Sketch Challenges Galore and a Wedding

Or two! Happy Sunday! I have been busy all week creating wedding cards! My friend has requested "thank you" cards for her bridal party (3 flower girls, a junior bridesmaid, and both sets of parents) as well as a romantic card for her husband-to-be. I am still working on getting the photos edited and will add them (along with details for each card) as I am able, but I wanted to get this post live so I can enter the challenges for those that are ready (Mojo closes in less than an hour!). I fear I idled away my afternoon snuggling with my super sweet toddler and immersed in reading The Hunger Games when I should have been taking care of crafty business! lol Here are the creations I made for her (including my card for the happy couple) plus one I made for a co-worker who got married this weekend.

Kimbee's Creations

Image: Briana Bridesmaid (Sassy Studio Designs)

Markers: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, R85, E23, E25, E27, YG93, YG95, B06)
and Prismacolor Art Markers (198)

Mojo Monday

Image: Flower Girl (Mo's Digital Pencil)
Markers: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E23, E25, R20, R81, R85, G03, Y32, Y35, YR15)

Sketches by Carly

Image: Flower Girl (A Day for Daisies)
Markers: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E23, E25, R20, R81, Y32,Y35, YG93, YG95)
and Prismacolor Art Markers (122)


Creatlicious Challenges

Image: Navaeh (Saturated Canary)
Markers: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E23, E25, E27, YG03, R20, B02, Y32, Y35)
and Prismacolor Art Markers (122)

Crafting Life's Pieces

Sentiment: Stampin' Up

Quirky Crafts ChallengeImages: Shore Scene (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Markers used: Copics (E23, E31, YG91, YG93, Y38)
and Prismacolor Art Markers (78, 79, 96, 109)

Try Stamping on Tuesday

Sentiment: Stampin' Up

Image: Light My Life (Tiddly Inks)
Markers: Copics (B00, E19, E23, E25, E27, E31, E33, E34, Y32, Y35, YG93, YG95, W4, W6)
and Prismacolor Art Markers (198)

Image: Smooth Sailing (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Markers: Copics (B39, E23, E31, E33, E34)
and Prismacolor Pencils (PC997, PC1025)

Thanks for looking and have a fabulous evening!

{hugs}
Regan

Dare To Be Sassy Thursday #117 - Paper Piecing

Welcome to another edition of Dare To Be Sassy Thursday with Sassy Studio Designs! This week's theme is paper piecing. This is always a fun challenge for me! I chose Syrena mermaid from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection and paper pieced part of her tail. It's hard to see in the photo, but looks pretty cool in person! I even got brave and used my Microsoft Paint program to flip the image so she was facing the other direction!

We are enjoying weather here that is more like Summer than Spring. I have today off and it is supposed to be near 90 degrees and guess where I'll be on this glorious day? Inside, at my desk, crafting. I face the seemingly impossible task of finishing, er okay, I admit it - starting and finishing, 7 cards for my friend's wedding. I need to get them in the mail to her this weekend so... I've run out of time and excuses! I also have a birthday party to attend on Saturday night for my best friend. She and her twin daughters were all born in March. This card is for one of the twins. I will be making another one in shades of aqua and green for her sister.

I opened up my Beaded Ovals Nesties and used them for the first time! The border is a Martha Stewart punch as are the sand dollar, starfish, and branches. I sponged them lightly with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. All other items (pearl trimmed lace, pearls, flowers, netting, and shells) are from my stash.

Here is a close-up of my pretty mermaid and her pearl adorned hair!


And here is a close-up of her tail, which I have printed on designer paper purchased from Joann's (Purple Sponged by Paper Pizazz). The background paper is also by Paper Pizazz and is called Soft Purple Ferns.

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, B02, B04, V09, V12, V15, V17).

Please head over to the SSD blog to see what my teammates have created for your viewing pleasure and to link up your own paper pieced project! You have the chance to win 2 Sassy images of your choice if you do!

I'd also like to enter this in the following challenges:
- My Mum's Craft Shop: #49-Let's Get Digital
- The Paper Shelter: Paper Piecing
- Stamp and Create: March Challenge-Paper Piecing

Thanks for stopping by and I'll try to put together one big wedding themed post when I'm finished with Mission Impossible to let you see how things turned out!

Have a fabulous day!

{hugs}
Regan

The Corrosive Challenge #145 - Things Are Looking Grimm

"Things Are Looking Grimm" over at The Corrosive Challenge! As in the Brothers Grimm, who published Grimm's Fairy Tales. Today marks the start of a new fortnightly challenge, and we want to see your projects based on fairy tales, fables, or children's stories. We all had a favorite growing up. Or have one we cherish reading to our own little ones. When I was in junior high I had to select a non-sense poem to study. I chose "The Jabberwocky" which was written by Lewis Carroll and included in his novel Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I remember looking it up in our encyclopedia set (yes, boys and girls, this was back before the Internet!) and spending hours memorizing it, and giggling, with my mom! To this day we can both still recite it verbatim!

So for my card, I chose Little Honey Alice from our sponsor Sassy Studio Designs! She is colored with Copics, fussy cut, and mounted with foam squares. My layout is from A Gem of a Challenge (#42), and the only thing I changed was using the Tim Holtz clock face instead of a sentiment. The border punch is from Martha Stewart (crowns) and the Picot Circle Nestie is one of my new favorites! Flowers are from Recollections.

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, E19, Y32, Y35, YG93, YG95, B37, B39, W8).

If you want to see what other stories inspired the Corrosive ladies, head over to the blog! And we hope you'll play along! All we ask is you tell us which book, story, fairy tale, or fable your creation is based on. You could win 4 images from our sponsor, Sassy Studio Designs, and have a chance to be our guest designer for May!

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! Thanks for visiting my blog and all your sweet comments are appreciated!

{hugs}
Regan

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patty's Day! I couldn't resist making this fun card in honor of today's holiday! Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, right? Including Victoria Case's Heidi the Bar Maid image! She already has the beer.... I just used my Copics to color her up with red hair and a green dress, and viola, instant sassy lass! And if that's wasn't enough fun on it's own, I found this fabulous sentiment over at Graphicat Designs! It was perfect!!!
Here's a little close-up of Heidi and her Dublin Ds:


And another one of the sentiment and flowers:


I started out with this week's Mojo Monday sketch (#232). I admit I did fiddle with it a bit, but I posted it anyway as that is where my inspiration came from. Papers are Deja Views and Karen Foster. The trellis border is a Martha Stewart punch. And what would one of my projects be with out flowers (a mix of WOC and Recollections) and some Tim Holtz metal?

Today is a special day because it is my small man's "half birthday"! Today he turns 2-1/2! Now normally, I might not celebrate such a milestone every year, but because it falls on St. Patrick's Day I have done something fun each year. The first year I dressed him up like a Lil Leprechaun. I have photos to prove it!

Kayne 2010

Last year there were green frosted cupcakes!

Kayne 2011

And this year there is to be a shamrock shaped cake. Which I'm off to bake now! Thanks for stopping by and may luck and laughter be yours this St. Patrick's Day!

Kayne 2012

{hugs}
Regan

Sassy Studio Designs Fabulous Freebie Friday

Good morning and welcome to my Fabulous Freebie Friday post! Love Sassy Studio Designs? Well, head over to our Paper Craft Planet group to grab today's free image! We do this every Friday, and we hold a fortnightly challenge there as well. Today's image is called "Bubble Bath" and our new challenge theme is "Rub-a-dub-dub: Use a Sponge". All you need to do to play along for your chance to win 2 SSD images is use a sponge to add a little ink to your project.

I've used the current sketch from Sketchy Colors (#108). Papers are from a 6x6 pad from My Mind's Eye called Lost & Found - Portobello Road. Flowers are from WOC and Recollections. A bit of pearl adorned lace, a Martha Stewart border punch, Nesties Label die, and a Tim Holtz adage ticket complete the shabby vintage look.

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E04, E23, E25, E27, W8, R20) and Prismacolor Art Markers (198).

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:
- Craft Room Challenge: Shabby Vintage
- Creative Card Crew: #6-Vintage

Hope you have a wonderful weekend planned and enjoy your Friday!

{hugs}
Regan

Tickled Pink Stamps Sponsors Forever Night

I was super thrilled when I learned that Tickled Pink Stamps was going to be sponsoring the Forever Night challenge blog! And even more excited when I found out the challenge was bling - "dark" (think emo, goth, punk) bling! Halloween is my favorite holiday so I was quite pleased to have an excuse to make a card for it in March.

I choose Lil Haunts Ghost Willow and printed her "big head" size before using my Cuttlebug and Nesties to cut her out in an oval. That fabulous bling framing her is all one piece and was a Michaels find! As soon as I saw it, I knew what I was going to do for this challenge. I was going to use it as a frame! Ms Willow always looks more like a cloaked witch to me than a ghost so that is the direction I took with her, right down to my sentiment (which is from Waltingmouse). I colored her with my Copics, using a touch of white gel and Stardust pens on her eyes. Papers are from my Halloween stash and I've had them for years. I HAD to have them at the time, bought them off eBay, and have been hoarding them ever since. They've only been used on a few cards so I thought it was time to break them out again. They are from Cosmo Cricket's Haunted line. Flowers are mix of I Am Roses and Recollections. I used one of the shapes from the Spellbinders Fancy Tags to add a little interest and added some black lace from my stash for texture.

Please head over to the Tickled Pink Stamps blog to see what some of the other {PINK} ladies have created for this challenge. And then you'll want to want to visit "where creepy meets creative" and check out the Forever Night challenge blog. Their design team will have some bling-tastic projects for you as well. I hope you'll be inspired to play along!

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E13, E15, E17, E19, R20, YG03, YG91, W8, V09, V12, V15).

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:
- Addicted To Stamps Challenge: #25-Sketch
- Ruby's Rainbow: #24-Lace

I'll be back in the morning with my Fabulous Freebie Friday card for Sassy Studio Designs. You won't want to miss this image! She is an all-time favorite of a lot of people! Thanks again for taking a peek and for all the lovely comments!

{hugs}
Regan

Retro Sketches #2

Hello! I have been crafting every night this week, but haven't had time to post any of my creations. You'll be seeing a few now within the next 24 hours. This card was made for my son's day care provider for St. Patrick's Day. Because March 17th is the small man's half birthday we celebrate. Even though we're not Irish (to my knowledge) I thought it was pretty cool his "unbirthday" fell on this day! So every year we celebrate. Last year it was with green frosted cupcakes. This year it will be with a shamrock shaped cake. Today I delivered sugar cookies sprinkled with green sugar to day care for Kayne and his play mates and with them went this card for the lovely woman who takes care of him while momma's at work.

I found a new sketch challenge, and for those of you who know me, you know I can't resist a good sketch! So I decided to play along with Retro Sketches (#2). I don't have a lot of St. Patrick's Day images and I wanted something "appropriate" (ie no beer or sassy Irish lasses! lol) so I opted to use this fabulous Waltzingmouse image that is a freebie in their shop. It coordinates with Nesties Label Five, which I used to cut it out. I printed two of them, colored parts of them with my Copics and did a little layering. Papers are Stampin' Up and Karen Foster. I kept the embellishments very simple - just some baker's twine and a horseshoe charm.

Markers used: Copics (YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97, Y32, Y35, Y38).

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:
- Fab n Funky Challenges: #112-Luck of the Irish
- Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Simon Says... A Bit o' Green
- Whimsical Designs: #45-Going Green
- Die Cuttin' Divas: #56-Try These Colors...Green, Yellow, Black, and White

I'll be back with two challenges tomorrow so I hope you'll check back. Thanks for stopping by!

{hugs}
Regan

Sassy Studio Designs Sponsorship: Forever Night

Yo ho ho and a cup of coffee! Because rum would just make me sleepier! Java's what I need right now! Or sleep. Maybe that might be an even better idea! lol But before I fall into bed, utterly exhausted after a full day of work and then wrangling the small man through his Easter photo session, I wanted to share the card I made for the new Forever Night challenge, sponsored by Sassy Studio Designs! The theme this week (#30) is one I can never resist: PIRATES! Forever Night is a "dark" challenge blog, and this is right up my alley so I wasted no time volunteering to participate.

For my card, I've used Angelica from the Sassy Studio Designs' Pirates of the Caribbean collection. I love her outfit; it makes her look so sexy and adventurous! She is colored with Copics, fussy cut, and popped up with foam squares. The sketch is from Try Stampin' on Tuesday (#56), and I've rotated it to accommodate my image. The sentiment is also from SSD - a retired Fairy Tale sentiment set. Papers are My Mind's Eye. Flowers, bling, and pirate doubloon are from my stash.

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E15, E17, E19, E23, E25, E27, R20, B32, B34, W4, W6, W8, W10) and Prismacolor Art Markers (149).

If you'd like a chance to win a Sassy prize, head over to the Forever Night challenge blog to see what their design team has created using SSD images and then link up your pirate themed creation for your chance at the booty!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous Friday! (Oh, and speaking of... don't forget to visit SSD at their Paper Craft Planet group for Fabulous Freebie Friday this week! We have a brand new, never before seen image for you courtesy of the lovely and talented owner/artist Lindsay! Be sure to come check it out! You won't want to miss this one!)

'Night!
Regan

Tickled Pink Stamps Sponsors Crafting For All Seasons

G'Day, mates! I'm here with a brand new image, just being previewed today, from Tickled Pink Stamps! She's called Lil Australian Lolita Kellita! She is one of four International images from TPS that will take us around the world this week! I simply love them and know you will too!

Now on to my real purpose for the post: I have a fabulous Tickled Pink Stamps sponsorship to tell you about! This fortnight TPS is sponsoring Crafting for all Seasons! The challenge is a color combo, and I have to say it's not one I use very often. Green and yellow. I happened to have the perfect designer paper for this one, though! It's a Basic Grey pack I bought some time back and have attempted to use on several occasions and always abandoned the idea. Well, the Origins collection was just what I needed this time! I am told that Australia's national colors are green and gold so I thought the pairing of this little sheila with this challenge was kismet!

I've used the current sketch over at Graphicat Sketches (#3). And just for playing along Cheri has offered EVERY participant a digi of their choice from her shop! There will also be a grand prize winner who receives a clear stamp selected by the team. How amazing is that?! I love their sketches anyway so that was just an added bonus!

My new My Favorite Things Vintage Flourish die makes its first appearance here. I also have utilized one of my beloved Nesties (Labels Eighteen) as well as some burlap and flowers (a mix of WOC and Recollections). The sentiment is also from My Favorite Things.

Markers used: Copics (311, E21, E00, E13, E15, E17, E19, E31, E34, W4, W6, W8, E04, R20, R32, Y32, Y35, G29, YG93, YG95).

I am also entering the following challenges:
- iCopic Weekly Challenge: #72-Red Hair
- Kaboodle Doodles: #109-Think Spring Let's See Flowers
- Make It Monday: #79-Anything Goes

Head on over to the Tickled Pink Stamps blog to see what my hugely talented design team mates have created for this challenge and then on over to Crafting for all Seasons to play along for a fabulous TPS prize!

Thanks for visiting and all your lovely comments are deeply appreciated!

{hugs}
Regan

Simply Challenged #2 - Spritz, Mist, Mask, Paint

Meet The Twins: Toil and Trouble! At least that's what I decided their names were when I found this fantastic dimensional sticker in my stash! And these girls were just begging to come out and play for a few wicked challenges anyway! First up is Simply Challenged #2 over at Simply Betty Stamps. They want to see you get messy and spritz, mist, mask, or paint. I opted for the spritzing with a little masking so my image wouldn't get spattered. I used two Stampin' Up markers (Basic Black and Baroque Burgundy) plus my spritz tool for the job. I also sponged the image panel with So Saffron ink. The sketch is courtesy of The Sketchy Challenges (#18). I rotated it a quarter turn so my lace was horizontal instead of vertical. And finally, I really wanted to join in over at Haunted Design House for their "Terrible Two" Macabre Monday challenge (HDH123)! I knew this image from Simply Betty Stamps' Steampunk line was perfect! A few black roses from I Am Roses and a couple Recollections black rhinestone bling flourishes complete my card. I was thrilled to use my French Pastry Cheery Lynn die for the first time! What a fabulous black doily it made, don't you think? And with their Cuttlehug spacer plate cutting and removal were a piece of cake! I highly recommend this line of dies! I did use one of my trusty Nesties too (Labels Fifteen).

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, R81, R85, E17, E19, E23, E25, E27, E34, W4, W6, W8) and Prismacolor Art Markers (150, 151, 152).

It has been a pretty quiet week here so far. Crafting has taken a back seat to snuggle time with my small man, but I have to get serious and get down to business tonight so be sure to check back tomorrow for another new creation (with a brand new image just being previewed in a few hours!)! Thanks for stopping by!

{hugs}
Regan

The Corrosive Challenge #144 - Give Piece a Chance

Hello, my friends! Today is one of those days where I just want to acknowledge how very blessed I am! I don't ever want to take anything for granted! Every day I spend alive and healthy, and more importantly to me, that my son spends that way is a gift not to be overlooked! Whatever problems I think I have are nothing compared to what some people have to deal with. I am simply horrified by the powerful and devastating acts of Mother Nature that some of the country has seen this weekend! The snow here in the Northeast was a minor inconvenience compared to the tornadoes that ripped through parts of the country! Over 100 were reported! My heart goes out to all those affected! I know kind words cannot make up for the loss of precious life, but I felt compelled to share caring thoughts. March certainly did come in like a lion, but I hope she has some pleasant Spring weather in store for us all and goes out like a lamb, as in the old saying.

For The Corrosive Challenge, March brings a new sponsor as well as new challenges. We are happy to welcome Sassy Studio Designs as this month's sponsor, and they have generously offered a prize of 4 digis for our winner. They also were so kind as to provide images for the design team to work with. As most of you know I'm a member of their design team as well so I have plenty of fabulous images to chose from!
I decided to work with Glowing Gwen from Sassy Studio Designs for this challenge which is "Give Piece a Chance". No, that's not an autocorrect snafu! I meant "piece" because we want to see paper piecing on your creations. There is a bonus challenge this fortnight, too! In honor of St. Patrick's Day, if you use green as a predominant color in your project you will get an extra entry in the prize draw!

I have paper pieced both Gwen's top and leggings. For the leggings I used my favorite "jean" patterned paper. All other patterned paper is from a DCWV stack called The Blossom Song. The rest of Gwen is colored with Copics. I admit that my procrastination was so great this week that it is the wee hours of the morning as I type this. And I will blame her eye make-up gone horribly wrong on being overtired! lol The sketch is from i {heart} 2 stamp's March SFYTT. Flowers, pearls, and some new scrumptious ruffled ribbon in Baja Breeze from Stampin' Up finish up the project. I also added a little deconstructed doodling to my image panel. That fabulous sentiment, cut with my Grommet Tags Spellbinders die, is from a My Favorite Things set called Baby Bump!

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, E13, E15, E17, E19, YG03, YG93, YG95).

Head on over to The Corrosive Challenge blog to see what the rest of the team has pieced together for this challenge! You will not be disappointed! I even hope you'll be so inspired that you'll join us by playing along!

Hug your loved ones tight and always tell them that you love them! You never know what each day will bring... So enjoy the ones you have to the fullest! Especially today!

Sorry to be all serious on you today. Sometimes you just have those days where you have more than crafting on your mind. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my lengthy post. Have a wonderful Sunday and check back with me later in the week for some (more lighthearted! lol) sponsorship posts.

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:
- Fairy Tale Challenge: #36-Paper Piecing
- Catch the Bug: Anything Goes
- Just Some Lines: Girly Girl



{hugs}
Regan