Thursday, December 28, 2023

Piece of Cake

Hello, 

One of my favorite things I learned this year was foiling.   Toner foil is definitely the easiest ways to get the shiny look.  Taylored Expressions has made it ever easier by selling foil panels.   The toner foil sticks to the panels with ease.  For this set of cards, I used gold foil, but I think this card would look good in any color.  They also created coordinating stencils to add color to each layer of cake.  I used these colors to create my rainbow cake. Taylored Expressions Ink- GuavaPumpkinPineapple, Key Lime, and Cookie Monster.

Glue:
Bearly Art Glue- Amazon or Taylored Expressions--best glue ever! especially for small places!
Tacky Glue (for big spaces)-

Blending Brushes: https://amzn.to/3rkTBD4 


 




No copics today

Monday, December 25, 2023

Bee-lieve

 Merry Christmas!

I love when I get special requests for cards.   I had a customer at a craft show request a Christmas card with a bee on it.   What a great idea.  I'm often not too far away from the honey people at the craft show.  I can't bee-lieve I didn't think of it sooner.  What animal do you wish was featured on a Christmas card?


Copic colors used:

Yellow:  Y17, Y15, Y13
Red: R29, R24
Wings: BV000 and wink of stella

Sunday, December 24, 2023

TEE-Rific Christmas

 Merry Christmas!   It is still hard for me to believe that it is Christmas Eve already.  This month always goes by in a flash.    As some of you know I've been slowly collecting vintage (20+ year old) stamps.  I found Tigger last Christmas season, but I didn't have any idea how I was going to use it on a card.   

Then I received this orange tree card from my friend Tina.  What a brilliant idea!  I love the orange and the happiness that this card brings.   Each tree is foiled in gold (doesn't show up real well in photo) and then sponged in several shades of orange.  I never would have thought to use orange on a Christmas card!   I was inspired to make my own orange Christmas card. 

I used a fun fold that I used on a Santa card year ago.  You can see that card here .  Tigger fit perfectly on the diamond.   Thank you all for inspiring me through the year. 

Tina's Christmas Card:  


My Tigger Card:




Copic colors used:

Orange: YR07, YR04, YR02
Yellow: Y11
Purple: BV13
Star: YR35, Y15
Ground: W3, W1
I added some glitter to the star on the tree

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Winter Blues

 Hello friends, 

I got the new kit from Hero Arts.  As of this posting they still have a few kits left.   This kit has a set of three dies that create this beautiful scene.  I opted to get the premium kit to get the three animals that you can pop into the scene to add a little interest.   I used all three dies in this set of cards, but I look forward to experimenting with using the dies in different combinations.  This kit is full of endless creativity.

Just a note...  this kit is part of their limited edition products.  Once they are gone... they are done.    This was a kit I had to have.  I love nature and animals.  I love that you are able to make Christmas and winter cards with it.   Check to see if they have the kit here

I picked four shades of blue/purple from a monochromatic color pack.  I played around with the order of the blues.  It made a huge difference in the final result.  

I splattered each card with white paint to create the look of snow.   I also experimented a little with the coloring (colors listed below).  Do you like the white animals or the colored ones?  I'm on team color. 








Copics used

Fox:  E11, E13, E07, W1, W5

Deer/Bear: E30 E31, E33, E35

black pen for nose details

Monday, December 11, 2023

Hunt for Food

 Hello all, 

I needed a little break from Christmas cards.  I pulled out an older stamp, but paired it with a new sentiment.  It hits home this week.  Connor has been traveling and I've been eating whatever the kids will eat.  I miss adult food.    I hope this gives you a bit of a chuckle! 




Copics used. Copics: http://shrsl.com/3grm1

Unicorn: BG70, BG72
Purple: BV04, BV02, BV00
Yellow: Y15, Y13, Y11
Pink: RV55, RV52
ground: W3, W1
Brown: E44, E43, E42
Grey: C5, C3, C1
Blue: B00


Thursday, December 7, 2023

Thankful and Grateful

 Hello all, 

Guess who is behind on blog posts again?  Well.  What can I say.. I'm human.  

We made these cards back in November.    I used the pumpkin turnbout stamp to create the background.  If you never seen these.  They are awesome. Here is a video of a different turnabout.  I love the background they create.    I did struggle picking out colors for this one.  My first attempt used four different shades of orange.  I think I could have signaled the space station with it.  It was BRIGHT.  I decided to to switch two of the oranges out for a green and brown.  These are not colors that I think of when pumpkins. In the end I think it was the right choice.  These cards capture the beautiful Fall feeling.    What do you think?  

Materials:

STAMPS and Dies:

Paper:
paper from Stampin Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Ink:

Taylored Expressions ink Chocolate Truffle or mini

Taylored Expressions ink Candy Corn or mini pad

Taylored Expression ink Mango or mini pad

Altenew FireFly ink


Other:





No copics today

Friday, December 1, 2023

Huge Sale!

 Welcome friends, 

Technique Junkies is having an end of the year sale.  They are making down 700+ stamps.  If you have been drooling over the cards that the design team (and I) have been making this year this is the time to grab some new stamps.   Because you are awesome... the owner is offering you an extra 10% off...  just use the code TJ10Chris

Here is the link to the sale items

Check out this card below.  Just a reminder of how funny Technique Junkies stamps are! 

 Materials:

STAMPS: use code TJ10Chris to save 10%:

Paper:
paper from Stampin Up

Other:





Monday, November 27, 2023

Holiday Spirit

 Hello friends, 

I have a little to share with you today.   TJ has the best snarky stamps.   This one is perfect for those non-traditional Christmas cards.  I stamped the sentiment in Avocado ink to match the wine bottle.  To incorporate a pop of red I matted the front panel on a muted red card base. I accented the card with wine bottle and glass die cuts.  I used vellum to make the glass.   On the inside I put a glass with wine in it...so show they did get in the Holiday Spirit!.    I hope you get a chuckle out of this. 

Materials:

STAMPS: use code TJ10Chris to save 10%:

Paper:
paper from Stampin Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Ink:
Avocado ink from Stamping 

Dies:


Other:
gel pen on holly leaves.



No copics today

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Best Things

 Welcome! 

I was asked to make a card for someone who recently rescued a dog.  I thought this was a fun sentiment.  I didn't know what kind of dog was adopted so I used this paw print stamp.  This way it could work for any fuzzy friend getting a new home! 

Materials:

STAMPS: use code TJ10Chris to save 10%:

Paper:
paper from Stampin Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Ink:
Versa clair: Amazon
Taylored Expressions Ink- GuavaPumpkinPineapple, Key LimeCookie Monster and Plum Punch

Other:




Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Colors of Fall

Hello all, 


I can't get over how fast Fall is going.   Only a few leaves linger on the trees outside my window.     I picked up this stencil last fall, but it remains one of my favorite.   I wanted to try a couple of different things.   First I wanted to foil the panels.  I thought the gold would pop with all the fall colors.  Second, I wanted to try two different color of paper.  I used Toffee and White Cardstock.   I really like them both.  Do you have a favorite?

When the cards were all stenciled.  I felt they needed a little more gold, so I splattered them with Gold Watercolor.   This really pulled it all together. 

New Color Combo 

Taylored Expression Ink Toffee or mini
Taylored Expressions ink Chocolate Truffle or mini
Taylored Expressions ink Pineapple or mini pad
Taylored Expressions ink Sweet Potato Pie or mini pad
Taylored Expressions ink Sour Gummy or mini pad
Taylored Expressions ink Huckleberry or mini pad

Materials:

Stencil and Stamps set:

Paper:
paper from Stampin' Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Dies:
White gel pen:  Scrapbook or Amazon











No copics today


Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Bear

Hello all, 

Again, I'm in love with this realistic style stamp from Technique Junkies.   This bear is amazing.  I wanted to create a scene where he was walking in the woods.   I used an embossing folder to create the trees.  On the debossed side of the paper I carefully stamped the bear.  It gives the illusion that the bear is behind the trees.   I added some blue ink and glitter to create a wintery feel.   I felt like it still needed something...so I splattered silver sparkle watercolor all over to create a snow storm.   I'm so glad I did.  The card has the perfect amount of sparkle. 

Don't forget to scroll down and see the bonus card.   After making a winter scene, I wanted to make a summery one too. Which one do you like better?

Materials:

STAMPS: use code TJ10Chris to save 10%:

Paper:
paper from Stampin Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Ink:
Versa clair: Amazon
Taylored Expression Cilantro or Mini pad
Taylored Expression Jalapeno or mini pad
Stampin Up Soft Sky

Dies:


Other:
White gel pen:  Scrapbook or Amazon
White Glitter http://shrsl.com/3hiph  or  https://amzn.to/3EwfpAQ-  on the snow bank and in the sky.
watercolor splatter 





 

No copics today

Friday, November 10, 2023

Experimenting with Texture

 Hello friends, 

It is a constant battle to add texture to cards, but not to much that we have to pay extra postage.  Today I wanted to experiment with two different methods.   For my first card I used a die to cut a stamped panel.  I used low profile foam to pop up each of the rays that are coming from the heart.  I love the way it breaks up the background stamp. It makes interest to what would have been an otherwise flat panel.  

In my second example, I used and embossing folder to add texture to a stamped panel.  This didn't add as much dimension as die cutting the panel, but I think it still adds interest to an otherwise simple panel.  

What is your favorite way to add dimension to your cards? 

Materials:

STAMPS: use code TJ10Chris to save 10%:

Paper:
paper from Stampin Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Ink:
Versa clair: Amazon
Taylored Expression Cilantro or Mini pad
Taylored Expression Jalapeno or mini pad
Taylored Expression Ink Toffee or mini


Dies:


Other:
White gel pen:  Scrapbook or Amazon
Sizzix Tree embossing folder





No copics today


Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Leader of the Pack

Hello!

It is release day at Technique Junkies!  When I saw this wolf, my jaw dropped.  It is so hard to find realistic stamps of animals.   Don't get me wrong, I love whimsy and goofy!  It is also nice t have realistic designs as well.   I think this style lends itself well to creating masculine cards.     I paired the wolf with this encouragement sentiment.  

Don't forget to scroll down to see the rest of the new stamps and the artwork from the talented design team.    

Materials:

STAMPS: use code TJ10Chris to save 10%:

Paper:
paper from Stampin Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Ink:
Versa clair: Amazon
Taylored Expression Cilantro or Mini pad

Dies:


Other:
White gel pen:  Scrapbook or Amazon

No copics today

Check out all the cards made by other members of the design team:









Here is a photos of all the New November Stamps



Sunday, October 29, 2023

Oh, Deer!

Hi! 

I wanted to think outside the box on this one.   I did a little stamp surgery to cut apart the stamp to separate the reindeer from the words.  You can see the original stamp here.   Then I hunted through all of my inks to find 8 shades of brown (I'll try to list them all below).  I stamped each deer on a slim line sized panel and added a brown gem to their noses.   I added glitter to the snow bank and sky.  I'm hoping that makes it feel like there is a snow storm.  I think they are looking for their buddy to save the day!   I might handwrite on the front- "Have you seen him?"  or "Where did he go?"  or "Oh, Deer"   What do you think?   

He is hiding on the inside of the card.  

Materials:

STAMPS: use code TJ10Chris to save 10%:

Paper:
paper from Stampin Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Ink:
All the brown ink
Taylored Expression Ink Toffee or mini
Taylored Expressions ink Chocolate Truffle or mini
Taylored Expressions ink Cinnamon or mini
Taylored Expressions ink Mocha or mini
Stampin up Cajun Craze, Creamy Caramel, Expresso, chocolate chip, 


Other:
brown gems on reindeer nose
red gem on Rudolph

White Glitter http://shrsl.com/3hiph  or  https://amzn.to/3EwfpAQ-  on the snow bank and in the sky.


No copics today

Monday, October 23, 2023

Fall Foxes

 Hello all, 

 After the live class you can access the youtube and zoom videos.

Here is the link to the video


Cost of class is $20 (plus $2 shipping)  All paper materials will be mailed to you.  I have a few extra kits if you would like to purchase one. 

Here is the list of Copic markers I used to color these cards. 


Foxes:Y11, YR24, E11, E13, E07, E18. and W8, W6, W4, W2, W0- Blender
Blue Scarf- BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18
Green: G46, G43, G40
Pink: RV66, RV63, RV52
Yellow: Y11, Y15, YR24, YR27
Orange:  E15, YR04, YR02, YR00
Red: R37, R35, R32
Snail: E43, E42, E41, E50, E51
White gel pen:  Scrapbook or Amazon
Stardust Pen: Amazon
Black Glaze Pen: Amazon

Materials:

Stamp set:

Paper:
paper from Stampin' Up
Neenah: solar white card stock

Dies:
Happy Fall
White gel pen:  Scrapbook or Amazon
Embossing folders:
Other two are from Stampin Up