Showing posts with label Dylusions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dylusions. Show all posts

Thursday, 2 April 2015

The Christmas Ghoul

Today as we were doing some spring cleaning around the Guild Hall, the Lady Commander of Copics came across a small Christmas Ghoul. She has been holed up since last December, snatching food from the kitchens. As she seemed harmless, and in her boredom reorganized all our Christmas decorations in the attic, we decided to leave her be.

This week the theme at Wicked Wednesday is April Fools or Your Favourite Holiday. Make an ATC following this theme for a chance to win a prize from our sponsor, Creepy Cute Stamps.

I started my ATC by colouring the Creepy Cute Stamps image using Prismacolor pencils. I figured her dress needed to look a little more Christmasy so I stamped it with a little snowflake from the Lawn Fawn “Critters in the Arctic” set. This earned me +90 fashionable XP. The holly for her hair was stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Winter Gifts” set and coloured with Prismacolor pencils. 

I used my Wink of Stella glitter pen on her dress and the holly in her hair for some extra Christmas sparkle and +111 glittery XP. The snowflakes for the background were die cut using the Lawn Fawn “Stitched Snowflakes” die set. I had to add a sentiment, so stamped one using the Dylusions “Christmas Words” set.

This ATC will creep into the following challenges:

The Christmas Ghoul was a silent creature, never speaking as she went about her business. I don’t know if this would come back to haunt us later, but for now her organizational tendencies were enough to make me want to keep her around.

~ Guild Master Crystal

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Red Nosed Indeed

As we were leaving the dwarven city, our satchels filled with newly acquired loot, the Lady Command of Copics, Guardian of Glitter and I came across an unusual sight. We had just emerged from the underground caverns when we heard what sounded like a rowdy party in the nearby forest. Curious, we followed the noise only to come across nine reindeer completely drunk on wine.

This wine tag was created for The Inked Stamper design team and was based on this inspiration photo.
For this wine tag, I stamped and paper pieced the reindeer using the Dylusions “Christmas Accessories” set. I cut the paper to 8.5” x 2.75” and scored at 2.5”. I used a 2” circle punch for the hole because it is literally the only circle punch I own, but I think a smaller one would be better - 1.5” would probably be perfect. The sentiment was stamped with the Dylusions “Christmas Words” set. If this was used on a bottle of vodka, rye, or any other spirit it would really level up the Pun damage of this tag. It’s hard to tell from the picture, but the rectangle of wood paper was cut using the Lawn Fawn “Stitched Rectangles” die set.

This wine tag will sass up the following challenges:

As we peered through the bushes at the unruly bunch, I noticed that one of the reindeer had a blazing red nose. Either he was a chronic drinker, or this was the infamous Rudolph. If the latter, this could spell disaster for the Winter Festival which was scheduled for tomorrow night!

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Caravan of Crazy

Welcome to the Guild Hall. Earlier this week, a caravan of unique merchants had arrived at the market square in the village and as the night was fair, I decided to venture into town and see what they were selling. The first booth was full of curiosities that the strange inventor claimed could do wondrous things. As he was missing an eye and had replaced the empty socket with a lightbulb, I was hesitant to trust the breadth of his sanity.
Next to him, a young lady was selling what appeared to be your standard, albeit rather large, strawberries. When I inquired about her oversized fruit, she shook her head and gestured for me to lean in close. She then glanced from side to side, apparently ensuring no one was listening in, and whispered in my ear. “These are magical strawberries. Some can heal any alignment, others can enable you to fly, and still others will send you on a magnificent trip down a rabbit hole.”
The stall next to her was simply a girl with a scuba helmet on. She didn’t appear to be selling anything. Or speaking. It was odd.

Here are some more calendar pages from my 2014 desktop calendar. You can see January - March and April already. For May I started by stamping and colouring the Octopode Factory “Steampunk Alfie” image with Prismacolor Pencils. The background was coloured with Distress Inks and then stamped with the lightbulb from the Tim Holtz “Industrial Blueprint” set. The curly border was cut with the Artbooking cartridge.

June was made by stamping the Alice image from The Octopode Factory and colouring her with Prismacolors. The background was coloured with Distress Inks and then stamped with a large strawberry stamp from Unity (not sure what kit it’s from). I also added the leaves on the side using the Dylusions “Luscious Leaves” stencil. Last I stamped some strawberries from the Lawn Fawn “Summertime Charm” set and coloured them with Distress Markers.

This calendar page will soak up sun in Try it On Tuesday “Colours of Summer” challenge. 

July was made by stamping and colouring the Octopode Factory “Steampunk Willow” image with Prismacolor pencils. The background was made by swiping the paper through some wet Distress Ink. After it was dry, I stamped the tentacles using the Dylusions “Doodle Parts” set and the “bubbles” using the Lawn Fawn “Summertime Charm” set.

This calendar page will sink into the following challenges:

I decided to not risk my hard earned gold coins and went home empty handed. Later I received a raven from the Peanut Nutter Asylum of the Magically Insane informing me that three patients had escaped and were suspected of ambushing and stealing a caravan. Well that explained a lot…

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

The Sassy Informant

Greetings. Thank you for stopping by the Guild Hall today. The Guardian of Glitter and I are off exploring the Floundering Reef looking for signs of where the Duke of Dies has the Lady Commander of Copics locked up. Our investigating finally lead us to a derelict looking building in the slums. We had heard whispers that there was a lass here who knew where the Duke of Dies had his lair. When we opened the door to the run down shack we were surprised to see a dance studio inside with girls in tutus, practicing ballet. Nikki and I stood off to the side watching when one of the girls finally noticed us and stomped over. She was wearing a kawaii pig headed hat and a little curly pig tail could be seen poking from her skirts.
“Who’re you?” she snarled, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, miss. I am Guild Master Crys…”
“Ya, ya, ya. Whatcha want?” she demanded, tapping her foot.
“We are looking for,” I consulted my parchment, “'Sugar Ganache'.”
“That’s me. Make it snappy,” the girl said, glaring at me.

I was invited to guest design over at Try it on Tuesday where the theme this week is Tags Anywhere or Just a Tag. I’m not well adept at making tags as I usually make cards, so this was truly a challenging crafty quest, but I did have fun making it and like how it turned out.
Guest designer 2014.JPG
I started this tag by stamping the Kraftin’ Kimmie “Angry Ballerina” image and colouring it with Prismacolor pencils. I then worked on the background, stamping the Unity “Worn Music” image and heat embossing it. I sprayed the tag with pink Dylusions spray ink and then used a stencil and some Black Soot Distress Ink, wiping off the music notes with a baby wipe. The borders were cut using the Artbooking cartridge. Last I added the cheeky sentiment from the Dylusions “Say It How It Is” set earning myself +333 sassy XP points and leveling up!

This tag will dance into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: I ought to use this more (Dylusions spray ink. I have a bunch of them and hardly use them anymore.)

After some prodding we were able to ascertain the location of the Duke of Dies lair thanks to Sugar’s information. After she was done with us, she stomped back to the group, her pig ears flapping as she walked, and continued on with her dancing. I had never met someone with a more ironic name - a sassy brat named Sugar - go figure.

~ Guild Master Crystal  ~

Sunday, 11 May 2014

Double Trouble

Today the Lady Commander of Copics and I were returning to the Guild Hall after a successful morning questing in the Sequin Caves when we came upon a strange duo. The pair of girls were standing in the center of the road, their heads cocked to the side, staring at us ominously. Beside me, my direwolf Lycan growled, his hair bristling.
“Hail, mi’ ladies!” I called out. “Have you lost your way?” We were far from any town and the colourfully garbed girls seemed quite out of place on the dusty, barren road upon which we stood.
The two little ones just blinked at us, turning their heads to the other side.
“Well this is weird,” my sister whispered to me. “What should we do?”

I started this card by cutting the card base out using the Art Philosophy cartridge. I then stamped the image using the There She Goes “Amalia & Laylah” set by Megan Suarez and coloured it using Prismacolor pencils, leaving it unblended for a more sketchy look. I took the flowers that were left over from cutting the card base and sprayed them with different colours of Dylusions spray ink and added a little pearl in the center of each. I stamped the right side with a border stamp from the Dylusions “Further Around the Edge” set and the sentiment was stamped with a Unity stamp.

On the inside I used a yellow panel so you could see the colour through the holes of the flowers. The sentiment I stamped using the There She Goes “Poppy” set and a random Unity stamp.

The envelope I made using some patterned paper and was preeeeetty impressed with myself that I managed to get the word “May” on the front where you could actually see it. This earned me +284 folding XP points and allowed me to level up!

This card will bloom in the following challenges:

As the Lady Commander and I stood, contemplating the situation, the girls suddenly opened their mouths wide and a deafening shriek sounded throughout the vale, followed by cackling laughter. Then in a flash of white light, the two mysteriously disappeared. What trouble would this encounter bring in the future?

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Time to Rein the Weather In

Despite the fact that Spring has officially sprung, it appears the weather has other plans in mind. Snow still covers the Guild Hall grounds, the windows coated with frost every morning. Today as I was out feeding the direwolves I noticed a reindeer had wandered onto the grounds. The little guy wore a long scarf and leg warmers, presumably to keep himself warm and not because he was a fan of a 30 year old fashion craze. 

I started this krafty kristmas kard (whoops, got carried away with the alliteration there) by stamping and kolouring (haha, last one I promise) the cute little rudolph from The Octopode Factory using Prismacolor pencils. Because this stamp is just the rubber and I’ve been too lazy to mount it on foam, I find that placing a mouse pad underneath the paper helps get a clearer impression. After matting the coloured image, I added some silver brads. The background I stamped using the Dylusions “Christmas Accessories” and "Christmas Borders" sets after smearing green Distress Paint around the edges.

I also randomly embossed the background with snowflakes and then rubbed silver Distress Paint on them to make them stand out a little more. Last I used a Unity stamp that looks like a coffee ring and stamped some circles using red Distress Paint as I found it worked a little better on the kraft than regular Distress Ink. I then cut the letters out using the Birthday Bash cartridge.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment and tree using the Unity “Peace Love Joy” set. I then added more of the circles from the front to tie it together.

The envelope was stamped with The Octopode Factory Christmas tree image and coloured in with Distress markers.

This krafty card will trot into the following challenges:
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge: Cute (tip: When stamping with unmounted rubber, place a mouse pad under the paper for a better impression than just stamping on a hard surface)

I led the scared looking animal into the stables and offered him some feed and a warm stall. He immediately settled into the straw and fell asleep. I smiled as I walked back to the Guild Hall hoping that things would finally start to warm up.
 
~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Hare of the Dog

Salutations traveller. Welcome to the Guild Hall. Last night the Lady Commander of Copics and I decided to hit up the Inked Cricket, one of the local taverns in the nearby village, to unwind after an unsuccessful quest. I was collecting the mustard seed ales I ordered at the bar when I noticed a rather drunken hare pulled up to the bar. His little hat was askew, clothes disheveled and he looked as though he had been drinking nonstop for the past couple days.
“Cheers, lass,” he slurred, holding up his cup of booze when he noticed me looking at him.
“Rough day?” I asked.
“You have no idea,” he said, slouching some alcohol onto himself in an attempt to take another drink. “Easter is coming and I’m not even close to finishing all the eggs. I’ll never be ready in time.” 

This is the April page that I made for my 2014 desktop calendar. I started by colouring The Octopode Factory rabbit using Prismacolor pencils. The background I made with the Spring Distress Inks and a spritz of blue Dylusions spray ink. I also used the Dylusions “Further Around the Edge” set to create the border. I don’t have any Easter egg stamps, so I just cut a couple eggs out of some patterned paper. You obviously can’t tell from the picture, but the purple one is velvety, earning me +88 textile XP points.
   
This calendar page will stumbled on into the following challenges:

After hearing his tale, I volunteered the Crafters Guild to assist the depressed bunny with his egg painting endeavour. We only have a fortnight to complete the quest , but I thought we were up to the task...after all...we are professionals.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Saturday, 25 January 2014

It's Dangerous To Go Alone

Today as I was sitting at the dining hall table with a steaming mug of coffee in hand, pouring over today’s post, I was surprised when a time rift was ripped right there in the middle of the Guild Hall. With a crackle of light the very fabric of space and time was torn open, allowing a sad looking pink bear to step through the portal. Behind him I noticed that nefarious time demon that we had banished - twice now. She caught my eye and with an evil grin, waved her hand as the time rift was closed.

The pink bear looked up at me with sad eyes. “You must help me, Guild Master,” he started.
“Wait a second. Just hold on. Who are you? Why did you have that evil demon tear a hole in space-time?”
“I am Love-a-Lot Bear. I have come from the future, with the help of that time demon, to warn you of the impending doom surrounding the Festival of Love,” he clutched a pink stuffed heart to his chest, obviously some sort of safety blanket.
“I had heard warnings of disaster. A wizard - Black Soot-Ture is hatching a plot,” I admitted.
The bear shook his head, “Not only is the Festival of Love ruined, but all of Crafterton Vale and the surrounding towns are destroyed, the land covered in perpetual darkness. No hope. No love.”
“What can we do?” I asked, worried at this news.
“There is hope. We need to see Scissor Arm, an enchanted snowperson who dwells in the forest of Frostback Mountain.” 

I started this desk calendar by making the base. I used the piece of cardboard that was in the middle of the new wall calendar I bought. Turns out it wasn’t quite long enough to make the base as wide as necessary so the calendar doesn’t tip over. It’s okay in the middle of the year, but the first few months it tips forward and the last few it tips backwards. Oh well...lesson learned. I covered it with navy cardstock that I ran through the Cuttlebug for some texture. The year I cut out using the Birthday Bash cartridge. I used the shadow feature, but you can hardly tell against the navy background. I wanted to keep the paper neutral for the “2014” since each calendar page was a completely different colour in the background.

January was made using the snowman image from The Octopode Factory, coloured with Prismacolor pencils. I used some Glossy Accents on his button eyes to make them more...plastic-y. The background I made using Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean and Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink. I then used the Dylusions “Let It Snow” stencil and some Perfect Pearls mist. The snowbank I cut using the Give a Hoot cartridge. I think the cut is supposed to be mountains or rolling hills, but I always use this cut for snowbanks. Last I added a ton of glitter to the snowbank, earning myself +225 sparkly XP points.

This snowman will melt in the following challenges:

Next up is February. I used the Care Bear image from The Octopode Factory, colouing it in with Prismacolor pencils. The background was made using Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry and Festive Berries DI, earning me +140 gradient XP points. I then spritzed it a couple times using Dylusions Bubblegum Pink spray ink and a simple splatter spell. The stringed hearts in the background are from the Unity January 2013 Kit of the Month. The little cluster of hearts behind the bear were stamped using the Unity “Loads of Love” set. The heart the bear is holding is from the Lawn Fawn “Love ‘n Breakfast” set.

This bear will sulk in the following challenges:

There’s not really a holiday in March (I’m not a big St. Patrick’s Day fan), and even though it’s technically spring in March, here in Alberta Canada we have snow until April (not very spring like) so I went with a clock theme since we set the clocks ahead for daylight savings in March. This will also serve to remind me of that come March. {lol} March’s background was made a little different from the previous two months. I swiped some Vintage Photo and Tea Dye DI on my craft mat and sprayed them with water and just dragged my piece of paper through the ink, drying between layers, until I was happy with it. I then went around the edges with Walnut Stain DI. I stamped the background using the vintage clock from the Unity “One Day at a Time” itty bitty. I also used a couple of pocket watches from the 7 Gypsies “Steampunk” set. The character I used for this one is The Octopode Factory’s “Violette” coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  

This page will tick away in the following challenges:

Stay tuned for more pages of my The Octopode Factory themed desk calendar!
  
After listening to Love-A-Lot Bear’s plan, I decided it best if I assembled the other guildys for this quest. It’s dangerous to go alone. We gathered our snow gear and a full compliment of weapons in preparation for our trip to the Frostback Mountains. The Guardian of Glitter carefully packed extra mana potions and elixirs as we had no idea what we would be facing. Hopefully we could complete the quest in time and save, not only the Festival of Love, but the realm.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~