FTHS November Stamp of the Month Challenge - Mid Month Reminder

Hi Everyone!  I'm here today with a reminder for the FTHS November Stamp of the Month Challenge and something a bit different from my usual cards.  I tried my hand at using an image on a candle.  And I am hooked!  So much fun!  Without further ado, here is Balloon Ride!

A few things I learned in this process: 

1.  Use MUCH darker colors than you normally would.  To give you an example...the darkest green you see on the candle is YG17 which now looks similar to YG25.  And my little mousies don't show up very dark even though I used W5 on them.

2.  Be careful with the amount of ink you use...It will bleed!  I had to let each color dry a bit before adding the next or the surface was entirely too wet.

3.  Speaking of wet...you'll need to place a scrap piece of cardstock under your tissue paper.  I taped my tissue paper down to keep it from moving about while I was coloring.

4.  Make sure you pull the wax paper tightly and SMOOTHLY around your candle.  Otherwise you'll end up with a crazy pattern melted into your candle.

You can click here for directions on how to create this project.  The directions are from Kim O'Connell for My Favorite Things.  Or you can do a Google search for videos.  There are several on the web.

My supply list for this project:
FTHS image, Balloon Ride
Tissue Paper
Copic Markers
Wax Paper
Heat Gun

If you played along in the challenge last month, you were emailed this image for FREE! If you missed out, you can still play along with the challenge by purchasing the image, Balloon Ride. Then you can enter the challenge and receive next month’s digi free. OR if you spend $10 in the From The Heart Stamps store this month, you can enter code CELEBRATE to receive this as a free gift. (Make sure your purchase doesn’t include this image or you will receive 2). 

Hope to see your creations using Balloon Ride in this month's Challenge!

 

From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge 42 - Even Germs Love You

 Ready for a giggle?  I couldn't resist pairing this From the Heart Stamps image, Sick Chick, with this sentiment from Create With TLC.  Sick Chick looks so pitiful and poorly...he needed a sentiment that would elicit a smile and maybe even a giggle.

Using Sketch 42 as the design layout made this card come together rather quickly.  I didn't have to agonize over where to place elements!  Please consider joining in the challenge...using a sketch really does make your card crafting less stressful!

My recipe for this week's Sketch Challenge card is:

Image: Sick Chick
Paper: My Mind's Eye Hootenanny and American Crafts Card Stock
Coloring Medium: Copics
Other Supplies: Digital Sentiment from Create with TLC
Sketch: Sketch 42

Hope you play along with the design team at the From the Heart Stamps blog.  Remember, EVERYONE who enters will receive $1 credit to the From the Heart Stamps digital store.  Use it as a discount, or save the credits up to earn a free stamp.  Linky will close on Sunday at 10 pm CST.

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Cellulite

TGIF!  Today's Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge theme is "Tickle My Funny Bone".  You can choose any occasion as long as the card has a humorous element to it.  I've been a fan of Bugaboo for quite awhile, and today seemed the perfect time to use one of the Stella images.  I love this sentiment on the Frame it Stella Cellulite image!  Seems the older I get, the more of Stella's attitude I adopt (much to hubby's dismay, hehe)!

Not sure why this yellow cardstock continues to photograph as electric neon.  In real life it is a soft yellow.  One of these days I'll have to set up a better way to snap photos of my cards, and look to upgrading my camera.  Anyone have info on a camera they love?

Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda, Penny and me over at the Outlawz to share a giggle or two with us this week!  Everyone can use an additional humorous card in their stash! 

Sweet November November 2013 Release Preview - Midnight's Christmas

Happy Wednesday!  Just look what happens when Santa turns his back for a moment!  These four adorable little kittens found plenty of mischief to make!

These darling little critters are from Amy's Sweet November November 2013 (not a typo with the double November, lol) Release entitled Midnight's Christmas!  While they are individual stamps, they are being sold as a set.  At first I was going to make a card featuring each little kitten, but since we only have one preview day this month, I decided to create a scene and use them all on one card!  The table is a digi stamp from Little Miss Muffet Stamps Tea Party Set.  Sorry, I do not remember the artist/company of the fir tree in the pot.  After getting all the stamps laid in the design, I drew in a baseboard.  Voila!  A scene was created!  The wall and floor are chalked, and a bit of colored pencil was added to the floor for some shadow.  A string of lights, a rub-on sentiment, and a bow for the little girl kitten were all that was needed to complete the card.

Please visit Amy's blog and Nancy's blog to see what they've created with these sweet, but mischievous  kittens.  We adore reading your comments, and Amy, generous as always, has candy!  She'll be drawing names from a hat, and you can increase your chances of winning by commenting on all three of our blogs.  This set will be available for sale tomorrow at C.C. Designs.

From the Heart Stamps Sketch Challenge 41 - Take Me Away

I'm really going to date myself here and ask, does anyone remember the commercial tag line, "Calgon, Take Me Away!"?  Well this card was inspired by that commercial tag line.  This image, Birdbath Chick, reminds me of the blissful ladies in their bathtubs full of Calgon bubbles.  To maintain that calm, soothing feeling, I limited the color palette to blue, white, and peach.  It doesn't show very well in the photo, but I added Paper Glaze to the bath bubbles after lightly coloring them to give them a glossy look.

Today's FTHS Sketch, number 41, is getting earmarked to use again!  I like the flexibility and simplicity of this design.

My recipe for this card is:
Image: Birdbath Chick
Paper: Doodlebug Up,Up, and Away, Digitally created blue stripe, and American Crafts cardstock
Coloring Medium: Copics
Other Supplies: Quickutz die cut bubbles


Hope you play along with the design team at the From the Heart Stamps blog.  Remember, EVERYONE who enters will receive $1 credit to the From the Heart Stamps digital store.  Use it as a discount, or save the credits up to earn a free stamp.  Linky will close on Sunday at 10 pm CST.

Update on Greg's Dad:  He is out of the hospital and in a rehab/nursing home facility.  No intestinal blockages or cancer was found!  The doctor's best guess as to the cause of his deterioration is spinal stenosis.  At this point they are concentrating on physical therapy and medication as the course of treatment.  He is not strong enough for any surgery.  The immediate goal is to get him walking. 

Thank you again for visiting and for your well wishes and prayers.  The family and I so appreciate it!!!  Even though I haven't been to your blogs for a visit, I do see the thumbnails of your cards in my blog list.  Such amazing cards you all create!  Cannot wait to get back to visiting your blogs and commenting!  Hugs to you all!

From the Heart Stamps November 2013 Blog Hop

Welcome to our From the Heart Stamps November blog hop. We are celebrating birthdays today!

As you hop along, please leave a comment on each entry. One random commenter will be selected on each blog to win the image that the designer used. And additionally, one commenter on the From the Heart Stamps blog will be selected to win a $5 gift voucher to the store!

We are also having a little word search today. As you stop on each blog collect the special letter they have for you. Put the letters together for a message. Everyone who figures out the message can use it as a code to receive 50% off of one image in the birthday section of the FTHS shop. How cool is that?!?  Why not take advantage of Faith's generosity and pick up a birthday digi at HALF PRICE!  The code will be good until Monday Nov. 4th at 6 am, EST. My letter for you is “E”.

If you have arrived from Michelle P, you are in the right place, if not why don’t you start on the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything.

Here is my project, using Birthday Chicks.

Since I have so few birthday cards for men, I decided to use a more masculine color palette for this card.  The Doodlebug papers Surprise Birthday and Stars and Stripes, along with the dotted teal from The Paper Studio fit the vibe I was going for.  And since most men I know don't care for, as hubby calls them, "fussy cards", I kept the embellishments to a minimum by adding just a few Queen and Co red pearls.

Thank you for visiting my blog, and to continue on your journey, please head over to Wendy's and see what she has created.

Thanks for hopping with us today. The hop will end on Monday November 4th at 6am, EST. Winners will be posted on the From the Heart Stamps Blog on Wednesday November 6th.

Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge - Pumpkins

Happy November 1st!  Can you believe it is already November?  For us this starts the sprint to Christmas!  I'm so excited...I adore this time of year!  And I'll be sharing more about it as the month goes by, so I won't bog you down with details today.  Welcome to the Outlawz Fridays Alcohol Markers Challenge, the theme of which this week is Celebrate Pumpkin Toss Day!

This image is a freebie from Marianne Walker's blog for Copic.  Along with freebie is a Coloring Pumpkins for Beginners Tutorial.  I remember bookmarking this tutorial back in October last year.  I am delighted to see how far my coloring has progressed since then.  Both Marianne's blog and the Copic website have some great free tutorials and tips for improving your coloring.

Once again I printed the image in brown on textured cream paper rather than in black on Copic cardstock.  I really like the softer look for Autumn cards.  The plaid paper is an old K&Company and the cut out leaves are Sandylion Essential stickers to which I added a touch of green color pencil.  Four red pearls finish the card.

Please join Carla, Dawn, Jen, Linda, Penny and me over at the Outlawz for this week's challenge!  Thanksgiving is almost here and you are running out of time to complete enough cards for all those lovely special people on your list (did I use the appropriate amount of prodding, hehe?)!

Sorry I haven't been to visit your blogs.  Still awaiting a diagnosis and prognosis on Greg's father.  Should have results of upper and lower GI later today.  If neither shows any blockage, the doctors are stumped as to the cause of his syptoms.  One moment he appears to be doing okay, the next he's out of it.  One day he can walk unassisted to the nurses station, the next he cannot.  Etc., etc.  Hopefully tomorrow will bring some news.  Thank you for leaving comments even though I am not currently returning the favor!