SBS Steampunk Romance Blog Hop

Simply Betty Stamps is releasing a new line of steampunk images... ala Romance! These are perfect for love, anniversary, engagement, or "just because" cards & projects. If you've arrived via Angela's blog, then you are on the right track, if not, be sure to start at the Simply Betty Stamps Challenge Blog for details on how you can get your mitts on some of these fantastic new images at a discount or for FREE!

I am loving Betty's new artist that creates these steampunk lines! All of the clothing folds and details... they are so much fun to color.

First up is Grace. I thought she was lookin' a little forlorn, so I created a "miss you" card. Super clean & simple!

Digi: Steampunk Romance Grace
Rubber Stamps (The Angel Company): Background Soup, (can't remember the senti set)
Paper: Bazzill & Caboodle white cardstocks
Ink: VersaFine Onyx
Other: Copic markers, MS border punch, misc. ribbon

Don't you LOVE the little bat wings on the heart?!


And next up is Emma. She is my FAVORITE of the six new Steampunks!

I cut the card front short so the edge punch showed up better. I thought the hearts were pretty fitting.

Digi: Steampunk Romance Emma
Rubber Stamp (The Angel Company): Love You
Paper: misc. eggplant, kraft & Caboodle white cardstocks
Ink: VersaFine Onyx
Other: Copic markers, EK Success edge punch

I'm very pleased with how the coloring came out on this image! It looks even better in person :) But do you see why I love this new line?! Look at all of those folds. {sigh}

Well, that's it for today, folks... but don't fret! There is much more Steampunk Romance-inspired work to see... your next stop on this hop is Betty Boo's blog. And don't forget that if you get lost along the way, just go to the Simply Betty Stamps Challenge Blog for the full hop list!

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Help for Katie

Ok, this post is very out of the norm for HDH.  Usually we are all about the gruesome and dark nuances of our imaginations and dreams, but today is a shot of reality.

Cancer seems to touch all of our lives in some way.  Maybe it's a family member, friend or co-worker.  A mother of your BFF, an aunt or a web-o-sphere buddy.  It's real, and it sucks.  No matter what kind it is.  Many of you may know all about Katie Renz's battle with cancer, however if you don't please go here: http://www.help4katie.blogspot.com/

Katie seems like an amazing woman, and I want to help... and you can help too!
All you have to do is make a $15 donation, and you get this lovely digital stamp collection:

This is the second edition set for Help for Katie.  Some fabulous contributors have come together to donate the monies from this set to help Katie and her family.

Betty Boo of Simply Betty Stamps and one of our very own SBS DT members, Cheri, are two of those contributors, and Betty asked if the SBS DT could showcase their work today... like she had to ask :)

Though Katie has stomach cancer, I thought I'd use this opportunity to create a card for the mother of a very dear friend of mine who has breast cancer.  The sentiment is totally fitting for my friend and her mom... I mean, not that they are bitches... well... ok... my friend IS a self-proclaimed bitch, so there ya' go :)

I colored-up Katie with Copic markers and used the cardstock and paper from The Angel Company's Lily Anna collection.  Super clean and simple card to keep the focus where it should be :)

Be sure to check out the rest of the SBS DT creations on the SBS Challenge blog, and don't forget to donate to the Cause at the Help for Katie blog!

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SBS Friday Challenge - Recycle!

I'm here with another challenge for you!  Yes, yes... I know.  I haven't even done MY Macabre Monday challenge card yet, but you guys are sooooooooo much better than me :)

Since I've been a super-slacker DT girl for Simply Betty Stamps lately, I felt it was important to get my butt in gear and do a little creating!  So instead of doing work for my "real job", I decided to play catch-up.

Soooooo, on to this week's challenge over at Simply Betty Stamps Challenge blog:

It is Angela's turn to host this week, and she is challenging you to RECYCLE.
Come on how easy is that..

Don't toss it, Use it.

You can use scrap leftover paper, packing from paper, embellishments, bits and pieces of leftover embellishments or anything craft or non craft related.

It's up to you, just have fun with it and use things in a way you would never even think

to use on your creations.

A perfect night for a stroll in a cemetery, no? 

 

The only "fresh" items I used for this card were the card base, Stickles & ribbon.  Everything else I dug out of my scrap pile!  The Cricut die-cut fence, cemetery & gravestone were leftovers from a class I taught in early October.  The moon-with-ravens die-cut is from a MME sheet from who-knows-when.

I decided to use Elaine from the SBS Victorian Beauties digi line, and the stamped sentiment is from StampInsanity.

 I over-exposed this shot to show all of the layers and die-cuts... this card is so dark, it's hard to see all of the details!

How's this for using scraps... the batty background paper?  That is two separate pieces.  Yep.  I added the wavy ribbon to hide the splice :)  Genius, me thinks!


Now, whenever there is a challenge, there is a prize!
Betty is giving away two rubber stamps:
Lola and London.
 So be sure to go back and link up your project for this challenge on the SBC blog 
using ANY Simply Betty image as part of your creation.

And if you haven't created your HDH Macabre Monday challenge project yet, why not combine these two challenges?!  Don't just link them here or you won't be entered to win!

Are you up for it?!

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Happy Birthday Rio!

Remember awhile back I told you an eerie story... so unbelievable, you thought I made it up.  You know, the one about a TEENAGER who did NOT want gifts or money, but instead wanted to DONATE it to St. Jude's Hospital?  Yeah!  THAT unbelievable story.  Well, today is that unbelievably generous teenager's birthday!!

Happy Birthday, chica!

I hope this card made it to you in time :)  The pictures of you getting all of your cards from the mailbox are priceless!  I hope today was the best year yet, kiddo.

So, here's the card:

And remember, all proceeds from the purchase of this Rio Birthday Girl digi goes to benefit St. Jude's!  To see how much has been raised so far, and to see the rest of the SBS DT's card creations, go to THIS post.

Digi:  Rio Birthday Girl (SBS)

Rubber stamp sentiment:  Savvy Sayings (The Angel Company)

Paper (all TAC):  Mimi dp (retired), Mimi cardstock, Caboodle White cardstock

Copic markers:  E11, E13, E15, R81, R83, R85, R89, YG01, YG03, YG23 (can't remember hair color)

That's it for today kids.  And I PROMISE I'll get Teri's intro post soon... but we're still trying to find just the PERFECT HDH alias for her :)

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A just-for-the-fun-of-it post...

Yep.  I am officially putting my foot down... I decided to create something that is not for a challenge, DT assignment, or any other "need to do" type thing.

Oh how refreshing :)

I mean, I'm not saying that I don't love the DT thing or the challenge thing... it's just sometimes good to create something for no reason at all.

The sentiment is from Stamp Insanity and the digi is one of the Punky Teen Halloweenies from Simply Betty Stamps.  And I believe the paper is BoBunny?

Now, off to bed... I've gotta work tomorrow, then Monday, then teach a class Monday night.  Thank goodness I'm over my cold finally!  I hope everyone had a great weekend and is ready for a new challenge on Monday... in fact, this card kinda leads up to that challenge a bit :)

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One Hot Bi-atch

Ok, so even though I'm not following my own challenge, I figured you MIGHT want to see SOMETHING creative from me... I know... it's been awhile :)  I'm not getting into here, but if I start not making sense, let's just say it's the NyQuil hangover talkin', ok?  :)

Soooooooo, I've had this card done for awhile and have been waiting to see if a challenge would come up where I could use it.  But alas.  No.

This is Molly from Stamp It Crazy (page down a little).  She comes as a rubber stamp or as a digi!  And I have to say that I think this is the best I've done at coloring skin.  It looks even better in person!  I love this image... she DEFINITELY looks like a bad-ass.

I can't remember all of the colors I used, but I do know that her skin was done with Copics E11, E13, E15 and I think her hair used YR23, YR24 & E09.  I know... super simple card, but I like it.  The green & image panels are popped up for dimension.

What do you think?

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SBS Valentine Emos Release Day Hop!

Yeay!  It's finally here :)  Simply Betty Stamps' Valentine Emos Release par-tay!  If you've arrived here via Angela's blog, you are on the right track... if not or if you get lost along the way, please go to the Simply Betty Challenge blog.  While you are there, you might want to check out how to win a couple of these awesome Valentine Emo digi's!

And here is my little bit o' love today...

Yes, the infamous Cupid Christian feeding Valentine Lola a line ;)  I really couldn't figure out a whopper of a witty sentiment... I'm sure y'all can have a little fun with THAT!  Some others I was kicking around:

"What are you tryin' to say...  this outfit isn't sexy?"

or 

"How many guys CAN pull off this look, huh?!"

:)

I know... silly.  But fun!  I LOVE the look in Lola's eye... is it not devious?!  I Stickled her up a bit for a bit o' blinginess... I mean she had to match Christian's halo & wings, right?

That face!  {giggling}  I don't know of any dude (of sound mind) that would don a diaper to impress the ladies... I'm just sayin'.  :)

Well, that's it for this Fiendishly Fun Friday!  Don't forget to leave some lovin' along the hop... you could win a little sumpin' sumpin' ;)

Your next stop on this Virtual Valentine Voyage is Betty Boo!

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SBS Valentine Emos - Preview Day 5

Just two more days until Simply Betty Stamps' Valentine Emos Release Day!!!!  Did you go check the previous previews yet from the DT?  You really should... especially Cupid Christian... he is LOL awesome!

Sooooo, on to today's preview... London!  She is so cute, greedily hugging all of her valentines... she is one popular little thing, no?

Like Valentine Betty, London has a big wink for ya'... cute, huh?

And I am loving my Scor-Tape & squinchy ribbon look...

it uses way more ribbon, but it is soooo worth it :)

The sentiment is a retired one from TAC and the ribbon is HL.
I've used MME's Alphabet Soup Boy

& Echo Park's Everybody Loves Christmas paper lines.

Be sure to check out the SBS challenge blog for the other DT's work... it is fabulous as always!

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SBS Valentine Emos - Preview Day 1... belated

So evidently Blogger decided to delete my January 1st post I had scheduled.  Ugh.

January 1st-6th, the Simply Betty Stamps DT have been/will be previewing the latest SBS Valentine Emos line... just in time for Valentine's Day!  On January 7th, there will be a big blog hop & you can begin purchasing these awesome images... digital or rubbah, baby!

Here is the Valentine Betty card from Sunday... she IS my absolute FAVORITE of this release!  And she can be used for more than just Valentine's Day... anniversary or "just because I love you" cards, too.  Maybe even a "kiss off" card?  :)

I'm lovin' that wink... flirty girl.  And I wish I could pull off a hair color like that... just sayin'.

Simply Betty Stamps also carries a few choice paper lines, including those shown here today!

I've used MME's Alphabet Soup Boy 

& Echo Park's Everybody Loves Christmas lines.

Be sure to check out the SBS challenge blog for the other DT's work... it is awesome!  And you make want to scroll back to start on January 1st... it's worth it!

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My Top 10 Cards of 2010 Blog Hop

Fellow SBS DT member, Suzi, has organized a fun blog hop to round out the year!

All you have to do to join in, is create a  post on your blog entitled

'My Top Ten Cards of 2010'.  Then link that post to Suzi's post, using the inlinkz tool at the bottom of her post... please visit that post to see details about prizes along the hop!

 

 

Sooooooooo, here are my faves for the year:

Images by:  Simply Betty Stamps (vampire),

The Angel Company (foliage & sentiment)

Images by:  Kenny K (girl), The Angel Company (sentiment & background)

Image by Stamp It Crazy

Image by Delicious Doodles

Images by:  Simply Betty Stamps (vampires), Stampers Anonymous (sentiment)

Images by:  Tiddly Inks (house & fairy), Viva Las Vegas Stamps (sentiment)

Images by:  Stamp It Crazy (fairy), Stampers Anonymous (tree),

The Angel Company (foliage & sentiment)

Images by:  Simply Betty Stamps (boy), unknown sentiment

 

Image by:  Tidldy Inks (witch), The Angel Company (Boo!)

 

And my absolute most favorite for the year has to be this one...

I think it's the hand drawn knife that's the clincher:

Images by:  B-line Designs (boy w/ wagon), Kraftin' Kimmie (dolls),

The Angel Company (fleur), Bombshell (skull), and unknown sentiment

What do you think?

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Happy Holidays from HDH!

My last Winter holiday card for you this year... and actually it isn't really THAT holiday-ish... me thinks I could send this anytime.  And let me say that every time I use Stickles or glitter, I can't get the color balance & lighting right, so once again we have photos of the sucky variety :)

Nice sentiment, right?  Yeah.  I like it, too :)  It's from Stamp Insanity.  I'm picturing the adorable little Octopode Factory Angel yelling at the Christmas tree... like a few bulbs are out or something :)  Yes... yes... I like to make up little stories for my cards.  And that's just one of the MANY reasons why y'all come back to HDH all the time, right?!

I hope you and yours have a very Happy Winter holiday, and a joyful & prosperous New Year!

~Barb

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Christmas Zombie Bob...

Ok, maybe it's not Bob... maybe his name is Cletus and he is from hillbilly country... or, it could be Justin and he lives in the 90210... whatever storyline you wanna work worth, man.  :)

Jennifer, one of my fellow Simply Betty Stamps DT gals has her own fun digi for sale.

You can find out more info by visiting Jennifer's blog,

and you can purchase this Christmas Zombie at Jennifer's Etsy store!

I do believe my buddy & Macabre Minion, Creepy Glowbugg, has worked up a little sumpin' sumpin' with Bob, too.  You should probably go check to make sure :)

AND I might have just ONE more card to share before Christmas gets here... 

you just never know :)

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Holiday Card Quickie...

And I mean quick!  I'm thinking this should have been my holiday card this year... sooooooo easy to mass-produce, clean, simple and with just the right touch o' creepy-cuteness.

The Jack ornie was a freebie from Tiddly Inks on PCP (thanks, Christy!) and the sentiment is from a retired set of TAC's.  And of course, the infamous Scor-Bug... I just LOVE that thing.  Jack was colored with Copics and popped up on foam tape.

I'll probably have a few more cards to share before the end of the year, so stay tuned :)

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Kenny K's - Maggie Mayhem & a camera question...

Check it.  This is a just-for-fun card I finished the other day.  Not for classes, not for DT, not for Christmas... just for the hell of it.  Ahhhh.  Cardmaking for the sheer joy... can ya' feel it?!

And since I suck at the whole photo-taking thing, I thought I would show you the difference from my scanner vs. camera.  Let's just say that in real life, the image color is actually in-between these two representations.

 

{photo shot with camera}

Awhile back, Kenny K had a contest to name his newest digi line, Krash Kittenz... and one of my names was selected!  Yeay!  This is Maggie Mayhem... VERY fitting name me thinks :)

 

{scanner version}

 I'm trying out the Latina-esque / sun-kissed skin tone with Copics E11, E13 & E15.  The jacket & shoes:  N1, N4, N7.  Reds:  R59, R29, R24.  Hair:  E21, E25, E29.

{photo shot with camera}

The trim is some pleather belt-ish stuff I found at JoAnn's, along with the black rose trim.  The paper & "beware" are from a Halloweenie MS paper pack... yeah, Martha can rock the paper once in awhile.  I added a touch o' shimmer to her bandanna, armlet, & necklace with a Stardust glitter pen.

{scanner version}

My camera is just a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5... nothing fancy.  Something that can fit into my purse.  I'm thinking of getting a "real" camera sometime this year and I need to know what to get.  I am NOT a photographer-type person.  I don't want to have to read an encyclopedia in order to use a camera, and I'm too lazy to have to manually focus a shot.  Sooooooo... any suggestions?  Please leave a comment or email me at my address in my sidebar.

So.  What do you think of Maggie?

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