A Fluffy Song

Today I was relaxing outside, enjoying the warm weather and a day off questing, when suddenly I heard music. It was odd as it sounded as though the music was coming from above me. I looked up and couldn’t see anything amiss, however the strange song continued to sound from above. I dashed inside the Guild Hall and retrieved my spyglass to better view the sky. Upon closer examination I saw the cause of the music - incredibly rare songburst clouds had formed overhead. 

I started this ATC by stamping the bird from the Lawn Fawn “Year Four” set and die cutting it out. The balloon and music notes also came from that set. I then stamped the clouds onto patterned paper using the My Little Shoebox “Home Tweet Home” set.

See how shiiiiiiiiiny the music notes are...ooooooooo…..They earned me +55 glimmering musical XP points. Last, the sentiment was stamped with the Lawn Fawn “Critters in the Forest” set.

This ATC will float into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes

Divas By Design: Things With Wings

A Gem of a Challenge #123: Animals

Penny’s Challenge #185: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday

Wicked Wednesday Challenge #144: Clouds/Cloudy Day

I had only seen (and heard) these clouds once before as conditions had to be perfect for their formation. It wasn’t long before various songbirds were flying close to the musical clouds, singing along in harmony with the fluffy white instruments of the sky. I sat back in my lounge chair, closed my eyes, and enjoyed the concert from above.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

The Monster Mail Mishap

Today I went shopping in the village, taking advantage of the BOGO sale at Mikael’s Armour Emporium; a girl can never have too many pieces of coordinating armour! As I was waiting for my pieces to be wrapped, I heard some commotion from across the street. Glancing over I spotted a foursome of monster buddies arguing whilst trying to get some letters into the postbox. They were having troubles, being that they were all too short to reach the box properly. Suddenly, a gust of wind snatched up one of the letters and the orange monster squealed in horror as it sailed away. 

I started this card by stamping the Stampotique “Line Up” image, colouring it with Prismacolor pencils and then cutting all the monsters out. Setting those aside, I worked on the background. I made the sky and grass using Distress Paint, something I bought awhile ago, and never really use that much.

I then used a stencil and some silver Distress Paint to make the bubbles in the sky, which you can only see in the right light, earning me +555 shadow XP points. I stamped and paper pieced the mailbox and envelopes using the Lawn Fawn “You’ve Got Mail” set. The clouds I stamped onto patterned paper using the My Little Shoebox “Home Tweet Home” set. Last I stamped the sentiment using a Unity stamp. 

On the inside I stamped the border using the Lawn Fawn “You’ve Got Mail” set to make it look all envelopey like. The sentiment is from the My Creative Time “Wow! So Many Candles” set.

On the envelope I stamped...an envelope….weeeeeeeird….lol.

This card will be posted in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #260: Happy Birthday

Brown Sugar Challenge #95: Anything Goes

The Corrosive Challenge #200: Anything Goes

Craftitude Challenge #65: Anything Goes

Divas By Design: Anything Goes

Love To Scrap Challenge #30: Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time Challenge #214: Anything Goes

Penny Black and More May Challenge: Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash #152: Happy Birthday

Try It On Tuesday: It’s In the Mail

I simply had to help the adorable monster friends, so I cast a retrieve spell, calling the runaway letter to my outstretched hand. I let Mikael know I would be right back to collect my new armour and walked across the street to the panicked monsters. They sighed in relief when they saw I had retrieved their letter and I helped them insert it into the mailslot.

“Thank you, lady!” the green monster said. “That our renewal for Monster Babe Magazine.”

Siiiiiiiiiiigh....

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

A Juicy Ant Attack

The weather has been unseasonably warm in the realm as of late, everyone finding it tough to cool down. The Lady Commander of Copics and I decided to pack a little picnic and take my direwolf and her daemon feline to the lakeside to play in the water. We spread out a blanket and broke into the watermelon slices Angela had packed. As soon as I bit into the first piece, we were ambushed by giant guardian ants! Luckily a Guildy never leaves home without a full arsenal of weapons. 

I had so much fun making the first post-it note holder, I was delighted when a coworker asked me to make one for her. Well not for herself...she had purchased this card from me and when she saw the cute bear post-it note holder I made, she requested a watermelon one to go with the card she was giving to someone. Phew...that’s probably a whole lot of information you didn’t need. Moving on...

I cut the watermelon out using the Doodlecharms cartridge and added some shading with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. The cute little ants I stamped using the Lawn Fawn “Happy Summer” set.

On the inside top flap I stamped the sentiment using the My Little Shoebox “Oasis” set. I then stamped some more of those adorable ants around it. I used the magnet strips on this again to keep it closed, which gave me enough experience to level up my metal magic.

I went through the pad (being careful not to bend it this time) and stamped some ants throughout. I stole borrowed a stack of post-it notes from the wagon repair shop, where I work to make some extra gold coins, so I will be making a bunch more of these cute holders!

This colourful craft will be taking notes in the following challenges:

Incy Wincy Designs: Summer Lovin’

Tammy’s Scrappin Corner Challenge #69: Summer Fun

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #104: Office Supplies

Loves Rubberstamps Challenge #59: Anything Goes

DRS Designs Challenge #77: Summer Sun, Summer Fun

My Creative Moments Word Play Saturday June Challenge “Summertime”

Jo’s Scrap Shack FFC #7: Anything Goes

Emergency Crafters: Summer

Despite their menacing name, the guardian ants were quickly dispatched by the Lady Commander and I. I didn’t even have to use a single tonic potion in the battle. Hopefully those baddies learned not to invade our picnic again!

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Flamingo Friends Appear

Greetings traveller. We may as well chat out here on the grounds, as the Guild Hall is sweltering hot. No one was prepared for this sudden change in temperature, and the house gnomes had yet to fill the ice fans to keep the Guild Hall cool. It is much too hot for adventuring, so us guildys have been hanging out on the grounds, enjoying the breeze. Some strange pink birds have started appearing along with the heat. The Guardian of Glitter is wary of them, mistrusting their smiling faces.

I started this ATC by inking a white piece of paper with yellow and blue Distress Ink to create a kind of “sun” and “water” scene, earning myself +183 terrain altering exp points. I stamped the edges using the Dylusions “Bordering on the Edge” set. The flamingo I stamped directly onto pink checkered paper using the Lawn Fawn “Gnome Sweet Gnome” set. I stamped the lemonade glass using the Lawn Fawn “Make Lemonade” set, colouring it with Distress Markers. I decided the glass needed a little "table" to float on, so I stamped the lily pad using the My Little Shoebox “Oasis” set. I finished it off by adding a sentiment from the Lawn Fawn “Happy Summer” set.

This hot ATC will chill out in the following challenges:

Wicked Wednesday Challenge #82: Sun & Surf

Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge #125: Animals

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #267: Come Fly With Me

Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #9: Outdoor Critters

Creative Craft Challenges2 #9: All About Animals

ATC’s With Attitude Challenge #39: Things With Wings

It seems all the birds were after was a refreshing drink. I had Olga, one of the house gnomes, prepare some tasty lemonade and we invited some of the birds to partake in the thirst quenching beverage. Sated, they departed as mysteriously as they had appeared.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

April Showers Are Just Wet

Good day to you, traveller. I apologize for the tardiness of this inscription, however I have fallen ill on our journey back to the Guild Hall after visiting the Peeled Paint Port. Although the lands were beautiful and lush, it did rain quite a few days, which likely contributed to my illness. But, enough wallowing...my lord husband and I had a wonderful time, despite the weather, making the best of the rainy days. I purchased a new accessory called an umbrella, which acted as a rain shield, keeping my armour dry for the most part. I brought a few back to the Guild Hall so my fellow guildys could delight in this invention.

This card was created for the Creative Card Crew’s “Clouds” challenge happening now! You can win a $10 gift voucher to our sponsor, Stamp Fairy who has tons of ultra cute digis!

I started by colouring up the Stamp Fairy digi using Prismacolors then inking around the edges with Distress Ink. I used the My Little Shoebox “Home Tweet Home” set to stamp the cloud image on some textured paper and cut them out, adhering them with pop dots for some dimension. I also stamped the same cloud image in blue ink on the blue paper, earning me +48 subtly exp points. The sentiment came from the Dylusions “Say What You Mean” set.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using the My Little Shoebox “Oasis” set and the smiley face from the Lawn Fawn “Say Cheese” set.

I stamped more of the clouds on the envelope to make it match the card.

This rainy day creation will make a splash in the following challenges:

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #153: The Letter A (appears numerous times in the sentiment)

Chocolate Coffee & Cards Challenge #35: Bring on Spring

A Gem of a Challenge #73: Make it Cute

Simon Says Stamp and Show “A very strict challenge”

Crafty Cardz Challenge #128: “Don’t Quote Me”

Challenges 4 Everybody #17: Anything Goes
Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #106: April Showers
Friends of Speedy TV Challenge #66: Song Book or Movie (Song - Singing in the Rain) 

My Creative Moments March Word Play Saturday Challenge: “Springtime”

The Corrosive Challenge #171: Spring Fling

Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #7: Dew Drops

Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #8: Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs: Bizarre, Wacky and Unique Holidays - Umbrella Day (February 10th, which also happens to be my birthday :))

I shall spend the remainder of the day resting, drinking elixirs and tonics and recharging my crafty energies before I attempt my next crafty quest.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Owl Miss You, Buddy

Today I went to the rookery to collect the post and was surprised by the intense quiet that permeated the room. Usually it was bustling with birds coming and going, squawking and cawing, but today it was eerily silent. Much to my dismay, I soon discovered the source of the somber atmosphere. Smokester, our oldest post owl, had died last night. All the owls stood silently around his body whilst the ravens sat quietly in the rafters. Smokester had been been a post owl at the Guild Hall since the Lady Commander of Copics and I had rescued him from an enraged Ravenger many many years ago. He had become our most trustworthy owl, surviving through numerous attacks to get important messages delivered. We always suspected he may have had a little magic protecting him. I decided I needed some craft therapy in his honour.

I started this CAS card by paper piecing the branch using the My Little Shoebox “Home Tweet Home” set. The stamp actually has leaves, but I cut them off since this was supposed to be a winter card. I then stamped the owl from the Lawn Fawn “Winter Owl” set and paper pieced him using different scraps of patterned paper I had on my desk (this is precisely why I hoard keep these scraps). I then cut a hole in the card using my Cricut and the Art Philosophy cartridge and stamped the sentiment from the Lawn Fawn “Winter Fox” set. This card earned me +943 whitespace exp points.

On the inside I stamped a sentiment using the BugBites “Mistletoe” set and the “My Pink Stamper “Christmas Wishes” set. To be honest, I kinda regretted the sentiment combination, because they don't really match. Ah well... I then added some pine tree branches on the side using the Dylusions “Christmas Accessories” set.

I stamped those same pine branches on the envelope to make it “woodsy”.

This little bird will be a hoot in the following challenges:
Christmas Stampin’ All Year Long Challenge #4: Clean & Simple
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #257: Simplify
Milk Coffee Make It Cute Challenge
CHNC Challenge Extra: February
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #6: Anything Goes
Love to Create Challenge #54: Wrap It Up
Paper Playtime Challenge #4: Sentiment Stamps
Tammy’s Scrapin’ Corner Challenge #51: Paper Piecing

Smokester’s presence in the rookery will be missed. It’s always hard when we lose a member of our crafty family.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Razzle Dazzle Dizaster

Today the Guardian of Glitter and I decided to visit the fae court and seek an audience with the Spring Sprite. We were rather sick of the winter and all the snow and were hoping to win her favour and perhaps speed up the changing of seasons. We packed our travel sacks with gifts as we would surely need to bribe our way in to have her see us. Many people have attempted this before, and none have succeeded. We however, had a trick up our sleeve, so to speak. Using the tome we recovered, we crafted a forbidden spell called Razzle Dazzle which would render the victim unable to refuse your requests. Because the Guardian of Glitter’s sparkle level was so high, she was confident she could successfully cast the spell. 

I apologize for my ink pad in the picture, but I needed something to keep the card shut. I planned this card with few challenges in mind. I was going to be following a sketch, but also making a “fancy fold”, so I needed the card to follow the sketch when it was all folded up. My image piece ended up being a little wider than I had hoped, covering a little too much of the floral strips...ah well. 

 I started making this card by stamping The Greeting Farm’s “Daisy” and colouring her with Prismacolors. I subtly stamped some swirls and swooshes around the edges with Distress Ink. I used the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut out the flower and the tab where I stamped the sentiment using Lawn Fawn’s “Sophie’s Sentiments” set.

Here’s what the card looks like opened from the front and the side. This earned me +692 folding exp points, which allowed me to level up! [insert FFVII fanfare]. I embossed all the panels with the Cuttlebug and inked them to make the flowers stand out more.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment using the My Pink Stamper “Birthday Crazy” set. 

On the envelope I stamped a flower using the My Little Shoebox “Garden Party” set and quickly coloured it to match the flowers on the paper with Distress Markers.

This flowery card will spring into the following challenges:
Divas By Design: Fancy Fold
The Perfect Sentiment Challenge #67: Floral Fantasia
Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge #115: Anything Goes
Milk Coffee Make It Cute Challenge
Simply Create Too Challenge #31: Mother’s Day (or for a female)
TGF Farm Fresh Friday Challenge: Flowers
Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday Emboss It Challenge
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #6: Anything Goes
Paper Playtime Challenge #4: Sentiment Stamps
Crafting For All Seasons Challenge #46: Dies and Punches
TGF Double Take Tuesday Sketch:


As chance would have it, the Razzle Dazzle spell was actually invented by the Spring Sprite, and by trying to use it against her, I do believe we angered her...a lot. The Guardian of Glitter and I fled the fae court before the Spring Sprite could cast anything on us. I have a sneaking suspicion we may have earned another couple months of winter. *sigh*

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Like Two Peas in a Pod

Greetings traveller. Welcome to the Guild Hall. Our stores are getting thin as the winter wears on and last night we had yet another meal of peas. The Lady Commander of Copics and I set out today to ride to a nearby village to see if we could procure a more varied selection of produce. We stopped at four different towns and all anyone had available for sale were peas. Being the Guildy I am, I started to grow suspicious of some kind of vegetable conspiracy...also I had a sudden urge to make a pea-based card (must be from eating all the peas).

Peas on a Christmas card? I know I know...I did it again...I couldn't help it. The front of this card was put together pretty quickly, earning me +231 speed exp points, allowing me to level up my speed skill! I started this card by stamping the pea pods using the My Little Shoebox “Farmer’s Market” set then colouring them using Distress Markers. I used some double sided patterned paper to create the background, separating the sides with a shiny gold ribbon to bring some Christmas bling to the front. I then added a cardboard holly thingy I bought in a package that was on clearance a while ago. I’m not even sure why I bought those...I don’t really like them. Oh well. At least I used one up with this card!
 

On the inside I stamped the Penny Black image to use as the sentiment (making the peas on the front make more sense and less random - lol). 

On the envelope I stamped a little green holly from the Tim Holtz “Christmas Memories” set.

This pod-tastic creation will pea-form in the following challenges:
CHNC Challenge #110: P-p-p pick up a penguin or anything else beginning with P
Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge #13: Anything Goes
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #25: Anything Goes
CHNC Challenge Extra for February
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #6: Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #28: Anything Goes

It turned out my Guildy instincts were correct, as the Lady Commander of Copics and I uncovered a vegetable conspiracy when we travelled to the fifth town on our list. Why were all the towns left with only peas? What had happened to all of the produce that was harvested for the winter? We vowed to get to the root of the problem and liberate the realm from their pea filled meals.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~