Sleep Tight Baby - Fab Friday @ Tiddly Inks

Another Friday is upon us, and it's my first Friday with my new computer.  \not that \i wanted to get a new computer.  \i liked my old one just fine.  \not much of a fan of change.....but my previous one was about eight years old and, even though \i was being very patient with it and set about embracing all of its quirks and little idiosyncrasies, it was getting to the point of ridiculousness.  \i used to bring my phone with me when \i started it up or when \i woke it up from Sleep \mode so \i could play a few levels of Candy Crush while \i waited.

And with the new computer came a new keyboard.  \i have a question......who in the heck stuck a \ key in between the left Shift key and the Z?  As you can probably tell, my old keyboard did not have a stupid \ button in between the Shift and the Z.  \i am very much annoyed by it.....can't seem to convince my left pinky to reach just a little bit farther and get that Shift key when \i need an uppercase letter from the left side of the keyboard.  And since this is my blog, and \i can type how \i want on it, \i've decided \i'm not going to bother constantly backspacing to fix it because, honestly, IT'S EVERY SINGLE TIME.  \you're probably wondering why \i just don't use my old keyboard.  Well, turns out it has a different end \9though why the ends changed\0 than what this one has so \i can't just do that.  \i know, \i could probably find an adaptive end piecey thing but \i've decided not to be a grumpy old lady about it and just get with the times.  Except when \i'm blogging.  \i've given myself permission to say, \'f.....orget it\\  \obviously \i'll get the hang of it soon, most of my work is done on this computer and \i can't be typing like this for it.  \it'll be the most boring progressive experiment ever.....\'\how \long Will \it Take JanR To Find That Shift \key and \use \it Consistently\/  \longer than this post, no doubt.

But, you didn't come here to listen to me moan, you came here to see what Tiddly \inks make \i have for you today.  Alrightly, here it is....

\i used Sleep Tight Baby and isn't it lovey\/  \you could colour it up as a girl or a boy and the blanket is just perfect for paper piecing.  \i did a herringbone background to use up some of the scraps from the very first 6 x 6 paper pad \i ever bought.  \it's still one of my favourites too.

Make sure you go check out the other fabulous Fabby Friday makes the rest of the DT has come up with. You can see 'em right here.

Also for:

Sweet Sketch:  sketch - I flipped it upside down
Digitally Sweet:  colour challenge
The Male Room:  babies & little boys
Crafty Creations:  paper piecing
Aud Sentiments:  anything goes + sentiment
As You Like It:  one layer or multi layers - I love layers, the more the better.  I don't think I could do a one layer card.....it would look naked!  :-)
Simon Says:  anything goes
Crafty Sentiments:  anything goes
Creative Card Crew:  anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown:  anything goes
Craft-Dee Bowz:  anything goes + handmade bow
Crafty Boots:  ribbon or lace
The Crazy Challenge:  ribbon
Craft for the Craic:  January blues
613 Avenue Create: anything goes
Crafting-With-Friends: anything goes
Simply Papercraft: anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations: anything goes
Artistic Inspirations: anything goes
Crafting From the Heart: anything goes
Craft Your Passion: anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door anything goes
Creative Fingers: anything goes
Creative Moments: anything goes
Our Crafty Corner: anything goes

They Say It's Your Birthday @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's my turn to choose the challenge and I went with "They Say It's Your Birthday" (Dun nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nah, It's my birthday too, duh nuh nuh nuh, nuh, nuh, nah....actually it's not my birthday. Not even close. So I should really stop singing.) Anyhoo, I just wanna to see projects with a birthday theme! Pretty easy!

This is what I did.....

Digi is from Bugaboo Stamps. Love sketchy type images like this.

So why not celebrate the day someone was born and join us for our challenge?  Then you can head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up.  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Mixed Media Confessions

I have a confession to make about Mixed Media projects.  There's some I absolutely luuuuurve.  Those ones with the cutesy snowmen, or funky flowers, or whimsical houses and the stamping in the background and the added little quotes and/or hand-drawn words and the doodling.....oooooooh squeeze squish sigh drool love!  So gorgeous.

But.....there's also Mixed Media projects I hate.

I'm not going to go into detail about those.....that would hardly be fair and would actually be mean.  But art is art, and art is about provoking a emotional response, so, personally, I think it's a-okay to hate some art.  I don't ever disrespect the artist who made the art that I don't like.  I appreciate their talent (as everyone should appreciate anyone who says, "Here, look!  I made This Thing" and shows it for all to see) and can recognize that it's just not my cuppa and move on.

So, as you can see, I'm torn when it comes to Mixed Media.  But, since there's parts of it I like sooooo much I've dabbled a time or two.

And, guess what?  I loathed the mixed media pieces I made.  Seriously, they were gawd awful.  For some reason my attempts would drift into the realm of all I didn't like about some mixed media creations and I couldn't pull myself back from that.  So I would finish the piece, get grumpy about how ugly it was and the time I had wasted on it, and then I would shove it in the corner behind a bunch of stuff so I wouldn't have to look at it ever.

Of course I would then vow to never again try any Mixed Media projects.  And the last time I declared that I really, really, really meant it.

But then I happened to come across the DecoArt Media Winter Wonderland Contest where the winner will receive over $120 in DecoArt supplies.  Well, my heart skipped a beat there, it did.   And I knew I just had to give mixed media another go.

So, without further blathering, here's what I managed....

I wanted to capture a winter night sky.....where the stars seem to shine brighter and the air is so crisp and you wonder how it can be snowing lightly when there doesn't seem to be any clouds.  The whole time I was putting this together those lines from Coldplay's "Yellow" kept repeating over and over in my head.  So I put them on there to shut my head up.  Didn't actually work, every time I look at it I hear Chris Martin singing those words but I can live with that.

Wanna know what else I can live with?  This piece.  I don't hate it.  Actually, I kinda like it.  I do know it's fairly basic, kinda baby-steps mixed media, but if that's what I gotta do to be happy with it, then that's what I'll do.

The base and the stars are made out of cardboard.  I used the following DecoArt products:

DecoArt Acrylic Gesso
DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Paint - Black Pearl
DecoArt Glamour Dust Paint - Lemon Drop
DecoArt Americana Paint - Cool White (mixed with water)

So, I'm really glad I gave Mixed Media another whirl.  (I'd be even gladder if I won - tee hee.)  At any rate, this one ain't going in the corner.  I'm gonna hang it up so I can look at it from time to time.

So thanks to DecoArt.  And thanks to Pamellia at My Little Craft Things (I'm starting to feel like I'm stalking this talented lady, honestly, Pamellia, I'm really quite harmless!) for resparking my interest in Mixed Media.  I thoroughly enjoyed making this.  And I'm looking forward to the next time I give it a go.

Fairy Nice @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Heather's turn to choose the challenge and she has gone with "Fairy Nice" which just means she'd like to see a fairy on your project.

This is what I did.....

I used a Saturated Canary image that I cropped.  Super duper cas compared to what I normally do, and look ma, no patterned paper!  Though I think the only reason that happened is because I made some boo boo (though I'm still not sure what) and everything printed out larger than I intended and one of my kids then jumped on the computer so I decided to just go for it rather than waiting (or cajoling said child off the computer) to reprint.  So, there was just no room for patterned paper in the end.

So why not grab at least one wee winged one and join us for our challenge?  Then you can head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up.  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Thank You @ Tiddly Inks

For the next two weeks at

we've got a pretty easy challenge for you. We're asking you to be grateful, by showing us your thank you projects....using a Tiddly Inks image, of course!

This is what I did.....

I used Beary Sweet.  Isn't she adorable?  I coloured her up to look like my daughter....though she's turning 11 in three months so she's lost a lot of her little girl look and is definitely heading into the tween style of look and dress.  Well, I got the hair colour right at least.  Thought she could give this to her teacher at the end of the school year in July.  I know, I know, talk about getting it done in advance!  To tell the truth, I don't have much need for thank you cards other than for teachers.  Not sure if that means I don't get stuff done for me that I should be grateful enough to send a card or if I'm just a grumpy old sour-puss who's never thankful - ha!

So why not grab a Tiddly Inks image, and a bucket of gratitude and enter the challenge?  And be sure to also check out the fabulousness the DT has come up with.

Also for:

Incy Wincy:  tic tac toe - twine, red, button (I know it's lacking in the red department but there is some on there....)
Allsorts:  girly & sparkly (Those are glitter Thickers on there....that are apparently shy and don't want to sparkle for the camera.)
My Sheri:  feelin' fussy
Aud Sentiments:  thank you sentiment
As You Like It:  paper or non-paper projects - I always use paper when I'm crafty so paper projects are my fave.
Moving Along With the Times:  spots & dots
Inky Chicks:  anything goes
QKR Stampede:  lots of layers
Use You Stuff:  3 or more patterned papers
613 Avenue Create: anything goes
Crafting-With-Friends: anything goes
Simply Papercraft: anything goes
Crafting With An Attitude: anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations: anything goes
Artistic Inspirations: anything goes
Crafting From the Heart: anything goes
Craft Your Passion: anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door anything goes
Creative Fingers: anything goes
Our Crafty Corner:  anything goes

Cool Colours @ Melonheadz Friends

For the next two weeks at

we've got a cool challenge for you.....in more ways than one! We want to see those cool colours....you know, the ones that're on the non-warm half of the colour wheel. The blues, greens, purples and such.

Must admit I had a bit of trouble with this one....mostly because I'm a dolt who didn't know how many cool colours there were as I thought cool colours just meant light blues, light grays and whites only (or, you know, those colours sporting dark shades and leather jackets with a turned up collar). But once I Googled it and found out there were loads of cool colours, and cool didn't mean light, I was away.

And this is what I did......

I used a past freebie, one of my most favouritest Melonheadz stamps.  Just love this sweet girl and her armful of flowers.

So why not break out your cool colours and enter the challenge? And be sure to check out what the rest of the DT has made.

Also for:

Digitally Sweet:  colour palette
Your Next Stamp:  inspiration photo
As You Like It:  paper or non-paper project - I rarely craft without using paper so I gotta say paper project!
Use Your Stuff:  3 or more patterned papers
Crafty Boots:  ribbon or lace
Crafty Gals Corner:  buttons & bows
Really Reasonable Ribbon:  Looky what I got! - Santa had slipped some little packages of bling in my stocking.
Craft For the Craic:  January blues
Allsorts:  girly & sparkly
My Sheri:  feelin' fussy
613 Avenue Create: anything goes
Crafting-With-Friends: anything goes
Simply Papercraft: anything goes
Crafting With An Attitude: anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations: anything goes
Artistic Inspirations: anything goes
Crafting From the Heart: anything goes
Craft Your Passion: anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door anything goes
Creative Fingers: anything goes
Our Crafty Corner:  anything goes
The Crazy Challenge:  ribbons

Duuuuuuuuude - Fab Friday @ Tiddly Inks

Well, if it isn't Friday again.  You know what that means - time for a Tiddly Inks make!

This is what I've got for you today....

I used Sk8tr, one of my most fave Tiddly stamps.  Isn't he just all kinds of cute?  I used some Fake Thickers on there too.  You guys know how to make Fake Thickers, right?  All you gotta do is cut out whatever word/letters you want to use a least three times, stick all the layers together, then cover the top layer with Glossy Accents, and volià, Thickers in the exact colour and size you need!  Not as convenient as real Thickers, of course, but if you're like me, and have packages and packages of Thickers and always find that they are either too big for your card, are missing that one letter you need, or you don't have the colour that would be perfect, then it's Fake Thickers to the rescue!

Make sure you go check out the other fabulous Fabby Friday makes the rest of the DT has come up with. You can see 'em right here.

Also for:

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie:  inspirational photo
The Male Room:  anything goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters:  something old, something new - Patterned paper is old, first time I've ever done the Fake Thickers trick.
QKR Stampede:  lots of layers
Shopping Our Stash:  something new - First time I've ever done the Fake Thickers trick.
As You Like It:  paper or non-paper project - Paper all the way!  I especially love patterned paper, and I love to use lots of it on my cards.
Fab 'n' Funky:  for a child
Ruby's Rainbow:  show us something new - First time I've ever done the Fake Thickers trick.
613 Avenue Create: anything goes
Artistic Inspirations: anything goes

Do You Want to Build a Snowman? @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Carolyn's turn to choose the challenge and she's asking "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" (which is all kinds of ironic since she's in California at CHA and I'm betting she could build a sandman but certainly no snowman). I would answer her and say, "Um, no" because this is, unequivocally, how I feel about winter.....

.....but I know that if I use that answer with Carolyn she's just gonna be clever and say, "It doesn't have to be a snowman" and I might have to shove her in a snowbank for that (seeing as we do finally have snow.....and buses cancelled both yesterday and Monday because of it....though it's just been snow, and definitely not a snowstorm).

But I digress!  Back to the challenge.  Carolyn (obviously) wants to see a snowman (or snowmen, snowlady....any kind of snowperson will be fine, I'm sure) on your projects.

This is what I did.....

Digi is from Mo's Digital Pencil and it's one of my faves.  Added some Wink of Stella to the wings, but of course you can't see that in the photo.  Must admit, I am liking that ribbon/bells combo.  This was one of those cards that came together quickly....and exactly how I envisioned it - yay!

So why not play in the snow and join us for our challenge?  Then you can head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up.  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created.

Thanks! @ Little Red Wagon

This week at

it's Mandy's turn to choose the challenge and she wants us to say "thanks" and show off thank you projects.

I thought this would be a good time to say thank you to all of you. I truly appreciate all your comments and the fact that you've taken the time to read my (sometimes very long and rambly) posts. I don't have a hoard of crafty-friends irl (heck, I don't have a hoard of friends period, but that okay 'coz that's how I's likes it) so I am happy that I've made some online friendships through blogging. So, thank you!!

On to my card......I actually made this early last fall using a technique I read about from Karen at Snippets.  And here it is......

I made an error when I did my card though (I don't know why I always think I remember stuff perfectly rather than taking the two minutes of time it would take to reread what I had read earlier), I didn't leave the leaves on until they dried.  I think the leaves would have been darker if I hada done that.  It still worked out okay though.  I'll let Karen tell you all about how this is done.  (I'm thinking you all will love how easy it is.)  And her card is just lovely.  Clicky here to see it.

So why not be thankful this week and join us for our challenge?  Then you can head on over to Little Red Wagon and link up.  And, while you're there, be sure to check out the wonderful projects the other Girlfriends have created. 

Anything Goes @ Tiddly Inks

For the next two weeks at

we've got an easy one for you. We want to ease you back into the regular schedule of things after the holiday season and we want to see anything you've got - with a Tiddly Inks image, of course!

Now, normally I don't show cards about holidays that have just happened. I figure I should just move on buuuuuuut this one was something very different than I normally would do, and not the type of card that people generally think to use a digi for so I wanted to show it. And here it is.....

See, not my usual fare.  I was very much inspired by Pamellia from My Little Craft Things.  I had vowed I would try a Christmas card in her style and this was the result.  Nowhere near as beautiful and embellished and layered and lovely as her makes but I was glad I gave it a go.

But, let me tell you, this was a royal b*&ch to tell to get a decent photo of.  It's way more white than it looks here.  And it's crazy sparkly too as I sprinkled the Snow Writer (which wasn't really a Snow Writer, no it wasn't.  My local Michaels must have had their bottles for yeeeaaars as it had turned into the consistency of texture paste.  Try squeezing that outta a small nozzle.) with Diamond Dust glitter.  I tried to take a photo to show it sparkle....

...which as usual I wasn't very successful at.  But you get the idea.  I used one of the images from the Harmony At Home - Mega Pack.  You get five images and one sentiment (not the one shown) all for $3.00 - what a deal!

So why not grab a Tiddly Inks image, make whatever you want and enter the challenge?  And be sure to also check out the fabulousness the DT has come up with.

Also for:

{Pin}spirational:  inspiration photo
Tuesday Throwdown:  winter wonderland
Crafty Sentiments:  anything goes
Craft-Dee Bowz:  anything goes with a handmade bow
Merry Monday:  white on white
Sparkle 'n' Sprinkle:  anything goes + glitter, flocking powder etc.
4 Crafty Chicks:  anything goes
As You Like It:  anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenges:  anything goes
A Snowflake's Promise:  anything Christmas goes
Creative Card Crew:  anything goes
Deep Ocean:  anything goes
Creative Corner:  anything goes
Glitter 'n' Sparkle:  anything goes
613 Avenue Create: anything goes
Artistic Inspirations: anything goes
Crafting From the Heart: anything goes
Craft Your Passion: anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door anything goes
Cupcake Inspirations:  inspirational photo

Snow/Snowflakes @ Melonheadz Friends

For the next two weeks at

we want to see that white stuff - yep, snow! Actually, I'd like to see some of that white stuff irl too. My poor oldest, he bought himself a snowmobile, got snowshoes and snowmobile pants for Christmas and hasn't been able to use any of it! My other two would like to get out there and snowmobile and build forts etc. too but so far - nothing! We better not get all our snow in April, just saying.  (Edited to add:  We did get a bit of snow over the weekend.  Nothing to use a snowmobile or snowshoes for....heck, my kids went to school in their shoes, but at least it looks more like January.)

This is what I did for the challenge....

....and it looks like I was mimicking real life with this one, as really, I've just got that one snowflake on there.  But, that one piece of patterned paper reminds me of a snowstorm and there is the word "snow" on that background paper so I'm gonna call that good enough.  I used an image from the Winter Bobbleheadz pack.  And I linked you to the combo pack so you can get both the black & white AND coloured images.

So why not make something using that white and fluffy stuff (well, the paper version of it anyways) and enter the challenge? And be sure to check out what the rest of the DT has made.

4 Crafty Chicks:  anything goes
As You Like It:  anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenges:  anything goes
A Snowflake's Promise:  anything Christmas goes
Creative Card Crew:  anything goes
Deep Ocean:  anything goes
Crafty Boots:  something old, something new - Old patterned paper, new-to-me digi.
Crafty Creations:  anything goes
Jingle Belles:  something old, something new - Old patterned paper, new-to-me digi.
Creative Corner:  anything goes
Glitter 'n' Sparkle:  anything goes
613 Avenue Create: anything goes
Artistic Inspirations: anything goes
Crafting From the Heart: anything goes
Craft Your Passion: anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door anything goes
Creative Moments: anything goes