Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Hope your Day...POPs!

Happy Wednesday!

Check out this card made from two balloon die cuts.  This card is fairly fast and easy to make for those birthdays that POP up.   I embossed the front using a background stamp.  I die cut some stars for embellishment.  It was super easy!

The only negative of this card is that I found it needs a 5x7in envelope.  Not a big deal.. just make sure you have a few on hand.

 OPPS.... noticed the banner on this card is a little bent.  I'll have to fix it. 


Monday, July 28, 2014

Fabulous Friend

Happy Monday,

One of my friends was commenting that "copic" cards take so much longer than "regular" card to make.   She only gives her copic cards to people she knows will appreciate them.  I couldn't argue with her... she is right.  They tend to take longer to make.   Well I thought about that for a bit... and a challenge was born.  I wanted to make a quick copic card.    Here is what I came up with.






Copics used: 
Blue: B12, B24, B26
Green: G21, G24, G28
Yellow: Y15

Friday, July 25, 2014

God be with You

Hello friends,

Well we survived another week!  Tomorrow is a Zumbathon to celebrate National Dance day and it benefits a group that is helping educate people about Childhood Obesity.   Sadly, I can't participate in the dancing part because of my foot injury, but I think I'm going to attend to cheer on my friends. Connor is teaching a few songs...so it should be a great time.   What are your plans for the weekend?

I have a quick non-copic card to share today.  I don't make a lot of religious cards.  Not because I'm not religious, but because I think it is personal thing and I don't want to make the recipient uncomfortable.   Everyone is different and I try to respect that.  When I was stamping this card... I was oddly inspired to put this sentiment on it.  It just fit perfectly.

The flower stamp is an old retired Stampin Up set.  I stamped in Island Indigo ink to create the spray.  I think the sentiment is from Close to My Heart.  I found the butterfly stamp in my collection stamped it and cut it out.  It popped up with a dimensional glue.  

Have a great day friends,
Chris


Copics---None!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Glad We are Friends

Happy Wednesday friends,

 
It is finally HOT in New York.   I'm not complaining. I love it!   I wish we were at the lake today.  The dogs would love a swim.  They both have been taking turns sitting in front of the fan today.  It is really cute.  I try to sneak a photo of them soaking up the breeze... but they are too quick.   I'll keep working on it!

Today's card is a bit strange.  I love the clean and simple look, but this card is simple even for me.  I had planned on putting some decorate paper on the bottom of this card.  I thought I could finish it off with some twine or ribbon.  I got to work and started my coloring.   What a fun card to color!  I never get tired of these girls.

 After finishing, I started matching papers...and I found that the all seem to take away from their cute little faces.  I played with it for a while...and decided that this image was strong enough to hold its own.   I added a grey shadow to ground the girls and added a sentiment.   I really liked how it turned out.  Clean and Simple.   I love it... hope you do too!




Copics used:

Blue Dress: BG10, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18
Pink Dress: R22, R32, R35,
Shoes: E41, E43, E44
Ground: W3, W1, W0, 0
Gold: Y17, Y26
Hair: E21, E23, E25, E29
Hair: E30, E31, E35, E39, E49
Eyes: E13, E15
Grey: C1, C3
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E21, E04, R20  or use E000, E00, E11, R20

I added some glitter to accent

Monday, July 21, 2014

Country Rose

Happy Monday!

I have another of favorite to show you today.   It has a little bit of a country feel to it.  It might be my imagination.  The red patterned paper reminds me of a red bandana.  The roses are beautiful! I'm having a lot of fun coloring roses.  It is nice to take a break from people.



Copics used:
Roses: Y000, Y11, Y13, Y17, Y35, Y38
Green: G21, G24, G28
RedL R00, R05, R24, R29, R39
Vase: N5, N3, N1, N0,  or 
this vase also looks really good in E30, E31, E33
Scissors: C1, C3, C5
Ground: W3, W1, W0


Friday, July 18, 2014

Keep Swimming

TGIF Friends!

I'm so glad it is Friday!   In a few short hours the work day will be over and it will be the weekend!   I had another doctor's appointment for my foot this week.   I'm not a big fan of this doctor, he wasn't very clear or focused during the appointment.   I left with more questions than I came in with.  I'm going to see if I can switch doctors. He did order a special X-ray called a bone scan for my foot.  It will help the doctors to see if I have small fractures or dislocated bones in my foot.   That will happen next week.   I'm not excited by the idea of having a broken/dislocated bone, but if it means I can start the down the road to recovery.  I'm thankful.  In the meantime... I'll gather inspiration from this little boy and Keep Swimming!

I have had this little cutie boy for a long time.  It feels good to see him all colored up!  
 I sponged a little yellow on the sentiment.. but honestly I liked it better before I did this step.
Oh well! 

To create the clouds I sponged around the edges of piece of paper.  You could do this with a cloud die cut or with a scalloped circle.  It looks great either way.

Copics used:
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E04, R20
Hair: E21, E23, E25, E29,
Blue: B91, B93, B95, B97
Grey: C3, C1, C0, 0   I used 0 on the tube to clean up edges
Glass in Goggles: B000, B91
Orange: Y11, Y13, FYR1 (I rarely use this marker...but it was perfect for this!)  You could also use YR12



Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Young at Heart

Hello all,

 I've got another Oldie but Goodie for you today.  I love this series of senior citizens stamps.  The company that makes them has made a change to the way the manufacture the stamps.  I think there are some issues, my hope is they will notice the same issues I did and make some changes.

The new images are being produced in polymer rather than rubber.  The polymer is cheap in quality and doesn't hold the ink as well.  When you stamp the image it is rough.  I tried a few different types of inks and cleaning the surface, but the image wasn't crisp.   I really liked the stamps...so I thought I'd color it up anyway and see what happens.  In the end, I really liked how the card turned out.


 In the close up, you can see the un-crisp lines.  I stamped the greeting that came in the set, but it was hard to read.  So I used a multi-liner pen to trace the lines.  In making future cards, I'll just come up with an alternative sentiment.   So Sad...not a fan of cheap Polymer stamps.  This set was just too cute to pass up.  


Copics used:

Green: G21, G24, G28
Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20
Red: R24, R29, R39
Blue: B91, B93, B95, B97
Shoes and Hat: E30, E31, E33, E37(as shadow)
Glass: B000, G20, R02
Ground: W3, W1, W0, 0
Dog: E31, E33, E35, E37 --100 for his nose.
Shirt: C3, C1, C0, 0

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Reaching for the Sky

Happy Throwback Thursday,

We had a great and busy copic class in Dansville yesterday.  It was nice to see all of the talented ladies.   They requested more flower cards... so this morning, I went through my stamps and found a few to take with me this weekend to color.

We made this card in a card class a few months ago, but it never made it on the blog.  It feels great to get caught up on sharing these cards.   I made this at the request of a costumer who needed a graduation card for a young man.  She didn't know the school colors, so we went decided to make a non-traditional card.   I love the wood texture on this card.  It matches the stamp perfectly.  






Copics used:

Green: G43, G46
Brown: E30, E31, E33,
Black: T5, T8

Monday, July 7, 2014

Pretty Nurse

Happy Monday friends,

BBBBbbbrrrrr.......  I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend.  Connor and I spent the weekend with my Mom, sister and friends.   We had a great time... but the weather was cold!  It was hard to believe we were celebrating the 4th.  We were determined to make the best of it.  My Mom prepared a delicious meal (BBQ, salt-potatoes, strawberry shortcake).   That night we watched fireworks curled up in blanket.    It is not what you picture when you think of the 4th of July, but we made the best of it.   I hope your holiday was much warmer!

Today's card is a little unusual.  I'm still working on the request for funny, masculine cards.  I found this old Chinese proverb and turned it into a card.   She was a lot of fun to color.  I love her hair and eyes.



Copics used:

Grey: C3, C1, 0
Red: R24, R29, R39
Skin: E000, E00, E11, E21, E04, R20
Eyes: B91, B93, B99
Hair: YR30, Y21, E53, E31
Bear: E31, E33, E35, E37
 I added some details to her eyes with B99

Here is the sentiment on the inside of the card. 


Saturday, July 5, 2014

It Must Be Love

Hello!

Today is the last day in the marathon of cards this week. We are almost caught up.   This is the last card in the Card Lover's series for June.

It is a really easy card to make for a wedding or anniversary.  I used a sponge to create the ombre look on the "LOVE" die cut.    I applied more ink towards the base of the die cut and less at the top.  It is super easy to do!  


I used R37 copic to color the gems on this card. 




Friday, July 4, 2014

Being Friends Isn't Easy

Happy Friday!

We made it to the holiday weekend!  I hope you all a safe and enjoyable holiday.  Today's card is a quick one, so we can go outside and celebrate!

I saw an idea of layering sequin to make flowers. What a clever idea!  I wanted to give it a try.   I made the leaves for the flowers by cutting a green sequin in half.   I didn't like the look of the little hole in the center of the flower, so I covered it with a gem.






This card was a lot of fun to make and I really like the look/texture that the sequins created.  However, I know that not everyone would like positioning these delicate sequins.  So I created an easier version of the same card.

This version we just stamped the hearts and covered them in glossy accents.  This just gives them a little shine.   In the end, I like both versions.




No copics!!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Always Thankful

Hello,

One of the reasons last week was so busy, was I was babysitting these three lovely ladies.   It is a long story, but their Mom needed to go out of town for a few days and needed someone to watch the girls.   I was a little nervous at first, but we had a great time!   We hiked, swam, talked, played fetch with our dogs (who are "Dog Tired") and played games.  I'm thankful for these small moments.  We all know this to be true.  Real joy is found in unplanned little moments throughout the day.  However, we pack everyday so full work, chores, and responsibilities that we don't leave any room for them to sneak their way in.  After a string of busy days.. we forget and a pattern develops.   Then one day... something forces you to stop.  At first you might be a little resentful for disrupting the pattern, but then moments of joy sneak into your day.  Suddenly you resent the pattern.  We promise ourselves not to slide back into the old habits.  It took three 10 year olds and two days, but they made me remember that simple things are the most important things.  I'm always thankful to remember.   I hope some joy sneaks into your holiday weekend.


I made this card a while ago.. but he never left the craft room.  I thought it was about time to Let this Dog Out... LOL... sorry bad joke.




Copics used:  I kept him really simple.  I need to remember that simple is good.

Dog: E30, E31 spots E39  If I was to do over, I would use E40, E42 to add a bit more contrast
Hat:E35, E37
Ears:R20
Blue: B00, B12
Ground:W3,W1


Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Yippee Skippee

Hello all!


Today's card is another favorite from June's classes.  This little cow will MOOve you!



Here is a really short video showing you how the card moves when you add a wobble.  If you are looking at this post in your email the video will not work.  You need to go to the blog to see the video.

I used a Wobble from Art Impressions to add the moment to the cow's head.   I only had a few of these and tried to order more... they are still on back order.  :(  I can't wait to make more cards like this.   In class we just used pop dots to complete the card.   It was still really cute!    You can see the layers below



Copics used:

Black: T5, T7, T9
White: C1
Gold: Y00, Y17, Y26
Pink: RV11, RV02, RV04
Hay: E30, E31, E33

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

You Brighten My Day

Happy Tuesday,

I wanted to share one of the quick cards from the Card Lover's Class.  Quick cards are great to have on hand, when you need a card in a hurry.  However, just because they are quick it doesn't meant they can't be special.   I love the texture, layout, and bright colors of this card.

I used my circle dies to cut out the hole for the sentiment. I used pop dots to adhere the lightbulb panel to the card base.  It added just the right amount of "pop" to the card (LOL..)!




Copics...only one!  I used Y17 to color the gem stones. 

I added glitter to the stars in the lightbulbs.   The glitter didn't show up real well in the photos but in real life it just sparkles!

I hope your day is bright!