Witching You a Happy Halloween

Hi friends, 

I don't think ghosts need brooms to fly, but I don't think this guy could resist trying it out.  He looks like he is having a blast.   Maybe he can find a dentist out on his adventures.  Haha!   I used my zig watercolor pens to color up this image.  I love the soft results that the pens yielded. 

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Fun Fold Flowers

Hello,  

I found this card sketch on pinterest.  It is 4 x 12 inch piece of designer paper cut at a slant folded into thirds to create an accordion.  I adhered the panels to each side of the folded paper to create this card.  It sounds hard, but I think it comes together pretty easily.   In order to get this to work, you really need to use double sided designer paper.  Stampin up is the only company I know of that consistency offers it.  I might have to purchase it more often.... maybe.... if it is on sale..   maybe.  Hmm..

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Lots of Balls- two ways

Greetings,  

I'm notoriously bad at making cards that center around sports.   I'm trying to do a little better.  For Father's day Spellbinders came out with a masculine die set that centered gold and fishing.   I knew that several of my students had golfers in their family so I knew that we needed to get the golf dies out and get to work   One of the coolest design feature of the set is that Spellbinders also came out with a golf ball wax seal.  If you didn't like the wax seal you could choose to use the traditional die cut look.    Which look grabs you more? 

 The  I'm slowly over the years collected some fun sentiments.   I think everyone was able to find something they liked.  

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A Scream

Hey trick or treaters!

  I wanted to try something a little different today.  I usually use blue or gray when I color ghosts.  I don't know why.  There are no rules, right?  So I thought I'd try pink.   I was also in a watercoloring mood.. so i used my zig watercolor pens to get that soft look.  What do you think? 

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You Are Fierce

Hello!

I'm talking a little break from Halloween cards today.  This is an older set from Stampin up called Wild Cats.  I'm always been drawn to tigers.  There is just something magical about them.  I wasn't 100% sure about the art work in this set when it first came out.  I think it was actually in part because the sample in the catalog were made with some really (IMO) odd colors.  Once people started getting their hands on their stamp set and started creating with it, I was all in.  When they are in the natural colors I think they look stunning!  What do you think?  

I have so many ideas for this stamp set, I can't wait to get it out again soon and try another idea. 

No copics today

Ghostly Card Sketch

Hello friends,  

I colored up these ghosts over the summer.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them.  I wanted them to be the focus of the cards, but again these are smaller images.   I went back to stash of sketches to find a design that would help me create a clear focal point.  I love how the circle spotlights the images, white the banner anchors the image to the card.  It provides a nice balance.  If I was going to make these cards again I might try using a light grey instead of white.  Do you think that would help the ghost pop out even more?  What do you think?

Copics used: 

blue: B00 or B60

Pink: RV02, RV00

Green: YG13, YG11

Orange: YR07, YR04, YR00

Brown: E44, E43

Purple: BV02, BV01,

Ghost Problems

Is it Halloween yet?

I love this time of year.  The stamps are so much fun.   This little ghost has all sorts of problems.  I'm experimenting again with using card sketches to work with some smaller images.  I like the way the striped paper pulls your eyes right up to the ghost.   Do you think this layout works for him? 

Copics:

I used C2, C1, C0 to give a little shading 

added wink of stella to add sparkle

Fall some moments are gold

Happy Fall Greetings,  

I love playing with  color.   I saw this color combination on a sweatshirt of a stranger walking around town the other day.  I loved the way the purple played off the other yellow and the browish gold.    I made a mental note and couldn't wait to give it a try.  I wish I had a picture of her sweatshirt, but I think I captured it pretty well.   If you are going to try it at home I used Daffodil Delight from Stampin up.  Honey from TE and Plum from Gina K.   All the stamps are from Unity

Have a creative day friends

No copics today

Can You Mail Me a Little Fall?

 Happy Fall Y'all! 

I can't believe summer is over.  Fall is the prettiest time of year, but I love summer.  Since... mother nature isn't taking suggestion for extending summer season, I'm doing my best to embrace the change.  This is one of my favorite stenciling sets.    I made a few different versions.  Do you have a favorite- large or small size?

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Party on the Farm

Hello friends, 

I love to color, but sometimes, big images can be overwhelming.  If I where to color this whole card it would take me over an hour to color.  This is kind of a fun way of spotlighting an image and saving some time.  I fussy cut the cow and pig and popped them up to help them stand out even more from the scene. 

 

Copics used:

Pig: R21, R20, R00

Cow: I used watercolors

Take me to the Sea

Greetings! 

Summer is my favorite time of year.    I've had this beachy embossing folder just sitting on my desk and I couldn't let the season slip by without using it.   I also wanted to try it with my favorite technique. I love the finished look of this card.    Here is how I got it...

I inked up a white panel of card stock with blueprint sketch mermaid lagoon and salty ocean and tea dye inks.  Then I ran it through the embossing folder.  I then re-inked it with the same inks.  I like how the raised sections picked up the ink differently than the flat paper.   Once the ink was dry, I used a white pigment ink pad and gently drug the pad across the paper. Only the highest point of the design caught the white ink.    To finish it all off I die cut some seashells and a sentiment to add to the card.  I wanted the background to be the star of the show, so I didn't want anything to take away from it.   

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Cutting Edge

Welcome, 

I have a real short post today.    This die is made by stamping up (so sorry I don't know the name).  It comes in two two pieces.  At first I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the large chunk of space.  Then I remembered I had a few really large sentiments that I rarely use.  They fit perfectly.   I added one clay red heart to each one of them.  I really like how they turned out. I think I might make more of them.  

Wine of Life

Hi!   If you follow my blog, you know that I love these mice.  They are always up to something silly.   This little Mama looks like she has had enough of the kids shenanigans and is enjoying a glass a wine and the quiet.  Am I projecting?    No matter what I just love it.   It came with the perfect sentiment.   This was a fast one to color up.  It is refreshing they they didn't add a complicated background to the image.  It just pops against the white.    I hope you are enjoy.   Thank you all for getting me from day to day.   This parenting thing isn't for wimps.  :). 

Copics used:

Skin: E000, E00, E93

Fur: E30, E31, E33

Leaves: YG67,YG63, YG61

Grapes:; BV08,  BV04, BV02, BV01, BV00

Wine: R59, BV02 and a touch of BV04

Jelly Out of Your Donut

Hello friends, 

We all have bad days.  I love making cards that encourage and lift other up.  This sentiment made me laugh.  I hope it does the same to whomever gets this cards.  I made a batch of these to put out of my craft table.  Hopefully  everyone likes them.  

Copics used: 

Donut : E30

Frostine: RV04, RV02, RV00- glitter

Little Piggy

Hey there friends, 

Check out this guy.  How adorable is this pig?!  I know sunflowers are sometimes considered a fall flower, but I couldn't wait to get inky with this stencil set.  It is by a company call Miss Ink.  It is a really small company.  It will not be my last purchase.  I love all the detail they fit into the stencil set.     Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you have a great day! 

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Tie Dye Embossed Amsomeness

Hello, 

I hope you are feeling Groovy today because we are going to make a faux tie dye background.   This was really easy to create.  We used our distress inks to create a rainbow.   I knew that I wanted to use this 3D embossing folder.  it had a mosaic pattern.  It is not centered.  The focal point is centered in the middle top third of the card.  When I did my sponging I kept this in mind.  I started my red where I thought the center would fall and had the color radiate out from that point.  I purposely didn't try to make the pattern perfect.  I didn't mind the unevenness .   Once the pattern was full of color, I ran it through the 3D embossing folder.  I wish the camera could pick up the texture on the camera.  It is really impressive.  To finish it off, I added black diamond dots to some of the arches on in the pattern.  I did my best to keep it fun and simple.  What do you think?  I hope you give it a try!

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It Sherbert Day

Hello all, 

I hope you all are enjoying your summer.  I can't believe how fast it is going.  July was a crazy busy month.  I hoped to catch up on a lot of projects.  I had a ton of fun, but my "to do" didn't see me much.  Oh well.  I guess I get another chance at it in August.    It is more important to focus on the now, right?! 

Fran ( a student) requested these.  She always sends her granddaughter ice cream cards to with money for ice cream in them each summer.  What a fun tradition.  It was a great excuse to ink up these stamp from Trinity stamps.  It was perfect timing because Taylored expressions just released a cone embossing folder.  I sponged a little brown ink on toffee paper. It looks just like an ice cream cone.  I almost took a bite to make sure it wasn't real.   I couldn't decide what sentiment I liked better.  What do you think? 

Copics used:

Brown (hat and spoon): E30, E31, E33, E35

Red: R37, R35, R32

Pink: R83, R81

Orange: YR07, YR04, YR02

Yellow: Y11, Y13, Y15

Green: G00, G02

Blue, B00, B01

Violet: V12, V15

Dark Brown shoes: E35, E37

Skin: E00, E000

 

Postage Collage- Stencil Version

Hey Hey!

About a year ago I created this card.   It is a year later and I'm still in love with the postage stamp concept. I'm so glad they released a stencil set.  I love the end result.  I can't wait to create more of both of these cards.  Do you have favorite style?

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Family Christmas Tree

Hello,  

Mama elephant has a series of Christmas tree stamps.  They have puppies, kitties and penguins all arranged into a tree for the season.  I must be a sucker, because I had to have them all.  This one might be my favorite.  It sort of feels like a family tree.  It has the whole bunch in there.  There are all 9 reindeer, elves, and Mrs. Clause and snowman (Frosty maybe?).     I'll add a sentiment before I send it.  I couldn't decide between O'Christmas Tree or Merry Christmas.  Which would you use? 

Copics used

Red: R39, R37, R35

Green; G46, G43, G40

Grey:C5, C3, C1

Background: W5

Black: W7, W9

Brown 1: E30, E31, E33

Brown 2: E35, E37, E39

Brown 3: E50, E51, E53

antlers: E40

Yellow: Y15, Y17

white gel pen

black glaze pen

 

Cardinal with Bow

Using one of my favorite techniques again... .  I rubbed white ink across an embossing folder.  It covers it with a light frosting of ink.  It kind of looks like snow.   The little cardinal is from My Favorite Things.  He has a little buddy that I put on another card that I put on a card that I will share tomorrow. 

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Noel

 Hey friends, 

Stencils have changed card making.  No doubt about it.  This is a new combination for me.  This is a set from Taylored Expressions.  You do all the stenciling first.  Then the last stencil you use a gel that when dry sticks to foil.  It adds just the right amount of shine to the card.  I love finished look!   The veins were added to the leaves with little stamps. TE thinks of everything.  I'm going to make more of these for sure!!

No copics today

Embossed White Flowers

Hello friends, 

This might be my new favorite technique.  Okay it is old, but with the new 3D embossing folders it is new.  They add a ton more interest to this look than the old 2D folders.   It is super simple to do.  You first emboss a piece of card stock.  Then LIGHTLY drag a white (or whatever color you like) stamp pad over your embossing.  Just the highest raised levels will pick up the color just giving it a whole new look.  

I finished this card off with a splash of florals.  

 

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First Rodeo

Hello friends, 

I got an odd one for you.  A student of mine requested this card.  I admit I scratched my head a bit, but then it all came together.   She was going to a Rodeo themed baby shower.  She wanted t make a Rodeo themed Baby card.  At first, I was at a total loss.  Then I remembered this stamp from Trinity stamps.  Yep... somehow it was so cute that it made it's way into my stash.  I paired it with an old Yeehaw stamp from Stampin Up and the Bandana stamp from Unity stamps.  

copics used:

Pink: RV10, RV11, RV13, RV14, RV17, RV19

Brown: E44, E43, E42, E41

Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13

White: C3, C1

Tan: E50, E51, E53, E55, E57

Yellow: Y15, 

stardust glitter

Retro Christmas

Hello!

I'm continuing on with my Christmas in July catch up party.  This card breaks from the traditional a bit.  I used some neon ink colors to create the ornaments on the tree. I think it gives the card a more retro look.  I also used yellow greens for the tree rather than the traditional earthy greens.  I finished the card off with lots of sparkle the star and with glitter stars on the tree.  I think will make more of these before Christmas. What do you think of the nontraditional take on the tree?

no copics today

A Very Merry Christmas

Hello again, 

Here is the second little cardinal from the My favorite Things die set.  They are so cute!     I used sentiments from a bunch of different stamp companies to build this sentiment on the card.  White space used to scare me, but I've grown more comfortable with it over time.  I hope you enjoy this set of cards.  

No copics today

JAWS- A celebration

Hello, 

I couldn't resist jumping in on all the celebration of JAWS.   Honestly, I've never seen the movie.  I love the water and I want to keep it that way.    I prefer to keep my sharks on cards and in scrapbooks!

We created this bubbly background with the new stencil by Spellbinders.  I love it.  I think it might be one of my "go to" stencils when I'm working on water scenes.   I used a few colors (blueprint sketch, mermaid lagoon and salty ocean) of distress inks to add layers.  I splattered with some black ink to add a bit of texture then added the sharks.    So far one of my favorite summer cards!  Thank you to Speilberg for the inspiration. 

Copics used:

Greys: C5, C3, C1

W5 for in the mouths

Orange: YR07, YR04, YR02

Yellow: Y17, Y15, Y13-  covered tube with glossy accents

Sweatest Season

YAY! It is July.  I'm going to be celebrating to be celebrating Christmas all month long.  Hopefully catching up on all the unfinished cards from last year and getting a head start on the cards for this year.  It is really hard for me to work Christmas cards in the middle in the summer.  Summer is the awesome and the last thing I want to think about is snow.    However,   Christmas is the biggest card sending holiday sending of the year.   It is just too big to cram into the three week span the calendar gives us.    Hopefully this helps inspire you to dig out your stamps and take this journey with me.    Together we can chip away at our Christmas Card lists! 

I started off with one of my favorite fun folds.  I love this little flappy card! It is perfect for using smaller images. 

copic used

Skin: Eoo

Red: R29, R24

Black: W8, W6

Green G43, G40

cookies: E30, E31, E33, E35, E37

white: C3, C1, C0

I am Your Father

 Hey friends, 

I didn't get a chance to share this last year, but this is the card that we made for Connor for Father's day last year.   He is a huge Star Wars fan so he got a kick out of it.   Darth Vader was hard to color.  Black things are always hard to not make them look like a black blob.. but I think he turned out okay in the end. 

Copics used:

Black: W10, W8, W6, W4, W2

White: E50, E51, E52, E55, E57

Skin: E000, E00, E11

Hair: E31, E33, E51

White Gel Pen

Cherry on Top

Greetings!  

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?  What a hard question.  It is all so good.  We have a local ice cream shop here that makes homemade cake batter ice cream and that might have to take the win.   

In this case I let the decorative paper pick the colors.  Since white ice cream isn't all that fun to stamp... I went with pink (cherry or strawberry).   For the most part this is a monochromatic card.  It is all in the pink/red family.  It was fun to create.  The stamp set made the stamping really easy.  The class is supposed to be layered stamping.  I wasn't able to get that to work.  However, I think it looks fine with just one layer.   I hope some of this sweet treat finds it way to you really soon.  It is (almost) summer after all!  

Happy Stamping friends, 

Chris

No copics today

More than black and white

Hello, 

This adorable cat is from Unity stamps.  I'm a dog person, but this stole my heart right away. I couldn't help but love this guy instantly.   I thought his marking reminded me to a grey tabby cat So I thought I would try to make a black/white card with a pop of color.  Those are always a challenge for me.  How do you only do a pop.    I technically used two colors.  The touches of pink and the green in her eyes.  Did I fail? Anyway. I think it is cute.  I'll have to keep working on just a pop. 

Copics used:

grey: C5, C3, C1, C0

Pink: R20, R11

Green: YG13, YG11