A Minty Fresh Harvest

Today the Lady Commander of Copics and I spent the day helping the Peppermint Pals. There was an early frost this year and their crop of peppermints were in danger of spoilage. Were that to come to pass, it would mean a shortage of peppermints for the upcoming holiday season. Angela and I worked tirelessly with the Peppermint Pals to harvest as much of the crop as we could to prevent that from happening. The last thing we want is riots in the village this Christmas because there aren't enough peppermints to go 'round.

I used one of the stamps from The Greeting Farm's "Miss Anya Lounge" set which I just got in the mail a few days ago after purchasing it during one of their flash sales. I coloured her in using Prismacolors, making her match the peppermint ribbon. I cut the peppermint dies out using the Simply Charmed cartridge. The sentiment was a combination of the word "sweet" from TGF "Sweet &Toxic" set and the Echo Park "Holly Jolly Christmas" set.

The inside sentiment is from the My Pink Stamper "Biggie Christmas Sentiments" set.

I used some snowflakes and stamped them in red and green to make the envelope more Christmasy, earning me +59 festive exp points.

This mint-tastic creation will be entered into the following challenges:
TGF Retro Fresh Challenge: I Want Candy
Creative Craft Challenges2: Special Occasion (not birthday)
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #89: Anything Goes
Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #34: Anything Goes
52 Christmas Card Throwdown October Embellishment Challenge: Die Cuts
Paper Playtime Challenge #87: Anything Goes
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge #34: Circle
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #43: Candy
Jingle Belles: Holiday Creature Feature

We managed to save most of the peppermint crop, which is good considering Christmas is less than two months away and the harvest still has to be processed into the beloved candies. The Peppermint Pals were so grateful they sent us back to the Guild Hall with 14 cases of peppermint toothpaste. 

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Slaying the Songstress Demon

Today I came across a peculiar creature whilst riding back to the Guild Hall after killing some blood beetles in the Whispering Woods. A creature, who at first glance appeared to be a common woman, stood on the side of the road. She was clad in a simple blue gown and white gloves. I offered her friendly salutations and when she opened her mouth to respond music burst forth. Not just a simple song, but what sounded like an entire choir. Immediately on guard, I drew my sword as my mount, Ruffles, whinnied and began to back up. Sure enough her commonplace appearance melted away to reveal a songstress demon beneath.

First of all, I apologize for the corner of my ink pad in the picture, but I needed something to keep the card closed so I could photograph it. I started by stamping and colouring the "Virginia" image by Kraftin' Kimmie using Prismacolors. The frame around her I cut using the Art Philosophy cartridge and then ran through the Cuttlebug. The holly also came from that same cartridge. I outlined it with a white gel pen for some extra visual interest. I liked that the holly die cuts matched the holly in Virginia's hair, which also earned me +49 coordination exp points. The banner was stamped from the Lawn Fawn "Bannerific" set. The sentiment came from the My Pink Stamper "Christmas Wishes" set.

Here's the card opened. It's a gate fold card, but the flaps aren't the same size for something a little different. The large "frame" that the image is in helps keep the card closed.

Here's a close up of the inside. The sentiment came from the My Pink Stamper "Biggie Christmas Sentiments" set. The holly is from the Tim Holtz "Christmas Memories" set. I coloured the holly stamps with Distress Markers and stamped them so I could get the two different colours.

I stamped the holly on the envelope as well, using the same technique with the Distress Markers.

I shall enter this musical number into the following challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge #152: All About Music!
ABC Christmas Challenge: U for Up To You
Jingle Belles: Holiday Creature Feature
Stamping for Pleasure: Rudolph Day
Paper Playtime Challenge #87: Anything Goes
52 Christmas Card Throwdown October Embellishment Challenge: Die Cuts 
Creative Card Crew Challenge #22: Fancy Folds 
Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #34: Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge #161: Know When To Fold 'Em
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #89: Anything Goes

It was fortuitous I was able to see that songstress demon for what she was and slay her before any harm befell the good people of the village. I shall remain vigilant as those demons tend to travel in packs. When one song ends, another is waiting to begin.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Fuzzy Wuzzy Wuz a What?

Today while wandering the market in the village, I spotted a lone boy selling odd looking hats. The fuzzy hats were packed into wooden crates behind the boy. I couldn't help but wonder how he had transported the crates to the market as there was no horse or other such animal in sight. The hats seemed to be made for winter as they were lined with fur and had flaps that covered one's ears. I asked the boy to examine his ware. Holding out one of the hats, he said, "Fuzzy wuzzy?" He had a thick accent and was obviously not from this land. I asked him how much he wanted for one of the headpieces and he responded by holding up four fingers and repeating, "Fuzzy wuzzy?" He didn't appear to speak the common tongue. I dropped four silver coins into his outstretched hand and took my new purchase back to the Guild Hall.

As I was going to be entering this card into the clean and simple challenge over at The Greeting Farm's Farm Fresh Friday Challenge, this was going to be a fast assembly! I donned my +60 boots of speed to help me along. I started by colouring Oliver from the "Fuzzy Wuzzy" set by The Greeting Farm using Prismacolors. The sentiment was a combination of words from the "Fuzzy Wuzzy" set (obviously) and Lawn Fawn's "Cozy Christmas" set. I used a piece of washi tape and some buttons to finish this card off. This earned me +56 simplicity exp points. I'm not sure what I will do with those, but it's always nice to have extra exp kicking around.

I stamped the inside sentiment from the My Pink Stamper "Biggie Christmas Sentiments" set. I also slapped on another piece of washi tape because it just looked too plain for me.

I stamped a pattern on the envelope in ink that matched the card, using a cheap Recollections brand stamp I got at Michaels.

This clean and simple creation will be entered into the following challenges:
Farm Fresh Friday Challenge: Clean and Simple
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #96: No Patterned Paper
Stamping for Pleasure: Rudolph Day
Jingle Belles: Holiday Creature Feature
ABC Christmas Challenge: U for Up To You

It turns out the hat I purchased is quite warm. I gave it as a gift to my lord husband as he is always in need of toasty headgear during the winter months. Perhaps I should have purchased one for the Lady Commander of Copics as well. She is always in need to warm clothing throughout the year due to her unreasonable affliction to the cold.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Oh Deer Me

Thank you for stopping by the Guild Hall today. There has been little time for craft questing this week as we've been busy preparing for winter here at the Guild Hall. Autumn tends to be a rather short season in these parts and there is much to do to prepare for the harsh weather that is rapidly approaching. I have already spotted the winter reindeer starting to emerge from the forest, grazing on the snow grasses. These majestic creatures have inspired my next creation.

This started by stamping the "For Me?" image by Whipper Snapper Designs. I coloured it (horribly I may add) using Distress Markers. After I was done, I instantly regretted using those markers and wished I had used Prismacolors instead. Oh well. No time for regrets, I needed to press on. The sentiment was also a Whipper Snapper Design stamp which I stamped using Forest Moss Distress Ink. I folded the corner of the paper and hot glued a button to hold it down. The front finished, I moved on to the inside.

I used the Echo Park "Holly Jolly Christmas" stamp set to decorate the inside of the card.

Stamped some of the same snowflakes on the envelope to bring it all together. 

Overall, I wasn't super happy with this card (mostly because of the terrible colouring), but decided to enter it into the following challenges anyways:
Stamping For Pleasure: Rudolph Day 
Jingle Belles: Holiday Creature Feature 
Christmas Crafting Challenge #15: Buttons and Twine
ABC Christmas Challenge: U for Up To You
Penny Black & More October Challenge: Animal Magic
The Perfect Sentiment Challenge 53C: Christmas Critters
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #74: Out of a Jar or Use a Jar (green button came out of a jar)


Well, snow has started falling again and there is still much to be done. Hopefully this week I find more time to embark on a new crafting quest with my guildies.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~ 

A Glittery Peppermint Snowfall

A blanket of glistening snow covered the grounds this morning, a true herald to winter's rapid approach. The house gnomes have been busy keeping fires stoked in the hearths whilst the Lady Commander of Copics has been huddled in furs, cloaks and scarves, trying to stay warm. In an effort to stave off my chill, I have opened the winter stores and have been consuming the Christmas teas we have on hand - gingerbread, candy cane, peppermint - each one reminding me that not only is winter coming, but Christmas too!

I started by colouring Kraftin' Kimmie's "Willard" with Prismacolors. The peppermints I cut using the Simply Charmed cartridge and added some cherry red glitter after much urging from the Guardian of Glitter. At least I gained +79 shimmery exp points. I embossed the green shimmery piece of paper with my Cuttlebug. The sentiment was pieced together using Lawn Fawn's "Cozy Christmas" set and a cheap Inkadinkado stamp for the word "sweet".

The inside sentiment and peppermints were stamped from the October Afternoon "Very Merry" stamp set. 

I made a peppermint pattern envelope for this card to make is SUPER matchy! 

This peppermint paper project will be entered into the following challenges:
Creative Craft Challenges2: "Three" (3 peppermints) 
Jingle Belles: Holiday Creature Feature
ABC Christmas Challenge 2012: U for Up To You
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge #33: Traditional Colors
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #112: Dry Embossing
My Craft Spot Challenge #73: Emboss It!
Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #32: Anything Goes
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge #151: Sketch
 
Based on the weather thus far, I do believe we are in for a harsher winter than last year. I know the direwolves will be pleased as they love to frolic in the fresh snowfall. I suppose it is time to unpack the winter furs and accessories.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

  

R.I.P. Mr. Turkey

Good day, fellow traveller. Welcome to the Guild Hall. Today we had to clean out the direwolves den as they had dug up the bones that were buried from the remnants of the Feast of the Turkey and strewn them all over their lair. The Lady Commander of Copics suggested that perhaps the buried turkey carcasses had risen in the night and the direwolves were just protecting us from a possible zombie turkey attack.

The turkey, pumpkins and phrase were all cut from the Create A Critter cartridge. I embossed some of the turkey to make him a little more interesting. The pumpkins were inked with brown around the edges for some added dimension. Tied a ribbon and called it done.

The inside has a lot going on. (In my haste, I forgot to take a picture before I wrote on the inside...oopsies). The cooked turkey, gravestone and phrase were all cut from the Simply Charmed cartridge. I stamped the phrase on the tombstone and inked the edges of it to make it look all old, earning me +45 darkness exp points. I also embossed the decorative leafy stuff for some added texture.

This 'lil turkey will be entered into the following challenges:
Cardz TV Stamps Design Team Challenge# 17: Fall-O-Ween
Simply Create Too Challenge #24: Pumpkins 
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #87: Use a Pumpkin
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #133: Down on the Farm (use a farm animal)
Try It On Tuesday October Challenge #1: Autumn Colors  

It turns out the Lady Commander's theory was correct as we started hearing reports of zombie turkey attacks from the villagers. I suppose now we'll spend the rest of the day hunting those hellions down. The Crafters Guild's work is never complete.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Painted Skulls

Today the Guardian of Glitter and I were exploring the Cave of Lost Souls (the Lady Commander of Copics was at the salon), searching for the legendary Hydra Brush, an accessory that grants the wielder +220 damage points when using water based spells. It also doubles as a crafting tool, great for spreading paint on parchment. Our supplies were dwindling, but we pushed on deeper into the cave. On the fourteenth level we came across a vast cavern filled with skulls. They were not ordinary skulls though - they were all decorated. It seems that someone had been down there. With paint. And perhaps the Hydra Brush too!  If we could find the skeletal artisan, perhaps we could find the legendary accessory.

I started by just ripping a random hole right in the middle of the paper and inking the edges with Distress Ink. That earned me +67 destruction exp points. Then I used a scrap piece of that skull paper I had left over some a different card and put in in the space I had just created. I cut the "sugar skull" from the Rock Princess cartridge and added some pink glitter in the eyes (must have been from questing with the Guardian of Glitter all day). The rude...no... cheeky ummm...sarcastic...no that's not right either...hmmm...the sentiment is from the Dylusions "Say What You Mean" set (my faaaaaavourite sentiments to use).

The inside. I have a twisted sense of humour and this makes me laugh because the outside is so harsh and hostile and you open it up and it's just a simple "happy birthday". {lol} Obviously meant to give to someone with the same sense of humour as me...or someone you just plain don't like. I earned +102 chaotic exp points with this creation.

This silly skeletal card will be entered into the following challenges:
Poisoned Peas Please Challenge #8: Sugar Skulls/Day of the Dead
The Perfect Sentiment Challenge #53A: Happy Birthday
Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge: Your Favourite (Dylusions Sentiments)
Cardz TV Anything Goes Cricut Cardz Challenge
Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #32: Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Dies and/or Punches
Creative Craft Challenges2: "Three" of something (3 buttons)

We never did find the skull painting bandit in the cave, but we're not going to give up. Next we'll visit the village seer for more information that may bring us closer to the painting maniac and the Hydra Brush.

~Guild Master Crystal ~

Peas Pass the Salt and Spices

Today the house gnomes were busy at the Guild Hall canning and freezing food to fill our winter stores. Winter tends to be harsh in these parts, and we need to be prepared for any emergency crafting sessions that may occur. Olga, the house gnome overseeing the winter food supply, assures me that we will be well stocked for the winter months ahead if the road to the village market should become impassable from any winter storms.  As I watched the little gnomes shelling peas to prepare for freezing, sudden random inspiration stuck.

So I know at first glance this seems random...maybe even a little weird...but stick with me. So the pea pod was cut from the Country Life cartridge. I did one of my favourite things (well mine and the Lady Commander of Copics' favourite things...) - added googly eyes to an inanimate object making it ULTRA MEGA CUTE! This earned me +2043 SUPPA KAWAII EXP POINTS, allowing me to level up twice!! I decided the peas (now named Peter the Pea Pod) needed a festive hat, so I cut him one using the Winnie the Pooh and Friends cartridge. Added some buttons and fancy score lines and the front of this card was done. Now let's look at the inside, where it all comes together. 

See...now Peter the Pea Pod makes sense, right? {lol} I used my Penny Black "Joyful Peas" stamp and coloured the little guys in with my Distress Markers. Ahhhh...this card still makes me giggle. 

I made an envelope and stamped some ornaments on it to make it look more Christmasy.

This garden variety Christmas Card will be entered into the following challenges:
Cardz TV: Anything Goes Cricut Cardz Challenge 
Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #32: Anything Goes 
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge #32: Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Dies and/or Punches 
Divas By Design Challenge #56: Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge: Your Favorite (googly eyes)
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round October Challenge: non-traditional image with traditional colours 

As the day wore on, our shelves were lined with canned and dried foods alongside spices and salt for cooking. I'm glad the food situation is being taken care of for the winter. Now I just need to call upon the village enchantress to place a spell upon the store room doors so it won't be broken into like last year. That's going to cost some gold coins. Best get questing to earn the cash.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~ 

A Polar Bear's Tale

Today the Crafters Guild was dispatched to slay a giant white beast who was terrorizing the ice village of Frostvale. We donned our winter gear (in which the Lady Commander of Copics was already clad due to her unreasonable affliction to the cold), armed ourselves, drank some mana potions, packed some elixirs and mounted our horses for the journey to Frostvale. Upon arriving it wasn't immediately clear what the danger was. We could see no visible damage to any of the huts or market stalls. It wasn't long before we spotted the massive white bear in the sparkle fields beyond the town. 

I started off by colouring the "Bear Hug" image from Penny Black using Copics, causing the Lady Commander of Copics great pleasure. I used a scrap piece of that snowflake paper left over from another card for the background. I then used some scraps of that "glitter" paper and cut them into even rectangles. I used a snowflake Cuttlebug folder and embossed the pieces. A couple brads, and the front of this puppy was done.

For the inside I used the last scrap of that snowflake paper and a small bit of some leftover seafoam paper to stamp the sentiment on. I earned +98 neatness points with this card for using up so much scrap paper.

I stamped a pretty snowflake design onto the envelope, since I thought it went with all the other snowflakes on this wintery-fresh card.

This chilly creation will be entered into the following challenges:
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge #32: Anything Goes
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: Scrappy Christmas 
Crafty Hazlenut's Christmas Challenge #94: Snowflakes 
Creative Card Crew Challenge #21: Birds
Penny Black Allsorts October Challenge: Animal Magic

It turns out the gentle bear wasn't trying to create havoc in the sparkle fields of Frostvale; he was just trying to gather some sparkles to decorate his cave for Christmas. The Guardian of Glitter  bestowed a sack full 'o sparkles upon the cute bear so he wouldn't have to ravage Frostvale's sparkle fields any longer. Once again, the Crafters Guild save the day (and the sparkles)!

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Eat Up - It's Your B-Day!

It has been a grueling day at the Guild Hall. I've had to catch up on responses to the mounting pile of post, tend to the sick direwolves (who had a little too much to eat at the Feast of the Turkey Carcass) and organize the armory, which has gotten a little out of hand lately. I will keep the preamble short and cut straight to today's craft.

I started by stamping and then colouring The Greeting Farm's "Birthday Anya II" using Prismacolors. The birthday I cut out using the Birthday Bash cartridge. I then stamped calories don't count from the Dylusions "Christmas Words" set. Using the Cuttlebug, I embossed the orange rectangle to add a little something-something behind Birthday Anya. That earned me +49 pizazz exp points. I'm not quite sure what those are used for, but I'm sure they'll come into play in a future quest.

The inside sentiment was a combination of the My Pink Stamper "Birthday Crazy" set and the Inky Antics "Cupcake Birdy Honey Pop" set. 

I used the cherries from the Inky Antics set to make a matching envelope.

This birthday-licious card will be entered into the following challenges:
The Perfect Sentiment Challenge #53A: Happy Birthday/Anniversary with a sentiment
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Dies and/or Punches
Divas By Design Challenge #56: Anything Goes
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #40: Purple & Orange

Hopefully the week's end will bring a much needed respite to the hectic days I have been experiencing as of late. My body has grown weary, and my mind tired. I will retreat to my sleeping chamber for the evening and prepare for the morrow.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~ 

Do I Look Like a Freakin' Turkey?!

Yesterday, Hobchob, our blind house gnome, went out to try and slay a turkey for the Thanksgiving Feast. Unfortunately, his lack of sight made that task rather difficult. An angry little monster ended up dragging Hobchob back to the Guild Hall by his ear after the house gnome tried to cut off his head, mistaking him for the large bird he sought. The orange monster tossed Hobchob into the Guild Hall, looked at me with his beady green eyes and shouted, "DO I LOOK LIKE A FREAKIN TURKEY TO YOU?!" I apologized for the blind house gnome's mistake and sent someone with two working eyes to fetch our bird.

I started by cutting out the "tag" from the Art Philosophy cartridge. Then I stamped and coloured with Prismacolors the super cute Goat Monster image from Stampotique. I finished off the tag by inking the edges with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. I embossed a rectangular piece of paper and inked it up with some Rusty Hinge as well, creating the base for the sentiment. I used the Stampotique "Do I look like a freakin' people person" stamp and cut up the words, adding "turkey" at the end created from Lawn Fawn's "Jessie's ABCs". This move earned me +59 knowledge exp points.

The inside sentiment was a mixture of stamps. Happy came from the "Family & Friends" My Pink Stamper set. The blimmin came from the "Christmas Words" Dylusions set and Thanksgiving was created using Lawn Fawn's "Jessie's ABCs." The edges were again inked using Rusty Hinge.

I didn't really know what to stamp on the envelope to make it "match"...I went with a pie {lol}. What is a Thanksgiving Feast without a pie (or numerous pies as my lady mother tends to make)? The cute lil pie came from Lawn Fawn's "My Silly Valentine" set. 

I will enter this non-traditional Thanksgiving card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge: Rustification 

Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #43: Autumn Colours

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #110: Thanksgiving

Divas By Design Challenge #55: Use some texture

Poor Hobchob just wanted to help out. The Lady Commander of Copics and I ended up inviting the vexed little monster to our Thanksgiving Festival where he was able to make amends with our blind little house gnome while we enjoyed feasting upon a turkey carcass. They both ended up drinking two flagons of wine and playing drunken games. I suppose all was forgiven. Another great holiday at the Crafters Guild Hall.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

The Fox and the Direwolf

Greetings. I'd like to welcome all new travelers to the Guild Hall who have decided to embark on our crafting journey. Glad to have you along for the dungeon crawling crafty capers. As today is the Feast of the Turkey Carcass, I decided against embarking on any intense questing, and decided to just do some grinding - leveling up by killing the various insects that inhabit the forest trails. As I was prowling the forest with my great bow, Fungi and my direwolf, Lycan, we came across a cute 'lil fox sniffing at some blackberries. Lycan quickly chased after the fox, eager for a hunt. I, on the other hand, thought that cute guy would look sweet on a card.

I stamped the super cute image from the Lawn Fawn "Winter Fox" set and coloured him up with my Prismacolors. I inked the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink, which is quickly becoming my new favourite colour. The sentiment is also from the "Winter Fox" set. The snowflakes I cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge and embossed them with the Cuttlebug. Then to bling 'em up even more I hot glued some "gems" I had purchased from the dollar store. It is a little hard to see in the picture, but the snowflakes on the ribbon also have some bling in the middle, so I thought they matched well.

The inside was decorated with stamps from the Echo Park "Holly Jolly Christmas" set.

I stamped the envelope with some snowflakes from a cheap Recollections set from Michaels to make it match the card.

This foxy creation will be entered into the following challenges:
MFP Speedy TV Simple Salutation Challenge: For Foxy Fun
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: Glitter and Bling
Lawnscaping Challenge #43: Texture

I had expected my direwolf to hunt and kill the fox, but I espied them bounding through the orange and yellow foliage together, playing with a stick. Looks like he's made a new friend and we'll have a new member at the Guild Hall.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

What's In Your Box?

Today as I was tucking into a nice pease pudding prepared by the house gnomes, there was a knock on the Guild Hall door. Sighing, I heaved myself from the oak dining table and went to see what unfortunate creature was disturbing my supper. I flung the door open, in a foul mood as my hunger mounted, and was surprised to see no one there. I poked my head out and looked about, but the Guild Hall grounds were deserted. I was about to close the door and head back to my meal when I noticed a small box on the door step. Curious I picked it up and examined it. Twas a small copper box engraved with leaves. Knowing better than to open strange boxes left anonymously on my stoop, I carefully took it to the crafting chambers and called for back up. While waiting, I decided to craft, my supper forgotten and growing cold.

I created this box as a going away present for one of my co-workers. She really likes my cards, and I thought this would be nice gift for her. This is what this box started looking like:

It was an old box I had saved from the facial cleanser I use.

I removed the white piece that holds the bar and just used the rest of the box. I started by painting the entire box copper. After that was done, I made the "panels" for the sides of the box. The leaves I cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge and stamped with the corresponding Close to My Heart stamp. The monogram "base" I also cut from Art Philosophy, but the letter "L" (which is the first letter of her name) I cut from the Storybook cartridge.

More leaves on the back of the box. All these leaves earned me +89 nature exp points, leveling up my nature damage spells.

So I didn't want to put leaf die cuts on all the sides of the box, so there would be "blank" sides to grasp when opening the box. I just jazzed up the paper on the remaining two sides using the Dylusion stencil "Luscious Leaves". Let's open her up shall we...

So for the inside I made some mini cards with mini envelopes. I cut them out using the Art Philosophy cartridge and stamping coordinating Close to My Heart Stamps.

There's six cards inside, two of each "style". They're all thank you cards, because who can't use little thank you note cards? I was inspired by Mary's (over at Cardz TV) note cards and thought they'd be perfect to go inside my little autumn box I made.

I will be entering my box into the following challenges:
Simply Create Too Challenge #23: Autumn/Fall
Emergency Crafters Challenge: Autumn Leaves
Tammy's Scrapin Corner Challenge #30: Fall Colors
Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge: Leaf-spiration
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #71: Go Green (Color or Recycle Something) - I recycled the Cyclic box

Once my other guildys arrived, we cast a spell of containment on the crafting chambers and carefully opened the mysterious box. As we slowly lifted the lid, a green light shone through the opening. To our surprise, the box contained a crop of the rare green-glow shrooms we'd been searching for! How fortuitous...a little too fortuitous...I have a feeling this gift may come at a price.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Glasses of Sight

Good day traveller. Welcome to the Guild Hall. Today I was visited by the village smith who modified my Pink Glasses of Sight with +43 detection points, which will make it easier to detect foes using the stealth ability. If there is one piece of equipment I love, it is my spectacles. In fact, one of my favourite things is inanimate objects or cute things wearing glasses.

I began by colouring the little goth girl from Meljen's Desgins with my Prismacolors. Then I decided she needed glasses because, in my opinion, everything is about ten times cuter when clad in glasses. I used the Lawn Fawn "Clear to See" set and just masked the arms of the glasses and stamped the frames onto the girl. I decided to run with the whole glasses theme and cut out some glasses from the Nifty Fifties cartridge. I stamped the sentiment from a cheap Imaginisce stamp. I used the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut out the "sun" shape and the diamond border shape. I embossed the white diamond shape, the white "blob" shape the girl is on, and the purple background with the Cuttlebug. 

The inside I made a "background" paper using the different glasses stamps from the Lawn Fawn "Clear to See" set. The UBER CUTE milk stamp is another cheap Imaginisce stamp. The inside sentiment I created using Lawn Fawn's "Jessie's ABCs". 

Stamped some more glasses on the envelope to make it all matchy matchy.

I will be entering this glasses-laden card into the following challenges:
Meljen's Designs Challenge #128: Just Because
Creative Card Crew Challenge #20: Purple
Lawnscaping Challenge #43: Texture

I look forward to testing my Pink Glasses of Sight in battle. So far I've only used them to see what's in cupboards and drawers before opening them. Sure cuts down on the time it takes to look for things.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

A Foreign Newspaper Yields New Information

It was a windy day outside, the strong gusts blowing dry leaves and debris onto the Guild Hall lands. After the gale had finally receded, I went outside to clean up some of the rubbish that had blown up. I came across several strange newspapers which were written in a foreign tongue. They must have come from the lands across the Pearlescent Sea. How they ended up in our realm being blown onto our property, I can't begin to fathom. I brought the crumpled pages inside and tried to make some sense of the strange writing.

I started this out by cutting the tag shape from the Art Philosophy cartridge. I stamped the vintage Santa and holly from the Tim Holtz "Christmas Memories" set. I then used Distress Inks to make the tag look all old and shabby...kind of like the garbage on the lawn. I took a gold piece of ribbon and inked it with Distress Ink to make it darker then frayed the edges so it also looked garbagey. Next I stamped the gray card base with one of the stamps from the Tim Holtz "Reflections" set. I printed out the Russian newspaper image off my computer and burnt the edges with a lighter. It's a good thing the Guild Hall isn't equipped with smoke detectors. Don't worry...I had the house gnomes standing by with buckets of water in case there was a mishap. I stamped the tickets from the Tim Holtz "Odds & Ends" set. Lastly I cut the orange oval from the Art Philosophy cartridge and stamped the sentiment from the My Pink Stamper "Biggie Christmas Sentiments" set.

On the inside I used a left over edge from the newspaper image and an extra ticket I had stamped. 

I finished off by making a matching envelope using the ornament from the "Christmas Memories" set.

This garbagey vintage card earned me +60 nostalgia exp points and will be entered into the following challenges:

The Perfect Sentiment Challenge #51: Vintage Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes
Try it on Tuesday September Challenge 2: Lots of Layers
Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #42: Vintage
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round: Use traditional Christmas image with non-traditional colours

I found one of the house gnomes who spoke the strange tongue the newspaper was written in. She was able to read it and we found another clue as to where we may be able to track down the green-glow mushrooms we failed to retrieve from the Cave of Forgotten Memories. I will have to gather more information on this new lead before the Lady Commander of Copics and I set out again, lest we run into more unexpected danger.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~