Drop in the Ocean

 Hello all, 

Die cutting has been part of the paper crafting world now for well over a decade, but as with all things it is forever changing.  Companies continue to get more and more creative and detailed with their dies.   When I saw this new set by Spellbinders I couldn't wait play with it.   I will admit I was a bit intimidated that it takes 20 dies to make this card... but it was super easy.  I had a lot of fun making 14 cards.   The best part is  I used all scraps to make this card (except the white card base).    My scrap bins can breathe a little!  

Materials:

STAMPS:

Water you up to?

Paper:

paper from Various companies-- All Scrap

Ink:

Versa clair: Amazon

Dies:

Whale in a bottle

Orca Die

Ocean Wishes Foil Sentiments

Other:

Bearly Art Glue:(detail glue)

Tacky Glue

As you look at the photos, please notice that each project is a bit different.    I also found an Orca that fit in the bottle.  I hope to continue to search my stash and find other critters that want to go for a swim.  Please let me know what you think.  

No copics today

White Rhino (well sort of...)

 Hello all, 

I have a simple technique to share today.  I stamped the rhino and sentiment on a watercolor wash.   I used a white gel pen to add highlights to the rhino.  It is so simple but it really adds a lot.  What do you think?

 Materials:

STAMPS:

Rhino Stamp

Paper:

watercolor paper

Dies:

none

Ink:

Versa clair: Amazon

Other:

Bearly Art Glue:(detail glue)

Tacky Glue

White gel pen:  Scrapbook or Amazon

Elephant Magic

 Hello all, 

I real quick card to share with you that we made at the senior center.   This is a really intricate die that cuts out negative space to make an elephant design.  I used foil cardstock (really hard to photograph) to back the cardstock.  I love how the pink shines through. 

No copics today

Sea Turtles

Hi!  Thanks for stopping by today.   The swap theme for this month (May)is Mermaids and Ocean.  I was inspired by our trip in February.  We visited an sea turtle hospital in Florida keys.  We learned that all species of sea turtles are endangered.   I can't imagine a world without them.   I hope that by celebrating them and getting the word out we can reduce plastics and pollutants in the water.  There is space for everyone on this planet.  

To create this card I stamped the turtle in green on Ivory cardstock and then again in brown on Kraft cardstock.  I cut the brown shell out and popped it up on the cut out green turtle.  I created a fun aquatic scene by stamping bubbles and fish. 

Materials:

Sea Turtle- Stampin Up

Paper: Neenah:

colored cardstock from stampin up

Other:
Bearly Art Glue- Amazon or Taylored Expressions--best glue ever! especially for small places!
Tombow Multi Glue

No copic coloring today

All About Winter

Hello!

That white, cold stuff is falling from the sky.  It may be cold, but it does make everything look beautiful.  This penguin seems to be enjoying herself.   She is from a die set called Winter Squad.  I placed her right above the word "Winter" to highlight the word.  I used sparkle gel pens to add polka dots to her scarf.   I love all the sparkle.   These new background stamps make perfect backdrops to these characters. 

Materials:

STAMPS: use code TJ10Chris to save 10%: Hello!
All About Winter

Ink-
Gel Pens:

Purple ink-Stampin Up

Other:

Bearly Art Glue: https://amzn.to/3LXS2CW

Penguin Die- Taylored Expressions

No copics today

Sit and Back and Relax

Hi!

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite card layouts.  I love how it breaks up the card. It is also really easy to do.  It is called a book fold.  

I didn't put a sentiment on the gray shark.  I wasn't sure what kind of card I wanted it to be...yet.  What kind of sentiment would you put on it?  I used the second for a retirement card.   Hopefully she loved it.  We miss her at the senior center.  

 Materials:

Inks:

Memento Ink: Amazon or Scrapbook

Stamps:  Sharks

copics listed below

Copics used for this project:  If you are looking to shop- best price I found:

Shark option 1: C5, C3, C1, C0

Shark option 2: B66, B63, B60

Brown 1: E30, E31, E33, E35, E37

Brown 2: E44, E43, E42, E41, E40

Green: G46, G43, G40

Green 2: YG67, YG63, YG61

Water: BG02 BG01, 

Glitter pen on details

S'Whale

Hello!

Doesn't it feel good to use a stamp set that has been sitting unused for a long time.   I've been making an effort to chip away at my unused list.  I don't know why I waited so long to ink this guy up!  He is just so cute.   

I added bubbles with my stardust pen.  It added the perfect amount of sparkle to the card. 

Copics used for this project:  If you are looking to shop- best price I found

Gray: C5, C3, C1

Blue: B66

Different Perspective

 What's up? or down?   Gosh, I had a hard time deciding if my giraffe should pop in from the top, side or bottom of the card.  However, when I saw the sentiment I had to have him looking in from the top.  It was just perfect.   I plan to ink up the giraffe stamp in the sentiment set soon.  He is just begging for ink! 

Materials:

Dies:

Giraffe- My favorite things

Wave Background - very similar to the one I used

Stamps:

Giraffe sentiments

Giraffe Smiles- another set of wonderful sentiments

No copics today

Not so Happy Birthday

 Hello all,

Do you know anyone that hates to celebrate their birthday?  Both Connor and my Dad are not the most cheerful on their special day.  I don't get it... don't they understand they get cake and ice cream? 

I paired a few different stamp sets together to create this card.  The grumpy elephant is from Katzlekraft. The balloon is from Studio Katia Kobi Bear and the Happy die is from a retired Stampin Up set. 

Copics used:   Best place to buy copics 

Blue: B16, B14, B12, 
Green: Y17, Y13, Y11

Orange: YR04, YR02, YR00

Yellow: Y15, Y13, Y11

Pink: RV06, RV04, RV02

Grey:  W5, W3, W1

Waving Hello

Greetings friends, 

Before diving into the card (pun intended).  I have some administrative news.  As many of you know there is a "follow me by email" feature on this blog (look to the right).  Blogger changed how this feature works.  I did my best to transfer all emails to the new program.  However, things are never easy. You may need to re-subscribe to the blog.  It is the easiest fix to the problem.  Let me know if you have questions or have problems.   Thank you all for following along! 

CARD INFO:  Let's Dive in!

Making "Hello" cards are some of my favorites.  They are nice to have on hand for the things that pop up.

I wish the camera picked up the details in the background of this card better.  The blue "water" was created using a variety of colored spray inks.  I used a light, medium, and dark blue, silver, purple, and  green spray to create a background panel.  The color moves on the paper, blending together to create a unique panel.  As a bonus the inks have a fine glitter mixed in.  When the panel dries it has a subtle shine. I used snow drift die to cut the blue and a white panel.  Even though it is meant for snow drifts, I thought it added to the watery feel of the card. I inlaid the blue panels into the white frame.  The rest of this card was really simple.  I put this super cute snorkeling bear in the scene. 

Materials:
Wave Border

Best Fins Stamp Set

You can kind of see a shine n this photo. 

Copics used:

Bear: E30, E31, E33, E35
Red: R39, R37, R35
Yellow: Y15, Y13, Y11
Glass:B000
White gel pen

Sprinkled with Love

 Hello friends, 

I'm slowly getting back to stamping.  It takes me about a week to create a card.   My crafting time is limited to baby naps.  I know it will get easier as he gets older.  Besides, he will only be small for such a short time.  I don't want to miss a minute.    

This is my first foiling card.  The camera doesn't fully capture the shine of the tiny blue hearts. They are so pretty.  I created them using heat foil.  It is my first attempt at this technique.  I had drooling over a foiling machine for awhile, but didn't want to make the investment.  I happened upon a good sale and it just hopped into my cart.  

Materials used:

Stamp set- Sprinkling you with Love
Heart foiling die
Foiling machine

Teal Foil

Copics used:

Bear: E00, E11, E13, E15

Bunny: C2, C1, C0

Red: R37, R35

Orange: YR07, YR04

Yellow: Y15, Y13

Green; YG17, YG13

Blue: B02, B00

Purple: V12, V15

white gel pen

24 Carrot Friend

 Greetings,  

Stamp companies are getting to be so creative.  I love how they are making dies that cut out the hands of critters so they can hold various items.  This little bunny is meant to be holding a cup of coffee/tea.  I thought it would be fun fill his arms with carrots.  It pairs perfectly with this sentiment.  It might be my new favorite Easter sentiment.  Gosh it is cute! 

Materials used:

Bunny Stamp Set

Bunny Die Set

Sentiment set

Copics used:

Bunny: C4, C2, C1, C0

Orange: YR07, YR04 YR02, YR00

White: E50, E51, E53

Pink: R00, R30, R32

Green: YG45, YG41

Bunny Hearts

Hello friends, 

When I started photographing the card.  Ryan just wanted to pop in and say hello!  He misses seeing you all in class.  We are sending you all Bunny Hugs!

 Copics used:

Bunny: E50, E51, E53

Pink: R81, R83, R85

Blue: B01, B00

Purple: V12, V15, V17

Yellow: Y11, Y13, Y15

Green: YG67, YG63, YG61

Red: R11, R12, R14, R17

Orange: YR00, YR02, YR04

I added glitter to some of the flowers

Eggs-cellent Easter

 Hello all, 

Just wanted to pop in real quick and share this cute little bunny card.  Easter is one month away.  I'm looking forward to warm weather. I love that he has a cute little bow tie.  I used my copics to add some blue hearts and polka dots.  He is just so handsome.   

Copics used:

Bunny: E43, E42, E41, E40

Pink: R35, R32, R30

Green: G46, G43, G40

Blue: B02, B01, B00-  hearts B06

Purple: BV04, BV02, BV01

Pink: RV04, RV02, RV00

Orange: YR09, YR07, YR04, YR02

Dk. Green: YG67, YG63, YG61

Yellow: Y13, Y11

Bunny Remix

 Every once in a while, I like to revisit an older card design and update it a bit.  I made the original card six years ago.  The paper colors of the original card have both been discontinued.  It forced me to pick a bolder color palette.  I really like the depth it brings to the card.  What do you think? Do you like the original or the remake?

I made a video many years ago on how I colored the original.  You can find the link at the bottom is you are interested.  It was one if the first videos I ever made.  The lighting is terrible, but you can see how I colored it.  

Old card on the left; updated card on the right.

Copics used:

Bunny: C3, C2, C1, 0

Pink: R20, R00

Flowers: Y15, YR12, YR16

Green: YG13, YG27

Water: B00, B000, 0

Ground: E44, E43, E41

Glitter on the flowers

This video will not play unless you are on the blog or on Youtube

Stacked Birthday Wishes

 Hello,  

I really enjoyed making this card.  Can you tell?  I made about ten of them in about six colors.   This is such a cute stamp set from Stampin Up.  When you untie the twine, the card pulls open to reveal a whole tree full of friends wishing the recipient a Happy Birthday.  

Copics have a nasty way of bleeding through cardstock.  I decided that watercolors to paint this card.  It was faster and I think it gives this card a more organic look. 

No copics today-- watercolors used to color these. 

Merry Chick-mas

 Greetings friends, 

It seems no matter how hard I try to pretend that winter is not coming, the air keeps getting colder.  I think I saw a few flakes floating around the other day.  I was hoping they would cancel winter.  They have cancelled everything else in 2020.  Oh well, I guess if it is going to happen I'm going to make it make some awesome Christmas cards.  

This card has been on my list since last Christmas.  A small company called Purple Onion stamps released a bunch of farm animal christmas stamps.  I don't live on a farm (not even close), but these guys are really cute.    I used kraft card stock because color pencils seem to glow.  I used gamsol to blend the colors a bit. 

I wish I had a stamp that said... Merry Chick-Mas!  Oh well.. I'll keep my eyes out for one.  I hope you enjoy this card.  

No copics today.  I used prismacolor pencils and gamsol to color