Back home, but still a bit immobile

Hello everyone, and thank you so very much for all your well-wishes. I'm now back home, hurrah, but my leg is in a full cast and I have to keep my foot higher than my hips, so I'm mostly immobile on the sofa. I've broken my shin and my ankle, and I have a blood clot. For my leg I just have to keep it elevated and rest it, and for the clot I'm on blood thinner. Getting to and sitting at the pc is difficult, but not impossible, so I will be checking in, just not as often as normal. And I have hundreds of emails to go through, so if you're waiting to hear from me, please be patient, because everything seems to exhaust me at the moment. PLEASE don't think that I don't appreciate every single message, because I do, very much. You've all made this time a little brighter for me, so thank you very much :D

Susan's off sick :(

Hi
I'm James, Susan's husband. Unfortunately Susan has been admitted to hospital with a broken leg and DVT so won't be about for a while.

James

Sort of out of commission

Sorry folks, I hurt my leg last week and have been hopping ever since. I went to the doctor this morning and I have an infection, but I should get some crutches tomorrow. It's uncomfortable both getting to and being at the pc at the moment, so I may not reply to any messages as quickly as would normally be the case. I'm still around, just not very mobile.

It's coming to an end :(

It's been an absolute joy to be on the StampInsanity DT, but all good things must come to an end, and beth has decided to close the challenge blog, although the store will stay open for a while longer, so you have time to buy up any stamps that you've had your eye on.
Beth, you've been a truly WONDERFUL team leader, and I thank you so much for the chance to work with you. I've made my last DT card using Lilith from the Devil Dolls set at StampInsanity because she's always been my favourite and it seemd only fitting, and I computer-generated the sentiment because it reflects my feelings perfectly.
So, what's the final challenge? CASE one of the DT cards (it doesn't even have to be one from this challenge - look back through and you'll see some stunners which will hopefully inspire you. I was inspired by THIS CARD by Kapree. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration Kapree, I loved your card!
Here's my version, using papers from the Symphony of Grey set at Crafty Chaos Designs.


These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Sketch Saturday - sketch 181
Shopping Our Stash - never been inked or neutral colour scheme. I've used this image lots, but I hope the monochrome greys count as a neutral colour scheme. And I do have FAR too many stamps that I've never used, so I'm hoping this challenge will give me the impetus I need to use them.
Paper Sundaes - use a digi
My Time to Craft - take two (I've used two papers, two different colours of gems on the frame, and two pieces of lace placed back to back so that I didn't have a straight edge on one side)
Divas by Design - monochrome
Cutie Sundays - monochrome
Ooh La La Creations - Bingo Tic Tac Toe (I used lace sparkle and metal)

Dystopian films!

It's time for another challenge at Beyond the Burtonesque Dolls and this fortnight we'd like you to be inspired by a film that portrays a dystopia. Has your mind gone blank? There are lists of such films HERE and HERE, so you have loads to choose from.



I chose to use Artificial Intelligence: AI as my inspiration, and used a Bugaboo digi to represent David and his teddy bear, waiting patiently for their Mom to come back and love them. The original digi has two normal arms, I just swapped one for a robot arm. The papers are from the Broken Dreams set at Crafty Chaos Designs. And the sketch came from Willow Sketches, only I got the weeks muddled up.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Dream Valley Challenges - stitching
Cutie Sunday - monochrome
Heartsong Inspirations - gold or glitter
Simply Create - love you bear-y much
Timbroscrapmania - monochrome
The ABC Challenge - D is for Dazzle

Thank you kindly!

It's time for a new challenge at the Corrosive blog, and for this fortnight we'd like to see your grateful creations. Thanksgiving or Thank You, your choice. I've used a Tickled Pink stamp that I've had for a while but never used, which is just ridiculous, because I love it. The papers are from Flash of Inspiration by Crafty Chaos Designs.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Pretty Patterns - sketch #35
Tickled Pink Challenges - vintage
Craft Your Passion - brown
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - giving thanks
The Sisterhood of Crafters - giving thanks
Digital Tuesday - anything goes
Aud Sentiments - thank you or Thanksgiving
Paper Sundaes - use a digital image
Sentimental Sundays - thankful

Fallen ATC

Here's an ATC I made using "Stripey Girl" by Dilly Beans Stamps. (I added the wings behind her to make her an angel)
These are the challenges I made it for:

Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge - angels
CR84FN - black, pale pink, neutral
Digital Tuesday - anything goes

CAKE!!! It's the whole reason for birthdays, right? :P

If you're looking for my Ruby's Rainbow post, please scroll down.


Here's a birthday card I made using Wednesday image by Simply Betty Stamps, Just Here For The Cake sentiment by Graphicat Stamps, and papers from a new set at Crafty Chaos Designs that aren't in the shop yet, but will be soon.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:

Graphicat Sketches - November sketch
Quirky Crafts - attitude (I LOVE this theme, I already have an idea for another card that will fit)
Birthday Sundaes - birthday card
Dream Valley Challenges - anything goes
CR84FN Challenges - black, pale pink and neutral

Things with Wings at Ruby's Rainbow

We have a new theme for you at the Ruby's Rainbow Challenge blog, and this fortnight we'd like to see your creations that feature "things with wings"
My card uses an image by KelleyKids and papers from Crafty Chaos Designs.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Deconstructed Sketches - sketch 26
One Stitch At A Time - use a digi
Quirky Crafts - attitude
Totally Stampalicious - anything goes
Crazy Challenges - things with wings
Crazy Amigos Challenges - swirls
Digital Tuesday - anything goes
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - monochromatic plus ribbon, with an optional pop of colour
2 Sisters Challenge Blog - ribbon
Flutterby Wednesday - friendship
Tuesday Throwdown - your favourite colour combo. I am LOVING greys at the minute; I just looked back, and I've done seven different projects in the last month that are all or mostly in shades of grey

You love us!

I've made this postcard today using four different images by Dilly Beans Stamps. The sentiment, and the general theme, is from You Love Us by the Manic Street Preachers.
These are the challenges I made it for:
Gloomy Art - sketch
Little Red Wagon - purple and/or monsters
Scrappy Frogs - something that flies (two of the images have wings)
Magical Monday Challenges - stripes and circles
Incy Wincy Designs - dots and stripes
City Crafter - postcard
Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge - anything goes
Raise The Bar - no embellishments
Forever Night Freaky Friday - evil dark and creepy (I really don't think this one is evil, I think it's cute, but I guess since it has ghouls zombies and monsters it counts)
Southern Girls - can you hear the music?
Crafts and Me - let the music move you
Crafty Emma's Store Challenge - inspired by a film or a song
Bizzy Bec's Store Challenge - circles

Watching over you

Here's an ATC I made today using the Gross Anatatomy Profile Head from Smeared Ink.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Smudgy Antics - dark and gruesome
Forever Night Freaky Friday - evil dark and creepy
ATC Challenges - vintage or anything goes
Crafting When We Can - anything but a card
The Pink Elephant - distressing
Cooking It Up with Katie - anything but a card
The Three Muses - vintage
Aud sentiments - make us laugh (I was undure whether to enter this here; it makes me laugh, but my sense of humour may be a bit of an acquired taste :P)
Paper Crafting Journey - use a digi
Crafty Catz Challenge - anything goes

What uncommon nonsense!

Here's an Alice-themed ATC I did using images from Simply Betty (girl), Squiggle Stamps (flower clock plant) and The Octopode Factory (teapot).
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge - Alice in Wonderland
Simon Says Stamp - buttons
Dream Valley Challenges - anything goes
Pollycraft Challenges - anything goes
Craft Your Pasion - Bingo (I used buttons, free space, sentiment)
Charisma Cardz - cute projects

Shine like stars

This week at StampInsanity we'd like to see your projects using icy blues. I've used Lilith from the Devil Dolls set because, frankly, I can't get enough of her. The sentiment comes from Shine Like Stars by Primal Scream, such a beautiful song and I have it running though my head :)
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Fetch A Sketch - sketch 10
Crafts and Me - let the music move you
Creative Inspirations - lashings of sparkle
Divas by Design - use metal
Kaboodle Doodles - sassy girls
Little Darlings - not square
Riley & Co - use stamps that are more than a year old (Lilith was released in Sept 2010)
Papertake Weekly - anything goes with optional extra of sparkle and bling
Dream Valley Challenges - anything goes
Pollycraft Challenges - anything goes

Waiting for you

Here's a set of ATCs I made that look ridiculously simple and yet have taken me days, lol, you know when just nothing you try looks right? I've changed the colours, the layout, the flowers, the bows, in fact everything except the skulls in the centre and the text at the top has been changed and changed again and again :P
These are the challenges I was working with:
Unscripted Sketches - sketch 130
Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge - set of three ATCs
Forever Night Freaky Friday - flowers
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Charisma Cardz - anything goes

Scary kids!

It's time for a new challenge at Beyond the Burtonesque Dolls, and this fortnight we'd like to focus on Scary Kids, or scary kids' films.
I've chosen Children of the Corn and used a Tiddly Inks image to represent those terrifying kids running through the corn and killing all the adults. The image is MUCH sweeter in his original form, and he's holding a flower not a scythe, but with just a teeny bit of modification I've made him suitably scary, I hope.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Card Positioning Systems - sketch 242
C.R.A.F.T. Challenges - Savannah colour scheme (red, orange green yellow)
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - I've used a digi, free space and fall colours
Craft Your Days Away - Autumn/Fall
Charisma Cardz - anything goes
Digi Doodles Shop's Best - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
The Paper Shelter - anything goes
Tiddly Inks - anything goes

Heinously Haunted Houses

The Macabre Monday challenge at HDH this week is Heinously Haunted Houses.
We want you to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece that features a haunted house as the focus. It IS the Haunted Design House blog after all :) The more decrepit, deteriorating or disturbing... the better!
I created this 4x4 using elements by CJ's Dreams, Creations by Rain, Heartbeat Creations and Tootypup.


These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Order of the Opus Gluei - something wicked this way comes
Come and Get It Challenges - anything goes
Crafting When We Can - Halloween and/or anything but a card
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - no designer paper
Rainbow Lady - spooks and witches
Paperplay Challenges - Halloween or witches
Do You Stack Up - Halloween
The Stamp Man Challenges - night-time
Crafts 4 Eternity - magical or mystical
Crafty Catz - spooky Halloween
4x4 Friday - Halloween
Fashionista Friday at If The Shoe Fits - Halloween or Fall
Making Halloween Cards - haunted houses and/or stripes
Gloomy Art - Halloween
Just Some Lines - Halloween
Simon Says Stamp and Show - houses
The Secret Crafter - spooky or whimsical

With A Flourish!

It's time for a new challenge at Corrosive, and this fortnight we want to see projects with flourishes somewhere on them. It doesn't matter what type, how many or where they are, just make sure we can see at least one flourish somewhere on your creation and you're good to go :)
My creation this week uses an image by Karen's Doodles, who are one of our sponsors for the month, and papers by Crafty Chaos Designs.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Deconstructed Sketches - sketch 25
Creative Inspirations - black orange purple
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Scrappy Frogs - something that flies
Come And Get It Challenges - Halloween
Shopping Our Stash - Halloween
Do You Stack Up - Halloween
Kaboodle Doodles - Halloween

12 Bats a Flying!

Well ok, there are more than 12 bats in this piece, but I've used a clock and the Roman numerals for 12 to make sure I qualify :) The female image is by Simply Betty, the Happy Halloween image is by Stampin' Up, the bat paper is by Crafty Chaos Design and I created the clock myself. The text is from The Fall Of The House Of Usher.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:

Sweet Stop Sketches - sketch 132 or 77. It doesn't look like I've followed the sketch, but that's because I turned it on its side, like this
Simply Betty Stamps 12 Days of Halloween - Day 12, twelve bats a-flying
Pollycraft Challenges - spooky goings on
Scrapbook Sisters - anything goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - spooky
Crafting For All Seasons - Halloween
Gloomy Art - Halloween
Charisma Cardz - anything goes
Paperplay Challenges - Halloween or witches
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Halloween

A non-Halloween card!

Here's what I did using the wonderful Dominatrix digi by Smeared Ink. Here's a close-up so you can see the sparkly gold glitter.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Smudgy Antics - leather and lace
Triplicate Trials Tuesday - sketch, plus hot pink, black and gold, plus modern chic theme.
Crazy Challenges - scary ladies
Order of the Opus Gluei - something wicked this way comes (I guess it depends on your definition of "wicked" ;)
There's Magic in the Air with Paper Cupcakes - pink and black
Lollipop Crafts - at least three embellishments
Creative Belli Challenge - 1 2 3 4 recipe (1 image, 2 circles, 3 brads and 4 of te larger gems)
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Fussy and Fancy - black, border punch, bling
Totally Papercrafts - glitter
Crafty Purple Frog - sparkle
Crafty Sentiments - no designer paper

Day 9!

Here's my creation for Day 9 of the 12 Days of Halloween, using Witchy Wednesday by Simply Betty Stamps and papers from the Regal Rampage set at Crafty Chaos Designs. I've also included a new sentiment from the set called Natural Hair Colours, in which you get the choice of eight different hair colours. I've included Blue, Green. Pink, Purple, Turquoise, Violet, Teal and Magenta, and the colour name letters are all "hollow" so that you can colour them in to match whatever outrageous colour you've given your image.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Sweet Sketch wednesday - sketch 125
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 9, nine ghosts a-booing (or nine ghosts looking shocked at Wednesday's bare-faced lie about her natural hair colour :P)
Scrappy Frogs - something that flies
The Crafty Pad - Halloween
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - going digi
Scrabook Sisters Card Challenge - anything goes
Divas by Design - spooky or Halloween
Crafting For All Seasons - Halloween
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Halloween
Stampavie and More - Halloween
Cardmad Fairy's Digi Day Challenge - spots and stripes
Southern Girls Challenge - stripes and spots
Totally Papercrafts - lots of layers
Fashionista Friday at If The Shoe Fits - Halloween
Making Halloween Cards - stripes and/or haunted houses
Allsorts Challenges - Halloween
Just Some Lines - Halloween

Two (or four) of the 12 Days

Here are two pieces I made for the 12 Days of Halloween at Simply Betty.
This first one is an ATC using a freebie Betty gave away on the Simply Betty Stamps PCP group, and papers from the Poison Punch set at Crafty Chaos Designs.



These are the challenges I'd like to enter with this one:
Crazy Challenges - scary lady plus sketch
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 10, Ten ghouls a-groaning. I hadn't realised before, but ghouls are essentially what we think of as zombies. George A. Romero - Night of the Living Dead - called the creatures in the film ghouls, although they became the prototype for our modern zombies. So, in this piece, I have 1 zombie ghoul and I've included the number ten in the sentiment. It also makes me smile that I could enter this one into days 7 (seven pumpkins) and 4 (four skulls) as well, although I have already entered both of those.
ATC Challenges - anything goes or vintage (I'll try to do a vintage one next)
Gingerloft Challenges - Halloween or Fall
The Crafty Pad - Halloween
My Time Made Easy Pretty Palettes - Pretty Palette 32, black, orange, purple, green
Creative Stamp Friends - Halloween
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - going digi
StempelSonne - Halloween
TimbroScrapMania - Halloween
Delightful Sketches - purple orange green black
Aud Sentiments - make us laugh
Paper-Crafting Journey - use a digi


And this second creation uses five Steampunk images, all from Simply Betty Stamps and a graveyard scene I created around them.



These are the challenges I'd like to enter with this one:
Simply Betty 12 Days 0f Halloween - Day 5, five scary spooks
Take A Word - black and white
Hooked On Crafts - something spooky
Crafty Boots - Halloween
Art With No Boundaries - Halloween
Pollycraft Challenges - spooky goings on
Magical Monday Challenges - Halloween
Simon Says Stamp and Show - just one colour
Simply Create - shades of black
The Stamp Man - Night Time
Gingersnap Creations Challenges - 124, black and grey
Crafty Sentiments - no designer paper
Little Miss Muffet - clouds

Blame it on the "BOO"gie!

I had fun creating this piece for the new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow, which is "metal". The digi was a freebie by Nana Vic, given out at CDAC.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Forever Night Freaky Friday - sketch
Pan Pastel UK - glitter and glitz
Lollipop Crafts - at least three embellishments
Paper Minutes - skeletons
Glitter Geeks - recipe challenge. I've used Turquoise and Grey, Ribbon, Sentiment, Charm, Swirls, Gems and Glitter
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 4, four skeletons
Shopping Our Stash - Halloween or Fall-inspired
Stampin' For The Weekend - spooky
Crafts and Me - blue

Goblin wishes!

I found this image at DeviantArt, created by RenoNevada. All I've done is cut out some of the goblins (because I wanted there to be 6 on this card) and change the colour from black and white to this muted grey-green tone. The backing paper is from Crafty Chaos Designs, from the Song of Sycorax set. This was originally going to be my card for the new challenge at Beyond The Burtonesque Dolls, but we've decided to make that one a fortnightly challenge, so you still have a week to enter our Guillermod del Toro challenge, and if you're really on the ball, you may have an inkling of what our next challenge will be. Although, lol, it's pretty tangential, I wouldn't count on getting the theme right from my card :P
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 6, six goblins gobbling
Card Patterns - sketch 138
Simon Says Stamp and Show - just one colour
Hiding In My Craft Room - make a #10 size card, 9 1/4" X 4"
Our Creative Corner - faces
Shopping Our Stash - Halloween
Kaboodle Doodles - Halloween
Gingerloft Challenges - Halloween
For Fun Challenges - Halloween without using black orange or purple

Halloween ATC

Here's what I did today, using Voodoo Doll #1 by Dilly Beans.
These are the challenges I made it for:
Wicked Wednesday ATC - Halloween
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 8, eight monsters shrieking. Just one monster on mine obviously, but I created the background by repeating the number 8.
For Fun Challenges - Halloween without black orange and purple
Allsorts Challenge - Halloween
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Halloween
Die Cut Dreams - use at least one metal charm

Pumpkinhead

Yay, it's time for another Macabre Monday challenge at the Haunted Design House! This week it's all about pumpkins, and/or the film Pumpkinhead. I've used the chant from the film as my focal point, and included a freebie pumpkin from Birds Cards, and I created the spiderweb pattern and the graveyard scene at the bottom.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Paper Minutes - sketch
Sentimental Sunday - Halloween
Simon Says Stamp - be inspired by a nursery rhyme or fairy tale. Hmmm, I'm not really sure if this counts. The children in the film all chant the above poem like a nursery rhyme, but it was obviously written for the film and isn't a real one.
Just Some Lines - Halloween
Allsorts - Halloween
One Stop Crafts - no designer paper
Sweet Stampin - Halloween
2 Sisters Challenge - pumpkin patch

Lots of orange, and some black and purple

I've got two projects to show you today.
First up is this piece, using stamps by Smeared Ink and Stampin' Up, and nothing else. No colouring, no papers, no embellishemnts. I love this so much that I think I may make some coasters out of it :)


These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Pink Ink Sketches - sketch #8
Smudgy Antics - Skull tims
Art with No Boundaries - Halloween
Hooked On Crafts - something spooky
Three Muses - circles and squares
Riley & Company - orange and black
Divas by Design - something spooky
Paperplay - use black
Dare to Be Sassy Thursday - spooky scary and creepy
Raise the Bar - orange and black
One Stop Crafts - no designer paper
Picture Perfect Creations - Fall or Halloween
Inky Impressions - Halloween
Order of the Opus Gluei - Halloween


And my second piece uses a stamp by Simply Betty and papers by Crafty Chaos Designs.


These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - sketch 124
Crafty Boots - Halloween
Totally Stampalicious - purple, orange and black
My Time To Craft - punches or dies
Stampavie and More - Halloween
Freshly Brewed Designs - pumpkins
Jelly Park Friends - use an image that is wearing a costume
Fussy and Fancy - black, border punch and bling
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 7, seven pumpkins glowing
My Sheri Crafts - pumpkins
Papertake Weekly - spooky hues
Crop Stop - Halloween
Stempelsonnen Challenges - Halloween
Gingerloft Challenges - Halloween or Fall
Paper Sundaes - black and sparkle from a recipe list

What part of "crazy cat lady" is meant to be an insult?

Here's what I've done today. The girl and the cat are both by Simply Betty Stamps, and the paper and sentiment are both from Crafty Chaos Designs.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 3, three black cats
Deconstructed Sketches - sketch 24
The Crafty Pad - monochrome
Stamptacular Sunday - anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - cute with a dark twist
Take A Word - childhood
Papertake Weekly - spooky hues
Some Odd Girl - colour your image in black and white
Paperplay Challenges - use black
Simply Create - shades of black

Hand over the sweets!

Yay, it's time for a new challenge at StampInsanity, and this week you could win the entire Devil Dolls digi set! I LOVE this set, and I've used two of the Devil Dolls to create my project this week. So, what do you have to do to be in with a chance of winning? Think Trick or Treat, or Tricked-Out Treats, or send Beth some chocolate. (I'm not entirely sure that that last part is official, but I'm pretty sure it will work :P)
I made an ATC, scored it down the middle attached some mesh ribbon underneath and turned it into a treat-holder for Halloween.You can't tell from the photos, but when you hold it at the top, the sweets hang underneath in a black netted ribbon.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 2, two trick or treaters
Cutie Sunday - Halloween
Irish Teddy - Halloween in orange, black and purple
Fresh Brewed Designs - orange black purple
Stamp with Sarah Kay - Halloween
Fun with ATCs - Halloween
Repeat Impressions DCC1012 Designer’s Choice Challenge - Halloween or Fall
The Pixie Cottage - sweet as candy
My Mum's Craft Shop - food and drink
Crafting For All Seasons - Halloween and/or purple, lime green, orange and black
Wicked Wednesday Weekly ATC Challenge - Halloween
Papertake Weekly - Halloween colours
Totally Stampalicious - purple orange and black
Stamp with Fun - create a gift
Pollycraft - girls, girls, girls
The Crazy Challenge - Halloween
Creative Stamp Friends - Halloween
Picture Perfect Creations - Fall or Halloween
Crafty Boots Challenge - Autumn and/or Halloween
My Craft Spot - 3D Halloween
Crafts 4 Eternity - purple and orange
The Stamp Man - circles
Alphabet Challenges - S is for Soon Be Halloween
One Stop Crafts - Halloween
Drunken Stampers - Halloween
Challenge Up Your Life - Halloween
Craft Your Days Away - Halloween colours

Don't turn out the light!

I made a bookmark today, using Draco the Ghost Gent from Simply Betty. Here are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Simply Betty 12 Days of Halloween - Day 1, an owl in a rotten oak tree
Stamptacular Sunday - anything goes
Quirky Crafts - something spooky
The Crafty Pad - monochromatic
Hooked On Crafts - something spooky
Simon Says Stamp and Show - stripes
Art Impressions - make a tag or a bookmark
Simply Create - shades of black
Forever Night - black and creepy
Desert Island Crafters - I used items 2, 6, 7, 8, 9(only half of this one), and 10. They are: Simply Betty image, not square, stripes, shades of grey, bats and spiders (this is the half one, I meant to put some bat confetti on the back side, but forgot before I took the photo. The font is Batfont though :P) and the undead.
My Time to Craft - punches or dies (I used a tiny postage stamp punch to create the holes to thread the ribbon and lace through. Big mistake, as the lace kept getting caught on all the teeny scallops around the edge. You live and learn :P)

Guillermo del Toro 4x4

Yay, it's time for our third challenge at Beyond the Burtonesque Dolls, and this week we'd like you to create something inspired by the works of Guillermo del Toro. I've used a still from Pan's Labyrinth, which has the scariest freakiest man-monster imaginable and made a simple 4x4, then framed it. And you should really check out what the other DT members have done, there are some wonderful inspiration pieces over there.

Here are the challenges I'd like to enter:
4x4 Friday - boo
Forever Night - black and creepy
Creative Sketches - crumb cake, soft suede. cajun craze, black
Gingersnap Creations Chestnut Challenge - horror stories
Hooked on Crafts - something spooky
Bling It On - no patterned papers
Allways Something Creative - brown, orange, distressing
ABC Challenge - B for Boo
Lothian Crafts Online - anything goes

Two projects to share today

Well, it's Monday, and that of course means that it's time for a new Macabre Monday challenge at the Haunted Design House blog, but today I also have another challenge to tell you about, at Paper Creations Ink. I'm hoping to cross-contaminate and get you all to visit both sites by combining my posts.
First up, we have my Macabre Monday offering. Our challenge this week is "Lurid and Looming Landscapes" abd we want to see some kind of landscape featured in your creation. Something dark and desolate and deathly. Or some misty and macabre moorland. Or a putrifying, peestilence-ridden panorama. You get the idea :)



I've used elements from so many different people in my creation today, but credit should go to creations by rain, medi, tootypup, blazter, and The Urban Fairy.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter with this piece:
Scrappy Frogs - something that flies
I Did It Creations - animals
Quirky Crafts - spooky
My Time Made Easy - white, black, bright blue
Shopping Our Stash - spooky
The Paper Shelter - animals
Bling It On - no patterned papers
Collage Obsession - alter egos (I like to think that the black and white horses are both representations of the same animal)

And my second creation for today is to highlight Paper Creations Ink, where I'm a GDT and the challenge is Halloween. We're sponsored by Delicious Doodles, and I've used Spooky Haunted House and Grim Reaper in my piece, as well as paper from the Symphony of Grey set at Crafty Chaos Designs.

These are the challenges I'd like to enter with this piece:
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Halloween
Dream Valley Challenges - Halloween
Here Come The Boys - Halloween
Delicious Doodles - Halloween but NO orange
Card Makin' Mamas - Halloween
Phindy's Place - Halloween
The Poodle's Parlour - spooky Halloween
Making Halloween Cards - haunted house
Simply Create - shades of black
Forever Night - black and creepy
Simon Says Stamp - Halloween or goth
The Pixie Cottage - sketch + dark and spooky
Creative Card Crew - spooky fun
Clear It Out Challenges - Halloween
Everybody Art - Halloween
Scrap Creations Challenges - Halloween
Gingerloft Challenges - Halloween or Fall
One Stop Crafts - Halloween
Drunken Stampers - Halloween
Challenge Up Your Life - Halloween
Pattie's Creations - Halloween
Alphabet Challenges - S for Soon Be Halloween
The Queen's Royal Digi Challenge - Halloween

Things that fly at Corrosive

Yay, it's time for another fun challenge at the Corrosive blog! This week we want to see things that fly. Witches on broomsticks, birds, bats, fairies, butterflies, helicopters, whatever you've got, if it can take to the skies, you're in :)
I've made an ATC using a cute owl from one of our sponsors, Doodle Pantry, and paper-pieced his wings and tummy with papers from the Poison Punch set at Crafty Chaos Designs, and the backing paper is from the Poison Candy set. (And you can now download your purchases immediately after purchase, Woohoo!)
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Crafty Sentiments - sketch
Everybody Art - Halloween
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Halloween
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Halloween
Victorine Originals - Halloween
Art with No Boundaries - October or Halloween
Top Tip Tuesday - use designer paper
Papertake Weekly - use 3 different shapes (rectangle, square, semi-oval)
Just Us Girls - orange green purple black
Craft Your Days Away - Halloween colours
Stampin' B's Design Team - birds
Dare To Be Sassy Thursdays - use black orange purple and green
Cupcake Inspirations - I was inspired by the colours in the photo, the spiderwebs and the creatures (although I've used a different creature)
Cutie Sundays - Halloween
Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge - use a DP image

The (bird) tables have turned!

I seem to be constantly trying to catch up recently, so here's a piece I finished today for a few challenges. The papers are from the Elizabeth Forgets set at Crafty Chaos Designs, the image is from the Heebie Jeebie set at Smeared Ink, and the bird silhouettes are brushes by flordelys_stock.
Please note that I used the sketch from the Tuesday Trio Challenge, but forgot about the other requirements so I'm not entering there, just giving credit for the sketch.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
1. Smudgy Antics - black birds
2. Smeared & Smudged GDT Challenge - use a colour palette of reds, greens and neutrals
3. Crafty Cardmakers - anything goes
4. Paper and Such Online - be inspired the Country Autumn colour palette at Design Seeds
5. Take A Word - blackbird
6. Crafty Boots - zoo or animal-themed
7. Charisma Cards - stitches
8. Glitter Geeks - Two's company. I have 2 papers, 2 birds, 2 types of creature, 2 different patterns (spots and stripes) and two long strips of paper
9. Digi Days Challenge - spots and stripes
10. Stampin' B's Design Team - birds

One new and one re-do

I've done a couple of paper projects and boy have they reminded me why I love digi work :P I had to print both several times, once because I cut something I shouldn't have (second card), once because I stuck the ribbon on wonkily (first card), once because a cat sat on them and creased things (both), once because the printer had a bit of scrap card inside it that messed up the printing (both). And then I had to take lots of photos and try to find one of each that isn't absolutely dreadful :P
So, enough of my whinging, lol, here they are. I've used two images from the CDAC Progressive Freebie Challenge - the first is Dragonlets and Me by Delicious Doodles (you may have seen the digital version of this, posted before I understood the rules) and the second, although it doesn't look like I've used an image, uses the beautiful Mandala image by Daisy Doodles, in two different sizes, to create the background. The text on the second one is from The Moon by Shelley.
Challenges for each are below the images.


I used the sketch from Fetch-a-Sketch for this one, but I already entered the digital version of my card over there and this one only has minor differences.
CDAC Progressive Freebie Challenge - Halloween or mystical (dragons are mystical)
Sentimental Sundays - anything goes
Ribbon Carousel - sparkle and bling. As well as the gems, which you can see, the dragon wings have a slight coating of glitter, which you can't. And the gems are actually a pale lilac colour and very sparkly.
Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge - anything goes
Digital Tuesday - Fall Colours
Crafty Purple Frog - thank you
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - 1 ribbon, 2 shapes (oval and square) and glitter (on the spiny parts of the dragon wings)
Easy Craft Projects - Autumn or Thank You
Stampin' For the Weekend - Fall colours
Bling It On - no patterned papers


Please note that this was designed digitally and then the whole thing was printed straight onto cardstock, So although it looks like it has layers, it doesn't.

CDAC Progressive Freebie Challenge - Halloween or mystical (I hope the poem makes it mystical)
Skrappekammeret - sketch
Die Cut Dreams - use a poem (please note that you need a digi image for this challenge, and I made my background with a mandala image)
Crafts and Me - orange
Crazy Amigos - one layer card with no embellishments
Crafty Cardmakers - anything goes
Creative Inspiration - single layer card
Glitter Geeks - Two's Company (I've done the whole thing in only two colours and I've also used two sizes of the same stamp)
Wags n Whiskers - Fall colours
Lothian Crafts Online - anything goes

Shop is up with instant downloads!

ETA Everything went smoothly and it's all back up and running and now you can download your products immediatelt after payment!
We're switching things around in the shop today, and (hopefully) sorting out instant downloads, so there may be a few hours when either the site is down, OR the site still appears online but I won't get any emails. Please bear with us during any downtime, it won't be for long!

Cute and Cuddly at Ruby's Rainbow!

It's time for another new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow, and this fortnight we want to see your Cute and Cuddly projects. Now, regular visitors here may be aware that I sometimes have a slightly skewed vision of what counts as cute, but I think everyone has to agree that this little monster deinitely is, right? There's just no doubt about it, he's absolutelt adorable! He's from the Monster Mash set at Squiggle Stamps.
Here are the challenges I'd like to enter:

Some Odd Girl - sketch
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Halloween
Everybody Art - Halloween
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Halloween
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Halloween
KB Cutie Monday - food or beverages (I'm hoping the lollipops count)
Fussy and Fancy Challenges - Halloween
C.R.A.F.T. Challenges - bright colours
The Play Date Cafe - Slime Green, Frightful Fuschia,
Putrid Purple, Black as Night (see pic on the right)
Sweet Stampin' - stitching
Drunken Stampers - Halloween
Challenge Up Your Life - Halloween

It's real, it's real!

Ok, I messed up in the post below, as I entered a challenge that doesn't accept digital creations. :( So I've spent the evening making an ATC. The papers are by Crafty Chaos Designs, and the image is by Designed 2 Delight, and it's one of the freebies available at the Progressive Challenge at CDAC.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Sweet Sunday Sketches - sketch 138
CDAC Progressive Challenge 4 - Halloween or mystical using one of the free images
Sparkles Forum Challenge - Halloween
Quirky Crafts - spooky or Halloween
Cutie Sunday - Halloween
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Halloween
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Halloween
Hooked on Crafts - anything but a card
Victorine Originals - Halloween
Crafting For All Seasons - Fall flowers or pumpkins

Thank you, with dragons!

I've just joined in the CDAC Progressive Freebie Challenge, and this is one of this month's beautiful freebies, Dragonlets and Me by Delicious Doodles.
These are the challenges I'd like to enter:
Fetch-A-Sketch - sketch
One Stitch At A Time - anything goes
CDAC Progressive Challenge - Halloween or mystical using one of the freebie images (I'm hoping the dragons make it count as mystical)
Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge - no designer paper
Squiggle Stamps - Thanks
Do You Stack Up - brown
Crafts and Me - use a digi
Little Red Wagon - thanks
Flutterby Wednesday - use a fairy butterfly or angel
Lollipop Crafts - critters
Incy Wincy Designs - being thankful
Picture Perfect Creations - wisteria, crumb cake, espresso
Totally Stampalicious - Thanksgiving or Thank you card