A Very Manga Birthday

Welcome to the Guild Hall. Today as I was browsing the market square, stocking up on some necessary (and some not so necessary) crafting quest essentials I came upon a troupe of entertainers setting up for a performance. I was instantly on guard, remembering the events of the previous mummers performance. Keeping my hand on the hilt of my sword, I quietly snuck around to the rear of one of the wagons to see if I could spot anything out of the ordinary. I rolled a +18 and added that to my sneak check, allowing me to successfully scout all the wagons without being detected. I didn’t immediately notice anything amiss, but decided to stay and watch the performance, should pandemonium ensue.

I started this card by stamping “Madden” by The Greeting Farm on watercolour paper and colouring her with my Distress Markers and legendary Hydra Brush. I gained +207 exp points and once again leveled up my Distress Marker colouring skill! For the background I tore a page from a Japanese manga I picked up at a book fair for $1 (I bought it with the sole purpose of using the pages for backgrounds on cards). I used Lawn Fawn’s “Bannerific” for the banner and stamped the sentiment from My Pink Stamper’s “Family & Friends” set. I used pop dots to give the banner some dimension. I ran the black and white panels through the Cuttlebug to give them some texture. I dug through my stash and added one of the Tim Holtz adage tickets, which I haven’t used in forever!

The inside was stamped with a sentiment from My Creative Time’s “Wow! So Many Candles” set. I also added the splotches from the 7 Gypsies “Steampunk” set.

I stamped a butterfly from that same 7 Gypsies set on the envelope and added a little colour with Distress Markers.

This makeshift manga menagerie will be entered into the following challenges:
One Crazy Stamper November Challenge: Anything Goes
Simply Create Too Challenge #26: Use Your Stash (adage ticket)
Card Crafter’s Circle Challenge #49: Textures
Divas By Design Challenge #61: Anything Goes 
Dream Valley Challenges #45: Anything Goes
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #134: Pop It Up
TGF Double Take Tuesday Sketch Challenge

The troupe’s show was performed without any hijinx or shenanigans, my sword sitting peacefully in its sheath the entire time. It was a nice change after the difficult battle with Count Vicarian.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Thanks Snow Much, Neighbour

Last week we were hit by a rather intense blizzard, receiving more than a foot of snow in less than 12 hours. It came to pass that in his wrath, Count Vicarian had hired an evil mage to bring down this storm upon the realm as the princess had refused his hand in marriage. Unharvested crops were ruined and people were left stranded far from their homes. I hooked up my direwolf to his sleigh and set out to rescue some of the stranded people while my lord husband worked on removing the snow from the entrance to the Guild Hall. All he had to work with was a crude spade and the going was slow. It was then he noticed a man in the neighbouring property clearing the snow with ease using a whirring magical machine. Seeing my lord husband struggling with his spade, the kind man offered to let him use his machine to rid our property of the white flakes that had amassed. To express our gratitude, I retrieved a bottle of wine from the cellars and crafted a tag for it to give to the kind man.

The tag I cut out using the Art Philosophy cartridge. I inked the edges with Distress ink then gave the tag a quick spritz with Dylusions spray ink. I then used the Dylusions Luscious Leaves stencil and Perfect Pearls Mist to spray the icy pattern on the tag, earning me +103 ice elemental magic exp points. 

I cut the word snow from the Winter Woodlands cartridge and stamped the thanks and much using Lawn Fawn’s “Jessie’s ABCs”. I dug into my hoard and found some blue baker’s twine I had purchased at the market about six months ago and have yet to use once. I used it to tie a bow and attach the tag to a bottle of wine to present to our neighbour.

This icy thank you will be entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Thanksgiving/Thank You  
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #77: Thank You or Thanksgiving   
Pixie Dust Studio Challenge: Thanksgiving or Thank You
Charisma Cardz Challenges #45: Keep Your Cool!
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #116: Winter (I’m from Edmonton, AB so I feel your pain)
Creative Card Crew Challenge #23: Silver and Blue
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #46: Thank You Projects
Tammy’s Scrapin Corner Challenge #36: Anything Goes
Use It Tuesday Challenge #43: Be Thankful (blue twine)

Once we had rescued the stranded people and rid the entrance of the snow, it was time to formulate a plan to bring down the Count. I sent out ravens to the Guardian of Glitter, Lady Commander of Copics, Guild Apprentice Lindsay, and even though she is expensive, Kimberley the Mercenary. We were going to need all the help we could get.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Gift Tag of +40 Vintage Cheer

Greetings traveller. Thank you for stopping by the Guild Hall. Today I began making a list for my lord husband so he would know what gifts to bestow upon me this Midwinter Feast. As the list grew I started thinking of all the gifts I would need to purchase and wrap this yuletide season. I am well ahead of my greeting card quota for the year, but my gift tag stock is lacking. This called for a crafting solution.

I cut the tag shape using the Art Philosophy cartridge. I then stamped Anya from The Greeting Farm’s “Special Autumn” set and coloured her in Sepia tones using Prismacolors. I inked the edges of the tag and stamped the sentiment from the Lawn Fawn “Cozy Christmas” set. I dug deep into my stash to find that brown “cord” to tie on the end of the tag. I purchased a pack of it from Wal-Mart a while ago and have barely used any at all.

On the back I stamped To and From from the My Pink Stamper “Christmas Wishes”set. This Gift Tag of Cheer didn’t take a lot of time, was fun to make and also earned me +40 Vintage Christmas Cheer exp points. I intend on making a whole collection of them.

This ‘lil tag-tastic creation will be entered into the following challenges:
TGF Farm Fresh Friday Challenge: Anything But a Card
Christmas Stampin’ All Year Long Challenge #36: Anything Goes
Tammy’s Scrapin’ Corner Challenge #36: Anything Goes
Diva’s By Design Challenge #61: Anything Goes
Simply Create Too Challenge #26: Use Your Stash (the brown cord)
Hooked On Craft Challenge #26: Christmas - No Red/Green
Penny Black All Sorts November Challenge: Any Die Will Do
One Crazy Stamper November Challenge: Anything Goes

The Midwinter Feast will soon be here before we know it. I am certainly not looking forward to the shopping part of this extravaganza. The markets are a nightmare this time of year!

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Toast 'n Coffee

Today while the Guardian of Glitter and I were battling our way through the Dungeon of Terrors we came across some interesting spoils. Some elixirs, a sack of coins, a few higher level swords and, more importantly, a magical coffee bean that is said to be extinct. No one has laid eyes on this particular bean in over half a century. I carefully wrapped the bean in my teal handkerchief so we could examine it further upon our return to the Guild Hall. It’s hard to study a magical find when you are trying to slay giant poisonous spiders at the same time.

I dusted off my Lawn Fawn “Love ‘n Breakfast” set that I haven’t used in ages and paper pieced the super cute toaster and toast. I stamped the sentiment from the same set above the cute trio. I used the Tim Holtz “Odds & Ends” set to stamp the blank tickets then pulled out the “Coffee and Tea” Crafty Secrets set to fill the blank tickets.

The inside was stamped with the “Coffee and Tea” set, except I used the My Pink Stamper “Font-abulous” set for the word crafts. This card was mailed to none other than my sister, The Lady Commander of Copics, as we hadn’t gotten together to “play crafts” in a while...and it’s always fun getting something in the mail other than bills!

This bitterly toasty card will be entered into the following challenges:
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenge #45: Food & Beverage
Paper Playtime Challenge #88: Autumn Colors
Lawnscaping Challenge #45: Dusting ‘Em Off (Love ‘n Breakfast set) 

Back at the Guild Hall, I placed the magical coffee bean on my workbench and went rifling through my drawers for a magnifying glass. The little bean slowly blinked and was suddenly staring up at me with large chibi eyes! Next it unfolded its arms and legs which had been tucked in so tightly they looked to be part of its body. This was truly an amazing find! The Guardian of Glitter and I shall spend the night studying this interesting creature and seeing what secrets this 'lil bean holds.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Flight of the Aviard

Today was a busy day at the Guild Hall as the Lady Commander of Copics and I assisted a lost Aviard. The Aviards are small clans that reside deep in the forests and rarely emerge to mingle with other villages. The different clans communicate by whispering their messages to small birds who then repeat the message to the Aviard it was intended for. The one who came to the Guild Hall for assistance was separated from her clan when she ran off chasing a small rabbit. Using our superior tracking skills, aided by some lucky die rolls, we were able to locate not only the stray Aviard's clan, but the rabbit she was pursuing as well.

So last year my sister and I both bought these sheets of Donna Salazar paper during a huge craft supply order we were doing from an internet store as they were on sale for only 5 cents per sheet:

Despite them not being my usual style...and a little...ummm...”ugly” I bought a couple sheets anyways because I just couldn’t pass up on a deal - 5 CENTS! You can’t even buy a piece of bulk candy for 5 cents anymore. So I bought them, added them to my stash of paper and there they sat. It took me a whole year to finally use them, but I did. I decided to create an interesting juxtaposition of ugly and cute, whereas Angela went in the complete opposite direction and just made cards as ugly as possible with these, using her stash of ugly ribbon that was given to her. {lol}. I stamped “Birdie Kiddo” by Stampendous and coloured her with Prismacolors. The little bunny was from the “My Silly Valentine” Lawn Fawn set. I also pulled out some red raffia, blew the dust off the roll as I haven’t used this stuff in a while, and added it to the corners.

The inside sentiment was from the My Pink Stamper “Biggie Christmas Sentiments” set. I also used a cheap Recollections brand stamp for that ...acorn? Not really sure what that it.

I also stamped the “acron?” on the envelope to make it all match.

This cutie-ugly card will be entered into the following challenges:
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #76: Best Deal Ever or I had to buy it, it was on SALE!
Simply Create Too Challenge #26: Use Your Stash (the background paper)
Lawnscaping Challenge #45: Dust ‘Em Off! (haven’t used the raffia in a long time)

The little Aviard was happy to be reunited with her people. Her clan, worried sick about her, thanked the Lady Commander and I and sent us home with rolls and rolls of red raffia. How they acquired so much raffia is a mystery, but hey...I’m not one to pass up a good deal.

Look for more of the “ugly background 5 cent paper” cards to come. There was six panels on that sheet...five more to go.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Step Up Production, Elf!

I was sitting down with Mildred and Olga, two of our house gnomes, for some afternoon tea and they started discussing their distant cousins who lived in the North. Apparently where they live the snow never goes away. I shuddered at that thought; the week of snowfall has already become tiresome and we still have at least five more months of winter to go. They spend their days building toys and games for an overweight chap who travels the lands in one night to deliver the goods to various children. This sounded like an elaborate breaking and entering scheme to me, and I vowed to remain vigilant on the night the toys were supposed to be delivered. 

This was my first attempt at a “step card”. It turned out okay, but it was quite small - well smaller than I expected it to be. Another downside is that there is barely any room on the back to write a message to the person you are sending the card to. Oh well. It looks neat. The Santa and presents I cut from the Winter Frolic cartridge. The “elves” were actually garden gnomes I cut from the Freshly Picked cartridge. 

The signposts also came from that cartridge. I inked them to make ‘em look snowy and stamped the sentiment from the Lawn Fawn “Cozy Christmas” set. I used the Cuttlebug to emboss the white panels with snowflakes and the elves’ clothes with polka dots earning me +128 texture exp points.

This steppin’ card will be entered into the following challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge #58: Polka Dots/Spots
The Corrosive Challenge #161: Know When To Fold ‘Em
Friends of SpeedyTV Challenge #45: Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge: V for Vibrant Colours
Winter Wonderland Challenge: One for the Boys
Christmas Stampin’ All Year Long Challenge #36: Anything Goes
Christmas Cards All Year ‘Round November Challenge: Shaped or Fancy Folds
One Crazy Stamper November Challege: Anything Goes

I spoke with Guild Apprentice Lindsay about these enslaved toy making elves and apparently it is a legitimate thing. She, along with Olga and Mildred, were more concerned with the welfare of the elves than an elaborate breaking and entering scheme. Looks like another quest for the Crafters Guild.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~

Aurora Borealis

Tonight I needed to venture out to fetch some enchanted pine branches from the Forest of Foes so I could complete a spell I was working on. As the snow has yet to cease falling and has already accumulated past my knees I thought is wise to travel by sled rather than foot. I gathered some weapons, attached my direwolf, Lycan to the sled and set out into the night. My beast flew through the slow as I clutched the reins tightly for support. Upon entering the Forest of Foes the snow abruptly stopped. I turned my eyes skyward and watched as iridescent lights danced across the inky sky. 

 I knew I wanted to use the Kraftin’ Kimmie snowman that I had just purchased so I stamped him out and paper pieced him together. I actually drew inspiration for the background when I saw a picture of some painted nails on my friend’s Pinterest.

 The nails were purple tipped and faded into blue which I thought was the perfect colour scheme for a wintery night time background. I stamped some white snowflakes from the Echo Park “Holly Jolly Christmas” set and used the “steam” stamp from the Lawn Fawn “My Cup of Tea” set sideways to make little winter whooshes. This earned me +239 transmogrification exp points. 

I also used the Dylusions Luscious Leaves stencil and Perfect Pearls Mist to spray this pattern which reminded me of the Northern Lights.

I used Lawn Fawn’s “Bannerific” set for the banner and stamped the sentiment which came with the snowman inside it.

The inside sentiment is from the My Pink Stamper “Christmas Wishes” set.

I made an envelope and stamped some flourishy snowflakes on it (a stamp that was given to me from the ever generous Guardian of Glitter).  

I offer this winter wonderland to the following challenges:
Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Challenge #153: Make You Own Background
Friends of SpeedyTV Challenge #45: Anything Goes
Divas By Design Challenge #60: Let’s Get Cute
ABC Christmas Challenge: V for Vibrant Colours
Hooked on Craft Challenge #26: Christmas - No Red/Green
Sparkles Christmas Challenge #22: Contemporary Colour Combo
One Crazy Stamper November Challenge: Anything Goes

I was finally able to tear my eyes away from the orchestra of colours in the sky and found some of the enchanted pine branches I needed to complete my spell.

~ Guild Master Crystal ~