Look What The Winter Storm Blew In!

Greetings traveller. Please step into the Guild Hall and get out of the cold. The realm has been blasted with abnormally low temperatures this last week and we even received some snow. As it isn’t even Autumn yet, I expect this is the work of an evil Winter Wizard. The Guardian of Glitter and I dusted off our heavy cloaks and winter armor, preparing to set out and track down the fiend who was responsible for this awful weather. As we stepped out of the Guild Hall we were shocked to see the Lady Commander of Copics walking towards us; she has been missing for almost three months! A fuzzy scarf was wrapped around her neck and her hands were buried in a sparkling muff. It was odd attire considering the last we heard she was in the tropical Floundering Reef. 

I started this card by colouring The Greeting Farm’s “Holiday Anya 3” image using Distress Markers and my Hydra Brush of +20 wetness. I then used some Stickles to add some sparkle to her muff and hair clip. The card base I cut using the Artiste cartridge. The snowflakes were diecut using the Lawn Fawn “Stitched Snowflakes” die set. The sentiment was stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Let It Snow” set.

On the inside I cut the shape out using the Artiste cartridge and then stamped the sentiment using a Unity stamp.

The envelope was cut using the Artiste cartridge and stamped using the Close to My Heart “Snowflakes” set.

The flap of the envelope is fancy and matches the fancy edge of the card.

This card will create a flourish in the following challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge #111: Celebrations

CHNC Challenge Extra for September

Completely Christmas Challenge #29: Anything Goes
Craftyhazelnut’s Patterned Paper September Challenge

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #338: Too Cute!

Farm Fresh Friday: Anything Goes

Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps: Wonderful Wednesday

Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #120: Glitter or Sparkle

One Stitch At a Time Challenge #219: Anything Goes with a Die

MFP SpeedyTV Inspiration Challenge #79 (colours of the flowers)

“Sister!” I exclaimed rushing towards the Lady Commander of Copics.

“Where in the seven hells have you been?! We searched tirelessly for you with no luck,” the Guardian of Glitter  said.

“Whatever do you mean? I left just a fortnight ago,” Angela answered.

I looked at her glassy eyes and shook my head. “Memory altering spell,” I muttered to the Guardian of Glitter.

“Great. Well let’s get her into the Guild Hall and work on reversing it. This Winter Wizard will have to wait,” she replied.

Looks like we were stuck with the snow and cold for a bit longer, but at long last our lost Guildy has returned!

~ Guild Master Crystal ~   

Mystery Meat BBQ

Greetings. Today the Guardian of Glitter and I travelled to Fired Brick Village, which was a couple hours ride away from the Guild Hall. The goose clan that called the village home were having a BBQ and had invited us in thanks for defending them against the band of raiders that had been plaguing them for months. We had been able to save most of the goslings that had be taken, but there were still some missing.  

This card was created for the Creative Card Crew “embossing” challenge that is happening now. Make a project with either wet or dry embossing and come play along with us for your chance to win a prize from our sponsors!

  

I started this card by printing out the grilling goose image from Imagine That. I embossed the bottom of the paper using the Cuttlebug folder that coordinated with the Simply Charmed cartridge. I earned +70 XP points since this is the first time I’ve ever used that folder since buying it a couple years ago. The top part of the sentiment I stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Jessie’s ABCs” set. The word fun I made using the Lawn Fawn “Happy Summer” set.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using the Lawn Fawn “Cozy Christmas,” “Jessie’s ABCs,” and “Year Three” sets.

The envelope was stamped with the “Happy Summer” set to make it all matchy-match the front.

This card will get its goose cooked in the following challenges:

The Corrosive Challenge #205: Birthdays

Crafting For All Seasons Challenge #83: Feature a Creature

Crafty Catz Challenge #243: Lazy Days of Summer

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge #125: Embossing

Kraftin’ Kimmie Challenge #242: Outdoor Activities

Little Scrap Pieces Show It Off Saturday

Open Minded Crafting Challenge #16: Summer Food

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #224: Feathers

As we sat, eating the barbequed meat the Guardian of Glitter slowly put down her fork. “You don’t think….no….” she let the thought hang in the air.

“I’m sure it’s beef,” I replied, taking another bite.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Underwater Scavenge

Salutations, traveller. The last week has been unbearably hot, everyone in the Guild Hall trying to find new ways to keep cool. The Guardian of Glitter and I were elated when we received a crafty quest from the Borealis Clan of Merpeople, giving us an excuse to venture into the cool Pearlescent Sea. We gathered the necessary underwater gear, loaded up on lightning spells, and made for the water’s edge.

This card was created for the Creative Card Crew “Sea/Beach” challenge that is happening now. Make a sea or beach themed project and come play along with us for your chance to win a prize from our sponsors!

      

So I’m not going to lie. I had real issues with this image. If you visit the Guild Hall on a regular basis, you know that I primarily colour with Prismacolors (and sometimes Distress Markers). I don’t own any alcohol markers. I also have yet to find a sharpener that will get my Prismas to a fine point again (if anyone has suggestions as to what they use, PLEASE leave me a comment). As such, colouring this image was completely impossible for me...unless I wanted to print it out on an 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper :/ So...I had to come up with another way to use it which didn’t involve sloppy colouring with semi-blunt coloured pencils. Distress Inks and water to the rescue. I was actually SHOCKED that the printer ink from the image didn’t run all over the place. With that problem (sorta) solved, I moved onto the rest of the card.

The background paper I used is incredibly sparkly, but really hard to photograph so you can see the sparkles. I ran a piece of vellum through my Cuttlebug (another experiment - I actually expected it to rip), using a folder that reminded me of bubbles. The shells and star I cut out using the Create-a-Critter cartridge and glued a small pearl on each one. The sentiment and coins were stamped using the There She Goes “Shiver Me Timbers” set.

On the inside I stamped a simple sentiment using the My Pink Stamper “Birthday Crazy” set. I then added the bubbles around it with the Crafty Secrets “Couple of Cuties” set, and earned +333 water magic XP points, allowing me to level up one of my water based spells.

The envelope was stamped with the same bubbles to make it all matchy match.

This card will swim into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #267: Splish, Splash, Splosh

Cut it Up Challenge #49: Under the Sea

DRS Designs Challenge #130: Big Chill (cool colours)

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #219: Day at the Beach

Incy Wincy Designs: Strings and Things

Little Scrap Pieces Show if Off Saturday Linky Party

Open-Minded Crafting Challenge #14: Water, Water, Everywhere
Penny’s Challenge #185: Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #12: B is for Brads or Buttons

The Guardian of Glitter and I gratefully entered the blissfully cool waters, making sure to cast the appropriate spell which would allow us to breathe underwater. Once we got our bearings, we set off in the direction of the Salty Peacock Reef where the little mer-princess had disappeared. The king and queen of the Borealis Clan feared for her safety, so it was imperative that we made haste. If we happened to scavenge some rare underwater elements and ingredients whilst down there...well...these spells and potions don’t make themselves…

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

The Dove Conundrum

Greetings. Thank you for stopping by the Guild Hall. Today we received a frantic message from a couple that were about to be married tomorrow afternoon. It seems the two dozen doves they were planning on releasing at the ceremony had gone missing. The bride was desperate to have them back as they held sentimental value to her. I wasn’t one to turn down a quest, especially from a bride-to-be, so the Guardian of Glitter and I set about creating a tracking spell to see if we could locate the missing doves.

I started this shaker card by cutting the rectangular frame and wedding couple out using the “Stretch Your Imagination” cartridge. I assembled the shaker part, filling it with wedding confetti I purchased at the Everything-For-One-Brass-Coin stand at the market. The banner I cut using the “Rock Princess” cartridge and stamped it with the My Pink Stamper “Birthday Crazy” set. The base of the card was embossed with my Cuttlebug, earning my +111 bumpy XP points.

On the inside I stamped the sentiments using the Lawn Fawn “Sophie’s Sentiments” and “On the Mend” sets. I kept it clean inside since it was going to be signed by a large group of people.

This card will shake up the following challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge #101: Anything Goes

Catch the Bug Anything Goes Challenge

Crafty Sentiments Designs Anything Goes

Die Cuttin’ Divas Challenge #173: Wedding or Anniversary

Pile It On Challenge #27: Add Some Flowers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Shake It!

Once we got a lock on their location, it was simply a matter of riding there and retrieving the stolen birds. We were surprised to learn that the thief was none other than the bride’s own sister. It was revealed that two of the doves were actually the girls’ parents, having been transmogrified by an evil wizard a year prior. The problem was when the bride purchased doves to release at her wedding, they no longer knew which ones were their parents, all the doves looking the same. As she was still holding onto the hope they would be able to change them back, the sister didn’t want them released for fear of losing them forever. It looked as though the Guardian of Glitter and I had a long night ahead of us concocting a reversal spell.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

A Birthday HIT

Today the Guardian of Glitter and I set to some physical training in anticipation of the battle that was sure to ensue when we set out to rescue the Lady Commander of Copics from the Floundering Reef. To keep our melee battle skills high, we had a ninja from the Tumbled Glass Clan come to the Guild Hall and train us in some new kickboxing moves.

I made this card for a trainer at the gym I go to. Since the name of it is 30 Minute Hit I wanted the “hit” portion to be super prominent. I started this card by creating the background using the Tim Holtz “Dot Fade” stencil and Distress Inks. I chose the blue and pink colours since those are the colours of the gym (my boxing gloves are pink - teehee). I didn’t have any fighty stamps, but I did find this clip art on my computer and used that as my image, colouring it with Prismacolor pencils. The sentiment I stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Jessie’s ABCs” set and the “hit” was cut out using the Birthday Bash cartridge and then embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment and image using the There She Goes “Ninja Skillz” set. 

The envelope was inked using the Dot Fade stencil and then stamped with her name using “Jessie’s ABCs”, making it match the front and earning me +88 coordination XP.  

This card will pack a punch in the following challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge #99: Dots and/or Stripes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #218: 3 or More Embellishments

Crafty Sentiments Design: CAS of Full On

Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #108: Spots & Dots

Love to Create Challenge #120: Anything Goes

Penny’s Challenge #182: Favourite Embellishments (eyelets and brads are my 2 favs)

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes

DRS Designs Challenge #127: Inspired by Color

After our training session, the Guardian of Glitter and I were spent. We did however manage to gain three levels in our melee damage! Feeling more confident, we sat down to figure out the details of our rescue mission.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Academic Achievements Acknowledged

Greetings traveller. With May now upon us, many of the students of the various universities and institutions across the realm are graduating. Today I received a raven from one such lass, imploring the Crafters Guild's to help with a special crafty quest. She needed a dozen invites for a graduation feast she was planning for her fellow students at the Builder's University in the western hills. Quest accepted.

This card set was made for a special order from one of my workmates at the horse and carriage repair shop. She was graduating from University this year and was throwing a party for her class. I started by cutting all the grad hats using the Wrap It Up cartridge and adding some glitter to their tassels. Next I cut all the “2014” numbers using the Car Decals cartridge.

This one was embossed using my Cuttlebug and a polka dot folder. The sentiment was stamped using the CAS-Ual Friday “Exclamations” set.

This one’s sentiment was stamped using a Close to My Heart set.

This one was also stamped using the same Close to My Heart set.

This last one was embossed using the swiss dots folder and the sentiment was stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Sophie’s Sentiments” set.

The inside I printed out the words on my computer (don’t mind that black smudge, I was “erasing” the location info in iPhoto and it made a black smudge where some of the words were) and then stamped some stars using the Lawn Fawn “Critters Ever After” set.

The envelopes were all stamped with stars from the Lawn Fawn set to make ‘em all matchy-match and also earned me +888 starry XP points.

This card will graduate into the following challenges:

ABC Challenges: K is for Keep It Simple

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #131: Three Thirds (used 3 stars)

The Corrosive Challenge #198: Headgear

Jo’s Scrap Shack FFC#48: Anything Goes

My Craft Spot Monday Challenge #135: Black & White Plus One Colour

One Stitch At a Time Challenge #210: Anything Goes

Pile It On Challenge #17: Rubber Stamping

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #204: Clean and Simple

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Say Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge: Numbers

I was able to complete the crafty quest and, along with a stack of gold coins, I also earned myself some bonus XP points for swiftness, which will surely come in handy. I carefully packed the invites and sent them by owl to the lass.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

A Murder Takes Flight

Today my lord husband and I were riding through the mountain woods on our way back to the Guild Hall after a successful day of raiding when we noticed the sky had turned orange, meaning the sun was about to go down. We stopped our horses on the edge of a bluff where we had a view of the incredible sunset, relishing the romantic moment, even if we were both in sweaty armor. My horse, Ruffles, kicked a stone over the edge, breaking the perfect silence and a murder of crows flew into the air from the trees below.

I started this card by stamping the tree and birds from the Unity “With Sympathy” set (I know weird...using a sympathy set for a mother’s day card). I then cut the single strip into three equal squares and inked the backgrounds with Distress Ink.  The white panel I embossed using my Cuttlebug, earning me +194 texturization XP points. The top sentiment was stamped using the My Pink Stamper “Family & Friends” set and the bottom one was stamped with an Inkadinkado stamp.

On the inside I printed out the sentiment on my computer and then stamped the edges using the Inkadinkado “Decorative Corners” set. 

I used that same stamp on the inside to tie it all together.

This card will soar into the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #131: Three Thirds (used 3 square panels)

Crafty Sentiments: Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion Challenge #211: Up In the Air/Things That Can Fly

Jo’s Scrap Shack FFC#47: I Love You Mom

Little Scrap Pieces Show It Off Saturday Linky Party

One Crazy Stamper May Anything Goes and an Embellishment Challenge

One Stitch At a Time Challenge #210: Anything Goes

Pile It On Challenge #17: Rubber Stamping

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #204: Clean and Simple

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Say Anything Goes

Suddenly we realized how far we were from the Guild Hall and decided to ride hard to make it back before dark. These woods would be crawling with deadly, high level demons once the sky turned black, and we didn’t want to be caught in them with the meager supplies we had remaining after a full day of raiding.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~