who are long time readers know i was the guest designer for this team a bit back and sadly i havent had the time to participate in their challenges much as of late. But they are seriously a fantastic bunch of ladies that use others art to inspire more art! I really should make sure i do these more! And they is often a prize even! This week it's $20 gift certificate donated by the wonderful Marti of Pez a Doodle. I knew of this shop before i knew Marti. But now that i "online" know her, i really enjoy this shop! :) Bonus she's giving everyone a 10% discount this week that read about this challenge! Use etsy10 at check out! Isnt she fab?

Ok, on to my entry... using the swirlie tree was kinda a given for me considering so many of the wonderful artworks from TR MACK STUDIO have trees in it! The colors of the artworks are outstanding too! I just HAD to create a card no matter how late or tired i was!

Here's my card...


here is the painting i was originally using as my muse!



I inked up the swirlie tree in onxy black versafine ink. (my FAV ink when just stamping something in black!) It just gives such a flawless coverage! I stamped it right on top of some patterned paper (from an old storybox pack i have from creative memories). The pp was perfect because it already had those spots on it. I then sponged around the tree with a blue ink just to help it stand out a bit. I added some pearls to the tree to simulate some of the other need ideas in the artists paintings.
Then i just inked up the word Hope form this quote. I used a black CTMH marker to only get the letters i wanted. And then i added some black spica pen because lately no card is complete without a spica pen for me! haha.
I decided to mat the sentiment on red because of some of the contrasting colors the artist uses like in this painting here...



This is is a seriosuly easy inspiration challenge! You have until noon today Pacific time (which for the east coasters like me, that 3, so plenty of time!) to get a card done, upload it and then link it back to the etsy inspired challenge post and you are entered to win!!! :)

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EtsyInspired Challenge #18

Welcome back to another EtsyInspired Saturday! Sadly this is my last round as a guest designer with the EtsyInspired group. If you've enjoyed seeing my etsyInspired challenge cards this past month, dont worry, i'll still participate in the challenges, they'll just come later in the week. :)

This week's artist/shop is Autumn Russell and she is giving away one heck of a prize! Any of the original artwork in her shop valued at under $55 will be chosen by the winner this week and she has some fabulous stuff in there so definitely check it out!

I had such a hard time picking my inspiration piece because she just has so many good artworks to choose from! I WAS going to do a tree. She has some pretty cool trees. Then i WAS going to do a butterfly, since she has a couple of gorgeous ones. Then i was going to use one of her child art pieces because, well, i just love them and if i had a little girl i would SO be buying one to put in her room! But in the end, i decided to go with this beautiful ballerina because after dancing for 18 years (you didnt know i did that did ya!) ballerinas just tug on my heart strings.
Here is her beautiful ballerina...

Now let me just say... i thought her coloring choices were beautiful and unique. How she made them look so darn good i dont know! I tried to use the same ones and wasnt nearly as in awe of my colored image as hers! haha. Still, once i added the patterened paper from DCWV's Old World collection it seems to wrap up a little better. The image is Bellarina from Stamping Bella. She was my very first bella i owned (of course, because i love ballerinas!)
Here is my card...

She is colored with copic markers and then i added some platinum stickles to her dress, around her neck and to her hair for some extra bellariffic ness. :)

Now go check out the rest of the EtsyInspired Design team including Janurary's Guest Designer... Christine Jensen
Ashley Newell
Joy Stagg
Lee Murphy
Lindsay Spencer
Ryann Salamon
Tanis Giesbrecht
Tiffany Johnson

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EtsyInspired Challenge #17

Welcome back to another EtsyInspired saturday! This week's shop is Kiddlebug creations for kids and oh my word, i'm in love with the stuff from her shop! It's all so stinkin' cute! You just HAVE to check it out! BONUS - she is offering a onesie of choice to one lucky winner who enter's this challenge! What's to lose? You'll get a adorable card made (or other crafty item) and be entered for a chance to win! :)

I used this onesie (that i fell in love with the second i saw it.... i love whales!) Isnt it so sweet?! You can get it in a variety of sizes and it's a super soft wool patch that is bonded and side stitched onto a preshrunk tagless onesie. I'm already picturing Gabe in it. :)

And i created this card with my inspiration!

I used a whale image from a Stampin Up set that i dont even own, i just asked someone to stamp me out a plethera of the whales because i just love whales! I opted to NOT put a sentiment on the front of my card (*GASP*) which is actually something i've done quite a bit lately. Rather, i made a little inside scalloped oval with matte like the whale and put it inside so i can add the sentiment when i need to use the card (like "Get Whale Soon" or Birthday Fishes, etc. I like having the various options. :)

Now dont forget the rest of the fabulouso design team for this week's challenge!
Ashley Newell
Joy Stagg
Lee Murphy
Lindsay Spencer
Ryann Salamon
Tanis Giesbrecht
Tiffany Johnson

and if you make a card creation yourself, link it back to the Original EtsyInspired #17 post on Ashley's Blog (hearthugsdesigns.blogspot.com)

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EtsyInspired Challenge #16

Happy Saturday to you! This will be one of a few posts today as i busily get ready to leave EARLY monday morning for my christmas vacation! I'll still have few posts while i'm gone, dont you worry! Ok, so you werent worried and likely wont even be reading blogs unless it's an escape from massive amounts of family! :)

This weeks EtsyInspired shop is Think Outside the Box and she has some fun and fabulous felt designs for you to take a peekie at. She's even doing a giveaway at the end of the week! You just have to use her shop for inspiration and then link your card back to the EtsyInspired post!

And here's my card...


I gotta admit, at first i was inspired by the doves, but i searched my stash and i didnt have a dove stamp. But in my search, i went over a paper salon christmas set i bought when The Scrapbook Company went out of business and i bought it for 75% off plus my 25% designer discount and i hadnt even opened it up! And i said well there were some cute trees i liked too! haha. So i went back again to her shop and those this tree was fun with it's non traditional colors of pink and green...


And i searched my scrap bin for pink and green paper but found this other scrap with more than just pink and green, but mostly various shades of pink and green. it still seemed festive without being traditional so i thought, PERFECT! I paper pieced my tree (it's actually pop dotted up too, but thats hard to see). My background i used the cuttlebug snowflake folder. The rest is pretty self explanatory!

Thanks for stopping by and now pop on over to the rest of the design team...

Ashley Newell
Joy Stagg
Lee Murphy
Lindsay Spencer
Ryann Salamon
Tanis Giesbrecht
Tiffany Johnson

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EtsyInspired Challenge

Welcome back to another EtsyInspired Saturday! This is week number #15!! And ashley has picked a super etsy store for this week! Check out Purple Toes Jewelry and bonus she offering 3 different pairs of earrings to 3 lucky winners! Just think - a perfect christmas gift down! Or perhaps just a little gift for yourself!


I chose this adorable pair of earrings for my inspiration! Arent they super cute!!! I just love little monkey's anyway. But as i browsed her store the second my eyes says these little guys i just knew!!!! And as luck would have it, i needed to make a birthday card for one of Jack's friends, sooooooooooooooooooooooooo


Here's my card!

Isnt that little sock monkey cute!!! I love sock monkeys. This sock monkey is from a stampin up set. It even comes with extra add ons and what not. I only have some images of this cutie patootie so i colored in the hat and balloon and then cut them out to layer them on the first image. I used a cuddlebug folder (argyle) for my background, papertrey ink ribbon and arylic discs from Michael's for my embellishments.

Dont forget to check out the other EtsyInspired gals for their fantastic works!
Ashley Newell
Joy Stagg
Lee Murphy
Lindsay Spencer
Ryann Salamon
Tanis Giesbrecht
Tiffany Johnson

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Etsy Challenge #14

Well, here it is! My first creation for the Etsy Challenge Design Team as a guest designer! This week our etsy shop to get some inspiration from is Dragonfly Fine Designs. She makes über cute baby items - fantastic for shower gifts etc. I adored her washcloth turned Lollipops!

And i thought, how cute to make a card with a lollipop on it! So i looked and looked... would you know that i do NOT have a lollipop stamp? But now the lollipop idea was stuck in my head. So do you know what i did? I drew myself a lollipop! I think it's cute, but of course over all i'm just waaaaaay sketical! Maybe it's my handwritten sentiment that is bugging me most. Anyhoo - here it is...

I wanted lots of glitsy shimmer so i coated my lollipop with stickles! And i also used Bazzill Bling paper for that added shimmer to the card. I colored the lollipop with copic markers before adding the stickles glitter. here's a closer view...


Now dont forget to check out the rest of design team for their oh so fabulous creations!
Ashley Newell
Joy Stagg
Lee Murphy
Lindsay Spencer
Ryann Salamon
Tanis Giesbrecht
Tiffany Johnson

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So much to do!

I have so so much to say and do these beginning days of the month! I have a feeling thats not going to stop anytime this month! ACK! But with all of the new things to say and do in december, it fell of course on monday (which i do makeup monday). I had every intention to post one of the other things i did over the weekend yesterday, but we'll just leave it at i didnt get around to it!

So - my announcements to start are...

I'm on the EtsyInspired Challenge Design Team for the month of December! I'm super excited about that! In fact... keep reading and you'll see my challenge card for this week. I dont think it's technically part of my "term" since the challenge was issued in the end of november but i wanted to post it anyhow!

New Cause of the month! I still have a few cards trickling in from those who wanted to help. So i want to give them a chance to get here. Then i'll do my drawing for the free shipping prie donated by the wonderful Angela from Unity Stamp Co. I'll also announce the new Cause of the Month then.\

And now for a card....
Our etsy Shop to give us inspiration this week is Morgan Street. One look at this shop and i fell in love! I adore homemade soaps and beauty products. I actually wanted to develop my own line of these products when i lived in LA. I bought all the supplies... spent bookoo money on it all, and then get pregnant. Woops. Haha. It fell by the wayside, but i still love to create homemade soaps, lotions, etc. However, i havent learned the cold process method yet for soap. I usually satisfy my craving for this with the melt and pour. haha. You just HAVE to check out this shop! Many of her soaps are made to look like dessert dishes. How fun is that!
I took these 2 photos from her site to use as inspiration...

to create this...


First - who does like to get a little pedi! And thinking of a pedi made me think of bubblebella with her foot up in the air! SO i chose bubblebella as my main image and then decided my colors of the card would match the photo - green and brown!
But i couldnt stop just there. I couldnt get the idea of all that chocolate out of my head! So i masked out bubblebella's scrub brush and stamped this yummy looking cupcake from chocoholic (sweet n sassy stamps). I decided to just swipe some white acrylic paint in the corner to stamp over. The ink didnt take to the paint the same way i'd like, but that's ok. It still looks kinda cool. The sentiment is also from the same chocoholic set by sweet n sassy stamps.
The other deets...

Patterned Paper: Close To My Heart
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Memento, copics
Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

Thanks for stopping by!

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A little Etsy Challenge

Ashley of Heart Hugs Designs hosts an etsy challenge every week. I have some fun info to share with you in december about Heart Hugs, so stay tuned.

This week's Etsy Store was Mercy's Mark. Mercy's Mark has adorable totes, purses, wallets and more sporting fresh and fun designs. They are über trendy - just the way i like it! :) BONUS - if you complete Ashely's challenge, you'll be entered to win a wallet, donated by Mercy's Mark! Pretty cool huh?

When browsing the store, i fell in love with this wallet. Ok, so i fell in love with a lot of things, but this wallet was sending me some fun inspiration vibes, so thats what i chose!

Here's my card...
I used Whooo Loves You from Close to My Heart. I've been wanting to ink up this set for sometime and sadly, this is the first time! I decided to paperpiece my owl to get some different shades of feathers on his body. After piecing him all together, i did a little shading just using some warm grey copic markers. I used my word window punch from Stampin Up to punch out a bit of red (of what brand i have no idea, it was in the scrap bin! Then i inked up my sentiment using white daisy pigment ink and stamped onto my punchie. The twine was a last minute thought as i had a scrap piece of it left out from the project before. I think it adds a nice extra dimension.

See how easy that was? Now go check out Mercy's Mark, make a little creation, link it here by noon pacific time on Friday November 28th and then check back to see if you've won! :)

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