This week's High Hopes challenge theme is "Animals!" You will find all the details on the High Hopes blog. The challenge runs through Monday; join the fun and see if you win a chance to be a guest designer!
I put together a little wrapped envie, perfect for a quick gift of cash to a lucky fella! This is the backside, showing how the chocolate cardstock wraps around the plaid envelope.
Ooo ooo oooo!
All stamps by High Hopes.
There's a new challenge posted on the High Hopes blog, and today's challenge theme is "Anything Goes!" Get all the details on the High Hopes blog. The challenge runs until next Monday, so I encourage you to play along!
For my card, I chose to use this cute image called Posey's for Ewe. The image is colored with a combination of Touch Twin and Copic markers.
Hope you enjoy the day!!
I haven't had much time for crafting lately, but did have time to play today's High Hopes challenge. Today's challenge theme is EASTER! Get all the details on the High Hopes blog. The challenge runs until next Monday night, so I encourage you to play along!
For my card, I chose to use this cute image called Easter Bunny Stack. The image is colored with a combination of Touch Twin and Copic markers.
Hope you enjoy the day!!
There's a challenge on the High Hopes blog, and it's a "bingo" challenge. I chose the bingo card's top line: Flowers, Ribbon/Lace/Twine, Buttons. Get all the details on the High Hopes blog. The challenge runs until next Monday night, so I encourage you to play along! For my card, I chose to use this cute tea pot image called Laurie's Teapot. The image is colored with a combination of Touch Twin and Copic markers.
Jeepers... is it Friday, yet?! I'm looking forward to the weekend!!
Pop on over to the High Hopes blog for all the details.
High Hopes Stamps has a small spring release tomorrow. How about a sneak peek!?
Find all the details on the High Hopes blog.
This week the High Hopes blog challenge is all about green... I chose to use several older High Hopes images to create a springtime scene. What's not to love about a top-hat wearing piggy!?
I used a combination of Shinhan Twin Touch markers and Copic markers to color the images. He just makes me chuckle ... he's just so ... naked!
I was asked recently how I photograph my cards for sharing on my blog. I thought it would be easy enough to snap a photo of my desk while I took photos of today's project. I place two sheets of patterned paper on my desk to create a simple staging area. I place the card or project at a slight angle to the camera and use two inexpensive desk lamps to light up my workspace. I use Reveal bulbs in the lamps. It works for me!
Join the fun here!
High Hopes Stamps used: Forest Background, Miss Peggy, St. Patrick's Day Hat
Thought I'd do a quick post to share a few High Hopes Stamps Valentine themed cards ... some new, some from the archives. *smooches*
The High Hopes team is having a little blog hop today to celebrate the release of a small new Alien stamp set as well as some pretty new floral images. You'll find the complete release here.
For my project, I chose to use two of the new florals to create this pocket card. This is a fun way to send a greeting that promises to bloom and grow!
Join the team on the hop by starting at the High Hopes blog where you will find a complete list of participating bloggers.
Your next stop from here is the always fabulous ANDREA!
Enjoy!
PS: I understand there is going to be a give-away, chosen randomly from commenters on one of the blogs on the hop, so be sure to mention you stopped by. You never know ... perhaps my blog will be the blog chosen to offer the prize to a reader!
I'm hosting this week's challenge on the High Hopes blog, and the theme is Pink, Pink, and More Pink! Join the challenge and find all the details here.
And while we're talking about PINK, I thought I'd do a PINK give-away! If you would like to receive this little packet of goodies from me, leave me a note on this post. There are 18 6x6 sheets from the new Basic Grey paper pad called Kissing Booth, the card I made for this week's High Hopes challenge (receive it just in time to give it away for Valentine's Day!), as well as loads of PINK ribbon! (plus more surprises not included in the photo...)
I'll choose 1 winning name on Thursday morning, February 2.
I'd like to know what your favorite house decor color is....
I put together this card last night using a cute stamp I got for Christmas. I stamped the image in black ink and fairly quickly colored it with markers. The image is from a 1995 Current stamp of two mice enjoying a day in their boat, on a pond. Works for me! I'll be sending this off as a sweet little THANK YOU, post holidays.
What are your plans for the weekend? I have a to-do list a mile long, but can't decide what I want to do first. So I thought I'd ask you, see what you've got planned, and maybe you'll have better ideas than what's on my list!
There's a challenge on the High Hopes blog and the topic is "Winter Wonderland". The challenge runs until next Monday night, so I encourage you to play along! Get all the details on the High Hopes blog. For my card, I chose to use this cute snowman image called Homespun Hearts Snowy.
Sorry for the "off" photo ... it was a late night. *grin*
Once I got my workspace cleaned up from the pre-Christmas craft extravaganza, I was able to pull out the pieces of this card and get them colored, glittered, and assembled. This cutie is from the December release at The Cat's Pajamas. The bunny is from the set called Freezin' Season, and the sentiment is from the Snow Day set.
Living in the country, I remember LOVING snow days from school. That meant a day at home spent playing in freshly fallen snow! Seems to me, the Pacific Northwest used to get a LOT more snow than they've been getting in recent years. Mom and Dad have a great sledding hill at the house, which was 'almost' always great fun. I say 'almost' because if you weren't careful with your steering, you and your sled would get to the end of the hill, shoot out across the driveway and crash into the rail fence. Or you'd crash into the huge bull-pine tree and fracture your leg bones, ending your day in the emergency room at the hospital. Yeah. Ouch.
I'm entering this card into the color challenge currently being hosted on the Touch Twin Markers & More Challenge blog ... maybe I'll get lucky and win some new markers! *grin*
I thought I would share some of my favorite holiday projects from recent years past. I made this card using the "scrap" of a die cut tree and old sheet music with one of my crystal snowflakes added for embellishment.
A holiday tag using a Crafty Secrets snowman scrap. Chubby little cuttie!
A wooden shape covered with paper and felt, with buttons for eyes and a nose.
Wooden hearts covered with paper strips, made to look like quilted heart blocks.
A scrappy holiday card made with various Crafty Secrets images and stamps. Lots of glitter for sparkle.
Country holiday tag, made with my Rustic Snowman stamp from Whipper Snapper.
Gingerbread boy tags, made with Sizzix dies, old sheet music, and designer paper. Again, lots of glitter for sparkle and shine!
My Sizzix snowman, made with chipboard and sheet music... Fa la la la la!
An altered birch bark candle, embellished with one of my crystal snowflakes.
My owl feltie ornament... love him!
Altered wooden snowflake, with lots of crystal snowflakes added to the center. Rustic jingle bells on curly wire add a bit more holiday cheer.
Tiny Tim's Santa coat... heheheeee!!
Quilt themed holiday card, made with my winter quilts stamp set, from Whipper Snapper.
A 4x4 handmade gift box filled with tea, cocoa packets, and peppermint sticks. Yum!
A Santa Christmas card, using the High Hopes Santa face stamp image. Ho ho ho!
A cowboy snowman card, made with this cutie image from High Hopes. Still, a personal favorite.
Hope you enjoyed this look back at some of my favorite holiday projects!
What a wonderful day in the pacific northwest! We woke up to a very light snowfall that put about 2" of soft powder on the ground by the end of the day. Beautiful! I drove to Grandma's house for a quick visit, and had a cheery time visiting.
Here in the snowy mountains we're getting ready to tuck in for the night, and hope to hear the jingling bells of Santa's sleigh midway through the night. I hope we're on his "nice" list this year! *grin*
Merry Christmas to you, from Alan and me, and all the critters on the farm!
Speaking of chocolate, here's a card I made w/ a cute Inky Antics image.
As for the recipe for the cocoa mixes I made ... I'll get back to you! I don't have it with me, but I'll see if I can sweet talk Alan into pulling it out of my recipe book for you! *grin*
'Tis the season for making fun gifts, and I made a good assortment of them this year. Here is a jar of spice tea mix I dressed up using plaid ribbon, and a tea-dyed tag. I made a card using a left-over image from my critter treat packages, using October Afternoon papers.
Instead of making a standard card, I decided to make an easel card. The card is the standard A2 size, and has a cardstock fashioned easel on the back to support it for display. For mailing, the easel slides out of the bottom "pocket", and folds flat against the back of the card. So easy, and so fun!
I'm catching a flight up to Washington in the morning (I'd better start packing!), and thought I would leave you for the day with this card I made using my Sledding Chicken stamp, from Whipper Snapper.
Doesn't she look like she's having FUN!
Wheeeee!!!
Image stamped in black Memento ink, colored with a combination of Touch Twin and Copic markers.
Happy Monday!
Today I finished up the last (I think) of this year's Christmas cards, and thought I'd share a funny little story about my card.
Last year I saved THIS CARD of Darleen's in my "favorites" on SplitCoastStampers. Darleen was inspired to create her card by THIS CARD, also found on SplitCoastStampers.
I had just finished putting the last few buttons on my cards (I made 8 of them) and decided to scroll through my Google Reader list and see what others have been up to this weekend. I was quite surprised to find THIS CARD posted by Debbie Olson today, which she created using inspiration from Darleen's card as well! Crikey! What are the odds of THAT happening, more than a year after the original card was posted?!
"Alan, better go buy a lottery ticket!"
Supplies: EK Success snowflake punch, Memory Box patterned paper, Christmas Blessings Cling Mount set from Whipper Snapper, old buttons, twine, misc cardstock
Just a quick card to share with you today...
I've been up to my eyeballs in projects, but don't have any photos to share with you yet. In all honesty, because there's no room on my table to actually TAKE the photos! My desk is always a disaster when I'm working on holiday projects. Even the kitchen has been taken over. This weekend I made hand dipped cinnamon taper candles to sell at the local antique shop, and that is only one of the projects I have going on in the kitchen. Too much, too much, TOO MUCH!! But it's all so FUN and it all needs to get done! *grin*
Have you made up your Thanksgiving menu yet? We'll be headed into town to John and Sue's for dinner on Thursday. I'm making pumpkin pie and the BEST candied yams! Mmmmm.
Stamp sets used:
Christmas Cuties
Hope you have a fabulous Monday!
Whipper Snapper is gearing up for the big Spring/Summer 2012 release, which takes place in December. They've been sharing sneak peeks on their Facebook page, and I thought I'd share my own sneak peek of one of my upcoming images for the release.
The image is colored with Copic and Touch Twin markers. Once I was done coloring the image, I sprayed the entire layer with a nice even coat of spray adhesive (Aleene's Crystal Clear Tacky Spray). While the adhesive was still tacky, I sprinkled on Martha Stewart crystal fine glitter, and brushed off the excess.
Sparkle MANIA!!
Happy Monday!
Here is a clean and simple card made with images from Lifetime of Happiness. The flowers were stamped in chalk ink, and the sentiment was stamped in black Stazon ink. I used a thin strip of Prima paper at the top, as well as some pretty cream colored ribbon and a button. I added a spritz of spray adhesive and sprinkled on a bit of crystal fine glitter. It sparkles like crazy! Easy does it!
Here's a real quick and easy holiday card, featuring the tree from Christmas Cuties.
I stamped the tree on white cardstock and colored it with markers. To warm up the colors a bit, I also applied some antique paper ink to the cardstock. This took the brightness out of the white cardstock. I could have stamped the tree on cream cardstock, but the piece of white was already cut, and handy.
Once the tree was colored and inked, I then gave the entire white layer a nice even coating of spray adhesive, sprinkled on an even layer of crystal glitter, and set it aside to dry. I cut a hole in a piece of kraft cardstock large enough to frame the tree. I adhered the tree to a base card (cut to 3.5 x 4.5), and overlayed the cirle layer, adhering it over top of the tree with foam adhesive.
There are snowflakes stamped very lightly on the base of the card. The sentiment and snowflake stamps are from Christmas Blessings.
Talk about SPARKLE!
I found images of a project I created in October using the Lifetime of Happiness cling set, and thought I would share them with you.
It's kind of timely that I came across these photos tonight, because we've got quite a windstorm happening and I'm hoping that some of the garden debris finds it's own way out of the garden and into the pasture with the donkeys and cows. Nothing like a little helping hand from Mother Nature when it comes to getting some of the farm chores done!
I really like how this project came together. The peachy colored paper I hand dyed using various distress inks and pearl colored Glimmer Mist. It really is quite pretty being slightly shimmery under the image, which as you can see also happens to be dressed up with even more glitter.
To add the top sprinkling of glitter, I gave the card a light spray of adhesive (spray adhesive comes in a can, like spray paint) after the card was all assembled. While the adhesive was still tacky, I lightly sprinkled crystal glitter here and there. A light hand is best for this technique ... it's easy to get carried away and add too much adhesive, and glitter! (Do you believe me?) *grin*
After the adhesive dries it's no longer tacky, so you don't have to worry about random things sticking to your project after the adhesive is dry.
I dressed up the inside of the card too, using a sentiment from the same set. I chose to add faint butterfly stampings, as well. And more glitter!
... I do believe we're sneaking up on a Friday! ...
Thanks for checkin' in on me today!
Inspired by last weekend's northeastern snow storm, I blasted this Christmas Cuties snowman card with loads of glitter! He seems quite delighted, wouldn't you say? After I colored the image, I sprayed the entire layer with spray glue -- a nice even layer -- and then sprinkled on the glitter. Once the adhesive was dry (takes very little time), I rubbed my finger over the entire surface to romove any extra glitter and even out the pokey-upy pieces. Once you try it, you'll see what I mean...
And if you think this project is sparkly, you should have seen ME afterwards! *ha!*
I also added a little wool felt holly decoration to the button/twine bow. I had a very small scrap of felt on my desk left over from the wool felt rolled flower hairclips I made last month, so I did a little snip-snip with the scissors, and ta da! Holly leaves! They coordinate nicely with the Jillybean Soup paper. Festive!
I was digging through my ribbon stash for a really wide ribbon to use on the front of my card, and wasn't having any luck finding a ribbon as wide as I wanted. So, I decided to create the ribbon I wanted out of paper! A layer of designer paper, topped with a narrower strip of solid card stock, both with a quick edging of faux stitching provided just the look I was hoping for.
I then stamped the Christmas Cuties candy cane image on the same colored card stock as I used for the card base, colored it very simply with red and a very light grey, cut it out and embellished it with a pretty ribbon bow and button. Once assembled, the entire card got a little spritz of silver spray craft glitter and now it sparkles just right!
The candy cane card was so fun and easy to make, I made a similar card using the Christmas Cuties holiday bells image.
I purposely only adhered the faux ribbon layers at the top portion of the card, so the tail ends would lift a bit from the card base. What a quick and easy way to add dimension!
And oh by the way, these cards aren't your typical A2 size. Instead, they're 4.5 x 3.5. Try it -- it's a fun size!
Today I'm excited to introduce my latest two new rubber stamp cling sets for Whipper Snapper - Christmas Cuties and Christmas Blessings. I have had a ball playing with the sets, and can't wait to share all of my projects with you.
The images in Christmas Cuties were drawn with holiday tag decoration in mind, but they easily work for cards and other paper crafts, too! My first project was to make these cute little snow globe holiday gift tags.
I stamped the snowman on white speckled card stock and cut him out using one of the Spellbinder circle dies. I added some little snowflakes around him in a very pale blue ink using the snow image from Penguin Antics.
I created chocolate brown scalloped layers using one of the Spellbinder scalloped circle dies. I drew the simple shape of the snow globe base and cut two sizes -- one for the base, and one for the designer paper layer -- and adhered them to the backside of the scalloped circle.
The back of the tags have another circle layer for the greeting (and to cover up the seam of the base). I stamped a sentiment from Christmas Blessings, and a To: From: image that I pulled from the Garden Fresh cling set. I used a simple strand of twine and a button to decorate the base of the snow globe, and added some nice ribbon, buttons and twine to the top of the tags. These are going to be so fun on holiday packages!
The snow globe tags were so fun to make, I even used one on the front of a card, too! I chose to use a different sentiment from Christmas Blessings on the front of the card.
The sentiments in Christmas Blessings work nicely for card sentiments - both inside, and out! Here I've used the Peace sentiment as a focal point on the front of the card, along with the candy cane image from Christmas Cuties. (The dark layers look black in this photo, but they're really a nice dark brown.)
Brown and red and olive ... I think those are going to be my go-to colors for Christmas this year!
The sentiments are useful on tags, too. I love having lots of sentiment options at my fingertips, and am excited to have this new set for the holiday season.
Kind of hard to see, but I stamped the rustic snowflake from the Christmas Blessings set on the base of the tag and behind the sentiment, in a very light tea dye ink color. Once the tag was assembled, I gave it a quick spritz of silver craft glitter. It shimmers just right.
I'm the only designer working on the release of these two sets, so no hopping around required this month. But just as a reminder, you can see all of the projects past Whipper Snapper Featured Designers have uploaded to their SplitCoast galleries by viewing the Whipper Snapper Featured Designer Gallery. Have a look -- it's always a great place to find all kinds of great inspiration!
I hope you enjoy the new sets as much as I do... Stay tuned for more FUN samples I'll be sharing using these new sets!
For the entire month of October, the SplitCoastStampers online community has been making cards to share with the MD Anderson Cancer Clinic, in support of clinic patients. You can find more info about the event here.
Each day, there is a new challenge posted to provide inspiration to cardmakers participating in the month-long event. I had the privledge of hosting the October 23rd challenge. My challenge title was "Save the Boo-Bees", and the challenge was to use a bee, or bee friendly scene (like a garden, preferably with bees present), or the color yellow. I thought I would share some of the cards I made as the challenge inspiration.
The first card, Friendship is a wonderful thing, was made using an image from my Bee-lieve in a Cure set, and a sentiment from Lifetime of Happiness.
My second card was also made using images and a sentiment from Bee-lieve in a Cure. It's fun to use the various images in the set to create scenes.
I added lots of glitter for sparkle, shimmer and shine!
And finally, the third card also uses an image from Bee-lieve in a Cure. Once I had the bee and sentiment stamped, I added some sparkly clouds to finish the simple scene.
For all of the cards, I chose various papers from a Prima paper pad -- love those prints and colors!
There have been a lot of cards posted to the gallery in response to my challenge. You can check them out here. All these cards have me buzzin' for joy!
Bzzzz!
How about a little more Farmgirl Betty inspiration!
When I showed Alan this card, he said "why is her hair blue?" That made me giggle!
So, a 2li23ttle off top2.i4c ... but hav3e2 2you 0ev0e00r. tr5ied 5t+o+ +ty5pe3 .with a chic6k+en standi2n2g22 next to..3666you6r6 keybo3a.rd? No? Well, l2e2t me 3t333ell y56ou, it gets0 i0nteresting.
Here is how that sentence should have read: So, a little off topic ... but have you ever tried to type with a chicken standing next to your keyboard? No? Well, let me tell you, it gets interesting.
She types nearly as fast as me, but she favors the number keypad.
Cricket has something she wants to type to you, all on her own:
655116666956112220000...033333233330012+++++56++2100/6616
Whatever that means... It must be good!
Anyway, back to Betty! I love her little chickies!
I decorated the inside of the card too! It's a great way to use up scraps.
Well, it's bedtime for this farmgirl. Sweet dreams!
I'm very excited to introduce today, my three new rubber stamp cling sets for Whipper Snapper! I had such a good time illustrating these sets, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. First up, Farmgirl Betty. A sweet little 'thang', happy to share her garden bounty. Farmgirl Betty wears only the finest all-natural fibers, and treats her feet to Birkenstocks.
To create this card, I used the Decorative Label punch from Stampin' Up to create three focal point frames for my card. I stamped several images from the set onto the frames, and added some fine dash lines around the edges as well as some sponged on distress ink. The images are colored with markers, and set on a card base made with Lily Bee Design papers (Memorandum line). Some old buttons and twine finish the card.
Inside the card I've added her chickens and a sentiment from the set. You grow, girl!
Next up is Farmer John. Farmer John is sweet on Farmgirl Betty, and can you blame him? He's got garden bounty of his own to share. *giggle*
I did some simple masking to create this scene. First I stamped the veggie sign and the two tomato vines. I covered the tomatoes with a paper mask cut out in their shape. Then I stamped the corn right over top of the masked tomatoes. I removed the mask from the tomatoes to reveal garden "rows". I added the pumpkins, chicken and Farmer John by stamping them on a separate piece of paper, cutting them out, and adhering them using foam adhesive.
One of his lady friends can be found on the inside of the card, as well as a sentiment from the set.
Finally, something a little different. Lifetime of Happiness features one of my favorite flowers transformed from one of my own photographs, two butterflies, as well as several beautiful sentiments. I thought I'd try something a little different with this card. I used various colors of distress ink to "dye" the paper that the images are embossed on. I love the results! A bit brighter than my usual style, but so reminiscent of years I spent living in Oregon -- hippies, hippies everywhere. I even hand dyed the ribbon!
First, I used VersaMark ink to stamp the images on watercolor paper. I heat embossed the images using ultra fine clear embossing powder, which keeps the pristine white of the paper showing through. I then used various colors of distress ink to dye the paper, creating a fun wash of color. Because the images have so much color, I chose to use just simple white and black cardstock to finish the card. The text block stamp I used on the orange/red layer is from my All Things With Love set.
Of course, the best part of the release is introducing you to the five Whipper Snapper Featured Designers for this month's release! You will certainly want to take a look at the projects they share; you're sure to be impressed!
The Who's Who of October 2011 Featured Designers:
Shellie Daniel
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/ShellieD
Danielle Kennedy
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/dpkennedy
Blog: http://wilddragonflydesigns.blogspot.com
Tammy Hershberger
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/stampertammy
Blog: http://stamphappy-tammy.blogspot.com
Sue Berker
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/stampinsusie
Blog: http://berkerblog.blogspot.com
Lesa Rapp
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/lesarapp
Blog: http://paperpossibilities.blogspot.com
and Me! Anna Wight
SCS Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/go/sweetmissdaisy
Blog: http://sweetmissdaisy.typepad.com
You can see all of the projects current and past Featured Designers have uploaded to their SplitCoast galleries by viewing the Whipper Snapper Featured Designer Gallery. Have a look -- it's a great place to find all KINDS of great inspiration!
Have fun!
There is a challenge being hosted on the Touch Twin Markers & More challenge blog with the topic of "Florals".
I created this relatively simply thank you card for my entry into the challenge using my Potted Sunflower image. The image is colored with markers, and of course, I added glitter for sparkle and shine!
Happy Friday!!
I wanted to make a couple thank you cards, so I pulled out two Penny Black cow stamps and got busy. These girls just crack me up!
I colored the girls with markers, adding shadows using a combination of grey and purple. I also added bits of glitter here and there for some sparkle and shine. The paper is from the Cosmo Cricket Earth Love series, on an olive card base.
On the second card I used the same olive green card base, and a sheet of Prima designer paper. Oooh, ahhh. This cow is also colored with markers, and I used colored pencils on the grass for added detail. And there's glitter on the daisies.
Shouldn't all daisies be topped with glitter? I think so.
Happy Thursday!
On my way home from Salado on Sunday, I stopped at the Michael's store in Waco to see if they had a few items I'm wanting for Christmas projects. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did notice a cute little halloween stamp set (in their Recollections line) on sale for just a few dollars. It hopped right into my basket! Lucky me!
Last night I finished up three cards using the cute little witchy-woo and pumpkin from the set. There is also a cute kiddo dressed up as a pumpkin, a dracula, and some little odds and ends (ghost, pumpkin, skull, sentiments, bat, etc).
The art very much reminds me of some retired Stampin Up sets I have.
I couldn't decide on a color for her dress, so I just kept coloring. I used a combination of Touch Twin markers and Copic markers to color the images.
I ended up with three finished images, and added some glitter for lots of holiday cheer. All of the paper is from the My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad of designer paper called Mischievous.
I like this gal, in her pretty purple dress. I don't typically "do" purple, so this one kind of surprised me. I do think of purple as a halloween color, though. It just seems kind of "witchy" to me. *grin*
I really don't "need" three more halloween cards -- I guess I should find something to do with them...
Here is the finished card using the image I posted earlier today. You'll notice there is a bird (blob) in the upper left corner of the image. That bird has now been removed from my stamp block ... he's just too blobby and had to GO! *grin*
I recieved a fun birthday package this morning from my friend and fellow stamper Shellie. In addition to a CUTE birthday card, she sent me a gorgeous 6x6 pad of My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose paper that worked perfectly for my project today! That cute button was in my package, too, also part of the Stella & Rose line. Perfect!! Thanks Shellie!
Today is World Card Making Day (did you know there was such a thing!?), and I nearly missed it! I had intended on working on the long list of projects I have that need to be completed, but my day got sidetracked with errand after errand. But here it is 10:30pm, and I'm happy to be posting a project I finished today. I chose the color combination for my project from the current color challenge (TTCO2) being hosted on the Touch Twin Markers & More challenge blog. It was a perfect combination for my little cowboy snowman!
I used one of my FAVORITE stamps Rootin Tootin Snowman for the main image. The image is stamped in brown Memento ink and colored with markers. A bit of glitter was added for sparkle and shine. I used an ink blending tool to add distress ink around the edges, which I think really makes the snowman glow!
I used a sentiment from Got Mistletoe? and a snowflake from North Pole Post on the inside to dress things up a bit. I really needed the added layers on the inside to balance the weight of the card front. It was a bit front-heavy without them. The designer paper is from Memory Box.
The ribbon I chose to use on the front is an inexpensive wired ribbon from a big-box store (which one? good question!) I don't use wired ribbon very often, but I thought the added dimension it gave to this card was kind of fun. Plus, who doesn't love brown gingham?! A quick addition of button and twine top off the bow.
Let's see if I can finish another project tonight, in honor of World Card Making Day!
A dear friend and her family lost a loved one recently, and it broke my heart to hear the news. I live too far away to give literal hugs to the family, but not too far to send condolences and love.
Sympathy cards are the most difficult cards for me to make. I always cry. Knowing what I know about the family, I created this card for them. I know they won't mind me sharing it with you, here.
I wanted this card to be special, so I created a small original water-colored painting/illustration to use as the main image. I used a fine lined pen to draw the sunflowers on Italian cotton watercolor paper, and painted the image with DaVinci artists watercolor pigments using a fine Sable brush. Music is a big part of their lives, so I incorporated sheet music from a beautiful, vintage book of music.
We send our love, north to Virginia...
Artist supplies purchased from DickBlick.com:
Fabriano Acquarello Watercolour Extra White Cold Pressed 140lb Cotton Paper
DaVinci Artists Watercolors
Copic Multiliner .03
It was 106 here today ... ridiculous. Still a bit too soon for woollies and sweaters, I guess. Bummer.
Since it was an "inside" day, I spent some time chatting on the phone with Aunt Patty. While we chatted, I made this chicken mummy halloween card, using an image from my Whipper Snapper cling set called Happy Haunting. The sentiment stamped on the background of the card in white craft ink is from another of my Whipper Snapper cling sets called Spooky Expressions.
The patterned paper is from the Ambrosia 6x6 pad, from BasicGrey. This paper line has butterflies and florals, but also has lots of nice orange, black, and grey patterns as well which just say "halloween" to me.
The image is stamped on kraft colored card stock, and I used a water brush and white pigment ink to color the mummy straps white. If this technique is new to you, you can watch a how-to video tutorial here.
Happy Sunday!
To celebrate the holiday release for High Hopes Rubber Stamps, the designers are participating in a blog hop to showcase the new images. If you're participating in the hop, Andrea was before me and Kristine is next. If you didn't get here from Andrea's blog, you may want to pop on over to the High Hopes blog and start at the top.
Hopefully an added bonus, if you liked the Piggly Wiggly and Coloring a Snowman videos I've shared this week, I've got another treat for you! I filmed myself coloring this image, too! What can I say ... I was on a video roll! (Still no music on the videos... and the goat goober is still present as well. What fun!)
Enjoy this sped up look at me coloring this snowman.
And like always, if you have trouble viewing the video here on my blog, you can check it out here on my YouTube channel. Oh! And I wanted to mention too, if you want to get a BIGGER look at the videos, click on the little four arrow button at the far right of the video control bar -- just right of the YouTube button. That will make the video viewing window full screen. Then, to get back to regular viewing, press the ESC key on your keyboard (the ESC key is in the upper left corner of your keyboard, Dad!) *grin*
To continue on with the blog hop, shake yourself on over to Kristine's blog!
Snowman: High Hopes Rubber Stamps
Memento Black Tuxedo Ink
Paper: Neenah, Memory Box, Olive cardstock
Markers: Copic (0; C1; W3, W5, W7; E13, E30, E31, E41, E42, E43, E44; YG95, YG97, YG91; B91, B93, B95; R39, R59; YR14, YR24; R01)
High Hopes Rubber Stamps is releasing new holiday images on Thursday of this week (tomorrow), and today the designers are giving you a look at them. I chose to use this cheery Christmas Joy snowman, dressed up in his finest star buttons.
If you liked the Piggly Wiggly coloring video I shared earlier this week, then I've got a treat for you! I filmed myself coloring this image, too! (Still no music on the videos...)
Enjoy!
Oh, and like always, if you have trouble viewing the video here on my blog, you can check it out here on my YouTube channel.
Snowman: High Hopes Rubber Stamps
Memento Black Tuxedo Ink
Paper: Neenah, Memory Box, black cardstock
Markers: Copic (0; C1; W1, W2, W3, W4, W5; E9, E31, E35, E37, E44, E53, E99; BG93, BG70, BG72, BG96; Y17, Y26, Y28; YR14, YR24; R01)
I get asked frequently if I'll demonstrate how I color or paint the images I use on my projects. So I took a video of the process of me coloring this image, and making the card. The video doesn't have any sound (don't have music files to add to videos), so hum your own tune while you watch. *grin* Also, it's in 3x speed, so not to take up too much of your time!
If you have trouble viewing the video here on the blog, you can check it out here on my YouTube channel.
Enjoy!
PS: Let me know if this is something you'd like to see more of.
- Hamselot (#CT073): Whipper Snapper Designs
- Sentiment: Garden of Friendship cling set, Whipper Snapper Designs
- Memento Black Tuxedo Ink
- Paper: Neenah, October Afternoon
- Markers: Copic (0, R11, R20, B93, B95, B97, E13, E15, R37, R39, R59, C1, C2, C3, YG03, YG23, YR21, YR24 -- hope I didn't miss any!)
- Colored Pencil: LYRA Pompeian Red 600-91
- MISC: Seam binding, tracing wheel, Tombow Mono Multi glue, antique button, twine, Stampin Up foam dimensionals, Gamsol and paper tortillon for blending
- Smudge on camera lens: Baaaaad Boxcar Betty
I wanted to make a special birthday card for a fisherman fella, so I decided to pull out a sheet of some of my favorite "guy" paper. This paper is from the Great Outdoors - Earthtones line by American Traditional Designs, and has been in my stash for several years -- well, since 2006 I believe, looking at it's publish date. I love making origami shirts, and making them as cards is extra fun! If you want to learn how, I would head on over to YouTube and search for Origami Shirt Card. You'll find lots of videos showing you how. (In fact, this one is good.)
You can make one out of a single sheet of 8.5x11 paper, but if you want to add a pocket as I've done, you'll need a little scrap to cut it from.
I changed the buttons on this card after I took the photo (and didn't want to bother with a new photo). I moved the buttons over to the center of the card. I'm not sure why I placed them off to the side in the first place. *shakes head* Centered is MUCH better!
The front of the shirt slides down and out from under the collar and folds down to reveal a message inside. Pretty cute, and I think it'll be enjoyed by the fisherman fella I'm sending it to.
Update:
I made similar shirt cards in 2007! Here are links to them, posted in my SplitCoastStampers gallery:
- Plaid Shirt
- Bobber Shirt
- Camping Shirt
- Fishing Shirt (same paper as the card on this post)
I finally finished the project I started using the Billy the Kid image I colored up. This is a large 5x7 card. The image is colored with markers and colored pencils, and I added lots of brown distress ink around the edges, along with some stamped "yippee-ki-yi-yay" sentiments in the background. The sentiment is from my Singing Cowboy cling set from Whipper Snapper. The patterned paper with horseshoes is an old print from Flair Designs, and the lighter brown paper I used for the mat is from a Recycled Mat Pack from K&Company. A button and some small twine finish it off.
There's a "new" (recently re-designed) artist pen available on the market from Shinhan Art, and well, you know I'm a sucker for coloring and painting mediums! There's a challenge posted on their blog where 1 randomly selected participant will receive a few pens for free, so I thought I'd enter Billy the Kid and see what kind of luck I have at winning myself a few of the new pens to try. You can find the details on the Touch Twin Markers & More Challenge Blog.
Happy Wednesday!
Alan's dad, John, celebrates his 75th birthday today. Happy Birthday, John!!
We enjoyed dinner with Alan's parents last night, and are headed over this evening for celebratory cake and ice cream. I put together a birthday card for him, and cracked up the entire time I was making it...
Fishing Ewe Mower Birthday Fishes
I know lots of people with September birthdays, so I thought I should get on the stick about making some birthday cards! Here's one I put together this evening. Cheery, don't you think?
I drew the image and then colored it with markers and colored pencils. I added lots of ultra fine glitter using a quickie glue pen for sparkle and shine. The sentiment is from my Simply Bloom cling set. I wanted a light and airy sentiment for the banner. I also stamped the background text image from All Things With Love on the base of the card.
Oh, and just may be a sneak peek at a new Whipper Snapper stamp...
Maybe.
*grin*
I ordered a new goody for my desk! Can you pick it out? Click on the photo for a LARGER view...
Not sure what it could be?
All that clutter got you mystified?!
Let me help you out...
I ordered a retail display rack for my markers! I had them stored in different containers previously, but due to their different sizes (some are round, some oval, and some square) and the way that the containers I was using were constructed, I wasn't able to keep the pens in the order I wanted them in.
The way this rack is built, it allows me to mix and match all the various sized pens I have, and keep them in the organized color order that I want! The other items in my area are all sorted by color too, so "order" is kind of an important part of my workflow.
I keep other markers in small drawer units at the back of my workspace, and of course my colored pencils are always front and center within easy reach. I organize most things by ROYGBIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet, followed by Neutrals). It works for me.
Oh, and see that cutie of a card there in the front?
I made this for a co-worker this evening. She is a dog trainer in her spare time and she asked me to draw up a graphic for her for her puppy training classes. I turned the original drawing into this little display piece for her desk.
On the back of the piece I created a make-shift easel so it can easily stand on display. For ease of mailing, the lower section of the easel has a little tab that tucks up into the shallow pocket I created at the base of the display.
Am I the first person to dream up such an idea? I hardly think so... but I'm the first one in THIS craft room who has, and that's sayin' something! *grin*
Anyone else craving Fruit Loops?
There's a challenge on the High Hopes blog today and the topic is "Back to School". The challenge runs for two weeks, so I encourage you to play along! Get all the details on the High Hopes blog.
For my card, I chose to use the CUTE Wheel-ie Robot and sentiment. I have to say, it is so fun to color up the robot images! All of their gears and working parts beg to be bright colors, in my mind.
Oh, and how does my card fit with the "back to school" theme? It's being sent to a teacher. *grin*
Hope you had a wonderful 3-day holiday weekend. I putzed around the house all weekend long, and it was wonderful!
Even MORE wonderful is the cooler temps we started to see yesterday! Come on FALL!! We're sooooooo ready for ya!!
There's a challenge on the High Hopes blog today and the topic is "Autumn Colors". The challenge runs for two weeks, so I encourage you to play along! Get the details on the High Hopes blog. For my project I chose to use the "Angel Bear Jumping Out Pumpkin" image. I didn't want the angel wings on my project, so I quickly and easily snipped them right off. Sinful? Probably... *grin* The sentiment on this card is from my Whipper Snapper cling set called All Things with Love.
I got this pretty sunflower Scentsy warmer in the mail from my long-time friend Tricia, who knows I'm a craft/stamp/paper junkie. THANK YOU, Tricia!! A small 25W light bulb sits in the base of the warmer and heats the wax just enough to melt it, and the wax scents the room. She sent along a few wax blocks too: Cinnamon & Vanilla, Clove & Cinnamon, and Black Raspberry Vanilla. No matches, no fire! Perfect for my craft room. To get me in the fall spirit I put Clove & Cinnamon wax in the pot and got busy stamping.
Mmmm! The room was filled with yummy goodness and I couldn't help but want to dig out all of my fall and halloween themed stuff!! I had a ball coloring up this image, wishing for cool Autumn days, which are hopefully coming our way sooooonnnnnn.......
Speaking of "cool", let's check in on the weather forecast for the farm, shall we?
UNCLE, already... UNCLE!!!
While going through various drawers and boxes, sorting, organizing, I'm finding all kinds of treasures! This stamp from Inky Antics Rubber Stamps (In my PJs) is my favorite Inky Antics image. I haven't used her in about a year... maybe longer! So I put all the digging and sorting and organizing aside, and inked her up! Can you blame me!? *grin*
This image is sooo me. Well, aside from the short curly hair. You'd never know I have long hair because it's always UP! Since I work from home, you can bet "house pants" are my wardrobe of choice. The only thing I'm missing are the slippers.
I colored her pretty loosely with markers, not trying to blend in every color to the next. I rather like it that way. I like it when I can see an artists personal technique in whatever they do. Not everything needs to be evenly blended, or even completely filled in with color. Find your unique style and let it sing out!
I've GOT to get to the grocery store on Sunday... We're out of produce and fruit, and we're out of milk ... and we don't even have any yogurt left (which is a staple for me) so I've got to pick up a bit of that so I can brew up a BIG batch (4+ quarts) of homemade yogurt. Yummm!! Time to make my shopping list! And after that, more work will be done on the Spring/Summer 2012 Whipper Snapper release. Yay!!
Enjoy your Sunday!!
I wrote a tutorial on faux stitching that is posted on the High Hopes blog today. Check it out!
I made this card using my Three Flower Friend stamp. The image is colored with markers and a bit of glitter added for sparkle and shine. I used a Sizzix embossing folder (sorry, I don't recall the name of it) on the base of the card to press those cute little flowers into the paper. Once embossed, I used a sponge ink applicator to rub a bit of ink on the surface to bring out the raised edges a bit. A bit of twin and a button finish it off. And today, it got mailed! *Yay!*
