An Accidental Artifical Snowstorm

Greetings traveller. Today the Lady Commander of Copics and I took to the crafting chambers to work on some new spells using the frostling roots we had collected whilst travelling in the north. We were hoping to create some ice based attack spells and began our experiments at once. It wasn’t long before the crafting chamber was covered in snow and, after a particularly poor miscalculation, a snowman had arisen from the stuff. 

I started this ATC by colouring the Dilly Beans “Holly Heart Snowman” image using Prismacolor pencils. I then used an old Christmas card I rescued from the trash to make the backing.

Back in January I had penned a scroll to all my workmates at the horse and carriage shop requesting any greeting cards that they were going to throw in the rubbish, as I knew I would be able to find a new purpose for them. Last I used a snowflake punch to create the edge and then glued the “garbage” snowflakes that had punched out to the ATC.

Oooo...glittery :)

This festive ATC will be entered into the following challenges:

CHNC Challenge Extra for April

CHNC Challenge #173: Use a Hat

Dilly Beans Challenge: Make an ATC

Holly Jolly Christmas Snowman/Snowball Challenge

Pile It On Challenge #16: No DP

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #148: Happy Earth Day

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #39: Inspired By Christmas Carol (Frosty the Snowman)

The snowman looked curiously about, surely wondering what he was doing inside a dwelling.

“Ummm...sorry about that,” my sister called to the snowperson.

He opened his mouth in reply, but before he could get a word out, the Lady Commander, in her haste to correct her error, had already spoken the words to make him disappear. I suppose we shall never know what he was going to say…

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Blazing Paint

Today has been another hot day in the realm, making the smallfolk restless. I shed my cloak of +60 adhesiveness in favour of a light tunic and rode to the village in search of a new way to keep cool. The sun beat down on my back, red and hot as I rode Ruffles through the village gates, and I could feel the sweat start to gather in crevices I was unaware of. I went to seek the help of magi Shiki. She ran a small shop in the elemental district, mostly catering to adventurers such as myself.

“Greeting, Guild Master,” she breathed as I walked in. “What are you seeking today?”

I started this card by watercolouring the Dilly Beans image with my Distress Markers and Hydra Brush of +20 wetness. This was the first time I’ve attempted to print a digi on watercolour paper and watercolour it. It went...okay...ya...okay. Some of the ink did smear in some places, but overall it was better than I expected. I also used a sharpie to make her eyebrow a little thicker since it was supposed to be for the Frida Kahlo challenge. After that was done, I set it in a safe place weeeeeeell away from my desk as I was busting out the Distress Paints again, and after last time, well...I wasn’t taking any chances.

I blobbed some paint on, sprayed with water, swirled it around with my fingers, dried it, added some green around the edges, dried it again and that was that. I then busted into my VAST Unity stash of virgin stamps and found the Itty Bitty: “Butterfly Effect”. I inked it using Distress Paint, stamped it on then immediately ran to the bathroom to wash off the paint with soap and water. Phew. Stamp saved. I’ll admit - I was nervous using the paint as ink and not ruining my stamp.

I cut the flowers using the Art Philosophy cartridge. Before I glued the pieces together, I stamped the orange piece with the Unity “Cooped Up Notes” image to make it more visually interesting. I then thought they still looked a little blah so I took some green paint and rubbed it into the textured paper the red top layers were cut out of. Ahhh...much better. I decided it needed a sentiment, because for some reason I have a real problem making a card and not putting a sentiment on the front. *shudder*. I found another virgin stamp from the Unity “Hiya Gorgeous” set and gave it its first inking.

On the inside I popped another ink virgin’s cherry and stamped another sentiment from the "Hiya Gorgeous” set. The Happy Birthday is from a Close To My Heart set. I then added on some more of those butterflies from the front.

The same butterflies made their way onto the envelope to tie it all together. 

The only bad thing about this card, is when it’s standing it’s a little lopsided because of the flower at the bottom. Oopsies. I really liked how it looked though with all the overhanging pieces. Oh well.

This card will brush on some paint in the following challenges:

Dilly Beans Challenge: Frida Kahlo

A Gem of a Challenge #87: Lots of Layers

Dream Valley Challenge #60: Make Your Own Flowers or Embellishments

Jo’s Scrap Shack FFC#7: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show: A Little Stamping

Shopping Our Stash #109: Summer Theme or Summer Colors

Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #11: Anything Goes

MFP Sketch With a Twist #54

I explained I was in search of a powerful ice-wind rune that I could use to keep the Guild Hall cooler.

She chuckled to herself. “You are not the first to seek such a thing. Most I turned away, but the Crafters Guild has always done things for the good of the realm, so I will repay the kindness.”

Shiki showed me the ice-wind rune and gave me the scroll for a fraction of the gold I’m sure she could have sold it for.

I thanked her profusely. “If you are ever in need of our assistance, please don’t hesitate to send a raven or fire message.”

“I will remember that,” she said, bowing her head.

It was with great pleasure and anticipation I could hardly contain that I mounted Ruffles and raced back the the Guild Hall to install the new ice-wind rune. Next up - lemonade!

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Colour Gem Farmers Rescue Op

Good evening traveller. Thank you for stopping by the Guild Hall. Today the Crafters Guild had to respond to a distress call from the Colour Gem Farmers who were in a dire situation. Seemed the Rainbow Raiders, Murky and Lurky were up to their old tricks again, sucking all the colours from the poor girls’ fields. We had to take care of this situation swiftly, as the Colour Gem Farmers were charged with growing and harvesting many of the rainbow gems we used to create our inky spells.

I started this card by colouring the Dilly Beans image using Prismacolor pencils. I then doodled a striped frame around it with a black Sharpie, earning me +139 doodle exp points. Setting that aside, I next attacked the background using some Black Marble Dylusions spray ink. I then stamped the top and side using a stamp from the Dylusions “Further Around the Edge” set. The sentiment I stamped using the Dylusions “Quintessential Quotes” set. Some striped ribbon finished off the front of this black and white card.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using the Tim Holtz “Odds and Ends” set and the My Pink Stamper “Family and Friends” set.

I decided to give this card a black envelope and stamped the same border stamp on it using some white ink. The white ink I have is very crappy and ALWAYS smears even after being heat set until the envelope practically bursts into flame. If anyone knows of a good white ink that DOESN’T smear, please let me know! I like stamping in white, but avoid it due to the imminent smearing that will take place.

This colourless craft will be entered into the following challenges:

The Octopode Factory Friday Challenge: Lovely Ladies

Card Crafter’s Circle Challenge #77: Stripe Me Silly

Dilly Beans: Black and White

The Corrosive Challenge #175: I’ve Been Framed

Catch the Bug June Anything Goes Challenge

Pile it On Challenge #22: Stripes and/or Plaid

The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge #61: My Kind of Gal

Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #10: Anything Goes

MFPSpeedyTV Simple Salutations Challenge #48: Birthdays
Penny’s Challenge #130: Birthdays

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Brought To You By The Letter S (I used Stamping, Stripes and Spray Ink)

The Lady Commander of Copics, Guardian of Glitter and I rode in on our horses, bows already drawn. The Rainbow Raiders are such bumbling fools, we dispatched them with very little effort. I asked Ginger, the leader of the Colour Gem Farmers, if she would like some basic combat training for her and her girls so they could fend off the idiots themselves, as it doesn’t take much to send them running for the hills. She gladly accepted, so we shall begin training with the farmers next week. Doesn’t hurt that they will be paying us in rainbow gems!

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Zombified Elves

Today we encountered an unexpected problem. I was enjoying a nice evening tea when I suddenly heard screams coming from outside. Peering out the window I spotted several people running and screaming, some clutching bleeding neck wounds. This couldn’t be good. I grabbed my gunblade and called to the Lady Commander of Copics to arm herself and join me. We rushed outside to the hoards of people fleeing some unknown evil. I grabbed one by the arm, stopping her.
“What are you running from?” I demanded of her.  
“Z-z-z-zombies, m’lady,” she trembled.
I looked to my sister who shrugged. “Let’s go,” I said heading off the direction everyone was fleeing from. It wasn’t long before we spotted the zombies the woman had mentioned. These weren’t just your ordinary zombies though - these were Christmas elf zombies!

For this card I printed off the Dilly Beans image and coloured it using Prismacolors. I added some glossy accents to the peppermint candy on her hat. The sentiment came from the Dylusions “Christmas Words” set. I managed to use up some old papers that I’ve had for two years. I also used up that old scrap of red ribbon, decreasing the size of my hoard by approximately 0.00000000000000000000048%. I also added a bell to the bottom of the bow as it went well with the sentiment. Unfortunately, it also made this card unable to fit into an envelope, earning me -70 planning exp points. I don’t know what I’m going to do with this now. I suppose I can make a box for it, but then it would have to be for someone I’m just going to hand deliver a card to. Ah well...I have another nine months before I have to deal with that. <PROCRASTINATION LEVEL UP!!>

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using the My Pink Stamper “Biggie Christmas Sentiments” set, then added some holly stamps in the corners.

This zombified card will bite its way into the following challenges:
ABC Christmas Challenge: D for Designer Paper
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #258: Something Old (the papers and that ribbon are suuuuper old)
MFP SpeedyTV Simple Salutations Challenge #34: Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #31: Greeting
Chocolate Coffee and Cards Challenge #33: Buttons and Bows
Dilly Beans Stripes Challenge
A Gem of a Challenge #69: Button It
CHNC Challenge #114: Ribbons, Ribbons, Ribbons
CHNC Challenge Extra for March

It would appear that these zombified elves are some of the elves that we rescued in the undercover mission last Winter Festival. Apparently some of them got lost fleeing the workshop and were attacked by the bone zombies that roam the Forest of Foes, thus turning into zombies themselves. We found the two that had attacked the fleeing villagers and dispensed of them easily. As I had seen some of the villagers were bitten, we would have to take care of them before they turned and started attacking more people. The Lady Commander and I decided to split up to expedite the process before more people were injured. She rode off to discreetly get rid of any people that were bit and in danger of turning themselves, whilst my direwolf, Lycan, and I headed into the forest to track the remaining elven zombies. It was going to be a long night.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

My Beating Heart

Today as the Lady Commander of Copics and I were questing our way through Grimstone Castle in search of the schema for a legendary adhesive, we came across a grimchild. No one knows where the grimchildren come from, but they tend to inhabit abandoned castles and manors, especially haunted ones. Their little mouths are sewn shut, so they cannot speak to tell anyone their tale. The little creature was suddenly standing before us in a dark hallway, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. She stared at us, hands behind her back, her expression impossible to read. Angela jumped as the girl suddenly brought her hands out from behind her. I gaped when I saw the beating heart she was holding.

I started this card by colouring the Dilly Beans image using Prismacolors. I know I know...that’s two cards in a row with Dilly Beans images, but I just won three and they’re all so FREAKIN’ KAWAII I couldn’t resist colouring them! I distressed the edges of the rectangle and added some red ink to the sides. The sentiment I stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Sophie’s Sentiments” set then distressed and inked the edges of that as well. I embossed the shiny red paper using my Cuttlebug to add some texture to the card. I had to dig deeeeeeep in my stash to find those metal brads, earning me +193 exploration exp points. This card was the first time I’ve used them since purchasing the package nearly two years ago.

On the inside I simply cut a shape using the Art Philosophy cartridge and drew some stitching around the edge to match the girl’s mouth. I left the inside sentiment free so this card could be used for many different things - Valentines, love you, miss you, friendship, heck...even birthday. This earned me +29 versatility exp points. I stamped the wee ‘lil heart in the corner using the “Sophie’s Sentiments” set.

I decided to use a black envelope for this card rather than a white one. Because I don’t have a good white ink that doesn’t smudge, I just doodled on the envelope instead of stamping on it like I usually do.

This card will silently slip into the following challenges:
Card Crafter’s Circle Challenge #62: Paint the Town Red!
Use It Tuesday Challenge #49: Fasteners
CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #90: Black & White Plus 1
Dilly Beans Challenge: Black and Red
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Metal-ology
Milk Coffee Make It Cute Challenge
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #6: Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody #14: Anything Goes
Corrosive Challenge Blog Challenge #168: Rainbow Bright (love black and red together!)
Desert Island Crafters Challenge #48 - used #1 (Heart), #5 (Loving Sentiment), #8 (Lots of Texture), #9 (Metal Accents), #10 (Distressing)

The grimchild continued to stare at us. The silence grew so profound the beating heart sounded as loud as a church bell tolling. The Lady Commander of Copics and I slowly backed out of the hallway, not wanting to startle the creature. We quickly fled Grimstone Castle, vowing to find another way to get the schema we sought...mayhap one that didn’t involve bloody organs.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Black Mage? More Like Pink Mage

Greetings traveller. Welcome to the Guild Hall. We are currently harbouring a young black mage apprentice who has recently escaped from the evil Dark Magi Circle (they’re not very inconspicuous with their naming...). The lass was taken from her family when she was only three, after discovering she had an affinity towards black magic. That is not to say that she is evil, she is simply able to cast certain types of offensive and support spells more easily than healing magic and the sort. Callisi had come to the Guild Hall under the veil of a foggy winter’s night, her hood drawn up over her pink curls to hide her face from any who may have recognized her. She was not an evil person and was uncomfortable with the sort of magik the Dark Magi Circle was performing and requiring of her. The Lady Commander of Copics and I have been sheltering her until High Mage Ethera arrives to take Callisi to a safer location where she can learn magik in a safe environment.  

I started this card by colouring in the Dilly Beans image with Prismacolors. I added Glossy Accents to her eye and the skull in her bow. 

 I set that aside to dry and started hunting for some papers to use in the background. I cut out some shapes with the Art Philosophy cartridge to stamp the sentiment on using the Lawn Fawn “Sophie’s Sentiments” set. I then found some ancient flower brads and added those to the sides. I attached a pink spiral clip, that I had found in the stationary section at Wal-Mart, to the top of the image. 

I then popped up the image and the sentiment with my suuuuuuuupa pop dots, earning me +90 dimensional exp points.

On the inside I used up the scraps of the teal paper. I stamped the Unity “Misplaced Chevron” image onto the pink paper using Spun Sugar Distress Ink to keep it subtle enough so you can still write on the pink part. The sentiment I used is from the My Pink Stamper “Birthday Crazy” set.

On the envelope I used the cute ‘lil skull from the “Sweet & Toxic” set by The Greeting Farm.

This birthday card will keep an eye on the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #256: An Eye For Detail
Incy Wincy Designs: Pop it Up
Simon Says Stamp and Show: Metal-ology (Metal flower brads and metal spiral clip)
Try it on Tuesday: It’s All About The Eyes
Pile It On Challenge #7: Clips and/or Pins

High Mage Ethera finally arrived at the Guild Hall. She felt it unsafe to travel with Callisi in the open by horseback, knowing the Dark Magi Circle was already hunting for her, so she cast a magical portal that transported them to the Tower of Shards where she could train the girl to use her powers safely and for the the crafty good of the realm.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~