FCCB #182: Black and Purple (Color Challenge!)

...and things that go BUMP in the night.

This weeks challenge over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog is to use the colors black and purple in your project.  Well, what else comes to mind with those colors and this time of year?  It has to be HALLOWEEN!  Right?  Purple-y dark nights with eyes that glow.....that's what came to me!

FCCB #182

I've showed you many times how I lay things out using the Cricut Design Studio, so I won't bore you with that this time.  This is how it came together.

I started out with a 5" x 6" (6" x 10" before folding) card base.  Onto that, I layered a black mat approximately 4.75" x 5.75".  I used my watercolors to paint the background onto watercolor paper and let it dry.  I then cut that down so that it fit on my mat with just a small frame showing.

I cut out the following shapes using my Cricut and Cricut cardstock:

• Trees were from the Bloom Cartridge
• Bats were from the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2 Cartridge
• One headstone was from Trick or Treat
• The other headstone was from Create A Critter 2

I added googly eyes and a hand-lettered sentiment (both inside and out).  

How do I do such straight lines you ask?  I have a cheater....It's called the "Easy Straight" tool by Local Legacies.  I've included a pic with the website so you can check it out.  I use it on cards, envelopes, pretty much anything I hand-letter.  I bought a set years ago at a scrapbook show and have never regretted it.

And there you have it!  Please leave me some blog love.  I really enjoy reading your comments!

Hopefully, you're inspired to play along with us for this week's challenge.  Head over to FCCB now and see what the designers have brewed up!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

FCCB #166: Frame It!

Woosah!

I find myself saying that all the time (remember all the "woosah's" from Bad Boys 2?) to remind myself to relax and be calm.  I say it to other people to tell them to "chill out".  I say it to myself at night when my brain lets all the rampant thoughts impede my sleep.  It has become my mantra.  

One of my "woosah" enablers is picturing a tropical beach.  I would live on one if I could.  Something about the ocean and the salty air and the seagulls.  And it wouldn't hurt to have an umbrella drink, namely a Bahama Mama, in my hand as well.  And some steel drums playing in the background.  Ahhh...I'm relaxing already.

So when this weeks FCCB theme came around, Frame It, I immediately pictured a picture.  Go figure.  But the picture that came to mind was my tropical beach.  My inspiration for this project.

FCCB Challenge #166: Frame It!

And this is what my woosah moment inspired:

I decided to "frame" a shaker-box and add a little beach.  It started out with my watercoloring a tropical sunset (really getting into the mixed media on this one!).

I used George and Basic Shapes to design my 1/8" wide frame and cut it out of cardboard four times.  I adhered each layer with tape and used a marker to color the edges.

My white gel pen came in handy for adding some waves to the watercolor and "relax' to the acetate.

I cut out the palm trees from "Life Is A Beach" and added a little detail with a green Crayon.  Yes, a crayon.  Don't judge.  I like it.

I purposely offset the green leaves to give the trees a little more dimension and shadowing.  I then used some strong adhesive tape and attached the palm trees to the background and the frame base to the watercolor.  Then I added my beach sand and attached the acetate to the top.  I then attached my top frame cut from teal cardstock and added a shell from the sticker stash.  

I think I may actually KEEP this card for myself.  I have it sitting on my desk at work to remind me to WOOSAH...relax...breathe deeply...be calm.  

Hopefully you are all relaxed now too and can hop on over to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog and see what the other Design Team Members have framed up for you.  Come play along and share what you've created!  

Woosah.

Until next time, keepin' it crafty!