Eleganza with Rick St Dennis

Good morning everyone.
I have the honour of being on the GDT team for Cute Card Thursday today via Rick St Dennis.
The theme for this week's challenge is dies and punches. Well, I have a few of them in my collection now, but which to choose? Also which image from the extensive collection of Rick's?
The Mermaid Eleganza caught my eye a while back and she was screaming for some colour......who am I to argue?
Soft teal tones - almost like those you find at sea - came to mind.

Now to get her onto a card

A few different makes of dies and punches here teamed with some DCWV DP that I airbrushed with stencils and the same promarkers that I'd used to colour our gal.

Some pearls and a little mother of pearl starfish I found in my stash,

Then a BIG OOOPSS 

I almost forgot - this is supposed to be a CUTE card. Well, those that know me will know I don't do cute really but, in deference to the hosts, I placed a couple of mother of pearl sequins on the image for the photo. I think I saved it.

Anyway - my fellow teamie Karen made a fabulously cute card to counteract my boob. You can see the two together on the Sparkle and Glitter blog and of course over at the hosts of the challenge - Cute Card Thursday.

Craft Challenge Birthday Hop

Morning everyone. I'm hoping that this is going to be scheduled properly. Getting the times right over different time zones does tend to fox me occasionally.

This is a twisted easel card I made as part of a GDT spot. Sparkle and Glitter With Rick is taking part in the Craftchallenge blog 5 th blogaversary hop, Rick St Dennis is sponsoring this challenge to celebrate their 5th anniversary. The theme is, of course,
"Birthday"

I used the image Everybody Dance on Zibbet and Etsy

It seemed to scream "celebration" at me

 Coloured with graph-it pens in various shades of pink and red (toned down with the blender pen) on the dress, then there's the brown hair and silver (grey) head-dress

Framed with a cut out using my new toy and more graph-it pens to colour the BG as pink is not a colour cs I have a lot of. Less now considering the amount of pink cards I've had to do lately, lol.

The BP is a digi paper from the, now closed (boo hoo), talents of Crafty Chaos - "Dancing with Fairies". This was matted onto black then pink glitter cs then more black (so that the back looked good)

Some black tulle and pink organza ribbons. The sentiment "It's your BIRTHDAY, Celebrate" forms the stop for the easel bit. Then there's the bling - pink and shiny for the girly-girl this is destined for.

I am entering this into the challenge at

Graph-it Colour Challenge - Let's Go Pink

Vintage - Now That's Different For Me

Another GDT spot for me - in my capacity of EDT member for Rick St Dennis. This time I went totally outside my comfort zone. Vintage! What ever was I thinking? I've never done vintage! Here goes..........
I used the 1935 Hat Lady from the Zibbet store of Rick's. He's the sponsor over at It's All About the Vintage and Beauty for this embossing challenge.
The card is destined to be one for hubby's Auntie Rose and hope she likes it.

How'd I do?
Papers that have been in my stash for eons. Waiting, I suppose, for just this kind of card, I don't even remember the source of the papers. The bottom right piece of pale apricot card was dry embossed, before distressing everything in sight with sand paper then antique linen DI.
Pieced together with some old lace and flowers from stash.
The image was diecut with a die'sire die after colouring with promarkers.

More DI. Then backed with the same old gold as the matting, to add some more stability. This I wanted to be slightly proud of the card base so that a tag with the sentiment could be slipped in. A lady doesn't want her age to be on display, for all to see, after all.
Some added coffee coloured pearls to finish off.
Is vintage your style? Maybe you'll get to win your choice of images if you enter the challenge at All About the Vintage and Beauty. There are some more from my teamies for you to see over at Sparkle and Glitter and the Jan Freebie challenge is still ongoing there..

I'd like to enter this card into the challenge over at
Through The Purple Haze - Anything Goes
PolkaDoodles - Girly, Girly / Anything Goes

Sugar Plum Fairy

Morning peeps.
Today's the day when all the EDT of Rick St Dennis get together and showcase the freebie that went out with the monthly newsletter. For those that missed the boat and have not signed up for the newsletter, all is not lost as our little mouse is available in the Zibbet store. She's not the only one and I think I have shown a lot of them in the last month and still not got round to all of them. Remember those little Calendar Mice I featured the other day? Well they're still on special - but you'll have be quick.
We're not having the normal challenge this month as there are far too many other things going on, including Christmas. There have been a few lovely examples showcased by some very talented ladies over on our facebook page but it's on the Sparkle and Glitter blog of Rick's that we are getting together as a team. My contribution is a little post-it note holder.
They're so simple to make and are great little stocking fillers.

This one is made using silver textured cardstock. All that was needed as decoration were a few gems and, of course, a pen. The glittery card stock die-cut was decoration enough.

Coloured with promarkers with just a touch here and there of glittery gel pens on her wand and shoes and what Sugar Plum Fairy would be complete without a touch of glitter?

That's about it from me at the moment folks. Except to say, if you like the drawings of Rick St Dennis, and there can't be many, check out the rest of the Zibbet store and signing up for the monthly news letter is just plain common sense.
Oh and one more thing - there's news of another freebie  - but you need to start on here for that.

I'd like to enter this post-it note holder into the challenge at
Through the Purple Haze - Christmas is coming
Totally Papercrafts - Anything Chrstmassy but a card

Perpetual Calendar with Mice

Hi every one,  What have we here?















A calendar that will not need replacing year after year.
It features twelve little mice in a variety of poses - a different one for each month.
The full story can be seen over on the Tutorial blog.of Rick St Dennis' EDT.  I hope you can take the time and visit.
I have used many old items from my hoarded stash. The base box is an empty laundry soap box - cut to size. The DCWV paper on the box - well that's at least 2 years old. The mount board to make the card inserts - that was a big box gifted to me about 3 years ago. Then there's the cotton lace.... I hate to think how long I've had that. The embellishments on each month card - nearly all from that buried box of stuff that "I'll never use that, but keep it just in case". Haven't we all got one of them?

Here's a little teaser of the months. Now you know you'll have to check out the rest.

The Mice used in the calendar are now available as a set with a special price 25.00 USD, only available for a limited time here.  Then they will be on sale in Rick's Zibbet shop at the normal price.

Regular price $36.00 or $3.00 each. The special saves $11.00

I'd like to enter this calendar into the challenge at
Through the Purple Haze - Use your stash
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes

Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
Oldie but A Goodie - Ribbon and/or Lace
Anything But a Card - recycle
Quirky Crafts - Christmas like in the good old days - Altered items only

Freebie Challenge at Sparkle and Glitter with RSD

I hope yesterday's post has softened the blow into today's project after all that went on in October. Today I go totally through 360 degrees and more from the normal you will have come to expect from me. All in a day's work and all that. Maybe (cough) I ought to (cough) do more like (cough) these? (cough, cough). Sorry something's tickling the back of my throat. Something furry? I jest, of course.

Ready for this?

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Her name is Priscilla Pilgrim. Isn't she cute? She's the image that was in the newsletter that Rick St Dennis sends out monthly. Only those canny enough to have signed up previously will have received her. All is not lost however, there's always next month. For all the info, head on over to Rick's blog and read/signup.

 The monthly challenge starts today. For this, Priscilla has to be used. If you want to enter to be in with a chance of winning more images and need the image she can be bought from Rick's shop. 

I have used primarily promarkers to colour. The exception is her fur and tail. I'm loving these pink/grey graph-it markers for this bit.

I made a card..... fit for any little lady or even a big one. I need a stamp that says "Happy Whatever" because although I know who is going to receive this card for her birthday, it could so easily be for another occasion.
In-keeping with the image theme of autumn/harvest I chose to cover a piece of brown card with real skeleton leaves coloured gold. There is a panel of endless vine embossed dark orange cordinations under a panel of plain blue vellum and another diecut of card in a different shade of orange. Orange ribbon edged with gold threaded through for a bit of sparkle. More die-cuts, this time from copper card, those swirly vine type shapes. Then flowers, lots of flowers from WOC. Every girl needs some flowers from time to time.
All this was  matted onto more of that blue vellum before adhering to the card base.
Well that's about it from me folks. Don't forget to check out the Sparkle and Glitter challenge and the other EDT makes.

I'd like to enter this card into the challenge at
Through The Purple Haze - For the Girls
Card Crafter's Circle - Cute Cards
Digitally Sweet - Trees and Leaves

It's FREEBIE Time

Morning gorgeous people. I hope the day is treating you right so far. How about a little freebie or two to brighten your day? As custom now has it, as it's the first Saturday in the month, Rick St Dennis is giving away some more images. One on the Sparkle and Glitter blog - for those cute loving crafters and one that is slightly more unusual on the Airless Chambers blog.
There is no challenge for a couple of months. Don't we all need a bit of a break sometimes? These will resume in October but the monthly freebies will continue as usual. Our generous but (sometimes evil)  boss came up with something to test us, on the EDT, though. We had to colour the horns on Twonki and the bathing suit on Bitsy in a colour that began with the same letter as our own name. That set my head off on a tangent and came up with several colours in the end the began with "H".

Hormagaunt Purple

Hot Pink

Heather

Hunter Green

Helion Green

Hansa Yellow

Harvest Gold

So out came the promarkers. These are the images after colouring.

Now to make something with them. As my usual followers will know, cute is not something that I normally do. This time it all came together quite easily. I think they turned out ok. I'm sure you'll let me know if I "boobed"

Bitsy on the Beach

 Using freebie papers from a magazine, matted onto a sandy coloured cs. A bit of yellow lace and lilac/purple ribbon and some small shells to decorate. The stickles used were waterfall and crystal. I followed the sketch at Crafting Musketeers for my inspiration.

and

Twonky

on a lilac coloured cs tag. With die cut purple and gold squares. Some flowers from stash and a stamped sentiment, cut up added.

Well that's just my examples, You'll have to visit the Sparkle and Glitter and Airless Chambers blogs to snag your copy of these freebies and ogle at the variation with the makes by the other girls.

I'd like to enter Bitsy into the challenge at
Crafting Musketeers - Their Sketch
A Little Bit Crafty - Summer Sun
Crafts-Too Challenges - Summer Days
Digi Haven - Life's a Beach

Freebie Weekend with Rick

It has fast grown into a tradition that Rick St Dennis draws up 2 special images and gives them away for the first 14 days of their release. These will maybe find their way into the Etsy shop but sometimes it's a case of "WIGIG". This weekend, marking the first Saturday of the month, is no exception and the freebies can be obtained by visiting the two blogs. Sparkle and Glitter for the cute, cuddly type image and for those that like images that are edgier there's Airless Chambers. There is a little contest on each of the blogs as well. The respective images have to be used in the making of a project. There is, of course, a little prize for the favourite of the EDT on each blog. For more details, you'll just have to go take a peek.

The other EDT girls have been colouring in and making a few (hopefully) inspirational pieces of the two images and these can be seen in all their glory on each of their blogs but of course there is a taster on the Sparkle and Glitter and Airless Chambers blogs.

My offerings of these two little darlings.....
first up is a cute little Summer Faerie
coloured with promarkers

Fussy cut out and added to a card. The die-cut bg is copper glitter card. The DP there is a piece from the (docrafts? papermania?)woodland friends stack and another from the "London line". There is a mat of apricot card that is shown better by employing the handkerchief corner method. A large flower secured with a pearl brad, a golden die-cut butterfly complete with pearl body. The sentiment is stamped onto a scrap of green and matted onto more apricot card and some tiny pearls used to decorate. The lace and ribbon are from stash.

 Next came the little Grumpy Dragon
Again coloured with promarkers

and again fussy cut out

I attached a chain around the neck. What dragon would be happy chained?

Mounted onto a piece of embossed black/yellow core-dinations. The DP is some I picked up last year and can't remember the make:( Matted onto copper and bronze pearlised paper.

 The flames are cuts from Accent Essentials cricut cart.
The sentiment is one of those found on the Indigo Blu "Little Voice" rubber set. Stamped with black stazon onto a translucent piece of red and die-cut out. Attached with pale orange brads.

That's it from me folks.
Please feel free to go snag your freebies and tell your friends where they are. Then we'd love you to come link in to the challenge so that we can admire your makes.

I'd like to enter my "Dragon card" into the challenge at
Try It On Tuesday - Show us your metal - The chain around the neck and brads used
One Stop Crafts - Anything Goes

Last Minute

Hi everyone
It's time for a new challenge again over at Sparkle & Glitter with Rick St Dennis.

Last Minute Shopping is the theme this next 2 weeks.
I made a last minute type Christmas card with a really sweet image. Yes, go on scoff! Not often you'll see sweet in this cubby hole. Nevertheless, Isabella, Last Minute Gifts got inked in and made into this card.

 I used the sketch over at Corrosive Challenges for my inspiration.
The papers are a mixture of different companies. Just to get that pale icy blue sky look.
Isabella herself was coloured using promarkers. The snowman has icicle stickles daubed over him and the furry effect on Isabella's boots and Santa's facial hair was done using flower soft. Puffy stuff on Santa's hat.

MS punches used and some narrow ribbon threaded through. The flowers have been lightly coloured with PMs aswell and secured with jewel brads. Some extra bling added in the corners.

Now all there is to do is invite you all to join in the challenge over at Sparkle & Glitter so we can come ogle at your eye candy. You never know - you could well be in with a chance of winning some images from Rick or from our fabulous sponsor this week - Stitchy Bear.

I'd like to enter this into the challenge over at
Corrosive Challenges - Their Sketch
Milk Coffee Challenges - Christmas / Winter holidays
Sarah Hurley Challenges - Christmas

Remember - with RSD

Sparkle and Glitter with Rick St Dennis have a new challenge. It starts today and although it's not "my" team's turn, I volunteered to use one of the images from our sponsor this week. Way back when the challenge blog was just an idea. Waaaay outside my comfort zone here with these cute images from Whoopsie Daisy. That's what challenges are all about though, isn't it? I hope I have done this justice.

The theme of the challenge is REMEMBER
These coming days see the British and Americans remembering the fallen Heroes in the wars on Remembrance Day and on Veterans Day. 
We also want to remember those loved ones, that are no longer with us for other reasons.  
October heralded in Breast Awareness Month, November remembers the fellas with all the "Movember" tributes. There are many more causes that we need to be aware of and remember those affected. Check out the list here - there's going to be something on that list that strikes a chord with each and every one of you.

I made a card using sheet #389 from Whoopsie Daisy. There are four images to a sheet, two precoloured and two line drawings. I chose the colour purple as my "cause to remember" It stands for many causes close to my heart.

Coloured with promarkers with antique linen DI . 8 little ribbons surrounding her with nail art gems as "pins". The BP is from a 12x12" sheet that has been in my stash for so long I can't remember where I got it. All teamed up with some pearlised purple card and ribbon.

We would love to see how you all "Remember" so please pop along and show us.

ALSO
Rick St Dennis has some news about a weekend freebie giveaway. Go check it out before you miss out on some fabulous images.

day 19 of S&S 31 days with Rick St Dennis

Not only is Rick St Dennis one of the awesome sponsors of the Smeared and Smudged 31 days of Hallowe'en, it is also challenge #2 for his new challenge blog, Sparkle and Glitter: The Rick St Dennis Challenge Blog.

The rules and details of all the fabulous sponsors that have generously donated prizes for the 31 day hop can be found on Terra's Blog and of course on the Smeared and Smudged forum.

I happen to be a lucky part of Rick's fabulously talented team. Lucky because, for some unknown reason he liked some of my work :)
It's as part of my 31 projects I bring you this 31 days, my DT piece for this new challenge for day 19.

I made a mobile. It's hanging in my hallway from the stair post. Sorry about the poor quality pics - try as I might, the mobile wouldn't stay still for photos.

The main part is the Haunted House. Printed 4 times and spritzed with 3 different mica sprays, after masking off the moon, for the shine and I hoped to give the look of various apparitions that surround the dwelling. The moon was painted with glow in the dark paint. It's a shame a pic won't take, the eerie green light is something else!!. Hanging from my house are 5 images, I had hoped to put up more, but I ran out of time. I printed out each image twice and flipped one to form the sandwich. These images are also painted with that glow in the dark paint on one of the sides printed out. The other is coloured with promarkers.
The images used were

Gimme Candy

 Just Batty

 Miss Loster Buttons

 Head Master

 Midnight Watch

I was "sensible" for once and took pics before assembling. Each image has a length of nylon jewellery thread stuck between the coloured layer and the GITD layer. This was used to suspend from the haunted house and also so that I could attach little mirror pieces. This not only reflects any light but acts as a weight for the images.

If you are on your way round on the Smeared and Smudged 31 Days of Hallowe'en hop you will have been past Valerie and now be on your way to Sharon. The blog list is still there on the right in the side bar.

If you are here from the Sparkle and Glitter Challenge blog why not have a wander round those blogs for some added inspiration. Looking forward to seeing everyone's projects.

See you tomorrow

I'd like to enter this into the challenge over at
Heck of a Challenge - Spooktacular
Unique Crafter Challenge - Halloween

Not Long Now

We're counting down the days now to when the EDT of Rick St Dennis begin to bring you not only, (hopefully) some great inspiration with some amazing images but also the chance for you to show us what you can do as well. The challenges start next Friday! So don't forget to come back and join in the fun. There's going to be some fantastic images to win for some of you lucky people. We have also got the sponsorship of the lovely Teri of Delicious Doodles offering up a prize for another lucky contestant.
In this exciting lead up to our New Challenge, Rick himself, is also giving away 2 FREEBIES.

They are available only here on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. After that they disappear into his Etsy Shop.
Want a taster?

To see these properly and to get them for your own collection, you'll have to come back on Saturday!

Don't forget - they're only available for TWO DAYS. 

Breaking News!!

An exciting new Challenge blog is being formed over at Sparkle and Glitter - The NEW Rick St Dennis Venture. We're still setting it all up but you can come and visit and follow so you can keep up to date with all the news. There will be prizes of course. Who can resist the chance to win digis from Rick St Dennis' shop?