Metamorphosis of the Custard Canary

The house gnomes have been busy restoring the grounds as the snow is melting, leaving piles of dead leaves and muck. Hobchobber did a lovely job of cleaning out the bird fountain, polishing the old marble carving and filling it with clean water. It wasn’t long before two Custard Canaries found their way to the fountain and began cleaning themselves. Spring is certainly a time for change, and I was delighted to be able to witness one of the Custard Canaries morph into a giant Honied Heron! Only about 25% of them actually survive the metamorphosis and this guy was one of the lucky ones.

Challenged to create a one layer card (and trust me...it was challenge!), I broke out my Lawn Fawn “Gnome Sweet Gnome” set and stamped out a little scene. I coloured everything with Prismacolors. Instead of blending with Gamsol like I usually do, I left everything “sketchy”, colouring it like that on purpose to give it a “children’s colouring book” type feeling. The sentiment I stamped using the Unity “Tail Feather” set. It felt rather plain with no embellishments, but I earned +319 white space exp points. No idea what those will be used for...but every little bit of exp helps.

On the inside I stamped some flowers using the Unity “Naturally Yours” set. I left it sentiment free so I had more versatility as to what to use this card for.

I stamped the same flowers on the envelope to make everything all matchy-match.

These feathered friends will be entered into the following challenges:

Divas By Design: Butterflies and Birds

MFP SpeedyTV Simple Salutations Challenge #41: One Layer Card

Paper Players Challenge #142: One Layer Card

I watched in awe as the Honied Heron flew around the grounds. It sent the hellhounds into a frenzy before flying off towards the Moonstar Mountains, where it is rumoured the surviving Honied Herons roost.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Shelter From the Storm

Today while my direwolf, Lycan, and I were scouting the Forbidden Forest we were suddenly caught in a terrible storm. The clouds gathered at an alarmingly rate, turning the sky a menacing dark gray. Just as I was turning around to start back towards the Guild Hall, thunder clapped and the heavens opened up, dumping sheets of rain upon us. Lycan raced off in the opposite direction of the Guild Hall. Slightly irritated at his horrible sense of direction, I took off after him. I was surprised to find him at the mouth of a large cave - the perfect shelter from the rain. Beside him, holding a rather broken looking umbrella stood a strange looking fellow. Without saying anything, he motioned us into the cave where I was delighted to find a campfire burning.

I made this ATC by stamping the Stampotique “Relaxin” image. I then stamped the clouds using a cheapo stamp from the Michael’s $1 bin. I used Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks to add some blue to the card. I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the little corner pieces. I then dug into my stash and found those letter stickers that have been sitting in the same drawer for many moons.

This ATC will rain down into the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #97: Text or Letters

Wicked Wednesday Challenge #80: Black & White & One Other Colour

One Crazy Stamper April “Black + White + One More” Challenge

Stampotique Designer’s Challenge #95: April Showers Bring May Flowers

ATC’s With Attitude Challenge #38: April Showers

My Creative Moments April Word Play Saturday: Weather

The mute stranger let us warm by the fire and dry off while we waited for the storm to pass. Once the sun started peeking through the clouds, Lycan and I took our leave. As we left back towards the Guild Hall, the white-faced fellow stood in the cave beside the dying fire and slowly faded from view.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Fashionably Sassy

In the market square today there was to be a fashion show. Apparently a famous designer from across the Pearlescent Sea was here, displaying his newest designs. The Lady Commander of Copics and I decided to have a look and maybe find something to replace some of the old tunics that are getting a little worn. When we arrived, there was no mistaking who the designer was. He wore a silky black tunic and a puffy pink scarf. The man seemed rather stressed, throwing his hands up in exasperation and shouting orders at his troupe of halflings. 

I created this card by stamping The Greeting Farm’s “Sunday” image on several patterned papers and painstakingly cutting his clothes and hair out to paper piece him together. I used the Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the large “stamp” border and embossed the edge piece with my Cuttlebug. I used the Rock Princess cartridge for the stars. 

Earning myself +183 sparkly exp points, I added some glitter to the stars and some square shaped gems to each corner of the card. The sentiment I stamped using the Dylusions “Say It How It Is” set.

On the inside I used another postage stamp cut from Art Philosophy and some stars I had left over. The sentiments were stamped using the My Creative Time “Wow! So Many Candles” set and the My Pink Stamper “Birthday Crazy” set respectively. 

I stamped the envelope to coordinate with the card. The green is a little “off”, but it was the closest match I had to the neon green I used on the card.

This sassy creation will sashay into the following challenges:

Die Cuttin’ Divas Challenge #111: A Star For Astronomy Day

Crafts and Me Challenge #129: Bling it Up!

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #156: Punched or Die Cut Borders

Desert Islands Crafters Challenge #52: (used #1- no flowers #3 - no markers #4 - follow a sketch #6 - use glitter #7 - bling it up

TGF Double Take Tuesday - It’s a Sketch

The Lady Commander of Copics and I didn’t end up purchasing anything as the fashions that were on display were a little too impractical for our needs. We did however enjoy the “show” as we sipped on tea at a nearby cafe and watched as the diva designer lost his cool on everyone he encountered.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Feathered Friends

Good day traveller. I was excited when I awoke this morn to see the Broken China Birds have returned from their yearly flight to the south. Perhaps this means that spring is finally here and the winter snows have gone until the autumn. I walked the Guild Hall grounds, clutching a warm mug of coffee while my hellhounds bounced playfully at my heels, taking in the beauty of nature and was inspired to create a card. I went back to the newly redesigned crafting chambers and began work straight away. 

This card was created for the Just Some Lines Earth Day challenge, happening now! You can use the freebie provided (or any Just Some Lines image) and win some digis from the Just Some Lines shop!

I started this card by colouring the bird image with Prismacolors. I then cut the sentiment out using the Give a Hoot cartridge and embossed it with my Cuttlebug and trusty swiss dots folder. I also embossed the green panels using the coordinating Give a Hoot folder set. This earned me +267 impression exp points, allowing me to level up! I'm also seriously in love with these corner cuts from the Art Philosophy cartridge and couldn’t resist using them again on this card. 

I didn’t really know what sentiment to put on the inside, so I decided on just stamping some random "naturey" images using the Unity “Naturally Yours” set.

I made the envelope “leafy” using the Dylusions “Further Around the Edge” set.

This earth loving card will be entered into the following challenges:

Pile it On Challenge #15: Embossing

Incy Wincy Designs: Fur or Feathers

My Craft Spot Challenge #95: Anything Goes

Divas by Design: Butterflies and Birds

Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge #123: Use a Sentiment

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #138: Trees

Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge #18: Anything Goes

With the return of the Broken China Birds, unfortunately that also hails the return of the maleficent Silver Skinned Snake clan. These reptilian creatures can not survive in the cold and thusly reply upon the migration patterns of the Broken China Birds to know when to return and start pillaging villages once again. I will have to dispatch some scouts to keep an eye out for them and stop any trouble before it starts.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Bee Afraid...Bee Very Afraid

Today I had a frightening encounter with a large, scary foe. It is a well known fact across the realm that I am terrified of bees. My brother, Jason the Machinist, and I both share this affliction. Our sister, the Lady Commander of Copics, often teases us about it, and we have tried explaining that it is not a phobia, but self preservation that makes us turn and run. Today that was proven as I came across an alarming sight whilst riding Ruffles through Wild Honey Fields. From a thicket of oversized flowers a GIANT bee, the size of two men, emerged. The vile insect was carrying a basket of who-knows-what. Likely body parts from its latest kill.

I started this card by cutting out the super cute bee from the Birthday Bash cartridge. I used vellum for its wings and in the gift bag, earning myself +298 rare material exp points. I cut the sentiment from the same cartridge and embossed the letters and the gift bag with my Cuttlebug. On the little tag on the gift bag I wrote the initials of the card recipient.

Because this was to be entered into a challenge where the use of stamps aren’t allowed, I didn’t stamp anything on the inside of the card (hence the lack of picture) and just hand wrote a message.

This card will bee entered into the following challenges:

Pile It On Challenge #15: Embossing

Cupcake Craft Challenge #238: Cute and Cuddly

Friends of SpeedyTV Challenge #68: Use Vellum

The Corrosive Challenge #172: Life’s Special Occasions

Crafting For All Seasons Challenge #50: No Stamps Allowed

Desert Islands Crafters Challenge #52: (used #3-no markers, #5-use a birthday sentiment, #10-use stripes and dots)

As soon as I espied the beast, I turned Ruffles around as she let out a loud whinny, and galloped back to the Guild Hall as fast as she could. As we were riding, I cast a spell of swiftness to give her +500 speed to get us as far away from that monster as quickly as possible. *shudder*

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Mad Morgdan's Mushroomy Birthday

Welcome to the Guild Hall. The Lady Commander of Copics and I have just returned from our quest in the Mushroom Hills. We went in search of a rare and mystical mushroom that would increase the size of whomever ingested it. Unfortunately, we did not come across that mushroom, but a colony of sentient mushrooms who were in the midst of hosting a nameday celebration for an odd chap named Morgdan. It was a strange sight to behold as Morgdan danced amongst the scared looking mushrooms by himself to non-existent music.

I created this card for my little brother’s 25th nameday. I started by making the background using a stamp from the Tim Holtz “Reflections” stamp set that is full of background stamps in “mirror writing”. I also used a few stamps from the Dylusions “Bordering on the Edge” set to complete the background. Next I used the Lawn Fawn “Say Cheese” set to stamp the polaroid. I stamped the Stampotique “Hunk” image and coloured him with Distress Markers. I felt he needed a birthday hat, so used the Dylusions “Doolally Dorris” set to stamp one out for him. I then used the Dylusions “Further Around the Edge” set to add the borders next to Hunk. The sentiment came from the My Creative Time’s “Wow! So Many Candles” set. To finish off the card, I stamped some random wings and mushrooms from the “Doolally Dorris” set. I decided the mushrooms needed some googley eyes and was instantly pleased with myself for making this decision. It also earned me +291 anthropomorphization exp points.

On the inside I stamped some more little mushrooms and gave one wings using a moustache I turned upside down from Dylusions “Christmas Accessories” set. The sentiment is from the My Pink Stamper “Birthday Crazy” set. I actually posted the card on time, however my brother is not known for checking his mail on a regular basis, so I was anticipating him not seeing it until after his birthday had passed (lol).

I went a little mushroom crazy with this card and stamped a whole bunch more on the envelope to make it match the front of the card.

This fun-guy will be popping up in the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge #54: Happy Birthday

Love to Create Challenge #61: For the Guys

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Background

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #97: Text or Letters

Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge #123: Use a Sentiment

The Corrosive Challenge #172: Life’s Special Occasions

Stampotique Designer’s Challenge #96: Birthday

Desert Islands Crafters Challenge #52: (used #1-no flowers, #2-use black or red or teal, #5-use a birthday sentiment)

The Lady Commander and I started to get the impression that Morgdan wasn’t quite right in the head as he started snapping pictures of himself and giving them to the now terrified mushrooms. We slowly backed away from the spectacle and fled the Mushroom Hills for the sanity of the Guild Hall.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Every Cloud...

Today we had a visit from one of the Fallen Angel Children. This outcast group lives in the Swollen Hills to the east, tucked away from the mortals. Most of them are no-good miscreants, just out to make life difficult for every creature they encounter, but Xavier is one of the good ones. He brought me rumours he had heard whispered amongst his clansmen about the fabled Fallen Sword of Justice. Should one of the evil fallen angels get ahold of this weapon, it would spell disaster for the mortals of the realm.

I started this card by cutting out the shape using the Art Philosophy cartridge. I then stamped the image from The Greeting Farm’s “Sweet & Toxic” set. I coloured him using Prismacolors (as usual), earning me +381 predictability exp points. I then used a stamp from the Lawn Fawn “My Cup of Tea” set to stamp those blue “swirls” around him to try and fill up the vast white space. I wasn’t incredibly happy with how it turned out, but like a true guildy, I soldiered on. I cut a cloud out using the Create-A-Critter set and stamped the sentiment from the “Sweet & Toxic” set. Some ribbon, brads and that weird “netting” finished off the front of this card.

On the inside I cut another cloud from the Create-A-Critter cartridge then stamped the sentiment using the Unity “Nicest Place to Be” set. (click on the picture to make it BIG to read the words).

This BA angel will float on into the following challenges:

TGF Farm Fresh Friday “Clouds” Challenge

Anyone For Anya: Things With Wings

Incy Wincy Designs: Fur or Feathers

Love to Create Challenge #61: For the Guys

Penny’s Paper-Crafty Challenge #123: Use a Sentiment

Challenges 4 Everybody Challenge #18: Anything Goes

Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #8: Friendship

Love to Scrap Challenge #4: Cut it Out!

One Crazy Stamper April “Black, White + One More” Challenge

My Creative Moments Word Play Saturday - “Weather”
The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge #58: Gothic Cuties

Desert Island Crafters Challenge #52: used #1 (no flowers), #2 (use, black or red or teal), #3: no markers and #8 (go dimensional)

The Lady Commander of Copics, Guardian of Glitter and I armed ourselves then set out with Xavier to find the legendary sword. Hopefully we can find it based on his scant information before one of his evil fallen brethren do.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~