Crafty Gals October Challenge!

Hi Blogging Friends!

Today I am back with our monthly challenge from a blogging group over at SCS, the Crafty Gals.  This month it was my turn to host the challenge.  So here goes...

Think Outside the Box!

I challenge you to make a project with no squares or rectangles (not even the base of a card or scrapbook layout). Since we have already stepped outside the box, lets take another step. Try a technique that you have not tried before. It is always fun to learn something new and expand our creativity. Have fun with it!

When I first came up with the challenge, I had an idea in mind.  Well after going back to that idea, I discovered that it ended up being square.  Scratch that idea.... So I had to do some thinking and looking on Pinterest.  Finally, just in the nick of time I found these cute little pumpkins.  They are not square. And I made them using medallions, which I have never made before.  Challenge accomplished!

So here are the paper pumpkins!

I cut a 8" x 12" piece of orange double sided cardstock.  I scored it on the 12 inch side every 1/4 inch.  Then I cut it into strips (1 - 1x12" strip, 2 - 1 1/4x12" strips, 3 - 1 1/2x12" strips).  Out of those strips I made medallions and then began stacking them in the following order:  1 1/4", 3 - 1 1/2", 1 1/4" and finally the 1" strip.  I finished the top with a stick, some curled wire, two felt leaves and a round tag.

Just a note, the tutorial and credit for the idea for these cute little pumpkins goes to Two Paper Diva's.

Please stop by and see what the rest of the Crafty Gals created.

Melina ~ Crafty Scrapper

Tracie ~ The Crafty Touch

Carolina ~ Cardolina Scrapolina 

Barb ~ Barb's Inkin' into Retirement 

Diane ~ Stampin Ldyglfr62

Lela ~ Lela's Crafty Corner

Heather ~ Lost in the Land of Stamping

Patty ~ LaLatty's Stamp 'N Stuff 

Jeanette ~ Cre8tive Play: It's Cheaper than Therapy 

 Jackie ~ Kreate With Me 2

Thank you for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed your visit.

Blessings until next time!

Athina

Full of Possibility!

Hello out in blog land!

I hope all is going well for you!  Who knows what possibilities are out there for all of us.  I bought this stamp from Whipper Snapper quite a while ago, but I have never inked it up.  I have been a bit intimidated by this image.  Well, I finally decided to conquer my fear and give it a try.  The worst that could happen is that I throw it away and start over, right? Besides, we will never grow if we don't step outside of our comfort zone a bit.

After coloring the image with copics, I found this tag in my stash.  I felt it was quite appropriate as I was able to color the image.  Anything is possible.  I finished it off with some puzzle pieces, as we never know what each day will hold for us.  I really like the bright colors, as they could cheer anyone up!

Copics used

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:
My Time Made Easy - Pretty Palette # 51
2 Sisters Challenge  - Think Spring
Crafty Calendar - Spring Clean

Thank you for stopping by!

I hope your day is full of possibilities!
Until next time...
Athina

Yes, Christmas!

Happy Thursday Everyone!

I found a cute little sketch from Sketch Saturday for a challenge and I thought I would give it a try.  I know Christmas is still nine months away, but never too soon to start on those Christmas cards.  It was actually nice to pull those Christmas colors out again.

I am taking the intermediate copic class on Saturday!  Can't wait!  I can mark off one of my goals this year!!

Recipe:
Paper:  Cosmo Cricket, My Minds Eye and image is colored on Cryogen.
Inks:  Copics & Memento
Embellishments: ribbon, buttons, flowers, pearls
Dies:  Spellbinders
Image:  Magnolia Gingerbread Tilda

Inside - sentiment left blank for when I send the card.

Copics used

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday - Week 197
Craft your passion challenges - Anything goes
Critter Challenge - Buttons, Buttons, I love Buttons
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge- Seeing Red
One Stop Craft Challenge - Buttons
365 Cards - Minimum of 10 circles
Charisma Cardz - Ribbon, Ribbon, Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by and looking.

Blessings until next time!
Athina

High Hopes Challenge # 128

Hello Everyone,

I have a few High Hopes stamps and found their challenge last night. I am a bit late and did not make it in time, but I can still share it with all of you!

I used the High Hopes Ele-fun stamp colored with copics.  This was a sketch challenge, which I love.  I like to see how many different things the talented ladies come up with.

Sentiment by:  Whimsy Stamps
Misc:  Buttons, Ribbons, spellbinders, jewels.

The inside

Copics used

Just a quick post today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Athina

Just Because I Care

Happy Sunday Everyone!

I hid out in my craft room today and got a lot done.  I am still trying to make a new bag, but I am struggling and get frustrated so I put it down and move on.  I may finish that silly thing by the end of the year, who knows??

I found a few challenges to enter and started from there.  I made the following card with some of my favorite colors.  I combined a color challenge with a sketch challenge.

This sketch is from Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge #95.  I will enter it into their challenge this week.

I received this Tilda picking flowers Magnolia stamp from Shelby over at Color of Happy a few weeks ago and finally inked it up.  I thought it was perfect for the sketch I used.  

The paper is by MME ad cryogen.  

The flowers are prima's.  

Sentiment by Stampin Up.

Ovals by Spellbinders.

I used copics to color Tilda in blues and pinks.  I used stickles for her angel wings.  The flowers I did a bit different than I normally do.  I just dotted some color all over the flowers to give them some variety.  I airbrushed around the oval with the air compresor and copics to give it some more contrast.

Inside of card

Copics used for Tilda.

In addition to the sketch challenge, I am entering this into the following challenges.

CMC Challenge #37 - Lots of Laughts & Bright Fun Colors

2 Sisters #80 - Anything Goes

Allsorts Week 143 - It's your choice

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fantastic week! Remember, spring is just around the corner.

Until next time...

Athina

Can shoes change your life?

Hello fellow bloggers!

I finally had some time to stamp today and what a nice day it has been to stay inside.  It is cold and the ground is covered with snow.  I was able to finish a few challenges, so stay tuned this week as I post the other challenges!

Today, I have for you a challenge from Unscripted Sketches.  I found this little sketch intriguing.  The piggyback challenge was to create a pocket.  I love pockets, so here we go!

After digging for papers that I liked, I found some and started cutting.  My original set of papers just were not doing it for me, so I put them away and started again.  I reverted back to my favorites from MME, browns, pinks, creams and greens.  The little tag the sentiments is stamped on comes out of the pocket I created on the front.   The sentiment is by Amy R stamps.  

So the question is... Can a new pair of shoes change your life?  I don't know.  I am not much of a shoe girl.  Although I have quite a collection of running shoes. I wear them out and they still look brand new, so I wear them for everyday.  I have a lot of every day shoes to catch up with.

This card will be entered in the Unscripted Sketches #142 challenge.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you have a fantastic week ahead!
Blessings until next time...
Athina

Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge #88

Good Evening!


I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I am determined to make this week the best after last week!  Lots going on and very busy after returning to work.  The short week felt longer than a normal 5 day work week. 

As one of my goals for 2012, I want to participate in more challenges to help me grow.  So I have been searching around.  I have done a few SCS challenges and posted in their gallery.  This will be my first blog challenge... Wish me luck!  So over at the Sunday Sketch & Stamp blog (here), I found this sketch for the January 8th challenge.

Perfect for me, as it is square and I have a love for square 5 1/4 cards.  So what did I create?

I used MME and Bo Bunny paper as the background.  The yellow paper that you can barely see, was actually white.  I used my wide Y15 copic marker to make it match Tilda's dress.  The image is Magnolia's Beautiful Tilda.  The sentiment is by Amy R stamps and is on a die cut by spellbinders.  I used mustard seed distress ink on the die cut and then some perfect pearls to give it that magical feel. 

Copics used:
Skin:  E000, E00, E11, E13, W1
Hair:  E35, E37, E57, E59
Frog:  YG01, YG03, YG17, YG25
Flowers:  R00, R21, R22
Dress:  Y02, Y04, Y06, Y15
Shading:  C1, C3, W1, W2, N1, W5

I also used some stickles around the wings and for some little texture bubbles around Tilda.







For the inside, I used the same paper as the front to bring it all together.  The inside sentiment is by America Art Stamp.  This card will go into my stash, as I don't have anyone in mind at this time.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a great week!

Until next time....
Athina