scrappy-arts-n-thoughts

I'VE MOVED!!!!

2011-02-01T09:59:00.000-05:00

Hello all of my friends! I am so SO sorry I haven't been here. So much going on. I now have a new blog, please come visit me there to hear my long story!!

DANIELLA HAYES LAYERS OF CREATIVITY

I want to invite you all to join me there, I miss you all!!

I really hope to see you there very soon!!!

HOW THE HECK ARE YA????

2010-11-03T08:22:00.005-04:00

Hello! Has everyone recovered from "31 Days of Halloween?". I hope you have! I can't wait to see what you've been up to! Terra has the stats, and the grand prize winner on her blog. Insane amount of people played, and crazy big numbers of posts, or comments. Go check it out!

I finally started the workshop that I am taking. It is at "Marit's Scrapworld". I signed up for it months ago, but when it started at the end of October, I was so involved with "31 Days", that I got behind!! SO, I have been playing catch up. Crazy. The workshop is called "mixed emotions". It is about art journaling your deep feelings. I LOVE Marit's work. She is an amazing art journaler. Check out her blog, she has a gallery too. AMAZING! AND, she is teaching this workshop with another amazing art journaler Michelle. Check her out here!

Before I show you my art journal pages, I wanted to share this card I made for Marit. It is her birthday card! I tried to make her proud with my collage work. I made the background from alcohol inks and a swirl stamp. I then collaged various images from random ephemera, clip art and items from one of the Saturday Evening Posts I got from the "junque" store a few months ago. The "Happy Royal To You", was an advertisement for a typewrite, and it was supposed to be to the tune of happy birthday. It was perfect! The pin up image is another advertisement too!!

What do you think?

This is one of the pages I've made for Marit's workshop. This prompt was "loneliness", and the technique to try was gel medium transfers. As soon as I saw the prompt, I couldn't stop thinking of the song "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles.
"All the lonely people....". SO, I was going to try to find a pic of me, and I saw this picture of Small. He is just lying on the couch, and I snapped a pic. He looks so lonely! I don't know why, but he does, so I used his picture for my gel transfer, and wrote the lyrics to that Beatles song on the page. I think the page really reflects "loneliness". I love this workshop!

Last, this is my first page from Marit's Workshop. The prompt was "Courage". And to cover your journaling with paint, as in the word courage on my page. But, I felt that too much of my journaling was able to be seen, and it is quite personal. SO, great idea! Cover the writing with dress pattern paper! It's tissue paper that is brown in color, with pattern, words, and numbers all around it (i'm sure you've seen this before!). It gave my page privacy and more texture too. Sweet!

So, this is what I've been up to since "31 Days of Halloween" ended! I hope you have found a way to stay creative! Have a fantastic day!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 31

2010-10-31T00:01:00.001-04:00

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT IS THE LAST DAY? WE MADE IT! And I wouldn't have wanted to do this with anyone else but you!!! Thank you so much for visiting me every day, and leaving such sweet comments! You gave me the desire to go the whole 9 yards! And for all you Wicked Bloggers, you gave me the inspiration to keep creating! This whole experience has been amazing! Thank you to Terra and Kelli for starting this crazy awesome ride!!!

So! Since tomorrow is traditionally the "Day of the Dead" celebration (so I've read), I figured an ATC with pretty Sugar Skulls would be perfect!

Ingredients:

7 Gypsies Lined blank
7 Gypsies Paper
Bombshell Stamps Sugar Skulls stamp set
Color Box inks
Sakura Puffy Paint Pens
Prima Flowers
American Crafts Ribbon
Misc. Brads

And, I've added all the Wicked Bloggers, and Horrifying Hoppers to my favorites, so I can keep visiting you! All of you are so awesome!!

Thank you for visiting! Have a very Happy and safe Halloween!!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 30

2010-10-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello! And thanks for visiting my blog today!! I have an ATC, as usual. I call this "Simple Creepy". I might trademark that! It is simple, because the inking and stamping is not complex, and the embellishments are already made. How easy is that? And, it still has that creepy Halloween type thing goin' on!

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies Specimen card
Ranger Distress Ink Black Soot
Recollections Web
Smeared Ink Killer Bo Peep spider stamp
Web Ribbon from Michaels

Thanks for visiting! See you tomorrow, for our final day of 31 Days! *tear*

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 29

2010-10-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

ok! How's everybody today?!?! I hope awesome!

This ATC is so complex, but so easy! It has many layers of ink, and stamps. And, this picture doesn't seem blurry!

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies Observation blank
Color Box Inks is many shades of orange and gold
Holy City Metal Fence stamp and Raven stamp
Prima Flowers
Stickles

Thanks for looking. Enjoy your day!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 28

2010-10-28T00:01:00.001-04:00

Seriously? Is this blurry? ugh.

We have a fabulous sponsor today!! Tiddly Inks!! They are a really fun company, and you can win an awesome prize too!! Go to Kelli's blog for details!!

ATC number 28! I've almost made it!! SOOOO close! This is another collage type card. Very fun to make.

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies ledger blank
Hero Arts Wood Circle stamp
7 gypsies tiny paper scrap
Gauche Alchemy image from their "Nevermore" collage sheet
Daisy D's stitches
Prima flower

Thanks ever so much for visiting!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 27

2010-10-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

Is it just me, or is my image blurry? When I edited the pics, they all looked blurry. But, I (we) have been doing this for 27 days straight! I think my eyes need a break from the computer! But, here's my ATC anyway. Possibly blurry?

This one uses two of my many ghost stamps (as you have seen I have many of them). But, the thing I really love is how the glimmer mist almost looks like a ghost in front of the ATC! Really wicked awesome, I think.

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies ATC base
Color Box Inks in many colors
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Plaid Enterprises Ghost
Close to my Heart small Ghost, Happy Haunting set

Remember to check out all the Wicked Blogs on my side bar. They have fabulous stuff for you to see. A visual delight!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 26

2010-10-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

We are down to the wire!! 31 Days of Halloween is almost over!! It has gone by soo fast. I hope to continue to see your awesome work, and receive your awesome comments! I feel like we've climbed a mountain together. You are all fabulous!

We have a sponsor today!! Strange Skin is offering a prize! They are AMAZING! Check out their site for fabulous digi's!!!

Before I show you my ATC, I have to show you my Smeared Ink Card. I used the "Lonely Boy and Puff" set. I got these papers from Anna Griffen, who I think is awesome. She says her crafting is "elegant", and I totally agree. SO, while I have a bunch of gorgeous paper from her, I decided to use a couple of very busy patterns, and use them together with some border tape, and a weird sort of flower that I made. I wanted this card to be as outrageous as Lonley Boy. Then I put spiders all over the place. Puff is a spider, so I put a "real" spider over his stamped image. Hope you like it.

And here is my ATC. I am going to make it!! 31 ATC's!!

Ingredients:
Bombshell Stamps Sugar Skulls stamp
Ranger distress ink Vintage Photo
Copic markers
Stickles Orange, Black and Green

See you tomorrow!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 25

2010-10-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

EEK!! I love this one!! This is soooo cool! I inked my background all up until my paper was "wet" feeling. Then, I inked up this foam head stone stamp with Ranger Distress Ink, and THEN, I sprayed water on the foam stamp! So when I stamped it, it came out with a ghost like appearance!! I am so excited about how this came out!!

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies Tag
ColorBox Inks
Ranger Distress Ink Black Soot
Headstone Stamp Plaid Enterprises

Thanks for visiting!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 24

2010-10-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

We have another sponsor today! The fabulous Tiddly Inks! Make sure you find the hidden clue, by hopping through all the Wicked Blogs!!

Here I go again! A Day of the Dead ATC with the addition of dots! Can't help it! I feel that they go so well with DOTD cards. I used my Souffle pens again. I also used them to color the flowers in the eyes. Gives so much dimension!

Ingredients:
Bombshell Stamps "Sugar Skulls" stamp set
StazOn Black Ink
Ranger Distress Ink Vintage Photo
Sakura Souffle 3-D Markers
Copic markers

See you tomorrow!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 23

2010-10-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

HI!

Another ATC for you today! I love this one! Smeared Ink's Holy City set is soo awesome! The addition of book paper and a skull charm, that I made, are perfect touches for this.

Ingredients:
Random Book Paper
7 Gypsies patterned paper
"Holy City" Stamp Set from Smeared Ink
? Skull stamp
Random Rope
Ranger Distress Ink Vintage Photo
Daisy D's rub on

Thanks for looking!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 22

2010-10-22T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello Again!

Today, we have another sponsor! Stamp Insanity! Be sure to keep your eyes open while hopping to find a clue!

Todays ATC uses my Chandelier stamp again! And some random beads from a necklace and bracelet set I got in the Dollar Store. Of course, after I'd taken the picture, I realized the beads were not quite where I'd imagined. But, you get the idea. I wanted them to look like they were hanging from the top of the changelier. Ok, maybe it looked better in my head.

Ingredients:
Multiple ColorBox inks
Ranger Distress Ink Vintage Photo
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Walnut Gold
Inkadinkado Chandelier Stamp
Recollections Dimensional Stickers spider
Misc. Orange beads.

Have a fabulous day!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 21

2010-10-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello Hello!

This ATC is a whimsical type card, with it's floating face, and ticket. A foam bat is very fun too!

Ingredients:
Inkadinkado Stamps Background and face
Misc. Foam Bat and Ticket
StazOn Black Ink
ColorBox Orange Ink

See you tomorrow!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 20

2010-10-20T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello again!

I bring you another ATC! This one was fun. I wanted this one to look like you were looking in the haunted mansion window from the outside. You see the lace curtains, the chandelier, and the roof.

Ingredients:
Inkadinkado stamps, background and chandelier
Misc. lace and black paper
Stickles Black Diamond
StazOn Black Ink
ColorBox orange ink

Have an awesome day!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 19

2010-10-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello All!!

Are you gonna make it? Do you think you can hang in till the 31st? I hope so!

I want to thank all of you for visiting! You are die hard Halloween lovers, like me! And for my loyal friends, who are not "31 Days" hoppers, please know I will be back to your blogs very soon!!

We have a sponsor today! Wild Flower Kids!! Be sure to check out Terra's blog (on the sidebar) to find out more!

Todays ATC is very simple, but packs a punch! That flag stamp is awesome! I HOPE to actually make a flag card soon!

Ingredients:
Recollections Halloween stamp set
Misc. Book paper
Orange card stock Core'dinations
Ranger Distress Ink Black Soot
StazOn Ink black

Thanks for visiting! See you tomorrow!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 18

2010-10-18T00:01:00.003-04:00

What's up!!

Here's today's ATC! I used a new technique for this one. I inked the background with Distress Ink, and sprayed it with water, so the ink ran. I like that look. Then, I stamped my sugar skulls. And, I used these Souffle 3D opaque pens, and made dots all around the ATC. Different color dots everywhere. One of my bloggy friends does this a lot, and far better than I, but I tried it, and i really got into it. Very relaxing making dots. Dot after dot. On and On....

Ingredients:
Ranger Distress Inks vintage photo and pummice stone
Bombshell Stamps Sugar Skulls stamp set
Copics
?2 little flowers
Orange Stickles
Souffle 3D opaque pens by Sakura

SO! Today, I wanted to show you my Halloween tree!

I've had this tree for 8ish years. I used it for at least 2 years before I moved here, so yeah, that sounds right. I, personally, think EVERYONE should have a Halloween tree! It has ribbons, and pumpkins, and ghosts, and my mummy. Yes, my mummy. He always takes center stage with his "I (heart) my mummy" sign. I like to add real pine cones, and foliage from my yard to it too. Of course I made the huge bow on top!

PURPLE CAT! How did you get in here!

See you tomorrow!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 17

2010-10-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hello!! Are you still with me? You must love Halloween as much as I do!! Because only a die-hard Halloween lover would still be on board for this 31 Days of Halloween Journey!!

This is my ATC for today. If your just joining the party, I am making the 31 ATC's of Halloween!! Smeared and Smudged is doing the 31 Days of Halloween, and of course, I'm totally on board with that! So, I figured I'd make ATC's, and cards, and home dec, and, and, and.....

Anyway, this ATC uses one of my favorite stamps again. How could you ever get tired of using this stamp!

I inked, stamped, added grungeboard, and some metal letters and VOILA'!

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies ATC blank
Ranger Distress Ink Black Soot
Delta Vintage Lady stamp
Tim Holtz Grungeboard Skull
?Metal letters

Now, I thought I'd show you some of my home decor! This is my fireplace mantle. It has a spider web scarf on it, and everything I LOVE!! The pumpkins, the pumpkin witches, the ghosts, the candles I could go on for 3 days!! The barn star, the flowers, the berry garland, and the berry wreath (and holder) are permanent fixtures. I just decorate around them!

This is the banner I made for the fireplace. I had to take the fireplace pics in 2 parts, or the pics were too far away to see anything. Remember, click on any pic to enlarge.

But THIS is my fav part!!

This is my Witch piece, that I made last year. It is and 8X10 canvas. I used gesso, paint, paper, stamps and trim to start with, then made the Witch. She is made from glue, tissue paper and glitter. I crumpled tissue paper into the shape of a dress, that this Witch was wearing while flying on her broom! She is so awesome! Anyway, after the dress was molded, I covered the whole thing with regular white glue. then, sprinkled the glitter all over it! It got into the nooks and cranies beautifully! I painted her face, and gave her a hat with black flowers on it! I inked over the paint, paper and stamps, and made a moon, and put glitter on that too. I have this, my finest creation, right on the mantle.

Thanks so much for visiting!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 16

2010-10-16T00:01:00.001-04:00

How is everyone today? We are literally half way done with 31 Days of Halloween! Oh, no said me!

Smeared Ink is our sponsor today! Check out Terra's blog, and find the clues you need to find the hidden image! You could win a prize!!

And this is another long post, so I won't go on about it! So here is my ATC for today!! I was totally excited to use my alcohol inks on this tin piece in the middle, and thought this was going to be awesome!! BUT, when I took the picture, it doesn't really show the stamped spider very well. I took it in day light, with flash, without flash, in the dark. NOTHING! so, the pic isn't great, but just know the ATC is!!

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies ATC with parenthesis
Smeared Ink Killer Bo Peep spider
Miss Elizabeth's Embossed tin sticker (from the Dollar store!)
Ranger Alcohol Ink
Ranger Distress Ink

This is the best part of my post for today!!

Last week, I got a package from my very dear friend, Lynx. She also goes by Black Dragon, but you know me! BD is what I call her. Everyone has a nick-name with me!! SO, BD is also on the Smeared Ink design team, and from working with her and seeing her marvelous art, we became fast friends!! She is totally awesome. So, this package comes to my house! What? Hmmmm. BD! WHAT? Yes, BD sent me a parcel all the way from England, where she resides. And inside? Fabulousness!!

Inside, there was sooo much stuff! Beautiful pink, white, gold and silver ribbons, some socks that say England! I feel very trans-continental when I wear them, which is why they aren't in the picture. Because they are on my feet!!

This is the second half of the package!! Can you believe it? I can't!! In addition to the other fabulous goodies, she sent me unicorn art!! A few months back, I said that I don't like horses AT ALL. The freak me out! Eyes on the side of their head, and HUGE teeth! They scare me. So, someone said "What about unicorns?" I said it's a horse! And then BD called my bluff, by asking "what about THESE unicorns?" I was like WOW! The pictures don't do these justice. They are perfect works of art. Beauty to behold. I admitted, these unicorns are beautiful! And so, in my package, were the very 3 examples she had posted! You don't know how beautiful they are in person! I now believe!!

BUT! There was still more! As you see in the picture, there was a hand made Hello Kitty bracelet!! WHAT? FOR REAL? YES!!

Here is a close up of my very fancy bracelet!! I was FLOORED when I saw it! It was in a little pink bag, inside that gorgeous pink box!! AND, there are 2 other Hello Kitty's too, so I can switch the pink ones if I want!! But, I don't. It is sooo perfect just as it is. Don't worry, I'll find another use for them! But I was soooo......speechless when I got this parcel in the mail. Straight from Jolly Ole England! And from my dear friend BD.

That's it for today!! See you tomorrow!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 15

2010-10-15T00:01:00.002-04:00

Hi!

I have an ATC today, of course, but I also have to tell you that my SPOTLIGHT is up! What SPOTLIGHT? you say? Remember? I said I was going to be doing the SPOTLIGHT page on the Smeared and Smudged forum! I have the honor of interviewing members, and they are in the SPOTLIGHT for the month! Totally sweet gig for sure! This month, the awesome Alex is in the spotlight! You can click the link above to read all about her, and see how my interview went.

And, here is the ATC.

I love this one. One of my fav's! I loved piecing it together, then adding a bit more. I think I might ask my friend Marit if she wants to trade for this one! Hope you like it too!!

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies Tag
Colorox and Ranger inks
?paper
Pieces of Gauche Alchemy's "Nevermore" collage sheet
Smeared Ink "Holy City" stamp set raven

Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't forget to check out the SPOTLIGHT!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 14

2010-10-14T00:01:00.002-04:00

What's up!!

I have more than my "31 Days of Halloween" post today!! If you don't know what that is, click on it to find out!

Today, I have my ATC, and a package I got to show you!! SO, here is today's ATC.

I almost feel guilty for this one!! The ATC blank HAS the bingo card on it!! But, I did all the rest. The 5 different inks, the washers, the flourish stamp. My new favorite thing is using my own hardware. I have a tower thing, with 7 stacking "O" shaped organizers filled with hardware. Of course, I was out one day, and bought some washers from the craft store. Went home and said "DUH". And I put all of the hardware I wanted to use in one of the "O"'s, and now have it on my desk!

Ingredients:

7 Gypsies Bingo ATC
Colorbox and Ranger Inks
Unity Stamps "Flourish" stamp
3 washers (see story above)
2 Prima rhinesotnes

NOW>>>>>>

2 weeks ago, my friend Kathi told me she was going to the yearly warehouse sale that Ranger has. I was like OMG THAT IS AWEsOME! I had been quite bummed that I couldn't go! So, she said "I'll pick you up stuff too. I'll do one for me and one for you". I was like YOU GO GIRL! SO, she came home and told me the insane amount of stuff she got for like $30 Bucks! I was totally wearing a ? over my head! SO, For my half ($15 dollars) I got this!

You can't even believe what was in this box!! 12 bottles of Stickles and Stickles pearls (which I've never tried yet!), 7 Adirondak ink pads, 2 paint dabbers, 4 bottles of Claudine Hellmuth mediums (love her!) and a pot of her paint, glitter, resist ink, Holy Crow! Believe it or not, there is more!! Oh man, we SCORED!!! Thank you sooo much Kathi for picking up stuff for me and mailing it to me!! Your a pal!!

These are all of the things Kathi added for me!! Little puzzle and game pieces, time cards, vintage boxes, on and on!! LOVE this stuff!

So thank you for visiting, and thank you Kathi!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 13

2010-10-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hello hoppers!! Are you enjoying these 31 days? I am having an awesome time! So much inspiration on all of your blogs!! Really fabulous!!

Here is my ATC for today.

I am having an awesome time with these ATC's! I'm probably stoned from the ink fumes everywhere!! sayin'. Anyway, this is simple, but sophisticated! I inked tons of layers on and over the stamps, and even sprayed some Glimmer mist for good measure! You should be able to see it on the bottom left corner. But remember, you can always click on the pic and it will be bigger.

Ingredients:

7 Gypsies ATC blank
Ranger distress ink and Color Box ink
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Walnut Gold
Hero Arts Woodgrain Circle Stamp
Canadian Maple Collections Creepy Stamp
? ribbon and foam bat

Before I go, I wanted to show a picture of my fireplace wall. There are randomly stamped bees all over the wall. Not too much, just enough!! I will be showing pics of the fireplace and mantle in coming days, but my stamping on the wall also had many requests for pictures! So, I am happy to post some for you!

EXTREME close up of one bee!!

Thanks for visiting!!

xxDanielle

31 Days of Halloween Day 12

2010-10-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hello all!! I have my ATC to show you, and some other things too!! I just want to say, thank you to all of you, for the fabulous comments you are leaving me!! I am so grateful to you all for visiting me!! Thank you times 1 million!!

Here is my daily ATC. Another exercise in inking and layering. The inks first, the image from Gauche Alchemy's Nevermore collage sheet (see sidebar for link to them), and the silver heart charm on top!! Ironic right? a heart on a skeleton? Get it? um. ok.

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies Address book ATC blank
Colorbox Inks, orange, rust and mustard
Close to my Heart "Happy Haunting" set
Gauche Alchemy "Nevermore" collage sheet
Misc. silver heart charm

Now, here's a card for Smeared Ink!!

This card is awesome for so many reasons!!! First, the grass in my cemetery. It's ribbon. BUT, who is that? HELLO KITTY! How did she get there? This is the second time I've found her in the cemetery! Then, the fabulous Smeared Ink Stamps of course!! I used 2 sets, Lonely Boy and puff, and Teen sayings. I thought the border stamp from the set was cool, so I paired it with a teen saying! I colored the heads with copics, and when I put the red copic around the eyes, it bled which made it look totally awesome!! Sometimes, while trying to be creative, you hit a wall. And, if you have great friends, they help you! You know who you are! Thank you *wink*

Ingredients:
Martha Stewart Halloween paper
Hello Kitty Ribbon ? from Target
Misc. Skull and a stick from a previous project
Smeared Ink Stamps "Lonely boy and puff" and "Teen style sayings"
Copics

Onward people!!

This is the foyer of my house. It is where I hand painted inspirational words. I mentioned this last week, and soooo many of you asked to see!! SO. I took a few pics of some of the words just for you my blog pals!!

And another.

Last wall pic.

Thanks so much for visiting!!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 11

2010-10-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hi! How are you? Good? Awesome!

Not a lot of time today, so I will spare you all my long winded rambling!! Just the facts!!

This ATC is a more spooky use for my favorite ghost. I layered ink, and a great piece of the nevermore collage sheet before stamping him. Now, he looks like a real ghost!! to me at least. I also made this card backwards, it should have the cut out part on the left so I can put it in my carousel, but it's on the right. duh. And, because I am impatient while making stuff, I used my heat gun to speed up the drying of the ghost, and accidentally burnt the ribbon. I think it looks good burnt! Note to self, burn ribbon in the future.

Ingredients:
Black Soot Distress Ink Ranger
? Paper
Color Box white ink
Ghost Stamp Plaid
Gauche Alchemy "Nevermore" collage sheet
Celebrate it ribbon from Michales

Enjoy the inspiration of the hop! See you tomorrow!!

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 10

2010-10-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello! Don't I know you?? Of course I do!! You are part of the Horrifying Hoppers, or Wicked Bloggers!!! Confused? Don't be! Click here and check it out!

I LOVE this ATC! This is one of my favorite stamps. I made a series of 4 using this stamp, and it was in one of the issues of SNR that I was published it. I had a feature (how cool was that?) about how to use ATC's in an art piece! sweet. Anyway, she can be stamped bright, to look like a photo, or light, to look ethereal like this. It's like she is a ghost, barely noticeable. And, because I used 3 layers of ink, she is somewhat translucent over the first layer. Totally Bitchin' if I do say so myself!!

Here are the ingredients:
Vintage Photo Distress Ink from Ranger for the first layer of ink
Color Box burnt orange for the lady image
Combo of Color Box and Ranger Vintage Photo inks for the border
Lady Stamp Delta Rubber Stamped
Border Stamp Hero Arts
Safety Pin Close to my Heart
American Crafts Ribbon

Have a GREAT day!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 9

2010-10-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello Awesome!!

You must be awesome! You came by to visit!!

Here is the 9th in the 31 ATC's of Halloween!! This one is "spooky cute"

I just love this ghost!! He is so cute! I want to stamp him all over my house!! I actually have stamped in my house. In my foyer and above and around my fireplace, I painted a lighter green. In the foyer, I hand painted words to inspire the people coming, and going from my home. Words like Family, Love, Believe, Faith. There are more, but 4 is enough! Then, above the fireplace, I have all my awesome decorations! I will show them off in a few days. But, on that light green wall, I stamped some bees. I am allergic to bees, so I can't be near them, but I just thought they added a fancy aspect to the wall. Like wall paper. They are stamped in a gold ink, and don't actually look like bees at all, but they look totally fabulous!! I will try to remember to snap a pic of that too!!

Anyway, here are the ATC ingredients:
7 Gypsies "bug" atc blank
Color box and Ranger Inks
7 Gypsies Glimmer Mist in Walnut Gold
Ghost stamp by Plaid
Web Stamp from Close to my Heart "Happy Haunting"

Thanks for listening to me ramble!! See ya tomorrow!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 8 & FAIRY KNOLL

2010-10-08T00:01:00.003-04:00

How's everybody doing today??? Ready for another day of inspiration and intrigue? Then your in the right place!! 31 Days of Halloween is going strong!!

First, we talk about my ATC of the day. Then, we will talk about my exciting news!

This ATC was awesome to make. Simple, yet makes an Impact!!

Ingredients:
7 Gypsies "French Dictionary" Blank
? Orange paper
Studio "G" Halloween stamp
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Numerals
Black soot distress ink

This is a card I made for Fairy Knoll Stamps. Brandi, the owner of Fairy Knoll, asked me to be part of her design team!! She is really living the dream. She draws the digital images, and runs the store and the awesome challenges we have every Friday!! I am honored to be on her team! And here is my first creation for her!!

It is a fairy image, but I like to think of her as a pixie!! She is dressed from head to wing in orange and black for Halloween!! Did you know a pixie can change her wing color? Neither did I!! actually i don't know that for real, I just made it up.

Ingredients:
Martha Stewart Halloween paper
Mis. Lace
Image Fairy Knoll
Heidi Swapp bling frame
Copics

Here's the rest of the team!!

Brandi (of course!!)
Alex
Audrey
Claire
Georgia
Shelley
Tammylee

So there ya go!! Another fabby 31 Days post! Hope to see you back tomorrow!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 7

2010-10-07T00:01:00.002-04:00

**IN CASE EVERYONE DIDN'T KNOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS CLICK THE IMAGES TO SEE THEM LARGER!!**

Hello all of you Horrifying Hoppers, and Wicked Bloggers (and anyone else that just loves Halloween!!), and welcome to day 7 of 31 Days of Halloween!!

Today, we are fortunate enough to be sponsored by Strange Skin!! AND, sponsors equal prizes!! So be sure to check out all the wicked blogs!! Not sure what the heck I'm talking about? Click the "31 Days of Halloween" link above and find out!!

Here's a tag I made using Strange Skin's Witch, from the cameo set. Is this not the most rad image of a witch? I was stoked to get to play with her!!

Ingredients:
Misc. Black Paper
Halloween Ribbons "Celebrate it" from Michaels
Small saftey pins from Close to my Heart
Unity Stamps "love is toxic" set Skull
Shrink plastic
Strange Skin cameo witch
Copics

Here's a close up of the shrinky dink charms! not the best photo for sure, but these were taken at night! awful.

And, now for my ATC!

I was so excited to get the "Sugar Skulls" stamp set from Bombshell Stamps last month!! After my totally provocative interview, that I know you all read, Shannon the owner of Bombshell sent me a stamp set of my choice!! I had to have these sugar skulls. There are a lot more ATC's using this set, so stay tuned!!

ATC Ingredients:
ATC Blank 7 Gypsies
Ink, Ranger Distress Ink "Vintage Photo" and Stazon ink black
Bombshell Stamps "sugar skulls" set
American Crafts Ribbon
Imaginese Bling
Copics

That's all for today!! Hope to see you tomorrow!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 6

2010-10-06T00:01:00.001-04:00

BOO!

Did I Scare you? hee hee.

Here we are, day 6 of 31 Days of Halloween!! And I have a few things to show you.

First, here is my collection of skulls that I keep on the kitchen bar. I keep them all in a pretty little collection, on the cake stand, and under it. My shrine is up on top too!

I was so excited to make my very own "Sugar Skull"! I got the skull from Michaels, it's cardboard-ish? I covered it in gesso to prime it, and then used Lowell Cornell "cadium yellow" paint. I used a Copic to make the "mouth", and I used "fresh foliage" paint from Folk Art to make the swirls, dots, and the nose. My hand isn't working very well yet, so the painting wasn't as awesome as I'd hoped it would be. The eyes are Prima flowers with a Bazzil flower brad in the center. Overall, I think it's awesome!!

And here, is my ATC. Another collage card.

Ingredients:
Card and paper 7 Gypsies
Stamp Inkadinkado
Pieces of the Gauche Alchemy "Nevermore" collage sheet
Ink Ranger Distress inks Black Soot and Pummice stone

Enjoy the rest of the Wicked Bloggers!! Have a fantastic day!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 5

2010-10-05T00:01:00.001-04:00

Welcome to day 5 of the 31 Days of Halloween!! Are you hangin' out at the Smeared and Smudged Message board? We are Kickin' It!!!!

Are you being inspired every day? I am LOVING this!! Halloween of all kinds! Happy Halloweens, Spooky Halloweens, Gothic Halloweens. Cards, art, home decor!

So, before we get to my ATC, we are going to check out the "Shrine" I made!!!

This is a tombstone box from Michaels. I painted it with "Fresh Foliage" paint from Folk art. I used Ranger Crackle paint for the cross.

And when you open the tombstone, It becomes a shrine!

The Right inside of Shrine houses the "Air Goddess" from Smeared Ink. She is colored with Copic markers. I used silk white roses at the base, that are distressed with Ranger distress ink. I put bling in her hair. At Smeared and Smudged, we have the very fabulous Barb Foster as our Guest Design Team member this month, and she gets to make a challenge! Her challenge HAPPENS to be
"paying homage to one of the Goddesses of Harvest."

I know, I used the Air Goddess, but I think she works! Click here to join the fun!

The left inside of shrine has leaves in fall colors, some Heidi Swapp Bling, and mini letters from my stash that spell "Mother Earth Goddess"

Now, I have the next ATC in my quest to make the 31 ATC's of Halloween! This card is awesome, because the card itself has the ledger paper look printed on it! I just had to add ink, glimmer mist, an image and of course stamps!!

Ingredients:

7 Gypsies ATC with ledger paper
Halloween ephemera bats
Ranger Distress inks
Tattered Angels Glimmer mist
Unity Stamps Flourish stamp
Studio G "Halloween" stamp

Thanks for visiting!!! See ya tomorrow!!

xxDanielle

31 Days of Halloween Day 4

2010-10-04T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hey!!

I am here to show you my delicious ATC for day 4 of 31 Days of Halloween, but I also have something to tell you!!

I am now doing a "Spotlight" on the Smeared and Smudged forum!! ??? *chirp* *cricket* You don't know what I'm talking about? Really? Let me fill you in.

When you go to the Smeared and Smudged forum, there will be a tab on the top that says "Spotlight". If you click on it, it brings you to the Spotlight page. There, you will see, ME interviewing some of the fabulous artists from the forum!!! It will be, in the spirit of Smeared Ink, outside of the box. Fun, informative, and visually appealing!!! What more do you want!! SO, come on by and check out what I'm up to!! My first Spotlight will be on October 10th.

And now, on to my most awesome ATC.

This one is another multi media card. It has inks, Glimmer Mists, Stamps, Close to my Heart Happy Haunting set and Killer Bo Peep from Smeared Ink set, and finally, pieces from the Gauche Alchemy Nevermore collage sheet!!! I think it is awesome!! I hope you do to!!

See ya tomorrow!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 3

2010-10-03T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello Hello!!!

Are you all excited?? SOO early in this most delightful season, and already so much to see!!!

Are you hopping through the Wicked blogs on the sidebar? Are you Lurking? No matter why you are here, I hope you enjoy my next ATC!

This ATC was all about the ink. I used 3 different Ranger Distress Inks, and some Colorbox too. AND I finished it off with some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist! I added a foam stamp from Plaid Enterprises. And put a cool transparency on top!!

Enjoy!! See you tomorrow!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 2

2010-10-02T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hello again all of you Horrifying Hoppers!! And my regular visitors too! Welcome to day 2 of the 31 Days of Halloween!! Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out the Smeared and Smudged forum and find out!

Today, I bring you my second ATC of the 31 I've made. This card starts with papers and inks, then I used a Studio G "eeek" stamp over that. I also used a cigar wrapper from a Gauche Alchemy kit, and more images from the Nevermore Collage from Gauche Alchemy.

Hope you love it!! See you tomorrow!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN IS FINALLY HERE!!!

2010-10-01T00:01:00.001-04:00

HELLO!!!

I hope you are as excited as I am!!! Today is the first day of the 31 Days of Halloween! If you are a Wicked Blog participant, you can find the blog roll on the side bar of this blog. Same if you are a Horrifying Hopper. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look here. There are soooo many ways to win awesome prizes!! Click the link to the Smeared and Smudged forum and see what you can do to win!!

As I've mentioned on a previous post, I am doing the 31 ATC's of Halloween. So please, keep checking every day to see my awesome work!! Some days will have more than just my ATC of the day. I will have cards, home decor items, altered items. and IDK what else!!! This is going to be amazing!!!!

Here is my first ATC. I figured I'd start with the master of macabre Edgar Allen Poe!! One of the rules of being a wicked blog participant, is that you have to use a rubber stamp on every project. This ATC starts with a Hero Arts wood grain circle stamp. I used distress ink on the whole card. Added a piece of paper. Then, I used the Nevermore Collage Sheet from Gauche Alchemy and cut out my Poe image. Finishing touches, Anna Griffen gold photo corners and a raven stamp from Smeared Ink's Holy City set.

I just wanted to show a close up of the top of my awesome easel that I got at the junque store. 3 Bucks!! The top looks like a spooky pumpkin to me. Perfect for my 31 days of Halloween ATC's!!

And here is my ATC holder. Another 7 Gypsies product. I got all of this 7 Gypsies stuff at a convention a few years ago. Totally awesome!! I am so stoked to fill it with these 31 ATC's.

So thank you for coming, you horrifying hoppers!! And if you are a sinister lurker, that's awesome too!!

See you tomorrow!!

xxDanielle

SMEARED INK END OF TERM BLOG HOP tear

2010-09-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hello!!

The current Design Team term for Smeared Ink Stamps is sadly coming to a close. I had a great time!!!

And, a new Design Team will start October first. Some of us will still be on the team, and some of us will leave. And, we will introduce new team members too!! So, stick with us, and visit the Smeared and Smudged message board on Friday to see!!

SO.....For today's hop, we had to use 3 of Smeared Ink's stamp sets in one project! Check it out!!

I started with the "Earth Goddess" from Smeared Ink. I used green embossing powder on the image. I wanted her to have a mosaic look. Almost like Stained Glass. I put her onto old inked book paper and a beautiful red leaf. I colored her with Copics and Bic's. Rich, Deep colors of Autumn! I added a raven from the "Holy City" set.

BUT!! You can see that something is going on by her hand.....looks like...

there's an inside to the card!! And in there, there are stamped images from "Killer Bo Peep"!! I stamped another Earth Goddess, and cut our the bottom doors. Behind them, I used the Goddesses Hair as the background. And, I stamped and embossed the Killer Bo Peep flower and leaves, mushroom and spider. I used some orange rope to attach the doors. I think she is awesome!!

A close up of the other sets I incorporated!!

Now, here's the hopper list. Please check out all of their projects!!

Terra
Tori
Alison
Kelli
Lady Brayton
Meredith
Kathi
Black Dragon

Thanks so much for visiting today!! Enjoy the hop!!

xxDanielle

JUST SAYIN'

2010-09-22T17:51:00.002-04:00

Hello!!

I'm still hard at work, making my 31 ATC's of Halloween. and assorted other projects, but I'm taking a break today to write some thoughts.

First, yesterday was my anniversary!! I've been married for 19 years! And, I am really proud of that. This is a big deal today. Not a lot of marriages make it. I'm happy to say our marriage has only grown stronger, and I look forward to many more years together. It isn't always pretty, and it sure isn't easy, but I wouldn't trade it for a million!! I'm a very lucky lady.

Second, there is exciting news in the world of Multiple Sclerosis!! A new drug has been approved by the FDA to stop the progression of this awful disease. It is a pill, as opposed to the daily injections I take now. What fabulous news!! I go to the neurologist in December, and I will definitely be asking about this. Did you know, that there aren't as many people with MS as I thought there were. In the world, there are 2.5 million people, and in the US just 400,000. Blew my mind.

And, for my most faithful followers, who have been with me since the beginning, you know all about my MS. For those of you who don't, now you do! And, unfortunately, at this time, I am having a relapse. Not too bad, but you never know with this disease. I hope the worst is over, but....

So, if I don't post as much, or get to your blogs as much, know that I'm thinking of you!!

Thanks for listening!! Have an inspired week!!

xxDanielle

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN.....

2010-09-18T13:24:00.004-04:00

That's right!! My FAVORITE holiday, has just became even better!! 31 Days of Halloween is happening at the Smeared and Smudged forum this October!!

If you go to the forum, the "rules" are all explained. You can be a "Wicked Blog Participant", a "Horrifying Hopper", or a "Sinister Lurker". The Wicked blog participant, has to post a stamped project to their blog every one of the 31 days of Halloween. I am TOTALLY WICKED and I am going to do this!!! If you don't want to post everyday, you can hop every day, or lurk. The choice is yours!! And did I mention the PRIZES!!! Holy crow, click the link above, and read all about the fun and prizes. It is the most awesome thing I've ever heard of!!! I am stoked!!!

SO, I am already making house type projects, but they don't use stamps. And I love stamps, don't get me wrong, but I don't always use them, so this will be very challenging for me!! But, I accept this challenge!!! I've already started!! Want a sneek peek?

Hello Kitty! How did she get in the picture!! She is very sneeky indeed!! Do you see her???

Anyway, as you can see, my work area has exploded!!! I am hard at work right now, getting my AWESOME Halloween projects done!!

And so, in honor of the 31 days of halloween, I am making.....

THE 31 ATC'S OF HALLOWEEN!!!

Too awesome!! I'm already on number 13!! So, each day of October, I wlll post 1 stamped ATC. But that won't be all!!! Many days, I will also show you the projects I've made for my home, and other stamped projects!! It will be great, and I should think you wouldn't want to miss it!!!

I will be back this week, with scrappy arts, and pleanty of thoughts. See you then!

xxDanielle

S&S ORANGE HOP HERE!

2010-09-16T00:01:00.002-04:00

Hello Hoppers and friends!!

Today we are having a hop for members of the Smeared and Smudged message board. And we have to use orange in our project. Easy peasy for me!! Halloween is right around the corner!!!

Here is my project. I wanted it to look like an old photo in a frame. The image is from Queen Kat Designs. I colored him in shades of grey, and a very light pink just around the hat and on his shirt. I used Copics of course!! Then I distressed the whole image with Antique Photo ink, and I bent the paper and stuff so the ink would be darker in spots. He is supposed to be a vampire, and since one of the many myths about them is they don't show up in photos, I dated it October, 1916. Which is supposed to be the last pic taken!! Then, you know what happened!! He got bit, and turned vampire.

SO, here is the list of hoppers, please go see what they've made!! I'm so sure it's awesome!!

Terra
Tori
Alison
Kelli
Kapree
Black Dragon
Meredith
Jane
Sugar
Danielle <----- your already here!!
Lisa
Steph
Lady Brayton
Shelley
Jean

Have fun!!

xxDanielle

MORE PUMPKINS

2010-09-14T18:44:00.002-04:00

It's amazing!! I made a scrapbook page!!!

Just a pic of my boys posing with their Halloween pumpkins. I actually used PhotoShop!! Yes I did!! It is the only thing I can do with it, but I did it myself. I converted the color photo, to black and white, and THEN, added color back in to bring the pumpkins back out!! I had to use a "brush" and make "layers". I wrote everything down, because I know I won't be able to do it again. But, I like it!!

And I call the boys "pumpkin" all the time. Look at their smiles! I love fall, and Halloween.

Just a little something I wanted to show. Hope you enjoyed it!!

Have a fantastic week!!

xxDanielle

I KNID OF WON?

2010-09-13T16:35:00.002-04:00

So, here it is. A long story about a silly thing.

6+ months ago, I got a magazine in the mail. It's called "Today's Creative Home Arts". Looked interesting, so I checked it out. It has crafts of all kinds in it. Sewing, knitting, scrappy stuff, jewelry making. A plethora of ideas!!! And, patterns for sewing, product reviews, really awesome stuff. And while reading, I saw a contest. For Holiday decor of all kinds. I'd been in the process of making my pumpkin. I'd made one last year, and I gave it to my mother, so I bought supplies to make another one. And I said, why not???

My pumpkin rocks!! So I sent in some pics and some instructions. The grand prize was $750.00!!! and there were prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners too!!

Then, Friday, I got this really nice letter in the mail. I didn't win. But, they gave me an honorable mention! which doesn't pay any money. And I won't be in the magazine, just on their website. But I didn't lose, right???

Have a great week everyone!!

xxDanielle

SO, I MADE A MINI BOOK.....

2010-09-08T16:28:00.003-04:00

...Because Halloween is coming, and I need a place to put my "Spells"!

I love mini books! You all know that. They are my guilty pleasure. And a part of my hoarding sickness. ugh.

I made this book to put Halloween recipes, pictures and any other fun Halloween things in. I used orange cardstock on the cover, and I made the edges fring-ie, by cutting little slits in the paper. I put images on top using gel medium. Then, I took a white piece of cardstock, and stamped images all over it. I used 2 sets from Smeared Ink. Killer Bo Peep set had the creepy spider and skeleton faces (not really skulls, but faces). Holy City set had the raven. I stamped them in orange ink, and put orange ink around the edge of the white paper. I also sponged some black ink over the white paper. Added some more gel medium. And when it was dry, I used a fine tip black marker, and traced over the spider, skulls and raven. Make them pop! I also stamped some images on white paper, and punched them out with a circle punch, to use as charms. They were added to the side with all the ribbons. Cardstock letters finished it off. Super fun to make, and I will actually use this one, I hope!?

Hope everyone is having a great week!

xxDanielle

EXCITING!!

2010-09-06T14:53:00.003-04:00

Hellooooooo!!

Guess what? I have been interviewed by Bombshell Stamps because I was published using their Angel stamp!! If you do get their newsletter, rock on!! But, if you don't, you should!! You could win a $100 shopping spree!! click the link and it brings you to their home page. You can read all about the shopping spree, and you can get some free digital stamps every month, for newsletter subscribers only! Check it out!! I'm excited!! My first interview!!

So, as if THAT wasn't exciting enough, Carl brought me home a special friend.
Choco Cat!! She is one of Hello Kitty's BFF's!! They are selling them in limited edition at Build a Bear. Choco Cat has always been my fav of HK's friends. He is a fabulous dresser, and always gets the latest news from his wisker "antenna". Who is cooler than him?

Then, the mail came, and look what was inside!!!

Who would send me such a fabulous gift???? It was from Tori! One of the owners of Smeared Ink!! Is she a rock star or what??? I was totally surprised, and thrilled!!

SO, try to check out my interview if you can, and have a fantastic Labor Day (if you'r in the US)!!!

xxDanielle

SMEARED INK FALL RELEASE HOP HERE!!

2010-09-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the Smeared Ink fall release blog hop! This latest release is AWESOME!! Here's what Smeared Ink has to say:

Smeared Ink Fall release will feature 5 brand new rubber sets, and a new line of digi images that will be available as sets or single images. They will be available in the shop on Sept 1st and rubber sets will begin shipping on Monday the 6th.

The sets are awesome! You have to click the link above, and you can see for yourself!!

And as you hop, you get to see a new release image at each blog! Sweet!

Here is my new release card!! I was lucky enough to get to play with a "Creepy Li'l Grumpy" image!! I loved coloring him!!

I colored with various Copic markers, lots of shading and "shiny" areas. I love coloring! I had this awesome distressed paper in my stash, can't believe I didn't use it already. And a journaling sheet on top of that. And some green paper I distressed, wrinkled and inked up, so that my Grumpie would be the star of the card!! Isn't he funny, with his fake fangs!! He is dope. Misc. puzzle pieces were perfect to put the sentiment on. And some felt bat border for the bottom, cool. O_0 <------kookey eye face. <):o) <------supposed to be a witch. ???
>^..^< <------maybe a spooky cat? without a mouth.

Now go and hop along to visit the rest of the design team, and see their spooky creations!!

Thanks for visiting!! Let the Halloween festivities begin!!!

xxDanielle

MY ENCHANTED FOREST

2010-08-27T20:36:00.007-04:00

Hello to all of the people in blog-land, who realize there is NOTHING on TV, or don't have a rad spot to go tonight. Take a walk with me to my enchanted forest!!

Since early summer, I've been feeding the animals. It started as me watching the squirrels in my back yard. They were so fun to watch!! I've never noticed them before. Why? Because I've been too busy to pay attention to anything other than what was happening in front of my face, and that has changed recently. 6? months ago, I decided to implement some "lifestyle" changes. Like drastically decreasing my intake of caffeine and sugar, watching nature, and enjoying the things I've been taking for granted for too many years. And, while doing this, I noticed squirrels.

And, I named the one squirrel who hangs out the most. Lenny. I can tell him apart from the other 4 squirrels, by his brown with white trimmed tail, and his HUGE size. He must be the king of his nest!! He looks old and wise, for a squirrel I mean.

THEN, as if it wasn't enough to enjoy the cute squirrels, a deer started stopping by!! She was eating the squirrel food!! My neighbor Debbie and I thought she would like some veggies, or fruit, so we started to leave her apples and stuff, but no. She wanted the corn. Madness you say!!! No, for real!! I named her Lucy (which is the name of all my cactus' too) and she joined the forest friends. Then, I noticed the blue birds eating the seeds that came with the corn and nuts in the squirrel food. I didn't even know we HAD blue birds!! I've lived in this house 6+ years, and had no idea that these cute critters were here!! Did I mention the ground hog?? I really feel like my eyes have been opened, and by slowing down, and spending more time outside, I really found out how enchanting my forest is!!

So, here is a picture of Lucy!!!

Is this not the sweetest baby deer you ever saw? He is so little he has his spots still!!

This is the other baby. Lucy has two babies. It's hard to get a pic of them! They are all running, and hopping and chasing each other all the time!!

LENNY!! How did he get in there!!

Actually, Lenny was lurking, hanging upside down in the tree the whole time!! The minute Lucy and her babies left, there he was!! Crazy squirrel! Ninja squirrel!!

I hope you enjoyed my tour of the enchanted forest. It really is inspiring, to finally realize what you have in your own back yard!!!

Have a fabulous weekend!! Be sure to keep your eyes open in your back yard! You never know who lives there!!

xxDanielle

HOLY CITY !!!......AND JUNK......

2010-08-25T12:58:00.005-04:00

Wasssup!!!

Hope everyone is awesome, and enjoying our final days of summer here in the US. Of course, it's raining today. Has been for the last 3 days. We REALLY need the rain, so it is a good thing. And I like rain. Always have. It's tranquil, I think.

And, the school shopping is finished!! Next Thursday is the big day! Back to school!! The boys are excited, and I'm excited for them.!!

Today, I wanted to show you this card I made. It's for Smeared Ink Stamps, using the Holy City set. This set is awesome, and soooo versatile!! I made a card using the graveyard stamp, the Hello Kitty hidden surprise card. And a mixed media type piece using the church image. The images are awesome in collages too. And now, I made a wedding type card using a different image! You can do soooo much with this set!

SO, Here is the wedding type card. I stamped the image on white cardstock, and matted it with a very light blue. I put it on a cool piece of black paper with a swirl in the corner. I used Prima's say it with pearls swirly pearl thing over the swirl in the paper, and added some of Prima's new book paper flowers. I got a set of Anna Griffen ribbon tapes. They look like ribbon, but they are paper with a sticky back. Very easy to use and awesome looking!! The blue strip at the bottom of the card was just the right touch.

I made this card for SCF, and I used an image from MyGrafico. It is Prismy Doodles, and it can be found at MyGrafico here!!!

I LOVE this cute scarecrow!! He is telling us that fall is around the corner!! I colored him with my Copics, of course! And used my fall Cuttlebug embossing folder, with orange paper. Then, some brown for the background. He is soo cute!!

And, I started my A year in the Life of an Art Journal page. The prompt is from like 6 months ago. I'M Workin On It!!!!

Just wanted to show you the begining of the page!! Hopefully, not only will the rest of it rock, but hopefully it gets done before the year is over!!

Thanks for visiting!! When school starts, I hope to have more time to blog, maybe do some challenges, visit, stuff like that.

Hope you have an awesome week!!

xxDanielle

WEDNESDAY? REALLY?

2010-08-18T11:58:00.003-04:00

I can not believe how fast this summer has flown by!! My boys go back to school on September 2nd. That's before Labor Day!!!! We NEVER went to school before Labor Day. Now, they will go Thursday and Friday, then have off Monday, which is Labor Day, and go Tuesday and Wednesday, have Thursday off and go back Friday. Is that NOT the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard??? I have no idea what is going on in this world, but whatever it is, it's ridiculous.

Anyway, back to the "arts" part of the program.

This is a little collage I made For Smeared Ink Stamps, using the church image, from the Holy City set. This set is fabulous to work with. The different images get my mind spinning with ideas. Click the link above to see all the fabulous edgy sets they have.

I stamped the church using distressing ink, and some dimensional glaze on the accents. A Melissa Frances bingo card, some random paper, a swirl mask that I used my new ink daubers with. Can I just tell you how fabulous those are??? I used images from Gauche Alchemy's Nevermore collage sheet too. They just fit the mood of the piece. And before I added my church, I put a cameo in the top right corner, and a door lock in the bottom left corner. Using foam dots, I placed the church onto the collage. I used matte gel medium over the whole piece. Here's the finished product.

I think it is a fun, but a bit dark too. And I like the mix. I hope you like it too!!

Hopefully, I will get back here again this week, as long as this summer stops flying by!!!

xxDanielle

GOOD BYE FRIENDS HAVING FUN

2010-08-13T09:38:00.002-04:00

Poor Friends Having Fun. Although we loved it, it has to shut down. *tear* SO, all of us "Friends" decided to go out with a BANG!! We all got together to make great pieces for all of you to be inspired by, and are having a blog hop!! Now THAT'S how it's done!!!

I made this totally cute card from a sketch that Dani made. I really had fun with my copics again. I will not bore you with the 39 different colors, but I used a TON!! And I love my Copics!! The swinging little guy, the cloud and even that kite are all from a set designed by Chi Chi memories, and can be found in the MyGrafico store. Just click the link, and your there!!

Now,check out all the fabulous work the friends did, either by joining in with out hop, or just jumping right over to FHF.

Rebecca {http://bellacarta.typepad.com/}

Dani {http://countyourbeautifulblessings.blogspot.com/}

Erica {http://www.inkedupandreadytoplay.com/}

Margie {http://ohbumbleismemargie.blogspot.com}

Shelley {http://shelleyscreations.blogspot.com/}

Juanita {http://stampintwilghtmom.blogspot.com/}

Alex {http://www.paperandstring.blogspot.com/}

Laura {http://craftylittlewoman.blogspot.com/}

Danielle {http://www.scrappy-arts-n-thoughts.blogspot.com/}

Thanks to everyone who made Friends Having Fun a wonderful place to hang out and be inspired.

We will totally miss you!!

xxDanielle

2010-08-10T00:01:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the Smeared and Smudged member blog hop!! We are hopping with our members, just for fun. We have a theme today. It is "HIDDEN OBJECT". Everyone is supposed to make a project with this theme.

Here is my card. It uses the "Holy City" stamp set from Smeared Ink. This set is AWESOME to use. I loved coloring it. And, I was being funny with the "forever". hehe.

This is a close up of this AMAZING stamp. It is an absolute dream to color. I will have more projects using this set, stay tuned!!!

Here is the hidden image part! Ready.......OK!

What? How did she get in there??? She is my hidden image!! Just pull the head stone up, and voila'!!

Here is a close up!!! Who would have thought that Hello Kitty would be hiding in a grave yard!! Come on!!

I stamped the image twice, and cut the head stone out. I made a slit in the card at the base of the head stone so I could slip the fake head stone in!! Cool right??? Right? really. ok. well, I thought it was a FABULOUS hidden image!!!

Now, go and hop along to all the other bloggers, and check out the inspiration!! It's going to be so fun to check out everyone's hidden objects!! Here's the list:

http://moresmearedink.blogspot.com Terra
http://www.ndustrial-lemon.blogspot.com/ Tori
http://cajunstampingqueen.blogspot.com/ Kelli
http://alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/ Alison
http://www.papercanteen.com/ Meredith
http://www.blogger.com/”http://etsysdarkside.ning.com/ Jean
http://www.scrappy-arts-n-thoughts.blogspot.com/ Danielle
http://www.ladybrayton71.blogspot.com/ ladybrayton
http://shelleyscreations.blogspot.com/ Shelly
http://1darkrosaleen.blogspot.com/ Kymberly
http://keelyy.blogspot.com/ Keely
http://cromscubbyhole.blogspot.com/ Helen
http://www.kc-consultant.blogspot.com/ Kapree
http://sugscardsnmore.blogspot.com/ Sugar
http://jcocraft.blogspot.com/ Jane
http://agraywolfesramblings.blogspot.com/ Alex

Have Fun!!

xxDanielle

WFK AND A SURPRISE!!

2010-08-09T13:09:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday bloggy pals!! I have a card to show you, and a surprise I got in the mail!!

First, the surprise. As you all know, I love Hello Kitty. I have loved her since she first arrived on the scene in 1977. My collection of Hello Kitty things is very vast. It is a sickness, but I love it. SO, my bloggy pal Erica decided to send me this.

Are you kidding me? Really? I get a box last week in the mail. I didn't order anything, so what could this be???? I open the box, and inside is a Build a Bear box. What? I look in that box and there she was. Tan Hello Kitty. She was sent here from Hawaii, obviously, and she was soaking up the sun fur sure!! Her outfit is awesome, who is that cool, tho have a shirt with a picture of them on it!! And her shoes are crazy hot. I would TOTALLY wear them!!! I was delighted with my surprise, it totally made my day!! And I told Erica she really shouldn't have, it is a very generous gift. But I will cherish both my new Hello Kitty, and our friendship. Thank you again friend!!

Now, on to work. This month at Smeared and Smudged one of our sponsors is Wild Flower Kids digital stamps. The forum, The Wild Flower Patch is having a challenge, number 26, and you have to emboss somewhere on your card. The awesome Jen Shultz is the brains behind this whole stamp line and challenge board. And, Jen the awesome, was kind enough to give the design team at Smeared Ink free digis!!! She is too generous. So, I colored my digi and made a card for the challenge.

Isn't that the cutest fairy ever??? I used Crate Paper, Lillian collection, blue paper and that glittery trim paper. I colored her using my copics and I made the sentiment with Cosmo Cricket mini alphas. The paper clip is mine, from IDK where. I've had it for ever, and it was perfect for this card. My cuttlebug embossed the purple paper, which is Core'dinations, and I sanded it a bit, to show the embossing. I used multiple colors of Copics, but either I am a blending genius, or it just looks like everything is one color. Still, I think it's adorable!!

Thank you for visiting, and thank you Erica and Jen for your generousity. Hope you all have a fabulous week!!

I'll be back tomorrow with a "hidden" card, for the Smeared and Smudged blog hop. Hope you'll join us!!

xxDanielle

WOW MAIL

2010-08-06T13:42:00.007-04:00

A few months ago, I made an envelope. I put it up here on my blog and so many people were like THAT IS AWESOME!!! I thought so too!!

I actually sent this to Alison, but I sent it in a brown mailing envelope.

But Marit contacted me and asked if I wanted to exchange "mail art" with her. The actual envelope? what if it gets ruined? And after much thought, we said, we would send the actual envelope in the mail.

The other day, I got the mail and this was in it!!!

Is that freakin' FANTASTIC!!!!! All the way from The Netherlands, mail came to my little house. It is sooo beautiful!! Now, we wanted to make "mail art", and we decided that the handling part of sending it through the mail would make it all the better!! And, the stamps are awesome and stuff, but it really didn't get grungy. It stayed beautiful!!! She is such an AMAZING artist. My envelope didn't hold a candle to this one, for sure. I would show it to you, but in my haste to get it out, I didn't take a picture. You have to be kidding, right? Yep, I did. idiot. ugh.

And here is the back!!

I just had to share this with everyone!! It was an awesome addition to the usual mail, flyers, bills. Thanks for the pick me up Marit!!!

xxDanielle

IT'S COMING!

2010-08-04T17:00:00.005-04:00

HALLOWEEN!!!

That is like my most favorite time of year!! I love decorating, and candy. I just think it is spook-tacular!! haha. stop it your killing us Danielle. REALLY STOP. ok.

SO, whilst at the dollar store, where I got the doilies, I also got a bag of 150 leaves, in yellow, orange?ish, and red/brown. I also got a fine plastic water bottle!! An idea was born!! First, I used Mod Podge (with glitter of course)to the water bottle, then I applied the leaves, then more Mod Podge. The neck I wrapped with ribbon. And I left the leaves only half Mod Podged. So they are not stuck down around the neck. Does that make sense??? Anyway, Here it is!!

I added the black roses and beads to be festive!!

It is now on my table, lookin' pretty!! You can also find it at the Smeared and Smudged message board, under "altered states". Come hang out with us!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Have an awesome evening!!

xxDanielle

EXCITING NEWS, AND COLORING!!

2010-08-03T12:02:00.005-04:00

SO, my pal Alex knows coloring is my new fav thing. And she knows digital stamps are my second new fav thing. SO, she is on a design team, owned by Jennifer Bliss that hangs out at Scrapbooking/Crafting Friends. Are you still with me? OK, Alex told me Jennifer was looking for people, and she recommended me to Jennifer!! There ya go. GOt it???? Wait!! THere's more!!

Now, The SCF design team uses digital images from My Grafico. They have great stamps! Great variety for sure!! SO, I made 2 samples for you today.

This is an image from My Grafico, "Sarah harvesting apples". You can find it here. Lynn, the DT Captain wanted us to "think outside the box". I am ALWAYS outside the box!! SO, that was the easy part!! Instead of a card or something, I decided to put my colored image (colored with all Copic markers!! TOO many to list!!), on top of a leaf doily that I got at the dollar store (36 leaf shaped paper doilies for a buck? YES!!) and put them on a paper bag. I used my paper punch to punch to top of the bag, and put rope through and tied a bow. Sweet! Great bag to bring to school on the first day, with a little something for the teacher.

Here is a close up!

Then, we were given this AWESOME set Love my earth.

SO, I made a sign to put above our recycling cans. It is just a silly reminder why we recycle, and which bin is for which type of recycling. I colored all the images with my Copic markers, and I used my "green" kit from Gauche Alchemy for the bits and pieces. I made a pun, used green stuff for recycling, get it? Green? ugh. anyway, here it is!!

Phew. I need a nap. I'm not even sure if I made sence!! sense? scen? sens? ugh.

Thanks for hangin' with me!! And PLEASE check out the SCF message board, and My Grafico, and keep coming over to hang out with me!!

Have a delicious day!!

xxDanielle

FHF COLOR CHALLENGE!!

2010-08-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hello friends!!

Today is another Friends Having Fun color challenge! This month, our captain, Alison, gave us the colors of the sea (turquoise), the sky (sun orange) and nature (palm green). Totally crazy colors was my first thought, but then I had an idea!!!

I have this awesome Basic Grey paper, that is Popsicles and ice cream cones, and all of those colors are in it!! It is literally named "patterned paper". I used Cosmo Cricket "garden party" paper for the background, then some random scraps of green and turquoise, some book paper and a piece of lace, and a big piece of "pattern paper" on top! ...VOILA'!!! success!!

So click the link to check out what's up at FHF, and thanks for visiting!!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

BOMBSHELL BLOG HOP HERE!!

2010-07-28T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hello all!!

Today, is the monthly Bombshell Stamps Blog Hop! This months theme is "she's a firecracker". There is also a fabulous prize if you play with the monthly sketch and challenge! Just click the link to jump in!!

My "firecracker" is the hot rod car. I colored her with my Copics, R29, R35 and R37 and a W3 for blending. I used this Camden paper that looked like fireworks to me. And, my finishing touch was using these Karen Foster Designs "sparkle burst brads". I got them from Alison, who happens to be Miss July!!

Here is the blog list. You can start at the first person on the list, or if you are following the list, just keep hopping!!

Kas
Katie
Kathi
Jodie
Cheryl
Steph
Meredith
Alison
Erika
Danielle
Keely
Angie
Laura
Kelli

Thanks for "hopping" by!!

XOXOXXOX
Danielle

AYITLOAAJ

2010-07-26T19:07:00.005-04:00

YES!! I did it!! I made a page in my VERY un-loved Art Journal. Poor Art Journal. I TOTALLY love doing it, and I seem to have made some choices that have messed up my priorities. SOOOOO, I will be catching up on TONS of things I've let go of. THIS is one of them!!

A Year In The Life Of An Art Journal is a fabulous blog, owned by Rachel Whetzel, who is awesome BTW!! This is her brain child, her idea, her thing. She makes wonderful prompts twice a month. On the 15TH and the 30th. She has fabulous guests who do some of the prompts. They are always inspiring, and they make you think. I {{{HEART}}} this!! The whole idea is inspired.

Earlier this year, I took a excellent Art Journaling workshop that my very good friend Marit held. She offers workshops through out the year. To find one, click on the button on my sidebar
"Marit's Paperworld". AND, taking that class opened my eyes up to the world of Art Journaling. It was AWESOME. SO, I felt that I could take on the AYITLOAAJ. AND, I've fallen behind, which sucks, but as I said earlier, NO MORE!!

Here is my page for the prompt "SOAR".

I have posted about my awesome journal before, how I made it from an old encyclopedia. And I love it. SO, for this prompt, I kind of doodled. I wrote "SOAR" in bubble letters, and used wavy lines to write how the word "SOAR" made me feel. I hand colored the star on the left. No, it isn't perfect, but it was fun. I used different colors of my new COPICS. Which was so fun. And I used a metallic Sharpie to outline everything. Then, I stamped bubble wrap in ink, and stamped it all over the pages. Glimmer mist was added next, and I kept the journal tipped up a bit, so it would kind of leak down the page. I was trying to make layers of colors, and mediums. I bumped out a star shape, because that was the "technique to try". And, the last thing I did, was put matte gel medium over it.

There you have it!! A very long story about a woman, her Art Journal and her priorities.

THAT is a big post!!

XOXOXOXOX
Danielle

Pretty things and markers!!

2010-07-22T12:35:00.004-04:00

Got my new set of Copics today!!! Yes I did!! I got a set of 36 markers. I am in HEAVEN!!!

I've been told that Copics are addicting. I must agree. I've been coloring everything I can. I FINALLY got back to my art journal. I am so behind, but with my new magical markers, I can get some work DONE!! Fabulous.

Here, I've made a card for Smeared Ink, using one of their digi images. I love the little touches, like the webs and the skulls. Everything looks better with a skull on it.. Just sayin.

I used some K&Co. embellishment paper, that has a pattern in it. It has little holes all around it, and a little thing in the corner. What a PITA!!! UGH. I only ended up poking out the corner. I used some Bazzill paper by the pound in pink for the underneath of the holes, and as a background for the hourglass. A ripped up piece of book paper that I got???? and have ripped like 27 times is a touch of my crazy style. I finished it with a clear sticker that says "moments", and Prima flower made from "book" type paper. PLEASE click on the card. It will take you to a blank page that is just the same size care, BUT if you put your mouse over the card and click agaain, you get and EXTREME close up. So you can really see the hidden images inside the hourglass.

But what about the markers? OH NO dear readers, I used them, and I am going to discuss them now!!

I used a medium brown (E35) for the wood part of the hourglass. I made it lighter and darker in areas by going over certain parts more than once, then I used RV21 pink for the background of the hourglass. Again, I left lighter areas so I could blend with a warm grey (W1). Then, I used grey for the skulls, and over the webs and blended with E50. I was trying to give the glass like a glare? I don't think it worked, but it is a learning experience, right? RIGHT???

I just thought the hourglass was pretty. There ya go. Pretty things.

Thanks for being a buddy!! I'll be back with my art journal page soon!!!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

I SORT OF WON !?!?!

2010-07-21T12:25:00.004-04:00

So remember I told you about the "Odd Girls" the other day? Well, I've been kickin' it with them on their group here, and they are tons of fun. My little guilty pleasure. I know, I'm supposed to be doing work, or cleaning, or whatever, but I have to sneak over there every day, because they are a blast. A little laugh during the day. Something to look forward to, KWIM???

AND THEN, as if their company (meaning company for me) wasn't enough, or their digital stamps weren't enough, I sort of won their challenge last week!!! Remember Tiny Tia? Well, when they put up their new challenge, they announced the winners from the previous challenge. And, I didn't actually win but they said this about me:

""First, this RIDICULOUSLY fun, spunky card from Danielle,
using our July freebie, Tiny Tia (that's how it's done, folks!):"

So, although Georgia won, and her card was sick it was so good, they decided they had to pic a few favs too!! And I was one of them *tear*sniffle*blowing nose*. They gave me a blinkie saying I was an "Oddity". I am odd. And now this just proves it!!

So, onward....

Here is my project for the Odd Girls Challenge challenge #5. Spots, stripes and a
big title. The deets are on the Some Odd Girl Blog.

I am so freakin' stoked with this new paper pleating flower thing. I think it's new, or I'm like 6 months behind. IDK. But, I had to make one. Why? no idea. But, after placing an order with Scrapbook.com last week, I got some freebies. I got a book, a stamp set, and a newsletter type thing, that showed how to make the flowers. As if it is rocket science or something, but that was the final straw. I was a woman with a mission.

And, I used some Making Memories embelishment paper to make the flower. The papers are Crate paper. I just got 2 of their paper sets. I love the worn feel of their paper. The background is cardboard. I stapled everything to the cardboard, because I plan on putting this on my front door, and I felt the staples would make it more sturdy.

Coloring (my new fav thing) the Some Odd Girl digi "A Mae Day" was the most fun. I used my Copic markers. They are my new new fav thing. I was really into pencils, then I was tired of the coloring taking me so long, so I decided to go back to markers. AND I {{{HEART}}THEM!! Did you see the "shiny hair"??? I love making shiny hair. AWesoME!! Check it out->

Here is a close up of my coloring!! Not bad, right???

There ya go. My very long story of coloring, almost winning and being and "oddity".

Hope your having a great week!!

XoxoxoX
Danielle

BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

2010-07-14T17:12:00.003-04:00

Hello my spooky friends. Today, we will talk about "The Bride of Frankenstein".

Does everyone remember seeing that movie? I remember seeing it on channel 11 when I was a kid. Before there was cable, and satellite TV. Back in the day, when we woke up in the morning, went outside ALL DAY, only came home for lunch and supper, and only had 6 TV channels. BUT, when it would rain, or if we were sick and couldn't go outside, there was Saturday afternoon movies. Jackie Chan martial arts marathons, old school horror movies, or even a western movie. And Bride of Frankenstein was on during one of those marathons. All I remember from that movie is her hair. That black curly weird hair with that white stripe.

However, I don't happen to have a Bride of Frankenstein stamp, I had to improvise. And, I made a mixed media version, not really like the movie at all, but I think it is close enough!!

This month, at Smeared and Smudged, one of our contests is "OH the Horror". You can win 3 My Emo Kids world stamps from Simply Betty Stamps. Awesome prize, and awesome challenge!! We have other challenges with equally fabulous prizes, just check the S&S home page for more deets.

Now, my piece. I took a piece of cardboard, and glued random pieces to it. I took some images from Gauche Alchemy's Nevermore Collage, and a playing card from a mixed media kit. I also glued some Punchinella on too. Then, I put gesso over all of it, and I only put it around the things I wanted to show. Also, in the gesso, I put bits and pieces of many mixed media kits from Gauche Alchemy. I used green with envy, black out and wedding night white pieces. Then, I stamped an art stamp on a piece of text paper, and put a piece of black netting on her head, like a veil. The last thing I did, was look up some quotes from the movie. I wrote them next to the stamped image. They are
"We Belong Dead"
"Woman...Friend...Wife"
Now, imagine that they are being said by Frankenstein.
The last thing is did was stamp some ravens, and a church tower on the finished piece. They came from the "Holy City" set from Smeared Ink Stamps.

There ya go. That is my very long Bride of Frankenstein story.

Thanks for hangin' with me!!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

SOME ODD GIRL...

2010-07-09T17:43:00.004-04:00

Is that the coolest name or what!! I found this awesome digi stamp site
Some Odd Girl, and I was hooked immediately!!

They have the cutest stamps!! I am not a "cute" person usually, but these stamps are different. They are adorable, and quirky at the same time. There are fun fruit, and cute kids, just fun. Really fun images that make you want to use them.

Everyone here knows that coloring is my new favorite thing. X1000!! I LOVE coloring, and when I saw this freebie from Some Odd Girl I couldn't WAIT to color her. Her name is Tiny Tia. I {heart] her!!!

I used my Prismacolor pencils, and my Derwent watercolor pencils and I colored her in. Then, I put her on many layers of Making Memories and Prima tags, a doily and some punchinella and you get this delicious card! I put some green Thickers that spell HI, a simple sentiment, but I know, whoever I give her to will put a smile on their face!!

You can check out their blog too. I'll be putting Tia there. AND, my favorite part is their saying "Stay Odd" at the end of their blog posts. Love that!!

Have a great weekend, thanks for stopping by!!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

I MUST CONFESS.....

2010-07-07T12:46:00.006-04:00

I am obsessed with mini books. Chipboard albums, shape albums, blackboard albums, altered albums, paper mini books, mini sized reading books that I can alter, this list can go on forever!!

I make mini books all the time, but I don't always put them up on my blog. I don't always make them for any reason, except that I love making them.

And today, I am not only here to confess this madness to you my readers, but to show you my latest creation!! I made this mini for my altered project this month for Smeared Ink Stamps. This album can be found on the Smeared and Smudged message board as well. AND I will put it in the Gauceh Alchemy flickr gallery as well. Why, you say?? I'll tell you.

The album is from ????? It has no marking. But it has been carfully kept safe in my drawer...that's later. OK. I used all Rusty Pickle paper on it. Last week I was cleaning out my paper, and putting it together by company and I found this paper, and although it is not patriotic at all, I still felt it went well with my awesome star album. THEN, I took random manilla tags and distressed them. I LOVE distressing. I balled the tags up in my hand, un-wrinkled them, and ironed them with my pink Heidi Swapp mini iron. After they are ironed, I use Ranger distress ink on them and I love how the ink is darker in the creases. I am only showing you the first page, because it is a 7 page album, and it is papered and decorated front and back. AND, there are 5 tags between the pages. Anyway, the cover is decorated with Gauche Alchemy goodies from several mixed media kits. I love those kits!! It's a kit full of fun in every color!!!

So here is the front cover.

Here is the back of my album. Just another view of the staggered stars and tags.

This is the fanned out pic. Of course, I should have NOT put it on top of a pile of crap. But, just try not to look at that. Okay?

Now, Here is the biggest part of this obsession. The hoarding. Yup. I not only obsess over mini books, I hoard them. In a drawer. I can fit no more, but I will add more still. I know.

Do you think this is a problem? A drawer full of mini's. Hiding. So no one steals them!!! I just like looking at them 3 times a day. Making sure.... Waiting for that day (usually once a month) that I will make a new one!! Will I show everyone? Sometimes!!!

This is just a pic of some of my albums on a shelf in the studio. There are tons of little scrapbooks and altered books there too. Ahhh. I just love looking at it!!

So there you have it!! If you DIDN'T think I was crazy before, you probably do now!! And I'm ok with that!!

Thanks for looking, stopping by, and being part of my insanity!! Have a great day!!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

SIMPLY BETTY HOP AND FRIENDS HAVING FUN CHALLENGE

2010-07-05T07:00:00.003-04:00

Hello friends!!

I have a bit of a long post today, so please stay with me!!

First, Smeared Ink is having a design team blog hop for our sponsor this month
Simply Betty Stamps. This is what they have to say:

"Simply Betty Stamps is a unique and quirky new stamp company bringing you fun and quirk new images. Our fun line began with these cuties called My Kids Emo World! You can count on Simply Betty Stamps to bring you more fun and quirky Emo's on a monthly basis. These cuties are only available in rubber, however in the months to come we will be offering some of the Emo images in both digi and rubber. We also have a variety of different digis, and are adding more digis on a bi-weekly basis! We look forward to seeing all the fun projects you all create with Simply Betty Stamps images and rubber stamps! !"

We were lucky enough to get to play with these fabulous stamps!! I chose Lola, I think she's dope.

Betty herself challenged us to "get grungy and use hardware". I was more than happy to oblige!! I rough cut white cardstock, and used distress ink to give the edges a bit of color. I then layered some DCWV "rockstar" paper on that, and then, I took a piece of brown kraft paper and rolled it up in a ball, ironed it, and rubbed my ink over it. Lola was colored with Derwent pencils, and accented with glitter, or course!! I used Tim Holtz Grunge Board letters, and inked them too. That stuff is awesome to work with, it was my first time using it.

Simply Betty Stamps will be sponsoring our "Rock n Rolla and Oh, the Horror" challenges so head on over to the forum to check out what's up!!

NOW, here's the list of Hoppers!! One of Betty's designers Debbie will be hopping along too!! Be sure to check them all out, you will surely be inspired!!

Terra

Debbie

And now for the Friends Having Fun part of the post!!

Alison, the leader of the Kaleidoscope Krew, is giving us a kind of red white and blue challenge, BUT, it is more like barn red, dark blue and off white. You can go patriotic, or vintage with these colors, so many options!!! I almost couldn't decide!! BUT, in the end, I went with the vintage look.

I used some firecracker red Wausau cardstock, a ripped paper doily, old book paper, and a fabulous rub on from Fancy Pants was like the cherry on top!! When ever I use hemp cord, you know it's a good day!! I finished with a dirty blue flower, and my own patriotic touch, a white star!!

Now go on over to the Friends Having Fun blog, to get MORE inspiration!! Not only are the colors there, but there are also sketches, recipes and other challenges, something for everyone. Click on their name above, and you will get to see for yourself!!

Whew!! THAT was LONG!! I hope I got it all.

Thanks to all who stopped by today, either because you just like me, or because you are a "friend" or because you are hopping. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

HAPPY "HOP" DAY, BOMBSHELL STYLE!!

2010-06-30T00:01:00.002-04:00

Thats right!! Last Wednesday of the month can only mean one thing. The BOMBSHELL BLOG HOP!! I can hear the applause through my computer!!!

SO, Kas the blog hop organizer said:

Time for being hot...it's summer!
So what's the deal with a "Boy Toy" bloghop.

Most people would have read the WHOLE THING KAS WROTE, and made a masculine card, or something like that. BUT NO!! I made a pin up card!! It's black, does that count as a masculine color? and "boy toy". What better boy toy is there than a pin up card!

Isn't she rad? She's HOT!! And just perfect for the theme!! just depends on how you take the literal meaning. Yes! A matter of opinion!! or "oops"inion. Up to you.!!

I Colored her bathing suit and flower with watercolor pencils, and used Copics for the body and hair. I used some vintage ephemera for the card, and some bling and a bow. PERFECT!!

Now, here is the list of all the hoppers, so be sure to visit them all!! Every project is smokin' hot. Don't miss it!!

Kas
Meredith
Croppixie
Sy
Alison
Danielle
Katie
MaryG
Steph
Kelli
Angie
Cheryl
Kathi

Thanks all for stopping by!!

XOXOX
Danielle

HELLO FRIENDS! A SCRAPPY THOUGHT....

2010-06-29T11:25:00.002-04:00

Whats up????

I feel like I have been soooooo absent lately!! I am a bad blog visitor, and I'm so busy working all the time, that I rarely make any blog posts either!! ugh.

I'm working on so many projects. Some, I have tried to share, others, I haven't even taken pics of yet!!!

And, the boys are home for summer. Which is awesome. I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn anymore. But now, I am sleeping too late!! Guess it's just the body trying to get itself back on track. Hopefully, I will start to be more "normal" (as if that is possible), and not so overwhelmed. It takes time to get your routine back, but I hope I'm starting to get back into the swing of things!!!

What else is new? Nothing!! Which is a good thing! I'm trying to clean up my train wreck of a studio, and get my stuff back in there, since I had to "temporarily" (it's been a year) move into the dining room. So NOW, I have 2 huge messes!!! BUT, I'm getting there!!

What have all of you been up to? Any fun vacations planned?

Thanks for hanging in there with me!!

Huge Hugs and Smooches!!

Danielle

SMEARED INK NEW RELEASE HOP!!

2010-06-25T00:01:00.007-04:00

GOOD MORNING!!! I'm soooo glad you stopped by this morning! Today is the release of 3 new stamp sets from Smeared Ink Stamps!! SO, here they are, remember, you saw them here first!!!

The Symbology of Angels

Teen Style Sayings

Teen Style Backgrounds

So go over to the Smeared Ink Shop and get yours!!

Here's what I made with the "Praise" angel from the Symbology of Angels set.

I thought that this stamp should be the star of the show. I stamped him onto 110 weight cardstock, and took out my inks.
I used 3 different Ranger/Tim Holtz inks. Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed and Broken China.
I also used some color box white, to smooth out the sponge marks. I wrinkle a paper towel to use the white accent.
Last, I used just 3 Making Memories brads.
He was totally awesome to play with!!

Now. We are having a blog hop, to show off what the Design Team did with their Angels. Here's the list, just click on any link to hop along!!

Terra

Meredith

When your done, don't forget to join us on the Smeared and Smudged Message Board!!

Stay tuned!! In August we will be having another New Release Party for our Huge Halloween release!!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

SIMPLE BEAUTY

2010-06-23T14:56:00.006-04:00

I made an ACTUAL scrapbook page!!! Can you believe it? I know!! BUT, while cleaning up my crazy studio, I found this long forgotten picture of my baby, Marshall. He just turned 11, as you all know, and I've been pretty sad about it!! I know, I AM happy too!! But, those days go by so fast. It's pictures like these that make scrapbooking so important. Scrapbooks are our memories. They exist so we never forget. I've been so far removed from scrapbooking this last year, I actually forgot how wonderful it can be!!

So, here he is. Always a ham. I actually took the pic in B&W, I remember changing the setting on the camera that day. And he has to come up the stairs, to the porch where I was, with a dandelion for me. Too sweet!!

I colored the dandelion with my prismacolor pencils. I used my glimmer mist, and inks, I made the flowers, thanks to Cheryl. She sent me to a youtube video that showed me how. They are soo easy!! Cheryl won a challenge at Friends Having Fun a few weeks ago, you should check them out, it is a really neat place.!

So thanks for stopping by, and I will be back on Friday, with some exciting Smeared Ink Stamps news!!

XOXOX
Danielle

JUNQUE JACKPOT!!!

2010-06-22T12:16:00.004-04:00

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!!

I went Junque shopping!! Very exciting, because I hit the jackpot!! So much stuff to look at, so many things to buy!! I got this whole lot of stuff for 30 bucks!!

I got 2 Saturday Evening Post's, from 1948 and 1951, both for 5 bucks!!
A popular Mechanics from the 50's.
Postcards, 5 for a dollar.
3 little cookbooks, from the 50's, with pictures 2 bucks each!!!
A tin, with a vintage girl on it, and a small wood box both for a couple bucks,
Some other assorted things.
A Scrabble game, with all the pieces, 3 bucks!!

AND!! The find of the day!! A Hello Kitty bank, with tags, 3 bucks!! When you put money in it, it makes a little tinkling sound!! It is fabulous!!

So, my weekend was killer!! I hope yours was too!!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

WHAT DAY IS IT????

2010-06-17T17:14:00.005-04:00

Holy Crow!! The last week and a half FLEW by!! WOW!

Small had a fabulous birthday week. Tons of gifts from us, and packages from family out of state. And a school party, a party at home. CRAZY!

THEN!! Yesterday was his "stepping up" day. He is stepping up to MIDDLE SCHOOL!!! My baby? My youngest? what? ugh. It was so wonderful though! They all got called up one at a time, to get their "diploma". They have been working on sign language this school year, and they "sang" us a song, in sign language! I was totally awesome! They learned a really long song, with tons of signs. He worked hard on it. It rocked!! Here is a pic of my little baby getting his "diploma". Of course, it is not the best pic, we were in the auditorium, and EVERY SINGLE MOTHER was trying to get a good picture of her kid. I, of course, used my new camera. I told you it's magic!! I was able to swerve and move and BANG!! The camera did the rest.

Not bad for being taken in war type conditions!! Isn't he handsome???

SO, I also made a delicious piece for Smeared Ink Stamps. I am using the Killer Bo Peep set. I've already showed you the sheep when I made my bookmark, so here is Bo. The details on these stamps are so intricate!! I love the fence, with it's vines wrapped around it, and Bo, with her curly hair. Fun to color!! I used Bic Mark it markers for the fence, but then I went back to my colored pencils, by Derwent, for Bo. I am learning how to color, as you all know, and markers are hard to blend well if you don't really know how. I am learning!! But, I am more comfortable with my pencils. I used ephemera I've had, such as a receipt from a farm supply, and the Bo Peep card is from 1911!! Wild! I ripped the top layer off of some cardboard, and when I was ripping it, it was curling up, so it looks like tall dead grass, or hay. I sprayed it with Glimmer mist, gold.

Here is a close up of the coloring and the stamp.

I think it is cool. I hope you do too!!!

PS Erica is having a blog candy, so if you want in, click her name and head on over!!

Have a fabulous evening!

XOXOX
Danielle

THE GREETING FARM BLOG HOP!!!

2010-06-09T07:00:00.003-04:00

Good Morning!! Thanks for joining us for the Smeared and Smudged design team blog hop, for one of our sponsors this month, The Greeting Farm! Here's what they have to say:

THE GREETING FARM

"The Greeting Farm is a fresh and fun crop of rubber stamps! We offer everything from lovable, whimsical characters to edgy, hip, and even a bit cheeky! There is something for everyone on the Farm, and we pride ourselves in the philosophy that we can all grow smiles and ideas to share. Our newest line, "The Creepy Crew" is a bit edgier and we are VERY excited to be sponsoring the Smeared and Smudged group and look forward to getting to know some of you better! Thanks for letting us plow through your little neck of the woods!"

So, they were kind enough to let me use one of their FABULOUS digi images, Twisted Tea Cake. I LOVE her!!

I had a blast coloring her! As you know, coloring is my new thing. I used my Prisma pencils, and some glitter on top. The paper is DCWV, and the satin ribbon, button, and other bits and pieces are from my own stash.

SO. Since you came here from Sarah's blog, you should now hop on over to Black Dragon's blog. The whole list is below, in case you get lost!!!

Please visit The Greeting Farm Blog and The Greeting Farm website to view these cool and creepy images!

You'll totally want to see all the awesome inspiration the design team has for you, and, if you finish the hop and leave a comment on The Greeting Farm's blog, you will be in for a chance to win a digi! AND please, don't forget to join us at Smeared and Smudged and join one of our monthly challenges for another chance!!

Hope you are enjoying the hop!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

HUGS!
Danielle

HELLO "FRIENDS" !!!

2010-06-07T06:58:00.004-04:00

What a weekend. UGH. yuck. bad, bad, bad. But, there is always bright spots!! I try to focus on those.

Large had his big "8th grade dance". THAT was bad. I was heartbroken. He is so sweet, and so good. He went to this dance, with a DATE!?! Which made me throw up in my mouth, and she was NOT NICE to him. She probably wasn't really mean, just 13. BUT, he is so nice, and sweet and innocent, and handsome, and..... And he REALLY thought it would be like a Cinderella Story. He went to that dance heart first. He had all intentions of finding "love", and having a real "girlfriend", and maybe even a first kiss (he is 13). He got NONE OF THAT!!! I was out looking for her yesterday, cause I was gonna throw down, I was gonna be like "WHAT???? Oh no you didn't". But, I thought better of myself, and realized she too is a child (or an evil woman in the making. a Vixen!!! a temptress!!!) and I also didn't feel like goin to jail. So, I spent my Friday and Saturday helping my baby lick his wounds. Heartbreaking X1000!!!
The show must go on though. Small will be 11 on Thursday!! And he is having some pals over for cake, and random mayhem on Saturday, so I had to stop feeling sorry for Large and me, and focus on that positive.

And then... THIS!!

Alison, my dt captain at Smeared Ink, also is on another design team for a challenge blog Friends Having Fun. She writes me a 11th hour email, asking if I wanted to be on her color team there, the Kaleidoscope Krew (how cute is that name?). Unfortunately, one of her Krew had to step down, and she needed a replacement NOW. Literally. It was Friday, and she needed my sample by Sunday, early afternoon at the latest!!! So I say, what are the colors? They are hot pink, lime green and purple. Really? no joke? Miami Vice making a comeback? Yikes!! But seriously, I actually love green and purple, and EVERYONE knows how I feel about pink!! So, here is my offering!!

These colors totally said "Fairy" to me. How awesome would a fairy look with these colors? I got this image from a stamped image swap last month on Smeared and Smudged, and I colored her with glittery gel markers. Then, I put her on some Amanda Blue striped paper with the challenge colors in it. I added ribbon, and a pretty ribbon charm, with a final touch of a Popsicle stick that has "sugar and spice" on it. I think this fairy is SPICY!!! What do you think?????

I will probably NOT be back this week. Too much to do for the big birthday bash this weekend!! And, his actual birthday party at home Thursday. SO have a great week!!

HUGS!!
Danielle

CONTEST FINALS!!

2010-06-02T16:48:00.002-04:00

FIRST!!! IMPORTANT BUSINESS!!! THE VOTING FOR THE "FINAL SHOWDOWN" AT SMEARED INK ENDS TONIGHT!!! CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR MY "BANG BANG" CARD. IT'S #2. OF COURSE, I'M NOT WINNING, IN FACT, I HAVE NO VOTES!! HOW EMBARRASSING!! ANYWAY, GO TO THE LINK ABOVE, CLICK ON THE BOTTOM OF THE HOME PAGE WHERE IT SAYS "CLICK HERE TO VOTE", THEN CLICK ON "VOTE" AND ALL YOU DO IS PUT YOUR NAME (REAL OR FAKE!!) AND THE NUMBER YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR. OK. THANKS.

So, that sucked, I usually don't act like an idiot, and tell people to vote for me. BUT, today, it seemed like the thing to do. KWIM???

BUT, I have a pretty bookmark to show you now. It is using the "bo peep" set from Smeared Ink. You can purchase this set, or a bunch of other sets by following the link above too. SOOOOOO.......

My small son, Marshall, LOVES "baa's". He has a really soft and floppy baa that he got when he was a teeny baby. He will be 11 next week (I know...don't get me started!!!) and he STILL sleeps with baa. He also has baa's wife, the "girl" baa, named Britney. And, the baa baby, named Brianna. And assorted baa's from over the years. SO, when this set became available to me, It was destiny!!! The skeleton baa's are hysterical!!! WAIT till I make something using the whole set!! There is Bo Peep, who is fabulous, and this fence to keep the baa's in, and flowers with skulls in the center. Do you think I'm demented? I am, but that is besides the point. Marshall was excited for me to get it! He wanted me to stamp a skeleton baa on his existing bookmark, but since I was due to make my "altered" project for Smeared Ink, I figured, I'd make a new bookmark for Marshall.

I stamped and used the brayer to make the background look sort of(?) like leather, and used sand paper on both papers, black and white, and Ranger distress ink. I stamped the image with the black Ranger ink as well. Then, I outlined the patches of wool on the skeleton with a glitter Gelly Roller marker. I added a piece of skull ribbon from????? and VOILA'. Baa Bookmark.

So, fab friends, try to vote if you can.
Thanks SOOO much for stopping by.

Skeleton Baa's and Hugs!
Danielle

YIKES!!!

2010-05-29T17:45:00.002-04:00

I'm SOOOO sorry!! I'm a day late with the blog candy winner!!!

SO, with randomizer, the winner is

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 16
Result:
13

ERICA!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Please send my your Addy, and I will send it out A.S.A.P.

I promise to continue my "pay it forward" program. As soon as I win anything again, you will get another chance to win here. I'm cleaning out my supplies, and I have WAY too much. For real. SO, there's plenty of candy to go around!!!

Thanks for playing!
Enjoy your weekend!!!

Danielle XOXO

I FEEL RED TODAY.

2010-05-26T16:52:00.003-04:00

Hello All!!!

I have a few things to show you all today!! Stuff I had a FAB time making. I was in a red mood while I was making these things, and I'm sure you can tell!!

In my new quest for small art blogs, I happened to meet a lady named Sally when she stopped by my blog from Tuesday Taggers. So, when I went to visit her blog, I saw that she is on the design team for a group called
Sir Stampalot. I had to go check it out. And, it is totally awesome!! The theme this week is Butterflies and blossoms. And, here is my take on it. I used Websters pages paper, Wasu paper, Queen and Co. red pearls, Stickles, and IDK what else. I just think it is so pretty! I'm really happy with it.

Next, I made my Wednesday project for Smeared Ink stamps. You can also check it out on the Smeared and Smudged message board. I used the "carnies" stamp set to make my "stay strong card. I used prismacolor pencils to color him in, and my red Wasu paper from before, a misc. scrap of black paper, and everything else is from my many Gauche Alchemy mixed media kits. Now. I just have to figure out who to send it to!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm sorry this is so rushed. My small sun has a concert tonight. He plays trumpet. It's his first year. He is so cute!!! So, gotta motor.

Thanks for stopping by!!

HUGS
Danielle

SMALL ART FRIDAY!!

2010-05-21T21:04:00.005-04:00

Good evening all!!

I have more SMALL ART to show you!! Small art and coloring. Yup. I've been crazy enjoying this coloring. I am crazy in love with my pencils. I do like my markers, but not as much as my pencils. The shading, the shadowing, the whole thing. And, my new SMALL ART? Totally loving that too. I am finding awesome new sights, and people, it is a really fun journey. So, these are some of my new favorite pieces using my new favorite things!!

This is a tag I made for a new spot I found, Tuesday Taggers. Making tags is also on my new favorites list. Since tags are small art, it all fits together, see a pattern???

Tuesday Taggers gave away a free digi image for their Bloggerversary, and I used it to make my tag. I COLORED it with my Prismacolor pencils, and I shaded them, and even made a shadow on the balloons. It was outlined with a black gel pen. I used Making Memories jouraling paper for the back of the tag, then I used a black tag, piece of sheet music, and a piece of lace from my own stash. The black scroll on the left is a piece of Queen and Co. felt.
I chose to use my image to make an "elegant" type of birthday tag. I hope the black doesn't freak anyone out!1!

Next, is my piece for Sunday Postcard Art. I can only continue to try to become as good as these people!! WOW, they can collage! The theme was "mirror mirror". I used grey cardstock, black cardstock, and black and white ribbon from my stash. I have some metallic paper that I used for the "mirror" and a Melissa Frances frame over the metallic paper. I used little letter stickers to spell mirror and it's mirror image.

Last. I used the Sweet Pea stamp set that I won to make this card. I really, really loved coloring her in!! I used a Creating Keepsakes piece of patterned paper, and purple Core'dinations cardstock. I cut a strip of green paper off of a scrap, and finished it off with a Petaloo green flower.

I hope you enjoyed my small art! I know I enjoyed making it!!

Have a great night!!

Hugs
Danielle

PAYIN' IT FORWARD !!!

2010-05-19T10:42:00.005-04:00

HELLO Bloggy pals!!

Hmmm. You all must be like????? We will get to that "thought" after we do our Scrappy Art first!!

This is a piece I've made for Smeared Ink Stamps. This is using the "carnies" set. This set is WILD!!! I have only used some of the fabulous images in my vintage inspired poster. There are not only more carnies left to use, but more sentiments too!! I used as many of the carnival type sentiments as I could, but in addition to carnival type sentiments, there are a bunch of sentiments that would work on a card. Such as "miss you, hang in there", stuff like that. So, these deeply etched red rubber stamps are awesome for art and card making. FAB-U-LICIOUS!!! Check it out, there are so many sets, it's crazy!! Smeared ink is growing so fast!! Get in on the ground floor, then you can say to your friends "what? you never heard of Smeared ink? OMG! You gotta run there now". stuff like that. and junk. ok.

I decided to TRY to mimic a vintage circus ad. Like the flyers you see on telephone poles and stuff. So, I found on flickr free images, a circus ad from france saying
"circue Daniellis". I was like Cool Beans!!! So, I used that as my headline, and my Carnies stamps as the circus stars!

I layered red cardstock over cardboard covered with newspaper. I still wanted to make it look real, so I made clever tears in the red card stock, to look like the poster is weathered. I used Tim Holtz distress inks all over the cardstock and news paper. Then, I colored in my images with Prisma color Pencils, and distressed them too. I added some stickles to the words, I just love glittery stuff. Couldn't help myself. and that's it!! Wild what you can do with a stamp set, and not much else.

This is a close up of 2 of the carnies stamps

and, a close up of the mermaid (or half girl half fish as I've called her. That just seems more carnie like). The image is slightly blurred, because I covered the poster in matte gel medium, which makes a glare. Even with my new, super hero fabtastic new camers.

OK, ON TO THE SCRAPPY THOUGHT.

Last week, I told you all about a blog candy that Sarah was having on her blog. I also said, that if I won, I was going to pay it forward. I usually don't do contests, I explained this already, boring danielle move on. Any who, I won. WOO HOO!! High 5 for me!! Oh yeah!!! Hot!! word. so, NOW, I am paying it forward.

This is a kit I bought last year at the Creating Keepsakes Convention I went to. I hope to go back this year. I reserved a room, just in case, but only time will tell!! So, I always try to buy extra stuff to give to friends, or to give to a cause/charity, and to give away as blog candy. I rarely give things away, but I do have this, my LAST thing from last year, so I better go back!! It is a Creating keepsaes vacation kit, new in box. It is really cool. it has:
8x8 fabric album
15 page protectors
1 sheet of alpha rub on's
1 sheet chipboard quotes
30 pieces of cardstock
16 piecees of patterned paper
24 self adhesive ticket stubs
1 pasport stamp
1 red and blue ink pad
10 memorabilia pockets
20 journaling cards
300 adhesive tabs.

I know, right? Your all like "rad Danielle!!" Awww! Your makin me blush, and junk.

You don't have to do ANYTHING to win this, except leave me a comment, and be sure I can get in touch with you to get your addy to mail you this prize.

I will announce a winner next Friday, the 28th of May. So, leave me a comment on this post, and tell who ever you want, or what ever, and if I make another post, I will remind whoever comes by that the blog candy is below. I am not the sharpest tack, so I don't know how to keep this at the top of the blog, or whatever. I'm positive someone will come tell me. But for now, JUST LEAVE A COMMENT!! You don't have to be a follower, or link this back to your blog, no. JUST LEAVE A COMMENT. Easy peasy!!

I won at Gauche Alchemy recently for my awesome Bellas Hess piece,(I'll show you all my stuff when I get it, it will be totally hot!!) and I won for my purple "bang bang" card last week (I will remind everyone when the "final showdown" is happening. I will need your votes for the prize!! I'll get back atcha), I won Sarah's blog candy, I got published, like again (I just try to throw that in somewhere, I don't want to sound like a bragger), and a few weeks ago, you remember I won from Sweet Pea. So, I have been really lucky lately, and it would just be wrong for me to not pay it forward. I am trying not to feel like "yikes! too many good things!! when will it go bad?", becaue that is how I usually am. But, if I pay it forward, not only is it the right thing to do, hopefully, it will keep luck on my side.

Thanks for hangin' with me while I ramble. I hope you love my piece, and win my blog candy (I wish I had something for all of you!!).

Come back Friday, when you will see more of my FANTASTIC coloring and small art!!

Hugs and Smooches!!!

Danielle

SO, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AROUND.....

2010-05-15T20:09:00.005-04:00

And I've found a TON of new challenge sites. Not challenges, like winners and losers and prizes, more like inspiration blogs. I have had a great time looking around, and I have a whole list!! Here are just 2 examples of places, and another piece I made. More on that later. I just have a thing recently about making smaller art. I have always been intimidated by small art. ATC's were crazy small to me, until I made inchies!!! Now, I am really having fun with smaller art. I do make a lot of ATC's, in fact, you can see 2 of them in this months issue of Scrapbook News and Review (thankyouverymuch!). Oh, sorry. what was I saying????

Yes, small art. I like postcard sized art a lot, and now I am loving arches too. Here are a few examples I made for these fabulous places I've found. Come with me, take a click.

This is an arch I made for Gothic Arches chalenge blog. The theme, is Music. This is my arch.

The next stop on our click tour is Sunday Postcard art challenge blog. There theme is Umbrella. This is what I made.

This is a tag I made because I felt like it. I don't know why, but as I've said, this size is calling me lately. I got this picture in a pack of ephemera I bought on ebay. For some reason, she reminded me of Amelia Earhart (?spelling, my 10 year old told me how to spell it.) So I'm not a great speller!! anyway, this is what I made.

So there you have it my blog pals. Just click the links and check out some FABULOUS inspiration!! Have fun!

Thanks for looking. Can't wait to hear what you think!!

XOXOX
Danielle

A SCRAPPY THOUGHT...

2010-05-13T22:22:00.003-04:00

*******FIRST IMPORTANT NOTE!!!*******
MY POST FROM YESTERDAY TELLS YOU HOW TO GET TO THE SMEARED INK WEEKLY CHALLENGE. WELL I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ALL TO GO AND VOTE FOR ME!!! MY FABO PURPLE GUN HOLDING GAL FROM YESTERDAY IS UP THERE!! JUST LEAVE A COMMENT AND IN THAT COMMENT WRITE #4. EASY PEASY!! VOTE!! I AM WINNING SO FAR!!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled blog post.
I know!! Your all like "what"? no Scrappy Arts???? Danielle, how could this be? Have your lost your mind? Art is your life????

Not tonight my wonderful blog buddies. Instead, I have a thought.

How wonderful is it when someone decides to give away blog candy!!!! Someone, a very generous someone, just decides to GIVE stuff to you, if you just post that they are giving it away on your blog, and leave the post link on her blog. THAT is it!! And, a lot of times I don't do these things. I kind of feel bad taking candy from someone, but then I realized, THEY WANT TO GIVE IT TO SOMEONE! and how wonderful is that? I should do this more. So, I have made a decision. From now on, when I "win" a blog candy, I am going to have a blog candy give away here!! That is my new thing, paying it forward. It really shouldn't be a new thing, it should be a USUAL thing, but I haven't been doing that. I mean, I have had blog candy before. One of my friends of my blog Carrie won blog candy here once, and she has never left!!

SO, Here is the candy. Take a peek at this!!! Really, all of that????? YES INDEED!!

One of the Smeared Ink Design Team members, Sarah is giving this LOAD of stuff, including SWEET PEA STAMPS (Jill will be so excited!!). So follow the link, and make your post, and leave the link to your post on her mr. linkey!! It is so worth it!!!

Hurry! This offer ends soon!!! this offer won't last long....get in on it!!

ok. I gotta go to bed.

TTYS!
XOXOX
Danielle

SMEARED INK WEEKLY CHALLENGE

2010-05-12T19:00:00.002-04:00

Hi all!! I know, I know. I've been busy, busy, busy!!!

So, I have some Scrappy Art for you today, and it comes to you from
Smeared Ink Stamps. They are the proud owners of some totally alternative, totally out of the box stamps, and I am lucky enough to get to design with them!!!

They are having a contest right now, a weekly challenge. Follow the link above, and click on "news". Then, you will have 3 options, to go to the Smeared and Smudged forum (which I highly recommend, because I hang there and it is cool), New Weekly Gallery Challenge, and Win Smeared Ink Stamps. Here you can click on the "win" tab, and see ALL the ways you can win, but before you go there, click on "New Weekly Gallery Challenge". There you will see all the details, and you will JUST HAVE TO PLAY ALONG!! You won't be able to control yourself! It is that cool.

Here is my offering. This image is from Smeared Ink's "CHICK'S DIG GUNS". I think it's hot!! I really don't like guns, but she looks Smokin' hot with hers!! (no pun intended!!)

I used Core'dinations paper, in two different shades of purple, and a fabulous thick purple ribbon I got from Gauche Alchemy purchase, and I made a slit in my card's crease, and put the ribbon around the front, so it tied on the side. Then, I used one of the sheets of paper through the ol' Cuttlebug, with my fav skull folder! I colored my "Chick" with my new delicious Prismacolor pencils, and lastly I added just a few sticky gems for fun. OH, and I put a pin in the ribbon too.

SO, there you have it. A card, a contest, and assorted other ways to win!! What could be better? Hangin' at the Smeared and Smudged message board.

Tag, your it!!

XOXOXO
Danielle

WHIMSICAL INK SORORITY

2010-05-07T21:28:00.002-04:00

Hello friends!!

Today, I'm going to do one of my crazy circles to explain what the hell I'm doing. SO hold on tight. oK?

I made this card for Whimsical Ink Sorority. What is this, you say? Something new? YES!! Now, As some of you know, I've been on a quest to learn how to color. And, I have been getting help from some ladies who can color so well, you'd think it was computer generated. They shade, and blend, and everything they make looks wonderful. I, on the other hand, color like I'm 5, with a crayon, REALLY HARD, and all my coloring looks very dark, not shaded, not blended. SOLID. Which isn't a good thing if you are trying to be artsy with the coloring. My fellow DT member at Smeared Ink, Alison is one of my teachers of coloring. She is a colored pencil maniac!! I used colored pencils with this card, I hope I did ya proud!!

So Alex is a DT member at WIS, and she rocks like no-body's business!! Alex turned me on to Sweet Pea, which you all know I've been raving about recently. Alex colors with everything, but she hooked me up with the right markers, and how to use them, cause she is kick ass. So, for this card, I used a Sweet Pea Fairy. Now, I had to use the colors pink and yellow, and add ribbon. This is what I came up with!!

How did I do? I think I did a FAB job!! Come on!! I can't color!! I'm a new colorer, and I've been trying, and practicing, so I think this is pretty good!!

I can't wait to hear what you think!!
Thanks for stopping by!

XOXOX
Danielle

I AM A WINNER!!! AND I MADE SOMETHING TOO!!

2010-05-04T15:47:00.006-04:00

WOO HOO!! I am such a lucky girl last week!! I won 2 times!! One time for my work, the other, in a raffle type thing. I will get into all of this later, but first...

MY ART!!

I LOVE altered art. I don't mean changing something into something else, (although I do like that!!) I mean making altered art from scratch. One of the new things I've found through my travels is Mail Art. I LOVE this!! Some people alter postcards, and stuff, which I LOVE, but also, altering Envelopes is a form of mail art. So, I decided to give this a try. I took a 12x12 piece of paper, and I folded it in 4 inches at each point. Then, I gesso'd the whole envelope, very lightly. I also put some pieces of paper, and some a picture. Then, another light coat of gesso. When it dries, spray ink it up!!! When that dries, stamp, ink, add rub-ons, whatever you like!!

This is the front. Very spooky image on the front!!

And here's the back!!

NOW!! THE PRIZES!!!

The page I made recently with the vintage advertisement, in black and white, that I colored a little and used http://gauchealchemy.wordpress.com/all sorts of deliciousness on WON!! It's true!! I won WHOLEY SHEET!! I never would have thought it possible. I'm starting to tear up...

If you would like one of these kits for yourself, or TONS of other fabulous goodies go to Gauche Alchemy AS FAST AS YOU CAN!! GA Kicks ass!! THANK YOU GA!!

NOW, Sweet Pea stamps They are a FAB stamp company, that makes beautiful fairy and mermaid stamps. AND, they also make these really sweet little stamps called "gum drop gang". aren't they the cutest!!

AND IF YOU WANT TO WIN, go to Sweet Pea's blog, use the link I just left,(which is different than the other link) and leave a comment to win a bunch of sentiments!! Some may be duplicates, but they are FREE!!! AND THERE IS ONLY ONE LITTLE THING.....You MUST say they are Sweet Pea stamps, and YOU BETTER NOT TRY TO SELL THEM!! ok. those are the rules, and the link I left you will bring you right to the post. The winners will be picked on May 5th. 3 winners will be picked!!

SOOOOOO, Thanks so much for stopping by, checking out my dope art, listening to me tell you all about my prizes, and giving a shout out for some candy candy!!

I hope all of you win!!

XOXOXOX
Danielle

BOMBSHELL HOP HERE!!

2010-04-27T22:23:00.008-04:00

Hello!! And welcome to MY first Bombshell Bolg Hop!! Shannon, the owner of Bombshell, and her design team of pin ups host this blog hop the last Wednesday of each month. You will be inspired as you hop from blog to blog. These ladies know how to party!! SO, here is my offering of Bombshell inspiration, and I hope it delivers.

Our theme for the hop was "Pretty in pink". Meaning, make something pink, or get your inspiration from the movie from the 80's Pretty in pink. I LOVED that movie!! I saw it in theatres in the 80's and was in love!! In love with all of it, the "outcast" theme, the music, the love story. My favorite line from the movie is "I am now, and always will be....a Duck man". Ahhh. Duckie!! He was so cute.!!

Anyway, I used the Bombshell "Angel" stamp, and I also used the "dress up" clothes that you can get to go with her! They are digital, and all you do is print, color, and adhere! KIND of like paper dolls we used when we were little, or at least when I was little. SO, I used DCWV Rock Star paper, and another random pink piece. I also used American crafts rub ons that spell "pretty in pink" on the 7 gypsies card. I also used Say it in Crystals, and a flower from my friend Pam! I colored with copics, and Voila!! Instant pretty in pink card!! I know the rub on's didn't photograph well, SORRY. It's late!! I think she's DOPE!!

NOW, here is the list of the other hoppers. You've probably gone through the list and I am last, BUT, if you just got here and want to see the other fabulous hoppers and their take on Pretty in Pink, here they are!!

Kas
Patti
Meredith
Katie
QueenBScraps
Steph
Erika
Sy
Angie
BoHoRose
Kelli
Stempelientje
Cheryl
Kathi
jheuser
Alison
Shaz
PerkyNihilist
Danielle

HAVE FUN!!
Thanks for stopping by!!
xxDanielle

WHOLEY SHEET!!

2010-04-25T18:03:00.004-04:00

Yes, you heard me right!! Gauche Alchemy is having their first ever challenge!!! and you could win their Wholey Sheet kit!! Tons of fabulous gaucheness!! I hope I win!!

This is my little submission for them. They had a Ford ad that was the inspiration.
I found this 1917 Bellas Hess and Co. ad, and I thought it captured the era. I know 1917 is before the Ford ad, but there were so many things in the inspiration, that made me feel this. Anyway, here's the deets:

Bellas Hess ad
Old book paper
HOTP grey papper
Prima: flower, epoxy sticker, and "flirty little secret" paper
Pink paisley chipboard
Prismacolor water pencils
Jenny Bowlin calendar and Hope
Vintage lace
CTMH black distress ink
Gauche Alchemy ouchless cardboard

I hope you LOVE IT!!!

Thanks for stopping by AGAIN (i am like a blog maniac this week)

xxDanielle

CHALLENGES?

2010-04-24T18:50:00.004-04:00

I know, right? Challenges? I have been doing a few lately, and as my loyal readers, you know I haven't done challenges in ages, and NOW, I'm on a roll!!

Today, I have 2 challenges I've done to share with you, and there will be ANOTHER tomorrow!! I'm like a challenge crazy person or something!!

This challenge is for Barb, a gal I just met at the Smeared and Smudged message board. She is a really great at coloring, and a sweetie! She also has a blog called Haunted Design House, and on Monday, she has a challenge called Macabre Monday. It is for neato creepy halloweeny stuff, and it rocks!! This week, she wants "oh so girly zombies". I used my Smeared Ink "air" stamp from the elementals set. And, to make her zombie like, I gave her yellow eyes!! I Put diamonds in her hair, used some of my Gauche Alchemy goodies from the pink color kit. and two tags from the silver color kit. I tore some old sheet musci, and added a flower from my new friend Pam, who makes these beautiful flowers, and sent me some!! See one of my previous blog posts for deets about the flowers. I thik she looks just like a zombie!! Hope Barb thinks so!!

Next, I made this card for the April Sketch challenge at Bombshell Stamps. Shannon, the owner is FAB!! Such a sweetie!! I used my Bombshell Angel stamp set, and had fun making this one!! I used Cosmo Cricket paper, and my stamps, and colored with copics. The "bathing suit" is colored with stickles. If you want to get a translucent look, you have to put it on with a paint brush, which is what I did. I used some ribbon I just got from mikes, in the dollar bin. It says love and has pretty red hearts. Just reminded me of Bombshell. I used one of my "signature" vintage hat pins to gather the ribbon, and Voila!! another card!!

Thanks for visiting!! Hope you like cards, and Tune in Tomorrow, for another awesome creation!!

xoxoDanielle

HELLO HELLO...

2010-04-21T07:37:00.004-04:00

How have you all been? I hope well. I am busy, as usual, and that is why I am behind in blog posts, and other junk. I'm trying to remember all that I want to say, but I think I will only say what I "have" to for now. It is TOTALLY early, and I want to get this up. I can always make another post later.

OK, so. I told you that I won a prize from ScrapStreet 2? weeks ago, and I got the package last week!! WOO HOO!! It was one of their fabulous kits. Tons of paper, alphas, trim and this really cool chipboard kit with the paper to cover it, called toppers. All of this by Pink Paislee. THAT was an EXCELLENT prize!! I am excited to use it!! below is a picture of it. Of course, this picture does not do the kit justice. My photography skills still need help. I'm workin on it!!! It is number 72 on my "to do" list.

SOOOOOO!! NOW FOR THE ART!!!!
This is a piece I made using my new Smeared Ink elementals set again. This time, I used the "water" goddess. I think she is beautiful!!

sorry for the glare. and it isn't sized yet, so you can't make it bigger. Its TOTALLY EARLY remember????

I really LOVE how she turned out. The goddess I mean.. I colored her with my new bic markers. My rad new friend Alex turned me onto them. They are the bic Mark it brand, and they work as good as my Copics!! For under 20 bucks, you get 36 markers, in a very wide variety of colors. (do I sound like an advertisement???) Since they are alcohol based, they blend really well. I am not a "coloring" person, but I have been noticing the way people color lately. They do shading, and blending, and so much with markers and colored pencils. It is an art all of its own. I am trying to learn, but it will totally take time!!

Aside from coloring my goddess, I stamped her on an "arches" template, colored, put the arch on a piece of paper I found in my "scrap" box. Then, I had this awesome clear transparency with the white and black swirls, so I covered over the image and paper, and added little charm? like things on top of the transparency. They are shells, and starfish. Love them!!! Last, I took a bottle cap, and wound some colored hemp cord around it. I just wanted something organic on the piece, something that could show the fact that there is too much trash under the water, or maybe look like seaweed. The interpretation is yours, I just make the art!!!

Lastly, Gauche Alchemy, one of my most FAV places anywhere, is having their first challenge!!! It is really a cool one, and you only have till Saturday to play, so hurry up!! You could win 2 of their kits!! What? are they mad???? NO, they are celebrating!! New design team, prizes for all!! If you follow the link, you will see all the deets, have fun!!

Gotta motor, Hope you all have the best day!!

xxDaniellexx

GREAT STUFF !!

2010-04-12T21:30:00.006-04:00

Hello everyone!! I had a fun week last week!! Lots of cool stuff. Happy mail, and stuff. So many things going through my head, I'm sure I'll forget stuff! or, mess something up, idk. SO.... Lets get to it!!

Remember the little page I made last week for Scrapstreet? It was a contest or something, not quite sure, but I won! cool for me!! Maybe I need to READ the things I do!! So, I was stoked.

and I got published again. i am saying it little and fast, because it is almost boring for you all im sure.

I got Happy Mail!!! My Bombshell stamp set came!! Shannon is so awesome! Her stamps rule, and I am psyched to play!!

I got a prize I won from the blog hop last week!! Thanks Sarah!!

and it is getting late, SO... ON THE THE PRETTIES!!!

This is my first project to show you!! I am so excited to show it off!! This is my piece for Smeared Ink. I made an 8x10 canvas piece, with the Earth stamp from the Elementals set. I love these stamps!! They are so thick, and deeply etched, the ink REALLY sticks. I stamped the image and embossed it, to raise the black outline. Then, I prepared the canvas, layered some book paper and leaves into it, painted with acrylic paint mixed with matte gel medium. and added more leaves, inks, fabric, flowers, trims, etc. Here is the whole material list:
Gesso
book paper
leaves from the dollar store
MM paint
Golden Gel Medium
Prima patterned paper
Bad Girl Kit items, "wild" card, green leaves and flowers
Gauche Alchemy green kit little pieces
vintage napkin
Bic Markers
Glitter glue
Tim Holtz distress ink
Queen and Co. swirl felt
Piece of old necklace and tree branch

I LOVED making this!!

This is a card using a Stamp Insanity digi image, from our sponsor at Smeared and Smudged this month. Beth is the owner, and these are so fun to color! The site is adorable. You can only buy Stamp Insanity stamps at Stamp Happens which is owned by Tonya!! (keep up people,there will be a test coming soon!!) Here is what I used. Much smaller list this time!
DCWV Rock star paper
Prismacolor pencils
?? crystal skulls
?? crown brad
Say it in Crystals black swirl and blue bling

I love how she turned out!!!

And lastly, this is a card for a new group my friends Alison and Alex are with, and Tonya owns, called Friends Having Fun. Remember Tonya from before, where is she from....(jeopardy song in background) OOOO, SORRY....THE ANSWER IS QUEBEC. oh, no. Stamp happens!! This is a crazy circle, I'm confused. This little fun card uses a digi freebie from Jen Schults who owns Wildflower kids. Jen is a member over at Smeared and Smudged and so sweet!! So I used her image to make this cute little card.
all items used are of UNKNOWN origin. Just stuff I had around!!

Thanks for hanging with me!! THAT was a LONG post!! and I didn't even tell you all how much fun I'm having coloring lately!!
HUGS
Danielle

JUST A LITTLE SOMETHIN'

2010-04-08T16:52:00.005-04:00

I found this totally groovy new spot called SCRAPSTREET. Click the link to check them out. They have a blog, and a message board, and believe me, those gals are ROCKIN'!! You all know my sense of humor, and they are a great bunch, not afraid to have fun.

SO, on the blog they put up this picture of Ukrainian Easter eggs called Pysanky. Aren't they beautiful? I've seen these before, and all I can say is WOW.

and, NO, they didn't ask anyone to make these actual eggs!! But, they did ask us to use these eggs as an inspiration piece. I was immediately inspired. the colors are beautiful. I love the muted but bright colors. and the "decorating" of each egg.
This is what I came up with.

I used Cosmo Cricket papers in almost the same colors.
K & Co. mat stack
Prima flower
Black rub on ?
Martha Stewart Ribbon (I have gone on record in the past, saying I HATE MARTHA STUFF! too expensive for the product. just my own opinion, HOWEVER. I was at the craft store Monday, and my mother brought some spools of ribbon up to the check out counter. before I could say "no", it was through the scanner, and much to my surprise!!!! it was ONE CENT!!! so, I had to get it. come on!!)
GCD Studio chipboard
another random ribbon
my own antique hat pin
AND, the birds I cut out of a piece of artist paper from Somerset Studio.

There you have it! What do you think?

HUGS
Danielle

A WINNER, AND A FABO PROJECT

2010-04-05T20:32:00.005-04:00

Hello Friends!!

I have much to say about my delish altered project below, but first, the winner of this tasty little candy is......

True random number
generator

Min: 1
Max: 27

Result:
3

LDFDESIGN!!

Send me your addy, and I'll send this little treat your way!!

Now, My Project!!!

I made this altered art project for the "altered" group over at Smeared & Smudged. As I've told you all, THIS is the spot!! Only really rad, dope chicks hang out there!! And, many of you, my excellent readers already do!! So, as I've already told you, I am a designer for Smeared Ink stamps, and we hang out there! And this whole "designing" for someone thing still freaks me out!! It is so crazy to think that my samples are going to be seen all over. It's hard to wrap my head around!! So for the altered group, I made an art piece. MY kind of art!! Lots of layers, old yellow paper, found objects. That is what it was when I finished!!

This is a close up. Just so you can see the little details. I used so many things for this! But here is the list:

Wood frame from the dollar store
Unity Stamps Love is Toxic set, Crown, curly heart, and flourish
Hero Arts flourish, flower, and Paisley stamps
Inkadinkado face stamp
Black Soot Tim Holtz Distress ink
Misc. paper
Golden gel medium matte
Melissa Frances gold circle frame and heart
Adirondack paint dabbers
Creative Charms cherries

Thanks for looking, playing and just hanging out with me!!

HUGS
Danielle

APRIL FOOLS DAY BLOG HOP!!

2010-03-31T19:43:00.008-04:00

HELLO ALL!! Happy April fools day! I hope you all play lots of jokes on people. I love April fools day. You can scream "ACK! I SAW A MOUSE" and everyone gets all jerked up, and then you say "April Fools!!", and everyone wants to kick your but, but it is funny all the same!!

Today, is my first official day as a Smeared Ink stamps designer. I am totally excited!!! You don't even know!! And, in honor of this fabulous day, or maybe because it is the first of the month, either way, we are having a
SMEARED AND SMUDGED MB BLOG HOP!!

Members of the Smeared and Smudged are blog hopping along with the design team!! so, without further ado, here is the link list!! Just click on each name, and you will go to a very talented ladies blog, and get to see some fab art!! Here are the names:

ALISON
KELLI
MEREDITH
MICHELLE
KATHI
KIM
LISA
ALEX
JEAN
MONICA
SARAH
ERIKA
BLACK DRAGON
KIMBERLY
STEPH
LADY BRAYTON
BARB
TERRA

SO, HERE IS MY PROJECT!! IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOMETHING "SURPRISING" IN HONOR OF APRIL FOOLS. IT IS A.......BOOK MADE FROM TOILET PAPER ROLLS!!

That's right. I told all my men, to save me their rolls, and put them on my craft table. It only took 2 days to get 5 rolls from them!! (ok, I may be exaggerating) and I made a "book", of HOT STAMPS. Each roll gets decorated, and the bottom gets 2 staples. Then, take your hole punch and make a hole. Make as many as you like. Each roll is for a brand of stamps. Inside, the roll is a tag, on which you write the names of all the sets you have from that company. Then, when you are going shopping, you can either bring the tags with you, or bring the whole ring of rolls!! You will never have to sit in the craft store and say "don't I already have that stamp?" again!!

Here is the cover of my Toilet Paper Roll album/book!!

This is my Smeared Ink page!! I got my first set yesterday, and it's called the elements. I am going to rock this set!!! You will love what I do with these.!!! Stay tuned!

Here is a page for my Inkadinkado stamps. I really love these stamps. Mostly I use the art stamps.

This is the last page, a Hero arts stamp list. You can keep adding to the ring as you get more stamps from other companies!

And that is how to make a Toilet Paper album, or book!! I love this project!

If you would rather, you can just use the tp roll for a card! Here, I decorated the roll, and made a tag to put inside, like I did before, but this time, instead of making a list, I put a sentiment on it!!

AND, if my paper goodness and the list of fab artists that I gave you isn't enough, I am giving away this lovely little SEI album kit!!

This brand new little cutie comes with SEI's bridgeport collection. It contains a 6x6 album, paper, stickers, chipboard, epoxy stickers and some polished pearl diecut accents!! Just leave me a comment, and I will pic a winner this weekend!! Make sure I am able to contact you with your comment!!

There you have it!! Hope you enjoy the hop!!

HUGS
Danielle

HAPPY MAIL AND A BLOG HOP!!

2010-03-29T17:30:00.003-04:00

Do you know, my bloggy friends are the best? They are!!! I am going to call you all my BBB's. Best Blog Buddies. I was so lucky to get happy mail x2! And it was from Erica and Pam Check out their blogs! These ladies decided, out of the goodness of their hearts, to send me PRESENTS!!! Yup. they did!! Erica has been here from the beginning. She knows how much I LOVE Hello Kitty, and she sent me this pillow! Isn't it furry fab? TOTALLY!!

And Pam, I only met recently. I met her from Scrapbook News and Review.. And, I went to her blog to visit, and she makes these delicious flowers!! So, she was having a blog candy give away, and I thought I won. I sometimes fail to realize that I am not the only person in the universe with this name!! Long embarrassing story short, she sent me some of these flowers anyway. I told her she didn't have to, but really I was hoping she would!!! They are nicer than flowers you find in the craft store! They are paper, and some of them are with book pages, tons of layers, bling, I can go on forever!! I told her she should sell them. Bet she would make tons of cash. But do you know what she said? She said "oh, I do it for fun!" for real? Like, someone doing something for others with no expectations of something? WOW. what a concept!! Wonder if this will catch on?

Anyway, THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH!!! You both made my day! and lucky for me, they came on separate days!!

Lastly, On Thursday, April 1, (yes April fools day, but this isn't a joke)
Smeared and Smudged is having a BLOG HOP. It is our "official" first day on the design team, so, what a better way to make things official than a blog hop!! This will be a very nice and simple blog hop too. I will post ALL the participants on my blog. When you go to someone's blog from mine, they too will have the list. So, you can continue from each blog, and not worry about getting lost. I will have a project, and some candy for you to win!! What candy, you say? I don't know yet, but if it is from me, you know it will be RAD!!

So, Please come back Thursday, drop me a line, visit some other fab blogs, and have a chance to win!! I will let you know what you will get on Thursday too! I'm sure I will figure it out by then!!

Double HUGS
Danielle

PUBLISHED AGAIN! AND I MADE A CARD!!

2010-03-22T14:50:00.004-04:00

I know, right? Really? I was like "whaaaat?"!!!?? Behold, it is true, not just a rumor. SOMEONE likes me!! well, aside from all of you!!!

My grooveyness will be in the March issue of Scrapbook News and Review!! Totally blows my mind!! Hope you check me out!!

Next, I made a card!! Again, I never cease to surprise!! I don't even remember when I made a card last! But here it is, and I LOVE it!!

This card is just for fun, over at Smeared and Smudged, the totally rad new joint I'm hanging out at. The card uses random paper, and ribbon, some jewel skulls, a hat pin, vintage ephemera and a digital stamp. This digi stamp is from Stamp Insanity, a totally cool place to get stamps. The owner's name is Beth and she is super cool!! You can get this awesome image from the generous Beth FREE only at Stamp Happens
Stamp Happens is Tonya's shop and the only place you can buy Stamp Insanity stamps!! Go check out!! The link should lead you straight to the freebie!! Why not? You might just get hooked!!

So, that is it for today's episode. Isn't that enough?
Thanks for visiting!
HUGS
Danielle

BUSY AS USUAL,

2010-03-18T20:31:00.003-04:00

I have been like a MANIAC this whole week. First, my big news, and I had tons of work to finish. UGH!! My small one got stung by something yesterday at school, I had to go back to the dentist AGAIN. Unbelievable. But, that is done now, and unfortunately, so is Marit's workshop. *crying* I had such a wonderful time with this workshop. I learned so much. I am still using all that I learned everywhere I go! Marit is a wonderful teacher, and she is offering a new workshop and this workshop again. I highly recommend it.!!

This is the cover of my journal. Marit taught us how to bind the book, using a Japanese book binding technique. very fancy!! And, the picture looks weird, because of the glitter I used on the letters "Let it Loose". But overall, that book means the world to me. I made it myself, and I left a piece of myself in it. It will always be special.

Next, over at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal, the prompt was "silence". I made my own paint color, a weird brown, and painted my book pages that color (after I applied Gesso first, or course). Then, I used my own handwriting to write "silence" and "SHHH". Last, I made wavy lines and wrote my odd free style journaling in the waves. I thought I was being so smart, making wavy lines, like sound waves, get it? *chirp* ok. um. anyway.

Now, with each ending, comes a new beginning!! I am off to prepare for my new "job"!!!

HUGS
Danielle

I HAVE A BIG SURPRISE!!!

2010-03-16T19:18:00.002-04:00

I have actual work to show you all too. I finished my journal for Marit's scrap world, and my pages for A Year in the Life of an Art Journal, and I will get them up this week. PROMISE!!! but first, some big news!!

I have been asked to design for Smeared Ink Stamps!!! Smeared Ink is a new art stamp company, owned by two sisters Terra and Tori. They are "dedicated to bringing us high quality unmounted rubber stamps that offer us new and interesting avenues of expression." Their "design style is edgy, wild, distinct and fun." They "embrace the unusual, and offer us a unique perspective when it comes to rubber art stamps." These words were quoted from their home page. The stamps are delicious!!!! Oh, the fun I will have. I am so totally excited, and thankful for this opportunity!! Terra has a blog, which is also the Smeared and Smudged blog. It is FAB, and you need to check it out. BUT the best part is that there is also a ning group, which is Smeared and Smudged also. It is a really fun message board. And the art in the gallery is so out of the box it is AMAZING.

So, there you have it!!! My big news, my big secret!! I won't be 'live' until
April 1st. And I hope this isn't a joke!! Because I am really looking forward to this!!

I hope some or all of you will come check it out. I know at least a few of you will love these stamps.

Hope to see you there!!
And, I will be back with my work to show you too!
HUGS
Danielle

I'M SO TIRED AND JUNK.....

2010-03-11T15:42:00.002-05:00

Yes. I am. SOOOOOOOO tired. My week is going just as wacky as it's been. CRAZY. and I don't have my journal cover done, or bound yet. I swear, I'm working on it!!!!

I'm working on EVERYTHING!!! Yikes, I can't get out from under! I had to go to the dentist AGAIN today, due to the 12 hour wait last time. And, I haven't even STARTED my A year in the life of an art journal prompt that is "due" on the 15th. It is about silence, and to use "inchies". Freakin' inchies? For real? You expect me to make little tiny pieces of art 1 inch by 1 inch. *chirp* that is what is going on in my head. NOTHING. But, do not dispair. I found a soloution today!!! I was at the Mikes, because I had a coupon, and I wanted to get some black gesso. But, I had to stop over in the stamp isle. It is similar to a magnetic force. You swear to yourself "I am going in for ONE thing", and you are heading in that direction, and suddenly, you are in the stamp isle. And, when you are there you can't help but look!!! and I found this stamp, with all these little individual images in square frames. I do the old "top of your thumb" measuring system, and EUREKA!! the images are 1 inch by 1 inch!!! and there are like 67 of them on this stamp!! ok, or 12. But! I am saved. I can stamp it onto a rad cardstock, and put a little embelie on it and INCHIES!!!!

Lastly, I went to the eye doctor last week, because, um, well, I couldn't see and junk? Yup. I was trying so hard to see wtf was on the computer, and the tv, forget it. I have to call the boys out to have them read the information from the guide to me. Pretty much blind. But for real, I was really thinking I was just straining my eyes from work and computer, and I knew I would need "reading glasses". and the doctor was like. "um. no honey. you don't just need reading glasses. no. you need..........(i can't say it..........)......BIFOCALS. Yup. me I JUST TURNED 40 NOT 140!!!!! WHAT'S NEXT? but, she says, we have the no line bifocals now. WOOPEE!!! GREAT!! are you crazy? I need glasses at all times for both far and near. my vision is worse the closer I have to see (hence, the thought that I needed reading glasses), so it isn't normal to not be able to see 1 foot in front of your face. and, I need them for far, because no, it is not normal to not be able to see the tv. so, I have 2 choices. 1, bifocals, 2, contacts AND reading glasses. why would I do that? put things in my eyes (which is fine if i will be able to see!!) and still need glasses? I might as well just wear the glasses, because I am excited to finally be ABLE TO SEE!!!

Lastly, (I really have to stop writing these crazy long blog posts!!) Gauche Alchemy is having a fab National Craft month give away!!! Follow the link and check it out!! There is original art, fabulous paper, awesome!!! So, free is for me, and just being able to try for the chance, is great for me!! go try to win!!!!!

HUGS
Danielle

THERE'S ALWAYS TOMORROW....

2010-03-09T20:45:00.002-05:00

What a freakin' day man. I'm telling you.

First, I have to go to the dentist (gross) and he is in the middle of some insane emergency, which leaves me waiting for an hour and a half. WHAT? I know. then, I get home, finally, and large is late walking home. So, I am all sorts of jerked up. But, alas, he arrives just fine. An idiot at another school pulled the fire alarm, which held up the busses, and gave mothers in the entire area a heart attack.

So, at 4, I finally get to the computer, and everything I try does't work. I mean EVERYTHING. I couldn't even check my email without having a problem. And, I struggled with it until 6:30. ate dinner, and dh called tech support. Some crap with the new wireless router, idk. id care!! JUST WORK!! come on man, let a sister live.

This is my final page for Marit's workshop. I can't believe it is over already!! I've learned so much, and met great people, and had a blast. We are making the cover this week, and binding the book Thursday. I will post the "finished" product after it is bound.

For this page, I tried to incorporate as many of the lessons into one page. I used gesso, gel medium. tissue paper. collaging, handwriting, colors, I think that is all. OH, and doodling!! I liked how it turned out. The writing says "Time flies when you're having fun" and it really did!! I have glitter over the writing, it may not be as noticeable as it is when I look at it.

Have a great night. I have to finally rest. I am exhausted!!

HUGS
Danielle

HAPPY THURSDAY!!

2010-03-03T20:29:00.006-05:00

Hey!! Hope you are all having a good week. I see some new faces here, and I am happy to have you!! Jump right in, and join the party!!

I will be serving 2 art journal pages tonight. Both are for my workshop at
Marit's scrapworld. As you all know, I LOVE this workshop!! I am learning so much. Things I just never thought of, or things I know, but now know better. It is a really fun, and yet intense workshop, designed by Marit to expand our mind. I love it!!!

This page is lesson 9. It was all about color. We learned about warm and cool colors, and the feelings behind colors. I picked blue. I made a collage like page. I had that blue piece of encyclopedia, that I saved when I made my other art journal, and was excited to use it!! I used the words part of the paper behind the blue and silver swirl that I cut out of a piece of paper. And, I used my Gauche Alchemy blue kit for the bits and pieces. Tim Holtz blue distressing ink blended into the background perfectly. I love how it came out!!

This page is lesson 8, doodling. I don't love to doodle. I mean, I do doodle, but in private KWIM? So, I had to doodle in public this time (Jill, get your mind out of the gutter!!). I used 2 different stamps, and colored them in. A piece of Queen and Co. yellow felt border thing. I traced it. colored some of it in. And, I made some vines with little yellow flowers. It was hard, but still, freeing. Showing me I can doodle. I can do whatever I want to my art. And that, I really like!

So, there you have it!! my week at a glance!! Tomorrow, I have to bring small son to the Doctor in the am. His cough hasn't gone away, and he has such a hoarse voice. He sounds so cute!! But, I will be around! And, I still have my new lesson tomorrow at Marit's!!

HUGS
Danielle

ART JOURNALS, ART JOURNALS EVERYWHERE I LOOK!!

2010-02-27T18:04:00.004-05:00

How's everyone's weekend? I hope good!! We are finally climbing out of our almost 3 feet of snow!! and we are all feeling a lot better. So, I was soooo behind, I have been working like crazy. I finally finished my page for Marit's scrapworld, which was to make a collage. I made this collage from a bunch of shoes I cut out of magazines. I painted the background green, and the shoe brown. Then I filled it in with the clippings. I had to add some say it in crystals, and a big jewel on the top of the shoe. The title reads "shoes jewelry for our feet". But I went over the words with glitter, and it is kind of hard to read. Still, Great lesson!! I am behind though, The new prompt is up and due on Monday so I have to get busy!!

Then, I had to do the latest prompt for A Year in the life of an Art Journal. It was the word "unknown". and to use stitching as well. I wrote a bunch about how I am scared to death of the unknown. So, I put a skull and crossbones to show my fear, and a butterfly to show how I want to be free and accept the unknown for the journey it actually is. Just used black and white for this.

And, that is all for now!!d Thanks for stopping by!!
HUGS
Danielle

UGHH!!!

2010-02-24T19:35:00.002-05:00

Hi. I am soooo sorry I haven't been to everyone's blogs and junk this week. We have been sick. Started with DH, then to smallest and to me. BUT, I have to take care of everyone else, so I am exhausted. Sick and tired, literally.

Poor hubby. He is really sick, some kind of head cold, leading to a sinus thing. And he still has to go to work. He is self employed, as I may have mentioned, so if he doesn't work, we starve!!! maybe that is a bit dramatic, but all the same. He has to go to work. Then, as if working all day isn't enough, IT WON'T STOP SNOWING HERE!!! Like EVER. Yesterday, the kids got sent home early from school. Small was home already, and large came home by noon. DH gets home at 5, but it is so snowy and slushy, he can't get up the hill in our neighborhood!! The plow hadn't come through yet, so it was like, literally 6 inches of snow with ice and slush under it. SO, he left the car down the road about a quarter of a mile and walked home, up hill, in the snow, while being sick! does that sound like stuff your mother would have said to you when you were young? Then, he has to shovel!!

So, today was no school. DH got to work. He came home like a man who fought a battle, practically dragging himself in the front door, just to hear the good news!! WE ARE GETTING ANOTHER 20 INCHES OVER THE NEXT 36 HOURS. What is this? does anyone know what this is? I live in a suburb of NYC, not a suburb of Canada!! And, school is already closed for tomorrow. This is madness!!

And, I am behind in my 'work'. I finished this for Marit's Scrapworld, prompt #6. Using gesso. We used the gesso as more than a primer. We mixed paint, or stuff in it.

I mixed paint, and then, while it was wet, I added micro-beads, lace, ribbon, mirrors, and what ever else is on there. I like how it turned out. I love pink!!

So, forgive me for not hanging out too much this week. I promise I will get there someday!! Hopefully, before the thaw!

HUGS
Danielle

MELANCHOLY AND ART JOURNALS

2010-02-19T13:11:00.005-05:00

Melancholy. This is how I feel lately. Lots of junk going on, most of it is going on around me, and some is with me, but It is making me melancholy.

The definition in my American Heritage Dictionary (from 1980. It was a gift, I was 10
and I use this dictionary still. I always marked the words I looked up. And, I pressed flowers and corsages in it. oh.....) where was I? Yes the definition:

1. sadness or depression of the spirits.
2. Pensive reflection or contemplation.

I am not depressed, or I would have said that and not melancholy, but I am a bit sad. I think definition 2 is what I feel right now. Do you ever feel like this? Pensive reflection. Definitely there right now. And contemplation. Yes. I have thoughts going on in my head, and junk and junk. And, I am melancholy.

So, the point. I know, I don't usually write such "heavy" posts. I am usually just all like, "I'm a pothole and junk!!!". Fun and silly. But, I suppose sometimes we all have to tell people we are melancholy. So, The lesson at Marit's Scrapworld was about handwriting. I hate my handwriting!!! But, I do want to learn, so I picked a song to write the lyrics down with my own handwriting. I picked the song "I am the Highway" written by Chris Cornell when he was with Audioslave. I love Chris Cornell. When his hair was long, and he was with Soundgarden. I saw Soundgarden open up for Guns N Roses in 1991 at Madison Square Garden. Ahhh. the good old days. Where did they go? how could that concert have been almost 20 years ago? I was 21 then. Good times. So, this song. It speaks to me, on many levels. Music, lyrics, all of it. I will not get into what this means to me, or represents, I would write for 20 hours if I did that. But just know, this song has great meaning, and while I am melancholy, it is fitting.

I just used the white paper, and wrote with a black gel pen. I made a "highway" in the middle with a black pen. and I wrote the lyrics. I had to listen to the song 13 times also. Just because I hadn't heard it for so long. I close my eyes when I listen to music. I love to let it fill me. I used to have a friend who would love that I did that. He thought it was cute. IDK. just writing. And, I wanted the lesson "handwriting" to be the only focus. So it is plain, but to the point. And that writing took me literally 2 days. It was hard to write!! I kept erasing, going over and fixing stuff. Then, I wrote over it with the pen. ugh!!

(CLICK TO ENLARGE! but you already know this yes?)

I am proud to have finished it!! I hope my JUF likes it too!!

Thanks for hanging out with me for a while, and listening to me ramble, and checking out my work!!

Have a fab weekend!!
{HUGS}
Danielle

ART JOURNAL, WORKSHOP AND THE OLYMPICS!!

2010-02-15T21:28:00.003-05:00

Are any of you watching the Olympics? I am!!!! I love the Olympics. I have no idea why. No personal interest in any of the sports. Don't do, or like most of them any other time. But when the Olympics are on, I become a sport fan. All of a sudden, I am the biggest snowboarding fan there is. I fancy myself a bit of a skeleton expert, and I act as if I actually understand that ridiculous sport curling. Yup. I'm a couch Olympian. Or, I feel like one for 2 weeks, every 2 years. Used to be every 4 years, but, because of people like me, who love the Olympics, they figured they would indulge us with a little bit every 2 years instead.

What can I say. It makes me happy. and I'm weird.

Now, the art.

This is my new art journal page from Marit's workshop. I am really excited about this one.

The page itself is simple, but the art of it was soooo interesting!! This was my favorite lesson so far.

This time, Marit taught us about the color wheel. Yes, you know the color wheel, I've heard of the color wheel, and about complementary colors. But I never actually considered them the way Marit taught us to with this lesson. I've used complementary colors in scrapping, and collaging, but in this lesson, we were to take a photo, and paint the complementary color right on top of the color!! did that make sense?

My picture was of flowers. I used this because first I was afraid, I was petrified...sorry, that's the lyrics to "I will Survive". But, I was worried. I didn't know about this. Marit showed us totally fab examples, using both landscapes and people. But, I played it safe with the flowers. The photo was of 2 beautiful roses from a bouquet from DH a while ago. One was pink/red and the other was yellow. So, the complement to red is green, and the complement to yellow is blue. I painted the flowers over in these colors. The one I painted green was exciting, because I happened to find in my stash some acrylic paint that was for enamel. I figured it didn't matter. But it looks like it was mixed with gel medium!! Very shiny. I must find more!!

Anyway, I learned a lot from this whole lesson. That there is so much I don't actually know about the color wheel, and how color can be used as we wish, and that even when you don't expect color to be there, it is ok.

And in between skiing, and ski jumping, I am still finishing my cool mini on 1960's fashion. Stay tuned for that!!

Well, enough of my crazy rambling. I'm off to watch pairs figure skating!!!

HUGS
Danielle

ART JOURNAL PAGE 3 !!

2010-02-12T16:53:00.002-05:00

This is my third page for the workshop I am enjoying, very much, at
Marit's Scrapworld. This time, we had to get MESSY!! and use gel medium. I LOVE gel medium. I use it on everything!! I probably use it too much!! So, I put glitter in my gel medium, blue, white and gold. I coated the page with this, and while it was wet, I attached pieces of tissue paper that I sprayed with Tattered Angels robin's egg ink. I don't know why, but I think snow looks glittery and blue. Weird? yes, but, so am I. So, I kept adding layers of blue sprayed tissue paper, and plain white tissue paper, so it looks like the snow drifts outside here. After our big snow Wednesday, We are still covered. I journaled that snow kind of stinks, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Living my whole life in the north-east, I love the change of seasons. Some of the time, the seasons annoy me, but overall, I don't think I would like living where it is always the same, no change.

And, while I relax this weekend, I want to make a mini album. I haven't played with paper for far too long!! I know, I'm art journaling like a crazy person, and I love that!! But, I got my new kit from Scrapbook Circle
and I am anxious to use it!!

SO, I hope everyone has a fabulous Valentines Day!!
HUGS
Danielle <3

SNOW, HOPE AND HELLO KITTY

2010-02-10T22:15:00.004-05:00

Hey all!!

It snowed here today, like I don't even know what. We got over a foot, I didn't measure to see the EXACT amount. The news said we were expected to get between 12 and 18 inches. Snow days are great!! I love having my family home with me. They keep me company, I stay busy, it is good. However, it also makes me get behind on MY work. So, today I did not get my page finished for the Marit's Scrapworld class I'm taking. Tomorrow, we get our next lesson, and I HATE to be behind. But, I am close to being finished, and I will share this with you when it's done.

Have you seen Hello Kitty?

She is dressed in a red designer dress, with sparkly shoes, all appropriate for her Valentine's day events. She is always busy. she is very popular!! I think she is lovely in this pretty, frilly dress. The only thing that could have been better, is if she had glitter on her dress too!!

And, finally, I finished my second prompt for A Year in the life of An Art Journal. This time, we were to write about Hope. and, use masks. I used different masks, I have letter stencils, or masks. that I used for the work HOPE, and I used punchenella from a Gauche Alchemy mixed media kit I have. I like how it made the dots. I used regular acrylic paint, then the masks, then spray ink. stamps, chipboard, gems from another GA kit, and I don't know what else. Everything but the kitchen sink. I am happy with the way it turned out. Not too shabby. Only my 4th page ever. I am really having fun with this Art Jouraling thing. I am excited to see what else will happen!!

So, thanks for stopping by, and I hope all of you on the east coast are recovering from the snow.

HUGS
Danielle

WHAT'S NEW????

2010-02-08T11:53:00.004-05:00

NOTHING. Well, nothing much at least.

We had a new prompt at Marit's scrapworld last Thursday. It was an exercise on using Silhouettes. I tried. really. but, not so good. I won't even show it here. But in the class, I was able to ask all the wonderful ladies there what they thought. And, they were so real. Their opinions and ideas really inspire. And, will make me a better artist. Constructive criticism is a wonderful thing.

ALSO. My friend Jessica, had sent me a kit she made FOREVER ago, when I won on her blog. It is a "rockstar" kit, with wonderful papers from DCWV, chip board, sticky ribbon, a crystal swirl, some metal embelies, and I can't even tell you what else because it was sooo full!! When I got it, I was excited to use it, but I put it my cabinet, and FORGOT it was there!!! So, you can understand my happiness when I found it again!! THAT made my day!!

Then, I got a package from Gauche Alchemy. Amy, one of the owners, wrote "Danielle "rock star" on the envelope. My goodies from her made me feel like a rock star!! I love their stuff so much. They make mixed media fun. THEY ROCK!!

Otherwise, no particular anything. My FORMER BFF G, is still a FORMER because, i dont feel that he has apologized enough. One comment, and a couple dozen emails is a good start, but, he has work to do. I mean, come on man!! If he was my boyfriend, not a boy who is a friend, he would have to buy me flowers, jewelry, a new pocket book. something!! So, he should realize that he has it far better than if I was telling all of you I had a fight with DH. THAT would be a big deal!!!

AND speaking of DH, he is so wonderful!!! The other day, he gave me a gift, early valentines he says, and it was......a Tariana Tarantino "pink head" bobby pin!!
WHAT? you are unfamiliar with this? How could this be??? I should take a picture of my groovy clip, but, I left you the link to go check out her most wonderful fabulousness. So, DH, he is OK in my book. For now, at least!! SORRY, I was at Tariana's page, and got stuck there for like half hour. If you go to her "store", and click on SHOP, then click on 'PINK HEAD" you will see my bobby pin on the bottom. I know, you will all think I am crazed, but. I love it.

I will be back soon, my most fabulous readers.

HUGS
Danielle

scrappy-arts-n-thoughts

I'VE MOVED!!!!

HOW THE HECK ARE YA????

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 31

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 30

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 29

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 28

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 27

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31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 25

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 24

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 23

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31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 19

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 18

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 17

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 16

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 15

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 14

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 13

31 Days of Halloween Day 12

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 11

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 10

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 9

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 8 & FAIRY KNOLL

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 7

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 6

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 5

31 Days of Halloween Day 4

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 3

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN DAY 2

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN IS FINALLY HERE!!!

SMEARED INK END OF TERM BLOG HOP *tear*

JUST SAYIN'

31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN.....

S&S ORANGE HOP HERE!

MORE PUMPKINS

I KNID OF WON?

SO, I MADE A MINI BOOK.....

EXCITING!!

SMEARED INK FALL RELEASE HOP HERE!!

MY ENCHANTED FOREST

HOLY CITY !!!......AND JUNK......

WEDNESDAY? REALLY?

GOOD BYE FRIENDS HAVING FUN

WFK AND A SURPRISE!!

WOW MAIL

IT'S COMING!

EXCITING NEWS, AND COLORING!!

FHF COLOR CHALLENGE!!

BOMBSHELL BLOG HOP HERE!!

AYITLOAAJ

Pretty things and markers!!

I SORT OF WON !?!?!

BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

SOME ODD GIRL...

I MUST CONFESS.....

SIMPLY BETTY HOP AND FRIENDS HAVING FUN CHALLENGE

HAPPY "HOP" DAY, BOMBSHELL STYLE!!

HELLO FRIENDS! A SCRAPPY THOUGHT....

SMEARED INK NEW RELEASE HOP!!

SIMPLE BEAUTY

JUNQUE JACKPOT!!!

WHAT DAY IS IT????

THE GREETING FARM BLOG HOP!!!

HELLO "FRIENDS" !!!

CONTEST FINALS!!

YIKES!!!

I FEEL RED TODAY.

SMALL ART FRIDAY!!

PAYIN' IT FORWARD !!!

SO, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AROUND.....

A SCRAPPY THOUGHT...

SMEARED INK WEEKLY CHALLENGE

WHIMSICAL INK SORORITY

I AM A WINNER!!! AND I MADE SOMETHING TOO!!

BOMBSHELL HOP HERE!!

WHOLEY SHEET!!

SMEARED INK END OF TERM BLOG HOP tear