A Colourful Ceremony

Greetings. Thank you for stopping by the Guild Hall today. Today the Lady Commander of Copics performed the Butterfly Ceremony of old, hoping to gain favour with the nature gods. Donning her headband of +80 mana, she released the colourful creatures into the sky, speaking the holy incantation.

This week the theme at Wicked Wednesday is Groovy Chicks. Make an ATC following this theme for a chance to win a prize from our sponsor, All Dressed Up.

I started my ATC by watercolouring the All Dressed Up image using Distress Markers. The background was stamped with some groovy images from the CAS-Ual Fridays “Exclamations” set. The sentiment also came from that set.

This ATC will creep into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion Challenge #257: Anything Goes

Kraftin’ Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday

Little Scrap Pieces Show It Off Saturday

Penny’s Challenge #223: One For The Girls

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Make Your Own Background

As the butterflies flew away, tiny flecks of rainbow sparkles began to fall from their wings landing on the Lady Commander of Copics. I smiled as she was soon covered in colourful glitter. The ceremony had worked.

~ Guild Master Crystal

Another Trip Begins

A Happy New Year to you, traveller. Thank you for stopping by the Guild Hall today. As we begin another journey around the sun, I have been spending time in the crafting chambers, reflecting upon the past trip whilst organizing the chaotic aftermath of all the frenzied Christmas crafting quests.

This week the theme at Wicked Wednesday is “Anything Goes” Make any ATC and come play for funsies! For my ATC I used the Unity image “Autumn” and watercoloured it using Distress Markers and my Hydra Brush of +90 wetness. The “xoxo” is from a Tiddly Inks stamp called “Happily Ever After”.

This ATC will be entered into the following challenges:

ABC Challenge: A is for Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #354: Anything Goes

Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Wonderful Wednesday

Little Scrap Pieces Show It Off Saturday

Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #132: Something Old & Something New (New: Unity Stamp Old: Distress Markers)

Meljen’s Designs Challenge #241: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

I look forward to what this next year may bring. Hopefully loot…lots and lots of loot.

~ Guild Master Crystal

Paws in the Woods

Today I decided to take my direwolf on a leisurely stroll through Birch Haven Woods for some exercise as he’s been penned up after his paw injury. Birch Haven Woods is a good forest for this sort of thing, as it is devoid of any high level monsters. As my companion bounded along the snowy trail, enjoying being outside, I was hopeful that his paw had now healed. Eventually we came to a clearing in the woods where there were a few forest creatures decorating for the upcoming Winter Festival. By the looks of things, it appeared they may have pilfered a few items from someone’s Holly Festival haul.  

This card was created for The Inked Stamper Design Team and was based on this inspiration photo.

All the stamped images on this are from the Lawn Fawn “Joy to the Woods” set. I stamped everything onto watercolour paper and watercoloured them with Distress Markers and my Hydrabrush of +90 wetness. I then used the coordinating die set to cut all the images out, which greatly speeds up the process and earned me +444 bonus speed XP.

I had used some patterned paper from the Lawn Fawn “Sweater Weather” 6x6 pad, but decided the colour was a little intense, so I used a piece of vellum overtop to mute it. This created an issue, as attaching vellum can be difficult if you don’t want ugly adhesive showing (and who wants that). So the vellum is only glued down on the top and bottom - underneath the borders - the middle is floating.

I used the snow marker to add some snow to the tree branches, and really loved how it turned out. I see a lot of birch trees with snow on their branches in my card making future.

I created the inside by stamping the snow drift, foot prints, and sentiment from the “Joy to the Woods” set, leaving lots of space to write a personal message.

This card will be entered into the following challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge #121: Use 2 or more colors

CHNC Challenge Extra For November

The Corrosive Challenge #213: Happy Everything!

Craft Your Passion Challenge #241: Baby It’s Cold Outside

Crafty Catz Challenge #256: Winter Theme

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Use a Die Cut

Cuttlebug Mania: There’s Snow Place Like Home

Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Challenge #257: Jingle Bells

Lacy Sunshine North Pole Challenge

One Crazy Stamper November Anything Goes Challenge

Penny Black and More November Challenge: Anything Goes

Simply Create Too Challenge #75: Snow Snow Snow

Try It On Tuesday: Christmas is Coming

Winter Wonderland Challenge: Let’s Get Sentimental

As my direwolf laid down in a snow drift, resting his paw, I decided to help the adorable forest creatures with their decorating. As glistening snow began to fall, I could hear my companion softly snoring. I smiled to myself, hanging another ornament from a birch tree.  

~ Guild Master Crystal

The Model Elf

As the Winter Festival draws nigh, it appears the rotund man in red has hired some fashion model elves this year to help bolster the dwindling interest in the holiday. The Lady Commander of Copics and I spotted some of these elves working the market square in the village. They were passing out flyers to passersby, and getting irritated looks from some of the smallfolk.   

This card was created for The Inked Stamper Design Team and was based on this inspiration photo.

Perhaps foolishly, I decided that my first The Inked Stamper design team project would be a good time to try a technique I’ve never done before - no line colouring. I started by stamping the Julie Nutting “Merry Nice” image onto watercolour paper using Antique Linen Distress ink so the lines were barely visible and easily blended away, earning +70 stealth XP points. I then watercoloured the image using Distress Markers and my Hydrabrush of Blending Wetness. After the sentiment was stamped with Festive Berries Distress Ink I went over it with my water brush to soften the lines.

I used the same snow marker in the inspiration photo to add some fluff to her hat and falling snow around her. The base of the card was cut using the Artiste cartridge.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using the There She Goes “Tis the Season” set.

This card will be entered into the following challenges:

CHNC Challenge Extra For November

The Corrosive Challenge #213: Happy Everything!

Crafty Catz Challenge #256: Winter Theme

Craftyhazelnut’s Patterned Paper November Challenge

Delicious Doodles Challenge #111: Traditional Christmas

Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Challenge #257: Jingle Bells

Lacy Sunshine North Pole Challenge

Love to Scrap Challenge #42: Say it in Color

One Crazy Stamper November Anything Goes Challenge

Penny Black and More November Challenge: Anything Goes

Simply Create Too Challenge #75: Snow Snow Snow

Try It On Tuesday: Christmas is Coming

Winter Wonderland Challenge: Let’s Get Sentimental

As the day wore on, the market square was soon littered with red and green flyers the townspeople had tossed on the ground, scarcely glancing at them. The elves were not deterred however, and continued to pass them out. Before leaving the village, I sent word to a mage I know who specializes in organizational and clean up spells. The market square was going to need it.

~ Guild Master Crystal

A Hoof is a Hoof

Today the Guardian of Glitter and I travelled north to the snow covered region of Arctic Flurries. We had received a message from Mr. Claus asking if we would be able to locate a replacement reindeer for his team this year. Apparently one of the deer had sustained an injury and was not expected to make a full recovery in time for the upcoming Winter Festival. Nikki and I searched Arctic Flurries, using locating spells and fire potions to keep warm, and were unable to locate any reindeer. We did happen upon a rather amicable moose though. 

I started this card by stamping the moose and his hat using the Lawn Fawn “Critters in the Arctic” set. They were water coloured with Distress Markers and my Hydrabrush of +90 wetness and then die cut using the coordinating die set. The birch trees were stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Joy to the Woods” set and also water coloured. I die cut some snowflakes using the Lawn Fawn “Stitched Snowflakes” die set, earning me +777 die cutting XP, allowing me to level up!

As you can see, the center portion of this card is clear, obtained from packaging I had saved: -50 hoarder XP points! The sentiment was stamped using the Bug Bites “Mistletoe” set. 

This card moose be entered into the following challenges:

Brown Sugar Challenge #118: Anything Goes

Catch the Bug November Anything Goes Challenge

CHNC Challenge Extra for November

Crafty Catz Challenge #253: Anything Goes

Delicious Doodles Challenge #108: Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Divas By Design: Anything Goes

Jingle Belles: Not a Creature Was Stirring

Kraftin’ Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday

Lacy Sunshine Challenge #45: Include a Hat

Little Scrap Pieces Show It Off Saturday

One Crazy Stamper November Anything Goes Challenge

Penny’s Challenge #201: Anything Goes

Pile It On Challenge #43: Create a Scene

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

I wondered how picky the fat man was of the hoofed animals pulling his sleigh. The moose we met seemed rather eager to at least audition for the task. The Guardian of Glitter and I, already cold and tired from our long search, decided to give it a try and lead the friendly moose towards the North Pole to meet with Mr. Claus.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Level Up: Another Class Change!

Salutations, traveller. Today I have gained a new class, joining the Wicked Wednesday Guild. I shall be assisting them in some light crafting and perhaps some mischievous spell casting. As I had now gone up enough levels to gain the ATC Crafter class, I was able to equip some sweet new gear and hold another accessory.  

This week the theme at Wicked Wednesday is “Day of the Dead.” Make an ATC that goes with this theme for a chance to win a prize from our sponsor, Aurora Wings!

I started this ATC by colouring the Aurora Wings image using Distress Markers and my Hydrabrush of +50 wetness. I stamped and heat embossed the swirly image using the Inkadinkado “Decorative Corners” set and then coloured the background using Distress Inks. Last I stamped the sentiment using the Mark’s Finest Papers “Be Wild & Free” set.

This ATC will be entered into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #281: Embossing

Kraftin’ Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday

Punk You Girl October Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes

Try It On Tuesdays Challenge: Spooky

In my new accessory slot, I equipped a skull that increased the damage done by my dark magic spells. When the Lady Commander of Copics saw my new getup, she shuddered at the dark mist that had formed at my feet.

“Is that going to follow you around now that you have that skull equipped?” she asked. “If so, it’s going to become a safety hazard as it makes it rather hard to see.”

As the room filled with the gloomy haze and my sister became more obscure, I could see she had a point. We compromised, and I promised to unequipped the evil skull whilst inside the Guild Hall. I could hardly wait to try it out in a fight though!

~ Guild Master Crystal ~ 

The Pink Wind Howls

Salutations, crafty traveller. Thank you for stopping by the Guild Hall this fine day. The Lady Commander of Copics and I have just returned from a quick trip up to the northern region of Cotton Candy Fields. This time of year, the pink fields are covered in a soft blanket of sparkling snow and the snowfolk have already started to appear. Braving the bitterly cold winds, we collected some samples of the pink tinged snow to take back to the Guild Hall and use in some new ice elemental spells we were developing. 

This is the third card in my Lawn Fawn postcard Christmas card set. You can espy the first two here and here. As with the previous two I started by stamping the postcard using the Lawn Fawn “You’ve Got Mail” set. The snowmen and their clothing, from the Lawn Fawn “Making Frosty Friends” set, was stamped onto watercolor paper and watercolored with Distress Markers and my Hydra Brush of +70 wetness, keeping the colours similar to the postage stamp sticker. I then die cut the snowmen and their accessories out before adhering them together. The sentiment, which fits perfectly on the lines of the postcard, was stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Winter Fox” set. I added a postmark using the Kaisercraft "Twig & Berry Postmarks" set. Some sparkly twine and a blingy snowflake finished the front off.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using The Greeting Farm’s “Sparkling Season” set, keeping with the snowy theme and earning +402 chilly XP points.

The outside was stamped with the postage line things (I'm really not sure what they're called) from the Lawn Fawn “You’ve Got Mail” set and again with the “Twig & Berry Postmarks” set.

This card will keep it cool in the following challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year ‘Round October Challenges: Embellish It

CHNC Challenge Extra For October

Craftyhazelnut’s Patterned Paper October Challenge

Delicious Doodles Challenge #105: Christmas in October

Jingle Belles: Pink Christmas

Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps: Wonderful Wednesday

Little Scrap Pieces Show It Off Saturday Linky Party

Love To Scrap Challenge #39: Anything Goes

Meljen’s Designs Challenge #231: Use Bling

Penny Black and More October Challenge: Get Ahead For Christmas

Pile It On Challenge #41: Use 2 or More Die Cuts

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Use Watercolors

Our short jaunt to the frigid snow covered Cotton Candy Fields in the north also served as a bitter reminder that winter was indeed coming. As such, the Lady Commander and I put aside our spell creation project and spent the remainder of the day preparing the Guild Hall grounds for the harsh winter ahead.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

New Shinys

Today there was a Pre Winter Festival Fair in the market square of the village. The Lady Commander of Copics and I went to see it we could find any hidden gems, bespelled baubles, enchanted embellishments, magical mysteries, or ...you know...Christmas ornaments. Even though the Guild Hall attics were overfilled with Winter Festival decorations, the Lady Commander and I could not help but purchase more.  

This is another card from my postcard set series. You can see the first one here. I started by stamping the post card from the Lawn Fawn “You’ve Got Mail” set. The Christmas bauble, from the Lawn Fawn “Ornate Ornaments” set, was watercoloured with Distress Markers. I then decided it needed more bling and used some glittery Stickles on the swirls, earning me +444 sparkly XP points. I also clear embossed a shiny star and positioned the ornament so it looked like the shininess was coming from it. The postmark was stamped with the Kaisercraft "Twig & Berry Postmarks" set and the sentiment came from a Simon Says Stamp set (don’t know the name as I won it and it arrived without packaging...ooooo….mystery XP points).

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using The Greeting Farm’s “Holiday Blessings” set, tying in the ornament theme of this card.

The outside was stamped with the postage line things (I'm really not sure what they're called) from the Lawn Fawn “You’ve Got Mail” set and again with the “Twig & Berry Postmarks” set.

This card will have a ball in the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge: S for Something Festive

Brown Sugar Challenge #113: Anything Goes

CHNC Challenge Extra for September

Craftyhazelnut’s Patterned Paper September Challenge

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Christmas in September Challenge

Divas By Design: Pretty In Glitter

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: Ribbons or Lace

Incy Wincy Designs: Anything Goes

Kraftin’ Kimmie Wonderful Wednesday

Love To Scrap Challenge #38: Anything Goes

Open-Minded Crafting Challenge #19: Roll Out The Red

Pile It On Challenge #38: Shiny

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Winter Wonderland Challenge: Layer It Up

Unlike previous years, we came away from the fair with our coin purses still half full, only purchasing a few new ornaments. I was fairly certain that one I had purchased was enchanted, unbeknownst to the seller. Time to head back to the Guild Hall and unravel its secrets.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Hay, We Have a Situation Here!

Greetings. Welcome to the Guild Hall. Today a sack of post arrived from the Northern Region where the elves were already preparing for the great Winter Festival. I tore open the first envelope, brushing off the magical snow that still clung to the front, and pulled out a postcard from the leader of the reindeer herd. It seems the summer was very dry, the hay harvest yielding a poor haul. He requested the assistance of the Crafters Guild to seek out some hay reserves to get the reindeer team through the winter and the important festival in December. 

This card was created for the Creative Card Crew “Twine” challenge that is happening now. Make a project with some twine and come play along with us for your chance to win a prize from our sponsor!

Last year I had won a pack full of crafty Christmas goodies which included a sheet of stickers that looked like postage stamps. That inspired me to make a set of Christmas cards using the Lawn Fawn postcard from “You’ve Got Mail” and use the postage stamp stickers. This is the first one. 

The deer was stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Into the Woods” set and die cut using the coordinating Lawn Cuts. Soooo much easier than fussy cutting, and I earned +88 efficiency XP points. I watercoloured it using Distress Markers and then gave him a red nose (like rudolph) with some red stickles. The little ornament he’s holding was stamped with the Lawn Fawn “Ornate Ornaments” set, watercoloured, cut out and made shiny with Glossy Accents. The sentiment was stamped with the Lawn Fawn “Cozy Christmas” set. The postmark was stamped with the Kaisercraft "Twig & Berry Postmarks" set. 

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using The Greeting Farm’s “Holiday Blessings” set.

The outside was stamped with the postage line things (I'm really not sure what they're called) from the Lawn Fawn “You’ve Got Mail” set and again with the “Twig & Berry Postmarks” set. Check back for more Christmas cards from my postcard set series.

This card will be entered into the following challenges:
CHNC Challenge Extra for September

Cuttlebug Mania: Anything Die Cut (used Lawn Fawn “Into the Woods” die set)

Lawnscaping Challenge #90: Critters Galore

Meljen’s Designs Challenge #228: Karaoke (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer)

I could not deny helping the nine member reindeer team; they are vital to the Winter Festival going off smoothly. I quickly sent my reply by raven and went to find the rest of the Guildys to begin our hay filled quest.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~