Graphicat Sketches #25

Good afternoon!  It's time for another Graphicat Sketches challenge!  Cheri has created another fabulous layout for us to follow!  I love fishtail flags so this was a fun one for me!  I decided to work with Hockey from Kenny K to make a birthday card for a co-worker of mine.  He is paired with the Graphicat Designs "Lace Em Up" sentiment.  Hockey is colored with Copics and cut using the Small Labels Nestabilities from Spellbinder.  I also used the Classic Ovals die to cut out the sentiment.  A Stampin' Up background stamp called Sanded gives the image panel some texture and interest.  The designer paper is Hat Trick by Karen Foster Design.  I used my star Cuttlebug embossing folder on the fishtail flags which were cut using the My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags Stax Die-namics.  I find it challenging to embellish masculine cards so I just added a couple of metal swirls from Making Memories that have been kicking around in my stash forever.

I hope you'll pop over to the Graphicat Sketches blog to see what the rest of the Crafty Catz have created to inspire you!  You have two weeks to play along (the challenge ends May 13th).  

I'm hoping the week flies by!  My crafting agenda is pretty full as I have lots on my To Do list at the moment!  So you may be seeing something else from me this week...  I hope you have a fantastic week and thanks for checking in!

Markers used: (E11, E21, E00, R20, R39, R02, N0, N4, N6, N8, E31, E33, B37, B39).

{hugs}
Regan  

A Special Graphicat Sketches Challenge

This week the Crafty Catz at Graphicat Sketches have agreed with Cheri that we should all make birthday cards for a special young lady for her 8th birthday. We heard about her through a Facebook group that several of us are members of, and we all decided we should see how many of our wonderful followers would like to join in.

Here is the story that touched our hearts:

Ladies, I need your help! quick story I met a wonderful lady through FB playing a game I no longer play. A friend via a friend kinda thing. Her name is Daylyn Michael and she is a fellow military spouse. Her husband Josh survived two Iraq deployments and was medically discharged due to brain trauma from 2 IED explosions. On November 15th 2012 , in Midland Tx, in a parade to honor veterans, a Union Pacific train slammed into the float carrying the 2 of them. He did not survive, Daylen survived without a scratch because her courageous husband threw her from the float so her children would not be orphans. She has asked her friends for a small favor their daughter is turning 8 on the 20th. Her first birthday without her dad. Daylen wants to make it special and all she is asking is that we flood her daughter with cards. Would anyone be willing to send her one? 

This fortnight the challenge is ANYTHING GOES, as long as it's a card for Maci, a birthday card preferably. Graphicat Designs has created some sentiments just for this occasion, and if you would like to use any of them, they are free for the taking HERE.  However, we ask that if you take a sentiment, please use it on a card for Maci. You don't have to use a Graphicat image or sketch for this special challenge, but we'd love it if you do.  After you upload your card to the challenge blog and email one of the design team members (I have a Contact Me tab at the top of my blog with my info) for the address to send your card to Maci, you will be entered to win a $15 GC to Graphicat Designs.

My card features Starla from Saturated Canary.  I paired her with the "Eyes on the Stars" sentiment from Cheri's shop.  I used my Spellbinders Stars Five to cut out the sentiment.  The sketch is also of Graphicat origin (past sketch #4).  Starla is colored with Copics and fussy cut.  I used lots of embellishments on this one- a metal corner, a bling swirl, flowers, pleated ribbon, a glitter chipboard # 8, and a fun mustache banner!  Papers are Happy Day from My Mind's Eye. 

 

   

I hope that you'll take a moment of your crafting time to send Maci some happy mail for her special day!  It will be a hard day for her, I imagine, but perhaps the kindness and thoughtfulness of strangers can make it just a little brighter!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a fabulous day!

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E23, E31, Y11, Y32, YR00, YR02, R20, R46, R81, R85, BG10, BG72, BG75).

Challenges:
- Saturated Canary Challenges: #41-Anything Goes
- Come and Get It Challenges: Kids Birthday Cards 
- Dream Valley Challenges: #54-Happy Birthday 
- The Craft Place: For A Child

{hugs}
Regan   

Graphicat Sketches Free For All

It's no April Fool's that it's a free for all over at Graphicat Sketches this fortnight!  Use an previous Graphicat sketch to play along for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Graphicat Designs!

I actually used the most recent sketch we had (#24) because I missed it last time and had already planned this card out.  So here is Santa Pin-up from Sassy Studio Designs in my first Christmas card of the year!  She is colored with Copics, fussy cut, and popped up with foam squares.  I paired her with Cheri's awesome "Be Naughty" sentiment, which I cut out using the Labels Fourteen Nestabilities from Spellbinders.  Papers are Noel by Teresa Collins.  Seam binding, baker's twine, and a few large flat back pearls are my only embellishments. 

Head over to the Graphicat Sketches blog to see what my talented teamies have been up to!  With 24 amazing sketches to choose from there is bound to be something for everyone!

Thanks for the visit and have a fabulous day!

Markers used: Copics (E21, E11, E00, R20, R24, R27, R29, Y28, B00, B02, N4, N6, N8, E23, E31, E37, E79).

{hugs}
Regan

Graphicat Sketches #23

No crafting for two weeks and then *BAM* two cards in as many days!  I'm back today with the new sketch from Graphicat Sketches.  This was another awesome one!  Cheri's sentiments really let you have fun!  If you aren't familiar with her designs you should definitely visit her shop sooner than later!  You can find them all HERE.

For Sketch #23 I've paired her "A Girls Gotta Do" sentiment with "Voodoo Woman" from Delicious Doodles.  I have to admit that I love the look on her face!  Maybe it's because there have been a few times in my life when I've been where I imagine she is...  And it's probably a good thing I didn't have voodoo dolls at the time!  lol  Ms Voodoo is colored with Copics, cut using a Classic Oval Nestabilities then matted with a Floral Ovals one (both from Spellbinders).  The sentiment is cut with the ticket die from My Favorite Things.  It's bigger than my Tim Holtz one and worked better for the size I had printed the sentiment.  Papers are Basic Grey Little Black Dress: Shades of Grey and The New Black.  I used Martha Stewart's Drippy Goo punch to add a little "blood".  A couple of flat back pearls, a few flowers, and two pins from Stampin' Up embellish the card.

Be sure to visit the Graphicat Sketches blog to see what my fellow Crafty Catz have created!  I had big crafty plans for yesterday, but I spent all day organizing and uploading photos so that I can get them printed.  I have one scrapbook page done for my son (it's of the day he was born and he is now almost 3-1/2!) and two SMASH pages completed.  My new goal is to get moving on both of these projects.  I keep telling myself, well, if I only had photos ready to go I would work on it.  With my Instagram photos on their way and the rest nearly ready to order, soon I will have no excuse!

I've also created a Facebook page for my blog.  You can find me HERE if you are so inclined to LIKE me.

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E20, E23, E31, E79, BG01, N0, N2, N4, R89, E04).

Thanks again for taking time to visit my blog!  I appreciate it!

{hugs}
Regan   

Graphicat Sketches #22

Sketch #22

As promised I'm here with a new Graphicat Sketches challenge!  Sketch #22 was awesome fun to work with!  And it's always a good time when Cheri's cheeky sentiments are involved!  And if you play along this fortnight you could win a $10 certificate to her shop, Graphicat Designs!

 

For my project, I used a KennyKDownloads image, All That.  I love the attitude!  I paper pieced her jeans and hat with some denim print paper and colored the rest with Copics.  She was then fussy cut and popped up with foam squares.  Papers are Deena's Penny Lane from My Mind's Eye.  The sparkle on them is so pretty but I have to remember to use some extra adhesive when crafting with them!  The circles were cut with Spellbinders dies (Classic and Lacy Circles) as was the sentiment (Classic Ovals).  I added a few flowers, some flat back pearls, polka dot ribbon, and a Sizzix die cut corner.  F is for Forty is my chosen sentiment.  It seems like something this chick would say, doesn't it?  I will have plenty of chances to use cards for the big 4-0 this year as my friends (and myself) hit the dreaded number!  lol

 

 

I hope you will head over to the Graphicat Sketches blog to check out what the rest of the talented Crafty Catz created!  

 

Hope you're week is off to a wonderful start, and thanks for the visit!

 

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E25, E31, E79, R20, RV63, RV66, BG01, B37, Y28, N0, V15, YG03, YG11).

 

Challenges:

- Kenny K's Krafty Krew: #131-Going Round in Circles 

- One Stitch At A Time: #151-Make It Girly

 

{hugs}

Regan   

Graphicat Sketches #21

I am so thrilled to announce that I have been asked to join the design team for Graphicat Sketches!  Cheri and team have made me feel so welcomed!  It is an honor to be working with these talented ladies!  And what's not to love about getting to use Cheri's cheeky sentiments?!  I just love her sense of humor!

We have a gorgeous sketch for you this time around, and I paired Cheri's "Way Cooler" sentiment with DJ LUV from Saturated Canary.  You can find this sentiment, and more, HERE in the Graphicat Designs shop!  

This cool couple are colored with Copics.  Papers are from The Generation Tech Stack by DCWV.  I added a punch border courtesy of Martha Stewart as well as some baker's twine and blue rhinestones.  The awesome sentiment is cut using Labels Twenty One Nestabilities from Spellbinders.

This vibrant card was so much fun to make!  Having an amazing sketch to start off with always helps!  I hope you'll pop over to the Graphicat Sketches blog to see how the rest of the team has interrupted the layout!  And what would be way cooler is if you'd play along!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you're having a good start to your week!

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, R81, R85, R89, R24, R46, RV10, YR15, BG01, BG000, B32, B34, B37, B39, YG93, YG95, YG97, E13, E17, E19, E27, E23, E79, N0, N2, N4, N6).

Challenges:
- Creative Inspirations Paint: Anything Goes 
-  Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: #201-Gents and Gems
- Crazy 4 Challenges: C4C171-Friendship
- One Stop Craft Challenge: #214-Anything Goes
- Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards: #31-Rock On
- Cards Galore Challenge: One for the Men

{hugs}
Regan

Simply B Stamps Previews Day 3 Norse Gods

Are you ready for more fabulous Simply B(etty) Stamps Teen Scene Norse Gods?!?  Yes?  Me too!  As guest designer, I was lucky enough to receive these eight awesome images to play with!  Here on Day 3 the team and myself have two more to share with you!  First up is Rio Hel!

Hel is the goddess of the underworld.  I decided to stick with only gray tones for her.  Black, white, and gray.  This is not a coloring technique I am adept at to begin with and it was very late when I started her so being tired didn't help!  We had out first snow yesterday, a pretty impressive nor'easter that left us with half a foot of snow.  The commute home took three times as long as usual so my whole night was off.  But I was determined to make both cards!  I did add Crystal Stickles to her hair for an "otherworldly" sparkle.

Papers are My Mind's Eye - Meadow Lark.  I used the Labels Twenty-Two Nestabilities from Spellbinders to cut out the image.  Flowers, a bling swirl, a metal corner and a sentiment from My Favorite Things' Twisted Foursome add that little something extra to the card.

  Next up is Lola Sif and I just adore her!  

Sif is the wife of Thor and is the goddess associated with fertility, marriage, and family.  She is also known for her golden hair.  My version is colored with Copics and Prismacolor Art Markers. She is mounted on top of die cuts made with Spellbinders dies- Ovals and Floral Ovals.  Papers are My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two - Blush.  I wanted to play along with the Graphicat Sketch (#19), and though my sizes are a little off with the oval element, I really like how it turned out!  The flower trim is from Tim Holtz - Lavish Trimmings.  I used Labels Twenty-One to cut out that fab sentiment from Create with TLC.  A few pearls are the only other embellishment added.

 I am having so much fun working with these beauties!  One more day!  We'll have the final two images to share tomorrow and the images will be released into the Simply B(etty) Stamps store!  I hope you'll join us then!  As for today, if you arrived from Trish's blog you are on track.  If not, here is today's hop order so you don't miss any of the design team's beautiful work!

Simply B(etty) Stamps

Corinne

Celina

Irene

Trudie

Trish

Regan (*you are HERE*)

Thanks for popping in to see me!  I appreciate all your lovely comments!  Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Markers used on Hel: Copics (YG91, W4, W6, W8, W10, 100) and Prismacolor Art Markers (79, 99, 100).

Markers used on Sif: Copics (E11, E21, E00, R20, R00, R37, R81, R85, Y32, Y35, BG10, BG15, W4) and Prismacolor Art Markers (79, 196).

{hugs}
Regan

The Corrosive Challenge #154 - Cheeky, Saucy, and Sassy

Well, it's official - I am in the holiday spirit!  For Halloween, that is!  I was in my local Michaels yesterday and there it was.... an end cap devoted to lovely black, white, and purple Halloween decorations!  I was practically drooling!  Of course, I couldn't resist (I know it's only July but it's never too early to start planning!) and came home with a few frightfully fun items!  

Since I was already in a Halloween frame of mind, I just went with it when it came time to make my card for this fortnight's Corrosive Challenge!  Our fabulous sponsor this month is Graphicat Designs, and Cheri was kind enough to provide an image to each design team member!  I had seen an image last Fall that I loved, and Challenge #154 - Cheeky, Saucy, and Sassy seemed like the perfect opportunity to use it!  "You Pray I'll Dance" gave me a giggle when I first saw it and it still makes me smirk now!  Cheri has also generously offered a $15 voucher to our July winner!

My card also follows the newest Graphicat Sketches layout, lucky #13,  which will officially go live tomorrow.  We have the privilege of previewing it a day early!  Papers are from DCWV's Midnight Spell stack.  Add bling, flowers, and sheer ribbon in Lucky Limeade from Stampin' Up and this Halloween creation is sure to make someone smile!

Head over to The Corrosive Challenge to see what the rest of the gals have come up with to tickle your funny bone or raise your eyebrow!

Thanks for stopping in and have a fabulous Sunday!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
- Craft Your Days Away: #50-Shades of Grey + One Other Color 
- ATCs and Cards with Attitude: #18-Anything Goes 
- Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude: #18-Anything Goes
- Diva By Design: #44-Anything Goes

{hugs}
Regan   

The Corrosive Challenge #153 - Sentimentally Yours

Waaaa!!!!  My printer is completely out of ink and I don't have a spare cartridge!  Of course it was 11pm here when I discovered this, and Staples wasn't open.  Why not, I ask you?  You mean to tell me no one else ever needs office supplies in the middle of the night?!  Hmph!  lol
It's so weird because my image printed fine on Friday.  I knew I was low (I use those suckers until they are DRY), but I thought it would be a little more gradual.  Give me some warning, you know?

I'm going to stop my whining about the lack of 24 hour office supply stores and get to the real reason for this blog post: a new Corrosive Challenge!  It's a brand new month so not only do we have a new theme for you but we have a new sponsor and prize!  Plus there's a chance to be a future guest designer up for grabs too!

Our sponsor for July is the wonderfully witty and sensationally sarcastic Graphicat Designs!

  
Cheri has generously offered a $15 voucher to use in the store for this month's winner!  I personally love Graphicat products!  Perhaps because Cheri's wicked sense of humor is very similar to my own!

Our challenge for this fortnight is "Sentimentally Yours".  We want to see a sentiment of some sort on the front of your creation.  It can be used in conjunction with an image or it can be the focal point all by itself;  either is fine.

Anyway....  so, OMG, I have NO way to print any digis!  What am I going to do?  How am I going to get this DT project made?  In the middle of a full on freak out, I realize I am not sunk after all!  What saved my butt is the fact that I had won an acrylic version of the Happiness Fairy sentiment from one of Cheri's sketch challenges!  Phew!  I now had something to work with! 

 And speaking of sketches, Cheri is giving us a peek at the new Graphicat Sketches challenge that begins tomorrow!  I have used it for my card!

I decided to make a twisted easel card.  I have never made one of these before and it seemed like a good idea to try for the first time at midnight!  lol  And actually I LOVE the way it turned out!

 Since I had to stamp like in the "olden days" with physical stamps for this project, I was limited to what I could use.  I have several fantastic fairy images saved on my computer, but without any way to print them they weren't of much use to me!  Then I remembered that my friend, fellow crafter, and design team mate, Jasmine of Wasted Scraps had given me this awesome Sweet Pea Stamps image in rubber by Terra Bidlespacher called Zevra.

She is a lot cute, a little sexy, and full of attitude!  Perfect!  I colored her up with my Copics and Prismacolor Art Markers, fussy cut her, and added some glitter to her wings.  I also had a stroke of genius which had me digging this tiny vial from my stash to fill with glitter a.k.a "Happy Dust".  I glued the stopper into the bottle and used some baker's twine to tie it to my seam binding and grograin ribbon.  

Papers are from Lost & Found Two: Blush from My Mind's Eye.  I love these little 6x6 pads!  They are perfect for card makers like myself!  The only other embellishments I added were some flowers, a bling flourish, and a punched Martha Stewart border.  

I hope you'll pop over to The Corrosive Challenge blog to see what my fabulous design team has created!  They never cease to amaze me with their talent!  And I also hope you'll play along!

This card was a labor of love, guys!  An example of determination against the odds!  And a lesson to always have a spare ink cartridge on hand!  Off to Staples I go....

I'd also like to enter this card into the following challenges:
- Quirky Crafts Challenge: #14-Make Us Laugh 
- Sentimental Sundays: #110-BINGO (Pink, Flowers, Twine)
- Di's Digi Designs Challenge: Pile on the Flowers
- ATCs + Cards with Attitude: #17-Anything Goes 
- Fat Pages with Attitude: #17-Anything Goes 
- Bloggers: Say It With Words (sentiment as a focal point)
- Card Makin' Mamas: #49-Rubber 
- Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards: #16-Anything Goes
- Fussy and Fancy: #66-Fancy Folds 
- Shelly's Images: What the Text (use a text sentiment)
- The Paper Shelter: #71-Flower Power 
- Stampavie and More: #171-Lots of Flowers 
- Whimsy Inspirations: #46-Anything Goes  

{hugs}
Regan

Tickled Pink Stamps Pinkette Preview: School Pinkette Chloe

Welcome to the first day of previews for the new Pinkette digis from Tickled Pink Stamps! There are four darling images in all in the School Pinkette line, which will be released on April 5th. Today we are sharing the first cutie with you, and her name is Chloe! Isn't she adorable in her school girl skirt and backpack?! I just love her fab hair cut too!

I used the current sketch from Graphicat Designs sketch challenge (#4) as my layout. Paired with some Basic Gray papers from their Out of Print collection, and embellished with flowers, baker's twine, a rhinestone flourish, and a Tim Holtz muse token, this little sweetie is ready to learn! Or at least take on recess!

Markers used: Copics (E11, E21, E00, E23, E25, E27, W4, W6, W8, W10, R20, R85, BG15).


Please head over to the Tickled Pink Stamps blog to meet the lovely ladies from the newly expanded Pinkette design team and to see all the gorgeous creations they have to share with you! Plus if you leave a comment on the TPS blog you could be the lucky one who wins a copy of this sweet school girl for your very own!

I'm afraid I have been lax with my crafting this week because I had my nose buried in a paperback copy of The Hunger Games, but I will be back later with a new Corrosive Challenge as well as more Pinkette previews!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
- Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge: #126-Use a Digi Image
- Pattie's Creations Design Challenge: #40-Anything Goes
- Stampin' for the Weekend: #6-Anything Goes

Thanks for popping in and enjoy your day!

{hugs}
Regan

Graphicat Sketches December Challenge

Aaaannnd, I'm back! Here is another Christmas card I made this week, featuring Spritz from Saturated Canary! Isn't he adorable?!?! I recently discovered his fabulous creator, Krista Smith, and have already amassed a lovely little collection of her whimsical digital images! This card went to my son's day care provider along with an itunes gift card and a handmade ornament.

I am entering it for the December challenge over at Graphicat Sketches. We were challenged to pick any of their past sketches to work with this month. And get this: The prize is a guest designer spot! How fabulous is that? This is my second entry as I would love to have a go at that! The sketch I used is shown above. I couldn't figure out what month it was from and it's just labeled Sketch 2 so we'll go with that. I have a thing for doilies and muse tickets this week! All items are from my stash. Designer paper is once again from a retired Stampin' Up holiday pack. I've added some Stickles to Spritz's wings and my Clear Star pen gives the icicle border punch a little sparkle too.

Before it gets any later I must go get started on this holiday To Do List. I am running on only 3 hours of sleep and I have another long night ahead of me. Wrapping, baking, and crafting all need to get accomplished before I can close these eyes. I hope you are done with your holiday preparations and can relax and enjoy, but if you are like me and are in panic mode, take a minute, breathe, grab an egg nog or a peppermint hot chocolate, put on some Christmas music and have at it! And good luck getting everything done!

Wishing you all the magic that Christmas brings!

{hugs}
Regan