Hi, I'm Torrey. Welcome to Left Field, where creativity runs amok and imagination is ALWAYS more important than knowledge. Shoes are not allowed but ties are optional. This is a repository of snippets from my life out here in Left Field. One never knows what shiny bits of creativity will be found here... cards, scrapbook layouts, photography, poetry, recipes, ponderings, rantings and musings. It could be anything! Life in Left Field is always changing, always real, always ...interesting.

January 29, 2013

Bombshell Blog Hoppening

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

It's the last Wednesday of the month so that means it's time for Bombshell Stamps monthly blog hop! This month's theme does NOT reflect the unseasonably warm weather we're having here in Texas. The theme Alison chose this month is...
"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

So, put on your snuggliest bundle-up things, and join us over at Bombshell Stamps Blog for this tribute to all things frosty and frigid. If you slid in from Kelli's blog, you're right on track!

I decided to dress up l'il Miss Bombshell Angel in her wint'ry finery. I used the digital set "Business Bombshell" along with the hat from the digital "Halloween Costume" set. I colored her up with my Prismacolor pencils--including her jaunty plaid trousers and polka-dotted cape, and fussy-cut her out. I embossed her backdrop with a snowflake embossing folder and dotted the card with frosty glittery goodness to add that touch of brrrrrrr...though, as always, it doesn't show up well in the photo.


Thanks for hopping by! Your next stop in the hop is Sparkly Mary's fabulous blog. Be sure and sprinkle love along the way in the form of comments!

Here is a complete list of hopsters in case...well, just in case.


Ingredients:
Bombshell Angel - Bombshell Stamps
Business Bombshell - Bombshell Stamps
Halloween Costume - Bombshell Stamps
Nestabilities die - (long scalloped rectangle) Spellbinders
Prismacolor Pencils
Embossing folder - Cuttlebug
corner punch - EK Success
rhinestones
patterned paper
glitter glue
ribbon
cardstock

January 27, 2013

Gettin' Sketchy with Kenny K

Hidy Ho fellow crafty peeps!

I am here with another challenge over at  


This week's challenge-o-rama is based on the following sketch.





So, come on by the Krew and enter your take on it! You can flip it, rotate it, resize it, twist it...just about anything as long as we can still recognize it. There are FaBuLoUs prizes to be had, so please play along! This week's sponsors are:

The prize from Kenny is the winner's choice of 5 digi's.

AND

I don't know who...it's a mystery.


For this week's challenge I chose the cute and sassy Miss Jeannie for my card. The fun thing about this image is that it comes with her bottle too! I wanted a bright and cheery color palette...and there is nothing better to me than the combo of orange, lime green and purple. It's a secondary color kind of thing. To me, it just sings "happy". I colored up Miss Jeannie with my Prismacolor pencils and tricky-cut her out with my Nestability die. I'm getting better at cutting images that go outside the die border. Maybe I'll do a tutorial on that. For the sentiment, I cut the smokey greeting free-hand.


Ingredients:
Nestability die - Spellbinders
Prismacolor colored Pencils
patterned paper
cardstock
rhinestones

January 21, 2013

It's baaaaack

That's Mucus to My Ears...

At just about EXACTLY this time last year, the house fell under the grip of a nasty respiratory virus. So, in honor of its return...I've revised this post, because a) it fits and b) it fits.
 'Round these parts, one can hear the incessant sniff snifffffffffff followed by that unmistakable honking call of the Rhinovirus Congestiae bug (yeah, I made that up, but it sounds good--so go with it). It's pronounced rye-no-VI-russ con-JEST-tee-ay.

It's come to roost at my house...for that matter, it's come to nest...not ON my head, but IN my head.

I imagine it looks sort of like this (but a bit puffier and more...slimy).


I've never actually seen it but I just KNOW this is what the evil creature looks like. It has multiple arms to grab hold and not let go. It's zombie green with lovely spots of aubergine. And it's not alone. It brought friends. LOTS of friends. They make my voice sound like George Burns after 100 years of smoking cigars. So I wrote a poem which I have titled: Rhinovirus Congestiae (because that's what I do...write poems).

Rhinovirus Congestiae
by Torrey

A visitor came calling the other day
his intentions, I think, were pure evil.
His name is Rhinovirus Congestiae.
He was tiny and looked like a weevil.

He has three pairs of legs (or maybe they’re arms)
And a big toothy grin he keeps flashing.
He may look quite odd (but that's one of his charms)
and his aubergine spots are quite smashing.

It was right then and there, I made the mistake
I invited him in for a visit.
He slithered right past me (just like a snake)
I should have known then...I admit it.

He brought his whole family (and most of his friends)
…they rolled in like a thick bank of fog
Now they’re happy and thriving and doing backbends
…and I’m lying here sick as a dog


While this may sound amusing,  It's SNOT funny to me.

I've gathered my arsenal and am combating (which I think really SHOULD be spelled combatting) these unwanted guests: nasal washes, fluids, vitamin C, nebulizer treatments, rest and Kleenex...LOTS of Kleenex.

I raise my glass of Nyquil in a toast to my victory. Jonathan's on his own. He won't take Nyquil.

January 15, 2013

Ahoy Mateys!



No, it's not "Talk Like a Pirate" day. Nor is it "Swab The Decks" day. It's "Torrey Created In Her Studio" day!! It's cold, grey and...snowing outside. Yeah, you heard me. It SNOWED in Dallas. I dunno why...but it feels a LOT colder down here than it did in Colorado. Brrrrrr. So, it was a perfecto day for fuzzy slippers, hot spiced cider and crafting.

The sketch this month over at Bombshell Stamps is a really versatile one! You need to go see all the different looks that were created by the design team! Just jog on over to the Bombshell Stamps Blog and take a gander at all the wonderful ideas! Here is the sketch created by our own El Capitain herself, Kathi. So come on over to the Bombshell Blog and create something using the sketch for your chance to win a FaBuLoUs prize!

Here is my take on it. I used my newest set of stamps "Ahoy Sailor". I love the vintage seafaring look of this set. It lends itself very well to just a hint of color and LOADS of distressing ink. It's not easy giving it a "hint" of color. I tend to be heavy-handed with the Prismacolor pencils...so this is somewhat of a challenge for me.


Ingredients:
Ahoy Sailor stamp set - Bombshell Stamps
Nestabilities dies - Spellbinders Paper Arts
star brads - Creative Impressions
Prismacolor Pencils
corrugated cardstock - Xpedex
patterned paper
cardstock
brown stamping ink

January 13, 2013

Candy Winner!

Okay so here's how it went...

1. I printed all the contestants on identical slips of paper


2. I folded them all--identically


3. Put them all in my trusty Sock Monkey hat


4. Mixed 'em all up and withdrew one. And, the lucky winner is...

Carla!!
Congratulations, Carla S.!!!
 My Photo 
Carla contacted me today, so it's official!
Thank you to everyone who particpated!!!  

Bad Girl

Well, well, well...here it is about half way through January and this is the first project I've done this year. My mojo took a vacation. I sure hope it comes back soon--well-rested, tanned and ready to CREATE.

Over at Kenny K's Krafty Krew, we're hosting a GOTH challenge this week. So go out there and create something Gothy...Gothicy...Gothictastic.

You get the idea.

We have some generous sponsors (as usual) for one lucky winner! So go on over to the Krafty Krew and enter!


For this challenge I dug up one of the FaBuLoUs Gothik Angelz. I think they're all sassy and I love 'em all. I used li'l Miss Devastatia. She's just plain wicked, dontcha think??? I colored her up with my Prismacolor pencils (as always) and added some glittery accents. She looks goooooooooood in purple. I took a white paper doily and sponged black ink on it to turn it black.


Ingredients:
Devastatia - Kenny K
embossing folder - Sizzix (Riveted Metal)
patterned paper - HOTP
Nestability die - Spellbinders (labels 10)
Prismacolor colored pencils
cardstock
doilies
rhinestones
Memento black ink
glitter pen  - Tsukineko
organza ribbon - Michaels

Candy Candy Canddddyyyyyyy

Hidy Ho, crafty peeps!

This post will remain thumb-tacked to the top of my blog until January 13.
GUESS WHAT???

We are here to give out one last stocking stuffer for the year...the "we" is the design team at  
Kenny K's Krafty Krew and the generous folks at Kenny K


Each member of the design team is giving away some CANDY!!! WOO HOO. So make sure you visit all their blogs to enter for your chance to win, Win, WIN!!!

Here is a list of the DT members who are participating: so be sure to visit them all to enter each one's giveaway!

Amy
Andy
Annie
Dawid
Danielle
Didos
Jodi A
Jodi E
Karin
Kathi
Laila
Liv
Lola
Louise
Mona
Niki
Rachael
Rachelle
Sarah-Louise
Susie
Suzi
Tammy
Torrey (little old me)
Tracey
Vanessa
Wendy
The candy I'm a gonna stuff in someone's stocking is  
YOUR CHOICE of 3 Kenny K images
PLUS...a copy of ONE of the papercrafting books that I wrote (see pic below for the possible titles).
 
(not sure which one I'll send you, it will be a SURPRISE!) --heck, I'll even autograph it for ya! I may even throw in some papercrafting goodies!

No way?

YES WAY!!!

Soooooooooooooo, all you gots to do is comment below. Easy peasy, no? You have between now and midnight January 12th to enter. One entry per person, please. I'd also appreciate it you would become a follower if you're not already (but that's not a requirement for entry).

I will be choosing one lucky ducky winner at random on January 13 (gonna put all the names on slips of paper into a hat, close my eyes, and draw one out). I like the old-fashioned way of doing "random"...not that I have anything against random number generators... actually I do. I think they're impersonal. Then, I'll post the winner's name here on the blog with details about how to claim your FaBuLoUs prize---so check back on JANUARY 13.

Happy New Year!!!

Torrey