Monday, July 29, 2013

A Christmas Hug

I wanted to sneak a little Christmas into July.  I saw this image from Mo Manning month ago.   I loved the little girl's hair.  She has such a sweet face!

I really really really liked coloring this image.  I took my time, and really focused on creating texture. There is always room for improvement, but I'm proud of how it turned out.




Copics used:
Red: R14, R17, R24, R27, R29, R37, R59
Brown: E40, E42, E43, E44, E47
Grey: C1, C3
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13
Green: G43, G46
Gold: Y17, Y28
Bear: E30, E31, E33, E35

Afterthoughts:  I don't think I would change the colors I used this time.  I'd like to keep practicing with red.  I love how this turned out... but there is always room to grow.  My reds got a little saturated in a few places.  I wish I had let them dry a bit before adding darker shades.  Oh well...next time.  

Thursday, July 25, 2013

A Little Thank You

Happy Thursday!

I haven't accomplished much this week.  Widget (our black lab) has been sick.   She has kept me up the last two nights.  She kept asking to go outside every hour or so.   The Vet said that there is a little doggie cold going around and she will feel better in a day or so.   Today she seems to be doing better.  She is back to barking at the neighborhood squirrels.  However, I'm exhausted.  I wish I could bounce back as fast!

This is a card we made a few weeks ago at the Senior Center.  I had this Magnolia stamp for a while.  I really liked the image, but didn't have an idea of how I was going to use it.   I was organizing my craft room (a projet that never ends) and found some flower soft.  An idea was born...



copics used:

Pink: R20, R21, R22
Green: G43, G46
Hair: E50, Y21, E31
Skin: E000, E00, E11
Basket: E70, E71, E74

Afterthoughts:  If I was to make it again,  I wouldn't only put flower soft on the flowers in her basket.  I think the petals floating in the air look more like snow now...then petals.  

Monday, July 22, 2013

Poppies

Today has gone by in a flash.  My morning started with the Campbell girls.  Susan, Susan, Donna and Jane and I had a great time stamping away.  Their cards turned out great!   Then I dashed over to the Senior Center for class.   Louise is out of the rehab center and is doing wonderful.  It is nice to have her back in class!   I must have had fun, because time has flown by.

Here is one of the cards we made today.  It one of my favorite from the July Card Lover's class.    Poppies have been so popular this year!  They keep popping up (ha ha).  I'm guilty as well, I keep buying poppy stamps.  I promise...this is the last one........until they come out with another must have stamp!

I chose to color this stamp in red, but I think it would look great in oranges too!    Maybe this fall I will give that a try.  What do you think?

I didn't put any words on this card.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to use the card for, so I left it blank.  It is really nice to have a few cards in your card box that you can use for any occasion.  




copics used:
Reds: R24, R29 R37, R59
Green: YG61, YG63, YG67
Yellow/Orange: YR12, Y15, Y17, YR21

Afterthoughts:  I going to try to add this section to my blog posts.  Just my thoughts I had after I created this card.  There is always something we wish we could change... a way we could make it better.

If I was to color this again, I think I would try to create a bigger contrast on the petals of the flowers.   I think I would start with R14 and then work my way darker with the flowers.  It might help add more interest to the flowers.  I love the rich red that R24 and R29 creates.  It matches the paper perfectly!!


Have a great day friends!
Chris

Thursday, July 18, 2013

So Sweet (part 2)

Just a quick post today.  I love this couple.  Mo Manning has shared four images of this sweet couple.  I had to have them all when I saw them.  I made the first image into a card that can be seen here.

Today I'm sharing the second card today...

 I'm proud of the shading on his tux.   It looks really good!

"Kisses for My Sweet"

Copics used:
Grey: W9, W7, W5. W#
Skin: E00, E50, R00
Red: R24, R29, R39
Ivory: E50, E51
Hair: C1, C3, C5
Ground: BV20, BV23

Stamps:
Kisses for My Sweet by Mo Manning
Happy Anniversary by Stampin Up
Chevron by Impression Obsession

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Adjusting the Sails

Hello Stampers,

I hope you are finding a way to stay cool.  It is HOT here in New York.  The puppies have discovered the fan.  It is funny to watch two 60lb dogs fight over the breeze.  The take turns standing in front of it.  They are so cute!!


Today's card show cases Edwin.  I think he has had better days, but he is keeping his spirits up.



Copics used:
Blue: B91, B93, B95
Grey: C1, C3, C5, W1, W2
Hair: E31, E33, E35
Red: R29, R24
Brown: E11, E13, E15
Skin: E00, E00, E13
Rope: E71, E74

Stamps:
Edwin Sailor stamp by Magnolia
Waves by Stampin Up
Sentiment unknown

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Stinkin Cute

Hello all!

My friend Debbi says the phrase "Stinkin Cute" every time she sees a card she loves.  When she says it you can just feel the joy in her heart!  She is just the sweetest person.  When I saw this stamp set, she was the first person the popped into my head.  I had to have it!  I wanted to make a card that captured a bit of her joy.




I had a bit of help with the design.  The company provided so many "Stinkin Cute" card ideas it wasn't hard to find an idea to CASE.  

Stamps from Simon Says Stamp and Stampin Up
Copics used
100, T8, T6, T5, T4, T3, T1, R21

Friday, July 12, 2013

Sunrise on the Farm

Hello Stampers!

It has been a while since I shared a card that featured airbrushing.  I love to airbrushing!  It is one of my favorite techniques, I don't know why I don't do it more.    This card was so easy to make.  I used three colors to airbrush the sunrise (or sunset).  Then I stamped the farm scene on top. It was so easy and fun to make!

If you want to give it a try, we will be making this card in the July's Card Lover's class.
I hope to see you there!
Chris







Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Life is Good


 I love these little mice.  They are always up to something!  I colored this awhile ago.  I'm still chipping away at the backlog of cards.
 


Opps.. got a little blue on his nose and tail

copics used:
Grapes: YG03, YG05, YG07, YG09, E71, E74
Mice: E00, E000, E31, E33, R00
Red: R14, R17, R24, R27, R29, R37
Yellow: R11, R13, R15, R17,
Orange: YR04, YR07, YR09
Bowl: Can't remember?

Monday, July 8, 2013

Simple Moments- Hair practice

About a month ago I took the copic workshop in Toronto.   The class spent a lot of time focusing on coloring skin and hair. I have been practicing and slowly seeing improvements.

  I love this new image from the Magnolia Special Moments collection.  Her hair is so much fun to color.  


 There is a lot of texture in her hair.  I'm much happier with it.  I still need practice, but it is an improvement.  There is also an improvement in her dress.  I have been working on creating more contrast in my coloring.  It is a slow journey, but I'll get there.

Copics used:
Hair: E50, Y21, YR24, E99, Copic Multi-liner
Skin: E00, E000, E11
Dress: B00, B000, B12
Green: G20, G24, G46
Flowers: Y11, Y15, R20, R22

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Owl Be a Bag

Hello!

Connor and I are back home.  We had a wonderful vacation.  It was hard to leave the beautiful lake behind, but I'm looking forward to seeing stamping friends this week.   I have three classes this week.  I hope to see you at one of them

Monday- Senior Center in Corning 12:30pm
Wednesday- Wayland Library- 5pm
Friday- Goodwill in Brockport -5:30pm

I love this little owl bag.  It was a bit tricky to put it together but once we got the glue to stick, it was cute!  It was perfect timing, many of you told me you were going to use it for graduation gift.  It was a perfect size to put a gift card and maybe a piece of candy or two inside.






Tuesday, July 2, 2013

A Little Birdie Told Me

What an exciting day!   Connor had to work today, so the puppies and I spent the day by ourselves at the lake.  It is the first day in a while that hasn't had a rainy start.  Our dogs have been stuck inside and getting a bit restless with all the rain.  I was determined not to waste a second of sunshine.  The first thing we did was go for a swim.   I waded in up to my knees and decided that was far enough.   I spent the next hour throwing a stick for the puppies.  They get so excited about a stupid piece of wood.  It was free... the dog toy you spend $10 on.. doesn't get this much love.  

They were still just full of energy, so we went for a 2 mile walk.   We returned home to find our neighbor's dog swimming.  It was too much to bear, to watch another dog having that much fun...so we were compelled to joined them.   After many hours of play they rested a bit in the sun.  They woke up full of energy and ready to do it all again.   I took them for another long swim and that stick is still their favorite toy.  Thankfully, Connor was home.  I was in desperate need of backup.  I was at least able to tire myself out.   He grilled steak, made pasta and peas.  YUMMY.   The dogs settled under the table, while we gobbled up dinner.   Finally they were tired... I had tamed the beasts!  I couldn't have been more wrong.  They heard another dog nearby.  Willet (our yellow lab) ran out from the under the table to investigate, her leash tangled in the legs.   The entire table, Connor, and me following behind.  I ended up on the ground, with a dish or two. What a mess!  I thought the entire thing was funny.  I gave it my best shot.  Hopefully the sunshine will continue and I'll give it another try tomorrow.

I forgot my camera, but here is a photo from this spring.
Widget (black lab), Connor and Willett (yellow lab)
I hope you are finding laughter in your holiday week!

Oh.. I also have a card to share... this is from last month's Card Lover's Class.  I hope to get caught up with some posts this week.  Each month I try to come up one card that involves no coloring.  I find it to be one of the most challenging cards for me to make each month.   However, I like the challenge.   No copics today... just ink.





Stamps used:
Aviary by Stampin Up