Beary Nice Gifts

Hello Stamping Friends,

I had a very busy weekend. I'm still trying to catch up from being sick last week.  I spent Saturday at wonderful craft show.  I was delighted to meet so many interesting people.  I hope to see many of you at future classes.   I wanted to make some Christmas cards to sell at the show, so I dug out some favorites.   I can't get enough of these bears.   I have been working on a series of cards using James the Bear.  Here is the first of many Beary Awesome Cards!

Love this embossing folder, it reminds me of gingerbread

copics used

Bear: E30, E31, E33, E35
Red: R24, R29, R39, R59
Green: G43, G46
Ground: BV20, BV23
Gold: Y28
I made his nose darker with black copic
finished his hat off with Glitter

Spooktacular Halloween

Happy Friday Friends,

It was fitting this week, that we focused on Halloween.  I have felt like a Zombie all week.  I have been battling a head cold.  Finally, I feel like a human again!     Here is the last of this week's Halloween Cards.

This card was a lot of fun to color.  It provided lots of little challenges.   There are lots of little details in this card. I also got to break out the embossing gun.  Something I don't do very often.  Fell in love with this technique all over again!

Copics Used:

Green: YG03, YG07, YG09
Purple: BV13, BV17
Sky: B34, B37, B39
Smoke: BV31, BV34
House: V12, V15
Grey:C1, C3, C5
Black:100
Grass: G82, G85, G94, G99, G43, G46, YG67
Glass: B12, B14

Have fun, this is a gun one to color.  Just take you time.

Open if you Dare

There's a goblin at my Window

A monster by my door.

The pumpkin at my table

Keeps on smiling more and more

There is a ghost who haunts my bedroom, 

a witch whose face is green. 

They used to be my family,

till they dressed for Halloween.

-unknown

Green: YG61, YG63, YG67
Dress: E40, E41, E43
Red: R29
Purple: BV00, BV01, BV02, BV04
Moon: Y11, Y13, YR21, YR23, YR24
Clouds: BV20, BV21, BV23

I've Lost My Head

Hello Stampers, 

Today is the brother of yesterday's card.  This guy seems to have lost his head.  

 Copics:

Black: T5, T7, T9, T11
Pumpkin: Y21, YR12, YR15, TR18
Grass: E21,G82, G85, G94, G99
Spooky Sky: C3, C1

Falling for Halloween

Happy Fall Friends,

Connor and I spent some time cleaning up leaves in the backyard.  We had the help of course.

They loved when Connor threw leaves at them

I also made a some Halloween cards.  I'll share these cards over the next few days. 

I love Halloween.    

Copics used:

Purple: V12, V15, V17
Stone: BV20, BV21, BV23
Jeans: B91, B93, B95, B97
Grey: C0, C1, C3
Green: G82, G85, G94, G99

I sponged the edges of the white paper with brown ink.

Christmas Hamster

Hello!

I've started designing new Christmas Cards.  I had a lot of fun digging through my collection trying to decide who would be the first to get inky.    This little cutie grabbed my attention.

Copics used:

Hamster: W5, W3, W1, W0, face E000, Checks R00, R11
Red: R24, R29, R39
Gold: Y17, Y28
Green: G40, G43, G46

Finished off with Stickles.
The string for the ornament wasn't long enough, so I used a black multi-liner to make it longer!

Two Cards-One Stamp

Howdy,

When we see leaves we think fall.  When we see flowers, thoughts of Spring come to mind.  But I wonder if it always has to be that way.  Can we stretch our stamps to use them in other seasons?  Of course some things won't work.  Santa on a Forth of July card might be a little strange.  I found this squirrel hiding in my Spring stamps.  I thought I'd try giving this how he'd look with a Fall makeover.   What to you think?

Close up's of Spring Card

 Close ups of Fall Card

 Copics used for Fall

Red:R24, R29
Basket: E70, E71, E74
Yellow: Y13, Y15
Green: G43, G46
Orange: YR12, YR15
Squirrel: E30, E31, E33, E35, E37

I added Liquid Pearls around the image for embellishment.

Snowman Trio

Hello friends,

I have a fun snowman card to show you today.  I love snowman.  They are my favorite part of winter.  I used this card for my Christmas Card a few years ago.  I found it tucked away in a box. I loved the bright colors.  Check out these cuties.  It is also a great reminder that we are all on a creative journey.  I know sometimes when we color something, we look at it and frown. Our final product doesn't match our expectations.  We have all had this experience.  We all want to be better and grow.  Sometimes that growth doesn't happen in an instant, the growth can only be seen over years.  You are not alone...and as long as you keep coloring, you will improve.   I'm inspired by my students and your determination.  I feel your pain in those frowny moments. They are just a bump in the road, a learning experience.

So here is a card from my past. This card is just evidence that we all grow as artist over the years.

Let's pick up a marker and color together
Hugs,
Chris

copics used:

Pink: RV06, RV09
Purple: BV02, BV04
Blue: B05, B04
Green: YG09,YG07
Grey: C5, C3

Here Kitty Kitty

Hello All,

I have something different to show you today.  As you know I aim for one card a month that doesn't use copics, here it is....  

This card is made with dies from Magnolia and Spellbinders.  I have had them for about a year...and they have been collecting dust.   It was nice to get them out and create.  I love the challenge of creating without copics.

I love the Rhinestones on the Cat's collar.  That is my favorite part of this card.  The Bling!

Candy Corn Wishes

Howdy Stampers,

Halloween is approaching so quickly.  It has kind of caught me off guard.  It is one of my favorite holidays.  I don't usually need a reason to be goofy.  Check out the photo of recent trip to Target. They have so much fun stuff to play with.  :)    Who doesn't like to dress up?   What are you going to be for Halloween?  Do you have a favorite Halloween costume?

I wanted to get in the spirit of Halloween.  I love the House Mouse stamps.  This image of the Mice in Candy Corn Costumes was released in a mini version many years ago.  The smart people at Stampendous rereleased it in a full size version.  Not only that, but they made them foam mounted.  What a perfect idea!!!  

Just a warning, they were a little overzealous with the foam.  The foam is really sticky.  It made a mess of my clear block.  I tried a few things, but in the end I ended up remounting it on my own foam.  It works perfectly now.  I hope they get the manufacturing process perfected soon. 

Here is my card inspired by the samples released by the company. 

Copics used:

Orange: YR12, YR16,YR18

Yellow: Y13, Y15, Y17

White: W1, W3

Skin of Mice: E50, E51, E93

Brown: E21, E23, E25

Grey: T1, T3, T5

Bag: E40, E41, E43, E44

Ground: E30, E31, E33

White gel pen

At Least You Aren't Extinct

Happy Tuesday,

I wanted to add a smile to your day.   I love this little dinosaur.  He is ADORABLE!   Check out the inside sentiment is sure to put a smile on your face.

  I used a light green stamp pad to stamp on the dark green paper.  I wanted it to mesh texture to be subtle.  The camera picked up the texture really well, I think it is less pronounced in real life.

Sentiment on inside of card

Copics used:

Dino: YG03, YG05, YG07, YG09
Brown: E40, E41, E43, E44
Scales: W3, W5
Spots: Random Green and Yellow Green makers
When you do this, don't go overboard, and let it dry so they don't blend.
Checks: R11, R20
Red: R29
Orange: YR15
Yellow Y15
Shading on Ground: BV20, BV23, BV25