shiny new year

it is not too late to wish folks a happy new year, right? because i made a card for two challenges on the new year theme -- the bonus "happy new year" challenge at drunken stampers and the week #1 "shiny new year" challenge at scraps of color.

i used lots of glittery paper and glittery stickers and a favorite stamp from the "party cats" set by lost coast designs which i stamped on shiny embossed paper from paper temptress.

of course it is not too late!  i'm wishing all a happy new year!
love to all.

she asks, what does the future hold?

she asks, what does the future hold--
can it be divined from board or ball?
or is the key, may i be so bold,
deep in my heart where love is all?

here is my DT creation for week two of "witchery" at lunagirl moonbeams.  while creating this piece i was inspired to write the poem above.  you have one more week to link up a creation on our theme.
i'm also linking this to the "goth/hallow e'en" challenge at drunken stampers.

love to all.

for the birds. the spooky birds that is...

here is a sneak peek at one of the tombstone ATCs i made for the retro cafe art hallowe'en tombstone ATC art swap.  the only criteria is to use the special masonite ATC bases available from retro art cafe and then whatever other spooky goods you wish.  the deadline to get the ATCs in is september 22 so there is still a bit of time if you want to participate.

for the swap you provide 4 tombstone ATCs.  i've made 6 total and will decide this week which 4 i'll mail off.  i won't share any more until after the swap is complete but i decided to share this one now as i'd like to also enter it in the drunken stampers challenge #96: "the birds."

details: i gessoed the tombstone base and stamped it with a french script stamp.  i distressed around the edges in black.  i used a torn scrap of designer paper from my stash.  the poe image and also the black wings came from a free collage sheet at retro cafe art.   i added a raven sticker of course!  it is a raised, textured sticker.  it is a sombre little creation!

this will be my first retro cafe art swap and i'm excited.  it isn't my first time joining the drunken stampers but i was recently pleasantly surprised to get their "life of the party" badge for participating in their last challenge.  thank you drunken stampers!

have a happy week; love to all.

thinking peach...

this piece is for a challenge at the drunken stampers challenge blog: "think peach for endometrial/uterine cancer month." 

unfortunately there are too many in my world who are receiving treatment for various cancers.  i will send this card to one such person.  the stamp sentiment here is from penny black and it is stamped on origami paper (with cranes, for hope)  the background butterfly paper was a free sample from dover publications.  

enjoy; love to all.

multi-challenge queen! its all about the love.

go ahead and congratulate me now because this post goes to 2 challenges and 2 parties which is a major record for me.  details up front:
random redhead challenge: GC 135 "use your favorite paper" at gingersnap creations
"love" at drunken stampers
happy pink saturday at how sweet the sound and
"pearls and lace" at faith grace and crafts blog.

i don't know how you folks who link up to 7-10 challenges do it.  half the time i'm lucky to post any random thing i've done.  so let me now share a bit more about this card, my first valentine of the season.  the gingersnap creations challenge to use a favorite paper seemed almost insurmountable in light of all the beautiful papers there are to be had.  so i decided to focus on a favorite paper for a purpose -- and with february around the corner making valentines is the perfect purpose. 

if you've been around this blog you know that valentines are pretty much my favorite type of card to make. i actually picked 4 favorite papers for this purpose so i may have to enter the gingersnap challenge again but anyway this is where i started.  i love the flower pattern going on there and thought it was a nice accent for a doily and a vintage valentine message.  the pearls were added for balance.  it being a valentine it also worked for the drunken stampers love challenge.  and it is also pink and it also has pearls and lace.  voila!

enjoy and much, much love to all.

welcome hallowe'en season!

over the past few days i've been gathering interesting hallowe'en images.  then yesterday morning i had a delightful time searching through all my goods looking for embellies and papers and such that speak "hallowe'en."  so get ready because that's mostly what i'll be making and posting over the next several days!

this gecko galz image is actually a vintage hosiery ad! i suppose a witch might value smooth legs though i myself prefer to stay away from it.  what a hassle! simple black cardstock, coordinating paper from a martha stewart set of h'ween papers and a few other seasonal goodies.

i'm linking up to pink saturday (hey, she's wearing pink --such a fashionable witch!) and also to the drunken stampers hallowe'en challenge #76 and finally, a new one for me, the 2 sisters challenge blog #60.  for both of the challenges any hallowe'en creation counts so check it out.

more to come.
love to all.

drunken stampers #63

the latest challenge (#63) at drunken stampers is "technology sucks."  i don't think technology sucks but i do believe we sometimes need a break from it.  the point was not to use any technology in the challenge creations.  i don't really have much technology in my crafting -- the most high tech thing i've got is a heat gun.  so i didn't use it here!  to me the antidote to technology is spending time in nature or spending time with art.  so my ATC is nature-themed.  the native american style eagle stamp is from sunday international and the sun is from uptown rubber.  i used regular markers on the stamps and masked the eagle.  before stamping the background was spritzed with watercolors by stamp zia.  i used a sharpie around the edges.  and that's all.

love to all.

spongeworthy with the drunken stampers

here is an ATC for the drunken stampers challenge # 61which requires us to do a background with a sponge.  i sponged up some alcohol inks for my background and collaged around with some flowers and some images from dezinaworld.  i love the ladies with their butterfly hats.  i have some sparkly stickers on there, too.  happy spring all,  i hope warm pleasant weather is coming for all of us!
love to all.

another sport, all about him

in keeping with the "be a sport" challenge over at the cheerful stamp pad i've made another card with a sporty theme in mind.  this time i was able to use a digi from dude time doodles, the sponsor for this challenge.  dude time specializes in masculine images and in their sports section i found this fabulous image entitled "ride like the wind."  my husband wooed me with trips on the Harley so this really struck a chord!  i've never used a digi before so wasn't exactly sure what to do. i printed it and cut around it and layered it with my own stuff.  i did a background with the technique junkies chalk lines technique.  it is a technique that i especially like and here it made sense to me because the lines made me think of the road. i chose chalk colors that were kind of like the dusty sunsets you find on the road as well.  fun memories. the route 66 stamp is from inkadinakado.  anyway i hope you enjoy it and consider joining the "be a sport" challenge.  i'm also pleased to enter this one in the drunken stampers challenge #60: "all about him."  lots of fun to be had in the art blogs once again.
enjoy; love to all.