BUGABOO ANYTHING GOES -- SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021

Hello friends!  I hope you are all well and happy on this first Saturday of July!  Hard to believe that 2021 is halfway over already.  With the start of a new month, that means a new Anything Goes challenge at the Catch the Bug blog.  This month also starts another change to the challenges at the blog.  We will now only have 2 challenges a month; the Anything Goes starting on the first Saturday, and Stella Says Sketch, staring on the first Sunday.  These challenges will both run for the duration of each month.  The freebie Fridays will continue as normal.

So now that the housekeeping is out of the way, let me show you my card:

I chose to use this cute Chubby Butterfly 2 image.  Isn't it sweet?  I think I need to get the other Chubby Butterfly image now too...hehe!  I embossed a cardstock panel with the Large Petal embossing folder by Darice, and then used Oxide inks in the colors Carved Pumpkin, Kitsch Flamingo, and Squeezed Lemonade to ink the embossed panel.  To do this, I used my Taylored Expressions blender brushes.  I love the look that this gives!  To take it a bit further, I splattered Carved Pumpkin and Kitsch Flamingo all over the panel...and the area AROUND the panel, if I'm being honest! 😒  Once the panel had dried, I used strong double sided tape to adhere it to a black panel, and then did the same to adhere that to the A2 card base.  I love the small border of the black cardstock between the white card base and the colorful embossed panel; it really sets off those colors!

My image was printed out on Accent Opaque 120lb cardstock, and then die cut with a Spellbinders Classic circle.  I chose alcohol markers that matched the inks I had used for blending, and very simply colored the butterfly.  I added some white gel pen dots to the eyes and on the cheeks.  Clear Wink of Stella was added to the hearts on the wings, and to the yellow portions as well.  For the sentiment, I used the Honey Bee Stamps Bitty Buzzwords stamp set and die set.  I know I am going to get A LOT of use out of these!  Here are a couple more pics:

--CHALLENGES--

Crafty Calendar:  ATG (1/3)

Love to Craft #60:  ATG (2/5)

Mix it Up #51:  ATG (2/5)

Classic Design #7:  ATG

A Perfect Time to Craft #7:  ATG

The Creative Crafters #41:  ATG (3/3)

Word Art Wednesday #497 -#498:  ATG (2/5)

Lemon Shortbread #149:  ATG (2/3)

Through the Craft Room Door:  ATG (2/2)

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #604:  ATG (2/2)

Polkadoodles #27:  ATG (2/2)

Digi Choosday #26: ATG (2/2)

Gem of a Challenge #14:  ATG (1/2)

Penny's Paper Crafty #499:  ATG (2/3)

Colour Crazy #26: ATG with coloring (1/2)

Besties International:  ATG (2/3)

Color It, Create It, Show It Off:  ATG with coloring (2/3)

Cute Card Thursday #690:  ATG

Crafty Catz #558:  ATG (1/3)

Crafty Animals #52:  ATG using animals

The Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  ATG (2/2)

The Outlawz Festive Fridays:  ATG

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Hop on over to the Catch the Bug blog to see what the rest of the DT has created with their chosen images (you are gonna love it, I promise!)  Don't forget, you have the whole month of July to join in the fun, and we love to see what you make, so please join us!  Until next time my friends,

Stay Healthy, Take Care, and God Bless!  😀💗

~ Marie

2CCC -- JAN'S DIGI STAMPS -- JULY 1, 2021

Hey there friends!  It's a brand new month, which means it's time for a new challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!  This month our sponsor is Jan's Digi Stamps:

We were each allowed to pick an image, and I chose to use this image from Brighten the Holidays:

These guys are awfully cute sorting out this string of lights!  I didn't notice until after I had uploaded my picture for the challenge, but I inadvertently colored mine the same way that it's colored in the file...OOPS!  I hope Jan doesn't mind too much!  Anyway, I colored it with alcohol markers, and used sparkle gel pens in different colors for the lights.  I added white gel pen to accent their beaks.  The image is cut using a Spellbinders Classic Circle die.  I created the background using the Christmas Lights die set from MFT.  I cut a bunch of the different pieces from scraps of  Accent Opaque cardstock, and also used that for my card base, so all of the elements would be the same shade of white.  I arranged them on the card base in a way that pleased my eyes, and glued them down using Bearly Art Glue.  I am loving that stuff, BTW!  I really like the white on white texture that adds just the right amount of interest behind the colorful image. 😀

For the Tim Holtz/ Sizzix sentiment, I cut it 5 times from green cardstock, and layered them together using the same glue.  I then coated them with many layers of clear Wink of Stella, and then a layer of Glossy Accents.  I think the sparkle of the Wink of Stella got lost under the Glossy Accents, but oh well.  Lesson learned!  The sentiment is much brighter than it appears in the photos.

Oh yes, I also added the tiniest dots of Glossy Accents to each light bulb.

--CHALLENGES--

12 Months of Christmas Link Up #79:  ATG Christmas (1/10)

Merry Little Christmas #36:  ATG Christmas (1/5)

CHNC#549:  ATG Christmas 

Love to Craft #60:  ATG (1/5)

Mix It Up #51:  ATG (1/5)

Classic Design #7:  ATG 

Paper Funday #30:  ATG (4/4)

A Perfect Time to Craft #7:  ATG

The Creative Crafters #41:  ATG (2/3)

Word Art Wednesday #497 - #498:  ATG (1/5)

Lemon Shortbread  #149:  ATG (1/3)

Through the Craft Room Door:  ATG (1/2)

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #604:  ATG (1/2)

Polkadoodles  #27:  ATG (1/2)

Digi Choosday #26:  ATG (1/2)

Penny's Paper Crafty #499:  ATG (1/3)

The Outlawz Festive Fridays:  Christmas

The Outlawz Twisted Thursdays:  ATG (1/2)

Christmas with the Cuties:  Christmas Cuties

Besties International:  ATG (1/3)

Color It, Create It, Show It Off:  ATG with coloring (1/3)

Cute Card Thursday #690:  ATG

SheepSki Designs #52:  Celebrate! (1/3)

Crafty Animals #52:  ATG using animals

Double Trouble:  Hip To Be a Square (square card, circle die cut)  (I'm both!)

Pearly Sparkles #64:  Favorite Time of Year (Christmas, of course!)

Digi Doodle Studios #40:  Christmas in July (1/3)

Well, I thank you so much for stopping by!  Head on over to the 2CCC challenge to see what the rest of the DT has created with their chosen images.  You have until July 25th to join us, so make sure you get those critters out! 😄  Until next time,

Stay Healthy, Take Care, and God Bless!

~ Marie

SQUIRRELS GONE NUTZ -- JUNE 20, 2021 -- MARBLING AND ELEGANCE

Hey there friends; welcome back!  This is my second post for today, so if you would like to see what else I've posted, scroll on down!  This post is all about the Squirrels Gone Nutz hop:

Our friendly Squirrel Squad is back to share what we have created for this month using supplies we've been squirreling away.  This month, we have focused on the marbling technique, or the look of MARBLING, and ELEGANCE.  If you are hopping along, you should have come here from the fabulous Bory at Bory's Crafting Place.  Your next stop will be the amazing Karen at Misplaced Mojo.  Here is what I have created this month:

As I hadn't ever tried this technique before, I decided to get some good old Barbasol shaving cream and just go for it!  I prepped myself by watching a few YouTube videos, then gathered my supplies and went out to the kitchen to play.  For my colors, I wanted to see what the alcohol inks would do, so that was my medium of choice.  I specifically was anxious to try the Alcohol Pearls and mixatives, but honestly, they didn't do very well.  I have some panels that I pulled from them, but then I switched over to regular alcohol inks with better results!  I had a great time adding colors and swirling them around in the shaving cream.  It's amazing how every single print is different!  Anyway, I chose my 3 favorites from the pieces of cardstock I used that are the pieces

 left over from cutting 5.5" square cards and made them into these tags.  Here are individual pics of each.  Click on each photo to get a better look at that marbling!

I cut the pieces down to what looked like a "good" tag size, and gave them tag corners with my scissors.  For the sentiments, I used my newest acquisition from the Honey Bee Stamps store, the Bitty Buzzwords stamp set, and also the matching dies.  I didn't have a whole lot of word dies like these, so I was very happy to add them to my collection!  I cut the word dies from black cardstock three times each, and layered them for dimension.  I also cut the shadow for each word from vellum, but I think I could have skipped that part and been perfectly fine, as they are next to impossible to see!  I heat embossed coordinating sentiments onto black with Snow white embossing powder from Recollections, and then used my Tonic guillotine trimmer to trim them way down.  All the sentiment pieces were glued down flat using Bearly Art Glue.  I added one piece of iridescent ribbon from my huge and grossly underused stash, and these tags were done! 😀

--CHALLENGES--

Crafty Calendar:  ATG

Love to Craft #59:  ATG (4/5)

Mix it Up #50:  ATG (4/5)

613 Avenue Create #6:  ATG (3/8)

Classic Design #6:  ATG

A Perfect Time to Craft #6:  ATG

The Creative Crafters #41:  ATG (2/3)

The Corrosive Challenge #6:  ATG (3/4)

Word Art Wednesday #495 - #496:  ATG (3/5)

Aud Sentiments #277:  ATG w/a sentiment (2/5)

Creative Craft Cottage #141:  ATG 

The Outlawz Monday Greetings:  ATG with a sentiment (1/3)

The Outlawz Twisted Thursday:  ATG (1/2)

Thanks for stopping by!  I encourage you to keep on hopping through, as we are just a small group, and it will take no time at all!  Be sure to leave us some love as you go, and subscribe if you haven't already!  We sure do appreciate it.  Until next time,

Stay Healthy, Take Care, and God Bless!

~ Marie

LIL PATCH OF CRAFTY FRIENDS -- TWINKLE LANE DESIGNS -- JUNE 20, 2021

Hey friends, I'm so glad you have come by today!  It's the third Sunday of the month, which means a new challenge at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends!  Our sponsor for these 2 weeks is Twinkle Lane Designs.

Prize ~ £ 8.00 voucher 

I chose to use this sweet Hot Chocolate Girl image, and here is my card:

I printed this pretty girl onto Accent Opaque 120lb cardstock, and die cut her using Spellbinders largest classic nested oval.  I colored the image with alcohol markers and added some white gel pen to the dots on her hat, and clear glitter gel pen to the zig zag stripes on her mittens.  For the background, I dry embossed a scrap piece of white cardstock with the Snowflake Trim embossing folder from Darice.  For the ink blending, I chose Tumbled Glass, Kitsch Flamingo, and  Shaded Lilac Distress Oxide inks, to match the colors in her hat.  The blending was done using Taylored Expressions blending brushes.  The embossed panel was then sprayed with Perfect Pearls in water.  It shows up nicely in real life, if not in my photos!

The embossed panel was adhered to the card base using double sided tape, and the image panel is popped up with foam squares.  The sentiment comes from a Recollections stamp and die Christmas words set, and I stamped it in Versa Fine Clair Nocturne ink.  I added this to the card with a combination of glue and foam squares.  The two blings on either side of the sentiment are iridescent.  I had fun making this colorful card, and now I have another one for my Christmas card box!  YAY ME! 😃

--CHALLENGES--

12 Months of Christmas Link Up #78:  ATG (2/10)

Merry Little Christmas #35:  ATG Christmas (3/5)

CHNC #547:  ATG Christmas

Crafty Calendar:  ATG (3/3)

Love to Craft #59:  ATG (3/5)

Mix it Up #50:  ATG (3/5)

613 Avenue Create #6:  ATG (2/8)

Classic Design #6:  ATG

Paper Funday #30:  ATG (3/4)

A Perfect Time to Craft #6:  ATG

The Creative Crafters #41:  ATG (1/3)

The Corrosive Challenge #6:  ATG (2/4)

Gem of a Challenge #13:  ATG (1/2)

Word Art Wednesday #495 - #496:  ATG (2/5)

Lemon Shortbread #148:  ATG (1/3)

Fezziwigs Festive Frolics:  Cold and Frosty (2/3)

Aud Sentiments #277:  ATG w/a sentiment (1/5)

Through the Craft Room Door June 15th:  ATG (1/2)

Creative Craft Cottage #141:  ATG 

Addicted to Stamps and More #407:  Christmas

C.R.A.F.T Challenge #602:  Christmas

Sweet Stampin':  I spy something Beginning with a B (blue, bling, brown hair)

Polkadoodles #25:  ATG (1/2)

Digi Choosday #24:  ATG (1/2)

Penny's Paper Crafty #498:  ATG (2/3)

Colour Crazy #24:  ATG with coloring (1/2)

Crafty Catz #556:  ATG (1/3)

The Outlawz Festive Fridays:  Christmas

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Don't forget to click on over to the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends blog to check out the rest of the DT makes, and to join in on the two week challenge.  And remember, the DT loves it when you show them some love for their projects!  Until next time,

Stay Healthy, Take Care, and God Bless!

~ Marie

STELLA SAYS SKETCH CHALLENGE @CATCH THE BUG -- SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2021

Hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!  It's time for a new Stella Says Sketch at Catch the Bug, and here it is:

I said in my most recent post that I would mostly likely be making a lot of my Christmas cards using Bugaboo images, and this card is no exception!

I had this Poppi Xmas Snowballs image in my little image basket, and it seemed the perfect size for this sketch.  I grabbed three patterned papers from the 12x12 Recollections paper pad called Fa La La La, and set about coloring the image using the papers as inspiration.  I have to say, I really like those three colors I used on his scarf...I may have to use that combo again!  I also grabbed a bright green card stock from The Paper Company 8.5x11 card stock value pack called Christmas Fun.  I love this bright green!  I used it for all the matting layers, and for that border strip down at the bottom.  That was punched and embossed with a Martha Stewart punch I think I got on clearance. 

 I got to use my newly acquired bottle of Bearly Art glue for this card...I still need to get the hang of using it though!  I popped the image panel up on foam tape, and added a couple pieces behind the left side of the sentiment circle, while the upper right corner was glued to the image panel.  Star Dust Stickles was added to the snowy bits, and clear Wink of Stella to the white areas of the hat, and the sentiment circle.  Oh yes, the sentiment comes from two Lawn Fawn sets; Cheery Christmas, and Toboggan Together, and was stamped with Versa Fine Clair Nocturne ink.

        

--CHALLENGES--

Christmas with The Cuties #49:  Festive Furries and Feathers

12 Months of Christmas Link Up #78:  ATG (1/10)

Merry Little Christmas #35:  ATG Christmas (2/5)

Crafty Calendar:  ATG (2/3)

Papercraft Challenges #70:  ATG 

CHN Patterned Paper:  ATG using patterned paper

Love to Craft #59:  ATG (3/5)

Mix it Up #50:  ATG (3/5)

Besties International:  ATG (3/3)

Color It, Create It, Show it off:  ATG with coloring (3/3)

613 Avenue Create:  ATG (1/8) 

Crafts Galore Encore:  ATG (3/3)

Crafty Animals #51:  ATG using animals

Classic Design #6:  ATG

Daisy Chain #53:  Cute Animals

Paper Funday #30:  ATG w/optional twist Sparkle and/or Shine (2/4)

A Perfect Time to Craft #6:  ATG

Gem of a Challenge:  ATG (2/2)

Word Art Wednesday #495 -#496:  ATG (1/5)

Lemon Shortbread #147:  ATG (3/3)

Aud Sentiments #276:  ATG w/sentiment (2/5)

Through the Craft Room Door:  ATG (1/2)

Cute Card Thursday #689:  ATG 

Polkadoodles #24:  ATG (1/2)

Digi Choosday #23:  ATG (1/2)

Penny's Paper Crafty #498:  ATG (1/3)

Colour Crazy #23:  ATG w/coloring (1/2)

Crafty Catz #555:  ATG 

CHNC #546:  ATG Christmas

Jingle Belles:  All Bundled Up (3 or more layers)

Addicted to Stamps and more #407:  Christmas

The Outlawz Festive Friday:  Christmas

SheepSki Designs #51:  Layer it Up 

The Corrosive Challenge #6:  ATG (1/4)

Fezziwigs Festive Frolics:  Cold and Frosty (1/3)

Well, that's all I have for today!  Don't forget that our challenges run for at least two weeks now, so you have more time to join in!  And the DT always appreciates when you leave them some love for their creations!

Thanks again for stopping by, and until next time...

Stay Healthy, Take Care, and God Bless!

~ Marie

BUGABOO ANYTHING GOES -- SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021

Hey there, friends!  Happy first Saturday of June 2021!  Boy, it's so hard for me to comprehend it, but in another 12 days, my younger daughter will be 21 years old!  It seems to me that it wasn't too long ago when I shared here that she was turning 16; and now here we are a mere 5 years later, and she will be old enough to drink legally! 😭  Where did my babies go??  

Anyway, that isn't the reason for my post today...it's the first day for our Anything Goes challenge at Catch the Bug! 

I am really loving the recent changes we made to our challenge blog, as it is so much easier for me to keep track of what is due and when, AND I get to use a lot of images I want to use!  I can see a lot of my Christmas cards having Bugaboo Stamps images on them this year...LOL!  And with that in mind, here is my card:

YAY, I can add another Christmas card to my very small pile for this year!  I used this Snowman 004 image that was already printed and die cut with Spellbinders Labels One largest die.  I also had this lovely piece of watercolor paper sitting around that I had used to play with Tonic shimmer powders, so I decided to pair them together.  I chose Copic markers that matched the colors on the watercolor piece, added some white gel pen accents on various parts of the image, and spread out some Star Dust Stickles over the snow on the ground.  I usually add some to the image too; not sure why I didn't this time, but I may add some later on. The image panel is popped up on foam tape.

I really wanted to use as much of the pretty water colored piece as I could, so I cut it to fit a 5.5" square card base with a border showing all the way around.  For the sentiment, I pulled out the Sizzix Christmas Phrases One die set.  I cut each word 4 times from 110 lb. white card stock scraps, and glued them together.  To make it more cohesive with the image, I added the Stickles to the bottoms of each word.  And that does it for this Christmas card! 😍

--CHALLENGES--

12 Months of Christmas Link Up #78:  ATG (1/10)

Merry Little Christmas #35:  ATG Christmas (1/5)

CHNC #545:  ATG Christmas

Crafty Calendar:  ATG (1/3)

Papercraft Challenges #70:  ATG 

Love to Craft #59:  ATG (2/5)

Mix It Up #50:  ATG (2/5)

Besties International:  ATG (2/3)

Color It, Create It, Show It Off:  ATG with coloring (2/3)

Crafts Galore Encore #88:  ATG (2/3)

Crafty Animals #51:  ATG using animals (see the wee birdie on the snowman's hat?)

Classic Design #6:  ATG 

The Paper Funday #30:  ATG w/optional twist Sparkle and/or Shine

A Perfect Time to Craft #6:  ATG 

Gem of a Challenge #12:  ATG (1/2)

Word Art Wednesday #493 - #494:  ATG (2/5)

Double Trouble #85:  Something, Anything, Everything (2/4) (also linked to Paper Funday)

Lemon Shortbread #147:  (2/3)

Aud Sentiments #276:  ATG + sentiment (1/5)

Through the Craft Room Door:  ATG (2/2)

Cute Card Thursday #689:  ATG

Polkadoodles #23:  ATG (1/2)

Digi Choosday #22:  ATG (2/2)

Penny's Paper Crafty #497:  ATG (2/3)

Colour Crazy #22:  ATG with coloring (1/2)

Crafty Catz #554:  ATG

Passion for Markers #594:  Make it Cute

The Outlawz Festive Fridays:  Christmas

Thanks for dropping by!  Don't forget to pop over to the Catch the Bug blog to see the rest of the DT creations, and to join in on the challenge!  Remember, you have 2 weeks to participate.  Also, leave us some love, if you would be so kind!  😍  Until next time, friends...

Stay Healthy, Take Care and God Bless!

~Marie

2CCC -- BECCY'S PLACE --JUNE 1, 2021

Hello friends!  Happy June 1st!  As usual, these years just keep flying on by at the speed of light, or so it seems to me.  Well, with it being the start of a new month, that means it's also the start of a new challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies...where it's always anything goes using critters.  This month we are being sponsored by Beccy's Place:

I chose to use the adorable shaggy dog in Beccy's Dog Tails Too digital stamp set, and here is my mini slimline card:

I'm sure you all must have seen The Shaggy Dog movies from Disney?  We have seen both the original and the remake with Tim Allen.  I like them both, but there is just something special about those older Disney movies, isn't there?  Anyway, I looked up some pictures of these Old English Sheepdogs to see how I should color this guy, and this is what I came up with.  His white areas look a bit TOO gray for my liking, but I am still happy with my end result!

I just wanted this card to be simple, so I printed the dog and sentiment out on the same panel.  The scalloped layer was colored around the edges with the darkest of the blue markers I used to outline the dog image, Copic B02.  Both layers are adhered down flat, and I added Glossy Accents to his nose and tongue.  After that dried, I added white gel pen to both also.  I'll probably just write a simple encouraging message on the inside whenever I send this out to someone.

--CHALLENGES--

Love to Craft #59:  ATG (1/5)

Mix it Up #50:  ATG (1/5)

Besties International:  ATG (1/3)

Color It, Create It, Show it Off:  ATG with coloring (1/3)

613 Avenue Create #5:  ATG (5/8)

Crafts Galore Encore #88:  ATG (1/3)

Crafty Animals #51:  ATG using animals

Classic Design #6:  ATG 

A Place to Start #5:  ATG (4/8)

Digi Doodle Studios:  Boys to Men (male themed) (1/3)

Jan's Digi Stamps:  ATG (1/5)

A Perfect Time to Craft #6:  ATG 

Pearly Sparkles #63:  For the Men/Boys

Gem of a Craft Challenge #11:  ATG (1/2)

Word Art Wednesday #493 - #494:  ATG (1/5)

Double Trouble #85:  Something, Anything, Everything/optional Yoyo fun (Walk the dog)

Crafting Happiness #98:  ATG

Lemon Shortbread #147:  ATG (1/3)

Through the Craft Room Door:  ATG (1/2)

Cute Card Thursday #688:  ATG (Critters theme optional)

Simon Says Wednesday:  ATG

Polkadoodles #22:  ATG (1/2)

Digi Choosday #22:  ATG (1/2)

Penny's Paper Crafty #497:  ATG (1/3)

Colour Crazy #21:  ATG with coloring (1/2)

Crafty Catz #553:  ATG 

Passion for Markers #594:  Make it Cute

The Outlawz Festive Fridays:  ATG

And that's it! Thanks so much for stopping by, and make sure you pop over to the 2CCC blog to see what the rest of the DT made with Beccy's images...and don't forget to get out your critters and join us! 😃 Until next time,

Stay Healthy, Take Care and God Bless!

~Marie~