Celebrating Torico Blog Hop

     If you've hung around here for any time at all you know that I adore the amazing images drawn by Torico.  I am so blessed to be able to work with her stamps through TSG, but I also love her digital images sold through her Birdie Brown etsy store.  Sadly Torico has decided to close her etsy store at the end of November so if you want any of those great digis you better grab em before then.  You can find the Birdie Brown blog here (there are some freebies there) and the announcement she made about the store closing with all the details here.

     The lovely Lesley Croghan has organized this blog hop of Torico's friends to celebrate her by creating some projects using our favorite Birdie Brown images. 

     If you came here from the super sweet Vera of Ling's Design Studio, you're on the right track.  If not you can go back to the beginning of the hop that starts with Lesley.

     For my card I chose to work with these adorable "Winter Bears".  I just love their faces and matching outfits.  All Torico's images have such wonderful character to them and it doesn't hurt that they are SUPER fun to color!  

     I found an awesome video tutorial on coloring white done by Sandy Allnock.  It really helped me create my winter scene.

     I sure hope you can find the time to visit all the participants cause I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

     Next up is my awesome boss at There She Goes, Jessica Knutsen.  Have fun hopping and celebrating our truly talented friend!

Supplies:
Papers--My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found Christmas Special Edition", Bazzill, Kraft Outlet Brown Kraft, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Birdie Brown "Winter Bears", sentiment from Hero Arts
Ink--Ranger Jet Black Archival

Copics Used:

bears C00, C0, C2, C4, C8, E02, R20, R30

hats and scarves R35, R37, R43, YG03, YG95, YG97

background B0000, B000, B21

Tools--MFT Die-namics Sentiments Strips
Miscellaneous--Liquid Applique, Maya Road Chipboard snowflake, Diamond Dust, glitter from my stash

Rock Dog

     Ain't nothin' but a hound dog, rockin all the time.....think that's what he's singing?  I fell in love with this little guy the minute I saw him and if you like him as much as I do then hop on over to the Birdie Brown blog and grab him cause he's Torico's freebie for the month of June.  I've used the sketch from Lesley Croghan's Seize the Birthday challenge which I was honored to be the winner of last time with my chef card for Jessica Knutsen's birthday.  The winners are chosen by the voting of your peers so that made the win doubly special.  :-)
    I was just remarking to my uber talented friend Katie Sims that CAS style cards are really difficult for me.  I always want to add more and no matter what I do they always seem naked and too plain.  STB has some really great CAS sketches to work with and this little guy needs to be shown as the star he is so here's my card in all it's nakedness.  LOL
     I was going to wait until tomorrow to post him, but he's so cute I just had to go ahead and share.
     Hope you're having a fantastic week!

Supplies:
Papers--Simple Stories "Awesome, Bazzill, Kraft Outlet Brown Kraft, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamp--Birdie Brown "Rock Dog"
Ink--Faber Castell Pitt Artist pen, Copics (dog C4, C6, C8, E31, E33, E35, E37, E51) (clothes B93, B95, B97, E97, G82, YG95, YG97) (guitar R37, R39, R59, C0, C2, C4, C6, C8)
Tools--Sizzix Stars #2 die
Miscellaneous--Sakura silver gel pen, Glossy Accents

Yellow rose of thank you

     Sunday opened a new challenge at the Catered Crop.  Linda wants to see some "Flower Power".  Stamped or as embellishments, just put some blooms on your card and come play along.
This little cutie is from Torico's Birdie Brown digi collection.  I've colored her up with Copics and used a fun sketch from The Sweet Stop.  Torico just posted the second challenge for her 2nd Birthday celebration for Birdie Brown so I'm linking this up there.
     Hope you're having a fantastic week.  I'm about to be up to my elbows in crafting getting ready for next week's TSG new release blog hop and I'm taking a break tomorrow to take my mom over to Bellingrath Gardens to see all the azaleas and other flowers that are decorating spring.  Hope to have lots of gorgeous pictures.
     Other challenges I'd like to enter:

The Paper Shelter--let it be spring
Simon Says Stamp--Easter/Spring
Anything Goes Challenge--use two of something (pearls)
Love to Create--anything goes

     Be blessed!

Supplies:  Paper--My Mind's Eye "Reunion", Bazzill, Kraft Outlet Light Kraft, Copic XPress-it Blending card; Stamps--Birdie Brown "Girl with a Rose", There She Goes Clear Stamps "Toadally Awesome"; Ink--Copics, Ranger Archival Jet Black; Tools--Nestabilities Standard Circles, Lil Inker Designs Stitched Flag die; Miscellaneous--Queen and Co. pearls, Kraft Outlet Earthy Hemp cord, button from my stash, Offray ribbon

Clownin' around

     Thanks so much for all your sweet words on the passing of my beautiful furbaby.  Having to make that decision has traumatized me so badly I doubt I will ever get another dog.  I just couldn't go through that again.  I appreciate your love, hugs, and thoughts and prayers more than you know.
     Enough sad stuff, let's move on to something chipper, happy, and VERY colorful.

     Torico is celebrating Birdie Brown's second birthday this month and she has a couple of fun challenges for the month.  The first one is a birthday challenge using a Birdie Brown image so I pulled out this adorable little clown to play with.  Lots of bright colors here so you may need some sunglasses to view this post.
     I just had to have this fabulous photo frame die from Lil' Inkers.  I love their stitched edge dies.  When Linda came up with a "Frame It" challenge this week at Catered Crop I knew it was time to put the die to use.  We'd love to have you pop over and share your framed creations with us for the challenge.
     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

The Sisterhood of Crafters--birthday
The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop--burthday
Eclectic Ellapu--something for a child
Pile It On--birthday

     Happy Birthday Birdie Brown!

Supplies:  Paper--American Crafts, MFT, Georgia Pacific, Copic XPress-it Blending card; Stamps--Birdie Brown, sentiment from There She Goes Clear Stamps "A Little Treat"; Ink--Copics, Ranger Jet Black Archival ink, Sakura white gel pen; Tools--Lil' Inker Designs Photo Frame die, MFT Die-namics Fishtail Banners, sewing machine; Miscellaneous--buttons from my stash, Kraft Outlet Bakers Twine

Winter Bear

     Linda wants to see tags for the latest Catered Crop challenge so this was a perfect opportunity for me to play with another Birdie Brown image.  This is Winter Bear with Cup.  I created my tag with a base of black and a mat of green which is really hard to see in this photo but not IRL.  I then used some kraft cardstock and embossed it with snowflakes.  I inked the raised parts with white ink and then added pearl Perfect Pearls and some white embossing powder around the edges.  I used my Chevron dies to create the strips across the center and colored Mr. Bear with Copics.  The sentiment is from Birdie Brown too.

     Lots of tags are being created right now for gifts so if you've got one hop over to the CC blog and link it up.  There's a Freckled Fawn prize up for grabs!

     I'd like to enter this tag into the following challenges:

Fussy and Fancy--tags and banners

Jellypark Friends--tag it

Sweet n Sassy--tag you're it

Annabelle Stamps--color palette

C.R.A.F.T.--winter

Crafty Ribbons--label/tag big or small

Do You Stack Up--Christmas

Craft Room--make a tag

Crafty Sentiments--snowflakes

Love to Create--anything goes

Make It Monday--anything goes

Make It Monday with Kraft Outlet--anything goes

     Have a wonderful Saturday!

Supplies

• Paper:  Dovecraft, Kraft Outlet Light Kraft, Bazzill, Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown "winter Bear with Cup", sentiment from "Happy Santa" set
• Ink:  Copics, Versafine White ink, Versamark
• Tools:  Cuttlebug Embossing folder, MFT Die-namics Chevron dies, Crop-a-dile
• Miscellaneous:  Celebrate It ribbon, We R Memory Keepers eyelet, Pearl Perfect Pearls, Stampendous White embossing powder, Star Dust Stickles

I'm happy and I know it

     Okay I may have to start a Birdie Brown's Anonymous group.  ☺  I am having so much fun coloring up the Christmas images I have.  Here's a couple more from the "Happy Santa" set you can find in Torico's etsy shop.
     I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year Round--use Santa on your card
Cupcake Craftroom--anything goes for Christmas
Jingle Belles--anything holidays

     Hope you have lots of fun planned for your week!


Supplies

• Paper:  Simple Stories, Fancy Pants, Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown "Happy Santa"
• Ink:  Copics, Sakura gold gel pen
• Tools:  Memory Box Scallop edge die
• Miscellaneous:  Celebrate It ribbon, Kraft Outlet Baker's Twine, buttons from my stash, Stardust Stickles

Winter Bear Buddies

If you're looking for my Whimsy and Stars Studio Blog Hop post please click here.

A HUGE thank you to all my friends who have voted for me at Fashionista Challenge.  The voting is open through Saturday if you haven't had a chance to vote yet.  Here's the link.

     Being sick really stinks!  Trying to sit still and not talk so I don't cough does leave me with lots of crafty time though so here's a for fun card with another adorable Birdie Brown digi stamp from Torico.  I won her freebie challenge in October and picked out this pair.
     I used fun Dovecraft Christmas papers and added white embossing to the edge of the blue mat for a frosty winter look.  Thought it could use a little Stickles, Baker's Twine, and buttons too.  ☺
     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Everybody-Art--Christmas
Ladybug Crafts Ink--sparklicious
Papertake Weekly--anything goes
Ribbon Carousel--holiday spirit
Top Tip Tuesday--Christmas
Crafty Bloggers Network--anything goes
Lexi's Creations--Christmas
Love to Create--holiday cheer
Make It Monday--anything goes
Tammy's Scrapin' Corner--anything Christmas
Sweet Sunday Sketch--sketch
2 Sisters--Christmas sparkle
My Sheri Crafts--tis the season
Totally Gorjuss--anything goes with glitter
Fussy and Fancy--I love Christmas
Jingle Belles--anything holiday

     Hope you like my winter buddies.

Supplies

• Paper:  Dovecraft, Bazzill, Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown "Winter Bears", sentiment from "Happy Santa" set
• Ink:  Copics, Versamark
• Tools:  Tim Holtz ruler, paper piercer,EK Success Dotted Scallop border punch, MFT Die-namics Fish Tail Banners die
• Miscellaneous:  Mark Richards Glitter Domes, Waterfall Stickles, Kraft Outlet Hang Tag String and Bakers Twine, Liquid Applique, Stampendous white embossing powder, buttons from my stash, Inkadinkado Blending Chalks

Did I make the list?

     What a day!  I came back from my wonderful vacation only to come down with a nasty cold.  I've been dragging around and coughing like a barking dog.  Didn't get a whole lot of housework done but what else is a girl to do when she's just sitting around but get crafty.  ☺

     Torico popped my elf card onto the Birdie Brown blog and gave me a fun little poke about using the images from the Santa set I kept saying I was trying to find time to play with.  I took her joke to heart and decided to use my down time to play with this super cute set.  

     For my card I've used two of the images (there are 7 images and 3 sentiments) and a sentiment from the set and colored Santa and the little girl with Copics.  Seems like she's having to ponder Santa's question a bit.  Don't we all!  LOL

     The sketch is an older one from Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge.  Love her sketches!

     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

My Sheri Crafts--tis the season

Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards--CAS

Clearly Inspired--CAS

Crafts 4 Eternity--Christmas Chaos

Jingle Belles--anything holiday

Winter Wonderland--Santa

Inspired By--photo inspiration

Paper Shelter--Christmas is coming

Simon Says Stamp--anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday--kids and teens

Tuesday Alchemy--anything goes

Digi Makeover--Christmas

Christmas Cards All Year Round--Santa

Cupcake Craftroom--anything for Christmas

     Happy first day of December to you all!

Supplies

• Paper:  Dovecraft, Bazzill, Kraft Outlet Brown Kraft, Copic XPress-it Blending card
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown "Happy Santa"
• Ink:  Copics, Vintage Photo Distress ink
• Tools:  Nestabilities Standard Circles and Classic Scalloped Circles
• Miscellaneous, Hang Tag String, buttons from my stash, Stardust Stickles

Elfin gold

     In case you might have missed the many times I have mentioned how much I LOVE Torico's images (both for TSG and Birdie Brown), I'll say it again.  Is this little imp adorable or what!  I had to grab him from the BB store, couldn't wait to color him, and had the perfect excuse with the gold or silver challenge going on at Catered Crop.
     He's colored up with Copics and I added a little Liquid Applique for his hat pompom and some gold Stickles on his ornaments.  I found that cool gold mesh in the Christmas ribbon at Michaels.  I used a Memory Box die to cut five of the jingle bell dies and layered them up.  Then I covered them in gold embossing powder.  I stamped the sentiment in gold.  Not sure if I like it or not...might have looked better embossed.
     Anyway, we'd love to have you come and play along with the challenge.  Linda has some wonderful Pinterest project pins to inspire you and you can always check in on Sunday and see what the DT has come up with.
     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Card Makin' Mamas--silver and/or gold
Crafts 4 Eternity--Christmas Chaos
Fussy and Fancy--I love Christmas
Jingle Belles--anything holiday
Crimbo Crackers--anything goes
Moving Along With the Times--use 3 elements with the same letter (black, bow, bells)
Divas by Design--glitter and sparkle
Paper Shelter--Christmas is coming
Simon Says Stamp--anything goes
Sisterhood of Crafters--embossing
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations--traditional Christmas colors
Flourishes--use gold or silver
Tuesday Alchemy--anything goes
Eureka Stamps--let the holiday fun begin
Make It Monday--anything goes

     Have a fabulous Friday!

Supplies

• Paper:  Carta Bella, Recollections, Kraft Outlet Light Kraft, Copic XPress-it Blending card
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown "Elf", There She Goes "Holiday Cheer" sentiment
• Ink:  Copics, Versamark, Brilliance Galaxy Gold Dew Drop
• Tools:  Nestabilities Classic Ovals, Memory Box Jingle Bell border
• Miscellaneous:  Celebrate It ribbons, Stampendous gold embossing powder, Liquid Applique, Gold Stickles

Gnome sweet gnome

          I don't know about you, but I don't think I would mind it a bit if this little guy made his home in my yard.  He is "Gnome Boy" drawn by the uber talented Torico for Birdie Brown and guess what!  you can pop over to the Birdie Brown blog and nab him cause he's a freebie for the BB October challenge.  I was blessed to be last month's winner and can't wait to use the digi I won.

     I was also blessed to be asked to be Guest Sweet Sunday Stamper for the sweet Karen Giron at Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge last week.  

     I adore her sketches.  In fact I've just about worn out my bookmark to her previous sketches page.  LOL  When she asked me to guest for her and I saw the sketch I knew this was going to be the image I used.

     Here's the awesome sketch.

     I hope you'll pop over to the challenge blog and join in the fun for the new challenge.  A HUGE thank you to Karen and her team for having me join them.  

     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenge:

Allsorts--autumn leaves and trees

Card Makin' Mamas--fall

Crafts 4 Eternity--lots of leaves

Crafty Catz--autumn

Simply Create--autumn/fall

Aud Sentiments--fall

DYSU--warm colors

Milk and Coffee--fall

Little Red Wagon--buttons

Color Throwdown--color palette

Sassy Cheryl's--fall

{Pin}spirational--photo inspiration

Birdie Brown--October Freebie challenge

     Have a fantastic day!

Supplies

• Paper:  American Crafts, Bazzill, Recollections, Copic XPress-it Blending card
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown "Gnome Boy"
• Ink:  Copics, Prismacolor pencils and OMS, Sakura White gel pen, Micron Sepia pen
• Tools:  Memory Box Classic Scallop die, sewing machine
• Miscellaneous:  Kraft Outlet Hang Tag String, buttons from my stash

Pick a peck

     "Autumn Colors" is our theme this week at The Kraft Journal.  For my card I've chosen to use a couple of freebie digital images from Birdie Brown aka Torico.  I am so blessed to be able to work with Torico's amazing clear stamps for There She Goes and her digis are just as cute.
     I've used a base of Brown Kraft Cover Weight cardstock and layered it with panels of Buff Ivory Cover Weight cardstock and fall colored designer papers.  My image was colored with Copics and white gel pen highlights on the apples.  It's mounted on a Nestie die cut that I cut from both chipboard and Brown Kraft.  Two corner pieces of E-Flute Corrugated Kraft paper and some Natural Twill Tape were used to embellish and the sentiment was printed out and cut from more Brown Kraft.
  We'd love to have you come join in the challenge for your chance at a Top 3 Spot, Friday Feature spot, and a $15.00 monthly gift voucher from Kraft Outlet.
     From the comments Saturday it seems I once again managed to get a song stuck in many of your heads.  LOL  Sorry about that.  I'll cut you a break today and not use any song titles or lyrics.  :-)  (I didn't say anything about tongue twisters  hee hee)
     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Make It Monday--anything goes
Allsorts--layers
Divas By Design--friendship
Fab 'n' Funky--autumn colors
Birdie Brown's September Freebie Challenge--use the freebies

     Happy Monday!


Supplies

• Paper:  The Paper Studio, Making Memories, Copic XPress-it Blending card
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown, Annabelle Stamps sentiment
• Ink:  Copics, Sakura white gel pen, Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Nestabilities Standard Circles and Lacey Circles

Birds of a Feather

     It's Monday, Monday and it's time for a new challenge at The Kraft Journal.  Our challenge is "Tag It" so I've included one on the front of my card.
     The card base is Brown Kraft Cover Weight cardstock.  I added some DP and a punched edge of Buff Ivory Cover Weight cardstock.  The tag has a pull of Natural Twill Tape that I stapled on.
    The image is a cutie from Birdie Brown that I've colored with Copics.
     Hope you'll join us for our tag challenge this week.  You just might be one of our top three picks, Featured Friday artist or monthly $15.00 voucher winner.
     I found a few challenges I'd like to enter this card into:

Sentimental Sundays--clean and simple
Sweet Stampin'--things with wings
Digi Doodle--things with wings

     Happy Monday!

Other Supplies

• Paper:  My Mind's Eye "Quite Contrary"
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown "Dreamin'"
• Ink:  Copics
• Tools:  EK Success Dotted Scallop punch, sewing machine, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher

Fair weather friend---NOT!

     Sunday marked the opening of a brand new challenge at the Catered Crop.  Our sponsor this week is Birdie Brown and our theme is "Banners and Bunting".
     I chose to use a Birdie Brown image on my card called "Puppy and Chick".  Pup and chick are colored with Copics and I did a little paper piecing on the umbrella.  I used banners for the first part of the sentiment. For my bunting pieces I used a Sizzix Stars die and cut the largest star from chipboard.  I then covered it with DP and used part of the MFT Fishtail Banner die to cut out the small circles.  I used some ancient $1 bin alphabet stamps from Michaels for the letters.
    We'd love to have you come play along in the challenge.  It runs through June 23 so you've still got plenty of time to play.
     I don't know about all of you, but summer seems to have brought on tons of things to keep me busy.  I'm sorry it's taking me a little longer than usual to get around to some of your blogs to visit.  Hope you're enjoying your summer!
     I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter--anything goes
Scrapbook Sisters--bunting
Simon Says Stamp--photo inspiration
Craft Room Challenge--four legged family
Oldie But a Goodie--banners and bunting (the alphabet stamps have to be at least three years old and the MFT die is over a year)
Tuesday Throwdown--critters
Craft Your Passion--anything goes
Digi Makeover--seeing spots
Make It Monday--anything goes
There She Goes--circles
Cupcake Inspirations--photo inspiration
Deconstructed Sketches--sketch

     Be blessed!


Supplies

• Paper:  My Mind's Eye "Quite Contrary--Jack and Jill", Kraft Outlet Brown Kraft and chipboard, Bazzill, Copic XPress-it Blending card
• Stamp:  Birdie Brown "Puppy and Chick", Studio G alphabet
• Ink:  Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Sizzix Stars #2 die, MFT Die-namics Fishtail Banners, Cuttlebug
• Miscellaneous:  Kraft Oultet Red Baker's Twine, Diamond Stickles, Glossy Accents