Tales of a Mermaid

Happy Tuesday!! I hope you are having a great week so far!! I have a mermaid card to share with you today :)

The base is a Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangle, followed by a Grand Rectangle. The awesome Core'dinations paper is from my dear, sweet friend Diana of DL.Art. It was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder...no idea the name but it came in the Plum Blossoms set. It was sanded to bring out the texture.

The frame is a Spellbinders Floral Ovals die on more Core'dinations paper from Diana. It has texture and when you sand it, it turns blue!! I love this paper!! Thanks so much, Diana :) Crystals were added around the Floral Oval and the swirl at the top is from Recollections. The ribbon is from May Arts. The tag is a Spellbinders Nested Pennant die. "Tales of a mermaid" is from K Andrew Designs Pirate Tales and Fish Scales stamp set. You can purchase this set or any K Andrew Designs stamp set for 60% off right now by clicking HERE.

The mermaid is a stamp I purchased years ago from Sideshow Stamps. She was stamped with Versafine Onyx ink on a Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large die. The part of her tail that didn't fit on the oval was hand cut and then threaded through the front of the die so it didn't get cut off. She was embossed with Ranger Rainbow Embossing powder. I tried to get a picture of the embossing but it is so much prettier in person...she really sparkles. She was colored with Distress Markers in Broken China and Wild Honey. Blue gems were added to her tail and a crystal for her belly button :) The edges of the oval were inked with Broken China Distress Ink.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Crafty Friends Challenge #9 - All Things Glitz and Glam
2. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Linky Party
3. Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday - Use Blue
4. Sunday Funday #2 - Linky Party
5. Speedy TV Mark's Finest Papers - Mermaids

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Product Used

Getting Cricky Back To School Blog Hop!!

TO ENTER MY 1,000 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE!!

Welcome to the "Back to School" Getting Cricky Blog Hop!!

We're so happy you could join us for this month's Getting Cricky Design Team Blog Hop!! We'd like to invite you to visit each of our DT Sisters' Blogs and our very special Guest Designer, An'Jenic of AJ Scrapbooking & Cards!!

Throughout the hop we'll be showing all kinds of back to school projects!! We hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! Sooooo, let's get hopping...

If you've hopped along from our Guest Designer AJ, then you are in the right place!! If you are just joining me from your dashboard, or reading this via email, please be sure to CLICK HERE to start at the beginning with Kristal's blog (you'll want to catch up on all the FUN!!)

Each of Kristal's stamp sets benefit charity. At least $1 per stamp set goes to benefit the charity noted on the stamp set package. Kristal is donating to the following charities: Cancer Angels, Storefront Shelter for Homeless Children, Intrepid & Fallen Heroes, E. Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Doorways Shelter for Women & Children (Domestic Violence), Wayside House for Women, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Adopt a Classroom, and Autism Research Institute. Kristal will donate $1 for every stamp set sold, retail or wholesale to the charity noted; and over time believes this will add up to some wonderful miracles for these special people. So you can feel good that each time you purchase a K Andrew Designs art stamp set, someone around the country is receiving some good help!

K Andrew's stamps are all made and assembled here in the USA, which is very important to Kristal. This ensures all product materials are safe and that jobs are being provided and maintained here in America. You can learn even more about Kristal's stamps (and pick some up for yourself) by visiting her online store: K Andrew Designs:

Kristal's stamp sets are perfect for cards, layouts, and so much more...

For my project, I'm featuring the Pirate Tales & Fish Scales and Pirate Party stamp sets:

Pirate Tales & Fish Scales

Pirate Party

For this Back-to-School project, I started with a Paper Mache treasure chest from Michaels.

Brown cardstock from The Paper Studio was embossed with The Paper Studio's Woodgrain embossing folder and then Tim Holtz Walnut Distress Stain was rubbed over the paper and wiped off to bring out the ridges. The paper was cut into strips to look like wood planks. The wood strips were adhered around the middle and top with Mod Podge. Strips of the same paper were sanded and then rubbed with the Walnut Distress Stain and wiped off. These were adhered with Mod Podge as well.

All of the holes for the brads were drilled and then fitted with the brads. The corners are Tim Holtz Corners. The flag was cut from Paper Doll Dress Up and the skull from Life's A Party. Both were distressed and Mod Podged.

The lock is a Tim Holtz Keyholes. 1" Ball Knobs from the Wood Shoppe were painted with Burnt Umber paint and adhered to the base for feet. All of the stamps are from Kristal's Pirate Tales & Fish Scales and Pirate Party stamps. They were stamped on white paper and then distressed with Vintage Photo and Walnut Distress Ink and Mod Poged.

The inside was covered with ATD Specialty Paper and then distressed for an aged look. I used maps so any little pirate could plan their search for hidden treasures :) There is plenty of room for pencils, glue and all kinds of school supplies. But wait...

There's a false bottom so kids can hide all their pirate booty, like the iPod teachers won't let them listen to, or a map with the real treasure location (marked by the negative of the flag cut on the top).

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Cooking With Cricut Challenge #99 - Back To School
2. Joyful Stamper's Inspire Me Friday #72 - Anything Goes 
3. DL.ART Happy Birthday Linky Party - Anything Goes

Now you can hop on over to your next stop: the awesome and talented Shawn of Crafty Chics!!

.......................................

The Little Mermaid, Blog Award Thanks and WINNER!!

Happy Sunday, everyone!!  I hope you had a great weekend!! My Getting Cricky design team sister Jessie of Sugarlips Sassy Surprises is headed to Disney World soon and wanted to make an autograph book for her daughter. Fellow design team member Shawn of Crafty Chics decided to turn it into a challenge, the Disney Autograph Book Challenge!! Shawn is asking everyone to create one autograph page (8 1/2" x 5") with a Disney character on it, link it up at Crafty Chics and then mail it to Jessie (visit Shawn's blog for all the details).

Hum, I wonder what Disney character I chose?? Ariel, The Little Mermaid :) (shocking, right??!!) I used Core'dinations Core Couture and cut the Little Mermaid from Disney Dreams Come True.

I had a hard time getting good pics of the pages because the paper is so sparkly. The background paper is from K & Company Happy Trails stack. I love this paper...there are some raised spots for dimension but you can't really tell in the picture. I love the look of the waves :)

Ariel inside the shell was also cut with Core Couture from DDCT.

Ariel was cut from DDCT at 4" using Core Couture paper. I embossed her tail with the Cuttlebug Japanese Scales embossing folder. I had a very hard time not popping her up with foam tape, or adding bling, but I didn't want to make the page too bulky. "Tales of a Mermaid" is from K Andrew Designs Pirate Tales & Fish Scales stamp set:

Click HERE to purchase your own set or to see her entire fabulous line!!

Now it's your turn to help out Jessie and create a Disney autograph page for her daughter!! Then head on over to Crafty Chics and link up your page!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

BLOG AWARD THANKS

I am always so honored when someone thinks of me for a Blog Award!! I sincerely apologize in the delay in thanking several people for this honor.

First I would like to thank Lori of Reflections From Granny for thinking of me for the Liebster Award!! Thanks, Lori...I will add this to my blog with pride :)

Green Blend Award!!

I am so excited and honored to have received the Green Blend Award from several of my sweet friends!! I've already thanked Jessica of Jessica's Craft Shaque :) So I would like to give a great big thank you to (in the order it was received):

Sherrie of Sherrie Scraps With Passion
Cely of Hawaii Paper Party
Karen of Kaleidoscopic Sparkles
Pam of Craftycards4u2
Shelly of My Paper Love
Rhonda of Scrap Happens
Amy of Redheaded Crafter
Susan of Cricut and Grasshopper
Kristan of Babycakes
Jessie of Sugarlips Sassy Surprises
Cheri of DJ Sundries.

Thank you so much for this award!! It means so much to me :)

Here are the terms under which this “Green Blend Award” are to be given:

1. This award is for any co-blogging friend who has helped you develop your blog in any and all ways.
2. This award is for any co-blogging friend who has cheered you along in your blog building, craft advancing career.
3. This award is for any co-blogging friend who always stops by and is kind to you. You can count on them to always be one of the great comments at the end of your post.
4. This award is to be given to 3 to 5 Blends whom you feel meet the listed requirements.
5. Create a post with the terms of use and publish your Blends of choice.
6. Blend of choice may copy the award from your blog and proudly post it on theirs.
7. Blend of choice may continue the kindness by issuing this award to keep the circle forever growing.

I hate this part because there are so, so many people I want to give this to. It's hard to single out people when everyone is so deserving. I am giving it back to:

Cely of Hawaii Paper Party
Rhonda of Scrap Happens
Amy of Redheaded Crafter
Kristan of Babycakes
Jessie of Sugarlips Sassy Surprises
Cheri of DJ Sundries
Lori of Reflections From Granny

You don't have to repost this since you already have...I just wanted to give it back to you all :)

BLOG CANDY WINNER

And now the winner of my blog candy giveaway of a paper stack and matching flowers from Amy Jo's Birthday Blog Hop!! There were 85 comments and I used Random.org to choose...

And #23 is.............................

Congrats, Amy!! I'll send you an email for your address :)

Thanks for stopping by today!! There is a new challenge at Getting Cricky - a color challenge in honor of St. Patty's Day. Use green, white and one other color. Head on over to Getting Cricky and link up your project :)