Ready for another Tiddly Inks challenge? This week our challenge for you is to create a card or project using the theme Diva! That can include a variety of terms and I chose to go with a princess diva…

I used two Tiddly Ink images for this card, Princess Fiona and Gothic Window, which looked like they were perfect for each other. I wanted to expiriment with her dress and added lots of folds and pleats – I think I went overboard but had fun coloring it. ;D

I used my new tag diecut and adorned it with a felt bird, also from the same diecut. After it was finished I realized it matched paper too – it was such a happy coincidence.

DT Challenge: Tiddly Inks Challenge #50 (Darline Diva)
Main Stamp: Princess Fiona and Gothic Window (TI)
Patterned Paper: Togetherness (CC)
Chipboard: Swirly Corners (MiC)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Dahlia and My Favorite Things Die-namics Notched Tag

Copic Markers colored on Copy Paper:
-skin tone: E000, E00, E01, E02, E21, R12
-browns: E42, E44, E47, E49
-reds: R20, R21, R22, R24, R27, R29, R59
-yellows: Y35, Y38
-greens: YG61, YG63, YG67; YG91, YG95, YG97
-blues: B000, B52, C3
-grays: W00, W1, W2, W3

Did you know? The Arcade in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, is a Victorian-era structure of two nine-story buildings, joined by a five-story arcade with a glass skylight spanning over 300 feet (91 m), along the four balconies. Erected in 1890, at a cost of $867,000, the Arcade opened on Memorial Day (May 31, 1890), and is identified as the one of the earliest indoor shopping malls in the United States.
[Cleveland Arcade, Wikipedia.org]

I’ve got some exciting news – I’m joining the Tiddly Inks Challenges Design Team for a short while! This is my first card and our challenge fr this week is to create a Manly card. I thought the best way to select an image would be to ask the only man in our house – he’s out ruled by four girls and surprisingly manages to hold his own among all the pink, dolls, stuffed animals and blankies. ;D

I made this card using “Thanks for Keeping it Real, Boss” but it should really be called “Another day at the office” or something more clinical like “Yes Boss, how may I help you?” Too many years in the work force I suppose.

I used earth tones for this card and kept it simply trying to go for a guy feel. The paper is actually for pet lovers but I had to use it – it included the perfect hidden message that I kept at the bottom for a secret sentiment. All the words needed to explain a bad day at work.

I’ve been needing to work on some much needed manly cards so this was the perfect challenge for me. Plus with Fathers Day coming up I’m sure to use them all! Hope you can come along to play in the challenge this week!

DT Challenge: Tiddly Inks Challenges #49 (Manly Men)
Main Stamp: Thanks for Keeeping it Real, Boss! (TI)
Patterned Paper: scraps
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Deckled Rectangle

Copic Markers colored on Copy Paper:
-skin tone: E000, E21
-browns: E57, E59; E43, E44, E47, E49
-reds: E13, E17, E19
-yellows: Y11, Y23, Y26
-greens: E81, E89
-blues: B41, B45
-grays: C1, C3; W2, W4, W6, W8

Did you know? The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as a leading source of data about America’s people and economy. The most visible role of the Census Bureau is to perform the official decennial (every 10 years) count of people living in the U.S. The most important result is the reallocation of the number of seats each state is allowed in the House of Representatives, but the results also affect a range of government programs received by each state.
[United States Census Bureau, Wikipedia.org]

I haven’t a clue what a spiderweb, school girl and frog all have in common except they’re all from Tiddly Inks and I wanted to color them all. ;D So I chose a few of my favorite colors and put them all together anyway.

The background was colored using blues, greens and grays with the same technique I’ve used before – building up colors, blending and blending some more. I lost track on how many layers I added before I ended up with this result.

The challenge theme is “April Showers brings May Flowers” and wanted a rain for flower theme. I chose the rain theme and added a bunch of rain drops on the spiderweb in the background.

I first drew in the rain drops with a white pen and could have stopped there. However, I then added Crystal Effects over each rain drop for a water effect. This also gave the card texture which is fun to hold.

I’d like to submit this card into the following challenges:
Tiddly Inks Challenge #47 (April Showers)
Charisma Cardz Week #17 (April Showers)
Get Hippity with Ippity Challenge #1 (Spring/anything)

Main Stamp: School Girl & Spiderweb4 (TI)
Patterned Paper: Stella & Rose Hattie (MME)
Metal Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One
Adironadack Acrylic Paint Daubers

Copic Markers colored on Copy Paper:
-skin tone: E000, E00, E11, E21, E13
-browns: E41, E42, E43, E44
-yellows: YR30, Y23, Y26
-greens: YG61, YG63, YG67
-blues: BG11, BG72, BG75
-grays: 0, C1, C3
-background: W1, W2, W4, W6, BG11, BG72, BG75, YG61, YG63, YG67

Did you know? The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy (also known as a wheel fiddle) is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses tangents (small wedges, usually made of wood) against one or more of the strings to change their pitch. Most hurdy gurdies have multiple “drone strings,” which provide a constant pitch accompaniment to the melody, resulting in a sound similar to that of bagpipes.
[Hurdy Gurdy, Wikipedia.org]

Update: I was the winner at Charisma Cardz Challenges for this challenge!